Jim Spellman/WireImageThe funeral for the late Kim Porter will be held Saturday in her hometown of Columbus, Georgia. The service will take place at the Cascade Hills Church and will open to the public, ABC affiliate WTVM reports. There will be two public viewings at the church: Friday from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Porter will be buried at Evergreen Memorial Park in Columbus. The 47-year-old model/actress, who has three children with Diddy, died Thursday at her home in Toluca Lake, California. Porter was suffering from flu-like symptoms and was being treated with saline and vitamins. When paramedics arrived, they declared she suffered cardiac arrest. However, the cause of death is still pending investigation, according to a death certificate obtained by Us Weekly. Diddy held a private memorial for Porter at his estate in Los Angeles on Sunday. Mary J. Blige,Pharrell Williams, and French Montana were among the guests. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. 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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 Kathy Cooperman Courtesy Those who aspire to write fiction typically enter college as English literature majors, sign up for creative writing programs or at least take some classes on the subject. Del Mar Heights resident Kathy Cooperman did none of those things. Boredom, comedy and crime sparked her decision to compose fictional prose. She is the author of two novels produced by Amazon imprint Lake Union Publishing Crimes Against a Book Club, and her recently released volume, The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield. Tedium induced by her law studies at Yale led the New England native to her first stab at the craft. I wrote one book during law school, and it was terrible, she said in a recent interview at a Del Mar Heights cafe. It was ridiculously autobiographical and not entertaining. ... It was a book only a mother would read my mother. That experience, however, failed to deter a second attempt at crafting a novel, an effort that led to representation by a literary agent. She recalls getting the call that Crimes would be published while she was at a gas station. Id just filled up, but I still had the nozzle in the tank, Cooperman said. My agent calls me, tells me. I got so excited talking to her, I drove off and the nozzle was still in there. The cover of The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield. Courtesy Fortunately, she said, the hose was detachable, and she returned the dispenser to the service station. Her approach to writing, she said, is driven in part by her experiences doing live comedy improvisation during college. That fostered a proclivity for expressing herself humorously, even on the printed page. It teaches you a lot about structure, tension, timing and characterization, Cooperman said of improv. It teaches you a lot about story-telling. Another contribution to Coopermans fictional bent came from her work as an attorney, particularly her exposure to white collar crime. I thought the psychology of that was very interesting, she said. My theory is that people will commit crimes if they think its morally justified and really think its right, which can be justified by needs and they think theyll get away with it. Whereas the setting for Crimes is La Jolla, The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield centers on Del Mar and Carmel Valley, with most of the action occurring at the fictional school, Carmel Knolls Elementary. The setting, plot and theme ensue largely from Cooperman having four children attending area schools, including the two younger ones in the Del Mar Union School District and the two older ones in the San Dieguito Union High School District. A lot of this is based on my kids experiences in school, and what I thought their needs were, Cooperman said. The other thing that inspired it was frankly the funding situation out here (for education). I was a little shocked when I moved out here. ... I went to lousy public schools, but we just had everything. We had an arts teacher, a music teacher, foreign language, and this and that. It was just a given that we had all this stuff. The idea that that would be precarious was a bit of a shock to me. ... I was surprised that schools had to fight for STEAM teachers. The narrative is propelled by Principal Mayfields dedication to her students and school and her fight to continue Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics programs threatened by a lack of funding. Cooperman said that, while the commitment evinced by Mayfield was inspired by an outstanding principal at one of the schools attended by her children, the character Mayfield is entirely a literary creation, and a comical one. Much of the book revolves around interactions between the principal and her administrative assistant, Diane Porter. The emotional core of my books tends to be female friendship, Cooperman said. I like female friendship, I like comedy and I like the slip into illegality (as fictional elements). ... Im not interested in portraying a monster. Im more interested in why a good person does something shady. Maggies ardor leads her down some well-intentioned but ill-advised paths, especially after getting romantically involved with Danny Zelinsky. Danny Z, as he is called by the main characters, oversees his companys testing of its computerized math-teaching software in the schools classes. While the book is largely about the challenges of public elementary school education, the books tone and language are adult-oriented and often irreverent. The book has elicited praise from reviewers. Part comedy, part commentary, The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield is a light and entertaining tale of an educator on a quest for romance and funding, said Kristin Dreyer Kramer of Shelf Discovery, a feature of the National Public Radio station WCBE in central Ohio. Fans of chick lit and school arts programs will enjoy the read. One of the hosts of the online 3BookGirls podcast said, The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield is hilarious. It really is fun and so well-written. Both Coopermans books can be purchased through amazon.com and she plans a third novel. 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. The Del Mar City Council agreed Nov. 19 to oppose the North County Transit Districts (NCTD) proposal for fencing along the Del Mar Bluffs. The NCTD has recommended fencing along the train tracks in Oceanside, Encinitas and Del Mar due to high trespassing activity and to protect the bluff habitat and erosion of the bluffs. Del Mars portion would include the Del Mar Bluffs from Sea Grove Park south to the Torrey Pines Bridge. Del Mar City staff has expressed concerns that such fencing would prohibit community access to the bluffs and beach. They also argued that if the fencing is placed without careful planning or consultation, that could make the railroad right-of-way less safe by encouraging vandalism or could endanger those caught on the inside of the fence when a train passes by. The city council unanimously agreed with Council member Sherryl Parks absent that options other than fencing should be explored. Clem Brown, the citys Environmental Sustainability/Special Projects Manager, said NCTD is committed to working with the city on any safety improvements in the rail corridor and they do not have an immediate need to install fencing in Del Mar. NCTD also plans to hire a consultant regarding safety and will consider all options, including fencing and increased signage, Brown said. That safety study is scheduled to be completed in 2019. Mayor Dwight Worden said he was relieved NCTD has moved from fencing to a feasibility study, but its not the end of the citys mission. He said the city needs to be actively engaged in finding the consultant, ensuring all options are explored, and make sure the study is done in a robust, scientifically sound and professional manner. Council member Terry Sinnott said the number of trains is projected to increase significantly in the next two decades and the city should prioritize measures for that. He said because of this, the city cant rely on a single track segment across an unstable bluff that is eroding more rapidly than ever. From a transportation standpoint, we need to begin working right now to solve that problem, he said. We cant move the tracks immediately but we should be moving the tracks eventually. Council member Dave Druker said the city should also keep an eye on the study and possibly hire a consultant of its own. We need to be very vigilant in terms with how this consultant is going to work with us and whether or not we may need to engage somebody also that has some expertise, he said. This is a very tricky and delicate problem that we have in front of us. He also noted parts of the bluffs are owned by the city and state, not just NCTD. Theres a huge wealth of land there thats not in the right-of-way, and we need to have continued access to that, he said. Fencing just doesnt allow that in some ways. Residents at the meeting, and those who also submitted notes to the city, also shared concerns of the fencing limiting access to beach; impairing lifeguard and rescue activities; and affecting visual impacts and safety. Others also brought up the recent fires in California and said the beach could be a spot for refuge should such an emergency occur in Del Mar. More than 2,000 residents signed a petition against fencing, one speaker noted. FRANKFORT, Ind. (WLFI) The Clinton County Coroner has identified the person killed in a Frankfort structure fire. It happened a little after midnight Sunday on East Clinton Street. Coroner Amanda Abbott said 56-year-old Arthur Keever was the person killed. Fire chief John Kirby said Keever was pulled from an upstairs apartment. He was taken to a hospital where he died. Abbott said Keever's cause of death is pending toxicology results. Kirby said the fire is still under investigation, and it will be two to three weeks before they determine a cause. Indiana State Fire Marshals Office is assisting in this case. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) Purdue University has confirmed that Dayna Less, one of two Purdue graduates killed in a tragic Chicago hospital shooting Monday, graduated in May with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Less was a first pharmacy resident from St. John, Indiana. "Today is a very tragic day for us," said Purdue Pharmacy Dean Eric Barker. "We all remember Dayna as a very kind and compassionate person who had dedicated her life to helping others." Today, we remember Dayna Less as a kind, compassionate, beautiful soul that had dedicated her life to helping others. The Purdue Pharmacy family along with the Purdue community grieve together alongside her family and friends in this most difficult time.https://t.co/gcd1LzpW0x Purdue Pharmacy (@purduepharmacy) November 20, 2018 Just six months ago, Dean Eric Barker presented her with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree during the May commencement. "The Purdue pharmacy family is a tight-knit family, and we along with the whole Purdue community are grieving alongside her family and friends," said Barker. The shooting killed Less, Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez and fellow Purdue graduate Dr. Tamara O'Neal. Purdue confirms O'Neal graduated in 2002 with an undergraduate degree in psychology. Witnesses said O'Neal was shot by her ex-fiance, who then entered the hospital and kept shooting. "We all feel like it's a real senseless tragedy," said Barker. While at Purdue, Less was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, the national headquarters confirms. "Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims involved in the shooting at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago on Monday, November 19. Dayna Less, Indiana Delta, was a pharmacy resident at the hospital and lost her life in the tragedy. Dayna attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and was initiated into Pi Beta Phi in 2012. She served on the chapters leadership team as Vice President of Philanthropy. Pi Beta Phi offers our deepest condolences to Dayna's family, friends and the members of Indiana Delta." Online records show Less was engaged to be married in June. "As Boilermakers, we have resilience," said Barker. "We, again, grieve but we will move forward." Purdue University President Mitch Daniels released the following statement: "We are proud of Tamara and Dayna for the lives of service they chose to pursue. We are deeply grateful and admiring of officer Jimenez for his sacrificial bravery that spared other innocent lives." Purdue was unable to put News 18 in contact with someone from the Psychology Department for comment on Dr. O'Neal. INDIANA (WLFI) The DNR is offering free admission to any state park, reservoir or state forest recreation area that charges gate admission on Friday, November 23. This includes state off-road riding areas. You can also get 20 percent off a meal at an Indiana State Park Inn that day by downloading a coupon from Indiana State Parks Special Events page You can get annual passes, lake permits and camping gear, among other items, just by choosing to #optoutside. By sharing your experiences on social media on Black Friday, you can win prizes. Heres how to participate: - Post a photo to the Indiana State Parks Facebook page or to the DNR Instagram page and you'll be entered into a drawing for annual passes, lake permits and more. Include the hashtag #optoutside or #optoutsideIN when you post your photo. - Camp at a state park or state forest recreation area, or stay at an Indiana State Park Inn on Black Friday, and you'll be entered in a drawing for camping or inns gift cards. The first 20 people to post a photo to the Indiana State Parks Facebook page of their camping trip or inns visit will receive a logoed #OptOutside Indiana State Parks winter knit cap. Include the hashtag #optoutside, #optoutsideINN or #optoutsideCAMP with your post. - Complete the #optoutside scavenger hunt at stateparks.IN.gov/3282.htm and return it to the email or address on the page to be entered in a separate drawing for 2019 annual passes. The first 20 scavenger hunts returned will receive a logoed #OptOutside Indiana State Parks winter knit hat. Everyone who posts a photo or participates in the scavenger hunt will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a gift pack from the outdoor gear retailer REI in Castleton. REI is a supporter of the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation and Indiana State Parks. A Del Mar teen is gearing up for a future in the medical field and helping transform lives by volunteering in an underprivileged country. Reese Ger-Herscott, 16, a junior at Francis Parker School has visited El Fuerte in Sinaloa, Mexico three times over the last year to help her grandfather, an orthopedic surgeon, with procedures on their limbs. They have gone on the trips as volunteers of LIGA International, Flying Doctors of Mercy, which provides medical and dental care for the people of El Fuerte. Following her most recent trip to the Mexican city, which took place at the end of October, Reese shared why the organization is important to her and details about the type of work she has been doing for them. This Q&A has been edited for length. Q: What kind of volunteer work have you done for LIGA? A: LIGA goes down to Mexico once a month to provide medical care for anyone and everyone who shows up and is in need. I've volunteered with them on three trips, and I'm going with them again in January. Basically, everyone just does anything and everything that they can do to help. I'm in high school Spanish, so I do my best to help translate. I assist in surgeries, just kind of doing whatever people ask me to do like cleaning stuff up or talking to patients or copying papers. We've also been working on ways to digitize their medical records. It's definitely very different from health care in the United States. We figure out what services we can improve and how we can overcome those challenges. Q: How does their health care system differ from ours in the U.S.? A: A lot of the people that we see are really poor and don't have access to great medical care. They'll come to us with issues. We've had patients who have broken their arms a year or two in advance and were like, What can you do? At that point, there's not a lot you can do. People come to you with just more serious issues, and our resources are very limited. A lot of people need total knee replacements, and we don't do them down there because we're only there for the weekend and you really need to monitor those kinds of patients for a lot longer than that. What we do instead is a lot of cortisone injections. It's a lot of doing anything and everything you can to make things better. It's not always an ideal circumstance. Q: How did you learn about LIGA and what made you want to start volunteering with them? A: My mom worked with LIGA about 10 years ago. I then went up with my grandfather, and we both just had a fun time. It's really a rewarding experience to be able to go and help people, especially for high schoolers. There aren't a lot of volunteer opportunities that are open to me where I'm really able to affect change. When I volunteer, it's a really rewarding experience because you know what you're doing is really meaningful. Q: What would you say to other teens to encourage them to also do this kind of volunteer work? A: LIGA's really looking for healthcare professionals trained nurses, anesthesiologists, doctors, surgeons as well as translators. What I'd say to other high schoolers is just to get more involved in their communities. If people are really interested in LIGA, they're always looking for medical professionals and donations of supplies. Q: How did your last trip go? A: We did a lot of [operations for] syndactyly, which is when people's fingers are stuck together. When they're in the womb, their fingers don't separate. What my grandfather does as an orthopedic hand surgeon is he goes in and cuts them apart so that instead of using their hands as mittens they can use them as normal hands. In El Fuerte, a lot of the jobs are manual labor jobs, so having full use of your hands is incredibly important. I assisted my grandpa in just kind of whatever he asked me to do to help with that. I think we did about four or five of those surgeries this past trip. Q: What does it mean to you to be involved in these life-changing operations? A: Those surgeries can happen several times depending on how many fingers are impacted. Now that it's my third trip, we're seeing some of our patients for revisions. We get to see them grown up and using their hands. That's really cool to be able to see the change that you're making. Q: Why is this cause and this kind of work important to you? A: I'm really interested in pursuing health care. Being able to see what that could entail for me is really an interesting thing. Giving someone two working hands is something that ends up helping them for a lifetime. We're providing people with the opportunity to provide for themselves, which is a meaningful and effective solution. Q: Do you have any favorite stories of being involved? A: There is a sign on the wall of the OR that reads 'just do the best you can with what you have.' The rewarding part of being a volunteer with LIGA isn't feel-good stories; it's the difficult cases where anything we can offer is an improvement. The acuity of the patients we see is a reality check for Americans who have access to healthcare, especially those living in areas like Del Mar. As a high school student, I go on these mission trips not only to learn about the field of healthcare, but to sincerely make a difference. The surgeries we do last a lifetime for our patients. Knowing this is what makes these trips so special for me. Q: How can people help with LIGA or donate? 18 July 2018 (BBC News) Forest fires raging across Sweden as far north as the Arctic Circle have prompted authorities to ask for international assistance. On Wednesday afternoon, 44 fires were burning from Lapland in the far north to the southern island of Gotland. Hot weather and persistent drought are the main causes, and the national weather service has issued fire warnings for almost the entire country. Italy and Norway have both despatched firefighting aircraft to help. Sweden said Italy had sent 13 people in two Canadair CL-415 waterbombers, each of which can carry 6,000 litres of water at a time. Norways national broadcaster NRK, meanwhile, reported that 10 helicopters had been despatched to aid its neighbour six on Tuesday and another four on Wednesday despite the risk of similar fire outbreaks in Norway itself. The wildfires have raged in parts for days and without a break in the hot dry weather they have shown little sign of stopping. Many people have been evacuated from their homes in Sweden, while others have been told to shut off all ventilation to keep smoke outside. Fire chief Britta Ramberg told Swedish media the fire in Jamtland was the largest and spreading the fastest. Official advisories said that this blaze grew from 1,600 hectares to 3,000 on Tuesday alone, and that firefighters had been unable to contain it. Many firefighters were being recalled from holiday to join the operation. Nine important public warnings have also been issued a record number as temperatures have hovered near or exceeded 30C for an extended period. [more] Papua New Guinea covers an area of 178,700 square miles in the Oceania region and had approximately 8,084,999 people in 2016. Data from the International Monetary Fund indicates that Papua New Guinea's GDP was estimated to be $21.09 billion in 2017. Due to several factors such as the size of the economy, the International Monetary Fund classifies Papua New Guinea as a developing nation. In 2011 the Papua New Guinean economy was considered the sixth fastest growing economy in the world, mainly due to the rapid growth of the mining sector. Other major industries in Papua New Guinea include agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The UNDP considers Papua New Guinea to be one of the poorest nations in the world since roughly 37% of the population lives below the poverty line. Agriculture Agriculture in Papua New Guinea is one of the most ancient industries since it has a history dating back more than 7000 years. Foreigners introduced several of the most important crops in the nation such as sweet potatoes and cassava from the American continent. Agriculture is one of the most important industries in the Papua New Guinean economy since it contributed more than 25% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product. Besides, the agriculture employs a significant section of the Papuan workforce. The most important subsistence crop in Papua New Guinea is sweet potatoes which are mainly grown in the highland regions. Other major subsistence crops include bananas and taro. Cash crops are some of the most important plants grown in Papua New Guinea with the most important being coffee and tea, while oil and rubber play a significant role as well. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Papua New Guinean coffee accounted for roughly 1% of the total amount of coffee grown globally. The coffee industry is a significant employer as it provides jobs to approximately 2.5 million Papuans. Some of the major coffee growing areas in Papua New Guinea include Simbu and the Western Highland Province. In Papua New Guinea, coffee is mostly grown by small-scale farmers who also grow subsistence crops alongside the coffee. Papuan coffee is often considered extremely high quality; however, the quality of the coffee is affected by several factors such as diseases and the old age of the trees. Mining Mining is one of the most critical industries in the Papuan economy since it contributes significantly to the gross domestic product. According to the government, the mineral sector contributed nearly 26.3% to the nation's GDP in 1999. In Papua New Guinea, mining gained prominence during the 1970's. Some of the significant minerals extracted in the country include gold, silver, and copper. Some of the major mines in the state include the Ok Tedi mine and the Edie Creek mine. Before the Second World War, one of the most important gold mines in Papua New Guinea was Edie Creek which was situated roughly 3.1 miles from Wau. The main mining methods used at the Edie Creek mine were alluvial mining and open cast mining. Stanley and William Royal were responsible for discovery of gold in the region in 1926. Another major gold mine in Papua New Guinea is the Hidden Valley Mine, also known as the Hamata Mine, which is situated 130 miles from Port Moresby. The Morobe Mining Joint Ventures is the primary operator of the Hamata mine. The Ok Tedi mine situated in Papua New Guineas Western Province is also one of the most important mines in the country. At the Ok Tedi mine, both gold and copper are extracted by opencast mining. The Ok Tedi mine has caused significant environmental harm mainly due to the vast quantities of contaminants which are discharged into the river systems. According to a report from BHP Billiton, the Ok Tedi mine released nearly 80 million tons of contaminated substances into rivers in the region. The contamination has significantly affected 50,000 people in over 100 villages in the area. The government has put in place some strategies to improve the mining sector and reduce its environmental impact. Trade Trade is one of the vital industries in Papua New Guinea, and some of its major trading partners include Australia, Singapore, China, and Japan. Data indicates that Australia purchases nearly 40% of Papua New Guinea's exports while the European Union buys almost 20% of the exports. Some of the main products exported by Papua New Guinea included mining products which accounted for more than 40% of the total exports and agricultural products which accounted for approximately 24% of the total products exported. Papua New Guinea also imported vast amounts of products from nations such as Singapore, Australia, Japan, and China. Most of the items that Papua New Guinea imports include machinery and petroleum. Australian products accounted for nearly 35% of the items that Papua New Guinea imported while items from Singapore accounted for roughly 15% of the total imports. Tourism Tourism is one of the emerging industries in Papua New Guinea. In 2015, the nation received approximately 184,000 visitors which was an increase from the number of tourists who visited the nation in 2014. The Papua New Guinean tourism industry traces its roots to Burns Philp & Company Limited, a company established by James Burns and Robert Philip to offer tourists trips into the country. Some of the main tourist attractions in Papua New Guinea include the nation's unique culture: surfing, fishing, and diving in the Pacific Ocean, and hiking with the most popular trails being the Kokoda Track. One of the significant factors hindering the growth of the nation's tourism sector is rampant insecurity and a poor record on human rights issues. Tourists in Papua New Guinea are often advised to hire private security companies. Economic Growth In Papua New Guinea According to the IMF, Papua New Guinea is projected to have a GDP of $32 billion in 2018 which will be a significant increase from the 2017 GDP. The economy of Papua New Guinea has faced some significant challenges such as the volatility of agricultural and mineral prices in the international markets. The government of Papua New Guinea has put in place several measures to ensure the growth of the country's economy. Hungary is a country found in Central Europe. Archaeologists have found evidence that several communities lived within Hungary's borders as early as 6000 BC. During the long period since the first communities set up homes in Hungary, the boundaries of Hungary have gone through many dramatic changes. Some kingdoms exerted their influence within Hungary's borders such as the Roman Empire, the Ostrogothic kingdom, and the Hunnic Empire. During the 19th century one of the most influential kingdoms in Hungary's history was established, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Hungary today borders Slovenia, Ukraine, Austria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia. Hungary-Slovenia Border Hungary's shortest border is the 63-mile boundary that separates it from Slovenia. The border is situated on the western edge of the country, and like the rest of Hungary's borders, it was determined after the First World War. On the Hungarian side of the border, there are several important towns such as Redics and Csesztreg. Due to their proximity, Slovenia and Hungary have a unique relationship. Demographic estimates indicate there are nearly 3,000 ethnic Slovenes in Hungary while nearly 7,700 ethnic Hungarians make their home in Slovenia. Another factor that improves the ties between the two nations is the fact that they both have a diplomatic mission within the other's borders. In Slovenia, the Hungarian government is represented by an embassy situated in Ljubljana. On the other hand, in Hungary, the Slovenian government is represented by an embassy located in Budapest as well as a consulate general within Szentgotthard. Hungary-Ukraine Border The boundary that separates Hungary and Ukraine is roughly 64 miles long and is located in the Northeastern region of the country. The most important town located on the Hungarian side of the border is Kisvarda, and a railway passes through it lining the city to Ukraine. Data indicates that approximately 157,000 Hungarians are living within Ukraine's borders. The large number of Hungarians in Ukraine is attributed to the fact that the Zakarpattia region was once part of Hungary. Even though the laws of Ukraine do not recognize dual citizenship, a significant number of Hungarians in Ukraine hold both Hungarian and Ukrainian citizenship. Hungary and Ukraine have close diplomatic ties with the Ukrainian government being represented by an embassy located in Budapest as well as a consulate general within Nyiregyhaza. On the other hand, the Hungarian government has four representations in Ukraine: an embassy in the capital Kiev, a consulate located in Berehove, a consulate general located in Uzhhorod as well as an honorary consulate situated in Lviv Hungary-Austria Border The border that separates Austria and Hungary is approximately 200 miles long and is situated in the northwestern section of the country. One of the important natural features along the border between the two nations is Lake Neusiedl. There are also some towns along the Hungarian side of the border such as Szombathely and Soproh. A railway line exists connecting various Hungarian towns and Austrian towns. The ties between the two nations date back to the period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the modern period, Austria and Hungary have close diplomatic ties that were established in 1921 after the two nations were forced to split. Hungary-Croatia Border The boundary that separates Croatia and Hungary is roughly 216 miles long and is situated in Hungary's southwestern section. The Drava River forms a significant portion of the boundary between Croatia and Hungary. There are roughly 16,600 Hungarians who call Croatia home while roughly 15,600 Croatians are living within Hungary's borders. Due to their close ties, the Croatian and Hungarian governments work together in many fields such as economic and infrastructural development. Other sectors where the two governments work together include scientific development, cultural exchange, and trade. Hungary-Romania Border The boundary that separates Romania and Hungary is roughly 263 miles long and is situated in the eastern section of the country. Several towns are situated along the border on the Hungarian side such as Sarkad, Gyula, and Veezto. Historical evidence indicates that the ties between the two nations date back to the Middle Ages when several sections of Romanian territory such as Banat, Crisana and Transylvania were under the control of the Hungarians. The modern-day ties between the two nations include close diplomatic and economic relations. Romania and Hungary are both members of several international organizations such as NATO and the European Union which improves their bilateral ties. Hungary-Serbia Border The boundary that separates Serbia and Hungary is approximately 102 miles long and is situated in the southern section of the country. On the Hungarian side, the towns situated along this section of the border include Siklos, Mohacs, Baja, and Bacaalmaa. The ties between Serbia and Hungary date back to the 19th century, particularly in 1882, when they were formally established between the nation of Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The modern-day ties between Serbia and Hungary include close diplomatic and economic ties. There is also a significant population of Hungarians, roughly 254,000 according to some estimates, living in Serbia. On the other hand, a relatively low number of Serbians live in Hungary, roughly 7,000. Hungary-Slovakia Border Hungary's longest land border is the one that separates the country from Slovakia which is roughly 390 miles long on the northern edge of Hungary. For a significant portion of time, much of Slovakia's territory was part of Hungary's land. Historical evidence indicates that there have been two major periods of diplomatic ties between Slovakia and Hungary in recent times. The first period began in 1939 and lasted until 1945 while the second period began in 1993 after Slovakia attained its independence from Czechoslovakia. In Hungary, the Slovakian government is represented by an embassy situated in Budapest as well as a consulate general situated in Bekescsaba. On the other hand, the Hungarian government in Slovakia is represented by an embassy located in Bratislava as well as a consulate general situated in Kosice. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will attend the G20 summit later this month in Argentina, according to the official SPA news agency. The crown prince will attend the summit as part of a foreign tour, SPA quoted Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Abdulaziz al-Falih as saying. Saudi authorities have yet to announce the details of bin Salmans expected tour. The G20 summit is scheduled to be held in Argentina on November 30. If confirmed, the tour will be the first by the crown prince since the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month. Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist working for The Washington Post, was killed shortly after he entered the Saudi Consulate 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. By Michael Halpern 22 June 2018 (Union of Concerned Scientists) Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times broke the story about the new policy at the U.S. Geological Survey requiring scientists to get permission before speaking to reporters about science. In an attempt to justify the muzzling, a department spokesperson said they were just following an Obama-era communications policy (sound familiar?). After reporters linked to the policy, it was removed from its previous location and buried deep in the DOI website. You can find it there as a Word document; Ive made a PDF available here.The idea that the new policy is consistent with the Obama rules is objectively false. This claim in particular sticks in my craw because UCS advocated successfully for changes to agency policies during the Obama administration that expressly and intentionally gave scientists more freedoms to share their expertise publicly. We have extensively analyzed agency scientific integrity and media policies.So what does the DOI policy say? The DOI policy specifies that the communications office must be notified in advance of any media interviews, media requests or contacts that may involve significant policy announcements or that may generate significant news coverage, public interest or inquiry (my emphasis added). Notification and asking for permission are two very different approaches.Further, regardless of whether the new policy is consistent with previous practices, political appointees should not have the authority to muzzle scientists anywhere in government. These new constraints represent a flagrant violation of both the letter and the spirit of a departmental policy that is intended to encourage scientists to publicly share their expertise. This is especially troubling at USGS, an agency with a longstanding reputation for independence that has no regulatory authority. Its a science agency. It doesnt make policy.No DOI or USGS policy should give political appointees the right to control what USGS scientists share about their scientific research and knowledge. Nowhere in the communications policy or any other policy does it suggest that political appointees get to decide whether a scientist answers a question from a journalist. Scientists even have the explicit right to share their personal opinions about important issues, so long as they make clear that they are speaking in an individual and not an official capacity.The clamp down on scientists at USGS comes in an environment of increasing control of scientific information by the federal government. Last year the CDC told its scientists that they needed to ask permission to respond to even basic requests for data. Agency public affairs officials at EPA are increasingly acting as gatekeepers and campaigners, not as facilitators of information flow. This pattern reduces government accountability and robs states, journalists, and the public of access to scientific expertise. This is not the way a democracy should function. 19 November 2018 (Desdemona Despair) In August 2018, it was environmental terrorist groups causing Californias forest fires. Before that, it was water regulations. Now, California just needs to rake its forests and manage them like Finland.Anything to deny the obvious: global warming is causing Californias megafires.Throughout 2018, the Trump administration has undertaken a Stalinist program of eliding references to climate change and global warming from official policy documents. Here are a few examples: Also, Trump intends to gag government scientists when they speak to the press about climate science: To underscore his complete disdain for climate science, Trump revoked fuel economy standards, over the objection of the auto industry itself: Climate change is real, automakers told the White House in letter. We have a continuing role in reducing greenhouse gases and improving fuel efficiency. They were ignored.The goal is the eradication of climate science from public consciousness. Its as if Trump had decided to convince the U.S. public that Americans never landed on the moon. Back to Trumps latest cranky claim: I was with the president of Finland, and he said, We have a much different were a forest nation. He called it a forest nation. And they spent a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things, and they dont have any problem.Whats wrong with the latest disinformation from Trump about Californias wildfires? The Finns dont rake their forests. Finland is much colder than California. The trees arent the same. Finland and California differ greatly in their winds. Finland is not fire-free, especially in 2018. The whole comparison is a bit wild, says Professor Henrik Lindberg, a forest-fire researcher at the Hame University of Applied Sciences, in southern Finland.And the president of Finland never discussed raking with Trump. What really happened in 2018 is that Arctic forests in Northern Europe experienced unprecedented high temperatures and wildfires. All-time temperature records melted in northern Scandinavia, and next-door Sweden battled wildfires from the Arctic Circle to the Baltic Sea, issuing a record number of public warnings.In California, it was the same story during the summer of 2018, with temperatures in the triple digits into the first weekend of August across northern and central California. July 2018 was the hottest month in California state history. It doesnt take a climate scientist to draw a straight line between global warming and the wildfires. But what do actual scientists have to say?In the words of Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished Senior Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research: We can estimate Earths energy imbalance quite well: It amounts to about 1 watt per square meter, or about 500 terawatts globally. [] How big is the energy imbalance effect over land? Well, 1 watt per square meter over a month, if accumulated, is equivalent to 720 watts per square meter over one hour; 720 watts is equivalent to full power in a small microwave oven. One square meter is about 10 square feet. Hence, after one month this is equivalent to one microwave oven at full power every square foot for six minutes. No wonder things catch on fire! Meteorologist Rob Elvington observes that the Camp Fire began under atmospheric conditions that are unprecedented in state history. By early November 2018, the Evaporative Demand Index (EDDI) had maxed out, and extreme fire conditions in these fuels have no analog/comparison. Californias vegetation dryness in early November 2018 was off the charts, exceeding the 99th percentile for Energy Release Component (ERC), as far back as records go. Worse than no rain is negative rain, Elvington tweeted. The air was so dry that it sucked water out of the soil.After surveying the destruction caused by wildfires in California, Trump said on Saturday, 17 November 2018, that the devastation has not altered his opinion on climate change: I have a strong opinion. I want great climate, were going to have that. Trump wants to Make Climate Great Again. His plan: deny climate science, lower fuel economy and emissions standards for vehicles, pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement, silence government scientists, and rake the forests. 404 This page could not be found . This is the second part of a two-part series. The first part was published November 19. The virulence of the disease One of the most frequent questions that plagued scientists was why this pandemic was so deadly. The pandemics of 1847 and 1889 had epidemiologic similarities distinct from the 1918 pandemic. But at that time, scientists had not yet discovered viruses, and there were no laboratory tests to diagnose or detect them. Answers to this puzzle had to wait till the 1930s when the closely related influenza viruses known as H1N1 were first isolated from pigs and humans, and investigations as to the origin of the disease began to provide clues. It would be another 60 years before a breakthrough was achieved. It has been presumed that the 1918 virus was highly transmissible and thus inherently lethal. Studies have shown that the infection rates during the 1918 pandemic were equal to infection rates during other pandemics in the last century. Most of the pandemic-related deaths were not a byproduct of viral pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Most infected individuals who succumbed died about a week or more after the onset of the illness. These deaths were due to secondary bacterial pneumonia caused by respiratory bacterial colonizers such as Streptococcus or Haemophilus influenza. The lethal secondary pneumonia are postulated to have been caused by an overreactive immune response caused by the influenza virus. The authors Shank and Brundage hypothesized that what made the second wave of the 1918 pandemic so deadly for young adults was that they had a prior exposure to a similar strain, i.e., the 1889-1890 Russian pandemic. That viral strain may have shared with the 1918 virus a similar internal protein that antibodies attach to. Exposure to the 1918 virus then may have caused an overstimulation of their immune response. Those born after 1875 and before 1901 (the 18-33 age group) were most likely to succumb to secondary bacterial pneumonia during the pandemic of 1918. Young children had the highest infection rates but not the same mortality rate because they had not been exposed to a similar virus and did not mount a severe immune response. The elderly may have developed antibodies to bacterial pathogens in their lifetime and had the ability to resist bacterial pneumonia. But susceptible young military recruits and citizens of the world brought into proximity by the war to end all wars succumbed to these factors at an unprecedented rate. Shanks and Brundage, who developed this hypothesis that prior exposure led to an excessive inflammatory response, argued that this was essentially a unique event. In the modern era, the current populations interconnected by commerce and cultural activities have exposed people to such a wide range of viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens that their immune repertoire has diversified. Also, the capacity to create vaccines, arsenals of antibiotics and supportive care should prevent such deadly pandemics. These optimistic conclusions, however, dont take into account the ramifications of political instability, war, and economic collapse. The recent history of the flu virus The H1N1 virus disappeared from human circulation after the Asian flu of 1957 (H2N2) where nearly 2 million people succumbed. The next major pandemic was the 1968-1969 Hong Kong flu which first broke out on July 13, 1968, killing an estimated one million people worldwide. It was caused by the H3N2 strain of the influenza virus. By September of 1968, the flu had reached India, the Philippines, Australia, and Europe. American soldiers returning from Vietnam brought the virus to the US, but it did not become widespread. Approximately 33,800 people died. The case fatality ratio remained low at 0.1 percent, making it a category two disease on the Pandemic Severity Index or PSI. (A case fatality ratio greater than 2.5 percent is considered a category five.) H1N1 was to reemerge in 1977 and presently persists as two major lineages and as two additional reassortant lineages; human H1N1 lineage, porcine enzootic H1N1 lineage (classic swine flu) and the reasserted human H3N2 virus lineages. Reassortant viruses contain two or more pieces of nucleic acid from different parents. Such viruses are produced in cells co-infected with different strains of a given virus. The present descendants dont have the same deadliness as the 1918 virus. All influenza A pandemics since the Spanish flu have been caused by descendants of the 1918 virus except the H5N1 bird flu virus. Recent pandemics in China have involved bird flu strains with H7N9 and H7N4. In 2004, the H5N1 bird flu began its assault spreading throughout Asia in just a few months then quickly moving into Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and the Americas by 2005-2006. The virus is contracted by exposure to infected birds though in rare cases human to human transition has been suspected. Case fatality rates were as high as 60 percent among those who contracted the virus. Today Egypt is considered the epicenter of human H5N1 infections. Animal model studies have shown similar pathogenic effects as the 1918 influenza virus which has the hallmark of an Avian-like virus. Scientist continues to speculate if the H5N1 virus could develop the capacity to spread between humans. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic (the swine flu pandemic) was caused by a new version of the virus when a previous triple reassortment of the bird, swine, and human flu virus combined with a Eurasian swine flu virus. The infection was first recognized in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Influenza spread globally, leading the World Health Organization and the CDC to declare the outbreak a pandemic. It has been estimated that the global infection rate was 11 to 21 percent. The actual lab-confirmed deaths due to the pandemic are 14,286, setting the case fatality rate at 0.03 percent. But a model-based study in June 2012 indicated that the death related to the H1N1 influenza was fifteen times higher, with an approximate estimate of around 285,000 people killed, predominately in Africa and Southeast Asia, developing nations that lacked the advanced infrastructure to support the assault from a pandemic. Similar to the Spanish flu, 80 percent of the respiratory and cardiovascular deaths were in people younger than 65. Genetic investigation of the 1918 flu The characterization of the genomic sequence of the 1918 virus is credited to Ann Reid, a scientist with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at that time, and Jeffery Taubenberger, an American virologist. Work on acquiring fragments of the 1918 virus began in the mid-1990s when laboratory techniques in genomic sequencing had developed to the degree that such projects became feasible. The first positive signal came from an autopsy tissue belonging to an Army private named Roscoe Vaughn who died on September 26, 1918 at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, from pneumonia. They were able to locate the virus in his right lung. By 1997 they had a full sequence of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene but did not have sufficient tissue to characterize all ten genes. In September of that year, they located virus in a second autopsy specimen from a private named James Downs who succumbed to influenza at Camp Upton, New York. A retired pathologist by the name of Johan Hultin happened to read these preliminary reports on the investigation into sequencing the 1918 virus. He had tried to isolate the 1918 virus from victims buried in the Alaskan permafrost in 1951. He contacted Taubenberger and offered to return to Brevig, Alaska with a team. They were able to locate the remains of a thirty-year-old obese woman whose lungs had remained intact. With these specimens, they had sufficient material to sequence the complete 1918 virus. In a paper published in 2011 in PLoS Pathog, Watanabe and Kawaoka explained that by using advancement in reverse genetics they were able to re-create the 1918 virus entirely from complementary DNAs that are synthesized from a single-stranded RNA as a template. With an artificially resurrected and intact virus bearing all eight RNA segments, molecular analysis into the unusual virulence of the 1918 pandemic was possible. Initial testing in mice and non-human primates demonstrated a very high replication rate in the host that spread quickly throughout the respiratory tract. Like the autopsy reports on the patients in 1918, these laboratory animals had the hallmarks of acute respiratory distress that included lung edema and hemorrhage into the lungs. In the non-human primates, the virus triggered the expression of genes that led to a robust inflammatory response that caused the injuries they documented. Mice inoculated with the 1918 virus and the H5N1 avian influenza viruses have demonstrated uncontrolled immune responses, a hallmark of a highly pathogenic influenza viral infection. The hemagglutinin (HA) is a viral surface glycoprotein that has two functions in the early stages of replicationreceptor binding and membrane fusion. Though the 1918 virus HA sequence doesnt have a specific motif like a highly pathogenic bird influenza virus, it was shown that a reassortant virus possessing the 1918 HA gene inoculated into animals led to a severe inflammatory response and significant lung damage. This pointed to the HA gene of the 1918 viruses as a critical factor for its pathogenicity. They also found that the viral RNA polymerase complex, viral enzymes necessary to ensure viral replication in the host, was a necessary virulent factor. The contemporary H1N1 virus is not detected in the lungs of infected animals. One of the distinguishing features of the 1918 virus was its ability to cause viral pneumonia. These studies showed that the recreated 1918 virus could replicate efficiently in the lungs of infected ferrets and non-human primates. It appears the RNA polymerase complex aids in the efficient spread of the virus to the lower respiratory tracts, and coupled with a specific HA, induces the type of fatal pneumonia encountered in the 1918-1919 pandemic. The resurrected 1918 influenza virus is the virus from the second wave of the pandemic. Though the first wave caused extensive infection, it was not highly lethal. It is not known whether the virus in the first wave was the same as in the second wave or if it underwent a genetic shift or reassorted with another flu virus that made it so lethal. There is evidence that suggests those who developed the flu in the first wave had protection against the second wave. Medical workers, nurses, and doctors treating the wounded and infected soldiers also came down with the flu but demonstrated much lower mortality, indicating a protective benefit from possible exposure to the virus during the first wave. The investigative work into the 1918 virus has enormous scientific interest. It also poses dangers. Under the control of military establishments and profit-driven healthcare corporations, the re-creation of a deadly virus could become the occasion for its development as a weapon of war, particularly if the disease can be targeted to specific populations through genetic engineering. It is hideous to contemplate, but there is little doubt that Pentagon planners envision a disease that disproportionately targets people of Chinese, Iranian or Arab ancestry, with (supposedly) less risk for those of European descent. Of course, given the power of mutation, such weapons would carry with them the prospect of the annihilation of humanity, just as surely as nuclear bombs. Even without the intervention of such biological Dr. Strangeloves, conditions in the world are rife with conflict and the dangers of a global war. Under such conditions, it is probable that pandemics may be a serious consequence, with food shortages, unsanitary conditions and lack of medical facilities all contributing. The destruction of Iraq in 2003, a nation with a population of 32.6 million people, has led to as much as one million deaths over a 15-year period, and this may be a conservative estimate. Sixty percent of these deaths were directly attributable to violence, with the rest due to the collapse of the infrastructure. References Barry, J. M., The Site of Origin of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic and Its Public Health Implications, Journal of Translational Medicine, 2004. Shanks, G. D., Brundage, J. F., Pathogenic Responses among Young Adults during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2012. Erkoreka, A., Origins of the Spanish Influenza Pandemic (1918-1920) and its relation to the First World War, Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine, 2009. Ansart, S., Valleron, A., Mortality Burden of the 1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic in Europe, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 2009. Wever, P. C., Berge, L. V., Death from 1918 Pandemic Influenza during the First World War: a perspective from personal and anecdotal evidence, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 2014. Morens, D. M., Fauci, A. S., The 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Insights for the 21st Century, Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2007. Taubenberger, J. K., Morens, D. M., 1918 Influenza: the Mother of all Pandemics, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2006. Reid, A. H., Taubenberger, J. K., Origin and Evolution of the 1918 Spanish Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Gene, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, 1999. Watanabe, T., Kawaoka, Y., Pathogenesis of the 1918 Pandemic Influenza Virus, PLoS Pathogens, 2011. Yesterday, after hundreds of thousands of people across France donned yellow vests and blockaded roads and intersections to oppose President Emmanuel Macrons fuel tax hike and his social attacks on working people, the French government announced the return to universal military service. In an interview yesterday with Le Parisien, Junior Minister for Youth Gabriel Attal, who is presenting the bill, said: My objective is to have the first draftees as early as June of 2019. The timing of this announcement underscored the close link between the ruling elites attempts to put entire generations of youth under military discipline, and its attempts to suppress social anger that is erupting among youth and workers in France and across Europe. As it announced the return to the draft, the government was threatening a new, violent police crackdown against continuing Yellow Vest protesters blockades Monday. Some 27,000 protesters were involved, blockading highways in the northeast and near the western coast of France, as well as strategic Total oil refineries in the south. With 183 protesters still in preventive detention after a heavy police crackdown on the weekends protests, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner threatened that Yellow Vest protesters would be thrown out systematically, methodically from their blockades during the week. Deblockading operations will continue in the coming hours, he announced last night, adding that he had asked police authorities to be ready to liberate fuel depots and other sensitive sites. He said, Freedom of expression and of protest is a fundamental right. But this liberty does not allow for lasting interference with freedom of movement or with commercial and economic life. I ask solemnly, but firmly, that those who want to demonstrate to continue demonstrating if they want, but without trying to create blockages and attack the liberty of others. With calls spreading on social media for a march on the Elysee presidential palace and for renewed mass blockading actions this coming weekend, the government is clearly planning for a major police crackdown against growing social opposition. The Macron governments return to the draft, after France abolished it in 1997, is part of a broad move across Europe to incite militarism and prepare for war. In 2017, Sweden re-established the draft as part of preparations for war with Russia, citing Russias annexation of Crimea, the conflict in Ukraine and the increased military activity in our neighborhood as pretexts for the move. In 2016, German authorities announced that they were also considering reinstating the draft. In France, Macron pledged to bring back the draft in a 2017 presidential campaign speech in which he declared: We have entered an epoch in international relations where war is again a possible outcome of politics. Beyond building infrastructure for a return to the draft if and when it is needed, however, its central purpose is to stoke nationalism and militarism, and shift the political atmosphere to the right. Now, Attal declared in a long set of feature articles about the draft published by Le Parisien, France will draft several hundred or even several thousand people next year, as a prelude to a program where men and women would be recruited before their final year in high school to do a month of military service. Attal said a possible target date is 2026, but we are studying faster possibilities. He added, Universal national service must reinforce the links between the army and the nation. The paper explained, Every year, around 800,000 boys and girls of the same age will be called up for a month, including 15 days when they will live collectively. They will then have the option of signing up for three more months of military service, and then possible recruitment into the armed forces. The governments attempts to give a fraudulent democratic gloss to its plans, and to deny their link to plans for military action or domestic repression, are shot through with crying contradictions. Attal claimed that France no longer needs to have an entire generation trained to handle weapons. He claimed the draft would allow for mixing social classes on the basis of the values of our Republicechoing, oddly, the purpose assigned by the state to the public school system. Academics interviewed by Le Parisien contested whether military service did this before its abolition in 1997. As youth entering the program were allowed to choose between various types of military and civil service, historian Benedicte Cheron said, Social mixing gradually ceased, and in 1997 you only had young men from the poorest social classes in the land armys combat units. Plans to bring back the draft, Le Parisien admitted, are highly unpopular among the youth, who have a confused and rather negative view of Macrons plans. This leads, the paper added, to a feeling that the program is useless that is widely held among French youth. It cynically recommended that Macron seek to market the draft by playing up claims that time spent in military service would help youth learn more about reacting in crisis situations and about activities linked to the environment and sustainable development. In fact, the purpose of restoring the draft is not to protect capitalist democracy by allowing young workers, middle class youth and scions of the financial aristocracy to rub shoulders in the barracks. Its aim is to impose military discipline on the youth to forcibly suppress social conflict, so that Macron can continue imposing his unpopular wars and austerity policies. Macrons return to the draft is a particularly striking illustration of how the bourgeoisies attempt to limit class conflict at home leads to militarism and the rise of the war danger internationally. The ruling elite sees the suppression of class conflict among the youth as particularly critical after the European Unions 2017 Generation What poll, which found that over half of European youth and nearly two-thirds of French youth want to join a mass uprising against the existing order. Le Parisien all but admitted this in its editorial, titled A moment to come together, writing: At a time when France is torn apart by divisions that threaten its unity, the idea of putting back in place a national service program seems to be a timely initiative. Macron underscored the militaristic character of this policy with his trip to Berlin this weekend during the Yellow Vest protests, during which he echoed his earlier calls to build a European army capable of confronting Russia, China and the United States. French officials at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year estimated that France would spend 300 billion by 2023 on the military buildup needed to realize Macrons plans. This weekend, Macron called for a stronger and more sovereign Europe that would not become the plaything of other powers and, referring to Franco-German collaboration on a European army, declared: The new Franco-German responsibility consists of giving Europe the tools it needs to reach sovereignty. On Monday, the powerful protests in France against inequality and government austerity continued in numerous regions across the country. Tens of thousands of participants in the Yellow Vest demonstrations maintained roadblocks and barricades. Traffic was heavily affected in the major cities. Bordeaux was practically brought to a standstill throughout the morning, and numerous important highways were blocked off. Dozens of fuel depots were affected by the actions, including in Toulouse and Rennes. On Reunion Island, barricades remained in place yesterday, with tense standoffs between demonstrators and police and calls by the local police prefecture for reinforcements from Paris. Many of the protesters have declared they intend to continue until the government gives in. Employer associations warned yesterday against a shutdown of the economy. However, as the transportation companies call for workers to stay away from the demonstrations, large numbers of drivers are supporting or joining it. A roadblock has already been called for Saturday in Paris. Last night, the Minister of the Interior, Christophe Castaner, announced his plan to break the roadblocks, invoking major security risks, particularly of terrorism, to which the massively mobilized police forces would be unable to respond. The protest movement, which includes workers, independent truck drivers and small businesspeople, was initiated via social media outside the control of the trade unions, which collaborate with the government in imposing austerity. It raises burning political issues. To move forward, the movement must turn to the working class, the only social force that is capable of securing a victory through struggle. A real opposition to the attacks by Macron and the super-rich can develop independently of the trade unions, which support the government and have made clear their hostility to the Yellow Vest protests from the outset. It can, moreover, only develop independently of the allies of the unions, including Jean-Luc Melenchons Unsubmissive France and the New Anticapitalist Party. To prevent the unions and pseudo-left groups from strangling the movementincluding by placing themselves at its head in order to derail it, demoralize it, and hand the initiative to the governmentworkers require organizations of struggle that are independent of the unions. It poses the question of which class holds power, and the building of a revolutionary leadership based on the perspective of the taking of power by the working class. Over the weekend, protesters in Marseille, Amiens and Paris spoke with the WSWS. In Marseille, Johanna, a public employee, and Sylvain, a site foreman in a pipe works, joined the protest. Johanna said, The taxes are a drop in the bucket. It has gone way beyond that. We have had enough. We are sure that there are other solutions, and weve had enough of being controlled by lobbyists. We want to go back to a democracy, with increases in the minimum wage, reduction in taxes and the right to accept all important laws by referendum. We are sure there are plenty of solutions. The people must take back the power. Sylvian added, Macron is continuing the work of his predecessors, but faster. Really we are sick of all these corrupt governments. We dont know who really runs the world. Its clear in every country. We hope this movement spreads everywhere. We can see public consciousness growing. We want to live properly. Weve had enough of watching people starving in Africa. We want to protect the planet and protect our jobs. It is a shame that the rail workers were on their own [when they went on strike this year]. The people werent there, but today, the people are waking up. The dockworkers fought for us. We were not there, but now the whole of France has to move. Lucie works taking orders at the Leclerc supermarket and department store. We are against the rise in taxes, she said. We will have less purchasing power. How will we be able to feed our families? Our salaries let us survive, not live. Macron is not listening to what were saying. He has to listen to us, understand us, and see the way we live. Even if we have to all fight together, we will change things. If you are here today its because you are not completely in agreement with the unions, because you dont believe what they say. This government is a catastrophe. It is killing France. We are fighting for our children and grandchildren. We hope we can push them back. Its a mess everywhere. The whole world is in a horrible state. I dont know how Macron will respond, but we are going to the end. She added that Macrons hailing of Petain made no sense. A retired participant at Porte Maillot station in Paris said: I came to protest because I think its always the same people who bear the cost of tax increases, the loss of purchasing power, and all of that. Today it is because of the diesel tax. Everyone knows the cost of diesel is 70 percent taxes. Personally, I am already retired. My wife and I have lost 1,000 euros in purchasing power every year. We cant continue like this. The people cannot. We will not allow it any longer. We dont live properly anymore. How can we? Anyone who doesnt have a roof over their head is finished. They say they will reduce the housing tax, but it is only 200 euros a year. How does this compare to 1,000 euros? In Amiens, a worker at the Clinique dEurope private hospital who was part of a group blocking the central station, said, as cars honked in support, With the retirement pension I am supposed to live on soon, I cannot accept price increases. His colleague added: Macron is the president of the rich. On Saturday, November 17, World Socialist Web Site reporters visited a tent camp set up outside of a Walmart near Chico, California, as well as parts of Paradise, California, which was destroyed by the Camp Fire. As of Monday evening, the official death count stood at 77, but nearly 1,000 are still missing. Residents we spoke with expect the death toll to be far higher. Start slideshow There is growing ager and outrage among residents of the area and beyond at the catastrophe caused by corporate neglect and government indifference. US Vice President Mike Pence used Asian summit meetings over the past week to set out an ultimatum to China that accelerates the drive to war. Either China bows to the demands of American imperialism and accepts a subservient, semi-colonial status, or it will confront the full force of US diplomatic, economic and ultimately military weight. Speaking at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Pence accused China of taking advantage of the United States for many, many years and declared those days are over. He bluntly warned that the US will not change course until China changes its ways and warned that the US could more than double the existing massive tariffs on Chinese goods. Pence effectively ruled out any deal between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina later this month. He told the Washington Post en route to Singapore that Xi had to come to the summit with concrete proposals not just on the US trade deficit with China, but across a broad range of issuespolitical and military as well as economic. Pence insisted that China had to change its ways on alleged intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, restricted access to Chinese markets, disrespect for international rules and norms, efforts to limit freedom of navigation in international waters and Chinese Communist Party interference in the politics of Western countries. The vice presidents comments reprise the belligerent anti-China speech that he delivered in October that has set the tone of the Trump administrations intensifying confrontation with China. In effect, Washington is insisting that Beijing abandon plans to develop hi-tech industries to compete with US companies, further open up China to American corporate exploitation, bow to the international rules-based system determined by the US, and halt any efforts to counter increasingly aggressive anti-Chinese propaganda. Pence also threw down the challenge to Chinas Belt and Road Initiativea massive infrastructure strategy aimed at integrating China more closely across the Eurasian landmass in a bid to prevent encirclement by the US and its allies. In a hypocritical attack on China, Pence told the APEC meeting: Know that the US offers a better option. We dont drown our partners in a sea of debt, we dont coerce, or compromise your independence We dont offer a constricting belt or a one-way road. Pence effectively sabotaged the APEC summit, which for the first time in its 29 years did not issue a final communique, after the US insisted on wording that implied changes to the World Trade Organisation that would undermine China. The most sinister aspect of Pences remarks concerns US military actions focused on the South China Sea where the Trump administration has stepped up so-called freedom of navigation operations by provocatively sending warships and nuclear-capable bombers to intrude in waters and airspace claimed by China. Pence insisted that such military provocations would continue despite the danger that an incident could lead to open conflict. A near collision occurred in late September between a US destroyer and a Chinese vessel, which Washington has blamed on the Chinese navy. In reality, it is the reckless US actions in waters thousands of kilometres from American territory, but close to sensitive Chinese military bases, that are responsible. Speaking to the media, Pence declared: We will not be intimidated. We will not stand down. Asked what would happen if Beijing did not agree to act in a way that could avoid a Cold War with the US, Pence replied: Then so be it. We are here to stay. In reality, what is brewing is not a new version of the Cold War between the US and the former Soviet Union, but a return to the 1930s when trade war, military provocations and clashes led rapidly to the eruption of a world war that cost the lives of tens of millions. Unlike in the 1950s and 1960s, when the United States was economically predominant globally and the Soviet Union posed no economic challenge, US imperialism is in historic decline and regards China, now the worlds second largest economy, as a major threat to its world hegemony. Washingtons strategy is not Cold War containment, but the roll-back policy, which, before it was abandoned, brought the US to the brink of all-out conflict with China and the Soviet Union during the Korean War. Beginning under the Obama administrations pivot to Asia and accelerated under Trump, the Pentagon is engaged in a massive military build-up and a strengthening of alliances and strategic partnerships throughout the Indo-Pacific region. It is no accident that Pence announced US support for Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) establishing a major new joint military base on PNGs Manus Island. The strategically-located island was used by American military forces during the Pacific war against Japan. The new Manus facility is part of the Pentagons extensive restructuring of US bases in Asia, supplemented by new basing agreements, that encircle China from Japan, South Korea and Guam, to northern Australia and Singapore and then to India. Earlier this year, before becoming chief of US Pacific Command, Admiral Philip Davidson told a Senate committee that he would recalibrate PACOMs 375,000 military and civilian personnel, 200 warships and nearly 1,100 aircraft, in line with the Pentagons new national defense strategy. Unveiled in January, the strategy document made great power rivalry, not terrorism, the chief focus and specifically branded China, along with Russia, as revisionist powers that had to be combated. Outlining his plans for PACOM, Davidson declared: This effort entails ensuring the continued combat readiness of assigned forces in the western Pacific; developing an updated footprint that accounts for Chinas rapid modernization, and pursuing agreements with host nations that allow the United States to project power when necessary. He pointed to new weaponry including hypersonic and directed energy weapons, resilient space, cyber and network-capabilities being developed in preparation for war with China. The most ominous US move is the recent decision to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with the former Soviet Union, which frees the Pentagon to build up a new arsenal of short and medium-range nuclear missiles that will be targeted primarily at China. The Pentagons previous AirSea Battle strategy for war with China, involving a massive conventional air and missile attack on the Chinese mainland from nearby bases, is now being supplemented or replaced by plans for a devastating nuclear attack. The Trump administration is setting course for a catastrophic war with China that will inevitably involve the deaths of many millions, if not billions, of people. In founding the Fourth International in 1938, on the eve of World War II, Leon Trotsky warned that humanity faced only two alternatives: either socialism or barbarism. A new revolutionary International, opposed to the treacherous Social Democratic and Stalinist leaderships, was needed to mobilise and unite workers around the world to abolish capitalism and its outmoded division of the world into rival nation states. That is the challenge confronting the international working class todayto join and build the International Committee of the Fourth International and its sections, which are the only parties fighting for the perspective of socialist internationalism. A young Texas man has escaped the threat of life imprisonment on false charges of burglary, leveled by an ex-girlfriend, because a selfie taken with his mother proved he could not have committed the crime. Media reports brought the outrageous frame-up to national attention this week, five months after the charges were dropped. The police apparently did not even conduct an interview with the young man before arresting him, the procedure normally carried out to determine whether a suspect has an alibi and may be wrongly accused. The case is a warning of the dangers inherent in efforts to undermine the presumption of innocence and the claim that all accusers must be believedcentral themes of the #MeToo movement promoted by leading media outlets such as the New York Times. Christopher Precopia, 21, was arrested on September 22, 2017, at his job, on a warrant filed by Bell County, Texas, where his former girlfriend lives. She charged that he had broken into her home and attacked her, carving an X onto her skin. The arrest warrant claimed that police in Temple, Texas, received a report of an assault with weapons. A policeman was sent to the home of the girlfriend, and she said that Precopia came towards her in an aggressive manner and pushed her to the ground, punched her in the face and cut her with a box cutter. According to a local television report, the woman declared in a handwritten statement, I could hear the slices being made and it stung a lot, adding that she escaped her attackers grasp, grabbed her Taser, turned, and he was gone. Precopia was charged with first-degree felony burglary of a habitation with intent to commit additional felonies, with a potential sentence of up to 99 years if convicted, under the savagery that passes for law in Texas. His parents took out $150,000 in loans to post bond for him and hire a lawyer. The young woman and Precopia had dated for six weeks some three years before the alleged attack, when Precopia was a 17-year-old high school senior and she was a 15-year-old sophomore. The two parted bitterly and had no contact for more than two years. Precopia did not even know where she lived. Sometime after the arrest, while the case was proceeding toward trial, Precopias mother Erin realized that she had evidence proving Christopher could not have committed the crime. She had taken a selfie with her son and two friends at an event at a hotel in Austin, Texas, 70 miles away, at about time the assault was supposed to have occurred, on September 20, 2017, at 7:20 p.m. Metadata for the photo, reviewed by a forensic expert hired by the prosecutors office, proved it was taken at 7:02 p.m. The two friends and other witnesses confirmed Precopias presence at the hotel. Other electronic data, giving the location of Precopias cellphone, also verified his alibi. Bell County District Attorney Henry Garza said the charge against Precopia was dropped on June 21 in the interests of justice after Precopias lawyer brought the selfie to the prosecutors office. In response to media inquiries last week, Garza said that no charges had been brought against the young woman who had accused Precopia, although the case was still under review. Precopias lawyer, Rick Flores, told the press, He was very fortunate that she chose a date and time that he just happened to have a rock-solid alibi for. Either the day before or the day after, Flores added, Precopias alibi would have been that he was sitting at home watching television, and he would likely be facing life in prison. The arrest for a violent felony entirely disrupted life for Precopia and his parents for nine months and could have destroyed his future entirely. Sri Lankan parliament convened for less than ten minutes yesterday before being adjourned amid ongoing conflicts between warring factions of the ruling elite. President Maithripala Sirisena issued a note after the gathering thanking party leaders and parliamentarians for adopting a peaceful and consensual course of action. Sirisenas note was a thinly-veiled reference to the fact that, unlike last week, yesterdays brief session did not break out in violent clashes between rival members of parliament. Leaders of the competing factions of the political establishment are fearful that such public displays of thuggery will further undermine their bogus claims to be champions of democracy. Parliaments public gallery was closed yesterday amid expectations of further clashes. Large contingents of police commandos were deployed around the building. Despite Sirisenas hosannas to peaceful and consensual conduct, the factional warfare within the political establishment is deepening. A meeting of all parliamentary parties on Sunday ended without any agreement. At the gathering, Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapakse, who he appointed as prime minister in an unconstitutional political coup on October 26, sought to block no confidence motions brought by their opponents. Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from the United National Party (UNP) successfully pushed a no confidence motion through parliament last Friday. The UNP is claiming that it holds a parliamentary majority and is demanding that Wickremesinghe be reinstalled as prime minister. Sirisena, however, insisted that Fridays vote was invalid and that such a motion could only be passed through an electronic ballot or by a roll call. UNP leaders had flagged that they would introduce another no confidence motion yesterday, which their rivals threatened to block. Rajapakse loyalists stymied the move by preventing it from being included on the agenda of the parliamentary meeting. Both factions eventually agreed to appoint a select committee to make further decisions on parliamentary affairs. During the brief parliamentary session, the Rajapakse faction demanded a majority in the committee on the grounds that it represents the government. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), countered, with the support of the UNP, that there is no government. Dissanayake said select committee representation must be based on the number of seats each party holds. The JVP is effectively supporting the UNPs bid to return to power and establish a stable government of the ruling elite. After these exchanges, the deputy speaker adjourned parliament until Friday. Yesterday, several UNP MPs with the backing of the JVP and the Tamil National Alliance presented a motion to the secretary of the parliament calling for funds to be restricted to the prime minister and his office. The four days until the next meeting of parliament will be used by the rival factions for horse-trading aimed at establishing a majority. Wickremesinghe will seek to retain and increase his majority, while Rajapakse will attempt to bribe and bully MPs into his camp. After Rajapakse was appointed as prime minister, Sirisena prorogued parliament to try and give him time to secure a majority. After this failed, Sirisena dissolved parliament but was blocked by an interim decision of the Supreme Court. Sirisena is on record stating that throughout the sordid jockeying, MPs have been bought and sold for prices of up to 500 million rupees. There are allegations that the president himself has engaged in such activities. The Sirisena and Rajapakse-led faction on one hand and Wickremesinghes supporters have continued to claim that they are seeking to defend democracy. Rajapakse supporters declared at a press conference yesterday that the only way out to the crisis was a general election. Rajapakse has been making such calls since his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party won a majority of councils in Februarys local government elections. In its media briefing, leaders of the Wickremesinghe faction said they were opposed to an election being held while an illegal government was in power. As the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) statement Fight for a socialist solution to the political crisis in Sri Lanka explained: Neither faction of the ruling class defends the basic democratic rights of working people. Parliament has always been a smokescreen behind which the bourgeoisie ruthlessly advances its class interests at the expense of workers and the poor. Now this facade is being dropped even as the rival parties declare their fealty to democracy. The bitter infighting is about how best to defend the interests of Sri Lankas capitalist class amid mounting social and geopolitical tensions. Sirisena came to power in the 2015 presidential election by exploiting widespread hostility to Rajapakses autocratic regime, including its war crimes and gross abuses of democratic rights during its communal war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Sirisenas 2015 bid was backed by the US. Washington was not opposed to Rajapakses anti-democratic measures, but was hostile to his close ties to Beijing, under conditions of a US confrontation with China throughout the region. In the present crisis, Washington has indicated that it is deeply concerned that a new Sirisena-Rajapakse government could orient towards Beijing, undermining US influence on the geo-strategically critical island. The US, along with its close ally India, have signalled their support for Wickremesinghe, who has in turn issued appeals to the international community to back his phony campaign for democracy. Behind their posturing, all factions of the ruling elite are committed to suppressing the emerging struggles of the working class. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe unity government, established in 2015, imposed sweeping attacks on the living conditions of working people as part of an International Monetary Fund dictated austerity program. These measures sparked a series of struggles among key sections of workers, and students. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government repeatedly responded by deploying the military and the police against protests and pickets. Sections of the ruling elite are fearful that the violent infighting within the ruling elite is exacerbating widespread social opposition, and destabilising Sri Lankas relations with the major powers. Last weekends Sunday Island editorial stated: Making Sri Lankas name mud both at home and abroad, as they have been doing in parliament for three days between Wednesday and Friday last week, is something that affects all the people. The Sunday Times editorial declared: While these politicians battle it outas their lives depend on its outcome, in a power grab that has gone awfully wrong, the rest of the country remains baffled, disgusted and in a state of animated suspense. It bluntly warned: If the standoff continues as the world watches, this country will soon slide from the brink of anarchy Lanka into a pariah state. The breakdown of the old forms of parliamentary rule, which were always aimed at defending the interests of the ruling elite, is a warning to the working class. It presages an ever-more direct turn to dictatorial and authoritarian forms of rule. The working class can only defend its democratic and social rights by breaking with all factions of the ruling elite, and rallying behind it the poor and oppressed. What is needed is a fight for a workers and peasants government that would begin reorganising society in the interests of ordinary people, as part of the fight for international socialism. We urge workers and youth to take up this fight by joining the SEP. A database compiled by the Guardian and the Undercover Research Group, activists that scrutinise police espionage, has shed light on the extent of state spying on political groups between 1968 and 2011. Over 1,000 political groups were targeted by undercover police agents, with the overwhelming majority left-wing organisations. According to the new database, it is known that covert police agents spied on at least 22 left-wing/socialist groups, 10 environmental groups, 9 anti-racist campaigns and 9 anarchist groups, as well as 17 justice campaign groups. This is in addition to several trade unions and to campaigns against apartheid, war, the arms trade, nuclear weapons and the monarchy. By contrast, only three far right-groups were targetedthe British National Party, Combat 18 and United British Alliance, involving only five agents in total. According to the information obtained, the Socialists Workers Party (SWP), known as the International Socialists until 1977, was the primary known victim of police spying. Twenty-four undercover agents were deployed by police to infiltrate the party between 1970 and 2007. Undercover officers were in the organisation almost continuously during this 37-year period, often with more than one officer embedded at a given time. Four of the 24 officers who infiltrated the SWP deceived women into forming sexual relationships with them, before abandoning them once their spying operations were complete. One spy, whose name has not been released, married an unsuspecting female party member and fathered a child with her as part of his efforts to build his cover story. The emotional suffering inflicted can only be imagined. The database was compiled using a variety of sources, as the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UPI)set up in 2015 supposedly with the aim of investigating police spying between 1968 and 2011has refused to release full details of those involved. As well as the minimal official list, the database draws on information garnered from the Undercover Research Groups own investigations and from whistle-blowers, including Peter Francis, a former undercover officer and UPI core participant. Due to the dearth of information supplied by the UPI, the database lists only 124 of the 1,000 groups spied on by the police since 1968. It includes information only about groups targeted by spies from the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), the two Special Branch units responsible for carrying out much of the police infiltration. The SDS was active between 1968 and 2008, and the NPOIU between 1999 and 2011. Many police spies worked within left-wing organisations for five years or more, with one infiltrator, using the name Dave Evans, working within the SWP for seven years. Another SWP infiltrator in the 1980s, Alan Bond, stole the name of a dead child for his fake identity. The new data shows that other organisations infiltrated included the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (VSC), an anti-war popular front organisation established in 1966 and largely dominated by the Pabloite International Marxist Group (IMG). The VSC was penetrated by nine covert officers between 1968 and 1972. This is only the tip of an iceberg. Information revealed by ex-MI5 agents Peter Wright and David Shayler, among others, indicates that the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP)until 1986 the British section of the International Committee of the Fourth Internationaland its predecessor, the Socialist Labour League (SLL), were the main targets of undercover police operations from the late 1960s onwards. The database gave information about only two of the police spies infiltrating the WRP, cover names Michael Scott and Peter Collins, who penetrated the group in 1971-1976 and 1973-1977. But in a House of Lords debate on combating the influence of subversive and extremist elements in our society in January 1975, Lord Chalfont singled out the WRP, declaring it to be one of the most important revolutionary group[s]. The Earl of Kimberley warned that the WRP must not be dismissed as just another fringe movement. It is by far the most dangerous of the Trotskyist organisations in this country. It is larger, better organised, and, from the point of view of industrial agitation, more intelligently led than its rivals. This extensive infiltration, carried out over multiple decades, is a fundamental attack on democratic rights. The Socialist Equality Party demands that all details of the spying operations be fully and immediately disclosed. In 2015, the SEP sent a letter to the UPI demanding the immediate release of the names of all undercover police operatives, especially those active in the Workers Revolutionary Party (and its forerunners and successor organisations), their pseudonyms and dates of operation. Lord Pitchford, the chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry at the time, refused to investigate police surveillance of the SLL and WRP, despite the evidence from ex-MI5 agents and others. This only confirmed the UPIs essential role as a police cover-up and exercise in damage limitation. The inquiry was only convoked after activists and journalists uncovered damaging evidence of state surveillance and legal challenges had been launched for compensation. Unable to keep a lid on the scandal, then-Home Secretary Theresa May launched the inquiry in 2015. Since then, nearly 200 victims have been named as core participants, though the true numbers affected likely run into the thousands. From the outset, the inquiry did not require the police to reveal their operations and accepted as participants only some of those who already knew themselves to be victims. The SDS alone employed 201 people over its 40 years of existence. Three years later, and at a cost of nearly 12 million, the inquiry is still in the evidence-gathering stage. No single piece of substantive evidence has been heard in public due to police legal applications for anonymity. Instead, anonymous police officers will give private evidence to a judge, who will produce a final report in 2023 at the earliest. Other organisations, including MI5s F-Branch, are known to have undertaken extensive counter-subversion spying operations. F-Branch, which was active until 1988, particularly targeted the Trotskyist movement, focusing particular attention on the SLL/WRP. A section of F-Branch, F6, dealt with Trotskyist and radical organisations, while another section, F7, specifically monitored the Workers Revolutionary Party and SWP. The former head of MI5, Stella Rimmington, director general from 1992 to 1996, admitted in 2017 that spying on the Trotskyist movement was a central part of its operations: I now see in [pro-Jeremy Corbyn] Momentum some of the people we were looking at in the Trotskyist organisation of the 1980s, now grown up and advising our would-be prime minister Mr. Corbyn on how to prepare himself for powertheir names are familiar, shall we say that much? Even though it has been revealed to be one of the most prominent victims of police infiltration, the pseudo-left SWP has produced one 201-word article on the revelations. The SWPs response was to declare that the figures are further proof that the British state is not neutral and that The best response is to keep up the fight against the system the spymasters defend. In opposition to such an unserious response, workers and young people must recognise the vast extent of police spying as a serious and still-present threat. The author also recommends: UK inquiry refuses to investigate police spying on Workers Revolutionary Party [9 August 2016] Was there a high-level MI5 agent in the British Workers Revolutionary Party? [2 March 2000] Just prior to the state election in Victoria on November 24, the Victorian Socialists are promoting the Labor Party and the Greens as progressive parties. Several pseudo-left groups formed the Victorian Socialists earlier this year as an electoral front. The main organisations involved are Socialist Alliance, which was formerly the Democratic Socialist Party and internationally affiliated with Pabloite parties; Socialist Alternative, a state capitalist group with ties to the US-based International Socialist Organization; and the supporters of Stephen Jolly, a Yarra City council member and former leader of the Socialist Party, affiliated with the British-based Committee for a Workers International. Nominal differences between these organisations have been set aside with the aim of winning a seat in the Victorian parliaments upper house. The campaign waged by the Victorian Socialists has borne out the assessment made by the World Socialist Web Site following the organisations formation and manifesto launch. Representing the interests not of the working class but of a layer of the middle class, the Victorian Socialists have attempted to channel the emerging shift to the left among workers and youth back behind the parliamentary apparatus. The Victorian Socialists are trying to revive illusions that the Labor Party and the Greens can be pressured via the ballot box and street protests to represent the interests of ordinary people, rather than finance capital and big business. The overarching concern is to block the development of a genuine socialist and internationalist movement, which is fought for only by the Socialist Equality Party. The Victorian Socialists have seized on anti-democratic compulsory preferential voting laws as another vehicle to promote the Labor Party and Greens. The intricacies of Victorias electoral laws require registered parties standing for the upper house of parliament to rank, in order of preference, all other parties contesting the election. After the major parties have secured the necessary quota of votes to secure parliamentary seats in their own right, the remaining seats are decided by eliminating those parties that received the fewest votes and distributing their nominated preferences to other parties until the quota is reached. A genuine Marxist party fielding candidates within this system would denounce the anti-democratic character of these mechanisms and do everything possible to counter illusions that one or another capitalist party represents a left-wing alternative or even lesser evil to its rivals. The Victorian Socialists, however, have done precisely the opposite. Their stated opposition to the compulsory preference system amounts to little more than a complaint that their lead candidate, Stephen Jolly in Melbournes Northern Metropolitan district, may be hindered in his efforts of securing a place in parliament because of the preference deals worked out behind closed doors by a multitude of small right-wing parties. According to the Age newspaper, electoral operative Glenn Druery has charged $5,000 per party contesting the election to be part of his preference swap arrangements, with an additional fee of $50,000 for parties that win a parliamentary seat. Preference swaps could see candidates that receive less than 1 percent of the primary vote end up sitting in parliament. The Victorian Socialists boast that they are standing on principle by not joining Druerys operations. This is a fraudone form of political opportunism is merely being promoted against another. For the pseudo-left, promoting Labor, the Greens, and allied minor parties constitutes a principled stance on preferential voting. The Victorian Socialists declared in a statement via social media on November 14: Wherever you stand in the contest between Labor and the Greens, if you vote 1 Victorian Socialists in the upper house (Legislative Council) you can help elect Stephen Jolly to the parliament confident that your vote will not hurt the chances of Labor or the Greens. Our preferences will go 100% to progressive partiesthe Greens, Reason, Animal Justice and Laborbefore any of the right-wing parties or Druery micro parties. Victorian Socialists are the ONLY party you can vote 1 for and be sure that if we arent elected, your vote will go to a progressive candidate. The Victorian Socialists are also promoting as progressive openly right-wing parties. The Reason Party (formerly Sex Party) is a libertarian-based parliamentary group that is funded by, and advocates for, the prostitution industry. Animal Justice is a reactionary deep green organisation, which has swapped preferences with right-wing parties. Most significantly, the Labor Party and the Greens are potentially on the eve of forming a governing coalition that will accelerate the corporate elites assault on working peoples jobs, working conditions, and democratic rights (see: Australian Greens pursue right-wing coalition government with Labor in Victoria). The pseudo-lefts claim that such a government would be progressive is an attempt to politically disarm the working class. Only by consciously breaking with the entire political establishment can workers and youth advance their independent interestsand this is precisely what the Victorian Socialists campaign is directed against. The pseudo-lefts have clearly signalled their determination to line up alongside a Labor-Greens government against the working class. One feature of the regroupment efforts of the pseudo-lefts has been their adamant refusal to say a single word on any political issue of relevance beyond the state boundaries of Victoria. The accelerating trade war between the US and China, the growing danger of war between the worlds leading powers, Australian military backing for the US, the Trump administrations attacks on refugees and immigrants, the rise of fascistic forces in Europe, the further US onslaught in the Middle East and the US-led persecution of Julian Assangenone of these issues have prompted a single statement by the Victorian Socialists. This silence represents more than a mere opportunistic attempt to present a realistic appeal on local issueswhich itself amounts to nothing more than an effort to revive parliamentary reformist illusions. The pseudo-lefts promote pro-imperialist politics, with Socialist Alternative, one of the main groups behind the Victoria Socialists, serving for years as the cheerleader for the US-led regime change drive in Syria. The Victorian Socialists silence on the international issues confronting the working class has not prevented them from securing the backing of pseudo-left figureheads around the world. This includes Britains Tariq Ali, who famously dedicated a book to Boris Yeltsin while hailing the socialist credentials of Mikhail Gorbachev as capitalism was being forcibly restored in the Soviet Union through the looting and sell-off of public assets. The Victorian Socialists campaign has been likewise endorsed as one of the encouraging developments that offer some hope by American academic Noam Chomskywho for more than a decade has promoted every right-wing, militarist Democratic Party candidate running for president. Workers and young people looking to take up the fight for socialism need to reject the fake leftism of the Victorian Socialists and all their pseudo-left accomplices and instead turn to the revolutionary and internationalist perspective that is advanced by the Socialist Equality Party. A woman spoke of her 16-year-old daughter who died after being denied chemotherapy for leukemia because she was in the early weeks of pregnancy. A nurse described how a woman who was experiencing heavy bleeding after self-inducing an abortion was forced by medical providers to wait for treatment as "punishment" -- only to lose too much blood to be saved. An outreach worker remembered the mentally disabled 14-year-old girl who became pregnant at 12, probably by her father, and received no care. Stories like these are revealed in a new Human Rights Watch report, released Monday, that focuses on the effect of a total government ban on abortions in the Dominican Republic. Abortion Abortion rights Caribbean Continents and regions Dominican Republic Health and health care (by demographic group) Health and medical Human Rights Watch Latin America Maternal and child health Medical fields and specialties Medical treatments and procedures Obstetrics and gynecology Political advocacy groups Political organizations Pregnancy and childbirth Sexual and reproductive health Societal issues Society The Americas Women's health Diseases and disorders Miscarriages Pregnancy complications The Caribbean nation is one of just 26 countries around the globe that prohibit -- even criminalize -- the procedure with no exceptions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy group focused on reproductive health and rights. And the Dominican Republic is one of six countries in the Caribbean and Latin America to maintain restrictions, no matter the circumstances. Article 37 in the country's Constitution, which also prohibits the death penalty in all circumstances, reads, "The right to life is inviolable from conception until death." But just because abortions are outlawed doesn't mean they don't happen. In fact, Guttmacher has reported that incidence of abortions are no less frequent -- but are less safe -- when they are restricted. And in Latin America and the Caribbean, where 97% of women and girls of reproductive age live in a place with restrictive abortion laws, the rate of abortion has increased, rising 9 percentage points between the early 1990s and 20 years later, Guttmacher found. In a nation where the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance reports that nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned or unwanted, the lack of safe and legal options for abortion has real consequences, the report shows. "Women and girls in the Dominican Republic have always defied the abortion ban, but they have been forced to put their health and lives on the line to end pregnancies clandestinely," said Margaret Wurth, senior women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch and the report's author. They've tried home remedies, sipped special teas and denied themselves food or water. They've taken prescriptions that aren't supposed to be taken while pregnant, have ingested or inserted other pills to terminate their pregnancies and have tried to harm themselves. One woman reported using a concrete block to beat her belly. 'Fear that permeates everything' Human Rights Watch interviewed 167 people for this report. Included were 50 women and girls who'd experienced unplanned or unwanted pregnancies and dozens of others -- such as health providers, social service professionals and other officials. Women with resources who want to terminate their pregnancies may be able to travel outside the country or, with the help of their connections, arrange for abortions through safe clandestine providers. But those who are poor or living in rural parts of the country don't have these options, Wurth said. They are left with two choices: have babies they don't want or fend for themselves to end their pregnancies. Adolescent girls, who often lack access to contraception and information, she said, are especially vulnerable. Add to this Article 317 in the Dominican Republic's penal code, which threatens prison sentences when it comes to abortion. Women and girls who self-induce or consent to abortions, and medical providers who provide illegal abortions, face the risk of serving time behind bars. In practice, while abortions are against the law even to save the life of a woman or girl, the United Nations reports that "general principles of criminal legislation allow abortions to be performed for this reason on the grounds of necessity." But this exception doesn't help every woman or girl who feels she needs an abortion. Prosecutions and arrests are rare, but fear of both persists -- often preventing people from seeking or offering help, Wurth explained. Even women who have had miscarriages, she said, admit being afraid to enter hospitals because they might be falsely accused of having induced an abortion. "Criminal penalties create fear that permeates everything," the report's author said. It means women and girls believe that "Going to the hospital and saying I had an abortion means I'm going to jail." As a result, complications like heavy bleeding or pain go untended to and, in the worst cases, kill. A perforated uterus and tissue remaining in the uterus that leads to sepsis are two examples of what can go horribly wrong. Even with the fear of arrest, "there are an estimated 25,000 hospitalizations for abortion and miscarriage in the public health system every year, many of which are women needing care after a clandestine abortion," the report says. This information came from Dr. Jose Mordan, the head of the Department of Family Health at the Ministry of Public Health, in an email he sent this month to Human Rights Watch, the report states. He also said that at least 8% of maternal deaths in the Dominican Republic result from illegal abortions or miscarriages. Some of the girls and women who did seek medical help after experiencing complications talked to Human Rights Watch about being mistreated and abused by care providers. They reported name-calling, being denied pain medications and even undergoing surgical procedures without anesthesia. But mixed in too are those in the medical community who put their patients first, laws be damned, the report shows. "Sometimes you have your hands tied. You don't know what to do. You have the law telling you that you can't do it [perform an abortion]," one doctor told Human Rights Watch researchers. "But it doesn't work like that. ... My job is to preserve the woman's life. If I have to violate the law, I will." 'A starting point' A poll taken in the Dominican Republic by a research organization shows that 79% of those surveyed believe abortion should be decriminalized in certain cases. And protesters, demanding change, took to the streets in July. A coalition of groups, ob-gyns, the ministry of health and even President Danilo Medina support legalizing abortion in three circumstances, Wurth said: when the life of a woman or girl is endangered, when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, and when the pregnancy is unviable and the fetus won't survive outside the womb. Medina has objected to the penal code a number of times, encouraging decriminalization in these three circumstances. In a letter to the president of the Senate in 2016, obtained by Human Rights Watch, he called these exceptions "extreme circumstances, terrible, but that occur in daily life, and which we as legitimate representatives of the people, should give responses in accordance with the Constitution and with our values." So far, though, the laws remain the same. It's on the National Congress to enact this kind of reform -- and Wurth is hopeful that it will. Other countries, like Ireland this year and Chile last year, have eased abortion restrictions. And the Guttmacher Institute reports that 27 countries, between 2000 and 2017, reformed their laws to increase legal abortion access. Why not the Dominican Republic too, Wurth asked, even if it's limited to three circumstances? "It would be a starting point," she said. "There's no place in modern democracy for a ban on abortion." Man of Medan 'Friend's Pass' Available Now, Invite a Player to Join You For Free The killings of Bella and Celeste Watts and their mother, Shanann Watts, were not quick and they were far from painless, Colorado prosecutors revealed Monday at the sentencing for their killer, family patriarch Chris Watts. Authorities for the first time confirmed the causes of death of Chris three victims: his wife, 34-year-old Shanann (who was 15 weeks pregnant with their son, Nico) and daughters Bella, 4, and 3-year-old Celeste. Addressing the court at Chris Monday morning sentencing hearing for the murders, Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said the killings were violent almost beyond comprehension. There are no words to adequately describe the unimaginable tragedy that brings us before this court today, he told the judge. Im not even going to try to express the horror, the pain or the suffering the defendant has caused to these families and to this community and to all who were part of this investigation, Rourke continued. Since Shanann and her girls were first reported missing in August, he said, The questions that have screamed out to anyone who will listen since Aug. 13 of 2018 are: Why and how? For the first time, after months of secrecy, prosecutors confirmed their basic understanding of Chris motive for murder and they detailed the unbearable intimacy of how he chose to kill his wife and children. Shanann, Rourke told the court, was strangled by hand he slowly took her life. Not vengefully, not in a rage after watching Shanann attack daughter Celeste, as Chris had claimed to authorities. Rourke said Shananns body bore no signs of a violent struggle. On her neck were only the bruises left behind by her husbands fingers. We know that our experts tell us that it takes two to four minutes to strangle someone to death manually with their own hands, Rourke said. The horror that she felt as the man that she loved wrapped his hands around her throat and choked the life out of her must have been unimaginable. Story continues RELATED: Chris Watts Parents Tearfully Address Him in Court After He Murdered Wife & Kids We Forgive You Bella (left) and Celeste Watts Shan'ann Watts (center) and her daughters Daughters Bella and Celeste were smothered, Rourke said. Celeste, like her mother, showed no external injuries. But Bella fought for her life. Rourke said her body showed that she bit her tongue as she was killed. She fought back for her life as her father smothered her, he said. He told the judge: Imagine the horror in Bellas mind as her father took her last breaths away. Rourke said the murders were committed early on Aug. 13, not long after Shanann returned from a weekend work trip in Arizona. He said that, according to Chris, the Watts had had an emotional conversation about the state of their marriage before Chris murdered Shanann, Bella and Celeste. RELATED: Behind the Scenes of Family Murderer Chris Watts Surprising Guilty Plea Rourke did not elaborate on where in the family home the murders were committed. Other than raising the specter of Shanann being asleep or unconscious when she was strangled, he did not provide other details of the crime. After his wife and kids were dead, Chris loaded their bodies into his truck and hid them on a remote oil work site where they were found days later. Chris motive was simple, Rourke said: He had a desire for a fresh start, to begin a new relationship with a new love. (Chris was having an affair with a co-worker at the time, police have said.) Even with that knowledge, however, Rourke said at Mondays sentencing that the triple murder was impossible for others to fully process. Chris Watts (left) in court in August Why did this have to happen? How could a seemingly normal husband and father annihilate his entire family for what? he said. These are the questions that only one individual in this courtroom or on this planet knows the answers to. I fully expect we will not receive the answers to these questions today nor will we at any point in the future. Rourke continued, I dont expect that he [Chris] will ever tell the truth about what truly happened or why. Even if he did, theres no rational way that any human being could find those answers except those responsible to such horrific questions. The best we can do is piece together some kind of understanding from the evidence that is available to us. The evidence tells us this: The defendant coldly and deliberately ended four lives, not in a fit of rage, not by way of accident, but in a calculated and sickening manner. RELATED: Chris Watts Mistress Breaks Silence About Affair He Lied About Everything After Rourkes statement and statements from Shananns family and Chris parents, the judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. (Chris surprisingly pleaded guilty to the murders earlier this month, in a deal to avoid the death penalty.) Through his attorney, Chris said on Monday that he was sincerely sorry. But he declined to speak himself. Shananns family, however, had much to say to him. Said her brother, Frankie Rzucek: What kind of person slaughters the people they love the most? On Tuesday, Donald Trump stuck with the presidential tradition of pardoning a turkey before Thanksgiving. A vote on the White House website earned a turkey named Peas the right to a pardon, while his alternate, Carrots, might not be so lucky. This was a fair election. Unfortunately, Carrots refused to concede and demanded a recount and we are fighting with Carrots, Trump said, receiving some light laughter. We have come to a conclusion. Carrots, I'm sorry to tell you the result did not change.Along with sending a message of unity during his speech, Trump, of course, used the made-for-tv event to take a few digs at Democrats as well.Even though Peas and Carrots have received a presidential pardon, I have warned them that house Democrats are likely to issue them both subpoenas, Trump joked. The event comes on the heels of Trump issuing a statement implying that the US will not punish the Saudi crown prince for his alleged role in the murder of journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. But that didnt stop the president's attempts at humor from coming in hot.Nonetheless in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I will be issuing both Peas and Carrots a presidential pardon, Trump continued. Unfortunately, I can't guarantee that they won't be enjoined by the ninth circuit. Always happens.And even though Americans will consume around 46 million turkeys this holiday, Peas is safe for now.Peas, I hereby grant you a full pardon, Trump said.Check out what Cindy McCain had to say about Donald Trump in her first interview since the passing of her husband, John McCain: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. Former Ohio Judge Once Imprisoned for Beating His Wife Is Accused of Killing Her Years Later Noted Local Judge Brutally Beat His Wife, Then Years Later He's Accused of Murdering Her A former Ohio judge who went to prison for beating his then-wife in 2014 is now accused of fatally stabbing her in front of their children, according to multiple reports. Ex-Cuyahoga County judge Lance Mason was taken into custody Saturday in the death of Aisha Fraser, according to local station WKYC, Cleveland.com and The Washington Post. On Saturday morning, Shaker Heights police officers responded to a 911 call made by Masons sister alleging that Mason had stabbed Fraser outside her home, WKYC reports. I need police immediately. My brother is attacking his ex-wife, Masons sister is heard telling dispatchers on a recording of a call obtained by the station. He said he stabbed her and shes dead, she says. Mason allegedly tried to flee the scene in an SUV but hit a police vehicle and injured the officer inside. Mason then allegedly ran back to Frasers home before officers took him into custody, according to the Post. Both Mason and officer inside the police vehicle were taken to a local hospital for their injuries. Lance Mason Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. In 2015, Mason was sentenced to prison for domestic violence after he punched Fraser 20 times and slammed her head against the dashboard of their car five times the year before, WKYC reports. Fraser had to have facial reconstruction surgery while Mason was removed from the bench. Mason was also a former state representative and state senator. After serving nine months, Mason was granted judicial release. In a letter written to Fraser as part of his petition for early release, Mason apologized for his actions. My responsibility was to love and protect you, Mason wrote, Cleveland.com reports. Instead of loving, protecting and providing for you and our daughters, I have provided a terrible example, and exposed you to rage and violence. Story continues Following his release from prison, he was hired by the Cleveland mayors office in an administrative position. He was terminated from his job following his arrest Saturday, Cleveland.com reports. On Monday, hundreds gathered for candlelit vigil held on the lawn of Woodbury Elementary School, where Fraser was a teacher, Cleveland.com reports. Fraser was a teacher at Woodbury Elementary School. She had worked in the school system in Shaker Heights, where her two children were students, for 16 years, according to the Post. Aisha grew up in Shaker, she was a 91 graduate, we had survived with her in 2014 and 2015 when the first incident happened, Shaker Heights Teacher Association President John Morris told the outlet. Everyone saw her recover and saw her thrive the last few years; to see this happen tore the hearts out of all of us. Shaker Heights police, school officials and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors office could not be reached for comment Tuesday. It is unclear exactly what charges Mason faces and whether he has an attorney who could comment on his behalf. A politically charged acceptance speech at the Golden Horse Awards has become a flashpoint for the escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, prompting even recently chastised megastar Fan Bingbing to chime in with her support for the Communist-ruled mainland. The controversy immediately raised questions over the future of Asias most prestigious awards show the Chinese-language film industrys version of the Oscars and over whether mainland Chinese artists will be allowed to participate. Saturdays ceremony came just days before a key election in democratic, self-governed Taiwan. Onstage in Taipei to receive her prize for best documentary, 36-year-old director Fu Yue told the crowd: I really hope that, one day, our country can be treated as a truly independent entity. This is my greatest wish as a Taiwanese person. Her award-winning film, Our Youth in Taiwan, follows young people involved in the 2014 Sunflower Movement, when students occupied Taiwans legislative assembly to protest a trade deal with China. Fus statement was met with raucous cheers and applause from some in the audience, but others were less pleased. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, but many residents on the island support complete independence. Following Fus remarks, shots of actress and jury chair Gong Li, who is from mainland China, showed her looking livid, while Taiwan-born director Ang Lee, head of this years executive committee, grimaced. Gong later refused to join Lee onstage to present the award for best feature film, a move many interpreted as a protest. Refusing to give the award was probably the strongest counterattack Gong Li could make at the time. She seemed to be saying, As jury chair, I draw a clear line between us, said one post on Chinas WeChat social media platform, echoing a common refrain. Fuel was added to the flames when mainland-born Tu Men, winner of last years Golden Horse award for best actor, took to the stage with remarks echoing Communist Party rhetoric. Tu said he was honored to be a presenter at the show in Taiwan, China and felt everyone was part of one big family on both sides of the strait. The remarks were met with effusive praise on the mainland internet but anger from Taiwan, with one Facebook user asking: Who wants to be in your family? Story continues China has not ruled out force as a means to achieve Taiwans reunification with the mainland. Beijing has recently upped military drills in the islands vicinity and pressured its few remaining diplomatic allies to disavow ties, while also forcing major companies like American Airlines and Delta to stop referring to Taiwan as a country. Nevertheless, Beijing is trying to play down the incident. With an eye to the Taiwan elections, they dont want to inflame matters at this moment, a Taiwanese source told Variety, citing conversations with mainland counterparts. Taiwanese citizens go to the polls Saturday for local elections and a referendum on a wide variety of issues, including whether to uphold legalized same-sex marriage and the use of the name Taiwan in international sporting events. It will be the first test of approval for the more pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party currently in power. Mainland social media has exploded with criticism of Fus speech. Users on the Twitter-like Weibo platform have feverishly posted the hashtag China cannot give up one bit, often alongside a map depicting Taiwan and portions of the contested South China Sea region as part of the country. In her first public comment since apologizing for tax evasion last month, actress Fan retweeted an old post of the same map and hashtag from Chinas Communist Youth League, which prompted expressions of support from fans. In Taiwan, even President Tsai Ing-Wen commented on the brouhaha. Im proud of yesterdays Golden Horse Awards it highlighted how Taiwan is different from China, she wrote Sunday on her Facebook page, which has more than 2 million followers. Here, no one will disappear or be silenced for their differing opinions, nor will we block sensitive keywords on the internet. Director Lee told reporters after the show that Taiwan is free and the film festival is open. You can say whatever you want to say.I hope that no one will come and interfere, that the Golden Horse Awards will be very pure. Please, everyone, respect the filmmakers. He added: Its such a good platform, its not easy to keep it going. Well do our best. I hope it can continue. Fu defended her acceptance speech in a Facebook statement Sunday, saying that her documentary was inherently political. You cant avoid the topic by simply saying, Let politics be politics; let art be art As a director, I had to speak up for my work as a response to the judges courage in selecting it. Celebrities are frequently blacklisted or banned from entering China after they express pro-independence views. Last year, for instance, Katy Perry was banned from performing at a Victorias Secret fashion show in Shanghai for having draped a Taiwanese flag over her shoulders as a cape while wearing a sunflower costume in support of the student movement at a 2015 show in Taipei. But Fu said she was unconcerned. Some netizens say, Youre finished, and cant even think about entering the Chinese film industry. Of course, it would be a shame but whatever the potential professional consequences, I am willing to bear them and feel no regret. Related stories China's Wanda Sells Prominent Beverly Hills Property 'Shadow,' 'Elephant' Take Top Honors at Politically-Tinged Golden Horse Awards NetEase Discusses Importance of Chinese Gaming Regulation, Anti-Addiction Measures Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! N.C. Teacher Who Went Missing in Mexico Was Murdered A North Carolina Spanish teacher who vanished in October while vacationing in Mexico was murdered, according to a Facebook post by the governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Governor Javier Corrals post states that Patrick Braxton-Andrew, 34, became the victim of a brutal murder on Oct. 28 after crossing paths with an alleged Sinaloa drug cartel member. According to the post, the body of the Davidson College graduate was found on the beach in the town of Urique. It was not clear from the post whether any arrests have been made in the case. A motive was also unclear, but the post describes Braxton-Andrew as a totally innocent person and dispelled rumors that his death had to do with purchasing drugs. In the post, Corral described Braxton-Andrews as an explorer who loved Mexico and its people. His childhood friend, Russell Miller, told the Associated Press the victim was an avid runner who often traveled in Latin America and was excited to visit Cooper Canyon in Chihuahua. In a previous statement to PEOPLE after he went missing, Braxton-Andrews family said he was supposed to meet his brother in Mexico City on Oct. 30 but he never showed up. He had been staying in a hotel in Urique, two days before he was scheduled to meet his brother, on what later would be learned was the day of his murder, he left the hotel for a walk but never came back, his parents stated. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. A post on a Facebook page dedicated to finding Braxton-Andrew stated, Patrick died doing what he loved traveling and meeting people. Braxton-Andrew taught Spanish at the Woodlawn School in Mooresville, which posted a message on Instagram that said, You taught us to live life to the fullest, and your life will continue to inspire us. The town of Davidson flew flags at half-staff in memory of Braxton-Andrew, the town posted on its Facebook page. In a tweet, North Carolina senator Tom Tillis wrote, Patricks family deserves justice, and I will continue to work with the @StateDept and federal officials as Mexican law enforcement continues their investigation. With reporting by CHAR ADAMS Tekashi 6ix9ine, the Brooklyn rapper whos spent much of his short career in court for a litany of criminal charges, has been arrested again, according to The Daily Beast. According to the report, 6ix9ine (real name Daniel Hernandez) is currently in federal custody on charges of racketeering and firearms. The arrest was a joint effort between the ATF, NYPD and Homeland Security, according to TMZ. A representative for the ATF confirmed the TMZ report to Rolling Stone. Hernandez ex-manager Shottie (Real name Kifano Jordan) was also arrested, along with two more associates. An arraignment is scheduled for later today in Manhattan. The specific nature of the charges have not been announced, but Hernandez took to Instagram late last week to announce that hed fired his entire management team in an apparent attempt to distance himself from the people he was arrested with. He claimed that people in or affiliated with his camp were booking Tekashi 6ix9ine shows without his knowledge. If youre booking shows, do not book shows unless I say this show is gonna be booked with this person,' he said in the video. They will steal your money. Hernandez legal situation was precarious before the latest arrest. Last month, at a sentencing hearing for a long-running use of a child in a sexual performance charge, he was given four additional years of probation, along with 1,000 hours of community service. One of the conditions of his probation was that he avoid any additional arrests, or risk prison time. This story is developing Not everyone in Midland, Texas, welcomed Swedish heavy metal rockers Ghost to town with open arms. Local pastor Larry Long of Fellowship Community Church spent days ahead of Mondays show trying to pray the Satan away, as he believes the city needs protection from the devil-worshiping band. Were not here to protest. Were just simply here to pray, to pray His protection, to plead the blood of Christ over our community, he told a local CBS affiliate. This kind of band will bring spiritual influences into this area. Were concerned about it, because we believe the devil is real, just as we believe God is real. The fact that they describe themselves as a worship band for Satan is, I think, quite shocking. And I think most of our community would be surprised to learn that. Photo: Loma Vista Recording Long made the interview rounds for his non-protest, expressing concern during a radio interview. Theres a song about Whats it called? Satans Hammer? Something about a hammer. And it talks about the fact that the person singing the song is seeking a relationship with the devil, he said. Long is probably referring to the bands track Square Hammer, although the lyrics in that one are somewhat tame. And if young people go to a concert like this and they think its all just good fun kind of like Halloween, so to speak and so, This is all just good fun, and Dont make such a big deal out of it, I think if theyre singing along to those lyrics, who knows what in the world theyre opening their hearts and lives up to? Long stated. The main band leader goes by the name of Tobias; whether or not thats his real name, who knows? And then the rest of em go by ghoulish horde or something like that. The bands members remained anonymous for years, but Tobias Forge outed himself in 2017. Of course, you see this kind of stuff and you say, Well, how much of this? Do they understand? I think that they understand all of it, Long continued. I think that they are doing this intentionally, and I think they really do worship the devil, because I believe as a Christian, as a biblical Christian, I believe the devils real. So I imagine maybe some people listening right now would say, Oh, you guys are getting overblown with this, and those kinds of things. Well, you would only think that if you didnt think the devil was real. Story continues The venue, Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, defended its decision to book Ghost: Shock rock has been a part of the heavy metal landscape from the early days of Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson. Each performer bringing to the stage their own version of a cruel world. Ghost, with their albums No. 3 spot on the Billboard charts, is continuing in those metal bands footsteps. In a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, one member, called Nameless Ghoul, explained that they wanted their shows to feel like a mass. Its this idea of religion, where people meet in a room or a building or a place that we have agreed upon as being solemn, and we then conduct predetermined rituals rituals being the songs, or movements, things like that in order for us to reach a sense of divine presence, Nameless Ghoul said. And a lot of the sensations that we are evoking at our shows are very close to the sort of warm religious feelings you would get from an actual church mass. Were using the same sort of symbolism as the church, in a way, but with the idea of achieving bliss. Joyful bliss. The show went on as planned perhaps with a few more seats filled, given Longs inadvertent promotion of the concert. There have been no Satan sightings in Midland yet. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Military could shift more troops to California as migrants gather in Tijuana originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Army might shift some of its troops along the border to California where caravans of migrants seeking asylum have gathered in Tijuana, Mexico across the border from San Diego, but clarified that no timelines have been determined for the possibility that some troops could leave the border ahead of the mission's scheduled end on Dec. 15. "We are continually assessing our resources and refining requirements in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security," according to a U.S. Army North statement. The Army command, headed by Lt. Gen. Jay Buchanan, is overseeing the deployment of 5,800 active-duty military personnel to the border in support of Customs and Border Protection as it prepares for the arrival of several migrant caravans making their way through Mexico from Central America. PHOTO: Pedestrians pass members of the U.S.military working to place razor wire along the U.S.-Mexico border on the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, Nov. 2, 2018, in McAllen, Texas. (Eric Gay/AP) "We may shift some forces to other areas of the border to engineering support missions in California and other areas," according to the statement. A significant number of the 5,800 active-duty troops assigned to the border support mission were sent to Texas because it was a shorter distance for the migrant caravans to travel compared to California. (MORE: Mattis defends military's border support mission while visiting troops in Texas) But the first of the migrant caravan has headed west instead with up to 3,000 migrants now in Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, where they are waiting to make their way to a port of entry to seek asylum. The Army statement suggests some of the 2,800 troops assigned to Texas or the 1,500 in Arizona could be moved to California to provide more logistical support to CBP. PHOTO: U.S. Military stand in line for a drill near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, Calif., on Nov. 15, 2018. (Ariana Drehsler/AFP/Getty Images) The statement was prompted by a news report that indicated Buchanan had suggested in an interview that some of engineering units involved in building up the new military facilities along the border could leave the border in coming days, ahead of the scheduled end date. Story continues (MORE: Post-Election Day, Pentagon drops name for border support mission) "No specific timeline for redeployment has been determined," the statement continued. "We will provide more details as they become available." Redeployment is the military term for when troops have completed their mission and return to their home base. (MORE: US military troops to be allowed to defend border patrol agents: Official) The active-duty troops are currently serving in Texas, Arizona and California as part of a mission to provide engineering, logistical and transportation support to CBP. On Tuesday, the White House is expected to announce new authorities that would allow active-duty troops to protect CBP personnel from a threat, according to a U.S. official. Currently, the troops serving on the border may act in self-defense, but they do not have the authority to intervene if CBP personnel are overwhelmed by migrants. Defense Secretary James Mattis had rejected an earlier CBP request which would have allowed troops to perform activities like crowd and riot control because the Pentagon considered them to be law enforcement duties. Active-duty troops are prohibited by federal law from performing law enforcement activities unless specifically ordered by Congress or the president. meghan harry Meghan Markle wasnt afraid to show some sparkle when it came to her latest royal engagement. The expectant Duchess of Sussex shimmered down the red carpet at the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium Monday night, showing her support, along with husband Prince Harry, for the Royal Variety Charity, of which Queen Elizabeth II is a Patron. The event also fell on the six month anniversary of their Windsor wedding, which took place on May 19. The PDA-prone couple held hands as they made their way into the venue for the formal occasion. The Suits alum, 37, surprised royal fans with her outfit for the black tie fete, which featured a $1,149 sequined halter top and skirt set by Safiyaa London, a far cry from the Duchess more recent choices of a tuxedo dress or a boatneck style. (For the record, Prince Harry, 34, wore a dapper tuxedo for the event). Markles halter top featured a black and white floral sequin pattern along with several horizontal black stripes cutting across her figure, while the skirt itself was unembellished. The Duchess accessorized her look with Maison Birks diamond earrings and a clutch from UFO. According to E! News, Harry and Markle spent the pre-show moments chatting with the cast of Hamilton, who were in attendance, as well as Take That, who were set to take the stage during the show. In the months since their nuptials, the pair have been keeping busy, what with the royal tour and the announcement of Markles pregnancy in October. While they spent this particular occasion together, Prince Harry will spend the one year anniversary of his engagement announcement away from his wife due to another royal duty. On November 27, he will instead be in Zambia for continual conservation efforts. Secure your ideal wedding vision by starting with The Knots Style Quiz, here. Related Articles The miserable diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting known as the stomach flu isnt actually from the flu. Flu, of course, is short for influenza, the viral respiratory illness. While most cases of the so-called stomach flu are also caused by viruses, theyre from a totally different set of germs. The formal name for this intestinal inflammationwhich usually comes on quickly and, thankfully, also leaves quicklyis viral gastroenteritis. (Bacteria and parasites cause some of these illnesses as well, but not as often as their viral cousins.) When people have acute gastrointestinal events [when] they feel stomachache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, its usually one of these viruses, says Deborah A. Fisher, MD, associate professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology at Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina. The most common viral culprit for the stomach flu? Norovirus, famous for causing outbreaks on cruise ships and in other close quarters like schools and nursing homes. Noroviruses are hard to clean and easy to transmit, says Dr. Fisher. In the U.S. and other parts of North America, norovirus is most active between October and April. This coincides roughly with actual flu season, which may account for some of the confusion. Rotavirus, adenovirus (related to the viruses that cause the common cold), and astrovirus are common causes of the stomach flu in children. RELATED: 10 Things That Can Cause Diarrhea How does the stomach flu spread? While you can get many of the same symptoms from eating contaminated food (aka food poisoning), most cases of the stomach flu are passed from person to person. The viruses that cause this type of illness are among the most contagious viruses that we have on the planet, says Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases and director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Medical Center in Nashville. The reason theyre so contagious is that some of them are spread through contact. Story continues Contact could mean breathing in airborne germs after someone vomits or coughs. Or it could mean shaking hands with someone who is sick, eating food prepared or served by someone who is sick, or touching a surface or dirty utensils contaminated with viral particles from vomit or even stool. Children are known for putting their fingers and all kinds of other objects into their mouths, but even grabbing your trusty iPhone and then touching your face could provide a convenient entry point for the germs. We can clean our hands, but if we put our phone down on every surface, our clean hands are no longer clean, Dr. Fisher says. This can be an especially risky practice in public spaces like airports. An estimated 9% to 25% of mobile devices are contaminated with a disease-causing organism, adds Dr. Fisher. Wipe your devices down at least daily, and keep washing your hands on the regular. RELATED: 20 Reasons Why Your Stomach Hurts When is the stomach flu contagious? Unfortunately, the different viruses responsible for stomach flu can be contagious before you even know youor someone elseis sick. Norovirus symptoms usually start 12 to 48 hours after coming into contact with the virus and last one to three days. But the virus can be detectable in your poop not only before you have symptoms but up to two weeks after you recover. You can get better after 24 hours but still have the virus for several days, says Dr. Creech. Norovirus can also survive for weeks on hard surfaces like countertops. Rotaviruses cause stomach flu symptoms within about two days, adenoviruses within about three to 10 days, and astroviruses within five days. All of these may last longer than illnesses attributed to norovirus. RELATED: 13 Things You Should Know About Stomach Flu How to prevent the stomach flu Once you have the stomach flu, theres little you can do but suffer through it, making sure you drink lots of fluids so you dont get dehydrated (one of the major potential complications of viral gastroenteritis). Its contagious, happens quickly, and theres no good treatment, says Dr. Creech. Thats really our challenge. Our job is to keep people hydrated and just carry them through. There is a vaccine that can be given to babies to protect against rotavirus. But for everyone else, its all about washing your hands (a lot), whether or not you know there are sick people around. Soap and warm water are best, but alcohol-based sanitizers (make sure theyre at least 60% alcohol) will do if you dont have access to a sink. Hygiene is always at the top of the listwashing your hands after using the restroom, before you prepare food, says Dr. Creech. Steer clear of anyone who is sick, and stay home if you yourself have the stomach flu. Disinfect countertops and other hard surfaces and wash linens well if you or someone else at home gets sick. Pregnant women, older adults, small children, and anyone with a compromised immune system are vulnerable to more severe bouts of stomach flu. See a doctor if viral gastroenteritis lasts more than three days or if you cant keep liquids down for 24 hours. To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter Johannesburg (AFP) - South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma on Tuesday threw his weight behind the ex-head of the country's tax collection agency who was recently sacked by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The move pitted Zuma directly against his successor Ramaphosa, who came to power in February when Zuma was ousted due to multiple graft scandals. Ramaphosa this month fired Tom Moyane after a judicial inquiry recommended his removal to save the once respected tax authority. Moyane has gone to court to challenge his sacking. In an affidavit backing the application, Zuma said the inquiry that recommended that Moyane should be sacked had overstepped its mandate. The investigation "has deviated (from) its originally intended purpose," Zuma said in the document lodged with the Constitutional Court. Ramaphosa has said he took the decision to sack Moyane as head of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) "to forestall any further deterioration of our tax administration system". The investigation had painted "a deeply concerning picture of the current state of SARS and the reckless mismanagement which characterised your tenure," said Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa and Zuma have kept any friction behind closed doors as their rival factions tussle for influence in the ruling ANC party ahead of next year's general election. The decision will affect some 200 listings - REUTERS Home-renting company Airbnb Inc said on Monday that it would remove listings in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, enclaves that most world powers consider illegal for taking up land where Palestinians seek statehood. "We concluded that we should remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians," a statement on the Airbnb website said. "Our hope is that someday sooner rather than later, a framework is put in place where the entire global community is aligned so there will be a resolution to this historic conflict and a clear path forward for everybody to follow." An Airbnb spokesman said the decision, affecting some 200 listings, would take effect in the days ahead. There was no immediate response from the government of Israel, which captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, nor from Palestinian authorities. Some 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas that are also home to more than 2.6 million Palestinians. Oded Revivi, mayor of the West Bank settlement of Efrat and a representative of the umbrella settler council Yesha, described the Airbnb decision as contrary to its mission, as stated on the website, of "help(ing) to bring people together in as many places as possible around the world". "When they make such a decision, they get involved with politics, which ... is going to defeat the actual purpose of the entreprise itself," he told Reuters. When it comes to saving the world from evil, the stars of the Avengers movies have got things covered. But you may not realize that these actors have a heroic side even after the cameras stop rolling. Between filming hit movies, these celebs devote their time to causes near and dear to their hearts helping those in need and raising awareness for important issues around the globe. Robert Downey Jr. is one of Hollywoods highest-paid actors, and he uses his status for good working to raise money for the rare genetic disease known as ROHHAD (rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysregulation, hypoventilation and autonomic dysregulation). Earlier this year he participated in the muddy puddle challenge, which dares people to jump in the muddiest puddle they can find, record it and share on social media. He nominated fellow stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson and Mark Ruffalo, among others, to also complete the challenge. One pressing issue in the news recently was voter turnout, and Zoe Saldana decided to focus her attention on getting fellow members of the Latinx community to the polls this past Election Day. Teaming up with other Hollywood heavy hitters Eva Longoria, America Ferrera, Gina Rodriguez and Rosario Dawson, Saldana hit the streets of Miami to encourage people to exercise their right to vote. She told the Hollywood Reporter, I think it is our duty to find our similarities, which are our great strengths, bind them together and use them as one voice to speak to the American public about the importance of representation. Chris Pratt, star of the Jurassic Park franchise, used his fame for good when it was brought to his attention on Instagram that his request for people to turn up the volume and not just read the subtitles was making his posts inaccessible to a large number of his fans who suffer from a hearing disability. It turns out almost 38 million Americans live with a hearing disability. By pointing this out to his almost 22 million followers and asking them to use the hashtag #CCinstaNow on their posts to encourage Instagram to add a captioning feature, hes raising awareness of this important issue to a whole new audience. Story continues Chadwick Boseman also took time out from his busy moviemaking schedule to make the rounds at a hospital treating kids with cancer. He posted about his support of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital after he helped a girl named Mady celebrate her birthday in Memphis. He also met with another young Avengers fan, Hayden, who asked Boseman to say hi to some of his co-stars for him. These are just some of the amazing ways the stars of one of the most popular movie franchises in history have used their fame for turning our attention to the serious issues around us, and further proof that not all superheroes wear capes. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Dhaka (AFP) - Award-winning Bangladeshi photographer and activist Shahidul Alam was released from prison Tuesday after more than 100 days behind bars, in a closely watched freedom of speech case. The 63-year-old Alam was arrested on August 5 for making "false" and "provocative" statements on Al Jazeera television and Facebook during student protests. He was freed from Dhaka's main jail Tuesday after being granted bail last week. Alam told AFP he hoped his release would "signal freedom for many others" also detained during the massive student demonstrations. "It is a fantastic feeling to be free in a free country, breathing free air. But I hope for freedom for everyone else," he said. He was held under controversial internet laws which critics say have been wielded by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stifle dissent and harass journalists. Alam spoke briefly to reporters after he came out of prison to describe conditions inside jail, Alam's close associate Rezaur Rahman told AFP. The photographer had previously said he was badly beaten while in custody. Although Alam was granted bail on Thursday last week, he had to wait another five days to be set free as the prosecution moved to appeal against the bail order. He had earlier applied unsuccessfully for bail four times. - Mass rallies - Alam, whose work has appeared widely in global media and who founded the renowned Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, faces a maximum 14 years in jail if convicted. His lawyers have argued that Alam's detention was "a clear violation" of his fundamental rights under Bangladesh's constitution. The photographer's arrest triggered international protests -- with rights groups, Nobel laureates and academics calling for his release -- and followed a series of mass rallies this summer after two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus. The massive protests evolved into broader demonstrations against Hasina, who will seek a third consecutive term next month, and her Awami League party. Story continues Alam told Al Jazeera at the time that the protests were the result of pent-up anger at corruption and an "unelected government... clinging on by brute force". He was arrested the same day, with many other protesters held on similar charges as authorities cracked down on demonstrators. In reaction to Alam's release, Amnesty International said Tuesday Bangladesh authorities must immediately drop charges against him and "uphold its international commitments to protect the right to freedom of expression". "Shahidul Alam is a bold representation of Bangladesh through his lens. He should not have been detained at the first place," said Saad Hammadi, Amnesty International's Regional Campaigner for South Asia. Human Rights Watch accused Bangladesh of targeting activists and journalists in the wake of the protests instead of prosecuting those who attacked students with fists and rods. Michelle Bachelet used her first statement as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to raise the issue of attacks on journalists in Bangladesh. In recent weeks, Hasina has been accused of stifling dissent further by ratifying a controversial new digital-security law. And a prominent critic of the government was arrested for defamation last month, days after he helped form an opposition coalition. Tijuana (Mexico) (AFP) - Huge metal or concrete barricades and walls of concertina wire went up Monday on both sides of a bustling US-Mexico border crossing as a caravan of US-bound Central American migrants pours into Tijuana, the last stop before California. US authorities went so far as to briefly close the San Ysidro Port of Entry altogether -- it is one of the busiest land border crossings in the world -- as the new barriers were set up, triggering total gridlock for vehicles and pedestrians going from Tijuana across into San Diego. "It was as if time stopped. Nothing is moving. Neither cars, nor people, nor my business," said Armando Lopez, who sells newspapers, cigarettes and candy on the Mexican side. US Customs and Border Protection "suspended operations to safely place impediments at the port of entry that would restrict access to a large group attempting to run through the border crossing," the agency said in a statement, referring to the migrant caravan. President Donald Trump has characterized the caravan's journey as an invasion, making it a central plank of his anti-immigrant platform. The thousands-strong group set out more than a month ago from Honduras, fleeing poverty and gang violence and sometimes forcing its way across borders as the migrants head toward the US. Some 3,500 migrants have arrived so far in Tijuana and another 3,000 are expected to start flowing in as of Tuesday. Most of those making the trek are Hondurans. The big question is whether, once they are all together, they will try to cross over as they did from Guatemala into Mexico -- by force -- or opt instead for the long and tedious process of requesting asylum in the US. - Economy in danger - After putting the new barriers in place at the border crossing, the authorities reopened it partially to northbound traffic. On the Mexican side, too, metal barricades and concertina wire were put up. Federal police and soldiers patrolled the area. Story continues "I am OK with these defenses," said Arturo Gonzalez, a 35-year-old American who was losing his patience as he sat in his black pickup truck waiting to get into California. He works as a janitor in a school in the US but lives in Mexico because the rent is cheaper here. "Because of those Hondurans, we are paying the price. They should be thrown out," Gonzalez said. Walking swiftly through the pedestrian conduit toward California, Ana Maria Gutierrez, who is Mexican, was in a hurry to get to her job as a nurse in a psychiatric facility in San Diego. "They do not realize the impact of closing the border," she told AFP. "It is not just the economy that is in danger of dying out. We are talking about the lives of people and families," Gutierrez said before showing her papers to the US border authorities and entering California. - "Bad hombres" - Mexico and the United States share a border that stretches along more than 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) of desert and is crossed by undocumented travelers, drugs and weapons. But a million people also cross over legally each day, while trade across the frontier totals a million dollars a minute, according to government figures. At the San Ysidro port alone, 70,000 vehicles make their way into California each day, as do 15,000 students and 25,000 workers. Trump has sent about 5,800 troops to the border to forestall the arrival of the caravan. During the campaign leading to his election in 2016 he referred to Mexican migrants crossing over as rapists and "bad hombres." Trump has also issued a new order under which people who do not cross at official points of entry can no longer apply for asylum. This was challenged in court and a judge Monday night temporarily barred the Trump administration from enacting the ban. At another border crossing, between Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, US soldiers have also set up many reels of concertina wire. Amelia Prados, a Mexican who works in a bank in Tijuana, said the migrants were simply seeking to escape violence and find a better life. "The United States is defending itself from a danger that does not exist," she said. Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - President-elect Jair Bolsonaro said Monday that the people of Brazil -- which was ruled by the military for two decades -- "don't know what dictatorship is." The former army captain -- who has made no secret of his admiration for the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964-1985 -- was speaking after phone talks with Hungary's conservative and fiercely anti-migrant Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Hungary "is a country that has suffered a lot with communism in the past, a people that knows what dictatorship is," Bolsonaro told a news conference outside his home in Rio de Janeiro. "The Brazilian people still do not know what dictatorship is, do not know what it is to suffer at the hands of these people," he said. Set to take office on January 1, the far-right leader has already drawn three of his government picks from the military, including General Fernando Azevedo e Silva as defense minister. Asked about Orban's tough anti-migrant measures -- he closed Hungary's borders to migrants in 2015 -- Bolsonaro preferred to discuss the situation in his own country. "I was against our last immigration law (in 2017) which made Brazil a country without borders. We cannot allow the indiscriminate entry of all those who come here, only because they wanted to come." Thousands of Venezuelan migrants fleeing a political and economic crisis have crossed the border into Brazil over the past year. Last week Bolsonaro announced the appointment of Ernesto Araujo, a fervent admirer of US President Donald Trump, as his choice for foreign minister. Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil's incoming justice and security minister Sergio Moro announced Tuesday he was recruiting part of his team from the massive "Car Wash" anti-corruption probe that snared former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Moro said he would be a "fool" not to work again with people he had worked with on the Car Wash investigation as they "have already proven their integrity and efficiency." He told reporters in Brasilia that he was nominating Mauricio Valeixo as Brazil's federal police chief. Valeixo was state police chief in Parana when Moro began the Car Wash investigation in 2014 and was also in charge of the police operation to detain Lula on Moro's orders in April. Moro also confirmed Commissioner Erika Marena, who played a leading role in the investigations that sparked the Car Wash inquiry, will be put in charge of the Department of Asset Recovery and International Judicial Cooperation. Marena controversially commanded a recent botched police operation but received Moro's backing anyway. She ordered the arrest of the rector of a major university in southern Brazil for embezzlement. He pleaded not guilty, and was soon released but suspended from his job and banned from returning to work. A few weeks later, he committed suicide by throwing himself off the seventh floor of a shopping center in Florianopolis with a message in his pocket: "They decreed my death when I was expelled from the university." Questioned about the episode on Tuesday, Moro gave Marena his backing, saying: "It was a tragedy. Something tragic. All solidarity to the rector's family, but it was an unforeseen misfortune in the investigation -- the commissioner has no responsibility in that regard." Since it was launched in 2014, the sprawling Car Wash probe has uncovered the large-scale looting of state oil company Petrobras, and landed a laundry list of corrupt politicians and business executives in jail. Although politicians of all stripes have fallen in the sprawling investigation, Moro has been accused of being particularly merciless on the left -- especially with Lula. Prime minister Theresa May with DUP leader Arlene Foster in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, in July. Pic: Reuters The Democratic Unionist party (DUP), whose 10 politicians prop up the Conservative party in government, abstained from votes on key budget measures, sending a warning to prime minister Theresa May to keep her side of the Brexit bargain. In protest at the Brexit deal agreed with European Union negotiators last week, the DUP on Monday night decided not to vote on a series of amendments to the finance bill, and went so far as to support an amendment introduced by Labour, in order to send a political message to May. May was accused of breaking promises to the UK and to the people of Northern Ireland, leaving the DUP less obliged to uphold the confidence and supply agreement that sees the party support May in the House of Commons, explained DUP Brexit spokesperson Sammy Wilson speaking on BBC Newsnight. The DUPs support for May in the House of Commons became necessary following the reduction in the Conservative partys majority after the 2017 snap general election. While the moves put Mays Brexit deal under threat, they also raise questions about how long her government can last, considering her majority was reduced to just five votes. Even though the backstop within the latest Brexit agreement is UK-wide, the DUP considers some of the plans specific provisions as having the potential to separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. We had to do something to show our displeasure, Wilson said. The DUPs actions were designed to send a message to the government. Look, we have got an agreement with you but you have got to keep your side of the bargain otherwise we dont feel obliged to keep ours. Wilson suggested that Mays Brexit deal amounted to a breach of the fundamental assurance that Northern Ireland would not be treated differently in either a constitutional or economic sense. The party has long been opposed to any proposals that could require Northern Ireland to be more closely aligned with the EUs customs and trade rules than the rest of the UK. Jon Paul McAllister died while on holiday (Picture: JustGiving) A cancer sufferer who was stuck on an island in the Indian Ocean has died despite efforts to return home to Scotland for treatment. The health of Jon Paul McAllister, 38, deteriorated rapidly while on holiday with his partner, Craig Park. They had gone on to South Africa, Madagascar and the Seychelles to celebrate the end of Mr McAllisters chemotherapy treatment and their January engagement. After falling ill, he was stuck at a medical facility on the French island Reunion, unable to take a commercial flight back to Scotland. A JustGiving page set up to try to raise funds for treatment and travel has now announced Mr McAllister died with Mr Park by his side. The post said: Jon Paul fought so hard against this awful illness for nine long months and now hes at peace. MORE: Argentine submarine found in Atlantic a year after going missing with 44 crew on board MORE: Woman claims airport valet drove her car 500 miles then got her a parking ticket He was a legend that will live on forever in our memories and in our hearts. We were so close to getting JP home. A medical repatriation service had been organised to fly him home on Saturday before his health rapidly deteriorated. Unfortunately, this was a non-refundable cost. Jon Paul and all his loved ones have been completely overwhelmed and touched by the generosity and support of everyone and cannot thank you all enough. Jon Paul McAllister, left, and his fiance, Craig Park (Picture: JustGiving) We are now doing everything we can to bring JP home for that Scottish send-off he deserves. Any further donations to help with this and the vast medical costs that have unfortunately been incurred, would be greatly appreciated by us all. The fundraiser had reached more than 25,000 on Monday. Their target had been to reach 35,000 to pay for overseas treatment and an air ambulance flight home. The full costs of hospital treatment are not covered, despite Reunion being a part of France. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo The Hague (AFP) - A former Central African militia leader Alfred Yekatom, also known as "Colonel Rambo" will face international war crimes judges for the first time Friday, the International Criminal Court said. "The initial appearance of Alfred Yekatom... is scheduled for Friday, November 23, at 11 am local time," the Hague-based court said in a statement issued Tuesday. At Friday's hearing, judges will "verify the identity of the suspect and the language in which he is able to follow the proceedings." "He will be informed of the charges against him," the ICC added. Yekatom arrived at the ICC's detention unit over the weekend after being extradited from the Central African Republic where he is suspected of having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity including murder and recruiting child soldiers. He is accused of leading a group of some 3,000 so-called anti-Balaka militias responsible for attacks on Muslims in the volatile country between December 2013 and August 2014. Yekatom, who has been an elected MP since 2016, was arrested in October after he drew his gun and fired into the air in the CAR parliament during an altercation. His transfer is the first since the ICC's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened a probe in 2014 on crimes committed in fighting between Christian and Muslim groups. 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 local machete. The deadly violence so far has seen thousands killed and more than a quarter of the country's population fleeing their homes, according to UN figures published this year. At least three people, including a police officer, were killed at a Chicago hospital on Monday during a shooting rampage that began with an argument in the car park. The violence only ended when police engaged in a shootout with the gunman inside Mercy Hospital. "We have four deceased individuals: police officer, two female staff employees at the hospital, and the offender," police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told journalists. The gunman killed the first victim - a woman who was in a "domestic relationship" with him - during an argument in the car park, then fired at police when they got to the hospital, and ran inside, Mr Johnson said. Additional police - including SWAT officers - arrived at the scene, and "engaged the offender for several minutes in the hospital, with gunshots being fired by the offender and by the police," he said. During the shootout, the gunman killed a second woman when she emerged from a lift, Mr Johnson said. The shooter was also fatally wounded, but it was unclear if he killed himself or was killed by police. The first victim died during an argument in the car park Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images North America Officer Samuel Jimenez, who joined the Chicago police force last year, died during the gun fight, officials said. The 28-year-old was married with children and the second Chicago officer killed in the line of duty this year. "Theres no doubt in my mind that all of those officers who responded were heroes and they saved a lot of lives, because we just don't know how much damage he (the gunman) was prepared to do," Mr Johnson said. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said: "This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and consequence of evil." Patients described being alarmed by the sound of gunshots outside Mercy Hospital and seeing a man apparently walking with a woman in the car park before shooting her three times in the chest. "Once she fell to the ground, he stood over her and shot her three more times," bystander James Gray told reporters, adding that the attack played out "like a movie scene." Story continues TV footage showed terrified patients and staff filing out of the hospital into a car park with their hands in the air after officers flooded the area. Police and firefighters salute an ambulance carrying the body of Officer Samuel Jimenez Credit: Armando L. Sanchez/ Chicago Tribune Patient Hector Avitia told the local CBS television affiliate he was with his wife waiting for test results when he saw a gunman dressed in black fire on someone on the ground several times in the car park. "Then almost immediately, an officer was already coming in an SUV, and (the assailant) exchanged fire at them and then reloaded and shot the person on the ground again," another witness said. "And then he made his way into the hospital and more shots were fired." The shooting followed a series of recent high-profile gun rampages that have fuelled calls for gun control measures in a country plagued by gun violence. Less than two weeks earlier, a gunman killed 12 people in a California music bar packed with college students. That came after the worst anti-Semitic attack in modern US history, when a gunman opened fire on congregants at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh on October 27. Samuel Jimenez died responding to the incident Bypassers alerted to the latest incident spoke of hearing between six and nine gunshots that initially sounded like construction noise. "I am scared as hell. I have never been so scared, I hear of shootings going on every day at people's workplaces, but not where I work at," an employee of the hospital's family clinic told the ABC affiliate. Mercy, founded in 1852, has locations throughout Chicago and provides outpatient treatment and acute inpatient care, boasting doctors who are leaders in their field. Another hospital employee quoted by the Chicago Tribune said she was in her office when a notice came over a public address system telling those in the hospital to lock their doors. "I don't know what happened," the unnamed employee told the Tribune. "They told us to run, so we did." Chicago has in recent years earned an unwelcome distinction for its violence. From 2015 to 2017 the city registered nearly 1,900 murders - a period during which the next-closest city, Baltimore, registered around 1,000. However, the city is not in the top ten for murders nationwide, per capita. St. Louis in Missouri has had the nation's highest murder rate since 2014, with 66.1 murders per 100,000 people in 2017, according to the FBIs most recent yearly statistics, released in September. It was followed by Baltimore (55.8 per 100,000), Detroit (39.8 per 100,000), New Orleans (39.5 per 100,000) and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (38.3 per 100,000). Chicago ranked 14th among cities with at least 100,000 people in 2017. Its 653 murders, measured against a population of more than 2.7 million, translated to a murder rate of 24.1 homicides per 100,000. That was less than half the rate in St. Louis and Baltimore and below the rates of cities including Cleveland; Memphis, Tennessee; and Newark, New Jersey. At least four people have died one of them a police officer after a gunman opened fire inside a Chicago hospital, officials said. Officers rushed to the Mercy Hospital amid reports of multiple casualties after a suspect entered the facility on the citys South Side and started firing. The 32-year-old suspect was killed during the incident, according to CNN, although it was not immediately clear if he had taken his own life or was shot by police. Some unconfirmed reports said his primary target was his ex-fiancee. A police officer, Samuel Jimenez, died in the attack, a police spokesman said on Twitter. Two others who were struck by gunfire were taken to hospital in a critical condition but later died, an investigator at the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed. Anthony Guglielmi, chief communications officer for the Chicago Police Department, tweeted for people to avoid area. Heavy police response incoming. A police official told NBC News that the hospital had been partially evacuated, while officers searched the premises. Some people were hiding in locked rooms. A nearby school was also placed on lockdown for a period, though students were later allowed to go home. A #ChicagoPolice officer has been shot in the active shooter incident at Mercy Hospital. He is in critical condition but receiving excellent care. Please send your prayers. pic.twitter.com/kFfMY1ZmF7 Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 19, 2018 A Twitter user posted what looked like footage of police officers searching the inside of Mercy Hospital and Medical Centre, which was first established in 1852, as they looked to clear the area. CBS said sources reported that the gunman had targeted a woman, who witnesses said was dressed in hospital scrubs, while she was in the parking lot of the hospital. Story continues I heard shots fired, I turned around to my right and I see a man shooting someone on the ground shot him multiple times, the witness said. Then almost immediately an officer was already coming in He exchanged fire with them, and then reloaded, shot the person on the ground again, and then made himself inside the hospital and more shots fired. Mr Guglielmi said officers had responded to reports of multiple victims. At least 15 medic units were sent to Mercy Hospital, according to Chicago Fire Department public information officer Larry Merritt. Erix Horton, who works for the hospitals environmental services department, told the Chicago Tribune of the moment when he was told of the shooting I was checking out, getting ready to leave, said Mr Horton. One of the nurses ran back here and it was like she was about to collapse and said (a staff member had) been shot. And shes like, Call the police. We have an active shooter. And thats when everybody took cover. They got on the PA, letting everybody know. The newspaper said the first reports of shots came at 3.20pm. By 4.40pm, the hospital was able to tweet that the premises had secured and that patients were safe. A shooting took place at Mercy Hospital & Medical Centre this afternoon, it said. The shooting at Mercy Hospital is over. Chicago Police Department have secured the hospital and patients are safe. Mr Horton said he took cover with others in the break room that had a door that could be locked until police entered and escorted people out. A Fire Department crew that had just brought in a patient took cover in the room also, Mr Horton said. While in the break room, they could hear someone firing gunshots in the hallway, he said. We had to duck, he said. A lot was going through my mind, he said. Make it home to see my wife and my kids. A spokesman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the mayor and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson are monitoring the situation. Police have not commented on a possible motive for the shooting. Santiago (AFP) - The number of arson attacks and other "acts of violence" has soared in southern Chile's indigenous communities in the week since the killing by police of a young Mapuche man, the government said Tuesday. "There have been 101 acts of violence" in the week since 24-year-old Camilo Catrillanca was shot dead in a police operation, interior ministry official Rodrigo Ubilla told a press conference. Sporadic violence has dragged on for years in the Araucania and Biobio regions of southern Chile -- home to most of Chile's indigenous Mapuche. "What happens in these regions is not equivalent to other areas of the country -- we are facing a special situation that has dragged on for decades," said Ubilla. Radical Mapuche activists have claimed "resistance attacks" in the area as part of their claims for the return of ancestral lands. Since 2011, 20 people have been killed in Mapuche-related violence, with 2,895 "acts of violence," including 920 firebomb attacks, according to the government. But violence has spiked over the past week amid the scandal surrounding Catrillanca's death. President Sebastian Pinera last week described the killing as "lamentable" but gave his backing to the police unit that carried out the operation. However, initial inquiries into the killing found that the official police recording of the incident had been erased. Subsequently, two senior officers and four paramilitary troops were dismissed. Chile's police force have been criticized for their heavy-handed response to crimes in Mapuche communities. The police operation in which the young Mapuche was killed was carried out by the so-called Jungle Commando, a special unit of the Carabineros paramilitary police -- some of whose members were trained in Colombia -- to counter Mapuche unrest. Ubilla said the government was bringing in a bill to modernize the police force and give it greater control of the institution, rocked by allegations of corruption and previous accusations that it fabricated evidence in Mapuche cases. The Chilean state has long been accused of discrimination against the Mapuche people, who centuries ago controlled vast areas of Chile but have since been marginalized. Considered the earliest inhabitants of parts of Chile, the Mapuche fought against the Spanish conquerors and later the Chilean army after the country's independence in the 19th century. UPDATE: Nov. 19 Chipotle, after completing a review of the incident, has apologized to the manager and offered to rehire her, the company announced Monday. Read more about the developments. PREVIOUSLY: A manager at a Chipotle restaurant in St. Paul, Minnesota, was fired last week after a video surfaced showed employees refusing to serve five black men unless they could prove they could pay, news reports said. But now, Chipotle may reconsider the termination after social media posts surfaced suggesting that the situation might have been more complex than it originally appeared. Masud Ali, one of the customers, posted a video on Twitter showing the men trying to place orders and the restaurant employees refusing to serve them. The video, which received more than 5 million views as of Sunday night, showed an employee, who was smiling and speaking in a friendly tone of voice, saying, You gotta pay because you never have money when you come in here. The men were vocal in their objections and asked a white customer if he had paid before ordering. The man did not respond. Ali told the Star Tribune in Minneapolis that he thought racism was the reason for the refusal to serve him and his friends. It sounded really racist the way she said it was racist, Ali said Friday. She asked for proof of income as if Im getting a loan. In a statement, Chipotle said it had done a thorough investigation and had talked with employees and police officers who were called to the restaurant. Regarding what happened at the St. Paul restaurant, the manager thought these gentlemen were the same customers from Tuesday night who werent able to pay for their meal, the statement said. 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 doesnt happen again. After the video went viral, some people took to Twitter to say that Chipotles decision to fire the manager was wrong. A number of tweets referred to posts by Ali in which he apparently bragged about dining and dashing ordering food without paying for it: Story continues Chipotle.. so the food should have been made first then not given to them. Thats why you fired the manager. That wouldve escalated this problem. Why not defend your employees for good common sense judgement. Ill eat somewhere else until I here the manager is rehired. sjyoungma (@sjyoungma) November 19, 2018 This is an absolute lie. I emailed your media relations dept. and she claims you were aware of the tweets (where the dude admitted to dine and dashing) at the time of the firing. pic.twitter.com/mZPIDTC9wn Matt Palumbo (@MattPalumbo12) November 19, 2018 .@ChipotleTweets Boycott #Chipolte #BoycottChipolte Firing HARD WORKING decent manager for being brave enough to stand up top a thief? Never eat there again and hope she sues your as off. Duncan Whitehead (@DuncanWhitehead) November 19, 2018 In light of the additional information, Chipotle said on Sunday that it was reviewing its decision to fire the manager. Our actions were based on the facts known to us immediately after the incident, including video footage, social media posts and conversations with the customer, manager and our employees, Chipotle chief communications officer Laurie Schalow told Fox News on Sunday. We now have additional information which needs to be investigated further. We want to do the right thing, so after further investigation we will re-train and re-hire if the facts warrant it. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Watts admitted to killing his wife and two daughters: AP A man who strangled his pregnant wife to death before killing his two daughters wanted to get out of his marriage and away from his growing family, prosecutors have said as he was sentenced by a judge. The motive was assigned on Monday as Christopher Watts was sentenced to life in prison without parole in a Colorado court, a punishment secured as a part of a plea deal. Watts, 33, pleaded guilty to the charges two weeks ago, admitting that he killed his pregnant wife Shanann, 34, and their two daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. During his sentencing, Watts father-in-law, Frank Rzucek, said that he was disgusted by the way he took his wife and children out like the trash. I trusted you to take care of them, not kill them, Mr Rzucek, said during his emotional statement. They also trusted you, the heartless monster, and then you take them out like trash. You disgust me. Prison is too good for you, Mr Rzucek continued. This is hard to say, but may God have mercy on your soul. Shanann's brother, Frankie Rzucek Jr was equally as distraught. What kind of person slaughters the people they love the most? he asked. Watts was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for the murders, and a 48-year prison sentence for the wrongful termination of a pregnancy. He also received 12 years for tampering with the bodies of each victim. Prosecutors noted that Shannan had died from strangulation and the two daughters were smothered. Watts buried the body of Shannan in a shallow grave nearby, to to secrete away his family in a place he hoped theyd never be found, Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said. The murders captured the attention of national media in the United States, with true crime blogs picking up the story. Those reports were bolstered by the public life Shannan portrayed on social media for friends and family, where she frequently posted photos of the family smiling and seemingly happy. The Associated Press contributed to this report In hindsight, John Koufos can only chuckle darkly about his ignorance of the criminal justice system. The former self-described gang lawyer didnt really care all that much about the quality of jails his clients faced or the releases that came after. After all, for the decade he was a much-sought-after criminal defense lawyer in New Jersey, it was a zero-sum game. My clients, if we won, they walked out the door. If we lost, they were getting, like, 500 years because of who they were, he told TIME in a conference room on Capitol Hill last week. That indifference lasted until he was on the other side of the law. In 2010, a New Jersey court convicted Koufos for a non-fatal hit-and-run while drunk and sentenced him to six years in New Jersey state prison. He earned parole after 17 months. Now, on the outside and disbarred, he is among those lobbying Congress hard to take fast action before the end of the year on a bipartisan but endangered bill that would be the biggest rewrite of the criminal justice system in a generation. The population is often looked at irredeemable, lazy sometimes. We talk a lot about second chances. We should realize some of these people never had a first chance, said Koufos, now the National Director of Reentry Initiatives at Right on Crime, an advocacy group aligned with the American Conservative Union and that works with the powerful network of groups backed by billionaire Charles Koch. We wonder why they ended up there in the first place. For the first time in a long while, it seems like these advocates could get lucky. The proposed bill has already made it through the House on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is leaving Congress in January, has told allies he wants it completed before he exits. It won President Donald Trumps support last week during a White House event. The exit of Attorney General Jeff Sessions may shift the Administrations overall posture away from a hardline stance and toward one closer to that of White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, a criminal justice advocate. And the opposition from liberals (the bill doesnt go far enough) and conservatives (the bill is weak on crime) in the Senate seems to be dimming. Story continues Still, its not clear if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who alone controls the Senate floor agenda, will allow a vote this year. McConnell aides said its not clear how the criminal justice bill stacks up against must-pass priorities, such as funding the government after Dec. 7, or if it has the votes. Privately, McConnell is less enthusiastic about the bill if it comes at the expense of another round of judicial nominees, his signature issue, and the amount of time it could eat up on the floor as everyone has eyes on flights out of Washington for the holidays. (Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who is poised to become chairman of the Judiciary Committee next year, says it easily has 80 votes.) With the midterms in the not-so-distant rearview mirror, and a Democratic House looming come next year, several Republicans on Capitol Hill are urging their colleagues to use this bill as a down-payment on political cooperation that otherwise may be in short supply when the 116th Congress convenes in January. Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing their more liberal colleagues to set aside their broader ambitions and ideological purity in the name of pragmatism. Among those Democrats, they are circulating a quote from Ted Morgans 1985 biography of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt: He knew how to make half a loaf sound like a feast. If the so-called half a loaf slips into January, when Democrats will control the House, prospects of the broad package grow tougher. Its likely House Democrats especially the progressive wing would try to make the reforms stronger. That would poison the odds in the Senate, where Republicans retain their majority, which explains why Senate conservatives are nimbly lobbying McConnell to come around on the package of proposals. The Senates First Step Act, a version of which passed the House earlier this year by a 360-59 vote, would give judges greater latitude in sentencing. The bill also speeds up release for those who earn good-time credit by participating in training and counseling programs while behind bars. The bill also includes anti-recidivisms programs while convicts are still inmates. It bars pregnant women from being shackled and most juveniles from being held in solitary confinement. While a far cry from a complete rewrite, and limited solely to federal inmates, its still the biggest movement Congress is close to taking in years. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the outgoing chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a supporter of the measure, urged Congress to finish work on the proposal this year, calling out Trump and McConnell by name in a tweet. FreedomWorks, a tea party-styled grassroots group, published McConnells phone number and urged activists to flood his office with calls. And less conservative groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and Fraternal Order of Policy are doing the same with their members. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat and co-author of the bill, briefed the Koch donor network on the proposal in July during their retreat in Colorado Springs, Colo. Even among the conservative donors, Jeffries won a warm reception. Jeffries now is making a strong run for the number-four spot in House Democratsleadership race, a move that may set him up to be the next Speaker of the House down the line. The Koch-backed network, one of the strongest voices on the Right, plans to launch an advertising campaign on the issue this week, using stories like Koufosexperiences, to educate the public and build pressure. Those traveling through Washington through Reagan National or Dulles International airports this Thanksgiving week will see ads throughout the concourses, as well as at other transportation hubs. The audience is very clearly those in positions of power who may need a nudge. Funded through the apolitical Americans for Prosperity Foundation, the effort is expected to easily clear a seven-figure threshold. The AFP Foundation provided TIME a first look at the campaign. This campaign is about telling the stories of remarkable people who have paid their debt to society and are using their second chances to transform themselves and make their communities safer and stronger, said Mark Holden, the chairman of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation and longtime lieutenant to Charles and David Koch. A separate push is also underway from the Koch-backed network to prod Congress into taking up the causes of so-called Dreamers, young people who came to the United States illegally as children. We want to invite people to come together to solve the critical issues our country faces, said James Davis, a spokesman for the Koch network. More broadly, there are clear signs the public opinion is shifting on criminal justice question. Voters in Florida on Nov. 6 decided to restore voting rights to 1 million convicted felons. The Koch-backed groups partnered with the ACLU on that campaign that passed with little trouble even as the races for Senate and governor were nail-biters. Trump, who was seen as a wildcard, has shifted his stance since the summer. He issued a high-profile pardon to a great-grandmother who spent 21 years in jail on drug charges because of mandatory minimums. (Kim Kardashian West is largely credited with bringing Alice Johnsons case to the Presidents attention and swaying his views.) Its almost unbelievable. If I had written a story like this, they would have taken it as pure fantasy, Johnson told TIME. This was like a needle in the haystack. Now, shes lending her voice to help others facing similar sentences based on mandatory sentencing laws. Everyone has made bad choices in their lives. To be penalized after you have made a bad choice and not be given a second chance in life touches people, she said. Its one thing to think that Im the exception to the fact that other people have been sentenced harshly. That personal may be why advocates say they think they stand a chance now, perhaps more than at any time in recent memory. The policy arguments are not new: 95% of state prisonspopulations will someday be released, 60% of former inmates cant find work in their first year out, three-year recidivism rates stand at 68%. Its a policy nightmare for state lawmakers who have to balance budgets, and prisons costs rival public health programs in some states. But the personal appeal may be how these advocates break through. It worked with Trump, after all. People dont understand that pressure that we feel when we come home. We just want to breathe, but you cant really look at all of these things coming toward you because [for] some people coming home cell phones didnt exist [when they went to jail], said Lamont Carey, a former prisoner and motivational speaker who works with the Koch-backed Safe Streets and Second Chances program that looks for way to make re-entry easier. For instance, he said, some inmates cannot stay with family members when they are released because many public housing authorities bar ex-cons from living there. As Carey told TIME: Its so much that we have to become re-accustomed to, to take care of our basic needs. Its so frustrating when you first come home. Correction: The original story misstated the nature of work by Right on Crime and Lamont Carey. Right on Crime will be launching an advertising campaign on the issue of criminal justice reform, not for a specific piece of legislation, and Carey works with Safe Streets and Second Chances program and does not run them. SheKnows Christina Haack is deliriously in love with her fiance Joshua Hall, which is a great place to be after a few roller-coaster years with the end of her marriages to Tarek El Moussa and Ant Anstead. Shes come into her own and emerged with a newfound sense of confidence but shes also hinting at [] Rescuers inspect the sperm whale carcass in Indonesia. (WWF Indonesia/Kartika Sumolang) A sperm whale which washed ashore in Indonesia was found dead with 115 plastic cups in its stomach. Rescuers who found the 31ft mammal near Kapota, eastern Indonesia, said it had a huge lump of rubbish in its stomach made up of more than 1,000 plastic pieces. Wakatobi National Park chief Heri Santoso said the mammal was male and the 13 pounds of trash in its stomach were identified as 115 plastic cups, four plastic bottles, 25 plastic bags, two flip-flops, a nylon sack and more than 1,000 other plastic pieces. Rescuers found flip flops, cups, plastic and even what appeared to be part of a plate inside the whale. (WWF Indonesia/Kartika Sumolang) The cause of the death was still unknown and the carcass was to be buried on Tuesday without a necropsy (an animal autopsy) because of its decayed condition. The shocking discovery comes amid rising concern over the harm of plastic pollution to animals and humans worldwide. Researchers claim plastic fragments have been found in the faeces of people in Europe and Japan, meaning plastic could now exist in the human food chain. Investigators could not confirm whether the huge amount of rubbish found inside the whale was his cause of death. (WWF Indonesia/Kartika Sumolang) Last month the European Parliament voted on a complete ban on single use plastics, in a bid to curb pollution of the oceans. MEPs backed a ban on plates, straws, cotton buds, plastic cutlery, drink-stirrers and balloon sticks. One MEP claimed that if no action was taken against plastic pollution by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. The whale washed ashore in Kapota Island, Southeast Sulawesi, eastern Indonesia. (WWF Indonesia/Kartika Sumolang) Meanwhile, an independent documentary set to hit UK screens next year will highlight Britons attitudes towards the growing problem. The makers of Plastic Britain: On Our Watch will claim that Britons tend to pass the burden of plastic pollution onto Asian nations where the evidence is more prevalent. According to Greenpeace, Britain has shipped more than 2.7million tonnes of plastic waste to China and Hong Kong since 2012. Three Democratic senators have filed a lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of illegally appointing Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general, saying the president violated the US Constitution by denying the Senate the right to approve the nomination. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia by Senators Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon White house and Mazie Hirono, is the most high-profile litigation so far to be brought challenging Mr Whitakers appointment. Mr Trumps decision to appoint Mr Whitaker stirred national controversy, with numerous Democrats noting former Attorney General Jeff Sessions chief of staff had previously criticised the scope of the federal investigation into Russian meddling led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller along with the fact that the Senate must confirm appointees to lead the Justice Department. In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Mr Blumenthal said, Americans prize a system of checks and balances, which President Trumps dictatorial appointment betrays. Mr Whitaker took over supervision of the special counsels investigation of Russias role in the 2016 presidential election after Mr Trump appointed him on 7 November having forced Mr Sessions out of his post. Mr Trump had criticised Mr Sessions for months for recusing himself from overseeing the Mueller probe, which is also investigating possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and Russia, as well as whether Mr Trump obstructed the probe. Mr Sessions is a former Trump campaign official. Many in Congress are concerned that Mr Whitaker - who has also brought up the possibility of undermining it by slashing the special counsels funding in television interviews - could tamper with the investigation. Indeed, Mr Trump said in an interview on Sunday he would not interfere if Mr Whitaker looked to limit the Russia probe. The US Senate has not consented to Mr. Whitaker serving in any office within the federal government, the lawsuit said. Story continues The Senate, it added, needs an opportunity to consider his espoused legal views... and his public comments criticising and proposing to curtail ongoing DOJ (Department of Justice) investigations that implicate the President The lawsuit announced Monday is not the first to dispute his appointment. The attorney general of Maryland last week brought a similar legal challenge, saying Mr 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. A hearing on Marylands legal challenge has been slated for next month. Meanwhile, a challenge to Mr Whitakers appointment was also made as part of a Supreme Court case on gun rights. Last week, the Justice Department issued a 20-page legal opinion declaring that Mr Trumps appointment of Whitaker was lawful under a 1998 law called the Federal Vacancies Reform Act even though he was not a Senate-confirmed official. The department cited only one instance in US history - in 1866 - in which a non-Senate confirmed person was named acting attorney general. Its legal opinion also relied on an 1898 Supreme Court ruling that a so-called inferior officer is legally able to perform the duties of a principal officer for a limited time and under special and temporary conditions without needing Senate confirmation. Many legal experts have disagreed with the departments view. The Democratic lawsuit also rejected that notion, saying it fails to explain why Mr Whitaker's appointment qualifies as special or exigent. Reuters contributed to this report. Dubai (AFP) - Saudi activists, including women, detained in a government crackdown this year have faced sexual harassment and torture during interrogation, rights groups said Tuesday. The activists, held since May in Dhahban prison on the western Red Sea coast, have faced repeated electrocution and flogging, leaving some of them unable to stand or walk, Amnesty International said, citing three separate testimonies. At least one activist was made to hang from a ceiling, Amnesty added. In addition to the torture, at least three women activists also endured "forcible kissing and hugging", Human Rights Watch said in a separate statement. The reports come as Saudi Arabia faces intense global criticism over the killing of insider-turned-critic Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate on October 2, which tipped the kingdom into one of its worst crises. "Only a few weeks after the ruthless killing of Jamal Khashoggi, these shocking reports of torture, sexual harassment and other forms of ill-treatment, if verified, expose further outrageous human rights violations by the Saudi authorities," said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty's Middle East research director. In addition to detaining the activists "simply for peacefully expressing their views, they are also subjecting them to horrendous physical suffering," Maalouf added. There was no immediate reaction to the report from Saudi authorities. More than a dozen activists were arrested in May -- just before the historic lifting of a decades-long ban on women drivers the following month. Many of them were accused of undermining security and aiding enemies of the state. Some were subsequently released, but those still detained include Aziza al-Yousef, a retired professor at Riyadh's King Saud University, Amnesty said. Loujain al-Hathloul -- who was held in 2014 for more than 70 days for attempting to drive from neighbouring United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia -- also remains in detention. Story continues Following their arrest, state-backed newspapers published front-page pictures of some of the activists with the word "traitor" stamped across them in red. Hatoon al-Fassi, a prominent women's rights activist and academic, was detained just after the lifting of the driving ban, campaigners said. "Any brutal torture of Saudi women activists would show no limit to the Saudi authorities' campaign of wanton cruelty against critics and human rights activists," said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. The arrests were seen as a calculated move by powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to placate clerics incensed by his modernisation drive, as well as to send a clear signal to activists that he alone is the arbiter of change. Many of the activists are being held without charge or legal representation, campaigners said. "The Saudi authorities must immediately and unconditionally release detained human rights defenders who are being held solely for their peaceful work," said Maalouf. Riyadh must also "launch a prompt, thorough and effective investigation into the reports of... ill-treatment with the view of holding those responsible to account." Shrek The Musical (Credit: SWNS) A production of Shrek The Musical has run into a discrimination row after a six-foot tall actor was hired as the plays vertically challenged villain. Samuel Holmes, a veteran actor appearing in the touring show, is playing Lord Farquaad at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth, doing so on his knees with fake legs dangling from his waist. But in a letter to the Plymouth Herald, regular theatre-goer and retired policeman Bill Nicholson, 75, has said that hes appalled by the casting. Gradually dwarfs are being frozen out of stage productions in favour of taller actors on a lower salary, he said. The Theatre Royal is following this trend in spite of having thousands to erect a statue which many feel is an abomination especially as council taxpayers are given no choice in, whether to support this or not. (Credit: Theatre Royal Plymouth) The reference to the statue comes after the theatre announced it was to erect a seven-metre high bronze sculpture of Bianca, the courtesan and Cassios jealous lover from Shakespeares Othello. Some residents are said to be angry that they will have to walk through the legs of the statue, which will form a gateway, in order to enter the theatre. Mr Nicolson said that he was appalled to see that yet again an able-bodied and tall actor is to play the part of a dwarf in the hit musical Shrek. I understand that this is partly to do with the fact that dwarfs are normally paid a higher salary to play dwarfs than taller people are paid to impersonate them on their knees, he added. Our screens are filled each night with scenes from the BBC Rickshaw Challenge featuring a delightful dwarf called Maisie. That is where my money will be going. I for one will not be attending the Shrek musical. What next! Snow white and The Seven Tall people! A spokesperson for Theatre Royal Plymouth told the Plymouth Herald: We aim to bring the best possible theatre to our audiences here in Plymouth and the South West but we have no control over casting for productions playing at TRP as part of a UK tour. Story continues As a theatre, we embrace diversity. We value difference and individuality, treating everyone as equally important. In the original 2001 movie, Lord Farquaard, voiced by John Lithgow, was short in stature, but not portrayed specifically as a dwarf. The Daily Telegraph reports that the row follows the recent cancellations of some dates in the The Extreme Dwarfanators Wrestling show, a touring dwarf wrestling event, following objections from the Restricted Growth Association, who likened it to a freak show. Wrestlers taking part called the objections discrimination adding that they should not be told what they can and cannot do. Read more Ofcom may investigate Cheryl Cole X Factor show Anne Hegerty reveals agony of losing father First look at RuPauls Drag Race Xmas Kinshasa (AFP) - Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have provisionally freed 17 pro-democracy activists who were arrested in the capital on November 1, one of the group said Monday. "We have all been free since yesterday (Sunday) and we were granted provisional release," Gloria Senga, head of the Citizens' Vigilance (Vigi) movement, told AFP. "We have been summoned to the public prosecutor's office on Friday," she added. The 17 young activists, mainly students, are accused of "disturbing the peace and civil disobedience" as the vast central African country gears up for general elections on December 23. Picked up by security forces while fulfilling a mission of "civil and electoral education", they were jailed in Kinshasa's central Makala prison, where they went on hunger strike to press for their release. "They were calling on the Congolese people to vote responsibly, not out of fear," the group's lawyer Donald Kabasele told AFP, ahead of the start of the election campaign on Thursday. The Congolese people will be called to elect a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled in wartime and peace since 2001 and had his mandate prolonged twice for a year. The lawyer said the activists were not mistreated during their first experience of prison, though overall conditions are "inhuman". "In the cell, they couldn't wash themselves and they had to sleep on the floor. "Today (Monday), they must see their doctor because the conditions of their detention were out of the ordinary," the lawyer added. On November 9, British NGO Freedom from Torture cast a spotlight on the DRC, declaring that the army, police and intelligence services regularly tortured political and human rights activists. The group's report titled "A Tool to Silence: Torture to Crush Dissent in the Democratic Republic of Congo" detailed atrocities across the country, which shares its vast mineral wealth with foreign firms but is scarred by persistent and brutal violence in several provinces. Story continues In a report based on testimony and medical evidence from "74 men and women who escaped and fled to safety in the UK", Freedom from Torture documented "sexual torture, burning, positional torture and electric shocks". "Gang rape was common: more than half of those who were raped described multiple perpetrators, while others watched. The rapes were sometimes accompanied by beating, burning and cutting to further punishment or force compliance," the text added. Human Right Watch (HRW), based in New York, has also reported on the "frequent use of torture" of people suspected of opposing the regime, along with systematic arrests. Paris (AFP) - Billions of euros worth of critically endangered eels are being trafficked each year from Europe, ending up on tables in China and Japan in what campaigners say is "the largest wildlife crime on Earth." Stocks of European eel (anguilla anguilla) have plummeted 90 percent in three decades as mankind has developed the wetlands and dammed the rivers it needs to grow and feed in, and experts fear criminal gangs smuggling the lucrative fish are pushing it towards oblivion. Despite growing alarm from conservationists, hundreds of tonnes of eels are still legally and illegally fished each year. In France -- which catches more of the fish than any other EU state -- the issue has taken on political dimensions. "There's around 10 percent of stocks left compared to 30 years ago due to habitat loss and what we've done to the migration pathways in Europe," Andrew Kerr, chairman of the Sustainable Eel Group (SEG) that works to conserve the species, told AFP. The eel's vertiginous decline has provoked some action from governments and law enforcement agencies. It is now listed in the CITES international convention on trade in endangered species, resulting in strict national catch quotas. The problem, according to Michel Vignaud, head of fishing regulation at France's National Biodiversity Agency, is exploding Asian demand for a product viewed as both a delicacy and an aphrodisiac. "We cannot legally export eels outside the EU, but the prices are different in Asia. There is a real Asian demand for eel," he told AFP. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said that in 2016 China produced close to a quarter of a million tonnes of eel for consumption, far ahead of Japan -- where eating eel is seen as bringing good luck and fertility -- and the EU. The bloc's law enforcement agency EUROPOL estimates as many as 100 tonnes of baby eels -- known as glass eels for their translucent skin -- are trafficked abroad each year: equivalent to around 350 million fish. Story continues "Glass eels trafficking involves environmental crime, smuggling, document fraud, tax evasion and money laundering," a spokesman told AFP. The live eels are largely caught -- legally or otherwise -- in Western Europe before being smuggled eastwards in vans or lorries, often falsely labelled as non-endangered fish, police and conservationists say. Criminal gangs then divide the eels into suitcases, up to 50,000 of the tiny fish per bag, which are then flown by commercial airliner to Asia. The fish are grown in special farms to their full size -- up to a metre and a half -- and then sold to market for the equivalent of 10 euros each. "Prices vary so you can only come up with bracket figures, but we're talking billions (of euros). It's the biggest wildlife crime by value on Earth," said Kerr. "It's the most trafficked and travelled animal on the planet." - Quota controversy - The European eel's extraordinary life-cycle begins in the topaz waters of the Sargasso Sea. The eggs drift on the current across the Atlantic, often taking up to two years to reach the feeding grounds of Europe. The baby eels swim up rivers where they live for up to 25 years, feeding on larvae and worms until fully grown before embarking on the 4,000-mile (6,500-kilometre) journey back home to the Caribbean, where they breed and finally die. But they are under threat from a host of manmade dangers, including illegal fishing, pollution, and the estimated 1.3 million river barriers blocking their path across Europe. "Our hope is that any eels still alive are left alone by humans," said Charlotte Nithart, head of the Robin des Bois conservation group. She said that France's current legal eel quota -- 60 tonnes per year, of which 60 percent must go to restocking efforts -- was contributing to the species' decline. "We have never said that trafficking alone is responsible for the disappearance of eels," she said. "We want to cancel or at least dramatically reduce fishing quotas and reinforce the means to fight trafficking." - 'Getting more dangerous' - For Guillaume Le Priellec, who represents the local fishing committee in Brittany, quotas are "justified" for those whose livelihoods depend on the eel fishing season, which began across France last week. "If you are in commercial fishing people tell you that when you fish more you earn more. So the fishermen always want more," he said. As the numbers of fish arriving on Europe's shores goes down, smugglers are taking greater risks to sate voracious Asian demand. "Trying to control the traffickers is getting more dangerous. These are people who operate on the sidelines of mass organised crime," said Vignaud. EUROPOL has scored a number of major hauls in recent years, including Spanish police busting an eel-smuggling gang in possession of 350 kilogrammes of glass eels in April. But despite such seizures and a handful of ongoing trials, campaigners say the penalties remain flimsy compared with those for other trafficking crimes. "EUROPOL can act on the level of customs but there's not a European intervention force to fight trafficking and traffickers," said Nithart. Eels are mentioned in England's 11th-century Domesday Book and used to be an accepted tax payment in medieval times. But as mass trafficking continues to undermine EU-wide efforts to save the threatened species, there are fears for the future of one of the world's most storied fish. "One of the sad things about today in general is how human beings are losing touch with nature, and the eel really symbolises this," said Kerr. Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday called on Turkey to release pro-Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtas, saying his detention since 2016 on terror charges was aimed at "stifling pluralism". Demirtas, one of two former co-leaders of the leftist pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was arrested in November 2016 over his alleged links to Kurdish militants. At the time of his arrest he was a member of parliament. The court in the French city of Strasbourg said it accepted that Demirtas had been arrested on "reasonable suspicion" of committing a crime, but said the reasons given for keeping him behind bars were not "sufficient" and constituted "an unjustified interference with the free expression of the opinion of the people". It found that the extension of his detention, particularly during a referendum on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers and later a presidential election, were aimed at "stifling pluralism and limiting freedom of political debate, which was at the very core of the concept of a democratic society". "The court therefore held, unanimously, that the respondent state was to take all necessary measures to put an end to the applicants pre-trial detention," it added. The ECHR hears cases of alleged violations of the European Convention on Human Rights of which Turkey is a signatory. Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday called on Turkey to release pro-Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtas, ruling his detention since 2016 on terror charges was aimed at "stifling pluralism". Demirtas, one of two former co-leaders of the leftist pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was arrested in November 2016 over his alleged links to Kurdish militants. At the time of his arrest the charismatic politician dubbed the Kurdish Obama was a member of parliament. The court in the French city of Strasbourg said it accepted that Demirtas had been arrested on "reasonable suspicion" of committing a crime, but said the reasons given for keeping him behind bars were not "sufficient" and constituted "an unjustified interference with the free expression of the opinion of the people". It found that the extension of his detention through a referendum on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers, and later a presidential election, were aimed at "stifling pluralism and limiting freedom of political debate, which was at the very core of the concept of a democratic society". "The court therefore held, unanimously, that the respondent state was to take all necessary measures to put an end to the applicants pre-trial detention," it added, ordering Turkey to pay Demirtas 10,000 euros ($11,492) in damages and 15,000 euros towards his legal costs. Demirtas, 45, is charged with a string of offences, including terrorist propaganda, for which he faces up to 142 years' imprisonment if convicted. He denies all the charges and claims the case against him is politically motivated. In June, he ran for president from prison, coming third with 8.4 percent of the vote. The ECHR hears cases of alleged violations of the European Convention on Human Rights of which Turkey is a signatory. Its rulings are binding on member states and Turkey, like fellow member Russia, has in the past usually implemented its findings. It was unclear however whether it would comply with the order to release Demirtas. By Krisztina Than and Kole Casule BUDAPEST/SKOPJE (Reuters) - Former Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski, who fled abroad after being sentenced to two years in prison on corruption-related charges, said on Tuesday that he had been granted political asylum in Hungary. Macedonian police had issued an arrest warrant for Gruevski, who resigned in 2016 after a decade in power, after he failed to show up to begin his sentence, following a Nov. 9 court ruling against his motion for a reprieve. "Today the Republic of Hungary, an EU and NATO member state, responded positively to my previously submitted request to obtain political asylum due to political persecution in the Republic of Macedonia," Gruevski wrote on his Facebook page. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said in a reply to Reuters questions that Gruevski was convicted of misuse of office by Macedonian courts after a "thorough and transparent legal process". "In addition, Mr. Gruevski is indicted in four pending criminal cases. We believe it is appropriate for the Macedonian legal process to proceed and for Mr. Gruevski to be held accountable within the Macedonian justice system," the spokesperson added. Earlier on Tuesday, the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Idok reported without naming its sources that the Hungarian Immigration and Asylum Office had established that the legal conditions to give Gruevski asylum had been met. Officials at the immigration agency were unavailable for comment. A government spokesman said Hungary "has been in compliance with the...rules" with respect to Gruevski's case, without elaborating. Prime Minister Viktor Orban supported the fellow right-wing nationalist Gruevski in the run-up to Macedonia's 2017 election and praised his party's efforts to halt migrants passing through the Balkans to western Europe. Orban's office earlier said it considered Gruevski's asylum request to be "solely a legal issue" to be handled by the competent authority. The Macedonian Justice Ministry said it would send to Budapest a request for Gruevski's extradition. "The government expects that the authorities in Budapest will unconditionally accept the request for extradition and in accordance with international law, as a member state of NATO and the EU, will facilitate the return of Gruevski to Macedonia," the government in Skopje said in a statement. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs, Krisztina Than in Budapest and Kole Casule in Skopje, Editing by Mark Heinrich, William Maclean) LONDON (Reuters) - Amid international uproar over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, some members of Saudi Arabia's ruling family are agitating to prevent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from becoming king, three sources close to the royal court said. Dozens of princes and cousins from powerful branches of the Al Saud family want to see a change in the line of succession but would not act while King Salman - the crown princes 82-year-old father - is still alive, the sources said. They recognize that the king is unlikely to turn against his favorite son, known in the West as MbS. Rather, they are discussing the possibility with other family members that after the king's death, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 76, a younger full brother of King Salman and uncle of the crown prince, could take the throne, according to the sources. Prince Ahmed, King Salmans only surviving full brother, would have the support of family members, the security apparatus and some Western powers, one of the Saudi sources said. Prince Ahmed returned to Riyadh in October after 2-1/2 months abroad. During the trip, he appeared to criticize the Saudi leadership while responding to protesters outside a London residence chanting for the downfall of the Al Saud dynasty. He was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling family's senior members, who opposed MbS becoming crown prince in 2017, two Saudi sources said at the time. Neither Prince Ahmed nor his representatives could be reached for comment. Officials in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests from Reuters for comment on succession issues. The House of Saud is made up of hundreds of princes. Unlike typical European monarchies, there is no automatic succession from father to eldest son. Instead the kingdoms tribal traditions dictate that the king and senior family members from each branch select the heir they consider fittest to lead. (Saudi royal family: https://tmsnrt.rs/2OGPHTB) Senior U.S. officials have indicated to Saudi advisers in recent weeks that they would support Prince Ahmed, who was deputy interior minister for nearly 40 years, as a potential successor, according to Saudi sources with direct knowledge of the consultations. These Saudi sources said they were confident that Prince Ahmed would not change or reverse any of the social or economic reforms enacted by MbS, would honor existing military procurement contracts and would restore the unity of the family. One senior U.S. official said the White House is in no hurry to distance itself from the crown prince despite pressure from lawmakers and the CIAs assessment that MbS ordered Khashoggis murder, though that could change once Trump gets a definitive report on the killing from the intelligence community. The official also said the White House saw it as noteworthy that King Salman seemed to stand by his son in a speech in Riyadh on Monday and made no direct reference to Khashoggis killing, except to praise the Saudi public prosecutor. President Donald Trump on Saturday called the CIA assessment that MbS ordered Khashoggi's killing "very premature" but "possible", and said he would receive a complete report on the case on Tuesday. A White House official referred Reuters to those comments and had "nothing else to add at this time". The Saudi sources said U.S. officials had cooled on MbS not only because of his suspected role in the murder of Khashoggi. They are also rankled because the crown prince recently urged the Saudi defense ministry to explore alternative weapons supplies from Russia, the sources said. In a letter dated May 15, seen by Reuters, the crown prince requested that the defense ministry "focus on purchasing weapon systems and equipment in the most pressing fields" and get training on them, including the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. Neither the Russian defense ministry nor officials in Riyadh immediately responded to Reuters requests for comment. U.S. ROLE KEY The brutal killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the crown prince, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month has drawn global condemnation, including from many politicians and officials in the United States, a key Saudi ally. The CIA believes the crown prince ordered the killing, according to U.S. sources familiar with the assessment. Saudi Arabias public prosecutor has said the crown prince knew nothing of the killing. The international uproar has piled pressure on a royal court already divided over 33-year-old Prince Mohammed's rapid rise to power. Since his ascension, the prince has gained popular support with high-profile social and economic reforms including ending a ban on women driving and opening cinemas in the conservative kingdom. His reforms have been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, a purge of top royals and businessmen on corruption charges, and a costly war in Yemen. He has also marginalized senior members of the royal family and consolidated control over Saudis security and intelligence agencies. He first ousted then-powerful crown prince and interior minister Mohammed bin Nayef (MbN), 59, in June 2017. Then he removed Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, 65, son of the late King Abdullah, as head of the National Guard and detained him as part of an anti-corruption campaign. Some 30 other princes were also arrested, mistreated, humiliated and stripped of their wealth, even as MbS splashed out on palaces, a $500 million yacht, and set a new record in the international art market with the purchase of a painting by Italian Renaissance engineer and painter Leonardo Da Vinci. The entire House of Saud has emerged weakened as a result. According to one well-placed Saudi source, many princes from senior circles in the family believe a change in the line of succession "would not provoke any resistance from the security or intelligence bodies he controls" because of their loyalty to the wider family. "They (the security apparatus) will follow any consensus reached by the family." Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. The United States, a key ally in economic and security terms, is likely to be a determining factor in how matters unfold in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi sources and diplomats say. Trump and his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner have cultivated deep personal relationships with the crown prince. One Saudi insider said MbS feels he still has their support and is willing to "roll some heads to appease the U.S." But Trump and top administration officials have said Saudi officials should be held to account for any involvement in Khashoggis death and have imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for their alleged role including one of MbS's closest aides. U.S. lawmakers are meanwhile pushing legislation to punish Riyadh for the killing, and both Republican and Democratic senators have urged Trump to get tough on the crown prince. King Salman, 82, is aware of the consequences of a major clash with the United States and the possibility that Congress could try to freeze Saudi assets. Those who have met the king recently say he appeared to be in denial about the role of MbS in what happened, believing there to be a conspiracy against the kingdom. But they added that he looked burdened and worried. ALLEGIANCE COUNCIL When the king dies or is no longer be able to rule, the 34-member Allegiance Council, a body representing each line of the ruling family to lend legitimacy to succession decisions, would not automatically declare MbS the new king. Even as crown prince, MbS would still need the council to ratify his ascension, one of the three Saudi sources said. While the council accepted King Salman's wish to make MbS crown prince, it would not necessarily accept MbS becoming king when his father dies, especially given that he sought to marginalize council members. Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. The Saudi sources say MbS has destroyed the institutional pillars of nearly a century of Al Saud rule: the family, the clerics, the tribes and the merchant families. They say this is seen inside the family as destabilizing. Despite the controversy over Khashoggi's killing, MbS is continuing to pursue his agenda. Some insiders believe he built his father a new but remote Red Sea palace in Sharma, at the Neom City development site -- thrown up in a record one year at a cost of $2 billion -- as a gilded cage for his retirement. The site is isolated, the closest city of Tabouk more than 100 km (60 miles) away. Residence there would keep the king out of the loop on most affairs of state, one of the sources close to the royal family said. Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Reuters correspondents; Editing by Nick Tattersall) By Jan Wolfe (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting U.S. attorney general on Nov. 7 drew another legal challenge on Monday, this time by three Democratic senators. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse and Mazie Hirono sued Whitaker and Trump, asking for a court order stating the appointment violated the U.S. Constitution by denying the Senate its right to approve the acting attorney general's nomination. They also asked that Whitaker be blocked from performing the duties of the office. The senators' lawsuit joins at least two other legal challenges to Whitaker's appointment, including one filed by the state of Maryland on Nov. 13. Trump appointed Whitaker on Nov. 7 after ousting Jeff Sessions, who the president had repeatedly criticized for recusing himself from overseeing Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into possible collusion in the 2016 U.S. election between the Trump campaign and Russia. Trump has repeatedly called the investigation a witch hunt. Whitaker, who will directly oversee the special counsel probe, has previously echoed Trump's criticism. In public comments, Whitaker has suggested a successor to Sessions could restrain the investigation or slash its budget. The Justice Department on Nov. 14 released a legal memo defending Whitakers appointment as proper under past practice and prior court rulings. The following explains the legal questions swirling around Whitaker's appointment. What is the legal authority for Whitaker's appointment? Trump appointed Whitaker under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (FVRA), a law allowing him to elevate a senior official to agency head for up to 210 days. The law was intended to address vacancies created by deaths or resignations, but it is unclear whether it applies to those created by firings. There is some question as to whether Sessions was fired or resigned. The former attorney general submitted a letter of resignation at the presidents request. Some legal experts say that if Sessions was effectively fired, his appointment runs afoul of that law and could be challenged in court. Could Whitaker's appointment also be unconstitutional? Possibly. Under the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, ambassadors, federal judges, and other "Officers of the United States" who are nominated by the president must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate under the body's so-called advise and consent powers. In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court made clear that the position of attorney general is the sort of high-ranking officer that requires Senate approval. Legal experts disagree about whether the Appointments Clause applies to Whitaker in his role as an acting attorney general serving on an interim basis. In a Nov. 8 New York Times opinion article, Democratic lawyer Neal Katyal and George Conway, a conservative and husband of Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway, argued that it does, and called Whitaker's appointment under the FVRA unconstitutional. "For the president to install Mr. Whitaker as our chief law enforcement officer is to betray the entire structure of our charter document," Katyal and Conway wrote. But Steve Vladeck, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Texas, said he thought Whitaker's hiring passed constitutional muster. Vladeck said there is Supreme Court precedent for the argument that Whitaker's assignment is temporary and therefore not an appointment under the Constitution. Who has legal standing to challenge Whitaker's authority? Any individual adversely affected by a direct action taken by Whitaker would have legal standing to bring a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of his appointment, Vladeck said. I think its quite possible there could be a lot of challenges to his appointment, Vladeck said. Individuals and state governments with pending lawsuits against the Justice Department may also be able to challenge Whitaker's authority. The agency is in the process of adding Whitaker as a party to those pending lawsuits and removing Sessions. That process is typically not controversial, but on Nov. 13 the Maryland attorney general asked a judge to block it from taking place in a dispute relating to the Affordable Care Acts protection of people with pre-existing medical conditions. If Whitaker's appointment is legal, are there limits to his power? Federal regulations state that government employees should not participate in matters where one could reasonably question their impartiality. There is also a bar on officials participating in investigations or prosecutions that substantially involve someone they have had a personal or political relationship with. Whitaker has criticized the Mueller probe on multiple occasions, writing in an opinion piece for CNN that it was "going too far and that Trumps personal finances should be considered off-limits. Whitaker also has a close friendship with Sam Clovis, who was co-chair of Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and has testified before the grand jury in the Mueller investigation. Some legal experts say that Whitaker's prior statements about the probe and his relationship with Clovis require him to recuse himself from overseeing the investigation. Paul Rosenzweig, a former counsel to independent counsel Ken Starr, said he did not think Whitaker had to recuse himself. Unlike judges, Justice Department officials are political actors who are allowed to express viewpoints, Rosenzweig said. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; editing by Anthony Lin and Jonathan Oatis) Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM recently received another warning from the Turkish government for hydrocarbon exploration in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Cyprus. The government of Turkey claimed that the move from the worlds largest publicly traded energy company has the potential of breaking the delicate balance of regions stability. Geopolitical Turmoil Notably, in October, ExxonMobil stated that it plans to go ahead with its exploration plans in the region, ignoring the warnings from the Turkish government. The company accepted the invitation from the Greek Cypriot to search for gas in the region, where the Turkish Cypriot side claims its ownership. ExxonMobil, accompanied by Qatar Petroleum, recently began drilling operations in the Block 10 of the EEZ. Moreover, Frances TOTAL S.A. TOT and Eni S.p.A. E of Italy were invited by the Greek Cyprus last month, along with ExxonMobil, to bid for the Block 7 in the EEZ. In February, the Turkish military vessels blocked the path of a drillship contracted by Eni, which was headed for the Block 3. United States Backs Exploration Activities Francis Fannon, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, sees the exploration activities in the region as a great opportunity. Importantly, Noble Energy, Inc. NBL discovered a field offshore Cyprus in 2011, which was estimated to contain 4.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The recent visit from Francis Fannon in Cyprus further backs ExxonMobils ongoing activities in the eastern Mediterranean. ExxonMobils View The significant hydrocarbon deposits in Cyprus neighbor countries, Israel and Egypt, makes ExxonMobil optimistic of generating positive results from offshore Cyprus. With backing from Washington, the company is expected to keep up with its activities in the region. The company has its presence in Cyprus for more than half a century and the recent developments are expected to enhance its footprint in the region. It has already acquired 3-D seismic data of the block and has plans to drill two wells in the area within its first licensee period. Story continues Price Performance and Zacks Rank Irving, TX-based ExxonMobil has lost 2% of its value in the past year against 2% collective rally of the industry it belongs to. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside? Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. See the pot trades we're targeting>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report TOTAL S.A. (TOT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Eni SpA (E) : Free Stock Analysis Report Noble Energy Inc. (NBL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Laurence Frost and Chang-Ran Kim PARIS/TOKYO (Reuters) - French carmaker Renault tapped its chief operating officer and a senior board member to fill in for embattled boss Carlos Ghosn, after an investigation by alliance partner Nissan led to his arrest on suspicion of financial misconduct. Thierry Bollore, Ghosn's operational second-in-command, will become deputy chief executive, while lead independent director Philippe Lagayette assumes the function of interim chairman, Renault said after a board meeting late on Tuesday. But the board refrained from firing Ghosn while awaiting more detail on the allegations - in a decision that could also buy more time for an accelerated, permanent succession process. "Mr. Ghosn, temporarily incapacitated, remains Chairman and Chief Executive Officer," Renault said in a statement. "During this period, the board will meet on a regular basis under the chairmanship of the lead independent director." Ghosn, one of the car industry's best-known leaders, was arrested on Monday after Nissan said he had engaged in years of wrongdoing, including personal use of company money and under-reported earnings. The Japanese company plans to remove him as chairman on Thursday. [nL4N1XU3KO] The French government, Renault's biggest shareholder, had begun to distance itself from Ghosn, calling for new interim leadership before the meeting, as the Japanese investigation expanded to include Renault-Nissan alliance finances. "Carlos Ghosn is no longer in a position where he is capable of leading Renault," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said earlier in the day. "Renault has been weakened, which makes it all the more necessary to act quickly." Statements by Le Maire, Renault and its board all echoed French preoccupations over the future of the alliance first articulated by President Emmanuel Macron within hours of Ghosn's arrest on Monday. [nP6N1X301O] Following talks between Le Maire and his Japanese counterpart Hiroshige Seko on Tuesday, the ministers reaffirmed their "shared wish to maintain this winning cooperation". Story continues But in a sign that Nissan may now seek to loosen its French parent's hold on the partnership, the Japanese company informed Renault it also had evidence of potential wrongdoing at Renault-Nissan BV, the Dutch venture overseeing alliance operations under Renault's ultimate control, three people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. [nL8N1XV44G] The private communication came from Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa, whose company is 43.4 percent-owned by Renault in a complex alliance forged by Ghosn over almost two decades. MAJOR PLAYER Close to bankruptcy when Renault bought its stake in 1999, Nissan has recovered to be the engine of an alliance that generates synergies for both companies and allows them to rival Volkswagen and Toyota Motor Corp on the global stage. But there have long been tensions as Nissan, while almost 60 percent bigger than Renault by sales, remains the junior partner in their shareholding hierarchy with a smaller reciprocal 15 percent non-voting stake in Renault. In its board statement, Renault invoked "principles of transparency, trust and mutual respect set forth in the alliance charter" to demand that Nissan provide "all information in (its) possession arising from the internal investigation." Renault shares closed 1.2 percent lower before the meeting, extending Monday's decline of more than 8 percent. Nissan fell another 5.5 percent, while Mitsubishi Motors Corp, the third alliance member, ended down nearly 7 percent. [nL4N1XV01U] Mitsubishi Motors' CEO Osamu Masuko said it could be hard to manage the alliance without the unifying figure of Ghosn. "I don't think there is anyone else on Earth like Ghosn who could run Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi," he told reporters in Tokyo. Bank of America Merrill Lynch cut its rating on Renault to "neutral" from "buy", while Exane BNP Paribas moved to "neutral" from "outperform". DIFFICULT TIME The end of Ghosn's leadership poses questions and risks for an alliance he had pledged to consolidate with a deeper tie-up, before eventually stepping back from its operational leadership. It comes at a difficult time for the industry, already grappling with tighter emissions regulations, a diesel sales collapse and big investments in electric and self-driving cars. Ghosn's alleged improprieties also raise questions over governance at the alliance, over which he presided relatively unchecked as chairman of all three partners' boards. Japan's Nikkei business daily, citing unidentified sources, said Ghosn had received share price-linked compensation of about 4 billion yen ($36 million) over a five-year period to March 2015, but it went unreported in Nissan's financial reports. The financial reports also did not mention annual compensation of 100 million to 150 million yen Ghosn received from the automaker's overseas subsidiaries, the newspaper said. Nissan declined to comment on the report. Japanese public broadcaster NHK also said Nissan had paid billions of yen to buy and renovate homes for Ghosn in Rio de Janeiro, Beirut, Paris and Amsterdam, citing unnamed sources. The properties had no business purpose and were not listed as benefits in compensation filings to the Tokyo bourse, NHK said. There has been no comment from Ghosn on the allegations, and Reuters could not contact him for comment. A French diplomatic source said the countrys ambassador in Tokyo had seen Ghosn on Tuesday as part of usual procedures for a French citizen being held in Japan. ($1 = 112.4400 yen) (Reporting by Laurence Frost and Chang-Ran Kim; Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume, Sam Nussey, Leigh Thomas, John Irish, Sudip Kar-Gupta and Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Keith Weir, Mark Potter and Lisa Shumaker) Photo: Getty Images When Hunter Shamatt lost his wallet, he had little hope hed get it back, certainly not with interest. But he did. Hunter was on the way from South Dakota to his sisters wedding in Las Vegas earlier this month when he left his wallet on a Frontier Airlines flight. It held the 20-year-olds ID and debit card, as well as $60 and a signed paycheck. Hunter was fearing the worst that everything was gone, his mother Jeannie Shamatt wrote in a Facebook post about the incident. Luckily, the man who found it, Todd Brown, is a believer in paying it forward. He mailed everything back, and then some. Brown included a note that read: Hunter, Found this on a Frontier flight from Omaha to Denver row 12, seat F wedged between the seat and wall. Thought you might want it back. All the bestPS. I rounded your cash up to an even $100 so you could celebrate getting your wallet back. Have fun!!! Thats right. While others may have snatched the cash, Brown gave the kid some more. Just cause. The father of five found the wallet while reaching to put on his seatbelt during his Nov. 8 flight. He decided not to give it to the flight crew. I thought about it, but I just wanted to make sure he got it back, Brown told Yahoo Lifestyle. It had some cash in it and a signed paycheck, and a debit card, so I wanted to make sure he got it back. When he landed in Denver, he and his wife did a little digging. My wife looked him up on Facebook and found him in about 39 seconds, so I sent him a message there. He also perused Hunters profile and came up with the idea to give him a little boost. I saw he was just a kid, 20 years old, he had a paycheck in there, so I figured, Well, hes doing his best to make ends meet, but I was 20 once, and thats a lot of money for a kid, Brown reasoned. Hunter never responded to the Facebook message, but since Brown had his ID, he could still send it back. I was putting it together to send via FedEx, and when I sent it off, I wanted to have a little fun, I wanted him to have a little fun, he recalled. I imagined what it would be like to get your wallet back, so I added a little bit so he could celebrate. Hunter had three 20-dollar bills already, and Brown rounded it up to an even hundred. Why? Because it feels good to find money, Brown said. Anything from just finding an extra $20 in your pocket from last year when you put your coat away. When I send my mom a card, I still put a dollar in there because it feels good when you open it, he said. Story continues Brown does good deeds like this whenever he can, but he prefers to remain anonymous. He didnt sign his name on the note in the package, which was waiting for Hunter when he returned from Vegas. His mom was so moved by this act of kindness, she had to thank him. So, she took to Facebook and posted a photo of the note. She explained that the only identifier was the return address on the envelope, which was from Applied Underwriters in Omaha, Neb., where Brown works. We would love to thank the individual personally if we could find him or her. Please help share this post so we can find this amazing person, Jeannie wrote. Thanks to almost 2,000 shares, the post made its way to the brand manager at Applied Underwriters. She contacted me and asked if it was OK to put us in touch with one another, Brown said. And so she facilitated that, and I was driving home from work Monday and heard from both Hunter and his mother. They were very thankful. Hunter was very thankful, Brown recalled of their conversation. He told me he has some student loans and a car payment that he needed to make so the timing was right. Jeannie told him that Hunter is very forgetful, so she wasnt surprised when he lost his wallet. What surprised her was that he got it back. They assumed it was gone forever. So when he opened it, she said he just started screaming, No way! No way! And they hadnt noticed the note until after that excitement. Jeannie posted again on Facebook to gush about Brown. I personally want to thank Todd Brown and his wife for restoring faith that there are amazing people out there, the world is not as grim as its being made out to be, she wrote. Brown never expected to get so much attention. I just wanted to do the right thing, it always feels good to do the right thing, he said. Its really not that hard to be a good person. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Vesting in your 401(k) plan means that you own it. While you already own the amount you personally deposit in your 401(k) plan, you don't own your employer's contributions to the account until you vest in the 401(k) plan. What is 401(k) vesting? You become vested in your 401(k) plan when you qualify to keep your 401(k) match and other types of employer contributions to your account. Upon leaving a job, you cannot take company 401(k) contributions with you until you are vested in the 401(k) plan. "Vesting in your 401(k) simply means that funds contributed on your behalf by your employer may be forfeited if you were to leave your employer before becoming fully vested," says Amy Hubble, a certified financial planner and founding principal of Radix Financial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. "Vesting restrictions do not apply to funds you've contributed yourself, only what your employer contributes." [Read: How Long Does it Take to Vest in a 401(k) Plan?] How long does it take to fully vest in a 401(k) plan? Most companies require a specific number of years of service before you are eligible to keep part or all of the company contributions to your 401(k) when you leave the job. "Oftentimes employers will make a contribution to a participant's 401(k), but it's contingent upon that participant staying with the company for a certain period of time to actually receive the full benefit," says James Conole, a certified financial planner and founder of Root Financial Partners in Solana Beach, California. Some companies have cliff vesting schedules that don't allow workers to keep employer contributions to the 401(k) plan until they have remained on the job for a specific period of time, typically one to three years. Other employers have graded vesting schedules that allow departing employees to keep a portion of their 401(k) match based on their years of service, but they generally don't qualify for all of the 401(k) match until they have spent five or six years on the job. However, just under half of 401(k) plans (46 percent) provide immediate vesting of employer matching contributions, according to a Vanguard analysis of 1,900 plans with more than 4.6 million participants. Employees with immediate vesting are eligible to keep company 401(k) contributions regardless of how long they work for a specific employer. Story continues [Read: How Much Should You Contribute to a 401(k)?] What is your 401(k) vesting schedule? Your company's vesting schedule explains the proportion of employer contributions departing employees can take with them when they leave a job. "Some companies offer immediate vesting, meaning you have access to the matching funds as soon as you start your job. Some offer a 'step up' sort of vesting program in that you gain a percentage of matching funds made available each year as time passes," says Todd Sensing, a certified financial planner and founder of FamilyVest in Destin, Florida. "Also, some employers have a more black and white vesting plan in that there is a certain length of employment required to have access to any of the matching funds." Depending on your 401(k) plan's specific rules, employees with similar work and savings histories might leave a job with significantly different retirement account balances. For example, let's say an employee contributes $6,000 to his 401(k) plan over two years on the job and receives $3,000 in employer matching contributions, but then decides to change jobs. If his current employer provides immediate vesting, he can roll the entire $9,000 over to an individual retirement account. If his 401(k) plan has a three-year cliff vesting schedule, he has not stayed at his company long enough to qualify for any of the 401(k) match, and leaves the job with only the $6,000 he contributed to the plan. If his employer has a graded vesting schedule that says he gets to keep 20 percent of employer 401(k) contributions for each year of service until he fully vests at five years of job tenure, he will qualify to keep 40 percent of the 401(k) match, or $1,200, and can roll $7,200 over to his IRA. Vesting schedules vary considerably among different 401(k) plans, so it's important to find out the vesting requirements for your account. "Ask your HR manager or 401(k) administrator about your company's vesting schedule if you don't know," Hubble says. "The good thing is that even though you may not be eligible to roll over those funds until you meet the vesting requirements, you are still able to direct how those funds are invested and they will continue to grow alongside your contributions as long as you work for that company." [See: 10 Tips for Rolling Over a 401(k) When You Change Jobs.] Should you stay at a job until you are vested in the 401(k) plan? Leaving a job before you are vested in the 401(k) plan could cause you to miss out on thousands of dollars in retirement savings. If you are close to the cutoff for being vested in your 401(k) plan, sticking around for a few extra weeks or months could give your nest egg a significant boost. "If you have, say, a month left before being fully vested, you may think about staying to take access of those matching funds," Sensing says. "On the flip side, if you are truly unhappy at your job or it is time sensitive that you begin working at your next position, it may be worth it to you to leave some money on the table." Actress Heather Locklear has been placed on psychiatric hold after her therapist determined that she was having a mental breakdown, according to TMZ. Locklear was at home on Sunday when her therapist and lawyer realized she needed help, TMZ reports. Someone called 911, and Locklear was reportedly taken to a hospital where she was placed on hold. Sources tell People that Locklear had a fight with her boyfriend on Saturday, and she threw him out of her house. He then alerted her lawyer and doctor, who eventually placed her on a 5150 psychiatric hold. The laws surrounding psychiatric holds vary by state, and a 5150 psychiatric hold is specific to the state of California. It states that when a person who has a mental health disorder is a danger to others or themselves, an expert (a peace officer or doctor) may ask that the patient be put into custody for up to 72 hours to be assessed and evaluated. Actress Heather Locklear has been placed on psychiatric hold after her therapist determined that she was having a mental breakdown. (Photo: Getty Images) In California, the law states that patients must be informed what is happening to them, either orally or in writing, and told that theyre not under arrest theyre being taken for an examination by a mental health professional. It was designed to provide safety to a mentally ill and compromised person while still preserving their civil rights and to deescalate a dangerous situation for that person or others around them, Gail Saltz, MD, a psychiatrist and author of The Power of Different, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. After the 72 hours, either a patient is deemed safe to go home with the care of others or, if not safe, a judge must decide based on the individual situation and the treating doctors concerns whether a 5250 is appropriate, Saltz says. The 5250 allows for the patient who again must be deemed a threat to themselves or others or gravely disabled to be held involuntarily for up to 14 days. The laws vary from state to state, but in general, a health professional has a limited amount of time they can hold a patient, clinical psychologist John Mayer, PhD, author of Family Fit: Find Your Balance in Life, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. In many states, its three days and then there is a court hearing in front of a judge to determine if the patient can be held any longer. Story continues Doctors dont necessarily need to prove anything in particular when requesting a psychiatric hold for a patient, Simon Rego, chief psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. The assumption is based on their competency in the field, he says. A mental health professional is saying they need more information to either rule in or rule out certain factors that may make a person a danger to themselves or other people because of their mental health condition. Locklears lawyer is currently consulting Britney Spearss conservatorship lawyers on next steps, according to Us Weekly. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Budapest (AFP) - Former Macedonian premier Nikola Gruevski -- who fled to Budapest after being sentenced to jail for abuse of power -- said Tuesday that he has been granted asylum by Hungary. Hungary, a member of both EU and NATO, "today accepted my request to be given political asylum over political persecution" in Macedonia, Gruevski, who is close to Orban, wrote on his Facebook account, a week after fleeing to the Hungarian capital. Earlier, a Hungarian daily close to Orban, Magyar Idok, had said that Gruevski had been given asylum, but neither the government nor the Immigration and Asylum Office had confirmed the information. Gruevski -- who has said he received death threats in Macedonia -- wrote on Facebook that the government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev "wanted to rob me of my freedom by using non-democratic steps and methods and misusing prosecuting and judicial systems." Skopje had issued an international warrant for his arrest after he failed to show up for his two-year jail term. According to Magyar Idok, Hungary's Immigration and Asylum Office had decided that Gruevski met the legal conditions for recognition as a refugee. "The body considers Gruevski's fears that his life would be in danger in his homeland to be plausible," the newspaper wrote. It was via Facebook that 48-year-old Gruevski -- who was prime minister of the Balkan country between 2006 and 2016 -- announced last week that he had fled to the Hungarian capital. "I am now in Budapest, where I have requested political asylum from the Hungarian authorities," he wrote at the time. Calling on Budapest not to grant his request, Macedonian premier Zoran Zaev had urged Hungary to "respect international practice, international law" and not provide "a refuge shelter for criminals". But Budapest had said Gruevski's long tenure as premier justified "special treatment". "The Immigration Office concluded that if Gruevski returned home, his political past and stance, as well as accusations made against him by the new government, could make him subject to official persecution," the daily Magyar Idok said. Story continues Budapest has denied that it helped Gruevski escape from Macedonia although police in both Albania and Montenegro say Hungarian diplomats helped drive him to Serbia on his way to Hungary. Gruevski's diplomatic and personal passports had been seized by the Macedonian authorities. Gruevski reached Hungary only using his personal identity document and was allowed a one-time entry, said Magyar Idok. Orban's ruling party Fidesz has said that Gruevski was "persecuted and threatened by a left-wing government, which clearly has the support of George Soros". Both Gruevski and Orban have accused the Hungarian-US billionaire of stoking illegal immigration, claims that Soros denies. Jerusalem (AFP) - Resigned defence minister Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday accused his former partners in Israel's coalition government of scuppering a bill that would have made it easier to sentence Palestinian attackers to death. A law to sentence "terrorists" to death was one of Lieberman's election promises in 2015, and government support for it was a condition for Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition and becoming defence minister. A bill in that vein, penned by Yisrael Beitenu members, passed a preliminary vote by the full parliament in January, before arriving at the Knesset's law committee for discussion and votes ahead of final approval in the plenum. On Wednesday, however, Lieberman quit Netanyahu's coalition over Israel's latest truce with Hamas, which he called a "capitulation to terror," leaving the coalition with an unstable one-seat majority and resentment toward Yisrael Beitenu. After the bill was debated but not voted on in a Tuesday discussion at the law committee, Lieberman said he was "shocked" to hear that committee chairman Nissan Slomiansky received "orders from above" to prevent it from advancing. Yisrael Beitenu considered such a decision a "blatant breach" of the coalition's committment to its electorate and the bereaved families, Lieberman said in a statement. Slomiansky himself implied during the discussion that coalition chairman Dudi Amsalem had told him to "wait in the meanwhile" with the bill until the issue was discussed with Yisrael Beitenu, but denied it had been killed. "I haven't erased the bill, you can see we're having a discussion here," Slomiansky told lawmakers from Yisrael Beitenu at the committee, before ending the meeting without a vote or setting a date for the next session. As the law stands now, a panel of three military judges must unanimously approve any death penalty in military courts. Story continues The new bill would change the requirement to a majority instead of unanimity. Israel has not carried out any executions since 1962, when Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was hanged. Israel abolished the use of capital punishment for murder in civil courts in 1954, though it can still in theory be applied for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, treason and crimes against the Jewish people. Jerusalem (AFP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday Israel would join the United States and other countries in rejecting a UN migration pact set to be adopted in December. "I have instructed the foreign ministry to announce that Israel will not accede to, and will not sign, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration," Netanyahu said in a statement. "We are committed to guarding our borders against illegal migrants. This is what we have done and this is what we will continue to do." The United Nations' Global Compact for Migration, aimed at boosting cooperation to address the world's growing number of migrants, is set to be adopted during a conference in Morocco on December 10-11. Its final text was agreed in July after 18 months of negotiations and lays out 23 objectives to open up legal migration and better manage migratory flows as the number of people on the move worldwide has increased to 250 million, or three percent of the world's population. The United States quit talks on the pact last December, Hungary's anti-immigration prime minister Viktor Orban rejected it in July and Austria followed suit in October. The Czech Republic said it will reject the pact and Bulgaria last week said it might follow suit. Israel's government has come under political pressure over the presence of some 42,000 African migrants, mainly from Eritrea and Sudan, and has sought to expel many of them. Most of the migrants arrived in Israel after 2007, mainly through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Security along the once porous border has since been signficantly tightened with the construction of a barrier fence. Many of the migrants settled in poor neighbourhoods in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, the country's economic capital. Rome (AFP) - Italy has ordered the seizure of the migrant rescue ship Aquarius for allegedly dumping potentially toxic waste, Doctors without Borders (MSF) said Tuesday, in a fresh blow for aid groups working in the Mediterranean. Investigators suspect the vessel, chartered by MSF and the SOS Mediterranee charity and currently stuck in the French port of Marseille, passed off 24 tonnes of dangerous and potentially toxic refuse as ordinary garbage in 11 Italian ports, Italian media reported. Prosecutors in the Sicilian city of Catania are running the inquiry into migrant clothing, food leftovers and sanitary waste that was handled at Italian ports from the Aquarius and the Vos Prudence, another vessel chartered by MSF last year. Some rescued migrants are found suffering from HIV, meningitis and tuberculosis but MSF said its port operations "including waste management, have always followed standard procedures. "The relevant authorities have not contested these procedures or identified a public health risk since we started our activities at sea," it said. MSF and SOS Mediterranee have chartered the vessel since 2016. "This is another strike in the series of attacks criminalising humanitarian aid at sea," said Frederic Penard, SOS Mediterranee's operations head. "The tragic current situation is leading to an absence of humanitarian search and rescue vessels operating in the central Mediterranean, while the mortality rate is on the rise." French authorities have not commented so far. According to SOS Mediterranee, the crew has not received any official notice yet. MSF bank accounts in Italy have been blocked by the authorities, the international charity said. Twenty-four people are under investigation, Italian news agency ANSA quoted sources as saying. Rescue ships have saved thousands of migrants stranded in the Mediterranean. "The only crime we see today on the Mediterranean is the total dismantling of the search and rescue system," said MSF Italy director Gabriele Eminente. Story continues He added in the statement that MSF had suffered "two years of defamatory campaigns" against non-governmental organisations. - 'I was right' says Salvini - Aquarius has been in Marseille since Manama revoked the right to fly its flag following a request from Italy's far-right, anti-establishment government, meaning the Aquarius cannot legally set sail. Immigration remains a hot-button issue in the European Union following the 2015 migration crisis. There are deep divisions among member states over how to handle the continent's biggest influx since World War II. Frontline state Italy has clamped down on asylum-seekers under far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini who calls NGOs rescuing migrants from sea "smuggler helpers." "I was right to stop the NGOs' ships (landing in Italian ports)," Salvini tweeted. "Not only did I stop the trafficking of migrants but, according to what has emerged, I stopped the trafficking of refuse too. #portichiusi (#portsclosed)". The International Organization for Migration says that about 15,000 migrants have drowned in the central Mediterranean since 2013. During the same period Italy has seen 600,000 migrants land on its coastline, while other European nations have closed their borders. Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and a top White House adviser, used a personal email account to send hundreds of message concerning government business, the Washington Post reported Monday. The emails were sent to White House aides, Cabinet members and Ivanka Trump's assistants, many in violation of public records rules, the paper said. President Trump mercilessly criticized his 2016 Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, for using a private email server during her time as secretary of state, labeling her "Crooked Hillary" and saying she belonged in jail. Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser, may have violated federal ethics rules. (Photo: CNBC) Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of President Donald Trump and his official adviser, used a personal account to send hundreds of emails last year related to government business, according to sources who spoke with The Washington Post. If true, the behavior casts a hypocritical light on the president, who made Democratic opponent Hillary Clintons misuse of a private email server the focal point of his campaign something he still does when he encourages his supporters chanting Lock her up! at his rallies. Many of Ivanka Trumps alleged emails sent to White House aides, Cabinet officials and her assistants were sent in violation of federal records rules. They were unearthed last fall by five Cabinet agencies that were going through emails in response to a public records lawsuit. She was the worst offender in the White House, said one former senior U.S. government official who spoke to the Post about Trumps inappropriate use of her personal email account, which she shared with husband, Jared Kushner, under the domain ijkfamily.com. Trumps actions may violate the Presidential Records Act, which mandates that all official White House communications and records be preserved in a permanent archive. Perhaps more concerning, her use of a private email server may increase the risk of sensitive information falling into the wrong hands. Many of the details in the emails were related to Trumps official work schedule, travel details and meeting arrangements with public and private sector workers. The president has also come under fire recently for skirting security measures in his communications. Last month, The New York Times dropped a bombshell report that he continues to use an unsecured iPhone even though his aides told him that Chinese and Russian spies were listening in on his conversations through it. Read the Washington Post report here. Related Coverage Millennial Women Want Ivanka Trump To Stop Trying To Make Ivanka Trump Happen Story continues Donald Trump Attacks Nordstrom For Dropping Ivanka Trump's Clothing Line Ivanka Trump Is Still Collecting $1.5 Million A Year From Trump Organization Ivanka Trump Linked To Fraudster In Trump Panama Resort Project Ivanka Trump Booed For Claiming Donald Trump Is A 'Tremendous Champion' For Women Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. CNNs White House correspondent Jim Acosta may have won the recent battle about his access to the White House, but it appears as though Donald Trumps war against the fake news media is far from over. On Friday, a federal judge appointed by Mr Trump, nonetheless ordered the White House to restore Mr Acostas credentials after they were revoked following clash with the president at a press conference earlier this month. At the time, Mr Acosta refused to hand over a microphone to an intern, despite Mr Trump moving on to another reporter. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders then accused the reporter of using physical contact to prevent the intern from taking the microphone, sharing an allegedly edited video appearing to exaggerate Mr Acostas movements. But the administration has already announced its intention to continue barring the CNN journalist from White House grounds once a 14-day temporary restraining order has expired. Heres what the continued controversy could mean in terms of the larger discussion surrounding press freedoms in the United States: Can the White House bar journalists from press briefings? Technically, Mr Trump could continue demanding his White House pull Mr Acostas hard pass all he wants, likely triggering an endless cycle of court hearings and legal disputes between the administration and CNN. But Fridays decision likely signalled the judge who was planning to announce a final ruling on the case this week had already sided with the likes of CNN and other media outlets who supported its stance in amicus briefs, including Fox News. Statement from CNN and @Acosta on todays ruling: 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. CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 16, 2018 Deputy Assistant Attorney General James Burnham argued in court that Mr Trump had total authority to revoke anyones passes as he pleases, suggesting the White House is his home rather than a public facility. Story continues Attorneys for CNN argued the opposite, saying the First Amendment does not allow for a president to determine which journalists may and may not enter the White House. This government is now taking the position that the president can do anything he wants, and ban journalists, Theodore J Boutrous Jr, a lawyer for CNN and Mr Acosta, said in court, adding, no president has ever disregarded the First Amendment and due process before. Will there be new rules for reporters covering the White House? The White House has announced its intention to create new policies that would establish a standard of decorum at future press briefings. There currently are no written guidelines on how reporters are expected to behave and interact with the president during press briefings; establishing those policies could prove legally complicated and debatable among the courts, depending on their specificity and restrictions. In a letter to Mr Acosta, the White House claimed he failed to follow basic, commonsense practices that are necessary for orderly press conferences that are fair to all journalists in attendance. But CNNs attorneys responded that the administration was attempting to punish Mr. Acosta based on a retroactive application of unwritten practices among journalists covering the White House. It remains unclear what those rules might eventually look like, or whether they would even hold in federal courts especially when it seems even Mr Trumps judicial appointees have a limited view of the administrations authority when it comes to journalists covering the White House. What does the case mean for press freedom and the future of White House coverage? There is no doubt Fridays decision was a win for press freedoms under an administration that has spent the last two years railing against mainstream media and journalists nationwide. And it wasnt only a win for the First Amendment; the case actually received much of its support from the Fourth Amendment, which guarantees due process in interactions with the government. CNNs lawyers seemingly successfully argued Mr Trump had abandoned all due process in revoking Mr Acostas pass, effectively barring him from his place of work. The network has called for an emergency hearing after the administration threatened again Monday to suspend Mr Acostas pass, writing in a Monday court filing the White House was attempting retroactive due process while continuing to violate the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. The White House has acknowledged Mr Acostas right to continue working within the White House during the temporary restraining order, saying in a letter the president was aware of this preliminary decision and concurs. The White House is once again threatening to pull a CNN journalist Jim Acosta's press credentials after a temporary court order stopping them doing so expires at the end of the month. In response, the news network has called for another an emergency court hearing claiming the Trump administration is continuing to breach the constitutional rights of the First Amendment - free speech - and the Fifth Amendment, the right to due process. On Friday, District Judge Timothy Kelly temporarily restored Acosta's credentials for 14 days, saying the White House had failed to provide due process in removing Mr Acosta's pass over "inappropriate" behaviour at a press conference where he clashed with Donald Trump . The judge did not address any alleged violations of free speech, which will form part of the arguments in CNN's larger lawsuit over the move. In a letter later on Friday, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Communications Director Bill Shine sent Mr Acosta a letter stating the White House made a "preliminary decision" to revoke his pass once the order expired on 30 November. In a filing on Monday, CNN and Mr Acosta asked for an expedited hearing next week. The White House is continuing to violate the First and 5th Amendments of the Constitution, the network said in a statement. These actions threaten all journalists and news organisations. Jim Acosta and CNN will continue to report the news about the White House and the president. The White House opposed the request for an emergency hearing, writing in response to the court: Not only is there no 'emergency' right now, it is impossible to know at this point whether next steps are necessary, much less what those steps should be. It said the White House expected to make its final decision on Mr Acosta credentials by 3pm on Friday. Mr Acosta had been accused by the White House of getting physical with a press intern during a particularly tense 7 November exchange with the president as the young woman attempted to take the microphone back from the reporter. Story continues At the time, Ms Sanders tweeted out what appeared to be a doctored video, edited to show Mr Acosta pushing the womans arm away. We will not tolerate the inappropriate behaviour clearly documented in this video, she tweeted. The White House later appeared to drop that claim, merely saying that Mr Acosta had acted inappropriately in refusing to give up the microphone and trying to ask multiple questions. Mr Trump told Fox News on Sunday would have his pass pulled if he misbehaves again; well throw him out, he added. Mr Trump said the court ruling issued late last week to reinstate Mr Acostas access was not a big deal, adding what they said, though, is that we have to create rules and regulations for conduct etc. etc. Were doing that, were going to write them up right now. Ms Sanders responded in a statement after the court's initial ruling on Friday that the White House will "further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future." CNN has been vocal in their defence of all journalists access to report from the White House. Mr Trump has frequently hit out at the network, calling it fake news and truly dishonest...sick people. His exchange with Mr Acosta was not an isolated incident. The president called several questions from female, African-American journalists in the White House press corps "stupid" and "racist" at various points that same week. The news network was also the recipient of two packages with explosive devices, addressed to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan - just two of a string of explosives sent to several prominent Democrats in recent weeks who were all vocal critics of Mr Trump. Donald Trumps administration has been blocked from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the US-Mexico border illegally, after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order. The order had been requested by two US civil rights groups, which launch legal action after the president announced restrictions intended to stop caravans of Central Americans from entering the country. His ban, proposed to remain in place for three months, would potentially make it harder for thousands of people who enter the US to avoid deportation. It was blocked by district judge Jon Tigar, who issued a temporary restraining order at a court in San Fransciso after hearing objections from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR). Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry, said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the CCR. It couldnt be clearer. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says about 70,000 people a year apply for asylum after surrendering to immigration agents, often in the Arizona desert or on the north bank of the Rio Grande river in Texas. The government has said asylum-seekers at the southern border must present themselves at official border crossing. But many crossings already have lengthy waiting times, with migrants often forced to linger in shelters or outdoor camps in Mexico for weeks. Around 3,000 Central American migrants in the first of the caravans arrived last week in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. US authorities said they expected another 7,000 to follow. Many are refugees who have travelled for weeks to reach the US-Mexico frontier after fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. US border inspectors at the main crossing in San Diego only process about 100 asylum claims a day, meaning some of the migrants face waiting months in Tijuana if they apply at official crossings. About 6,000 US troops have been deployed to the border, where the American government has erected concrete barriers and razor-wire fences to keep people out. Story continues Mr Trump has depicted the caravans as a threat to national security and attempted to capitalise on fear of immigration during the run-up to the midterm elections. The presidents asylum restrictions invoked the same emergency powers used early last year in his travel ban, which mostly targeted Muslims. According to DHS, which oversees customs and border protections, 107 people had been detained after seeking asylum away from official crossings since the order took effect on 9 November. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because theyre in real danger, either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. We dont condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum, he said. The civil rights groups argued the new restrictions violated administrative and immigration law. In his ruling, Mr Tigar said Congress had clearly mandated that immigrants can apply for asylum regardless of how they entered the country. He called the latest rules an extreme departure from prior practice. Whatever the scope of the presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden, wrote the judge, who was nominated to the court by Barack Obama. The restraining order takes effect immediately and applies nationwide until 19 December, when the judge scheduled a hearing to consider a more long-lasting injunction. Previous Trump immigration policies, including measures targeting sanctuary cities, have also been blocked by the courts. Lance Mason admitted to assaulting his wife in 2014: News 5 Cleveland A former judge who spent nine months in prison for violently beating his wife, is now a suspect in her murder, after she was found stabbed to death. Lance Mason was fleeing the scene of the crime when he crashed his SUV into a police car, according to documents filed in a Cleveland, Ohio, court. Officials said that he was likely to be charged over Aisha Fraser's murder. In a call to police made after the stabbing, a woman who identifies herself as Mason's sister described how the ex-judge was covered in blood and pacing inside his house. "He stabbed her and he said she's dead," Lynn Mason told a dispatcher. The couple's two young daughters can be heard screaming in the full version of the tape, NBC News reported. Mason has been charged with felonious assault in relation to the car crash in Shaker Heights, a suburb in Cleveland. A police officer was injured the crash, as was Mason, who investigators said would likely have charges brought against him in connection with Fraser's death. The court documents also suggested the former judge attempted to flee from the scene of the crash but was taken into custody, where he remains. Aisha Fraser was killed on Saturday (Shaker Heights Teachers Association ) Mason pleaded guilty to felonious assault and domestic violence in 2014, after it emerged that he had punched Fraser around 20 times after an argument. A judge at the time of his arrest, he repeatedly slammed her into the dashboard, arm rest and passenger window of a car and bit her face, while their two young daughters sat in the car. Fraser's injuries were so severe that she required reconstructive facial surgery after the assault. Authorities said that the couple were separated at the time. The Ohio Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Mason's law license last year, but once the former judge was released from prison he was hired by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. Mason, who previously served in Ohio's state legislature, worked in Cleveland city's minority business development. Story continues Mr Jackson said that he had fired Mason after he was taken into custody, but he defended his decision to hire the former judge. Fraser worked as a teacher in Shaker Heights Schools for 16 years and most recently taught at Woodbury Elementary School. Colleagues from the Shaker Heights Teachers' Association have set up a fundraising website for Fraser's daughters. Shaker Heights Superintendent Stephen Wilkins described Fraser as a devoted mother and a committed teacher. Additional reporting by agencies Nicosia (AFP) - Cyprus has welcomed home a rare sixth-century Christian mosaic from the Byzantine period four decades after it was looted from a church in the island's Turkish-held north, Cypriot authorities said Tuesday. "The mosaic of Apostle Mark has been repatriated to Cyprus from the Netherlands," Cyprus's antiquities department said in a statement. "This is very important for Cyprus because we have so few mosaics from this period and indeed the world has very few examples of this Byzantine art form," Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, the antiquities department head, told AFP. The mosaic was stolen from the church of Panayia Kanakaria in northern Cyprus following the Turkish invasion in 1974. It was one of several icons looted from the church during this time. "The walled mosaics of Panayia Kanakaria, dating back to the sixth century AD, are highly important works of art and among the few remaining early Christian mosaics in the world," the antiquities department said. Dutch art investigator Arthur Brand tracked down the mosaic in Monaco after a nearly two-year chase across Europe. It was handed over to the antiquities department and the Church of Cyprus during a private ceremony Sunday in The Hague. It is to go on display to the public at the Byzantium Museum in the capital Nicosia. The return "shows we can successfully repatriate stolen treasures... There are other missing pieces we will seek to repatriate when information on their whereabouts comes to light," said Solomidou-Ieronymidou. Dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" because of his exploits to recover stolen works, Brand won world fame in 2015 after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are known as "Hitler's Horses". He told AFP the Cypriot mosaic depicting the Byzantine saint had been "in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago". Story continues "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 Cyprus in exchange for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, Brand said, adding that the relic was worth five to 10 million euros ($5.7 to $11.4 million). The mosaic, believed to have been made around 550 AD, was one of many that adorned the walls of Panayia Kanakaria church, northwest of the capital. According to the antiquities department, it was "violently detached and stolen from the church, between 1977-79 by the Turkish looter and art dealer Aydin Dikmen" along with other mosaics. 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. Egypt distributor of Aviagen's Indian River sponsors biggest stand for broiler breeder in AGRENA show TIBA, the Egypt-based distributor for Aviagen's Indian River brand, sponsored the biggest, fully dedicated stand for a broiler breeder at the AGRENA show in October. The stand in hall one gave visitors an easy location to visit, as well as providing excellent hospitality and access to knowledgeable support and service from the large Indian River team. The three-day show held in the new Egypt International Exhibition Center in Cairo was considered to be a success with its large attendance. "We have been extremely busy at AGRENA this year. Numerous customers have commented on our success and growth in the domestic market. It is quite an investment to be an exhibitor. However, we believe strongly in promoting the brand and marketing its major elements of success - best breeder and broiler performance, increasing livability, excellent feed conversion and breast meat yield. We are simply sharing the success with our customers who have chosen the newest breed in Egypt which [is provided with] the support of a good service team and the reputation for the best day-old chick quality in the market," commented Amre Aly, general manager of TIBA. "Not only do I have a major share in TIBA, I also own a parent stock farm which is supplied with Indian River stock and I see for myself the good performance of the breeder and quality chick production," said TIBA chairman and major shareholder, Mohamed Salah Ayyad. "Both the breeder and the broiler are doing well in Egypt. In the future, I see the ongoing improvement in the breeder and broiler performance which will be supported by an upgrade in the flock management advice from TIBA in the field. The Aviagen Indian River team will continue to supply more after-sales service by improving the TIBA service team and helping them to provide the correct training for the customers on the farms." "This was a fantastic show for customer awareness and support for the fastest-growing broiler breeder brand in Egypt. Customers have recognised the positive attributes of the both the breeder and the broiler and its reputation in the field," said Mohsen Ganjaei, Indian River's commercial and product support manager for Middle East and Africa. "Many are existing customers happy with their experience or potential customers asking for an opportunity for future supply. We look forward to generating more interest in Indian River with our quality chicksand performance." - Aviagen European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker welcomes Theresa May to Brussels (Getty) Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker are set to conclude Brexit talks in the most British way possible over afternoon tea. The prime minister will travel to Brussels on Wednesday afternoon to meet the European Commission president ahead of Sundays summit to sign off the Brexit deal. The main part of the deal the 585-page withdrawal agreement was published last week, but the UK and EU still need to agree on the declaration of the future relationship. Crucially, this will set out both sides vision for post-Brexit trade arrangements. The meeting organised after a phone call between the pair earlier this week will take place at the European Commissions headquarters at 5.30pm local time, it was confirmed. MORE: Barnier says Brexit deal will allow UK to take back control By the way this is not dinner, this is afternoon tea, a commission spokesperson added. The spokesperson refused to confirm whether last minute negotiations would happen during the meeting something the EU has tried to avoid. Asked whether EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier would be present, he added it would be at the leaders discretion. We have a process now where we discuss with our member states and with our British partners ahead of the European Council, Sunday, the spokesperson told journalists at the commissions daily press conference in Brussels. The European Commission headquarters in Brussels where Jean-Claude Juncker will host Theresa May on Wednesday (Getty) The aim of this last stretch is to endorse the withdrawal agreement and approve the terms of the future relationship, the political declaration for the future relationship. This is a moment where work is ongoing. In London, the prime ministers spokesperson said the meeting was about filling out the details of the political declaration, although he added: I wouldnt anticipate a shaking of hands on the final document tomorrow. May will not be joined at the meeting by the new Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay, who is concentrating on preparations for the possibility of a no-deal situation. Ahead of the meeting, Juncker and his commissioners will hear a detailed update on the state of play in negotiations from Barnier and likely give their approval on what has been agreed. Story continues MORE: Spanish foreign minister fears UK will split apart over Brexit While talks on the withdrawal agreement finished last week, Mays Brexit adviser Olly Robbins has remained in Brussels to hammer out the details of the political declaration. Member states were expected to rubber-stamp the documents at Sundays summit. The agenda for the meeting sets aside just an hour for discussion among the EU27 giving each member state around two minutes speaking time each. But that could become a more complicated meeting because of a row over Gibraltar. Spain are threatening to oppose the deal because the withdrawal agreement does not deliver on a key EU commitment. This states that future trade deals should not apply to Gibraltar without Spains agreement. A commission spokesperson said: We are aware of the concerns of the Spanish government, and were working on it. Washington (AFP) - The final twist in the US midterm elections may emerge in Mississippi, where a Senate race that should have been easy winnings for Donald Trump's party is headed to a runoff, after multiple stumbles by the Republican incumbent. The president is counting on the reliably Republican stronghold in the Deep South, where political battles are rarely on the national radar, to give him some breathing room with his majority in the 100-member Senate. The runoff is looking increasingly important for Trump. On election night, he could have argued that his Republicans held their ground, as Democrats eked out a win in the House. But as results were tallied in the weeks since, Democrats now appear to have won about 40 House seats, their strongest victory in decades, and managed to hold their own in the Senate despite an unfavorable election map. Aware of the potential that the November 27 runoff goes badly for Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Trump has scheduled election-eve rallies with her in two cities in Mississippi, a state Trump won by nearly 18 percentage points in 2016. The tight Senate race in Florida flipping to the Republicans helped improve the narrative for Trump. If the party keeps Mississippi, Republicans will widen their narrow pre-election 51-49 majority to 53-47. But out of nowhere, Mississippi may now be in play thanks to Hyde-Smith, who was appointed this year to fill a vacancy but has stumbled badly on the campaign trail in recent weeks. In praising a supporter, Hyde-Smith said she would be "on the front row" if he invited her to attend a "public hanging." Many bridled at the comment, all too aware that Mississippi lynched more African Americans than any other state. Days later, she told a small crowd that laws that "make it just a little more difficult" for some liberal college students to vote are "a great idea." Hyde-Smith, 59, said her lynching remark was an "exaggerated expression of regard," and that her voter suppression line was a joke. Story continues But her gaffes have clearly shaken up the campaign. "She's trying really hard to turn this into a race," professor John Bruce, who chairs the political science department at the University of Mississippi, told AFP. If Democratic challenger Mike Espy, a former congressman and the first African American to represent Mississippi in Washington in more than a century, manages to oust Hyde-Smith, "it will be an upset of the status quo the likes of which we haven't seen" in decades, Bruce added. - Galvanizing Democrats - The senator has made history herself as the first woman to represent Mississippi in Congress. But her bungled comments are galvanizing Democrats. Mississippi is 37 percent black, the highest percentage of any US state, and her remarks were an affront to African Americans. The state's voting patterns have largely been along party lines in recent decades, and Democratic candidates often find themselves hitting a ceiling of about 44 percent support, according to Bruce. Trump's approval ratings are sagging, but he remains popular in Mississippi. With high turnout among black voters the only likely path to victory for Espy, he has called in high-profile motivators. US Senator Kamala Harris campaigned for Espy over the weekend, while Senator Cory Booker hit the trail with him Monday. Both are African American senators seen as potential Democratic presidential hopefuls in 2020. Mississippi's Senate race is headed to a runoff because none of the four candidates received more than 50 percent of the vote on Election Day. Hyde-Smith split the Republican vote with a far-right conservative whose supporters are likely to consolidate behind Hyde-Smith. Espy, 64, has insisted he will unify voters. He has pledged to work to keep the US health law that protects coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. In eyeing an upset, Espy and supporters can turn to neighboring Alabama, where Democrat Doug Jones stunned the political world last December by defeating a conservative Republican. They can also seek inspiration from California's Orange County. The area outside Los Angeles was a conservative bulwark for decades. But thanks in part to shifting demographics, Democrats swept all seven congressional races in the county this month, leaving it without a Republican representative in Congress. Chicago (AFP) - A gunman opened fire Monday at a hospital in the US city of Chicago, police said, adding that there were reports of "multiple victims" including a wounded officer in "critical condition." "Reports of shots fired in the vicinity of 26th and Michigan near Mercy Hospital. Avoid area. Heavy police response incoming," Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted. At least "one possible offender" had been shot and there were "multiple" other victims, he added. "A #ChicagoPolice officer has been shot in the active shooter incident at Mercy Hospital. He is in critical condition but receiving excellent care. Please send your prayers," Guglielmi later added. TV footage showed people filing out of the hospital into a parking lot with their hands in the air. "We were going about our business and waiting for our results and then I heard shots fired," an unnamed witness told the local CBS affiliate. "I turned around to my right and I see a man shooting someone on the ground, shot him multiple times. "And then almost immediately an officer was already coming in an SUV and he exchanged fire at them and then reloaded and shot the person on the ground again and then he made his way into the hospital and more shots were fired." The shooting came less than two weeks after a gunman killed 12 people in a California music bar packed with college students. That rampage followed the worst anti-Semitic attack in modern US history, when a gunman opened fire on worshipers at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh on October 27. The incidents have added to the growing outcry over gun safety in the United States, where there have been more than 300 mass shootings this year. A hospital employee quoted by the Chicago Tribune said she was in her office when a notice came over a public address system telling those in the hospital to lock their doors. "I don't know what happened," the unnamed employee told the Tribune. "They told us to run, so we did." Since its clear that Daniel Craig (the sixth actor to officially play Bond since 1962) has one foot out the door of the Aston-Martin, the conversation about diversifying 007 has been happening in earnest. Is one of Hollywoods oldest properties ready for a reboot? A new survey, conducted by Morning Consult and the Hollywood Reporter, asked 2,201 U.S. adults how they would feel about the fictional spy shifting demographics: from British to American, from male to female, from straight to gay, or from Caucasian to another ethnicity. The results show that a narrow majority support a black James Bond and most approve of a U.S.-born Bond but the idea of a female, Hispanic, Asian or gay Bond is still hard for most Americans to wrap their heads around. TOKYO Nissan Motor Co.s high-flying chairman Carlos Ghosn is to be dismissed after the company said an internal investigation found he under-reported his income by millions of dollars and engaged in other significant misconduct. The Japanese broadcaster NHK said Ghosn was arrested Monday after he voluntarily submitted to questioning by Tokyo prosecutors. The prosecutors office did not confirm that. The Yokohama-based company, one of the worlds largest automakers, said the violations were discovered during an investigation over several months that was instigated by a whistleblower. Ghosn, 64, also allegedly engaged in personal use of company assets, it said. Nissan said it was providing information to the prosecutors and cooperating with their investigation. The allegations also concern a Nissan representative director, Greg Kelly, it said. Together, the two under-reported their income by a combined 5 billion yen ($44 million) from 2011-2015, Japans Kyodo News service reported. Nissans CEO Hiroto Saikawa planned to propose to its board that Ghosn and Kelly both be removed from their posts, the company said in a statement. Nissan deeply apologizes for causing great concern to our shareholders and stakeholders. We will continue our work to identify our governance and compliance issues, and to take appropriate measures, it said. The Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi group is among the biggest auto alliances in the world, selling about 10 million vehicles a year. Before joining Renault, Ghosn worked for Michelin North America. Shares in Renault SA of France plunged 14 percent early Monday. The news of Ghosns troubles broke after Japanese markets had closed for the day. The allegations are a serious blow at a time when Nissan and Mitsubishi Motor Co. are still overcoming scandals over their quality testing reporting. Ghosn is credited with helping engineer a remarkable turnaround at Nissan over the past two decades, resuscitating the Japanese automaker from near bankruptcy after he was sent in by Renault. Story continues Initially Ghosn, his nickname was Le Cost Cutter, inspired fears of social and economic upheaval amid plant closings, mass layoffs and the potential damage his reforms might inflict on Nissans ties with its suppliers. However, his triumph in turning the company around made him something of a national hero. At one point years ago, his name popped up on lists of people Japanese voters wanted to become prime minister even though his nationality made him ineligible. Ghosn served as Nissans chief executive from 2001 until April 2017, becoming chief executive of Renault in 2005, leading the two major automakers simultaneously. In 2016, Ghosn became Mitsubishi Motors chairman. For the past two decades, he has maintained an unusually high profile in a nation where foreign chief executives of major Japanese companies are still relatively rare. Ghosn has appeared on magazine covers dressed in kimono, vowing to renew the Nissan brand. He was widely praised in Japanese industry circles for delivering sorely needed cost cuts and introducing greater efficiency at a time when Nissan needed a fresh start. Former White House photographer Pete Souza blasted President Donald Trump on Monday for criticizing retired Adm. William H. McRaven, who oversaw the Osama bin Laden raid in 2011. Frankly, it would have been nicer if we got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner than that, Trump told Fox News Chris Wallace in an interview that aired Sunday. Everybody in Pakistan knew he was there. Trump also accused McRaven of being a Hillary Clinton fan and Obama backer. Souza, who regularly slams Trump by sharing throwback snaps he took during his time covering former President Barack Obamas administration, posted this old image of Obama and McRaven in response: Souza, who released a Trump-trolling photo book in October, rarely uses Trumps name in his posts. Instead, he calls the president 46 minus 1 or simply Minus. Souza also shared this photograph of when the Presidency was a bit calmer: And he responded to Trumps misinformation and lies with an old image of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is heading the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible Trump campaign collusion: Related Coverage Ronald Reagan's Daughter Has A Few Choice Words For Sarah Huckabee Sanders And Trump Jimmy Kimmel Tricks Trump Fans Into Believing He's Deporting Statue Of Liberty Donald Trump Becomes Twitter Laughingstock Over 'Envy Of The World' Boast Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Skretting attends Nordic African business summit in Norway On November 8, Skretting participated in the Nordic-African Business Summit 2018 in Oslo, Norway. The summit brought together distinguished speakers, including H.E. Patrice Talon, president of Benin, ministers, ambassadors and guests from the Nordic and African business communities. It was organised by the Norwegian-African Business Association (NABA), which seeks to promote business opportunities on the African continent and serve as a bridge between Norwegian and African business communities. Skretting was represented in the event by Maria Angela Calmet, Nutreco Africa's project manager of sustainability. The theme for this year's summit was "The Blue Opportunity." "We hope that this summit will be a unique opportunity to network across blue industries Everything we do, is connected to something blue. Be it water for hydropower, the blue sky and sun transformed to solar energy, aquaculture, the resources under the ocean surface, the ports and shipping companies who are moving 90% of the continent's import and export on African waters" said Eivend Fjeldstad, managing director of Nordic-African Business Association Talon, stated that Africa is attractive for investment opportunities. He stressed the need to change the negative perception of Africa. In his speech, he indicated that the negative perception of the continent slows down investments, opportunities and development and encouraged Nordic companies to keep investing in Africa. Skretting said it welcomed the opportunity to join and talk about the work the company does in Africa to the Nordic and African communities. Calmet participated in the session "Agrivision: Where is the potential in Africa?" together with South Africa's Investment Envoy, Bcebisi Jonas, Norfund and Akvaplan-niva AS. During the session, Calmet shared Skretting's experience and what to expect in the upcoming future for the aquaculture and fish feed industry in Africa. - Skretting A gunman opened fire at a Chicago hospital Monday, killing three other people, including a police officer and two hospital workers, authorities have said. Speaking at press conference Monday evening, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department Eddie Johnson said four people died in the attack on Mercy Hospital, including the suspected gunman. Its been a very difficult day, for not just the Chicago Police Department, but for the city of Chicago, he said. A doctor and a pharmaceutical assistance were also killed, along with Police Officer Samuel Jimenez. The city of Chicago lost a doctor, a pharmaceutical assistant and a police officer. All going about their day, all doing what they love. This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and the consequence of evil, said Chicago City Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The procession for Ofc. Jimenez has begun. CPD and our federal and state partners pay our final respects to a hero. pic.twitter.com/f28V2x8l9G Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) November 20, 2018 While Jimenez was not initially assigned to the incident, he arrived on the scene shortly after getting a call for assistance. He later died of his injuries, according to Johnson. It is with profound sadness that we share the death of PO Samuel Jimenez from tonight senseless active shooter incident, police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a tweet. It's with profound sadness that we share the death of PO Samuel Jimenez from tonight's senseless active shooter incident. Please pray for his family, his fellow officers & the entire #ChicagoPolice Department. Supt Eddie Johnson & @ChicagosMayor will hv a press briefing shortly pic.twitter.com/2onFeyaSDK Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 20, 2018 Jimenez had been on the force since last February 2017, according to Johnson. He is survived by three children. Story continues Police have referred to the shooting as a domestic related incident. It apparently began with a verbal altercation in a parking lot between individuals who knew each other, Johnson said. The male individual shot and killed the female that he was in a domestic relationship with. Witness James Gray recalled seeing the shooter walking with a woman before turning and firing multiple shots at her, the Associated Press reports. According to Gray, the shooter entered the hospital and opening fire at random around 3:20 p.m. Monday afternoon. It was chaos, mass chaos, he told KBC-TV. Mercy Hospital, located on Chicagos South Side, said around 4:40 p.m. that the incident was under control and police have secured the hospital and patients are safe, according to a statement. Police have not released further details about the gunman. Brussels (AFP) - A Brussels police officer was wounded and a terrorism inquiry has been launched after pre-dawn knife attack Tuesday, Belgian officials said. The suspect in the attack was shot by two of the officer's colleagues and has also been hospitalised in a "critical condition" The stabbing came during a state visit to Belgium by French President Emmanuel Macron that has revived memories of the Paris and Brussels attacks. Brussels prosecutors said an investigating magistrate will open an inquiry into possible "attempted murder in a terrorist contect" but that a motive had not been established. Federal prosecutors, who would oversee a terrorist case, have not yet joined the investigation. "The suspect had several kitchen knives in his hands and stabbed the officer several times," the prosecutor's office said, adding that the officer had been treated for a neck wound and was expected to survive. "Several witnesses report hearing the suspect say 'Allahu Akbar'," the statement said, referring to the Arabic phrase for "God is greatest". "The inquiry will determine if this was a terrorist act," it added. Earlier, Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon said, "a priori", the suspect in the "cowardly attack" was not listed in Belgium's counter-terrorism database. The assailant stabbed the officer outside the central police station in Brussels' historic city centre at 5:30am (0430 GMT), police spokeswoman Ilse van de Keere told AFP. Despite the incident, Macron later visited a cultural centre around a kilometre (under a mile) away in Molenbeek, home of some of the jihadists who carried out the 2015 Paris attacks that left 130 people dead. Ratings agency S&P warned Tuesday that Nissan faces a possible debt downgrade after its chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested for alleged financial misconduct. S&P Global Ratings announced a "CreditWatch with negative implications" and said it "also placed all of our ratings on Nissan's overseas subsidiaries on CreditWatch negative." It warned the firm's profitability could "weaken substantially" in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 if Ghosn's alleged misconduct affected Nissan sales or hurt its alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors. It said any downgrade "is likely to be by one notch." "Although Nissan said it aims to identify its governance issues and hammer out preventive measures, we think rebuilding its management culture swiftly will not be easy." Auto titan Ghosn, who headed the automaker alliance, was arrested in Tokyo on Monday on allegations that include systematically under-reporting his income. His detention marks a stunning fall from grace for the Brazil-born executive who is credited with resurrecting Nissan through bold restructuring measures. Ghosn has yet to comment on the allegations against him. Nissan's board is set to meet on Thursday to discuss dismissing him. Jerusalem (AFP) - A Palestinian teenager shot last week after attacking Israeli officers at a police station in annexed east Jerusalem died of his wounds on Tuesday, a hospital said. "The terrorist from the incident in the Armon Hanatziv police station has died," the Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem said in a statement. Official Palestinian news agency WAFA named the assailant as Abdul Rahman Abu Jamal, 17, from Jabel Mukaber, a Palestinian neighbourhood adjacent to the settler district of Armon Hanatziv. Abu Jamal was seriously wounded as he was overpowered by officers during the rare attack inside a security force base late on November 14 after scaling a fence around it. Seven police officers were lightly wounded in the attack, one of them by a gunshot from a fellow officer. A wave of stabbing attacks against Israelis by lone-wolf Palestinian assailants erupted in 2015 but they have since become sporadic. Also Tuesday, a suspected Palestinian stabbed an Israeli Jew in the face outside a shop near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, with a police spokesman calling it "a terror attack". The victim, an ultra-Orthodox man, was lightly wounded, with the perpetrator remaining at large after fleeing the scene. Four people have died in a shooting at a hospital in Chicago. A policeman and two female medical staff are among the dead after a gunman opened fire at Mercy Hospital at about 3pm on Monday. The gunman also died, although it is not yet clear if he took his own life. A second police officer avoided injury when a bullet fired in his direction got lodged in his gun. Authorities said a man pulled out a gun outside the hospital and killed an emergency room doctor with whom he had a relationship. He then ran into the hospital and shot a pharmacy resident and a police officer. Emergency staff outside the Mercy Hospital in Chicago following the shooting (Picture: PA) Chicago lost a doctor, pharmaceutical assistant and a police officer, all going about their day, all doing what they loved, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said, fighting back tears. This just tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and a consequence of evil. Mercy Hospital said the staff who died were Tamara ONeal, 38, an emergency room physician who never worked on Sunday because of her religious faith, and Dayna Less, 25, a first year pharmacy resident who had recently graduated from Purdue University. Today, we mourn Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez. His heroic actions saved countless lives. He ran toward danger. He ran toward those shots. He ran into fire. Selflessly. Samuel Jimenez: altruism personified. #OfficerDown #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/7IDW4sJr6v Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) November 20, 2018 The officer was identified as Samuel Jimenez, 28, who joined the department in February 2017 and had recently completed his probationary period. Police said he was married and the father of three children. The identity of the gunman was not immediately released. Story continues MORE: Argentine submarine found in Atlantic a year after going missing with 44 crew on board MORE: Woman claims airport valet drove her car 500 miles then got her a parking ticket The chain of events that led to the shooting began with an argument in the hospital parking area involving the gunman and Ms ONeal, police said. When a friend of Ms ONeal tried to intervene, the offender lifted up his shirt and displayed a handgun, said police. Shots were fired at a 2nd CPD officer in the Mercy Hospital Shooting, but he wasn't injured. Instead, the bullet struck his holster and embedded itself in his gun: https://t.co/hVPwgbrkXv pic.twitter.com/OvMI0ln3l6 ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) November 20, 2018 The friend ran into the hospital to call for help, and the gunfire began seconds later, with the attacker killing Ms ONeal. After Ms ONeal fell to the ground, the gunman stood over her and shot her three more times, a witness named James Gray told reporters. Police salute as an ambulance arrives at the medical examiners office carrying the body of the officer who was killed in the shooting at Mercy Hospital (Picture: PA) Police and firefighters salute the police officer who was killed (Picture: PA) When officers arrived, the suspect fired at their squad car and then ran inside the hospital. The police gave chase. Inside the medical centre, the gunman exchanged fire with officers and shot a poor woman who just came off the elevator before he was killed, police said, referring to pharmaceutical assistant Ms Less. Jennifer Eldridge was working in a hospital pharmacy when she heard three or four shots that seemed to come from outside. Police and emergency personnel at Chicagos Mercy Hospital after the shooting (Picture: PA) Within seconds, she barricaded the door, as called for in the buildings active shooter drills. Then there were six or seven more shots that sounded much closer, just outside the door. I could tell he was now inside the lobby. There was screaming, she recalled. The door jiggled, which Ms Eldridge believed was the shooter trying to get in. Some 15 minutes later, she estimated, a Swat team officer knocked at the door, came inside and led her away. She looked down and saw blood on the floor but no bodies. It may have been 15 minutes, but it seemed like an eternity, she said. The shooting took place at Chicagos Mercy Hospital (Picture: PA) Maria Correa hid under a desk, clutching her four-month-old son, Angel, while the violence unfolded. Ms Correa was in the waiting area of the hospital for her mother-in-laws doctor appointment when a hospital employee told them to lock themselves in offices. She lost track of how many shots she heard while under the desk trying to protect her son for 10 to 15 minutes. They were the worst minutes of our lives, Ms Correa said. Police officers should be assisted by the public, said a federation chairman (Picture: PA) Police officers could be forced to let violent suspects go if they dont get help from the public, it has been warned. Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, was speaking in the wake of a vicious attack on the streets of south London. The incident, which which captured on video, showed two officers being attacked as they tried to make an arrest in Croydon. One was dragged around in the road while the other took a flying kick to the chest and was left lying dazed feet from a passing bus. The male officer suffered cuts and the female officer was left with head injuries after the assault. The footage was posted on Twitter with the caption south London at nightLol, and showed several cars going past without stopping. MORE: Argentine submarine found in Atlantic a year after going missing with 44 crew on board MORE: Woman claims airport valet drove her car 500 miles then got her a parking ticket One member of the public, wearing a crash helmet, did intervene and helped the officers arrest one of the suspects. Mr Marsh warned that officers might be forced to let violent suspects go. He said: Are we now in a society where, if we think we cant detain somebody, we just let them go? Its just not worth it. Were going to come to a point where were going to start pushing messages out to our colleagues: Risk-assess it dynamically and, if you think you cant detain a person, just let them go. We dont come to work to get assaulted, and if were not going to be backed up in what were doing then what is the point? But Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Sir Steve House said passers-by should only help officers struggling with violent suspects if they can safely do so. In a statement on Tuesday, Sir Steve said: Whilst officers should never expect to be attacked as part of their job, a core part of officer safety training is ensuring they know how to respond to volatile situations. This training is substantial and delivered in accordance with national guidelines and we regularly review it to make sure it is fit for purpose. Story continues Officers are also issued with personal protective equipment to help protect them and the public. I am mindful that members of the public do not have access to such items and, while any officer would be grateful for the public to assist them with a difficult arrest, they should only intervene if they can safely do so. He said suspects trying to flee arrest was not a new phenomenon and that officers in London know there is overwhelming support for the work we do from the public. Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli police on Tuesday recommended the indictment of Interior Minister Arye Deri for fraud and breach of trust in an investigation related to real estate sales. The attorney general will now decide whether to charge Deri, who heads ultra-Orthodox Jewish party Shas and has previously served prison time for corruption. "The findings of the investigation are that there is an evidentiary basis against Deri that he committed fraud and breach of trust in connection with his conduct while serving as a minister," a police statement said. It said there was also evidence of tax offences amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars and money laundering, among others. The long-running investigation looked into large money transfers to Deri linked to land sales, police said. Deri proclaimed his innocence and noted that previous allegations of bribe-taking were not included in the police recommendation. They are the latest corruption allegations to hit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Police have recommended charges against Netanyahu in two separate corruption probes and the attorney general is expected to decide in the coming months whether to charge him. In another investigation, police said earlier this month there was evidence to charge a lawyer for Netanyahu and the former head of his office, among others, with bribery linked to the purchase of German submarines. Netanyahu was questioned as a witness and not a suspect in that case. Deri was sentenced to three years in prison in 2000 for taking $155,000 in bribes, though his sentence was reduced by a third for good behaviour. His Shas party is a key part of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition. The interior ministry in Israel does not oversee the police, as is often the case in other countries. London (AFP) - Two top targets of international arrest warrants sought by Moscow said Tuesday they were launching a legal bid to get Russia suspended from Interpol for abusing the global police organisation. The intervention by investor Bill Browder and Mikhail Khodorkovsky -- a former oil baron who spent 10 years in a Russian jail and now lives in London exile -- came as Putin was on the brink of getting an ally named to a top Interpol post. Browder has been named in multiple Interpol "Red Notices" initiated by Russia on what he considers overtly political and trumped up charges. The US-born British national was Russia's biggest foreign investor before falling foul of the authorities and being banned in 2005. Browder is now best known for waging a legal war against Russian officials he accuses of human rights abuses and being implicated in the death of his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow pretrial detention centre in 2009. "We intend to begin a legal process to get Russia suspended from the use of Interpol," Browder told reporters. "The Interpol constitution has very specific rules which forbid countries who are serial abusers from using the system," he said. International lawyer Ben Emmerson -- a former UN special envoy on counter terrorism and human rights with a long list of prominent clients -- said he expected to file Browder's lawsuit at some point next year. Senior Russian interior ministry official and current Interpol vice president Alexander Prokopchuk is considered a frontrunner in a presidential vote set to be held at the global police agency's conference in Dubai on Wednesday. The president serves an administrative function and both Browder and Emmerson said Russia was unlikely to win any extra powers if its man secured the job. Interpol is actually headed by its German Secretary General Jurgen Stock. But Emmerson said Prokopchuk's rise to the presidency would highlight the abuses that pervade a police organisation whose charter specifically bans politics. Story continues "The issue does not hinge on the identity of the individual," said Emmerson. "If (Russia's candidacy goes through), it is the clearest possible signal that the organisation will not be taking steps to tackle the crisis that it is facing." If Russia's abuses "are to be stopped, somebody needs to be in charge who can is prepared to square up to the abuse and the undermining of the abuse of law and to do something about. Khodorkovsky said Russia tried to secure his arrest and extradition from London just two years after President Vladimir Putin signed off on his early release from prison on embezzlement charges in 2013. "I am seriously concerned that if Mr Prokopchuk is elected president of Interpol, then on Kremlin orders, he will be prepared to do absolutely anything," Khodorkovsky said. By Jonathan Allen (Reuters) - Heavy rains were due to create new problems for residents of Northern California late on Tuesday, raising the risk of mudslides in an area where people left homeless by the state's deadliest wildfire remain huddled in parking lot encampments. State and federal officials warned people to be alert to the risk of sudden flows of debris down the scorched, denuded slopes of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, where the Camp Fire has killed at least 79 people since breaking out on Nov. 8. "There are people still living in tents," Eric Kurth, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service's Sacramento office, said in a telephone interview. "That's certainly not going to be pleasant with the rain, and we might get some wind gusting up to 40 to 45 miles per hour (64 to 72 kph)." The risk of debris slides could be lessened if the forecasted 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rainfall was spread out over several days rather than in more intense bursts, he said. The rain also would extinguish some of the flames and dislodge some of the toxic smoke, Kurth said. "We're really expecting the air quality to improve. That's the bright side for those people up there," he said. The fire largely obliterated the town of Paradise, a community of nearly 27,000 people about 175 miles (280 km) north of San Francisco. The Butte County Sheriff's Office has tentatively identified 64 of the 79 victims. Meanwhile, the missing-persons list compiled by the sheriff's office was revised downward to 699 names on Tuesday from nearly 900 on Monday. The number of unaccounted people has fluctuated dramatically in the past week as more were reported missing or as some initially listed as unaccounted for either turn up alive or are confirmed dead. As of early Tuesday, the fire had torched more than 151,000 acres (61,100 hectares) of parched scrub and trees and incinerated about 12,000 homes, Cal Fire said. Containment lines have been built around 70 percent of its perimeter, according to Cal Fire. Smoke from the fire has led to school closures in the region. Citing poor air quality, schools and colleges in the Sacramento area will remain closed until Nov. 26. Many flights in and out of San Francisco have been delayed or canceled because of the smoke. "WET CONCRETE" The rain was expected to make it more difficult for teams search through ash and debris for human remains. Intense fire over the slopes of canyons, hills and mountains makes them more prone to landslides, by burning away vegetation and organic material that normally holds soil in place. The fire also creates a hard, waxy surface that tends to repel rather than absorb water. The result can be heavy runoff of rainwater mixed with mud, boulders, trees and other debris that flows downhill with tremendous force, said Jason Kean, a research hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. "Those debris flows have the consistency of wet concrete and move faster than you can run," he said. "It's like a flood on steroids ... and a big one can take out two-story buildings." The number of residents needing temporary shelter was unclear but as many as 52,000 people were under evacuation orders at the height of the firestorm last week. Nearly 500 miles south of Paradise near Malibu, west of Los Angeles, at least 2 inches (5 cm) of rain are expected to fall on a second fire, the Woolsey, which has killed three people. That blaze was 96 percent contained as of Monday evening. The cause of both fires is under investigation but electric utilities reported localized equipment problems around the time they broke out. 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. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; editing by David Stamp and Bill Trott) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Macedonia's fugitive former prime minister said Tuesday he has been granted political asylum in Hungary, a week after he fled his country to avoid serving a two-year jail sentence for a corruption conviction. Nikola Gruevski, prime minister from 2006 to 2016, is considered a close ally of right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, although the government has insisted that the asylum request is purely a legal matter, not a political one. In a Facebook post, Gruevski said he was a victim of political persecution by Macedonia's current Social Democrat government. "The courts and the prosecutor's office have been turned into an instrument of political blackmail and calculated (attacks) against political opponents," he wrote. "Today in Macedonia, there are conditions of government repression, discrimination, persecution, politically-motivated arrests and full control by the government." Authorities in Hungary did not immediately confirm he was granted asylum. Earlier Tuesday, Macedonia made a formal request to Hungary to extradite the 48-year-old conservative politician. The Justice Ministry said Tuesday that the request noted that Gruevski is facing trial in at least three other corruption cases, including charges that stem from a major wiretapping scandal. The extradition request, the ministry said, also noted the "serious nature of the crimes" in question. Orban has been strongly criticized for the special treatment Hungary has granted Gruevski, including the help he received from Hungarian diplomats as he traveled by road through several Balkan countries after fleeing Macedonia. Lawmaker Adam Mirkoczki, of the nationalist Jobbik party, convened a special session on Wednesday of Parliament's national security committee, claiming Hungary's immigration officials misled lawmakers about the Gruevski case. Other opposition parties said the Orban government was siding with a "criminal," and accused authorities of breaking Hungarian and international laws during the asylum procedure. Story continues Timea Szabo, a lawmaker with the Dialogue party, said they would seek legal options to ensure that Gruevski does not stay in Hungary. Macedonia has been wracked by political crisis for more than three years, marked by a bitter rivalry between Gruevski and current Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Most recently, their two parties have been at odds over the country's provisional agreement to change its name to North Macedonia and end a long-standing dispute with neighbor Greece that would allow it to join NATO. Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE party is vehemently opposed to the deal, describing it as a national humiliation. Western leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, traveled to Macedonia to expressed support for Zaev and the agreement with Greece before a Sept. 30 referendum. Voters overwhelmingly backed the proposal but the process was marred by a low turnout. ___ Testorides reported from Skopje, Macedonia. Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, Greece contributed Cobb Asia-Pacific celebrates regional achievements in Philippines In late-October, Cobb Asia-Pacific's team gathered in Cebu, Philippines, to reflect on its achievements in the region in 2018 and plan for the year ahead. Accomplishments from the company's successful year include growing popularity of the CobbMVTM Male, attaining approval as an avian transitional facility in New Zealand, and acquiring several new grandparent stock customers in China. "Five years ago, we set the goal of becoming Asia's breed of choice by 2017," said Pelayo Casanovas, general manager of Cobb Asia-Pacific. "It seemed ambitious at the time, but through our team's focus on creating unparalleled customer service and Cobb's superior product quality, we have achieved this goal two years in a row. Our team has grown and matured tremendously over the last five years and I could not be prouder of what has been achieved." As the world's largest poultry market, the Asia-Pacific is filled with opportunities. To meet an ever-growing demand, Cobb Asia-Pacific will grow its team from 319 to over 390 in early 2019 when the New Zealand facility becomes fully operational. Additionally, the company will add new specialists and continue to grow its technical service team to meet the needs of current and future customer demands. "It is truly an exciting time for our team," said Roy Mutimer, Cobb's vice president of operations in the region. "With the Cobb China team proactively growing their market and Cobb New Zealand's recent advancements, we will soon be able to further secure the supply to the entire Asian market with the genetic product that they have been seeking." Next year is set to be another prosperous year for the company, with Cobb New Zealand slated to deliver their first grandparent products in June 2019, further growing the company's position as a regional market leader. Cobb Asia-Pacific will also host two events: a technical school in Phuket, Thailand, in March and a technical seminar in Sydney, Australia, in September. Both events will aim to deliver the newest technologies and management practices to enhance the performance of Cobb products, thereby improving customers' bottom line. Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi King Salman stood by the crown prince and heaped praise on the judiciary Monday, in his first public remarks since critic Jamal Khashoggi's murder tipped the country into one of its worst crises. The public prosecutor last week exonerated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king's son, of involvement in the murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, but the CIA reportedly concluded he had ordered the assassination. The prosecutor called for the death penalty against five men, announced indictments against 11 people, and said a total of 21 individuals were in custody in connection with the killing. "The kingdom was founded on Islamic principles of justice and equality, and we are proud of the efforts of the judiciary and the public prosecution," the 82-year-old monarch said in his annual address to the Shura Council, a top advisory body. "We ensure that this country will never deviate from implementing God's law without discrimination," he added, without directly addressing the murder of The Washington Post columnist in his speech. In Saudi Arabia's absolute monarchy, only the king has the authority to oust the powerful crown prince - who faces intense global criticism over the murder - but he has repeatedly indicated that he has no intention to do so. In his speech, the king praised his son's economic reform program aimed at creating jobs for a swelling youth population and preparing the kingdom for a post-crude era. Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television reported the prince will attend the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Argentina, his first overseas trip since the murder. In a show of defiance, the prince will come face-to-face with international leaders from Turkey, the United States and other European nations at the two-day summit that begins November 30. "The crown prince is sending a very clear message to the international community that nothing they say or do over the Khashoggi affair will interfere with Saudi decision making," said Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute in the United States. Story continues "Effectively, he is daring his international critics to put their rhetoric into action and betting that they won't." - Shoring up support - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who claims the orders for the killing came from "the highest levels" of the Saudi government, has pledged that no cover-up of the crime will be allowed. But US President Donald Trump has praised Saudi Arabia as a "truly spectacular ally" and has refrained from blaming Prince Mohammed despite the Central Intelligence Agency's reported assessment that he was behind the killing. Saudi Arabia -- which quickly dismissed the reported CIA findings -- has offered shifting accounts of what happened, initially saying Khashoggi left the embassy after receiving his documents and later that he was killed when an argument degenerated into a fistfight. In the latest version, the Saudi prosecutor said a 15-member team went to Istanbul to bring Khashoggi back to the kingdom "by means of persuasion", but killed him instead in a rogue operation. The United States has sanctioned 17 Saudis for the crime, including close aides of Prince Mohammed, and is set to make final conclusions this week over the killing. In a sign of further international pressure, Germany on Monday said it will bar 18 Saudis from entering its territory and Europe's Schengen passport-free zone over their alleged links to the murder. But shrugging off the scrutiny, the king and crown prince resumed an unprecedented domestic tour Monday with a visit to northern Tabuk region, as they seek to leverage links with different tribes and religious leaders and shore up support for the leadership. The visit follows a trip to central Qassim province and the neighbouring region of Hail earlier this month. King Salman has pardoned some "insolvent prisoners" on his trips and last month ordered the resumption of annual bonus payments -- which were suspended under austerity measures in 2016 -- to all government workers from the beginning of next year. "The actions point to a campaign inside the kingdom to shore up support within the ruling family and to demonstrate public confidence in the crown prince," said Kristin Diwan, of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. "The king, relying upon the more traditional assets of prestige and patronage, has been central to these efforts, in a clear bid to save the most valuable achievement of his reign: the consolidation of power and future rule in the hands of his direct descendant." By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leading Democrats in Congress called on Tuesday for cuts in U.S. support for Saudi Arabia and criticized President Donald Trump for failing to take action against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who the CIA believes ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Representative Adam Schiff, who will chair the House Intelligence Committee when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January, said it was "inconceivable" that the crown prince was "either unknowing or uninvolved in Khashoggi's murder." In a statement, Schiff called for an immediate cut-off in U.S. support for Saudi military operations in Yemen and a suspension in U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. In a statement emailed to Reuters, Sen. Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also criticized Trump for his response to the Khashoggi killing. "The Presidents failure to hold Saudi Arabia responsible in any meaningful way for the death of Jamal Khashoggi is just one more example of this White Houses retreat from America's leadership on issues like human rights and protecting the free press," Warner said. Two other Senate Democrats also criticized Trump's handling of the Khashoggi killing, which the Central Intelligence Agency, in secret congressional briefings, has said was ordered by the crown prince. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she would withhold support for Saudi Arabia and urged U.S. sanctions after President Donald Trump's statement earlier on Tuesday pledging to back Riyadh despite the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Feinstein said in a statement that she would not vote for any future weapons sales or appropriations for Saudi Arabia. She was "shocked" that Trump would not punish Saudi Arabia's crown prince for the "premeditated murder" of Khashoggi, a U.S. resident, the statement said. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said that Trump had made it "clear that he does not care who ordered the brutal murder" of Khashoggi. Wyden said that if the director of the CIA and director of national intelligence do not make public their assessments regarding Khashoggi's killing, he would introduce legislation next week to require U.S. spy agencies to publish their findings on who ordered the murder. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball and Susan Heavey; editing by Grant McCool and Dan Grebler) By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence officials should issue a public report on the killing of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior Democratic U.S. Senator said on Monday, following published reports the CIA believed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had personally ordered the murder. The reported finding was the most definitive link made yet to the de facto Saudi ruler's direct involvement and contradicts Saudi government assertions that he was not. Senate intelligence committee member Ron Wyden, in a statement to Reuters, called on U.S. spy chiefs to "come out and provide the American people and the Congress with a public assessment of who ordered the killing." Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post columnist who was a critic of the Saudi government, was murdered on Oct. 2 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he went to collect documents needed for a planned marriage. After offering contradictory explanations for Khashoggi's disappearance, Riyadh said last week that Khashoggi was killed and his body dismembered when "negotiations" to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia failed. The public prosecutor said it would seek the death penalty for five suspects. The case has complicated U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to preserve ties with an important U.S. ally in the region and his support for the crown prince. Trump said on Sunday he does not want to listen to an audio recording of Khashoggi's murder, despite pressure to punish Saudi Arabia for the killing. Trump said in a "Fox News Sunday" interview that he would not listen to the recording "because it's a suffering tape, it's a terrible tape ... I dont want to hear the tape." The CIA, relying mainly on circumstantial evidence and its experts' conclusion that the crown prince tightly controlled Saudi government actions, last week briefed Congress on its assessment that the prince ordered Khashoggi's assassination, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The briefing to Congress was the foundation for a flood of media leaks reporting that the agency had concluded that the crown prince ordered the murder. But Congress was not presented with a written agency report saying this, one source said. The CIA assessment is backed by the firing last week by the Saudi government of two top Saudi security officials, both of whom U.S. officials believe were implicated in the murder. Turkish authorities have leaked details of what they said were audio recordings of Khashoggi's murder inside the consulate. Some U.S. officials, including CIA Director Gina Haspel, have been given access to the recordings, the sources said. Officials have said the Trump administration may issue a more formal statement on Tuesday about what U.S. agencies know about Khashoggi's killing and who was behind it. Meanwhile, despite the global outcry over the murder, the crown prince plans to participate in a G20 summit in Argentina at the end of November. Al Arabiya television quoted Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih as saying it was part of a foreign trip. At the United Nations, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu did not request a U.N. inquiry into Khashoggi's death when he met with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a U.N. spokesman said, though they did discuss the case. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball, Lisa Lambert in Washington; additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Grant McCool) A Scottish saltire being flown alongside a Catalan independence flag in Glasgow (Getty) Spains foreign minister fears the UK will split apart over Brexit and says his country wouldnt block Scotland from joining the EU. Outspoken socialist Josep Borrell declared that he is very much worried about the unity of the UK during an interview with Politico in Brussels. Spain is facing its own constitutional challenge, with many Catalans demanding independence. But Borrell predicted: I think the United Kingdom will split apart before Spain. Asked whether that was a sign of Spains strength or the UKs weakness, he replied: Its a clear sign of the UKs weakness. Spain fears another Scottish referendum would add weight to Catalan calls to be granted a legal vote on independence. The Catalan government organised a referendum last year, but it was ruled illegal and brutally broken-up by police. Catalan politicians who organised the poll are currently being held in pre-trial detention or have gone into exile. Despite that, Borrell said Spain would not block a Scottish application to join the EU if an independence vote had been agreed by the UK government. He said: Why not, if they leave Britain in accordance with internal regulations? If Westminster agrees, were not going to be more papist than the Pope. If Westminster agrees, why should we be against it? Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez weighed into the debate on whether there should be a second referendum on Brexit, saying last week: If I was Theresa May, I would call a second referendum no doubt. Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell meeting the Queen in 2005 as the then president of the European Parliament (Getty) But Borrell formerly the president of the European Parliament contradicted his boss on Tuesday, saying it should only happen if there is a really big demand. Citing the double referendums held in Ireland on the Lisbon treaty and in Denmark on the Maastricht treaty, he said: I dont like second referendums because in Europe we have a record of people voting something that was not the thing that was, lets say, what the authorities would like, and then [the authorities] convince them to vote again. Story continues Its something that doesnt look very much democratic. Its the second time the Spanish politician has set the Brexit debate alight in as many days. Borrell warned on Monday that Spain would not sign-off the Brexit deal without changes to the withdrawal agreements provisions on Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory on Spains south coast. MORE: Spanish prime minister backs second Brexit referendum Spain is unhappy that the draft agreement published last week does not include a previous EU commitment that any deal on the future relationship would not apply to Gibraltar without the consent of Spain. Borrell said Spain will not be able to say OK to the text without changes before Sunday, but played down the chances of a veto on the deal, saying: They could go over [us] because consensus is not unanimity. However, Borrells comments once again contradicted his leaders views. Mr Sanchez today told a forum in Madrid: As things stand today if there are no changes regarding Gibraltar, Spain will vote no on Brexit. Gibraltar chief minister Fabian Picardo said he has received assurances from Theresa May that the deal will cover the whole UK family. It does not come as a surprise to us that Madrid should seek to raise new Gibraltar issues at the last minute in our negotiations to leave the EU, he added in a statement. Raising issues at the eleventh hour is a well known tactic that has been used by Spain in the past. MORE: Spain threatens to veto Brexit deal over Gibraltar Madrid (AFP) - Spain's prime minister warned Tuesday that Madrid would vote against the Brexit deal agreed between London and Brussels if it does not guarantee Madrid's veto over Gibraltar's future status. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is due to sign a treaty with EU leaders to leave the bloc on Sunday, but Spain's warning over the contested British territory on Spain's southern tip may add another complication. "As a country, we can't conceive that what will happen with the future of Gibraltar will depend on a negotiation between Britain and the European Union," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a business conference in Madrid on Tuesday. "As a consequence, today, I regret to say that a pro-European government like Spain's would vote no to Brexit unless there are changes." According to Article 184 of the draft Brexit deal, "the EU and the United Kingdom shall make every effort, in good faith and with full respect for their respective legal systems, to adopt the measures necessary to negotiate rapidly the agreements governing their future relationship." These agreements will be negotiated between Brexit day on March 29 and December 2020 -- extendable once -- and will enter into force at the end of the period. But Spain wants to retain what it sees as its right to negotiate the future on Gibraltar with Britain on a bilateral basis, giving it an effective veto. Although the legal service of the EU Council has tried to reassure Spain that the text does not preclude this, Madrid is seeking further clarification. Spain's Foreign Minister Josep Borrell had already warned on Monday after a meeting of EU ministers that the draft deal does not spell out how Gibraltar should be handled. "Until it is clear ... we will not be able to give our agreement," he said. Madrid has a long-standing claim on Gibraltar, which was ceded to the British crown in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. Madrid (AFP) - Spanish lawmakers voted unanimously Tuesday in favour of examining an "historic" bill to probe the "stolen babies" scandal that saw scores of newborns snatched from their parents during and after Francisco Franco's dictatorship. This is the first time that such a bill clears this first parliamentary hurdle, according to Soledad Luque of Coordinadora X24, which groups victims' associations in Spain. "It's the first time in all the years that we've been fighting," she told AFP. "It's historic." The bill has to clear several stages before it can be voted into law. Among the measures it envisages is a nationwide database of all people who may have been affected. It also wants to create a DNA bank of potential victims, and cross-check this with DNA from exhumed remains. Scores of babies were taken from their mothers -- who were told their children had died -- and given to others to adopt during and after Franco's 1939-1975 dictatorial rule Estimates range from hundreds to tens of thousands of victims. Doctors played a major part in the scheme to provide infertile couples -- preferably those close to the regime -- with stolen newborns, often with the help of the Catholic Church. Initially, babies were taken from left-wing opponents of the regime, with the practice later expanded to supposedly illegitimate children and those from poor families. The newborns were meant to be raised by affluent, conservative and devout Roman Catholic families. Even after Spain transitioned to democracy following Franco's death in 1975, the trafficking went on until at least 1987. In October, an elderly Spanish doctor was found guilty of taking a newborn baby from her mother for illegal adoption in 1969 in a landmark trial. He escaped punishment, however, because the court decided Ines Madrigal, the "stolen baby" who is now 49, waited too long to file a complaint. Madrid (AFP) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned Tuesday he will call an early general election unless parliament approves his minority government's draft 2019 budget, which is being blocked by Catalan separatist parties. Sanchez, who took over in June from the conservative Mariano Rajoy after a surprise no-confidence vote, has up until now vowed to stay in office until 2020 when the next election is due. But his Socialist party controls just 84 seats in the 350-seat parliament, the smallest proportion for a government since the country returned to democracy following dictator Francisco Franco's death in 1975. For his draft budget to win approval, Sanchez needs the support of the parties that helped bring him to power in June, including Catalan separatists. They have so far steadfastly refused to back the spending plan which includes a big rise in the minimum wage. "If we are not able to approve the budget, my mission to serve until the end of my mandate will be undermined," the prime minister told a Madrid business conference. - Catalan opposition - The rise in the minimum wage would be "an important identity marker for a Socialist government like his" so failure to approve the budget would be a major setback for the government, Paloma Roman, a politics professor at Madrid's Complutense University, told AFP. Catalan separatist parties, which have lawmakers in the national parliament, are angry that prosecutors have called for pro-independence leaders to be jailed for up to 25 years over last year's failed secession bid in the wealthy northeastern region. They therefore refuse to cooperate with Sanchez on the budget. If the government fails to win approval for the budget, it could roll over this year's spending plan which was drawn up by the previous conservative government and try to pass some its announced measures by decree. But conservative opposition parties have strongly criticised this option. Story continues Sanchez's government has also struggled to move ahead with its plans to move Franco's remains from a vast mausoleum near Madrid to a more discreet location. Separately, an agreement with the conservative Popular Party (PP) to nominate judges to the Supreme Court fell apart on Tuesday. "Every day, a new front opens, which rattles him and could push him to call elections" which could allow him to win more seats in parliament, said Roman. "There is an accumulation of difficult situations, but the main cause (to call early elections), is that he can't pass his own budget." - May vote? - Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos, a heavyweight in the Socialist party who is close to the prime minister, on Monday raised the possibility of calling snap polls to coincide with European, regional and municipal elections on May 26. Under Spanish law, Sanchez would have to do so by April 1 at the latest for the vote to be held on May 26. The Socialists are leading in opinion polls although surveys indicate they would still not win a majority in parliament. "There is a debate at the heart of the government between those who want to go to the polls and those who have more doubts," said Cristina Monge, a political scientist at the University of Zaragoza. Sanchez is among those who are more reluctant to go to the polls, since he would want to have more to show for his time in office, she added. She predicts the government will instead wait until the autumn of 2019 to go to the polls. Tokyo (AFP) - Carlos Ghosn's status as an outsider in Japan brought him huge success, as his maverick style blew a gale through a musty corporate world, but his disregard of business norms may ultimately prove his undoing. The man so embraced as the saviour of a once-stumbling firm that his life was made into an inspiring manga comic was Tuesday under arrest and facing allegations of financial misconduct -- including under-reporting his huge salary. The companies he rescued -- Nissan and Mitsubishi -- looked set to dump him as chairman and his legacy as a boardroom saviour lay in tatters. Until this week's dramatic events, the storyline had been one of almost unbounded optimism. "Ghosn is likely the most successful foreign chairman in Japan," said Kosuke Sato, a senior economist at the Japan Research Institute. "What he did was unprecedented in Japanese corporate history." But that narrative was rapidly unravelling by Monday evening. At a news conference hours after Ghosn's arrest his hand-picked successor as Nissan CEO offered a revisionist history that minimised the role played by the Brazil-born executive in the automaker's turnaround. Hiroto Saikawa also referred to the "dark side" of Ghosn's tenure, suggesting he had accrued too much power and had become far removed from the daily operations of the firm. And he pointedly declined to offer the deep bow of apology that has become a standard part of any press conference involving a Japanese company acknowledging misdeeds by staff. - Ghosn 'made enemies' - Japan's media, who once feted Ghosn for his role in resurrecting Nissan and reviving the country's auto industry, also pounced. The financial Nikkei daily noted he had failed to cut short his holiday when an inspection scandal at Nissan broke in 2017, and the Yomiuri Shimbun described Nissan executives calling Ghosn "greedy". "He says the right things, but in the end it's all about money," the daily quoted employees as saying. Story continues Corporate scandals are nothing new in Japan, but a case apparently centred on personal enrichment has left a bitter taste. "Ghosn is a victim of his own hubris and success," said Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University Japan. "He was lionised for bursting through Japan's fusty corporate culture, taking no prisoners, and now he is paying the price. "He trampled on Japanese cultural norms with his flamboyant glory-hogging ways, and his massive compensation incited jealousies and invited retaliation," he told AFP. His salary was enormous by Japanese standards and drew criticism even at the government level in France. "He certainly made enemies and was envied in the Japanese establishment because in a sense he breached the norms of CEO compensation," said Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University Japan. "Ghosn also had a CEO lifestyle. The major Japanese bosses are more discreet," he added. - Culture clash - Indeed it may have been Ghosn's brash style, rather than his status as a foreigner, that ultimately set him apart. Whether in the aggressive restructuring that earned him the nickname "Le Cost Cutter" or his decision to celebrate his marriage to his second wife with a Marie Antoinette-themed party at Versailles, Ghosn was the antithesis of the low-key persona of his peers in Japanese firms. The fall of such a high-profile outsider comes as Japan wrestles with addressing longstanding labour shortages by bringing in foreign blue-collar migrant workers. The proposition has caused unease in some quarters as a major departure from Japan's strict immigration policy, which has ensured a relatively homogenous society. Sato said the Ghosn case illustrated a fundamental culture clash in Japan's corporate sector, where "The case occurred partially because Japanese firms do not have a culture of offering huge salaries to CEOs," he told AFP. "After this case, Japanese companies may hesitate to accept foreign leaders in the future." And that, said Jenny Corbett, of the Foundation for Australia-Japan Studies, would be a pity for Japan Inc. "For those companies that need to turn themselves around, it can be seen as almost the only way to achieve it, you have to have an outsider," she said. "After Ghosn, it may be that the companies that need that kind of shake up will be more nervous about bringing outsiders to do that." EU is biggest buyer of Vietnam shrimp in first 3 quarters The EU is the largest export market of Vietnamese shrimp, accounting for 24.7% of Vietnam's total shrimp exports, based on latest data, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). In the nine months through September, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU market reached US$648.4 million, up 11% over the same period in 2017. Within the EU, the UK is the largest importer of Vietnamese shrimp, whose shrimp exports to the UK in the first nine months reached nearly $176 million, up 27.6% year-on-year. Over the past three years, Vietnamese shrimp exports to the UK have grown steadily from $114.6 million in 2014 to $210.6 million in 2017, up nearly 84%. The Netherlands, meanwhile, is the second-largest export market of Vietnamese shrimp in the EU. From January to September, shrimp exports to the Netherlands reached $158.6 million, up 11.6% year-on-year. Vietnam was the largest supplier of shrimp to the Netherlands, accounting for 37.6% of the total value of imports by this market in 2017. VASEP claimed that Vietnamese shrimp has a competitive advantage over other major competitors in the EU market, including India and Thailand, noting that these countries have seen reducted exports to the EU due to problems related to quality standards. Moreover, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to come into effect next year, will allow Vietnam to import shrimp and processed shrimp tariff-less, VASEP added. Well, this certainly isnt a warm welcome. A survey released today shows that despite the Philippine governments warming relations with China, most Filipinos still very much hold an anti-Chinese stance on the longstanding West Philippine Sea issue. The results of the study by social research institution Social Weather Stations (SWS) basically screams Keep off our property to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrives in Manila today. 87 percent of adult Filipinos interviewed in September said that its important for the Philippines to regain control of the disputed islands occupied by China. 72 percent said its very important, while 15 percent said its somewhat important. In contrast, only 1 percent said its somewhat not important and another 1 percent said its not at all important. 10 percent were undecided about the issue. China has slowly been building structures in the West Philippine Sea, including in waters that belong to the Philippines, Reuters reported in May. According to data gathered by the news agency, China already had more than 1,600 buildings in the area at the time while the Philippines only had 100. Despite this, President Rodrigo Duterte has been lackadaisical with his approach in defending the Philippines claims and once said that he wont go to war with China because he probably wont win. In February, he also made a tone-deaf joke about making the Philippines a province of China during an event attended by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua. But most Filipinos dont share the same defeatist attitude as their president. The SWS survey released yesterday found that 84 percent of Filipinos surveyed said that it is wrong for the government to leave China alone with its infrastructures and military presence in the claimed territories. This result is up by three points from the June surveys result of 81 percent. Story continues 86 percent also believe that the Philippines should strengthen its military capability and 71 percent think the Philippine government should raise the territorial dispute to international organizations like the United Nations or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It also turns out that there are now more people aware of the dispute. The same survey shows that 89 percent know about the conflict, 8 points up from the 81 percent result from a similar survey in June. Among the 89 percent who know about the West Philippine Sea issue, 15 percent had extensive knowledge, 32 percent had adequate knowledge, 41 percent had only little knowledge, and 12 percent had very little knowledge. However, it looks like more people are starting to trust the superpower. While Chinas latest net trust rating is still poor (-16), this is 19 points higher than the bad (-35) rating it got in June. According to SWS, China has only been rated positively by Filipinos nine out of 47 times since they first surveyed it in August 1994. In contrast, net trust in another superpower, the United States, has been positive since SWS first surveyed it in December 1994. However, the latest survey shows that there were fewer people who trusted the U.S. in September. While still rated very good (+59), this is six points below the +65 net trust score the U.S. got in June. The post Survey released day of Xi Jinpings arrival shows most Filipinos want China out of West Philippine Sea appeared first on Coconuts. New York (AFP) - Global stocks plunged Tuesday as a sharp downward trend in the technology sector hit valuations hard and the Dow gave up all its gains for the year. In Europe and Asia, there was much talk about the surprise arrest of Carlos Ghosn, boss of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, and stocks in the three companies plunged, while Wall Street suffered a second big decline. Analysts at Capital Economics forecast the tech sector would continue to underperform in the coming quarters because of expected economic weakness in both the United States and China. "Given the highly-cyclical nature of the IT sector, we have been arguing for a while that growth in its earnings would be hit especially hard in these circumstances," they said. In New York, the Dow shed more than 550 points or 2.2 percent to 24,465.54. The S&P 500 also slid into the red for the year, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index clung to a modest gain for all of 2018. "Today was again a big sell-off," said JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade. "Investors are repricing stocks." Besides technology, US sectors with bruising declines included petroleum, following a big dip in oil prices, and retail, after a series of mixed earnings reports just ahead of the key holiday shopping season. Analysts have blamed the weakness on worries about slowing global growth exacerbated by a series of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes and the burgeoning US-China trade dispute. Some market watchers have said the fall has been exacerbated by light trading volumes this week ahead of Thursday's Thanksgiving holidays when markets will be closed. President Donald Trump reentered the central bank fray on Tuesday, calling on the Fed to lower interest rates. "We have much more of a Fed problem than a problem with anyone else," Trump told reporters, the latest sign of the US president's indifference to criticism that his comments on monetary policy help undermine central bank independence. Story continues - Ghosn weighs on automakers - In Asia, Nissan lost 5.5 percent and Mitsubishi sank 6.9 percent as they prepared to sack Ghosn after it emerged he had been taken into custody as detectives looked into claims he underreported his income for years. Ghosn has long been a major player in the car industry and is credited with resurrecting the once-troubled Nissan, which he allied with Mitsubishi and France's Renault. He heads the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance and serves as CEO of Renault. Renault said Tuesday Ghosn would remain chief executive despite his arrest. But the French company appointed Chief Operating Officer Thierry Bollore as deputy CEO to ensure day-to-day management while Ghosn is "temporarily incapacitated." Renault's share price closed 1.2 percent lower, extending Monday's eight percent dive. "The market doesn't consider the share's fall to be a buying opportunity," said Cedric Besson, a portfolio manager at Gaspal Gestion. Shares in Deutsche Bank dropped nearly five percent in Frankfurt amid fears that the German banking giant is being drawn into a money laundering scandal dogging Danish peer Danske Bank, dealers said. Investors suspect that a former high-ranking Danske Bank manager meant Deutsche Bank when he told a parliamentary commission in Copenhagen that nearly $150 billion of doubtful transactions had been handled by the US subsidiary of "a big European bank". - Key figures around 2200 GMT - New York - Dow: DOWN 2.2 percent at 24,465.64 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN 1.8 percent at 2,641.89 (close) New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 1.7 percent at 6,908.82 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.8 percent at 6,947.92 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 1.6 percent at 11,066.41 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.2 percent at 4,924.89 (close) EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.4 percent at 3,116.07 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.1 percent at 21,583.12 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 2.0 percent at 25,840.34 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.1 percent at 2,645.85 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1370 from $1.1454 at 2200 GMT Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2787 from $1.2854 Dollar/yen: UP at 112.75 yen from 112.55 yen Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN $4.24 at $62.55 per barrel Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN $3.77 at $53.43 per barrel burs-jmb/dg Millions of termite mounds built by a single species are as old as the pyramids and cover an area bigger than Great Britain (PA) Its a construction project unlike any on our planet: its the size of Great Britain, and has been going on for 3,820 years, since the Pyramids were first built. But no humans have been involved in the huge landscape of 200 million mounds in Brazil it was all built by termites. Researchers in northeast Brazil sampled soil in 11 locations and found that some of it began nearly four thousand years ago. Each mound is actually waste from a huge subterranean tunnel network where the termites have laboured for thousands of years. Termites have been building hundreds of millions of huge mounds for 4,000 years (PA) Professor Stephen Martin of the University of Salford said, These mounds were formed by a single termite species that excavated a massive network of tunnels to allow them to access dead leaves to eat safely and directly from the forest floor. MORE: Argentine submarine found in Atlantic a year after going missing with 44 crew on board MORE: Woman claims airport valet drove her car 500 miles then got her a parking ticket The amount of soil excavated is over 10 cubic kilometres, equivalent to 4,000 great pyramids of Giza, and represents one of the biggest structures built by a single insect species. Its incredible that, in this day and age, you can find an unknown biological wonder of this sheer size and age still existing, with the occupants still present. Co-author Roy Funch of Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana in Brazil said, This is apparently the worlds most extensive bioengineering effort by a single insect species. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo GUATEMALA CITY (AP) Thousands of Guatemalan villagers are beginning to return home a day after being evacuated due to an eruption of the Volcano of Fire. National disaster agency spokesman David de Leon says volcanic activity has subsided at the 12,300-foot (3,763-meter) high mountain, though it's still periodically spitting out ash and rock. He says officials are helping evacuees return home. Officials evacuated nearly 4,000 people Monday after incandescent material burst as high as 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) above the crater and flows of hot rock and ash extended nearly 2 miles (3 kilometers) down one flank of the volcano. A June eruption at the volcano caught many people unprepared, burying whole communities. At least 194 died and 234 are still reported as missing. Travellers attend a protest after residents were evicted from a site (Niall Carson/PA Wire) A Conservative MP is seeking to make it a criminal offence for Gypsy and Traveller communities to set up unauthorised encampments. Andrew Selous, Conservative MP for South West Bedforshire, said that the current laws for travellers are not working. Mr Selous, whose constituency has 40 Traveller sites, said that people in his area had written to him to say they have moved house through fear of Traveller communities after being repeated victims of crime, including assault and theft. He added that living conditions in Traveller communities are often extremely low, with human excrement flowing into local ditches because there are no proper sewage systems. Andrew Selous called for the criminalisation of unauthorised Traveller sites An illegal Traveller site in Selby, North Yorkshire (SWNS) He told the House of Commons: Travellers themselves and, especially, their children and many others who live on Traveller sites have all had terrible experiences in recent years. The current policy of segregation has resulted in a failure of integration and poor community cohesion. Mr Selous introduced a bill to Parliament that would also require local authorities to provide temporary caravan stopping sites where there is a demonstrated need, to improve the education of Traveller children, and to teach Gypsy and Traveller culture in schools. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo He said that Traveller ponies are often let loose across private land and that fly tipping is a major problem. When I look at the standard of accommodation that many Travellers and their children are living in, I am truly shocked, he told MPs. Some sites do not even have proper water supplies and, in some cases, neighbouring settled residents have lost their supply of water when it has been illegally tapped into. He expressed concerns that Traveller children are missing out on an education due to poor school attendance, particularly during the summer months. In the most recent census it was found that 76% of Travellers in England and Wales live in settled accommodation, with the rest living in temporary sites. The most recent figures show that there are more than 22,000 Traveller caravans in England, 16% of which are on unauthorised sites. The rest are on privately owned land (54%) or sites operated by local authorities. Local authorities are currently responsible for the provision of sites for Gypsies and Travellers. 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claimed there was nothing definitive linking Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the murder of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. In the extraordinary statement issued on Tuesday which begins with the words The world is a very dangerous place! Trump quotes Saudi officials as describing Khashoggi as an enemy of the state. The 649-word statement appears to be a presidential act of defiance against the CIA, which has reportedly concluded that the Saudi prince ordered the killing, and the Senate, which is considering bipartisan legislation that would suspend weapons sales to Saudi Arabia among other punitive measures. He told reporters at the White House that the CIA didnt make a determination on the murder, and that they had nothing definitive on its perpetrator. The claim is contradicted by multiple reports that the intelligence agency has concluded that Prince Mohammed ordered the hit on the former Saudi insider who had become a persistent critic. In his written statement, Trump wrote: Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As he has in the past with Vladimir Putin, Trump put official denials of wrongdoing from Riyadh on a par with US intelligence assessments. He said: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr Khashoggi. The president acknowledged that Congress might have another view and the strength of congressional opinion soon became apparent when the Republican senator Lindsey Graham otherwise a fervent Trump fan issuing a statement predicting strong bipartisan support for serious sanctions against Saudi Arabia, including appropriate members of the royal family, for this barbaric act which defied all civilized norms. Story continues The South Carolina senator added: While Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally, the behavior of the crown prince in multiple ways has shown disrespect for the relationship and made him, in my view, beyond toxic. The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee sent a joint letter to the president on Tuesday evening demanding he make a clear official statement to Congress on the princes involvement in the murder Fred Ryan, the publisher and CEO of the Washington Post, said: The CIA has thoroughly investigated the murder of this innocent journalist and concluded with high confidence that it was directed by the crown prince. If there is reason to doubt the findings of the CIA, President Trump should immediately make that evidence public. Trumps statement, titled standing with Saudi Arabia sought to portray the kingdom as an essential US ally in a struggle against Iran, and an irreplaceable customer for US arms sales. He claimed a breach in the relationship between Washington and Riyadh would produce an oil price spike. If you want to go see oil prices go to $150 a barrel, all you have to do is break up our relationship with Saudi Arabia, Trump said in his remarks to reporters. His statement made a series of false or unsubstantiated claims, suggesting that Riyadh is buying $110bn in US weapons. The actual total of offers since Trump took office is less than $15bn, and the value of actual signed contracts is significantly lower than that. A new independent report found that US arms sales to Saudi Arabia account for fewer than 20,000 US jobs a year less than a 20th of the employment boost Donald Trump has claimed. Trump said in his statement: The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. He pointed out that the US has imposed individual sanctions on 17 Saudis identified by Riyadh for their alleged involvement in the 2 October murder. If you want to go see oil prices go to $150 a barrel, all you have to do is break up our relationship with Saudi Arabia Donald Trump The president said that representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an enemy of the state and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Trump added: My decision is in no way based on that. But he did not explain why he mentioned the smear against Khashoggi at all. The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, when asked about the Saudi monarchys complicity in Khashoggis death, said: Its a mean, nasty world out there. Pompeo declined to comment on intelligence assessments of the murder, but said: Facts will obviously still continue to come to light. Im confident of that. Its the way the world works. Nicholas Burns, the under-secretary of state for political affairs in the George W Bush administration, said: This Trump statement on the Khashoggi murder is beyond embarrassing. It is shameful.He is silent on our most important interest justice. Trumps enthusiastic support for Riyadh coincides with a drive by the crown prince to rehabilitate himself on the world stage. The Argentinian government confirmed to the Guardian on Tuesday that he is on the list of attendees at the G20 summit at the end of the month in Buenos Aires. Also on the guest list is Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has condemned Riyadh for the murder and whose government has put out a steady stream of leaks from the investigation, pointing towards Saudi government culpability at the highest levels. In the latest of those leaks, the influential pro-government outlet Haberturk published excerpts of a purported transcript of an audio recording of the murder. According to its account, the Saudi hitman chosen as a lookalike among Jamal Khashoggis assassins was apparently recorded saying: Its creepy to wear the clothes of a man we killed 20 minutes ago. He then he stepped from the Kingdoms consulate in Istanbul in a failed attempt to prove the murdered dissident had left the building. The chilling detail was among the latest excerpts released by Turkish officials seven weeks after Khashoggi was murdered. Other details include Khashoggi demanding, Release my arm, what do you think youre doing? moments after entering the diplomatic mission. A listening device inside the consulate apparently captured Maher Mutreb, a trusted aide of Prince Mohammed, replying: Traitor, you will be brought to account. Donald Trump has branded a retired navy Seal critical of his presidency a Hillary Clinton fan who should have taken down Osama bin Laden sooner. The attack on William McRaven, who oversaw the operation to catch the al-Qaeda leader in 2011, is the latest in an escalating war of words between the US president and former military and intelligence officials. Hes a Hillary Clinton backer and an Obama backer and frankly, wouldnt it have been nice if wed have got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner than that? the US president said in an interview with Fox News Sunday. 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 and we give Pakistan $1.3bn (1bn) a year, and they dont tell him? Mr McRaven, former head of US Special Operations Command, had described Mr Trumps enemy of the people jibe against much of the media as the greatest threat to democracy the US faces. The pairs clash comes three months after Mr Trump took the unprecedented step of revoking a former CIA directors security clearance over criticism the president did not like. In an open letter, dozens of former intelligence officials condemned the move against John Brennan as an attempt to stifle free speech. Later on Sunday, Mr McRaven stood by his past criticism of the president. I did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else, Mr McRaven told CNN. 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 presidents attack on the media is the greatest threat to our democracy in my lifetime. Mr Trumps comments also sparked condemnation from a number of high profile military figures. Story continues The least noble American, Cadet Bonespurs @realDonaldTrump, has resumed his unconscionable attack on one of our most noble Admiral McRaven who continues to serve America with dignity and his keen sense of history, Paul Eaton, a retired major general, wrote on Twitter. The least noble American, Cadet Bonespurs @realDonaldTrump , has resumed his unconscionable attack on one of our most noble Admiral McRaven who continues to serve America with dignity and his keen sense of history. Midterms served as a referendum for this appalling POTUS. Major General (ret) Paul Eaton (@PaulDEaton52) November 18, 2018 Mark Hertling, a former officer who served 37 years in the US army, said: Bill McRaven doesnt need anyone to defend him. Hes lived a life of service to country and faced only the toughest challenges. The presidents words are an attempt to further divide the country and politicize the military. We shouldnt allow it to work. On Monday, Mr Trump doubled down on his Bin Laden claims. Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did. I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Center, Mr Trump wrote regarding his 2000 book The America We Deserve. President Clinton famously missed his shot, he continued, an apparent reference to Bill Clinton revealing he passed up an opportunity to kill Bin Laden because it would have meant destroying a town in Afghanistan. We paid Pakistan Billions of Dollars & they never told us he was living there. Fools! We no longer pay Pakistan the $Billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another. They were just one of many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in return. Thats ENDING! When asked by host Chris Wallace how dark his mood is following disappointing midterm elections for Republicans, Mr Trump insisted it was very light and that reports he was angry were disgusting fake news. Mr Trump next criticised two of his own senior officials, hinting both Kirstjen Nielsen, secretary of homeland security, and chief of staff John Kelly could soon be out of jobs. I want her to get much tougher and well see what happens, he said of Ms Nielsen when asked about her White House prospects. Discussing Mr Kelly, Mr Trump said there were certain things about the retired marine generals performance he did not like, adding: John at some point is gonna wanna move on. Elsewhere in the interview Mr Trump claimed variously he was unaware his acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, was a vocal critic of the Mueller investigation; that he did not want to hear the tape recording of Jamal Khashoggis murder by a Saudi hit squad because it is a suffering tape; and that Republicans had won the midterm elections, despite historic losses in the House. WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump dismissed concerns about his daughter, Ivankas, use of a private email address for government business when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday. Trump argued the situation was far different from the email scandal that enveloped his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, during the 2016 presidential race. Just so you understand, early on for a little period of time, Ivanka did some emails. They werent classified like Hillary Clinton. They werent deleted like Hillary Clinton. She wasnt doing anything to hide her emails, Trump said of Ivanka, who is a top White House adviser. Both Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, have used personal email addresses, on a domain they shared, for government business. On Monday, the Washington Post reported that Ivanka used the private address far more frequently than known. That report was based on information from people familiar with a White House review of her correspondence. Ivankas use of private email for government business drew attention because Trump made Clintons personal email address a centerpiece of his presidential campaign. He called it bigger than Watergate and pushed for an investigation. Trump suggested Clinton should be prosecuted and encouraged his supporters as they chanted Lock her up! That refrain is still a common feature of Trumps campaign rallies. Trump was questioned about Ivankas emails and how they compared to Clintons as he left the White House on Tuesday to fly to his Mar a Lago club In Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday. He dismissed the story about Ivanka as all fake news that was a whole different thing from Clinton. I looked at it just very briefly today and the presidential records, theyre all in presidential records. There was no hiding, there was no deleting like Hillary Clinton did. There was no servers in the basement like Hillary Clinton had, Trump said. Clinton used a personal email address on a domain based on a server in her New York home throughout her time as secretary of state. She also deleted about 30,000 of her emails that she deemed personal in nature before turning others over to government officials for preservation. Story continues What Ivanka did, its all every presidential record, everything is there. There was no deletion. There was no nothing. What it is is a false story, Trump said. President Donald Trump and White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump. (Photos: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images, Leah Millis/Reuters) The domain name used by Ivanka and Kushner was based on a server at Trumps New York real estate company, the Trump Organization. White House officials did not have access to the accounts. They were preserved, Trump replied, when asked how the public could know for sure that all of Ivankas official emails were retained if she was using a private address. The lawyer told me they were all preserved historically. Theyre preserved. A spokesperson for Ivankas attorney, Abbe Lowell, told the Washington Post that she only used the private email before officially joining the White House in early 2017 because she was unaware of rules for government emails. While transitioning into government, after she was given an official account but until the White House provided her the same guidance they had given others who started before she did, Ms. Trump sometimes used her personal account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family, the spokesperson said. Lowell conducted a review of Ivankas email and forwarded all the messages he deemed to be business related to officials. Lowell did not respond on the record to a request for comment from Yahoo News about how officials could have verified no relevant emails were deleted. With Democrats in control of the House following the midterm elections, they are expected to launch a wave of investigations into the Trump administration. Ivankas use of private email for official business could generate interest from congressional Democrats. As he spoke to reporters while leaving the White House on Tuesday, Trump was asked if he would let Ivanka be interviewed by Democrats about her emails. Oh, Ivanka can handle herself, Trump said. Ivanka can handle herself. Shortly after the president left the White House, Ivanka exited the West Wing and followed him towards the helicopter. She ignored shouted questions from reporters about her emails and proceeded onto the flight to Palm Beach. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Donald Trump has blamed a lack of raking and care of forest floors for the wildfires that devastated parts of California, causing confusion and amusement in Finland. In his latest criticism of what he claimed was poor forest management, Mr Trump said he had spoken to the Finnish president, Sauli Niinisto, about the fires the worst ever to hit the golden state. 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, Mr Trump said on Saturday during a visit to Paradise, a Californian town totally destroyed by flames. Weve got to take care of the floors, you know the floors of the forest, very important. You look at other countries where they do it differently and its a whole different story. Mr Niinisto told the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper over the weekend that he had spoken briefly with Mr Trump about forest management on 11 November, when they both were in Paris for Armistice Day events. He said the leaders conversation had focused on the California wildfires and the surveillance system Finland uses to monitor forests for fires. He said he remembered telling Mr Trump that 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. Users were quick to post pictures of themselves with rakes in hand, and to create puns based on Mr Trumps catchphrases rake America great again and #rakenews. Finnish Twitter is intolerable today, Tero Kuittinen posted on Sunday. Forests cover more than 70 per cent of Finlands 338,000sq km. The Nordic country with a population of 5.5 million is home to some of the worlds biggest paper and pulp companies. About 1,000 names remain on a list of people unaccounted for more than a week after the Camp fire began in Butte County about 140 miles north of San Francisco, authorities said. Story continues Authorities do not believe all those on the list are missing and the roster dropped by 300 on Sunday as more people were located or got in touch to say they were not missing. Some 77 people have been killed. At last count, the Camp Fire had destroyed more than 13,600 homes and other structures, authorities said late on Sunday. Up to 4in of rain is expected to fall between Tuesday and Friday in the Sierra foothills, said Patrick Burke, of the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Centre in College Park, Maryland. 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 2in of rain is also expected to fall on southern California this week, where the Woolsey Fire claimed at least three lives. That blaze was 88 per cent contained on Sunday, authorities said, with full containment expected on Thursday. The precise causes of the both fires were under investigation, but electric utility companies have reported equipment problems in the vicinity of both blazes around the time they erupted. Scientists say the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires in California and elsewhere across the western US are largely attributable to prolonged drought symptomatic of climate change. Additional reporting by agencies By Amanda Becker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Sunday he would not intervene if Matthew Whitaker, his acting U.S. attorney general, moved to curtail Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. In an interview with the "Fox News Sunday" program taped on Friday, Trump also said he probably would not agree to a sit-down interview with Mueller, who also is investigating whether the Republican president's campaign conspired with Moscow and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe. Whitaker took over supervision of Mueller's investigation on Nov. 7 after Trump appointed him as the chief U.S. law enforcement official to replace Jeff Sessions, who the president ousted. Whitaker, who Democrats have called a Trump "political lackey," in the past criticized the scope of the Mueller probe and brought up the possibility of undermining it by slashing Mueller's funding. Trump, in the interview, said he was unaware of Whitaker's past statements about Mueller's probe and that he would "not get involved" if Whitaker moved to curtail it. "It's going to be up to him," Trump told "Fox News Sunday" interviewer Chris Wallace. "I think he's very well aware politically. I think he's astute politically. ... He's going to do what's right." Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and has called the Mueller investigation a "witch hunt." Russia also has denied collusion. "There is no collusion, he happened to be right," Trump said, referring to one of Whitaker's previous statements. Mueller has brought charges against a series of former Trump aides, including his former campaign chairman and his former national security adviser, as well as a number of Russian individuals and entities. Congressional critics have voiced concern that Whitaker could hamper or even fire Mueller. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators renewed a push last week for legislation to protect the special counsel, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, opposes it, saying it is unconstitutional and unnecessary. 'THE RULE OF LAW' Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who will likely lead the Senate panel overseeing the Justice Department next year, met with Whitaker last week and expressed confidence the Russia probe would continue. But Graham said on NBC's "Meet the Press" program on Sunday the Senate should vote on the Mueller protection bill, which he helped write and supported when it won committee approval. "I think it's constitutional, and I'd like to vote on it," said Graham, who has been involved in negotiations with McConnell and retiring Republican Senator Jeff Flake, who has pledged to hold up Trump's judicial confirmations until the Senate votes on the Mueller bill. "But, having said all that, I don't see any indication at all that the Mueller probe is going to be interfered with by Mr. Whitaker or President Trump," Graham added. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, who is set to lead the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee after Democrats won control of the chamber in this month's midterm elections, said Democrats will use their oversight powers to investigate any effort by Whitaker to curb Mueller's probe. "We will expose any involvement he has in it," Schiff, referring to Whitaker, told ABC's "This Week" program," accusing Trump of appointing Whitaker in order to interfere with the investigation. "This is an attack on the rule of law." Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday he had "very easily" completed his written answers for Mueller's investigation. In his "Fox News Sunday" comments, he signaled he had no plans to do a face-to-face interview with Mueller's team. Trump and his lawyers had been in negotiations with Mueller's team for months over how the president would be questioned as part of the investigation. Wallace asked Trump whether it was his final position that he would not do a sit-down interview and would not give written responses to questions relating to obstruction of justice. "I think we've wasted enough time on this witch hunt and the answer is probably, we're finished," Trump said, though he added "I can change my mind." "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," Trump added. (Reporting by Amanda Becker; additional reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Will Dunham) By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia despite saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month. Defying intense pressure from U.S. lawmakers to impose tougher sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Trump also said he would not cancel military contracts with the kingdom, claiming it would be a "foolish" move that would only benefit Russia and China. Trump said U.S. intelligence agencies were still studying the evidence around Khashoggi's murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and who planned it. Since the murder, Trump has taken varying positions on how to react, including possible sanctions. "It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Trump said in a statement issued by the White House. His comments contradicted the Central Intelligence Agecy, (CIA), which believes Khashoggi's death was ordered directly by the crown prince, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler widely known by his initials MbS. Trump was quickly accused by Democratic lawmakers of undermining his own intelligence agencies and failing to confront Saudi Arabia over a human rights atrocity. "Human rights is more than just a phrase, it has to mean something. And that means standing up and condemning a brazen murder by a foreign government. Everyone who played a role in this killing must be held accountable," Senator Dianne Feinstein said. Democratic and Republican lawmakers have urged Trump to drop his support for MbS over the Khashoggi case, but the president has been reluctant. Trump said on Tuesday that both Saudi Arabia's King Salman and MbS "vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder," and that the truth may never be known. He also stressed that Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, is an important business partner and a "great ally" in the fight against Iranian power in the Middle East. "The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region," Trump said. On Twitter, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said of the statement: "Mr. Trump bizarrely devotes the FIRST paragraph of his shameful statement on Saudi atrocities to accuse IRAN of every sort of malfeasance he can think of." Congressman Adam Schiff, who is expected to become leader of the House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee in January, said the United States should immediately end support for Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war, suspend arms sales to the kingdom, and reduce its reliance on Riyadh in the Middle East. "The president adds to his track record of ignoring his own intelligence agencies, and undermining American values at home and abroad, by giving Saudi Arabia a pass for the brutal and premeditated murder of a U.S. resident and journalist. Outrageous," Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said. REPUBLICANS' CRITICISM Some of Trump's fellow Republicans have also vowed to break with him and push for firmer U.S. action against Saudi Arabia. Representative Francis Rooney, a Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Washington should apply the so-called Magnitsky Act to those responsible for Khashoggi's death. The legislation hits human rights violators with freezes on U.S. assets, U.S. travel bans, and prohibitions on Americans doing business with them. Trump has placed the alliance with Saudi Arabia at the heart of his Middle East policy, and it was the first country he visited after becoming president in 2017. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a sometime Trump ally, said there will be bipartisan support for sanctions against Saudi Arabia, "including appropriate members of the royal family, for this barbaric act which defied all civilized norms." "While Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally, the behavior of the crown prince in multiple ways has shown disrespect for the relationship and made him, in my view, beyond toxic," Graham said. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has developed a close relationship with MbS, and both he and Trump have tried to maintain the alliance. Trump said on Tuesday he would not suspend arms sales to Riyadh. "If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries - and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!" Trump said. Representative Eliot Engel, who has the power to block arms deals as the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the United States should use its ability to sell weapons to the Saudis as leverage to influence Riyadh's behavior. "The reality is that the Saudis couldnt simply buy their weapons somewhere else," Engel said in a statement. "It would take years for the Saudi military to re-equip with Russian or Chinese weapons." When Trump mentions the $110 billion package with Riyadh last year, he often adds that "it's 500,000 jobs." But arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp predicts the deal could create nearly 10,000 new jobs in Saudi Arabia, while keeping up to 18,000 existing U.S. workers busy if the whole package comes together - an outcome industry experts say is unlikely. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended Trump's support for Saudi Arabia. The United States was obligated to adopt policies that furthered U.S. national security interests, Pompeo told a news conference following a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Washington. Cavusoglu said that Turkey is not entirely satisfied with the level of cooperation it is receiving from Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi's murder, and may seek a formal United Nations inquiry. (Reporting by Mike Stone; additional reporting by David Alexander, Susan Heavey, Mohammad Zargham, Patricia Zengerle and Richard Cowan; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turkey is not entirely satisfied with the level of cooperation it is receiving from Saudi Arabia over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and may seek a formal United Nations inquiry over the issue if its liaising with Riyadh comes to an impasse, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters in Washington after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Cavusoglu said Turkey has shared the latest information on the Khashoggi killing with the United States and repeated Ankara's stance that the truth had to come out on who gave the orders to kill the journalist. "The cooperation with Saudi Arabia (over Khashoggi) is not at a level where we would want it to be," Cavusoglu told reporters, adding that if liaising with Riyadh came to a standstill, Ankara could seek a formal U.N. inquiry. Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post columnist who was a critic of the Saudi government run by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. After offering numerous contradictory explanations for Khashoggi's disappearance, Riyadh said last week he had been killed and his body dismembered when "negotiations" to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia failed. The public prosecutor said it would seek the death penalty for five suspects in the case. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said the killing was ordered at the "highest levels" of the Saudi government but has not directly accused Prince Mohammed. Saudi Arabia has denied that the prince ordered Khashoggi's killing. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia, despite saying that the Saudi crown prince may have known about the plan to murder the dissident journalist last month. Turkey has also handed to the United States a list of 84 individuals that it wants extradited, Cavusoglu said, over their links with Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt. Gulen denies involvement. He added that Ankara had passed on the list following a telephone conversation between Erdogan and Trump. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Washington and Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara; editing by James Dalgleish) Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey last week met with students, journalists and policymakers in India, one of the company's fastest growing markets - REUTERS A row has erupted in India after a photo of Twitter boss Jack Dorsey holding a poster that criticised the Brahmin, the most revered Hindu caste, went viral on social media. He was photographed holding a picture of a woman waving a banner which read "smash the Brahminical patriarchy" during a trip to the nation last week. Dorsey was posing with a group of female journalists and Vijaya Gadde, Twitters head of legal and safety in India. Notable Indians, including a high ranking officer in the Indian Police Force, Sandeep Mittal, suggested the photo was so inflammatory it could spark political chaos across the nation. Do you realise that this picture has potential of causing communal riots at a time when several States are going to Assembly Elections in India. Even now an apology is not offered. Actually it's a fit case for registration of a criminal case for attempt to de-stablise the nation, he wrote under the photo. Infosys executive TV Mohandas Pai also accused Dorsey of harbouring hate against Hindus. Tomorrow if @jack is given a poster with anti Semitic messages in a meeting, will his team allow him to hold it up? he added. During Twitter CEO @jack's visit here, he & Twitter's Legal head @vijaya took part in a round table with some of us women journalists, activists, writers & @TwitterIndia's @amritat to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation pic.twitter.com/LqtJQEABgV Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) November 18, 2018 Gadde quickly apologised for the photo and said the company regretted Dorseys actions. Story continues I'm very sorry for this. It's not reflective of our views. We took a private photo with a gift just given to us - we should have been more thoughtful. Twitter strives to be an impartial platform for all. We failed to do that here & we must do better to serve our customers in India. The apology further added fuel to the fire, with some arguing that the apology was terribly disappointing. The term #BrahminicalPatriarchy is used by Indian feminists to describe caste and gender issues. It is fact not violence to name how one caste through scripture has held hegemonic power for centuries, wrote one Indian journalist. The Brahmin are the highest caste or varna in Hinduism, specialising as priests and teachers. Twitter said that the poster had been handed to Dorsey by an activist when it hosted a discussion with a group of women to know more about their experience using the service. A spokesman told Reuters: "The sentiments expressed on the poster do not reflect the views of Twitter as a company or Jack as the CEO, and we regret that this picture has detracted from an otherwise insightful trip to India." 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) By Arshad Mohammed and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it had moved to disrupt an Iranian-Russian network that sent millions of barrels of oil to Syria and hundreds of millions of dollars to indirectly fund militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. The complicated arrangement, described by the U.S. Treasury in a statement, involved a Syrian citizen using his Russia-based company to ship Iranian oil to Syria with the aid of a Russian state-owned company. Syria then helped transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in cash to Hezbollah, which functions as a political party that is part of the Lebanese government and as a militia, as well as to Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules the Gaza Strip. Since 2014, vessels carrying Iranian oil have switched off transponders to conceal deliveries to Syria, the Treasury Department said, adding it, the State Department and the U.S. Coast Guard had issued an advisory to the maritime community about the sanctions risks of shipping oil to Syria's government. The alleged arrangement shows how Russia has sought to undercut U.S. policy toward Syria, where Washington and Moscow back opposite sides of a civil war that began in 2011, as well as toward Iran, which the United States wants to curb its nuclear and missile programs and support for militant proxies. "Today we are acting against a complex scheme Iran and Russia have used to bolster the (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad regime and generate funds for Iranian malign activity," U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement announcing sanctions on those it said were tied to the network. "Central Bank of Iran officials continue to exploit the international financial system," he added. Richard Nephew, a sanctions expert at Columbia University, said "the arrangement exposes Russia's efforts to support Assad for their own interests, which has the function of thwarting the U.S. desire to no longer have Assad in power." Those targeted include Syrian Mohammad Amer Alchwiki and his Russia-based company, Global Vision Group, which were central to the delivery of Iranian oil to Syria and the transfer of funds to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force's "lethal proxies," the Treasury Department said in a statement. Other targets include: Syrian national Hajji Abd Al-Nasir, Lebanon national Muhammad Qasim Al-Bazzal and Russian national Andrey Dogaev as well as Iranian nationals Rasoul Sajjad and Hossein Yaghoubi Miab, the statement said. Sajjad and Yaghoobi, Central Bank of Iran officials, worked to facilitate Alchwiki's transfers, it said. Others sanctioned include state-owned Russian company Promsyrioimport, a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Energy, which the U.S. Treasury said had facilitated shipments of Iranian oil to Syria, as well as Mir Business Bank and Iran-based Tadbir Kish Medical and Pharmaceutical Company. The Treasury's "designation" of the individuals and entities effectively cuts them off from the global financial system by blocking any of their assets under U.S. jurisdiction and in effect warning non-U.S. institutions against dealing with them. The United States is at odds with Britain, France and Germany as well as with Russia and China over U.S. President Donald Trump's May 8 decision to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, negotiated with the other world powers during Democratic President Barack Obama's administration. That agreement removed many U.S. and other economic sanctions from Iran in return for Tehran's commitment to curtail its nuclear program. Trump restored U.S. sanctions on Nov. 5 and has threatened more action to stop its "outlaw" policies. Iran, in turn, called Trump's actions economic warfare and vowed to defy the sanctions. European powers that continue to back the nuclear deal said they opposed the reapplication of sanctions. (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Lisa Lambert and Mohammad Zargham; editing by Chizu Nomiyama and James Dalgleish) LONDON (Reuters) - No British government ministers will resign over Brexit tonight, Scottish Secretary David Mundell said, according to a Tweet by a BBC reporter on Wednesday evening following a cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Theresa May said earlier she had won the backing of senior ministers for her draft European Union divorce deal. "Mundell says no resignations tonight as far as he knows...," the BBC's Nick Eardley said on Twitter. (Writing by Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by Stephen Addison) Sanaa (AFP) - UN envoy Martin Griffiths prepared Tuesday to head to war-torn Yemen to lay the groundwork for peace talks in Sweden, after fresh fighting shook the flashpoint city of Hodeida. Griffiths -- whose efforts at kickstarting peace talks collapsed in September -- is again trying to get the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government to the negotiating table by the end of the year. He is expected to meet with Huthi officials in the capital Sanaa on Wednesday. Both sides have in the past week expressed support for the envoy and his mission to hold talks in Stockholm, but fierce clashes flared up in the Red Sea city of Hodeida late Tuesday. This followed battles Monday that military officials said were the worst since loyalists halted an offensive last week, concentrated in the eastern part of the city where rebels fired artillery. Pro-government forces struck back, supported by warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition, which launched a dozen raids, the sources said. According to Huthi-run media, Monday's clashes lasted up to four hours and resulted in fatalities. After a quiet day Tuesday, fierce fighting erupted again around midnight in the city's southern and eastern parts, according to an AFP correspondent and residents. Just hours before Griffiths' planned visit, residents in the east of Hodeida told AFP by telephone they could hear fighting, and reported shrapnel falling in residential neighborhoods. - Call for truce - On Monday, Britain presented to the UN Security Council a draft resolution urging an immediate truce in Hodeida, whose port serves as an entry point to nearly all imports and humanitarian aid to the impoverished country. The draft, circulated by Britain to the 14 other council members, and seen by AFP, sets a two-week deadline for the warring sides to remove all barriers to humanitarian aid. The proposed resolution would significantly ratchet up pressure on the Saudi-led coalition and the Huthis to seek a negotiated settlement in Yemen, where millions are on the brink of starvation. Story continues It also calls for a large injection of foreign cash to support Yemen's collapsing currency and for salaries of civil servants, teachers, and health workers to be paid within a month. Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, head of the Huthi rebels' Higher Revolutionary Committee and an influential political figure, tweeted Monday he wanted his group to announce "readiness to suspend and halt all military operations" and stop firing missiles on Saudi Arabia. Riyadh also lent its support to fresh talks. Saudi King Salman told the Shura Council, his country's top advisory body, that the kingdom backed a "political solution" and a "comprehensive national dialogue" in Yemen. Multiple past attempts to hold negotiations between the government alliance and Huthis have failed. Griffiths said Monday he hoped the rivals would meet in Sweden "within the next few weeks". No date has been set. - 'Stop selling weapons' - The Huthis seized Sanaa in late 2014, when they also took control of Hodeida and its port. A year later, Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the war to bolster Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. Both parties in the conflict stand accused of acts that could amount to war crimes. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on France to address laws-of-war violations with the UAE -- a key member of the Saudi-led coalition -- during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan's visit to Paris on November 21. "If President (Emmanuel) Macron is truly concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, he should tell the crown prince that France will stop selling weapons to the UAE if there's a real risk of their unlawful use," said Benedicte Jeannerod, HRW's director for France. Although Western governments have condemned civilian deaths in Yemen, they remain political and military backers of Saudi Arabia, which is a regional ally and spends billions of dollars on arms from the United States, Britain, and France. The World Health Organization says nearly 10,000 people -- mostly civilians -- have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi intervention in March 2015, but rights groups believe the toll may be five times higher. The World Food Programme says up to 14 million Yemenis are at risk of starvation. On Monday, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced they would each give $250 million in aid to the war-ravaged country to support more than 10 million people. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A push at the United Nations to secure financing for peace operations led by the African Union won strong backing from China on Tuesday but the United States poured cold water on the proposal. Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast - the three African members of the Security Council - have presented a draft resolution that would allow UN financing for AU peace missions on a case-by-case basis. France and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres back the initiative that would provide the African Union with a major influx of funds and strengthen its role in dealing with conflicts on the continent. At a council meeting chaired by China, the United States, the top financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, said it was "premature" to agree to regular UN funding of new AU peace operations. "It's too soon to make decisions about changing the UN's peacekeeping relationship with the AU when the AU is still working on its internal reforms," said US Deputy Ambassador Jonathan Cohen. Cohen argued there were "serious and unanswered questions" about UN authority over any future AU-led peace operation, which could have a robust offensive mandate to tackle insurgents. The United Nations must ensure that African troops adhere to high performance standards, maintaining good conduct and discipline and respecting human rights, he said. Several peacekeeping missions, notably in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, have been plagued with serious allegations of misconduct including cases of rape of civilians they are mandated to protect. While the United States supports more cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union on peacekeeping, the US diplomat cautioned against any "rushed process to make a decision" on the major shift. China, the number two contributor to UN peacekeeping, threw its weight behind the initiative, saying it would buttress the AU's "silencing the guns by 2030" plan to end conflict. Story continues "China supports the UN in providing sustainable and predictable funding for the AU-led peace operations," said Chinese Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu. UN peacekeeping is already tightly focused on Africa, with half the 14 missions deployed on the continent, including the five biggest operations. African countries provide nearly half of the UN peacekeepers deployed worldwide. The push to turn over peacekeeping to the African Union could take a major step next month when the council is expected to vote on the draft resolution put forward by the three African countries. This Is Us stars Jon Huertas and Milo Ventimiglia This Is Us fans have already spent two Thanksgivings with the Pearsons, but this year the emotional clan may need to make room for a couple of extra place settings at the table. Two years after viewers met Pilgrim Rick, a creepy character at a motel that spawned a Thanksgiving hat tradition for the Pearson clan in the 1980s, viewers will see the familys final Thanksgiving with patriarch Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) in November 1997, about two months before his untimely death. The episode, titled Six Thanksgivings will feature Jack, Rebecca, and the teen Big Three spending Turkey Day with family friend Miguel (Jon Huertas), whom we know Rebecca later goes on to marry. This Is Us star Mandy Moore told TV Line viewers will finally get some answers about Miguels relationship with his ex-wife Shelly (Wynn Everett) and his kids, who have never been seen on the show. Click here to continue and read more... We all need a little help in the kitchen when it comes to Thanksgiving. And increasingly, were turning to YouTube for tutorials on new dishes to try or reminders on how best to prepare certain items. As the feast approaches, Google-owned YouTube has assembled a list of which foods are most popular in each state, as judged by search interest. And while the numbers vary by menu item, Vermont seems to be the most interested state when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner overall. The Green Mountain State is the second most interested in turkey (West Virginia takes top honors) and fourth most interested in stuffing (New Hampshire leads that category). Its also the top state searching for pie, apple pie, and pecan pie. In fairness, the state does fall short in some categories. Vermont is bafflingly dead last in search interest when it comes to mashed potatoes (Alaska, curiously enough, tops that list) and 48th in cranberry sauce (which Alaska also tops). As far as the main course goes, people in Nevada are either really confident about their turkey skills or are less interested than the rest of the nation, ranking 50th. (YouTube says searches for how to carve a turkey are up more than 60% nationwide in the past year.) Regardless of where youre located, if youre looking for some help in the kitchen, theres plenty to search on YouTube. The site says it currently hosts some 4 million recipe videos. Washington Post publisher and CEO Fred Ryan denounced President Donald Trumps statement Tuesday that the United States will stand by Saudi Arabia despite the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Ryan accused Trump of putting personal relationships and commercial interests above American interests by not holding Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accountable for the death of Khashoggi, a Post columnist. Mounting evidence has indicated MBS ordered the killing. President Trumps response to the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a betrayal of long-established American values of respect for human rights and the expectation of trust and honesty in our strategic relationships, Ryan said Tuesday in a statement. President Trump is correct in saying the world is a very dangerous place, he went on. His surrender to this state-ordered murder will only make it more so. An innocent man, brutally slain, deserves better, as does the cause of truth and justice and human rights. Statement from Washington Post Publisher and CEO Fred Ryan in response to President Trump's statement today regarding the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. pic.twitter.com/JJzw9yaU6Z Washington Post PR (@WashPostPR) November 20, 2018 Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. will continue to partner with Saudi Arabia even if MBS ordered the murder of Khashoggi, who was a sharp critic of the crown princes policies. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! Trump said in the statement, which contained eight exclamation points. We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi, he added. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Story continues The CIA has reportedly determined MBS ordered the assassination. Khashoggi is believed to have been killed soon after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. His body was then dismembered and disposed of. In his statement Tuesday, Ryan called on Congress to take action against Saudi Arabia despite Trumps reluctance to take any further punitive steps against the kingdom. In this failure of leadership from President Trump, it now falls to Congress to stand up for Americas true values and lasting interests, he wrote. The Senate is expected to take up a bill next week from Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) that would end a major element of current U.S.-Saudi cooperation: a military campaign in Yemen thats created the worlds largest humanitarian crisis. Today President Trump, in a rambling and dishonest statement, tried to defend the despotic Saudi regime and cast doubt on the CIAs conclusion that the crown prince was personally involved in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Sanders tweeted Tuesday. Trump is clearly very afraid of the prospect of the Senate delivering a serious rebuke to his policy by voting to end U.S. support for the Yemen war, Sanders wrote. But that is exactly what we will do when we vote... next week. Akbar Shahid Ahmed contributed reporting. Related... Washington Post Publishes Jamal Khashoggi's Final Column Before Disappearance Jamal Khashoggi's Body Parts May Have Been Smuggled Out In Luggage, Says Turkish Official Trump Says U.S. To Stand By Saudi Arabia Even If MBS Ordered Khashoggi Murder Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. The publisher of the Washington Post blasted President Trumps response to the Saudi-state-sponsored assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Tuesday. President Trumps response to the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a betrayal of long-established American values of respect for human rights and the expectation of trust and honesty in our strategic relationships, publisher Fred Ryan said in a statement released Tuesday. Ryans reaction came just hours after Trump released a statement indicating he would not pursue further punitive measures against Saudi Arabia beyond the sanctions imposed earlier this month against 17 individuals believed to have been involved in Khashoggis assassination at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, Trumps statement said. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! Trump has emphasized the business relationship the U.S. has cultivated with Saudi Arabia in defending his decision not to pursue further sanctions and he reiterated that message while addressing reporters outside the White House Tuesday afternoon. China and Russia would love to make a hundred billion dollars worth of military equipment form Saudi Arabia, Trump said. We have the contracts and they wanted those contracts. That would be a big, fat, beautiful gift to China and Russia. Its about make America great again, its about America first. Khashoggi, a one-time Saudi government insider, had become a dissident columnist in exile in the U.S. He wrote a weekly column for the Posts Global Affairs section before he disappeared early last month upon entering the Saudi consulate to obtain divorce paperwork. Turkish investigators determined that Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered by a team of Saudi assassins dispatched to Istanbul for that purpose. The CIA has reportedly determined that Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered Khashoggis assassination, though bin Salman has maintained that a team of rogue actors was responsible. Last year, comedian and former writer for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Michelle Wolf received a wide array of criticismand a lot of praise, toofor her controversial performance at the White House Correspondents Dinner. In her speech, Wolf made several pointed comments aimed at White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, including comparing her to The Handmaids Tales terrifying Aunt Lydia. The speech ruffled enough feathers that the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) distanced themselves from the speech, saying it was not in the spirit of the groups mission. For the 2019 gathering of reporters and White House officials, Variety reports the group is skipping the comedy and any potential controversy by asking author and biographer Ron Chernow to speak. Chernow is a well-respected presidential biographer who has covered the lives of George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, and Alexander Hamilton, a work that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to create his Broadway smash, Hamilton. While Chernows speech will most likely not be as controversial as Wolfs, he may ruffle a few feathers with his chosen topic: a free press. Freedom of the press is always a timely subject, and this seems like the perfect moment to go back to basics, Chernow said in a statement. He also hoped that while he has never been mistaken for a stand-up comedian, he hopes that his history lesson wont be dry. Last years host, Michelle Wolf, took to Twitter to respond to the news: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is likely to grant U.S. troops on the border with Mexico additional authority to protect customs and border personnel if needed, a U.S. official said on Monday. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a public announcement could come around Tuesday and specific details were still being worked on. Currently troops do not have the authority to protect border officials. There are about 5,900 active-duty troops on the border with Mexico. Reinforcements were sent by U.S. President Donald Trump with the goal of helping bolster the border ahead of the expected arrival of caravans of Central American migrants. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not comment on whether authority given to the troops would change but said it would not allow its personnel to be in harm's way. "We will do everything we can to protect those who defend our nation's sovereignty and secure our border. We appreciate the Department of Defense stepping in to assist the Department of Homeland Security as needed," Katie Waldman, a DHS spokeswoman, said. The news was first reported by CNN. The Pentagon has said in the past that there were no plans for U.S. forces to interact with migrants and that they have been carrying out support tasks, like stringing up wire and building temporary housing for themselves and border personnel. Trump's politically charged decision to send U.S. troops to the border with Mexico came ahead of U.S. congressional elections. Critics say it was designed to drive Republican voters to the polls. The commander of the mission told Reuters last week that the number of troops may have peaked and he would soon look at whether to begin sending forces home or perhaps shifting some to new border positions. About 6,000 Central Americans have reached the border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali, according to local officials. More bands of migrants are making their way toward Tijuana, with around 10,000 expected. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Sandra Maler and Rosalba O'Brien) As a style icon and accessory aficionado, Nicole Richie wears many hats er, we mean scarves. Her new lifestyle collection, Honey Minx, which is available on WorkingSundays.com, showcases one of her fashion must-haves: a stunning scarf that gives a tired outfit an instant boost. Whether you wrap it around your hair (bye bye bedhead), sling it around your shoulders, or, as Richie expertly demonstrates in the video above, toss it over a white blouse to disguise a red wine stain, a scarf belongs in your closet and, of course, makes a perfect holiday present. Scarves add layers to any outfit, which is a must for me. They are special, personal and perfect for gifting, as it makes a person feel like you were thinking of them, says Richie. They will save your life this holiday season. We couldnt agree more, because a scarf is both gorgeously personal and utterly versatile. These soft scarves evoke a casual elegance with their delicate prints and understated hues. Nicole wears Eternal Bloom Silk Scarf in midnight blue and blush, $58, Honey Minx. This is a small-size scarf, measuring 25.59 in. x 25.59 in. Youll soar with these colorful and chic floral scarves, inspired by wild butterflies. Eternal Butterfly Silk Scarf in sky blue, stone gray or pink (pictured on Nicole), $85, Honey Minx. This is a large-size scarf, measuring 34.6 in. x 34.6 in. Or, wait for it Richie suggests that you tie one around your handbag. Which is why a scarf is Richies go-to fashion accent. Does everybody need a silk scarf? Yes, they do. she proclaims. So for neckwear newbies, Richie has some tips for selecting the right one for you or, for a friend, parent, teacher or just about anyone. Im somebody who gravitates towards colors and prints. I love a contrast print, she says. I think when youre picking anything, honestly though, its all about feel. What do you gravitate toward? Shop more products featured in this episode: This lightweight satin camisole top and leggings offer long-wear comfort perfect for those nights spent curled up on the couch binge-watching your favorite show. Claudine Sleep Set in Pink Lava, $62, Honey Minx Story continues Dont blame us if you spend all day in bed in this ultra-comfy set, made from luxe satin. Jordan Sleep Set in teal floral or blue diamond (pictured), $68, Honey Minx Get seriously stylish shuteye with these soft, cooling, eye masks which help refresh your delicate eye area paired with silk pillowcases that help keep your hair tangle-free. Sleep Cocoon Silk Eye Mask & Pillowcase Set, set, in blush or chamomile, $98, Honey Minx This article was paid for by Working Sundays, the parent company of Honey Minx, and created by Yahoo Lifestyle. The editorial department of Yahoo Lifestyle did not participate in the creation of this content. About Honey Minx Inspired by her love of California, Nicole Richies new lifestyle collection, Honey Minx, integrates Nicoles passion for living her true self and expressing creativity through fashion and beauty. This collection highlights her love of eclectic pieces, soothing textures and celebrates the energy that we are given by the sun. Nicoles iconic style is translated into a full range of beauty and fashion designs, including bohemian-styled jewelry, gem-infused essential oils, dream-inducing sleepwear, luxurious skincare, and, of course, accessories. Never known to shy away from something a little wild, Nicole has artfully blended her unique expression of beauty, healthy living and L.A.s laid-back artistic fashion with the ultimate in cozy luxury and style. Honey Minx is available on WorkingSundays.com. Homeless man Johnny Bobbitt, left, Mark DAmico, centre, and Katelyn McClure face up to ten years in prison if found guilty (Picture: AP) The woman accused of being involved in a GoFundMe scam with her boyfriend and a homeless man to raise more than $400,000 (312,000) has claimed she was a victim. Katelyn McClure, 28, has been charged with theft by deception and conspiracy along with her ex-boyfriend Mark DAmico, 39, and homeless man Johnny Bobbitt, 34, who they met at a casino in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prosecutors said the couple spent more than $367,000 on holidays, a car, designer handbags and casino gambling, and that Bobbitt received about $75,000. But now McClure has claimed her innocence by saying she was duped into the scam by her boyfriend. Her lawyer has released a secret recording to Good Morning America in which McClure tells him: You started the whole f*****g thing, you did everything. I had no part in any of this and Im the one f*****g taking the fall. MORE: Argentine submarine found in Atlantic a year after going missing with 44 crew on board MORE: Woman claims airport valet drove her car 500 miles then got her a parking ticket McClure and DAmico created a GoFundMe campaign page to supposedly raise money for Bobbitt, who they claimed was living under a bridge and had helped her when her car ran out of petrol by spending his last $20. McClure shared the story in interviews with numerous media outlets, helping raise more than $400,000. Homeless man Johnny Bobbitt, left, Katelyn McClure and Mark DAmico are accused of pulling off a $400,000 GoFundMe scam (Picture: AP) But the plan allegedly fell apart when Bobbitt was unhappy about how much money the couple took for themselves. He went on to sue them, leading to the trios arrest. DAmico, McClure and Bobbitt conspired to fabricate and promote a feelgood story that would compel donors to contribute to their cause, said Burlington County prosecutor Scott Coffina last week. In the unverified recording released to Good Morning America, a person alleged to be DAmico can be heard saying to McClure: You dont go to jail for lying on TV, you dumb b***h. She replies: But who made me lie on TV? The man says: Who cares? If found guilty, the trio face potential prison sentences of five to 10 years. Story continues GoFundMe has said it would refund some 14,000 donors who pledged money to the page. Libreville (AFP) - The United Nations on Tuesday warned of "worsening violence" in Cameroon's restive English-speaking regions, where it said eight students and 13 nuns had recently been abducted and released for ransom. The francophone-majority central African country has seen a surge of violence in its anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions after separatists there declared an independent state last year, prompting a government crackdown. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement Tuesday that "we continue to receive reports of abductions and killings by armed groups, as well as extrajudicial killings by state armed forces". "Just over the past two weeks, we have received reports of the abduction of eight students and one school official in Kumba, in the Southwest, and of at least 13 nuns" in the Northwest town of Ndop, the statement said. "They were all subsequently released, after some parents paid ransoms and the Catholic Diocese of Kumba intervened." The UN also said that Cameroon "security forces reportedly killed four villagers during a confrontation with armed secessionist groups" in the Northwest village of Rom last month. "We urge all sides to refrain from acts of violence that have, for more than a year now, left the population in these regions living in fear, unable to access their basic human rights." The crisis erupted in the two anglophone regions in 2016 over perceived discrimination at the hands of the francophone majority. Last year it developed into an armed conflict, with radicals declaring an independent state -- the Republic of Ambazonia. Separatists have since attacked troops and police, boycotted and torched schools and attacked other symbols of the 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 dense tropical forests. Early this month, armed men believed to be separatists abducted 90 students in the Northwest, later freeing them in circumstances that remain unclear. The conflict has displaced more than 437,000 people, according to UN data released in October. From Space Force to space flights, where will the next generation soar? In 2017, tech giant Elon Musk announced that his company SpaceX would send humans to Mars by 2024. According to the Mars One website, 100 candidates of the 202,000 people who applied remain in the application process. But in a recent interview, Musk said he wasnt sure whether hed be aboard or not. Regardless, things are moving forward following SpaceXs recent launch of the most powerful rocket in the world: the Falcon Heavy. While Musk might be attracting a lot of press lately, NASA is still heading to infinity and beyond. The government agency is launching a deep space atomic clock in 2018 to test whether it could be the future of spacecraft navigation. The technology is 50 times more accurate than todays best navigation clocks. NASA is also sending a rover to Mars in 2020 to investigate whether the red planet supported microbial life in the past. At my direction, the Pentagon is now working to create the sixth branch of the American armed forces, the Space Force. Space Force thats where its at, said President Trump. Trump has frequently mentioned his plans for a new branch of the military called Space Force. Vice President Mike Pence is in charge of the U.S. space agenda, and hes outlined ways the administration can prepare for the potential branch. But with the House of Representatives now Democratic, it seems doubtful Trump will get an act of Congress to approve the proposal. In addition, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson estimated that creating the Space Force could cost $12.9 billion over five years. And with the House approving spending bills, the proposed branch is unlikely to soar out of this world. With these endeavors still in development, it looks like theres more to look forward to on the final frontier. Lusaka (AFP) - Zambian police on Tuesday questioned opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema for allegedly fuelling attacks on Chinese nationals, in a sign of growing political tension in the country. Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development, was last year detained for four months for alleged treason in a case that many critics said was politically motivated. Hichilema has repeatedly challenged the result of the 2016 election, which he lost to President Edgar Lungu. Charity Katanga, the police chief of Copperbelt province, said Hichilema was questioned after alleging that the government had sold a state-run timber company to Chinese interests, prompting street protests in Zambia's second city Kitwe. Some Chinese businesses were looted in the protests, as well as scores of protesters arrested. Anti-Chinese sentiment in Zambia has grown over lucrative contracts being awarded to China and government borrowing from Beijing. "He has been cautioned for sedition," Katanga told AFP. "In an interview aired by Sun-FM, he alleged that government has sold Zaffico to the Chinese when in fact it has not. "His statement caused discontent among residents and caused riots targeted at the Chinese. He has been warned to not incite ethnicity attacks." Hichilema was accompanied to the police station in the Copperbelt capital Ndola by party deputy Geoffrey Mwamba, a team of lawyers and Chishimba Kambwili, a Lungu critic from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party. "It's about standing for the people of Zambia. If you are afraid, you should not seek public office," Hichilema told reporters after his release. "And as per our constitutional right, we decided to remain silent during the interrogation process." Police barricaded the entrance to the police station and stopped scores of party supporters from entering the building. President Lungu has been accused of piling up foreign debt and cracking down on dissent since winning the election. 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. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "I am Mr. Security from Sayeret Markal and I've made hundreds of important decisions" speech on Sunday is one of the most dangerous deliveries heard in recent years. This speech calls for a great deal of verbaland perhaps literalsecurity maneuvers in the coming weeks and months. The prime minister could take military action in Gaza, in the north, maybe elsewhereall in an effort to repair the damage caused to his "Mr. Security" image by last week's events in Gaza and present Avigdor Lieberman's resignation as irresponsible, a man who jumps ship in the midst of an existential storm. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter And not just any storm, the prime minister is already talking about the outcome of this mysterious security incident that is yet to come. In the midst of a battle we dont abandon our postsWe will overcome our enemies, and I tell you in advance, it will require sacrifice, he said, making it sound like we're in the eve of the Arab armies' invasion to the State of Israel in the War of Independence. This is the man. This is the fear he strikes into the hearts of Israeli citizens just to survive another term, just to postpone the elections a little longer. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Reuters) The longer he succeeds in delaying the next elections, the more likely it is that military actionperhaps not even an essential onewill take place. The public will already be knee-deep in existential anxiety in the face of mounting threats made by Hamas, leaving no room for a political solution other than an exceptional military strike. It has become a new Israeli tradition: on the eve of elections, or when discussions on the next year's budget are looming, Israel's security situation suddenly becomes exceedingly problematic. After the elections, the threats subside, and our leaders sing the praises of Israel's strategic situationwhich, of course, has never been better. The truth is, over the past week, since Lieberman left office, no new nuclear reactor has been discovered in Syria that would necessitate forming an emergency government and launching a dramatic military operation. The only dramatic move on this front is our deepening clash with the Russians. Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially announced he would not meet with Netanyahu. This has immediate implications to the IAF's freedom of operations in Syria. Any Israeli action today, certainly one that cannot be denied, will be perceived by the Russians as contrarian. Putin (L) and Netanyahu (Photo: EPA) Gaza, on the other hand, is a much more convenient ground for military action, as it meets Netanyahu's definition of an "ongoing campaign." That was the rationale he used: toppling the government at such a complex time for national security is "irresponsible," since "in the midst of battle, we don't play politics." One can find some solace in two curbing factors: first, Netanyahu has never been seen as one with an adventurous spirit, and in most cases, he accepted experts' recommendations. Secondly, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, who will be finishing his term in less than two months, is not changing his tune. In this day and age, the army is the responsible adult and the main uniting stately body. But, just to be on the safe side, so we could all remain calm, it would be better to hold the next election as soon as possible, before Netanyahu's word, hints, and intimidation become a reality that we might regret. A new chief of staff and his deputy coming into office in six weekswith the position of the deputy chief still vacantin addition to two new military secretary appointments in the Defense Minister's Office and the Prime Minister's office. Add to that the sensitive security situation and the IDF's performance against Hamas, and you can't help but question Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's irresponsible decision to leave the defense establishment without a full-time defense minister. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Netanyahu's decision to assume the post of defense minister, while holding the foreign affairs and health portfolio in addition to his demanding post, puts the IDF in a difficult position. The army is in a desperate need of an attentive full-time minister to deal with a series of ongoing security issues, and the prime minister's time is limited. And we haven't even mentioned the additional areas the defense minister is responsible ofthe Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (Maf'at), the Defense Ministry's Security Authority (Malmab), the Rehabilitation Departmentwith which the prime minister will not have the time to handle. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: EPA) Manning the defense minister post is even more important now than ever in light of the tense and fragile situation in the south, as well as the fact the IDF is currently facing a challenging and complex situation. To fully understand the severity of the situation, one must read the letter sent by Col. Alon Madanes to his superiors, revealing a series of organizational and operational failures in the IDF, particularly focusing on deficiencies in the Central Command. In the letter obtained by Ynet, Madanes, 42, who served as the commander of the 101st Paratrooper Battalion and the western brigade along the Lebanese border, was wounded during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, and received an IDF citation for leading forces in their battle against terror cells. Col. Alon Madanes (Photo: Motti Kimchi) He was one of the candidates for the Paratroopers Brigade's commander, one of the most prestigious positions in the Ground Forces. Many of those who filled that position over the years reached the major general rank and even appointed chief of staff. Madanes wrote his letter in July, before the decision about his appointment was made. The letter reached the GOC Central Command after his decision not to appoint Madanes as the commander of the Paratroopers Brigade or another brigade. The letter's first part is dedicated to the "fear to express an opinion." According to Madanes, "the higher the rank, the more an incomprehensible fear of expressing an opinion develops, with the excuse being that 'there is need for balance.'" Madanes quotes another IDF official as saying: "The audacity to tell the truth in an accurate manner was great until you made company commander, and it jeopardizes you the minute you are promoted to battalion commander." Madanes wrote that despite the fact the aforementioned quote is accurate, he refuses to act by it. "The fact we are holding general staff conferences, allowing everyone to speak their mind, does not make us pluralists. The message conveyed is monotonous! More and more I hear my colleagues use the phrase 'the emperor has no clothes' regarding IDF senior officials, who do not voice their concerns about issues they consider as problematic." Incoming Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Aviv Cochavi (Photo: Roee Idan) Moreover, "there is a great lack of respect toward discipline in the IDF. Many casualties and fatalities could have been prevented over the past two years, if we had only dealt with such cases of negligence on time," he lamented. Madanes also criticized the military's flagship Gideon plan, led by outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. "The five-year plan attempted to change too many things at once, and at least part of them correspond with the phrase 'grasp all, lose all.' I would recommend the general staff to hold a thorough inquiry into the Gideon plan," Madanes wrote. Incoming Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi should read Madanes's letter, as well as the relevant part of the IDF ombudsman's report (not all the criticism presented in the report is justified), learn the lessons from the rounds of fighting in Gaza, and remember he only has one month of training, with no deputy or a defense minister. Good luck to us all. Border Police officers arrested overnight Tuesday a Palestinian man at the entrance to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron after a hidden Japanese knife was found under his clothes. The Israel Police and the Israel Tax Authority recommended Tuesday to indict Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, perjury, tax evasion and money laundering. The Israel Police and the Israel Tax Authority recommended Tuesday to indict Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) for fraud and breach of trust, perjury, tax evasion and money laundering. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter According to the police, the investigation found sufficient evidence to charge Deri with fraud and breach of trust over his conduct towards a businessman while serving as a minister; tax offenses amounting to millions of shekels; money laundering; obstruction of justice; and perjury in the false written declarations he submitted to the State Comptroller and Knesset speaker about his assets and earnings. Police said that Deri "was specifically told not to talk to one of the involved parties about the issues under investigation for fear of evidence tampering, but the minister approached that involved party immediately after his questioning and discussed with him the things said in the questioning and his expected testimony to the police, as well as 'refreshed' his memory." Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) The investigation also found sufficient evidence to indict the minister's brother, attorney Shlomo Deri, who serves as the vice chairman of Karen Kayemeth LeIsrael, for tax offenses amounting to millions of shekels. Police also said there's sufficient evidence to charge other suspects with money laundering and tax offenses. The affair began with a covert investigation by the police and the Money Laundering and Terror Finance Prohibition Authority over suspicions of unusual activity in the bank accounts of Minister Deri and his family members. Investigators noticed transfers of hundreds of thousands of shekels from businessmen to the minister's familysome before his return to politics and some after. Investigators also looked into sale and acquisition deals of lots in Jerusalem and Safsufa (Kfar Hoshen), Deri's statements to the Knesset speaker and state comptroller, missing reports in capital statements to the Tax Authority, and more. The investigation became public in April 2016, following which dozens of suspects were questioned. In May 2017, Deri was first questioned under warning. "The suspicions necessitated a thorough, complex and demanding investigation, which was conducted by the Lahav 433 unit along with the Tax Authority and prosecutors from the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Taxation and Economics Division," a shared statement said. The police are still investigating other suspicions concerning Deri, which they say are part of a different case. Deri's office said in response: "We welcome the conclusion of the police investigation, which lasted almost three years. We were pleased to learn the suspicions of accepting bribes, theft from NGOs and otherswhich at the time were what led to the opening of the investigationhave been shelved. We believe that when the prosecution examines the matter, the other suspicions will be removed as well, and it would become clear Minister Deri did not break the law." Shlomo Deri's attorney, Yaron Kosteliz, also siad he was confident the prosecution would reach the conclusion his client committed no offense and forego an indictment. In 2000, Aryeh Deri was sentenced to three years in jail after being convicted of taking $155,000 in bribes while serving as interior minister. He was released from prison in 2002, after serving 22 months, but returned to politics only in 2011. He was re-elected to the Knesset in 2013. After the 2015 elections, Shas became a member of the government and Deri was appointed minister of the economy and minister of the development of the Negev and Galilee. He returned to the Interior Ministry in January 2016. Handling the situation in Gaza is not a simple task. It is a multifaceted endeavor that has security, economic, humanitarian and political implications. Declaring that there is a simple solution"eradicating Hamas" on one hand or "lifting the siege" on the other is nothing but smoke and mirrors. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter An intelligent analysis of the circumstances that led to the recent flare-up of violence in the Gaza Strip, the examination of various alternative solutions, as many as possible, and the formulation of a visionary strategy are precisely what is required of our leadership. Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Photo: AFP) Of course, courage is also needed for implementing a strategy and taking ownership of it, even when confronted with populist rhetoric. "Our soldiers are more afraid of the Military Advocate General than of (Hamas leader) Yahya Sinwar," said the Bayit Yehudi chairman at a press conference on Monday. Bennett's attempt to link the difficulties in dealing with the situation in Gaza with the combat soldiers' so-called fear of the Military Prosecution is exactly the opposite of true leadership. The Military Advocate General's Corps (MAG Corps) does not determine the policy in Gaza. It assists the army in its missions, in accordance with the Israeli and the international law. We can fight terrorismeven successfully within legal boundaries. Moreover, in the 21st century there is no safer recipe for military and political failure than ignoring the limitations imposed by the international law on the methods and means of warfare. If Israel was to be regarded as a pariah state of war criminals, no tactical and military achievement could have been translated into long-term political success. Therefore, the legal advice provided by the MAG Corps to the IDF is not an obstacle or a sign of weakness, but rather, as IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot noted, an essential component of the army's strength and capabilities. IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot (Photo: Avi Moalem) Fear is often the result of uncertainty and insecurity. In this context too, leadership has an important role: soldiers should be given legal and clear orders only by their commanders. The army is under the government's authority. However, when the political echelon seeks to exercise its power, it must do so by making formal decisions and accepting responsibility for them. All too often politicians, Security Cabinet members as well as ministers prefer to make careless public statements while pretending to guide our soldiers (for example, what to do when confronted with terrorists). By doing so, they jeopardize the certainty of military commands, which is essential for proper military functioning. Justice Minister Shaked, and Education Minister Bennett at the press conference (Photo: Reuters) The soldiers need to know that they have the army's full backup, even when they make mistakes, as long as they act in good faith and stick to the orders they are given. As a former chief military advocate general, I can testify that the majority of cases involving wounded civilians end without trial due to the following guiding principle: you don't judge, with the wisdom of hindsight, actions done under time pressure and in a life-threatening situation. We acted according to this principle when presented with cases in which soldiers shot Palestinians before realizing they were unarmed. On the other hand, soldiers, who abused bound detainees, were brought before the military court on various charges. An unequivocal message must be conveyed to IDF soldiers: if you deliberately violate orders, you will be held accountable. Politicians' tweets will not help our soldiers; backupyes, deceptionno. Adv. Col. (res.) Liron Libman, former chief military advocate general, is a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute. The United Nations' Universal Children's Day has for years been exploited by pro-Palestinian groups to spread misinformation and construct a narrative about Israels inhumane treatment of children in its military operations. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter This year the Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Information, headed by Gilad Erdan, has decided to fight back against the propaganda. The ministry and DigiTella civic networking platform connecting pro-Israel organizations around the worldlaunched a large-scale social media campaign with the goal of fighting the anti-Israeli agenda. The campaign provides evidence that children in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority are used for incitement, terrorism and violence. In addition, the campaign highlights the threat posed by the terror organizations in the strip to Israeli children living in communities near the Gaza border. Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Information launches DigiTell campaign (Photo: Shaul Golan) Ido Daniel, head of the digital department at the ministry, said this year they were determined not to let misinformation influence the international public opinion on Israel. "For years, the Palestinian Authority has been using the Universal Children's Day and succeeded in influencing the minds of average citizens all across Europe This year we exposed the truthwe translated Hamas's school curriculum and propaganda, and presented evidence of military training being conducted at kindergartens," he said. The campaign, which began a few days ago, culminated on the Universal Children's Day on November 19. Campaign participants are believed to have reached at least 10 million people, most of whom live in European countries. In total, more than 50 messages, including memes and videos, had been spread in five languages: English, Spanish, German, French and Hebrew. Gilad Erdan (Photo: Yariv Katz) Minister Erdan said the campaign was intended to put an end to the exploitation of children. "The Palestinian Authority and Hamas are cynically and maliciously using children both as human shields and as means of blackmailing Israel. Our campaign calls on the world to protect the exploited children and stop the hypocrisy leveled at Israel," he said. In Moshav Mlea in Gilboa Regional Council, a balloon with a Palestinian flag attached to it had been located on Tuesday. Police sappers were called to the scene to examine the object. Israel plans to consult with the US government over a decision by home-renting company to remove listings in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the Cabinet minister said on Tuesday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "We will approach the US government because 25 US states have sanctions against American companies that boycott Israel," Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan said on Army Radio. Airbnb (Photo: shutterstock) Erdan said Airbnb "will have to explain why it is taking this discriminatory and racist line here in particular and not in other conflict zones in the world." Some 15 activists from the Disabled Panthers group are demonstrating in the area adjacent to Kibbutz Yakum in Hof HaSharon Regional Council, and are blocking train tracks. The Israel Railways reported that severe train disruptions are expected in light of the events. The ramifications of the latest round of fighting between Israel and Hamas are still making waves in the political arena, in light of Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liebermans resignation from his post as the defense minister, prompting his party to quit the coalition leaving it with a one-vote majority. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The ceasefire between the sides, which has been harshly criticised by the public as well as by the political establishment, was brokered by Egyptian intelligence head Abbas Kamel. Despite the fact that he has become a prominent figure in ceasefire arrangement negotiations between Israel and Hamas, there is still plenty of mystery surrounding his persona. He makes very few public appearances and rarely gives interviews to the media, with most of his recorded conversations being leaked without his consent. Abbas Kamel (Photo: AP) A senior Israeli official said that in Jerusalem he is considered a Hamas sympathizer, but the cooperation with him still continues due to his ability to achieve concrete results. Kamel is a man of great connections, mainly because of his close relationship with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. He has a great influence on the Cairo administration and despite of his lack of exposure to the media, he maintains in good relations with journalists. Before joining the Egyptian intelligence, Kamel served in the military as an armor officer and even underwent training in the United States. Later, he served in a combat intelligence unit. Abbas Kamel during his visit to Jordan in 2014 (: -') X In 2014, he was appointed as President Sisis chief of staff, a position he held until last June, when he was officially sworn as the director-general of the intelligence service. In Egypt, Kamel is known as Sisis confidant. Some call him the presidents fox" or "shadow,"two nicknames that indicate how he was perceived in Egypt and how special was his relationship with the Egyptian leadership in general and with President Sisi in particular. Some even go as far as to suggest he was the second most important person in the country. Kamel regularly accompanies the president on his travels around the world, advising him on a variety of issues. His appointment as head of the intelligence apparatus sparked great interest in the Arab world and was also subjected to criticism. One of the decisions main critics was Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was recently murdered at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (Photo: AFP) "When Sisi can not find anyone who will head the intelligence organization apart from his office manager, it means there is a serious crisis of confidence within the Egyptian government," Khashoggi wrote. Kamel's name was linked to a number of phone conversations leaked by senior Egyptian officials after the ousting of former President Mohamed Morsi, indicating that Kamel and the Egyptian president had close relationship even when Sisi served as the defense minister. The conversation's content indicate he exercised great influence on issues that were not necessarily under his authority. Last month Kamel was supposed to arrive in Israel to continue negotiations on the ceasefire agreement, but his visit was canceled due to the escalation at the southern border. Nevertheless, his emissaries continued talks with senior Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip. "This man is a pillar in the Middle East, in light of Egypt's tremendous regional importance," explained a former senior Israeli security official who is familiar with Kamel's work in various issues, including the Palestinian one. The official went on to describe the intelligence head as a thorough and smart person who impressively climbed the ladder of the Egyptian military and politics. Kamel, Sisi and other Egyptian officials (Photo: AFP) "Kamel has a tremendous advantage, he currently enjoys the status of a minister. He works directly with the president of Egyptwho fully trusts himheading a very strong body, and he combines all of his skills in fulfilling this role, the official explained. "Israel today has very good working relations with the Egyptian security apparatus, the security official continued. Israelis may not be aware of it, but at the national security level we have an excellent relationship, which is an asset for our state. Today anyone who serves in the Egyptian intelligence, has to have a positive attitude when it comes to working with Israel," he added. The security official said that the Egyptian intelligences main advantage is the quality of people it has in its ranks. "The general, who deals directly with the Palestinian issue, Ahmed Abd al-Khaliq, is an amazing, modest, smart and skilled officer, the official stated. He added that the combination of Kamel and Sisi is what keeps Egypt stable as evident by the very few terror attacks in the country, despite the presence of the Islamic State group (ISIS), and a population of almost 100 million. A 35-year-old man was stabbed in the face by a Palestinian man on Tuesday, while shopping at a grocery store in a village near Beit Jala, located 10 km south of Jerusalem. The assailant fled the scene, and the incident is being investigated. Denmark is sending its ambassador back to Tehran after he was recalled over Copenhagen's allegations about an Iranian plot to kill an opposition activist in Denmark. Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen says Ambassador Danny Annan is returning to Iran "to intensify diplomacy and coordinate closely with our European partners." Samuelsen said on Tuesday the European Union had "a renewed discussion" about "common steps against Iran." He didn't elaborate. Danes say Iran was planning to kill a member of the group that Tehran has blamed for the Sept. 22 terror attack that killed at least 25 people. The group, called Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz, condemned the violence and said it was not involved. Iran strongly denied the plot allegation. Annan was expected to arrive in Tehran on Thursday. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) urged Turkey on Tuesday to swiftly process the legal case of the ex-head of the pro-Kurdish opposition, saying his pre-trial detention had gone on longer than could be justified. Selahattin Demirtas, former co-chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and one of Turkey's best known politicians, was sentenced in September to more than four years in jail on terrorism charges related to a speech he gave in 2013. Democrats are seeking to overturn a 181-year-old ban on wearing head coverings in the United States House of Representatives in a bid to accommodate lawmakers religious beliefs. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), incoming Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) proposed the rule change as part of a wider reform package, according to US media. The move would enable legislators to don Jewish skullcaps, (kippahs), as well as Islamic headscarves, (hijabs), inside the House of Representatives. File photo (Photo: Reuters) The Somali-born Omar became one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress in this months midterms. The other, Michigans Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian descent, does not wear a head covering. "No one puts a scarf on my head but me. Its my choiceone protected by the first amendment. And this is not the last ban Im going to work to lift," Omar wrote over the weekend on her Twitter account. Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to the US Congress. (Photo: Reuters) "I think (this change is) absolutely harmless," Eugene Kontorovich, a professor at George Mason Universitys Antonin Scalia Law School and head of the International Law Department at Kohelet Forum, told The Media Line. "My understanding is that the original rule doesnt have anything to do with religion; its more connected to what the manners were like in the 1830s when this rule was passed. It used to be considered impolite for people to wear hats indoors, and while that may still be the case, I dont think a rule on etiquette applies to religious headgear. "America is not a country like France," Dr. Kontorovich concluded, referring to the French concept of "laicite" (literally, secularity), which enshrines secularism as a constitutional value. Earlier this year, France passed a law banning lawmakers from wearing any religious garb or symbols. This followed similar legislation in 2010, which forbade the wearing of face-coverings such as masks, burqas, niqabs and other veils in public spaces. In France, it really is against the law to appear in public in various governmental functions with any kind of religious (garb), Dr. Kontorovich affirmed. But in America the separation of church and state just means that the government does not get involved in matters of religion and there is a right of religious observance. Muslim woman wearing a burqa (Photo: AFP) However, other international law experts contend that government functionaries should not be allowed to outwardly express religiosity. In the public sphere or when youre a public servant, you dont exhibit your religious beliefs, Prof. Yossi Shain, head of the School of Political Science, Government and International Affairs at Tel Aviv University, conveyed to The Media Line. In my opinion, Western society must forbid the wearing of the burqa in public and I also dont believe that people in government roles should be displaying religious symbols: not Jewish, not Muslim, not Sikhnot anything, Shain explained . Accordingly, he does not believe that the Congressional rule should be altered. Uncovered heads and faces are part of Western culture, he asserted. If you want to wear a yarmulke, please do so in a synagogue. But if in the Congress it was decided that one should not wear a hat, then one shouldnt do so. Article written by Maya Margit France and Germany have reached an agreement to start designing a new generation combat jet, French Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Tuesday. The jet, due to go into service in 2040, is expected to replace France's Dassault Aviation Rafales and Germany's Eurofighters, made by a European consortium. Parly said on Twitter that the agreement included a planned prototype launch by the middle of next year. The stabbing attack carried out by a Palestinian near Beit Jala on Tuesday, during which a 30-year-old man was lightly wounded, was determined as a terror attack by the police. Amnesty International accused Saudi Arabia on Tuesday of subjecting several activists including some female human rights defenders detained since May to torture and sexual harassment. Over a dozen women's rights activists have been arrested since May, most of whom had campaigned for the right to drive and an end to the kingdom's male guardianship system, though some have since been freed. President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia in order to promote American and Israeli interests, despite saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month. Defying pressure from US lawmakers to impose tougher sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Trump also said he would not cancel military contracts with the kingdom, saying such a "foolish" move would only benefit Russia and China. Trump said US intelligence agencies were still studying the evidence around Khashoggi's murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2nd and who planned it. "Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event, maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Trump said in a statement issued by the White House. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday the US has "made clear" to South Korea that progress on disarming North Korea should not lag behind the expansion of relations between the two Koreas. Pompeo said there's "complete agreement" between Washington and Seoul on this, but his comments to reporters underscore US anxiety over a potential disconnect with its close ally. The Iraqi military says it has killed 40 Islamic State terrorists in airstrikes in Syria. The joint operations command said in a statement its F-16 jets struck IS positions in their pocket in eastern Syria twice on Tuesday, destroying a base and an arms warehouse in the villages of Sousa and Baghous. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says at least 16 IS fighters were killed in the strikes. MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho - Gail Best, 76, passed away peacefully at home in Mountain Home, on Nov. 14, 2018, following an illness. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m. at Rost Funeral Home in Mountain Home. Gail was born on July 2, 1942, to Nels Simonson and LaVerne Saari in Wakefield, Mich. She grew up next door to the man she would later marry. Gail graduated from Wakefield High School in 1960 and attended Gogebic Community College. She married Donald Best on Dec. 31, 1963. They were married for 51 years until his passing in 2015. Together, they had one daughter, Dawn, and the family enjoyed traveling all over the world as an Air Force family. Between assignments, they made many happy memories hunting and fishing at the family cottage at Lake Pardee. They settled in Mountain Home in 1985. Gail worked for Elmore County for 20 years, first in the Assessor's office, and later was elected and served as the County Clerk until her retirement in 2006. Gail loved politics and spent many fun times campaigning with her dear friends, Donna Alger and Karen Schindele. She was involved in many organizations throughout the years and served on several boards including the Mountain Home Senior Center, Elmore County Democrats, and Grace Lutheran Church. She was very proud of her Finnish heritage and a founding member of the local Daughters of Norway chapter. In later years, she loved dressing up and having fun with her Red Hat group. Gail's greatest joy was her granddaughter, Izzy, who she spent much of her time playing, cooking, coloring and dancing with over the past seven years. The Best girls loved going on annual trips to Stanley and the Oregon Coast. Gail is survived by her daughter, Dawn (Dean), and granddaughter, Isabella, of Mountain Home. She is also survived by nephew, Aaron (Patti); sisters-in-laws, Betty Best, of Wakefield, Mich., and Bobbi Jo Gamache; and great-niece and great-nephew, Casey (Cole) LaBeske and Tyler (Megan) Paynter, in Michigan. She was preceded in death by husband, Donald; her parents; in-laws, Charles and Adele Best; nephew, Lee Paynter; brother, Gary; and her beloved aunt, Elsie Koski. Gail was laid to rest next to husband, Donald, at Mountain View Cemetery, Mountain Home, Idaho, on Nov. 16. Memorial contributions can be made in Gail's name to the Mountain Home Senior Citizens Center Endowment Fund, 1000 North Third East, or the Grace Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, 2422 American Legion Blvd., both in Mountain Home, ID 83647. The family would like to thank the staff at Desert Sage and Treasure Valley Hospice for their compassionate and professional care. We would also like to thank Gail's wonderful neighbors and friends for all their help and support which allowed her to continue living independently the past couple years. News Washington, DC - Crime imposes substantial fiscal and social costs on the United States. In 2016, more than 1.4 percent of our Nations GDP was spent funding the State and Federal criminal justice system. Victims and society at large also bear significant costs through pain, suffering, reduced quality of life, property losses, increased medical costs, and loss of life. The most recent estimates from 2014 indicate that altogether these damages constitute an additional 1.5 percent of GDP, yielding a total burden of 2.9 percent of GDP, or roughly $500 billion. These costs can be attributed, in part, to crimes committed by prisoners after already serving once in prison, through recidivism after being released from state and federal facilities. If recent trends hold, almost half of federal inmates who were conditionally released will be re-arrested within 5 years of release and more than 75 percent of state offenders who were released on community supervision will be re-arrested within 5 years of release. To break this cycle, President Donald J. Trump is working to effect bipartisan and evidence-based prison reforms to reduce recidivism. He issued an executive order in March that is bringing together more than a dozen Federal agencies to identify ways to reduce recidivism, enhance the reentry process, and improve public safety. The administration also worked with Congress to draft the FIRST STEP Act, legislation which seeks to strengthen recidivism reduction and evidence-based reentry programs for inmates in federal prisons. We continue to work with the law enforcement and faith and business communities to find ways to get people leaving prison properly reintegrated into society. Government investment in prison education can be viewed as an extension of existing public investments much like public investment for higher income populations through publicly financed schools, universities, and student loans that build human capital elsewhere in our economy. The bipartisan reforms supported by the president are an important broad-based approach that will, hopefully, benefit not only prisoners, but also the American public. This White House recognizes that fiscal and human costs of criminal activity are unacceptably high. Through our efforts to break the cycle of crime and reduce recidivism, we can assist more people to contribute to our society rather than be a burden to our great country. Read the full op-ed here. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - The Arizona Western College Student Government Association, the Native American Club, and the International Student Program invite the community to learn more about Native American heritage and culture on Wednesday, November 28. AWC will be holding a Native American Heritage Celebration in conjunction with National Native American Heritage Month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the 3C Breezeway of the AWC Yuma Campus, 2020 S. Ave. 8E. Traditional song and dance will be performed by members of the Cocopah Indian Tribe and the Quechan Indian Tribe. Cocopah historian and museum director, Joe Rodriguez, will also be available at the event to answer questions. Community, students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend this free event. First celebrated in 1990, November was established as Native American Heritage Month to recognize the significant contribution the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. For more information about the event, contact Angelica Diaz de Leon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (928) 344-7635, or contact Kenia Rodriguez at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (928) 317-6117 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. William Desmond, PhD, the David R. Cook Chair in Philosophy at Villanova University, was awarded the J.N. Findlay Award for Best Books in Metaphysics, 2016-2017 by The Metaphysical Society of America for his book The Intimate Universal: The Hidden Porosity among Religion, Art, Philosophy and Politics (Columbia University Press, 2016). Reviewer William Franke, PhD of Vanderbilt University and the University of Macao, called The Intimate Universal a marvelously articulated work with a consummately refined language of its own for conceiving the perennial issues of philosophy in fresh and compelling terms. The Metaphysical Society of America is an organization of professional philosophers. This marks the second time Dr. Desmond has won the Findlay prize in his career. He received it in 1997 for his book Being and the Between (SUNY Press, 1995), which also was recognized with the prestigious Prix Cardinal Mercier. An internationally-acclaimed philosopher for his work in metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics and the philosophy of religion, Dr. Desmond is the author of several other books, including the recently published The Gift of Beauty and the Passion of Being: On the Threshold between the Aesthetic and the Religious (Cascade Books, 2018), which gathers a set of reflections on the gift of beauty and how it moves the passion of being among individuals. "This is a radiant book, as beautiful as it is profound, noted reviewer and philosophical theology scholar David Bentley Hart, PhD, assistant director of undergraduate research assistants at the University of Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study. Indeedas Desmond consistently demonstrates in all his work, but here with a special powerthe profoundest philosophical reflection must necessarily be the most beautiful." An internationally respected Hegel scholar, Dr. Desmond is past president of the Hegel Society of America, the Metaphysical Society of America and the American Catholic Philosophical Association. He has held numerous visiting professorships at prestigious institutions around the world and has been an honorary adjunct Professor at Maynooth University since 2009. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by National University of Ireland, Maynooth University in October 2015, and he is an honorary lifetime member of the Irish Philosophical Society A native of Cork, Ireland, Dr. Desmond teaches Hegel, Irish philosophy and philosophy and religion in the Department of Philosophy in Villanova Universitys College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Villanova offers PhD, MA and BA degrees in Philosophy, as well as an interdisciplinary program in Irish Studies for undergraduates. About Villanova Universitys College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, Villanova Universitys College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has cultivated knowledge, understanding and intellectual courage for a purposeful life in a challenging and changing world. With more than 40 majors across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, it is the oldest and largest of Villanovas colleges, serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students each year. The College is committed to a teacher-scholar model, offering outstanding undergraduate and graduate research opportunities and a rigorous core curriculum that prepares students to become critical thinkers, strong communicators and ethical leaders with a truly global perspective. 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 Star actress Nana Ama McBrown, in a latest post sighted by YEN.com.gh, has spoken about envy. According to the actress, Gods blessing is what causes people to envy others. Nana Ama made this proclamation on Instagram when she shared a photo of hers with a guy guy pose. READ ALSO: Social media user exposes Fella Makafuis dangerous motives for snatching Medikal from Deborah Vanessa She wrote: iamamamcbrown: The blessings of God will cause people to envy your status. YEN.com.gh, however, cannot confirm is McBrown is facing instances of envy in her life for which reason she made that post. The post has attracted some of her fans and followers who have commented on it. For instance, an Instagram user, Pat, wrote that God will continue to bless Nana Ama adding that no one can stop her blessings: pat.melosh: Ohhh yesooo Sis @iamamamcbrown kan biom" but God will continue to Bless u..thats the Good thing about God's Blessings.. He does WHAT HE WANT!! No one can STOP WHO HE BLESS!! BRIM!! . READ ALSO: Juliet Ibrahim flaunts new Nigerian boyfriend in latest photo and Ghanaians are talking Panaax, also admired Nana Amas guy guy pose: panaax: Eiiii dis ur swag dey beee k3ke. Opoku also liked her pose: opokumensahgrace: Hahahahahaha, true oooo,I like ur pose. Queen, obviously intrigued by a recent report that Nana Ama was heavily pregnant, described the actress as a living testimony: queen_lovistic: U a living testimony. Obviously for the same pregnancy reason, Boboshanti also described Nana Ama as the happiest woman in GH: kwasiadekekeboboshanti: De happiest woman in GH. READ ALSO: What about Sandra Ankobias husband snatching story? Fella Makafui asks media Nana Ama Mcbrown has risen through the rank and file of actresses in Ghana to be a top actress. She is known to be one of the very few actresses who have a good command over both the English, and her native language, Twi. This makes her a most sought-after actress. She has also excelled with her personal branding, and for that matter, earned a lot of contracts as brand ambassador including Kasapreko. Nana Ama is also a rich woman who owns many luxurious cars and houses, according to reports. READ ALSO: I was abused by my married boyfriend - Benedicta Gafah says after Afia Schwar drops photo with her face battered Her show, McBrowns Kitchen, which airs on Accra-based UTV, has proven to be a very successful one, and unlike many other shows which die sooner when they start airing, her show is still active on TV. To crown it all, Nana Ama, according to a video she shared of herself which was published by YEN.com.gh, appears to be heavily pregnant. If the video is anything to go by, then she is going to be a mother for the first time at age 41 after three years of marriage. Given all the above reasons, anybody in Nana Ama's would definitely attract envy from others. Her post also shows that God has indeed blessed her, owing to her earlier revelation that she cannot even boast of a BECE certificate because she was from a poor family background. Nana Ama was in the news recently following news report that she was heavily pregnant. READ ALSO: Photo: 17-yr-old Nyalong whose dowry was 500 cows, 3 V8 cars, looking sad at her wedding Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: John Dumelo's son dazzles in new photo; keeps his identity hidden 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 - Robbers have shot a police officer in the eye in the Ashanti Region - The police officer, Bernard Kyei, was part of a team who responded to a distress call - Kyei is currently on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital A police officer with the Ejura Divisional Police Command in the Ashanti Region, Bernard Kyei is currently on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) following severe injuries he sustained during a robbery attack. Kyei, YEN.com.gh gathers, was shot in the eye by armed robbers at Ejura Aframso in the Ashanti Region. According to a Joy News report, the officer and his colleagues were responding to a distress call concerning an armed robbery incident in the area on Sunday night. The injured police officer Bernard Kyei Photo source: Myjoyonline.com Source: UGC The report stated that the robbers had blocked the and were robbing a line of vehicles but one driver heading for Kumasi refused to stop. READ ALSO: 'Sakawa' boy breaks hearts as he dies in car crash leaving behind wife and newly born baby The robbers shot him in the eye and he died instantly leading to the distress call. In order to outwit the robbers from noticing them immediately, the police are said o have gone to the scene in a private car for their investigations. Robbers shoot police officer in the eye at Ejura Photo source: Myjoyonline.com Source: UGC But the armed robbers started shooting at the private car when they realised the driver was officer Kyei. READ ALSO: Ghanaians weep as 6 pupils die after being run over by truck carrying loads of cement (Photos) The police officers exchanged fire with the robbers but Kyei was unfortunately hit in the eye during the shootout. Robbers shoot police officer in the eye at Ejura Source: UGC READ ALSO: Afia Schwar leaks photo to force Benedicta Gafah to admit affair with married man Kyei was rushed to the Ejura District Hospital and was later referred to the KATH where he is scheduled for surgery to remove the bullet in his eye. In other news, YEN.com.gh earlier reported the story of an African couple, Bekezela and Thulile Bhebhe, based in the United Kingdom, who are facing a possible jail term for committing insurance fraud. According to the report, Bekezela, faked his own death between August 1 and September 30, 2016. This was to ensure that his wife could get the almost GHC2.5 million reward in life insurance. Street Quiz Ghana: What Would Be Your Message to the President Should You Meet Him? | Yen.com.gh: Share your views on this with us in the comments section below. Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook/Instagram page and we could feature your story. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play today Source: Yen News - Minister of finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has assured Ghanaians that the year 2019 will be an 'action' year for the country - He explained that measures are being implemented to secure resources to execute all the projects outlined by the government for 2019 The minister of finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has assured Ghanaians that the year 2019 will be a take-year for the country. Speaking at the opening ceremony of 2019 Post-Budget Workshop held in Koforidua for Parliamentarians, he said that the government will execute projects to lift Ghana to another level. He explained that the government will be in the position to raise enough resources to fund its programs in the 2019 budget. Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta Source: Supplied Source: Depositphotos READ ALSO: BNI will soon reveal those behind the fake Mahama cheques - UMB boss drops a bombshell According to him, the government expects to raise $2bn from bond issued in the year 2018. He added that the Sinohydro deal, the Minerals Act is expected to securitize royalties from 500 million to 700 million dollars and GHC1.8 billion annual GETFUND revenue to complete educational projects. Ofori-Atta added that with the upgrade of Ghana to B+ by Moodies, the country is in a strong position to source funding and execute its projects. Touching on measures to block leakages, he went on to say that the government will collaborate with the Ghana Revenue Agency (GRA) to deal mobilize revenue and deal with corruption. For that reason, he went on, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been given an amount of GHC180 million to police the public purse. READ ALSO: Ghanaians mock Shatta Wale over his 'yawa' freestyle on BBC Nuru Deen Story - The Miraculous Xylophone Manufacturer: Faces of Ghana | Yen.com.gh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: Yen Information available to YEN.com.gh shows that the headmistress and bursar of Adjena Senior High School have misused an amount of GHC100,000 to be used to construct a kitchen. According to the chairman of the Parents-Teachers-Association (PTA) of the school, Dr Nana Acheampong Kwakye, the money was spent in the course of one year. The kitchen where food is prepared for the children is an eyesore because aside from the dilapidated structure, it is also close to a public toilet and when it rains, disaster. As a medical doctor, Im worried the PTA Chairman lamented. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: BNI will soon reveal those behind the fake Mahama cheques - UMB MD Dr. Kwakye further revealed that the bursar, when confronted, claimed that the money was used to pay teachers and refurbish the headmistress bungalow. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC He added that it was surprising the school authorities decided to ignore a need as pressing as the state of the kitchen. As an immediate measure, Dr Kwakye said, they have changed the signatories to the PTA bank account and also cut the sod for the construction of a new kitchen for the school. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC Reacting to the allegations, the bursar of the school, Seth Asiedu, said they accounted for all the things they used the monies for. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC He maintained that allegations of misappropriation of funds are borne out of malice. Asiedu added that both the past and current PTA Chairmen have been briefed on the balance in the PTA accounts. Source: adomonline.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: NDC presidential aspirant 'forces' party to investigate Mahama's campaign songs at congress Ghana News Today: Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos Source: Yen.com.gh - GRIDCo has attributed the recent power outages to drop in gas supply to the Aboadze thermal plant - The company has promised to find alternate ways to the situation The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has attributed the recent power outages experienced mostly in the capital to a drop in the supply of gas to the Aboadze Thermal Plant in the Western Region. According to GRIDCo, the reduction in power generation has caused blackouts during peak periods between 7pm and 9pm on Monday, November 19, 2018. In the statement released from the public relations department of GRIDCo, the company stated it was working with other power generators to ensure continuous supply to all customers. Shortage of gas; cause of recent outages - GRIDCo Source: Kessben FM Source: UGC READ ALSO: Finance minister opens up about Ghanas plans for 2019 Ghanaians cannot fathom the incessant power outages at unexpected hours without prior notice and have taken to social media to complain about the situation. This facebook user wanted to the frequent outages to be made official: Andrews on the other hand is calling on the president to provide a solution to the situation. READ ALSO: BNI to investigate fake Mahama cheques - UMB boss Nuru Deen Story - The Miraculous Xylophone Manufacturer: Faces of Ghana | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Shatta Wale embarrasses himself during a BBC freestyle (Video) Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page. Source: Yen.com.gh Attorney General Gloria Akuffo has described a law suit challenging the construction of a National Cathedral as a misunderstanding of the character of Ghanaian secularism. Ms. Akuffo was speaking on a legal challenge against the government's contribution in building a National Christian Cathedral. The suit was filed by the Convention Peoples Partys (CPP) Director of Elections, James Kwabena Bomfeh. But the Attorney General believes the suit by Bomfeh stems from a misguided understanding of how the Ghana government can interact with its people on the basis of religion. READ ALSO: Gasmilla, Manifest and others who made it big without Twi songs The Attorney General is bent on defending the goverment's right to build a National Christian Cathedral. Source: Original Bomfeh however argues in his suit that Ghana is a secular state and it was therefore wrong for the state to be excessively entangled in any religion or religious practice. The CPP elections director wants the apex court to declare the building of the National Cathedral and state involvement in the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca unconstitutional. But the Attorney General rejects Bomfeh's argument saying that a state that recognises religious holidays and a "God" in national symbols cannot be said to not recognise the existence of a Supreme Being. READ ALSO: NDC to investigate Mahamas campaign songs played at congress The courts are yet to hear the preliminary arguments from the parties but the case on the National Christian Cathedral has created so much hullabaloo in the country. Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: Yen.com.gh - A man has blocked the entrance of the Unicredits head office with his car over his GHC30,000 savings with them - He said he was not going to allow anyone enter or exit the premises of the bank if his money was not paid to him - The angry customer said many efforts to withdraw money from the bank had proven futile, and so he resorted to blocking of the entrance An angry customer of uniCredit Ghana Limited, staged a drama at the banks head office in Accra when he blocked the entrance with his car. The man, whose name was given as Kofi Agyei, said blocking the entrance of the bank was part of his personal effort to retrieve his GHC30,000 savings from the bank on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. This is contained in a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on classfmonline.com Kofi Agyei's car blocking uniCredit entrance Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Forget Medikal, Deborah Vanessa chills with top Nigerian musician in latest photo According to the angry customer, several attempts to withdraw money from Unibank have not been successful. He said he had a contract which he needed to execute with his GHC30,000 savings, but Unicredit had not allowed him to make the withdrawal. Kofi Agyei revealed that the bank offered to give him GHC5,000 with the promise of organising the remaining GHC25,000 for him but he rejected it. He is quoted to have said: Ive been saving with uniCredit for some time now, but since September, Ive been trying to get money for my contract but when I come, they say: Come tomorrow, well organise it for you, come today well organise it for you. I was here last week and they assured me they will pay my money but they didnt. So, Im still here and I even blocked the entrance with my car, Ill not allow any car to enter. Kofi Agyei was said to be at the banks premises with many other aggrieved customers who wanted to withdraw their deposits. READ ALSO: Nana Ama McBrown finally reveals why people envy her Unicredit is the savings and loans subsidiary of the now-defunct uniBank. Since the collapse of Unibank which is now part of the Consolidated Bank Ghana, Unicredit has struggled to be on its feet. YEN.com.gh recently reported the case of another customer who packed his personal belongings including his mattress and bag to go sleep at the banking hall of the Apenkwa branch of the bank in Achimota. The man vowed never the leave the banking hall until his money with them is paid in full. READ ALSO: Deborah Vanessa appeared in my dream to report Medikal and Fella to me -Sunsum Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Video: Prophet Badu Kobi's junior pastor allegedly caught in bed with married woman 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 28-year-old man identified as Fidelis Michael has been reportedly arrested for kissing a king's daughter in public - The young man is said to have committed a sacrilege after getting cozy with the royal blood in a public place - His arrest was allegedly ordered by the king who's anger was that the man had the guts to fondle with his daughter A 28-year-old man identified as Fidelis Michael has reportedly landed in trouble after allegedly kissing a king's daughter in a public place. According to reports, Michael was caught and charged before a court for assault and remanded in prison custody for pecking the princess in the public. Michael was caught and charged before a court for assault and remanded in prison custody for pecking the princess in the public. (Picture/UGC) Source: Original Reports reveal that Michael and Princess Dolapo met at a market in Ejigbo area of Lagos and decided to get cozy. READ ALSO: Ghanaian movie stars surprise Kumawood actor Akrobeto on his 56th birthday (Videos) When their public display of affection fell unto the ears of the king, he immediately ordered his aides to pick up the culprit and hand him over to police at Ejigbo Division for prosecution. P.M Express reported that Fidelis was then arraigned before the Ejigbo Magistrates court for allegedly assaulting the princess. The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect the bail condition. READ ALSO: Prophet Badu Kobi's junior pastor caught pants down with married woman (Video) The matter was adjourned till December 3, 2018. Street Quiz Ghana: What Would Be Your Message to the President Should You Meet Him| Yen.com.gh: Share your views on this with us in the comments section below. Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook/Instagram page and we could feature your story. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play today Source: Yen This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? Winning photo of Connemara from Genevieve Callander Stunning images of Irelands Wild Atlantic Way will be viewed by a global online audience as the Call of the Wild international social media campaign is launched today. Call of the Wild is a joint initiative between the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland which asked local people on the Wild Atlantic Way to share images and video of their hidden gems. In total, over 4,000 images and videos of stunning landscapes to exquisite food, known only to locals, but undiscovered by the rest of the world, were shared during the two-week campaign using #MyWildAtlanticWay. A selection of entries will now feature in a suite of videos that will be shared domestically and internationally via social media channels to highlight the beauty of the locality as a holiday destination. Everyone who got involved had a chance to win a 2-night getaway along the Wild Atlantic Way and the overall winner of the Call of the Wild campaign was Genevieve Callander from Galway https://www.instagram.com/p/BlOTo3FhH2X/ The campaign, which predominantly targets international holidaymakers, will showcase the beauty of the West Coast and is expected to be viewed by over one million targeted social media users over the next four weeks. Click here to view the videos Northern Headlands: Donegal The Surf Coast: South Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, North East Mayo coast The Bay Coast: Mayo & Galway The Cliff Coast: South Galway, Clare, Limerick & North Kerry coast Southern Peninsulas: Kerry & West Cork The Haven Coast: South East Kerry & West Cork Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, commented on the Call of the Wild initiative: This campaign is special as its the local people along the full length of Wild Atlantic Way who were asked to help create the video message by identifying the hidden gems in their community that are special and should be shared with a global audience. People are very proud of the place they live and these videos will give them a chance to showcase their region to their social media contacts, wherever they are, creating an even more personal invitation to visit the Wild Atlantic Way. To launch the initiative, Failte Ireland teamed up with eight sporting legends from along the Wild Atlantic Way, from Aidan OMahony in Kerry, Orla Finn in Cork, Podge Collins in Clare, Michael Murphy in Donegal, Roisin Upton in Limerick, Lee Keegan in Mayo, Alan Cawley in Sligo and David Collins in Galway. Each Call of the Wild ambassador shared some of their favourite destinations in the region across their social media accounts, encouraging their followers to follow suit and share their own favourites. Niall Tracey of Failte Ireland, said: Congratulations to everyone who answered the Call of the Wild and helped to spotlight the beautiful and unique aspects of the Wild Atlantic Way. As a result of the response to the campaign, over a million online viewers will be able to have a glimpse into the unique and stunning landscapes that exist throughout the Wild Atlantic Way. Siobhan McManamy Tourism Ireland, added: Thanks to everyone for sharing their stunning hidden gems of the Wild Atlantic Way for the Call of the Wild campaign. Tourism Ireland is delighted to promote the top entries to millions of potential visitors in important overseas markets like Great Britain, Germany and France, and to encourage them to come and experience the Wild Atlantic Way for themselves. Our social media campaigns will target our millions of active fans and followers on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram in the coming weeks, promoting off-season breaks and teeing up travel for 2019. Jump to top Vantage Drilling International agreed to disgorge $5 million to the SEC Monday to settle FCPA internal accounting controls offenses related to drilling services contracts with Petrobras. The SEC settled the case with an internal administrative order (pdf) and didnt go to court. The SEC didnt charge Vantage Drilling with books and records offenses. The company previously said it received a declination from the DOJ in August 2017. A predecessor of Houston-based Vantage Drilling International, Vantage Drilling Company, failed to devise a system of internal accounting controls with regard to Vantages transactions with a former outside director who was the largest shareholder in Vantage and its only supplier of drilling assets, the SEC said. The unnamed director is described in the order as a Taiwanese shipping magnate. The SEC order said Vantages director agreed to pay a total of $31 million from his personal funds to two intermediaries. Because of the internal control failures, Vantage provided funds and reimbursements to the director who used the money to pay bribes to officials at Petrobras in connection with a 8-year, $1.8 billion drilling services contract. The company also failed to properly implement internal accounting controls related to its use of third-party marketing agents. Vantage had an ineffective anti-corruption compliance program when the violations occurred and didnt conduct any due diligence on the director before relying on him as its sole source of drilling equipment and appointing him to its board of directors, the SEC said. In July, Vantage won a $622 million arbitration ruling against Petrobras. Petrobras said it terminated a drilling services contract due to material operational failures by Vantage, claiming the Houston company paid bribes through middlemen. In September, Petrobras reached a $1.78 billion FCPA resolution with the DOJ and SEC for bribing politicians and political parties in Brazil. It entered into a non-prosecution agreement (pdf) with the DOJ that included a criminal penalty of $853.2 million. The SEC ordered Petrobras to disgorge $933.5 million (disgorgement of $711 million and $222.5 million in prejudgment interest). In 2015, Vantages agent in Brazil entered into a collaboration agreement with the Brazilian Federal Public Prosecutors Office. The agent admitted to being part of Vantages Brazil bribery plot and was convicted of corruption and money laundering. The SEC said Monday it didnt impose financial penalties beyond the disgorgement because of Vantages current financial condition. The company went into bankruptcy after Petrobras terminated the drilling services contract. Vantage Drilling International emerged from bankruptcy in early 2016. [Editors note: A prior version of this post inadvertently stated that Vantage settled books and records charges as well.] _____ Harry Cassin is the managing editor of the FCPA Blog. Raul Gorrin charged with FCPA offensesAn indictment unsealed Monday charged a Venezuelan TV network owner with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and laundering money using U.S. banks and real estate deals. Raul Gorrin was charged with paying $160 million in bribes to officials in Venezuela over at least a decade. Gorrin, 50, owns the Globovision network in Caracas. Hes also the head of an insurance brokerage, Seguros La Vitalicia. He lives in Miami. The indictment, filed in August but unsealed (pdf) Monday in West Palm Beach, charged Gorrin with bribing two officials in the Venezuela National Treasury to help him evade currency controls and embezzle state funds. He was also charged with laundering money through U.S. banks and real estate deals involving luxury properties in South Florida and New York, among other places. He faces one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and nine counts of money laundering. One of the properties is a home in Coral Gables thats for sale for $8 million. The Miami Herald said federal authorities plan to seize the mansion. Gorrins personal banker, the Miami Herald said, was Matthias Krull. Last month Krull, 44, was jailed ten years in the United States for his role in an embezzlement and money-laundering scheme at Venezuelas state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. or PDVSA. The German national had been vice chairman of Julius Baer Panama. He was arrested in Miami in July. Krull is cooperating with the U.S. Attorneys Office and Homeland Security Investigations, the Miami Herald said. Gorrin hasnt been charged in the PDVSA case. ____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Societe Generale SA resolved U.S. trade sanction violations Monday by entering into two deferred prosecution agreements and paying $1.34 billion in penalties to federal and state authorities. Paris-based SocGen the third biggest French bank admitted that it violated sanctions on Cuba, Iran, and Sudan. The violations started in 2003 and continued until 2013. SocGen paid a total of $1.34 billion in penalties to settle the offenses $717 million to the DOJ, $325 million to New Yorks Department of Financial Services (DFS), $163 million to the Manhattan District Attorneys office, $81 million to the U.S. Federal Reserve, and $54 million to the U.S. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The bank also paid another $95 million to the DFS for anti-money-laundering offenses. SocGen said in a statement it signed three-year deferred prosecution agreements with the U.S Attorneys Office of the Southern District of New York and the New York County District Attorneys Office. The Federal Reserve cited SocGens unsafe and unsound practices primarily related to violations of U.S. sanctions against Cuba. The Fed order required SocGen to implement an enhanced program to ensure global compliance with U.S. sanctions. The order also barred the bank from re-employing the individuals involved in the past actions or retaining them as consultants or contractors. SocGen agreed to help the Fed and other agencies in ongoing investigations of individuals involved in the misconduct. OFAC said SocGen voluntarily self-disclosed the sanction violations. In June this year, the DOJ imposed a $565 million criminal penalty on Societe Generale for FCPA offenses in Libya. Half of the penalty was payable to the French enforcement agency, Parquet National Financier. Also in June, SocGen resolved U.S. charges that it rigged LIBOR rates. The bank paid criminal penalties to the DOJ of $275 million and disgorged $200 million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Frederic Oudea, SocGens CEO, said, We acknowledge and regret the shortcomings that were identified in [Mondays] settlements, and have cooperated with the U.S. authorities to resolve these matters. Looking to the future, Oudea said, we aim to be a trusted partner. ____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. When hes not working, writer and former UK journalist STEVE PARSLEY spends quite a bit of time walking the woods around Fethiye with four-legged companion Dillon, often posting their discoveries on his social media accounts. Fethiye Times asked if he would share some of his daily encounters with us. This month, Steve laments the end of the summer season. Farewell to the dog days of summer The thought occurred that whoever came up with the phrase the dog days of summer probably never tried to walk one in Turkey. Even though were up at first light throughout June, July, August and even early September this year its been so warm my tee-shirt was unpleasantly damp after just a few minutes walking on anything involving an incline. And, lets face it, around Kayakoy, thats pretty much everywhere. After his usual initial burst of enthusiasm, even Dillon was running out of steam in the relentless heat, with little to see out of the shade of the forest except parched earth, scorpions and lizards and all set to the shrill cicada chorus. Looking the phrase up, it seems the Romans were first to use it and it refers not to earth-bound hounds but to the time of the year when Sirius or the Dog Star shines brightest at night. But, although I have Wikipedia to thank for making the meaning a little clearer, were still not altogether sorry to see autumns arrival and not just because its cooler and we can set off that little bit later. Theres also much more to see. The pale pink cyclamens were first to emerge, poking out from beneath the bed of pine needles, closely followed by the usual surge of white asphodel in just about any space open to the sky. The boar are on the move Its not been quite cool enough to tempt the tortoises out of their summer stupor just yet but the boar have also been on the move, returning to high ground in the mornings. We stumbled across a family group of a dozen or so not so long ago and Im not sure who was more astonished. There was that fleeting moment when we were all looking at each other, before the family dissolved into a blur of brown and grey, all heading in different directions. Dillon and I stayed where we were, not wishing to cause them any more distress or to trigger a defence; they may have scattered in panic but, no doubt, they would try to regroup and walking through the middle of them probably wouldnt have been a good plan. Sure enough, there were a few indignant grunts from among the closely-packed pine saplings either side of the path but, in less than a couple of minutes, it was as though they had never been there at all. But, along with signs of larger animals, the soundtrack of the forest has changed too. Birdsong isnt drowned out completely by the cicadas so great tits, blue tits, the occasional nightingale and the odd robin are getting an opportunity to be heard. Were also frequently told off by a Syrian woodpecker and the jays who live close to the clearing where we throw Dills ball. The nearby water trough still almost empty nevertheless attracts a host of smaller birds including wagtails, black redstarts and chaffinches. However, while the wildlife may be back, over the last few days the goats have also returned from their summer pastures higher in the mountains. That means, from now until the late spring, the shepherds will be driving them along much the same routes we use at roughly the same time, following tracks which have probably been there for generations which help to ensure no particular spot is over-grazed. But, for us, it also means its time for change. Dillons fine with goats but theyre often escorted by the shepherds dogs and our encounters with them have rarely ended well. Ill admit to a sense of frustration that we cant all share the same space. Its not like theres not enough room. However, I also recognise we are the recent interlopers in a way of life which has probably changed little in a century or two so, although its with reluctance, its probably best to let discretion be the better part of valour. Our local winter routes are a little more cramped. Were also likely to come across more people not all of them enthusiastic about being greeted or sniffed enthusiastically by a German Shepherd who doesnt understand that they may not like him. But, while we enjoy the forests almost to ourselves in the summer months, at least we can also stretch our legs on the beaches at this end of the year and theres always the snow up at Nif if we fancy a weekend adventure. Swings and roundabouts as they say and I doubt that phrase comes from the Romans. Rebecca & Steve Parsley are both former journalists with experience in newspapers, magazines and on radio. Since 2006 they have run their own communications agency, specialising in social media and online content writing. They moved to Turkey just over four years ago and live in Kayakoy with their German Shepherd dog, Dillon formerly a street dog and two cats. When not slaving over their keyboards or walking in the local countryside, they enjoy watching motorsport especially Formula 1 and are also salsa dance addicts According to a blog post, 500 Startups, the global early stage venture capital firm, closed a $14m fund dedicated to investing in Vietnam-based startups. The close was 40% over its $10M target. LPs include GS Shop, Humax, NCORE, and numerous other investors in Asia, the US, and Europe. Led by Binh Tran and Eddie Thai, the Vietnam-focused fund has already invested almost $3M in 36 companies serving the Vietnam market and/or leveraging Vietnamese talent. The companies have been diverse, ranging from ecommerce and edtech to fintech and blockchain. The fund will now invest in other 64 startups writing bigger checks, from $50K-$100K to $100K and potentially up to $250K, increase team capacity to support portfolio companies hiring 2-4 more people in the coming months. The Israeli blockade severely limits the import of medicine, gasoline and other essential goods into Gaza. Children and other civilians suffer. Photo (c) Reese Erlich -by Reese Erlich Earlier this week the Israeli military and armed groups in Gaza clashed in the worst fighting since their 2014 war. Israeli planes bombed Palestinians, killing seven, wounding 26 and destroying numerous office and apartment buildings. Palestinian groups fired rockets and mortars into Israel, killing one civilian and wounding 18. Both sides agreed to an uneasy ceasefire, but the key political issues are unresolved. Israel dominated the fighting militarily, but Palestinians nonetheless celebrated a victory because they forced Israel to back down and agree to a ceasefire. In a tacit admission of political defeat, Israeli politicians bickered among themselves. The Israeli defense minister resigned and right-wing politicians clamored for the head of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, complaining he had ended the conflict too soon Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center , told me that months of Palestinian protests at the Israeli border, combined with resistance to the most recent attacks, have produced empathy for Palestinians. It's hard to see what's happening without sympathizing with the occupied people and being outraged about the U.S. support for Israel, she said. Some Gaza history Gaza consists of a small strip of land along the Israel-Egypt border, twenty-five miles long and five miles wide. Gaza is packed with two million residents. It was created in wake of the 1948 war that established the state of Israel and drove out many of its Arab residents. Gaza was ruled by Egypt until seized by Israel in the 1967 war, during which Israel also took the West Bank and the Golan region in Syria. Israeli settlers and military personnel occupied Gaza but faced such strong political and armed resistance that Israel was forced to withdraw in 2005. If peace talks for a two-state solution ever succeed, Gaza and the West Bank would become an independent Palestinian state, living in peace alongside Israel. In 2006 Hamas, a conservative political Islamic party, won parliamentary elections in both the West Bank and Gaza. Israel and the United States rejected the election results and assisted Fatah, the other major Palestinian party, in taking control of the West Bank a year later. Hamas took power in Gaza. Israel has imposed a harsh blockade controlling sea, air and land access to Gaza. It limits the amount of food, medicine and fuel that enter, and curtails the export of Gaza's agriculture and manufactured products. Palestinian fishing boats can't even venture further than a few miles off shore or face attack by the Israeli Navy. It's similar to the daily reality of prisoners," said Palestinian activist Kiswani. "Nothing can get in or out. They live in fear of being bombed. But people are still organizing. Every week since March Palestinian youth have demonstrated at the Israeli border. Israeli soldiers killed at least 214 Palestinians, mostly with live fire, and wounded over 18,000. Nevertheless Israeli authorities portray their country as the victim. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon argued that Hamas intentionally targets civilians while Israel bombs only military sites. There is a side that attacks and fires 400 rockets toward civilians and there is a side that protects its civilians, he said . Every member country in the Security Council ought to ask itself how it would respond after a barrage of missiles is fired at its people. Ellen Brotsky, a Bay Area activist with Jewish Voice for Peace , told me that's a phony argument. The Israeli military knows Gaza is an open air prison with civilians all over. It's not possible to separate out civilians in any bombing, and the Israelis know this. Recent clashes Before the recent fighting, the Israeli government and Hamas had reached an informal ceasefire. Feeling international and domestic pressure from nine months of border protests, Israel had allowed Gaza to import diesel fuel, food and medicine. It allowed Qatar to bring in three suitcases stuffed with $15 million in cash to pay Gaza's civil servants. Qatar supports Hamas politically and has provided economic aid in the past. Then Israel got cocky. It sent a commando squad into Gaza to assassinate a Palestinian military leader , according to Hamas. Israel claimed the raid was designed to install surveillance equipment in the home of the Hamas leader. Palestinian security discovered the Israelis and a firefight broke out, killing one Israeli officer and seven Palestinians. Israeli leaders portray such deadly raids as routine. But as Yousef Munayyer, executive director of US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, tweeted , Imagine if Palestinians crossed into Israel and killed Israelis. All hell would break loose. But Palestinians are expected just to accept this. Hamas and Islamic Jihad responded to the raid by firing some 460 rockets and mortars into Israeli cities close to the border. They also fired an anti-tank rocket at a bus carrying Israeli soldiers, seriously wounding one. Israeli officials have long assured the Israeli public that their U.S. designed Iron Dome system will intercept enemy rockets mid-air. But press accounts indicate Iron Dome only stopped about 100 , having been overwhelmed by the sheer number in the Palestinian assault. Israel deploys a huge variety of other hi-tech weaponry in an effort to halt Palestinian resistance. But it hasn't worked. When Israel stopped goods from arriving by land, Palestinians dug smuggling tunnels to nearby Egypt. When Israel cut off sea access to prevent arms smuggling, Palestinians created a cottage industry of homemade rockets and mortars. When Israel's hi-tech sensors discovered tunnels being dug into Israel from Gaza, Palestinians sent kites and balloons with incendiary devices to burn Israeli fields. I am opposed to intentional attacks on civilians by either side. But the recent fighting in Gaza demonstrates once again that Israel can't win the war militarily. As Ive reported before, Israeli and Palestinian leaders know the broad outlines for a peace settlement . The only question is how long will Israeli leaders reject meaningful negotiations? Israel cannot military solve the situation with Palestine," said Jewish Voice for Peace activist Brotsky. "There has to be a political solution which recognizes the land belongs to Palestinians as well. *** ClearDATA, an Austin, Texas-based security and compliance expert in the healthcare cloud, completed a $26m financing round. Backers included Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) and Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, and returning investors Norwest Venture Partners, Merck GHIF, Excel Venture Management, Heritage Group, HLM Venture Partner and Flare Capital Partners. The company intends to use the funds to expand product innovation and sales and marketing resources. Led by Darin Brannan, Chief Executive Officer, ClearDATA provides a managed cloud that protects sensitive healthcare data using purpose-built DevOps automation, compliance and security safeguards, & healthcare expertise. The companys innovative solutions protect customers from data privacy risks, improve their data management, and scale their healthcare IT infrastructure. This year, ClearDATA enhanced its business model to incorporate multi-cloud solutions by adding new partnerships to their Amazon Web Services offering, including Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. FinSMEs 20/11/2018 The ExO Foundation, the Miami, Florida-based creator of the CivX Economy, ExO Lever, ExO Works, the Fastrack Institute, and a global network of over 435 people, will receive $15m in investment. Rokk3r Inc. (OTC: ROKK), a global idea-to-exit company builder headquartered in Miami, Florida, nade the investment via a SAFE-T redeemable for CIVX tokens. THE PRESS RELEASE ExO Foundation, Inc. Receives $15 Million In Investment From Rokk3r Inc. For CivX Economy And Salim Ismail Takes Seat On Rokk3r Board The ExO Foundation will receive an investment of $15 Million from Rokk3r Inc. that will accelerate the growth and impact of Rokk3r, CIVX, and the ExO Foundation family of companies MIAMI, Nov. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ The ExO Foundation, creator of the CivX Economy, ExO Lever, ExO Works, the Fastrack Institute, and a global network of over 435 impactful people will receive $15 Million in investment from Rokk3r Inc. (OTC: ROKK), a global idea-to-exit company builder headquartered in Miami, Florida into the CivX Economy. The investment is via a SAFE-T redeemable for CIVX tokens. CIVX is the native digital asset of the CivX Economy, which is the transformation economy for an ecosystem of changemakers and impact drivers. It is a project of the ExO Foundation Inc, the product of years of work by hundreds of members of the ExO Ecosystem which now includes Rokk3r. CIVX is a cryptographic token on the CivX Blockchain and is used for access to the services that its 500+ members provide throughout the ecosystem. For example, ExO Advisor tickets, the Growth Institute ExO Master Course, and ExO Swarms. Also, Salim Ismail, Chairman and Co-Founder of the ExO Foundation, joins the board of directors of Rokk3r Inc. Ismails addition to the board is part of a long-term strategy to grow Rokk3r opportunities exponentially. Ismail joins existing board members Nabyl Charania, CEO and chairman of Rokk3r Inc.; German Montoya, Rokk3r Chief Exponential Officer; and Jeff Ransdell, managing director of $200 million venture capital firm Rokk3r Fuel ExO, a Rokk3r Inc. shareholder. Salim Ismails efforts in preparing the business world and civil society to thrive in the digital age are unparalleled. His deep subject matter expertise with exponential technologies, experiences in the boardrooms of top Fortune 100 companies, advisory roles with governments, and his leadership work across the development sectors, ideally position him to uplift Rokk3rs Massive Transformative Purpose to harness global collective genius and build companies that change the world, said Rokk3r CEO Nabyl Charania. It is a day of special significance to welcome Salim Ismail to the Board of Directors at Rokk3r as the next step in our long and productive relationship. The combination of the efforts of Rokk3r and the ExO Foundation using CIVX will provide a path to growth and additional value-add for all of the organizations, institutions, cities, and people that Rokk3r and the ExO Foundation work with globally. About the ExO Foundation, Inc. The ExO Foundation is a public benefit corporation committed to positive social change, which convenes a global ecosystem that empowers cities, organizations, institutions, and people with the technology and economic resources, tools and structures to migrate society to abundance. About Rokk3r Inc. Rokk3r is a network of human and machine intelligence that accelerates exponential company building. Rokk3r is unleashing the next generation of global entrepreneurship by providing access to education, idea validation, team creation and experts to crowd build successful ventures. Feedr, a London, UK-based intelligent lunch platform using technology to offer office employees personalised meals from healthy food suppliers, raised 1.535m in pre-Series A funding. Backers included: Episode 1, Errol Damelin Founder of Wonga and investor in CityMapper and TransferWise, Richard Glynn former Ladbrokes CEO and Founder of Alinsky Partners, David Pritchard Founder of OpenTable Europe, and Founders Factory Brent Hobermans accelerator fund. The company intends to use the funds: to invest in technology to improve the online user experience, to expand the choice of meals, to build out their machine learning driven personalization, to increase the salesforce, and to plan expansion outside of London. Launched in 2016 by entrepreneurs Riya Grover and Lyz Swanton, Feedr is a marketplace for businesses to provide employees with personalized meals from independent food suppliers including Deliciously Ella, Farmstand, We Grill, Potage, Maple & Fitz and more. The companys Cloud Canteen platform allows employers to fully or partly subsidise employee meals, for under 5, daily. TO date, Feedr has served employees at over 400 companies including AirBnB, Etsy, DHL and PwC. FinSMEs 20/11/2018 MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) also termed as SSIs (Small-Scale Industries) are considered to be the economic backbone of our country. This sector contributes 45% to the total industrial employment, 50% to the total exports, and 95% to the total industrial units in India. With the growth of industries matures the countrys economy. Although registering under the MSME act is not yet mandatory, your business can gain benefits in tax payments, loans, and other credit facilities with the MSME registration. What is MSME Loan? While the MSME sector plays a significant role in the development of the country, it faced major trouble in their capital investments. This is when conventional banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) started offering customized loan products for entrepreneurs. An MSME loan is a type of business loan that is provided to micro, small, and medium enterprises for business establishment or expansion. The government of India has classified MSMEs into two types, they are: Service Enterprise The investment of the service enterprise as well as of the equipment must be as per the below-mentioned data: Micro Enterprise : 10,00,000 Small Enterprise : 2,00,00,000 10,00,000 Medium Enterprise : 5,00,00,000 2,00,00,000 Manufacturing Enterprise The investment of the manufacturing enterprise, the plant, and of the machinery must be in accordance with the following data: Micro Enterprise : 25,00,000 Small Enterprise : 5,00,00,000 25,00,000 Medium Enterprise : 10,00,00,000 5,00,00,000 Features and Benefits of MSME Loans MSME loans are mostly collateral-free. The online MSME loan process helps in quick approval and disbursal of the loan amount. The tenor of MSME loan ranges from 12 months to 60 months. You need to submit nominal documents for an MSME loan application. You can manage your loan account easily from the website of your financial provider. When should you take an MSME Loan? You can avail an MSME loan if: You are purchasing land or factory for starting a business. You are buying factory supplies like a machine, furniture, etc. You want to meet the capital requirements of the company like purchasing raw materials. You need to pay the debts, wages, and settle other bills. You have to expand your business and need financing for marketing, advertising, and refurbishment of the organization. However, you can check with your financial provider for the MSME loan eligibility of your organization. Usually, the only eligibility criteria are the CIBIL score of the organization as almost all business loans are unsecured. Renowned loan providers MSME loans of up to 30 lakh to equip growing businesses with timely financial aid. The unique Flexi loan facility allows you to pay interest-only EMI and repay the principal amount whenever possible during or at the end of the tenor. You can also get pre-approved offers in addition to the loan amount which you would be able to get access to. How to Apply for an MSME Loan? You can apply for an MSME loan online as well as offline. Usually, young entrepreneurs prefer online mode due to the ease of the application process. All you got to do is to fill up an application form, and within 24 hours of your application, personnel from your financial institution will contact you. Make sure to check your organizations credit score to meet the MSME loan eligibility criteria of the financial provider of your choice. Browse from a wide range of customized collateral-free business loans to suit your growing business requirements. Uganda has been rated the eighth best African country for safari travel by SafariBookings.com for its diverse wildlife viewing. The online marketplace for African safari tours conducted an investigation to find the winner of the best African safari country title. After examining more than 3 000 reviews compiled by both safari-goers and African travel experts, to come up with best 08 Safari countries in Africa. Stories Continues after ad SafariBooking.com says Uganda is a great destination to experience wildlife viewing in both forest and savannah. Not to be missed is gorilla tracking in Bwindi, while chimps can easily be spotted in Kibale Forest. Parks such as Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls offer wonderful savannah safaris with good wildlife viewing. The rates vary between US$207 (Shs 806,600) to U$518 (Shs 1,916,600) per day. Best time to Visit Uganda The drier months from June to August and December to February are the best for wildlife watching in Uganda. This is particularly so when it comes to the rainforest habitat preferred by primates, but it also applies down on the savannah where animals have little bush to hide in. Theres also plentiful sunshine at this time. In the wetter months, theres the possibility that rain will cut off roads and wash out your primate tracking adventure. Wildlife Elephant, hippo, buffalo and zebra are plentiful in Uganda, with giraffe and leopard less so. The birding in the country is a real highlight. So is the tracking of primates, in particular gorilla and chimp, but there are many other species worth watching. These include the red-tailed monkey and the grey-cheeked mangabey. The antelope known as the Uganda kob is found pretty much everywhere and is a favorite of predators such as the lion Overall, Botswana was rated the best African country for safari travel for its scenic tapestry containing a diverse wildlife found in few other places on the continent. Always a close rival, Tanzania was ranked as the best country overall for wildlife. Zimbabwe shot up the popularity stakes for safari-goers sizzling to number one overall. SafariBookings.com co-owner Jeroen Beekwilder described Botswana as a magical country that combines awe-inspiring deserts with an impossibly wet delta system. Contributions included safari-goers from around the globe. It also included the reviews from 22 guidebook authors working for Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommers, Bradt and Footprint who make up the SafariBookings expert panel. Given the exceptional wildlife-viewing opportunities in Botswana, a country that specialises in an exclusive safari experience, and luxury in the bush, this is understandable, Beekwilder said. Top Rated Safari Countries Tanzania has three safari circuits and each one of them would make Tanzania a top wildlife destination. The popular Northern circuit with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater offers one of the best classical safaris in Africa, especially if timed with the annual wildebeest migration. Botswana is the leader in low-impact, upmarket tourism. This eco-friendly approach promotes a true wilderness experience in this unspoiled country. The beauty of the Okavango Delta is best discovered by mokoro canoe, while abundant wildlife can be encountered in Chobe and Moremi parks. A safari in Zambia is not about checking off the Big Five. High-quality guides will share their knowledge on game drives, night drives and walking safaris. A canoeing safari on the Zambezi River is not to be missed by the more adventurous. Kenya is a top wildlife destination, recommended especially for those booking a first-time safari. The Masai Mara offers excellent big cat encounters and is the setting for the yearly wildebeest migration. Palm-lined beaches offer a perfect place to relax after an action packed safari. South Africa is a great destination for a varied holiday. It offers fantastic wildlife viewing, beautiful beaches, trendy cities and much more. Kruger is its flagship park with many self-drive and budget options, and all of the Big Five are easily seen. Namibia is characterized by its desert habitat and a remarkable variety of landforms. This harsh environment forms a magnificent backdrop for a different kind of safari. Animal populations are smaller, but sightings in this sparse setting tend to be rewarding. Not to be missed is Etosha National Park, a seasonal wildlife magnet. Due to the political situation in Zimbabwe, tourists are few and prices are competitive, but the main parks are still cared for and well worth visiting. Hwange is not to be missed and Mana Pools offers great canoeing safaris on the Zambezi River. . 100 000 . , . ... This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. Late-stage detection and delayed treatment are major contributors to poor breast cancer survival rates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Improved breast cancer education programs could lead to earlier breast cancer detection and improved outcomes. The Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) is an international organization that aims to improve breast cancer outcomes in LMICs. As a basic-level intervention, BHGI guidelines support the use of breast cancer education programs that are culturally appropriate and understand local beliefs about breast cancer. This is important because personal beliefs can drive health-related behaviors, including the decision of when to seek medical care. In Uganda, an average of two years pass before women seek medical attention after self-detection of a breast lump; the extended delay may be due to incorrect beliefs about breast cancer. Researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and the Public Health Sciences and Clinical Research Divisions at Fred Hutch report on breast cancer beliefs of Ugandan women in a recent publication in the Journal of Global Oncology. In Uganda, many educational materials used for breast cancer education programs are developed from Western countries while only a limited amount of material has been generated from studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. Such studies revealed that many women fear cancer-related social stigma and have strong breast cancer beliefs that are not supported by scientific evidence. Many incorrect beliefs about breast cancer persist despite the grassroots and national efforts to improve breast cancer awareness and education. Some erroneous beliefs are so prevalent, such as carrying items in bras causes breast cancer (>90%), that they need addressing before changes in breast cancer detection and treatment practices will occur, said Dr. John Scheel, Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Washington and lead author of the new study. Co-author and Fred Hutch Public Health Sciences Member Dr. Beti Thompson further emphasized the importance of understanding womens misconceptions, As breast cancer rates increase in low- and middle-income countries, we find a great deal of misinformation about breast cancer as well as barriers to treatment such as limited treatment facilities. It is imperative that we better understand such beliefs and attitudes so we can give women in these countries the best possible treatment available to them. Previous studies of breast cancer beliefs were limited by the lack of assessment of demographic factors that may influence the timing in which women decide to get medical care. Assessment of these factors could also help identify subpopulations with strong misconceptions about breast cancer and could lead to more targeted breast cancer awareness programs. In addition, all the current data were collected from breast cancer survivors women who overcame barriers and were treated early enough to survive. The authors sought to address the existing gaps by conducting an interview-based study that included women in rural and urban areas of Uganda. To ensure cultural appropriateness of the study, the authors collaborated with the Ugandan Womens Cancer Support Organization (UWOCASO); this partnership involved local Ugandan breast cancer survivors in all aspects of the study design, conduct, and interpretation of results. The study survey was carefully designed to assess womens beliefs about breast cancer and included questions about cultural and scientific explanations for development of breast cancer and beliefs related to the benefits of early detection. The survey also assessed socioeconomic factors, access to health care, prior breast cancer knowledge, and personal detection practices. Uganda is set to host the 3rd Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) World Congress in July 2020, peddled at increasing awareness on the rights and needs of persons with disabilities. Under the theme Empowering and Enabling, the 2nd CBR World Congress was held in in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and more than 1000 delegates from 78 countries where delegates reflected on the achievements of community-based rehabilitation (CBR), its future direction and the role of CBR as an inclusive development strategy. According to cabinet meeting chaired by first deputy Prime Minister Gen. Moses Ali, resolved that Good practices shared on CBR and Inclusive Development from different Countries, will help facilitate improved Service Delivery to persons with disabilities. Stories Continues after ad They resolved that the meeting will avail a chance for a country to draw Strategies for poverty reduction among persons with disabilities and will be adopted from experiences of other Countries, Sustainable collaboration among stakeholders and Development Partners. The congress comes with a great potential for assisting low- and middle-income countries to achieve related SDG targets and to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was noted that further research is required to continue documenting the success of CBR as a development strategy in addition an appeal was made to amplify its success by ensuring that CBR is facilitated by authorities from a broader range of sectors and institutions, including UN agencies. SEARCH A minimum of 3 characters are required to be typed in the search bar in order to perform a search. New on the bar scene : Cocktail bar 'The Waiting Room' opens on Munsterstrae Bonn David Kunze has opened his cocktail bar The Waiting Room in the former chocolate cafe Mirabelle on Bonn's Munsterstrae. The hospitality industry specialist comes with international experience. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Von general-anzeiger-bonn.de After three months of renovation, the space is almost unrecognizable: Decked out in elegant, black-grey industrial chic, 45 guests can find a place in this cocktail lounge. And this should be taken quite literally. Each guest is greeted personally, his coat removed and taken to a seat. "When the bar is full, the bar is full," explains Kunze. There are no standing guests in The Waiting Room. The 36-year-old host, trained hotel specialist and trained Food & Beverage business economist, has worked internationally, most recently in Australia for the Melbourne Pub Group and in Dubai in the seven-star hotel Burj al Arab as bar manager in the "Gold On 27" hotel bar. He considers his first self-owned bar as a "modern Speak-Easy-Bar", which can be traced back to the North American prohibition period. There and then, people spoke quietly in secret bars. In The Waiting Room, antique spirits, such as a Hennessy cognac from the Second World War, are displayed in a showcase. On the cocktail menu are 16 selections, such as the Kirsch Negroni (cherry brandy, homemade Vermouth Blend, Campari and chocolate bitters), the average price of cocktails is ten euros. Conventional ice cubes are not used, but instead crystal clear pieces of ice blocks, in which the logo of the bar is imprinted. "The ice is the gold of the bar," says Kunze. In addition, the sous vide low-cooking process intensifies the taste, for example in the Limoncelli. All syrups are homemade, the juices freshly squeezed and liqueurs (for example Falernum or Pimento Dram spice liqueur) and cocktail bitters are prepared in house. The snacks, called "Bites", include the pickle trilogy (6.90 euros), a cheese selection with cranberry mustard (10.90 euros) and salted parmesan popcorn or peppery chips with truffle sour cream (3.50 euros each). Elektro-Swing will be played on Fridays, and next year Kunze is planning to open a tasting room in the basement. Info: The Waiting Room, Munsterstr. 7, 53111 Bonn-Innenstadt, www.the-waiting-room.de, Tel. (0228) 72 17 87 77. Open Tue-Thu and Sun 6pm - 1am, Fri and Sat 7pm - 3am, closed on Mondays. Cyber Monday and Black Friday 2018 : Discount week attracts bargain hunters Bonn German retailers are expecting extra revenue in the billions of euros leading up to the weekend. Here is what Bonn shoppers should know about "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Black Friday and Cyber Monday - discount days imported from the USA have found their way into German online sales. According to a consumer survey, the German Retail Association (HDE) expects additional revenue of around 2.4 billion euros on these days. Bargain hunters in Germany are starting to take more notice of these special deal days. In 2017, 24 percent of German online shoppers took advantage of a Black Friday deal. On Cyber Monday it was 18 percent. But how much the customer really benefits from these deals is controversial. Idealo.de, a website specializing in price comparisons, determined that of 500 products offered on Black Friday 2017, only 381 actually cost slightly less than in the previous month. Where are the Black Friday discounts? Amazon: With the slogan: "Shop for Christmas presents at good prices right now" the company is planning a whole Cyber-Monday week with tens of thousands of offers in Germany starting November 19. Mediamarkt: On "Red Friday" - tailored to match the corporate color - consumers can look forward to special deals from Mediamarkt. A look at the online shop should be particularly worthwhile. The first offers will already be published on Thursday, November 22, starting at 8 pm. Douglas: The perfumery Douglas calls it "Beauty Friday". People who love fragrances and cosmetics are lured to the online shop with discounts. Until then, loyal Douglas customers will already receive a 20 percent discount with a voucher code. Aldi and Lidl: Even the chain discounters are taking part in the week of shopping deals. Aldi offers electronic products in its online shop under the caption "Black Week". Lidl will offer online deals as well. It will also have bargains in its stores and on Friday, there will be specials on electrical appliances for everything ranging from coffee machines to beard hair trimmers. Shopping in Bonn city center Karstadt and the like: Even in many Bonn branches of the big chains you can find good deals this week. For example, Sinn (formerly SinnLeffers) and Karstadt are taking part in Black Friday. Consumer protection warning The consumer protection agency advises to keep a clear head when looking for good deals. Price comparisons using search engines could be more useful to get a good price than trusting the special offers on the day of the promotion. Consumer protection also warns about getting too excited over deals. This can be exploited by swindlers who collect money using fake online shops without having the intention of selling any goods. The Federal Office for Information Security recommends, among other things, that two-factor authentication be used when registering in online shops. Questions and answers : Fuel shortages in Bonn and the region Bonn The year 2018 is approaching a new drought record in Germany. Because shipping channels are affected, there may be shortages at petrol stations. There are no signs of an improvement in the situation. Here are some questions and answers on the subject. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken For some motorists, this is a completely new experience. They arrive at their normally frequented petrol station only to find it is out of fuel. At fault is the Rhine River - or to be more precise, the low water level of the Rhine. What does the water in the Rhine have to do with the fuel supply at the petrol stations? A considerable part of the fuel transport takes place on the Rhine. Due to the persistently low water level this year, tankers are currently only able to carry about one third of the normal amount of petrol or diesel. According to Shell, a fully loaded tanker barge can transport about as much as 80 tanker trucks. What is the current water level of the Rhine? It hasn't been this low for years. After the level last Wednesday in Bonn had risen to 123 centimeters, it was again at 95 centimeters on Monday midday, with a further downward trend. In Cologne it fell from 117 to 82 centimeters, in Dusseldorf from 70 to 40 centimeters. In the navigation channels, the water depth was 204 centimeters in Bonn and 193 centimeters in Cologne. What has to happen for the Rhine to rise to a normal level? "It would have to rain really hard in southern Germany for two weeks," says Matthias Habel, spokesman for Wetteronline in Bonn. However, the rain must not be so heavy that floods occur. The dry soil cannot absorb much water at present. In the summer months, the Rhine is mainly fed by glacier melt water from Switzerland. But that stops in September. Then the Rhine is dependent on rainwater to maintain its level. How will the weather develop? There is hardly any rain in sight for the next few days, says the Wetteronline spokesperson. In the next five days, perhaps ten liters per square meter are foreseeable in some regions of southern Germany. "This is of no use to the Rhine at all." So the gas stations are running out of gas? "This risk does not exist because the sector can switch to other transport routes such as rail or tank trucks," explains Alexander von Gersdorff, spokesman for the Petroleum Industry Association in Berlin. "I don't see any permanent threat to supply, but the situation is not about to ease up either." A basic problem, however, is that there is not enough replacement capacity. This could lead to temporary shortages here and there. The association has therefore advocated a temporary lifting of the driving ban for trucks on Sundays and public holidays. Are other petroleum products also affected? Delivery problems caused by the low water level can also occur with heating oil or kerosene for aircraft. Products for the chemical industry are also affected. How do petrol stations respond? "If they run out of fuel at the gas station next to me, I know they're all coming to me," says Stephan Zieger, Managing Director of the Bundesverband Freier Tankstellen (Federal Association of Independent Petrol Stations) headquartered in Bonn. All petrol stations are currently trying to obtain as much fuel as possible through well thought-out logistics. He knows of a petrol station in the region that can get its fuel from Liege by tanker truck. Frankfurt petrol stations, in contrast would be supplied from Bremen. During the longer trips, of course, drivers must make sure that their driving times are not exceeded. The Dutch used to travel to Germany to buy cheap fuel, but now it's the other way round. Why are our neighbours like Holland, Belgium or Luxembourg not affected by the supply problem? Because they have other supply systems, says von Gersdorff. There, fuel supplies are transported via pipelines, tanker trucks or trains. The fact that the Rhine plays such a decisive role as a transport route in North Rhine-Westphalia or Rhineland-Palatinate is something out of the ordinary. Has it ever happened before that petrol stations could not be supplied? According to von Gersdorff, it's not unusual: "There are always interruptions." Snow and ice are often the cause of delivery problems. In 2011, it was a self-inflicted problem for the energy companies that led to occasional shortages of super gasoline: With the introduction of E10 fuel, petrol stations had filled their large storage tanks with the new biofuel instead of standard Super, but consumers did not want it. Are the price increases justified? The ADAC says: No. Crude oil has become around 20 percent cheaper than at the beginning of October, but gasoline is more expensive than it has been for years. "The suspicion is that the oil companies are emphasizing supply difficulties in order to increase their profit margins," the spokesman said. 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. Caves are more than the sites of mines and ancient hieroglyphs, the burial places of giants, and homes for bats. They can also be haunted. And, why not? In desperate times, caves were utilized for sanctuary and sometimes standoffs and, given the geology, they seem like ideal vessels in a feng shui sort of way, to retain and hold a kind of amplified haunting that is held captive in a cul-du-sac formation. I am utterly fascinated with the haunted cave phenomena. I cannot think of a better spirit vessel. Let's have a look at some more infamous haunted caves.... Bell Witch Cave The Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennessee is a very popularly known cave apparently haunted by the Bell Witch. The cave is supposedly beneath a burial mound and there is even the remains of a previously robbed Native grave, though this is rather unusual for a Native burial, but not at all unusual for a giant burial in a stone sarcophagus. There are vague reports of sounds, giggling, talking, laughter and more within the cave, as well as belief that the Bell Witch monitors the occupants or a woman is seen sometimes within the caverns. There has been a lot of hype around this site. There could be some genuine haunting going on, but the source of the haunting may not be a supposed Bell Witch, but something perhaps more ancient, as the robbed grave might provide. Mammoth Cave Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is called the largest haunted cave. Interestingly, both Tennessee and Kentucky have amazing geology and an ancient history of giant races, as well as having great histories of Native Tribes and Civil War hardships. These are perfect places for caves to be haunted. In fact, it's generally assumed there are lots more giant finds to be made in these caves, as well as perhaps even having active races of "little people" or "giants" and even "reptoids" existing within deep caverns today. This seriously mammoth cave has seen a lot of history for thousands of years and that leaves a certain mystique, but it also has reason to be supposedly haunted. As far back as 4000 years ago, "Natives" were mining deep inside it. Is the cave haunted by spirits or simply a very lengthy history for thousands of years? That is hard to tell, but some have had unusual experiences , seen things, heard things, felt things within. In 1797, a man chased a bear into the entrance of the cave. He was said to be the first white man to enter it. In 1798, a man who owned the land the cave was on, sold it to some brothers who wanted to mine saltpeter. By 1810, the brothers sold it to a bigger business who could mine for saltpeter on a bigger scale. The War of 1812 made saltpeter much sought after. The new owner had slaves working the cave to mine the saltpeter for eventual gunpowder production. After the war, however, saltpeter needs fell and the business went under. The cave then became known for the "mummies" found in it. This brought in the first tourists to see the cave. In 1842, the cave was used as an experiment to house people with TB. And patients died there. This cave in Derbyshire offered an odd sound - Swallow Cave Swallow Cave near Nahant, Massachusetts is not a particularly big cave, but it has a reputation of being haunted by a witch. The story goes back to the 1700s when Natives were fighting with settlers in Lynn, Massachusetts and they hid up in the cave. A local witch helped out the settlers to find the Natives, but then begged them to not fire upon the Natives. She somehow managed to convince the Natives to go back to the Cape Cod area and there was peace. Later, when she died, the people supposedly buried her above the cave in memory for what she had done and her spirit was said to still haunt the cave. Dungeon Rock Cave Dungeon Rock in Lynn, Massachusetts, has a reputation of a potential pirate treasure within. A spiritualist of the times, Hiram Marble, thought he could find the pirate treasure and use spiritualist movement tools to do so. It was his ultimate goal to prove that spiritualists' tools were credible. Unfortunately, he went decades searching and died without making his goal. Wabasha Street Caves This interesting place has a sorted history. The Wabasha Street Caves in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is a building that leads back into caverns where they once mined silica. At different times, it was used for everything from gangster hideout to mushroom farming. An apparition of a man wearing a panama hat has been seen inside and a female apparition at the bar. Three gangsters in the 1930s were said to be shot down within the caves and they all have been seen at various times haunting the place. Amusement Now, this may be a "haunted cave" you are more likely to visit - the infamous "Haunted Cave" in Lewisburg, Ohio ; a popular attraction! Here's a cave movie to put you in the mood - Marine Animal Rescue/Facebook(MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.) -- An animal rescue group is outraged after its president said he recovered a dolphin shot to death at a beach in Southern California. Peter Wallerstein, president of Marine Animal Rescue based out of El Segundo, California, told ABC News he spotted the freshly-killed dolphin in the surf on Manhattan Beach on Nov. 8. Wallerstein said he pulled the animal -- known as a common dolphin -- out of the water. When he saw the hole in its side, he brought the animal to an animal rehab center where the bullet was removed. Usually officials with the Los Angeles Natural History Museum will pick up a dead animal for a necropsy, according to Wallerstein. But since this seemed to be case in which the dolphin was purposefully killed, he wanted it to be analyzed immediately. Wallerstein called the incident "barbaric" and a "senseless act of aggression." He noted that he's seen sea lions who have been shot over the years, but this is the first dolphin killing he has come across. It's possible other dolphins in the area have been shot, but if they float further out to sea instead of towards shore, they wouldn't be noticed. "We don't know if it's the only one," said Wallerstein. "There could be others being shot out there, too." Marine Animal Rescue, which saves hundreds of marine animals every year in Los Angeles County, is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the dolphin's shooter. "We're gonna pursue it until we get the killer," Wallerstein said. Killing a wild dolphin -- as well as harassing, hurting or feeding one -- is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, according to NOAA Fisheries. The offender could face up to one year in jail and up to a $100,000 fine. Earlier this year, a dolphin was shot and killed off the coast of Mississippi. The NOAA wrote on its website that "the number of violent incidents towards dolphins in the Northern Gulf have increased in recent years." An NOAA spokesperson told ABC News the agency was aware of the reports that a dolphin had been shot in Manhattan Beach, but they would not comment on any potential or ongoing investigation. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. English Lithuanian Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba, AB identification code 302648707, registered office placed at Elektrines str. 21, LT-26108 Elektrenai, Republic of Lithuania. The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by company is 648 002 629; ISIN code LT0000128571. On 12 November 2018, the Board of the Company adopted a decision to discontinue the exploitation of the first unit of Kruonis Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant (KPSHP) as of 1 January 2019. On 20 November 2018, the Supervisory Board of the Company made a decision not to object discontinue of the use of the first unit of KPSHP. The decision to stop the operation of the first unit of the KPSHP was adopted having taken into consideration the scope of regulated services planned to be provided by the KPSHP systems in 2019 (it is estimated that an average of 400 MWh of secondary emergency reserve will be ordered in 2019; this service will be provided by two units of KPSHP), the situation of the electricity generation and system service market, the potentials of providing system services to the neighboring countries, changes in the regulatory environment, as well as following the assessment of economic viability of the costs allocated for maintenance and repair of units which provide no system services. It should be noted than in the meeting of 26 October 2018, the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) adopted a resolution Regarding the Electricity Transmission Service Prices and Publication of their Application Procedure, in which, compared to the procedure which has been applicable to date, the provision, which stipulated that no payment of the price for transmission services and system services was made for the amount of electricity transmitted to the KPSHP required for its loading, was repealed. After the electricity required for loading the KPSHP is imposed charges of transmission services and system services in 2019, the generation of electricity at KPSHP and the amounts of electricity consumed for loading will significantly reduce accordingly. Valentas Neviera, Head of Corporate Communication Division, tel. +370 5 278 2908, e-mail. valentas.neviera@le.lt Governments around the nation are working to design the best vaccine policies that keep both their employees and their residents safe. Although the latest data shows a variety of polarizing perspectives, there are clear emerging best practices that leading governments are following to put trust first: creating policies that are flexible and provide a range of options, and being in tune with the needs and sentiments of their employees so that they are able to be dynamic and accommodate the rapidly changing situation. Ohio Gov. John Kasich will veto both a heartbeat bill and stand-your-ground legislation if the controversial bills reach his desk during the legislature's current lame-duck session.That could set up a dramatic political contest of "beat the clock" in the waning days of 2018.During a meeting with reporters Monday afternoon outside the door to his Statehouse office, Kasich said he has not changed his opposition to either proposal. Two years ago he vetoed the Heartbeat Bill, which would ban abortions in Ohio once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. And he has threatened a veto for months on the gun rights measure, which would change Ohioans' obligation to retreat in threatening situations.The House has passed both items by margins wide enough votes to override a Kasich veto. The Senate has yet to act on either bill, but is expected to soon.Once a bill passes both chambers, it usually takes several days to officially land on the governor's desk. He then has 10 days to sign it, veto it or become law without his signature.That means if the Senate dawdles, the process may bleed into the Christmas holiday season -- a time when legislative leaders likely will have trouble mustering many members back to Columbus. And the Heartbeat Bill passed with 60 votes in the House -- the bare minimum to override Kasich's veto. The Stand Your Ground measure can only lose five supporters to remain veto-proof.Gov.-elect Mike DeWine has indicated backing for both ideas, if not these specific bills.But Senate President Larry Obhof, R-Medina, is not yet indicating that either the gun bill or the anti-abortion measure is headed for an override showdown with Kasich."My anticipation is we'll pass both and see how things unfold after that," Obhof said, stressing that his full Republican caucus has not yet decided to take the votes. "I'd be very surprised if a majority of the members was not in favor of doing both of these."If lawmakers want to override Kasich's vetoes, the Senate must act shortly after next week. "I think we'd have a long December.""There is a question of whether do we get to the right number of votes," he said. The Senate needs 20 for an override, which appears more of a certainty with the gun bill than the abortion measure."There's also a question of, does Mike DeWine want to work with us on those issues in January," Obhof said. "Are these things better dealt with right now, even though we will have to push back on the governor, or could they just as easily be done on Jan. 20?"Janet Porter, head of Faith2Action, which has pushed for the Heartbeat Bill for years, said Kasich will lose: "We will override him and he can never run again as a 'pro-lifer.'"Aaron Baer, president of Citizens for Community Values, tweeted, "Kasich should be ashamed of himself. He has the opportunity to save upwards of 10,000 lives per year, but is choosing to veto a law that Ohio clearly wants. Where's the compassion in that?"Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown tweeted, "Thank you @GovernorKasich."The stated purpose for the hallway press event was to tout federal statistics on Ohio's economy:--More Ohioans hold a private sector job than ever before. In October, 4,855,900 Ohioans were employed, including 565,700 jobs added since Kasich took office, breaking a record from 2000.--Since January 2011, Ohio wages have increased 31.7 percent faster than in the nation as a whole; in the past year, Ohio's wage growth has doubled the national rate.--From 1991-2010, Ohio's job growth rate ranked 46th in the U.S. Since January 2011, Ohio climbed to 22nd. In the past year it's 15th.Kasich said Ohio is more prosperous now than at anytime state history."Every once in awhile it makes sense to celebrate some good news," he said. Former Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Lance Mason, who spent nine months in prison for beating his then-wife in front of their children, is accused of fatally stabbing the woman Saturday morning at her Shaker Heights home, according to three sources.Mason was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of his estranged wife, Aisha Fraser Mason, at her home on Chagrin Boulevard near Normandy Road, the sources said.The house where the stabbing happened is near where police reported that a Shaker Heights police officer was hit by a car fleeing a domestic violence incident. The officer, who was in his cruiser at the time of the crash, was taken to the hospital and his condition was unknown.Agents with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are at the scene assisting Shaker Heights police.Shaker Heights police did not respond to multiple messages seeking comment until more than seven hours after the slaying, when the department issued a release stating only that Fraser Mason had been killed and that her estranged husband had been arrested.The refusal by the department to release details of the case in a timely manner continues the pattern of four years ago, when the suburb failed for more than 36 hours to provide its resident with an account of Mason's attack on his wife. More than 24 hours after the attack, then Mayor Earl Leiken refused even to to confirm that Mason was sitting in the Shaker Heights Jail.After Mason's release from prison, he was hired by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson as a minority business development director. The city said in a statement later in the day Saturday that Jackson fired Mason from his $45,000-per-year job because of his arrest."I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Ms. Aisha Fraser, especially to her children," Jackson said in a statement.Lizette Jordan, who identified herself as a longtime friend of the Masons, spoke well of both Mason and Fraser Mason. She said she wasn't aware of any issues between the two after the 2014 domestic violence incident."The only issues they ever had is when they argued about the girls," Jordan said, referring to their two children. "He really loved those girls though."Mason in August 2014 punched his then-wife 20 times and slammed her head against the dashboard of his car five times, breaking her orbital bone.The couple's children were in the back of the car when the attack occurred. Mason, who previously served in the state legislature, was a sitting Cuyahoga County judge when the attack happened.Mason drove home after the attack. A family member reported to Cleveland police that he might attempt suicide, but Mason surrendered. Officers searching his home at the time found smoke grenades, semi-automatic rifles, a sword, a bulletproof vest and more than 2,500 rounds of ammunition from the home.Mason pleaded guilty to felonious assault and domestic violence and was sentenced to two years in prison.He was granted judicial release nine months later. Part of his petition for early release included a letter to Fraser Mason in which he apologized to her, asked for her forgiveness and said he deeply regretted what happened.Mason wrote that he "failed as a husband, father, and a man," and promised that once he realized he was "broken" he became a better father and man, the letter said."My responsibility was to love and protect you," Mason's letter said. "Instead of loving, protecting and providing for you and our daughters, I have provided a terrible example, and exposed you to rage and violence."Fraser Mason, who needed reconstructive surgery on her face, filed for divorce two days after the incident. The divorce case is still pending.Fraser Mason also won a $150,000 judgement in a civil case after suing her ex-husband for damages after the attack.Mason was barred by law from ever being a judge again. His law license was suspended indefinitely in December 2017. Description GIS 20 November 2018: The Senator for French citizens living abroad, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces, and Vice-President of the Business Delegation, Mr Olivier Cadic, and the Ambassador of France to Mauritius, Mr Emmanuel Cohet, paid a courtesy call yesterday on the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Mr Ivan Collendavelloo, in Port Louis. In a statement, Mr Cadic underlined that discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister focused on how both Mauritius and France can work collaboratively as well as complement each other in promoting economic development and enhancing bilateral relations. Furthermore, the French Senator emphasised the need to identify new areas of cooperation and develop financial, operational and technological synergies with Reunion Island so as to improve economic conditions and enhance the quality of life of the population. In 2006, Mr Cadic became an elected representative to the Assembly of French Citizens Abroad. He later joined the Assembly of French Citizens Abroad Finance Commission and represented the Assembly on the board of directors of the Agency for French Education Abroad from September 2009 to September 2012. In May 2014, in London, Mr Cadic led the slate of United French Citizens in the United Kingdom. In September 2014, he became the first Union of Democrats and Independents Senator for French citizens living abroad. Description GIS 20 November 2018: A four-day workshop focusing on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Disaster Law (IDL) was launched yesterday in presence of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Institutional Reforms, Mr Maneesh Gobin, at the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in Bell Village. The Vice-President of the National Commission International Humanitarian Law of the Italian Red Cross, Ms A. Siena who is leading a seven-member delegation, was present. In his keynote address, the Minister emphasised that Government, has at heart, the well-being of the Mauritian population and is working towards ensuring safety, saving lives, alleviating poverty as well as maintaining law and order. The Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects and the Firearms Act, are few examples of the several initiatives which have been taken to provide for the protection of civilians, he pointed out. He underlined that the objective of the workshop is to promote the dissemination of information on IHL and IDL among important stakeholders such as police officers, prison officers, prosecutors, teachers, representatives of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre and volunteers of the Red Cross. He further pointed out that participants will learn to differentiate between International Criminal Law and IHL as well as find out on the regularity framework put in place for disaster-related operations. Moreover, Minister Gobin underscored that the Mauritius Red Cross Society has over time evolved into a centre of excellence in the field of training, disseminating information and providing social assistance for the most vulnerable. He commended the role and activities of the Society in the Disaster preparedness and response while adding that it offers great support to various organisations during times of crisis. For her part, the Vice-President of the National Commission International Humanitarian Law of the Italian Red Cross, Ms A. Siena, highlighted the importance of universality for the Red Cross movement to gain recognition worldwide. She pointed out that primary discussions were initiated, last year, between the Mauritius Red Cross Society and the National Commission International Humanitarian Law of the Italian Red Cross to strengthen their collaboration through training and capacity-building programmes. She also underpinned the role of the Red Cross in regrouping the youth and educate them about the importance of the voluntary service. This initiative of the Mauritius Red Cross Society and the National Commission International Humanitarian Law of the Italian Red Cross, aims at familiarising participants on the basics of the IHL and its framework. It will also enable sharing of knowledge and ideas on the disaster risk management operations. The workshop, attended by some hundred participants, will be facilitated by the delegation from the National Commission International Humanitarian Law of the Italian Red Cross. Vote swaps and double counts California screamin' No worse than any other system Ping-pong recount for judgeship Switching seats in Wellington Palm Beach County far from alone What if everyone could count votes? (TNS) A voting system has to do two things: Count votes correctly and keep them secure.The Sequoia voting system in Palm Beach County, harshly criticized and already old in 2007 when the county paid $5.5 million to keep it, has for years come under fire for not reliably doing one or the other or both.The aging system made headlines again last week, when high-speed vote counters appeared to overheat . That delayed vote counting in the nationally watched Florida recount.Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher Thursday reiterated her belief that equipment malfunctions are at fault for a failure to finish a machine recount in four races by a state-mandated deadline. The county's equipment is so outmoded she didn't have time to even start the recount of nearly 600,000 ballots in two of the statewide races.Dominion Voting Systems, the Nebraska-based owner of the Sequoia system, balked at her comments, saying its equipment may not be to blame.While it's too early to pinpoint what happened and why, the machines were being run at four times the volume they would be expected to handle, company Vice President of Government Affairs Kay Stimson said."Palm Beach County has been running this equipment in a way that stresses it and that is highly unique," she said. "It has also been running these machines in a mode that we have never seen before."John Brakey, an Arizona-based voting transparency advocate who has pushed for adoption of newer election systems, pointed out that "These machines usually run eight hours a day," not day and night without pause."Everyone did the best they could," said Brakey, "but it was an insane recount to do so much so fast."Bucher already has declared her intention of asking the secretary of state to yank the equipment's certification, which means it could no longer be sold in Florida.Not that anyone is buying: Palm Beach is the last Florida county to be using Sequoia.Dominion sells newer systems here.But when Dominion bought Sequoia Voting Systems in 2010, it also inherited that company's namesake product and the criticism that has dogged it for more than a decade.In 2008, the Sequoia system played a murky role in vote-switching in a local judge's race. It double-counted more than 10,000 votes in Indian River County. In Wellington in 2012, it shifted votes, reporting that two losing council candidates had won.Also in 2008, it ran into trouble in New Jersey, where 37 touchscreen machines counted more Republican votes than Republican voters in some precincts, and more Democratic votes than Democratic voters in others. It stumbled in Washington, D.C., where a touchscreen version added 1,500 write-in votes.In Berkeley, Calif., teams of computer scientists long ago concluded the system was both flawed and vulnerable, a finding that prompted the state to yank the system's certification for sale in that state.The criticism largely involves older versions of Sequoia. Much as a house is repaired and expanded over the years, though, multiple add-ons and updates have been created to make Sequoia more accurate and safer.But the system certified for sale in Florida hasn't been changed since 2015, according to state records, and those changes did not affect the underlying software or critical components involving most voters.And it's not immediately clear whether updates and patches could entirely remedy the issues found by the California scientists.Some could easily be fixed. Others were more concerning, such as "architectural decisions that were made very, very deeply in the system's design," University of Pennsylvania computer scientist Matt Blaze told The Palm Beach Post in 2012.In a room at the University of California, Berkeley in 2007, Blaze, Ka-Ping Yee and a team of about seven other computer scientists were putting Sequoia to the test, poring over 800,000 lines of source code.Source code is the basis of any computer program; the programming instructions for how a system works. It's jealously guarded by elections systems companies: Sequoia once threatened to sue the state of New Jersey if it allowed Princeton University computer scientists to examine the source code.At Berkeley, security was tight. The source code was locked in a safe every night. Janitors were not allowed to enter. The room had its own alarm system.But the findings were made public, because the rare look at source code was part of a broader review of voting systems ordered by California's secretary of state."I anticipated that we would find problems, because the source code had not been reviewed independently outside of Sequoia," recalled Yee."I was shocked, however, at the number and nature and the pervasiveness of the problems we found."The team reported that vote-counting software recorded 50,000 votes from a "precinct" with 100 voters. The system accepted "negative" numbers of votes. Every cryptographic algorithm complex math designed to keep information secret "was either obsolete, known to be weak or ... had obvious flaws," the team's report stated.One team was able to break into the machines seven times. Five of 15 instances of poor encryption were found in high-speed ballot-readers, like those counting absentee ballots at election headquarters."Virtually every important software security mechanism is vulnerable," they wrote.California's secretary of state declared the Sequoia system to be defective and inadequate and ultimately pulled state certification for that version of Sequoia to be sold there.Five months later, Palm Beach County paid $5.5 million for a slightly newer version of the same system.Dominion Voting Systems would eventually buy Sequoia. But in 2007, it was a Dominion salesperson who warned Palm Beach County commissioners that Sequoia was "obsolete" and filled with old technology.There had been plenty of discussion about whether then-Supervisor of Elections Arthur Anderson should extend Sequoia's existing Palm Beach contract with a no-bid contract.Susan Bucher, who had yet to run for supervisor of elections, quietly lobbied against purchasing it. California's blistering report was online and had been for months.The county bought it anyway.Anderson had not been impressed with Dominion's argument that the system was old. In a less-than-ringing endorsement, Anderson explained tothat Sequoia was no worse than any other elections system.The next year, it was at the center of a vote-counting controversy.As judge's races go, the 2008 match of Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Richard Wennet against attorney Bill Abramson wasn't expected to gin up much heat outside of the legal community.That was before vote-counting machines started adding and subtracting votes for both.On election night, Abramson claimed victory with a 17-vote lead.But at a church on Military Trail outside of Delray Beach, the cartridge that was supposed to record the 110 votes cast at that precinct had recorded no votes at all. At an elementary school in Lake Worth, 60 votes were cast but just 35 had been recorded. At a church on Spencer Drive in West Palm Beach, 43 ballots had been cast but only 11 had been counted. In all, workers found 198 uncounted ballots.There was a recount. Abramson came up the loser this time.A court ordered a second recount. Abramson came up the winner.Human error played a role. Roughly 3,500 ballots had been misplaced.Then-Assistant Palm Beach County Administrator Brad Merriman, tapped to oversee the office after the first recount, said it might never be possible to determine whether other problems were man-made or machine error.But he pointed out that roughly 102,700 ballots were run through the machines several times, and "volume is always an issue with these machines."Like the 2008 judicial race, Wellington's hotly contested 2012 municipal contest appeared unlikely to trigger interest beyond city limits.And under Dominion, the Sequoia system had been upgraded, bolstering accuracy and security.But on election night, winners were found in all the wrong places.Shauna Hostetler was elected to Seat 1. John Greene lost.Al Paglia won Seat 4. Matt Willhite lost.Bob Margolis pulled 58 percent of the vote in the mayor's race, a clear win.Six days later an audit turned the results upside down.John Greene won Seat 1. Hostetler lost.Matt Willhite won Seat 4. Paglia lost.Margolis won with 50.6 percent of the vote, not 58 percent.Bucher responded with a press release that began with: "Technology fails."Dominion said the software did nothing to stop a "shortcoming" and also allowed the error to go undetected.But Dominion balked at the idea that a bug in the system actually caused the error.Bucher's sharp criticism of the company's error did not extend to immediately getting rid of the election system. Six years later, Sequoia was still counting votes for Palm Beach County; this time, running day and night to meet a state deadline for ballot counting in the heated 2018 midterms.When tabulators stopped, Bucher cited overheating and decried that equipment as old, echoing a complaint Dominion had raised 11 years earlier when it did not own the system."There's no denying that this is an older system," Dominion's Stimson said; however, "It's really not their age, it's how they are being used," she said."It is outside the normal processes."Sequoia is not the only Florida voting system to face criticism.At the 2018 Defcon convention, one of the largest hacker gatherings in the country, hackers easily broke into and discovered multiple vulnerabilities in a version of Miami-Dade's vote tabulator.In 2012, almost half of Florida's votes were counted by tabulators that could malfunction in as little as two hours and start adding votes. The manufacturer issued a nationwide bulletin warning that it needed to be carefully cleaned to avoid adding "phantom" votes.In a Broward County precinct in 2004, under certain circumstances, equipment counted about 32,000 votes and then started counting backward.In Hillsborough County in 2008, a computer server crashed when early voting results were fed into it. In 2010, memory cards there failed. A spokesman for the supervisor of elections said the company admitted error.If accuracy and security seem to attract recurring criticism, it's partly because voting systems are complex. They include much more than source code, or precinct ballot counters and the large central counters that tabulate precinct results.There are also memory cards and cards to activate them, USB sticks, off-the-shelf software, special seals and scanner encryption. They all have to work, sometimes in tandem.They have to work with humans, who have their own built-in potential for error.And good software code can be hard very hard to write. Even Microsoft, which has deeper pockets and small armies of coders no election vendor enjoys, routinely sends out "patches" to improve its best-known products and resolve unforeseen glitches."It's difficult to impossible to make a software that is 100 percent perfect," said Yee. But it is possible to create software where errors are detected, he said, a crucial component in catching mistakes and creating confidence in voting systems.Ion Sancho, former Leon County elections supervisor, agrees that trying to make a bullet-proof system is not the answer. "Protecting the front end to make sure no one can penetrate your systems is an exercise in futility," he said.Sancho should know. He gained international notoriety in 2005 when he invited Finnish computer programmer Harri Hursti to try to break into his election system.It was easy, the equivalent of "A house with an unlockable revolving door," Hursti later wrote.Sancho and some other elections officials, however, are encouraged by another type of voting technology.The older Sequoia system does not have the capability, but multiple Florida counties are now using newer voting systems in which ballots are photographed and can be stored. Brakey, the Arizona activist, has successfully argued in Ohio, and sued in Alabama, that the photographs are public records and should be retained.Because they are anonymous, the ballot images can be made public, including publishing them online. That means candidates can do their own audit of any race, and any precinct. It gives voters the data for their own 100 percent recount.Anyone, anywhere, can count all the votes."You could have a completely transparent system," Brakey said.It's a system that also can spot elections system problems quickly and cheaply. In Humboldt County, Calif., scanned, publicly available ballot images revealed 197 votes dropped by machines and prompted an examination of the voting system.Now, Brakey is in Broward County, where he says he is considering suing Florida's secretary of state to make sure counties do not immediately destroy the ballot images created by the newer systems. It's a first step toward making them accessible, and, he says, getting beyond the distrust created when voting systems don't work as expected.Bucher, meanwhile, is wading through recounts, and with fewer machine problems."The machines have been working very well," she said. "I just think we can't operate them 24/7."And, said Bucher, "We look very much forward to assembling new equipment for our next elections cycle." (TNS) - Leigh Bailey, 54, was awakened not by her phone, warning her about an incoming fire that would soon destroy her town, but by a neighbor pounding on her door.Bailey had no idea how bad the fire was about to become. So she went back inside around 9:15 a.m., had a cup of tea and ate some coffee cake and slowly packed some clothes and her dog and cat before heading out of her home in Magalia, just north of Paradise.She escaped but barely, on a narrow dirt road she stumbled on despite driving through thick smoke and the failure of her GPS.We had absolutely no evacuation orders, Bailey said. No call, no emergency text, nothing and neither did anyone I know.This has been a recurring problem.More than 140 people have died in California over the last 13 months from various calamities, ranging from the fires in wine country to the mudslides in Montecito.In many of these disasters, officials have acknowledged flaws in the evacuation plans, including the failure to use the latest technology to broadcast Amber Alert-style warnings on cellphones ahead of deadly disasters.But when the worst fire in California history moved into Paradise this month, the evacuation plan fell short, with officials using an older alert system that reached only a fraction of the town instead of the federal governments Wireless Emergency Alert system, known as WEA, which would have reached far more people.In both the [wine country] fire and the [Paradise] fire, if you look at the growing number of fatalities they were people who were in their house or running to their car. Thats indicative of a population that was never alerted. They didnt see anything on their TV, radio, nothing, said Thomas Cova, director of University of Utahs Center for Natural and Technological Hazards. We are not using all the tools we could to communicate with people.In both of those fire areas and in many other local jurisdictions, officials rely on older emergency warning systems that reach a dwindling number of landline phone lists and cellphone numbers voluntarily submitted by residents. Those numbers represent only a fraction of the population.Theyre using outdated technology, Cova said. Were learning the same things from the Camp fire that we already learned from the Tubbs fire.Emergency managers should use all the available tools in getting the word out about a risk to life whether it be Wireless Emergency Alert texts or going door-to-door, said Richard Rudman, vice chair of the California Emergency Alert Systems emergency communications committee.They need to open up the entire toolkit and use everything, Rudman said. You never know who youre going to miss, or who youre going to hit.The Times has reported that Paradise officials initially limited evacuation orders to just the side of town closest to the fire hoping to keep the limited exit routes clear for those who needed to escape first. Some residents heard of the evacuation order from police cars driving by, barking the warnings through a loudspeaker. Others had to find out by door knocks or text messages from neighbors.The strategy failed the fire moved too fast. By the time officials issued an order to evacuate the rest of the city, the CodeRed telephone warning system was too slow to blanket the town with an immediate warning.Its a scenario hauntingly similar to what happened in wine country last year.Sonoma County Sheriffs officials faced criticism for not sending a blanket alert over the Wireless Emergency Alert system as the Tubbs fire leaped from wildlands into town. Officials defended the decision, saying the system wasnt precise geographically and could needlessly warn people outside of the immediate zone of danger, unnecessarily causing them to jam roads. There was also a discussion of the limits of WEA text messages, which allow only 90 characters.Yet the result was that many people were caught unaware about the fires path until it put them at risk; some were awakened when the flames were on their doorsteps. At least 22 people died as the flames swept into populated areas overnight; many who survived said they heard of the danger only from door knocks and firefighters shouting at sleeping residents to flee.A timely abbreviated message is preferable to a thorough message delivered too late, concluded the report by the California Governors Office of Emergency Services.The chairman of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, James Gore, said during emergencies, government should do everything in our power to notify everybody in harms way.The first thing is that people need to know what the hell is going on, Gore said. And if you have situational awareness, you need to share it. Would that have changed anything? Who knows. But at least we wouldve known we did that.Its true there are problems with the system, he acknowledged. But in imperfect times, you have to be relentless about getting word out and letting people know whats going on, Gore said.Another problem in recent fires was how the wind-whipped blazes moved so fast that firefighters werent always certain where the flames were. Local governments need to improve their ability to quickly understand where the fire is headed the Tubbs fire leaped over a length in four hours that it took the Hanley fire of 1964 a day and a half, Gore said.As a result, Sonoma County is investing in fire camera systems, approving earlier this year spending $500,000 to install eight of them for live broadcasting on www.alertwildfire.org. They are infrared cameras helpful to see the heat of the fire through smoke. During the Tubbs fire, the smoke was so thick it was difficult to track the progress of a fire that was moving the length of a football field every minute, Gore said.Youre talking about a fire line that is shooting mortar fire in front of it, Gore said.Sonoma County is also looking at installing siren systems, such as in areas without reliable cellphone service, as well as along the coast to warn of a tsunami and near dams to warn of a breach.You cant trust tech all the time, Gore said. During the Tubbs fire, the connections to the cell towers burned down. Verizon was completely off the grid for everybody in our community. Comcast was down for a week.Some cities still use air sirens, like San Francisco, which tests its citywide system every Tuesday at noon. In a real emergency, residents can get emergency information from their radios. Newport Beach recently installed three emergency sirens on its coast.Sometimes local officials dont issue alerts on the Wireless Emergency Alert system because they lack information on how to use it. After criticism of San Joses lack of widespread warning to residents of incoming floodwaters in January 2017, an internal report said there was a general lack of institutional knowledge on how to broadcast alerts on that system.This past January, a WEA message wasnt sent out until hillsides were already dissolving into a river of mud, debris and boulders in Montecito, killing more than 20 people. When rains returned in March, officials sent out a WEA message 12 hours before the storm was estimated to arrive, telling people that an evacuation was underway and that they should visit a county website for more information.In Los Angeles, Controller Ron Galperin in August criticized officials for not sending a Wireless Emergency Alert to notify residents of an initial evacuation order for last years Creek fire in Sylmar.The city should err on the side of more information to ensure the widest possible audience during potentially dangerous situations, Galperin wrote.Los Angeles recently used the Wireless Emergency Alert system to notify residents in an area of West Hills during the Woolsey fire, said Kate Hutton, a spokeswoman for the citys emergency management department.There is a level of comfort that grows as you use the system, Hutton said. We have not ever, in my experience, had any panic from the public.Last year, state officials took an unprecedented step of issuing a Wireless Emergency Alert for seven Southern California counties that simply said: Strong winds overnight creating extreme fire danger. Stay alert. Listen to authorities. Experts thought it was a prudent use of the system.In areas where telephone coverage is unavailable, buying a so-called National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio may be a good option. Weather radios can have features that beep before an urgent message is broadcast about an imminent fire warning issued by local law enforcement, which the National Weather Service can transmit over its frequency.Malibu residents are demanding improvements in emergency notifications.Movie director Damien Chazelle, who lives in Malibu, said it took friends miles away from the Woolsey fire, in West Hollywood and Los Angeles, to warn him and his wife to evacuate.And as we got on the road and drove out, we passed several people, just out walking dogs and we would kind of pull over, ask if theyd heard about the evacuation, Chazelle told the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. And in all cases, they hadnt heard anything.There was not really a system of everyone finding out what was going on, Malibu resident Shelby Meade said. How can we with knowing were going to have possible landslides coming have a better way to notify everyone, [like] an Amber Alert? What is our system so we can get it out there?We were all left in the dark, Meade said. And that was the scariest thing.Los Angeles County officials did not respond to a request for comment.The Ventura County sheriffs department sent out three Wireless Emergency Alerts during the first hours of the Hill and Woolsey fires to various parts of the county, depending on what area was at greatest risk first at 4:41 p.m. on Nov. 8 to the Camarillo and Thousand Oaks areas, then 11:26 that night to the Oak Park and Thousand Oaks areas, and then at 1:59 the next morning in the Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Sherwood and Hidden Valley areas.Kevin McGowan, assistant director for the sheriffs Office of Emergency Services, said Ventura County doesnt have a way to confirm whether people received Wireless Emergency Alerts, but said he believes many people did receive them. The county also sent law enforcement to knock on doors and issued alerts through VC Alert, an alert system that can send out longer text messages and include links in them but requires residents to voluntarily provide their email addresses and phone numbers ahead of a disaster.You might not have received a message from every tool, McGowan said, but added that if you heard about the evacuation order and left, then the effort was a success.Some residents who were in mandatory evacuation areas told The Times they didnt get an alert over their cellphones. Vanessa Christopher, 31, woke up at midnight on Nov. 9 to the sound of wind howling. It was only on Twitter that she first found out law enforcement had ordered the evacuation of her neighborhood in Thousand Oaks.This is kind of terrifying, but neither my husband nor I got emergency alerts to our phones, she said.Her neighbors later told her that police came by later to knock on doors to make sure everyone evacuated.Serna and St. John reported from Paradise, Calif., and Lin from Los Angeles. Soumya Karlamangla and Sean Greene contributed from Thousand Oaks, and Nina Agrawal and Bettina Boxall from Los Angeles.2018 the Los Angeles TimesVisit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) Texting 911 in Washington's Benton and Franklin counties will be a reality. When that will happen, however, remains to be seen.Southeast Communications Center leaders are talking about what theyll need to do before putting the service in place, said Richland police Capt. Mike Cobb, who heads up the regional dispatch center.The center handles all of the emergency calls and many of the non-emergency for fire and police agencies in Benton and Franklin counties. On average, 1,000 calls a day come through the center.Few details of 911 service have been ironed out. Major questions like how it would work, how much would it cost, when would it be installed and who would provide the service are still to be answered.If we can take advantage of that technology and have it be operationally effective, then we want to do that, Cobb said.The push for emergency texts dates back to 2010. Then-Federal Communications Commission Chair Julius Genachowski called for 911 centers to start accepting texts. He pointed to the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech, when text messages went unanswered as students hid, according to reports on CNN and Governing Magazine Students and witnesses desperately tried to send texts to 911 that dispatchers never received, the FCC said at the time.The FCC called for text service to be in place by 2014. Counties across Washington have been slow to find ways to make it work. There are 11 counties that have the service in place, including Clark, Thurston, Clallam, Jefferson, Wahkiakum, Pacific, Snohomish, Kitsap, Grand and Spokane.Walla Wallas dispatch center is one of the latest to announce a concerted push to get the system in place. Public Safety Communications Director Steve Ruley promised to have it up by the middle of next year if not sooner.While texting technology is more than 25 years old, its not a simple change, Cobb said.There are a lot of different aspects to this rather than just making the service available, he said. There is an operational side and a legal side.We need to make sure this is going to meet the need and serve the public.Right now dispatch leaders are looking at various vendors to find software that works well with their computer systems.The average shift at the center divides workers into two groups: up to three people answering phones, and four people working on the radio with police and fire agencies, who also sometimes answer the phones.Whoever receives the text would need to stop receiving phone calls. Then the person getting the call needs to be able to transfer that information into the system police and fire use on the computers in their vehicles.Then leaders need to determine how to store those text messages in case someone makes a public records request for them. (TNS) Thirteen months ago, a wildfire ripped through the homes of Sonoma County residents in the early-morning hours and killed 24 people who were unable to evacuate in time. County officials were later criticized for limiting the scope of their alerts to residents, and the Tubbs Fire tragedy was held up as a somber lesson in emergency management.But a little more than a week since the Camp Fire ignited to become the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history 71 people are dead and more than 1,000 are unaccounted for the response by Butte County officials has raised questions about how far the state has come in the past year, and whether local governments are doing everything they can to warn people of the devastating blazes before theyre burning at their doors.Last weeks inferno has become an all-too-familiar scene in what experts call the new normal as Californias climate changes, and, according to some experts, so was the response.As the Camp Fire raced toward homes in Paradise and Magalia, Butte County Sheriffs officials deployed on-foot evacuation crews and messages through an opt-in system called CodeRed. However, they failed to issue whats known as a Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA: a mass, Amber Alert-style message sent to all area cell phones that is specifically designed for an emergency such as a wildfire.California agencies have nearly doubled their use of WEAs in 2018 compared with last year, and the system has been promoted in statewide legislation, various media reports and a pending best practices protocol to be issued by the state.What would have been nice to see in the Camp Fire (was a) WEA alert to let everyone know about the fire and to prepare accordingly, said Thomas Cova, director of the Center for Natural & Technological Hazards at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Even though it would have been followed shortly by an urgent evacuation notice, people especially the less mobile would have been given a fighting chance to ready themselves to go if they hadnt left already.Its unclear whether the alert could have saved lives lost in the Camp Fire. Cell phone service near Paradise is notoriously spotty, and many of the towns elderly residents relied on land lines. A spokeswoman for the Butte County Sheriffs Office said the fire might also have burned through cell towers.A new law will require the states Office of Emergency Services to develop emergency notification protocols for counties and improve training and access to Wireless Emergency Alerts. The protocol is in draft form now, but most counties have already received a copy.It basically says the mass notification system is one of a number of tools in the toolbox, said Paul Hess, emergency manager for the Alameda County Sheriffs Office of Emergency Services. And for an incident of this type, where you have a large fire, they recommend that you use as many of the tools in the toolbox as possible.The Tubbs Fire prompted officials in Sonoma County to register to send their own alerts. While emergency managers had access last year, now the county Sheriffs Office does as well. The agency has issued two alerts and one test in the year since, said Misti Harris, a Sheriffs Office spokeswoman.Federal Emergency Management Agency data on WEA alerts show that local California agencies are growing increasingly comfortable with the system. City, county and state agencies issued 66 alerts last year, and 108 by mid-November 2018. The notifications were deployed for a variety of circumstances, including Amber Alerts, mandatory evacuations and test messages.Butte County sheriffs officials declined to answer questions about their decision not to issue WEA alerts. A spokeswoman said the office is still in emergency response mode and theres been no time to analyze what actions were taken.At the onset of the fire, the county relied on an opt-in system called CodeRed to alert residents of the approaching threat. Officials sent out about 5,000 emails, 26,000 reverse-911 calls and 5,400 text messages to those who signed up for the service.We know we used CodeRed messages. We used law enforcement officers in the area, said spokeswoman Megan McMann. No single notification system is 100 percent effective. That is made more difficult with how rapid this fire was moving. When this emergency is over, we will be able to put our attention toward this.Butte County, like dozens of other counties and cities in California, have WEA alerts at their disposal by signing up through FEMAs Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, or IPAWS.FEMA records show Butte County became an alerting authority in early 2014 but has not issued an alert since at least January 2017. Butte County also hasnt used the IPAWS Lab Test or training equipment, an official told The Chronicle.Butte County officials have not explained this inaction, but last year Sonoma County emergency managers said they feared the alert would have reached cell phones far from the area of the fire, potentially causing panic and gridlock during the evacuation. A report issued months later by the California Office of Emergency Services found that the countys response fell short , and specifically criticized its decision not to issue a WEA.Local emergency managers had a limited awareness and understanding of the WEA system and outdated information regarding WEAs technical capabilities, the report said.Cova and his colleagues study the way government agencies respond to natural disasters and emergencies, and theyve found many officials are still unclear on WEAs capabilities and its effects.Theres 50-plus years of research in disaster public response showing that alerts/warnings dont cause panic in disaster events, Cova wrote in an email.He defined panic as a breakdown of reasoning when people take actions that arent in their best interest.Its a common myth used to withhold information from the public in a disaster, Cova said. The real problem is lack of information to allow people to mill seek further information and communicate with others and ultimately build situational awareness and develop a plan to take protective action.Cova pointed to Ventura Countys response to the Thomas Fire on Dec. 4, 2017, as a testament to WEAs value. County officials issued an alert noting the exact location of a FAST MOVING BRUSH FIRE and directed people to the countys website. Though residents were stunned that the fire traveled so quickly, many were ready to go when asked to evacuate.End result: no fatalities, Cova said, noting that two people were killed indirectly: a firefighter later died from smoke inhalation and a woman fleeing the fire was killed in a car accident.Despite the ubiquity of cell phones, other officials counter that the WEA system is far from perfect.Right now the way its set up, you cant fine-tune your coverage very well, said Hess, who oversees Alameda Countys emergency responses. If you select a county boundary, chances are its bleeding over (from Alameda) across the bay into San Francisco and San Mateo counties, probably hitting a lot more people than we intend.Federal officials are working to make the systems alert areas more precise, Hess said.But were not there yet, he said.John Pohmajevich, 60, of Magalia (Butte County) said he didnt receive an alert and in a way I think it was wrong. But the way that fire happened, if it wouldnt have been windy, the fire wouldnt have done all this damage. The wind is what did all the damage.He said there was no way to predict how the Camp Fire exploded and commended the firefighters efforts.Harris, a spokeswoman for the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office, said the WEA alerts have been helpful, if imperfect, in three instances. The Sheriffs Office issued an alert after an Aug. 3 explosion at a Guerneville Safeway during the towns Lazy Bear weekend. With so many tourists in town celebrating the festival, Harris said, it was helpful to use the devices feature for all cell phones in the geographic area.But in a test run of the system, county officials found that some people who were in the targeted area didnt receive the message, while others outside the area did.Theres a lot of inconsistency as to who received it, Harris said.The states new protocols are in draft form and under review, said Office of Emergency Services spokesman Kelly Huston. California wont require local agencies to abide by one standard but rather will outline an assortment of alert options to choose from, including social media, WEAs, opt-in alerts and reverse-911 calls.The goal is to educate emergency managers and allow them to choose the procedures best for their community. The plan thats best for, say, Modoc County wont look the same as the one for San Francisco.Its hard to develop a standard when theres not necessarily one way to do it, Huston said. Ultimately, its their decision, and they need to have the right tools to make that decision.San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Sarah Ravani contributed to this report. You can add writing emotional TV ads to the growing list of things that IBMs supercomputer Watson can do.Lexus announced Monday the European release of the Lexus ES with the first-ever advertisement written by an artificial intelligence. Directed by Kevin Macdonald, an Oscar-winning filmmaker, the ad focuses on the emotional attachment of a craftsman and the car he built.The script was created through a partnership between the IBM Watson team, Visual Voice, Lexus and the creative agency The&Partnership London. The AI was trained on 15 years of award-winning car and luxury brand ads, as well as other data. Once it had developed an outline for the script, the human collaborators used that to form the ads story. (TNS) The Defense Department has spent nearly $1 billion on its first agencywide audit, which has revealed widespread problems with cybersecurity, Pentagon officials said Thursday."We failed the audit. But we never expected to pass it, Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told reporters at the Pentagon about the audit, which took nearly a year to complete.Shanahan said the audit, which began in December 2017, revealed many issues including inventory accuracy and complying with cybersecurity discipline. The audit itself cost $413 million. But in addition, the Pentagon has spent $406 million on audit remediation and $153 million on financial system fixes.With $2.7 trillion in assets and $2.6 trillion in liabilities, David Norquist, the Defense Departments comptroller, said he thinks this is the largest financial statement audit ever undertaken.About 1,200 auditors from nine independent public accounting firms and staffers from the departments Office of the Inspector General conducted 900 site visits at more than 600 department locations, including military bases, warehouses and depots, he said. The audit report is 236 pages.Fifty-five percent of the departments assets and liabilities were under audit for the very first time this year, Norquist said.The auditors used statically valid samples to look at the accuracy and completeness of count, location, and condition of military equipment, property such as buildings, and inventory, he said. They also tested the security of the departments business systems, such as finance and personnel records.The Office of the Inspector General gave an overall opinion of disclaimer on the reports provided by the auditors. In a statement, the inspector general said it was because they could not obtain sufficient appropriate evidence on which to base an audit opinion. Audit opinions given as unmodified or clean are the best, then modified, followed by disclaimer, and adverse as the worst opinion. The inspector generals opinion is factored into the audit report.The audit is not a pass-fail process, Shanahans spokesman Lt. Col. Joe Buccino wrote in an email. We did not receive an adverse finding the lowest possible category in any area. We did receive findings of disclaimer in multiple areas. Clearly more work lies ahead of us.Congress has required a Defense Department audit since the early the 1990s, but the federal governments largest agency had never fully undertaken one. The 2014 National Defense Authorization Act required the department to be ready for an audit by September 2017.IG officials and auditors issued more than 2,000 notices of findings and recommendations, according to Norquist. The largest number of findings were related to information technology security of the departments business systems.This is a significant number and it reflects the challenges that the department and others face with IT security, he said.In the report summary, auditors found the departments financial and business management systems and processes do not provide reliable, timely, nor accurate information.It also states IT has systemic shortfalls in implementing cybersecurity measures to guard the data protection environment and issues exist in policy compliance with cybersecurity measures, oversight, and accountability.Other than IT, there were several areas of material weakness listed in the report, including in military pay, contractor and vendor pay, and personnel and organizational management.However, Norquist said the auditors found no evidence of fraud.The compliance issues revealed by the audit are irritating, Shanahan said. Some of those things frustrated me because we have a job to do, we just need to follow our procedures.Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, the outgoing chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that while Congress directed the Defense Department to conduct the audit to better manage its resources and identify areas of future reform, it shouldnt be used as a tool for random cuts at the Pentagon.As expected, this audit has uncovered a number of matters that Congress and the Pentagon must work together to address, Thornberry said. We must take advantage of this opportunity to continue our reform efforts and make the Pentagon more efficient and agile. It should not be used as an excuse for arbitrary cuts that reverse the progress we have begun on rebuilding our strength and readiness.At this point, no one is being punished for problems found by the audit, according to Norquist, because they realize many of the issues existed prior to when the current leadership took control.Going forward, senior leaders will be graded in their performance evaluations on how they fix issues identified in the audit.So I think what youll see from [Defense Secretary Jim Mattis] is a clear message to the workforce about now that youre aware of it, your job is to fix it, Norquist said. Heads in the sand Turmoil (TNS) Two months before Election Day, a judge asked state officials a deceptively straightforward question: How had they repaired a data breach in Georgias voter-registration system?They didnt know.This exchange, cited in court filings last week, underscored the ambiguities surrounding Georgias unusually close Nov. 6 election . A series of lawsuits exposed significant failings in how the state managed this years voting, while also casting doubt on the integrity of future elections.One judge found that repeated inaccuracies in registration data kept qualified voters from casting ballots. Witnesses described chaotic scenes at polling places, where voting supervisors inconsistently applied rules on provisional balloting and other matters. And the plaintiffs in one case claimed that election officials did nothing to protect against known vulnerabilities, such as the data breach discovered in 2017, that left their computer system open to manipulation and attack.The Georgia secretary of states office, which oversees elections, did not respond to a request for comment. Attorneys for state and county election officials declined to discuss the lawsuits. In court documents, they disputed the severity and pervasiveness of problems that had emerged since Election Day.Elections have never been flawless enterprises. Eighteen years ago, hanging chads scraps of paper clinging to punch cards threw a presidential race into turmoil. Every election generates complaints of computer malfunctions, balky voting machines, or human error.But this year Georgia experienced its tightest race for governor in 52 years, and lawsuits concerning the election fueled questions about whether widespread irregularities tainted the results.Democrat Stacey Abrams, who ended her campaign Friday but pointedly refused to concede to Republican Brian Kemp, did little to dispel the doubts. Democracy failed Georgia, she said in a televised address, accusing Kemp of engaging in misconduct by simultaneously running for governor and supervising the election as secretary of state.Abrams spoke of truly appalling efforts to suppress voting, of incompetence and mismanagement by Kemps office, even of good and evil forces that tilted the elections outcome.She announced that she created an organization called Fair Fight Georgia, which will file a federal lawsuit alleging gross mismanagement of this election, in an attempt to de-legitimize Kemps win.Minutes later, Kemp tweeted that the election is over.We can no longer dwell on the divisive politics of the past, he wrote.Not since 1946, when three men laid claim to the governors office following Gov.-elect Eugene Talmadges death , has a Georgia gubernatorial election ended so acrimoniously.It may well be that there have been problems like this in Georgias election system for years and years, said Laughlin McDonald, special counsel in Atlanta for the ACLUs Voting Rights Project. But when you have such a close election like this governors race, the issues become much more important and, as weve seen, magnified.The disputed results also bring to mind the 2000 presidential campaign, which remained unsettled for more than a month after Election Day as Florida officials recounted disputed ballots. The U.S. Supreme Court finally put a stop to the recount, effectively selecting George W. Bush as president over Al Gore.It feels like the same level of intensity of Bush v. Gore, although the stakes arent as high and that was a Florida battle, Lee Parks, an Atlanta lawyer and voting rights expert, said Wednesday. Still, its an eerie parallel. Ive never seen anything quite like this in Georgia.It could be just a prologue, though. With the winning Republican barely cracking 50 percent of 3.9 million votes cast, Georgia seems all but certain to become a battleground state in the 2020 presidential race. Another hard-fought campaign will present yet another test for the states election infrastructure.The lawsuits began even before the voting ended.Some cases challenged the grounds for which absentee ballots were disallowed. One sought more lenient standards for determining the validity of provisional ballots, used when questions arise over a voters eligibility. Another, filed on Election Day, took direct aim at Kemp, seeking to disqualify him from certifying the results of his own race. That case became moot two days after the election, however, when Kemp claimed victory and resigned as secretary of state.Lawyers have used statistical analyses, sworn statements and other evidence to document what they say are far-reaching problems and inconsistencies before and after Election Day. What was unusual about their approach was the timing: in past elections, legal challenges typically came only after final results were certified. But the recent cases, brought while votes were still being counted, essentially turned federal judges into quasi-election administrators who took local and state officials to task for not following proper procedures.In one case, U.S. District Judge Leigh May found that Gwinnett County violated the Civil Rights Act by rejecting absentee ballots from more than 300 voters. May said Gwinnett should not have invalidated ballots only because voters had omitted or incorrectly noted their date of birth. She pointed out that at least three Georgia counties dont require that information at all on absentee ballots.This current statewide discrepancy regarding absentee ballots could not only lead to future voter confusion, but also to inconsistency in how such ballots are counted, U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones wrote in a separate ruling. Jones expanded on Mays order by directing a statewide count of invalidated absentee ballots.In another case, the advocacy group Common Cause of Georgia presented evidence that many voters went to the polls on Election Day some to locations where they had voted for years only to be told they were not even registered. In at least one instance, according to court filings, poll workers told a dedicated, long-time voter they had no record of his having ever cast a ballot in any election.Repeated inaccuracies were identified in the voter registration system, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg wrote as she ordered the reconsideration of provisional ballots.In September, in a separate case, Totenberg grilled state officials over a breach of voter registration information housed on computers at Kennesaw State University. The officials could not tell the judge what they had done to address the exposure of data, software, passwords or other critical information, as Totenberg later wrote.In that case, Totenberg declined to prohibit the use of Georgias outdated electronic voting machines , which run off the hacked election system. Switching to paper ballots so late in the campaign would create chaos, she said. But she wrote that state officials had buried their heads in the sand about the systems vulnerabilities and said she would decide the larger question after the election.Then, last week, Totenberg detailed instances of mismanagement by county election officers.In Lowndes County, for instance, poll workers closed the doors to one precinct even though 30 to 40 voters were still in line. They should have been allowed to cast provisional ballots.A DeKalb County poll supervisor told a woman she would have to vote in Cobb County, where she had previously lived. The woman had neither a car nor a ride to her old precinct. So the supervisor said she could vote the old-fashioned way by provisional ballot. But state law doesnt allow such ballots to be cast outside a voters county of registration. The womans vote did not count.Fulton County, according to Totenbergs order, gave each precinct only 50 provisional ballots on Election Day. Poll workers werent allowed to print extras; additional ballots had to be hand-delivered from the county election office downtown. But the county office sent out just five to 10 ballots at a time. At least two precincts ran out of provisional ballots altogether.Many Georgians anticipated problems with this years election.More than two-fifths of likely voters surveyed in late October byand Channel 2 Action News said it was likely or very likely that someone would tamper with Georgias voting system. Similar numbers of respondents expected ineligible people to cast ballots, eligible voters to be improperly turned away from the polls or that not all votes would be counted.But what is still unknown, and may be unknowable, is how much difference any irregularities made.Not much, according to lawyers for the state and county election boards. They said in court filings that the legal challenges had merely tried to delay the inevitable: certification of the vote totals. And political operatives pointed out that the judges who found problems in the voting were all appointees of former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.In one filing, the lawyers said the Democratic Party of Georgia systematically manufactured the provisional and absentee ballot crisis in an attempt to circumvent the election contest procedure in Georgia.Abrams gave no details on the federal lawsuit her new organization plans to file over her lost election. But any further challenges, lawyers for the state and counties contended, would create unnecessary turmoil.In a ruling before Abrams bowed out, Judge May said election officials missed the point.The harm alleged (by the plaintiffs) is disenfranchisement, regardless of the outcome of the election, she wrote. It is of no consequence to this court who wins the elections; what matters is who is entitled to exercise their constitutional right to vote and have that vote counted. (TNS) As utility companies across the state roll out new Internet-connected electrical meters, Smithfield Township supervisors are calling on Met-Ed to show how they're protecting customers' information. The Board of Supervisors penned a letter this week to FirstEnergy Corp., Met-Ed's parent company, and state regulatory officials asking what protections are in place to keep private consumer data from unwanted eyes."What limits have been placed on data collection and permissions for data collection beyond monthly billing cycle totals?" it says in the letter, dated Nov. 14, to FirstEnergy's president, regional president, state president, the state Office of Consumer Advocates and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. "The notice sent to our residents makes no mention of this, yet is it is of prime concern to us in order to protect and secure data of our residential households.""What security is in place, how is it administered, and who monitors its effectiveness in regards to preventing hacking of the system and the possibility of denial of service incidents?" the letter continues. "We strenuously urge that both of these issues be addressed before smart meter technology is allowed to progress."Pennsylvania Act 129 of 2008 requires large power companies in the state to install Internet connected monitoring devices, or smart meters, by 2023 or sooner. The mandate was enacted in an effort to increase efficiency, as the smart devices increase system-wide control and improve data availability for both utility providers and consumers by transmitting energy usage wirelessly.Installations have begun in some households already. Met-Ed began its rollout for the greater Stroudsburg service area in June, and the company plans to transition its entire Monroe County service area by March of 2019, according to Met-Ed's most recent deployment schedule.On Friday, Met-Ed spokesman Aaron Ruegg said the company was making every effort to protect customers' privacy."FirstEnergy places the utmost importance on the security and protection of all aspects of our electric system and associated sub systems," he said in a Friday afternoon email. "Our communication network is a high security environment that uses multiple layers of protection from unwanted access including the use of passwords, firewalls, data encryption, continuous monitoring and other security controls."The smart meters, which are in many ways similar to their unconnected counterparts, only monitor how much energy is used in total not how it used within the household, he also said. Smart meters also do not store or transmit any personally identifiable customer information such as names or address."We follow the cybersecurity guidelines established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology," Ruegg said. "FirstEnergy takes the responsibility to protect the privacy and security of our customers very seriously. And, we protect your information in the same way under current privacy protection laws, regardless of meter type."The National Institute of Standard and Technology declined to comment on its guidelines for cybersecurity. Experts within the NIST could not discuss any related threats without technical knowledge of the utility company's implementation details, spokesman Chad Boutin said on Friday.PPL Electric Utilities, which also services parts of Monroe County, has begun its rollout of smart meters as well. Any customers within Smithfield Township would have already had the new devices installed by this point, spokeswoman Alana Roberts said Friday.With roughly 1.4 million customers to transition, PPL too has received concerns regarding the risks of this new technology."All data transmitted by the meters are encrypted and protected by PPL Electric Utilities," she said in a Friday afternoon email. "The new meter system has multiple layers of safeguards designed to keep electricity usage data private. As we always have done, we carefully protect our customers' information, consistent with all regulatory requirements.""In addition, our meters do not track the use of individual appliances in a home or business, nor do they provide any information about the activities of the occupants. We collect customers' usage information so we can issue accurate bills; provide customers with up-to-date usage data they can analyze to identify potential savings; and provide third parties, such as competitive generation suppliers, with usage information only where it is appropriate and required."Information regarding the specifics of smart meter installation and implementation is available at both utility companies' websites. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has also made details of Act 129 and frequently asked questions available on its website as well. Delaware and Hudson. Photo: Liz Clayman The rivers have run dry. This Sunday, veteran New York chef Patti Jackson will close Delaware and Hudson after four and a half years in Williamsburg. The restaurant was Jacksons temple for all things mid-Atlantic cuisine, and she stacked her menu with regional specialties like scrapple, Baltimore crab cakes, and corned beef hash. (In 2016, she expanded with an adjacent tavern.) In a Facebook post, Jackson and her staff ascribe the closure to factors from changes in the restaurant business to the looming L train shutdown. Thank you, from all of us at Delaware and Hudson. Posted by Delaware and Hudson on Monday, November 12, 2018 Delaware and Hudson opened to positive press, including Best of New York honors in 2015 and, for the tavern, Cheap Eats praise in 2016. It also received a one-star review from the New York Times Pete Wells, who named it his sixth favorite restaurant of 2014. The critics behind the Michelin guide agreed with Wells, awarding the restaurant a single star in its first year of business. Delaware and Hudson stayed in the guide until this year, and was absent from both the starred and the Bib Gourmand lists. Still, earlier this year, Grub named the restaurant one of Williamsburgs finest. Jackson is one of New Yorks most underrated chefs, and her prix fixe menu is a great value, wrote Hugh Merwin. Unfortunately for her fans, there are few nights left to have a last meal from Jackson at Delaware and Hudson. A lawsuit could decide the beers fate. Photo: Jed Egan There was a time, not so long ago, when Pabst Blue Ribbon and the term hipster were more or less synonymous. The watery budget brew was catnip for urban creatives, and business was thriving. In 2003, when the Times first took notice of PBRs bike-messenger cachet, the paper reported that sales had risen 5.3 percent the year before. It was the start of a boom. By 2009, sales were growing by 25 percent. In 2011, someone went on record with the Chicago Tribune to call it the nectar of the hipster gods. David Chang put it on tap when he opened a Momofuku outpost in Toronto. The beers cultural bona fides were always something of an instant cliche, but now PBR is in danger of receiving the ultimate badge of hipster credibility: being killed by big business. Despite the name of the Pabst Brewing Company, they dont brew the PBR that was beloved by everyone living in Williamsburg in 2009. For years, Pabst has outsourced its beer-making to MillerCoors, a relationship that has suddenly gone sour. The two companies are locked in a half-billion-dollar court battle that, some say, could spell the end of PBR, as well as many other beer brands that Pabst owns. Pabst currently pays MillerCoors nearly $80 million a year to brew its beer; MillerCoors says that, after 2020, it may no longer have the necessary resources available, and is threatening to let the contract expire unless Pabst agrees to a fee thats closer to $200 million per year, an amount that Pabst contends would bankrupt us three times over. They shouldve been building big Budweiser-esque breweries all around the country 20 years ago, says Matt Simpson, who runs the beer-consultancy business Beer Sommelier. Instead, if the deal really does end, Pabst will struggle to live on because theres just no place available to brew as much beer as they need (which, in the industry, is measured in barrels). It becomes an existential issue for Pabst, says Eric Shepard, the executive editor of the trade publication Beer Marketers Insights. The four to four-and-a-half million barrels of brewing capacity that the company needs, Shepard explains, are just not out there. The Pabst Brewing Company got its name in 1889 when Frederick Pabst, a German sea captain, decided on a career change after running his ship aground off Lake Michigan. He bought his father-in-laws brewery, Best and Company. In 1893, Pabsts beer did win a brewing competition at the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair, which the company celebrated by tying blue silk ribbons around every beer for the next three decades. The thought of a world without PBR is shocking, if only because throughout its nearly 200 years of existence, PBR has been more or less unkillable. (Pabst survived prohibition by selling millions of pounds of Pabst-ett, a delicious cheese food that bore an uncanny resemblance to Velveeta.) Ownership jumped around in the ensuing years, and Pabst closed its flagship Milwaukee brewery in 1996. When Pabsts last brewery, in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, closed in 2001, it shifted brewing responsibilities to Miller. In the meantime, Pabst was also focused on buying plenty of beer brands that werent PBR, including Lone Star, Schlitz, and Schaefer (the one beer to have when youre having more than one). We own 77 brands, and 50 of them are dormant, current owner Eugene Kashper told a New Jersey paper in 2015. We have a virtual monopoly on American heritage brands. What Pabst doesnt own is a brewing complex to make its beer. The company did recently offer $100 million for a shuttered facility in North Carolina, but that brewerys owner, which is wait for it MillerCoors, made a counter offer of $750 million, effectively ending negotiations. Pabst is stuck. Its products are brewed, packaged, and distributed by a rival who seems to have no interest and, MillerCoorss lawyers argue, no obligation to keep the relationship alive. Now, according to the AP, Pabst is seeking more than $400 million in damages and for MillerCoors to be ordered to honor its contract. The situation for Pabst is precarious enough that people in the industry have started to openly wonder what happens if, or when, the deal with MillerCoors expires. Cornell University brewing expert Kaylyn Kirkpatrick says the logistics of brewing as much beer as Pabst does now would be very challenging but not necessarily impossible if Pabst allowed its various brands to be brewed by different companies: Larger brands like Yuengling could brew some of them. Genesee might have another million barrels of capacity. Maybe Boston Beer Company which brews Samuel Adams could take another brand. Simpson, the beer consultant, stresses that regardless of the courtroom outcome, Pabst can only blame itself: When you contract brew, you do so at the luxury of another brewer, he says. The only good outcome for Pabst is if its lawyers can prove MillerCoors is acting in bad faith, that theres been a breach of contract. Otherwise, he says, Pabst is just to use an industry term SOL. From there, it might only be a matter of time before we all have to use a different acronym when we talk about PBR: RIP. After this storys publication, Pabst and MillerCoors reached an agreement to continue brewing PBR and the companys other beers. Fiercely cold and reassuringly potent. Photo: Bobby Doherty Its time to declare the best classic martini in New York. Nothing dirty, nothing too dry or too vermouth-heavy, and definitely nothing made with vodka. This is about the most balanced, most bracing, most perfect drinks in New York. Heres where to find them. The Absolute Best 1. Angels Share 8 Stuyvesant St., 2nd fl, at 9th St.; 212-777-5415 A great martini has presence. Theres a certain degree of ceremony that telegraphs the care given to the drink. At this two-decade-old second-floor Japanese bar in the East Village, the ceremony begins with the presentation of a perfectly frosted glass. It sits empty for a little longer than you think it should. You anticipate. The gin is Boodles by default, kept in the freezer, so it dilutes less when stirred with ice. When the bartender pours the drink, it is as thick and clear as melted glass. Order it with a twist. A sliver of lemon peel is misted into the air; the oil gently drapes over the drinks surface. The peel is then discarded, instead of plopped into the drink, so it wont disrupt the stillness. You can ask for a tiny glass of olives on the side. When the check comes, another surprise: The best martinis in New York are $14 each, making them some of the more affordable drinks available on the island of Manhattan. Reason enough to return soon. 2. Pegu Club 77 W. Houston St., 2nd fl, nr. West Broadway; 212-473-7348 At several bars around town, youll find martinis served in a style made famous by bartending icon Dale DeGroff: About half of the drink is served in a chilled glass thats a little smaller than youd expect. The rest is poured into a separate little carafe nestled in a bed of crushed ice. You see it at spots like Bar Goto, Clover Club, and Tooker Alley all bars run by disciples or onetime partners of Audrey Saunders (herself a disciple of DeGroff). Yet the version served at Saunderss own Houston Street bar remains the gold standard, expertly stirred and deftly poured to minimize aeration. Its also system-shockingly strong, and the little iced sidecar of bonus martini ensures the final sip is as formidable, and luxuriously cold, as the first. 3. Keens Steakhouse 72 W. 36th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-947-3636 The unfortunate fact of the matter is that many storied midtown martini haunts have seen better days. Drinks hover around $20 each, yet the cocktails lack signs of the kind of care and attention thats given at newer establishments. Thankfully, the bar staff at Keens the chophouse thats more than a century old and predates the actual existence of the dry martini makes a crisp, classic drink thats essentially the Platonic ideal, served in a setting thats as ideal for drinking as any in New York. Do it right and order it at the actual cocktail bar (and avoid this place right after work, when the small barroom will be slammed). 4. Slowly Shirley 121 W. 10th St., nr. Greenwich Ave.; 212-243-2827 The price of the F.A.F. Martini served at this bar underneath the Happiest Hour borders on the offensive: $30. (The initials, in case you couldnt guess, stand for fancy as fuck.) The high price is ostensibly due to the gin: Beefeater Burroughs Reserve, a limited offering thats briefly aged in oak, making the spirit gentler and, surprisingly, kind of saffron-tinted. The price alone would warrant leaving this off the list entirely, but this also happens to be one of the smoothest martinis in town, well balanced with strong floral notes and served in the DeGroff style with a little extra carafe on the side. Still too expensive, but it works. News Man jailed in theft case The Dubai Court of Appeal upheld a verdict issued by the Court of First Instance sentencing a warehouse worker to nine months in jail to be followed by deportation and fining him Dhs135,000 after he was convicted of breach of trust and offering a bribe to his colleague to enable him to steal electric cables from a warehouse belonging to a company he worked for. US federal regulator blames utility for Massachusetts gas network blasts The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on November 15 that utility company NiSource failed to adequately draft and oversee natural gas pipeline work orders and those lapses led to deadly blasts in three Massachusetts communities in September. The federal regulator said ineffective oversight of works by Columbia Gas Co of Massachusetts, a subsidiary of NiSource, was responsible for the disaster. Stock image Explosions and fires killed one person, injured 21 and damaged 131 buildings in the towns of Lawrence, North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts, on September 17 as Columbia Gas replaced cast-iron pipes with plastic lines. State regulators are overseeing the replacement by utilities of thousands of miles of old natural gas pipelines in Massachusetts to reduce leaks. The NTSB said that a field engineer who developed the work orders, told investigators that he did not recognise the critical role of pressure sensors in the pipes where work was taking place which resulted in the network being flooded with high-pressure gas. The agency recommended that NiSource revise its review process, update its records and documentation and be able to immediately shut down gas pipeline systems during repairs. It said Massachusetts should require professional engineers to sign off on utility company work orders, which is not currently required. NiSource, based in Merrillville, Indiana, said in a statement that it would adopt the agencys safety recommendations at all of its utility companies, and spend $150 million to install devices that would close gas lines when they sense pressure reaching risky levels. NiSource said the slam-shut devices would be in operation continuously, not only when work was underway, and would operate like circuit-breakers. The program would also include installing remote monitoring devices on all low-pressure systems so that gas control centres had the ability to monitor pressure at regulator stations in real time, 24/7. It said it had also conducted a field survey and engineering review of regulator stations and would ensure NiSource personnel were present whenever excavation work is being done in close proximity to a regulator station. The company said in a regulatory filing this month that the US Attorneys Office in Massachusetts was conducting a criminal probe of the company as a result of the disaster. It was the largest US natural gas pipeline accident since 2010 in terms of structures involved. More information... Contact Details and Archive... The bill was criticised particularly for possibly undermining the credibility of financial information and increasing shadow economy activities. The Finnish government has decided to withdraw its bill to relieve microbusinesses of the obligation to keep accounting records following crushing feedback from experts and stakeholders, including the National Police Board and Finnish Tax Administration. The National Police Board, for example, highlighted in its statement that the bill would contradict the governments action plan to tackle the shadow economy and economic crime. Corruption in Finland is largely a hidden crime and only a fraction of corruption is reported to authorities. Even though auditing is a retroactive form of monitoring, an audit can expose otherwise hidden cases of corruption, its statement read. The bill would have relieved an estimated 37,000 limited companies and partnerships from the obligation to keep accounting records, reducing the number of listed companies with the obligation to roughly 25,000 and that of partnerships with the obligation to roughly 1,000. If you also take into consideration the fact that roughly 53,000 limited companies and the majority of partnerships were relieved [of the obligation] in 2007, the statutory obligation to keep accounting records would apply to fewer than 10 per cent of limited companies and three per cent of partnerships, said the National Police Board. Jari Lindstrom (BR), the Minister of Employment, on Friday conceded there is no justification for proceeding with the proposal as the criticism it has faced arises from warranted concerns. He added, however, that the current situation is not ideal as a traditional audit is typically a needlessly excessive procedure for small businesses. The possibility of establishing a lighter audit procedure was floated in several of the statements as an alternative to the current obligation, said Lindstrom. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy will duly appoint a task force to explore the possibility of establishing a lighter auditing procedure for small businesses, according to its press release. Aleksi Teivainen HT Source: Uusi Suomi Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan welcomes Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (Photo: VNA) Ngan made the statement while meeting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Hanoi on November 19th. Vietnam always treasures its ties with Russia, regarding it as a top priority in its foreign policy, she said. She showed her delight to see PM Dmitry Medvedev, who made important contributions to fostering the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in a sustainable and dynamic manner. She said Vietnam highly values Russias important role and positive contributions to maintaining peace, stability and development in the world. The leader was happy with the outcomes of the talks between the two PMs, saying together with the official visit to Russia by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in September, the official visit by PM Medvedev will generate a new impetus for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The leaders agreed that bilateral trade remains modest compared with the respective countrys potential and advantages. Ngan expressed her hope that the two governments will work together to promptly unlock hurdles for trade and investment activities. Meanwhile, Medvedev said the two countries are able and have a lot of favourable conditions to accelerate their investment and trade as Vietnam is one of the first countries that signed a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union and wanted the sides to actively carry out joint projects in energy, agriculture, and hi-tech industry as mentioned in the talks. At the meeting, Ngan said the NA of Vietnam has always maintained its close cooperation with law-making bodies in Russia and at multilateral parliamentary forums. Medvedev spoke highly of the role of the parliaments in creating legal foundations for boosting the two countries ties and expressed his hope that they will continue their sound relations, providing a basis for the bilateral ties to grow across the board./. At 4 p.m. on September 18, 1891, Oliver Cromwell Gould, son of 10th Maine Infantry veteran John Mead Gould, took a photograph of Antietams East Woods, where his father had witnessed momentous events 29 years earlier. Three days later, at 8 a.m., Oliver focused his camera on a nearby 10-acre field that included a prominent mulberry tree. In the far distance, a wooden fence stretched along the old Smoketown Roadthe route his father took to battle on September 17, 1862. We know precisely when and where these historic images were taken because of the meticulousness of John Gould, who accompanied his 21-year-old son to Antietam and wrote details about each photograph in pen on the back mounting for each. According to a detailed logbook kept by his father, Oliver Gould took at least two dozen images at Antietam in 1891, including an unknown number of shots of the iconic Dunker Church. Unfortunately, just about all of those images are believed lost to history. One, displayed above, is in the possession of Virginia-based collector Nicholas Picerno, and six more (shown here in the chronological order in which they were taken) surfaced in New Jersey in January 2018. They provide a reverent window into the early, postwar appearance of one of the nations most hallowed battlefields. The discovery of these additional six images has excited Antietam historians, increasingly hopeful that even more Goulds might now be found. The photos once belonged to Irving B. Lovell, an uncle of Bill and Marie Trembley, who noted that they had seen them for the first time decades ago. In 2016, four years after Lovell, a World War II veteran, died at age 92, the Trembleys found the package containing the Antietam images in a closet while cleaning out their uncles house and small cabin in Eastport, Maine. When, where, and how Lovellwho lived most of his life in New Jerseyacquired the images is unknown, however. These images are truly stunning, said Stephen Recker, author of the 2012 book Rare Images at Antietam and the Photographers Who Took Them. They offer an early, pristine view of Antietamthat many of us never thought we would see, complete with the voice of a veteran pointing out particulars in a way we usually just dream about. Collaborating with Picerno, the worlds leading 10th Maine expert, and preeminent Antietam historian Tom Clemens, Recker pieced together in his book the story of the Gould images, which were taken before the U.S. War Department greatly altered the lay of the land in 1895, when it added avenues for tourists to use to view the battlefield. While we found the documentation for his 1891 images at Duke University, Recker noted, it was those undiscovered images that we really wanted to see. Intelligent and good with numbers, John Mead Gould worked for his fathers bank in Portland before the Civil War. In April 1861, he enlisted in the Portland Light Guards, Company C of the 1st Maine. The regiment served in the defenses of Washington, D.C., returning to Maine to be mustered out in August 1861. That September, Gould reenlisted in the new 10th Maine for two years service. Eventually promoted to second lieutenant, he served in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of early 1862 and saw his first significant action at the August 9, 1862, Battle of Cedar Mountain near Culpeper, Va. Antietam had by far the most dramatic impact on Goulds life. It was in the East Woods on the morning of September 17, 1862, that the 22-year-old adjutant was the first to reach a mortally wounded Maj. Gen. Joseph King Fenno Mansfield, who had been shot atop his white horse as he directed troops in his 12th Corps. Gould was among four soldiers to carry Mansfield to the rear. Passing still in front of our line and nearer to the enemy, [Mansfield] attempted to ride over the rail fence which separated a lane from the ploughed land where most of our regiment were posted, Gould wrote to Mansfields widow on December 2, 1862. The horse would not jump it, and the General dismounting led him over. He passed to the rear of the Regimental line, when a gust of wind blew aside his coat, and I discovered that his whole front was covered with blood. Antietam was Mansfields first and last battlefield command. The 58-year-old officer from Middletown, Conn., died the next morning. #33 | Sept. 18, 1891 | 2 p.m. Position of Cos. F & C, 10th Maine regt at Antietam Looking about South east. Camera stands about 12 yards in rear of the colors. Gould is 31 1/2 feet from Maj. Jordans rock and cedar (shown in Nos. 31 & 32 but not here) facing in the direction of the firing of Co. F & C. (Courtesy of John Banks) After the war, Gouldwho became historian, treasurer, and secretary for a Maine veterans groupwas especially keen on documenting his regiments role at Antietam. Seemingly no detail was too small. For years, he kept up a lively correspondence with veterans on both sides regarding Mansfields wounding and death, troop movements, and much more. In the 1890s, he provided hundreds of those letters to the Antietam Battlefield Board, adding significantly to the understanding of the battle. And in 1895 Gould published a pamphlet on Mansfields death, noting minute details of the 12th Corps commanders demise. Clemens, who edited an authoritative history of the Maryland Campaign by Union veteran Ezra Carman, has high praise for Gould: He was only interested in the fighting in the East Woods and who killed Mansfield, but wound up getting into a lot more than that. At one point there were six or seven different accounts of where Mansfield was killed, and Gould sorted them out, determining that at least three were people mistaking Colonel William Goodrich of the 60th New York for Mansfield. He really grilled his subjects, asking detailed questions, and his letters, which he routinely shared with Carman, are very helpful for details on fighting in the north end of the field. In 1889, John Gould tried to document the battlefield photographically himself. Using the newly developed Kodak camera, among the first deemed simple enough for amateurs to use, he spent a few days taking photos of the East Woods. He would find the experience both unsatisfying and unproductive. The camera he used was cumbersome and did not even have a viewfinder. I got rattled & made doubles & I forgot to make a note of what I was doing, he wrote in 1894 to 128th Pennsylvania veteran Frederick Yeager. So when I got my pictures from the printer I couldnt identify many of them. In truth the visit of 1889 was little more than an aggravation, but it resulted in determining me to go again Thankfully John Gould was diligent in his documentation when he and Oliver returned to the battlefield in 1891. The captions of the six photos shown below are taken verbatim from what Gould penned on the back-mounting of each. The care he took in doing everything possible to set the record straight has greatly enhanced our comprehension of that fateful day. #34 | Sept. 18, 1891 | 2:45 p.m. The rear; from the 10th Maine regiment Camera stands about 50 yards in rear (North-east) of where the regiments left co. stood. On top ofshown in No. 33. The plowed-fieldSam. Poffenbergers woods and woods near Geo. Lyons (where the regiment sleptbattle) are shown in this view. The Smoketown road and fences which we crossed on our way to the battle-line are on the left of the picture. The fence running from the Smoketown road to Sam. Poffenbergers lane appears in this view to be a continuation of the Smoketown road fence though really running at right angles from it. (so No. 49). The route of the advance of the regt is easilyabout half its distance: the other half is hidden.The regiment marched, in mass, past the N.W. corner of Sam. Poffenbergers woods straight south to the ten acre cornfield (just outside of this view); then by left flank, straight across the two fences of the Smoketown road to a place hidden or obscure in this picture; then straight for East wood, which is behind the camera. Deployed and then advanced to the fence, both at double-quick. (Courtesy of John Banks) #39 | Sept. 18, 1891 | 4 p.m. The great corn field beyond What was the East Wood in 1862, at Antietam. The great corn field beyond (to the right of the picture). Joins view No. 38. Camera (as in No 36 & 38) on the knoll where the 128th Penn. first stood. In 1862 the woods extended a few yards west of the fence here seen. Potatoes and corn take the place of great oaks, of which one only remains hereabouts as seen in this picture. Looking west and south. (Courtesy of John Banks) #44 | Sept. 19, 1891 | 5:45 p.m. East Woods, Antietam Companion view to No. 45. Looking north and northeast, Confederate view. Camera in the 3-cornered cloverfield ten paces from the Smoketown road and about 100 yards west of where East Woods were in 1862. The western face of the woods has been cut offThe fence in the center of the photo is of recent planting. The fence dimly seen south of the new growth of the N. West grove is where it was in 1862 and exactly defines the northern limit of the great corn field. (Courtesy of John Banks) #49 | Sept. 21, 1891 | 8 a.m. The Ten-acre corn field or the little corn field Smoketown road in the lane Sam Poffenbergers plowed field Camera in nearly same position as in Nos. 36-39 & 49. From the knoll of the 128th Penn. regiment. Looking east: to the rear. The mulberry tree so prominent here has probably grown since the war. The stonewall and post and rail fences here seen have replaced the worm fences of 1862. This view, and Nos. 35 & 36 taken together, give a good idea of the route of advance of the 10th Maine. The 10th Maine crossed the Smoketown road (as well as I can now tell) about where the small bush is growing, to right of the mulberry tree. We came to Front when east of the road, then advanced down and up the gentle slope, and deployed about in the shadow of the tree on the extreme right of the picture. (Courtesy of John Banks) #62 | Sept. 21, 1891 | 5 p.m. Position of 10th Maine in East Wood at Antietam (Confederate view) Camera in the enemys ground 110 yards from the position of the extreme right (Co H) of the 10th Maine. the post and rail fence which so mars this view was built in 1890 along the west side of the Smoketown road, all of which is hidden by the tall, dense, underbrush that has grown since the trees have been thinned out. The position of Co. H, noted above, is just outside the photo to the left of the picture. Marker placed where Mansfield was mortally wounded is hidden also by the tree. (Courtesy of John Banks) John Banks, a frequent Americas Civil War contributor based in Nashville, Tenn., is the author of Connecticut Yankees at Antietam and Hidden History of Connecticut Union Soldiers. General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong and visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (Photo: VNA) The top leader affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people have maintained great attention towards consolidating and developing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. He expressed his wish that Russia would enhance collaboration with Southeast Asian nations and improve its role and position in the Asia-Pacific region. He stressed that Vietnam welcomes Russian businesses and will continue to create favourable conditions for them to engage in key projects in Vietnam in the fields of energy, transport, and oil and gas. The Party and State leader suggested the Russian Government actively coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to remove difficulties for economic-trade and investment cooperation and effectively implement large-scale joint projects agreed at the recent 21st session of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Government Committee. For his part, PM Medvedev, who is also head of the ruling United Russia Party, asserted that his country has always paid heed to fostering its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, considering the country its leading partner in Southeast Asia. Informing the host of the outcome of his talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Medvedev said the two governments will coordinate closely with each other to organise activities throughout 2019 as the two nations celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the treaty on the fundamental principles of Vietnam-Russia friendship and prepare for the 70th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020. Russia and Vietnam will realise the agreements reached during CPVCC General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs visit to Russia last September. Regarding the relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the United Russia Party, the leaders said they are pleased with the development of the ties over the past time, saying the relationship through the Party channel is an important political foundation to bolster the two countries bonds. They agreed to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two parties in the time ahead, including the continued implementation of the political dialogue mechanism and their cooperation plan for 2018-2021./. As they moved through the jungle, Roy H. Elrod and his men experienced some of World War IIs most savage combat conditions. Roy H. Elrod was born in 1919 and grew up on a farm near Muleshoe, Texas, that his widowed mother operated. He managed to save enough money, even during the Great Depression, to attend Texas A&M, but in 1940 he dropped out of college to enlist in the Marine Corps, where he rose through the ranks rapidly. By the time his 8th Marine Regiment was sent to Guadalcanal in November 1942 he was commanding a platoon of 37mm antitank gunners. As he and his fellow marines moved through the jungles of Guadalcanal on January 15, 1943, Elrod engaged a particularly deadly Japanese machine gun emplacement and disabled it by crawling to the front of the nest and jerking the red-hot barrel out of the enemys hands. He then killed both gunners. For his combat leadership, he received a Silver Star and a battlefield promotion to lieutenant colonel. Elrods last and final combat was at Saipan, where he was severely wounded by Japanese artillery fire. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his action there. Elrod died in 2016 at age 97. The narrative that follows is adapted from Elrods posthumously published memoir, We Were Going to Win, or Die ThereWith the Marines at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Saipan (University of North Texas Press, 2017), which was edited by Fred H. Allison, a retired Marine Corps officer who since 2000 has been the Marine Corps oral historian. Nighttime was a spooky time along the perimeter. It could be the blackest black, and the jungle made strange noises with the numerous critters that populated itbig spiders, crabs, and whatnot. There was always in the back of our minds the knowledge that the Japanese liked nothing better than to sneak into a foxhole and cut a marines throat. There would be shouting back and forth, mutual insults passed with the Japanese. Of course, their English was very poor. Some might have spoken good English, but all of them had problems with Ls and Rs. For passwords we would try to get a word that had letters that would be difficult for them to repeat. We always had a password and a countersign. I told my men not to fire unless they were certain it was a real threat. To do so gave away our position, and it caused the other marines to awaken and go on alert, thus depriving them of sleep. I soon discovered that worse than the Japanese were the living conditions on Guadalcanal. We were really living like animals. If it rained, we got wet. If the sun came out, we got dry. If you were close to a river and you could keep from being exposed to sniper fire, we would take a bath in the river. Of course, we watched for alligators and crocodiles. If there was no river, we didnt bathe. We would be desperate to be clean, though, so if it started raining, and we were clear of snipers, wed strip, and soap up. If it stopped raining before you got rinsed off, then you just had a layer of soap on you until the next time it rained. Living on the front line, we had no tents. There was nothing in front of us but the Japanese. We lived in holes, but we dug our holes so when it rained, the water would run to one side. We could [then use] our helmets [to] bail the water out. That kept us from having to actually sleep in the water. That didnt keep the rain from falling on you. Sometimes we tried to rig a shelter half over the hole but there was no real way to stay dry. Occasionally, when we would have one of the fold-up stretchers around, I would open one up and sleep on it, and this would keep my body an inch or so above the ground. We all wanted to have as light a load as possible, and so I had a half-blanket. I slept on that and we would usually cover ourselves with a poncho or something to ward off as much rain as possible. We quit trying to stay dry. If you had something that you wanted to keep dry, youd keep it under your helmet on top of your head. Marines put letters or pictures, or the people who smoked would put their cigarettes there. I never smoked. It didnt take long for my marines to get sick. I developed a case of malaria after only about a weekalong with dysentery and diarrhea. I remember one night I sat on this box over a slit trench streaming with diarrhea, shaking with malaria, and throwing up. At the same time, Japanese mortar rounds were landing behind me, and as I sat there in the pouring rain and with mosquitoes biting me, I said to myself, I wonder why they cant get one of those rounds in here where it will do some good? That was the low point. But everyone was sick, everybody had malaria, and diarrhea was very common. It just amazed me, though, the endurance that the marines showed. As time went by, and as marines were evacuated because of disease or combat wounds, the word went out that unless you had a fever over 104, you werent allowed to go to sick bay. The corpsman would have to do what he could to medicate you, but you were not leaving. So the longer we stayed, the more the men suffered. It wasnt just sickness. We were ridden with jungle rot and skin infections. We had to be very careful with any kind of skin abrasion or cut because with the sweat and body oils, the mud and the dirt, and the dripping humidity, you had an excellent chance of getting an infection. I got fungus in my ears. I found that 100 percent pure alcohol would reduce the fungus, so one of the old chief pharmacists mates gave me a little bottle that would fit right in one of the ammo pouches on my belt. We received a new drug called atabrine, and it was supposed to help prevent malaria. It had a strange side reaction, though. It turned the skin yellow, and the whites of the eyes would turn canary yellow. The scuttlebutt began that this was going to destroy male virility. I told my marines, Look, there isnt a woman within 2,000 miles of here.Take the damned pill! I had the section sergeants, the corpsman, platoon sergeantand I did it myselffollow along to make sure each man took his atabrine. I am not sure how well it worked. Even though we had lots of losses to malaria, it probably would have been much worse without the atabrine. All I can say is at least enough of us survived to finish the campaign. Foot problems were rampant. With the leather field shoes we had and the amount of humidity and mud and rain, our feet were rarely dry. I had my men take their shoes off and massage their feet, turn their socks wrong side out and put them on the other foot. Food was always in short supply. We were truly on starvation rations. Everyone was losing weight. I dropped down to about 165 pounds from over 190. Many times we had nothing but a little captured Japanese rice, but it kept us alive. We had plenty of ammunition, though. We never lacked for 37mm rounds. Although it seemed we were always short of hand grenades. We had to conserve them. Also mortar ammunition was in short supply. I saw it as one of my main jobs as a lieutenant to know my marines. One of them, I noticed, never shaved. He did not need to; he had no beard. This raised my suspicion. One day I asked him, How old are you? Oh, Im 17, lieutenant. I said, Dammit, Im not going to do anything to you. Tell me the truthhow old are you? I will be 15 my next birthday. I did not bother him about it. He was probably the best Browning automatic rifleman that I ever saw. He could play a tune with it. I said, How did you get into the Marine Corps? He said, I stole my brothers birth certificate. So here he was, a 15-year-old boy, but really a good marine. He was not the only onethere were numerous underage marinesand I often wondered if those who came in under false names ever got their records straight. While the sickness took many marines, we also had many killed and wounded. I didnt think any of my marines ever suffered casualties from the Japanese naval shelling or their air attacks. Most of our casualties were from Japanese mortar rounds or rifle bulletsmostly rifle bullets, because I think they were having supply problems probably even worse than ours. One of my marines got hit by a sniper round; it hit right near the crotch, in his groin. The round had ripped a gaping hole in him. The flesh was torn back and bubbly yellow fat was evident. A main artery was severed, and every time his heart beat, blood spurted three or four feet in the air. He was mostly worried about his plumbing though. I told him, Its in good condition. Youve just got a hell of a hole in your thigh. I had the corpsman ride back with him to the aid station for fear that the tourniquet would slip off. We were using a rubber tube tourniquet, and when it got blood soaked it would slip. After that, I acquired a strap bandage tourniquet and carried that in my belt for the rest of the war. Along the perimeter we maintained an aggressive defense, and that meant lots of patrolling. We would try to find out where the Japanese might be massing for another attack. They used the trails in the interior of the island to move from one area to the next. By checking these trails we could see signs of Japanese troop movement; there would be tracks or abandoned gear and equipment. These indicated troop movement and direction. Although we were a 37mm gun crew, we were regarded as infantry, and we went on patrols. Of course, we left our 37mms in their positions and carried infantry weapons on these patrols. As a lieutenant I was expected to lead patrols. Our patrols were various types, and you had an assigned mission for each patrol. I was never sent out to engage the enemy. You were sent out either to look at a specific area or to find a particular thing. Sometimes we would go out for just a few hours, other times longer. The technique we used when we were going out was to find a spot where the Japanese had little, if anyone, present. We [would sneak] out in that area and go deep enough behind them to be able to move inland behind their lines. We never came back in through the route that we went out. I always made sure to get in touch with the commander of the unit where I would be reentering the lines. I didnt want my patrol to get shot up by our own marines. If we were going to be out overnight, we would pick a good defensive position and dig in, and as soon as it was real dark, we would move to our real position and set up there. I never spent the night at the place we were when the sun went down. You had to be very quietno talking, no noiseand move very stealthily. On several patrols I actually saw Japanese. Sometimes we heard them, and sometimes we smelled them, or [both]. I was expected to observe the enemy but not be seen. There were occasions where patrols were ambushed. That never happened to me. I think maybe that was luck. Who knows? It was just a matter of continual movement, continual hunger. People were ragged. I dont think there was ever a time when the marines on Guadalcanal were adequately supplied. When the First Division landed, the navy pulled out with a lot of the supplies. It never got any better. [But] morale was pretty good. Oh, people bitched about food. When you became really hungry, food became ever-present in your mind. This was one of the few times when you would hear marines talking about food rather than women. We had an attitude about the Japanese that began when we were briefed by the First Marine Division liaison officer, who had visited when we were on Samoa. We became convinced that the Japanese were a merciless foe, and we went there with the idea of killing them all. We maintained that attitude for the entire war. MHQ This article appears in the Winter 2019 issue (Vol. 31, No. 2) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: A Marine at Guadalcanal Want to have the lavishly illustrated, premium-quality print edition of MHQ delivered directly to you four times a year? Subscribe now at special savings! Mosby, Custer, and Lee have been the focus of some of Jeffry Werts previous nine books, but in his latest volume he leaves the front lines to take a larger look at the conflict: men who created businesses that helped the Union to victory. Civil War Barons (Da Capo Press) profiles 19 businessmen and inventors, including Cyrus McCormick, who made his name selling an implement that so revolutionized grain harvesting that men could afford to leave their fields to join the Union Army. Several other figures created brands that last to this day: timberman Frederick Weyerhaeuser, inventor John Deere, canned-milk innovator Gail Borden, pharmaceutical giant Edward Squibb, and shoemaking pioneer Gordon McKay. CWT: How did you come to this topic? JW: The United States has always relied on private business to supply the needs of the country during war. The scale of needs in the Civil War is truly unprecedented. What they really needed was private enterprise. Its a mobilization not only of manpower but also of material and natural resources. CWT: You open the book with Jay Cooke. Why? JW: Hes the revolutionary who changes the way the United States finances wars. Its certainly true in WWI and WWII. He is the one who links self-interest, or personal profit, to patriotism. And thats how he sells war bonds during the war. CWT: What did he do? JW: He sold bonds, initially in Pennsylvania. When it came to a national issue of bonds and representing the government in the sales, he sent out at one point 2,500 sales reps. He made bonds with lower denominations where ordinary people could buy a bond, and in turn they had a stake in the fight. He put bonds down as low as $50. A group in Philadelphia would all buy weekly and put their wages into buying a bond, for example. That was unheard of. He made war bonds available to ordinary Americans and at the same time he tried to convince them that you will help save the Union and make a profit while doing it. CWT: One of an armys basic needs is shoes. Talk about Gordon McKay. JW: Gordon McKay bought the rights to a machine invented by Lyman Blake that sewed shoe or boot uppers to their soles. When the war came, he sold the machines to shoemaking factories in New England. The estimate is that half of the shoes and boots worn by Union soldiers were sewn by the McKay stitcher. He took a royalty on each shoe or boot made. Before he died, he willed the vast amount of his estate to Harvard University and it sustains 40 scholarships and fellowships in their engineering department. CWT: Horseshoes were also critical. JW: Henry Burden, a Scottish immigrant, ends up in Troy, N.Y. In 1830, he invented a machine to cast or forge horseshoes. By the time the Civil War comes, he had gotten it down to a one-step process for casting the shoes. He ended up being able to produce a horseshoe a secondand sold 70 million horseshoes to the Union government. Astonishing numbers. An archaeologist told me that during the 1864 Shenandoah campaign, when the farriers would re-shoe Union cavalry horses, they would take those horseshoes and cut them in half and bury them in separate piles so the Confederates couldnt find them. Thats how critical it was. CWT: Some of the Union success relied on industrial espionage. Tell us about Abram Hewitt. JW: Abram Hewitt went to Columbia on a scholarship and ended up tutoring Edward Cooper, the son of Peter Cooper, a wealthy inventor who formed the Trenton Ironworks in New Jersey. When the war began, Edward Cooper and Abram Hewitt were running the ironworks to produce gunmetal for rifle barrels, but the Springfield Armory rejected them. The best gun barrel metal in the world was created in England and Germany, so he went to England to ask the leading manufacturers if they would give him their secret formula. They told him no. So he trolled the local pubs and found out from the workers what the formula was, came back, and produced with that formula, which was acceptable to the Springfield Armory. Half of the shoes and boots worn by Union soldiers were sewn by the McKay stitcher They also offered to turn one of his leading factories over to the government. Hewitt said that in times like this service means far more than profit. But the government rejected the offer, so what they did was charge enough to cover cost and make a little bit of profit. After the war, Hewitt becomes the mayor of New York City. CWT: A key contributor to Union success had Confederate sympathies. Tell us about Cyrus McCormick. JW: He and two brothers, William and Leland, were Virginians, but by the time the war comes, they had relocated from Rockbridge County, Virginia, to Chicago. But the McCormick brothers reaper was important to the Union victory. Even the secretary of war acknowledged its role: the reaper, with its increased grain harvesting efficiency, allowed men to leave the farm and join the ranks of the army. If you read their letters and papers during the war, all three brothers wanted some kind of political solution that allowed a separate Confederate nation. The McCormicks end the war very rich, but they are clearly torn. CWT: Tell us about Edward Squibb. JW: He was a doctor in Philadelphia, a Quaker, who became a Navy surgeon. During the 1850s, he produced more pure forms of ether and chloroform. During the war, he continued to work on that. Investor friends gave Squibb money and he formed laboratories that became Squibb Pharmaceuticals. His work saved many men from the pain of surgery. He also produced what is known as the pannier, a medical box used by many surgeons during the war. Squibb was more concerned with saving lives than making money. CWT: Is there someone you would like to highlight? JW: James Buchanan Eads. Remarkable mind, a self-taught engineer, he made a fortune before the war by creating a device that allowed people to walk on the bottom of a river and salvage sunken ships. When the war comes, he designs gunboats that will be used in the Western waters, in the key campaigns of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. CWT: Which characters had the biggest impact on the course of the war? JW: Henry Burden did, in serving the critical need for the horseshoe. You can make a good case for Christopher Spencerthe quiet little Yankee, as Lincoln secretary John Hay calls himand the repeating rifle he designed. He was just given a dollar a weapon as his share. Of course, Jay Cooke. And I believe the McCormick reaper was critical to Union victory. Interview conducted by Senior Editor Sarah Richardson Fridtjof Nansen gained worldwide fame as a polar explorer. Then he took on a wartime refugee crisis. WHEN THE PILGRIMS LANDED ON CAPE COD BAY IN WINTRY NOVEMBER 1620, they brought with them many essential itemsfood, guns, supplies to establish a new colony, members of both sexeseven the governing document that would become known as the Mayflower Compact. One thing they did not think to bring with them, however, were passports. Not that passports were unknown in 1620. In fact, the idea of a travel document that identifies the bearer and confers some degree of protection is almost as old as travel itself and examples of such documents appear as far back as the Old Testament. In Nehemiah 2:79, Nehemiah requests permission from his ruler, King Artaxerxes I of Persia, to travel to Judea. He is given a letter to the governors beyond the river requesting safe passage. The year is 450 bce. By the 15th century both Kings Henry V of England and Louis XI of France had formulated documents to help their subjects, particularly royal couriers, prove who they were and obtain safe passage in their travels. The very word passport derives from the French passer, to pass, and porte, gate, as many such documents initially allowed a traveler to enter the gate of a walled or fortified city. Over time the use of passports grew as central governments increasingly used them to control their subjects and keep out foreign bandits, vagrants, and other aliens deemed undesirable. The explosive development of mass transportation (rail and steamship) in the latter half of the 19th century, and the accompanying liberalization of trade, appeared to signal the death of the passport system. The sheer speed and number of travelers overwhelmed the enforcement capacities of the state. As a result, passport laws fell into disuse or were abandoned altogether. Few people even bothered to have passports, and few governments required them. World War I shot all that to bits. The Great War, as it was then called, involved almost all the nations of Europe. With the onset of the conflict, governments emphasized border securityboth to keep unwanted and potentially dangerous aliens out and to keep those with useful skills in. Designed as a temporary wartime measure, passport controls lived on after the war ended in 1918, as fears of foreign subversion, economic concerns, health issues (an influenza pandemic was underway), and just plain old xenophobia gained the upper hand. Equally important, World War I, in the process of destroying empires, also spawned revolutions, the most cataclysmic and consequential being the Russian Revolution. Revolutions evil twincivil warin turn spawned a new class of stateless refugeesthose who were neither citizens in their adopted country nor welcome back in their country of origin. In Russias case, this state of limbo was enshrined in law when the Soviet government effected the largest denationalization in history. On December 15, 1921, it defined stateless refugees as 1) those who had lived outside the country for five years who had not obtained new passports, 2) those who had left the country without permission after November 7, 1917 (the date of the Bolshevik Revolution), and 3) those who had fought against Soviet authorityso-called White Russians. The decree affected some 700,000 to 800,000 Russians living in Germany, Poland, France, Romania, and even Great Britain. (The fifth season of the hit British television series Downton Abbey nods to such displaced people in an episode featuring a disheveled and shabby Prince Igor Kuragin, who is discovered in a London soup kitchen by his former lover, the Dowager Countess of Grantham.) Hundreds of thousands of Armenians fleeing genocide in Turkey found themselves similarly stranded, in France and Syria. Stateless people suffered under a triple impediment: First, as noncitizens in their host country, they were not entitled to any of the perquisites of the new postwar welfare state: education, unemployment benefits, and health care. Second, with no citizenship elsewhere, they could invoke no protection against the arbitrary actions of their host state. Under the law of nations, as then formulated, such people were entitled to no protection whatsoever. Third, lacking a valid passport, they had no guarantee of safe return to their host country or home country, and countries were reluctant to admit any alien who had no place to which to return. Thus, a passport became a sine qua non of existence in the postWorld War I landscape. As Hannah Arendt, the German-born philosopher and political theorist (and no stranger to the precarious life of a refugee), observed: Once they [refugees] left their homeland they remained homeless, once they left their state they became stateless; once they had been deprived of their human rights they were rightless, the scum of the earth. Stefan Zweig, an Austrian writer who fled to England following the Nazi takeover in Germany, succinctly summarized a lesson he had once heard from a Russian refugee: Formerly man had only a body and soul. Now he needs a passport as well, for without it he will not be treated as a human being. The postwar refugee problem festered in Europe, ameliorated somewhat by the relief efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the American Relief Administration (led by Herbert Hoover), and Quaker and Jewish groups. But late in 1920, as many as 200,000 Russians fled to Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) in the wake of the final defeat of the White Russians. The problem now overwhelmed the capabilities of private charity or the ICRC to address. At a conference called in February 1921, the ICRC approached the newly formed League of Nations and asked that it appoint a high commissioner for Russian refugees, with all necessary powers to tackle the problem. Who could undertake such a formidable and thankless task? The ICRC already had a candidate in mind. The high commissioner, it said, would do for the Russian refugees the kind of work Dr. Nansen had so successfully undertaken on behalf of prisoners of war. In other words, if Fridtjof Nansen wanted the job, it was his for the taking. Who was this Fridtjof Nansen? In this day of hyperspecialization, it is almost impossible to envision the meteoric, and wide-ranging, career of Fridtjof Nansen. Born into a well-to-do Norwegian family in 1861, Nansen first pursued marine biology, contributing useful discoveries in the field of invertebrate neurology. To conduct his experiments, Nansen traveled with Norwegian seal ships plying the Arctic waters, and there the daring nature of polar exploration soon captured his imagination. As a young man he had always enjoyed challenging himselfliving alone in the wild for weeks without equipment and with only a crust of bread and fish which I broiled in the embers. At age 27 Nansen set out to cross the Greenland ice cap from coast to coast. All previous attempts to achieve this feat had met with failure, and so Nansen threw conventional wisdom to the winds. He deliberately assembled the smallest (and thus fastest) team feasible; planned to use skis to the greatest extent possible; and, most daring of all, chose to trek from the uninhabited east coast to the safe harbor awaiting on the west coast rather than pursue a round trip, as all of his predecessors had done. Once launched, the trek could have no Plan B, no escape, no rescue. Nansen once explained his rationale this way: One loses no time in looking behind, when one should have quite enough to do in looking aheadthen there is no chance for you or your men but forward. You have to do or die. Successful in his bid, Nansen returned to Norway a national hero. The Greenland adventure only whetted his appetite for greater glory. The grand prizes in those days remained the polesdistant, forbidding, and dangerous for those foolish enough to make the attempt. At 31 Nansen now set his sights on the North Pole. Again he defied conventional wisdom. Rather than avoid the polar ice, graveyard to many a ship, Nansen decided to use the ice to his benefit. He would build a ship (named, appropriately enough, Fram, or Forward) designed to sail directly into the arms of the ice on the eastern edge of the polar cap, but with a hull so rounded, the ice would be unable to gain any purchase on it and thus crush it. Once so captured, Nansen would rely on the westerly drift in polar current (which he theorized existed) to carry his ship up directly over the North Pole, with the crew safely and snugly ensconced inside. The theory was correct, but Nansen soon realized that the arc of the drift would carry his ship close to, but below, the North Pole. Undaunted, he abandoned the Fram and, with one companion and 28 sled dogs, attempted to ski and sled the remaining distance to the pole. Leaving the ship forever meant that, even if successful in his quest, Nansen would need to return all the way back to civilization under his own power. Braving wind, snow, ice, and temperatures that hovered around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, Nansen pushed on. Dwindling food, slower than expected progress over the rough terrain, and the forbidding approach of the polar winter (and six months without sunlight) turned him back within 230 miles of his goala new record that stood for years. Nansens return trek has all the earmarks of the best adventure stories: insuperable odds, near-death experiences, incredible luck, indomitable willand a happy ending. Fridtjof Nansen was now an international celebrity. In 1905 he helped Norway achieve its independence from Sweden. He also persuaded Prince Carl of Denmark to become king of the newly independent nation and served as Norways first ambassador to Great Britain. According to one historian, by 1918 he was unquestionably the most towering personality of the post-war world. But Nansen had yet one more role to playthat of humanitarian. Given Fridtjof Nansens larger-than-life reputation, in some ways it seems almost preordained that, when the fledgling League of Nations agreed to tackle its first major international crisisthe thousands of POWs scattered throughout Europe at the end of World War I, all without any means of repatriationit would turn to him for help. There was no plan to follow, no precedent, no staff. But through sheer doggedness, he secured the shipping and rolling stock he needed, as well as the cooperation of all the former belligerents. (Norway had remained neutral during the war.) In the end, he successfully repatriated almost a half million POWs. Little wonder that the ICRC saw Nansen as the logical candidate to address the refugee crisis. The League of Nations, acting on its request, appointed him high commissioner for Russian refugees on August 23, 1921, and he formally accepted the post on September 4. Repatriating POWs who wanted to return to a home that wanted to receive them, however, was a far cry from helping refugees who often neither desired, nor were able, to return to their homes or to move anywhere else. As Nansen biographer Roland Huntford put it, By most legal codes they simply did not exist. To address this issue, someone working with Nansensome credit Philip Noel-Baker, later a Nobel Peace Prize laureate; others Edouard Frick of the ICRCsuggested a simple identity card, similar to a passport, that would be recognized by international agreement. Nansen adopted and promoted the idea. Early in July 1922 he convened an Intergovernmental Conference on Identity Certificates for Russian Refugees, which approved a model form of Certificat dIdentite (French then being the language of international diplomacy). The certificate almost immediately became known, and was commonly referred to, simply as the Nansen passport. By the end of that year 20 nations recognized it as a valid identity document. Eventually more than 50 countries would agree to issue and recognize the Nansen document, and in time the name Nansen passport would even become its official title as well. Initially the Nansen passport provided few actual benefits. Issued by the country of residence on behalf of the High Commission, it served merely as an identity card. It did not grant the holder the privilege of residence or the right to seek employment. Subsequent conferences, however, slowly accreted more and more benefits. Ultimately the Nansen passport would ensure the right of reentry to the issuing countrya crucial step in removing, once and for all, the single greatest impediment to crossing national borders. The Nansen passport worked as well as it did because all parties involved wanted it to work. The formal, legal agreements adopted over time by league countries represent only half the story. The rest has to do with the moral authority the Nansen passport came to confer. In various capitals, holders of a Nansen passport could turn to representatives of the High Commission, who provided quasi-consular services on their behalf. When expulsion orders were issued or work permits denied, for example, representatives could and would take up the matter with the relevant national ministries. The passports moral authority was further enhanced when Nansen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1922. Indeed, by the time of Nansens death in 1930, refugees with a Nansen passport enjoyed many of the same benefits as nationals. Initially issued only to Russian refugees, the program was subsequently extended to Armenians (in 1924) and Assyrian and Kurdish refugees (in 1926). The work of the High Commission was carried out following Nansens death by the Nansen International Office for Refugees within the League of Nations. In 1938, this organization, too, would earn the Nobel Peace Prize for its work. SOME 450,000 NANSEN PASSPORTS WERE ISSUED BEFORE THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR II eclipsed the refugee problem. They enabled many Russian emigres to travel as freely as any other citizen. Many, including such notables as writer Vladimir Nabokov (who mentions the Nansen passport several times in his fiction), pianist Sergey Rachmaninoff, and composer Igor Stravinsky used their Nansen passport to start a new life in America. Following the Greco-Turkish War of 19191922, the family of Aristotle Onassis, the future shipping magnate, arranged for him to flee from Greece to Argentina using a Nansen passport. For the first time, the status of the refugee was internationally recognized and addressed. While Nansen passports are no longer issued, they provided a template for documents subsequently issued by national and supranational entities, including the United Nations. In 1938 Dorothy Thompson, who four years earlier had become the first American journalist to be expelled from Nazi Germany, published Refugees: Anarchy or Organization?, a pre-Holocaust plea for the world to find a place for the Jews of Europe. By then a new, and worse, refugee crisis was brewing in Europe. Unfortunately for Germanys Jews, the old forms and conventions no longer worked. Since many Jews fled Germany with their passports intact, they did not technically qualify as refugees. Moreover, the League of Nations was (until late 1933, when Germany left the organization) leery of offending one of its most powerful members and thus ducked the issue it had so forcefully confronted in 1921. With refugees once again in the headlines, both in the United States and abroad, Dorothy Thompsons plea has as much resonance as it did in 1938. What the whole refugee problem needs today, more than anything else, is another Nansen, she wrote, with his simple belief in human dignity, his enormous sense of personal honor and responsibility, and his confidence in the power of humanity to organize and mobilize to meet its emergencies. MHQ Timothy J. Boyce, a lawyer and writer who lives in Tryon, North Carolina, is the editor of From Day to Day: One Mans Diary of Survival in Nazi Concentration Camps (Vanderbilt University Press, 2016). This article appears in the Winter 2019 issue (Vol. 31, No. 2) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: You Have to Do or Die Pony Ormsby deserted a Union cavalry regiment to fight with Confederate partisan John S. Mosbyor so he was accused. No matter what was really true, his Union comrades shot him to death. On a chilly February 7 in 1864, the crackle of gunfire shattered the forenoon in the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry camp near Vienna in Fairfax County,Virginia. No daring raid by Colonel John S. Mosbys Rebel rangers was the cause of the shooting. On that particular morning, the troopers of the 2nd gunned down one of their own. As the muzzle blasts echoed away in the rolling countryside,2nd Massachusetts Private PonyOrmsby dropped dead. He was not yet 22 years old. Pony was a small man, only 5 feet 3 inches tall, with blue eyes,light brown hair and a fair complexion.He and his friend Harry Mortimer were called the little fellows of their cavalry company.Pony was a popular man,quick to laugh, always at his post, and as good a soldier as any man need ever hope to be,according to trooper George Towle.Everyone who knew him testified to his bravery and steadiness in the face of danger. Warfare in the area in and around Mosbys Confederacy, as a large chunk of northwestern Virginia was known,was a hit or miss type of war fought among a pro-Confederate population that consisted of mean little actions that claimed the life of a man or two at a time. Being brave and steady wasnt enough. You had to have nerves of steel and keep your wits about you, and that pressure oftentimes resulted in unusual situations.Rebs deserted to fight with the Yankees.Yankees switched sides and donned the gray.Ormsby got caught up in the mess and reportedly deserted to the Confederates, although in death he left behind a host of questions fully in keeping with the mysteries of his life. Ponys full name was William Edward Ormsby, and he was born in Cayuga, Ontario, Canada, in 1842, the eldest son of Irish sailor John Ormsby and his wife, Margaret.He often boasted to his Civil War comrades that he had spent time riding with the Pony Express on the overland mail route between St. Louis and the Pacific Coast, surviving numerous narrow escapes from Indians and other dangers.The nickname Pony naturally followed.The payroll records of the Pony Express, however, show no rider named Ormsby at any time in that organizations brief history. Before he served in the 2nd Massachusetts,Ormsby had put in a short stint with the 3rd U.S.Artillery,enlisting on October 19,1862.The rookie gunner was assigned to Battery B,then on duty in San Francisco.For some reason he was mustered out on November 24, possibly because his officers discovered he was underage.Undaunted,Ormsby saw an advertisement in the San Francisco newspapers calling for horsemen to serve in a cavalry regiment back east to help make up the quota of men for the state of Massachusetts. The first group of Californians, known as the California One Hundredand destined to become Company A,2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, left San Francisco for Boston on December 11, 1862. Major DeWitt Clinton Thompson remained behind to recruit additional men from the volunteers who had been turned away once the original company rolls were filled. By March,he had enough men to organize four more companies, to be known as the California Battalion. When Thompson and his men left San Francisco, Ormsby went with them, but not yet as a member of the battalion.Although he had enlisted on February 15,he was one of three recruits rejected as being underage. Still, he was allowed to travel east with the battalion because he convinced Captain Charles Eigenbrodt he would come of age shortly after they reached Massachusetts, and could be sworn in then. The California Battalion reached Camp Meigs in Readville, Mass.,on April 16,1863.There it became companies E,F,L and M of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry.On May 1,four new men were mustered into Company E, including Ormsby.The Californians remained at Camp Meigs until May 11,when they were ordered to Washington.The 2nd Massachusetts spent the rest of 1863 patrolling northern Virginia and western Maryland in a vain attempt to curb the increasing depredations of Ranger Mosby and his men. Sometime that summer or fall, Ormsby became a disciplinary target for the officers of Company E.According to Private Mortimer, Ormsby soon was oppressed, goaded, and life made a torment by Wm. C. Manning 1st Lieut of the company,punished and kept in the Guard House a large portion of the time on slight pretexts,he having at one time been orderly to this officer and in several ways incurred his enmity. Other members of Company E recorded some of Ormsbys alleged disciplinary infractions.Thomas H. Merry, writing for the Alta California newspaper in San Francisco, reported that Ormsby while out on a scoutsingle-handed captured two rebels, but one of them managed to escape and Ormsby took the other to the command.On reaching camp,he was charged with having been bribed to allow the prisoner to escape, and on this charge,unfounded as we know it to be,he was put under arrest in the Guard House, and was kept there a month without charges being preferred against him and without officially knowing the cause of his arrest. In December Ormsby faced a court-martial for trading away a government horse.Like so many accounts of his life in the Army, there are conflicting versions of his offense on record. Erastus Enos wrote:When the 2d Mass.Cav.Went into camp at Vienna there was a call for a man to volunteer to carry the mail to and from Alexandria every other day, and Ormesby volunteered to do it.He carried it for about six weeks or more,and was chased by Mosby and his men many times. One day the horse was so used up that he was afraid to start out.A citizen there had a horse, and Ormesby traded with him by paying $15 to boot.When the Colonel saw it he ordered Ormesbys arrest. He lay in the guard house for three weeks and then they tried him. Actually, Ormsby was arrested on December 2 and held in the guard house for two weeks before his court-martial on December 16.The official charge was that hedid receive a horse to visit Alexandria for three days for the purpose of visiting his brother and while absent did sell or loose [sic] or otherwise criminally dispose of a valuable Government horse entrusted to his use and care by his company Commander and did ride back in place thereof another animal entirely unfit for service for a reason that he had made a swap with a Negro near Falls Church Va. In his own defense, Ormsby said: I had a pass for three days to go to Alexandria to visit my brother.The mare I took with mewas sick when I took her awayI was told in Alexandria by a horse doctor she had the horse distemper. Her hip was also hurt very bad and when I started to come back I had come three or four miles she gave out. She could not travel. I met a negro man and some two or three soldiers.I asked them to trade and they gave me the horse I brought in. It was the poorest one they had but I concluded it was a better one than mine because I could get out on him and I could not on my own. When I traded my time was within two hours of being upwhich is mostly the reason I traded. I came into Camp and I rode the horse two days on picket at Lewinsville before I was arrested. Ormsby was found guilty despite evidence that other men in his company had traded their horses without being disciplined, as well as Captain Eigenbrodts admission that he had never told the men such trading would be considered an offense.In view of the fact that at least two other men in his company had done the same thing and suffered nothing more than a warning not to do it again, Ormsby had good reason to feel like he was being singled out for harsh treatment when he was sentenced to forfeit half his pay for the next four months. On the afternoon of January 24,1864,he rode off while on picket duty and did not return.A scouting party of 60 men was sent out to find him,either to free him if he had been taken by a roving band of guerrillas or to capture him if he had deserted. The scouts returned to camp empty-handed after two days of fruitless searching. It was obvious Ormsby had deserted with two good horses and his Colt revolvers. Aside from Ormsbys disgust over horse theft accusations, Thomas Merry of the 2nd said Pony also left because he had contracted an intimacy with a young lady of the rebel persuasion.Chaplain Charles Humphreys wrote,he had yielded to the fascinations of a Southern girl and had been induced to desert. Harry Mortimer said Ormsby went to the house of one of Mosebys scouts Bush Underwoodby name there being an attachment between himself and the lady of the family.George Towle wrote,The reason for his desertion was that on a scouting expedition in the neighborhood he had become acquainted with and very much attached to a young lady there and he deserted and joined Mosebeys [sic] command so that he might have opportunity for meeting her. There is no record of where or how Underwood and Ormsby might have met other than a fanciful story written years after the war by Rev.J.J.Clopton of Warrenton,Va.In it,Clopton told of a young Californian he called Tony Doyle,who was injured on a scouting mission and left at a civilian home near Aldie to recover.According to Clopton,young Doyle fell in love with a 17-year-old girl who nursed him back to health, and later deserted to be with her.Interestingly enough,there was just such a girl,17-year-old Sarah Uppman, living with a Loudoun County family for whom Underwood worked before the war and with whom he boarded between raids with Mosby. Whether a woman was involved or not,Ormsby and Underwood did know each other and were riding together on February 5 when they and six other men encountered a party of 2nd Massachusetts men in Aldie.Whether he had joined Mosbys men or was,as he said,simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, Ormsby found himself in the middle of an exchange of gunfire between the two forces.The skirmish ended quickly when the small group of Union soldiers turned out to be the rear guard of a scouting party of 75 men who quickly went to their comrades assistance. AsOrmsby tried to escape,his horse fell while jumping a small creek.As he was fleeing on foot,having fired all the bullets in his two revolvers,his former comrades quickly surrounded him and Sergeant Benjamin Partridge of Company E captured him. The Federals returned to their camp in Vienna around 4 p.m. the next day and reported Ormsbys capture to Colonel Charles Russell Lowell. When brought into camp and up to the Colonels Head Quarters,wrote Mortimer,the remark to him by the Colonel (before trial) was Young man,before 12 oclock tomorrow you die.The colonel immediately ordered a drumhead court-martial despite the fact such a court was a violation of the Articles of War. The court met within an hour of the scouting partys return, convening at 5 p.m.with Major Charles Forbes of the 2nd Massachusetts presiding.Major Douglas Frazer,13th New York Cavalry, and Captain Zabdiel Adams of the 2nd rounded out the court,with Lieutenant Lewis Dabney,2nd Massachusetts,acting as judge advocate prosecuting the case. Ormsby received permission to have Chaplain Humphreys as his counsel. The drumhead court-martial ignored many inconsistencies and gaps in the anti-Ormsby testimony.When asked by the judge advocate if he had actually seen Ormsby fire at the Union soldiers,for example,Lieutenant Charles Stone testified:I saw the man that was separated from the eight who pursued our rear guard yesterday fire at the rear guard of our column, but I couldnt swear that it was the prisoner.To the best of my belief now I can swear that it was Ormsby for this man was the only one who went off in the direction where the prisoner was captured. When asked whether there were any more Rebels where the prisoner was captured, Stone replied,I dont know where he was captured,but I know he was the only one who took that direction, we pursued seven others that turned back. Captain J.Sewell Reed testified:The first man that I saw was this man [the prisoner] firing at [us].As I came around with the command at a corner of the building,I saw the prisoner turn in the saddle and fire in the direction of our party.I noticed particularly that it was the prisoner because it occurred to me that I had seen him beforehis face struck me as familiar.Lieut.Stone, who was immediately on my leftfired his pistol at him.I made the remark at the time from a movement he made that that fellow was hit.After he was brought up as a prisoner and pronounced to be Ormsby, I recollected where I had seen him. Reed seemed sure the man firing at them had been hit by at least one of Stones shots, yet the court did not question the fact that Ormsby was not wounded.Nor did they question the fact that none of the witnesses could give an accurate description of the clothing Ormsby was wearing when he was captured. Captain Reed could not even say with confidence what color hat the prisoner had been wearing. He had a gray jacket on and I think a light hat, he said. The only exculpatory evidence the court heard was the prisoners own statement: I deserted from here to go home and see my parents.My mother was in Boston the last time I heard from her and she wished me to get a furlough and come home to see her.They expected her in New York. I took the horses away from here. I was going to sell them to get money to go home on.When I got out at Aldie there was three of Mosbys men met me and they took my horses and arms from me.And yesterday morning they come to where I was and a young fellow wished me to go down with him to his house.He lives below Aldie and I was acquainted down there with some ladies.I was going down to see them and before I got to Aldie I met another young man named Davis and he wanted me to go over between the two Pikes with him and get some liquor,and I went over with him and I got drunk.Just before we came to AldieI heard somebody coming up behind and I saw five more men.I knew two of them.They were brothers and their names were Underwood and one of them asked a [black man] if he had seen any Yankees around here and he said he had seen nine.And Davis rode up to my side then and he pulled out his revolver and says he theres the damned Yankees and fired. I drew my revolver then and cocked it and it went off.Then I turned in my saddle and fired off up the hill. I was so drunk that I couldnt see nothing at all and I turned down and tried to jump a creek but my horse couldnt jump it and I got off on foot. I could scarcely stand up I was so intoxicatedI know I done wrong and Im sorry for it and I think I was always counted a sober man when I was here and always done my duty very well until I got into a scrape about a horse trade down here.Thats what caused me to desert more than anything because I had my pay taken away from me. It took the court less than two hours to hear from four witnesses, none of whom testified for the defense, and to listen to Ormsbys statement.In even less time than that,Lowell quickly reviewed and approved the courts findings,sentencing Ormsby to be shot to death by musketry at 11:30 the next morning in fulfillment of his own prediction that Ormsby would be dead before noon. The prisoner was kept in close confinement until the execution of his sentence,guarded by his arch enemy Lieutenant Manning, said Mortimer.There were many who would have assisted him to escape had it been possible.George Buhrer, expressing similar sentiments, wrote,We all felt bad for Ormsby,it was a hard fate,but it was not in our power to release him,or it would have been done. With escape out of the question,Ormsby spent his last hours in the company of Chaplain Humphreys. The next morning,a Sunday,the brigade was ordered to form up in a hollow square formationfacing inward along three sides of a rectangle, with the open end facing a railroad embankment.A short distance from the track, a grave had been dug.A solemn procession marched from the guard house to the execution site:the brigade band playing the death march; followed by four men carrying a rude wooden coffin;Ormsby and the chaplain;and,bringing up the rear, six men of the firing squad. Chaplain Humphreys described what happened next: The poor victim chose to lean on my arm as he walked to execution behind his own coffin borne by his old messmates, while the band marched beside playing a funeral dirge.Being permitted to speak a few last words to his fellow-soldiers who were drawn up on three sides of a hollow square to witness the execution, he said: Comrades! I want to acknowledge that I am guilty and that my punishment is just.But I want also that you should know that I did not desert because I lost faith in our cause. I believe we are on the right side, and I think it will succeed. But take warning from my example, and whatever comes do not desert the old flag for which I am proud to die. Everything being now ready,I offered prayer with him and commended him to the mercy of God.The sergeant in command of the shooting-squad gave the orderReady! Aim! Fire! and the deserter in one moment was dead. William E.Ormsby was the only member of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry executed for desertion during the war.His friend Harry Mortimer wrote,His fate was sad and unnecessarily severe and without parallel in the history of the regiment. Steve Meserve, a previous contributor to Americas Civil War, writes from Sterling,Va., not far from the place where Pony Ormsby died. He is one of the editors of the soon-to-be-published wartime journal of Ida Powell Dulany of Upperville,Va., and he is also presently working on a brief history of Loudoun County,Va., in the Civil War, to be published by The History Press. Originally published in the September 2007 issue of Americas Civil War. To subscribe, click here. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (Photo: VNA) During the trip, the Russian PM held talks with PM Phuc; paid a courtesy call to General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee (CPVCC) and President Nguyen Phu Trong; and met with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. On the occasion, he laid wreathes at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Martyrs Monument in Hanoi, and visited a photo exhibition on Vietnam-Russia traditional relations and comprehensive cooperation, which was co-organised by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Russian News Agency TASS. He also toured the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre and presented a gift from the Russian Government to the science and technology research establishment. Through these meetings, in an atmosphere of friendship, mutual trust, and understanding, the Vietnamese and Russian sides discussed orientations and measures to boost cooperation across many fields towards deepening the two nations strategic partnership. They agreed to celebrate the Vietnam Year in Russia and the Russia Year in Vietnam during 2019-2020 to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the treaty on fundamental principles of Vietnam-Russia friendly relations (2019) and the 70th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (2020). To optimise opportunities brought by the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, both sides promised to coordinate and gradually address barriers on the import and export of goods, especially agro-fishery-forestry products, with the aim to raise two-way trade to USD10 billion by 2020. They affirmed to continue facilitating oil and gas exploration and exploitation on Vietnams continental shelf and Russian territory, and encouraged the expansion of cooperation in other fields such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas power supply. Both sides agreed to step up large-scale projects in the fields of energy, industry, transport, agriculture, and expand collaboration in information, digital technology, and e-Government. They pledged their commitment to carrying out a USD350 million-Nuclear Science and Technology Centre, while encouraging cooperation to develop urban transport infrastructure and railways in Vietnam. The sides reached a consensus on expanding joint engagements in security-defence, science-technology, culture, tourism, education-training, and labour; as well as on the advancement of partnerships between their localities. They exchanged views on international and regional matters of common concern. They stressed the need to maintain peace and stability, which involves ensuring aviation and navigation security, safety, and freedom in the East Sea and solving disputes peacefully on the basis of respecting international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working towards the early signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. The sides stated they will maintain coordination at multilateral forums, foster cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the ASEAN-Russia cooperation, for the sake of the two peoples, and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world./. 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. The annual firefighter awards ceremony was held Tuesday morning in Mechanics Hall, Worcester. WMass Technical Rescue Team Honored for Meritorious Conduct In a particularly moving moment, Montgomery Fire Chief Stephen Frye, who died responding to a fire on Dec. 6, 2017, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Chief Fryes widow Laurie, their children Caitlyn and Matt, and current Chief Galipeau accepted on his behalf. #LODD pic.twitter.com/z5YJq4ETkI Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) November 20, 2018 WORCESTER, Mass. The Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team and Montgomery's late longtime fire chief were among honorees at the 29th annual Firefighter of the Year Awards. They were among the 91 individuals from 13 departments and teams recognized for heroic acts of bravery. The event held at Worcester's Mechanics Hall on Tuesday was emceed by WCVB Channel 5's Maria Stephanos and included Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Public Safety Secretary Daniel Bennett, Undersecretary Patrick McMurray and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. "We are incredibly proud to honor these courageous firefighters for their bravery and service to their local communities in times of danger," said Baker, who presented the awards. "Massachusetts cities and towns are better places to live, work and raise a family because so many first responders selflessly answer to call to serve each and every day." The members of the Western Mass Tech team were awarded a group citation for meritorious conduct for their five-day attempt in July 2017 to recover the remains of a 21-year old man who had toppled from the top of 80-foot Bash Bish Falls in Mount Washington, the highest falls in the state. In cooperation with a New York rescue team, the group used a number of swift-water rescue techniques and underwater cameras to locate the victim. "A technically complicated recovery plan that included diverting the water was made that involved permissions from many agencies, but when the family was notified of the recovery plan, they requested that no further efforts take place," according to the Department of Fire Services' description. Department of Conservation staff later recovered the body after it became dislodged naturally from the steep ravine and caught in netting. The firefighters are: Agawam: Robert LaFrance, Robert Pensivy; Agawam/Dalton: Thomas Balardini; Amherst: Cap. Steve Chandler and David Holmes; Chicopee: Deputy Chief David Beauregard; Dalton/Pittsfield: Lucas Perry; Easthampton: Sandi Krauss; Great Barrington: Justin Bona and Rob Gaughran; Greenfield: Lt. Andrew Eisch; Lee: Chief Ryan Brown; Lenox: Capt. Daniel Piretti and Robert Casucci; North Adams: Michael Sherman; Northampton: Daryl Springman; Pittsfield: Capt. Mitch Kellar, Josh Healy and Scott McGinnis; South Hadley D1: Capts. James Pula and Jason Saunders; Turners Falls: Chief John Zellman, Capts. Todd Brunelle, Peter Jerusik and Brian McCarthy, and Walker Korby. Six other Group Awards for Meritorious Conduct were presented to firefighters from Abington, Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills, Chicopee, Revere and Worcester. The Medal of Honor was presented posthumously to Montgomery Chief Stephen P. Frye, who died Dec. 6, 2017, after collapsing at the scene of a house fire. Frye had been chief for 13 years and a member of the small volunteer fire company for 24 years. His wife, Laurie, their children Karlyn Patenaude and Matthew Frye, also a firefighter, and current Fire Chief Chris Galipeau accepted on his behalf. "It is our privilege to honor the brave men and women who have all done something remarkable to earn this recognition," said Polito. "We also want to thank the families of Massachusetts firefighters for the daily sacrifices they make as their loved one serves to protect the community." An Excellence in Leadership Award was presented to a Michael Jefferson, a firefighter and veteran who founded the Fraternal Order of Fire Fighter Military Veterans Inc., a program for firefighters to address post-traumatic stress disorder. The Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal Award was presented to the Northwestern Youth Fire Intervention Response, Education and Safety Partnership (NoFIRES). "The members of NoFIRES work tirelessly to reduce the incident of youth-set fires in Western Massachusetts using effective intervention strategies," said Ostroskey. "They bring together fire investigators, law enforcement, juvenile justice professionals, fire educators and mental health clinicians to the table to share best practices to help these at risk children and their families." The Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service was presented to Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) Hose Company, volunteer and call firefighters who have developed a unique and fun Explorers program with Post 343 that teaches young adults about the fire service. An Individual Award for Meritorious Conduct to a paramedic/firefighter Adam Hart of Wilbraham for saving a woman and her child from the Chicopee River. A dozen Medals of Valor were presented to individual firefighters from Ayer, Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills, Fall River, and Worcester. "Firefighters are the ones we call when someone is stranded, has fallen through the ice, mixes up pool chemicals, has a heart attack, or a fire in their home," said Bennett. "We do everything we can to support them through state-of-the art training, gear and resources to make a dangerous job a little less so." Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev (Source: VNA) PM Phuc affirmed Vietnams consistent policy of treasuring and prioritising its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. PM Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia considers Vietnam as one of its most important partners in the Asia-Pacific region. The two leaders shared their delight at the strong political trust between Vietnam and Russia, with regular meetings and delegation exchanges at all levels, especially those of a high level. They agreed to coordinate closely in organising the Vietnam Year in Russia and the Russia Year in Vietnam in 2019 and 2020, on the occasion of 25 years since the signing of the Agreement on Basic Principles for Vietnam-Russia Friendship and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties. The two PMs hailed the outcomes of the 21st meeting of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Governmental Committee on economic-trade and science-technology cooperation in Moscow in late October 2018. They held that the economic, trade, and investment partnership between the two countries has grown dynamically over the past years, along with the effective implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union. To bring into full play benefits brought by the agreement, both sides promised to coordinate and gradually address barriers on the import and export of goods, especially agro-fishery-forestry products, with the aim to raise two-way trade to USD10 billion by 2020. The PMs conveyed satisfaction with the results of oil and gas cooperation, considering it one of the important pillars in Vietnam-Russia collaboration. They vowed to continue facilitating oil and gas exploration and exploitation on Vietnams continental shelf and Russias territory, and encouraged the expansion of cooperation in other fields such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas power supply. Both agreed to step up large-scale projects in the fields of energy, industry, transport, agriculture, and expand collaboration in information, digital technology, and e-Government. They affirmed their commitment to carrying out a USD350 million-Nuclear Science and Technology Centre, while encouraging cooperation to develop urban transport infrastructure and railways in Vietnam. The two leaders reached a consensus on the importance of security and defence cooperation; on the intensifying of collaboration in the fields of science-technology, culture, tourism, education-training, and labour; as well as on the advancement of partnerships between their localities. PM Phuc took the occasion to thank Russian leaders and authorised offices for helping the Vietnamese community in the country, hoping for their continued support. The PMs also exchanged views on different regional and international issues of mutual concern and stressed the need to maintain peace and stability. This involves ensuring aviation and navigation security, safety, and freedom in the East Sea towards solving disputes peacefully on the basis of respecting international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working towards the early signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. Both sides affirmed to maintain coordination at multilateral forums, foster cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the ASEAN-Russia cooperation, for the interests of the two peoples, and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. They expressed their belief that the outcomes of the visit will contribute to boosting the bilateral relations in all fields. PM Medvedev took the occasion to invite PM Phuc to visit Russia in the coming time. The Vietnamese leader accepted the invitation with pleasure./. I enjoy going to Mexican restaurants. However, its not often that I go to one since the food doesnt always agree with my regular dining companion. The only Mexican restaurant that never caused my friend a bit of trouble was the now closed Javiars Hacienda on East Washington Street. Once that restaurant closed, I knew my dining at Mexican restaurants would be minimal at best. When my Recorder family decided La Hacienda on Graham Road and Binford Boulevard would be the location of our pre-Thanksgiving lunch, I was more than ready! La Hacienda is pretty much a run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurant. The menu is similar to just about any other Mexican restaurant youll find scattered throughout the greater Indianapolis area. I expect fast service, good food and a decent-sized portion at any Mexican restaurant I patronize. That was my experience at La Hacienda. The server brought a sizzling hot skillet chock full of jumbo shrimp, peppers, onions and tomatoes exactly how I want my fajita to look. Several of my dining companions looked at my skillet with a little fleck of green envy in their eyes. I love seafood, and I dont expect to see puny shrimp on my plate. La Hacienda didnt disappoint. The shrimp were large and meaty. In addition to my fajita skillet, the server brought out a plate of refried beans, another plate with three tortillas wrapped in foil and a plate filled with lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole. So, yeah, I had a lot of plates! Although I was really hungry, I couldnt finish my meal so I had enough leftover for dinner. It was still good when I reheated it later that night. What I love most about Mexican restaurants is the fast service and filling portions. I appreciate being able to go to a restaurant for lunch and get in and out. If I stop in for dinner, its the same thing. When youre super hungry or on a tight schedule, the last thing you want to do is sit around waiting for your food. Contact Editor Oseye Boyd at 317-762-7850. Follow her on Twitter @oseye_boyd. La Hacienda Where: 6825 Graham Road Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Sunday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday Searching through discounts at Walmart, Best Buy and other giant companies on Black Friday might be fun, but its also important to remember the small businesses that make up the local economy and community. Small Business Saturday, a tradition reminding shoppers to think local, has become an Indianapolis staple. Two small business owners, Tajuana Hill of Mimosa and a Masterpiece and Jamean Richardson of Sweet Js Shoetique, share why its important to support small businesses in your community but also why they support other small businesses. Mimosa and a Masterpiece Mimosa and a Masterpiece offers a fun event, perfect for a weekend. Participants try their hand at painting, work closely with a friendly art instructor, create a painting they take home and have a drink or two along the way. Hill said the business mission is creating an environment for people to do something they never thought they would be able to do, which is: create a masterpiece. She got the idea for Mimosa and a Masterpiece from a paint and sip event she attended in Atlanta. I left feeling very proud of myself and what I had created, and I knew right then that I wanted to help other people feel how I felt, Hill said. Hill was so inspired that she invested a significant amount of a work bonus into the business idea. It was a risk that paid off, as next month marks the seven-year anniversary of Mimosa and a Masterpiece. Mimosa and a Masterpiece has passionate customers like the first family, as Hill affectionately calls them. The family has visited the studio around 20 times, introduced others to Mimosa and a Masterpiece, and they are currently working on a mural with the studio, painting a new section every time they visit. Sweet Js Shoetique Of course, small businesses are not always brick and mortar. In fact, many small businesses such as Sweet Js Shoetique find it better to stay digital and avoid brick and mortar costs altogether. Sweet Js Shoetique was born out of a hobby. Ive always loved shoes, always been the one who had a great eye for them, and anytime I would get dressed and go out, I would always get complimented on my shoes, said Richardson, Sweet Js Shoetiques owner. Richardsons passion for footwear led to her searching for shoes traditional vendors did not carry. Eventually, so much work went into her search that she decided to turn it into a business. She called her business a shoetique, combining the words shoe and boutique, and started selling online. Indianapolis residents arent Richardsons only customers. For the most part, my customers are from LA, Atlanta, New York and things like that, she said. Owning the shoetique offers more travel opportunities than one would expect from a small online business. Richardson often travels to pop-up events to advertise her shoes, visiting business events to beauty shops to promote her shoetique. Supporting Small Business Both Hill and Richardson do not only own Indianapolis small businesses, but they also make a point of supporting other small businesses. If I have a choice between a small business and a chain, Im going to choose the small business every time, Hill said. Hill gets her nails done and does a lot of her shopping at small businesses. She notes that it is not only a good policy, but also a wise business decision for local small business owners to support each other. Richardson has several favorite local small businesses, such as Runway Diva Boutique and 28 Boutique. In addition to loving their products, she says it would be hypocritical to not support small businesses when she herself is a small business owner. As a business owner, you cant promote and put out there that local businesses need to be supported when youre not doing it yourself. You need to take into consideration that you are consumer as well as a business owner, Richardson said. Contact staff writer Ben Lashar at 317-762-7848. Follow him on Twitter @BenjaminLashar. Two years after the Edna Martin Christian Center purchased a building and 13 acres of land for $1 on Indianapolis northeast side, the group celebrated its newly renovated Leadership and Legacy Center with an open house Nov. 20. It marked the completion of the first phase of its two-phase renovation project to the area. The renovated building was originally a distribution center. The Edna Martin Christian Center worked alongside the Shepherd Community Center for years in the building until 2016. Thats when Shepherd sold the land to the Edna Martin Christian Center, which was growing too large for its nearby original site, 37 Place, east of 25th Street and Keystone Avenue. The Edna Martin Christian Center was founded in 1941 as a faith-based and human services agency that provided community programs to bridge gaps between cultural, racial and economic differences. Today, the organization operates a network of neighborhood action programs that focus on education, workforce development and community health. Tysha Hardy-Sellers, executive director of the Edna Martin Christian Center, described the Leadership and Legacy Center as an extension and expansion of what the organization has been doing. That includes programs for school-age kids and seniors. The building can serve 350 kids and 100 seniors, according to a press release issued by the organization. The center will also have a new early childhood center, which will be able to serve 80 children. Our goal is to ensure that we have the opportunities available to this community, making sure they have access to everything they need in order to live, work, play and learn in a space thats going to be inspiring, Hardy-Sellers said. The Edna Martin Christian Center now begins the second phase of its renovation project, which Hardy-Sellers said will be about addressing gaps in the community. An entrepreneurship center will offer businesses a place to plan and eventually launch. A two-acre community farm will address food insecurity, and there will be a space for family literacy and counseling for adults. The renovations to the Leadership and Legacy Center cost $3 million, according to a press release. The second phase of renovations will cost $2.4 million. Funding sources include the City of Indianapolis and United Way of Central Indiana, as well as individuals and groups such as churches and business, according to Hardy-Sellers. Another part of the second phase is supporting KIPP Indy Public Schools, which broke ground the same day on a high school on the south end of the new campus. KIPP is a nonprofit network of public charter schools that operates 209 schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia. KIPP Indy Public Schools was founded in 2004 and has an elementary and middle school in the area. The Edna Martin Christian Center and KIPP have had a partnership since 2010, according to Barato Britt, who sits on KIPPs board and is also in charge of operations at the Leadership and Legacy Center. Britt said KIPP Indy High School is a continuation of that relationship, which will include after-school and summer programs for students. The hope is a strong partnership between the two entities will enhance the cultivation of talent that already exists in the community. We have tried to grow the Edna Martin Christian Center program to be more comprehensive, to really round out a continuum that proves the correlation between program participation and actual good community outcomes, Britt said. The high school, which will open in August 2019, will start with 120 freshmen, according to School Leader David Spencer. It will add a freshman class each of the following three years until it is at full capacity. Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick. The Edna Martin Christian Centers Leadership and Legacy Center is newly renovated, though construction outside the building remains to be done for the second phase of renovations. (Photo/Tyler Fenwick) November 19, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - How many people have been killed in the post-9/11 war on terror? The question is a contentious one, as there has been no formal accounting for the deadly cost of the initial U.S. interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention the secondary conflicts that continue to wreak havoc across the Middle East and the opaque, covert war still expanding across Asia and Africa. But even as the U.S. government evades responsibility for the human cost of its overseas endeavors, some researchers are determined to keep count. Brown Universitys Costs of War Project this month released a new estimate of the total death toll from the U.S. wars in three countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The numbers, while conservatively estimated, are staggering. Browns researchers estimate that at least 480,000 people have been directly killed by violence over the course of these conflicts, more than 244,000 of them civilians. In addition to those killed by direct acts violence, the number of indirect deaths those resulting from disease, displacement, and the loss of critical infrastructure is believed to be several times higher, running into the millions. The report, which uses data spanning from October 2001 to October 2018, compiles previous analysis from nongovernmental organizations, U.S. and foreign government data, and media reports. In a statement, the report authors said the figures still just scratches the surface of the human consequences of 17 years of war. Due to challenges in data collection, their total estimate is an undercount, they added. The study also focuses on only the three countries where the United States launched its so-called war on terror. If the conflicts in Libya, Yemen, Somalia, or Syria where the U.S. has conducted major military operations in recent years had been included, the death toll would likely be significantly higher. Some American politicians have lately evinced a refreshing willingness to make call for public accountability for the war in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is the party that is doing the immediate harm to civilians, albeit with logistical support and weapons from the U.S. But there has been far less appetite to similarly criticize, or even account for, the many conflicts in which the United States is directly responsible for the violence despite monumental death tolls, refugee crises, and other sobering evidence of human suffering. The major challenge in tracking the full costs of these wars is that the U.S. military doesnt even meaningfully investigate civilian death tolls. Generally, they know its not good to have civilian casualties, but their focus is mainly on fighting, and there is little pressure to make protecting civilians a key priority, said Daphne Eviatar, director of the Security With Human Rights program at Amnesty International USA. Meanwhile, the U.S. public simply doesnt see deaths in other countries. They dont see civilians being killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. With everything going on in the United States at the moment, the fact that were even at war has largely fallen off the radar. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have raged on for well over a decade now. In that time, both the nature of the warfare and the enemies the U.S. is at war with have evolved. In addition, the initial invasions have generated violent new conflicts across the region between local governments and non-state actors, some of which the U.S. is also involved in. Although public attention has almost completely drifted from Afghanistan the war there was not even mentioned during the last two 2016 presidential debates the United States actually dropped more bombs in that country this year than in any year since the war began. American casualties have been minimized in recent years by a greater reliance on airstrikes over ground forces, something that has also helped take American minds off the war. But U.S.-allied Afghans fighting on the ground continue to pay a horrendous toll, with thousands killed this year in the face of advances by a resurgent Taliban. Despite all these deaths, it remains highly questionable what exactly the United States has gained from these wars. The initial confrontation with Al Qaeda, a clandestine organization numbering perhaps a few hundred people at the time of the 9/11 attacks, has somehow metamorphosed into an endless war against an expanding universe of even more extreme terrorist groups, many of which did not even exist on September 11, 2001. Entire cities have been left in ruins, with the United States offering no coherent strategy for a return to stability, or even normalcy, in the places it has been at war. It matters how you fight and what you do afterwards, said Eviatar. Hundreds of thousands of people have now been killed in the name of fighting terrorism. We need to ask who has benefitted from this, who has suffered, and what the cumulative effects are. Studies like the one published by Brown University add to a steadily growing body of scholarship showing the horrifying human costs of the wars. The media has also made some significant contributions to improving public awareness. Journalists Anand Gopal and Azmat Khan, for example, published a groundbreaking New York Times report last year on civilian casualties in Iraq. Their reporting showed the actual death rate to be a stunning 31 times higher than the one officially reported by the U.S. military. It can hardly be said now that the truth isnt out there. But some experts say that it isnt surprising that this information has failed to translate into public action. John Tirman, author of The Deaths of Others: The Fate of Civilians in Americas Wars, a study of the impact on foreign civilians of American military operations, argues that psychological factors might help explain why Americans dont seem to care about the human cost of their wars. Faced with a terrible situation requiring complex solutions and sustained attention, people are likely to just ignore it if they have the option to do so. People tend to turn away from disasters such as a war gone bad very quickly. They turn away because it bothers them morally, but also because the carnage challenges their strongly held self-perception that their country is a force for good in the world, said Tirman. In the face of something horrible, people are much more likely to become indifferent than they are to protest. Oftentimes its even easier to just blame the victims for causing their own suffering. The Brown University researchers also reported the number of U.S. military deaths, which, unlike civilian deaths, the government generally keeps track of. Around 7,000 American soldiers have lost their lives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan since 9/11. Roughly double that number of private contractors, who performed supporting tasks that in previous conflicts were handled directly by the military, have also been killed. Improved battlefield medical procedures have lowered the overall number of American deaths, but tens of thousands of Americans have also been wounded in battle, with many suffering grievous lifelong injuries. During the Vietnam War, the institution of the draft forced the public to maintain at least some basic level of awareness about the war. But the creation of an all-volunteer military has made the conflicts much easier to ignore. As public attention has waned, it has become easier for the U.S. government to obscure its own role in helping foment violent crises that have sent waves of desperate refugees streaming across the world. It has also helped deflect attention from wartime expenditures that are now estimated to have sucked up over $6 trillion in public funds money that could have done much good in a country that is starving for infrastructure and public health spending. While Americans continue to search for explanations for their own eroding domestic national stability, the wars that continue to rage outside of public notice may help explain some of the ugly direction of U.S. politics in recent years. There is a perverse dynamic at play, in which were killing more people, creating adverse consequences like mass displacement and refugees, and then banning those very people from our shores, said Hina Shamsi, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions National Security Project. We really need to question both the fairness and necessity of these policies, which are inflicting devastating human costs abroad while harming our own civil rights at home. This article was originally published by " The Intercept " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy As the Obama DOJ Concluded, Prosecution of Julian Assange for Publishing Documents Poses Grave Threats to Press Freedom By Glenn Greenwald November 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The Trump Justice Department inadvertently revealed in a court filing that it has charged Julian Assange in a sealed indictment. The disclosure occurred through a remarkably amateurish cutting-and-pasting error in which prosecutors unintentionally used secret language from Assanges sealed charges in a document filed in an unrelated case. Although the document does not specify which charges have been filed against Assange, the Wall Street Journal reported that they may involve the Espionage Act, which criminalizes the disclosure of national defense-related information. Over the last two years, journalists and others have melodramatically claimed that press freedoms were being assaulted by the Trump administration due to trivial acts such as the President spouting adolescent insults on Twitter at Chuck Todd and Wolf Blitzer or banning Jim Acosta from White House press conferences due to his refusal to stop preening for a few minutes so as to allow other journalists to ask questions. Meanwhile, actual and real threats to press freedoms that began with the Obama DOJ and have escalated with the Trump DOJ such as aggressive attempts to unearth and prosecute sources have gone largely ignored if not applauded. But prosecuting Assange and/or WikiLeaks for publishing classified documents would be in an entirely different universe of press freedom threats. Reporting on the secret acts of government officials or powerful financial actors including by publishing documents taken without authorization is at the core of investigative journalism. From the Pentagon Papers to the Panama Papers to the Snowden disclosures to publication of Trumps tax returns to the Iraq and Afghanistan war logs, some of the most important journalism over the last several decades has occurred because it is legal and constitutional to publish secret documents even if the sources of those documents obtained them through illicit or even illegal means. The Obama DOJ despite launching notoriously aggressive attacks on press freedoms recognized this critical principle when it came to WikiLeaks. It spent years exploring whether it could criminally charge Assange and WikiLeaks for publishing classified information. It ultimately decided it would not do so, and could not do so, consistent with the press freedom guarantee of the First Amendment. After all, the Obama DOJ concluded, such a prosecution would pose a severe threat to press freedom because there would be no way to prosecute Assange for publishing classified documents without also prosecuting the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Guardian and others for doing exactly the same thing. As the Washington Post put it in 2013 when it explained the Obama DOJs decision not to prosecute Assange: Justice officials said they looked hard at Assange but realized that they have what they described as a New York Times problem. If the Justice Department indicted Assange, it would also have to prosecute the New York Times and other news organizations and writers who published classified material, including The Washington Post and Britains Guardian newspaper. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Last year, the Trump DOJ under Jeff Sessions, and the CIA under Mike Pompeo, began aggressively vowing to do what the Obama DOJ refused to do namely, prosecute Assange for publishing classified documents. Pompeo, as CIA Director, delivered one of the creepiest and most anti-press-freedom speeches heard in years, vowing that we have to recognize that we can no longer allow Assange and his colleagues the latitude to use free speech values against us, adding that WikiLeaks has pretended that Americas First Amendment freedoms shield them from justice, but: they may have believed that, but they are wrong. Remarkably, the speech by Donald Trumps hand-picked CIA chief and long-time right-wing Congressman sounded like (and still sounds like) the standard Democratic view when they urge the Trump administration to prosecute Assange. But at the time of Pompeos speech, Obama DOJ spokesman Matt Miller insisted to me that such promises to prosecute Assange were hollow, because the First Amendment would bar such prosecutions: it's also hollow. DOJ knows it can't win a case against someone just for publishing secrets. Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) April 13, 2017 But the grand irony is that many Democrats will side with the Trump DOJ over the Obama DOJ. Their emotional, personal contempt for Assange due to their belief that he helped defeat Hillary Clinton: the gravest crime easily outweighs any concerns about the threats posed to press freedoms by the Trump administrations attempts to criminalize the publication of documents. This reflects the broader irony of the Trump era for Democrats. While they claim out of one side of their mouth to find the Trump administrations authoritarianism and press freedom attacks so repellent, they use the other side of their mouth to parrot the authoritarian mentality of Jeff Sessions and Mike Pompeo that anyone who published documents harmful to Hillary or which have been deemed classified by the U.S. Government ought to go to prison. During the Obama years, the notion that Assange could be prosecuted for publishing documents was regarded as so extreme and dangerous that even centrist media outlets that despised him sounded the alarm for how dangerous such a prosecution would be. The pro-national-security-state Washington Post editorial page in 2010, writing under the headline Dont Charge WikiLeaks, warned: Such prosecutions are a bad idea. The government has no business indicting someone who is not a spy and who is not legally bound to keep its secrets. Doing so would criminalize the exchange of information and put at risk responsible media organizations that vet and verify material and take seriously the protection of sources and methods when lives or national security are endangered. In contrast to Democrats, Republicans have been quite consistent about their desire to see WikiLeaks prosecuted. As Newsweek noted in 2011: Sarah Palin urged that Assange be pursued with the same urgency we pursue Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, and The Weekly Standards William Kristol wants the U.S. to use our various assets to harass, snatch or neutralize Julian Assange and his collaborators. Some Democratic hawks, such as Joe Lieberman and Dianne Feinstein, joined the likes of Palin and Kristol in urging WikiLeaks prosecution, but the broad consensus in Democratica and liberal circles was that doing so was far too dangerous for press freedoms. In the wake of the 2010 disclosures of the Iraq and Afghanistan war logs, Donald Trump himself told Fox and Friends Brian Kilmade that he believed Assange deserved the death penalty for having published those documents (a punishment Trump also advocated for Edward Snowden in 2013): What has changed since that Obama-era consensus? Only one thing: in 2016, WikiLeaks published documents that reflected poorly on Democrats and the Clinton campaign rather than the Bush-era wars, rendering Democrats perfectly willing, indeed eager, to prioritize their personal contempt for Assange over any precepts of basic press freedoms, civil liberties, or Constitutional principles. Its really just as simple and as ignoble as that. It is this utterly craven and authoritarian mentality that is about to put Democrats of all sorts in bed with the most extremist and dangerous of the Trump faction as they unite to create precedents under which the publication of information long held sacrosanct by anyone caring about press freedoms can now be legally punished. Recall that the DNC itself is currently suing WikiLeaks and Assange for publishing the DNC and Podesta emails they received: emails deemed newsworthy by literally every major media outlet, which relentlessly reported on them. Until this current Trump DOJ criminal prosecution of Assange, that DNC lawsuit had been the greatest Trump-era threat to press freedoms because it seeks to make the publication of documents, which is the core of journalism, legally punishable. The Trump DOJs attempts to criminalize those actions is merely the next logical step in this descent into a full-scale attack on basic press rights. The arguments justifying the Trump administrations prosecution of Assange are grounded in a combination of legal ignorance, factual falsehoods, and dangerous authoritarianism. The most common misconception is that unlike the New York Times and the Washington Post, WikiLeaks can be legitimately prosecuted for publishing classified information because its not a legitimate news outlet. Democrats who make this argument dont seem to care that this is exactly the view rejected as untenable by the Obama DOJ. To begin with, the press freedom guarantee of the First Amendment isnt confined to legitimate news outlets whatever that might mean. The First Amendment isnt available only to a certain class of people licensed as journalists. It protects not a privileged group of people called professional journalists but rather an activity: namely, using the press (which at the time of the First Amendments enactment meant the literal printing press) to inform the public about what the government was doing. Everyone is entitled to that constitutional protection equally: there is no cogent way to justify why the Guardian, ex-DOJ-officials-turned-bloggers, or Marcy Wheeler are free to publish classified information but Julian Assange and WikiLeaks are not. Beyond that, WikiLeaks has long been recognized around the world as a critical journalistic outlet. They have won prestigious journalism awards including the Martha Gellhorn Prize for excellence in journalism as well as Australias top journalism award. Beyond that, it has partnered with the planets leading newspapers, including the New York Times, the Guardian, El Pais and others, to publish some of the most consequential stories of the last several decades One does not need to be a legitimate journalism outlet to enjoy the press freedom protections of the First Amendment, but even if that were the case, WikiLeaks has long possessed all indicia of a news outlet. Then theres the claim that WikiLeaks does more than publish documents: it helps its sources steal them. This was the claim made last night by former CIA agent John Sipher when trying to justify the Trump DOJs actions in response to concerns from a journalist about the threats to press freedom this would pose: No. Assange's crime is aiding and abetting. He encouraged Manning to steal classified documents (similarly to how he encouraged Trump Jr. to claim the electron was rigged). He was not a place to publish whistle blowers. He was a thief and assistant to Putin. John Sipher (@john_sipher) November 16, 2018 What Sipher said there is a complete fabrication. When the Obama DOJ explored the possibility of prosecuting Assange, that was the theory it tested: that perhaps it could prove that WikiLeaks did not merely passively receive the documents from Chelsea Manning but collaborated with her on how to steal them. But the Obama DOJ concluded that this theory would not justify prosecution because contrary to the lie told by Sipher there was absolutely no evidence that Assange worked with Manning to steal the documents. As the Post put it: officials said that although Assange published classified documents, he did not leak them, something they said significantly affects their legal analysis. The same is true of WikiLeaks publication of the DNC and Podesta emails. Nobody has ever presented evidence of any kind that WikiLeaks worked on the hacking of those emails. There is no evidence that WikiLeaks ever did anything other than passively receive pilfered documents from a source and then publish them exactly as the New York Times did when it received the stolen Pentagon Papers, and exactly as the Guardian and the Washington Post did when it received the Snowden documents. Moreover, journalists often do more than passively receive information, but instead frequently work with sources before publication of articles: encouraging, cajoling, and persuading them to provide more information. Accepting the theory that a journalist can be prosecuted for doing more than merely passively receiving information something that nobody has even proved Assange did would itself gravely threaten to criminalize core aspects of journalism. Then theres the claim that WikiLeaks somehow stopped being a real journalism outlet because it acted to help one of the presidential campaigns at the expense of of the other. This is just another version of the false argument that only Real Journalists whatever that might mean, whoever gets to decide that enjoy the right to use a free press to disseminate information. That claim is pure legal ignorance. But lets assume for the sake of argument that its true that WikiLeaks acted to help the Trump campaign and therefore should be disqualified from the protections of the First Amendment. To see how pernicious this argument is, look at how it was recently expressed by former Pentagon official Ryan Goodman and Obama WH Counsel Bob Bauer in justifying the prosecution of WikiLeaks: It is clear from disclosures by an internal WikiLeaks critic and other materials that Julian Assange targeted Hillary Clinton and sought to work with the Trump campaign and the Russians to secure her defeat. This is not a legitimate press function. And the conflation of Wikileaks plan of campaign attack with standard journalistic activity undermines important distinctions critical to the protection of the free press. Just ponder the implications of this incredibly restrictive definition of journalism. It would mean that any outlets that favor one candidate over another, or one political party over another, are not engaged in legitimate press functions and therefore have no entitlement to First Amendment protections. Does anyone on the planet doubt that outlets such as MSNBC and Vox favor the Democratic Party over the Republican Party, and the people they employ as journalists spent the last year doing everything they can to help the Democrats win and the Republicans lose? Does anyone doubt that MSNBC and Vox journalists spent 2016 doing everything in their power to help Hillary Clinton win and Donald Trump lose? No person with even the most minimal amount of intellectual honesty could deny that they did so. Does this mean that Rachel Maddow and Ezra Klein by virtue of favoring one political party over the other are not real journalists, that they are not engaged in legitimate press functions, and thus do not enjoy the protections of the First Amendment, meaning they can be prosecuted by the Trump DOJ without the ability to claim the rights of a free press? To state that proposition is to illustrate the tyrannical impulses underlying it. As Marcy Wheeler, otherwise sympathetic to the arguments made by the Goodman/Bauer article, put it: I agree with much of this analysis abt limits on 1A protection for Trump's conspiring w/Russians. But this claim would threaten a lot of journalistic activity and is fundamentally at odds with the early history of journalism in this country. pic.twitter.com/nBHkU69THI emptywheel (@emptywheel) November 2, 2018 As Dan Froomkin wrote in response to that article, he finds some of Assanges actions despicable and abhorred the heedless, unedited publication of the non-newsworthy and personally hurtful emails that were released (I have expressed similar highly critical views about WikiLeaks publication decisions). But Froomkin nonetheless recognizes that Assange remains a journalist and that In the Trump era, when the president of the United States is using his office to attack journalists and journalism itself, the First Amendment is a key bulwark of liberty. Thats how people who actually care about press freedom rather than pretend to care about it when doing so suits their political interests of the moment will reason. But thats exactly the point. Neither the most authoritarian factions of the Trump administration behind this prosecution, nor their bizarre and equally tyrannical allies in the Democratic Party, care the slightest about press freedoms. They only care about one thing: putting Julian Assange behind bars, because (in the case of Trump officials) he revealed U.S. war crimes and because (in the case of Democrats) he revealed corruption at the highest levels of the DNC that forced the resignation of the top 5 officials of the Democratic Party and harmed the Democrats political reputation. Theyre willing to create a precedent that will criminalize the core function of investigative journalism because even as they spent two years shrilly denouncing that most trivial attacks on press freedom they dont actually care about that value at all. They want to protect only the journalism that advances their political interests, while putting people behind bars who publish information that undermines their political interests. It is this authoritarian, noxious mentality that has united the worst elements of the Trump administration and the Democratic Party that pretends to find tyrannical actions objectionable but is often the leaders in defending them. This article was originally published by " The Intercept " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy Delegates and teachers at the event (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the ceremony, President of the Khmer - Vietnamese Association Chau Van Chi, and Counselor in charge of community affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong, highly appreciated the great contributions of the teachers in educating overseas Vietnamese children; encouraging them to overcome all difficulties to help their students understand and preserve the cultural traditions and history of the Vietnamese nation. They emphasized that the teachers should actively help the children understand Khmer culture, customs and habits to quickly integrate into the local country to contribute to the development of Cambodia and Vietnam in the future. Tan Tien, Samaky and Svay Park, three schools of the association, have about 500 students, who are overseas Vietnamese children in the capital Phnom Penh, with 12 teachers teaching Vietnamese and four teachers teaching Khmer language. In addition, the association has also built primary schools in eight provinces and cities among the 25 provinces and cities of Cambodia, seeing about 3,000 students. The curriculum is based on the combined curriculum of Vietnams Ministry of Education and Training and Cambodias Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Particularly, the Vietnamese language program is universalized under the 12-grade education system of Vietnam. In the coming time, the association plans to include these schools in Cambodias education system with the main language of Khmer./. By Sheldon Richman November 19, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - In 2016 and 2017 Al Jazeera produced a program that unmistakenly documents the Israel government and U.S. Israel lobbys all-out effort to spy on, smear, and disrupt American students and other activists who are working to build an understanding of the Palestinians plight. The Lobby USA, however, has never been broadcast by Al Jazeera. Reporting indicates that it was suppressed after pressure from the lobby on the government of Qatar, which funds Al Jazeera. Nevertheless, it is now available at The Electronic Intifada and on YouTube. Watch all four parts here and here. What the program presents is shocking. The Lobby USA, which features an undercover journalist who won the trust of key pro-Israel operatives and who videoed revealing meetings, demonstrates beyond question the lengths to which the Israelis and their supporters in the United States will go to prevent a change in American thinking about the beleaguered Palestinians. The effort aims to smear Palestinian students in the United States and pro-Palestinian American activists and political candidates who criticize Israeli policy as anti-Semites and enablers of terrorism. The paid pro-Israel operatives, guided by Israeli government officials and embassy staff, have used social media and other channels in an attempt to destroy the career potential of student activists who work to raise Americans consciousness about the Palestinians. Establishment news operations, such as the Washington Post, are also implicated. Major targets are activists in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement and Students for Justice in Palestine. Al Jazeera produced a similar program about Israeli interference in British politics, which led to resignations of a key Israeli embassy official and other reactions that confirmed Al Jazeeras damaging charges. I could not do justice to the program even in a long article. Instead, I will urge readers to watch it in its entirety and think carefully about what it means. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter As one critic of Israel asks on the program, if Russia or Iran or China were doing what Israel and its American friends are doing, most people would be outraged. This is hardly the first time that Israel and friends have been caught covertly and overtly trying to influence discourse and even elections here through smear campaigns against activists, writers, and political candidates, but this is certainly among the most flagrant and elaborate examples. Lets step back from the poisonous trees for a moment to view the forest. In 1948 the leaders of a European and nominally Jewish movement, Zionism, unilaterally declared the existence of the State of Israel, which they proclaimed the nation-state of all Jews everywhere, a status recently reaffirmed by the Israeli Knesset. (The UN General Assembly recommended partitioning Palestine into a larger Jewish state and a smaller Palestinian state, but it had no power to actually create the state of Israel.) It so happened this state was built on land taken by force from the long-standing majority indigenous Palestinian population, most of which was Muslim and Christian. Hundreds were massacred, three-quarters of a million were driven from their homes, and the remainder were subjected to martial law for two decades, before being given third-class citizenship with no power to improve their legal status. (Arab nations half-heartedly tried to assist the overwhelmed Palestinians, although the king of Jordan worked with Israel to divide the spoils.) Almost 20 years later, the rest of Palestine was taken through warfare, producing what are known as the occupied territories in the West Bank, with its apartheid-like regime, and the Gaza Strip, which is nothing more than an open-air prison under a cruel Israeli blockade. Why? Because a Jewish State could not be realized if it were populated by non-Jews. And if some non-Jews remained, the state could not be a liberal democratic state, with equality under the law, for obvious reasons. All this was aided from the start by European Christians who, apparently guilt-ridden over how the Jews of Europe had been tyrannized, culminating in the Nazi genocide, opted to assuage their guilt with the land, blood, and liberty of the innocent people of Palestine, long the plaything of colonial powers. Since that time, Israel has repressed the Palestinians in a variety of ways, depending on whether they are in the state as it existed in 1949; the West Bank, which was seized during the June 1967 war; or the Gaza Strip (also called the Gaza Ghetto), also seized in that war. Meanwhile, millions of refugees people (and descendants of people) driven from their homes by Zionisms terrorist militias, have been confined to refugee camps, stateless, rightless, and destitute. At various time, Israel, with Americas backing, has cut deals with Arab states and Palestinian quislings for the purpose of keeping the Palestinians from winning their rights either in a single secular democratic state or through a two-state plan. Western political and media establishments have overwhelmingly sympathized with the Israelis and demonized the Palestinians (and Arabs and Muslims generally). It didnt take long for the public to be propagandized, against all evidence, into believing that the Palestinians are the aggressors and the Israelis the victims. Apparently, a person is anti-Semitic if he objects to having his property stolen by someone who claims that property in the name of the Jewish People. But after so many decades of Israeli wars, massacres, repression, and routine brutal dehumanization, the tide has started to turn. Israel pulverized Gaza and its people one too many times; it shot and broke the bones of too many children before too many video cameras. And so public opinion, especially among younger Americans and particularly among younger Jewish Americans, has been turning against Israel. Then the BDS Movement arose to accomplish what a similar movement help to accomplish against apartheid South Africa: bringing world attention to an intolerable situation and take concrete steps to change it. All of this has been too much for Israels ruling elite and its supporters in the United States, Great Britain, and elsewhere, and they are fighting back. They know they cant win on the merits. Well-documented historical studies and basic morality have seen to that. So they smear their opponents as Jew-haters and supporters of terrorism. As one Israel lobby operator puts it in the Al Jazeera program, you discredit the message by discrediting the messenger which is what The Israel Project, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Israel on Campus Coalition, Canary Mission, Emergency Committee on Israel, Israeli Embassy in Washington, Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs, and the other co-conspirators have set out to do. Their goal, as their leaders themselves acknowledge, is to identify criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. (Also see this.) But it goes beyond that. The Israel lobby realizes that the anti-Semitism charge no long sticks so tenaciously to people who merely indict Israel for its obvious mistreatment of the Palestinians. So the lobby has resorted to a broader brush: it says that those who support BDS and the Palestinians are anti-American, anti-democracy, and anti-all-blessed-things. BDS and Students for Justice in Palestine, the lobby contends, are hate groups. This of course is patently absurd, but Israels side observes no limits it what it is willing to say and perhaps do to destroy the reputations anyone who realizes that the Israeli emperor has clothes. Al Jazeera, the Electronic Intifada, Max Blumenthals The Gray Zone Project, and others have performed a much-needed service on behalf of freedom, justice, and decency. I urge you to watch this program and spread the word. Sheldon Richman is the executive editor of The Libertarian Institute, senior fellow and chair of the trustees of the Center for a Stateless Society, and a contributing editor at Antiwar.com. He is the former senior editor at the Cato Institute and Institute for Humane Studies, former editor of The Freeman, published by the Foundation for Economic Education, and former vice president at the Future of Freedom Foundation. His latest book is Americas Counter-Revolution: The Constitution Revisited. https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/sheldon/ Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy November 19, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Major news outlets have resumed efforts to pressure President Donald Trump to pull back from trying to negotiate a deal with Pyongyang. In their latest salvo last week, The New York Times and CNN completely misrepresented the findings of a recent study of satellite photos of a North Korean missile base as evidence of bad faith and deception in talks with the United States. A New York Times article bore the sensational headline, In North Korea, Missile Bases Suggest a Great Deception. In a breathless tone, the writers, David E. Sanger and William J. Broad, declared that the satellite images suggest that North Korea has been engaging in a great deception, because it had offered to dismantle a major launching site while continuing to make improvements at more than a dozen others that would bolster launches of conventional and nuclear warheads. If such improvements had been made during the U.S.-North Korean exchanges, they have might well merit official and public attentionif they have given North Korea new capabilities for threatening the United States or its allies, as Sanger and Broad suggested. But a review of the study of the satellite images of the base reveals that it does not describe any such improvements as claimed by the Times. On the contrary, the study says the satellite images show minor infrastructure changes to the base that are consistent with what is often seen at remote KPA {Korean Peoples Army] bases of all types. Furthermore, according to the study issued by Washingtons Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), those same minor infrastructure changes had been observed at a number of similar missile bases, along with training and operational readiness improvements that the authors presume have existed ever since the reorganization of the Strategic Rocket Command into the Strategic Force in 2013. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter In short, there were no improvements that would bolster launches of conventional and nuclear warheads that could be cited as evidence of an effort by North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un to deceive Trump. Sanger and Broad either a) did not actually read the study of the satellite images on which they were supposedly basing their accusation or b) were deliberately deceiving their readers. Further obfuscating the issue, Sanger and Broad argued that the failure of North Korea to acknowledge those missile bases contradicts Mr. Trumps assertion that his landmark diplomacy is leading to the eliminating of a nuclear and missile program that the North had warned could devastate the United States. That mysterious formulation seems to imply--absurdlythat North Korea had somehow welshed on an obligation to fully inform the United States of its missile assets in advance of a negotiated agreement on the sequence and timing of the steps both sides would need to take to conclude an denuclearization agreement. Sanger and Broad are well aware that revealing the specific locations of its ballistic missiles to the United States under present circumstances would involve serious military risk for the DPRK. Kim Jong Un cannot reasonably be expected to reveal such information until an a significantly less threatening atmosphere has been established between the United States and North Korea. And in any case it is completely unrealistic to expect North Korea to end all of its ballistic missile programs. As Vipin Narang of MIT observed to CNN, Many of these are short-range conventional missiles which North Korea has never said were on the table. North Korea cannot give them up without losing completely its ability to deter outside attack, since it does not have a modern air force with the necessary capability for deterrence. CNNs coverage of the CSIS study made essentially the same false and deceptive claims. New satellite images cast grave doubt on President Trumps claim that his negotiations with North Korea are working, the on air report by Jim Sciutto began. That conflated Trumps citation of the North Korean cessation of missile testing before any negotiations had begun with any claim about progress on the North Korean missile program in general. Then came the outright falsehood: The photos show that Kim Jong Uns regime is making improvements to more than a dozen hidden missile bases. Like the Times reporters, the network had either failed to read the report at all or had decided to simply lie about what it said. And also like Sanger and Broad, by calling the missile bases hidden, it sought to suggest that Kim Jong Il was somehow deceiving the United States by storing them underground. Buried deep in the Times story is the real reason the newspaper and CNN have both gone to such extreme journalistic lengths to present the CSIS study as new evidence of North Korean deception. Victor Cha, one of the authors of the CSIS-sponsored study, commented in an interview with the Times, What everybody is worried about is that Trump is going to accept a bad dealthey give us a single test site and dismantle a few other things and in return they get a peace agreement. The peace agreement to which Cha refers would be a declaration by the United States, North Korea and possibly China that the Korean War, which has technically only had an armistice but not formally ended, is indeed over. Kim Jong Un and Trump talked about such a declaration at the Singapore summit, and Trump promised to sign such a peace declaration, according to two sources who knew what transpired between the two men. The summit meetings final statement referred to establishment of new U.S.DPRK relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, including U.S. security assurances to North Korea. And last month South Korean foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha suggested that North Korea would be willing to permanently dismantle their nuclear facilities at Yongbyon in return for such a political declaration by the United States. But as Victor Cha suggested, the Pentagon and the national security elite in general are determined to prevent Trump from entering into such an agreement. The reason for that opposition, as the New York Times itself reported in August, is that it would force the United States to begin talking about how many American troops are needed in South Korea. Then it would then have to acknowledge that the U.S. troop presence in South Korea is not only to deter North Korea but helps the United States maintain a military footprint in Asia and a grand strategy of American hegemony. A campaign of bureaucratic resistance to any move toward a peace deal with North Korea is in full swing. And as the latest round of journalist malpractice dramatically illustrates, the corporate media will not hesitate to resort to blatant untruth to support that resistance. Gareth Porter is an investigative reporter and regular contributor to The American Conservative. He is also the author of Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare. This article was originally published by " The American Conservative " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy We Can Remember The Great War But Palestinians Still Have to Live it By Robert Fisk November 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - There was something gruesomely familiar about the way we commemorated the supposed end of the First World War a hundred years ago. Not just the waterfalls of poppies and the familiar names Mons, the Somme, Ypres, Verdun but the almost total silence about all those who died in the First World War, whose eyes were not as blue as ours might be or whose skin was not as pink as ours might be or whose suffering continues from the Great War to this very day. Even those Sunday supplements that dared stray from the western front only briefly touched on the after-effects of the war in the new Poland, the new Czechoslovakia, the new Yugoslavia and Bolshevik Russia, with a mention of Turkey. The mass famine perhaps 1.6 million dead of the Arabs of the Levant under Turkish looting and Allied blockade in the First World War received not a word. Even more astoundingly, I could find not a single reference to the greatest crime against humanity of the First World War not the murder of Belgian hostages by German troops in 1914, but the Armenian genocide of a million and a half Christian civilians in 1915 by Germanys Ottoman Turkish ally. What happened to that key document of the First World War in the Middle East, the 1917 Balfour Declaration which promised a homeland for Jews in Palestine and doomed the Palestinian Arabs (a majority in Palestine at the time) to what I call refugeedom? Or the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement which chopped up the Middle East and betrayed the promise of Arab independence? Or General Allenbys advance on Jerusalem during which forgotten now by our beloved commentators he initiated the first use of gas in the Middle East. So smitten are we by the savagery of modern Syrian and Iraqi history, that we forget or do not know that Allenbys men fired gas shells at the Turkish army in Gaza. Of all places. But gas in the collective memory last weekend was confined, yet again, to the Western Front. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter First World War Allied war cemeteries in both the Middle East and Europe contain tens of thousands of Muslim graves Algerians, Moroccans, Indians yet I did not see a photograph of one of them. Nor of the Chinese labourers who died on the Western Front carrying shells for British troops nor the African soldiers who fought and died for France on the Somme. Only in France, it seems did President Macron remember this salient feature of the conflict, as well he should. For more than 30,000 men from the Comoros, Senegal, the Congo, Somalia, Guinea and Benin died in the Great War. There used to be a monument to them in Rheims. But the Germans launched a ferocious racist attack on black French troops who participated in the post-First World War occupation of Germany for raping German women and for endangering the future of the German race. All untrue, of course, but by the time Hitlers legions reinvaded France in 1940, the Nazi propaganda against these same men had done its work. Well over 2,000 black French troops were massacred by the Wehrmacht in 1940; the monument was destroyed. It has just been reconstructed and reopened in time for the hundredth anniversary of the Armistice. Then there are the sepulchral ironies of the dead. Of the 4,000 Moroccan troops all Muslims sent to the Battle of the Marne in 1914, only 800 survived. Others died at Verdun. Of General Hubert Lyauteys 45,000 Moroccan soldiers, 12,000 had been killed by 1918. It took the little French magazine Jeune Afrique to note that the graves of many of the Moroccan dead are today still marked with the star and crescent of the Turkish Ottoman caliphate. But the Moroccans, though notionally inhabitants of the Ottoman empire, were fighting for France against Turkeys German allies. The star and crescent have never been the official symbol of Muslims. In any event, Moroccans had by the Great War already got their own flag. But of course, the real symbols of the First World War and its continuing and bloody results are in the Middle East. The conflicts in the region in Syria, Iraq, in Israel and Gaza and the West Bank and in the Gulf can mostly trace their genesis to our titanic Great War. Sykes-Picot divided the Arabs. The war only days after the Gallipoli landings enabled the Turks to destroy their Christian Armenian minority. The Nazis, by the way, loved Mustafa Kemal Ataturk because he had cleansed his minorities. When Ataturk died, the party newspaper Volkischer Beobachter edged its front page in black. The division of Lebanon and Syria and their sectarian systems of administration were invented by the French after they secured the post-war mandate for governing the Levant. The post-First World War Iraqi uprising against British rule was partly fuelled by disgust at the Balfour Declaration. Mischievously, I delved into my late dads library of old history books he of the Great War, Third Battle of the Somme, 1918 and found Winston Churchill, with rage and sorrow, writing about the holocaust of the Armenians (he actually used that word) but he could not see the Arab worlds future even in his four-volume The Great War of 1935. His only disquisition on the smouldering ex-Ottoman empire came in a two-page appendix on page 1,647. It was entitled: A Memorandum upon the Pacification of the Middle East. As for the Palestinians who wake up every morning today in the dust and filth of the camps of Nahr el-Bared, Ein el-Helwe or Sabra and Chatila in Lebanon, Balfours pen scratched his signature on this document of dispossession not in 1915, but only last night. For these refugees, still in their hovels and shacks as you read these words, the First World War never ended not even now, today, on the hundredth anniversary of the end of the First World War. This article was originally published by " The Independent " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== ISRAEL BOMBING GAZA Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy By Robert Fantina November 19, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - In two years, the world has become accustomed to being shocked by the words and actions of United States President Donald Trump. In January of this year, he again showed his lack of diplomacy, tack and common decency, when he referred to many poorer countries as sh*ithole countries, asking Why do we want all these people from sh*thole countries coming here? Former member of the House of Representatives Cynthia McKinney, in her new book, How the US Creates Sh*thole Countries, has gathered a collection of essays, including one of her own, that clearly shows that it is the U.S. that is responsible for the poverty and suffering in these very nations. The first series of essays describes U.S. foreign policy, and its true motives. In the essay, The End of Washingtons Wars on the Cheap, The Saker sums of U.S. foreign policy as follows: Heres the template for typical Empire action: find some weak country, subvert it, accuse it of human right violations, slap economic sanctions, trigger riots and intervene militarily in defense of democracy, freedom and self-determination (or some other combo of equally pious and meaningless concepts). The hypocrisy of such a policy is obvious. A weak and vulnerable nation is victimized by a far more powerful one. The U.S. has done this countless times in its ugly history, and there appears to be no appetite in the government to change. This introduction and explanation of U.S. foreign policy is followed by essays on some, but certainly not all, of the countries that have been victimized by the United States, usually following the template previously mentioned. As McKinney states in her essay, Somalia: Is Somalia the U.S. Template for All of Africa, while mouthing freedom, democracy, and liberty, the United States has denied these very aspirations to others, especially when it inconvenienced the US or its allies. In Mozambique and Angola, the US stood with Portugal until it was the Portuguese people, themselves, who threw off their government and voted in a socialist government that vowed to free Portugal of its colonies. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter In the essay, How the U.S. Perpetuates the Palestinian Tragedy, Sami Al-Arian states the following: It might be understandable, if detestable, for Israel and its Zionist defenders to circulate false characterizations of history and myths to advance their political agenda. But it is incomprehensible, indeed reprehensible, for those who claim to advocate the rule of law, believe in the principle of self-determination, and call for freedom and justice to fall for this propaganda or to become its willing accomplices. In following much of American political leaders rhetoric or media coverage of the conflict, one is struck by the lack of historical context, the deliberate disregard of empirical facts, and the contempt for established legal constructs and precedents. The U.S. leads in these distortions, with its officials proclaiming, each time that Israel bombs Gaza, that Israel has a right to defend itself. Never is there any mention of the brutal, illegal occupation and blockade; never a discussion of the fact that Palestine has no army, navy or air force, and Israels military is one of the worlds most powerful, thanks to the U.S. It is never stated that international law allows an occupied people to resist the occupation in any way possible, including armed struggle. The countless United Nations resolutions condemning Israeli actions in Palestine are ignored by U.S. officials. Once again, U.S. hypocrisy is on very public display. The third section of this very informative book describes the United States mostly-successful efforts to camouflage its vile intentions and international crimes. Christopher Black, in his essay Western Imperialism and the Use of Propaganda, clearly articulates how this is done: The primary concern they [U.S. government officials] have, in order to preserve their control, is for the preservation of the new feudal mythology that they have created: that the world is a dangerous place, that they are the protectors, that the danger is omnipresent, eternal, and omnidirectional, comes from without, and comes from within. The mythology is constructed and presented through all media; journals, films, television, radio, music, advertising, books, the internet in all its variety. All available information systems are used to create and maintain scenarios and dramas to convince the people that they, the protectors, are the good and all others are the bad. We are bombarded with this message incessantly. Our memories are short, indeed, if we have forgotten both President George W. Bush and his Secretary of State, Colin Powell, telling the world from the United Nations the blatant lie that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, threatening civilization. We are not paying attention if we are unaware of the many innuendos given of the dangers of all Muslims. Yes, the government fosters fear, proclaiming subtly and not so subtly that there is danger everywhere, and it is the role of the mighty United States to protect the world, whether or not such protection is wanted or needed. Lastly, the U.S. as a sh*thole country is described; its many violations of international law, and crimes against humanity, are summarized. Richard Falk, in his essay The Sh*thole Phenomenon at Home and Abroad, displays concisely the arrogance of the U.S.: This kind of nationalist pride covered up and blindsided crimes of the greatest severity that were being committed from the time of the earliest settlements: genocide against native Americans, reliance on the barbarism of slavery to facilitate profitable cotton production and the supposedly genteel life style of the Southern plantations. This unflattering national picture should be enlarged to include the exploitation of the resources and good will of peoples throughout Latin America, who, once freed from Spanish colonial rule, quickly found themselves victimized by American gunboat diplomacy that paved the way for American investors or joined in crushing those bold and brave enough to engage in national resistance against the abuse of their homelands. The final essay is the Report of the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights on his Mission to the United States of America, authored by Philip Alston. While Trump decries sh*thole countries, the conditions that the U.S. put those countries in are not unknown in the U.S. A few facts from Alstons report will suffice: + The U.S.s immense wealth and expertise stand in shocking contrast with the conditions in which vast numbers of its citizens live. About 40 million live in poverty, 18.5 million in extreme poverty, and 5.3 million live in Third World conditions of absolute poverty. It has the highest youth poverty rate in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the highest infant mortality rates among comparable OECD States. Its citizens live shorter and sicker lives compared to those living in all other rich democracies, eradicable tropical diseases are increasingly prevalent, and it has the worlds highest incarceration rate, one of the lowest levels of voter registrations in among OECD countries and the highest obesity levels in the developed world. + The United States has the highest rate of income inequality among Western countries. The $1.5 trillion in tax cuts in December 2017 overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy and worsened inequality. + For almost five decades the overall policy response has been neglectful at best, but the policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship. The information in these essays is all rigorously documented with extensive footnotes. The writing is clear and the facts are presented in a concise manner that is highly beneficial for the average reader or academic scholar. For anyone who questions U.S. policies, at home or abroad, perhaps becoming more aware of such issues since the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, How the US Creates Sh*thole Countries is an indispensable read. Robert Fantinas latest book is Empire, Racism and Genocide: a History of US Foreign Policy (Red Pill Press). This article was originally published by " Counterpunch " - ==See Also== Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy By Moon Of Alabama November 19, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Following Syria's military success against its enemies, Arab states which supported the war on Syria are again making nice with it. The United Arab Emirates will reopen its embassy in Damascus. Kuwait and Bahrain will follow. Today a delegation of parliamentarians from Jordan visited Damascus and met with President Assad. The members of the delegation affirmed that the pulse of the Jordanian street has always been with the Syrian people in the face of the terrorist war against the, as Syria is the first line of defense for the entire Arab region and the victory in this war will be a victory for all the Arab countries in the face of Western projects aimed at destabilizing and fragmenting these countries in service of Israels security. First signs that this was going to happen appeared a few month ago when a Kuwaiti TV personality spoke about the pleasure of visiting an again peaceful Damascus. In June the Foreign Affairs Minister of UAE called the expulsion of Syria from the Arab league a "mistake". In an interview with a Kuwaiti paper Assad said that he had reached "major understanding" with Arab states. The Saudis though are not yet welcome back in Damascus. They were one of the largest financiers of the Jihadis and will have to pay an equally large price to come back into good standing. Negotiations are ongoing. A formal reentry of Syria into the Arab League can not be far away. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Behind this change is a fear of renewed Turkish ambitions. Not only Saudi Arabia but all the Arab states do not want Turkey to expand and become more powerful. They do not want to see Arab land in Syria under Turkish control. The sole exception so far is Qatar which is allied with Turkey and has Turkish troops on its land to protect it from Saudi imperialism. The three blocks that form the larger Middle East, Turkey, Iran and the Arab states north of the Red Sea are roughly of the same population size. Each block also represents a religious-political stream with Turkey leading the political-Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, Iran the political-Shia and with the third block consisting of Sunni majority countries with more or less dictatorial rulers. The three blocks compete in their borderlands of Iraq and Syria. The Arabs finally noticed that their attempts to dispose the Syrian government led to gains for Iran and Turkey and put them on the losing site. For Syria the new Arab position is a very welcome change. While it will certainly not end its alliance with Iran, it will welcome any help against the Turkish ambitions. It also needs investments to rebuild and the rich Gulf states will surely provide some. That will also sabotage U.S. and European plans to starve Syria of money unless it submits to their will. This article was originally published by " Moon Of Alabama " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy November 19, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Mr. Trump, nor anyone else in his administration, has announced any conclusions about how Mr. Khashoggi died, or who bears responsibility for ordering the killing, a Washington Post editorial fulminates One aspect to this affair is the US domestic issue. The White House is increasingly perceived as the Washington Post implies as engaged in a soft cover-up of a cover-up. That is to say, the White House is being viewed as so set on keeping MbS in position as lynchpin to Trumps entire Middle Eastern strategy that the White House and Mr Bolton will try to turn a Nelsonian blind eye or a selective ear to any audio evidence provided by the Turkish government that seems to implicate MbS. President Trump is keeping his powder dry. He said: Ill have a much stronger opinion on that subject over the next week Im forming a very strong opinion. But caution on his part might be wise: leading Turkish daily, Yeni Safak, which is close to the Turkish government, and which has been covering leaked details of the Khashoggi investigation day by day, has reported that Maher Mutrib, the Saudi intelligence official who led the 15-man assassination team in Ankara, spoke to Badr al-Asaker, the head of the Crown Prince's private office, four times directly after Khashoggi was killed (if it was Mutrib who said tell your boss to MbS chef de cabinet, then the implication is clear). This has not been officially confirmed, but it is possible (and likely) that Turkish intelligence has yet further details to trickle out, piecemeal, to discredit the Saudi line each time the kingdom tries to draw the line under the case. Erdogan is determined to get MbS scalp, it seems. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter In any case, the nature and cost-benefit of the Saudi-US relationship clearly is an issue set to run-on in Washington: Adam Schiff (Chair of the House Intelligence Committee) has already identified it and the who, where, and what of the Khashoggi affair as a prime topic for Democratic Party scrutiny, when the new House assembles. However, the bigger issue one that Trump may not yet be ready to admit is that his Mid-East strategy is in deep trouble, even if MbS does manage to survive as heir-apparent, as seems likely, given Trumps strong attachment. The complication does not derive from the gruesome Khashoggi murder alone it is now much wider than that. The significance of the Khashoggi affair, as it were, is that it has slid open a Pandoras box of ugly goings-on. What is emerging from the Gulf is that the Khashoggi assassination is neither isolated, nor out of the ordinary in the Gulf today: Buzzfeed News reported that UAE leaders had set up , and tasked, a foreign military mercenary unit for the explicit task of serial assassinations of Muslim Brotherhood leaders (Al-Islah), in Yemen (whilst Saudi Arabia was at the same time, quietly facilitating al-Qaeda forces in Yemen, fighting against Houthi insurgents). More recently, the NY Times has Of course, the realists will argue so what. And we see this line coming from western officials in their briefing, for example, to the Financial Times: a weary sigh of there is no alternative percolates through. Western officials doubt that the 33-year-old prince is in danger of being ousted as he has consolidated so much power, including bringing all armed forces and security services under his control There is no obvious candidate to replace Prince Mohammed, who has won support among youth and the liberal elite for his social reforms during his meteoric rise, they conclude. Really? No one? No one else to perform any of this roles? Well then, there is indeed a problem here for Trumps grand strategy: In fact, there is a three-fold problem: One, is psychology. Does MbS or Saudi Arabia now embody anything authoritative, anything compelling, in terms of leadership or vision? Does the Kingdom have the charisma now to gather under its banner the Sunni world, and to lead Trumps war on Iran? (Most people in the region have been sickened by events in Yemen, even before the Khashoggi murder). Secondly, have not all these reports underscored Mr Trumps political risk in staking so much on the veritable pinhead of a one-man platform? What else lurks unknown and unseen, beneath the surface? (By-the-by, Prime Minister Netanyahu has based his platform too, on a similarly, precariously narrow foundation.) And lastly, what in the light of all that is emerging now stands as the core idea advanced by the Gulf: What does the Gulf stand for after the eclipse of Monarchial, de haut en bas, handouts of benevolence to grateful subjects? Is it a vision of quasi-secular autocracy, the ubiquitous security-state, and raw neo-liberalism? Admittedly, the might prove a hit with Israel, but in terms of the energetic national, cultural re-sovereigntisation taking place in the northern tier of the region, this leaden notion is no competitor. And the embrace of the security-state structure in, and of itself speaks not of self-confidence, but of rising internal dissent and existential pressures that must be contained and suppressed. And it is this latter point (increased internal repression) on which Khashoggis death, inadvertently, has shed unexpected illumination. It is an insight which suggests that the future axis of conflict in the region will not be as Trump and PM Netanyahu had hoped. It will be focused not on Iran, but will rotate towards a further round of conflict with the Muslim Brotherhood and its patrons Turkey and Qatar. Some Gulf states are more frightened of Islamist Muslim Brotherhood dissidence within their emirates than they are frightened of Iran, which has no history of external state expansion. These anxieties are driving and represent the . And these Gulf states, the UAE and Saudi, are fearful that Turkey the old Ottoman imperial political power, and seat of the Islamic Umma might just succeed in usurping Saudi Arabias Islamic credentials as diminishing Saudis position as being no more than an inept Custodian of Mecca and Medina (the Turkish press is full of such claims). This would strip the Gulf of much of its significance and value to Washington. And whilst the Gulf has made its turn toward a quasi-secularism to please the West, Turkey has been quietly vacuuming up what there is of the Gulfs discarded Islamic credibility in the form of a MB-style, soft Islamism and a very explicit neo-Ottoman revanchism, fueled by Thus, the axis of the coming conflict is more likely to be that between a fearful Gulf, and an increasingly assertive Turkey, bidding for the leadership of the Islamic sphere. As for Iran, it can contemplate these events with sanguinity: Saudi being pressed to end its campaign against Yemen -and end its siege of Qatar. And, additionally, this new regional dynamic will only serve to push Turkey and Qatar closer to Iran. None of this can be countered as promising for Mr Trump. Turkey will lead on embracing the Palestinian cause (with Iran and Qatar in the rear), and MbS will lack the credibility or standing to lead any new war against Iran after the disaster of Yemen, nor be able to coerce the Palestinians into capitulation in the face of the deal of the century. Even his near incapacitated father, as well as the al-Saud family, understand Netanyahus strategy to bury the idea of a Palestinian state and in any event, Bibis strategy is likely to be overtaken by internal politics, as Israel struggles with the implications of Liebermans resignation. All this raises the question of why the Trump Administration continues to view an MbS-led Kingdom as somehow still a fount of strategic stability ( is it just that old habits die hard)? Trumps policy of not just exiting JCPOA, but of going that mile further in seeking to overthrow the Islamic Republic as well, through sanctions will we suggest eventually become seen as the Albatross which Trump injudiciously and without compelling need hung about his own neck. It will not work, and Americas credibility in the Middle East will be gone when that failure becomes apparent. Alastair Cooke, is a former British diplomat, founder and director of the Beirut-based Conflicts Forum. This article was originally published by " Strategic Culture Foundation " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== The Victims of Iran Sanctions: Iranians access to medicine is being choked off by the Trump administrations illegitimate reimposition of sanctions: Why Trumps Bankrupt Iran Policy Cant Succeed Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.John F. Kennedy November 19, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Listen: I know its been a hard, heart-wrenching, stomach-churning kind of year. Its been a year of hotheads and blowhards and killing sprees and bloodshed and takedowns. Its been a year in which tyranny took a few more steps forward and freedom got knocked down a few more notches. Its been a year with an abundance of bad news and a shortage of good news. Its been a year of too much hate and too little kindness. Its been a year in which politics and profit margins took precedence over decency, compassion and human-kindness. Weve been operating in this soul-sucking, topsy-turvy, inside-out, upside-down state for so long that its hard not to be overwhelmed by all that is wrong in the world in order to reflect and give thanks for what is good. And now we find ourselves at this present moment, more than 200 years after George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation as a time to give thanks for a government whose purpose was to ensure the safety and happiness of its people and for a Constitution designed to safeguard civil and religious liberty. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter But how do you give thanks for freedoms that are constantly being eroded? How do you express gratitude for ones safety when the perils posed by the American police state grow more treacherous by the day? How do you come together as a nation in thanksgiving when the powers-that-be continue to polarize and divide us into warring factions? Washington didnt intend Thanksgiving to be a day for offering up glib platitudes that require no thought, no effort and no sacrifice. He wanted it to be a day of contemplation, in which we frankly assessed our shortcomings, acknowledged our wrongdoings, and resolved to be a better, more peaceable nation in the year to come. Heres what I know: this Thanksgiving finds us saddled with a government that is a far cry from Washingtons vision of a government that is: governed by wise, just and constitutional laws faithfully executed and obeyed by its agents assisting foreign nations with good government, peace, and concord promoting true religion, virtue and science and enabling temporal prosperity. Rather, with every passing day, the U.S. government more closely resembles an evil empire, governed by laws that are rash, unjust and unconstitutional; policed by government agents who are corrupt, hypocritical and abusive; a menace to its own people; and the antithesis of everything Washington hoped the government would bea blessing to all the people. Heres a prime example of how out of whack things have become: just recently, government officials in Kansas City confiscated large quantities of food being served to homeless people and soaked them in bleach, rendering them inedible. Why would the government poison food intended for the homeless? According to city health officials, the soup kitchen providing the free food didnt have sufficient permits to prepare and serve food, even if that food was being handed out for free. The governments rationale: its better to allow the homeless to starve than risk them getting sick from a food-borne illness since many have no health insurance. There are people in this country who are homeless, hungry and in need of any small act of kindness, so why is the government placing bureaucratic roadblocks in the path of those who want to help? Im sorry, but this isnt just misguided government officials run amok. This is evil disguised as bureaucracy. This is what Hannah Arendt referred to as the banality of evil. Evil has a broad spectrum, and poisoning food for the homeless is by no means as monstrous as killing innocent people, but still evil is evil. This is what happens when the government is run by bureaucrats who unquestioningly carry out orders that are immoral, inhumane and evil; obey immoral instructions unthinkingly; march in lockstep with tyrants; mindlessly perpetuate acts of terror and inhumanity; and justify it all as just doing ones job. To that list, let me add one more: a populace that remains silent in the face of wrongdoing. This is how evil prevails: when good men and women do nothing. By doing nothing, by remaining silent, by being bystanders to injustice, hate and wrongdoing, good people become as guilty as the perpetrator. Theres a term for this phenomenon where people stand by, watch and do nothingeven when there is no risk to their safetywhile some horrific act takes place (someone is mugged or raped or bullied or left to die): its called the bystander effect. It works the same whether youre talking about kids watching bullies torment a fellow student on a playground, bystanders watching someone dying on a sidewalk, or citizens remaining silent in the face of government atrocities. The stories are legion. For example, there was the 15-year-old girl who was gang raped in a schoolyard during a homecoming dance. As many as 20 people witnessed the assault over the course of two and a half hours. No one intervened to stop it. A 28-year-old woman was stabbed, raped and murdered outside her apartment early in the morning. Thirty-eight bystanders witnessed the attack and failed to intervene. The woman died from her wounds at the locked doorway to her apartment building. A 58-year-old man waded into chest-deep water in the San Francisco Bay in an apparent suicide attempt. For an hour, Raymond Zack stood in the shallow water while 75 onlookers watched. Police and firefighters were called in but failed to intervene, citing budget cuts, a lack of training in water rescue, fear for their safety and a lack of proper equipment. The man eventually passed out and later died of hypothermia. Eventually, an onlooker volunteered to bring the body back to the beach. A homeless man intervened to save a woman from a knife-wielding attacker. He saved the woman but was stabbed repeatedly in the process. As The Guardian reports, For more than an hour he lay dying in a pool of his own blood as dozens walked by. Some paused to stare, others leaned in close. One even shook his body and then left, while someone else recorded a video of the entire proceeding. We need to stop being silent bystanders. So what can you do about this bystander effect? Be a hero, suggests psychologist Philip Zimbardo. Each of us has an inner hero we can draw upon in an emergency, Zimbardo concluded. If you think there is even a possibility that someone needs help, act on it. You may save a life. You are the modern version of the Good Samaritan that makes the world a better place for all of us. Zimbardo is the psychologist who carried out the Stanford Prison Experiment which studied the impact of perceived power and authority on middleclass students who were assigned to act as prisoners and prison guards. The experiment revealed that power does indeed corrupt (the appointed guards became increasingly abusive), and those who were relegated to being prisoners acted increasingly submissive and depersonalized, taking the abuse and saying little in protest. What is the antidote to group think and the bystander effect? Be an individual. Listen to your inner voice. Take responsibility. If you find yourself in an ambiguous situation, resist the urge to look to others and go with your gut instinct, advises Melissa Burkley in Psychology Today. If you think there is even a possibility that someone is in need, act on it. At worst, you will embarrass yourself for a few minutes, but at best, you will save a life. Even if people recognize that they are witnessing a crime, they may still fail to intervene if they do not take personal responsibility for helping the victim, writes Burkley. The problem is that the more bystanders there are, the less responsible each individual feels. In other words, recognize injustice. Dont turn away from suffering. Refuse to remain silent. Take a stand. Speak up. Speak out. This is what Zimbardo refers to as the power of one. All it takes is one person breaking away from the fold to change the dynamics of a situation. Once any one helps, then in seconds others will join in because a new social norm emerges: Do Something Helpful. The Good Samaritans of this world dont always get recognized, but theyre doing their part to push back against the darkness. For instance, a few years ago in Florida, a family of sixfour adults and two young boyswere swept out to sea by a powerful rip current in Panama City Beach. There was no lifeguard on duty. The police were standing by, waiting for a rescue boat. And the few people who had tried to help ended up stranded, as well. Those on shore grouped together and formed a human chain. What started with five volunteers grew to 15, then 80 people, some of whom couldnt swim. One by one, they linked hands and stretched as far as their chain would go. The strongest of the volunteers swam out beyond the chain and began passing the stranded victims of the rip current down the chain. One by one, they rescued those in trouble and pulled each other in. Theres a moral here for what needs to happen in this country if we only can band together and prevail against the riptides that threaten to overwhelm us. So heres what I suggest. Instead of just giving thanks this holiday season with words that are too soon forgotten, why not put your gratitude into action with deeds that spread a little kindness, lighten someones burden, and brighten some dark corner? Pay your blessings forward in whatever way makes sense to you. This is something that everyone can do no matter how tight our budgets or how crowded our schedules. Engage in acts of kindness. Smile more. Fight less. Build bridges. Refuse to toxic politics define your relationships. Focus on the things that unite instead of that which divides. Be a hero, whether or not anyone ever notices. Do your part to push back against the meanness of our culture with conscious compassion and humanity. Moods are contagious, the good and the bad. They can be passed from person to person. So can the actions associated with those moods, the good and the bad. Even holding the door for someone or giving up your seat on a crowded train are acts of benevolence that, magnified by other such acts, can spark a movement. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or donate to a charity that does good work. Take part in local food drives. Take a meal to a needy family. Adopt an elderly person at a nursing home. Support the creation of local homeless shelters in your community. Urge your churches, synagogues and mosques to act as rotating thermal shelters for the homeless during the cold winter months. In other words, help those in need. I know that fixing whats wrong with this country is not going to happen overnight. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, there may not be much we can do to avoid the dismal reality of the police state in the long termnot so long as the powers-that-be continue to call the shots and allow profit margins to take precedence over the needs of peoplebut in the short term, there are things we can all do right now to make this world (or at least our small corners of it) a little bit kinder, a lot less hostile and more just. On a larger scale, we need to stop being silent bystanders to our nations downfall. Historically, this bystander syndrome in which people remain silent and disengagedmere onlookersin the face of abject horrors and injustice has resulted in whole populations being conditioned to tolerate unspoken cruelty toward their fellow human beings: the crucifixion and slaughter of innocents by the Romans, the torture of the Inquisition, the atrocities of the Nazis, the butchery of the Fascists, the bloodshed by the Communists, and the cold-blooded war machines run by the military industrial complex. I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation, stated Holocaust Elie Wiesel in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 1986. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must at that moment become the center of the universe. Its never too late to start making things right in the world. So this year, dont just give thanks at Thanksgiving. Pay your blessings forward. Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute . His new book Battlefield America: The War on the American People (SelectBooks, 2015) is available online at www.amazon.com. Whitehead can be contacted at johnw@rutherford.org. Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy The National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has alleged that members of his party are being intimidated and killed in states ruled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). Oshiomhole made this allegation, while speaking with newsmen at the partys Secretariat on Monday, not long after the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly sacked four more lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC. Nse Ntuen, who represented Essien Udim State Constituency; Otobong Ndem, Mkpat Enin State Constituency; Victor Udofia, Ikono State Constituency; Gabriel Toby, Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency are the APC membership afected Oshiomhole in his reaction said the situation was disturbing, describing how PDP is misusing the state instruments to harass APC members. (There is) a very disturbing development in a couple of states where the PDP is misusing the state instrument using the police to undermine the basic democratic rights of APC members in those states where they have governors. A typical example is what has happened today in Akwa Ibom State where the commissioner of police, colluded with the governor to forcefully (remove) APC members out of the state house of assembly. The commissioner went beyond (his line) of duty to aid and abate what is clearly wrong. It is not the business of the police to assist political authorities to effect their own biases with regards to the composure of the house. I think we do have a judiciary. We have law and order and the responsibility of the police is to obey court order, not to go beyond it. If a governor wants extra legal assistance from the police, the commissioner is not supposed to oblige, but that is what has happened in Akwa Ibom State. Poland travel to Lisbon, Portugal, today to take on European champions, Portugal, looking to get their first win in as much as five matches across all competitions. While the result from this match would not have any effect on the group table, both teams would want to give a good account of themselves as they close the group. This match might end up becoming a friendly match of sort and we as a result of this back the encounter to produce the following outcomes. 1. Portugal should win outrightly which is prices at a whopping 1.60 odds. 2. Also, we back the encounter to produce plenty of goals with over 2.5 goals priced at 1.88 odds. 3. And we equally back Portugal to score both halves which is priced at an improved 2.98 odds. Former President Goodluck Jonathan turned 61 on November 20th. Nigerians from all around the world have taken to social media to wish him, a happy birthday. President Muhammadu Buhari, has also joined other Nigerians to wish Jonathan, his predecessor well, as he marks his 61st birthday. Top Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) such as its preaidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Femi Fani-Kayode, Reno Omokri arent left out. See what they wrote via their Twitter handles; Buhari Happy Birthday to former President Dr. @GEJonathan. I join millions of Nigerians in sending warm greetings to him as he turns 61 today. I pray that the Almighty God will grant him long life and good health, and continue to bless him and his family. Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) November 20, 2018 Atiku Happy 61st birthday Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (@GEJonathan), our former president and ever distinctive face of democracy in Africa. I also, heartily congratulate you on the launch of #MyTransitionHours today. Wishing you continued good health, long life and many happy returns.-AA pic.twitter.com/zS2oiCc1x1 Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) November 20, 2018 Omokri Visitors view a model of China's manned submersible Jiaolong displayed at a major exhibition to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up held at the National Museum of China in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 18, 2018. The exhibition has attracted more than 190,000 visitors since it opened on Nov. 13. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) 5 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Former worlds fattest man has avoided jail in the US after being fined 43 for shoplifting. Paul Mason, 57, who once tipped the scales at 70 stone, was caught stealing 197-worth of medicines, toiletries and even a Star Wars toy at a Walmart store. He was fined by a judge in Orange, Massachusetts, and now faces returning to the UK for surgery on his knees and gastric band. Prosecutors told Orange District Court that Mason, who now weighs 34 stone, was seen trying to make off with the goods from the store in the town on May 13 this year. A police report said he was seen putting items into a bag before he attempted to leave the Walmart on his electric mobility scooter without paying for them. The former postal worker who had slimmed down to 19 stone before piling on the pounds after splitting with his fiancee set off an alarm as he left the shop. He was then spotted trying to ditch some of the items. Security staff at the Walmart apprehended Mason, originally from Ipswich, Suffolk, and police were called. Mason had been charged with larceny, but it was reduced to the minor charge of shoplifting at Orange District Court on Friday. He was fined 43 by the Judge Patrick Sabbs and was given an injunction preventing him from entering in Walmart stores again. Mason will now head back to the UK where he will try to get surgery on the NHS. Almost everyone relevant to Nigerian politics are currently attending a public presentation of former President Goodluck Jonathans book My Transition Hours. Former Vice Presidents Namadi Sambo, Atiku Abubakar, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, National chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhiole just to name a few. Also present from around Africa are former presidents of Ghana, Benin and Sierra Leone are also attending. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, is representing President Muhammadu Buhari, holding at the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja. Former president of Ghana, John Mahama in his address, described Nigerias former president as not talkative, reasonable and level headed in politics. He said Jonathan never belief that politics was a do or die affair, therefore it wasnt surprising when he accepted defeat. For him politics was not a matter of life and death. His decision in 2015 was not surprising to me at all. He revealed that when voting was still ongoing in the 2015 presidential elections, which ushered him Buhari as president, due to his friendship with Jonathan, he got calls from UK and America, asking him to tell his friend (Jonathan) to accept defeat. They were afraid that like a typical African leader he would try to hold on to power. But I told them there was no need, Jonathan is a good man and he would do the right thing, he said. Mr Mahama also said like Mr Jonathan, he lost his bid for a second term in 2016. I also graciously called my opponent and congratulated him conceding the election. When the history of Nigerian democracy is written, President Jonathans name will be written in gold, Mr Mahama said. Vanguard THE presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has expressed dissatisfaction with the challenges confronting Nigeria, saying that the same mistakes of previous administrations were being repeated by President Muhammadu Buhari The Nation Eminent Nigerians and ethnic national groups yesterday insisted on restructuring of the federation.They expressed this opinion in Lagos at a programme Handshake Across Nigeria summit organised by Nzuko Umunna in partnership with The Core Federalists .The theme of the sunmmit is Nigeria Beyond Oil.Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu spoke on a similar note.Prof. Soyinka, the keynote speaker, said: We want the government to understand that they are part of the com This Day Ojo Maduekwe discloses why the All Progressives Congress may be concerned about the recent open support by prominent Igbo leaders for the Peoples Democratic Guardian Nigerias transportation ministerand the director-general of President Muhammadu Buharis campaign organisation,Rotimi Amechi,has said the ruling All Progressives Congress will have iteasy campaigning against the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming 2019 general election. We are going to focus as usual on security, corruption and economy. it is so easy to campaign against PDP, Amaechi Daily Times Petitions INEC, Oshiomhole A Lagos State House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Olawale Rauf Age Sulaiman, has cried out over an attempt Daily Trust The British High Commission in Nigeria has cautioned the security agencies not to interfere in Nigerias general elections next year. The High Commission also called on Nigerias electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure that the elections were free and fair. Speaking during a visit to the Senate President Bukola Saraki Leadership The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dumped its carrot approach in resolving the crises that arose from its primary elections across the country. In a terse warning, which it issued yesterday, the APC directed all the aggrieved members, especially aspirants who lost in the primaries, to use the partys internal dispute resolution mechanism to seek redress withou President Muhammadu Buhari came under severe criticisms after photos of his campaign launch tagged Next level, emerged and service chiefs were found to have attended. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), had said that Buhari was desperate to rig the 2019 presidential polls, to the extent that he dragged service chiefs, who are suppose to be non-partisan to his campaign launch. However the presidency has come forth to explain why Army chief, Tukur Burutai and other service chiefs were at Buharis campaign launch on Sunday in Abuja. Spokesman to the president, Mr Garba Shehu, queried the media for not first asking what brought the Service Chiefs to the Next Level 2019 event at the State House, but criticising the president. According to Mr Shehu, who claimed that the service chiefs left before the event got underway, said the chiefs were mistaken of the nature of the event. The presidential aide noted that the men were hardly seated, when they were asked to leave, as they were informed that, it was a political gathering. In his words: They were mistaken in their assumption that this was a non-political event, to showcase the achievements of the administration, the success of which they are a part, he said. Hardly were they seated than did the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan AlI (Rtd) ask them to leave as this was a political gathering. They quickly left, even before the arrival of the President and for the event to get under way. The fuss over this in therefore absolutely unnecessary. Former Head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has thanked former president Goodluck Jonathan, for bringing peace to Nigeria by conceding defeat in 2015. Abubakar, made this known during his address on Tuesday at the launch of the book, written by the former president entitled My Transition Hours. It will be recalled that the former president, put a call across to President Muhammadu Buhari, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to concede defeat, even before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the final results from the polls A gesture that has earned Jonathan, a lot of respect and praises from the world. Abdulsalami speaking at the book launch on today said the former president proves by that gesture, that he loves Nigeria more than power. We congratulate you for putting pen to paper to document your transition. We cannot thank you enough for the peace we have in the country through the peaceful transition when you honourably conceded in 2015. By your action, your excellency, your brought peace to this country and you became an example not to Nigeria but Africa. You have shown that you have shown that you love your country more than you love power congratulations. I wish you well and many happy returns. TORONTO, ON Today, Porsche has announced Inside Track Motorsport News and Pole-Position (French Canada) magazines as Communication Partners for the 2019 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama series. The agreements will see enhanced coverage on the series throughout the year in both magazines. As Communication Partners, Inside Track Motorsport News and Pole-Position will hold more detailed interviews with those involved in the series, Porsche Centres as well as Porsche Canada, while covering race results. Both Communication Partners will have logo placements on the lower rocker panel between the front and rear wheels of the race cars. In addition, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. will be featuring brand advertising in each publication. We are delighted to foster partnerships with both publications ahead of the start of the ninth season of the series, said Marc Ouayoun, President & CEO, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. Enhancements are well underway to bring further awareness to the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada series. Were very excited about our new relationship with a series that features talented racers in iconic race cars, competing at Canadas top events and venues, said David Weber, Co-Publisher, Inside Track Motorsport News. Since we started publishing Inside Track, in 1997, our core mandate has been to feature and promote Canadian racing. With this partnership, Inside Track will significantly increase our commitment to showcasing the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada drivers, cars, teams and events across all of our platforms. As a Canadian Motorsport publication, it is with great pleasure that we associate ourselves with such a prestigious series, said Philippe Brasseur, Editor-in-chief, Pole-Position Magazine and Poleposition.ca. On a more personal level, Ive always been a fan of single-make series where true talent shines as drivers compete in identical cars not to mention endurance racing such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Porsche experienced great success throughout the years and more recently with the 919 Hybrid and 911 RSR. Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., a dedicated subsidiary of Porsche AG, imports and distributes Porsche vehicles in Canada. The company employs a team of more than 50 in sales, aftersales, finance, marketing, network development, and public relations. In 2017, Porsche sold an unprecedented 8,249 units in Canada, up 17% over the prior year. Raymond Arritt, professor of agronomy, started at Iowa State as an associate professor in 1993, and served as professor since 2000. A memorial service for Arritt will be at Stevens Memorial Chapel at 10:30 a.m on Nov.27, with a reception following at Northminster Presbyterian Church. Jony Ive is one of the most familiar names out there, especially for folks who love to talk about design in and out of the tech universe. Ive has been a major presence at Apple for years, and has been part of some of the biggest breakthroughs at the company in that time. The design chief was recently awarded the 2018 Stephen Hawking Fellowship, and was invited to provide the fellowship awards lecture at The Cambridge Union on Monday. This is the University of Cambridges debate society, and a report published by the United Kingdoms The Independent, outlines some of the major talking points that Ive touched on in his lecture. Jony Ive, as everyone calls him, made a speech that was intellectually rich but still accessible, dense with ideas and fascinating. He spoke eloquently, gently, even tenderly, about the creative process and the importance of listening to the quietest voice. Throughout, he was open and humble, repeatedly revealing the curiosity which is a central part of doing his work. Ive, if given the opportunity, can cover a lot of ground and the lecture was no different. He spoke on technology, design, and the early days at Apple. For instance, Ive tells a story about using a Mac for the first time and how it not only helped him create, but how the design and functionality of the computer made him see something beyond the functional imperative of devices: With the Mac, in 1988, I think I learned two things. Firstly, I could actually use it. I loved using it and it became a very powerful tool that helped me design and create. Secondly, and I think this is in some ways a rather embarrassing admission because this was at the end of four years of studying design, I realised that what you make represents who you are. It stands testament to your values and your preoccupations, and using the Mac I sensed a clear and direct connection with the people who actually created the Macintosh. For the first time, I remember being moved by obvious humanity and care beyond just the functional imperative. It was the use of that Mac that led Ive to want to discover more about the people working at Apple, which ultimately led him to take a trip to California in 1992 and join the company. Ive digs into his time at Apple, talking about how he spends his time there working on whatevers coming down the pipe. He talks about the fragility of an idea, and how, ultimately, it can be a small thought or quiet voice that leads to something pretty fantastic: I spend my time at Apple in that intersection of art and technology. I think that, almost by definition, ideas are fragile. If they were resolved, if they were robust, they wouldnt be ideas any more, they would be shipping products, a finished album, a completed building. Im not really entirely sure why, but I think Ive always taken an enormous delight when the most tentative thought, often from the quietest voice, evolves into significant and substantial products. One of the best stories is the work that led to the multitouch technology that helped the original iPhone stand out more than a decade ago: This was a project that we came to describe as multi-touch. Some of you may remember the first time you experienced the interface. Perhaps it was on one of the first iPhones or later on an iPad. But multi-touch describes the ability to directly touch and interact with your content to be able to pinch to zoom an image or flick through a list with your fingers. Importantly, it defined an opportunity to create applications with their own unique, very specific interface. So, not being generic but being specific inherently describes the applications function. We came to see that we could make applications purposeful, compelling and intuitive to use. And so, as the potential for a vast range of apps became clear, so did the idea for an app store. In reality, the supporting technology, the enabling technology, took years to catch up with the ideas. And I have to say the ideas posed problems and defined challenges, but in the process, we came close to giving up on a number of occasions. The full writeup on the Ives lecture is available through the source link below and it is absolutely worth a read. [via The Independent Courtesy Officer Monica Blake(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- A Nashville Police officer has filed a federal lawsuit against her employer, accusing the department of retaliating against her after she reported that she was raped by a fellow officer. On May 2, 2016, Officer Monica Blake, 36, was strangled and sexually assaulted allegedly by another officer, Julian Pirtle, in her home while that officer was drunk, according to the lawsuit, filed Friday in the Middle District of Tennessee. Blake had been romantically involved with Pirtle "off-and-on for a number of years," up until that point, the civil complaint stated. Blake was "terrified" by the attack and thought Pirtle was going to kill her, according to the lawsuit. She did not immediately report the attack but stopped seeing and communicating with the man, the lawsuit said. On May 10, 2016, Pirtle showed up to McKissack Middle School, where Blake was assigned as a school resource officer, to talk to her about what happened, the civil complaint stated. Blake "surreptitiously" recorded the conversation, which included Pirtle allegedly admitting to choking her, as well as him referring to himself as "a killer" and "The Hulk," according to the court document. Blake then reported the attack to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, but did not disclose that she was raped until May 23, 2016. The next day, Pirtle was charged with aggravated domestic assault and decommissioned, a press release by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville showed. A temporary order of protection was also issued against Pirtle that day, and he was later charged with rape, online criminal court records showed. Pirtle is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Trouble for Blake began after she reported the attack, she told ABC News. The lawsuit names the Metropolitan Government of Nashville-Davidson County and Cmdr. Janet Marlene Pardue in her role as Blake's supervisor, as defendents. First, Blake's shift was changed from the morning to evening shift, and when Blake submitted a hardship request asking to be assigned to a different detail "due to the trauma she had experienced" as well as due to her childcare responsibilities, Pardue moved her shift back to mornings but required her to work a weekend day as well, the lawsuit stated. In addition, when Blake asked to move her start time to an hour later so she could take her kids to school, Pardue agreed, but said she would have to use her vacation time for that hour, Blake said, adding that she used up several vacation days as a result. It was then that Blake had an inkling she was being retaliated against, because she was aware that similar requests made to Pardue had been granted without issue, Blake said. The retaliation became "continuous" after that point, she said. On June 8, 2016, Pirtle violated the order of protection by texting Blake, and Blake reported the violation to the department, documents stated. That same day, Davidson Countys Jean Crowe Advocacy Center sent an "Outstanding Officer" commendation on behalf of Blake to Pardue in recognition of "Blake's excellent work on a particular domestic violence case," according to the lawsuit. Pardue then decommissioned Blake on June 15, 2016, the court document stated. Blake's police powers were stripped, and she was required to turn in her badge, gun and radio, she said. She returned to work later that summer after completing a psyche evaluation, she added. Then, in October 2017, Pardue initiated two disciplinary investigations into Blake for her handling of situations at McKissack Middle School, one of which she had already been exonerated for, and the other, a "truthfulness allegation" against Blake's claim that she'd taken her utility belt off before entering her car, had been proven false by surveillance video from the middle school, according to the civil complaint. Blake, who has been working with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department since 2005, had "received only a handful of minor disciplinary infractions" from the police department up until 2014, and between 2010 and 2013, her performance reviews averaged a 3 on a 4-point scale, with "3" ranking as "Commendable," according to the lawsuit. On Oct. 17, 2017, Pardue informed Blake that she would be "indefinitely restricted from any secondary employment privileges," without giving a reason or providing a process to contest it, according to the civil complaint. Pardue also indicated to Pirtle's defense attorney in December 2017 that she would be "willing to testify on behalf of Pirtle by alleging that Officer Blake is a dishonest person," according to the complaint. In January of this year, Pirtle pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, but the rape charge against him was dropped, criminal records showed. He was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to stay away from Blake. The plea bargain prosecutors offered Pirtle kept his name off the sex offender registry and will allow him to expunge his record if he completes three years of probation successfully, according to Blake's lawsuit. After Pirtle was convicted, Blake then became concerned that Pardue would "use any excuse to provoke a conflict, make false allegations against her, or even physically harm her," according to the lawsuit. Blake was temporary assigned to the North Precinct after expressing her concerns to human resources. On Jan. 29, when she and her attorney showed up to the West Precinct for a settlement hearing on the two disciplinary investigations from October, she appeared unarmed and out of uniform "in order to minimize the chances of escalating the conflict with Pardue," the complaint stated. A lieutenant who asked Blake why she was out of uniform then advised her to write a supplement to human resources detailing her concerns. When Blake also appeared in civilian clothes for a Feb. 12 meeting, Pardue questioned why she was out of uniform and unarmed, according to the complaint. Blake responded, "I have explained in detail why Im not comfortable being armed at this point around you particularly," which another lieutenant who was present constituted as a "threat" to Pardue, the complaint stated. That lieutenant advised Pardue to "review the recording" of her interaction with Blake, and after doing so, Pardue referred the "threat" to MNPD Deputy Chief Brian Johnson, according to the lawsuit. Later that day, Johnson reviewed the recording and "immediately decommissioned" Blake, the lawsuit said. Pardue filed an incident report the next day, characterizing the alleged threat as "assault by intimidation," the court document stated. Blake returned to work again on April 13 after undergoing another psyche evaluation, she said. After that, a barrage of complaints were filed against Blake. One for a March 26 Facebook post she made stating that a community oversight board would help relations between the police and the public, and another for a 2012 video in which "Blake had done a video testimonial for the website of a magician, which she did not have permission for from the police chief, violating MNPD policy," the lawsuit alleged. Another complaint stated that Blake violated MNPD's "secondary employment" policy in 2013, about five years earlier, by hosting a "Princess House" party without the department's authorization, and another was filed for "assault" for the comment she made to Pardue on Feb. 12, according to the complaint. Blake has been given 41 suspensions since first reporting the attack in 2017, she said. If an officer receives 30 or more suspension days in a calendar year, he or she will be terminated, under MNPD policy, the lawsuit stated. Blake may have been retaliated against for not adhering to the "blue code," a "cultural ethos" that "asserts that police officers must identify as police officers first, must always take up for other officers, and must never report on other officers' misconduct," according to the civil complaint. But, Pardue's discrimination toward Blake allegedly began long before she reported the attack, the lawsuit alleged. Pardue began "making life difficult" for Blake the moment she assumed command of the West Precinct in 2012, the complaint stated. The lawsuit also accused Pardue of "typically" favoring male officers over female officers, giving one example of Pardue "accommodating the work-related requests of male officers more frequently and easily than similar requests by female officers." The lawsuit also accused Pardue as being "personally hostile to African-Americans who raise the issue of racism in America, especially if they raise it in the context of the criminal justice system." The "retaliation" by Pardue has caused Blake "to suffer emotional harm as well as lost income," the complaint alleged. Blake is still on patrol as a school resource officer, but now is assigned to a high school in the North Precinct, she said. Blake told ABC News she filed the lawsuit after exhausting "every possible way to try and resolve the conflict." "But, because of the culture of the police department, at every turn, either the complaints fell on deaf ears, or inadequate investigations would occur, or they would not include me in the investigation at all," she said. Blake said she also hoped the lawsuit would "hold the people who have done wrong accountable for their actions," adding that she hoped to change the culture within the police department. "We can't call ourselves the guardians of Nashville and not stand up in every situation," she said. The lawsuit requested a jury trial, nominal damages, compensatory and punitive damages in an amount to be determined by the jury, attorneys fees, court costs and a restraining order against the department "as soon as possible." When asked for comment, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department directed ABC News to the Metropolitan Nashville Department of Law, which will be defending the police department in the lawsuit. A spokesman for the Department of Law declined to comment on the pending federal court litigation to ABC News. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, inspects the guard of honor in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Nov. 19, 2018. Xi attended a grand welcome ceremony held by Hassanal at Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei's royal palace, before their talks on Monday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Brunei on Monday agreed to upgrade their relations to a strategic cooperative partnership. The two countries also pledged to be good partners featuring mutual trust in politics, mutual benefit in economy, mutual understanding in people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and mutual assistance in multilateral affairs. The consensus was reached during talks between visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. "The decision made by our two sides to establish a strategic cooperative partnership is to ... deliver greater benefits to our two peoples through our cooperation," Xi said. Xi arrived here on Sunday for a state visit to Brunei, the first by a Chinese head of state in 13 years to the Southeast Asian nation. During the talks, Xi expressed high appreciation to the Sultan for the great importance he has long attached to developing the China-Brunei relations. The Chinese president said he was deeply impressed by the warmth and hospitality of the Bruneian people on his first visit to the country, which Xi said vividly testifies to the profound friendship between the two peoples. Xi praised the bilateral ties, saying that China and Brunei enjoy a long and deep historical and cultural link, and are neighbors across the sea as well as friends and partners who trust each other. PLANNING FOR FUTURE During the talks, Xi called on the two sides to increase high-level exchanges to well steer the vessel of bilateral relations. China appreciates Brunei's firm adherence to the one-China policy and will continue to support Brunei in pursuing a development path that suits its own national conditions, Xi said. China sees Brunei as an important partner for cooperation in building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and is willing to align the Belt and Road Initiative with Brunei's Wawasan 2035, a strategy for economic diversification, in a bid to boost the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, he said. Brunei's businesses are welcome to expand exports to China, Xi said, adding that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Brunei in infrastructure construction, agriculture, fishery, energy and other areas, and share the experience in developing digital economy, e-commerce and other emerging sectors. The Chinese president urged the two sides to enhance cooperation in education, culture, sports, health and tourism, promote understanding and friendship between the youths, expand exchanges at sub-national level, and boost cooperation in judiciary, counter-terrorism and crackdown on cross-border crime. Xi also proposed that the two countries deepen communication, coordination and collaboration within the frameworks such as the United Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and jointly promote greater development in China-ASEAN relations and East Asia cooperation. China supports the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) cooperation and ASEAN in achieving a comprehensive, balanced development, he said. On the South China Sea, Xi pointed out that it is in the vital interests of both China and Brunei to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and also the shared aspiration of both peoples. Xi said that China appreciates the dual-track approach proposed by Brunei: disputes should be handled through friendly consultation by parties concerned and countries in the region should jointly safeguard stability in the South China Sea. Both sides should continue to advance maritime cooperation and the negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, thus building the sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, he added. For his part, Hassanal extended warm welcome to Xi for his first state visit to Brunei, saying that the visit will deepen the traditional friendly relations between the two countries and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas. He said that Brunei and China enjoy a long history of friendship and the bilateral relations have continuously developed on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. The Sultan said he is delighted that the bilateral ties were upgraded to a strategic cooperative partnership during Xi's visit. Brunei firmly adheres to the one-China policy and will take this visit as an opportunity to promote bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, education, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and judicial assistance, thus benefiting the two peoples, he said. Brunei admires China for its remarkable achievements in poverty reduction and sustainable development, and is willing to promote synergy and cooperation between the Wawasan 2035 and the Belt and Road Initiative, Hassanal said. He said that Brunei highly appreciates the important role of China in fostering global stability and prosperity, tackling climate change, safeguarding multilateral trading system, and promoting regional economic integration, and is grateful to China for supporting BIMP-EAGA cooperation. Brunei stands ready to increase communication and coordination with China in international and regional affairs, and push forward ASEAN-China cooperation to a deeper level, he said. Brunei is delighted that countries in the region jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and advance maritime cooperation through dialogue and consultation, he added. After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a cooperation plan on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and other bilateral cooperation documents. A joint statement was also issued. A grand welcome ceremony was held at Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei's royal palace, where Xi talked to members of Brunei's royal family. He told them that the Chinese side appreciates the long-term friendly policy upheld by the royal family toward China and the traditional friendship will be carried forward. Xi also welcomed them to visit China more often. Brunei is the second stop of Xi's ongoing Asia-Pacific tour, which has already taken him to Papua New Guinea. He will also visit the Philippines. In Papua New Guinea, Xi paid a state visit and attended the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. He also met with leaders of eight Pacific island countries that have diplomatic ties with China. 8 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] FBR Federal Board of Revenue Legal Advisor Job 2018 Latest Federal Board of Revenue FBR Consultant Posts Islamabad 2021 Government of Pakistan FBR Federal Board of Revenue requires the services of experienced and well educated candidate for the posts of Legal Advisor / Consultant in Islamabad Pakistan 2018. How to Apply on Federal Board of Revenue FBR 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. HBFC House Building Finance Company Limited Jobs 2018 Latest House Building Finance Company Limited HBFCL Management Posts Karachi 2021 Qualified and well educated individuals for the posts of Digital Planning Lead, Information Security Officer, Database Administration Officer, Assistant Manager, Software Engineer, System Administration, End User Computing Officer & Web Developer required for HBFC House Building Finance Company Limited in Karachi. How to Apply on House Building Finance Company Limited HBFCL 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. Pak Army 261 Supply Platoon ASC Chowkidar Jobs 2018 Latest Pakistan Army Security Posts Gilgit 2021 Pakistan Army 261 Supply Platoon ASC requires the services of experienced, strong and responsible person for the post of Chowkidar in Gilgit Baltistan 2018. How to Apply on Pakistan Army 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. JCC Receives $198,986 Grant from Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas Funds will be used to support apprenticeship program. Johnston Community College today announced a $198,986 investment from Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas. The funds will be used to connect students with hands-on training and career development opportunities. The investment will be used to develop and purchase equipment for the new Johnston County Apprenticeship Program (JCAP) which will provide on-the-job training at participating companies for applied engineering degree and electrical certificate students. Caterpillar, CMC Electric, and Novo Nordisk are the first industries to become registered apprenticeships in the program. JCC is gaining momentum in the newly formed Johnston County Apprenticeship Program, said Joy Callahan, dean of workforce development and advanced technologies. Several industries have been a part of numerous informational meetings and have been integral in the design of the program. Although this grant fund is crucial for students focusing on these areas of need in Johnston County, the JCAP seeks to develop partnerships in other career areas such as HVAC, welding, machining and other high-demand occupations. We are proud to partner with Johnston Community College to connect students with apprenticeship and workforce training opportunities, said Marty Clayton, district manager, Duke Energy. These students will help meet the growing and evolving needs of the regions manufacturing industry. This grant is part of Duke Energys $35 million investment in North Carolinas Community Colleges focus on technical education and support of business and industry. Individual community colleges could apply for funds through the North Carolina Community Foundation and the Foundation for the Carolinas. Applications were reviewed by a committee of representatives from Duke Energy, NC Community College System and NC Department of Commerce. Cut line: JCC has received a $198,986 grant from Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas that will support an apprenticeship program for applied engineering degree and electrical certificate students. Palestinian medics carry a wounded man during clashes with Israeli troops on a beach near the maritime border with Israel, in northern Gaza Strip, Nov. 19, 2018. At least 25 Palestinians were injured on Monday in clashes between dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza Strip, to the border with Israel, medics said. (Xinhua/Stringer) GAZA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 Palestinians were injured on Monday in clashes between dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza Strip, to the border with Israel, medics said. Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza, told reporters that the wounded were taken to the hospitals in Gaza, adding that they were all had light to moderate injuries. The clashes broke out on Monday when the high commission of "the Great March of Return", which was found on March 30, organized the weekly maritime demonstrations in northern Gaza Strip. Since the start of the marches on March 30, demonstrators have been calling on Israel to end the tight Israeli blockade that had been imposed on the Gaza Strip. Al-Qedra said that since March 30, the Israeli army has killed 223 Palestinians and wounded more than 24,000 others. Clashes have been going on between the demonstrators and the Israeli soldiers every Friday and every Monday. 6 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Sebelum Anda bermain, Anda perlu mengetahui apa yang Anda butuhkan untuk masuk ke dalam permainan roulette kasino online ini. Jika Anda sudah mendaftar di situs judi casino online dan sudah memberikan user ID, login terlebih dahulu dan pilih menu live casino yang tertera di situs judi tersebut. Pertama pilih dealer dan putuskan sendiri, lalu pilih meja atau kursi di dalam ruangan. Jika namanya tertera dan berwarna coklat, maka kursi tersebut sudah ditempati oleh pemain lain, dan pilihlah kursi kosong berwarna hitam. Kasino Roulette adalah salah satu permainan paling populer di situs perjudian kasino. Jadi dalam permainan ini kamu harus menebak angka berapa yang akan keluar. Ada 36 nomor berbeda dalam permainan populer ini di mana sebuah bola kecil diputar dan dilemparkan ke dalam mesin roulette. Anda harus menebak dari mana bola kecil itu masuk dan di nomor berapa ia berhenti. Ada banyak jenis pilihan angka dari 0-36, dan mereka dihitung secara berbeda. Sebagai agen casino terpercaya, panduan permainan roulette ini juga memberikan informasi tentang jenis pilihan dan nama permainan roulette casino online sebagai berikut: Jika Anda ingin bermain roulette di situs kasino online, caranya sangat sederhana. Anda dapat bermain di Kasino ION, Kasino Sbobet, dan Situs Kasino. Di bawah ini adalah artikel panduan bermain di mana Anda dapat mempelajari roulette langsung dan memainkannya di situs judi online mana pun. tangkapan layar Sebelum Anda bermain, Anda perlu mengetahui apa yang Anda butuhkan untuk masuk ke dalam permainan roulette kasino online ini. Jika Anda sudah mendaftar di situs judi casino online dan sudah memberikan user ID, login terlebih dahulu dan pilih menu live casino yang tertera di situs judi online tersebut. Pertama pilih dealer dan putuskan sendiri, lalu pilih meja atau kursi di dalam ruangan. Jika namanya tertera dan berwarna coklat, maka kursi tersebut sudah ditempati oleh pemain lain, dan pilihlah kursi kosong berwarna hitam. Panduan Bermain Online Kasino Roulette Kasino Roulette adalah salah satu permainan paling populer di situs perjudian kasino. Jadi dalam permainan ini kamu harus menebak angka berapa yang akan keluar. Ada 36 nomor berbeda dalam permainan populer ini di mana sebuah bola kecil diputar dan dilemparkan ke dalam mesin roulette. Anda harus menebak dari mana bola kecil itu masuk dan di nomor berapa ia berhenti. Ada banyak jenis pilihan angka dari 0-36, dan mereka dihitung secara berbeda. Sebagai agen casino terpercaya, panduan permainan roulette ini juga memberikan informasi tentang jenis pilihan dan nama permainan roulette casino online sebagai berikut: 1. Straight Up: Penempatan angka tunggal dari 0 hingga 36. Contoh perhitungan straight up adalah mengalikan taruhan dengan 35. Ini adalah jenis taruhan tertinggi dalam permainan roulette kasino, jadi 50 dikalikan dengan 35 memberi Anda 1750, mengapa jenis taruhan ini menghasilkan pengembalian yang begitu tinggi? Hal ini karena tidak mudah untuk memenangkan pilihan nomor dengan memilih hanya satu nomor dari banyak. 2. Taruhan split: Jenis taruhan yang ditempatkan pada dua angka atau di antara dua angka yang berbeda. Misalnya, menempatkan di sela-sela angka 9 dan 12 atau 13d dan 14 dihitung sebagai jenis taruhan split. Setiap nomor dapat ditempatkan dalam jenis ini selama nomor tersebut berdekatan dan persis seperti Gambar A dan B. Untuk taruhan ini, jika Anda memenangkan contoh dan mengalikannya dengan 850, Anda akan menerima jumlah taruhan yang dikalikan dengan 17. . 3. Taruhan jalanan: bertaruh dengan 3 angka ke bawah, misalnya 1,2,3 atau 10,11,12. Semua taruhan jalan akan menerima kemenangan dikalikan dengan 11. Misalnya, 50 dikalikan 550. 4. Taruhan sudut: Jenis taruhan di mana empat angka ditempatkan saling berhadapan, seperti 13,14,16,17 atau 19,20,22,23. Semua angka valid karena terdiri dari 4 angka yang diisi seperti kotak dan taruhan dikalikan 8 (misalnya 50 kali 800). 5. Taruhan baris: Atau, Anda dapat mengatakan bahwa ada 6 jenis taruhan yang terdiri dari 2 baris, tetapi 6 poin dengan 2 peregangan, seperti taruhan jalanan. Misalnya, jika Anda memilih angka 7 hingga 12 dan 13 hingga 18, taruhan 50 adalah 5 kali dan kemudian dikalikan dengan 250 kemenangan. 6. Kolom Inner Bet: Jenis taruhan vertikal dengan 12 poin berturut-turut, seperti kolom numerik 1,4,7,10,13,19,22,25,25,28,22,24,34 atau kolom lainnya. Dan jika dia memenangkan kolom, 50 taruhan digandakan dan 100 taruhan. 7. Lusin : Jenis taruhan menempatkan 12 angka tetapi menempatkannya pada kotak berbentuk seperti contoh Kolom A dengan angka 1 sampai 12 dan odds dengan kolom lain untuk dipilih dengan memilih 1 kotak pertama untuk Kolom A. Kalikan dengan 2, 50 taruhan 100. 8. Zero part : Cara bertaruh 0.1,2,3 sama persis seperti di gambar, karena berdekatan dengan angka 0, anda hanya bisa bertaruh 0.1,2,3. Menempatkan taruhan ini mengalikannya dengan 50. hingga 8. 9. Zero Corner: Bertaruh pada angka 0.1,2 atau 0.2,3 adalah dua pilihan karena Anda hanya bertaruh mendekati angka nol. Jenis taruhan ini dikalikan 11 jika taruhan menang. 10. Two Dozen: Jenis taruhan dengan hanya dua pilihan: 1-18 atau 19-36. Jika taruhan Anda adalah 50, itu dikalikan dengan 1 hingga 50 jika Anda menang. 11. Merah atau Hitam: Masukkan taruhan Anda dengan memilih Merah atau Hitam sebagai warna angka yang muncul saat taruhan 50. 12. Genap/Ganjil: Pilih angka yang menghasilkan jumlah jenis taruhan ganjil. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, president of the Portuguese parliament, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Portugal on Monday vowed to facilitate their parliamentary exchange and cooperation in Beijing. The pledge came as China's top legislator Li Zhanshu held talks with Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, president of the Portuguese parliament, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. While hailing the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties, Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said high-level political mutual trust between the two countries had become a distinctive feature of the bilateral ties. It has become a good experience in developing China-Portugal relations to expand cooperation in opening-up and seek shared growth in cooperation, Li stressed. "The relations of the two countries are stable and full of vitality, and there are broad prospects for cooperation in diverse fields, " said Li. In the hope of further advancing bilateral ties, he called on the two sides to intensify mutually-beneficial cooperation in fields including the construction of the Belt and Road, and to communicate more and coordinate with each other on international affairs. Li said China has announced a series of opening-up measures since the beginning of the year and stressed Portugal and all countries are welcome to share China's development opportunities for win-win outcomes. "The Chinese NPC is willing to boost more institutionalized exchange and cooperation with the Portuguese Parliament and contribute to the two countries' relations," Li said. The two legislative bodies should work to foster a good policy environment, protect the investors' legal rights and interests, support people-to-people exchange and promote local cooperation, to lay a solid social foundation for the China-Portugal friendship, Li added. For Rodrigues' part, he said Portugal's cooperation with China has boomed in various areas and expressed his willingness to push forward the two countries' parliamentary exchange and cooperation. 2 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] MANILA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the entire nation look forward to the forthcoming state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, a presidential spokesperson said here on Monday. "Xi's visit to the Philippines, which he described as a 'beautiful land', is a turning point in both our countries' histories," Salvador Panelo said in a statement released on the eve of Xi's two-day visit which will kick off on Tuesday. This is the first state visit by a Chinese head of state since 2005. Panelo said Xi's visit to the Philippines marks an opportunity to further strengthen and sustain bilateral relations. "China is now considered a top trading partner of the Philippines, a leading export market for the Philippines, and one of the largest tourist origins to the Philippines," Panelo said. "We laud Xi for China's continued efforts to promote peace and stability in our region, through dialogues and consultations in handling the South China Sea issue, as we share his aspiration to bring our nations' relationship to a higher level of collaboration," he added. "The Philippines and China's shared hopes for their citizens continue to pave the way for r bonds between the two nations," Panelo said. He added that "we anticipate more opportunities to forge better cooperation and friendship with China." [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] On the tenth anniversary of GAMI, the new artificial intelligence research factory is opening in industrial production. (Photo: GAMI/KIT) More than 130 active cooperation projects with more than 40 Chinese partners show that the cooperation between Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and its partners in the People's Republic of China is extremely versatile. The foundation for this was laid in 2008 by the Global Advanced Manufacturing Institute (GAMI) in Suzhou, which promotes the exchange of knowledge and scientists on site. GAMI is celebrating its tenth anniversary today (November 8, 2018) with the opening of a new research center for artificial intelligence. Science knows no barriers between countries or languages, so international cooperation is an integral part of KIT. It is essential to drive research, teaching and innovation with a view to the future, says Professor Thomas Hirth, Vice President for Innovation and International Affairs at KIT. The collaboration with our partners in China is one of our most sustainable ones. The tenth anniversary of GAMI is impressive proof of how well international cooperation can promote academic exchange, as well as joint research and development. German and Chinese representatives from research, politics and industry celebrated the 10th anniversary of GAMI and opened the AIIF. (Photo: KIT) Many global challenges such as climate change and the implementation of digitalization can only be tackled together. This is where Germany and China can benefit from the others strengths and complement each other, says Gisela Lanza, China representative and professor at the wbk Institute of Production Science Technology at KIT. For this reason, she opened GAMI as a branch of wbk in China in 2008. Here GAMI is researching global production structures to prepare companies that produce locally for country-specific requirements such as Industry 4.0. The location in China has been giving us direct and easy access to local partners and their needs for ten years. This ensures that research results are transferred into industry and that especially German companies in China have access to them. New research factory for artificial intelligence One of the major current issues is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in industrial production and ever greater digitalization as part of Industry 4.0, as well as its consequences for manufacturing processes and employees. To mark its tenth anniversary, GAMI has now opened the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Factory (AIIF). The Sino-German platform serves as a research and training environment which equips students, researchers and industrial partners with the skills required for AI technologies in production. Intelligent technologies such as gloves with sensors automatically detect different work stages and forward the information to the entire production system. (Photo: KIT) As a result of the ongoing integration of IT solutions in production processes, there are large amounts of data, says Dr Tobias Arndt, General Manager of GAMI. To be able to use all this data profitably, we need intelligent solutions which recognize the links and patterns in the data. At AIIF, GAMI, together with German and Chinese companies and startups, is researching AI-based applications in augmented and virtual reality, cloud and big data computing, as well as man-robot collaboration. Different AI components can be integrated in a highly flexible production line to examine various applications. By using the right combination of these technologies, companies can increase their efficiency and flexibility. Machine learning also makes production systems possible which can correct their own errors and improve themselves independently, says Arndt. However, this requires well-trained workers. Here, both Germany and China are facing a great challenge, according to Arndt: Both lack young scientists and experts to establish AI in industrial production, although especially China has invested heavily in this sector. But both sides could benefit from each other: Germany has the necessary production expertise, China the necessary technical and financial infrastructure. Researchers therefore want to involve AIIF more and more in teaching at KIT. On the one hand, the applications developed in China are connected to the existing range of courses of the Global Production Learning Factory at wbk. On the other hand, on research trips to Suzhou, KIT students can get to know production in China, as well as the integration of AI technologies in real conditions. KIT in China: Global Advanced Manufacturing Institute (GAMI) Many complex products are more and more often no longer produced only in one location but in factories across the world. They have to work closely together in a common network. Gaining a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms and processes of the networks and the most important markets such as China is a decisive competitive advantage. This is why wbk has been based with GAMI in Suzhou approximately 80 kilometers west of Shanghai since 2008. The institute aims to deepen the understanding of global production structures and develop new, robust production networks. With the Industry 4.0 Innovation Center and AIIF, GAMI is offering a real learning environment in which companies and scientists can learn about and research the requirements and benefits of an intelligent factory using real production lines. Since 2014, GAMI has also acted as KITs China branch to help scientists of KIT gain access to relevant research structures, projects and third-party funds in China. Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 44F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 44F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. As a person who is very interested in the cultural history, architecture, and life in Vietnam, it is certain that the theme of temples, pagodas and the meaning in the life of people always attract him. Nicolas shared: "My wife is Vietnamese, half of my friends are Vietnamese. So I like Vietnams culture and the language." Starting his journey from north to south on the S-shaped country to explore Vietnam's temples, pagodas and places of worship, he took about 30,000 photographs and visited nearly 100 temples and pagodas. French photographers always focus on the beauty of architecture, fine art sculpture, Buddhist visual arts in temples and pagodas. Particularly in Vietnam, he took photos of a lot of places. He does not remember how many pictures and projects he has done. In many photos on Vietnam, Nicolas has introduced the image of Vietnamese temples and pagodas through his exhibition "Vietnams Pagodas". He also launched a 250-page photo book named "Vietnams Pagodas" with 31 temples and pagodas. He said: "In 2015, my family visited Phat Tich Pagoda in Bac Ninh. At this time, the pagoda was rebuilt, so all the old tile roofs, walls and architecture were repaired and rebuilt. At that moment, I thought that, unfortunately, I and the Vietnamese people will no longer be able to see the legacy. Since then, I decided to produce a photo book on temples and pagodas in Vietnam to record the priceless images, with the desire that the future generations can feel the beauty of the ancient architecture. With love for my hometown of Vietnam, I decided to record the beautiful images of ancient pagodas in a photo book, before they disappeared due to "restoration", he added. Plain and delicate picture on the monk's room at Bo Da Pagoda, in Bac Giang province taken by Nicolas Cornet. The photo book gathers the architecture of ancient temples and pagodas. In particular, it focuses on the fine art details of the heritage that sometimes not many Vietnamese know. Through the book, the readers can see that the ordinary life in the Buddhist temples is described as very special and delicate. The book consists of five chapters. The first two chapters talk about the temples and pagodas in the northern region, while the third chapter focuses on the temples and pagodas in Hue and Hoi An and the last two chapters talk about the temples and pagodas in the southern region. Every chapter, he has spent a page to describe the beauty of architecture, fine art sculpture or Buddhist visual arts. Along with ordinary life at the temples and the close ties with community, villages were also described. "The images I take are mainly about the daily life of Vietnamese people. I like the close ties with people and showing it through my pictures", he said. In Hue, Nicolas had the opportunity to sit conversing with the monks, to experience the spiritual life of a Buddhist. In order to have the best photo angle, sometimes, he asked to stay in the temples for two or three days. "Temple architecture in Hue is very different from the northern region, there are many green trees around and water wells, in addition, feng shui is given special importance there" Nicolas shares. Sharing about his journey, Nicolas said that the temples in the northern region were not only Buddhist places of worship, as in other countries in the world, but also a place to worship Kings and national heroes. He was most impressed with the image of many people going to the temples during the most important traditional festival of the year such as the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival or the first lunar month's Full Moon Day festival, to pray for peace, health and luck. In addition, people go to the temple to enjoy pure space at the temple, he added. The daily spiritual life of Vietnamese people. Not only working as a photographer, Nicolas is always interested in the development of Vietnamese photography, because there is not any university training professionally on the subject. From there, he decided to take part in teaching photography and journalistic photography courses. Recently, he coordinated with the French Cultural Centre L'Espace, at No. 24 Trang Tien Street, in Hanoi, to implement many training photography project for young photographers, which were launched in 2013 in Ho Chi Minh City and have been organised in Hanoi since early November, 2018. Spending time and effort to do the project, the only goal of Nicolas is sharing what he learns with his photography lovers. According to him, Vietnamese photographers should support young talents to create a new generation of photographers. Talking about his next project, he said: "I will spend time to relax after implementing the project and intend to launch a book on Vietnamese cuisine. It is not just about introducing daily food, but also about my personal feelings about regional specialties. At the same time, in the book, I will share about the relationship between society, culture, people with food, or how to prepare dishes. Park Chae-won, runner-up in the 2018 Miss Korea pageant. From her Instagram By Lee Min-young Exaggerated hairdos, toothpaste commercial-perfect smiles and bikini contests would be among the first things that spring to mind when it comes to Miss Korea. Are they really what they look like Barbie dolls? I recently talked in-depth with Park Chae-won, 24, a runner-up in the 2018 Miss Korea pageant, who came to our office with a beautiful, full-fledged smile. To give you a heads-up, she defied the stereotype. Here is some of what she had to say. "I have a very different background from everybody else," Park said. "When I was 11, I went to India. My parents wanted me to study abroad and India was where they sent me. It's a very odd place for a parent to send their child at such a young age, isn't it?" Park told me she lived in the Himalayas. Then she got into fashion. Park wanted to study more on the subject, so she left for France to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer, even though she could not speak French. "It was all my decision," Park said. "Whenever I wanted something, I would persuade my parents and they would root it out for me." She was a brave, independent girl who did not fear exploring her talents, ability and passion. Park Chae-won shows off her style. Hankook Ilbo file Park Chae-won on stage. Hankook Ilbo file Park Chae-won being crowned by the 2017 runner-up Kim Sarang. Hankook Ilbo file Park grew curious about other careers, so she moved to the United States. There she studied business management and afterward gained work experience at Korea's leading online portal operator Naver. "Right after graduating college, I was seeking a job at IT companies," Park said. "Facebook and Google were my top choices." She told me a new door opened after she became a semi-finalist in the pageant and she is now finding her way into show biz. "Modeling, emceeing at events, reporting, acting ... the list goes on," Park said. "I am grateful that I can possibly go anywhere and do anything at such a young age. I want to try out everything and see what I'm great at." Park said she had dreamed of being crowned Miss Korea since she was a child. "It's a girl's dream," she said. "I'm an attention-seeker. I love the attention and I know how to get it. Beauty pageants are dream stages a girl like me would die for. I am a very competitive person. I love competition, whatever that is about. When I first heard about this Miss Korea beauty contest, I immediately thought this was something I had to be part of. I was confident that I could bag the title." It was very interesting to examine the way she spoke about herself. She was bright, full of energy and very confident. Anyone who spoke to her would immediately sense that she had a solid ego and absolute awareness of what she is capable of. Park Chae-won takes yoga lessons with other Miss Korea contestants. Hankook Ilbo file Out of curiosity, I asked if she had any problems with the girls during the training camp for Miss Korea contestants. The picture I had in my mind was a place full of drama and tension among jealous girls who all wanted to win the contest. "Oh course there were some psychological tensions going on but no blunt aggression," she laughed. "One day, I accidentally hit a girl's leg while we were sitting in rows." The girl got so irritated she snapped at her: "You hit my leg and you just ignored me without apologizing!" "But I was close to most of the girls," Park said. "We really relied on each other and I still grab lunch with the girls." She laughed away the incident but it was reasonable to assume the girls were on edge before the contest. "What was the strength in you that rode out all the hardships during the contest?" I asked, assuming there would have been times her confidence was down as she found herself surrounded by so many beautiful, talented girls. "Yes, there was one day that I doubted myself and that was when I had a swimsuit photo shoot with the girls who had perfect bodies, while I was not so confident about mine," Park said. "But I was able to snap my fingers and quickly come back, because I knew what people would like about me. It's not only the looks that matter when it comes to attracting people. I knew what my qualities were that stood out among others and that was what I had to showcase." Park Chae-won strikes a pose during a swimsuit photo shoot. Hankook Ilbo file She spoke with so much panache that it drove me to ask a bolder question. I wanted to hear from a beauty pageant winner what she thought of claims the contests have an "anti-feminist" nature. "I disagree," Park said without hesitation. "This form of competition is something that I value very much. What people see or want to see is us walking down with small swimsuits on but there is much more than that. It was a great opportunity for me to think carefully about myself and examine my strengths and weaknesses. I was inspired by the confidence these women held in their personalities and I was able to nurture mine. "There is something I really want to say to prospective contestants. It's easy for people to say, 'Be confident,' but that will never happen if self-love does not come from deep inside, meaning that even if you may seem pretty on the outside, without being perfectly aware of what makes you yourself, what you like about yourself, and what you are capable of, you will never be confident. Once you become the one who knows you best, you will be able to love yourself and you will start to glow." Park Chae-won. Captured from her Instagram By the end of our talk, I immediately regretted asking her what turned out to be a stupid question. "What's your charm?" Her charm was being "herself" and that applies to any woman. This strong-minded beauty queen made me regret ever bearing the idea that beauty pageant contestants are girls paying too much attention to their appearance that they tend to forget matters of greater importance. She loved celebrating and parading her beauty by choice. But the one-hour talk proved that it was not the six-inch heels that got her the runner-up crown. True empowerment lies in self-esteem and activism that comes from the ability to see through yourself, being grateful of who you are and what you are capable of. By Jung Da-min The two Koreas expressed hopes of resuming the suspended tour program at the North's Mount Geumgang but it is unlikely to be this year, Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun told reporters Monday, after a two-day visit to the North. "At this point, the situation is difficult for the tour program to be resumed within this year, but I think it will be done in the near future," Hyun said. She said there were no detailed discussions on economic cooperation with the North. An inter-Korean joint event commemorating the 20th anniversary of Mount Geumgang tourism was held at the special zone for international tours of the mountain on Sunday and Monday. It was the first since the 16th anniversary event in 2014. About 100 South Korean officials attended, including the Hyundai chairwoman and former Unification Minister Lim Dong-won. About 80 North Korean officials participated, including Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee Vice Chairman Ri Taek-gon and the DPRK Guidance Bureau of Special Zone for International Tour of Mount Kumgang Director Hwang Ho-yong. During the event, participants toured scenic spots around Guryongyeon Pool, the first time in 10 years for the South Koreans. By Kang Seung-woo The government is considering taking legal action against those who have been refusing to pay for a charter flight that evacuated them during a volcanic eruption in Indonesia last year, according to the foreign ministry, Tuesday. When a volcano on Bali erupted in November 2017 and around 1,000 Korean nationals were stranded, President Moon Jae-in ordered the ministry to send a chartered airplane to bring them home. An Asiana Airlines plane evacuated 266 tourists. However, 17 are yet to pay their airfare although the ministry has urged them repeatedly via phone, email and official documents. "After undergoing a legal review, the government plans to take action, including a civil suit," a government official said. The government paid 215 million won ($190,000) to the airline for the evacuation 155 million won of which the government covered and charged each passenger the economy-class rate of 420,000 won. According to the ministry, passengers signed pledges to pay the airfare and provided personal information such as passport numbers and contact addresses before boarding. It said some gave the ministry false information. The government used to shoulder the entire cost of a chartered flight in an emergency, but the regulation was revised two years ago so passengers bear part of the cost. The South Korean government is expected to announce a decision this week to dismantle a controversial foundation related to Japan's wartime sexual enslavement of Korean women, an official said Tuesday. The planned shutdown of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, funded by Japan, is seen as Seoul's move to effectively discard a 2015 accord between the neighboring countries on the "comfort women" issue. Many Korean women were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. Some historians put the number at as many as 200,000. Korea was under Japan's brutal colonization from 1910-45. In late 2015, the then-Park Geun-hye administration signed the agreement to resolve the history issue. They launched the foundation, intended to help the victims and their families, the following year. Japan offered 1 billion yen ($8.9 million). Critics here, however, disapproved of the deal, saying it was unilaterally signed by the government without reflecting views of the victims. President Moon Jae-in, a former human rights lawyer, also believes the agreement should not have been inked, while Tokyo urges Seoul to abide by the agreement. "To my knowledge, a related ministry is considering making public the decision this week to dismantle the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation," the senior government official said, referring to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The government will then talk with the Japanese authorities on how to handle the seed fund, the official added. It's estimated to take six months to a year to complete legal procedures for the shutdown of the organization. (Yonhap) The top leader affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people have maintained great attention towards consolidating and developing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. He expressed his wish that Russia would enhance collaboration with Southeast Asian nations and improve its role and position in the Asia-Pacific region. He stressed that Vietnam welcomes Russian businesses and will continue to create favourable conditions for them to engage in key projects in Vietnam in the fields of energy, transport, and oil and gas. The Party and State leader suggested the Russian Government actively coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to remove difficulties for economic-trade and investment cooperation and effectively implement large-scale joint projects agreed at the recent 21st session of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Government Committee. For his part, PM Medvedev, who is also head of the ruling United Russia Party, asserted that his country has always paid heed to fostering its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, considering the country its leading partner in Southeast Asia. Informing the host of the outcome of his talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Medvedev said the two governments will coordinate closely with each other to organise activities throughout 2019 as the two nations celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the treaty on the fundamental principles of Vietnam-Russia friendship and prepare for the 70th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020. Russia and Vietnam will realise the agreements reached during CPVCC General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs visit to Russia last September. Regarding the relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the United Russia Party, the leaders said they are pleased with the development of the ties over the past time, saying the relationship through the Party channel is an important political foundation to bolster the two countries bonds. They agreed to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two parties in the time ahead, including the continued implementation of the political dialogue mechanism and their cooperation plan for 2018-2021. By Jung Min-ho A Canadian school has removed a "Rising Sun" flag an emblem seen by many Asians as a symbol of the country's wartime aggression from a history classroom after students complained about it. Walnut Grove Secondary School in Langley, British Columbia, took down the flag on Tuesday (KST) after an against it garnered nearly 10,000 signatures. A Korean student, surnamed Moon, who posted the petition on the website Change.org, Sunday, said the flag was "extremely offensive" to many students from Asian countries as it reminded them of Japan's war crimes, such as the sexual enslavement of tens of thousands of young women. School board spokesman Ken Hoff said officials decided to take down the flag temporarily ahead of a discussion between them and the students who found it offensive. "It's a little unfortunate that this was taken out of context," Hoff was quoted as saying. "The flag is being actively used as a teaching tool you can't start editing and censoring history." Hoff said the person who pinned the flag to the classroom wall is a "well-respected history teacher" and he only did so for educational purposes. Since its defeat in WWII, Germany has strictly banned the use of any patterns or designs that invoke the swastika flag, the symbol of Hitler's Nazi era. A notice board on Ilbe Storage, a far-right website, shows posts of "girlfriend proof shot," in which the site members uploaded obscene photos of their female partners without their consent. Such posts have been uploaded here since 2011. / Captured from Ilbe Storage By Jung Hae-myoung The police have launched an investigation into Ilbe Storage, an extreme right-wing website that often expresses hatred toward women, after dozens of photos showing women's private body parts presumably taken without their consent have been uploaded since Monday. "We ordered the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to investigate it immediately, and will seriously deal with this incident," an official of the National Police Agency's cyber bureau said. A photo of a sleeping woman came up around 2 a.m. on Monday, titled "proof shot of Korean girlfriend," and similar posts with images followed until around 7 a.m. as if it was a competition between members. Many of the photos showed the women's faces and exposed their private parts, and the scenes and angles implied they were shot without the women's consent. Other members of the Ilbe website left sexually humiliating comments, judging each woman's body. "They are keeping photos of the women's body parts and sharing opinions with each other, as if such behavior is just a game between men," said Kim Hye-jung, the deputy director of Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center. Many women expressed anger at the postings and several online petitions were posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website to urge heavy punishment of the uploaders in order to prevent further online sex crimes. One petition, which gathered more than 123,000 signatures as of Tuesday, demanded the government sternly punish the uploaders as well as those who downloaded the photos and posted them on other sites. "The victims do not even know their photos have been uploaded and spread, they are being sexually harassed," the petitioner said. "This is a society where a trusting boyfriend commits a crime like this because they think it is nothing serious. What can the victim do? What can they gain through a police complaint or lawsuit? The male offenders will get a slap on the wrist and pay a fine, but the female victims have to live in fear for the rest of their lives worrying about where their naked pictures will end up." There have been consistent public requests to shut down Ilbe due to the members' controversial behaviors, especially misogynistic activities. Although the "girlfriend shots" became controversial this time after the Cheong Wa Dae petition and media reports, similar posts have been uploaded on this website continuously since 2011. The victims of the posts included not only Korean women but also those in Japan, Taiwan and China. But the government has made no restrictions. "If the photos were illegally shot, the uploaders will be punished. And the operators of the website will be, too, if they have neglected the illegalities on this platform," the police official said. According to the act on sex crimes, a person who spreads sexually exploitative material without consent of the person pictured can be jailed for up to five years or fined 10 million won ($8,862). Those who spread the content on other social media or websites can be also punished. By Kim Jae-heun The Armed Forces High Court overturned, Nov. 8, a lower court ruling that had found two naval officers guilty of raping a female subordinate, causing a backlash from women's rights groups. One of the two men, a lieutenant commander, raped the female captain several times when she was a junior lieutenant in September 2010. He abused his power by threatening to disclose the fact that she was a lesbian. The woman became pregnant and opted to get an abortion before returning to duty. The second man who raped her was the commanding officer of the ship she was assigned to, and he committed the crime after she told him about the earlier rapes and her abortion. The two were arrested and a lower court sentenced them to 10 years and eight years imprisonment, respectively. However, the high court reversed this decision even though it acknowledged that sexual relations took place and the offenders were in a superior position. It said there was no "concrete evidence" to prove they forced the woman to have intercourse or blackmailed her during the process. The Center for Military Human Rights Korea (CMHRK) and the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center protested the decision in front of the court building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. "Many victims are unable to resist. But the court said the offenders were not guilty because the victim did not resist enough," they said. The CMHRK said the military court had become a shield for criminals and protected them while overriding the dignity of the victims. "To eradicate sexual violence in the military, we have to abolish the military court that continues to indulge sex offenders," a CMHRK official said. By Kim Yoo-chul The anti-corruption bodies of South Korea and Qatar signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the field of transparency and integrity, Seoul's anti-corruption agency said Wednesday. "The anti-corruption bodies of South Korea and Qatar agreed to share experience and best practices in developing transparency and integrity assessment tools," said Pak Un-jong, chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC). Both organizations are "preventive anti-corruption bodies" under Article 6 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) that Korea ratified in 2003 and Qatar did in 2007. Under the MOU, the two bodies will cooperate for the next three years in areas of common interest, including exchanging experience, developing indicators and assessment tools and organizing training and capacity-building programs, the ACRC said. Since 2002, the Korean government has conducted the Integrity Assessment to measure the integrity level of each public organization, based on a survey of citizens, public officials, businesspeople and experts. The assessment tool received the United Nations Public Service Award in the category of preventing and combating corruption in the public service in 2012. In partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Korea supported Vietnam in adapting the assessment system to its local context and successfully conducting the first Provincial Anti-Corruption Assessment for all 63 Vietnamese provinces in 2016. By Kim Yoo-chul Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Hae-chan and other senior party members visited Yeonpyeong Island in the West Sea, Tuesday, in a symbolic move to promote inter-Korean peace. The small island, located only 3.2 kilometers from the border with North Korea, has been a military flashpoint in the recent past. Party officials said Lee met residents of the island and was updated on the security situation there. In November 2010, North Korea came close to triggering a wider military conflict after shelling the island. The attack, which killed four people including two civilians, prompted then South Korean government to order air strikes on Pyongyang a decision the Combined Forces Command led by the U.S. vetoed at the last minute. "There won't be any military threats on this island. Once the talks currently underway between the two Koreas are able to determine a maritime peace zone, then islanders can fish without fear of military provocations," Lee was quoted by party officials as saying during his visit to a Marine unit on the island. The DPK leader added that inter-Korean relations are now at a "major crossroads" as the leaders of the two countries are hoping to end the "last conflict" of the Cold War. Members of the largest opposition Liberty Korea Party protest at the National Assembly calling for an Assembly investigation into hiring irregularities at public firms and fraud at private kindergartens, Tuesday. / Yonhap By Park Ji-won The nation's two major conservative parties, Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and Bareunmirae Party, began boycotting all National Assembly sessions, Tuesday, passing the responsibility for the deadlock to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). Liberal parties, however, criticized the conservative parties for using rivalry with the ruling party to rein in simmering internal conflicts. Rep. Lee Jeong-mi, leader of the minor progressive Justice Party, blamed the LKP for abusing its position, claiming the reason behind the boycott is the upcoming party convention. "Everybody knows the real reason behind this boycott is the floor leadership battle within the LKP the upcoming party elections," Lee said. "We only have 10 days left to pass the budget bill for next year and it is not responsible to boycott the Assembly." The remarks came after the LKP and the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party pledged not to participate in Assembly activities unless the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) accepts its deal to investigate into illegal hiring practices in public firms and corrupt kindergartens. The opposition parties raised the allegations at the beginning of the National Assembly audit insisting public corporations, including Seoul Metro which is run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, have provided hiring favors to relatives of current and former employees. Rep. Park Yong-jin of the DPK also revealed that thousands of private kindergartens committed accounting fraud between 2014 and 2017. Critics say the LKP's move is part of the leadership battle for the upcoming election to select the leader of the party. The party is to hold an election in December for its floor leader who will exercise power in February's national convention where the party chooses its chairman. The party chairman will have the authority to nominate candidates for the country's general elections in 2020. "Kim's recent move is to hold the Assembly hostage for the upcoming leadership election," Kim Hyun, former DPK lawmaker, told Yonhap News TV, Tuesday. The LKP has been divided into several political factions over its party reform. The party's reform committee, which was made to establish the agenda for the conservative party after its defeat in the June elections, faced challenges by several political factions represented by Park Geun-hye loyalists. The LKP reform committee recently dismissed Jun Won-tchack, a member of the party's personnel reform committee, failing to narrow differences over the schedule for the national convention. By Lee Min-hyung North Korea completed demolishing 10 guard posts on its side near the inter-Korean border area, the South's Ministry of National Defense said. "As of 3 p.m., Tuesday, North Korea blew up its 10 frontline guard posts, as part of a recent inter-Korean agreement," a military official said. Under the agreement, the two Koreas reached a consensus to destroy 10 guard posts on each side of the border area by the end of this month. South Korea started demolishing posts on its side on Thursday but has yet to complete destroying all 10. "Military authorities from the two sides will finish destroying the posts by the end of this month and carry out bilateral verification next month to check whether they have thoroughly demolished the posts," said the official. The latest announcement came as part of the North's efforts to fulfill the Comprehensive Military Agreement, signed during the inter-Korean summit in September. The agreement includes a series of bilateral pledges to ease military tension near the border area and relieve armed confrontation near the demilitarized zone (DMZ). South Korea is still working on demolishing the 10 posts, but no timeline has been confirmed over when it will finish their demolition. The ongoing military tension-easing started this year when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered a rare gesture of peace to South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Leaders from the two Koreas have so far held three summits this year. Starting last month, the two Koreas have also been conducting activities such as the removal of mines near the border area. On Oct. 25, the two Koreas also finished withdrawing firearms and troops from guard posts at the Joint Security Area (JSA) as part of their common goal of disarming the border area. The United Nations Command also finished verification of the JSA disarmament last month, raising hopes that civilians and foreign tourists might in the future be able to visit the area freely. President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands after signing an agreement at their third summit in Pyongyang in September. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun The government hopes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit Seoul this year as he promised earlier, but this will likely depend on progress in denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington, analysts said Tuesday. "The variable is the high-level meeting between North Korea and the United States," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. "For the North Korean leader's visit to take place this year, the high-level meeting must take place this month." The meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol was originally set to be held Nov. 8, but was postponed at the request of Pyongyang. Recent developments have signaled that preparations are now underway for the meeting to take place. Andrew Kim, head of the CIA's Korea Mission Center, visited Seoul secretly last week to meet with government officials. He also reportedly met with North Korean officials at the truce village of Panmunjeom. Rep. Park Jie-won of the minor Party for Democracy and Peace stated that it could take place Nov. 28. Park is known to be a credible source on North Korean affairs. The lawmaker recently visited Mount Geumgang in the North for an event marking the 20th anniversary of tours to the scenic mountain resort. In a radio interview, he said officials from the North "asked me what kind of events would take place when the leader visits Seoul." "I believe it is realistically possible, and a lot of the discussions I had in the North were on views on Kim's visit," he said. The high-level meeting is seen as having to produce progress in the long-stalled denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S., and setting a date for a second summit between their leaders. The prevailing view is that Kim's visit to Seoul will take place after the second summit with Trump, which is expected to be held next year. "This is because Kim will have nothing to take from a meeting with Moon, unless there is progress in Pyongyang-Washington talks," said Shin Beom-chul, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "There isn't anything the North can get before an agreement to ease sanctions is made at the summit between Kim and Trump. Kim will not return empty-handed," he said. Park Won-gon, a professor at Handong Global University, agreed. "A decision needs to be reached on North Korea's denuclearization steps and corresponding measures from the U.S.," he said. He also pointed out "there would also need to be grounds to host Kim in Seoul" meaning the public could oppose the North Korean leader visiting without making progress in denuclearization. "Visiting without such grounds entails a level of risk," he said. The leaders of the Koreas agreed at their third summit in September for Kim to make a visit to Seoul at an early date, which Moon said would likely be within this year. The planned visit to Seoul is a return visit, as Moon was in Pyongyang for the third summit. The leaders have met three times since their first summit in April. By Lee Min-hyung The Marine Corps plans to adopt drones as its next key combat platform, allowing the unmanned aerial vehicles to spearhead its reconnaissance and combat operation activities. "We will introduce drones to conduct amphibious operations as part of a first step before widening their usage," a Marine Corps representative said, Tuesday. Marines currently have to take risks when carrying out amphibious operations, but with drones, they can detect any possible risk factors before stepping foot on land under such circumstances, according to the official. To discuss a more detailed strategy to embrace drones, the Marine held a seminar Tuesday, inviting 250 drone experts from the military, research and industry circles. By Richard Pennington I admit to having wasted a few dollars on the lottery when I lived in the U.S., but I am not a gambler. I had never been to Las Vegas or any other casino and now, in a 24-hour span, I would visit two Kangwon Land Casino in Gangwon Province and Seven Luck Casino in COEX Mall. Here is how Kangwon Land Casino came about. The Sabuk/Taebaek region was the center of Korea's coal-mining industry in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. Coal mining almost overnight became economically unfeasible, and the effect was devastating. Unemployment soared as the population dropped by more than half. Those who remained became convinced that only a casino would save them. In such a remote area, it could not be like Korea's 17 other casinos which cater exclusively to foreigners. (As a foreigner myself, I am not sure whether to be flattered or outraged by such a paternalistic and discriminatory policy.) Having opened in October 2000, it has 200 tables for roulette, baccarat, blackjack, poker and tai sai, and 1,360 slot and video gambling machines. The place is in operation every day from 10 a.m. until 4 a.m. The government had good reason for not wanting to allow a casino for natives Koreans have a propensity for gambling. According to the Korea Center on Gambling Problems, 5 percent of adults have a gambling addiction. That's considerably more than their Chinese and Japanese counterparts, who are also said to enjoy games of chance. Gambling addicts, of any ethnicity, are likely to suffer financial and employment problems, and psychological and physical stress. Their suicide rate is considerably higher than the norm, and some female gamblers in Sabuk have fallen into prostitution. I got there, checked into a hotel, took a taxi to the casino, walked in and presented my passport. In the lobby were two rows of ATMs _ handy for those who need to make quick withdrawals of cash and the Kangwon Land Addiction Care Center. This is where people are advised to "gamble responsibly." Sabuk's three-level casino itself was windowless and slightly dark despite a plethora of multicolored lights. I wandered among the tables and slot machines, observing and trying to understand casino culture. There were some Chinese and Japanese customers, and a few Middle Easterners but the majority seemed to be Korean. If there was another person of European descent in the casino besides me, I missed him or her. I do not know the terminology, rules or etiquette of baccarat, for example. Most of the people playing such games appeared to be intelligent and focused. But wow those guys and gals at the slot machines! They sat, glassy-eyed, playing for as little as 5 won at a time. They would lose, hit the button, lose, hit the button and so on. I shudder to think of doing that for 18 straight hours, then coming back to do it again the next day. An estimated 12,000 people visit Kangwon Land Casino more than 50 days per year, and about 2,000 are there more than 100 days per year. Sabuk, economically dependent on coal mining four decades ago, is now dependent on a casino that generates 1.7 trillion won of annual revenue. The next morning, I wasted no time in buying a return bus ticket to Seoul. My trip was not quite over. I went to Samseong Station, walked through the mammoth COEX Mall and located the Seven Luck Casino. Having experienced the one in Sabuk, I had to check this one out too. It was smaller, and the clientele was different, as mentioned before no Koreans. Again, there were gamblers of the blackjack/baccarat/roulette/poker/tai sai variety and the hapless souls on the slot machines, hitting the button again and again. It, too, had an office where those with gambling problems can drag themselves. But I could not help noticing the many incentives people have to play more, spend more and dig ever-deeper financial holes. Gambling psychology says, "I have been losing, so the odds are that I will soon start winning." Seven Luck Casino is open 24 hours a day, and I doubt that it can compete with the best of Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Monte Carlo or Macau because I later read some reviews that were downright brutal. Some people walk into casinos for the first time and get hooked. They rack up big losses and see their lives crumble faster than you can say, "Another round, bartender!" There was no chance of that happening to me. In Sabuk and again in Seoul, I was anything but enthralled. Richard Pennington (raput76@gmail.com), a native of Texas in the U.S., works as an editor at a law firm in Gangnam. He has written 20 nonfiction books, including "Travels of an American-Korean, 2008-2013." He is the director of an NGO, the Committee to Bring Jikji Back to Korea. The affirmation was made by Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Le Thanh Liem at a reception for visiting Mayor of Kagoshima city Hiroyuki Mori on November 19. Permanent Vice Chairman Liem said that the successive visits of the Governor of Kagoshima prefecture and the Major of Kagoshima city to Ho Chi Minh City reflected the Japanese sides interest and goodwill to boost cooperation with Vietnams southern hub. Ho Chi Minh City wishes to continue promoting exchange and cooperation activities between Kagoshima city and Ho Chi Minh City in particular and between Japanese and Vietnamese localities in general, he said. Speaking highly of the Japanese citys tourism potential and hi-tech agricultural development, the municipal official expressed his hope that Kagoshima city will further enhance collaboration with Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, in such areas as trade, investment, culture, education and people-to-people exchange. He suggested the Japanese city step up coordination with Ho Chi Minh City to seek a common voice in their cooperation, especially in fields of Kagoshimas strength such as agricultural production, farm produce and food processing. For his part, Mori said he is impressed by the strong and dynamic development of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular. He affirmed his city wishes to foster affiliation in culture, economy and people-to-people exchange with Southeast Asian nations, especially Vietnam, with Ho Chi Minh City as its socio-economic centre. The mayor said over the past years, the relationship between Kagoshima city and Vietnam has been developing as around 500 Vietnamese people are now living and studying in the Japanese city and the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Associations chapter in the city was set up two years ago. Notably, after the Governor of Kagoshima prefectures visit to Ho Chi Minh City, two businesses from Kagoshima have invested in the Vietnamese city and their projects have proven effective, he said, stressing this shows huge potential for cooperation between the two sides in the future. Kagoshima city, capital of Kagoshima prefecture, boasts potential in tourism, hi-tech agriculture, agricultural and seafood processing. By Trudy Rubin BEIJING The queues of Chinese tourists eager to visit Mao Zedong's mausoleum in the center of Beijing's Tiananmen Square start building at 7 a.m. and the wait can be three hours. The tourist shops along one side of the square are filled with glossy pendants that feature Mao on one side, and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the other. Those pendants are fixed in my mind on my return from my latest trip to China, as the clock ticks down to a critical meeting between Xi and President Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of November. The Mao factor must be addressed. The outcome of that meeting will reveal whether there is a chance of avoiding an all-out trade war between Washington and Beijing and whether Trump or Xi have the will to head off a U.S.-China cold war. Much will depend on whether Trump's mistaken belief he is "winning" the trade battle has convinced him that tariffs alone will force Chinese submission. But much will also depend on whether Xi's concentration of power in his own hands, in imitation of "leader for life" Mao, convinces him he is strong enough to resist real compromise with Washington. What I heard from Chinese officials, think tanks, and academics and from U.S. businessmen in the country _ made me pessimistic about the road ahead. The atmosphere was clearly more repressive, with the internet more tightly controlled, and a handful of once daring news outlets muzzled. Gone was the open atmosphere of my first trip, in 1986, in the era of Deng Xiaoping's "opening," when strangers on the street would talk openly about their suffering under Mao's Cultural Revolution. Gone was the political ferment of the mid and late 1990s, when mid-level officials speculated that village and town elections might lead to greater democracy. Gone was the hopefulness of the 2000s, when I met with activists from environmental and health NGOs, and students of public interest law who were teaching peasants their legal rights to compensation when developers seized their lands. Nongovernmental organizations have been curbed, while student activists are now arrested. Chinese officials and think-tankers repeated almost identical talking points (a reflection, I was told, of Xi's efforts to strengthen the Communist Party line). Almost all refused to be quoted on the record, even when they hewed to official lingo. They flatly refused to admit that China has become a global superpower or a competitor, has stolen technology, or forced U.S. companies to transfer it. They insisted that Beijing plays by the international rulebook. Meantime, academics downplayed the situation. "I disagree that the United States and China are locked in a Thucydides Trap," said Zha Daojiong, professor of international relations at prestigious Peking University, referring to the thesis that a rising power must inevitably clash with a declining hegemon. "That is lazy thinking," he continued. "Why should we gear for total war? There are a large group of Chinese who promote the same argument, with comparable rhetoric. But the U.S. and China are separated by an ocean. We should just relax." Yet other academics admitted they were far from relaxed. They privately worried about Xi's open declaration of intent to outstrip America in technology and displace its influence in Asia and beyond. They also expressed concern that decades of academic cooperation and student exchanges with U.S. universities could be jeopardized. Most stunning was the anger I heard from U.S. business people. On previous trips, I had heard hopefulness that the Chinese government would finally play by World Trade Organization rules and provide U.S. companies with the open access that Chinese companies provide here. There was still hope that China would cease forcing U.S. companies to share technology and stop unfair government subsidies to Chinese competitors. Those hopes were gone. Despite concern that Trump's tariffs might boomerang, I heard repeated (off the record) cheers that Washington was finally talking tough to Beijing. Former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, long an open-trade champion, echoed these sentiments in a speech this month in Singapore, saying: "How can it be that those who know China best, work there, do business there, make money there, and have advocated for productive relations in the past, are among those now arguing for more confrontation?" His answer: because China has refused to open its economy. "American business doesn't want a tariff war," Paulson said, "but it does want a more aggressive approach from our government." Which brings us back to the Trump-Xi meeting in Buenos Aires. The stonewalling in Beijing offers little prospect of real progress, but Trump's fixation on tariffs alone won't advance the ball either. China experts widely agree that Beijing can withstand the tariffs. What would make a stronger impact would be a U.S.-led coalition of Asian nations that pressured China in unison on its economic (and military) predation. Instead, Trump failed to attend two key Asian summits last week, leaving the impression that he intends to tackle China solo. Those two-sided Mao-Xi medallions should serve as a warning: A one-on-one confrontation with Mao-wannabe Xi isn't likely to work. Trudy Rubin (trubin@phillynews.com) is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Her commentary was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Korean makers should avoid falling victim to US-China fight As the United States and China vie to dominate the global semiconductor market, Korean chipmakers are likely to suffer collateral damage. The Chinese government said last Friday that it had made significant progress in its antitrust probes into two Korean and one U.S. semiconductor maker Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron Technology. Officials there launched the investigation into these companies in May, but this was the first time Beijing formally acknowledged its action. These inquiries started after Chinese makers of smartphones complained about price hikes and supply shortages for memory chips. Behind them, however, is Beijing's ambition to develop its semiconductor industry and U.S. attempts to keep this in check. China has been pushing its "Made in China 2025" program, aimed at localizing 70 percent of core technology and parts with a focus on semiconductors. According to the plan, three Chinese chipmakers Jin Hua Integrated Circuit Co. (JHICC), Changjiang Memory and Hefei Changxin were scheduled to enter into the mass production of DRAMs next year. The U.S. Department of Commerce, however, put the brakes on this by banning exports of equipment and material to JHICC in October. In April, the U.S. also imposed a seven-year trading ban on ZTE Corp., a Chinese communication equipment maker, for its alleged transactions with North Korean and Iranian companies. Washington later lifted the ban but not until it slapped the Chinese company with a $1 billion fine. Beijing's antitrust investigations are a counterattack of sorts mainly targeting Micron. However, Korean semiconductor makers will likely suffer much more damage than the U.S. firm if China goes ahead with trade retaliation, as they supplied 52.3 percent of China's imports of memory chips last year. As Beijing will want to avoid exacerbating its trade war with Washington, the Korean companies could emerge as scapegoats. Korea has been bracing for collateral damage from the ongoing trade confrontation because of its high export dependency on the world's two largest economies, but hardly expected sparks to fly this way. Policymakers and businesspeople should do their best to keep local semiconductor manufacturers from getting caught in the crossfire. Time to restore people's faith in the judiciary Judges from courts nationwide convened Monday for a vote to recommend the impeachment of sitting judges implicated in the power abuse scandal involving former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae during the previous Park Geun-hye administration. More than 100 gathered at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, to vote on a resolution submitted by six judges from the Andong branch of the Daegu District Court to oust their colleagues who were implicated in the scandal. Of the 105 judges that took part in the vote, 53 voted in favor of impeachment and 43 voted against it, with nine participants abstaining. Those who were against the resolution said it was too hasty to seek impeachment as the investigation into the scandal was still ongoing and it was uncertain whether the judges under investigation were going to be charged. Nonetheless, the endorsement of the resolution shows the judges' perception that being implicated in the influence-peddling scandal from the previous administration was a serious constitutional violation that warrants grave disciplinary measures and impeachment. The judges did not specifically name to whom the impeachment process should be applied. The decision to seek impeachment came amid an investigation into allegations of trial manipulation in politically sensitive cases during Yang's tenure as chief of the Supreme Court to deliver verdicts favorable to the Park administration. The decision came as prosecutors summoned for questioning former Supreme Court Justice Park Byoung-dae, one of the top judges accused of power abuse who served as the chief of the National Court Administration from 2014 to 2016. He is suspected of aiding Yang with presidential favors by interfering in key trials. Yang, who is at the center of the trial manipulation scandal, is expected to be summoned by the prosecution soon. It is extremely rare for judges to seek the impeachment of their sitting peers. This reflects their grave concerns about judicial independence and the loss of public trust in the justice system in the wake of the scandal. According to a recent survey, more than 60 percent of respondents believed the establishment of a special court to deal with judicial power abuse was necessary, showing a deep distrust in the current system. The resolution itself is not binding, but it is expected to influence the National Assembly into passing a law to punish judges who have abused their power with impeachment. Rival parties, however, were divided on the resolution. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) welcomed it, saying it showed the judiciary's determination for self-reflection. However, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and other conservative parties said it was too early to discuss impeachment amid the ongoing investigation. The National Assembly has submitted motions to impeach judges only twice, in 1985 and 2009, and both failed to be processed. This rare call for impeaching incumbent judges should be an occasion to push for strong self-reform of the judiciary and implement steps to ensure judiciary independence from political power. By Choi Sung-jin Not a weekend goes by without Gwanghwamun Square in the heart of Seoul being occupied by demonstrators of one sort or another. Last Sunday was no exception, but a little unusual. In one corner, members of the Committee to Extol Baekdu were praising North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, calling for his visit to the South by the end of the year. In another, people who belonged to the Committee to Do Away with Baekdu were denouncing Kim and voicing their opposition to his visit to Seoul. Baekdu is Korea's highest, and most spiritually significant, mountain situated on the Sino-Korean border, and from which the North says Kim's clan originated. If Kim visits Seoul, a similar scene of conflict will likely be awaiting him. Still, Kim should come to South Korea and the sooner, the better. The talks between the United States and North Korea are at a crossroads. Expectations are turning into disappointment and hopes are being replaced by worry. Immediately after the mid-term elections, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly said he was "in no rush" to deal with the North's nuclear weapons programs. In addition, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated Washington's adherence to the complete verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID) of North Korea. In return, Kim Jong-un was seen observing the test of his country's latest "ultramodern tactical weapon." The denuclearization talks are entering into a "now or never" stage. U.S. hard-liners are skeptical about a negotiated settlement of the North's nuclear crisis. This was shown by the Center for Strategic and International Studies' (CSIS) revelation of old if not fake news about the North's ongoing nuclear and missile programs. All this was not unexpected but embarrassing for inter-Korean well-wishers. One thing seems inevitable: The two Koreas cannot go back to eight months ago when they and the U.S. were mired in escalating verbal battles, which increasingly threatened to develop into armed conflict. The sides involved must find a way to maintain the current momentum for dialogue and negotiation. They can ill afford to repeat the failed previous pattern of suspending talks faced with stumbling blocks in the course of disclosing, inspecting and verifying the North's nuclear facilities. President Moon Jae-in and his North Korean counterpart ought to hold their fourth summit. Now that three South Korean presidents have visited Pyongyang, it is Kim's turn to reciprocate and come to the South. Kim needs to reaffirm his will to denuclearize and agree on concrete steps. If the North Korean leader makes a vow before the South Korean people, his words will become irrevocable. The U.S. and North Korea should hold a high-level meeting before the month passes, and Kim ought to make a visit to the South by the year-end, which would serve as a stepping stone to the second summit between him and Trump. The unprecedented visit to Seoul by the North Korean leader should also be an occasion to establish holding inter-Korean summits on a regular basis. There will be lots of topics for them to discuss, including reinvigorating economic cooperation, facilitating exchange visits by separated families and bidding for the joint hosting of the 2032 Olympic Games. If the North's nuclear issue is not settled, none of these joint programs will be able to become a reality. President Moon's speech before 150,000 North Koreans, Sept. 19, was nothing short of a historic event. "Let's turn this beautiful land of ours from Baekdu to Halla (mountains) into the base of peace, free from nuclear weapons and threats, and hand it over to our descendants," Moon said. "We have lived for 5,000 years together and for only 70 years have we been divided." The North Korean audience responded with roars and applause. A South Korean leader directly expressing his aspirations to the North Korean people and drawing their immediate response was unthinkable just a year ago. And all this was arranged by none other than the North's leader. This writer must not have been the only one who found the possibility of the two Koreas living in a union of nations, if not one nation, something that could come to pass. Kim should do the same in front of South Koreans. Unlike North Koreans who are under tight control, some people here will oppose and protest his visit. That points to the need for Kim to make clear his intention to denuclearize his impoverished country and pursue economic growth and co-prosperity with the South, which will turn jeers into cheers. If the North Korean leader can tread on southern soil, and express his will for inter-Korean cooperation, it could speed up Pyongyang's talks with Washington, too. It may be natural that some South Koreans are feeling dizzy with the sudden, enormous changes occurring on this divided peninsula. Some sarcastic comments on North Korea-related news articles seem to reflect such feelings. As people feel pain when using muscles not used for a long time, it is not easy to change Cold War mindsets formed over seven decades. For the skeptics, the North is a never-changing regime, and inter-Korean stories may appear to be fake news. Some difference of views and positions between Seoul and Washington and unexpected remarks and behavior of North Korean officials could have made these critics even more uncomfortable. The opposition parties, even if they think Seoul and Pyongyang are moving too fast, should not oppose ratifying the Panmunjeom Declaration. If President Moon and his party are convinced their North Korea policy will continue even if political power changes hands, they will not be so anxious to reach a quick deal. Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon was right when he said in Washington last week that Kim's visit to the South within this year was "not just possible but necessary." Kim should come and make clear his unwavering intention for peace and co-prosperity to the people in the South and around the world. Choi Sung-jin is a Korea Times columnist. Contact him at choisj1955@naver.com. By Baek Byung-yeul SK Innovation is looking to boost the aggregate power output of its annual battery production for electric vehicles (EVs) to 55 gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2022, 10 times the current 4.7 GWh, according to a local securities company, Tuesday. "SK Innovation is planning to expand its combined battery power output to 55 GWh by 2022," said Lee Do-yeon, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities. "To do this, the firm is expected to invest between 3.5 trillion won ($3.1 billion) to 4 trillion won." "Given the firm's annual EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) margin is more than 4 trillion won the investment amount is not excessive," said Lee. The massive investment plan is to meet rapidly growing demand for EV batteries. Currently, the firm's Seosan plant in South Chungcheong Province has an annual output equivalent to 4.7 GWh batteries. The firm is building EV battery plants in Hungary and Changzhou, Jiangsu Province in China which will produce 7.5 GWhs of battery output. The Chinese plant is expected to mass produce cells starting 2020 while the Hungarian plant will be completed by 2022. SK Innovation is also considering building EV plants in the United States and Europe. The firm said on Nov. 14 that it was chosen as Volkswagen Group's strategic suppliers of EV battery cells. With the contract, SK Innovation will supply batteries for Volkwagen's EVs in North America and Europe. The German carmaker plans to roll out 50 types of EVs by 2025 and based on this plan, the company will need battery production of over 150 GWh by the target year. The global battery power demand for EVs was estimated at 35 GWh in 2017 and 191 GWh in 2018, according to industry sources. The figure is expected to increase steeply to 700 GWh by 2025. Lee presumed the enterprise value of SK Innovation will grow to 33 trillion won by 2022. "The firm is expected to add an enterprise value of 14 trillion won by 2022. Considering its current value, SK Innovation's enterprise value will grow to 33 trillion won by the target year," said Lee. Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Park Yong-maan, second from left, looks at a photograph that received a prize at the KCCI's 5th photo contest at its headquarters in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. More than 4,500 photos were entered for this year's contest and the KCCI provided a combined 100 million won in prize money for 75 winners. / Courtesy of KCCI The South Korean government said Tuesday it will use blockchain technology to track beef through the supply chain to provide consumers with information about the source of their food. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Science and ICT will jointly launch the pilot program in cattle farms and slaughterhouses in North Jeolla Province by December. After a trial period, the system will be formally launched in January 2019, the ministries said in a joint release. The current cattle tracing system provides information from birth to slaughter, packaging and sales to ensure the safety of the meat. The paper-based reporting system, however, takes time and money, and is exposed to risks of fake certificates. The new platform uses blockchain technology to store related information and certificates in the distributed ledger to enhance efficiency and credibility, the ministries said. (Yonhap) By Jun Ji-hye Samsung C&T's Resort Group will hold the Everscape Forum, Dec. 7, to discuss the trend and outlook of "smart cities," one of the core key phrases of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the company said Tuesday. The forum will take place at EL Tower in Seoul under the theme of "Smart city, Smart future." Policy developers, industry leaders and experts as well as students will participate in the event to discuss the direction of the smart city development. Samsung C&T Resort Group, which operates Everland amusement park and Caribbean Bay water park, said it is holding the forum in a bid to raise people's interest in the smart city concept and explore diverse business ideas. The infrastructure of a smart city such as roads and buildings is integrated with cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, and collects information. Such information is utilized in a variety of areas such as transportation, environment, welfare and tourism, enhancing competitiveness of the city, the firm said. Technologies can be applied to self-driving cars and environment pollution monitoring systems. Visit to register to attend. Chung Eui-suk, executive vice president and head of software and AI at Samsung Electronics, speaks during the Bixby Developer Day conference at the InterContinental Seoul Coex hotel, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Baek Byung-yeul Samsung Electronics is calling on domestic and overseas software developers to take part in its artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, by developing applications for its Bixby platform. The Korean tech giant made the call at its first ever conference in Seoul for software programmers. Samsung organized the Bixby Developer Day conference at the InterContinental Seoul Coex hotel, Tuesday, to share the latest developments and features of its Bixby virtual assistant. The firm also showed off the Bixby Developer Studio software toolkit for third-party developers, which it introduced during the Samsung Developer Conference in San Francisco, Nov. 7 and 8. Chung Eui-suk, vice president and head of software and AI, emphasized that Samsung aims to have all of its devices equipped with Bixby by 2020. "This year is an important one for Samsung. We have been trying to develop an intelligent platform and as a result, we were able to install the new Bixby on the Galaxy Note 9 smartphone. Starting this year, we are planning to transform the Bixby assistant to an open platform," Chung said during a keynote speech. "Starting with smartphones, every Samsung device ranging from TVs to refrigerators will feature Bixby. To make it easy for developers to come up with Bixby programs in different languages, the kit will support more languages such as British English, German, French and Italian," said Chung, adding that Samsung will invest $22 billion in fifth-generation (5G) networks and AI by 2020. Yi Ji-soo, vice president of the AI Strategy Group at Samsung, said the tech industry is in the early phase of a user interaction paradigm shift and the changes will be applied to various devices. "Over the past 30 years, we have experienced several paradigm shifts such as PCs, web services and smartphones. At first, it was hard to feel the changes but later we realized there had been huge changes from every aspect," said Yi. "AI will be the same. However, this interactive paradigm shift led by AI technology is not aiming to bring change in specific devices. The concept of the interaction paradigm shift will be applied to various devices. We believe Samsung can make the world's best AI platform that can understand the complexities of coupling each device." To be able to create an ecosystem based around Bixby, Yi said the the Bixby Developer Studio offers access to the same software tools that Samsung employees use. "We decided to enable every developer to use the same version of Bixby Developer Studio we use because we want to create an AI era together with our partners," said Yi. Adam Cheyer, chief technology officer of Viv Labs, an AI platform firm Samsung acquired in 2016, urged local developers to join the AI ecosystem saying the AI industry was still in its early phase. "Even though there are number of virtual assistants on the market today, the intelligent assistant market is still very nascent. To put this in perspective, back in 1998, Google was the 14th search engine to enter the market. The intelligent assistant market is still young. It is ready for new ideas and innovation," said Cheyer. "If you believe in a voice assistant revolution, the time to dive in is now. Developers and brands which make their presence known early in this paradigm will have advantages in the long run." The conference also featured local developers who have developed programs for Bixby. SK Telecom, a telecommunication firm here, introduced an app to activate the firm's mobile navigation service T-Map using the Bixby voice assistant. 10000 Recipe, a local recipe app, also uses Bixby assistant so that people can concentrate on cooking without having to touch the screen to find the instructions. Bugs, an online music streaming app here, showcased its music recommendation feature using Bixby assistant. GM Korea CEO Kaher Kazem enters the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Monday, to meet Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Rep. Hong Young-pyo. / Yonhap Ruling party lawmaker criticizes GM Korea union 'too violent' By Nam Hyun-woo GM Korea executives are under pressure to quit after General Motors CEO Mary Barra launched a voluntary severance program for senior employees worldwide in a bid to cut labor costs. With headquarters pressing its Korean unit to cut personnel costs, GM Korea's normalization efforts have continued to stumble. The company's union occupied Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Rep. Hong Young-pyo's office in Incheon last week, demanding the lawmaker address its conflict with management. According to GM Korea, Tuesday, Barra sent a letter to GM employees announcing the voluntary retirement program, which could affect more than 30 executives in Korea. "Today, our structural costs are not aligned with the market realities nor the transformational priorities ahead," Barra said in the letter. "To facilitate addressing people costs, today we are announcing a voluntary severance program for classified salaried employees in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and most global executives." According to GM Korea, it has around 36 executives. Since the program will be for employees who have 12 years or more service 20 will be subject to the program, an official said. GM Korea said the program itself is "nothing new" and was a response to the union's claim that executives were not sharing the fallout of the company's shutdown of its Gunsan plant earlier this year. The company stressed that the program was "not Korea specific" and the actual number of executives opting to quit will likely be minimized. Reportedly, the benefits are not "rewarding enough" for executives to give up their job. However, Barra has shown a strong determination to cut payrolls, saying, "If enough employees do not volunteer to participate in this program, it is important to note that we will evaluate the need to implement a subsequent involuntary program." The union's occupation of Hong's office was to get him to address its conflict with management over a GM Korea plan to spin off its research and development. However, Hong said brinkmanship tactics, such as blocking access to GM Korea CEO Kaher Kazem's office or disrupting negotiations, were "making things more complicated," saying these activities were "violence." Hong is a former leader of the union, but criticized the current union's activities noting "if they did this in the U.S., it would be considered nothing more than terrorism." "There is a necessity to address labor-management conflict through talks," he said. "If the current situation continues, it will end up providing the grounds for GM to pull out of Korea." The GM Korea union has been in conflict with management over GM's move to separate the R&D body. GM Korea has said it is setting up the R&D body as a technological hub in the region benefiting from its ties to Korea, while the union argues the move is a prelude to its withdrawal from Korea by turning the company into an engineering team and subcontracting the manufacturing unit. After establishing such a structure, the R&D body could leave Korea more easily, the union claims. Chairman Chung made his statement while receiving Martin Dulig, Deputy Minister-President and Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour, and Transport of the German Federal State of Sachsen, in Hanoi on November 19. He said the capital city values its developing cooperation with several German localities. Most recently, local authorities supported the German Embassy in organising the Deutschland Fest 2018, which provided German experiences in Hanoi and attracted a large number of visitors. The municipal leader stressed that Hanoi priorities using technologies from Europe, particularly Germany, in local projects for water supply and environmental pollution treatment. The city has set the target of supplying all of its citizens with European-standard water by 2020. In response to the goal, over the past two years, 24 foreign and domestic investors have joined 31 projects. The Duong river plant, carried out by a German joint venture between the Aone Deutschland AG and Strabang companies, was among those projects. The plant began operations in October this year, producing 150,000cu.m of water per day. For his part, Martin Dulig said Hanoi is growing with vitality and a young population, thus sharing many common challenges of other big cities around the world, including Sachsens biggest city of Leipzig. He suggested the Vietnamese capital and cities of Sachsen work together to find measures for their development issues. He said with its experience in waste water and environmental pollution treatment, as well as transport development, Sachsen is looking forward to joining collaboration programmes with Vietnam and Hanoi in particular, contributing to local urban growth and better living standards for all. By Park Jae-hyuk POSCO Energy's deficit in its fuel cell business is blamed on a long-term service agreement (LTSA) signed with Gyeonggi Green Energy five years ago, according to industry analysts Tuesday. In 2013, the energy-producing unit of POSCO agreed to sell its fuel cells to the world's largest fuel cell user at below cost for five years, in order to advance the fledgling market. However, several defects were found in POSCO Energy's fuel cells while they were under warranty, and the operating losses at its business have accumulated due to repair costs. Its fuel cell business suffered a 64.5 billion won ($57 million) operating loss in 2017 following a 92.5 billion won operating loss in 2016. The company's cumulative deficit in the fuel cell business since 2007 has reached 330 billion won. Gyeonggi Green Energy, on the other hand, has enjoyed benefits from the deal as it was able to win a Renewable Energy Certificate at lower costs. Against this backdrop, POSCO Energy has been negotiating with the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the largest shareholder of Gyeonggi Green Energy, about the renewal of their LTSA, ahead of the five-year contract's expiration. POSCO Energy seeks to supply its products at higher prices, while KHNP wants to maintain the current price. Analysts say POSCO Energy will suffer an additional 50 billion won loss over the next five years, if it accepts the state-run company's demand. They expect POSCO Energy will spend 140 billion won in operating costs, if it extends the five-year contract. "POSCO Energy must be well aware that its agreement with Gyeonggi Green Energy will be the guideline for its future deals with other power generators," said an industry source who declined to be named. "POSCO Energy will continue to face a dilemma over renewal of the LTSA." POSCO Energy CEO Park Ki-hong said during a National Assembly audit on Oct. 11 that his company has been working all out to reduce the losses in its fuel cell business. State pension may work with KCGI to control Korea's largest aviation group By Nam Hyun-woo KCGI head Kang Seong-bu The National Pension Service (NPS) holds the key in a looming battle over managerial control of Hanjin Group between current Chairman Cho Yang-ho and a domestic activist fund, which has acquired a significant stake in the group's holding firm, analysts here said Tuesday. If the state-run pension, the third-largest shareholder of Hanjin KAL with an 8.35 percent stake, cooperates with Korea Corporate Governance Improvement (KCGI), which has 9 percent, this will pose a serious threat to the Cho who has 17.84 percent, they said. The analysts added that the proclaimed purpose of KCGI buying a stake in Hanjin KAL was in line with the NPS's pursuit of active stewardship of its assets. They said the pension service could influence small shareholders to join a crusade to change the firm's board of directors at a shareholders meeting in March next year. The activist fund created a market ripple last week after announcing it is holdings in Hanjin KAL, which controls Korean Air, Jin Air and other Hanjin Group affiliates. KCGI said it purchased Hanjin KAL shares through its 14-year fund in order to "improve its governance, corporate value, management sustainability and shareholder profits through a long-term investment." It continued: "Hanjin KAL is seriously undervalued with its affiliates having idling assets and investments being delayed. Thus, we see a huge opportunity to improve corporate value through a governance overhaul." This is in line with the NPS's stewardship code of actively exercising its shareholder rights to protect the interest of its beneficiaries, leading the analysts to speculate that this persuaded the NPS to join hands with KCGI. The Ministry of Health and Welfare, which oversees the NPS, will hold an investment management committee meeting by the end of the year, an NPS official said. Reportedly, committee members will discuss the pension service's moves regarding Hanjin KAL. "This issue seems to be a matter related to the NPS's stewardship code," the official said. "Thus, the committee is expected to look into this issue very carefully." Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, attends a press conference on the second press day of the Paris auto show, in Paris, France, October 3, 2018. Reuters The logos of Nissan Motor Co. are seen at Nissan Motor Co. Global Headquarter Monday Nov. 19, 2018, in Yokohama, near Tokyo. AP Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who became one of the auto industry's most powerful executives by engineering a turnaround at the Japanese manufacturer, was arrested Monday and will be fired for allegedly underreporting his income and misusing company funds, the automaker said. The scandal reverberated across the globe and abruptly threw into question Ghosn's future as leader of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, which sold 10.6 million cars last year, more than any other manufacturer. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said Ghosn was taken into custody after being questioned by prosecutors upon arriving in Japan earlier in the day. Ghosn is of French, Brazilian and Lebanese background and lives in both France and Japan. Nissan said Ghosn, 64, and another senior executive, Greg Kelly, were accused of offenses involving millions of dollars that were discovered during a months-long investigation set off by a whistleblower. Kelly was also arrested. ''Beyond being sorry I feel great disappointment, frustration, despair, indignation and resentment,'' Saikawa said, apologizing for a full seven minutes at the outset of a news conference. Yokohama-based Nissan Motor said it is cooperating with prosecutors in their investigation. Nissan Motor Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Hiroto Saikawa speaks during a press conference at Nissan Motor Co. Global Headquarter Monday Nov. 19, 2018, in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Saikawa said Monday that Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who helped turn around the carmaker over two decades, has been arrested and will be dismissed for allegedly under-reporting his income and misusing company funds. AP Nissan Motor's CEO Hiroto Saikawa bows during a press conference at Nissan's headquarters in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, 19 November 2018. Media reports stated that Carlos Ghosn, Nisan chairman has been arrested by Tokyo prosecutors on 19 November 2018, over the alleged violation of Japan's financial instruments and exchange act. He is suspected of having understated his own corporate income, reports added. EPA Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Update: Nov. 20, 10:40 a.m. No more campaign mailings, accusatory TV ads or robo-texts. It took awhile, but all of California's U.S. House races have now been called. Over the weekend, Republican Young Kim conceded to Democrat Gil Cisneros in the 39th Congressional District. With that, Democrats swept nearly all of the competitive House seats in Southern California that the Republicans unsuccessfully fought hard to hang on to. While the horse race is over for the most part, you may be wondering: what does it all mean? We'll try to sort it out for you: What happened with the House seats in Orange County? The final call by the Associated Press of the seats in Orange County came down on Saturday. This was in the 39th, where Cisneros beat out Kim. Orange County had long been a Republican stronghold. In fact, Yorba Linda, where Cisneros lives, is home to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. So symbolically, the Democrats' victory in the county represented a big shift and signaled that voters are not happy with the Trump administration and Republican leadership. Two GOP incumbents got ousted -- Mimi Walters, who was seeking her third term representing cities like Irvine, and Dana Rohrabacher, who served for 30 years representing communities like Laguna Beach. What about the competitive House seat in L.A. County? Katie Hill speaks to her supporters at The Canyon restaurant in Valencia on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. (Susanica Tam/LAist) Earlier, a GOP seat representing a district centered in northern Los Angeles County also flipped. Democrat Katie Hill beat out Republican incumbent Steve Knight in the 25th Congressional District. The 25th was the remaining Republican House stronghold in this north L.A. region, which also includes residents in Ventura County. Like Orange County, it's been changing politically and demographically, yet isn't quite solidly blue. Hill just won a very close race but told us in an interview that she's already looking ahead. "We have to move on to 2020, and the reelections are never going to be easy in this district," she said. "But we've got to make sure that we've got the right ground force in place to ensure that the census is well done, that it counts everybody and that we are doing redistricting in a way that is truly representative of our community." Hill and other Democrats campaigned on a message of change. But what can voters expect now that they're in office? On Monday, 16 Democrats signed a letter saying they oppose Nancy Pelosi as the next House speaker. Among those on the list were some newly elected progressives looking for a leadership change, but none of Southern California's incoming freshmen signed the letter. As to what the new Congress members want to accomplish, some have been talking about campaign finance reform, which is a priority of the House leadership. But, of course, voters can switch their allegiance in two years if they think their new lawmakers haven't delivered on what the electorate cares about. And many voters care about issues like health care and immigration, which are bigger legislative lifts for Democrats. What happens next for Republicans in California? Even in their reduced state, Republicans will have a voice. Republican Kevin McCarthy, the congressman from Bakersfield, will likely be picked as House minority leader. So he will have a platform, just as Pelosi did. But in the California Legislature, Republicans can expect to fight for influence. The Democrats won back a supermajority in the Senate and maintained one in the Assembly. This means the Democrats can now pass tax increases without the GOP. And they'll be able to override the governor's vetoes, although with Democrat Gavin Newsom as governor, that won't be a regular event, if it happens at all. How likely is it that we'll see California Republicans make a comeback, given the results of this election and others that preceded it? In terms of voter registration numbers, Republicans have been struggling in California since about the mid-1990s. Voters who don't affiliate with a political party -- known as No Party Preference (NPP) voters in California -- have been growing, and now outnumber Republicans. The latest voter registration report from the Secretary of State's office shows 27.5 percent of registered voters in California list themselves as NPP, compared to 24 percent who are Republicans. Two decades ago, Republicans made up nearly 36 percent of the state's voters. "Republicans have to ask themselves where are they going to find relevance," said David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State University. McCuan points out a few thousand Republicans hold nonpartisan offices, such as seats on school boards and planning commissions in California. But the question is whether they can recover enough to regain control of higher offices where the major decisions are made. Right now, they are not benefiting from the demographic and political changes underway in the state. Are votes still being counted in California? Yes, even though the House races have now been called, election officials are still busy counting ballots and a few election results across the state could change. One House race that the Associated Press called on election night for a Republican has seen shrinking margins and could flip back to the Democratic challenger. In the 21st Congressional District centered in San Joaquin Valley, Democrat TJ Cox is now behind GOP Rep. David Valadao by just 968 votes. Valadao had a lead of more than 4,000 votes earlier in the count. As of 5 p.m. Monday, more than 1.6 million ballots remain unprocessed in California. Election officials have until Dec. 7 to finish their counts. Addressing the closing ceremony, National Assembly Chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, said that the session completed the set agenda with many important contents. During the session, the deputies elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Nguyen Phu Trong, as the new President of Vietnam. The NA approved the proposal by the Prime Minister regarding the members of the cabinet. The NA adopted nine laws and debated six other bills. Particularly, the NA approved the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and related documents with a high consensus, making Vietnam the seventh country to ratify the deal. The NA Chairwoman highlighted that the sixth session was the NAs yearend meeting, during which the mid-term implementation of the NA resolutions on socio-economic development and State budget was reviewed. Despite difficulties and challenges, the socio-economic situation in 2018 and the last three years has seen sustained comprehensive growth. The restructuring of the economy has shown positive outcomes with all targets being reached or exceeding expectations, she noted, adding that defence and security have been firmly safeguarded and the position of Vietnam in the region and the world has risen. The NA leader lauded the efforts made by the Government and the effective coordination of the whole political system, the business community and the entire society in the countrys achievements recorded in 2018 and the past three years, while pointing out a number of shortcomings and calling for timely solutions. During the session, the NA monitored the implementation of the legislatures resolutions on thematic supervision and question-and-answer sessions since the beginning of the tenure, said Chairwoman Ngan. The NA acknowledged the efforts and responsibility of the Government, the Supreme Peoples Court, the Supreme Peoples Procuracy and ministries and agencies in performing their assigned tasks. The deputies cast confidence votes on officials holding positions elected or approved by the NA, Ngan said, highlighting the significance of the votes in objectively assessing the performance of the officials. The senior legislator also stressed the higher quality of the sixth session with debates taking place in a democratic and responsible environment, attracting the attention of people and voters nationwide. The meetings outcomes have helped to consolidate solidarity and the consensus needed to complete tasks set for the next year and the 2016-2020 tenure, she said. Prior to the closing, the deputies voted to approve the Law on amendments and supplements to laws including regulations related to planning, the revised Law on Corruption Prevention and Control and the revised Law on Peoples Public Security Forces. At the closing session, the deputies adopted a resolution of the sixth session. Author Esi Edugyan won the Giller Prize, considered one of Canadas most prestigious literary awards, for her novel Washington Black on Monday night at a gala ceremony in Toronto. The prize comes with an award of $75,000. Edugyans novel follows an 11-year-old slave on a Barbados sugar plantation who is eventually apprenticed to a man who has invented a flying machine, which will take them both away. After winning the award, Edugyan told the National Post that the experience of writing Washington Black opened me to writing about anything. Stories of the marginalized, its extremely important to get those out there, and for us to be reading them, and trying to imagine ourselves into other skins, and not closing ourselves down, she said. Its part of, I think, keeping the dialogue alive, and keeping empathy alive. Advertisement Other notable books that made the Giller shortlist this year included Patrick deWitts French Exit and Sheila Hetis Motherhood. Washington Black has been recognized across the globe. It was also a finalist for the Man Booker Prize in the U.K. and the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Excellence in the U.S. This is the second Giller Prize for Edugyan. She won in 2011 for her novel Half-Blood Blues. The Giller Prize, which was first awarded in 1994 and is sponsored by Canadian bank Scotiabank, is awarded to Canadian writers. Previous winners include Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro and Michael Ondaatje. Since Britains vote to leave the European Union occurred nearly a year and half ago, it may already be forgotten that the Brexit process was launched with an act of pure governmental incompetence and a steaming heap of lies. The June 23, 2016, referendum, which produced the surprising result that a majority of voters preferred to leave the EU, has resulted in the wrecked careers of one Tory prime minister David Cameron, who staged the vote and has the career of his successor, Theresa May, on a knife-edge, facing a confidence vote in Parliament as soon as this week. Several other ministers, including some who were the faces of the pro-Brexit campaign 2016, have resigned. Whats bringing things to a head is Mays release of a proposed Brexit deal negotiated with the EU, which Parliament must approve before March 29. The proposal dissatisfies the Remain faction, which opposes any Brexit, and even many Brexit advocates, who complain that it doesnt go far enough in severing Britain from relations with the EU. Some hard-liners say no deal is preferable to this deal, though not a few economists and business leaders believe that a no-deal Brexit would be disastrous for a Britain left adrift without any trade policy at all. The Brexit fantasy is of [a]...Britain, unshackled from EU regulation, that can lower its environmental, health, and labor standards. Columnist Fintan OToole Advertisement The flaw in the pro-Brexit arguments is that theyre based on the notion that leaving the EU was any sort of coherent policy in the first place. To understand this folly, it pays to take another look at the original campaign. The 2016 referendum was designed by a government that was fully confident that it would yield a No vote that by a comfortable margin Britons would vote to stay in the EU. Cameron aimed merely to silence the anti-EU wing of his party by showing that the public remained foursquare behind Europe. So he provided for no relief valves. The referendum was a straight majority vote on the sole question: Stay or leave? A wiser course would have been to require a supermajority vote to leave, with additional requirements that voters in Britains component nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all agree. In that case, the Leave side would have lost, as only 52% of all voters opted to leave and majorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay. The Leave campaign was fueled by outright lies and ginned-up panic about immigration and regulations coming from Europe. The most common fabrication was a claim that Britain paid 350 million pounds a week to the EU as the price of membership, and that once out of the EU the money could be spent on Britains National Health Service, which provides healthcare to all its residents. But the number was a fabrication, as Dominic Cummings, one of the Vote Leave architects, later acknowledged. It was inflated to begin with and didnt account for the fact that half of Britains contribution came back in rebates or EU-funded projects, that Britain reaped material benefits from membership, and that as an outsider, it would have to pay fees to participate in EU programs along with a steep departure assessment. Under Mays agreement, Britain will have to pay the EU 40 billion pounds (about $51.4 billion) to start, with further payments down the line. The idea that any reduced spending will end up in the NHS coffers is a political fantasy. Still, Cummings recalled, the claim worked much better than I thought it would. For the rest, there was anti-immigrant sentiment, stirred up by the likes of right-winger Nigel Farage of the fringe UK Independence Party. Perhaps not coincidentally, Farage has been a favorite of President Trump, another exploiter of fears of immigrants who has had him to the White House. There also have been indications that the Brexit referendum was the target of the same sort of interference from Russia that infected the U.S. presidential election the same year, perhaps as a dry run. That exposed the true goal of the Brexit promoters as the continuation of Margaret Thatchers dismantling of a liberal Britain. The Brexit fantasy is of an open and global Britain, unshackled from EU regulation, that can lower its environmental, health, and labor standards and unleash a new golden age of buccaneering hyper-capitalism, the Irish columnist Fintan OToole, a Brexit foe, wrote last week in the New York Review of Books. This is a perfectly coherent (if repellent) agenda. But it is not what most of those who voted for Brexit think it is supposed to be. Since the Brexit referendum, Britains economic growth has fallen from the highest among the G-7 countries to the lowest (Financial Times) What also exposes Brexit as a fantasy is the alacrity with which its most prominent supporters bailed out after the referendum results were in and they found themselves tasked with actually executing a plan they never thought would be needed. Among them were the buffoonish Boris Johnson, a former London mayor who resigned as Mays foreign minister in July. He was followed out the door this month by Brexit Minister Dominic Raab, leading to scornful assessments from commentators accusing them of showing cowardice in the face of a challenge they know cant be met. It is easier to be on the team that accuses the prime minister of failing to deliver majestic herds of unicorns, wrote Guardian columnist Rafael Behr, than it is to be stuck with a portfolio that requires expertise in unicorn-breeding. After sustaining months of attacks over the softness of her negotiations with the EU, May has received some praise for standing up staunchly in Parliament and public appearances for the deal she reached. But theres no question that it leaves Britain in a weaker position as a trading nation than it was as an EU member. The deal would leave the European Court of Justice, a frequent bete-noire of pro-Brexiters, in place as arbiter of trade rules that still apply between Britain and European countries. But henceforth Britain will have no voice in making them. Nor would the deal fully end the free movement of EU citizens into Britain, a target of the anti-immigrant cadre. It leaves murky the status of trade across the border between the Republic of Ireland, an EU member, and Northern Ireland, a part of Britain; Ireland and Britain reached an open-border agreement as part of the Good Friday pact of 1998. But thats inconsistent with Britain being outside the EU and Ireland being in, which at least technically requires a hard border between Ireland and Ulster. May had said she wanted a new free-trade deal with the EU to take effect simultaneously with the official parting in March; she got no such commitment. The pro-Brexit camp argues that the dire economic consequences predicted by the Remain camp have not materialized. To an extent theyre right. Job losses, especially in the vulnerable financial sector, have been only a fraction of what was forecast. But they could grow if Britain leaves the EU without a deal. Moreover, during the post-referendum period Britains economic growth has fallen from the strongest among the G-7 developed countries to the weakest, a trend to which Brexit surely contributed. Possibly most damaging, Brexit has done incalculable damage to both of Britains leading political parties. Mays Conservative Party has become an unstable coalition of Remainers, Leavers, and skeptics of both camps. The Labour Party is similarly cleft. Its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, says the Brexit referendum is irrevocable, but his party also insists on a negotiated deal that would preserve all the benefits of EU membership This is either utterly delusional or, more probably, deeply dishonest, OToole judges. There also are signs that the British public has tired of the exercise and wishes it never happened. Opinion polls indicate that in another referendum held today, the vote would be solidly to stay. Many Britons have spent the months since June 2016 wishing that Brexit simply would go away, and plainly that desire still exists. For May and her government, however, staging a do-over could exacerbate tensions within her party. For now, Brexit looks like a lose-lose. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. California officials may have thought they could teach something about wildfires to President Trump and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke by walking them through the fire zones. It didnt take long for their hopes to be dashed. In an instantly viral statement after touring Californias scorched terrain, Trump asserted that the state needed to draw lessons from Finlands woodland management methods. He said Finland focuses on raking and cleaning and doing things, and they dont have any problem. Or what it is its a small problem. Zinke, in an interview with Breitbart News on Sunday, doubled down on the Finland comparison, which proves nothing except that hes a good soldier in the fact-free Trump army. Look at Finland, he said. I had the opportunity to live in Germany.... (The shortest distance between Germany and Finland is about 900 miles, as the crow flies.) I will lay this at the foot of these environmental radicals that have prevented us from managing the forests for years and years.... Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Advertisement Zinke also said, Its not time for finger-pointing, before proceeding to point the finger at radical environmentalists who block forest-clearing projects because they want nature to take its course. I will lay this at the foot of these environmental radicals that have prevented us from managing the forests for years and years and, you know what? This is on them. Trump and Zinke unwittingly were demonstrating the difference between ideas and ideologies. Ideas arise from observations from the real world. They require the application of critical intelligence. Ideologies, by contrast, are worldviews that adherents try to impose on reality. They often require a dulling of the intellect and a blindness to what is in front of ones eyes. Trump and Zinke have allowed a pro-business, anti-environmental ideology to blind them to the true causes of Californias wildfires. They sound like people who were given one fact to chew on as children and found it so simple and plausible that it drove every other notion out of their heads and has remained a bulwark against thought ever since. California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which arent allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2018 So lets take a look at the facts. The core argument of Trump and Zinke is that Californias forests are overgrown because those radical environmentalists have blocked forest-clearing operations such as logging. The result is a buildup of fuel that turns the forests into tinderboxes. As my colleague Bettina Boxall reported last week, overgrown forests may exist in some parts of the state, but that hasnt played a role in the Camp or Woolsey fires, which have brought devastation and loss of life in Northern and Southern California in recent days. The fires have mostly swept across chaparral and grass, not forests. Indeed, the wind-whipped Camp fire tore across areas that burned in 2008 lightning fires and were also later logged, Boxall reported. It is not fueled by heavy timber. The Woolsey fire, which has burned suburban areas from Oak Park to Malibu, was not near any forests, as my colleagues Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Joseph Serna observe. Nor is the comparison to Finland apt. Finland, perched far up in Northern Europe, could not be more different from California, the Finnish author Anu Partanen noted in a Times op-ed. Overall it is a cold, wet and dark place. Finlands landscape is dotted with lakes and swamps, which act as natural barriers to fire. Finlands climate bears little resemblance to much of Californias, which is periodically swept by hot, dry, desiccating Santa Ana winds. Rainfall since May at Jarbo Gap in Butte County, near where the Camp fire started, was at 0.7 inches. During the same period, rainfall in Lapland, which suffered woodland fires this summer, was 15.76 inches. This was not the first time that Trump referred to the necessity of clearing forests to stem wildfires. In August, following an earlier wildfire crisis, he called in a tweet to tree clear to stop fire from spreading. Despite their insistence that the forests need more fire management, Trump and Zinke have cut the Wildland Fire Management budget and staffing request. (Dept. of the Interior) He also blamed bad environmental laws for preventing massive amounts of readily available water to be applied to the fires. However, fire officials maintained then that there was no lack of water for firefighting. In any case, California forest management policies arent as important in the state as federal policy. Thats because the largest owner of forestland in California is the federal government, with 57%. State and local agencies own 3%. The rest is in the hands of Native American tribes, corporations or families (most of whom own fewer than 50 acres). The most important opposition to natural fire suppressionthat is, letting nature take its course by periodic burning of overgrowthcomes not from environmentalists but from homeowners and real estate developers. As housing close to metropolitan centers has become more expensive, households have become smaller and people gained the taste and resources for vacation homes in remote areas, residential encroachment into what planners call the wildland-urban interface has increased. According to figures from the 2010 census and other official sources, California has the largest number of houses in the interface, with 4.46 million nearly 33% of all its housing and the second-largest number of vacation or seasonal homes, with 204,000, just behind Florida. The presence of residences in woodlands complicates fire policy. It forces fire authorities to take more stringent suppression measures rather than let the woods burn, and raises the cost of those measures. When a large percentage of this housing is seasonal, according to a 2015 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the situation is especially complicatedseasonal homeowners can be hard to reach for the coordination of fire policy, and they may be less inclined than permanent residents to engage in the hard labor of clearing vegetation, cleaning gutters or taking other steps to make the homes fire-resistant. In his Breitbart interview, Zinke bemoaned the cost of firefighting and the diversion of resources from other government projects. Heres an idea, he said. Why dont we spend that money on building trails? Why dont we spend that money on visitor experience? Who owns more than half of Californias woodlands? The federal government. (University of California) That prompts us to look at how the government actually has spent money in the forests. Trumps fiscal 2019 budget called for a decrease of nearly $1 billion in funding, or more than 15.5%, for the U.S. Forest Service, to $5.1 billion. (The Forest Service is part of the USDA.) Wildland fire management received a modest proposed increase of about 8%, but the proposed budget for fire suppression fell by 6% and a federal fire suppression reserve was cut to zero from $342 million. Trump also proposed cutting the Forest Services capital improvement budget by nearly 74%, reducing it to $95 million from $362 million. That spending covered road building to provide recreational access for hunting and fishing and for first responders to wildland firesexactly the projects that Zinke said should get more funding. At the Department of the Interior, Trump proposed cutting the appropriation for wildland fire management by more than 11%, to $482.3 million, with a reduction in staffing by 161, a cut of nearly 5%. This appropriation covers the reduction of vegetation that can contribute to the severity of wildfires and programs for fire management science. One shouldnt be surprised at the stubborn resistance to empirical facts shown by Trump and Zinke, even after they saw the consequences of their own policies directly and heard from actual experts. Both have expressed skepticism about the impact of climate change, plainly a contributor to the length and severity of Californias fire season. Trumps string of falsehoods and misconceptions about fire and water policy grows longer by the day. Zinkes record on environmental issues is dismal; as a Republican congressman from Montana in 2015-2017, he notched a 4% rating from the League of Conservation Voters for voting consistently against legislation favoring clean air, clean water and conservation funding, and against measures to address climate change. In 2016 he voted against a measure that would block expanded logging in the national forests. Now hes pushing the idea that more logging will save the forests from fires. At least hes consistent. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. Airbnb, the hugely popular home sharing operation, pulled its services from the disputed West Bank in Israel, prompting a call by a Jewish rights organization in Los Angeles for a worldwide boycott. Airbnb announced its decision Monday to pull the plug on about 200 listings for housing in the West Bank, saying the company had to consider whether keeping the listings puts guests and hosts at risk and if the listings there contributed to existing human suffering. Israel took over the West Bank in a 1967 war. The settlements there are now considered illegal by international law, though Israel disputes this. Human Rights Watch released a report in 2016, criticizing businesses that operate in the West Bank, saying they contribute to the violation of Palestinian rights. A representative for the Palestinian Authority on Monday praised the decision by Airbnb, according to published news reports. Advertisement But Airbnbs move was quickly blasted by the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, which responded by calling for a boycott of Airbnb by its 400,000 members and Jews the world over. We dont expect Airbnb to be geo-political experts, but todays draconian and unjust move, which only empowers extremists and terrorists, merits only one response taking our communitys business elsewhere, Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the center, and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean and director of the centers Global Social Action Agenda, said in a statement. Hier and Cooper called Airbnbs decision double standard anti-Semitism pure and simple, and noted that Airbnb has listings in territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority, which names schools and shopping centers in honor of mass murderers who have killed innocent civilians. Airbnb announced its move on its blogpost, saying it had struggled with the decision for a while and had spoken to experts on both sides of the debate. We know that people will disagree with this decision and appreciate their perspective, Airbnb said in the blogpost. This is a controversial issue. There are many strong views as it relates to lands that have been the subject of historic and intense disputes between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank. Airbnb has deep respect for those views. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. Boeing Co. pushed back on suggestions that it could have better alerted airlines to a new anti-stall feature in the 737 Max jetliner involved in a fatal Indonesia crash, and it canceled a Tuesday call with carriers during which it had planned to discuss the model. You may have seen media reports that we intentionally withheld information about airplane functionality from our customers. Thats simply untrue, Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg wrote in a message to employees. The relevant function is described in the Flight Crew Operations Manual and we routinely engage with our customers about how to operate our airplanes safely. Muilenburg was disputing criticism from U.S. pilot unions and a Wall Street Journal report that Boeing deliberately withheld a description of the obscure flight-control system that sometimes can pitch the aircrafts nose downward if it suspects the plane is losing lift on its wings. Boeing scrapped a conference call with Max operators that had been slated for Tuesday morning, said people familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified discussing a private matter. They said they expected the call to be rescheduled. The plane maker has held several similar sessions to answer customer questions since the Lion Air tragedy, one of the people said. Boeing declined to comment about the call. Advertisement Boeing is working to shore up confidence in its top-selling jetliner and contain critiques stemming from the deadly Lion Air crash last month. Investors have fretted about liability for a system that possibly was tripped up by a single bad sensor reading as well as the damage to the 737 brand, Boeings largest source of profit. What you need to know about the 737 MAX and the flight control system suspected in the Lion Air crash The shares dived as much as 7.6% Tuesday morning before recovering most of that loss. They closed down 1% at $317.70. They have sunk 11.6% since the Oct. 29 accident involving a 2-month-old aircraft. The canceled call had been intended to let Boeing field queries all at once from airlines worldwide that fly the Max, instead of having individual conversations on the same points, one of the people familiar with the situation said. The Chicago plane maker was also set to go over differences between the Max which is the most recent version of Boeings bestselling airplane and the model that preceded it. CNBC earlier reported that the call had been canceled, and the Air Current newsletter first reported on Muilenburgs message to employees. Anti-stall feature Airlines have been eager for details about the little-known anti-stall feature of the Max that has emerged as an area of focus for investigators as they try to figure out what caused Lion Air Flight 610 to crash into the Java Sea near Jakarta. Southwest Airlines Co., American Airlines Group Inc., Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA and United Continental Holdings Inc. are among carriers flying the Max. Before the accident, Boeing hadnt widely disclosed that the Maxs new anti-stall feature called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS would, in limited circumstances, lower the jets nose without any input from pilots. In a previous bulletin to operators, Boeing maintained that the pilots already had been trained to respond to that behavior by the plane, a view echoed by Uniteds pilot union in a Nov. 16 statement. Muilenburgs comments to employees highlighted a disagreement over the role of the manuals. The three largest U.S. pilot unions have voiced concern over what they said was a lack of information about the MCAS. Existing procedures Theres no specific reference to the MCAS in the Boeing pilot manual used as the basis for how airlines document the aircraft, according to a memo Southwest Airlines wrote to pilots Nov. 10. Yet neither is there any indication that Boeing hid the system from pilots or regulators, said people familiar with reviews of its operation since the accident. The flight manuals dont include technical details about every aircraft system. Because the MCAS was designed to operate only in extreme conditions that pilots should only rarely experience, a decision was made that it wasnt necessary to include a reference to the system, said the people, who asked not to be named because they werent authorized to speak about the issue. The Boeing manual was intended to provide pilots with responses to every possible aircraft behavior. Even if the MCAS isnt specifically mentioned, 737 pilots are drilled in how to respond if the plane is commanded to dive without crew inputs. If pilots get see-saw motions that indicate whats known as a runaway stabilizer trim, they are trained to follow a checklist and eventually to cut power to the horizontal panels by flipping cutout switches. Crucial sensor The MCAS safety system is designed to automatically push down the nose of the plane if it is in danger of losing lift on the wings, a condition known as an aerodynamic stall. If a so-called angle-of-attack sensor shows that the aircraft is pointed too high relative to the oncoming air, a flight computer automatically pushes down the nose. The MCAS system engages only when the plane is being flown manually, rather than on autopilot. In the Lion Air episode, erroneous angle-of-attack gauge signals may have essentially tricked the plane into behaving as though it was in danger and commanded a dive, according to Indonesias National Transportation Safety Committee. Schlangenstein, Johnsson and Levin write for Bloomberg. UPDATES: 4:15 p.m.: This article was updated with Boeings stock movement and additional details about documentation of the anti-stall feature. This article was originally published at 9:45 a.m. Two years ago, Tania Mirchandani, a Goldman Sachs Group Inc. vice president in Los Angeles, told her boss she was pregnant with her third child. He was skeptical she could balance a large family with her demanding job, she recalled. Thats a lot of mouths to feed, she quoted him as saying. Mirchandani, a 15-year Goldman Sachs veteran, figured that her supervisor, of all people, would have understood her dilemma. John Mallory, then a Goldman partner and rising star overseeing wealth management for the West Coast, had four children of his own. In October 2016, weeks before she was scheduled to return, Mallory called her with some bad news: She was out of a job. Im on maternity leave, John, she remembered telling him, as she fought back tears. Mirchandani detailed her dismissal in a 2017 gender discrimination complaint against Goldman a document only recently disclosed through a public-records request to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Advertisement Mallory referred questions to Goldman, which denied any bias in her dismissal. Spokesman Michael DuVally said she had been terminated for strategic business planning reasons that had nothing to do with her pregnancy or leave. As part of a review of the companys private wealth management business, male managers also lost their jobs, he said. Goldman Sachs is committed to supporting employees who are new parents, and takes its obligations and the laws relating to them very seriously, DuVally said in an email. In her complaint and an interview with Bloomberg, Mirchandani alleged that she lost her job because she took Goldmans entire four-month paid family leave. In an arbitration proceeding still pending before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, she is seeking more than $1.5 million in damages. The dispute reflects a tension in corporate America, especially on Wall Street. Goldman and other elite companies promote more generous family-friendly policies as part of widely publicized diversity initiatives considered essential to attracting talent. Yet, for all these efforts, only a quarter of a million women take paid maternity leave each month, a level that has remained essentially unchanged since the 1990s, according to a 2017 study by Boston University business school professor Jay Zagorsky. That figure may indicate that women avoid taking leaves for fear of damaging their careers, he said. U.S. companies continue to face thousands of pregnancy discrimination claims each year, according to federal data. Even if women do come back to work, very often they arent returned to the same position, said Cara Greene, an employment lawyer at Outten & Golden. They arent given back their accounts or clients. Greenes firm represents women in a class-action gender bias lawsuit against Goldman that is still being fought after a complaint was first filed 13 years ago. Plaintiffs say they too faced reprisals when they resumed work after maternity leave: One claimed that Goldman stripped her of accounts, while the other said the company passed her up for a promotion. In 2010, Goldman settled a lawsuit brought by Charlotte Hanna, a former vice president who said she was pushed onto the mommy-track after returning from her first pregnancy and then dismissed a week before coming back after having her second child. In both the class-action and Hanna lawsuits, Goldman denied the allegations. Mirchandani first learned about Goldman when she won an investment banking competition sponsored by the company during her junior year at UC Berkeley. She started as a Goldman analyst in the late 1990s, leaving in 2003 to earn an MBA at UCLA before returning to Goldman two years later. She said she managed $300 million for a dozen clients. During her time at the firm, Goldman tapped her to recruit job candidates. Mallory had also joined Goldman in the 1990s after working several years at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. He was known for his close relationship with the Steinbrenner family, which owns the New York Yankees. In 2007, he helped renegotiate star Alex Rodriguezs $275 million contract. While they ended up in the same line of work, their home lives differ greatly. Mirchandanis husband, Dinesh, works full time. He is chief financial officer of BandMerch, which provides merchandising for musicians. Mallorys wife, Tracy, quit her career in finance in her 20s, she wrote in a post on the website of her alma mater, Dartmouth College. She described herself as CEO, COO, logistics coordinator, driver, chef and therapist for Mallory Family Inc. At work, Mirchandani said in an interview, she had difficulty connecting with Mallory. He would organize outings, which included sporting events and drinks, that excluded female advisors, she said. If you didnt know sports, it didnt work with him, she said. In 2013, Mirchandani said in an interview, she returned from maternity leave after her first child and discovered that her male partner no longer wanted to work with her. She asked Mallory if she could work with other teams, but he left her on her own, she said. Two years later, while expecting her second child, she had cultivated a relationship with a wealthy Indian family that had yet to commit to Goldman. She felt she had a special bond because her mother, an architect, and her father, a real estate entrepreneur, were from India. When she returned from leave, Mallory told her the account had been assigned to the team of a male advisor who had met with the Indian family while she was out, she said in the interview. The familys chief financial officer then insisted she be involved, though she received only 20 percent of commissions, she said. Decisions about team assignments within the office or client relationships are driven only by performance, said DuVally, the Goldman spokesman. Mirchandani said Goldman allowed maternity leave, then expected women to have the same pipeline of business immediately on their return. Come back from four months and, a week later, it is like what are you doing for me, she said. In her state complaint, she claimed it was standard practice for Goldman to pressure women to keep their leaves as short as possible. Goldman denied any such pressure. The companys policies 16 weeks of paid leave to primary caregivers, both natural and adopting parents are explicitly designed to support new parents, DuVally said. The company also structures pay to help returning parents, maintaining commission-based compensation during the leave and for months before and after, he said. When Mallory called to dismiss Mirchandani in 2016, he alluded to issues he had with her performance, even though there were no prior warnings, she said in an interview. But she claims she was the only person cut in the Los Angeles office, and that she knows of male advisors who kept their jobs even though they had performed worse than she did. DuVally said Goldman denies that Ms. Mirchandani was terminated for any other reason than strategic business planning reasons. Since she left Goldman, her fortunes and Mallorys continued to diverge. Mirchandani, 41, has had trouble finding another job in finance and now works for her familys real estate business. In April, Mallory, 48, won a promotion at Goldman. He now oversees wealth management for the entire U.S. and Latin America. Willmer writes for Bloomberg. One of the nations largest student loan servicing companies, Navient Corp., may have driven tens of thousands of borrowers struggling with their debts into higher-cost repayment plans. Thats the finding of a Department of Education audit of practices at Navient, the nations third-largest student loan servicing company. The conclusions of the 2017 audit, which until now have been kept from the public, appear to support federal and state lawsuits that accuse Navient of boosting its profits by steering some borrowers into the high-cost plans without discussing options that would have been less costly in the long run. The Education Department has not shared the audits findings with the plaintiffs in the lawsuits. In fact, even while knowing of its conclusions, the department repeatedly argued that state and other federal authorities do not have jurisdiction over Navients business practices. Advertisement The existence of this audit makes the Department of Educations position [on the Navient lawsuits] all the more disturbing, said Aaron Ament, president of the National Student Legal Defense Network, who worked for the Education Department under then-President Obama. The Associated Press received a copy of the audit and other documents from the office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who has been a vocal critic of Navient and has publicly supported the lawsuits against the company as well as questioning the policies of the Education Department, currently run by President Trumps pick, Betsy DeVos. Warren is considered a potential presidential candidate in 2020. Navient disputed the audits conclusions in its response to the Education Department and has denied the allegations made in the lawsuits. One point the company makes in its defense is that its contract with the Education Department doesnt require its customer service representatives to mention all options available to the borrower. This [audit], when viewed as a whole, as well as dozens of other audits and reviews, show that Navient overwhelmingly performs in accordance with program rules while consistently helping borrowers choose the right options for their circumstances, said Paul Hartwick, a company spokesman. However, the five states suing Navient California, Illinois, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Washington say the behavior breaks their laws regarding consumer protection. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says in its own lawsuit that the practices are unfair, deceptive and abusive and break federal consumer protection laws. Of the five states that filed lawsuits against Navient, only Illinois and Pennsylvania were even aware of the audit, and they said they did not receive their copies from the Education Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau declined to comment on whether it had a copy of the report. The Education Department said withholding the report was intentional, repeating the argument it has made in court and in public that only it has jurisdiction over student loan servicing issues, through its Federal Student Aid division, or FSA, which oversees student loans. FSA performed the review as part of its own contract oversight, not for the benefit of other agencies, said Liz Hill, an Education Department spokeswoman. Navient, which split off from Sallie Mae, is a publicly traded company. Its shares dropped after this article was published online and closed down 10.6% on Tuesday at $10.73. When student borrowers run into difficulties making payments, they can be offered forbearance, which allows them to delay payments for a set period of time. But under a forbearance plan, in most instances, the loan continues to accumulate interest and becomes a more expensive option in the long run. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alleges in its lawsuit against Navient that between 2010 and 2015, Navients behavior added nearly $4 billion in interest to student borrowers loans through the overuse of forbearance. Navient disputes the figure. A 2017 study by the Government Accountability Office estimates that a typical borrower of a $30,000 student loan who places the loan into forbearance for three years the maximum allowed for economic-hardship forbearance would pay an additional $6,742 in interest. This finding is both tragic and infuriating, and the findings appear to validate the allegations that Navient boosted its profits by unfairly steering student borrowers into forbearance when that was often the worst financial option for them, Warren said in a letter to Navient last week. As part of their inquiry, Education Department auditors listened in on about 2,400 randomly selected calls to borrowers from 2014 to 2017 out of a batch of 219,000. On nearly one in 10 of the calls examined, the Navient representative did not mention other options, including one type of plan that estimates the size of a monthly payment the borrower can afford based on their income. Auditors wrote that many customer service representatives failed to ask questions to determine if such a plan, known as an income-driven repayment plan, might be more beneficial to the borrower. There is no public record of how many struggling borrowers serviced by Navient may have been affected by these practices. In its most recent annual report, Navient says it services 6 million student loan borrowers, of which 12.7% are more than 30 days past due. That would be roughly 762,000 customers who are struggling in some fashion to repay their student loans. If one in 10 of those customers were pushed into forbearance instead of an income-driven repayment plan, as the departments audit found, that would be 76,200 of Navients borrowers. The Education Department report contains recommendations for how Navient could fix its practices, but makes no mention of firm requirements or sanctions. The departments Federal Student Aid division decided to do a review of Navients forbearance practices after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed its lawsuit against the company in January 2017, department spokeswoman Hill said, to see if there were any compliance issues. She said Education Department officials concluded Navient was not improperly steering borrowers. Nothing in the report indicates forbearances were applied inappropriately the observations noted focused on suggested improvements regarding how to best counsel a small minority of borrowers, she said. In response to questions over the 2017 audit, Navient pointed to the fact that nine in 10 borrowers on the calls were offered all their options and that this audit is just one piece of a broader story. The company noted that the number of its borrowers who are enrolled in income-driven repayment plans is in line with or above the track records of other student loan servicing companies. In addition, it said, the Education Department pays it less for putting students in forbearance. In calls and presentations with investors, Navient has said a company priority is to lower its operational costs. As a student loan servicing company, Navient has one primary operating cost: its employees, including the hundreds of customer service agents who staff Navients telephones every day. The fewer customer service agents Navient employs, the more money Navient puts in its pocket. Doing calls to determine whether a borrower should be in an income-driven repayment plan takes longer, student loan industry experts say. In fact, that is exactly what Navient said in its response to the Education Departments audit. The company said it is not aware of any requirement that borrowers receive all of their repayment options on each and every call, adding that if the Education Department chose to require all servicers to discuss income-driven repayment plans with all borrowers, the department needs to redo its contract with Navient. Seth Frotman, who was the highest-ranking government official in charge of student loans until he quit in August in protest over how the Trump-controlled Education Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were handling the issue of student loans, called Navients response outrageous. In short, Navient, when confronted with evidence of its bad practices, is telling the government, Pay us more money or take a hike. And it looks like the Department of Education took a hike, Frotman said. Sweet writes for the Associated Press. UPDATES: 3:55 p.m.: This article was updated with Navients stock movement and additional comments from the company. This article was originally published at 1:20 p.m. Small birds are having a big moment. Tiny turkeys will increasingly grace Thanksgiving tables Thursday, thanks to the millennial generations ongoing campaign to remake American gastronomy. The holiday depicted by Norman Rockwell Grandma showing off a cooked bird so plump it weighs down a banquet plate is still common. But smaller families, growing guilt over wasted leftovers and a preference for free-range fowl have all played roles in the emergence of petite poultry as a holiday dinner centerpiece. People are starting to understand its not natural to grow turkeys up to 30 pounds, said Ariane Daguin, co-founder and owner of DArtagnan, a wholesale and e-commerce food company in Union, N.J. In general, that means they were penned up with no room to move around, and thats why theyre fat like that. There are signs that wee birds are in greater demand. Inventories of whole hens, which are smaller than males, are down 8.3% from a year ago, the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture data show. Whole toms, the males, are up 6.9%. Advertisement Dont call them capons. Theyre not castrated chickens. Nor are they chicks. Theyre not babies. Theyre just turkeys that weigh in the neighborhood of 6 pounds. Poultry producer Bell & Evans is working with a breeder to make tiny turkeys that people will eat all year. Owner Scott Sechler said the new breed, which isnt yet sold publicly, fills out nicely, unlike other undersized birds, which can be bony. Still, 12- to 14-pound turkeys remain the biggest holiday seller, Sechler said. That may be because some millennials are still going to Moms, he said. Even Butterball, which sells 30-plus-pound heavyweights, also offers a Lil Butterball that can be as small as 6 pounds. Subscription meal service HelloFresh, in its first Thanksgiving box this year, is selling 12- to 14-pound turkeys from Cargill Inc. designed to serve 10 people whove filled up on appetizers. Although Amazon.com Inc.s Whole Foods said its most popular sizes are 14 to 18 pounds, it also has a smaller version to feed four people. Smaller families are fueling the trend. Last year, 62% of American households had just one or two people, compared with 41% in 1960, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The proportion of single-person homes has risen too. Karen Bell, owner of Bavette La Boucherie butcher shop in Milwaukee, said she sold half her tiny-turkey supply by Halloween. The organic birds are as little as 6 pounds, Bell said, because customers want less meat. Family sizes are smaller, she said. Celebrating Thanksgiving isnt like 20-people extended families. Families are also more spread out than they used to be, an additional reason cooks are considering alternatives such as turkey breasts, which can be just a few pounds, or roasted chicken. Honey Baked Ham Co. has a 2.5-pound baked turkey breast for $34.95. DArtagnan sells a 6-pound capon for $80 to feed five to six people. The whole bird is not necessarily on everyones Thanksgiving table the way it used to be, said Russ Whitman, a senior vice president at commodity researcher Urner-Barry. With smaller birds, theres less chance of throwing away uneaten meat. Each year, about 200 million pounds of turkey is trashed during Thanksgiving week, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Food waste is becoming an increasingly concerning issue, said Michael Averbook, a food and drink analyst at Mintel Group. Leftovers are part of the fun and tradition of the holidays, and this may be a small step for individuals to feel less wasteful and socially responsible. Meanwhile, home cooks are getting more adventurous with quail or even squab (young pigeon) teeny, single-serve birds that make for a nice Instagram post. Others would rather stick to tradition but dont like the taste of poultry. For them, theres the prospect of tiny deer. The first Thanksgiving had plenty of turkey but also venison on the table, Daguin said. Its a traditional meat. Patton and Mulvany write for Bloomberg. SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musks infamous pot toke on a comedians webcast reportedly was no joke to NASA, which will launch a safety review next year of SpaceX and Boeing Co.s efforts to build capsules to take NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. Citing officials familiar with the matter, the Washington Post reported Tuesday that the review was prompted by Musk being seen in September smoking marijuana and sipping whiskey on the webcast, livestreamed on YouTube. NASA described the safety review as a cultural assessment study that would be conducted in coordination with SpaceX and Boeing to ensure the companies are meeting NASAs requirements for workplace safety, including the adherence to a drug-free environment. We fully expect our commercial partners to meet all workplace safety requirements in the execution of our missions and the services they provide the American people, NASA said in a statement. As always, NASA will ensure they do so. Advertisement A NASA spokeswoman declined to comment about the reason for the probe beyond that statement. William Gerstenmaier, NASAs associate administrator for human exploration, told the Post that the agencys safety review would be pretty invasive, and involve hundreds of interviews with employees at the two companies and at multiple work locations. In 2014, SpaceX and Boeing were awarded NASA contracts to build separate capsules to launch astronauts to the space station. The capsules would replace trips on Russian rockets, which the U.S. has purchased since the space shuttles retirement in 2011. SpaceXs contract is worth up to $2.6 billion, while Boeings is worth up to $4.2 billion. Hawthorne-based SpaceX said in a statement that it took seriously its responsibility to carry NASA astronauts to the space station and that its engineers had worked side by side with NASA for years to develop its Crew Dragon astronaut capsule. There is nothing more important to SpaceX than this endeavor, the company said. SpaceX actively promotes workplace safety and we are confident that our comprehensive drug-free workforce and workplace programs exceed all applicable contractual requirements. A spokeswoman with Chicago-based Boeing said the company was aware of NASAs assessment plans but had not yet received official notification. The company said it was committed to continuing our legacy of trust, openness and mission success with NASA. The culture at Boeing ensures the integrity, safety and quality of our products, our people and their work environment, Boeing said in a statement. SpaceX is set to launch its Crew Dragon capsule for the first time without crew aboard in January, while Boeing plans to launch its Starliner capsule without crew in March. The two companies are scheduled to launch their capsules with astronauts aboard next summer. If I see something thats inappropriate, the key concern to me is what is the culture that led to that inappropriateness and is NASA involved in that, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told the Post. As an agency, were not just leading ourselves, but our contractors as well. We need to show the American public that when we put an astronaut on a rocket, theyll be safe. Bridenstine said he has a lot of confidence in the SpaceX team. But he added that culture and leadership start at the top. Anything that would result in some questioning the culture of safety, we need to fix immediately. Musk has already faced repercussions for his unconventional conduct. He was recently replaced as chairman at publicly held Tesla Inc. after a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on fraud charges that arose after Musk tweeted that he was considering taking the firm private. Musk continues to serve as CEO of Tesla. Meanwhile SpaceX has continued to prepare for the first launch of its astronaut capsule. Last month, SpaceX conducted a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket booster that will launch the uncrewed capsule on its first demonstration flight. That same month, the company practiced crew rescue and recovery operations in the Atlantic Ocean with NASA and the Defense Department. In August, NASA tentatively agreed to SpaceXs plan of fueling its rocket before launch with a crew aboard, a highly scrutinized proposal that previously drew concern from lawmakers and some members of NASAs Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. That panel later concluded that the fueling plan seemed to be a viable option. Boeing, too, has checked off milestones. The company conducted parachute tests for its capsule and practiced drop tests with mannequins inside the spacecraft to ensure landing safety. In July, Boeing said a portion of its astronaut test capsule had suffered an anomaly during an engine fire test. The company said at the time that it was confident it had found the cause and that NASA helped conduct a thorough investigation. But launch dates for both companies have continued to slip. The U.S. Government Accountability Office warned in July that the certification of each companys capsule could be delayed, possibly leading to a gap in access to the space station for astronauts. The U.S. contract with Russia to transport astronauts extends only through November 2019. The NASA safety review could cause further delays, said Bill Ostrove, aerospace and defense analyst at Forecast International. He said it wasnt entirely clear why Boeing would be included in the safety review if it was prompted by Musks behavior. They may feel its better to be safe than sorry and double-check everything, Ostrove said. Involving both companies means the review is broader than one executive in one company, said John Logsdon, professor emeritus at George Washington Universitys Space Policy Institute. He said the review was a reasonable undertaking at this point in the program. I think NASAs doing due diligence, he said. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com Twitter: @smasunaga UPDATES: 3:50 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about NASAs Commercial Crew program and comments from analysts Bill Ostrove and John Logsdon. 12:45 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting. This article was originally published at 11:55 a.m. Thousands of former Toys R Us workers will receive severance payments from a new $20-million fund. The move is considered rare among private equity-backed companies that file for bankruptcy. Even so, the amount pledged is well below the $75 million a workers rights group says those who lost their jobs are owed. Bain Capital and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts announced Tuesday that each had committed $10 million to a fund for former Toys R Us workers. Bain and KKR are two of the three firms that bought Toys R Us in a 2005 leveraged buyout and loaded it up with billions of dollars in debt before liquidating the chain in June. One hundred percent of contributions to the fund will be paid directly to eligible employees. The fund is structured so that other interested parties can contribute. A third Toys R Us owner, Vornado Realty Trust, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it would give to the fund. Advertisement This is a valuable and important step designed to provide a degree of financial relief to eligible former employees of Toys R Us, said Kenneth Feinberg, an expert on designing compensation funds and one of the funds independent administrators. Exactly how the funds are distributed will be framed around company data including earnings and the number of hours worked, as well as input from former Toys R Us employees. A draft of the proposal suggests eligible employees must have worked for Toys R Us for at least one year, have made no more than $110,000 in annual income and have made no less than $5,000 in annual income. The worker rights group Rise Up Retail has advocated that thousands of Toys R Us workers are owed $75 million in severance pay. Before filing for bankruptcy last year, Toys R Us had guaranteed its workers two weeks of severance for their first year of service, and one week of pay for every two years on the job after that. Rise Up Retail is also pushing for state and federal legislation that would require bankrupt companies to make severance payments. Ann Marie Reinhart, a 29-year Toys R Us employee, called the fund historic and said it would set a precedent for how other private equity-backed companies that declare bankruptcy compensate their workers. Reinhart, 59, said she has not been able to find a job that gives her health insurance. She and other workers, she said, would continue to put pressure on the hedge funds that own the company to protect former employees. Those hedge funds have held onto the Toys R Us and Babies R Us brand names, Web domains and other assets, and have even brought the iconic mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe back to work a move that worker advocates have dismissed as a PR stunt. The news of a severance fund has rejuvenated me, particularly that we can achieve something like this, Reinhart said. Its a win for us, and its a win for any other retail worker that this happens to in the future, because we see whats happening with Sears and Kmart. Carrie Gleason, campaign manager for Rise Up Retail, said tens of thousands of workers would be eligible for compensation under the funds guidelines. She credited Toys R Us families with consistently advocating for their rights and pushing back and saying, Our jobs matter, and our families deserve better. Bain, KKR and Vornado have also come under political pressure to compensate former Toys R Us employees. In June, Democratic New Jersey Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, as well as Democratic New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., wrote to the firms urging assistance for laid-off workers. That month, the lawmakers stood with Toys R Us employees and advocates outside the New Jersey-based retailer. This financial assistance fund will provide workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own a better chance to provide for their families, stay in their homes, and rebuild their lives, Booker, Menendez and Pascrell said in a statement. Toys R Us cited $7.9 billion in debt against $6.6 billion in assets when it filed for bankruptcy in 2017. In March, the company announced it would close all 800 of its U.S. stores. The beloved toy company was one of dozens of private equity-backed retailers to file for bankruptcy as more sales have moved online. Citing heavy debt loads, retailers including Nine West, Claires, Gymboree, True Religion and Payless Shoe Source also recently filed for bankruptcy. There will be a two-week period for former workers and other interested parties to give feedback on the funds terms and conditions. Feinberg and Camille Biros, another compensation fund expert and the funds second independent administrator, will then outline a final protocol. The claims process is expected to begin Dec. 15. Money will be distributed shortly after, and will probably be completed on or about April 30. Neither Bain nor KKR will have any role in distributing money or administering the fund. Siegel writes for the Washington Post. Abha Bhattarai of the Post also contributed to this report. MANILA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's signed article published Monday in the mainstream Philippine newspapers has raised high expectations in the Southeast Asian country for closer ties with China. In his article titled "Open Up a New Future Together for China-Philippine Relations," Xi called on the two countries to elevate all-round cooperation under new circumstances and design an overall plan for greater progress in their relationship towards a higher level. The Chinese president will arrive in Manila on Tuesday, the last leg of his Asia-Pacific tour that has already taken him to Papua New Guinea and Brunei. Xi also attended the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Papua New Guinea. Philippine Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran expressed optimism that Xi's state visit will further strengthen relations between Beijing and Manila. "The relations now between China and the Philippines in the economic and financial fields are really warm. It's something we are looking forward to. Many infrastructure projects are being implemented and I believe there will be more cooperation in the future," Beltran said. Beltran said his country appreciates Xi's pledge that China welcomes the Philippines and other countries aboard the express train of its development. "We are looking forward to having better relations and cooperation with China," Beltran added. Philippine Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Xi's visit is important because it will not only strengthen diplomatic relations and economic links between the two countries, but also add momentum to the Philippine government's development program. "This cooperation benefits both countries," Diokno said. Jhevarlynne Otao, a 39-year-old banana worker from the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, was excited as Xi said in his article that more and more Philippine fruits are going to the dining table in Chinese households. "I am very happy to hear this good news. Many Filipinos will benefit if China will import more fruits, especially bananas," she told Xinhua. "My family, for instance, will benefit because I will have a steady farm work and income that I can use to raise my three children," she added. Princess Jacel Kiram, daughter of Jamalul Kiram III and a descendant of Sultan of Sulu Paduka Batara, expressed her gratitude to the Chinese president for keeping the memory of the Sultan's historical journey to China. In his article, Xi cited the "goodwill visit" of Sultan Batara over 600 years ago. "It's a very significant part of the history of China and the Philippines," she said, adding that the story proves that China and the Philippines enjoy the "ties that bind up to now." Wilson Lee Flores, a columnist of Philippine Star newspaper, said Xi's article is very comprehensive and detailed the ties that started more than 600 years ago. "I was very impressed that in his article, he not only mentioned government-to-government relations but also discussed people-to-people relations that cemented the blood, family ties," Flores said. The article reminded "every one of us that China and the Philippines are ancient friends; that their relationship started even before the Westerners discovered the country," he said. Xi's article "concretely shows good will and builds confidence on both sides," Flores said, adding that the warm relations will usher in peace. Peter Chua, one of the leaders of the Filipino-Chinese community and chairman of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Association of the Philippines, recalled that many Chinese born on China's southeast coast sailed across the sea to settle in the Philippines more than 600 years ago. "China and the Philippines are neighbors separated by a narrow strip of water. The two peoples are enjoying a long history of friendship. Just as President Xi points out in his article that China and the Philippines are very to each other in terms of geographical location, ancestral ties and cultural backgrounds," Chua said. The Chinese immigrants and the Filipinos continue "to live in harmony, intermarried and blended with the Philippine culture," Chua said. "We believe President Xi's visit to the Philippines will further enhance the relations; and I also believe that the two peoples will have a better future together," Chua added. California dairies collected $10.5 million in emergency federal aid for losses caused by the trade war ignited by President Trumps tariffs on steel and other products, according to federal data. The beleaguered sector was by far the biggest recipient of U.S. Department of Agriculture market facilitation payments to California, according to the data, released in response to a public records request from the Environmental Working Group, a longtime critic of farm subsidies. Trump created the program, among others, to compensate for agricultural losses when China, Mexico, Canada, the European Union and other countries retaliated against his imposition of stiff tariffs on imported steel, aluminum and other products this year. Nationwide, soy farmers in the agricultural heartland flanking the Mississippi River received $215 million of the $356 million in payments, followed by hog farmers, with $51 million, and dairy, $50 million. Advertisement Environmental Working Group criticized the payments as bailouts, paid through borrowing, and doled out to city slickers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and other urban areas rather than to family farms. For California, however, that was hardly the case: About a third of the payments went to 50 large dairies in the states agricultural heartland of the San Joaquin Valley. The largest payment, $140,804, went to Verwey Farms in Hanford in rural Kings County. The average payment to Californias more than 1,000 recipients was about $10,000. The five Los Angeles recipients, by contrast, received a total of $7,745 for losses to wheat, soy and corn crops, while their San Francisco counterparts collected $4,671. California is the largest dairy producer in the country, exporting about $1.4 billion in dairy products, about 30% of which goes to Mexico. The industry, however, has been steadily shrinking over the last decade more than 100 have shut down in the last five years, according to industry figures. Even Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), who touts his local farm boy credentials, got out of the business long ago and moved his operations to Iowa, as reported by Esquire. The Nunes Bros. dairy in Tulare, owned the by congressmans uncle, remains in operation. It collected $23,092, according to the data. The U.S. Dairy Export Council predicts Trumps tariffs will cost the industry $2.7 billion over the next several years. geoffrey.mohan@latimes.com Follow me: @LATgeoffmohan American Airlines created its newest logo in 2013, partly to help launch an overhaul of the brand for what would eventually become the worlds largest carrier. But five years later, the Fort Worth-based airline has yet to settle a dispute with the U.S. Copyright Office, which has repeatedly refused to register the stylized logo, intended to resemble an eagle with blue and red wings. The dispute centers on whether the logo is original or creative enough. Three times American Airlines submitted the logo for copyright registration, which allows the carrier to sue anyone who breaches the copyright. Three times the copyright office rejected the request. Advertisement The American Airlines logo already has trademark protection, which is usually reserved for symbols and slogans. A copyright is typically used to protect artistic and intellectual work. The copyright office has argued that the symbol does not contain a sufficient amount of original and creative artistic or graphic authorship to support a copyright registration and that the work is nothing more than a collection of common and familiar shapes. In its most recent rejection, the copyright office described the logo as a dual-colored, curved trapezoid with a bisecting, shaded and curved triangle. After the most recent rejection, American Airlines filed a lawsuit, naming Karyn Temple, the acting head of the agency. The carrier argued in its lawsuit that the logo, created by Futurebrand, a global design agency, is highly creative and stylized and has won the praises of many graphic designers. The airline also argued that the copyright office had previously approved copyright protection for logos with what the carrier considered to be low levels of creativity, including the symbol for Marvels X-Men movie franchise and the Vince Lombardi trophy given to the winners of the Super Bowl. The feud may be near the end. The copyright office recently announced that it is reconsidering its rejection of the logo, prompting American Airlines to withdraw its lawsuit against Temple. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. Producer-director-actor Chris W. King is ready to call it a wrap in Hollywood, listing his home for $1.549 million. Tucked behind walls and hedges, the Spanish-style bungalow dates to 1924 and has been updated. Among details of note are Brazilian hardwood floors, recessed lighting and subdued hues. Quartz countertops and subway tile highlight the updated kitchen. The sunlit dining room retains its original built-in cabinetry. There are two bedrooms and 1.75 bathrooms plus a bonus room. 1 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 2 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 3 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 4 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 5 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 6 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 7 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 8 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 9 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 10 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 11 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 12 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 13 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 14 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 15 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 16 / 17 Chris W. Kings Hollywood home | Hot Property (Joe Bryant) 17 / 17 DCIM\100MEDIA\DJI_0041.JPG (Joe Bryant) Advertisement French doors open to a front patio topped with streams of market lights. An electronic gate sits at the rear of the property. King was a supervising producer and executive producer on the supernatural series Penny Dreadful (2014-16). He directed the Foo Fighters: Back and Forth video, which in 2011 won a Grammy award for best long-form video. He bought the property three years ago for $912,000, real estate records show. Chris Jacobs of Keller Williams Realty, Beverly Hills, holds the listing. neal.leitereg@latimes.com | Twitter: @LATHotProperty It would be cliche if it wasnt true. On a day hazy with smoke from the Woolsey fire, Pritzker Prize-winning Dutch architect and theorist Rem Koolhaas is grumbling about L.A. traffic. Specifically, the two hours it took to get across town on a Friday. Sitting in the cushy lobby of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, Koolhaas is a cautionary futurist. He once called multimodal Los Angeles a prototype habitat for the future of all cities because of its flexibility, networks and mobility. Yet today, ever-increasing levels of congestion in Los Angeles have him reassessing previous praise. Im wondering if the intensity of traffic changes the city, says Koolhaas. Its very obvious that car traffic is about to change radically. I think almost every city in the near future will undergo a drastic change, simply in terms of its circulation. As head of the international design firm Office of Metropolitan Architecture and professor at Harvard Universitys Graduate School of Design, the 74-year old architect has researched cities across the globe New York, Lagos, Dubai, St. Petersburg, among others. For decades, he has held a coveted position within the field of architecture as public intellectual and cultural trailblazer, teaming up on projects with fashion designer Miuccia Prada, performance artist Marina Abramovic and superstar curator Hans-Ulrich Obrist. Advertisement His works are often bold, like the firms CCTV Headquarters, a double tower on the Beijing skyline, which is one of the weird buildings criticized by Chinas President Xi Jinping. And the Seattle Central Library a set of light-filled public spaces wrapped in a fishnet facade may be OMAs best-known building here on the West Coast. Rem Koolhaas, right, and OMAs Shohei Shigematsu at the Nov. 11 groundbreaking of the Shigematsu-designed Audrey Irmas Pavilion, which is scheduled to open in late 2020. (Jay Goldman) Hanging heavy over his future view of our own coastal city, like smoke from the nearby fires, is the recent U.N. climate report warning of catastrophic impacts by 2040. We are facing together a critical moment, simply because weve delayed for such a long time all the measures that we know we will eventually have to take, he says. The longer we delay everything, the more drastic those measures that could be imposed on us. Ive very curious of what will be the outcome. It could be a wave of authoritarianism in the name of saving the world. The architect was in Los Angeles for back-to-back events, including the groundbreaking Nov. 11 of OMAs first cultural project in the city, the Audrey Irmas Pavilion, an expansion of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown. OMA won the competition for the pavilion in 2015 with a design by partner Shohei Shigematsu. Koolhaas collaborates with his partners, but also gives them a fair amount of freedom over the final form. The soft-spoken Shigematsu is head of the New York office and oversees many of OMAs U.S.-based projects, including a forthcoming mixed-use retail, office and residential complex in Santa Monica. The pavilion design team includes Los Angeles practices Gruen Associates, Studio-MLA, and Arup. He was also in town for a book signing the day before to promote the encyclopedic Elements of Architecture (a 2,528-page tome designed by Irma Boom and published by Taschen that makes a world atlas look skinny). Elements of Architecture presents materials Koolhaas and team developed for the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale. His introductory essay, however, is new. In it, hes critical of digital technofuturism, cautioning that the Enlightenment motto liberte, egalite, fraternite could be replaced by comfort, security and sustainability. I think almost every city in the near future will undergo a drastic change, simply in terms of its circulation. Rem Koolhaas A rendering of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion in Koreatown, whose design team includes Los Angeles practices Gruen Associates, Studio-MLA, and Arup. (OMA New York) The OMA-designed CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, affectionately known to locals as the Underpants Building. (Mike Kemp / Corbis/Getty Images) If you take the rhetoric emerging from Silicon Valley, start-ups and all the belief in algorithms, you might believe that we can deal with every problem and be free and independent, says Koolhaas. But the measures and the methodologies suggested would only work if everyone behaves well. He continues: I became fascinated by this whole question of latent authoritarianism in the stream of inventions that get an enormous amount of attention. Take the thermostat, for instance. Eventually it would be very easy for the thermostat to tell you, You have to go to bed now, theres no energy. Casa De Musica in Porto, Portugal, designed by architect Rem Koolhaas. (UIG / Getty Images) Koolhaas first encountered L.A. during an earlier energy crisis. In 1974, he lived here for six months while writing a screenplay a Nixon-era critique of labor, culture and humanism with Hollywood-based filmmaker and director Rene Daalder. Some four decades later, his son, Tomas Koolhaas, is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker. The theme of creating a center in a centerless city runs through Koolhaass built and unrealized projects in Southern California the Prada store in Beverly Hills was conceived as an epicenter and OMAs competition-winning (but unbuilt) scheme for LACMA concentrates the museums sprawling collection under a vast, transparent roof. The Audrey Irmas Pavilion is no exception. Designed to bring together communities, the multiuse space will serve L.A.s oldest Jewish congregation and house a recently announced Annenberg Foundation initiative focusing on purposeful aging, which will be used by the greater public. We knew that it couldnt be an entrance from the street, since that compromises security issues. So it is more of a ceremonial gesture. Shohei Shigematsu Yet this desired accessibility comes at an unsettled time for the Jewish community. At the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building, visitors passed through metal detectors and security details with dogs patrolled the event. Speakers Rabbi Steve Leder and Mayor Eric Garcetti, a member of the congregation, each alluded to the difficult weeks after the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Sitting on the corner of Wilshire and Harvard boulevards, the pavilion is OMAs first religious structure. Shigematsus scheme is deferential to the Byzantine-Revival synagogue, careful not to nudge too close to the historic building and its magnificent dome. With a dramatically sloped facade punctuated with windows, the three-story building looks at once monolithic and porous. There are plans for outdoor terraces on the second floor and on the roof to offer views of the Hollywood Hills. But in the current political climate, one very real challenge was balancing the need for security with the need for openness. The main event space on the ground floor is a large vaulted space that echoes the sanctuary space in the existing synagogue and has a large arched window facing Wilshire Boulevard, says Shigematsu. But we knew that it couldnt be an entrance from the street, since that compromises security issues. So it is more of a ceremonial gesture and the real entrance actually faces the temple across an outdoor plaza. Asked about what it means to build the pavilion in the wake of Pittsburgh and the rise of anti-Semitism in the U.S., Koolhaas takes a long pause before answering. The whole gesture of the building is openness, and the whole gesture of the building is access to the city and therefore, inevitably, access from the city, says Koolhaas. Im definitely of a generation that in similar situations would want to insist rather than abandon. The Qatar National Library by the architecture firm Office of Metropolitan Architecture. (Iwan Baan / OMA) Interior of the Qatar National Library. (Iwan Baan / OMA) An architect famous for jet-setting, hes been called cynical for surfing the wave of global capital and writing about the generic junkspace of airports, hotels and shopping malls. But that pause seemed to reveal the contradictory nature of architecture in the face of shifting social, ecological and political conditions, not cynicism. Where and how can the field make a difference? Currently, Koolhaas and AMO (his firms in-house think-tank) are researching an exhibition to be mounted next fall in the rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Provisionally titled Countryside: Future of the World, the ambitious project wrestles with what Koolhaas describes as everything thats not city. Its a topic perfect for Los Angeles, a place where natural landscapes and urban sprawl dramatically collide. The countryside presents a radical change for architecture, explains Koolhaas. In many of the structures weve researched, the human being is not the center of attention. I find that a fascinating situation. For the first time, other issues might be more important than how human beings feel or think. Stanley Kubrick loved classical music. And by boldly, even provocatively laying pieces from the repertoire from ancient to avant-garde against his visual narratives, he recontextualized many of them for all time. Few people now hear Also sprach Zarathustra or The Blue Danube Waltz without thinking of Kubricks indelible imagery. I knew that was, of course, Stanleys strong point, and that he was brilliant at picking great classical pieces, said Malcolm McDowell, who played the lecherous lad in Kubricks 1971 satire, A Clockwork Orange. I never could really quite work it out whether it was because he was too cheap to hire a musical writer to do original music but I think, obviously, that using classical pieces evokes so much. McDowell will host the concert Stanley Kubricks Sound Odyssey this week at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Conducted by Jessica Cottis, an Australian with film-themed concert experience, the program will pair film clips with a live performance by the L.A. Philharmonic and L.A. Master Chorale in a montage of some of the best-known classical selections employed by the maverick filmmaker. Kubrick was a casual drummer himself, and had heaping stacks of records and turntables sprawled all over his house in England music constantly blasting down the halls. If he could have scored the films himself, he would have. Advertisement He was very sad that he hadnt practiced the piano more, and very sad that he didnt know more, said his widow, Christiane Kubrick. He yearned to know more. Stanley Kubrick, second from right, on the set of A Clockwork Orange. (Warner Bros.) Kubricks first and perhaps consummate foray into classical needle-drop scoring was 2001: A Space Odyssey even though he initially hired a film composer for the 1968 sci-fi opus: Alex North, who wrote the jagged, neo-romantic score for Kubricks prior hit, Spartacus. North scored the first 40 minutes of 2001 but in one of the most legendary horror stories for film composers, when he showed up for the studio screening he saw a film soundtracked exclusively with dead composers. Kubrick never called him, never apologized, recalled Stephen North, the composers son. He believes that his father was convinced Kubrick never really wanted a fresh score to begin with, and was married to his temp track of classical pieces, but was forced to pretend he did it to satisfy MGM. The two men never spoke again. The ultimate soundtrack made striking use of Richard Strauss Zarathustra, Johann Strauss Blue Danube, Aram Khachaturians Gayane and unfamiliar new work by Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti. Christiane Kubrick heard the Holocaust survivors Requiem on BBC Radio, and ran into her husbands in-house cutting room to tell him: Thats what you have been looking for! He ended up using four pieces by the composer. In a strange reverse of Norths experience, Ligeti showed up to a screening of this buzzed-about film at a theater in suburban Hamburg and was astonished to hear his music throughout. Kubrick hadnt asked for permission. My father had no issue with the quality of Kubricks films in fact, he liked them very much, said Lukas Ligeti, a composer himself and professor at UC Irvine. Still, Ligeti felt cheated and hired a lawyer who threatened to sue MGM. The studio instead offered a settlement, which the composer took. It was an amount that was very, very little for what it should have been, said Lukas, but sounded like a lot to my father, who did not have that much money. For the rest of my fathers life, he was sometimes asked about this, and my father always said, Yes, it was really taken without permission. He continued: Occasionally Kubrick would contact my father, threatening to sue him for libel if he didnt stop saying that. And my father said, well, hes not going to stop saying that, because it was true. My father had the highest respect for Kubrick as a film director, but found him a little bit annoying that he occasionally threatened to sue for libel. But he never did. Of course, 2001 dramatically increased Ligetis fame, particularly in the U.S. When Kubrick used more of the composers music in The Shining and again in Eyes Wide Shut, he compensated Ligeti well. The dreadful atmosphere of The Shining, Kubricks very loose 1980 adaptation of the Stephen King novel, was also greatly aided by the music of Krzysztof Penderecki. In works like Canon for String Orchestra and Tape and Utrenja No. 2, the modernist Polish composers penchant for aleatoric, clustered, unsettling tones made a perfect match for the directors terrifying haunted hotel. Conductor Jessica Cottis. (From Jessica Cottis) Perhaps the most natural employment of classical music was in Barry Lyndon, Kubricks 1975 drama set in 18th century England. Works such as Handels Harpsichord Suite in D minor, Schuberts Piano Trio in E-flat Major and Bachs Concerto for Two Harpsichords felt right at home the pop music of Lyndons world. The mysterious, masked cult that seduces and then ensnares Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut was made all the more sinister by the cat-on-piano creepiness of Ligetis Musica Ricercata No. 2. Ligeti attended the premiere of the film, which was completed after the directors death, accompanying Christiane Kubrick. And then theres A Clockwork Orange. The brash, libidinous story of a gang of young men wreaking havoc in a future London ironically paired scenes of debauchery and rape to Beethovens uplifting Symphony No. 9 and Rossinis whimsical opera, La gazza ladra. The idea for using the former came from Anthony Burgess novel, but the rest was pure Kubrick. People think that music was written for the movie, which is sort of amazing, said McDowell, whose own relationship to the film has evolved over time. People would say, Oh yeah, Malcolm Clockwork Orange McDowell. Im brought up in the tradition of the English theater, where we play a variety of roles its not just one thing. That perturbed me somewhat, and I didnt enjoy the film for the first 10 years, maybe, after it came out. But now I am thrilled, beyond belief, that I did it. Im very happy. Stanley Kubrick on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey. (Warner Bros.) As for McDowells slightly cheeky musing, was Kubrick too cheap to hire composers on these films? Of course not. Licensing existing music and paying royalties isnt cheap, either. But the actual reason for his collagist use of the repertoire has different answers. Some say it was all about control, about the role of music mattering so much to the almost pathologically perfectionist director that he couldnt bear to delegate it to another artist. Christiane Kubrick has a slightly different take. She said her husband would have loved to use original scores, but only if the composer had a year or more to develop them an impossibility in most post-production schedules. He would have often liked to spend much more time choosing and rejecting and so on, she said. So if he had found a piece on the radio or wherever, whether it was classical or modern, he said: Well, at least I know this one goes. Far be it from me to contradict Christiane, said Jan Harlan, her brother and Kubricks longtime producer, but my experience is that Stanley was guided by what he loved not just liked, but passionately loved. Good is the enemy of great. Stanley Kubrick sets up a shot while on set. (Warner Bros.) Stanley Kubricks Sound Odyssey When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles Price: $68-$207 Info: laphil.com When it comes to playwriting, Broadway has a supply problem. Although the new generation of American dramatists is blazingly talented, the great majority of these writers prefer the creative flexibility of more intimate stages. New dramas that can fill Broadways grand proscenium houses arent rolling off the assembly line. But theres never any shortage of brilliant actors. And the right talent can sometimes turn the middling and the middlebrow into must-see theater. On Broadway this fall, three respectable plays that pose no danger of becoming modern classics are given a boost by the marquee names drawing in the crowds. Celebrity casting isnt the secret of success. No one could describe Elaine May in The Waverly Gallery, Daniel Radcliffe in The Lifespan of a Fact or Janet McTeer in Bernhardt/Hamlet as Hollywood carpetbaggers prestige-hunting between movie gigs. Broadway needs the 86-year-old May, a sui generis legend, more than she needs Broadway. Radcliffe, his fortune made as the film face of Harry Potter, seems to choose projects more on the basis of artistic growth than career enhancement. And McTeer, the Tony-winning English actress whos a celebrity only among connoisseurs of the finest acting, doesnt grace American stages often enough but whenever she does its an unmissable event. Advertisement When Kenneth Lonergans The Waverly Gallery had its New York premiere off-Broadway in 2000, I never would have imagined that 18 years later, the plays Broadway premiere at the Golden Theatre would be brightening an otherwise mixed-bag season. Its not that I wasnt moved by Lonergans autobiographical drama, written to preserve the memory of his grandmother as senility clouds her mind and her family struggles to care for her. In the plays off-Broadway premiere, Eileen Heckart brought a bracing astringency to the character of Gladys Green, an old school Greenwich Village lefty, once a lawyer and still the proprietor of an art gallery that is more hobby than business. But the scrupulously well-observed drama seemed almost too modest a canvas for Heckart. May creates an even larger impression in the role, but Lila Neugebauers production expands to accommodate her extraordinary performance. If May finds a surprising amount of humor in Gladys confusion, its not because shes trying to convert Lonergans naturalistic dialogue into laugh lines. Her talent to amuse is simply coded in her DNA. But Mays comedy, as anyone who has seen her classic routines with Mike Nichols can attest, is rooted in the recognizable. She captures Gladys circular behavior the repeated conversation starters, the same lost words, the panic over missing keys that are wrapped around her wrist with a realism so acute it provokes laughter as a kind of defense. When I was in New York, I happened to spend a little time with an elderly friend with memory problems, so I knew what it meant when Gladys went on a fishing expedition inside her bag: Whatever it was she was searching for would never be found. The glint of baffled urgency in Mays eyes cries out for a medical diagnosis. But the performance is never showy in its authenticity. This is an ensemble play, and it is mainly through Mays exchanges with her fellow actors that she imparts what is essential and ineradicable about her characters vanishing personality. In Gladys tender interactions with her grandson Daniel (an affecting Lucas Hedges), who lives next door to her and has reason to feel overtaxed by her condition, May shows us the instinctive kindness that informed not only Gladys politics but also her private life. With Michael Ceras Don Bowman, a floundering artist who wanders into Gladys gallery one day and is invited to move in and show his work, May radiates the communal (and, yes, undeniably chaotic) spirit of a bygone era that is growing more distant every day. When Gladys daughter, Ellen (Joan Allen), and son-in-law, Howard (David Cromer), both psychiatrists with more cut-and-dried personalities, grow frustrated with her repetitive chatter and uncooperative behavior, a hurt look washes over Mays face that brings to mind a beloved pet thats been swatted with a newspaper. She cant understand why everyone she loves is so furious just because she wants to feed the dog table scraps, make incessant small talk and adjust her hearing aid after it has already been set. The Waverly Gallery is deeply moving, but its a small-scale work. I kept wanting the play to be about more than Gladys decline and the strained perseverance of a loving family. Lonergan suggests that whats fading isnt just one womans sharp mind but a particular worldview, a way of life no longer possible in a New York that values real estate more than relationships. These elements are embedded in the play, which builds to a crisis when Gladys is forced to give up the gallery that is her connection with the outside world. But they remain inchoate. May, however, embodies both what is explicit and implicit in the drama. Her unforgettable performance is a testament to a loss that ripples beyond her character. Daniel Radcliffe in The Lifespan of a Fact, directed by Leigh Silverman at Studio 54. (Peter Cunningham) A debate has cropped up about whether The Lifespan of a Fact, under the direction of Leigh Silverman at Studio 54, credibly explores the journalistic conflict between factual accuracy and poetic license in long-form reporting. The play, by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell, was inspired by the account of the strained working relationship between essayist John DAgata and fact checker Jim Fingal. As Fingal looked more closely into the embellishments of DAgatas essay, the fact-checking process spun out of control. Some of the criticism directed at the play has been literal-minded to a Fingal-esque fault. A comedy about ink-stained kvetches, The Lifespan of a Fact amounts to a kind of fable about the tension between style and truth thats inherent in the writer-editor relationship. The political turmoil over the topic of fake news has changed the context in which we grapple with the subject, but the play hasnt much to say about creeping authoritarianism and the attacks on 1st Amendment freedoms. The Lifespan of a Fact is an entertaining and efficient comedy about journalism that freely uses exaggeration as a technique of lighthearted theatrical investigation. Its as sparkling and smart as a Vanity Fair expose and no more (or less) profound. After a flatfooted setup, the play takes off on a giddy ride that culminates in a standoff between Bobby Cannavales John and Radcliffes Jim. The adjudicator of their battle is Cherry Jones Emily, the editor of the publication that is about to go to press with Johns latest masterpiece, if only Jim, an underling at the magazine given an opportunity to prove himself, can stop niggling over every damn word in the piece. The actors are cracklingly good. Jones deserves a meatier role, but her character serves as a reality-check for the zaniness that occurs after Jim flies himself to Johns home in Las Vegas to review his queries in person. Hes hoping to have more success than hes had on the phone with an author hellbent on defending every indefensible liberty in the story. Cannavale, who towers over the diminutive Radcliffe, is an ideal acting foil for his young costar. His John is a rumpled bear of a man, whos been holed up in the house that belonged to his late mother. Still grieving her loss, hes in no mood to be harassed by an ambitious Harvard hairsplitter who thinks creative nonfiction is an oxymoron. Johns indifference to accuracy only inflames Jims compulsive persnicketiness. Radcliffes Jim drives the comedy. He understands that his fanatical nature can be insufferable, but he cant help himself. He has pages and pages of evidence contradicting names, numbers, dates, colors you name it. For him, theres something more at stake than a magazine article or a promotion: Truth, the basis of our shared reality, is on the line. Schematic as it is, The Lifespan of a Fact isnt always easy to swallow. But I believed every moment of Radcliffes committed performance, from his faultless American accent to the way he quakingly argues his characters case. Harry Potter will always be the role that defines him, but his confidence as a stage actor keeps growing along with his gift for comic characterizations. Youll have to take my journalistic word that his performance is among the brightest this Broadway season. Janet McTeer in Theresa Rebecks Bernhardt/Hamlet, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel at American Airlines Theatre. (Joan Marcus) There arent many actors who could stand the test of playing Sarah Bernhardt, never mind the challenge of playing the Divine Sarah as she rehearses the role of Hamlet, one of the illustrious French actress more controversial triumphs. But McTeer, who won a Tony for her performance as Nora in A Dolls House (perhaps the finest piece of Ibsen acting Ive seen) was more than up to the task in Theresa Rebecks Bernhardt/Hamlet, which I saw before it ended its run at the American Airlines Theatre. The play isnt the supplest or most stylish of works, but it treats Bernhardt as a fully dimensional artist while empathizing with her plight as an aging female star frustrated by the paucity of worthy roles. The politics of Bernhardt/Hamlet are sadly evergreen. But more persuasive than the playwrights impassioned discussion of gender disparities in the arts is the fierce grace of McTeers galloping portrayal. Whatever music Moritz von Stuelpnagel managed to coax through his direction from the overwritten drama came from the star of this Roundabout Theatre Company production. McTeers voice, one of the most seductive instruments in the English-language theater, vibrates with a tone that can simultaneously encompass gaiety and gravity. Rebeck belabors scenes to the point that I couldnt imagine sitting through Bernhardt/Hamlet with a lesser actor in the lead role. But I regret not being able to see the production again to marvel at McTeers majesty. One performer in her prime incarnated another and in the process gave us another example this Broadway season of the special alchemy of a transcendent talent shrewdly cast. charles.mcnulty@latimes.com Follow me @charlesmcnulty Hugh Grant, a self-proclaimed grumpy Londoner, wants to make clear that hes always been a somewhat reluctant star. Im not as crazy about show business as some other actors Ive met, he said recently, in a penthouse suite at the AKA Beverly Hills. Theres always been other things I wanted to do. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he was Hollywoods go-to exemplar of British bachelordom, projecting sarcasm and wit in a number of beloved romantic comedies, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and About a Boy. Promotional images and stills from the films, About a Boy, from left, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill. (Bruce Gilbert /for the Times / Gramercy Pictures / Clive Coot) Over the last decade, the 58-year-old Grant has slowed things down, reshaping himself into a character actor. When I was in my mid-40s I decided I just didnt want to do so much, he said. Then subsequently, as you hit 50, the business winds you down, and as it turns out, thats been rather nice. Advertisement This year, hes earned substantial praise for two very different performances that each indulge the nastier edges of his charisma as British politician turned alleged criminal Jeremy Thorpe in Stephen Frears BBC/Amazon miniseries A Very English Scandal, and as dog-food commercial star and greedy thief Phoenix Buchanan in Paddington 2. According to Grant, after years of playing variations on a persona, recently I have been playing parts which are more characterized. So, you know, theres more of a voice, and physical things: different movement, different eyes, different hair. And its been oddly liberating. I think I actually act better when Im more characterized. Im marvelous in a dog suit. Hugh Grant in A Very English Scandal. (Sophie Mutevelian / BBC / Blueprint Television) In A Very English Scandal, he stars as the closeted leader of Britains Liberal Party in the 1960s and 70s, whos hiding an affair with an unstable younger man named Norman Scott (Ben Whishaw), and is eventually accused of conspiring to murder him. The drama is based on a true story, one that Grant remembers well. I was in my teens at school when the whole scandal was happening. I was loving it. The whole of Britain was loving it. A prominent member of the establishment in his three-piece suit, with all these extraordinary dark secrets. And this incredible trial, with a crazy judge and all the things that Norman said. We were all just rubbing our hands and enjoying it like an episode of Monty Python. Thorpe is something of a villain, but the characters depth depends on Grants familiar romantic charm. Before he tries to kill Norman for threatening to out him, he first has to seduce him. And their affair is an unusually tender one. Hugh Grant in A Very English Scandal. (BBC / Blueprint Television) Im not sure how much of that is true, but I definitely decided we should go that way with our film, Grant said. If they were in fact in love when they had that relationship, then when hes trying to kill Norman, hes also killing the thing he loves. And thats kind of typical of the repressed Englishman: Mustnt go there. Thats messy, all that love business. Kill that. Grant, who has worked almost exclusively in film, acknowledges that he had to be coaxed into the idea of doing television, though the self-contained three-part miniseries is the length of a long movie. I was one of the last holdouts not to do television, he said, partly because I just didnt watch it. About two months ago one of my kids showed me how to work Netflix. Hugh Grant as Phoenix Buchanan in the family adventure Paddington 2. (Jay Maidment) Paddington 2, the universally acclaimed sequel to the London-set live-action animated comedy about a good-natured anthropomorphic bear, might seem like even more of a departure for Grant. He was a fan of Paul Kings original film but hadnt sought out the project. Well, one day a script turned up with a cover letter that said, Hi, were making Paddington 2, and theres the part of a washed-up narcissistic actor and we thought of you. This was hurtful, but I needed a job, Grant deadpanned. Hugh Grant as Phoenix Buchanan in the family adventure Paddington 2. (Jaap Buitendijk) Im moved by the film, he said. I cry at the end. Ive even tried to see the good in people I cant do it. I can only see the negative but Ive tried taking Paddingtons advice. Though hes eager to continue demonstrating his range as a performer, moving beyond his typecasting as an amiably sardonic Romeo, hes aware that his legacy is inextricably tied to a successful run of romantic comedies. Portraits of Hugh Grant. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) I dont wish to look a gift horse in the mouth, he said, because really the success I had in those films was a gift. But it was never a genre I was particularly mad about. I prefer people killing each other. He even claims to be unaware that Richard Curtis 2003 Love, Actually has been canonized as the ultimate holiday rom-com. I knew that in England, everyone watches it at Christmas, he said. I didnt know that happened here. I must get my accountant on that. calendar@latimes.com Three of the best new shows this fall are also three of the most inventive and heartbreaking. In Lodge 49, Maniac and Kidding, a primary character has lost a beloved family member and struggles to cope with the aftermath. In facing their loss, they find a world that doesnt quite make sense, and so do we, as we watch the surreal moments that dot each series. And while the shows are wrapped in grief, theyre also suffused with humor. Kidding (Showtime) Jim Carrey as Jeff Pickles in Kidding. (Erica Parise / Showtime) Advertisement Creator Dave Holstein has fashioned a story about Jeff Piccirillo, a.k.a. Mr. Pickles (Jim Carrey), a performer in the Mister Rogers mold who is barely holding his world together a year after the death of his son. His efforts at dealing with grief are met with impatience from his show producer father, Seb (Frank Langella), anger from ex-wife Jill (Judy Greer) and patchy understanding from puppeteer sister Deirdre (Catherine Keener). Director and executive producer Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) adds his signature melancholic whimsy to the proceedings. The reviews: The Hollywood Reporters Tim Goodman praises the shows originality, keen self-awareness, exceptional writing and consistently great acting, which contributes to Showtimes best and most binge-worthy series in a long time. But Varietys Caroline Framke is more equivocal. It tries to capture the kind of strange and bruising tone that made Eternal Sunshine so good; sometimes, it even succeeds. But more often than not, Kidding feels caught between too many tones and ideas to become quite as distinctive as it could be. The scoop: Gondry says his main contribution was to ground the character and make sure that he was not too much outside reality, and make in a way a merging between Jim and his character. He also designed roughly half of Mr. Pickles puppets. I dont have this culture of the hand puppet because it was not really used in France, he notes, adding they didnt want any resemblance to The Muppet Show. We really wanted to create a unique universe, so the fact that I was not really exposed to this type of puppet when I was growing up helped with that. Maniac (Netflix) Jonah Hill and Emma Stone in a scene from Netflixs Maniac. (Michele K. Short / Netflix) Patrick Somerville and Cary Fukunaga developed Maniac based on a Norwegian series. Emma Stone and Jonah Hill star as Annie and Owen, two deeply troubled souls who meet during an equally troubled drug trial, set in a recognizable yet slightly dystopian America. As they navigate the trials dubious regimen, they are forced to revisit the damage in their pasts through induced hallucinations, in which they often end up together. But its a lot stranger than that. The reviews: Brian Tallerico from RogerEbert.com calls it a fascinating, brilliant show, adding, I needed Maniac in ways I didnt even understand before watching it. You could say it was the perfect drug. But Colliders Allison Keene likens the show to watching someone elses dream. Thats both good and bad because some scenes are left mid-thought, while others take long detours that arent particularly interesting. The scoop: As director, Fukunaga (True Detective) says that they didnt think of the shows surreal elements until later in the development process, and it came out of the idea of normality, and what that entails. The baseline reality needed to be somehow off kilter, one step away from our own. It wasnt just to be weird and futuristic, it was really just to create a shift, giving the audience a sense of being a stranger in a world that was a few degrees askew. Likewise, the myriad film genre settings for the hallucinations: Everything had a seed somewhere in baseline reality, whether it was Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief on screen in the background, or the idea of the mob mentality of Owens family it all kind of had ties to reality. Lodge 49 (AMC) Sonya Cassidy as Liz Dudley, Wyatt Russell as Sean Dud Dudley in a scene from Lodge 49. (Jackson Lee Davis / AMC) Created by Jim Gavin, Lodge 49 centers on a sweet, slightly doofy former surfer named Dudley (Wyatt Russell), who goes by Dud and embodies the nickname. With no job or home, limping badly thanks to a deadly snake bite that managed not to kill him, and aching for the father he lost a year earlier to an apparent drowning, Dud is a lost soul until he finds a ring from a local lodge, part of the Order of the Lynx. He believes that Lodge 49 and its inhabitants will give his life meaning. As he embarks on his quest, Dud is surrounded by other lost souls, including his sister Liz (Sonya Cassidy) and lodge member Ernie (Brent Jennings). The occasional hallucination is par for the course in this oddly timeless Long Beach setting. The reviews: Hank Steuver of the Washington Post calls Lodge 49 exactly the right kind of weird, noting that the supernatural moments never get in the way of the shows essential and delightful magic. Indiewires Ben Travers isnt as convinced: While each hour can feel like a respite from dense dramas of overwhelming intensity, the Southern California story also feels minor to the point of being inconsequential. The scoop: Russell plays the woebegone Dud with a heart as open as the ocean hes afraid to return to. Very rarely do you get to be able to play a protagonist who leads with joy, he notes. Normally, when its some really difficult dilemma that theyre in, youre always dealing with the negativity inside of the obstacle. With Dud, you get to deal with the joyful aspect of the obstacle, which is why I loved going to work every day. calendar@latimes.com While you may not have been invited to Prince Harrys wedding to Meghan Markle, which was watched by 29.9 million Americans, fans of the couple can find themselves immersed in the ceremony during a special exhibition in Windsor Castle which opened Oct. 26. Integrated into four rooms in the Castle as part of the larger site tour, A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reveals the duchess Clare Waight Keller-designed wedding gown, as well as the Dukes Blues and Royals ensemble. Caroline de Guitaut, senior curator of decorative arts at the Royal Collection Trust, began planning the exhibit in January, months ahead of the royal wedding. It spans several rooms, from the Green Drawing Room, where Alexi Lubomiriski snapped the official wedding party photos, to the ornate, gold-adorned Grand Reception Room, where queen hosted the couple in their post-wedding reception. The focal point is Markles dress, which is displayed along with its five-meter-long custom veil. Theres a quite strong tradition of displaying royal wedding dresses after the royal wedding, which stretches back centuries, de Guitaut says. To be able to display the dress here at Windsor Castle and have all the other pieces in the surroundings in which they were actually worn originally is a special thing to do. Its a fantastic display for the Royal Collection to mount on behalf of the duke and duchess and for them to share these things and allow visitors to see them up close. Much detail is revealed about the big day in an audio and video guide narrated by the duke and duchess of Sussex themselves, who sat down for an interview with de Guitaut. This marks the first time a couple has offered audio narration for a royal wedding exhibition. In the audio, Markle explains her desire to work with Waight Keller, who is the artistic director at French fashion house Givenchy. Advertisement I wanted a female designer, the duchess says in the audio narration. That was very important. I wanted a British designer, because I wanted to embrace my home in that way, and also someone who was working for a brand that had global, international impact in a way that didnt feel completely isolated to just one territory. Because Im American, I wanted something that was reflective of the world, in a way. The diamond and platinum bandeau tiara lent to The Duchess of Sussex by the queen. On display at Windsor Castle until Jan. 6, 2019. (Royal Collection Trust / (c) All Rights Reserved) I wanted something very sculptural, that looked very modern and pristine, and gave the idea of almost it floating, Waight Keller says in the guide. This is something thats actually quite a Givenchy signature in the history of the house and was something I wanted to interpret in a very modern way. In a smaller room, the exhibition uncovers the evolution of the dress design, as well as the creation of the veil. The gown, which has only six seams, as well as the floating hemline, was created from bespoke double silk cady fabric that Waight Keller had made in Italy. The veil, crafted by French couture embroidery house Maison Lesage, is a thin silk tulle covered in floral designs that represent 53 Commonwealth countries, as well as Markles home state of California and her new home of Kensington Palace. Having established the shape and feel and look of the dress, attention was then turned to the veil and how that would play a part in the ensemble, de Guitaut says. The duchess, in discussion with Clare, decided that she would like to reference the Commonwealth, especially in view of Prince Harrys role as a Commonwealth ambassador, to which hed recently been appointed by queen. They began discussing ideas of how they could reference this in the ensemble in some way and the veil was the obvious choice. Clare began looking at the idea of flags, but she realized that probably wouldnt work. And then they started looking at flowers. But instead of using national flowers as emblems they looked to the wild flowers of the different Commonwealth countries. The wedding dress of The Duchess of Sussex, created by the British designer Clare Waight Keller, artistic director at the French fashion house Givenchy. The five-meter-long veil is made from silk-tulle and embroidered with the flora of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. (Royal Collection Trust / (c) All Rights Reserved) Overall, the gown and veil took 3,900 hours to make and 50 people to do so. Both remain the private property of the duchess, although the Royal Collection Trust has been looking after the ensemble since the royal wedding in preparation for the exhibition. Its displayed side-by-side with Prince Harrys wool frock coat uniform of the Household Cavalry, which was made by British tailors Dege & Skinner. I chose the frock coat as a uniform, with permission from my grandmother, because I think its one of the smartest Household Cavalry uniforms, the duke says in his audio guide narration. He adds, It can be incredibly warm inside, which no doubt some people probably saw. But it is one of my favorites. Also on display are the pageboy uniform worn by Prince George and the bridesmaids dress worn by Princess Charlotte, which was also designed specially by Waight Keller. A replica of Markles bouquet was made in silk by florist Philippa Craddock, who provided the floral arrangements for the royal wedding. Visitors can also marvel at the tiara that sparkled atop Markles head on her special day. The diamond and platinum bandeau tiara is on loan in the exhibition from the queen. When it came to the tiara on the day I was very fortunate to be able to choose this gorgeous Art Deco style bandeau tiara, Markle says in the audio guide. Harry and I had gone to Buckingham Palace to meet with her majesty the queen to select one of the options that were there, which was an incredibly surreal day, as you can imagine. That one, as we tried them on, stood out. She continues: I think it was just perfect because it was so clean and simple. And I think also, to that point, an extension of what Clare and I had been trying to do with the dress, which was having something that could be so incredibly timeless but still feel modern. Since the royal wedding in May, Windsor Castle, which is open to the public most days of the year and typically attracts 1.3 million visitors annually, has seen a rise in its guests. Any major royal event will, of course, further traffic and interest visiting and finding out about the residence where it happens to have taken place, de Guitaut says. There have definitely been more visitors coming to the castle this summer. A Royal Wedding will be on display in Windsor Castle through Jan. 6 and then will move to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland on June 14, 2019. There are no further plans to exhibit the Duke and Duchess wedding collection, and de Guitaut notes that its up to Markle where the dress goes next. And ultimately, the gown will live on as inspiration to future brides. This dress was created to be worn as all royal wedding dresses are in a very specific environment, de Guitaut says. Each one reflects the personal choice of the bride. [But] the fact that this dress is so elegant, its so timeless, and it has this modern feel, it is a style that would be fairly easy to replicate. Thats something that never goes out of fashion. Although a bride wants to look unique, theres something about the timeless quality that I think is appealing to everyone. A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Where: Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1NJ When: Through Jan. 6, 2019 Info: windsor.gov.uk The fragility and fallibility of history is on display in the illuminating documentary Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache, directed by Pamela B. Green. Early in the film, Green asks a host of Hollywood elites directors, producers, writers if theyve ever heard of Alice Guy-Blache, the first female film director. Almost uniformly, they respond in the negative, and Greens film, produced and narrated by Jodie Foster, dives deep into the frustrating mystery of why Guy-Blache has been nearly erased from film history, while also seeking to correct the record. This biographical documentary quickly details the facts of Guy-Blaches early life in Paris. As a young secretary working for Leon Gaumont, she was the first person to suggest using the new camera and projection technology to film narrative stories, rather than simply documenting real life. For the record: The review misstates the year and location Guy-Blache began running her own studio. It was 1910, not 1908, and it was initially located in Flushing, N.Y., before moving to Fort Lee, N.J. in 1912. Also, a biker identified as Bob is the widower of Guy-Blache's granddaughter, not great-granddaughter. Finally, narrator Jodie Foster is an executive producer on the film, not a producer.This article was originally published Nov. 20 at 2:15 p.m. Guy-Blache started writing and directing her own films, starting with The Cabbage Fairy in 1896. Known for her inventive camera and editing techniques, incisive cultural commentary and excellent humor, she was quickly named the head of production at Gaumont. She influenced young Sergei Eisenstein and later Alfred Hitchcock, and by 1908 she was running her own movie production studio, Solax, in Fort Lee, N.J. So why on earth was this pioneering filmmaker, who essentially came up with the idea for cinema as we know it, lost to the annals of time? Why isnt her name as ubiquitous as Lumiere or Melies or Edison? Green is like a dog with a bone when it comes to this mystery, finding anyone and everyone somewhat connected to Guy-Blache. She tracks down trinkets in the garage of a biker named Bob, the widower of Guy-Blaches great-granddaughter. She Skypes with a family trees worth of cousins related to one of Guy-Blaches cameramen, and interviews seemingly every film professor, historian and preservationist in the state of California. Advertisement What starts as a biography turns into a detective thriller as Green crisscrosses the globe, searching for clues as to why Guy-Blache has been forgotten. The answer: men, mostly. The Depression hit, her philandering husband Herbert ran off to Hollywood, and Guy-Blache retreated with her children to France, where the newly industrialized film business wasnt welcoming to an older woman whod been in America for over a decade. World wars didnt help the archival process, male interviewers didnt track her down and Guy-Blache didnt get a chance to search for her films until the 1950s, after many were already lost. While some historians sought to preserve Guy-Blaches name and influence, all too many miscredited her work and wrote her out of history. Greens film serves as an incredibly necessary tonic, reestablishing the prominent role of women at the advent of cinema, when anything was possible, and there was no notion that directing was necessarily a mans job. As Hollywood grapples with its representational issues, its vital to restore a history that places women behind the camera. Its shocking and sad to realize the ways that Guy-Blache has been overlooked, but Be Natural, so named after the signs the director would hang in her studio, is an important step in rewriting that fluid history. The good news, which Be Natural doesnt mention, is that, perhaps in part thanks to the massive hunt, restoration and preservation efforts detailed in the documentary, 14 of Guy-Blaches films are now included on a massive new DVD box-set from Kino Lorber, Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers, and also includes films by Lois Weber, Helen Holmes, Mabel Normand, Grace Cunard and Dorothy Davenport Reid. ------------- Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 43 minutes Playing: Starts April 19, Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica ------------ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies TOKYO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Carlos Ghosn, chairman of the Nissan Motor Co., Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. alliance, was arrested Monday evening for allegedly violating a financial law involving the 64-year old misreporting his corporate salary and using the company's money for his own purposes. Ghosn, prior to his arrest, was questioned Monday by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of under-reporting his corporate salary, with investigators believing Ghosn may have filed corporate financial statements and entries that were several hundreds of millions of yen (several millions of U.S. dollars) less than actual earnings, in violation of Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Law. While saying it will fully cooperate with the prosecutors' investigation of Ghosn, Nissan has said that it will propose dismissing Ghosn as chairman at a board meeting among multiple "serious misconducts," and believes the undeclared earnings were used for personal reasons by Ghosn. Greg Kelly, a member of the board, was also arrested Monday on allegations of violating Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and Nissan has indicated Kelly will also be dismissed for his involvement in improper financial practices. Ghosn's improprieties, according to Nissan, came to light several months ago following a whistleblower reporting the chairman's misconduct. For the financial year ended March 2017, Ghosn was paid 1.098 billion yen (9.73 million U.S. dollars) and 735 million yen (6.52 million U.S. dollars) for the following year, Nissan's annual securities reports showed. In 1999, Ghosn became Nissan's chief operating officer and was charged with boosting the at-the-time ailing automaker's market and profit margins, under a capital alliance with Renault. In 2000, Ghosn was promoted to president of Nissan and turned the automaker around through cost-cutting and restructuring measures, including the closure of some of the firm's plants. Ghosn, a French citizen who was born in Brazil, became CEO in 2001 and convinced shareholders he would stay with the automaker until it had been fully rehabilitated. Continuing with his aggressive cost-cutting and streamlining measures, he became Renault's CEO in 2005 and advocated for joint procurement and development under the Nissan-Renault alliance. Nissan's headquarters in Tokyo's neighboring Yokohama were raided by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office for evidence related to the allegations against Ghosn. A spokesperson for Nissan Motor said of the matter that "We are currently checking the facts." Its tempting to believe the great writers of childrens literature are ageless souls forever in playtime mode, the worlds harsher realities kept at bay by a boundless imagination thats the ultimate in noise-canceling technology. But the opposite is usually true: Author hardships are what actively informed Peter Pans fight to stay young, Charlies negotiating the Chocolate Factory, the wizarding trials of Harry Potter, and plenty of other classics. Swedens kid-lit queen Astrid Lindgren, who died in 2002, didnt create self-possessed 9-year-old supergirl Pippi Longstocking simply because a child lifting horses and outsmarting adults sounded nifty (although it does). According to Becoming Astrid, a revealing early-years biopic from Danish filmmaker and avowed Lindgren-ophile Pernille Fischer Christensen, one emotionally turbulent time in Lindgrens young life might very well have fortified for her why perseverance and strength should stand out among the traits of her many pint-sized protagonists. After a brief framing device dramatizing the older Lindgren receiving inquisitive fan mail from adoring children, we meet Astrid (a wonderfully expressive Alba August) at 16 as a distracted, goofball nuisance in her small towns religious farming community, where her churchwarden father (Magnus Krepper) and strict mother (Maria Bonnevie) run a tight household of manners, hard work and rules. Church is boring, a school dance is a performance opportunity for carefree flailing about, and elder hypocrisy is worth pushing back against, or maybe even screaming into the night about. Advertisement When Astrids writing lands her an intern position at the local newspaper, she believes shes found an ideal outlet for not just her talents, but transforming into a free-thinking, modern adult woman of the 1920s. Her editor and boss, kind-faced family friend Blomberg (Henrik Rafaelson), a married-but-getting-divorced man with several children, believes in her abilities, too, giving Astrid room to report stories and contribute pieces. Hes also attracted to her, though, and while Astrids response, as depicted here, is consensual, their inevitable affair hardly comes off as romantic or wise. Getting pregnant at 18 wipes the promise right off Astrids face. The eras conventions and patriarchal Swedish law dictate a limited range of options that tie her to Blomberg who wants to marry her but needs to hide the out-of-wedlock child from his suing spouse and require giving birth inside more liberal-minded Denmark. Astrid wants nothing more than to raise Lars, whom she places with a Danish caretaker (Trine Dyrholm) specializing in the left-behind children of teenage Swedish mothers. Yet being stuck in Stockholm making a meager living as a secretary, saving for trips to Copenhagen to see her son, and dealing with her familys shame and Blombergs court woes test every ounce of resolve she has. For anyone hoping to see this pressurized, fitful time in a monumental writers leavened with examples of her tale-spinning talents, Christensens coming-of-age slice, written with Kim Fupz Aakeson, isnt that kind of greatness-awaits biopic. Occasionally we hear in voiceover one of the fan letters read by a child, but Christensen saves Astrids storytelling for when it counts, in a crucial scene at the end that suggests this special power as a precious, bonding, life-affirming thing. Up till then, under the claustrophobic framing of Erik Molberg Hansens cinematography and the mostly melodrama-free direction, Astrids hardship of thwarted ambition and disrupted motherhood is presented as both what becomes a writer, and what could easily un-become one, too. The films occasional flatness of tone isnt always well-used these may be the raw materials for a classic Hollywood weepie, but sometimes you want to see filmmaking, not a camera pointed in the general direction of whos talking. Yet as Becoming Astrid wends its way, its also sometimes a sly biopic dare not just, can you see the looming legend in a single unwed mother scraping by? But also, would you have thought to look? ------------ Becoming Astrid In Swedish and Danish with English subtitles Not rated Running time: 2 hours, 3 minutes Playing: Starts Nov. 23, Laemmle Royal, West Los Angeles See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies Every generation gets the Robin Hood it deserves, and the 2018 Robin Hood is sleek, modern and retrofitted for a radical political landscape. Take in that Shepard Fairey-inspired wanted poster, the woodcut-style closing credits sequence rendered in Constructivist shades of red and black, our masked, hooded hero hurling Molotov cocktails, and you just might wonder: Is Robin Hood antifa? But Robin Hood has always been anti-fascist, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, living with his pals in Sherwood Forest while battling the tyrannical Sheriff of Nottingham and disrupting abusive systems of power. Hes the very definition of a radical leftist activist. The new iteration maintains the medieval setting while bringing the classic story to a contemporary thematic landscape, using a street art aesthetic and early Soviet cinematic references to position the landed lord of Loxley as a proletarian hero. Played by the beguiling Welsh actor Taron Egerton, this Robin Hood is younger than most actors who have taken the hood, suited in trim quilted leather and minimalist robes, sporting a clean, sharp do. He also has a traumatic back story, having been taken from his land and love Marian (Eve Hewson) and conscripted to fight in the Crusades. The holy war also gets the modern treatment, as soldiers engage in guerrilla street warfare against their enemies. There are no pitched battles in sight this looks more like the cinematic depictions of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but with bows and arrows. Its in battle that Robin meets his best ally, who starts as an enemy. Jamie Foxx plays a Moor warrior who stows away to England to revenge his sons death, and engages Robin to help him do it. He lets Robin call him John and trains the young lord to infiltrate the inner circle of the Sheriff (Ben Mendelsohn) while robbing the coffers blind, disguised as The Hood. The idea is to take the whole enterprise down from the inside, choking off the funding of the war earned through brutal taxation. Theres even a fun little Reagan-era Iran-Contra twist to that. Advertisement The first time Robin Hood appeared on film was 110 years ago, and the tale necessarily requires a thorough overhaul. Writers Ben Chandler and David James Kelly hew to the original lore while drawing out the parts of the characters story that make him most sympathetic, while director Otto Bathurst gives the project a visual makeover and a jolt of adrenaline. Foxx also enlivens the proceedings, especially in the first half of the film, during the rapid-fire training montages. His breathless enthusiasm for vengeance is far more compelling than Robin mooning over Marian. The second half of the film loses that energy as John fades to the background while Robin, Marian and a love rival, Will (Jamie Dornan), struggle for control of a jumbled uprising. Stylistically, it seems to take its cues straight from Sergei Eisensteins revolutionary 1925 film Strike, with plenty of high-contrast images and low angles, the action racing along the rickety scaffolds of the mining community crushed under the sheriffs boot. And while it plays fast and loose with loaded political iconography, this Robin Hood brings a whole new dimension to this age-old tale. Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic. ------------- Robin Hood Rated: PG-13, for extended sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive references Running time: 1 hour, 56 minutes Playing: Starts Nov. 21 in general release ------------ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies Alfonso Cuarons Roma has been the talk of the international film world since it won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in September, and at first but only at first its hard to see exactly why. For what all the fuss has done, as pre-release fusses inevitably do, is create expectations and misapprehensions. Not about the quality of the movie, which is impeccable, but about its very nature. Unlike other highly publicized projects like the gangbusters A Star Is Born or Black Panther, Roma is an extremely quiet, even meditative picture. Its a quite personal project played at the softer pitch of reality, rather than the higher frequency of drama by writer-director-producer Cuaron, whose childhood experiences are the bedrock of this family story and who also served as the films editor and cinematographer. Advertisement But because intense, life-threatening events arrive unbidden in these lives, and because the largely nonprofessional cast responds beautifully and without obvious effort, by the time Roma earns its R rating, we feel we havent merely witnessed a life, weve been fully immersed in one, and that makes all the difference emotionally. Cuaron is one of contemporary cinemas most accomplished and versatile directors, with movies like the space opera Gravity, the dystopian Children of Men and even Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to his credit. Although Cuarons resume is determinedly eclectic, Roma is something new even for him. Echoing in some ways the classics of Italian neo-realism, especially in its use of black and white, it is an epic of everydayness, as polished a personal film as you are likely to see. Set in 1970 and 1971 and named after Colonia Roma, the Mexico City neighborhood Cuaron grew up in, Roma is as much a way-back machine as a movie, a boggling exact replica in objects as well as people from the directors memory of this very specific time and place. RELATED: With a major push into this years fall film festivals, Netflix flexes its awards season muscle Theh film features, from left, Veronica Garcia, Daniela Demesa, Marco Graf, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey and Carlos Peralta Jacobson. (Carlos Somonte) To help set the scene, wizardly production designer Eugenio Caballero (Pans Labyrinth) found a Mexico City house scheduled for demolition and reconfigured it to nearly duplicate Cuarons boyhood home. The directors sympathetic family members saw to it that an estimated 70% of the furniture on-screen are the items he saw as a child. Cuaron also insisted that the cast members remind him of the real people who inspired the characters. After a literal village-to-village search for the pictures protagonist, he found schoolteacher Yalitza Aparicio, luminous as Cleo, the familys live-in maid/nanny modeled after the woman Cuaron considers a second mother. The director not only wrote part of Cleos dialogue in Mixtec, one of his countrys indigenous languages, but he also hired Aparicios best friend to play her best friend in the picture so that they could be comfortable speaking Mixtec together. That verisimilitude is, not surprisingly for a filmmaker of Cuarons abilities, no more than a means to an end. Roma is not a story of childhood remembered so much as childhood reflected upon from the wider, more sophisticated vantage point of adulthood the better to determine what actually happened and what it might mean. At its core, Roma is the story not of the young Cuaron, his siblings or his parents, but of Cleo, the emotional and physical constant in his life. Though set decades ago, it deals with very contemporary themes like the power of sisterhood and the nature of family and how both are necessary as bulwarks against the fragility and unfairness of life. First thing you notice about Roma, aside from its intricate Dolby Atmos sound design, is the nature of its glowing black-and-white wide-screen cinematography. Shot with a large-format digital camera and featuring frequent and hypnotic camera pans, Roma is not photographed by Cuarons regular cinematographer, the brilliant three-time Oscar winner Emmanuel Lubezki. Due to a scheduling conflict, the job fell to Cuaron himself, with impressive results. Roma begins by following Cleo through her exhausting days, processing an enormous amount of laundry and housework and sticking like a second skin to the four children in her charge, putting them to bed, waking them up and doing everything in between. RELATED: Alfonso Cuaron delves into his childhood for Roma and already talk turns to Oscars Yalitza Aparicio as Cleo and Marco Graf as Pepe in Alfonso Cuarons Roma. (Netflix) Though the childrens mother, Sofia (Marina de Tavira), is involved, their doctor father is rarely there. Hes idolized when he does come home, carefully maneuvering his Ford Galaxy into a parking area thats just a hair too small. The dramatic engine of Roma is the parallel crises Cleo and Sofia go through, and how both the women and the family rise to meet the challenges. First the return of the familys father from a conference in Canada keeps getting postponed and postponed, with Sofia increasingly frantic, until the inevitable happens. At roughly the same time, Cleo, who has been set up by her best friend with a young man from the military, endures unexpected consequences to that liaison. Even though barriers of class remain between employer and employee, they realize that they have to reconfigure the family to survive not only the everyday but also unexpected tragedy. One of Romas gifts is its ability to subtly interweave the political state of the nation with this personal story, culminating in a visually extraordinary re-creation of a notorious moment in modern Mexican history, the 1971 Corpus Christi massacre of university students. Though it takes the risk of appearing too quiet too long, Roma and its melding of the personal with a glimpse of a society veering toward collapse is incontestably persuasive, a film whose like we will probably not see again. ------------- Roma Rating: R, for graphic nudity, some disturbing images and language Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes Playing: Opens Nov. 21 at Landmark, West Los Angeles (also streaming on Netflix beginning Dec. 14) Nancy Garcia, Marina de Tavira and Yalitza Aparicio discuss working with Alfonso Cuaron on Netflixs Roma, which won the top prize at the 2018 Venice Film Festival and is generating major awards season buzz. kenneth.turan@latimes.com @KennethTuran Until almost the day he died, the Holocaust would not let Claude Lanzmann rest. Even though the French directors 1985 Shoah has a running time of 9 1/2 hours, making it one of the longest documentaries ever, he was unhappy with the large amount of material hed left out, stories and characters he felt were significant but that there simply hadnt been room for. So starting with 1997s A Visitor From the Living, Lanzmann mined his hundreds of hours of interviews to produce stand-alone documentaries about individuals whose stories he felt must be told, like the testament of Benjamin Murmelstein, controversial head of the Jewish Council at Theresienstadt who was the focus of 2013s extraordinary The Last of the Unjust. Shoah: Four Sisters will be the last of these projects, because Lanzmann died in Paris earlier this year at age 92, just one day after his new film opened in French cinemas. Advertisement As its title indicates, Four Sisters is an omnibus film joining four separate Lanzmann interviews each about an hour in length and each presenting a different woman who has a mesmerizing story to tell of Holocaust struggle and survival. These women are related only metaphorically sisters united by suffering and each story stands alone. But once you hear one, you will want to hear them all. The women are that compelling, the stories they tell so beggar belief. (The films will be shown locally by the Laemmle chain in groups of two, making it possible to see all four either on the same day or over succeeding days.) The accumulation of detail, the sense of the range of outrages seen and experienced, is conveyed by allowing these women to truly sink into their narratives. Though they speak in different languages English, Hebrew and Yiddish are heard and look and act nothing alike, the type of individuals they are as well as the nature of their stories have areas in common. Each speaker is invariably self-possessed and articulate, conversing with Lanzmann with dispassionate matter-of-factness about the horrors they endured. It also helps that everyone speaks at length, for the accumulation of detail, the sense of the range of outrages seen and experienced, is conveyed only by allowing these women to truly sink into their narratives. Though no two stories are alike in specifics the variety of terrifying situations the Holocaust produced seems never ending there are some themes that are heard again and again. For one thing, each of the women comments on how degraded and savage life became. We lived not a human life, it was animalistic, like a zoo, one woman says, while another puts it this way: Things were beyond belief. We were no longer human. I no longer knew what category we belonged to. But despite seeing and experiencing things that were beyond imagining, these women had some quality in them that, when added to happenstance and even luck, enabled them to survive. The first story, titled The Hippocratic Oath, is told by Ruth Elias, who as a teenager was deported to the Theresienstadt camp. She worked there as a nurse, remembering that two or three people died in my arms every night. Married in the camp to her boyfriend, she became pregnant and when she was sent to Auschwitz she came to the attention of the terrifying Nazi medical experimenter Josef Mengele, who coveted her unborn child. How this situation resolved is not to be forgotten. Next comes what is in some ways the most haunting story, The Merry Flea, told by Ada Lichtman. After experiencing deaths of those closest to her, she ended up at the Sobibor extermination camp where she had a very particular job. Hard as it is to believe, when German guards at Sobibor went home on leave they would take as gifts for their own children dolls left behind by the children executed at the camp. Since these dolls were often in wretched shape, it was Lichtmans job to both do repair work and sew made-to-order doll clothes for them. To hear Lichtman relate this as she herself fusses with dolls is not easy to shake. Ada Lichtman shares her story in Shoah: Four Sisters. (Cohen Media Group) Taking a different tack is the third story, Noahs Ark. Its told by Hanna Marton, who was part of the group of 1,684 Jews whom the Hungarian Rudolf Kasztner ransomed from Adolf Eichmann, an action whose morality is still controversial. The last story, Baluty, is told by Paula Biren and named after the area of Lodz, Poland, that was the site of an especially infamous ghetto. Biren tells her story in almost unaccented English, which makes her experiences more of a chilling reminder that future evils would not necessarily be confined to Eastern Europe. Yet as forthcoming as Biren is, there is one thing she refuses point blank to utter on camera, and that is so much as a word of Polish. There is, as it turns out, another area the women in Shoah: Four Sisters have in common, and that is the way other people shy away from their experiences. Nobody wanted to listen, nobody wanted to hear about it, Biren says of her postwar life, while Elias says of hers, people didnt understand, so we closed ourselves up. These four, like so many others, opened up to Claude Lanzmann, and the results speak eloquently for themselves. ------------ Shoah: Four Sisters In English, Hebrew and Yiddish with English subtitles Not rated Running time: 4 hours, 33 minutes Playing: Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills; Town Center 5, Encino kenneth.turan@latimes.com @KennethTuran Kurt Russell was born to play Santa Claus. Maybe not your fathers Santa Claus but one whos cooler and more subversive. Its a bit of casting karma that may not have been all that evident before his appearance in the clever and captivating new fantasy-adventure The Christmas Chronicles. Russell, he of the shaggy mane and those twinkly, crinkly eyes, digs into the classic role with a sleighful of energy, humor and gusto, deftly making the character his own with guidance from Matt Liebermans inventive, myth-bending script. His performance is a gas. Although Russells all-seeing, all-knowing St. Nick looms large, hes here to support and inspire the films co-protagonists: 10-year-old optimist Kate (Darby Camp) and her surly teen brother, Teddy (an especially good Judah Lewis), bickering, suburban Boston siblings adjusting to their first Yuletide since the death of their beloved dad (Oliver Hudson), a brave firefighter and Christmas devotee. On Christmas Eve, Kate and Teddys nurse mom, Claire (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), is called into work (I know, convenient), leaving Kate and Teddy to their own devices: Kate wants to do something Christmasy with the brother she misses hanging out with; budding car thief Teddy is not interested. Darby Camp, from left, Judah Lewis, Kurt Russell in the movie The Christmas Chronicles. (Michael Gibson / Netflix) Advertisement Until, that is, Kate finds evidence that Santa Claus may truly exist and, before you can say Jingle Bells, actually proves it. Though, of course, you have to believe in Santa and in yourself which is one of the films evergreen themes. What follows is a night on the town or many, many towns it will turn out as Kate and Teddy, after almost derailing Christmas, join up with Santa to surmount a host of largely magical and quite entertaining obstacles, help him deliver a planets worth of gifts and, yknow, save the whole dang holiday. Think Adventures in Babysitting but with a hopped-up sleigh and speed-demon reindeer. (Not for nothing, Babysitting helmer Chris Columbus is a producer here.) Director Clay Kaytis (The Angry Birds Movie) keeps things moving apace as he hurtles through a string of well-executed, often visual effects-heavy set pieces. These include more than one breakneck sleigh ride, rapid-fire chimney dives, a wild car chase, Teddys clash with a trio of this-could-be-you crooks, an amusing face-off with Chicago cops that lands Santa behind bars, and his subsequent and enjoyably rousing rendition of the bluesy Santa Claus Is Back in Town, with a first-rate assist from his cellmates: none other than Little Steven (as in Van Zandt) and the Disciples of Soul. Meanwhile, Kates Alice in Wonderland-like tumble through Santas bottomless sack of presents and into a fanciful world filled with even more vibrantly wrapped gifts and Santas eclectic army of troll-like, CGI elves (they speak a comical, vaguely Scandinavian language called Elvish) is an imaginative, gorgeously designed standout. The movie is certainly not without its logic gaps (Claire never calls the entire night to check on her kids? Really?). But, lets face it, anytime Santa Claus rears his red-suited self on film, all credibility bets are off, so best to focus on the copious fun and creativity on display. Oh, and theres a sweet cameo appearance at the end that definitely wraps things up with a bow. Not long ago, a movie as ambitious and audience-friendly as The Christmas Chronicles would have been a splashy theatrical holiday release with all the festive promotional trimmings. However, it being 2018, the film is bypassing the multiplex for release via Netflix. Its a tack, one hopes, that will help this comedy attract a wide and appreciative audience and perhaps distinguish from the rest of the watch-at-home barrage of Christmas movies. Still, for this one, the bigger your screen, the better. ------------- The Christmas Chronicles Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 43 minutes Playing: Streaming on Netflix Nov. 22 ------------ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies It shouldnt surprise anybody that the Internet employs a vast army of content-scrubbers determining what stays posted and what gets deleted, foot soldiers in a censorship business based on rules of appropriateness written in Silicon Valley. But who are these content moderators? Whats staying up and whats taken down? And whats the lasting effect of these sometimes personal, usually corporate biases when the online world, after 15 years of social media dominance, seems to exacerbate divides faster than it can manifest Mark Zuckerbergs shilled notion of a global community? The chilling, morally hyper-conscious film The Cleaners an issue documentary with 70s paranoid-thriller DNA from German filmmakers Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck introduces us to a handful of these hidden, meagerly paid office workers, cogs in a shadow business headquartered mainly in Manila in unassuming buildings. Theyre told not to overthink their decisions, to rapidly choose ignore or delete to meet quotas, while only a small percentage of their work is evaluated. One senses quickly that this job is the furthest thing from how we might imagine (wish?) Facebook or YouTube polices content, with the sober thoughtfulness of a legally trained judge overseeing an obscenity trial and measuring the public good. Rather, this looks like contracted, Kafkaesque immersion in the worlds travesties with little thought into what the consequences of this scavenging means. We dont get names, but we get glimpses of the toll their job takes. One worker was raised deeply religious but finds herself increasingly drawn to the sexual explicitness in what shes scanning. A young woman from a poor village near a landfill shots of people sifting through garbage being almost too perfect a visual metaphor always envisioned a better life for herself than doing dirty third-world work for a foreign company. Another moderator, meanwhile, supports the Philippines strongman president Rodrigo Dutertes social cleansing policies, and likens his own quick-draw cubicle moralizing to being a sniper for good versus evil. (The eerie vigilantism of Taxi Driver transposed to the digital realm springs to mind.) Advertisement Juxtaposed with the snapshots of these all-too-human online sentries are the gray areas getting skimmed over, the voices being squelched, the context thats lost, and the free-speech corners companies like Facebook are cutting to stay in business in authoritarian countries like Turkey. We meet a politically minded American artist whose nude rendering of Trump is blocked, her Facebook page closed as a result. A far-right-wing, racist firebrand, meanwhile, figures out how to get around social media guidelines that frequently shut down his site. On a larger scale, the perils are scarier. A London nonprofits attempt to create an online archive of the war in Syria is targeted because the culled videos including evidence of war crimes are tagged as terrorist propaganda. And in Myanmar, Rohingyan activist Nay San Lwin, meanwhile, calls out Facebook for inflaming the hate that fuels the genocide of his people. According to former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris, one of a handful of thoughtful experts interviewed, technology isnt unbiased, because if a billion people want outrage, social media platforms will mine that for money over and over again. It leaves tech leaders like Nicole Wong, whose policy work at Google and Twitter helped build the Internets rules and regulations, but who now grasps what its wrought, looking in her interview like a chastened apologist for the ideal of free speech online. She clearly never imagined shed be explaining on camera the reasoning behind why she would allow a photograph of Saddam Hussein hanging, but not footage of his bodys desecration afterward. If you had eight seconds, could you determine whether a gruesome photograph was gratuitous, or told a necessary story? Thousands of times a day? In exposing this unseen wing of a broken system, The Cleaners makes clear how when it comes to the Internet, the more private corporations decide what we all get to like, the worse off were all going to be. ------------ The Cleaners Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 28 minutes Playing: Starts Nov. 23, Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies There may be no funnier or sadder scene in a movie this year than the dance that takes place midway through The Favourite. A gathering is underway at the palace of Queen Anne, though if you didnt know better, the stilted, otherworldly air of formality and absurdity might put you in mind of Lewis Carrolls Wonderland. The weirdly anachronistic dance moves on display, meanwhile, are clearly the signature of Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, who has made nuttily arresting musical numbers (see Dogtooth and The Lobster) something of a career specialty. The sequence is hilarious but no more nonsensical, really, than some of the other rites and excesses characteristic of the 18th-century British aristocracy. This is very much to the movies point, though Lanthimos, to his credit, seeks to elicit more than our ridicule. The laughter stops dead and the tears begin to flow when the camera slowly zooms in on Queen Anne (a magnificent Olivia Colman) as she watches the festivities from her wheelchair. Her face is garishly painted and powdered but her eyes shimmer like jewels, opening windows into a deep, unendurable heartache. Its easy to be blase whenever an actor plays royalty, a challenge that often comes saddled with expectations of Judi Dench- or Helen Mirren-like greatness. But Colman, already chosen to succeed Claire Foy as Elizabeth II on Netflixs The Crown, gives the kind of performance that obliterates your assumptions, along with a handsome chunk of Fiona Crombies production design. A regal figurehead one minute and a wailing, helpless grotesque the next, Colmans Anne is at all times the aching human centerpiece of this splendidly wicked and almost indecently entertaining movie. If Anne earns the full weight of the audiences sympathy, she is hardly the only one you root for in a picture whose title immediately establishes a spirit of competition. Colman, rather than sucking the oxygen out of the room, sets the tempo for similarly stellar work from Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, the other two sides of a vividly intricate emotional and psychological triangle. The Favourite is a caustic swirl of a chamber epic, a bawdy, backbiting historical riff on All About Eve carried along on gusts of palace intrigue, lofty vitriol and illicit desire. It may be more pure, devious fun than any other great movie this year. Advertisement At first, the queens favorite is clearly Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz), duchess of Marlborough, a black-sheathed viper who has wormed her way into the position of Annes most trusted friend and consort. In the carefully researched but loosely fictionalized script by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, Sarah has become a chief tactician in Englands War of the Spanish Succession against France, a conflict that remains pointedly off-screen. She oversees the royal coffers and smacks down the scheming Tory leader Robert Harley (Nicholas Hoult, making an excellent impression beneath his flowing wig), who is trying to cut the severe land taxes that are financing the war. Emma Stone in the movie The Favourite. (Yorgos Lanthimos / 20th Century Fox) But Sarahs position is complicated by the arrival of her cousin Abigail Hill (Emma Stone), a commoner who turns up seeking employment, her bright, cheery demeanor recommending her more highly than her mud-stained garments. Abigail is put to work in the castle scullery, where, after enduring a few burns and lashes but also demonstrating some pluck and ingenuity, she earns Sarahs grudging respect and, in time, the queens affections. As for the queen herself, shes a regal wreck, her heart ravaged by years of grief, her body prone to attacks of gout and her mind inattentive to matters of state. She is thus an ideal target, or mark, for Sarah and Abigail as they orchestrate an escalating series of power plays, complicated by veiled threats, twisty alliances and sexual favors. A brief tussle with a lordly fool named Samuel Masham (Joe Alwyn) reveals Abigails skill at gaining the upper hand. Meanwhile, Sarahs hushed-up dalliances with the queen are among the many weapons she uses to manipulate her behind closed doors, plying her with giggling confidences one minute and pummeling her with insults the next. Called upon at one point to defend her withering remarks, Sarah replies, I will not lie; that is love! And The Favourite, nothing if not ruthlessly honest itself, does not exactly contradict her. The movies most troubling insight may be that cruelty and compassion are often interchangeable bedfellows a thesis that gets put to the test when Abigail supplants her rival in the queens boudoir. Beneath her friendly demeanor and farm-fresh smile, Abigail turns out to be as wily as Sarah and possibly even more cold-blooded, slipping easily beneath whatever mask will best suit the purpose at hand. And really, who can blame her? As it shuttles between upstairs and downstairs, often accompanied by mighty blasts of Bach and Handel, the story pauses on occasion to let Abigail recall the wretched days of poverty and prostitution her father once sold her into. We feel the seething desperation of life in a society where being a woman means absorbing endless blows to the flesh and spirit a dismal existence to which the movie, with its glorious portrait of three remarkable women battling for their own autonomy and satisfaction, presents a bracing corrective. Our feelings are expertly tugged this way and that, and the Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan (American Honey) brilliantly visualizes the sense of flux as he sends us hurtling from one end of the queens chamber to the other. The camera is forever in motion, stalking Abigail from behind as she makes her way down a corridor and partaking of Annes girlish glee as Sarah pushes her around in her wheeled throne. For all its exquisite furnishings and wall-to-wall tapestries, to say nothing of Sandy Powells supremely distinctive costumes, The Favourite never feels merely sumptuous or painterly. The bygone world it shows us is fiercely, almost viscerally present. More than any other world-renowned auteur I can think of, Lanthimos has succeeded in turning the Hollywood prestige drama into a vessel for his own boldly idiosyncratic style. (If The Killing of a Sacred Deer was Lanthimos art-horror ode to Stanley Kubricks The Shining, then The Favourite cannot help but recall the candlelit mise-en-scene of Barry Lyndon.) Set at the juncture of deadpan satire, dystopian horror and speculative fiction, his movies tend to unfold in rigorously arch, carefully monitored societies governed by laws as strict as they are bizarre. Seen in that light, Lanthimos decision to eviscerate the 18th-century British aristocracy seems startlingly intuitive. Like his previous films, The Favourite sometimes feels like an elaborate behavioral experiment, an impression it encourages by framing several shots through extreme wide-angle lenses. Demented cine-sociologist that he is, the director takes a hilariously dim view of the royal amusements and rituals on display, whether its a palace duck race it wouldnt be a Lanthimos movie without a few scene-stealing animals or a nude man being pelted with pomegranates in a kind of proto-paintball game. But these cutaways, much like the playful chapter headings and stray political-historical asides, ultimately feel like decorative elements, gilding a frame around the movies glorious central trio. What you are most apt to remember from The Favourite is the cold, mirthless sarcasm in Weiszs eyes as she quietly appraises her new adversary, or the mingling of excitement and fear in Stones face as she deftly steers herself out of one trap and into another. Most of all you remember Colman, in a performance that achieves its power, in no small part, by utterly destroying our understanding of what power looks like. She beams and scowls, brays and bleeds, shatters and disintegrates. She rules. RELATED: Emma Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos reinvent the costume drama with The Favourite ------------ The Favourite Rated: R, for strong sexual content, nudity and language Running time: 2 hours, 1 minute Playing: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood; the Landmark, West Los Angeles justin.chang@latimes.com | Twitter: @JustinCChang 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 WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Many Americans are anxious about their economic futures, as more than three in four Americans worry that today's children will be "worse off" than their parents, and nearly two thirds of voters are concerned about saving for retirement, a recent poll has shown. The findings were part of a study, conducted by Expedition Strategies and commissioned by the left-leaning Progressive Policy Institute, and surveyed 1,090 voters from across the political spectrum before the midterm election. The survey found that Americans feel relatively confident about their current circumstances, with 18 percent of voters ranking "jobs and economic growth" as one of their top three priorities for Congress. The U.S. economy grew by 3.5 percent in the third quarter, and has seen the lowest unemployment rate in decades. But voters were less "sanguine" about their children's prospects, the study said. Some 77 percent worry that today's children will be worse off than their parents, and there also seem to be concerns about keeping up with future expenses. Some 63 percent of voters are worried about saving for retirement, 72 percent say their taxes are "too high," and large majorities worry about health care costs and drug prices. The team also noted that they found "sharp" partisan differences in priorities and outlook, but have also discovered an "electorate hungering" for process on crucial issues, which is far more pragmatic about the solutions than either the extreme left or right is currently calling for. On a related note, a new study on U.S. Millennials released Monday by Ernst &Young LLP showed the group remain uncertain about their economic future as they manage high levels of student debt and costs of living. The study said Millennials continued to be risk averse, demonstrated in behaviors such as delaying home ownership, marriage and new business endeavors. "These new findings show that while Millennials feel more stable economically, they aren't convinced this stability will last. They have weathered three recessions in their lifetime, and few have confidence the economy will stay strong," the study said. Driving toward Paradise on the afternoon of Nov. 8, Jonathan Pangburn was less worried about the flames burning through the forest than he was about the smoke. Black and thick, it billowed over the road like a dangerous fog, cutting visibility to less than three feet in places. A member of the incident management team with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Pangburn knew the signs. Gray smoke meant vegetation. Black smoke meant homes, possibly entire city blocks. The Camp fire was no longer just a wildland fire. It was an urban conflagration, Pangburn said. It was structure-to-structure-to-structure ignition that carried the fire through this community. Located in the Sierra foothills at an elevation that favored Ponderosa pines, Paradise might have seemed susceptible to the ravages of a forest fire. But what Pangburn realized is that the Camp fire had changed its character upon entering the town and in that revelation lay the hope for preventing tragedies such as this from happening again. Advertisement 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, though, 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. I dont know if there was anything that could have been done to save Paradise, Pangburn said. It was some of the most intense fire behavior that I have ever witnessed. Deadly California fires prompt bold thinking about prevention More than a week later with 79 fatalities and some 700 still missing, more than 10,000 homes destroyed and 150,000 acres consumed Pangburn says there is opportunity in this destruction. The Camp fire has been the most destructive wildland fire in the state of California, and we dont want to experience this again, he said. We have to learn from this so that no one else will have to suffer through such an inferno. Drawing lessons from tragedy is never easy, especially when those lessons have been known for years. Our problem is a society that is unintentionally, but actively, ignoring opportunities because of the cultural perception of wildfire, said Jack Cohen, who is retired from the U.S. Forest Service where he worked for 40 years as a fire research scientist. That perception, he argues, is based on myth and fear and complicated by an ongoing narrative that attributes conflagrations like the Camp fire to such factors as climate change, overgrown forests and urban encroachment into rural areas. Each has played a role in perpetuating and prolonging recent fires, but they neednt be entirely solved to minimize losses. There are steps that can be taken to protect homes and communities, he said, steps that require cooperation and political will. Smoke fills the sky as the Camp fire burns along the North Fork of the Feather River. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Demonizing wildfire The first step, Cohen said, is to address the misinformation about wildland fires. Over decades, Americans have become disassociated from the reality of fire. Smokey Bear was almost too successful in demonizing wildfire. There is a time and a place and a set of circumstances when fires are beneficial for the landscape. But video of flames purling up canyon walls and photographs of firefighters standing as heroic silhouettes against a wall of orange flames perpetuate the belief that fire is both scourge and enemy. The reality is more nuanced. People see what they believe, and that prevents change to a readily available, effective approach to preventing these disasters, Cohen said. California fires: Trump administration now blames devastation on radical environmentalists The phenomenon in Paradise that Pangburn described the fire spreading from structure to structure, tree canopies intact is not unique to the Camp fire. Fire behaviorists have documented it throughout the West, most recently in the aftermath of the firestorms that ravaged Northern California last year. In spite of this, the popular perception is that wildfires burn through these communities like a wall of flames. In fact, small, burning embers firebrands blown in advance of the fire are the primary cause of structural fires. When we look at the big flames but not the firebrands, we miss the principal igniter and pay attention to the show, Cohen said. Billions of these embers fly into neighborhoods, landing onto flammable roofs, into vegetation around the structure and rain gutters choked with leaves and needles. Big flame fronts, on the other hand, are less effective in igniting structures because they burn fast often consuming their fuels in about a minute or less in one location and move along often so quickly as to not consume the structures themselves. Yet in the face of increasingly severe and deadly wildfires throughout the country, Cohen maintains that it is possible to decrease the vulnerability of urban development in the face of these events. Uncontrolled extreme wildfires are inevitable, he said, but does that mean these disasters are inevitable? No. We have great opportunities as homeowners to prevent our houses from igniting during wildfires. Examining state fire codes Pangburns assessment that the Camp fire in Paradise was an urban conflagration, structure to structure opens the door for fire behaviorists to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the states codes for protecting property in fire-prone, rural environments. The mandate in California, as stated in Public Resources Code Section 4291, is clear: A 100-foot perimeter of defensible space must be maintained in land that is covered with flammable material. While the 100-foot requirement is appropriate, it is important to begin thinking closer to the structure itself and work out in concentric circles, Cohen said. We have to take care of everything from five feet out, he said, so that when it burns, it doesnt produce enough radiation to ignite the structure or produce enough flames to contact the structure. Cal Fires photos of destroyed buildings are haunting The goal is to distinguish between structure fires and wildland fires and to understand that communities can be separated from wildland fire. We dont have to live in ammo bunkers, Cohen said, and we dont have to entirely eliminate fire from within the perimeter, just ensure that fires that occur within 100 feet dont burn long enough or intensely enough to ignite other objects. A defensible perimeter also provides residents with more safety options as fire approaches. Cohen refers to the story of the medical staff and patients from the hospital in Paradise who took refuge in a home. Climbing on the roof with hoses and clearing pine needles from the rain gutters, they were able to survive. A house that doesnt burn is the best place to be during a wildfire, he said. However, the 100-foot requirement in California stops at the property line, which creates a situation where homes can be built beside one another within that perimeter. If multiple homes share this perimeter, then each home is a potential ignition source, and homeowners cannot create a defensible space beyond their property line if that means trespassing on someone elses property. All it takes is one house to catch on fire, and the heat and embers put the other houses in jeopardy, Pangburn said. Cal Fire is responsible for enforcing the requirements of 4291, but trying to inspect every property, spread out over a million acres, is a monumental task, Pangburn said. 1 / 37 Silence hangs over Paradise,Calif., after the explosive Camp fire burned through Butte County and claimed 23 lives. Residents have not been allowed back. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 37 President Donald Trump meets California Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom at Beale Air Force Base on Saturday. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) 3 / 37 US President Donald Trump views damage from wildfires with Paradise Mayor Jody Jones in Paradise, Calif. (SAUL LOEB / AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 37 President Donald Trump walks with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left and FEMA Administrator Brock Long, right, as he visits a neighborhood impacted by the wildfires in Paradise, Calif. (Evan Vucci / AP) 5 / 37 President Donald Trump tours the Woolsey Fire ravaged neighborhood on Dume Drive in Malibu on Saturday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles TImes) 6 / 37 President Donald Trump, second from left, tours the Woolsey Fire ravaged neighborhood on Dume Drive in Malibu. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles TImes) 7 / 37 From left, Johnny Hardin, 15, Madeline Hardin, 13, Donita Hardin and Erik Hardin, 15 months old, get ready to sleep in their car after getting displaced by the Camp fire, at the Walmart parking lot in Chico, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 37 Alexandria Wilson, 21, kisses her dog Harley, after they both escaped the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 37 Search and rescue teams inspect the grounds of a house burned by the Camp Fire along Boquest Boulevard in Oroville, Calif. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 37 Volunteers hand out supplies to fire evacuees near a Walmart in Chico, Calif. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 37 People go through donated clothes at a Walmart in Chico, Calif. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 37 A sign warns looters at the site of burned-down properties in Paradise, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 37 A search and rescue team combs through the debris for possible human remains Friday at Paradise Gardens, in Paradise, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 37 Alexandria Wilson, 21, consoles her boyfriend, Jacob Golden, 25, as they recount their harrowing escape from the Camp Fire at a relatives house in Applegate, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 37 A vanished neighborhood in Paradise. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 37 A forensic team investigates the site of a Paradise home where remains were found. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 37 Michael John Ramirez hugs his wife, Charlie Ramirez, after they found her keepsake bracelet while sifting through the remains of their home in Paradise. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 37 Religious figurines sit atop a burned vehicle in Paradise. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 37 Authorities recover the remains of a fire victim from an overturned car alongside Pearson Road in Paradise. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 37 David Neeley hugs his ex-wife, Jeanne Neely, and their daughter, Faith Neeley, 10, in a parking lot in Oroville, where they are staying amid the Camp fire. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 37 Megan Butler, 26, and her daughter Aurora, 2, are homeless after their house burned down in Concow in the Camp fire. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 37 Yolo County Animal Services Officer Stephanie Amato holds a chicken she helped rescue in Paradise. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 37 Smoke fills the sky as the Camp fire continues to burn along the North Fork of the Feather River. It has already burned more than 200,000 square miles. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 37 A sign in Paradise offers a warning for would-be looters. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 37 A man rests at a shelter at the Church of the Nazarene in Oroville, Calif. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 37 Outside of Pulga, Calif., on the North Fork of the Feather River, the Camp fire continues to burn. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 37 Outside of Pulga, Calif., on the North Fork of the Feather River, where the Camp fire may have started, helicopters do airdrops while ground crews try to keep the fire from spreading. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 37 Firefighter Brian Carter of Weed, Calif., keeps an eye on the flames along the North Fork of the Feather River. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 37 Many people dont want to stay in shelters because they cant take their dogs inside. This dog waits for his human companion in a parking lot in Oroville. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 37 Residents of Paradise, Calif., try to get through a roadblock to check on their home but are turned away. People havent been allowed to return to the town. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 37 The Camp fire burns along a ridgetop near Big Bend, Calif., on Saturday. (Noah Berger / AP) 32 / 37 Yuba County sheriffs officials carry a body away from a burned residence in Paradise. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 33 / 37 A crew from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection walks through the rubble of a home while putting out hot spots in Paradise, Calif. (Mason Trinca / For The Times) 34 / 37 Flames and embers, pushed by strong dry winds, set the town of Paradise, Calif., ablaze. Thousands of buildings were destroyed. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 37 Brad Weldon, 63, waits for help along Skyway in Paradise, Calif. Weldon was among the residents who stayed and battled the wildfire. (Mason Trinca / For The Times) 36 / 37 Fire crews put out hot spots in Paradise, Calif. (Mason Trinca / For The Times) 37 / 37 Firefighters walk through the rubble of a home in Paradise, Calif. (Mason Trinca / For The Times) Changing the social dynamic If Paradise and the other communities destroyed by the Camp fire are to be rebuilt, then the conversation must address the role that neighbors play collectively in protecting themselves and their environment. The physics of fire wont change, Cohen said, but the social dynamic can. It requires cooperation and planning. Paradise could not have been saved, but its lessons have the potential for helping other communities when the next inevitable fire starts to burn. In the aftermath of major urban fires the conflagrations that destroyed Chicago and San Francisco, a 1973 blaze that destroyed a Boston neighborhood, a 1982 fire that took out four blocks in Anaheim reforms led to stronger building codes and zoning laws, insurance requirements and advance fire protection systems. Fire experts, like Cohen and Pangburn, hope that the devastation of the Camp fire will lead not just to reform but to a greater understanding of what it means to live in a fire-prone, drought-ravaged landscape. Fire agencies cannot be entirely relied upon to keep fire away from homes or keep homes from igniting. The wildlands firefighters job is to contain the wildfire, Cohen said. Its up to the community to keep itself safe. Curwen reported from Los Angeles, Serna from Paradise. thomas.curwen@latimes.com Twitter: @tcurwen joseph.serna@latimes.com Twitter: @JosephSerna The political battle between the Trump administration and California over blame for the the devastating wildfires that have killed scores and left nearly 1,000 missing continued Monday. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke blamed the states fires on radical environmentalists who he said have prevented forest management. His comments come days after he and President Trump toured the devastation from Paradise to Malibu, with both vowing to help California recover from the disaster. In an interview with Breitbart News, Zinke said he agrees with Trumps comments about the fires being a result of poor forest management, and repeatedly said radical environmentalists were responsible for the destruction caused by the fires. Advertisement Its not time for finger-pointing, Zinke said. We know the problem. Its been years of neglect, and in many cases its been these radical environmentalists that want nature to take its course.You know what? This is on them. He said the damage he saw during his visit to California was unlike anything he had seen before. Trump had threatened to withdraw federal funding from California, erroneously blaming poor forest management for the fires. 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 lightning fires in 2008 and were later logged. It was not fueled by heavy timber. 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, Jonathan Pangburn, a fire behavior analyst for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said in an interview last week, 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. The Woolsey fire, which burned suburban areas from Oak Park to Malibu, was not near any forests. It destroyed 1,500 structures and left three people dead. Over the weekend during his California tour, Trump took a more conciliatory tone. The president walked alongside Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom during his tour of areas affected by the fires, despite loudly criticizing Brown on climate change and environmental regulations. Ive known Jerry for a long time, but I think weve gotten closer today than weve got over the last 20 years, Trump said during his visit. We both want to come to the right conclusion. And the right conclusion is we have to get these forest fires to stop. The president also cited Finland as an example of a country with good forest management, saying it focuses on raking and cleaning. They dont have any problem. Experts were quick to note that Finland fires are much different from California fires. 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. Zinke said in his interview Sunday that Trump was right. You look at Finland. I had an opportunity to live in Germany. Their forests are healthy. They dont have catastrophic burns because they manage the forest, he said. Zinke went on to say that federal officials will need to work together with Californias leaders on recovery and prevention efforts. Times staff writer Paige St. John in Sacramento contributed to this report. UPDATES: 4:55 p.m.: This article was updated with more details about President Trumps comments on Finlands forest management. This article was originally published at 4 p.m. Their blue and white, three-bedroom home was hidden on a Concow vineyard. It was cheery and bright with potted plants outside and a hammock strung between two trees. For a while, the Duncan family had hope it survived. They had left a sprinkler running on its roof. But four days after they fled from the Camp fire, a friend texted them a photo of what was left of their home. Nothing. Now, the Duncans, along with tens of thousands of others across the state reeling from the deadly wildfires that ravaged neighborhoods up and down California, are bracing this week for a possible second blow: flooding and mudslides from expected rain. Butte County sheriffs investigators, meanwhile, made progress finding people who have been reported missing. By Monday night, the number of people unaccounted for dropped from 993 to 699. Search crews scouring the devastation found two more bodies one in a building in Paradise, the other outside in Magalia raising the death toll from the blaze to 79. Advertisement Melissa Duncan and her husband went to Walmart to buy a large blue tarp and placed plastic under their new home, a donated tent pitched in the parking lot of the Glenn County Fairgrounds in Orland, in preparation for Wednesdays storm. People are almost at their breaking point, Duncan, 36, said about others staying at the fairgrounds. Some days are harder than others. Well come out better for it, if only humbled. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch through Friday morning where the Camp fire raged through Butte County. 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. LIVE UPDATES: The latest on the California wildfires Malibu residents fill sandbags ahead of expected rainfall in burn areas. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) In Southern California, the Woolsey fire burn area is expected to see between half an inch to an inch of rain late Wednesday into early Thursday. Showers could linger into Thursday morning, said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Authorities have pointed to the deadly debris flow that hit Montecito after the Thomas fire last year in asking residents to be vigilant. I dont want you to think we can stop floods if it rains. Floods will occur, Chief Thom Porter of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said at a town hall meeting. Much like Montecito, the orders will be evacuate, and you need to evacuate if you get that. At a shelter at East Ave Church in Chico, donors brought gravel and paved over an acre of grass so that fire refugees could pitch their tents on dry ground and not grass that would get wet and muddy. At another shelter about 30 miles away in Gridley, hot meals are served, snacks and water are readily available, as are toiletries, and American Red Cross volunteers are on hand to help with questions. Deadly California fires prompt bold thinking about prevention The Thompsons live at the end of a row of green cots, distinguished only by the plastic tubs filled with donated clothes and shoes that fit various members of a family of five. The generosity of strangers has been overwhelming. Were having to turn stuff away, said Melissa Thompson. Someone handed me a $100 bill, and she lost her own home. But the 38-year-old mother has grown restless. The relief she felt the first week from having a place to stay has shifted to an uneasiness about the future. Shed like to find out if her apartment complex in Magalia survived. If it didnt, she needs to figure out where her family will live next. The unknown is the worst part, said Thompson, who is legally blind and on disability. In Butte Creek Canyon, Calvin Daley cleaned out the drains and other waterways around his home, which was spared from the blaze. He worries for people who lost their homes, those living in tents. He wishes it were summer. Its cold, winter is setting in and its going to be wet, he said. If its going to be a wet winter, we have a long ride ahead of us. Daley, 66, sat on the front porch of his two-story home listening to jazz on a battery-operated radio. Birds hopped from burned branches of a pine tree to a feeder. He never evacuated; he stayed behind to save his home with three hoses. Standing near his long driveway, he paused and rubbed his chin. Sometimes I feel guilty, he said. Why do I deserve this? Why did I pull this off? How many people wanted this chance to save their home? Knoll and Vives reported from Chico, Tchekmedyian from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Hannah Fry in Los Angeles contributed to this report. A $2-billion light-rail line that will add a key north-south connection to Los Angeles Countys growing transit network is facing several construction problems and will not open next year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said. Tunneling and track construction along the 8.5-mile Crenshaw Line through South Los Angeles has gone quickly, officials said, but crews have fallen behind schedule on electrical work, the connection to the Green Line, and improvements to sidewalks and gas lines in areas where the train will run at street level. The accumulation of issues means the Crenshaw Line will not be ready for safety testing until December 2019, officials said. That will push the opening date back by about six months, to the late spring or early summer of 2020. We are committed to trying to expedite and compress our schedule as much as possible, Metro spokeswoman Pauletta Tonilas said. Advertisement The 8.5-mile Crenshaw Line will connect the Expo Line to the Green Line and will eventually carry passengers to a rail connection to Los Angeles International Airport. (Laura J. Nelson / Los Angeles Times) The train will follow the route of a streetcar that ran along surface streets in Inglewood and South L.A. in the first half of the 20th century. The modern rail line will also run at street level, with some subway and aerial sections. The line will add eight stations in Inglewood and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Baldwin Hills, Hyde Park, Leimert Park and Westchester to the countys growing rail map. The delayed opening date is a frustration for drivers and bus riders who have waited for decades for a more reliable transit option between the Westside and the South Bay. But in the world of multibillion-dollar construction projects, a modest schedule change is par for the course, said Henry M. Koffman, the director of USCs construction management program. Working in a congested area, and an old area, is always going to be a challenge, Koffman said. Every one of these projects exceeds the original schedule. At this point, you can expect it. Labor is one of the most expensive elements of any major construction project, and six months of extra work will add millions to the total cost of the line. The reserve fund for unanticipated costs has fallen to less than 2% of the projects total budget as the line nears 90% completion. Tonilas said she was not aware of any plans to increase the $2.058-billion budget to cover the costs of the schedule delays. Such disputes can take years to resolve. Metros nearly $300-million payment to the contractor on the 405 Freeway widening, which resolved years of disputes over delays, was approved two years after the freeway opened to drivers. The settlement pushed the $1.6-billion projects budget 55% over the original estimate. Its too early to anticipate and speculate on whether Metro will face a similar dispute over the Crenshaw Line, Tonilas said. After Metro had chosen a type of fire-resistant cable for use along the line, private-sector safety officials recommended against it, Metro spokesman Brian Haas said. The process of finding, purchasing and installing new cable that meets or exceeds the fire testing requirements added to the delays, he said. Contractors have also faced delays installing the electrical substations that power the trains overhead wires. The lines street-level, aerial and subterranean tracks all require slightly different electrical systems, making the installation more complicated, said Anthony Crump, the projects construction relations manager. In Park Mesa Heights, between 48th and 59th streets, Metro is rebuilding Crenshaw Boulevard from storefront to storefront, Haas said. The street is more elevated on the west side than the east side, he said, so the contractor had to raise and replace the curb and sidewalk to ensure the area did not flood in storms. When youre replacing a sidewalk, you expect certain standards that werent met, Crump said. Crews are also working to finish connecting the Crenshaw Lines tracks to the Green Line, which runs from Redondo Beach to Norwalk, to avoid closures once the line is open. That will require some software updates to the older Green Line light-rail vehicles, Crump said. Trains will pass through a juncture along Aviation Boulevard that will allow riders to transfer seamlessly between lines, but how service will operate is still under discussion. Last year, Metro paid Walsh/Shea $55.5 million to resolve schedule problems that arose during the early phases of the project. The schedule issues on the electrical systems are unrelated, Crump said. The Crenshaw Lines delay comes after a series of schedule setbacks for another major Metro project: the $1.75-billion twin tunnels that will tie together three rail lines beneath downtown, seamlessly connecting the Financial District and Union Station. Metro has learned that one of the most dangerous things officials can do is provide a specific estimate for when a project will open, Tonilas said, because providing an accurate deadline is almost impossible. Talking about years and seasons is usually safest, and thats what were moving to, Tonilas said at least until officials can say with certainty when a project will open. (Jon Schleuss / Los Angeles Times) One of the most highly awaited portions of the Crenshaw Line will open several years after the rest of the route. A $200-million station at 96th Street, which is slated to open in 2023, will serve as a connection point to a smaller, automated train that will carry travelers and workers to the terminals at Los Angeles International Airport. The stop will also serve as a mini-transit hub, where travelers can board a local bus line, hail a taxi or catch a ride home. The airport train, called a people mover, is also scheduled to open in 2023. The project will cost an estimated $4.9 billion to build, operate and maintain over 25 years, and will be funded through airport revenues and tax-exempt bonds, for which the citys airport department will pay the financing costs. laura.nelson@latimes.com For more transportation news, follow @laura_nelson on Twitter. A former Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy was sentenced Monday to more than 17 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking scheme in which he charged up to $250,000 to protect large shipments of drugs being transported out of state, officials said. Kenneth Collins, 51, had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana in August, according to the U.S. attorneys office. For years, former Deputy Collins abused the trust of the people of Los Angeles County as a corrupt law enforcement officer motivated by greed, U.S. Atty. Nick Hanna said in a statement. In public, he was sworn to uphold the law, but in private he was a gun for hire willing to help drug smugglers in exchange for getting his cut of the dirty profits. Collins who separated from the Sheriffs Department about a month after his January arrest was also ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution. Advertisement Collins claimed to run teams, including other law enforcement officers, who provided security for illegal marijuana grow houses and drug transports, according to a plea agreement he reached with prosecutors. In 2017, he offered to recruit a team for an undercover agent posing as the partner of a wealthy investor who wanted to get involved in drug trafficking. The U.S. attorneys office said that in recorded negotiations with the undercover agent, Collins also offered to intimidate and assault people for cash. I fix problems, Collins bragged, prosecutors said. I make a lot of things go away. At a meeting with the agent, Collins showed his sheriffs badge and gun to prove his ties to law enforcement. At a later meeting, Collins demanded $25,000 to escort a shipment of methamphetamine, marijuana and counterfeit cigarettes from Pasadena to Las Vegas, justifying the expense by saying he and his team were cops. All of our transports make it through, Collins said, according to the plea agreement. He didnt know the methamphetamine was fake. During the drive to Las Vegas, Collins drove behind the transport vehicle, while an alleged co-conspirator drove in front. A third person rode in the car with an undercover agent and the drugs, according to the court filing. All three were keeping an eye out for police and other threats. After that, Collins and the agent started making plans to transport an even larger shipment of meth and cocaine in January, according to the plea agreement. Since more drugs were involved, Collins named a higher price: $250,000. When the trio showed up in Pasadena early on Jan. 16 to carry out their end of the deal, officials said, they were arrested by FBI agents. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek A flower vendor has filed a lawsuit against the Riverside County Sheriffs Department, alleging that she was unlawfully arrested as she sold leis at a high school graduation. Joaquina Valencias attorneys said sheriffs deputies targeted the woman because of her race and used excessive force when they arrested her. The lawsuit which names two deputies, the Riverside County Sheriffs Department and Riverside County alleges that Valencia posed no threat and was unarmed before deputies forced her to the ground. You wouldnt expect police officers to abuse you, said attorney Ralph Rios in a news conference. You dont expect police officers to ask you whether youre a U.S. citizen or whether you have papers with you. Video footage of the incident showed Valencia pushing a deputy away, flowers in hand. The deputy then shoved her to the ground, held her by the hair and twisted her arm to handcuff her while using his body weight to restrain her, the video shows. Advertisement Deputies struggled to move the leis out of the way when they tried to handcuff Valencia. The Sheriffs Department said it would not comment on the lawsuit, but released a statement from 2017, when the incident took place. In that statement, the department defended the deputies actions and said the video circulating on social media did not give context to what really happened. As the deputies were patrolling the area during Perris High Schools graduation ceremony, they warned and cited about 15 people for vending without a permit, the Sheriffs Department said. The plaintiff who at the time was identified as Juanita Mendez-Medrano was the last vendor to be approached. Mendez-Medrano was one of the several fake names she gave to the deputies before the booking process revealed her true name, authorities said. According to the department, Valencia refused to cooperate and pushed a deputy away when he attempted to arrest her on an obstruction of justice charge. When Ms. Mendez-Medrano resisted our officers efforts to gain her cooperation, a very brief physical struggle ensued before she was taken into custody, the statement said. Unfortunately, the video did not capture the other vendors cooperating with the citation process, nor did it capture our officers repeated efforts to convince Ms. Mendez-Medrano to do the same. As with most police events, the short, publicly produced video does not have the full context or content of the incident seen on the video. Valencia alleges that she suffered a physical injury as a result of the arrest and is seeking an unspecified amount for her injury and attorneys fees. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra A forged signature swapped for $1 or sometimes a cigarette. The crude exchange played out hundreds of times on L.A.s skid row during the 2016 election cycle and again this year, prosecutors said Tuesday as they announced criminal charges against nine people accused in a fraud scheme. Using cash and cigarettes as lures, the defendants approached homeless people on skid row and asked them to forge signatures on state ballot measure petitions and voter registration forms, the district attorneys office said. The defendants some of whom were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday face several criminal charges, including circulating a petition with fake names, voter fraud and registering a fictitious person. The charges, which were filed three weeks ago but made public Tuesday, followed a Los Angeles Police Department crackdown on suspected election fraud on skid row earlier in the year. Advertisement They paid individuals to sign the names, Officer Deon Joseph, the senior lead officer on skid row, told The Times in September. Thats an assault on our democracy. State officials said petition signature scams arent widespread in California, but Joseph said they do pop up from time to time on skid row. People hired to help qualify initiatives for the ballot are often paid per signature collected, typically $1 to $2, but officials said a recent slew of proposed ballot initiatives had pushed the rate as high as $6 a signature. It is illegal for the collectors, however, to pay people for signatures. Los Angeles police Capt. Marc Reina said officials used undercover officers and security camera video before arresting Kirkland Kauzava Washington, 38, one of the nine individuals charged by prosecutors. Washington allegedly set up a card table outside the Midnight Mission, where homeless people line up for meals and shelter, Reina said. Two other people arrested at the same time as Washington were either homeless or living in a single-room-occupancy apartment on skid row, but neither of them were among the nine defendants charged by L.A. County prosecutors. We didnt charge any homeless people, said district attorney spokeswoman Shiara Davila- Morales. L.A. County elections chief Dean Logan previously said it was unlikely the forgeries eluded his staff, who manually compare petition signatures with those on registration forms. But, Logan said, he worried about any activity that causes voters to lose faith in the process. Washington, Harold Bennett, 53, and Louis Thomas Wise, 36, face up to six years and four months in prison. The others charged Richard Howard, 62, Rose Makeda Sweeney, 42, Christopher Joseph Williams, 59, Jakara Fati Mardis, 35, Norman Hall, 61, and Nickey Demelvin Huntley, 44 face up to four years and eight months in prison. Times staff writer Gale Holland contributed to this report. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry marisa.gerber@latimes.com Twitter: @marisagerber UPDATES: 1:35 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from police and prosecutors. This article was originally published at 10:40 a.m. Solana Beach, one of the first cities in the state to ban single-use plastic bags and polystyrene food containers, has some new targets. Disposable plastic straws, stirrers, spoons, forks and knives would be prohibited at restaurants, coffee shops and other vendors under a proposal by the City Council. Single-use plastic beverage bottles such as the ubiquitous 16-ounce clear polyethylene water container would also be off-limits at all city events and on city properties where fountains and other hydration sources are available. The city has long been the leader in environmental stewardship, Assistant City Manager Dan King said in a presentation to the council. Advertisement The proposal from the citys Climate Action Commission, which was formed in 2015, would take that stewardship to a higher level. Research shows only about 9% of the worlds plastic is recycled, commission member Mary Yang told the council. About 12% is incinerated, and the rest accumulates in landfills and elsewhere in the environment. Islands of plastic trash float in the oceans. Plastic is not biodegradable. It eventually breaks into small particles known as microplastics that work their way into the food chain. The production of plastic bottles also consumes large amounts of energy and oil, creating greenhouse gases and other negative environmental effects. An increasing variety of low-cost alternatives made of wood and other biodegradable materials are available in stores and online. Plastic use is a worldwide problem, said James Wang, a member of the Encinitas Environmental Commission. By setting a precedent, you are doing the right thing and letting other cities know what is the right thing to do, Wang said, adding that he hopes Encinitas will follow suit. Solana Beach is a leader in a state known as the front-runner in environmental responsibility. Assembly Bill 1884, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in September and goes in effect in 2019, prohibits restaurants from providing customers with single-use plastic straws except upon request. Another bill introduced this year, Senate Bill 1335, prohibits nonrecyclable and noncompostable takeout food packaging at state parks, beaches, colleges and fairgrounds. Solana Beach council members agreed to take the restrictions further. An update and draft ordinance prepared by the city staff could be ready for consideration early next year. We do have to be part of the solution, Councilwoman Lesa Heebner said. Its really scary whats happening to this planet. Residents and businesses such as grocery stores need to be part of the process, she said, so that they are fully informed of any changes. Outreach is important, said Councilman Peter Zahn, a commission member. Solana Beach was the first city in San Diego County to ban single-use plastic bags in 2012. It was first to ban polystyrene takeout food containers in 2015. This year, it also became the first city in the county to adopt a community choice energy program, which allows residents to purchase a higher percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Diehl writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Robert Crooks is up before sunrise on a hill he calls Patriot Point, walkie-talkie in hand and loaded semiautomatic handgun holstered on his right hip. To protect himself, he wears a vest padded with National Geographic magazines including one celebrating great white sharks. Directly in front of him is a border wall made of steel landing mats left over from the Vietnam War. Just a few hundred feet from the Mexican border, Crooks scans the landscape for any sign of an immigrant trying to cross into the United States. A Las Vegas resident, Crooks heads the Mountain Minutemen. Along with other militia members in Texas, his group has been gearing up as thousands of migrants from Central America steadily make their way to the U.S. border to ask for asylum. Advertisement The presence of the militias is small, coordinated, and has a muse in President Trump. On Friday, Trump called the caravan a big con. Last month, he tweeted that very bad thugs and gang members were among the migrants. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you! the president proclaimed. Along the Southwest border, almost 6,000 troops have been deployed, with about 1,500 of them in California. According to Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, the troops will stay at the border through early December unless the Department of Homeland Security requests an extension. Robert Crooks watches the border fence for migrants crossing with a loaded semiautomatic pistol from a high perch dubbed Patriot Point. (John Gastaldo / For The Times) Crooks, a 68-year-old retired commercial fisherman wearing a camouflage Trump hat, said the military presence was not enough and that the entire border should be shut down. This is a national emergency, he said. Central American migrants have recounted acts of kindness from Mexicans throughout their journey north. In Tijuana, however, they have encountered an attitude among some Mexicans not unlike that expressed by Crooks. They too speak in terms of an invasion. Hundreds of Tijuana residents demonstrate at a rally Nov. 18 at the Cuauhtemoc monument in downtown Tijuana, demanding an end to the Central American immigrant groups passing through Mexico. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Antonio Cimota, 36, leads one of the groups protesting against the migrants in Tijuana, despite having parents who defied border officials when they entered Mexico: He crossed illegally into the U.S. as a child and lived here before returning to Mexico seven years ago. He said he understands the circumstances that drive people to flee their country, but says: As the president of the United States, Trump has every right to protect his borders. Just as we should be protecting ours. Crooks said he gets why some Tijuana residents have reacted with hostility toward the Central American migrants. Thats their town, their community, he said. I think youre going to see an uprising of a nationalist movement in Mexico. Hundreds of protesters march through downtown Tijuana, calling for a stop to the Central American migrant caravans passing through Mexico. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) On Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporarily closed northbound lanes at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which links San Diego and Tijuana, out of concern that some migrants might try to illegally make a run across the border. The Trump administration has warned that applicants will face long waits in detention and have little chance of gaining legal residence. Earlier this month, the administration introduced measures to deny asylum to anyone who enters the country illegally. By Friday, advocates were urging migrants to think beyond the U.S. and consider relocating to Canada or Europe, or even remaining in Mexico. Considering the significant lines at border entry points, Crooks doesnt expect many of them to stay in Tijuana long. He thinks theyll be forced to go east to escape federal authorities. There are gaps in the border wall near the small town of Campo, and he and other members of his militia believe migrants are likely to try to use them to cross. He said he watched border agents detain four migrants on Friday. So for the last two weeks, he and a handful of associates have been camping out of their vehicles. His white Ford F-250 pickup has MINUTE MAN emblazoned on the doors in black lettering. They consider themselves a savvy neighborhood watch. Farther east, Harry Hughes, 55, of the U.S. Border Guard militia in Arizona said hes not anticipating caravan migrants will attempt crossing the border 65 miles south of his home. Terrain in that rural stretch of the desert is particularly rough, said Hughes, who is also a leader of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement. Shannon McGauley, 54, leads the Texas Minutemen. The bail bond agent from the Dallas suburbs left the border on Monday after three weeks. He said a dozen members of his group have been patrolling an area just east of McAllen, Texas, and claimed to have 100 volunteers on standby. He plans to be back next week. McGauley believes the attention in Tijuana is just a diversion and that migrants will soon begin attempting to cross the border in Texas. We dont really want the full force until were sure when the caravan is going to arrive, he said. The presence of militia is not supported by the Defense Department, according to planning documents obtained by Newsweek. Intelligence officials estimated 200 unregulated armed militia members were operating along the Southwest border earlier this month. They also reported incidents of unregulated militias stealing National Guard equipment during deployments. They operate under the guise of citizen patrols supporting Customs and Border Protection, primarily between points of entry, according to the documents obtained by the publication. The flapole on Patriot Point has a U.S. flag and the Gonzales flag, which reads Come and Take It under the image of a cannon. (John Gastaldo / For The Times) An American flag flies atop a tall flagpole on the hill Crooks stands on. Right underneath it is the Gonzales flag, named for the first battle of the Texas Revolution against Mexican rule. The flag is white, with a black star and a cannon with the words: Come and take it. The Minutemen have nicknames for each other and speak in code. Crooks is known as Little Dog for the way he keeps on the trail of migrants until border agents arrive to detain them. His associates didnt want to be interviewed, saying they were afraid they could lose their regular jobs. Several men were positioned atop other hills along the one-mile radius they patrol. They have dubbed the hills Donut Hole, Zoners and Couch Trail. A call came in on Crooks walkie-talkie. Little Dog, this is Weasel, do you copy? Yo, Weasel, whats happening? Youve got an Omaha coming your way. I can see him. A black Border Patrol helicopter flew overhead. Crooks raised his hand to his temple in a salute. The Border Patrol does fantastic work, he said. Theres just not enough of them. Were getting hammered. Crooks said he thinks the migrants shouldnt turn down the Mexican governments offer for refuge. A member of the Minutemen since 2005, Crooks insists he has been shot at, attacked and even poisoned while guarding his country from people he calls cockroaches. Thats the pit of evil, he said, looking just across the border. Ive heard blood-curdling screams from over there. Heroin, cocaine, bodies, child slavery, human trafficking. And its been like this for a long time. Crooks said his wife wants him home for Thanksgiving but that if activity starts to pick up, hes not leaving. And if he does, hell be right back in no time. Times staff writer Patrick McDonnell in Tijuana contributed to this report. andrea.castillo@latimes.com | Twitter: @andreamcastillo A Chicago police officer and two other people were killed in an attack at a South Side hospital Monday afternoon that sent medical personnel and police scrambling through halls, stairwells and even the nursery in search of victims and the shooter before he was found dead. Officer Samuel Jimenez, on the force less than two years, was gunned down as he went to the aid of other officers who had been called to Mercy Hospital & Medical Center around 3:20 p.m. about an assault. Jimenez, 28, was married with three small children. Hes the second Chicago police officer killed in the line of duty this year, the most since 2010 when five officers were fatally shot. The first was Near North District Cmdr. Paul Bauer, killed Feb. 13 outside the Thompson Center. Those officers that responded today saved a lot of lives, said Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. They were heroes because we just dont know how much damage (the shooter) was prepared to do. Police had been called to the hospital after Juan Lopez, 32, confronted emergency room doctor Tamara ONeal, apparently over a broken engagement, sources said. By the time Jimenez and his partner arrived on the scene, Lopez had shot ONeal repeatedly, standing over her as he fired the last shots, according to police sources and witnesses. Advertisement When they pulled up, they heard the gunshots, and they did what heroic officers always do they ran toward that gunfire, Johnson said. So they werent assigned to that particular call, but they went because thats what we do. READ MORE: Gunman in Mercy Hospital attack had threatened to shoot up Chicago Fire Academy, officials say Lopez, who sources say had a concealed carry license, exchanged gunfire with Jimenez and other officers as he ran into the hospital. Jimenez was shot in the lobby as Lopez continued firing. A squad car was hit, and a bullet hit the holster and lodged in the gun barrel of another officer, according to Johnson. Dayna Less, 24, a first-year pharmacy resident, was hit as she walked out of an elevator. That woman got off an elevator and was shot, why? Johnson asked. Lopez was found inside the hospital, apparently suffering a wound to the head. Johnson said it was unclear how he was shot. At a press conference late Monday night, Emergency Department director Patrick Connor grew emotional as he described ONeal as dedicated to her church and patients. The 38-year-old physician graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago in 2016 and had worked as a resident at Mercy for two years. She raised money for disadvantaged children and led her church choir, Connor said, choking up with emotion and pausing frequently. That was her one thing she wanted ... to be able to go to church on Sunday, Connor said, adding that they assured her she could. Well make sure you go to church on Sunday. Less recently graduated from Purdue University and started working at the hospital in July. Dr. Tamara ONeal died in a shooting at Mercy Hospital on Nov. 19, 2018. (Franciscan Health) Michael Davenport, Mercys chief medical officer, said the hospital had conducted an active shooter drill last month. About 200 patients were being treated in the hospital on Monday, but authorities only evacuated the emergency room. The hospitals emergency plans include barricading doors and ensuring patient safety. In the confusion of the first moments, it was unclear how many people were shot, how many officers were among them and how many shooters there were. As dispatchers and responding officers tried to make sense of the scene, reports came in of an officer shot somewhere in the lobby, a woman and an assistant also wounded. Finally, there was word of the gunman apparently shot in the head. Even then, dispatchers continually checked on officers status and whether another gunman might still be on the loose. How many officers shot? a dispatcher asked repeatedly. Trying to find that out, an officer radioed. Officers rushed to lock down the first floor of the hospital for a search, then closed off the stairwells. Were checking for victims, a dispatcher said. We also need officers on the third floor to check the nursery. By 4 p.m., the officer was being taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died. Chicago police Officer Samuel Jimenez was killed at Mercy Hospital while responding to an active shooter on Nov. 19, 2018. (Chicago Police Department) Meanwhile, medical personnel continued to be brought out of the hospital by police, who radioed ahead to warn officers outside. At 4:40 p.m., the hospital tweeted that patients are safe. Steven Mixon, an emergency room clerk, said he had received a call hours earlier, around 1 p.m., from a man he believed to be the ex-fiance of the woman shot outside the hospital. He called and asked to speak with his fiancee, said Mixon. And she said, Oh, just tell him Im in with a patient. Mixon said he got off work around 3 p.m. and waited for an Uber in front of the hospital. I look up and I see her being harassed by some gentleman, he said. She was trying to avoid him and move around. And when she saw me, she waved for me to come that way. Mixon said he started to run toward his colleague to help when Lopez fired. I guess it wasnt my time to go because if I had made it to her, I would have been dead too, Mixon said. He watched as the gunman then shot at a police car and shot again at the woman, who had fallen to the ground. Mixon said he ran back into the emergency room, where it was total chaos. READ MORE: Slain officer, married and father of three young children, had been on force for less than 2 years Everyone was running every which way, he said. We ran into surgery because they had locked doors. Thats when we heard more shots inside the hospital. Mixon said he remembers the woman looking beautiful this year at the hospitals annual gala. She was a sweetheart, just a sweetheart. What a fireball. Before all this, she was looking forward to getting married, he said. Talking about dresses, all of that. But then something happened and it was called off. James Gray was coming out of the clinic area when he said he saw a man in a black coat, black hat and dark pants shoot a woman three times in the chest. The man and the woman had been walking and talking to each other before the shooting, he said. The gunman stood over the woman and shot her three more times after she fell to the ground, said Gray. Then a squad car turned its lights on and came down the drive and the gunman shot at the squad car. It was chaos, said Gray. It was just mass chaos. Gray said the gun looked like a 9 mm handgun; a police source said authorities had identified it as a 9 mm. When the gunman came into the hospital, it appeared that he was shooting people at random, said Gray, who saw one other person shot. And then I ran into the X-ray department and locked the door behind us, he said. I thought it was unbelievable. Its like a movie scene. Nothing like that ever happened to me before. Hector Avitia was watching television in a waiting room at the hospital with his wife when the first woman was shot. Avitia watched through windows as a person in blue scrubs was shot outside and fell to the ground, he said. When the shooter made his way inside the hospital, Avitia and those with him hid by a desk. Oh my God, said Avitia, when asked how many gunshots he heard. Reloaded twice. So 32 bullets each. Ive heard shootings, he said. Ive known people that have died in the neighborhood like that. But something like that? No. Avitia said he was more alert than scared for his life. Its just a messed up situation and I was trying to help out as much as I could, he said. Get people to get out of the way of the windows. Because he could have easily just aimed at us, too. Because he was just shooting like a maniac. And he obviously knows how to shoot because he was holding the gun with both hands. READ MORE: Chaos at Mercy Hospital: This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and the consequence of evil. Erix Horton, who works in environmental services at the hospital, spoke to a Tribune reporter while outside smoking a cigarette after being inside the hospital when the shooting occurred. I was checking out, getting ready to leave, said Horton. One of the nurses ran back here and it was like she was about to collapse and said (a staff member had) been shot. And shes like, Call the police. We have an active shooter. And thats when everybody took cover. They got on the PA, letting everybody know. Horton said he took cover with others in the break room across from the ER, which has a combination lock, until police entered and escorted everyone out. A Fire Department crew that had just brought in a patient took cover in the room also, Horton said. While in the break room, they could hear someone firing gunshots in the hallway, eight or nine of them, Horton said. We had to duck. A lot was going through my mind. Make it home to see my wife and my kids. Everybody was just worried about the rest of our coworkers making it out safe. Moments after Charlie Wells walked into the emergency room to treat an injury, he heard gunfire and dove behind the registration desk. He sat huddled there with about 15 other people. He heard screams, and more gunfire. Wells, 37, said people dropped to the ground. It was chaos, he said. All panic. Tanisha Smith held her 10-year-old daughters hand and walked quickly away from Mercy Hospital. They were visiting Smiths grandfather at the hospital when someone yelled at them to run. Smith grabbed her daughter and sprinted toward a waiting room, looking frantically for a door. They couldnt find one, so they hid under a desk. I heard gunshots, the girl said while she clutched her mothers hand while an officer hurried them away from the scene. The Chicago Tribunes Patrick M. OConnell, William Lee, Elvia Malagon, Elyssa Cherney, Dan Hinkel, Annie Sweeney, Deanese Williams-Harris, David Heinzmann and Liam Ford contributed. BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes the United States' commitment to support regional infrastructure and hopes the promise won't fail in practice, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Monday when commenting on U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's recent statement. In a speech during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit held in Papua New Guinea, Pence said the United States would provide 60 billion U.S. dollars for regional infrastructure development, but Washington "does not offer a constricting belt or a one-way road." Some media said the statement was aimed at China. "We have noted the relevant remarks of the U.S. side and will not make unnecessary connections. But since the U.S. side has mentioned 'belt' and 'road,' I might as well respond with a few words," Geng said. The Belt and Road Initiative is an economic cooperation initiative and a public good provided by China to the international community. If it benefits unilaterally, there wouldn't be more than 140 countries and international organizations signing cooperation agreements with China, according to Geng. "The international community generally welcomes and supports the Belt and Road Initiative. There is no shortage of examples," he said. During recent meetings with the Chinese leader, leaders of Pacific island countries that have diplomatic relations with China expressed their hope to deepen practical cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Geng said. They also hoped the participation in the initiative will contribute to economic and social development in their countries, he added. Geng also cited the Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez as saying in an interview Sunday that the Belt and Road Initiative is transparent and provides win-win cooperation, and the Philippine side has joined on a voluntary basis. "For whatever purpose, the United States has committed to providing 60 billion dollars in infrastructure financing to support regional infrastructure development. It is a good thing to help the development of countries in the region. The Chinese side welcomes it," he said. "At the same time, we have noticed some discussions about whether the U.S. can deliver on its promises and whether it will fail in practice," he said. "We hope that such concerns will not become a reality." Clack clack clack clack was how they described the sound of your worst nightmare. Just after midnight Friday, six people were descending from the 95th floor of Chicagos 875 N. Michigan Avenue building, the 100-story skyscraper formerly known as the John Hancock Center, when they heard it, as 50-year-old tourist Jaime Montemayor told CBS Chicago. The group in the elevator had gone up to the 95th floor to visit a swanky restaurant overlooking the skyline, and they had chosen the express elevator on their way down. But suddenly, it started moving a little too fast for comfort. It started to get bumpy, like an incoming flight to Chicago, a Northwestern law student who was in the elevator told the Chicago Tribune. It whizzed past all the usual stops, falling and falling and falling 84 floors before coming to an abrupt stop somewhere between the 11th and the 12th. Advertisement Then came the noise: Clack clack clack clack. Then came the dust and dirt, floating into the elevator from the ceiling. And then came the panic. The group started freaking out, the law student, who declined to be identified, told the Tribune. Some were screaming, others crying. Montemayor, who was visiting with his wife from Mexico City, said the two of them held each other tightly and began to pray. I believed we were going to die, Montemayor told CBS. We were going down, and then I felt that we were falling down, and then I heard a noise: clack clack clack clack the sound of getting trapped in an elevator. They pressed the emergency button. The six strangers including Montemayor and his wife, two law students from Northwestern University and two others, including a pregnant woman were stuck in the elevator for roughly two and a half hours as firefighters tried to figure out a way to reach them. The problem? They were trapped in a blind shaft, meaning there were no doors through which firefighters could get to them, Chicago Fire Department Battalion Chief Patrick Maloney told reporters at the scene, according to ABC 7 Chicago. The malfunction had been caused by a snapped hoist rope, or elevator cable, Maloney said. Other cables were still attached, keeping the elevator from plummeting to the floor. It was a pretty precarious situation where the cables that broke were on top of the elevator, Maloney said. We couldnt do an elevator-to-elevator rescue. We had to breach a wall on the 11th floor of the parking garage in order to open up the elevator doors. Luis Vazquez, a friend of the Montemayors who took a different elevator to the ground floor, told the Tribune he couldnt believe what was happening. This is the second most important building in Chicago? And this is the third most important city in the United States? he questioned. In the 98 floors, they have no place to open any door? That is the craziest thing. Finally, the firefighters busted through the brick wall of the parking garage, creating a 5-by-5-foot hole through which they could see the top half of the elevator. From inside, the trapped group could hear the firefighters drilling their way in. One of the law students captured the moment on video as a bizarre liquid oozed from the elevator doors crevice and firefighters worked to pry open the doors. Finally, just before 3 a.m., they were rescued. None of the six were injured. When they opened the door, Montemayor told the Tribune, the feeling was, Thanks, bud! A Chicago Buildings Department spokesman told the Tribune that the elevator had last been inspected in July and that the cause of the cables malfunction would remain under investigation. On Saturday, ABC 7 Chicago reported that tourists had to go up to the 95th floor in a service elevator operated by building employees while the investigation and maintenance continued. The buildings general manager could not be immediately reached for comment regarding the status of the investigation and the ongoing maintenance. Flynn writes for the Washington Post. The Trump administration plans to grant U.S. troops on the Mexican border the authority to use force to help protect Border Patrol officers, defense officials said Tuesday, a significant widening of a mission already criticized as politically motivated rather than a national security priority. President Trump is expected a sign an executive order giving armed troops the authority to intervene if U.S. personnel are endangered by migrants trying to cross the border, the officials said. The order doesnt rule out use of deadly force. The order could face legal challenges to determine if it violates a U.S. law that bars active duty military from conducting domestic law enforcement functions. The Posse Comitatus Act, first passed in 1878 and amended several times, is intended to limit the governments ability to use military personnel within the United States except in natural disasters, terrorist attacks and other national emergencies. Roughly 5,900 active duty soldiers and Marines were sent to border posts in California, Texas and Arizona shortly before the Nov. 6 election in one of the largest such deployments in decades. Most of the troops are unarmed and restricted from interacting with migrants, and critics including some former senior military officers condemned the operation as using active duty troops for partisan gain. Advertisement Trumps expected expansion of their role is likely to deepen questions into whether he is trampling longstanding practices on the legal use of the military on U.S. soil, and raises the risk that a confrontation with unarmed migrants could escalate into deadly violence. It also could lengthen the time at least some of those troops must spend away from home. Commanders previously have said they plan to withdraw all troops by Dec. 15 unless an extension is ordered. After news reports suggested that some troops could be withdrawn this week, the Pentagon pushed back and said some may be transferred to other border posts. We are continually assessing our resources and refining requirements, the Army command based in San Antonio, Texas, that is overseeing the operation said in a statement Tuesday. We may shift some forces to engineering support missions in California and other areas. No specific timeline for redeployment has been determined. The deployment will cost about $72 million through Dec. 15, but the final cost has yet to be determined and will depend on the total size, duration and scope of the operation, according to Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman. So far, the troops on the border have been authorized only to protect other military personnel. Expanding that authority to help protect Border Patrol agents, who are also armed, would likely involve military police units, officials said. Trump suggested last month that the military might open fire on anyone who threw rocks at them on the border, a statement he later amended, saying migrants who threw rocks would be arrested and prosecuted, not shot. The Border Patrol has long faced criticism that officers have used excessive force, including killing unarmed individuals. Democrats stepped up their criticism of the deployment Tuesday, accusing Trump of deploying the military unnecessarily for partisan gain before the election by exaggerating the threat from caravans of Central American migrants. Several thousand people have arrived in Tijuana, near the the San Ysidro border crossing, but more are en route and are expected to seek asylum. It was not a respectful use of our military to take service members away from their duties and send them to the border as politicized props, and President Trump should not have done it, said Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who is likely to take over as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in January. They should all be returned to their regular duties. Trump ordered the deployment at one point he said it could grow to 15,000 troops to block what he repeatedly warned was a looming invasion of criminals, gang members and terrorists moving north through Mexico. By all accounts, the bulk of those on the move are families fleeing violence in Central America. The president has barely mentioned the supposed threat since the election, but the White House scrambled after it took flak on Monday when news reports suggested the Pentagon might withdraw some troops this week that have largely finished installing razor wire and building obstacles at border crossing points. The expected executive order was first reported by CNN. Under longstanding Pentagon rules, any military response to possible violence by migrants must be proportional to the perceived threat. Officials refused to disclose specific guidelines being considered for changing those rules, and declined to speak on the record, citing Pentagon regulations. We would not treat a mob of unarmed migrants in the same way as we would treat armed combatants, the official said. I would expect them to follow the standard rules. Border Patrol agents are armed and have authority to protect themselves. But the Department of Homeland Security, which includes Customs and Border Protection, the parent agency of the Border Patrol, asked the Pentagon for help protecting its personnel before Trump sent troops to the border in late October. The Pentagon rejected the request over concerns that Trumps initial deployment order did not give troops the legal power to use force in assisting law enforcement within the United States, officials said. Trump signed that order in April when he dispatched 2,100 National Guard troops to the border. Homeland Security officials, however, continued to press for the military to be authorized to use force. As long as Trump signs the executive order, the Pentagon no longer objects to protecting Border Patrol personnel and believes it would not be violating the Posse Comitatus Act, one official said. As far as were concerned, if our forces are simply protecting others who happen to be law enforcement, it still isnt a law enforcement role for the military, one of the officials said. According to a 2018 Congressional Research Service report on the statute, the Posse Comitatus Act allows use of military force to prevent loss of life and to protect federal government functions, exceptions that Pentagon lawyers may invoke to justify use of troops to protect Border Patrol agents. But confrontations involving armed troops sent to the border to assist law enforcement have led to deaths in the past. In 1997, an 18-year-old American was killed by a Marine near the U.S. border, an incident that led to a temporary suspension of troop patrols there. Pentagon officials previously have said the current deployment is only authorized until Dec. 15 unless the Department of Homeland Security requests an extension. A drawdown in the next few weeks could mean they would leave the border before some of the migrant caravans have arrived. The first troops to be withdrawn are likely to be engineering units that have largely finished beefing up defenses at border crossing points. The Pentagon also sent military logistics, helicopter units and a small number of infantry, public affairs and other types of military specialists. Three Democratic lawmakers wrote Tuesday to Defense Secretary James N. Mattis criticizing the border deployment and signaling that they intend to investigate the White House move when Democrats take control of the House in January. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough) and Beto ORourke (D-Texas), said they were increasingly concerned about the lack of planning for and continued lack of clarity surrounding this operation, the lack of a clear mission for the deployed troops, the cost of this operation, and the appearance that the president is using the military for partisan political purposes. Among other questions, they asked Mattis to provide details about troops use of force rules on the border, alluding to Trumps comment about shooting rock-throwing protestors. Reports of a possible attempt by some to rush illegally through the San Ysidro Port of Entry prompted the temporary suspension of operations there early Monday, but officials said later it was a false alarm. david.cloud@latimes.com Twitter: @davidcloudLAT In a week honoring the sacrifice of Americas warriors, President Trump appeared to claim that he visited Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day last year and asserted that veterans, thanks to him, no longer face long waits for medical care. Neither is true. Capping the weekend, the president also misspelled the name of a Democratic lawmaker in an unfortunate way and didnt bother to correct himself. A look at Trumps recent statements and tweets, compared with the facts: Advertisement MIDTERM ELECTION Trump: We picked up two seats in the Senate. We went from 51-49 to 53-47. The facts: Not so. Hes presuming Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith will defeat Democrat Mike Espy in a runoff election Nov. 27. If Espy wins, Republicans will have picked up only one seat and have a 52-48 edge. Itll be 53-47 if she wins. RUSSIA INVESTIGATION Trump: 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! tweet Sunday. The facts: The correct name of the Democratic lawmaker is Adam Schiff. Muellers appointment to lead the investigation into 2016 election interference and possible ties between Moscow and Trumps campaign was not put to the Senate because special counsels are appointed by the Justice Department. His appointment is not in legal dispute. Critics contend Trump illegally sidestepped procedure by appointing Whitaker over Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, whos been confirmed by the Senate. VETERANS Trump, on his decision not to visit Arlington National Cemetery last week to commemorate Veterans Day: In retrospect, I should have, and I did last year and I will virtually every year. But we had come in very late at night and I had just left, literally, the American Cemetery in Paris, and I really probably assumed that was fine and I was extremely busy because of affairs of state doing other things. interview with Fox News Sunday. The facts: While Trump has visited Arlington National Cemetery twice during his presidency on Memorial Day, he did not do so last year on Veterans Day. He was in Asia at the time. Trump: In June, I proudly signed into law the most significant VA reform in half a century, called Veterans Choice. ... Now if a veteran cannot get the treatment they need from the VA in a timely manner, they can see a private doctor. They dont have to wait 12 days or 20 days. ... There is no more waiting on lines. The facts: He continues to spread a misleading claim about veterans now receiving immediate medical care because of his improvements. In fact, the care provided under the Veterans Choice program is not as instantaneous as Trump suggests nor will it necessarily be the biggest overhaul at the Department of Veterans Affairs in decades. Trump signed legislation in June to expand the private-sector Choice program, which was first approved in 2014 during the Obama administration after a scandal at the Phoenix VA medical center in which some veterans died while waiting months for appointments. The current Choice program allows veterans to see doctors outside the VA system if they must wait more than 30 days for an appointment not 12 days or 20 days. But many are waiting much longer than the program prescribes. How much Choice will be expanded under his law will depend on yet-to-be-completed regulations that will determine eligibility for veterans as well as available money for the program. The VA has yet to resolve long-term financing due to congressional budget caps that could put money for VA or other domestic programs at risk of shortfalls next year. The programs success will also depend on an overhaul of the VAs electronic medical records to allow seamless sharing of medical records with private physicians, expected to take up to 10 years. Meanwhile, the current Choice program isnt always timely. A report released this year by the Government Accountability Office found that despite the Choice programs guarantee of providing an appointment within 30 days, veterans waited an average of 51 days to 64 days. Trump: Veteran unemployment has reached its lowest level in nearly 21 years, and its going to be better. The facts: The veterans unemployment rate fell to 2.9% in October, the latest data available, but that is still higher than the 2.7% rate reached in October 2017, also under Trump. That was the lowest joblessness rate for veterans in nearly 17 years. Veterans unemployment has fallen mostly for the same reasons that joblessness has dropped generally: strong hiring and steady economic growth for the past eight years. In May 2000, veterans unemployment dropped to a low of 2.3%, and he hasnt reached that. In any event, its impossible for Trump to claim an achievement not seen in 21 years on veterans unemployment. The data on joblessness for vets go back only 18 years, to 2000. NATO Trump: Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not! Trump: President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the U.S., China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the U.S. subsidizes greatly! The facts: Macron, the president of France, never suggested assembling a European army to stand against the United States, its steadfast military ally. Instead, he joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel in proposing a continental army that would give Europe more responsibility for its own security, supplementing NATO. Trump has repeatedly pushed NATO members to spend more on their own military capabilities to relieve pressure on the U.S. to protect Europe. A European army would be aimed at doing that, though in theory outside the NATO umbrella. Macron said in a radio interview before Trumps arrival in France that Europe should be able to defend itself more than it now can, without only relying on the United States. TRADE Trump: On Trade, France makes excellent wine, but so does the U.S. The problem is that France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs. Not fair, must change! The facts: Yes, U.S. wine is desired in France. Trump, whos been in the wine business, is wrong about France applying tariffs. The European Union does. Hes right about a disparity in wine duties. Tariffs vary by alcohol content and other factors. A bottle of white American wine with 13% alcohol content imported into the EU carries a customs duty of 10 euro cents (just over 11 U.S. cents). A bottle of white wine from the EU exported to the United States has a customs duty of 5 U.S. cents. The gap in duties is narrower for red wine with an alcohol content of 14.5% Bulk wines are another story. The U.S. tariff is double the EU one, a break for American producers because bulk wine represents 25% of the volume of U.S. wine coming into the EU, according to the French wine exporter federation. The value of wine imported by France has jumped 200% over a decade. Meantime Americans are the top consumers of French wine exports. VOTER ID Trump: The disgrace is that, voter ID. If you buy, you know, a box of cereal, if you do anything, you have a voter ID ...The only thing you dont is if youre a voter of the United States. The facts: He is meaning to say that shoppers use a photo ID to make certain purchases, so it should not be a burden to show a photo ID for voting. But as shoppers know, no photo is required to purchase a box of cereal or other items at a grocery store when using cash or to make routine purchases with credit or debit cards. Identifications are required to purchase limited items such as alcohol, cigarettes or cold medicine and in rapidly declining situations in which a customer opts to pay with a personal check. According to the National Grocers Assn.'s most recent data, the use of checks as a percentage of total transactions dropped from 33% in 2000 to 6% in 2015, due in part to the popularity of debit cards, which use PIN codes. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from denying asylum to immigrants who cross the border at places other than official points of entry. U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar, who serves in San Francisco, said President Trumps Nov. 9 order restricting eligibility for asylum violated an immigration law passed by Congress. Whatever the scope of the presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden, Tigar wrote in a ruling posted online late Monday night. Trump issued his order in response to caravans of thousands of migrants headed from Central America to the U.S. border. The president also ordered active-duty troops to the border. Advertisement Several immigrant-rights groups sued to block Trumps order. The Immigration and Naturalization Act passed by Congress says any immigrant who has arrived in the U.S. may apply for asylum whether or not at a designated port of arrival. Tigar issued a temporary restraining order to remain in effect until Dec. 19, when the administration and the challengers must return to court. RELATED: Read judges ruling issuing a temporary restraining order Evidence shows that the federal government limits or meters the number of people who may ask for asylum at points of entry, resulting in delays that can span more than six weeks, wrote Tigar, an Obama appointee. The Trump administration on Tuesday called the asylum system broken and abused by tens of thousands of meritless claims every year. As the Supreme Court affirmed this summer, Congress has given the president broad authority to limit or even stop the entry of aliens into this country, the administration said in a statement issued by Homeland Security Department spokeswoman Katie Waldman and Justice Department spokesman Steven Stafford. Asylum is a discretionary benefit given by the executive branch only when legal conditions are met and a favorable exercise of discretion is warranted, the statement said. The statement cited a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which says the president may suspend the entry of immigrants or impose restrictions on them when their entry would be detrimental to the U.S. Homeland Security estimates about 70,000 people a year claim asylum after crossing illegally. But illegal crossings overall are well below historical highs from previous decades. About 3,000 people from the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, across the border from San Diego. Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU of Northern California, said Trumps order on asylum put peoples lives in danger. There is no justifiable reason to flatly deny people the right to apply for asylum, and we cannot send them back to danger based on the manner of their entry, he said. The challengers argued that some migrants did not know how to get to the official border crossings or could not get to them safely. UPDATES: 11:25 a.m.: This article was updated with staff reporting. 8:30 a.m. Nov. 20: This article was updated with comments from the administration, additional details and background on other rulings. This article was originally published at 11 p.m. Nov. 19. A Chicago police officer and two other people were killed in an attack at a South Side hospital Monday afternoon that sent medical personnel and police scrambling through halls, stairwells and even the nursery in search of victims and the shooter before he was found dead. Officer Samuel Jimenez, on the force less than two years, was gunned down as he went to the aid of other officers who had been called to Mercy Hospital & Medical Center around 3:20 p.m. about an assault. Jimenez, 28, was married with three small children. Hes the second Chicago police officer killed in the line of duty this year, the most since 2010 when five officers were fatally shot. The first was Near North District Cmdr. Paul Bauer, killed Feb. 13 outside the Thompson Center. Those officers that responded today saved a lot of lives, said Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. They were heroes because we just dont know how much damage [the shooter] was prepared to do. Police had been called to the hospital after Juan Lopez, 32, confronted emergency room doctor Tamara ONeal, apparently over a broken engagement, sources said. By the time Jimenez and his partner arrived on the scene, Lopez had shot ONeal repeatedly, standing over her as he fired the last shots, according to police sources and witnesses. Advertisement When they pulled up, they heard the gunshots, and they did what heroic officers always do they ran toward that gunfire, Johnson said. So they werent assigned to that particular call, but they went because thats what we do. Lopez, who sources say had a concealed carry license, exchanged gunfire with Jimenez and other officers as he ran into the hospital. Jimenez was shot in the lobby as Lopez continued firing. A squad car was hit, and a bullet hit the holster and lodged in the gun barrel of another officer, according to Johnson. Dayna Less, 25, a first-year pharmacy resident, was hit as she walked out of an elevator. That woman got off an elevator and was shot, why? Johnson asked. Lopez was found inside the hospital, apparently suffering a wound to the head. Johnson said it was unclear how he was shot. At a press conference late Monday night, Emergency Department director Patrick Connor grew emotional as he described ONeal as dedicated to her church and patients. The 38-year-old physician graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago in 2016 and had worked as a resident at Mercy for two years. She raised money for disadvantaged children and led her church choir, Connor said, choking up with emotion and pausing frequently. That was her one thing she wanted ... to be able to go to church on Sunday, Connor said, adding that they assured her she could. Well make sure you go to church on Sunday. Less recently graduated from Purdue University and started working at the hospital in July. READ MORE: Slain officer, married and father of three young children, had been on force for less than 2 years Michael Davenport, Mercys chief medical officer, said the hospital had conducted an active shooter drill last month. About 200 patients were being treated in the hospital on Monday, but authorities evacuated only the emergency room. The hospitals emergency plans include barricading doors and ensuring patient safety. In the confusion of the first moments, it was unclear how many people were shot, how many officers were among them and how many shooters there were. As dispatchers and responding officers tried to make sense of the scene, reports came in of an officer shot somewhere in the lobby, a woman and an assistant also wounded. Finally, there was word of the gunman apparently shot in the head. Even then, dispatchers continually checked on officers status and whether another gunman might still be on the loose. How many officers shot? a dispatcher asked repeatedly. Trying to find that out, an officer radioed. Officers rushed to lock down the first floor of the hospital for a search, then closed off the stairwells. Were checking for victims, a dispatcher said. We also need officers on the third floor to check the nursery. By 4 p.m., the officer was being taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died. Chicago police Officer Samuel Jimenez was killed at Mercy Hospital while responding to an active shooter on Monday. (Chicago Police Department) Meanwhile, medical personnel continued to be brought out of the hospital by police, who radioed ahead to warn officers outside. At 4:40 p.m., the hospital tweeted that patients are safe. Steven Mixon, an emergency room clerk, said he had received a call hours earlier, around 1 p.m., from a man he believed to be the ex-fiance of the woman shot outside the hospital. He called and asked to speak with his fiancee, said Mixon. And she said, Oh, just tell him Im in with a patient. Mixon said he got off work around 3 p.m. and waited for an Uber in front of the hospital. I look up and I see her being harassed by some gentleman, he said. She was trying to avoid him and move around. And when she saw me, she waved for me to come that way. Mixon said he started to run toward his colleague to help when Lopez fired. I guess it wasnt my time to go because if I had made it to her, I would have been dead too, Mixon said. He watched as the gunman then shot at a police car and shot again at the woman, who had fallen to the ground. Mixon said he ran back into the emergency room, where it was total chaos. READ MORE: Chaos at Mercy Hospital: This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and the consequence of evil. Everyone was running every which way, he said. We ran into surgery because they had locked doors. Thats when we heard more shots inside the hospital. Mixon said he remembers the woman looking beautiful this year at the hospitals annual gala. She was a sweetheart, just a sweetheart. What a fireball. Before all this, she was looking forward to getting married, he said. Talking about dresses, all of that. But then something happened and it was called off. James Gray was coming out of the clinic area when he said he saw a man in a black coat, black hat and dark pants shoot a woman three times in the chest. The man and the woman had been walking and talking to each other before the shooting, he said. The gunman stood over the woman and shot her three more times after she fell to the ground, said Gray. Then a squad car turned its lights on and came down the drive and the gunman shot at the squad car. It was chaos, said Gray. It was just mass chaos. Gray said the gun looked like a 9 mm handgun; a police source said authorities had identified it as a 9 mm. When the gunman came into the hospital, it appeared that he was shooting people at random, said Gray, who saw one other person shot. And then I ran into the X-ray department and locked the door behind us, he said. I thought it was unbelievable. Its like a movie scene. Nothing like that ever happened to me before. Hector Avitia was watching television in a waiting room at the hospital with his wife when the first woman was shot. Avitia watched through windows as a person in blue scrubs was shot outside and fell to the ground, he said. When the shooter made his way inside the hospital, Avitia and those with him hid by a desk. Oh my God, said Avitia, when asked how many gunshots he heard. Reloaded twice. So 32 bullets each. Ive heard shootings, he said. Ive known people that have died in the neighborhood like that. But something like that? No. Avitia said he was more alert than scared for his life. Its just a messed up situation and I was trying to help out as much as I could, he said. Get people to get out of the way of the windows. Because he could have easily just aimed at us, too. Because he was just shooting like a maniac. And he obviously knows how to shoot because he was holding the gun with both hands. Erix Horton, who works in environmental services at the hospital, spoke to a Tribune reporter while outside smoking a cigarette after being inside the hospital when the shooting occurred. I was checking out, getting ready to leave, said Horton. One of the nurses ran back here and it was like she was about to collapse and said [a staff member had] been shot. And shes like, Call the police. We have an active shooter. And thats when everybody took cover. They got on the PA, letting everybody know. Horton said he took cover with others in the break room across from the ER, which has a combination lock, until police entered and escorted everyone out. A Fire Department crew that had just brought in a patient took cover in the room also, Horton said. While in the break room, they could hear someone firing gunshots in the hallway, eight or nine of them, Horton said. We had to duck. A lot was going through my mind. Make it home to see my wife and my kids. Everybody was just worried about the rest of our coworkers making it out safe. Moments after Charlie Wells walked into the emergency room to treat an injury, he heard gunfire and dove behind the registration desk. He sat huddled there with about 15 other people. He heard screams, and more gunfire. Wells, 37, said people dropped to the ground. It was chaos, he said. All panic. Tanisha Smith held her 10-year-old daughters hand and walked quickly away from Mercy Hospital. They were visiting Smiths grandfather at the hospital when someone yelled at them to run. Smith grabbed her daughter and sprinted toward a waiting room, looking frantically for a door. They couldnt find one, so they hid under a desk. I heard gunshots, the girl said while she clutched her mothers hand while an officer hurried them away from the scene. The Chicago Tribunes Patrick M. OConnell, William Lee, Elvia Malagon, Elyssa Cherney, Dan Hinkel, Annie Sweeney, Deanese Williams-Harris, David Heinzmann and Liam Ford contributed. Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Tuesday, Nov. 20, and heres whats happening across California: TOP STORIES Before we turn to the most destructive wildfire in California history, lets talk helicopters. Specifically, the Robinson R44. Manufactured in Torrance, it is the worlds bestselling civilian helicopter. It also has a long history of deadly crashes. Robinson R44s were involved in 42 fatal crashes in the U.S. from 2006 to 2016, more than any other civilian helicopter, according to a Times analysis of National Transportation Safety Board accident reports. That translates to 1.6 deadly accidents per 100,000 hours flown a rate nearly 50% higher than any other of the dozen most common civilian models whose flight hours are tracked by the Federal Aviation Administration. Advertisement Family-owned Robinson Helicopter Co. disputed The Times analysis, contending that the FAA undercounts the flight hours for the R44, leading to an inflated accident rate. The company vigorously defended its record, maintaining that its aircraft are safe and reliable when flown within their operating limits. Data Editor Ben Welsh worked on the story with Kim Christensen and explains how it came together: My colleague Kim Christensen is your classic investigative reporter. Hes skeptical, tenacious and when he knows he has a story, nothing holds him back from getting it some of the qualities glamorized by the recently departed screenwriter William Goldman in the movie All the Presidents Men. Kim is also a dedicated reader of what used to be called the briefs, short news items buried in the back of the paper. Last year, he noticed something hidden in one of those stories: the crash of a helicopter manufactured by Robinson Helicopter Co. Kims perceptiveness, combined with a willingness to wander away from todays big news in search of tomorrows, is essential to doing original work, and what got this story started. Soon enough, Kim realized he needed more than anecdotes to answer his questions about Robinsons safety record. Thats where data can make the difference, and where he knew he needed some help. Kim welcomed me into his work, and over the coming months we read hundreds of documents, mastered the governments accident database and gradually put together the piece. This involved developing a computer program, which we published alongside the story, that calculates helicopter accident rates. Not every investigation involves late-night meetings in the parking lot with Deep Throat. In fact, few do. The best journalists, like Kim, are less like the swashbuckling swordsmen in another Goldman film, The Princess Bride, and more like the diligent, collegial and caring cast of 2015s Oscar winner Spotlight. Though even Kim dresses better than those poor slobs. Read the story here. Los Angeles Times Also: Learn how the FAA has taken a hands-off approach in how it handles these cases. Los Angeles Times The latest on Californias fires We have to learn: More than a week after the Camp fire began with 79 fatalities and hundreds still missing, more than 10,000 homes destroyed and 150,000 acres consumed experts believe there are lessons to take away from this destruction, however painful. We have to learn from this so that no one else will have to suffer through such an inferno. Los Angeles Times Plus: Deadly California fires prompt bold thinking about prevention: Shelters, strict zoning, buyouts. Los Angeles Times Aging and disaster: A portrait of how one woman in her 70s is coping in the aftermath of the Camp fire. Los Angeles Times Haunting: Cal Fires photos of destroyed buildings, matched up with how the sites looked before the fire. Los Angeles Times New dangers: Thousands of people reeling from the fires are bracing this week for a possible second blow: flooding and mudslides. Los Angeles Times Victor Lobl loads sandbags provided by the L.A. County Fire Department on Monday with the help of friends to protect whats left of his Malibu home. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) In Sacramento: Trying to get a handle on Californias deadly wildfires has lawmakers flummoxed. Los Angeles Times Returning home: After Southern Californias Woolsey fire devastated Malibu, some residents return home. Los Angeles Times In Butte County: Officials have arrested two men in connection with the burglary of a fire station. Los Angeles TImes Useful: Compare the size of the Camp Fire, Woolsey Fire and Hill Fire to the place you live. NBC News On the front line: Firefighters battle exhaustion from perpetual blazes. Wall Street Journal A new twist: U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke blamed the states fires on radical environmentalists who he said have prevented forest management. Los Angeles Times Plus: The man driving Trumps agenda at the Department of Interior. Washington Post Fact check: President Donald Trump is going too far in assigning most of the blame for Californias devastating wildfires on the states forest management. Associated Press Finland to Trump: We dont rake the forest floor, but we do other things you should emulate. Los Angeles Times Get the Essential California newsletter IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER Wild stuff: Just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, Little Dog, Weasel and other militia members keep an eye out for migrants. Los Angeles Times Plus: After U.S. Customs and Border Protection received information about migrant caravan members gathering in Tijuana for a possible attempt to rush illegally through the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the agency temporarily suspended some operations, officials said. Los Angeles Times Big picture: How California conservatives became the intellectual engine of Trumpism. Vox POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT In D.C.: Sixteen Democrats, in a letter released Monday, publicly committed to voting for new leadership in the race for House speaker, putting House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in a difficult position as she tries to regain the post. Los Angeles Times Plus: Pelosis last battle. New York Times Magazine Resistance 2.0: Maxine Waters wants to investigate Trump, but her party may resist. Politico By the Bay: San Francisco 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. San Francisco Chronicle CRIME AND COURTS Arrested: A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy assigned to handle sex abuse crimes, often involving minors, has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl in a case he was investigating. Los Angeles Times The fight continues: Manhattan prosecutors have pushed back against a call to dismiss criminal charges against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, weeks after allegations of misconduct against a New York City police detective roiled the case. Los Angeles Times THE ENVIRONMENT Follow the money: Officials had $1 million for beach access at Hollister Ranch where did it go? Los Angeles Times Gulp: Californias air exceeded world health standards by 60 times last week, and conditions Monday continued to top safe thresholds. Bloomberg CALIFORNIA CULTURE Heartwarming: Neighbors in Seal Beach line up every morning to give the owner of Donut City some time with his ailing wife. Los Angeles Times Fun! Road-tripping with Californias poet laureate. LAist On the offensive: With Facebook at war, Mark Zuckerberg has adopted a more aggressive style. Wall Street Journal Plus: Inside Facebook, denial, tension and finger-pointing as a sense of crisis builds. NBC News Mind blown: Theres a hidden bar with a secret entrance at Disney California Adventure that almost nobody knows about until now. Press-Enterprise CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Los Angeles area: Sunny, 70, Tuesday. Partly cloudy, 67, Wednesday. San Diego: Sunny, 69, Tuesday. Partly cloudy, 68, Wednesday. San Francisco area: Partly cloudy, 61, Tuesday. Showers, 69, Wednesday. San Jose: Partly cloudy, 68, Tuesday. Showers, 61, Wednesday. Sacramento: Partly cloudy, 65, Tuesday. Showers, 57, Wednesday. More weather is here. AND FINALLY Todays California memory from Gerald Moores: When I was a young man in the early 1960s, a winter road trip to coastal Southern California from my home in cool, rainy Vancouver was a magic carpet ride to sunshine and pleasure. In eager anticipation, from my elderly VW Beetle, I watched the margins of I-5 for the first of the palm trees, then the rice fields, then the abundant flowers as I progressed south. The friendly, helpful people I met, and the beauty of California, infused me with a welcoming sense of being in a land quite different from my own. I have returned by road many times since that first trip. Each time, as Mt. Shasta first comes into view, I feel the nourishing pleasure of cloudless days, comfort, and the sense of returning to a beloved special place on Earth. If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad. A pilot program employing homeless people to pick litter off streets and pull weeds wont solve homelessness by any stretch of the imagination. But its not a bad way to help a small portion of the citys vast homeless population work its way out of homelessness. Los Angeles City Councilmen Joe Buscaino and Bob Blumenfield proposed the pilot more than a year ago. Now, after winding its way through the City Council bureaucracy, the program is just one committee away from going to the full council for a vote. Its not a make-work program the city needs help collecting litter. The citys Bureau of Sanitation prioritizes collecting bulky items (that sofa on the sidewalk, for example), removing illegally dumped trash and deep cleaning around homeless encampments. Even though the bureau has put a couple thousand new curbside trash cans around the city in the last few years, theres still plenty of litter and not enough workers to collect it all. The pilot is designed to help homeless people who have trouble latching on to even the lowest rungs of the economic ladder. Advertisement So this new program would address both a city need and a human need. The new workers would be paid not out of the Bureau of Sanitation budget, but with city funds set aside for homelessness programs, to the tune of about $2.9 million a year. Chrysalis, a respected social services provider, would run the pilot, selecting the homeless individuals for the program. At any one time, about 30 workers who are homeless would be divided among six crews, each with a supervisor from Chrysalis. The crews would be dispatched across the city by bureau workers. This isnt about exploiting cheap labor or desperate Angelenos. Chrysalis wouldnt comb the streets for homeless people looking for odd jobs and then dump them back where they came from at the end of the day. Nor is it a quick, imperfect fix for people whod just been laid off and needed any kind of job to tide themselves over until they could resume their careers. The pilot is designed to help homeless people who have trouble latching on to even the lowest rungs of the economic ladder. Participants would be chosen from among those who had been disconnected from the workforce for years, who need to learn how to have a job how to show up on time, dress appropriately, deal with a boss, interact with the public. The trash pick-up pilot is part of Chrysalis overall program, the goal of which is to launch a variety of people living on the margins (not all of them homeless) into stable, long-term employment. Any homeless person selected for the city pilot program will have gone through about 25 hours of training and counseling at Chrysalis. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Each person in the pilot would work about 32 hours a week and, ideally, transition out of the program after several months into longer-term jobs that Chrysalis case managers help them find. Some workers may go on into the citys Targeted Local Hire program, which tries to place residents from underserved groups (formerly incarcerated individuals, foster youth, veterans) into city jobs. Unfortunately, even with the unemployment rate nationally at rock bottom, the pool of people in that program outstrips the number of available jobs. This pilot program would pay workers about $13 an hour not enough for them to afford to rent an apartment and comes with no guarantee of housing. As a result, some of these workers may spend their nights on the streets. Others may live in shelters. Chrysalis would link people to housing services and try to help people get emergency housing or motel vouchers. But the main focus would be employment. The pilot should obviously not be seen as a substitute for the housing and services that homeless people desperately need and that the city and county need to provide at a faster pace. Nor should giving homeless people jobs picking up trash be seen as their way of doing penance for being allowed to put a tent on the sidewalk (although some city residents will see it that way). Instead, the proposed pilot would be a modest but enterprising program that offered some hard-earned money, basic job skills and a glimmer of a pathway back into the mainstream workforce. The council should give it the green light, track its results and, if it proves effective, extend its life. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Alarm bells understandably rang earlier this month when Matthew G. Whitaker, the chief of staff to fired Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, leapfrogged over more senior and Senate-confirmed Justice Department officials to become President Trumps acting attorney general. Its hard to imagine a less reassuring replacement. As a commentator, Whitaker (a former U.S. attorney in Iowa) had questioned the investigation conducted by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III and even suggested that Muellers appointment smelled a little fishy. Yet as acting attorney general, Whitaker is positioned to be the ultimate overseer of an investigation that, among other matters, is looking into whether Trumps 2016 campaign illegally colluded with Russia. Even more ominously, Trump seems to be in no rush to nominate a new attorney general. Meanwhile, he said over the weekend that he would not get involved if Whitaker moved to curtail Muellers investigation. Thats hardly surprising, given that Trump has described the probe as an illegal witch hunt. Trumps latest comments underline the importance of enacting legislation to protect Mueller. Advertisement Trumps latest comments underline the importance of enacting legislation to protect Mueller, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) perversely has refused to advance despite its bipartisan backing. The Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in April would codify a Justice Department rule that special counsels can be fired only for good cause and would allow a counsel to appeal his or her dismissal in court. It needs to be enacted. But Trumps comments, including his praise for Whitaker, point to another problem: By elevating Whitaker, who is not a Senate-confirmed official, the president is violating the spirit and possibly the letter of the Constitutions Appointments Clause. In a lawsuit filed on Monday, three Democratic U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie K. Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island claim that Whitakers appointment flouts not only the Constitution but also a statute setting out a line of succession for the Justice Department. Installing a staffer like Whitaker as acting attorney general would be troubling under any circumstances. But with the presidents own conduct being scrutinized by Mueller, its vital that an official confirmed by the Senate have oversight over the probe. Because Sessions rightly had recused himself from the Russia investigation in light of his role in the 2016 Trump campaign, that oversight had been provided by Sessions Senate-confirmed deputy, Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller. But with Sessions forced resignation, that authority passes to Whitaker. You dont have to endorse Whitehouses description of Whitaker as a lackey to be troubled by entrusting responsibility for the Mueller investigation to him. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is expected to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee in the new Congress, blithely declared the he didnt see any indication at all that Trump or Whitaker will interfere with Muellers investigation, which apparently has reached a crucial point with Trump answering written questions posed by the special counsel. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Pardon us if were not reassured. Trump has continually raged against the special counsels investigation, even after it resulted in indictments and guilty pleas. The fact that Sessions recusal led to Muellers appointment prompted the president to humiliate and eventually fire a man who was a key supporter during the campaign and who as attorney general faithfully executed the presidents policies. Whatever one thought of Sessions policy views and we opposed most of them his decision to recuse himself from investigations connected to the 2016 campaign was admirable. And it flowed from the fact that, as Sessions noted in his recusal statement, he had assured the Senate Judiciary Committee that if a specific matter arose where I believed my impartiality might reasonably be questioned, I would consult with Department ethics officials regarding the most appropriate way to proceed. Such assurances are an important part of the Senate confirmation process. Trump must expeditiously identify a new nominee for attorney general who can be questioned by the Senate early in the new year about his or her professionalism and integrity. That nominee also should be required, as a condition of confirmation, to promise not to allow political considerations to influence the administration of justice. In the meantime, where the Mueller investigation is concerned, Whitaker assuming he doesnt recuse himself, which seems unlikely must show appropriate deference to the judgment of the professionals who have been pursuing this matter since long before his inappropriate elevation. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook To the editor: A letter writer chastising Democrats told them not to say a negative word about high taxes, homelessness, housing costs, corporate flight, traffic, air pollution, medical care, crowded cities or crime, situations that will surely come our way because the recent election greatly favored the Democrats. All of these problems have been present in California for decades no matter which party has been in power. Also, only one of the two parties has made any attempt to remedy our sad state of affairs when it comes to medical care for Americans, and this attempt was met with strong opposition from the Republican Party. Jacqueline West, Inglewood Advertisement .. To the editor: With Democrats in control of California state government now, says one writer, we cannot complain about high taxes, homelessness, housing costs, corporate flight and a host of other problems. She states that if you voted Democrat, you own these problems. I have one thing to say: We all own these problems. Now, lets get to work. Mindy Taylor-Ross, Venice Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: President Trump is wrong about why California wildfires have been so deadly. As a retired firefighter, I know there are many factors that have led to these disasters, and poor forest management is down on the list. One key factor is that many homes and even entire cities have been built in what is called the urban-wildland interface. Paradise and Malibu are good examples. People want to live in these beautiful areas, but moving there comes with great risk. When we have years of drought and higher temperatures, disaster looms. How do we fix this problem? We should develop new zoning laws, adopt and enforce strict brush clearing rules, and require new homes to be built with greater fire resistance. It seems like insurance companies should take a more active role in evaluating risk and seeing that brush is cleared away from the homes they should want to be protected. Advertisement Mike Reardon, Fallbrook The writer is a retired Los Angeles County Fire Department captain. .. To the editor: During this tragic period in California, I wont even begin to comment on Trumps ill-informed statements. I could not, however, help but notice the photos of him with Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom in Paradise. Where I have been visiting in the San Francisco Bay Area, the air quality has been declared the worst in the world. Everyone outside has been wearing a respirator mask. Schools have been closed, the roads empty, and all activities canceled. And yet, in the immediate fire area, our president and others were not wearing masks. Barbara Rosen, Fullerton Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- China has supported Papua New Guinea from the outset to host a successful APEC meeting and will continue to enhance communication with concerned parties to facilitate APEC cooperation, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday. Spokesperson Geng Shuang commented at a press briefing on opinions that disagreements between China and the United States had led to the failure of issuing a Leaders' Declaration at the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting, which concluded at Papua New Guinea's capital of Port Moresby on Sunday. "China has played a constructive role in promoting a successful APEC meeting, and shown its utmost sincerity," said Geng, adding that consultations on the basis of consensus are a fundamental principle for APEC members to cooperate, as well as a precondition that guarantees a healthy development of APEC. He congratulated Papua New Guinea on hosting a successful APEC meeting, which he said has promoted pragmatic cooperation under the APEC framework in various fields and has yielded positive results. Geng said leaders at the meeting exchanged views on trade, particularly the multilateral trading system, and a majority of APEC members voiced their support for multilateralism, a multilateral trading system, and the WTO to play its due role. Meanwhile, a number of APEC members, particularly those from the developing world, clearly expressed their opposition to protectionism and safeguarded developing countries' development rights and space, he said. Regarding WTO reform, Geng said it should be prohibited to pursue protectionism in the name of reform. He said China welcomes necessary adjustments to improve the WTO. However, those adjustments should accommodate the core interests and basic principles of the WTO. Geng called on related parties to adhere to mutual respect, seek common ground while reserving differences, and consult to promote pragmatic cooperation on the basis of consensus. Since its inception, the APEC has made positive contributions to facilitate regional trade, investment, and economic integration, Geng said, adding that China stands ready to work with all parties to strengthen partnerships and enhance cooperation through relevant mechanisms including APEC, so as to make new contributions to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. To the editor: President Trumps statement expressing support for Saudi Arabia and its crown prince, whom the CIA concluded ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reveals his character. At first Trump said we did not even know if Khashoggi was dead. After that was established, he said we really did not know how he died. After it was conclusively proved that Khashoggi was murdered, he said the Saudi crown prince had personally assured him that he was not involved and knew nothing about it. Trump, just as he has with other autocrats, accepted his word as truth. Now our own CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggis killing. But the truth does not seem to matter to Trump, especially when it is an inconvenient truth. Advertisement Trump views Saudi Arabia as the linchpin of his Middle Eastern policy and praises it for buying hundreds of billions of dollars worth of weapons from the United States. To Trump, Khashoggi is simply acceptable collateral damage. The president will not let a little matter like right and wrong stand in the way of what he wants to do. This is an inconvenient truth about Trump that we all should accept. Ken Derow, Swarthmore, Pa. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook As cameras flashed Monday, Gil Cisneros glided into the union hall in Buena Park, accompanied by his twin sons and wife, feted with cheers and rows of exuberant faces after days of uncertainty. I am so humbled and honored, the congressman-elect for Californias 39th District told the shouting crowd nearly two weeks after election day. This is only the beginning of the hard work. You will definitely have access to me. Were going to do town halls. Were going to be out there, everywhere. The Navy veteran said his top three job priorities are healthcare, common sense gun legislation and immigration reform. His win cemented a Democratic sweep across the longtime conservative stronghold of Orange County, with the 39th the last of the four Republican-held congressional districts to fall in the county after close ballot counting prolonged the drama. Advertisement He will succeed retiring 12-term Republican Rep. Ed Royce in the district that straddles Orange, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties. Cisneros remarks capped an intense post-election period during which he and supporters monitored the vote count day by day. Gil Cisneros hugs his mother, Elizabeth Cisneros, at the victory rally. The Navy veteran will succeed retiring 12-term Republican Rep. Ed Royce in the district that straddles Orange, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) He had been locked in battle with Republican Young Kim, a former assemblywoman and liaison to the Asian American community for Royce. Cisneros and his team focused heavily on grass-roots outreach to Asian Americans in the district, in which Asians and Latinos make up about two-thirds of the population. Cisneros, who became a philanthropist after winning the California lottery, also spent more than $9 million on his campaign. His father, Gilbert Cisneros Sr., said that when the victory was confirmed on Saturday, he started texting family and friends with the amazing news. Imagine me, a son of farm laborers, now having a son as a congressman, he said. There are really no words to describe this feeling. Andrea Guzman, president of College Democrats at Cal State Fullerton, said she and fellow supporters zeroed in on the potential of Cisneros months ago. He really understands going to the people and not special interests. A junior, the political science major wore brand-new Gils on the Hill buttons as she circled the room cradling a puppy named Booster. Near Guzman at the union office, a line formed for photos with the new lawmaker. Yards away, his wife, Jacki Cisneros, and his 4-year-old boys, Alex and Christopher embraced more supporters eager to videotape the crowd of about 150. Before he left the stage, Cisneros thanked the crowd for having faith and working for his election. All that you did, he told them, allows him to go to Washington to serve you. Si, se puede. anh.do@latimes.com Lopsided Republican electoral majorities in North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin survived intact after the midterm elections, thanks to heavy partisan gerrymandering and despite the Democratic wave that flipped control of the House. No House seats changed hands in North Carolina or Ohio, even though the total votes in those states were closely split between the two parties. Thanks to gerrymandering, Republicans will still hold 10 of 13 House seats in North Carolina, and 12 of 16 in Ohio. The blue wave did not breach the sea wall here, said Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina. In Wisconsin, the results were starker. Republicans kept supermajority control of the state Assembly, even though 54% of voters cast ballots for Democrats. Wisconsin voters also elected Democrats in all the major statewide races and reelected U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat. Advertisement Two years ago, a three-judge federal court ruled Wisconsins election map was unconstitutional because it entrenched Republicans in power for a full decade, regardless of which party won more votes. But the Supreme Court set aside that ruling in June on the grounds that the plaintiffs had standing to challenge the boundaries only of the district where they lived, not the statewide map. Gerrymandering is hardly a new phenomenon, but party leaders have been more brazen in recent years in drawing election maps that give them a near lock on the legislature or the congressional delegation. They can do so by concentrating the likely voters from the opposite party into a few districts while giving their candidates a comfortable margin in the majority of districts. If the gerrymandering works as planned, the party that drew the map will hold the most seats even if it loses most of the votes. And thats what happened this month, said Michael Li, a redistricting expert at the Brennan Center at New York University. Rarely do we get to test something like this, but this shows that gerrymandering works. The states with most the extreme gerrymanders survived a tsunami. Overall, Democrats picked up at least 37 seats in the House after winning about 53% of the popular vote nationwide, compared with 45.3% for Republican candidates. But Li said most of the switched seats came in states like California, where an independent commission drew a map to make for more competitive elections, or in states like Pennsylvania, where a state court ordered a new and less partisan map. In California, the surge for Democrats was just enough to oust Republicans who had held seats in Orange County. The commission drew districts that were more compact and kept communities together. And people there shifted toward the Democrats this year, but Republicans could win back those seats in the future, Li said. In Pennsylvania, like in Ohio, North Carolina and Wisconsin, Republicans won full control of the state in the 2010 midterm election and used their power to draw a favorable map once the 2010 census data were available. The new map helped Republicans win 13 of 18 seats in the House, even when President Obama won reelection in 2012 and carried Pennsylvania. That lopsided margin held up in 2014 and 2016. But earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the map as unconstitutional and ordered a new map for this years elections. On Nov. 6, Pennsylvania elected nine Democrats to the House and nine Republicans. Statewide, about 53% of the voters cast ballots for Democrats. They would not have won much had the map not been redrawn by the courts, Li said. The latest from Washington Nearby in Ohio, the map was unchanged, and so were the House seats. Republicans won 52% of the state vote and held 75% of the congressional delegation. In the year ahead, North Carolina is likely to be the focus of the next Supreme Court battle over partisan gerrymandering. Last year, a three-judge panel struck down the states congressional map as a partisan gerrymander that deprived Democrats of an equal vote. But Republicans appealed, and the Supreme Court set aside that ruling and allowed the election to proceed under a map first drawn in 2011. It included three districts that concentrated Democratic voters and gave a Republicans a majority in the rest. Earlier this month, about 48.9% of North Carolinas voters across all 13 congressional districts voted for Democrats. However, one Republican incumbent, Rep. Walter Jones, ran unopposed. If his district is excluded, 51.7% of the states votes were cast for Democrats in the other 12 districts. But nine of those districts elected a Republican. Common Cause and the League of Women Voters had sued, alleging the election map was an example of partisan gerrymandering. And GOP leaders did not deny that. When the election map was revised slightly in response to a finding of racial gerrymandering, the Republicans said they would leverage as much political gain as possible. We want to make clear that we are going to use political data in drawing this map. Im making clear that our intent is to use the political data we have to our partisan advantage, said Rep. David Lewis. I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage of 10 Republicans and three Democrats because I do not believe its possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats. In October, former U.S. Solicitor Gen. Paul Clement filed an appeal asking the Supreme Court to hear the case of Rucho vs. Common Cause and throw out the gerrymandering claim. He argued no voters rights have been violated. Voters do not suffer cognizable injury from the lack of proportional representation in the Legislature, he wrote. The court may also consider again a case from Maryland where Democrats are accused of shifting hundred of thousands of voters to turn a Republican district into a Democratic one. The justices have listed the North Carolina appeal to be considered for the first time on Dec. 7. david.savage@latimes.com Twitter: DavidGSavage President Trumps push to roll back federal regulations will take a significant toll on Americans health and finances, according to a surprising source the Trump administration itself. These human costs which include more deaths from air pollution, higher medical bills and increased student debt rarely get mentioned by the president, who often touts the economic benefits of his deregulatory campaign. But a review of thousands of pages of federal regulatory and legal filings shows that multiple agencies predict in their own analyses that the changes will cause an extensive list of harmful, even deadly, effects. The Environmental Protection Agency, for example, calculated as many as 1,400 more premature deaths a year as a result of its proposed rule providing incentives to electric utilities to keep coal-fired power plants operating longer. Advertisement The Department of Education, which has taken several steps to scale back rules on for-profit colleges and universities, conceded that one of its rollbacks had left students with more than $50 million in additional debt. The Department of Homeland Security acknowledged in regulatory filings that its proposal to curtail immigrants access to Medicaid and other government safety net programs risks increasing malnutrition among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. And the Department of Health and Human Services predicted that a regulation lifting restrictions on health plans with skimpier benefits would reduce sicker patients access to medical care and expose them higher costs. I have never seen an administration take such a callous view of the health impacts of their policy proposals, said Lyndsay Moseley Alexander, who directs the American Lung Assn.'s Healthy Air Campaign. Federal agencies often say in regulatory filings that those costs are outweighed by economic benefits. Officials project that their moves will spur economic growth, cut government spending or reduce administrative burdens. Trump routinely cheers such benefits. Weve cut regulations more than any president ever, the president told Fox Business News at a recent White House event in which he claimed deregulation was saving billions of dollars. But hundreds of patient groups, public health organizations, consumer advocates and others dispute that, saying that many of the administrations proposals pose particular risk for vulnerable Americans, including children, patients with serious illnesses and struggling students. The notion that deregulation is good for the economy and good for consumers is ill-conceived, said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League. In fact, the overall cost of deregulation is actually a drag on the economy because it ultimately hurts consumers and harms their health. Dr. Todd Wolynn, who heads a large pediatric practice around Pittsburgh, said he and his colleagues are already seeing the impact of some of the administrations moves. It seems like every time we see a regulatory change from Washington, it is hurting the health of our families, Wolynn said. These are the last people we should be taking protections away from. Since the Reagan administration, federal rules have required agencies to lay out the anticipated costs and benefits of proposed regulations through what are called regulatory impact analyses. The rigor of these analyses has varied greatly, according to experts. Under Trump, several major policy initiatives have been undertaken without a full accounting of their potential effects, particularly on vulnerable populations. The Department of Education, for example, did not report how many student borrowers would be affected by a proposed rule issued earlier this year making it more difficult for students who have been defrauded by colleges or universities to get debt relief. Nor did the agency report how much more debt these students could face. Only when borrowers sued did the agency acknowledge in court filings that scaling back the federal governments debt relief program had left students with $56.9 million in additional debt. Similarly, the Department of Health and Human Services has been granting states permission to impose work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries without any assessment of how many people could lose health coverage as a result. Many advocates fear that the administration may simply stop reporting potential adverse effects from their proposals. To date, however, agencies have acknowledged that several of the administrations highest-profile policy shifts would likely cause significant harm. Nowhere has this been more apparent than at the EPA, an agency that has long set the standard for evaluating the costs and benefits of proposed regulatory moves. When Trump in 2017 ordered the EPA to scrap President Obamas landmark initiative to fight climate change by limiting power plant emissions, agency scientists reported the move would cause up to 4,500 premature deaths annually. The administrations proposed replacement known as the Affordable Clean Energy rule -- pushed the projected death toll even higher, according to EPA scientists, who estimated an additional 1,400 premature deaths every year. The agency also predicted American workers sickened by increased air pollution caused by the added emissions would miss up to 48,000 days of work and sickened children would miss up to 160,000 days of school annually. Another proposal by the EPA to rescind a ban on a type of polluting diesel-engine trucks, known as glider trucks, also would have been deadly, causing up to 1,600 additional premature deaths from just a single year of glider production, EPA scientists revealed in regulatory filings. The truck regulation, which triggered bipartisan backlash in Congress, was ultimately withdrawn. In other cases, however, the administration has pushed ahead. This summer, for example, the Department of Health and Human Services conceded that its proposal to loosen rules on short-term health insurance plans could cause patients who switch to these skimpier plans to experience loss of access to some services and providers and an increase in out-of-pocket expenditures. These short-term plans -- which were once limited to three months, but can now provide coverage for up to three years do not have to cap how much patients must pay for medical care, as health plans sold through the Affordable Care Act do. Nor do these short-term plans have to offer a full set of benefits, such as prescription drugs, maternity coverage or mental health services. In its proposed rule, the health agency said it was interested in public comments about these potentially negative impacts. It received 340 from healthcare groups, including patient advocates, physician and hospital organizations and insurers. Of those comments, 335, or 98%, urged the health agency to change or rescind the proposal, in many cases warning of the dangerous effect on patients, a Times analysis found. The Health and Human Services Department made no significant changes to the proposal, however, and finalized the new rules in August. Now, the administration is accepting public comments on yet another major shift in federal regulatory policy, this one allowing federal immigration authorities to deny green cards to immigrants who receive certain forms of government assistance, including Medicaid. The Department of Homeland Security, which issued the proposed rule, acknowledges a host of potentially harmful impacts on immigrants such as worse health outcomes, including increased prevalence of obesity and malnutrition, especially for pregnant or breastfeeding women, infants, or children, and reduced prescription adherence. The agency also notes a likelihood of increased use of emergency rooms as a method of primary health care due to delayed treatment and increases in uncompensated care in which a treatment or service is not paid for by an insurer or patient. Finally, the administration conceded that the proposed rule could lead to increased rates of poverty and housing instability; and reduced productivity and educational attainment. The regulation is nonetheless expected to be finalized early next year. The latest from Washington More stories from Noam N. Levey More stories from Evan Halper noam.levey@latimes.com @noamlevey A coalition of bail bond industry groups took a major step Tuesday toward blocking Californias historic overhaul of the bail system, submitting more than enough signatures required for a statewide referendum on the law in 2020. If the signatures are verified by elections officials, the law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in August would be suspended until voters decide whether to overturn it, allowing bail agents to continue doing business before the industrys future in California is decided. The effort to end cash bail has picked up critics on both sides of the issue. Over the last two years, bail companies have been the fiercest opponents of efforts in Sacramento to overhaul how judges assign bail to criminal defendants while they wait for their cases to be resolved. The new law, which eliminates the payment of money as a condition of release from jail, is expected to decimate the earnings of bounty hunters, surety companies and about 3,200 registered bail agents in the state. Advertisement Civil rights groups that have supported the move to end cash bail have also criticized the new law. They are weighing their own options on how to shape its implementation by pushing for new judicial rules and legislative fixes. Senate Bill 10 was slated to go into effect Oct. 1 of next year. This is a reckless attempt to reform the states bail system, Jeff Clayton, a spokesman for the industry coalition, said in a statement. SB 10 is the perfect example of last-minute deal-making by the governor, the Legislature and labor unions absent input from all stakeholders. Browns signature on SB 10 set the stage for abolishing the states money bail system, ushering in one of the most sweeping criminal justice reforms of his administration. Under the new law, counties will have to establish their own pretrial services agencies, which would use risk-assessment tools, or analyses, to evaluate people arrested to determine whether, and under what conditions, they should be released. Only people charged with certain low-level, nonviolent misdemeanors a list of charges that can be further narrowed by county would be eligible for automatic release within 12 hours of being booked into jail. Judges would have greater discretion to weigh the release of all other defendants in a practice known as preventive detention. Top state officials, judges and activists have hailed the new law, which has put California at the forefront of a national push to stop courts from imposing a heavy financial burden on defendants who have not been convicted of a crime. But questions remain about its effect on the criminal justice system, and even some of its most passionate supporters worry it could lead to the incarceration of more people for longer periods. The bail industry coalition seeking to block the law has raised at least $3 million for its referendum efforts, arguing it is in favor of some changes to the system, not a complete elimination of cash bail. Bail does provide an important judicial option for the pretrial release of defendants that comes with accountability, no cost to the taxpayers and a sensitivity to public safety, Cesar McGuire, a coalition member and director of Bail Hotline Bail Bonds, said in a statement. Unlike a ballot initiative, which gives California voters the chance to write a new law, a referendum asks them whether they want to overturn a statute written by lawmakers. The bail industry would be asking voters to cast a no vote on the ultimate ballot measure to ensure the laws defeat. The political action committee organized by the bail industry collected 576,745 signatures in a little more than two months, more than enough to qualify for the November 2020 ballot. Elections officials must now verify those voter signatures; if enough of them are valid, the referendum could officially qualify for the ballot before the end of December. Greg Topo Padilla, president of the Golden State Bail Agents Assn., said bail agents are already feeling the hit to their businesses as counties across the state have started moving forward on new pretrial programs, replacing the cash bail system, ahead of the changes. He said bail companies havent ruled out legal challenges to the new law. This is not all about saving the bail industry, he said. This is about the taking away of a constitutional right [to bail] that people had, and now there is only one way out of jail, and that is if a judge decides to let you out. But backers of the states bail system overhaul have pledged to fight the move to block the efforts, saying they are ready to make their case in court and before voters. We knew this historic step forward for civil rights wouldnt come easy, because it threatens the business model of a predatory and racially biased bail industry, said Roxanne Sanchez, president of Service Employees International Union California and SEIU Local 1021. We wont stand by while mothers are forced into guilty pleas because theres no one to care for their children while they wait in a jail cell to prove their innocence. On Tuesday, civil rights groups for the first time clearly distanced themselves from the bail industrys referendum, though they opposed the overhaul after last-minute changes were made to the legislation. Make no mistake, the bail industry is not interested in equal justice or equal protection under the law, they are seeking to turn back the clock to protect their bottom line, said Abdi Soltani, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. John Raphling, senior researcher with Human Rights Watch, said civil rights groups and activists are working to ensure the law is implemented in a way that doesnt lead to higher levels of incarceration. They have been drafting legislative proposals to try to address concerns over judicial power and to weigh in on two new rules for courts set by the Judicial Council of California. One of those rules would guide how counties should use risk analysis tools, and the second would control how judges detain criminal defendants who are found to pose some risk of breaking the law again if released while their cases are pending. Civil rights groups are also waiting for the state Supreme Court to review a ruling on a judges authority to set bail. If the court decides to drastically limit the discretion of judges to use preventive detention, most of the concerns with the new state law would be gone, Raphling said. But if [the referendum] qualifies, which it looks like it will, that changes everyones calculus, he said. jazmine.ulloa@latimes.com Twitter: @jazmineulloa UPDATES: 4:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from bail agents, civil rights groups and bail overhaul proponents. This article was originally published at 9:10 a.m. The state Supreme Court on Tuesday recommended that Gov. Jerry Brown pardon former state Sen. Roderick Wright for a 2014 conviction on felony charges that involved lying about living in his legislative district. The action comes as the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition filed a motion Tuesday asking the court to unseal records Brown filed on the clemency petition, saying there has been a troubling pattern of secrecy that has cloaked a record number of clemency actions during his administration. This long-standing, flawed practice of immediately sealing records of this kind amounts to a sort of secret docket at the states highest court, said David Snyder, the coalitions executive director. We believe the state and federal constitution prohibit this practice and there is an intense public interest in seeing these records, in particular as they pertain to an elected official convicted of serious felonies. The motion also asks that all documents in other pending and future clemency cases be made public. Advertisement The high courts recommendation of a pardon on Tuesday follows signals from Browns office that he is likely to grant clemency in the case before he leaves office in January. As the Board of Parole Hearings has found, Sen. Wrights application presents a favorable case for a pardon, Peter A. Krause, the governors legal affairs secretary, said in a letter to the court last month. The court did not provide the reasoning for its recommendation, which it made based on the record that includes a recommendation by the parole board in September. Wright, 66, said he believed he complied with state law. Im certainly sorry for the challenges I brought forth in terms of questions about my house, and I take full responsibility, Wright said in a recent interview. I thought I was correct, but the jury didnt agree with me. Wright, a Democrat, resigned from the Senate and was barred for life from holding public office as a result of the conviction on eight felony charges that included perjury and voting fraud. He was sentenced to three months in jail but served less than a day because of overcrowding. During the criminal trial, prosecutors said Wright made it appear that he lived in a rental complex he owns in Inglewood to run for the Senate seat in 2008, but that his true residence was a house in Baldwin Hills, outside the district. Wright told a Los Angeles County jury that he believed he had taken the necessary steps to establish the Inglewood property as his domicile and had not intended to deceive voters when he arranged to rent a bedroom in the unit. Wright, who has been teaching at UC Davis, said the law on residency was ambiguous. The problem is there is nothing in the election code that says how many days you have to sleep in your domicile, Wright said. People commonly say you have to live in your district, but that is not in the elections code. Coverage of California politics Browns office gave the court a review of the pardon request and letters from people who support a pardon, but the governors staff refused to make those documents public. Wrights application also requests a pardon for a 1972 conviction, when Wright was 19, for taking a motor vehicle without the owners consent. He served three years probation for the older conviction. The crimes for which Sen. Wright was convicted vehicle theft, perjury, false declaration of candidacy, and fraudulent voting were nonviolent in nature, Krause wrote to the court. Moreover, Sen. Wright has devoted much of his life to public service, including serving six years in the California State Senate and six years in the California Assembly. Since his conviction, Sen. Wright has been employed as a consultant on government affairs and is an adjunct professor. Krause noted that after Wrights conviction, the Legislature enacted a new law that clarifies the requirements regarding where legislators live, writing that the Board of Parole Hearings found that establishing a domicile in the manner Mr. Wright did during the period of 2007 to 2009 would be permissible under the bill. The motion by the First Amendment Coalition seeks public release of documents deemed confidential by the court and governors office including a Pardon Investigation Report, Wrights criminal record and letters of support for the pardon. While releasing a letter from the governors office asking for a review, the court and governors office rejected a request by The Times for copies of other documents in the case involving Wright, who represented part of Los Angeles County. The coalitions requests for documents were also turned down. These sort of documents include both sensitive and deliberative information, said Evan Westrup, a spokesman for the governor. The courts written operating practices say the papers and documents transmitted to the court by the governor with the application often contain material that the governor may have the right to withhold from the public. The policy cites a section of state law that exempts from public disclosure personnel, medical, or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Also cited is an exemption for investigations conducted by law enforcement, and for correspondence of the governor or his office, or in the custody of or maintained by the governors legal affairs secretary. Accordingly, the court treats these files as confidential and does not make them available to the public, the policy says. The motion notes that Brown has issued a record number of pardons and clemency requests more than 1,000 during his time in office. By comparison, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued fewer than 20 pardons, and none were granted by former Gov. Gray Davis, the filing said. The filing also says that the public has a right to inspect clemency materials under the California Rules of Court, the common law, and the federal and state constitutions. The public also has an independent interest in overseeing the conduct of the Governor and any public officials to which clemency is granted, in order to root out public corruption, it says. patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com Twitter: @mcgreevy99 San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer took the biggest steps yet toward a potential 2020 presidential bid Tuesday, laying out a progressive policy platform and announcing a tour of five key primary states. Steyer, a former hedge fund manager who left his company in 2012 to focus on political activism, joins at least three other Californians who are widely believed to be running. In an announcement, Steyer said he planned to hold town hall meetings in five states, starting with a Dec. 4 event in the early primary state of South Carolina, where he expects to discuss voting rights. That will be followed by an appearance in Fresno in mid-December focused on clean air and water as well as stops in New Hampshire, Iowa and Nevada. Note to Democrats pondering a presidential run: The clock is already ticking Advertisement Full-page ads in newspapers across the country will also lay out the rest of his 5 Rights platform, which includes education, a living wage and healthcare. These five rights should be at the core of the Democratic Partys 2020 platform, Steyer said in a statement, but this is bigger than any political party. Three other California Democrats have suggested either in actions or words that theyre potential 2020 contenders. On the trail in October, Sen. Kamala Harris hinted that shed consider a presidential bid after the midterm election. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti toured early primary states to campaign for Democrats in House races. And Bay Area congressman Eric Swalwell, reported to be running, has visited Iowa more than a dozen times. Coverage of California politics A spokeswoman said Steyers priority is ensuring Democrats commit to the priorities hes laying out, regardless of who the nominee is. Steyers announcement comes on the heels of sweeping victories for Democrats in the midterm election. He spent more than $100 million in the midterms, most of it through his political advocacy organization NextGen America. He also invested money in boosting youth turnout and in Andrew Gillums unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in Florida. Steyer had previously considered running for U.S. Senate and governor in California but decided not to seek office in the 2018 election. In an interview days after the midterm, Steyer said he was still seriously considering running for president in 2020 but remained coy about when hed make a decision and insisted he would press on with his campaign to impeach President Trump. He has poured millions of dollars into the petition campaign, complete with television ads starring himself. If Trump gets reelected, its a disaster, full stop. If he even makes it to 2020, its a disaster, Steyer said. Im going to try to personally figure out what is the most effective thing I can do. christine.maiduc@latimes.com Twitter: @cmaiduc This year, as storms have battered the East and fires have engulfed the West, the specter of climate change has grown impossible to ignore. Keeping it at bay will require swift and sweeping action to transition away from fossil fuels, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reminded the world last month in a sobering new report. But part of the solution also lies in the ground beneath our feet. According to a new national study published in the journal Science Advances, managing the American landscape more wisely could store enough carbon to offset up to 21% of current U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Thats equivalent to closing all of the countrys coal-fired power plants. A global assessment, published last year and authored by many of the same scientists, found that natural climate solutions involving better land stewardship, conservation, and restoration could accomplish more than a third of the emissions reductions needed by the year 2030 to limit total warming to 2 degrees Celsius or less. Advertisement Theres no one silver bullet, said Joseph Fargione, an ecologist at the Nature Conservancy and the lead author of the U.S. study. The question is, can natural climate solutions help buy you time so that you dont blow past warming targets? Although it gets less attention than cars and coal, land factors prominently into the climate change equation. Agriculture, deforestation, and other land uses account for roughly a quarter of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. However, plants and soils also absorb enough carbon to compensate for about 20% of what humans add to the atmosphere. Virtually every conceivable pathway for meeting international climate goals requires sucking even more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. And boosting the buffering capacity of the landscape has to be part of that plan, said Katharine Mach, a climate scientist at Stanford University who was not involved in the study. Land is totally central to climate responses, and we absolutely cant get around that. Plus, Fargione pointed out, humans already know how to implement many natural climate solutions. They are available now and proven, he said. In the study, Fargiones team assessed a variety of natural climate solutions and highlighted the most promising candidates for the U.S. For maximum carbon storage potential, reforestation rose to the top. Researchers found that, if you combined all the land across the country that used to have trees on it but doesnt now, it would almost rival the size of Texas. Replanting those areas could remove up to 300 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere about 5% of the nations net emissions. Opportunities for reforestation in the lower 48 states (Joseph Fargione / The Nature Conservancy) The biggest bang for the buck, however, came from encouraging private landowners to harvest trees less often, and incentivizing farmers to plant cover crops between growing seasons, which helps trap carbon in the soil. The study concluded that these efforts could have a significant effect even at a price of $10 per ton of CO 2 avoided the going rate for offsets in Californias cap-and-trade program. And they could prevent the equivalent of more than 150 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The U.S. could prevent almost the same amount of future emissions by not doing other things to the land, Fargiones team found. Under business-as-usual scenarios, researchers project that the U.S. will lose more of its forests, primarily to development, and much of its remaining grasslands, primarily for growing food and biofuels. Avoiding these changes would prevent a large burp of greenhouse gases that would then have to be offset some other way. Natural climate solutions already play a major role in Californias climate program, where forests account for the majority of offset credits issued so far. But making real gains with natural climate solutions is easier said than done. For one thing, limiting an activity like logging in one place may simply cause it to happen somewhere else, said Greg Latta, a forest economist at the University of Idaho who was not involved in the study. When you reduce harvests on forests, you produce less forest products, the price goes up, he said. To see real benefits, Latta said, everyone has to get on board. And there is no getting away from the fact that land is a finite resource thats under high demand, Stanfords Mach said. Humans rely on the landscape for food, shelter, income and recreation. Youre never going to look at land and have carbon be the first priority, she said. Fargiones team identified many measures that could represent win-win situations. For instance, many farmers have adopted cover crops because they increase soil health and water retention. Restoring tidal wetlands would store carbon while guarding coastal communities from flooding. And managing forests to reduce fire risk helps protect people and communities along with the carbon thats built up in trees and soils. But therein lies the danger of natural climate solutions: that they could someday become a liability. If we head into a future where we dont decarbonize the energy system but we pile up carbon on the landscape, there are real permanence risks, Mach said. Wildfires could burn up forest carbon, she said. And there could come a time when farmers cant feed the worlds growing population on existing farmland, and countries would have to bring conserved land into agricultural production. Thats why Fargione sees natural climate solutions as a stop-gap while the world makes a rapid transition to clean energy. If we dont do this, we really run the risk of crossing some thresholds and having much greater damage, Fargione said. Its not really optional. julia.rosen@latimes.com Twitter: @ScienceJulia A Newport Beach man has been sentenced to 35 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to charges in connection with a Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims of about $13.5 million, the Orange County district attorneys office announced Monday. Brandon Walter Stewart, 33, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty Aug. 17 to 125 counts of money laundering and counts of burglary and financial elder abuse, among dozens of other charges. Prosecutors said Stewart would mislead investors and then use their money for extravagant personal expenses including spending thousands of dollars in casinos and flying to Las Vegas on a private jet. From April 2009 to January 2013, prosecutors said, he defrauded four victims including a 92-year-old relative of more than $10.6 million by saying their money was going into an investment pool of more than $100 million for stocks, including Facebook and foreign investments. To carry out the elaborate Ponzi scheme, Stewart even burglarized the home of two of his victims, prosecutors said. He also wrote nearly $3 million in checks for accounts that were closed or had insufficient funds, and he failed to file tax returns from 2010 to 2013, prosecutors said. Newport Beach police investigating the case noticed large checks from individuals being deposited into the defendants accounts and going out to other people, the district attorneys office said in a news release. In addition to the 125 counts of money laundering, Stewart pleaded guilty to 38 counts of check fraud, 22 counts of untrue statements in the purchase or sale of a security, four counts of failing to file a California state tax return, two counts of financial elder abuse and one count of residential burglary. BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory letter to the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress held Monday in Deqing, east China's Zhejiang Province. Geospatial information plays a crucial role in socio-economic development. In today's world, geospatial information technology has been deeply integrated with the new generation of information technologies, such as mobile internet, big data and cloud computing, facilitating the development of new growth impetus, business models and applications, Li said in the letter. The Chinese government has always been an active participant and supporter of the global cooperation of geospatial information, and appreciates the United Nations' efforts in coordinating and managing geospatial information and boosting global sustainable development, Li said. He noted that China will continuously join hands with other countries to enable the collaboration of geospatial information to play a more significant role in serving global governance, facilitating sustainable development, boosting the well-being of mankind, and building a community with a shared future for humanity. Li hoped the congress, under the theme "The Geospatial Way to a Better World," can pool wisdom and strengthen cooperation to help expand the global application of geospatial information as well as promote its innovative development. Round Table Pizza in La Canada Flintridge was the scene for those wanting to support the La Canada Flintridge Orthopaedic Guild. On Nov. 13, front and center were pizza, wings, a salad bar, sandwiches and flatbreads. It was dine in or take out. From 5 to 9 pm, a couple dozen hungry guild members and guests showed up. Round Table will donate a percentage of the evenings proceeds to the guild. Although this is a modest fundraiser, the guild also derives funds from larger events such as its annual book and author luncheon. Eagerly awaited by readers, this years luncheon was standing-room only. On Oct. 23, the La Canada Flintridge Country Club played host to a sold-out crowd of more than 200 members and guests who included book-loving Glendale residents Cecelia Walker and Moira Delaney, a longtime country club member. Marie Baker, guild president, welcomed her enthusiastic audience. Next, Mary Beth Perrine, assistant vice president of the Orthopaedic Institute for Children, thanked guild members for their past generous financial donations to the institute. Perrine then introduced keynote speaker, Jennifer Kumiyama, a former patient at the institute who is also a performer and motivational speaker. Guild Book & Author Luncheon keynote speaker Jennifer Kumiyama with her helper Ryan Williams French, assistant director of volunteer services at the Orthopaedic Institute for Children. (Photo by Ruth Sowby Rands) Confined to a wheelchair all her life, she has performed in Disneys Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at the Disney California Adventure Theme Park for 14 years and has the distinction of being the first performer in a wheelchair to be cast in a Disney stage show. Kumiyama shared her story and sang for luncheon guests. Luncheon co-chair Wendy Nicoll introduced the three authors and their books. First up was Karin Esterhammer. She and her family lived in Vietnam for 2 years in a 9-foot-wide house. She writes about her experiences there in So Happiness to Meet You, which won the Nautilus Book Awards silver medal for 2017. Next up was Anne Wheaton, author of Piggy and Pug, a childrens book that conveys the joy of having pets as part of families. Wheaton is committed to the adoption of rescued animals and serves as a director for the Pasadena Humane Society. The concluding speaker was Chris Erskine, a La Canada resident, nationally known humor columnist and a features editor/writer for the Los Angeles Times. His book, Daditude: The Joys and Absurdities of Modern Fatherhood, is a compilation of 50 of his favorite columns annotated by his wife and children. He said the book is like a greatest hits album for someone whos never had a hit. After the authors spoke, guild members and guests had 45 minutes to get their books purchased and signed by the authors. They also participated in live and silent auctions, with lunch following. Annually, more than 60,000 patients visit the Orthopaedic Institute for Children urgent care center and outpatient surgery in downtown Los Angeles. Luncheon proceeds will help support those patients and their families with their financial needs. RUTH SOWBY RANDS may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens is calling it quits for the third and definitely last time. He was informed on Monday by his doctor that a recent spinal cord injury could become debilitating if he were to continue riding. Stevens was involved in a post-parade incident on Saturday at Del Mar that left his right arm numb. He did ride one more race that day but took off his only mount on Sunday. I had an MRI on Monday and the C-4 is up against the spinal cord, Stevens told the Daily Racing Form, who first reported his retirement on Tuesday. [Dr. James] Tibone didnt mince any words. He said, Youre done. I was getting close anyway. Now it will be time to pursue other things, but thank God Im not in a wheelchair. Advertisement The 55-year-old announced his first retirement when he was 42 in 1999 after a series of knee injuries. It came a month after his 5,000th win but he was gone only for 10 months. His second retirement came in late 2005, again citing more knee problems. He went to work as a TV analyst for NBC, TVG and HRTV. In 2003, he played jockey George Woolf in the movie Seabiscuit. In 2011, he was a regular on the dark horse-racing series on HBO called Luck, about the seamy side of racing and gambling. The show was shut down in 2012 after the deaths of several horses during filming at Santa Anita. Stevens returned to regular riding in 2013 and won the Preakness Stakes aboard Oxbow that year. The Idaho native has won the Kentucky Derby three times. He first won in 1988 aboard the filly Winning Colors, followed by wins in 1995 with Thunder Gulch and 1997 on Silver Charm, who came a Belmont Stakes victory short of winning the Triple Crown. He won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes three times each. Stevens has won 11 Breeders Cup races. His career closes with 5,187 wins in 29,442 starts. The horses he rode won more than $258 million. He was elected in racings hall of fame in 1997. Southern Californias famed jockey colony boasted four Hall of Famers, which will now be down to three. Mike Smith and Kent Desormeaux still ride while Victor Espinoza hopes to return near the end of the year. Espinoza suffered a spinal injury on July 22 and has been in rehabilitation since then. The Ohana Christmas Craft Festival on the Island of Hawaiis Kona Coast is the place to go to find authentic holiday gifts. The festival will feature more than 60 local vendors and free cultural classes in drumming, hula and lei-making. This years show (ohana means family in Hawaiian) will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. Entry and parking are free. Heres a snapshot of this years participants: Ahualoa Farms will be selling locally produced products such as coffee, banana chips and macadamia nut butter. Dread Pilot Potterys Laura Roberts will showcase her ceramics as well as sculpture and jewelry. Kohalas Finest will be selling homemade barbecue sauces, jams, jellies, salad dressings and other items. Kona Natural Soaps uses all-natural ingredients, including rain water, to create soaps in scents such as orange-cacao and lavender-eucalyptus. Maureens Island Gems creates a variety of jewelry using shells and Tahitian pearls. Santa wears nontraditional outfit and drives a golf cart at the Ohana Christmas Craft Festival. (Hilton Waikoloa Village) Santa and his Hawaiian aunties (instead of elves) will visit with children during the family-friendly event. The resorts main Christmas tree will feature artisan-made ornaments. King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma were among the first to introduce the Christmas tree tradition to the islands in the mid 19th century. Advertisement Info: Ohana Christmas Craft Festival ALSO Yosemite to close Tioga and Glacier Point roads Tuesday ahead of winter storms forecast through Thanksgiving weekend Yes, you can bring Thanksgiving dinner in your carry-on bag, except for these items The worst mistakes you can make when traveling for the holidays and how to avoid them travel@latimes.com @latimestravel At least 50 people were killed and 72 wounded on Tuesday when a suicide bomber struck a Kabul wedding hall where Islamic religious scholars had gathered to mark the birthday of the prophet Muhammad, the Afghan Public Health Ministry said. Witnesses told Afghan news media that at least 1,000 people were packed inside the Uranus Wedding Hall when the assailant detonated the explosives shortly after 6 p.m. local time. Dozens of ambulances raced to the venue, located just west of Kabuls international airport along a stretch of road with several large, brightly lighted wedding halls that also host other religious and social events. The death toll rose steadily throughout the evening as many who had been critically wounded died of their injuries at hospitals. Advertisement No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion fell on Islamic State extremists, who have previously attacked religious gatherings. In June, an Islamic State suicide bomber in Kabul attacked a gathering of religious scholars just as the group issued an edict condemning such attacks as unforgivable sins. At least seven people were killed and 20 wounded. One of the lead clerics in Tuesdays gathering was a Sufi, a member of a Muslim religious order that Islamists regard as heretics. Last year, an Islamic State suicide bomber attacked a revered Sufi shrine in southern Pakistan, killing at least 72 people. Security forces inspect the site of a suicide attack inside a wedding hall. (Massoud Hossaini / Associated Press) Pentagon officials believe that the number of Islamic State loyalists in Afghanistan is only several hundred, but they have survived an intense U.S.-led bombing campaign in the countrys rugged east and continue to carry out major attacks in Kabul, often targeting religious minorities. The attack comes as Kabul and other Afghan cities are increasingly on edge over militant violence, mainly by the far more numerous Taliban insurgents who have battled U.S. and Afghan forces since 2001. U.S. officials have held the first direct talks with Taliban representatives outside Afghanistan in recent months, a possible precursor to peace negotiations. The Taliban denied involvement in Tuesdays attack and condemned the violence. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared Wednesday a national day of mourning. The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, John R. Bass, said he was sickened and deeply saddened by the incident. Sickened and deeply saddened by tonights terror attack as the Ulema Council marked the Prophets Birthday. I extend our condolences to the families and followers of those killed and wounded. John R. Bass (@USAmbKabul) November 20, 2018 Special correspondent Faizy reported from Kabul and Times staff writer Bengali from Singapore. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Follow @SBengali on Twitter UPDATES: 9:30 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting, including a higher death toll. 7:05 a.m.: This article was updated with information from the Afghan Public Health Ministry and Interior Ministry, as well as background information. This article was originally published at 6:35 a.m. At the age of 92, the historian Nicolas Sanchez-Albornoz is an unlikely graffiti artist. But on Tuesday, 70 years after being sent to a prison labor camp in a wave of repression by Spains Franco dictatorship for painting the words Long Live Free University! he returned to the scene of the crime for a symbolic reconstruction of the slogan. I am moved, a tearful Sanchez-Albornoz said after receiving tributes from students at Madrids Complutense University, where he had been arrested as an undergraduate in 1948 along with 13 other members of the underground University Students Federation. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment in a work camp on the site of Gen. Francisco Francos colossal mausoleum, now known as the Valley of the Fallen. When I was at university, we couldnt imagine seeing an event like this, Sanchez-Albornoz said before applying the first slosh of black paint to the symbolic reconstruction on the wall of the political science and sociology building. The event was held on a notorious date in Spain Nov. 20 when groups of Franco sympathizers mark the anniversary of the deaths of the dictator, in 1975, and that of Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of the fascist Falange party, who was executed by Republican forces in 1936, the first year of the civil war that led to a four-decade dictatorship. According to the Francisco Franco Foundation, 16 churches around Spain were holding special Mass services for the dictator on Tuesday. At the Valley of the Fallen basilica 30 miles northwest of Madrid, several hundred fascist supporters joined in prayer, some offering stiff-arm salutes over the military rulers tomb. Advertisement Far-right Falange members perform the fascist salute during a demonstration marking the anniversary of the death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in Madrid on Nov. 18. (Oscar del Pozo / AFP/Getty Images) Spains socialist government has said it will soon end the anomaly of honoring the dictators resting place in a public building. It plans to exhume Francos remains and allow his family to bury them privately. However, Francos grandchildren want his body re-interred in Madrids cathedral, leading to a delay in the governments plans as it seeks a legal remedy to prevent the countrys former dictator swapping one monumental tomb for another in the center of the capital. Sanchez-Albornoz turned out to be among the more fortunate of those who ran afoul of Franco. He escaped the concentration camp after a few months and, together with his fellow university activist, Manuel Lamana, slipped through a security cordon and made it to the nearby monastery town of El Escorial. There, two young American women, the author Barbara Probst Solomon and Barbara Mailer, sister of the author Norman Mailer, were waiting in a small Renault they had driven from Paris. Counterfeit ID papers for the two men allowed the group to pass roadblocks and guards on the border with France. Freedom for the two men also meant exile, however. They both moved to Buenos Aires, where Lamana died in 1996, while Sanchez-Albornoz was exiled again, this time to the United States, when Argentina itself became a military dictatorship. He became a professor of history at NYU, eventually moving back to Spain after Francos death to become director of the Cervantes Institute. Lamanas daughter, Maruja Lamana, joined Sanchez-Albornoz at the ceremony, expressing anger at what she sees as Spanish amnesia over the dictatorship. You cannot build a dignified society while denying the past, she said. Schools do not offer information on the Franco era or the civil war, and half of society does not distinguish one side from the other when what happened was a coup against democratic Republican Spain. Sanchez-Albornoz said that his former prison camp was built as a monument to the glory of Francos Nationalist crusade by prisoners whom the state rented to construction companies. They charged the firms 10.5 pesetas per prisoner a day, and the budget to feed us was five pesetas. There was no cost; the regime made money out of us. The whole system was corrupt and the civil servants stole half of the food sacks to sell on the black market. The historian believes that the monument was so poorly built that it will eventually crumble. Except for the 150-meter stone cross that stands over the basilica, he said dynamite would speed things along. Nature should be allowed to take its course, but with a little helping hand. Badcock is a special correspondent. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, celebrated among his supporters as the magician, appeared to have once again pulled victory from the jaws of defeat Monday as a senior member of his coalition withdrew the threat of resignation, which could have brought down his government and triggered early elections. In a high-stakes battle, Netanyahu persuaded his hawkish minister of education, Naftali Bennett, to retreat from his decision to resign if not appointed to serve as defense minister. Israels coalition crisis was sparked by the surprise resignation last week of Avigdor Lieberman, the hard-line defense minister who accused Netanyahu of capitulating to terrorists by agreeing to a tacit cease-fire with Hamas, the militia ruling the Gaza Strip. Liebermans withdrawal from Netanyahus right-wing coalition leaves the government with a parliamentary majority of just one, which signals a tumultuous period ahead as the prime minister strives to avoid calling for early elections before their scheduled date of November 2019. Advertisement Had Bennett and his Jewish Home party followed through on his threat, the government would have been left with an unmanageable minority and elections would almost certainly have been triggered for early next year. Despite the reprieve, Israeli experts give Netanyahus fragile coalition little chance of long-term survival. Netanyahu and Bennett addressed the nation in a pair of somber public appearances in which, more than anything else, each seemed to campaign to the voters. In a Sunday evening address, Netanyahu pointed to a long list of military and political accomplishments, asserting that toppling his government would be irresponsible. We are in the midst of a battle, and in the middle of a battle we dont abandon our posts, 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. Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett, left, and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked give statements at the Knesset in Jerusalem on Monday. (Thomas Coex / AFP/Getty Images) In his own address Monday, Bennett was unwilling to be held responsible for ending the term of one of the most right-wing governments in Israeli history, with the inherent political risk. If the prime minister is serious in his intention, and I want to believe his words from last night, I am saying here to the prime minister we are at this moment withdrawing all of our political demands and will help you in the huge mission of making Israel win again, Bennett said. I know Ill pay a political price for this, he acknowledged, adding, its not the end of the world, you win some, you lose some. Response from political opponents was withering. Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, said of Netanyahu and Bennett that all they care about is the political advantage they can accrue from the suffering of citizens in the south, a reference to the public anger that greeted last weeks Gaza cease-fire, which is perceived by many Israelis as a humiliating agreement with a terrorist group. Israelis seemed weary of political saber rattling. Speaking for some in the prime ministers base, Victor, a Tel Aviv taxi driver and longtime Netanyahu voter who asked to be identified by his first name only, expressed resignation. They both jerked us around for days, but in the end, who else is there to vote for but Bibi? he asked, using the prime ministers nickname. Anshel Pfeffer, the author of a Netanyahu biography, said he is perpetually in campaign mode, so he gave an elections speech. He really didnt know if Bennett would back down. Israeli politics are coalition politics, Pfeffer said, and Bibi is a magician at building coalitions. Hes the Likud prime minister consistently with the lowest number of legislators, but hes the most successful at building coalitions, and to do that he needs only two things: 25% of the votes and a divided opposition. For now, hes got it. For all his political skills, Netanyahu still faces the prospect of a possible indictment on corruption charges. The attorney general is expected to decide within months whether he will accept police recommendations to charge the prime minister in several corruption scandals. Bennett, Pfeffer said, failed to contend with the magnitude of pressure Netanyahu can create and the fear he can generate about the possibility of a right-wing political loss. Netanyahus full media onslaught is a daunting thing. Tal Schneider, the senior political analyst at the Israeli financial daily Globes, said Israelis will probably be treated to a campaign slugfest with Netanyahu and Bennett battling over who is more right-wing, who is more nationalist. Schneider said Israeli voters certainly recall Netanyahu toppling his own government only a few months after the 2014 Gaza War, over a quarrel with a media outlet that was subsequently revealed to be connected to one of the criminal probes against him. As a result, she said, Im not sure hes viewed as reliable when he claims you cannot dissolve the parliament now, over ostensible security concerns. Tarnopolsky is a special correspondent. Critics of Saudi Arabias royal heir Mohammad bin Salman have in recent weeks turned to the crown princes father, hoping the 82-year-old king would rein in his sons ambitions after the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The answer came Monday, when King Salman gave his annual policy address without mentioning Khashoggi or hinting at any unhappiness with his son, widely known by his initials, MBS. A mild critic who refused to call himself a dissident, Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, last month. His death has become the kingdoms biggest crisis since 19 hijackers, 15 of them with Saudi passports, carried out the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. But Salman did little more than hint at the slaying in his speech, the equivalent of a State of the Union address, which was delivered to the countrys Shura Council, an advisory body that can recommend laws to the monarch but has no independent power. He presented job creation for more than 31 million Saudis as his top priority. Advertisement The Saudi citizen is the main engine of development, said Salman, adding that the government wanted the Saudi private sector to be a partner in that effort. He added that the crown prince was the one responsible for preparing the new generation for the jobs of the future. Salman said there had been satisfactory levels of growth through Vision 2030, a development plan spearheaded by the crown prince that aims to wean Saudis off subsidies made possible through oil revenue. The efforts of the state to create more job opportunities, he said, are clear to all of you. Western governments have been under mounting pressure to punish Riyadh for Khashoggis death. On Monday, Germany announced it would halt all arms sales to Saudi Arabia, including those it had already approved. It also joined other European Union member states in banning 18 Saudis from entering the EU, one week after similar action by the United States, which sanctioned 17 Saudis under the Magnitsky Act for their role in the slaying. Reports over the weekend said the CIA had determined that Mohammed bin Salman was directly responsible for Khashoggis death. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the inauguration of the Shura Councils new session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Nov. 19, 2018. (Bandar Algaloud / Saudi royal palace) Yet the kings comments in the foreign policy segment of the speech all but ignored Khashoggi and the circumstances surrounding his death. Instead, Salman announced, the kingdom would focus on the Palestinian issue, counter-terrorism and combating Saudi Arabias regional nemesis, Iran. He also mentioned the wars in Yemen and Syria and called for political solutions to end them. Salman only hinted at the issue moments later, when he gave a convoluted commitment to developing state agencies so as to avoid any transgressions or mistakes. Saudi officials now insist the Khashoggi operation was a kidnapping gone wrong. According to the latest version of events presented by the Saudi public prosecutor last week, rogue agents within a 15-man squad went beyond their writ and administered a lethal overdose to the journalist after he resisted. The crown prince, said Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir last week, has nothing to do with the issue. The kings speech was another example of the closing of ranks around the prince, despite expectations that Khashoggis slaying would prompt the monarch to sideline his son, widely viewed as the figure holding the countrys reins, and return to Saudi Arabias more consultative form of rule. Many believe that killing Khashoggi, a onetime insider who left Saudi Arabia last year and had since become a U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist, is the latest in a series of misfires by the young prince, which include a disastrous military quagmire in Yemen and heavy-handed crackdowns on foes and even putative allies. They say such a high-level operation orchestrated by members of the crown princes inner circle could not have happened without his approval. The crisis has jeopardized the crown princes central position in the Trump administrations plans in the region, with even some of the presidents most ardent Republican allies refusing to work with him. They are an important ally, but when it comes to the crown prince, he is irrational, he is unhinged, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Meet The Press on Sunday. Later he described the prince as a destructive force in the region. If he is going to be the face of Saudi Arabia going forward, I think the kingdom will have a hard time on the world stage, Graham said. nabih.bulos@latimes.com Twitter: @nabihbulos Business Engage in Learning event highlights Unconscious Bias Kate Carter, of Engage in Learning. 20.11.2018 16:56:38 - Everyone exhibits unconscious bias from time to time and, unchecked in a work context, this leads to a less diverse workforce, with possible adverse effects on organisational performance. (live-PR.com) - Everyone exhibits unconscious bias from time to time and, unchecked in a work context, this leads to a less diverse workforce, with possible adverse effects on organisational performance. In a bid to help reduce the adverse effects of this phenomenon, the e-learning supplier, Engage in Learning, is organising a webinar to Identify and Challenge Unconscious Bias. If unconscious bias operates in - Everyone exhibits unconscious bias from time to time and, unchecked in a work context, this leads to a less diverse workforce, with possible adverse effects on organisational performance.In a bid to help reduce the adverse effects of this phenomenon, the e-learning supplier, Engage in Learning, is organising a webinar to Identify and Challenge Unconscious Bias.If unconscious bias operates in a work context, talented workers can easily be overlooked and discouraged from exhibiting their talents to the organisations benefit, explained Kate Carter, Engage in Learnings Operations and Marketing Manager. So, if youve ever found yourself treating someone differently just because of the way they look or sound, then this webinar is for you. The Engage in Learning webinar focuses on why these biases exist, along with how to recognise them, challenge them and, ultimately, design them out of the workplace. It draws upon Engage in Learnings recently released e-learning course on unconscious bias. According to Kate Carter, the financial giant, Prudential, has said it will extend its unconscious bias training from senior managers to all its employees, after revealing that female staff earned salaries that are 29.7 per cent lower, on average, than mens salaries, with bonuses that are 75.6 per cent lower. This British insurer is the latest in a string of employers in the financial sector to reveal a large gap between what men and women were paid, said Kate. Under UK government rules introduced last year, British companies and public sector bodies with more than 250 employees must publish data on the gender pay gap by 4th April. While the current national median pay gap is 18.4 per cent and the mean is 17.4 per cent, at Prudential, the median pay gap is 22.9 per cent. Like other companies in its industry, Prudential has commented that its pay gap reflects the fact that it employs more men in senior roles. A Prudential spokesperson added that, The solution isnt to change pay scales but to take steps to ensure that we attract applicants from all backgrounds, create opportunities for all our employees to progress - and challenge systems, processes and mindsets to ensure that they dont disadvantage women. Last year, 188 high-ranking managers underwent special training to help them to identify and eradicate unconscious bias that may hold back womens careers. One senior figure at Prudential said that the workshop was hugely revealing for me personally and I am committed to a change in behaviour. The challenge for all organisations - both big and small - is not only to empower workers from all ethnicities, genders or ages within the workplace but also to ensure that those whose responsibility it is to recruit are not only aware of their own biases but can effectively remove these during the entire recruitment process, said Engage in Learnings Kate Carter. The Engage in Learning webinar takes place online, from 10.00am to 10.45am GMT, on Wednesday 28th November 2018. Those who are unable to attend the webinar but would like to discover more about promoting equality in their organisation and, maybe, get hold of a recording of the webinar -should contact Engage in Learning. To book on to the webinar, which is led by Engage in Learnings Chris Horseman and Alexandra Wilson, visit: About Engage in Learning A UK-based supplier of eLearning courses and solutions focusing on helping organisations improve their safety, compliance and performance, Engage in Learning provides engaging and affordable learning thats practical and effective in an organisational setting. Further information from: Chris Horseman, Engage in Learning, +44 (0)20 3758 9530, Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, +44 (0)1727 860405, a work context, talented workers can easily be overlooked and discouraged from exhibiting their talents to the organisations benefit, explained Kate Carter, Engage in Learnings Operations and Marketing Manager. So, if youve ever found yourself treating someone differently just because of the way they look or sound, then this webinar is for you.The Engage in Learning webinar focuses on why these biases exist, along with how to recognise them, challenge them and, ultimately, design them out of the workplace. It draws upon Engage in Learnings recently released e-learning course on unconscious bias.According to Kate Carter, the financial giant, Prudential, has said it will extend its unconscious bias training from senior managers to all its employees, after revealing that female staff earned salaries that are 29.7 per cent lower, on average, than mens salaries, with bonuses that are 75.6 per cent lower.This British insurer is the latest in a string of employers in the financial sector to reveal a large gap between what men and women were paid, said Kate.Under UK government rules introduced last year, British companies and public sector bodies with more than 250 employees must publish data on the gender pay gap by 4th April. While the current national median pay gap is 18.4 per cent and the mean is 17.4 per cent, at Prudential, the median pay gap is 22.9 per cent.Like other companies in its industry, Prudential has commented that its pay gap reflects the fact that it employs more men in senior roles. A Prudential spokesperson added that, The solution isnt to change pay scales but to take steps to ensure that we attract applicants from all backgrounds, create opportunities for all our employees to progress - and challenge systems, processes and mindsets to ensure that they dont disadvantage women.Last year, 188 high-ranking managers underwent special training to help them to identify and eradicate unconscious bias that may hold back womens careers. One senior figure at Prudential said that the workshop was hugely revealing for me personally and I am committed to a change in behaviour.The challenge for all organisations - both big and small - is not only to empower workers from all ethnicities, genders or ages within the workplace but also to ensure that those whose responsibility it is to recruit are not only aware of their own biases but can effectively remove these during the entire recruitment process, said Engage in Learnings Kate Carter.The Engage in Learning webinar takes place online, from 10.00am to 10.45am GMT, on Wednesday 28th November 2018. Those who are unable to attend the webinar but would like to discover more about promoting equality in their organisation and, maybe, get hold of a recording of the webinar -should contact Engage in Learning.To book on to the webinar, which is led by Engage in Learnings Chris Horseman and Alexandra Wilson, visit: bit.ly/2QMTPyI About Engage in LearningA UK-based supplier of eLearning courses and solutions focusing on helping organisations improve their safety, compliance and performance, Engage in Learning provides engaging and affordable learning thats practical and effective in an organisational setting.Further information from:Chris Horseman, Engage in Learning, +44 (0)20 3758 9530, chrishorseman@engageinlearning.com Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, +44 (0)1727 860405, bob.little@boblittlepr.com Contact information: Engage in Learning Kestrel Court, Waterwells Drive, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 2AT, UK Contact Person: Chris Horseman CEO Phone: +44 (0) 845 456 0465 eMail: eMail Web: http://www.engageinlearning.com Author: Bob Little e-mail Web: http://www.boblittlepr.com Phone: 00 44 (0) 1727 860405 20.11.2018 16:56:38 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. At a forum held on Monday in the Spanish capital, Chinese and Spanish businesspeople jointly explored the export and import potential arising from the train line between Yiwu and Madrid. The Yiwu-Madrid freight route is the longest train route in the world. Photo from huanqiu.com The Yiwu-Madrid freight route links Zhejiang's Yiwu, the world's largest wholesale market for small consumer goods, with the European commodity center of Madrid by way of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Dubbed Yixin'ou in Chinese (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe), the 13,052-kilometer line is the longest train route in the world. With travel time one-third of shipping via sea and cost one-fifth that of air freight, it has stimulated the local import and export business. The Yiwu Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum was co-organized by the Yiwu city government and the Mayor of Madrid. It brought together Spanish companies that showcased their products and Chinese importers interested in bringing to China items such as cosmetics, ham, wine and olive oil. "The Spaniards have brought their manufactures and Yiwu entrepreneurs are very interested in buying them, which is why we are here, to accelerate, promote and visualize the massive exchange between both parties," president of the Foundation for the Exchange between Madrid and Yiwu, Mao Wenjin, told Xinhua. Fu Chunming, deputy secretary of the standing committee of the Municipal People's Congress of Yiwu, said Yiwu is the largest commodity market in the world, and it sometimes causes a trade imbalance with Madrid. "Yiwu has already noticed the problem of imbalance in import and export, and we will expand imports from Spain and we will make the trains return full," he said. He also highlighted the importance of the train line between the Chinese city and the Spanish capital. "We used to say that Yiwu is the starting point for the China-Europe freight train, but Madrid can also become that of China's imports, with nearly 1.4 billion Chinese consumers buying quality products from Spain," Fu Chunming said. The general coordinator of the Mayor's Office of Madrid, Luis Cueto, highlighted the importance of "understanding the Chinese culture" and the way they do things. "Over the last four years since the inauguration of this train line which works as a cultural messenger, the two parties have been getting closer and closer," he said. Director of the Asian Office of the Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX), Alicia Tamames, said that China is the seventh largest investor in Spain, with a bet of more than 11 billion euros (12.6 billion U.S. dollars). A total of 150 Chinese companies have invested in Spain and have created some 15,000 jobs. She also said China is the twenty-fourth destination of Spanish investment with more than 3.1 billion euros and that there are more than 600 Spanish companies in the Asian country that have created 30,674 jobs. "Investments will continue to increase, in Spain, in Europe and in the world, and China's potential for investment abroad is enormous, and I believe that in the case of Spain, it will increase especially in very important sectors to cover demand of the growing middle class in China," Tamames said. She also said that most of the investments would go to emblematic products of Spanish trade, such as agri-food and consumer goods. "These are sectors that are going to be important and of interest for Chinese companies that want to acquire brands and products with quality, prestige and design," Tamames said. The train between Madrid and Yiwu travels twice a week and both countries export different products. In the case of China, the range is wider and has more than 2,000 products, but goods that leave Madrid mainly belong to the agri-food sector, namely oil, ham or wine. A special court in Taguig City has convicted three members of Maute terrorist group after finding them guilty of committing the crimes of terrorism and rebellion. In separate decisions, the Taguig City Regional Trial Court, Branch 70, found accused Nur Supian, Araji Samindih and Umad Harun guilty of the crimes of terrorism and rebellion after trial. Acting Presiding Judge Felix Reyes convicted Supian, trainer of Maute recruits in Sulu, of terrorism and sentenced him to suffer 40 years of imprisonment. Samindih and Harun, on the other hand, were found guilty of rebellion and were both sentenced to imprisonment of from eight years and one day to 14 years, eight months and one day. In the first case, the trial court ruled that the prosecution was able to prove that Supian was responsible for putting up Camp Javal Nur or Tiger Base in BarangayPang, Kalingalang Caluang, Sulu where local armed men underwent military trainings. After proving the established plan of accused Supian, there is no doubt that his acts sowed and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fee and panic among the populace, in order to coerce the government to give in to unlawful demand. Supian is guilty of the crime of terrorism under R.A. 9732 [Anti-Terrorism Law], the decision stated,On the second case, the RTC held that both Samindih and Harun were members of Maute who took part in the groups clearing operations at the height of the Marawi siege, citing eyewitnesses who positively identified the two accused. As can be gleaned from testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, both accused merely participated or executed the demands of others in committing the crime of rebellion in this instant case, hence, they shall suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua pursuant to . . . Article 135 of the Revised Penal Code, the 20-page decision read. The promulgation was held during the annual Judgment Day of the Supreme Court to mark the 43rd anniversary of the Office of the Court Administrator. The DOJ earlier filed rebellion and terrorism cases against arrested members of Maute before Cagayan de Oro courts. However, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the cases as well as detention of arrested Maute members to Taguig City earlier this year upon request of the DOJ for security reasons. China's cabinet has released an amended regulation for the country's patent agencies to improve qualifications for practitioners and supervision on their services. The new regulation, an amendment to the previous one applied in 1991, will come into force on March 1, 2019, according to a decree by the State Council, signed by Premier Li Keqiang. To become qualified patent agents, individuals with the required educational background shall pass qualification tests to get certificates, according to the new regulation. Organizations, either as a partnership firm or a limited liability company, shall apply for practice licenses before offering patent agency services, says the regulation. Patent agents shall follow the principles of goodwill, fairness, faithfulness, and credibility in their services to clients, taking both economic and social benefits into consideration, it says. The regulation also specifies the code of conduct and legal obligations for patent agents and asks to improve the inspection and supervision over their services. Precious Metals Moving In Unison For A Massive Price Advance Are the metals markets ending a price correction in unison and preparing for a massive price advance? This is the question we asked our research team to investigate and their findings may help skilled traders identify great opportunities in the future. This multi-part research article will share our most recent opinion about the metals markets as well as share some critical new data that can shed some light into what we believe will become a massive upside price rally in the metals markets. Lets get into the data. When one considers the global demand for Gold as a hedge against economic crisis events and the continued advancement in gold reserves for China and Russia, one has to consider the supply side issues that are a result of central banks global demand. Even though global production of Gold is near an all-time high, the demand from foreign nations and central banks are also near all-time highs. This correlation creates a demand-side consumption that offsets supply and, in some ways limits, consumer, retail and technology suppliers. Our researchers focused on this aspect of the supply/demand equation when trying to analyze recent metals price action in correlation to disruptions that could occur in the markets. For example, increased central bank buying/hoarding of gold could dramatically result in prices spiking. Foreign market disruptions in supply could also send prices spiking. Global conflicts and or continued trade issues could send metals prices skyrocketing. Anything to do with the supply side for Gold could send prices higher. At least this is the conclusion of our research team at this time. Russia has continued to build its gold reserves throughout the past 10+ years. Should Russia and other nations continue to absorb supply at these levels, one could easily argue that price declines in the metals markets are unusual. Demand for gold is varied and includes Jewelry, Technology, Investment, and Central Banks. We can see from this data that Jewelry and Investment make up nearly 65~70% of total demand every quarter. Jewelry, in many nations, is a secondary form of investment for many people. Unlike in the US, gold is typically sold at 22K levels in much of Asia and at 24K levels throughout much of the Arab world. Individuals can purchase these high-quality jewelry items not only to wear but also as a capital investment. People in these countries are able to resell this high-quality gold to jewelers and others at near spot price whenever they need extra cash. We can see from the chart, below, that demand is moderately weaker over the past 2 years, but still near all-time highs. Consider, for a moment, what a moderate supply-side disruption or pricing advance would do to the demand side of these levels? Take a look at the increase in Investment demand in 2010 through 2012 in relation to today. Also, pay attention to the huge Investment increase in demand in Q1 of 2016 and the correlative price advance that occurred as demand shot higher. One key factor for price advance is that Investment demand increases dramatically as a driving force for price increases. Because of this, we would watch for investment demand to increase dramatically over the next 4~6+ months which would indicate that a continued price advancement is expected. Our researchers dug further into price history with a dynamic new tool that allows us to measure and gauge price rotation in comparison to a number of key factors. The purpose of this exercise was to identify the price and relationship boundaries of Gold, Silver and the US Dollar as these price variances correlate to the price advance and decline of Gold. Our hope was that we would identify some very important new aspect to the relationships of these markets as related to the future movement of the metals markets. Our researchers focused on these key relationship and found the following. This first chart highlighting our custom Gold/Silver/US Dollar ratio (the blue area chart) in comparison to the historical price of Gold is actually very interesting. First, we highlighted the general trend direction of the US Dollar showing Strengthening, Weakening and Rotating trends. Next, we highlighted the Upper and Lower boundaries of our custom price ratio to highlight key areas where the ratio changed direction or where prices initiated new or reversed price trends. It is fairly easy to see the price of Gold either initiated new trends or changed price trend at or near these Upper and Lower boundary levels. It is also fairly easy to see the huge price advancement between 2004 and 2011 occurred within a Weak and Rotating US Dollar environment. Additionally, within this same time span, we were able to witness multiple boundary rotations and different Gold price activity types as the US Dollar shifted from a downward price trend to a very volatile/rotating price trend (2009~2015). In all reality, the biggest Gold price rally and decline happened between 2009~2015 at a time when the US Dollar was rotating and at a time when the global markets were experiencing a massive credit/market event; including much of the subsequent market recovery event. The massive ratio trough occurred in April 2011; at a time when the US Dollar reached a fresh new low and when the US stock markets were recovering quite well. Taking a look at the most recent 4~5 years on this chart, two critical items came to our attention; first, the lows reached in 2015 and the recent lows in 2018 both occurred while the custom ratio levels were within the Upper Boundary area. We have not seen the ratio move into the Lower Boundary since 2011. What causes the ratio to move toward this level and what are the correlations that we can ascertain from further research using this new tool? Could this new tool provide any real insight into the future price of Gold, Silver, and other metals? Well continue our research in the second part of this article to show you why we believe the metals markets are set for a massive price rally and why we believe this one will be completely different than anything weve seen in the past 20 years. We believe you wont find a better team of researchers, traders and analysts than with www.TheTechnicalTraders.com. Our proprietary research, price modeling systems, and predictive analysis tools help to keep our members well ahead of the market with each turn. Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. The mobilisation of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) protest movement marks an important step in the development of the class struggle in France. With no party, no union, and no pre-existing organisation, hundreds of thousands of people have participated in this movement against a tax increase on diesel and petrol, sweeping aside the pseudo-concessions and threats of the government. They are supported by a large majority of the population. Their determination is a reflection of their anger and suffering. They are burning with indignation at a government that is constantly increasing the tax burden on workers, retirees and the middle classes, while the richest benefit from all sorts of "tax relief", subsidies and other rebates. The yellow vests have fully understood that the argument of the "ecological transition" is just another pretext to loot the mass of the population for the benefit of a handful of wealthy parasites. This movement is politically and socially heterogeneous, naturally! The reactionary government policy on fuel hikes has hit not only workers, but also artisans, small traders, small farmers, white-collar professions, pensioners and other intermediate social layers. The social and political heterogeneity of the yellow vests movement indicates its deep roots in society. It is not just a mobilisation of a vanguard of the most conscious and organised workers. It is a mass movement that has raised usually inert social strata. Of course, no one can say how far it will go. But what is clear is that a movement of this nature is characteristic of the precursors to a revolutionary situation. On the island of La Reunion, the movement has already taken on an insurrectional character. Lenin on mass movements Left-wing activists who are critical about the "confusion" of the movement must think about what Lenin wrote in 1916: "Whoever expects a pure social revolution will never live to see it. Such a person pays lip-service to revolution without understanding what revolution is [] The socialist revolution in Europe cannot be anything other than an outburst of mass struggle on the part of all and sundry oppressed and discontented elements. Inevitably, sections of the petty bourgeoisie and of the backward workers will participate in itwithout such participation, mass struggle is impossible, without it no revolution is possibleand just as inevitably will they bring into the movement their prejudices, their reactionary fantasies, their weaknesses slid errors. But objectively they will attack capital, and the class-conscious vanguard of the revolution, the advanced proletariat, expressing this objective truth of a variegated and discordant, motley and outwardly fragmented, mass struggle, will be able to unite and direct it, capture power, seize the banks, expropriate the trusts which all hate (though for difficult reasons!), and introduce other dictatorial measures [1] which in their totality will amount to the overthrow of the bourgeoisie and the victory of socialism, which, however, will by no means immediately purge itself of petty-bourgeois slag." As Lenin explained over a century ago, mass movements are hardly ever 'pure'. The workers' movement should "unite and direct" the struggle of the masses towards socialism / Image: public domain These few lines from Lenin characterise the movement of yellow vests. At the same time, they indicate the role that trade unions and political organisations of the workers' movement should play in such circumstances: they should "unite and direct" the struggle of the masses towards the conquest of power and the overthrow of capitalism. In this respect, there is a huge discrepancy between what Lenin wrote a century ago and what most of the leaders of the labour movement do today. In fact, they do not lead anything. They have turned their backs on the movement of the yellow vests, when they are not attacking it. For example, the leader of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, described this movement as "totalitarian". As an agent of the bourgeoisie within the labour movement, Laurent Berger never misses a good opportunity to defend the established order, that is, the domination ("totalitarian", in a sense) of the banks and multinationals. Errors by union leaders What about Philippe Martinez, who heads the most powerful and militant trade union confederation, the CGT? The "overthrow of the bourgeoisie" and the "victory of socialism" are light years away from his intentions, which is very regrettable, because the problems of the masses cannot be solved on the basis of capitalism. This being said, what position does Philippe Martinez defend? He says he understands the "legitimate" anger of the yellow vests, but refuses to involve his organisation in this movement, because he does not want to see the CGT "march beside the National Front". At the same time, however, he recognises that the extreme right is a "minority" in the movement (in fact, it is marginal as an organised force in general). The initial and central demand of the yellow vests is the cancellation of the increase in fuel taxes, but Philippe Martinez does not support this demand. On the contrary, he has asked the government to revalue the minimum wage, so that workers can among other things buy "clean vehicles"! Philippe Martinez, leader of the CGT, has refused to support the yellow vests in their struggle against the fuel tax hike / Image: Mister NK42 This position is completely wrong, and totally disconnected from the real situation. Of course, we must fight for an increase in the minimum wage and wages in general. But this demand does not contradict or exclude the demand that is at the heart of the movement of yellow vests, which has animated broad layers of society: the cancellation of the increase in taxes on fuel. Instead of opposing this with the demand for a salary increase, the management of the CGT should take up the central (and fair) demand by the yellow vests, while defending its general programme for increasing purchasing power including, of course, an increase in wages. The CGT should explain that the rise in fuel taxes has nothing to do with the environment. This is looting for the benefit of multinationals, because the money from tax increases will end up in the coffers of the bosses, in the form of subsidies and tax giveaways. If the government needs a few billion euros to brace its budget, let it take from the coffers of multinationals not the pockets of the people! Instead of making this simple and clear point, Philippe Martinez has implied that the hands of the bosses lie behind the yellow vests, thus spreading mistrust. By refusing to engage in the fight for lowering fuel taxes, the leadership of the CGT has abandoned this ground to the right and far-right wing, whose professional demagogues have discovered, in recent days, that they are against these taxes, and are making it known loudly. Fortunately, the grassroots of the CGT ignored their marching orders from Philippe Martinez. They mobilised with the yellow vests. Links have been created; joint actions have even been carried out. This is the way to go forward! Support the yellow vests expose the demagogues! Moreover, how does the CGT's leadership plan to wrest from the government and therefore the employers the 300 Euro minimum wage increase it is demanding? Presumably, by organising a new "day of action" without any future plans, despite the obvious failure of the strategy of action days over the last 10 years? We can only assume. For the moment, with a mass movement in which he refuses to participate, Martinez simply demands salary increases. We have often stressed that the strategy of "days of action" is hopeless. It led to the defeat of the great social movements of 2010, 2016 and 2017 (among others). The crisis of French capitalism is so deep that in its race to carry out cuts and roll back reforms, the Macron government will not shrink from action days, no matter how massive they are. In the present circumstances, for our class to win a serious victory, it will require the development of a movement of renewable strikes in a growing number of economic sectors. This is precisely what the bourgeoisie and its government fear: that the movement of yellow vests will play trigger a movement of renewable strikes. This is the moment Philippe Martinez has chosen to declare: "you can do it without me! I will not mobilise alongside the FN. " This position is absurd. What the movement of yellow vests demonstrates very clearly is the growing exasperation and combativeness of large layers of workers. Therefore, instead of deserting the field, the CGT leadership should do everything it can to support this movement, and build on its momentum to put on the agenda a general offensive of the working class against all the reactionary policies of the government. For starters, the leadership of the CGT should make a call to its members to participate massively in the demonstration of yellow vests in Paris, scheduled for 24 November. Then, Wauquiez, Le Pen and the other bourgeois demagogues would hesitate and try to hold back the movement. Which is to say, their masks would slip. Notes [1] In Lenin's day (that is, before the horrors of Nazism and Stalinism), the term "dictatorial" had no negative connotations at all. By "dictatorial measures", Lenin simply refers to measures (economic and political) by which workers impose their will on the bourgeoisie just as the bourgeoisie, under capitalism, imposes its will on the workers. In this sense, the "dictatorship of the proletariat" is nothing but workers' democracy: the power of the workers once they have overthrown the "dictatorship of capital". Bozeman is a rapidly growing city with a high quality of life in part due to the easy access to the outdoors, burgeoning tech industry, and cultural experiences it offers. The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) recently signed a loan agreement worth $5.9million with the Burundi Government to upgrade a major road connection between the city of Bujumbura and the countrys airport. The Arabic Bank (BADEA) and the Burundi Government are co-contributors towards the project. It is the latest in an ongoing program of developments the SFD has supported in Burundi including transport, education and housing, and comes under Burundis 2045 development plan to establish the nation as an attractive economic and tourism destination. The Bujumbura road project will include a road widening scheme and upgraded airport entrance. The Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the SFD, Dr. Khaled bin Sulaiman Al Khudairy led a delegation from the Fund on a visit to Burundi and signed the agreement with Burundi Minister of Finance Domicien Ndihokubwayo, and in the presence of the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Jean Bosco Ntunzwenimana and General Manager of the Roads Agency Mr. Emile Ndayisaba. Dr. Al Khudairy said, The SFD and Government of Burundi have worked together over many years in a series of successful development projects. By providing loans, the Saudi Fund for Development aims to promote economic prosperity within developing countries. Schemes like this road upgrading bring real and tangible benefits to people and communities in need. The improvement in the road network will provide a long term sustainable impact for Burundis economy and its three million population by improving the movement of goods and people. The loan also marks the latest in a commitment by the SFD to work in nations throughout Africa and improve life opportunities for those in developing nations. To date, the SFD has contributed to a total of 13 development projects in Burundi which include infrastructure and educational projects. The SFD is one of Africas largest contributors to sustainable development aid, promoting stability and prosperity to the region since 1975, and has contributed financial assistance to more than 400 development projects 46 African countries. The SFD is aligned with Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 and its goals of building prosperity and providing socio-economic support to developing nations. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn 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. Yu Minhong, founder of New Oriental Education and Technology Group, apologized for saying that the degeneration of Chinese women has led to the degeneration of the whole countrycomments that have raised heated discussion online since Sunday. "Today, when I tried to explain during a forum how the direction of evaluation determines the direction of education, I used the analogy of women's standards in looking for a husband. Because of my poor analogy, I caused misunderstanding among netizens, about which I'm very sorry," Yu said in a Sina Weibo post on Sunday evening. Earlier, at an education forum in Shanghai, when talking about how the mechanisms of evaluation influenced education, Yu likened it to the criteria Chinese women use to find a mate and how that influences men and the country. Yu said if all Chinese women are looking for men that earn a lot of money regardless of integrity, all men in China will try gain a fortune instead of having a clear conscience, which he said is indeed the current standard for Chinese women. "Therefore, that's why we often say that women determine whether the country is good or not. And now the degeneration of Chinese women has led to the degeneration of the whole country," Yu said. The comment caused a stir among netizens. Zhang Yuqi, a Chinese actress, strongly condemned his remarks. "An education from Peking University and the success of New Oriental Education failed to help you understand the value of women and gender equality, even the meaning of equality," Zhang posted on her Sina Weibo account on Sunday. Yu explained in his post that what he meant to express was that the level of women in a country represents the level of the country. Well-educated women and mothers can cultivate well-educated children. "Men are also influenced by women's values. If women pursue an intellectual life, men will become more intelligent. If women only have money in their eyes, men will desperately earn money and neglect spiritual cultivation. If women are strong, their men and the country will be also," Yu said. Yu's apology had been reposted more than 164,000 times as of 5 pm on Monday. A comment by Sina Weibo user Maysee, which was reposted more than 9,000 times, said: "The level of women in a country does not represent the level of a country; rather, the level of how women are being treated in a country represents the level of a country." On Monday, China Women's News, the mouthpiece of the All-China Women's Federation, also voiced its opinion in a commentary posted in its WeChat account. "The mainstream image of Chinese women is optimistic and sincere. There are a lot of women who hold an enterprising spirit and positive values. It's not logical to blame all women just because some gold-diggers choose a husband based solely on money. It puts the label of worshipping money on all women and denies that men are independent in their endeavors." Yu's arguments"Chinese women's degeneration led to the degeneration of the whole country" and "if Chinese women are strong, so is the country"are both biased and are not acceptable, the federation said. "Women are an important force in promoting social development and progress. They shouldn't be looked down on or looked up to but should be treated equally, which is the true meaning of respect." Yu Minhong founded New Oriental, an education giant of English training, in 1993. As a successful businessman and national political adviser, he is also known for his outspokenness and appeals to improve the incomes of rural teachers in underdeveloped areas. A J-10 fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade with the PLA Air Force fires at mock ground targets as it dives in speed during a live-fire flight training exercise on November 15, 2018. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Xue Xiaoling) 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. After toiling and moiling on the rice field with remarkable achievement, China's Father of Hybrid Rice Yuan Longping revealed that he has two more wishes: to grow taller rice and to increase the scale of rice across the globe to address famine. Yuan revealed his wishes at the prize ceremony of Chinas Future Science Prize, one of the countrys most prestigious non-governmental science awards, on Nov. 18 in Beijing, where the 2018 winners in life science, physical science, and mathematics and computer science were awarded. Photo courtesy of the Future Science Prize Yuan, in collaboration with Zhang Qifa and Li Jiayang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), shared the life science prize for their pioneering work in breeding new rice varieties with high-yield and superior quality. There is no end to scientific research and I still have two dreams. One is that hybrid rice could cover the whole world. The other is to grow taller and stronger rice plants with more yield, so that my colleagues and I could one day sit down and rest under their shade, said Yuan in his acceptance speech via video message. Yuan, 88, did not attend the ceremony due to his physical condition. Thank you to the panel of judges for selecting me as a winner. I regard this award as a very high honor. This year marks the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up, which means it has been four decades since former leader Deng Xiaoping raised science and technology to the status of the primary productive force, which had been greatly encouraged by intellectuals. Every year, hybrid rice feeds 70 million more Chinese people, which means it plays a huge role in meeting food demand in China. We are committed to researching super hybrid rice and have achieved good results. There is no end to scientific research, Yuan said. At the ceremony, Ma Dawei from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry at CAS, Feng Xiaoming from Sichuan University, and Zhou Qilin from Nankai University received the physical science prize for their creative contributions to the invention of new catalysts and reactions, which have provided a new approach to the synthesis of organic molecules, especially drug molecules. Lin Benjian, an academician from CAS and also an expert with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the worlds largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry, received the mathematics and computer science prize for his work in expanding nanoscale integrated circuits. The winners will also share $100 million in prize money for each award category. Touted as Chinas Nobel Prize, as both are privately funded, the Future Science Prize aims to increase public interest in science and connect science and business. The Future Science Prize rewards outstanding original research that was finished in China and has global impact. It is not limited to Chinese citizens and is privately funded by 12 eminent Chinese entrepreneurs who want more public involvement in the countrys development of science. The prize was launched in 2016 by entrepreneurs aiming to utilize cutting-edge computer science technology, such as AI and big data, in the business sector, as well as by investors who understand that scientific development is the foundation of long-term prosperity. Fifteen prominent scholars worldwide form the panel of judges, including Wang Xiaodong, director of the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing Li Kai, a member of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States Computer science professors Paul M. Wythes and Marcia R. Wythes, Princeton University and Luo Liqun, professor of Biology at Stanford University. Photo courtesy of the Future Science Prize ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- The Army might shift some of its troops along the border to California where caravans of migrants seeking asylum have gathered in Tijuana, Mexico across the border from San Diego, but clarified that no timelines have been determined for the possibility that some troops could leave the border ahead of the mission's scheduled end on Dec. 15. "We are continually assessing our resources and refining requirements in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security," according to a U.S. Army North statement. The Army command, headed by Lt. Gen. Jay Buchanan, is overseeing the deployment of 5,800 active-duty military personnel to the border in support of Customs and Border Protection as it prepares for the arrival of several migrant caravans making their way through Mexico from Central America. "We may shift some forces to other areas of the border to engineering support missions in California and other areas," according to the statement. A significant number of the 5,800 active-duty troops assigned to the border support mission were sent to Texas because it was a shorter distance for the migrant caravans to travel compared to California. But the first of the migrant caravan has headed west instead with up to 3,000 migrants now in Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, where they are waiting to make their way to a port of entry to seek asylum. The Army statement suggests some of the 2,800 troops assigned to Texas or the 1,500 in Arizona could be moved to California to provide more logistical support to CBP. The statement was prompted by a news report that indicated Buchanan had suggested in an interview that some of engineering units involved in building up the new military facilities along the border could leave the border in coming days, ahead of the scheduled end date. "No specific timeline for redeployment has been determined," the statement continued. "We will provide more details as they become available." Redeployment is the military term for when troops have completed their mission and return to their home base. The active-duty troops are currently serving in Texas, Arizona and California as part of a mission to provide engineering, logistical and transportation support to CBP. On Tuesday, the White House is expected to announce new authorities that would allow active-duty troops to protect CBP personnel from a threat, according to a U.S. official. Currently, the troops serving on the border may act in self-defense, but they do not have the authority to intervene if CBP personnel are overwhelmed by migrants. Defense Secretary James Mattis had rejected an earlier CBP request which would have allowed troops to perform activities like crowd and riot control because the Pentagon considered them to be law enforcement duties. Active-duty troops are prohibited by federal law from performing law enforcement activities unless specifically ordered by Congress or the president. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. My Favorite Quotes Recent Quotes Portfolio Summary Your most recently viewed tickers will automatically show up here if you type a ticker in the Get Quotes box on the top of the page. Tehran wants to revitalize gold and copper mines, media reported citing Iran Minerals Production and Supply Company. The country is experiencing a surge in gold mining activity in the wake of the second rollout of US sanctions. The subsidiary of state-owned Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with an industry group and a private company on developing of artisanal mines, including six small-scale gold mines. Read more The mines will be set up all across the county, particularly in the central Isfahan province, the eastern South Khorasan province, East and the West Azerbaijan provinces. Besides boosting mineral production and legalizing some illegal mines, the governments program is aimed at increasing employment, creating added value for local communities, and ultimately achieving the goals of a resilient economy. According to the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Iran hosts about seven percent of the worlds mineral resource, including ten percent of proven oil and 16 percent of natural gas reserves. The nations total gold deposits are estimated at 320 tons. Iran has also massive zinc, copper and iron deposits. The World Gold Council (WGC) said in its Q2 Gold Demand Trends report that Irans demand for gold bars and coins jumped 200 percent year-on-year, reaching 15.2 metric tons, which is the highest level in more than four years. It explained that as the countrys reaction to the first round of sanctions, which targeted its metals trading and the automotive sector. Iranians were lining up in front of banks to place advance orders on Emami gold coins, which are minted by the countrys central bank and are usually priced lower than other gold coins. READ MORE: Strongest US sanctions ever targeting Irans oil go into effect with temporary concessions Irans weakening economy, growing sense of insecurity and a currency which has almost halved in value, boosted bar and coin demand, WGC explained. The second round of US sanctions targeting Iran's oil and financial sectors took effect earlier this month. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section Irans president Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that the country will continue to export oil despite fresh US sanctions, which he described as psychological war doomed to failure. We will not yield to this pressure which is part of the psychological war launched against Iran, he said on state TV. They have failed to stop our oil exports. We will keep exporting it ... Your regional policies have failed and you blame Iran for that failure from Afghanistan to Yemen and Syria, he added, to chants of Death to America!. Rouhani also said that the US lacked international support for its sanctions against Iran. America is isolated now. Iran is supported by many countries. Except for the Zionist regime (Israel) and some countries in the region, no other country backs Americas pressure on Iran, he said. Read more Though Rouhani is right that other countries have not supported fresh US sanctions against his country, he is also failing to address that EU support, strongest in the early days after President Trump announced impending sanctions in May, lost steam as Tehran demanded more than the EU, as either a body, or individually, could give. Iran also hurts its case with most EU members last month when Danish authorities accused Iranian agents of attempting to carry out a plot to assassinate an Iranian-Arab opposition figure on Danish soil. READ MORE: US sanctions hit Iranian cancer patients struggling to get life-saving meds "An Iranian intelligence agency has planned an assassination on Danish soil. This is completely unacceptable. In fact, the gravity of the matter is difficult to describe. That has been made crystal clear to the Iranian ambassador in Copenhagen today," Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen, said in a statement at the time. Iran hurts its own cause Not only has the EU been mostly powerless to help Iran offset US sanctions, but Rouhanis rhetoric today is little more than chest beating, while also missing the obvious. The main reason that Iran is still exporting much of its oil is attributed to the US allowing eight importers a waiver for importing Iranian crude to allow global oil markets a so-called adjustment period. However, given the ongoing trade war between Washington and Beijing which is also hurting economic growth not only in China but worldwide, especially in emerging markets, and with the US opening up its oil production spigots, markets arent in dire need any more for Iranian barrels that will be lost due to sanctions. Read more The US is now pumping an unprecedented 11.6 million barrel per day (bpd) of oil, with that number projected to increase going forward, a spike of 2 million bpd from the same period last year, and 400,000 barrels from the week earlier, based on weekly US government data. Meanwhile, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that US production could grow to 12.1 million bpd on average next year. Russian oil production is also spiking, much to the dismal of OPEC and Saudi energy planners who have watched oil market mastery continue to slip out of their hands with renewed power from both US and Russian producers. In October, Russia produced 11.4 million bod, a post-Soviet high. However, Saudi Arabian production, the third part of a new oil production trinity, has also recently increased. In October, the kingdom said its oil production hit a record 10.7 million bpd in order to offset the loss of Iranian barrels. It now appears that a Saudi-lead OPEC will try to push for oil production cuts of between 1 million to 1.4 million bpd to reign in an approaching over supply scenario with a likely corresponding drop in prices. Russia waffles over output deal However, there also signs that Moscow this time around may not be interested in another OPEC/non-OPEC production cut similar to the one orchestrated in early 2017 to drain down then high oil inventory levels, and to resuscitate prices that dropped from over $100 per barrel in mid-2014 to under $30 per barrel in January 2016. Read more On Thursday, Reuters, citing inside sources, said that for now Russia wants to stay out of any oil-production cuts being touted by some of its partners in an OPEC-led supply pact. Adding more uncertainty over Russias direction, on Monday Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia, which is not an OPEC member, planned to sign a partnership agreement with the group, and that details would be discussed at OPEC's December 6 meeting in Vienna. Yet, even if OPEC and Russia trim production around 1 million bpd collectively, it might still not be enough to drain down global supplies for long if US production spikes to 12.1 million bpd on average next year and demand growth for oil going forward, especially in emerging markets hurt by exorbitant oil prices and a robust US dollar which increase oil prices, persist - coming full circle to Rouhanis assertion that US sanctions are doomed to failure. On the contrary, sanctions have already put Iran's economy in a tail spin, and largely devalued its currency, something that the US designed long ago when it decided to reimpose sanctions. Moreover, global oil markets will also be able to survive, even thrive, with the loss of Iranian barrels due to those vary sanctions. This article was originally published on Oilprice.com South Africas economic recovery faces serious constraints, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which pointed to land reform, growing debt of state firms, and capital outflows as obstacles for growth. Some of the initial optimism has dissipated as growth remains stuck in low gear and reform implementation has faced constraints, the IMF said, naming the state power firm Eskom as a key risk. Last month, the global lender projected Africas most industrialized economy expanding by 0.8 percent in 2018, down from a prior forecast of 1.5 percent. South Africas Treasury predicts growth of 0.7 percent. Read more Massive declines in agricultural and other sectors, which dragged the South African economy into recession after nearly a decade of growth, came as a result of the ruling partys planned land reforms. The African National Congress (ANC) seeks a constitutional amendment allowing confiscation of land owned by white citizens without compensation for redistribution to the landless black majority. The ANC says it wants to correct racially skewed land ownership patterns. READ MORE: Namibia follows South Africa with pledge to expropriate white-owned land Following the leadership transition, the government stepped up its efforts to improve governance and enhance the dialogue with the private sector, but reform implementation has faced headwinds, the IMF said. The proposal to amend property laws to allow for expropriation without compensation should be carefully considered and be guided by lessons of international experience, according to the organization. Land reform should focus on enhancing agricultural productivity and strengthening tenure security, said the IMF. It added it is a critical time to implement stalled reforms to restore confidence, attract investment, support growth, and rebuild buffers to deal with a challenging environment. South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa has embraced a plan to expropriate land from white farmers without compensation. He insists there wont be a land grab, adding that any policy changes wont be allowed to damage farming production or the economy. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has summoned US Charge d'Affaires Paul Jones to protest against accusations by Donald Trump, who earlier bashed the country for allegedly failing to do enough to justify getting US military aid. The Foreign Ministry said it wanted to confront the US diplomat to register a strong protest on the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan. Read more Over the past several days, Trump lashed out at Pakistan on his Twitter account and in a Fox News interview, saying Pakistan was not doing enough to support the US fight against the Taliban and accusing it of secretly protecting terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. He threatened to end US military aid to Islamabad, which he has already cut this year. The rhetoric angered many Pakistanis, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said few American allies sacrificed as much as Pakistan did while supporting the fight against terrorism. The ministrys statement rejected the claim that Pakistan was somehow protecting Osama bin Laden, saying that it was Pakistans intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of OBL. It called Trumps allegations baseless and totally unacceptable. Trump is well-known for his habit of threatening countries, which he perceives as abusing American generosity. He repeatedly accused European NATO allies of being freeloaders due to their failure to meet the blocs defense spending benchmarks. Latin American nations like Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador got similar treatment due to a failure to stop the so-called caravan of people seeking to cross into the US and seek asylum there. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! [November 20, 2018] Canadians to receive test wireless public alert on Nov. 28 Canadians encouraged to check their devices compatibility and upgrade software OTTAWA, Nov. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Alert Ready, Canada's emergency alerting system, will be sending out a test alert next week and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) is encouraging Canadians from coast to coast to learn how their wireless devices will be part of it. As part of a general test of the alert system, government agencies across Canada will be distributing a message to compatible wireless devices, as well as TV and radio, on Wednesday, November 28 at 1:55 p.m. local time (2:55 p.m. local time in Quebec). "Alert Ready is designed to deliver critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians, and this test will help educate Canadians on what an emergency alert will look and sound like in the event of a life-threatening situation," said CWTA President and CEO Robert Ghiz. Wireless public alerts are another example of how wireless has become integral to the lives of Canadians. Since the launch of wireless alerts in April, more than 100 emergency alerts have been successfully transmitted and credited with saving lives, most notably the tornadoes in Ottawa and Gatineau on September 21. Testing the system allows us to ensure it is working as intended and to learn what areas need adjustments so that we can be better prepard for the next real emergency. "Emergency alerts that people receive on their wireless devices begin with a distinct sound, known as the Canadian Alerting Attention Signal, and will also vibrate" said Ghiz. "The sound will generally play at the volume your device is set to and, depending on your device, can override all of your settings. Most devices have multiple setting controls for different features such as ringtones, media, notifications and system alerts." CWTA is reminding users that not every wireless device will necessarily receive the alert. "There are a number of reasons why a person's device might not receive the alert," said Ghiz. "Everything from device compatibility, connection to an LTE network at the time of the alert, and device software and settings can have an impact on whether or not the alert comes through. As important first steps, Canadians are encouraged to check their device compatibility on their wireless service provider's website, and ensure that their device has the latest software update installed." Ghiz notes that alert issuers the federal, provincial and territorial governments determine when an emergency alert will be issued, and to what area(s). Alerts are only issued in threat to life situations. Wireless service providers are last-mile distributors, and do not define, manage or interfere with the content or timing of the alerts. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requires that 50% of new devices available for sale in Canada must be compatible with Alert Ready; this requirement increases to 100% by April 2019. Over time, more devices will be compatible and more Canadians will receive the alerts on their wireless devices. Canadians who want to see if their device is compatible with the wireless public alert system are encouraged to visit their provider's website. Additional information is also available by visiting AlertReady.ca. About CWTA The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) is the authority on wireless issues, developments and trends in Canada. It represents companies that provide services and products across the wireless sector. Representing the industry before all levels of government and various regulatory agencies, CWTA actively promotes the industry with the goal of ensuring continued growth of the wireless sector in Canada. CWTA administers a number of initiatives on behalf of its members, including corporate social responsibility programs and the national common short codes program. SOURCE Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\broadband-stimulus's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] 7-Eleven Becomes First Convenience Retailer Chain in Canada to Accept Alipay and WeChat Pay VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 7-Eleven Inc. announced that participating stores in Canada will now accept Chinese mobile payment systems Alipay and WeChat Pay. The world's largest convenience retailer is collaborating with cross-border mobile payment company and market leader CITCON. Alipay and WeChat Pay will now be available at 35 select locations in Vancouver and Toronto, with plans for expansion in next few months. "Digital Payments are on the rise and consumers across the world are embracing them for convenience. 7-Eleven is redefining convenience for our customers across the globe which includes providing mobile payment solutions," said Gurmeet Singh, Chief Digital Officer & Chief Information Officer of 7-Eleven. "With 67,000 stores worldwide, Alipay and WeChat Pay are just one of many solutions that we provide our global consumers so they can enjoy a frictionless experience in our stores. 7-Eleven is the first convenience retailer to provide Alipay and WeChat Pay mobile payment solutions in Canada, and we continue to drive digital transformation with the latest in consumer-facing mobile technology." Wei Jiang, President and COO of CITCON, explains, "Consumers today are increasingly relying on mobile to meet their needs. The explosion of mobile usage and QR-based mobile solutions offer opportunities for retailers to provide an engaging and new retail experience. We are thrilled to collaborate with 7-Eleven in a joint effort to redefine convenience in Canada." In an increasingly digital world, 7-Eleven continues to push for solutions that elevate their customers' experience. For Chinese consumers, mobile payments are the normcash and even bank cards are a thing of the past. By implementing Alipay and WeChat Pay, China's leading mobile payment platforms, 7-Eleven is providing residents and tourists with an easy and familiar way to complete transactions abroad and setting a new standard for Canadian retailers. "7-Eleven is nostranger to firsts," said Doug Rosencrans, VP and General Manager of 7-Eleven Canada. "7-Eleven has always sought out innovative ways to provide customers with convenience how they like it, and when they like it. Alipay and WeChat Pay are just another way we are enhancing the customer experience." Mobile is shaping the future of convenience, and 7-Eleven is working to stay ahead of the curve by focusing their services around mobile pay apps and other innovative convenience solutions. Facilitating transactions through mobile technology will provide an enhanced convenience experience for 7-Eleven Canada's customers. "Alipay looks forward to supporting 7-Eleven in providing a seamless experience for Chinese consumers as they visit North America and offering further convenience in the food and beverage space along their routes so they can travel with ease. We are extremely excited to be part of this activation and look forward to collaborating with 7-Eleven and CITCON," said Yulei Wang, General Manager, Alipay North America. About 7-Eleven, Inc. 7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 67,000 7-Eleven stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America. Find out more about 7-Eleven Canada at www.7-Eleven.ca. About CITCON CITCON is a cross-border mobile payment and marketing solution leader, enabling merchants to accept QR-based mobile wallets in-store and online on a global scale. Among the payment options supported by CITCON, Alipay and WeChat Pay are two of the most popular wallets with over one billion active consumers. On top of payments, CITCON also allows merchants to run marketing and loyalty campaigns through their partner network. Find out more about CITCON at http://www.citcon.com/ About Alipay Operated by Ant Financial Services Group, Alipay is the world's leading mobile and online payment platform. Launched in 2004, Alipay has evolved from a digital wallet to a lifestyle enabler. In addition to online payments, Alipay is expanding to in-store offline payments both inside and outside of China. Alipay's in-store payment service covers over 40 countries and regions across the world, and supports 27 currencies currently. Alipay works with over 250 overseas financial institutions and payment solution providers to enable cross-border payments for Chinese travelling overseas and overseas customers who purchase products from Chinese e-commerce sites. Connect with Alipay on Twitter. For more information: Danika Thibault danika@boojemedia.com 250.314.7891 CITCON Media Contact Evelyn Yang Evelyn.yang@citcon.com 888-254-4887 Alipay Media Contact: Sophia Cote Sophia.cote@fhhighroad.com 778-903-7494 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/7-eleven-becomes-first-convenience-retailer-chain-in-canada-to-accept-alipay-and-wechat-pay-300752469.html SOURCE CITCON [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Loudoun County, Virginia, Selects Tyler Technologies' EnerGov Community Development Suite Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) announced it has signed an agreement with Loudoun County, Virginia, for Tyler's EnerGov civic services solution. The county will replace its 20-year-old legacy land management information system with the EnerGov Community Development suite to streamline and automate its enterprise land management, permitting, and development review process. "Loudoun County is looking forward to an overall enhanced user experience through Tyler's EnerGov solution," said Loudoun County Assistant County Administrator Kenny Young, who also serves as the project executive overseeing the implementation for the county. "By modernizing this critical system, the county will benefit from a number of efficiencies and most importantly, our customers will find the system convenient and easy to use." The county will leverage the EnerGov Community Development suite to provide integrated and extensible workflow and workforce management capabilities. The suite enables electronic plan review, online citizen self-service portal access, mobile field solutions, and real-time GIS interaction. Additionally, the county will take full advantage of EnerGov's functionality for the administration and management of monetary and non-onetary proffers, a process unique to the commonwealth of Virginia. "The replacement of our existing land management information system with a cloud-hosted solution is part of the county's technology roadmap and is a continuation of our Cloud-First strategy," said Loudoun County Director of Information Technology Wendy Wickens. The Tyler solution also provides Loudoun County with perpetual updates without additional license fees, securing the county's investment now and into the future. In addition, Tyler's software will allow Loudoun County to execute daily business functions with efficiency and ease, using modernized tools that better fit the needs and expectations of more than 390,000 citizens. "Loudoun County is seeing a high demand for advanced technology and transparency, with a focus on online access, mobility, and real-time interaction," said Rusty Smith, general manager of Tyler's EnerGov solution. "Tyler looks forward to helping usher in a new era of accessibility, scalability, and transparency to better serve Loudoun County's residents." Loudoun County is the third-largest county in Virginia and is considered part of the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It is a growing county of approximately 390,000 people with a land area of 520 square miles. There are 19 other government agencies within the commonwealth using Tyler's EnerGov solution. Tyler also provides its iasWorld CAMA solution to Loudoun County, enabling the county to more easily integrate its Tyler products in the future. About Tyler Technologies (News - Alert), Inc. Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) is a leading provider of end-to-end information management solutions and services for local governments. Tyler partners with clients to empower the public sector - cities, counties, schools and other government entities - to become more efficient, more accessible and more responsive to the needs of their constituents. Tyler's client base includes more than 15,000 local government offices in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. In 2017, Forbes ranked Tyler on its "Most Innovative Growth Companies" list, and Fortune included Tyler on its "100 Fastest-Growing Companies" list. More information about Tyler Technologies, headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at www.tylertech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005055/en/ [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] Stores like A LEmeraude in Lausanne are a rarity nowadays. Not only is it a bricks-and-mortar-only watch and jewellery store, it is also independent and family run. It has been present around the central Place St. Francois area of Lausanne since 1909, serving a primarily local and loyal customer base. The Cremers family, who acquired the store in 2004, are only the third owners of this well-known address among watch fans in Lausanne. Since taking over the business, they have expanded it considerably, growing from a 60m2 premises to more than 250m2 in 2017 and doubling the workforce. A L'Emeraude is the only watch retailer in Switzerland with a separate boutique for Patek Philippe and Rolex watches. A l'Emeraude The Cremers family also positioned A LEmeraude as a purveyor of high-end watch brands. Building on a relationship with Patek Philippe that dates back almost to the stores beginnings (the earliest records of Patek Philippe representation in the company archives date back to 1920), the family has added some of the best independent brands such as Francois-Paul Journe, Voutilainen, De Bethune and Romain Gauthier, as well as major luxury brands Hublot, IWC, Panerai, Ulysse Nardin and Tudor to its long-standing representation of Breitling and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Boutique for Rolex watches A l'Emeraude Customers entering A LEmeraude are greeted by light wood finishes that are bathed in natural light flooding in through first-floor windows that immediately draws attention to a two-storey wall of Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clocks. From there they can explore the discreet display cases of the ground floor and wander up to the Salon Atelier on the first floor. This generously sized area has the feel of a lounge, complete with comfy sofa, chairs and reading material. But there is also a specially made watchmakers workbench with a wide surround at chest height for customers to lean on for a relaxed chat with the watchmaker. For Derek Cremers this is important for two reasons: first, customers can watch the watchmaker at work and chat with him (this is itself unusual, since the watchmaker is often hidden away behind closed doors); second, the two watchmakers at A LEmeraude, like all other staff in the store, are also sales advisors. A l'Emeraude Customers can be certain of unparalleled after-sales service, too, since A LEmeraude is equipped with machines that are specifically for polishing Rolex watches and testing their water resistance up to 1200 metres. As a result, standard service work on Rolex watches can be carried out on site, which means that the watch does not have to be sent to Rolex and that the customer therefore enjoys shorter service times. A master watchmaker with over 30 years experience at A LEmeraude is also available for repairs to and restoration of any antique and vintage grande complication watches up to grandes sonneries. 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, Pennsylvania Horticulture Societys Harvest program ends season with almost 19,000 pounds of produce donated and $30K raised to fight food insecurity President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia despite saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month. Defying pressure from U.S. lawmakers to impose tougher sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Trump also said he would not cancel military contracts with the kingdom, saying such a "foolish" move would only benefit Russia and China. Trump said U.S. intelligence agencies were still studying the evidence around Khashoggi's murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and who planned it. "Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt!" Trump said in a statement issued by the White House, U.S. intelligence sources say the CIA's assessment is that Khashoggi's death was ordered by the crown prince, who is Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler and is widely known by his initials MbS. Democratic and Republican lawmakers have urged Trump to drop his support for MbS, but the president has been reluctant. He said on Tuesday that both Saudi Arabia's King Salman and MbS "vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder," and that the truth may never be known. He also stressed that Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, is an important business partner and a "great ally" in the fight against Iranian power in the Middle East. "The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region," Trump said. Search Keywords: Short link: Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. French Ambassador to Egypt Stephane Romatet told Ahram Online on Monday that France has proposed a partnership to assist Egypt in completing its plan for ensuring universal health coverage. "There is the issue of universal health coverage which is a project of huge magnitude for Egypt, and we want to assist Egypt in completing this very big project for the benefit of the Egyptian population," said Romatet. The French ambassador's comments came on the sidelines of an Egyptian-French forum held in Cairo on Monday and organised in partnership with Al-Ahram Hebdo to discuss the strategic partnership between both countries in the health sector. "We have proposed a global view to the Egyptian government with health partnership and our goal is to use the coming presidential visit of President Macron Egypt this coming month to sign a partnership deal on this issue between our two governments; the health issue is a top priority for the Egyptian government and for the president," said Romatet. The ambassador said France would be providing assistance on issues related to general health, obesity, cancer, pharmaceutical industries, emergency rooms, hospitals management and universal health coverage. "The Egyptian government wants to work with France, which has one of the most developed health services in the world, so this is the aim of this forum, to partner with Egypt covering all the various aspects of what we can do together in the field of health," he said. The French ambassador said that "we have companies ready to invest here in Egypt; pharmaceutical needs are on the rise and of course our companies are interested in investing in Egypt." "We have here in Egypt a set of French companies which have been established for a long time, so we have decided to create a kind of a group of all these competent and expert companies; it is our responsibility to assemble these firms and work with them on the global health partnership in Egypt," he said. The ambassador also told Ahram Online that there was a plan to establish a partnership to enhance training,especially of Egyptian health professionals. Search Keywords: Short link: The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill, a Christmas Holiday tradition for over three decades is highlighted on ABC TVS THE GREAT CHRISTMAS LIGHT FIGHT Monday evening, December 3, 8-10pm broadcast locally in Dayton on WKEF-ABC22, and all over the country on the ABC Television Network. We couldnt be more excited that ABC picked us to be featured on their show. Said Anthony Satariano, co-owner of Clifton Mill. The TV crew of over a dozen camera & boom operators, sound & video techs, and producers were here over Thanksgiving last year. It was a big deal for our little town of Clifton and Greene County. We were all sworn to secrecy until now. He added. Folks around here know about the Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill, now we have this opportunity to share the fun, excitement and wonder with the entire nation. Said Jessica Noes, General Manager of Clifton Mill. The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill will turn on for the holiday season Friday, November 23, always the day after Thanksgiving. Folks around here know about the Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill, now we have this opportunity to share the fun, excitement and wonder with the entire nation. Said Jessica Noes, General Manager of Clifton Mill. The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill will turn on for the holiday season Friday, November 23, always the day after Thanksgiving. We are honored Ohio Attorney General and Ohio Governor Elect Mike DeWine will flip the switch for our 31st year. Gates open at 5pm, and precisely at 6pm, over 4 million lights brighten the night instantly, transforming the mill and gorge into a shimmering world of Christmas wonder. We are open 7 nights a week through December 31. What began as a simple idea of stringing a few strands of lights on the historic mill for the enjoyment of family and friends is now one of the largest outdoor holiday displays in the country. Now, millions of lights later, the Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill decorate the mill, trees, river banks and almost everything in between. Including the water wheel. One of the big crowd pleasers is the covered bridge synchronized light & music show, which occurs hourly each night. Also 31 years ago, the owners began work on a miniature village with scaled down versions of some of Cliftons historic buildings built by an artisan in Pennsylvania. There have been new additions each year by a variety of artists and today it is a sight to behold with street after miniature street of scaled down homes and businesses, a tiny Fire Dept. putting out a house fire, an outdoor train, a 1950s drive-in theatre, a County Fair and much more lit up for the holidays! Clifton Mill has over 3000 examples of Santa Claus on display dating back to 1850. Some are toys, some used for advertising, odd to elegant, all are interesting. Plus, a real live Santa popping out of the chimney. The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill is an outdoor event and weather permitting. Call beforehand. Admission is $10 per person for everyone age 7 and older. Concession Food is available. BEST TIME TO VISIT IS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. Clifton is in Greene County, Ohio three miles east of Yellow Springs on State Rt. 343, six miles south of Springfield on State Rt. 72, and three miles north of Cedarville on Rt. 72. For more information visit www.cliftonmill.com, follow us on Facebook or call 937-767-5501. It took me 5 years to prepare ... Regional Manipur police arrest fraudster from Mumbai Correspondent IMPHAL, Nov 20 | Publish Date: 11/20/2018 11:47:52 AM IST Leader of an organized gang indulged in withdrawal of money from banks across the country using fraudulent cheques has been arrested by Manipur police from Maharashtra. Sandeep Patel (23) son of Lalbrat Patel of Uttar Pradesh was arrested by a team of state police with the help of Maharashtra police from his present residence at Baramati in Maharashtra on November 17. He was arrested in connection with withdrawal of money amounting to Rs 1.273 crore using fraudulent cheques from the Bank of Baroda. Of the total amount, Rs 94 lakh was from the account of the Manipur University and Rs 33.3 lakh from an account of an individual from Imphal. He was brought to Imphal Tuesday and state police have taken a four-day remand after producing in the court of Imphal West chief judicial magistrate, Imphal West SP Hoabijam Jogeshchandra told reporters. The SP said that the arrested Sandeep Patel along with his associates had fraudulently withdrawn the money in the name of a firm Patel Real Estate. His associates were at large, he added. The SP claimed that arrested Patel is the leader of an organized gang and has members in the whole country. Patel was arrested based on two different complaints lodged with the Singjamei police station of Imphal West district, the SP said. During the course of investigation into the cases, state police established that Sandeep Patel is the owner of the Patel Real Estate having an account (A/c no. 110605017251) at Punjab National Bank, Baramati in Maharashtra. The police also raided his rented room cum office and recovered some documents and articles related with the fraudulent withdrawal of money from the banks. The accused has more than 12 bank accounts in his name at different banks, said the SP. Efforts were on to arrest the gang members who are at large, Imphal West SP Hoabijam Jogeshchandra added. Ambassador of Slovenia Prevolsek stressed that Iskra looks forward to cooperation with Egyptian military production companies in light of high quality of their products and technological and industrial capabilities Egypt's Minister of Military Production Mohamed El-Assar attended on Tuesday in Cairo the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Egypts National Organisation for Military Production and the Slovenian company Iskra to cooperate in the field of developing infrastructure to distribute energy. The ambassador of Slovenia Mateja Prevolsek also attended the event. El-Assar expressed his ministry's desire to cooperate with Slovenia in a way that serves the common interests of both countries, stressing the importance of benefiting from Slovenian expertise in many modern industrial fields. The minister explained that the MoU will allow Egypt to benefit from Iskras expertise in the fields of energy and logistics services as well as the field of manufacturing equipment used in the provision of electricity to military production companies. Ambassador Prevolsek explained that Iskra is the largest national company in Slovenia in the areas of information and communications systems; logistics' services; securities' systems; energy distribution systems, means of transportation, railroads, road traffic systems, as well as programming solutions. The ambassador of Slovenia stressed that Iskra looks forward to cooperation with the Egyptian military production companies in light of both the high quality of its products and the fact that its technological and industrial capabilities meet international standards, as well as its participation in executing national and developmental projects. The ambassador also affirmed her confidence in the success of the cooperation between the two parties to implement national and development projects that serve both sides in the field of energy and other fields, especially since Iskra works in many areas that can benefit Egypt. El-Assar invited Slovenian defence companies to participate in EDEX 2018, the first international exhibition of defence and military industries organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Defence under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. The event will be held at the Egyptian International Exhibition Centre from 3 to 5 December 2018. The minister said that this exhibition is an important opportunity to learn about the potential of Egyptian defence industries and to establish new partnerships with paticipant countries. Search Keywords: Short link: Berlin Reporter AVH President receives Business Excellence Award by Jody Houle On Nov. 1, Michael Peterson, President of Androscoggin valley Hospital, was given a Business Excellence Award for large organizations in healthcare. Pictured here, he received the award at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Manchester. (Courtesy Photo) (click for larger version) MANCHESTER Michael Peterson of Androscoggin Valley Hospital has been named the recipient of the Healthcare award for large organizations, New Hampshire Business Review announced recently. On Nov. 1, New Hampshire's top business leaders were honored at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Manchester. It was the 16th annual Business Excellence Awards ceremony. The recipients were honored for their "industriousness, innovation and imagination" a press release stated. Other recipients include leaders from Simbex, Robin's Egg, Keene YMCA, Nvest Financial Group, LLC, Grappone Automotive Group and more. "NH Business Review launched the Business Excellence Awards in 2002 to recognize New Hampshire's business leaders who work tirelessly to cultivate and grow the local and statewide economy," the release stated. "We're excited to honor and congratulate this year's impressive list of Business Excellence Awards recipients," said Jeff Feingold, Editor of NH Business Review. "The nominations we received this year were outstanding, and it is apparent New Hampshire's business community is flourishing as a result of our workforce's dedication to bettering their communities and the state as a whole." Among the 16 recipients was Peterson, who is described in the release as having a "strategic plan" that "brought Androscoggin Valley Hospital from being in the red financially to a having a healthy profit margin." The Nov. 9 edition of New Hampshire Business Review included an overview of Peterson's accomplishments: "With 22 years of experience in all aspects of hospital and health systems administration, Mike has been an influential force at Androscoggin Valley Hospital. Since joining the hospital in 2015, he has led a variety of reforms that transformed the organization's financial deficit into a healthy profit margin, at a time when many hospitals in New Hampshire continue to lose money. At Mike's direction, an integrated team of senior employees and board members embarked on a fact-finding, idea-generating collaboration to help drive the direction of the organization. When many businesses were expanding their contract employees to avoid paying benefits, Mike eliminated contract positions, helping in the recruitment of permanent employees a positive impact on the surrounding community that actually reduced the hospital's labor costs." The 2018 Business Excellence Awards are sponsored by presenting sponsor Citizens Bank, silver sponsor Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and general sponsors Tufts Health Freedom Plan, Connection, Inc., TFM, NH PBS, and the NH Business and Industry Association. A portion of the proceeds from the November 1 reception will benefit CASA of New Hampshire. MANCHESTER Michael Peterson of Androscoggin Valley Hospital has been named the recipient of the Healthcare award for large organizations, New Hampshire Business Review announced recently.On Nov. 1, New Hampshire's top business leaders were honored at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Manchester. It was the 16th annual Business Excellence Awards ceremony.The recipients were honored for their "industriousness, innovation and imagination" a press release stated. Other recipients include leaders from Simbex, Robin's Egg, Keene YMCA, Nvest Financial Group, LLC, Grappone Automotive Group and more."NH Business Review launched the Business Excellence Awards in 2002 to recognize New Hampshire's business leaders who work tirelessly to cultivate and grow the local and statewide economy," the release stated."We're excited to honor and congratulate this year's impressive list of Business Excellence Awards recipients," said Jeff Feingold, Editor of NH Business Review. "The nominations we received this year were outstanding, and it is apparent New Hampshire's business community is flourishing as a result of our workforce's dedication to bettering their communities and the state as a whole."Among the 16 recipients was Peterson, who is described in the release as having a "strategic plan" that "brought Androscoggin Valley Hospital from being in the red financially to a having a healthy profit margin."The Nov. 9 edition of New Hampshire Business Review included an overview of Peterson's accomplishments:"With 22 years of experience in all aspects of hospital and health systems administration, Mike has been an influential force at Androscoggin Valley Hospital. Since joining the hospital in 2015, he has led a variety of reforms that transformed the organization's financial deficit into a healthy profit margin, at a time when many hospitals in New Hampshire continue to lose money. At Mike's direction, an integrated team of senior employees and board members embarked on a fact-finding, idea-generating collaboration to help drive the direction of the organization. When many businesses were expanding their contract employees to avoid paying benefits, Mike eliminated contract positions, helping in the recruitment of permanent employees a positive impact on the surrounding community that actually reduced the hospital's labor costs."The 2018 Business Excellence Awards are sponsored by presenting sponsor Citizens Bank, silver sponsor Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and general sponsors Tufts Health Freedom Plan, Connection, Inc., TFM, NH PBS, and the NH Business and Industry Association. A portion of the proceeds from the November 1 reception will benefit CASA of New Hampshire. Winnisquam Echo STEMspiration event offers local students a glimpse at careers in science & tech by Donna Rhodes write the author WMUR Meteorologist Hayley LaPoint explained a bit of what it's like to work in the scientific world to eighth and ninth grade students who attended a "STEMspiration" event at Winnisquam Regional High School last Wednesday. (Photo by Donna Rhodes) (click for larger version) TILTON Eighth and ninth grade students in the Winnisquam Regional School District were invited to take part in a "STEMspiration" event last week, featuring women who have made their way successfully in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and more than 30 students took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about careers they may be interested in pursuing one day. Women who met with the students on Wednesday came from a variety of fields. Among them were Lee Ames of Silver Tech, who introduced them to careers in Web Design. "Web sites don't just appear you know," she told one group. As she spoke of different job opportunities with a company such as hers, she had them note skills and knowledge needed for positions such as IT Administration, Coding, Project Managers, and even sales. "There's a lot that goes on in my industry with a lot of skills involved," said Ames. Nearby Erin Badger of a company called Tevora spoke about the interesting field of Cyber Security while Brandi Emerson of TIBCO not only explained what her software design company offers for careers but shared some personal thoughts as well. "There are many opportunities in the field of technology," she told each group. "Explore and find out what makes your heart happy then go out and make it a career." Among the benefits of a job within a technology firm, she said, is the ability to work remotely from home. They typically come with regular hours and have many needs for people in finance and other skill sets that most wouldn't think of when searching for a job. "As a mom, this works really well for me because I can stay at home if I need to, yet still get my work done," said Emerson. Christy Collins of Konica Minolta brought a hands-on development from her company for the students to explore. While Konica Minolta is known for printers and similar types of innovation, the company has now expanded into more technology. That expansion includes "The Double," a computer-operated robot that is changing the way people work and live. One use is that The Double can place hospitalized children back in the classroom as the slim device rolls through a classroom, changing angles and allowing the operator to see all that is taking place in the room as they control it from their own computer. Businesses are also using it for employees who aren't onsite but need to take part in meetings and a sturdier outdoor version can assist in search and rescue missions and more. "The Double essentially allows you to be in two places at once. It can be controlled from anywhere. Even if you are in China you can be here in New Hampshire at the same time through your computer," said Collins. Introducing the students to careers in the physical sciences was meteorologist Hayley LaPoint, known for her televised weather forecasting on WMUR. "While I am on TV a lot, I really think of myself as a scientist first. We're just the ones who come in contact with the public," said LaPoint. She explained that she and other television meteorologists are just a few of literally thousands of scientists working around the world to examine the weather and relay its potential impact to the public. And to shoot down a myth, she said that like the others in her more public side of the field, they do not just go to Weather.com then read their forecast on air. "That couldn't be further from the truth," LaPoint said. "I study the weather patterns and then come up with my own accurate forecast each day." She told an all girls' group in one session of the round-robin style event that being a scientist has its challenges though for women breaking into a male-dominated world. LaPoint told them to keep working hard toward their goals. "People also made fun of me in school because I was that weather nerd but I used that as fuel to get me to my dream job," said LaPoint. She also said that math was not her strong point in college but she worked hard to pass those necessary classes, meeting with professors every day for extra help so she could graduate and become a meteorologist. Winnisquam Regional School District's Technical Integrator Maria Pearson organized this year's "STEMspiration- Inspiring girls to explore STEM careers" but both male and female students were included. The only difference was that all the inspiration came from women who have succeeded in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. "This is the second year we've held this event, and it's part of a passion I have to get students interested in STEM," said Pearson, who herself has a degree in engineering. "The district is committed to exposing students to STEM in grades kindergarten through 12th and this is one way of doing just that." Also on hand from the district was WRHS science instructor Natalie Amtmann who said she brought one of her classes to the event because she hoped they would be inspired. "Things like this can help them figure out a job they might like to pursue one day. Providing them with this exposure to people already in these fields and learning what they're all about is vital," Amtmann said. TILTON Eighth and ninth grade students in the Winnisquam Regional School District were invited to take part in a "STEMspiration" event last week, featuring women who have made their way successfully in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and more than 30 students took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about careers they may be interested in pursuing one day.Women who met with the students on Wednesday came from a variety of fields. Among them were Lee Ames of Silver Tech, who introduced them to careers in Web Design."Web sites don't just appear you know," she told one group.As she spoke of different job opportunities with a company such as hers, she had them note skills and knowledge needed for positions such as IT Administration, Coding, Project Managers, and even sales."There's a lot that goes on in my industry with a lot of skills involved," said Ames.Nearby Erin Badger of a company called Tevora spoke about the interesting field of Cyber Security while Brandi Emerson of TIBCO not only explained what her software design company offers for careers but shared some personal thoughts as well."There are many opportunities in the field of technology," she told each group. "Explore and find out what makes your heart happy then go out and make it a career."Among the benefits of a job within a technology firm, she said, is the ability to work remotely from home. They typically come with regular hours and have many needs for people in finance and other skill sets that most wouldn't think of when searching for a job."As a mom, this works really well for me because I can stay at home if I need to, yet still get my work done," said Emerson.Christy Collins of Konica Minolta brought a hands-on development from her company for the students to explore. While Konica Minolta is known for printers and similar types of innovation, the company has now expanded into more technology. That expansion includes "The Double," a computer-operated robot that is changing the way people work and live.One use is that The Double can place hospitalized children back in the classroom as the slim device rolls through a classroom, changing angles and allowing the operator to see all that is taking place in the room as they control it from their own computer. Businesses are also using it for employees who aren't onsite but need to take part in meetings and a sturdier outdoor version can assist in search and rescue missions and more."The Double essentially allows you to be in two places at once. It can be controlled from anywhere. Even if you are in China you can be here in New Hampshire at the same time through your computer," said Collins.Introducing the students to careers in the physical sciences was meteorologist Hayley LaPoint, known for her televised weather forecasting on WMUR."While I am on TV a lot, I really think of myself as a scientist first. We're just the ones who come in contact with the public," said LaPoint.She explained that she and other television meteorologists are just a few of literally thousands of scientists working around the world to examine the weather and relay its potential impact to the public. And to shoot down a myth, she said that like the others in her more public side of the field, they do not just go to Weather.com then read their forecast on air."That couldn't be further from the truth," LaPoint said. "I study the weather patterns and then come up with my own accurate forecast each day."She told an all girls' group in one session of the round-robin style event that being a scientist has its challenges though for women breaking into a male-dominated world. LaPoint told them to keep working hard toward their goals."People also made fun of me in school because I was that weather nerd but I used that as fuel to get me to my dream job," said LaPoint.She also said that math was not her strong point in college but she worked hard to pass those necessary classes, meeting with professors every day for extra help so she could graduate and become a meteorologist.Winnisquam Regional School District's Technical Integrator Maria Pearson organized this year's "STEMspiration- Inspiring girls to explore STEM careers" but both male and female students were included. The only difference was that all the inspiration came from women who have succeeded in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math."This is the second year we've held this event, and it's part of a passion I have to get students interested in STEM," said Pearson, who herself has a degree in engineering. "The district is committed to exposing students to STEM in grades kindergarten through 12th and this is one way of doing just that."Also on hand from the district was WRHS science instructor Natalie Amtmann who said she brought one of her classes to the event because she hoped they would be inspired."Things like this can help them figure out a job they might like to pursue one day. Providing them with this exposure to people already in these fields and learning what they're all about is vital," Amtmann said. Winnisquam Echo Franklin Savings Banks promotes five employees Winter sports start dates announced at Winnisquam Recent Donna Rhodes Bonan to become Fire Chief in Holderness 2021-Nov-18 Plymouth police welcome new Chief, Deputy Chief 2021-Nov-11 Community creates moving tribute to Hazel Roy 2021-Nov-04 Engine dedicated in honor of former Sanbornton Fire Chief 2021-Nov-04 Fundraiser celebrates former Alexandria residents love for animals 2021-Oct-29 Fundraiser planned to benefit local animal lovers family 2021-Oct-13 More... Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com By Express News Service BENGALURU: The decision of Authority of Advance Ruling (AAR) on the services by back offices in India might impact the countrys image as a global service provider, IT industry body Nasscom said on Tuesday. The apex trade body of Indian IT companies also said that such rulings could also lead to government entities asking of retrospective tax from IT firms based in India. Nasscom feels this may impact Indias image as a global service provider and could lead to government entities asking of retrospective tax from companies based in India, it said in a statement. Earlier, the AAR, in a ruling, said the services provided by the back offices should be considered as intermediary services. Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST), these intermediary services would not qualify as export of service even if they are rendered to overseas entities and 18 per cent GST would apply. Indias Information Technology Enabled Services exports for the 2017-18 financial year (FY18) was over $126 billion, witnessing a growth of 7.7 per cent over FY17. As per the ruling of the tax body, the back offices of multinational companies now may face 18 per cent GST. This will have a direct impact on the over 500 Global Innovation Centres (GICs), with over 3.5 lakh employees operating out of India. These GICs support operations of their parent companies with support services, software development centres and data processing back offices, and also serve their clients. With the ruling, Indian companies providing back-office services may also become liable to pay the 18 per cent GST. Our preliminary analysis suggests that the concept of exclusion of main service from intermediary services entry has been ignored in the ruling. If the implication of this ruling is not suitably clarified, it will make our companies non-competitive in the global market, potentially resulting in loss of revenue, jobs and customers, the IT industry body added. This ruling could open the Pandoras box for various India set-ups that are assisting foreign companies with back-office support functions such as accounting and legal services. As these services do not qualify as exports, 18 per cent costs on these services could make them non-competitive, said Abhishek Jain, Tax Partner, Ernst & Young India. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The government on Saturday directed bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels to have only standing rooms for smoking. Food, chairs, tables, ashtrays, matchboxes and lighters should not be allowed, said a circular issued by the Directorate of Municipal Administration. Also, non-smokers and under 18 individuals should be prohibited from entering these areas. This move attempts to protect non-smokers from the dangers of passive smoking. Smoking will be allowed in the designated smoking areas only after obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the civic body concerned that will check whether the eatery has a seating capacity above 30. If the above rules are violated the restaurant/bar/pub stands to lose its license. Karnatakas Urban Development and Housing Minister, U T Khader, on Monday, warned saying, Recent studies have shown that there is no safe level of second-hand smoking, we are concerned about the health of the staff who are working in hotels and bars, and customers. In light of all scientific evidences pointing out that second-hand smoking is as harmful as smoking, this issue needs to be addressed as priority. We have significant evidence from the worlds best cities that making smoke-free hotel environment improves the business, Khader added. We are confident that hotels and bars associations in state will welcome and support this initiative. Hotels, clubs and bars owe a legal and moral responsibility of protecting the right to health of their staff and customers, Khader said. He also observed that fire safety is an equally important concern as that of health. According to the circular, the fire department had raised a concern about fire safety in bars and restaurants in a letter which states open fire sources like smoking are potential causes for fire hazards. The circular was issued as a part of Joint Consultation Meeting Advancing Urban Health Policies Key Policies for Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention held on Monday organised by the Karnataka government in association with National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Association of Healthcare Providers (India) and Association of National Board Accredited Institutions. Dr Prashant Mathur, Director, NCDIR, said, Second Hand Smoking (SHS) is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) shows that exposure to tobacco smoke by non-smokers is 23.9per cent at public places and 14per cent of this exposure happens at eateries, hotels, bars and restaurants. This is because of a provision to allow smoking in the premises. Globally, 14per cent of all NCD deaths among adults are attributed to tobacco. Chandrashekhar Hebbar, President of Karnataka Pradesh Hotels and Restaurants Association, said that they support the decision as most of their member hotels have no smoking policy. By Online Desk Chennai has bagged this year's 'Most Vegan-Friendly City' award by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, according to a Times of India report. PETA India has already despatched the certificate and letter thanking commissioner of Chennai Municipal Corporation D Karthikeyan for facilitating an environment in which vegan-friendly establishments flourish in the city. "This is the third year that we are giving out this award. Bengaluru won the award in the first year while Pune received it last year," Times of India quoted a PETA officer as saying. Vegan-friendly eateries and clothing stores such as The Alternate, Monkstory have become very popular in the city where collectives of compassionate people such as 'Tamil Vegan Movement' and 'Vegans of Chennai' could be found. Besides, a vegan adventure tour company 'VegVoyage' too conducts potluck dinners in the city. "Global interest in the vegan lifestyle has never been higher, and Chennai is leading the country in responding to it," PETA India CEO Dr Manilal Valliyate was quoted as saying by the Times of India. By Online Desk An IndiGo pilot made sure his mother and grandmother's maiden flight journey was one they would remember all their lives. In a video shared on social media, pilot Pradeep Krishnan is seen touching his mother's and grandmother's feet before he flew them from Chennai Singapore on their first ever flight. Ahead of flying the plane, Krishnan is seen making his way through the plane before finally reaching his family. He then touches their feet and takes their blessing before making his way back to the cockpit. According to media reports, Krishnan's mother and grandmother had vowed to never to get on a flight unless he was flying it. Krishnan's friend, who shared it on Facebook, called it a 'dream come true' for the pilot. "Have come a long way from 2007 when we first started to fly. 11 years since we first flew as student pilots," he said. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Four people were killed and one sustained burn injuries in a fire that broke out at a small factory unit running illegally in central Delhis Karol Bagh on Monday afternoon.According to the Delhi Fire Service officials, the fire in Beandonpura, which broke out after a solvent used for laundering clothes spilled out on the floor accidentally, was reported at 12.22 pm. Two fire tenders doused the flames in less than an hour. The victims were about to iron clothes and were putting solvent in a container when it spilled on the floor and came in contact with the steam iron, triggering the fire, said a fire service official. The deceased were identified as Asha (40), Aarti (20), Bhagan Prasad (55) and Ram Naresh (40). Ajeet, 25, was admitted to a private hospital. Later, a shocked Lakshmi recollected how she saw her neighbour Asha talking to a woman in the neighbourhood on Monday morning. Asha, 40, was one of the four people killed in the fire. Asha and Aarti would come and sit on the small verandah outside my house every day. I would help them with the jeans stitches. We would drink tea together. We would usually talk about everyday things. I saw Asha talk to a woman in the locality in the morning outside the factory, said Lakshmi. I still cannot believe I will not see the duo. In Karol Baghs congested Gaffar market, houses stand in close proximity in lane number 14. Manju, who stays in a house adjoining the one where the fire broke out in a factory, said there was a commotion a little after noon. I saw the deceased pass by our house every day. After noon, we heard a commotion and heard that there was a fire. People rushed to the rescue, but little could be done. We could hear the victims crying for help, she said. A police constable said the neighbours tried to help the victims by bringing a ladder to the spot. The window got jammed. Despite repeated efforts, locals were unable to break the window. By the time things were brought under control, it was too late. Factory owner arrested: Delhi Police The Delhi Police arrested Ajay Khuranna, the owner of the factory unit. The 700 square feet five-storey building was built 25 to 30 years ago and had only one exit. On the first floor, there was a pressing workshop and on other floors, there were other small factories. A case under Section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC was lodged. By PTI NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia approached the Delhi High Court Tuesday challenging a trial court's order directing that prosecution in the Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash assault case be conducted by an officer of Delhi Police not below the rank of ACP. Kejriwal and Sisodia, who have been summoned as accused in the assault case, also challenged the order permitting two advocates to conduct the prosecution on behalf of the officer of Delhi Police, instead of regular public prosecutor. The trial court had on October 22 allowed the plea of Prakash seeking direction to conduct the prosecution through the counsel nominated by the Delhi Police and not through lawyers empanelled by the AAP government. The plea of Kejriwal and Sisodia was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and V K Rao in the post-lunch session which allowed it to listed for hearing before the concerned bench on November 22. The plea has been listed for hearing before Justice Najmi Waziri. The criminal case relates to alleged assault on Prakash during a meeting at Kejriwal's official residence on February 19. Prakash was recently transferred and will now be the Additional Secretary in the Department of Telecom. The plea in the high court sought direction to set aside the order of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) and that the prosecution in the case be allowed to be conducted by the public prosecutor before the trial court. "The impugned order is otherwise based on conjunctures and surmises and is liable to be set aside," the petition claimed. The plea has arrayed as parties Delhi government through standing counsel (Delhi Police) and Anshu Prakash. The trial court, in its October 22 order, had also asked the investigating agency to supply the copies of charge sheet and documents to the officer appointed so that he could conduct the prosecution. "Further, Siddharth Aggarwal and V Madhukar Advocates are permitted to conduct the prosecution on behalf of the officer of Delhi Police so appointed in this regard," it said. The ACMM had said let the Delhi Police Commissioner assign the prosecution of this case to some officer not below the rank of Additional Commissioner of Police. Prakash had told the trial court that the Delhi Police had nominated three well reputed and experienced counsel for appointment as Special Public Prosecutors and their consents had also been obtained. Despite recommendation by the officers of the Home Department, the request of the Delhi Police was rejected by the Home Minister, GNCTD on grounds that the case did not disclose any special features, he had said. The plea was opposed by the Delhi Police in the trial court claiming that the complainant (Prakash) has not shown any "actual bias" but only an unfounded apprehension of bias and the other cases of similar accused persons have been conducted regular prosecutors and no bias has been reported. On October 25, Kejriwal, Sisodia and nine other AAP MLAs were granted bail by the trial court in the assault case. The other two MLAs, Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal, who are also accused were earlier arrested in the case and granted bail by the high court. The alleged assault had triggered a bitter tussle between the Delhi government and its bureaucrats. Ramananda Sengupta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Australian High Commission has put out an alert after an Indian national was arrested in Sydney on charges of masterminding a marriage visa scam that targeted communities from South Asia. Jagjit Singh, 32, is accused of being the main facilitator of the scam and was charged with arranging four fake marriages for obtaining permanent residency, the High Commission said in a release. According to the Australian Border Force (ABF), a total of 164 partner visa applications were refused after they were found to be linked with Singhs syndicate. Four others appeared in court for allegedly convincing Australian citizens to marry the prospective partner willing to pay money for the partner visa, which would grant them permanent residency. They were charged under the Migration Act and Criminal code. The charge Singh faces carries a maximum penalty of up to $210,000 and/or, 10-year imprisonment. The matter was adjourned until January 8, 2019. ABF Commander Clinton Sims said such scams generally target young women, mostly from disadvantaged and low socio-economic backgrounds, as they are desperate to stay in Australia and generally pay a significant sum of money for such arrangements. Those seeking a visa through a contrived marriage also need to understand that paying a facilitator will not buy them a permanent visa pathway. There is rarely any financial recourse in the event that their partner visa application is unsuccessful. Protecting the integrity of the visa system is an operational priority for the ABF and anyone found to be involved in, or facilitating sham marriages should expect to be investigated and face criminal prosecution, he said. An Indian official said the government has taken steps to check such scams, which involve the people promising citizenship not just for Australia, but also the US, Canada, and New Zealand, and to a smaller extent, some European nations. We work closely with local authorities whenever Indians are involved, but even if the perpetrators are arrested, it is very difficult for the victims who sometimes invest their lifes savings in the hope of getting a permanent residency or citizenship, she said. We constantly monitor immigration agents who sometimes guarantee citizenship in return for huge sums of money, and then fail to deliver. In February last year, a Queensland couple was jailed over a similar scam after being found guilty of organising 16 sham marriages, mostly involving Indian men desperate to stay in Australia. By Online Desk Delhi has been put on high alert after intelligence agencies have informed that two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists are in the city and may seek to carry out an attack. The warning comes two days after the grenade attack in Amritsar, where three people were killed and at least 20 were injured. According to a Hindustan Times Report, Delhi Police have released a photo where the two men are seen leaning on a milestone that reads Firozpur 9km and Delhi 360km. The police are keeping a check on all the hotels, lodges and guesthouse that have foreign customers. They have also stepped up vigilance at the entry points to the city. "Anybody who spots them is requested to call Paharganj police station on 011-23520787 or 011-2352474", the advisory read. The posters of the two terrorists have also been put around the city. Punjab was put on high alert five days earlier that six or seven Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists are "planning to move towards Delhi" from the state. Police commissioners and district police chiefs have been put on alert following the input, according to a letter issued by the Punjab Inspector General of Police (Counter Intelligence) office. The letter stated that "according to an input, a group of 6-7 JeM terrorists are reportedly in Punjab, India (possibly in Ferozepur area) and are planning to move towards Delhi from Punjab side. " The letter has been sent to all police officials in Punjab. They have been asked to set up checkpoints at all important routes, conduct strict vehicle inspection and take suitable countermeasures for all sensitive locations, it stated. The letter stated that police areas along the India-Pakistan border have been asked to coordinate with the Border Security Force (BSF). The officers have been advised to plan and implement precautionary measures to thwart any untoward incident, it said. (With Inputs from Agencies) Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Delhiites can breathe and drive with some ease from Monday onwards as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 83-km Kundli-Manesar stretch of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway in neighbouring Gurugram.With more than 50,000 trucks, which are among the major polluting vehicles, bypassing Delhi on its western border, green advocates expect a discernible drop in the levels of air pollution in the National Capital. In fact, Modi himself drew the notice of the crowds about the KMP Expressways benefit to Delhi while addressing Jan the Vikas Rally at Gurgrams Sultanpur village. This expressway will also help reduce pollution in Delhi and neighbouring areas to a great extent, he said. Vehicles heading to other states will now no more need to enter Delhi, he said, adding it would considerably reduce the number of vehicles in the National Capital. I congratulate the people of Haryana and Delhi-NCR. Now, a network of nearly 270 km of expressways around Delhi is complete. The Mondays inauguration also means that the completion of the entire stretch of the KMP Expressway. The first stretch from Manesar to Palwal (52 km) was inaugurated in April 2016. Besides five state highways, the six-lane expressway is connected with four National Highways: NH-1 near Kundli; NH-10 near Bahadurgarh; NH 8 at Manesar and NH-2 near Palwal. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the 3.2 km-long Ballabhgarh-Mujesar Metro rail link, which would facilitate travel for the people of Delhi, and Haryana. The Delhi Metros network now reached 317km. Ballabhgarh is now the fourth city in Haryana to get Metro connectivity. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service AIZAWL: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the BJP was riding piggyback on the Mizo National Front (MNF) to make an entry into Mizoram even as he charged the saffron party with destroying institutions such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Election Commission. I am absolutely certain the BJP-RSS is aiming at destroying the Mizos history, culture, language and everything. I am sad to see the MNF colluding with the BJP-RSS and allowing them to have a foothold in Mizoram. By working with the BJP, the MNF is damaging your culture and your attempt to build a prosperous Mizoram, Gandhi told people at a rally in Aizawl. The Congress in the state claims the BJP has a tacit understanding with the MNF and some smaller regional parties and it is helping them in every possible way this election. The BJP is a partner of the MNF in non-Congress conglomerate of political parties North East Democratic Alliance. However, both are going it alone in the polls. Mizoram is the last Congress-ruled state of the Northeast. The BJP has its presence in all other governments in the region. They (BJP) know they are not going to win another (2019) election as people will reject them. So, they are trying to infiltrate their people into every institution, be it the Planning Commission, judiciary or the educational system. Merit no longer matters. If you are a member of the RSS, you can become the vice chancellor of a university or the governor of a state. The only thing you have to follow is what they believe. They have destroyed the CBI, RBI and the Election Commission, Gandhi alleged. He assured the voters that the Congress would fight the BJP-RSS and protect the identity, culture, history and languages of the people of Mizoram. He said the Mizos, not Nagpur, would decide the future of Mizoram. The Congress president told the voters: I am your representative in Delhi. I will not make any false promises like Prime Minister Narendra Modi who spoke about giving Rs.15 lakh to everyone. Gandhi accused the PM of robbing public money and using it to buy publicity and slammed him on issues such as the Rafale deal, farmers suicides etc. He recalled Mizorams road to peace saying I am reminded of my visit to Mizoram in 1987 with my father when peace was beginning to settle here (after a 20-year-long insurgency movement). He (Rajiv Gandhi) toured by car. He had promised to the people that he will deliver a peaceful Mizoram. I am proud to say that Mizoram is today not just peaceful but one of the most progressive states in the country. By UNI HYDERABAD: In a huge setback to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) ahead of Assembly election on December 7, Party MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy resigned from the party on Tuesday. He sent his three-page resignation letter to the Telangana Bhavan, the party headquarters in Banjara Hills area of the city. Mr Reddy, who represents the Chevella Lok Sabha constituency, said that in the last two-odd years, the TRS was moving away from the people and the government too was not accessible to the people. He said the party workers who sacrificed a lot during the agitation for separate Telangana were being sidelined and loyal party workers were also not given due importance in the party. By PTI NEW YORK: 'Stranger Things' star Millie Bobby Brown has been named UNICEF's youngest-ever Goodwill Ambassador. The appointment was marked on World Children's Day at United Nations Headquarters and the Empire State Building in New York. ALSO READ | 'Stranger Things' star Millie Bobby Brown TIME's youngest most Influential person "It's a dream come true to become a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. It's a huge honour to join such an impressive list of people who have supported UNICEF over the years. I am looking forward to meeting as many children and young people as I can, hearing their stories, and speaking out on their behalf," Brown, 14, said in a press release shared on UNICEF's official website. As a Goodwill Ambassador, Brown will use her global platform to raise awareness of children's rights and issues affecting young people, such as poor education, violence, bullying and poverty. Brown has supported UNICEF's work since 2016, hosting its 70th-anniversary celebrations at the United Nations in 2016, and championing UNICEF's inaugural World Children's Day last year. ALSO READ | Millie Bobby Brown leaves Twitter following cyberbullying She joins a list of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors including Muzoon Almellehan, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, Jackie Chan, Priyanka Chopra, Danny Glover, Ricky Martin, Leo Messi, Liam Neeson, Shakira and Lilly Singh. "I'm delighted to welcome Millie to the UNICEF family, particularly on World Children's Day -- a day that is all about giving children and young people a voice. Children are their own best advocates. I know that Millie will use her passion and dedication to defend the rights of vulnerable children and young people everywhere," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. By IANS MUMBAI: After Maharashtra, megastar Amitabh Bachchan will pay off loans of farmers in Uttar Pradesh and will personally meet some of them to give them their bank letters. He will arrange for 70 farmers to travel to Mumbai and receive their bank letters, his spokesperson has said. The superstar will be taking care of 1,398 farmer loans from Uttar Pradesh amounting to over Rs 4.05 crore. ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone most influential Indians Amitabh has done an 'OTS: One Time Settlement with Bank Of India' and cleared the farmer's loans with the bank. He has also invited 70 farmers to Mumbai by blocking an entire train compartment for their travel, to personally give them their bank letters on November 26. The farmers will receive their bank letters by Big B at his office here. When approached, his official spokesperson confirmed: "Yes, Mr Bachchan has cleared the loans of 1398 farmers from Uttar Pradesh. He had earlier paid off the loans of Maharashtra's farmers. And now he has done so for the debted farmers of UP. Around 70 farmers have been chosen to personally travel and receive the bank letters directly from Mr Bachchan in Mumbai, clearing their outstanding dues." ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan's son AbRam convinced Amitabh Bachchan is his grandfather Earlier this year, the "Paa" star, who is in Baroda to accept Sayaji Ratna Award, helped over 350 farmers by paying off their debts and also helped the families of around 44 martyrs of Maharashtra. Amitabh and his wife Jaya handed over the amount to the farmers and army martyrs families privately in Mumbai a few months ago. By ANI MUMBAI: Newly-weds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on Tuesday jetted off to Bengaluru where the couple will host a wedding reception on November 21. DeepVeer (as they are lovingly called by their fans) were spotted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in the morning. The Mr and Mrs looked elated as they posed for the media outside the airport. Deepika looked resplendent in a beige anarkali and sported a choora and also wore sindoor. The 'Simmba' star, on the other hand, donned a white kurta pajama which he teamed with a floral nehru jacket. After Deepika's hometown, the couple will host their wedding reception in Mumbai at The Grand Hyatt on November 28, which will be attended by their industry friends. The invite of the Mumbai reception reads, "Please join us at a reception to celebrate the wedding of our son Ranveer and Deepika." Deepika and Ranveer took off for their destination wedding on November 3. They tied the knot in Lake Como, Italy 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. Left: DeepVeer's Sindhi ceremony and on right, them during their Konkani wedding. After their dreamy destination wedding, the two returned to Mumbai on Sunday when they were swarmed by ardent fans and scores of media persons as soon as they stepped out of the Mumbai airport. On October 21, the couple had announced their wedding on social media. "With the blessings of our families, it gives us immense joy in sharing that our wedding is set to take place on the 14th and 15th of November, 2018. We thank you for all the love you have showered upon us over the years and seek your blessings as we embark on this incredible journey of love, loyalty, friendship and togetherness. Lots of love, Deepika and Ranveer," read the statement. By Express News Service In a recent press conference in Dubai, actor Mohanlal has said that the #Metoo movement is a fashionable trend and that it will have a lifespan for a short while. Mohanlal said, "Theres no big problem in the Malayalam industry. You shouldnt think of the #MeToo as a movement actually. Its a fad and its turning into something of a fashion." He later added that he doesn't know much about the movement and cannot comment on it without experiencing a sexual assault. ALSO READ: AR Rahman responds to Me Too movement The actor, who is the chairman of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), said that he is being unfairly targeted when asked about AMMA's indifference to the questions raised by the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). "In Kerala, people are aware of the organisation. But outside Kerala, they dont know if its AMMA or Mohanlal saying it. Suddenly, they assume that I have done something wrong. AMMA is an association and fortunately or unfortunately, I am the president of that association. We have around 450 people in this association whom we support by giving them Rs 5000 a month. Its not easy to support so many people. We are constructing many houses for people in our industry. Its a beautiful fraternity. Its a small association of artists. So, when anything happens they will target us first." Recently, the WCC conducted a press meet in which its members Revathy, Parvathy, Rima Kallingal, Ramya Nambeesan, and Anjali Menon lambasted AMMA for not heeding their demands. They also pointed out the fact that Dileep, an accused in a sexual assault case, is still getting offers in the Malayalam film industry while the victim has been completely sidelined. (This article was originally published in Cinema Express) On his Facebook official page, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed congratulations to Egyptians on the occasion of the birth of Prophet Muhammad. The president expressed felicitations for "the day of the birth of the one who freed minds, and the light of hearts. His life was a history of great generosity and tenderness and sacrifice for those who were not yet born. "The earth shone with light on the day of his birth, mercy came to the world, may you have a great year and be blessed on the occasion of the birth of the master of all creatures, our master Muhammad peace be upon him," El-Sisi said in commemoration of a great leader and a loving prophet. Tuesday marks the Prophets birthday, which is a holiday widely celebrated across the Islamic world. In Egypt, colorful displays cover the sides of sweet shops and bakeries, with sweet horses and dolls sold to celebrate the anniversary. Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI GURUGRAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed the previous Congress regime in Haryana for creating "obstacles" and "delaying projects" which he said caused loss to the state as he inaugurated the Kundli-Manesar section of the KMP Expressway. He also inaugurated the 3.2 km-long Ballabhgarh-Mujesar Metro rail link, which would facilitate travel for the people of Delhi and Faridabad and laid the foundation stone of the Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, which will come up at Dudhola in Palwal district. Addressing a public gathering in Sultanpur later, Modi said with the inauguration of the KMP project, Ballabhgarh-Mujesar rail link and the foundation stone of the skill varsity being laid, Haryana has taken one more step towards all-round development. "Today's day is important for Haryana." He said with the inauguration of the Kundli-Manesar section, the entire 135 km stretch of the KMP has been completed. Taking a dig at the previous Congress regime without naming it, Modi, while referring to the KMP project, said today's occasion is to remember two pictures -- one when a work is done and completed with determination, which he said is reflective of his government, on the other hand second picture shows and reminds us of how work was done during the previous regime. "That picture reminds us that work on this expressway had been going on for 12 years. This project should have been completed 8-9 years ago, but it did not happen," he said. "Atkana, bhatkana aur latkana wale sanskriti mein (the culture of creating obstacles, misguiding and delaying). Haryana ka, janta ka kitna nuksan kiya hai (caused loss to the people)," he said taking a veiled dig at the Congress. Modi said the KMP project was to be completed much earlier and used during the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, but that did not happen. Blaming the previous regime over the KMP project, he said the cost had escalated manifold from Rs 1,200 crore earlier. The prime minister said while the KMP Expressway and the metro rail link projects will help in bringing revolution in connectivity, the university will empower youth at the same time. Modi said when the NDA government had come to power, he himself took meetings pertaining to this project and did regular follow-ups with the present Haryana government. The prime minister, on his arrival at Sultanpur village in this district, went around visual art exhibition pertaining to the KMP project. Modi was briefed by the officials about the project. The inaugurations and foundation-laying functions were done by the prime minister through remote from Sultanpur village of the district. Earlier, Manesar to Palwal stretch of the KMP, whose entire length is 135.65 km, had been opened for public use, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on the occasion. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana has blamed the previous Congress regime for the delay in the KMP project, which they claimed should have been completed nearly nine years ago. Modi was accompanied by Khattar, Union ministers Rao Inderjit Singh, who is a Gurgaon MP, and Birender Singh. Haryana Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya was also present on the occasion. A sum of Rs 6,400 crore has been spent on the expressway project and 3,846 acres of land was acquired at a cost of Rs 2,788 crore, a Haryana government spokesperson said. The length of the stretch from Kundli to Manesar is over 83 km. This stretch would have 14 major or minor bridges, 56 underpass or agricultural vehicular underpasses, seven intersections and seven toll plazas. The expressway will decongest the road traffic from Delhi, especially reducing the number of trucks entering the national capital, helping reduce the pollution. Besides, the project will also provide high-speed link between northern Haryana and southern districts and provide uninterrupted high-speed link for traffic, especially commercial traffic, from Haryana to neighbouring states. The prime minister inaugurated the Rs 580 crore Metro link, at Sultanpur village in the district. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Tempers are running high among senior professors at IIT-Kanpur after the police registered an FIR against four professors under various sections of IPC and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following a complaint from a Dalit assistant professor in the aerospace engineering department. In his complaint, made at Kalyanpur police station in Kanpur, Subramanyam Saderla accused the four professorsIshan Sharma, Sanjay Mittal, Rajeev Shekhar and Chandrashekhar Upadhyayaof harassment. He claimed that the senior colleagues made casteist remarks against him and spread misinformation through e-mail about his PhD degree. Saderla had submitted the complaint around two weeks ago at the police station. After finding the charges to be true, the police lodged the FIR on Sunday night under Section 500 of IPC (Punishment for defamation), Section 66 D of the IT Act (Punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resource), and the SC/ST Act, said Superintendent of Police (west) Sanjeev Suman. Some of the senior faculty members are chalking out a strategy to handle the situation, said a highly placed source in IIT-K. He added that the four professors were willing to reach a compromise, but Saderla wanted to send them to jail. There could be a sort of revolt among the professors if four of their colleagues are sent to jail, said the source. Prof Rajeev Shekhar is now the director of Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, Prof Mittal and Prof Upadhyaya are members of the faculty in the aerospace engineering department, and Ishan Sharma teaches mechanical engineering. In his complaint, Saderla said that he had applied for a job in July 2017 and was given his appointment letter on December 28, 2017, after clearance from external experts. He joined IIT-K as an assistant professor on January 1, 2018. Saderla, an alumnus of IIT-Kanpur, claimed that soon after his induction, during a conference on January 4, 2018, Prof Sanjay Mittal ridiculed him over his caste. He, along with three others, created the impression that Saderla had been appointed assistant professor in the prestigious institution due to the benefits of the SC/ST quota and not his competence. Saderla raised the issue with the then officiating director of IIT-K, Prof Manindra Agarwal, who set up a four-member probe panel to ascertain the veracity of the accusation against the senior professors. Sources said that the probe team found the senior professors guilty of the charge and the matter was referred to the institutions board of governors. The board found them guilty of mental torture and intimidation. Meanwhile, Saderla approached the SC/ST commission with his complaint. The commission heard the case on April 10, 2018 and passed orders against the four professors. However, the accused professors moved the High Court and a obtained a stay on the orders. By IANS AMRITSAR: The Punjab Police have detained a few people having links to separatist organisations in connection with Sunday's grenade attack on a prayer meeting of the Nirankari sect in Amritsar, police sources said on Tuesday. The Sikh hardliner elements were detained in raids conducted by various teams of the state police at different places, including in Amritsar and Bathinda districts. The police have not, however, officially confirmed or denied the detentions. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora had earlier said that a "local hand" could be behind the grenade attack. Three persons were killed and 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne youths threw a grenade at a religious congregation in Adliwal village in Rajasansi area, about 15 km from Amritsar, on Sunday. All victims were sect followers from nearby villages who had gathered for the weekly religious meeting. Police officials told IANS that various leads were being followed in the grenade attack case to nab the culprits. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said the attack seemingly carried "Pakistan's signature", with initial probe indicating the grenade used was similar to the ones being manufactured by the Pakistani Army Ordinance factory. "Prima facie, this appears to be an act of terror by separatist forces, organised with the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terrorist groups. "My government has taken serious note of the incident and is aggressively pursuing all angles of investigation," he said. He also announced Rs 50 lakh as reward for any information leading to the arrest of the assailants. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and forensic experts were helping in the investigations. The Chief Minister has said Sunday's attack was a clear case of terrorism and there was no religious connection to it. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Day after a grenade blast in Punjabs Amritsar left three people dead, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh took stock of the security situation in the country. The home minister directed security officials to provide all assistance to the Punjab government in their investigation to nab the perpetrators of the blast, which also left 20 people injured. Singh held a meeting with officers of security agencies and senior officials of the ministry during which the officials briefed the home minister on the explosion at a religious gathering on Sunday. The Punjab Police has already gone on record saying that they are treating the incident as an act of terror. Singh was told that a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has already visited the blast site along with explosive experts. Among the three killed in the grenade attack was a preacher. Reports said two men on a motorcycle lobbed a grenade on a religious congregation in the outskirts of Amritsar. The incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavans prayer hall at Adliwal village near Amritsars Rajasansi, police said. A religious congregation was being conducted inside the Bhavan at the time of the incident. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: As the clamour for Ram temple is gaining ground with right-wing outfits holding a 'Dharma Sabha' in Ayodhya on Sunday, the debate over the vexed issue took a curious turn on Tuesday when Babri Masjid main litigant Iqbal Ansari extended his support to the demand to bring an ordinance for temple construction at the disputed land in the temple town. Exhorting the political parties to stop politicisation of the issue, Ansari, son of late Hashim Ansari who was the first litigant in the case, claimed that he would welcome any law brought by the government to facilitate the temple in Ayodhya but the atmosphere of the country should not be vitiated by the stakeholders. Ansari now represents his father in the case pending in Supreme Court. "I don't have any problem with the law if the government wants bring one through Parliament. My only concern is the politics being played over the issue by certain organisations and politicians who are whipping up passions for political gains even while the matter is pending with the Supreme Court," said Ansari. He also expressed apprehensions over the possibility of something untoward which may take place during the religious build-ups like Dharam Sabha of VHP. He also conveyed his fears over the security of the minority community in the temple town in the wake of the congregation of lakhs of Hindus for VHP's Dharma Sabha on Sunday. This is a U-turn taken by Ansari who had been reiterating his stand in favour of court's verdict over the issue. Recently, amidst the demand for the law being raised by none other than RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and seconded by a number of right-wing organisations, Ansari had clarified that he would neither support any 'out-of-court' settlement of the vexed issue nor would he favour an ordinance for the temple construction. "We will abide only by the order delivered by the Supreme Court to settle the dispute," he had claimed a week ago. Ansari had also expressed concern about his own and his family's security during the Dharam Sabha and had even threatened to leave the temple town before November 25 if his security was not upgraded. He had then claimed that minorities were not safe in Ayodhya in the presence of such a huge gathering of majority community for dharma sabha. While speaking on the issue on Tuesday, Ansari appealed the majority government at the state and the Centre to take some concrete steps in order to settle the issue for once and all and end the stalemate. "We are the law abiding citizens of the country and if a law will be brought to end the Ayodhya dispute, we will welcome it. We will support any ordinance over the issue but peace and harmony should prevail in the country," maintained Ansari. He added that the issue had been pending for so long and now it should be permanently resolved. Meanwhile, Ansari's Tuesday stand was supported by Ram Temple chief priest Swami Satendra Das. "I welcome Ansari's stand. The government should now bring a law and commence temple construction at the birthplace of Lord Ram who is relegated to a tent for ages," said Satendra Das. "Iqbal Ansari's father Hashim Ansari wanted to come to a compromise but unfortunately, it didn't materialise. So, it is good that Iqbal Ansari has come onboard to support the construction of Ram Mandir. I hope the government now steps up their efforts to build the Ram Mandir," Das said. Santwana Bhattacharya By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Holding primaries within the Congress was one of Rahul Gandhis aborted ideas. Conceived ostensibly to promote inner-party democracy, in reality, it was a euphemism for a proposed process to cut the clutter of rival candidates in a party famous for defeating itself from within. In the crucial upcoming polls, in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in particular, the duality of the leadership is a case in point. Kaun banega mukhya mantri wholl the CM in the event of a Congress win? Not that infighting is confined to the Congress. In the BJP, too, there are quips galore on the theory that incumbent Vasundhara Raje may be faced with a Prem Kumar Dhumal-like situation in Rajasthan (who, as a contesting CM, had lost his own seat in the Himachal polls last year). But, in the Congress, its on another plane altogether. Young Rajasthan PCC chief Sachin Pilot, breaking a long tradition of his party, is contesting from Tonk, a seat with a sizeable Muslim population. But Pilot, who has not hidden his chief ministerial ambitions, is not only up against the BJPs Yunus Khan in that seat. His real contest is with party old guard and former CM Ashok Gehlot, who, too, has joined the fray from Sardarpur, keeping intact his chances of having another go at the CMs post. By Express News Service MUMBAI: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is likely to be interrogated in connection with the ongoing Elgaar Parishad case, after it was alleged that a letter sent by Comrade Prakash to Adv Surendra Gadling, an accused in the case, had reference to Singhs number, saying he could be of help if need be. BJP MLA from Kandivali Atul Bhatkhalkar raised the issue on Monday. Ive handed over a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a thorough inquiry into the alleged involvement of the Congress leader into the Elgaar Parishad case, Bhatkhalkar said after his meeting with the CM. Bhatkalkar also said he has asked the CM to ensure the inquiry was completed before the end of the winter session of the state legislature on November 30. Countering the charge against his senior party colleague, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the Pune police was helping the ruling party with an eye on the upcoming Madhya Pradesh polls. Ramananda Sengupta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India and Russia signed a deal to produce two Admiral Grigorovich class frigates for $500 million at New Delhi on Tuesday. The two ships will be manufactured at Goa Shipyard Limited under licence and transfer of technology from Russia. The deal comes less than a month after India okayed the purchase of two such frigates directly from Russia for $ 950 million. It also comes soon after India okayed the purchase of the S-400 air defence system, defying the threat of US sanctions on entities that buy weapons from Russia under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or CAATSA. The Admiral Grigorovich class is a highly advanced and upgraded version of the six Talwar class frigates which the Indian Navy already operates, and are configured for the supersonic BrahMos Cruise missile, apart from equipment like sensors and communication suites. While the two ships, being built at the Yantar shipyard in Kalinigrad, are expected to arrive in by 2022-23, the two, to be made in Goa, are scheduled to be commissioned in 2027. However, there are concerns already over possible cost and time overruns. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRI NAGAR: Four militants belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen and a para-commando were killed in a gunfight with the forces in a village in south Kashmirs Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir. Two soldiers were also injured in the exchange of fire. A police officer said police, CRPF and army men launched a search operation in Nadigam village of Shopian district in the wee hours of Tuesday after receiving credible inputs about the presence of militants there. As the search operation was going on, the militants hiding in the area fired on the search party. The troops returned fire, triggering a gun battle, the officer said. The official said in the ensuing gunfight, which continued till afternoon, four Hizb militants and a para-commando, Lance Havaldar Vijar Kumar, a resident of Sangwan at Haryanas Bhiwani, were killed. Two soldiers, who were also injured in the gunfight, were shifted to a military hospital where they are undergoing treatment. The slain militants were identified as Abid Nazir Chopan, Basharat Nengroo, Mehraj-ud-Din Najar and Malik Zada Inam-ul-Haq, all residents of Shopian.They were involved in attacks on security establishments, the officer said. After the gunfight started, locals attempted to march towards the encounter site. However, they were intercepted by the forces, who fired pellets and resorted to baton charge. By PTI JAMMU: Two soldiers were injured after Pakistani troops fired mortar shells and from small arms on areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, prompting authorities to close schools in some places. Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and fired from small arms on places in Poonch sector's Figwar and Malti areas. One shell also landed in Poonch town, officials said. One army man suffered injuries and was hospitalised, they said. In another incident in Laam belt of Rajouri district's Nowshera sector, a soldier was injured in sniper fire from across the border, the officials said, adding that he has been hospitalised. Following the ceasefire violations, schools in several places along the LoC were shut for the day, they said. These include schools in Degwar, Ajote, Malti and Karmara areas, they said. Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawki Allam met on Tuesday with a high-level British delegation led by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the minister of state for the Commonwealth and United Nations, to discuss enhancing religious cooperation between Egypt's Dar Al-Iftaa and Britain, particularly in regards to combating extremism, terrorism, and Islamophobia. During his meeting with the British delegation, Allam stressed that cooperation among world nations in fighting terrorism and extremism has become a necessity as the phenomenon threatens everyone, not just one state or region. The Mufti discussed efforts exerted by Egypts Dar Al-Iftaa which is responsible for issuing religious edicts (fatwas) in confronting the extremist ideas and correcting false fatwas issued by extremist groups. Lord Ahmad praised Dar Al-Iftaas efforts and the diverse and creative mechanisms used to confront extremist ideas. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has been calling for renewing religious discourse over the past few years. He has also stressed that the war against terrorism must include an intellectual and cultural dimension to help correct distorted interpretations of Islam. In 2017, El-Sisi said that a "new council will be created to take charge of reforming religious discourse and fighting extremist ideas in a systematic way, as well as drying up the sources of the terrorists' funding." Search Keywords: Short link: By Online Desk In a first for an Indian academic, Professor Shyama Prasad Ganguly, a well-known Hispanist who has headed the Centre for Spanish and Latin American Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University five times, has been awarded the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest civilian honour given to a foreigner by Mexico. Ganguly was decorated with the striking gold-yellow insignia by Mexican Ambassador Melba Pria at a ceremony in the India International Center (IIC) on November 19. The award was in recognition of his "outstanding work in the study and dissemination of the Spanish language and Mexican culture". Describing him as "a pillar of this work", Ambassador Pria said Ganguly belonged to that first generation of a handful of Indian academics who "actually made everybody else interested in Spanish". He has authored, edited and translated over 25 books in an academic career spanning 40 years. "We built an edifice almost from scratch, but it will need more cementing from present and future scholars. I hope this award will pave the way for greater attention to India-Mexico and Indo-Latin American studies," Ganguly said after his conferment. The award ceremony followed a seminar on late Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz, who had constantly endeavoured to create bridges between India and his country. Ganguly has been involved in teaching and research in the area of Spanish and Latin American studies as well as Comparative and Reception studies at JNU from 1978 onwards. He has guided PhD and MPhil research work as well and has also taught Economics at two colleges in the University of Delhi from 1967 to 1977 with focus on developmental perspectives of the third world countries. He has carried out studies on Indo-Hispanic relationship and published numerous books and research papers on the subject. He has edited and translated bilingual poetry anthologies in Spanish and Indian languages. He has delivered lectures all over the world and was awarded in many Latin American countries, including the Order of Merit for Distinguished Services from Peru. (This article originally appeared in www.edexlive.com) By Express News Service NEW DELHI: A furious Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Tuesday tore into the petitioners in the CBI leadership feud case for the purported leak of sensitive reports to the media and adjourned it to November 29 saying none of the parties deserved any hearing. His anger stemmed from the alleged leak of CBI Director Alok Vermas confidential reply to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which has been tasked by the court to investigate allegations against Verma by his deputy Rakesh Asthana. Our effort was to make sure individual officers are protected and so we asked for confidentiality. But we dont think any of you deserve a hearing, the CJI fumed. READ | CBI vs CBI: Alok Verma's lawyers enter into exchange of words in SC The CVC has filed its inquiry report in the court and Verma submitted his reply on Monday in a sealed cover. The court assumed it was this report that was leaked to the media. Senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, first shared the courts agony, but in a subsequent hearing clarified that the contents of the sealed envelope remain classified. What appeared in the media was Vermas response to a CVC questionnaire sent during the process of inquiry and not the final report, he explained. The portal echoed him in its tweet. But the bench refused to advance the hearing as one of the judges on the bench, Justice S K Kaul, will not be in the city for a few days. The bench also snapped at Vermas lawyers squabbling over seeking more time for filing their response on Monday. This court is not a platform for anybody to say anything they want. This is a place for adjudication of legal rights. Nariman had said he had not authorised Gopal Shankaranarayanan to seek more time on behalf of Verma on Monday. When Shankaranarayanan tried to put his point across, the CJI said: We are prepared to hear Mr Nariman only. We want this place clear. The court was also disturbed to see extensive reportage of the contents of the petition filed by CBI DIG M K Sinha on Monday. In his 34-page petition, he had mad a series of allegations against biggies like the National Security Advisor and a Union minister.Yesterday we refused the mentioning... We expressed that the highest degree of confidentiality be maintained but today we see the litigant has gone ahead and given everything to everybody, the bench remarked. Two hearings on the same case in a day The day began with an angry CJI handing over a copy of the purportedly leaked Verma report published in the media to Nariman and adjourning the case to November 29. When Nariman realised the report was not what was presented to the court, he sought to clarify. The CJI let him do so after hearing all other cases By PTI CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Police has found striking similarities between the modus operandi of the perpetrators of the grenade attack at a Nirankari congregation in Amritsar and the one allegedly planned by an ISI-backed terror module busted in Patiala early this month. The Punjab Police had nabbed on November 1 Shabnamdeep Singh alias Maninder Lahoria, who "confessed" to the police that he was asked by his Pakistani handlers to target police posts and crowded places during festivals. Besides a motorcycle, Lahoria was found in possession of a pistol and a hand grenade - the weapons used by the two perpetrators of the Sunday grenade attack, in which two motorcycle-borne assailants had barged into the Amritsar Nirankari Bhawan, brandishing a pistol and lobbed a grenade at devotees, pointed out police officials. Lahoria was also found having letter pads of "Khalistan Gadar Force" and other terror outfits, said police officials, probing the Amritsar grenade attack. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had Monday described the grenade attack as a suspected handiwork of the ISI-backed terror modules. Prima facie, this appears to be an act of terror by separatist forces, organised with the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terrorist groups, Singh had said. There are a lot of similarities between Amritsar grenade attack and what Lahoria had planned to do in the state, a senior official of Punjab police said Tuesday, adding Lahoria too had planned to spread terror by lobbing a hand grenade at a crowded place. Lahoria, who was arrested from Patiala, has confessed that he was getting instructions from his handlers in Pakistan and was promised Rs 10 lakh for each act of violence, the police official said. The Punjab police also suspect the involvement of Pakistan-based Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) leader Harmeet Singh alias 'PhD' in the Amritsar grenade attack. Harmeet Singh had been accused of radicalising youths in Punjab through social media, an official said. Pakistan-based handlers seek to radicalise youths here through the internet to incite them to spread terror in Punjab, the officials added. Initial investigations into the Amritsar case suggested the grenade used in the attack was similar to the ones manufactured by Pakistani army ordinance factories, the Punjab CM had said Monday, adding that the government has taken serious note of the incident and was "aggressively pursuing all angles of investigation". Asked if the police had been able to get any clue about the duo behind the Amritsar grenade attack, a police official said, We are on the job. The state government has already announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh for anyone providing information, leading to the duo's arrest. Radical outfit Dal Khalsa's spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh, meanwhile, claimed in Amritsar Tuesday that two persons - Paramjit Singh Mand and Gurjant Singh - have been asked to appear before police. While accusing the police of not following the legal procedure in summoning people, Kanwarpal Singh said the police came to their houses in wee hours of Tuesday and told them to appear before it. The Dal Khalsa spokesperson claimed Mand has been asked to appear before Batala SSP while Gurjant was taken in custody. He also claimed several more youths have been summoned by the police for questioning in connection with the grenade attack. The Bathinda police, meanwhile, inspected over 190 paying guest accommodations at Ajit Road to keep a check on anti-social elements. Nothing incriminating has been found, said Bathinda SSP Nanak Singh. He said two persons who were earlier detained during the checking were released after nothing suspicious was found on them. In Ludhiana, the Government Railway Police pasted posters of Zakir Musa, the chief of Jammu and Kashmir-based terror outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind with reported links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Earlier his posters were put up in Gurdaspur district. Last month, Punjab police had arrested three Kashmiri students of Jalandhar's CT Institute of Engineering, Management and Technology, allegedly linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. The police had also recovered weapons, including an assault rifle, from them. In the wake of Amritsar grenade attack, the Punjab Police has beefed up security arrangements in the state and stepped up highway-patrolling and checking of key installations and busy places. By PTI CHANDIGARH: The Special Investigation Team probing the police firing on mobs protesting the 2015 incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab has given Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar the option of appearing before it in Chandigarh instead of Amritsar on Wednesday. The Punjab Police SIT had earlier summoned Kumar to Amritsar circuit house on November 21. We have given him (Akshay Kumar) the freedom to appear here (in Chandigarh), SIT member and Inspector General of Police Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said Tuesday. Akshay, whose name figures in the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report on the desecration incidents, has already denied arranging any meeting between former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Dera Sacha Sauda sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The actor had also denied having ever met Sirsa-headquartered Dera's chief, who is currently serving a 20-year jail term in two rape cases. Kumar had issued the denial on November 12 after the SIT summoned him along with former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. It has come to my knowledge that some rumours and false statements are being loosely made on social media about my involvement with a person named Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the context of a fictitious meeting involving Sukhbir Singh Badal, Akshay had said in tweet. With all humility, I would like to state the following facts. I have never ever met Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in my life, anywhere. I learnt from social media at some point that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh resided for a while at some place in my locality Juhu in Mumbai but we never crossed each other's paths, Akshay had said on the micro-blogging site. The SIT has already questioned former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal in Chandigarh. Sukhbir told SIT members Monday that he had never met Akshay outside Punjab when asked if he had met the actor in Mumbai. The Justice Ranjit Singh commission report, which was tabled in the Punjab assembly in August, had referred to a letter written on October 9, 2017 to it by former MLA Harbans Jalal, claiming that the Dera chief and the former deputy CM had met at the actor's flat in Mumbai in 2015 to facilitate the release of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's movie 'MSG' in Punjab. The meeting was allegedly held before the Dera chief was pardoned in a blasphemy case. The movie MSG could not be released in Punjab in September 2015 because of an edict by the Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, against it. The summons had been issued in connection with the Bargari sacrilege case and the police firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura. The five-member SIT was set up by the state government in September this year, soon after issuance of the notification to withdraw investigation of sacrilege incidents of Guru Granth Sahib from CBI. By Express News Service BHOPAL: Union External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj announced on Tuesday that she wont contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The two time Lok Sabha member from Vidisha seat of the assembly poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Sushma Swaraj cited health concerns behind her decision to not contest the upcoming general elections. Talking to journalists in Indore, the former Delhi chief minister Swaraj said she had informed the partys top leadership about her decision, though it is the party leadership only which will take the final call over it. The 66-year-old senior BJP leader said she has to take maximum precautions, including avoiding dust, due to which she isnt addressing any open public meetings in election-bound MP and just staying confined to indoor party meetings. In December 2016, Swaraj had undergone kidney transplant at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, after which she has been taking maximum health-related precautions. Swaraj has been the Lok Sabha member from Vidisha since 2009. The Vidisha seat which neighbours Bhopal has been a BJP citadel since 1989. Before Swarajs two terms (2009 and 2014), the seat has been represented in the Lok Sabha by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee once, five times by present MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and two times by former MP finance minister Raghav ji. As Swaraj has been away from her constituency for over a year now, the opposition Congress has been making her absence in Vidisha a political issue. Posters questioning Swarajs absence from Vidisha have often been put up in Vidisha in the past by Congress workers. Located around 60 km from MP capital Bhopal, the Vidisha district along with seven other districts of MP has been listed by the NITI Ayog among the most backward districts of the country in March 2018. Swaraj is the second senior woman politician of BJP to have decided not to contest the LS polls. Earlier in February, another union minister and ex-MP CM Uma Bharti (presently Lok Sabha member from Jhansi in UP) had announced not contesting any elections for next three years due to health issues. Bharti, however, had clarified that she isnt retiring from politics. According to sources, the ruling BJP after Swarajs decision to not contest 2019 polls might render her a berth in the Rajya Sabha. By PTI PANAJI: Hundreds of people, including some Congress leaders, Tuesday evening marched to the private residence of ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, demanding his resignation, and a "full-time" CM in his place. The people, who came together under the banner of 'People's March For Restoration of Governance', marched for about 1 km, and gave an "ultimatum" of 48 hours to Parrikar to step down as chief minister. Apart from the Congress, other political parties including NCP and Shiv Sena also extended support to the protest march, which was initiated by social activists and NGOs. The protesters demanded Parrikar step down as the chief minister as he has been unwell. They said the governance in the state had suffered as Parrikar was ill and remained hospitalised for more than nine months. The police stopped the protest march 100 metres from the chief minister's private residence. Talking to reporters, Deputy Collector Shashank Tripathy said the chief minister refused to meet the protesters due to his ill-health. On behalf of the protesters, Aires Rodrigues, social activist and the leader of the protest march, gave an "ultimatum" of 48 hours to Parrikar to step down. "We need a full-time CM. For the last nine months, the state administration has collapsed. The CM is not meeting his own ministers and MLAs," Rodrigues said. He said the people who marched to the CM's residence had also come to check on his health condition. Rodrigues warned of launching a statewide agitation in case Parrikar does not step down within 48 hours. Congress leaders, including the party's Goa unit chief Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, MLAs Digambar Kamat, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Antonio Fernandes, Francis Silveira took part in the march. The Goa unit chief of Shiv Sena Jitesh Kamat said, "The people of the state are praying for the speedy recovery of the CM, but that does not mean he should continue to put the state administration on hold." The BJP's South Goa Lok Sabha MP Narendra Sawaikar took to Twitter to express displeasure and claimed some people were taking "pride" in demanding the resignation of a man who had "worked tirelessly to improve and raise life and education standards of Goans". "A statesman, person of integrity, 1st Goan to be a @DefenceMinIndia, envisioned and successfully executed infra projects, worked tirelessly to improve and raise life and education standards of Goans. As he is fighting his battle for life, some take pride in demanding his resignation," Sawaikar tweeted. Parrikar, 62, has been recuperating at his private residence since October 14 when he was discharged from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had earlier said Parrikar was suffering from pancreatic cancer. By PTI SONEGAON: The residents of villages surrounding the explosive demolition ground at Pulgaon town in Wardha district of Maharashtra, where an explosion claimed six lives on Tuesday, have been living in the grip of fear. The residents of Kelapur, Sonegaon, Chikni and Jamni villages, located close to the ordnance depot, say they are scared of living so close to the ammunition and blasts all the time. They feel living in these villages has become quite dangerous. Vandan Jadhav (46), a farmer from Kelapur village, which has a population of around 1,200 people, says he felt "terrorised" after the explosion on Tuesday. "The trucks carrying unserviceable ammunition pass through the roads located along our houses. We are compelled to think what if that ammunition blasts while being transported to the demolition ground," he said. "Due to the ammunition blasts, the walls of our houses have developed cracks. The utensils kept in the houses and the tin roofs start making noise due to the tremors created by the blasts," he said. According to Jadhav, around 10 blasts are carried out everyday and if the quantity of the ammunition is more, the number of blasts goes up. Manohar Bahote, employed as a contract labourer for loading and unloading ammunition, said, "We stay around 50 to 60 metres from the blast pit, which is around 6 feet deep. Once the blasts are over, we rush to the pit to collect the ammunition remains. We start at 5 am and the entire exercise continues till 10 am." "Although small incidents of blast occur routinely, today's incident has made us think about working and staying here. It is a very dangerous exercise," he said. "All the villagers are in a state of shock and fear after today's blast," he added. Another resident, Suryakant Borkar, said, "We are in a state of shock. We feel terrorised." At least six people were killed and 10 others injured in the explosion while ammunition was being unloaded by labourers for disposal. The blast took place between 7.10 am and 7.15 am at the explosive demolition ground near the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) at Pulgaon town, a defence official said. Spread over 1,200 acres of land in a radius of 28 kms is Asia's biggest ammunition depot, wherein outdated ammunition from the ordnance factory across the country are brought to be destroyed. Another Kelapur villager said around 100 to 200 casual labourers go to the demolition ground around 4 am everyday. "After the ammunition blasts, the labourers collect steel, copper and other metal remains. We earn around Rs 200 to Rs 300 daily and the work is undertaken Monday to Saturday here," the villager said. Villagers from Kelapur and Sonegaon alleged that the contractor does not give them wages on time and gives only 25 per cent of the collected metal to them, keeping the remaining 75 per cent to himself. The villagers said it was just a year back that the fence around the entire demolition ground was completed and the contractor was assigned three to four years back. "Before that, the Army used to load and unload the ammunition on its own and the villagers used to collect the remains," they said. "However, from the last four years the labourers working under the contractor do the loading and unloading work and collection of ammunition remains," he said. By Express News Service VISAKHAPATNAM: India and Singapore on Tuesday accepted the growing importance of international cooperation in tackling transnational security threats and agreed to take collective measures to tackle the threat of terrorism. In a joint statement issued at the end of the 25th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) here, Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Singapore counterpart Ng Eng Hen said that they had agreed to step up intelligence and information sharing, particularly in the areas of maritime security and counter terrorism and expand collaboration on submarine safety and rescue ops. Both the ministers also commended the progress in defence technology collaboration under the auspices of the lndia-Singapore Defence Technology Steering Committee and the India-Singapore Defence Industry Working Group. The renewal of the bilateral agreement for the conduct of joint Army training and exercises in India was the highlight of the agreement. This agreement provides an exhaustive framework for the conduct of joint training, involving the Singapore Armed Forces in India and further strengthens the cooperation between the two forces. Earlier in the day, Dr Ng attended the final sea phase of the SIMBEX on board INS Shakti. This multi-dimensional exercise witnessed participation of ships, submarines, as well as aircraft of both the sides and live firings at the sea. Both the ministers complimented all personnel, who took part in the milestone event, which was a testament to the long-standing ties between the armed forces of the two countries and made it successful. They also commended the conclusion of the Navy Implementing Arrangement Concerning Mutual Coordination, Logistics and Services Support in June 2018, which together with the Navy Bilateral Agreement concluded in November 2017, have expanded and deepened bilateral naval cooperation. Sitharaman affirmed Indias full support and active participation in the regional security architecture of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus and its many initiatives. As an ADMM Plus member, India supports the adoption of the guidelines for air-military encounters, she said. By Express News Service BENGALURU: With an assurance of dialogue with Chief Minister and a promise of an amicable solution, agitating farmers withdrew their protest on Monday but H D Kumaraswamy continued to question the point of protests. The Chief Minister is set to hold talks with all stakeholders, including sugar factory owners and farmers representatives overpayment of arrears to sugarcane growers on Tuesday. Industries minister K J George held talks with stakeholders on Monday and the discussions are expected to continue during Tuesdays meeting. The massive protest by farmers at the Freedom Park in the city and elsewhere in the state was called off after the government agreed to listen to their demands. A 29-point memorandum was submitted to the government voicing farmers concerns including implementation of loan waiver and fair support price. Despite farmers issuing a fresh deadline for the government to act, Kumaraswamy was bent on deeming the protests frivolous and uncalled for. He also hinted that the protests were being fanned by the opposition BJP. An emotional Kumaraswamy played the victim card once again and said he was being unfairly targeted despite doing everything he could for farmer welfare. Reiterating that he did not insult farmers, Kumaraswamy justified the remarks he made against agitating farmers on Sunday. If there is a single instance of me disrespecting women I will resign. Those who are assaulting my effigy with sickles are not farmers; my farmers respect me, Kumaraswamy said. He added that the BJP instead of sponsoring the protests should debate on the floor of the House. Kumaraswamy took exception to BJP calling for a core committee meeting on Tuesday to back the protests. Kumaraswamy said he would not give in to such intimidation tactics and asked farmers proof of their claim that over `450 crore were pending in arrears from sugar factory owners. Before I came to power, there were arrears of `2,000 crore. I personally held meetings to settle dues and now barely `35 crore of arrears are left. A few more factories have dues of `20 crore and arrears are not more than `58 crore in total. If farmers claim that arrears are more than that then they should come forward and provide details, he said adding that when compared to all other states, dues in Karnataka was merely 0.36%. Kumaraswamy repeatedly asked why he was being criticised despite his government waiving crop loans worth `45,000 crore. In complete defence of his bureaucracy, Kumaraswamy claimed that all officials had responded in time to farmers to address their concerns. He even gave out names of six sugar factories in Belagavi, Bagalkot, Bidar, Ballari and Kalaburagi districts that have pending arrears. Taking potshots at the Union government for failing to aid his governments loan waiver but choosing to mock it, Kumaraswamy said, Prime Minister says we have issued warrants to farmers instead of waiver. Let me remind him that it is the nationalised banks under his control that are issuing warrants. I am all set to announce `45,000 crore for loan waiver in the next budget, he said. Kumaraswamy minced no words in expressing his hurt at being criticised. By Express News Service KOCHI: In an attempt to curb the raging protest against the entry of young women to the hill shrine, a Navy helicopter has been deployed for aerial surveillance at Sabarimala on Monday. The state government has requested to provide a helicopter for aerial surveillance at Sabarimala due to security concerns. Accordingly we deployed a helicopter on Monday morning. ASP Navneet Sharma boarded the aircraft and conducted aerial surveillance of Sabarimala. The state government has requested provide the service for a period of time at regular intervals. We have assured to deploy the copter is there are no other missions, said Defence spokesperson Commander Sridhar Warrier. However, he said there was no request from the state government to deploy helicopters for transporting women devotees to Sabarimala. Meanwhile, former Deputy Conservator of Forests N C Induchoodan said the decision to use helicopters for aerial surveillance at Sabarimala was in violation of the provisions of the Indian Forest Act. The temple is situated in the Protect Tiger area and flying helicopters in this area is banned. The noise of the helicopter may panick the wild animals and they will run helter-skelter. The animals may stray into Sannidhanam posing threat to the pilgrims, he said. There is no representative from the Environment Minsitry in the Monitoring Committee for implementation of the Sabarimala Master Plan. This has led to violations of the forest rules, said Induchoodan. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will visit Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, on Wednesday to discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest in light of the importance Egypt attaches to strengthening relations with its partners in Eastern Europe, according to a statement by Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Hafez. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov visited Egypt last October, when the two countries agreed to form a joint committee headed by the foreign ministers of the two nations. Hafez said that during his visit, Shoukry will meet with the Bulgarian president, the prime minister and the foreign minister to discuss boosting bilateral relations in the political, economic and trade fields. Countering terrorism, transnational crime, irregular migration and the crises in the Middle East will also be at the top of the agenda. Search Keywords: Short link: Dhinesh Kallungal By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The tourism sector in the Gods Own Country, which was on a revival path after the August floods, is in doldrums again following the chaotic situation prevailing at Sabarimala. According to industry experts, the incidents in state are sending out negative feelers outside world. E M Najeeb, president of Confederation of Tourism Industry, Kerala, the Sabarimala imbroglio is more serious than the flood as the tourists would strike out the destination from their itinerary if they get an indication that the state is religiously restive. A bus carrying 24 Germans was stoned by the protestors on their way to Kozhikode on Saturday. What kind of message will it send out to the world when the industry is sweating out to retrieve it as a safe destination for tourists?, asked Najeeb. According to the estimate of the Federation, many resort owners in Munnar are on the verge of closure after the flood and a fizzled-out Neelakurinji season. A day ago, Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has said the Sabarimala controversy would affect the financial situation of the state. Tourism and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran told Express there was a 50 per cent dip in the revenue of Sabarimala during the opening of the temple for Thulam month poojas. Certainly, the current tension in the region has not only affected the revenue of the temple but the trade sector. The state government is doing its level best to limit the damage and save the tourism sector from its impact. Tourism Director P Bala Kiran said the department is keeping its fingers crossed. We cant predict how Sabarimala is going to impact the tourism sector. After a dip in the tourism growth in the Quarters three, the sector was on the verge of revival by November. The peak season in Kerala is Quarter IV (October to December) and Quarter I (January to March). Anything that hinders the prospects of the industry during this Q4 and Q1 will certainly leave an adverse impact on the sector, he said. The state has witnessed a shortfall of 1.45 lakh domestic and foreign tourists during the time of flood. The third quarter statistics of the Tourism Department revealed that there was an overall decline of 3.48 per cent in the total domestic tourist arrival during July, August and September, and 13.55 per cent drop in foreign tourist arrival. A dip in 50 pc revenue recorded when Sabarimala temple opened for Thulam month poojas The sector is in doldrums again when the Tourism Dept is getting ready to hold Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) by December A shortfall of around 1.45 lakh domestic and foreign tourists during the time of flood. An overall decline of 3.48 per cent in domestic tourist arrival and 13.55 per cent in foreign tourist arrival during Q3 The flood and subsequent uncertainty have caused a revenue loss of around Rs 1,500 crore to the sector By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Proceedings of the Assembly were disrupted again on Monday over the Centres decision to change the funding pattern of post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste students and the reported entry of CBI into the State Secretariat in connection with the investigation of the chit fund scam. While the change in funding pattern of scholarship scheme was raised by ruling BJD members, Opposition Congress members raked up the issue of entry of CBI into the Secretariat. As soon as the House assembled for the Question Hour, members of the ruling party stood up and protested the revision of post-matric scholarship fund for SC students by the Centre. Congress members also rushed to the well of the House raising the issue of CBIs entry into the Secretariat in connection with the investigation of chit fund scam. They were also heard demanding a discussion on felling of a large number of trees for setting up a beer factory in Dhenkanal district. Unable to run the proceedings, Speaker PK Amat adjourned the House till 3 pm. After the House was adjourned, BJD members sat on a dharna near Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises protesting the Centres decision and dubbed the BJP-led NDA Government as anti-Dalit and anti-tribal. The ruling party members displayed a letter written by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot in this connection. In the letter written on November 17, the CM had stated that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was providing 90 per cent while the State Government contributed the remaining 10 per cent of the actual expenditure on providing a post-matric scholarship to SC students. Naveen said from 2017-18 onwards, the Ministry has revised the liability of the State Government towards post-matric scholarship wherein the latter has to bear 80 per cent of the total expenditure. The State Government had to provide ` 238.28 crores while the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment allocated a meagre `35.12 crore during 2017-18. During 2018-19, the State will have to provide `238.28 crores while the Central share has been projected at `49.39 crores, he said. Noisy scenes continued in the House during the afternoon session over the issue of CBIs entry into Secretariat on October 29. Raising the issue, Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra said, The State Government should clarify whether CBI had entered the Secretariat and for what reason. Congress members entered the well again creating a ruckus over the issue following which the Speaker had to adjourn the House. By Express News Service VELLORE: The three AIADMK members, who were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Dharmapuri bus burning case in which three female students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, were burnt alive 18 years ago, were released from the Vellore Central Prison on Monday after Governor Banwarilal Purohit accepted the State government's recommendation for their premature release to mark the birth centenary of former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran. They were released following the orders of the Tamil Nadu government setting them free under a scheme of premature release of prisoners who have completed 10 years on the occasion of the birth centenary of late Chief Minister MG Ramachandran (MGR). Nedu @ A Nedunchezhian (No 24424), Madhu @ G Ravindran (24425) and C Muniappan (24426) walked out of the jail as the prison authorities freed them after receiving the relevant orders from the office of the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Prisons. While there were mixed reactions from various parties to the release of these AIADMK men, the ruling AIADMK saw this as a forerunner to the release of the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. AIADMK spokesperson G Samarasam told Express: "We wish the release of these three life convicts as a forerunner to the release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case for which the State government has already made a forceful plea with the Governor." Samarasam also pointed out that these three convicts had undergone jail term for many years and they had realised the gravity of the crime they had committed. Now, the Governor has pardoned them, he added. Earlier this year, the Tamil Nadu government recommended premature release of around 1,800 life convicts, who had served 10 years of imprisonment, including these three convicts, to mark the birth centenary of former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran. Last month, the Governor returned files in this case, asking the government to reconsider its recommendation. However, in the first week of this month, the State government made the recommendation again for the premature release of these convicts. The Governor accepted it and the three convicts were released on Monday from the Vellore prison. It is to be recalled that on February 2, 2000, after a special court convicted the then general secretary in a hotel case and sentenced her to one-year rigorous imprisonment, violence erupted across the state. In an incident, three students of the TNAU, who were on an educational tour, were burnt alive when the bus in which they were travelling was set ablaze by a group of people. The incident claimed the lives of three girl students namely, Kokilavani, Gayathri and Hemalatha. The next day, police registered FIRs against three AIADMK men A Nedunchezhiyan, G Ravindran and C Muniappan and many others. In February 2007, the Salem First Additional Sessions Court awarded death sentence to these three men and in December that year, the Madras HC upheld the verdict. Later, when the three challenged the HC verdict before the SC, the apex court too upheld the HC order in August 2010. Following this, the three filed a review petition before the SC seeking commutation of death sentence to a life sentence, arguing that the bus burning incident was not a premeditated one and that they had no motive to murder the three students. Accepting this, in March 2016, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising the present Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, commuted the death sentence to life term, saying the incident happened in a flash during a mob frenzy and was not premeditated. Trio let out early to avoid media gaze The three life convicts were released at 12.30 pm on Monday after receiving necessary orders from the office of our ADGP, Vellore Central Prison superintendent M Andal told Express. However, informed sources stated that the trio that set the bus on fire in Dharmapuri on February 2, 2000, during a violent protest, were allowed to go out of the prison early in the morning in order to avoid media exposure. A large number reporters and camera persons, who thronged the main entrance of the Central Prison, in the forenoon after word trickled down on the release of the three convicts, had to return disappointed as the three convicts had already walked out. By Express News Service CHENNAI: DMK chief MK Stalin has urged the government to release the seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case as was done with the Dharmapuri bus burning case convicts. In a release, he said, "The three life term-accused of the Dharmapuri bus burning case have been released by the government with the consent of the Governor. The seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case were not released despite the legal rights to release them. It is biased and condemnable, he observed. The seven convicts have been undergoing imprisonment for around 27 years. The decision of the Cabinet was for them to be released. The government has the responsibility to execute the cabinets decision... he said. Meanwhile, Vaiko, MDMK general secretary, in his release, said, The government, which didnt come forward to release the seven convicts imprisoned for the last 27 years in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, took efforts to release the three convicts. It is a height of brutality." "The resolution, adopted by the AIADMK government to release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, was an eyewash because of the judgement of the Supreme Court. But it didnt take any efforts to release them, but released the three convicts, who had brutally killed the three girls. I express my condemnation to the Union government. R Mutharasan, CPI state secretary, said. He added that the state government has put pressure more for release of their party workers than for the release of the Rajiv Gandhi case convicts. By Express News Service CHENNAI: A Division bench of the High Court on Monday permitted the Tamil Nadu government to go ahead with the construction of an arch on the Marina to commemorate former Chief Minister and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran as part of his centenary celebrations. The bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and N Seshasayee, however, restrained the government from declaring it open without prior permission from the court and posted the matter to January 21 with a direction to the government to file its counter. In his PIL petition, advocate D Dinesh Kumar alleged that the government was constructing the MGR centenary arch at a cost of 2.52 crore. It encroached upon the Kamarajar Salai on Marina opposite the PWD headquarters in contravention of the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001. Since the state had already built a memorial for MGR on the Marina much against the coastal regulation rules, no public interest would be served in constructing the arch. The Supreme Court had banned construction of any structure or statue on public roads. The statue for thespian Sivaji Ganesan, erected in the middle of Kamarajar Salai at the junction of Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, which allegedly disrupted the free traffic flow, had been removed after the courts intervention, he pointed out. Any construction on a highway road can be made only for the purpose of its development and not for any other purpose. Constructing an arch for MGR centenary is completely unauthorised. It was being built to cover up the inner party squabbles, he claimed and wanted the court to interfere by granting an interim injunction restraining the state from proceeding with the plan. Pointing to the green signal shown by the High Court for the construction of the 60th year celebration of the Assembly on the same road near the War Memorial a couple of years ago, AG Vijay Narayan claimed that there was nothing wrong in putting up a similar structure for the MGR arch. Sushmitha Ramakrishnan By Express News Service CHENNAI: T Vasanthavanan's family members placed a package, containing all his original academic and professional certificates, at the foot of his deceased body on Tuesday, the day after he ended his life. "We knew that his soul will not rest in peace if his certificates were not returned to him. This was the most important part of his funeral," his mother cried. Vasanthavanan (30), who worked at Sree Sastha Institute of Engineering and Technology earlier this year, accepted an offer from Madras Institute of Technology, about twenty days after he started teaching. When he requested the college to relieve him, the management refused and withheld his certificates, alleged his family members and then colleagues. They further alleged that he was repeatedly threatened that individuals like him who fight powerful college managements, would face consequences. The principal, however, has denied all these charges. The long battle between the college and Vasanthavanan had an adverse impact on his mental health, his mother said. His long-standing treatment for insomnia and depression stopped working after he started getting threats from the college, she claimed. "The whole incident triggered another episode of insomnia, and the fear of losing proof of his life's worth of credentials, pushed him into taking this extreme step," she said. What happened to Vasanthavanan is only the tip of the iceberg, say former colleagues and members of Private College Employees Union. "Many colleges, particularly private ones, retain the certificates of staff, as a form of collateral for extortion. Teachers and students are put through tremendous distress before they ultimately get their certificates back," said KM Karthik, the president of the union. He even coined Vasanthavanan's death as a "credential death", caused by the agony of colleges withholding all original academic and professional records. Withholding certificates is illegal The All India Council for Technical Education, in its Approval Process Handbook 2018-19, under section 6.4 has said, "The Institution collecting or withholding any of the original educational professional certificates of a faculty member shall be liable to any one or more of the above said punitive actions by the Council." The punitive actions range from suspension of approval for supernumerary seats to even withdrawal of approval of the institution. The Supreme Court, responding to a writ petition by KM Karthik in 2017 ordered, "no college should withhold, possess or collect any of the original educational or professional certificates of any staff member and provisions for the imposition of the penalty for the same." After verifying the original certificates during the appointment, the college should return it immediately, said MK Surappa, the Vice-Chancellor of Anna University. He said that the university will first issue a warning to the college if they receive such complaints about retention of certificates. "If the college continues to hold them in custody even then, we will withdraw our affiliation with it," he said. At least eight other former teachers from Sree Sastha also told that Vasanthavanan was not the only one who faced trouble retrieving his certificates. Having to fight for months before the college ultimately handed it back to them, has become a regular affair, they claimed. "It has been over 1.5 years since I was relieved from the college. I still haven't received my certificates. I submitted my certificates in June 2015. I haven't gotten any job since," said R Mohan*, a former assistant professor with the mechanical engineering department at the college, adding that faculty are threatened to pay up to Rs 3 lakh to get their documents back. He has not been able to find another job till date. One of the two college principals, A Shanmugasundaram, denied all allegations and said that Vasanthavannan had not collected his certificates. "We retained it only for a week," he claimed adding that it was the late faculty that did not collect it. Other former faculty members of the college argued that the principal was lying. "Every year, some senior faculty are fired and younger ones with smaller pay packages are hired. But they do not return our certificates if we don't sign a voluntary resignation and pay college to get the no dues form. The harder we fight, the longer they stall the certificate. I could not even apply to other colleges as the academic year had already started," said another faculty. Vasanthavannan's mother, on the condition of anonymity, said that her son had visited the college several times requesting to get his certificates. "When we kept writing to the college, the college said that they will take legal action against us if he did not join work again. His mother said that they even approached the police and tried filing a complaint at the Nazrathpet police station. "The police took us in their patrol vehicle to the college and made us meet the administration. But the college simply kept asking us to come on another day," she claimed. Sree Sastha had not given him any appointment or offer letter, ID Card or salary, Vasanthavannan is heard saying in call recording allegedly between the other college principal GS Kumarasamy and him. "We can't let anyone come and go at their wish... You have to come and speak conducively (sic) to the Chairman. You can't walk in royally and speak to him. Bring your appointment order from Anna University and speak to him," the alleged principal said in the recording. In another call recording, he said, "You cannot fight such a large organisation as an individual. It is better that you come at his feet... speak to the chairman and explain it to him," he said. The broader problem The issue of withholding certificates is not restricted to Sree Sastha alone. Most private engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu collect teachers' original academic and professional records during the appointment and return when the faculty is relieved. This tactic is practised to retain staff. While collecting and keeping the certificates in custody when a staff is still working is illegal, some colleges go a step further and hold on to it, even after they've left the institution. KR Vairamani, a former staff from Saranathan College of Engineering claimed that she was fired in 2017 along with over a dozen others under two days of notice. "I, however, said that I'll serve my three-month notice period or demanded the college to pay my salary for the duration, quoting my employment contract. They said that they will not give my original certificates back if I did not resign immediately. So I sent them a legal notice," she recalled adding that the college was irked by her action. After submitting two written complaints to Anna University over a year later, she still has got no response from anyone. Consequently, she has not been able to apply for other jobs and she fears that the break in her career, might affect her credibility in the future. D Valavanan, the principal of her college said that college does not retain staff's certificates after relieving them. "We will return the certificates, as soon as the staff submit the no-due form," he said over a call with Express. A former faculty of a private engineering college in the outskirts of Chennai alleged that the college management said that they will relieve him, only if he paid two months worth of his salary. When he refused to pay, the college slapped him with laboratory damages and other fines, he said. "I was asked to pay lab damages when I did not even conduct any lab classes," he said adding that the college management refused to accept his resignation, even as he tried to submit it repeatedly. Self-financing management's argument A senior member from the association of the self-financing college, on condition of anonymity, said that most private colleges are indirectly forced to hold back the original certificates of staff. "There are seven inspections for private colleges every year and surprise inspections on top of it. We will not get our NAAC accreditation, or cannot contest in NIRF rankings if we do not have the certificates when authorities come to check. However, ethical colleges ensure that the certificates are easily accessible if the faculty needs it for some reason," he said. Commenting on why colleges threaten retention of certificates when teachers do not submit a resignation after being fired unethically, he explained that reduction of minimum faculty-student ratio by AICTE was behind this problem. "According to older guidelines, there had to be one faculty for every fifteen students. Now they have increased the ratio to 1:20. They have also said that colleges cannot terminate teachers because of the new guidelines. So the only option many colleges have is to ask for resignation. However, this is highly unethical and there should be a check on this," he said. In what seems to be a disturbing trend, more than half of all seats in 473 private engineering colleges remained vacant after Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) counselling in 2018. A third of engineering colleges did not even fill 50 seats. Lesser students coupled with poor faculty-pupil ratio, is adding pressure on self-financing colleges, he said. Redressing Vasanthavanan's close cousin said that a week before his death, told him that Vasanthavanan gave up on his fight against the college. "Maybe if I die they will return all the certificates they are holding back. Maybe all colleges will return all teachers' certificates" the cousin claimed quoting Vasanthavanan. "I did not take him seriously then," he added. Although Vasanthavanan's suicide note states that no individual or organisation is responsible for his death, his family members point that this episode of his mental illness was triggered by the threat of legal action by the management. The member from the association of self-financing colleges said that the government should issue a smart ID number, like Aadhaar, for teachers whose certificates are already verified. "Even principals who have worked for over a decade, are asked for certificate verification each time. Instead, if they allow verification of digilocker versions or register a verification to the smart ID, they will not only save on time, money and administrative work, but colleges won't be forced to retain the certificates anticipating inspections," he said. KM Karthik, the president of the union argued that irrespective of the death by suicide, colleges do not have the power to hold staff's certificates in their custody. "As a union, we have three demands: Anna University should withdraw its affiliation and the government should take over the management; they should ensure that all private colleges return teachers' credential documents, the college should pay a compensation of Rs 1 Crore to the family members of the deceased," he said. Mangat Sharma, the principal secretary to the Higher education Department said that it is illegal for colleges to withhold certificates and the management uses it as a collateral against resignation. "Any teacher who is facing a problem, must file a complaint with the Directorate of Technical Education or Anna University. If they do not receive proper response, they can approach AICTE and the Courts next. If their allegations are found to be true, we will take severe action on the college," he said. Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the States health helpline 104 and Snehas suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050. By AFP KABUL: At least 43 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on a meeting of top clerics in Kabul on Tuesday, officials said, in one of the deadliest attacks to strike Afghanistan this year. It follows a wave of bloody violence across the war-torn country in recent weeks that has killed hundreds of people as militants step up assaults amid a flurry of diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year conflict. At least 83 people were wounded in the blast, health ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said, which targeted religious leaders inside a wedding hall where hundreds had gathered to mark the Prophet Mohammad's birthday. At least 24 are in a critical condition. Injured men receive treatment at a hospital after a suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 20, 2018. (Photo | AP) A photo posted on WhatsApp purportedly of the function room showed blood splattered bodies, some with the clothes partially ripped off by the force of the blast, overturned chairs and broken glass strewn over the floor. "The suicide bomber detonated himself inside the hall during a ceremony involving religious scholars," Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said, confirming the casualty toll. Kabul bleeding again! Our hearts & prayers are with the victims & affected families of the condemnable, horrific & senseless terrorist attack on a gathering of Uelma celebrating Eid e Milad-u-Nabi an hour ago here in Kabul leaving many dozens innocent people dead & more wounded. pic.twitter.com/weQKsPRdm1 Dr Omar Zakhilwal (@DrOmarZakhilwal) November 20, 2018 Italian NGO Emergency said on Twitter a dozen wounded had been taken to its trauma facility in Kabul, all of them "seriously wounded". A manager of Uranus Wedding Palace, which also hosts political and religious functions, told AFP the suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the gathering of around 1,000 people. "There are a lot of casualties -- I myself have counted 30 casualties," he told AFP on the condition of anonymity. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but the Islamic State group has claimed most recent suicide attacks in Kabul, which has become the most dangerous place in the country for civilians. More bloodshed It was the bloodiest assault in the Afghan capital since a twin bomb attack on a wrestling club in September that killed at least 26 people and one of the deadliest in the country this year. A suicide attack on Afghans protesting the appointment of a local police chief in the eastern province of Nangarhar in September killed at least 68 people and wounded another 165. No group claimed the explosion. In January an ambulance packed with explosives detonated in a crowded street in the heart of Kabul, killing more than 100 people, mostly civilians. The attack was claimed by the Taliban. Last month's parliamentary elections sparked a wave of deadly violence across the country, with hundreds killed or wounded in poll-related attacks. Injured men receive treatment at a hospital after a suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 20, 2018. (Photo | AP) It is not the first time that religious scholars have been targeted by militants in the Islamic country. In June a suicide bomber struck near a gathering of clerics in Kabul, about an hour after the group had proclaimed such attacks a sin. The latest attack comes as the Taliban intensifies pressure on Afghan security forces, even as the international community ramps up efforts to convince the group to engage in peace talks. US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed hopes in Kabul on Sunday that a peace deal to end the 17-year war could be struck before the Afghan presidential election, scheduled for April. His comments underscore an apparent increasing sense of urgency in the White House and among American diplomats for a peace deal to be done quickly. By PTI ISLAMABAD: The IMF has demanded Pakistan to provide all details of China's financial support to the cash-strapped country to avail a bailout package from it, according to reports. The International Monetary Fund mission is in Pakistan and holding talks with officials over arranging an unspecified amount to help in addressing the balance of payment issue. As talks enter the final phase, the IMF set stricter conditions for Pakistan to implement in exchange for a bailout package much needed for economic revival. Some of the major conditions include imposition of more taxes worth Rs 150 billion, further reduction in the rupee value as well as a tighter monetary policy. It also sough from Pakistan all details of Chinese financial support for any bailout package to Pakistan. Led by its mission chief Harald Finger, the IMF delegation is holding meetings with government officials to know their viewpoint on the reforms. There were no indication that the two sides are close to any agreement, Dawn reported. Finance Minister Asad Umar said on Monday that the talks were moving ahead positively but there were still differences, the report said. "There are still gaps in the position of the IMF and the position that we have," Umar said after a series of meetings with an IMF team. Umar said the IMF visit would conclude on Tuesday and he had no funding emergency to worry about day after tomorrow. He said that USD 1 billion of the USD 3 billion committed by Saudi Arabia had been remitted to the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday and the remaining USD 2 billion would follow over the next few days. Pakistan looks forward to about USD 6 billion financial bailout for averting its balance of payments crisis Informed sources said the two sides had a wide gap in their positions on the need for increase in electricity tariff, upward revision in the revenue target and additional tax measures on matters relating to Chinese assistance and its impact both inflow and outflow. The sources said the IMF also demanded that the provincial governments finance the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), instead of the federal government, and wanted committed cash surpluses to minimise the consolidated fiscal deficit. Regarding the Chinese financing, the minister said there was complete transparency in the Chinese assistance and whatever the external debt was would have to be shared with the IMF as part of the programme, the report said. The sources said the IMF mission wanted a clear roadmap for elimination of power sector circular debt that currently stood at Rs1. 2tr and welcomed administrative measures to recover some arrears, but insisted on further increasing electricity rates for full cost recovery of power supply, it said. The sources said the IMF team was not satisfied with the power sector reforms plan and wanted the government to surrender its powers to set electricity tariff and let these be independently dealt with by the power regulator. Pakistan's current account deficit widened 43 per cent to USD 18 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June, while the fiscal deficit has ballooned to 6.6 per cent of gross domestic product. By PTI LONDON: An Indian-origin Scotland Yard police constable (PC) has been dismissed from her job without notice for failing to exercise reasonable care in her treatment and monitoring of a homeless man after ejecting him from a police station in west London. PC Bhupinder Kalsi was fired following a Metropolitan Police Unsatisfactory Police Performance meeting on Monday, which found that her performance was grossly incompetent and she was guilty of unsatisfactory performance. Pericles Malagardis, a Greek national who was sleeping at Heathrow Airport, had gone to Uxbridge police station to collect his dog on a cold day in March 2016. The 63-year-old died of hypothermia after he was made to leave the police station for smoking inside the station. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the independent police watchdog, had referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider charges of gross negligence manslaughter. "We found there was not enough evidence to prosecute for any offences and took no further action," the CPS said. However, an internal disciplinary panel found that Kalsi "did not provide information requested by the London Ambulance Service regarding actions taken to support Mr Malagardis, and failed to follow instruction and training when dealing with unresponsive casualties", after he was found unconscious on the pavement. The panel also concluded that Kalsi was viewing a DVD whilst on duty, following Malagardis' ejection from the front office area of the police station. Another police station staff member is facing a separate disciplinary hearing over the same incident. Once the internal Metropolitan Police reviews are completed, an inquest into the death of Malagardis is expected to take place. By Associated Press HOUSTON: A federal judge barred the Trump administration on Monday from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. US District Judge Jon S. Tigar issued a temporary restraining order after hearing arguments in San Francisco. The request was made by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights, which quickly sued after President Donald Trump issued the ban this month in response to the caravans of migrants that have started to arrive at the US-Mexico border. Trump issued a proclamation on November 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border would be ineligible for asylum. The regulations, which will remain in place for three months absent a court order, could potentially make it harder for thousands of people who enter the US to avoid deportation. "Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry," said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights. "It couldn't be clearer." In recent years, tens of thousands of immigrants each year have shown up in the Arizona desert or on the north bank of the Rio Grande in Texas, surrendered to immigration agents and requested asylum. The Department of Homeland Security estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. Trump has argued that the recent caravans are a threat to national security. Around 3,000 people from the first of the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that it closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the San Ysidro crossing. It has also installed movable, wire-topped barriers, apparently to stop a potential mass rush of people. As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Trump's order went into effect, according to DHS, which oversees Customs and Border Protection. Officials didn't say whether those people's cases were still progressing through other avenues left to them after the proclamation. DHS has said it wants asylum seekers at the southern border to appear at an official border crossing. But many border crossings such as San Ysidro already have long wait times. People are often forced to wait in shelters or outdoor camps on the Mexican side, sometimes for weeks. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because "they're in real danger," either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. "We don't condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum," he said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday rejected a decision by the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights calling for the release of pro-Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtas. "The decisions delivered by the ECHR do not bind us," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency. Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned a senior US diplomat here on Tuesday and lodged a strong protest over President Donald Trump's "baseless allegations" on Osama bin Laden, saying it was a "closed chapter of history" and could seriously undermine bilateral ties. Trump on Sunday, and in follow up tweets, defended his administration's decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough to curb terrorism and criticised Islamabad for offering a hideout to late Al Qaeda chief bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad. READ| Pakistan doesn't do 'a damn thing' for US: Donald Trump "We give Pakistan USD 1.3 billion a year. Laden lived in Pakistan, we're supporting Pakistan, we're giving them USD 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," the President told Fox News. "The Foreign Secretary (Tehmina Janjua) called in the United States charge d'affaires Paul Jones to register a strong protest on the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan," Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal said. "Conveying her Government's disappointment on the recent tweets and comments by the US President, the US charge d'affaires was told that such baseless rhetoric about Pakistan was totally unacceptable," he said in a statement. Faisal said Janjua rejected the insinuations about bin Laden and reminded Jones that it was Pakistan's intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of the late Al Qaeda leader. Janjua told Jones that no other country had paid a heavier price than Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, he said. "The US leadership had acknowledged on multiple occasions that Pakistan's cooperation had helped in decimating the core Al-Qaeda leadership and eradicating the threat of terrorism from the region," the foreign secretary told the US diplomat. She said the US must not forget that scores of top Al Qaeda leaders were killed or captured because of Pakistan's active cooperation. "Pakistan's continued support to the efforts of international community in Afghanistan through Ground/ Air and Sea lines of communication was unquestionably critical to the success of this Mission in Afghanistan," Janjua said. She also said that in the wake of recent US pronouncements to seek political settlement in Afghanistan, Pakistan and America were working in close coordination with other regional stake holders in order to end the prolonged conflict. "At this critical juncture, baseless allegations about a closed chapter of history could seriously undermine this vital cooperation," she said. The summoning of Jones followed after prime minister Imran Khan, in a series of tweets, on Monday lambasted Trump's comments. "Record needs to be put straight on Mr Trump's tirade against Pakistan," Khan, said in a series of tweets defending his country's record in the US-led war on terror. He said that Pakistan decided to "participate in the US War on Terror" although no Pakistani was involved in the 9/11 attacks. "Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties in this war and over USD 123 billion was lost", of which "US 'aid' was a miniscule USD 20 billion", Khan said. "Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140,000 Nato troops, plus 250,000 Afghan troops and reportedly USD 1 trillion spent on the war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before," he suggested. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday left for Kuala Lumpur on a two-day official visit to Malaysia where he is likely to seek monetary assistance to minimise cash-strapped Pakistan's dependence on an IMF bailout package. Prime Minister Khan was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umer, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Radio Pakistan reported. This is Khan's first bilateral visit to Malaysia after assuming office in August. Prime Minister Khan and his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad will have a tete-a-tete, followed by the delegation-level talks, the Foreign Office said. READ| Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties, over 123 billion USD was lost: Imran Khan takes jibe at Trump The two countries enjoy warm brotherly relations founded in mutual respect friendship and understanding reinforced by strong cultural and religious affinities, the Foreign Office said in a statement last week. Khan's visit "would provide an opportunity to further cement the existing friendly and cordial bilateral relations by enhancing economic, trade and commercial ties, for our mutual benefit," the statement said. Pakistan was facing a USD 12 billion financing gap for the current fiscal year. The Pakistan government is keen to minimise the amount borrowed from the International Monetary Fund by getting loans from "friendly" countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials here believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. On Sunday, Khan visited the UAE where he held talks with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and discussed matters of bilateral, regional and mutual interest, amid reports that the Gulf country is ready to extend financial assistance to Pakistan. Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide USD 6 billion in aid to Pakistan. Last month, Saudi Arabia said it would provide Pakistan with a USD 6 billion rescue package during Khan's visit to the Gulf Kingdom. By UNI MOSCOW: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro that Russia understood Iran as it had also been affected by US sanctions against it. "Russia is our wonderful trade and political partner. It understands us, as it is also a victim of the [US] sanctions," Zarif said. He voiced his belief that the United States was trying to urge countries neighbouring Iran to boycott it, while these attempts did not work out. When asked about situation in Syria, Zarif said that cooperation between Iran, Russia and Turkey had brought results in spheres where no one had managed to achieve anything before. Zarif emphasized that the three countries' cooperation was aimed at recovering Syria's unity and eliminating terrorists. "Iran is accused of aspiring to settle the Syrian conflict via military means, but in fact everything is just the other way around: we want a political settlement with new elections, during which all the Syrians, including refugees, will be able to freely express their opinion," Zarif added. Iran, along with Russia and Turkey, is a guarantor of the ceasefire in Syria. In early October, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin praised Iranian military for actively engaging in terrorism fight in the country. US President Donald Trump announced in May that he was pulling the country from the Iranian nuclear deal. The US withdrawal resulted in two rounds of anti-Iran sanctions, with the large-scale restrictions covering oil exports being slapped on the country in early November. Russia has also been affected by US sanctions over its alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election, as well as "malign influence in Syria" and "aggression in Crimea." Russia has repeatedly refuted all US allegations. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police on Tuesday reversed its decision to remove a top detective investigating alleged crimes by the family and associates of disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa following pressure from the civil society. Removing detective Nishantha Silva was seen as the latest move in the ongoing political crisis as President Maithripala Sirisena forged a new alliance with Rajapaksa. READ| President Maithripala Sirisena's all-party crisis talks fail to end political stalemate in Lanka The country plunged into a crisis on October 26 when President Sirisena controversially sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former strongman Rajapaksa. Officials said the transfer of inspector Silva, who handled many cases of murder and abduction of journalists and serious crimes committed under the Rajapaksa regime was cancelled by the police chief following inquiries by the police commission. The cases handled by Silva included the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunga, the editor of the Sunday Leader who was a critic of the Rajapaksa regime.Silva was also the main investigator in the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda, another high-profile case during the Rajapaksa administration. READ| With chilli, Lankan MPs outdo our lawmakers Reports said that Sirisena asked the police chief to transfer Silva out of the crime investigation department. However, the independent police commission on public complaints asked the police chief to cancel the transfer. Commenting on the police commission's intervention, Wickremesinghe said that the cancelation of Silva's transfer "symbolised the functioning of strong democratic institutions against arbitrary and tyrannical moves of the executive". The daughter of Wickrematunga, Ahimsa in a letter to Sirisena on Tuesday said, "I know Inspector Silva as the lead investigator into the murder of my father Lasantha Wickrematunga who was bludgeoned to death on 8 January 2009". "You will be remembered as the president who tried to stop some of the most high-profile criminal investigations in the country and failed. Make no mistake Mr President if you try to stand in the way of justice for my father and other victims of brutality, you will fail," she said in the letter which was released to the media. Since 2015 when Rajapaksa was defeated by Sirisena, the Rajapaksa family members and close associates were arrested on many cases of alleged wrong doing. Sirisena's decision to sack the prime minister drew international criticism. He later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court last week overturned President Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls on January 5. Monday's session was conducted peacefully. The House was adjourned till November 23 ten minutes after its opening. Last week, Sri Lanka's parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's minority Tamils could become victims of the current political turmoil in the country, the main Tamil party's leader told foreign diplomats here on Tuesday. "We told them if the current state of affairs continues there could be serious consequences," R Sampanthan said as 14 of the Tamil National Alliance's 16 parliamentarians attended the meeting with Colombo-based diplomats. The TNA said it stands solidly behind ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe who still claims he is the lawful prime minister. Last month, President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial action sacked Wickremesinghe and replaced him with ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa as premier, plunging the island nation into political chaos. Wickremesinghe has demanded a floor test to prove his majority. ALSO READ | President Maithripala Sirisena's all-party crisis talks fail to end political stalemate in Lanka Sirisena's party did not cooperate with parliamentary Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to hold the floor test. TNA has said Sirisena's October 26 sacking of Wickremesinghe and his November 9 decision to dissolve Parliament to hold a snap election were both illegal actions. The TNA supported the legal action on Sirisena's move as the Supreme Court issued an interim order annulling Sirisena's gazette which dissolved Parliament. The case is to be heard early next month. Monday's Parliament session was conducted peacefully even though the House was later adjourned till November 23, 10 minutes after its opening. Last week, Sri Lanka's Parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other after Rajapaksa lost a no-trust vote. The political imbroglio has created much uncertainty with work in state institutions being hampered. Sirisena last week urged top bureaucrats to carry on as usual. Wickremesinghe's United National Party has warned officials that carrying out "illegal orders" from an "illegal" government could spell trouble for them. By AFP CHICAGO: A gunman opened fire at a hospital in the US city of Chicago on Monday, killing four people, including a Chicago police officer, a doctor and a pharmacy assistant at Mercy Hospital on the city's Near South Side. The violence only ended when police engaged in a shootout with the gunman inside the hospital. "We have four deceased individuals: police officer, two female staff employees at the hospital, and the offender," police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told journalists. The shooter killed the first victim -- a woman who was in a "domestic relationship" with him -- during an argument in the parking lot, then fired at police when they got to the hospital, and ran inside, Johnson said. WATCH VIDEO | Shooting at Chicago hospital leaves at least four dead Additional police -- including SWAT officers -- arrived at the scene, and "engaged the offender for several minutes in the hospital, with gunshots being fired by the offender and by the police," he said. Mercy Hospital & Medical Center released a statement late Monday afternoon saying police officers have secured the facility and that patients are now safe. Eyewitnesses recount shooting Patients described being alarmed by the sound of gunshots outside Mercy Hospital and seeing a man apparently walking with a woman in the parking lot before blasting her three times in the chest. "Once she fell to the ground, he stood over her and shot her three more times," bystander James Gray told reporters, adding that the attack played out "like a movie scene." "They were walking and talking and he just turned around and started shooting. It wasn't a heated exchange. It was just like we're talking now," Gray said. Chicago Police officers walk outside Mercy Hospital on the city's South Side. (Photo | AP) TV footage showed terrified patients and staff filing out of the hospital into a parking lot with their hands in the air after officers flooded the area. ALSO READ | California bar shooting: Gunman apparently stopped to post Instagram story Patient Hector Avitia told the local CBS television affiliate he was with his wife waiting for test results when he saw a gunman dressed in black fire on someone on the ground several times in the parking lot. He said the gunman was carrying a handgun with multiple magazines. "Then almost immediately, an officer was already coming in an SUV, and (the assailant) exchanged fire at them and then reloaded and shot the person on the ground again," another witness said. "And then he made his way into the hospital and more shots were fired." It's with profound sadness that we share the death of PO Samuel Jimenez from tonight's senseless active shooter incident. Please pray for his family, his fellow officers & the entire #ChicagoPolice Department. Supt Eddie Johnson & @ChicagosMayor will hv a press briefing shortly pic.twitter.com/2onFeyaSDK Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 20, 2018 'Scared as hell' The shooting followed a series of recent high-profile gun rampages that have fueled calls for reform of firearms regulations in a country plagued by gun violence. Less than two weeks earlier a gunman killed 12 people in a California music bar packed with college students. That came after the worst anti-Semitic attack in modern US history, when a gunman opened fire on worshipers at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh on October 27. Bypassers alerted to the latest incident spoke of hearing between six and nine gunshots that initially sounded like construction noise. Employees from the hospital ride a Chicago Transit Authority bus after being evacuated from Mercy Hospital where shots were fired Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Chicago. (Photo | AP) "I am scared as hell. I have never been so scared, I hear of shootings going on every day at people's workplaces, but not where I work at," an employee of the hospital's family clinic told the ABC affiliate. Mercy, founded in 1852, has locations throughout Chicago and provides outpatient treatment and acute inpatient care, boasting doctors who are leaders in their field. Another hospital employee quoted by the Chicago Tribune said she was in her office when a notice came over a public address system telling those in the hospital to lock their doors. "I don't know what happened," the unnamed employee told the Tribune. "They told us to run, so we did." (With AP inputs) By UNI MOSCOW: The UK Parliament may on Tuesday vote on a motion of no confidence in the country's prime minister, Theresa May, over her support for the draft Brexit agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The no-confidence vote may be announced by the backbench 1922 Committee of the UK Parliament's House of Commons, which should receive 48 letters in favor of the motion from Conservative lawmakers. Most of the letters have already been submitted, according to local media reports. On Thursday, May defended a draft Brexit deal in the House of Commons. The agreement faced criticism both from the opposition and from the ruling party, with several members of May's cabinet having resigned over their disagreement with the deal. By UNI WASHINGTON: The White House informed CNN in a letter on Monday that it has fully restored the press pass for correspondent Jim Acosta, the network reported. The Trump administration said in the letter to Acosta the reporter that despite he is getting his hard pass back, but warned that Acosta must follow the rules of conduct in the future, CNN said on Monday. The White House explained it can take action against Acosta if he breaks the rules again, the report also said. Acosta, who has been accused of misconduct during a press conference on November 7, also received a new Guidance for Journalists who attend presidential press conferences. Under the new rules, reporters are allowed to ask one question and the US president would determine whether a follow-up question is appropriate. Acosta tried to challenge Trump at the November 7 press conference and refused to pass a microphone to another correspondent, despite the president telling him to do so. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders accused Acosta of placing hands on an intern who tried to get the microphone from the reporter. CNN filed a lawsuit against the US president maintaining that Acosta's First and Fifth Amendment rights were violated by the suspension of his press pass. On Friday, a federal judge ordered the White House to reinstate Acosta's press pass. ABCNews.com(WASHINGTON) -- In an extraordinary statement, President Trump on Tuesday defended Saudi Arabia in the face of mounting pressure over the slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an enemy of the state and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that this is an unacceptable and horrible crime, Trump said in his statement. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, Trump said in the statement. He went on: Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! Trump issued the statement without referencing any conclusions in the latest CIA assessment on Khashoggi's murder, which he had said would be completed Tuesday. The president has so far resisted calls for a stronger response to the Oct. 2 killing of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Trump made clear the U.S.-Saudi relationship is one he refuses to diminish. This, despite outrage among members of his own party on Capitol Hill, who have vowed to seek justice in Khashoggi's killing. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed the president's position at a briefing Tuesday. "So it's a mean, nasty world out there," Pompeo said. "It is the president's obligation and indeed the State Department's duty as well to ensure we adopt policies that further America's national security." He went on: "So as the president said today, the United States will continue to have a relationship with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, they are an important partner of ours." Theyre an important ally, but when it comes to the Crown Prince, hes irrational, hes unhinged, and I think hes done a lot of damage to the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and I have no intention of working with him ever again, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on ABC's "This Week" Sunday. The Saudis have denied the crown prince ordered Khashoggi's killing. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world! Trump said in his statement. Following the president's statement, Senate Democrats are now calling on the intelligence community to state publicly what it believes to have happened to Khashoggi. "If they will not, I intend to offer legislation to require the IC [Intelligence Community] to release an unclassified public assessment of who ordered Mr. Khashoggis killing when the Senate returns next week," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a statement. And Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California also weighed in with a statement: "I plan to vote against any future arms sales and appropriation to Saudi Arabia. I also believe that the United States should consider sanctions against the crown prince and that the Saudi ambassador to the United States should not be allowed to continue in that role." Over the weekend, Trump said that the U.S. government would complete a "full report" on Khashoggi's death by Tuesday while denying reports that the CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing. "They havent accessed anything yet -- its too early, Trump said. That was a very premature report. But thats possible. Were gonna see. But a State Department official who has seen a version of the CIA's assessment on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi told ABC News it's "blindingly obvious" that the crown prince, known as MBS, ordered Khashoggi's death. "The idea that it goes all the way to the top is blindingly obvious," said the State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The United States said on Tuesday it had moved to disrupt an Iranian-Russian network that sent millions of barrels of oil to Syria and hundreds of millions of dollars to indirectly fund militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. The complicated arrangement, described by the US Treasury in a statement, involved a Russia-based company run by a Syrian citizen that shipped Iranian oil to Syria with the aid of a Russian state-owned company. Syria then helped transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in cash to Hezbollah, which functions as a political party that is part of the Lebanese government and as a militia, as well as to Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules the Gaza Strip. US officials said Russia facilitated the delivery of oil from Iran to Syria, and that a variety of mechanisms were used in an attempt to conceal the shipments and oil-related payments. The alleged arrangement shows how Russia has sought to undercut US policy toward Syria, where Washington and Moscow back opposite sides of a civil war that began in 2011, as well as toward Iran, which the United States is seeking to isolate because of its nuclear and missile programs and support for militant proxies. "Today we are acting against a complex scheme Iran and Russia have used to bolster the (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad regime and generate funds for Iranian malign activity," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement announcing sanctions on those it said were tied to the network. "Central Bank of Iran officials continue to exploit the international financial system," he added. Among those targeted are Syrian national Mohammad Amer Alchwiki and his Russia-based company, Global Vision Group, the Treasury Department said in a statement. Other targets include: Syrian national Hajji Abd Al-Nasir, Lebanon national Muhammad Qasim Al-Bazzal and Russian national Andrey Dogaev as well as Iranian nationals Rasoul Sajjad and Hossein Yaghoubi Miab, the statement said. State-owned Russian company Promsyrioimport, a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Energy, was also sanctioned along with Mir Business Bank and Iran-based Tadbir Kish Medical and Pharmaceutical Company. The Treasury's "designation" of the individuals and entities effectively cuts them off from the global financial system by blocking any of their assets under US jurisdiction and in effect warning non-US institutions against dealing with them. The United States is at odds with key European allies Britain, France and Germany as well as with Russia and China over US President Donald Trump's May 8 decision to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, negotiated with the other world powers during Democratic President Barack Obama's administration. That agreement had removed many US and other economic sanctions from Iran in return for Tehran's commitment to curtail its nuclear program. Trump restored those US sanctions, including measures targeting Iran's oil, banking and transportation sectors, on Nov. 5 and his administration threatened more action to stop its "outlaw" policies. Iran, in turn, called Trump's actions economic warfare and vowed to defy the sanctions. European powers that continue to back the nuclear deal said they opposed the reapplication of sanctions and major oil buyer China said it regretted the move Search Keywords: Short link: Columnist Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of hundreds of Muslim religious scholars in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least 43 people, Afghan officials said. Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said another 83 people were wounded in the attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. He said more than 20 people are in critical condition and that the toll could rise. The suicide bomber was able to sneak into a wedding hall in Kabul where hundreds of religious scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the occasion. ``The victims of the attack unfortunately are all religious scholars who gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad,'' said Basir Mujahid, spokesman for the Kabul police chief. He said police had not been asked to provide security for the event, and that the bomber had easily slipped into the hall. Most wedding halls have private security. Mohammad Muzamil, a waiter at the wedding hall, said he had gone into the back to fetch water for the guests when he heard the explosion. ``Everything was covered with smoke and dust,'' he said. ``There were dead bodies all around on the chairs, in large numbers.'' Police sealed off roads leading to the scene of the attack and ambulances could still be seen going in. Hundreds of family members and relatives gathered at local hospitals, looking at lists of those killed and wounded that were posted outside. No one immediately claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and a local Islamic State affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past. Islamic State group claimed a suicide bombing in June that killed at least seven people and wounded another 20 at a meeting of the country's top clerics in the capital. The body of religious leaders, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, had issued a decree against suicide attacks and called for peace talks. IS group said it had targeted ``tyrant clerics'' who were siding with the U.S.-backed government. The Taliban denied involvement in the June attack but they also denounced the gathering. Both militant groups want to overthrow the U.S.-backed government and impose a harsh form of Islamic rule, but they are bitterly divided over leadership and ideology, and they have clashed on a number of occasions. Afghan security forces have struggled to combat the twin insurgencies since the US and NATO formally ended their combat mission in 2014, shifting to a support and counterterrorism role. President Donald Trump's decision last August to send in additional US forces has had little if any impact on the ground. The Taliban carry out near-daily attacks targeting security forces and government officials across the country, while the IS affiliate has bombed gatherings of minority Shia, killing hundreds of civilians. Search Keywords: Short link: Financial Secretary Paul Chan (centre) meets China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Liu Shiyu (second right) in Beijing. Financial Secretary Paul Chan today met financial officials of the Central Authorities in Beijing. In the morning, Mr Chan met Minister of Science & Technology Wang Zhigang, where he said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is pooling a huge amount of resources for developing innovation & technology and enhancing the I&T environment. The HKSAR Government is attracting leading research institutions and technology enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong, and is nurturing talents for a knowledge-based economy, he said. Mr Chan thanked the Ministry of Science & Technology for its unfailing support for I&T development in the city. He also thanked the ministry for signing an arrangement with the HKSAR Government on enhancing co-operation, marking a new page for Mainland-Hong Kong technological collaboration. Mr Chan then met China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Liu Shiyu, where they discussed Hong Kongs financial security and the latest situation of its property market. Both sides agreed to further enhance co-operation in regulatory work. He also met Peoples Bank of China Governor Yi Gang to discuss financial regulation, followed by a lunch. At the meeting with China Banking & Insurance Regulatory Commission Vice-Chairman Wang Zhaoxing, both sides exchanged views on their respective banking and insurance industries. They also discussed ways for the Hong Kong insurance industry to help and participate in the countrys development. Mr Chan also called on Vice-Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission of the State Council Shen Ying. He said Hong Kong hopes to encourage mainland enterprises to leverage the city as a platform for financing Belt & Road infrastructure projects and setting up captive insurers for better risk management for their overseas businesses. He also introduced Hong Kongs work in promoting green finance. Police say the suspected criminals were aware of councils likely decision to take action to repossess the paddocks and are in the process of invading other open spaces and building houses on them using funds obtained from desperate home-seekers. Thousands in LA Schools May Have to Enroll Elsewhere (Newser) Cyprus got quite a gift this weekend: a sixth-century mosaic that had been stolen in the '70s from a church about an hour outside the country's capital. The BBC reports that Arthur Brandan investigator known as "the Indiana Jones of the art world"recovered the Byzantine rendering of St. Mark in an apartment in Monaco, in what he now says was "one of the greatest moments of my life." It wasn't such a great moment for the UK family that had the mosaic in its possession, which Brand tracked down after almost two years on the artwork's trail. The family had "bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago," Brand tells the AFP, and they were "horrified" to find out the piece's origins and how it had been plundered. story continues below On his website, Brand explains how Turkish forces rushed into Cyprus in 1974, wiping out churches and monasteries, and either destroying priceless pieces of art or selling them on the black market. All of the other artwork has since been accounted for, but the mosaic from the Panaya Kanakaria church had remained at large. CNN notes that Brand has found hundreds of pieces of missing art during his career, including two bronze horse sculptures that once belonged to Hitler. The St. Mark's mosaic was handed over to Cyprus' antiquities arm and the Church of Cyprus at a Netherlands ceremony at the Hague on Sunday, the Cyprus News Agency reports. The former owner, meanwhile, received a "symbolic compensation" for caring for the mosaic all this time. (Brand is on the case of the biggest art heist in the US.) (Newser) The Kansas governor has issued a response to a controversy over a county commissioner who made statements that evoked Nazi ideology while addressing a black city planner: Louis Klemp needs to apologize and quit, Gov. Jeff Colyer said over the weekend. "Racial and discriminative language have no place in our society and most especially when spoken by someone holding public office," the Republican said. Colyer joined members of the Leavenworth County Commission in calling for Klemp to resign before his term is up Jan. 15. According to KSHB, Klemp previously made waves with remarks he made about Robert E. Lee. story continues below Per the AP, Klemp cited the master race-the Nazi ideology of Aryan supremacy-at a board meeting Nov. 15 while responding to a presentation by Triveece Penelton. "I don't want you to think I'm picking on you because we're part of the master race," Klemp told Penelton. He then said he didn't like any of the land use options that she had presented to the commission. Klemp told KSHB off camera that his comment was a joke. (Kansas recently elected a Democrat in what many saw as a tightly contested gubernatorial race.) (Newser) A plane passenger who flew British Airways from Bangkok to London nearly three years ago is now suing the airline over claims being seated beside an obese person has left with him lasting physical injuries. Per USA Today, Stephen Prosser told UK court officials that he was on a January 2016 flight when British Airways seated him next to a man who had "his knees wedged against the seat in front and the rest of his body was over spilling into my seat by some inches." Prosser said the awkward situation forced him into an "unnatural posture" that he claims left him with a back spasm and injury to his pelvis in the wake of the 12-hour flight. story continues below What's more, CNN reports that Prosser claims he had to visit a chiropractor for two years following the flight and that he had to limit how much he worked for several months. Prosser says his complaints were ignored by the British Airways crew, who said the flight was full and he could not be moved. In a statement, the airline said it is "resisting the claim" but did not elaborate because "the case is subject to ongoing proceedings." (Earlier this month, an American Airlines flight attendant filed a federal lawsuit over claims she was attacked by a fellow crew member and the incident was never properly addressed by the company.) (Newser) Some of the thousands of troops sent to the US-Mexico border could be on their way home this week while members of the migrant caravan President Trump described as an "invasion" are still arriving. Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, who is overseeing the deployment, tells Politico that some of the 5,800 troops sent to the border will be departing in the coming days because they have already completed their missions, including "hardening" the border with concertina wire and barricades. He says all the troops should be home for Christmas, since the "end date right now is 15 December, and I've got no indications from anybody that we'll go beyond that." story continues below The news that troops are going to be withdrawnand Trump's relative silence on the issue since the midterm electionsled some critics to accuse the president of exaggerating the threat and misusing the military to influence the elections, the Guardian reports. Sources tell CNN that Trump is expected to change the rules governing use of force on the border mission to allow troops to use "proportional" force to protect Customs and Border Protection officials if migrants become violent. Some 2,000 migrants have arrived in Tijuana in recent days and authorities believe around 3,000 more have arrived in the border city of Mexicali. (Some Tijuana residents gave migrants free food on Sunday, while others joined a protest and chanted "Out" at them.) The US military said on Tuesday that it had carried out two airstrikes in Somalia that killed 37 suspected militants. In a statement, the US military said the strikes took place on Monday near Debatscile, Somalia and were targeting al Shabaab militants. The military said it did not assess that the strikes had killed or injured any civilians. Search Keywords: Short link: (Newser) Ivanka Trump might not have been paying attention at the numerous rallies where her father denounced Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server for government use. Officials have confirmed that the president's daughter used a personal email account to send hundreds of emails relating to government business last year, the Washington Post reports. The emails to White House aides and Cabinet officials were sent from a private domain she shares with husband Jared Kushner. Sources tell the Post that aides were shocked at the extent of her use of private email, some of which violated federal records rulesbut when she was asked about it, she said she wasn't familiar with the rules. story continues below Administration officials say Ivanka Trump's correspondence did not contain classified information and she stopped using the account for government business after the rules were explained to her, the BBC reports. They say that unlike Clinton, Trump never deleted any emails. The American Oversight watchdog group says its freedom of information requests uncovered the scale of private email use. "We expected to find the presidents daughter had an unusual role in the White House, but we didnt anticipate this kind of extensive use of a personal email server," says Austin Evers, the group's executive director. The New York Times reports that Democratic lawmakers are expected to look into the email issue when they take control of the House next year. (The White House ordered an investigation of private email use last year.) (Newser) A doctor, a police officer, and a pharmacist were gunned down at a Chicago hospital Monday in what police are calling a "despicable act of violence." The Mercy Hospital gunman was also found dead, though it's not clear whether he was shot by police or took his own life. Police say the rampage at the hospital on the city's South Side began around 3:30pm in a parking lot, where the gunman was involved in an argument with a woman he was in a relationship with, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Police say the gunman shot emergency room doctor Tamara O'Neal, 38, several times with a handgun and was standing over her when officers arrived. He fired at police before entering the hospital. story continues below Police say the gunman exchanged fire with officers including Samuel Jimenez as they pursued him into the building. Jimenez, a 28-year-old father of three young children who had been on the force less than two years, was killed. The gunman also killed Dayna Less, a 25-year-old pharmacist who had just exited an elevator, Police Supt. Eddie Johnson told reporters Monday night. Survivors say the gunman appeared to be shooting people at random and there was "mass chaos" before they found out he was dead. Sources tell the Chicago Tribune that the shooter, whose name has not yet been released, had a concealed-carry permit. Chicago lost a doctor, pharmacist, and police officer, "all going about their day, all doing what they loved," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said, per the AP. "This just tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and a consequence of evil." (Read more Chicago stories.) (Newser) A federal judge barred the Trump administration on Monday from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. US District Judge Jon S. Tigar issued a temporary restraining order after hearing arguments in San Francisco, the AP reports. The request was made by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights, which quickly sued after President Trump issued the ban this month in response to the caravans of migrants that have started to arrive at the US-Mexico border. Trump issued a proclamation Nov. 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border illegally would be ineligible for asylum. The Department of Homeland Security estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. story continues below "Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry," says Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights. "It couldn't be clearer." As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Trump's order went into effect, according to DHS. Officials didn't say whether those people's cases were still progressing through other avenues left to them after the proclamation. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt says that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because "they're in real danger," either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. "We don't condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum," he says. (Some of the troops Trump sent to the border will be departing this week.) (Read more asylum stories.) (Newser) Of all the US diplomats in Cuba and China who have mysteriously fallen ill since late 2016, only one has been publicly named: Catherine Werner. She's also the only person who served in China and has been "medically confirmed" to have experienced what 26 Americans did in Havana, reports NBC News, which has an exclusive interview with her mother, Laura Hughes. Hughes says she's speaking out over her fears that "our diplomats around the world or here at home" are not safe. That was true, she says, for her daughter, who was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injuryas was Hughes herself. She says the issues began roughly a year ago, when her daughter's poor healthnausea, headaches, balance issuesled Hughes to visit her in Guangzhou. story continues below Werner had been hearing noises and feeling pressure, and suspected her air conditioner was on the fritz. Hughes purchased new air filters, to no avail. Fearful that the apartment may have been tampered with after noticing furniture seemed to have shifted, they got two dogs to dissuade intruders. Things only got creepier: Hughes said the animals shivered and vomited blood, and that they once found them locked in a room they hadn't left them in. Hughes says she heard alternately high-pitched and pulsing sounds and fell ill herself. "Your head is splitting. You're dizzy. It's a horrible feeling. It's indescribable." She left after three months; her daughter decided to stay but was subsequently evaluated and flown back to the US. Both women are in "intensive rehabilitation" to address balance, vision, and cognitive issues, she says. (Here's one wild theory on what happened, and here's a simpler one.) (Newser) Capt. Andrew Collins doesn't deny he stood in his birthday suit in front of his hotel window at Denver International Airport in September. He just didn't think anyone could see him, he now tells the Denver Post. But the 54-year-old United Airlines pilot was definitely visible to a bunch of people in the airport's main terminal, and he's now been hit with a misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure. A police report seen both by the Post and the Denver Channel notes that on the morning of Sept. 20, Collins allegedly pulled back the curtains of his 10th-floor Westin hotel room, which overlooks the DIA terminal, while in the buff, "in full view of the public." Witnesses say Collins "willingly and knowingly" exposed his genitals, with a TSA officer saying the pilot was also "touching himself" and waving at him. story continues below Collins tells a different story to the Post, noting he was getting ready to take a shower that morning but then hopped on a phone call that lasted nearly 30 minutes. He says he pulled back the curtains and stood in front of the window while he chatted, but he insists he couldn't see the terminal below through the "opaque" green glass of the concourse windows, and so he figured they couldn't see him, either, per Craig Silverman, his lawyer. "It's like looking at a green wall or a green mirror," Silverman says, adding cops then entered his client's room without a warrant. A UA rep says Collins has been "removed from his duties" while an investigation is carried out, though Collins tells the Post he wasn't suspended. His next court appearance is Dec. 5. (A chef was recently charged with indecent exposure at a women's business event.) (Newser) The FBI considered the far-right "chauvinist" Proud Boys to be an extremist group even before members were accused in an alleged assault in New York City last month. That's according to a document from the Clark County Sheriff's Office in Vancouver, Wash., shared by nonprofit Property of the People. It explicitly states the FBI considers the "Proud Boys to be an extremist group with ties to white nationalism," though the FBI has previously made no public classification on the issue, per the Guardian. Warning about "recent escalation of violence at political rallies" and ongoing recruitment in the Pacific Northwest, the document was issued over the summer as part of an investigation into former Clark County Deputy Erin Willey, fired last year over alleged involvement with Proud Boys' Girls, the female branch of the male-only group. story continues below According to the document, Proud Boys membership may violate the oath of sheriff deputies to support and protect US laws since members have "called for the closure of all prisons, the issuing of firearms to everyone ... and the shutdown of the government." But "any time you are dealing with groups who are espousing hate, it's certainly a concern for law enforcement," Clark County Commander Michael McCabe tells the Guardian, noting he learned of the FBI classification of the Proud Boys in a Aug. 2 briefing delivered by an FBI analyst. Failing to address the designation, the FBI says it "regularly assesses intelligence regarding possible threats" and shares that information with law enforcement partners. The Southern Poverty Law Center already views Proud Boys as a hate group, per the Washington Post. (Andrew Cuomo is on the same page.) (Newser) Antonio Bramante doesn't see the "happy" in one of McDonald's most famous offerings. The Canadian dad of three says he's cajoled every couple of weeks to take his little ones to McDonald's, and he figures he's forked over hundreds of dollars on Happy Meals. Now he's suing the fast-food empire, citing a Quebec ban on marketing to kids under the age of 13, the BBC reports. It's not so much the fries and nuggets that are firing up Bramante's beef with the restaurant: Per CTV, it's the fact that each Happy Meal comes with a toy, often tied to film franchises like Transformers or My Little Pony, and his kids are constantly haranguing him to go to McDonald's so they can get all the toys to finish off each set. Bramante also claims the restaurant targets kids by putting the Happy Meal toys right in their sightline inside the restaurant. story continues below It's a practice, Bramante says in his class-action suit, that's "to the detriment of vulnerable consumers, their children, and their families." The Quebec marketing law, not seen much elsewhere in the world, has just three exceptions: ads in kids magazines, promos for certain children's events, and ads that appear on a company's packaging and labels, and in their windows and displays. McDonald's says it's poring over the suit, but it adds "we do not believe this class action has merit." Bramante's lawyer says anyone who purchased a Happy Meal in Quebec for a child under 13 from November 2013 onward can join the suit, which is seeking compensatory and punitive damages; it's unclear whether the consumer would need to be a Canadian citizen. (A $5 million McDonald's lawsuit, all over two slices of cheese.) (Newser) Ten months have given Paris Hilton a fresh perspective on the man she once said was "perfect for me in every way." The great-granddaughter of hotel magnate Conrad Hilton has reportedly broken her engagement to actor Chris Zylka, who proposed on a January ski trip. "Paris broke up with Chris a few weeks ago" when "she realized he wasn't right for her," E! quotes an insider as saying. Hilton appears to reference the split in an Instagram post quoting Marilyn Monroe. story continues below The couple initially planned to marry Nov. 11 before pushing the date to spring 2019, per E! While Hilton reportedly hopes the pair can remain friends, that may depend on what she does with the $2 million ring. Per TMZ, Zylka wants but hasn't asked for the 20-carat diamond returned. He's legally entitled to it under California law since Hilton was the one to call off the engagementsomething she's done before. The 37-year-old split with former fiances Jason Shaw and Paris Latsis in 2003 and 2005, respectively, per E! (Rosie O'Donnell just got engaged.) (Newser) There are multiple choices you could make when faced with the problem of a child refusing to go to the dentist, most of them not criminal. But that's not the way one Pennsylvania mom allegedly decided to go: Police say that after Shaurice Jones' 12-year-old son refused to walk inside the dentist's office for his appointment and instead climbed atop his mom's car, Jones drove directly to the Colonial Regional Police Department ... with the boy on the hood. Police say she admitted to making the 2-mile drive with the child clinging to the outside of the car, Lehigh Valley Live reports. The incident happened last Wednesday and she was arrested Friday; the 36-year-old faces charges of child endangerment and reckless endangerment. (This woman allegedly drove 70mph while a man clung to her hood.) (Newser) President Trump made clear in a statement Tuesday that he has no intention of cutting ties with Saudi Arabia over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic eventmaybe he did and maybe he didnt! Trump said, referring to Mohammed bin Salman. Trump, however, pointed out that King Salman and the prince "vigorously deny any knowledge" of the murder, per the Washington Post. "We may never know all the facts," he added, but "in any case, our relationship is with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia." story continues below Trump rejected the idea of "foolishly" canceling military contracts, saying that would only benefit Russia and China, reports Reuters. The US, he said, "intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia." As for critics in Congress who want to punish the Saudis: "I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America." (The CIA is reportedly pretty sure that the crown prince is behind the murder.) Spain will vote against the European Unions draft Brexit deal on Sunday unless it is modified to make clear that the future of the disputed British territory of Gibraltar relies on talks between Madrid and London, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. Spains demands on Gibraltar are the latest push by EU states to obtain more on national interests ahead of Sundays summit of EU leaders, but diplomats said there was little concern these would scupper prospects for a deal. As of today, if there are no changes with respect to Gibraltar, Spain will vote no to the agreement on Brexit, Sanchez said during a conference in Madrid on Tuesday. According to EU rules, the withdrawal treaty is adopted by qualified majority and not unanimity. So a single state like Spain cannot block it. The EUs executive said it was aware of Spains concerns and it expected the issue to be resolved. A small peninsula on Spains southern coast and a British territory since 1713, Gibraltar is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain has long claimed sovereignty over it. Gibraltar is due to leave the European Union along with the United Kingdom in March, although 96 percent of its population voted in the 2016 referendum to remain in the bloc. Sunday Summit While Spain last week initially welcomed a protocol on Gibraltar in the draft Brexit agreement, Foreign Minister Josep Borrell on Monday said there was confusion over Gibraltar in the main body of the agreement. That needed to be clarified in the broader political declaration on the new relationship between the EU and the UK, Borrell said. Sanchez reinforced that message on Tuesday. If on Sunday in the @EUCouncil the Brexit deal does not recognise that Gibraltars situation must be negotiated directly between Spain and the United Kingdom, this government will not accept it, Sanchez said on Twitter. If this government, which is a pro-European government, finds itself in this situation, this means that someone in Brussels didnt do their work well, he said, adding that Spain had offered various drafting options both to Britain and to EU negotiator Michel Barnier. In Brussels, EU spokesman Margaritis Schinas said the bloc agreed last year that after the UK leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the UK may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom. Diplomats in Brussels expected the issue to be resolved by adding more such language in the withdrawal agreement and the declaration on post-Brexit ties between the EU and Britain by Sunday, when they are due to be presented to EU leaders for approval. Gibraltar borders the Andalusia region where regional elections key for Sanchezs socialist party as well as his main opponents are held on Dec. 2. Several thousands Spaniards cross the border every day to jobs in the territory. Gibraltars Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on Monday issued a statement regretting the Spanish position. It does not come as a surprise that Madrid should seek to raise new Gibraltar issues at the last minute on our negotiations to leave the EU. Raising issue at the 11th hour is a well-known tactic that has been used by Spain in the past while were in the EU, Picardo said. Search Keywords: Short link: Top poets are set to take part in a poetry symposium, which will be hosted by the Lions Club of Riffa. The third International Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan will be held on November 22, 2018, at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Manama. The symposium will witness the presence of renowned Urdu and Hindi Poets from India, Pakistan, Gulf Countries and Bahrain. Lions Club Riffa President Sanjay Gupta said that more than 600 poetry lovers are expected to attend the event. Lions Club of Riffa has been actively serving the society in Bahrain for more than two decades. Our initiatives include donation of food packets to the needy through Red Crescent Society, donations to Geriatrics Hospital, donations to the Oncology Department of Salmaniya Hospital apart from organising regular medical camps for labourers, blood donations and green drives. Bahrains 2018 Election Executive Committee said the polls for Bahrainis abroad will be held today in 29 embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions. The ballot boxes will be open from 8 am until 8 pm according to local time of each city where the embassy, consulate or diplomatic mission is located. In the case of second rounds, a poll will be held on, November 27. The committee said that in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Kingdoms diplomatic missions abroad, it has completed all preparations to ensure the citizens easily exercise their constitutional right to voting. Registered voters have the right to vote abroad on Election Day. The citizens participation will be indicated on their passport and entered into the system to ensure the right is availed only once. The committee said all registered voters are entitled under the Kingdoms constitution to choose their parliamentary representative or MP. The Kingdom has been holding parliamentary and municipal elections regularly every four years since 2002 following the end of a political hiatus through constitutional changes that gave women the right to vote and run in elections. In the last elections in 2014, independents won 37 of the 40 seats in a massive blow to political groups. In 2010, only 17 independents were elected. Despite various challenges in the region, all the elections were held without delays in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of Bahrain, announced yesterday its acquisition of office buildings in Charlotte, North Carolina Metropolitan Area. The transaction marks Mumtalakats second investment in the United States commercial real estate market this year in partnership with Sentinel Real Estate Investment Corporation. This follows the February 2018 Mumtalakats acquisition alongside other strategic investors of Lenovo Global Headquarters in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. The 421,863 square foot (39,192 square meters) property consists of two LEED Silver Certified newly-constructed buildings, which are fully occupied by The Lash Group, a leading pharmaceutical and healthcare service provider. Founded in 1986, The Lash Group designs develops and implements support programmes for healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers. It is a subsidiary of AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE: ABC), one of the largest pharmaceutical services companies in the USA, which currently ranks 12th on the Fortune 500 list and is rated A- by Standard & Poors. Commenting on the acquisition, Mahmood H. Alkooheji, Chief Executive Officer of Mumtalakat explained, A highly desirable destination for businesses and job seekers, Charlotte is the fourth fastest-growing large city in the US and is ranked sixth in the country for its employment growth, which rose by 2.8 per cent over the last year. Three male Keio University students, one of whom was a participant in the college's "Mr Keio Contest," have been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman and stealing her wallet after encouraging her to drink alcohol. According to police, in May 2018, Yota Watanabe, 22, and Kazuki Koyama, 22, - both second-year students - along with another unnamed suspect, who was 19 at the time, are accused of getting a woman drunk to the point of unconsciousness at a karaoke booth in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, Fuji TV reported. The suspects then allegedly sexually assaulted her while she was passed out and stole her wallet containing 8,000 yen in cash. During a police investigation, Watanabe was quoted by police as saying, "I don't recall anything." Koyama and the other suspect have partially denied the allegations against them. - Japan Today Governors in the South East geopolitical zone have been scheduled to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.Top on the agenda of the meeting at Abuja are the issues of the second Niger bridge, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the non-representation of the region in the countrys security apparatusThe governors are suggesting that 50 per cent of the contract sum should be released while the remaining 50 per cent should be secured in a bond to ensure that the project will be completed.This was made known to newsmen, yesterday when the Director General of the South East Governors Forum, Prof Simon Ortuanya briefed newsmen on the scheduled meeting.Ortuanya said that the meeting was essentially a consequence of the governors initial interaction on the dire needs of the zone which included the second Niger bridge.Ortuanya said, We are happy with the Federal Government which has finally awarded the second Niger bridge as we earlier said. The main contract was signed in August 2018 for N206 billion. The commencement for work on the bridge was with effect from September 2018.This is the first time the actual work on the second Niger bridge would commence. The Federal Government has released about N7 billion for this work, which for us does not represent up to 10 per cent of the total sum. So, we want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to increase the money that they have released to the contractor.Fortunately, the contractor is Julius Berger and its a reputable company but we are urging the government to release at least 50 per cent of the contract sum so that we can have significant work on the second Nigeria bridge.We also feel that the contract period of 42 months is too long and we are urging the Federal Government to review the contract period so that they can bring it down to two years. There are several reasons for this.We are also asking that the balance of the 50 per cent should be secured by the Federal Government bond.Another major item on the agenda is the Akanu Ibiam International airport and we want to ask the Federal Government to use this opportunity of meeting with our governors and bring back the contractors that have abandoned work because we still know that the tarmac is still bumpy, the building that has damaged has not been repaired and we urged the federal government to please do the needful urgently.The contractor that abandoned the tarmac should come back and resume work to ensure that the cargo section of the airport is made functional because we know that the cargo section is still not functional. President Muhammadu Buhari says the country needs the support and prayers of all citizens to be fully successful in overcoming its challenges.He said this in his message to the nation on Monday on the occasion of the Eid-El-Maulud, the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, the President extended greetings to Nigerians and Muslims at home and abroad.He also asked for prayers for the nation for peaceful electioneering as Nigeria embarks on the journey to democratic elections in 2019.President Buhari noted that the nation was making great progress under the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.According to him, the areas include dealing with issues of security, the war against corruption, the reform and restructuring of the economy, and the provision of needed infrastructure.The President was confident that the Islamic ceremony of Eid-el-Maulud would help to promote mutual harmony and tolerance among all Nigerians.He thereafter wished the people peace, happiness, and good health. Information and culture minister Lai Mohammed has paid condolence visit to the families of the Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) members who died in a road crash between Omu-Aran and Oro on Sunday.According to Mr. Segun Adeyemi, the Special Assistant to the minister, Mohammed was accompanied by Kwara APC Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa, House of Representatives Member-elect Tunji Olawuyi, Kwara South Senatorial candidate Lola Ashiru and other state party Officials.They visited the families of the five deceased members in Arandun, Agbonda, Omu-Aran, Oko and Odo Owa, all in the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, where the APC won a landmark victory at the polls on Saturday.The minister and his entourage also visited two others who are in hospitals in Omu-Aran to wish them speedy recovery.At Agbonda, the Minister and his entourage attended the funeral service for one of the five deceased, Chief Ayobami Adekeye, an official of the party in Ajase Ward 2.While visiting the homes of the deceased, the Minister commiserated with their families, hailed the members for their supreme sacrifice for the emancipation of the people of Kwara.He promised that the party would not abandon their dependents. Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law of embattled Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has addressed reports making the rounds of his plans to dump... Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law of embattled Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has addressed reports making the rounds of his plans to dump the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Recall that Okorocha has been at loggerheads with the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole over his refusal to field Nwosu as the governorship candidate of the party. that Okorocha has been at loggerheads with the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole over his refusal to field Nwosu as the governorship candidate of the party. However, Nwosu said he cannot dump the ruling party for anyone. He further noted that he will regain his mandate from Senator Hope Uzodinma to run in 2019 for Imo state governorship. Speaking to New Telegraph on Monday, he said Plans of my defection to PDP is a big lie. l cant be part of a party from inception and abandon it for people that came and joined. l have no reason to dump APC as l am convinced that l will regain my mandate and contest the Imo State governorship election in the state. Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), caused quite a stir when he made an appearance at the bo... Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), caused quite a stir when he made an appearance at the book launch of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan commemorated his 61st birthday on Tuesday with the launch of his book, My Transition Hours. The event took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. The arrival of Oshiomhole, who came late to the event, disrupted the address of Salisu Belgore, a former chief justice of Nigeria (CJN). Belgore was reviewing the book at the time the former Edo governor walked in. Oshiomholes arrival elicited laughter from those who were already seated in the hall, while many were evidently shocked. Is that not Adams Oshiomhole, what is he doing here? someone could be heard as saying. Jonathan got up to receive him and both men embraced and shook hands. The stir took about nine minutes to subside. Festus Keyamo, the spokesman of the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, says one of the brand logos for All Progressives Congress (A... Congress (APC) next level campaign was designed by the opposition. Festus Keyamo, the spokesman of the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, says one of the brand logos for All ProgressivesCongress (APC) next level campaign was designed by the opposition. While speaking via AIT on Tuesday, Keyamo dismissed the next level logo, which had been tweeted by the president, and retweeted by the presidency Twitter handle. He said the next level campaign logo advertised in many national newspapers, and used on the official brochure of the APC next level campaign is the official logo of the Buhari camaign. The senior advocate of Nigeria added that the other logo, which has its arrow protruding from the letter V was designed by the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party. Look at the next level, you will see that it is totally different from what they are showing. Look at the official one released, Keyamo said, showing the logo below: They themselves went to steal a logo, they themselves crafted it as if it was our own, promoted it on social media, that we stole it. Fraud, fraud, you see the fraud that is going on? He said the arrow that goes up in the fake logo comes from the letter V, not letter X, as in what he regarded as the original logo. You see the fraud going on on social media, from the PDP supporters? You see the difference? Keyamo added. He immediately dismissed the logo, which showed the arrow protruding from the letter V, as shown below. The Peoples Democratic Party and its supporters had accused the APC of plagiarising the logo of a school in the US, The Rex Institute. However, checks showed that the logo dismissed by Keyamo was also tweeted by President Muhammadu Buhari verified personal account, @Mbuhari, as shown below: Defining Possible in Space Right now, Northrop Grumman is pioneering across every sector of space, helping government, civil and commercial customers tackle some of their biggest challenges. Our forward-leaning, pioneering spirit is backed by a legacy of expertise that began at the dawn of the space age. Our mission expertise in space runs deep, we know our customers well, and our capabilities are unmatched. This is what allows us to provide reliable, agile, and affordable space solutions to solve our customers toughest problems. From defending freedom to advancing human discovery, we are defining what is possible in space every day. British Prime Minister Theresa May told Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday that the Brexit deal she has negotiated with the EU will work for all parts of the United Kingdom and deliver on the results of the 2016 referendum. A majority of Scots voted to remain in the European Union in the referendum and Sturgeon's Scottish National Party, which runs a devolved administration in Edinburgh, has said it will vote against May's Brexit deal. Defending the deal reached with the EU, May's office said after her meeting with Sturgeon: "(It) will give Scottish businesses the clarity and certainty they need to protect jobs and living standards and see us take back control of our waters, improving the fortunes of our fishermen." Earlier, Sturgeon said she wanted to form a "coalition of opposition" to May's Brexit plan with the main opposition Labour and other parties. She told the BBC she had held exploratory talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and, in a separate meeting, with other opposition party leaders. She had agreed with Corbyn that May's deal was a bad one, and that "no deal" should not be the only alternative. "The next stages of all of this have to be to look at what we can coalesce around in terms of alternatives," Sturgeon said. Sturgeon has already said her 35 Scottish National Party (SNP) lawmakers at the Westminster British parliament will vote against the deal when it comes before the House of Commons. Labour has said it will not countenance a no-deal Brexit. Search Keywords: Short link: Investment and International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr conferred with the mission of the World Bank on the development program of the Upper Egyptian governorates. The Ministry of Investment funded the program with 500 million dollars in Sohag and Qena. The mission apprised Nasr of the results of their visit to both governorates. The mission also lauded the progress done in implementing the projects according to a fixed timetable. The bank is fully supporting the infrastructure projects in Egypt especially the program that targets developing Upper Egypt, the mission asserted. The mission praised the recent economic legislation in Egypt which contributed to improving the business atmosphere and made the Upper Egyptian governorates in particular investment-attractive. Nasr asserted the importance of quickly implementing the program of developing Upper Egypt. Nasr added that Sohag includes 27 projects and Qena includes 19 others that serve 8.2 million people in both governorates and contribute to creating more job opportunities for youth and women in the more needy places. Nasr said that the State is keen on financing the most needy governorates to improve the services presented to the citizens Search Keywords: Short link: Careem, Uber's main Middle East rival, is looking at raising between $100 million and $200 million from Chinese investors, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Investment bank China International Capital Corporation (CICC) is advising Dubai-based Careem, but it was not immediately clear when or if a deal would be finalised, the source said, adding there was a lack of familiarity and interest among Chinese investors in Middle Eastern start-ups. Beijing-based CICC and Careem both declined to comment. Reuters reported on Monday that CICC and New York-based investment bank Jefferies were both advising Careem on potential investment options and capital raising, including a possible Middle East M&A deal with Uber. Careem, which counts German car maker Daimler and Chinas largest ride-hailing company DiDi Chuxing among its other backers, competes head-to-head with Uber in most of the major cities in the Middle East. Careem said in October it had secured $200 million in a new funding round from existing investors, and that it expected to raise more to finance expansion plans. That investment, combined with previous fund raising and company growth into new markets and segments, gave Careem an estimated valuation of more than $2 billion. Reuters reported in March that Careem was in early talks to raise as much as $500 million. Search Keywords: Short link: Sun Boat, which was exhibited in Abu Dhabi between 14 and 17 Novemver, is inspired by mankinds constant state of motion, an infinite circle Egyptian award-winning painter, sculptor, and cultural activist Moataz Nasreldin (also known as Moataz Nasr) exhibited his large installation titled Sun Boat at the Abu Dhabi Art Fair, a large international event which took place this year between 14 and 17 November. Having themes of migration and the circle of life in mind, Nasredin's piece is structured from over 300 bread baking panels to form a boat that on the one hand reminds us of the endless migration of human kind and on the other hand references Egypt's ancient history and civilisation. The piece is approximately 10 metres in diameter and 3.5 metres in height. In the notes about the installation Nasreldin writes: "From the beginning of time, the idea of immigration in this world has been a constant pursuit in life. Human beings are constantly moving... north to south, south to north, up and down and then up again. The purpose of this circle of endless, restless motion has always been the same, seeking sustenance, seeking survival, seeking a better life." "Sun Boat is inspired by mankinds constant state of motion, an infinite circle. It visually depicts the idea that nothing lasts, everything is endlessly changing, always for the purpose of survival." He adds that the concept of immigration has existed from the most ancient of times. The Ancient Egyptians migrated from this life to the eternal one using Sun Boats with large paddles. "In this work, I visualise the essence of this human motion using bread baking peels, which are coincidentally, almost identical to boat paddles. With these peels, I created a sun disc of 350 paddles tied to each other in a circular shape illustrating the endless, interconnected movement of human beings on earth seeking a better life." One of the well-established and most active Egyptian artists with a large portfolio of international appearances, Nasredin is also the founder and director of Cairo's Darb 1718 cultural centre, a space consisting of several rooms in a number of buildings, infusing the area with arts and culture. Since its founding, Darb 1718 has established itself as one of the most important venues embracing Egypts independent arts scene, organising visual art exhibitions, as well as film screenings, music concerts, and educational events. Darb 1718 currently holds the large-scale event Something Else -- Off Biennale (1 November - 15 December) with visual art as its basis. Curator Simon Njami worked with several international supporting curators as well as Nasreldin (the Biennale's artistic director), filling the halls of Darb and other venues located in Downtown Cairo with the work of 90 artists (including 23 Egyptians) from all over the world. Held this year between 14 and 17 November, "Abu Dhabi Art expands beyond the notion of a traditional art fair in placing strong emphasis on a diverse public engagement programme, including art installations and exhibitions, talks and events that take place in different locations throughout the year," reads the Fair's website. "The culmination of this year-long programme is the Abu Dhabi Art event in November, which provides an important sales platform for participating galleries while also offering these galleries an opportunity to showcase ambitious installations and site-specific works by their artists to an audience of over 20,000 visitors." For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Lameness prevention: it's all in the head An understanding of how cows think, how they see the world and how they move is essential for lameness prevention. In its 11th round, the annual European Film Panorama has become one of the most important cinematic events in Egypt The 11th European Film Panorama which run between 7 and 17 November, opened with Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowskis Cold War. A romantic take on the life of folk artists under Soviet influence, like Pawlikowskis previous film, the best foreign-language Academy Award winner Ida the story of an orphan girl who is about to take her vows at a nunnery when she discovers she is actually the daughter of Jews killed during the Nazi occupation of Poland it shows a fascination with history and is shot in black and white. Cold War, which won the best director award at Cannes this year, is set between 1949 and 1964. It does not deal too directly with history, but rather employs the US-USSR polarisation as a backdrop. It opens with a shot of a folk musician singing and playing a local woodwind instrument in a remote torn-down church, preparing the viewer for the story of Wiktor (Tomasz Kot), a composer who, working with his team of musicians, is in search of folk songs that can be recomposed and developed for a major performance in Warsaw. The script trails Wiktor and his assistant as they move from one village to the next looking for the perfect melody, a sequence that ends with a young peasant girl singing Two hearts, four eyes, crying all day and all night. Now Wiktor is picking young talents to be part of a folk ensemble, and among them this passionate blonde girl named Zula (Joanna Kulig) with whom he falls in love. As the drama developed the couple are separated when Wiktor decides to seize the opportunity of the folk ensemble performing in Berlin and defect to the western side of the city and whence to Paris. But Zula does not have the courage to follow him, and even when they finally reunite in Paris at the end of the film she feels so estranged she ends up returning to Warsaw and so forcing him to return to be tortured and jailed before he joins her at the same remote church ruins. The beautiful song that summarises the tragedy of the film is heard first as a folk song, performed by Zula and then the folk ensemble, before it is recomposed as a classical aria on stage and (later) performed by Zula as a jazz number at a nightclub. Each time it expresses a different emotion as the camera reveals Zulas expression. The first time she is overwhelmed by the joy of an audience and of being in love. The second time Wiktor has already fled, and her feelings of abandonment are evident. He attends the troupes performance in Yugoslavia in 1955, but must leave before they have a private moment together when local secret agents take him to the train station and urge him to return to Paris before he is deported back to Warsaw. Here as elsewhere in the film Pawlikowskis shows the couples love and desire with astounding sensitivity. The Death Of Stalin The Cold War was the subject of another film in this years Panorama, The Death Of Stalin, British director Armando Iannuccis dark satire about the battle for power in the aftermath of Stalins death on 6 March 1953. Marxs famous maxim, History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce is enacted here to the letter. The film opens following a Mozart concert on the radio with the director of Radio Moscow receiving a phone call from Josef Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) asking for a recording. He panics, since the concert was not recorded. Already, as he starts yelling at everyone in the hall, musicians and audience alike, telling them to stay where they are, it is clear this is the farcical side of history. Dont worry, nobodys going to get killed, I promise you. This is just a musical emergency! In this way laughter reflects the fear that was state policy under Stalin. Before the recording is handed to the presidential security personnel who will take it to Stalin, the pianist Maria Veniaminovna Yudina (Olga Kurylenko) manages to slip a piece of paper in the envelope. Reading the message on this piece of paper, Josef Vissarionovich Stalin, you have betrayed our nation and destroyed its people. I pray for your end and ask the Lord to forgive you. Tyrant!, the most powerful man in Russia chokes and falls on the floor. Truth literally kills him. Now the deceaseds comrades in the Central Committee Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell Beale), Georgy Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor), Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi) and Vyacheslav Molotov (Michael Palin) try to find a doctor who can save him, but all the good doctors have been jailed or killed for conspiring to assassinate Soviet leaders. Much of the comedy derives from exaggeration: Khrushchev is clownish, Stalins deputy Malenkov is the idiotic puppet of the internal affairs minister Beria and so on. While the funeral is being organised, Beria and Malenkov are scheming to take over before anybody else can do anything. But Khrushchev has already convinced Field Marshal Zhukov (Jason Isaacs) to support him against Beria as he accuses the latter of conspiracy and treason. Immediately after the funeral, as a result, Beria is executed. The Guilty The face of guilt Danish filmmaker Gustav Mollers low-budget drama, The Guilty has only one, indoor location. It has no gripping action or absorbing landscape photography. But the screenplay by Moller and Emil Nygaard Albertsen is so tight, the direction so effective and the performance of actor Jakob Cedergren as the emergency police dispatcher Asger Holm with his broad, unsympathetic face so perfect there is not a moment of boredom or frustration. Asger is told off for taking a private call on his shift an urgent matter apparently concerning a trial after which he sticks with emergency calls. Gradually, as his impatience asserts itself, it becomes clear that this is not Asgers usual duty and that the reason he is here has to do with the trial about which he received that private call. He remains apathetic until he receives a strange call from a woman named Iben (the voice of Jessica Dinnage, who does not appear once on screen) calling him sweetie and pretending to know who he is. With a patience and concern that astounds his colleagues, Asger listens and engages for a long time until he discovers that Iben has been kidnapped and is pretending to be putting her little daughter to sleep over the phone, the only way her kidnapper would allow her to make a phone call. The mother of two small children, Ibens kidnapper is her brutal husband, who is holding her at an unknown location. Using yes-or-no questions, Asger finds out she was taken in a van and as he calls her terrified five-year-old daughter, who is alone in the house with her baby brother, fellow policemen and eventually also Ibens husband Michael, a fascinating twist is gradually revealed. And in the process of discovering the guilty parties in this complex family drama, Asger is forced to reflect on his own guilt (it seems he is being tried for police brutality). Mollers debut feature, which received such awards as the the Audience and Youth Jury awards at the Rotterdam Film Festival and the Critics Choice Award at the Zurich Film Festival, could never have worked without Oskar Skriver brilliant soundtrack making the most of minor and background noises as well as variations in tone. Pororoca Romanian filmmaker Constantin Popescus Pororoca is named after a kind of tidal bore that travels at up to 800 km per hour with waves up to four metres high in the Amazon and adjacent rivers. In the Tupi language, it means great roar. Popescus third feature, it offers an escalating drama in the life of a small family. Tudor (Bogdan Dumitrache) a banker, his wife Cristina (Iulia Lumanare), an accountant, their seven-year-old son Ilie (Stefan Raus) and five-year-old daughter Maria (Adela Marghidan) live in an upscale flat in suburbia, a ten-minute walk through beautiful forest to a nearby park where Tudor takes the children to play. Tudor is a protective family man: he threatens a male client of his wifes who appears to admire her without said wifes knowledge. But while he is making phone calls at the busy playground he loses sight of Maria and she disappears never to be found again. Cinematographer Liviu Marghidan beautifully contrasts serenity with panic in the same setting as he shows Tudor with his children and then Tudors search for Maria up and down a small hill. After the police give up the search Cristina leaves with Ilie, blaming Tudor. And so Tudor begins his own search, identifying a possible abductor from pictures taken by other childrens parents of the playground that day. Popescus strange style of having more than one tense conversation in the same scene Tudor phoning while an old woman debates a young man about whether he should bring his dog to the park, for example ends up being very difficult for viewers who are following subtitles. But Dumitrache and Lumanares performances are both brilliant as they depict the steady collapse of the family, both parents losing their minds and Tudors final revenge. * A version of this article appears in print in the 15 November 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Iron Curtain blues For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Resolute Forest Products Appoints Remi Lalonde as Chief Financial Officer Remi Lalonde Nov. 19, 2018 - Resolute Forest Products Inc. on Nov. 16 announced the appointment of Remi Lalonde as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Lalonde succeeds Jo-Ann Longworth, who will be retiring after a distinguished career, including the past seven years as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Resolute. Lalonde had been serving as Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development, since May 2018. Previously, he was General Manager of Resolute's pulp and paper mill in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Before taking a leadership role in operations, Lalonde was Treasurer and Vice President, Investor Relations. Lalonde initially joined the company as Senior Counsel, Securities, following six years at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in New York. He holds bachelor's degrees in both law and civil engineering from the University of Ottawa. "Remi has distinguished himself as a leader and built a strong record of achievement since joining Resolute almost a decade ago. He has broad-based knowledge of the company and depth of financial acumen," stated Yves Laflamme, President and Chief Executive Officer. "On behalf of the Board of Directors and employees of Resolute, I would like to thank Jo-Ann for her years of service and valued counsel. She has played an important role in building a stronger, more profitable and sustainable Resolute," Laflamme added. Longworth will serve as a special advisor to Lalonde until January 31, 2019. Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including market pulp, tissue, wood products, newsprint and specialty papers, which are marketed in close to 70 countries. To learn more, please visit: www.resolutefp.com SOURCE: Resolute Forest Products Inc. British Foreign Secretary arrives in Tehran for nuclear deal talks 11/19/18 Source: Press TV British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has met with his Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in the Iranian capital Tehran for talks that were expected to focus on a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic. The British official arrived in the Iranian capital earlier on Monday and later met with Zarif. IRNA reported that Hunt would also meet with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani. Secretary Hunt is the first Western official of his rank to visit Iran since the United States - formerly a party to the deal - unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in May. The administration of US President Donald Trump had been hoping to get the other parties to the deal with Iran to likewise scrap the deal. Instead, they have stressed that not only will they stick to the agreement but that they will also work to sustain it in the face of increased US pressure. In a statement ahead of the visit, Hunt called the Iran deal "a vital component of stability in the Middle East." "It (the Iran nuclear deal) needs 100 percent compliance though to survive," the British foreign secretary stressed. "We will stick to our side of the bargain as long as Iran does." Just last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran continues to adhere to all of its obligations under the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), despite the US pullout, which also entailed the restoration of unilateral sanctions on Iran and the countries doing business with it. The IAEA is tasked with monitoring the technical aspects of the deal. It is yet to post its latest verification and monitoring report on Iran on its website, but Reuters has obtained a copy and reported its content. Iran's partners in the deal, namely the UK, France, Russia, China, Germany, and the European Union (EU), have been working on a financial mechanism that would bypass the American monetary system and enable direct and secure payments to the Islamic Republic, including for oil purchases, which the US sanctions have attempted to hinder. That mechanism, known as the Special Purpose Vehicle, will likely be one topic of discussion between Hunt and Zarif. Hunt also plans to discuss what he has said are "destabilizing activity by Iran" in the region and the case of British nationals imprisoned in Iran on espionage charges. IRAN: Ayatollah Blasts FM Zarif Comments As MP Talks Of His Impeachment 11/20/18 Source: Radio Farda Following implicit criticism of foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif by the conservative head of Iran's Judiciary, a member of parliament says that Zarif's impeachment process has begun. On Monday, the Judiciary's Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani dismissed Zarif's recent comments about high level of money laundering in Iran, describing it as a "stab right into the heart" of the Islamic Republic ruling system. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (source: Iranian daily Jomleh) On Tuesday, the conservative Tasnim news agency, close to revolutionary guards, quoted a member of parliament as saying that a proposal for Zarif's impeachment is being prepared to be put to a vote. It is not clear when the plan will be put in motion. Earlier on November 11, Zarif had said that those who profit billions of dollars from money laundering are spending millions of it to prevent the passage of the bills requiring more financial transparency. An international transparency watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has demanded that Iran should adhere to anti-money-laundering standards and enact laws to prevent financing of terrorism. The foreign minister went on to accuse state-owned agencies that he refrained from naming, of mounting the campaign against President Hassan Rouhanis' proposed legislation known as Palermo Bills. "We cannot challenge the scenes set by these wealthy and mighty state-organs," he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (artwork by Bozorgmehr Hosseinpur) The comments triggered a wave of enraged responses from the conservative camp dominating Iran. Zarif was summoned for more explanation to parliament's (Majles) influential National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, forcing him to reiterate that he had not accused any state-run institution of money laundering. The adoption of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing laws by Iran can help its standing with European countries that have pledged to help Iran continue doing trade despite U.S. sanctions. Nevertheless, Zarif's clarification was not good enough for his opponents. Soon, the pressure on him increased to the extent that widely circulated rumors said he has already resigned. These rumors reached a level that the spokesman of the foreign ministry, Bahram Ghasemi had to react on Monday in his press briefing. "For sure, I reject this rumor. These are deliberately manufactured, processed and spread by certain circles. Mr. Zarif is energetically busy with his work. He was in parliament yesterday and today he is hosting a foreign delegation". Despite Zarif's clarification and Ghasemi's strong denial, the head of the Islamic Republic' judiciary decided on Monday to join the chorus of the conservatives condemning the foreign minister's remark. "If there is huge money laundering in the country, why did you not report it to the judiciary?" state-run Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) cited Sadeq Amoli Larijani as saying. Carefully avoiding mentioning Zarif by name, the mid-ranking Ayatollah maintained, "The enemy's best tool is economic pressure--- In such situation officials are expected not to make double-edged comments that could be misused by the enemy." Furthermore, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani called upon Iranian officials to avoid unwarranted remarks. cartoon by Samaneh Rouhollahi, Iranian daily Ghanoon The opponents of the Palermo Bills argue that their implementation is a threat to Iran's security. Analysts say the real fear in circles loyal to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is that adhering to the financial transparency requirements would prevent Iran from financially supporting the Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas militant groups. The Islamic Republic along with North Korea are the only countries on the Financial Action Task Force blacklist, but the Paris-based organization has suspended counter-measures against Tehran while it works on reforms. The FATF has given Tehran until February to either endorse the UNTOC or be added to its "blacklist" of countries refusing to cooperate in the fight against money laundering and financing terrorism. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging Tehran to endorse the bills before the deadline set by FATF. Madam Cynthia Morrison, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Tuesday said some shelters are being readied for street children to be moved in from December this year. She said it was the Ministrys desire that every street child would have a home to enjoy their Christmas. Madam Morrison was responding to a request made by a group of school children to her as part of activities to mark the Universal Childrens Day, in Accra. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) sponsored the programme. Madam Morrison assured them that her Ministry was mandated to ensure the welfare of not only the elderly but that of all children, particularly, the disadvantaged. The Ministry, she said, wanted to comply with all the international laws regarding the relocation of such children, to complement the Ghanaian laws also so that they did not return to the streets. She said the Government would explore putting some of the children up for adoption, if the need be to ensure that they grew up in a home with love and care. She explained that some of the street children were there because they had either ran away from abusive people, from hunger or were sheer delinquent. The United Nations instituted the Day in 1954 to be celebrated annually, on November 20, for creating awareness on child rights, improving childrens welfare, as well as promoting international unity. Some of the abuses enumerated by the children were; child marriage, child sex abuse, female genital mutilation (FGM), child labour and children in the streets. Ronald Djanie, a Junior High Student (JHS) of the Grey Memorial Basic School, expressed discontent about how some of his fellow children were out of school and lived on the streets, while Fauzia Ashong and Mariam Abubakar prayed that child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation would end. The Minister warned against using children to beg or hawk, stating the practices exposed them to money at an early stage, making some of them money conscious and predisposed to crime. The Minister urged parents and guardians to bring up their children to be responsible, provide their basic needs such as education, food shelter and clothing, allow them to enjoy their childhood and treat them well because they were gifts from God. She condemned FGM and child marriage, saying the child activists would be encouraged to become ambassadors to appeal not only to parents of the unfortunate girls but the victims as well on the need to complete school, or acquire a trade before entering into marriage. Madam Morrison advised girls that they had the absolute right to their bodies and should not allow anyone to abuse them sexually. Also, they should also determine when to marry and not give in to child marriage. She asked children to obey and be proud of their parents, humble themselves, be content with what they had, and avoid negative peer pressure. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister of the Interior, on Monday reiterated the countrys commitment to implement the priority areas of the Sendai Framework to build disaster resilience for the citizenry. He said in consonance with, priority three, which required nations to invest in disaster risk reduction for resilience, the nation is putting measures in place to mitigate the various hazards facing the country. Mr Dery said the Government had committed GHC5.5 million in the 2018 budget for critical storm drain construction and dredging in areas such as South Kaneshie, Awudome and Adabraka-Odawna to direct outflows into the Odaw drain. The Minister, speaking at a five-day Disaster Risk Reduction workshop, on the theme, Building resilience of natural hazards in Sub-Saharan African regions, countries and communities, said more of such initiatives would be implemented across the country. The Workshop was organised by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in collaboration with National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to discuss the probabilistic risk profile of Ghana in the face of flood and drought risk. The probabilistic risk profile was conducted by researchers from CIMA Research Foundation for four African countries including Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Angola. Mr Dery said in a bid to strengthen the NADMO, Parliament passed a new NADMO Act 927 and the Act established the National Disaster Fund for the country. He announced that government, since 2017 had made payments into the fund, saying, This is a proof of Governments commitment to strengthen the disaster risk management and governance system of the country. He said effective planning and management of disasters could largely be achieved if data on disaster occurrences is available. Historical disaster data is one vital tool needed to make well informed disaster risk mitigation policies, accordingly, it is critical to acquaint stakeholders with the UNISDR Des Investar platform, which makes global disaster data readily accessible to all, he said. As we embark on the disaster risk management journey, we would need several of such innovative initiatives to help manage disasters to make the world a better place for everyone. Thus, improved awareness of disaster risks assessment and risk modelling as well as the probabilistic risk profiles for flood and drought hazards will be of immense benefit to us. Mr Eric Nana Agyeman-Prempeh, the Director General of NADMO, said the increased frequency of natural hazards around the world and the number of casualties, had confirmed that, nations and communities are highly vulnerable to the impacts of natural hazards. It has been observed that natural hazards by themselves may not necessarily cause disasters; it is the combination of an exposed, vulnerable, ill-prepared population or community with little capacity that generates a disaster, he said. Therefore, there is a pressing need for vulnerable economies to fully engage in disaster risk reduction and management. Communities around the world are being devastated by drought, floods, and other intense and unpredictable disasters. Disaster risk management is essentially capital intensive, hence budgetary allocations must be prioritised accordingly. Most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have limited financial capacity, therefore theres the need for all relevant stakeholders to advocate for budgetary allocations to strengthen the socio-economic base for recovery and reconstruction after the natural disaster. Mr Agyeman-Prempeh said as a focal agency in Ghana, NADMO had not relented in its effort to manage disasters by coordinating government and non-government agencies and to improve the livelihood of communities including their resilience to disasters. He said the government is working hard in a proactive and responsive manner to achieve that goal, and it is also imperative that people are made aware of the risks around them and also on how they can reduce their vulnerability. When disaster strikes, it is always the poor who are vulnerable that suffer the most. The most important task ahead is to build the resilience of Sub - Saharan African regions and less endowed countries and communities, including Ghana from future disasters. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Shatta Wales freestyle on BBC 1 Xtra is the definition of trash! perhaps, this has confirmed the widespread perception that he does gibberish music, music with no better content. And its a big disgrace to mother Ghana, himself and his deluded SM fans. How can an artiste who claims to be the King of Dancehall music in Africa disgrace himself like an underground artiste on such a bigger platform? The video is fast trending and the majority of Ghanaians have expressed their disappointments in the selfacclaimed Dancehall King. In short, his freestyle on BBC 1 Xtra is what a typical music critic like Mark Okraku-Mantey will term as gibberish and indeed, its gibberish! Watch the video below. Source: ghanacelebrities.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 We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form As the two inlet streams spilled into Lake Jezero, they dropped loads of sediment, forming deltas, including the spectacular southern one that will be Mars 2020's target. How long did the lake and the streams that fed it last? Thats one of the major unanswered questions about Jezero. The delta deposit could have formed in as short a time as 20 years. But the crater is filled with material; if all that material beyond the delta is actually sedimentary, it might have taken 1 to 10 million years to fill. Thats a pretty wide spread, and makes a huge difference to whether life might once have thrived there. After the stream activity petered out some time in the middle Hesperian age of Mars history, the delta started eroding away. What we see today isnt what the delta looked like after the last stream flowed across it; Mars winds were already attacking it. Then the Syrtis Major volcano got going to the southwest, and its eruptions continued into the most recent, Amazonian era of Mars history. Lavas from Syrtis spilled into Jezero, covering its floor and lapping up on to the bottom of the delta, but not covering the delta completely. Based on crater counting, that volcanic filling probably happened around 3.5 billion years ago, still during the Hesperian era. After the lavas, the delta made of material that is less resistant to erosion than lava is continued to erode away from wind action, probably right down to the present day. Throughout some or all of this time, groundwater couldve been percolating through the rocks, altering original minerals to new ones. At present, there is a wide variety of minerals exposed within Jezero and just outside it. There are many kinds of carbonates and clay minerals, which typically form in wet environments, in addition to the lava-related minerals that are more common on Mars. Some of those minerals formed from groundwater action; some of them formed when the delta deposits became rock; and some mineral grains might be unchanged from when they were first eroded from the rocks way outside of Jezero, a long time ago. Disentangling which minerals formed where, and what that tells us about the history of the geology and climate at the site, is work for geologists. The Lee County Sheriffs Office said that 46-year-old Elwood Timothy Robinson is accused of shooting and killing 19-year-old William Hughes and 16-year-old Jeremy Stewart. He also reportedly wounded an unidentified female teen with a gunshot to her hand. She is expected to recover. Image courtesy of Lee County SO / Facebook. A man pretending to be a police officer allegedly murdered two Florida teens and wounded another in a wooded area in Lee County, located on the west side of the peninsula. The Lee County Sheriffs Office said that 46-year-old Elwood Timothy Robinson is accused of shooting and killing 19-year-old William Hughes and 16-year-old Jeremy Stewart. He also reportedly wounded an unidentified female teen with a gunshot to her hand. She is expected to recover. "These senseless acts of violence will not be tolerated," Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said on Facebook. "Thanks to the quick actions of our detectives, this killer was identified and arrested. I can assure you my team stands ready to aggressively pursue these offenses and rid these killers from our streets. The death of these two young men is a tragic and needless loss." Robinson was charged Saturday with two counts of second-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and impersonating an officer. Officer Michael Sippel of the Rochester (NY) Police Department pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge that he assaulted a Rochester man who had been wrongly identified as a burglary suspect, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. Rochester resident Christopher Pate was injured during a confrontation with two police officersSippel and Spenser McAvoyin May. A grand jury found enough evidence to criminally charge Sippel, but not enough for charges against McAvoy. Sippel's attorneyClark Zimmermannsaid after Thursday's arraignment that Pate closely resembled a burglary suspect whom the officers were searching for. He said Pate refused to provide identification, increasing the officer's suspicions, and refused to stop when officers tried to question him. Sippel has been suspended without pay. 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 The Abramson Cancer Center joins 27 other leading academic cancer centers from across the United States in creating the most frequently updated cancer care guidelines worldwide. PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pennsylvania, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) today announced that Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania (ACC) will become the organization's 28th Member Institution. This alliance of top academic cancer centers from across the United States is devoted to improving and facilitating quality, effective, efficient, and accessible cancer care so patients can live better lives. The ACC's membership into NCCN will include the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Clinicians and scientists from the ACC will join more than 1,300 experts from current NCCN Member Institutions to work together across 53 panels to review the latest innovations and approvals in cancer care, in order to update the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). Those guidelines were downloaded more than 8 million times in 2017 alone and help to establish high-quality standards for care worldwide. There are currently 73 different NCCN Guidelines, which apply to 97% of cancers affecting patients in the United States, plus recommendations for related conditions like nausea, fatigue, distress, or immunotherapy-related toxicities. "The Abramson Cancer Center is a perfect fit and wonderful addition to the group of leading cancer centers that comprise NCCN," said Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. "Penn is one of the pioneers for immunotherapy and is also at the forefront for innovative treatment approaches involving stem cell transplantation, genetics, palliative care, pediatric cancer care, and other areas. Penn Medicine also shares NCCN's commitment to improving care for underserved populations in the United States and abroad. We look forward to working together to make sure people with cancer everywhere receive the very best evidence-based care possible." NCCN was started by 13 founding Member Institutions in 1995, including Philadelphia-based Fox Chase Cancer Center, which also housed the nonprofit's original headquarters. Since then, the alliance has expanded significantly, both in membership and resources, which also include the Library of NCCN Compendia, NCCN Guidelines for Patients, NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for low- and middle-income countries, and numerous international Adaptations and Translations. Earlier this year, NCCN moved to new headquarters in Plymouth Meeting, PA, to accommodate its continuing growth. "We are pleased and excited to welcome the Abramson Cancer Center as a member of NCCN," said Gary J. Weyhmuller, MBA, SPHR, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, NCCN. "Our Member Institutions represent some of the best care available across the country. The addition of the Abramson Cancer Center serves to further strengthen our network." "The Abramson Cancer Center is leading the charge of the immunorevolution, with research that has led to four new Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cancer drugs this year alone," said Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, Director of the ACC. "We're energized to share our expertise with NCCN, as well as the chance to collaborate with other Member Institutions to ensure patients across the country are receiving the best possible care." The ACC's expertise is especially highlighted by its role as global pioneers in new approaches to cancer treatment, particularly in personalized cellular therapies and proton beam radiation. Penn developed the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy, which has since been approved for a second indication and in multiple countries. The approach has successfully eradicated blood cancer in hundreds of patients around the world. Studies show it leads to overall remission rates of 80 percent among acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients whose cancer could not be contained by the standard chemotherapies doctors have relied on for decades. "Our experience bringing cancer treatment to patients all over the world has given us a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities involved, and our experts are looking forward to collaborating on these issues with fellow experts from other NCCN Member Institutions," said Lawrence Shulman, MD, Deputy Director for Clinical Services at the ACC. Shulman also serves as chair of the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer. NCCN will soon begin the process of incorporating experts from the ACC onto current and future NCCN Guidelines Panels. The NCCN Guidelines are the most frequently-updated medical guidelines in any discipline and are available free-of-charge for non-commercial use at NCCN.org or via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines app. About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 28 leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, is dedicated to improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care so that patients can live better lives. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The NCCN Member Institutions are: Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH; City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA; Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center | Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA; Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA; The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, and Rochester, MN; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH; Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY; Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, CA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL; UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA; UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO; University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN; and Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer Hospital, New Haven, CT. Clinicians, visit NCCN.org. Patients and caregivers, visit NCCN.org/patients. Media, visit NCCN.org/news. Follow NCCN on Twitter @NCCNnews and Facebook @National.Comprehensive.Cancer.Network. Media Contact: Rachel Darwin 267-622-6624 [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/441768/NCCN_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.nccn.org SOURCE National Comprehensive Cancer Network If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here The Grand Hyatt Bogota signals a landmark addition to the portfolio of hospitality architecture by Goettsch Partners. Photo James Steinkamp Photography, courtesy GP The Grand Hyatt Bogota stands out in Colombia for its modern expression and leading-edge technology and design ideas. The taut, reflective glass facade heralds the arrival of the modern and progressive city of Bogota, says architect Michael F. Kaufman, AIA, LEED AP, partner-in-charge at GP. The globally renowned architecture firm Goettsch Partners has announced the completion of the Grand Hyatt Bogota, a new, 372-room hotel complex with a 230-foot-tall elliptical tower marking the symbolic center of an 18-building commercial complex now under construction midway between Bogotas historic center and its airport. The new hotel, replete with helipad for visiting dignitaries, has debuted this fall as one of South Americas preferred destinations and accommodations. The Grand Hyatt Bogota also signals another landmark addition to the extensive portfolio of hospitality architecture by Goettsch Partners known globally as GP spanning 30-plus major hotel projects and more than 50 million square feet of facilities on three continents. The project is the second for Goettsch Partners (GP) in South America, following the successful Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo in Brazil, which opened more than 15 years ago. The new project, developed by the Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Organization and positioned by operator Hyatt Hotels Corporation as the premier hotel in the city and the first Grand Hyatt in Colombia, has paired architect GP with Chilean interior design firm Studio Echeverria Edwards. The architect of record and general contractor is Construcciones Planificadas, and GP collaborated with an international team of engineers and consultants, including a bioclimatic expert. This new hotel complex represents an exceptional opportunity to create a singular and completely modern touchstone in South America to draw both international travelers and dignitaries as well as Colombian businesspeople and families looking for the finest experience and the largest ballroom available in Bogota, says Travis Soberg, AIA, LEED AP, principal and director of sustainable design for GP. Designed to anchor the business district called Ciudad Empresarial Sarmiento Angulo and to integrate with its glass-and-steel office blocks set against the scenic mountain Monserrate, the Grand Hyatt Bogota stands out in Colombia for its modern expression and incorporates leading-edge technology and design ideas. Unique to the region, the hotel is wrapped in a precision-engineered, blue-glass curtain wall and detailed with wood millwork both from Spain as well as imported fabricated stone, among other high-end components. Located near the U.S. Embassy and conveniently adjacent to a major highway and the citys main airport, the Grand Hyatt Bogotas curving glass walls employ robust double glazing and a highly insulated envelope, ensuring quiet guestrooms and other interior areas, says Soberg. A three-story podium clad in warm stone, natural wood, bronze-toned metals and glass wraps the lobby, restaurants and other amenities, offering views into the hotel and through to the commercial areas central paseo, or walkway, from the adjoining neighborhood. Outdoor dining and gathering areas connect the hotel to the paseos pedestrian life, creating an active urban space and inviting atmosphere. We have the best hotel in Colombia, an example of what can be achieved when things are thoughtfully considered, the projects leader and backer, businessman Dr. Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo, announced at the ribbon-cutting. Today we deliver this Grand Hyatt as a world-class project." Inside, the hotel complex opens to a dramatic atrium, leading to 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space, two signature restaurants, a bar and coffee shop, as well as a fitness center, pool and full-service spa. The ballroom is the largest regionally, according to the developers. The taut, reflective glass facade heralds the arrival of the modern and progressive city of Bogota, says architect Michael F. Kaufman, AIA, LEED AP, partner-in-charge at GP. Its design acknowledges the hotels role in this growing business district while gesturing to the city center and offering guestroom views to Bogotas downtown. Worldwide Hospitality Design by Goettsch Partners (GP) The new hotel is another high-profile architectural commission in a long line of signature projects by GP, including works on three continents and in more than 20 cities. Goettsch Partners hotel projects have ranged from boutique properties to large, urban luxury developments of more than 1,200 guestrooms, says Matthew C. Larson, Assoc. AIA, the firms chief marketing officer. The work spans 10 major operators and 20 brands, totaling more than 12,000 keys in total. The wide range of expressive, innovative hospitality solutions reflect GPs approach of crafting spaces and buildings that respond to their destinations and embody the lifestyle experiences of the hotels and restaurants. Other hotel projects designed by the firm include the Viceroy Chicago in the U.S., the Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo in Brazil, the Four Seasons Mumbai in India, and the Park Hyatt Guangzhou and Hangzhou Marriott both in China. Completed this fall, Grand Hyatt Bogota opened for business in late August and celebrated a ceremonial ribbon-cutting in early October. For more information on the hotel and on hospitality architecture by Goettsch Partners, contact C.C. Sullivan. ### About Goettsch Partners Goettsch Partners (GP) is an architecture firm with a global perspective. Based in Chicago, with additional offices in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, the firm brings a singular approach to design that combines seasoned experience with a passion for exploration and innovation. Completed projects span five continents and represent a diverse range of types and sizes. Goettsch Partners hospitality projects include standalone buildings and mixed-use complexes for 20-plus flags covering three continents and more than 20 cities, ranging from boutique destinations to urban luxury hotels of more than 1,200 keys. Every project design begins with multiple concepts that are evaluated for intrinsic value, constructability and environmental impact. GP projects share a consistent visual language of bold clarity that celebrates highly crafted technical solutions delivering optimal performance. Visit http://www.gpchicago.com for more information. When retired radiologist Alain Haim moved to the United States from Bolivia more than 46 years ago, he had no idea he would one day become a writer. In I Dont Know What Im Doing: A Well-Managed Life (published by Balboa Press), Haim looks back at the many moments that have led to his life today as a retired professional, husband, father and author. The book is available for purchase at: https://www.amazon.com/Don%C2%92t-Know-What-I%C2%92m-Doing/dp/1982205210/. From the antics of his apartment tenants, to his travels with his wife, his adult childrens excursions, to ordinary trips to the shopping mall, Haim shares a world of observation about human beings, philosophy, science, music, travel, chess and the creative act of writing. The book offers Haims reflections on how he came to be the man he is today, as well his views on society at large. Offering an inner adventure that tracks a life in its many facets, from the mundane to the extraordinary, Haim says his book will appeal to anyone that wants to read an unconventional memoir. An excerpt from I Dont Know What Im Doing: After living in this country for a while, I was asked on a couple of occasions how I liked it. I like it a lot, I said. Im an American by choice, not by accident. One day when I was in the middle of this manuscript, Ben, who was sitting next to me helping with the editing, asked, How are you planning to end this story? I told him I would write, This story has no end. I Dont Know What Im Doing By Alain Haim Hardcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 216 pages | ISBN 9781982205201 Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 216 pages | ISBN 9781982205218 E-Book | 216 pages | ISBN 9781982205225 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Alain Haim is a retired radiologist who found the inspiration to write. He and his wife, Anna, have two children. He currently lives in Green Brook, New Jersey. Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, Inc. a leading provider in publishing products that specialize in self-help and the mind, body, and spirit genres. Through an alliance with indie book publishing leader Author Solutions, LLC, authors benefit from the leadership of Hay House Publishing and the speed-to-market advantages of the self-publishing model. For more information, visit balboapress.com. To start publishing your book with Balboa Press, call 877-407-4847 today. For the latest, follow @balboapress on Twitter. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Rebuilding Median By LaGuardia Kicking off construction of a project to rebuild and beautify the Ditmars Blvd medians between 78th Street and the airport (82nd Street), a press conference... Marathon 2021 Runners of all racing stripes took part in the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon on November 7. Racing categories in this, the largest marathon... Mount Sinai Queens Opening New Infusion Center The last week of October was marked by an expansion of health care capacity in the borough, as Mount Sinai Queens celebrated the opening of... Rancho Santa Fe resident Julie Wright, 50, is one of a team of five Southern California residents raising money to help save African elephants through a 40-mile fundraising walk in Kenya Dec. 7-11, according to a news release. Each participant is seeking to raise $10,000 individually for an international nonprofit called Space for Giants that works in eight African countries where 80 percent of the continents remaining 415,000 elephants live. Wright and her fellow walkers, including San Diegan Carol Penner, will set out from Ol Pejeta Conservancy about three hours northwest of Nairobi on a four-day trek to Loisaba Conservancy. Along the way, theyll meet and speak with naturalists, conservationists, anti-poaching forces, rangers and other experts who are on the vanguard of elephant conservation. Always concerned about wildlife conservation, Wrights passion for elephant conservation was stoked two-and-a-half years ago after a trip with her husband to Chiang Mai, Thailand where she spent several days with Asian elephants rescued from logging, street begging and tourist traps. It was bittersweet to be in such close proximity to these animals. I felt intense joy to be so close to such amazing creatures, but also incredible sadness knowing theyd been taken from their mothers, and basically tortured until their spirits were broken so they could pull logs or carry a tourist on their back, Wright said. African elephants have not been domesticated like Asian elephants. Thats because theyre much bigger and both male and female African elephants grow tusks. However, that also means ivory poaching has become so extreme that one elephant is killed every 45 minutes in Africa. Wrights friend, a philanthropist based in Los Angeles who is joining the walk, told Wright about Space for Giants explaining that the nonprofit checked all the boxesland conservation, multinational cooperation and activism at the highest levels of government, anti-poaching programs with a strong enforcement focus, and economic development programs ensuring that the interests of farmers and villagers are aligned with the interests of elephants to reduce elephant-human conflict. Space for Giants does it all from putting up a fence to protect farmers fields to arming and training rangers to stop poachers, but in everything they do, theyre protecting one of Africas keystone species and that benefits many more species of animals too, says Wright. Her friends foundation will match any contributions Wright raises personally. Wright adds the Penner decided to join the Great Elephant Walk after they met this summer at a local fundraiser in Carlsbad for Nsefu, a wildlife conservation program co-founded by San Diegan and long-time radio personality Coe Lewis. To learn more about Space for Giants, see www.spaceforgiants.org. To learn more or donate to Wrights fundraising campaign, see www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/the-great-elephant-walk-team-yellow-giraffe/juliewright4 For more about Nsefu: nsefu.org Rantoul, IL (61866) Today A few passing clouds. Low 32F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 32F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. MOSCOW, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russia's sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, damaged in a floating dock accident last month, will be upgraded in time, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said Monday. "This problem will not affect the timing, because, under a contract, the upgrading work in a dock is planned for next summer or the spring of 2020," Manturov was quoted by TASS news agency as saying. He said the place, where the upgrading of the ship will be completed, is currently under determination. The modernization of Admiral Kuznetsov began in October 2017 at a plant in Russia's northwestern port city of Murmansk. The work is scheduled to be completed in 2020 and the vessel is expected to return to service in 2021. But the PD-50 floating dock, one of the largest in the world, sank on the night of Oct. 30 during the planned release of the Admiral Kuznetsov from it. A falling crane damaged the ship's take-off deck. Four people were injured in the accident, one of whom died later. Another worker is still missing. Manturov said that options include building a dry dock structure at a nearby shipbuilding plant, acquiring a new finished dock, or using a dry dock at the Sevastopol plant in Crimea. The 300-meter-long and 67-meter-wide PD-50 dock, built in Sweden in 1980, is to be recovered, Manturov said, without specifying the exact date. Posted by Jay on at 12:01 PM CST Marvel has sent out solicitations for their February 2019 titles, including 6comics and 2 trade paperbacks!KIERON GILLEN (W) ANDREA BROCCARDO (A)Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELLGREATEST HITS VARIANT COVER BY SARA PICHELLIACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERTHE ESCAPE AFTERMATH The great love story of our time as man and spaceship are brought back together in a tearful reunion. Er...HAN gets the FALCON back. Its not just about the escapeits what you leave behind...32 PGS./Rated T $3.99JODY HOUSER (W) CORY SMITH (A) Cover by PAOLO RIVERACONCEPT DESIGN VARIANT COVER BY TBAPUZZLE PIECE VARIANT COVER BY MIKE MCKONE (6 OF 27)GREATEST HITS VARIANT COVER BY TBAMOVIE VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLEAN UNTOLD ANAKIN ADVENTURE FROM THE HEART OF THE CLONE WARS! A chance to strike a devastating blow to the SEPARATIST cause comes with a high cost. Will ANAKIN choose the darker path, or hold true to the CODE OF THE JEDI? Guest-starring OBI-WAN KENOBI!32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T $3.99(of 5)ROBBIE THOMPSON (W)LEONARD KIRK (A)Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMAVARIANT COVER BY TBATHE MISSION BEGINS! The training wheels are off as HAN SOLO and his fellow cadets head into real combat warfare! In the chaos of battle, will Han take a chance to slip the bonds of the EMPIRE? Or will he risk his freedom AND his life to help a fellow cadet left behind enemy lines?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99JODY HOUSER (W) LUKE ROSS (A) Cover by PAOLO RIVERACONCEPT DESIGN VARIANT COVER BY TBAPUZZLE PIECE VARIANT COVER BY MIKE MCKONE (7 OF 27)MOVIE VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLETHE FORMER JEDI BEGINS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR HIS SITH MASTER! However, an unexpected encounter with an old student threatens his plans. Caught between his old life and his new, will DOOKU be able to protect the secrets of the SITH? And does he control the DARK SIDE, or is he merely its tool?32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T $3.99(of 7)ROBBIE THOMPSON (W)WILL SLINEY (A)Cover by PHIL NOTOVARIANT COVER BY SCOTT FORBESTHE KESSEL RUN! HAN and his crew pulled off an impossible heist... ...but will the EMPIRE stop them before their stolen unrefined coaxium explodes? Or will a monster waiting in the Maw prevent them making the Kessel Run in under twelve parsecs?!32 PGS./Rated T $3.99SIMON SPURRIER (W) EMILIO LAISO (A)Cover by ASHLEY WITTERGreatest Hits Variant Cover by KEVIN NOWLANWORST AMONG EQUALS PART 4 Rogue archaeologist DOCTOR APHRA continues her race against time and total bodily explosion with only professional murder droid TRIPLE-ZERO for company. Facing firing squads, harpoon-flinging reptiles and worst of all really bad traffic, they have no idea theyre being watched by the deadliest Imperial threat of all: The Coalition for Progress! Face the unmitigated terror of the EMPIRES public relations division...32 PGS./Rated T $3.99Written by DAVID MANAKPenciled by WARREN KREMERCover by WARREN KREMERJourney to the forest world of Endor for adorable adventures with the Ewoks! Join Wicket Warrick, his friend Teebo and Chief Chirpas daughter Princess Kneesaa in colorful capers filled with rainbow bridges and rites of power! Who dares brave the Valley of Evil? Where will the Ewoks land when a mission of honor turns into a flight to danger? And what is the incredible secret of the Terrible Machine? There are discoveries and deadly games in store as the Ewoks face a call to arms, a chase to the end and a fight to the finish! The cuddly stars of Return of the Jedi take center stage in fun-filled stories guaranteed to make you sing Yub Nub! Collecting EWOKS #1-5.112 PGS./All Ages $15.99ISBN: 978-1-302-91557-5Written by JOHN JACKSON MILLER & CHRIS AVELLONEPenciled by DEAN ZACHARY, BRIAN CHING, RON CHAN, BONG DAZO, ANDREA MUTTI & DUSTIN WEAVERCover by BENJAMIN CARREA new direction for fugitive Jedi Zayne Carrick! With his allies by his side his best friend Gryph, the mysterious Jarael and the former Mandalorian warrior Rohlan Zayne sets forth on seat-of-his-pants adventures filled with ghost ships, renegade droids and high-speed racers! A death-defying shootout on the face of a comet leads straight into the heart of one of the galaxys cruelest organizations: the slave-trading Crucible! Zayne risks his life and maybe his sanity to help Jarael face her dark past, but the consequences could be deadly for his crew! And as Zaynes saga draws to a close, hell face what may be his most dangerous enemy yet: the demonic Demagol! Collecting STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #38-50, STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC WAR #1-5 and material from STAR WARS TALES #24.432 PGS./Rated T $39.99ISBN: 978-1-302-91646-6 By Sun Shaofeng and Chen Xi Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the creation of a European army when participating in international events marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was supportive in her speech at the European Parliament on November 13. The European security and defense integration process has once again triggered world attention. Steady advancement in defense cooperation We must strengthen our self-defense capabilities...Only by building a true European army can Europe defend itself. Macrons strong tone and firm attitude quickly led to Merkels response, who also called for establishing European Security Council in charge of European defense and security policies. The days when we had to rely on others unconditionally have gone. If we want to protect Europe, we must be the masters of our own fates. Reuters reported that after President Macron called for the establishment of a European army, the European Commission also said that EU must form its own defense system, and that one day it might build its own army. European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas pointed out that Europes defense cooperation will start from defense procurement, research and development (R&D), and military peacekeeping missions, thus creating a more meaningful and confident defense system. In the past few years, EU defense integration has made significant progress under the advocacy and promotion of France and Germany. In November 2016, the European Commission proposed the European Defense Action Plan, setting up a European Defense Fund of more than 5 billion a year to promote R&D and industrial development in the field of defense. In December 2017, 25 member states of EU signed a joint agreement on permanent structural cooperation in the field of defense. Based on this framework, 17 defense cooperation projects were initially launched, covering military training, cyber security, logistic support, disaster relief, and strategic commanding. In June 2018, nine countries including France and the United Kingdom signed Letter of Intent concerning the development of the European Intervention Initiative (EI2) and promised to build a joint military intervention force to take a substantive step in joint European defense cooperation. After the Cold War, Europe realized that the alliance relationship between Europe and the United States has undergone great changes. European side is willing to adopt the concept of strategic independence, begins to emphasize the development of its own capabilities, and avoids total dependence on the alliance relations, said Cui Hongjian, director of the Department for European Studies of China Institute of International Studies. He also pointed out that European defense cooperation has been moving forward year by year since 2016. Divergences within the alliance BBC analyzed that there are two reasons for Macrons call for establishing Europes own army. One is that he hopes to build a stronger EU force; the other is his concern about US President Donald Trumps withdrawal from various treaties. Europe needs to promote European integration through security and defense integration. In recent years, integration in economy, trade, and finance has encountered great resistance. On security issues, there might be hopes for breakthroughs, said Cui Hongjian. He added that under the world context of multi-polarization gaining its momentum and intense competition among great powers, its hard for the original European development model to fit in; its sole emphasis on soft power cant make it avoid security threats; and Brexit weakens EUs overall security capacity, making defense cooperation especially essential. Although the cooperation shows initial sincerity, there are still a few hindrances unavoidable at the operational level. It is a good thing for EU to make more efforts in defense, but it should never weaken transatlantic relations. NATO is still the cornerstone of European security, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a forum, quoted by AFP on November 12. Cui Hongjian argued that, The vast majority of NATOs European allies are within the framework of NATO in terms of intelligence, equipment, or military commanding system. Some member states have no confidence in establishing an independent EU defense system, and are more accustomed to relying on NATO for security protection. How to deal with two possibly competitive defense systems? It is hard for the countries to answer in a short term. Cui believes that it is difficult for EU countries to have common security threat targets due to their different geographical locations and surrounding diplomatic relations. Whether or not to take action and in which direction to progress will be the main differences within the defense alliance. The shadow of the debt crisis has also made some European countries unable to do anything. Their main focus is to develop the economy and improve peoples livelihoods. BBC commented that no European country or organization has the economic power to build a military force comparable to that of the US, and EU alone may not be able to resist the Russian threats they worry about. In addition, as the bellwether of EU, France and Germany also have their own ambitions on defense issues. The two countries have differences in concepts, goals, and other fields, which will be fully exposed when they encounter specific problems. Cui pointed out that France intends to make use of the European platform to consolidate its hard power to a certain extent. Therefore, making foreign intervention an important indicator of security and defense touches Germanys red line. After World War II, Germany has been constantly emphasizing peace in law and politics and hopes to promote cooperation from the perspective of European integration in terms of defense issues. Trend of a multi-polar world Analysts pointed out that Europes defense integration appeal is an objective manifestation of the worlds evolution towards multi-polarization, conducive to maintaining the strategic balance of the world, while it may also bring uncertainties to NATO. Some member states may compromise their relevant commitments, leading to the marginalization of NATO. Some analysts said that the US has no intention of continuously playing the role of world police, which is an inevitable phenomenon in the worlds transition to multi-polarization, but not a temporary phenomenon brought about by Trump himself. According to RT, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russias stance on building a European army is consistent with France to a certain extent, and that this is a positive process which can strengthen the worlds multi-polarization trend. The Guardian and other media believe that, for staunch enthusiasts of European common defense, the UK which possesses the top armed forces in Europe has not been an activist for the building of a real EU army from the very beginning. The UKs thorough divorce from EU may be an important opportunity to establish an EU army. It is time for the European continent to guarantee its own security, reported German weekly newspaper Die Zeit. According to AFP, EU will substantially increase its defense budget after 2021 and plan to appropriate 13 billion for the R&D of new military equipment within seven years. From declaration to action, the EU defense cooperation still has a long way to go. The member countries must not only take advantage of the trend, dispel differences, and make breakthroughs, but also shoulder their responsibilities and safeguard world peace and stability. In the view of Cui Hongjian, Europe is currently in a period of strategic confusion. In the long run, the goal of defense cooperation is to respect multilateralism within the framework of the United Nations and meet the real needs of the international community. For example, it is unreasonable to rush to implement foreign intervention, and priority should be given to political and diplomatic solutions. If the unilateral foreign military intervention is done with a view to demonstrating security and defense capabilities, it may aggravate the already turbulent international and regional situations. Cui believes that EU must be prudent in turning willingness into responsible actions, and in trying to balance soft and hard powers as well as avoiding stepping from one extreme to the other. Disclaimer: The authors are Sun Shaofeng and Chen Xi. The article is published on People's Daily Overseas Edition. It is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author from People's Daily Overseas Edition and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity. French stocks fell sharply on Tuesday to extend the previous session's slide as global growth worries as well as concerns about slackening demand in the sector sapped investors' appetite for risk. In addition, traders remained skeptical about the outcome of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina later this month. The benchmark CAC 40 was down 43 points or 0.87 percent at 4,942 in opening deals after declining 0.8 percent on Monday. Carmaker Renault fell nearly 4 percent to extend the previous session's slump after CEO Carlos Ghosn was arrested. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Editors Pick Retail giant Walmart is set to debut its shoppable livestream events on Twitter even as it celebrates one year of these types of livestreams on several social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube. It is claimed to be the first retailer to pilot shoppable livestream events on major social platforms. While reporting financial results for the third quarter on Tuesday, Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) provided guidance for the fourth quarter and raised its outlook for the full-year 2022. For the fourth quarter, the company estimates earnings in a range of $1.69 to $1.79 per share on consolidated net sales... While reporting financial results for the third quarter on Tuesday, electronics retailer Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) raised its enterprise revenue and comparable sales growth guidance for the full-year 2022 and provided outlook for the fourth quarter. For fiscal 2022, the company now projects revenues... Lower U.S. stock futures, led by losses in Apple Inc., and sluggish commodity prices point to a subdued start for the Canadian stock market on Tuesday. Worries about global economic growth will continue to weight on sentiment and force investors to stay cautious. Activity is likely to be stock specific with corporate news setting the trend. On Monday, the benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index ended down 84.49 points, or 0.56%, at 15,071.01. The index scaled a low of 15,040.53 and a high of 15,170.82 in the session. In company news, George Weston Ltd. (WN.TO) reported adjusted earnings of $288 million or $2.25 per share for the quarter ended October 6, 2018, compared with an adjusted profit of $277 million or $2.14 per share a year ago. Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH.TO) announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange has accepted its notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid to purchase for cancellation up to 1,688,266 common shares, representing 5% of the Corporation's issued and outstanding common shares. AutoCanada Inc. (ACQ.TO) announced that it has agreed to acquire Rose City Ford Sales Limited, a Ford dealer in Windsor, Ontario, with a 65,000 square foot facility, an 11-vehicle showroom, 28 service bays and a collision centre. Asian ended notably lower on Tuesday due to global growth worries and the overnight sell-off in technology stocks on Wall Street. Chinese shares were among the worst hit as investors remained skeptical about the outcome of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina later this month. European markets were drifting lower, extending losses from the previous session, as global growth worries persisted and investors watched the latest developments on Brexit. Uncertainty about a U.S.-China trade deal during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina later this month too weighed on stocks. In economic news from Europe, data from the Federal Statistical Office showed Germany's industrial producer prices rose at the fastest pace in 18 months during October, rising 3.3% year-on-year following a 3.2% increase in September. The increase matched economists' expectations. On a month-on-month basis, producer prices increased 0.3% following a 0.5% gain in September. The outcome was in line with economists' expectations. In France, the jobless rate was unchanged in the third quarter from the previous three months, data from INSEE showed. The ILO unemployment rate for the metropolitan France was 8.8%, unchanged from the second quarter, but was 0.5 points lower than a year ago. The jobless rate for the whole of France was unchanged at 9.1% in the third quarter. The Bank of England Governor Mark Carney announced on Tuesday that the bank will bring forward the publication of the latest Financial Stability Report and the results of the bank stress tests to November 28 from December 5. "The change of date allows the Bank of England to fulfill a request from the Treasury Select Committee (TSC) to provide an analysis of how the EU Withdrawal Agreement will affect the Bank's ability to deliver its statutory remits for monetary and financial stability, including in a 'no deal, no transition' scenario," the bank said in a statement. "The TSC requested this be provided after the negotiations between the Government and Commission have concluded but in good time before any Parliamentary votes." In U.S. economic news, a report on Building Permits for the month of October is due at 8:30 AM ET. In commodities, crude oil futures for January were declining by $0.19, or 0.33%, at $57.01 a barrel. Natural gas futures for December were down $0.204, or 4.32%, at $4.496 per million btu. Gold futures for December were up $0.90, or 0.07%, at $1,226.20 an ounce. Silver futures for December were edging up by $0.017, or 0.12%, at $14.420 an ounce, while Copper futures for December were little changed at $2.798 per pound. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis The tussle between the Police and the Land Transport Authority (L.T.A.) over the enforcement of traffic infringements and the collection of fines is an interesting one. Purely from an outside perspective, it appears to be a show of who has the biggest muscles and how far one can flex them. And since both parties are not willing to compromise, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi will be required to intervene once more, as if he doesnt have a lot on his plate already. But then who else can the public service turn to? It was Prime Minister Tuilaepas administration who started this in the first place and now it has come back to haunt them in a big way. Remember the days when most things traffic-related were handled by the Police? For the uninitiated, the dispute surfaced last week when it was revealed that the Commissioner of Police Fuiavailiili Egon Keil had written to the Prime Minister and Police Minister Tuilaepa requesting that the Road Traffic Act 2009 is amended. He wants the Police to be able to create and print their own traffic offence notices, issue traffic citations and get credit for revenue generated from traffic fines. The Commissioner also wanted the Prime Minister to endorse the returning of all law enforcement functions related to traffic enforcement to the Police. Why? After all S.P.S. is a 24-hour law enforcement entity, unlike L.T.A, Fuiava wrote. With L.T.A.s efforts directed away from street enforcement, they can focus on administrative mandates such as drivers license and vehicular registration requirements, including road construction and maintenance and vehicular safety inspections conducted on their premises. He argued that the change would eliminate the confusion by the public, when two separate traffic law enforcement agencies operate simultaneously on the same streets. Fuiava has a point. But there is a snag. Under the current Road Traffic Act 2009, the L.T.A. is the authorized entity to print ticket books and collect revenue generated from traffic infringement penalties. The Chief Executive Officer of L.T.A., Galumalemana Taatialeoitiiti Tutuvanu-Schwalger, knows this and she is standing her ground. While the determination by Commissioner of Police to remove traffic law enforcement is noted, the work and livelihoods of 30-plus of my staff who will be affected if the change goes ahead is of my priority as well as of my Management and Board, she said in response. There were valid reasons why the responsibilities of traffic law enforcement including the issuance (T.O.N.s) etc. were transferred from the Ministry of Police to the Land Transport Authority. Due to the high number of minor traffic offences to be processed in addition to criminal matters that is under the jurisdiction of Police, the Traffic Division was set up under L.T.A. to deal with minor traffic offences. The efficiency in the processing of T.O.N.s was improved since the responsible agency for issuing tickets was moved to L.T.A. Galumalemana added that the L.T.A. has the resources needed for traffic law enforcement. She said the initiative has always been supported by previous Commissioners of Police, who contributed to the transfer of traffic law enforcement to be part of the L.T.As mandate. The L.T.A houses the vehicle registration and drivers license data; it is easier and quicker for our officers to find information about an offender when needed. Like all things in life, there are always two sides to a story. And looking at Galumalemanas reasons, the L.T.A. also have valid points. Which means the outcome of this dispute is going to have to be decided Prime Minister Tuilaepa and his Cabinet. Which way will he go? And how will he go about it without being seeing as taking sides? Whatever he does, the truth is that the friction between the bodies are quite obvious and it cannot be allowed to continue. Especially when it comes to such an important matter like security and road safety. Whats needed obviously is for the Police and L.T.A. to come together, sort out their differences, which is not what is happening. A tough decision needs to be made. Lets wait and see. Have a safe Tuesday Samoa, God bless! Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi says the attack on him by two men in Brisbane, Australia, last week was a storm in a teacup with a political element. He made the comment in an interview released by the Press Secretariat yesterday, where he also called the attackers rascals and pipsqueaks. If the two rascals think that they have accomplished their mission, than I am sorry to say that is far from the truth, Tuilaepa is quoted as saying. I pity the two pipsqueaks because the truth of the matter is, they are now on the wanted list of every patriotic Samoanot just because of their insults towards me as a Samoan, but also they committed the cardinal sin in the eyes of Samoa, by disrespecting the Prime Minister and leader of the Government and people publicly. The attack at the Maximillian Kolbe Catholic Parish during the official launch of Samoa Airways Apia-Brisbane service, is being investigated by the Queensland Police. One of the two men threw an uncooked pigs head at the Prime Minister. They also allegedly attempted to throw rocks and eggs at him. Yesterday, the Prime Minister called for calm. I urge Samoans to remain calm and maintain our revered reputation as a country founded on God, he said. But it goes without saying that there are serious implications behind the incident in Logan, because it suggests that a political element is involved with the 2021 General Elections as the ultimate target. When the incident happened, Tuilaepa said he paid no mind to their floor show because paramount to me is the historical significance of what Samoa Airways stands for and the gains that our people with reap from the Governments fruits of hard labour. The Prime Minister added that the attack is nothing new to him. Its a personal insult to say the least but its nothing new as I have endured many a scathing, malicious and unsubstantiated accusations as Prime Minister over the years. My only regret is that its a slap in the face for patriotic Samoans all over, he said. In fact, thanks to them, they have done more damage than good to their cause and the political agenda of their leaders in their vile attempts to try and undermine the Governments genuine effort to provide affordable and competitive airfares for Samoans in Australia and New Zealand. The Governments impeccable history of achievements which our people are reaping the benefits speaks volumes. The Prime Ministers statement did not say which leaders he was referring and what their political agenda was. But he used the opportunity to talk up the growth of Samoa Airways and the importance of the occasion in Brisbane, where he led a strong delegation from Samoa. Samoa Airways represents the return of our poor country with limited resources to the competitive commercial international airline circuit, he said. From day one, Samoa Airways has been butchered, dissected and ridiculed virally mostly by our own people. But look at where the national carrier is today, marking her first anniversary with Brisbane Australia as her new destination, complementing the daily flights to Auckland New Zealand, the weekly to Sydney and the six daily inter-island flights between the two Samoas. And Samoa Airways will continue to grow with plans in the pipeline to lease a Boeing 737-900 before the end of the year. He also reiterated calls for all Samoans to support the airline. Our people, mostly Samoans overseas, have been complaining when it comes to airfares to and from New Zealand and Australia for years. Government has responded with Samoa Airways influencing the fares to reflect a drop in ticket prices, said the Prime Minister. And for affordable air travel to continue we need universal support from all Samoans and again I implore our people to do by supporting Samoa Airways. Chinese peacekeeper introduces minesweeping and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) equipment to the Lebanese envoys. (Photo by Zhang Guijie) By Zhang Guijie and Yang Shuangquan LEBANON, Nov. 20 (ChinaMil) -- A 47-member Lebanese envoys delegation visited the 17th Chinese peacekeeping force to Lebanon on November 17, local time, under the guidance of Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian and Military Attache Ouyang Haisheng. The Chinese peacekeepers introduced the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as Chinas development and construction achievements to Lebanese envoys. They also introduced the work of Chinese peacekeepers in the mission area of southern Lebanon through video report and showcased their standard operating procedures for manual mine clearance, as well as minesweeping and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) equipment. After the visit, Lebanese envoys all spoke highly of the work done by Chinese peacekeepers in maintaining peace and stability in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese envoys delegation consisted of 47 former ambassadors of the Lebanese government. The head of delegation, Mr. Farid Samaha, former Lebanese Ambassador to China, initiated this visit, which was coordinated by the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon. The purpose of this visit primarily focused on understanding the work and contributions made by Chinese peacekeeping force in Lebanon and further enhancing the friendly relations between China and Lebanon. This was the first visit by the Lebanese government's delegation since the deployment of the Chinese peacekeeping force to the mission area. Farid Samaha, head of the Lebanese envoys delegation and former Lebanese Ambassador to China, delivers a speech. (Photo by Yin Bo) A man who was taken into custody in connection with the death of his wife has filed a bail application in the Supreme Court. Kolani Junior Lam made the application before the Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu, through his counsel Leiataualesa Komisi Koria. He was scheduled to appear in Court next Monday, but the bail application saw his appearance brought forward to yesterday. Kolani was arrested two weeks ago by the Police, following the release of a preliminary autopsy report on the post mortem conducted on his wife Sa'u Justina Sa'u, who was until her death last month the C.E.O. of Unit Trust of Samoa. The Ministry of Police has not ruled out foul play. Leiataualesa sought for an adjournment to file the bail application and was granted by the Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu who has scheduled the hearing date on 3 December, 2018. Prosecutor of the Attorney Generals Office, Fuifui Ioane did not object to the adjournment, and also advised the Court that they are yet to finalise the charges. The defendant will appear again next week Monday for his initial appearance and also to determine whether the Attorney Generals Office has finalised the charges or not. The late bureaucrat was the longest serving C.E.O. of Unit Trust of Samoa and is from Apolima-uta and Sinamoga. A man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to planting 71 marijuana plants. Ulugia Sala Suivai, 41, of Vaiusu appeared before Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson last Friday and was found guilty, with the presiding Judge emphasising that the penalties for drug sellers in Samoa should be severe. In particular, those who make a living out of selling and dealing in the narcotic, he said, before going on to quote the case of Police v Moa [2013] WSSC 24. The penalties on those who make a living out of selling drugs will be especially severe because they are at the heart of drug trafficking in this country. To dealers and sellers of marijuana, court says this: find something else to do. There is no profit or happy ending in doing drugs or being involved in the trade. According to the police summary of facts, the police executed a search warrant on the defendants premises in Vaiusu as he was suspected of growing marijuana. Behind the defendants house they discovered 71 marijuana plants, some up to three feet. A search of inside the house revealed three marijuana cigarettes weighing 1.4 grams securely wrapped in white rolling paper. The police summary says they asked the defendant about the cigarettes and the defendant admitted the cigarettes belonged to him. The defendant was apprehended and charged leading to his court appearance today for sentence on the charges aforementioned. Justice Vui noted that it is clear from the facts that the marijuana being grown by the defendant was not for his personal use, given the quantity of plants confiscated. The court has said on many previous occasions and in many prior case that involving yourself in illegal narcotics such as marijuana is a perilous path. The prevalence and seriousness of drug offending in our community has led Parliament to doubling the penalties in relation to marijuana in the last few years, and the courts routinely send people to prison for being in possession of marijuana. On the charge of cultivation of the 71 plants the 41-one-year old was sentenced to three years in prison and for the charge of possession of three cigarettes convicted hes sentenced to three months and they are to run concurrently. The moratorium imposed on the administration of the Mumps, Measles and Rubella (M.M.R.) vaccine in hospitals in Samoa has been lifted. This was confirmed by Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr Leao Tuitama in response to questions from the Samoa Observer. We have a new rigorous approach to assure the mistakes of the past will not be repeated. I have given the directive to the National Health Services with new policies including, having doctors present when vaccinations are being carried out. There are new conditions and we have issued a directive that the N.H.S. must comply with, he said. The Minister said they are still waiting for the report from the Commission of Inquiry. And we will also conduct a follow up review of the process and procedure for all the injections. The order lifting the ban on the M.M.R. was issued earlier this month. The Ministry of Health suspended the administration of the vaccine following the deaths of two toddlers at Safotu, Savaii in July this year. The Police have charged Luse Emo Tauvale and Leutogi Teothe nurses who were on duty at the hospital when the vaccine was givenwith manslaughter. The Samoa Observer sought comments from the Chief Executive Officer Leausa Dr Take Naseri, who noted that there is paperwork for the M.M.R. which has been done, and brushed off the call noting that hes in a meeting. Efforts to get comments from the Nurses Association President, Solialofi Papalii, were unsuccessful as of press time. In September Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thompson explained before the Commission of Inquirys Chairman, Tuiloma Neroni Slade the stop order is for the M.M.R. to be put on hold for the time being until the case and the investigation are completed. He added the moratorium was issued by the National Health Service (N.H.S.) and applied to all forms of vaccination that were administered on the day of the incident. Tagaloa said the moratorium was to be implemented nationwide and health service providers informed in the process. The M.M.R. vaccine is only administered at the age of 12 months with the dose one and 15 months the dose two, and we all do catch up campaign to catch up all the children that have not received the M.M.R. vaccines now, Tagaloa said. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (A.N.Z.) customers can expect an improved digital transaction system next month. The banks Regional Executive, Tessa Price said A.N.Z. is the first bank in the Pacific that will launch a Pacific wide app with enhanced features to make payment easier for their customers. This app will give our customers the ability to easily transfer money, Ms. Price said. We know everybody has a mobile phone device, so theyll be able to transact, theyll be able to pay other banks, so to start it was only A.N.Z. to A.N.Z., but now our customers can make bill payments with other banks and international payments as well, and its touch fingerprint log on app. Ms. Price said there is remittance for customers transferring money overseas, but its fee free if transactions are done online. Customers need to have an A.N.Z. account, they just need to download the Pacific wide app from the app store, and put in their details and get started. In highlighting the banks initiatives, she said A.N.Z. is the first bank to release more secure, chipped EFTPOS terminals to mitigate card fraud. We have a two factor authentication on internet banking to protect our customers, so no customers have reported compromising their logon details. A.N.Z. plays a strong role in developing the economy of the region with our financial results, they were strong last year, net profit was up, loans were reduced because that was really due to our focus on long term growth plan. We pay AUD$25 million (T$47.2) per annum of taxes, we employ 1,200 people across the region, we pay AUD$48 million (T$90.6) in wages, and weve invested in the past six years AUD$30 million (T$56.6) in projects. Ms. Price said on the banks derisking strategy, their provisions decreased, which means they can invest more. In Fiji for example we helped 500 families get a home last year, our investment into our electronic banking to make digital better automated teller machines and E.F.T.P.O.S., focus on automation and the fact that we now process 1.2 million transactions every year, straight through processing, which is 21 percent of our transactions, and thats only going to increase, she said. Caritas Samoa celebrated ten years this week, and to commemorate released its 5th State of the Environment for Oceania report. The report, written and researched by Martin de Jong with a team from Caritas Toga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia attempts to measure the impact of five environmental issues on Oceania in the last year. The coastal region, extreme weather events, access to food and water, offshore mining and drilling were all assessed by the researchers and graded from low to extreme impact. Another issue of climate finance was graded from very good to woefully inadequate, and given that low end score. Caritas Samoas researcher Karen Anaya said included in the data are personal stories of people affected by climate change. Data has a different impact when you back up the figures with a real life story, she said. We want readers to know these are people, not numbers. From Samoa, three families were highlighted in the report, each with unique experiences of the changing world around them. Malia Masoe shared her story of repeated flooding to her home on the Vaisigano River. When it rains for just one hour, water will come into the house it is dirty water that brings diseases and smells to our house. The report says the vegetative losses around Apia contribute to flooding and quote Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment statistics which show vegetation decreased 27 per cent between 2015 and 2018. Sand mining in Samoa was highlighted in the report as well, due to its impact on food and water security. According to Sautupe Alailefue Isosua has fished in Solosolo for the last 30 years, like his father before him. Today, the fish he catches barely feeds his family, let alone makes him a living, whereas before, he said, he was comfortable. Companies and people take out the sand for many other purposes and they do not care about how it is affecting the natural environment, he said. When the fish were gone I knew nothing else to do. One woman from Solosolo shared their story on the condition of anonymity. She told Caritas how her family members signed a contract allowing sand mining on their land in Solosolo. Over the years, her family suffered from increased floods. She saw the beach disappear and her home destroyed. Her family relocated inland and overseas, the report states. PR Govt. Press Secretariat - The reigning Miss Samoa Australia, Erin Noelani Taefu, has put her weight behind the Faleolo-Brisbane-Faleolo bi-weekly flights saying its the answer to prayers by many Samoans residing Queensland. Whenever there is a faalavelave back home, you can hear my parents (Mrs Maletina Taefu & Taefu Patea Taefu) itching to go but expensive air fares prevented them from travelling most of the time, says the 18-year-old. This is the predicament faced by us Samoans because we travel a lot when theres a funeral, wedding or even dedication of churches or schools back home, No go is not an option for our parents and elders. But with the direct from Faleolo- Brisbane and return, problems solved, says the Beauty Queen encouraging her fellow countrymen and women to embrace and support the national carrier. Samoa Airways is our national pride and deserves our unconditional support. The Government also deserves a standing ovation for reaching out to make travelling back home for our people overseas affordable and convenient. She says that the embarrassing verbal abused faced by the Prime Minister is uncalled for and it does not represent the genuine support by the majority of Samoans in Brisbane. He is our leader and should be respected as such, she added. She is looking forward to the end of the year holidays mea-alofa fare as plans are in the air for a family trip home to spend Christmas and New Years in Samoa. Before we had no options when it comes to going home for the holidays but with Samoa Airways and their low air-fares the possibilities are endless, she adds. Miss Samoa Brisbane is one of nine contestants who competed in the first ever Miss Samoa Pageant to be staged in Savaii earlier this year. And her support is appreciated by the Airlines Chief Executive Officer Seiuli Alvin Tuala. I appreciate the public apprehensions raised because Samoa Airways is the peoples airline. I also welcome the constructive criticisms voiced virally in the infant days of the airline because its just the beginning and the more the critics voice their say it serves as a constant reminder for the resurrected national carrier to fly away from mistakes of the past. It also gives me and management strategies on how best to remedy and alleviate the constructive and not so constructive feedback. At the end of the day, Samoa Airways is about our identity as Samoans worldwide. Our commitment will not be defeated by the obsession of a few whose ultimate mission is to criticize for the sake of criticizing for personal recognition and of course making headlines for a financial gain. Seiuli noted that while the positive encouragements is greatly appreciated, there is always room for improvements. Getting Samoa Airways off the ground in six months is a miracle to say the least, he admits. But there is more to a book than its cover. For a single aircraft airline to be competitive, it needs time to mature, to crawl before it walks. Then there is the zero no tolerance no credit policy which is also enforced to the letter including all airline staff, says Seiuli. The no credit policy without exceptions is endorsed by the Prime Minister. It is real and not a promotional policy. And forget the FOC policy because its cash up front from now on. If you are truly a Samoa Airways patriot please dont bother asking for credit, says Seiuli. He does not want to make promises of where Samoa Airways will from now saying that the airlines have set targets to chase which includes more aircrafts and new destinations. At the end of the day, Samoa Airways survival depends on the support of Samoans here and abroad, added Seiuli. Like our Manu Samoa, Samoa Airways is about survival against all odds. Think a minuteThe famous scientist Albert Einstein did not always follow social customs. One evening the president of a university hosted a dinner to honor Einstein and give him an award. Einstein was not scheduled to speak at the dinner, but after he received the award the audience began cheering and calling for him to give a speech. The president asked him to say a few words. So reluctantly Einstein returned to the stage, except this is all he said: Ladies and gentlemen, Im very sorry but I have nothing to say. Then he sat down. A few seconds later Einstein stood back up and said: In case I do have something to say, I will come back. About six months later, Einstein sent this message to the president of the university: Now I have something to say. So another dinner was held and this time Einstein gave a full speech. There is a saying: If your mind goes blank, dont forget to turn off the sound. Its simple: If you have nothing to say, then say nothing. Someone observed that Wise men talk because they have something to say, but fools talk because they always have to say something. If you do have something worth saying, it is better to use as few words as possible. If we keep it short and sweet, we might keep more friends. Or as someone said: The reason a dog has so many friends is he wags his tail, not his tongue. The Bible says that everyone should be slow to speak and quick to listen. Since we have two ears and one mouth, we should probably do at least twice as much listening as we do speaking. Besides, we will never learn anything new if we do all the talking. Silence is golden. Silence can bring you both wisdom and true friends, which are worth far more than gold. Someone said: A good listener is not only popular, but he knows a lot. The Greek philosopher Publius said: I have often been sorry for my speech, but almost never sorry for my silence. Why dont you ask Jesus to forgive you for not controlling your words and talking? Then ask Him to help you start changing and learning to listen, so you can say a lot with your silence. Just think a minute JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday survived a political showdown that had threatened to bring down his coalition and trigger early elections. Netanyahu managed to persuade Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the ultranationalist Jewish Home Party, to drop a threat to bolt the coalition. That left his government with a thin parliamentary majority and appeared to give the prime minister at least a few more months in office. While Netanyahu can declare victory, the big winner of the crisis appears to be Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza. Over the past week, Hamas has exposed major divisions in Israel over Gaza policy that could bring about the collapse of the governing coalition at any time. Here's a closer look: CONFLICT IN GAZA Israel and Hamas are bitter enemies who have fought three wars since the militant group seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade on Gaza to weaken Hamas, devastating the territory's already fragile economy. Since late March, Hamas has been leading mass demonstrations along Gaza's perimeter fence in a bid to break the blockade. More than 170 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed in the weekly demonstrations. But in recent weeks, Egyptian and U.N. mediators had made progress toward an unofficial cease-fire that would ease the blockade in exchange for quieting the demonstrations. That progress was upset last week when a botched Israeli military raid in Gaza set off two days of heavy fighting in which Palestinian militant groups fired some 460 projectiles, including an anti-tank missile that struck a bus, into Israel, while the Israeli air force struck dozens of targets in Gaza. In all, 14 Palestinians, including 12 militants, were killed, while a Palestinian laborer working in Israel was killed by a Gaza rocket. ___ CRISIS IN ISRAEL Just as the sides were on the brink of another war, Egyptian mediators forged a truce to end the fighting. That set off a political crisis in Israel. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who had favored a much tougher response, resigned in protest. Bennett, who also wanted tougher action, said he would resign if he was not given the defense portfolio. Netanyahu on Sunday rejected Bennett's ultimatum and took over the Defense Ministry, seeming to set the stage for his coalition to collapse. But in a last-minute about-face, Bennett backed down Monday and said he would give Netanyahu a chance to deal with Israel's security challenges more firmly. ___ NETANYAHU'S CALCULATIONS As opposition leader a decade ago, Netanyahu vowed to take a tougher line against Hamas than his predecessor, Ehud Olmert. But since taking office in early 2009, Netanyahu has concluded that toppling Hamas would require a lengthy military operation that would cost many lives. Reluctant to pay such a price, he instead seems content to keep a weakened Hamas in check. Keeping Gaza quiet benefits Netanyahu on several levels. Working-class border towns in southern Israel are considered strongholds of his ruling Likud Party. Netanyahu does not want an election at a time when his base is angry over the cease-fire. Netanyahu also has long argued that Israel has more serious security concerns on its northern front where Iranian forces are active in neighboring Syria and Hezbollah has amassed an arsenal of well over 100,000 rockets and missiles in Lebanon. Yechiel Leiter, a former chief of staff for Netanyahu, said countering Iran is the "hallmark" of the prime minister's agenda. "Gaza is not an existential threat," said Leiter, who is now a senior fellow at the Kohelet Policy Forum, a conservative think tank. "Iran is the overarching agenda playing behind the scenes." That was why Netanyahu did not go "full throttle" against Hamas, he said. ___ DIVISION INSTEAD OF CONCESSIONS Netanyahu may also have a deeper agenda. Hamas seized control of Gaza from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, leaving President Mahmoud Abbas only governing parts of the West Bank. By allowing Hamas to survive, Netanyahu is deepening the territorial and political split between the West Bank and Gaza. With the Palestinians weak and divided, there is little pressure for Netanyahu to make concessions, allowing him to expand West Bank settlements and solidify Israeli control over the territory. Abbas fears Israel and the U.S. are collaborating on a peace plan that would cement this division, falling short of his demand for an independent Palestinian state that includes all of the West Bank and Gaza under his control. ___ HAMAS HOLDS THE CARDS Hamas has been riding high since the cease-fire. Suffering minimal casualties, it has enjoyed a boost in popularity with the Gaza public and is now working with Egyptian mediators toward expanding the cease-fire to ease the blockade. Any lift in the economy will deepen the group's rule over Gaza. In addition, Hamas showed that while it may not be able to defeat the Israeli military, it can disrupt life throughout southern Israel and put heavy pressure on Netanyahu. Another barrage of rockets would almost certainly cause Netanyahu's coalition to collapse or force him into a war that he doesn't want. That should give Hamas additional leverage as the cease-fire talks proceed. Reuven Hazan, a political scientist at Hebrew University, said Hamas has emerged as key factor in the next Israeli election campaign. "People in Gaza will be able to decide what issue we focus on, how much we focus on it, and whether the government is going to be looked upon favorably or not," he said. ___ A DELICATE BALANCING ACT Netanyahu will have to proceed with caution. If cease-fire talks move forward and he makes concessions to Hamas, he could face a backlash from Bennett, who can bring down the coalition and force new elections at any time. Another coalition partner, the centrist Kulanu Party, last week urged Netanyahu to dissolve the government and hold early elections. Its leader, Moshe Kahlon, has not issued any ultimatums. But the two men are scheduled to meet later in the week, meaning Netanyahu is not out of the woods yet. HOUSTON (AP) A judge has ordered the U.S. government not to enforce a ban on asylum for people who cross the southern border illegally, another court setback for the Trump administration's efforts to impose new immigration restrictions without congressional approval. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar agreed Monday with legal groups that immediately sued after President Donald Trump issued a Nov. 9 proclamation saying anyone who crossed the southern border between official ports of entry would be ineligible for asylum. The administration argued that caravans of migrants approaching the southern border made the new restrictions immediately necessary. "Whatever the scope of the President's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," said Tigar, a nominee of former President Barack Obama. Trump stopped family separations at the border earlier this year after a global outcry, but it was a federal judge who ruled the administration had to reunify the families. Another judge rejected the administration's request to try to detain migrant families in long-term facilities. Monday's ruling remains in effect for one month, barring an appeal. In limiting asylum, Trump used the same powers he used to impose a travel ban the third try was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court. A joint statement by Homeland Security and the Justice Department said the Supreme Court had already shown the president had the legal right to restrict asylum. "Our asylum system is broken, and it is being abused by tens of thousands of meritless claims every year," the departments said. "We look forward to continuing to defend the Executive Branch's legitimate and well-reasoned exercise of its authority to address the crisis at our southern border." Whether asylum seekers would try now to enter between official ports of entry was unclear. One immigrant waiting at the official border crossing vowed to stay in line regardless of the ruling. "I've always taken the correct path, and I'm not going to do something illegal now," said Byron Torrez, 28, of Nicaragua. Torrez said he fled Nicaragua after someone threw acid at him during a government protest. He said he did not travel with any of the caravans. "I think it is good that the court did this because a lot of people cross illegally, not to break the law, but because they believe you have to get to the U.S. first before requesting asylum," he said. The regulations were put in place in part to stop what the government says are loopholes that allow thousands of people to avoid deportation. DHS estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum after crossing illegally. But illegal crossings overall are well below historical highs from previous decades. Tigar's ruling notes that federal law says someone may seek asylum if they have arrived in the United States, "whether or not at a designated port of arrival." "Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry," said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights, which sued the government alongside the American Civil Liberties Union. "It couldn't be clearer." Around 3,000 people from the first of the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that it closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the San Ysidro crossing to install movable, wire-topped barriers after reports that some migrants were planning to rush through the lanes but none did. As of Monday, DHS said it had referred 107 people to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services people who had sought asylum between official crossings since Trump's order went into effect. Officials didn't say whether those people's cases were still progressing through other, more difficult avenues left to them after the proclamation. Administration officials said the asylum law changes were meant to funnel migrants through official border crossings for speedy rulings instead of having them try to evade such crossings on the nearly 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) border. But many border crossings such as San Ysidro already have extensive wait times. People are often forced to wait in shelters or outdoor camps on the Mexican side, sometimes for weeks. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because "they're in real danger," either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. "We don't condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum," he said. The U.S. military has deployed 5,800 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Another 2,100 National Guard troops have also been deployed since April as part of a separate mission. They are not allowed to detain illegal crossers. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. will not punish Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at this time nor cut arms sales to Saudi Arabia for the killing of U.S.-based columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump called the killing of Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a "horrible crime" that the U.S. does not condone, but said Saudi Arabia is a "great ally" and canceling billions in arms sales would only benefit China and Russia, which would be glad to step in and make the sales. Trump's decision, announced in a statement released just before he left for the long Thanksgiving weekend in Florida, will disappoint and anger critics who have called for a much firmer rebuke to the kingdom and especially bin Salman. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that bin Salman, the kingdom's de factor leader, ordered the Oct. 2 killing, according to a U.S. official familiar with the assessment. Others familiar with the case caution that while it's likely that the crown prince had a role in the death there continue to be questions about the degree to which he was involved. The U.S. earlier sanctioned 17 Saudi officials suspected of being responsible for or complicit in the killing, but members of Congress have called for harsher actions. Trump said Tuesday in his statement that the king of Saudi Arabia and the crown prince "vigorously deny" any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Khashoggi. "Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Trump said. "That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran." He said the United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of the United States. "America First!" he wrote. Trump said he knows some members of Congress will disagree with his decision. He said he would listen to their ideas, but only if they are focused on U.S. national security. Late last week, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that calls for suspending weapons sales to Saudi Arabia; sanctions on people who block humanitarian access in Yemen or support the Houthi rebels, and mandatory sanctions on those responsible for Khashoggi's death. France's top diplomat said Monday that his country was mulling sanctions against Saudi Arabia. And Germany on Monday announced that it has banned 18 Saudi nationals from entering Europe's border-free Schengen zone because of their suspected connections to the killing. German officials, who earlier banned new weapons exports to Riyadh, also said they were halting previously approved arms exports. Some foreign policy experts have not only recommended tougher punitive measures against Saudi Arabia, but have advocated for a complete reset on relations with Riyadh. Emile Nakhleh, a former member of CIA's senior intelligence service, said that since the crown prince assumed power three years ago, he has turned his country into a "strongman autocracy" that can't be trusted. "His ruthless power grab, repression of potential challengers within his family, and crackdown on all opposition to his policies and projects inside and outside of Saudi Arabia have put American-Saudi relations at risk," Nakhleh wrote in an op-ed article Monday in the online intelligence newsletter The Cipher Brief. "He feels empowered to crush his potential rivals within the ruling family by his close relationship to President Trump and Jared Kushner." Kushner, the president's son-in-law, has worked with the crown prince on various issues, including on how to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. MANILA, Philippines (AP) Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday negotiations between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations on a nonaggression pact to prevent clashes in the disputed South China Sea could be concluded in three years and promised that any differences will be dealt with peacefully. Xi made the assurances after holding talks with President Rodrigo Duterte and other officials on a visit to the Philippines aimed at deepening relations with the American treaty ally. Xi's overnight visit to the Philippine capital, Manila, was his last stop on a three-nation swing through Asia, where he has offered infrastructure loans and aid and championed free trade amid a rivalry for regional influence with the United States. "We will continue to manage contentious issues and promote maritime cooperation through friendly consultation," Xi said. He said China aims to conclude the talks on the "code of conduct" in the disputed waters with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations within three years. Four members of the 10-nation bloc Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam along with China and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. Many fear the long-simmering disputes could spark an armed conflict that could shatter Asia's bustling economies. Ahead of Xi's visit, China and the Philippines tried to negotiate an agreement allowing joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed waters, but apparently did not reach a consensus. They signed a "memorandum of understanding on cooperation on oil and gas development" on Tuesday but officials provided few details. "It's a cooperation to find ways to find a solution," Philippine Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said of the agreement. China has sought a "maritime and air liaison mechanism," an arrangement for forces of the two countries to coordinate their naval and aircraft movements to prevent incidents in the contested waters, but the proposal has been opposed by Philippine defense officials, two Philippine officials told The Associated Press. There was no mention of the pact after Tuesday's meetings. Filipino nationalists have warned that any agreement that can undermine the Philippines' internationally recognized exclusive rights to fish and exploit resources within 200 nautical miles of the country's coast would violate the Philippine Constitution. Beijing's relations with Manila deteriorated over the territorial rifts until Duterte won the presidency in mid-2016 and sought to rebuild ties with China while criticizing U.S. security policies in a dramatic pivot. The administration of Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, had brought the territorial disputes with China to international arbitration and won, but China has ignored the outcome. Duterte has refused to immediately demand Chinese compliance with the ruling, which invalidated China's sweeping claims to the waters, where Beijing has transformed a string of disputed reefs into missile-protected island bases. Duterte's rapprochement has fostered a new era of warmer relations with the Asian economic powerhouse, from which he has sought trade and investment, infrastructure financing and weapons to fight insurgents. While Western governments have sharply criticized Duterte's brutal crackdown on illegal drugs, China has not. Both Xi and Duterte have often been in the crosshairs of human rights groups. Xi said he and Duterte "agreed to elevate our relationship into one of comprehensive, strategic cooperation," adding, "it sends a strong message to the world that our two countries are partners in seeking common development." Xi's visit to the Philippines is the first by a Chinese president in 13 years. More than 300 protesters with placards reading "Hands off our land and seas" rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate in Manila. Another group of protesters later burned mock Chinese flags near the presidential palace, where Xi and Duterte met. Duterte said Philippine participation in Beijing's "Belt and Road Initiative" was discussed and Xi invited the Philippine leader to attend the infrastructure loan program's second international forum in China next year. The ambitious program has been criticized by the United States as enticing poor nations into debt bondage and has warned it could compromise their independence. Xi has denied that Chinese loans could lead to a "debt trap." Aside from their trade disputes, China and the United States have wrestled over Beijing's assertive claims to the South China Sea. Chinese officials have asked Washington to back off from what they say is a purely Asian dispute, but the U.S. has vowed to maintain a presence in the waters, where it has no claims but has pledged to promote freedom of navigation and overflight. "We will continue to fly and sail wherever international law allows and our national interests demand; harassment will only strengthen our resolve. We will not change course," U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said at a meeting last week in Papua New Guinea that was attended by leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, including Xi. Bennett Kayser said Monday that he plans to drop out of the race to fill the L.A. school board seat he once held which has been open since Ref Rodriguez resigned from the board in July. Kayser was one of 17 candidates who declared their intention to run for the job in a March special election. He said he took himself out of the race to try to consolidate support for another candidate, Jackie Goldberg, who also previously served on the board. Rodriguez stepped down after pleading guilty to one felony count and three misdemeanors related to campaign finance violations in the 2015 election, in which he defeated Kayser, the incumbent. Goldberg served two terms on the school board, ending in 1991. She went on to the L.A. City Council and state Legislature. She and Kayser both were longtime teachers. Advertisement Her candidacy for the seat has generated a lot of buzz. If Jackie Goldberg and I are both on the ballot we have a very similar base of voters, Kayser said. He said he would continue his campaign until Goldberg gathers enough signatures to qualify for the ballot to make sure that no backup plan is needed. Once Goldberg is on the ballot, he said, he will return all campaign donations. The open seat is in District 5, which makes an arc over downtown Los Angeles and then zigzags to the cities of southeast Los Angeles County. During his four-year term, Kayser, 73, was a critic of charter schools, and charter allies spent record sums to defeat him, overcoming the support he got from the teachers union, which also spent big. Charters, which are mostly non-union, are privately operated public schools, and they complete with L.A. Unified for students. L.A. has more charters than any other school system. After school board races in 2017, the board had its first majority elected with major backing from charter advocates. Rodriguez, who was in that four-member bloc, became board president. His ally Monica Garcia took over that position soon after prosecutors filed charges against Rodriguez last year. Kayser said he trusted Goldberg to provide a check on the growth and influence of charters. Its too important not to dilute the vote, to make sure we have somebody who is not a charter person committed to take the empty seat, he said. Goldberg has been an outspoken critic of some charter schools and of some board actions she considers too pro-charter, but she has insisted she would treat charters fairly. howard.blume@latimes.com Twitter: @howardblume November 20, 1978 Evening Tribune The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year. Monday, November 20, 1978 In 1978 at Jonestown, Guyana, a congressman was murdered and more than 900 followers of Jim Jones committed mass suicide. Rep. Leo Ryan who went to Jonestown to investigate reports that people were being held against their will was ambushed and killed with three journalists and a member of the sect who wanted to leave. The killings were followed by a night of mass murder and suicide by more than 900 cult members, most of them from drinking poisoned grape-flavored punch. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: CULT DEATH! 383 Kill themselves leader among dead By Martin Merzer GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) The bodies of at least 383 men, women and children, some shot, most reportedly poisoned by their own hand, have been found at the jungle camp of a California sect whose members ambushed and killed five Americans, including California Congressman Leo J. Ryan, government officials said today. Guyanese Information Minister Shirley Field-Ridley said the whereabouts of the remaining 500 to 700 Americans at the camp was not known, but they apparently fled into the surrounding jungle, in the northwest corner of this South American nation. American lawyer Mark Lane, who was at the Peoples Temple camp just before the mass deaths occurred, told reporters today that sect members discussed mass suicide before he fled, but that the also heard many bursts of automatic weapons fire from the camp, Jonestown. He said he heard the sects founder, the Rev. Jim Jones, chanting over the camp loudspeaker, Mother! Mother! Mother! Mother!, seconds before the gunfire erupted. The hundreds of bodies 163 women, 138 men and 82 children were found by Guyanese troops who raided the camp yesterday. Field-Ridley said some had gunshot wounds but most showed no signs of violence. Among them were Jones, his wife and child, Guyanese police official C. Augustus reported later. There was no evidence of gunshot wounds. It appears that they drank some poison. A witness said that people in the area were having mass suicide, Field-Ridley told a news conference. He said the poison was being administered to them, that they were lining up for it. The poison, whose type was not known, reportedly was brewed in a large vat. According to Lanes account, the mass deaths must have occurred an hour or more after the Saturday afternoon ambush of Ryan and his group, which had gone to the camp to investigate reports of alleged large-scale abuse of sect members. Ryans party was trying to escort some disenchanted members from the camp when it was attacked at a nearby airstrip. 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. Iranian state media say the country's foreign minister discussed ways of easing international financial transactions during a meeting with British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt in Tehran. Britain's top diplomat arrived in Iran on Monday, less than two weeks after the United States re-imposed sanctions on the country's oil and banking sectors. The official IRNA news agency said Hunt and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also discussed ways of ending the war in Yemen, where Iran supports the Houthi rebels against a Saudi-led coalition. There was no immediate comment from the Britain Foreign Ministry on the talks. As caravaning migrants seeking asylum congregated at the Tijuana border, 901 people of all ages took an oath of American citizenship at San Diegos Golden Hall on Nov. 14. They proudly stood as individuals or in large groups as the names of 68 countries, from Afghanistan to Vietnam, were called alphabetically. Clutching small American flags and their new citizenship documents, they stood for the national anthem and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. U.S. District Judge Cynthia Bashant welcomed the citizens as fellow Americans and emphasized their responsibility to work together, to live side-by-side as neighbors, to vote, to remember their history and heritage but consider themselves Americans now. She stressed the U.S. motto e pluribus unum out of many, one. Advertisement Eight of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were immigrants, Bashant reminded the disparate group seated before her in four huge sections of folding chairs. The director of the local office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services further reminded them of their responsibility to serve on a jury. And before leaving, they were urged to share their experiences on social media by using the hashtag #newUSCitizens. About 17,000 citizens are sworn in every year in San Diego during similar monthly ceremonies. As the new Americans, who earlier had passed background checks, civics tests and interviews, filed out, many stopped immediately at passport application and voter registration tables in the Golden Hall lobby. Outside they were greeted by a cacophony of Democrats and Republicans manning separate voter registration booths. Cardboard cutouts of former President Barack and Michelle Obama greeted new citizens as they exited the door providing photo opportunities for family and friends. This man, left, an educator who moved here from Syria, proudly displayed his new citizenship document. (Diane Bell) The Democrats offered photo ops with a life-sized cutouts of former President Barack and Michelle Obama, while the GOP had cardboard figures of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania, plus a woman swaddled in Statue of Liberty garb, a man masquerading as Uncle Sam and someone sporting a rubber Trump mask. As the new citizens departed, I spoke with a grandmother from the Philippines who once worked at the U.S. Naval base in Subic Bay there, a young Palestinian woman, a mother of two young boys from Peru whose American husband is working in China and a couple from Iran who took the oath with their 18-year-old daughter, a UC San Diego student. Like the Democrats, the Republican Party also offered Kodak moments for new citizens, in this case a family of three from Iran, who had just emerged from Golden Hall. Some people stopped to register to vote while others simply took advantage of the festive atmosphere for photos. (Diane Bell) There were several new Americans who emigrated here to escape the chaos in Iran, Iraq and Syria, many of whom were shy about divulging their names. Some of those naturalized had been living here only five years the minimum without special circumstances before applying. One well-established Mexican immigrant, Arturo Cepeda, who rushed from the ceremony right to work, had raised a family and owned a home here. He had a green card status and waited for 41 years to seek his citizenship. The reasons they shared for becoming citizens varied: I want my passport. So I can vote. I want security. You get a voice and get to say what you want. Its an overwhelming feeling, beamed Robert Mithigani. The Nairobi, Kenya, native is in the military and stationed here at Naval Base San Diego. For me, it means a more secure future for my three kids (all under age 11). (Since they are living here and under age 18, they automatically became U.S. citizens when he took the oath.) Im a happy person right now, Mithigani said with a broad smile. Im an American citizen. diane.bell@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1518 Twitter: @dianebellSD Facebook: dianebell.news A man accused of using his car to try to run down an acquaintance and her boyfriend in El Cajon was ordered Monday to stand trial on charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. David William Dunkel, 38, was arrested June 2, along with Michelle Louise Bergen, 29. El Cajon police were dispatched about 1:20 p.m. that day to East Madison Avenue and North First Street after several 911 callers reported a vehicle striking a pedestrian. Investigators determined the crash was a deliberate act, said El Cajon police Lt. Jason Taub. Bergen got out of a white Dodge station wagon before the crash and confronted an El Cajon woman, who was a prior acquaintance of some kind, Taub said. Bergen allegedly assaulted the woman before getting back into the car, which police believe Dunkel was driving. Advertisement As the victim ran away with her boyfriend, Dunkel then deliberately drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk along East Madison Avenue, striking the womans boyfriend, Taub said. The woman was able to avoid being hit. Footage from the scene showed that the white Dodge station wagon sustained significant front-end damage after crashing into a light pole. Dunkel, Bergen and the man who was hit were all taken to hospitals by paramedics. They suffered moderate injuries, Taub said. El Cajon Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos determined that enough evidence was presented at Dunkels preliminary hearing for his case to proceed to trial on two counts each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, and one count each of robbery and intimidating a witness. Bergen had a felony charge of assault with force likely to result in great bodily injury reduced to a misdemeanor. A mother accused of drunken driving in a wrong-way head-on crash that seriously injured her infant daughter was driving on a suspended license after a DUI conviction early last year, according to prosecutors. On Monday, a week after the violent crash in Rancho Bernardo, Mayra Alejandra Troncoso, 29, pleaded not guilty to six charges, including three counts of felony child abuse. At the time of the collision, Troncosos three daughters ages 9 months, 2 years and 8 years were with their mother as she drove a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, authorities said. The baby, who police said was not wearing a seat belt or restraint, suffered life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Deputy District Attorney Ramona McCarthy said the infant remains in critical condition. This is a horrific case, McCarthy said. Children should feel secure and protected when they are in their parents care. Troncoso, who also goes by Mayra Alejandra Gonzalez, was injured in the Nov. 12 crash. She remains hospitalized at Palomar Medical Center, where she was arraigned Monday. Aside from the child abuse charges, prosecutors allege Troncoso already has a DUI conviction on her record. She was caught driving drunk in May 2016, and convicted about eight months later, according to the complaint filed in the new case. Troncoso was on probation in the old case at the time of the crash earlier this month, according to McCarthy. In both the old case and the new one, she reportedly had a blood alcohol content level higher than .20 percent. In California, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. Superior Court Judge Sim von Kalinowski ordered Troncoso to remain in custody in lieu of $700,000 bail. If convicted, Troncoso faces up to 24 years in prison. San Diego police said Troncoso was driving east in the westbound lanes of Camino del Norte 4:30 a.m. when she smashed into a 2011 Jeep Liberty near Paseo Montanoso. Police said the baby suffered life-threatening injuries including a fractured skull and a brain bleed. Troncosos 2 year-old daughter suffered facial injuries, the 8-year-old daughter broke a bone. The Jeep driver, a 57-year-old man, suffered broken bones. Troncoso also suffered broken bones in the collision. She was arrested the day after the crash while in the hospital, where she has remained. During the arraignment, the judge agreed to grant a protective order barring the mother from any contact with the three children, McCarthy said. The defendants next hearing is Nov. 26, at which time a judge may reconsider her bail amount. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT San Diego Countys high school graduation rate improved a little from the previous year but lags behind the statewide average, according to new graduation rate data published Monday. The county had an 81 percent four-year graduation rate for the class of 2018, compared to 83 percent for the state. County schools overall improved their graduation rate by about 1 percent from the year before. The state calculates the graduation rate by dividing the number of students who earn a regular high school diploma in four years by the number of students who entered ninth grade, adds students who transferred in and subtracts students who transferred out. This is the second batch of graduation data for which the state has used the same formula to calculate the rates. Here are some highlights of the graduation rate data for San Diego County: Advertisement San Diego Unified outperforms the states largest urban districts San Diego Unified again had the highest graduation rate 87 percent among Californias five largest urban school districts, including Los Angeles Unified, which had a 77 percent graduation rate. San Diego Unifieds rate is a fraction of a percent higher than its class of 2017 graduation rate. Im just thrilled that our teachers are working very hard to support the students so that they can continue to succeed and graduate in record numbers, said Kevin Beiser, San Diego Unified board president. Last year, the school board convened a committee to study its graduation data and ways to further improve the graduation rate. The committees report, released as a draft in July, applauded several district graduation strategies, such as expanding course offerings and requiring students to take UC/CSU course requirements to graduate. The report said an area of improvement is the issue of students who leave a district high school before graduation. The committee also noted that the district should work on intervening sooner when students show warning signs of low academic performance, which manifest sometimes as early as third grade. Most San Diego County school districts did as well as the state average All but two school districts in San Diego County Grossmont Union High and Mountain Empire Unified had graduation rates that were at least as high as the state average. San Dieguito Union High, a district with high test scores, had the top graduation rate at 96 percent. Poway, Carlsbad and San Marcos Unified School Districts had the next highest graduation rates. All of those districts, plus Coronado and Valley Center-Pauma Unified, had at least a 90 percent graduation rate. Graduation rates vary across student groups While San Diego area districts generally had higher-than-average graduation rates, not all students are benefiting equally. For example, the county had a 74 percent graduation rate for students from low-income families, a 64 percent graduation rate for English learners and a 61 percent graduation rate for students with disabilities. All of those rates are below the state average for those student groups. The rates are also lower for Hispanic or Latino students and African-American students, who had graduation rates of 76 percent and 74 percent in the county respectively. The rate for African-American students, however, showed a 3 percent increase from the year before. Charter schools have a lower graduation rate than schools overall San Diego Countys charter schools overall had only a 62 percent graduation rate, compared to 86 percent for school districts. San Diego County charter schools did better than charter schools statewide, which together had only a 56 percent graduation rate. Charter schools may have lower graduation rates because charter schools, at least in San Diego County, tend to enroll higher proportions of alternative students students at higher risk of dropping out than districts do, said Steven Baratte, spokesman for the California Charter Schools Association. About 41 percent of the charter graduation cohort students in San Diego County were enrolled in alternative schools, compared to 7 percent of the district graduation cohort. When you have that big of a population for charter schools, thats going to impact your numbers, Baratte said. San Diego County outperformed the state in UC/CSU requirement completion While San Diego County had a lower graduation rate than the state, it had a higher percentage of graduates who completed UC/CSU requirements, which means they completed the courses necessary to gain admission to Californias public universities. About 58 percent of San Diego County graduates completed UC/CSU requirements, while only half of California graduates overall did. For San Diego Unified, about 70 percent of its graduates completed the requirements. While the district mandates students to take UC/CSU courses to graduate, the district requires a D grade rather than a C, which is the grade needed to gain admission to those universities. Several San Diego County school districts graduated students at higher rates than the state overall but had relatively few graduates who completed UC/CSU requirements. In 10 school districts, less than half of their graduates completed them. Kristen Taketa Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa People preparing Thanksgiving dinner at home on Thursday can cook a little extra and help feed hundreds of homeless people. Cooked food can be dropped off beginning at 9 a.m. at the closed Radio Shack in Vista, 732 E. Vista Way. Homeless people are invited to come for meals until 2 p.m., and some food also will be brought to unsheltered homeless people at locations throughout the county. The food distribution is being organized by Gobble Gobble Give, which is in its fourth year in Vista and started about 20 years ago in Los Angeles. Local organizer Christina Tinoco said people may bring anything from a side dish to a turkey to what she called a potluck with a purpose. Donors also can bring toiletries, blankets or jackets. Advertisement Gobble Gobble Give was started by philanthropist and entrepreneur Barry Walker and some friends who bought or cooked an extra dish while preparing their own Thanksgiving dinners. They fed 28 people in need that first year, and the event has been growing ever since. It was held in more than a dozen cities in six states last year, with 27,000 meals served by 10,000 volunteers. This year the distribution will include new sites in Boston, Kansas City, Long Beach, Washington, D.C. and Sacramento. Tinoco said people are welcome to stop by and help put together meals at the Vista site Thursday. The Vista site fed about 100 people in its first year and fed about 400 last year, she said. Besides serving people in Vista, volunteers will bring the donations to places homeless people are known to congregate, from Oceanside to downtown San Diego, Tinoco said To learn about other ways to support the group or about other upcoming events, visit the web site gobblegobblegive.org. Homeless Playlist On Now San Diego hepatitis outbreak continues to grow: 481 cases On Now Homeless entrenched in booming tent city along Santa Ana River On Now San Diego mayor agreed to homeless hub, then delayed, advocates say On Now Homeless outreach in San Diego On Now Video: Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #8 On Now In poverty himself, 'Water Man Dave,' is the fearless saint of San Diego's homeless 5:41 On Now Video: Homeless living in cars find safe havens 2:21 On Now Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #7 On Now Pitching a tent plan for San Diego's homeless On Now Homeless efforts get $80M boost for various services gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 Kate Clark stood at the street to greet an incoming bus of asylum-seeking families, 31 people in total, dropped off by immigration officials shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday. She led the group, about half parents and half children, mostly between the ages of 3 and 8, to the building that has served as a temporary shelter for the past three weeks. The first emotion they showed her relief. You can tell theyre unsure about whats to come, said Clark, director of immigration services at Jewish Family Service of San Diego, one of the organizations in a coalition running the shelter. A couple of hours later, a white van dropped off a mother, eight months pregnant, and her 7-year-old son. Clark carried the womans duffle bag and brought her water while a doctor interviewed her. Advertisement The San Diego Rapid Response Network, initially launched in December 2017 to respond to reports of immigration-related arrests inside the U.S., opened the shelter in response to the federal governments decision to end a program that helped asylum-seeking families get to their final destinations in the U.S. after they crossed the border. The new arrivals brought the total of people staying at the shelter to 117 with another busload expected later in the evening. Volunteers for the network also frequently pick up groups of families that have, for some reason, been dropped off in other parts of the county instead of at the shelter, adding to the total. Clark worried that because of this, the network might not be finding every asylum-seeking family in need of shelter. Under the old program, after families came to the border to ask for asylum, officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement would contact relatives in the U.S. and arrange travel plans before dropping the asylum seekers off at bus stations. ICE abruptly stopped doing this in late October, saying that the agency could not process the number of arriving families quickly enough if it maintained the program. The families generally spend more than a month in Tijuana waiting in line to apply for asylum in a queue that is likely to backlog even more with the arrival of the most recent caravan. Before the caravans arrival, just under 3,000 asylum seekers were already waiting to enter the U.S. Immigration officials at the port of entry take generally between 40 and 80 per day, depending on how many ICE has been able to release or transfer to its detention facilities. Families often spend several days at the port before going to the shelter. ICE releases between 20 and 30 families each day, which typically ranges from 50 to 70 total people, according to the Rapid Response Network. Most are from Central American countries Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. One family is from Guinea, a country in West Africa. Some of the children arriving with their families have been as young as three months old. Appaswamy Vino Pajanor, executive director of the Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego, an organization helping the new arrivals with travel plans, said the story of Enrique, a 22-year-old man from Honduras who arrived recently with his 4-year-old daughter, stayed with him after the two men met at the shelter. Enrique told Pajanor that a gang had threatened to kill him and his daughter if he didnt sell drugs for them. They threatened his cousin in the same way, and after the cousin refused, he was found dead. These families are fleeing violence and repression in their home countries, Pajanor said. Any of us would do the same thing to protect our children or loved ones. The temporary shelter can hold about 150 people. Its main dormitory has about 70 green cots, and several other rooms in the building have cots stacked in the corners to convert into sleeping spaces at night. A few cribs are scattered throughout. Because each adult is fitted with an ankle monitor by ICE, spare batteries charge in almost every available outlet around the shelter. When families first arrive, they line up outside the building, and volunteers take turns interviewing them, flagging anyone with medical symptoms or separated family members. La Maestra Community Health Centers and San Ysidro Health have mobile clinics onsite daily to care for the new arrivals, and at least a few each day end up in the emergency room, Clark said. On Monday, a volunteer drove a woman who broke her leg on her journey to the U.S. to the hospital for treatment. Attorneys with Casa Cornelia Law Center offer daily legal orientations to help people understand the importance of showing up for court dates and finding lawyers to represent them when they arrive at their destinations. Volunteers also flag anyone who crossed illegally into the U.S. since President Donald Trumps order blocking those who do so from getting asylum. Since the American Civil Liberties Union in San Diego is one of the core partners of the network, it monitors these cases as part of its lawsuit over the issue. Though a given family only spends one or two nights there, the shelter has remained at capacity in recent days. Just over 150 stayed there Sunday night. Leaders at the organizations coordinating support for the arriving asylum seekers say theyre worried they wont be able to sustain the effort without financial help from the San Diego community. Its been all hands on deck, said Norma Chavez-Peterson, executive director of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties. This is what we do. Were not going to leave women, children and babies in the streets. Theyve launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund shelter operations, and another fundraiser to pay travel costs for those who cant afford bus or airfare to reach their relatives in other parts of the country. Helping people get to their sponsors keeps the shelter from getting over-full, they said. Their goal is to raise $150,000 for the shelter, which would keep it operational for about a month and a half. The shelter will likely be needed much longer than that. Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence Follow me on Facebook for live updates about immigration news kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter Facing steep budget shortfalls over the next three years, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is asking all city departments to propose 3 percent spending cuts that could be implemented immediately. This is the third winter in a row that Faulconer has requested proposed spending reductions, but the situation is more severe this time around because the city faces steeper deficits. A five-year financial outlook unveiled last week projects a $73.6 million deficit in Fiscal Year 2020, which begins in July 2019, a $65.9 million deficit in the following fiscal year and a $35.3 million deficit in the fiscal year after that. All potential solutions to mitigate the projected revenue shortfall for Fiscal Year 2020 will be carefully considered to ensure the overall impact to services provided to our residents is minimized, said Kris Michell, the citys chief operating officer. Advertisement The projected deficits would become far larger if there is an economic downturn, city officials said, because the citys estimates include steady growth in revenue from sales tax, property tax and hotel tax. City finance officials are projecting deficits because expenses are growing even faster, primarily because of employee pay raises included in new labor pacts. For example, all San Diego police officers are getting incremental raises of at least 30 percent. Funding for the arts has been a target during budget negotiations the last two years. In a letter to city department heads, Michell also mentions that the citys vehicle fleet might be a potential area where costs can be cut. The department heads are also being asked not to request any new expenditures during the next three years, unless the money would address state or federal regulatory requirements or support an existing commitment by the mayor. While many of the budget cuts proposed by department heads will be implemented, some others wont happen. For example, head librarian Misty Jones last winter proposed eliminating Sunday hours at 12 of the 13 branches that are open on Sundays, a move that would have included laying off a few dozen hourly library employees. But Faulconer rejected the proposal. The mayors proposed spending plan for the new budget year is unveiled each April. After weeks of haggling and adjustments, the City Council typically approves a final budget in early June each year. david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick The White House has restored press credentials for CNN correspondent Jim Acotsa, warning him that he could lose them again if he fails to follow press conference rules. The White House revoked Acosta's press pass after a testy exchange with President Donald Trump during a nationally televised press conference two weeks ago. CNN says the White House "backed down" and that it will drop its lawsuit against the Trump administration. Acosta refused to surrender the microphone as he tried to ask Trump a follow-up question. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders accused Acosta of physically pushing away the hand of an intern who tried to take the microphone -- an allegation Acosta denied. "For years, members of the White House press corps have attended countless press events with the president and other officials without engaging in the behavior Mr. Acosta displayed at the Nov. 7 press conference," Sanders said Monday. She informed Acosta in a letter that he is once again welcome in the White House, but warned he and other reporters could lose their press passes if they fail to carry out what she calls "explicit rules" -- a reporter is allowed just one question; only the president or others taking questions will allow a follow-up; and "yielding the floor" means hand over the microphone to an aide. A pickup crashed through the glass wall of a Chase Bank branch and struck an ATM, injuring three people and sending cash tumbling out of the machine late Tuesday morning in a Chula Vista strip mall, authorities said. The truck slammed into the bank on Broadway near Naples Street around 11:40 a.m., said Chula Vista police Lt. Chris Kelley. It struck one of the ATMs lined up in a row inside the bank, sending it crashing through a wall into an office. One customer who was in line to use an ATM was injured, as were two bank employees who were in the office when the machine breached the wall, Chula Vista Fire Department Capt. Francisco Soto told OnScene TV. All three victims appeared to sustain minor injuries, Kelley said. The driver of the pickup was not hurt. Investigators did not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor. Advertisement Anna Gonzalez told OnScene TV that truck struck an ATM that was not working, because shed tried to use it just a few seconds before the pickup came barreling through the wall. Shed taken about a dozen steps away when she looked up and saw the pickup speeding toward her. If that ATM would have been working, that would have been me there, Gonzalez said. Im so happy nothing worse happened. Im shaking. I just have a big angel right now with me. Irene Archuleta also told OnScene TV that the ATM that was hit was not working, and that the small group of people waiting to use the other machines had an angel looking over us. Archuleta suffered a tiny cut on her chest, apparently from a shard of glass. It was just a regular day, going to the ATM to withdraw some money, and the next thing you know theres a truck right next to me, Archuleta said. Authorities did not know why the vehicle ran into the structure, but an engineer determined that no load-bearing walls were damaged, Soto said. A police traffic unit was investigating the cause of the crash. Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com UPDATES: 3:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details and quotes. This article was originally published at 1:30 p.m. A forum will be held next week to discuss hate crimes, which saw double-digit increases in the San Diego region last year, mirroring a similar uptick nationwide, officials said. The Stop the Hate community forum, hosted by the San Diego Regional Hate Crimes Coalition, aims to educate community members about what constitutes a hate crime and provide information about resources available to victims. Hate crimes are classified as any criminal act that is committed because of the actual or perceived characteristics of a victim including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or a disability. In the city of San Diego, hate crimes increased 15 percent from 2016 to 2017. Across the county, they increased 13 percent. Advertisement According to statistics tracked by the San Diego Association of Governments, 95 hate-crime events involving 112 victims and 84 known suspects were reported in the region last year. More than half, 53 percent, appeared motivated by race, ethnicity or national origin, and much of the bias, 50 percent, was described as being anti-black. About 27 percent of hate crimes appeared motivated by sexual orientation and about 20 percent by religion. In most incidents, 89 percent, the victim was an individual, compared to an organization or a business, and many 69 percent were violent. Although regional hate crime numbers increased from 2016 to 2017, they decreased about 10 percent when compared to 2013 totals. Local hate crime trends also mirror those seen nationwide, according to the FBIs most recent annual crime report. Most hate crimes across the country about 60 percent also appeared to be motivated by race, ethnicity or ancestry. Nationally, hate crimes motivated by religion, at about 21 percent, were more common than those based on sexual orientation, which accounted for about 16 percent of incidents. Most hate crime victims across the country were individuals and many hate crimes were violent. FBI officials said 23 rapes, 15 murders and instances of human trafficking were reported as hate crimes in 2017. U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman said in a statement about the forum that Americas appreciation of diversity makes the nation and its people stronger. We will neither tolerate nor accept the actions of those who seek to weaken our bonds, he said. We remain steadfast in our commitment to prosecuting those that commit crimes motivated by hate. The event will take place at Balboa Parks Santa Fe Conference Room on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. Representatives from a number of organizations are expected to attend, including the U.S. Attorneys Office, the county District Attorneys Office, the San Diego City Attorneys Office, the FBI, the Anti-Defamation League, Border Angels and the Islamic Center of San Diego. The first Stop the Hate forum was held at the El Cajon Police Department in July, and organizers plan to host additional events in the coming months. Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com A man was shot in the leg Monday night in Logan Heights, and officers were searching for a potential second victim and the suspected shooter, police said. The incident was first reported about 10:10 p.m. as large group of people fighting on National Avenue near South 32 Street, San Diego police Officer John Buttle said. When officers arrived, they discovered a man with a gunshot wound to his leg. The victim was being treated at the scene for a wound that police believed was made by a low-caliber gun, according to police radio traffic. Witnesses also described seeing a possible second gunshot victim, but that person was gone by the time officers and paramedics arrived, Buttle said. Patrol officers reported finding blood splatter in the area that appeared to match the reports of a second victim, according to police radio traffic. Advertisement Officers were checking local hospitals for the other potential victim while a police helicopter searched unsuccessfully near the crime scene for a suspect. No other details about the shooting including a description of the gunman was immediately available. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com Two men who police said ran away after trying to rob a San Diego convenience store shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday were arrested about an hour later when they returned to the area and were spotted by officers on a different call. Police said the men had bought beer from a clerk inside the store at the Arco station on 54th Street and University Avenue in the El Cerrito neighborhood earlier in the evening and returned shortly before 2 a.m. By then, the clerk had locked the store doors and was doing transactions through a security window. One of the men asked the clerk for chips while the other man hid against the wall, said police Officer John Buttle. When the clerk brought the chips to the window, the man demanded cash. The clerk told police he heard what sounded like a handgun being racked so he dove onto the floor, locked himself in the office and called police. Advertisement The two men were last seen running away. Officers were still in the area around 3:15 a.m. when they were flagged down by a woman who reported a disturbance. As officers talked with the woman, two men walked up and one of the officers recognized them as suspects in the earlier attempted robbery. The supervisor on scene actually watched the surveillance video that showed the incident that occurred earlier this evening and when he saw the two subjects walking up, he recognized them as the two persons in the video, police Lt. Stephen Shebloski told San Diego News Video. The two were taken into custody without incident. Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com A 50-year-old man was jailed after his sister was stabbed in the face in a Santee mobile home early Tuesday morning, sheriffs officials said. A 911 call brought deputies to the residence at Camerons Mobile Estates on North Magnolia south of Mission Gorge Road shortly before 6 a.m., the department said in a news release. There, they found a 49-year-old woman who had been stabbed in the face. Paramedics took her to a hospital to be treated for injuries that sheriffs officials said were not considered to be life-threatening. Her brother left on foot after the attack, Steffen said. Within a few minutes, deputies found and arrested him on nearby Mission Gorge Road. Advertisement teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT Days after Democrats won back the House, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren stood confidently before Democratic activists and pitched a half-trillion-dollar plan reminiscent of the New Deal to build millions of homes in low-income neighborhoods. The expected 2020 presidential hopeful vowed to pay for it all with a new estate tax on Americas wealthy families. Who is government supposed to work for? she asked. Is it supposed to work for the 10,000 richest families or is it supposed to work for the rest of America? We are a democracy. There are a whole lot more of us than there are of them. There was just one hitch. Such costly progressive policy proposals were not the winning formula for most Democrats in the midterm. In the purple and red districts where Democrats picked up new seats, many of the candidates who won avoided talking about Medicare for all, free college tuition, abolishing the immigration enforcement agency and Warrens plan to subsidize 3.2 million new homes. Instead they typically focused on more moderate themes, such as promising to protect Obamacare. Yet little about the way Democrats are positioning for the upcoming presidential primary reflects that formula. The candidates are already girding to outdo one another with proposals to upend the economic and social order. Advertisement A lot of the candidates who won in the midterms avoided making extravagant promises, said Will Marshall, president of the centrist Progressive Policy Institute. We saw in this election that voters are looking for changes. But there was nothing about it that would support the conclusion that there is a big public appetite for a statist agenda or a massive redistribution of wealth. At least not in the areas where Democrats made inroads. Marshall and other centrists in the party note that the swing state Democrats who most prominently identified with the left wing of the party fell short. Andrew Gillum narrowly lost the governors race in Florida, robbing progressives of an opportunity to demonstrate their agenda can win in the fractured political regions most crucial for Democrats to take back. In Texas, Rep. Beto ORourkes $69-million campaign, with all the energy and enthusiasm it sparked, ultimately failed to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz. One notable exception was Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a progressive and unyielding champion of organized labor who won reelection in one of the toughest states for Democrats. But he focused his message not on ambitious new programs and entitlements, but the value of work and the erosion of opportunities for voters willing to put in a 40-hour workweek to earn a secure middle class living. Its a familiar and predictable post-election debate, with business-backed center-left groups such as the Progressive Policy Institute and the centrist think tank Third Way clashing with activist flanks of the Democratic Party. In many ways, presidential candidates have little choice but to embrace the more progressive messages because thats increasingly what is needed to win the partys nomination, as seen by Hillary Clintons struggle in 2016 against progressive firebrand Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The stakes are even higher at a time the national party is so adrift, with no clear leader, no clear vision for the future, and a presidential primary that is more up for grabs than any in recent history. Politics is complicated and every district is different, I am not going to deny that, said Sanders. Even as he points to polls showing the idea of Medicare for all is popular with voters, he acknowledges many of the Democrats who flipped House seats in the partys favor didnt crusade on it. In some districts, a set of policies will work better than others. But he uniformly rejected the prospect that making it a campaign centerpiece for Democrats in 2020 could cost them the suburban Republicans and independents who propelled the midterm victory. He said ORourke and Gillum lured masses of new voters to the polls, expanding the base for Democrats in a way centrist candidates could not, which played a crucial role in the many GOP House seats that flipped to blue in Florida and Texas this year. The establishment is fighting hard, telling us we have to go back to the good old days when Republicans captured the House and Senate, not to mention the White House, and Democrats lost 1,100 state legislative seats, Sanders said. Look at the polling. Seventy percent of the American people believe in Medicare for all. Why wouldnt we move forward? The idea does poll well. The details, not always. The nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation probed deeper into public attitudes last year. Its survey found broad support for the general concept of Medicare for all, but the support plunged as voters were presented with descriptions and opposition arguments stressing the enormous price tag and the expanded role government would have in managing the medical care system. Sanders argues that it will be easy for Democrats to win on the issue because the bottom line is that less money will come out of taxpayer pockets to pay for healthcare. But some of the candidates who did emphasize Medicare for all in the midterm found articulating the details a challenge. That became a potent weapon for GOP campaign attacks, which warned voters they would have to give up their employer-provided health coverage for a government plan. This issue is just a complete dead weight for Democrats, said Lanae Erickson Hatalsky, vice president for social policy and politics at Third Way. It is why only two of the 92 House candidates running in red districts targeted by Democrats ran ads touting it. On Capitol Hill, a proxy war has broken out as Third Way presents Democratic lawmakers especially potential presidential candidates with polling and other data suggesting moderation won out in the midterm. The million-member Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which brands itself the Elizabeth Warren wing of American politics, is circulating its own white paper that accuses Third Way of distorting the facts to serve the interest of the think tanks Wall Street donors. The committee plowed through reams of campaign material published by midterm candidates to produce a spreadsheet showing the overwhelming majority of them pledged support for ideas such as Medicare for all, even if they didnt make such themes centerpieces of their general election campaign. It is inarguable that the people who won homed in on pro-working people, economic populist issues, said Adam Green, co-founder of the committee. So many of the candidates who won got attacked by [House Speaker] Paul D. Ryans super PAC, with millions of dollars in ads saying they believed in Medicare for all. They won anyway. In this frenzied moment in Democratic politics, some potential presidential candidates are claimed by both the left and the center of the party. Sherrod Browns emphasis on work and opportunity while still embracing some of the programs championed by activists has some prominent Democrats from across the ideological spectrum encouraging him to mount a White House run. Hes considering it. But if he goes that route, he likely wont be leading with Medicare for all. Medicare for all is a down-the-road question for a different day, Brown said in an interview. He said Democrats should be running on a theme that emphasizes work and opportunity. That could prove a hard sell to a restive base, which still holds that Democrats lost the last presidential election because their candidate failed to offer a bold, new vision and embrace game-changing ideas. California billionaire donor and activist Tom Steyer, who launched the political organization Need to Impeach and is himself considering a White House run, said people are begging for a compelling vision for what should happen and how to get there. His network of nonprofits helped inspire millions of disaffected voters to go to the polls for Democrats by talking with them not just about impeachment, but also promoting progressive ideas like Medicare for all. American politics is failing except where people are actually willing to tell the truth about what is going on on the ground, he said. The latest look at the Trump administration and the rest of Washington More stories from Evan Halper evan.halper@latimes.com | Twitter: @evanhalper Democrats will examine Ivanka Trumps email use when they take control of the House in January following reports that she used a personal email address to conduct official government business, the incoming chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee said Tuesday. My goal is to prevent this from happening again not to turn this into a spectacle the way Republicans went after Hillary Clinton, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) said in a statement Tuesday. The announcement follows a Washington Post report that the presidents daughter, who is a senior White House aide, used her personal email account hundreds of times in 2017 to correspond with White House staff, assistants and Cabinet officials in potential violation of federal records law. Media outlets had previously reported that Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, a senior advisor to the president, had used private email for government work, but not the extent of their potential violation. Advertisement President Trump relentlessly assailed Clinton, his Democratic opponent in 2016, for using a private email server when she was secretary of State under President Obama. An FBI investigation found some of Clintons emails included classified information, but she was not charged with a crime. Last year, the Oversight Committee started a bipartisan investigation into whether White House officials were complying with the Presidential Records Act. The committee asked that all emails be preserved for the investigation, and asked the FBI to investigate whether any classified information was sent on private emails. The probe began under Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), then the committee chairman, and continued under Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), who succeeded him. It was dropped in March 2018 when the White House said it was conducting its own internal review, but Democrats now plan to revive it. We launched a bipartisan investigation last year into White House officials use of private email accounts for official business, but the White House never gave us the information we requested, Cummings said. We need those documents to ensure that Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and other officials are complying with federal records laws and there is a complete record of the activities of this administration, he added. Cummings was the author of a 2014 update to federal law to require every federal employee, including the president, to forward any email or other message about official business using a private account to the employees government email account within 20 days so that it could be preserved. American Oversight, a liberal watchdog group that uncovered Ivanka Trumps personal email use, urged Congress to investigate. When we went to court last year, we expected to find the presidents daughter had an unusual role in the White House, but we didnt anticipate this kind of extensive use of a personal email server or the panicked damage control effort that unfolded after we started asking questions, Austin Evers, the groups executive director, said in a statement. In a letter to committee leaders, Evers compared the presidents daughters behavior to Trumps criticism of Clintons handling of State Department emails. The parallels between Ms. Trumps conduct and that of Secretary Clinton are inescapable, Evers wrote. In both her use of personal email and post-discovery preservation efforts, Ms. Trump appears to have done exactly what Secretary Clinton did conduct over which President Trump and many members of Congress regularly lambasted Secretary Clinton and which, they asserted, demonstrated her unfitness for office. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday, President Trump said his daughters use of private email differed from Clintons because Ivanka Trumps emails didnt include classified information and were not stored on a home server. There was no hiding. There was no deleting like Hillary Clinton did. There was no server in the basement like Hillary Clinton had, Trump said of his daughter. You were talking about a whole different, youre talking about fake news. Several lawmakers ridiculed the White House for Ivanka Trumps use of private e-mail given its obvious political sensitivity after the bitter 2016 campaign. Karma has a sense of humor, tweeted Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), a member of the Oversight Committee. Cue the chant? tweeted Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), referring to the frequent cries at the presidents rallies of Lock her up! directed at Clinton. sarah.wire@latimes.com Twitter: @sarahdwire UPDATES: 1:30 p.m.: This story was updated with new details about the planned investigation. This story first posted at 11:45 a.m. President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he did not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the slaying of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In an unusual official statement replete with exclamation points and disputed claims, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it had a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis killing and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out on Oct. 2. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! Trump said in the written statement released by the White House. That being said, he continued, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. Advertisement Trump called the killing a terrible crime and one our country does not condone, while asserting that the world is a dangerous place and human rights concerns shouldnt get in the way of economic relationships. He cited deals he made last year with Saudi Arabia that have been widely discredited as inflated and, in some cases, nonexistent. The president noted that the United States had sanctioned 17 Saudis for killing and dismembering Khashoggi, whose body has not been found. Yet his statement was a strong indication that he does not intend to penalize Saudi Arabia generally, or the controversial crown prince. In recent days, Germany announced it would rescind arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Saudi prosecutors have indicted 11 people in the killing, including a senior intelligence agent. Of those, five were recommended to be executed. Trump had said he would receive the CIAs report on Khashoggis killing on Tuesday, although its not clear if that occurred prior to the release of his statement which oddly began with his nationalist foreign policy slogan, America First! The president, who made his first foreign visit as head of state to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 2017 and has been determined to cultivate a close partnership with the Saudis, began the statement by pointing to Iran as the primary destabilizing force in the Middle East, and called Saudi Arabia a great ally in the effort to counter Tehran. Trump also referenced the Saudi governments claims that Khashoggi, a Saudi expatriate who was a stubborn critic of the royal family, was an enemy of the state and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. But, Trump said, my decision is in no way based on that. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, speaking later to reporters, echoed Trump and emphasized the importance of U.S. national interests over any other consideration. Its a mean, nasty world out there, especially in the Middle East, Pompeo said. The administrations priority, he said, was to keep Americans safe and further American national security with an important partner vital to American strategy. Pompeo declined to comment when asked about the CIA report, saying that facts will continue to come out about Khashoggis slaying. He then abruptly left the briefing room at the State Department. The secretary of State spoke shortly after meeting there with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The two discussed the Khashoggi case, Pompeo said. The foreign minister, meeting later with a small group of American reporters, took issue with Trumps approaching the Khashoggi killing as simply one element among others in bilateral U.S.-Saudi relations. It is a criminal and judicial case and has to be dealt with like that, he said. The Turkish government has pressed for stiffer punishment of Saudi Arabia and claims to have evidence implicating the crown prince, including audio recordings of Khashoggis killing shortly after he entered the consulate in Istanbul to get documents he needed to be married. Turkey has given copies to Western governments, but Trump told Fox News recently that he refused to listen to what he called a suffering tape of a vicious crime. His CIA director among others has listened to the recording. The White House statement from Trump, which read much like he talks, drew immediate outrage. The Committee to Protect Journalists, in a reaction from executive director Joel Simon, said: If you boil the White House statement down to its essence, President Trump has just asserted that if you do enough business with the U.S., you are free to murder journalists. Thats an appalling message to send to Saudi Arabia and the world. For the Washington Post, where Khashoggi worked as a columnist, Publisher Fred Ryan called Trumps response a betrayal of long-established American values of respect for human rights and the expectation of trust and honesty in our strategic relationships. If there is reason to doubt the findings of the CIA, President Trump should immediately make that evidence public, Ryan added. President Trump is correct in saying the world is a very dangerous place. His surrender to this state-ordered murder will only make it more so. Ryan called on Congress to act. Several leading congressional Democrats were quick to suggest specific actions, including Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, who will become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee in January when Democrats new majority gives them control of the House, Schiff said in a statement that Trumps stance undermined respect for the presidency, the intelligence community and Americas standing as a champion of human rights. He called for an end to U.S. support for the Saudis war in Yemen, suspension of arms sales and reduced reliance on the nation in pursuing U.S. interests in the Mideast. The three most senior Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee also were quick to issue statements condemning Trumps stance and calling for action against Saudi Arabia. Its hard to imagine that the Saudis would have taken this action under a Reagan, Bush, Clinton or Obama administration without facing serious repercussions, said Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia, the committees Democratic vice chairman. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she was shocked at Trumps refusal to punish Saudi Arabia for what she called a premeditated murder, plain and simple. She said she would vote against arms sales to the country, and called for sanctions against Mohammed bin Salman and the expulsion of the Saudi ambassador to the United States. To allow this to happen with no consequences is offensive to every value the United States holds dear, she said. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said that if CIA Director Gina Haspel and the director of national intelligence, former Sen. Dan Coats, do not publicly reveal what the U.S. intelligence community believes about the killing, he will introduce legislation requiring a declassified report. Its unclear that a Republican-controlled Senate would pass such a measure. As usual, a few Republicans joined the criticism. The most scathing was Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but retiring from Congress: I never thought Id see the day a White House would moonlight as a public relations firm for the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a frequent Trump ally but among Congress most isolationist members, also was critical and said he would join in voting against any arms sales to Riyadh. The president indicates that Saudi Arabia is the lesser two evils compared to Iran and so the U.S. wont punish Saudi Arabia for the brutal killing and dismemberment of a dissident journalist in their consulate. I disagree, Paul wrote in a tweet. Since Khashoggis slaying came to light, Trump has touted the upsides of economic and military cooperation with Saudi Arabia and scoffed at calls for some penalty even as evidence built of the crown princes role. After speaking with the crown prince and his father, King Salman, Trump has repeatedly emphasized to reporters that both men denied knowledge or culpability. As Turkey produced more evidence, the Saudis several times changed their stories, yet Trump continued to accept the rulers claims of innocence. Trump reiterated his case for supporting Saudi Arabia in remarks to reporters as he departed the White House for a six-day Thanksgiving holiday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He claimed ending deals with Saudi Arabia would devastate the U.S. economy, and again wildly inflated the value of existing sales to the country. He insisted he has no personal economic interest in cooperating with the Saudis, though he had boasted in the past that the Saudis buy apartments from me. Its a very complex situation, Trump said of the murder mystery. Its a shame, but it is what it is. The latest from Washington eli.stokols@latimes.com @EliStokols UPDATES: 3 p.m.: The article was updated with additional Trump comments and reactions from Secretary of State Pompeo; Rep. Schiff; Sens. Feinstein, Warner, Wyden, Paul and Corker; Washington Post Publisher Fred Ryan; and the Committee to Protect Journalists. The article was originally published at 10:35 a.m. President sends Saudi leadership a message Re President sides with Saudis on killing of journalist (Nov. 19): The Jamal Khashoggi murder in the Saudi embassy in Turkey shows us how morally bankrupt Donald Trump is. With the CIA telling the world that Saudi Prince Mohammed Bin Salmon was responsible for the cold-blooded murder of Khashoggi, Trump continues to deny its findings and thinks that doing business is more important than leading our country and the world in an ethical and moral manner. Instead, we see him gravitating toward his most basic instinct: making money. This, of course, is expected. What is not expected is us as a country turning a blind eye. This miscreant coward cares more about the bottom line than he does about human life. Hes proved this again and again. But is Trumps agenda also Americas agenda? Well know shortly. If he overlooks the house of Saud and fails to punish the murderous regime, he will send the message that the American people are also without a moral compass and support his decision. Advertisement G.D. Morrill Escondido Thank heavens we did not see the following news story after Dec. 7, 1941: The president, after announcing a multimillion-dollar deal with the Japanese government for them to buy aircraft from us, stated that the Japanese officials had told him five times they had nothing to do with the attack on Pearl Harbor by aircraft showing Japanese markings. It was the work of rogues who would be severely punished. The president assured us this would not adversely affect our relationship with the island nation. Charles Malmgren Ranch Penasquitos Related: Trump Stands With Saudi Arabia Despite Khashoggi Killing 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. Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun admitted on Monday that the resumption of package tours to North Korea's Mt. Kumgang is unlikely any time soon. Hyun had just returned from a two-day-trip to the mountain resort, which was opened up for tourism by her late husband while subsidiary Hyundai Asan ran the tours. Over 100 South Koreans joined Hyun there to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the tours. In August, Hyun for some reason expressed hope that tours would resume before the year is up, despite international sanctions making that impossible, but stalled negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington make that an even more distant prospect. As Thanksgiving approaches, what am I thankful for? The American judiciary. Judges do not get the credit they deserve as guardians of our democracy. Too often we whether liberals or conservatives are exercised over one decision or another that did not go the way we wanted. I plead guilty myself, having once, many years ago, written a facile book berating judges for various abuses. There are certainly examples of judicial misconduct that cry out for censure, but on the whole our judiciary is among the most effective, honest and independent in the world. That is something we take for granted. We shouldnt. It is a near-miracle when seen from a historical perspective. How many countries are there in the world where a judge could rule against a president and have his ruling so widely respected that it does not even occur to anyone that the president could disobey it? Those thoughts are prompted by Fridays ruling by federal district Judge Timothy J. Kelly in the case of CNN v. Trump. CNN (where, full disclosure, Im a global affairs analyst) had sued the president for revoking the hard pass granting access to the White House grounds to its correspondent Jim Acosta. Trump had gotten furious at Acosta for posing challenging questions in a White House press conference, and this was his punishment. The White House even released a doctored videotape to suggest that Acosta had assaulted an intern who had tried to take his microphone away. Both actions punishing a reporter for asking tough questions and justifying that action with a lie are hallmarks of an authoritarian regime. Trump bears a close resemblance in personality to countless dictators throughout history, from Mussolini to Putin. Like them, he construes critical news coverage as treason by the enemy of the people. And if this were 1930s Italy or contemporary Russia, Acosta would not be on the job in the White House. He might not even be alive. But this is America, and we remain a nation of laws. Advertisement Thus Kelly issued a temporary restraining order forcing the White House to give Acosta back his hard pass. Kelly held that CNN stood a good chance of ultimately prevailing in its claim that the White House had violated Acostas due-process rights under the Fifth Amendment. The ruling was all the more impressive given that Kelly was appointed to the bench by Trump himself. Kellys example of upholding the rule of law against the most lawless administration in our history has been widely emulated. Think of all the judges, Republican and Democratic appointees alike, who stopped the implementation of Trumps Muslim ban early in 2017. Yes, Trumps travel order was ultimately approved, 5 to 4, by a closely divided Supreme Court. The courts decision in Trump v. Hawaii was not its proudest hour, but at least the ban had been revised twice since its issuance to make its religious discrimination marginally less offensive. (North Korea and Venezuela had been added as window-dressing to the list of majority-Muslim nations targeted.) The administration has lost many other cases that have never reached the high court. Lower-court judges, for example, have stopped Trumps attempts to end legal protections for dreamers who were brought to this country illegally when they were young. They have ended the administrations policy of family separation, forcing the release of children who had been detained apart from their families after entering the United States illegally. They have repeatedly supported special counsel Robert Muellers authority to pursue his probe of the president and his aides, most recently upholding his indictment of a Russian troll farm. They have ruled against the Justice Departments attempts to dismiss a case brought by Democrats charging Trump with violating the Constitutions emoluments clause by accepting payments from foreign governments that book his hotel rooms. And they have struck down the administrations attempts to change federal rules to make it easier to fire federal workers. Of course, we are not in the clear yet. The most momentous cases of all could pit Mueller against Trump if the president challenges the special counsels actions or tries to shut down his investigation. There is certainly cause for concern that a politicized Supreme Court may again rule for the administration, as it did in the travel ban case. But on the whole, the judiciary has acquitted itself admirably. This is how the checks and balances of the Constitution are supposed to operate. So, thank you, to the men and women in black, for protecting our republic. Help yourself to an extra slice of pie on Thursday, Your Honor. Youve earned it. A woman who allegedly was drunk when she crashed her SUV head-on into another vehicle while driving her three young daughters through Rancho Bernardo - leaving her 9-month-old in critical condition - pleaded not guilty from her hospital bed Monday to six charges, including felony child abuse and DUI. Mayra Alejandra Troncoso, 29, who also goes by the name of Mayra Alejandra Gonzalez, was ordered held on $700,000 bail. Deputy District Attorney Ramona McCarthy said Troncoso was driving on a suspended license and was on probation for a DUI conviction from last year when she allegedly drove under the influence and on the wrong side of the road and collided with an oncoming 2011 Jeep Liberty in the 15600 block of Camino del Norte about 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 12. Police said Troncosos 9-month-old daughter was riding unrestrained in her mothers SUV and suffered a skull fracture and a brain bleed. The defendants 2-year-old daughter suffered facial injuries and her 8-year-old child broke a bone. The 57-year-old driver of the other car suffered broken bones, authorities said. Troncoso was arrested the day after the collision at Palomar Medical Center. In both the DUI from last year and the new case, Troncoso reportedly had a blood-alcohol content of more than .20 percent. In California, it is illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol level at .08 percent. Troncoso will be back in court Nov. 26 for a bail review and a preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 4. She faces 24 years in prison if convicted. 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 Foreign Ministry official said, "We continued to remind the 17 passengers by telephone and e-mail of the outstanding bills, urging them to pay for the service but have received no response and decided to consider legal steps." The government is minded to sue 17 people who failed to pay for emergency charter flights out of volcano-stricken Bali in November last year. At the orders of President Moon Jae-in, the government sent a charter flight to the Indonesian resort island on Nov. 30 last year to rescue 266 Korean tourists who were stranded there and fly them safely back home. The government paid Asiana Airlines W215 million for the flight and told passengers that they would each be charged economy-class rates of W420,000 and with the remaining W150 million covered by the government (US$1=W1,127). But 17 of the passengers have failed to pay their share, which amounts to a total of W7 million. The ministry has the contact addresses of all of the passengers as well as their written pledges to pay up. Rockville, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/20/2018 -- From a regional perspective, Europe is projected to lead the global Basalt Fibers Market both in terms of production and consumption. Russia holds a significant share in the European basalt fiber market. The region has witnessed growing demand for basalt fibers from the automotive industry as there are stringent regulations prevailing in the EU regarding vehicle emissions and greenhouse gas amongst others. Moreover, the rising concern over energy conservation has also led to the growth of renewable wind energy generation industry. Thus, creating traction in the global market. North America is also projected to hold a significant share in the global basalt fibers market expanding at a CAGR of 8.3% over the forecast period. China is projected to grow at a relatively higher CAGR over the forecast period. A number of new players have ventured into the market to cater to the growing demand for basalt fibers in China and across other regions. Latin America and MEA are projected to remain low-volume-high-growth regions over the forecast period. Request for Sample of this Global Basalt Fibers Market Research Report Here - https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=1312 With the increasing use of light-weight composite material for the manufacture of automotive components and aircraft bodies, demand for basalt fibers continues to remain high. Basalt fibers are made by melting the crushed basalt rock in a furnace. This production process is an environment-friendly process without the production of any harmful infrared radiations. Basalt fibers have been widely used as an alternative for conventionally used steel and other fiber reinforcements owing to the superior mechanical, thermal and other properties. In the present scenario, there are only a few manufacturers for basalt fibers in Russia, China, Ukraine, and the U.S. amongst others. However, capacity additions and establishment of new production plants across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific region are expected to increase in the coming years, especially with the ongoing research and development and investments. Sales revenue of basalt fibers is expected to be nearly US$ ('000) 62,568.1 in 2018. By the end of the forecast period, the global basalt fibers market is projected to reach a value of US$ ('000) 120,034.0, recording a CAGR of 8.5%. Basalt Fibers as an Alternative to Steel Reinforcements Empowers its Market Growth Basalt fibers have exhibited better mechanical strength, chemical and thermal resistance, insulation and other properties. There has been an increase in the use of basalt fibers as an alternative to steel reinforcements owing to a number of properties such as corrosion resistance and light-weight, which allows mounting without the use of lifting or any other specialized equipment. Basalt fibers also outperform e-glass fiber in composites used for construction. In all the forms i.e. roving, chopped strands, fabrics, etc. basalt fibers have witnessed higher breaking load capacity and better durability and stiffness. Request Global Basalt Fibers Market Report with TOC Here - https://www.factmr.com/report/1312/basalt-fibers-market In addition to these, basalt fibers are available at lower price and there has been a relative ease for raw material procurement. Owing to all the above mentioned benefits, there has been an expected upsurge in demand for basalt fibers over the forecast period. Another major factor significantly driving the growth of global basalt fibers market is the increase in the use of light-weight composite materials in automotive industry. The stringent regulations, especially, in North America and Europe region regarding vehicle emissions has led the manufacturers to focus on reduction of weight of vehicle. Basalt fibers are used as composites for the manufacture of vehicle and aircraft bodies as well as components such as exhaust mufflers and brake pads amongst others. The growing government spending for infrastructural and industrial development has led to a rise in the demand for basalt fibers as reinforcement material for the construction of roads, pavements and bridges amongst others. However, there are a few challenges with respect to the production of basalt fibers. For instance, the quality and exact chemical composition of the basalt rock required for the formation of basalt fibers is available at only specific locations in Eastern Europe. Therefore, though the raw material is available at cheap cost, it has to be imported. Moreover, the initial set up and equipment cost are quite high and require capital investment, thus posing a major challenge for the manufacturers. The manufacturers are focusing on developing an alternative low-cost technologies for the production of basalt fibers. As a result, new production plants are projected to come online in the coming years. To Buy Global Basalt Fibers Market Research Report, Go with this Link - https://www.factmr.com/checkout/1312/S About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports. Contact Us Fact.MR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ Blog: https://factmrblog.com/ Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/20/2018 -- The degree of competition is considerably high among the existing vendors in the Canada hosted PBX market. Furthermore, the market exhibits considerable opportunities for the new players to venture in. Considering such high potential for the entry of new players, the hosted PBX market in Canada will witness intensified competition in the near future, prophesized Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study. The vendors in the market are competing through strategic collaborations and even partnerships. Currently, Allstream, Inc., Telus Communications, Bell Canada, Cisco System, Microsoft Corporation, and Mitel Networks Corporation hold dominance in the Canada hosted PBX market. These companies held nearly 54% of the Canada hosted PBX market in 2016. Besides forging new partnerships, these companies are also working towards expanding their offerings to gain competitive advantage. As these strategies are forecast to reflect positively on any company's overall proceeds, they can considerably influence the market's trajectory as well. Get PDF Sample of This Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/canada-hosted-pbx-market.htm According to TMR, the hosted PBX market in Canada will rise at a whopping 18.2% between 2017 and 2025. At this pace, the market will reach US$1.75 bn by the end of 2025, from its valuation of US$398.6 mn in 2016. By application, telecom & IT and BFSI emerged as the two leading segments in the market. Of these, telecom & IT held dominance with a share of just over 20% in the market in 2016. By enterprise size, large enterprises left behind SMEs to emerge as the market lead. By the end of 2017, it is expected to hold over 68.7% of the Canada hosted PBX market based on value. The hosted PBX market in Canada is primarily gaining from the country's progress in deploying wireless services. "With the government pulling up its stock to make Canada a leading digital nation by the end of 2017, there could be no dearth of opportunities for the hosted PBX market." said a lead TMR analyst. Considering this target, the government has adopted several initiatives to provide high-quality spectrum to help wireless service providers ensure improved standard of services. Integrating the latest technologies is therefore a key aspect observed by organizations across Canada. Among the latest technologies to have forayed in Canada in the last few years, adoption of IP based services have left a lasting impact. The adoption of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) has therefore gained pace in the country. As the hosted PBX technology works on the basis of VoIP, which enables PBX to connect with smartphones, personal computer, and other technologies, proliferation of VoIP will mean lucrative opportunities for the expansion of the hosted PBX market in Canada. Besides adopting hosted PBX can also help organizations minimize OPEX. Spurred by these factors, the demand for hosted PBX is poised to soar in Canada through the forecast period. Browse Our Press Release @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/canada-hosted-pbx-market.htm On the downside, security concerns related to cloud-connectivity can negatively affect the overall market. The recent incidents of cyber-attack and data breaches have compelled organizations to opt for technologies that are more secure. As VoIP and other streaming media are more vulnerable to these attacks, smaller companies are discouraged from adopting hosted PBX. While this could act against, the market is projected to gain from the rising demand for VoIP with higher bandwidth. As companies look towards maximizing their bandwidth to be able digitally transmit greater volume of data, the demand for hosted PBX will rise in response. Rockville, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/20/2018 -- The Global Harbor Deepening Market was valued at US$ 4.1 billion in 2017. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3% over the forecast period, 2018-2028. Harbor deepening is a service required for digging activities, particularly in ports and harbors for various purposes. Harbor deepening finds its applications in capital deepening, trade maintenance, urban development and coastal protection. On the basis of end users, the harbor deepening market is segmented into government organization, private organization, mining & energy companies and oil & gas companies. Request 100 Page Sample Report Here - https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=1257 The key market players in the harbor deepening market are based out in Europe, however, they operate in international waters. Major projects of these players are in the Middle-East due to the constant demand from the oil & gas sector. Along with trade maintenance, urban development coastal protection activity is also contributing substantially in the harbor deepening market growth, mainly in the countries with a limited land area such as Singapore and Malaysia, and countries with along coastline and prone to flood and waterborne calamities. Drivers & Restraints: The global harbor deepening market has witnessed its share of ups and downs, especially after the global recession of 2007-08. However, with the recovery in global economy, the world trade has also grown significantly. A spurt in the global infrastructure activities has necessitated the need for expansion and maintenance of existing harbor and development of new ones. Considering the fact that over 85% of global trade is carried out through sea trade, maintaining existing pathways and creating new ones has gained prominence. According to UNCTAD, global seaborne trade volume surpassed 10 billion tons in 2015, with shipments expanding by over 2%. With an increase in population, there is an emerging need for huge cargo. As a result, docking space on port and harbor is expanding. The expansion of the Panama Canal, which cost around US$ 6 billion, has made it possible for ships with large TEUs to pass through. Owing to the Panama expansion, the average size of container vessels has also witnessed an increase, necessitating maintenance work in ports which cannot accommodate these behemoth ships. Moreover, the demand for harbor deepening is very high in North America due to increasing dependency on seaborne trade in this region. North America accounted for a substantial market share of the harbor deepening industry. Although harbor deepening remains an important activity from an economic perspective, when carried out without consideration, it has the potential to cause ecological imbalance. Environmentalists have often opposed several mega harbor deepening projects around the globe. According to a report by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the large-scale dredging at Miami-led to the burying of 81% of coral reef at the site. In July 2017, the Court of Appeal found that the Northern Ireland Government acted unlawfully by failing to intervene in the sand dredging at Lough Neagh lake in Northern Ireland. View Full Global Market Research Report Here - https://www.factmr.com/report/1257/harbor-deepening-market Market Taxonomy: The global market for harbor deepening is segmented as per application and end user. As per application, the global harbor deepening is segmented as follows: Capital Deepening Trade Maintenance Urban Development Coastal Protection As per end user, the global harbor deepening is segmented as follows: Government Organizations Private Organizations Mining & Energy Companies Oil & Gas Companies Trade maintenance activities among application segment of harbor deepening market is expected to drive the global market by value. Among end user segment, government organizations segment is anticipated to dominate the global market during the forecast period along with significant growth in private organization segment. Competitive Landscape: Key players operating in the global market for harbor deepening include Royal Boskalis Westminster, Van Oord Dredging & Marine Contractors, Jan De Nul, DEME, Hyundai E&C Ltd., Penta Ocean Construction Ltd., China Harbor Engineering Company, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation and Toa Corporation. Buy Useful Statistics about Global Market Report Here - https://www.factmr.com/checkout/1257/S About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports. Contact Us Fact.MR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ Blog: https://factmrblog.com/ Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/19/2018 -- Industry Overview of the Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines Market Report Children differ from adults in many aspects of pharmacotherapy, including capabilities for drug administration, medicine-related toxicity, and taste preferences. It is essential that pediatric medicines are formulated to best suit a child's age, size, physiologic condition, and treatment requirements. Therefore, the pediatric drug and vasccines specially serve for children. Get a Sample PDF Report: http://marketresearchvision.com/request-sample/5280 The Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines market report is a complete research on the current state of the Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines market with a focus on the regional market. This report presents the global Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines market size (value, production, and consumption), splits the breakdown (data status 2013-2018 and forecast to '2023'), by manufacturers, region, type, and application. This study also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. This research is helpful for all the players operating in the market, including the well-established players and the new entrants. This intelligent study provides the definition, description, and the overall forecasts of the global market, considering the market segments and sub-segments, which includes the product types, technologies, end-users, industry verticals, and the key geographies. The report also provides an in-depth analysis of some of the significant factors such as driving forces, challenges, and threats that will shape the future of the market. In addition, the report also includes the lucrative opportunities in the micro markets for all the participants to invest in the global Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines market. Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Merck & Co., Inc. (USA), Abbott Laboratories (USA), Amgen, Inc. (USA), Eli Lilly and Company (USA), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Genentech, Inc. (USA), GlaxoSmithKline plc. (UK), Janssen Biologics B.V. (USA), Actelion Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca Plc. (UK), Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Germany), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (USA), Allergan, Inc. (USA), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Novo Nordisk A/S (Denmark), Pfizer, Inc. (USA), Sanofi S.A (France), Shionogi Inc. (USA), Shire Pharmaceuticals Group Plc. (UK) Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa) Market Segment by Type, covers Diphtheria Influenza Hepatitis Pneumococcal Diseases Meningococcal Diseases Mumps Others Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into Newborn Infant Child The scope of this report centers on key market analyses, market drivers & challenges, and competitive analysis & trends. Research report examines each market and its applications, regulatory scenario, technological innovations, Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines market projections, market sizes, and shares. Moreover, the Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines market report examines the most recent trends, pipeline products and developments in the Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines market. Complete profiles of leading organizations in the market are also mentioned in this report. Get Discount on this Report: http://marketresearchvision.com/check-discount/5280 Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines market report highlights: 1. The Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines research report provides a detailed survey of the current and future industry trends so as to identify the investment analysis. 2. The industry forecasts, using estimated market values have been mentioned, till '2023'. 3. The Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines Market dynamics such as the drivers, restraints, threats, opportunities, and industry-specific challenges 4. Key industry trends across all the market segments and sub-segments, geographies, and nations. 5. Key developments and strategies determined in the market. 6. Detailed profiling of the leading competitors and the entrant market players. 7. Growth prospects among the emerging nations throughout the forecast period. 8. The Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines Market opportunities and recommendations for new investments. In the end, It includes the methodical description of the various factors such as the market growth and a detailed information about the different company's revenue, growth, technological developments, production, and the various other strategic developments. Read Full Report: http://marketresearchvision.com/reports/5280/Pediatric-Drugs-and-Vaccines-Market Thus, the Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines Market Report serves as a valuable material for all industry competitors and individuals having a keen interest in Pediatric Drugs and Vaccines Market study. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/20/2018 -- With the increasing prevalence of pneumococcal diseases, government organizations across various countries are introducing programs to promote the use of pneumococcal vaccines. For instance, UNICEF along with the WHO has launched the Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhea (GAPPD) to control incidence and mortality rate in children suffering from severe diarrhea and pneumonia by 2025. The investment in developing countries has also increased to help in the development and delivery of vaccines. For example, GAVI is a vaccine alliance that brings together public and private sector to offer immunization to the children in world's poorest countries. Obtain Report Details @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pneumococcal-vaccines-market.html The high cost of advanced vaccines is one of the factors hampering the growth of the market. However, manufacturers are competing for development of cost-effective and high quality of vaccines by focusing on research and development activities. According to the report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global market for pneumococcal vaccines is likely to witness robust growth, registering 8.3% CAGR between 2017 and 2026. The global market for pneumococcal vaccines is also projected to bring in US$ 20,515.5 million revenue by 2026 end. 13- Valent PCV to be the Top-Selling Product in the Global Market for Pneumococcal Vaccines Compared to the various products, 13- valent PCV is likely to emerge as one of the top-selling product in the global market for pneumococcal vaccines. By 2026 end, 13- valent PCV is projected to bring in close to US$ 9,500 million revenue. PVC13 has offered a significant benefit in reducing carriage of Antibiotic-Nonsusceptible Streptococcus Pneumoniae (ANSP). Moreover, 13- Valent PCV includes thirteen serotypes of pneumococcus, also, serotypes 19A and 6A are present only in PCV13. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also recommended PCV13 for adults above the 65 years of age. Request for Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=36536 Hospitals to Emerge as the Largest Distribution Channel Pneumococcal vaccines are likely to be distributed by Hospitals on a large scale between 2017 and 2026. Hospitals are projected to surpass US$ 12,400 million revenue towards the end of 2026. Increasing number of patients are being hospitalized for various infections and diseases, hence hospitals are emerging as the biggest distribution channel for pneumococcal vaccines, thereby reducing mortality associated with the pneumococcal infection. North America to be the Largest Region in the Global Market for Pneumococcal Vaccines North America is likely to emerge as one of the biggest regions in the global market for pneumococcal vaccines during 2017-2026. Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine (PCV) is the part of routine vaccine immunization in Canada and the U.S., since 2000. The countries have also witnessed highly-effective results since the vaccine was introduced. Investments by the government organization and private companies have also increased for promoting vaccination and towards the research and development of new vaccines. North America has also emerged as a main center for many vaccine producing companies. Meanwhile, PCV is also the part of the vaccination program in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia, Albania, Greece and Serbia. Increasing incidence of pneumococcal disease in various countries in APEJ also presents an opportunity for companies producing pneumococcal vaccines. Brazil is also witnessing a significant increase in pneumococcal diseases. Hence, various programs are being introduced in Brazil to increase the vaccine coverage. Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=36536 Competition Tracking The report provides a detailed analysis of the leading companies operating in the global market for pneumococcal vaccines such as Merck & Co. Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Sanofi, and GlaxoSmithKline PLC. The companies are focusing on the research and development of new pneumococcal vaccines. There has also been an increase in partnership between the leading companies and distributors in order to expand in the global market. More Trending Reports by Transparency Market Research Bioprocess Technology Market: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bioprocess-technology-market-to-gain-us-43-916-6-mn-by-2026-says-tmr-813887478.html Microfluidics Market: https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/07/11/1536015/0/en/Microfluidics-Market-to-generate-a-revenue-of-US-12-45-bn-by-2025-Says-TMR.html About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge. Contact Us Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: www.transparencymarketresearch.com Korean writer Han Kang has won Spain's San Clemente literary prize for her novel "The Vegetarian," the winner of the 2016 Man Booker International Prize. The literary prize was launched at the initiative of a high school in Santiago de Compostela, which is famous for its Camino de Santiago route for Christian pilgrims. The winners are screened and chosen by the school's students. The award ceremony will be held in the Galician city in March next year. Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/20/2018 -- Tru-Blue Coffee has proudly announced that it is introducing one of the most globally loved coffee through Kickstarter. This organically grown, 100% premium coffee is the internationally popular Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee and the company has recently launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise funds and support for this project. Moreover, the goal of this Kickstarter campaign is to raise a sum of $80,000 "Our aim is to produce, roast, packaged and sell nothing but the best organically grown, Arabica coffee beans Jamaica's Blue Mountains has to offer." Said Orville Campbell, the CEO of Blue Mountain Coffee Growers, LLC., while introducing Tru-Blu Coffee to the Kickstarter community. "Our production methodology follows strict processing guidelines from tree to cup and we are welcoming you to support us in this fundraising campaign on Kickstarter." He added. The Kickstarter Campaign is located on the web at: www.kickstarter.com/projects/trublumcoffee/organically-grown100-premium-jamaica-blue-mountain and backers from around the world can become a part of this project by making generous pledges and donations. The project offers a wide range of rewards for the supporters with nationwide shipping across the United States and more details are available on the Kickstarter campaign page of the project. About Tru-Blu Coffee Blue Mountain Coffee Growers LLC is an Atlanta based registered American coffee manufacturing company and Tru-Blue Coffee is its registered trademark. The company was founded and incorporated by Orville Campbell in March of 2018, who is also its CEO. Moreover, the company has recently launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise funds and support for its Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, and it is welcoming everyone to generously participate in the fundraising. Media Contact: Contact Person: Orville Campbell Company: Blue Mountain Coffee Growers LLc City: Atlanta State: Georgia Country: United States Phone: 7708966619 Email: orvcamp@gmail.com Website: www.trublumcoffee.com A small songbird called the Siberian willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus yakutensis) holds a long-distance migration record in the 10-gram weight category with the tiny birds flying around 8,000 miles (13,000 km) or longer to reach their destination. The willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) is a medium-sized, slender leaf-warbler between 11 and 12.5 cm long and weighing 7-15 g. The bird is a migrant inhabiting extensive parts of northern Europe and Asia for breeding and wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. Willow warblers use a variety of forested habitats for breeding and may occur in high numbers in parts of their breeding range, being the most numerous breeding bird in e.g. Sweden, said Lund Universitys Professor Susanne Akesson and colleagues. Three subspecies occur across its range: Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus and P. t. acredula meeting in a hybrid zone in central Sweden, and P.t. yakutensis occurring farther to the east in Siberia. P.t. trochilus and acredula are known to have different migration phenotypes, route choices and winter destinations in west and southeast Africa, respectively, while much less is known about the route choice and winter destinations of P.t. yakutensis. Professor Akessons team used geolocators to track the migration of Siberian willow warblers from their eastern part of the range in Siberia to wintering areas in sub-Saharan Africa. From their breeding habitats in eastern Siberia, Siberian willow warblers fly to staging areas located in south-west Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. From there, they continue to their winter destinations, located in Kenya and Tanzania a distance of around 8,000 miles. I think its fascinating they are so small and migrate at least 8,000 miles one way, Professor Akesson said. There are no other studies that show that birds of that size can migrate that far. Even more impressive perhaps is that they make the journey alone in their first year of life. In addition to the record for long-haul migration, the study is also the first to show where Siberian willow warblers spend the winter in east Africa. Moreover, the researchers compared alternative compass routes with the routes the birds actually take. Based on this, they identified two alternative mechanisms that the willow warblers can use during their long migration a solar compass that compensates for time shifts during the migration, and a magnetic compass based on the assumption that the birds can measure the inclination angle of the Earths magnetic field. The findings appear in the journal Movement Ecology. _____ Kristaps Sokolovskis et al. 2018. Ten grams and 13,000 km on the wing route choice in willow warblers Phylloscopus trochilus yakutensis migrating from Far East to East Africa. Movement Ecology 6: 20; doi: 10.1186/s40462-018-0138-0 The number of Japanese restaurants in Korea has more than tripled from 5,272 in 2006 to 17,290 this year. The bustling commercial districts near Hongik University in northwestern Seoul, posh Gangnam south of the Han River and Seoul National University in southern Seoul are now packed with Japanese restaurants. Japanese restaurants now swamp trendy neighborhoods in Seoul, making some of them look like the back streets of Tokyo. When Korea opened its door to Japanese pop culture some two decades ago, many feared that it would lead to a cultural invasion and wipe out Korean culture. But 20 years on, it is the Japanese who have become big fans of K-pop and dramas, while Koreans have embraced Japanese food. So popular are Japanese-style restaurants that they have become the favorite business venture among Koreans in their 30s and 40s who quit their office jobs. One culinary school in Gangnam is filled with people learning how to make Japanese food and baked goods. Sohn Woo-hyung (45), who quit his job at an IT company this year, said, "I started learning to cook Japanese food because I feel that I can make a success of a restaurant business if I focus on a few good dishes." Most of the students are former office workers who quit their day jobs. Tetsu Nakamura, the head of the school, said, "More than 70 percent of my students are people in their 30s and 40s who plan to start their own restaurants. When I opened my school nine years ago, the only Japanese restaurants in Seoul were sushi places, but now there are many selling anything from home-style food to desserts." Moon Jung-hoon at Seoul National University said, "As more and more Koreans prefer to eat either alone or in small groups, demand has risen for the simple dishes available in Japanese restaurants. People tend to think of Western and Chinese food as heavy and Japanese meals simpler and lighter, which seems to coincide with the latest consumer trend." Also fueling the demand is the surging number of Korean tourists who visit Japan. Some 73.6 percent of the 7.14 million Koreans who traveled there last year said the food was a main reason. "In the past, Koreans usually traveled to Japan to go shopping in Tokyo's Shinjuku or relax at a hot springs resort, but nowadays a growing number of visitors go to Japan to try out Michelin-rated and other famous restaurants," said Yoo Jin at the Japan Tourism Agency. The government is turning the state-run home-shopping channel into an exclusive outlet for products made by small firms at home. The channel was launched in 2015 to promote small and mid-sized companies and help farmers and fishermen. SMEs Minister Hong Jong-haak told reporters at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul on Monday, "There will be no problem in letting the channel sell 100 percent local products." The new policy will go into effect in January. In August, the channel announced plans to stop selling products made overseas even if the companies that make them are Korean-owned. But last month lawmakers raised objections, warning the decision could violate international trade law. "The channel is a shopping outlet for local SMEs," Hong said. "It's wrong for it to sell foreign products." Hong, who was marking his first year in the job, said the government is supporting small businesses in other ways too. "We've worked hard to reduce the troubles of small businesses, including lowering credit-card processing fees and revising lease contracts to protect them from a sudden hike in rents," he added. "We'll continue to support small businesses by making the most of next year's budget of W10.2 trillion (US$1=W1,127)." Lingang to boost Yangtze River Delta integration By:Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2018-11-20 09:43 Shanghai Lingang area, the Eastern-most area of Shanghai, has released an action plan for joining in the national Yangtze River Delta Integration Plan. The Yangtze River Delta region is one of the regions with the most vitality, the highest degree of openness and the strongest innovation capability in China. It is an important meeting point of the Belt and Road and the Yangtze River economic belt and the Lingang area is a key terminal in the region. According to the action plan, Lingang will strive to form three 100 billion industrial clusters of bio-medicine, integrated circuits and intelligent connected vehicles, and establish a global innovation network hub to lead and support national innovation development. A special fund for the development of Yangtze River Delta Integration is expected to be set up by Lingang to encourage cross-regional cooperation and deeply integrate a new generation of information technology such as industrial internet, cloud computing and artificial intelligence with the manufacturing industry. Almost all newspapers published in Kathmandu on Tuesday report on the launch of the new national ID. Similarly, reports related to former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahals emotional tribute to his son on the anniversary of his death have also made it to the front pages. Heres a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories published on the front pages: Important Prime Minister trying to delay NCP meeting again Prime Minister and NCP Chairman KP Sharma Oli, who was supposed to convene a meeting of the party secretariat this week, has packed his schedule with interactions with ministers and secretaries, leading to a suspicion that he intends to postpone the key gathering. The Himalayan Times reports that the secretariat meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, and the Prime Minister would have to postpone his meetings with ministers and secretaries if the plan is to materialise. The paper says that disgruntled party leaders such as Madhav Kumar Nepal, Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Jhalanath Khanal want the party secretariat meeting convened at the earliest so that they can criticise the government. Oli, however, does not want that to happen. Cambodia Prime Minister arriving next week Annapurna Post reports that Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu next week to take part in an INGO-organised event. The government has reluctantly called the visit a bilateral one, but it is anything but, says the paper. Ministers from other countries in the Asia Pacific region are also to attend the Asia Pacific Summit-2018. Ignored Duplication in digitisation of vital data Republica reports in its lead story that lack of coordination and growing trust deficit among state agencies that have been digitising vital national data have cost the state coffers dear. This comes at a time when the government began distribution national identity cards to its citizens on Monday. Since different authorities have been distributing voter ID cards, poor ID cards, smart licences, social security cards and passports among others, the state is spending unnecessarily, according to the report. Interesting Nepali, Chinese officials to discuss railway funding modality Nepal and China have scheduled a meeting of their officials next month in order to discuss funding modality and detailed project report for a cross-border railway project they want to establish, The Kathmandu Post reports in its anchor story. Officials from both the sides are busy preparing the agenda for the meeting, the report quotes Department of Railways officials to say. Public will have access to private rooms of kings at Narayanhiti The government is preparing to open nine rooms of Ganesh Himal section of Narayanhiti Palace for the visit of common people, according to Nepal Samacharpatra lead story. Former kings used to utilise those rooms for confidential political and diplomatic meetings, the report informs, adding the visitors can go to those rooms from next Sunday. The 100-guest Magellan Explorer is currently under construction at Asenav in Chile and due to be delivered in October 2019. The vessel, which is being built to Polar Code and is uniquely customised for fly-cruises in Antarctica, will join Antarctica21's fleet as the first newbuild for the Chile-based cruise brand, with its current fleet on charter agreements. Flying guests to King George Island Antarctica21s president and chairman Jaime Vasquez stated, partnering with V.Ships Leisure we can focus on our distinctive core business which, unlike most of our peers, avoids the Drake Passage by flying our guests to King George Island, thus allowing better comfort and more quality time in Antarctica. Per Bjornsen, V.Ships Leisure director said: We are delighted to be able to bring our unique experience with start-ups and expedition vessels to support Antarctica21 as it welcomes its first newbuild. The combined experience of V.Ships Leisure and the whole of V.Group will deliver a bespoke solution for this unique fly-cruise concept. The award of this contract demonstrates how V.Groups scale and flexibility allow us to compete and win across any region or sector. While we have the capacity and global reach to cater to the major cruise groups, independent operators and start-ups can leverage the same scale and systems to compete with these large groups. Because of our breadth of services, we can tailor our value proposition depending on location and size of business. e-learning tool for Polar Code In actively tackling the challenge of developing the skills needed to meet the growing demands of the Polar Code, V.Groups e-learning expert, Marlins has developed an interactive e-learning tool for Polar Code which is approved by the Bahamas flag for training deck officers in the initial stages of the code. Press Release November 20, 2018 ANGARA SPONSORS JUDGES-AT-LARGE BILL TO SPEED UP PH JUSTICE SYSTEM Senator Sonny Angara on Monday endorsed for plenary approval the bill creating "judges-at-large" positions in the lower courts to help unclog court dockets and speed up the resolution of cases. In sponsoring the proposed Judges-At-Large Act of 2018, Angara said Filipinos can somehow expect the wheels of justice in the country to turn faster with the appointment of acting or assisting judges in regional and municipal trial courts across the country. According to Angara, these so-called "judges-at-large"--who shall have no permanent salas and can be detailed by the Supreme Court to any lower court--will help ensure that "justice is not only served timely, but also swiftly." "This measure is but another step in our long-standing quest to make sure that justice is never delayed and denied in the Philippines," Angara said in his sponsorship speech delivered at the Senate plenary. "It also becomes part of our efforts to make justice real and alive to our people." Angara strongly believes the measure is a solution to court delays brought about by the shortage of judges to hear cases. "Dahil sa kakulangan na ito, natatambak tuloy ang mga kaso sa mga sala," Angara pointed out. "At walang magawa ang iba, kundi mag-antay--madalas habang sila'y nakakalaboso." Citing a study by the National Statistical Coordination Board from 2005 to 2010, Angara said that lower courts had an annual average load of 1,059,484 cases. "This translates to over 4,000 cases per working day. Clearly such workload is impossible for the courts and its workers to handle, leading to a blatant affront on every person's constitutional right to the speedy disposition of their cases," he lamented. The primary factors for this congestion is the lack of judges, he said, and the deployment of regular judges as assisting or acting judges. According to Angara, appointing regular judges as assisting or acting judges has been proven to be unproductive and inefficient solution since those who are deployed often have to divide their attention between their own salas and the vacant or congested courts to which they have been assigned. Latest data from the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office showed that out of the 37,230 total positions in the Supreme Court and the lower courts, 12,076 are unfilled--or roughly a third. Since these judges-at-large have no salas, they can be deployed to any regional or municipal trial court in the country. "Kung sa MRT nga, pinapabilis natin ang pagsakay ng mga commuter sa pamamagitan ng pag-deploy ng mga 'Skip Train' sa mga stasyon na napupuno, parang ganoon na rin ang magiging papel ng mga 'Judges-at-Large' sa ating sistemang pang-hustisya. Sila'y ipapadala sa anumang lugar kung saan masyado nang mabagal ang pagtakbo ng mga korte," Angara explained. The bill provides that these judges-at-large shall have the same qualifications, salaries, privileges, allowances, emoluments, benefits, and rank as their counterpart judges. To compensate for their mobile nature, they will also be given "displacement allowances" to cover their housing, food, transportation and other necessary expenses incurred during their detail to courts outside their places of residence. Press Release November 20, 2018 Koko urges the PNP to go all-out against guns-for-hire to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, today urges the Philippine National Police (PNP) to go all-out against guns-for-hire and hit squads amid the spate of killings of local officials. "The killings of local officials happening all over the country is alarming. These are surely election-related and if the PNP does not go all-out against these lawless elements, how can we have a free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections?" asked Pimentel. PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde ordered a crackdown on guns-for-hire and private armed groups in July this year following the series of killings of local officials in the country. The PNP aims to disarm and arrest all of them. Pimentel agrees with the current intensified and relentless operations against these guns-for-hire and private armed groups, especially that the 2019 National and Local Elections is fast approaching, but maintains that these should be part of the PNP's regular operations to effectively promote law and order in the entire country. "The PNP must show that it is serious in this endeavour. The PNP must disarm these guns-for-hire and hit squads and timely file cases against them with sufficient evidence," Pimentel said. He adds, "our police force must also improve on their investigation skills so that everyone with links to these syndicates can be brought to the bar of justice. And if the investigation shows that those among their ranks are involved in these illegal activities, then the PNP must purge their ranks of these rotten eggs." Under our penal code, those who employ guns-for-hire are actually principals in the crime and their liability is the same or as serious as the gunman's. Proposals for major reforms to the funding of the so-called 'three waters' - drinking, waste, and stormwater - are on a timetable to go to Cabinet for discussion in June next year, with final decisions by the end of 2019, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. Cabinet papers released with the announcement strongly suggest the outcome will see central government pay a far larger chunk than at present of the multi-billion cost of upgrading the country's water reticulation, sewerage and drainage systems than at present, reflecting the growing inability of many councils to fund projects that, in some areas, are becoming urgent or are overdue. The papers show that by mid-2019, the government intends to be in a position to draft legislation on: system-wide regulation of drinking water, along with a new risk management regime for sources of drinking water; targeted change to environmental regulation of wastewater to lift environmental performance into the existing framework of the Resource Management Act; greater transparency about the operation of wastewater and stormwater systems in order to promote better practice; and creation of new regulatory institutions to oversee those outcomes. By late 2019, Cabinet would be facing decisions on new service delivery arrangements for all three of the water types. The downside for local councils may be some loss of control over their current form and funding arrangements, although Mahuta acknowledged " there remains anxiety about 'three waters' service delivery" and promised that the policy development "will not be done in a vacuum. "We will engage with the sector," she said. Mahuta's Cabinet paper on the Three Waters Policy, discussed by ministers before public release this week, stresses that "New Zealands current system of local government is an outlier compared to other OECD countries". "Unlike many other countries, local authorities in New Zealand play a more significant role in infrastructure provision than other countries. I wish to consider how our two levels of government may work together to deliver intergenerational wellbeing," she said. "Our issues and our challenges are the same, and we need local government to be a critical partner in addressing them." The Productivity Commission investigation into new ways of funding local infrastructure, other than rates, is also a key input. Its recently published issues paper canvassed a variety of funding models, including infrastructure bonds, targeted rates, and public-private partnerships, although "continued public ownership of water assets is our bottom line", Mahuta said. On three waters policy the Cabinet says "the scale of the challenges indicates that the status quo is not sustainable in the long term". "There is, moreover, an opportunity to do things differently. Both domestic and international models demonstrate that better quality services can be delivered to consumers more efficiently." In anticipation of today's release, councils' peak body, Local Government New Zealand, last week issued a position paper urging the government to make safe drinking water its top priority among the Three Waters, allowing existing and relatively recently imposed freshwater regulation to be implemented. It also opposed any enforced amalgamation of water services among small local bodies that are struggling to afford upgrades. In some regions, small and shrinking local populations are combining with ageing infrastructure and the tourism boom to create potentially unsustainable financial pressures on ratepayers. Mahuta says in the Cabinet paper she will "share some initial thinking with key relevant ministers in December 2018 and report back in April 2019 with a set of guiding principles anchored in the goal of intergenerational wellbeing" before taking final policy recommendations to Cabinet. The policy programme will "develop high-level service delivery options for further consideration", said Mahuta. Weak regulation across the water sector was an issue. "There is no formal system of economic regulation in place to ensure that consumers long-term interests are protected, or that services are value for money," the water policy Cabinet paper says. The paper also identifies low voter turnout and "questions around how truly representative and reflective of their diverse communities local governors are", along with "capability and capacity issues throughout the sector". (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. 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Related News: 24th November 2021 Morning Report Serko Limited (NZX: SKO) launches NZ$85 million capital raise Serko Limited (NZX: SKO) FY21 Half-Year Results Announcement Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) FY21 Results Announcement to Market & Capital Return ArborGen Holdings Limited (NZX: ARB) Announces Interim Result Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA) Awarded Callaghan Innovation Funding Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Reports Steady First Half Progress 23rd November 2021 Morning Report Argosy Property Limited (NZX: ARG) FY22 Interim Result market release SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) REOPENING OF SKYCITY AUCKLAND PROPERTY A2 Milk Co chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka is not concerned about a bid by the US National Milk Producers Federation to haul it over the coals for allegedly making false advertising claims there. Hrdlicka said she was confident A2 Milk would be successful in the US, where it has lifted its points of distribution by 50 percent in the first four months of the current financial year. "The science is solid. We have gone through all the appropriate steps from a regulatory standpoint, consumers love our product, retailers love our product and the traditional dairy producers are nervous so they are going to fight dirty," she said on a media call. "All they are doing is drawing attention to the fact that there is a great proposition in the market that makes a difference for people and that consumers are excited about," she added. The US federation filed a complaint with the country's National Advertising Division, arguing that "A2 milk falsely promises consumers that its product is 'easier on digestion' as compared to conventional milk and that consumers can 'avoid digestive discomfort' and will 'feel the difference,'" according to a statement. It alleges the research underlying A2 Milk's "claims contains errors in study design, methodology, and population selection and is unreliable and clinically insignificant." According to the federation, NAD then referred the case to the Federal Trade Commission, when A2 Milk declined to participate in a review of its advertising claims. Radio NZ also quoted Clay Detlefsen, a senior executive at the National Milk Producers Federation, saying the case could end up in court. Hrdlicka said the behaviour of the traditional milk producers in the US is similar to what A2 Milk saw in Australia when it first began to establish the brand. "We have been there. We know how the story plays out and we know how to play for the long term," she said. New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra also vigorously rubbished the science behind A2 milk until February this year when it did an about-face and formed a marketing alliance with A2 Milk. Global rival Nestle is also now selling an A2-based infant formula in China in competition with A2's Platinum brand. Hrdlicka also said that the company is not seeing any fallout from the US-China trade tensions, despite being focused on both markets. "We have had no issues with respect to trade wars and dynamics at any level because we just stay focused on building out our brand for the long term," she said. She made the comments after the company announced revenue in the four months through October rose to $368.4 million, up 40.5 percent on the same period a year ago, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 58.5 percent to $124.2 million. Net profit was $86 million, up 64.5 percent, the company said in a trading update for its annual meeting in Melbourne. "We have had a great year and we are off to a strong start in FY19. We have a strong brand, special culture and unique proposition, the combination of which positions us very well for the future," said Hrdlicka. The stock was up 2.2 percent at $10.70. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 24th November 2021 Morning Report Serko Limited (NZX: SKO) launches NZ$85 million capital raise Serko Limited (NZX: SKO) FY21 Half-Year Results Announcement Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) FY21 Results Announcement to Market & Capital Return ArborGen Holdings Limited (NZX: ARB) Announces Interim Result Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA) Awarded Callaghan Innovation Funding Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Reports Steady First Half Progress 23rd November 2021 Morning Report Argosy Property Limited (NZX: ARG) FY22 Interim Result market release SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) REOPENING OF SKYCITY AUCKLAND PROPERTY Kathmandu, November 20 The first edition of South Asian Bodybuilding Competition is going to kick off in Kathmandu on November 23, the organisers of the event informed. Nepal Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (NFBF) said that a total of 100 participantsboth male and female from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan will participate in the competition. The three-day competition will be held under the categories such as male bodybuilding, male physique, women fitness, and women physique, said NFBF President Shiva Lamichhane BK. Male bodybuilding contest will be organised under different weight categories: 60 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg, 80 kg, 85 and over, while women contestants will compete under specific eight groups, informed BK. NFBF is a member of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, which has been organising Mister Olympia, the world famous bodybuilding contest. When Abiral Shrestha and Suyash Nepal, members of a private research team, carried out an investigation into the status of data security on Nepali websites last year, they were taken by surprise. We were aware that Nepali websites were not safe, but the number was really alarming: 700 plus websites were found attacked by hackers, Nepal remembers, We concluded that almost an equal number of websites get hacked every year. It was a serious issue. This was when ThreatNix, a private internet security service providing company, realised the need to increase awareness about such issues among internet users and the public. Threat Con, one of Nepals first hacker meets, is the latest effort by Shrestha, Nepal and their team to increase hacking literacy in Nepal. The event is being hosted this Thursday and Friday at Hotel Annapurna in Kathmandu. Erasing the misunderstanding The first thing that Shrestha and Nepal want to educate Nepalis about hacking is: it is not always mala fide. Hacking is not a negative activity in itself. Both attackers and defenders can be called hackers, Nepal defines, People who manipulate software and websites, and operate them in the way they want are hackers. But, their intentions differentiate whether they are attackers or defenders. According to him, people who hack software and websites with malicious intentions are called crackers. The international community differentiates hackers from crackers, Shrestha informs, However, in the case of Nepal, they are all hackers. Therefore, here, we use the phrase ethically active hackers to refer to people like us, who hack software and websites to help people enhance their security. Nepal, meanwhile, informs that the international community of ethically active hackers is quite big. It is amazing that there are hundreds of people who hack websites of other people and companies, find out their shortcomings, fix them and come out without revealing the identity, many times without expecting any reward. This is what the first edition of Threat Con wants to achieve, according to Shrestha. Bridging the gap Secondly, they want to bridge the gap between the of hacking professionals and the market need. The organisers have identified that Nepali hackers are insufficient as well as underqualified to meet the demand of the market. Every place that stores data in digital form and uses the internet to disseminate information needs hackers to keep data safe. Therefore, our scope is very wide, Shrestha informs, But, today, the number of professional hacking personnel in Nepal is around 20-25. Even these people are not equipped with updated and comprehensive information about emerging threats and defence tactics. The two-day event has been designed to address both of these problems, they claim. Though the number of professionals is very low, there are many people who are interested to work in this field. Most of them are students of computer science and different engineering programmes. Some private colleges in Kathmandu have introduced dedicated cybersecurity courses under foreign university affiliations, Nepal informs, adding the event will give them ideas about emerging employment opportunities. The organisers have invited international speakers, who will share their ideas about different issues with the participants. In fact, they had issued a call for application for conference papers from everyone interested. We had received around 25 submissions and had commissioned an experts panel to select the speakers and topics, Shrestha informs, Though two of the submissions were domestic, the experts panel did not select them and all the speakers happened to be foreigners. It also suggests that Nepali personnel need to learn more from international practices. About the event Activities of the two days of the event are designed for different target groups. There will be two workshopson building secure APIs and web applications, and bug bountyon the first day. Both the workshops will be full of extensive teaching sessions so that the attendees can have a solid idea about the topics. It will help them develop their skills into their career goals. Around 30 professionals have registered to attend the workshops. There will also be a conference on the second day. It will include five paper presentationson building and developing communities, OWASP top 10 proactive controls of 2018, exploiting cloud synchronization to mask hack IoTs, licence management, and managing organisations cloud security postureand a panel discussion on challenges of cybersecurity in Nepal. Representatives of concerned government agencies and private companies, as well as security professionals, will be on the panel. Over 250 persons have confirmed their participation in the conference. Around 30 per cent of them are students. Besides talk sessions and workshops, we offer the participants an opportunity to build networks of the professionals, Shrestha informs as Nepal adds, On the sidelines of the conference we have tool exhibition stalls, live bug bounty demonstrations and hacking games. There will be a chill out area where you can take rest and talk about anything if any of the presentations bores you. It will be a completely fun event. ThreatNix has partnered with Internet Society Chapter Nepal and CAN Federation among others to host the event. Meanwhile, government agencies like Nepal Telecommunications Authority and the Department of Information Technology have extended moral support. We have requested the government agencies to bear some costs of the event as well, and we are hopeful about their cooperation, Nepal shares. But for now, ThreatNix and other organisers are covering the costs. There are some sponsors and the participants also have to pay certain charges to attend the workshops. But, the revenues are not sufficient to fund the entire event, according to Nepal. If you are concerned about the finance, we are in loss, he says, But, we are looking forward to other nonmonetary benefits the event will provide. Ethically active hackers are altruistic; hence we are doing this event for the security of everyone. RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Monday that Pakistan has been subjected to various threats, especially during the last two decades. He said that the Pakistani nation and its armed forces have bravely and successfully stood up to these challenges and are on a positive trajectory to defeat it effectively. He expressed these views during a meeting with participants of National Security Workshop20 who visited the General Headquarters (GHQ). The COAS said, We are now confronting hybrid conflict where focus is shifting to subversion on religious, sectarian, ethnic and social issues. This needs a comprehensive national response. He emphasized, We now have a greater responsibility to ensure that our people, especially youth stay aware and steadfast against propaganda onslaught being launched through soft offensive. Its our time to rise and progress and we must grasp the opportunity achieved after countless sacrifice, added the COAS. National Security Workshop is an annual event at the National Defence University participated by representatives from all segments of society.PR Surge in China theft of Australia company secrets: report Sydney, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2018 China has sharply escalated cyberattacks on Australian companies this year in a "constant, significant effort" to steal intellectual property, according to a report published Tuesday. The investigation by Fairfax Media and commercial broadcaster Channel Nine comes just days after US Vice President Mike Pence accused Beijing at the APEC summit of widespread "intellectual property theft". The report said China's Ministry of State Security was responsible for "Operation Cloud Hopper", a wave of attacks it said were detected by Canberra and its partners in the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance -- the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. An unnamed senior Australian government official told Fairfax the activity was "a constant, significant effort to steal our intellectual property", while other officials expressed frustration that firms and universities were not tightening their security. Cyber experts echoed the government sources, with US cybersecurity company CrowdStrike saying they "noticed a significant increase in attacks in the first six months of this year". "The activity is mainly from China and it's targeting all sectors. There's no doubt the gloves are off," CrowdStrike vice-president Mike Sentonas told Fairfax. The alleged attacks took place despite an agreement between Canberra and Beijing last year "not to conduct or support cyber-enabled theft" of intellectual property and other commercial secrets. Australian government officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Western governments have long accused hackers in China of plundering industrial, corporate and military secrets. Last year, sensitive data about Australia's F-35 stealth fighter and P-8 surveillance aircraft programmes were stolen when a defence subcontractor was hacked with a tool widely used by Chinese cyber criminals. In 2016, a security breach on the Bureau of Meteorology's system, which has connections to the defence department, was linked, by media, to China. BASF bets on China to power growth Frankfurt am Main, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2018 German chemicals giant BASF said Tuesday that it would massively expand its operations in China, betting on steady growth in the world's second largest economy to lift profits in coming years. The group plans both to expand an existing site in Nanjing and build a new major factory in Zhanjiang in the south to profit from China's forecast rise to around 50 percent of the global chemicals market by 2030. "We want to generate growth where growth is actually happening," chief executive Martin Brudermueller told journalists during a press conference at BASF's Ludwigshafen headquarters. After investing around 11 billion euros ($12.6 billion) in Nanjing, the group will pour around 10 billion euros into the new site, he added. BASF is "the only western chemical company with this kind of position in China," Brudermueller said. As well as its investments in Asia, the group is pushing through an internal restructuring to simplify its business and aims in future to develop "tailor-made" products for its customers with a more responsive research and development operation. Executives hope their updated strategy should allow BASF to grow operating, or underlying profits before special items, by between 3.0 and 5.0 percent each year until 2030. Meanwhile bosses strove to highlight their environmental credentials, promising to keep carbon dioxide emissions flat at 2018 levels until 2030 despite increasing production. So far BASF's CO2 output had been falling, to now stand at half 1990's figure, while production volumes doubled over the same period. But Brudermueller said that most of the reductions that could be found from improved processes within the company had already been achieved, calling the freezing target for the coming years "very ambitious". In future, there are "some things we will not do anymore, because CO2 emissions are too high," he added. BASF also aims to increase use of recycled plastics as a raw material and to boost sales of products it says make a "substantial sustainability contribution" to 22 billion euros annually by 2025. Although the group promised to increase its dividend payout each year until 2030, investors appeared unimpressed with the group's plans. Shares in BASF fell 3.35 percent by 11.20 am in Frankfurt (1020GMT), to trade at 66.71 euros, against a DAX index of blue-chip German shares which was down 1.12 percent. tgb/hmn/bmm Zambian police quiz opposition leader over attacks on Chinese Lusaka, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2018 Zambian police on Tuesday questioned opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema for allegedly fuelling attacks on Chinese nationals, in a sign of growing political tension in the country. Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development (UPND) party, was last year detained for four months for alleged treason in a case that many critics said was politically motivated. Hichilema has repeatedly challenged the result of the 2016 election, which he lost to President Edgar Lungu. Charity Katanga, the police chief of Copperbelt province, said Hichilema was questioned after alleging that the government had sold a state-run timber company to Chinese interests, prompting street protests in Zambia's second city Kitwe. Some Chinese businesses were looted in the protests, as well as scores of protesters arrested. Anti-Chinese sentiment in Zambia has grown over lucrative contracts being awarded to China and government borrowing from Beijing. "He has been cautioned for sedition," Katanga told AFP. "In an interview aired by SUN-FM he alleged that government has sold Zaffico to the Chinese when in fact it has not. "His statement caused discontent among residents and caused riots targeted at the Chinese. He has been warned to not incite ethnicity attacks." Hichilema was accompanied to the police station in the Copperbelt capital Ndola by party deputy Geoffrey Mwamba, a team of lawyers and Chishimba Kambwili, a Lungu critic from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party. Jack Mwiimbu, Hichilema's lawyer, told AFP that his client that was released after questioning, declining to elaborate. Police barricaded the entrance to the police station and stopped scores of party supporters from entering the building. President Lungu has been accused of piling up foreign debt and cracking down on dissent since winning the election. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf3be5b0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf51f848)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf3be5b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf51f848)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf4fb318)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf51f848)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf51f848)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdefd3560)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf51f1d0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf51f1d0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf90b610)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf90fc38)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf90b610)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf90fc38)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf8c6800)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf90fc38)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf90fc38)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdefd14f0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf90bb50)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf90bb50)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf9a0160)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf8bc630)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf9a0160)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf8bc630)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf9aa2c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf8bc630)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf8bc630)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdefd14f0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf8e2668)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf8e2668)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf975400)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf992e28)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf975400)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf992e28)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf975358)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf992e28)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf992e28)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf4832a8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf9dc218)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf9dc218)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf90c260)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf941d18)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf90c260)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf941d18)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf819190)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf941d18)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf941d18)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdefd32d8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf96c510)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf96c510)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf967dd8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf9680d8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf967dd8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf9680d8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf996400)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf9680d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf9680d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdefd0cf8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf811b70)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf811b70)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf8f5438)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf8f2ff0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf8f5438)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf8f2ff0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf9370b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf8f2ff0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf8f2ff0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdefd14f0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf942c30)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf942c30)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf891b10)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf973d78)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf891b10)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf973d78)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf95a288)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf973d78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf973d78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdefd33f8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf8f3420)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf8f3420)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 US mulls curbs on artificial intelligence exports Washington, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2018 The administration of US President Donald Trump is exploring curbing exports of sensitive technologies including artificial intelligence for national security reasons, according to a proposal this week. The proposal to control sales of certain technologies "essential to the national security of the United States" comes amid growing trade friction with Beijing -- and fears that China may overtake the US in some areas such as artificial intelligence. The Commerce Department said in the proposed rules, published Monday, that it would consider curbs on various AI technologies such as neural networks and deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing and audio and video manipulation. Artificial intelligence is a key element of many computer products made by US tech firms including smartphones, connected speakers and self-driving cars. AI can also have applications for military purposes. The proposed rules also said export curbs would be examined for microprocessor technology, quantum computing, robotics and other sectors. The US is examining controls for "specific emerging technologies" that would avoid "negatively impacting US leadership in the science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing sector," said the federal register notice. But banning AI exports could be counterproductive to US goals, said Daniel Castro, vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a Washington think tank. "If the US government bans the export of AI technology, other countries will likely enact reciprocal policies," Castro said. "It will mean US companies are locked out of certain markets, allowing firms in other countries to compete unchallenged." Castro said a ban also would "prevent the type of international research collaboration needed in an emerging technology such as AI," including with China. Meanwhile, a report this month by the Center for Strategic and International Studies said there are difficult tradeoffs when considering AI and national security in light of cross-border investments. "If an adversary succeeds in acquiring technology from a US firm or start-up through investment, that is a detriment to national security," the CSIS report said. "On the other hand, if the United States refuses to work with companies that have Chinese investment or funding because of the national security risk that this investment might pose, these companies could lose access to significant investment potential and the US government also loses a potential partner for new ideas and capabilities." PNG police, soldiers storm parliament over unpaid APEC bonuses Port Moresby, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2018 Papua New Guinea police and soldiers stormed the country's parliament Tuesday, assaulting staff, smashing windows and demanding unpaid APEC bonuses just days after the international summit wrapped up, police and witnesses said. The impoverished Pacific nation had rolled out the red carpet for visiting world leaders during the two-day conference and bought 40 Maseratis to ferry the dignitaries around. The officers headed to parliament in the capital Port Moresby to express their dissatisfaction following a meeting with the police commissioner and the police minister over the allowances, PNG MP Bryan Kramer said in a video posted on Facebook. Kramer said "numerous staff of parliament were assaulted during this confrontation" before the group left the building and gathered outside demanding an answer from the government. A Facebook video he posted of the scene showed smashed pot plants, photo frames knocked to the floor and broken glass and furniture. PNG police spokesman Dominic Kakas confirmed the incident and told AFP they were "dealing with it". He did not yet know how many police and soldiers were involved. A witness outside parliament told AFP "hundreds of police and troops" had been standing on the building's front steps complaining that they had not been paid the special APEC duty allowance of 350 kina (US$104). "The scene outside parliament is very tense. There are dozens of police cars and army vehicles," the witness said, adding that a nearby hotel was in lockdown and the protesters were blocking traffic. The group later marched down the street towards a nearby stadium. The chief executive of PNG's APEC Secretariat Chris Hawkins said the payment would "normally take a week to process at the end of a major event". "The meeting ended two days ago and the security operation is now winding down," he added in a statement to Australian national broadcaster ABC. "The payment of individual allowances has already commenced and individual security force members should check with their banks as payments are made." Some locals in PNG, the poorest member of APEC, had expressed anger with the government's lavish expense for the summit, which came at a time when the developing nation of eight million people is battling a polio outbreak and the resurgence of malaria, while struggling to pay its teachers. grk/dm/ecl Canada facing fighter pilot shortage: audit Ottawa, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2018 Canada's air force will soon get more planes but is facing a pilot shortage, so it still won't be able to meet new continental and NATO defense commitments, the country's auditor general warned Tuesday. The nation currently has only 64 percent of the trained pilots it needs to effectively enforce Canada's sovereignty and respond quickly to threats, as well as take part in international operations with allies, the audit said. The air force is losing pilots faster than it can train new ones, the report warned. "We found that Canada's fighter force could not meet the government's new operational requirement, which is to have enough aircraft ready each day to meet the highest NORAD alert level and Canada's NATO commitment at the same time," Auditor General Michael Ferguson said. The warning comes after the UN aviation agency (ICAO) said in February that a global shortage of commercial pilots looms. It determined that 620,000 new pilots would need to be trained to meet growing demand for air transport by 2036. Canada currently has 76 F-18 aircraft and more than 1,450 personnel contributing to the country's fighter capability. In the two years to March 2018, however, the Royal Canadian Air Force lost 40 trained fighter pilots and produced only 30 new ones. Since then, an additional 17 fighter pilots have left or stated their intention to leave. If the trend continues, Ferguson said, "there will not be enough experienced pilots to train the next generation of fighter pilots." He also noted a shortage of skilled ground crew technicians, which has forced cuts to the number of flying hours. The job of maintenance crews is complicated by an aging fleet -- largely purchased in the 1980s -- and a government that is not moving forward on its replacement. The audit noted that the military expects to spend Can$3 billion (US$2.25 billion) to keep its old F-18s flying until 2032, and has not made any significant combat upgrades to them in the past decade, "making them vulnerable" to enemies. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government cancelled the purchase of new F-35 fighter jets when it came to power in 2015, and then scrapped its own backstop for an interim fleet of 18 Super Hornets amid a trade spat with Boeing, before settling on 18 used Australian F-18s. Five companies have been invited to submit proposals for an order of 88 advanced fighter jets, which are to be delivered starting in 2025. Dassault dropped out of the running earlier this month, leaving an Airbus-BAE consortium, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Saab to bid. Busy US border town worries about impact of Trump's military fence Laredo, United States, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2018 Pete Saenz, the mayor of the southwestern Texan city of Laredo, looks at the military fencing that now hems his bustling border town and is uneasy with what he sees. "It's a surprise to some of us, a shock frankly. We're not used to concertina wire," Saenz told AFP. Laredo, whose population of about 260,000 is more than 95 percent Latino, is one of the areas being "hardened" by the US military under orders from President Donald Trump. As part of the contentious mission, that has seen about 5,800 active-duty troops sent to the border, the Army has strung a shiny metal fence made of barbed and concertina wire along Laredo's grassy riverbanks. Locals are starting to worry of economic consequences for a city that relies heavily on cross-border trade. In an interview at his City Hall office this week, where the Mexican tricolor stands alongside the Texas flag, Saenz said he understands the federal government's desire to protect the border. But he is concerned the military presence might cause a drop in legal foot traffic between Laredo and its sister city of Nuevo Laredo, across the Rio Grande river in Mexico. "Aesthetically it doesn't look good. Obviously, if we could have our way as a city, I think we would object to the concertina wire," Saenz said, noting the city has had some initial discussions about challenging the federal government's emplacement of the fence. Mexican shoppers account for about 40-50 percent of Laredo's retail trade, much of which is centered on a vast "outlet mall" that provides better prices and selections than anything in Nuevo Laredo. Mexican residents of Nuevo Laredo are allowed into Laredo to shop and work, provided they have special permits, and some 17,000 people shuffle daily back and forth across a busy bridge. - Joined at the hip - Even a small drop in foot traffic could have a big impact on the local economy, and similar concerns are being echoed up and down the border. In Nogales, Arizona, for instance, foot traffic from Mexico has slowed dramatically and retailers are feeling the pinch with several stores at risk. "I don't see it (as) good that (Trump's) putting in the fences. The people from Mexico, they go in and shop around, they leave their money over there," said Sandra Chavez, an American woman who spoke to AFP in Nuevo Laredo. "They are not doing nothing wrong." Worries are especially acute at this time of year, during the usually frenetic Thanksgiving and Christmas retail seasons. Saenz believes it is too soon to know if legal border crossings are slowing, but anecdotally at least some observers have noticed changes. Compared to two years ago, "there seems to be more shops that have closed, it seems to be more of a ghost town," Laura Pole, a British tourist who has visited Laredo three times in recent years, told AFP from the picturesque town center. Away from the historic square, which is flanked by an ornate Catholic cathedral and hacienda-style buildings, workers in larger shops said they had not seen any changes so far. Laredo is inextricably linked to Mexico, and Spanish is by far the dominant language. The city changed hands multiple times during the 19th century and was once part of Mexico. "I usually say we're tied (at) the hip," Saenz says. Foot traffic goes both ways, with US citizens heading into Mexico to search for cheaper pharmaceuticals and property. Sometimes, families split their existence between the two sides of the border. "The Army being deployed here is ridiculous," huffs Angela Torres, an American whose husband was deported and now lives in Nuevo Laredo, while she also keeps a home on the US side and crosses daily. - Costly operations - Critics have decried Trump's order to toughen the border as a costly political stunt, coming as it did just before the November 6 midterm elections. A Customs and Border Patrol agent, who was not authorized to give his name, said he was glad of the military assistance as each day, hundreds of migrants attempt to cross the approximately 30-mile (50 kilometer) stretch of border he patrols. The Pentagon has still not released a cost estimate for the entire border operation, though a figure of $220 million has been widely reported. The mission is supposed to run through December 15. Retail dollars aside, Laredo is the biggest land port for goods coming into the United States, with only the maritime port of Long Beach in California bigger in size. Some $214 billion of trade crosses annually through the port of Laredo, Saenz says, and just outside the city center a non-stop stream of massive trucks can be seen hauling cargo both ways across a bridge. "This is what drives our city. Trade, logistics, warehousing, distribution, and so this is why our relationship with Mexico is so sensitive," Saenz says. The mayor adds that, going forward, he hopes the federal and state governments pay greater attention to the needs of border communities. "You know it's easy to govern from Washington or from (state capital) Austin sometimes without knowing the impact on the border itself," he says. "We live it, we sense it, we feel it, we take it in. And economically we depend on it." The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. "Weve been working on this for almost a year - Giuseppe Palumbo, CEO of Palumbo, explains - because we strongly believe in the potential of the renowned brand of Mondomarine and the geographic location of the shipyard. We are extremely happy for yet another goal achieved. This acquisition will further strengthen our position to provide unparalleled service on new builds, refit and maintenance from our unique network of shipyards". This recent acquisition will further expand the future for Palumbo Superyachts, which is already the largest refit/repair network in the Mediterranean and East Atlantic with 8 other shipyards strategically located in Ancona, Naples, Messina, Malta (2), Marseille, Tenerife and recently Rijeka in Croatia. These shipyards are all fully equipped to handle any and all manner of refit and repair projects, each with individual highlights from dry docks and powerful service cranes, but all of which can service vessels up to 360 metres in length. These facilities will be updated and modernized as required. International designers such as Luca Dini have already been hired by Palumbo Superyachts to design the new Mondomarine yacht projects while preserving the core values of the historic shipyard. With the acquisition of the historical brand of Mondomarine, Mondomarine have promised that a new line of Urban Explorer yachts will be proposed among a variety of new projects. Even if it is a new line, it represents a way to preserve some of the old values of Mondomarine, as it was the first shipyard to build an Explorer yacht in Italy, the 50-metre motoryacht Tribu delivered in 2007. We at Superyachts.com look forward to the new projects which will come from this successful acquisition and look forward to the progress of the new Urban Explorer yachts. The old N-340 coast road between Nerja and Torrox was closed to traffic on Tuesday afternoon after a large rock broke away from the mountainside above and fell onto the carriageway. No one was hurt in the incident which occurred in the municipality of Torrox, not far from the municipal border with Nerja and near La Restinga beach bar. / SUR It appears that the net fitted to the rockface to prevent rockfalls had broken. Earth and smaller rocks also fell onto the road. The mayor of Torrox, Oscar Medina, ordered the total closure of the road, although initially one of of the lanes was still open to traffic. Mr. Ciruli is the Director of the Crossley Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Denvers Josef Korbel School of International Studies. He is an adjunct professor teaching public opinion and foreign policy. The Crossley Center conducts research and presents live and virtual programs on foreign policy, politics, public policy and public opinion. Mr. Ciruli holds a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and a bachelors degree cum laude in political science from UCLA. He is a member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), and is the past-president of the Pacific Chapter of AAPOR (PAPOR). Mr. Ciruli is a board member of the Social Science Foundation of the University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies and past-president of the Georgetown Law Alumni Board and the Denver Athletic Club. The Australian-first Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) will bring together the best of Victorias aerospace research, design and manufacturing leaders to work with industry on the next generation of air mobility. Woodcut Media is to produce a brand-new documentary crime series The Killer in My Family (international title My Deadly Relation). UKTV has pre-invested in the series which is set to premiere on the broadcasters Really channel in January 2019. The Killer in My Family (6 x 45) tells the story from the perspective of the murderers family, including the impact it had on them. The show raises questions such as, Were there any early signs of the killers intentions? Did they have any idea of the horror that lay ahead? How did they feel when they discovered the terrifying truth? Episodes feature candid interviews with family members and ex-partners of notorious murderers such as Ian Huntley, Fred West, Richard Ramirez, Phillip Fraser, Levi Bellfield and those involved in the honour killing of Surjit Athwal. Each story includes news coverage, personal archive information, testimonies from police officers and journalists involved in the case, and psychological analysis from experts exploring how the family dealt with the trauma. Matthew Gordon, Executive Producer, Woodcut Media said: The fall-out from any murder is devastating not just for the relatives of the victim, but also for the family members of the perpetrator. In this series we wanted get up close and personal, so that these individuals can also fully express the impact this has had on their lives. Daniel Thomas, UKTVs Acquisitions Manager, has brokered the deal for UKTV. Daniel Thomas said: This is set to be a fascinating series and were looking forward to working with Woodcut Media to offer families whose lives have been irrevocably changed due to crimes committed by a relative, an opportunity to share their story. TCB Media Rights has provided deficit financing and will be distributing the series internationally under the title My Deadly Relation. Paul Heaney, CEO, TCB Media Rights added: Buyers are constantly asking for a new way in to telling true crime stories. The Killer in My Family takes a fresh view point which will offer viewers well known crimes with a new twist. Executive producers are Kate Beal and Matthew Gordon (Woodcut Media), Paul Heaney (TCB Media Rights) and Daniel Thomas (for UKTV). Share this story if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... In some states, there are laws that require you to share your HIV status with your sex or injection partners. Sharing your status with anyone else is your choice. Sex or Injection Partners Telling your partners that you have HIV before you have sex or inject drugs may be uncomfortable. But doing so protects you under the law. It also allows your partners to make decisions that can protect their health. You should also tell your current or former partners if youve been diagnosed with another sexually transmitted disease (STD). This lets them know that they should also get tested for other STDs. There are a few ways to let your partners know: You tell your partners. These conversations can be hard. You may have been exposed to HIV by one of your partners, or you may have exposed one or more of them without knowing. Learn how to start the conversation. The health department tells your partners. This is sometimes called Partner Services. Health department staff tell your current and former partners that they may have been exposed to HIV. The health department will provide your partners with testing, counseling, and referrals for other services. Partner Services programs are available through health departments and some medical offices and clinics. Your health care provider, social worker, case manager, patient navigator, or HIV testing center can help you find a Partner Services program. Health Care Providers Health care providers and other HIV service providers need to know so they can support you and protect themselves. They can help make sure you have access to the health care services that you need. They will remember to be very careful and take precautions such as wearing gloves to avoid direct contact with blood. Family and Friends Sharing your HIV status with certain family members and friends has emotional and practical benefits. Your family and friends can help you deal with an HIV diagnosis. They can support you with the longer-term issues of treatment. They can help you disclose your status to others. They can speak for you in case of an emergency. They can help you navigate the medical system. Learn how to share your status with family and friends. Employers You do not have to tell your employer. But you may want to share your status in case you need to take extended leave or alter your schedule. By law, your disclosure is confidential. Learn about disclosure, confidentiality, and the law. Your state health department can also share your states laws and how they apply to disclosure. [Note from TheBody: This is a cross-posted version of an article created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and last updated on Oct. 21, 2020.] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Richard Heydarian (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) Manila Tue, November 20, 2018 17:26 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cf4662 2 Opinion #Malaysia,#Philippines,#Mahathir,#MahathirMohamad,#Duterte,#RodrigoDuterte,#ASEAN,#APECmeeting Free I always attend meetings. Its my duty, said Malaysias 93-year-old Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a survivor of elective coronary bypass surgery, amid the nap-gate affair in Singapore. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, 20 years his junior, apparently was too tired to attend more than half of the scheduled meetings during the opening day of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit last week. Malacanang was quick to defend the Presidents no-show by saying he was too tired from work earlier and needed power naps. Never mind that power naps are supposed to be under an hour before slow-wave sleep (SWS) kicks in, and that the Philippines occupies a crucial role as the ASEAN-China coordinator. In an almost irritated tone, Duterte was quick to shut down any criticism by stating, Whats wrong with my nap? He sought to justify his absence from the ASEAN leaders informal breakfast meeting with Australia by half-quipping, What will they feed us if its informal? Kangaroo? Back in March, he was the only ASEAN leader to skip the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney, because he was supposedly too tired to travel, only to have multiple foreign visits right after. Soon, the whole thing became the joke of the town. Days later, even Papua New Guineas Prime Minister Peter ONeill, who was hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, chimed in, repeatedly asking the Filipino leader whether he had a good sleep and a good rest. Duterte apparently said, yeah but still skipped the APEC gala meeting later. To be fair, much shouldnt be made out of no-shows alone. After all, US President Donald Trump didnt even bother to attend the ASEAN and APEC summits. Moreover, Duterte is in his older years and has been grappling with many ailments. If he is truly unwell, its more than justified that he skips long, arduous travels. Scratch below the surface, however, and one realizes that this isnt about power naps alone. And perhaps here, at a more fundamental level, lies the difference not only between the two strongmen of Asia, but also the Philippines and Malaysia. In one country, a strong-willed, workaholic leader constantly pushes the boundaries of personal and national ambition, even as he inches closer to a century of life on earth. In another, too many people are happy to make excuses, no matter how incredulous and fantastical, for a leaders inadequacies, even when whats in question is the lack of basic professionalism. As Mahathir made it clear, the highest office in the land is not a personal possession, but instead an institution that comes with basic duties. In one country, a tough-talking leader stands up to both Eastern and Western superpowers for the national interest of his country. In another, the leader is more than happy to embrace China out of irritation with Western criticism, even if the former is a direct rival in maritime and territorial disputes. Anyone with basic familiarity with the Malaysian leader knows that he spent much of his early years in office standing up to the West in order to protect the sovereignty of smaller nations. He was more than happy to snub American presidents such as Reagan and get into eloquent verbal spats with Australian prime ministers. Today, he is doing exactly the same thing, except vis-a-vis a new regional hegemon. During his visit to Beijing in August, Mahathir bluntly told his Chinese hosts that he is worried about new imperialism from the East. Since his return to office earlier this year, Mahathir has pushed for cancellation and/or renegotiation of large-scale infrastructure deals with China, including the US$10 billion Melaka Gateway, the $20 billion East Coast Rail Link, and the $2.5 billion natural gas pipeline led by a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp. As one of Mahathirs advisers told me earlier this year, the Malaysian leader wants to make it clear that we are not a Chinese lackey, and will push for transparent and mutually beneficial deals that will create quality employment and growth for Malaysians. Now, contrast that with the policy and rhetoric of Mahathirs counterpart in Manila. Now you know why Malaysia is where it is compared to the Philippines. Topics : This article appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Stockholm, Sweden Tue, November 20, 2018 14:09 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cef180 2 Art & Culture Nobel,Nobel-Literature-Prize,sex-scandal,Sweden,Literature,award Free The body that picks the winner of the annual Nobel Prize in Literature is setting up a new selection committee in a bid to draw a line under a sex scandal that forced it to cancel this year's prize. After discussions with the Nobel Foundation, which administers the will of the prize's founder, dynamite-millionaire Alfred Nobel, the Swedish Academy said its new committee would have five of its own members and five external experts that could pick winners in 2019 and 2020. It gave no further information and could not immediately be reached for comment. It remains uncertain whether, and under what circumstances, the award would return next year. Read also: Nobel literature award body asks scandal-hit member to quit Lars Heikensten, chief executive of the Nobel Foundation, told Reuters in an email: "Early next year a decision on whether a Nobel prize for literature can be awarded for 2018 and 2019 must be taken." The 2018 prize was cancelled and the Academy's future role in the award was put into question after the husband of one member was accused of sexually assaulting and harassing women. Jean-Claude Arnault, a photographer, was found guilty of one case of rape. He denies all allegations and has appealed the verdict. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) - Tue, November 20, 2018 20:05 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cf897c 1 Food coffee,cold-brew-coffee,food,#food,health,#health Free A study published in Scientific Reports found that traditionally hot brewed coffee had more antioxidants than cold brew coffee, and there was very little difference in pH value between the two. Researchers of Jefferson University in the United States found that the pH levels of both hot and cold brews were almost the same, with the acidity reading for both ranging from 4.85 to 5.13, according to philly.com. I thought the pHs would be more different. They were remarkably close, said assistant professor of chemistry Megan Fuller, who conducted the study with associate professor Niny Rao. A hot coffee is typically made with 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee and water of a temperature between 195F (90.6C) and 205F (96.1C), while a cold brew is made with coarse ground coffee, steeped in cold water for an extended period of time, according to the US National Coffee Association. Unlike cold brew, iced coffee is simply hot coffee poured over ice after brewing. Read also: Five must-try legendary coffee shops around Indonesia The researchers used six types of coffee from Brazil, Colombia, Myanmar, Mexico and two different regions of Ethiopia -- all of which were available locally in Philadelphia, controlling variables such as grind size, roasting temperature and water chemistry. Both researchers said their research was inspired by personal experience and the internet trend of the cold-brew coffee. Fuller said that the cold-brew market had gone up 580 percent and generated US$38 million from 2011 to 2016. Niny Rao and Megan Fuller both said they would next be looking at how to safely store cold brew at home without the use of preservatives. (acr/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, November 20, 2018 15:19 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cf25d7 4 Health brain,health,tips,video-game,sleep,stress,bilingual Free There are several modern lifestyle choices--especially for those who live a high-pace city lifestyle--that affect the brain to the detriment of its ability to function properly. Fortunately, there are a few simple adjustments that can be made to help keep ones brain sharp and ready to go. 1. Get good at video games According to a study published by the American Psychological Association, which was referenced in the Washington Post, a meta-analysis found that playing shooter video games improved a players capacity to think about objects in three-dimensions; just as effectively as academic courses trained students to do so. One study author said playing video games could strengthen the range of cognitive skills. Spatial navigation, reasoning, improvements in memory and perception and could also help in younger childrens development, with regards to social skills and learning. Readers Digest also references studies that have shown that video games can help enhance memory and improve reaction time. 2. Laugh out loud Several researchers have conducted studies that prove laughter has positive benefits not just for the brain, but the rest of the body as well. A study by medical scientific director Ramon Mora-Ripoll at the Organizacion Mundial de la Risa in Barcelona, Spain, showed that it released emotional and physical tension, which very much weighs on the brain. It also enhances cognitive functioning and elevates mood. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280463) Read also: Exercise could be key to staying sharp: Study 3. Learn to relax According to primary care physician and clinical instructor of medicine, Shanna Levine at Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, high levels of cortisol can impair concentration. This can lead to problems such as depression, poor memory and even anxiety. Higher levels of cortisol can also tense muscles, especially in the neck and head, which can cause headaches. To avoid problems from stress, Levine suggests relaxing until focus returns. Try to close your eyes and concentrate on breathing in and out slowly. 4. Get some shut eye Healthy sleep helps the brain take in, process and retain information throughout the day, according to the National Sleep Foundation based in the United States. New findings showed that sleepiness hinders natural processes that occur in the brains network, causing impaired function that has also been implicated in Alzheimers disease. Good sleep strengthens the connection between brain cells and helps the transfer of information. According to another article by the sleep foundation, memories and skills are migrated to brain regions that solidify them--going to bed after learning new information has shown to improve the memorization of the new information. 5. Talk differently Children can pick up languages much faster and easier, however, this does not mean that adults cannot do the same. According to research conducted at Tel Aviv University, adults learn languages differently from children. In either case, learning a new language stimulates the frontal lobes of your cerebrum, responsible for communication and language. The Telegraph published a list of benefits of bilingualism; including making one better at the English language by picking up another language. According to the article, bilingual peoples brains operate differently to those who only speak a single language. Practicing more than one language helps improve brain functionality, build multitasking skills, stave off Alzheimers and dementia, improves memory and improves decision-making skills. (acr/wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, November 20, 2018 14:30 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cf03ae 1 Art & Culture Teater-Koma,Mahabarata,theater,Nano-Riantiarno,art-and-culture Free Teater Koma returns with Mahabarata: Asmara Raja Dewa (Mahabarata: The Romances of the King of the Gods), the troupes 154th production. Staged for 10 days from Nov. 16 to 25, the performance takes place at Graha Bakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki cultural center (TIM), Central Jakarta. In the story, at first, the universe was said to be empty. Then a god by the name of Sang Hyang Wenang created three spheres and their inhabitants: Mayapada (the high sphere) as the home for the gods and angels, Madyapada (sphere of darkness) as the place for demons, djinns as well as spirits and Marcapada (sphere of the underworld) as the world for giants, animals and wayang (puppets) race. Sang Hyang Wenang appointed Hyang Tunggal (Alex Fatahillah) to lead them, but it was rejected by Idajil (Aditya Pradipta). Hyang Tunggal and Idajil later fought over the spheres. Although Idajil lost and was exiled after the war, his subordinates still roamed the world and coaxed the wayang race to be unfaithful to Sang Hyang Wenang. Hyang Tunggal is married with four sons: Antaga (Bayu Dharmawan), Ismaya (Budi Ros), Manikmaya (Rangga Riantarno) and Manan (Zulfi Ramdoni). With each prince had their eyes on the thrones, they were involved were in a quarrel. Manikmaya, later known as Batara Guru, is selected as the leader afterward, while his brothers are punished for arrogance. Read also: Teater Koma to add modern touch in upcoming Mahabarata play However, all is not well even after Batara Guru earns his new title, as he still receives punishment for manipulating his brothers. Penned and directed by Norbertus Nano Riantiarno, Mahabarata narrates how Batara Guru learns from his karma. Compared to the troupes last play Gemintang, Mahabarata takes a step further in merging technology and theater. Three projectors are installed in front of the stage to show videos as the storys background or main scenes. While some videos look real and help to portray various scenes, other times they can feel redundant. The troupe has been known for making extraordinary efforts with its props, such as in Opera Ikan Asin (Salted Fish Opera, 2017) and Opera Kecoa (Cockroach Opera, 2016). In this particular play, however, they seem to rely more on technology. Mahabarata was said to be written by Vyasa in 500 B.C., and Nano also brings his modern touches to the stage through music and costume. Designed by Rima Ananda, the characters quick costume changes are especially noteworthy. Tickets for Mahabarata are available online with prices starting from Rp 75,000 ($5.13). (wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, November 21, 2018 08:39 1098 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ce97cc 1 National Wiranto,niqab,security,radicalism,parenting Free Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Minister Wiranto wrote a public letter on Monday to respond to public comments after pictures were posted on social media of his family during the funeral of his grandson, Achmad Daniyal Al Fatih, on Friday. Wirantos daughter, Lia Wiranto, who lost her seventh child, a 15-month-old toddler, was seen in a picture wearing a niqab. Next to her was the mourning father, wearing a white Muslim turban. The funeral pictures made the rounds on social media, surprising some people that the countrys top official on security, which deals with radicalism and terrorism, would have a daughter and son-in-law wearing attire often associated with radicalism and terrorism. The pictures also reminded some of Wirantos late son, who went to South Africa to study the Quran and died there in 2013. Foto ini berseliweran di lini masa. Sebenarnya, sungguh tidak nyaman untuk mengomentarinya karena tampak jelas suasananya duka. Namun, lebih tak nyaman lagi membiarkan ini berkembang jadi penghakiman. pic.twitter.com/t63G7MiGuo Toga Nainggolan (@TogaMD) November 17, 2018 Here are the excerpts from his letter: Some years ago, when my son, the late Zainal Nurizky, died while he was studying the Quran in South Africa, some people said Wirantos son was a follower of radical Islam, a terrorist cadre and other things. Under his own volition, he asked for my permission to leave Gadjah Mada University, a very reputable institution, because he was concerned with the young generations behavior that did not show exemplary character. Through the internet, he chose an institution that did not have any political agenda, a place to strengthen his understanding of the Quran, which put forward brotherhood and peace. It was not a school for terrorists. Unfortunately, a year into study, which was supposed to be for seven years, he died of an illness, while he was reciting the holy verses. So when people derided him and made slander, I just laughed, because I would not deign to respond to them. Now, when my grandson, Ahmad Daniyal Al Fatih died, his mother, father and older siblings wore Muslim attire: niqab and white turban, and many people were surprised, social media was abuzz talking about them. Some were happy to see them, some were insulting and casting prejudice. Some tried to relate [the Muslim attire] with my position as the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Minister. To allow my son and my grandson to meet Allah the Most Beneficent in peace, I think it would not be wrong for me to explain about my family and the life principles I taught them. Now, in 2018, I have devoted myself to the Mother Land for 50 years, 32 years in the military and 18 years in politics and government. I have done a lot to protect the countrys unity, sovereignty and dignity. Achievements, praise, slander and insults, I have lost count of them but they do not dampen my love for this country and my belief in the state ideology Pancasila, Saptamarga (soldiers' oath), which have been in my body and soul. With that as the foundation, I taught them to feel a sense of belonging, to love, to defend this country wherever they are, whatever they do, because they were born and raised here, got their education and lived their life, even found their resting place. "Don't mix religion with state ideology, don't exploit religion for political gain and financial benefit. Learn about religion to equip yourself in the afterlife and for the benefits of fellow humans, the nation and state." You can wear anything you want as long as you are comfortable. But the most important thing is dont use your appearance only to show off about how Islamic you are, because the depth of your religion is not measured by your clothes and appearance, but mainly by your morals and behavior. I give my family the freedom to be anything they want as long as they dont veer off the principles I taught them. I always emphasized that they should do good for the country, instead of making the country suffer. I have been lucky to receive the trust to become the Indonesian Military's chief, but none of my children or my children-in-law followed my footsteps in the military, or became a supplier of primary weapons systems. I founded the Hanura Party, but none in the family have become the party's executives. Indeed, I have asked them in earnest to not abuse my position for their personal interests. I am grateful that at this moment, we, the whole family, can still hold onto that principle. I thank anyone who has given their attention and prayers to me when my grandson died. I hope all those would become the light for him when he meets God, the Most Beneficent. Amen. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Indonesia Mon, November 19 2018 The Belgian Embassy in Jakarta held a bazaar on Saturday presenting various Belgium products, with the proceeds going to Acid Survivors Trust International. The event was held at the Belgian Residence, the official residence of the Belgian ambassador, with a focus on the Belcolade chocolate that was imported from Belgium. Chef Adang held a demonstration for visitors, in which he used the Belcolade chocolate as the topping for fruit chocolate cupcakes. 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 Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Mon, November 19 2018 The government has urged state-owned enterprises to boost exports amid Indonesias trade deficit. State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini M. Soemarno recently said the government was facing extraordinary pressure, as the country is importing more than it is exporting. The rupiah has also weakened due to external pressures. 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 Mon, November 19 2018 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. 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 Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Tue, November 20, 2018 18:15 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cf4952 1 National Afghanistan,minority-groups,Australia,united-states,Canada,New-Zealand Free Dozens of refugees from Afghanistan staged on Monday a rally in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Medan, North Sumatra, demanding to be sent to their destination countries, which include Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. The refugees, many of them children, carried banners and posters depicting images of violence taking place in their country of origin. They said they were restless because the UNHCR said it had stopped the process of sending them to the destination countries. "We don't know where to go. We are also humans who have the right to live in this world, the refugees spokesperson, Muhammad Zuma, told reporters at the rally on Monday. Zuma said most of the Afghan refugees currently in Medan had been waiting in the city for five to seven years, which they said was too long. Yassin, another refugee, said that when he set sail to leave his country, Indonesia was not his main destination. We want to be sent to the US soon, Yassin said. He added that many of his fellow members of the Hazara tribe, a minority group in Afghanistan, were being hunted by the Taliban. He said killings of Hazara tribespeople still occurred today, forcing them to flee the country and avoid persecution. We just heard that some of our relatives back home have escaped [the Taliban] and are living in the mountains, despite the winter, he said. No UNHCR representatives were willing to meet the protesters. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, November 20, 2018 16:15 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cf3838 1 National Tommy-Soeharto,Hutomo-Mandala-Putra,Berkarya-Party,Supersemar,Soeharto,Cendana-family Free The South Jakarta District Court has seized the Granadi Building, owned by the family of former president Soeharto, also known as the Cendana family, in relation to a misuse of funds under the now-defunct Supersemar Foundation. The confiscation is part of efforts to execute a Supreme Court verdict that ordered the foundation, set up by the countrys former ruler, to pay a fine of Rp 4.4 trillion (US$320 million) after it was found guilty of misusing scholarship funds. [The building] has been officially confiscated, South Jakarta District Court Spokesperson Achmat Guntur said as quoted by tempo.co on Monday. The court is currently awaiting an assessment on the value of the building by a team of independent appraisals, Achmat said. The building, which is located in South Jakarta, was reportedly the office of Soehartos youngest son Hutomo Mandala Putra, popularly known as Tommy Soeharto, who is also chairman of the Berkarya Party. The Supersemar Foundations case dates back to 2008, when the Attorney Generals Office (AGO) filed a lawsuit at the South Jakarta District Court accusing the Soeharto family and the foundation of misusing scholarship funds by diverting them to family-owned companies, including Bank Duta in 1990 and airline PT Sempati Air from 1989 to 1997. The court found the foundation guilty and ordered it to pay a penalty. The Supreme Court upheld the decision in 2010 and demanded that the foundation pay $315 million and Rp 139.2 billion, which had a combined value of Rp 4.4 trillion at the time. The South Jakarta District Court, which is authorized to seize the foundations assets if it failed to pay the fine, has already confiscated several assets belonging to the Cendana family, including an 8,120 square meter plot of land in Megamendung, Bogor, West Java. So far, the government has been able to confiscate Rp 243 billion in assets from the foundation. Separately, Berkarya Party executive Badaruddin Andi Picunang emphasized that Tommy was not involved with the Supersemar Foundations case, adding that the Granadi Building was not being used as the Berkarya Partys headquarters. (afr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New Delhi Tue, November 20, 2018 19:43 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cf7ad2 2 World #India,#DeathSentence,#Sikh,#court-ruling,#Gandhi,India,Sikh-massacre,death-penalty Free An Indian court Tuesday handed down the first death sentence over anti-Sikh riots in 1984 that left nearly 3,000 dead following the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi. Relatives of victims rejoiced in the capital New Delhi after the judge announced the verdict, the first since a Special Investigation Team took over the probe in 2015. The 1984 carnage erupted just hours after then prime minister Gandhi was killed by her Sikh bodyguards. It lasted three days with Sikhs raped and murdered, their homes and businesses torched. The violence across the country but mostly in New Delhi saw people dragged from their homes and burned alive. Few have been brought to justice over the massacre, with government-appointed commissions in the past failing to prosecute more than a handful of minor cases. Gandhi was shot dead after ordering Indian troops to storm the Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine in the northern state of Punjab. The operation was to flush out separatists from the minority faith holed up inside. Sikh leaders say the death toll from the pogrom that followed far exceeded the official figure of 3,000, and accuse leaders of Gandhi's Congress party of fanning the violence. India's top investigating agency had blamed senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar for inciting the mobs, but he was acquitted by a court in 2013. Sikhs in India make up around 20 million people, a little under two percent of India's population of 1.25 billion people. Worldwide they number around 27 million. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, November 20, 2018 11:30 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cecaf5 1 National #Jokowi,Jokowi,defamation-case,#defamation,Baiq-Nuril-Maknun,ITE-Law,#ITELaw,sexual-harassment,#SexualHarassment,#WestNusaTenggara,West-Nusa-Tenggara Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo said that he cannot intervene in the ruling concerning Baiq Nuril Maqmun, a West Nusa Tenggara teacher who was convicted of defaming her alleged sexual harasser. Activists have urged Jokowi to grant Nuril amnesty. We have to respect the legal process and respect the Supreme Courts cassation ruling. As the head of government, I cannot intervene in that ruling, he told reporters on Monday. He encouraged Nuril to submit a case review to the Supreme Court in order to seek justice. If the case review does not provide justice, then she can apply for clemency to the President, he said. Once she has applied for clemency, thats where I come in. The Supreme Court sentenced Nuril to six months imprisonment and ordered her to pay a fine of Rp 500 million (US$34,218) after finding her guilty of defaming the principal of the public high school where she worked. The 37-year-old mother of three was accused of circulating a recording of a phone call in which the principal related the sordid details of an affair he had with another woman. She claimed she had only taped the phone call and that the recording was distributed by another person. A group of activists called the Coalition to Save Ibu Nuril has called on Jokowi to grant Nuril amnesty, which would clear her of all charges. Representatives from the coalition met with the Office of the Presidential Staff on Monday to present a written request and a copy of a petition signed by more than 100,000 people in support of amnesty. The staff received the letter and the petition and promised to show it to the President, coalition member and Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) executive director Anggara told The Jakarta Post. Amnesty is one of three powers granted to the President to intercede in legal matters by the Constitution, the two others being clemency and abolition. Abolition would not be applicable to Nurils case as it would have to be granted before her case went to trial. By giving amnesty, the person in question is considered not guilty. Clemency, on the other hand, is given to people who have been proven guilty and admitted their guilt, constitutional law expert Feri Amsari said. The convicted person has to apply for clemency, but amnesty can be granted on the initiative of the President. He believed that in Nurils case, amnesty was the correct step to take, adding that it would not amount to intervention in the legal process. The legal process for Nurils case is already over. The case review is an extraordinary legal measure, so I dont think that the President is intervening by giving amnesty, he said. As the final executor, the President should be able to provide the justice that has been missing from the rigid legal process. Nuril and her lawyers have been preparing a case review to challenge the verdict, maintaining that she had done nothing wrong. But even a case review would not stop prosecutors from carrying out the Supreme Courts ruling to jail Nuril, which they are set to do on Wednesday, Feri said. Anggara said that Nurils legal position was a precarious one, as any efforts to postpone imprisonment would also prevent her from filing a case review petition. So, if the Supreme Courts ruling is not executed, she cannot file a case review, he said. In our opinion, the ideal outcome is for the execution to be postponed, pending presidential amnesty. He added that he disagreed with Jokowis statement about clemency as Nuril had done nothing wrong. How can the President expect an innocent person to admit guilt for something she hasnt done? he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Japan News) Tokyo Tue, November 20, 2018 10:48 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ceb635 2 Business Nissan,Fraud,tax Free Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested by the special investigation squad of the Tokyo Public Prosecutors Office on Monday on suspicion of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law, investigative sources said. According to the sources, Ghosn allegedly understated his remuneration in the companys securities report. Nissan confirmed that the chairman had understated his remuneration in its securities report and will propose his dismissal at a board meeting. After French automaker Renault invested in Nissan, Brazilian-born Ghosn joined the company as its chief operating officer in June 1999 with the mission of rehabilitating the financially troubled Japanese automaker. Nicknamed Cost Cutter, Ghosn led Nissan to a swift recovery with a three-year survival plan, and the automaker posted record-high profits for the business year ending March 2003. He became president of the automaker in June 2000 and assumed the dual post of president and chairman in June 2008. He also assumed the chairmans post of Mitsubishi Motors Corp. in December 2016 when Mitsubishi Motors was hit by an emission data falsification scandal. Mitsubishi Motors received investment from Nissan, effectively putting it under the Nissan umbrella. Effective April 1 last year, Ghosn stepped down as Nissans president and chief executive officer and has since served as chairman of Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi Motors. In June last year, Ghosn said his remuneration was 1,098 billion yen for fiscal 2016, exceeding the 1 billion yen mark for the third straight year. In June this year, he said his remuneration for fiscal 2017 was 730 million yen, down 33 percent from the previous year. Topics : This article appeared on The Japan News newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, November 20, 2018 13:36 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ceed38 1 Politics Papua,self-determination,independence,KNPB,activist,activist-arrest Free Papua Police dispersed on Monday a National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) meeting in Jayapura and held the 107 members in attendance for questioning. We were arrested when we were about to hold a discussion commemorating KNPBs 10th anniversary at the Pegunungan Bintang student dorms, KNPB spokesperson Ones Suhuniap said in a statement on Monday. Police came without showing any search or arrest warrants. Papua Police chief Sr. Comr. Martuani Sormin denied that the KNPB members had been arrested, saying they were only being questioned. Their event was dispersed because they did not inform the Jayapura [Police] about it, Martuani told The Jakarta Post on Monday. Their event was becoming a separatist political movement, so it was dispersed and they were questioned at the Jayapura Police station. Jayapura police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Gustav Urbinas said police had received reports that the anniversary celebration was being attended by people from outside the dorms and called the discussion treasonous. Right now, 107 people are still being questioned and officers are in the process of identifying them, Gustav said as quoted by Antara. (kmt) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, November 20, 2018 12:09 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cedb73 1 City murder-case,murder,Bekasi-regency,crime,police Free The Jakarta Police carried out at their headquarters on Monday a case reconstruction of the murder of an entire family in Bekasi, West Java. Diperum Nainggolan, 38, his wife Maya Boru Ambarita, 37, and their two children Sarah Boaru Nainggolan, 9, and Arya Nainggolan, 7, were found dead in their home on Tuesday last week. During the reconstruction, a conversation between the suspect Haris Simamora and the victims prior to the murder was revealed. During their conversation, Maya asked whether [the suspect] would spend the night, saying that her husbands older brother Douglas would feel inconvenienced if [Haris] stayed, said Comr. Malvino of the Jakarta Police General Crime Directorate. In another scene, Diperum told Haris in the Batak language, You go sleep in the [backyard], like trash, Malvino added. The police claim that Haris became outraged by the verbal rebuke and it drove him to kill the entire family. According to the police, Haris demonstrated during the reconstruction how he entered the house on Monday night, killed the family and then left the house. Haris also allegedly stole Rp 2 million (US$137.17) from the house as well as four mobile phones and a car. The Police will carry out another case reconstruction at the crime scene in Bekasi. (fac) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, November 20, 2018 14:56 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cf1c72 4 Business negative-investment-list,cigarette-producers,economic-policy-package Free The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has criticized the government for withdrawing the cigarette industry from the negative investment list (DNI), which was part of the economic stimulus package announced by the government on Monday. YLKI chairman Tulus Abadi expressed concern that foreign investors would invest large amounts of money into the countrys cigarette industry to maximize profits at the expense of peoples health. It is a counterproductive policy, Tulus said in Jakarta on Tuesday as reported by tribunenews.com. On Monday, the government announced its 16th economic stimulus package, which among others, revises Presidential Regulation No. 44/2016 on the DNI. The cigarette industry is one of the 54 sectors that will be liberalized to boost foreign capital inflows. Tulus said the acquisition of several Indonesian cigarette companies by foreign companies had meant foreign companies already enjoyed large profits. Meanwhile, Industry Ministry beverage, tobacco and refreshment industry director Abdul Rochim said the withdrawal of the cigarette industry from the negative investment list would help Indonesia export more cigarettes. He claimed the new policy would not fully open the cigarette industry to foreign investment, but he did not elaborate further. Tulus, however, believed more acquisitions of cigarette factories by foreign investors would take place after the introduction of the new policy. Dont sacrifice the people because of the [governments] failure in managing the countrys economy, Tulus said as quoted by tempo.co. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, November 20, 2018 11:02 1099 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cec615 1 News Changi,Changi-airport,Harry-Potter,Fantastic-Beasts-The-Crimes-of-Grindelwald,Singapore,travel Free The Changi Airport Festival 2018 is currently being held at Changi International Airport, Singapore. With "A Wizarding World Holiday at Changi" as the theme, travelers can enjoy a series of activities offered in the event until mid-February next year. It is based on the novel series Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts by J.K. Rowling, marking the first collaboration of Changi Airports with Warner Bros. Singapore. The activities include trying out character clothes at Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions, practicing spells in the Wand Challenge area and playing the Harry Potter universes signature sport Quidditch. Fans balance on broomsticks while trying their hand at this fun activity based on the wizarding sport Quidditch. (Changi Airport/File) For the event, the airport is decorated with four original sized sets spread over three terminals. Terminal 3 has the snowy-roofed shopping area Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley, where Hogwarts students buy school supplies such as uniforms and wands. Read also: Changi Airport unveils new playground at T4 Terminal 2 has the iconic moving tree The Whomping Willow, while Terminal 1 has Newt Scamander's Menagerie from the latest Wizarding World movie Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. This particular area will also be decorated with artificial snow and decorative lights. Visitors can buy souvenirs such as plush dolls with the design of each character and 2-in-1 neck pillows designed according to the four Hogwarts houses. Changi Airport Festival is an annual event held by the airport to celebrate the year-end holiday season. Last year's theme was Hello Kitty and Friends. (iru/wng) Told through both English and Korean, with (almost) all of the dialogue being projected onto the backdrop via subtitles, the play is a striking partnership between nations. Images courtesy of the Birmingham Rep The play tells the story of two teenagers - William and Jiyoung, who go unnamed for most of the running time - high schoolers living on opposite sides of the world, with an unexplained ability to see into each others lives. At the climax of the piece, in which Jiyoung is grappling with the hole her mother has left in her life and William tries to offer support to a suicidal classmate, the two meet properly for the first time, transcending time and space to discuss their options. As you can tell from the brief summary above, the play confronts a lot of heavy themes, and all within a short 1.5 hour run-time. Though it brings up more than it can handle, with certain plotlines seeming unfinished by the end of the play, the emotional payoff was enough to justify inclusion. In particular, the suicidal urges of William's classmate Sarah were delicately portrayed by Tahirah Sherif, and though they were hand-waved away via a letter to her parents, the plotline itself felt crucial to William's emotional arc and Sherif's performance was something to behold.The play's art direction, courtesy of Yeo Shin-Dong, was spectacular, with a white wall containing a multitude of doors operating as their backdrop. One acted as a microwave (with a rotating plate of food being projected onto it), another as a closet, and a few as just doors, though their context and location could be altered via projection onto the white screen. When Jiyoung and her father travelled via lift to their highrise apartment, the floors zoomed past them as they stood stationary in the doorway, making awkward smalltalk. The backdrop also had depth, meaning that it could be climbed onto for the scenes in which William and Sarah chatted on the roof of their school. Though they were mere feet above the stage, Sarah's feet dangling over the edge still felt unnerving, and dropped items seemed to land with an unnatural thud. Other levels of height were created via perspex boxes that littered the stage, which were used for almost any purpose. In school scenes they acted as chairs, and when Jiyoung and William met in the inbetween state they climbed upon them as if the floor were made of lava. Images courtesy of the Birmingham Rep People have been scattering ashes at Disney World parks in Orlando and California and there is even a special code word for the respective clean-up, it has been revealed. According to Wall Street Journal the, there is at least one incident per month within Disney World parks involving human remains. However, it is likely that many more ash-scattering ceremonies go unnoticed by Disney World park employees. Image credit: Jakob Owens on Unplash When park employees discover cremated ashes, the protocol is to radio for a HEPA clean-up referring to the specific HEPA vacuum cleaner they use for the morbid job. If ashes are found at a park attraction, the ride is temporarily closed and guests are told that there are technical difficulties before being gifted Fast Passes for alternative rides. Magic Kingdom park lawns, deposited near the park gates, and on the popular Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Magic Kingdom. Ashes have even been identified in the moat below the Dumbo ride, also at Magic Kingdom. So far, human ashes have been discovered in flower beds on thepark lawns, deposited near the park gates, and on the popular Pirates of the Caribbean ride atKingdom. Ashes have even been identified in the moat below the Dumbo ride, also atKingdom. Haunted Mansion , a ride which features an eerie manor house haunted by hundreds of imaginary ghouls. However, according to Disney World employees, by far the most popular attraction to scatter human ashes is the, a ride which features an eerie manor house haunted by hundreds of imaginary ghouls. The Haunted Mansion probably has so much human ashes in it that its not even funny," a Magic Kingdom park told The Wall Street Journal. employeeThe Wall Street Journal. While scattering human ashes remains strictly against Disney World policy and anyone caught in the act will be escorted out of the park, employees still urge people to stop the practice - since any remains discovered after loved ones have left the park will be unsentimentally disposed of by staff members. This is because the Happiest Place on Earth does everything possible to keep sad and gloomy thoughts out of its theme parks. The company previously banned the words In Memory of on personalised commemorative bricks in the parks because it would remind visitors of death. Caryn Reker from Jacksonville, Florida, scattered her fathers ashes throughout the park in 2006 and returned this year to spread those of her brother, an Epcot fanatic. In an email to The Wall Street Journal, she said: Its a sweet way to giggle and remember - hes here... and there... and a little over there... yep, there, too. Along with several other people interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Reker was not caught in the act by Disney World employees. At Wegienka Elementary School in Brownstown Township, students have been sharing thoughts of gratitude and thankfulness one Post-It at a time as part of their Look for the Good Project. The program, which began Nov. 5, heavily emphasizes practicing gratefulness, allowing students to articulate who and what matters in their lives. Student Council Advisor Christy Schultz said the program ties in perfectly after their October anti-bullying campaign. Instead of focusing primarily on teaching children how to deal with bullies, she said, school leaders decided they wanted students to highlight expressing gratitude. Schultz said the program is a means to stress treating people with kindness and being grateful. The Look for the Good Project is a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization started in 2016 by Anne Kubitsky. Originally started as a public art project in 2011, Kubitksy began writing What Make YOU Grateful? on self-addressed postcards which she left in various public areas, according to the website. From 2011 to 2015, she said, over 22,000 people shared messages of gratitude with her. Kubitskys public art project eventually blossomed into a nationwide non-profit organization. The website said the Look for the Good Project has so far serviced over 120,000 children in 30 states who have written nearly two million messages of gratitude. The program believes that gratitude changes mindsets, reduces violence, and improves everything. One of the most significant parts of the program is the Gratitude Wall. Every morning, the students at Wegienka write something they are grateful for on a sticky note. The notes are then put on a large board in the hallway. Some of the notes on the board include, I am grateful for my mom and dad. They help me when Im hurt, and Im grateful for school, signed with a smiley face. By the end of the program on Nov. 22, Wegienka expects to have over 5,000 messages of gratitude on their Gratitude Wall. Students are heavily encouraged to have an active role in the program. For example, the student council, which includes 5th grade students Brett Lukitsch, Josh Megyesi, Brooklynn Bartos, and Jessica Lyons, help out by collecting these notes of gratitude in the morning and adding them to the wall. The children also exercise their gratefulness by writing You Matter letters to someone in their life, which they later share with the subject. One second grader, Azariah Houston, shared her letter of gratitude about her teacher, Rachel Lemon, with the class: When I wanted to write good, you helped me so much. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. Another second grade student, Nicoletta Silvera, wrote about her sister: You sacrificed your time to play with me, even if you wanted the phone or iPad. She is always there for me, even if Im sick. I love her. The program places a heavy emphasis on encouraging children to express gratitude toward others. In addition to the letters of gratitude, the students make use kindness cards. They pass along a card which reads You Matter on it to those they see performing a kind act, like holding a door open for someone. The receiver of the card writes their initials on it, and passes it on to another student they see performing a kind act, until the card is filled with initials. The program also includes eight Grateful Spots that are placed on the floor throughout the school. Students are encouraged to proclaim what they are grateful for when they stand on them. According to Schultz, the children were on board with the project from the very beginning. We put the (Grateful) Spot down and I invited a kindergartner to come up and they stood on the spot and just yelled out what they were grateful for, Schultz said. They get it. So that was really cool. There are several academic and life improving benefits to gratefulness, Schultz said. Being grateful makes you healthier, happier, smarter, she said, adding that research shows if youre grateful before you take a test, you actually do better. The Look for the Good Project backs up these claims on its website: Researchers Dr. Giacomo Bono and Dr. Jeffrey Froh report that by comparison, grateful kids are happier, more satisfied with their lives, more generous, more cooperative, and more likely to use their strengths to better their communities. The website also notes that children who express gratitude more often also have higher GPAs, better self-esteem, and are more likely to see the bigger picture. Schultz said its wonderful to see the eagerness of the students to participate in the program, adding that they would like to do the program again next year. Kids are just so willing to share what theyre grateful for, she said. We dont want them to lose that. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Imagine the harmony of an orchestra, with no single instrument heard above another, this is what we aim for with our Weiner Gemischter Satz wine, states Fritz Wieninger from his winery, in the sleepy outskirts of the Austrian capital. The vintners of Austria are a very passionate breed. They are a new generation of wine makers producing high quality products. They are represented across the four main wine regions of Niederosterriech (Lower Austria); Burgenland; Steiermark (Styria) and Vienna. Wrapping a metaphorical arm around the eastern shoulder of the country these regions are defined by very diverse landscapes, micro-climates and outstanding grape varieties, such as the signature Gruner Veltliner, the dominant grape of Austria and revered by restauranteurs and sommeliers. Along with this reputation, comes a new wave of terroir tourists, ready to explore a wine history dating back to the Celts and Romans but also in search of Austrias variations of grapes, producers and wineries. Vienna a wine-producing capital city With around 700 hectares of vineyards, Vienna is the only major wine-producing capital in the world, whose vineyards are all within the city-limits. Viennese vintners such as Weininger and Mayer am Pfarrplatz are mixing tradition with innovation and most importantly, the grape varieties, to make the capitals defining blend Weiner Gemischter Satz (DAC) a wine that has global prominence. The DAC is a designation of protected origin, given to a wine produced by a regional grape native to a particular area. Weininger and winery Mayer am Pfarrplatz both have plots on the Nussberg Hill, a standout vineyard location commanding spectacular views over the capital. The rows of vines drop downwards before merging with Viennas dramatic cityscape; the Gothic spire of St. Stephens Cathedral, the Riesenrad Ferris Wheel and the Danube River, all visible. Many wineries own and run a Heuriger (translated as this years wine) referring to an Austrian wine-tavern. It was Emperor Joseph IIs decree of 17th August, 1784, that granted every individual the privilege of selling foodstuffs, wine and cider produced in-house throughout the year, that has evolved into todays Heurigers, such as that owned by Mayer am Pfarrplatz, and aptly named Heuriger Beethoven. It was home to the Maestro in 1817. The Wachau Valley An UNESCO World Heritage area The sinewy Danube feeds, nourishes and passes numerous vineyards, but also provides an easy escape from Vienna by boat or bike, as a pleasant way to delve into Austrias wine culture. Viennas neighbouring wine regions offer a diverse vinicultural experience, driven by varying landscapes and climates; none more so than the Wachau Valley, an UNESCO World Heritage site since the year 2000, alongside the nearby Kamptal and Kremstal regions, all brimming with old-world charm. Just 1-hours drive from Vienna, the steep sided valley, stretches for 21 miles from Spitz to Loiben and creates numerous micro-climates at every turn of the snaking and grand Danube River, upon which flows a steady stream of tourists. The main producer here is Domane Wachau, a winery located in the village of Durnstein, home to just 200 inhabitants, yet a co-operative representing 250 vintner families, producing some 2.5 m bottles a year. The Kellerberg vineyard rises up on a mosaic of terraces behind the winery, renowned for producing superior Reislings and Gruner Veltliners. Harvest can only be done by hand, but those with the arduous task are rewarded with dramatic vistas across the valley. Immediately below, the modern winery stands next to the Baroque Cellar Palace, built in the early part of the 17th Century, whilst high above them both are the ruins of the Durnstein Castle, in which Richard the Lionheart was held captive in 1192. Etchings and frescos circle the stately rooms. Below stairs, a 1km subterranean cellar network, turns grape to wine reflecting the unique Wachau Valley terroir. Alongside a series of oak barrels a bust of Ambassador Leopold Figl stands proud. He was a regular visitor to the cellar during negotiations that led to the State Treaty for the re-establishment of an Independent Austria after the Second World War. The cellar also offers up more surprises, as an experimental playground, with one corridor devoted to what they call Backstage wines that explore new styles of Gruner Veltliner, prepared in Concrete eggs and even a hand-carved granite cask. A short distance north-east of the Wachau Valley in Wagram, the Winery Fritz Salomon has had wine and viticulture present at their historical Manor Oberstockstall since the beginning of the 12th Century. The Salomon family have owned the estate for the past 150-years and grow their grapes in some of Wagrams oldest vineyards, according to biodynamic principles. The ancient cellar produces a diverse range of grape varieties, from Gruner and Reisling to Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Wine and Architecture At the centre of the Kamptal region in Lower Austria, on the edge of the picturesque town of Langenlois is the Loisium world of wine a visitor centre, vinotheque (wine shop) and museum. It is a totally immersive wine experience, which combines tastings with tours and housed in a modernist cube-like structure designed by architect Steven Holl. The buildings steel cladding reflects the sunlight and the Kamptal regions regular warm days and cool nights, which produce beautifully balanced white wines. The wine centres geometric lines, cleverly follow the neat rows of vines, sloping gently south towards the towns historic rooftops and church spire. It also points in the direction of the subterranean wine cellars whose tunnels date back some 900 years and tell the story of the winemakers life in a bygone era, and also the modern production of both wine and sparkling wine. Another renowned wine dynasty is the House of Esterhazy known the world over, a wine producer whose modernist winery is in clear view of the Esterhazy Palace dating to the 17th Century, a link between family heritage and the future. And their immediate future is on the Leithaberg range of hills, with a new south-facing vineyard being prepared to produce Chardonnay. Austrias wine innovators Natural wines have been growing in popularity and Austria is producing some of the best. Winery Meinklang in Burgenland has embraced biodynamic wine production since 2001, buying into the intimate relationship between organic farming processes, the production of wines and keeping that close production circle tightly spinning. This includes filling cows horns with fresh manure and using it as the basis for natural fertiliser, as well as adhering to the cosmic calendar. Niklas Peltzer of Meinklang Winery says that artificial yeasts and artificial fermentation kills the original terroir and Meinklangs ethos is to give the wines an honesty and authenticity in order to make a handcrafted product without chemical manipulation. Winery Gruber Roschitz, located in the Western part of the Weinviertel region (Austrias biggest wine-producing area) is owned and run by a trio of siblings. They are young, ambitious and proud of their familys agrarian roots stretching back 200-years and wine cultivation since the 1950s. Ewald Gruber, the eldest of the siblings is a firm believer in the organic production of wine; the wine should be made in the vineyard not the cellar he says pointing to healthy soils and vines. Austrias wine regions consist of so many family-owned estates, who still embrace ancestry, tradition and nature. And maybe Pulkers Heuriger in Ruhrsdorf, an unassuming road-side wine tavern, best encapsulates it all. After a scenically spectacular drive along the southern bank of the Danube, visitors and locals can stop for a hearty farmers style lunch of succulent pork with crackling, washed down with a Staubiger wine; an unfiltered smoky white wine that pairs perfectly with the food, rustic ambiance and Austrias vinicultural landscape. MORE INFO: austrianwine.com MBABANE Judge Qinisile Mabuza is concerned about the continuous flouting of the Constitution, particularly on issues of the representation of women in Parliament. This was during the launch of the One Billion Rising Campaign 2019 held at the Happy Valley Hotel last Friday. The judge, who was one of the guest speakers, addressed the gathering on where the country was in as far as womens rights were concerned and where the country was headed. A much glaring issue that brings the plight of women to the fore is the question of women representation in decision making positions; the continuous flaunting of the Constitution with regards to affirmative action; and the need to strengthen advocacy for the emancipation of women and girls rights, said Judge Mabuza. She said women representation was far below the 30 per cent that the Constitution of Eswatini dictated and even lesser for the 50 per cent motivated by the SADC Gender Protocol which the kingdom was a signatory to. Judge Mabuza highlighted that Eswatini was being outdone by countries like Rwanda and Ethiopia, where the Cabinet comprised of 50 per cent women and Ethiopia topping that up with a woman president. equality She said Norway had arguably attained gender equality in numerous spheres while in Eswatini, even in other spheres of influence, women were less represented, for example in that the High Court has only four women, the Industrial Court has fewer women in acting positions and the Supreme Court has no women at all. The judge said women formed a large number of the population, and therefore deserved a fair share of representation in decision making. Their interests to those of men are different and often conflicting. Therefore, advocacy is to be strengthened and adopted as a daily routine. This is a requirement from all stakeholders to continue identifying legal gaps and enacting laws; advocating for gender sensitive judgement, and also disseminating information to the masses who are to benefit from these laws, said Judge Mabuza. She said it has emerged from media publications that there was sometimes lack of knowledge from communities, which was also compounded by difficulty in accessing the justice system, mostly due to lack of resources for legal fees. For instance, the issue of the women cohabiting and eventually losing all material investments once the partner passes on, serves as a pointer that there is either lack of knowledge of the rights; or the hindrance being the issue of resources associated with the justice system, she said. Judge Mabuza said it also pointed to the need for urgent enactment of legislations that protect the rights of women, such as the the Marriage Bill and the Administration of Estates Bill as well as giving an expression of Section 34 (2) of the countrys constitution. MBABANE The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has intervened in the matter involving about 40 local students who reportedly want to return to Eswatini. This was confirmed by Ambassador Jeremy Liang in an interview yesterday. Liang revealed that he was informed that the kingdoms embassy in his home country and one of their ministries would have a meeting with the students and the university. He said they were in close contact with relevant authorities involved in the matter. We are trying our best to find out the conditions over there, Liang said. He said laws in their country permitted foreign students to work and study. He said he was not sure about the distribution of working and school hours. He made an example that at times when people were studying business; they needed to work to get experience. He said this was designed by the universities. Liang confirmed knowledge of the matter and said they were closely monitoring it. He said they were working with their headquarters and the Eswatini Embassy in their country to resolve the matter. Affected Liang confirmed that they received visa applications from the affected students and approved them after verifying with the MingDao University that their acceptance letters were legitimate. He said they were, however, not aware of the conditions between the university and students as they were admitted through a scholarship programme. The man who facilitated that about 40 emaSwati study and work in the Republic of China (Taiwan) said working in a chicken farm was relevant to what they were studying. The man, only identified as Kim Loo, in an interview, said the students were currently working in production because they could not speak Chinese. Loo said once they had completed their Chinese classes, they might be promoted to do office work. He said not all the students were working in the chicken farm as others were employed in other sectors. Loo confirmed that he helped the students get the scholarships in the Asian country and that they were all doing Business Administration. When asked how slaughtering chickens was relevant to what they were studying, he said it was one of the departments in business. He said manufacturing and dispatch were all part of business. Asked on the assumption that the students were trafficked to the Republic of China (Taiwan), Loo wondered how that could be possible as parents were in contact with their children. They can come back, nobody said they could not come back, Loo said. In an interview, sources alleged that the students were paid about NT$25 000 (E11 343.28) for working in the chicken farm. They alleged that about NT$19 000 (E8 620.98) was deducted to cater for their education needs. MBABANE A five year investigation into the smuggling of cars from the Kingdom of Eswatini to Mozambique has finally led to the arrest of a popular Manzini businessman. Samuel Sam Dlamini of Nhlambeni is alleged to have failed to declare motor vehicles with a total value of E2.2 million. The accused was arrested by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service under the Serious Crime Unit known as Tingculungculu on November 14, 2018. Dlamini of Nhlambeni now stands charged with 14 counts; which include five of corruption, seven of contravening the Income Tax Order, contravening the Motor Vehicles Act and that of contravening Section 81 of the Customs Excise Act 21 of 1971. He allegedly bribed soldiers and police officers stationed at the borderline between Mozambique and the Kingdom of Eswatini in order not to prevent him from smuggling the motor vehicles. According to the charge sheet, the total amount which the accused allegedly paid the law enforcers as a bribe was E100 000. A soldier, Dingani Mhlongo and Simanga Nkwanyana, a police officer, have since been fingered as recipients of the alleged bribes. Mhlongo and Nkwanya are detailed to guard borderline between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of Mozambique. The offences were allegedly committed in Mhlumeni, Lomahasha, Mafusini and Bhadzeni, among other places. The duo allegedly received amounts ranging from E15 000 to E20 000 for each smuggled motor vehicle. The models of the motor vehicles which Dlamini allegedly failed to declare include among others, a Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu and Toyota Land Cruiser. Woman Interestingly, in one of the counts, Dlamini is alleged to have acted jointly with a woman, Zodwa Maureen Dlamini, to steal an orange Ford Ranger in Pretoria valued at E523 550. They are alleged to have committed this offence on July 18, 2015, On the corruption charges, he is alleged to have upon or about the year 2013, paid a sum of E20 000 to Mhlongo in order not to prevent him from smuggling a Toyota Hilux LDV. A property located beside Burgess Park was burned down Saturday in a controlled blaze. The home was purchased by Titusville City Council, who had been seeking to demolish it due to being an eyesore. The Blockchain-18 conference will be held in Baku on Dec. 7, the Blockchain Azerbaijan Center told Trend. The conference will discuss the practical application of blockchain technologies and the current state of the cryptocurrency market, the Center said. The Center noted that the conference will be organized by it, with the support of the public and private sector enterprises. International experts from Switzerland, Russia and Turkey are invited to participate in the conference. In particular, the participation of the management of Deloitte Switzerland is expected. After almost a fortnight on the silver screen, the 59th edition of Thessaloniki International Film Festival has drawn to a close, euronews notes in the following report. British photographer Richard Billingham won the top Golden Alexander award for his film Ray & Liz, an unsettling portrayal of a family living on the outskirts of Birmingham during the 80s. A key theme at this years competition was art, notably classical art and how it has inspired artists throughout time and aspiring young Greek artists were invited to create original works based on the films showcased. We decided for a second consecutive year to organize this exhibition with the work of 15 young Greek artists. Each of them was inspired by one of the films in the international competition. We believe that cinema is not only cinema. We believe that works of art should interact with each other. Artists should get inspiration from each other. It should be in a constant and creative dialogue, noted Orestis Andreadakis, Director Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Greeces contribution to gay cinema was also recognized as 38 short feature films dating from the late 1960s were screened. Greek Film Director Constantine Giannaris told Euronews: For me, gay cinema in Greece is somewhat of a delayed movement, both in political and cinematic terms. Today, hopefully, we now have some exceptional works of art in this field by cinematographers and artists. Personally, I hope to transform the deficit and create an artistic surplus in the future. Perhaps, well even create a new avant-garde. Elsewhere, one of the festivals highest tributes went to the experimental films of Chilean artistic duo Cristobal Leon and Joaquin Cocina. We found in film a medium where we can develop all of our interests, like narrative interests, visual interests, like plastic, sculpture, painting, drawing. The stop-motion is especially a field where we can develop all of these interests, commented Film Director Christobal Leon. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Greek delegation conducted a number of targeted meetings with a view to increasing international presence and penetrating new markets Fifty-two Greek businesses presented their products at the Natural Products Scandinavia & Nordic Organic Food Fair (NPSNOF) that took place in Sweden, Malmo, on November 14 and 15, ANA reports. The participants received financial support from their home Regions of Macedonia, Central Greece and Crete. This was the first time that Crete was represented at the NPSNOF, with ten businesses showcasing products such as olive oil, herbs, avocado, oranges and honey. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: pixabay.com A rise of 1.9% in the trips of residents to Greece Cyprus residents travelling abroad in October 2018 amounted to 115,022 marking a decrease of 2.8% compared with the respective period of 2017, the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) said on Monday, according to CNA. Compared with September 2018, Cypriot residents travelling abroad decreased by 11.2%. According to Cystat, in October 2018 there was a rise of 1.9% in the trips of residents to Greece (45,418 in October 2018 compared to 44,573 in October 2017) and a decrease of 35.8% in the trips of residents to the United Kingdom (12,944 compared to 20,152 last year). RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: FromNicosia License: CC-BY-SA Greece ascended four places and is now ranked 17th globally for study abroad destinations for US students, with 4,351 Americans studying in Greece for the 2016/17 academic year compared to 3,592 the previous year The number of Greek citizens studying in the United States increased by 3.3 percent during the 2017/18 academic year, while the number of US students in Greece increased 21.1% during the 2016/17 academic year, the US embassy in Athens announced on Friday, according to naftemporiki.gr Greece ascended four places and is now ranked 17th globally for study abroad destinations for US students, with 4,351 Americans studying in Greece for the 2016/17 academic year compared to 3,592 the previous year. Of the 2,395 Greek students in the United States on educational exchanges during the 2017/18 academic year, compared with 2,318 the previous year, nearly half (1,165) were enrolled in graduate programs, 742 attended undergraduate programs, and the rest attended other, non-degree programs. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: ChristosV License: CC-BY-SA You could use Google or read a tourist guidebook to learn many things about Greece, greekreporter.com notes in a recent article but adds that there is much more to this country than meets the eye and offers 15 wacky and fascinating facts about Greece that you wont learn in school or any text book: 1. Greeks are superstitious. Very superstitious. One superstition shared by all Greeks is the evil eye, or Mati. The belief is that someone can cast the evil eye onto another person out of envy and jealousy. Once you have the evil eye, you must find someone to perform a ceremony to destroy the evil energy! 2. Spitting is encouraged in Greece and you will see old yiayias (grandmothers) spitting on their grandchildren all the time! Since time immemorial, Greeks have believed that spitting on someone is a way of combatting any form of evil energy or presence. Its actually more like a ceremonial FTOO, FTOO, FTOO; just be aware! 3. Greeks steal plants from one another and admit to it, and encourage it! You probably wont find in your Fodors guidebook the fun fact that Greeks believe that plants and flowers will only root if they are stolen! They will actually tell you to come back later to steal from them if you would like some cuttings from their plants (which are also from stolen cuttings). 4. Greeks believe in magical bread. You see, Greeks believe that bread is a gift from God with roots from the Bible story of the Sermon on the Mount. This leads to many villagers never throwing away any bread, because it is considered bad luck, using leftovers to feed to the animals. Also, many Greeks are superstitious about who eats the heel of the loaf. It is believed that young single women should eat it and then their future mother-in-laws will like them. This tradition begins when girls are as young as 5 years of age! 5. Waving hello = BAD! The common palm facing out gesture, known as the moutza in Greece, is a normal form of greeting for most people worldwide but if you see Greeks doing this, theyre not waving hello, they are basically flipping you the bird! Greeks wave either with their palms to the side or facing them. To be on the safe side, just greet people the good old-fashioned way in Greece with a kiss on each cheek. 6. Symbolism in passing someone a knife. Beware! Never, under ANY circumstances, should you hand someone a knife in Greece. The proper way to give someone a knife is to set it down on a table and let the other person pick it up. It is believed that if you hand the person the knife that you want to fight with them! 7. Salt is powerful stuff, according to Greeks. In fact, according to Greek Folklore, salt can even be used to get rid of an unwanted guest! The process is so simple, you should try it out next time you want someone to leave your house. Just sprinkle a little bit of salt behind them it is thought that the salt has powers that will drive them to leave your house. 8. When you think of Greece, you think of Feta cheese, ouzo, and many other typical items associated with the country and culture. But did you know that Greece is the worlds largest producer of sea sponges? The island of Kalymnos is famous for their beautiful natural sponges that people dive for and then sell. Next time you are using a natural sponge, think Greece! 9. Easter time in Greece is magical, and the biggest holiday celebrated in the country. However, Greeks believe in some pretty weird things in regard to Easter (Pascha). One of the weirdest is that salt, eggs and bread are forbidden to leave your home after sundown, under penalty of bringing bad luck to the house! So, if someone comes knocking at your door after sundown asking for salt, eggs or bread you shouldnt give these things to them. If someone wants an egg, invite them in and cook it for them; never give it to them to take out of your house. Also, in an even stranger twist on this belief, if you want to give a guest a doggie bag that has bread of any kind in it and you know that they will be leaving your house after dark, you must leave the bag with the bread outside of the front door before the sun goes down. Only then may they take it with them. 10. All Greeks over the age of 18 are required to vote by law. There is no opt-out option when it comes to voting, yet a lot of Greeks dont vote. Ponder that for a while 11. Blue roof tops are more than aesthetic according to Greek folk tradition, rooftops are painted blue in order to ward off evil! 12. Greeks are touchy about their coffee. If you ask a Greek for some Turkish coffee, odds are they will give you the evil eye! Truly, do not ever make this request not in a Greek persons home nor in a cafeteria. First of all, it is Greek coffee and you will be told its entire back story (so be sure to get comfy first!). Secondly, youre in Greece, so again, its Greek coffee! 13. Greeks have a tradition of wearing black after the death of a spouse or loved one. Some people will wear it for the entire year following the death of someone close to them such as a parent, while widows often will wear a black dress every day for the rest of their entire lives! 14. Greeks cash in so big on their nameday that this day is actually considered of greater importance than their birthday. Most Greek names have saints associated with them, and your nameday is celebrated on the annual feast day of that saint. Every Greek person will have at least one name day to celebrate within the calendar year. 15. Annually, Greece holds a special tourist record as one of the few countries in the world that can claim having two tourists per one Greek. Amazingly, Greece has double the number of tourists than it has in actual population. And that number is growing, as tourism continues to reach new heights each year in the country. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: FocalPoint License: CC-BY-SA Berlin, 9 November 2018. Since its establishment TUI Care Foundation has been working together with Plan International to develop educational initiatives which provide life-changing opportunities for disadvantaged youth and, especially, women. With education being one of the core pillars of the TUI Care Foundation and Plan International, this global partnership holds significant potential to further expand. Plan International has a proven track record in creating opportunities, protecting the rights of children and promoting equality for girls all around the world. Together, both organisations are now working on far-reaching programmes that build upon the strengths of local communities and its people, as well as on the potential offered by the ever growing tourism sector. The joint projects touch on diverse issues depending on each individual location, from rehabilitation of the ecosystem to providing job opportunities for youth. Projects are adapted to meet the needs of each community following the goal of working global and acting local. The core aims behind the joint work will remain the same in each case: improving collaborative social structures, building capacity in local communities, providing opportunities for the younger generations and especially strengthening the role of girls and women in society. Thomas Ellerbeck, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of TUI Care Foundation, explains: Together with Plan International we are working to empower local communities in destinations around the world. We intend to make a lasting difference, by providing young women and men with the tools they need to build the self-determined future they cherish. By unlocking the talent in the younger generations, we can help to build thriving communities. Kathrin Hartkopf, Director of the foundation Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan, points out: To foster these talents in these young generations sustainability is a key driver in all our joint projects. We are not only giving youth the chance of a decent education and job opportunities, but also strengthening the local community and their economy. We want to make sure, that children, youth and their families benefit from the joint engagement of the TUI Care Foundation, Plan International and Foundation Hilfe mit Plan also in the future. We are looking forward to growing our partnership with the TUI Care Foundation, to be able to make a real and long lasting change in childrens lives. A programme of pivotal relevance for this partnership is the TUI Academy programme, which was already brought to life in collaboration with Plan International in the Dominican Republic and Vietnam. Individually addressing the challenges for young people is a key aspect of TUI Care Foundations and Plan Internationals joint approach worldwide. In Vietnam, the vocational training project is part of a bigger initiative that strengthens household economic security via self-help saving groups and raises awareness on protection for disadvantaged children, youth and their families. In the Dominican Republic, the educational initiative is linked to the initiative Down to Zero, which focuses on combating the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. Liaising with other local organizations and placing challenges in its context helps create real opportunities and a sense of ownership by the local community. Plan Internationals global presence and vast experience allows for knowledge transfer among projects and sharing of successful models. Long established local networks help to strengthen outcomes efficiently and further promote ownership by the local community and institutions. About TUI Care Foundation Building on the potential of tourism as a force for good, the TUI Care Foundation supports and initiates partnerships and projects, which create new opportunities for the young generation and contribute to thriving destinations all over the world. Connecting holidaymakers to good causes, the TUI Care Foundation fosters education and training initiatives to open up new opportunities and perspectives for young people, the protection of the natural environment in holiday destinations and sustainable livelihoods in thriving destinations where local communities can benefit even more from tourism. TUI Care Foundation works global and acts local - it builds on strong partnerships with local and international organisations to create meaningful and long lasting impact. The charitable foundation values transparency and the efficient use of funds. Therefore, 100% of the donations go to partners and projects with all operating costs of the foundation covered by TUI. TUI Care Foundation was founded by TUI, the worlds leading tourism business, and is based in the Netherlands. Further information is available at www.tuigroup.com. About Plan International Germany Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. Plan stands up for childrens rights worldwide and has been working for more than 80 years to tackle poverty, violence and injustice. In more than 70 countries, girls and boys are encouraged to actively shape their future. Plan Internationals main objective is to achieve sustainable change and to enhance the living conditions of the people in all partner countries. When disasters or conflict threatens their lives and well-being, Plan International is quick to respond. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals encourage Plan International to continue strengthening girls and women and promote gender equality. About Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan was established in 2008 and is an independent foundation, registered in Germany. Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan was established in order to ensure major donor support for projects of Plan International Germany. Therefore Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan works closely with Plan International Germany and is supporting first and foremost projects implemented by Plan International Germany. Stiftung Hilfe mit Plans main areas of expertise are foundations in trust, legacies, major donor project support, and cooperation with independent foundations. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) said it has signed three major agreements with the Chinese government in the areas of logistics, transportation, financial services, tourism and training during their visit to the city of Hangzhou. A senior delegation from Bahrain met Zhang Zexi, the vice chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Political Consultative Committee and a number of local government officials and business leaders at the Bahrain Zhejiang Business Forum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The forum coincides with the signing of friendly cooperation between the Capital Governor Sheikh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa and Chen Weiqiang, Vice Mayor of Hangzhou. Hangzhou is Bahrains second friendly cooperation in China, and the new relationship represents a significant step towards stronger business ties between the two countries ahead of next years 30-year anniversary of diplomatic relations. We are very excited to work with Zhejiang to create a supportive environment for cross-border business activities, enhancing information exchange and facilitating the growth of SMEs in both countries, remarked Sheikh Hisham. Both Bahrain and Zhejiang have highly digitised economies. We believe a partnership with the Zhejiang government and local leading businesses, such as Jolly Chic, will help both Bahrain and Zhejiang accelerate digital transformation in the 21st century economy, he stated. Hangzhou and Bahrain have had a long history of trade - since ancient Maritime Silk Road. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we believe Hangzhou and Manama will have even greater opportunities for cooperation, he added. Chen Weiqiang, the vice mayor, said: "Hangzhou is a leading city when it comes to Chinas digital economy, and a number of leaders in the industry make it their home, including names such as Alibaba. We look forward to strengthening links with Bahrain in areas around business and culture." "Bahrain already has a history of partnering with Chinas leading firms to grow and evolve their businesses and provide support in their going-out efforts," remarked Weiqiang. In 2009, Huawei moved its headquarters to Bahrain and is now creating and accelerating Bahrains 5G ecosystem, one of the most advanced mobile networks in the world. In 2016, Manama signed an MOU on friendly cooperation with Shenzhen, deepening the ties between the two countries. The major agreements signed during the delegations visit to Hangzhou are: Capital Governorate signed a pact on Friendly Cooperation with Hangzhou to enhance cooperation in the areas of logistics, transportation, financial services, tourism and training. Additionally, both cities will work to establish formal dialogues and regular visit exchange of high-tech companies. EDB and the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province signed a deal to strengthen information exchange, establish a channel for regular investment information exchange and strengthen cooperation in economic and trade activities. Another agreement was signed with Jolly Chic Zhejiangs leading e-commerce platform with a focus on the Mena region to explore the possibility for the company to enlarge their BPO offering in the kingdom and use Bahrain as a hub for the Middle East. Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) signed an MOU with the Zhejiang International Investment Promotion Centre to establish cooperation between Bahraini and Zhejiang companies and develop institutional capacity for the inception and growth of the private sector in both countries. Khalid Al Rumaihi, the chief executive of EDB, said: "We strongly believe that through these agreements, we can work together to create a shared future for Bahrain, China, and the Gulf region. Being the regions freest economy, Bahrain can be the ideal hub for Chinese business, SMEs and startups to access the numerous opportunities available in the region." "We look forward to further enhancing economic ties with Zhejiang and welcoming Chinese companies to set up in the Kingdom," he added. As one of the most open and liberal countries in the Gulf region, Bahrain is known for its unrivaled market access, world-class regulatory environment, highly competitive taxation system, the lowest operating costs in the region, high quality of life, and a technologically literate population. As China sets out to build the Digital Silk Road to nurture the technology leaders of the future, Bahrain the Gateway to Gulf is perfectly positioned to be a partner of China, connecting Chinese companies to this high-spending region. The Bahraini delegation recently visited Shenzhen and attended China High-Tech Fair last week. It will now head to Shijiazhuang and Beijing as it continues to explore deeper economic ties with China ahead of the 30-year anniversary.-TradeArabia News Service As prepared for delivery. I thank the SDG Charter Director, Mrs. Oosterman, for hosting this meeting. It is a privilege to address such a great crowd of SDG enthusiasts and to be here in the Netherlands - a strong promoter of multilateralism, and the importance of shared values and global commitments as a basis for sustainable development and sustaining peace. 2030 Agenda time to scale up action Since the adoption of the SDGs weve seen very promising momentum all around . The SDGs have shifted from the General Assembly Hall to communities around the world. In line with the interlinkages of the SDGs, we see governments walking the talk in terms of national coordination, resource mobilization and budget allocation, and engaging parliaments and local authorities. Stakeholders like you are helping to lead the implementation process. To me, your signing on to the SDG Charter is an unmistakable commitment to working closely with the UN and all national and international partners to realize the 2030 Agenda. This is truly commendable. However, our assessment clearly shows that the pace of progress to date is insufficient to fully meet the ambition of the SDGs. Around 1.3 billion people live in multidimensional poverty and an estimated 879 million people are at risk of falling into multidimensional poverty, which could happen quickly if they suffer setbacks from conflict, sickness, unemployment, disasters and other shocks. The number of people who are undernourished has been on the rise, mainly due to conflict, drought and disasters linked to climate change. Women continue to be held back and deprived of basic rights and opportunities. We face mounting challenges related to climate change and environmental degradation; a growing number of conflicts; inequality and exclusion; an erosion of human rights. New technologies offer unparalleled opportunities to achieve sustainable development for all; however, they also pose risks, which need to be carefully managed. If the benefits of achieving the SDGs are enormous, unfortunately, the costs of failing to do so are equally, if not more, staggering. But trends are not a fatality . History shows that trends can be broken with innovation in policy, institutions, management models, finance, sciences and technology. Innovation is increasingly becoming a core ingredient of how UNDP goes about its business. We need to improve our work, to take risks, to design ambitious and bold experiments and systems-changing initiatives. Traditional development methods are becoming inadequate. There is no alternative given the scope of the 2030 Agenda. Because development challenges are too many and too complex for any one actor to tackle alone, progress on the 2030 Agenda requires unprecedented collaboration at all levels . We need to build new models of partnership and collaboration, joining people and organizations across society, and across the private and public sector. We need to blend different kinds of financing to increase impact, with contributions from a broad range of actors. And we need to spur experimentation and new thinking to accelerate joint progress. How will UNDP help achieve this? In many ways, the 2030 Agenda reflects what UNDP was created for - to look at development as a systemic and complex response to multiple factors. With expert staff working in nearly 170 countries and territories, UNDP has people, connections & access across the world, representing the most cost-effective and strategic complement to bilateral cooperation . Every day, our 17,000+ workforce is at the frontline to tackle the worlds most critical challenges. The core of our vision, as embodied in our Strategic Plan 2018-2021, is to serve countries as they lead their own development paths to: end poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerate structural transformations for sustainable development, build resilience to crisis and shocks for the benefit of current and future generations. Our Strategic Plan requires us to focus on six signature solutions: help countries keep their citizens out of poverty; support inclusive and accountable governance; build resilience; promote nature-based solutions for a sustainable planet; close the energy gap and strengthen gender equality. These are areas where we believe we can make a critical contribution to achieving the SDGs. To meet the grand ambition of the 2030 Agenda and in response to UN Member States call for UNDP to provide an integrator function in support of countries development efforts, UNDP is adapting to become more agile in tackling big and complex issues. For example: A foundational pillar of UNDP will be the new Global Policy Network (GPN) that will re-align UNDPs policy advisory and programme functions with new demands. The GPN will underpin and power our advisory work on integration: its inclusion of both development and crisis expertise in one network is a clear expression of this intent. Another is our commitment to developing the UNDSs first dedicated cadre of global SDG experts, including investment in national talent. Building on our network of country offices, UNDP is rolling out country support platforms to co-create and jointly apply solutions to complex, multidimensional, challenges . These platforms can open the door to development cooperation beyond projects and are better suited to the world we live in now: open to a wide range of partners, not least the private sector, the tech community, finance and banking and civil society. We expect this approach to harness social energy, ideas and capital in a way that yields results far beyond what we are generally used to in development cooperation genuinely game changing and transformational. And the good news is that platform-like initiatives are already sprouting-up around the world. We are setting up a global network of Country Accelerator Labs, to locally-source development solutions that can be scaled up, and serve as the largest, fastest global learning network on development challenges. The network which plans to launch up to 60 Labs by end 2019 will test new approaches and provide an experimental space where different partners can explore unconventional and even radical ideas to inspire change and create new opportunities . It will connect knowledge and solutions, whilst investing in disruptive approaches. The Netherlands innovative top sectors agri-food, water, life sciences and health, chemicals, high tech, energy, creative industries - are among the worlds best. We count on you to join us in this exciting journey of testing new frontiers and approaches to development challenges . UNDPs SDG Impact provides investors (financial and corporate), with clear guidance, tools, and insights to support and authenticate their contributions to the SDGs. By promoting the development and adoption of universally agreed standards for SDG-enabling investment; designing a SDG Impact Seal and certification training; developing data-driven, investor-oriented market intelligence reports that illuminate specific sectors, geographies, or thematic areas of interest for SDG investment opportunities; and developing matchmaking services for investors seeking to connect with local entrepreneurs, this new initiative will help UNDP to catalyze much-needed private capital in support of the achievement of the SDGs. UNDP is looking beyond the horizon. Weve kicked off new collaborations with Thomas Pikettys World Inequality Lab and are working on a new generation of Human Development Reports. We are teaming up with partners such as the Open Society Foundation to find threats and opportunities ten to twenty years down the line and help decide where to invest and intervene today. The fundamental importance of multilateralism UNDP is embarking on this journey, with other partners, in an international system that is beset with challenges. Multilateralism is under threat. We are in an era of heightened uncertainty about the global order. We have seen an erosion of trust in institutionsat the national, regional, and global levels. Many say that we are witnessing a loss of trust in political parties, national governments, regional authorities and the international system as we know it. The UN has also suffered a deficit of trust. We have faced demands again and again to reform to meet the changing needs and expectations of the international community. In this context, we are now in the midst of a significant reform process that will build a system that is demand-driven, oriented around achieving results at scale, and accountable in providing support to achieve the 2030 Agenda. While we undergo significant reforms, the fundamental principles and work of the United Nations remains as relevant as it was 73 years ago. Multilateralism is the only credible and durable answer to the global problems we face. Strong multilateral institutions are more critical than ever. We cannot take them for granted. The 2030 Agenda provides us with a critical pathway to rebuild global confidence in the rules based international system and in multilateral organizations like the United Nations. Strong partnerships will be fundamental to scaling up progress towards the Agendas core promises of poverty eradication and leaving no one behind. We at the UN are very grateful for the critical role the SDG Charter is playing in promoting such partnerships, and look forward to our continued fruitful collaboration. Syrian refugee students attend lessons in Bar Elias School in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, June 2018. UNHCR/Houssam Hariri UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today welcomed the release by UNESCO of a major global education report and in particular its focus on migration and displacement. With more than half the worlds 7.4 million refugee children denied schooling UNHCRs Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Volker Turk, said the report was a timely reminder that that commitment of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals to leaving no one behind had to apply to families and children fleeing persecution and conflict too. The report reinforces the importance of including migrants and forcibly displaced children and youth in national education systems as the only way to ensure inclusive and equitable education for all and contribute to stable and productive societies, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Turk, who was speaking at the report launch in Berlin, said that with millions of refugees having to live in exile over many years often far longer than a childhood education was not only one of the most important ways to solve the worlds crises but also fundamental to responding effectively to any refugee emergency. The launch of the [Global Education Monitoring] report is very timely, coinciding with the development of two global compacts, one on migration and one on refugees, he said. Of all the latest data, one statistic for refugees stands out: Today there are 4 million refugee children out of school We need to do more. UNESCOs report says that an increasing number of governments are assuming education responsibilities for refugee children in their national education systems, but it also highlights continued obstacles including refugee children being detained while their asylum applications are being processed, the concentration of refugees in remote camps, absent funding, neighborhood deprivation, the special needs that many refugee children have, and language difficulties. UNHCRs own findings on education for refugee children have acknowledged a similarly troubled picture. In a report issued in late August and entitled Refugee Education in Crisis UNHCR said less than two thirds of refugee children are getting to attend primary school, below a quarter in secondary school, and barely one in a hundred in higher education. Turk said the adoption in 2016 of a New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants and the forthcoming Global Compact on Refugees, under development for two years and expected to come before the UN General Assembly in mid-December, provided potential to fundamentally change the lives of refugees and host communities by promoting togetherness and inclusion, including in national education systems. Three main areas of focus are needed: First is systematic inclusion of refugees in national education systems and plans; second is financing authorities and hosting communities to support education for refugees; and third is ensuring the children and young people are learning, he said. It is everyones business to educate refugees. The private sector, humanitarian and development organizations as well as governments must come together to increase funding for education and design more innovative, flexible and sustainable solutions to support education for refugees and ensure quality learning for all children. **** Download UNESCOs Global Education Monitoring Report 2019 Migration Displacement and education: Building Bridges, Not Walls. For more information on UNHCRs August 2018 education report see - Turn the Tide: Refugee Education in Crisis. Fourteen-year-old Katrina Gomez* could have been safe at school the day two men assaulted her on a public beach of this Colombian coastal city, and raped her. But she and her parents did not know she had that right. Instead, every day when her parents went out to sell homemade rice pudding and cakes on the street, Katrina was charged with watching over her little brother David* and the familys few belongings on the spot in the sand where they had been sleeping for the past eight months since they arrived from their hometown near Maracaibo, Venezuela. One day in August when her mother Paola* came back from a long day of work, she found Katrina crying uncontrollably. She told me what happened, but we didnt report it for fear of being deported, said Paola. It was the same fear that had kept her from trying to enroll the children in a local school, although legally they had a right to. To date, around three million refugees and migrants have left Venezuela, where multifaceted challenges include severe economic hardship and shortages, combined with a complex human rights and political environment. "The most durable solution for children ... would be integration into their host communities." More than one million Venezuelans have settled in neighbouring Colombia, of whom more than 415,000 have so far been granted special permission to stay by the government. However, many like Katrinas family, remain undocumented making them particularly vulnerable. Eventually, with the help of the protection team of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Katrinas family reported the assault, and the teen was seen by doctors and a psychologist. The family received temporary shelter in a local hotel, part of a network of hotels that have signed agreements with UNHCR to house the extremely vulnerable while more lasting solutions can be found for them. The most durable solution for children and their parents will be integration into their host communities, and part of that is getting them access to education, said Jozef Merkx, UNHCRs representative in Colombia. The upheaval of displacement is particularly tough on children. At a childrens day care centre called Hearts Without Borders, in the Colombian capital, Bogota, volunteers help newly arrived Venezuelan children to process the sudden change in their lives. A Venezuelan child interacts with a volunteer at the Hearts Without Borders childcare centre in Bogota, Colombia. UNHCR/Stephen Ferry Young Venezuelan, Camila Marcano, 11, raises her hand during an educational activity session at the Hearts Without Borders childcare centre in Bogota. UNHCR/Stephen Ferry Director of the Hearts Without Borders childcare centre Sandra Rodriguez gives individual instruction to 11-year-old Venezuelan boy Anderson Arenas. UNHCR/Stephen Ferry Venezuelan migrant and refugee children watch the film Ratatouille at the Hearts Without Borders childcare centre in Bogota. UNHCR/Stephen Ferry Venezuelan migrant and refugee children watch the film Ratatouille at the Hearts Without Borders childcare centre in Bogota. UNHCR/Stephen Ferry We help them understand what they are going through and to recognize that despite the circumstances they are capable of achieving so much, said Sandra Rodriguez, the director of the centre. The religious community Hermanos Maristas developed a five-week programme for children aged five to 13. A key part of that programme is a colourful workbook developed by UNHCR called My Journey, A New Place which uses drawings, stickers and writing exercises to guide the children to describe how they left their homes, things they might have experienced along the way, and their current living conditions. Quite how challenging those conditions are is apparent from the hundreds of insect bites on the face, arms and hands of 11-year-old Anderson Arenas. I itch all over! he complained, as he tried to color in his workbook while scratching furiously. His family is living in a rooming house that is apparently flea infested, said Rodriguez, who asked a volunteer at the center to give him some cream to soothe the irritation. Nearly all of them are four to five kilos underweight for their age, and below average height. The center also provides free checkups with a doctor and a dentist, who detect cases of malnutrition often caused by a lack of access to basic foods back home. Many of the younger ones had never had milk before, or beef, Rodriguez said. When they first arrive we weigh and measure them, she said. Nearly all of them are four to five kilos underweight for their age, and below average height. Thanks to the balanced breakfasts and lunches they receive at the center, many manage to gain a kilo or two during their time there. Hearts Without Borders also aims to help the children whose families are planning to stay in Colombia to get up to speed with the local school system to which, thanks to a recent government directive, all children have a right regardless of their nationality or migratory status. However, obstacles for Venezuelan children to access education in Colombia remain, said Merkx. Many school districts require the childs parents to obtain legal status within three months of enrolling the child, or insist on official papers certifying the childs school level, documents that are extremely difficult if not impossible to obtain. Ensuring access to schools is the best way to make sure children are protected and able to thrive, Merkx said. * Refugees' names changed for protection reasons Published: November 20, 2018 Second Amendment Expert Saul Cornell to Speak at UT Honors Symposium Nov. 30 On Friday, Nov. 30, The University of Tampa will welcome Saul Cornell, a leading authority on early American constitutional thought and the Second Amendment, as part of the Universitys Honors Program symposia series. The presentation, titled The Second Amendment: Myths and Realities, begins at 8 p.m. in the Trustees Board Room on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center and is free and open to the public. Cornell is the Paul and Diane Guenther chair in American history at Fordham University, and the former director of the Second Amendment Research Center at the John Glenn Institute. He is the author of The Other Founders: Anti-Federalism and the Dissenting Tradition in America, which won the 2001 Cox Book Prize, and A Well-Regulated Militia: the Founding Fathers and the Origins of Gun Control in America. He recently authored an article on Salon about the 2011 Tucson shooting and gun control, as well as an opinion piece for the New York Daily News entitled, Have guns at home? You should have to tell your childs school. Cornells work has been widely cited by legal scholars, historians, the U.S. Supreme Court and several state supreme courts. For more information, contact Honors Program co-directors Ryan Cragun at rcragun@ut.edu or Kacy Tillman at ktillman@ut.edu. Editor's Note: UTSA President Taylor Eighmy sent this email to UTSA students, faculty and staff today. (Nov. 20, 2018) -- Dear UTSA Community, Yesterday, members of the Campus Climate Team became aware of flyers that were left in a campus restroom by a group of UTSA women taking a stand against rampant sexual assault, and abuse on campus and in the world. I applaud these women for their desire to raise awareness of an important issue. Sexual misconduct of any kind is unacceptable, and UTSA must be an institution of zero tolerance. My position on this issue is straightforward and unyielding. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or misconduct or know someone who has, you should never hesitate to report it. Among the UTSA reporting resources are: The anonymous UTSA Compliance Hotline. Reports can be made via telephone or online. Callers are not required to provide a name, and calls are not recorded. All submissions are assigned a reference number that can be used to follow-up on concerns even if submitting anonymously. The Title IX Coordinator and/or staff in the Office of Equal Opportunity Services (EOS). The EOS Office handles all discrimination complaints including complaints alleging sexual harassment. This office advocates for victims while ensuring a fair process for respondents. EOS is federally obligated to investigate all cases received. The Student Ombudsperson and University Ombudsperson provide assistance to all students, faculty and staff in welcoming and safe environments and communicate with various representatives and offices at the university to respond to and help resolve concerns in a timely manner. The UTSA Police Department is an important resource, especially when there are imminent safety concerns. Emergencies should be reported to the Police Department at 210-458-4911. Non-emergencies may be reported at 210-458-4242. At the same time, students have access to a variety of resources that can help them navigate through the immediate and long-term impacts of sexual assault or misconduct: UTSA Counseling Services provides free, confidential services to students in a variety of situations and has counselors on staff who are specially trained in trauma and trauma recovery. The Office of Student Advocacy, Violence Prevention and Empowerment provides information, resources, training and advocacy for members of the UTSA community who have been impacted by sexual assault and misconduct. The San Antonio Rape Crisis Center is a local resource that supports those impacted by sexual violence. These reporting avenues, and other information about UTSAs efforts around sexual assault and sexual misconduct, are available on our Safe Campus website. This site includes resources, an overview of campus initiatives, sexual assault/misconduct data and reports, prevention partners, trainings, and awareness campaigns. We must prioritize culture change to achieve a zero-tolerance environment. Doing so is an urgent matter to ensure the health and well-being of our campus community. In the days ahead, we will begin a campus-wide dialogue on how we advance efforts at every level of our university to eliminate sexual assault and sexual misconduct. I need you to be an active participant and a strong advocate in this process. With appreciation, Taylor Eighmy CONCLUSIONS OF THE COUNCIL AND OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CIVILIAN CSDP COMPACT THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, UNDERLINING their concern about the worsening of the European Unions strategic environment, including the emergence and escalation of conflicts around the Union and the persistence of instability and transnational threats and challenges; RECALLING also the commitment of the European Union and its Member States to the promotion of a rules-based global order with multilateralism as its key principle and the United Nations at its core; EMPHASISING the continued need to strengthen the EUs role and capacity to act as a security provider through the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP); RECALLING that the European Unions unique strength in managing and preventing crises lies in its ability to deploy both civilian and military assets and capabilities as part of a wider EU integrated approach to external conflicts and crises; ACKNOWLEDGING the contribution to international peace and security made by the total of 22 civilian CSDP missions which have been deployed since 2003, including ten currently in the field, and EXPRESSING their gratitude to the men and women serving in these missions; DETERMINED to take a qualitative and quantitative leap forward in civilian CSDP as called for in the Council conclusions of May 2018, in the framework of the implementation of the Global Strategy on EU Foreign and Security Policy, towards fulfilling the Level of Ambition of November 2016; CONSIDERING that CSDP provides the Union with an operational capacity drawing on civilian and military assets from the Member States and thus UNDERLINING that strengthening the civilian CSDP requires Member States to develop the required capabilities; NOTING that the European Council has repeatedly underlined that Europeans must take greater responsibility for their security; AGREE to this Civilian CSDP Compact, which contains strategic guidelines for the strengthening of civilian CSDP as well as commitments by the Council and the Member States, and proposals for actions, aiming to achieving these aims. I. STRATEGIC GUIDELINES HIGHLIGHT that this Compact should lead to a more capable, more effective, and more joined up civilian CSDP; AGREE that such a strengthened EU capacity to deploy civilian crisis management missions will: Contribute to achieving the EU Global Strategys five strategic priorities: the security of the Union, the resilience of states and societies in neighbouring and surrounding regions, an integrated approach to external conflicts and crises, cooperative regional orders, and global governance fit for the 21st century; Contribute to the fulfilment of the EU level of ambition and its three strategic priorities in the area of security and defence, as agreed by the Council in November 2016, namely to respond to external conflicts and crises, to build the capacities of partners, and to protect the Union and its citizens, by performing the CSDP tasks set out in the Treaty on European Union (TEU); Focus on the Feira priorities of strengthening police, rule of law and civil administration in fragile and conflict settings as its core functions, underling as well the importance of Security Sector Reform (SSR) and monitoring tasks; Respond with speed and determination to particular situations throughout the entire conflict cycle, with particular emphasis on stabilisation as well as prevention, based on EU priorities for external action and assessed needs and requirements of the host country; Contribute also to the EUs wider response to tackle security challenges, including those linked to irregular migration, hybrid threats, cyber security, terrorism and radicalisation, organised crime, border management and maritime security, as well as preventing and countering violent extremism, also taking into account the need to preserve and protect cultural heritage; Contribute significantly to the resilience and security of partner countries while ensuring the ownership of the host country to achieve effective and sustainable results; Work effectively together with relevant international partner organisation and other EU instruments as part of a joined-up European approach, based on civil-military synergies within CSDP as well as close cooperation with the Commission services and other relevant EU actors as part of the EUs integrated approach to conflicts and crises with a view to coherence and coordination with the wider EU engagement, including developmental, stabilisation, humanitarian and political dimensions; Cooperate where appropriate with the Commission services and JHA actors with a view to tackling threats and challenges across the internal-external nexus and enhance synergies and coherence also in the development of capabilities; Mainstream human rights and gender into all activities and ensuring compliance with international law, in particular international human rights law, international criminal law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, refugee law and humanitarian law, taking fully into account the UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and subsequent resolutions, and the protection of civilians, throughout the planning and operational phases of the missions, as well as respecting the Responsibility to Protect; Continue to enhance the visibility of civilian CSDP and its contribution to the security of Europeans and our partners. II. COMMITMENTS The COUNCIL and the MEMBER STATES commit to: A more capable civilian CSDP. 1. Provide an increased contribution to civilian CSDP which can take the form of personnel, equipment, training, exercise support, financial contributions or otherwise on an individual or joint basis and based on individual national implementation plans. 2. Review national procedures such as decision-making, financing and legislation, where appropriate, in order to enhance availability and participation of national experts in civilian CSDP missions, for example by better integrating their participation in career paths. 3. Increase jointly the number of seconded experts in the missions, aiming to raise the total share of seconded experts to at least 70 percent of the international mission staff, prioritising seconded staff on operational positions, while continuing to promote the effectiveness of the missions. 4. Develop and provide the capabilities required for the Union to undertake the full range of civilian crisis management missions, with: a. The core capability categories as originally defined in Feira in 2000 of police, rule of law, civilian administration, as well as security sector reform and monitoring. b. The capability needs, within these core categories, related to the EUs wider response to tackle security challenges - building on the Concept Paper and the Civilian Capability Development Plan. c. Mission support capabilities (e.g. security, IT, medical care and communication) and generic capability needs (e.g. reporting, strategic communication and management skills). d. Cross cutting areas such as human rights and gender/WPS. 5. Train their national experts pre- and in-mission in accordance with the CSDP Training Policy, as agreed by the Council, and the guidance also given by the EU Civilian Training Group to enhance cooperation and synergies in training at EU level, including mission relevant language training and specific training needs in new security challenges, and seizing opportunities offered by the recognised training providers in coherence and continuity with relevant EU instruments. 6. Make available on a voluntary and inclusive basis, specialised teams that are limited in scope, time and size and that correspond to the needs of civilian CSDP and are able to respond, where agreed, at short notice to developments on the ground. 7. Make available and utilise, where agreed, national or multinational structures and facilities that will help support the strengthening of civilian CSDP in full complementarity with and in support of existing EU structures. A more effective, flexible and responsive civilian CSDP. 8. Deploy civilian CSDP missions with modular and scalable mandates within the scope of Art. 42 and 43 TEU, including, where appropriate, executive or semi-executive tasks under agreed conditions. Such mandates should allow for activation of additional tasks, projects or modules within the scope and objectives of the missions, upon PSC decision where applicable and subject to strategic analysis, with due consideration for the crisis management procedures. Mission mandates and their duration should be aligned with Mission objectives and the situation on the ground and could be, where relevant, longer and multi-annual, based on a Council decision. 9. Promote and encourage swifter operational decision-making for civilian missions: reducing the time that it takes to deploy on the ground and enabling effective and flexible conduct. Deployment and adaptation or addition of tasks and postures should be based on an early assessment of needs and related cost implications. Review and streamline where possible planning and decision-making steps, in preparation and implementation of political agreement by the Council to deploy the mission as well as mission management during the conduct phase. 10. Enhance Human Resources management by inter alia: a. Inviting the High Representative to review the EEAS recruitment policy and procedures for the missions in close coordination with Members States, so as to optimise the use of the human resources made available by Member States, to speed up recruitment and to better align EEAS and national procedures. b. Inviting the High Representative to work together with the Commission services, the Council and the Member States on the review of the employment status of international contractual staff. c. Reviewing the Code of Conduct and Discipline for civilian CSDP missions, based on a proposal by the High Representative. 11. Be able to launch a new mission of up to 200 personnel in any area of operation within 30 days after a Council decision, with all the necessary equipment provided by the Strategic Warehouse in line with the multi-layered approach and Core Responsiveness Capacity. Where agreed, specialised teams and multinational formations such as the European Gendarmerie Force can be used to contribute to this goal. 12. Further enhance responsiveness by: a. Fully staffing the Core Responsiveness Capacity and increasing its number up to 50 experts, available for quick deployment. b. Achieving full operational capability for the Strategic Warehouse in the spring of 2019 in line with its terms of reference. c. Reinforcing mission support resources both at HQ level, including the Mission Support Platform, and in the field as needed, and on the basis of an assessment. 13. Identify targeted operational benchmarks in operational planning documents to monitor and measure results and progress towards a well-defined end state and transition strategy. Carry out the evaluation of the operational impact of missions, taking into account the financial aspects, in order to identify best practices and possible improvements in mission management. 14. Strengthen efforts within the framework of the EU Integrated Approach, to ensure ownership and buy-in at local and regional level in order to achieve effective and sustainable results. 15. Work with the Commission to ensure a robust CFSP budget, and its rapid, flexible and efficient use to support new and ongoing civilian crisis management missions, in order to respond to the new level of ambition. This would allow for multi-annual forecasts and prioritisation, while also maximising synergies with complementary funding from the EU budget. Invite the High Representative and the Commission to explore, in full respect of their respective mandates and budgets, concrete incentives to support Member States in their capability development including by considering synergies with or contributions from relevant EU instruments in addition to the CFSP budget. 16. Provide a more in-depth and systematic mainstreaming of human rights and gender aspects in all civilian CSDP missions, including by appointing as a general rule dedicated advisers in gender and human rights. Actively promoting an increase in the representation of women among international experts at all levels of the mission, based on increased national contributions and in line with agreed EU and international policies and guidelines. A more joined up civilian CSDP 17. Strengthen shared analysis and situational awareness with relevant EU actors. 18. Implement a more integrated approach in programming and implementation of crisis response actions, stabilisation activities and development cooperation actions on the ground, and invite the Commission and the High Representative, as appropriate, to present concrete proposals in this regard. Civilian CSDP missions, other CFSP actors and development actors, taking into account the European Consensus on Development, should seek synergies and implement actions in a fully coordinated and mutually reinforcing manner, including with a view to increase resilience and effective transition strategies. 19. Foster synergies and complementarity between the civilian and military dimensions of CSDP, including in areas of capability development and the operational planning and conduct of missions deployed in the same theatre, in particular in mission support. 20. Promote closer mutually reinforcing cooperation and synergies between civilian CSDP missions, Commission services and JHA actors, building on their respective unique roles and within their mandates, as well as added value, from strategic planning to operational conduct and information sharing, including by strengthening the JHA related expertise within relevant CSDP structures. This also includes involving, where appropriate, Commission services and JHA actors in consultations, concept development, planning, assessments and evaluation in full respect of the institutional framework. 21. Ensure operational output of such CSDP-JHA cooperation on the basis of their respective mandates by considering where appropriate new lines of operations or pilot projects in new or ongoing CSDP missions, also building on targeted mini-concepts, in response to local needs and in cooperation with the relevant Commission services and JHA actors. Pilot projects should also take into consideration the three priorities of the Level of Ambition as set out by the Council, focussing on building and strengthening the capacity of partners to prevent conflict, build peace and address pre- and post-crisis needs, and be implemented in line with the crisis management procedures. 22. Intensify cooperation with countries hosting CSDP missions as well as enhancing mutually beneficial partnerships with partner countries and organisations in particular the UN, NATO and OSCE, as well as AU and ASEAN on common issues of policy and standards. Promote contributions of Third States to civilian CSDP missions on a case by case basis and support further cooperation with them to this end according to agreed procedures. III. WAY FORWARD The COUNCIL and the MEMBER STATES invite the High Representative and the Commission to support the implementation of the above commitments in full compliance with the applicable legal framework and the mandates of the different Union actors, within the current and future CFSP Financial Programming ceilings and in consultation with Member States. The COUNCIL and the MEMBER STATES agree to: Invite the High Representative and the Commission to present a joint EEAS/Commission Action Plan by early spring 2019, laying out concrete steps to be taken by the Union institutions to contribute to a coherent implementation of this Compact. It should, inter alia, include proposals by the High Representative for improving operational aspects of civilian CSDP; Develop National Implementation Plans, based on an indicative template, initiating a dynamic and interactive process at national level; Launch an annual process to review the progress made in implementation of the Compact based on the National Implementation Plans by the Member States and the joint EEAS/Commission Action Plan. This would include a Civilian Annual Report on Capabilities to be provided by the European External Action Service. The review should identify capability gaps, and help address them through a cooperative effort between the EU and Member States, as well as among Member States. It should support Member States in improving the availability of capabilities required, including by the sharing of best practices and lessons learned and be linked with discussions on the CFSP budget; Hold a first Annual Conference on Civilian CSDP in the second semester of 2019 to take stock of progress and identify priorities for the work ahead; Support the launch and implementation of the Civilian CSDP Compact with a comprehensive communication strategy; Fully deliver on this Compact as soon as possible, by early summer 2023 at the latest. Thank you very much. It is a pleasure to be back with the CBI again. Let me start by thanking Carolyn for your leadership of the CBI as Director General. And also welcome John Allan, who has taken up his role as President since I last addressed you. I know John from his time on the Home Office Supervisory Board and I know he will make a fantastic contribution as President. There is one paramount issue facing our country at the moment, and I know it is the number one concern of the CBI, so let me get right to it. Last week the Cabinet agreed the terms of the UKs withdrawal from the European Union. We also agreed a draft outline of the political declaration on the future relationship between the UK and the EU. Both documents were the result of many hours of negotiation between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Together they represent a decisive breakthrough but they are not the final deal. We now have an intense week of negotiations ahead of us in the run-up to the special European Council on Sunday. During that time I expect us to hammer out the full and final details of the framework that will underpin our future relationship and I am confident that we can strike a deal at the council that I can take back to the House of Commons. The core elements of that deal are already in place. The Withdrawal Agreement has been agreed in full, subject of course to final agreement being reached on the future framework. That Agreement is a good one for the UK. It fulfils the wishes of the British people as expressed in the 2016 referendum. I have always had a very clear sense of the outcomes I wanted to deliver for people in these negotiations. Control over our borders, by bringing an end to free movement, once and for all. Control of our money, so we can decide for ourselves how to spend it, and can do so on priorities like the NHS. Control of our laws, by ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom and ensuring that our laws are made and enforced here in this country. Getting us out of those EU programmes that do not work in our interests, like the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy. And that is exactly what we are going to deliver. Let me say a little more about the first of those items getting back full control of our borders because I know that is an issue of great importance to the British people. The United Kingdom is a country that values the contribution that immigration has made to our society and economy over many years. And in the future, outside the EU, immigration will continue to make a positive contribution to our national life. But the difference will be this: once we have left the EU, we will be fully in control of who comes here. It will no longer be the case that EU nationals, regardless of the skills or experience they have to offer, can jump the queue ahead of engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi. Instead of a system based on where a person is from, we will have one that is built around the talents and skills a person has to offer. Not only will this deliver on the verdict of the referendum. It should lead to greater opportunity for young people in this country to access training and skilled employment. And we want an immigration system for the future that everyone can have confidence in. Yes, a system that works for business. One that allows us to attract the brightest and the best from around the world, more streamlined application and entry processes. And we are already taking action in that regard, introducing the use of e-gates for visitors from the USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. But it also needs to command the confidence of the public by putting them in control of who comes to this country. That is what I am determined to deliver, and I look forward to working with you to achieve it. So now we have agreed the Withdrawal Agreement it is important that we focus on the new relationship we want to build with the EU. And that new relationship must set us on the path to a more prosperous future. To do that, it needs to work for jobs right across our economy. Because we are not talking about political theory, but the reality of peoples lives and livelihoods. Jobs depend on us getting this right. And what we have agreed unashamedly puts our future economic success, and the livelihoods of working families up and down this country, first. So we have agreed a transition period, to avoid a cliff-edge for business and to provide the certainty you need to invest. On goods, the outline future framework agrees to the creation of a comprehensive free trade area with the EU, our biggest and nearest goods market. Zero tariffs, no fees, charges or restrictions across all goods sectors, with an ambitious customs arrangement that respects both sides legal orders. That is what our businesses need, and that is what my deal will deliver. That is the right thing for the future of our country. Because while the world is changing fast, our geography is not. Europe will always be our most proximate goods market and ensuring we have free-flowing borders is crucial. Skilled jobs rely on it. Take the automotive industry. Since 2010 our manufacturing output has increased by 9%, but in auto manufacturing the growth has been 60%. Nissan in Sunderland. Jaguar Land Rover in Coventry. Alexander Dennis in Falkirk. Honda in Swindon. Vauxhall at Ellesmere Port. Wrightbus in Ballymena. These firms support tens of thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly. Often they are at the heart of their local economies. All rely on parts being able to flow across borders to support just-in-time supply chains. The same is true for our food exporters and our supermarkets. The deal proposed will work for all of them and sustain the livelihoods they provide to working people across the UK. But the method that works best for goods would not be the right one for services and investment. A world being made ever smaller by changes in technology presents different opportunities in the services sector, and that requires a different approach. Because the UK is not just a European hub but a global hub for services and our future success depends on us continuing to be so. So we have agreed with the EU to negotiate a trading relationship in services more ambitious than any existing free trade agreement. It will deliver a level of liberalisation that goes well beyond WTO terms. All modes of supply will be covered and it will remove substantially all discrimination in the sectors it covers. Regulatory autonomy will be preserved, but we will each ensure that our approaches are transparent, efficient and compatible as far as possible, doing all we can to avoid unnecessary regulatory requirements. We will make appropriate arrangements on professional qualifications and right across the board in digital, in financial services, in intellectual property, in transport, in energy the agreement provides the certainty businesses need. For the safety of all our people we have ensured that our close security and intelligence co-operation with the EU will carry on. And for our whole economy, we have worked hard to deliver a deal that put jobs and livelihoods, prosperity and opportunity first. That is what Brexit should be all about getting a good deal that unlocks the opportunity of a brighter future for this country and all our people. Over the last eight years, our economy has been transformed and we approach Brexit from a position of recovered strength. Our public finances are in the healthiest state for a decade, with the deficit down by four fifths and our debt as a share of the economy now falling. And businesses have continued to show their confidence in the British economy. Last month Amazon announced that it would be opening a new office in Manchester, and they have plans to create 1,000 research and development jobs across the country. Rolls-Royce announced 200 new jobs at their head office and manufacturing plant at Goodwood. British firms won contracts worth 1 billion to support Royal Navy ships, supporting over 700 jobs. And in September I was at a Zero Emissions Vehicles Summit, where industry announced over 500 million of investment that will create 1,000 jobs across the UK. And today Equinix have announced a further 90 million investment in a new data centre to service growing demand for digital financial services in the City of London, bringing their total UK investment to 295 million this financial year a vote of confidence in its future as the worlds premier financial hub. But the most striking economic success story of the last few years has been the jobs miracle that sound economic management has delivered since 2010. Youth unemployment has almost halved. More disabled people in work than ever before. The female unemployment rate has fallen to a record low. And 1,000 more people have found work every day. Last week we saw some more excellent employment numbers. A record number of people are now in work 350,000 more than a year earlier. Over three million more since 2010. And wages rose by 3.2%, the biggest rise in a nearly a decade. Now I never forget what is behind those numbers: not figures on a spreadsheet but real people. It is the young person who has left school or college and swapped their pocket money for a wage they earned themselves by their own hard work. They might still be living at home, and can afford to give their parents a little each week towards their board. And maybe even start saving for a place of their own. It might be a parent, who is moving off benefits and is able to provide a better quality of life for their family. They could be able to take their first foreign holiday or get a new car. Or an older person, who may have given up hope of ever working again, but who accessed training, learnt new skills, and now feels the rush of pride that comes with being able to make a contribution and be part of a team again. Or someone with a disability, who has faced their whole life being told they didnt have anything to offer in the workplace, who has been helped by the DWPs Disability Confident scheme to access a new opportunity. Thats the difference that having a job can make; it can provide a sense of purpose and dignity on which a happy life is built. That is what businesses like yours provide to millions of people across the United Kingdom every day. It is why starting a business, growing a business, and keeping it thriving and successful are some of the most socially responsible things you can do in life. And it is why the deal we will strike with the EU has securing jobs and prosperity at its heart. Now I got into politics to help people who want to work hard and do their best to have a fair shot and the chance to get on in life. And I know that businesses have an essential role to play. Business can and should be a force for good in our world. But at a time when many are questioning whether free markets and an open trading economy can work for everyone in society, business need to do more to win that argument. It is not just a job for politicians: all of you must play your part too, by stepping up to demonstrate that you truly have a stake in the success of this country. The very best way of doing that is by investing in the future of the next generation by giving them a chance to develop their skills and begin a rewarding career. And the government will work with you every step of the way. When I first became Prime Minister I immediately identified the need for government to step up and be much more engaged in shaping our economy to be ready for the challenges of the future and so we set about developing our new Modern Industrial Strategy. At a time of great change and technological transformation as we pass through a fourth industrial revolution governments have to think and act strategically, in partnership with business, to strengthen the foundations of productivity and build up our comparative advantages. That means investment in our traditional physical infrastructure roads, rail, air, and now also broadband and this government is doing that with record investment. But for the UK it is also about our knowledge infrastructure and our human talent too. So I want to harness the power and expertise of businesses to transform our skills base and drive up our productivity in the years ahead. We have some of the best universities anywhere in the world, and after eight years of Conservative education reform, our schools are scaling new heights of achievement. But technical education has not kept pace. So we are transforming it in England through a programme of major and lasting reform. High-quality T-levels will stand alongside A-levels as gold-standard qualifications backed with an extra 500 million a year once fully rolled out. They will represent a step-change in quality and ambition for technical education. The average hours a young person spends learning on their vocational course will increase by over 50%: from 600 hours per year to over 900 hours per year. There will be a clear route into higher-level technical training and apprenticeships, supported by a reformed apprenticeship levy. New Institutes of Technology across England will help deliver T-levels, serving key sectors in their locality and helping to drive growth at a local level. A crucial aspect of the new qualifications will be a high-quality industry placement to help young people gain the experience employers need. Businesses will play a crucial role in delivering these placements, and I want every business leader here to think hard about what opportunities your company can offer to a young person to join your team for up to three months. For them, it could be an amazing opportunity to build their skills, learn from your team, and test out what they have learned in an industrial environment. For you it is an opportunity to build the pipeline of skilled young people coming into your industry broadening and deepening your skills base. And it is a chance to demonstrate your commitment to the communities in which you do business. And there is much more that business can do. By investing in research and development you can help the UK become the ideas factory of the future, leading the world in new technology, turning scientific breakthroughs into economic rewards. The government has set an ambitious target of increasing the UKs R&D spend to 2.4% of our national income. Government is doing its bit to achieve that but we will only succeed if business steps up and plays its part too. In the budget last month we increased the annual Investment Allowance from 200,000 to 1 million it is now for business to make full use of it. By doing more to ensure greater fairness and diversity in the workplace, tackling the gender pay-gap, improving BAME representation in the workforce, you can tap into new talent and help restore faith and confidence in business as a great force for social progress. As the gig economy expands, you can ensure that all workers are treated fairly and decently. The CBI is a great partner and champion in making the case for this positive and forward-looking approach. And in all of this, government will be your staunch ally. We all believe in business as a force for good and I want everyone here to work with me to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead. And those opportunities are real and substantial. The key to unlocking them is getting a good Brexit deal agreed and delivered over the next few weeks. That is my focus. My job is to get the best deal. Parliament must then examine it and do what is in the national interest. And I know what that deal needs to do. Deliver on the referendum vote by giving us control of our borders, laws and money. Get the UK out of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy. Set us on course for a prosperous future where livelihoods are protected, our security is maintained, and our Union secured. It was never going to be easy or straightforward. And the final stage was always going to be the toughest. But we have in view a deal that will work for the UK. And let no one be in any doubt I am determined to deliver it. Thank you. In the summary of its last strategic document - 2018 National Defense Strategy of the United States of America (of which the entire text is classified) - the Pentagon claims that after the Second World War, the United States and their allies installed a free and open international order in order to safeguard the freedom of the people from aggression and coercion , but that this order is presently undermined by Russia and China, who are violating the principles and rules of international relations . This is a total reversal of historical reality. Professor Michel Chossudovsky, director of the Center for Research on Globalization, reminds us that these two countries, listed today as enemies, are those which, when they were allied with the United States during the Second World War, paid the victory over the Nazi-fascist Axis Berlin-Rome-Tokyo with the greatest price in human lives approximately 26 million from the Soviet Union and 20 million from China, compared with a little more than 400,000 from the United States. With this preliminary, Chossudovsky introduces to Global Research a documented study by James A. Lucas on the number of people killed by the uninterrupted series of wars, coups dEtat and other subversive operations executed by the United States from the end of the War in 1945 until now a number estimated at 20 to 30 million victims [1]. Approximately twice the number of deaths from the First World War, the centenary of the end of which has just been celebrated in Paris with a Peace Forum. Apart from the deaths, there are the wounded, who very often find themselves crippled for life some experts calculate that for every person killed in war, ten others are wounded. This means that the number of people wounded by US wars should be counted in the hundreds of millions. To this estimation in the study we must add a non-quantified number of dead, probably hundreds of millions, which have been caused, from 1945 until today, by the indirect effects of wars - famine, epidemics, forced migrations, slavery and exploitation, environmental damage, subtraction of resources from vital needs in order to cover military expenditure. The study documents the wars and coups dEtat executed by the United States in 30 Asian, African, European and Latin-American countries. It reveals that US military forces are directly responsible for between 10 and 15 million deaths, caused by the major wars those against Korea and Vietnam and the two wars against Iraq. Between 10 and 14 million other deaths have been caused by the proxy wars waged by the allied armed forces trained and commanded by the USA in Afghanistan, Angola, Congo, Sudan, Guatemala and other countries. The Vietnam War, which spread to Cambodia and Laos, caused a number of deaths estimated at 7.8 million (plus a huge number of wounded, and genetic damage affecting generations due to the dioxin sprayed by US aircraft). The proxy war of the 1980s in Afghanistan was organised by the CIA, which trained and armed with the collaboration of Oussama ben Laden and Pakistan more than 100,000 mujahideen to fight the Soviet troops who had fallen into the Afghan trap (as it was later described by Zbigniew Brzezinski, specifying that the training of the mujahideen had begun in July 1979, five months before the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan). The bloodiest coup dEtat was organised in 1965 in Indonesia by the CIA it handed over the list of the first 5,000 Communists and others marked for death to the Indonesian murder squads. The number of people assassinated is estimated at between 500,000 and 3 million. That is the free and open international order that the United States, independently of the White House, persist in pursuing in order to safeguard the people from aggression and coercion . St Bernards Pupils Present their Research on Jellyfish to Minister Cortes Year Two pupils at St Bernards First School presented their research on Jellyfish to parents and a panel of experts. The Minister for Heritage, the Environment and Climate Change John Cortes, Marine Biologist Mr Lewis Stagnetto and Mrs Melanie Soiza Stagnetto from The Nautilus Project were all present to hear about the childrens learning journey. The presentation was the final phase of a Project-Based Learning Cycle where the children tried to answer the question Why are there so many jellyfish in our local waters? Guided by their teachers Ms Olivares, Ms Sciacaluga and Mr Wahnon and with the invaluable support of the Nautilus Project they embarked on a cross-curricular topic to discover the factors that caused increased jellyfish numbers. The children were able to decide upon the direction of their learning. They focussed on researching turtles, making models, engaging lower year groups in talking about the impact of plastic pollution and thinking about ways to solve this global problem. Jake Stevens (6 years old) made a direct and impassioned plea to Minister Cortes to provide more Sea Bins for our waters as the children had identified them as an effective means of dealing with any stray litter that is floating on the waters surface. Minister Cortes was very impressed with the childrens knowledge and fervour and praised the children for their efforts, promising four more Sea Bins. The children, teachers and parents were elated at the news! The panel of experts were extremely impressed with the knowledge and the depth of understanding the children had acquired. Mrs Soiza Stagnetto told the pupils, 'You will inherit the bay and we feel reassured that you will do a better job than our generation has!' The opportunity to present to such important members of the community who are in a position to actually make a difference gave all the childrens hard work real meaning and relevance. Year Two will be undertaking a Beach clean-up with the Nautilus Project in June as a means of continuing to build on their environmental contribution. Minister for Education and Environment John Cortes commented, The children have totally grasped the issues and the importance of protecting our oceans. This is impressive work by the teachers and the children, and thanks as ever to the Nautilus Project for their work with the schools. Minister Cortes praised 6 Year old Jake for his impassioned speech after the Presentation The elated reaction of everyone in the room as Minister Cortes promises four new Sea Bins Year Two Children presenting their research to parents and the Panel of Experts Busy Week for HM Customs In the past week, HM Customs has worked jointly with other agencies in separate operations where a vehicle, a vessel, communications equipment and over 17,000 worth of cigarettes were seized. In the early hours of Tuesday morning (Nov 13th), Customs Officers working with the assistance of the Gibraltar Defence Police conducted an area search around British Lines Road and the Frontier Fence. This resulted in the detection of 250 cartons of cigarettes concealed in the area. In an unrelated incident HM Customs Marine Unit deployed Interceptor RhIB HMC Searcher on Saturday Nov 17th after being given a tip-off of a suspect vessel in the Bay of Gibraltar. At around 10pm, following joint monitoring of the vessel, HMC Searcher began a chase heading south within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and apprehended the vessel and two crew around 2 Nautical Miles (3.7km) South of Europa Point. The 7.5m RhIB was found to contain over 200 litres of fuel in drums and was powered by a 300Hp engine. It was seized as a prohibited import. A 31-year old local man and a 44 year old Spanish national from La Linea were arrested for Imports and Exports Act Offences. In another case, officers of HM Customs arrested a 37-year old Spanish National from La Linea during a Customs interdiction operation. The man was identified driving a vehicle in the Devils Tower Road area in the early hours of Wednesday Nov 14th. The driver was signalled to stop but failed to do so. A vehicle chase around the area ensued which resulted in the suspect colliding with scaffold and being brought to a halt. No injuries were sustained in the incident. The Spanish registered car was searched and found to contain 600 cartons with a value of over 12,000. The vehicle and contents were seized by HMC. HM Customs has said it continues to investigate all three incidents. A national Workshop on the development of an Advance Ruling System for classification and the AEO programme was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 7 to 9 November 2018. The Workshop was an initiative of the International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the WCO, aimed at supporting Vietnam Customs to enhance its capacity and capability in both areas. Forty seven Customs officials and national stakeholders involved in the Customs procedures worked intensively with their facilitators, a WCO Secretariat Nomenclature expert, an accredited expert on AEO from Japan, an accredited expert on HS from Cambodia, an expert on AEO from Korea Customs and the Executive Director of the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia. The main objective of this Workshop was to discuss with a targeted group in the Customs Administration and relevant stakeholders the necessary measures to develop internal expertise and capacities in the area of Advance Ruling and AEO and raise awareness of the issues and the latest WCO instruments and tools. Opening the Workshop, Ms. Raghad Altalli, Trade Facilitator Adviser of the ITC, pointed out the need for raising compliance and the transparency level of Vietnam in relation to Customs and trade procedures and to enhance trade facilitation through the measures to be discussed. Ms. Nguyen Viet Nga, Deputy Director of Vietnam Customs, expressed her gratitude to the ITC, a multilateral agency with a joint mandate with the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, and to the WCO for their support in enabling capacity building in Vietnam. She highlighted the importance of their work to improving trade facilitation and security. At the end of the Workshop, the participants presented proposals and solutions related to the practical aspects for effective implementation of an advance ruling and AEO programme in Vietnam Customs. In closing, the Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs, Ms. Nguyen Viet Nga, emphasised the importance of identifying challenges faced, areas of further improvement and issues to be solved for implementation of Advance Ruling and AEO programmes. She also encouraged participants to share the gained knowledge to help further advancement in these areas. Over 40 experts from Customs administrations and postal operators met in Brussels on 15 and 16 November 2018 under the framework of the WCO-UPU Contact Committee to discuss priorities, challenges and potential solutions for enhancing Customs-Post cooperation, in particular the implementation of electronic advance data exchange. The Contact Committee approved the Joint WCO-UPU Guidelines on the exchange of electronic advance data (EAD) between Posts and Customs. These Guidelines are aimed at providing policy and technical guidance to designated postal operators and Customs administrations on how to establish the exchange of EAD, as well as gain support within the respective organizations for the adoption of this development project on a priority. They should be published in June 2019, once approved by the WCO Council. Recognising the significance of coordinated border management, particularly in the context of growing E-Commerce via post, the Committee agreed to add a section on cooperation with the UPU and designated postal operators in the WCO Compendium on Coordinated Border Management. Experts from Customs administrations and postal operators shared new and emerging regulatory developments on EAD (e.g. the EUs Union Customs Code, US Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) Programme and Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act, Russian Federations pilot), related working experiences/practices and pilots/initiatives to secure and streamline the journey of a postal item along the supply chain, while ensuring efficient and effective compliance with various regulatory requirements. Challenges highlighted during the discussions referred to data quality, data protection and the operational ambiguities with regard to the implementation of pre-loading advance cargo information (PLACI) requirements in the context of the global postal model (e.g., the need for an assessment complete message, potential timelines for assessment complete, referral, and the need for an additional flow for responses to referrals). Delegates agreed to continue working on these ambiguities and other related issues through a joint expert team. As for the need to take into account data protection and confidentiality regulations, the Committee supported the idea of developing a model data sharing agreement (DSA) between origin post and destination post, as well as examining the possibility of having similar DSA between destination post and destination Customs. Delegates discussed practical solutions relating to data capture and data quality and strategies for facilitating the customer/sender transition to electronic data entry. In this context, the Committee examined Joint Guidelines on the Data Capture and Improving Compliance with CN22/23 Customs Forms and agreed to enrich them with additional input and working examples. The Committee reflected on the successful outcomes of the pilot on the development of a standardized interface between the Customs Declaration System (i.e. UPU software that allows customers to enter data online, and enables Posts to exchange such data electronically with Customs) and UNCTADs Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA). This solution is a significant development that will enable designated postal operators to exchange EAD with over 95 Customs administrations that are currently using ASYCUDA. Delegates were also informed about the UPU Postal-Rail project on the movement of postal items by rail from Asia to Europe, as well as the development of Guidelines for establishing an international postal rail transport service developed by the UPU Task Force, supported by the WCO. The progress with the development of a user-friendly and easily accessible list of prohibited and restricted articles in the postal chain to improve compliance was also presented. An online querying tool that links to a prohibitions/restrictions repository, which can easily be embedded in UPU and designated operators websites, has been designed by the UPU and will be launched soon, after carrying out further work in collaboration with the WCO and Customs administrations. The Committee initiated a discussion on the potential integration of CN22/CN23 and data harmonization with a view to addressing issues stemming from the growing E-Commerce, the PLACI and other requirements that are emerging as a result of the launch of alternative revenue collection models in some countries. Furthermore, the WCO and UPU Secretariats presented the latest policy developments in their respective organizations, such as the WCO Framework of Standards on Cross-Border E-Commerce, the 2018 SAFE Framework of Standards, the UPU EAD Roadmap and the UPU Product Matrix. The two organizations also reported on the joint capacity building activities undertaken during the past months to promote further dialogue between Customs and postal operators and assist them in enhancing the efficiency of Customs-postal clearance processes, especially the establishment of an electronic data interface between Customs and postal operators, using joint WCO-UPU Customs-Posts EDI Messages. Discussing the future activities, delegates agreed with a plan to organize a joint WCO-UPU Customs Workshop for French-speaking countries in the West and Central Africa Region, among other things. Going forward, the Contact Committee adopted its work plan, which contains tangible deliverables to support the identified priorities in terms of improving the postal chains security and efficiency. At the invitation of Mr. Raju Boddu, Comptroller of Antigua and Barbuda Customs, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General, visited Saint Johns, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, on 16 November 2018. Dr. Mikuriya was received by Mr. Steadroy C.O. Benjamin, Attorney General, in his capacity as Acting Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. As the representative of the WCOs newest Member, the Acting Prime Minister welcomed the numerous opportunities for training and assistance provided by the WCO and pledged his firm support for ongoing Customs modernization. He shared the vision of his country as a little bit of paradise for tourists and expressed his hope for continued strong drive within Customs to create a better business environment. Secretary General Mikuriya also met with the Customs management team at Customs headquarters. They discussed Customs vision for Small Island Economies, namely promoting tourism and facilitating related imports while protecting society, especially against the backdrop of developing new maritime and airport infrastructures. The talks focused on human resource development, including blended e-learning, professionalism and a service-oriented mind-set. The Customs management team voiced its resolve to make Antigua and Barbuda Customs a leading example in the region. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K92 Mining Inc. (K92 or the Company) (TSXV: KNT; OTCQB: KNTNF) announces the grant of 1,730,000 stock options to officers, employees and consultants of the Company, pursuant to the terms of the Companys Stock Option Plan. The options are exercisable at $0.74 per share, expire on November 19, 2023, and vest in quarterly increments over twelve months from the date of grant. About K92 Mining K92 Mining has commenced commercial gold production from the Kora Gold Deposit (via mining at the Kora Northern Extension), which is part of the Companys Kainantu Gold Project located in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea. In November 2018, the Company announced completion of an updated resource estimate of its Kora North deposit, based on results from underground grade control, exploration diamond drilling in 80 drill holes, and face sampling. The updated resource estimate will update and replace the previous Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). It is anticipated that the new PEA will be published by January 2019. ON BEHALF OF K92 MINING INC. John Lewins Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact the Company at +1-604-687-7130. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release may include certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information, including statements regarding the realization of the preliminary economic analysis for the Project, expectations of future cash flows, the proposed plant expansion, potential expansion of resources and the generation of further drilling results which may or may not occur. Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the market price of the Companys securities, metal prices, exchange rates, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, and regulations and other matters. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 20, 2018 | METROPOLIS By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 20, 2018 | 11:18 AM | METROPOLIS Another scam has been reported - this one in southern Illinois. The local Metropolis Firefighters union posted on their Facebook page Monday saying that people are reportedly getting phone calls from someone asking for donations to the local firefighters association. The union says they are not soliciting money in any way, and that these callers are scam artists. The union says their only ongoing fundraiser is their "hog wild" raffle, where two winners will be drawn on December 31 and win half of a hog. The social media post says, "With the holiday season upon us, scammers are trying all they can do to get your hard earned money. Please be aware." Advertisement By The Associated Press Nov. 19, 2018 | CHICAGO By The Associated Press Nov. 19, 2018 | 07:19 PM | CHICAGO A gunman opened fire Monday at a Chicago hospital, wounding at least four people, including a police officer and a hospital employee. A police spokesman said the gunman was dead, but it was not immediately clear if he took his own life or was killed by police at Mercy Hospital on the city's South Side. A witness told reporters that it looked as if the attacker "was turning and shooting people at random." The shooting apparently began as the suspect was walking with a woman near a parking lot. He turned and repeatedly shot the woman in the chest. He then entered the hospital and continued firing, Gray said. The two had been talking to each other. Gray said it didn't seem like a heated exchange. "Then once she fell to the ground, he stood over her and shot her three more times," he said. Four people were in critical condition, including an officer. At least one of the four was a hospital employee, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. Television footage showed several people, including some wearing white coats, walking through a parking lot with their arms up. Jennifer Eldridge was working in a hospital pharmacy when she heard three or four shots that seemed to come from outside. Within seconds, she barricaded the door, as called for in the building's active shooter drills. Then there were six or seven more shots, now much closer, just outside the door. "I could tell he was now inside the lobby. There was screaming," she recalled. The door jiggled, which Eldridge believed was the shooter trying to get in. Some 15 minutes later, she estimated, a SWAT team officer knocked at the door, came in and led her away. She looked down and saw blood on the floor but no bodies. "It may have been 15 minutes, but it seemed like an eternity," she told a reporter. Maria Correa was at the hospital for her mother-in-law's appointment with a doctor. As the violence unfolded, a hospital employee locked the doors to the waiting area. Correa hid under a piece of furniture, clutching her 4-month-old son, Angel, for 10 to 15 minutes. She heard about eight shots, then more. She lost track of how many. Those "were the worst minutes of our lives," she said. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainChip Holdings Ltd. (BrainChip or the Company) (ASX: BRN), the leading neuromorphic computing company, has announced that it is participating at the AI Edge Summit held on 11 December 2018 in San Francisco. The Edge AI Summit will focus on the challenges and opportunities of AI applications at the network edge, where the critical mass of digital data resides, and where it is collected. The event will showcase hardware innovation which is delivering the necessary compute to migrate diverse AI workloads to the network edge and a new generation of edge-native and edge-enhanced software applications which are emerging. The Edge Computing market will reach $34 billion by 2023, growing at 35% annually, according to Kisaco Research. This growth indicates a wave of network edge services and applications, including data caching, video analytics and environment monitoring among others, that can be optimized with AI. BrainChips SVP for marketing and business development, Robert Beachler, who will be presenting on the topic Neuromorphic SoC Brings AI to the Edge, said: Being invited to speak at the AI Edge Summit highlights why BrainChip is now considered the leader in neuromorphic computing hardware and software. The Summit allows me to present to leading industry practitioners the plans BrainChip has to introduce by mid-2019 a small, low cost and low power neuromorphic SoC ideal for edge applications that will enable complex neural network training and inferencing for vision systems and cybersecurity and financial technology markets. Were excited to hear Bob share some details about how BrainChips neuromorphic SoC handles AI workloads at the edge. The neuromorphic hardware space is a fascinating one and its great to be working with the company with the first production chip on the market, noted Edmund Nelson, Senior Conference Director, Kisaco Research. Details of how to register for the AI Edge Summit can be found by visiting: https://www.edgeaisummit.com/events/edge-ai-summit. About BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) BrainChip Holdings Ltd. is the leading provider of neuromorphic computing solutions, a type of artificial intelligence that is inspired by the biology of the human neuron. The Companys revolutionary new spiking neural network technology can learn autonomously, evolve and associate information just like the human brain. The proprietary technology is fast, completely digital and consumes very low power. The Company provides software and hardware solutions that address the high-performance requirements in civil surveillance, gaming, financial technology, cybersecurity, ADAS, autonomous vehicles, and other advanced vision systems. www.brainchip.com Company Contact Robert Beachler rbeachler@brainchipinc.com +1 (949) 330-6750 Media Contact (US): Kerry McClenahan Publitek North America kerry.mcclenahan@publitek.com +1 (503) 546-1002 Investor Relations: ir@brainchipinc.com Media Contact (Europe): Nayl DSouza Publitek nayl.dsouza@publitek.com +44 20 3813 6423 Media Contact (Australia): Rosa Smith Media and Capital Partners rosa.smith@mcpartners.com.au +61 475 305 047 Lithium Grades up to 1.24% Li 2 O TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plateau Energy Metals Inc. (Plateau PLU or the "Company")(TSX VENTURE:PLU)(FRANKFURT:QG1)(OTCQB:PLUUF) is pleased to announce new drill results from Falchani West drilling. Falchani West Highlights Link to: Figure 1 Falchani Project Drill Plan Location Map 23 m of 4,412 ppm Li (0.95% Li 2 O) from 306 to 329 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) in lower breccia unit within longest intersection of lithium mineralization drilled to date of 338 m of 2,895 ppm Li (0.62% Li 2 O) from 7 to 345 m downhole (277 m true thickness); Li contents up to 5,739 ppm (1.24% Li 2 O) (PLAT14-W) from 306 to 329 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) in lower breccia unit within longest intersection of lithium mineralization drilled to date of from 7 to 345 m downhole (277 m true thickness); Li contents up to 5,739 ppm (1.24% Li O) (PLAT14-W) 90 m of 3,025 ppm Li (0.65% Li 2 O) from 84 to 174 m (EOH) downhole (73 m true thickness) in Li-rich tuff unit within a broader 115 m interval of 2,611 ppm Li (0.56% Li 2 O) that includes upper breccia unit and tuffs (94 m true thickness) (PLAT13-W) from 84 to 174 m (EOH) downhole (73 m true thickness) in Li-rich tuff unit within a broader that includes upper breccia unit and tuffs (94 m true thickness) (PLAT13-W) Falchani West now has been drill tested 475 m N-S along section within the Falchani West target area and up to approximately 450 m E-W based on drill hole traces projected to surface and the eastern valley edge Falchani West has highly anomalous lithium values covering a mapped and sampled footprint of >1.5 km E-W by approximately 1.7km N-S towards Tres Hermanas As observed at Falchani East, Lithium mineralization thins to the south due to the presence of a lithium-bearing sub-volcanic felsic intrusion affecting the overlying tuff and breccia units Northward towards Platform 14, the lithium mineralization becomes increasingly thick away from the southern intrusion, and is essentially at surface due to its lower elevation and erosion of the barren rhyolite cover rocks Three rigs continue to drill at Falchani West towards the West (platforms 32, 33 and 36) and plan to move North through to the end of 2018 Our continued success at Falchani West is encouraging, in particular the presence of a significantly thicker lower breccia unit, as we continue West and North to grow our resource base, commented Alex Holmes, CEO. Our project team will continue drilling through to the end of December as we look to incorporate these results into a late Q1 2019 resource update. Falchani Interpretation Falchani West appears to represent a similar, but potentially larger side of a 6 km by 5 km collapsed caldera with faulting due to the presence of a sub-volcanic felsic intrusion creating an interpreted resurgent dome centred along the N-S faulted valley separating Falchani West area from the Falchani East resource. In the southern drilled extents of both Falchani East and West, lithium mineralization thins to the south due to the presence of this lithium-bearing, sub-volcanic felsic intrusion representing the southern edge of the caldera. The intrusion affects the formation, orientation and preservation of the overlying tuff and breccia units. In the northern drill platforms (example PLAT-14), the lithium-rich tuff unit and to a greater extent, the mineralized lower breccia unit become extremely thick to the north and west from the interpreted resurgent dome intrusion. The lower breccia contains large intersections of Li-rich tuff interpreted as large blocks within the host breccia. The highest grade lithium mineralization encountered to date is located proximal to the base of the thick lower breccia, immediately above the lithium-bearing sub-volcanic intrusion. It is interpreted that this sub-volcanic intrusion was a source of heat and lithium-bearing fluids that locally enhanced the lithium contents of the volcano-sedimentary rocks within the collapsed caldera lake. Based on the available data, the Companys technical team believes the collapsed caldera setting may have trapped the lithium-rich mineralization millions of years ago, during the latest extrusive episode of one of the youngest member of the Macusani rhyolites. The Companys technical team is working together with its technical advisors to understand more fully this unique volcanic lithium deposit model setting, and research is being considered to unravel the geology and evolution of Falchani. It appears that we have a very large-scale depositional environment for our lithium project at Falchani. Within a deep and wide caldera lake, several generations of volcanic ash layers were trapped and transformed into the hardened tuff units that we see today, stated Dr. Laurence Stefan, President & COO. To date our metallurgical work completed at several laboratories all over the world has determined that the geochemistry of several trace and major elements is mostly similar to a high-grade brine, with geotechnical similarities to a hard rock project. Drill Results Details Link to: Figure 2 Falchani Project E-W Cross Section through PLAT14 , and Figure 3 Falchani West Project N-S Cross Section with PLAT12-PLAT13 & PLAT14 Platform 14W inclined hole drilled to 270Azimuth at -55 inclination PLAT14-W 400.5 m total length High-grade lithium-rich mineralization in upper breccia, tuff and a thick intersection of lower breccia intersected 338 m of 2,895 ppm Li (0.62% Li 2 O) from 7 to 345 m downhole (277 m true thickness) - Includes lithium tuff-only interval of 78 m of 2,328 ppm Li (0.50% Li 2 O) from 12-90 m downhole (64 m true thickness) - Includes a higher-grade interval with 23 m of 4,412 ppm Li (0.95% Li 2 O) from 306-329 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) in lower breccia Thickest interval of lower breccia drilled to date (255 m downhole; 209 m true thickness) with Li values up to 5,739 ppm (1.24% Li 2 O) O) The drill hole ended in sub-volcanic felsic intrusion from 345-400.5 m averaging 859 ppm Li No surface uranium mineralization intersected as hole started in 7 m of barren rhyolite Platform 13 W inclined hole drilled to 270Azimuth at -55 inclination PLAT13-W 174 m total length 90 m of Lithium-rich tuff unit intersected 3,025 ppm Li (0.65% Li 2 O) from 84 to 174 m (EOH) downhole (73 m true thickness) O) from 84 to 174 m (EOH) downhole (73 m true thickness) 115 m of 2,611 ppm Li (0.56% Li 2 O) in broader interval from 59 to 174 m (EOH), that includes 25 m of Li-rich upper breccia (94 m true thickness) O) in broader interval from 59 to 174 m (EOH), that includes 25 m of Li-rich upper breccia (94 m true thickness) No surface uranium mineralization intersected as hole started in barren rhyolite Platform 12 V Vertical drill hole PLAT12-V Vertical Hole 174.5 m total length 42 m of Lithium-rich tuff unit intersected 2,415 ppm Li (0.52% Li 2 O) from 25 to 73 m O) from 25 to 73 m 47 m of 2,311 ppm Li (0.50% Li 2 O) in broader interval from 23 to 77 m, that includes thin intersections of Li-rich breccias located above and below the tuff unit O) in broader interval from 23 to 77 m, that includes thin intersections of Li-rich breccias located above and below the tuff unit 91.5 m of sub-volcanic felsic intrusive was intersected from 83 to 174.5 m (EOH) that averaged 1,403 ppm Li (0.30% Li 2 O) O) The top 23 m comprised unconsolidated colluvium gravels The hole was stopped at a depth of 174.5 m due to technical reasons. Platform 12 W inclined hole drilled to 270Azimuth at -55 inclination PLAT12-W 148 m total length 23 m of Lithium-rich tuff unit intersected 2,305 ppm Li (0.50% Li 2 O) from 25 to 48 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) O) from 25 to 48 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) 38 m of 2,082 ppm Li (0.45% Li 2 O) in broader interval from 21 to 59 m downhole (31 m true thickness), that includes Li-rich breccias located above and below the tuff unit O) in broader interval from 21 to 59 m downhole (31 m true thickness), that includes Li-rich breccias located above and below the tuff unit 85 m of sub-volcanic felsic intrusive was intersected from 59 to 144 m downhole (69.6 m true thickness) with 1181 ppm Li (0.25% Li 2 O) O) The hole ended in 4 m of lithium-rich tuff underlying the intrusive rocks from 144 to 148 m (EOH) that averaged 2,112 ppm Li (0.45% Li 2 O) (3.3 m true thickness) O) (3.3 m true thickness) The occurrence of Li-rich tuffs at depth below the Li-rich sub-volcanic intrusion demonstrates that separated layers and blocks of the tuff unit may exist in other parts of the caldera due to the complex post-sedimentary evolution of the tuff . The top 21 m comprised unconsolidated colluvium gravels Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Data Verification Drill core samples are cut longitudinally with a diamond saw with one-half of the core placed in sealed bags and shipped to Certimins sample analytical laboratory in Lima for sample preparation, processing and ICP-MS/OES multi-element analysis. Certimin is an ISO 9000 certified assay laboratory. The Companys Qualified Person for the drill programme, Mr. Ted OConnor, has verified the data disclosed, including drill core, sampling and analytical data in the field and lab. The program is designed to include a comprehensive analytical quality assurance and control routine comprising the systematic use of Company inserted standards, blanks and field duplicate samples, internal laboratory standards and has also included check analyses at other accredited laboratories. Qualified Persons Mr. Ted OConnor, P.Geo., a Director of Plateau Energy Metals, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. For further information, please contact: Plateau Energy Metals Inc. Website: www.plateauenergymetals.com Alex Holmes, CEO & Director Facebook: www.facebook.com/pluenergy/ +1-416-628-9600 Twitter: www.twitter.com/pluenergy/ Email: info@plateauenergymetals.com About Plateau Energy Metals Plateau Energy Metals Inc. is a Canadian lithium and uranium exploration and development company focused on its properties on the Macusani Plateau in southeastern Peru. The Company controls all reported uranium resources known in Peru, significant and growing lithium resources and mineral concessions covering over 93,000 hectares (930 km2) situated near significant infrastructure. Plateau Energy Metals is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'PLU', quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol PLUUF and the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol 'QG1'. The Company has 76,892,314 shares issued and outstanding. Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning drill results and the interpretation of drill results, the Companys plans regarding further drilling and exploration, a resource update, and the timing and expected results related to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", believe, "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", projected, appears, potential, interpreted and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that any future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with our expectations; mining and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes (including work stoppages and strikes) or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; risks related to commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to foreign operations; the cyclical nature of the industry in which we operate; risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or delays in obtaining governmental approvals; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the certainty of title to our properties; risks related to the uncertain global economic environment; and other risks and uncertainties related to our prospects, properties and business strategy, as described in more detail in Plateau Energy Metals recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and Plateau cautions against placing undue reliance thereon. Neither Plateau nor its management assume any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Council defend parking charges as Welsh Conservatives blast burden of revenue raising placed on drivers This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 20th, 2018 Leading Councillors at Wrexham Council have defended their parking charges policies after the Shadow Local Government Secretary Mark Isherwood AM criticised local authorities across Wales for pocketing profits. A Freedom of Information request from the Welsh Conservatives revealed local authorities in Wales ran a surplus of 10,065,347 in 2017/18 from parking charges and fines, 25% more than the previous year. The FOI covered a year beforehand, but that is not referenced in comments about Wrexham. Cardiff and Swansea city councils generated returns of 3.9m and 2.7m, respectively, in 2017/18, both increases on the previous year, that the Conservatives noted are run by Welsh Labour. They added, Wrexham and Caerphilly county borough councils both saw huge rises in their profits as their surpluses increased by 245% and 436%, respectively. Further Wales-wide stats are included, Bridgend, Newport, and Pembrokeshire all registered deficits, meaning the local authorities were spending more money implementing parking charges than they were raising from them. Flintshire had recorded deficits for the last three consecutive years despite increasing car parking charges. The four councils cost taxpayers 1,525,605 last year alone. Councils have to pay Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) on their own car parks, which goes into a Welsh central pot, meaning money raised by a council might be redistributed elsewhere. Mark Isherwood AM, said: These statistics show two different problems raising from the same issue: either councils are making money from the people keeping the high-street alive or are running inefficient services to charge drivers simply for the sake of it. Although it is right money raised this way is reinvested in public services, the burden of revenue raising should not be placed on drivers who already have to pay considerable and recurring costs towards something that is a necessity, not a luxury. Additionally, those councils which are losing money with their parking costs must realise they face a choice between making them cost-efficient or abolishing them altogether. However, the story here is that the Welsh Labour Governments local authority settlements are starting to bite, forcing councils to squeeze more and more money from the workers and shoppers that are powering local economies. We asked Wrexham Council over the claims of huge rises in profits of the local car parks. Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: We produce an annual report on parking services which covers income and expenditure. This is published on our website, and the latest report is due out in the next few weeks. Our parking charges are very competitive compared with other authorities, and we offer many seasonal discounts and free car parking initiatives like we are currently undertaking this Christmas in Wrexham. All of our car park income is reinvested in to our service. With the parking blast emanating from the Welsh Conservatives we asked the Deputy Leader of the Council, and Welsh Conservative himself, Cllr Hugh Jones on he agrees with the comment from AM Isherwood that Wrexham Council are an authority making money from the people keeping the high-street alive. Cllr Jones told us: I support the current car parking policy that has been recognised by local businesses as supporting the Town Centre and businesses by its competitive pricing and free days for special occasions. We are restricted by the appalling settlement from the Welsh Government. The Wales-wide FOI data supplied is below: The release also includes the specific Wrexham based data (via an embedded image in a spreadsheet thus terrible quality) indicating a range of data not referenced in the above comments. The top figure of +245% rise in surpluses for Wrexham would be a -41% drop if the 15/16 figures were used against the 17/18 numbers. Likewise revenue from parking dropped -15% for that comparison. Similarly parking fines show and increase of 49% when 15/16 is compared to 17/18. Ibiza Weekender Jordan to turn on Wrexhams Christmas Lights on Thursday This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 20th, 2018 ITVs Ibiza Weekender and Channel 5s Celebrity Big Brothers very own Jordan Davies will be pushing the magic button on Thursday evening to switch on the towns Christmas lights. Jordan is in town as part of the Stiwt theatre and LHK production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Organisers say they are expecting 8,000 to attend the Thursday event adding: This years event is being run solely by Wrexham Glyndwr Rotary Club (group of volunteers giving up our time to help raise vital funds for charity) and for the third year running the light switch on will be completely non profit meaning everyone involved including all stars are not being paid and instead all monies will be donated to our chosen charity Wrexham Homeless, People Helping People'. The light switch on will once again be presented by Heart North Wales featuring breakfast presenters Lois & Oli along with performances from The Phonics (UKs No.1 Stereophonics tribute) & performances from The Greatest Show. Also performing onstage are the Blue Genes family band, Coleg Cambria performing arts students, John Durham & Mia Lynch, Llangollen Young Uns and even Heart radios Oli Kemp. The night will be finished off with a huge firework display provided by Festival Fireworks. There will also be fairground rides provided by Simons North Wales Funfairs, along with lots of festive stalls and the big man himselfFather Christmas. The evening, sponsored by Wrexham Prestige Taxis and Parallel Security Ltd, is free to attend, but organisers add: Help us raise much needed funds for Wrexham Homeless! Please dig deep into your pockets and donate to the volunteers with buckets, or visit the Rotary tent and lets help make a difference this Christmas because Rotary IS making a difference. Sam Foulkes, event manager said The event is really coming together. The team of volunteers at the Rotary Club of Wrexham Glyndwr have been working hard behind the scenes to make this event spectacular in every way. This is the third year the Rotary Club have hosted the event raising thousands for charities locally in doing so. Last year was a huge success raising over 2000 for charity. This year all monies raised are going to Wrexham Homeless and we hope the local community in and around Wrexham will come out and support us. We have an action packed night of festive fun for all the family to enjoy. We have been working hard with the local council events team and local forces including the police, fire and rescue and St johns to ensure the event is safe and enjoyable for all attending. The Rotary club is currently also looking for new members, If you want to know more about us and what we do please do speak to one of the Rotarians in high viz jackets on the night!. Rotary is made up of 1.2million members worldwide from all different backgrounds, religions and race who meet on a regular basis to decide how they can make a difference in the world. All proceeds will go to the Rotary clubs chosen charity for this year, Wrexham Homeless People Helping People you can find out more on the Rotary facebook page here. Contact: International Administration Group (Guernsey) Limited Company Administrator Attn: Mark Woodall Tel: +44 1481 723450 Share Buyback Programme: Transactions in Week Fifteen Guernsey, 19 November 2018 Eurocastle Investment Limited (Eurocastle or the Company) today announces that between 12 November 2018 and 15 November 2018, as part of the previously announced buyback programme entered into with Liberum Capital Limited (acting as the Company's broker), it bought back 20,342 of its ordinary shares at an average price of 5.99 per ordinary share. These purchases were made pursuant to the authority granted at its Annual General Meeting on 20 June 2018. The purchased shares will all be held as treasury shares. These purchases are the last purchases to be made under the non-discretionary programme between the Company, on the one hand, and Liberum, on the other hand, announced on 2 July 2018, as that non-discretionary programme has been completed in accordance with its terms. As announced on 15 November 2018, a new programme will commence on 20 December 2018. Please refer to the Companys website under the investor relations section for further details. The purpose of the share buyback programme is to reduce the share capital of the Company and the programme is executed in compliance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016, collectively referred to as the Safe Harbour rules. The following transactions have been made under the buyback programme: Accumulated, most recent announcement Platform code Volume Volume Weighted Average Price Gross Value () 12/11/2018 BATE 104 6.00 624 XLON 655 6.00 3,927 CHIX 493 5.96 2,938 TRQX 314 6.00 1,884 Total 1,566 5.99 9,373 13/11/2018 BATE 104 5.94 618 XLON 5,179 5.99 31,014 CHIX 642 5.98 3,838 TRQX 316 5.98 1,890 Total 6,241 5.99 37,359 14/11/2018 BATE 110 5.94 653 XLON 5,192 5.98 31,034 CHIX 645 5.94 3,831 TRQX 315 5.94 1,871 Total 6,262 5.97 37,390 15/11/2018 BATE 137 5.98 819 XLON 5,210 6.02 31,383 CHIX 642 5.98 3,839 TRQX 284 5.98 1,698 Total 6,273 6.02 37,740 Following the above transactions: The total number of ordinary shares of the Company in issue is 66,121,054 The total number of ordinary shares held by Eurocastle in treasury is 18,649,021 (equal to 28.2% of the Companys share capital) The total number of voting rights exercisable by holders of ordinary shares of the Company is 47,472,033, as voting rights of shares held in treasury are suspended. ABOUT EUROCASTLE Eurocastle Investment Limited is a publicly traded closed-ended investment company that focuses on investing in performing and non-performing loans and other real estate related assets primarily in Italy. The Company is Euro denominated and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol ECT. Eurocastle is managed by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, a leading global investment manager. For more information regarding Eurocastle Investment Limited and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.eurocastleinv.com. Set out below are all trades completed between 12 November 2018 and 15 November 2018: Platform code Volume Price Gross Value () 12/11/2018 XLON 460 6.00 2,760.00 XLON 118 6.00 708.00 TRQX 314 6.00 1,884.00 BATE 104 6.00 624.00 CHIX 493 5.96 2,938.28 XLON 77 5.96 458.92 Total 1,566 5.99 9,373.20 13/11/2018 XLON 615 6.00 3,690.00 XLON 455 6.00 2,730.00 XLON 767 6.00 4,602.00 XLON 362 6.00 2,172.00 TRQX 316 5.98 1,889.68 XLON 480 5.98 2,870.40 XLON 2,500 5.98 14,950.00 CHIX 578 5.98 3,456.44 CHIX 20 5.98 119.60 CHIX 4 5.98 23.92 CHIX 2 5.98 11.96 BATE 104 5.94 617.76 CHIX 38 5.94 225.72 Total 6,241 5.99 37,359.48 14/11/2018 XLON 130 6.00 780.00 XLON 480 6.00 2,880.00 XLON 497 6.00 2,982.00 XLON 123 6.00 738.00 XLON 633 6.00 3,798.00 XLON 97 6.00 582.00 XLON 9 5.98 53.82 XLON 8 5.98 47.84 XLON 552 5.98 3,300.96 XLON 497 5.96 2,962.12 XLON 9 5.96 53.64 XLON 397 5.96 2,366.12 XLON 1,749 5.96 10,424.04 CHIX 231 5.94 1,372.14 CHIX 414 5.94 2,459.16 TRQX 16 5.94 95.04 BATE 110 5.94 653.40 TRQX 299 5.94 1,776.06 XLON 11 5.94 65.34 Total 6,262 5.97 37,389.68 15/11/2018 XLON 640 6.04 3,865.60 XLON 536 6.04 3,237.44 XLON 587 6.04 3,545.48 XLON 247 6.02 1,486.94 XLON 234 6.02 1,408.68 XLON 101 6.02 608.02 XLON 417 6.02 2,510.34 XLON 545 6.02 3,280.90 XLON 526 6.02 3,166.52 XLON 566 6.02 3,407.32 XLON 566 6.00 3,396.00 XLON 245 6.00 1,470.00 CHIX 11 5.98 65.78 CHIX 12 5.98 71.76 TRQX 66 5.98 394.68 CHIX 619 5.98 3,701.62 BATE 137 5.98 819.26 TRQX 111 5.98 663.78 TRQX 12 5.98 71.76 TRQX 95 5.98 568.10 Total 6,273 6.02 37,739.98 Woman dies following house fire in Acrefair This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 20th, 2018 A woman has died following a house fire in the Wrexham area over the weekend. Crews from Johnstown and Wrexham were called to a fire at a house at Gwynant, Acrefair at 12:52am on Sunday November 18th. Firefighters used four sets of breathing apparatus and two hosereel jets to tackle the fire, which caused fire damage to 30% of the kitchen, severe heat damage to the remainder of the kitchen and 100% smoke damage throughout the property. Two casualties, a man and a woman were taken to the Wrexham Maelor hospital, where the woman sadly later passed away. The cause of the fire is thought to be an electrical issue in or close to the fridge. Justin Evans, head of community safety for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: My condolences and deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of those involved in this tragic incident. This fire clearly shows the danger of electrical fires they can strike anytime, anywhere. Just yesterday we launched our new campaign highlighting the importance of the safe use of white goods appliances as part of Electrical Safety Week. Our advice is to be as prepared as possible in the event of fire, by ensuring that working smoke alarms are fitted on every floor of your home and that you have clear escape routes to enable you and your family to exit your home as quickly as possible. There are some simple steps you can take to help prevent an electrical fire in your home. They include: DONT Overload plug sockets DO Regularly check for worn or frayed wires DO Unplug appliances when not in use DO Keep appliances clean and in good working order DO Fully unwind extension cables prior to their use. DO Follow the manufacturers instructions on the use and maintenance of appliances. Register appliances at www.registermyappliance.org.uk, which will enable manufacturers to contact you if any faults become apparent, or if any recall notices are issued. Further information from manufacturers on defects, or appliances that have been recalled, can also be found on the Electrical Safety First website www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk Find out more about our new White Goods safety campaign and try out our ampage calculator on our website and facebook page visit www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk for more information. Wrexham organ donors help save lives across North Wales This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 20th, 2018 Over 20 people are now able to enjoy fuller lives thanks to donors in Wrexham and North Wales this year. Since April 2018, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd has seen the largest amount of donors which saw seven people provide the gift of life, resulting in 15 people receiving a life-saving transplant. In Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Ysbyty Gwynedd ten successful transplants have been made possible through three donors at each hospital. Organ donation is a very selfless and beautiful gift, however there are very few patients that will ever be in a position to be able to offer this gift, explained Specialist Organ Donation Nurse Phil Jones, based at Glan Clwyd Hospital. To donate a patient would need to be on an Intensive Care Unit undergoing supportive measures including mechanical ventilation. The organs a person can donate vary greatly and this is dependent on the reasons that they are sadly dying, consequently some organs cant be transplanted. When a family give consent for donation to proceed a Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation will determine which organs that particular patient could donate, this may be a number of organs but sometimes they may only be in a position to donate their kidneys, which is still a remarkable gift. Even one transplant will save the life of the recipient. In December 2015 Wales became the first country in the UK to move to a soft opt-out system of consent to organ donation. This means people who want to be an organ donor can either register a decision to opt in or do nothing. For those who choose to do nothing, they are regarded as having agreed to organ donation this is known as deemed consent. However, if individuals do not tell their family of their decision to donate, the family may not honour that decision and override the organ donor registration or not support deemed consent Anthony Clarkson, interim director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, has praised the work of the Specialist Organ Donation nurses across North Wales and in particular the team at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd for their donor numbers so far this year. He said: Organ Donation is a remarkable gift that offers comfort to the families of organ donors and saves and transforms the lives of transplant recipients. Although more than half a million people die every year in the UK, fewer than 5,000 people die in circumstances where donation is possible, and even fewer people actually become donors. Every potential donor is therefore incredibly precious. Because there are so few opportunities to donate, it is essential that we work closely with hospitals to increase the number of people who say yes to organ donation by identifying and referring potential donors to us. I want to offer my sincere thanks to the wonderful team at Glan Clwyd Hospital for their ongoing hard work and dedication in supporting organ donation. The entire team should feel proud of their efforts to support the decision of their patients and their families to donate, enabling recipients to live because of the transplants they made possible. Phil and his team are continuing to encourage families to discuss organ donation so they are aware of their loved ones decision. He added: During our public engagement it is obvious that support for Organ Donation is growing. Consequently over 30 per of the resident population in Wales have opted in their decision to donate; those that have not opted in or opted out of the register are also giving their consent by choosing to do nothing and we know that within this number there is a huge support for donation. Nonetheless, the key message is for individuals to have that conversation with your loved one and families. As specialist nurses we sometimes find ourselves speaking to families and offering donation as an end of life choice to families who have never discussed donation in life, this can make the decision difficult for them not knowing the wishes of their loved ones. Making a decision and discussing it certainly helps. For donation to happen we really need the support from families, it is ok to say yes or no but it is so important that the decision is the right one. As a nurse I would not wish to leave a family in a situation where they may have said no not knowing the wishes of their loved one and regretting that decision later. For more information on organ donation and registering as a donor visit https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell says he won't challenge his loss to Democrat Nikki Fried in Florida's agriculture commission race - a contest that was the closest of the three statewide seats that went through a recount. Caldwell made his announcement in an email Monday, the day after official election results were turned in showing Fried with a 6,753-vote lead out of more than 8 million ballots cast, or a difference of 0.08 percentage points. In his concession, Caldwell said there were clear problems with the way the vote count was conducted in Broward and Palm Beach counties, but it would cost millions of dollars to continue challenging the results. Recounts were also conducted in Florida's races for governor and U.S. Senate. The election results will be certified on Tuesday. Fried will become the first woman to serve as Florida's agriculture commissioner. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) HAMILTON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Authorities are asking the public's help in an investigation of an unsolved murder of a Jasper man almost a year later. Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Hamilton County Sheriffs Office and State Attorneys Office are investigating the homicide of Jaworski Williams, 44, in Hamilton County. Williams was found dead at his home in Jasper around 10:00 p.m. on Dec. 30, 2017. According to authorities, he was last seen earlier on the same date in Live Oak. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to please contact the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office at 386-792-1001. Additional questions may be directed to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at 800-226-5630. HAMILTON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office is asking help finding leads in an unsolved murder investigation. Deputies say Jaworski Williams was "brutally murdered" at his home in the 300 block of 4th Street NW in Jasper, by an unknown suspect(s). A $5,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those involved. Anyone with information is asked to call the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office immediately at 1-386-792-1001. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we all want to give thanks from the comfort of our home, surrounded by family, friends, and food. What we don't want to do is end up in the ER, but that's where many people in Florida and the US find themselves on Turkey Day, with injuries, that for the most part could have been avoided. Cooking fires spike on Thanksgiving and so do emergency room visits. The National Fire Protection Agency reports a 241-percent increase in fires on Thanksgiving day and burns are a top reason for those visits. Local fire officials said unattended cooking is the number one cause of home residential structure fires in America. They warn to never leave the stove unattended while cooking and be especially careful with turkey fryers. "One thing that is critical, do not thaw out a frozen turkey in the turkey fryer. If they are frozen, the oil will react and you can have a flash fire," said Deputy Chief Richard Jones, with the Tallahassee Fire Department. "Have the bird completely thawed out and use a paper towel to make sure it is completely dry." Knife injuries, food poisoning, over-exertion on the backyard grid iron, and driving accidents are other things to be careful of this holiday season, many of which, experts say, can be avoided by drinking responsibly. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Republican State Senator Bill Galvano and GOP Representative Jose Oliva were formally elected Tuesday to serve as Senate president and House speaker for the next two years, moving into two of the most-powerful jobs in the state. Galvano and Oliva had long been positioned to move into the roles, with Tuesdays election coming during an organization session of the legislature. Republicans hold a 73 to 47 advantage in the House and outnumber Democrats 23 to 17 in the Senate. President Galvano, of Bradenton, has served in the Florida House and Senate since 2002. During a brief address to the Senate, he spoke of unity and coming together following a close and hard-fought election. Now is the time to move forward, united together for the purpose of representing to the very best of our ability, the people of Florida," said Galvano. Oliva also called for civility among lawmakers, even as he vowed to continue his partys push for limited government in the areas of healthcare, education and housing. If we are truly committed to raising wages, we must challenge the endless taking, in taxes and fees, surcharges, assessments and the like," said Oliva. "If you want people to have more, you must begin by taking less. On Tuesday, Jacksonville State Senator Audrey Gibson and Representative Kionne McGhee of Miami also moved into their roles as Senate and House minority leaders for the next two years. The one-day session also included swearing in senators and House members elected November 6. The regular legislative session will begin March 5. CITRA, Fla. (WTXL) - A Florida man has been arrested after he admitted he was a "sick man" for having sex with his family's miniature horse. Nicholas Sardo, 21, was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff's Office. According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, several witnesses reported they saw Sardo having sex with a male horse named Jackie G in a pasture on his family members property. Deputies said Sardo admitted to having sex with the horse and added that he had sex with the horse four times during the course of a week. He stated he used a condom each time because he didn't want to get a disease from the horse. Sardo told deputies he knew he was wrong for what he did and that he was a "sick man." Sardo is being charged with four counts of bestiality/sexual contact with an animal. One of Sardos family members is the owner of the horse and the horse is currently under their care. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Tuesday marks four years since a gunman shot three people on Florida State University's campus. On Nov. 20, 2014, 31-year old Myron May walked inside the Strozier Library just after midnight. May opened fired, hurting two students and one employee. Campus police, along with the Tallahassee Police Department, responded and shot May, who died outside the library when he refused to drop his gun. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTC: INLB) (Item 9 Labs or the Company), a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative cannabis products and proprietary delivery platforms, this week announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with VIRIDIS Group I9 Capital LLC (VIRIDIS), an Arizona-based investment company specializing in real estate and environmentally sustainable development. The partnership involves a USD $7.7 million investment by VIRIDIS Group, providing capital for the planned geographic expansion of Item 9 Labs, including medical cannabis cultivation and processing. The investment also supports the continued development of the Companys enhanced cannabinoid delivery system, the first cannabis market medicated nasal delivery device administering cannabinoid specific dosing. The Company and VIRIDIS Group entered into a Loan and Revenue Participation Agreement on September 11, 2018. VIRIDIS Group agreed to make a secured loan USD $2.7 million represented by two separate notes: one for the construction and enhancement of the Companys Arizona property, and the other for proposed ventures in Nevada. On October 17, 2018, the two companies entered into an equity Subscription Agreement. VIRIDIS Group agreed to purchase 100,000,000 (pre-split), or respectively 5,000,000 (post 1:20 reverse split) restricted common shares of Item 9 Labs for USD $5 million. Item 9 Labs will use VIRIDIS Group transaction proceeds to expand its manufacturing and revenues through the acquisition of real estate in Arizona and Nevada, as well as product development and general corporate purposes. Item 9 Labs is ushering in a new era of wellness by developing innovative and comfortable health solutions for the modern cannabis consumer, said Bryce Skalla, Co-Founder and CEO of Item 9 Labs. We are cultivating quality-driven, organic products for whole body health, and seamlessly merging medical cannabis into a lifestyle. Item 9 Labs is well-positioned to benefit from continued growth in the Cannabis sector due to changing regulations and the growing demands of a global industry. At VIRIDIS Group, we pride ourselves on our forward-thinking and cutting-edge investment strategies and we view our investment in Item 9 as an extremely valuable one, based on the Companys rapid market penetration and established niche. We look forward to joining forces with this outstanding team, stated Andrew Bowden, co-founder and CEO of VIRIDIS Group. The VIRIDIS Group investment is part of a broader strategy allowing Item 9 Labs to access the firms real estate expertise. VIRIDIS Group has additional interests in software, health, and fitness. For information visit Item9LabsCorp.com. About VIRIDIS Group: VIRIDIS Group (VIRIDIS) is a family-owned Investment Company with experience in real estate investment and environmentally sustainable development as well as software, health and fitness. VIRIDIS prides itself in having an open-minded team and a diversified portfolio. An active equity company, VIRIDIS Group provides funding necessary to launch projects and an engaged team that is hands on with each venture on a daily basis. About Item 9 Labs Corp.: Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTC: INLB) creates comfortable cannabis health solutions for the modern consumer by developing innovative products and proprietary delivery platforms. The Company is focused on the development of technology and products that administer high-quality medical marijuana through a novel intra-nasal delivery system to deliver significant health benefits. The Company is headquartered in Southern Arizona where it owns and operates 50 acres, one of the largest properties in the U.S. zoned to grow and cultivate the medical marijuana flower. Item 9 has a proven track record of providing consumers with high-quality medical marijuana flower and products focused on organic, cost-effective solutions for whole body health. By combining high-quality, medical-grade product with the Companys proprietary nasal mucus-membrane delivery system, Item 9 plans to produce the industrys first market medicated nasal delivery device that administers specific cannabinoid dosing to meet the growing demand of todays modern cannabis consumer. For more information, visit us online at www.Item9labscorp.com and www.Item9labs.com . Forward-Looking Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, proposed transactions that are not legally binding obligations of the company and the ability to manage and continue growth. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Media Contact: Neko Catanzaro Proven Media Neko@provenmediaservices.com 401-484-4980 Investor Contact: Jeffrey Rassas Item 9 Labs Corp. Jeffrey@item9labs.com (602)463-4246 MARIANNA, Fla. (WTXL) - A head-on collision resulted in serious injuries to the driver of one pickup truck and a passenger in another pickup truck. Carl Bailey, the driver of a Toyota Tacoma, was traveling east on Lafayette Street on Monday when his pickup truck crossed into the westbound lane, according to a Marianna Police Department news release. The Toyota collided head on with a Ford F-150 driven by Joshua Cherry. The Toyota spun, and the rear of the vehicle landed on the front of a Honda car. Bailey was transported to Southeast Medical Center in Dothan, Alabama, with serious injuries. The passenger of the F-150 was transported to Jackson Hospital with serious injuries. The crash remains under investigation. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - With Thanksgiving just days away, the holiday travel crush is set to be the busiest it's been in more than a dozen years. AAA predicts that upwards of 54 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving. That's a nearly five percent jump from last year and the highest number since 2005. "We'll have additional staff on duty of course, all of our amenities will be available, food services, food and beverage, gift shops, and all those things will be open for you," said Jim Durwin with Tallahassee International Airport. "This is our busiest time of year for airports, so we look forward to all our customers coming through our doors." If you're one of the more than 48 million Americans traveling by car, you could be in for a particularly long journey. Global Mobility Analytics Company, INRIX, predicts travel times in the nation's most congested cities could be up to four times longer than normal. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Pre-trial hearings for the Tallahassee woman accused of conspiring to kill her husband start Tuesday. Denise Williams is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her estranged husband, Mike Williams. He was first reported missing back in 2000 after a hunting trip on Lake Seminole in Jackson County. His remains were found last December, 17 years after his disappearance. Her final pre-trial is set for December 6, and her trial is set to begin on December 10. New trial date set for widow charged in Mike Williams' death TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A new trial date has been set for Denise Williams. Williams, the woman accused in the murder of her husband Mike Williams, wasnt in court Tuesday for the hearing. Williams is accused of conspiring with a friend, Brian Winchester, to kill her husband, Mike Williams. Mike Williams was first reported missing back in 2000, but it wasn't until last year that his body was recovered. A pre-trial hearing will start on Nov. 20 at 10:30 a.m. A final pre-trial hearing will be held on December 6th at 1:30 p.m. Denise Williams' trial will start on Dec. 10. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The trial date is delayed for Denise Williams, the Tallahassee woman charged with first degree murder for the death of her husband. Williams appeared in court Wednesday morning for her first pre-trial hearing. Williams is accused of conspiring with a friend, Brian Winchester, to kill her husband, Mike Williams. Mike Williams was first reported missing back in 2000, but it wasn't until last year that his body was recovered. During Wednesday's hearing, Williams' attorney asked the judge to push back the next hearing until Oct. 2. That's when both sides will meet to set a new trial date. The judge agreed and said that Williams would not need to attend the Oct. 2 hearing. "We've just had, with the summer and other things, we've had some logistical issues just getting people to pose and getting witnesses served, things like that," said Ethan Way, Denise Williams' Attorney. "We just needed a little bit more time, but it's not going to be very long." Despite this delay, Way is still confident that Williams' trial will begin before the end of 2018. A case management hearing is set for Oct. 2. Trial was previously scheduled to start Sept. 24. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The widow of Mike Williams, Denise Williams, has been charged with insurance fraud related to his death. She was already behind bars, charged with first-degree murder for his death, because a judge had denied her bail. Her trial is set to begin in September. After her arrest Thursday, she now faces three counts of insurance fraud for $100,000 or more. In May 2018, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis asked that Denise Williams be investigated for insurance fraud. Mike's best friend, Brian Winchester, who eventually married Denise, and who said he shot Williams, said in a court hearing in June that Denise wanted to collect Mike's $1.75 million in life insurance. Winchester, a licensed insurance agent in Florida, was the agent for a $250,000 policy Mike Williams bought from Kansas City Life Insurance Company that went into effect on Feb. 2, 1995. Denise Williams "independently provided written statements to the life insurance companies which were determined to be false throughout the claims processes ultimately resulting in death benefit payments of over 1.75 million dollars," according to a probable cause affidavit. Denise Williams defrauded Cotton States Insurance Company and Kansas City Life Insurance Company on three separate insurance claims, the court document said. On May 8, 2018, she was booked for first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and accessory after the fact/first-degree murder. She is set to stand trial for the murder charges next month. In a statement on Friday, Patronis said: The Williams case is a tragedy that has shocked the Tallahassee community and reverberated across the nation. The insurance fraud charges are just one part of this case, and I assure the community we will work diligently toward a successful prosecution. Insurance fraud is a very serious crime, one that impacts every single insurance consumer. Its especially disturbing when an individual is attempting to profit off someones death. I am proud of our dedicated insurance fraud team for their commitment to bringing criminals to justice. Insurance investigation opened after Denise Williams' arrest TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - An insurance fraud investigation related to the murder of Mike Williams has been ordered following his widow's arrest. Denise Merrell Williams was arrested Tuesday following an indictment for Mike's murder. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced Wednesday that he has directed his Division of Investigative and Forensic Services to investigate alleged life insurance fraud relating to Mike Williams disappearance nearly two decades ago. Patronis issued this statement regarding the decision: As a result of the recent findings surrounding Mike Williams death, I have directed my office to investigate whether or not his death was part of a scheme to fraudulently profit from his life insurance policies. As this case remains ongoing, we ask members of the community to come forward with any information they may have surrounding this case. Members of the community who believe they have information surrounding potential life insurance fraud as it relates to this case are encouraged to contact the CFOs Fraud Tip Hotline by calling 1-800-378-0445. Callers can choose to remain anonymous and those who provide information that leads to a successful prosecution may be eligible for a cash reward. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WTXL) - Suwannee County's senior forester has been arrested for the brutal murder of his wife and 15-year-old daughter. Paul Graves Williams, 61, has been charged with two counts of first degree murder. According to the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, the investigation began when officials at Stephen Foster Elementary School noticed that Paul's wife, Leslie, had not come into work in the past few days. An employee at the school said they had been trying to contact Leslie for at least three days without success. Probable cause documents say that when concerned school officials again tried to call Leslie on Friday, they ended up reaching her husband, Paul, who told them to "go check on her." The Gainesville Police Department school resource officer then notified the sheriff's office and deputies responded to the Williams' household in Gainesville. However, when deputies arrived to the home for a well-being check, they found blood on the floors and two victims dead inside the home. They also found a knife in the kitchen sink and a pair of scissors on the kitchen counter, both covered in what appeared to be blood. The victims were later identified as Paul's wife, Leslie 'Lisa' Williams, 57, and his 15-year-old daughter Paige Williams. Investigators described the victims' deaths as "traumatic," and noted that both bodies appeared to be staged in two different bedrooms after they were killed. Court documents say the the crime scene "depicted a very brutal death." An investigation revealed Leslie had been stabbed and suffered blunt force trauma to her body while Paige had been stabbed at least 35 times. Deputies say Paul wasn't home when the victims were discovered and note that there were no signs of forced entry into the home, leading them to immediately identify Paul as a person of interest. During the first few hours of the search, deputies say Paul still hadn't been found but say he eventually drove himself back to the crime scene on Friday where he was taken into custody. According to court documents, Paul later admitted to stabbing his wife and daughter, staying that he stabbed his daughter with a kitchen knife until she was "gone." He said he then attacked his wife, stabbing her multiple times. He told deputies that he stayed in the house with the bodies for at least a day before leaving the home. The suspect told investigators that he he knew what he was doing was wrong but he "snapped" and "it was the devil in him." Paul has been charged with two counts of premeditated murder. He is also being charged with two counts of refusing a crime victim medical care that resulted in death and two counts of tampering or fabricating physical evidence. If you have any information on the case, you are asked to call ACSO's criminal investigations division at (352) 367-4170. SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Two McAlpin residents have been arrested after a SWAT team searched their home and found multiple stolen guns, a stolen truck and meth. On Monday, the Suwannee County SWAT Team assisted investigators with the Suwannee and Columbia County Sheriffs Offices in executing a search warrant at a home in the 14000 block of C.R. 349. When they searched the home, investigators discovered 12 guns inside the master bedroom, two of which were stolen from Columbia County. They also found 20 grams of meth, cannabis, assorted drug paraphernalia and ammo. In the yard, investigators say they found a stolen 2004 GMC pickup truck. A stolen AR-15 style rifle was also located in the in the cab of the truck. Through an investigation, authorities learned that one of the suspects, 54-year-old Joseph Wainwright, Jr., knowingly purchased the stolen guns. He also knowingly bought the stolen truck for $1,000. Deputies note that Wainwright, who was last released from prison in March 2017, is a convicted felon and is prohibited from having guns or ammunition. Ashley Kaye Hancock, 29, was also arrested as a result of this investigation. Wainwright and Hancock were transported to the Suwannee County Jail. Wainwright has been charged with trafficking methamphetamine (over 14 grams), dealing in stolen property, grand theft, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of less than 20 grams cannabis, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hancock has been charged with trafficking methamphetamine (over 14 grams), possession of less than 20 grams cannabis, and possession of drug paraphernalia. THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WALB) - To curb over spending, Thomasville council members are planning to have individual spending accounts of $5,000 for the 2019 fiscal year. As of June, Thomasville City Council members surpassed their 2018 fiscal year budget of $20,000 according to Albany Attorney Chris Cohilas, hired by a few concerned residents. Many residents are frustrated about this matter because the budget isn't company expense, it's taxpayer's dollars. Mayor Pro Temp Terry Scott said the budget increase will help resolve the issue. "With the new budget we have now, the council now has $5,000. I think that's going to be a good increase for us," said Scott. Scott said the overall budget is increasing by $5,000 for 2019. He said the increase is necessary to accommodate for the amount of meetings they'll have to attend. To ensure over spending doesn't happen again they'll periodically be informed of their spending. "In fact every council {member} will know where his budget is at because he'll have a visual site on it every month," said Scott. He said not knowing how much they were spending is one reason they exceeded this year's budget. "Nothing was done intentionally, but it was just an oversight of ours," said Scott. With policies in place keeping them aware of their spending, Scott believes the issue will be resolved by 2019. We will continue to update you as changes to the budget are made. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 00:53:35|Editor: yan Video Player Close KIGALI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan government has taken measures to achieve universal coverage of health-care by 2030, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a Rwandan senior health official said Monday in the capital city of Kigali. The strategies put in place includes scaling up community-based health insurance program Mutelle de sante, whose coverage presently stands at 90 percent, said Jean-Pierre Nyemazi, permanent secretary at the Rwandan ministry of health, at the opening of a consultative meeting on health financing for universal health coverage in Rwanda. According to him, Rwanda, in 15 years, has been able to develop a community-based health insurance system recognized for its achievements in terms of population coverage, service utilization and financial protection. The government will continue to expand the network of community health workers at every village and serve as an essential link between the population and health-care facilities, Nyemazi said. There are currently about 610 health posts across the country, but in partnership with other development partners, more efforts are being put to ensure that every cell has one, Rwandan health minister Diane Gashumba said earlier this month. Achieving universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all, is among the health targets of SDGs. UN proclaimed Dec. 12 as International Universal Health Coverage Day last year, which aims to raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems and universal health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 00:53:35|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Communal violence in Dire Dawa city, located in eastern Ethiopia, over the weekend has left one person dead, the city's police commission said on Monday. In a press statement, Dire Dawa city administration police commission, said communal clashes over the weekend resulted in the death of one person by stabbing, injuries to several other persons. "Local and federal security forces have been deployed in the area to prevent a recurrence of the weekend deadly communal violence," said the statement. Dire Dawa city police commission cautioned residents to avoid spreading fake news disseminated from social media pages that inflame communal tensions and urged residents to protect the peace and calm of their surroundings. An eyewitness told Xinhua the weekend clashes involved members of ethnic Somali and ethnic Oromo communities. The eyewitness said the city has been scene of sporadic clashes between members from the two ethnic groups for several months, reportedly over land ownership issues. Ethnic Somalis and Ethnic Oromos both claim ownership of the city which lies strategically on the Ethiopia-Djibouti highway. ORLEANS, Ontario, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. (Tetra or TBP), (TSX VENTURE: TBP) (OTCQB: TBPMF), and Quantum Pharma Inc. (Quantum) today announced the signing of a binding proposal (the "Proposal") for exclusive access to a Health Canada licensed facility (i.e., Drug Establishment License; DEL) that enables the company to produce cannabis and cannabinoid drug products for Tetras and Panag Pharmas development activities including the ocular drug formulations. Quantum Pharma owned by Dr. Peter Ford was the GMP manufacturing division of Fords Family Pharmacy and Wellness Centre. Their formulation expertise will enable Tetra to develop innovative products for future clinical trials. The Proposed Transaction is expected to provide Tetra with: Exclusive access to a Health Canada licensed facility (DEL) to fabricate cannabis and cannabinoid drug products for Tetra and Panags development activities; Cannabis and cannabinoid drug product formulation expertise; and The ability to manufacture products for all its clinical trials and commercial launches. Dr. Guy Chamberland, CEO and CSO of Tetra Bio-Pharma stated, We are very pleased to announce this important development to our shareholders. We have been working with Fords Family Pharmacy and Wellness Centre since 2016. Dr. Peter Ford and his team have created several innovative formulations and instruments for the fabrication of Tetras prescription drugs. This exclusive agreement not only secures the innovations and production know-how developed for Tetra, but also protects these assets from an acquisition by a competitor. Quantum Pharma will be an exclusive partner to Tetra and Panag enabling us to execute our future planned trials as well as prepare for our product launches. Dr. Chamberland further stated, Tetra has already entered into various agreements to ensure the supply meets the demand for cannabis, THC and CBD-based products with partners including Aphria Inc., True North Cannabis, a USA-based synthetic cannabinoid manufacturer and a phytocannabinoid supplier. With the expected completion of the Panag acquisition, Tetra will become vertically integrated with drug development capabilities that range from discovery all the way through to commercial launch. Our partnerships with Genacol Corporation and Kombucha Baby Brewing Company and its partners provides Tetra with a global sales and distribution platform for the commercialization of OTC drug and wellness products. In addition, Tetra has also established distribution and sales agreements with two pharmaceutical companies for its PPP001 prescription drug product. About Tetra Bio-Pharma Tetra Bio-Pharma (TSX-V: TBP) (OTCQB: TBPMF) is a biopharmaceutical leader in cannabinoid-based drug discovery and development with a Health Canada approved, and FDA reviewed, clinical program aimed at bringing novel prescription drugs and treatments to patients and their healthcare providers. The Company has several subsidiaries engaged in the development of an advanced and growing pipeline of Bio Pharmaceuticals, Natural Health and Veterinary Health Products containing cannabis and other medicinal plant-based elements. With patients at the core of what we do, Tetra Bio-Pharma is focused on providing rigorous scientific validation and safety data required for inclusion into the existing bio pharma industry by regulators, physicians and insurance companies. For more information visit: www.tetrabiopharma.com Source: Tetra Bio-Pharma Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking statements Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the inability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to execute the Company's business plan; competition; regulation and anticipated and unanticipated costs and delays, the success of the Company's research and development strategies, the successful integration of this acquisition, the ability to obtain orphan drug status, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion and uncertainties related to the regulatory process, the timing of clinical trials, the timing and outcomes of regulatory or intellectual property decisions and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. While no definitive documentation has yet been signed by the parties and there is no certainty that such documentation will be signed. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 01:18:40|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAIROBI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has beefed up security along its porous border with Somalia after the police foiled an attack by suspected al-Shabab militants in northeast region on Monday. Joseph Boinnet, inspector-general of police said security had been enhanced in the area with more personnel being deployed along the border to tame the terrorists. "We have enhanced security at large as part of efforts to stop their activities near there," he said, confirming four suspected terrorists were killed and several others injured during botched attack on a police camp in Ijara in Boni enclave. Boinnet said unknown number of terrorists was targeting a camp occupied by the Administration Police's Border Patrol Unit when they were repulsed in the dawn incident. Boinnet said the terrorists were also targeting a communication mast for destruction. The team of border patrol repulsed them fatally injuring four while several ran with serious wounds. Boinnet said security had been enhanced in the area with more personnel being deployed along the border area to tame the terror activities. "We have enhanced security at large as part of efforts to stop their activities near there," he said. Witnesses said the officers were still patrolling the expansive forest in search for more bodies. According to police officer based in the area, the militants wanted to carry out a simultaneous attack on the police camp and the near by Safaricom mast. The militants usually destroy telecommunication mast to disrupt police response and communication in the area before they could inflict harm on the locals. The incident comes barely two weeks after local government officials held a security meeting with the locals in the area which is near the Somali border to enhance security. Ijara region has bore the brunt of al-Shabab militants due to its proximity to Boni forest and Somalia where the militants carry out attacks before escaping back. A number of security personnel have died as a result of the attacks some that include improvised explosive devices placed on roadsides by al-Shabab militants. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 01:23:43|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Actors of the play "The Orphan of Zhao" perform during a rehearsal at the National Theatre of Greece, in Athens, Greece, on Nov. 17, 2018. The traditional Chinese play, "The Orphan of Zhao", premiered in Athens on Sunday, arousing an overflow of feelings to the audience who watched a new adaptation of the Chinese masterpiece marking the meeting of the two great civilizations. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The traditional Chinese play, "The Orphan of Zhao", premiered in Athens on Sunday, arousing an overflow of feelings to the audience who watched a new adaptation of the Chinese masterpiece marking the meeting of the two great civilizations. For the first time, Chinese and Greek artists performed in their respective languages one of China's greatest tragedies on the stage of the National Theatre of Greece, proving that art has no boundaries. Under the bilateral agreement of the national theatres of China and Greece, the much-loved story was presented to the audience incorporating two theatrical drama styles under the guidelines of the Chinese director Wang Xiaoying. "We have a unique result: it's not completely Greek, it's not completely Chinese. It's a collision and a fusion of two cultural ideas in an exceptional play", Wang told Xinhua. Speaking for the collaboration, the artistic director of the National Theater of Greece, Stathis Livathinos, expressed his excitement on the endeavor. "There is something unusual in this project. The play is bilingual, culture and languages of the two civilizations co-exist in this theatrical production. Language is culture, and vice versa," Livathinos said, explaining that language could be a bridge and not a barrier. "I think it is great interaction and exchange between the Chinese and Greek culture. It is also a profound expression of the two countries' friendship," Chinese playwright Yu Qingfeng added. The story of the "The Orphan of Zhao", from China's Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), tells a tragic tale of an orphan surnamed Zhao, who was saved thanks to the selflessness of a doctor, taking his revenge years later. The play is a masterful contemplation of vengeance, power, justice, loss, and sacrifice. For this adaptation, Wand did not follow the traditional path but enriched the story with contemporary elements in an effort to involve and engage the audience. According to the Chinese director, the new version reflects a theme so up to date and global: Can one person's kindness eliminate the hatred of mankind? "It was an exceptional performance. Especially, the doctor who had the leading role was amazing. I was worried that I would not understand, but the language was not a problem. And the doctor's performance moved me," Aphrodite Kapralou, who came with her friends to watch the play, told Xinhua. Greek actor Thanasis Sarantos praised the timeless character of the play along with the intercultural exchange of the two countries. "At the beginning, there was fear because we are two different cultures, two different languages, but afterward we saw that we have so much in common," Sarantos said. "We are two nations with great ancient civilizations with respect to each other since ancient times. It was an exquisite experience with the whole team, the actors; the team spirit was incredible." The Chinese play will run until Dec. 2 at the National Theatre in Athens. It is performed in Greek and Chinese, with subtitles in Greek, Chinese, and English. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 01:33:46|Editor: yan Video Player Close ARUSHA, Tanzania, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian police have embarked on a new program that involves taking all the ill-prepared drivers back to school in an effort to curb road accidents in the east African nation, a senior official said on Monday. Joseph Bukombe, Arusha regional police commander, said the move came as one of the measures to reduce the number of road accidents, which mostly are caused by reckless driving. He said here that most of the drivers had securing driving licenses illegally without passing through the formal process, thus taking vehicles in road without having the required skills. The regional police chief said under the program all untrained drivers will be taken to the state-run Vocational Educational Training Authority (VETA), where they would be trained with all the required driving skills. "We came up with this idea after realizing that most of our drivers have licenses only and not school certificates," the regional police chief told reporters at a press conference. Bukombe described Arusha as the main gateway to Tanzania's thrilling tourist destinations of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Tarangire national parks, which needs well-trained drivers for safety of passengers and tourists. Under the new program, the regional police said that all motor vehicle drivers without certificates will be required to go to VETA College. "Currently, police carrying-out an inspection exercise for drivers who have no education credentials," Bukombe said, calling for all drivers to ensure that they adhere to road safety laws. He vowed that Tanzanian government will not hesitate to take stern measures against drivers who are causing unnecessary road accidents, saying these have claimed the lives of many. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 01:38:46|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Palestinian medics carry a wounded man during clashes with Israeli troops on a beach near the maritime border with Israel, in northern Gaza Strip, Nov. 19, 2018. At least 25 Palestinians were injured on Monday in clashes between dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, medics said. (Xinhua/Stringer) GAZA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 Palestinians were injured on Monday in clashes between dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, medics said. Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza, told reporters that the wounded were taken to the hospitals in Gaza, adding that they were all had light to moderate injuries. The clashes broke out on Monday when the high commission of "the Great March of Return", which was found on March 30, organized the weekly maritime demonstrations in northern Gaza Strip. Since the start of the marches on March 30, demonstrators have been calling on Israel to end the tight Israeli blockade that had been imposed on the Gaza Strip. Al-Qedra said that since March 30, the Israeli army has killed 223 Palestinians and wounded more than 24,000 others. Clashes have been going on between the demonstrators and the Israeli soldiers every Friday and every Monday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 01:48:49|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. engineering, manufacturing and power giant General Electric (GE) on Monday announced a new senior leadership team for the reorganization of its power business. The Boston-based company said in its third quarter earnings report that it would reorganize its power division into two units, GE Gas Power and GE Power Portfolio. John Rice, who served the company for 39 years and retired as GE Vice Chairman, will return to GE to serve as the Chairman of the GE Gas Power business, according to the announcement. "In this role, John will leverage his global reach, knowledge of GE's gas customers and management experience to advise the GE Gas Power leadership team as it establishes itself as a standalone unit," GE said in the announcement. Meanwhile, Scott Strazik, current President of Power Services, has been named the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GE Gas Power business. Current CEO of GE Power, Russell Stokes, will be named the Chief Executive Officer of GE Power Portfolio, according to GE. "The leaders we are announcing today are exceptionally well suited to lead our new Gas Power and Power Portfolio teams in their efforts to deliver better customer outcomes and improve their execution and cost structures," said Lawrence Culp, Jr., GE's Chairman and CEO. "I am confident this is the right strategy and the right team to lead these businesses forward," he added. GE is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892 by several business tycoons including Thomas Edison and J. P. Morgan. The company's businesses now include aviation, healthcare, power, renewable energy, digital, additive manufacturing, venture capital and finance, lighting, transportation, oil and gas. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 01:58:52|Editor: yan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte started a rare two-day state visit to their northern neighboring country, Belgian news agency Belga reported on Monday. The rare state visit, at the invitation of Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, aims to deepen relations between France and Belgium, at a time when the European Union is experiencing turbulence related to the rise of populism and Brexit. The last state visit by a French president dates back to Georges Pompidou in 1971. Former French president Francois Mitterrand made an "official" three-day visit to Belgium in October 1983. Macron and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel will make their speeches on Tuesday afternoon on the theme of Europe at the Aula Magna in Louvain-la-Neuve, in front of 800 students, local media reported. The state visit is organized just weeks after the controversy triggered by Belgium's decision on Oct. 25 to purchase U.S. F-35 fighter planes instead of European aircraft, a choice that was "regretted" by Macron and deemed contrary "to European interests". However, Belgium's subsequent acquisition of more than 400 French armored vehicles for around 1.5 billion euros (1.72 billion U.S. dollars) has helped soften the blow. Photo provided by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Nov. 16, 2018 shows Kim Jong Un (C), top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), supervises the test of a newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon. (Xinhua/KCNA) WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. special envoy on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will meet his South Korean counterpart here on Tuesday to discuss denuclearization and ties, the U.S. State Department said on Monday. Stephen Biegun, U.S. special representative for the DPRK issue, will hold talks with Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs to talk about ongoing diplomatic efforts on the peninsula denuclearization, UN sanctions on Pyongyang and inter-Korean cooperation, said the department in a statement. The high-level U.S.-South Korean officials' meeting came amid the stalled negotiations between the DPRK and the United States on the peninsula's denuclearization, as a meeting planned this month between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a senior DPRK official in New York was postponed. The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that the country had decided to deport a U.S. citizen detained for illegally entering the country. Pompeo said later on Friday that the United States appreciates the release of an American citizen by the DPRK. The State Department, however, declined to identify the citizen and did not give details about him. Also on Friday, the KCNA reported that the DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un visited the testing ground of the Academy of Defence Science and supervised the test of a newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon. Pressure gauges, pipes and valves are pictured at an "Dashava" underground gas storage facility near Striy, Ukraine May 28, 2015. (REUTERS PHOTO) KIEV, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine may become a key player on the European natural gas market after the implementation of the energy sector reform, a senior European Union (EU) official said on Monday. "Ukraine may become an exporter (of gas). It has a potential to become one of the most powerful gas markets in Europe," Hugues Mingarelli, head of the EU delegation to Ukraine, was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian state-run Ukrinform news agency. Mingarelli stressed the need for Kiev to unbundle the national energy giant Naftogaz by 2020 to more effectively manage the country's gas transportation system. Unbundling of Naftogaz into companies dealing with gas extraction, transport, distribution and storage is part of Ukraine's energy sector reform launched in 2015. The reform also envisages lower gas consumption through the implementation of energy saving programs and higher domestic gas production. Last year, the East European country consumed 32.2 billion cubic meters of gas, of which 20.8 billion cubic meters were produced domestically. Ukraine, which extracts only 3.5 percent of its confirmed gas reserves annually, has set a target to be self-sufficient in gas by 2022 and turn from gas importer to exporter by 2035. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 04:29:29|Editor: yan Video Player Close MADRID, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Spain launched on Monday the State Secretariat for Global Spain, a body that aims to improve the country's image in the world by promoting its culture, achievements and lifestyle, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation said in a statement. The entity, which is part of the Ministry, is an evolution of its predecessor, the so-called Marca Espana, and aims to continue opening the country to the world. "When we look at the perception of Spain in opinion surveys, in some countries we are associated with ideas of gastronomy, tourism and sun, and we want to tell the world that we are much more than that," said State Secretary for Global Spain Irene Lozano. For this reason, Global Spain will highlight other aspects. "We are one of the ten countries with the largest number of academic studies and we have reached excellence in several political terms, according to several international indexes, we will emphasize these aspects that show what Spain is today," she explained. Lozano stressed that it is essential to "improve the reputation" of Spain because "nowadays a political struggle is taking place between open societies and close societies." "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is willing to contribute to global governance and contribute to a better world, moving from self-absorption to international activism," she noted. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 06:24:56|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Mohamed al-Azaki SANAA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- On Monday evening in downtown Sanaa, the Yemeni capital under rebels' control, everyone appeared busy with his mobile phone, checking news of peace initiatives declared a few hours ago by warring parties to end Yemen's war. The Saudi-backed government and Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels both declared halt of fighting to end the nearly four-year-long war that killed tens of thousands of people and brought the impoverished Arab country to its knees. "This is the best news I have ever heard," said Ali Ahsan, a local resident who works as a translator with a media company. "It brings a glimmer of hope that the peace would eventually fall," he said, peering into the screen of his phone for news. The dominant Houthi rebel movement late on Sunday announced the halt of drone and ballistic missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The decision was by far the biggest concession from the rebels since the war erupted in 2015. The decision meets the request of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to the United Nations, broker of the peace efforts. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been leading a military coalition, backed by the United States, Britain and France, which intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015, to support the Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, after Houthis forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including Sanaa. "We announce our initiative to halt drone and ballistic missile attacks on the countries of aggression," Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, chief of the Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, said in a statement. Al-Houthi said the decision came in response to the demand by the UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths to show "good will" ahead of the peace talks, adding that his group "will attend the talks." Hours later, the internationally recognized government said it would also attend the peace talks. Last week, the Saudi-led coalition announced halt of military operations in Hodeidah, the rebel-held port city on the Red Sea, to back the UN peace efforts. The coalition troops and its allied Yemeni government forces have advanced to the center of the port city over the past few weeks, capturing much of the coastal city, including Hodeidah airport and university. On Friday, Griffiths told the UN Security Council that he would visit Sanaa within the next few days to meet Houthi officials and offer to travel with the Houthi delegation "if that is what is needed." "The Yemeni government and Houthis have committed to attending peace talks," he said. Griffiths, who was a British diplomat before undertaking the Yemeni peace task, expressed hope to convene talks "soon" in Sweden to agree on a teamwork for peace under a transitional government. Griffiths failed in September to hold a round of talks in Geneva after Houthi delegation refused to attend, saying the United Nations did not guarantee the return of their delegates to Sanaa. However, many Yemenis appeared cautious about the new push for peace. "I hope this is the real start of peace process to end the war, epidemics and hungry," said Bashir al-Salwi, a journalist. "We need real peace that leads to a complete end of all forms of the conflict, including the social regionalism, sects, economy, unity, federalism, and politics," al-Salwi noted. The four-year-long war in Yemen has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million others and pushed the country to the brink of famine. LAS VEGAS, NV, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE IMD Companies, Inc. (OTC: ICBU) Board of Directors announced today that LCG Plastic, a subsidiary of the company, is in the final due diligence phase to complete a major contract with the Government of India to supply a very large order of PVC Pipe. The company has been working on this order over the last several months and is in the final details of the contract and due diligence to complete this contract. All details and amounts of materials needed for manufacturing are being calculated to set up the needed manufacturing to fulfill this order. This contract would cause IMD to be required to become a fully reporting company because of the increased revenues. This order will change the landscape for LCG Plastech as a subsidiary of IMD Companies, Inc. IMD has been in discussions with its legal team and LCG Plastech to finalize all details of the contract. The companys legal team has verified all aspects of the order and should have it completed within a week from this date. The company plans to announce the completion of this contract during the week of November 26th in the form of a news release to its shareholders. IMD Companies, Inc. also expects to file its third quarter financials with OTC Markets this week to stay current with its filing for the company. About iMD Companies, Inc. www.imdcompaniesinc.com IMD Companies, Inc. (ICBU) is a Florida corporation, engaged in the manufacturing, extraction and distribution in mining and asset accumulations of revenue producing companies. The company is positioned to be a holding company for acquisitions in the mining industries. The company and the principals of the management team have extensive backgrounds in finance, manufacturing, marketing and distribution. ICBU's goal is to create and increase shareholder value by tactically growing our business while strategically seeking to acquire new business and create other business alliances, which generate increased revenues and earnings Safe Harbor Statement: Certain statements made in this press release constitute forward-looking statements that are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "scheduled," "estimates" and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the company does not undertake any obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 06:34:59|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Participants learn to make Xiaolongbao, or steamed soup dumplings, during the Shanghai Food Festival and Tourism Promotion at Macy's flagship store in New York, the United States, Nov. 19, 2018. Themed "Eat, Love, Shanghai", the three-day event kicked off here on Monday, aiming to attract more American tourists to Shanghai by introducing its unique culinary culture. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) NEW YORK, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Food Festival and Tourism Promotion kicked off here on Monday, aiming to attract more American tourists to Shanghai by introducing its unique and spectacular culinary culture. Themed "Eat, Love, Shanghai," the three-day event is held at Macy's flagship store in New York City. It features a free taste of Shanghai's signature food including Xiaolongbao (or steamed soup dumplings), Qingtuan (green sticky rice balls) and savory mooncakes, as well as a hand-on experience of making the above food. A VR promotional video showcasing a panoramic view of the beauty of Shanghai is also offered. Ira Slutzky, 78, a New York resident and ardent fan of Chinese food, was animated when making his first Xiaolongbao at the culinary class. "It's quite difficult for me to fold the dough into proper shape. But as a first try, I am satisfied with it," Slutzky told Xinhua, adding that he plans to travel to Shanghai and taste authentic local food there. The activity was co-sponsored by Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, Macy's, Marriott International, China Eastern Airlines, American Airlines, and Shanghai Spring Tour Company. "It's wonderful that we're partnering with Shanghai to offer this global cross-cultural connection to let people come and experience all of the best of Shanghai," said Keri Hanson, director of international tourism marketing at Macy's. "People in New York and Shanghai have so much in common love of food, art, culture and fashion, so it's a natural connection to have both cities cooperative partners," she added. "Great food is always an integral part of a city' s charm as tastes and flavors define its character. The event is part of our overall effort to expand tourism among New Yorkers and we hope to introduce more in-depth tour products and experiences to encourage more U.S. tourists to visit Shanghai and stay longer," Wang Jing, deputy division chief of public service department from Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, told Xinhua. In 2016, Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration and NYC & Company jointly announced that the two cities had formed a city-to-city tourism partnership to promote tourism in both cities. The "Eat, Love, Shanghai" promotional event was a key event to mark the second anniversary of the partnership between the two cities. The United States is Shanghai's second largest source of international visitors. In 2017, the city welcomed 737,500 American tourists, a 6-percent growth from the previous year and about 600,000 U.S. tourists visited Shanghai in the first three quarters of 2018, about 12.25-percent increase from the same period last year, according to data from Shanghai tourism authority. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 08:19:31|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close A staff member unloads a Mercedes-Benz car in a carriage of a new China-Europe freight train carrying commercial vehicles, the first of its kind, in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 19, 2018. The customs clearance process of those commercial vehicles was finished on Monday. The train, carrying 112 Mercedes-Benz cars, started its trip in Bremen, Germany on Oct. 29, and traveled 14,000 km across Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan, and arrived in Chongqing via the Horgos Port, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The one-way trip took 16 days and 16 hours, reducing transportation time by more than two-thirds compared with by sea. Compared with shipping containers, train carriages are larger and less restricted by seasonal changes. (Xinhua/Liu Chan) Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 07:55:15|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A draft resolution on Yemen was circulated among all Security Council members on Monday for their consideration, diplomats said. Dutch ambassador to the United Nations Karel van Oosterom said he hoped the draft resolution, which calls for a cease-fire around the key Red Sea port of Hudaydah, humanitarian access and injection of foreign currency into the economy, could be adopted as soon as possible "because that's what the Yemeni people need." But Kuwaiti ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi said his delegation has reservations about the British-drafted text. Asked by reporters whether the council would be able to vote on the draft resolution within this week, Otaibi said, "I doubt it." He said the draft was first circulated among the five permanent members of the Security Council before it was made available to all the members on Monday. Negotiations on the draft will start on Tuesday, he said. UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock warned Friday that Yemen suffers worst food insecurity in the world and the ongoing fighting is worsening circumstances for humanitarian response. "Yemen faces the largest food security emergency in the world, and the worsening humanitarian outlook requires urgent action to reduce the likelihood of significant loss of life," he told the Security Council. The UN secretary-general's special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, told the Security Council on Friday that he intended to reconvene the country's warring parties in Sweden, saying he had received firm assurance from the leadership of the parties to attend the meeting. Yemen has been in civil war in the past three years, pitting Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Saudi Arabia leads an Arab military coalition to support the Hadi government. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 08:00:17|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close YAOUNDE, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed to lay the groundwork for security ties between both countries, the president of Cameroon said in a statement on Monday. The statement was released after Cameroon' s president, Paul Biya, met with Saudi Arabia's Assistant Minister of Defense, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh in the capital Yaounde on Monday to review what the president called "excellent cooperation" ties between the two countries. "We will continue to strengthen the excellent cooperation ties existing between Yaounde and Riyadh" Biya tweeted after a brief audience with Ayesh. Al-Ayesh later met with Cameroon's Minister of Defense to discuss on how to cooperate on security. "We are looking forward to cooperating in future regarding the security of both countries and how we will do exchange of visits of the commanders of the two countries. At the same time we are looking to include training with specialized people," Ayesh told reporters after meeting the defense minister. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 08:00:18|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Monday that he would give a final try for the establishment of a Syrian constitutional committee. "Our aim remains for the UN to issue invitations latest, we believe, (by) mid-December and convene a first meeting of the constitutional committee within December, before Dec. 31," de Mistura told the Security Council. The UN envoy was supposed to step down by the end of November. But he agreed to stay for another month and make a final push. "The UN remains ready for the establishment of the constitutional committee. It is prepared to do its part and I personally will spare no effort until the final day of my tenure to work toward this aim," he said via video teleconference from Geneva. But de Mistura did not rule out the possibility of failure. "In such an unfortunate case, I will certainly be ready to explain to the council why." At his final briefing to the Security Council in December, he will explain "where we are at the constitutional committee and leave a clean and clear ground to my successor," he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Geir Pedersen of Norway to succeed de Mistura. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 09:00:24|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close DENVER, the United States, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Four people were shot on Monday in the U.S. Western city of Denver, and at least one person was killed, a spokesperson of the local police said. It is unclear if any suspects were in custody. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 09:55:30|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SYDNEY, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Australian law enforcement has arrested three men in morning raids on Tuesday, who are accused of planning a mass-shooting style terror attack in the city of Melbourne. Police allege that the trio, aged between 20 and 30 years old, were attempting to source a semi-automatic rifle with the aim of killing as many people as possible. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told reporters that the group had been under surveillance since March but had recently become "much more energized" in their bid to carry out an attack. "I believe, over more recent days, attempts have been made to source a 0.22 semi-automatic rifle to assist with the carrying out of that terrorism event," Ashton said. "We didn't have a precise time and a precise location -- there was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able, to kill, we allege, a maximum amount of people as possible." Authorities say that the men were influenced by ISIS and do not have a criminal history. The group used encrypted communications and police say they acted when they had gathered sufficient evidence. The arrests come less than two weeks after a man was shot dead during a "terrorist incident" in central Melbourne, in which he ignited a vehicle and attacked police and passers-by with a knife. The three men are in custody and are expected to face court later on Tuesday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 09:55:31|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close CHICAGO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A suspected gunman was dead while a Chicago police officer and at least two others were in critical condition after a shooting at Mercy Hospital on Monday afternoon at south side of Chicago, local media ABC 7 reported. The officer was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, said Chicago Police Department spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi. Guglielmi tweeted that there were "reports of multiple victims" in the attack and the gunman was dead at Mercy Hospital. Police said shots were fired both inside and outside the hospital between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.(2030 GMT) at the hospital, located in Bronzeville. What exactly happened at the hospital is still unclear, but one witness said a man shot a woman repeatedly in the parking lot of the hospital. The hospital was partially evacuated, and employees and patients were taken to warming buses. About an hour after the incident, the hospital said on Twitter that police had secured the hospital "and patients are safe." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 10:00:32|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close SHENYANG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A group of girls from Shenyang Aerospace University in China's Liaoning Province have started to enjoy soaring through the sky through paragliding, which has become an indispensable part of their lives. Paragliding is an adventure sport where participants jump off a hill or out of a plane and use a parachute to fly for long distances. There are now 50 members of the paragliding team at the university, including 20 girls from different majors and grades. The unique sport has many challenges for the girls. Before take-off the paragliders need to do a warm-up and then climb mountains for about half an hour, carrying the parachute and other equipment which can weigh up to 30kg. Hou Xiaojuan, the first female member of the paragliding team at Shenyang Aerospace University, told Xinhua that she has been in the team for about two years. "Flying is my dream. After I learned about the sport of paragliding, I wanted to have a try and start learning and training. Otherwise I would regret not doing it," Hou Xiaojuan said. "When I made a paragliding flight for the first time I was so surprised and astonished. I saw the earth, I saw the trees, and I saw the birds flying with me. It gave me a completely different feeling. I felt so free and excited," said Ma Yixin, another girl in the university's paragliding team. Qin Shaorui, captain of the university's paragliding team, told Xinhua that the sport was introduced in the university in 2015. "Paragliding was first developed in Europe and does not have a very long history in China, where I believe it will have a bright future." According to the girls, paragliding not only gives them a chance to enjoy floating and freedom, but also teaches them how to respect and revere life, as a successful flight includes a safe landing as well as good take-off. In this file photo, Nissan Motors Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn speaks during a news conference to announce their financial results for the 12 months to March 31, 2015 in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, May 13, 2015. (Xinhua/Stringer) TOKYO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Carlos Ghosn, chairman of the Nissan Motor Co., Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. alliance, was arrested Monday evening for allegedly violating a financial law involving the 64-year old misreporting his corporate salary and using the company's money for his own purposes. Ghosn, prior to his arrest, was questioned Monday by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of under-reporting his corporate salary, with investigators believing Ghosn may have filed corporate financial statements and entries that were several hundreds of millions of yen (several millions of U.S. dollars) less than actual earnings, in violation of Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Law. While saying it will fully cooperate with the prosecutors' investigation of Ghosn, Nissan has said that it will propose dismissing Ghosn as chairman at a board meeting among multiple "serious misconducts," and believes the undeclared earnings were used for personal reasons by Ghosn. Greg Kelly, a member of the board, was also arrested Monday on allegations of violating Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and Nissan has indicated Kelly will also be dismissed for his involvement in improper financial practices. Ghosn's improprieties, according to Nissan, came to light several months ago following a whistleblower reporting the chairman's misconduct. For the financial year ended March 2017, Ghosn was paid 1.098 billion yen (9.73 million U.S. dollars) and 735 million yen (6.52 million U.S. dollars) for the following year, Nissan's annual securities reports showed. In 1999, Ghosn became Nissan's chief operating officer and was charged with boosting the at-the-time ailing automaker's market and profit margins, under a capital alliance with Renault. In 2000, Ghosn was promoted to president of Nissan and turned the automaker around through cost-cutting and restructuring measures, including the closure of some of the firm's plants. Ghosn, a French citizen who was born in Brazil, became CEO in 2001 and convinced shareholders he would stay with the automaker until it had been fully rehabilitated. Continuing with his aggressive cost-cutting and streamlining measures, he became Renault's CEO in 2005 and advocated for joint procurement and development under the Nissan-Renault alliance. Nissan's headquarters in Tokyo's neighboring Yokohama were raided by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office for evidence related to the allegations against Ghosn. A spokesperson for Nissan Motor said of the matter that "We are currently checking the facts." Rockville, MD, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The processed meat market will envisage a moderate 2.2% volume y-o-y growth in 2018 over 2017, opines a recent market study published by Fact.MR. The study finds that steadily growing meat industry and increasing growth of the food processing industry is majorly contributing to the growth of the processed food market. The report finds that despite their preference for fresh food products, consumers are looking for convenience as it is becoming challenging for them to prepare elaborative meals at home due to the fast-paced lifestyle the lead. Growing meat production, increasing demand for affordable animal protein, and preference for convenience is expected to provide an impetus to growth of the processed meat market. However, demand is likely to witness moderate growth, as growing vegan trend and growing colorectal cancer concerns stall consumption. Request For Sample Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2360 Pork and Poultry, Together Account for over 3/4th Share in Processed Meat Market The Fact.MR study finds that, poultry and pork are the top-selling processed meat products globally. Sufficient poultry supplies at relatively low prices and a significant rise in per-capita pork consumption in emerging nations, especially in China, is fueling demand for processed pork and poultry, which is influencing processed meat manufacturers leading strategies. According to a report published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), pork and chicken exports are likely to increase by 3% and 4% respectively in 2019, buoyed by bolstering demand in emerging nations. Robust demand for pork and chicken is expected to drive their production across the globe to reach 114.6 million tons and 97.8 million tons by 2019, according to the USDA report. Fact.MR finds that processed meat manufacturers are modifying their business strategies to leverage approximately 75% market share of processed poultry meat and pork in envisage incremental growth in the processed meat market in the upcoming years. Browse Full Report on Processed Meat Market with TOC- https://www.factmr.com/report/2360/processed-meat-market Why Consumers are Choosing Conventional Processed Meat over Organic Processed Meat Contrary to the popular belief that organic food products are healthier than their conventional variants, conventionally processed meat products are witnessing higher demand than that for organic processed meat products. According to Fact.MR, the key reasons why a majority of consumers are more inclined towards purchasing conventionally processed meat include, Organic meat tends to be more expensive than conventional meat Nearly similar amount of contaminants found in organic and conventional processed meat drives consumers to choose an economical option Conventionally processed meat is readily available in a majority of local grocery or retail store Consumers are becoming aware of the fact that organic does not mean cruelty-free Growing consumer awareness about the relatively higher carbon footprint of organic processed meat A majority of consumer are health-as well as label-conscious. As consumers are becoming highly conscious while purchasing food products, including processed meat, the safety and affordability of conventionally processed meat is influencing recent trends in the processed meat market. To Buy Processed Meat Market Report, Check- https://www.factmr.com/checkout/2360/S Asian Markets for Processed Meat Attract Investments from Leading Processed Meat Market Players According to a report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), China is one of the worlds largest meat producer and per capita meat consumption rate has increased in key developing Asian countries. Increasing meat import demand in ASEAN countries, which is attributed to the increased domestic demand for processed meat, is expected to generate numerous lucrative opportunities for processed meat market players across the world. Tyson Food Inc., a US-based processed meat market player, recently acquired Keystone Foods, an American food service company, and the deal included eight processed meat production facilities and three innovation centers in leading Asian countries, including Australia, China, Malaysia, South Korea, and Thailand. The company has invested over US$ 2.16 billion in this deal to expand its sales and distribution networks in high-growth Asian processed meat markets. BRF S.A., a Brazilian player in the processed meat market, recently partnered with COFCO meats, a Chinese food company, to tap lucrative business opportunities in Chinese processed meat market, leveraging growing demand for animal protein in China by improving quality and food safety in the country. Another Chinese player in processed meat market WH Group Limited announced that its subsidiary Smithfield Foods, Inc., with Henan Shuanghui Investment and Development Co., Ltd. and JD.com, Chinas largest retailer, jointly launched a Tripartite Strategic Partnership Agreement boost online sales of Smithfields processed meat products, including pork products, in Chinese processed meat market. With a mounting number of processed meat market players investing in Asia, the Asian processed meat market is likely to witness relatively faster growth in the upcoming years. The Fact.MR report tracks the processed meat market for the period 2018-2028 to find that it is likely to grow at over 2.6% volume CAGR through 2028. Ask Industry Expert for more details on Processed Meat Market- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=2360 About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports. Contact Us Rohit Bhisey Fact.MR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ Blog : https://factmrblog.com/ Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 10:10:36|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. leading aerospace company Boeing said Monday it donated more than 230 million U.S. dollars to support various kinds of non-profit projects in 2018, up more than 70 percent from the previous year. Boeing said the donation included 55 million dollars in new charitable grants, which will support 443 nonprofit organizations in 47 countries. The package includes 13 million dollars for veterans' recovery and rehabilitation programs and workforce transition services. Boeing also made a 10-year commitment totaling 1.1 million dollars to the U.S. National Archives Foundation to support the annual display of a historical document, the Emancipation Proclamation. The document was issued by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, about the third year into the U.S. Civil War, which declared freedom of "all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states. Earlier this year, Boeing increased its gift match levels after the U.S. government announced tax reform that reduced the standard corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. The Matching Gift scheme is a program offered by many U.S. companies to encourage employees to donate to charity projects by matching their contributions dollar for dollar, or doubling and even tripling the amount of their gift. Boeing said its employee gifts matched by the company have increased 30 percent over the past five years. Boeing's donation also covered support for education and scientific research programs. On Monday, Fontbonne University, based in St. Louis, Missouri State, announced that Boeing has granted 26,000 dollars for its Girls-in-Science Summer Research Program aimed at promoting science as a future career among girls in junior high schools in the St. Louis region. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 10:20:38|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close THIMPHU, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Recognizing the importance of achieving 100 percent toilets for all households in the country, Bhutan observed World Toilet Day at Tsirang district of southern Bhutan on Monday. The day was celebrated by Ministry of Health along with United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Foundation of Netherlands Volunteers (SNV), and local communities of around 11 districts. Eighty gewogs (communities) across Bhutan were recognized as having improved sanitation coverage or open defecation free. Having an improved sanitation will help reduce diseases, said Health Secretary of Bhutan Ugyen Dophu who graced the event. The day was celebrated with the global theme "when nature calls, we need a toilet" this year. However, billions of people across the world don't have one toilet, stated the United Nations. It said that human faeces, on a massive scale, are not being captured or treated, whereby contaminating the water and soil that sustain human life, "We are turning our environment into an open sewer. We must build toilets and sanitation systems that work in harmony with ecosystems." In Bhutan, despite enormous efforts towards achieving improved sanitation coverage across the country, open defecation still remains a problem. As per the population and housing census of Bhutan (PHCB) 2017, more than 3,000 households still do not have access to a toilet facility. Achieving 100 percent sanitation is of high priority for Bhutan, as it has been nominated to graduate from the least developed countries (LDC) list. As per public health, the improved sanitation facilities means having a flush toilet, ventilated improved pit, pit latrine with slab and composting toilet. Although the census report showed that nearly 75 percent households in Bhutan has improved sanitation facilities, there are still a lot more to be done for all households to have access to flush toilets. The survey enumerated around 163,001 households, and found that more than 36,000 households don not have access to flush toilets. It was also reported that many households still share toilets with other households, especially in rural communities. The government's aim is to end open defecation, as it has direct impact on environment, said health officials. Not having proper toilets along the national highways was found as another problem, which is also one of the complaints received from tourists in general. Sanitation is a global development priority, due to which the United Nations General Assembly officially designated Nov. 19 as World Toilet Day in 2013. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 10:30:40|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior U.S. senator on Monday called on the U.S. intelligence community to issue a public assessment report on the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. CIA chief Gina Haspel and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats should "come out and provide the American people and the Congress with a public assessment of who ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi," Ron Wyden, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, was quoted by U.S. political media The Hill as saying in a statement. Wyden, a democrat from the state of Oregon, also repeated his demand in a tweet later in the day, calling on the U.S. intelligence leaders to "provide a public assessment" over the death of Khashoggi. U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said the U.S. full report over the death of Khashoggi would come in the next two days. While Turmp described the coming CIA report as "a very premature" one, U.S. media, citing insiders, reported on Friday that the CIA has concluded that the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered to kill Khashoggi. It was not clear if the report will be made public. 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 investigation, the Saudi Public Prosecution announced that 18 people were arrested for their alleged connections with the killing. U.S. Congress has urged a thorough investigation of the case, and threatened to take more actions against Saudi Arabia if those responsible were not held accountable, such as suspending U.S. military sales. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 10:35:40|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Heather Humphreys, Irish minister for business, enterprise and innovation, addresses an international seminar to explore business opportunities in the growing Asian market, in Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 19, 2018. The China International Import Expo (CIIE) has sent a strong message to the world that China will further open up its market, said Heather Humphreys here on Monday. (Xinhua) DUBLIN, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The China International Import Expo (CIIE) has sent a strong message to the world that China will further open up its market, said a senior Irish official on Monday. Heather Humphreys, Irish minister for business, enterprise and innovation, made this remark at an international seminar held here to explore business opportunities in the growing Asian market. The minister, in her speech, recalled her recent trip to the CIIE which was held in Shanghai on Nov. 5-10. Earlier this month, Humphreys led a 45-member trade mission to the CIIE and she described her trade mission to China as "very successful," which announced deals worth more than 60 million euros (69 million U.S. dollars). "Ireland is one of the world's most open export-based economies and Asia is the highest growing market for imports globally. For this reason, countries in Asia are becoming increasingly important as a source of export growth for Ireland, especially in the context of Brexit," said the minister. "I do think there are loads of opportunities in the Asian market and our trading relationship with the region really looks bright," she said, adding that the recent opening of direct flights between Dublin and Beijing, as well as between Dublin and Hong Kong will help foster the growing trade, tourism, education and cultural links between Ireland and China as well as the rest of the Asian region. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 10:35:40|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution on sexual harassment, the first of its kind at the United Nations. The resolution, which serves as a normative framework on work against sexual harassment, urges UN member states to condemn violence against women and girls, including sexual harassment, and pursue a policy of eliminating such violence. It reaffirms that states should not invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with regard to the elimination of violence against women and girls. The nonbinding resolution urges states to take effective action to prevent and eliminate sexual harassment against women and girls, to address structural and underlying causes and risk factors, and to protect victims of all forms of violence, including sexual harassment. It calls on states to address discrimination that places women and girls at greater risk of exploitation, violence and abuse, and to take appropriate action to empower and protect them. The resolution calls on states to take necessary measures to ensure that employers in all sectors are held accountable when they fail to abide by laws and regulations addressing sexual harassment. It further calls on states to encourage digital technology companies, including Internet service providers and digital platforms, to strengthen or adopt positive measures with a view to eliminating violence and sexual harassment in digital contexts. It also urges states to ensure the promotion and protection of the human rights of all women and their sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 11:35:49|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close YANGON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 73 Myanmar nationals, who were smuggled to Thailand, have been sent back to their homeland, according to the Information and Public Relations Department Tuesday. The trafficked Myanmar nationals were handed over to the Myanmar authorities in Myawaddy, a border town with Thailand in Myanmar's Kayin state, on Monday. They are being sheltered at some training schools of the Social Welfare Department in Myawaddy and Mawlamyine before being sent back home. Last Wednesday, thirty-four Myanmar workers out of 68, who were also trafficked across border into Thailand, were rescued and sent back to Myawaddy, according to an earlier official report. The 68 Myanmar workers were persuaded by a broker who promised them jobs in Thailand under contracts. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 12:30:59|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close CHICAGO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A shooting at the Mercy Hospital at the south side of Chicago on Monday afternoon left four dead, including a police officer and the gunman. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said the shooting began in the parking lot outside Mercy Hospital after 3 p.m.(2100 GMT), when a woman, identified by local media as a doctor of emergency medicine at the Mercy Hospital, argued with a man, identified as her former fiance. During the argument, the man pulled out a gun and shot the woman. Afterwards, the man ran into the hospital and continued firing, Johnson said. Police were called during the confrontation and rush to the scene immediately, Johnson said. Inside the hospital, police exchanged gunfire with the shooter. Another female staff member and a Chicago police officer were shot in the crossfire. One of the women was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and the other was taken to University of Chicago Hospital. Both died in the hospital. Meanwhile, police officer Samuel Jimenez, 28, was announced dead later at the University of Chicago Hospital. The gunman was found dead after the crossfire. It was not immediately clear if the gunman was struck by police gunfire or if it was self-inflicted. The hospital was partially evacuated, and employees and patients were taken to warming buses. About an hour after the incident, the hospital said on Twitter that police had secured the hospital "and patients are safe." By 9:00 p.m.(0300 GMT Tuesday), the hospital is still partially locked down. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 12:36:01|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2018 shows the scenery of the Mount Kumgang scenic area. A two-day north-south joint event ended on Sunday at the special zone for international tour of Mount Kumgang in southeastern part of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to mark the 20th anniversary of the Mount Kumgang tourism program. (Xinhua/Cheng Dayu) PYONGYANG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A two-day north-south joint event ended on Sunday at the special zone for international tour of Mount Kumgang in southeastern part of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to mark the 20th anniversary of the Mount Kumgang tourism program. The celebration event was held by DPRK's Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee and South Korea's Hyundai Group which invested in the tourism program 20 years ago. The speakers from both sides of the peninsula said that bright future of the Korean nation rests with the full implementation of the historic Panmunjom Declaration and the "September Pyongyang Joint Declaration", expressing the will to resume the joint tourism program, DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency reported on Monday. During the event the participants planted trees together to mark the anniversary and toured scenic spots around Kuryong Pool on the famous mountain, the report said. It was the first time the two sides resumed such a commemoration event after it was suspended in 2015. The tour to Mount Kumgang was launched in November 1998. It has been suspended since July 2008 when a South Korean female tourist was shot dead by a DPRK soldier after allegedly venturing into an off-limit area. After the Pyongyang summit in September, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un agreed to resume the Mount Kumgang tour and the inter-Korean industrial complex at the DPRK's border town of Kaesong when "conditions are met." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 12:56:05|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Photo taken on Nov. 19, 2018 shows a view of the United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria at the UN headquarters in New York. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Monday that he would give a final try to help establish a Syrian constitutional committee before he steps down. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Monday that he would give a final try to help establish a Syrian constitutional committee before he steps down. The aim remains for the UN to issue invitations by mid-December and convene a first meeting of the constitutional committee before Dec. 31, de Mistura told the UN Security Council. He noted that the timetable is in line with a call of the leaders of Russia, Turkey, France and Germany at their summit in Istanbul last month. The UN envoy was supposed to step down by the end of November. But he has decided to stay for another month and make a final push for the constitutional committee, which is tasked to craft a constitution for postwar Syria. "The UN remains ready for the establishment of the constitutional committee. It is prepared to do its part and I personally will spare no effort until the final day of my tenure to work toward this aim," he told the Security Council via video teleconference from Geneva. But de Mistura did not rule out the possibility of failure. "In such an unfortunate case, I will certainly be ready to explain to the council why." At his final briefing to the Security Council in December, he will explain "where we are at the constitutional committee and leave a clean and clear ground to my successor," he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen to succeed de Mistura, who is to step down for personal reasons. In his briefing to the Security Council last month, de Mistura said Damascus did not think the United Nations has a role to play in the formation of the constitutional committee despite the previous agreement in January's intra-Syrian talks in Sochi. He said the Syrian authorities did not accept a role for the United Nations in identifying or selecting the Middle Third list, the list of civil society representatives to the committee. Under the Sochi agreement, the constitutional committee is to be composed of representatives of the Syrian government, the opposition and civil society representatives -- each with 50 members. Russia, Iran and Turkey, the three countries that brokered the Sochi agreement, will meet in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 28-29 at a senior level, said de Mistura. He will be watching this meeting closely to see whether the three countries -- the guarantors of the Astana process, a parallel avenue to the UN-led Geneva process for Syria -- will be able to implement the outcome of the Sochi meeting. "We are in the last days of the attempts to implement the constitutional committee," he told the Security Council. The coming weeks are therefore crucial, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 13:01:06|Editor: ZD Video Player Close HANOI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Seventeen people have been confirmed dead, and three others remained missing due to floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Toraji over the weekend in Vietnam's central Nha Trang city, local media reported on Tuesday. Flash floods also injured 31 people and destroyed hundreds of houses, online newspaper VietNamNet quoted the municipal People's Committee as reporting. In 2017, typhoons claimed the lives of 386 people in Vietnam, damaged more than 600,000 houses and caused economic losses of about 60 trillion Vietnamese dong (2.6 billion U.S. dollars). NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After a year of continued double-digit growth, innovation and new business success, Horizon Media is pleased to announce that it has been named MEDIA Agency of the Year, by MediaPost. The award was announced by MediaPost on Friday, November 16. Were always challenging our teams to iterate, innovate and try new and different approaches for our clients, said Stan Fields, EVP, Chief Client Officer at Horizon Media. From intelligently finding the right audiences by leveraging data in new ways to transacting inventory for client campaigns with greater efficiency, we are constantly pushing our people to pioneer new solutions. The MediaPost editorial team have their finger on the pulse of the industry and its an honor to be recognized for our contributions, said Stephen Hall, Chief Marketing Officer at Horizon Media. We are proud of our people for having the courage to take measured risks and disrupting the status quo. Were also thankful to our clients for taking decisive action in improving business performance. According to MediaPost, its Agency of the Year Awards celebrate the agencies that were able to rise above the rest over the past year the companies, clients, suppliers and executives that represented the best of class in the advertising community. Honorees are selected by a team of journalists at the publication, headed by MediaPost Editor-In-Chief, Joe Mandese. In addition to new business wins and agency growth, the award recognizes the most innovative agency for its overall level of fresh thinking and excellence across its entire body of work throughout the year. Driving innovation begins with attracting the best talent, which is why Horizon has been relentless in nurturing its unique culture despite its exponential growth. Horizon has consistently been named to all the prestigious Best Places to Work lists including Crains Best Places to Work in New York City for five years running, Los Angeles Business Journals Best Places to Work in Los Angeles for four consecutive years, Forbes Top Mid-Size Employers list and several of Fortunes prestigious lists including: Best Workplaces for Women, Best Workplaces for Diversity, Best Workplaces for Millennials, Best Workplaces in New York and Best Workplaces in Advertising & Marketing. MediaPost Agency of the Year winners were announced across ten categories, which include media, social, creative, executive and client awards. Award recipients including Horizon Media, Amazon, Nike, Essence, Publicis Media, Giant Spoon, Merkle, Mutual Mobile, Omnicom and Michael Roth will be honored at a cocktail reception on January 24th, 2019 at the Yale Club in New York City. About Horizon Media Horizon Media, Inc. is a global leader in the performance-driven application of data and marketing insights and the second largest media agency in the US (Source: COMvergence Agency Report, May 2018). The company was founded in 1989, is headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto. Recognized as one of the worlds ten most innovative marketing and advertising companies by Fast Company, Horizon Media has been recognized as U.S. Media Agency of the Year by Adweek and AdAge, and Independent Media Agency of the Year by Mediapost. Renowned for its incredible culture, Horizon is also consistently named to all the prestigious annual Best Places to Work lists published by Fortune, AdAge, Crains New York Business and Los Angeles Business Journal. Bill Koenigsberg served as the Chairman of the 4As Board of Directors from 2014 to 2017, and currently serves as Vice Chair of the 4As Board of Directors. Bill was the first person from a media agency to hold this prestigious position in the 100-year history of the 4As, the marketing industrys leading trade association. Horizon Media is the second largest US media agency (COMvergence Agency Report 2018), with estimated billings of more than $8.6 billion and over 2,300 employees. For further information please contact Horizon Media Kaya Lobaczewski (212) 220-2102 klobaczewski@horizonmedia.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/582f8308-c0fd-423a-aece-2efca556f6f1 Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 13:21:08|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Four militants and a para army commando were killed and two troopers wounded Tuesday in a fierce gunfight between them in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. The gunfight broke out early morning at village Nadigam of Shopian district, about 54 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Government forces early this morning launched a cordon and search operation in Nadigam 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 four militants were killed while as a para army commando was killed and two troopers wounded fighting these militants." The wounded troopers, according to reports, were immediately sent to hospital. The identity of slain militants was being ascertained. "The search operation is still underway and we are trying to ascertain the identity of slain militants," the police official said. Locals said the house from where militants were firing on positions of army and police have been damaged and columns of smoke were seen rising from its structure. Reports said clashes have broke out between youth and government forces in the village following the killing of militants, which were going on until last reports poured in. Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in Shopian and adjacent Pulwama district, fearing it would escalate the street protests. On Sunday also two militants were killed in Shopian in a similar gunfight. A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 14:01:16|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Monday asked for immediate intra-Palestinian reconciliation following the latest round of violence in Gaza. "The clock on intra-Palestinian reconciliation is ticking," Mladenov told the Security Council. "I urge all parties to not waste time and engage in earnest and achieve visible progress in the coming six months." Intra-Palestinian reconciliation is in the interests of the Palestinian people. It is in the interests of peace. The success of international efforts in Gaza depends on the parties' willingness to confront the inevitable hurdles, withstand the internal political consequences, and stay committed to the reconciliation process over the long term, he noted. Palestinian factions must seize the opportunity to engage in earnest with Egyptian-led efforts to bring Gaza back under the control of the legitimate Palestinian government, said Mladenov via video teleconference from Jerusalem. The Palestinian people are demanding that their leadership finally reunite Gaza and the West Bank, which are controlled respectively by Hamas and the Palestinian National Authority, and advance their goal of peacefully ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a viable Palestinian state based on relevant UN resolutions, he said. "This is what people desire, and this is what they deserve." Two million Palestinians in Gaza cannot be held hostage to political grandstanding and brinkmanship. Their lives matter and they deserve real leadership that addresses the real problems of Gaza, said Mladenov. The international community cannot stand idle and allow the division between Gaza and the West Bank to be further entrenched, he said. He asked for de-escalation following days of dangerous conflict in Gaza "that risked unleashing an armed conflict with catastrophic consequences for 2 million impoverished Palestinians." The period of Nov. 11-13 saw one of the fiercest exchanges of fire since the 2014 Gaza war, he said. The escalation was triggered by an operation by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Nov. 11 inside the Gaza Strip in which a local commander of Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades and six other Palestinians were killed, he said. In retaliation, militants in Gaza launched some 450 rockets and mortars at Israel in the following days, killing one Palestinian civilian and seriously wounding one Israeli civilian. An IDF soldier was also seriously wounded by a targeted anti-tank guided-missile strike on a bus transporting military personnel in K'far Aza, he said. The IDF responded in turn with a series of airstrikes on 160 militant targets, including a Hamas-affiliated TV station and a hotel, resulting in the killing of seven Palestinians, said the UN envoy. The United Nations worked closely with Egypt and all concerned parties to defuse tension, he said. "Thankfully, a precarious restoration of calm has now been achieved. We must all work to ensure that this calm is maintained." Mladenov noted that the latest outbreak of violence came just as the United Nations and its partners were intensifying efforts to alleviate Gaza's deepening humanitarian and economic crises, and, critically, to provide space for ongoing Egyptian-led efforts to advance intra-Palestinian reconciliation. In October, the United Nations started importing and monitoring the delivery of donor-funded fuel to Gaza's power plant. This resulted in the greatest supply of electricity since March 2017, a minimum of 11 hours per day. The impact has been immediate: water supply has increased, the risk of sewage overflow has been reduced; hospitals are less dependent on precarious generators; street lights are on again; children can study and play more; and families have more cash in hand to meet their daily needs, said Mladenov. These improvements, however, are temporary. They provide much-needed relief, but can do little to reverse the longstanding, structural problems affecting Gaza, he warned. Mladenov stressed that the international community cannot bear the burden of addressing Gaza's problems alone. The primary responsibility falls on the parties themselves. The fragility of the situation underscores the urgency to fundamentally change the dynamics on the ground, he said. Hamas and militant groups must stop all provocations and attacks, Israel must significantly improve the movement and access of goods and people to and from Gaza as a step toward the lifting of the closures; and the Palestinian National Authority must strengthen its engagement in Gaza, which is an integral part of the Palestinian territory, he said. Mladenov said Israeli settlement activity continued to advance, eating away at the viability of a contiguous future Palestinian state. "I reiterate that all settlement activities are illegal under international law, and an obstacle to peace and must immediately cease," he said. Another worrying development is that the Palestine Liberation Organization Central Council has reaffirmed recent decisions to suspend the recognition of the State of Israel until the latter recognizes the State of Palestine, to end security coordination in all its forms, and to disengage economically from Israel, he said. A follow-up committee chaired by President Mahmoud Abbas was established to discuss implementing these decisions, he said. "Together, we must work with determination and with vigilance to establish an environment conducive to the return to negotiations that will end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United Nations remains firmly committed to advancing all efforts toward a just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace based on relevant UN resolutions," said Mladenov. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 14:41:23|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close MANILA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Tuesday that it has approved a 500-million-U.S. dollar emergency assistance loan to support Indonesia's recovery and rehabilitation of Lombok and Central Sulawesi after recent disasters. The Manila-based bank said the loan will provide immediate funding for the government's recovery and rehabilitation action plans, targeting urgent needs such as temporary shelters, social protection and services, as well as economic recovery through cash assistance, credit schemes and skills improvement programs. "ADB's emergency assistance loan provides timely and flexible financing to help mitigate the devastating impacts of the recent disasters," said Sona Shrestha, ADB's Director for Public Management, Financial Sector, and Trade Division for Southeast Asia. "The quick-disbursing loan modality will help ensure that post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation expenditures are met without compromising critical economic and social development expenditures in the national budget," she added. The Emergency Assistance for Recovery and Rehabilitation from Recent Disasters is part of ADB's response to two recent disasters that hit Indonesia including a magnitude-7.0 earthquake that struck Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara province, in August, and a magnitude-7.4 earthquake that struck Central Sulawesi province in September. These disasters claimed the lives of more than 2,600 people, injured some 18,000 people and displaced more than half a million, according to the ADB. The ADB said housing and public infrastructure have suffered extensive damage, adding that the impact of the Central Sulawesi disaster has been particularly severe as the earthquake caused landslides, tsunami, and liquefaction, a condition where the ground itself loses stability and takes on liquid properties. According to the ADB, the initial assessments suggest over 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in damage and losses in the affected provinces. In October, the bank approved an emergency grant of 3 million U.S. dollars from the Asia Pacific Disaster Respond Fund for immediate relief in Central Sulawesi. In addition, it is also supporting the Indonesian government with technical assistance in post-disaster needs assessments and reconstruction planning. The ADB said it is preparing new technical assistance to build capacity for robust monitoring, evaluation, and financial reporting of the rehabilitation and reconstruction plans. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 15:06:28|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Jiang Jianguo, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the 2018 China-Latin America and the Caribbean Media Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 19, 2018. The forum kicked off here on Monday to promote bilateral cooperation in the field. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 China-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Media Forum kicked off here on Monday to promote bilateral cooperation in the field. The event, themed "Deepening media cooperation, contributing to building of a China-LAC community with a shared future," drew representatives from 13 Chinese media outlets and over a hundred news agencies from over 20 LAC nations. During the three-day forum, participants will exchange views on "the media's role in pragmatic cooperation between China and LAC" and "creating a China-LAC media communication platform through new media cooperation." The forum is an important event in the history of China-LAC media communication, and it is also a major event to enhance people-to-people exchanges between China and Latin America, Jiang Jianguo, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said at the opening session. "Cooperation between Chinese and Latin American media is a significant part of Chinese-Latin American cooperation, and represents an important force for promoting the construction of a community with a shared future between the two sides," the senior official said. He expressed the hope that media organizations will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation, jointly write a new chapter in China-Latin America cooperation, build a strong public opinion for friendship between the two sides, increase coordination in reporting world affairs and deepen pragmatic cooperation among themselves. The Chinese government will continue to support China-LAC media cooperation so as to constantly enrich the friendship between the two sides, said Jiang. The forum was jointly organized by China's Xinhua News Agency and Argentina's Federal System of Media and Public Content. News organizations serve as a bridge between different countries and civilizations, said Cai Mingzhao, president of China's Xinhua News Agency. Cai also put forward three proposals on the enhancement of China-LAC media cooperation. The first is to deepen cooperation on news reporting. "We propose that Chinese media go deeper into the marvelous continent of Latin America and also welcome LAC media to do interviews and exchanges in China," he said. The second is to enhance new media exchanges. Cai said Xinhua is willing to grant LAC colleagues access to "Live News Cloud," a live-steaming platform open to all media, and "Media Brain," a platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI), cooperate with LAC media in new media, and discuss the path of innovative development. The third is for LAC media organization to join the economic information alliance for the Belt and Road Initiative, which Xinhua is currently working on, he said. Hernan Lombardi, head of Argentina's Federal System of Media and Public Content, said that there is broad prospect for media cooperation between China and Latin America. Media organizations on both sides should work together to promote unity and boost efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Fang Jiangshan, deputy chief editor of China's People's Daily, said that the active and friendly dissemination of information by Chinese and Latin American media has widened the bridge that connects the hearts of the Chinese and Latin American people, and injected new vitality into the China-Latin America relations. Media workers on both side should strive to become a driving force, an effective stabilizer and ballast for the China-Latin America community with a shared future, Fang added. Commentary: How news media can boost China-Latin America relations Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 16:06:42|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close XINING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Continuous snow has swept Qinghai Province in northwest China since the start of November, accumulating record high precipitation in the region's 57 years of history of meteorological records. Snow accumulation between Nov. 2 and 7 has reached 18 cm on the ground in Dulan County, Haixi Mongolian Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, where the height above mean sea level averages 3,180 meters. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "roof of the world," is an important region to monitor climate changes with the weather and the glaciers as indicators. "Twenty-seven counties in Qinghai have seen the November snow set historical records. The provincial capital of Xining has seen precipitation reach 25.8 mm, also a record high," said Ma Zhanliang, senior engineer with the provincial climate center. He said the big snowfall was triggered by the collision of southward polar cold air and warm air from southern China. The provincial meteorological station warned that the severe snowstorms and continuous cold weather would cause difficulties in road traffic, transport, agriculture and animal husbandry. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 16:16:45|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Photo taken on Nov. 19, 2018 shows the wreckage of vehicle in the site where the wildfire engulfed in Paradise of Butte County, California, the United States. The death toll from the massive wildfire in Northern California has climbed to 79, according to authorities. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the massive wildfire in Northern California, dubbed the Camp Fire, has climbed to 79, while the number of unaccounted for decreased by nearly 300, said authorities on Monday evening. Two human remains were found on Monday, one in a structure in the town of Paradise and another near the town of Magalia, bringing the death toll from 77 to 79. Of the 79 fatalities, 64 have been tentatively identified. The number of unaccounted for decreased by 294 and currently stands at 699, according to the Butte County Sheriff. Local officials have repeatedly stressed that the list of unaccounted for may include people who may not know they were reported missing. The fire, which was first reported on Nov. 8 in Butte County, scorched 151,272 acres (612 square km), with 70 percent contained, and destroyed over 15,000 structures, including 11,713 houses, 472 commercial and 3,388 other buildings, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Evacuation warnings in some areas affected by the Camp Fire was lifted. Local officials warned evacuated residents not to return to their homes as there were no electricity, no water and no phone service. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch on Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning for the fire area. Multiple agencies of different levels are preparing for the potential impacts of storm weather in wildfire-impacted areas within Butte County, according to a county release. The Camp Fire is now the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history. It's also the deadliest wildfire in 100 years in the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 16:21:46|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- More than 30 business and agriculture groups on Monday called on the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to remove tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Mexico and Canada, arguing that such tariffs are hurting U.S. exporters and putting jobs at risk. In a letter addressed to Lighthizer, an alliance of 34 associations said the Section 232 tariffs, which have been in place since June 1, significantly affect their relationships with their "most important trading partners," and expressed their "strong recommendation" to remove the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico. The groups said, as one of the main reasons for removal, the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum (and the related import quotas) have caused "significant" harm to American manufacturers, consumers and workers, raising costs for a wide array of industries. "This endangers the jobs of millions of workers in those industries, who collectively represent a far greater share of the American workforce than those who benefit from the restrictions," the letter read, adding that retaliatory tariffs are hurting U.S. exporters and threatening jobs as well. Claiming that tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum are "entirely inconsistent" with the overall goals of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the groups said the continuation of these tariffs slapped on Mexico and Canada may create "impediments" to Congressional passage of the bill. The agreement, reached more than a month ago, is expected to be signed on Nov. 30 when leaders from all three countries gather for the Group of Twenty (G20) meetings in Buenos Aires despite steel and aluminum tariffs, but discrepancy over the tariffs would make the occasion less pleasant. The agreement then needs to be ratified by lawmakers from the three countries before being able to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), signed in the 1990s. In June, the United States imposed a tariff of 25 percent on steel imports and a 10 percent on aluminum imports from Mexico, Canada and the European Union, among other regions. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration cited national security concerns to justify the tariffs. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 16:21:46|Editor: yan Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping waves upon his arrival in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 20, 2018. Xi arrived here on Tuesday for a state visit to the Philippines. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) MANILA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Tuesday for the first state visit to the Philippines by a Chinese head of state in 13 years. On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, Xi expressed cordial greetings and best wishes to the Philippine government and its people upon arrival at the airport. As friendly neighbors across the sea, China and the Philippines enjoy geographical proximity and a strong bond that links the two peoples and cultures, Xi said. Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took office, thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides, China and the Philippines have reopened the door of friendship and cooperation to each other, bringing real benefits to the two peoples and making important contributions to regional peace, stability and prosperity, he said. Good-neighborliness and friendship is the only right choice for China and the Philippines, two developing countries and emerging economies in Asia, he said. "As I start this visit, I look forward to meeting with President Duterte for an in-depth exchange of views on how to further strengthen China-Philippine relations and on regional and international issues of mutual interests," Xi said. Xi said he is convinced the visit will cement the traditional friendship, deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation and enhance the joint efforts of China and the Philippines for common development. It will surely inject fresh and strong impetus into the good-neighborly relations and friendship between the two countries for the benefit of the two peoples, he said. The Philippines is the last stop of Xi's three-country Asia-Pacific tour. He has already visited Papua New Guinea, where he also attended the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, and Brunei. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 16:41:53|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Latin American journalists hailed the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Media Forum held Monday in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires. Regional media representatives welcomed the forum as an effective way to boost mutual knowledge and joint cooperation for the benefit of both sides. Organized by China's Xinhua News Agency and Argentina's Federal System of Media and Public Content, the event drew representatives from 13 Chinese media outlets and over a hundred news agencies from more than 20 Latin American and Caribbean nations. "This forum is indispensable ... we need such forums to get to know each other better," said Fernando Pedrosa, national director of Argentina's Public Media Planning Department. "We need forums like this not just to get to know each other better, but also to have reporters and media that can help to make the encounter between China and Latin America productive," he added. Alejandro Ramos Esquivel, general director of Mexico's state news agency Notimex, highlighted Xinhua's technological progress and what it has brought to the region. "China, through Xinhua News Agency, has developed enormous technological capacity. It has ventured in a pioneering way into artificial intelligence ... allowing us to get a glimpse of feasible business plans for Latin American media," said Ramos. The media forum serves to bridge the gap in information between the two regions, he said. Under the theme "Deepening media cooperation to help forge a community of shared future for China and Latin America," the forum helped to highlight common ground despite geographical differences, said Susana Barrera, editor of Argentina's official press agency Telam. "It's very interesting to participate in these types of gatherings which promote the exchanges of experiences among journalists," said Barrera, adding that the forum helps to strengthen communication ties. "In this way, we often confirm that we are only separated by distance," she added. Hernan Mundo, a reporter for Argentina's national radio station, told Xinhua that the forum presented a rare opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences. "It's always good to find out more about work experiences, from a professional and technological perspective," said Mundo. "There is a lot to learn, and there aren't many opportunities to be face to face, which ends up being more productive than doing things from a distance." "The forum let us exchange information and knowledge, especially about China," Mundo added. "We got to learn more about how they address agendas in a world with different beliefs." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 16:46:53|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close TAIYUAN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists recently excavated more than 60 objects in an ancient tomb in northern China's Shanxi Province. Among the objects, a batch of bamboo slips dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) has been found in the province for the first time. The cultural relics and archaeology institute in the city of Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi said that 29 tombs dating back to the Han Dynasty and Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912) have been found at a construction site in Taiyuan. An excavation was conducted at the site between July and December 2017. A tomb dating back to the Han Dynasty was then entirely moved to a museum in Taiyuan, and the provincial archaeology institute, the cultural relics and archaeology institute of Taiyuan, local museums and Peking University have taken part in the excavation of the tomb from January and September this year. So far, a total of 66 objects including woodware painted with lacquer, gold, bronze, iron and pottery ware, jade and a batch of bamboo slips have been unearthed. The bamboo slips have been sent to the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University for further research and protection. "Based on the shape and structure of the unearthed items, the tomb is believed to be built in the middle of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD), and the tomb owner is believed to be an official," said Feng Gang from the cultural relics and archaeology institute in Taiyuan. Sales up by approximately 4% Cost savings of $0.7M or 29% in salary and employee benefits compared to Q3 2017 Higher margin outlook due to acquisition and new Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA increased to $1.5M EUGENE, Ore., Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quest Solution, Inc. (QUES) (Quest or the Company), a provider of Supply Chain and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based solutions, announced its financial results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018. Shai Lustgarten, CEO, commented, We are pleased to have delivered a solid third quarter, reflected in 3.6% organic growth, increased adjusted EBITDA and a strong order backlog that we believe will drive continued momentum through the end of 2018 and into 2019. In an exciting development after the close of the quarter, we announced the acquisition of HTS Image Processing, which adds patented AI technology to our portfolio of solutions, positioning us to take advantage of new opportunities in the marketplace. In addition to sales growth in the third quarter, we continued to execute our turnaround plan and reduced our total operating expense by $0.3M or 10% as compared with the third quarter of 2017. This included a reduction of approximately $0.7M or 29% in salary and benefits. We remain focused on servicing our Fortune 500 customers with our industry-tailored, end-to-end solutions that intelligently connect people, assets and data to help our customers make business-critical decisions. Our acquisition of HTS Image Processing significantly expands our capabilities to include AI technology solutions for use by our current blue chip customers as well as by new customers from growing verticals like Security, Safe City, Traffic Management, Parking automation, Surveillance and Access Control. The acquired AI technology is capable of machine recognition and data recording of invaluable information for managerial and marketing decision making. As the AI solutions are mainly based on sophisticated software, our new mix of products and solutions should increase our margins and generate profitability. HTS brings several existing Homeland Security anti-terror projects and discerning customers and users including: the Brookhaven National Laboratory (for access control), JFK Airport, Newark Airport, La Guardia Airport, Bostons Logan Airport, the U.S. Department of Transportation for readers at the US/Mexico border crossing, as well as a Middle Eastern Homeland Security authority for the automated monitoring of sensitive zones. Mr. Lustgarten concluded: To date in 2018 we have made excellent progress, highlighted by debt reduction, significant expense reduction and the acquisition of industry leading AI technology. With these developments we have transformed Quest and we look forward to an exciting 2019, as we continue to drive innovation, efficiency and profitability. Financial Results: Quest reported revenues of $13.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 as compared to $13.0 million in the comparable 2017 period. The increase was primarily related to strong execution by the Companys sales team and growing customer relationships. Gross margin decreased to 20.1% in the third quarter of 2018, compared to 21.8% in the prior year period. Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2018 decreased 8.9% to $3.1 million, or 22.9% of revenue, compared to $3.4 million, or 26.1% of revenue, in the third quarter of 2017. The decrease in operating expenses was primarily related to a $0.7M reduction in salary and employee benefits expenses. Net loss attributable to common stockholders of $0.98 million, or a loss of $0.02 per share, was consistent with the third quarter of 2017. Adjusted EBITDA (Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) for the third quarter of 2018 was $0.4 million as compared to $0.3 million in the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, Quest reported revenues of $42.4 million as compared to $40.9 million in the prior year period. The increase was primarily related to strong execution by the Companys sales team and growing customer relationships. Gross margin decreased to 20.5% as compared to 21.1% in the prior year period. Total operating expenses for the first nine months of 2018 increased 16.4% to $10.6 million, or 25.1% of revenue, compared to $9.1 million, or 22.3% of revenue, in the comparable 2017 period. The increase was primarily related to non-cash changes related to issuances under the Companys new Equity Incentive Plan, increases in sales commissions related to revenue growth, and increased professional fees. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $4.5 million, or a loss of $0.11 per share on a nine-month basis, compared to a net loss of $1.8 million, or a loss of $0.05 per share, in the comparable 2017 period. The increase in net loss was primarily related to non-cash changes related to issuances under the Companys Equity Incentive Plan, increased professional fees, and the conversion of a debt instrument into common stock requiring the Company to recognize a non-cash loss on debt settlement in the amount of $1.3 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months of 2018 was $1.46 million compared to $1.4 million in the prior year. Please refer to the financial tables included below for a reconciliation of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) to non-GAAP financial results. Please refer to the financial tables included below for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results. About Quest Solution, Inc. Quest Solution is a Specialty Systems Integrator focused on Field and Supply Chain Mobility as well as a provider of Artificial Intelligence (AI) monitoring and surveillance solutions. Additionally the Company is a manufacturer and distributor of consumables (labels, tags, and ribbons), RFID solutions, and barcoding printers. Founded in 1994, Quest is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, with offices in the United States. Rated in the Top 1% of global solution providers, Quest specializes in the design, deployment and management of enterprise mobility solutions including Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC), Mobile Cloud Analytics, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), and proprietary Mobility software. Our mobility products and services offering is designed to identify, track, trace, share and connect data to enterprise systems such as CRM or ERP solutions. Our customers are leading Fortune 500 companies from several sectors including manufacturing, retail, distribution, food / beverage, transportation and logistics, health care and chemicals / gas / oil. The Companys HTS Image Processing subsidiary is a leader computer vision image processing-based solutions using patented and proprietary AI technology to provide real-time surveillance and monitoring for homeland security, traffic & parking management, law enforcement and access control applications. Information about Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This release contains forward-looking statements that include information relating to future events and future financial and operating performance. The words may, would, will, expect, estimate, can, believe, potential and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or managements good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in demand for Quest Solution, Inc.s products, the introduction of new products, the Companys ability to maintain customer and strategic business relationships, the impact of competitive products and pricing, growth in targeted markets, the adequacy of the Companys liquidity and financial strength to support its growth, the Companys ability to manage credit and debt structures from vendors, debt holders and secured lenders, the Companys ability to successfully integrate its acquisitions, risks related to the sale of Quest Solution Canada Inc. to Viascan Group Inc. and other information that may be detailed from time-to-time in Quest Solution Inc.s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Examples of such forward looking statements in this release include, among others, statements regarding revenue growth, driving sales, operational and financial initiatives, cost reduction and profitability, and simplification of operations. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Quest Solution, Inc. please refer to the Companys recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. Quest Solution, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law. Investor Contact: John Nesbett/Jen Belodeau IMS Investor Relations 203.972.9200 jnesbett@institutionalms.com Financial Tables Follow QUEST SOLUTION, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (UNAUDITED) For the three months For the nine months ending September 30, ending September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenues Total Revenues $ 13,444,167 $ 12,964,054 $ 42,368,904 $ 40,886,754 Cost of goods sold Cost of goods sold 10,745,156 10,132,067 33,687,461 32,263,124 Total costs of goods sold 10,745,156 10,132,067 33,687,461 32,263,124 Gross profit 2,699,011 2,831,987 8,681,443 8,623,630 Operating expenses General and administrative 686,501 481,287 1,723,510 1,308,395 Salary and employee benefits 1,597,239 2,258,873 6,425,584 6,045,564 Depreciation and amortization 439,641 440,433 1,312,218 1,324,345 Professional fees 363,002 209,086 1,168,922 450,509 Total operating expenses 3,086,383 3,389,679 10,630,233 9,128,813 Income (loss) from operations (387,372 ) (557,692 ) (1,948,790 ) (505,183 ) Other income (expenses): Interest expense (302,939 ) (343,092 ) (962,556 ) (1,075,147 ) Other (expenses) income (226,200 ) (13,202 ) (1,381,045 ) (10,758 ) Total other expenses (529,139 ) (329,890 ) (2,343,601 ) (1,085,905 ) Net Loss Before Income Taxes (916,511 ) (887,582 ) (4,292,391 ) (1,591,088 ) Provision for Income Taxes Current (15,859 ) (15,300 ) (44,356 ) (91,409 ) Total Provision for Income Taxes (15,859 ) (15,300 ) (44,356 ) (91,409 ) Net Loss attributable to Quest Solution Inc. $ (932,370 ) $ (902,882 ) $ (4,336,747 ) $ (1,682,497 ) Less: Preferred stock Series C dividend (47,540 ) (47,450 ) (142,490 ) (141,071 ) Net loss attributable to the common stockholders $ (979,910 ) $ (950,422 ) $ (4,479,237 ) $ (1,823,568 ) Net (loss) per share - basic $ (0.02 ) $ (0.03 ) $ (0.11 ) $ (0.05 ) Net loss per share from continuing operations - basic $ (0.02 ) $ (0.03 ) $ (0.11 ) $ (0.05 ) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic 48,709,773 35,812,210 42,592,783 35,587,238 QUEST SOLUTION, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) As of September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (UNAUDITED) ASSETS Current assets Cash $ 56,060 $ 24,634 Restricted Cash 531,888 684,610 Accounts receivable, net 10,669,289 6,387,734 Inventory, net 1,058,148 439,720 Prepaid expenses 398,382 476,840 Other current assets 14,120 126,187 Total current assets 12,727,887 8,139,725 Fixed assets, net 64,101 92,803 Goodwill 10,114,164 10,114,164 Trade name, net 1,926,731 2,359,481 Customer Relationships, net 4,467,402 5,310,938 Other assets 32,862 39,512 Total assets $ 29,333,147 $ 26,056,623 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY / (DEFICIT) Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 11,408,860 $ 13,239,810 Accrued interest on note payable - 38,430 Line of credit 4,636,680 3,667,417 Accrued payroll and sales tax 2,381,202 1,531,233 Deferred revenue, net 9,157 761,194 Current portion of note payable 8,751,524 3,429,025 Notes payable, related parties 426,000 106,500 Other current liabilities 119,234 121,117 Total current liabilities 27,732,657 22,894,726 Long term liabilities Note payable, related party 1,704,000 3,222,900 Accrued interest, related party 5,295 165,014 Long term portion of note payable 130,294 130,294 Deferred revenue, net - 452,024 Other long term liabilities 430,759 439,833 Total liabilities 30,003,005 27,304,791 Stockholders equity / (deficit) Series A Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares designated and 0 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. - - Series B Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 1 share designated and 0 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. - - Series C Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 15,000,000 shares designated, 4,828,530 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, liquidation preference of $1.00 per share and a cumulative dividend of $0.06 per share. 4,829 4,829 Common stock; $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares designated, 48,433,472 and 36,828,371 shares outstanding of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. 48,710 36,828 Common stock to be repurchased by the Company (230,490 ) (230,490 ) Additional paid-in capital 38,328,107 34,495,659 Accumulated (deficit) (38,821,014 ) (35,554,994 ) Total stockholders equity / (deficit) (669,858 ) (1,248,168 ) Total liabilities and stockholders equity / (deficit) $ 29,333,147 $ 26,056,623 QUEST SOLUTION, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (UNAUDITED) For the three months For the nine months ending September 30, ending September 30, Adjusted EBITDA Calculation: 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net loss (932,370 ) (902,882 ) (4,336,747 ) (1,682,497 ) Income Taxes 15,859 15,300 44,356 91,410 Depreciation & Amortization 439,641 440,433 1,312,218 1,324,345 Interest Expense 302,939 343,092 962,556 1,075,147 Non Cash stock compensation 46,706 416,548 1,124,553 565,593 Debt conversion expenses - - 1,264,237 - Restructuring expenses 98,000 - 112,222 26,880 Merger Related costs* - - - 7,001 One time nonrecurring costs 442,630 - 976,508 - Adjusted EBITDA 413,415 312,491 1,460,203 1,407,879 Net Revenue 13,444,167 12,964,054 42,368,904 40,886,754 Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Net Revenue 3.08 % 2.39 % 3.45 % 3.44 % * The merger related costs are fees from an independent valuation firm and legal firm which were related to the business acquisitions. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 16:56:55|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The local government in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu announced a relief package of 140 million U.S. dollars for victims of cyclone Gaja in the coastal districts, officials said Tuesday. Government officials said death toll in the cyclone rose to 46. The decision was made by state's Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami after a three-hour-long meeting with his senior ministers and higher officials on Monday evening in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. "The chief minister reviewed the situation with senior ministers and higher officials here last evening, and later announced that a relief package of INR 1,000 crore (140 million U.S. dollars) will be released for the ongoing relief efforts," a government spokesman in Chennai said. "So far 46 people lost their lives in the cyclone, and their families would be given a compensation of INR 10 lakh (14,000 U.S. dollars) each. The chief minister also announced that monetary compensation would be given to those sheltered in camps and who have lost their houses, besides fishermen who could not go for fishing." The severe cyclonic storm made landfall on Friday between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam, about 303 km south of Chennai, uprooting thousands of trees, electricity poles and damaging roofs of houses, thereby leaving behind a trail of destruction. Gaja packed winds up to 120 km per hour. Officials said 11 coastal and interior districts of the state were battered due to cyclone Gaja. Officials estimates said 250,000 people have been displaced due to cyclone and majority of them have taken refuge in over 351 relief camps. Authorities have pressed in men and machinery to clear roads of fallen trees and electricity poles and restore the power and water supply. Preliminary estimates say that 88,102 hectares of land having irrigated and horticultural crops have suffered huge damages due to the cyclone. "For affected coconut groves, INR 192,500 (2,699 U.S. dollars) per hectare would be given as compensation, monetary support for fallen coconut trees and expenses for removing them, besides additional monetary assistance for replantation of coconut saplings hectare would be provided," the spokesman said. "Likewise farmers would be provided compensation for damaged paddy and other irrigated crops." The government has also announced a monetary relief for people who lost livestock and fishermen whose boats were damaged. According to the spokesman, the chief minister along with deputy O Panneerselvam began on Tuesday to distribute compensation among the affected people in Pudukkottai district. Palaniswami told people his government would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek financial assistance from the federal government. Meanwhile Palaniswami has also appealed to the public to generously contribute toward state's relief fund. Gaja is the second major storm to hit India's east coast. Last month cyclone Titli battered Odisha state, killing 57 people. Estimates made by officials said the cyclone inflicted a loss of 300 million U.S. dollars in the affected parts of the state. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 17:01:55|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close PORT MORESBY, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A group of police and soldiers stormed Papua New Guinea (PNG)'s parliament building here on Tuesday. The group, reportedly disgruntled over unpaid bonuses, damaged the building. "A group of policemen and soldiers are outside the parliament and demanding their allowances," PNG police spokesman Dominic Kakas told the media, adding that other police were "dealing with it." Witnesses said the area was subsequently locked down while the dispute was being settled. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 17:11:57|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Several northern Chinese regions have stepped up the fight against air pollution, with measures including closing polluting firms and coal boilers and limiting car use. Authorities in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have unveiled a clean air action plan (2018-2020), seeking to shut down, relocate or renovate over 1,900 polluting firms in the next three years. Of all, 1,089 firms should be shut down or relocated and 816 should suspend operations to improve pollutant treatment facilities, according to the plan. The move aims to cut outdated and excess industrial capacity to reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions as the region is seeking quality growth, said Zhao Xuhui, director of the regional department of industry and information technology, on Tuesday. To improve air quality, authorities in the coal-rich Shanxi Province ordered to close low-efficient coal boilers and others that do not have sufficient pollutant treatment facilities by the end of the year. In Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, the city government has ordered about half of the vehicles off roads in its urban areas from Wednesday to the end of the year. Vehicles with odd-numbered license plates will be allowed to drive around on odd-numbered days and those with even-numbered plates will drive on even-numbered days, the city government said Tuesday. The ban does not apply to military and police cars, fire engines, ambulances, taxis, school buses and new energy vehicles, it said. Vehicle emissions contribute to 25.5 percent of the PM2.5 concentration in Zhengzhou. By the end of 2017, the city had 3.78 million vehicles, ranking the seventh among cities nationwide. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 17:52:06|Editor: mym Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Relations between China and the Philippines, as Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a signed article published Monday, "have now seen a rainbow after the rain." With Xi arriving in Manila on Tuesday for the first state visit to the Southeast Asian country by a Chinese president in 13 years, the two nations have a historic opportunity to steer ties towards an even brighter future. Since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016, the two Asian neighbors have managed to ride out a rough patch in their relationship over the South China Sea issue by returning to dialogue and maintaining cooperation. Most notably, thanks to the strategic guidance by their leaders, the two countries have both embarked on a path of consultation rather than confrontation. Together with the productive efforts of other countries involved in the South China Sea issue, there's been a calm in the crucial body of water as well as the broader region, a boon to the entire world no doubt. Meanwhile, since communication and contact resumed, mutual understanding and political trust have been gradually restored, and practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges have picked up steam. Xi and Duterte have met multiple times, and various dialogue and consultation mechanisms have been revived. The two countries have set up a platform for bilateral consultation on the South China Sea and successfully convened three meetings. Economic relations are solid. Bilateral trade topped 50 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, making China the Philippines' largest trading partner and source of imports. Also last year, newly added Chinese investment in the Philippines jumped 67 percent to 53.84 million dollars. The tourism sector is also revving up. China has now become the Philippines' second biggest source of tourists, with more than 1.5 million Chinese expected to visit the country this year and bring about 610 million dollars in revenues. Given this progress, and considering their geographical approximation, and historical and cultural bonds, relations show great potential on a variety of fronts. For starters, with China endeavoring to realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation and the Philippines striving to implement the 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda and the "Build, Build, Build" Strategy, the two countries can better synergize their development plans and help each other fulfill their aspirations. Particularly, the Philippines is a natural partner within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to improve connectivity and boost common development along and beyond the ancient overland and maritime Silk Road trade routes. Together, the two can join hands to renew the legacy. Now Xi's state visit provides a great opportunity for the two sides to explore those possibilities and turn them into reality. With both sides committed to making a success of this latest round of top-level diplomacy, confidence abounds for a new chapter in bilateral relations. The restoration of China-Philippines relations bears a significance that transcends the two countries, and not only in the tangible benefits for the broader region brought by stronger relations. The trajectory of their relationship illustrates that China and the Philippines have the wisdom, courage and ability to properly handle their disputes and keep specific problems from jeopardizing overall relations. It is something that offers a valuable lesson for all. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 18:32:15|Editor: mym Video Player Close By Daniel Majack JUBA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's Magdalena Keji has defied physical impairment to pursue photography with passion, believing it can contribute to her country's renewal. "Acquiring photography techniques will help me use only a lens to demystify negative beliefs that people have toward people living with physical disabilities," the 28-year-old told Xinhua during an interview in Juba on Monday. Keji said that five years of civil strife in South Sudan has greatly affected people with disabilities both mentally and physically because their stories remain untold. She participated in a five-day training organized by a team of professional freelance photographers in Juba to defy the belief that this vocation can be difficult for people with physical or mental disabilities. "The skills I will get here is important to me as someone who has lived life as physically disabled girl child, because I believe the training will help me know how to disseminate right photo that gives a clear message to the public," said Keji. She revealed that she has lived the plight of being a person with disability since childhood but managed to defy the odds and became a graduate in 2013 from the University of Juba with a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration. The graduate said despite the work done by the ministry of gender, child and social welfare, there is still dissemination against people with physical disabilities in the workplaces. Dhieu Lual Aken, 38-year-old and also the father of three children, said the training will equip him with much-needed photographic techniques that will support him to acquire a job with one of the media local dailies in the country. "It has been my dream to become a professional photographer and tell a story using a camera. I believe the training will earn me a job that can support my family's basic needs," Aken told Xinhua. Aken expressed physical disability has not affected his human senses, saying he has experienced rejection and hardships, but adversity will never deter him from becoming a videographer. Another participant, 27-year-old Laku Bonnaparte, said as a graduate of economics and business administration from a local university, he would love to own a studio once he learns how to operate a camera. "As you have seen me moving with crutches, I will use my hands, mind to operate the camera," Laku told Xinhua. Jok Solomon Anyang, a freelance professional photographer, the organizer and facilitator of the training, told Xinhua that his aim is to empower people with physical disabilities to be able to cover and narrate their own stories to the world. He said the 12 participants include six females, and his team of six professional photographers will equip the learners with the basic photographic techniques, including how to set the camera among others. "It took me three months to decide why I wanted to train people living with physical disabilities on photographic skills and the reason was that they are the most neglected but they need to have knowledge," Jok said. "There is a need to engage and encourage them that they have a special role to play in this country. I believe it is the opportunity for them to have jobs in the country," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 19:32:38|Editor: mym Video Player Close Afghan security force members take part in a military operation against Islamic State (IS) militants in Nazyan district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 20, 2018. A total of 51 militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) have been killed in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province over the past week, an official said Monday. (Xinhua/Saifurahman Safi) JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 51 militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) have been killed in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province over the past week, an official said Monday. "The operation was launched in Hasaka Mina district and lasted for a week, resulting in the death of up to 51 IS fighters and elimination of some of their training and equipment centers," Ataullah Khogyani, the provincial governor's spokesman, told Xinhua. "Anti-Islamic State operations are successfully going on and some areas have also been recaptured from the militants' clutches in the troubled district, where no casualties were inflicted on civilians or security forces," added the spokesman. The hardliner IS outfit has yet to make comment on the claim. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 19:37:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TOKYO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn is suspected of having been provided with houses in four different countries purchased by Nissan but without legitimate business reasons, sources close to the matter said Tuesday. The revelations came as his alleged financial transgressions have widened since his arrest a day earlier for under-reporting his earnings, and now involve allegations that, along with being involved with the shady use of the firm's overseas properties, the automotive industry heavyweight may have also duped other executives out of their pay. The overseas houses in question, according to the sources, are located in Rio de Janeiro, Beirut, Paris and Amsterdam and the costs should have been recorded in securities reports as part of Ghosn's hefty remuneration package received from Nissan, Tokyo prosecutors said. According to Japan's public broadcaster NHK, Nissan, it is claimed, paid billions of yen in costs to a third party company that owns the houses and it is believed that Ghosn himself paid only a fraction of the rent. Among his alleged financial improprieties, including understating his pay package by a total of around 5 billion yen (44 million U.S. dollars) over a five year period from 2011, in violation of Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, the 64-year-old, made no mention in his financial report to the Tokyo Stock Exchange of his potentially dodgy use of the firm's overseas properties and their financing. Nissan has said that it will dismiss Ghosn, who is also chairman of Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., as chairman, at a board meeting among multiple "serious misconducts," and believes the undeclared earnings were used for personal reasons by Ghosn. Greg Kelly, a representative director at Nissan, was also arrested Monday on allegations of violating Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and Nissan has said Kelly will also be dismissed for his involvement in improper financial practices in direct cahoots with Ghosn. Ghosn's improprieties, according to Nissan, came to light several months ago, following a whistleblower reporting the chairman's misconduct and an internal investigation being launched thereafter. Ghosn, as the scandal continues to widen, is also alleged to have pocketed money allocated for other executives at Nissan, sources here said Tuesday. According to the latest revelations, Nissan Motor previously used to pay to its executives nearly 1.01 billion yen (9 million U.S. dollars) less than the amount its annual shareholders' approved. Tokyo prosecutors suspect that part of the amount may have been pocketed by Ghosn himself as every year the actual amount paid to the executives was one third less than was agreed by the shareholders. Ghosn was reportedly in control over who and how much the executives got paid. Ghosn, a heavyweight game-changer in the auto industry and formally revered in Japan for his effective turnaround of Nissan from near-bankruptcy to a thriving company and highly regarded by his employees and international peers, was paid a whopping 1.098 billion yen (9.77 million U.S. dollars) for the financial year ended March 2017 and 735 million yen (6.54 million U.S. dollars) for the following year, Nissan's annual securities reports showed. While Ghosn's somewhat exorbitant salary raised some eyebrows in both the domestic and international automotive industry, his unique ability to implement harsh but effective cost-cutting measures to turn Nissan around and apply the same sense of adroit to the automotive alliance he was responsible for, made him worth every penny, industry insiders asserted, prior to his arrest. In 1999, Ghosn, a French citizen who was born in Brazil, became Nissan's chief operating officer and was charged with boosting the at-the-time ailing automaker's market and profit margins, under a capital alliance with Renault. In 2000, Ghosn was promoted to president of Nissan and turned the automaker around through cost-cutting and restructuring measures, including the closure of some of the firm's plants. Ghosn had previously convinced shareholders he would stay with the automaker until it had been fully rehabilitated. Continuing with his aggressive cost-cutting and streamlining measures, he became Renault's CEO in 2005 and advocated for joint procurement and development under the Nissan-Renault alliance. Nissan's headquarters in Tokyo's neighboring Yokohama were raided on Monday by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office for evidence related to the allegations against Ghosn, which have sent shock waves not just through Japan, but the global auto industry. The Tokyo prosecutors, however, have not disclosed whether Ghosn and Kelly have admitted to their allegations yet or not. Ghosn, if found guilty of violating the financial law, could be facing punishment of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to 10 million yen (89,000 U.S. dollars), or both. A fine of up to 700 million yen (6.23 million U.S. dollars) can also be slapped on companies under the law. The shocking fall from grace for Ghosn has once again highlighted Japan's growing need for improved corporate governance, particularly in its scandal-plagued manufacturing sectors, and for inherent and time-honed fraudulent practices to be eradicated by executive power being decentralized and checks and balances upheld from shop floors to boardrooms, industry insiders maintain. Japan's Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko said Tuesday that Nissan Motor must "take a frank and honest look at improving governance," adding that he was "deeply disappointed with what's happening." "I want Nissan to have thorough discussions on governance in the third-party panel that the board plans to set up," Seko was quoted as telling a press briefing on the matter. As for Ghosn's alleged financial improprieties and subsequent arrest, Seko said the whole matter was "extremely regrettable." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 19:47:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military has deployed additional troops along its common border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to prepare for possible infiltration and attacks from the rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a spokesperson said here Tuesday. Richard Karemire, Uganda's military spokesperson, told Xinhua in an interview that the army has made reinforcement of soldiers and Local Defense Units (LDU) as a precautionary measure to prevent infiltration and attacks by the ADF. "Our security at the border is beefed up with sufficient presence of troops supported by the LDU's that were recruited from the (border) districts of Bundibugyo, Kasese and Ntoroko," said Karemire. And the vigilance of the public is in place to stem any surprise attacks or infiltration, he added. The ADF, a Ugandan rebel group operating in restive eastern DRC, last week killed seven Malawian, one Tanzanian UN peacekeepers and at least 12 DRC soldiers. The soldiers were killed on Wednesday during joint operations of the UN peacekeeping mission and the DRC troops against the ADF insurgents in Beni of North Kivu province. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 20:32:54|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced on Tuesday that he had issued the government reshuffle decree, but rejected the proposals for the ministry of development and the ministry of transport. "I have issued the reshuffle decree, taking into account the proposals made," the president told a briefing, specifying that proposals for the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration and the Ministry of Transport, namely Ilan Laufer and Lia Olguta Vasilescu, were denied, as they were "inappropriate". "This reshuffle is a weak solution," he said, stressing that "I still believe that the right solution for Romania would have been and is still the replacement of this government which has created a lot of problems for Romania." The head of state announced that the new ministers will take oath in the afternoon. The Romanian Social Democratic Party, the main ruling party, announced on Monday a major reshuffle of the government, with eight of the 28-member cabinet being replaced. The first major reshuffle since the first woman prime minister of the country was sworn in on Jan. 29 involved the ministers of the ministries of Regional Development and Public Administration, National Defence, Labor and Social Justice, Transport, Economy, Communications and Information Society, Culture and National Identity and of Youth and Sports. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 20:47:57|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close CHANGSHA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Wei Minzhou, a former senior legislator from northwest China's Shaanxi Province, was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for taking bribes. Wei, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, was also deprived of his political rights for life, and all his personal property was confiscated, according to the city court of Chenzhou in central China's Hunan Province. The court found that from 1996 to 2017, Wei took advantage of various positions he held to help others in terms of mineral exploitation, land auctions, project contracting, financing, as well as job promotions and adjustments. Wei was convicted of accepting money and gifts worth 109.78 million yuan (15.8 million U.S. dollars), personally or through his family. The court said Wei should be severely punished due to the fact he colluded with others and destroyed evidence of bribes before being charged. However, Wei later confessed to his crimes, showed remorse, provided additional information about his and others' crimes, and returned all his illegal gains, which resulted in a more lenient sentence, the court said. Wei accepted the verdict, according to the court. Quarterly revenues expand 98% year-over-year Operating income surges 200% year-over-year Year-over-year quarterly revenue growth continues since 2016 Assets of $57 million more than double from a year ago Raises $20 million through September; additional $25 million after September Initiates strategic investments and acquisitions NORWOOD, MA, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MariMed Inc. (OTCQB: MRMD), a multi-state cannabis operator, reported third quarter 2018 financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018. For the quarter ended September 30, 2018, revenues nearly doubled from the same period a year ago, increasing 98% from approximately $1.7 million to approximately $3.4 million. The Company continued to grow quarterly year-over-year revenue since the second quarter of 2016. Also during this time period, operating income nearly tripled from the same period a year ago, increasing 200% from approximately $287,000 to approximately $861,000. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, revenues increased 88% to approximately $8.4 million, compared with approximately $4.5 million from the same period a year ago. Operating income increased 75% to approximately $2.0 from approximately $1.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Our results this quarter reflect the execution of our original business strategy and success of our licensed cannabis clients under MariMeds professional management in multiple states, said Robert Fireman, CEO of MariMed Inc. With consistent investment to expand our footprint, and our new Massachusetts and Maryland facilities generating leasing, management and product licensing revenue, plus strong execution on product sales, we achieved better than expected performance in each of these areas. MariMed continues a solid trajectory of revenue growth that we have achieved each quarter since 2016, Fireman noted. We expect the trend to continue and revenue growth to accelerate, as we add new product and service licensing agreements, complete development of additional facilities in Massachusetts, and win or acquire more cannabis facility licenses. Quarterly Highlights Revenues of approximately $3.4 million, up 98% year-over-year Operating income of approximately $861,000, up 200% year-over-year Net loss of approximately $10.1 million, primarily due to non-cash amortization Cash of approximately $6.0 million, up from approximately $1.3 million at 12/31/17 Notes and mortgages payable of approximately $12.2 million, down 25% from 12/31/17 Year-To-Date Highlights Revenues of approximately $8.4 million, up 88% year-over-year Operating income of approximately $2.0 million, up 75% year-over-year Net loss of approximately $18.2 million, primarily due to non-cash amortization The increase in revenue was primarily due to (i) the growth of rental income from MariMeds facilities in Maryland and Massachusetts, which were fully and partially developed respectively and leased to tenants, (ii) increased supply procurement services provided to cannabis-licensed clients and other cannabis entities, and (iii) management fees and additional rental revenue which MariMed earns based on a percentage of revenue generated by its cannabis-licensed clients. Operating income increased as the result of the aforementioned increase in revenue, coupled with modest increases in selling, general and administrative expenses. Operating expenses decreased as a percentage of revenue, thanks to MariMeds leveraging of infrastructure to generate higher profitability. The net loss for the period is due to two non-cash itemsthe amortization of stock option and warrant issuances, and the settlements of debt via the issuance of common stockrequired by generally accepted accounting principles. These items had no effect on operating income or liquidity. Excluding these non-cash items, net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was approximately $406,000 and $936,000, respectively. Operating Highlights MariMed has begun to consolidate ownership of the operations of MariMeds cannabis-licensed clients into MariMed, and acquire cannabis licensees and producers of cannabis-related products and services. Transactions to date include: MariMed has entered purchase agreements to acquire 100% ownership of AgriMed Industries, a licensed cannabis cultivation and production company in Pennsylvania, and KPG of Anna LLC and KPG of Harrisburg LLC, two cannabis-licensed MariMed clients that operate medical marijuana dispensaries in Illinois. These transactions are subject to approval by their respective states regulatory bodies. MariMeds cannabis-licensed client in Massachusetts, ARL Healthcare Inc., filed a plan of entity conversion with the state to convert from a non-profit entity to a for-profit corporation. ARL holds three cannabis licenses from the state of Massachusetts for the cultivation, production and dispensing of cannabis. Upon approval of the conversion plan by the State, MariMed shall be the sole shareholder of ARL. MariMed has invested $30 million in GenCanna , a vertically-integrated agriculture-technology company specializing in the production of Hemp CBD. The companies have created a strategic partnership, including a long-term supply agreement, whereby, MariMed will work with GenCanna to develop Hemp-derived CBD products that the companies plan to distribute domestically and internationally into what is expected to be a $22 billion hemp market by 2025 according to the Brightfield Group . Separate from its cannabis business, MariMed intends to create a product and branding business unit focused on the development and distribution of Hemp CBD-derived products. , a vertically-integrated agriculture-technology company specializing in the production of Hemp CBD. The companies have created a strategic partnership, including a long-term supply agreement, whereby, MariMed will work with GenCanna to develop Hemp-derived CBD products that the companies plan to distribute domestically and internationally into what is expected to be a $22 billion hemp market by 2025 according to the Separate from its cannabis business, MariMed intends to create a product and branding business unit focused on the development and distribution of Hemp CBD-derived products. MariMed entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with Vitiprints for the production and distribution rights in all legal cannabis markets of a proprietary technology that prints precision-dosed dissolvable cannabis into a paper-thin, low-calorie, fast-absorbing product that is delivered sublingually, transdermally, or by drinking when dissolved in liquid. The process, which does not use any filler products, also allows for the printing of any graphic, such as a bar code or website address, on each product. MariMed made a strategic investment in an entity that markets Sprout , a software targeting, marketing, and CRM platform designed for the cannabis industry. MariMed shall assist in the ongoing development and design of Sprout, and in marketing Sprout to companies within the cannabis industry. , a software targeting, marketing, and CRM platform designed for the cannabis industry. MariMed shall assist in the ongoing development and design of Sprout, and in marketing Sprout to companies within the cannabis industry. Subsequent to the close of the third quarter 2018, MariMed acquired BSC Groups LLC, a multidisciplinary cannabis advisory firm that provides operational, marketing, and licensing management services to companies within the cannabis industry. As we transition to owning the cannabis facility and business licenses, pending regulatory approval of the purchase transactions initiated in the third quarter of 2018, we will be consolidating all aspects of these entities - revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, etc. into MariMed financial reporting after completion, stated Jon Levine, MariMed CFO. Investors will see significant increases in each of these areas. Notably, we will be booking all revenue and expenses related to product sales from these facilities, versus solely booking consulting and management fees, rents and product licensing fees. We anticipate that this will more accurately reflect the true value that MariMed delivers to shareholders and the cannabis industry. MariMeds full financial results are available on MariMeds website ( ir.marimedadvisors.com/quarterly-reports ) and at www.sec.gov Search MariMed and post on social media with the hash tag #MedicatedByMarimed: Twitter: @MariMedInc Facebook: @MariMedInc Instagram: MariMedInc YouTube: MariMedInc # # # About MariMed Inc.: MariMed is a multi-state cannabis operator that develops, owns and manages cannabis facilities and branded products lines. MariMeds team has developed state-of-the-art regulatory-compliant facilities in DE, IL, NV, MD, MA, and RI which are models of excellence in horticultural principals, cannabis production, product development, and dispensary operations. In addition, MariMed is on the forefront of precision dosed branded products for the treatment of specific medical symptoms. MariMed currently distributes its branded products in select states and is expanding licensing and distribution to numerous additional markets encompassing thousands of dispensaries. MariMed Inc. is one of the 17 top-performing public cannabis companies in the U.S. tracked on the U.S. Marijuana Index , ( www.marijuanaindex.com ). For additional information, visit www.MariMedAdvisors.com Forward Looking Statements: This release contains certain forward-looking statements and information relating to MariMed Inc., that is based on the beliefs of MariMed Inc.s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events including estimates and projections about its business based on certain assumptions of its management, including those described in this Release. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including, among other factors, changes in demand for the Company's services and products, changes in the law and its enforcement and changes in the economic environment. Additional risk factors are included in the Company's public filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as "hoped," "anticipated," "believed," "planned, "estimated," "preparing," "potential," "expected" or words of a similar nature. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. None of the content of any of the websites referred to herein (even if a link is provided for your convenience) is incorporated into this release and the Company assumes no responsibility for any of such content. Media Contacts: For MariMed Business Development Jon Levine, CFO, MariMed info@MariMedAdvisors.com 781-559-8713 Investor Relations Tyler Troup, Circadian Group tyler@circadian-group.com +1 (866) 950 8300 Media Relations Julie Shepherd, Accentuate PR Julie@accentuatepr.com 847-275-3643 Attachment Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 20:47:58|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BEIRUT, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese army arrested on Tuesday two Syrian refugees in Mimas, Marjeyoun, for illegally entering Lebanon from Syria, local media reported. The arrested Syrians were referred to the police in Marjeyoun for investigations and other legal procedures, according to Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. The Lebanese government has barred the UN refugee agency from registering Syrian refugees as well as placed additional restrictions on their entry into the country without guarantors, work visas or visas for transit since 2015. These measures led to a rise in the number of Syrian refugees attempting to enter Lebanon illegally. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 20:52:59|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The landscape of China's pilot free trade zones (FTZs) will be further broadened with the southern island province of Hainan, which was designated this year as the latest and largest pilot FTZ, a move seen to further open the country's market and to attract foreign investment. Within five years, pilot FTZs have been springing up in the country, with Shanghai as the first testing field to blaze the trail in 2013, followed by 11 more established or being built in a vast land from provinces of Fujian and Guangdong on the southeastern coast to inland provinces of Shaanxi and Sichuan in western China. Such expansion, however, is not randomly made or a mere duplication of others. Thoroughly planned and researched, the geographical distribution of these pilot FTZs has a far-reaching impact over the development of the Chinese economy, and each of them has displayed its own advantages. STRENGTH FROM SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION As the financial center of China, Shanghai spearheaded the FTZ experiments particularly in the sphere of financial innovation. Shanghai Municipal government has taken great efforts to consolidate its financial strength. Data showed 41 renowned international financial institutions have set up 56 asset management companies by November in the Lujiazui Financial City, which is a part of Shanghai pilot FTZ, driving the area a step closer to the target of becoming a global asset management center. Close to Shanghai, Zhejiang pilot FTZ aims to foster the oil and gas business amid the country's rising demand for oil and natural gas. Connecting a wide range of regions across the Pacific, Zhejiang shows strong geographical advantages in establishing an oil and gas base, according to the National Energy Administration. Zhejiang pilot FTZ saw transactions of 161.4 billion yuan (about 23.39 billion U.S. dollars) of oil products and 1.23 million tonnes of natural gas in the first nine months of 2018. South China's Guangdong Province, where the special economic zones led the reform and opening-up of China 40 years ago, is also a pioneer of FTZ experiment. As China pushes forward the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangdong pilot FTZ plays an important role in promoting coordinated development of the three regions. Through reforming the tax system, Guangdong pilot FTZ has reduced 3.5 billion yuan and 15 million yuan of tax for eligible enterprises of Hong Kong and Macao since 2017, respectively. Unlike the earlier reforms where the eastern coast stole the show, in this new round of reform, inland provinces have been actively engaged. In 2017, five inland provincial regions, all major transportation hubs in the framework of Belt and Road Initiative, jumped on the wagon in an effort to promote the country's undeveloped interior and facilitate the Belt and Road Initiative. Chongqing pilot FTZ, for instance, is exploring its strategic importance as a junction for international logistics. Through China-Europe freight train service, an international logistics system has been formed, connecting Chongqing with the Pacific in the east, Europe in the west, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the south and Russia in the north. Northwestern China's Shaanxi pilot FTZ, however, is devoted to developing modern agriculture. Shaanxi has China's first agricultural hi-tech industry demonstration zone in Yangling, which led the research and development of agricultural technologies in arid and semi-arid regions in China and cooperated with countries in similar climate conditions along the Belt and Road. NEW MISSIONS TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE About 40 years ago, China established special economic zones, which served as windows and testing grounds when the Chinese government decided to open up the domestic market and modernize the country's economy. Foreign investment pumped in, new regulations were issued and new technologies were tested first in these areas and later spread to other parts of the country, contributing to the fast growth of China's economy over the years. Observers see the establishment of pilot FTZs as a new move for China to push ahead reform and opening-up under new domestic and external environment. Compared with special economic zones, pilot FTZs aim to achieve "mutual benefit" and enable the country to participate in global economic cooperation and competition at a higher level, Luo Qinghe, a professor with the Shenzhen University, wrote in a research paper. A raft of measures was taken for pilot FTZs to create a more investor-friendly business environment in support of fair competition. The negative list for foreign investment, for instance, has been widely adopted in pilot FTZs to broaden market access. Over the past five years, the negative list has been shortened from 190 to 45 items in Shanghai pilot FTZ. Application and trade convenience have been largely improved in pilot FTZs. In Chongqing pilot FTZ, the time for getting a new enterprise approved has been shortened from 20 working days to a matter of three hours. Liaoning pilot FTZ, the only pilot FTZ in northeast China, upgraded the processes for examination and approval in the port of Dalian to facilitate circulation of goods, with the cost for customs clearance slashed by 10 percent. "After introducing pilot FTZs, the competition between local governments has gradually shifted from GDP growth to reforms," said Yin Chen, a researcher with the Shanghai-based Fudan University. So far, about 123 measures first tested in pilot FTZs have been gradually promoted and adopted nationwide, and more new reform measures will be made, said the Ministry of Commerce. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 21:13:04|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ROME, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Scientists specializing in the study of glaciers, or glaciologists, are on a mission to extract samples from Alpine glaciers as part of a worldwide project named Ice Memory, which aims to preserve the record of the past stored in the world's oldest ice formations before they melt due to climate change, Italy's National Research Council (CNR) has said. Italian glaciologists describe Ice Memory as a "race against time to save climate archives" stored in the only remaining European glaciers. These are located in the Alps, the great mountain range, and in the Apennine mountain chain, which runs north to south down the middle of Italy's boot. "On the Alps, by drilling to a depth of 70--80 meters (in the ice), you can go back about 7,000 years," researcher Fabrizio de Blasi from the CNR Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes told Xinhua. "We can think of (glaciers) as a kind of natural thermometer, due to their extremely rapid response to climate variations. This sensitivity...makes them a tool for scientists to understand climate evolutionary trends." "(Over time) the ice has trapped chemical elements, organic particles and other traces of the environment and the climate," said Professor Carlo Barbante, an associate at the CNR Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes and one of the founders of Ice Memory. "The samples are therefore a unique archive of the planet's past, and are essential to putting current and future change in the right perspective," added Barbante, who teaches at Ca' Foscari University in Venice, a partner in the project along with the CNR. Glaciers are shrinking fast, De Blasi explained. "If the current trend on greenhouse gas emissions remains constant, we foresee glaciers in the Alpine range below altitude of 3,600 meters disappearing by the end of this century," he said. The disappearance of a glacier has a direct impact on humans in terms of availability of water, De Blasi said. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about three--quarters of Earth's freshwater is stored in glaciers, making glacier ice the largest reservoir of freshwater on the planet. However, the vanishing of a glacier, which takes many thousands of years to form, also means the loss of what could be vital information, De Blasi explained. This is what led Italian and French glaciologists from the CNR, Ca' Foscari University in Venice, and the University of Grenoble in France, to come up with the Ice Memory project. "We first had the idea in 2016," said De Blasi. "We saw a need to preserve the information (stored in glaciers), both for ourselves, so that we can analyze the data today, but also and most importantly, so that we can leave it as an inheritance for future generations, who may have more advanced technologies to extract information that we are currently unable to source." In October 2017, the UNESCO executive council recognized the importance of Ice Memory, which aims to create the world's first "ice sanctuary" in Antarctica in which to store samples from glaciers around the world . The first cores have been extracted by international teams on the Mont Blanc in France, on Bolivia's Illimani glacier, and from the Belukha and Elbrus glaciers in Russia, according to the CNR. The Italian part of the mission began earlier this month at altitude of 4,200 meters on the Grand Combin glacier at the border between Italy and Switzerland, where glaciologists are using georadar to seek the best possible spots from which to extract cores of ice that have preserved centuries of climate history. The Italian team is planning expeditions in 2019 to another four glaciers in Italy that will likely disappear in the coming decades: the Colle Gnifetti glacier on the Swiss border, the Marmolada and Montasio glaciers near Austria, and Europe's southernmost glacier, the Calderone, in the Apennine mountains in central Italy. Also next year, De Blasi said, Italian and French teams will participate in the extraction of a core of ice on what is left of the Kilimanjaro glacier in the African country of Tanzania. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 21:13:05|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Visiting Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong (L) meets with South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang) SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong has said that China and South Korea should strengthen cooperation to safeguard a rule-based multilateral trading system and build an open world economy. Wang made the remarks during his meeting with South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Monday. Wang, who arrived in Seoul on Monday, met with Lee before delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Seoul Conference on Tuesday. China and South Korea, as friendly neighbors and strategic cooperative partners, have witnessed remarkable progress in exchanges and cooperation in various fields, Wang said. Under the new circumstances, the two sides should implement the series of important consensus reached between leaders of the two countries, strengthen political communication, consolidate the foundation of mutual trust and promote healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, he added. He said the two countries should implement cooperation projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, accelerate the second-phase negotiations of the bilateral free trade agreement, expand the fields of pragmatic cooperation and achieve mutual benefits and win-win results. Lee, for his part, spoke highly of China's historic achievements over the past 40 years since the reform and opening up. He said South Korea is willing to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries in the spirit of mutual trust and mutual respect, and promote the development of South Korea-China ties. The South Korean side thanked China for its contribution to achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and stands ready to work together with China to build a more open and free world economy, he said. The Boao Forum for Asia Seoul Conference, with the theme "An Open and Innovative Asia," was jointly hosted by the Boao Forum for Asia and South Korea's Federation of Korean Industries. It marked the first time the Boao Forum for Asia hosted a global conference in South Korea and it was also the largest conference so far hosted outside China by the Boao Forum for Asia. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 21:18:06|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday exchanged congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In his congratulatory message to the Palestinian president, Xi said the two countries enjoy a long history of friendship. China is among the first countries to support the just cause of the Palestinian people and to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as one of the earliest countries to establish diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine. Over the past 30 years, the two countries have conducted exchanges and cooperation in various fields with fruitful results, Xi said. The Chinese president said he attaches great importance to the China-Palestine relations, and is willing to work together with Abbas to continue pushing forward bilateral friendly cooperation, so as to better benefit the two countries and their peoples. Noting that China has always supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, Xi said China firmly supports the establishment of an independent Palestine state with full sovereignty on the basis of 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. China will push forward the Palestine-Israel peace talks and continue to play a positive role in the early realization of a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue, he said. In his congratulatory message to Xi, Abbas said that he is very proud of the traditional friendship between the two countries and their peoples, and highly appreciates the outstanding and important role that China has played in supporting the Palestinian people and their cause. Noting that the Palestinian people will continue to carry forward the traditional friendship with China, Abbas said he will, as always, value and promote bilateral relations, in order to benefit the two peoples and realize their shared vision. Also on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah exchanged congratulatory messages. In his message, Li said since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Palestine have witnessed close high-level exchanges, deepened political mutual trust, expanded cooperation in various fields and healthy development of bilateral ties. Li said he is ready to work together with his Palestinian counterpart to bring about greater progress in the friendly cooperation between the two countries. Noting that China will, as always, support the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, Li said China sincerely hopes that the Palestinian people can achieve their dream of establishing an independent state at an early date. In his message to Li, Hamdallah expressed deep gratitude for the precious support from China in the past 30 years, saying that Palestine is willing to boost and expand bilateral relations and cooperation with the Chinese government to realize their common interests. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 21:23:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TEHRAN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iranian defense minister said Tuesday that the U.S. sanctions have failed to slow down Iran's progress and the Islamic republic will manage to weather the pressures soon. "Today, we rely on indigenous capabilities" and the country's current conditions are better in comparison with the situation before the re-imposition of the U.S. sanctions in May, Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency. "We will overcome the conditions brought about by the sanctions faster and more easily," he said. After U.S. President Donald Trump's withdrawal from Iran's nuclear deal in May, the U.S. has reimposed stringent sanctions on Iran, including embargoes on Iran's banking and oil sectors. The United States has grown more isolated in the international arena after "it failed to align world countries with itself in its antagonism towards the Islamic republic," Hatami stressed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 21:58:13|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close RIYADH, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday launched "Imdaad" initiative with a budget of 500 million U.S. dollars for war-torn Yemen, Saudi Press Agency reported. The two countries will equally contribute to the initiative's budget, Abdullah Al Rabeeah, general supervisor of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, told a press conference on Tuesday. Al Rabeeah said that the "Imdaad" initiative aims to deal with the food crisis in Yemen, meet urgent food need and alleviate the suffering of Yemeni people and ensure their access to food. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the leading members in the military coalition involved in Yemeni war against Houthis, launch the initiative to support 10-12 million affected Yemenis. The four-year-long war in Yemen has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced three million others and pushed the country to the brink of famine. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 22:13:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BERLIN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The German postal company Deutsche Post has been testing a delivery robot, Thomas Kutsch, press spokesman at Deutsche Post, confirmed to Xinhua on Tuesday. Last year, Deutsche Post carried out a "successful" six-week practical test with two robots developed by the French company Effidence S.A.S. These so-called PostBOTs are four-wheeled, 1.5-meter high vehicles that follow the deliverer by recognizing the postman's legs and are capable of transporting loads of up to 150 kilograms. The robot is able to stop in front of obstacles and overcome curbs. "In-house, the PostBOT is also called an assistance robot," therefore it would not be a danger to jobs, emphasized Kutsch. However, an autonomous use of the robot was not planned. The aim would be to help the employees and support them in handling heavy loads. Currently, the PostBOT system is deployed in the Japanese cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Sapporo and Fukuoka for demonstration purposes and to gather further experience. The country would be technology-friendly and the local conditions in Japan would be similar to those in Germany, Kutsch explained. In 2016, the Deutsche Post subsidiary DHL had already tested the third generation of its delivery drone. A packing station was used, on which the drone lands and is loaded and unloaded fully autonomously. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 22:18:16|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese lawmaker Wang Chen has called for persistent efforts in protecting the marine environment and in the battle against pollution. Wang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks on Tuesday at a plenary meeting of the inspection group that examines the enforcement of the country's marine environmental protection law. Environmental protection is a must in upgrading industrial structures, achieving high-quality development and meeting people's ever-growing needs for a better life, and the current efforts in ecological conservation will benefit many generations to come, Wang said. He thus asked for a stronger hold of political orientation and more consistency in protection efforts, in order to further contribute to building the nation into a strong maritime country and a "Beautiful China". The marine environmental protection law should be comprehensively implemented with focus on solving problems, while more suggestions should be proposed in terms of institution building and supervision, so as to ensure more efforts in controlling drains that deposit into the sea, land-based sources of pollution and other key areas of concern, Wang said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 22:23:20|Editor: mym Video Player Close MOMBASA, Kenya, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has embarked on a project to refurbish and upgrade the country's second largest airport to attract more international flights. James Macharia, cabinet secretary at the ministry of transport, said Tuesday the 7 billion shilling (about 69 million U.S. dollars) project at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa will be undertaken for 24 months. "It is therefore of paramount importance that we continue to invest in this airport to make sure that it maintains its excellent safety record, and to enhance the efficiency of its operations," Macharia said in Mombasa during the commissioning of the project. Macharia said the works include rehabilitation of the entire runway pavements, reconstruction of some sections of the taxiways and aprons, replacement of pre-cast concrete slabs and installation of an elaborate lighting system. Other works include drainage works improvement, slope and ground stabilization. The average lifespan of a runway is 20 to 25 years and the last major rehabilitation was done in 1994. Kenya Airports Managing Director Jonny Andersen said the infrastructural projects will boost passenger numbers. French development agency AFD will provide 65 million dollars for the project; the World Bank provided 900,000 dollars for the project's consultancy services; Kenya Airports Authority will cover the balance. The airport is serving the coastal area and is the principal port of entry for tourists, business travelers and others visiting the region, both from within and without the country. According to Macharia, the capacity of the airport is over 2 million people but currently it only handles 300,000 people. The upgrade will enable the airport to operate at its maximum capacity. CINCINNATI, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ohio National Financial Services announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Barbara A. Turner, CRCP, president and chief operating officer, effective November 30. Turner succeeds Chris Carlson, who is retiring from Ohio National for personal reasons after 25 years with the company. Barbaras decades of experience at Ohio National and in the financial services industry give her great perspective on the dynamic landscape in which we operate and deep knowledge of Ohio Nationals operations, said Gary T. Doc Huffman, CLU, ChFC, chairman and chief executive officer. Barbara has excelled in every assignment she has received at Ohio National, consistently demonstrating outstanding leadership skills and business judgment. I look forward to working closely with Barbara in her new role as we implement our strategy and further the mission of our great company. Carlson said, I have the highest respect and admiration for Barbara and congratulate her on her election. It has been a privilege to work alongside the talented people at Ohio National, and I am extremely grateful for the 25 years Ive been able to spend at this incredible organization. This was a difficult personal decision but it in no way diminishes the confidence I have in Ohio Nationals team, strategy and future. Turner, the eleventh president and the first woman to serve as president of Ohio National, brings to the position more than 30 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry. She joined the company in 1997 as vice president, ONESCO operations, advanced to president and chief operating officer of ONESCO in 1999, and president and chief executive officer of ONESCO in 2013. She was appointed senior vice president, annuities strategic business in January 2015, executive vice president and chief administrative officer in January 2016, and vice chairman and chief administrative officer in August 2018. Turner is recognized as an industry leader. She has served as a FINRA District and Nominating Committee member and arbitrator and arbitrator chairperson and FINRA disciplinary hearing panelist. She was a member of the inaugural graduation class and first woman in the country to complete the FINRA/Wharton University Certified Compliance Professional program. A Cincinnati native, she attended the University of Cincinnati. Turner is an active community leader, serving on the boards of American Red Cross Greater Cincinnati Dayton Region, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Womens Executive Forum, Northern Kentucky University Foundation, The Health Collaborative, Womens Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and was recently appointed to serve on the Board of Cincinnati State Technical & Community College by Governor John Kasich. Turner has mentored, sponsored and volunteered for many at-risk teenagers and single mothers in the community. Turner said, I am honored and excited about the opportunity to lead and advance Ohio Nationals mission to make a difference in the lives of our policyholders by providing financial security and independence today and for generations to come. I am also pleased to continue to work with the talented team of dedicated Ohio National associates who are committed to the long-term success of our organization and meeting the needs of our clients. I want to thank Chris Carlson for his dedication and leadership at Ohio National, added Huffman. Ive been fortunate to count him as a friend and colleague for over 10 years, and throughout his career he has made significant contributions across the company. He will be greatly missed and we wish him all the best. I look forward to working with Barbara and the rest of our leadership team as we move forward with our strategy. About Ohio National Financial Services Since 1909, Ohio National has been committed to helping individuals, families and businesses protect what matters most. Through our network of financial professionals across 49 states (all except New York), the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, we provide the insurance products and financial protection our policyholders need. As of December 31, 2017, its affiliated companies have $42.0 billion total assets under management. Products are issued by The Ohio National Life Insurance Company and Ohio National Life Assurance Corporation. Please visit ohionational.com for more information and for the latest company updates, connect with Ohio National on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Contact: Angela Meehan, CLU, ChFC, RFC 513.794.6337 office 513.444.0566 mobile Lisa Doxsee, APR 513.794.6418 office 513.218.5519 mobile A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a1c09918-e4b1-446d-b587-cf273f42f20f A view of the old quarter of Sanaa, Yemen November 14, 2018. (Reuters photo) RIYADH, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday launched "Imdaad" initiative with a budget of 500 million U.S. dollars for war-torn Yemen, Saudi Press Agency reported. The two countries will equally contribute to the initiative's budget, Abdullah Al Rabeeah, general supervisor of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, told a press conference on Tuesday. Al Rabeeah said that the "Imdaad" initiative aims to deal with the food crisis in Yemen, meet urgent food need and alleviate the suffering of Yemeni people and ensure their access to food. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the leading members in the military coalition involved in Yemeni war against Houthis, launch the initiative to support 10-12 million affected Yemenis. The four-year-long war in Yemen has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced three million others and pushed the country to the brink of famine. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 22:38:24|Editor: yan Video Player Close KIGALI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Senior government officials, experts and private sector representatives from 14 eastern African countries started a meeting here on Tuesday on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Twelve African countries -- Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Guinea, Rwanda, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland and Uganda -- have ratified the agreement to establish the single continental market, according to the African Union (AU). Ten more ratifications are needed for the AfCFTA to come into force and make Africa the largest free trade area in terms of the number of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organization. The AfCFTA could create an African market of over 1.2 billion people with a gross domestic product (GDP) of 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars, the AU said. At a panel session at the opening of the three-day meeting, the 22nd Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts of the Sub-regional Office for Eastern Africa, finance and trade ministers from Rwanda and Uganda said speedy ratification and conclusion of all procedures required to establish the free trade area should be priority of economic development agendas among African economies. "More efforts are needed to ratify the agreement and implement it in order to drive economic transformation in Africa," said Ugandan Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Amelia Kyambadde. Africa must seize the momentum at hand to focus on how to speed up the ratification and to rally support for free trade and related instruments, said Rwandan Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Uzziel Ndagijimana. AfCFTA symbolizes the progress toward the ideal of African unity and there is an urgent need to move forward with its effective implementation, he said. Ugandan Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Matia Kasaija said African countries are defending their own positions instead of regional positions, which leads to the slow progress in effective implementation of AfCFTA. Over 250 participants attended the meeting under the theme "Implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area in Eastern Africa: From Vision to Action." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 22:48:25|Editor: yan Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- China investigated a total of 412 criminal cases related to solid waste smuggling and arrested 576 suspects on such charges in the first ten months of this year, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC) Tuesday. The GAC investigated a total of 1.46 million tonnes of solid waste during the January-October period, data shows. China also cooperated with other countries, regions as well as global and regional organizations, including the World Customs Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Criminal Police Organization, to curb solid waste smuggling in a global joint action plan between May 21 and July 23. "It's a shared responsibility for all countries and regions to crack down on cross-border smuggling of solid waste," said Ni Yuefeng, head of the GAC, adding that the action plan demands long-term and continuous efforts. The Chinese government is also set to introduce a new and tightened ban on solid waste imports effective from Dec. 31, 2018, with 32 types of solid waste due to be banned. The newly-added products include hardware, ships, auto parts, waste, stainless steel scraps, titanium and wood. China's imports of solid waste slumped further in the first 10 months of 2018 as the government stepped up enforcement of a ban on solid waste imports. The country began importing solid waste as a source of raw materials in the 1980s and for years has been the world's largest importer, despite having a weak capacity in garbage disposal. But some companies began illegally bringing foreign waste into the country for profit, posing a threat to the environment and public health. Given increasing public awareness of environment issues and China's green development drive, the government last year decided to phase out and halt such imports by the end of 2019, except for those containing resources not substitutable. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 22:48:25|Editor: yan Video Player Close STOCKHOLM, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Swedish HUI Research has been surveying Sweden's Christmas present wishes for 31 years. For the first time, recycled goods are on the top of the list, the Swedish Television SVT reported on Tuesday. According to HUI Research, Sweden's most wanted Christmas present for year 2018 is something recycled. This includes both second-hand garments and clothing that is made from recycled materials. "Sustainable consumption is now on high demand," vice president Emma Hernell from HUI Research told SVT. HUI Research says that this kind of change in Christmas present wishes reflects the interest that consumers have towards sustainable alternatives. "Consumer power, climate change and the limited access to raw materials have made an entire industry start thinking about how to work in a more circular system, where the materials in our clothes are used more than once," HUI Research says in its press release. According to Hernell, the most wanted Christmas presents always reflect the spirit of the time. For example, spike mats and juicers were a part of the health trend in early 2010 while VR-glasses and robotic vacuum cleaners reflected the interest towards robotics and augmented reality a couple of years ago. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:03:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian police on Tuesday shot dead five suspected robbers while a sixth suspect was captured after robbing a goldsmith shop inside a shopping complex. Malaysia's state news agency Bernama quoted state Criminal Investigation Department chief Fadzil Ahmat as saying that four of the robbers were shot dead at the scene while one was shot dead about 1 km away after he fled in a car. The remaining suspect had been wounded during the robbery and was arrested. Fadzil said the six men had initially rushed into the hypermarket armed with pistols and machetes and charged straight to the goldsmith shop. He added that a policeman was injured during the incident. The police recovered two pistols and several machetes as well as a large quantity of jewellery and were conducting an investigation at the scene. An eyewitness had described seeing several men wearing crash helmets dash into the goldsmith shop during the robbery. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:08:31|Editor: yan Video Player Close VALLETTA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Some 215 metric tons of smuggled tramadol pills, estimated to be worth up to 1 billion euros (about 1.14 billion U.S. dollars) were seized and destroyed in a joint Malta-U.S. operation, the Maltese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. The pills, said the Ministry, were seized in an operation that involved the Maltese customs department, the Maltese police force, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Embassy in Malta. The ministry said the synthetic opioid is known to be trafficked by terrorist groups to generate revenue. The Sanctions Monitoring Board within the ministry had ordered seizure of the pills in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions which call on the international community to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist groups, it added. "The ministry remains committed to cooperating with its international partners to prevent crime and to eliminate sources of terrorist financing," the ministry said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:13:33|Editor: yan Video Player Close GAZA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mohamed Dahlan, former senior member of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, on Tuesday called on Abbas to form a unity government and declare it from Gaza. Dahlan, based in the United Arab Emirates, made the pledge when addressing a massive popular rally held in Gaza City marking 14 years for the death of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. "I call on Abu Mazen (Abbas) to immediately head to Gaza and declare a consensus government that includes all Palestinian factions and political powers to confront the U.S. policies," Dahlan told the crowds of the rally. Thousands of Dahlan supporters in the Gaza Strip joined the rally to commemorate the 14th anniversary of Arafat's death. They waved yellow flags of Fatah party and raised pictures of Arafat and Dahlan. Dahlan also called for holding an emergency meeting in Cairo for setting up a temporary committee to reform Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to end the internal division and rebuild a political system that "fits the current political battle." Dahlan was the senior security chief in the Gaza Strip before Islamic Hamas movement routed pro-Abbas forces and took over the coastal enclave in 2007. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:18:37|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.5 percent year on year in the first nine months of this year, compared to 1.8 percent in the same period in 2017, Russia's Federal Statistics Service (Rosstat) said Tuesday. Rosstat previously recorded a slowdown of GDP growth in the third quarter of this year to 1.3 percent, from 1.8 percent in the second quarter. In the first quarter of this year, GDP grew 1.3 percent. Earlier on Tuesday, the Russian State Duma, or lower parliament chamber, passed in a second reading the amendments to the 2018 federal budget, lowering its GDP growth expectations for this year to 1.8 percent from a previous 2.1 percent. The revision resulted from "the announcement of the introduction of additional sanctions measures, increased volatility in financial markets, as well as accelerated capital outflows and rising yields of debt securities," according to an explanatory note by the Duma budget and taxes committee. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:33:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The assets of an Albanian citizen valued at 360,000 euros (about 411,000 U.S. dollars) have been seized by Albanian police on Tuesday, for suspected link to narcotics-related activities. According to police announcement, the properties belonging to the citizen with the initials J.J are suspected to be obtained as a result of activities in the production and sale of narcotics. J.J is suspected of committing the criminal offense of money laundering, said the police. Among the sequestrated assets are two residential apartments, two service shops, two parking spaces, six different garages and one vehicle. Meanwhile, the Albanian police are continuing to trace, identify and sequestrate assets resulting from the criminal activity. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:38:43|Editor: yan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Maltese prime minister's envoy to Libya Neville Gafa on Tuesday met with Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad M'etig, discussing mutual cooperation between the two countries in the Libyan capital Tripoli. The two officials discussed cooperation in trade and investment, as well as implementation of agreements signed between the two countries, according to the information and communication office of Libyan prime minister. During the meeting, the two officials also stressed importance of cooperation against fuel smuggling, as well as resumption of flights between Libya and Malta. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN IT. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (JUGR.V) (the Company or Juggernaut) is pleased to announce it has expanded its land package with the discovery of a broad zone of gold mineralization hosted in limestone. This new gold zone is referred to as the Legal Tender (LT) Zone and remains open along strike on the Bullion Property. The property is 100 % owned by the J2 syndicate, a private precious metal project generator, in British Columbia where Juggernaut has right of first refusal on the Bullion Property subject to its fulfilment of the exploration commitment in an agreement with the J2 Syndicate. Highlights Include: Discovery of the Legal Tender Zone : a highly silicified and extensive altered limestone horizon, where a sixteen-meter chip sample returned 0.33 grams per tonne gold (including 0.63 grams per tonne gold over 4 meters), that started and ended in mineralization ( link to image ). : a highly horizon, where a ( ). Newly discovered gold mineralization was discovered in areas of recent glacial and snowpack abatement providing for extensive areas of newly exposed bedrock with additional strong gold potential ( link to image ). The structurally altered limestone horizon has been recognized for 3.5 km along strike and the gold mineralized zone remains open. 13 km south of the Golden Bear Mine and is hosted in similar structurally-controlled silicified limestones ( MINFILE ), providing the LT Zone with a strong geologic model. The Bullion property is located only 10 km from the Golden Bear mine access road, providing close proximity to infrastructure and access to Telegraph Creek ( link to image ). providing for extensive areas of newly exposed bedrock with additional strong gold potential ( ). Claims were expanded from 1660 to 2686 hectares to cover the full extent of a gold bearing silicified limestone ( link to map ). to cover the full extent of a gold bearing silicified limestone ( ). Geological mapping, channel sampling, ground geophysics, LIDAR, and an alteration study is strongly recommended to outline the full extent of mineralization on the property and delineate drill targets. The Bullion Property (2886 ha) is located approximately 70 kilometers northwest of Telegraph Creek, and is situated 13 kilometers south of the Golden Bear Mine. The Bullion Property is also 10 kilometres from the access road to the Golden Bear Mine, providing for excellent infrastructure in close proximity to the property. In 2017, a brief prospecting program was carried out to expand on mineralized zones and systematically prospect other areas on the property. This resulted in the discovery of the Legal Tender Zone. The newly discovered gold-bearing limestone occurs in an area of recent glacial and snowpack abatement with no previous work recorded, demonstrating tremendous untapped gold potential. A sixteen-meter chip sample was collected across the structurally altered limestone horizon and assayed 0.33 grams per tonne gold, including 0.63 grams per tonne gold over four meters, that started and ended in gold mineralization and remains open in all directions. The mineralization and geologic setting is consistent with the past producing Golden Bear Mine, located only 13 kilometers to the north. The extensive limestone horizon has received less than a half a day of sampling at one location, and the structurally controlled and altered limestone horizon has been recognized for over 3.5 kilometers strike length. The Bullion area is underlain by Triassic Stuhini sedimentary and volcanic rocks unconformably overlaying Carboniferous Stikine assemblage metasedimentary rocks, which are intruded by Triassic quartz diorite in the northwest corner of the claim block. An extensive gossan spans the majority of the claim block consisting of moderate to strong iron carbonate alteration which has received very limited work to date. However, historical regional exploration, particularly in the vicinity of the Golden Bear Mine, focused on specific stratigraphic units. This is mainly true for the more structurally competent host limestone horizons, as well as at strata-bound volcanic contacts with limestone, which have been preferentially brecciated and silicified along fault zones. The newly discovered gold-mineralized Legal Tender Zone confirms it is a strong example of this type of mineralizing system within fault-bound and folded limestone ( link to image ). The permeability and porosity of the limestone is believed to have been important factors in determining depositional sites for the ascending mineralizing fluids along preferential gold-bearing structures. Recommended Work A focused, systematic, and comprehensive exploration program is recommended on the Bullion Property to outline the full extent of gold mineralization and to delineate high priority drill targets. Follow up exploration will begin at the Legal Tender Zone, where methodical prospecting and mapping is warranted to trace out its full extent of the gold zone. Further prospecting for new gold mineralized zones will also focus on limestone horizons, regional structures, and folding, which are evident on the property. Geophysical and LIDAR surveys would also aid in identifying zones, particularly in areas of increased hydrothermal alteration in prominent structures and areas obscured by overburden. Qualified Person Stephen Roach P. Geo is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43- 101, for Juggernaut Exploration projects, and supervised the preparation of, and has reviewed and approved, the technical information in this release. Other All rock, channel and talus fine samples were crushed and pulverized at ALS Canada Ltd.'s lab in Vancouver, BC. ALS is either Certified to ISO 9001:2008 or Accredited to ISO 17025:2005 in all of its locations. The resulting sample pulps were analyzed for gold by fire assay in Vancouver, BC. The pulps were also assayed using multi-element aqua regia digestion at ALS Canada Ltd.'s lab in Vancouver, BC. The coarse reject portions of the rock samples, as well as the pulps, were shipped to J2 Syndicate's storage facility in Terrace, BC. All samples were analyzed using ALS Canada Ltd.'s assay procedure ME-ICP41, a 1:1:1 aqua regia digestion with inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) or inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) finish for 35 elements as well as the Au-AA24 lead collection fire assay fusion procedure with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish. Any results greater than 100 ppm for silver or 10,000 ppm copper, lead and zinc were additionally assayed using ALS's OG46 method particular to each element. This method used an HNO3-HCl digestion followed by ICP-AES (or titrimetric and gravimetric analysis). Gold values of greater than 10 ppm Au were assayed by the Au-GRA22 method which includes a fire-assay fusion procedure with a gravimetric finish. QA/QC samples including blanks, standards, and duplicate samples were inserted regularly into the sample sequence. The reader is cautioned that grab samples are spot samples which are typically, but not exclusively, constrained to mineralization. Grab samples are selective in nature and collected to determine the presence or absence of mineralization and are not intended to be representative of the material sampled. For more information please contact: Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. Mr. Dan Stuart President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: (778) 223-0293 dan@juggernautexploration.com Website: www.juggernautexploration.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT Certain disclosure in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernauts operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN IT. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:43:44|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Lao National Assembly President Pany Yathotou (C) speaks at the the National Assembly ordinary session in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on Nov. 20, 2018. The Lao government will cut the annual quota of new civil servants from 3,000 people this year to 1,500 people next year to ease its budgetary burden, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the parliament on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Keth Salianekham) VIENTIANE, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government will cut the annual quota of new civil servants from 3,000 people this year to 1,500 people next year to ease its budgetary burden, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the parliament on Tuesday. "The government will focus on capacity building of the civil servants and their creativity so that they can deliver better and more effective professional performances. More central officials will be dispatched to rural areas according to the guidance of the Party," said Thongloun. The Lao government has also decided to suspend planned increase of the civil servant salary index as the country is facing budgetary hindrances. The lao economy continues to be stable and grow but at a slower pace, Vice Premier and Minister of Finance Somdy Douangdy told the parliament. He attributed the slower economic growth to rising production costs, financial and monetary hindrances, and significant depreciation of Lao kip against hard currencies, and other domestic and external factors. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:43:44|Editor: yan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A man recently released from prison attacked a police officer with a knife on Tuesday morning in front of the Brussels-City police station. The wounded has been taken to hospital. Witnesses claimed they heard the man shout "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great"), according to a statement from Ine Van Wymersch, spokesperson for the prosecution of Brussels. The attacker Issam T. was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2011 for his involvement in several robberies committed in the region of Walloon Brabant. In 2014, he was charged with attempted murder while serving his sentence in prison. In October, he was released from prison despite pressure from the prosecutor. The police officer received two knife wounds to the throat. He is a section chief officer who was returning from his night shift at 5:30 a.m. local time, said local official Philippe Close. Two of his colleagues immediately intervened to neutralize the assailant. The policeman has been taken to hospital and is expected to survive these injuries. "The police are once again the victim of a cowardly attack, the prosecution is investigating the case," said Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon. He also confirmed that the individual had never been arrested before for acts related to terrorism. An investigation on whether the attack is linked to terrorism is going on. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:48:45|Editor: yan Video Player Close WUHAN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Over 400 Chinese law students have successfully safeguarded their consumer rights against a restaurant that attempted to break its promise in a promotional activity. The restaurant, located near the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (ZUEL) in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, encouraged customers to share its social media posts and collect 80 likes in exchange for free buffet vouchers from Nov. 13 until noon on Nov. 16, while claiming to have no cap on the number of customers participating in such a promotional activity. The restaurant, however, suddenly ended the activity on Nov. 15, saying it was full to capacity and deleting related social media posts, which prompted over 400 partaking ZUEL law students to take action and defend their consumer rights. Many students who were refused from taking part in the activity turned to police for help, complained to the local customers' association and even created a WeChat group to discuss the issue. "The restaurant's activity can be seen as an offer," one ZUEL law student surnamed Yang said in a video posted online. "We, as customers, were promised an offer, so we possessed the legal rights to obtain such vouchers. This is specified in the regulations of the Contract Law." The restaurant later said it misstated prerequisites during the online advertising campaign, which led to misunderstanding among the students and other customers. It promised to offer vouchers to those who have accumulated enough "likes" on their social media pages. Since Nov. 15, the actions of ZUEL students to defend their consumers rights have become a trending hashtag and hot topic on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, with over 12 million engagements and over 9,000 reposts. ZUEL's official Weibo account also shared messages of support for its law students, while one Weibo user named YouniWoo commented, "This was the perfect way to promote knowledge of laws." People Daily's official Weibo account also commented that the actions of ZUEL students reflected the growing public awareness of rights-defending. In recent years, China is seeing a rise in consumer activism and a growing awareness of rights defending with more people taking legal means to safeguard their legitimate rights. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 23:48:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Cai Mingzhao, president of China's Xinhua News Agency, addresses the opening ceremony of the 2018 China-Latin America and the Caribbean Media Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 19, 2018. The forum kicked off here on Monday to promote bilateral cooperation in the field. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Media should play a bigger role in deepening the China-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) comprehensive cooperative partnership, Cai Mingzhao, president of China's Xinhua News Agency, said here on Monday. Cai made the remarks when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2018 China-Latin America and the Caribbean Media Forum. "For more than four centuries, people in China and LAC have been deeply impressed and attracted by each other's brilliant civilizations and our exchange and communication have never stopped," he said. Noting that news media act as a bridge linking countries and civilizations in their communication and cooperation, he said that Chinese and LAC media play a critical role in bilateral relations. "In recent years, robust progress has been made between the two sides, with the scope of our cooperation being expanded and forms being enriched. Such cooperation has contributed to the development of the China-LAC comprehensive cooperative partnership," Cai said. China-LAC relations are among the most important relations in the world. Deepening the China-LAC comprehensive cooperative partnership is in the interests of both sides, he said. Cai also stressed Xinhua's commitment to the principles of "being true and comprehensive, objective and balanced, fair and just, progressive, people-oriented and caring for all" in international news reporting. "We will adhere to these principles, join hands with our LAC colleagues and step up efforts to report on China-LAC cooperation. We would like to present Chinese people with a true LAC and tell true Chinese stories to LAC people," he said. During his speech, Cai raised three proposals on the enhancement of China-LAC media cooperation. The first calls for deepening cooperation on news reporting. "We propose that Chinese media go deeper into the marvelous continent of Latin America and also welcome LAC media to do interviews and exchanges in China," he said. The second proposal calls for enhancing new media exchanges. Cai said Xinhua is willing to grant LAC colleagues access to "Live News Cloud," a live-steaming platform open to all media, and "Media Brain," a platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI), cooperate with LAC media in new media, and discuss the path of innovative development. The third proposal calls for joint participation "in the building of the Belt and Road." Xinhua is now working on the establishment of an economic information alliance for the Belt and Road Initiative. The alliance aims to boost trade and win-win cooperation for all participants through information sharing, channel providing, special consulting, investment and business mediating, according to Cai. "So far more than 30 institutions from over 20 countries have expressed their willingness to join the alliance. We sincerely invite LAC media and related institutions to join us," he said. The event, themed "Deepening media cooperation, contributing to building of a China-LAC community with a shared future," drew representatives from 13 Chinese media outlets and over a hundred news agencies from over 20 LAC nations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:08:50|Editor: yan Video Player Close BUDAPEST, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian government gave its first explanation on why it was reluctant to sign the agreement with the U.S. state of New York, enabling the Central European University (CEU) to continue its activity in Budapest, official sources revealed here on Tuesday. "The Hungarian law requires foreign universities operating in Hungary to have campus in both Hungary and their home country," Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was quoted by the government website. "In the case of the CEU, for the time being, we do not see it as proven," he added. CEU started activities as required by the Hungarian law on education at Bard College, and the State of New York (United States) has already signed the cooperation agreement testifying that CEU had activities in the State of New York, as requested by the Hungarian government. "I do not know that there is a mandate in preparation for me to sign a new agreement on cooperation in higher education," he said, adding that he had recently already signed three similar agreements, two with American, and one with a Chinese institution. In April 2017, the Hungarian government re-regulated foreign institutes of higher education operating in Hungary. The new law required an international treaty with the government of the home country of a university operating in Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said several times that the future of CEU depended on talks and an accord between the American and Hungarian governments. CEU rector, Canadian national Michael Ignatieff, has said the bill was aimed directly against CEU, and started preparations to move the headquarters of the University from Budapest to neighboring Austrian capital city of Vienna. CEU was founded in 1991 by Hungary-born American billionaire George Soros, and based first in Prague and later in Budapest. Soros is seen as an enemy of the Hungarian government, accused by the latter to organize waves of massive migration from the Middle East to Europe. CEU delivers both American and Hungarian diplomas. It currently has approximately 1,400 students and 370 faculty members from more than 130 countries. A few weeks ago, CEU announced that if the Hungarian government refused to sign the agreement by Dec. 1, they would be forced to move to Vienna. On Sunday, Soros met with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in order to discuss the details of the University that Austria would be glad to welcome. Several demonstrations were organized by supporters of CEU in Hungary last year, drawing tens of thousands of people, but two recent demonstrations two weeks ago and last Friday failed to attract masses, only a few hundred people showed up. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:08:50|Editor: yan Video Player Close PARIS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko on Tuesday reaffirmed in a joint statement their "strong" support for Renault-Nissan alliance after its chairman Carlos Ghosn's arrest over financial misconduct. Over phone talks, the two ministers reiterated both governments'support to the alliance which they described as "a world-leading car manufacturer and one of the greatest symbols of French-Japanese industrial cooperation." Le Maire and Seko also "shared wish to maintain this winning cooperation," the statement added. Ghosn, chairman and chief executive of Renault, the country's second largest auto maker and in which France is a 15-percent stakeholder, was arrested Monday in Japan on allegations of financial wrongdoings, sending the group's stocks tumbling and investors on edge. The 64-year-old car business leader was also chairman of Nissan Motor Co and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation. Earlier on Tuesday, Le Maire stressed the necessity to appoint an interim governance "as soon as possible" as "Carlos Ghosn is no longer in a position where he is capable of leading Renault," he told France info radio. According to local media, Renault's board will meet later on Tuesday to discuss temporarily replacing Ghosn. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:08:50|Editor: yan Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the suicide attack on a wedding hall in Afghan capital Kabul that has killed at least 40 people. Spokesman for Afghan Interior Ministry Najib Danesh said the blast hit a luxury hotel and wedding hall named Uranus in Kabul when religious scholars and people gathered there. "Perpetrators are condemnable for this heinous attack by all religious and human standards. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said. "We fully stand with and share the grief of the people of Afghanistan at this sad moment," the spokesman said in a statement. He also expressed his deep sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and pray for swift recovery of the injured. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:18:52|Editor: yan Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai has attracted 95,000 foreign-funded projects since China's reform and opening up, with a total foreign investment of 237.6 billion U.S. dollars, official data showed Tuesday. According to statistics released by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, the top 100 foreign-funded companies in Shanghai had total revenues of nearly 2.94 trillion yuan (423.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2017, up 18.8 percent over the previous year. Their exports and imports reached 169.9 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 9.83 percent. "Foreign companies have become engines of Shanghai's economic development," said Shang Yuying with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce. "They are also essential to the city's industrial restructuring, and scientific and technological innovation." In 2017, foreign-funded enterprises in Shanghai contributed more than a quarter of the city's economic output and over one-third of the city's tax revenue. Surveys also indicate that more than half of them see China as the most important overseas market. "Shanghai will pick up its pace in building innovative free trade zones and further facilitate its service for foreign companies," said Ma Chunlei, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government. "Shanghai always welcomes companies from all over the world to start their businesses here." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:18:52|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Members of Yunnan border police bureau line up as their patrol missions along the Mekong River starts in Guanlei, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 20, 2018. The 76th Mekong River joint patrol led by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand started on Tuesday morning from Guanlei Port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province. According to Yunnan border police bureau, the joint patrol will last five days and cover a range of over 500 kilometers to enhance anti-terrorism capability, safeguard the security and crack down on cross-border crimes. The patrol will include anti-terrorism drills, police skill practices and an anti-drug campaign. Since December 2011, the joint patrols have covered more than 39,500 kilometers, with 122 merchant ships rescued and 582.28 kilograms of drugs seized. The Mekong River, also known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping among China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. (Xinhua/Xie Ziyi) By Xinhua Writers Chu Yi and Yang Jing KUNMING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- At 8 a.m. Tuesday, ships horns echoed through the river valley as the 76th joint patrol of the Mekong River by law enforcement from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand set sail, marking its 7th anniversary. Wearing uniforms, helmets and life jackets, rows of police officers stood at attention on deck, with automatic rifles in hand. Once every month since 2011, the patrols targeting drug trafficking, smuggling and other cross-border crimes along the Mekong, conduct random inspections in waters near key regions, including the Golden Triangle. The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River at the Chinese stretch, runs through China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is an important waterway for transnational shipping and a border area known for criminal activities. Complex river conditions also pose a danger, with torrents and rocks constantly threatening to strand or capsize ships on the river. "The unexpected can always happen on Mekong. Varied and changeable situations along the waterway makes navigation charts impossible, and years of experience is the only reference," said Huang Cheng, a captain for the patrols. It can take about eight years to train an independent Mekong captain, he said. Huang is the youngest of the 10 experienced Mekong captains selected for river patrols to tackle safety concerns, after a gang hijacked two cargo ships and killed 13 Chinese sailors in Golden Triangle waters on Oct. 5, 2011, including Huang's uncle. "I was also on the Mekong, about two hours after my uncle's Huaping [ship]. I saw his ship hijacked but that was a common occurrence for robbery at that time and I never thought he would die," Huang said. Photographs of the sailors' bodies showed that the victims had their hands tied and their mouths gagged before being executed and some had been blindfolded with tape. After the brutal attack, the four countries issued a joint statement on law enforcement and security cooperation along the Mekong River. More than 280 officers from China's border force were selected to form a patrol team. Huang applied to join the team. Two months later, the first joint patrol left the town of Guanlei in southwest China's Yunnan to escort 10 cargo ships into downstream countries in an event marking the resumption of international shipping on the Mekong, which had been halted after the October attack. STABILIZING THE REGION "To guarantee the absolute safety of cargo ships is our top priority," said Yan Fan, a member of the river patrol team. A total of 39 cargo ships resumed shipment after the first joint patrol and the number jumped to 574 after the eighth, he added. "The patrols have greatly improved security and stability in the region, bringing benefits to residents along the river and promoting trade activities," said Khamsone, a lieutenant colonel with the Lao People's Army. During the third joint patrol in January 2012, a merchant boat Shengtai 11 was attacked by unidentified gunmen in the Golden Triangle region, with bullets hitting windows, walls and doors. Police officers from China and Laos were sent to the spot immediately and safely escorted the boat back to China. In March 2013, about 578 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized by the joint force, an effective deterrent to drug dealers in the region. By the end of October, 640 vessels and about 12,000 law enforcement personnel from the four countries had participated in 75 missions, inspecting 808 ships and more than 70,000 tonnes of cargo, while helping 121 ships out of danger. "The patrols have effectively boosted shipping safety on the river," said Li Yong, a senior official with the river patrol team. Success of the patrols has won applause from local residents. "In the first several years, we could see banners and hear cheers welcoming us on both sides of the river," Huang said. For seven years, security cooperation between the four countries has been getting closer with joint patrols a regular monthly phenomenon. The cooperation has expanded to the cracking down on terrorism and human trafficking, as well as joint search and rescue. "It has been seven years. Sailing through the water area where my uncle was killed, I still feel heavy. But from shipping to patrolling, I am proud that I can make a difference," Huang said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:23:54|Editor: yan Video Player Close SARAJEVO, Nov.20 (Xinhua) -- In order to ensure the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) border, Germany provided specialized equipment worth 458,000 euros (523,646 U.S. dollars) on Tuesday here. The agreement on equipment delivery was signed here by German Ambassador to BiH Christiane Hohmann and Director of BiH Border Police (BiHBP) Zoran Galic, emphasizing that donation represents the best example of good bilateral cooperation. It involves six all-terrain vehicles (ATV), 10 patrol boats, 3,000 NIK tests that measure the presence of drugs and 11 thermovision cameras. Hohmann pointed out that this donation is the biggest one in the last two years, adding that it will help the members of BiHBP to monitor difficult-to-access areas and perform their duties on such territories. She highlighted that the aim of the donation is to help the members to overcome all challenges and pressures they face during the increased inflow of migrants, adding that the institution manages successfully the situation despite the lack of police members at the border. For his part, Galic said that Germany supports the institution since BiHBP establishment and until today, it donated more than 11 million KM (6.5 million U.S. dollars). "This equipment is of a vast importance for our activities to be raised to the higher level. Germany is a true partner of BiHBP, supplying us with the equipment which we truly need," Galic explained. The cooperation of German and BiH police will continue, and in 2019 Germany will allocate funds for the procurement of equipment to be used on BiH airports, said the German embassy in BiH. Albuquerque, New Mexico, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TriCore Reference Laboratories is the first clinical lab in the nation to offer a comprehensive screening assay and diagnostic algorithm for the identification of BCR-ABL1-like B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-ALL) (or Ph-like ALL) performed in the Molecular Diagnostics and Cytogenetic departments. UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center developed the screening assay for use in clinical trials, and collaborated with TriCore in this clinical launch of the assay. BCR-ABL1-like B lymphoblastic leukemia is a heterogeneous group of diseases associated with poor prognosis. However, many of the underlying genetic changes are potentially sensitive to treatment with targeted therapy. Early identification and appropriate treatment can result in improved patient outcomes. Because there is not a single, discreet cytogenetic or molecular abnormality that defines BCR-ABL1-like B-ALL, extensive and complex laboratory testing has been required to identify patients with this disease. According to Devon Chabot-Richards, MD, Medical Director of Molecular Diagnostics for TriCore, TriCores assay is the first commercially available screen for this complex entity. The Low Density Array card (LDA) coupled with TriCores algorithm offer a simple and comprehensive way to identify patients with BCR-ABL1-like B-ALL. In addition, our world-class team of hematopathologists and molecular pathologists offer detailed interpretation and guidance and ensure appropriate follow-up testing is performed. For more information, please visit our website http://www.tricore.org/BCR_ABL1_like_ALL. -30- TriCore Reference Laboratories is an independent, not-for-profit, clinical reference laboratory founded and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, co-sponsored by Presbyterian Healthcare Services and University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. TriCore provides over 2,900, full-service, state-of-the-art laboratory tests to healthcare professionals and their patients. TriCore also provides analytics and research services, supporting healthcare and scientific organizations worldwide. For more information, visit tricore.org. Attachment Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:23:57|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) warned on Tuesday that the departure of Britain from the European Union (EU) will witness an increase in economic risks faced by the bloc. Speaking during ongoing budgetary consultations in the federal parliament (Bundestag), Scholz highlighted that members of the Eurozone were set to account for more than 85 percent of total EU gross domestic product (GDP) after Brexit. The requirements for the remaining 27 EU members to ensure household discipline would also rise as a result. In light of this development, the minister had developed a policy package together with his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire which envisioned the transformation of the current European Stability Mechanism (ESM) into a full-fledged European Monetary Fund (EMF). Scholz expressed hope that such an institution would enhance the possibility of the Eurozone to assist members which were experiencing financial difficulties despite maintaining sound fiscal policies. He promised that the allocation of funds would occur under parliamentary scrutiny. Germany and France are both advocating for members of the Eurozone to take more ambitious steps to complete the single currency area's banking union. The two neighbors have recently reached an agreement on first proposals to create a specific Eurozone budget and create institutional facilities to serve as a supranational lender of last resort during crises. So far, the plan has met with a lukewarm reception in most of the continent's capitals. Aside from Eurozone reform, Scholz also told delegates on Tuesday that he wanted to improve the taxation of international companies with an international solution. The finance minister criticized that several digital corporations showcased the "most prominent examples of creative tax evasion" and called for government cooperation on the subject to take place in the framework of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already proposed introducing a new tax on data in the digital economy. At the time, she argued that ongoing discussions in the EU over how to tax large tax companies like Google and Amazon only underscored the urgency of problems in the current regulatory regime governing digital commerce. The situation raised the question of whether traditional corporation tax models were still appropriate, or whether policymakers should instead resort to revenue-taxing to ensure a level playing field between digital and non-digital companies. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:28:59|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United States military said Tuesday its special forces conducted two airstrikes in the vicinity of Debatscile in Somalia on Monday, killing 37 al-Shabab terrorists. The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the two airstrikes, carried in cooperation with the Somali government, were planned to degrade the extremists. "We currently assess the first airstrike killed twenty-seven (27) militants. This precision strike was a planned and deliberate action," AFRICOM said in a statement. It said 10 militants were killed in another airstrike and that no civilian was killed or injured in the latest airstrikes. AFRICOM vowed to continue working with its partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia from the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) to the Somali federal government and its member states. "Alongside our Somali and international partners, we are committed to preventing al-Shabab from taking advantage of safe havens from which they can build capacity and attack the people of Somalia," it said. The statement said the terrorist group uses portions of southern and central Somalia "to plot and direct terror attacks, steal humanitarian aid, extort the local populace to fund its operations, and shelter radical terrorists." Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:33:59|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) has rebuffed public criticism of his government's response to the diesel emissions scandal by a senior automotive industry executive. Speaking during budgetary consultations in the parliament (Bundestag) on Tuesday, Scheuer urged German carmakers to make a greater effort to develop new products. "Those who speak of the challenges of the future, but do not bring the products of the future into stores quickly, are at risk of losing the world champion title in automotive production", the minister told delegates. Scheuer's comments were made in reference to calls by Volkswagen Group chief executive Herbert Diess in the newspaper BILD for policymakers to assume a more positive attitude towards the automotive industry. Diess lamented that Germany lacked a "true auto agenda" and that "hardly anyone" in the country's party system could imagine a positive perspective for cars. Rejecting these claims, Scheuer noted that Berlin was already subsidizing the development of cleaner propulsion technologies with billions of euros. "One would think that a lot could be created with this money". Aside from citing the production of "fantastic cars which enthrall customers" as one potential use of the funds, Scheuer chided the domestic automotive industry for neglecting the production of urgently required commercial vehicles and buses. "It is not always about presenting highly polished design cars", Scheuer said. Instead, carmakers should also focus on bringing products onto the streets and convincing customers to buy vehicles on the basis of their daily utility and price-tag. The minister vowed to ensure that communal governments played their part in resolving the diesel crisis as well. In light of looming driving bans in many German cities, Scheuer criticized nitrogen oxide (NOx) measurement stations at crossings or bus terminals as being inappropriate and announced that his department would review the positioning thereof. According to Scheuer, communal government shared part of the responsibility for the mobility of German citizens. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:39:00|Editor: yan Video Player Close BRATISLAVA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak indicated on Tuesday that he will resign from his post if Parliament votes not to join the United Nations Global Compact on Migration. "Ever since I've been a minister, I've been pushing for a democratic, pro-European vision of Slovakia that is part of the solutions. However, if the overwhelming proportion of MPs want Slovakia to be isolated, to be part of the problems and to leave solutions to others, in that case I cannot pursue such a policy," said Lajcak. Lajcak went on to state that he'd spoken to Smer-SD chairman Robert Fico before the former prime minister published a video in which he described the UN compact as a document that's at odds with Slovakia's migration policy. Lajcak interpreted their conversation differently from Fico. "The basic element was that we can't stick our heads in the sand or publish Facebook statuses; we need to communicate if we have any reservations," said Lajcak, adding that all those criticising the compact are in fact following other objectives. "It's not about this document; this is about winning voter support..., they're all concentrating on our own petty politics," Lajcak pointed out. The head of Slovak diplomacy also wonders why his colleagues from Smer-SD want him to run in the presidential election even though they aren't supporting him in promoting the UN Global Migration Compact, which was adopted in 2017 when Lajcak served as the president of the UN General Assembly for the 72nd session. "On one hand, I've failed, as I have de facto betrayed Slovakia's interests as president of the General Assembly, which is nonsense, but they're trying to imply that. On the other hand, I'm supposed to be good enough to become president," added Lajcak. The main goal of the 34-page UN document is to help better organise migration flows and strengthen migrants' rights. Some countries including Australia, Austria, Hungary and the USA have already announced their withdrawal from the compact, with other countries planning to follow suit. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:49:03|Editor: yan Video Player Close RABAT, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) --The 8th Africities Summit opened on Tuesday in the Moroccan city of Marrakech with the participation of over 5,000 people. Held under the theme "the transition to sustainable cities and territories: the role of Africa's local and regional governments," the Africities Summit aims at defining shared strategies in order to improve the living conditions of people. The participants will discuss alternative policies leading to environmental sustainability and social inclusion in Africa. The summit gathers ministers, officials, civil society organizations, associations and trade unions, economic operators, researchers and academics and international cooperation agencies. Africities Summit is the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa's flagship pan-African event that is held every three years in one of the five regions of Africa. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:49:04|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Afghan security forces inspect the site of a suicide bombing in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Nov. 20, 2018. At least 43 people were killed and 83 others injured after a suicide bombing struck a hotel in Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday evening, the Public Health Ministry confirmed. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah) KABUL, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 43 people were killed and 83 others injured after a suicide bombing struck a hotel in Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday evening, the Public Health Ministry confirmed. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh told Xinhua earlier that 40 people were confirmed dead and 60 others injured. Witnesses at the site of the blast said they believed the number of casualties was higher than the official figure. The deadly attack took place in Uranus hotel and wedding hall during a meeting of religious scholars to celebrate the Miladun Nabi or the birthday of Muslims Prophet Mohammad. Several top clerics were among the victims, according to an eyewitness who refused to be identified. A top religious scholar on condition of anonymity has blamed the Islamic State for the deadly bombing. But the terror group has yet to claim responsibility. Meanwhile, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, in a statement released by his office, blamed the enemies of Islam, humanity and Afghanistan for launching the bloody terrorist attack and condemned it in its strongest term. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:49:05|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Murad Abdu ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- In response to the ongoing efforts to hold a new round of peace talks, Yemenis hope that they will finally succeed in ending their four-year suffering from war, violence and poverty. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government and Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels both declared a temporary halt of fighting to pave the way for the peace talks, which will seek to end the Yemeni civil war that has killed thousands of people and brought the impoverished Arab country to its knees. The Yemeni citizens in the southern port city of Aden consider the negotiations as a golden opportunity, as they are fed up with the miserable life resulting from the protracted military conflict and violence. Khaled Fahim, a youth political activist in Aden, said that the ordinary Yemenis "highly aspire to end the conflict as soon as possible because their lives became more miserable." He told Xinhua that the international community needs to find a political solution to the country's military conflict during the planned peace talks in Sweden in the next weeks. Fahim stressed that the thing which the Yemeni citizens will never accept "is the lack of seriousness from the international community to lead the negotiations to success through using their political pressures on local Yemeni leaders." "The past negotiations failed because the international community had no willingness to support the people in Yemen and end their suffering," said Fahim. Mohamed Abdul-Qawi, an soldier with the pro-government Giants Brigades who was wounded while fighting the Houthis in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, urged the two warring sides "to stop the fighting that brings about more catastrophes." "I realized that the ongoing military operations don't solve the problem but only create more complicated things every day," he told Xinhua. Kamal Ahmed, a primary school student in Aden, still remembers the ferocious fighting and airstrikes that hit the city during the fighting between government forces and the Houthis who withdrew in 2015 after losing the battle. "Fighting made us as children suffer from displacement and I still remember sleeping hungry without food during the previous war in Aden," Kamal told Xinhua. "I don't want the children in other provinces to experience the same things and suffering that happened with me during the war," he said. Nabil bin Saeed, a displaced citizen who works as a street vendor in Aden, said the new peace talks will be "the last candle of hope" that will enlighten the darkness and bring a better situation for all Yemenis. "I left my city Hodeidah for fear of losing my children in the ongoing fighting, but after the success of the next negotiations, everything will be resolved," Saeed told Xinhua. He demanded the Yemeni political parties and decision-makers work hard to make the peace talks a success, because "no more chances will come." The Saudi-backed Yemeni government announced Monday to take part in the peace talks, while calling on the UN to pressure the Houthi rebels to attend the negotiations without placing preconditions. On Friday, UN Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said that he plans to visit Hodeidah to work toward a UN supervision over the Yemeni port that handles 80 percent of the humanitarian aid to the war-torn country. Griffiths told the Security Council he intends to convene the new round of peace talks between the warring factions "shortly" in Sweden in a bid to end the military conflict in Yemen. The fighting for the control of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah erupted following the collapse of the peacemaking efforts by the UN in Geneva on Sept. 8, as the Houthi rebels refused to attend. The Yemeni troops made significant gains and advanced to near the city center in Hodeidah during the past few days, but the fighting with Houthi rebels was temporarily halted for humanitarian purposes despite sporadic attacks. The military conflict in Yemen began with the 2014 takeover of the capital of Sanaa by the Houthis, which forced Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile. The Saudi-led coalition allied with the government has been fighting the Houthis since 2015. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:49:06|Editor: yan Video Player Close RIGA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ieva Jaunzeme, a former head of the Latvian Competition Council, has won a tender to become the next director-general of the Latvian State Revenue Service, representatives of the State Chancellery informed on Tuesday. Jaunzeme has held administrative positions in the ministries of economics and welfare and headed the competition council for six years. Previously she also served as an adviser to Latvia's Permanent Representation to the European Union (EU). Jaunzeme, who holds a master's degree in business management, has headed the Latvian Employers Confederation for four years. "Jaunzeme's work experience in both public and private sector is a significant asset," said State Chancellery director Janis Citskovskis who chaired the panel that judged the candidates for Latvia's next tax chief. The winner will now be presented to the finance minister who in turn will decide on recommending the candidate to the government. Once approved, she will be appointed to the position for a five-year period. A new director-general of the State Revenue Service is being sought since the tax authority's previous head Ilze Cirule suddenly died on March 10, 2018. The first tender to appoint Cirule's successor failed as the winner, Maris Skujins, withdrew his candidacy after questions were raised about his reputation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:54:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close YAOUNDE, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Fifteen school children and a teacher of a private school in Kumba, a town in the Southwest, one of the two war-torn English-speaking regions of Cameroon, have been abducted by gunmen, local residents who witnessed the kidnapping have told Xinhua. The Cameroonian government is still tracing when and how the kidnapping happened, Cameroon's minister of communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, told Xinhua by telephone. It was the second abduction of students this month in Cameroon's troubled Anglophone zone. On Nov. 4, 79 school children were kidnapped in a private school in the Anglophone region of Northwest. They were released a few days later. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:54:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close YANGON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Myanmar Tuesday provided humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons in Kachin state. The Chinese embassy provided 160 million kyats (101,265 U.S. dollars) worth of commodities including rice, cooking oil, blankets and 12 million kyats (7,594 U.S. dollars) worth of medicine to the displaced persons in Sumprabum, Putao, Machanbaw townships and places in Myitkyina. Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang pledged to continue support in the development of social welfare, economy, education and health for the people in Kachin state. "Peace is what we really want. There will be no IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camps anymore if we attain peace here in Kachin state," Dr. Khet Aung, chief minister of Kachin state said. The humanitarian aid will be provided to 1,416 houses in seven IDP camps in the region. China also donated commodities and stationery to two orphanages in Myitkyina. English French Press release November 20, 2018 Altran participates in the "Usine Extraordinaire" exhibition in partnership with Sanofi From November 22 to the 25, the Grand Palais will be hosting the first annual "Usine Extraordinaire" experience, a unique event dedicated to the digital transformation at work in industry Altran, the global leader in engineering and R&D services, was selected as a strategic partner by Sanofi, a major global player in human health, to take part in a consortium created to implement Sanofi's digital roadmap for all manufacturing aspects. Thanks in particular to the expertise of its World Class Center for Advanced Manufacturing and its experience in digitizing industrial assets, Altran has designed two use cases at the core of manufacturing systems concerning Human processes: - Augmented reality for operations and maintenance a system designed to guide operators through all assembly line tasks involved in producing Sanofi's healthcare solutions. - Digitization of "operator" procedures and instructions : a customized visual interface to guide and assist laboratory technicians in their daily work by handling the entire procedure, step by step. For Usine Extraordinaire, where visitors will have the unique opportunity to experience a "life-size factory" in the heart of Paris, a special itinerary will lead the general public through four themed exhibits: Invent, Connect, Manufacture, Share. In the "Manufacture" exhibit, Altran will be putting these two new innovations on display for the first time: an environment where visitors can experience the factory from the inside, discover ingenious processes, gain insight into the key functions of each worker and the consummate skills necessary, while exploring the world of manufacturing itself. " We are proud to be co-founders of this exceptional event. This is a unique opportunity, alongside partners such as Altran, to demonstrate the expertise and passion of the men and women involved daily on our industrial sites to transform scientific innovations into health solutions and make them available to citizens in France and around the world," said Philippe Luscan, Sanofi Executive Vice President for Global Industrial Affairs. The industry of tomorrow is a strategic and economic challenge for French companies, and we are committed to guiding them in their transformation with an eye to triumphing together on the battlefield of competitiveness. In this sense, Usine Extraordinaire is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the reality of today and tomorrow. We are proud to participate, together with Sanofi, in this immersive and experience-based journey at the heart of the Factory of the Future, said Cyril Roger, Senior Executive Vice-President in charge of Europe and Delegate Director. About Altran Altran ranks as the undisputed global leader in Engineering and R&D services (ER&D), following its acquisition of Aricent. The company offers clients an unmatched value proposition to address their transformation and innovation needs. Altran works alongside its clients, from initial concept through industrialization, to invent the products and services of tomorrow. For over 30 years, the company has provided expertise in aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, finance, life sciences, railway and telecommunications. The Aricent acquisition extends this leadership to semiconductors, digital experience and design innovation. Combined, Altran and Aricent generated revenues of 2.9 billion in 2017, with some 45,000 employees in more than 30 countries. Follow us on Twitter: @Altran Contacts Stephanie Bia Group Senior Vice-President Communications & Investor Relations Tel: + 33 (0)1 46 41 72 01 stephanie.bia@altran.com Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:54:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close LONDON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Three people have been injured in a serious incident at a nuclear power plant in Lancashire, reported British media Tuesday. The injured people are employees of power company EDF, which owns the nuclear station in Heysham, Lancashire. The company said the incident happened at Monday night and the injured were taken to hospital following an "accidental steam release". EDF said the incident was not related to the nuclear process and there was no danger to public safety. A spokeswoman for EDF said a "full investigation" would now be carried out to determine the cause. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:54:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Romania's six new ministers took oath at a ceremony held at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace on Tuesday. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis administered the oath to the nominated ministers, thus Gabriel Les as minister of national defence,Marius Budai as minister of labour and social justice, Niculae Badalau as minister of economy, Daniel Breaz as minister of culture and national identity, Alexandru Petrescu as minister of communications and information society and Constantin-Bogdan Matei as minister of youth and sports. The ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, together with some of her cabinet members. Following the ceremony, the president did not make a speech as usual, but wished the new ministers good luck. Earlier, Iohannis announced that he had issued the government reshuffle decree, but rejected the proposals for the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration and the Ministry of Transport, as they were "inappropriate." "This reshuffle is a weak solution," he said, stressing that "I still believe that the right solution for Romania would have been and is still the replacement of this government which has created a lot of problems for Romania." According to the Constitution, the head of state is entitled to refuse a minister proposal only one time, yet the prime minister cannot repeat the same proposal. The Romanian Social Democratic Party, the main ruling party, announced on Monday a major reshuffle of the government, with eight of the 28-member cabinet being replaced. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 00:59:08|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Tanzania (BOT) said on Tuesday its move to shut down foreign exchange shops in the country's northern region of Arusha followed suspicions on money laundering and associated illegal transactions. BOT Governor Florens Luoga said in a statement that investigations involving various government organs are underway and that those implicated to be involved in "dirty" money will be prosecuted. "They will be charged in courts and at the same time have their licenses revoked," the central bank governor said. Luoga said the closure of foreign exchange outlets in Arusha for inspections was part of a countrywide crackdown against masterminds of syndicates behind money laundering and those operating without licences. He said the central bank has suspended issuance of licenses to run bureaux de change and that it would resume after new regulations that would plug loopholes for illegal money transactions are put in place. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 01:04:09|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Fernando Pedrosa, national director of Public Media Planning Department, addresses the opening ceremony of the 2018 China-Latin America and the Caribbean Media Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 19, 2018. The forum kicked off here on Monday to promote bilateral cooperation in the field. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from more than 100 media outlets from China and Latin America and the Caribbean on Monday agreed to boost cooperation. Participants of the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Media Forum, held in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires under the theme "Deepening media cooperation, contributing to building of a China-LAC community with a shared future," discussed ways to promote cooperation for the benefit of both regions. Organized by China's Xinhua News Agency and Argentina's Federal System of Media and Public Content, the three-day event drew representatives from 13 Chinese media outlets and over a hundred news agencies from more than 20 Latin American and Caribbean nations. The forum tabled such topics as "the media's role in pragmatic cooperation between China and Latin America and the Caribbean" and "creating a China-Latin America and the Caribbean media communication platform through new media cooperation." The "creation of a community of shared future between China and Latin America will favor mutual understanding, as well as greater cooperation and exchange between the media, sharing information through truthful, integral, objective and balanced coverage," the organizers said in a statement following the forum. Hernan Lombardi, head of Argentina's Federal System of Media and Public Content, said that in a world "full of challenges and opportunities," it is essential to promote greater understanding between China and Latin America. "The media have decisive importance in the formation of public opinion in our societies, so boosting exchange is bound to be beneficial," Lombardi said. Iary Gomez Quesada, general manager of Costa Rican newspaper group Diario Extra, said that media cooperation between China and Latin America could promote cultural exchange and strengthen mutual understanding. The television station of the group has recently introduced two Chinese TV series, which showcase Chinese culture and evoked huge responses among viewers, the general manger said. Nestor Marin, editor-in-chief of Cuban news agency Prensa Latina, spotlighted his agency's close ties with Chinese media since its establishment in 1959. "Help and cooperation have been factors that have contributed to bringing those who are geographically distant closer together," said Marin. According to Marin, one challenge facing media in Latin America is how to optimally gather and broadcast information about the Belt and Road Initiative and "the impact of China's presence in Latin America." Keith Eccleston Campbell, president and executive director of Jamaica's Public Radio Corporation, hailed the rise of new media and its ability to reach wider audience. China is playing a fundamental role in this area by seeking "mutually beneficial cooperation and shared development with Latin America and the Caribbean through collaboration in new media platforms," said Campbell. "China and Latin America and the Caribbean have built a bridge for exchange of content and intercultural communication. The web is the main platform used," he added. Carlos Becerra, of Editora Peru publishing house, said China-Latin America media cooperation could be reflected in "scientific and technological support to increase coverage, ratings (and) readership." Jose Juan Sanchez, president and founder of Brazilian multinational consulting firm CMA Group, hailed his company's recent agreement with Xinhua's economic information service. The agreement is "primarily an opportunity to supply China with direct information on behalf of (Brazil's) agribusiness, and for us to receive information on Chinese raw materials," said Sanchez, who was among the Latin American participants at the forum. Alejandro Ramos Esquivel, director general of Mexican news agency Notimex, said that representatives of various media organizations in China and Latin America gathered to discuss opportunities for cooperation and future trends. As the Belt and Road Initiative becomes increasingly influential, media cooperation between China and Latin America will be deepened, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 01:09:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese trade official on Tuesday stressed here that the World Trade Organization (WTO) should restore its capacity to settle disputes. Zhang Xiangchen, China's ambassador to the WTO, said during an interview with Xinhua that China has established a high-level working group on reforming the WTO with the European Union (EU). According to the Chinese ambassador, the priority now is to return the body to its role as a dispute settler. Other urgent tasks for the WTO include achieving an agreement on fishery subsidies in 2019 as planned, e-commerce and investment facilitation, and improvements in transparency. "People sometimes say that the WTO is a patient in a critical state with multiple failing organs. If that is the case, urgently resorting the functioning of the organs and making the right diagnostics of the illness is more important than rushing to give prescriptions," he noted. For the Chinese trade official, there are many reasons the WTO needs reform. For example, e-commerce has flourished across the world, but the WTO does not provide international norms to address it. More alarming is how the organization appears to be losing effectiveness in reigning in unilateralism and protectionism. However, the Chinese ambassador stressed reform does not mean reinventing the wheel and is not an excuse for not implementing the rules, and any such attempt should be met with resistance from members. "The WTO is a public good, not a tool for meeting particular needs of someone or some group of members," he said. "Reforms need to be firmly set in the course of fighting against unilateralism and protectionism. It has to push for worldwide trade liberalization and investment facilitation. It has to stick to the principle of non-discrimination and adopt a democratic approach," he stressed. A small group of people sit on the pavement and wait for getting a chance for physical works in construction in Aden city, Yemen, on November 20, 2018. (Xinhua/Murad Abdu) ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- In response to the ongoing efforts to hold a new round of peace talks, Yemenis hope that they will finally succeed in ending their four-year suffering from war, violence and poverty. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government and Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels both declared a temporary halt of fighting to pave the way for the peace talks, which will seek to end the Yemeni civil war that has killed thousands of people and brought the impoverished Arab country to its knees. The Yemeni citizens in the southern port city of Aden consider the negotiations as a golden opportunity, as they are fed up with the miserable life resulting from the protracted military conflict and violence. A street vendor tries to sell his vegetables sacks for customers in Aden city, Yemen, on November 20, 2018. (Xinhua/Murad Abdu) Khaled Fahim, a youth political activist in Aden, said that the ordinary Yemenis "highly aspire to end the conflict as soon as possible because their lives became more miserable." He told Xinhua that the international community needs to find a political solution to the country's military conflict during the planned peace talks in Sweden in the next weeks. Fahim stressed that the thing which the Yemeni citizens will never accept "is the lack of seriousness from the international community to lead the negotiations to success through using their political pressures on local Yemeni leaders." "The past negotiations failed because the international community had no willingness to support the people in Yemen and end their suffering," said Fahim. Mohamed Abdul-Qawi, an soldier with the pro-government Giants Brigades who was wounded while fighting the Houthis in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, urged the two warring sides "to stop the fighting that brings about more catastrophes." "I realized that the ongoing military operations don't solve the problem but only create more complicated things every day," he told Xinhua. A clothing store owner waits for customers at a market in Aden city, Yemen, on November 20, 2018. (Xinhua/Murad Abdu) Kamal Ahmed, a primary school student in Aden, still remembers the ferocious fighting and airstrikes that hit the city during the fighting between government forces and the Houthis who withdrew in 2015 after losing the battle. "Fighting made us as children suffer from displacement and I still remember sleeping hungry without food during the previous war in Aden," Kamal told Xinhua. "I don't want the children in other provinces to experience the same things and suffering that happened with me during the war," he said. Nabil bin Saeed, a displaced citizen who works as a street vendor in Aden, said the new peace talks will be "the last candle of hope" that will enlighten the darkness and bring a better situation for all Yemenis. "I left my city Hodeidah for fear of losing my children in the ongoing fighting, but after the success of the next negotiations, everything will be resolved," Saeed told Xinhua. He demanded the Yemeni political parties and decision-makers work hard to make the peace talks a success, because "no more chances will come." The Saudi-backed Yemeni government announced Monday to take part in the peace talks, while calling on the UN to pressure the Houthi rebels to attend the negotiations without placing preconditions. On Friday, UN Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said that he plans to visit Hodeidah to work toward a UN supervision over the Yemeni port that handles 80 percent of the humanitarian aid to the war-torn country. Griffiths told the Security Council he intends to convene the new round of peace talks between the warring factions "shortly" in Sweden in a bid to end the military conflict in Yemen. The fighting for the control of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah erupted following the collapse of the peacemaking efforts by the UN in Geneva on Sept. 8, as the Houthi rebels refused to attend. The Yemeni troops made significant gains and advanced to near the city center in Hodeidah during the past few days, but the fighting with Houthi rebels was temporarily halted for humanitarian purposes despite sporadic attacks. The military conflict in Yemen began with the 2014 takeover of the capital of Sanaa by the Houthis, which forced Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile. The Saudi-led coalition allied with the government has been fighting the Houthis since 2015. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 01:14:10|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday appointed Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaube of Spain as his high representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). Moratinos will succeed, starting Jan. 1, 2019, Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser of Qatar, to whom the secretary-general expressed his gratitude "for his vision and leadership" in enhancing dialogue with stakeholders and strengthening the work and objectives of the alliance, according to a press release. "Mr. Moratinos has committed his professional and political career to international relationships and development cooperation, notably as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (of Spain) (2004-2010), holding the presidency of the United Nations Security Council and chairmanships-in-office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and the Council of the European Union," said the press release. "As minister, Mr. Moratinos fostered effective multilateralism, the Alliance of Civilizations, the Group of Friends for the Reform of the United Nations and contributed to the creation of innovative programs for development, healthcare and women within the United Nations system, doubling his country's Official Development Assistance funds," it said. UNAOC was launched in 2005 as the political initiative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan with the co-sponsorship of the governments of Spain and Turkey. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 02:14:21|Editor: yan Video Player Close SOFIA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC) here on Tuesday called for more cooperation between China and Bulgaria under the Belt and Road Initiative. "Participating in the Belt and Road Initiative will facilitate Bulgaria's infrastructure improvement, accelerate its social and economic development, and enhance its people's living standards," SRCIC's Vice Chairman and Secretary General Li Zhonghang said while addressing a business forum. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative has received positive responses and participation from more than 140 countries and regions, Li said. It was fair to say that it has brought opportunities to the world. Alexander Tomov, senior advisor at the SRCIC, said in turn that there is national consensus in Bulgaria on the relations with Chinese business. It was needed to connect Bulgarian and Chinese businesses, build bridges in every possible sector, and support Bulgarian companies to understand Chinese market and vice versa, Tomov said, adding this is "not against Europe". "Bulgaria can be one more door or window if you want for Chinese investment in Europe," said Tomov, who was Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister in the 1990s. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 02:54:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 20, 2018. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) MANILA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- China and the Philippines agreed on Tuesday to upgrade their ties to comprehensive strategic cooperation and jointly advance the Belt and Road construction. The decision was made at a meeting between visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte. The two leaders reached important consensus on building bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect, sincerity, equality and mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation. Xi told Duterte that he is delighted to visit the Philippines and is touched by the Philippine people's warm welcome, especially the kids' cheerful smiles. Calling China and the Philippines "close neighbors with exchanges going back a thousand years," Xi said good-neighborliness, friendship and win-win cooperation are the only correct choice for the two countries. The Chinese president said he has had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern with Duterte in their six meetings over the past two years and consolidated consensus and friendship. With joint efforts, the two sides have had fruitful cooperation in various fields and ushered in a new chapter in China-Philippines relations, benefiting both peoples and contributing to regional peace and stability, Xi said. China is willing to carry forward its traditional friendship with the Philippines and deepen the cooperation, so that the two countries can forever make good neighbors, good friends and good partners and share the prosperity, he said. The upgrade of bilateral relations meets the need of their development and the expectation of both peoples, Xi said, calling on the two sides to enhance strategic guidance on bilateral relations by the two heads of state, promote exchanges on all levels and consolidate strategic mutual trust. China supports the Philippines in choosing a development path that suits its own national conditions, he said, adding that the two countries should deepen their cooperation on three pillar fields, namely security, development and culture. China also firmly supports the Philippines' fight against drugs and terrorism, will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to the Philippines to implement more public livelihood projects including poverty reduction, and expand exchanges and cooperation on education, culture and tourism, Xi said. The Chinese president said the Philippines is an important partner in jointly building the Belt and Road and urged both sides to deepen the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines' development plans, and boost cooperation in fields such as infrastructural construction, telecommunications and agriculture. Noting that China and the Philippines share extensive common interests on the South China Sea, Xi said the two countries can continue to manage differences through friendly consultations, promote practical cooperation on the sea and make due contribution to regional peace and stability and the welfare of the peoples. Xi said China supports the Philippines' role as the country coordinator for the China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) dialogue relations and the China-Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippine East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) cooperation. China is willing to work together with the Philippines to upgrade China-ASEAN relations and the East Asia cooperation, he said, adding that China and the Philippines, both emerging economies in Asia, should increase coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs. Extending a warm welcome to Xi, Duterte noted it was the first state visit to his country by a Chinese head of state in 13 years. The visit, a milestone of historic significance in the Philippines-China relations, will open a new chapter in their cooperation, he said. He said the Philippine side congratulates the Chinese side on the achievements it has made in its 40 years' reform and development, adding that he believes the Chinese people are sure to realize their Two Centenary Goals. The Philippine side is ready to deepen the relations of comprehensive strategic cooperation with China on the basis of mutual respect, mutual understanding and sovereign equality, strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, defense, health, drug control, improvement of livelihood, infrastructure construction and energy, as well as expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges in education and human resources. The Philippine side agrees that countries in the region should jointly safeguard peace and stability of the South China Sea, and stands ready to actively promote the development of relations between ASEAN and China, he said. China has stood on the right side of history in dealing with international affairs, Duterte said, adding that the Philippine side is ready to carry out closer communication and coordination with China within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations. Prior to their talks, Duterte held a welcome ceremony in Xi's honor at the presidential palace featuring a 21-gun salute and traditional dances. The Philippines is the last stop of Xi's three-country Asia-Pacific tour. He has visited Papua New Guinea, where he also attended the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, and Brunei. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 02:59:33|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Naftali Mwaura NAIROBI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is finalizing plans to host an inaugural blue economy summit in Nairobi next week amid expectations it will chart a new roadmap in tapping water resources to drive growth. Monica Juma, cabinet secretary for foreign affairs, told a briefing on Tuesday the three-day summit will position Kenya as a hub for growth of blue economy to promote poverty alleviation, jobs creation, industrial growth and sustainable environmental management. Solid measures are already in place to ensure the inaugural blue economy summit is successful, she said. "Kenya is ready to host the blue economy conference and we are confident it will be a success thanks to the commitment demonstrated by sponsors and participants," Juma said of the meeting, which begins on Monday. She said 11,000 delegates from around the world have confirmed their participation at the summit that is expected to rekindle debate on utilization of marine and inland water resources to achieve sustainable development. "This is truly a global conference and 180 countries have already confirmed attendance and 11 delegations will be led at the head of state level," Juma said, adding that the bulk of participants will be from Africa. Kenya will be co-hosting the inaugural blue economy summit with Canada. The gathering's theme is "Blue Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." The east African nation will spend an estimated 750 million shillings (about 7.5 million U.S. dollars) to host the conference that will be attended by presidents, ministers, industry executives, scientists and green campaigners. Juma hailed financial contribution from Kenya's bilateral partners and the local private sector to support the summit. Kenya is banking on sustainable exploitation of its vast marine and land-based fresh water resources to catalyze industrial growth, achieve food security and promote regional trade. President Uhuru Kenyatta is pushing efforts to revitalize the nascent blue economy that currently contributes only 2.5 percent to the gross domestic product. The Kenyan leader on Monday launched a modern coast guard to protect the country's territorial waters, amid threats of illegal fishing that denies the exchequer an estimated 100 million dollars. "The coast guard will ensure that our ocean will no longer be used by drug and human traffickers, illegal arms dealers and illegal fishing vessels," Kenyatta said. "It will guard against exploitation of our natural resources by foreign countries and ensure that never again will a foreign vessel steal our fish." Deputy President William Ruto said the launch of the Coast Guard Service reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to becoming an unrivalled blue economy hub. Kenya has developed a robust policy and regulatory framework to facilitate growth of blue economy and realize sustainability agenda. "The first international blue economy conference to be held in Kenya presents an opportunity for us to borrow best practices that have worked elsewhere and convert our oceans, lakes and rivers into avenues for economic diversification, cross border trade and climate change mitigation," said Japheth Ntiba, principal secretary for fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy. Kenya will leverage on the emerging opportunities in the blue economy to transform the livelihoods of coastal communities, he added. Fuxin Green Energy intends to purchase Greenbelt technology To Receive TEXT ALERTS On Greenbelt Resources TEXT "GRCO" To 522-36 PASO ROBLES, Calif., Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE -- Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO) (Greenbelt), the developer of a sustainable ECOsystem model that transforms waste into revenue generating bioproducts, today announced that it has received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from Fuxin Green Energy (FGE), a China-based American owned bioethanol manufacturer with a roll-out plan for multiple facilities. FGE plans to utilize Greenbelts proprietary ECOsystem model , which uses a patented membrane dehydration technology, to convert agricultural waste and cultivated sorghum in the Fuxin province into various biobased products such as bioethanol, animal feed and fertilizer. After years of research and establishing ourselves in the local Fuxin province, we believe that Greenbelts technology is the best on the market for our type of bioethanol projects, said Alfred Hui with Fuxin Green Energy. Their ECOsystem approach enables us to convert a variety of local waste products as well as specialty grown feed crops, such as sorghum, without having change or substantially modify technologies. Moreover, Greenbelts forward thinking focus on community-scale capacity allows us to make an impact on a provincial level benefiting the local citys mayors. I was impressed with the onsite infrastructure already in place at the Fuxin facility. Alfred has installed the buildings, heat and power utilities, bulk storage, and even the proper fire suppression systems needed to complement installation of our larger system design. They also have ability to make spirits and an existing cattle feed line. Our tech is the only piece that is missing to upgrade and expand their production to scale, said Greenbelt CEO Darren Eng. Our ECOsystem model was designed for community scale projects such as Fuxin and similar potential projects in other provinces as encouraged last week by Ambassador Zhang Ping now serving as Consulate General in Los Angeles. Eng was invited by the Consulate to participate in a recent China-US Business Cooperation Roundtable. Earlier this year, Eng and Hui initially met when Greenbelt took part in a series of US-China Cooperation Conferences as part of a multicity touring delegation sponsored by Chinas Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation. According to the LOI, FGE intends to send a delegation to California prior to the end of the year to tour the Greenbelt facility currently being enhanced as part of the California BioEthanol Project . About Greenbelt Resources Greenbelt Resources Corporation is an award-winning provider of automated, modular, small scale sustainable energy production systems, products and processes that enable local cost-effective processing and disposal of food, beverage and cellulosic waste to be converted into commercially viable saleable consumer products such as bio ethanol, protein concentrate and fertilizer. Operating in several business segments, Greenbelt provides value added solutions to the cannabis, food, beverage and agricultural industries. For more information visit www.greenbeltresources.com . Forward-Looking Statements & Safe Harbor This document includes certain statements, predictions and projections that may be considered forward-looking statements under securities law. These statements involve a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, the supply and demand for biofuels, our ability to remain technologically competitive and other economic, competitive and technological factors involving the Company's operations, markets, services, products and prices. Contact: Darren Eng, CEO Greenbelt Resources Corporation 888-995-GRCO (4726 x 101) darren@greenbeltresources.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15863c6b-aaf8-4e0c-9320-bbe13e2460a2 Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 03:44:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close KIGALI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda and South Africa set to resume full cordial bilateral relations, Rwandan foreign minister Richard Sezibera said Tuesday in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda. Bilateral relations between the two countries are progressing to normal and anticipated discussions will primarily focus on strengthening bilateral relations between Rwanda and South Africa, said Sezibera at a press conference, adding that the heads of state of Rwanda and South Africa have tasked foreign ministers to discuss ways of restoring the relations. However, the two top diplomats are yet to start discussions, he said. Rwanda and South Africa have had lukewarm relations after South Africa expelled in 2014 three Rwandan diplomats it linked to a raid on an exiled Rwandan general's Johannesburg home, and Rwanda retaliated by expelling six South African envoys. Sezibera also said bilateral relations between Rwanda and its neighboring country Uganda are not as cordial as the two countries would wish it to be, and Rwanda looks forward to untangling the situation. The relations between Rwanda and Uganda are "complicated," he said. There are Rwandans travelling to Uganda who have been facing violence while suspected Rwandan criminals have been finding refuge there, he added. In March this year, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni met in Uganda's Entebbe city, where the two leaders resolved to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The Rwandan foreign minister also said the central African country doesn't have good relations with its another neighbor, Burundi, because Bujumbura doesn't want to cooperate with Kigali on a number of issues of mutual interest. "When Burundi is ready for cooperation with Rwanda, we will be there. Rwanda is ready and willing," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 04:39:56|Editor: yan Video Player Close MAPUTO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The spokesman for the ruling party of Mozambique, Frelimo, said Tuesday that the main opposition Renamo has to stop making threats in peace processes, considering that President Filipe Nyusi is making the processes viable. The spokesman, Caifadine Manasse, was reacting to the words of Renamo's interim leader, Ossufo Momade, who said in a teleconference on Tuesday that he would resume military conflict if the process of the recently-ended municipal elections, which were allegedly stained by fraud, was not reviewed. "There is no point in continuing to hear threats from Renamo, when the President has been announcing the progress of the agreements made. There is no conflict anymore, that word has to stop coming out of the mouth of the Renamo party," Manasse told reporters. The Frelimo spokesman said that Renamo is not honoring its words when it calls the press at all times to threat that the war will return, adding that "Renamo needs to do its part and be consistent with the agreements reached to return to effective peace for the good of all." Manasse said it is time for Renamo to look at the development of the country, something that the President and the people want. Last Wednesday the Constitutional Council validated the election results in 52 of the 53 municipalities, but Renamo said all municipalities had frauds. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 04:44:58|Editor: yan Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The South African government's plan to scrap work experience requirements for first time job seekers in the public sector has been welcomed by the local people. "Any attempts to reduce youth unemployment is supposed to be welcomed, but the quality of service should not be affected," Prof. Jannie Rossouw, head of the school of economic and business sciences at University of the Witwatersrand told Xinhua on Tuesday. New graduates entering the job market will no longer be required to have work experience for an entry level government job starting from April 2019. With the country battling high levels of unemployment, Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo on Monday noted that the new plan is aimed at tackling youth joblessness. Dlodlo said the move will not have an impact on services delivered by government. "This will be structured in such a way that it does not compromise the professional and technical requirements for various fields. All we want is to streamline career paths and align skills," she noted. For years, unions and organizations representing young people have complained that work experience requirements for first time job seekers by employers was making it difficult for young people to enter the job market. In an interview with Xinhua, South Africa's largest trade federation COSATU's spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the move was long overdue. "This is going to work. The South African government policy needs to change to accommodate mostly black graduates. We should appreciate the fact that there's no place where they sell experience." Pamla said employers should always be willing to offer young people opportunities to gain the necessary experience. "Where do you expect these graduates with no experience to get experience from if you are not willing to give them opportunities. People who have graduated should not be treated as if they are illiterate," Pamla said. File Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Nov. 7, 2018. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday affirmed Washington's commitment to its partnership with Riyadh citing national interests, remaining an ambiguous attitude toward the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region," Trump said in a statement released by the White House. Calling Saudi Arabia a "great ally" in U.S. fight against Iran, Trump emphasized Riyadh's estimated 450-billion-U.S.-dollar investment in the United States following his trip last year, including expected 110 billion dollars' spending on arms purchase from major U.S. companies. Meanwhile, the White House host avoided making judgment on the alleged Saudi royal family's involvement in the recent killing of Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, which has stirred up the international community and invites criticism to the Middle East kingdom. "Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event -- maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Trump noted. U.S. media, citing insiders, reported last week that the CIA had concluded the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered to kill Khashoggi, while the crown prince himself kept denying the accusations. "We now know many details of this horrible crime," said Trump in the statement, adding that "we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi." Trump also revealed that he acknowledged the intention of many U.S. Congress members, who were seeking tough punishment on Saudi Arabia over the Khashoggi incident, but indicated little willingness to echo their call. "I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America," Trump noted. Khashoggi has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. The Saudi authorities had said Khashoggi died in a "brawl" in its consulate. After releasing the results of its initial investigation, the Saudi Public Prosecution announced that 18 people were arrested for their alleged connections with the killing. U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on 17 individuals over their alleged roles in the killing of Khashoggi last week, following U.S. State Department's decision in late October to revoke 21 Saudi suspects' visas. U.S. Congress has urged a thorough investigation of the case, and threatened to take more actions against Saudi Arabia if those responsible were not held accountable, such as suspending U.S. military sales. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 04:55:01|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned Tuesday's suicide bombing that targeted civilians gathered in the Afghan capital of Kabul to celebrate a day of special religious significance. Guterres extended his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the government of Afghanistan. He wished a speedy recovery to those injured, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement. "The deliberate targeting of civilians is a clear violation of international humanitarian law. Every effort should be made to bring perpetrators to justice," said the statement. At least 43 people were killed and 83 others injured in the bombing that struck a hotel in Kabul. The deadly attack took place during a meeting of religious scholars to celebrate the Miladun Nabi or the birthday of Prophet Mohammad. Several top clerics were reportedly among the victims. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 05:00:02|Editor: yan Video Player Close SARAJEVO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- At an inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, newly-elected members of Bosnia and Herzegovina's presidency wowed to jointly work for country's membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO. Milorad Dodik, a Serbian member of BiH Presidency, Zeljko Komsic, a Croatian member and Sefik Dzaferovic, a Bosniak member, pronounced and signed an oath at the ceremony. They promised to respect BiH Constitution, protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedom and take care of the interests and equality of all peoples and citizens. During his speech, the rotating Chairman of BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik said the EU has to be the aim of BiH. "In the next session, I will ask the EU to give BiH a candidate status as soon as possible," Dodik said, adding he will advocate for military neutrality. He added that he will do his best for relations with the EU, China, the U.S. and Russia. Croatian member of BiH Presidency Zeljko Komsic said: "The top of my priorities will be insisting on the rule of law, affirmation of constitution, legality and justice, affirmation of democracy." He highlighted that the future of BiH is in the NATO alliance and in the European Union, which are the guarantee of security and prosperity of BiH and its citizens. For his part, Bosniak member Sefik Dzaferovic said that it is needed for several parallel processes to be led in the country, namely reintegration of BiH and membership in the EU and NATO alliance. All have to be backed up with accelerated economic and social reforms. "Fulfilling of conditions for the EU membership has to be a priority," Dzaferovic said. According to BiH law, Dodik will be the Chairman of BiH Presidency in the next 8 months, after which the other two will continue for additional 8 months on a basis of rotation respectively, and a mandate for all three members is four years. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 05:55:16|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Erik Solheim, the executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The former Norwegian diplomat announced in a statement posted on the UN Environment Programme's website that he was stepping down with effect on Thursday after receiving the final report of the audit of his official travel by the UN's internal watchdog on Saturday. Solheim, a former Norwegian environment minister known as the "green politician," was recently criticized for his extensive traveling and management practices, media reports said, citing a leaked UN draft audit. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the UN chief has accepted the resignation of Solheim, who was appointed in spring 2016 to a four-year term. "The secretary-general is grateful for Solheim's service and recognizes that he has been a leading voice in drawing the world's attention to critical environmental challenges, including plastics pollution and circularity; climate action; the rights of environmental defenders; biodiversity; and environmental security," the spokesman said. "He has led advocacy at the highest levels of government, business and civil society to drive the transformational change needed to make a real difference in the lives of people and promote the cause of the environment," Dujarric said. Published reports said Solheim was criticized for his extensive travels and a management style that prompted a few Scandinavian and other countries to withhold contributions to donor-funded UNEP until the criticism was answered. The draft audit reported UNEP management charged 488,518 U.S. dollars in travel from May 2016 to March 2018, resulting in Solheim spending 529 days of his 22 months as UNEP chief and "an absence rate of 79 percent from the duty station," published reports said. However, some critics, the published reports said, acknowledged that at least some of Solheim's globe-trotting had raised UNEP's profile. The internal audit is not expected to be officially filed by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) until Dec. 17, according to the OIOS website. Solheim said in the statement that he has been and remains "committed to doing what I believe to be in the best interest of UN Environment and the mission we are here to achieve." He also expressed hope that his resignation, "after deep reflection and in close consultation with the secretary-general," proves to be in the best interest of UN Environment and the wider UN." Solheim's deputy, Joyce Msuya of Tanzania, will be appointed as the acting chief of the UNEP while the secretary-general tries to find a successor to Solheim, the spokesman said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 06:10:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close ABUJA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria on Tuesday commemorated the second edition of the National Noma Day with an aim of creating awareness on early detection of the killer disease and how to act quickly in preventing its spread. The National Noma Day, marked across the country on Nov. 20 since last year, is one of the measures adopted by the government to eliminate the disease. Noma, otherwise known as Cancrum Oris, is a fulminating, gangrenous infection of the soft tissue around the mouth, predominantly affecting younger persons with poor oral hygiene and predisposing them to serious illness. Epidemiological data on noma is still scarce, but a current estimate of the global incidence is some 30,000 to 40,000 cases per year, according to data by the Nigerian government. Although it is common in the country's northwest and northeast regions, local people have little education about the noma disease. Noma starts with a lesion in a mouth, little ulcer, and very fetid foul smell. It then eats up the face, the gum of the teeth, nose and sometimes the nose below the eyes. In Nigeria, it is a scourge on communities with poor environmental sanitation and hygiene practices, occurring as a result of a complex, not yet fully understood interactions between poor nutrition, infection, and immunodeficiency. This little-known disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality. It also mainly affects children under the age of twelve. It is not uncommon in some of the poorest countries of Africa and has also affected children in South America and Asia. There is only one dedicated noma hospital in Nigeria. The government-run Noma Children Hospital in the northwestern state of Sokoto is staffed by local residents and visiting medical teams. The lone noma hospital attends to survivors of the disease who have already disfigured faces. The Nigerian government on Tuesday said it is working with international partners to tackle and fully eliminate the noma disease which is fast spreading in the country and the West African sub-region. Minister of state for health Osagie Ehanire said the government and its partners including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Medecins Sans Frontieres had, among other measures, embarked on the sensitization of local citizens on how to prevent the noma disease. Speaking at a national event organized in commemoration of the National Noma Day in the capital city of Abuja, Ehanire said Nigeria had started making progress in the fight against noma after the most populous African country adopted WHO's strategy to fight the scourge. The WHO strategy includes prevention and early detection, immediate care, informing and educating the public. Common diseases like malaria, measles, severe diarrhea and particularly, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, commonly precede the development of noma. "In the acute stage, it can be managed relatively easily by administering antibiotics, which may prevent or limit the extent of gangrene. However, noma can be prevented by a combination of common measures like creating more national awareness of the disease, reducing poverty, improving hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition," Ehanire said. Over 500,000 people are affected and 140,000 new cases are reported each year across the world, according to data by WHO. The mortality rate is approximately 90 percent. An official statement by the Nigerian government said noma is mostly found among children below the age of six and predominantly high in the northeast due to insurgency and lack of good nutrition. The statement noted though the disease is not contagious, other ailments such as hepatitis, malaria and some childhood killer diseases could aggravate it. Proper oral hygiene and antibiotics could prevent the disease, the statement added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-21 06:10:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed Tuesday by intensive U.S.-led airstrikes on IS-held areas in eastern Syria, a war monitor group reported. The fresh strikes targeted the town of Hanin, one of the towns in the last IS-held pocket in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Britain-based watchdog group said 640 IS fighters have been killed since the U.S.-led operation on the eastern bank of Euphrates River started on Sept. 10. U.S.-led airstrikes on the last IS-held pocket on the eastern bank of Euphrates River have recently intensified as the U.S.-backed Kurdish militias such as the Syrian Democratic Forces were planning a second wave of attacks on the IS after a failed attempt on Sept. 10. The strikes have also led to civilian casualties, with the state news agency SANA saying that as many as 100 civilians had been killed last week in U.S.-led airstrikes in eastern Syria. The dream of all carnivores has finally come true! Or at the very least, since March there is a place in the Hungarian capital that definitely aims to be just that. Located on the ground floor of Budapest's newest luxury hotel, the Hotel Clark, this offshoot of an international restaurant chain takes carnal pleasures very seriously: according to owner Hubert Hlatky-Schlichter, Beefbar offers only the finest cuts from selected cattle breeders. Hlatky-Schlichter's name has importance in Budapest's catering scene. With his sense of style, his know-how and good contacts, the young entrepreneur has already brought hospitality projects such as KIOSK, Terasz and the upscale Babel Budapest to life. Now he brings one of the most renowned meat temples in the world to Hungary. After Dubai, Hong Kong, Mexico, Mykonos, Cannes and Monaco where the chain was born Budapest is the seventh-largest metropolis in which Beefbar is available. The owner, Riccardo Giraudi, has known Hlatky-Schlichter personally for many years. "I was even a witness at his wedding," the latter said, "so it's a bit like a family business to me." But that alone is not why he's behind the project: "When it comes to steaks and meat, this is simply the best restaurant youll find in the city," he says. Hlatky-Schlichter is particularly impressed by the outstanding quality of the ingredients: "Through Beefbar we are in close contact with some of the best producers in the world, our ingredients are organically produced and are very healthy." Luxurious, yet leisurely casual The restaurateur also appreciates the unique blend of elegance and informality that represents Beefbar both on its menu and in design. As you enter the restaurant, you first see large refrigerators, where Beefbar displays some of its best cuts of beef like art objects. To the left is the lounge-like dining room. The interior is modern but invitingly decorated with high-quality materials. Geometric patterns, elegant floor and wall tiles, sparingly used dark woods, rattan and golden accents, benches and armchairs with a velour cover as well as chic lamps in Art Deco style characterise the picture. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer plenty of natural light and a view of the Chain Bridge, which practically ends at the front door. The only disturbing thing is perhaps the traffic: Clark Adam ter has one of the busiest roundabouts in the city, especially during the day. Overall, the design of the restaurant follows almost seamlessly the other areas of the Hotel Clark, but even frequent patrons of the chain will feel right at home, as it also follows the kind of conceptual design mantra of Beefbar: it must be luxurious, yet leisurely casual. Genuine Kobe beef Beefbar obviously focuses on beef. From the premium Black Angus to the original Japanese Kobe beef, the menu offers unique delights. Beefbar is currently Hungary's only restaurant licensed to offer real kibble meat. Known for its special marbling and crumbly structure, Kobe is the world's most expensive beef. Only a few thousand kilos are produced each year in Japan and most is destined for the domestic market. So finding this rarity in Budapest is really something special. But that's reflected in the price, as it starts at a whopping HUF 17,500 per 100 grams. If you do not want to dig deeply into your purse, you can try the ravioli filled with Kobe meat, a pizza covered in cobs ham or a burger with meat patty from Kobe and Angus beef. In addition, the Beefbar also offers various cuts of Angus cattle from breeders in Argentina, the USA and Australia as well as loins of calves from Dutch rearing. With such valuable pieces of meat nothing is left to chance during preparation. The restaurant swears by a particularly innovative process, in which the cuts are first seared at almost 1000 degrees, but then allowed to rest for a long time. This "relaxes the meat and this way it stays very tender and juicy," Hlatky-Schlichter tells us. Another specialty and just the perfect accompaniment to the juicy steak are the Beefbar mashed potatoes, which come in different variations such as peppered with mild jalapeno peppers, pickled cucumbers and capers or black truffles. But there are also other side dishes such as sweet potato puree with hazelnuts, grilled vegetables and mushrooms on the menu. If you are looking for a starter or even a small snack, then you should stick to the raw bar section of the menu. Delights such as tuna tiradito (thinly sliced slices), Black Angus carpaccio or Black Angus tartar offer a perfect start to an almost indecently meat-filled meal. Conclusion The Beefbar is a great place for meat lovers who want to treat themselves to something special, but also for those who just want to enjoy a good meal in an elegant, informal atmosphere. The selection is large and even vegetarians and lovers of fish and poultry will find something. But at least a small sample of the luxurious Kobe beef is necessary for an authentic Beefbar experience. Hlatky-Schlichters suggestion: share a portion at the table "I do not just eat a whole can of caviar on my own." Whether a visit to the Beefbar will max out your credit card mostly depends on the choice of food. According to Hlatky-Schlichter they are not an expensive restaurant. We only offer a range of luxury meals that are expensive. That, however, is not entirely true as you can only get away with paying less than HUF 10,000 per person if you stick with the lunch menu or the so-called street-food section of the menu. Prices: Cuts: HUF 5500-38,000 Sides: HUF 1150-2950 Desserts: HUF 1550-3900 Three-course lunch menu: HUF 5500 Venue: Beefbar Budapest 1013 Budapest, Clark Adam ter 1. Opening hours: 7 am to midnight Reservations: (+36) 70 520-4129 or reservations@beefbar.hu See beefbar.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ; HK: 1878) (SouthGobi or the Company) today announces that pursuant to the convertible debenture between China Investment Corporation (CIC) and the Company signed in November 2009 (the Convertible Debenture) and the deferral agreement between CIC and the Company executed on June 12, 2017 (the June 2017 Deferral Agreement), total interest payments and associated fees which were due and payable to CIC on November 19, 2018 amounted to US$41.8 million (Outstanding Interest Payable). The Outstanding Interest Payable consists of: (i) cash interest payments and associated fees in the aggregate amount of US$33.8 million (Outstanding Cash Interest Payable); and (ii) US$8.0 million worth of PIK interest shares (PIK Interest Shares) which the Company is obliged to issue to CIC pursuant to the Convertible Debenture. As of the date of this announcement, the Company has neither paid the Outstanding Cash Interest Payable nor issued the PIK Interest Shares to CIC as provided for under the Convertible Debenture, and has not agreed upon a repayment plan for such amounts with CIC. Consequently, the Company is in default under the Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement, CIC may, at its discretion, provide notice to the Company and declare all principal, interest and other amounts owing under the Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement immediately due and payable, and take steps to enforce payment thereof, which would have a material adverse effect on the business and operations of the Company and may negatively affect the price and volatility of the Common Shares and any investment in such shares could suffer a significant decline or total loss in value. As of the date of this press release, the Company has received no indication from CIC of any intention to deliver a notice of default under the Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement or to accelerate the amounts outstanding under the Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement. The Company is in constructive discussions with CIC in relation to a repayment plan for the Outstanding Interest Payable. While the Company believes that an agreement will be reached, there is no assurance that an agreement will be concluded on terms favourable to the Company or at all. In such event, the value of the Companys common shares could be materially and negatively affected. As a result, shareholders of the Company and potential investors are advised to exercise extra caution when dealing in securities of the Company. The Company will provide further updates of the status of the interest payment obligations and discussions with CIC as appropriate. About SouthGobi SouthGobi, listed on the Toronto and Hong Kong stock exchanges, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi Region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China. Contact: Investor Relations Kino Fu Hong Kong: +852 2156 7030 Canada: +1 604 762 6783 Email: kino.fu@southgobi.com At least two-thirds of Hungarian emergency wards face daily challenges in operation, due to an overflow of patients and lack of qualified workforce, daily Magyar Idok reports, citing a survey of the Hungarian Hospitals Association. Andrea Ficzere, deputy head of the association, told the paper that it would make sense to consider cutting the number of emergency wards to boost services in the remaining ones, especially in Budapest. Many patients seek out emergency wards without good reason, merely to avoid long waiting times at clinics, Ficzere said. The lack of doctors and other qualified workforce also adds to the burdens of the employees, she added. Many hospitals are forced to direct employees of other departments to the emergency wards to ensure secure operation, she said. Ficzere proposed introducing a wage ceiling to stop the wage spiral resulting from lack of workforce. Photo: MTI Hungarys public debt, calculated according to Maastricht rules, stood at 70.9% of GDP at the end of September 2018, down from 71.8% of GDP at the end of June, the National Bank of Hungary said, concerning Hungarys preliminary financial accounts. The state debt ratio in Q3 2018 fell from 72.1% in the same period a year earlier. The ratio, which includes Eximbank, was at 72.8% in Q3, down from 73.8% in Q2 and down from 74.2% twelve months earlier. Events of the King Matthias memorial year have been held at over 150 locations ranging from Canada to Arini (Magyarfalu) in Romanias Moldavia region to commemorate his 575th birth anniversary and the 560th anniversary of his coronation. The state secretary in charge of Hungarian communities abroad Arpad Janos Potapi commissioned the House of Hungarians to organise the commemorative events one year ago, House of Hungarians director Krisztina Csibi told a press conference. Events included concerts, exhibitions, theatre performances, tale recitals, school competitions, scholarly conferences, pilgrimages and Renaissance shows, she said. National Bank of Hungary director Barnabas Virag presented at the event a memorial coin issued in two versions with identical designs, one a 20,000 forint sterling silver piece, and the other a 2,000 forint in copper-nickel. He said the coins pay tribute to Matthias with representations of artefacts from his life. The central motif on one side is a half-length bust of the king from a detail from the relief of him in Bautzen, Germany, which accurately depicts him in arms with his regalia, he added. Reigning between 1458 and 1490, Matthias was Hungarys first elected king and one of the most popular figures in the countrys history. MTI Photo: Mathe Zoltan Further info in Hungarian As the draft agreement on Britains withdrawal from the European Union meets fierce resistance among Tory MPs, one commentator laments the negative consequences of Brexit, while another urges the EU to learn its lesson and reform itself. On Mandiner, Gellert Rajcsanyi thinks that Brexit is equally bad for the UK, Europe and Hungary. The conservative commentator suspects that the interim period during which Britain will need to follow the rules set by Brussels will harm Britains economy and society. The departure of the UK will also impact political relations within the EU, and make Germany and France even more powerful, Rajcsanyi writes. Brexit is also bad news for Hungary, as the more conservative UK has been an important ally in Hungarys battle with the federalist forces within the EU. In Magyar Idok, Levente Sitkei calls for a rethinking of the EU after Brexit. The pro-government columnist calls for remedies to bureaucratic inefficiencies and red tape within EU institutions. Even more importantly, the EU needs to revise its core ideology, Sitkei continues. He claims that the EU in its current format is not able to overcome the challenges facing it, and it even hinders national governments tackle their own responsibilities. Sitkei suggests that instead of being preoccupied with checks and balances, the EU should grant more leeway to national governments. Had it done so earlier, Brexit might never have happened, Sitkei speculates. This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online Click here to Share Your Story Related articles: FM Szijjarto: No-Deal Brexit Would Hurt EU Hungary's Brexit Goals 'Realistic' Says FM FM Szijjarto Urges Deep, Comprehensive EU-UK Post-Brexit Agreement FM Szijjarto Discusses Brexit With UK Cabinet Office Minister Green opposition LMP has called for a parliamentary investigating committee to be set up with a view to looking into the case of former Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski, who is seeking political asylum in Hungary. Gruevski held office between 2006 and 2016. An arrest warrant was issued last week after he failed to start a two-year prison sentence for corruption. He announced on his Facebook page last Tuesday that he was in Budapest and had asked the Hungarian authorities for political asylum. LMP co-leader Marta Demeter told a press conference that the case posed a diplomatic and security risk to Hungary, and severely damaged the countrys image. It is imperative that the Hungarian government agencies role in the affair be cleared up as soon as possible, she said. LMP has also filed a criminal complaint over support for illegal migration, she said. Government officials continue to refuse providing answers, while international press reports keep bolstering the theory of the governing bodies involvement, she said. The fact that [Prime Minister] Viktor Orban and other politicians from [ruling] Fidesz helped Gruevskis latest election campaign [in 2016] as well as furthered his agenda at the 2017 local elections is not independent from his asylum request, Demeter said. The Gruevski affair demonstrates that Hungarys security system needs to be rebuilt, she said. Only then will the security of Hungarians truly be guaranteed, something which the ruling parties are unwilling or unable to do, she insisted. The European political system watching idly as one politician of the European Peoples Party saves another from a just prison sentence also has to be reformed, she said. Viktor Orban is using the whole Hungarian state establishment to play political godfather, Demeter said. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said last Thursday that Gruevskis recent request for asylum in Hungary is a legal rather than political matter. Hungarys authorities will assess the application fully in line with relevant international regulations, his ministry said in a statement. MTI Photo Related articles: Opposition Calls On FM To Resign Over Gruevski Affair PM's Office Confirms Gruevski Asylum Claim Former Macedonian PM Seeks Political Asylum In Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday afternoon had a telephone conversation with Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, the prime ministers press chief told MTI. Orban congratulated Bolsonaro on his election, saying he appreciated seeing that the values Hungary considers important also helped propel Bolsonaro to victory in his country, Bertalan Havasi said. The prime minister said Hungary was ready to take its relations with Brazil to the next level. Bolsonaro invited Orban to his inauguration, Havasi said. MTI Photo About Kenny Garrett: Over the course of a stellar career that has spanned more than 30 years, saxophonist Kenny Garrett has become the preeminent alto saxophonist of his generation. Garrett has always expressed interest in music from other parts of the world. Whether its Africa, Greece, Indonesia, China or Guadeloupe, he immerses himself in the culture and gleans from his experience something that becomes a part of his artistic message. The Band: Garretts current working band is very much up to the task on Seeds From The Underground. And like all successful bandleaders, Garrett knows what he wants musically and has formed a band that will best communicate his message (with implicit trust among one another). Bassist Nat Reeves is a rhythmic anchor and a long-standing member of Garretts past aggregations. However, for this recording, Garrett thought a lot about the talents of fellow Detroiter, drummer Ronald Bruner, as well as Venezuelan pianist Benito Gonzalez. When I decided I wanted to do the album, I had Ronald in mind; I thought that he would work well on these songs. And Benito has been in my band for a while, and we talked conceptually about how I hear the piano in the band. McCoy Tyner is my man, so I wanted to have more of that sound, and there arent a lot of young guys around who are dealing with that like Benito is. Percussionist Rudy Bird also provides a driving, rhythmic pulse to the recording. Members: Kenny Garrett saxophone, Corcoran Holt acoustic bass guitar, Vernell Brown piano, McClenty Hunter drums, Rudy Bird percussion Venue: MoMKult 1124 Budapest, Csorsz u. 18. Ticket prices: HUF 9.900/ 12.900 / 14.900 Source: Get Closer Concerts Atmosfera se va insenina treptat Miercuri, temperaturile sunt scazute, iar ceata din nou va fi prezenta, pentru mai multe ore din zi. Soarele va rasari la ora 07:38. Ziua cerul va fi variabil, iar pana spre seara se va insenina. La munte, vantul va sufla cu intensificari. Soarele va apune la ora 16:51. Temperaturile se vor incadra intre 0 si 6 grade, dar se vor resimti [citeste mai departe] Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Un pachet turistic de Revelion, de patru nopti, la Poiana Brasov, Romania, costa chiar si dublu fata de unul de sapte nopti, cu cazare si transport cu avionul, in Dubai sau Zanzibar. Alegerea ramane a turistului. Pentru ca mai avem doar o luna si jumatate pana la Revelion, am consultat si noi ofertele - In a ranking of the top performing companies in 2020, at the national level, there are 12,393 occupying the top ten spots - economic operators from different sectors of activity, such as: industry, services, commerce, tourism, research-development, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and constructions, - The annual CPI inflation rate is projected at 7.5% in December 2021 and is forecast to lower to 5.9% by the end of next year, according to the Inflation Report of Romania's National Bank (BNR), agerpres reports. "The annual rate of CPI inflation is projected at 7.5% in December 2021, after a temporary - The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) has decided to continue to work together with the National Liberal Party (PNL) in a minority government and has negotiated a new portfolio, UDMR Chairman Kelemen Hunor announced, Agerpres informs. Thus, UDMR gets a position of Deputy Prime Minister - Romexpo, together with the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organizes, between October 27 and 31, INDAGRA 2021 - the most famous agricultural event in Romania, agerpres reports. The Minister of Agriculture, Adrian Oros, will make a tour of the fair on Wednesday, starting from the stands - Internationalizarea este o oportunitate pentru companii de a prospera intr-o lume din ce in ce mai competitiva, fapt ce ar putea contribui la sustinerea ocuparii fortei de munca. Piata europeana integrata care este in plina expansiune, liberalizarea pietelor lumii, evolutia modalitatilor de comunicare - The National Liberal Party's (PNL) delegation went to consultations with the President with a nominee for Prime Minister - current Defense Minister Nicolae Ciuca, who is vetted to head a minority government formed with the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), Liberal Chairman and interim - South African companies could use the Port of Constanta as a logistics hub within the trade operations with Romania and the European area, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR), Mihai Daraban, told Thursday the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Westminster, CA , Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westminster, CA November 2, 2018 USIS Group is pleased to announce its president, Chris Loc Dao, recently received the Presidents Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service. On May 19, 2018, he also won the U.S. Congress "Diversity Visionary Award, honoring the visionary spirit of Asian Americans that give back to the community in the United States. USIS Group Chris Loc Dao immigrated to America from Vietnam in 1990. In 2009, realizing the needs to help the next generation of Vietnamese, Mr. Dao formed U.S. Investment Services (USIS) whose mission is to provide world class mentorship and guidance to help Vietnamese youth reach their maximum potential. In 2010, in Vietnam, USIS introduced the EB-5 program to Vietnamese investors. After 9 years of serving the Vietnamese Community, USIS has helped more than 400 families obtain their green cards and realize their American Dream while bringing more than 200 million dollars to investment into the US and creating more than 4,000 local full-time jobs. Besides managing 4 offices in Vietnam and 2 offices in the US, Mr. Dao is active in charity works and community services through his companys CSR. In 2017, he founded and funded a non-profit clinic in central highlands Vietnam to provide free clinical services and medication for the poor. Recalling the time when USIS Group was founded in 2009, Chris Loc Dao said at that time only a limited number of agencies worked in the field of the immigrant consultancy services in Vietnam, but they worked mainly to the Canadian market. In a totally new land, USIS Group at that time had the competitive advantage of being a pioneer, but it also faced many challenges, adding that the biggest is the faith of investors in the EB-5 program. "As the EB-5 program at that time was deemed to be very new in Vietnam, there are so many people did not trust EB-5 and were so skeptical that they could not see the chance of success. I have made an attempt to win the trust of our customers. The customer confidence is very important, without it you will not be able to do anything," said Mr. Dao. Therefore, in 2010, Mr. Chris Loc Doc returned to the United States and invited the President of the Board of Governors of the United States and the Government delegation to Vietnam to introduce the U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program for the whole family. When the chairman of the U.S. National Board of Governors came to Vietnam to present to more than 250 investors, many began started to trust and come to the USIS Group. With the confidence of the investor, Mr. Dao and his associates created the USIS Group with a guiding principle that is "taking the success of the customer as the success of the company itself." Up to this point, USIS Group is still the first company in Vietnam to have capital investment refunded and its customers have been granted permanent green cards. Over the past 10 years, USIS Group has helped more than 400 investor families make the American dream a reality. Thousands of children of the investors are enjoying the worlds most advanced educational system, thereby saving hundreds of billions VND of tuition fees. More than 4,000 full-time jobs for American have also been created. "With more than 30 years of experience in the U.S., I think it is the consultancy and the experience I bring to the customer are the advantages that help customers more confidence in USIS Group. In addition, the value of the company that USIS Group has always remained loyal is to contribute to building a young generation of talented people in the world," said Chris Loc Dao. "Grow strong with inner strength to get through obstacles in life and succeed" is the condensed message Chairman Chris Loc Dao wishes to convey to the young generation of the country today. When I first arrived in the U.S., I had to start from scratch. As I was strapped for cash, I couldnt pursue higher education and had to work as a waiter for pin money. The female owner of the restaurant where I worked once ironically teased and looked down on me when I could not figure out how to use a vacuum cleaner. This wounded my feelings, so I determined to rise up and commit myself to having strong will so that Vietnamese was not subjected to a torrent of ridicule any longer. Despite tough times when I almost fell into a rough patch, I never surrender in the face of adversity. Whenever I fell, I faced up to things, worked through them, thats what made me strong, said Mr. Dao. A country wishing to develop requires a talented young generation. One of the main driving forces in his work is to see young Vietnamese succeed in the United States and around the world. As Mr. Dao puts it, Living in Vietnam is not the only way to help develop the country. You can also take your immense pride in your study, work and success in the U.S. It is EB-5 program that serves as a bridge to bring more successful Vietnamese people in the States. When asked about the secret key to success when joining EB-5 program, Mr. Dao said: "Any investments are deemed to be risky. However, youve got to work out to choose the safest and most feasible projects to minimize any potential risks. And it is vitally important to choose a reputable and professional consultancy service. They will be the ones who will introduce you to the best lawyers and projects that are safe and effective." Mr. Dao affirmed that the strength of USIS Group is to have the prestigious American partners. The motto of USIS is that we choose partners rather than partners to choose USIS to cooperate. Eagles flying with eagles, emphasized Mr. Dao. It has been well noted that USISs customers are the only ones who have received the investment capital refund. USIS has been always a companion for both partners and customers for such a long term that together they can go for the extra mile to build up their bright future in the States. USIS has also launched the Settlement Service in the States to help customers feel safe and sound when they commence building their new lives, and as Mr. Dao puts it, setting foot in the U.S. is only the starting point. For more information about USIS Group, please visit www.usis.us . Attachments Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Cand preturile cresc mai puternic, ideal este sa investesti in active care acopera inflatia si sa-ti aduca ceva in plus. Practic trebuie sa te protejezi. Pentru multi, cea mai importanta investitie este cea in real estate, dar romanii cand aud aceste cuvinte se gandesc - Romania has one of the "lowest" rates of greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the European Union, stated, on Tuesday, in Glasgow, President Klaus Iohannis, who added that Romania is committing to increasing, in the future, the percentage of electrical energy coming from renewable sources. "We - Colosseum Centre a retail park located in Bucharest said on Tuesday that it has decided to reschedule the opening of an extension of its shopping mall for the spring of 2022, due to the unpredictability of the business environment amidst the coronavirus pandemic, according to See News. The opening - The chairman of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), Kelemen Hunor, was mandated by the members of parliament of his formation to participate in talks announced by Prime Minister designate Dacian Ciolos, the deputy leader of UDMR, Csoma Botond declared on Tuesday. "We had a group - Increasing energy prices is discorcerting, an extraordinarily powerful shock, which will slow down economic growth throughout Europe and will severely amputate people's purchase power, the chairman of the Tax Council, Daniel Daianu, declared on Tuesday, during a specialty debate, agerpres reports. - Romania could start offering a third COVID-19 vaccine dose to medical staff and at-risk people as early as next week as the number of new daily cases was rising sharply, the head of the national vaccination committee said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Romania is trailing European Union vaccination - Ministrul demisionar al Sanatatii, Ioana Mihaila, a declarat marti ca este dramatica situatia fondurilor pentru programele nationale de sanatate, precum cel de vaccinare si pentru bolnavii de HIV/SIDA si tuberculoza, iar daca la rectificare nu se vor aloca fonduri, s-ar putea ca accesul la medicamente - As many as 1,313 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Romania were recorded in the last 24 hours following 45,860 tests nationwide, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS), the official novel coronavirus communication task force, reported on Tuesday. These are cases of patients that have The potential to lure new audiences to historic properties by displaying contemporary art is now becoming clear to organizations in and around Philadelphia. Who doesnt enjoy seeing something in an unexpected context? Some recent successes that come to mind: painter Jane Irishs installation at Lemon Hill, sponsored by Philadelphia Contemporary; Stacy Levys Art@Bartram project involving Bartrams Garden and the Schuylkill; and 2017s ceramics group show at the Hill-Physick House, in collaboration with the Clay Studio. The exhibition Becky Suss/Wharton Esherick takes a slightly different tack. Currently on view at Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, which represents Suss in Philadelphia, it will reappear in a different iteration at Malverns Wharton Esherick Museum in the spring. Its a remarkably copacetic fit between the gallery and the museum, and between contemporary painter Suss and the influential Pennsylvania modernist Esherick (1887-1970), known primarily for his woodwork. (But he was also a self-taught architect, printmaker, and painter.) At Fleisher/Ollman, Suss paintings are displayed together with Eshericks furniture, paintings, and prints, Her paintings of the rooms and objects in his house and studio (now the Wharton Esherick Museum) were made specifically for this two-person show, and its fascinating to see how she responds to his minimalist aesthetic. You can also see the progression from her earlier paintings of the interior of her grandparents modernist house. Suss crisp, flat style of painting I think of Will Barnet as another possible muse perfectly sets off Eshericks sometimes curvy, often angular architecture. More than once, I had the uncanny sense I could walk right into her large paintings, such as Wharton Esherick Bedroom and Dining Room (Wharton Esherick). Eshericks contributions to the show are mainly works on loan from the museum, and they look surprisingly contemporary in the context of a white-walled gallery. His three-legged stools, his books, cutting boards, and ceramic plates appear to have magically materialized from Suss' paintings of them. Eshericks dollhouse-scale maquettes of his designs for rooms are fun to see. So are his watercolors, some of which are extremely peculiar -- depicting what appear to be single female nude figures dancing in the rain at night. A careful arrangement of his neatly folded, well-worn shirts is there, too, underscoring that art and life were one and the same to him. Through Jan. 26 at Fleisher/Ollman, 1216 Arch St., 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. 215-545-7562 or fleisher-ollmangallery.com Illusions, seen in darkness Swarthmore Colleges List Gallery is shrouded in darkness for its current show of Robin Mandels mysterious and often kinetic sculptures and video projections. The simplest, most poetic of them, Always Never, consists of a pedestal on which a candle rests, looking to have been recently extinguished. A video monitor behind the candle shows a continuously looping video of smoke curling upward. Another work, Entertaining Illusion, employs the 19th-century illusion technique known as Peppers ghost, produced using a large piece of glass situated at an angle between the viewer and a scene. Its how they create the floating ghosts at Disneys Haunted Mansion. In Mandels piece, a wineglass and a bottle of wine are positioned at opposite ends of a long table, separated by the angled pane of glass. Two video monitors mounted at either side of the table show the glass being filled with wine and the wine bottle being depleted. The images are intoxicating, as is amplified sound of the wine being poured. The work Moving (Relative Strangers) involves a continuously spinning plastic bottle. Its also an optical illusion, but the static portions of Mandels piece a DVD player casually positioned atop a cardboard box atop a plastic bin are so unassuming I didnt suspect that right away. Siren is the most ambitious of Mandels four works its a three-channel video installation with sound but the least visually intriguing. On each of the monitors, the face of a young woman sings a single, breath-length note. There are no wall texts explaining Mandels methods, by the way. The exhibition catalog is helpful. Through Dec. 15 at List Gallery, Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. 610-328-7811 or swarthmore.edu/list-gallery. Outsider art out of Cuba Indigo Arts, Philadelphias longtime destination for folk art, is exhibiting a carefully curated show of works by five self-taught Cuban artists. Two standouts are Carlos Garcia Huergos painted and drawn works of cartoon characters on corrugated cardboard and Damian Valdes Dillas obsessive drawings of futuristic cities. Both artists have been hospitalized with episodes of paranoid schizophrenia, and their work reflects those acute mental states. Another highlight is history teacher Leandro Gomez Quinteros meticulous facsimiles of the battered vehicles populating Cuba. The painters Wayacon (aka Julian Espinosa Rebollido) and Mario Mesa are the other two artists in the show. Through Dec. 29 at Indigo Arts, 1400 N. American St., 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. 215-765-1041 or indigoarts.com. The parents of Anne Bryan, a first-year student at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts who was one of six people killed in the Salvation Army thrift store building collapse in 2013, have donated $1 million to the school, which will name a new Hamilton Building exhibition space the Anne Bryan Gallery, PAFA officials announced. In 2015, Nancy Winkler and Jay Bryan also endowed the Anne Bryan Memorial Award to support graduating PAFA students in their new artistic careers. >> READ MORE: On 5th anniversary, a memorial park is dedicated at Salvation Army store collapse site Anne loved her time as a student at PAFA where she was supported and encouraged by her wonderful teachers and was inspired by the art making in the school and the masterpieces in the museum, Winkler, a former city treasurer, said in a statement. Most of all, she loved the PAFA community and so we hope to help in a small way to enhance the student experience in Annes memory. The new Anne Bryan Gallery, which will open in early 2019 on the lower level of PAFAs Hamilton Building at Broad and Cherry Streets, will feature 10 to 12 exhibitions annually. The gallery will focus on the work of PAFA students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, through new coursework and programming offered in conjunction with the gallery, PAFA students will acquire creative and professional opportunities to curate, exhibit, and learn about all aspects of mounting and promoting exhibitions. Anne was a special student who added to the strength of the PAFA community, challenging her faculty and uplifting her fellow students to be their best, said PAFA president and chief executive David Brigham. He lauded the gift for its goal of creating opportunities for students at PAFA to exhibit their work and to think about how best to organize art exhibitions. Said Brigham: "This is both an important legacy for Anne and a way for her presence to have a long-term impact at PAFA. The new gallery will be located adjacent to the new John and Richanda Rhoden Arts Center Auditorium. In 2017, PAFA acquired the estate of the artist John Rhoden (1918-2001), which included over 320 works by the under-recognized African American sculptor. The center is a 15,000-square-foot multidisciplinary facility that includes a 265-seat auditorium and collection storage vaults. The construction of the new facilities is supported by a $25 million capital fund drive. So far, over $22.2 million has been raised. The area around the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul will be used as collateral for loans needed to pay clergy sex abuse claims. Read more The Archdiocese of Philadelphia said Tuesday that its fund to compensate Catholic clergy sex-abuse victims whose claims are too old for court will start with $25 million to $30 million and could start paying claims in 60 to 90 days. "This is for initial funding only. We expect that the ultimate cost is going to be greater than our initial funding," said Timothy O'Shaughnessy, chief financial officer for the archdiocese. To pay additional claims, the archdiocese will borrow an undetermined amount internally. Possible lenders are a trust to pay for the perpetual care of cemetery lots, a pension fund for priests, and a benefits trust, O'Shaughnessy said. The archdiocese shared the details on the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations program, which was announced Nov. 8, as it reported that in the year ended June 30, its core operations were in the black for the first time since at least fiscal 2012 and likely far longer than that. Church officials in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, Greensburg, and Scranton unveiled plans for similar funds this month, following a failed bid by some lawmakers in Harrisburg to open a temporary window for older abuse victims to sue. Critics saw the plans to start compensation funds as a move to undermine legislative efforts to give victims a chance to take their claims to court. By accepting money from the compensation fund, victims give up their right to sue if lawmakers ever lift the statute of limitations. The archdiocese hired Kenneth R. Feinberg, who served as special master for the 9/11 victims' compensation fund, and his firm to process claims and determine how much victims will receive. "The diocese cannot appeal or challenge our ruling," Feinberg said on Nov. 7. Packets of information about the fund have been sent to 340 known survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Philadelphia Archdiocese, which includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties and Philadelphia, officials said last week. Victims have until Sept. 30, 2019, to file claims. Though the archdiocese does not have unlimited money or assets to sell, officials have said there are no caps on individual claims or on the aggregate amount that will be paid. In New York, where Feinberg's firm is managing five diocesan compensation funds, the largest individual payout has been $500,000, according to Camille S. Biros, business manager in Feinberg's Washington office. The five New York programs have paid more than $200 million over the last two years to more than 1,000 victims. The Archdiocese of New York said in August that it had paid nearly $60 million to 278 victims. It took out a $100 million mortgage on Manhattan property to pay victims. O'Shaughnessy said he is preparing to fully fund the Philadelphia reparations program. He had no estimate of what the ultimate cost will be. The initial cash, he said, will come from a surplus in a risk insurance trust, cash on hand, liquidated investments, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Newman Center at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. The anticipated loans "will be true loans, and they will be documented as such. The terms will be market. There will be market rates of interest. There will be collateral," O'Shaughnessy said. As of June 30, the priests' pension fund had $112 million in assets and the welfare benefits trust had $23.8 million in net assets. The latest figure for the cemetery fund was not available. It had $42 million in net assets on June 30, 2017. "We're not going to use every dollar in all of those funds," O'Shaughnessy said. "All of our lenders will lend some of their assets, but none of them will lend all of their assets." The archdiocese has not yet made final decisions on collateral for those loans. Brandywine Realty Trust CEO Jerry Sweeney sits for an interview in his office in the FMC Tower. Read more The Inquirer Business Hall of Fame is inducting six new honorees in an event set for Nov. 28 at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. The recipients will be profiled this week at Philly.com/business: Until about a year ago, Brandywine Realty Trust's corporate home was in a parking-lot-ringed mid-rise in Radnor. Now the developer's offices fill two sleek floors on the upper levels of its soaring FMC Tower in University City. The address change accompanies a sharpening focus on the city by Brandywine's president and chief executive, Gerard H. "Jerry" Sweeney, who in recent years has become one of Philadelphia's most active civic figures in addition to running its dominant owner of office space. The row of new, mirrored-glass high-rises around 30th Street Station, including FMC Tower, is Sweeney's handiwork, and his stewardship of most of Philadelphia's "trophy" office buildings has raised the bar and the rent for commercial landlords citywide. That physical footprint is soon to expand radically as Brandywine embarks on the massive University City development dubbed Schuylkill Yards. Outside the office, meanwhile, nonprofit groups led by Sweeney have helped lay miles of recreational trail along the Schuylkill and have overseen the deepening of the Delaware River to boost port employment. "Our office buildings are only as strong and only as valuable as the economy in which they are built," he said. "We've been battling every day to sell the Philadelphia story." In Sweeney, Philadelphia may have found someone to fill the developer-statesman niche last occupied by Willard G. Rouse III, who built skyline-defining towers in the 1980s and 1990s while collaborating on convention center and concert hall projects to advance the city's cultural and economic clout. He's an unlikely urban booster. The 62-year-old has never lived in Philadelphia or any big city for that matter and only moved Brandywine downtown in mid-2017 after rotating it for decades through suburban office parks. He lives in a house he built on a 15-acre former farm in Chester County, where he keeps three donkeys, 25 chickens, and nine goats (of the fainting and Nigerian dwarf variety) in a restored 19th-century barn. He runs a side business that manufactures taffy sold at Cracker Barrel restaurants. In a town that celebrates brashness, Sweeney cuts a humble figure. He wears conservatively cut dark suits and loafers with worn soles. His gray hair is cut at home by his wife, Jackie, an engineer who owns a project-management business. They have a combined six adult children. Devoutly religious, Sweeney spends time each morning reading Scripture, which he concedes is atypical for Catholics such as himself. A favorite passage: "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty. And before honor goeth humility." He is also a voracious reader of history, turning to works by Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham for perspective on the current political moment. Among his idols are the mid-20th-century reformist Philadelphia Mayors Joseph S. Clark Jr. and Richardson Dilworth. "They challenged the status quo in Philadelphia," he said, "and changed the city." Sweeney was raised in the Delaware County suburb of Drexel Hill, where his mother and father former Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John J. Sweeney moved in 1960 after growing up in Philadelphia. His young adulthood began inauspiciously, with his expulsion from Monsignor Bonner High School for smoking in the bathroom and paying unsanctioned visits to an adjacent all-girls Catholic school. He graduated from Upper Darby High and slogged through college at West Chester University as a self-described mediocre student. After graduating with an economics degree and grades too poor for graduate school, he resolved not to squander any more potential and enrolled part-time at Temple University to earn a certified public accountant license, then joined a Scott Paper Co. unit building new production plants nationwide, his first exposure to property development. His next stop was at Linpro Co., predecessor to the Berwyn-based company now known as LCOR Inc., where he went to work after returning to Philadelphia from a Scott posting in rural Maine to aid his then-wife's career prospects. Sweeney spent 11 years climbing the ladder at Linpro, then was named chief executive of a small publicly traded unit spun off from the company in 1994. That small entity which at the time owned just three South Jersey mid-rises and a warehouse in Allentown would over the years snowball into a multibillion-dollar real estate trust under the Brandywine name, most notably through its 1996 merger with a real estate affiliate of Radnor-based Safeguard Scientifics Inc. and its acquisition of Prentiss Properties Trust in 2006. By the early 2000s, Brandywine was a dominant suburban office landlord, with properties including 401 Plymouth Road in Plymouth Meeting. That's when Sweeney learned that Amtrak wanted to sell a parcel beside 30th Street Station and calculated that having a presence near the commuter throng that passes through the rail network's third-busiest station would boost the company's profile. After winning Amtrak's nod to develop the site, Sweeney decided to eschew Brandywine's prosaic office-park approach for its first urban tower project, instead wagering on an expensive, glass-sheathed design by the architect Cesar Pelli that came to be known as Cira Centre. "My perspective was, if we're pioneering geographically, then let's really pioneer architecturally," Sweeney said. Spurred by the success of Cira, which was aided by the Keystone Opportunity Zone tax advantages he successfully lobbied for at the site, Sweeney began snapping up office buildings across the Schuylkill in Center City, playing an ever-bigger role in the city's business and civic life. "I saw him as an ambitious, enthusiastic individual who would stop and listen to people when they try to give him advice," said Walter D'Alessio, a real estate consultant and former Philadelphia redevelopment official who joined Brandywine's board of directors and helped Sweeney navigate through his initial years in the city. Brandywine's acquisitions would come to include the skyscrapers now known as One, Two and Three Logan and the two Commerce Square towers. It has joint-ventured on new apartments and student housing, in addition to its commercial buildings such as FMC Tower, which command some of the city's highest office rents. Sweeney's biggest gambit yet, though, is the sprawling district of labs, offices, residences and shopping streets known as Schuylkill Yards, on which work has only just begun. It would cover what's now a 14-acre assemblage of parking lots and industrial buildings between the Drexel University campus and 30th Street Station. "We can actually redefine a part of a city," he said. "Actually create a brand-new neighborhood." In addition to its large remaining property portfolio in affluent Philadelphia suburbs, Brandywine has a big presence in Austin, Texas, and owns buildings in metropolitan Washington. But its business is increasingly dependent on central Philadelphia: in a first for the company, holdings in Center City and University City accounted for more than half of its net operating income in its most recently filed quarterly earnings documents. With Brandywine's fate so intertwined with Philadelphia's, Sweeney has been pulling every lever he can to help steer the city toward economic growth. As founder of the Schuylkill River Development Corp., he's worked to make Center City's western waterfront more inviting to cyclists and pedestrians; as chairman of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, he's helped spearhead the deepening of the Delaware River in hopes of transforming the city into a regional shipping hub. He also toiled on a since-lapsed proposal to raise property taxes and lower payroll taxes which would have had to be enacted through state legislation in partnership with Paul Levy, president of the Center City District. While this would have meant a property tax hike for Brandywine and other commercial landlords, Sweeney wagered that the lower taxes would have drawn more companies into Philadelphia, resulting in demand for office space that would more than offset the property tax hike. "One could say it's enlightened self-interest," Levy said. "But there are a lot of developers out there who have self-interest without the word enlightened." The Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C., on September 25, 2018. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS) Read more The annual convention last weekend in Washington of the conservative Federalist Society a.k.a. President Trump's sole-source supplier of judges included something of a surprise. It was the eyebrow-raising emergence of a group of conservative and libertarian lawyers, mostly society members, concerned about Trump's bull-in-the-china-shop regard for basic rules of law. Think, for example, of Trump's proposed executive order to nullify the 14th Amendment guarantee of birthright citizenship. The new group, Checks and Balances, avows it is "standing up for the principles of constitutional governance." And this is from Trump's side of the aisle. And his own isle of judicial nominees. It started with 14 signers, including former White House and Justice Department officials in past GOP administrations, litigators, law professors, and former Homeland Security Secretary and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. It held a luncheon for Federalist Society convention attendees, quickly assembled a mailing list of hundreds, and started a website and a Twitter account (@chkbal) that as of Tuesday afternoon had more than 17,000 followers. The group was organized by conservative lawyer and Trump critic George Conway, a society member and husband of Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. But he and others note that the group's efforts aren't aimed at the Federalist Society (whose mission statement is similar to Checks and Balances'), and emerge despite satisfaction with Trump's judicial picks, especially for the Supreme Court. So, not about politics. Not about Trump. Except that it's clearly about Trump. One of the group's principals is Philadelphia native Jonathan Adler, director of Case Western Law School's Center for Business Law and Regulation. "The goal is to make sure there's a right-of-center voice for rule-of-law values," he says, "To make sure such values and the power of truth are preserved at a time in which partisanship and tribal loyalty risk undermining them." Impetus for the group grew out of concern that following this year's midterm elections, the White House would seek greater control over the Justice Department and special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into any Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election. The immediate post-midterms firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the appointment of his chief of staff, Matt Whitaker, as acting attorney general did not ease those concerns. Whitaker's upgrade brought bipartisan criticism and litigation a constitutional challenge from Democratic senators arguing that his position requires Senate confirmation. Adler says Checks & Balances immediately drew fire from right-wing groups such as American Greatness and on social media, including charges of "giving comfort to the enemy" and being financed by wealthy liberals. But, he says, "none of us are getting paid to do this[and] to believe in the values of law and believe they are under siege does not put you on any one part of the political spectrum." Wider areas of concern to Checks and Balances include preserving the separation of powers, and the independence of the criminal justice system and the judiciary all of which should come before politics. Ridge could not be reached for comment, but told the New York Times he's concerned about the independent judiciary. "Regardless of whether you're a Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative," he told the newspaper, "you embrace the rule of law." The question: Can upstart movements such as this be sustained and make a difference and, more immediately, have any impact on the actions of the president? Adler says he hopes the group expands, holds events to highlight its concerns, and conducts forums for debate as constitutional issues arise. Constitutional law professor Bruce Ledewitz of Duquesne University Law School calls the movement "very encouraging," but hopes it extends beyond tracking Trump to broader issues related to fighting partisanship in the legal process. He also says, "I would love to see a similar movement from lawyers on the left." Still, Checks and Balances seems like a well-intentioned, right-minded idea, in the category of: What could it hurt? And, as Penn Law constitutional expert Seth Kreimer put it, "Any voices supporting the rule of law are welcome in these times." TORONTO, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wealthy Woman Warrior has launched a workplace study report that will solve the virtual standstill in the performance and pay gap and its not just hiring or promoting more women. Responsibility has primarily been on the leadership team to hire and promote more women or on women in the workforce to change, neither has made a large enough difference, despite media attention and commitment to change. After conducting a workplace study, involving both male and female participants, a new solution has been unveiled. The study began investigating mindset as a solution to bridge the gap between men and women with the understanding that differences in thought were creating differences in behaviour and action. Technology using data analytics and virtual reality simulations were implemented so that the behaviours and actions required of volunteer participants could be measured. One key finding was that while women are motivated for advancement, men are taking more action towards securing it. To the naked eye, the assumption could be that women dont want change as much as they say they do. Taking a deeper look, there is one percent of the brain that differs between men and women. Within that one percentage of variance lies the cognitive and behavioural differences that keep men and women separate within the workplace and beyond. To level the playing field, awareness and mindset are imperative for change. Using the mindset training, a ninety-four percent increase in confidence was reported by both genders, translating into a variety of supportive actions for performance. Training lasted a total duration of three hours, over just under thirty days time. Providing mindset training to individuals helps both genders adjust their focus while enhancing confidence, providing a structure for change, and leverages the differences between how men and women think. An added benefit is that by providing mindset training to all individuals within the workplace creates an inclusive sentiment rather than further divide. Gain access to the study here: https://tribethrivecentre.wealthywomanwarrior.com/pay-gap-study About Wealthy Woman Warrior Wealthy Woman Warrior is a professional development training company with a focus in gender equality and feminine leadership for women professionals. Five areas of empowerment; mindset, communication, financial literacy, sales and technology are provided both online and in private training scenarios. Along with their Ambassadors, in five specific pillars of empowerment, they integrate training, virtual reality and data analytics to enhance engagement, decrease attrition and develop influential female leaders. About Andrea Carter As an award-winning speaker, author, consultant and entrepreneur, Andrea Carter impacts audiences with her inspirational and audacious approach to growth and development. Individuals and corporations have been impacted by her relevant, relational and riveting message of unleashing your prolific mindset to excel at your next level. She trains audiences to overcome obstacles by giving strategic steps to take action and achieve results. For Further Information Andrea Carter CEO & Founder Wealthy Woman Warrior T: (416)460-7801 E: andrea@wealthywomanwarrior.com Brandon Nez displays his flag at near his jewelry stand in Monument Valley, Utah. As Native American tribes around the country fight for increased access to the ballot box, Navajo voters in one Utah county could tip the balance of power in the first general election since a federal judge ordered overturned their voting districts as illegally drawn to minimize native voices. Read more As a nation, we have much for which to be thankful, even as racial strife continues to rile our politics, our day-to-day lives, and our interactions with those who don't look like us. I'm thankful that even after this week's mass shootings in Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, and beyond, doctors have the good sense to stand against a gun lobby determined to downplay the danger of firearms. I'm thankful that after voter suppression reared its ugly head in the Georgia governor's race, we're still free to call out corruption for what it is. I'm thankful that as nepotism has enabled Ivanka Trump to mishandle government emails, we're freely able to contemplate whether "Lock her up!" is an appropriate response. I'm thankful, most of all, that as Thanksgiving arrives in the midst of the most bizarre atmosphere I've ever experienced as an American, we're free to view the holiday through the lens of our various racial and ethnic backgrounds. And then, after experiencing the holiday through our own cultural lenses, we can do the much harder thing. We can see it through the eyes of others. If Thanksgiving is the holiday we've been told about, it is a shared meal symbolizing an alliance between good-hearted Pilgrims who braved the horrific journey to the New World, and Native Americans who generously helped them to survive their first brutal winter on these shores. Flip the lens, however, and view it from the perspective of Native Americans, and we see a holiday that is celebrated by some, and despised by others. In fact, for several groups of Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day to mourn. Every Thanksgiving since 1970, the United American Indians of New England and their allies have gathered in Plymouth, Mass., to mark a National Day of Mourning. For them, Thanksgiving did not mark the birth of a new nation. It marked the crippling of an old nation. "Thanksgiving day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault on Native culture," says a statement on the organization's website. "Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression which Native Americans continue to experience." For those who claim that Native Americans are overstating their case in calling out continued racism and oppression, I invite you to examine the Dakota Access pipeline protests. In 2016, thousands demonstrated against the oil pipeline, which flows through the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The protests centered on the Native American argument that the pipeline would threaten their water supply, violate treaties, and soil sacred lands. But after construction on the pipeline was halted under the Obama administration, Donald Trump, in one of his first acts as president, signed an executive order that resumed the project. The oppression doesn't stop there. Native Americans were targeted in a North Dakota voter suppression scheme that required Voter ID for the recent midterm elections. Voters were required to present IDs that include a physical address rather than a P.O. box. That requirement effectively disenfranchised Native Americans who lived on reservations, because on many reservations, there are no physical addresses only P.O. boxes. That kind of ongoing discrimination mirrors the racism that African Americans and Latinos experience. Yet when race is discussed in America, Native Americans are often excluded from the conversation. In essence, the group that was here before all of us is often rendered invisible. Perhaps this Thanksgiving, as we gather around tables to celebrate, we can go beyond giving thanks for all the things that make America. Maybe we can also give thanks for all the people who make America. Doing so would require acknowledging the humanity of Native Americans. It would require seeing them as people who not only cry and mourn, but also as people who laugh and rejoice. It would require looking beyond caricatures. Because in truth, there are some in the Native American community who will join hands this Thanksgiving and acknowledge that they've survived despite persecution. Some will raise their voices to give thanks for their success in spite of racism. Maybe this Thanksgiving, after so many years of telling a one-sided version of the Thanksgiving tale, America should recognize the people on the other side of the table, and give thanks that they are still here. Solomon Jones is the author of 10 books. Listen to him weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon on Praise 107.9 FM. sj@solomonjones.com. @solomonjones1 Cheyney University received another year's extension on its accreditation. The troubled university, which sustained another large enrollment loss this year, has been given more time to execute its turn around. Read more Cheyney University will get another year to execute a turnaround plan designed to rebuild its plummeting enrollment and improve its finances. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a regional accrediting panel, agreed Tuesday to extend the historically black university's accreditation through November 2019, noting that the school is continuing to make "significant progress." Cheyney president Aaron A. Walton said he was pleased by the commission's decision. "We are working in a deliberate manner to transform the university to ensure it continues to serve the commonwealth into the future," he said. "We're now going to continue our efforts to make sure we have complied with all the requirements so we can continue to move forward with the transformation. The university, part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, must submit a report to the commission by August, documenting its progress. The extension is the second and final one available to the university under commission policy, said spokesperson Brian Kirschner; the board will decide next year whether Cheyney can keep its accreditation. The university has been on probation since 2015. In granting the extension, commission chairman Gary L. Wirt cited Cheyney's "good-faith effort to remedy existing deficiencies." Cheyney has struggled for years with declining enrollment, an abysmal academic record, and unstable leadership. Last month, the state system announced that most of its universities had lost enrollment, and that Cheyney's enrollment stood at 469 students, down 286 or nearly 38 percent from last fall. Founded in 1837, Cheyney has a storied history as the nation's oldest historically black college, but has lost more than half its enrollment over the last decade. In July, Cheyney officials announced plans to partner with Jefferson University, Starbucks, and others in creating a new African American-focused institute that will promote the school's legacy. Walton said last month that applications were up, admission standards had increased, and academic performance had improved. A fentanyl user who didn't want to be identified holds a needle near Kensington and Cambria in Philadelphia, PA on October 22, 2018. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer Read more Opioid overdose deaths in Philadelphia dropped or stayed steady for nine months before rising again this spring, according to the latest numbers. City officials on Tuesday said the jump indicates that the opioid crisis remains stubbornly persistent in a city where 1,217 people died of overdoses last year. Overdose deaths between April and June rose by about 11 percent compared with the previous two quarters. "This still represents a kind of leveling-off in opioid-related fatalities over the last three quarters," said Kendra Viner, manager of the Philadelphia Health Department's opioid surveillance program. "The bad news is that we're not seeing the decline in fatalities we'd really like to see. And if this trend continues, we'll probably end 2018 with maybe just under the total number of fatalities that we saw in 2017." At current rates, the city expects from 1,100 to 1,150 overdose deaths this year, Viner said. In the first quarter of the year, between January and March, 257 people died of overdoses, and 85 percent of those deaths were caused by opioids. But in the second quarter, between April and June, 282 people died of unintentional drug overdoses, again with about 85 percent overdosing on opioids. That's still fewer deaths than in the second quarter of 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, overdose deaths hit an all-time high before dropping in the last three months of the year. That end-of-year trend is still somewhat encouraging to Viner and other health officials. "We saw that as a sign we'd peaked," she said. "But it was a sign that we'd reached a lower plateau. Maybe we are on our way down, but it's not a sudden decline. It's a gradual decline." Fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid that has contaminated or replaced most of Philadelphia's heroin supply, is behind the city's persistently high overdose rates, health officials said. The city has employed numerous initiatives, though it's not clear which are most effective, Viner said. "We're addressing over-prescribing through physician education, increasing access to treatment, increasing distribution of naloxone," the overdose-reversing drug, Viner said. "At the same time, there are a lot of law enforcement efforts to take down the larger dealers and get large quantities of fentanyl. I think all of those factors play a role." Though the crisis is most visible in neighborhoods like Kensington, where opioid-related homelessness doubled this summer, the city is still struggling to find and treat many people at risk of a fatal overdose. Most of the city's deaths still occur in private homes 75 percent of last year's overdose victims died at home, officials said. "The majority of people who are dying are people who are not being seen by other people. We have to figure out how to find those people and prevent that from happening," Viner said. Nonfatal overdose trends this year were similar to fatal overdose trends, Viner said, but overdose reversals are more difficult to track because not everyone who survives an overdose is treated at a hospital or by paramedics. The city has handed out tens of thousands of doses of the overdose reversal medicine naloxone in Kensington, and many people in active addiction carry it as a matter of course. Through just talking with community partners, theres a lot more naloxone reversal happening by community members than there has been previously, and at the same time [paramedics] are being called less and less of the time, Viner said. So this may indicate that there may be more overdoses happening in the community that arent being reported to us, but that more fatalities that could have happened are being prevented. FILE- In this April 17, 2018, file photo National Transportation Safety Board investigators examine damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia. In new accounts released Wednesday, Nov. 14, into the April accident, the flight attendants described being unable to bring the woman back in the plane until two male passengers stepped in to help. The flight attendants told investigators at least one of the men put his arm out of the window and wrapped it around the woman's shoulder to help pull her back in. Read more Seven months after a titanium blade snapped inside the engine of a Southwest Airlines jet, causing an emergency landing in Philadelphia and the death of one passenger, a federal investigation has zeroed in on two central questions: Why did the blade break? And why weren't its shards contained by a protective sheath that surrounded the engine, preventing further damage to the plane? At a hearing last week before the National Transportation Safety Board, expert witnesses stopped short of identifying the cause of these two failures on the 737, but their testimony disclosed that the April 17 accident was years in the making. The NTSB is in the midst of an investigation into how the incident happened and how to ensure it won't happen again. By examining the wear patterns in the failed blade from Flight 1380, forensic experts determined that the initial crack had been present nearly six years earlier undetected during a 2012 overhaul and inspection. >>READ MORE: A shattering noise, then a deafening roar. New details from Southwest plane's engine failure over Pennsylvania. Inspectors at the time were not required to use ultrasound or other advanced equipment to detect possible cracks only their eyes, aided by fluorescent dye to highlight flaws. But the crack was already there, testified Mark Habedank, a lead engineer at engine maker CFM International, a joint venture of GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines of France. Metallurgical experts were able to trace the crack's history by looking at "striations" estimating how fast the crack had grown over the thousands of flights, almost like reading tree rings. "If we look at the striation count and go backward, it appears that during that inspection, the size of the defect was about 1/16 of an inch," Habedank said. The engine blades were designed to last at least 100,000 flights, but the crack began to form at just 20,000 flights, and the blade broke after 32,000, he said. The engine used on the Southwest flight, a CFM56-7B, is one of the CFM56 series of engines manufactured by a partnership between General Electric and the French company Safran Aircraft Engines and used by about 300 different airlines worldwide. The findings of the NTSB investigation could have far-reaching consequences for the airline industry. Even before April 17, CFM officials had determined that the roots on this type of fan blade suffered excessive friction in flight, and recommended that they be removed and lubricated every 3,000 flights. Since the accident, such blades must now be lubricated every 1,600 flights, as well as undergo crack detection with either ultrasound or an eddy-current device, which uses electricity to detect abnormalities. Eight more blades have been removed from service as the result of these stepped-up inspections, Habedank testified, drawing surprise from John DeLisi, director of the NTSB's office of aviation safety. "So it's great that the inspection technique is pulling those parts from service, but that's a lot of blades that are cracking," DeLisi said at the hearing. Habedank and other witnesses stopped short of saying what caused the crack. But Dawn DiMarco, a metallurgist with Robson Forensic in Philadelphia, posited that maintenance technicians may have been too aggressive in "grit-blasting" the fan blade during overhaul. Analysis of the blade showed at least one piece of grit lodged in the metal, and perhaps another such piece started the crack, she said after reviewing the documents at the request of the Inquirer and Daily News. "They're getting pieces of the grit that are left behind, which is not good, because it is a source of contamination that could affect adhesion of the coating or serve as a site for crack initiation," she said, Then there was the second failure: When the blade tore through the engine, its protective sheath couldn't contain the shrapnel. Data collected by the NTSB described a fan blade break: Within 1/200 of a second, the fan blade fragments hit the fan case and cause a ripple, essentially a shock wave that emanates from the impact point. The disruption causes the airflow to surge. In the next two seconds the engine shuts down. When the engine used on the Southwest plane was tested in the mid-1990s, engineers believed the casing would contain a broken fan blade, testified Stan Minabe, a project engineer with United Technologies Aerospace Systems, which made the case. The casings didn't, so engineers added a shield to contain any blade thrown from a rotor spinning at more than 5,000 rotations per minute. In tests, it was effective. In the Philadelphia incident, though, the fan blade may have been thrown forward beyond the containment shield into the engine's inlet. Fragments of the inlet, a ring in front of the containment shield blades that ensures a smooth airflow into the engine, and the cowling, the metal shell that a plane's passengers see when they look out the window at an engine, broke off and hit the wing, fuselage, and one cabin window, causing the air in the cabin to rush out. >>READ MORE: Twenty minutes of terror in the sky: the emergency landing of Southwest Flight 1380 The FAA and Boeing have no standards for a window's ability to withstand impact, according to documents compiled by the NTSB, and there are no "directed inspections" for passenger windows. Investigators saw similar damage to the inlet in a nearly identical mishap involving the same model engine on a Southwest flight near Pensacola, Fla., in 2016. It was a kind of damage experts had never seen, witnesses said. "Fragments should not have traveled forward of the containment shield," Minabe said. Victor Wicklund of the FAA's transport standards branch confirmed in the hearing that the damage seen in both the Philadelphia and Pensacola incidents was unlike anything seen before. The inlet, meanwhile, is supposed to be able to withstand the impact of a fan blade to be certified for use. Witnesses testified that modern diagnostic tools allow a much better understanding of the ripple effect that occurs when a fan blade breaks. The Philadelphia and Pensacola incidents suggest the tests that engines undergo may not include all that can happen when something goes wrong in flight, DeLisi said. "We are seeing on the Southwest events," he said, "that inlet retention is not assured even after a successful certification test. So isn't that a good opportunity to rethink what we're doing on the ground and how well it simulates that failure in flight?" Addressing the problem would likely require engineers to consider changes in testing, design, and inspection, said Mark Ricklick, an aerospace engineering professor at Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Fla. "The aerospace industry," he said, "it has to be safe, of course, but it also has to be light, and those two things counteract each other." Technology that is not quite ready for use will likely be a longer term help in ensuring incidents like this don't happen again. Researchers are designing sensors that would be able to detect cracks in materials, or vibrations, pressure differences, or temperature variations that are outside the norm in the engine, giving advance warning of part failures that doesn't require manual inspections. "The number of sensors on engines is continuously increasing," Ricklick said, "so I'd say [it's] a matter of time." DeLisi told the hearing that manufacturers of engine components didn't agree how to interpret some of the fragments from the accident. He asked how much longer the investigation would need, addressing Minabe, the United Technologies engineer. "There's so much data and the hardware is in such a state that it takes a lot of time in terms of understanding what you're looking at," Minabe said. "There are things that we might first look at and think of as one thing, and if you come back and look at it again, you can think of it a different way. This takes an enormous amount of reviewing of the data, and just making sure we get it right." Mai Stewart, a student at Temple University's Katz School of Medicine, shows one of her cartoons about the process of becoming a doctor. Read more To cope with the grinding stress of medical school, students may, if they have time, seek hobbies outside the realm of lectures and lab coats. Mai Stewart's stress-buster keeps her squarely in the field of medicine. She draws cartoons about the process of becoming a physician. A fourth-year student at Temple University's Katz School of Medicine, Stewart uses scalpel-sharp humor to illustrate the feelings that have plagued med students for ages: inadequacy, stumbling fatigue, panic, and after those precious moments of true understanding relief. The primary character in the drawings, now followed by 10,000 fans on Instagram, is a cartoon version of Stewart herself. "So, student, what is the answer to my very vague and esoteric question?" a bearded senior physician asks her in one panel. "Student? Student?" Stewart's cartoon eyes grow wide. She fails to come up with a response. Finally, her head opens like a tin can, and her brain flies away. Her followers, many of them fellow med students, responded with knowing remarks. "Relatable," commented one. "Literally me today and most every day," said another. Then there was this telling response from a physician nicknamed drneel1973: "What's funny is I used to be that student and now I am the attending asking the vague and esoteric question." Stewart's work gets a big thumbs-up from another medical illustrator with Philadelphia roots: Mike Natter, who drew his way through med school at Jefferson University and is now a second-year resident in internal medicine at NYU Langone Health. "She's phenomenal," Natter said. "Her consistent and eloquent style tells a rich narrative of the trials and tribulations of this crazy, stressful, and rewarding journey it takes to become a doctor." Stewart, 26, has always liked to draw, and when she first posted her illustrations on Instagram a few years ago with the handle @maidoodles, they were not about medicine. One is a whimsical drawing of herself riding on the back of a fish, for example, while another shows her frolicking in autumn leaves. She made no mention of her ties to medicine. "I wanted an escape from that," she said. Then she realized humor would be a good way to cope with the grind. The act of drawing provides a release, as does the feedback from others who share her pain. "At times, I feel like I'm going insane a little bit," she said. "It was kind of nice to see so many people had similar experiences. It saved me from that feeling." While most of the images are cartoons, a few are instructional, part of a project she is doing for her studies at Temple. One illustration depicts a myocardial infarction a heart attack with clear labels that drew praise from her followers. "Wait, do I see a medical diagram WITHOUT an overwhelming amount of labels?" wrote one commenter with the handle @chronicle.of.nadia. Stewart grew up in Montclair, N.J., and Lancaster, where she attended high school. She studied biomedical engineering at Pennsylvania State University, then worked at a medical software company for a year to get a taste of the job market before starting med school at Temple. Early on, she used watercolor and ink for her artwork. Lately she does most drawings on her iPad, using software called Procreate allowing her the mobility to work in a coffee shop or any other spot that presents itself. An early promoter of her artwork was classmate David Pioquinto of Boca Raton, Fla. For one elective class at Temple, the two were paired up for an exercise designed to hone their powers of observation. They visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where they took turns describing a painting in words while the other, without seeing the artwork, sketched it based on that description. Pioquinto was dazzled by her effort, and started spreading the word about her talent among their Temple classmates. "The illustrations show things everyone is thinking as a medical student," he said. Stewart's family members are less certain about her medical humor. "My parents think I'm too negative," she said. Some of Stewart's humor is biting, for sure. But if med schools say they want students to work on their powers of observation, it would be harder to imagine a more keen observer of medicine than this young woman armed with an iPad. Eve Skilton-Sylvester, 16, who has current events-provoked anxiety in her home in Philadelphia. Read more After the 2016 election, Eve Skilton-Sylvester felt that her world the whole world, in fact was sliding downhill. The CNN app on her phone flashed one headline after another: There was talk of building a wall. Maybe Russia had rigged the election. Wildfires were scorching California. But late last year, when violence came to a corner of South Philadelphia not far from Skilton-Sylvester's school two teen boys were shot and killed during an argument the ninth-grader felt something snap. "I kind of broke down. I was crying because of gun violence. I just started bawling. My mom held me and said, 'Everything's going to be OK.'" The anguish disrupted her sleep. Some days, she had no appetite. "I thought: My friends are dying; there are going to be more school shootings. I thought there was no point for me to be living." Skilton-Sylvester, now a 16-year-old sophomore at Girard Academic Music Program, credits her parents, close friends, and professional counselors with helping her climb out of that abyss. But educators and psychologists across the region note that reactions such as hers have not been isolated, nor fleeting. Even now, two years after a game-changing election, kids from preschool to high school still show stepped-up levels of worry, agitation, and fear. "We are living in anxious times," psychologist Tamar Chansky, author of Freeing Your Child From Anxiety, told the audience last month at a screening of Angst, a 2017 IndieFlix documentary about kids' anxiety that recently made the rounds of area schools, including Friends Select and Barrack Hebrew Academy. "When news of violence, war, terrorism, and environmental disasters keeps coming to us, more support goes to the belief that the world is a dangerous place," says Muniya Khanna, a psychologist at the Children's and Adult Center for OCD & Anxiety in Plymouth Meeting. "There's no question that anxiety is increasing." Psychologists note an important difference between clinical anxiety a condition that may take the form of panic attacks, phobias, or generalized anxiety and that requires treatment and the situational stress that kids and teens experience every day. Both have been on the rise. In a poll of 35,000 teens this year, nearly half said they felt stressed "all the time." An October report from the American Psychological Association showed that high-profile issues including sexual harassment and gun violence were significant stressors for those ages 15 to 21. And according to the Child Mind Institute, a national nonprofit, kids' anxiety diagnoses ticked upward between 2007 and 2012 a year in which two million U.S. children had a recognized problem with anxiety. That was before mass shootings in Parkland and Pittsburgh; the separation of migrant families; the October release of a dire U.N. report on climate change. For children and teens whose smart phones deliver a constant barrage of news whether from vetted sources or friends' Instagram posts the torrent is hard to escape. Blake Fox, a 10th grader at Barrack Hebrew Academy, gets his news from CNN, Daily Wire, Twitter, YouTube, Fox, and MSNBC. What he learns is often unnerving. "When the president of the United States goes on Twitter at 2 in the morning to threaten North Korea, that definitely raises my anxiety," he says. Some events edge scarily close to home, such as last month's shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 and prompted Jewish institutions, including Fox's school, to boost security. The police cruisers guarding drop-off and dismissal make Fox feel safer even while he fears that "more people are going to have these anti-Semitic beliefs." In today's caustic climate, psychologists and educators say, certain students feel especially vulnerable: Muslim kids. Those with immigrant parents. LGBTQ teens. Children of color. Hate-based episodes in schools have spiked since the 2016 election, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Maureen Costello, who runs the center's Teaching Tolerance program, calls it "the Trump effect." Cheryll Rothery, a psychologist with Philadelphia's Ladipo Group, which specializes in counseling African American teens and adults, says the last two years brought a bitter wake-up for young clients raised in integrated environments and unfamiliar with overt racism. "All of a sudden, they're having experiences they've never had before," such as being called a racial slur while shopping in a drugstore, Rothery says. "I'm hearing a lot of depression, anxiety, but also disillusion, confusion, and sadness." Even young children pick up the heightened stress of adults around them, says Kristi Littell, CEO of the K-8 Wissahickon Charter School. "That can show up in all kinds of ways: not feeling well, not sleeping as well. Children are very tuned in to their worlds even if they don't follow the news of the day." One strategy to quell anxiety at least, for older kids may be to chase that news a little less. These days, Skilton-Sylvester watches newscasts only when she's with her parents or grandparents; she removed the CNN app from her phone. She's buoyed by stories of young activists. "The fact that people are coming together to make a difference that makes me really happy. Also the fact that I'm going to be able to vote in the next election." Fox turned to advocacy; lobbying with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee helped him feel more optimistic about the world. When anxiety strikes, he takes deep breaths to settle his racing heart and tries to evaluate the news feed by asking: "Is this truth or trick?" Developing a sense of efficacy is another antidote to anxiety, psychologists say. Strategies such as mindfulness, yoga, and, for those with diagnosed anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, also help. At Friends Select School, the psychologist and learning specialist began last year to hold "wellness lunches" with upper school students to de-stigmatize discussions of emotional health. Wissahickon Charter kids made posters with positive messages "Everyone belongs here!" to counter the divisive ones they were hearing outside. And on this year's midterm Election Day, students at Camden's St. Anthony of Padua School, which is 94 percent Hispanic, gathered for their daily assembly in the church's basement. A few eighth graders talked politics. One girl worried about the caravan; another feared that ICE agents might come while she was at school and take her mother away. Principal Mary Burke read a Bible passage that day, it happened to be about an ancient migrant caravan, the Israelites' flight from Pharaoh's Egypt. The day before, there was a lockdown the real thing, not a drill because of a nearby shooting. But today the kids were chorusing a Lee Greenwood song: "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free." "We try to affirm: You are protected here," says Burke. "We don't always have the answers. But we do listen. We help them to see the cup half-full." We'll go ahead and acknowledge that many visits to San Francisco will include the Embarcadero walkway along the waterfront past the ferry boats to Alcatraz and the Pier 39 shopping area up to Fisherman's Wharf. The Fisherman's Wharf area has long functioned as a sort of touristic black hole, inexorably sucking us in, along with a thousands-strong stream of hopefuls. We hop off at the end of the cable car line and discover that yet another trinket shop has opened, like a barnacle scarring the hull of a once-proud ship. But within walking distance is an attraction that can elevate your visit. Then, from Fisherman's Wharf, let the city's endearing cable cars deliver you to two neighborhoods where you can catch a glimpse of San Francisco's fabled past and evolving present. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. The visitor center (in a 1908 brick cannery warehouse) is down Jefferson Street at Hyde Street Pier, where there is a fleet of historic ships from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The park also includes the Maritime Museum, Maritime Research Center, and Aquatic Park Historic District. Or stand outside Boudin Bakery's flagship location, close your eyes, and let the scent of steaming hot sourdough loaves help you imagine this lovely bayfront location as it was a century ago. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park: Visitor Center at Jefferson and Hyde Streets; daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 415-447-5000 or nps.gov (search for "San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park). Fisherman's Wharf: 100 Jefferson St.; visitfishermanswharf.com. Pier 39: 2 Beach St.; pier39.com. Nob Hill and Russian Hill. At Nob Hill, begin at the breathtaking Fairmont San Francisco hotel, restored after the 1906 fire by architect Julia Morgan, best known for her design of Hearst Castle. A short walk along California Street will take you to the Huntington hotel and its Big 4 Restaurant, where the green leather, dark wood, and brass hark back to the day when the city's wealth was concentrated in the hands of those big four railroad tycoons (including Leland Stanford). Across the street, Grace Cathedral, the third-largest Episcopal Church in the country (after New York and Washington), with its stained glass and Ghiberti doors, replicas of those in the Florence Baptistery, will beckon. "Men shod their horses with silver shoes," says Margot Heltne, a guide with Hobnob Tours. "It was a period of gaudy excess." A few blocks down California Street and then a right on Polk Street is Russian Hill, a onetime working-class neighborhood that welcomed Mark Twain and Jack London. Named for the burial site of seven Russians during the Gold Rush, Russian Hill includes the much-visited and fantastically twisted Lombard Street, enviable city views, and an eminently walkable stretch of shops and restaurants along Polk Street. There, the pace is slow and comfortable as you sip coffee or sample a Camembert from Minnesota or a Stilton from England at Cheese Plus. If your appetite for history hasn't been sated yet, the Russian Hill Bookstore has an expansive section of local books as well as games and stationery. Nob Hill: The peak is at the intersection of Jones and Sacramento Streets. Russian Hill: The epicenter of the 30-block neighborhood is at Polk and Union Streets. sftravel.com/neighborhoods Doreen Wirzman and Franklin McGlynn, who recently married, in their home in Philadelphia. Read more Doreen Wirzman and Franklin McGlynn September 15, 2018, in Philadelphia Hello there They met in 1979 on the U.S. Army base in Goeppingen, Germany, where Doreen worked in public affairs and Franklin oversaw logistics for a combat unit. Doreen's office threw a dinner, Franklin sat at her table, and they stopped talking only when she needed to snap a photograph her assignment that night. "When your pictures are ready, could you bring a copy to my office?" Franklin asked when he walked Doreen to her car. It wasn't the photos that interested him. "I was just smitten with her this funny, charming, beautiful woman," he remembers. Doreen agreed to deliver. "Without this excuse, I didn't think we'd ever cross paths," she said. The photo drop led to a dinner date, and a covert operation. Because Doreen was an enlisted private first class and Franklin an officer a major any personal relationship between them was, as the people of Goeppingen might have said, verboten. It was also wonderful. "He was gentlemanly in the old-school way," said Doreen, a native of Landisville, N.J. "And he's attractive as hell." They tried to keep their growing feelings secret, but about eight months in, the chief of staff called Franklin into his office. People are talking, he said, and this could derail your career. They were heartsick, but the couple agreed ending things was the only logical choice. In summer 1980, a few months before Doreen was to move to the Vint Hill Farms Station near Warrenton, Va., they saw each other across the room at a party. The feelings were still there. "We spent the night together. Then we said goodbye," Doreen said. Later that year, Franklin was assigned to Fort Lee, also in Virginia. They saw each other a few more times but couldn't make it work. Doreen said many women were swooning over Franklin. "I thought I would always have to be competing, and I was not equipped to deal with that." Also, she was ready to build a life with someone, and did not think Franklin, who was divorced and had a son, would want to settle down again anytime soon. Franklin wasn't aware of any swooning or Doreen's anxious feelings about him, he said. All he knew was that which had been wonderful no longer worked, and Doreen broke things off. She transitioned from active duty to the Army Reserve in 1981, leaving the service a few years later as a sergeant. Doreen married in 1987 and worked as a secretary until the birth of her daughter, Sarah. Franklin remarried in 1981. He retired from the Army as a colonel in 1993, then held upper-management positions for several defense industry contractors. The two did not speak for 30 years. Hello again Doreen and her then-husband moved to Valparaiso, Ind., where she remained after they separated in 2009. Franklin had fleetingly crossed her mind over the years. After her divorce, thoughts of him began gnawing at her. "I had this feeling that I should find him, that he needed me." She even told Sarah about their long-ago love, all the while telling herself looking for Franklin was a terrible idea. Then one April night, Doreen had Chinese takeout and cracked open her fortune: "You will take a chance in the near future." It felt like a sign. She unsuccessfully searched Facebook for Franklin, then remembered his son's name: Trenton. "I think your dad may be someone I was stationed with in Germany," she messaged him. Trenton gave his dad Doreen's email address. "She never left my mind, and she never left my heart," said Franklin, who separated from his second wife in 2011. He had wanted to find Doreen but did not know her married name. Emails led to phone calls and then to a June meeting at the airport in Huntsville, Ala. Franklin, who lived in Byfield, Mass., had a business meeting there, and Doreen was in the region, visiting friends in Atlanta. "When I saw him standing there, it was like time had stood still," Doreen said. "I just fell into his arms." Over two days in Huntsville, Doreen, who is now 62, and Franklin, now 72, confirmed their chemistry and connection were strong. "I fell back in love with him in our emails and phone calls" she said. "There was this tenderness in the way that he talked to me, the way that he listened to me. It was everything that I had ever wanted in a relationship but had never had before." Franklin said his feelings for her were overwhelming, as was the sudden knowledge that with Doreen, he could truly be himself. "It was the most miraculous thing that ever came over me," he said. In February 2011, Franklin moved to Valparaiso. That May, he was hired by a U.S. firm with a Department of Defense contract that required relocation to the Republic of Georgia. The couple moved to Tbilisi, where they lived for more than five years. Afterward, they wanted to make a home somewhere in the Northeast. A case of dry eye brought Franklin to Wills Eye Hospital, and exploring Philly, they fell for Chestnut Hill, where they bought a home in August 2016. The engagement Franklin and Doreen decided years ago they would eventually marry. Once they were settled in Chestnut Hill, Doreen started emailing him engagement ring photos. One day in June 2018, Franklin said a package was coming and he needed it right away. When it arrived, Doreen delivered it to his home office. Minutes later, he returned to the living room and sat next to her on the sofa. "It has already been too long, and I don't want to wait another minute," he said, pulling a ring from his pocket. "Will you marry me?" "Absolutely yes!" Doreen said, throwing her arms around him. It was so them The couple wed and celebrated at the Dandelion. Their 18 guests included Doreen's daughter, Sarah, and her boyfriend, Jesse, and Franklin's son, Trenton, and his husband, John. Officiant Sally Weaver began the short ceremony with a reminder that all should silence their phones. "Please excuse me!" said the bride before leaving the altar to find her purse. When the bride returned, Sally shared a little of the couple's story, led them in their vows, and invited them to say a few words to each other. Franklin was perplexed when Doreen bent down and took off her shoe. She retrieved and read from a tiny rectangle of paper, "You will take a chance in the near future." This fortune cookie message, she told Franklin for the first time, was the sign that gave her the courage to find him. "It is the best thing I ever did," she said. After that, Franklin had a tough time speaking, but she managed to tell Doreen that the long, separate journeys that had brought them back together were worth every minute. Awestruck "We were holding hands and looking right at each other as Doreen was saying her words, and I was about to say mine, and I just felt so warm and happy," Franklin said. "We had been in love and together for so long, and we were making it official, finally, with our friends and family." The wedding did not feel like a celebration of one moment, Doreen said, but a celebration of all the moments leading up to it and all the moments yet to come. "I looked around the room, and I couldn't have been happier." The budget crunch The bargains: On the morning of the wedding, Doreen and her daughter spent $100 on bouquets at Giant and rearranged them into their bouquets and seven vases purchased for 98 cents each. The bride's dress was $29 at Nordstrom Rack. The splurge: "We went first-class on the menu," Franklin said. "Since we had such a small group, we figured we could bump it up a little bit." Honeymooning A holiday-season trip to see New York aglow. Behind the scenes Officiant: Ceremony written by Elizabeth Frumin and led by Sally Weaver, Weddings with Heart, Narbeth. Venue: The Dandelion, Philadelphia. Dress: Designed by Vince Camuto, purchased at Nordstrom Rack, Philadelphia. Groom's suit: Purchased at Charles Tyrwhitt, King of Prussia. Flowers: Fireplace mantle spray by Robertson's Flowers & Events, Philadelphia. Nicole Green (L) hugs Ann Baiada in the Bellevue Hotel 's grand ballroom. Mark Baiada, founder of the Bayada home healthcare agency, announced at the party that he is giving away $20 million to his employees. Read more Mark Baiada just might have won the holidays. The chairman and former CEO of Bayada Home Health, who's in the process of turning his billion-dollar company into a nonprofit, announced Tuesday that he's giving $20 million away to his 32,000 employees. For field staff, we're talking checks as big as $8,500 for a long-tenured physical therapist and nearly $7,000 for a veteran nurse. Execs get more. It's a way, Baiada said, for him to show his "deep gratitude and appreciation" for the workers who have helped the company take care of people at home since 1975. A choked-up Baiada did the big reveal on stage over lunch at The Bellevue Hotel in Center City after a brass band had finished its set. A staffer passed out envelopes to several employees on stage who waited in anticipation for Baiada's green light to open them and see what they would be getting. Merari Singh, a clinical operations manager who also works weekends as a nurse, was visibly shaken after the announcement. "He never ends to surprise me," said Singh, 42, who's been with the company for seven years. Nicole Green, a 48-year-old pediatric nurse who works in South Jersey, said she'd use the extra money she got for three years of service for her daughter's college expenses next fall. "I'm overwhelmed by the gratitude and the generosity," Green said. The company calculated the gift based on each employee's lifetime earnings at Bayada, a way to honor those who have put in the most time, like those in its "25 Year" club. Even people who started working there this week and haven't yet pocketed a paycheck were to find $50 in their envelopes. The company also made gifts to retirees who left after 2009, provided they had at least 10 years of service. The company's staff, spread across 22 states, is composed of 40 percent nurses, 40 percent home health aides, 10 percent therapists, and 10 percent office workers. Home health aides are the lowest earners, as their wages follow state Medicaid rates. In some states, home health aides make $15 an hour (Baiada says he is for a $15/hour minimum), while in Pennsylvania aides make between $10 and $12 an hour. Nurses, on the other hand, pull in between $35 to $40 an hour. The 71-year-old Baiada announced in June 2016 that he would turn the company he founded when he was 27 into a nonprofit to protect it from a sale and try to ensure that it keeps fulfilling its mission. The company, which Baiada said Monday earns $1.5 billion in annual revenue, was a likely acquisition target as home health providers consolidate. Smaller competitors had sold for amounts equal to their own annual revenue or more. He said the tax issues involved in giving away so much money weren't a big deal. "I'm the sole shareholder, sole board member, and sole officer," he said, "and I'm taking $20 million and giving it away." Actor Sylvester Stallone visited the Rocky statue outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art with Mayor Jim Kenney in April while he was in town town filming "Creed II." The film received more than $16 million in Pennsylvania film tax credits. Read more As Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, and familiar Philadelphia scenery return to the big screen this week, moviegoers can thank Pennsylvania tax breaks for helping to make that happen. Creed II was approved for $16.7 million in tax credits, according to state records, to conduct a majority of its filming in Pennsylvania. Film tax credits, offered by a majority of states, are seen as crucial to attracting major motion pictures. Advocates say that films bring jobs and an economic boost to an area, but others question if it pays off to give multimillion-dollar breaks to the film industry. In Pennsylvania, the credit is capped at $60 million annually an amount that the film industry and some lawmakers would like to increase. New Jersey, meanwhile, reinstated its film tax credit program this year, and it is more generous than Pennsylvania's. Former Gov. Chris Christie froze a smaller-scale version of the program in fiscal year 2011. It then ran out of money to give in credits before it expired in 2016 after which Christie vetoed bills that would have brought it back. The launch of a $75 million-per-year film tax credit program in New Jersey has "opened the floodgates," said Steven Gorelick, executive director of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, with many productions interested in credits and already filming. Gov. Murphy signed the bill into law in July, and Gorelick said filming of productions has begun even before the new application for tax credits is available. He anticipates opening applications in December. "We had gotten inquiries for many months prior to the passage of the program because the industry had been on high alert that this was a strong possibility," Gorelick said. "The production companies sort of hit the ground running. We're off to a pretty good start and next year will be extremely busy." Both states offer a credit that can cover a percentage of production expenses; up to 25 percent in Pennsylvania and as much as 30 percent in New Jersey, with an added incentive of 35 percent to film in South Jersey. Recipients of the credits can use them to offset state taxes in Pennsylvania, that includes the income tax and corporate net income tax. Creed II was approved for credits spanning three fiscal years, according to Pennsylvania state records. Although some of the film is set in Los Angeles, the film had to incur at least 60 percent of its production expenses in Pennsylvania to qualify for the state tax credit. While the Rocky brand may be inseparable from Philadelphia, but the city should not take for granted that the series will film on its streets, said Sharon Pinkenson, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office. "They can't afford to go to a place unless they're able to get the tax credit," Pinkenson said. Critics of the tax credits say they do not pay for themselves or spur enough economic development. A 2013 report by Pennsylvania's Independent Fiscal Office found that the state would receive about 14 cents back for every dollar of film tax credits awarded if the credits had no cap. The report found that the tax revenue generated by economic activity from film productions bring would total between $7.5 million and $14.9 million, but the net fiscal impact to state government would range from a loss of $46 million to a loss of $93 million. Some movies set in Philadelphia are filmed elsewhere, Pinkenson said, and come to town only to capture a few scenes at Philadelphia landmarks. The movie 17 Bridges, scheduled to come out next year, did the opposite it was filmed in Philadelphia but is set in New York City. "After they did all of their work in Philadelphia, they went four days to pick up iconic locations in New York," Pinkenson said. In recent years, Gorelick said, major movies typically would film in New Jersey only for a few days due to the lack of credits. Since July, he said, he's heard from many major studios and streaming services that want to base their productions in the state. The Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, is already filming in Newark and Jersey City, and The Enemy Within, a NBC series, is filming scenes in the Meadowlands Arena. Productions typically choose North Jersey, Gorelick said, in part because they do not need to pay travel fees for Manhattan-based staff. But the added incentive to film in South Jersey is meant to attract more productions to the southern half of the state. Pinkenson hopes that will be good for Philadelphia as well. "South Jersey doesn't have a big city," she said. "The only big city they have is Philadelphia." Among the movies that have recently received tax credits in Pennsylvania is M. Night Shyamalan's Glass, filmed in Philadelphia and scheduled for release early next year. It was approved for nearly $7 million in tax credits. You Are My Friend, the movie about Fred Rogers starring Tom Hanks and set in Pittsburgh, was approved for more than $10 million. State Rep. Steve Barrar (R., Delaware) was one of several co-sponsors of a bill introduced in the last legislative session in Harrisburg that would have uncapped film tax credits, allowing an unlimited amount annually rather than only $60 million. The bill did not make it to a committee vote, but Barrar said he would consider sponsoring a similar bill again in the next session. Several states have no cap on film tax credits, making it hard for Pennsylvania to compete. Many movies have been filmed in Georgia in recent years, for example, because there is no cap there on tax breaks for films. "It's a highly competitive area, all the states are competing for these films," Barrar said. "It's been a proven job generator." NEW HOPE, Pa., Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orchestra BioMed, Inc. , (Orchestra BioMed or the Company), a biomedical innovation company developing advanced therapeutic solutions to address major unmet medical needs, today announced that David Hochman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will present a corporate overview at the Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. EST in New York, NY. A live audio webcast of the presentation will be accessible on the News and Events page on the Company's website at www.orchestrabiomed.com . The webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the presentation ends and will be accessible for 90 days. About Orchestra BioMed Orchestra BioMed, Inc. is a biomedical company focused on developing innovative, high impact, high value, evidence-based therapeutic solutions for procedures that address major medical conditions. To maximize the clinical impact and commercial success of its products, the Companys business strategy is focused on leveraging partnerships with established global leaders in product commercialization, with the potential to generate long-term, high margin cash flow from royalties, revenue sharing, as well as licensing and development payments. Orchestra BioMeds lead product candidates, BackBeat Cardiac Neuromodulation Therapy (CNT) and Virtue Sirolimus-Eluting Balloon (SEB), target significant areas of unmet need in cardiovascular disease. BackBeat CNT is a patented implantable cardiac stimulation-based treatment for hypertension that has been shown to substantially and chronically reduce systolic blood pressure to levels associated with significantly reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. Virtue SEB is a novel, first-in-class drug/device combination product that delivers delayed-release bioabsorbable particle encapsulated Sirolimus to the artery during balloon angioplasty for treatment of atherosclerosis without the need for a permanent implant. Orchestra BioMed also has significant strategic ownership in other therapeutic device companies that were originally founded, financed and developed with the assistance from the principals of Orchestra BioMed. These include one wholly-owned subsidiary ( FreeHold Surgical ) and large minority interests in two other therapeutic device companies ( Motus GI , Vivasure Medical ). Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements made herein constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future financial and other performance or anticipated plans and are identified by words such as may, will, should, expect, could, scheduled, plan, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, potential, propose and continue or negative variants of such terms. These and similar forward-looking statements discuss the Companys future expectations and plans. The Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. Given these risks and uncertainties, the Company cautions against placing undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements are only estimates of future performance. Actual performance or events may not meet such expectations or estimates and may, in fact, differ materially. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements made herein are reasonable, the Company cannot and does not guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, the Company does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of such forward-looking statements in the future. The Company does not plan and, subject to applicable law, undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements made herein after the date hereof in order to conform such statements to actual results. Investor and Media Contact: Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC Jenene Thomas (833) 475-8247 OBIO@jtcir.com Source: Orchestra BioMed, Inc. File photo of Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, who is prosecuting the first-degree murder case against Lawrence Maurice Crawley. Read more In the stillness of a packed Lafayette Hill courtroom Tuesday, Angela Maya Stith's relatives looked up at a projection screen and watched in horror as a surveillance video replayed the last terrifying moments of her life. They watched as Stith was chased, stabbed, and left lifeless on the pavement. Then her body was run over repeatedly by an SUV in the parking lot of her Plymouth Meeting workplace. At the prosecution table, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele held his head in his hands. On the other side of the room, shackled and wearing a red prison jumpsuit, Lawrence Maurice Crawley, Stith's ex-boyfriend, sat, apparently emotionless. In a recording of a 911 call made by a coworker, a woman screamed: "Oh, my God, he just ran her over. She's mangled. He keeps coming back." Tensions were high and emotions raw at Crawley's preliminary hearing on first-degree murder and other charges. Crawley, 33, of Philadelphia, is accused of attacking Stith outside her workplace, Vector Security, in what authorities have said was the first homicide in 17 years in Whitemarsh Township. On a break from her overnight shift around 2:15 a.m. Aug. 3, Stith walked out a rear door of the office on the 5100 block of Campus Drive, which is in an office park off Butler Pike and near the Pennsylvania Turnpike. For about 10 minutes, the video shows her sitting in the driver's seat of her red Toyota Solara, her face occasionally illuminated by the glow of a cell phone. Suddenly, she scrambles out the passenger side of her car as a man in a dark hoodie chases her. She did not make it far, the video shows, before he overtook her, stabbing her in the back in the middle of the parking lot. The knife blade flashes in the darkness. When later found in her back, the knife was broken, Steele said. Hands flailing, two coworkers ran outside. They stood over Stith as the attacker, whom authorities identified as Crawley, ran off. In the chaos, someone dialed 911. A recording of the call was played in court. "I believe she's been stabbed," said a frantic coworker, who was not identified. "She just said she has a knife in her back She said she knows the person." Then, the woman on the phone let out a scream. As coworkers watched, her attacker returned to the lot this time in his Chevrolet Avalanche. Driving fast, he ran over Stith's body once, circled the parking lot, and then crushed her two more times. Stith, 33, died of blunt- and sharp-force trauma. After the attack, prosecutors say, Crawley sped off, heading west on the turnpike until a state trooper spotted him in Somerset County, about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh. Before an arrest could be made, fire erupted inside Crawley's SUV, burning him badly and sending him to the hospital in critical condition. Whether the fire was intentional or the result of an accident was unclear. In court Tuesday, Crawley's face was covered in dark burns. He had been violent in the past, according to court records, and was once charged with choking Stith. Two weeks before the alleged murder, Crawley pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of simple assault in that case. At the time of the fatal attack, Stith did not have a restraining order against Crawley in Montgomery County. However, three years ago, a Florida woman, who co-owned the SUV with Crawley, was granted a permanent restraining order against him, authorities said. Hours before the killing, Crawley attempted to buy a firearm at Delia's Gun Shop in Philadelphia, Montgomery County Detective William Mitchell said Tuesday in court. When Crawley was asked on his gun application whether there were any active restraining orders against him, he failed to disclose the permanent restraining order. As a result, Crawley's application was denied, Mitchell said. Crawley's gun application led prosecutors to tack on two charges related to lying while trying to purchase a gun. Crawley's public defender, Carrie Allman, argued unsuccessfully that the gun charges should not be added. District Judge Deborah J. Lukens ordered all charges held over for trial. Crawley did not respond to questions as officers escorted him to an unmarked police car. He is being held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Outside the courtroom, Stith's family declined to comment. Steele said he had not decided whether he might seek the death penalty. Federal lawsuit filed Monday night alleges anti-Semitic acts committed by more than 10 Philly cops in a Fairmount district led by a woman corporal. In this evidentiary photo, "SS Totenkopf," Nazi battalion that ran the death camps, was carved onto a locker beside the locker belonging to a Jewish cop. Read more Two Jewish police officers have filed a federal lawsuit against the Philadelphia Police Department, claiming a pattern of anti-Semitism by colleagues in their Franklintown-based district, including scratching a Nazi "SS" symbol into a locker and drawing a Star of David and the phrase "Hebrew Hammer" onto a door of a patrol car. In the suit, Officers Stacey Gonzalez, a 21-year department veteran, and Pavel Reznik, a Russian immigrant with 12 years on the force, allege that racist comments and anti-Semitic acts by a supervisor, Cpl. Karen Church, and more than 10 officers in the Ninth District at 401 N. 21st St., created an unsafe working environment and violated their civil rights. Mostly, the lawsuit says, co-workers would address the Jewish officers using ethnic slurs, and the officers endured daily off-color jokes at their expense. Their attorney, Brian Mildenberg of Center City, who filed the suit Monday night in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, included in the lawsuit photos allegedly showing anti-Semitic acts. "It's bad," Mildenberg said. The officers also filed a complaint with the department's Internal Affairs unit in August, Mildenberg said. Capt. Sekou Kinebrew, police spokesperson, said on Tuesday that the department does not comment on pending lawsuits. Mike Dunn, a spokesperson for Mayor Kenney, said that the suit was being reviewed and that he could not comment. John McNesby, president of Fraternal Order Police Lodge 5, the city's police union, said he had not known of the allegations contained in the suit. "This is the first I'm being made aware of this," he said. "To my knowledge they've never contacted [the union] or requested any assistance, which would be their first line of defense but they took the path that they did, and it's under litigation and I guess they'll figure it out on that level." Gonzalez, of West Philadelphia, claims in the lawsuit that Church sanctioned an anti-Semitic environment and allegedly told her, "Why doesn't the United States just take a missile and blow up Israel?" After Gonzalez expressed her offense at that, Church allegedly retaliated by making her stay and clean up after shifts, and by speaking to her in a demeaning way. She claims Church would refuse to make accommodations to aid Gonzalez with work, and punished her for using break time to obtain religious items on the eve of Yom Kippur. When assigning Gonzalez to get barbecued chicken for a 2018 Memorial Day potluck, one sergeant allegedly told her, in a remark laced with obscenities, not to bring kosher food. For Reznik, of Bensalem, the lawsuit says, the anti-Semitic behavior started in the police academy. In front of other recruits, officers allegedly told him, "I must break you," using a fake Russian accent. He allegedly was told that he would get "all the benefits immigrants get without doing any work." When he would get mail in the academy, the suit says, recruits would say, "Immigration was looking to deport him." And when being disciplined, they allegedly would say, "Oh, we're just getting Jewed out." A sergeant allegedly would say, "There are far and few Russians in a police department, so you watch what you do, you need your benefits." An officer allegedly told him at a department cookout: "I ain't eating your nasty Russian food." And his sergeant allegedly said: "I must break you, we must destroy your country." On a rear door of his patrol car, he found etched in dirt a Star of David and the words "Hebrew Hammer." The lawsuit also alleges the locker next to Reznik's in the district headquarters was defaced with the SS symbol and the German word "Totenkopf" (meaning "death's head"), an apparent reference to a Nazi battalion that guarded death camps during World War II. Officers also allegedly had anti-Semitic conversations. One officer allegedly said, "Hey look, there is some matzoh on the table!" Another officer responded, "Don't be a racist." "It's not racism," a third officer responded," it's anti-Semitism." Reznik was routinely denied time off for Jewish holidays, the lawsuit says. The day after a victim of a stolen car allegedly complained about seeing "a Jewish flag" on Reznik's phone, a captain stripped him of his patrol car and asked him to walk a beat, the lawsuit says. In 1995, a federal judge threw out a lawsuit against the department filed the previous year by retired officer Mark Goldberg alleging anti-Semitism. The 11-year veteran had sued his onetime friend, Police Inspector Joseph O'Connor, as well as the city and three other supervisors, alleging ethnic intimidation and religious discrimination. Howard Lebofsky, president of Shomrim of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, an organization of Jewish police officers, prison guards, and firefighters, said he couldn't cite any other recent examples. Shomrim is Hebrew for "guardians." Lebofsky said he joined the Police Department in 1971, rose to detective in 1975, and stayed on the force until 1984. During those 13 years, he said, he never personally encountered anti-Semitism from a fellow officer. "I'm sure it has occurred in the past," he said. "I just didn't run into anything." In 1980, when Morton Solomon became the city's first and so far its only Jewish police commissioner, there were more than 100 Jewish police officers on a force of 8,000. By the mid-1990s, fewer than 100 Jewish officers were counted on a force of 6,500. Today, according to Lebofsky, the force is about the same size but has about 25 Jewish officers. "Generally speaking, I think it's fair to say that Jews are not over-represented in law enforcement, let's put it that way," Lebofsky said. The leader of a violent robbery gang was sentenced in Philadelphia federal court to life plus 207 years in prison, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said Monday. Khalil "Lil" Smith, 35, of Philadelphia, ran a gang of 20 individuals who targeted victims from October 2012 to April 2014 in Philadelphia and its suburbs. The gang sought to steal drugs, cash, and other valuables, or demand ransoms for kidnapped victims. "They also occasionally dressed as police officers as a means to aid them in subduing their victims," prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. According to the original 2015 indictment of Smith and 15 other men, the gang was responsible for series of home-invasion robberies in which the victims often were beaten, tied up, and sometimes forced to strip and be subjected to waterboarding or scalding with boiling water. Smith was found guilty by a jury in 2017 of conspiracy to commit robbery, kidnapping, and related offenses. Prosecutors said Smith had a criminal record dating back to when his was a juvenile. "The only way to protect society from his despicable criminal tendencies is to incarcerate him for the remainder of his natural life," prosecutors wrote. Police hold a line of protestors at bay with their bicycles before the "We the People" rally in support of conservative causes at Independence Mall in Philadelphia on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. The rally drew several dozen attendees, while hundreds of protestors showed up. Read more A Glenside man accused of hitting a city police officer and resisting arrest during Saturday's counter-protest of what critics called a right-wing rally at Independence Mall was released Monday pending a trial in federal court. Brian Glantz, 23, was one of four people charged in the aftermath of Saturday's events, which prosecutors said drew about 50 people for a "We the People" rally and 500 counter-protesters. The only other defendant whom authorities have publicly identified is Amber Viescas, 31, of West Philadelphia, another counter-protester, who was charged with interfering with an officer and violating a lawful order, a petty offense for which she received a citation. Prosecutors said Glantz pushed on-duty officers at the rally and punched Philadelphia Police Capt. John O'Hanlon in a side of the head. As the arrest was being made, prosecutors said, Glantz continued to resist by grappling with and kicking the officers. "Assaulting a law enforcement agent is a crime that I take very seriously," U.S. Attorney William McSwain said in a statement. The alleged infractions occurred around a set of rallies that had attracted attention in advance due to allegations that members of right-wing hate groups were planning to attend and commit violence, as had occurred in Charlottesville last year. Glantz, who prosecutors said lives with his parents in Glenside, had been jailed since the weekend. He was released on his own recognizance pending trial. Viescas, an IT coordinator at Villanova University, said after the court appearance that she fell to the ground and an officer bumped into her as police tried to move the crowd across the street. When Viescas did not move, the officer handcuffed her and moved her to a van. "I think they wanted to make an example of someone early," Viescas said. One other person was arrested at the rally for failure to disperse, and another for failure to disperse and possession of marijuana. Philadelphia police declined Monday to release their names or details. City officials say Philadelphia's public library system has a green light to hire dozens of new employees by year's end and extend service hours at a dozen branches, but advocates maintain that the system needs a more dedicated and robust funding stream to help it grow and thrive. The library system will fill 62 vacant positions, officials said, enabling it to open 35 of the 54 neighborhood branches six days a week. The move follows the library's September announcement that only 23 of the 54 branches would open on Saturdays this school year due to a lack of funding. After learning of the closures, Kenney called on the Free Library of Philadelphia's administration to re-evaluate its "staffing and management decisions," Deana Gamble, a spokesperson for the mayor, said. The Managing Director's Office and Mayor's Office also worked with Free Library leadership to reallocate staff and identify unfilled vacancies, allowing more branches to offer six-day service, she said. A recent examination of Free Library branch operating hours showed that neighborhood branches in communities with high poverty rates often closed earlier and more often than those in areas with low poverty rates. Libraries in the most vulnerable communities often serve as hubs, offering patrons such services as access to computers with internet to do resumes and complete homework and online job applications; air-conditioning to cool off in the summer; and simply a safe place to go. The Free Library had 708 budgeted full-time positions in the mayor's 2019 budget. At the end of fiscal year 2018, it had 649 full-time staff, 102 part-time staff and 185 seasonal staff. According to the city, the library will fill vacant budgeted positions with six new librarians, 13 full-time assistants, 24 seasonal assistants, seven new municipal guards, and 12 facility guards. The new hires will be made with funding already available from the Free Library's budget. Gamble said Kenney wanted the system to "significantly expand Saturday hours by the end of 2018; offer Saturday hours at all branches by next fiscal year; and develop sustainable solutions that will enable Saturday service to continue at all branches in the future." In a news release, Siobhan Reardon, president and director of the Free Library, said the system is "thrilled to be able to open 12 more of our neighborhood libraries for a sixth day." At the time of the Free Library's September announcement, administrators blamed inadequate funding for a slew of understaffed branches and frequent, unanticipated closures. But after reviewing the library's budget and staffing levels, the Managing Director's Office discovered the unfilled vacancies and also found that while some branches experienced closures due to staffing, those instances were dwarfed by closures related to maintenance and facility problems. Building emergencies accounted for 396, or more than half, of the libraries' unanticipated closures in fiscal year 2018, while 357 closures were due to staff shortages, according to the city. Still, library advocates contend that without full funding, the Free Library will continue to struggle. The system's current budget is nearly $49 million, and is supported annually through city and state funding and private donations. Advocates say the city's budget allocation to libraries hasn't recovered since it was slashed by about $8 million in 2008 due to the Great Recession. Nearly two months ago, library Friends groups kicked off a citywide #FundOurLibraries campaign. In gatherings across the city since, dozens have joined the campaign for full funding. Some community members are "asking and expecting our elected officials to put their energy into fixing the problem," said Yvette Hill Robinson, who is on the citywide organizing committee for the campaign and a member of the Overbrook Park friends' group. "We aren't unaware that resources are limited," she said. "However, it is always a matter of priorities. Who are we prioritizing in this city if we are not fully investing in our libraries?" Libraries that will extend to six-day service are Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek; Frankford; Fumo Family; Greater Olney; Haverford; Kensington; Lawncrest; Nicetown-Tioga; Oak Lane; Paschalville; Richmond; and Thomas F. Donatucci Sr. Philadelphia Media Network is one of 21 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city's push towards economic justice. See all of our reporting at https://brokeinphilly.org. New Jersey Dealers Auto Mall, in Bridgeton, N.J., has pushed for legislation that would relax regulations on the used car industry. The State Commission of Investigation says the company is a haven for consumer fraud. Read more Three years after a state agency found that New Jersey's used-car industry was rife with fraud, consumers continue to get ripped off by unscrupulous dealers, investigators say in a new report. Buyers have spent thousands of dollars for vehicles that "turned out to be thinly disguised piles of junk," the report says, and some dealers continue "to evade sales tax, to commit insurance fraud, and to sell access to dealer credentials to unlicensed individuals." In its report Tuesday, the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) said it had conducted a follow-up inquiry to its 2015 investigation after lawmakers in Trenton tried to relax industry rules despite the agency's findings of rampant abuse. That legislation which had passed the Assembly by a unanimous vote and advanced out of a Senate committee died in June 2017 after the Inquirer and Daily News reported that the bill had been championed by a South Jersey dealer with alleged mob ties. The legislation was reintroduced in the Senate in February this year, but it has not advanced. SCI's scrutiny of the used-car industry has focused on multi-dealer locations, which are basically landlords that lease space to dealer-tenants. The arrangement enables dealer-tenants to obtain used-car dealer licenses in New Jersey even as they conduct most of their business in states like New York, where stricter rules make it more difficult for them to get government approval. The biggest multi-dealer location in the state is the Bridgeton, Cumberland County-based New Jersey Dealers Auto Mall (NJDAM), which SCI described in its 2015 report as "the foundation for an amalgam of consumer and bank fraud, unpaid taxes, suspicious financial transactions, and other questionable, unscrupulous and possibly illegal activities." NJDAM has denied wrongdoing and ties to organized crime. Representatives did not respond to a request for comment on the new report Tuesday. The Inquirer and Daily News found in 2017 that even after SCI published its initial report on the industry, a lobbying firm hired by NJDAM pressed the state Motor Vehicle Commission to issue licenses to dealers that owed the state at least $132,188.39 in unpaid taxes. The Motor Vehicle Commission declined licensure to some but renewed it for others. In its report Tuesday, the investigative commission highlighted complaints filed by consumers who bought defective cars but were unable to obtain refunds or recover repair costs because they purchased the vehicles "as is." Under New Jersey law, consumers bear the cost of any repairs in any such transactions. Some consumers were New York residents who filed complaints in that state, only to find that they were out of luck because the dealers were licensed in New Jersey. SCI, an independent fact-finding agency, recommended the state strengthen its consumer protection laws. California and New York, for example, require dealers "to provide written disclosure prior to a sale certifying that a vehicle is in good running order and meets basic safety requirements," according to the report. President Trump said he will not push the government to punish Saudi Arabia over the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a lengthy statement that begins by declaring that "the world is a very dangerous place," the president said the U.S. does not condone the killing of Khashoggi, who reportedly was executed and dismembered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 2. But Trump also said he won't cancel a $110 billion arms deal over the incident (the amount of that deal has been declared as "fake" by fact-checkers at the Post). "If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business," Trump said in the statement. "It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!" The Post reported Friday that the CIA had concluded Khashoggi's assassination was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. But in his statement, Trump said bin Salman denied involvement in the incident, and the president repeated Saudi talking points that Khashoggi was an "enemy of the state." The president also made no mention of Khashoggi's role as a journalist or the fact that he was a U.S. resident. "Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didn't," Trump said in the statement. On Sunday, Trump told reporters he was scheduled to receive the CIA's complete report on the case on Tuesday. Here is Trump's full statement: Statement from President Donald J. Trump on Standing with Saudi Arabia America First! The world is a very dangerous place! The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraq's fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!" Iran is considered "the world's leading sponsor of terror." On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism. After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States! The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body. Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an "enemy of the state" and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didn't! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world! I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America. After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels so important for the world. As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First! Smoke from the Camp Fire obscrues the view of highway 70, near the Concow (Calif.) Reservoir last week. Read more Visibilities in the region have been reduced since early Monday, almost as though the entire region has been in a haze. Various reports have attributed at least some of that to smoke from the horrific California wildfires. The air has at times around here had a rather acrid odor; however, it is uncertain just how much the California fires have to do with it. An "experimental" forecast map, posted Monday morning by NOAA's Earth System Research Lab, in Colorado, showed a plume of California smoke passing through the Philadelphia region Monday afternoon. Gary Szatkowski, former chief meteorologist of the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly, tweeted it out and it drew plenty of attention. Joe Minott, longtime chief of the Clean Air Council, says it's quite possible the smoke made it here "It makes perfect sense," he said and that given Earth's rising temperatures, the nation could expect more wildfires and migrating smoke. However, he said he couldn't be absolutely certain the region was inhaling it. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's air quality discussion on Monday mentioned "stagnant and foggy conditions;" nothing about smoke. If it was smoke from the West, it wouldn't be the first time that plumes had traveled thousands of miles to the East Coast, noted Dave Dombek, a meteorologist with AccuWeather. One of the classic examples was the incredible fallout from the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption in Washington State. But whether a California plume actually made all the way to Philadelphia this week would be impossible to verify, according to John Leslie, spokesman for NOAA's satellite division. The problem? Satellites can't see through clouds. Alex Staarmann, a meteorologist at the Mount Holly weather service office, said the locally reduced visibilities have been the result of fog and haze. Smoke plumes likely would have passed overhead at jet-stream level, he said. In any event, Monday would have been a bad air-quality day even without the smoke, the experts say. Air at the surface was capped under an "inversion," which inhibited the dispersal of pollutants, said Dombek. Warm air rises over cold air, except when it bumps into a warmer layer. On Monday the air about a mile up was 2 to 4 degrees warmer than the layer below, said Staarmann. Plus, winds at ground level were nearly dead calm. "There was no mixing whatsoever," said Dombek. The atmosphere evidently is about to restart the mixer. Winds Tuesday afternoon were expected to gust to 20 mph, and closer to 30 on Wednesday. Recent reports show a continued decline in international students choosing to study in the United States. According to the 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, the number of students enrolling for the first time at American colleges dropped nearly 7 percent from 2016 to 2017. While our student body is diverse, Temple Engineering has seen a similar trend emerge. This is particularly concerning to me, both as a first-generation immigrant and an engineer, but also as an educator for more than three decades. In order for this country to remain competitive, we must welcome students from around the world. Engineers shape global progress on nearly every level from manipulating the smallest cellular organisms, to the development of 3-D printing and drone technology, to researching the next frontier of data protection and usage. Engineers build not just buildings and bridges, but businesses, with a significant number of Fortune 500 CEOs studying engineering as undergraduates. Recent years have shown a significant concern in the U.S. regarding a shortage of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workers for the marketplace. While Temple Engineering has taken steps toward broadening STEM participation in Philadelphia with the creation of the Center for Inclusive Competitiveness, the holistic solution is a global one. I frequently tell our graduating students: While today is about you, tomorrow is about the world around you. Applying the skills learned to make the world a better place is the true measure of one's success as an engineer. And there is no better way to impact the world than to be a student of it. Temple University recently celebrated You Are Welcome Here Week, a campaign to let international students from around the world know that they are welcome on U.S. college campuses by celebrating our diversity. Among the international students Temple Engineering has welcomed in recent years is bioengineering alumna Arooj Khan. Arooj was born in the Netherlands and raised around the world from Amsterdam to Pakistan to Los Angeles and is now an R&D engineer. Just last week, mechanical engineering students Salman Alotaibi and Yaqoub Bushehri, both Kuwaitis, won the university-wide Fox School of Business Innovative Idea Competition. Their simple but impactful idea? A portable, lightweight washing machine that could have a variety of applications, from stemming the spread of disease to better-preparing platoons of troops, simply by making it easier to wash clothes. Arooj, Salman and Yaqoub are just three of the many international students who have chosen not just Temple, but the United States as the place to start their engineering careers. We will continue to be a welcoming, inclusive place for more international students like them, and encourage our higher education partners to do the same. Keya Sadeghipour is dean of the College of Engineering at Temple University. On Monday afternoon, news broke that four people were shot and killed "execution style" in a West Philadelphia basement, bringing Philadelphia's 2018 death toll to 302, just 13 fewer than in all of 2017 positioning Philadelphia to match or exceed last year's murder toll. Gruesome events like this are exactly the type of incidents that make people lose their appetite for criminal justice reform. But not all incidents that end in a killing are the same, and yet our criminal justice system has a one-size-fits-all approach for dealing with them. That's a problem. Structural reform of the criminal justice system must include a nuanced approach to the prosecution and sentencing of all crimes, including murder. It is not only the moral thing to do there is evidence to support that it will create the most significant change. In Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner is leading the charge as one of the only DAs in the country that does not limit his reform to the prosecution of nonviolent crimes. Recent reporting in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Samantha Melamed and Chris Palmer shows that Krasner is taking a different approach to charging and sentencing murder, arguably the hardest offense for which to sell the idea of reform. Breaking with long-held tradition, Krasner is no longer seeking to charge any killing that happens in the city with the highest possible charge first-degree murder that carries a sentence of life without parole or death. Instead, Krasner intends to use the full spectrum of murder charges. There is a range of homicide charges from involuntary manslaughter to first-degree murder for a reason. When taking into account the legal components of a homicide malice, intent, disregard for human life, premeditation there is a big difference between a person who executed four people in a basement to, for example, Michael White, who ended up stabbing Sean Schellenger after an altercation between the two next to Rittenhouse Square. Both deserve accountability, but also for other factors to be taken into account. Even under public pressure, including from Schellenger's mother and friends, Krasner sought a third-degree murder charge against White allowing for him to be released on bail for the duration of the trial and ensuring that the 21-year-old will not be sentenced to life without parole. Bold reform which includes violent crime with this type of nuance is what will help us make gains in reversing mass incarceration. Dr. John Pfaff, a professor of law at Fordham University, argues in his book Locked In that the popular perception that reforms to the prosecution of nonviolent drug offenses will reverse mass incarceration is not supported by data. Charging violent offenses is what drives mass incarceration, according to Pfaff. He writes: "Significant decarceration will require us to ask very tough questions about how to manage those convicted of violent crimes as well [as nonviolent]." It is becoming clear that Krasner is not afraid of those exact questions. Unfortunately, that doesn't help the nearly 2,700 people from Philadelphia who are currently serving a life sentence many of whom are black and sentenced while in their 20s. But there is hope. State Sen. Sharif Street proposed a bill that will create a process in which lifers could be considered for parole after 15 years in prison. While that number can be debated, the idea is what matters a sentence that carries no incentive for rehabilitation and reflection does not move us toward justice. Critics point out that this approach to prosecution is unfair for the families and friends of victims who want justice for their loved ones. But the assumption that victim advocates are a monolith who always want the harshest possible punishment is wrong. In August, Mitzi Birli Foulke and Janice Airey testified before the commonwealth's Board of Pardons asking them to commute the sentence of Craig Datesman the man who killed their brother three decades earlier. In an Inquirer op-ed, Birli Foulke wrote, "I now feel strongly that Craig has paid for his crime. He has served enough time and belongs with his family who has suffered while he has been incarcerated." Datesman's petition was denied and he is still incarcerated. There are also those who raise concerns about the public safety implications of paroling people who were convicted of murder. But research suggests that the "criminal career" of most is short and that the vast majority of people "age out" of crime and violence. In fact, according to analysis conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the people convicted of the most violent crimes are the least likely to reoffend only 1 percent of people convicted of murder who were released on parole were arrested for homicide. We should invest resources in identifying and helping that high-risk 1 percent, not cage the full 100 for life. If our approach to the prosecution of violent crime is purely punitive, then let's stop calling the departments that oversee prisons departments of "corrections." While an eye-for-an-eye approach is tempting, it is also vindictive. The goal of the state should not be to retaliate but to set a moral standard and rehabilitate. Philadelphia is heading in that direction. Honolulu, HI, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Honolulu, HI November 19, 2018 Contact: Gabriel Lennon, 808-441-1009, Gabriel@PearlHarborAviationMuseum.org TAMMIE JO SHULTS APPEARING AS SPECIAL GUEST AT ANNUAL GALA Southwest Airlines Captain Tammie Jo Shults will be the special guest at the 12th Annual For Love of Country Gala hosted by Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, on December 8, 2018. The event includes a special tribute to Col. Charles McGee, famed Tuskegee Airman, who turns 99 this year. Elissa Lines, Executive Director of Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum stated, We are excited to be hosting Captain Shults who started her aviation career as a Naval Aviator. This will be an exciting evening celebrating patriotism where we will recognize and honor those who have served, and those who continue to serve, courageously and selflessly defending our nation. Tammie Jo Shults possessed an early interest in flying, but she faced various obstacles on her path to becoming a military pilot due to her gender. Applying her lifelong trait of perseverance, she eventually became one of the first female F/A-18 Hornet pilots in the United States Navy. After concluding her Navy career, she became a pilot for Southwest Airlines. Tammie Jo's incredible history and talent received wide acclaim on April 17, 2018, when she successfully landed a Southwest Boeing 737 after an engine exploded at high altitude, causing multiple system failures and a rapid depressurization. The successful landing of Flight 1380 in Philadelphia saved 148 total lives including passengers and crew. Tammie Jo and her husband Dean live in Texas, and Dean also enjoys flying for Southwest Airlines. The couple has two adult children and are committed to living out their faith and serving in their community. They are active in their church and volunteer at a school focusing on at-risk youth. For more information about Tammie Jo Shults, please visit www.CaptainShults.com. For more information about the gala For Love Of Country at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, please visit www.ForLoveofCountryGala.org Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is located on Historic Ford Island, where bombs fell during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. It is a sacred battlefield, Americas aviation battlefield. Visitors to the Museum can see remnants from that day of infamy, including the 158-foot tall, red and white iconic Ford Island Control Tower, Hangars 37 and 79, and bullet holes in Hangar 79. Through its preservation and restoration of World War II fighter planes and accompanying artifact in the Museums historic hangars, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum shares the story of the vital role aviation played in the winning of World War II, and its continuing role in maintaining Americas freedom. ##### Attachment We showed up. In the rain, in unusually big numbers, to vote for the women and men we believed would help make our communities and our country better. In homes, offices, and public places around the region, nearly 5,000 strong came for On the Table Philly, to talk about issues and opportunities that matter to our families and our neighbors. >> READ MORE: Citywide table talks designed to bring Philadelphians together | Opinion If the saying is correct that 80 percent of success is showing up, then we have made a strong start toward creating a better future. Now, our focus needs to be on sustaining interest and taking actions that get us the rest of the way. In short, we must move from showing up to stepping up for the long run. Showing up makes a statement: Whether we're curious, angry, or hopeful (or all three), we care. Showing up forges a connection to a cause, an idea, and especially to other people. As Philadelphia Foundation's team crisscrossed the region visiting tables last week, we saw and heard these emotions play out. At a time when it's common to despair over divisions and rancor in our society, we were heartened to witness people from so many walks of life talking to each other with respect, optimism, and shared purpose and enjoying the experience of exploring pathways to change. You can get an overview of the spirit and breadth of On the Table Philly conversations by following @onthetablePHL on Twitter and Instagram using the search term #LetsTalkPhilly, or looking at the On the Table Philly's Facebook page. Standout highlights for me included: a table at the Philadelphia Free Library at 6th and Lehigh, where each participant was a testament to challenges, triumphs, and tenacity that regularly go unnoticed in the Fairhill neighborhood; a post-election breakfast briefing by Ed Rendell for municipal finance wonks hosted by PFM that was a workshop on civic engagement; and a gathering hosted by the AFL-CIO that identified the pressing need to increase career awareness and math skills in middle schools. In Chester, a table at the Boys and Girls Club discussed affordable housing and home ownership. At ACLAMO Family Center in Norristown, the focus was on strengths and needs of area youth. At Rutgers Camden, a group talked about bistate regional opportunities. Entrepreneurship, arts and culture, public transit, fellowship and loneliness, opioids, safety we discussed them all and more. In the coming weeks, we will be publishing survey findings and analyses to give us all a complete picture of the day. >> READ MORE: Community to break bread, discuss what matters to them during citywide table talks So, after sparking new opportunities for impact at our tables, how can we direct our energies forward? Take the next step and apply for a grant. The Philadelphia Foundation and our partner, Philadelphia LISC, have extended until 5 p.m. Monday 26 the deadline for On the Table Philly participants to seek up to $1,000 to turn talk to action. A short video and application, which can be found at onthetablephl.org, are all that are required. We are excited to see what develops. More broadly, we all need to encourage, expand, and support greater Philadelphia's pool of givers and doers. The extensive organizing that occurred for this year's elections, the high voter turnout, and the doubling of On the Table Philly hosts and participants tell me that we have tremendous energy and urgency to engage even more area residents in volunteerism, activism, and philanthropy. There is no shortage of work to be done to realize the opportunities and meet the challenges in our region. It's never too late to get engaged. Libraries, Y's, schools, and community and civic organizations provide opportunities to get directly involved. Community foundations, civic, fraternal, and other organizations provide an array of options for collective impact. Decide what issues and ideas stir you and the kinds of activities and roles that suit your talents and time. Keep informed through a variety of media. Talk to your neighbors, friends, and colleagues about causes they support. Then contact one of these organizations for advice and introductions to help you connect. We all benefit when everyone pitches in. The Philadelphia Foundation is proud to be completing a century of service to greater Philadelphia. We're even more excited to launch our second century of action early next year. This milestone comes at a time when a lot of our region is booming while too many people and places are still being left behind. We will mark the occasion with a series of initiatives designed to inspire and nurture civic action and leadership, giving and doing. Thank you for showing up. Now let's step up into our future. Pedro A. Ramos is president and CEO of the Philadelphia Foundation. pramos@philafound.org. Once again, Philadelphia City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson is in the middle of a highly questionable city land transfer. He not only set in motion a chain of events that turned an affordable housing plan into a bonus for a developer, but his actions undermine efforts to build a coherent plan for a changing city. In 2014, Johnson steered two city-owned lots on Bouvier Street, between Dickinson and Tasker, to a non-profit called Chosen 300 Ministries for $15,000, ostensibly for an affordable housing project. Less than a year later, the nonprofit flipped the lots, which the new owner eventually sold to a for-profit developer, reported staff writer Craig R. McCoy. Using those two lots and two others, the developer is building four townhouses and plans to sell them for $500,000 each. The extraordinary jump in value dramatizes just how volatile land prices in Point Breeze can be and the need to stabilize the neighborhood for poor and moderate-income residents. Point Breeze is just a microcosm of the city, though. Like the city as a whole, the community is undergoing change and increased development and spurring concerns that longtime residents could lose out. But how a city grows and who gets to benefit is far more complicated than a single Council member's transactional approach. That's why the outsize power they have for approving or vetoing sales and disposition of individual land parcels in their districts is so problematic. To be sure, Johnson is not alone Council President Darrell Clarke has been accused in the past of favoring donors for development deals. But more recently, Johnson has been in the middle of other city land transactions made under the guise of creating affordable housing. Since he took office in 2012, Johnson has steered 11 city properties in Point Breeze to developers who paid between $7,800 and $23,000. The developers turned the properties into housing which was marketed for $400,000 and up. This is no way to meet the city's growing housing affordability problem or, for that matter, how to coherently plan a city. The Planning Commission is working on Philadelphia's first citywide affordable housing plan and that is welcome only if Council doesn't undermine it. Council has a very important role to play in representing its constituents and balancing citywide development especially as the plan evolves from a housing policy that was based on the city's decline to one which is based on the city's new growth. But Council needs to stop micro-managing housing policy. Mayor Kenney and Council should extricate housing policy from the stultifying grip of politics. Council members rightly argue that they have intimate knowledge of the districts they represent, but doesn't qualify them to control every piece of city-owned land. It's hard to be confident that an entrenched Council will change its ways, but in the last two decades, we've seen mayors put a dent into the culture of favors, and aspire to a government that is efficient, ethical and fair. Councilmanic privilege belongs in the last century, not in the city's future. CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Production remains shut in at the SeaRose floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel with all production wells secure after a period of extreme weather and an oil release late last week. Husky Energy (TSX:HSE) had shut in production at the White Rose field Thursday, November 15 due to operational safety concerns resulting from severe weather. The release occurred during restart procedures on Friday, November 16. Husky was in the process of resuming operations as conditions returned to normal operating parameters, and after safety checks were completed. On November 19, a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) survey showed the release came from a subsea flowline connection in the White Rose field. Husky estimates 250 cubic metres (250,000 litres) of oil could have been released, an estimate based on the lines maximum flow rate. Since the original release, no additional oil has been detected at the surface. Ongoing observation flights and sea vessel sweeps indicate the oil released Friday continues to disperse. Operations at the White Rose field are suspended until a full inspection of all facilities is completed and Husky has received the support and approval of the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB). An investigation into the cause of this incident is underway. Husky will cooperate fully with the C-NLOPB and other regulatory authorities, to ensure government, other offshore operations, and the public are kept informed. Husky, the C-NLOPB and Canadian Coast Guard authorities continue to monitor the oil and impact on wildlife. A wildlife rehabilitation centre is activated. Fourteen oiled sea birds have been confirmed, with three recovered and transported to the centre for treatment. The safety of personnel and the protection of the environment remain Huskys number one priority. In response to requests for information, Husky has been responding to all media requests and providing interviews with response leaders as they are available. To ensure the public has access to information on the incident and its impacts, Husky will provide daily updates on its website at www.huskyenergy.com/whiterose Production from the SeaRose was shut in on November 15, 2018 and was approximately 20,000 barrels of oil per day (Husky working interest, before royalties). Investor and Media Inquiries: Leo Villegas, Manager, Investor Relations 403-513-7817 Kim Guttormson, Sr. Media Relations Advisor 403-298-7088 CHICAGO: Two people were killed and two others critically wounded in a shooting at a Chicago hospital on Monday, and among the dead was the gunman who started shooting in the parking lot and then burst into the medical facility and opened fire, according to local media. A police officer was among those wounded in the shooting on Chicago`s South Side at Mercy Hospital, officials said. Police cars and ambulances swarmed the hospital after the shooting. ABC7 Chicago and CBS Chicago, citing sources, reported that two people died in the shooting, including the gunman, and that two other people were wounded. Police searched the hospital, said Anthony Guglielmi, a Chicago Police Department spokesman. The hospital said on Twitter the shooting was over and patients were safe. Eyewitnesses told reporters the shooting began in the parking lot before moving into a clinic area inside the hospital. Police have not commented on a possible motive for the shooting. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Superintendent Eddie Johnson were on their way to University of Chicago hospital, where the wounded police officer was being treated, according to local media. Sue Jimenez, the manager of Kozy`s Cyclery bike shop near the hospital, said she heard multiple gunshots separated by pauses. At one point, she heard five shots in quick succession, she said, but the shooting stopped after police arrived. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked people to vote intelligently in the November 28 Assembly elections, asking them to ensure that "not even a single Congress candidate" is elected. Addressing a poll rally in Rewa, Modi reminded voters that Madhya Pradesh has a "double-engine" as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power in the state and the Centre. Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, Modi said, "History proves that no dynasty prevails after its fourth generation rule in Delhi and Congress will also meet the same fate". Modi urged people to think for a moment before voting about what Congress has done for them compared to 15 years of BJP rule in the state. Asking people to be active participants in development process, Modi said, "If people work for 10 hours, then I will work for 11 hours for the country's progress". Modi credited Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan with developing the state. "He is in power for the last 15 years but effectively got only four and a half years as during rest of the period, the state always fought with the Centre for its rights in the UPA-led regime at the Centre, he said. "In 55 years (of Congress rule), only 30 MW green energy was generated (in the state) while in our 15-year rule, 4,000 MW renewable energy is being generated," he said. JAIPUR: Father of the independent legislator from Uttar Pradesh, Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias 'Raja Bhaiya' was detained for carrying a huge amount of cash in poll-bound Rajasthan on Tuesday. According to news agency ANI, Raja Bhaiya's father Uday Pratap Singh was carrying approximately Rs 11,50,000 in cash. He was detained at the Kishangarh airport. Rajasthan: Uday Pratap Singh, father of UP MLA Raja Bhaiya was detained at Kishangarh airport in possession of Rs 11,50,000 in cash, earlier today. More details awaited pic.twitter.com/tSsXxi4dBy ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 During his interrogation, the MLA's father told the airport authorities that he was heading to the Pushkar Fair in Ajmer to buy horses. The airport officials later referred the matter to the Income Tax Department officials who in turn questioned Uday Pratap Singh regarding the source of the money found from his possession. It may be recalled that the Model Code of Conduct is in force in Rajasthan and carrying a huge amount of undeclared cash is strictly prohibited and can attract a fine and punishment both. Raja Bhaiya is an independent legislator from the Kunda assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh. He wields a considerable influence in the area and is seen as a muscle-man politician. Assembly polls will be held in Rajasthan for 200 constituencies on December 7. Ferratum Group: HSBC increases shareholding above 5% Helsinki, 20 November, 2018 - Ferratum Oyj (ISIN: FI4000106299, WKN: A1W9NS) ("Ferratum") disclosed earlier today a notification that HSBC Holdings PLC ("HSBC") now holds 1,166,939 shares in Ferratum, representing 5.37% of the total issued share capital of Ferratum. The shareholdings of HSBC Global Asset Management France (HSBC France) and INKA Internationale Kapitalanlagegesellschft mbH Dusseldorf (HSBC Germany) make up 0.67% and 4.70% of Ferratum's total share capital respectively. Jorma Jokela commented: "HSBC is a long term supporter of Ferratum and we are pleased to see two subsidiaries growing their stakes in Ferratum as we implement our growth initiatives." About Ferratum Group: Ferratum Group is an international provider of mobile banking and digital consumer and small business loans, distributed and managed by mobile devices. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Ferratum has expanded rapidly to operate in 25 countries across Europe, Africa, South and North America and the Asia-Pacific region. As a pioneer in digital and mobile financial services technology, Ferratum is at the forefront of the digital banking revolution. Ferratum's mobile bank, launched in 2016, is an innovative mobile banking platform offering a range of banking services, including real time digital payments and transfers, within a single app. It is currently available in five European markets. Ferratum has approximately 1.9 million active and former customers who have an account or have been granted one or more loans in the past (as at 30 September 2018), of which over 799,000 customers have an open Mobile Bank account or an active loan balance in the last 12 months. Ferratum Group is listed on the Prime Standard of Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol 'FRU.' For more information, visit www.ferratumgroup.com. Contacts: New Delhi: Classic Legends Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra, has launched the all new range of Jawa Motorcycles by unveiling brand new bikes in India the Jawa, Jawa forty two and the Jawa Perak. The Jawa and Jawa forty two are priced at Rs 1,64,000 and Rs 1,55,000 respectively and the bookings of the bikes have already begun online. The Jawa bikes can be pre-booked at just 5,000. The amount paid for pre-book is fully refundable. Here's how to book the bikes online Go to this link. Fill in your name, email and contact details. Conversely, you can also sign in using Facebook and Google. Select the payment option and confirm booking. Once, you fill in the details and confirm your booking, you will get a notification of Jawa has also launched a host of toll free numbers for customer querries. The company has tweeted: Thanks for the overwhelming response. In order to serve you better, we have put in place the following Toll Free numbers. 1800 419 8600 1800 266 5666 1800 103 2342 You can also write to us at care@jawamotorcycles.com Thanks, Team #Jawa Jawa Motorcycles (@jawamotorcycles) November 18, 2018 As of now you can either book the Jawa or the Jawa Forty Two. The Perak, is not yet available for booking. There is no official confirmation on the date of the delivery of the bikes. However media reports say that it will start by early January. The Jawa and Jawa forty two bikes come with 293cc liquid cooled, single cylinder, DOHC engine. Both bikes pack 27 bhp and 28 Nm of torque with a generous mid-range and a flat torque curve. The engine platform is built ready for the BS6 norms. The company also unveiled the factory custom Jawa Perak, powered by a 334cc, liquid cooled, single cylinder, DOHC engine which develops 30bhp and 31nm of torque. The Perak is priced at Rs 1,89,000. New Delhi: The shooting of Bhojpuri film 'Daldal' starring Gaurav Jha and Ritu Singh has wrapped up. The film went on floors in October this year. Directed by Deepak Kumar and produced by Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari under the banner of Sankat Mochan Media and Film Creation Private Limited, 'Daldal' shows how corruption and misuse of power by government officials adversely affects the entire political system in the country. The lead actor, Gaurav, who becomes a victim of the corruption, later taken on himself to fix the entire system. Apart from it, the film will also depict a story of two friends, on the line of 'Sholay' which has been shown in the film. 'Daldal, besides being an entertainment package, will also leave a social message for the audience. The songs in the film have been shot in the beautiful locations of Uttarakhand. Television actor Manmohan Tiwari is returning to Bollywood film industry after a long time. Rao Ranvijay, Neha Madhavi Pandey, Vijay Pandey, Nandini Verma, Sonam Ujala, Master Ashray Tiwari, Baby Vani Sharma, Sushil Singh among others will play other characters in the film. Ayub Ali Khan has done the cinematography while Mohan Mawa is the art director. KK Shrivastava is the associate director of the film. Absconding former Bihar minister Manju Verma surrendered in a Begusarai court on Tuesday. Manju Verma is wanted in an Arms Act case which came to light during an investigation into the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape-murder case. Her surrender comes more than a week after the Supreme Court pulled up Bihar Police for its failure to arrest her in the Arms Act case. Expressing shock over Bihar Police's inability to find and arrest her, the apex court had summoned the Director General of Bihar Police to appear before it on November 27 if the police failed to apprehend her by then. Fantastic! cabinet minister (Manju Verma) on the run, fantastic. How could it happen that cabinet minister is absconding and nobody knows where she is? You realise the seriousness of the issue that cabinet minister is not traceable. Its too much, the court had observed. We are quite shocked that former cabinet minister cannot be traced by the police for over a month. We would like the police to tell us that how such an important person is not traceable. Director General of Police to appear before us, said the court. Bihar Police on Saturday attached her Begusarai residence after she went missing following the investigation. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Manjhaul had on November 16, 2018 proclaimed Manju Verma an 'absconder' and ordered for attaching her properties. The court had passed the order invoking sections 82 and 83 of Indian Penal Code of Criminal Procedure. The court had also turned down an application filed by her counsel, wherein she (Manju Verma) had pleaded that she was not evading arrest, but 'seeking relief as per law' and hence, she may not be proclaimed an absconder. Manju Verma and her husband Chandrashekhar Verma were booked under the Arms Act at Cheria Bariyarpur police station in Begusarai following the recovery of a huge cache of arms ammunition from their residence. The recovery of the arms and ammunition was made during a raid at her residence by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team probing the alleged Muzaffarpur shelter home rape-murder and sexual abuse case involving over 30 minor girls. She was forced to resign as the minister for social welfare from the Nitish Kumar government following reports that her husband had close links with Brajesh Thakur, prime accused in the Muzaffarpur case. Verma's husband had surrendered before a court on October 29. The former minister was recently suspended by the Janata Dal United (JDU) from the primary membership of the party. New Delhi: Debt-laden Air India is looking to raise about Rs 6,100 crore by selling and leasing back 7 wide-body aircraft, as per a business daily report. A report in the Livemint said that the National carrier may include six Boeing 787s and one Boeing 777 aircraft, that were delivered to it between 2016 and 2018. Livemint said that the sale and leaseback (SLB) process will be concluded over the next fortnight. Meanwhile, speaking on Air India`s financial woes, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey, yesterday said that the airline was being given support from "time to time". He further said that the airline`s performance was being monitored. Last month in Hyderabad, the secretary had said that a revival package for the debt-ridden national carrier had nearly been finalised and that the government was providing all support to Air India to ensure that it remained a viable entity. On August 7, Parliament had approved the gross additional expenditure of Rs 980 crore for equity infusion into the heavily indebted airline. The Central government had invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) on March 28 this year for disinvestment of Air India, including the national carrier`s shareholding interest in Air India Express Ltd and Air India SATS. But, it received no response till May 31, the closing day. Despite the lack of buyer interest, the government stated that it was still committed to the idea of Air India`s strategic divestment. With IANS Inputs NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Tuesday released photos of two terrorists suspected to be hiding in the Paharganj area. Delhi Police has also appealed to people to report to the Paharganj Police Station in case they have any information regarding these two terrorists. The general public has been advised to remain vigilant and report to police if they witness any suspicious activity in the area. The two wanted terrorists are aged between 25-30 and their posters have been put up on walls at several places in the Paharganj locality. An alert has been sounded and the authorities have increased patrolling and surveillance in sensitive areas. Delhi Police also shared two phone numbers on which any info about these two terrorists can be shared- 011-23520787, 011- 2352474. The photos of these two terrorists were released on a day when the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Tuesday nabbed a Hizbul Mujahideen operative for his alleged role in the murder of Jammu and Kashmir Police Sub-Inspector Imtiaz Ali Ahmad Mir in Pulwama last month. According to reports, the arrested Hizbul Mujahideen operative has been identified as Ansar-ul Haq. Haq is believed to be involved in the killing of Sub-Inspector Imtiaz Ali Ahmad Mir whose bullet-ridden body was found in Pulwama on October 28. Haq is currently in the custody of the Special Cell, which managed to track him down following specific intelligence inputs. Haq was arrested from Delhi airport after being on the radar of Delhi Police for quite some time. This is a developing story and more details are awaited. NEW DELHI: Delhi Police's Special Cell on Tuesday nabbed a Hizbul Mujahideen operative for his alleged role in the murder of a Sub-Inspector Imtiaz Ali Ahmad Mir in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama last month. According to reports, the arrested Hizbul Mujahideen operative has been identified as Ansar-ul Haq. Haq is believed to be involved in the killing of Sub-Inspector Imtiaz Ali Ahmad Mir whose body was found in Pulwama on October 28. Haq is currently in the custody of the Special Cell, which managed to track him down following specific intelligence inputs. Haq was arrested from Delhi airport after being on the radar of Delhi Police for quite some time. Sharing details about his arrest, DCP Pramod Khushwaha said that Ansar asked his female friend to ask Imtiaz for a lift and then tipped off Hizbul terrorists about his exact location. Special cell(Delhi Police) arrested a Hizb operative Ansar ul Haq for his role in killing of Sub-Inspector Imtiaz Ali Ahmad whose body was found in Pulwama on 28 Oct. Ansar asked his female friend to ask Imtiaz for a lift, who then tipped off Hizb terrorists: DCP Pramod Khushwaha pic.twitter.com/yU2WOY62XJ ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 Ansar-ul Haq's girlfriend has been identified as Sadiya Sheikh, a civil services aspirant who was also known to sub-inspector Mir. Imtiyaz Ali Ahmad Mir, who was working as sub-inspector with the J&K Police, was abducted before being shot dead by the terrorists in Pulwama district in south Kashmir on October 28. After his brutal killing, Mirs colleagues said that he was desperate to meet his parents despite knowing that terrorists had laid a trap for him in his village. Mir had even reportedly shaved off his beard to change his appearance, a police officer said. Posted in the CID department, Mir had been warned against venturing into his village as there was a possibility of an attack by militant groups, who have been targeting policemen in the state recently. Son of a retired police officer, Mir had served in Ganderbal district of South Kashmir for five years before being transferred to Kulgam district last year. A dedicated police officer, Mir was shifted to CID department in March this year. A Delhi court on Tuesday awarded death sentence to Yashpal Singh and life imprisonment to Naresh Sherawat, both convicted in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The duo were convicted for killing two members of the Sikh community. The special investigation team (SIT) had sought death penalty for the two convicts. According to the SIT, there act was a part of a genocide against members of a particular community and fell under the rarest of rare category of cases. They were convicted of killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in Mahipalpur area of South Delhi during the riots. Their conviction is the first in the anti-Sikh riots cases reopened by the SIT, which was set up in 2015. Notably, the Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. During the proceedings, the public prosecutor for SIT Surinder Mohit Singh had said that it was "brutal murder of two innocent young persons aged around 25 each. It was a planned murder since the accused were carrying kerosene oil, sticks etc." It was not the only incident in Delhi and around 3,000 people were killed, he added. "People from only one community were targeted. It was a genocide. The incidents had an international effect and it took 34 years to get justice. A signal should go to the society to deter them from committing such horrible crimes. This is rarest of rare case which calls for death penalty," Singh had said. However, the demand was opposed by advocate OP Sharma, appearing for the convicts, who said that the attack was not deliberate or planned but a sudden flare up. "The Prime Minister of the country was shot dead by her own bodyguards belonging to a particular community. What could be more wrong than that? She was warned and suggested to change her guards. Still she kept them. But she was betrayed and brutally killed. The present case was a sudden flare up. There was no pre-planning," the defence counsel said. His submission was opposed by senior advocate H S Phoolka, who appeared for the victims. "Every Sikh condemned the act of killing of the Prime Minister. It was tragic. But does that mean that Sikhs be killed? Does that give licence to kill? "Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was killed by Nathuram Godse. But did anything of that short happened against anyone? The accused were leading the mob. The whole world is watching that how we treat such cases," Phoolka had said. (With PTI Inputs) A fire broke out at Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA) building in the national capital on Tuesday evening. The fire broke out at the fourth and the fifth floors of the building. At least five fire tenders were rushed to the spot. A call about the fire was received at 6.18 pm. No injury or casualty has been reported so far, an official told news agency PTI, adding that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. More details are awaited. Former district president of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Suresh Sharma, suffered gunshot wounds when two unidentified bike borne men fired at him at Chehertha locality in Amritsar on Tuesday evening, police said. The bullets hit Sharma's legs and thighs, they said, adding the former RTI activist was taken to a private hospital where his condition was said to be stable. At the time of attack, Sharma was at his furniture shop, officials said. They said the motive behind the attack was yet to be ascertained and investigation was underway. Sharma is a supporter of AAP's rebel group led by MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Both factions of AAP condemned the attack. In a press statement, the leader of opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Harpal Singh Cheema, and AAP Amritsar Lok Sabha candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the law and order situation in the state has gone from bad to worse. Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute case litigant Iqbal Ansari has said that he has no objection if an ordinance is brought for the construction of Ram temple. Speaking to news agency ANI, the litigant said that they would obey every law formulated by the government. We have no objection if an ordinance is brought for the construction of Ram Mandir. If bringing an ordinance will be good for the country, bring it. We are law abiding citizens, well obey every law, said Iqbal Ansari. The clamour for an ordinance for construction of Ram temple has grown after the Supreme Court in October deferred the hearing in the Ayodhya land dispute case till January 2019. Several right-wing groups, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have demanded that the government must bring an ordinance or Parliament must pass a law to enable the construction of temple in Ayodhya. The RSS, the VHP and the Shiv Sena, among others, have declared that they will visit Ayodhya on November 25 to demand speedy construction of the temple. Following the announcement, Iqbal Ansari had raised concerns over safety of members of Muslim community in the holy town, equating the situation with that in 1992. Ansari had demanded that members of Muslim community must be given protection. Our houses were burnt down in 1992 even when we didn't go there (disputed land). I have asked for security for Hindus and Muslims in Ayodhya. If crowd pours in here, like 1992, Muslims of Ayodhya and I should also be given protection, Iqbal Ansari had told news agency ANI. He had further said, Two security personnel have been deployed for my protection. Several people come to meet me, it poses danger to me. I have said that if my security is not heightened, I will leave for somewhere else before November 25. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbus Gold Corp. (CGT: TSX, CGTFF: OTCQX) (Columbus) announces that it is a signatory to the International Cyanide Management Code (the Cyanide Code), and also provides clarity on the use of cyanide for gold mining in the European Union. As a region of France, French Guiana is part of the European Union. Columbus Becomes a Signatory to the Cyanide Code The International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI) announced on November 1, 2018, that it accepted the application of Columbus to become a signatory to the Cyanide Code. The joint-venture company, Compagnie Miniere Montagne dOr (44.99% Columbus/55.01% Nordgold), has recently also become a signatory. These are important steps towards acceptability of the development of the Montagne d'Or gold mine, located in French Guiana, France. The Cyanide Code is a voluntary industry program. By becoming signatories, Columbus and Compagnie Miniere Montagne dOr have committed to follow the Cyanide Code's Principles and implement its Standards of Practice, and to have a verification audit of operations listed for certification conducted by independent third-party auditors within one year from first delivery of cyanide at the listed operations, and every three years thereafter. Operations will be certified if found in compliance with the Cyanide Code, and will be de-certified if ICMI determines that they no longer comply with the Cyanide Code. The Cyanide Code was developed under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Program by a multi-stakeholder steering committee. It is intended to complement an operation's existing obligation to comply with the applicable laws and regulations of the political jurisdiction in which the operation is located. The European Commission Confirms Sufficient Legislation in Place to Use Cyanide for Gold Mining * As a result of multiple inquiries recently received by shareholders and stakeholders concerning an alleged ban on the use of cyanide for gold mining in the European Union (which includes French Guiana), Columbus wishes to clarify unequivocally that: THERE IS NO BAN ON THE USE OF CYANIDE FOR GOLD MINING BY THE EUROPEAN UNION. In fact, cyanide mineral processing technologies for gold and silver extraction are currently used in mines in a number of European Union member countries, including Finland, Sweden, Bulgaria, Ireland, Spain and Greece. For further clarity, a resolution calling for a general ban on the use of cyanide mineral processing technologies in the European Union was proposed to the European Parliament in May 2010. The European Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Potocnik, rejected the proposal and in June 2010 published the following statement on behalf of the European Commission: The resolution of the Parliament calling for a general ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union has received the full attention of the European Commission. After an in-depth analysis of the issue, the European Commission considers that a general ban of cyanide in mining activities is not justified from environmental and health point of views. Existing legislation notably on the management of extractive waste (Directive 2006/21/EC(1)) includes precise and strict requirements ensuring an appropriate safety level of the mining waste facilities. The limit values for cyanide storage as defined in the directive are the most stringent possible and imply in practice a destruction step of the used cyanide before it is stored. Due to the lack of better (in the environmental sense) alternative technologies, a general ban on cyanide use would imply the closure of existing mines operating in safe conditions. This would be detrimental to employment without additional environmental and health added value. The European Commission intends to continue to closely follow the possible technological developments in this sector in order to ensure that best available techniques are applied in practice as required by the directive. In addition, the European Commission considers that the priority should be set on ensuring full application of the directive by the Member States. As guardian of the Treaty, the European Commission intends to take all necessary measures within its remit to ensure that the directive is fully and correctly applied in practice. The European Parliament reintroduced a proposed resolution for a ban on cyanide in March 2017, to replace cyanide by an alternative process. The European Commission rejected the proposed resolution and responded in September 2017, in the following manner: With regard to paragraph 21 calling for a ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union, the European Commission would like to point out that the use of cyanide is currently subject to strict conditions under the Extractive Waste Directive 2006/21/EC (Article 13(6)). The European Commission remains convinced that the proper implementation of the Extractive Waste Directive mitigates the risks of accidents and severely minimizes the impact any accident could have on the environment and on public health. The European Commission considers that a generalized ban at the European Union level of these technologies would put the European industry under a disproportionate burden. Based on information available to the European Commission, there is at present a lack of better alternative technologies available at a commercial scale. The European Commission will however keep monitoring the development of such alternatives. The European Commissions conclusions are supported by technical reports released in April 2010 and July 2017. Mineral Processing Plans at Montagne dOr Mineral processing plans at a future Montagne dOr gold mine call for gravity concentration followed by cyanidation of the gravity tailings and cyanide leaching of the gravity concentrate. The plant design reflects a robust metallurgical flowsheet designed for optimum gold recoveries of 94% utilizing unit operations that are well proven in industry. The cyanide destruction circuit for detoxification of the cyanide leach residues is accomplished with the industry-standard sulfur dioxide (SO2) / air process. It was demonstrated that cyanide in the leach residue could readily be detoxified to below 10 ppm (parts per million) to ensure that plant tailings comply with European environmental requirements. The plant tailings will be pumped to the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) with decant return from the tailings embankment returned to the plant as make-up water. Tailings that are in a fully submerged condition will maintain circum-neutral pH with metal and cyanide concentrations below regulatory limits. For the management of cyanide, the mine design addresses reagent unloading, storage, handling, containment and detoxification of cyanide containing process streams. The cyanide handling area has been located remotely away from offices and workshops, and packaging will be disposed of by incineration. This design approach aligns with the requirements of the International Cyanide Management Code as well as local regulatory requirements for dangerous goods. * References: European Commission report dated April, 2010: Impacts of Gold Extraction In the EU http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/mining/pdf/IH_2010-001.pdf European Parliament resolution of May 5, 2010, on a general ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2010-0145+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN Answer given on June 23, 2010, by the European Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Potocnik, on behalf of the Commission http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=P-2010-3589&language=EN Follow-up to the European Parliament resolution on a general ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union, adopted by the Commission on July 6, 2010 https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/spdoc.do?i=18364&j=0&l=en European Parliament resolution of March 23, 2017 on implementation of the Mining Waste Directive (2006/21/EC) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT%2BREPORT%2BA8-2017-0071%2B0%2BDOC%2BXML%2BV0//EN&language=EN# Follow-up to the European Parliament non-legislative resolution of September 27, 2017, on the implementation of the Mining Waste Directive (2006/21/EC) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/spdoc.do?i=29290&j=0&l=en EU publication dated July, 2017: "Assessment of Member States' performance regarding the implementation of the extractive waste directive; appraisal of implementation gaps and their root causes; identification of proposals to improve the implementation of the directive Final Report https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/f39af478-8d2e-11e7-b5c6-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF ABOUT COLUMBUS GOLD Columbus is French Guianas leading gold exploration and development company. Columbus holds a major interest in the world-class Montagne d'Or gold deposit. A feasibility study for Montagne d'Or was filed in May 2017, and the permitting process is currently underway. Columbus is also earning into the Maripa gold exploration project where past drilling has returned excellent near surface results, including 36 meters of 4.3 g/t gold. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Robert F. Giustra Chairman For more information contact: Investor Relations (604) 634-0970 or 1-888-818-1364 info@columbusgold.com Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are referred to collectively as "forward-looking statements". The United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as seek, expect, anticipate, budget, plan, estimate, continue, forecast, intend, believe, predict, potential, target, may, could, would, might, will and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking statements in this and other press releases include but are not limited to statements and information regarding: its plans, or modifications thereunder, to develop Montagne dOr ; the construction and development plans for the Montagne dOr gold mine, including anticipated timing thereof; the satisfaction of additional requirements to the construction of the Montagne dOr gold mine, including but not limited to, the submission and processing of mine permit applications; the delivery of a concluding report from the French joint ministerial task-force for Montagne dOr; the acceptability of the development of the Montagne dor gold mine; the mineral processing plans of the Montagne dOr gold mine, including any anticipated results; the Cyanide Code certification of operations at Montagne dOr; and the earning into of the Maripa gold exploration project. 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Columbus undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. NEW DELHI: Pakistan government has issued visas to over 3,800 Sikh pilgrims to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev there from November 21-30. These visas are in addition to those issued to Sikh pilgrims participating in the event from other countries, the Pakistan High Commission here said in a statement on Tuesday. "This is by far the largest number of visas issued in recent years to Sikh yatrees for Baba Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebrations, well beyond the maximum number of 3000, mutually agreed between the two countries for this event," the statement said. Under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, a large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals and occasions every year, it said. According to Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood, this was a "special gesture" by the Pakistan government in view of Guru Nanak's 550th-anniversary celebrations commencing from this year. "We extend profound felicitations to our brothers and sisters celebrating this auspicious occasion and wish all yatrees a spiritually fulfilling yatra," he said. The alleged red chilli attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has triggered a new political controversy in the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of hatching a controversy, it also targeted the Delhi Police, claiming that it was trying to downplay the incident. AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj took to microblogging site Twitter to allege that the Delhi Police, under Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, was planting stories to protect the attacker. He made the remark while quoting a purported statement of Delhi Police given to news agency ANI, wherein it said that the alleged attackers pouch carrying red chilli powder got torn while he was trying to touch Kejriwals feet. What a shame !!@DelhiPolice under @LtGovDelhi already planting stories to protect the attacker. Thank God, we have CCTV footage with us. https://t.co/896BX9AW6p Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) November 20, 2018 Delhi Police SHO tried to plant in Media that "There was no attack, chilli packet just fell on the floor inadvertantly". Now you can imagine how deep rooted is the conspiracy. Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) November 20, 2018 Bharadwaj further claimed that the attacker was associated with a BJP politician from Narayana area in Delhi. Speaking to mediapersons, the AAP MLA said, Message from the BJP central government is very clear. Anybody who attacks Aam Aadmi Partys MLAs, Chief Minister, minister, will be protected. Delhi Police will help them. There will be no harm which would be given to anybody who attacks the Chief Minister. So all criminal elements, all rogue elements, every member of BJP, have this message that if they attack Arvind Kejriwal, they will be safe, the AAP MLA added. Series of events : 4th Nov. - Bottles and stones thrown at Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal 20th Nov - Another dangerous attack on the CM inside Delhi Secretariat. Within a span of 15 days 2 attacks on a CHIEF MINISTER and yet Police did nothing.#_____ pic.twitter.com/Gf3vIWKHvB AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 20, 2018 Later, clarifying the statement released by the Delhi Police through ANI, DCP (New Delhi), Madhur Verma said, He entered with an authentic pass. Public grievances cell gave him entry. He met CM on third floor and gave him a slip. CM passed the slip to his PS and then the man tried to attack him. A packet of chilli powder fell from his hand. Further probe is underway. Soon after the alleged attack, which was carried out outside Kejriwals chamber at the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia addressed a press conference, wherein he alleged that the attack was fatal. Accusing the BJP and the Delhi Police of hatching a conspiracy, Sisodia cited the incident at the inauguration ceremony of Signature Bridge in Delhi, saying, A similar incident had taken place. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari reached the stage, along with some goons, when the Chief Minister was delivering his speech. He added that they were carrying a bottle, alleging that there might have been acid inside it. We are not going to be cowed down by BJP'S petty tactics, the deputy chief minister said. The Congress also condemned the attack on Kejriwal, with party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi saying that the attack was a part of dirty politics. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also questioned the initial claims of the Delhi Police, questioning as to how the chilli powder defy gravity. Abdullah tweeted, How does chilli powder that falls from his hand defy gravity & fall upwards in to @ArvindKejriwal jis eyes? NEW DELHI: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma's petition against Centre's decision to divest him of his duties and send him on leave will now be heard by the Supreme Court on November 29 after the apex court was told that details of Central Vigilance Commission enquiry against Verma and his reply were leaked and published by a news website. Infuriated by the alleged leak of the CVC report and Verma's reply, the three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi also pointed out that Verma's lawyers had on Monday sought additional time to file his comments. However, senior advocate Fali Nariman, appearing on Verma's behalf, told the court that his client had not sought more time on Monday to file his reply. An irate CJI then observed that "we do not think that any of you deserve a hearing today". Nariman also expressed his shock over the alleged leak of Vermas reply to the court on CVCs findings which was submitted to the Supreme Court secretary-general in a sealed envelope on Monday. A part of the CVC report and Verm'a reply were published late on Monday night by a news website. Senior advocate Nariman and lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan, who represent Verma, mentioned the case again before a bench headed by CJI Gogoi and sought hearing during the day itself. The bench later agreed to the submission and said it will accord them a hearing after finishing the day's work. Expressing anguish over the leak, CJI Gogoi said, "Nobody is under any cloud to offer any clearance. We are only hearing Fali Nariman on the issues raised, Sr Adv of Alok Verma. Our respect to maintain institutional integrity is not shared by litigant." The apex court Monday asked Verma to file a response to the CVC report on corruption charges as quickly as possible. Last week, the top court granted Verma access to his CVC report which details charges against him. The SC also specifically asked Verma to maintain the secrecy of the report. The feud between Verma and Special CBI Director Rakesh Asthana emerged in the public after both levelled corruption charges against each other. Centre later sent both of them on leave. Verma then moved the Supreme Court challenging this decision of the Centre. Dehradun: Counting of votes in Uttarakhand's civic polls continued on Wednesday morning. The counting had begun on Tuesday two days after polling in 84 urban local bodies (ULB). Results 83 ULBs have been already announced. BJP bagged 34 seats, Congress 25 seats and Independents 23 seats. Seen as a verdict on how the ruling BJP is performing, the results could show the mirror to the Trivendra Singh Rawat government which came to power in March of last year. The BJP had won 57 out of a total of 70 assembly seats in the state in March last year to storm to power. Political observers feel that the urban local body election is going to be a high-stakes battle for the ruling party as it has to match its own impressive performance of the assembly elections last year. The BJP had upstaged Harish Rawat's Congress government in the state. Congress would now be hoping that its work in the opposition - first time here since 2012 - helps it regain some foothold in the hill state through a positive result in these civic polls. Here are the live and latest updates from counting day: * Out of 1064 wards, so far Independents have won 542, BJP-288, Congress-159, BSP-3, SP-1 and UKD-1 *Independents which included both Congress and BJP rebels did well in the wards, winning 28 of the 68 councillor seats in Tehri. They were followed by the BJP with 27 and the Congress with 13 seats. * Mayor post The BJP won three of the seven mayoral seats and is currently leading in one. The BJP won Rishikesh, Kashipur and Rudrapur mayoral seats, while its mayoral candidate was leading in Dehradun. * Pauri results: BJP's Anjana Verma wins from Satpuli. * Kotdwar results: Bhavna Chauhan (Independent) wins from Duggra. * Dehradun results: Ward 76 (Niranjpur): Shraddha Sethi (BJP) Ward 32 (Ballupur): Soman Bora (Congress) * Ramnagar results: Ward 2 (Durgapur-Bharatpuri): Kamal Dhoundiyal (Independent) Ward 7 (Kotdwar): Ajmal (Independent) Ward 3 (Shilpkar Basti): Vimla Devi (Independent) Ward 5 (Shantikunj): Bhuvan Sharma (Independent) * Pithoragarh results: Ward 2 (Takana Piyana): Komal (Independent) * Bageshwar, Kapkot Nagar results: Goda (BJP) registers win from Ward No. 3. * Uddham Singh Nagar results: State education minister Arvind Pandey goes down to Congress rival. Ward 1: Ramesh Kumar (BJP) Ward 2: Satish (BJP) Ward 3: Nirmala Devi (Congress; ministers ward) Ward 4: Counting underway Ward 5: Poonam (BJP) Ward 6: Sanjeev (BJP) Ward 7: Usha Devi (BJP) * Rudraprayag Nagar results: Ward 1: Amra Devi (BJP) Ward 2: Ankur Khatra (BJP) Ward 3: Uma Devi (BJP) Ward 4: Surendra Rawat (BJP) Ward 5: Santosh Rawat (Congress) Ward 6: Laxman Bisht (Independent) Ward 7: Rukmani Bhandari (Independent) * Haldwani results: Dhirendra Rawat of BJP wins Ward 5. * Mussorie results: Ward 5: Sushil Agarwal (Congress) * Tharali Nagar, Chamoli results: Ward 4: Seema Devi (Congress) * Champavat Nagar Nigam results: Three BJP and 4 independents register wins. Congress fails to open account. * Results for Tanakpur, Banbasa Nagar declared: Ward 1: Pankaj Bhatt (BJP) Ward 2: S. Shakeel (Independent) Ward 3: Mohan Singh Thakur (BJP) Ward 4: Pramod Gupta (Independent) Ward 5: Rekha (BJP) Ward 6: Devkumari (Independent) Ward 7: Ranjana Kashyap (Independent) * Early trends expected to start coming in around 1030hrs. * The results may get delayed since voting took place through ballot paper. Zee News sources say official results may be declared late on Tuesday. * Counting of votes has begun at almost every centre, including Dehradun and Rishikesh. * 60% votes had been cast in Sunday's polling to seal the fate of 4,978 candidates across 82 ULBs. * There are 23.53 lakh voters in all with 12.20 lakh male voters and 11.33 lakh women voters. In the state, 1258 centres, 2265 polling stations, 107 zones, and 282 sectors had been created for voting. Besides this, 52 Strong Rooms have also been made where ballot boxes will be kept under tight security. * Around 10,000 police personnel, 4,000 home guards, 2,000 PRD jawans and 25 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) were deployed in cities and towns. New Delhi: Amidst widening current account deficit (CAD) facing Pakistan's economy, a news site quoting an analysis has said that the country has been living beyond its means for several years. Pakistan's current account deficit widened 43 percent to USD 18 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June, while the fiscal deficit has ballooned to 6.6 percent of gross domestic product. Pakistan has been living beyond its means for several years now as evident from the widening current account and trade deficit, Pakistan's Dawn news quoting the Fitch Solutions analysis said. As per the Fitch forecast, Pakistan's GDP will post 5.4 percent growth during the ongoing fiscal, down from 5.7 percent last year while the country will clock slower growth over the coming quarters. Pakistan looks forward to about USD 6 billion financial bailout for averting its balance of payments crisis from the International Monetary Fund. If a package is agreed on, it would be Pakistans 13th IMF bailout since the late 1980s. The International Monetary Fund mission is in Pakistan and holding talks with officials over arranging an unspecified amount to help in addressing the balance of payment issue. As talks enter the final phase, the IMF set stricter conditions for Pakistan to implement in exchange for a bailout package much needed for economic revival. IMF has demanded that Pakistan provide all details of China's financial support to the cash-strapped country to avail a bailout package from it. With Agency Inputs SRINAGAR: Pakistani troops once again violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector on Tuesday. Three shells have landed near Poonch brigade headquarters, reported news agency ANI. Last week, Army jawan Lance Naik Antony Sebastian KM lost his life in a cross-border firing along the LoC in Krishna Ghati Sector in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Earlier in the day, an encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces at Nadigam village of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir. According to latest reports, security forces gunned down two terrorists after an encounter broke out in Nadigam village in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian early Tuesday morning. A para commando was martyred in the incident while two soldiers have received injuries. The number of ceasefire violations this year by Pakistan has been the highest in the past eight years. The first seven months of this year saw 52 deaths and 232 people getting injured in 1,435 ceasefire violations in the state, according to an RTI reply by the Home Ministry. NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Maulana Masood Azhar and 13 others in connection with the attack on an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Nagrota in November 2016. Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar who was booked by the NIA is also the deputy chief of Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM. An NIA spokesperson said that the chargesheet was filed under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (substitute of IPC in Jammu and Kashmir), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Foreigners Act against the accused. "Investigation conducted by the NIA revealed that four local Kashmiri JeM members, namely Mohd. Ashiq Baba alias Mohd. Ashaq, Syed Munir-Ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmad Dar and Ashraf Hamid Khandey (all arrested by NIA) had facilitated a group of three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists and transported them from International Border in Samba-Kathua sector to Hotel Jagdamba in Jammu and subsequently to Nagrota in their vehicles for the attack on the November 28, 2016 on Officers' Mess Complex, 166 Medium Regiment of Indian Army in Nagrota Cantonment (near Jammu)," the spokesman said. The three Pakistani JeM terrorists - Khalid alias Abu Hissam, Numan and Aadil, who were highly trained and equipped with AK-47 rifles and explosives - carried out the attack in which seven Army personnel were killed and three were injured. All the three terrorists were also killed by the security forces in the ensuing operation. The NIA said the probe showed that Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, the deputy chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad and brother of Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was the mastermind of the Nagrota attack. "He worked out the plan of Fidayeen (suicide) attack and provided training to above three Pakistani JeM terrorists. He also directed Mufti Asgar (launch commander of JeM in Kashmir region) to provide training, funds, equipment and mobile and other logistics to local JeM member Mohd. Ashiq Baba. Mohd Ashiq Baba had visited Pakistan many times and met JeM terrorists Waseem (Operational commander of JeM), Abu Talha alias Doctor (deputy commander in Jammu region) and Qari Zarar (launch commander of JeM for Jammu region). He was taken for a meeting with Mufti Asgar at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On reaching there he was received by Abdullah alias Al Hijama and Tariq Mir, both JeM terrorists who are close associates of Mufti Asgar. "During meeting with the top leadership of JeM commanders Mufti Asgar chalked out a detailed plan including the modus operandi to be adopted for infiltration of JeM terrorists and he asked Ashiq to activate local JeM network in Jammu and Kashmir for Jihadi cause. Ashiq Baba was given training at Manshera in Pakistan and handed over money for arranging logistics along with a GPS enabled Huawei mobile phone for communication with JeM leaders in Pakistan," the spokesman said. The NIA has collected evidence on the basis of disclosure of the accused, detailed social media analysis, digital evidence through requests under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and analysis of data extracted from the seized digital devices. New Delhi: The newlyweds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh were spotted this morning at the Mumbai airport as they headed to Bangalore for their reception. The couple will be hosting two receptionsone in Bangalore and another one in Mumbai. This time too, the adorbs went twinning in white and off-white Sabyasachi creation. Deepika looked stunning in an off-white Anarkali Churidaar with heavy earrings and that bright red chooda bangles. Her simple yet elegant Mangalsutra was eye-catching. Ranveer, on the other hand, looked dapper in crisp white Kurta-Churidaar with patent Sabya floral Nehru jacket. Check out their pictures: (Pic Courtesy: Yogen Shah) The happy couple posed for shutterbugs and gave ample time to the paps waiting patiently for the duo. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh got married at the picturesque Lake Como in Italy. The gorgeous couple got married as per Konkani and Sindhi ceremonies on November 14 and 15 respectively. Deepika looked gorgeous in a Sabyasachi attire and so did Ranveer. The duo looked straight out from one of their period drama outings. Decked up in heavy jewellery, the bride looked every bit a Sabyasachi Bride. The couple made their relationship official by announcing the wedding dates. The couple is going to have two receptionsin Bangalore and Mumbai respectively. Their Mumbai reception is going to take place at The Grand Hyatt. Mumbai: Actor Ali Fazal says despite giving critically acclaimed performance in films such as "3 Idiots", "Fukrey" and others, filmmakers still find it hard to gamble money on him. The actor says sometimes producers get confused by his "brand" which he has created by featuring in films of different genres. "Sometimes, producers told me it is hard thing to gamble on you alone and there was one producer who said, 'I am a confused brand', like I am doing a (Vikram) Bhatt film and then something different. I have to grapple before choosing a project, I have to think who is going to produce or present it," Ali told PTI. Ali says he rejected many films, which according to him were awful, even when he was facing a financial crisis. "There was a time when I had no money in my account and I turned down the offers even when I was offered lots of money. I had read the script several times but I couldn't say yes to it." The actor is no stranger to the world of Hollywood, having done a cameo in Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson-starrer "Furious 7" and acting opposite veteran actor Judi Dench in Oscar-nominated feature "Victoria and Abdul". "The unions and guilds are strong there, I am sitting here and for the rest of my life, I am going to get royalty for 'Fast and Furious' no matter where it plays in the world. "It is little token of respect. I played a little character and I did five-six days of work. I want to work there, I love doing work there. I love working not because of money but for the energy. Things are changing here." The actor currently stars in Amazon Prime Video's web series "Mirzapur" where he plays Guddu, an innocent college-going boy, who is fascinated by the gangster world. "I was surprised that they took me for 'Mirzapur'. They took the chance on me. I am glad that they had trust in me. I loved the character graph of Guddu in the series. I got to experiment. I loved being on the edge. I loved that I got to experiment, reinvent myself." He adds, his parents were unable to recognise him on-screen in "Mirzapur" as he has a beefed up look. "The world of 'Mirzapur' is special for me because of the writing of how rooted it is, there is drama and relationship, the turmoil. It is a corporate world in many ways and yet it is rooted right in the heart of India." The series premiered today on November 16. AMRITSAR: Bathinda police on Tuesday arrested two students suspected behind Sunday`s grenade attack on a prayer meeting of the Nirankari sect in Amritsar. The students were arrested from a paying guest house on Bathinda's Ajit road. The duo failed to show their identification proofs and are currently being questioned by the police. Two motorcycle-borne men, with long beards, threw the grenade on a religious congregation on city outskirt inside the Nirankari Bhavan's prayer hall at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi on the city outskirts on Sunday. 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 hurled the grenade towards the stage where the main preacher Sukhdev Kumar was present and then escaped, police and eyewitnesses said. Three people had died in the incident and 20 were injured. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan here is located close to the international airport and Indo-Pak border. On Monday, police confirmed the role of two local youths in the attack. The youth reportedly surveyed the ashram premises twice and were aware that religious congregation takes place every Sundays. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also said that the investigating agencies have got "some leads" and would soon catch the culprits. Talking to media persons after visiting the blast site, Singh said, "We are taking this blast very seriously. A full investigation is going on. Some leads have been found and I am hopeful that we will soon catch the culprits." BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE, Md., Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase in partnership with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club celebrates the 36th Anniversary of Turkey Chase, which is an annual race to benefit YMCA Youth & Family Services and YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase financial assistance and scholarship programs, and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club Foundation. Turkey Chase is Montgomery Countys largest race, with over 9,000 participants and several thousand spectators. For the past five years, County Executive Ike Leggett and his wife Catherine Leggett, along with Somerset, Maryland Mayor Jeffery Slavin, have served as Grand Marshals. "For 36 years, the proceeds from Turkey Chase have provided a great deal of resources to support critical programs and services," said Montgomery County Executive, Ike Leggett. "The YMCA of Bethesda-Chevy Chase and The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club do great work in the Bethesda community, and have made a positive impact in the lives of so many. We thank you in advance for your participation and sponsorship that helps these organizations provide support to those in need," said Mr. Leggett. Since 1982, thousands of individuals and families from around the world have descended upon Bethesda on Thanksgiving morning for this historic race. For 36 years, the goal of Turkey Chase has been to support the ideals of community service shared by the Rotary and YMCA, two of the oldest and most respected service organizations in the world, said Carla Larrick, Vice President of Operations for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. Both organizations have a rich history of providing critical support to at-risk youth and families throughout lower Montgomery County, and supporting programs and services that promote youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, said Mrs. Larrick. "Our members work to help those in need and make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and community members. The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary, has a rich history of more than 85 years helping great organizations all over Montgomery County, the United States, and the world," said Alexander G. Assaley, III, President of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club. For over 36 years, Turkey Chase corporate sponsors have been critical to the success and support of this most worthwhile event. This year, Whole Foods is the events Title Sponsor. We feel strongly that our mission and values at Whole Foods align with that of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA and Rotary Club. And, we are excited that lots of money goes towards worthwhile charities. It is for these reasons that Whole Foods Market is a proud sponsor of the 36th Annual Turkey Chase, said Carrie Coonin, Director of Marketing and Special Events for Whole Foods. The events popularity, long history and the programs it benefits, make it a perfect fit for those seeking opportunities to give back to the local community. We recognize that corporate philanthropy should serve two purposes support issues and causes that are in alignment with the sponsors corporate giving philosophy; and provide opportunities to enhance corporate brand exposure. For details on the race, please visit give.turkeychase.com About YMCA of Metropolitan Washington The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is a non-profit charity organization that has been serving the communities and families of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia in the areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, for nearly 165 years. Through opportunities in wellness, aquatics, youth sports, summer camps, childcare and more, the Y engages more than 250,000 individuals and families. Visit www.ymcadc.org for more information. The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club is a service organization comprised of distinguished men and women that want to make a difference. For over 85 years Club members have poured their passion, integrity, and intelligence into projects that have a lasting impact. Rotary promotes strong ethics, fellowship, leadership, and community service. Our Clubs Foundation supports numerous non-profit organizations and causes in the community, as well as internationally. Through Rotary, we are Making a Difference in the world. Visit www.bccrotary.org for more information. Contact: Dana Rucker Director of Communications 202-868-3004 Dana.Rucker@ymcadc.org Twitter Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jack Dorsey was entangled in a controversy for holding a placard which read "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy". The placard was reportedly presented to Dorsey by a Dalit activist during a roundtable discussion with some women journalists, activists and writers during his visit to India earlier this month. An image of the meet was shared by journalist Anna MM Vetticad. During Twitter CEO @jack's visit here, he & Twitter's Legal head @vijaya took part in a round table with some of us women journalists, activists, writers & @TwitterIndia's @amritat to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation During Twitter CEO @jack's visit here, he & Twitter's Legal head @vijaya took part in a round table with some of us women journalists, activists, writers & @TwitterIndia's @amritat to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation pic.twitter.com/LqtJQEABgV Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) November 18, 2018 Twitter India retweeted it, saying Recently we hosted a closed door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack. Recently we hosted a closed door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack. https://t.co/96gd3XmFgK Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) November 19, 2018 The image soon drew criticism and backlash on Twitter, with many accusing the CEO of spreading hate. Former Infosys director TV Mohandas Pai tweeted, What a shame; How can people put such a hate poster and malign a community: @jack How can you as ceo of @twitter be party to this kind of hate? Shocking; this is @brahminphobia of the worst kind. What a shame; How can people put such a hate poster and malign a community: @jack How can you as ceo of @twitter be party to this kind of hate? Shocking; this is @brahminphobia of the worst kind https://t.co/bWU0eBo9yG Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) November 19, 2018 .@jack This is the elemental problem with the team representing @twitter in India, & this is what your users here have been saying - it is unbelievable how blind your biases have made you to the ear-shattering hate sponsored by @TwitterIndia. You have institutionalized hatred. Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) November 19, 2018 This is a pure hate poster targeting an ethnic group. Does it not violate Twitter policies? Would @jack hold up a poster like this targeting Jews or Muslim mullahs or Church patriarchy? Sankrant Sanu (@sankrant) November 19, 2018 This is a country that voted an OBC to the highest office of the land with a historic mandate. Am sure @jack celebrated when Obama was elected. To pose with hate speech when you say Twitter should be a space for healthy conversation shows how hollow those words are. Advaita Kala / (@AdvaitaKala) November 19, 2018 Twitter India later issued an apology. It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world. Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) November 19, 2018 It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world, wrote the micro-blogging site. Mumbai: Popular actor-comedian Sunil Grover is returning to the small screen with Star Plus show "Kanpur Wale Khuranas". The actor, who is known for playing characters like 'Gutthi' and 'Dr Mashhoor Gulati', says the fresh concept of the show interested him. "I am happy to be back on the small screen with a fresh concept. This character is unlike any I've played before and I am very excited to embark on this journey of entertaining my viewers. "The show is sure to charm everyone alike with a theme that resonates with the viewers and keep them hooked onto their television screens at night," Grover said in a statement. At least 40 people were killed in an explosion at a wedding hall in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, said two government officials. More than 60 other people were injured in the blast, said Basir Mujahid spokesman for Kabul police. "I have confirmed reports that 40 people have been killed," Mujahid told Reuters. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the blast. Rumors have sparkled that Chief of Russian National Central Bureau of Interpol, Police Major-General Aleksandr V. Prokopchuk might become the new head of Interpol Interpol Rumors have sparkled that Chief of Russian National Central Bureau of Interpol, Police Major-General Aleksandr V. Prokopchuk might become the new head of Interpol. International community starts resenting, saying that he would actually subordinate to Putins Office and would follow all his wishes This week, chiefs of police and security experts from around the world are gathering at the 87th session of the Interpol General Assembly in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to address a range of global security issues. The two-day meeting, which will see the election of a new Interpol head, will discuss the complexities of terrorism and will address the challenges countries face in this endeavor. Ukraine, as well as the other states, are cautiously waiting for this day, because, according to the forecasts, Interpol might be headed by a former employee of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation Alexander Prokopchuk. The official biography of the Russian official Alexander Prokopchuk was born on November 18, 1961, in Ukraine. Aleksandr V. Prokopchuk is a graduate of the Kyiv State University (Romance and Germanic Languages and Literature). Later he also graduated from the Russian National Tax Academy (Jurisprudence). He speaks five languages: English, German, French, Italian, and Polish. He started his career in the Komsomol organizations of the Ukrainian SSR. In 1986, he moved to Moscow. In the 1990-s worked at regulatory and law enforcement agencies: Chief of the Personnel Policy Department, Chief of the Internal and Information Security Division of the RF Ministry of Taxation, First Deputy Chief of the General Administration for Security and Combating Corruption, Chief of the Information and Public Relations Administration of the Federal Tax Police Service. Prokopchuk was a member of the Education and Culture Committee of the Council of Europe. In 2003, worked at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Worked as Head of the Office of the Deputy Minister Chief of the Federal Service for Economic and Tax Crimes in the MIA of Russia, Chief of the Legal Control and Organization of International Cooperation Division of the Economic Security Department of the MIA of Russia. By Presidential Decree number 994 dated August 28, 2003, a rank of Major-General of Militia was assigned to Prokopchuk. In 2006, he became the Head of the Russian National Contact Point for Communication with Europol. By Presidential Decree dated 2011 a rank of Major-General of Police was assigned to him; and he was appointed Chief of the National Central Bureau of Interpol MIA of Russia. Since then, he has been actively moving up the career ladder: in 2014, he joined the Interpol Executive Committee, and in 2016, he occupied the post of vice-president of the organization. Prokopchuk is a military operations participant. He was awarded personal weapon, has government awards, and is listed in the MIA Hall of Fame. Intelligence professional: Why the world community is afraid of Prokopchuk's appointment? When learned at a session of the Interpol General Assembly that the elections favorite is Police Major-General Aleksandr V. Prokopchuk, Ukrainian delegation has immediately launched a large-scale protest campaign. "We are very active here in Dubai... Our delegation holds dozens of meetings at the highest level and leads extensive discussions where we defend our principled position: Interpol should remain a non-political organization and develop as an effective tool for the cooperation of all countries in the fight against international crime," Ukraines Minister of Interior Arsen Avakov wrote on Facebook. Ukrainian law enforcers are convinced that Prokopchuk works for Russian intelligence, and his appointment to the highest position in Interpol could lead Russia to abuse the organizations tools for political persecution of opponents in other countries. We have irrefutable information that Alexandr Prokopchuk, the main candidate for the new president of Interpol, is a Russian intelligence officer who has been infiltrated into Interpol. In the late 1980s, he worked for the KGB of the USSR (Directorate RT: Operations in USSR). He was working undercover at Pushkin Russian Language Institute was involved in the development of promising agents among students from the USA and Europe. In 1991, he was transferred to the "American" department of the KGB First Main Directorate (Strategic Intelligence)... He was engaged in espionage against the United States. In 2003, he was transferred to the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation as part of a campaign on strengthening the police with special services personnel. But he still remains an employee of the special services of the Russian Federation," MP Anton Gerashchenko explained on Facebook. The other countries support the position of the Ukrainian delegation in Interpol. According to the former special adviser on foreign Affairs David Clarke, Prokopchuk was responsible for compiling many of these trumped-up red notice when he was a government official of Russia. If a Russian Deputy Police Minister gets in leadership of Interpol EU states have to leave Interpol, Rebecca Harms, member of the European Parliament, wrote on Twitter. I agree with https://twitter.com/anders_aslund?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anders_aslund : if a Russian Deputy Police Minister gets in leadership of Interpol EU states have to leave Interpol. https://twitter.com/VeraJourova?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VeraJourova https://twitter.com/FedericaMog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FedericaMog https://twitter.com/JunckerEU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JunckerEU https://twitter.com/INTERPOL_HQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INTERPOL_HQ https://t.co/9JLTkXy0jc">https://t.co/9JLTkXy0jc Rebecca Harms (@RebHarms) https://twitter.com/RebHarms/status/1064208157101170688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">18 2018 . Statement of NGOs from different countries regarding the possible election of a Russian representative as a President of Interpol is currently under consideration. We hereby call on the delegates of the countries participating in the 87th session of the General Assembly of INTERPOL to prevent the election of a representative of the Russian Federation Oleksandr Prokopchuk to the post of President of INTERPOL and to take all necessary measures to prevent the use of this reputable organisation, in violation of Art. 3 Constitution of INTERPOL, for prosecuting people within the framework of fabricated and politically motivated cases, reads the appeal. "Red notices" from the Russian Federation: Are the fears justified? Russian Federation has repeatedly been accused of trying to get a "red notice" (in fact, an international arrest warrant) to neutralize the opponents of the existing government. Open source Such a notification allows detaining a person in any country that is a member of Interpol and to extradite this person. In this case, the bank accounts of the detainee might be completely frozen. According to the BBC, at the initiative of the Russian authorities, such notifications were issued for: American financier and critic of President Putins Bill Browder, who was arrested in Spain, but later released; Former leader of the Chechen separatists Akhmed Zakayev, who was held by the Danish authorities for a month on charges of murdering a man who appeared to be alive; Russian journalist and Khimki Forest activist Pyotr Silaev, who was detained by the Spanish authorities, but later released when he managed to prove that the case against him was politically motivated; Russian fighter against corruption and a colleague of Alexey Navalny (critic of corruption and of Russian President Vladimir Putin) Nikita Kulachenkov, who was arrested in Cyprus while traveling to meet his family; he was not extradited to Russia since the charges against him were also recognized as politically motivated. That is, fears on the part of Ukraine and a number of other countries are fully justified. What to expect in the future? Voting for the new head of Interpol should take place on Wednesday, November 21. Ukraine hopes that by that time all delegations of countries would learn the situation and would not support Prokopchuks candidacy. Currently, there are not too many assumptions concerning the possible candidacy of the Interpol head. The second confirmed candidate for this position is South Korean police officer Kim Yong Yang, current interim president of Interpol. There is also reason to believe that South Africa might nominate its candidate. As was reported before, Meng Hongwei, who served as Interpol president as well as Chinas vice minister for public security, went missing on his return to China in late September. On October 7, Chinese authorities still not revealing Mengs whereabouts or status transmitted Mengs resignation to Interpol. Read the original text at 112.ua. Open source The illegal armed formations in Donbas continue to accumulate the weapons and hardware, including BM-21 "Grad" as the press service of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) reported on Facebook. On November 19, the OSCE SMM report has been published; it states that 21 multiple rocket launchers BM-21 "Grad," four self-propelled howitzers 2S1 Gvozdika were spotted not far from Khrustalny, and four towed howitzers D-30 were spotted near Bile. "Heavy weapons permanent storage sites in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region (17 November): 13 MLRS (BM-21), 17 towed howitzers (16 D-30 and one 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm), and 14 self-propelled howitzers (2S1) remained missing. New weapons observed present for the first time. Permanent storage site in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region (18 November): Five tanks (four T-64 and one T-72) remained missing. A new weapon observed present for the first time," reads the message. The Ukrainian side of the Joint Center of Control and Coordination notes that such rash actions of the Russian and occupation forces show the strong reluctance to observe the Minsk Agreements one more time as well as the interest in the further escalation of Donbas conflict. As we reported OSCE SMM spotted several people armed to the teeth stood next to 'polling stations' in occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions on the day of so-called 'elections.' Earlier, on November 2, OSCE SMM drone disappeared during the flight over the occupied territories of Donetsk region. German and French foreign ministries considered Russia and pro-Kremlin militants to be responsible for the downing of the UAV. The statement of the German MFA reads that the flight of the UAV was hampered by radio-electronic interference, as the drone detected an anti-aircraft installation near the border right before the signal was lost. Related video: Open source 'Russia is desperately trying to prevent the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from finally freeing itself from Moscow, and its tactics arent working'. Atlantic Council wrote this, sending the message that Russia is on a tough spot in this situation. 'Constantinople's relations with churches worldwide has long been an irritant for the Russian Orthodox Church which in the 1990s had warned the Ecumenical Patriarchate not to sever Eucharistic Communication amid a row over church issues in the US, Canada, Finland, and Estonia. Perhaps this raised eyebrows in Constantinople, as the Russian Orthodox Church itself never received from the Mother Church a tomos. Today, as the ROC and the UOC MP have moved to sever ties with Constantinople, one thing is obvious: Russia sees the prospects of an independent church of Ukraine as a serious threat to its own regional influence and a blow to its neo-imperial ambitions', reads the article. The author focused on the relations between Ukraine and Russia in terms of the United Orthodox Church, specifically on the current episode where Constantinople decided to grant Ukraine the tomos. 'In an attempt to overshadow the event in Kyiv (the procession timed to the anniversary of the Christianization of Kyiv Rus, - 112 International), Moscow Patriarch Kirill flew to Constantinople for closed-doors talks with Bartholomew I, although his trip yielded little to no result. Following the Holy Synod on October 11, the Ecumenical Patriarchate granted autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine. In a historic step, Constantinople not only declared that the UOC was not subordinate to the Russian Church, it also lifted Moscow's excommunication orders of the leaders of the UOC-KP and UOAC. Furious, the Russian Orthodox Church severed ties with Constantinople, while the Moscow Patriarchate followed suit several weeks later. Despite Moscow's harsh reaction, the Ecumenical Patriarchate sent two of its envoys to Ukraine, a move Russia branded as illegal interference, to help to prepare for the inaugural meeting of the new independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church', the story went on. 'An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians considers the receiving of autocephaly by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to be a significant step needed to protect unity in the country. One can hardly overestimate the importance of Ukraines spiritual independence from Moscow. Some experts even compare it with the restoration of Ukrainian independence in 1991. This may be. In any case, Ukraines departure from its Russian colonial past is irreversible', the article concludes. Read the full story here. As Turkey and Russia inaugurate the sea section of the TurkStream gas pipeline, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan can boast of Ankara's new geopolitical influence. DW wonders why the pipeline is causing such a fuss AA Photo On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marked the completion of the offshore phase of TurkStream, a natural gas pipeline connecting the two countries. Erdogan told reporters TurkStream would be ready to operate in 2019 after tests are carried out, while Putin said the pipeline would make Turkey a "major European hub." The tie-up with Moscow would "without a doubt influence the geopolitical standing of the Turkish Republic." The new energy cooperation comes despite Moscow severing ties with Ankara three years ago after a Turkish fighter jet shot down a Russian warplane on the Syrian border. Deutsche Welle What is TurkStream? TurkStream is a 910-kilometer-long (570 mile) gas pipeline running under the Black Sea, linking Russia and Turkey. Together, the twin pipes will have the maximum capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters (1.1 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas per annum. The first section will supply the Turkish market; the second will provide southern Europe with Russian gas. When it opens at the end of 2019, the pipeline will allow Russian energy giant Gazprom to service Turkey, its second biggest client nation after Germany. Why is it needed? Turkey relies heavily on imported gas from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, as its domestic production meets just 2 percent of its needs. At present, the Blue Stream pipeline carries most of Turkey's gas from Russia, and another aging pipeline brings the remainder through Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The imported gas helps meet almost half of Turkey electricity generation requirements and nearly a third of its overall primary energy consumption. Turkey is the only European country to have seen strong growth in gas demand since the end of the 2008/9 financial crisis. Last year, its annual natural gas consumption reached a historic record high of 53.5 billion cubic meters, a 20 percent increase on the previous year, according to the Turkish energy watchdog. Turkey is the second largest customer of Russian gas after Germany, and most analysts predict the demand will continue to grow rapidly. Presidents' Putin and Erdogan mark the end of construction of the undersea section of the TurkStream pipeline Reuters Who profits from TurkStream? Obviously, Gazprom will be able to meet the increased demand for gas from Turkey. Last year, more than a million new Turkish customers signed on to use the gas. TurkStream will also help Turkey achieve its objective of becoming a major gas 'bridge' between East and West. Already a key regional energy hub, Turkey will be able to offer to supply gas to the rest of southeastern Europe, earning billions of euros in the process. Why is TurkStream use so controversial? The European Union countries remain heavily dependent on Russian gas, most of which until recently ran along pipelines through Ukraine. In the 2000s, Russia cut off winter gas supplies to Ukraine, and therefore must of the rest of Europe, in a row over unpaid debts. Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea, and Moscow's backing for separatists in eastern Ukraine, also brought relations between the two neighbors to a new low. TurkStream, along with Nord Stream, another Russian pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea to Germany, will allow Russia to route more of its gas to Europe without running through Ukraine. The government in Kyiv is expected to lose billions of euros in transit fees as a result. Despite the EU attempts to scupper it, Russia is also building a second pipeline, Nord Stream 2. Other Eastern European countries have also accused the Kremlin of trying to exert political influence by passing them. Russia also plans to extend TurkStream through Bulgaria and Serbia to Greece and Italy. Construction work on the second overland section is expected to start in 2019. Read the original text at Deutsche Welle. The initiative's budget makes 1.4 million Euros, as is foreseen by the program of cooperation in the nuclear safety area, - Ukraine's State Agency for Management of Chornobyl Exclusion Zone Open source The EU launched the project, aimed at increasing the safety level of nuclear waste repositories in Ukraine. The budget of this particular project made 1.4 million Euros, reads the report by Ukraine's State Agency for Management of Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. The report mentions that the initiative was brought to life in November 2018. In particular, it includes the complex evaluation of the safety level on the repository sites used by Ukrainian state-run company Radon and other measures to rehabilitate the troubled repositories. The EU-Ukraine program of cooperation in the nuclear safety area foresees that this project will contribute to the security situation at the repositories built near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Lviv and Odesa. The project aims to re-evaluate the safety levels at the obsolete repositories of nuclear waste; experts will develop the technical solutions to rehabilitate the most troubled ones. The initiative is implemented through the efforts of Ukraine-German consortium, led by Brenk Systemplanung GmbH company. Official Budapest wants Ukraine to return the right of Zakarpattia Hungarians for education in the mother tongue Open source Hungary will not lift veto on conduction of the sessions of Ukraine-NATO Commission. At the same time, it will not impede the invitation of Ukraines Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin to the NATO member states foreign ministers, as Peter Szijjarto, Hungarys Foreign Minister, said, Radio Liberty reports. I can agree with the format of the meeting with Ukraines representative at the session of NATO foreign ministers, which will be similar to the one we had during the previous NATO summit. The Georgian and Ukrainian presidents were invited then. If Foreign Ministers of Georgia and Ukraine are invited to NATO session, we will not impede that, Szijjarto said in Brussels. The diplomat noted that Hungary would unblock the conduction of Ukraine-NATO Commission under one condition if official Kyiv returns the right of Zakarpattia Hungarians to obtain the education in their mother tongue. Ukraine is not only violating the bilateral agreements, but also the international regulations, including the obligations to NATO. We reject the statement that this is a bilateral argument, Hungarian Foreign Minister said. As is known, Ukraine and Hungary's relations worsened when the Ukrainian parliament passed the law on education; it stipulated that the national minorities will be gradually switched to the mode where school children study in the Ukrainian language. They would be able to learn their native language, choosing it as an optional subject. Boston, MA, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reputation Institute (RI), the worlds leading provider of reputation intelligence, today announced the 2018 US Insurance RepTrak rankings. USAA Insurance, MetLife, New York Life and Blue Cross Blue Shield attained the top four positions with the best reputations overall and each achieved a strong reputation score. USAA Insurance achieved a stand-out position and ranked number-one in reputation, expressiveness, relevancy, products/services, governance, citizenship and innovation. The reputation leader with the top position in each insurance sector included USAA Insurance for Property and Casualty, MetLife for Life and Investment and Blue Cross Blue Shield for Healthcare. The top 10 most reputable insurance companies in the US for 2018 are: 1. USAA Insurance [MUTF: USISX] 2. MetLife [NYSE: MET] 3. New York Life 4. Blue Cross Blue Shield 5. Hanover Insurance Group [NYSE: THG] 6. Progressive Corporation [NYSE: PGR] 7. Unum Group [NYSE: UNM] 8. Farmers Insurance 9. Allstate Corporation [NYSE: ALL] 10. Allianz SE [OTCMKTS: AZSEY] The largest corporate reputation study of its kind, the 2018 US Insurance RepTrak research is based on a survey that captured more 2,920 individual ratings from among the informed General Public in the US on an assessment of over 44 nominated companies. Organizations in the study included the categories of Health Insurance, Property and Casualty, and Life and Investment. Companies were categorized based on which sector generated the majority of its revenue. The survey quantifies the emotional bond stakeholders have with leading companies and how these connections drive supportive behaviors such as intent to purchase, trust, work for, or invest in the company. While the top companies that successfully manage their reputations receive the benefits of broad stakeholder support, 2018 has been a very challenging year for many insurance organizations. As businesses across the US have experienced a -3.7-point reputation decline this year, the reputation of the insurance industry has declined even further by -4.3 points. The study results indicate significant opportunities for insurance companies to improve their reputations and stakeholder support by properly addressing the key reputation drivers. Overall, signs of a reputation recovery can be seen in a steady improvement of the insurance industry reputation, increasing from 65.9 in February of 2018 to 71.3 in September. The insurance sector has unique challenges as compared to other industries, said Nicky McHugh, Vice President at Reputation Institute. Relative to the healthcare sector and the broader financial industry, Innovation, Workplace, and Performance have a higher impact on reputation among insurance companies in the US. Key drivers for reputation and business performance also vary by sector within the industry, said Meghan Burke, Research Analyst at Reputation Institute. Innovation is the biggest opportunity with the greatest direct impact on willingness to buy for health insurance companies. For life and investment insurance companies, the biggest opportunity is to focus on Governance and Citizenship. Understanding these distinctions within the industry can drive enhanced business performance. For more information, view the 2018 US Insurance RepTrak webinar and download the report and full rankings at https://ri.reputationinstitute.com/2018-us-insurance-reptrak. Learn More and Know Your Reputation Score Annually, RI measures the reputation of thousands of companies using the RepTrak framework, including measures of the most highly regarded multinational companies in 15 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. To get your companys 2018 score and learn how you can improve your ranking and grow your stakeholder support, just ask us at: https://www.reputationinstitute.com/about/Contact-Us About Reputation Institute Reputation Institute (RI) powers the worlds most reputable companies. We are a data-driven, reputation insights advisory firm, and provider of peer-to-peer membership services. By mining media conversations, measuring stakeholder perceptions and providing reputation management services, we unleash the potential of Reputation Intelligence to build better companies. Our proprietary RepTrak model tracks and analyzes the reputation of companies, CEOs, cities, and countries. We are most widely known for the Forbes-published Global RT100. Learn more at: http://www.reputationinstitute.com His first task in this office would be to settle the situation in Smila, where the local residents were cut off from the heating system amidst the November temperatures Oleksandr Velbivets Open source Oleksandr Velbivets, the incumbent chairman of Cherkasy regional council has been appointed the governor of Cherkasy region. His predecessor Yuriy Tkachenko was sacked, as he failed to settle the heating problem in Smila town. On Tuesday, President Petro Poroshenko presented Velbivets to the press and charged him to deal with the issue in Smila; by now, the situation stabilized, as boiler rooms went back online, and the warmth returned to living houses and infrastructure buildings. 'Your first task would be to go to Smila and to start solving the situation. If you need my advice, settle your office in Smila, just for a couple of days; talk to people, listen to them, share the government's positions - and that of the president's - with them', Poroshenko told Velbivets. The President also insisted that the residents of Smila never paid for the heating supply for the entire period when they were cut off the heating system. Oleksandr Velbivets previously served as the MP of the pro-presidential Petro Poroshenko's Bloc. As is known, recently, residents of Smila, Kryvyi Rih, Pavlohrad, Kherson and several other cities found themselves in cold, non-heated rooms. The reason is that the local services did not launch the heating systems in time. The town hall administration had declared a state of emergency. The Ukrainian Cabinet assigned the short-term loan to Smila that faced a trouble with the central heating system. The sum of the loan made almost 900,000 U.S. dollars. Ukrainian Ambassador to Ukraine claimed that the coordinated attack is held against Ukraine and it is managed from Russia Open source The special services of the Russian Federation tarnish the image of Ukraine in the U.S. with the help of its prank phone-callers. Valery Chaly, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S. made such statement as Voice of America reported. According to him, the activity of the prank phone-callers tied with the Russian special services has increased in the U.S. We have the evidence of the systematic work. If there were some particular cases earlier: fishing information from the U.S. Secretary of Energy, from the congressmen, and the U.S. ambassadors, but now I see that it is the systematic work against the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, he said. According to him, a few proper calls were made in the U.S. last week. There are a few calls in a week: three from the governor, two from the city mayors; it is impossible to do this without the gathering of the informationWe know that the serious preparation of such talks take place and not one person works on it. Moreover, such information is gathered systematically by the proper services, Chaly added. He also said that there is information about letters supposedly from the officials of Ukraine to the officials of the seven states of the U.S. According to Chaly, the Russian special services try to complicate the work of the Ukrainian Embassy in the U.S., tarnish the image of the country and gather as much information as possible to influence the political decisions. On November 9, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S. Valeriy Chaly reported about informational attacks at the Embassy. In particular, fake calls to the American partners on his behalf. Earlier two Russians were detained in Switzerland under a suspicion of trying to perform a cyber attack at the lab of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Lausanne. Earlier, it was reported that Igor Prokopchuk, the Head of Ukraines Permanent Representation to OSCE, is a young brother of Alexandr Prokopchuk Igor Prokopchuk, the Head of Ukraines Permanent Representation to OSCE Ukrainska Pravda Ukrainian diplomat Igor Prokopchuk, whose brother heads Russian Interpol and might become the president of the organization, is working with dedication as the Head of Ukraines Permanent Representation to OSCE, as Ukraines Foreign Ministry reported, Pravda informs. This war has scattered friends and relatives on both sides of the front line. This became a personal tragedy for many. Yet, everyone makes his choice for which he is responsible, the Ministry reported. The representatives of the Foreign Ministry added that since Donbas war began, there were no actions which could discredit Prokopchuk or damage Ukraines national interests. His daily dedicated work in OSCE speaks for itself and deserves the appreciation of our friends and relatives, the Foreign Ministry reported. Earlier, it was reported that Igor Prokopchuk is a young brother of Alexandr Prokopchuk. Reportedly, the elections of the new head of Interpol are scheduled for November 21. Interpol has to re-elect the chairman of the organization after its head Meng Hongwei went missing. Therefore, it was reported that China conducts an investigation on him concerning corruption. Major General of the Russian police Aleksandr Prokopchuk is a favorite on the elections of Interpols head. From 2006 to 2011, he was a deputy head of National Central Bureau of Interpol of Russias Internal Ministry. Then, he becomes the head of this organization. In 2016, the Major General became the Vice-President of Interpol. Arsen Avakov, Ukraines Internal Minister, thinks that Russias perspective to head the Interpol is a threat to the entire world as Russia is an aggressor state. Stanislav Berezkin could be involved in the organization of the embezzlement of $20 million from state-run Oschadbank Open source The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine did not agree on the prosecution of the Member of Parliament from Peoples Will Party Stanislav Berezkin. Only 160 lawmakers supported the decision as 112 Ukraine broadcasted. According to the investigation of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the MP could be involved in the organization of the embezzlement of $20 million from Oschadbank. The investigation held by NABU and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) perceives the signs of the criminal offense committed by the lawmaker Berezkin under the articles on the embezzlement, money-laundering, abuse, and forgery, Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko claimed. On November 7, Lutsenko officially asked Ukrainian Parliament for authorization to bring to justice, detain, and arrest a member of Parliament Stanislav Berezkin. Solomiansky Court of Kyiv arrested Maksym Berezkin, son of MP Stanislav Berezkin. He is suspected of the embezzlement of $20 million of Ukraine's state-run Oschadbank funds. On October 23, under the procedural control of Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office prosecutors, National Anti-Corruption Bureau detectives detained ten people who were served with charge papers concerning embezzling $20 million of Oshchadbank. Refat Chubarov, Head of the Mejlis, stated that it would cause mass suppression of human rights and freedoms Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars people urges to prevent the representative of Russian Federation from becoming Interpol chief, as Refat Chubarov, Head of the Mejlis, wrote on Facebook. According to him, if the representative of the Russian Federation is elected Interpols Head, the aims and basic principles of this organization will be destroyed. As a result, a situation might occur when totalitarian and authoritarian states with the access to all the mechanisms and databases will turn Interpol into another tool of mass suppression of human rights and freedoms, Chubarov noted. Reportedly, the elections of the new head of Interpol are scheduled for November 21. Interpol has to re-elect the chairman of the organization after its head Meng Hongwei went missing. Therefore, it was reported that China conducts an investigation on him concerning corruption. Major General of the Russian police Aleksandr Prokopchuk is a favorite on the elections of Interpols head. In 2006 -2011, he served as a deputy head of National Central Bureau of Interpol of Russias Internal Ministry. Then, he became the head of this organization. In 2016, the Major General became the Vice-President of Interpol. Arsen Avakov, Ukraines Internal Minister, thinks that Russias perspective to head the Interpol is a threat to the entire world as Russia is an aggressor state. Three lawmakers expressed the support for the Ukrainian medium and promised to follow the actions of the Ukrainian government in terms of upholding the media freedom in this country MEPs visit the office of 112 Ukraine TV channel, November 2018 112 Agency Arne Gericke, Nathan Gill and Robert Iwaszkiewicz, the lawmakers of the European Parliament arrived in Kyiv and visited 112 Ukraine TV channel's office. The officials came to Ukraine to once again reassure the staff and the management of this medium of their support. The MEPs promised to follow the actions of the Ukrainian government in terms of protecting the media freedom in this country. They reiterated that the pressure on 112 Ukraine and NewsOne TV channels is unacceptable. Last week, the petition urging to support 112 Ukraine and NewsOne TV channels claimed over 25,000 votes. The President of Ukraine is supposed to react now, which 112 Ukraine's management expects any time now. 'It's not the first time that we host European MPs on the premises of our TV channel - those who support our views in struggling for the right to broadcast. They tell their colleagues in the European Parliament about us, and now this situation turned a lot of attention in Europe. So we don't have the right to give up, all the more so more than 25,000 signatures under the petition to protect 112 Ukraine and NewsOne TV channels prove that our audience stands for the freedom of speech in Ukraine; they will not let the government do any arbitrary treatment against the favorite TV channels', said Artem Marchevsky, General Producer of 112 Ukraine TV channel. People say goodbye to border officer Vadym Berezinsky, who died as a result of the hit by smugglers' car in Zakarpattia region. Head Adviser of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Oleh Slobodyan claimed this on Facebook. Vadym Berezinsky bids farewell in Khmelnytsky region. He died in Zakarpattia region hit by smugglers car. Chairman of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Petro Tsyhykal, who has also said him goodbye, claimed that the staff of the agency decided to promote Vadym Berezinsky to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (posthumously), reads the message. As we reported earlier, the smugglers on the car registered abroad ran over the Ukrainian border officer on Friday, November 16. He was delivered to a hospital with serious injuries, he was in a coma. Everything started when Romanian colleagues detained two smugglers and ten packages of tobacco products on the Romanian side of the border. Soon after that, the border guards detained a man in the diving suit - in the Dilove border section, not far from Tysa river. He carried no documents, but he had a lot of money that he supposedly got for making the illegal deal. During primary investigative actions, another unknown perpetrator ran over the head of the Border Guard unit. The Border Guard officer sustained heavy injuries. The ambulance car took the serviceman to the intensive care unit, and he died the next day on November 17. According to Dmytro Dinze, there is one year and four months left for Balukh till the end of the sentence The defence of Ukrainian political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh requested his parole, as KrymRealii reported referring to the lawyer Dmytro Dinze. Taras Omelchenko, Balukhs lawyer, requested parole. He is the only one person working there (in Crimea, - ed.) now, Dinze said. According to the lawyer, there is one year and four months left for Balukh until the end of the sentence. In March 2018, the Ukrainian announced a timeless hunger strike but suspended it for the time the law enforcers moved him to the colony. According to his lawyer Dmytro Dinze, due to his long-lasting hunger strike that ran for 200 days, the political prisoner suffers from an ulcer or pancreatitis. Previously Russia-controlled 'Supreme Court of Crimea' eased the sentence, which now makes 4 years and 11 months in the colony (initially, it was five years, - 112 International). Balukh was detained in December 2016; Russian special service said the operatives found 90 pieces of ammunition and several TNT pellets at his residence. The prisoner and his lawyers, however, believe he is punished for his pro-Ukrainian patriotic stance in occupied Crimea. Related video: There were transferred to four prisons on the decision of the court Former fighters of Tornado special task force unit were transferred to another four prisons by the decision of the court after the incident that took place at Lukyanivska prison. Thus, they are not detained at Lukyanivska prison anymore. Denys Chernyshov, Deputy Justice Minister, made such statement as 112.ua reported. As it was reported earlier, four former fighters of Tornado special task force unit and two workers of Lukyanivska prison were served with charge papers on the riot case. Earlier, on August 9 clashes between the citizens and law enforcers occurred during transferring of ex-fighters of Tornado near Lukyanivska Prison in Kyiv. As a result, three Tornado fighters, kept in Lukyanivska Prison, were transferred and the others were put in an isolation cell. As the representatives of the Justice Ministry informed, one law enforcer got injured as the fighters used handmade firecrackers. Moreover, it was reported that Tornado fighters poured petrol on a law enforcer and threatened to burn him. Earlier, two workers of Lukyanivska Prison passed Tornado fighters the prohibited items. Pavlo Petrenko, Ukraines Justice Minister, announced severe administrative decisions concerning Lukyanivska Prison workers soon. Later Ruslan Romashkov, Head of Boryspil Penal Colony #119, became the new Head of Kyiv Remand Center more known as Lykyanivska Prison. Related video: All the protests are termless and will last till the protesters receive results concerning their demands Today, on November 20, an All-Ukrainian protest of owners of cars with foreign registration started, as an NGO AvtoEuroSyla reported. The drivers of the vehicles with foreign registration demand canceling the laws 8487 and 8488, which, according to the organizers of the action, were adopted without public demands, in particular on cancellation of the age index in the calculation of excise price. The website of the organization informs that the actions of public disobedience will take place in 56 places on main roads throughout Ukraine. According to preliminary estimates, 50,000 Ukrainians will participate in the actions of public disobedience, the message says. In Ukraines capital, people in cars with foreign registration started gathering at 6 am near the Parliament and Presidents Administration. The city is stuck in traffic jams, mostly downtown. TORONTO, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BWR Exploration Inc. (TSXV:BWR) (BWR or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on exploration and permitting activities for its Little Stull Lake Gold Project, located in Northeastern Manitoba. As reported on October 23, 2018, BWR mobilized an exploration crew to the project area in late September 2018, for the purpose of preparing the project for a winter 2018/19 diamond drilling program. Highlights of the program include the verification and validation of the historical result for hole LS-00-03 (drilled in 2000 by Wolfden Resources Inc.) where for the interval 170m to 174m had given 5.59 g/t Au over a 4 metre interval. The resampling/assaying of this same interval by BWR yielded 5.62 g/t over 4 metres representing an almost exact duplication, making the drill campaign Wolfden 2000 results quite acceptable to incorporate into a maiden resource estimate on the West Zone of the Little Stull Lake deposit. Geological work during early October 2018 included preliminary structural mapping of outcrops in the vicinity of the West Zone, as well as accurately identifying the location of several historical (Westmin 1985-89, Wolfden 2000, and Puma 2007) drill collars within the West Zone, using a Trimble Geo-7 (with sub-1metre accuracy) so that the holes co-ordinates could be imported into a 3D model that BWR is currently preparing. A total of 67 collar UTMs were recorded within the West Zone, focusing on the 3W and 11W areas. These holes included Westmin and Puma drill hole collars. It was understood that Wolfden pulled all casing during their short-lived exploration program in 2000, so no Wolfden holes could be surveyed, however a collar picket for hole LS-00-03 was found proximal to the LS-106 collar (of Westmin). This Wolfden hole was selected for re-logging and re-sampling (as mentioned in the October 23 press release). While there, a small number of intact old grid pickets were found and surveyed, that will assist in any future digital or physical reconstruction of the old grid for geophysical surveying and drill siting purposes. Resampling of LS-00-03 included the submission of 21 quarter sample splits of the Wolfden (2000) sampled intervals. The samples were manually quarter cut, leaving one quarter in the core box stored on site. These samples along with 30 others were submitted to the ALS Chemex sample preparation laboratory in Sudbury, Ontario, where they were processed for furtherance to ALS Chemex main laboratory in Vancouver, BC. All 51 samples underwent: log in, weighing, fine crushing (CRU-QCPass2mm), splitting, pulverizing (PUL-QCPass75um), re-splitting and packaging pulps in Sudbury, then were shipped to Vancouver by inter-lab courier. Upon receipt in Vancouver the pulp samples underwent fire assay (ALS code Au-GRA21 and Au-AA23 for higher grade samples). Two Certified Standard Samples CDN-GS-1U and CDN-GS-5U were inserted into the work order for quality control and assurance purposes. For the 2018 assay results of the 21 sample splits from the Wolfden hole, we applied a coefficient of variation on the 2000-2018 variances to get a figure of 1.08. Doing the same with the variation in the two Standard results gives a figure of 0.43 suggesting that most of the variation is a result of the sampling method, the lab sample prep and/or slightly "nuggety" mineralization. Regardless, the 2018 samples mirrored the 2000 samples remarkably well considering they are a manual split taken from 18 year old split and stored core. It can very safely be said that the 2018 sampling confirms the validity of the 2000 Wolfden work, and confirm both the reliability of the mineralization and the lab prep procedures for exploration purposes. Furthermore, historical result for hole LS-00-03 for the interval 170m to 174m had given 5.59 g/t Au over the 4 metres interval. The resampling/assaying of this same interval (notwithstanding a few pieces of core was missing from some sampled interval) yielded 5.62 g/t over 4 metres, representing an acceptable match, in line with expectations. The 2018 sampling program also expanded a mineralized zone identified during the logging process, that was deeper in hole LS-00-03, creating an interval of 3.0m @ 2.06g/t Au (from three samples) from 193.1m to 196.1m which replaces an earlier interval of 0.8m @ 2.68g/t Au (with one isolated sample from 194.1 to 194.9). Sampling of other older core from other holes, that had not been previously sampled by others, unfortunately did not reveal any notable new zones of mineralization, however, the extra sampling in LS-00-03 prove that there is additional mineralization within the previously modelled zones which was not sampled adequately in the past. During the recent early October site visit, Chris Beaumont-Smith (Ph.D., P.Geo.) of CBSGeoscience, a structural/economic geologist from Winnipeg was engaged to provide a structural review of the West Zone as it relates to a mineralizing event. He also compared surface structural observations with those that are observable in the historical core stored at the base camp. This work was intended to advance the understanding of the structurally controlled Little Stull Lake gold occurrence. BWR is now in receipt of the preliminary report by Dr. Beaumont-Smith where he notes that his observations included the examination of numerous outcrops that host the West Zone of the Little Stull Lake deposit, located along the southwestern shore of the lake. The host rocks are highly deformed mafic volcanic rocks, highly schistose, chlorite rich and fine-grained. The host rocks are variably altered with peripheral sericite alteration overprinted by intense ankerite-quartz veining with disseminated sulphides in zones of gold mineralization. Regional structural analysis determined that the Wolf Bay Shear Zone (WBSZ) represents a third generation of deformation (D3) overprinting two periods of regional folding, in other words two generations of structures have been delineated in the area prior to the development of the structural fabrics related to the WBSZ. The shear zone in the vicinity of Stull Lake is characterized by a sub-vertical 30 to 50 metre wide zone of intense foliation in mafic volcanic rocks producing a finely laminated mafic schist referred to as a tectonite. Dr. Beaumont-Smith notes in his summary; The structural setting and gold mineralization and associated alteration observed is consistent with the introduction of the mineralization/alteration during the D3 dextral transpressional deformation. Subsequent folding of the hosting Wolf Bay Shear Zone by two generations of upright, open to close folds creates a macroscopic geometry that based on observations are not anticipated to generate significant redistribution of gold mineralization. This early exploration work and encouraging results have greatly enhanced the planning of future drilling, while partially addressing a very important portion of the consultation process with local First Nation communities that have traditional land entitlement selections in the immediate area who have indicated they require accurate locations of historical exploration activity and results with respect to their traditional use assessments. It is anticipated that drilling will commence in early January 2019, pending the favorable outcome of current consultations with the First Nation communities in the project area. Work permit update BWR was invited to present at a community gathering of Gods Lake First Nation (GLFN) on November 19th that had been organized by the Consultation Coordinator with Manitoba Growth Enterprise and Trade (GET) in agreement with the Coordinator for the community. Several elders along with members of the community and Council attended, GLFN has traditional interests in the Little Stull Lake project area . The meeting is part of the agreed upon consultation process where BWR provided details in advance of its proposed work program so that the community is given an opportunity to provide feedback that identifies concerns that need to be addressed prior to the issuance of a work permit by GET. This meeting has spawned a follow-up set of meetings, the first between BWR and members of Council (to be held on February 22 in Winnipeg) followed by a meeting between the community and GET in the community (without BWR present), tentatively scheduled for late November. The work permit once issued by Manitoba Growth Enterprise and Trade will provide for any conditions agreed to, with specific reference to BWRs plans to explore the selected treaty land entitlements held by GLFN over the next few exploration seasons. Qualifications This press release has been prepared by management of BWR Exploration Inc. represented by Neil D. Novak P.Geo., President and CEO of BWR Exploration. The technical information contained herein was reviewed and approved for release by Chris Beaumont-Smith Ph.D., P.Geo. of CBSGeosciences with office in Winnipeg Manitoba, along with Mark Wellstead, M.Geol, P.Geo., and Francis Newton, B.Sc., P.Geo., both of Minroc Management Ltd. of Oakville Ontario. Dr. Beaumont-Smith, Mark Wellstead and Francis Newton are independent qualified persons as per NI-43-101 guidelines. BWR Exploration Inc. is a public company focused on exploring for base and precious metals, with its flagship Little Stull Lake Gold Project in NE Manitoba along with other exploration projects in Northern Ontario, and Northern Quebec, Canada. Management of BWR includes an accomplished group of exploration/mining specialists with many decades of operational experience in the junior resource sector. There are currently 64,412,461 shares issued and outstanding. Neither the Toronto Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For information about BWR Exploration Inc. please visit our website: http://www.bwrexploration.com or call/email: Neil Novak, P.Geo., President, CEO & Director, BWR Exploration Inc. 82 Richmond St. E Toronto, ON M5C 1P1 Office (416) 848 6866 nnovak@bwrexploration.com For additional information regarding BWR please contact: Carl Desjardins, Paradox Investor Services Inc. Cell: 514-618-4477 carldesjardins@paradox-pr.ca It is the biggest mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights that came to Ukraine to monitor the media OSCE ODIHR and 112 Ukraine, NewsOne journalists meet on Nov 20, 2018 112 Agency The journalists of 112 Ukraine and NewsOne TV channels met with the representatives of OSCE mission that assesses the needs of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR OSCE) on November 20. The meeting took place in the Office of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine. The mission includes the Head of the Election Department of OSCE ODIHR Alexander Shlyk; Senior Election Advisor of the OSCE ODIHR Steven Martin; Ulvi Ahundlu, Election Advisor and Chief Political Advisor of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Francesco Pagani. Alexander Shlyk and Francesco Pagani invited Volodymyr Poluev, Nadiya Sass, Daryna Bilera and Bohdan Aminov to the official meeting to discuss the freedom of speech during the election campaign in Ukraine. According to them, it is the biggest mission of the ODIHR that came to Ukraine to monitor the media. It is important for the European experts to receive information both about the legal and practical issues of holding an election campaign, and to give a real assessment of the freedom of expression of unbiased and truthful information in the Ukrainian media. We have just arrived yesterday, but we have already seen many billboards with officials running for the elections. It gives an understanding that the election campaign is already at full blast. The billboards are different, with or without faces, but the most impressive was the statement that the President is a peoples servant, Alexander Shlyk shared his first impressions upon arrival to Ukraine. The representatives of TV channels informed European inspectors about the pressure on journalists in Ukraine. "We all agree that the freedom of media is a key element of any free election. This freedom must be assessed before the election, and not just on the voting day. And here we are faced with serious problems already questioning the free and fair nature of the upcoming elections. The main problem is the violence against journalists. As you know, some of my colleagues have been killed since 2014 without any consistent results of investigations and without holding the perpetrators accountable, 112 Ukraine TV channel presenter Nadiya Sass said. The presenter of the main political talk show of the country Pulse Volodymyr Poluev joined the discussion: "The authorities through their power influence the law enforcement bodies that intimidate and attack journalists who do their work. The government, its supporters and radicals arbitrarily call the independent media opposition or pro-Russian one, creating an atmosphere of hatred that undermine the safety of journalists. The presenter from NewsOne Daryna Bilera confirmed the words of her colleagues from 112 Ukraine: I recently fell victim during the assault at the General Prosecutors Office. The activists of the rally tried to take away my microphone and tried to prevent me telling live what was happening. Then they started to beat me on the head, and now I have problem with hearing. The police did not do anything, only advised to stay away from the General Prosecutors Office. In addition, NewsOne TV channel journalist Bohdan Aminov present at a meeting, told about a similar situation of physical violence against him during the march in the memory of transgender people who were killed. The meeting focused on the fact that aggressive behavior towards media representatives and the pressure on freedom of speech in Ukraine intensified after the inofficial start of the election campaign. The representatives of OSCE ODIHR mission promised to take into account the information received from 112 Ukraine and NewsOne journalists during the preparation of recommendations on the ODIHR activities, related to the observation of the presidential elections in 2019. According to them, this document will be made public in late December. Earlier, Ukraines Verkhovna Rada urged the countrys National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to introduce sanctions against several Ukrainian TV channels. 229 MPs supported the draft law No. 9157 on 'Approval of recommendations to introduce personal special economic sanctions and other restrictive measures (sanctions)'. Thirteen European parliamentarians appealed to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to revoke the decision on imposing sanctions on 112 Ukraine and NewsOne TV channels. The leaders of 112 Ukraine and NewsOne channels arrived in Brussels personally to talk to the lawmakers and get their support. The issue of freedom of speech in Ukraine is raised at the international conferences, forums, and in the offices of European parliamentarians. The MPs carefully study the situation regarding the sanctions against Ukrainian broadcasters and sign the petition. Novi Yarylovychi checkpoint Open source Traffic was blocked on Chernihiv-Novi Yarylovychi route due to the protest of the owners of cars with foreign registration, as the TV presenter said on air of 112 Ukraine. The queues of vehicles appeared before the Belarusian checkpoint Novaja Huta when leaving the country, and before the Novi Yarylovychi checkpoint when entering Belarus. According to BelarusPartisan news agency, border checkpoints Novaja Huta-Novi Yarylovychi were blocked from the Ukrainian side. Some passengers had to cross the border on foot and get to the city on their own. The press office of Ukraines Border Guard Service informed 112 Ukraine that now, the checkpoint is working in a usual mode. As it was reported earlier, the owners of the cars with foreign license plates intended to carry out an All-Ukrainian Disobedience Action on November 20. Earlier, Ukraines Parliament adopted a law on a new method of calculation of excise tax rate for foreign cars and higher fines for violation of customs legislation. he leader of AvtoEuroSyla Yaroshevych burnt his car in protest. The company plans to increase the number of passengers in Ukraine up to 5 million in the coming 3-5 years The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Ryanair commercial director David OBrien Presidential Administration press office Irish air carrier Ryanair intends to invest around $1,5 billion in Ukraine within the next five years, increase the fleet to 15 planes, and the annual ridership to 5,000 000 people, as David OBrien, Ryanair commercial director, said at the meeting with Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko, the Presidents press office reports. The company plans to increase the number of passengers in Ukraine up to 5 million in the coming 3-5 years. He announced the decision of the company to invest 1.5 billion dollars in the Ukrainian direction, which will enable to increase the fleet of aircrafts and use Ukraine as the basis for international flights of the airline, the message says. OBrien also said that the barriers for increasing the number of passengers are not in Ukraine, but in the protectionist policy of certain European countries, in particular Germany, France, Italy, and Belgium. "After these barriers are removed, we will be able to increase the number of flights and passengers to Ukraine," the commercial director expressed hope. President Poroshenko stressed that he completely supports Ryanair plans in Ukraine and considers them an important element in the integration with the European Union. The President thanked the leadership of Ryanair for the intensive development of cooperation, as well as for maintaining a high level of competition, which forces airlines from Germany, Poland, Great Britain to think about lowering ticket prices, improving services in order to compete with Ryanair for Ukrainian citizens, the press office informs. The deterioration of nets, constructions, and equipment of water supply and draining systems in Ukraine is more than 50%, the number of breakdowns and water losses has increased dramatically as of today Open source The Cabinet of Ministers excluded the means from the draft law of Ukraine On 2019 state budget provided for the funding of the program Ukraines drinking water adopted in 2011, as Ukrvodokanal, Ukraine's state water supply association, reported on Facebook. The law provided funding of this program amounting $107,1 million from the state budget. Unfortunately, only $7,4 million was allocated over the past years, the message says. The water utilities report that the deterioration of nets, constructions, and equipment of water supply and draining systems in Ukraine is more than 50%, the number of breakdowns and water losses has increased dramatically as of today. The situation is worsened by the fact that around $89,2 million was not compensated for the enterprises of the sector. Besides, prices for electricity, reagents, has increased, taxes almost doubled. The message says that the sum requires to reconstruct the water supply and draining enterprises is around $40 billion. If we dont take immediate measures to support a complex water supply and sanitation sector, central water supply and draining might be under threat in Ukraine in the nearest future, the association reports. It was noted that Ukrvodokanal sent an official letter to Parliaments Speaker Andriy Parubiy and MPs on the behalf of all the water utilities. It asks to prevent the collapse of the plumbing industry and initiate introduction of necessary changes to Ukraines draft law on "2019 State budget." Earlier, it was reported that Crimea lacks drinking water. Ukrainian film Breaking point: The war for democracy in Ukraine' Open source Ukrainian documentary film directed by Ukrainian Oles Sanin and American Mark Harris Breaking point: The war for democracy in Ukraine will fight for the Oscar Award. As the Ukrainian state film agency reports on its Facebook page, a movie about the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine and Russian occupation of Crimea and Donbas entered the long-list of Oscar and is among contenders for the Academy Award for the best documentary. The film shows the period of 2013-2016. It contains a filmed evidence of political, criminal, war crimes and terrorist acts on the territory of Ukraine. During the work on the movie, 86 interviews were recorded with the participants of the events on Maidan and East of Ukraine and nearly 600 hours of cinema material were shot. As it was reported earlier, two Ukrainian films appeared among the candidates for European Film Awards prizes in different categories. According to the official website of the European Film Academy, these are Graduation'97 by Pavlo Ostrikov and Benedikt Erlingsson's Woman At War. Graduation'97 will try its luck in the best short film category; Woman At War is among the candidates for the European actress award. Graduation'97 tells of a lonely man, Roman, who lives a lonely life in a provincial city and works as a technician. For the first time since graduation, Liuda, his ex-classmate, comes back to town. Nobody has heard anything from her for twenty years, but Roman is set on not losing her again. A hybrid form of yoga that combines traditional yoga postures with modern yoga moves and a silk hammock. Pre-registration required. Please note: Aerial Yoga at the Yoga Art Space studio requires pre-registration through our website at www.YogaArtSpace.com/calendar. If no one registers for a class, the class may be cancelled between 6-12 hours prior to the class start time. Though this event is shown as a regular, weekly class each week on the Alabi calendar, there are occasionally times when the class will be cancelled in advance such as for certain holidays. All updates and cancellations are on the studio calendar at www.YogaArtSpace.com/calendar. What is Aerial yoga? Aerial Yoga is a hybrid form of yoga that combines traditional yoga postures infused with modern yoga moves and an silk fabric hammock. Do I need Previous Yoga Experience? No previous yoga experience necessary to enjoy an Aerial yoga class. In fact it can be easier than normal yoga! The silk hammock acts like a support whenever you require it, almost like having your own personal yoga teacher giving you assistance throughout the entire yoga class! Another advantage of having the support of the hammock is that 90% of students are able to complete more challenging poses, such as handstands! Can Everybody do Aerial Yoga? Yes and no. Students who have had a previous injury can find Aerial yoga much easier to participate in then normal yoga. This is due to the the weight being evenly distributed between your body, the hammock and the earth. People who suffer any of following contraindications are advised NOT to participate in an Aerial yoga class: if you have had recent surgery of any sort, if you suffer glaucoma, if you are pregnant, if you suffer a heart condition (including very high or low blow pressure), if you get vertigo, if you have had a recent stroke or a hernia, if you have osteoporosis or any bone weakness, if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, or if you have had botox in the last six hours. What Should I Wear? All jewellery items must be removed before participating, a t-shirt must be worn to cover the armpit area and leggings are advised to avoid the silk rubbing on the skin and creating irritation. Please have clean feet or, alternatively, bring a pair of socks with you. GRAPEVINE, Texas, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), today announced that it will report third quarter fiscal 2018 earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, November 29, 2018. The company will host an investor conference call at 5:00 pm ET on the same day to review the companys financial results and expectations for the remainder of fiscal 2018. This call and any supplemental information can be accessed at GameStop Corp.s investor relations home page at http://investor.GameStop.com/ . The phone number for the investor conference call is 1-877-260-1479 and the confirmation code is 8583256. The conference call will be archived for two months on GameStops corporate website. About GameStop GameStop Corp., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is a global, multichannel video game, consumer electronics and wireless services retailer. GameStop operates over 7,100 stores across 14 countries. The company's consumer product network also includes www.gamestop.com; Game Informer magazine, the world's leading print and digital video game publication; and ThinkGeek, www.thinkgeek.com, the premier retailer for the global geek community featuring exclusive and unique video game and pop culture products. Our Technology Brands segment includes nearly 1,400 Spring Mobile AT&T and Simply Mac stores. Spring Mobile, www.springmobile.com, sells all of AT&Ts products and services, including DIRECTV, devices and related accessories in select markets in the U.S. Simply Mac, www.simplymac.com, sells the full line of Apple products, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones and offers Apple certified warranty and repair services. General information about GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the companys corporate website. Follow @GameStop and @GameStopCorp on Twitter and find GameStop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GameStop . VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prosper Gold Corp. (Prosper Gold or the Company) (TSXV: PGX) announces that it will begin winter drilling to follow-up its first diamond drill hole at the Currie Project (the Property) southwest of Matheson, Ontario. 2,500m in six holes will test for gold mineralization in regions untested in earlier drilling. Drilling will confirm and refine the orientation of the massive pyrite layer intersected in C001, testing for mineralization in previously untested areas, as well as diabase margins where gold, silver and lead-zinc are concentrated. (See the Companys November 5, 2018 news release for details of C001). Peter Bernier, President and CEO states, We are going to get the drill turning as soon as possible to aggressively target the gold mineralization in C001. The aim of Phase 1 is to gain enough insight so that Phase 2 can focus on expanding the mineralized zone at Currie in the New Year. Currie Project Description The 2,000 hectare Currie Project, 8 km south of the Destor-Porcupine fault, is underlain by altered volcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Abitibi greenstone belt. The property hosts the Grindstone Creek occurrence, a Gold-Silver-Zinc zone in massive and semi-massive pyrite-sericite schist (GCZ). The sequence strikes ESE and dips steeply southwest as interpreted from drilling. Rocks are strained and especially the felsic volcanic rocks show a strong SW dipping single phase fabric into which any earlier layering would have been transposed. Diabase, a dyke or sill, dips steeply with the strata. Drill intersection modeling shows it is a branching anastomosing unit or swarm with two or three separate arms. The diabase envelope trends ESE, dips steeply, and is about 70m at its thickest. Overburden thickness is consistently about 50 m as shown by the earlier holes and the geology is inferred from drill results to date and from geophysical data, mainly airborne magnetics. Known mineralization is between 120 m to 300 m below surface and occupies a zone about 300 m long, 100 m wide. Prosper has the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Property (for details see the Companys March 5, 2018 News Release). Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dirk Tempelman-Kluit, PhD, P.Geo., VP Exploration and Director of the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Per: Peter Bernier Peter Bernier President & CEO For further information, please contact: Peter Bernier President & CEO Prosper Gold Corp. Cell (250) 316-6644 Email: Pete@ProsperGoldCorp.com Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements about the planned exploration of the Currie Project, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Oklahoma City, Okla. , Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Department of Health and Human Services is looking for a contractor who can deliver and ship 837 infant car seats. This opportunity is a total small business set-aside and the response date is December 4, 2018. For assistance in meeting this deadline with proper registrations and a strong offer, businesses may use third-party government registration firm, US Federal Contractor Registration (USFCR). 336360 is the associated NAICS code for this opportunity. The car seats will be delivered throughout the states of Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. All of the deliveries must be completed within 30 days of the receipt of order. The exact specifications for this contract can be found on the Advanced Procurement Portal from USFCR. Offers are to be submitted to Christine M. Henthorn (chris.henthorn@ihs.gov). Contracting officers will be unable to assist with specific contractor requirements such as registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). SAM is the mandatory registration that all federal contractors must complete before making offers to perform any work for the government. This system can be tricky to handle, especially when trying to meet a deadline and put a quote together. For assistance with all of these matters, US Federal Contractor Registration is standing by to provide. US Federal Contractor Registration (USFCR) is the world's largest third-party government registration firm. They have helped thousands of entities translate their capabilities into the U.S. Government's language and systems with the Simplified Acquisition Program, bid training, and proposal writing services. They not only register companies on their behalf in SAM, but also have pioneered the Advanced Procurement Portal (APP). APP shows active and historical federal business opportunity information in the same place, simplifying market research. Active federal buyers and vendors are not only cataloged in APP but also are also using the system, creating a powerful network. Businesses who partner with USFCR will be able to dedicate their complete effort toward their performance on a contract, rather than the acquisition of it. TORONTO, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc. (TSXV:LEXI) (LEXI or the Company) is pleased to announce positive updates regarding the ongoing phase two test work (Test Work), which is the second of four phases pursuant to the engagement between LEXI and its technology partner, IBC Advanced Technologies, Inc. (IBC) for a lithium processing plant utilizing IBCs proprietary SuperLig Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT). In September, IBC successfully completed the first phase of the work, a Level One Assessment (LOA). Brine composition may vary across LEXIs properties, so additional work is expected to compare against the mimic brines IBC formulated for the Test Work. Among other studies, the present Test Work has yielded successful bench trials for separating and purifying lithium (Li) ions with high selectivity, producing +99% pure Li. The proprietary SuperLig resins are manufactured exclusively by IBC, are applicable to brines from LEXIs properties, and are exceptionally effective for Li ion extraction from Li-bearing brines. Ultimate selection of the final process conditions using the SuperLig materials will be based on detailed chemical constituents in the brine and the desired final Li compound to be synthesized for end users. LEXIs CEO, Steven Howard noted, The IBC team has delivered on the promise. Their bench trials for adapting MRT to Li ion sequestration at ultra-high capture rates and purity have validated our expectations. This is capture and release at its finest. However, there are important steps yet to take to replicate these results at commercial scale and bench tests are never an assurance of commercial success. Nonetheless, we believe that IBCs progress in the Text Work could be an important step forward in what could ultimately become a true paradigm shift in processing lithium brines. The Test Work results obtained to date have shown that (1) greater than 99% of the Li ions present in the brine can be efficiently removed during a single pass of brine through columns packed with the SuperLig resins, regardless of what other minerals are dissolved in the brine and (2) elution (release) of the Li ions results in a Li-bearing eluate that exits the columns with more than 99% lithium purity. The Li concentration in the eluate is at >10 g/L exiting the MRT system. Examinations in these initial stages of the Test Work include repeated flow rate and separation analyses derived by passing the brine through columns filled with IBCs SuperLig resin. Full loading, washing, and eluting cycles are being performed over multiple cycles to confirm repeatability and obtain important kinetic and thermodynamic data, including separation co-efficients and process efficiencies. Each stage of this process is confirmed analytically to substantiate recovery rates and final solution purities. Load and elution curve data are repetitively generated and analyzed. The conclusion of the Test Work will determine (1) proper flow rates for loading, washing and eluting, (2) final lithium purities, and (3) SuperLig capacities. The Test Work is expected to conclude in January 2019. The Loading step extracts the Li ions from the brine at >99% purity. The Elution step then releases the Li ions into a dilute reagent stream by stripping them from the Li-loaded SuperLig resins. Elution is achieved using a weak reagent (dilute sulfuric or hydrochloric acid), thus allowing the pregnant reagent (a solution highly saturated with Li ions) to be readily converted into finished products, as lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide. We are extremely excited about the positive Test Work results to date, stated Steven R. Izatt, CEO of IBC. As LEXI shareholders and Advisory Board members, our lithium processing advancements are vested in our partnership with LEXI and together, we are building an important part of the future for lithium processing. IBC has spent three decades designing and implementing SuperLig MRT processes at commercial scale for other key metals, so our present work on lithium is an adaptation of proven technology, not a start-up science project. This Test Work is the foundation for implementing a lithium-based SuperLig MRT facility at commercial scale. IBC has a substantial vested interest in LEXI and in the success of our present lithium work. Our commitment is to a commercially reasonable assurance that nothing should impede LEXIs use of MRT as the centerpiece of LEXIs lithium production and its market success. In September, the LOA confirmed that (a) suitable flow rates are achievable with relatively low volumes in the wash and elution steps, (b) energy requirements for mixing fluids, column inputs, and in-plant transport are low overall, and (c) processing in severe cold climates should require only minimal protection for input feeds to counter sub-zero conditions. At the conclusion of the phase two Test Work, phase three Flowsheet Development will be initiated, which will yield detailed flowsheet designs describing each unit operation, including its sequential placement relative to other plant operations, its respective inputs and outputs, and its other key engineering metrics, such as materials of construction, flow rates, temperatures, pressures, and chemical compositions. The fourth and final phase will be the Basic Engineering, including IBCs development and delivery of process flow and process block drawings, equipment specifications, tank, pump, and column sizes, feed preparation, Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), general arrangement block diagrams, sequential step descriptions for all input/output changes, overall plant valve diagram, overall plant valve/pump on-off valve diagrams for each sequence, and preparation of the operating manual. MRT has been proven as one of the most advanced and environmentally friendly extraction technologies in the world to selectively separate metals at very high purities and high single pass recovery rates, even in the most demanding conditions. The LEXI-IBC collaboration is targeting a unit driven MRT plant (i.e. designed as a scalable, modular plant). LEXI has an exclusive right of first refusal for MRT site license(s) for the separation, recovery, refining and purification of lithium from brine prospects in territories comprising approx. 20,000 square kilometers (7,500 square miles) in two areas of Catamarca Province, specifically including all areas in and around the salars of Antofalla and Hombre Muerto. All process engineering will be coordinated with LEXIs expectations and requirements regarding field development, including drilling parameters, well spacing, pumping rates, provincial regulations, and other characteristics critical to brine production from the salar basins in which LEXIs lithium properties are situated. Although some factors are outside the control of IBC or LEXI, the basic engineering is generally expected to be complete in Q2 of 2019. The Company also announces that it has refiled its financial statements and managements discussion & analysis (MD&A) for the year ended February 28, 2018 and the three-month period ended May 31, 2018 and the six-month period ended August 31, 2018 (the Restated Financial Statements and MD&A). In connection with its filing of a preliminary short form prospectus and the attendant, continuous disclosure review by the Ontario Securities Commission, the recorded loss on the fair value of note payable for the year ended February 28, 2018, three months ended May 31, 2018 and six months ended August 31, 2018 has been reversed and the financial statements for the periods affected have been restated. The net and comprehensive loss for the year ended February 28, 2018, three months ended May 31, 2018 and six months ended August 31, 2018 was restated to $4,005,143, $1,456,604 and $2,491,367, respectively. The balance of the Note Payable as at February 28, 2018, May 31, 2018 and August 31, 2018 has been restated to $4,070,000, 3,245,000 and $3,070,000, respectively. Complete details on the effect of the restatements are included in the notes to the Restated Financial Statements and MD&A. The Restated Financial Statements and MD&A supersede the previously filed original financial statements and MD&A. Such previously filed original financial statements and MD&A should be disregarded. The Restated Financial Statements and MD&A are available for review on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com or on the Companys website at www.lithiumenergi.com. In addition, as a result of a further review by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission, the Company would like to clarify disclosure related to the proposed MRT processing facility. The Company has made certain changes to information in the Companys corporate presentation dated October 2018, previously available on our website, that contained forecasts related to its MRT processing facility plans, including projected capital expenditures and projected production rates that were not yet supported by technical work made by the Company or IBC. This disclosure was not in compliance with section 2.3 of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. As a result, the Company has removed these references from its website, retracts that disclosure and any inferences regarding any economic viability and potential production results in respect of its plans to utilize MRT for processing lithium. Our revised presentation is available on our website. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the non-compliant information previously posted on the website or otherwise found in the public domain. About Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc. Lithium Energi Exploration Inc. is an exploration company focused on the strategic acquisition, exploration and development of lithium brine assets in Argentina. The Company is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and has offices in Dallas, Texas and Catamarca, Argentina. The common shares of the Company are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV:LEXI) and the Frankfurt Exchange (FR:LO9). The Companys portfolio of prospective lithium brine concessions in the Argentina Province of Catamarca (heart of the lithium triangle) includes 90,241 hectares in and around the Antofalla Salar and a right of first refusal to acquire up to approximately 145,000 hectares, the majority of which is located in the Antofalla Salar complex, which hosts one of the largest basins in the region, extending 100 - 140 km in length with a surface area of well over 706 km2 (source: Roskill Information Services). On September 12, 2016, Albemarle Corporation, the worlds largest lithium producer, announced its acquisition of exclusive exploration and acquisition rights to a claim block located in the central section of this salar. In March 2017, Albemarle published its belief that the Antofalla Salar is the third largest lithium deposit in the world. With rights to over 200,000 hectares of prospective lithium properties located just west of FMCs producing properties and offset north and south of Albemarles properties, the Company believes that its claims could potentially host meaningful lithium values. Although there can be no assurance that any of its claims are economically viable or that it can successfully achieve production, the Company believes that its properties could yield great value to its shareholders if developed. Readers are cautioned that (i) mineralization in the subsurface brines contained within the Antofalla Salar basin complex may not necessarily be consistent, (ii) analysis of prospective, lithium-bearing brines underlying the Companys properties may differ substantially from one claim to another and from claims held by other companies or individuals, whose claims are also located in or near the Antofalla Salar basin complex; and (iii) no Qualified Person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) engaged by the Company has verified any information announced by Albemarle Corporation and readers should not imply that the Company will obtain similar results in respect of its properties. For more information about Lithium Energi Exploration Inc., please visit www.lithiumenergi.com or view the Companys filings at www.SEDAR.com. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Caitlin Jeffs, P.Geo., a consultant of the Company, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Chief Financial Officer and Director FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Chris Hobbs, Chief Financial Officer and Director Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc. Tel: 416 276-6689 Fax: 888 909-1033 Email: chris.hobbs@lithiumenergi.com www.lithiumenergi.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the results of preliminary testing proving accurate and repeatable over time and at commercial scale; the absence of material changes with respect to the Company and its businesses; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure its shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Irving Resources Inc. (CSE:IRV) (Irving or the Company) announces that it intends to conduct a non-brokered private placement to raise approximately $2,083,000 by the issuance of approximately 1,894,000 units (the Units) at a price of $1.10 per Unit (the Private Placement). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half of a share purchase warrant (the Warrants). Each whole Warrant will be exercisable for one common share of the Company at a price of $1.75 per share for a period of two years from the date of issue, subject to an accelerated expiry provision. The Company plans to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement to fund matters related to property exploration in Japan and for general working capital purposes. About Irving Resources Inc.: Irving is a junior exploration company with a focus on gold in Japan. Irving also holds, through a subsidiary, Project Venture Agreements with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) for joint regional exploration programs in the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Malawi and the Republic of Madagascar. JOGMEC is a government organization established under the law of Japan, administrated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, and is responsible for stable supply of various resources to Japan through the discovery of sizable economic deposits of base, precious and rare metals. Additional information can be found on the Companys website: www.IRVresources.com . Akiko Levinson, President & Director THE CSE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. This press release does not constitute, and the subject matter hereof is not, an offer for sale or a solicitation of an offer to buy, in the United States or to any U.S Person (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act)) of any equity or other securities of the Company. The securities of the Company have not been registered under the 1933 Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States (or to a U.S. Person) absent registration under the 1933 Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. The final quarter of 2021 is on its way and theres so much positivity about the rapid growth of the... Santiago, Chile, November 20, 2018- LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its subsidiaries, ("LATAM Airlines Group" or "the Company") (NYSE: LTM / IPSA: LTM), the leading airline group in Latin America, announces the release of its financial results for the third quarter of 2018. The release will also be available on the Company's website www.latamairlinesgroup.net The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the third quarter 2018 financial results on November 21, 2018, at 8:00 am ET. Conference call Wednesday, November 21, 2018 8:00 a.m. (ET) 10:00 a.m. (Santiago Time) 11:00 a.m. (Sao Paulo Time) USA: (877) 809-6185 International: (615) 247-0222 Passcode: 1165408 Webcast: click here Replay A replay of this call will be available until 11:00 (ET) on November 28, 2018 USA: (855) 859-2056 International: (404) 537-3406 Passcode: 1165408 Investor Relations Phone: +56 2 2565 8765 E-mail: InvestorRelations@latam.com Website: www.latamairlinesgroup.net Travel conditions improved dramatically across the tri-state area after last Thursday's microblizzard (by which I mean three to six inches of snow slush) subsided, but still, the skies were not safe for the city's illicit drone pilots. On Friday, police arrested 27-year-old Steven Funes after a rogue wind gusted his drone into the side of Barclays headquarters in Midtown. The building sustained no injuries in the crash, but unfortunately for Funes, it is almost always illegal to fly a drone in New York City. Funes, a resident of Virginia, may not have known he was droning illegally when he launched the gadget from the 21st floor of the Executive Plaza Hotel on 51st Street in Midtown West. He reportedly had things under control until around 4:30 p.m., when a strong breeze swept up his flying machine and sent it hurtling into an 8th floor balcony on the Barclays building at 745 7th Avenue. Security guards scooped up the wreckage and alerted authorities, according to the NYPD. Funes showed up some hours later, around 8 p.m., to retrieve whatever remained of his drone, at which point the arresting officer subsequently "apprehended" him and took him into custody for having violated administrative code 10-126 C. That particular ordinance pertains to "Avigation In and Over the City," and bars the piloting of crafts and "contrivances" not intended as safety equipment. (I.e., you could still parachute over NYC in the case of an impending crash or catastrophe.) Violating the code qualifies as a misdemeanor, and police issued Funes a desk appearance ticket, meaning he must soon make a trip back to the city for a court appearance. According to CBS 2, which sent a reporter on a helicopter ride-along with members of the NYPD's Aviation Unitresponsible for policing drone infractionsonly five local parks allow enthusiasts to fly their sky zoomers. Unauthorized drone use can reportedly whip up a dangerous level of chaos. Drones cause interference with air traffic and have smashed into the Empire State Building: "People could definitely die," NYPD Aviation Unit pilot Lt. Richard Knoeller told the outlet. "If it [a drone] hits the aircraft at the right time, it's a perfect storm." No humans or corporate offices were harmed in this particular incident, however. A parable: A man walks into a bar, and orders a drink. Thatll be ten dollars, says the bartender. The man hands over nine one-dollar bills. Hey buddy, says the bartender. Youre a dollar short. But if I never came in here, you wouldnt have any of my money at all, says the man. So by giving me a dollar and getting my nine dollars, youre turning a 900% profit! The man is Amazon. The bartender is you, the people of New York. The man telling this story telling it seriously, not as a hilarious punchline about grifting is Andrew Cuomo. From the minute that Amazon announced its Long Island City headquarters plan, observers have been trying to total up the value of all the city and state tax breaks, infrastructure slush funds, and helipads the company will receive as part of its deal probably somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 billion. And almost as immediately, the governor has been pushing a counternarrative to the "handing moneybags to a rich guy" meme. Yes, Jeff Bezos will get billions of dollars in special dispensation, insisted Cuomo, but because that'll only be an estimated 10 percent of his company's total New York tax bill, taxpayers will still come out ahead. This is a big money-maker for us costs us nothing, nada, niente. We make money doing this, Cuomo said on Tuesday, adding, "The revenue-to-incentive ratio is 9-to-1. That is the highest rate of return for an economic incentive program that the state has ever offered." Two days later, he reiterated this argument: You give us $1 billion, well give you 100 back. I would do that all day long." On Monday morning, the governor published an op-ed on his website asserting, New York doesn't give Amazon $100 million. Amazon gives New York $900 million. Our offer essentially was, instead of paying us a billion, you pay us $900 million, hence, the 100 million per year subsidy, Cuomo told Brian Lehrer on Monday, shortly after his press shop distributed the op-ed. Now, were not giving Amazon 100 million a year, theyre giving us 900. Well they could have given you a billion. Yeah, only if they came here, you know? Otherwise we would be out $900 million. The governor's math is drawn from an economic impact study conducted in October by Regional Economic Models, Inc., better known in consulting circles by its acronym, REMI. The REMI model is hardly a sophisticated look into how Amazon would affect economic conditions in New York City; rather, it's a plug-and-play set of algorithms that are supposed to estimate how much tax revenue results from a set of inputs both directly from taxes on Amazon employees own earnings (which will largely be rebated by the city and state) and indirectly from taxes on money that Amazon and its workers spend at other local businesses (which the city and state will keep). For example, the model uses a set of "Regional Purchase Coefficients" to estimate how much of Amazon's outsourcing and supply purchases will be spent in New York state "data processing, hosting, and related services" are expected to come in at 89% local, creating an additional 616 jobs for New Yorkers, which may just be slightly optimistic for a company whose main business is in data processing and hosting. It also doesn't help matters that the REMI report used 40,000 new Amazon jobs as the baseline for its estimate, when the company itself is only promising 25,000, though it needs to hit the higher number to unlock additional subsidies. And the total estimated tax benefit to the state, according to the REMI report, isnt actually the $27.5 billion number that Cuomo has been touting. Since so much of the benefit will come two decades or more down the road, the positive fiscal impact is given as $9 billion in present-value 2019 dollars, compared to $1.4 billion in present value cost for just the states future tax breaks. Okay, so fine: If the REMI projects are overly rosy, maybe it's not a 10% tax break; maybe it's 15%, or even 30%. If the remaining taxes are all gravy, as Cuomo asserts, should we care? Isn't 70% of Amazon-generated taxes better than nothing? When put that way, it sounds almost reasonable. Put almost any other way, Cuomo's logic starts to break down: It assumes that Amazon would not have come without this level of tax breaks. "All things being equal, if we do nothing, theyre going to Texas, Cuomo told the Times on Tuesday. But that's not necessarily true: Arlington, Virginia, landed a similar jobs promise from Amazon with only about a third as big a subsidy offer. (Cuomo has said Virginia could get away with this because its income-tax rate is lower than New Yorks, though others have speculated that Amazon just knew that New York tended to be looser with its corporate relocation spending than Virginia.) For that matter, Google is reportedly set to add 12,000 workers in New York in exchange for no special subsidies, though it could conceivably be eligible for the same city tax breaks that Amazon is getting.) There's simply no way to know if New York could have landed Amazon with a smaller offer which means Cuomo could have ended up leaving billions of dollars on the table that he didn't need to. You could make a similar argument about any taxpayer in the state. There are more than two million small employers in New York state, most of which don't get to deduct a share of their taxes on the grounds that the state would make out even worse if they relocated their pizzeria to Texas. By giving tax breaks to Amazon which, it is increasingly clear, is in the business of selling everything under the sun in order to drive every other retailer out of business the state is giving a huge advantage to one corporation over its competitors. And for that matter, it's not only employers who contribute to the state and city treasuries. The average New Yorker pays a little over $2,000 a year in state and local taxes; should they get rebates for not taking their spending to New Jersey? When you pay $2.75 for the privilege of riding the subway, should you be allowed to get some of that money back, on the grounds that if you'd stayed home the MTA would have earned nothing? It's a tempting argument but a slippery slope to a world where nobody ever pays their taxes and the state treasury runs out of cash. There are other ways New York could spend its money that would also generate lots of new revenue. More spending on education could boost the local economy, both by reducing poverty levels and by luring more companies with a highly educated workforce. Likewise, fixing the subway system could help attract more jobs, as companies are increasingly looking to locate in areas with the best public transit. Of course, there's nothing stopping the city and state from giving money to Amazon while also funding the subway or schools. But it can't reuse the Long Island City land once it's handed over to the company, ruling out the chance of building something else there, whether the affordable housing originally planned for the site or a commercial property that wouldn't require tax breaks. (This is known to economists as an "opportunity cost," and is decidedly not accounted for in Cuomo's REMI numbers.) Finding better places than Amazon for the state to spend its money has become the focus of Queens State Assemblymember Ron Kim, who is preparing to introduce a bill to eliminate state corporate subsidies and instead spend the same cash on using state condemnation powers to seize and pay off New Yorkers' student loan debt. This would be an economic boon not just for state residents struggling under a debt load, argues Kim, but because allowing them to spend their paychecks locally rather than sending them directly to Navient would provide a huge boost for the local economy. There are costs to hosting Amazon, too. The potential increased costs to the city and state for improved transit service and additional housing to support Amazon's workers have been widely discussed by now, but there are other costs too, from schooling for new city residents to the potential for lost tax revenue from other retail businesses that may be driven to bankruptcy as the result of Amazon getting a taxpayer-supported leg up. (Cuomo told Lehrer that while he didnt have numbers for the added public service costs required an Amazon headquarters, they would be nowhere close to what theyre paying in taxes.) Normally, those costs of new development are supposed to be accommodated by the property taxes and business taxes that flow from the arriving company but with $3 billion of those already carved out as tax breaks, New York will have less in the bank to pay its new Amazon-related bills. Calculating "taxes paid" as a return on "taxes not paid" is just a seriously weird way of doing bookkeeping. Its not the way taxes work," says Fiscal Policy Institute deputy director David Kallick, noting that the whole point of taxes is to pay for the additional public services that a resident or employer needs. "If Cuomo wants to make a state investment in Amazon, he should also get an ownership share. Thats not a crazy idea, actually. None of which is to say whether enticing Amazon or any other company with tax breaks is a waste of cash or a necessary realpolitik business practice, which is a separate debate. We just dont think it makes sense to leave that revenue on the table, says Cuomo spokesperson Tyrone Stevens, further noting that the revenue streams from a company the size of Amazon cant be compared with those from an individual taxpayer. But in implying that when you or I pay our tax bill it's our civic duty, while corporations paying their taxes represent a free windfall for the state, the governors logic relies on the notion that the minute a corporation's hands touch a wad of cash, it becomes "theirs," even if it's money that anyone else would have to pay in taxes. I have previously dubbed this the Casino Night Principle, in honor of the Odd Couple episode where Oscar's gambling buddy cleans out Felix's opera club fundraiser by winning a big bet, then uses the cash to pay off a debt to Oscar, whereupon Felix immediately demands "our money" back. Felix: Surely youre not thinking of keeping that money? Oscar: Why not? Its my money! Felix: No, its not! It belongs to the opera club! Oscar: How do you figure that? Felix: Well, Arnold got it from us, you got it from him, you give it back to us! Then everybodys even! Oscar: That cant be right. See, Id be out all this money. Felix: No, you wouldnt! Youd just be back where you started from! Oscar: Yeah, but only Arnold wouldnt owe it to me anymore. See, I had this money coming to me. Felix: But it came from the opera club! From them to him to you to me! Its like an isosceles triangle! It sounds so much more ridiculous when Felix Unger says it than when Andrew Cuomo does. But then, Felix's opera club like schools and subways and coalitions of pizzeria owners doesn't have the governor hiring REMI to do studies on the benefits of giving it tax breaks. That's a perk reserved solely for the helipad classes. Authorities have arrested a man believed to be responsible for racist vandalism found earlier this month at the African Burial Ground Monument, a historic site near City Hall honoring free and enslaved black residents buried in Lower Manhattan. The suspect was reportedly identified through security camera footage, after allegedly scrawling the message "kill all n-ggers" at the site of the memorial. The Department of Homeland Security made the arrest, with assistance from the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force, according to the Daily News. The suspect is reportedly one Ivan Nieves, a 57-year-old Bronx man. The charges are still pending, and he is expected to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon. "They didnt do us a favor wiping it off It was a gross injustice wiping it off Assemblyman Charles Barron. pic.twitter.com/Ldri18BH4f Azi (@Azi) November 4, 2018 Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the vandalism earlier this month, as part of a briefing on the uptick of reported bias incidents in New York City in recent months. "Tragically we are seeing many communities affronted," he said. "Were seeing hate crimes towards the African American community, towards the Jewish community, towards the Muslim community, towards the LGBT community. It all has to stop." According to the NYPD, there have been 309 hate crimes reported as of November 7th of this yeara slight increase from the previous year, which saw a major spike in hate crimes both in New York City and nationwide. UPDATE: Geoff Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced on Tuesday afternoon that Nieves has been charged with one count of vandalism and one count of disorderly conduct. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison. Within this framework, the organization mentioned the Lava Jato case implicates ex-Heads of State, former officials, and political parties. CNDDHH went on to add the people investigated by the Public Ministry have obstructed justice through their representations at Congress, as well as operators who work within the justice system. Concerning former President Alan Garcia's asylum request , the organization said it is not legal to grant asylum to people who request it at the same time they have been accused or condemned by regular courts for common crimes. Furthermore, it said the ex-President violated the travel ban previously imposed on him by the Judiciary the moment he entered the Uruguayan Ambassador's residence in order to ask for asylum, thus posing an alleged risk of flight. Therefore, it affirmed the Public Ministry should request preventive prison for Alan Garcia. "We warn the national and international public opinion there is no political persecution in Peru . The rule of law has not been broken either, as the ex-President Garcia claims," the CNDDHH said. According to the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCR), manufacturing GDP recorded four years of consecutive declines (2014-2017). It should be noted the manufacturing sector rose 1.19% last September , thus registering seven months of continuous growth, National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) informed. Furthermore, this increase was driven by the primary manufacturing (+3.52%) and the non-primary manufacturing (+0.52%) subsectors. Fishery sphere Production Minister Raul Perez-Reyes informed the first days of the second fishing season in Peru's central and northern sea areas delivered impressive results "Yesterday, 116,000 tons of anchovy were captured," the official highlighted. "Thus, we expect to close the year with a 4% expansion (in manufacture). In the first half of the year, it rose 5.7%, but in the second half it will grow at a lower rate," he added. Last week, Produce indicated the second anchovy fishing season's quota in the aforementioned areas would be 2.1 million tons. (END) MMG/JJN/DTK/MVB The Production Ministry (Produce) has projected Peru's industrial GDP will register a 4% increase in 2018 , underpinned by the fishery sector's good performance.Published: 11/20/2018 YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Acting first deputy prime minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan reaffirmed that there will be no increase in tax burden without public consent, reports Armenpress. Dear friends, of course you can continue criticizing (by deliberately manipulating or not really trying to study the issue a little bit, no matter), but I have stated as clear as possible that increase in tax burden is ruled out without public consent. But the idea which is being discussed is the declaration, not the taxation. And the most important point is that declaration doesnt necessarily mean that the declared money should be taxed, he said on Facebook. The recent idea of the State Revenue Committee on the widespread declaration of incomes has become a topic of mass discussions in social networks. People are concerned that the citizens working abroad, the remittances, as well as persons working in agricultural sector will be taxed according to this initiative. During the November 19 session in the government acting first deputy PM Ararat Mirzoyan touched upon this topic, stating that increase in tax burden is impossible without broad public discussion and public consent. Thereafter, SRC Chairman Davit Ananyan denied the rumors according to which they are going to tax the remittances and persons working in agricultural sector, noting that remittances enter into the country as consumption money, but consumption cannot be taxed, and citizens working in agricultural sector are exempt from income tax. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has reiterated that he will demand an explanation from President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko regarding the latters disclosure of matters discussed behind closed-doors at a CSTO meeting to the Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Belarus. In response to a question of ARMENPRESS during a news conference today, Pashinyan emphasized that what he had said earlier about this matter continues to be effective. Addressing the Belarusian foreign ministrys response, Pashinyan noted that Armenia has responded to it. Ive personally voiced whatever I had to say, and my interlocutor in this issue is personally the Belarusian president, from whom I havent gotten any response. And what I have said remains in force. And there is no doubt that what I had said will take place. Meaning, I will demand explanations regarding what took place and several other processes, Pashinyan said. He added that he isnt going to remain silent over any issue concerning the interests of Armenia. Pashinyan emphasized that the government will principally, coherently, also in a collegial environment, protect the national interests of Armenia. Asked by ARMENPRESS on what will happen if theoretically a consensus will be failed to be reached in December regarding electing a new CSTO Secretary General, Pashinyan said: If no consensus happens, we will continue working in the direction of achieving consensus, because decisions are made through a consensus in the CSTO. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan says before the December 9 early parliamentary elections his political team has completely fulfilled all obligations assumed before the people, reports Armenpress. Firstly, we have promised that if the people of Armenia express their will, we will ensure the withdrawal of Serzh Sargsyan and his team from power, moreover, absolutely with peaceful means. This duty is completely implemented. Secondly, we have promised that the practice of electoral fraud will be eradicated in Armenia, and the formation of power will take place exclusively through peoples free expression of will. This duty is completely fulfilled based on the results of the Yerevan City Council and local self-government elections. We have promised to carry out a strong fight against corruption, and this obligation is fully implemented. Of course, the fight against corruption continues, and we will continue it in case of receiving the peoples mandate, Pashinyan said at a meeting with reporters in the government. He reminded that they have also promised to eliminate the artificial economic monopolies, noting that today there are no access barriers and restrictions in the market, new players are coming. We have promised that there will be no privileged persons in Armenia, as well as to ensure the equality of everyone before the law, this duty is fully implemented. We have promised to hold early parliamentary elections, and this duty as well is completely fulfilled, the acting PM said. He stated that the power in Armenia has been completely returned to the people, and each citizen of Armenia will determine his/her fate in the upcoming elections by his/her one vote. We expect trust vote from the people in order to continue our activity in coming 5 years. In case of receiving the mandate our activity of the coming five years will be directed for conducting an economic revolution. We plan to take actions to make Armenia a country with high industrial, technological and environmental standards. As the culmination of all of these, a major task is to increase the security level of Armenia and Artsakh, he said. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The gas supply and distribution systems must be separates. The distribution should be carried out by anoterh operator, selected by a tender, with a lower profitability, MP Michael Melkumyan said. Melkumyan chairs the parliamentary inquiry commission on gas and electricity tariffs and he made the proposal when recapping the commissions one-month work. Negotiations should continue for the tariff reduction to take place from the border, another EEU country is receiving it at the border at a lesser price, he said. And why not discuss the issue that the gas transportation system and the distribution system get differentiated? Let Gazprom Armenia carry out its functions, but the distribution should be separated, he said, adding that Gazprom Armenias interests will be preserved. He said that the proposed separation is accepted worldwide. He also recommended defining not two tariffs of gas, but several. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker minister of healthcare Arsen Torosyan and his delegation are in Saratov, Russia on a two-day visit to attend the XIV Interstate Scientific-Practical Conference. The event is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Microb Scientific-Research Institute of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, known as the Rospotrebnadzor. Torosyan delivered congratulatory remarks at the opening of the conference. He also met with director of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova, the healthcare ministry said. During the meeting the sides reached cooperation agreements with the Microb institute on joint diagnostic tests, and other issues. Then, the sides signed an agreement between the Armenian healthcare ministry and Russias Rospotrebnadzor on cooperation in introducing international medical-sanitary rules. Armenia is expected to deliver a scientific report during the event. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker defense minister Davit Tonoyan had a meeting in Kabul, Afghanistan with General Salvatore Camporeale, the Resolute Support Deputy Commander. The Italian general briefed Davit Tonoyan in-detail about the troops and combat situation and specificities of service. An interesting discussion took place about the specificities of the Resolute Support troops combat shift and especially technical means. The caretaker defense minister was shown exclusively special supervision and other measures. General Camporeale expressed special gratitude to the service of the 121 Armenian peacekeeping officers and soldiers, who, according to the general, stand out with high discipline, proactiveness and unprecedented training, defense ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Facebook. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received head of Lithuanian Beltekhnika Company engaged in the production of agricultural equipment Armen Harutyunyan. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia, issues related to the establishment of agricultural machinery production in Armenia by the Lithuanian company were discussed. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the Armenian Government is interested in the implementation of the investment project, creation of new jobs and the Executive makes efforts to create maximally favorable conditions for investors. Armen Harutyunyan noted that they plan to produce in Armenia modern equipment, that will be affordable for farmers and will be exported to the European market. Harutyunyan said that a new factory will be established on the basis of Hayelektromash. In the first stage investment of 5-7 million USD is planned, afterwards, in the 2nd stage 10-15 million USD will be invested. The businessman informed that the works will kick off on December 1. Its predicted that the factory will produce 3 thousand trucks annually in the first stage, which will be increased by 50 thousand in the 2nd stage. Nikol Pashinyan saluted the initiative, hoping that it will be a success. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who is in Strasburg on a working visit, met with CoE Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic on November 20. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, the interlocutors referred to the agreements reached during the Yerevan visit of the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights in September and the results, recording with satisfaction that the regular meetings give an opportunity to discuss the developments in the sphere of human rights in Armenia, the cooperation with the Commissioners office and the prospects for joint projects. Speaking about the upcoming early parliamentary elections in Armenia, the acting FM emphasized that the organization of free and fair elections in line with international standards is an important priority for the Government of Armenia. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Dunja Mijatovic also referred to the international efforts aimed at the prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan introduced to the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights the approaches of Armenia for the peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The acting Foreign Minister emphasized that the Karabakh conflict is first of all about people the rights and security of whom are important priorities. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Since the United States and China already possess enough intercontinental nuclear missiles for mutually assured destruction, and since the United States would be hopelessly outnumbered in conventional land battles, military escalation will focus on naval power and hypersonic short-range missiles. Economic sanctions are the front line of the new Cold War, unlike the USSoviet confrontation of yesteryear. But military escalation cannot be far behind. For good measure, the US Commerce Department will also screen corporate technology flows destined for China, pursuant to the updated Export Administration Act. The declaration came after Trumps tariff war was well underway and the US Treasury had issued regulations to screen inward investment tightly, pursuant to the new Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernisation Act. CANBERRA - Amid the chaos of the Trump presidency, vice president Mike Pences declaration of a new Cold War with China on 4 October 2018 is by far the administrations biggest departure from business as usual. Aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis conducts a replenishment at sea with ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew on 13 November (Nick Bauer, US Navy via Reuters) This should be good news for shipyards in both countries. The United States will build submarines, destroyers and aircraft carriers to prevent Chinese dominance of the South China Sea, and China will enlarge its fleet to defend its claimed islands and assert sovereignty over the seas within the nine-dash line. Meanwhile the United States will ramp up its economic war with China, with the goal of securing a commercial divorce from China. The immediate provocations are Chinas persistent merchandise trade surplus with the United States, and Chinas appropriation of US technology as the price of admitting US corporations to the Chinese market. But if these provocations were the whole story, US trade and investment tactics would be different sabres, not sledgehammers. The underlying provocation of economic war is Trumps fear that China will overtake the United States, economically and technologically. The 21st century Thucydides Trap is unfolding. [The trap occurs when a the rise of a second power causes anxiety in an established power and there is an escalation towards conflict.] In terms of sheer GDP, Chinas overtaking seems almost inevitable, even if its growth slows to 4% from the currently advertised 6%. At best, the US economy will grow at 3% over an extended period. So its just a question of arithmetic whether Chinas overtaking of the United States will happen in 2030 or 2050. Technology is another matter. If the United States embraces sensible steps, it could maintain a technological lead for the indefinite future. One step, unfortunately not aligned with Trumps agenda, would put out the welcome mat for scientific talent from abroad. Another step would significantly enhance federal funding for basic science and related education. A third step would enlarge tax credits for private research and development outlays. Instead of these steps, the Trump administration, with enthusiastic support from Congressional Democrats, decided to stress the interruption of technology flows to China. A prevailing myth is that Chinas technological prowess depends almost entirely on theft from the West. Before long, Americans will discover that China excels at home-grown technology. By that time, Chinas technological overtaking will be nearer reality than fantasy. The new Cold War is not being fought on trends favourable to the United States. For sure China will suffer, but it will respond by building alliances in the immediate Asian neighbourhood through institutions like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and through its own Belt and Road Initiative. China may also choose to cement its relations with Russia, and reach out to advanced nations Europe, Japan and South Korea. Whether the Trump administration or its successor will reinvigorate traditional US alliances remains to be seen. Two other basic questions must be asked. Is the new Cold War necessary? No. Instead of a cold war, either the Obama or the Trump administration could have created a powerful but informal entente with China a G-2 arrangement. Was the new Cold War inevitable? Probably yes, once Hu Jintao stepped down from the Chinese presidency in 2013. His successor Xi Jinping is turning back the clock on market-oriented reforms and fostering state control of the economy, centralising political power and driving domestic technological advancement through the Made in China 2025 plan. This direction and its consequences for Chinas dealings with the United States over the past several years set the stage for conflict. En route to the November 2018 APEC summit in Papua New Guinea, Pence told Chinese leaders that it is Chinas responsibility to avert a Cold War by dramatically revamping its economic model and abandoning its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Speaking at the Shanghai Import Exposition conference earlier in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping defended the world trading system and outlined Chinas reforms in broad strokes. His remarks, welcome as they were, came nowhere close to meeting Trumps demands. The 2016 US presidential election proved that blaming foreigners generally, and China specifically, was a vote-catching theme with bipartisan appeal. Democrats envied Donald Trump for so successfully capturing this piece of political thunder. Since the election, many senior Democrats have applauded Cold War themes, in substance if not in name. Come 2021, a Democrat in the White House is not likely to reverse Trumps policy. Nor is President Xi likely to pursue conciliation rather than confrontation. During the years ahead, pleasant phrases and smiling photos will be interspersed with hostile rhetoric. Whatever the distractions, the new Cold War promises to be an enduring feature of the world economy and the political landscape, and a lasting legacy of presidents Trump and Xi. * Gary Clyde Hufbauer is a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics I suppose if I had offered a view that the so-called Brexiteers are ignoring a lot that is good and worthwhile about the EU I doubtless would have been promptly howled down in much the same manner. My mistake was, as a disinterested observer, to offer the view that there were some pretty significant issues with the structure and ultimate objectives of the EU which the so-called Remainers seem to studiously ignore when prosecuting their case. I was rather promptly and forcefully told that this was not the case and that everything was just wonderful with the EU. I mention this because recently I made the mistake of inserting myself into a debate about the forthcoming (or maybe not) Brexit, whereby Britain exits the European Union. ADELAIDE - One of the many challenges confronted when attempting to understand the flow of history is securing a broad consensus on what the agreed facts are and then, usually only after a good deal of argument, how the facts should be interpreted. You see, the yelling match over whether or not, let alone how, Britain exits the EU is being conducted without any apparent reference to an agreed body of facts, let alone how they should be interpreted. The emotions felt by the combatants have long since overwhelmed any attempt to discuss the matter dispassionately. The result of this is on display on a daily basis, with the British government under siege from within and without as it desperately tries to secure agreement on an exit strategy. It seems to me that the big picture issue entirely missing in the debate is that the EU as currently configured is a stepping stone towards a truly Federal government of Europe and thus the creation of a United States of Europe. No-one seems to have said this explicitly of course, but it is a reasonable inference to draw. One of the reasons for the silence on the logical end point of the EU process may well be that the creation of a Federation as it is understood and configured in countries like the USA, Canada and Australia requires that the member states voluntarily and explicitly subordinate themselves to a Federal authority in some form or another. My belief is that the Brexiteers understand this rather better than the Remainers, hence their obsession with national sovereignty and, sometimes at least, rampant xenophobia and even plain racism. All this caused me to think about just how the current handful of Federations came into existence and whether such a model might be made to work in Europe and other highly tribalised places as well, including Papua New Guinea. It may surprise some readers to learn that modern Germany is a Federation of 16 states which have a good deal of discretion to run their own affairs. The Federal government has clear constitutional responsibilities for things like defence, foreign affairs, customs and excise, immigration and so forth, while things like health, education and culture remain under state control. The current German model was effectively imposed by the Allied powers in the aftermath of World War II but appears to enjoy very broad support within Germany. The trauma of the war and allied military power effectively neutralised any resistance to the imposition of this federal structure which, in any event, was broadly consistent with how Germany had historically been governed. The USA is another country with a Federal model of governance. It came into existence as a nation in the aftermath of the War of Independence (1775-83) when it ceased to be a British colonial possession. Initially, the federal structure was very loose, with states having a high degree of autonomy. In the mid-19th century serious tension arose between those states that allowed slavery and those that did not. This tension initially manifested itself as a dispute over the extent of states rights vis a vis the Federal government. Eventually, it caused a number of southern states which relied upon slave labor to attempt to secede from the union which, in turn, led to the Civil War that raged from 1861 to 1865. The victory of the union forces, in what was an exceptionally bloody, industrial scale war, established once and for all the primacy of the US federal government, although states continued to have a relatively high degree of legislative discretion in many areas. Australia made a conscious decision to become a federation because it made sense for the six small and isolated colonies to do so for defence, foreign affairs and trade matters. That said, the process of developing a draft constitution to take to the people in a nationwide plebiscite was long and tortuous. Serious ideological and policy differences over trade between New South Wales and Victoria hugely delayed and complicated the negotiations but, eventually, agreement was reached. Initially, Western Australia was reluctant to join the new commonwealth but eventually recognised that going it alone was not viable in the longer term. The other colonies promised to build a transcontinental railway to link Western Australia to the east coast, thus overcoming fears about being completely isolated from the new countrys centres of power. New Zealand opted not to join the new commonwealth, preferring to go its own way. The Australian constitution still contains provisions that would enable NZ to join, but this seems improbable now. Canada became a Federation in 1867, well before Australia. In fact, Canadas constitutional arrangements were a model for those eventually adopted by Australia. Like Australia, Canada is a huge, diverse and sparsely settled country. Unlike Australia, it has a large population of people with a French cultural background, most of who live in the province of Quebec. French continues to be very widely spoken and used in Quebec, ranking above English as the provinces official language. This situation has, at times, produced serious political and cultural strains within Canada as Quebec separatists have sought to secure sufficient political support to become an independent country. Secessionist support within Quebec has waned considerably since its peak in the mid 1990s but is by no means extinguished. It is pretty clear that there are viable models for establishing workable federal states but equally clear that this is not necessarily easy to do. It is also fairly clear that the most successful of these states have some common characteristics. The first is that most of them, initially at least, were neither culturally and linguistically highly diverse. The relatively homogenous nature of the nascent federations meant that the focus of negotiations could largely be upon practical constitutional and governance issues rather than accommodating very marked ethnic or regional differences. In the case of the USA, Australia and Canada, the rights, needs and aspirations of the indigenous populations were either given scant attention or entirely ignored. The second is that the individual constituent states had to explicitly subordinate themselves to the power of the Federal government in at least certain specified areas. Thus their sovereignty was irrevocably diminished and constrained. Subsequently, in all the examples I have given, the power of the federal government has steadily increased over time, mainly through a succession of legal decisions about the meaning and effect of the constitution. It appears that the supreme or high courts established under federal constitutions have an apparently natural tendency to interpret constitutional provisions in ways that increase the power of the Federal government relative to those of the states. Thirdly, despite the immediately preceding comment, states continue to be able to exert significant political pressure on Federal governments, especially if they act in concert. This arises from the fact that state governments enjoy political legitimacy in their own right, thus empowering them to pursue important state issues whilst enjoying broad support from their own electorate. As a general rule, federal governments try to avoid offending states (especially the large ones) on major issues for fear of damaging their own political support base. Such damage can have serious electoral consequences, especially in the case of a Senate which has state or provincial based representation. Fourth, the actually governance of a federation is invariably quite complex and difficult because so many jurisdictions have an interest in the process. Negotiations within and between the different levels of government can be complex, difficult and protracted. There is an emphasis on achieving consensus where ever possible because unilateral action has a nasty habit of back firing badly. Bearing all this in mind, could PNG conceivably reform its constitutional arrangements to achieve a more genuinely democratic and efficient federal governance structure? I think that it could. This would require, at a minimum, the creation of a senate with, say, three senators from each member province, whose specific responsibility is to attend to the interests of their province as a whole, not any particular group within it. Senators ought to be barred from forming any part of the government in order to prevent their easy subversion by party interests, who would certainly offer lucrative appointments in return for their support. The senate should also be specifically required to pass certain money bills, thus ensuring that the lawfully constituted government cannot be held to ransom by refusal of supply. All other bills would require senate approval, thus ensuring that it is no paper tiger. The provinces themselves would need to have their powers clearly defined in the constitution, not merely spelled out in some memorandum of understanding or similar document, which would be all too easy to repudiate or ignore. To prevent the constitution from becoming merely the plaything of the government of the day, it should be a requirement that amendments to it must be supported by a not less than two thirds majority of a combined sitting of the house of representatives and the senate, plus the support of not less than two thirds of the provincial legislatures. This is a tough test but necessary to prevent governments from manipulating the constitution to meet its political needs. The selection of the governor general should be by a two thirds majority of the combined parliament after due consideration of three candidates nominated by the government of the day. Failure to secure a two thirds majority for any candidate would require the government to submit a new panel of names for consideration. This would go on until such time is the required majority is achieved. The important point is that a genuinely federal system would allow for the needs and aspirations of the provinces to be more transparently and effectively balanced against those of the nation as a whole. Right now, this process is murky to say the least and highly susceptible to manipulation and mischief. Of course, what I am proposing will doubtless fall short of perfection but it offers some hope that the governance of the country can be greatly improved and higher levels of transparency and accountability achieved. History suggests that federal governance structures offer opportunities to achieve a fairer and more dispersed form of political power, albeit at the cost of efficiency in some cases. This is a price worth paying if the effect is to enable aspiring autocrats like Donald Trump (or, perhaps, Peter ONeill) to be brought to heel, even if the process involved is both painful and protracted. As for the United States of Europe, the Brexit debacle suggests that, at best, the creation of such an entity lies far in the future. 5 countries that will pay you to live there. Source: AAP/Yahoo Finance Many Aussies would love to explore and live in new places and countries around the world, but simply dont have the funds to make the move. But if youre you one of them, theres some good news. Also read: Scott Morrison plans to cut immigration amid population concerns Whether its lower bills and taxes, financial incentives or help towards beginning a startup business, here are five countries which will actually pay you to move there. Chile Santiago, Chile. Source: AAP Chile is attracting international talent to Santiago with an accelerator program that offers startups equity-free funding, a one-year visa and investor exposure. In exchange, the start-ups must earn social capital points by passing on skills to local entrepreneurs. Start-Up Chile brings some 100 businesses to the country every year, which Chile hopes to retain with the promise of business-friendly tax laws and a low cost of living. The program has created more than 5,000 jobs across the world. Mauritius Mauritius. Source: AAP The beaches of the tropical haven of Mauritius may have been explored, but its business potential hasnt been. Thats why the government of Mauritius has started a very unique program that offers incentives to startups whether it be in technology, business models, finance, innovation or something else. But in order for your startup to be eligible, you have to prove to a committee that your idea is viable and will succeed. If you get approved youll get a modest allowance of 20,000 Mauritian Rupees (A$792.13). Ireland Ireland. Source: AAP This country wants to attract worldwide entrepreneurs. If you feel that your startup has a large growth probability, you can apply for funding with Enterprise Ireland. If and when accepted, you would be rewarded with funds and the opportunity to live and work in Ireland. Spain Spain. Source: AAP The tiny village of Ponga in Spain is literally paying expats to move there. Its an old, ancient village with only a few inhabitants less than 800 people living there, out which less than 50 are under 18 years old. Story continues So the village put up the offer to pay young couples EUR3,000 (A$4,710) for moving there, and an extra EUR3,000 for every child, either born or moved there with the couple. Italy Italy. Source: AAP A once thriving and booming little town of Candela in Italy has a similar offer. Facing a very real risk of becoming a ghost down,Candela has been in decline ever since the 60s. Now there are less than 2700, so the towns mayor is offering money for people to move there. The offer starts from EUR800 (A$1,256) for singles and over EUR2000 (A$3,140) for whole families of 4 or more. But theres a slight catch. Everyone that choose to accept this offer has to find a job there with a minimum salary of EUR7500 (A$11,776) euros per year. Larry Pickering, the Walkley Award winning political cartoonist, best known for his "Pickerings Playmates" calendars of naked politicians in the 1980s, has died of cancer. He was 76. A controversial figure late in his life, Pickering, who died an undischarged bankrupt, was at the height of his powers some 45 years ago during the prime ministership of Gough Whitlam, winning Walkleys for his cartoons four years in a row between 1971 and 1974, the first two during his time at The Canberra Times, then The National Times and Sydney Morning Herald. Two years later during the Fraser era, he moved to The Australian, then retired from the role after five years in 1981. His calendars were best-sellers between 1978 and 1992, appearing on the back of countless toilet doors around Australia, a nod to the nation's risque irreverence towards politics. Politicians who loomed large on the landscape - and they were all men - were portrayed with much smaller seats of power. He was a denim-capped larrikin with a cheeky, knowing grin, and also the face of Dulux paints in advertising campaigns. Pickering's subsequent careers included racehorse trainer, with one, Rising Fear, runner-up in the 1986 Melbourne Cup. But the wealth accumulated from his early success disappeared in the 1987 stock market crash, and in 2010, living on the Gold Coast, he was made an undischarged bankrupt by his former defacto after a betting company failed, costing investors millions. Many considered it a scam. More than 300 people bought in, losing their money. Pickering denied any responsibility, but the Queensland Supreme Court concluded otherwise, saying it was "thoroughly implausible" that he was not involved in its management and received "significant financial benefits" from the software's Australian distributor. Queensland fraud squad detectives reopened their investigation into Pickering links to Cohen Strachan Investments, in 2015, but no further action was taken. Story continues Former employees of the business alleged Pickering approached investors using a fake name. https://youtu.be/iS9mAWfeiG4 Meanwhile, Pickering returned to the public fray in recent years with a blog called The Pickering Post, railing against the Left, Muslims, unions, global warming, gay people, the ALP and especially Julia Gillard as prime minister. He reserved his most vicious and obscene efforts for Gillard, along with other women, at one stage portraying the then-PM as wearing a sex toy and calling for a male MP to use it on. In February last year, he made headlines again as the guest speaker at a fundraising dinner for the far-right, anti-Islamic Q Society, declaring he starts shaking if Muslims are in the same street as him. "They are not all bad," he added, "they do chuck pillow-biters off buildings." Fellow cartoonist Paul Zanetti paid tribute to Pickering saying "his indomitable, larrikin spirit never left him". "Just last week when the doc told his wife, Carol, to let Larry have anything he wanted, he lit up with that irrepressibly irreverent grin," Zanetti wrote. "Really? Anything? Can I have two sheilas, love?" Zanetti described his "close friend and confidant" as "loyal, generous, entertaining and simply brilliant". My close mate, the legendary cartoonist, Larry Pickering passed away peacefully last night in the company of his family. No other cartoonist cast such a wide net over the political landscape. Condolences to the Pickering family. Portrait by Larry's daughter, Penny.#auspol pic.twitter.com/6d5vshkiVy Zanetti Cartoons (@ZanettiCartoons) November 19, 2018 Veteran Herald cartoonist Alan Moir said he remembered Pickering from the 70s. "He was astonishingly good. Strong, pointed and prescient and equally unfair to pollies. Then he gave it all away, but the memory of those early years survives," he wrote on Twitter. Others, such as business journalist Michael Pascoe took a much less flattering view, calling him a "conman and scumbag". Taken to task on Twitter for that comment, Pascoe responded: "I have respect for Pickering's many victims and his family members who suffered because of him, the many he ripped off, the many he abused, the many he delighted denigrating and offending." Pickering checked himself out of hospital on Friday, having defied medical opinion for two years after a first bout of cancer saw most one lung removed in 2016. Larry Pickering is survived by 11 children he had with five mothers, and his wife Carol. Rights activists on Tuesday urged Booking.com to follow the example of Airbnb and withdraw listings for rentals in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, even as Israel called the move "disgusting" and threatened legal action. Airbnb said Monday it will remove such listings, just ahead of the release of a Human Rights Watch report criticising the inclusion of settlements. Israel strongly denounced Airbnb's decision and threatened legal action against the company, while Palestinian officials welcomed it. The US-based rights group HRW issued its report on Tuesday and called on Booking.com to follow Airbnb's "positive step". "By ending its brokering of rentals in illegal settlements on land off-limits to Palestinians, Airbnb has taken a stand against discrimination and land confiscation and theft," Omar Shakir, HRW's director for Israel and the Palestinian territories, told AFP. "It is an important and welcome step and we encourage other companies like Booking.com to follow their lead and stop listing in settlements." HRW issued the report on the online reservations firms, entitled "Bed and Breakfast on Stolen Land," along with Israeli NGO Kerem Navot. It says Airbnb, based in the United States, listed at least 139 properties in West Bank settlements between March and July. Booking.com, based in the Netherlands, had 26 as of July, it said. A total of 17 are on land Israel acknowledges is privately owned by Palestinians, according to HRW. Booking.com had not immediately responded to a request for comment from AFP. "Israelis and foreigners may rent properties in settlements, but Palestinian ID holders are effectively barred," HRW said. That is "the only example in the world the organisations found in which Airbnb hosts have no choice but to discriminate against guests based on national or ethnic origin," it said. - 'Defy peace' - Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin on Tuesday threatened legal action against Airbnb in the United States and Israel over its move, branding it "hypocritical and disgusting". In contrast, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat has welcomed Airbnb's decision as "an initial positive step". "Israeli settlements are not just an obstacle to peace, but defy the very definition of peace," he said in a statement. Moria Shapira, an Israeli settler who had been offering an apartment for rent through Airbnb, said she was "in shock" over the company's move. Shapira lives in the Adei Ad wildcat settlement outpost deep in the West Bank. She said she did not understand why nearby Palestinian communities could post rentals on Airbnb but she could not. "Part of the surprise was that here next to us, in Ramallah and in Rawabi, there are advertised Airbnb apartments and it is fine," she told AFP at her hilltop home. Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law and major roadblocks to peace, as they are built on land Palestinians see as part of their future state. Around 400,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements, which range in size from tiny hamlets to large towns. A further 200,000 live in settlements in occupied east Jerusalem. Nati Rom, a resident of the Esh Kodesh wildcat settlement and a lawyer with the Lev Ha'Olam organisation which fights boycott campaigns against Israel, protested over what he termed "anti-Semitic pressures". "It?s regretful to see Israeli organisations that harm us, and it's more regretful to see Airbnb surrendering to these pressures -- anti-Semitic pressures that harm the Jewish sector," he said, referring to the group that worked with HRW. The Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Kramim, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, seen on August 29, 2018 Global stocks plunged Tuesday as a sharp downward trend in the technology sector hit valuations hard and the Dow gave up all its gains for the year. In Europe and Asia, there was much talk about the surprise arrest of Carlos Ghosn, boss of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, and stocks in the three companies plunged, while Wall Street suffered a second big decline. Analysts at Capital Economics forecast the tech sector would continue to underperform in the coming quarters because of expected economic weakness in both the United States and China. "Given the highly-cyclical nature of the IT sector, we have been arguing for a while that growth in its earnings would be hit especially hard in these circumstances," they said. In New York, the Dow shed more than 550 points or 2.2 percent to 24,465.54. The S&P 500 also slid into the red for the year, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index clung to a modest gain for all of 2018. "Today was again a big sell-off," said JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade. "Investors are repricing stocks." Besides technology, US sectors with bruising declines included petroleum, following a big dip in oil prices, and retail, after a series of mixed earnings reports just ahead of the key holiday shopping season. Analysts have blamed the weakness on worries about slowing global growth exacerbated by a series of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes and the burgeoning US-China trade dispute. Some market watchers have said the fall has been exacerbated by light trading volumes this week ahead of Thursday's Thanksgiving holidays when markets will be closed. President Donald Trump reentered the central bank fray on Tuesday, calling on the Fed to lower interest rates. "We have much more of a Fed problem than a problem with anyone else," Trump told reporters, the latest sign of the US president's indifference to criticism that his comments on monetary policy help undermine central bank independence. - Ghosn weighs on automakers - In Asia, Nissan lost 5.5 percent and Mitsubishi sank 6.9 percent as they prepared to sack Ghosn after it emerged he had been taken into custody as detectives looked into claims he underreported his income for years. Ghosn has long been a major player in the car industry and is credited with resurrecting the once-troubled Nissan, which he allied with Mitsubishi and France's Renault. He heads the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance and serves as CEO of Renault. Renault said Tuesday Ghosn would remain chief executive despite his arrest. But the French company appointed Chief Operating Officer Thierry Bollore as deputy CEO to ensure day-to-day management while Ghosn is "temporarily incapacitated." Renault's share price closed 1.2 percent lower, extending Monday's eight percent dive. "The market doesn't consider the share's fall to be a buying opportunity," said Cedric Besson, a portfolio manager at Gaspal Gestion. Shares in Deutsche Bank dropped nearly five percent in Frankfurt amid fears that the German banking giant is being drawn into a money laundering scandal dogging Danish peer Danske Bank, dealers said. Investors suspect that a former high-ranking Danske Bank manager meant Deutsche Bank when he told a parliamentary commission in Copenhagen that nearly $150 billion of doubtful transactions had been handled by the US subsidiary of "a big European bank". - Key figures around 2200 GMT - New York - Dow: DOWN 2.2 percent at 24,465.64 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN 1.8 percent at 2,641.89 (close) New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 1.7 percent at 6,908.82 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.8 percent at 6,947.92 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 1.6 percent at 11,066.41 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.2 percent at 4,924.89 (close) EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.4 percent at 3,116.07 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.1 percent at 21,583.12 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 2.0 percent at 25,840.34 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.1 percent at 2,645.85 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1370 from $1.1454 at 2200 GMT Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2787 from $1.2854 Dollar/yen: UP at 112.75 yen from 112.55 yen Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN $4.24 at $62.55 per barrel Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN $3.77 at $53.43 per barrel burs-jmb/dg Worries about demand for Apple handsets are weighing on tech stocks The arrest of Carlos Ghosn, who is credited with rescuing Nissan, sent shares in the firm plunging with Mitsubishi in Tokyo Australia's conservative government announced Wednesday it would reject a UN migration pact already denounced by the United States and several European countries. Adopting the pact "would risk encouraging illegal entry to Australia and reverse... hard-won successes in combating the people-smuggling trade", Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a joint statement with his home and foreign ministers. Morrison was an architect of Australia's hardline policy of detaining asylum-seekers trying to reach the country by boat on remote Pacific islands. The policy choked off what had been an active people-smuggling trade that saw hundreds of people die at sea trying to reach Australia. But hundreds of people have since been held for years in Papua New Guinea and Nauru under the program, which has been harshly criticised as inhumane by the United Nations and human-rights groups. "We believe that the compact is inconsistent with our well-established policies and not in Australia's interest," the ministers said. They added the pact "would also be used by those who have sought to undermine Australia's strong border-protection laws and practices" in a jab at opposition parties which have been escalating calls for refugees to be released from Nauru and PNG's Manus Island. The UN Global Compact for Migration was agreed in July after 18 months of negotiations and is due to be adopted next month. It lays out 23 objectives to open up legal migration and better manage migratory flows as the number of people on the move worldwide has increased to 250 million -- three percent of the world's population. The pact has already been rejected by the US administration of Donald Trump and conservative governments in Poland, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Morrison's minority government has been highlighting the issue of immigration as it prepares for national elections due by next May. Opinion polls show his conservative coalition trailing well behind the main opposition Labor Party. Earlier this week Morrison announced he would also seek to slash legal migration into Australia, from the current official cap of 190,000 per year to around 160,000. He said the cut was needed to counter worsening congestion in the nation's main cities. Hundreds of people have been held for years in Papua New Guinea and Nauru under Australia's hardline policy of detaining asylum-seekers trying to reach the country by boat Award-winning Bangladeshi photographer and activist Shahidul Alam was released from prison Tuesday after more than 100 days behind bars, in a closely watched freedom of speech case. The 63-year-old Alam was arrested on August 5 for making "false" and "provocative" statements on Al Jazeera television and Facebook during student protests. He was freed from Dhaka's main jail Tuesday after being granted bail last week. Alam told AFP he hoped his release would "signal freedom for many others" also detained during the massive student demonstrations. "It is a fantastic feeling to be free in a free country, breathing free air. But I hope for freedom for everyone else," he said. He was held under controversial internet laws which critics say have been wielded by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stifle dissent and harass journalists. Alam spoke briefly to reporters after he came out of prison to describe conditions inside jail, Alam's close associate Rezaur Rahman told AFP. The photographer had previously said he was badly beaten while in custody. Although Alam was granted bail on Thursday last week, he had to wait another five days to be set free as the prosecution moved to appeal against the bail order. He had earlier applied unsuccessfully for bail four times. - Mass rallies - Alam, whose work has appeared widely in global media and who founded the renowned Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, faces a maximum 14 years in jail if convicted. His lawyers have argued that Alam's detention was "a clear violation" of his fundamental rights under Bangladesh's constitution. The photographer's arrest triggered international protests -- with rights groups, Nobel laureates and academics calling for his release -- and followed a series of mass rallies this summer after two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus. The massive protests evolved into broader demonstrations against Hasina, who will seek a third consecutive term next month, and her Awami League party. Alam told Al Jazeera at the time that the protests were the result of pent-up anger at corruption and an "unelected government... clinging on by brute force". He was arrested the same day, with many other protesters held on similar charges as authorities cracked down on demonstrators. In reaction to Alam's release, Amnesty International said Tuesday Bangladesh authorities must immediately drop charges against him and "uphold its international commitments to protect the right to freedom of expression". "Shahidul Alam is a bold representation of Bangladesh through his lens. He should not have been detained at the first place," said Saad Hammadi, Amnesty International's Regional Campaigner for South Asia. Human Rights Watch accused Bangladesh of targeting activists and journalists in the wake of the protests instead of prosecuting those who attacked students with fists and rods. Michelle Bachelet used her first statement as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to raise the issue of attacks on journalists in Bangladesh. In recent weeks, Hasina has been accused of stifling dissent further by ratifying a controversial new digital-security law. And a prominent critic of the government was arrested for defamation last month, days after he helped form an opposition coalition. Activist and photographer Shahidul Alam, seen here in August 2018, has been freed from prison in Dhaka after four previously unsuccessful bail applications Huge metal or concrete barricades and walls of concertina wire went up Monday on both sides of a bustling US-Mexico border crossing as a caravan of US-bound Central American migrants pours into Tijuana, the last stop before California. US authorities went so far as to briefly close the San Ysidro Port of Entry altogether -- it is one of the busiest land border crossings in the world -- as the new barriers were set up, triggering total gridlock for vehicles and pedestrians going from Tijuana across into San Diego. "It was as if time stopped. Nothing is moving. Neither cars, nor people, nor my business," said Armando Lopez, who sells newspapers, cigarettes and candy on the Mexican side. US Customs and Border Protection "suspended operations to safely place impediments at the port of entry that would restrict access to a large group attempting to run through the border crossing," the agency said in a statement, referring to the migrant caravan. President Donald Trump has characterized the caravan's journey as an invasion, making it a central plank of his anti-immigrant platform. The thousands-strong group set out more than a month ago from Honduras, fleeing poverty and gang violence and sometimes forcing its way across borders as the migrants head toward the US. Some 3,500 migrants have arrived so far in Tijuana and another 3,000 are expected to start flowing in as of Tuesday. Most of those making the trek are Hondurans. The big question is whether, once they are all together, they will try to cross over as they did from Guatemala into Mexico -- by force -- or opt instead for the long and tedious process of requesting asylum in the US. - Economy in danger - After putting the new barriers in place at the border crossing, the authorities reopened it partially to northbound traffic. On the Mexican side, too, metal barricades and concertina wire were put up. Federal police and soldiers patrolled the area. "I am OK with these defenses," said Arturo Gonzalez, a 35-year-old American who was losing his patience as he sat in his black pickup truck waiting to get into California. He works as a janitor in a school in the US but lives in Mexico because the rent is cheaper here. "Because of those Hondurans, we are paying the price. They should be thrown out," Gonzalez said. Walking swiftly through the pedestrian conduit toward California, Ana Maria Gutierrez, who is Mexican, was in a hurry to get to her job as a nurse in a psychiatric facility in San Diego. "They do not realize the impact of closing the border," she told AFP. "It is not just the economy that is in danger of dying out. We are talking about the lives of people and families," Gutierrez said before showing her papers to the US border authorities and entering California. - "Bad hombres" - Mexico and the United States share a border that stretches along more than 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) of desert and is crossed by undocumented travelers, drugs and weapons. But a million people also cross over legally each day, while trade across the frontier totals a million dollars a minute, according to government figures. At the San Ysidro port alone, 70,000 vehicles make their way into California each day, as do 15,000 students and 25,000 workers. Trump has sent about 5,800 troops to the border to forestall the arrival of the caravan. During the campaign leading to his election in 2016 he referred to Mexican migrants crossing over as rapists and "bad hombres." Trump has also issued a new order under which people who do not cross at official points of entry can no longer apply for asylum. This was challenged in court and a judge Monday night temporarily barred the Trump administration from enacting the ban. At another border crossing, between Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, US soldiers have also set up many reels of concertina wire. Amelia Prados, a Mexican who works in a bank in Tijuana, said the migrants were simply seeking to escape violence and find a better life. "The United States is defending itself from a danger that does not exist," she said. Big metal barricades were installed by Mexican police on their side of the border crossing leading to San Diego, California as a migrant caravan pours into Tijuana A man walks by concertina set up by US authorities on the border with Mexico A US border control agent patrols the new barriers set up as a migrant caravan pours into Tijuana on the other side of the frontier Boko Haram jihadists have killed 53 soldiers and farmers in three days of attacks in northeastern Nigeria, security sources said Tuesday, in a new show of force ahead of February elections in the West African country. Despite the government's insistence that Boko Haram is near defeat, the group has recently carried out a string of major attacks on military and civilian targets. President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking re-election in February, faces widespread criticism over his security record as soldiers based in the northeast regularly complain of fatigue and insufficient supplies of food and arms. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram splinter group, killed at least 44 soldiers in attacks on three military bases at the weekend, according to security sources. Of those, at least 43 were killed on Sunday in Metele, a remote village near the border with Niger, according to a military officer who requested anonymity. "Our troops were completely routed and the terrorists captured the base after heavy fighting," he told AFP, adding that the base commander and three officers were among the dead. A search was under way for survivors or further victims in the surrounding bush, he said. A pro-government militiaman said the jihadists arrived on around 20 trucks and army air support did not arrive until after they had "invaded the base and looted the weapons". The same day, jihadists also launched a pre-dawn attack on a base in the town of Gajiram, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri. Fighting lasted several hours, local residents told AFP. And a soldier was killed in an attack Saturday on a base in Mainok, also in Borno state, the cradle of the Boko Haram movement, security sources said. - Villages also attacked - ISWAP asserted responsibility for the attacks in Metele and Mainok, claiming to have killed at least 42 soldiers in addition to carting away four tanks and other vehicles, according to the SITE Intelligence monitoring group. In addition, Monday saw the latest in a string of attacks on villages, usually carried out to pillage food and abduct civilians used as fighters or forced to marry jihadists. The jihadists have accused farmers and loggers of passing information to the military. Armed with guns and machetes, jihadists killed nine farmers and abducted 12 others in the Mammanti village in Borno state, locals told AFP on Tuesday. The jihadists came on bicycles, said Usman Kaka, a farmer who escaped. "They just opened fire on us and continued to fire as we fled," Kaka said. Village chief Muhammad Mammanti said the assailants had hacked "three people who resisted being abducted". Also on Monday, seven women were snatched while working in fields near the city of Bama, according to militiamen fighting alongside army soldiers. In an attack on Mammanti last week, jihadists stole hundreds of heads of cattle. The surge in attacks on military targets suggests that hardliners within ISWAP have taken the upper hand after internal divisions, observers say. More than 27,000 people have died since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2009, and 1.8 million remain homeless. Nigeria soldiers in the northeast regularly complain of insufficient supplies of food and arms in the fight against Boko Haram More than 27,000 people have died since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2009, and 1.8 million remain homeless British Prime Minister Theresa May gathers her new-look cabinet Tuesday, facing some relief from party plotting over Brexit but under fresh pressure from her Northern Irish allies. The Conservative leader holds her first cabinet meeting since two ministers quit last week over the divorce deal with the European Union, raising fears the government might collapse. Eurosceptic members of May's divided party seized the moment to launch a leadership challenge, but days later, have yet to muster the support needed for a no confidence vote. Many MPs still oppose the Brexit deal, however, including the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up May's government -- and which late Monday used a budget vote to flex its muscles. The Northern Irish party abstained on three votes, despite their deal to support the Conservatives on finance matters, and even sided with the opposition Labour party on a fourth. "We had to do something to show our displeasure," DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson told the BBC. Without the support of the DUP's 10 MPs, the Conservatives have no majority in the Commons, the 650-seat parliamentary chamber which will have the final vote on the Brexit deal. This raises the risk that Britain ends its four-decade membership with the EU on March 29, 2019, with no other arrangement in place. Labour minister John Trickett said: "We no longer have a functioning government. With Brexit only a few months away, something has got to give." - Broken promises - In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, Justice Minister David Gauke sought to reassure the DUP, saying the Brexit deal was "the best option for us" and delivered on the 2016 EU referendum. "I hope that the DUP and the others will look at the details of the deal and see this is the right way forward for the country, given the damage that would be done to us as a country were we not to have a deal, or were we to find that the referendum result couldn't be delivered," he said. The deal agreed with the EU last week covers Britain's financial settlement, expatriate citizens' rights, and a 21-month post-Brexit transition period in which the two sides hope to agree a new trading relationship. But the DUP and many Conservatives are outraged by the "backstop" plan that would keep Britain in the EU's customs union, and Northern Ireland in elements of the single market, if this trade deal is not ready by then. This is intended as an insurance plan to keep the border open between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland if and until the new trade arrangements resolve the issue. Wilson said the DUP's defiance was "designed to send a message to the government: 'Look, we have got an agreement with you but you have got to keep your side of the bargain otherwise we don't feel obliged to keep ours'. "She (May) has broken all of those promises -- to the people of the United Kingdom, to her own party and to the people of Northern Ireland." Talks are still continuing in Brussels over an outline agreement on future trade ties, which will be presented to MPs alongside the divorce package, likely early next month. May herself is preparing to head to Brussels this week for talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. She will then return on Sunday alongside the other 27 EU leaders to sign off the Brexit deal. British Prime Minister Theresa May holds her first cabinet meeting since two ministers quit last week over the divorce deal with the European Union, raising fears the government might collapse Interpol named South Korea's Kim Jong-yang as its new president on Wednesday, in a blow to Russia which denounced "unprecedented pressure" against its own candidate to lead the global policing body. There had been growing Western calls for Interpol to reject Alexander Prokopchuk -- a Russian interior ministry official and current Interpol vice president -- over fears Moscow could abuse the role to target political opponents. US-backed Kim, Interpol's acting president, was picked at a meeting of delegates from member nations in Dubai to replace Meng Hongwei, who went missing in his native China in September. Beijing later said Meng resigned after being charged with accepting bribes. The Kremlin expressed dismay that Prokopchuk, who had been seen as the frontrunner, was beaten. "The election took place in the atmosphere of unprecedented pressure and interference in these elections," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. The meeting was Interpol's largest to date with 180 member states present, its secretary general Jurgen Stock said. Describing the agency as "neutral and independent", he said a breakdown of the secret ballot would not be made public. Kim's election was "democratic, transparent, free and clear," Stock said at a Dubai press conference. - 'Unprecedented changes' - On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threw his weight behind Kim, who will serve out Meng's term until 2020. "We encourage all nations and organisations that are part of Interpol and that respect the rule of law to choose a leader with integrity. We believe Mr. Kim will be just that," Pompeo told reporters. Critics have raised concerns over Russia's previous applications for Interpol "Red Notices", or international arrest warrants, to target those who have fallen foul of the Kremlin. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed the vote's "excellent" outcome. "Very important news for rule of law internationally and encouraging that in a secret ballot this was so widely recognised," he wrote on Twitter. Interpol's president chairs its General Assembly while day-to-day operations are handled by Stock. In remarks posted on Interpol's official Twitter account, Kim said after his election: "Our world is now facing unprecedented changes which present huge challenges to public security and safety. "To overcome them, we need a clear vision: we need to build a bridge to the future." - 'Political persecution' - In an open letter this week, a bipartisan group of US senators said choosing Prokopchuk would be like "putting a fox in charge of a henhouse". "Russia routinely abuses Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists," they wrote. Russian spokesman Peskov dismissed the US senators' letter as a "vivid example" of an attempt to interfere in the vote. Anti-Kremlin figures had also raised concerns, including Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who has been repeatedly jailed by authorities. "Our team has suffered from abuse of Interpol for political persecution by Russia," Navalny wrote on Twitter. "I don't think that a president from Russia will help to reduce such violations." The controversy comes amid security concerns over accusations of Russian agents attempting to poison an ex-spy in Britain and trying to hack the network of the global chemical weapons watchdog. Ukraine, deeply at odds with Moscow over its annexation of Crimea and support for separatists, threatened to pull out of Interpol if Prokopchuk prevailed. Lithuania also said it would consider withdrawing from the network. The Ukrainian foreign ministry welcomed Kim's selection, saying it had campaigned not to allow Moscow to use Interpol to help Russian special services on foreign soil. "This battle is won," Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov tweeted. Two foes of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who have been targeted by international arrest warrants sought by Moscow, said Tuesday they were launching a bid to get Russia suspended from Interpol for abusing the agency. The legal challenge was announced by financier Bill Browder, named in multiple Interpol warrants, and Mikhail Khodorkovsky -- a former oil baron who spent 10 years in a Russian jail and now lives in exile in London. "The Interpol constitution has very specific rules which forbid countries who are serial abusers from using the system," Browder told reporters. Briefly arrested in Spain this year under a Moscow-issued Red Notice, Browder said the Russian candidacy was an attempt by Putin to "expand his criminal tentacles to every corner of the globe". Kim Jong-yang at the Interpol General Assembly in Dubai Past presidents of Interpol, the international network of police forces Jurgen Stock, secretary general of Interpol, said the agency remains "neutral and independent" Interpol vice president Alexander Prokopchuk (L) had been seen as the favourite to take over from Meng Hongwei of China A whistleblower who uncovered a massive alleged money laundering scheme at Danske Bank's Estonian branch told a Danish parliamentary commission Monday that he had notified his superiors four times about suspicious transactions but no action was ever taken. "It's fundamentally unclear to me ... why the executive board didn't take action," Howard Wilkinson, the British former head of the lender's market business in the Baltics, told parliament's Business, Growth and Export Committee. More than 1.5 trillion Danish kroner (201 billion euros, $235 billion) transited through the Estonian subsidiary of Danske Bank between 2007 and 2015, according to an outside law firm that carried out a probe for Denmark's largest lender. Danske Bank has said it is impossible to say how much of the gigantic sum was dirty money, but has admitted that many of the suspicious transactions could be "criminal". Of the around 15,000 accounts under investigation -- which Danske Bank closed in 2015 -- 6,200 are considered suspicious and most of them have been brought to the attention of the authorities. The bank has been unable to specify exactly where the money came from. It has said 23 percent of the incoming funds were from Russia. In his whistleblower report, Wilkinson, who was head of Danske Markets in the Baltic from 2007 until his resignation in 2014, described how the Estonian branch handled customers associated with top Russian politicians and companies based in Denmark. "We're not only talking about dirty money going through Danske in Estonia, there are two other Danske units involved, Lithuania and Denmark," Wilkinson told the committee. "The money moved from left to right and no one really knows where all of this money really went." - Ignored warnings - The bank was warned for the first time in 2007, but it only began to address the problems in 2013, when Wilkinson wrote a report to Danske Bank management to address the problems. Wilkinson on Monday compared whistleblowers to smoke detectors. At Danske Bank, "the smoke detector went off four times, there was a huge fire. The smoke was filling all the corridors. Not only did the bank ignore the smoke detector, but the bank actively tried to switch the smoke detector off." He called for a "formal investigation (into) how (Denmark's) Financial Supervisory Authority regulated Danske Bank in relation to Estonia from 2007." Also speaking before parliament, the bank's interim chief executive, Jesper Nielsen, acknowledged there had been a "lack of focus and understanding about the scope of the problem". But he reiterated the bank's position that there was nothing to indicate that Danske employees had been involved in any wrongdoing. Wilkinson said he knew more details but was prevented from telling all because of a confidentiality agreement he signed with the bank. He said he feared for his own well-being after coming forward. "I'm not here doing any names. Priority one: safety. Priority 2: not being arrested. Priority three: not being sued. Priority 4: telling you what I can." The money laundering allegations are linked to a fraud case exposed by the Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who was jailed in Russia after he revealed the involvement of several high-ranking Russian officials in stealing massive tax payments from several companies, including the investment fund Hermitage Capital. Magnitsky died in 2009 aged 37 after being held in a Russian jail for a year, where he was denied medical care. The Tallinn branch of Denmark's Danske Bank is implicated in a massive alleged money laundering scheme The EU's top competition enforcer said Brussels was taking a closer look at allegations that Google had helped introduce false price comparison sites to answer a historic ruling against the search engine giant. "Oh yes indeed," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told AFP when asked if her teams had noticed the practice, which was first reported by Sky News. "Of course we have seen that because we do the monitoring but also because we have people coming to us," she said. Google's critics allege that the firm gave incentives to advertising agencies to create "fake" price comparison sites that would be displayed in the Google Shopping box. The shopping box, regularly displayed at the top of search results, is the centrepiece of Google's response to a then record-breaking 2.4 billion euro fine by the European Commission for anti-competitive practices. Google's search results are prized internet real estate with the US giant controlling roughly 90 percent of the search market in Europe, according to EU data. The fine came after seven years of investigation launched by complaints from other price-comparison services that lost 90 percent of traffic against Google Shopping, according to the European Commission. The web giant is appealing the fine. To avoid further sanctions, Google was ordered to give rival shopping services the same opportunity to show ads in search results as it gives its own Google Shopping. If the remedy is found non-compliant, Google could be liable for additional payments of up to 5 percent of the average daily worldwide turnover of Alphabet, Google's parent company. Vestager said it appeared that these sites were being misidentified. "These are (advertising) agencies" creating the sites, "they are not doing shopping comparison," Vestager said. "Advertising is their main mission in their business life and now they are here, so what is this?," she asked. "Of course we are following up with Google to say well shopping comparison is shopping comparison and it is not advertising as such," she said. Google's many critics call the sites fake because they are not intended for customers to compare and shop, but are thinly-veiled ads and often malfunction when visited. Google did not respond to a request for comment. The fine over Google Shopping broke the previous European Union record for a monopoly case and made the EU the global leader in regulating Silicon Valley giants. But the record was later surpassed by a 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) penalty also against Google for illegally abusing the dominance of its Android operating system for mobile devices. Google's search results are prized internet real estate with the US giant controlling roughly 90 percent of the search market in Europe, according to EU data NASA said on Monday that the landing site for its much-anticipated Mars 2020 rover mission has the potential to revolutionize how we think about Mars and its ability to harbor life. Human need to learn the lesson of the extinction of the dinosaurs and develop a Plan B by colonising Mars, a theoretical physicist has warned. Michio Kaku says that 99.9% of all life forms disappear off the face of the Earth, and that unless humans move to Mars, that could include us. Kaku said, The dinosaurs did not have a space program, and thats why they are not here today to talk about it. MORE: Argentine submarine found in Atlantic a year after going missing with 44 crew on board MORE: Woman claims airport valet drove her car 500 miles then got her a parking ticket Extinction is the norm, he told ABC news, We think of Mother Nature as being warm and cuddly, which is partly true. But nature is merciless when it comes to wiping out inefficient life forms. The theoretical physicist suggests that people could colonise Mars by deliberately starting a greenhouse effect there to make it warm enough to live on the planet. Kaku said, Once you can raise the temperature of Mars by six degrees, it takes off all by itself. All of a sudden you get a runaway greenhouse effect, and Mars basically terraforms itself. This week, Elon Musks famous Red Tesla roadster, launched into space by a Space X rocket, passed the orbit of Mars, according to a Tweet from Space X. Several competing missions aim to put the first explorers on the Red Planet, with Dutch company Mars One having recruited 1,000 volunteers for a future mission. In 2015, NASA outlined a plan to land humans on the surface of Mars by 2030. Former Macedonian premier Nikola Gruevski -- who fled to Budapest after being sentenced to jail for abuse of power -- said Tuesday that he has been granted asylum by Hungary. Hungary, a member of both EU and NATO, "today accepted my request to be given political asylum over political persecution" in Macedonia, Gruevski, who is close to Orban, wrote on his Facebook account, a week after fleeing to the Hungarian capital. Earlier, a Hungarian daily close to Orban, Magyar Idok, had said that Gruevski had been given asylum, but neither the government nor the Immigration and Asylum Office had confirmed the information. Gruevski -- who has said he received death threats in Macedonia -- wrote on Facebook that the government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev "wanted to rob me of my freedom by using non-democratic steps and methods and misusing prosecuting and judicial systems." Skopje had issued an international warrant for his arrest after he failed to show up for his two-year jail term. According to Magyar Idok, Hungary's Immigration and Asylum Office had decided that Gruevski met the legal conditions for recognition as a refugee. "The body considers Gruevski's fears that his life would be in danger in his homeland to be plausible," the newspaper wrote. It was via Facebook that 48-year-old Gruevski -- who was prime minister of the Balkan country between 2006 and 2016 -- announced last week that he had fled to the Hungarian capital. "I am now in Budapest, where I have requested political asylum from the Hungarian authorities," he wrote at the time. Calling on Budapest not to grant his request, Macedonian premier Zoran Zaev had urged Hungary to "respect international practice, international law" and not provide "a refuge shelter for criminals". But Budapest had said Gruevski's long tenure as premier justified "special treatment". "The Immigration Office concluded that if Gruevski returned home, his political past and stance, as well as accusations made against him by the new government, could make him subject to official persecution," the daily Magyar Idok said. Budapest has denied that it helped Gruevski escape from Macedonia although police in both Albania and Montenegro say Hungarian diplomats helped drive him to Serbia on his way to Hungary. Gruevski's diplomatic and personal passports had been seized by the Macedonian authorities. Gruevski reached Hungary only using his personal identity document and was allowed a one-time entry, said Magyar Idok. Orban's ruling party Fidesz has said that Gruevski was "persecuted and threatened by a left-wing government, which clearly has the support of George Soros". Both Gruevski and Orban have accused the Hungarian-US billionaire of stoking illegal immigration, claims that Soros denies. Gruevski claims he received death threats in Macedonia The first member of the "Bali Nine" heroin-trafficking gang to be released from prison is expected to leave jail on Wednesday after serving 13 years, in a case that caused a huge diplomatic rift between Indonesia and Australia. Renae Lawrence, 41, the only female member of the group, was arrested in 2005 when authorities caught her with 2.6 kilogrammes (5.7 pounds) of heroin strapped to her body as she tried to fly out of the international airport on the holiday island of Bali. She was initially handed a life term, but her sentence was later reduced to 20 years and then further cut due to good behaviour. It was not immediately clear what time she would be released from Bali's Bangli prison, but officials said she may be freed around midday (0400 GMT). "Renae Lawrence is in a healthy condition. She seems to be happy, but also a bit nervous," head of Bangli prison Made Suwendra told AFP. It is likely that Lawrence will be deported shortly after her release. The Australian Police Commissioner for the state of New South Wales, Mick Fuller, told The Australian newspaper there were two outstanding arrest warrants for Lawrence and that they will speak to her when she returns to the country. Reports in Australian media said Lawrence could face arrest once she is back home over a high-speed chase involving a stolen vehicle dating back to just before she was arrested in Indonesia. Of the nine in the original group, ringleaders Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were executed by firing squad in 2015, sparking a diplomatic row between Australia and Indonesia, which has some of the world's strictest drug laws including the death penalty. Another member, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died in prison in June from stomach cancer, while the remaining five are currently serving life sentences. Some critics have lashed out at the Australian police for tipping off their Indonesian counterparts about the gang and putting its members at risk of execution in Indonesia. High-profile cases like that of Australian Schapelle Corby, who spent more than nine years behind bars for smuggling marijuana into Bali, have stoked concern that Indonesia is becoming a destination for trafficked drugs. Corby was deported in 2017 after several years of parole. Convicted Australian drug smuggler Renae Lawrence (L), seen here in August 2010, is set to be released from Bali's Bangli prison The group of Australians imprisoned in Indonesia for drug smuggling in 2005, known as the "Bali Nine" Any rapprochement between North and South Korea must move forward "in tandem" with efforts to denuclearize the peninsula, and cannot come sooner, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday. The State Department's point man on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, met Tuesday in Washington with South Korea's special representative for peace and security on the peninsula, Lee Do-hoon, to "further strengthen our close coordination," Pompeo told reporters. Washington and Seoul have launched a working group to "make sure that we don't talk past each other," the secretary of state noted. The talks in the US capital came as Seoul and Pyongyang appear to be moving ahead with their rapprochement more quickly than the Americans and North Koreans are making headway on disarming Kim Jong Un's regime. "We have made clear to the Republic of Korea that we want to make sure that peace on the peninsula and the denuclearization of North Korea aren't lagging behind the increase in the amount of inner relationship between the two Koreas," Pompeo said. "We view them as tandem, as moving forward together. We view them as important parallel processes, and that working group is designed to make sure they continue to remain that way." Since the historic summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, talks on denuclearization have stalled, with meetings either deemed unproductive, pushed back or cancelled altogether. A second leaders' summit is expected to take place in early 2019, according to Washington. But so far, North Korea has taken few concrete steps to abandon its nuclear weapons, and the two sides have sparred over the meaning of a vaguely worded document signed by Kim and Trump on denuclearization of the peninsula. At the same time, North and South Korea have made multiple symbolic gestures and concrete decisions on reconciliation. After three summits with South Korean leader Moon Jae-in this year, Kim is expected to make a landmark visit to Seoul, though it appears that the meeting may not take place this year as initially planned by both sides. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that North-South reconciliation on the Korean peninsula must not outpace US efforts on denuclearization At least 50 people were killed in a suicide attack on a religious celebration in Kabul on Tuesday, officials said, in one of the deadliest assaults to strike Afghanistan this year. It follows a wave of bloody violence across the war-torn country in recent weeks that has killed hundreds of people as militants step up assaults amid a flurry of diplomatic efforts to end the 17-year conflict. At least 72 people were wounded in the blast, health ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said, which targeted religious scholars and leaders inside a wedding hall where hundreds had gathered to mark the Prophet Mohammad's birthday -- one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar. Religious studies lecturer Mohammad Hanif said verses of the Koran were being recited when there was a deafening explosion followed by "chaos" inside the packed hall. "More than 60 or 70 people were martyred," Hanif, 31, told AFP outside a trauma facility run by Italian NGO Emergency. He escaped unhurt. "They suffered burns, everyone in the halls was screaming for help." A photo posted on WhatsApp purportedly of the function room showed blood-splattered bodies, some with clothes partially ripped off by the force of the blast, overturned chairs and broken glass strewn over the floor. President Ashraf Ghani declared Wednesday a national day of mourning for the victims of the attack, which he described in a statement as an "unforgivable crime". A manager of the multi-storey Uranus Wedding Palace, which also hosts political and religious functions, told AFP the suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the gathering of around 1,000 people. "There are a lot of casualties -- I myself have counted 30 casualties," he told AFP on condition of anonymity. The aid organisation Emergency said on Twitter 33 wounded and seven dead had been taken to its hospital in Kabul. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but the Islamic State group has claimed most recent suicide attacks in Kabul, which has become the most dangerous place in the country for civilians. The Taliban condemned the attack in a WhatsApp message. - More bloodshed - It was the bloodiest assault in the Afghan capital since a twin bomb attack on a wrestling club in September that killed at least 26 people, and one of the deadliest in the country this year. A suicide attack on Afghans protesting the appointment of a local police chief in the eastern province of Nangarhar in September killed at least 68 people and wounded another 165. No group claimed that explosion. In January an ambulance packed with explosives detonated in a crowded street in the heart of Kabul, killing more than 100 people, mostly civilians. The attack was claimed by the Taliban. Last month's parliamentary elections sparked a wave of deadly violence across the country, with hundreds killed or wounded in poll-related attacks. It is not the first time religious scholars have been targeted by militants in the Islamic country. In June a suicide bomber struck near a gathering of clerics in Kabul, about an hour after the group had proclaimed such attacks a sin. The latest attack comes as the Taliban intensifies pressure on Afghan security forces, even as the international community ramps up efforts to convince the group to engage in peace talks. US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed hopes in Kabul on Sunday that a peace deal to end the war could be struck before the Afghan presidential election, scheduled for April. His comments underscore an apparent increasing sense of urgency in the White House and among American diplomats for a peace deal to be done quickly. Relatives of blast victims gather outside a hospital of Italian NGO Emergency in Kabul following a suicide attack at a meeting of top clerics in the Afghan capital Last month's parliamentary elections sparked a wave of deadly violence across the country Map locating Kabul where at least 40 people were killed in an explosion at a meeting of top clerics on Tuesday. Kabul has become the most dangerous place in the country for civilians Cyprus has welcomed home a rare sixth-century Christian mosaic from the Byzantine period four decades after it was looted from a church in the island's Turkish-held north, Cypriot authorities said Tuesday. "The mosaic of Apostle Mark? has been repatriated to Cyprus from the Netherlands," Cyprus's antiquities department said in a statement. "This is very important for Cyprus because we have so few mosaics from this period and indeed the world has very few examples of this Byzantine art form," Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, the antiquities department head, told AFP. The mosaic was stolen from the church of Panayia Kanakaria in northern Cyprus following the Turkish invasion in 1974. It was one of several icons looted from the church during this time. "The walled mosaics of Panayia Kanakaria, dating back to the sixth century AD, are highly important works of art and among the few remaining early Christian mosaics in the world," the antiquities department said. Dutch art investigator Arthur Brand tracked down the mosaic in Monaco after a nearly two-year chase across Europe. It was handed over to the antiquities department and the Church of Cyprus during a private ceremony Sunday in The Hague. It is to go on display to the public at the Byzantium Museum in the capital Nicosia. The return "shows we can successfully repatriate stolen treasures... There are other missing pieces we will seek to repatriate when information on their whereabouts comes to light," said Solomidou-Ieronymidou. Dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" because of his exploits to recover stolen works, Brand won world fame in 2015 after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are known as "Hitler's Horses". He told AFP the Cypriot mosaic depicting the Byzantine saint had been "in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago". "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 Cyprus in exchange for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, Brand said, adding that the relic was worth five to 10 million euros ($5.7 to $11.4 million). The mosaic, believed to have been made around 550 AD, was one of many that adorned the walls of Panayia Kanakaria church, northwest of the capital. According to the antiquities department, it was "violently detached and stolen from the church, between 1977-79 by the Turkish looter and art dealer Aydin Dikmen" along with other mosaics. 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 poses with the missing mosaic of St Mark in The Hague on November 17, 2018, before handing it back to Cypriot authorities The 17-year-old driver who survived a terrifying crash at the Macau Grand Prix was recovering on Tuesday after a "frightening" spinal operation which took hours longer than expected and was fraught with the risk of paralysis. Germany's Sophia Floersch, whose Formula Three car was catapulted airborne over safety barriers and into a hut during Sunday's race, needed a bone graft from her hip to fix a spinal fracture. Doctors said the Van Amersfoort Racing driver spent seven hours in surgery on Monday, much longer than the expected four to five hours, because of the bone graft and the need to set up neurological monitoring. Clinical director Lei Wai-seng told reporters that Floersch can move her limbs freely but is expected to remain in Macau's Conde S. Januario Hospital for one or two weeks. He added that Japanese racer Sho Tsuboi, who was apparently protected by his safety arc or halo when Floersch's car hurtled into him, had been discharged, along with a photographer. Another photographer, who suffered a lacerated liver, and a marshal with a broken jaw remain under observation, Lei said. After a collision near the end of a high-speed straight, Floersch's machine bounced off a kerb, clipping the top Tsuboi's TOM's Racing car and flying backwards into a hut housing media and officials. Team principle Frits Van Amersfoort told Motorsport.com that he received a picture of a smiling Floersch after the operation. "The operation was frightening because it is known as a risky operation. She will have to stay there for a while, but let's hope we see her again soon where she belongs: in a racing car," he said. He also described his panic immediately after the crash on Sunday, as the team tried in vain to get updates on the young driver's condition. "The worst thing was the twenty minutes in which we did not know anything, I will not forget that my whole life," he said, adding: "(She) had an angel on the shoulder, because it could have been much worse." Three people have died in recent years on the Chinese gambling enclave's tight and hilly street circuit, which has been graced by Formula One greats including Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. British rider Daniel Hegarty died last year after hitting a barrier during the feature motorcycle race. In 2012, Portugal's Luis Carreira and Hong Kong's Phillip Yau were killed within two days of each other during the Macau Grand Prix. Germany's Sophia Floersch, whose Formula Three car was catapulted airborne over safety barriers and into a hut during Sunday's race, needed a bone graft from her hip to fix a spinal fracture Map of Macau locating the area where the car of 17-year-old driver Sophia Floersch flew off the track at the Formula Three race The Federal Government has announced major reforms to paid parental leave, allowing primary carers to stagger how they take their payments rather than all in one go. However, the start date isnt until mid 2020 after the next election. Minister for Women Kelly ODwyer, a mother of young children herself, described reforms to government-funded parental leave as a game-changer. The Federal Government has announced major reforms to paid parental leave, allowing primary carers to stagger how they take their payments. Source: File/Getty Currently, parental leave is taken as an 18-week block, and parents will still be able to do that. Otherwise, you can take a 12-week block in the first year, then the remaining six weeks in the second year can be staggered. It can be taken as one or two days a week, or even whole weeks split up over the year. This is a practical and commonsense move, Ms ODwyer said. Currently, parental leave is taken as an 18-week block, and parents will still be able to do that. Source: 7 News The reforms appear to be popular with mothers. It gives the mothers a choice, its great, one mum said. The payment is the same as the minimum wage, around $720 a week, and separate to any employer-funded scheme. The government says the reform is about flexibility, giving primary carers options as they navigate a return to the workforce. Tuesdays announcement was a pre-election sweetener targeting the family vote. Minister for Women Kelly ODwyer, a mother of young children herself, described reforms to government-funded parental leave as a game-changer. Source: 7 News Other promises in the Womens Economic Security Statement include measures to help domestic violence victims access early superannuation. Its modest, its welcome, but we could do better, Marie Coleman from The National Foundation of Australian Women said. The Opposition says the statement does nothing to reduce the gender pay gap and tackle economic inequality, with Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek calling it an enormous missed opportunity. The mother and aunty of a woman found dead in Perth bushland have pleaded for information to help solve the crime. Kym Taylors remains were found by a member of the public in Bedfordale on Sunday and police are treating her death as a homicide. The people that know what happened to Kym, they need to come forward the hammer is going to fall anyway, her tearful mother Courtney Hill-Aaron told reporters on Tuesday. Police confirmed the identity of the woman on Tuesday. Kym Taylors remains were found by a member of the public in Bedfordale on Sunday and police are treating her death as a homicide. Source: 7News She was a really beautiful, intelligent girl, Ms Hill-Aaron said. She had issues, she had her troubles but she was loved by everyone who knew her. Ms Hill-Aaron said she was numb and hadnt slept since discovering it was her daughter who had been found. Police returned to Canning Dam on Tuesday morning to search the area around where Ms Taylors body was found, The West Australian reports. Her body was found near a dirt track off Canning Dam Road. Ms Hill-Aaron, left (with her sister at right) said she was numb and hadnt slept since discovering it was her daughter who had been found. Source: 7 News WA Police homicide squad Detective Sergeant Steve Cleal said investigations into what happened to Ms Taylor are still in the early stages. We are in the process of establishing how Kym died and the circumstances which led her to be located in that area, he said. Kym was known to reside in the Hamilton Hill area but she lived an itinerant lifestyle and her movements just prior to her death at this stage are not known. The site where Ms Taylors body was located is popular with bushwalkers and campers. Police are asking for people who had seen anything suspicious or had recent dash cam footage of the area to get in touch. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page. A newlywed couple have been put to the test after the groom was struck down with a paralysing illness just days after tying the knot. Adam and Bridget Spoerri, from Wisconsin in the US, married in July and went on honeymoon. During the honeymoon Adam came down with a cold which then turned into a life-altering illness called acute flaccid myelitis or AFM, a polio-like illness that more commonly affects children. Back at home in Wisconsin, Adam started to have trouble swallowing and then breathing, his wife told US news outlet Fox 6 Now. Adam and Bridget Spoerri, from Wisconsin in the US, on their wedding day. Source: GoFundMe/Adam Spoerri He was taken to emergency for assessment, but it was another two months before he was diagnosed with AFM, a rare nervous condition which causes arm and leg weakness and a loss of muscle tone. It can also cause the face or eyelids to droop and difficulty in swallowing or moving the eyes. The Centre for Disease Control estimates that less than one in a million people in the United States will get AFM every year and only a few each year are adults, Adams brother-in-law writes on a GoFundMe page set up to help the newlyweds. Adam was eventually diagnosed with a rare condition called acute flaccid myelitis. Source: Fox6 New He was given a tracheostomy to help him breath more comfortably, but he is still on the ventilator. He is able to communicate by writing on paper, as his wrists and hands were (thankfully!) not affected much by the paralysis. He has been doing daily occupational and physical therapy and has made small gains to get more motion in his arm. The paralysis may or may not improve with physical therapy (A very small percent of people with AFM recover fully). Despite the huge setback to the beginning of their married life, the love these two share is incredible to witness, the family says. Source: GoFundMe/Adam Spoerri Despite the huge setback to the beginning of their married life, the love these two share is incredible to witness, the family says. Bridget hasnt left Adams side and has been sleeping next to him at the hospital every night. Adam has also remained dedicated to Bridget, using his limited hand strength to write Did you get any sleep? and Did you eat yet? and I love you. They have become even more in sync and in love than they were before. The Kremlin on Tuesday denounced "interference" in the election for a new Interpol president after critics including US senators objected to a Russian becoming chief of the global police body. "This is interference in the election process of sorts, in the election to an international organisation," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on a statement from several US senators. "What else can you call it? This is a vivid example." Delegates from Interpol member countries will vote on Wednesday to elect the next president of the France-based body, at a general assembly in Dubai. A growing chorus of critics is calling on Interpol to reject a Russian interior ministry official, Alexander Prokopchuk, to lead the organisation, over fears Moscow could abuse the presidency to target political opponents. Current Interpol vice president Prokopchuk is seen as the favourite for the position. In a statement on Monday, US senators Jeanne Shaheen, Roger Wicker, Chris Coons and Marco Rubio urged members of Interpol's General Assembly to reject Prokopchuk's candidacy. "Interpol electing Major General Alexander Prokopchuk as its new president is akin to putting a fox in charge of a henhouse," they said. "Russia routinely abuses Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists," they added, claiming that Prokopchuk has been "personally involved in this intimidation strategy". The other candidate is South Korea's Kim Jong Yang, who has been acting president since former head Meng Hongwei went missing in his native China last month. Beijing later informed Interpol that Meng had resigned as director after being charged with accepting bribes. Delegates from Interpol member countries will vote to elect the next president of the France-based body, at a general assembly in Dubai Russia warned Tuesday of a split in the world chemical weapons watchdog after Moscow failed to stall the body's new powers to apportion blame for attacks like those in Syria. After a bitter war of words, member states approved the 2019 budget for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which includes funding for the new role. They also shot down a proposal by Russia and China to set up an "expert group" which the West said would have effectively blocked the new powers. In June the Hague-based OPCW approved a British-backed move to allow the body to identify the perpetrators of chemical attacks. Previously it could only confirm whether or not toxic arms had been used. The West pushed through the new blaming powers after a string of chemical incidents in Syria, as well as a nerve agent attack on Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal in the British city of Salisbury in March. "A clear majority against an attempt to wreck the historic June decision," British ambassador to the OPCW Peter Wilson said on Twitter. "An overwhelming result, which clearly says #NoToChemicalWeapons." - 'Serious division' - But Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Georgy Kalamanov warned that there was now a "serious division" in the OPCW between the West and Russia's allies. Asked if Russia would now carry through on hints to stop funding or even pull out of the OPCW, Kalamanov told a press conference in The Hague that Moscow needed to "analyse the situation" but would "prepare a comprehensive response". Russian ambassador Alexander Shulgin said the West was doing "huge damage" by politicising the watchdog, whose original role was to destroy the world's chemical arms stocks. The atmosphere at the OPCW was already toxic after Dutch authorities said in October that they had expelled four Russian spies who were trying to hack into the OPCW's computer system in April. But it descended into open hostility after Russia and its allies introduced their proposals for the meeting, with accusations of hypocrisy and lies flying from both sides. Applause broke out at the meeting after states voted 99 to 27 in favour of the 2019 budget. It was the first time the OPCW had ever voted on the budget, after Russia and Iran, which both oppose the new attribution powers, insisted on a vote. The OPCW also voted 82-30 against Russia's joint plan with China to set up an "open ended" group to scrutinise how the new powers would work. Iran, Syria, Pakistan, South Africa, Palestine and Cuba were among those that backed Russia. France's embassy to the Netherlands hailed the "overwhelming majority." - 'Imposed by an axis' - But Syrian ambassador to the OPCW Bassam Sabbag slammed the "illegality" of the attribution powers, saying they were "imposed by an axis that wants to implement an agenda." OPCW chief Fernando Arias has said he aims to set up a team early next year that could attribute blame for all chemical attacks in Syria since 2013. It will also be allowed to point the finger for attacks elsewhere if asked to by the country where the incident happened. Russia later called a vote on plans to set up a special cybersecurity fund for the OPCW in the wake of the spy scandal -- which it also lost. The alleged Russian agents caught by Dutch intelligence in April used electronic equipment hidden in a car parked outside a nearby hotel, the Netherlands said. At the time the organisation was investigating the attack on Skripal as well as a major chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013, the OPCW was set up by the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention under which almost every country in the world pledged to give up toxic arms. The OPCW says it has overseen the destruction of 96.5 percent of the world's chemical arms stocks. But it has since been dragged into more politically sensitive territory with its investigations in Syria and Salisbury. Member states controversially decided in June to allow the OPCW to attribute blame for attacks for the first time Russian ambassador Alexander Shulgin said the West was doing 'huge damage' by politicising the chemical arms watchdog Spanish lawmakers voted unanimously Tuesday in favour of examining an "historic" bill to probe the "stolen babies" scandal that saw scores of newborns snatched from their parents during and after Francisco Franco's dictatorship. This is the first time that such a bill clears this first parliamentary hurdle, according to Soledad Luque of Coordinadora X24, which groups victims' associations in Spain. "It's the first time in all the years that we've been fighting," she told AFP. "It's historic." The bill has to clear several stages before it can be voted into law. Among the measures it envisages is a nationwide database of all people who may have been affected. It also wants to create a DNA bank of potential victims, and cross-check this with DNA from exhumed remains. Scores of babies were taken from their mothers -- who were told their children had died -- and given to others to adopt during and after Franco's 1939-1975 dictatorial rule Estimates range from hundreds to tens of thousands of victims. Doctors played a major part in the scheme to provide infertile couples -- preferably those close to the regime -- with stolen newborns, often with the help of the Catholic Church. Initially, babies were taken from left-wing opponents of the regime, with the practice later expanded to supposedly illegitimate children and those from poor families. The newborns were meant to be raised by affluent, conservative and devout Roman Catholic families. Even after Spain transitioned to democracy following Franco's death in 1975, the trafficking went on until at least 1987. In October, an elderly Spanish doctor was found guilty of taking a newborn baby from her mother for illegal adoption in 1969 in a landmark trial. He escaped punishment, however, because the court decided Ines Madrigal, the "stolen baby" who is now 49, waited too long to file a complaint. In October 2018, an elderly Spanish doctor was found guilty of taking a newborn baby from her mother for illegal adoption in 1969 in a landmark trial Just a short walk from where smiling Sisto Malaspina spent decades feeding hungry Melburnians, the 74-year-old terror victim is being farewelled at a state funeral. Mourners arrived for a service for the co-owner of Pellegrinis Espresso Bar at East Melbournes St Patricks Cathedral on Tuesday. Family members are among those to pay tribute to Mr Malaspina whose stabbing death prompted an outpouring of grief across Australia. Mr Malaspina was killed and two other men were injured on November 9 when 30-year-old Hassan Khalif Shire Ali drove a burning ute into the city and launched a knife attack. Terror attack victim Sisto Malaspina is being farewelled in a state funeral in Melbourne on Tuesday. Image: AAP Family members are among those paying tribute to Mr Malaspina. Source: AAP Pellegrinis Espresso Bar pays tribute to Sisto by placing a newspaper and his favourite coffee at his usual seat. Image: AAP Police shot Shire Ali who later died in hospital. Since the tragedy, hundreds of cards and bunches of flowers have been left outside Pellegrinis on Bourke Street, while devastated customers queued to sign a book of condolence. Premier Daniel Andrews, who made the offer of a state funeral to his family, said Mr Malaspina was a Victorian icon, known and loved by us all. China has sharply escalated cyberattacks on Australian companies this year in a "constant, significant effort" to steal intellectual property, according to a report published Tuesday that angered Beijing. The investigation by Fairfax Media and commercial broadcaster Channel Nine comes just days after US Vice President Mike Pence accused Beijing at the APEC summit of widespread "intellectual property theft". The report said China's Ministry of State Security was responsible for "Operation Cloud Hopper", a wave of attacks it said were detected by Canberra and its partners in the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance -- the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. An unnamed senior Australian government official told Fairfax the activity was "a constant, significant effort to steal our intellectual property", while other officials expressed frustration that firms and universities were not tightening their security. Cyber experts echoed the government sources, with US cybersecurity company CrowdStrike saying they "noticed a significant increase in attacks in the first six months of this year". "The activity is mainly from China and it's targeting all sectors. There's no doubt the gloves are off," CrowdStrike vice president Mike Sentonas told Fairfax. The alleged attacks took place despite an agreement between Canberra and Beijing last year "not to conduct or support cyber-enabled theft" of intellectual property and other commercial secrets. The Chinese foreign ministry dismissed the report, saying it was "without foundation in fact". The allegations are "unprofessional, irresponsible, and obviously have ulterior motives", ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular press briefing. "They are only playing up tensions and confrontation and do not help to maintain the common security of cyberspace," Geng said. Australian government officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Western governments have long accused hackers in China of plundering industrial, corporate and military secrets. Last year, sensitive data about Australia's F-35 stealth fighter and P-8 surveillance aircraft programmes were stolen when a defence subcontractor was hacked with a tool widely used by Chinese cyber criminals. In 2016, a security breach on the Bureau of Meteorology's system, which has connections to the defence department, was linked -- by media -- to China. Western governments, including Australia, have long accused Chinese hackers of industrial and corporate espionage, claims Beijing denies A 30-year-old man from Dallas in Melbourne, a 26-year-old man from Campbellfield and a 21-year-old man from Greenvale were arrested during early morning raids in the citys northwest on Tuesday. Police will allege the three men arrested were involved in undertaking preparations for planning a terrorist act. All three have since been charged with one count of act in preparation for, or planning of terrorist acts. He will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton alleged there was an attempt to purchase a .22 semi-automatic rifle. Police are seen outside one of the houses involved in counter terrorism raids across the north-western suburbs in Melbourne. Source: AAP Commissioner Ashton added while no location for the alleged planned attack was specified there was the view to target a a place of mass gathering. There was a view towards a crowded place a place where a maximum amount of people would be attending to be able to kill, we allege, to kill the maximum amount of people as possible, Comm Ashton said. He added all three men are Australian but of a Turkish background. Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton alleged three men planned to attack a crowd of people with a semi-automatic rife. Source: Victoria Police Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Ian McCartney added two of the three men arrested are related. The alleged attackers were inspired by ISIS but had no family connections to known terrorists, police said. The trio had their passports cancelled earlier this year. The properties were raided in the joint counter terrorism operation involving Victorian and Federal Police and ASIO. Its alleged the men were trying to purchase a semi-automatic weapon. Source: AAP A fourth property was raided in Coolaroo in Melbournes north. The trio remain in custody, with the operation ongoing. Police say the threat has been contained. Victoria Police would like to reassure the community that the threat has been contained and there is no on-going threat, police said in a statement. The community should continue to go about their daily business and report any suspicious activity. with AAP Dramatic images show the aftermath of a shocking truck crash on a freeway in Melbournes northwest, as the trucks trailer dangles precariously off a bridge, spilling its contents over the road below. The truck smashed over the railing on the Calder Freeway at Keilor shortly after 5pm on Tuesday, scattering a mountain of debris believed to be chicken products across Green Gully Road below. The driver of the truck spent the night in hospital suffering minor injuries sustained in the crash. A truck crashed off a bridge at the Calder Freeway at Keilor shortly after 5pm on Tuesday spilling debris across the freeway below. Source: Facebook/ Vic Traffic The incident sparked hours of delays on the freeway, with the truck only removed in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The right-hand lane of the Calder Freeway is now open at a speed limit of 40km/h, while the left lane remains closed. VicTraffic advised that water safety barriers are being refilled, and once complete the lane will open again. The United Nations on Tuesday called on countries to step up efforts to integrate the growing numbers of refugee and migrant children worldwide into their education systems. The number of school-age migrant and refugee children has risen 26 percent since 2000 to some 18 million, the UNESCO cultural agency wrote in its 2019 Global Education Monitoring report. Around half the world's forcibly displaced people are under 18, and often have little if any access to public education systems in the countries where they are seeking asylum. Even if they are not excluded outright, host countries often lack the resources to offer language classes and ensure the integration of refugee children. Lebanon and Jordan, with the largest number of refugees per capita as people fled the civil war in neighbouring Syria, have imposed separate morning and afternoon classes for citizens and refugees. Even wealthy Germany would need 42,000 new teachers to properly educate the refugee children taken in as part of Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door policy enacted in 2015, which has since been sharply curtailed, the report found. "Education is the key to inclusion and cohesion," UNESCO's chief Audrey Azoulay said in a statement. "Increased classroom diversity, while challenging for teachers, can also enhance respect for diversity and be an opportunity to learn from others," she said. The report also found that first-generation migrants represented 18 percent of students in high-income countries in 2017, up from 15 percent in 2005, representing 36 million students. But in the EU these students are twice as likely to drop out of the education system early than native-born students. And in the 34 countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) they were 32 percent less likely on average to achieve basic skills in reading, maths and science in 2015. "Countries cannot think the job is done once immigrants are in school," said Manos Antoninis, director of the education report. Too often, he said, "They end up in slower school tracks or in under-resourced establishments in troubled neighbourhoods." UNESCO said that in the two years since the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants in 2016, refugees have missed a combined 1.5 billion days of school. Refugee children attend a lesson as part of the 326 refugees project at Sacred Heart college on January 23, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa Lecturers have been told not to use capital letters when assigning work to students as it might create anxiety. Staff at Leeds Trinitys journalism department have been told writing to students using capital letters for emphasis could scare them into failure and instead suggested using a friendly tone and avoiding the use of negative language, The Express reports. Critics have since slammed the memo, saying it is just aiding to the snowflake generation being overindulged throughout their education. 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, the memo says, according to The Express. Staff at Leeds Trinitys journalism department have been told writing to students using capital letters could scare them into failure. Source: Getty Images (File pic) The memo says writing words in capital letters could make the assignment appear more difficult adding to anxieties, The Express reported. But one staff member said capitals helped ensure students didnt misunderstand their instructions. We are not doing our students any favours with this kind of nonsense, the staff member told The Express. A spokesperson for Leeds Trinity said the memo was guidance on how to explain tasks to students so they achieve their full potential. There are concerns capital letters could add to student anxieties. Source: Getty Images (File pic) The move is the latest in a string of incidents which have seen universities criticised for pandering to students. The University of Manchesters students union replaced applause with jazz hands at one event to alleviate stress among the anxious and people with sensory issues. Kent University last month was criticised for banning students wearing offensive costumes, including cowboy outfits or sombreros, in case it affected students right to a safe space at the institution. Wild winds have caused havoc across South Australia, whipping up blankets of dust that were captured on camera. The gusts brought down trees and plunged thousands into darkness. The SES was kept busy, responding to more than 80 calls, most to remove fallen tree limbs. A wall of dust was pushed towards homes from dry paddocks. Source: 7News A large gum tree at Forrestville was ripped from the ground by the wind. It came crashing down, destroying a porch and damaging a roof. In Henley, the wind sent branches toppling onto powerlines, leaving homes blacked out. There was a big blast came through, it took the power lines down just on the corner here, and ripped a fairly big chunk of the Norfolk pines up, down the road, Henley resident Steve Sampson said. There was a big gust of wind, brought the powerlines down, they were snaking all over the road, I guess it was a bit dangerous, Henley resident Amanda Best said. A large gum at Forrestville was ripped from the ground by the wind. Source: 7News Police were called in to direct traffic around downed lines. It was lights out at Henley Square with the shopping strip plunged into darkness. Crews worked through the morning to restore power to hundreds of properties. Chinese President Xi Jinping called his visit Tuesday to long-time US ally the Philippines a "milestone", as he aims to boost blossoming ties on the promise of billions of dollars in backing for mega-projects. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has proven a willing recipient of Beijing's attentions, declaring shortly after his election in 2016 his nation's "separation" from former colonial master the US. Since then Beijing, which is competing with Washington for supremacy in the Pacific, has promised $24 billion in investment and infrastructure loans that the developing nation of 105 million deeply needs. But over two years later, only a trickle of funding has arrived, prompting critics to question whether Duterte has been duped into pivoting toward China and giving too much ground on the South China Sea dispute. Xi landed in Manila to a red-carpet welcome for the first state visit from a Chinese president in 13 years, which Manila hopes will finally net those investment deals. "For the Philippines, this is more than a reciprocal visit. It is an historic occasion," Duterte said in welcoming Xi to the presidential palace for the two-day visit. The Chinese leader offered similarly sweeping remarks, saying: "My visit will be a milestone in the history of exchange between our two countries." Few details were released on the deals inked on Tuesday, including an agreement to cooperate on oil and gas development. - Filipinos 'Pooh-Pooh' Xi's visit - China has disbursed tens of billions of dollars in loans since 2013 as it expands its political influence globally, countering the American hegemony that characterised the post-World War II order, especially in Asia. However, even before Xi's arrival, hundreds of protestors descended on the Chinese embassy to voice opposition to closer ties with Beijing. "Philippines is not for sale," the marchers chanted, as some brandished signs saying "China out of Philippine waters" in reference to a long-running dispute over the South China Sea. Critics are most concerned over Duterte's decision to set aside a major 2016 ruling from an international tribunal that declared as without basis Beijing's expansive claim over the waterway, in favour of courting Chinese investment. "The reality is that the Philippines under Duterte may have squandered the most solid legal ground it has against China in the South China Sea conflict," Senator Leila de Lima, a jailed critic of the president, said in a statement. A survey of 1,500 adults out Tuesday said 84 percent of Filipinos disagreed with taking a laissez-faire approach on Beijing's moves to build infrastructure and install military equipment in the sea. That stance flared onto Philippine Twitter and Facebook, where feeds were flooded Tuesday with Winnie the Pooh memes in a winking expression of anti-China sentiment stirred by Xi's visit. The self-described "bear of very little brain" has been used in the past on social media to poke fun at the portly Chinese leader, a joke that has drawn crackdowns from Beijing's censors. Filipino analyst Richard Heydarian said China's pledges induced Manila to "soft-pedal" on the South China Sea issue, but Beijing failed to hold up its end of the bargain. "We know there was a geopolitical calculation," he told AFP. "What is the incentive to rush if Duterte has been giving them whatever they want?" Gregory Wyatt, director for business intelligence at PSA Philippines Consultancy, said big projects face many barriers in the Philippines, like right-of-way issues, regulatory approvals and political dissent. Chinese investments in the Philippines surged more than five-fold in the first six months of the year after a 67 percent expansion last year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a Manila visit last month. Chinese President Xi Jinping was greeted by a military guard of honour after arriving at Manila international airport Charts on Philippine-China trade Manila is hoping the Xi visit will lock down investment deals for major infrastructure projects promised by Beijing Protestors brandished signs saying 'China out of Philippine waters' in reference to a long-running dispute over the South China Sea Chinese President Xi Jinping lands Tuesday for his first state visit to the Philippines, a traditional US ally that is a key prize as Beijing and Washington jostle for supremacy in the Pacific. China won a windfall partner with the 2016 election of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has rattled the Philippines' century-old bond with the US while courting trade and investment from the rising American rival. Manila has said it hopes the two-day stopover, the first from a Chinese president in 13 years, will finally net signed deals for investment in major infrastructure projects promised by Beijing when Duterte visited two years ago. China has dispersed tens of billions of dollars in loans since 2013 as it expands its political influence globally, countering the American hegemony that characterised the post-World War II order, especially in Asia. Duterte has enthusiastically embraced Xi, even setting aside a key 2016 ruling from an international tribunal that declared as without basis Beijing's expansive claim over the South China Sea. At the same time, the mercurial leader has declared an end to the Philippines' submissive relationship with the US, even calling then-US president Barack Obama "son of a whore". But relations have been warmer since Donald Trump became US president and dropped American criticism of Duterte's anti-drug crackdown that has killed thousands. The dispute over the resource-rich South China Sea, a key transit route for billions in trade, led to a freeze in Manila-Beijing relations which thawed with Duterte's pivot. - Duterte taken for a ride? - China subsequently pledged $24 billion in loans and investments, but just a tiny portion has come through, which has prompted critics to say Duterte was tricked. Meanwhile, others have warned of a "debt trap" citing China's lending record with the rest of the developing world. Filipino analyst Richard Heydarian said China's pledges induced Manila to "soft-pedal" on the South China Sea issue, but failed to hold up its end of the bargain. "We know there was a geopolitical calculation," he told AFP. "What is the incentive to rush if Duterte has been giving them whatever they want?" Filipino Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno conceded last week the delays were partly due to China's unfamiliarity with the Philippine bidding process, but didn't hide his wish for things to accelerate. "The visit of the head of state of China will put pressure on the team (in Beijing)," Diokno added. Gregory Wyatt, director for business intelligence at PSA Philippines Consultancy, said big projects face many barriers in the Philippines, like right of way issues, regulatory approvals and political dissent. "The foreign investment has come, the infrastructure loans have not," he added. Chinese investments in the Philippines surged more than five-fold in the first six months of the year after a 67 percent expansion last year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a Manila visit last month. Two-way trade also topped 10 percent over both periods, he added. Chinese investors poured money into online gaming, real estate, service providers and stakes in existing Filipino firms, but not into large-scale infrastructure or manufacturing, Wyatt said. While there was support in government for the latter, "that doesn't mean that every bureaucrat, local politician, and the general public enthusiastically jumps on board", Wyatt said. President Rodrigo Duterte -- seen here with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2017 -- has rattled the Philippines' century-old bond with the US while courting trade and investment from Beijing U.S. Rep. John Katko admits it's a long shot. His opponent has been in Congress for nearly 16 years. Leadership posts tend to go to those with seniority. But Katko, R-Camillus, is running for ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee anyway. What he lacks in seniority he believes he makes up for with a "unique skill set" skills he's acquired as a member of Congress and a 20-year career as a federal prosecutor. Rep. John Katko eyes top GOP seat on House Homeland Security Committee U.S. Rep. John Katko is vying to become the lead Republican on the House Homeland Security C Democrats won control of the House of Representatives and that will lead to committee leadership changes in January. The current House Homeland Security Committee chairman, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, would be in line to become the panel's ranking minority member. But McCaul, a Texas Republican, opted to run for ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. McCaul's decision creates a vacancy. Katko and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican, are running to be the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee. Rogers was elected to Congress in 2002 and is one of the senior members of the committee. In 2012, he launched a bid to become chairman of the panel. He lost out to McCaul, who went on to lead the committee for six years. In an interview with The Citizen Monday, Katko described Rogers as a "great guy" and said he would do a "wonderful job" as ranking member. But the central New York Republican views his background and knowledge of the Department of Homeland Security as an asset. As an assistant U.S. attorney, Katko worked along the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, he had a stint in Puerto Rico and finished his career in Syracuse. "Before I got to Congress, I had an intimate, hands-on knowledge of what (the Department of Homeland Security) is all about," he said. "Since I've been here, I've dedicated the vast majority of my time in D.C. to homeland security matters." Katko left his job as a federal prosecutor to run for Congress in 2014. When he was sworn in as central New York's representative, he joined the House Homeland Security Committee. For the past four years, he has chaired the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security. The subcommittee oversees the Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Secret Service. The subcommittee put Katko in position to lead on many homeland security-related issues. He chaired a task force on combating foreign fighter travel that issued a report detailing 32 key findings and 50 recommendations. More than half of the panel's recommendations, Katko noted, became law. As chair of the subcommittee, Katko quickly established himself as a leading TSA watchdog. He has ushered several aviation security bills through the House. The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act recently approved by Congress contained seven bills authored by the Syracuse-area congressman. In his four years as chairman, Katko said the subcommittee passed 33 bills, 29 of which were signed into law. "I just feel like I have a lot to talk about and I want to lead," he added. "I enjoy leading and I want to give it a shot." If Katko is successful and becomes ranking member of the whole committee, he would work with alongside incoming Chairman Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat. Katko said he has a "very good relationship" with Thompson. The pair have worked together on homeland security issues and partnered on bills in the past. Katko views it as another opportunity to work in a bipartisan manner. As a minority member, to get anything accomplished on the committee, he will need to work with the majority. That's why he feels his relationship with Thompson will help. "I have always treated him with respect and support, and supported his colleagues on the Democratic side through my committee work repeatedly, empowering them and helping them get bills passed," Katko said. Next week, Katko will make a presentation to the House Republican Steering Committee. The panel will decide by Friday whether he will be named ranking member, or if they will choose Rogers for the assignment. "The odds are stacked against me, but I absolutely love it when the odds are stacked against me. I really do," he said, laughing. "When I ran for Congress the odds were stacked against me. When I got into Congress the odds were stacked against me being productive and look what I've been able to do. I love when somebody tells me I've got a tough road to hoe. I'm going to give it a good shot." Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Radon is a carcinogen, which means that it causes cancer. Alarmingly, exposure to radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon kills 21,000 people each year. As radon cannot be detected without a test, most people are unaware of its presence. At a recent state Radon Stakeholder Seminar in October, Dr. Ronald Hublall from the Guthrie Medical Center reported that people diagnosed with lung cancer by an undetermined cause are often in the fourth stage (when serious symptoms arise), and the five-year prognosis that they will survive is only 20 percent. He said that with increased awareness, hopefully more homes will be tested and those with high levels can be mitigated. When was the last time your home was tested for radon? In most instances, its likely been far too long. Whether your home is big or small, old or new, with or without a basement, drafty or insulated, any home can have a radon problem and now is the ideal time to test. Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is found in almost all soils in every part of the United States. It enters the air after seeping into homes through the ground from cracks and other holes in a homes foundation. Without proper ventilation, it becomes confined inside and consequently is included in the air we breathe. It cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. The EPA and the state Department of Health have designated Cayuga County as a high-risk radon county due to the fact that many residences have already been shown to have high levels of radon. The attached map shows the percentages of homes in each town with elevated radon levels. Fortunately, radon testing is simple and FREE radon test kits are available for all residents of Cayuga County. Kits can be picked up at the following distribution points: Aurora Free Library, 370 Main St., Aurora Cayuga County Health Department, 8 Dill St., Auburn Port Byron Library, 12 Mentz Drive, Port Byron Powers Library Association, 29 Church St., Moravia Sennett Town Hall, 931 Cherry St. Road, Auburn Seymour Public Library, 176-178 Genesee St., Auburn Springport Free Library, 171 Cayuga St., Union Springs Weedsport Free Library, 2795 E. Brutus St., Weedsport As radon accumulates in enclosed areas, it is of special concern during colder months, when homes get little fresh air. This makes late fall and winter the best time of year to test for radon. The Cayuga County Health Department is encouraging all residents to test their homes for radon. The first step is to test. Then, if you have detectable radon levels in your home, we will work with your to take corrective action. The EPA indicates that the average indoor radon level is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L (picocurries per liter). About .4 pCi/L of radon is normally found in the outside air. An action level of 4 pCi/L has been set and at or above this level of radon, the EPA recommends corrective measures be taken to reduce exposure to radon gas. If your home tests at or higher than 4 pCi/L, there are several proven methods to reduce the level in your home. You can obtain a listing of certified radon mitigators by contacting the state Department of Healths Radon Program at (518) 402-7556 or visiting health.ny.gov/radiation. Protect yourself and protect your family from radon. Pick up your free radon test kit today to get started. If you have any questions, please contact the Cayuga County Health Department at (315) 253-1560 or visit cayugacounty.us/health. Click on "Radon" under "Additional information." Deanna Ryan, M.S., is a senior public health educator with the Cayuga County Health Department. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 AUBURN Although a proposed rental registry is still a work in progress, concern from landlords and rental unit owners still lingers, and the proposal remains off city council agenda. Designed to help ensure safety and improve Auburn's housing stock, the registry would require owners of rental units to register their properties and provide emergency contact and insurance information. At a public meeting last week where the proposal was presented, city staff acknowledged that while many rental property owners are responsive to emergencies and comply to municipal code, others are not. Based on other ordinances throughout the state, the registry would charge rental owners a $150 administration and processing fee every two years. Owners would be waived of this fee if they demonstrate "compliancy." Compliant rental ownership would entail meeting taxes, passing an exterior inspection for every property owned and avoiding any outstanding code violations. Brett Tracy, the president of the Cayuga County Landlord Association, said he doesn't support this "radical change" to how rental properties are handled in Auburn. "Having contact info, insurance information and imposing fees and fines has nothing to do with promoting the general welfare and health and safety of the public," Tracy said. Deanna Ryan, a senior public health educator at the Cayuga County Health Department, read a letter in favor of the proposal on behalf of her director, Kathleen Cuddy. Deteriorating housing, according to Cuddy, compromises the health and safety of Auburn residents. Approximately 95 percent of Auburn's housing was built before 1978 the year the federal government banned consumer use of lead paint. Ryan, who also serves as the Cayuga County childhood lead poisoning prevention coordinator, said that since 2010, 30 children have been poisoned by lead paint in Cayuga County. Of those, 22 resided in Auburn and 16 of them were living in rental units. "Is intact lead paint not a problem? Absolutely not," Ryan said. "It's when it's deteriorating, peeling, chipping or flaking and a child is either breathing in the lead dust or putting paint chips in their mouths that it becomes an exposure hazard." Tracy said that the "guise" of a proposal has little to do with lead poisoning safety and that older housing will be affected by lead regardless of how occupants arrange their living situations. The Cayuga County Landlord Association, said Tracy, drafted a counter proposal to make the registry voluntary for those who wish to be protected by the city's code enforcement. A rental registry is "not an Earth-shattering idea," said Assistant Corporation Counsel Nate Garland. "There are a lot of similarly sized and situated cities that have rental registries. It's not a cure-all for [Auburn's] housing issues, but it's something we consider a tool in our municipal toolbox to address housing issues," he said. Canandaigua, Binghamton, Jamestown, Ithaca, Schenectady and Syracuse are among cities in upstate New York with rental registries. Staff writer Dan Orzechowski can be reached at (315) 282-2239 or dan.orzechowski@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @OrzechowskiDan Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 9 CAIRO: 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 neighboring Israel as well as with 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 Egypts Mediterranean coast, including the vast Zohr field, inaugurated with a 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 worlds most populous country has been able to halt imports of liquified natural gas, which last year cost it some $220 million 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. Egypts budget deficit, which hit 10.9 percent of GDP in the financial year 2016-2017, has since fallen to 9.8 percent. Gas production has now hit 184 million cubic meters 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 neighboring countries for liquefaction at installations on its Mediterranean coast, ready for re-export to Europe. In September, Egypt signed a deal with Cyprus to build a pipeline to pump Cypriot gas hundreds of kilometers 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 organization, and has troops in breakaway northern Cyprus. In February, Egypt, which is the only Arab state apart from Jordan to have a peace deal with Israel, inked an agreement to import gas from the Jewish states Tamar and Leviathan reservoirs. A U.S.-Israeli consortium leading the development of Israels 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 militants in 2011 and 2012. The $15-billion deal will see some 64 billion cubic meters of gas pumped in from the Israeli fields over 10 years. Independent news website Mada Masr reported that Egypts 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. The Egyptian state is also hoping to rake in billions of dollars in revenues from petrochemicals. Its regional energy ambitions are not limited to the natural gas sector, but also involve major projects in the petroleum and petrochemical sectors, Kamal, who is former oil minister, said. Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Tarek al-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 tons 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 4 million tons of petro-products a year as well as creating 3,000 jobs in a country where unemployment is rife. Greenpeace is calling on Oreo manufacturer Mondelez International to drop ties with palm oil producers that they claim are destroying rainforests. In protest, 30 Greenpeace UK volunteers recreated a life-size burnt rainforest complete with animatronic orangutan at the main entrance of Mondelezs UK headquarters near Uxbridge. Five people also scaled the building to hang a banner that read Oreo, drop dirty palm oil. Volunteers were handing out information to staff about the impact of Oreos links to palm oil producers that they claimed destroy the rainforest, noting a loss of 70,000 hectares as a result of Mondelezs palm oil suppliers. Oreo promised to stop buying palm oil from forest destroyers years ago, but nothing has changed and now, orangutans are literally dying for a biscuit. Weve seen just how many people care about deforestation for palm oil this week and weve brought messages from hundreds of Oreos customers here today, said Greenpeace UK campaigner Fiona Nicholls. Palm oil can be grown without destroying rainforests. In response, Mondelez International said it was committed to eradicating deforestation in the palm oil supply chain and was actively working with its suppliers to ensure the palm oil used was fully traceable. It also noted that it had excluded 12 companies from its supply chain as a result of breaches. We have actionable steps in place to make certain that the palm oil we buy is produced on legally held land, does not lead to deforestation or loss of peat land, respects human rights, and does not use forced or child labour, a spokesperson said. The business, which also manufacturers Cadbury chocolate and Ritz crackers, said it would continue to prioritise suppliers that met its principles and exclude those that did not. We are calling on our suppliers to improve practices across their entire operations and to engage their third-party suppliers to ensure their palm oil production is 100% sustainable and traceable. At the end of 2017, 96% of our palm oil was traceable back to mill and 99% was from suppliers with policies aligned to ours, the spokesperson added. Mondelez is also asking direct suppliers to work with others in their supply chain to map and monitor the plantations where oil is grown to drive further traceability. The use of palm oil has come under particularly scrutiny in the last couple of weeks after Icelands Christmas advert which highlighted rainforest destruction caused by palm oil production was banned from TV. Earlier this year, the frozen retailer pledged to end the use of palm oil in its own-label food by the end of 2018 a theme that was evident in its festive range. Beach Health Alerts (and when they are rescinded) - If none are listed then no warnings Other Advisories from Oregon Beaches The group had distinct connections to Gold Beach and Waldport. Sciences, history Oceanfront Marvels of Lincoln City's Pelican Shores Inn - Central Oregon Coast Not a lot of attention but one heck of a loyal following. Lincoln City lodging, Depoe Bay, Pacific City Nye Beach a Bit of Oregon Coast Time Travel - But Which Direction? The 'hood in Newport runs from kooky to futuristic to time trippin'. Travel tips Oregon Coast Closures, Rescues This Weekend Due to Flooding 12 individuals had to be rescued by US Coast Guard helicopter; two parks closed. Sciences Exploding Whale Day: More Each Year Behind the Oregon Coast Legend Never fails to get chuckles, wacky footage seems to echo down the ages. Sciences, history Peak Meteor Showers, Lunar Eclipse Above Washington / Oregon Coast Peak of Leonids, eclipse of the moon that will make it very red. Weather Summer Sands Aglow on Central Oregon Coast: Photo Essay Digital tour of the beach changes of summer at Pacific City, Yachats, Depoe Bay, Florence, Newport Federal Money Brings New Hope for Seismic Retrofitting of Oregon Coast Bridges $1 billion is coming to ODOT, and some bridges need quake-proofing. Sciences New Song, Animation Pokes Fun at Oregon Coast's Exploding Whale A riotous new entry into the lore released by a cartoon band. Weather Webinars Feature Emerging Researchers, Future of Oregon Coast Science November 10 and November 17 bring a variety of fresh faces to research. South coast events, Yachats events, Newport events, Lincoln City events, Tillamook events, Cannon Beach events The Jagged, Blackened, Dramatic Chaos of Oregon Coast at Yachats One tiny town features dramatic views in endless abundance Striking Images of Oregon Coast Lights at Seaside, Bandon, Coos Bay, Newport Some of the most interesting photographic subjects in the region. Lighthouses, travel tips, kids New Rainforest Reserve on N. Oregon Coast Celebrated Nov. 12 A new nature preserve between Manzanita and Cannon Beach. Manzanita events When it comes to giving parents more control over where their children attend elementary and secondary school, North Carolina has become a national leader. Now that Republicans no longer enjoy veto-proof majorities in the legislature, however, will the state's progress on school choice be arrested or reversed?That's one of many questions politicos are asking in the aftermath of the 2018 midterm elections, which produced a 16-seat gain for Democrats in the General Assembly. No one can answer it for certain, yet, but I tend to think school choice will survive and thrive despite recent shifts in the political winds.It is certainly true that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has been a skeptic, at best, when it comes the core elements of North Carolina's school-choice strategy: 1) charter schools and 2) assistance to low-income and special-needs students who attend private schools. He and his appointees would prefer to limit charter-school expansion and to reduce if not eliminate funding for the other programs.If he vetoes a state budget next year over these issues, Republicans do not have enough votes on their own to override. But it is important to remember that Democrats are hardly unified in their opposition to school choice. Some members of the House and Senate are strong supporters of the popular charter schools in their districts, for example. Others believe that opportunity scholarships and educational savings accounts aimed at at-risk and special-needs students are a worthy expenditure of state funds.To put the issue in a national context, North Carolina's policy commitments to parental choice and competition in education rank us sixth in the nation in educational freedom , according to the Cato Institute, and seventh in the nation on the Parent Power Index , published by the Center for Education Reform.Moving North Carolina into the top five will require continuing expansion of both charter-school enrollments and annual funding for opportunity scholarships, among other things. The top states in school choice, such as Indiana and Florida, have had their school-choice reforms in place for a longer time. They serve more of the students in those states.But North Carolina is headed in the right direction - toward giving parents more authority to direct the education of their children, and toward giving educators and community leaders more opportunities to be innovative in addressing the many needs of our students across the state.School choice has sometimes proved to be a partisan issue. That's unfortunate. As I have argued many times, both fiscal conservatives and progressives can endorse choice and competition in North Carolina without betraying their fundamental principles.After all, we have for decades allowed beneficiaries of government programs to make choices among competing providers of critical services. That's how Medicare and Medicaid work. Patients aren't assigned hospitals and doctors based on their home addresses or socioeconomic status. They make that choice for themselves. The underlying assumptions are that individual choice leads to a better "fit" between patient and provider and that the resulting competition lowers the cost while increasing the quality of services rendered.Our public policies follow the same course when it comes to nutrition assistance, Section 8 housing vouchers, preschool and day care subsidies, and assistance to students attending private as well as public colleges and universities. To wall off K-12 education as the one place where choice and competition will be largely absent, where the vast majority of students attend schools assigned to them by central authorities, would be odd and counterproductive.I recognize, however, that some interest groups and individuals disagree vociferously with my argument here. They will push the larger Democratic minorities in the General Assembly, plus as many Republican legislators as will listen, to keep new families from accessing choice programs while imposing much-heavier regulation on charter, private, and even home schools.The resulting debate may get testy. The legislative battle may get messy. In the end, though, I don't think North Carolina will take a backward step toward monopoly. I think we'll keep moving forward. Possible GenX contamination in municipal water supplies is a reason cash-strapped municipalities have discussed merging public works systems with larger cities and counties.The UNC School of Government's Environmental Finance Center is working with the Local Government Commission in the state Treasurer's Office and the Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Quality to find solutions. Treasurer Dale Folwell has consistently warned about the financial stability of some municipalities.Jeff Hughes, director of the center, told Carolina Journal dozens of depopulating towns and cities have seen businesses leave and tax bases shrink. They haven't been able to maintain water and wastewater infrastructure.The presence of GenX and some emerging contaminants pose public health and environmental hazards and enormous mitigation costs, Hughes said.he said.An inability to provide sustainable water and wastewater services could pose public health and environmental threats, Hughes said. A merger might be the best option for those on a list of the 42 most troubled financially. Not all of them are in small towns.Hughes said. But the link between financial condition and potential public health risks has become more worrisome in recent years.Improved business practices could shore up some operations. Other communities don't have that option, Hughes said.To fix problems and operate efficiently, ratepayers in those struggling towns and districts would have to pay hundreds of dollars more a month. Creating DEQ grant incentives to merge is among alternatives under review.The Environmental Finance Center works with municipal clients in North Carolina and other states.The Local Government Commission had a robust discussion during a July meeting, warning some small and shrinking towns they might need to dissolve.Folwell would welcome legislative involvement to help fix the infrastructure crisis.Folwell said. His office has been working with Hughes' group for more than a year to merge water and sewer districts in Fairmont, Fair Bluff, Proctorville, Cerro Gordo, and Boardman into the larger system in Lumberton which has excess capacity.The Local Government Commission maintains a Unit Assistance List of government entities whose shaky fiscal audits bear close monitoring. In 2018 it included 88 municipalities, four utility districts, and 16 counties. Just 21 improved their standing since 2017. Most worsened or remained unchanged. Hurricane Florence likely magnified their plight. Hurricane Matthew didn't help.Folwell said. Matthew's damages still haven't been fully assessed.Some water and sewer districts might have as few as 15 customers.Folwell said.Hughes said some communities recognize they should seek state help, even if it means relinquishing local authority through mergers.Others that will want to continue providing their own service, he said,Folwell's office has suggested creating a new legal jurisdiction: historic charter municipality. Those entities would retain a mayor and a governing body, with its tax, service, and utility operations assumed by a larger municipality or the county.Merging operations should be viable for some communities, especially in eastern North Carolina, said Christina Alphin, Village of Marvin administrator. She said Kinston, where she formerly served as city clerk, has been exploring combining various services with Lenoir County.Alphin said. Marvin is relatively new, having been incorporated July 1, 1994. With about 7,900 residents it is among the fastest growing municipalities in North Carolina.She said there have been occasional discussions about Marvin sharing fire and police, public works, and facility maintenance with the county.Marvin might intensify those talks if the moves would increase efficiency and provide greater bang for the buck, Alphin said. But she added such changes may be five or 10 years down the road.She thinks the General Assembly has denied local governments' ability to raise revenues for maintaining and improving water and sewer services. She cited as an example the legislature eliminating local business privilege licenses without giving local governments a way to recoup the money.Alphin said. Without the money, municipalities must delay needed repairs, consider tax and/or rate increases, or generate cost savings by merging. Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed this weekend that she has no idea what the three branches of the U.S. government are during a conference call with prospective far-left political candidates.Ocasio-Cortez said on Saturday while on a call with Justice Democrats.The three branches, not chambers, of the U.S. government, are the executive, legislative, and judicial.Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez:The 3 branches of government: executive, legislative, judicial.Ocasio-Cortez then thought it would be a good idea to bring more attention to the video so all of her followers on Twitter could see that she does not know what she is talking about.Maybe instead of Republicans drooling over every minute of footage of me in slow-mo, waiting to chop up word slips that I correct in real-tomd, they actually step up enough to make the argument they want to make:that they don't believe people deserve a right to healthcare.What is a chamber of government, @Ocasio2018? https://twitter.com/realsaavedra/status/1064340509441720320 ...Ocasio-Cortez urged people to join Justice Democrats' #OurTime campaign on Saturday to help them identify Democratic House incumbents that arethe Huffington Post reported.In other words, Ocasio-Cortez endorsed a campaign that says that people can't represent those who are "demographically" different from them, which is the very definition of racism. The sudden departure of Margaret Spellings from the presidency of the University of North Carolina system presents a unique opportunity to address academia's most serious problem.The problem is intellectual, not operational or economic. Recent UNC presidents have focused on issues such as access, efficiency, and economic development, as did Spellings. All of these require some ongoing attention, but they are hardly cause for emergency measures. Higher education in North Carolina is very accessible; it has inexpensive community colleges and the UNC system is one of the most affordable in the country. It has 16 campuses with varying tuition levels and admissions standards. The North Carolina economy is, for the most part, roaring, and higher education will not fix the economic malaise in rural areas. Efficiency can always be improved, but it is not a burning issue at UNC; if the efforts of the last three presidents haven't made improvements, then it is unlikely that another president cast in the same mold will accomplish much in this area.One issue that is burning, at California brushfire levels, is that higher education has been captured by intellectual movements that will prove disastrous for our future society. It is the proverbial giant elephant in the room that nobody wishes to acknowledge while focusing on lesser problems.These movements come with a variety of names. One is postmodernism, which is, at its core, nihilistic. In the postmodern perspective, meaning is placed in the service of power rather than truth. Or, as editor and critic Arthur Krystal suggested , this philosophy elevates the banal to equality with the essential or exceptional; striving becomes irrelevant, and humanity eventually becomes little more than a mass of deterministic impulses.Another is multiculturalism. The North Carolina university system is amazingly diverse; five of the 16 campuses are Historically Black Colleges, and that does not include minority-majority UNC-Pembroke. The other schools are hardly ethnically monolithic; a short walk on most campuses in the system reveals a widely varied student population. And there is almost no ethnic or racial animosity-other than that being stoked by proponents of multiculturalism toward the traditional American and Western cultures and the demographic majority. Multiculturalism is divisive by definition, and the current form promoted on campus is toxically so, unfairly blaming the majority for all injustices that have ever been. It can lead us nowhere good.Another branch of this intellectual debacle can be described as excessive instrumentalism, in which the goal is to provide graduates with skills rather than specific knowledge. In this way of thinking, which knowledge students learn is unimportant; the goal is that students learn to perform tasks of value for the working world. The process is not education, but training. An example is when fatuous "service learning" programs are used to inculcate citizenship, rather than ensuring that students know our political system and the important ideas that underlie it. It will encourage those who have the skills to act, but who are ignorant of how and why to do so.There are many more such "isms" that are part of today's dominant academic philosophy: socialism, deconstructionism, post-colonialism, globalism, and more. They are political, on the left (albeit instrumentalism crosses partisan lines), and inhospitable to competing ideas. One telling piece of evidence of the uniformity imposed by these ideologies is at the flagship UNC-Chapel Hill, where there are and 16 departments have no Republicans at all.And while not all college students become radicalized despite intense exposure to these ideas, there are indications that the effects of these intellectual trends are not benign. Polls show dramatic shifts in student acceptance of socialism in recent decades, for instance. And that young people today are considerably less patriotic than previous generations.Defenders of the past and present UNC leadership may point to recent gains in one key intellectual area: the system has greatly improved its free speech regulations over the past few years. But that is not so much due to the system's leadership, but to outside pressure. The state is uniquely home to two policy organizations that focus on and publicize this issue: the Martin Center for Academic Renewal and a branch of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). It is the site of the seminal court decision Adams v. The Trustees of UNC-Wilmington that advanced academic freedom and free speech rights in 2014.Most important of all, North Carolina's legislature has aggressively defended campus rights to free speech , free association, and due process with recent legislation. The university system has been forced to respond to their mandates rather than leading the way.The political side of this intellectual imbalance reveals another reason why it's time to break the mold for UNC system presidents. Since 1971, when the current 16-university system was created, every one of the system presidents has been a Democrat except for Spellings. And she is in the most liberal wing of the Republican Party-her policies and views are indistinguishable from those of Erskine Bowles, a centrist Democrat. Yet North Carolina has voted Republican in recent years, and many of its party members (and supportive independents) are political conservatives rather than centrists. The UNC system has often trampled on their beliefs and values, yet they, too, support it with taxes. Are they to be forever ignored, deemed unworthy of having a voice in the university system's governance? When do they get their say?The time may never be better to give this important constituency their due. The UNC Board of Governors is the most conservative it has ever been. If balance is to be restored-and it is imperative that it is-it is likely to happen now. Just adding another centrist to run the system does not address its extreme imbalances.This doesn't mean the board can select just anybody on the political right. It will have to be somebody with not only a strong intellectual background but great fortitude to deal with the firestorm that is likely to hit upon his or her appointment. Even a moderate like Spellings brought protests from the perpetually outraged; a true reformer will likely cause an uproar from every corner of the system. Mitch Daniels, who has received considerable praise from conservatives for his leadership of Purdue University in Indiana, is more of a prudent administrator than a fire-breathing reformer-yet the protests and attacks on him have not subsided from almost the moment he took office.But just because there may be turmoil is no reason to avoid the problems that have been simmering underneath the surface. An absence of conflict does not signify good governance; it more often means differing perspectives are left unspoken in the boardroom or executive suite. The next UNC president will face opposition from some direction; in today's polarized society, it's part of the job. Spellings' departure after only three years suggests she had no heart for the constant political struggle; her contentious relationship with the Board of Governors was due in part to her lack of awareness of the situation.Nobody expects the next UNC system president to be a full-fledged culture warrior eager to leap into the ideological fray. But he or she should at least acknowledge that a major problem exists beyond the needs to cut costs or boost graduation rates. There is an intellectual battle that needs to be fought, no matter how much it upsets entrenched interests and the permanently aggrieved. A one-sided university system does not serve the state well.For the task at hand, a strong leader and reformer is required, not an establishment efficiency expert. Let's hope the Board of Governors does not compromise on another centrist-that amounts to kicking the problem down the road, and the results will be the same as happened with Spellings. I told Jenny, today, that one day, I am going to think about flowers and things like pretty curtains . . like I used to. It is not this day. It has not been that day in a while. Thankfully, the autumn keeps providing little interludes of sorts, to prod me along. When I see a maple ablaze with amber leaves or golden light filling up a field, I take it personally and know that I am loved.My uncle Randy, died this week. He was my dads' oldest brother. He was eighty five years old, which when you read that, it makes you think he lived to a ripe old age and we should all be counting the blessing of that. . .and we do, but we are all heartbroken anyway. After all, there is one less person in this world that loved us, especially. . . there is one less elder in the family, that lived the stories of our history and one less father, grandfather, uncle and brother, in our clan.He was a kind and gentle man, humble and soft spoken. He had buried a wife and two sons, killed in separate tragic accidents as very young adults. He grew up on the back roads of North Carolina, where life was hard. He joined the army as a young man. Somewhere he learned to play the guitar and played in a band. Like all the men on the "Warren" side of the family, he was an excellent mechanic. (That gene shows up in the family-even both of my sisters- and the grandchildren! (But not me, at all!)Uncle Randy spent the last years of his life, in a nice townhouse, with his daughter, Sheila, for a next door neighbor. Sheila cared for him, lovingly and faithfully, and deserves a crown. What an example she has set of devotion and I admire her with all of my heart.We gathered today for the funeral. I had a visit with one of my dearest cousins, Wendy. Wendy is a constant source of inspiration for me. Her heart is as pure as the "driven snow". We shared a meal on Uncle Randys' porch and remembered our own grandmother, and agreed that Uncle Randy had "her tender heart" and we missed our grandmother, all over again. If you are under the impression that I hail from good folks, then you are right. I have been given the golden opportunity to know goodness, nobility and integrity. . .through my elders . . .and Uncle Randy was one of them.We had planned, weeks ago, to have a "Thanksgiving meal" on this Sunday, at Mama and Daddys' house. I woke early to start making my dishes. I am sure that Mama got up early too, as she is cooking the turkey. Connie was making a chocolate cheesecake last night, which I am looking forward to. She asked me if she should and without hesitation, I said "yes!". My brother in law, Roy has converted his famous chocolate cake to cupcakes for Lyla, as she just loves cupcakes. I am bringing a large pot of collards and I am making the biscuits for the stuffing. My grandmama gave me the recipe, when I was a young cook, and now no bagged crumbs or boxed ones, will do in our family.The morning broke quietly as I was washing the green collards. The light came in soft increments, til at last it was day. There was just the right amount of chill in the air, to make me look forward to turning the oven on. The scant frost on the fallen leaves, glistened in the sunshine. I walked outside and the peace of the morning settled on me like a holy shield around me and the cares of this season in my life, dimmed greatly. Nothing disappeared, such as impending dates, loss and the hidden details of my future, but these things now paled, in the glory of the morning.I couldn't help but think of Sheila, as today will be especially quiet for her. I am glad that she has her children and grandchildren that gather around her, dependably, for they will be of great comfort.The early "Thanksgiving" dinner was a success. We were all served by one, after Lylas' blessing-save Delores who offered to hold Brynn. After we ate, we drew names for Christmas. This was a first for us and we shouted out the names as soon as they were drawn, as if it were a lottery. Next, we planned a day to gather at Mama and Daddys' to put the tree up and hang the wreaths. Mama always has an especially pretty home at Christmas, and I think her neighbors have come to depend on it. Her picket fences are adorned with garland and red bows. There is a Christmas flag and lights. It is a charming sight and I suspect people driving past, are likely to slow down.Everyone left, the gathering, with hopes to get home, before dark. Deer are a plenty on country roads, and pose quite a hazard for drivers. They not only dart in your path, but are liable to dash into the side of your car, at great speed. If one runs across the road, seasoned country dwellers, know to stop altogether, for you can bet your last dollar, more are coming, behind it. They are beautiful creatures, and lovely to encounter . . if they are safely grazing in a field or drinking from a creek, at twilight.I was in comfortable clothes and under a warm, soft blanket, by the time the first star was out. If at all possible, I try to keep Sunday nights quiet. I sort out what I can about the details of the upcoming week and hope for the best. I look at the forecast and I take an inventory of the groceries. . .for these things have become rituals over the years . .after all, tomorrow is Monday . . .and that changes everything. The new law prohibits mistreatment and abuse of farm animals, including beating and tormenting them. It also requires that animals be stunned before slaughter, and that those awaiting slaughter do not witness the slaughter of other animals. Photo by iStockphoto 2.3K shares One of the biggest obstacles Humane Society International faces is the frequent lack of comprehensive animal welfare laws within some of the countries in which we work. While we dont let this stop us from pushing forward with the means and tools available to us, the existence of laws and systems of enforcement provide a framework within which we can protect animals and bring perpetrators of cruelty to justice. Vietnam, where we have been involved for a few years now, is one such country. We have been working on the ground there to reduce the demand for rhino horns and end the dog meat trade, and we have partnered with corporations on the humane treatment of farm animals with great success. This week, our efforts received a huge boost when the countrys legislative body, the National Assembly, passed an animal welfare law that covers the welfare of farm animals and animals used in scientific research. Under this new animal welfare legislation, part of a wider animal husbandry law that was adopted by the National Assembly, organizations and individuals engaged in breeding farm animals must provide adequate food and water for the animals, ensure hygienic standards of all facilities in which farm animals are kept, and provide the animals with medical treatment. The new law prohibits mistreatment and abuse, including beating and tormenting them. It also requires that animals be stunned before slaughter, and that those awaiting slaughter do not witness the slaughter of other animals. The measure also provides for the creation of standards that include appropriate transport of farm animals. I want to congratulate my colleagues at HSI who had a major hand in helping ensure the passage of this law. Vietnam has never before embraced the concept of farm animal welfare, and our staff members on the ground after learning that the country was pondering such a law reached out to officials at the Department of Livestock Production in Vietnam to offer suggestions and guidance. In April 2018, we organized a study tour in Belgium and the Netherlands for five officials from the Department of Livestock Production, the Vietnam Ministry of Justice and the National Assembly, including a series of visits to cage-free and crate-free facilities and meetings with representatives from the European Commission. The goal was to familiarize the Vietnamese officials with an understanding of the European Unions comprehensive animal welfare laws. The Department of Livestock Production has expressed its appreciation of our support, and we plan to continue working with them and ensure further enhancements, including a phase-out plan for battery cages and gestation crates nationwide by 2030. Vietnam has taken other steps in recent years to improve the lot of animals, like banning the cruel Draize rabbit eye test for cosmetics. Progress has been made on the dog meat issue, with the city of Hanoi cracking down on the trade by issuing a directive ordering a ban on dog meat by 2021 because of concerns about the spread of rabies. The passage of this new legislation is encouraging and we commend the Vietnamese government for taking one more step in the right direction for animal welfare. A Chicago police officer was shot and multiple victims are reported in an active shooting situation near Chicago's Mercy Hospital. Shots were fired both inside and outside the hospital. It is not known how many people are injured from gunfire. At least one police officer is said to be in critical condition, and a man identified as a suspected shooter is also said to be injured. Details are limited. "At least one possible offender is shot," a Chicago Police spokesperson said. Regarding the police officer, "He is in critical condition but receiving excellent care," Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted. "Please send your prayers." A #ChicagoPolice officer has been shot in the active shooter incident at Mercy Hospital. He is in critical condition but receiving excellent care. Please send your prayers. pic.twitter.com/kFfMY1ZmF7 Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 19, 2018 "Officers are doing a methodical search of Mercy hospital," Guglielmi said on Twitter. NotifyChicago: Please avoid the area of Mercy Hospital 2520 S Prairie due to Police Activity. Seek alternate route. Tune to local media for more information. Chicago OEMC (@ChicagoOEMC) November 19, 2018 From WALB: Police said a suspect was shot and there are multiple victims injured near Mercy Hospital and Medical Center on the South Side of Chicago. Shots were fired both inside and outside the hospital between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. CT, police said. One of the injured is a Chicago police officer who is in critical condition. People evacuate a hospital in Chicago, where police say there are multiple victims, including a police officer, injured in a shooting. https://t.co/rQynwS67xF pic.twitter.com/f6h8LJFcYD ABC News (@ABC) November 19, 2018 A woman who was in Chicago's Mercy Hospital describes hearing an exchange of gunfire during a reported shooting there: "It was extreme and it was very loud and it was close" https://t.co/mGUPVr9iBP pic.twitter.com/HmuNvMDU6r CBS News (@CBSNews) November 19, 2018 WATCH: Ambulance leaves Chicago hospital shooting scene with extensive police escort. https://t.co/mxwX1hogVR pic.twitter.com/Sad0gzgP8y NBC News (@NBCNews) November 19, 2018 CHICAGO (AP) Police: Officer shot, critically wounded during active-shooter incident at Chicago hospital; 'possible offender' shot. Kris Ketz (@KrisKetzKMBC) November 19, 2018 From the Chicago Tribune: Chicago police officer and multiple other people, including an apparent shooter, were wounded in an "active shooter" attack at Mercy Hospital on the Near South Side that brought out a large police presence Monday afternoon, authorities said. The officer was critically injured in the shooting attack at and near the hospital, 2525 S. Michigan Ave., about 3:20 p.m., a police spokesman said. "He is in critical condition but receiving excellent care," police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. "Please send your prayers." There were "Reports of multiple victims" in the attack, Guglielmi said in a tweet. Fewer than six people were believed shot, according to an official. "Officers are doing a methodical search At least one possible offender is shot," Guglielmi said. Fire officials called an emergency medical services Plan III, sending at least 15 ambulances to the scene, because of an "active shooter" situation, a Fire Department spokesman said. A hospital employee said she was in her office when a notice came over a public address system telling those in the hospital to lock their doors. They were later evacuated and people were put on CTA buses as authorities dealt with the situation. "I don't know what happened," she said as she was ushered onto a bus. "They told us to run so we did," one hospital employee said. Authorities were warning people to stay out of the area. Fire crews were at the scene. Fantasy and science fiction author and political activist Steven Brust (previously) was this year's Guest of Honor at Philcon, an excellent Philadelphia-area science fiction (I have also had the privilege to be Philcon's GoH, and it's a great con); his guest of honor speech is entitled Truth as a Vehicle for Enhancing Fiction, Fiction as a Vehicle for Discovering Truth, and he's posted a transcript to his blog. It's a fascinating examination of how philosophy and fiction mesh, and particularly how "pulp" forms of fiction like fantasy and science fiction both convey philosophical ideas and benefit from their inclusion and how people who claim not to have a philosophy or to adhere to "isms" are in fact, espousing a philosophy. So now we turn it around, because yeah, we really can can discover truth, understand reality better, through fiction, and that's how we create fiction that hits hard, that punches, that stays with us. But now the question is, what sort of truth do we find in our made-up worlds? I call a book successful insofar as people who read it are glad they did. But that's only because I've learned that it's easier to meet my standards if I set them low. In other words, "a good story well told," as the saying goes, is worthwhile, but not all that challenging. We all know a story can do more than that. We've all read books that gave us new ideas to play with, or made us reconsider things we thought we knew. I like to call us epiphanizers, at least in intention. What I mean is, the highest goal, the thing to shoot for, is to give the reader that moment of, "Oh my god, that's true, and I'd never realized it." To put it in more formal terms, it means to reveal contradictions that are concealed in everyday life. So how do you do that? It isn't simply a matter of standing up there and saying, "Hey, here's this truth I've learned about life." The ones who do that are called either philosophers or stand-up comedians. With a novel, it isn't like you're trying to find a slick or clever way to deliver some message, and concealing it in 100,000 words. If there was a shorter way to get your point across, you'd do that. Let me hit that point harder: there's an old chestnut, I don't know where it's from, that says "Until a writer can express the theme of his novel in a single declarative sentence, he shouldn't set pen to paper." I believe that if you can express your theme in a single declarative sentence, you should write that single declarative sentence, then make your novel about something interesting. On January 1st, 2019, Washington State will be rolling out some of the toughest gun laws in the United States. If you want to buy a semi automatic rifle in Washington next year, you'll have to be 21 years of age, instead of 18. You'll have to store that puppy safely, too: According to the Seattle Times, in some circumstances, gun owners will be criminally liable if an unauthorized individual uses their boom-stick to commit a crime. It's a move that should make everyone in the state feel just a little bit safer, what with all of the gun violence of late. Provided the cops are willing to enforce the new laws. From The Root: Republic, Washington, Police Chief Loren Culp, whose name makes him sound like a placeholder villain in a crime procedural, has announced that his police force, comprising all of him and his deputy, will not enforce the law when it goes into effect in January 2019. Culp has proposed an ordinance to his city councilsupposedly based on the Second Amendmentessentially saying that gun regulation laws like Initiative 1639, the one in question, infringe on citizens' constitutional right to bear arms and through the ordinance would be "hereby declared to be invalid in the City of Republic," per the Times. In an interview with the Seattle Times, Culp made it clear that he thinks that having to be accountable for your firearm by reporting it stolen within five days of the theft is unreasonable bullshit. Making sure that folks under 21 years of age aren't allowed to bop around with a semi-automatic weapon? This too is bullshit. He's not down with that! Of course, Culp has a chorus of tooled up tools egging him on. From The Seattle Times: Republic is in Ferry County, which voted 73 percent against the initiative, almost an exact flip from King County, which went 76 percent for the initiative. As of Sunday afternoon, on the official "Republic Police WA" Facebook page, that Nov. 9 announcement by the chief had gotten 797 thumbs up, 292 hearts and only three sour faces. Does anyone know what's supposed to happen when an officer of the law refuses to enforce the law of the land? I'm curious how this one is going to play out. Image of Colt AR-15 Sporter SP1 Carbine above by Chris Browning (GunNewsDaily) Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link South Africa has a bunch of different celebrities who have always had an impact on the social lives of the Mzansi people. There are countless times when we have heard that a female celebrity has taken part in charity works in the country. Whoever said that the girl child could not rise from being weak and naive was wrong and things are changing. Currently, there are so many South African female celebrities who are doing great while being in the spotlight. Many of them are known internationally, and they can participate in charity works and also make a name for themselves. In this piece, we are going to discuss more on the current and past South African female celebrities. What they do, where they were born and other interesting facts about them. South African celebrities 1. Basetsana Kumalo First on our list is none other than the famous Basetsana Kumalo or Bassy as she is popularly known. She is a very hardworking and ambitious lady considering that she started her career when she was as young at 16 years. She was crowned Miss Soweto and Miss black South Africa in 1990 when she was only 16 years, which means that she had started working on her dreams when she was a bit younger. Bassy was born in 1974, in Soweto where she was taken to Thabisang primary school and where she started her studies. Currently, Basetsana is a television personality who has taken part in important South Africa shows like the final miss South Africa that took place in 2016. Talk about woman power in South Africa, and you will not finish your speech without mentioning Basetsana because she is currently the president of the business women's association. She has also participated in charities all over the country; for example, she and her husband Romeo Kumalo have set up the Romeo and Basetsana Kumalo family foundation. The foundation is meant to help orphaned kids, especially the ones whose parents died of AIDS and other related diseases. She is also a businesswoman who launched her eye-wear range that has 60 stores all over the country. She later launched her Bassie red cosmetics with 100 Foschini stores distributed countrywide, and then she followed the launching with another launching of her Bassie gold range that happened in 2006. 2. Bonang Matheba Bonang matheba is a very successful woman at the moment in South Africa. She is an award-winning radio host, TV presenter and also a style icon. Bonang became famous when she became a TV presenter in the SABC 1 music show which is currently known as the live amp. This South African beauty is known to be a very hard working woman as she started working at the age of 15 years. She was born in 1987 in the North West of South Africa. Due to her taste of style, Bonang has won herself the award for the most glamorous South Africa celebrity which is hosted by the Glamour magazine in 2014. She has also won the most stylish female celebrity by You Spectacular, which took place in 2014. Bonang net worth is estimated to be about $7.2 million. This celebrity is the one that you will always need to watch out for, especially in fashion surprises that she gives to her fans. 3. Pearl Thusi Sithezile xola Pearl Thusi, popularly known as Pearl Thusi, is a South African female celebrity who is an actress, a model and a TV and Radio presenter. All these titles given to one woman show that as the world is drastically changing, so does the position of women in the society. Gone are the days when the place for women would be in the kitchen. She has also taken part in some films; for example, in the famous film Quantico in which she took part as Dayana Mampasi. Pearl Thusi is currently the host of lip sync battle Africa which airs on MTV and eTV and talk show moments which air on ebony life TV. READ ALSO: 5 Mzansi celebrities who entered talent competitions, but lost The hottest South Africa actresses Most actresses in South Africa have worked their way up and got to the top. Some of them have even reached the point of showcasing their talent internationally and therefore bringing the South African film industry into the limelight. Below are some of the hottest actresses that South Africa can reasonably brag about. 4. Natalie Becker When we say that South African actresses have tirelessly worked their way up to the top, we mean it. Take, for instance, Natalie Becker, a South African actress who started her career as an announcer at good hope FM, a radio station under the South African broadcasting association. She later made a better step and became a TV presenter, and the she hosted the top billing show. Natalie is a South African by birth but with a cape colored descent. That does not stop anyone from noticing the spectacular features she has. She has beautiful eyes and a great body too. The star starred in the film Tremors 5: bloodlines which were released in 2015. She has also taken part in the movies like Scorpion king; rise of a warrior. 5. Charlie Theron Charlie Theron is a South African -American actress who has taken her career to high heights. She was born in South Africa at Benoni in Transvaal, currently known as Gauteng province. The actress has starred in the movie Mighty Joe Young', which is probably known by all South Africa. The actress has been in the film production industry too since the early 2000s, and she has made significant establishments. She started by introducing a film producing firm known as Denver and Delilah productions, which have seen her acting as the leading artist in most of the films. Charlie Theron gained her American citizenship in 2007 but retained her South African citizenship. She is very fluent in English, but her native language is Afrikaans. The successful actress; however, went through a tough teenage especially after her mother killed her dad. Her drunkard father had threatened her and her mother had to shot him dead in self-defense. This incident did not deter her from pursuing her dreams. READ ALSO: List of hottest South African actresses with pictures The richest woman in South Africa 6. Mampela Ramphele She is a former activist against the apartheid regime that took place in the country years ago. Mamphela has many titles to her name, and many South Africans popularly know her because she has been in the limelight for quite a long time since she was born in 1947. This lady is also a businesswoman, an academic and a one-time managing director of the world bank group. She is also one of the richest black women in South Africa considering that in 2011, she appeared on the Forbes' richest women list. Mamphela's partner was the famous Steve Biko, and together they had a son, Hlumelo Biko. Conclusion There you have it, there are famous and beautiful ladies in South Africa, but the above are the ones that you have probably heard about. Women in South Africa have known the benefits of using their abilities and talents to create a name for themselves, and that is why many have become South African female celebrities for their deeds. READ ALSO: List of famous South African actors and actresses 10 Celebrities who love visiting South Africa Source: Briefly.co.za - Mo Salah scored late to gift Egypt a 3-2 deserved victory over Tunisia in the AFCON qualifications - The Liverpool star was, however, forced to apologize to a little girl who was in the stands to watch the encounter -The two nations have already sealed a spot in next years Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted in Cameroon PAY ATTENTION: Click "See first" under the "Following" tab to see Briefly News on your newsfeed! Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah, scored a late winner on Friday, November 16 to hand Egypt a 3-2 victory over Tunisia in a tough Africa Cup of Nations qualification tie played at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria. Salah linked up brilliantly with Mohsen, with the Liverpool star slotting past Farouk Ben Mustapha with ease after the ball came into his path. However, a little girl who was spotted during the match holding a sign in the 36th minute stole the show during the five-goal thriller, Briefly.co.za learned. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app A twitter user, Nadine Meshref, shared a moving image of the girl clutching a sign begging Salah to score early so she could go home and do her homework. "Salah, please score. I want to go home, I have homework," the signage said. The viral photo prompted the Liverpool forward to offer an apology to the little girl for failing to score early. The 26-year-old took to Twitter to respond to Mishref's tweet, expressing his remorselessness for not fulfilling the girl's request much earlier. READ ALSO: The best Black Coffee songs 2018 "I really tried to let you go home early, and sorry to have kept you here until the last minute," he tweeted. "I hope your teacher tomorrow understands the situation," he added. The former Roma and Chelsea star has played an integral part in his country's campaign for the qualification of the Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted in Cameroon next year. During the Friday clash, Naim Sliti opened the scoring for Tunisia in the 11th minute but Kasimpasa winger Mahmoud Trezeguet ensured both sides headed level to half-time with his 32nd-minute effort. READ ALSO: Idols SA winner Yanga breaks the mould with career in gospel music Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Tuko.co.ke Source: Briefly.co.za News / National by Staff reporter INTERNAL strife within the main opposition MDC Alliance is escalating following allegations that its president Nelson Chamisa and his supporters violated sections of their own constitution in a bid to cling to power.Insiders itching for an early congress, where Chamisa is likely to face a challenge for the presidency, said the recent declaration that the party will hold its congress in October is a violation of the constitution and perpetuation of dictatorship by power-hungry individuals."The congress of the MDC must be held in February next year. This is in line with section 9.21.1 of our constitution, anything else is a perpetuation of dictatorship and violation of the tenants of the constitution which they claim to uphold," an official who declined identification, said.According to the MDC constitution, following the death or resignation of the president, an election to fill the position should be held no later than 12 months."In the event of the death or resignation of the president, the deputy president assumes the role of acting president, pending the holding of an extraordinary congress that shall be held to elect a new president, which extraordinary congress to be held no later than a year from the death or resignation of the former president," the MDC constitution read. Party vice-president Morgen Komichi, who is fighting from Chamisa's corner, accused those within the party pushing for an early congress as seeking to destabilise the party."That view can only be propagated by CIOs (Central Intelligence Organisation operatives) and Zanu PF agents in the party, because proper members of our party respect the organs of the MDC, they respect the national executive and the national council and these made clear resolutions of what should be done. MDC members know that our congress will be held in October and will not mislead anyone," he said.Chamisa, who claims to have won the July 30 presidential elections is mobilising his supporters for a demonstration to oust President Emmerson Mnangagwa.Komichi said the "sideshow" was being funded to side-track Chamisa from pulling the party supporters from reclaiming victory, which they allege was stolen with the help of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission."Nobody is resisting congress, but it will be held when it's supposed to be held, and we are not going to be dictated upon by CIOs who want to side-track us from reclaiming the people's victory. Those who feel they can stand for presidency can still do that in October even after we reclaim the people's victory," Komichi said.Chamisa's ascendency to the top post in the opposition party has been mired in controversy after he was accused of snatching power from former deputy president Thokozani Khupe who claims she was the legitimate heir to the late Morgan Tsvangirai. She has since formed her own MDC-T party and lost in the July elections.Party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora is reportedly a dark horse for the post of presidency and previously beat Chamisa in the race for his current position four years ago. Vice-president Elias Mudzuri is also said to be in the mix for the presidency after he was outflanked by Chamisa when Tsvangirai died. News / National by Staff reporter MDC secretary-general (SG) Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said the party was united, dismissing claims that party president Nelson Chamisa is pushing for his and vice-president Elias Mudzuri's ouster.Speaking at the Alpha Media Conversations yesterday, Mwonzora also dismissed claims that he was eyeing the party presidency. He said even though they might not see eye to eye on some issues with Chamisa, he respects the MDC leadership.Mwonzora said there was an enemy who was trying to divide the party."I want to assure all democratic lovers and agents for democracy that their party MDC is intact," he said."The fact that we are intact does not mean that we are homogenous both physically and mentally. We may not see things the same way every time and that is to be expected, but there is one danger that people should be always on the look out for: people try to play one leader against the other and they use history to do that."This came after Elias Mambo, an investigative journalist, who was one of the panellists said Zimbabwe did not have an opposition party which could keep the government on its toes, but has an opposition party which is dealing with its internal issues."The role of the opposition party is to keep the government in check, it's unfortunate that at the moment the opposition party in Zimbabwe is in the intensive care unit, it suffered with the death of Morgan Tsvangirai, and at the moment there is no opposition to talk about. All we are seeing right now are squabbles within the opposition. They have dumped their actual role," Mambo said.But Mwonzora said the MDC was a democratic party where members were free to challenge Chamisa in the upcoming congress next year."I am currently not contesting for anything, I am the current SG of the MDC, I recognise the people who are above me in terms of rank. MDC is a democracy and being a democracy contestation for positions is allowed within the MDC, not only that, president Chamisa has addressed internal meetings at which I have been present where he has said that this is democracy. In fact, at one point referring to me he said it is Mr Mwonzora's right to contest if he wants to contest, he said it in my presence," he said.There were reports that Chamisa was targeting Mwonzora and Mudzuri who met Chief Justice Luke Malaba and apologised for being heckled by MPs in Parliament without his blessing, a move that reportedly irked the MDC leader who wanted to axe them before congress.Mwonzora, a long-time foe of Chamisa was also reported to be plotting to challenge Chamisa at the party's forthcoming congress which will now be held in October next year. News / National by Staff reporter Businessman and socialite Genius "Ginimbi" Kadungure who spent the weekend in remand prison is now a subject of ridicule on social media.Famous for his expensive, flashy all-white parties meant for the "who is who", this time around social media is suggesting he holds an "all-khaki party" in reference to the khaki prison garb.Several memes have been circulating with another one showing inmates in white garbs with the caption written "ready for the white party".Ginimbi was found on the wrong side of the law and is being accused of tax evasion amounting to $3,5 million.He was denied bail by a Harare magistrate on Friday, sending him to remand prison.Reports coming from the prison are that he facilitated the release of 50 prisoners who were failing to raise various amounts for bail ranging from $20 to $500.In another jab, people edited a picture of him wearing remand prison garb on a poster advertising his "all-khaki party" in remand: "Ginimbi all-khaki party, Harare Central Remand...Trace the money, Trace the fraud."Twitter users went on a roll also making fun of Ginimbi, Bukhosi Buks Mhlanga@TheEntreprenew wrote: "First @mmawere announces you're a bad debtor, twitter suspends your @ginimbi account, you are in a car accident and days later get arrested for 22mil tax evasion, bail is denied and the country mocks you! All in 6months! @GeniusKadungure my guy mudzimu wakurasha."Lashias Ncube @lashiasn said: "Nah, Ginimbi is just auditioning for a prison reality show. My guy will be back home on Monday."Others were, however, concerned that they were going to miss his live Instragram videos famous for his; "My life your TV".Ginimbi has been hosting all-white parties around the world and in Zimbabwe.He owns several top-of-the-range luxury vehicles which he is planning to offer for hire. News / National by Staff reporter HOOKERS stopped a Catholic priest from giving a graveside speech with their seductive dances arguing that their departed friend was never into church.Sex workers accommodated in the Avenues hired a commuter omnibus to Mufakose and Zororo cemetery where they gave their last respects to the late Samantha Nhlanhla by dramatizing how she had been hooking up with men for sex.The Priest read a passage of scripture from Revelations 14:13 before the hookers interjected describing Samantha as a pagan."Samantha taimuziva achinwa hwahwa saka totomboita zvekukechwa, totsvaga mhene, tipei carpet iyo tikuratidzei zvairaramisa Samantha," one of the hookers was heard saying before dragging the funeral parlour carpet and displaying some sex moves on top of a man they had made to lie down.They blew condoms, disturbed undertakers from their duties appealing for more time to give last respects while taking dagga.Some of the mourners were forced to leave the burial site as the sex workers took dagga and sprinkled beer all over the gravesite chanting songs.Speaking to H-Metro, Nhlanhla family spokesperson Brighton Nhlanhla said Samantha was the breadwinner and her grandmother was receiving support from her."Samantha was born in a family of two girls and was the first born," said Nhlanhla."Her young sister is based in South Africa and she was the one who looked after her grandmother. We lost a loving lady."As for what actually happened on the fateful day, her friends are the best people to talk to and one of them approached me saying she had a dream concerning Samantha."The case is now being handled by police and we are waiting for their investigations," said Nhlanhla.One of the self-confessed hookers dismissed claims by one of the hookers that she had a dream saying people were jealous of Samantha."Isu tinoita zvedu zvechipfambi tichitenga mutoriro asi Samantha anga akarongeka, asinahutsinye achigara ega kwete zvekugara makawanda muroom kunge mbeva," one of the hookers said."As for the dream irikutaurwa usanyeperwe nemahur* aya. Mahur* havarote hope nekuti Havana nguva yekurara uye hope dzemasikati hadzitendwe," she said.Some were seen exchanging contacts with some of the male mourners, presumably for communications services. News / National by Staff reporter The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa addressed a Post Cabinet media briefing in the Cabinet room at Munhumutapa Building today.Mutsvangwa highlighted that Cabinet deliberated on Provincial Councils, West Nicholson bus disaster and other traffic accidents, the new Parliament building construction update, Lithium mining developments and Rural electrification.Below is Mutsvangwa's full statement.1. Cabinet approved the Principles of the Provincial Councils and Administration (Amendment) Bill which was presented by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. The Amendments have been prompted by the need to align the current Provincial Councils and Administration Act [Chapter 29:11] with the provisions of the New Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 20 which advocate for the devolution of power to provincial and metropolitan councils.2. West Nicholson Bus AccidentCabinet received a report from the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on the fatal Brooklyn Bus accident which occurred at West Nicholson along the Gwanda - Beitbridge road and claimed 33 lives. While investigations to establish the actual cause of the accident continue, Cabinet, nonetheless, expressed grave concern over the increasing road carnages on the country's major highways and conveyed its condolences to bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Cabinet directed the Ministries that constitute the Civil Protection Unit to urgently revamp, the country's disaster response mechanisms so as to ensure swift assistance to victims.3. Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Construction of the New Parliament Building in Mount HampdenCabinet received a brief indicating that His Excellency the President E.D. Mnangagwa will preside over the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden on 30th November, 2018. This will trigger the commencement of construction work on this long awaited and very important Project.4. Launch of the Arcadia Cabinet was also briefed that His Excellency Lithium Mine in Arcturus the President, E.D. Mnangagwa would Goromonzi also preside over the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the commencement of mining operations at Arcadia Lithium Mine in Arcturus, Goromonzi on 3e November 2018.As you may be aware, lithium, is the mineral of the moment, being a key component for the manufacture of electric car batteries and cellphone chips. As such, the exploitation of such a mineral will create a basis for the development of high-end technology industries in Zimbabwe, which are often referred to as industries of the future.5. Priority Projects Cabinet approved the following priority Approved by Cabinet for projects from Ministries for immediate lImmediate Implementation implementation under the 100-Day programme:Mines and Mining Development Increasing capacity of the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) Conglomerate Plant from 200 tonnes per hour to 450 tonnes per hour; Establishment of two (2) chrome smelters at Afrochine Smelting (Pvt) Ltd; Establishment of two (2) chrome smelters at ZIMASCO; Establishment of Gold Service Centres at Penhalonga, Shamva and Silobela; Installation of the Unki Smelter Energy and Power Development Marvel 175 MVA transformer at Marvel Substation in Bulawayo; Prince Edward Dam 33/11KV substation in Harare; Transformer manufacturing at ZENT, Harare; Rural electrification in all the eight (8) rural provinces; Operationalisation of the Mabvuku Service Station in Harare;Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Installation of Radio Transmitter at Maphisa; Installation of Radio Transmitter in Kanyemba; Construction and Commissioning of an Outdoor Public Viewing Screen at Mushumbi Pool in Mbire District; Establishment of a ZBC (ZIM24) Online News Channel; Content Production for Broadcasting Programmes;Transport and Infrastructural Development Dualisation of road from tollgate to Melfort along Harare - Mutare; Computerisation of transport management systems; Launch of the road from Norton to Tollgate along the Harare - Bulawayo Road; Fencing of Beitbridge-Bulawayo Road.As usual Cabinet will call for updates on progress from Ministries for the above-stated Projects. News / National by Staff reporter #PostCabinetBriefing Minister July Moyo says Zimbabwe to set up battery manufacturing factories in the Midlands Province as part of lithium beneficiation efforts #Vision2030 pic.twitter.com/0wlpTeAAjo Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) November 20, 2018 Minister July Moyo says Zimbabwe is going to set up battery manufacturing factories in the Midlands Province as part of lithium beneficiation efforts, Zim Techreview reported.Gweru used to be home to Kariba Batteries which used to supply Zimbabwe with good quality batteries.Today Cabinet was briefed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa would preside over the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the commencement of mining operations at Arcadia Lithium Mine in Arcturus, Goromonzi on 30 November 2018.As you may be aware, lithium, is the mineral of the moment, being a key component for the manufacture of electric car batteries and cellphone chips. As such, the exploitation of such a mineral will create a basis for the development of high-end technology industries in Zimbabwe, which are often referred to as industries of the future.Zimbabwe has the potential to supply 20% of the world's lithium, the mines minister from Africa's top producer of the alkali metal used in batteries for electric vehicles. It is a top 10 of lithium producer but currently produces only a fraction of the worldwide total. It aims to supply 10% of the world's lithium in four years.Zimbabwe sitting on a lucrative mineral treasure trove and angling to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), Australian listed firm, Prospect Resources, is on course to spending an estimated US$55 million on a new lithium plant in the southern African country.Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa once said Zimbabwe has the potential to be a global manufacturing centre for the type of Lithium batteries."We are already using Lithium battery systems in DPA and we are partnered with some of the key players in that industry. Given our ambitions in this space for our Africa wide rollout, we would be keen to see local manufacturing in Africa itself.""It would make a lot of sense for Zimbabwe to position itself as a manufacturer of the finished products rather than as a miner of raw materials."We are neither miners nor manufacturers. It's really up to government if they want to get investment in manufacturing to come up with the policies that would make it attractive to invest in large scale manufacturing," said Masiyiwa.Prices for lithium have more than doubled in the past two years on forecasts for massive demand from the electric vehicle industry. That has sparked work on a flurry of new mines and expansion plans for existing ones.Cabinet approved the following priority projects from Ministries for immediate implementation under the 100-Day programme:Mines and Mining Development Increasing capacity of the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) Conglomerate Plant from 200 tonnes per hour to 450 tonnes per hour; Establishment of two (2) chrome smelters at Afrochine Smelting (Pvt) Ltd; Establishment of two (2) chrome smelters at ZIMASCO; Establishment of Gold Service Centres at Penhalonga, Shamva and Silobela; Installation of the Unki Smelter Energy and Power Development Marvel 175 MVA transformer at Marvel Substation in Bulawayo; Prince Edward Dam 33/11KV substation in Harare; Transformer manufacturing at ZENT, Harare; Rural electrification in all the eight (8) rural provinces; Operationalisation of the Mabvuku Service Station in Harare; News / Press Release by Jacob Mafume The MDC would like inform the public and the media that statements attributed to party leaders who are said to be involved in fights are false.For the avoidance of doubt, Vice President Prof Welshman Ncube, Vice President Eng Elias Mudzuri and Secretary of Defence and Security, Giles Mutsekwa at no point released the statements that are being attributed to them both in the main and social media.The statements are fake news and a clear sign of desperation by those who have failed to proffer an alternative to the MDC's Reclaiming Zimbabwe Agenda against a background of a legitimacy crisis.In the midst of this crisis, the MDC is focused on strengthening the only credible alternative which is the people's party. We are clear on the pathway to legitimacy; the five point plan enunciated by President Chamisa offers the foundation. Factionalism is not part of the recipe.We assure the nation that the people's party will remain united, strong and focused on the agenda to reclaim victory and transform the lives of the Zimbabwean people.Behold the New. Change that Delivers!Clr Jacob MafumeMDC National Spokesperson Canada Post's largest union has rejected the mail carrier's proposal of a "cooling off" period followed by mediation that would have brought an end to all strike activity until January. On Monday morning, the carrier proposed the two sides agree to mediation to settle their month-long strike before it cripples the key holiday shopping season. The company set a deadline of 5 p.m. ET on Monday for its offer, which came with a $1,000 bonus to each employee if there was no more strike activity up until the end of January. If mediation didn't work, Canada Post was asking its union to agree to binding arbitration as of Feb. 1, 2019. But the union rejected the idea in the afternoon, saying it prefers to settle the dispute through collective bargaining. "We aren't doing this to harm the public, but the proposal asks our members to go back to work at the heaviest and most stressful time of year, under the same conditions that produce the highest injury rate in the federal sector," said Mike Palecek, Canada Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) president. "We are confident that an agreement can be reached, if only Canada Post would address the issues and stop looking for ways not to negotiate." The two sides have been at odds since the middle of October over pay and job safety issues. So far, the union's main weapon has been short, targeted strikes shutting down delivery service in specific locations at a time. Monday's strike action was scheduled for Edmonton, Kitchener, Ont., Kelowna, B.C., and a handful of other places. But the impact of those actions are being felt nationally, as the postal service says it currently has about 550 trucks full of parcels waiting to be delivered, and it has asked the postal services of other countries to stop sending things to Canada until it can clear it. Within minutes of CUPW's statement, federal Labour Minister Patty Hajdu renewed her call for the two sides to continue bargaining, but did not say whether the government is contemplating back-to-work legislation. Story continues "We've encouraged [both sides] to work together. We've appointed special mediators," Hajdu said on her way into the House of Commons. "They are not open to voluntary arbitration, so we're reviewing the evidence right now, and we'll have more to say in the days to come." The Retail Council of Canada and other businesses have urged the federal government to legislate an end to the strike. Chris Wattie/Reuters Busiest time of year for parcel service "If we don't clear the backlog soon, those Black Friday [and] Cyber Monday volumes are going to hit" Canada Post, spokesperson Jon Hamilton said, "and that kicks off a period of several weeks where we see double the volumes that we normally do." The busiest time of year for parcel service is the period between Black Friday after U.S. Thanksgiving, through the holiday season. That's set to begin this Friday, so Hamilton says he expects even more parcels "are going to start coming and coming fast." More than 200,000 Canadian businesses rely on Canada Post to ship goods to customers, and many of the smaller ones will be left in a lurch, says Andrea Stairs, general manager for online selling marketplace eBay Canada. The big guys can figure out alternative shipping arrangements, and they can afford them. The little guys are the ones that have real difficulty with that. - Andrea Stairs, general manager for eBay Canada "The big guys can figure out alternative shipping arrangements, and they can afford them," Stairs said. "The little guys are the ones that have real difficulty with that." Small shops that sell goods across the country on eBay rely on Canada Post to ship between 80 to 90 per cent of everything they sell, Stairs said. "If the postal system breaks, businesses have real consequences," Stairs said. Late last week, Canada Post made another offer to the union representing 42,000 urban employees and 8,000 rural and suburban carriers, an offer that was rejected by the union, which proposed a counteroffer that was also rejected. The union's latest offer proposed: A 2.9 per cent annual wage increase. Double-time pay for working a sixth or seventh day. New wage advancements for temporary workers, based on working 1,000 hours in a fiscal year. Injury pay at 80 per cent of regular salary. Improvements to the company's short-term disability plan. The offer from Canada Post included: TAIPEI/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The Chinese-speaking world's version of the Oscars, the Golden Horse Awards, has created a sharp political divide between film stars and directors as the annual event becomes a lightning rod for questions about Taiwanese independence. At Saturday's ceremony, held in Taipei, documentary film maker Fu Yue called for Taiwan to be recognized as "an independent entity", sparking off a live sparring match between mainland and Taiwanese stars at the glitzy show. Mainland actor Tu Men, while presenting an award, referred to Taiwan as "China Taiwan", while the chair of the awards committee, Oscar award-winning director Ang Lee, told reporters after the show that everyone was allowed to say what they wanted to say on stage. However, he added: "We hope that art can be art, and that no political issues will interfere with it because art is very pure." Taiwan is self-governed and has a democratically elected leadership, but China claims the island as a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to ensure unification. The question of Taiwanese independence is one of Beijing's most sensitive political concerns. Tensions between China and Taiwan have grown since pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen took power in 2016. Taiwan is now preparing for local elections on Saturday, seen as a bellwether for the ruling party's performance in the 2020 presidential race. Tsai herself weighed into the debate on Sunday saying that Taiwan had never accepted being called "China Taiwan". "We can't accept this term. Taiwan is simply Taiwan," she said on Facebook, adding she was "proud" of the awards ceremony which "highlighted that Taiwan was different from China, that being in our freedom and diversity". "Taiwan is a democratic and open society," she said. "No one here will be silenced or disappeared because they have different views. We have no sensitive words that will be censored online." Social media users also left close to 20,000 comments on Fu's Facebook account after the show, with some criticizing her support for Taiwan independence while others praised it. Some said she should not have politicized the ceremony. In a separate statement on Monday, Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party said the criticism of Fu was an attempt at "election interference from outside forces". The Golden Horse Awards was one of the most discussed topics on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform on Sunday, with a number of mainland stars also posting supportive posts about China's claims over Taiwan. Among them was A-list Chinese movie star Fan Bingbing, who earlier this year vanished for months from public view sparking widespread rumors about her whereabouts. She was fined for tax evasion last month and in her apology said her achievements were inseparable from the Communist Party. Her Weibo post was her first since she issued her apology last month. "China cannot be reduced even just a tiny bit," she wrote, alongside a map of Chinese territory, including Taiwan. (Reporting by Adam Jourdan in SHANGHAI and Yimou Lee in TAIPEI; Editing by Nick Macfie) B.C.'s reputation as Canada's pot capital is stuck in red tape, while Albertans next door roll freely from store to store. One month into legalization, Alberta has issued nearly 70 private retail licences, while British Columbia has issued one to a public retailer and another to a private store. Bob Kay stopped selling marijuana from his Be Kind dispensary in Kelowna after legalization on Oct. 17, as he awaited his licence to operate as a store. Kay hopes to open four stores in the Okanagan but at the moment he's still waiting, unsure about the status of his application. "I'm extremely frustrated," said Kay, who is still selling accessories at Be Kind. "We always teach people, our children and even relationships and marriage, that communication is the key to all things but there hasn't been any communication. "It's been 10 years we've been here ... telling the city and community to get ready, it's coming. They're not ready." Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press Alberta experience Waiting times can vary from city to city. Kelowna says it doesn't expect to approve any local stores until spring 2019, whereas other municipalities like Kamloops are already approving stores. B.C.'s Ministry of the Attorney General says the province's overall lag is due in part to local government being heavily involved in the process, with some communities delaying applications until after the recent civic elections. Also, B.C. didn't begin accepting applications until August while Alberta was already reviewing them in March. That earlier start helped Chris Weber in Medicine Hat, Alta., prepare his shop for legalization on Oct. 17. Weber quit a 25-year career in the road-building industry last Christmas to set up his store, called The Green Exchange. "I've been building roads my whole life, and I just never went back," he said. Josh Page/CBC News The process required Weber's full-time commitment, with the application form alone running to 70 pages. Story continues "There was a lot of paperwork. A lot of going back and forth with AGLC [Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis] and to lawyers and accountants and what not so, yeah, sure learned how to use a computer." The upshot is that business for Weber has settled at a steady pace of more than 100 customers a day, he says. However, Alberta hasn't been immune to the nationwide supply shortages of cannabis, and the AGLC says it's been diverting much of its supply away from online sales and offering it to retail outlets, to try to compensate. Packaging panned B.C.'s only currently-operating private retailer says once more stores are licensed, business should be steady. But Tamarack Cannabis Boutique in Kimberley, B.C., which had a lineup on its first day, is reporting another perceived downside of legalization. Owner Tamara Duggan says her customers, who are from all walks of life, have been surprised by the volume of packaging involved with any legal purchase. Health Canada mandates that cannabis "be packaged in an immediate container that is tamper-evident, child-resistant, prevents contamination and keeps cannabis dry." That means that loose marijuana is generally sold in a plastic-sealed bottle inside a cardboard box that also contains an information sheet and this has led to complaints of unnecessary waste. "Many, many times every single day, it's like, 'What is going on here, and why is this necessary?'" said Duggan, referring to customers' comments about packaging. "Say, a year from now, I hope what the product looks like is significantly smaller than what we're dealing with right now." A year from now, Bob Kay just hopes to be in business. He can't quite believe that it's now easier to buy pot one province over than it is in the land of B.C. bud. "Alberta, eh," he says. "Who would have thought?" During the Duke and Duchess of Sussex s overseas tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga, they had the opportunity to meet many inspirational young people, like Eva McGauley, who are making differences in their communities. The couple are likely very saddened to hear of the young womans passing, four years after being diagnosed with cancer at 15. MORE: The best quotes from Duchess Meghans powerful royal tour speeches Eva, who was 19 years old when she died, didnt let her disease hold her back. In fact, she used her experience to start a charity called Evas Wish, which fundraises for initiatives supporting victims of sexual violence. Her organization has raised over $65,000 so far. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan first met the New Zealand native while attending the Prime Ministers reception in Auckland. A post to her Instagram revealed the tragic news, that she lost her battle to metastatic nasopharyngeal (neck) cancer on Nov. 10: We are heartbroken to tell you all that Eva left us yesterday morning. It was very fast and peaceful and she was surrounded by her loved ones. Thank you so much to all of you who have followed Evas journey and supported her dreams. Three weeks prior to her death, Eva shared her excitement about meeting the duke and duchess on her social media, writing: I have had the most amazing morning! I am so honoured and thankful to have been invited to Government House to meet with Meghan and Harry this morning!!! They are such kind, down-to-earth people who were really interested in the work Evas Wish does." The inspiring young woman also gifted mom-to-be Meghan a copy of a book she was featured in called 200 Women. The former actress was likely delighted by the present, given her passion for celebrating the lives and accomplishments of women just like Eva. Story continues Prince Harry and Meghan's final tour stop was New Zealand. Photo: Getty Images It was a wonderful way to wrap up their royal tour at the end of October, which saw them travel around the south Pacific for 16 days, meeting with locals and learning about all of the wonderful initiatives born from the perseverance of each countrys young people, women and minorities. Meghan made waves with one of her speeches in particular, which touched on the importance of womens rights. In celebration of New Zealands 125th anniversary of womens suffrage, the Suits alum took the podium, saying: "Yes, women's suffrage is about feminism, but feminism is about fairness. Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote but also about what that represents. The basic and fundamental human right of being able to participate in the choices for your future and that of your community. The involvement and voice that allows you to be a part of the very world you are a part of." Quebec provincial police have found the crash site of a helicopter that went missing in the Laurentians, north of Montreal, but are not commenting on where it was found, or if the the pilot has been found. The pilot, a man in his 50s from Rouyn-Noranda, Que., left that city around 10:30 a.m. ET Monday. The helicopter was expected to arrive at Mirabel around 1 p.m., but never did. The man's former flight instructor called police and Nav Canada around 4:30 p.m. after he failed to show up at his destination. Provincial police Sgt. Stephane Tremblay said the pilot was last heard from around noon, while flying over the Mont-Laurier area, about 325 kilometres away from Rouyn-Noranda, as the crow flies. The pilot, who was alone on the helicopter, has about 100 hours of flying experience, Tremblay said. His cellphone was traced to an area near Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard, 50 kilometres north of Mirabel. That is where search efforts were centred. Police were on the ground in cars and all-terrain vehicles near Lac Saint-Joseph, a lake in Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard. Helicopters belonging to the Department of National Defence and police has been involved in searching the area. With files from Lauren McCallum Submitted A pantsless man is facing a number of charges after a stolen truck with a snowplow blade wound up overturned in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's Sunday, according to police. Around 11:30 p.m., The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary responded to a call of a pickup truck driving in the area of Thorburn Road in St. John's with its snowplow blade scraping the pavement, according to a release sent Monday morning. Officers located the vehicle but were unable to stop it, the release said. A short time later, the vehicle was upside-down near the Bell Island ferry terminal, said police. Police said the vehicle had been stolen from a business on Kenmount Road, and the driver was not wearing pants. According to the Portugal Cove-St. Philip's fire department, the crash damaged multiple utility poles and shut down Beachy Cove Road for nearly six hours. As of 6:45 a.m. Monday, one lane of traffic had re-opened, according to a tweet sent by the department. A spokesperson for the RNC said nobody was hurt in the incident. The driver of the truck was held in custody and charged with break and entry, possession of stolen property, flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and breaches of court order, police said. Read more stories from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh. blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..Algemeiner..19 November '18..Is our alternative truly only between malevolent enemies and condescending friends?That tortured query was issued by Hannah Arendt in 1941, after Jules Romains a prominent French writer and longtime PEN president complained that Jews were not sufficiently grateful for his efforts to save them from the Nazi menace. After fighting for the passage of a resolution condemning antisemitism at a meeting of PEN (over the objections of H.G. Wells) and helping Jewish intellectuals escape France after the Nazis took over, Romains was angry at the apparent ingratitude from Jews for his work on their behalf. And he said so publicly.You complain in fact very loudly and articulately about the ingratitude of Jews for whom you have done so much, Arendt wrote in response to Romains complaints.But at the risk of alienating a protector of Jewish lives, Arendt declared that the last thing Romains should worry about was whether Jews were grateful for his good works. By protecting the lives of Jews and helping them escape their fate under Nazi rule, Romains was defending the freedom and honor of the people of France who were also under the boot of the Nazi regime, she said. Arendt went on to ask if Romains understood that the arrogant demand for gratitude from a protector cuts deeper than the open hostility of antisemites?The underlying message that Arendt had for Romains was that by standing in solidarity with Jews during their time of trial, he was protecting the better parts of himself and the country he called home. In other words, Romains work on behalf of Jews in France wasnt just about Jews, but France as well.If Arendt were alive and watching the efforts to staunch the flow of anti-Zionism that has taken root in mainline Protestant churches in the US today, she might utter a tortured query similar to the one she offered in 1941. It would go something like, Is our alternative truly only between malevolent enemies and ineffective friends? Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in our nation - especially for those in the age group of 10-34 years old. This The morning of December 7, 1941, found 353 Japanese airplanes swarming all around Pearl Harbour. Within a couple of hours, America lost 8 big battleships, 6 major airfields, almost all planes, and 2,400 men. That happened at 7:50 AM in what was supposedly a surprised attack. But these are the startling facts: That morning at 7 AM, while the Japanese warplanes were 137 miles (50 minutes) away, two US soldiers on a small radar station in the Pacific scanned the screen and saw dots and dots appearing, until the whole screen was filled. These soldiers notified their youthful supervisor, a lieutenant. No other officer was around, that being a Sunday. The lieutenant thought these must be planes from California, and without another thought, said these crucial words: Dont worry about it. There would have been time to scramble the planes at Pearl Harbor, prepare the battleships and shelter the men, but this lieutenant, at the most responsible moment of his career, failed the nation. (Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Sign of the Times, Garland TX, Bible Communications, Inc.) Watchmen The two observant soldiers were military watchmen, a role frequently mentioned in the Bible. Watchmen throughout history were strategically placed on the highest point of the city wall. They were to warn inhabitants of an approaching enemy. Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon; make the watch strong; set up watchmen; prepare the ambushes; for the LORD has both planned and done what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon. (Jeremiah chapter 51, verse 12) They also saw friends approach. Messengers may be bringing news of recent events. (No text messages then!) For thus the Lord said to me: Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently Then he who saw cried out: Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs! And he answered, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; hand all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground. (Isaiah Chapter 21, verses 6 to 9) In the Old Testament they were also described as prophets, spiritual watchmen, who warned the people of Israel of Gods judgment. And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. (Ezekiel chapter 3, verse 16, 17) I like what Strongs Exhaustive Concordance says describing the watchman as one who leans forward, peers into the distance, to observe. The Enemy The New Testament instructs all of us to be watchful. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5: 8) Peter targets the devil as the real enemy of believers. We may be concerned about ISIS and physical forces but they are inspired by the devil who seeks to maim and destroy. Peter says the devil is like a roaring lion an image he took from the Old Testament. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. (Psalm chapter 22, verses 1213 ESV). By diligent observation we can identify the savagery. We are encouraged to be alert and aware. Wuests word studies from the Greek New Testament reminds us: The Christian would do well to remember that he cannot fight the devil. The latter was originally the most powerful and wise angel God created. He still retains much of that power and wisdom as a glance down the pages of history and a look about one today will easily show. While the Christian cannot take the offensive against Satan, yet he can stand his ground in the face of his attacks. Cowardice never wins against Satan, only courage. Our courage is not from our own resources. Unlike the soldiers at Pearl Harbour we are not reporting to a junior officer. Our watchman responses are referred to the King of kings, the Creator of the Universe. Remember the inspiring words God spoke to Joshua Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed, for Yahweh your God, is with you, wherever you go. (Joshua chapter 1, verse 9) I am encouraged we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. We are spiritually high and above every principality and power. Keep your authority in mind when next a situation or circumstance leaves you a bit shaken. Take it to the Lord. Be He promises to do the fighting for you. Israel has survived on that assurance. So will you. Ron Ross is a Middle East consultant for United Christian Broadcasters (Vision FM). Previously he was radio news editor for Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem, Israel. His career started at WINTV (Email: ronandyvonne@mac.com) Ron Ross previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/ron-ross.html Photo - Pen and paper Recently it was my pleasure to sit down on a Saturday afternoon and turn on the television and scan through the channels to find something that may interest me, and sure enough on the Christian Channel I noticed a movie was about to start titled The Letter Writer. This is not a review of that lovely movie that gave rise - to me to call over to my wife of almost 42 years to say thankyou. Set in the US, a high school lass named Maggie Fuller received a most wonderful praising letter of who she was as a person signed by a Sam Worthington. The long and short of this story was that she tracked him down, a very elderly gentleman in a aged care facility, and discovered that he selected people out of the telephone book and wrote the most inspiring letters. It was a lovely story with the mandatory twists and turns, heartache and tears, joys and pleasures and the rest of it. But that movie 'The Letter Writer' gave rise to a growing trend that I have been aware of in my ministry in recent months, that instead of an Email, the hand written letter is seeing many are returning to it. On the 5 November 2010 eight years ago I wrote an article on the virtues of hand written letters. In that article I spoke of a a large air-tight chest in my office (which is still there) and in which are the family archives - most significant in historical terms are the handwritten letters dating from the early 1930s. There are courtship letters written by my parents leading up to their marriage in 1947. There are letters to and from each other when my mother was in hospital for weeks-on-end in pregnancies and my father was on their farm, 60 miles away. There are letters from my grandmother. There are letters from my father's eldest sister to whom he was fondly attached. There are letters from treasured friends to my mother; these were girl friends that were in the Land Army together during WWII. They remained friends over a life time and many letters were written. We know, we have them. Photo - Computer and key board Hand-written There are a number of things we can say about such handwritten letters, as they were the usual form of communication - typewriters have never been a custom household item in Australia (as was a radio). It is an ancient craft. The Old and New Testaments frequently speak of letters, scrolls and documents. In the days up to the Industrial Revolution, where not everyone could read and write, people thought it so important to send personal messages that they employed scribes to write their letters for them on special occasions. Seals became a major part of the security system of the time, and that would enable the recipient to be confident that the letter had not been tampered with if the seal was intact. Another aspect of such letters is that they reveal the thinking and context of ordinary people in a particular decade. This the value of WWI letters home in this centenary year of that conflict. So too in the thirties as my father writes of his 'dairy separator' as the first in the district at Crediton (Eungella, Mackay, Qld). My mother in the late forties writes of their Crediton farm house having the first septic toilet system in the district. When the local farmers and wives visited them for their 'tea kettling' party (welcome home after the honeymoon), the ladies checked out the new fangled 'chain' operated toilet. Soon after, we learnt from the letters, every farm house had a septic system. The style of letters changed over the years. Even today, I would never initiate a letter to my wife without mentioning her name. Yet there is a consistency within these letters with the words: "To my darling wife". "To my friend". "To my niece". "To Auntie". "To Mother and Father". A most important event of every week day in Australia was the delivery of the mail. The entire nation survived on mail deliveries. We have little idea today as to how important the mail was to everyone in Australia. This was still an era where England was considered 'home' even if you never had been there. Getting mail from 'home' for generations of Australians was paramount to national comfort and general well-being. These letters were very personalised. Intimacy could be generated by the use of a single word; letters were carefully crafted and could be of a mesmerising nature. The pace of life was slower, it might take a letter a week to get from the city to a farming district. 'Courting letters' were very precious where every word was seasoned. Photo - Key board Today Now, we live in a different era. The internet, emailing, facebook and twitter and the rest of it have all played their part in abbreviating sentences. When someone sends you a handwritten letter today, it is regarded as perhaps a little special. In our faith-financed mission, I have maintained a process of hand-writing. Often when asking for funds for a special project, I will write the letters by hand. When receipting gifting, I will hand write a thank you note. When my wife Delma hand crafts cards for my ministry, I always add a personal note to the recipient. There is still a lot to be said for hand-writing letters, as in those carefully crafted in the family archive chest. This craft is being rediscovered. My wife Delma writes a short hand written letter in the cards she creates and the response is remarkable. Why not try it, perhaps even to give your local post office a shock - Hey, look at this, a hand written addressed envelope! Photo - Monitor and key board Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: Vaccine-Exempt Students Behind N.C. Chickenpox Outbreak North Carolina's largest chickenpox outbreak in decades is centered in a primary school with a large number of vaccine-exempt students, according to health officials. Thirty-six students at Asheville Waldorf School were diagnosed with the disease last Friday, BBC News reported. The school has one of the state's highest rates of religious-based vaccine exemptions for students. Of the school's 152 students, 110 have not received the vaccine against the virus that causes chickenpox, according to BBC News. In 2017/18, nearly 68 percent of the school's kindergarten students had religious immunization exemptions on file. "This is the biggest chickenpox outbreak state health officials are aware of since the vaccine became available," a state health department spokesman told BBC News. The school is co-operating with local health officials and is compliant with all state laws, a school spokesperson said. ----- CDC Creates Task Force to Track Polio-Like Disease A task force to investigate a rising number of cases of a rare polio-like disease among children in the United States has been created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The task force on acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) will include scientific, medical and public health experts who will attempt to identify the cause of the disease and improve patient treatment and outcomes. AFM affects the spinal cord, causing weakness in one or more limbs. The United States has seen an increased number of AFM cases since 2014, mostly in children. There have been 106 confirmed cases of AFM in 29 states in 2018. All but five have been in children aged 18 or younger, according to the CDC. "This task force will ensure that the full capacity of the scientific community is engaged and working together to provide important answers and solutions to actively detect, more effectively treat, and ultimately prevent AFM and its consequences," CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said in an agency news release. The task force will make key recommendations on how to respond to the rising number of AFM cases. The task force plans to submit its first report at a Dec. 6 public meeting in Atlanta, the CDC said. ----- Cap'n Crunch Cereal Recalled Due to Salmonella Scare A small number of boxes of Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch are being recalled due to potential salmonella contamination, Quaker Oats says. The recall is for 21 boxes bought after Nov. 5 at Super Target Stores in Omaha and Lincoln. Neb., and in Wichita, Kansas, and at P-Fresh stores in St. Louis and Blue Springs, Missouri. The 17.1 ounce boxes have the UPC code 0 30000 6211 1 and Best Before Dates of JUL 30 19 or JUL 31 19. No illnesses related to the products have been reported, according to the company. The recalled cereal should be thrown away or returned to the store for a refund. For more information, consumers can call 1-800-234-6281. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. In healthy people, salmonella typically causes fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. India, US Joint Special Forces Exercise 2018 named Vajra Prahar commenced at Mahajan Field Firing Range (MFFR), Bikaner in Rajasthan. The exercise was called between Special Forces of both countries to deal with operations for counter-terrorism and is being done at unit as well as sub-unit levels. Key Facts For this exercise, US Army is represented by contingent of one officer and 10 Other Ranks from Special Forces Group of United States Pacific Command. They will carry out 12 days rigorous joint training in semi desert and rural terrain with aim to enhance inter-operability of the two armed forces and further military to military co-operation. The contingents of both countries in this exercise, will train on aspects such as hostage rescue, building intervention, desert survival, medical aid and combat firing. At the end of training, they will undertake a three-day outdoor exercise to validate their best practices. West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to give land rights to enclave dwellers in north Bengal. The bill will end era of uncertain future for the people residing in those enclaves as it will help them to get full-fledged status as citizens of India, along with all civic amenities and rights. It will also help in distribution of land rights documents people of enclaves in border district of Cooch Behar. The process will result in creation of 13 mouzas (administrative district), while rest of area will be amalgamated with existing 31 mouzas. Plot-to-plot verification has been undertaken to ascertain the ownership status of the land to the dwellers. Background Bangladesh and India had exchanged total of 162 enclaves in August 2015 as per historic 1974 Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), ending one of the worlds most-complex border disputes that had lingered for seven decades since Independence. In Cooch Behar, 111 Indian enclaves, spread across 17,160 acres, became part of Bangladesh territory and 51 Bangladesh enclaves, comprising 7,110 acres, joined India. The enclave residents were allowed to either reside at their present location or move to the other country. Around 37,334 people residing in enclaves in Indian side refused to go to Bangladesh, whereas 922 enclave dwellers from Bangladesh side preferred to be in India. India: Fish production has increased by 26% in the last 4 years: Radha Mohan Singh November 20,2018 | Source: UNI India Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said, under the able leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fish production in many States has reached close to sufficiency. He was present in the training programme on "Inland Fisheries Management" organized at Centre Inland Fisheries Research Institute here for the officers and skill development training institutes for the youths. The Minister reiterated that, fish production has increased by 26 per cent in the last four years. Apart from this, exports of marine products of fisheries too have increased by 95 per cent he added. The Minister said, fisheries are playing an important role in doubling the income of farmers. It is to be mentioned that World Fisheries Day will be organized this year in Patna, Bihar on November 22. It was organized in Delhi for the last four years. A Frederick, Colorado, man who pleaded guilty to murdering his pregnant wife and two daughters in August has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Christopher Watts sentence was handed down Monday after his parents and the family of his slain wife Shanann Watts made emotional statements before the court. I could objectively say this is perhaps the most inhumane and vicious crime that I have handled out of the thousands of cases I have seen, Judge Marcelo Kopcow told the court. Nothing less than a maximum sentence would be appropriate. As part of a plea deal, Chris Watts pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to three counts of murder for the deaths of his 34-year-old wife, who was 15 weeks pregnant, and their daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of murdering a child, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body. The plea deal saved him from facing the death penalty. The court ordered Watts to serve consecutive life sentences in prison all without the chance of parole for each of the murder charges. He was also sentenced to 48 years for the killing of his unborn child and received additional 12-year sentences for tampering with the bodies of his wife and daughters. Prosecutors said Watts strangled his wife and then smothered his daughters before dumping their bodies on an oil site where he used to work. The 33-year-old was having an affair, they said, and had been making plans for a new life when he decided to kill his family. If he was that happy and wanted a new start, get a divorce, Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said Monday in court. You dont annihilate your family and throw them away like garbage. In searing remarks before the court, Shanann Watts parents and brother described the painful loss of their loved ones. They explained they were not seeking the death penalty against Chris Watts because they dont believe anyone has the right to take life away from another person. I trusted you to take care of them, not kill them, said Frank Rzucek, Shananns father. And they also trusted you. ... You heartless monster. You have to live with this vision every day of your life and I hope you see it every time you close your eyes at night. Cindy and Ronnie Watts, Chris parents, were also permitted to address the court. They said they werent asking for leniency in their sons sentencing, but said they love and forgive him. Chris Watts, who declined to make a statement during the hearing, became visibly emotional during his parents comments. He is devastated by all of this, Watts attorney told the court on his behalf. He is sincerely sorry for all of this. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde I was in high school in 1962, but the events of September, October and November are still etched in my mind. They still tell me of a collective national leadership which can misjudge a situation and propel the nation to consequences that will forever haunt it. Its not just the government, but the Opposition too that must be held guilty. It forced an unwilling government into a war that it was not prepared for, with an enemy it completely misjudged. The defeat has set us on a course for this century that may be difficult to deviate from, and that which will largely determine the geopolitics, if not of the world, but Asia for sure. Today India is a rising power, but a somewhat less surefooted one than China, which is now an economic and military superpower. China has described its rise as a peaceful one. Will it let Indias rise also be a peaceful one? In 1962, the Chinese economy was smaller than Indias, and its per capita income too was smaller. That holds a lesson for us. Economic power is not automatically military power. For that, the nations leadership must have clarity of vision, united determination and in which national concerns must not become the tools of partisan politics. As Allama Iqbal exhorted us: Yaqeen makham, amal paiham, mohabbat fateh-e-alam/ Jehad-e-zindagani mein hai yeh mardon ke shamsherein. On September 8, 1962, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army surrounded a small Indian Army post in Tsenjang on the northern side of the Namka Chu stream, just below the disputed Thagla ridge at the India-Bhutan-Tibet trijunction. The Indian post came to be established as a consequence of the asinine forward policy which was adopted by the Indian government after the Sino-Indian border dispute began hotting up, particularly after the flight of the Dalai Lama to India in 1959. The Chinese couldnt have chosen a better place than Tsenjang to precipitate a military conflict with India. For a start, Tsenjang was north of the de facto border, which at that point ran midstream of the Namka Chu. The PLA also commanded the high ground there. By surrounding Tsenjang the Chinese had now flung the gauntlet at India. India walked right into it, chin extended. On September 10, then defence minister V.K. Krishna Menon conveyed his decision that the matter must be settled on the field, overruling the vehement objections of the Army Chief, Gen. P.N. Thapar. Gen. Thapar warned that the Chinese had deployed in strength and even larger numbers were concentrated at nearby, very clearly determined to attack in strength if need be. He warned that fighting would break out all across the border and that there would be grave repercussions. Bur orders are orders, and consequently the Eastern Command ordered Brig. J.P. Dalvi, commander of 7 Brigade, to move forward within 48 hours and deal with the Chinese investing Dhola. Having imposed this order on a reluctant Army, Krishna Menon left for New York on September 18, but not before slyly conveying to the press that the Indian Army had been ordered to evict the Chinese from Indian territory. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru too was overseas, having left India on September 7, only to return on September 30. The Indian Army was under pressure but Gen. Thapar was still not prepared to bow to sheer stupidity. On September 22, at a meeting presided over by deputy minister K. Raghuramiah, Gen. Thapar once again warned the government of the possibility of grave repercussions and now demanded written orders. He received the following order, signed by H.C. Sarin, then a mere joint secretary in the defence ministry: The decision throughout has been as discussed at previous meetings, that the Army should prepare and throw out the Chinese as soon as possible. Under the previous Army Chief, Gen. K.S. Thimayya, the Indian Army had developed the habit of winking at the governments impossible demands often impelled by its fanciful public posturing. The posturing itself was an outcome of the trenchant attacks on the government in Parliament by a galaxy of MPs. One particular MP, the young Atal Behari Vajpayee, was particularly eloquent in his quest to put Jawaharlal Nehru on the defensive. He and others like Ram Manohar Lohia, Acharya Kripalani and Minoo Masani would frequently thunder that every inch of sacred Indian territory must be freed from the Chinese, and charge the government with a grave dereliction of its duties. Prime Minister Nehru finally obliged, by initiating the stupid forward policy and resorting to the use of more extravagant language to signal his own determination to the Indian public. A general summed up this policy succinctly by writing: We would build a post here and they would build one there, and it became a bit of a game, to get there first! Jawaharlal Nehru returned on September 30 and was furious that the Chinese were still not thrown out from the Thagla ridge. He was tired of the Indian Armys refrain of grave repercussions. He shouted at the hapless Army Chief: I dont care if the Chinese came as far as Delhi, they have to be driven out of Thagla. Unlike, Gen. Thimayya, Gen. Thapar was possibly a more obedient soldier, probably even less understanding of the governments compulsions and hence took its orders far more literally and seriously than it deserved. Not only were the Chinese better placed in terms of terrain, men and material, the Indian troops were woefully ill-equipped, ill-clothed and had to be supplied by mule trains or airdrops. They were acutely short of ammunition. The objective of evicting the Chinese from Thagla was of no strategic or tactical consequence. The nation clearly needed a greater reason to precipitate an unequal war. Unfortunately, however, governmental decision-making is still characterised by ad-hocism and a tendency to grandstand. It was this tendency that cost us so many lives in Kargil when we went into quick battle mostly to assuage public opinion and for domestic political gain, without thinking through the tactics. We saw it again during the Doklam crisis, when the Opposition, kept out of the information loop, kept hammering away at the government, and with the so-called surgical strikes which this government seems to have fashioned to score points with its patriotism pirouettes. It is only the unquestioning soldiers of the Indian Army who will still charge like the Light Brigade! Never asking the reason why! But does anyone of consequence in India, including in the Indian Army, commiserate these days over the futile and unnecessary loss of over 7,000 lives, so much of humiliation as a consequence of so much of foolishness by men holding high offices? In 1962, lyricist Pradeep wrote the now famous song whose first line runs Aye mere watan ke logon, zara aankh mey bhar lo paani, wo shaheed hue hain unki, zara yaad karo qurbani. When Lata Mangeshkar sang this in to an audience which included Jawaharlal Nehru, it is said that tears flowed from every pair of eyes. The song still has that magical quality, but few now seem to know what train of events caused those poignant words to be written and what emotions put that enduring magic in Latas voice. If our politicians cant find the time or the attention span to read some of the numerous books and articles written on the subject, they should at least listen to the song and shed a tear for our fallen warriors. We owe them that much for they have, as Kaifi Azmi had written in 1964: Kar chale hum fida jaan aur tan sathiyon, ab tumhare hawale watan sathiyon! 'I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Centre,' he continued. (Photo: File) Washington: Donald Trump repeated Monday that Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, killed by US Navy Seals in May 2011, should have been captured much earlier, casting blame on his predecessors and Pakistan. "Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did," the US President tweeted, echoing remarks he gave to Fox News Sunday that drew the ire of Pakistan, where Bin Laden had been hiding. "I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Centre," he continued. "President Clinton famously missed his shot. We paid Pakistan Billions of Dollars & they never told us he was living there. Fools!" Ten years after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Bin Laden was found to be hiding in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, where he was killed in a raid by US Navy Seals. The assault sent relations between the wayward allies to a new low. In his interview on Sunday the Republican leader had said he cancelled assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Pakistan earlier this year because "they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us." Trump had also told Fox News that Bin Laden had lived "beautifully in Pakistan and what I guess in what they considered a nice mansion, I don't know, I've seen nicer." Pakistan leader Imran Khan hit back Monday at Donald Trump's claim, calling on the president to name an ally which has sacrificed more against militancy. "Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties in this war & over USD 123 bn was lost to economy. US "aid" was a miniscule USD 20 bn," Khan tweeted. The logo of Unilever is seen at the headquarters in Rotterdam, Netherlands August 21, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Piroschka van de Wouw The state auditing agency says Unilever Vietnam should pay over $25 million in back taxes for the 2009- 2013 period. Speaking at a National Assembly session on the draft bill on Tax Administration, State Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc pointed to the Holland-backed personal care products maker Unilever Vietnam as an example of taxes overlooked by the authorities. Phoc submitted an audit report that says Unilever Vietnam had under-declared its tax dues. The company took the case to the Prime Minister and the National Assembly's Budget and Finance Committee. After re-examination, the State Audit concluded that the company had under-declared its tax dues by VND584 billion ($25 million). The auditor general said the company had accepted this figure, but requested that it is not charged for late payment. "Whether the company is fined will be decided by the General Department of Taxation, not us," Phoc said. However, tax department officials as well as Unilever Vietnam representatives told VnExpress that the company had not accepted the above figure despite the parties having discussed the issue many times. "The determination of the amount of tax arrears arising from errors in calculating the preferential tax rate that applies to Unilever Vietnam for its expansion activities in 2009-2013 is not related to transfer pricing," said a representative of the General Department of Taxation. Representatives of the HCMC Taxation Department also confirmed that the decision to collect this sum from Unilever Vietnam has been made, but has not been accepted by the company. Unilever Vietnam denies having under-declared any tax obligation. Tran Vu Hoai, the companys vice president of Sustainable Development and Public Relations, said the outstanding tax issue in question is "due to the differences in the stipulations of the Investment Tax Law and the Corporate Income Tax Law for the period before 2014." "Such differences in the stipulations of the relevant laws have led to different interpretations, causing difficulties for businesses and relevant agencies in the implementation of the laws," Hoai told VnExpress. The crux of this issue lies in the differences that existed in terms of investment incentives between "new projects" and "expanded investment projects" between 2009 and 2013. Then, "expanded investment projects" were only entitled to a three-year corporate income tax (CIT) exemption, and a 50 percent CIT reduction in the five following years. Meanwhile, "new projects" could enjoy a preferential CIT rate of 15 percent for 12 years, three-year tax exemption, and a 50 percent reduction over the next seven years. Tax men and companies are divided over the definition of "new project" and "expanded investment project" as they apply to tax incentives. Unilever Vietnam has petitioned the Government, the Ministry of Finance and State Audit to find a satisfactory solution in compliance with Vietnamese laws and international regulations. Unilever Vietnam is not the only company thats faced this problem. Suntory Pepsico Vietnam Beverage, GE, Piaggio Vietnam and Yamaha Motors have reportedly fought similar battles. Hoai said the matter is being handled by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and other agencies. In September, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment the task of coordinating and working with the Ministry of Finance to resolve such issues for enterprises, in the spirit of ensuring non-retroactivity of the law. VinFast, a subsidiary of Vietnam's biggest private firm Vingroup, presented three models and their prices at its maiden show in Hanoi Tuesday afternoon. Its five-seat sedan Lux A2.0 and seven-seat SUV Lux SA 2.0, which had already been revealed to the public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show last month, cost VND800 million ($34,305) and VND1.136 billion ($48,709) respectively. The smaller hatchback Fadil, presented for the very first time, costs VND336 million ($14,410). These prices are exclusive of a 10 percent value added tax. The company said it was announcing favorable prices for the "initial phase." The original prices of the hatchback, the sedan and the SUV are VND423 million ($18,140), VND1.336 billion ($57,300) and VND1.818 billion ($78,000) respectively, it said. VinFast's SUV Lux SA2.0 But VinFast did not say for how long the promotional prices will last or how many cars will be produced in the initial phase. VinFast surprised industry insiders by completing its first two units, the SUV and the Sedan, within one year. Its first two models are built on frames from BMW. Their components have been engineered by Canadian firm Magna Internationals Magna Steyr, while design work was done by Italian design house Pininfarina. The small hatchback, Fadil, meanwhile, was developed from the background of the Opel Karl Rocks model in the European market. Its structure is almost equivalent to the latest Chevrolet Spark generation. Attending the exhibition, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said building strong Vietnamese brands means promoting patriotism, self-reliance and self-esteem and building a consumer culture in Vietnam. "I hope more Vietnamese companies and entrepreneurs follow in the footsteps of VinFast to express an aspiration to dominate the domestic market and reach out to the international level." VinFast's Lux A.20. Previously, Mike Dunne, an independent industry analyst who has spent more than three decades in Asia, said that he doubted VinFast cars would generate much demand in a country with an average income of $2,385 last year. Vietnams population is around 93 million, larger than South Korea, but car consumption is only around 300,000 units a year, he told U.S. television channel CNBC. While there is little doubt the market would grow, it wont happen fast enough to absorb VinFast's production, planned at 250,000 vehicles annually, he added. There are only 358 businesses in the auto industry in Vietnam compared to 2,500 in Thailand, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Over 90 percent of auto parts are imported, it added. The Long Thanh International Airport is planned to be built in three phases over three decades. Photo by VnExpress/File Work on Vietnams biggest airport would start in 2020 and it will become operational in 2025, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) says. ACV, which manages and operates civil airports in the country, also says that it will complete business appraisals and feasibility reports for submission to the National Assembly for approval in October 2019. Transport Minister Nguyen Van The had told legislators at a meeting late last month that the government was likely to approve land acquisition plans for the project this month, and release funds for it immediately after. Situated 40 kilometers east of Ho Chi Minh City, the Long Thanh International Airport is expected to take up overflow from the largest existing airport in the country, the Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Tan Son Nhat now receives 32 million passengers a year, far beyond its designed capacity of 25 million. The Long Thanh Airport, to be built in three phases over three decades, was recently listed by CNN Travel as one of the worlds 16 most exciting airport projects. The first phase is scheduled for completion in 2025 when it will be able to handle 25 million passengers annually. The next two phases will be built in 2030-2035 and from 2040-2050. The new airport would have an annual capacity of 100 million passengers and five million tons of cargo when completed. The first phase is estimated to cost VND114 trillion ($4.87 billion), and will be raised from public funds, a bond issue and private sources. Experts have warned that the cost of the airport could double every five years. ACV announced that in its 2019 plan, the company will spend more than VND10 trillion ($432.71 billion) on upgrading and expanding several airports, including Cat Bi in northern Hai Phong City, Vinh in central Nghe An Province, Phu Cat in southern Can Tho City, and Noi Bai in Hanoi. Most of these upgrades are expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2019. According to a recent announcement by ACV, by the end of October, the total amount of passengers going through airports this year was estimated at 87 million, by 12 percent over the same period in 2017. This year, the number of international passengers rose by 23 percent, while the figure for domestic customers increased by 7 percent. Hanoi goes from bad to worse in sustainability ranking People in Hanoi believe heavy traffic is a major cause of the city's air pollution. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh Vietnams capital city is among the least environmentally friendly cities in the world, a new survey says. It says that Hanoi has slipped two places to rank in the bottom three of 100 cities assessed on three sustainability factors people, planet and profit. The Sustainable Cities Index was commissioned by Arcadis, an Amsterdam-based design and consultancy firm. It measured each citys social, environmental and economic impacts. Hanoi drops two places to 98th out of 100 global cities in new sustainability ranking. Graphics by Arcadis Hanoi fared particularly badly against its peers in Southeast Asia, falling far below Singapore (4th), Kuala Lumpur (67th) and Bangkok (80th). Jakarta ranks 94th and Manila 95th in the survey. Hanois declining air quality, lack of green spaces and inefficient energy consumption were blamed for its low ranking. The air pollution in Hanoi has been caused by construction projects, expanding fleets of cars and motorcycles and heavy industry, including steel works, cement factories and coal fired plants surrounding the capital city. The city of 7.7 million people has more than five million motorbikes and 550,000 cars. Data shows the number of private vehicles has been increasing at a rate of 4.6 percent annually, but the amount of land allocated for transportation projects has only been expanding at a rate of 0.4 percent. Private vehicles are one of the leading causes for dirty air in the city. Last year, the capital experienced only 38 days of clean air as pollution levels rose to match China's smog-prone capital, Beijing, according to a report by the Green Innovation and Development Center (GreenID) earlier this year. Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of Hanoi, said at a meeting with GreenID in July last year that monitoring results showed that air pollution in the city had reached the "red alert" level. "The heaviest emissions are coming from vehicles," he said. "Recent developments have benefited economic growth, but (problematic) issues related to sustainable development, and consequences on the environment increased," said Nguy Thi Khanh, head of the GreenID Hanoi. Hanoi goes from bad to worse in sustainability ranking Hanoi takes steps to improve air quality Unpopular decisions In its pollution fight, the Hanoi Peoples Council, the municipal legislature, went against public opposition last July to approve a ban on motorcycles by 2030. The ostensible aim was to boost use of public transportation, including a new metro system, but this is poorly developed sector in the capital city. While public buses are cheap and affordable, most vehicles are old and have to share congested roads with cars and motorbikes, making them an unpopular choice for most commuters. Over the past years, hundreds of decades-old trees in Hanoi have been chopped down to expand roads and lay the metro line network, with authorities consistently prioritizing urbanization over protecting the environment. One project to cut many trees was stalled by public protests and a campaign to save them in 2015. However, the felling of trees in different parts of the city has continued. The Arcadis study ranked London as the most sustainable city, based on its innovative and well-connected metro network and trees-planting campaigns. Singapore overtook Seoul place to become the worlds fourth most sustainable metropolis, while Hongkong, Taipei and Tokyo were other Asian cities that performed well on the index. South Africas Cape Town, Egypts Cairo and Indias Kolkata joined Hanoi on the bottom rungs. A plot of land in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, whose transfer was found to have violated regulations. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen A former vice chairman of HCMC is among the latest to be implicated in investigations into a jailed real estate tycoon. Police arrested Nguyen Huu Tin, 61, Monday for "violations of regulations on the management and use of state-owned property leading to losses or squander." Dao Anh Kiet, 61, a former director of the city's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and Truong Van Ut, deputy head of the department's Land Management Unit, were also arrested and accused of being his accomplices. Tin and Kiet had already been under house arrest since September. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into fraud related to public land in HCMC linked to the jailed tycoon Phan Van Anh Vu. In June 2015, while serving as the citys vice chairman responsible for urban affairs, Tin signed a decision to transfer a piece of public land in District 1 to Vu's Bac Nam 79 Company. Half a year later the city granted the company permission to construct an 18-story building there and change its land use purpose, thus completing the sale to Vu. Investigators found this sale had violated regulations related to state-owned lands as it was sold without bidding. Tin personally signed the decision based on Kiet's proposal. Nguyen Huu Tin (L), HCMC's former vice chairman, and Dao Anh Kiet, former director of the city's Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Photo by VnExpress/File Tin and Kiet are also under criminal investigation for leasing out a 6,000-square-meter (1.5-acre) plot of prime land in District 1 without bidding. Vu, 43, used to be one of the biggest property developers in Da Nang, serving as the chairman of three large property companies and a shareholder in a number of projects in the city. Last December authorities issued an international arrest warrant for him for revealing state secrets after he left the country. He was detained in Singapore the same month for violating that country's immigration laws and deported to Vietnam, where he was arrested upon arrival. He was sentenced to nine years in prison for "deliberately disclosing state secrets" in July. An appeal court in late October commuted his sentence to eight years. Vu is also under investigation for "tax evasion," "abuse of power or position in performance of official duties," "abuse of power or position to appropriate property," and "violating regulations on the management and use of state-owned property that led to losses or squander" in separate cases, which include alleged graft at Dong A Bank and violations of land regulations in Da Nang and HCMC. Putting expats on an equal footing with native workers could be the solution to Vietnams brain drain crisis. Nguyen Khac Giang, researcher Several years ago I used to work for an English language publisher. Naturally, that meant we needed native editors who had both excellent editing and language skills. To find someone like that in Vietnam was difficult to start with. But it was even more difficult to get them on board considering the paperwork required to bring them into our labor system was copious. So we decided to "fly under the radar" either through signing temporary contracts with editors for under three months or getting them without a contract at all. This happens all the time at small and medium businesses, especially in the education sector. Its not uncommon to find an English-teaching center employing foreign teachers without official contracts, and the trend has been on the rise in the last few years. Vietnams work policies for expats may have been simplified since 2016, but it is still nowhere near enough. Many expats still fail to get their work permits in time or do not get them at all. They resort to "visa runs" to extend their visa by traveling to a different country and then reentering Vietnam. I agree it might be difficult for foreign workers to enjoy labor policies that are as simple as they are for Vietnamese. But if we want to attract more foreign talent, smooth, transparent policies are a must. The matter is more urgent now than ever as skilled Vietnamese workers are leaving the country in droves to seek new opportunities outside Vietnam, especially in Southeast Asia, since the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 allows workers within the bloc to freely move from one country to another, much like how the EU works. Vietnams "brain drain" crisis could be further exacerbated now that countries like Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines are joining the fray to attract global talent. Group of students learn to speak English with English native foreigners at the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. Photo by Shutterstock/Vietnam Stock Images Last week Saigon announced that it wanted "foreign experts" in its workforce in a draft of its Talent Attraction Policy from 2018 to 2022. This is an unprecedented move from Vietnam, signaling a new shift in perspective among policymakers and possibly introducing a new labor segment in the country. But the end game is still not in sight, considering how other countries are already several steps ahead of us. Even immigration-shy Japan is now loosening up its policies for foreign workers to shore up its dwindling workforce. Looking at the big picture, one of the main reasons why Vietnam is so reluctant to welcome foreign workers is its general avoidance of anything that has to do with countries outside Vietnam. If you pay attention, you could see that it takes much, much longer for event organizers to be done with legal procedures required to hold events if they have a "foreign factor" involved. While it is true that there are still foreign nationals who work illegally in Vietnam, the problem could be solved by merit- or skill-based classification of workers groups like many other countries have done. As the idiom says, you cant have your cake and eat it too. If Vietnam wants to attract more foreign talent, it has to develop a work environment that allows one to grow professionally along with more transparent labor policies. *Nguyen Khac Giang is a researcher at the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research. The opinions expressed are his own. Thai police have detained four Vietnamese nationals to investigate alleged pilfering of high-end clothing from Bangkoks shopping malls. Thai newspaper Khaosod reported that Bangkok police have identified the four as Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, 31, Tran Duc Viet, 24, Nguyen Thi Phuong Mai, 29, and Ly Thu Huong, 24. Citing the police, the report said a group of Vietnamese had entered an H&M clothing store inside a shopping mall on Sukhumvit Road Thursday and acted suspiciously while picking up clothes. When they became aware that security guards were watching them, the four left baskets of goods behind and fled the store. But Thao was stopped. When security staff checked her basket, they found Thao had removed anti-theft tags on clothing items that only cashiers can remove after theyve been paid for. The report did not mention how this was done. Thao was arrested and police officers quickly got her accomplices as well. A raid on their hotel in Bangkok the same night found many shoplifted clothing items. The four Vietnamese citizens have denied the theft allegations. However, police suspect theyd carried out several similar thefts earlier without getting caught. Last June, a 15-member gang of Vietnamese pickpockets whod changed their names and re-entered the country with fake passports were arrested by Thai police. They had earlier been deported and banned from returning to Thailand. Some Vietnamese people are earning an unsavory reputation in several Asian countries like Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, with many caught engaging in petty crimes over the last few months. Citizens of ASEAN member nations can travel within the region without applying for a visa and stay as tourists for 30 days. For two years, she could not get to see her senate representative. So she ran against him and won. Tram Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American elected to the legislature in Massachusetts. Photo courtesy of Andovertstownsman It was an upset victory, papers said. Tram Nguyen was surprised, too. Tram, running as a Democrat, had ousted 18th Essex District Republican state representative Jim Lyons to become the first Vietnamese - American woman elected into the state legislature and the first ever into the House of Representatives. "I decided to run because I had failed to meet in person with Rep Lyons for two consecutive years to raise some issues I was concerned about. "So I tried to give out a message to voters that I would be one who's always ready to meet them to solve problems of the state," Tram told VnExpress about her opponent. In 1992, when Tram was five, she and her parents and a 3-year-old sister left HCMC for the U.S. with just $100 in hand. In Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts, they were lucky to be hosted by a Vietnamese family whod come to the U.S. in 1975. Speaking no English, Tram's father and mother worked different jobs to raise their family. They also worked on learning the new language and adapting to a new life. On her first day at school, she was very frustrated because she could not speak English, but with the support of two Vietnamese teachers, the girl caught up fast. Apart from being teased for incorrect English, she faced no discrimination in a school where students came from many countries. Have a few Vietnamese friends helped a lot. At home, Tram's mother took charge of the family while her father worked hard, delivering food. When she was 14, Tram tried to help her parents by doing different jobs, including working as an assistant in a doctors office, tutoring and babysitting. Her tireless efforts also earned her a scholarship in the Tufts University. "I had to try hard because I knew my parents could not afford to send me to university and higher. They had always encouraged me to get good results in studies to move ahead, which most Asians chose as a way of life. I wanted my parents to be proud of me." Gradually, the family's financial situation improved when Tram's father worked as an engineer and her mother became a quality controller in the same company, though they did not have formal qualifications. Tram continued to study and got a doctorate degree in law from the Northeastern University. Shed first aimed at becoming a doctor, before deciding that she could help the community more as a lawyer. Tram is proud that she can not only speak Vietnamese fluently, but also read and write it well. She is thankful that her parents made the effort to ensure that she and her sisters speak Vietnamese all the time. "My family has always gathered together to celebrate all the special days of Vietnam, including the Lunar New Year (Tet), the Mid-Autumn festival and death anniversaries," she said. Tram Nguyen, in front, is with her younger sister and parents at a party in December, 1992, their first year in the U.S. Photo by Tram Nguyen While she decided towards the end of 2017 that she would run for election to the House of Representatives, it did not become a real campaign until April 2018. She drove home every advantage she could, especially focusing on being a true representative of the people, a message that resonated with the voters. She was also helped by the fact that shed helped many workers, disabled people, victims of family violence, children and veterans as an advocate for five years with Greater Boston Legal Services, a non-profit body working for low income people. She knocked every single door in the region to talk about unsolved problems and what she could do if elected. Many people volunteered for her, and she also felt residents were excited to see an Asian candidate, emphasizing cultural diversity in the U.S. Early in October, Tram and other five Democratic party candidates in Massachusetts were publicly endorsed by former President Barack Obama, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, Tram believes that it is her core message that reached voters and helped her win. "I was extremely glad and surprised when I won... I did not expect I could beat my opponent with a margin of 10 points," Tram said as hundreds of people came to congratulate her. The new representative said her key goals would include making healthcare accessible to all, prioritize public education, which had helped her a lot, and assist small size businesses. She also wants to improve public safety with greater gun control. She said it was unacceptable that there have been 300 mass shootings in just 2018. Seeking long term solutions for the opioid crisis is another key task she has set herself. India's President Ram Nath Kovind (R) and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong attend a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, November 20, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Kham Defense and security is an important pillar of Vietnam-India partnership, says Party leader and President Nguyen Phu Trong. Addressing a joint press conference Tuesday along with visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, he said Vietnam greatly values Indias continued implementation of a $100 million credit line to build 12 high-speed patrol vessels for Vietnam. Indian President Kovind is on a three-day official visit ending Tuesday to Vietnam. "We appreciate Indias progress in implementing a $100 million credit line to build high speed patrol vessels for the Vietnam Border Defense Force. National defense and security is an important pillar in the two countries Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," said Trong. "India guarantees to deepen [Vietnam and Indias] national defense and security cooperation," Kovind said. Trong also said that Vietnam appreciates the continuing cooperation between Vietnams PetroVietnam and Indias Oil and Natural Gas Corporation to explore and extract oil and natural gas in Vietnam. Vietnam also highly values Indias stance on the South China Sea dispute in recent years, and hopes India will continue to support Vietnams position, he said. Vietnam calls the waters the East Sea. President Kovind said Vietnam was a strategic pillar in Indias Look East policy and an important dialogue partner in ASEAN. "Vietnam and Indias relationship grows on trust and mutual understanding," he said. Vietnam is the first destination on Kovinds first visit to Southeast Asia as Indias President. From January to September 2018, bilateral trade volume between Vietnam and India reached approximately $8.2 billion, compared to $7.6 billion for the whole of last year, according to the General Statistics Office. As of September 2018, Indian investment in Vietnam totaled $877 million in 201 projects, mainly in telecommunications, information technology and pharmaceuticals. Vietnam currently has eight investment projects in India with a total investment capital of $6.16 million, mainly in construction materials, cosmetics and animal feed distribution, Vietnam's government news portal reported. After Hell and Hollywood, Nick Ut basks in peace Napalm Girl lensman opens up. I think I might have killed myself if Id not saved Kim Phuc that day. Hes shot celebrities galore, U.S. presidents and Hollywood stars included, but it is the "Napalm girl" that is Nick Uts primary legacy, his powerful contribution to ending one of the most violent, tragic conflicts this world has ever seen the Vietnam War. While hes done, and is still engaged in many projects, Nick Ut knows no conversation with him can exclude or ignore his most eminent work, one that won him the Pulitzer Prize and assured him of an immortal place in history. With characteristic good humor and patience, he answers every question about the "Napalm girl", an image that proved like no other the adage about a picture being worth a thousand words. The Pulitzer-winning "Napalm Girl", 1972. From left, the children are Phan Thanh Tam, who lost an eye, younger brother of Kim Phuc, Phan Thanh Phuoc, youngest brother of Kim Phuc, Kim Phuc, and Phucs cousins Ho Van Bon and Ho Thi Tinh. Photo courtesy of AP/ Nick Ut When Nick Ut shot the most famous photograph of the Vietnam War and one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century, he was just 21. The image of a terrified, burnt, naked 9-year-old girl fleeing a napalm bomb attack brought home the horrors of war more vividly than anything that had been said, written or shown until then. It put the U.S. military on the defensive and added fuel to protests for peace. But, says Nick Ut, it was almost not taken. "I almost did not have that photo, because I was thinking of going home. In early August, 1972, there was intense fighting in Trang Bang (about 25 miles northwest of Saigon). "Then, when I heard my friends say that the fighting had lasted for a few days, I went to Trang Bang early morning of June 8, 1972." He saw thousands of people fleeing the town with their children and cattle. "I followed the Republic of Vietnam soldiers into a nearby forest, then went to National Highway 1 and heard two planes coming. I saw one drop a bomb that shook the whole town, and just two minutes after another one flew over and released four napalm bombs." Nick Ut tried to calm himself, hoping that everyone in the town had escaped, only to see a group of children dashing out of the black smoke. In the following seconds, history was written afresh, and perhaps the picture of the century was born. It seared consciences across the world, particularly in the United States and drove home the point that it was fighting a war it had already lost. In 1973, Nick Ut was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his photograph, and the same year, the U.S. withdrew its troops from Vietnam. Should we or shouldnt we In the AP newsroom, there was serious consideration and discussion on whether the photo should be published because the "Napalm girl" Kim Phuc was completely naked. "It was the AP director of photography who allowed the publication and without any alteration, like adding clothes to Kim Phuc. Without him, it would never have been published," Nick Ut told VnExpress International. Outside the newsroom, people debated, and are still debating where the line should be drawn. Is it appropriate to capture suffering without helping the sufferer? But Nick Ut did help, not just Kim Phuc, but all her siblings and cousins in the picture. After quickly snapping their frantic escape from the smoke, Nick Ut placed his camera on Highway 1 and ran to Kim Phuc. He poured water on her back. Her clothes had been completely burnt by napalm. "She kept screaming too hot, too hot, and repeatedly moaning to her brother, brother, Im going to die." Nick Ut got all the children into a car and took them to a nearby hospital. "Kim Phuc couldnt sit on a chair because her back was burning and hurting so she sat on the floor of the car. She kept calling out to her brother, Tam. Tam, Im going to die." When they arrived at the hospital, the doctors refused to admit them, saying they were not equipped to treat the kids and the third-degree burns covering 30 percent of Kim Phucs body; and advised Nick Ut to take her to a bigger hospital. "I thought to myself, if we leave, she would die. Suddenly I remembered that I had a journalist's card, so I pulled it out and said Im media...the pictures will be everywhere." The doctors finally took the children in, and Ut returned to the AP office in Saigon the same day to develop his picture. Still in touch After the "Napalm Girl" was published, Nick Ut had to go into hiding because the Saigon regimes soldiers were searching for him everywhere. The naked girl in the photograph survived and lives with her family in Canada now. The napalm scars are still visible on Kim Phucs body. "We meet each other almost every year at different events. Whenever she is in America, we would meet up," Nick Ut said. A reunion between Nick Ut (L) and Kim Phuc (R) published on Nick Ut's Facebook on September 1, 2018. In January 2019, her son is getting married in San Francisco and Nick Ut has been invited to the wedding. Kim Phucs brother Pham Thanh Tam died of cancer a couple of years ago, but Nick Ut still keeps in touch with the other children in the picture whenever he can, during his annual visits to Vietnam. How wars treat children Nick Uts image of children in agony is not unique. Nilufer Demirs photographs of the floating body of a dead Syrian toddler whose family was fleeing a conflict triggered by some major powers, or Kevin Carters "The Vulture and The Little Girl" are images that haunt anyone whos seen them. Comparisons have been made between Nick Uts Napalm Girl and Kevin Carters The Vulture and The Little Girl. Carter, a South African freelance photographer, shot the picture in 1992. When a United Nations food distribution plane landed, Carter shot images of young kids scrabbling in the dirt, crying, according to the National Geographic magazine. As one little girl who had almost no flesh left on her scrawled on the ground, unaware of a vulture standing just beyond her, Carter took the shot and chased the bird away but he did not go the extra mile to save the little girl. Nobody knows what happened to her. I might have killed myself Like Nick Ut, Carter won a Pulitzer prize for the photograph, but four months after its publication, he killed himself, leaving behind a suicide note that mentioned how the suffering and killing of starved and wounded children and corpses haunted him. While the picture drew worldwide attention to the Sudan famine, it also provoked afresh an everlasting debate on the ethics of a photographers work. "If I had not saved Kim Phuc that day, I think I would have killed myself like Kevin Carter," Nick Ut said. He was also personally tormented by the war. His older brother, Huynh Thanh My, was killed on assignment with the AP in the Mekong Delta. He still carries his own personal scars. In the 10 years that he covered the Vietnam War, he was hit by bullets on his thigh, belly, and arm. To this day, his leg hurts sometimes from the bullet wound. But he is grateful that his height, or the lack of it, helped him escape bullets that flew over his head. With a short laugh, he told VnExpress International: "If I were as tall as you, I would probably have been killed." Too good to be true Nick Uts Napalm Girl shook the world, but it was not immune from suspicion. "Some people thought Napalm Girl was manipulated or misinterpreted, including President Nixon and the American general leading the Vietnam War, who said it might just be cooking oil on her," he recalled. "A Life magazine photographer was standing right next to me when I took the shot, and he also filmed the moment Phuc and her family members ran out of the bombed town. There were also many other people around me then. Besides, anyone could contact Kim Phuc and ask her if the event was real. "I dont waste my time responding to skepticism about whether my work was photoshopped or fake. But I respect everyones freedom of speech." Another stunning shot that he took, Chasing the Moon, was also suspected of being photoshopped. Chasing the moon. Photo courtesy of Nick Ut Nick Ut dismisses the heresy with his pictures and that of many companions who together have been chasing the moon, including Paul Roa, a Los Angeles Times journalist and many of Uts colleagues and fellow photographers. They call themselves the "LunARTics". "It is not easy to take a shot like that. I have to figure out and understand the timing, which direction the moon and the plane are traveling, calculate the altitude and so on. I had to run around so much to get the shot I want," Ut explained to VnExpress International with one hand emulating the plane and the other the photographer running on the ground. Nick Ut at an interview with VnExpress International. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen The Hollywood stint After Saigon fell in 1975, Ut left Vietnam to work in APs Tokyo bureau. It was there that he met his wife, Hong Huynh, another member of the Vietnamese diaspora. The two migrated to Los Angeles in 1977, where he commenced a new phase of his career documenting Hollywood and other American celebrities. American actress and comedian Cloris Leachman surrounded by her trophies, taken in 2011. The 92-year-old talent has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award, and an Academy Award for her role in The Last Picture Show (1971). Photo by Nick Ut Iraq war veteran J.R. Martinez talks after he was named the grand marshal for Pasadena's 123rd Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California, taken on Nov 1, 2011. Photo by AP/Nick Ut Nick Ut and Huynh have two children who can understand Vietnamese but cannot speak it very well. While they find photography compelling, the children have not chosen to make a career out of it like their father. His grandchildren, though, aged 8 and 10, love taking photos. "They are very good at shooting like their grandpa, but on their Iphones of course. Real cameras are too heavy for them," Nick Ut said, smiling. Sharing his legacy Last March, AP announced that Nick Ut would retire after more than 50 years of photojournalism with the bureau. Following the announcement, in May 2017, he came to Vietnam and gifted the "Napalm Girl" picture to the Vietnamese Womens Museum in Hanoi. The same month, he shared his photojournalism experience and expertise and the stories behind his photos with students, lecturers and other photographers at the VOV College, HCMC. In June the same year, he gave the Vietnam Press Museum in Hanoi two cameras and 52 original photographs that he took during the Vietnam War along with few others he shot in Vietnam after 1975. Nick Ut is a big fan of Leica cameras. He used one to capture the Napalm Girl. In fact, it is almost impossible to find him on the street without one dangling around his neck. Nick Uts adoration for Leica cameras was cultivated by his late brother who showed him all his Leica cameras and used it every day to cover the Vietnam War. In June 2018, he was invited to give a talk at the Leica Boutique in Hanoi about his near-death experience as a photojournalist in the war. Home sweet home Nick Ut is a naturalized American citizen, but he embraces his Vietnamese roots deeply, especially family values, not to mention its cuisine. There is plenty of Vietnamese food available in California, but Nick Uts craving for authentic homemade cuisine is whetted every time he comes home. "Ca kho to (braised fish made in southern Vietnam) is my favorite. And I also love canh chua (sour soup), bun cha Hanoi (grilled pork and vermicelli), banh xeo (Vietnamese pancake)...." While speaking with VnExpress International, he took a break and went outside to buy some banana crackers from a street vendor. He raved about how delicious it was and shared it with everyone at the table. Nick Ut pays a street vendor for some banana crackers. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen The 67-year-old photographer is retired from AP, but not from photography. He has signed up to freelance for Getty Image. He is also working on his book, "From Hell to Hollywood," which is slated to come out this month. It will be published in the US by AP, but he hopes a Vietnamese version of it will be produced in Vietnam as well. He thoroughly enjoys his annual visits to his motherland, which he spends visiting family members and paying respect to the dead. When asked about his siblings, Nick Ut quietly counted with his fingers. He had 11. "Some have passed away. But my younger and older brothers are still in Long An Province (his hometown), and another older brother is living in Chinatown in Saigon. All of them have retired." Some of his older siblings had passed away before he could see them. After all the strife and struggle, Nick Ut still nurtures a vision of and a mission for Vietnam. "When Americans think of Vietnam, they think of Vietnam War. I want to change that. I want them to see the peaceful Vietnam." Saigon Change, November 2018. Photo by Nick Ut Saigon Change, November 2018. Photo by Nick Ut Saigon Change, November 2018. Photo by Nick Ut Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Nick Ut. Today, the man who shot the Napalm Girl revels in his real reward: a country at peace. Story by Sen Just seven days after Amandine Duran posted a letter looking for her biological mother, she got a positive answer. With doctors saying her chances of survival were slim, Amandine Duran, aka Do Thi Ngoc Chau, was left at the Tu Du Hospital days after birth by her parents in 1995. She survived and was transferred to the Go Vap Child Protection Center. When she was six months old, she was adopted by a childless French couple. "Since my parents didnt have children, I was a precious gift. I was given many opportunities, to study abroad in the U.K. and travel to many places," Chau said. Growing up, she was a shy girl, always hiding behind her mother to avoid public scrutiny and attention, aware of that her black hair and dark skin made her different. Every time she visited Vietnam with her father, she felt more comfortable because people didnt stare at her the way they do in France. "When I was 14, I wanted to find my biological parents. My parents agreed, but they told me to work hard and become independent first." At 23, though she was able to earn a good income with a market job, buy a house and a car by herself, and get involved with a charity, she wanted to find out who her birth parents were. The photo and Chau's birth certificate that she posted looking for her biological mother. "I definitely will find my birth mother to know how I was born and support her financially if possible. More than 20 years of my living in France, she is my Vietnamese missing piece," Chau wrote in the letter about her search for her birth mother when she returned to Vietnam last June. The letter was quickly published in newspapers and social media. On July 12, a neighbor read the letter and let Chiem know. The mother immediately called the publisher of the letter. After hearing the news, Chau travelled more than 80 km to meet Chiem in Ngai Giao Town in Ba Ria Vung Tau Province. When she saw the shabby house with scattered furniture, Chau felt sorry for the woman. However, she asked the woman, who did not look like her, to do a DNA test. Four days later, holding the DNA test report affirming their connection, Chau cried with happiness that she shared on social media: "I found my birth family. Now I have 2 moms, 2 home countries and 2 cultures. I am a lucky woman." Early morning of November 5 was the second time they met each other. Chau was very tense. "My heart was beating very fast. I stood in front of my closet and couldnt decide what to wear." Eventually, Chau decided to keep the same look she had in the photo that helped her find her mother for months earlier: no makeup, hair tied up, and wearing a black, tight dress. Chiem knew nothing about the meeting until that early morning. Her daughter did not want to let Chiem know it early, concerned that her mother would be too nervous to eat anything. Chiem, therefore, did not have time to eat breakfast, and left for Sai Gon in her casual clothes and old sandals. During the reunion, Chau had many things to say but could only manage one Vietnamese word "Me." Then she hugged and held her mothers hands for more than 2 hours. "I want to apologize and tell her that I am a terrible mother who doesnt deserve forgiveness, but I cant speak the foreign language," said Chiem. Chau and her biological mother Memories of 1995 returned. Chiem was pregnant with her last child when she was 43. Six months into the pregnancy, she began to bleed and had to be rushed to the Tu Du Hospital. Born prematurely weighing just 1,6 kg in weight, the baby was in a coma, and doctors said she only had a 20 percent chance of survival. "We were very poor and still had 6 children at home. We felt really sad when many people said the baby would not survive. Not thinking clearly, my husband and I went home without telling anyone, leaving the baby at the hospital." Back home, they lied to the neighbors that the baby had dead. "All the years later, we lived in regret. My husband Ut was so sad that he admitted abandoning the baby to our relatives. I did not search for her because I thought she was dead," the mother said. Ut passed away 3 months ago. "Now that I can understand why my mom left me. I am not mad at her. Thanks to her, I had an opportunity to live a better life and be loved by my adoptive parents," Chau said. Chau at the age of plus one and her foster father Chau has been busy with charity work in Vietnam over the last few days. She informed her foster parents about the good news. "My parents are very glad, and they told me to share my happiness with others. Sharing does not make one poorer, but enriches ones life," Chau said. She is also learning Vietnamese to talk with her mother during their next reunion. Michael Son Pham, president of Children with No Borders, said he currently keeps 25 records of people from different countries searching for their birth parents. Among these records, Chaus case is the fastest. It took only one week for Chau to hear the results, while others have taken years to find nothing. "The reason Chau could find her mom that fast was because Chiem had left her real address. In other cases, most people would leave a fake address or would have already moved somewhere else," Son said. According to HCMC's Department of Social Services, in 2011 2017, Vietnams foster care facilities had 21,000 children, of whom just 2,850 got adopted by natives and foreigners. Cambodian PM says no China naval base being built Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen arrives at the Independence Monument to attend celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the country's independence from France, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, November 9, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Samrang Pring Cambodia will not allow foreign military bases on its soil, swatting away U.S. concerns about a possible Chinese naval site near hotly contested seas. China has lavished billions of dollars in soft loans, infrastructure and investment on the poor Southeast Asian kingdom, providing Prime Minister Hun Sen with a fast growing economy that he wields as justification for his 33-year authoritarian rule. In exchange Cambodia has been a staunch China ally. It has seeded disunity among the 10-member ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations over a diplomatic pushback to Beijing's aggression in the strategically pivotal South China Sea. Rumors a Chinese naval base is under construction off Cambodia's southwest coast have been swirling. The area under scrutiny is in the Gulf of Thailand but gives ready access to the South China Sea. Beijing claims most of the flashpoint area, including waters close to the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan. But in comments during a cabinet meeting, broadcast on Facebook live, Hun Sen denied military bases of any kind have, or will be, built on Cambodian territory. "I have received a letter from Mike Pence, U.S. Vice President, regarding concerns that there will be a China naval base in Cambodia," strongman premier Hun Sen said Monday. "The constitution of Cambodia bans the presence of foreign troops or military bases in its territory.... whether naval forces, infantry forces or air forces," he said. The US, once the region's undisputed military power, is acutely aware of the strategic and trading importance of the South China Sea and insists it remains international waters. US, Australian and British warships have increasingly conducted "freedom of navigation" operations through the sea to press that point, infuriating Beijing. Hun Sen dismissed reports of a Chinese base as "information that only tries to manipulate the truth." "I will reply to the letter form U.S. Vice-president Mike Pence to make him understand clearly about the issue," he said. Chinese-bankrolled casinos, developments and dams have mushroomed in recent years, fanning growth but incubating resentment among some Cambodians who fear the country is increasingly in the pocket of the regional superpower. Several joint military exercises have also taken place while in June Beijing promised $100 million to modernise Cambodia's military. "China and Cambodia are friendly neighbours... co-operation between the two sides is open and transparent," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at press briefing in Beijing. "It is not aimed against third parties and cannot be unfairly criticized." China has established military positions on disputed outcrops in the South China Sea and intimidates fishermen and naval vessels from rival countries. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang last week sought to soothe anxieties, backing a rule book on behaviour in contested waters to be finished in three years "We are not and we will not seek hegemony or expansion," he added, ahead of a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Singapore. Critics have countered that China has deliberately spent years negotiating the rulebook with Southeast Asian neighbours to buy time to build up its military bases. Members of a migrant caravan from Central America and their supporters sit on the top of the U.S.-Mexico border wall at Border Field State Park before making an asylum request, in San Diego, California, U.S. April 29, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Lucy Nicholson A U.S. judge on Monday temporarily blocked an order by President Donald Trump that barred asylum for immigrants who enter the country illegally from Mexico. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order against the asylum rules, the latest courtroom defeat for Trump on immigration policy. Tigars order takes effect immediately, applies nationwide, and lasts until at least December19 when the judge scheduled a hearing to consider a more long-lasting injunction. Representatives for the U.S. Department of Justice could not immediately be reached for comment. Trump cited an overwhelmed immigration system for his recent proclamation that officials will only process asylum claims for migrants who present themselves at an official entry point. Civil rights groups sued, arguing that Trumps November 9 order violated administrative and immigration law. In his ruling, Tigar said Congress clearly mandated that immigrants can apply for asylum regardless of how they entered the country. The judge called the latest rules an "extreme departure" from prior practice. "Whatever the scope of the Presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," Tigar wrote. Tigar was nominated to the court by President Barack Obama. Previous Trump immigration policies, including measures targeting sanctuary cities, have also been blocked by the courts. The asylum ruling came as thousands of Central Americans, including a large number of children, are traveling in caravans toward the U.S. border to escape violence and poverty at home. Some have already arrived at Tijuana, a Mexican city on the border with California. 'It is too much' Rights groups have said immigrants are being forced to wait days or weeks at the border before they can present themselves for asylum, and the administration has been sued for deliberately slowing processing times at official ports. At a hearing earlier on Monday, American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt said the order clearly conflicted with the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows any person present in the United States to seek asylum, regardless of how they entered the country. Gelernt said the ACLU had recently learned Mexican authorities have begun barring unaccompanied minors from applying at U.S. ports of entry. Mexicos migration institute said in a statement to Reuters that there was "no basis" for the ACLUs claims, noting that there had been no such reports from the United Nations or human rights groups that are monitoring the situation at the border. Uriel Gonzalez, the head of a YMCA shelter for young migrants in Tijuana, said he had not heard of any new measures directed at unaccompanied minors. He noted there were already long lines to get a turn with U.S. authorities. "This can take a while because the number of migrants has overwhelmed capacity. It is too much," he said. The judge on Monday wrote that Trumps refugee rule would force people with legitimate asylum claims "to choose between violence at the border, violence at home, or giving up a pathway to refugee status." Caravan participants began to arrive last week in Tijuana on the Mexican side of the U.S. border, which has put a strain on shelters where many will wait to seek asylum. Their presence has also strained Tijuanas reputation as a welcoming city, with some residents screaming at the migrants, "Get out!" Trump sent more than 5,000 soldiers to the 2,000-mile (3,100 km) frontier with Mexico to harden the border, although critics dismissed the move as a political stunt ahead of congressional elections on November 6. Another five U.S.-built locomotives arrive in Ukraine Ukrzaliznytsia plans to use the new rolling stock for the Melitopol, Mykolaiv and Mariupol routes. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ukraine may start economic blockade of Crimea in response to Russia's threats in Sea of Azov expert Zhdanov agrees that Russia is able to close the Kerch Strait. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter TYME international payment system files lawsuit against NBU The company demands the renewal of all the licenses and registration of the payment system and all its participants. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program is increasing from $5 million to up to $10 million its reward for information leading to the identification, location, arrest, and or conviction of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula leader Qasim al-Rimi. Al-Rimi was named emir of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, in June 2015. The following month, he swore allegiance to al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and called for renewed attacks against the United States. Born in Yemen in 1978, al-Rimi trained terrorists at an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan in the 1990s. He subsequently returned to Yemen and became an AQAP military commander. Al-Rimi was sentenced to five years in prison in 2005 after being convicted in Yemen of plotting to assassinate the U.S. Ambassador to Yemen and escaped from a Yemeni prison in 2006. Al-Rimi is linked to the September 2008 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa that left 10 Yemeni guards, four civilians, and six terrorists dead, and the December 2009 attempted suicide bombing by underwear bomber Umar Farouq Abdulmutallab aboard a U.S.-bound airliner. In May 2010, the Department of State designated al-Rimi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. In a May 7, 2017 video, al-Rimi urged supporters living in Western countries to conduct easy and simple attacks and praised Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people in a June 2016 mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. More information about the al-Rimi reward offer is located on the Rewards for Justice website at www.rewardsforjustice.net. We encourage anyone with information on this individual to contact the Rewards for Justice office via the website; e-mail: info@rewardsforjustice.net; phone: 1-800-877-3927 in North America; or mail: Rewards for Justice, Washington, D.C., 20520-0303, USA. Individuals may also contact the Regional Security Officer at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. All information will be kept strictly confidential. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 53F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 53F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Not hundreds of thousands, not even tens of thousands, as political pundits had originally forecast. Only 3,843 Sephardic Jews have obtained Spanish citizenship thanks to a law introduced in 2015 to provide symbolic redress for the expulsion of Jewish people from the peninsula over 500 years ago. A Sephardic Jew who speaks Ladino understands modern Spanish perfectly but will flunk the language test Karen Gerson Sarhon, Sephardic Center Istanbul A further 5,682 requests are still being processed. The deadline for applications expired in March, and extending this date further would require a legal reform that the government is not contemplating. The bureaucratic red tape associated with the law explains why the Sephardic community has shown less enthusiasm than expected. Besides providing certificates and documents proving ones origins, applicants had to appear before a public notary, pass a Spanish language examination, and get tested on their knowledge of Spanish politics and culture, all at a cost of around 5,000. Ultimately, most of the 8,365 applicants who were nationalized Spanish in the last three years did so not through the 2015 law, but through two subsequent decrees issued in 2015 and 2016 that eliminated those hurdles. The paradox with the original law lay in the fact that even though Sephardic Jews have managed to preserve Ladino or Haketia, a 15th-century Spanish enriched with words from their host countries, this did not help them become Spanish citizens. The government issued two decrees in 2015 and 2016 eliminating the hurdles included in the original law A Sephardic Jew who speaks Ladino understands modern Spanish perfectly, but will flunk the language test because the differences in the written language are very significant, says Karen Gerson Sarhon, coordinator of the Sephardic Center in Istanbul. Two thirds of the approximately 15,000 Sephardim who live in Istanbul have instead opted to become Portuguese citizens, as that country never required a language examination, adds Gerson. Although a majority of successful applicants came from Turkey (2,693), only 257 went through the original process, while the rest obtained citizenship through the fast-track method established by decree. English version by Susana Urra. A survey carried out in five EU countries and the United States rates Spain as the worst offender for street harassment against women. The poll showed that more women in Spain have been the targets of disrespectful behavior and sexist insults than women in Germany, France, Italy, the UK or the US. But Spain ranked below average for physical aggression, according to a survey conducted by Ifop, an international market research group, for the Jean-Jaures Foundation and the European Foundation of Progressive Studies. Among Spanish respondents, 92% said they had experienced some kind of verbal or physical aggression of a sexual nature at some point in their lives. The figures drop significantly for the last 12 months, a fact that experts view as evidence that the #MeToo movement could be having an effect. There is now greater awareness about what is acceptable and what is not for women in public spaces, says Francois Kraus, policy director at the Ifop Institute and the person who was in charge of the survey, which polled more than 6,000 women in six countries. The study comes at a time when street harassment has become a subject of public debate. In France, a new law was passed in the summer that set out fines for harassers. Francois Kraus, Ifop According to the results of the survey, 86% of Spanish women have put up with whistling on the street at some point in their lives, compared with the European average of 65% and the US average of 70%. And 76% of Spanish women reported getting stares, compared with the European average of 62%. Also, 50% of women in Spain said they had been the targets of sexual gestures, compared with the European average of 36%. Statistics show that these figures have dropped in Spain the last 12 months: by 23% in the case of whistling, and by 8% in the case of rude gestures, but they remain above the European average. As for physical assault and rape, the statistics are similar or lower than those in other countries. Asked if they had ever been touched without consent in a public space, the European average was 34%, while in Spain it was 28%. And 7% of women in Spain reported having been raped, compared with 10% in Europe and 20% in the US. What is relatively reassuring is that this sexist climate in Spain does not translate into more cases of physical violence than in other countries, said Kraus. Street harassment against women in Spain is above all verbal. The La Manada case triggered protests in Spain. Samuel Sanchez Kraus added that the study did not take into account the impact of specific cases such as La Manada, a gang-rape in Pamplona that galvanized public opinion in Spain. Across all countries, younger women are more likely to be the targets of street harassment. A total of 63% of Spanish respondents under 25 years of age said they had been whistled at in the last 12 months, compared with the Spanish average of 23%. This trend is visible in all countries included in the study, said Kraus, because there is greater vulnerability at the beginning of ones adult age. Kraus added that it is also a structural issue, because younger women are more often in public spaces, making them more likely to become targets. Even though whistles and insults are less serious than physical aggression, it still has a significant impact on women because it limits their freedom of movement in public spaces, said Kraus. It makes it difficult for them to fully participate in a public space that is dominated by men, he said. English version by Susana Urra. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at an event organized by 'The Economist' in Madrid. EP The Spanish government of Socialist Party (PSOE) Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is considering holding general elections on May 26, 2019 the same day that Spain will vote in local and regional polls and European Parliament elections. Public Works Minister Jose Luis Abalos. Kike Para On Monday, Public Works Minister Jose Luis Abalos said the government had not ruled out calling elections in May as part of a Super Sunday election day. This is the first time a member of the PSOE central leadership has spoken openly about this possibility. Sanchez confirmed that May 26 was one of the many options on the table but has said the decision has not been made yet. Speaking on Tuesday, the PSOE leader said he will make the final call, irrespective of what others think is best. I will call elections when I think they are beneficial to the general interest of the country. I am not going to do it for the sake of my partys interest, and not, of course, because this or that other party tells me to, said Sanchez in Madrid from The Spain Summit, a conference organized by the newspaper The Economist. The government has three main options to call new elections: in March, on May 26 to coincide with local, regional and European Parliament elections, and in the fall. Abalos is seen within the PSOE and the government to be the strongest supporter of early elections. Those who second this view believe early elections will help the government take advantage of its rise in popularity, as seen in various polls, and prevent any backlash that could come from governing without a new budget. The government has three main options to call new elections: in March, on May 26, and in autumn. Sanchez, who came to power in early June through a no-confidence vote against Mariano Rajoy of the Popular Party (PP), heads a minority government with just 84 lawmakers in the 350-seat house. Without the support of other parties, the PSOE cannot approve a new budget and will have to govern with the former spending plan designed by the PP. Sanchez said on Tuesday that if the budget is not approved, his call to govern to the end of the term will be cut short. But not everyone on Sanchezs team supports early elections. Some argue Sanchez needs more time to develop his progressive platform and there are doubts as to whether the PSOE will receive enough votes to form a government. Given the PSOE has not been able to win support for its budget, they believe it is unlikely the party can win enough votes for a Sanchez government. The PSOE could pact with the center-right Ciudadanos party but the two parties have distanced themselves recently and it is also not clear whether they have the numbers together. Other PSOE members say it is not a good idea to hold general elections on the same day as regional polls. No one would think of calling general elections together with Catalan regional elections. It would be better to have the regional and local elections in May and the general elections in the fall, Emiliano Garcia Page, regional premier of Castilla-La Mancha told Spanish television station La Sexta. Some PSOE members believe early elections will help the government take advantage of its rise in popularity Catalonia is a thorny issue for the PSOE. On the one hand, the threat of early elections could pressure Catalan regional parties, which, according to the government, are concerned Ciudadanos could win greater control and harden the governments line on the Catalan independence movement. But the May elections will also take place during the trial of Catalan independence leaders, who are accused of rebellion, misuse of public funds and sedition for their involvement in the unauthorized referendum of October 1, 2017 and the unilateral independence declaration that followed. Seeing as Catalan parties have refused to back the governments budget because of its refusal to intervene in the charges, it is even less likely they will help swear in a Sanchez government. All eyes are now on the upcoming regional elections in Andalusia. Results could provide some idea of where Spains four major parties PSOE, the PP, Podemos and Ciudadanos stand on a national level and whether early elections are likely. English version by Melissa Kitson. 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 116 million AMD assistance to minors with disabilities in Shirak Province from Mikayel Vardanyan Discussion on the topic IT infrastructure as the basis of the digital economy with the participation of the heads of telecommunication companies in Armenia Statement nn the ongoing Aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia "We condemn any attempts at borderisation, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May" Joint statement The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.ANTONY J. BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Google Ad Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide 1217 new cases Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch "Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia 116 million AMD assistance to minors with disabilities in Shirak Province from Mikayel Vardanyan Discussion on the topic IT infrastructure as the basis of the digital economy with the participation of the heads of telecommunication companies in Armenia Statement nn the ongoing Aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia "We condemn any attempts at borderisation, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May" Joint statement Google Ad The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.ANTONY J. BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Google Ad Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide 1217 new cases Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch "Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has submitted the reviewed draft national budget for 2019 to the Verkhovna Rada (bill No. 9000), boosting its revenue by 1.8%, to UAH 1.019 trillion and expenses by 1.6%, to UAH 1.112 trillion, according to the document posted on the parliaments' website. However, the deficit of the national budget left unchanged at UAH 89.989 billion, according to the document. Acting Finance Minister of Ukraine Oksana Markarova said that the deficit of the budget remains at 2.3% of GDP during its review for the second reading. Ireland's low-cost airline Ryanair plans to invest $1.5 billion in Ukraine in three or five years, expanding its fleet to 15 planes and passenger traffic to 5 million people, Ryanair Chief Commercial Officer David O'Brien said at a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kyiv on Tuesday. The airline has hopes that the planes will be placed on the territory of Ukraine and that it will fly from Ukraine as from own base of operations, he said. O'Brien also said that now the main problem related to the increase in the number of flights of the airline to Ukraine is the protective policy of the European Union (EU) from Germany, France, Italy and Belgium. He said that as soon as this obstacle is overcome, the airline will increase the number of flights from/to Ukraine. He also said that Ryanair plans to increase the number of flight from Kyiv and boost passenger flow by summer 2019. As reported, referring to the Infrastructure Ministry of Ukraine, Ryanair is studying a possibility of creating a servicing center at the Boryspil airport (Kyiv). Ryanair offers flights from Kyiv to six cities in Poland, one destination in Germany, Spain, Lithuania, Slovakia, the UK and Sweden, as well as two destinations from Lviv to Germany and Poland, one to the U.K. Yuriy Boiko, a co-chairman of the Opposition Bloc faction in the parliament, who had just been stripped of the membership of his faction, has said that he is going to create a new parliamentary group in the Verkhovna Rada. "We are creating a new parliamentary group called 'The Opposition Platform For Life'. The Opposition Bloc will stay in the past as we are moving forward, uniting the entire opposition. And such a parliamentary group will be created in the parliament soon," Boiko told reporters in the Verkhovna Rada on November 20. The MP said part of the Opposition Bloc is to join this new parliamentary group. "Also, we have several offers from MPs belonging to other groups," he added. At present, Verkhovna Rada's Chairman Andriy Parubiy has not read out the decision by the Opposition Bloc faction to exclude Boiko and Liovochkin from their ranks. Thus, Boiko continues to be a co-chairman of that faction. The Verkhovna Rada has turned down a request by Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko asking for their consent to bring criminal charges against MP Stanislav Berezkin of the People's Will group. The respective request only received 160 votes of the MPs while a minimum of 226 is required for it to be passed. In connection with this, the Verkhovna Rada's Chairman Andriy Parubiy could not put the request to give consent for the detention and arrest of MP Berezkin to vote. Lutsenko said in the parliament that MP Berezkin would be brought charges because of committing a crime falling under the stipulations of three articles of the Criminal Code: Article 366 (forgery by an official), Article 191 (embezzlement), and Article 209 (money laundering). Parliamentarians have approved a request to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine for obtaining a conclusion on draft law (No. 8380) on amending the Constitution regarding the renaming of Kirovohrad region into Kropyvnytsky region. This decision was supported by 239 deputies at a plenary session of the parliament on Tuesday evening, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported. According to the procedure, the draft law on amending the Constitution of Ukraine can be considered by the Verkhovna Rada only if there is a conclusion of the Constitutional Court regarding the compliance of the initiative with the requirements of Article 157 and 158 of the Basic Law. Parliamentarians have refused to submit to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine a request for obtaining a conclusion on draft law No. 8329 on amending Article 133 of the Constitution of Ukraine on renaming Dnipropetrovsk region to Sicheslavsk region. The decision to submit the document to the Constitutional Court was supported by only 206 deputies with 226 minimum required votes, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported. Thus, the parliament refused to launch the constitutional process of renaming the region. Following implicit criticism of foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif by the conservative head of Irans Judiciary, a member of parliament says that Zarifs impeachment process has begun. On Monday, the Judiciary's Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani dismissed Zarifs recent comments about high level of money laundering in Iran, describing it as a stab right into the heart of the Islamic Republic ruling system. On Tuesday, the conservative Tasnim news agency, close to revolutionary guards, quoted a member of parliament as saying that a proposal for Zarifs impeachment is being prepared to be put to a vote. It is not clear when the plan will be put in motion. Earlier on November 11, Zarif had said that those who profit billions of dollars from money laundering are spending millions of it to prevent the passage of the bills requiring more financial transparency. An international transparency watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has demanded that Iran should adhere to anti-money-laundering standards and enact laws to prevent financing of terrorism. The foreign minister went on to accuse state-owned agencies that he refrained from naming, of mounting the campaign against President Hassan Rouhanis' proposed legislation known as Palermo Bills. "We cannot challenge the scenes set by these wealthy and mighty state-organs, he said. The comments triggered a wave of enraged responses from the conservative camp dominating Iran. Zarif was summoned for more explanation to parliaments (Majles) influential National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, forcing him to reiterate that he had not accused any state-run institution of money laundering. The adoption of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing laws by Iran can help its standing with European countries that have pledged to help Iran continue doing trade despite U.S. sanctions. Nevertheless, Zarif's clarification was not good enough for his opponents. Soon, the pressure on him increased to the extent that widely circulated rumors said he has already resigned. These rumors reached a level that the spokesman of the foreign ministry, Bahram Ghasemi had to react on Monday in his press briefing. For sure, I reject this rumor. These are deliberately manufactured, processed and spread by certain circles. Mr. Zarif is energetically busy with his work. He was in parliament yesterday and today he is hosting a foreign delegation. Despite Zarif's clarification and Ghasemi's strong denial, the head of the Islamic Republic' judiciary decided on Monday to join the chorus of the conservatives condemning the foreign minister's remark. "If there is huge money laundering in the country, why did you not report it to the judiciary?" state-run Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) cited Sadeq Amoli Larijani as saying. Carefully avoiding mentioning Zarif by name, the mid-ranking Ayatollah maintained, "The enemy's best tool is economic pressure--- In such situation officials are expected not to make double-edged comments that could be misused by the enemy." Furthermore, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani called upon Iranian officials to avoid unwarranted remarks. The opponents of the Palermo Bills argue that their implementation is a threat to Irans security. Analysts say the real fear in circles loyal to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is that adhering to the financial transparency requirements would prevent Iran from financially supporting the Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas militant groups. The Islamic Republic along with North Korea are the only countries on the Financial Action Task Force blacklist, but the Paris-based organization has suspended counter-measures against Tehran while it works on reforms. The FATF has given Tehran until February to either endorse the UNTOC or be added to its blacklist of countries refusing to cooperate in the fight against money laundering and financing terrorism. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging Tehran to endorse the bills before the deadline set by FATF. S u m m a r y Catalogue Number and Description Aviaeology Item No.AOD48024 - RCAF Canso A (PBY-5A) Collection 1: The Sub-Killers Of 162 (BR) Squadron Price: CAD$16.99 plus shipping available online from Aviaeology Scale: 1/48 scale Review Type: Three decal sheets (one A5 and two smaller); comprehensive B&W instructions and reference on six and a half folded sheets; link to PDF colour instructions after purchase. Review Type: First Look Advantages: Super quality research; perfectly printed decals. Disadvantages: Conclusion: If you have a Revell 1/48 scale PBY-5A stashed away, Aviaeology's new decal sheet will offer you a whole new range of interesting options. Reviewed by Brett Green HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com FirstLook Aviaeology has been a bit quiet lately but they have now burst back onto the scene with a batch of brand new releases. Tonight I am reviewing the Aviaeology 1/48 scale decal set, "RCAF Canso A (PBY-5A) Collection 1: The Sub-Killers Of 162 (BR) Squadron". This will be suitable for the Revell / ProModeler 1/48 scale PBY-5A Catalina. The new Aviaeology set covers ten subjects - six with photo documentation and a further four bonus options. The original Temperate Sea Scheme, Modified Temperate Sea Scheme overall White schemes are included amongst the options. Thumbnail panels: Details are as follows: Photo-documented subjects: Canso A 9750 / DZA, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia 1942-43 - Representative of a Consolidated-built Canso A in the Squadrons initial Eastern Air Command finish and markings scheme. Canso A 9754 / P, 'MARY K', Wick, Scotland - U-1225 sunk but aircraft lost with some fatalities, 24 June 1944 F/L Hornells Victoria Cross (VC) action aircraft one of the earliest Boeing Canada-built Canso As on squadron. In addition to the VC, other awards earned as a result of this action included a DSO, two DFCs, two DFMs, and two MiDs. Canso A 9759 / W, Reykjavik, Iceland - F/O Marshall & crew, U-300 damaged during extended Ubat, 4 August 1944. Canso A 9808 / O, Ballykelly (Maydown), Wick, & Reykjavik - F/L David Hornell & others flew this early Canadian Vickers-production example extensively throughout 1944. It may in fact be considered to be their regular aircraft. While based in Iceland, on the Coastal Command anti-submarine warfare course in Northern Ireland, and on temporary deployments (TDs) to Scotland, Hornell's crew flew this aircraft more than any other Canso A on strength at the time. Canso A 9840 / J, 'HAIRLESS JOE', Reykjavik - A representative mature-production (1st contract) Canadian Vickers-built Canso A that came to the squadron as an attrition-replacement aircraft (received after the June 1944 Ubat actions and losses). Canso A 11090 / X, Reykjavik - Late 1944 / early 1945 representative of the late (2nd contract) Canadian Vickers built, ASV.II Polyplexer-equipped Canso As with other late-service mods and equipment changes. This aircraft was received during the last phase of the Squadrons ops from Iceland. Subjects as graphic reconstructions based on non-photographic source materials: Canso A 9767 / S, Reykjavik - F/O Cooke & crew, U-342 sunk, 17 April 1944. This action resulted in multiple DFC & MiD awards. Canso A 9816 / T, Wick - F/L MacBride & crew, U-477 sunk, 3 June 1944. This aircraft was also used by W/C Chapman (Officer Commanding, 162 Sqn) & crew in the sinking of U-715, 13 June 1944. It was shot down during this battle with 3 fatalities. The Wing Commander was one of the survivors. This action resulted in awards of a DSO, multiple DFCs, and a DFM. Canso A 9841 / A, Wick & Reykjavik - Aircraft used for the squadrons first Ubat recorded while based outside of Canada, F/L Cunningham (unidentified U-boat escaped, later determined to be U-550 which lost two crewmen KIA during the attack) on 22 February 1944 in a multiple DFC action. This aircraft was also later used by F/L MacBride & crew during an action which resulted in U-478 being sunk (a shared victory) on a 30 June 1944 triple DFC action. Canso A 9842 / B, Wick - F/O Sherman & crew, U-980 sunk, 11 June 1944. Also flown by the Sherman crew during an engagement with U-480 on 13 June 1944. Tragically, the aircraft was shot down with the loss of all but one of the crew. Instructions are supplied on six folded letter sized sheets and one half sheet, all printed double-sided and packed with useful information, illustrations and photos. The reference is almost worth the price of admission alone. The instructions are supplied in black and white, but when you order your set you will receive a link to a high resolution colour PDF version (without the watermarks). Decals are supplied on one A5-sized sheet plus two smaller sheets. The colours are vibrant and registration is perfect on my sample. If you have a Revell 1/48 scale PBY-5A stashed away, Aviaeology's new decal sheet will offer you a whole new range of interesting options. Thanks to Aviaeology for the review sample Review Text and Images Copyright 2018 by Brett Green Page Created 21 November, 2018 Last Updated 21 November, 2018 Back to HyperScale Main Page Back to Reviews Page In an exclusive interview with the Dubai based Al Aarbiya TV channel, State Department Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook has said that the United States will take major steps to avoid Irans evasion of sanctions. Hook emphasized the United States position on Irans activities abroad, saying We will impose our sanctions vigorouslyand will deny this dictatorship the revenue it needs to fund malign activities in Europe and around the world. During previous sanctions Iran operated elaborate schemes to avoid the impact of the measures. Hook acknowledged previous shortcomings in sanctions regime saying Iran evaded sanctions in the past but this time we are taking a much stronger approach." Hook also repeated previous remarks made by U.S. officials that the sanctions will get tougher in 2019. On the issue of oil sanctions, Hook highlighted cooperation with Saudi Arabia and stressed that temporary waivers offered to some of Iran's oil customers are meant to balance the world oil market, while maintaining pressure on Iran. Asked if the U.S. can reach its goal of zero Iranian oil exports in six months, Hook said it depends on the oil market, but Washington remains optimistic. On the issue of European cooperation with U.S. sanctions, Hunt acknowledged some differences with EU governments but reiterated that European companies are abiding by the sanctions' rules. Brian Hook traveled to Jerusalem last week where he met with Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed Iran. Noting that "Now that we have reimposed our sanctions we're in a position to really go after all of the revenue streams that Iran uses to fund Hamas and Hezbollah." Iran's Labor News Agency (ILNA) reports that twelve protesting workers arrested on Sunday in the city of Shush have been released. Workers of the Haft-Tapeh sugar mill complex in Shush, southwestern Iran, have been protesting for their unpaid wages and mismanagement of the factory for the last two weeks. The situation became tense on Saturday when anti-riot police with guns entered the factory compound. Later on Sunday labor 18 leaders and workers were arrested, along with a female reporter. On Monday, protests continued in the city and in front of the courthouse by people and workers demanding the release of the detainees. There is no news about the other six workers and the journalist. Protests continue today in the city and in front of the governor's office in Shush. On Monday Iran's ministers of economy and labor promised to deal with the demands of the workers. Labor unrest in Iran has intensified in the past 12 months as the economic situation deteriorates, partly due to threat of U.S. sanctions. Labor activists also complain that the government has failed to effectively deal with corruption, especially when powerful businessmen buy government enterprises with favorable prices but not make the necessary investments or pay wages regularly. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 Trend: Turkey intends to begin to assemble the Belarusian-Azerbaijani tractors in the first quarter of 2019, chairman of the supervisory board of the Ganja automobile plant, Khanlar Fatiyev, told reporters before the 11th meeting of the Belarusian-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission, BelTA reported. Fatiyev stressed that the construction of a plant for the assembly of the Belarusian-Azerbaijani tractors in Turkey is under completion. We plan to launch the assembly process by the end of the first quarter of 2019, he added. Up to 5,000 tractors are planned to be assembled at the plant in Turkey. Following the meeting of the intergovernmental commission, the Ganja Automobile Plant signed three agreements with Belarusian enterprises. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 Trend: The Belarus government intends to continue active comprehensive cooperation with Azerbaijan, Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy said. Rusy made the remarks at a meeting of the Belarus-Azerbaijan intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation in Minsk, BelTA reported. He expressed gratification with the dynamics of trade and economic cooperation with Azerbaijan. In January-September 2018, trade turnover between the two countries increased 3.3 times and amounted to $331.5 million compared to the same period of 2017. "It is necessary to work actively on new joint projects, he said. We attach great importance to expansion of cooperation in industry and agriculture. The establishment of a plant for assembling the Belarus-Azerbaijani tractors in Turkey will raise the cooperation of the two countries to a new level, Rusy said. This is a new promising project of three countries, he said. Its successful implementation will open the opportunities for our new initiatives to jointly develop the regional market. Rusy called cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan in transportation and logistics, petrochemical sector and pharmaceutics as promising. The Belarus government also intends to actively promote mutual food supplies. Azerbaijani consumers have already tasted Belarus dairy, meat, and confectionery products, he said. We welcome the opening of Azerbaijans Trading House in Minsk in 2017 and other similar initiatives of our friends. In turn, Azerbaijani First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov stressed the need to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. "Trade turnover does not correspond to our potential, he said. Following the meeting of the intergovernmental commission, seven documents were signed, three of which relate to the cooperation with the Ganja Automobile Plant. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 Trend: The relations of strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan contribute to interaction in all spheres, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Ali Alizade said during the Business Roundup program on KAY2 TV channel, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Pakistan said in a message. In the program, where attention was paid to the prospects for the development of trade and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, it was said that Baku is interested in cooperation with Islamabad in this area. It was noted that this year, many joint projects were implemented between the two countries, exhibitions, business forums and meetings were held, joint visits were made, and an increase in trade was observed. The ambassador also said that the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan contributes to cooperation in the economic, trade, military-technical, energy, tourism and other fields. Alizade noted that in 2017, a joint working group was established to expand cooperation in the trade and economic sphere and in agriculture, as well as visa regime for Pakistani citizens was simplified and opportunities for joint investments increased. Alizade also spoke about the ongoing development of political relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, mutual support of the two countries, the work carried out in education, tourism, joint work with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, as well as about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, aggression policy, ethnic cleansing and provocations by Armenia. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 Trend: Azerbaijan's First Deputy Minister of Defense, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel General Najmaddin Sadikov met Nov. 20 with a delegation led by the Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of Turkey, Army General Yasar Guler, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense said. Colonel General Sadikov welcomed the guests and informed the Turkish side about the military-political and security situation in the region, as well as the current situation on the front line, adding that Armenia continues the occupation policy towards Azerbaijan. He brought to their attention that the resolution of the conflict is possible only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and on the basis of the norms and principles of international law. Colonel General Sadikov recalled that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are built on friendship and mutual trust and noted that to build up military power, Azerbaijan is expanding its cooperation with Turkey in the military, military-technical, military-educational areas, which is the main factor providing stability in the region. Army General Yasar Guler, in turn, expressed satisfaction with the friendly and fraternal relations, including the fruitful cooperation between the countries. The guest stressed the importance of joint military exercises held with participation of various types of troops, as well as organization of mutual visits and meetings of military experts. Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: Reports highlighting Azerbaijans growing role in Europe, the country's contribution to the energy security of the Euro-Atlantic region, and in particular Europe were heard out at the 64th autumn session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Canadas Halifax town, Azerbaijani MP, member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the NATO PA Malahat Ibrahimqizi told Trend on Nov. 20. Ibrahimqizi added that the appeals on energy security in Central and Eastern Europe were prepared in the NATO Economics and Security Committee. The occupation of some Azerbaijani lands, the impossibility of their control, etc. were stressed in those appeals, she said. She stressed that a big group of members of this committee was on an official visit to Baku in September 2018. "They arrived with very interesting programs, Ibrahimqizi said. This fruitful visit had a great impact on the preparation of the resolution." Ibrahimqizi stressed that during the discussion of this resolution, Armenians tried to make provocative statements. Armenia is concerned about the growing authority of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, she said. During the discussion of this resolution, they protested against positive opinions about Azerbaijan. Despite the Armenian MPs and their supporters opposed the moments related to Azerbaijan at the committee meeting, their opinions were indicated as unfounded both in the report and in the resolution." The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 Trend: An opening ceremony of the international scientific conference under the motto The spiritual legacy of Nasimi in historical and cultural context of medieval East has been held at the Institute of Asian and African Studies (IAAS) at Lomonosov Moscow State University. The event was held as part of the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts and Spirituality, co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia. Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony. In his remarks, Director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies Igor Abylgaziyev hailed Nasimis works as one of the most perfect examples of world poetry. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu hailed the importance of educating youth in the values of their ancestors. The event then featured the recitation of Nasimis poems in performance of the students in different languages. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Ilhama Isabalayeva Trend: A portable mini-laboratory is proposed to be created in Azerbaijan, Rahim Aliyev, teacher of the Azerbaijan Technical University, creator of an analogue mini-laboratory with digital electronics, which will allow students and researchers to conduct research at home, told Trend. This device is an advanced prototype of the XK-150 mini-laboratory type, produced by "Elenco" company for using in education sector, he said. This mini-laboratory, which can be applied at universities, is of great importance from the point of view of studying electronics, automation and mechatronics. Aliyev stressed that thanks to the capabilities of the mini-laboratory, it is possible to create 400 schemes and carry out laboratory work. "Every student can buy a mini lab and work at home, he said. The advantage of a mini lab is that in simple lab conditions it is impossible to carry out much work during a limited period of time. Having proposed the industrialization of this project, Aliyev stressed that the implementation of such projects will give impetus to the development of national industry by using human capital in Azerbaijan. "We can launch production of this mini-laboratory in Azerbaijan, he said. The price will be a maximum of 200 manats. The shelf life of such laboratories is 30-40 years." Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend: VTB Bank (Azerbaijan) will accelerate financing the exports of Azerbaijani food products to the Russian market, Chairman of the Board of VTB Bank (Azerbaijan) Yevgeniy Kirin told Trend. He said that negotiations with several exporters of Azerbaijan are already at the final stage. Our task is to complete these transactions before the end of the year, so that next year we can apply this successful experience in relation to more trade participants, he noted. We provide financing to producers from Azerbaijan in order to speed up and simplify the export of mainly food products to Russia. This will make it possible to stimulate and create the necessary conditions for increasing trade between the two countries. Azexport online trading platform and VTB Bank (Azerbaijan) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in July this year. In accordance with the agreement, Azerbaijani exporters will get new opportunities for export financing in those countries where the bank is represented. The memorandum also stipulates holding of joint events and conferences, organization of business delegations, exchange of information within the capabilities of the Azexport website, including presentation of new insurance, logistics and transportation opportunities. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Sara Israfilbayova Trend: Lithuania could be a gateway to the EU for Azerbaijan producers, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Darius Skusevicius said in an interview with Trend and Azernews. Lithuania offers attractive conditions for investing in free trade zones, engineering, industrial equipment, automotive, electronics, biotech, clean-tech, ICT, R&D, transportation sectors, he said. The information technology, transport and logistics, furniture, electronic equipment, medicine and food industries could be the most potential to expand bilateral cooperation, Skusevicius said. Ranked 4th in the world for fulfilling business needs for ICT, Lithuanian companies can offer innovative IT solutions for Azerbaijan institutions and private companies, he said. Lithuania takes a leading place in the EU for implementation of e-government services, Skusevicius said. We can efficiently contribute implementing cyber security solutions in Azerbaijan. Lithuania is becoming the European hub for blockchain technologies and fintech industries, so we offer Azerbaijani business to utilize our favorable legislative and business environment in the EU, he added. Azerbaijan is one of our main trading partners in South Caucasus, Skusevicius said. The best way to foster our economic and trade cooperation is by exchanging our business delegations and encouraging direct B2B contacts. Lithuania has established a well-functioning multimodal transport and logistics system and plays an important transit country role in the East-West and North-South transportation corridors, he said. Therefore, our country can offer Azerbaijan a safe, fast and inexpensive transportation of Azerbaijani cargo to Europe and the Scandinavian countries. We also see cooperation possibilities in the Europe-China cargo transportation chain through the Eurasian transport multimodal corridor of TRACECA as well, Skusevicius added. According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Lithuania amounted to $19.12 million in January-October 2018. The trade turnover between the countries increased by 39 percent compared to the same period of 2017. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov.20 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: In 2019, the Caspian ports of Makhachkala (Dagestan, Russia) and Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) will be connected through a ferry service, Russian media reported with reference to the statement of the Russian trade representative in Turkmenistan Alexander Elizarov. "We plan to open a ferry service in the second half of 2019," he said. According to Elizarov, the study and analysis of cargo flows show good prospects and potential for the development of international transport corridors "North-South" and "West-East". "The only Russian port that operates year-round is the Makhachkala Sea Trade Port. According to specialists, the potential volume of cargo flows is estimated at more than 30 million tons per year," he said. A representative delegation of Turkmenistan visited JSC Makhachkala Sea Trade Port in June, where it familiarized itself with its capabilities for handling various types of cargo and organizing ferry communication with the Turkmenbashi port, as well as the ports fish terminal. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: It is impossible to isolate Iran from the global market, said Mohammadreza Bahraman, head of Iran Mine House (IMH), Mizan News Agency reported. He said that there are export target markets for Iranian mining sector. Bahraman said these markets always require Iranian products. He went on to add that there is general demand for copper, steel and other mining materials, he said. He added that exports to the countries of the region will continue. "Presently, we have the best opportunity to expand our exports," he noted. "If we can protect the export markets during the sanctions, it will be the biggest victory of the government." He said that geopolitically, Iran is in a special region. "Tehran should take advantage of this, Irans market share should be protected by establishing contacts with companies in the countries of the region," he added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Uzbekistan has significantly increased its trade turnover with the countries of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) in the first three quarters of 2018, Uzbek media reported, citing Foreign Trade Minister Jamshid Khojayev. It is good to see that trade with CAREC member countries is growing at an accelerated pace. In the three quarters of this year, Uzbekistan's bilateral trade with Pakistan and Mongolia doubled, with Tajikistan and Azerbaijan increased by almost 60 percent, with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan by over 45 percent, with China by about 30 percent, with Turkmenistan by 17 percent, and with Afghanistan by 11 percent, Khojayev said during the CAREC Ministerial conference in Ashgabat. In this regard, he noted, the joint efforts of countries should be focused primarily on mutual trade facilitation, elimination of various trade barriers, both technical and sanitary, phytosanitary, which often become insurmountable and their removal requires considerable effort, money and time. The minister also added that Uzbekistan is committed to further liberalization of trade and promotion of open markets. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: The first international export fair Made in Uzbekistan will be held in Tashkent on Nov. 27-30, 2018, the Foreign Trade Ministry of Uzbekistan announced. The purpose of the fair is demonstration of export-oriented products of Uzbek enterprises, early formation of a portfolio of solid export contracts and increasing the export potential of the country, as well as establishment of sustainable and long-term cooperation with foreign partners. The exhibition will be attended by over 150 local companies that will showcase a wide range of textile, leather and footwear products, carpets, fresh, dried and processed fruits and vegetables, electrical appliances and cable and wire products, cars and agricultural machinery, metallurgical, petrochemical and other finished products. The exhibition will also include thematic conferences devoted to the achievements in the field of industrial sector development and presentation of the export potential of the Uzbek economy. The fair is expected to be attended by over 1,000 large foreign consumers of domestic products, trading companies, and representatives of key foreign trade partners of Uzbekistan, including European and Central Asian countries, Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, the UAE, China, Republic of Korea, the US, etc. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 Trend: KT-Kinetics Technology representing Italian company Maire Tecnimont Group in Azerbaijan held second recruiting session at Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS). It marked the start of the companys III Edition of the Development Program to be implemented with BHOS to support undergraduates business learning. Twenty-five fifth-year students of the Higher School selected out of 59 applicants were invited to participate in the session conducted by Head of Branch Office in Azerbaijan at KT-Kinetics Technology Niccolo Heilpern and other representatives of the company including Head of HR Activities Aida Bashirova and HR Specialist Saida Guliyeva. Assignment given to each participant included case studies and practical problems to be solved. At the end of the session, all answers were discussed and analyzed. It is expected that names of the successful applicants will be announced in the nearest future. Students who pass the selection process will be eligible to participate in the company's development program. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: Ten farms in the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan, which purchased solar panels this year, submitted applications for a program of subsidizing agricultural producers. This was stated at a meeting of the Investment Subsidy Commission, chaired by the deputy governor of the region, Dauren Makhazhanov, the Kazakh media reported. At the meeting, director of a company supplying solar panels, Murat Sabirov, noted that in recent years the solar panels have become popular among the Pavlodar farmers who are engaged in cattle breeding. "Provided that a farmer himself bought and installed a solar panel in his territory, 80 percent of its cost is returned to him," Sabirov said. In total, the Investment Subsidy Commission considered 178 applications, of which 166 were approved. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend: The World Bank (WB) proposes five solutions for the development of agriculture in Azerbaijan, Sandra Broka, WB senior agriculture economist, said in Baku at the presentation on the topic Risk Assessment in Azerbaijans Agriculture Sector. The solutions offered by the WB are application of the agriculture technologies suitable for local risk management strategies and climate, facilitating the entry of small farms to the market, diversification of export markets (main export markets are Russia and other CIS countries), increasing food security and enhancing awareness in this area, she said. Risks in the agriculture sector are different from risks in other sectors of the economy, she noted. Lack of risk management in this area can lead to serious problems, such as major financial losses, she added. She also identified the main reasons for low productivity in Azerbaijan. They include limited access to innovative technologies and financial sources, insufficient education in this area and lack of timely and necessary consultations, she said. She noted that 20 tons of tomatoes are grown per hectare in Azerbaijan, while in Turkey this figure reaches 60 tons. In addition, 7 tons of apple are grown in Azerbaijan per hectare, she said, adding that this figure is 15 tons in Turkey and over 20 tons in Poland. Usually, risks in the agriculture sector occur according to a shock-recovery-shock formula, and this remains the main problem for the development of this sector in many countries, Broka noted. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.20 By Elnur Baghishov, Leman Zeynalova Trend: It is possible to bring the volume of trade turnover between Iran and Iraq to $20 billion, said Chairman of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce Yahya Ale-Ishaq. Bilateral trade between Iran and Iraq is expected to reach $12 billion by the end of the current Iranian calendar year which started on March 21, 2018, IBENA news agency quoted him as saying. Yahya Ale-Ishaq noted that exports from Iran to Iraq in the first six months of the current year stood at $6.6 billion. Iraqi government focuses on ensuring joint investments and production of the necessary products in the country. In accordance with the long-term program, instead of exporting products to Iraq, Iran will take part in production in this country. Currently, part of Iranian investments in Iraq is made for supporting the production of dairy products, he said, adding that joint investments in free economic zones is more beneficial for the two countries. Yahya Ale-Ishaq said that industrial parks will be created on the border of the two countries. There are no customs duties for import and export at free economic zones. These zones create great opportunities for expansion of Iranian-Iraqi relations. Iraq needs construction materials, food products and household items. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.20 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Trends exclusive interview with Charges d'affaires ad interim of Croatian embassy in Azerbaijan Branko Zebic Process of setting up IAP company The process of creating a company for the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) is in its final stage, said the diplomat. IAP company will be based Split, he said, adding that Croatia will be the main receiver of gas via IAP and the longest part of this pipeline will run through this country. At the moment, we are in a good starting point. There is a very big project in front of us, in front of Azerbaijan and in front of even the EU. It is the Southern Gas Corridor. This is an important project for everybody. Now, we are trying together with some other countries in South-East Europe to build a special company to build IAP which would be connected TAP, he added. Prospects for creating JVs Croatia interested in creating joint ventures (JVs) with Azerbaijan in various spheres, he said. 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, noted the diplomat. 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. Prospects for visa facilitation and direct flights Croatia and Azerbaijan may open charter flights after visa facilitation, noted Zebic. He noted that it is expected to open a consular department at Croatian embassy in Azerbaijan soon and make visa issuance procedure for Azerbaijani citizens much easier and faster. We have good prospects for opening direct flights. There are also economic prospects for charter flights especially during the summer, said the diplomat. Regarding the possibility of visa-free regime between the two countries, Zebic said that Croatia cannot decide it on itself, as it is a part of the Schengen area. He noted that at this stage tourism relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia are not at a high level, but expressed hope that with opening charter flights, it will be possible to increase tourist flow. SOCARs possible participation in Croatias gasification Croatia is interested in participation of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR in the countrys gasification, said the diplomat. Croatia is very interested in SOCARs participation in its gasification. We see that possibility and know that SOCAR is very successful in this sphere. We already have good relations with the company, said the diplomat. He added that more details about this matter will be known next year during the Ministerial Meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) Advisory Council in Baku. Zebic went on to add that there is possibility for further expansion of energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Croatia. We are building an LNG terminal on Krk island. Croatia has already proposed Azerbaijan to participate in this project by supplying LNG to Krk. It is a good prospect for expanding cooperation in the energy sphere, he concluded. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Tehran, Iran, Nov. 20 Trend: The costs of Britain's departure from the EU has made the country to look for options to compensate the losses, and Iran is one of those options, economic expert Ali Asghar Zargar told Trend. The UK Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt is visiting Tehran this week to discuss different issues, including nuclear deal. "UK has always followed America's foreign policies and is a strong ally to the US, but now this policy has probably changed. We have to consider the efforts of France, Germany and UK in finding the ways to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," he said referring to economic goals of Hunt's trip to Iran. "Currently, Britain has a more independent foreign policy and if its rivals seek to profit from Iran's situation, UK would definitely intend to benefit from trade and monetary exchanges with Iran too, he added. Referring to the departure of Britain from the European Union, Zargar says Brexit has led to heavy costs for UK, therefore it seeks to find ways to offset the costs considering its population and economy. It can be said that UK has come from Europe to keep Iran in JCPOA with a detente of tensions, he noted. "Of course, it should not be forgotten that UK has always had economic interests in the Gulf region and is trying to moderate its regional policies in close proximity to Iran, he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Sara Israfilbayova Trend: The Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR exported 323,967.69 million tons of oil and oil products worth $158.12 million to Greece in January-September 2018, the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee told Trend. SOCAR supplied 340,112.84 million tons of oil and oil products worth $124.26 million to Greece in January-September 2017. Thus, 1.4 percent of oil and oil products exported by Azerbaijan accounts for Greece. The country exported 21.95 million tons of oil and oil products worth $11.59 billion in January-September 2018. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.20 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The upcoming OPEC meeting in December is unlikely end with agreement to cut oil production, Capital Economics, the UK-based consulting company believes. "OPEC and its partners (OPEC+) are set to meet in early December but, in our opinion, a co-ordinated production cut is not a given. Russia has already made it clear that it does not think that a cut is necessary, a view that may be backed by a number of OPEC members. After all, it is still unclear what the effect of US sanctions will be on supply from Iran," the company said in a report obtained by Trend. The consulting company estimates that Irans production could drop by about 1 million barrels per day (1 percent of global supply) owing to sanctions. Indeed, according to the estimates of Capital Economics, the countrys output has already fallen by 0.56 million barrels per day since May, but OPEC+ has raised production by 0.6 million barrels per day over the same timeframe and US shale output continues to surge. "Meanwhile, the new supply is coming on stream at a time of slowing global activity, most notably in China but also Japan and Germany. Whats more, we expect economic growth in the US to soften in 2019. Slower economic activity should translate into more subdued global growth in oil demand of just 1 percent in 2019, down from estimated growth of 1.3 percent this year," said the report. Taking all this together, the company believes that the market should move into a small surplus next year, assuming that OPEC maintains its current level of output. Of course, Iran is not the only risk to supply, the UK company believes. "Venezuelas production is in long-term decline and there is always the risk that civil unrest will disrupt output in Libya and Nigeria." "But the underlying fundamentals point to weaker prices. As such, we are happy to reiterate our forecast that the price of Brent will fall to $60 per barrel by end-2019, from $67 at the time of writing." In December 2016, at a meeting of oil producers in Vienna, 11 non-OPEC countries, including Azerbaijan, agreed to cut oil production by a total of 558,000 barrels a day. The agreement was concluded for the first half of 2017 and was extended until the end of the first quarter of 2018 at a meeting on May 25, 2017. At the last OPEC meeting in Vienna, the agreement was again extended until the end of 2018. Azerbaijan supported the decision. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.15 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Elsewhere coal demand could be more resilient than some expect, especially among developing economies in Asia, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its World Energy Outlook 2018. While both coal demand and prices declined after 2014, prices started to rebound in 2016 and coal demand made a comeback in 2017, said the report. "In Europe and North America, coal demand remains under pressure due to low electricity demand growth, strong uptake of renewables-based capacity and, in the United States, the availability of inexpensive natural gas. Nonetheless, elsewhere coal demand could be more resilient than some expect, especially among developing economies in Asia," IEA believes. Coal demand in 2040 in the New Policies Scenario (NPS) has been revised down by some 3 percent compared with last years outlook. Downward revisions have been made for industrial coal use, as the shift from coal to alternative fuels in industry speeds up, and in the buildings sector where coal use almost disappears. Overall coal demand for power generation declines slightly in the NPS as moderate growth in coal-fired generation is offset by improvements in plant efficiencies. "Overall coal consumption flattens around 5 400 million tons of coal equivalent (Mtce) and does not regain the peak seen in 2014," said the report. IEA believes that there are stark regional differences in coal production prospects to 2040. "Coal production in China, by far the worlds largest coal producer, declines at an average rate of 0.4 percent per year over the outlook period. India overtakes Australia and the United States in the early 2020s to become the worlds second-largest coal producer behind China. US coal production is projected to drop by 30 percent over the period to 2040, reflecting declining domestic demand and limited opportunities to tap into export markets," the report shows. In the NPS, the share of coal in global primary energy demand declines from 27 percent today to 22 percent in 2040, falling behind gas in the late 2020s. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.20 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Most members of the European Union (EU) now have access to at least three gas supply sources, said European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic Energy security was a central element when we started talking about the energy union. In the context of experiences of energy supply disruptions in 2009, this issue was the main concern. The questions were: how can we reduce dependencies? How can we increase diversification? And how can we establish legal guarantees so that such a situation is not repeated? he said in an interview with EURACTIV. Over the past two years, we have achieved a good deal. Most member states now have access to at least three sources of gas supply, the legal guarantees were increased and no member states can now be pushed into a contract that is incompatible with EU law. Also, Sefcovic noted that transparency over the member states sources of energy supply was also increased, so that there is now better assessment of whether there is a threat to supply security. Diversification is, for example, increased by the fact that there has been heavy investment in LNG [liquefied natural gas] terminals, which better connects us to the global energy market. Overall, we are in a significantly better situation today for these reasons, he added. One of the priority energy projects for the European Union is the Southern Gas Corridor, which envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe. On May 29, Baku hosted the launch ceremony of the first phase of the Southern Gas Corridor project. The gas from the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field has already gone through the first segment of the Southern Gas Corridor - from the Sangachal terminal to the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline. The next stage is the commissioning of the TANAP gas pipeline, through which gas will flow into Turkey and further to Europe. --- Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.20 By Elnur Baghishov, Leman Zeynalova Trend: National Iranian Gas Company wants Iraq to pay for imported Iranian gas not in dinars, but in euros as reflected in the corresponding contract, said Iran Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Amirhossein Zamaninia. He also spoke about the cooperation between Iran and Iraq in exploration and production, ILNA reported. Presidents of the two countries discussed this issue during their recent meeting. Oil ministers of Iran and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding 1.5 year ago. Currently, the sides are working on the document, noted the deputy minister. Zamaninia pointed out that sanctions waivers for eight countries have had a positive impact on Irans oil exports. Behzad Babazadeh, the director of international affairs of the National Iranian Gas Company said that Iran will increase natural gas exports to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to 14 million cubic meters per day from the current 9 mcm/d. Iran began gas exports to Baghdad in June 2017 and the figure is to increase to 14 mcm/d in the second year based on a deal reached by the two countries, he said. Iran and Iraq, both members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), have signed a gas contract under which Iran will supply 6 mcm/d of natural gas to Baghdad in the first year and 14 mcm/d in the second year. Exports were also expected to reach the 30 or 35 mcm/d during the third year, he added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: International exhibition and conference "Oil & Gas Turkmenistan" (OGT EXPO) was launched in Ashgabat on Tuesday, says the message of its organizers Turkmenoil state concern and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. The event is attended by 50 companies and 200 representatives from around the world. "This is another evidence of the intensification of international cooperation in fuel and energy sector. The forum will include talks with representatives of companies on the issues related to the supply of Turkmen energy resources to foreign markets and the implementation of large-scale projects by attracting foreign investors," reads the message. Special attention will be paid to issues such as diversification of export routes of Turkmen natural gas, attracting investment in the oil and gas industry, introduction of innovative technologies in the search and production of hydrocarbons, as well as the planned projects for the processing of natural gas and production of gas chemical products. Also, a discussion on the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (TAPI) is planned. It is worth noting that Turkmenistan ranks second in the CIS area, after Russia, in terms of natural gas reserves. Presently, the main buyer is China. In accordance with the Program for the development of the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan, it is planned to increase the annual production of natural gas to 250 billion cubic meters in 2030. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend: Azerbaijani investment company InvestAZ recommends taking caution in purchase transactions when trading the EUR/USD currency pair, reads the companys daily report. The company notes that there is an uptrend on the EUR/USD hourly chart, but, nevertheless, it is necessary to be careful. InvestAZ analysts believe that if the EUR/USD rate breaks through the level of 1.1421 in the upward direction, the price can reach $1.1446 and $1.1499 per euro. Alternatively, the company notes that if the price breaks through the level of 1.1389 in a downward direction, the targets for a fall are $1.1372 and $1.1342 per euro. As of 14:16 (GMT +4) on Nov. 20, the EUR/USD rate was 1.14337. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @TalehMursagulov Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: For the second time in 2018, Kazakh Tengri Bank has successfully attracted funds of foreign investors in the financial sector of the country, Kazakh media reported. Until recently, the Kazakh side owned 51 percent of the bank's shares, while the Indian Punjab National Bank held 49 percent of the shares. However, to date, the share of foreign partners has increased to 53.5 percent due to investments by a group of Indian businessmen. For the first 10 months of this year, the bank's equity increased by 4.5 percent, while the net profit from operating activities increased by 180.2 percent and amounted to 3 billion tenge. During the reporting period, interest income increased by 53.1 percent year-on-year, interest expenses - by 42.5 percent, and net commission income - by 3.6 times, from 547 million to 1.99 billion tenge. In January-October, the assets of Tengri Bank increased by 15.7 percent and amounted to 142.1 billion tenge, with money and its equivalents increasing by 140.3 percent, and securities - by 171.7 percent. Tengri Bank was founded in October 1992. In December 2010, Punjab National Bank, the second largest Bank in India, acquired a controlling stake in the bank. Currently, Tengri Bank operates in seven cities of Kazakhstan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid Kyrgyzstan does not use the full potential of GSP+ preferences, Managing Director of the Central Asia Department of the European External Action Service Boris Yaroshevich told at a briefing in Brussels, kabar.kg reports. He said that even 50% of the potential is not used. Yaroshevich named the lack of required quality products manufactured in Kyrgyzstan as the main reasons. There is also a question for laboratories and their evaluation of goods. We are ready to provide support to Kyrgyz entrepreneurs in entering the European market, he said. When asked whether the EU is planning to assist Kyrgyzstan in establishing necessary laboratories, Yaroshevich answered that the European Union has such an opportunity. This has been implemented in other countries. As for Kyrgyzstan, I dont know if this issue was discussed, he explained. In addition, the Managing Director of the Central Asia Department of the European External Action Service noted that there is potential for export to Europe for environmentally-clean agricultural products. In the museum of the Japanese city, Hamamatsu, a corner of Kyrgyz folk instruments is planned to be created. The details of this issue were discussed by Advisor to the Head of Staff of the President Sultan Raev and Director of the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments Kazuhiko Shima, kabar.kg reports. Hamamatsu Museum was founded in 1995 and is the only state museum of musical instruments in Japan. The museum has a collection of 1 300 instruments from around the world. As part of a series of events dedicated to the 25th anniversary of TURKSOY, a concert was held at the Hamamatsu Museum on November 18 on the initiative of the Kyrgyz Embassy in Japan. Nine newly appointed ambassadors will present their credentials to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon today, an official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Asia-Plus in an interview, news.tj reports. According to him, the new ambassadors include ambassadors of Finland, Spain, Latvia, Slovenia, Moldova, Malaysia, the Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea, Zambia, and the Republic of El Salvador. Tajik president is expected to congratulate the ambassadors on their appointment. It is to be noted that all these ambassadors are non-resident ambassadors. Chairman of Tajikistans lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament (Majlisi Oli), Shukurjon Zuhurov, today met here with his Uzbek counterpart Nuriddinjon Ismailov, Chairman of the Legislative Chamber (Uzbekistans lower house of parliament), news.tj reports. The two discussed issues related to inter-parliamentary cooperation between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, told Asia-Plus in an interview. Shukurjon Zuhurov, in particular, expressed hope that inter-parliamentary contacts would promote further expansion of economic, humanitarian and cultural cooperation between the two countries. Tajik parliament speaker noted that Dushanbe and Tashkent had signed more than 180 agreements and contracts for a total cost of 730 million U.S. dollars over the past year. Uzbek parliament speaker, for his part, noted that parliamentarians of the two countries could make contribution to expansion of bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in all areas. Recall, Nuriddinjon Ismailov heading Uzbek parliamentary delegation arrived in Dushanbe Monday evening on a two day official visit. Uzbek MPs are also scheduled to hold talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and visit the Nurek hydroelectric power plant (HPP) and the TALCO Cable plant. The will also visit the Tajik National library and the Kokhi Navrouz State Complex in Dushanbe. Initiated by the leaders of the two countries, it is the first ever visit of Uzbek parliamentary delegation to Tajikistan. The Legislative Chamber is the lower house of the Oliy Majlis (Supreme Assembly) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It has 150 members, 135 elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies using the two-round system and 15 elected by the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 20 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: An international conference dedicated to the development of transit transport corridors will be held in Turkmenistans Avaza national tourist zone on November 28, the Turkmen government said in a message. The issue of preparation for the conference was discussed at a governmental meeting. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed that in modern conditions, cooperation in the transport and communications sector is of particular importance as an integral factor of global sustainable development. The transport sector is one of the key segments of the world economy that directly affects the stability and balance of world economic relations. Turkmenistan has an advantageous geographical position and strengthens its positions as an important transit and transport hub and logistics center having regional and continental importance. The international forum "Great Silk Road - path to new achievements" was held in Avaza in May 2018. The heads of international organizations, state structures of several countries, big foreign companies attended the event, which was organized by the Turkmen government. The issues of partnership in the fields of transport and logistics, the effective use of the potential of the ports for this purpose were discussed. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 20 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: A delegation of the Turkmen Defense Ministry took part in the 5th meeting of the Belarusian-Turkmen intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation, the Belarusian embassy in Ashgabat said in a message on Nov. 20. The sides discussed the current projects and outlined new promising areas of cooperation. During the meetings and negotiations, the sides confirmed the interest in the development of cooperation in the military-technical sphere and stressed the significant potential. The agreements reached during the visit will contribute to the further development of fruitful cooperation between the two friendly countries in the military-technical sphere. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Iranian top negotiator with FATF and director of the Center for Financial Information Center and Combating Money Laundering of the Iranian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance Meisam Nasiri Ahmadabadi has been banned from leaving the country, Fars News Agency reported. Reportedly, Ahmadabadi has visited the US embassy in the UAE to seek citizenship for himself and his family. One of Ahmadabadi's relatives is a US citizen and lives in the US. Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) is an independent organization. This organization plays a role of a bridge in information cooperation with foreign countries. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday that date of creation of the EU Special Purpose Vehicle on bypassing the US sanctions on Iran was still unknown but the work was being carried out in a positive manner, Reuters reports. "The involvement of the Finance Ministers of the E3 [France, Germany, UK] is of key importance at this stage. They are working hard to finalize it. I cannot tell you a date, but I can tell you that work is continuing and is progressing in a positive manner," Mogherini said on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. In May, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the nuclear deal, and re-impose its sanctions against Iran that had been lifted under the agreement. The first round of the US restrictions came into force in August. On November 5, the second package of US sanctions targeting, in particular, Iran's oil sector took effect. Other parties to the deal China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the United Kingdom and the European Union have, however, expressed their commitment to the accord and are working on instruments to bypass the US restrictions. Russia is a great trade and political partner for Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper, TASS reports. "Russia is a great trade and political partner for us. It understands us because it is itself the victim of US sanctions," Zarif said. "The US is pushing all our neighbors to boycott us. However, it doesn't look like it's working." The foreign minister added that "Iran enjoys cooperation with Russia and Turkey on the Syrian dossier." He noted the importance of "restoring Syria's unity, eliminating terrorists and putting an end to bloodshed." Zarif emphasized that on Syrian settlement, Iran "stands for a political solution with new elections, so that all Syrians, including refugees, could freely express their will." Zarif also talked about Israel's concern over Iran's military presence in Syria. "We have a military presence in Syria because we were invited by the government, solely for the purpose of fighting against jihadists. Everybody recognizes Iran's contributions to the fight against terrorism and extremism. There are no other reasons for us to be there [in Syria]," he concluded. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Relative calmness on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops is a result of agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries in Dushanbe, acting prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, said at a press conference Nov. 20, Armenian media reported. On the sidelines of the CIS summit in Dushanbe, a conversation took place between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The sides expressed their commitment to negotiations for settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, strengthening the ceasefire to prevent incidents on the contact line and on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The parties decided to develop mechanisms for establishing operational communication between the relevant structures. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze will visit Brussels with the government delegation on today, agenda.ge reports. Several high level meetings are planned during the two days visit. On November 21 the first new format high level meeting will be held headed by PM Bakhtadze and the President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker. Establishment of yet another high-level format of bilateral cooperation between Georgia and the European Union has been agreed between the two sides in the beginning of this year. In particular, the new format considers the development of even stronger sectoral cooperation between Georgia and the EU. The members of the Georgian government and EU commissioners will attend the meeting in Brussels. 79 eco migrant families living in Tsalka have received accommodations from the government, Agenda.ge reports. The deputy minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia Grigol Giorgadze and the Deputy Governor of Kvemo Kartli Kakha Kobakhidze visited the families of eco migrants in Tsalka and gave them property certificates. In between 2004-2009, the government purchased housing facilities for people who had to leave their homes for ecological or political reasons, but the process of assigning properties only really began in 2015. Approximately, 500 eco migrant families have already been provided with accommodations, and Government plans to increase the number even more. Glacier melt in western China is accelerating quickly and has become a wake-up call for the world, Greenpeace said on Tuesday, The South China Morning Post reports. Thousands of people had abandoned the region in recent months, an exodus that showed its vulnerability to climate change, the environmental campaign group said. Satellite analysis showed that the rate of retreat at glaciers in Chinas remote western regions had more than doubled, Greenpeace said, with the annual rate at the Tianshan Glacier No 1 in western Xinjiang increasing from an average of 5,000 square metres (53,800 square feet) between 1962 and 1986 to 10,600 square metres between 1986 and this year. This is a wake-up call for China and the world, said Liu Junyan, Greenpeaces climate and energy campaigner. Glaciers in China supply water to 1.8 billion people, and those glaciers are melting fast. In just the last few months, thousands of people have been moved from their homes due to threats of flooding. Greenpeace has identified two major disasters caused by glacier melt this year, including the release of 25 million cubic metres of floodwater into the Yarkand River basin in Xinjiang in August that forced residents out. Researchers with the China Academy of Sciences (CAS) said in September that glaciers in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau had shrunk by 15 per cent as a result of rising temperatures over the last 50 years. Temperatures in the region were rising faster than the global average, they said. China has pledged to bring carbon emissions to a peak by around 2030 as part of its commitment to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to keep average global temperature increases to well below 2 degrees Celsius above the historical norm. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned in a report in October that high-altitude zones such as the Tibetan plateau would be especially vulnerable if global temperature rises were not restricted to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Another CAS study published in October said China was at risk of longer and more intense droughts as well as more destructive flooding if global temperature rises were not limited to 1.5 degrees. The Council of the European Union adopted on Monday an updated version of the EU Cyber defense Policy Framework, having set several priority areas, such as cyber defense capabilities development, military drills, and enhancement of civil and military cooperation, the council said in a press release, Sputnik reports. "A primary role of this policy framework is the development of cyberdefense capabilities, as well as the protection of the EU CSDP [Common Security and Defence Policy] communication and information networks. Other priority areas include: training and exercises, research and technology, civil-military cooperation and international cooperation," the document read. The document also stresses the importance of adequately addressing cyberthreats during exercises in order to "improve the EU's ability to react to cyber and hybrid crises by improving decision-making procedures and availability of information." "Civil-military cooperation in cyberfield is key to ensure a coherent response to cyberthreats," the document stipulates. At their meeting held in Brussels on October 18, the EU leaders focused on combating cyberwarfare, pledging to strengthen EU "deterrence" and 'resilience" against various kinds of threats. The participants of the summit also voiced the need to adopt "all cybersecurity proposals" before May 2019, when the elections to the European Parliament will be held. On October 18, the European Council stressed the necessity to build strong cybersecurity within the bloc, emphasizing the importance of raising the capability to respond to cyberattacks. The updated version of the document aims at developing EU cyberdefense policy, taking into account the changing security challenges. The document specifies the priority spheres of the cyberdefense, while it also "clarifies the roles of the different European actors." Meanwhile, the defense ministers of the EU member states adopted on Monday at a meeting in Brussels a plan providing for the creation of a Joint EU Intelligence School (JEIS), a document published on the official website of the European Council and the Council of European Union said. "The JEIS, in collaboration with member states, NATO CoEs, Intelligence and Security Services, will provide education and training in intelligence disciplines and other specific fields to EU member states intelligence personnel," the updated list of EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects said, noting that the initiative was adopted on November 19. It is planned that 25 of the EU 28 member states will be a part of the future project except for Denmark, Malta and the United Kingdom, a source familiar with the issue told Sputnik. The need to create supranational joint intelligence agencies and train joint intelligence staff has been set out in the Maastricht Treaty of 1992, however, the EU member states used to have disagreements regarding the establishment of a joint European intelligence service. The European Union (EU) is interested in expanding trade with Iran in the field of agriculture and food industry if crops by Iranian producers meet the standards required by the union, Iran Daily reports. "We are willing to import agro crops, in particular trout, raisin, lamb, hogget and mutton, in case they meet the standards required by the EU," added John Clarke, the director of international affairs of the European Commission's Directorate General of the Agriculture and Rural Development, IRNA reported. He was addressing a joint conference in Tehran on Monday on expanding cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the EU in the field of agriculture, defining and enforcing standards and trading foodstuff and agro crops. Clarke said Iran and the EU are faced with common challenges: 1. Climate change and 2. The aging of those involved in both countries in the agro sector. He added that the two sides has a rich historical background in the agro sector and, therefore, given their present climatic condition, are required to help each other. The EU official noted that "in 2017, we made a number of attempts to import trout and raisin from Iran", hoping Iran could export such products to Europe after the signing of necessary agreements. Highlighting the importance of increasing cooperation in agro and food sectors, he said the EU seeks to import organic lamb, hogget and mutton as well as medicinal plants from Iran. Clarke added Iran also can meet a part of its veal and mutton needs by importing from the EU member states whose products are antibiotic-free. He maintained that the EU's foodstuff and agro crops have the highest standards and do not require quality check. The Tehran-based joint conference, which began on Monday, will end today. "We are willing to import agro crops, in particular trout, raisin, lamb, hogget and mutton, in case they meet the standards required by the EU," added John Clarke, the director of international affairs of the European Commission's Directorate General of the Agriculture and Rural Development, IRNA reported. He was addressing a joint conference in Tehran on Monday on expanding cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the EU in the field of agriculture, defining and enforcing standards and trading foodstuff and agro crops. Clarke said Iran and the EU are faced with common challenges: 1. Climate change and 2. The aging of those involved in both countries in the agro sector. He added that the two sides has a rich historical background in the agro sector and, therefore, given their present climatic condition, are required to help each other. The EU official noted that "in 2017, we made a number of attempts to import trout and raisin from Iran", hoping Iran could export such products to Europe after the signing of necessary agreements. Highlighting the importance of increasing cooperation in agro and food sectors, he said the EU seeks to import organic lamb, hogget and mutton as well as medicinal plants from Iran. Clarke added Iran also can meet a part of its veal and mutton needs by importing from the EU member states whose products are antibiotic-free. He maintained that the EU's foodstuff and agro crops have the highest standards and do not require quality check. The Tehran-based joint conference, which began on Monday, will end today. Finnish payment software firm Basware (BAS1V.HE) said on Tuesday it has received an indicative takeover proposal from U.S. peer Tradeshift, Reuters reports. Shares in the Finnish company soared last week after it confirmed media reports it had been approached, although it did not name the bidder at that time. Twelve people died in a bus accident in eastern India on Tuesday night, Xinhua reported citing local media. The accident occurred in India's eastern state of Odisha when a bus heading toward the city of Cuttack suddenly fell off the Mahanadi bridge in Jagatpur area, English daily Hindustan Times quoted a senior state official Ramesh Prasad Sharma as saying. Besides, several people were injured and admitted in the S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital for medical treatment and care. The ill-fated bus was carrying around 30 passengers. According to preliminary reports, the bus driver lost control of the vehicle when he suddenly swerved to save a buffalo which had come in the way. The bus, which was reportedly at a great speed, smashed into the bridge's cement railings and fell 30 feet onto the riverbed. There is no water in the river. The death toll is feared to rise since some of the injured were in critical condition. Moscow and Bishkek have succeeded in giving their bilateral trade a boost in 2018 that is close to 20% more than last year, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Kyrgyz Presidents Office, Daniyar Sydykov, said on Tuesday, TASS reports. "We can see a trend towards trade growth between our countries. The rise in trade volume totaled 19% when compared to last year, and expectations are that it will continue its upward trend," he stated, pointing out that Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov had travelled to Russia on his first foreign trip. "It once again confirms that the country sticks to its foreign policy aimed at strengthening and developing allied ties and its strategic partnership with the Russian Federation," Sydykov noted. In total, the Russian and Kyrgyz leaders have "met five times" this year, he added, noting that this indicates an "active development" of relations between the two countries. "One of the results of such meetings was the decision to adopt the so-called migration amnesty and exclude our people from the blacklist of [the Russian migration services]," the head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Kyrgyz Presidents Office underlined. Sydykov is confident that bilateral cooperation with Russia has contributed to better teamwork in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). "During another meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, which took place in Sochi on May 14, Kyrgyzstan reiterated its stance on continuing work to gradually improve living conditions of our citizens in Russia and Kazakhstan," Sydykov recalled. In total, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, whose presidency officially started roughly a year ago, has been on international trips and participated in international events 30 times during his first 12 months in office, the head of the Foreign Policy Department stressed. According to official data, Russian-Kyrgyz trade stood at roughly $1.6 bln last year, up a third from the 2016 level. Russia has signed contracts with India on the construction of four Project 11356 frigates for the Indian Navy, Russias Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation said on Tuesday, TASS reports. "Contracts were signed for the construction of Project 11356 frigates for the Indian Navy. This is yet another important event in developing Russian-Indian military and technical cooperation," the Federal Service said. Russia earlier held negotiations with the Indian side on the contract on the acquisition of four Project 11356 frigates. The Indian media reported that the government of India wanted to buy four Russian frigates that would be built in the 2+2 format: two would be constructed at Russias Yantar Shipyard on the Baltic coast and the other two at Indias Goa Shipyard. Project 11356 frigates are designed to deliver strikes against enemy surface ships and submarines in the close-in and oceanic zones and fight air targets. The warships of this type are armed with A-190 100mm artillery guns, strike missile and air defense systems, including Kalibr and Shtil complexes and torpedo tubes. The frigates displace 3,620 tonnes, are 124.8 meters long, develop a speed of 30 knots and have an operating range of 4,850 miles. A body of a man was recovered on the tarmac at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport, a source in the regional emergency service told Sputnik on Tuesday. According to the source, after a Boeing 737 bound for Athens, Greece, took off, the body of an unidentified man was found on the tarmac and recovered. Local emergency services have launched a probe into the incident. According to Russian media, the man's boarding ticket was discovered at the site of the incident. The pilots of the plane reportedly told local emergency services about the incident, which occurred while the jet was taxiing on the runway. However, the crew decided to continue the flight, as the emergency equipment on the plane did not go off. The airport's press service told Sputnik that victim's identity had been determined, and his belongings had been handed over to local police for further investigation. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Today, Turkish rescuers found the bodies of two pilots killed during the crash of a trainer aircraft on Nov. 19, Turkish media reported. Reports noted that rescuers could not find the wreckage of the aircraft as it fell yesterday in a mountainous area. The trainer aircraft crashed in Turkey's Denizli Province. On Oct. 30, a trainer aircraft crashed in Turkey's Antalya Province killing two people, one of whom was the pilot of the aircraft. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Some 92 servicemen have been detained in Ankara in framework of fight against terrorist movement FETO (movement of Fethullah Gulen), the Turkish press wrote Nov. 20. The operation was carried out by Turkish Navy. Among the detainees, there are also officers and high-ranking military men, the message says. It was determined during the investigation that the detainees had contacts with the terrorist movement FETO, the message says. Earlier, 103 military men were detained in Istanbul and 188 in Ankara, all of whom were accused of contacts with the Gulen movement. Earlier, the Minister of National Defense of Turkey Hulusi Akar said 15,153 people were dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces as part of the fight against the FETO terrorist movement. He said the purge in the ranks of the Turkish Armed Forces will continue. Fethullah Gulen and his supporters are accused of a military coup attempt in Turkey. A group of rebels attempted a military coup in Turkey on the night of July 16, 2016. The main confrontation broke out in Ankara and Istanbul. More than 250 Turkish citizens were killed, over 2,000 people were injured, the mutiny was suppressed. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia even though Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Reuters reported. Trump, in a statement issued by the White House, indicated he had no intention of canceling military contracts with Riyadh, saying, if we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries. Trump said U.S. intelligence agencies were still studying the evidence of how Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, and who planned it. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! Trump said. KYODO NEWS - Nov 20, 2018 - 22:48 | World, All Hundreds of police and security forces in Papua New Guinea stormed the national parliament building on Tuesday, demanding payment for work during a just-ended summit meeting of Pacific Rim leaders, according to local media reports. Local broadcaster TVWAN reported that a convoy of 10 to 20 vehicles drove to the parliament building around noon, and that the protestors caused "superficial damage" to the building, including smashing windows and tipping over security equipment. [Getty for Carnival Australia/Kyodo] Lawmakers reportedly locked themselves inside their offices for safety. Several of the protestors who had provided security during the summit had allegedly not been paid for two months, according to TVWAN. Reports of parliamentarians and journalists being attacked in front of the building, as well as looting and gunfire in market areas of Port Moresby have also emerged. Although the dispute was settled after several hours, opposition lawmaker Allan Bird told The Australian newspaper that the incident "could be a sign of things to come." Papua New Guinea, which hosted the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit over the weekend, is the poorest member of the 21-member grouping. Some locals have criticized the government's decision to spend lavishly on staging the event while health and education are poorly underfunded. Idukki District Collector Sheeba George has urged residents on both sides of the Periyar river to be vigilant. The most recent World Health Organisation (WHO) World Malaria Report has suggested that reductions in malaria cases have stalled after several years of decline worldwide, even though a number of countries, including India have shown progress. In 2017, approximately 70% of all malaria cases (151 million) and deaths (274 000) were determined in 11 countries: 10 in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania) and India. There were 3.5 million more malaria cases reported in these 10 African nations in 2017 compared to the previous year, while India, however, showed progress in drop its disease burden. For the second consecutive year, the yearly report produced by WHO exposes a plateauing in numbers of people affected by malaria: In 2017, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria, compared to 217 million the year prior to. But in the years earlier, the number of people contracting malaria worldwide had been progressively falling, from 239 million in 2010 to 214 million in 2015. Nobody should die from malaria. But the world faces a new reality: as progress stagnates, we are at risk of squandering years of toil, investment and success in reducing the number of people suffering from the disease, says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. We recognise we have to do something different now. So today we are launching a country-focused and -led plan to take comprehensive action against malaria by making our work more effective where it counts most at local level. New decree paves way for more rice exporters to join market VietNamNet Bridge - Decree 107, which replaces another decree on rice export management, is feared to lead to unhealthy competition and lower Vietnams export prices. In the past, under Decree 109, enterprises had to satisfy strict requirements, including those on storehouses and factories, to be eligible to become exporters. Many enterprises could not satisfy the requirements, and the number of licensed exporters dropped from 150 to below 100. The strict regulations tightened control over rice exports, after economists pointed out that exporters offered surprisingly low export prices in a scramble for clients. Decree 107, which replaces another decree on rice export management, is feared to lead to unhealthy competition and lower Vietnams export prices. However, Decree 109 was not welcomed. Economists criticized the legal document, saying that the restrictive regulations would deprive enterprises of business opportunities. They said instead of building factories and storehouses themselves, enterprises could lease the facilities to save financial resources and optimize the use of societys resources. Decree 107 was issued to replace Decree 109. Pham Quang Dieu, CEO of Agromonitor, a market analysis firm, said with the new decree, barriers have been removed, thus paving the way for enterprises to easily join the market and help them cut costs. Tran Thanh Hai from the Ministry of Industry and Trades (MOIT) Import/Export Department said businesses now can export rice without any restrictions and required certificates. They do not have to have a storehouse and husking factory. In addition, they do not have to register their rice export contracts with the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). The previous requirement was that exporters must have at least 50 percent of export volume in stock when registering export contracts. This aims to encourage businesses to invest in production to export high-quality rice products. The amendments will help enterprises cut production costs and capital costs, and lift the worry about information security, thus improving the competitiveness of Vietnams products, Hai said. Nevertheless, the concern about unhealthy competition among rice exporters has once again been raised. Do Ha Nam, chair and CEO of Intimex, an import/export company, warned that when there are many companies on the same playing field, competition will be inevitable. Many enterprises offered very low prices in bidding. This not only causes big losses to them, but also affects the entire rice production sector, Nam said. Hai from MOIT noted that winning bids though setting high prices is what everyone wants. However, it is necessary to have cooperation and confidence among state management agencies, VFA and exporters to achieve this. Meanwhile, Dieu said there was no need to worry about competition among exporters. Businesses follow their specific strategies, which need to be respected. RELATED NEWS Rice exports: good news arrives, but worries still exist Ministry promises to reduce business barriers for rice exporters Kim Chi Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse welcome Indian President Nath Kovind and his spouse Vietnamese students present flowers to welcome the Indian guests Indian President Ram Nath Kovind shakes hands with Vietnamese official President Trong welcomes Indian official President Trong and his Indian guest review the guard of honour at the welcome ceremony At the welcome ceremony President Nguyen Phu Trong shakes hands with Indian President Nath Kovind. LAWRENCE -- As issues like climate change, resource scarcity and technological progress increasingly influence how nations relate to each other, a new book by a University of Kansas researcher takes a critical look at mainstream ideas that underpin the international dialogue about our environment. Shannon O'Lear, a KU professor with a joint appointment in geography & atmospheric science and the Environmental Studies Program as well as current director of the Center for Global & International Studies, is the author of "Environmental Geopolitics" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018). O'Lear defines environmental geopolitics as "examining how environmental themes are used to support geopolitical arguments and realities." Her new book "looks at narratives about resources, overpopulation and climate security -- and takes those ideas apart to ask, 'Do those thoughts really make sense, and what assumptions do we make when we talk about something like climate security?' The book demonstrates how we can be more inquisitive about how we understand our relationship with the environment." "Environmental Geopolitics" centers around case studies and ideas that challenge long-standing notions about overpopulation, resource conflict, climate security and the communication of scientific ideas and imagery. As a starting point, O'Lear calls for critically questioning exactly what stakeholders mean when they discuss the very term "environment." "We've effectively created an artificial habitat for ourselves with things like irrigated agriculture and air conditioning and all the impacts of those," she said. "So, when we're talking about sustaining the 'environment,' it's often not clear what we're sustaining or where the environment ends and where people begin. Who gets to tell the story of what the environment is and what our relationship to it is?" O'Lear urges a close examination of conventional ideas. For example, she trains a critical lens on concepts of resource conflict that often suppose a scarcity of resources like water, food, energy and commodities -- some of which aren't actually scarce. "We seem obsessed with the idea that resources are connected to conflict," she said. "We can look at the example of diamonds and conflict in Sierra Leone. It's true you have rebel groups in Sierra Leone trying to control diamond mines because that's a way for them to buy weapons and fund their rebellion. Diamonds are related to that process. But you have to look back at the history of colonial times there and the elevation of a diamond economy over all others. Diamonds are actually very plentiful -- but we've bought into the idea that they're rare and unique and special. Really, they'd be best used for drill bits. There are a lot of processes that contribute to violent conflict, but we're often missing important pieces." O'Lear said one idea obscured by orthodox discussions about the environment is "slow violence," or structural harm to people caused by gradual environmental problems that are hard to pin on one cause. "We're talking about structural violence and ways that systems of society are violent when people are marginalized or left out -- not a direct 'I'm going to hurt you' kind of violence, but keeping people from health or benefits they could have, and harming them over time. These are creeping environmental problems like plastics in our bodies, and over time we're suffering from consequences. There's nobody specific to blame by the time the harm is evident. Nobody is going to be taking responsibility -- the harm is indirect and latent. Another example would be the buildup of seismic activity where wastewater from fracking has been pumped back into the ground. Slow violence is tricky because it isn't so visible. Sometimes you have to interview people over long periods to see how things have declined over time." The KU researcher said she intended for her book to inform policymakers and reframe current discussions of issues like climate change. "We think science is going to give us the answers, but it can't," O'Lear said. "We need to be figuring out what our questions are. It's one thing to say, 'We'll do more science,' but we also need to think about how we operate as a society. We could be having conversations about what we value in our social and political environments. Then, we can find the science that gets us there." O'Lear questions some atmospheric carbon and temperature-rise targets, such as the 2 degrees Celsius global temperature-rise mark offered by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Instead, she advocates more creative approaches. "It's like setting a speed limit, but then we become fixated with that number and how many tons of carbon we can emit," O'Lear said. "It becomes this carbon fetish. But no atmospheric scientist would give you that number without talking about ranges and conditions. We have taken science and dumbed it down for policymakers, so we sit around and talk about that number -- but not about how we got to it or what contributed to it. The IPCC collects a lot of great science, but it doesn't tell us what to do -- that takes society and politicians. We've been trained to be good consumers, but we need to be good citizens who take ownership of these issues." O'Lear wrote "Environmental Geopolitics" with her own students in mind, and she is using the book to teach a class this semester. However, O'Lear is mindful of meager student budgets. "We're using the book in my class," she said. "But I bought 50 copies of my own book and am loaning it out to my students. My effort here was about living the idea of buying less stuff. I plan to reuse these books with future classes of students until the books are too worn out or walk off on their own." ### New analysis of artifacts found at a South China archaeological site shows that sophisticated tool technology emerged in East Asia earlier than previously thought. A study by an international team of researchers, including from the University of Washington, determines that carved stone tools, also known as Levallois cores, were used in Asia 80,000 to 170,000 years ago. Developed in Africa and Western Europe as far back as 300,000 years ago, the cores are a sign of more-advanced toolmaking -- the "multi-tool" of the prehistoric world -- but, until now, were not believed to have emerged in East Asia until 30,000 to 40,000 years ago. With the find -- and absent human fossils linking the tools to migrating populations -- researchers believe people in Asia developed the technology independently, evidence of similar sets of skills evolving throughout different parts of the ancient world. The is published online Nov. 19 in Nature. "It used to be thought that Levallois cores came to China relatively recently with modern humans," said Ben Marwick, UW associate professor of anthropology and one of the paper's corresponding authors. "Our work reveals the complexity and adaptability of people there that is equivalent to elsewhere in the world. It shows the diversity of the human experience." Levallois-shaped cores -- the "Swiss Army knife of prehistoric tools," Marwick said -- were efficient and durable, indispensable to a hunter-gatherer society in which a broken spear point could mean certain death at the claws or jaws of a predator. The cores were named for the Levallois-Perret suburb of Paris, where stone flakes were found in the 1800s. Featuring a distinctive faceted surface, created through a sequence of steps, Levallois flakes were versatile "blanks," used to spear, slice, scrape or dig. The knapping process represents a more sophisticated approach to tool manufacturing than the simpler, oval-shaped stones of earlier periods. The Levallois artifacts examined in this study were excavated from Guanyindong Cave in Guizhou Province in the 1960s and 1970s. Previous research using uranium-series dating estimated a wide age range of the archaeological site -- between 50,000 and 240,000 years old -- but that earlier technique focused on fossils found away from the stone artifacts, Marwick said. Analyzing the sediments surrounding the artifacts provides more specific clues as to when the artifacts would have been in use. Marwick and other members of the team, from universities in China and Australia, used optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) to date the artifacts. OSL can establish age by determining when a sediment sample, down to a grain of sand, was last exposed to sunlight -- and thus, how long an artifact may have been buried in layers of sediment. Dating for this site was challenging because it had been excavated 40 years ago, and the sediment profile was exposed to air and without protection. So trees, plants, animals, insects could disturb the stratigraphy, which may affect the dating results if conventional methods were used for dating, said Bo Li , an associate professor of archaeology at the University of Wollongong in Australia and one of the paper's corresponding authors. To solve this problem we used a new single-grain dating technique recently developed in our OSL lab at the University of Wollongong to date individual mineral grains in the sediment. Luckily we found residual sediment left over by the previous excavations, so that allowed us to take samples for dating. The researchers analyzed more than 2,200 artifacts found at Guanyindong Cave, narrowing down the number of Levallois-style stone cores and flakes to 45. Among those believed to be in the older age range, about 130,000 to 180,000 years old, the team also was able to identify the environment in which the tools were used: an open woodland on a rocky landscape, in "a reduced rainforest area compared to today," the authors note. In Africa and Europe these kinds of stone tools are often found at archaeological sites starting from 300,000 and 200,000 years ago. They are known as Mode III technology, part of a broad evolutionary sequence that was preceded by hand-axe technology (Mode II) and followed by blade tool technology (Mode IV). Archaeologists thought that Mode IV technologies arrived in China by migration from the West, but these new finds suggest they could have been locally invented. At the time people were making tools in Guanyindong Cave, the Denisovans -- ancestors to Homo sapiens and relative contemporaries to Neandertals elsewhere in the world -- roamed East Asia. But while hundreds of fossils of archaic humans and related artifacts, dating as far back as more than 3 million years ago, have been found in Africa and Europe, the archaeological record in East Asia is sparser. That's partly why a stereotype exists, that ancient peoples in the region were behind in terms of technological development, Marwick said. "Our work shows that ancient people there were just as capable of innovation as anywhere else. Technological innovations in East Asia can be homegrown, and don't always walk in from the West," he said. The independent emergence of the Levallois technique at different times and places in the world is not unique in terms of prehistoric innovations. Pyramid construction, for one, appeared in at least three separate societies: the Egyptians, the Aztecs and the Mayans. Boatbuilding began specific to geography and reliant on a community's available materials. And writing, of course, developed in various forms with distinct alphabets and characters. In the evolution of tools, Levallois cores represent something of a middle stage. Subsequent manufacturing processes yielded more-refined blades made of rocks and minerals that were more resistant to flaking, and composites that, for example, combined a spear point with blades along the edge. The appearance of blades later in time indicates a further increase in the complexity and the number of steps required to make the tools. "The appearance of the Levallois strategy represents a big increase in the complexity of technology because there are so many steps that have to work in order to get the final product, compared to previous technologies," Marwick said. ### The study was funded by the Australian Research Council, the National Science Foundation of China, the University of Wollongong, the China Scholarship Council, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology. Other authors on the paper were Yue Hu and Xue Rui of the University of Wollongong; Jia-Fu Zhang of Peking University in China; Ya-Mei Hou, Jian-Ping Yue and Wei-Wen Huang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Wen-Rong Chen of the Bureau of Cultural Relics Protection in Guizhou Province, China. For more information, contact Marwick at bmarwick@uw.edu. Grant numbers: FT140100384, FT140100101, NSFC 41471003, 201506010345, XDPB05, 41272033, SKLLQG1501 (Bloomberg) -- Alphabet Inc. Chairman John Hennessy is unsure about a banner strategy of the companys most-important executive. Hennessy said hes not confident Google will be better off bringing a censored search engine to China -- a key goal of Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai. The question that I think comes to my mind then, that I struggle with, is are we better off giving Chinese citizens a decent search engine, a capable search engine even if it is restricted and censored in some cases, than a search engine thats not very good? And does that improve the quality of their lives? Hennessy told Bloombergs Brad Stone. Asked whether Google can do more good by being in China, even on a compromised basis, Hennessy said, "I dont know the answer to that. I think its -- I think its a legitimate question." Anybody who does business in China compromises some of their core values," he added. "Every single company, because the laws in China are quite a bit different than they are in our own country. Google pulled out of mainland China in 2010, when founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page decided that removing controversial links from search results, as the government in Beijing requires, was unacceptable. But in 2016 a small team that included Pichai began working on China-related projects, including a program, known as Dragonfly, to bring Googles search engine back into the country. The plans included protocols to censor results to the governments liking, barring search terms such as Tiananmen Square and ensuring that users looking for information about air quality would only get data approved by Beijing. Pichai has called the efforts "exploratory," but they have caused a firestorm inside and outside the company. Hennessy, the former president of Stanford University and author of the book Leading Matters, talks more about his upbringing, starting his first company and working with Page and Pichai, on Bloomberg Studio 1.0, which airs Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. New York time on Bloomberg Television. Story continues Page has been almost invisible as Google and other big tech companies have been increasingly criticized. Hennessy said Page is really doing what he wants to do, which is inspiring the other bets, the other parts of the company, and trying to play a role in pushing the innovation. Alphabet, Googles parent company, has invested in riskier, new projects including internet-beaming balloons, driverless cars and energy generating kites. Page is involved in many of these efforts. Larry has very much an inside role. I think he sees himself both as a capital allocator to those individual divisions, but also somebody whos keeping track of what kind of progress theyre making, Hennessy said. He still likes to drill deep into these things. So he likes to go into one of the bets and spend a lot of time understanding the technology, [and] see what innovations are there. Is this technology going to make it? Is it going grow? Is it going be important? Hennessy, a board member since 2004, also addressed a recent New York Times report of a large exit payout to Andy Rubin, who created Googles Android mobile operating system but was accused of sexual misconduct. Thousands of Google workers walked out of their offices earlier this month to protest how the company has handled misbehavior by executives. Rubin called the allegations "false" on Twitter and part of a "smear campaign." "Not everybody was aware of things," Hennessy said. I cant comment on the exact details of what happened at that time. But I think we realized that the [sexual harassment] policy needed strengthening. Asked what he would say to Google employees who were upset by the reports, Hennessy said, I say to them, we have to do better as a company. --With assistance from Candy Cheng. To contact the reporter on this story: Brad Stone in San Francisco at bstone12@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr, Andrew Pollack For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2018 Bloomberg L.P. HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BJs Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) today announced the opening of its restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio (Rookwood). The new BJs Restaurant & Brewhouse opened on Monday, November 19, 2018, on a free standing pad on Edmondson Road at the Rookwood Commons & Pavilion, one of the citys premier open-air shopping destinations. The restaurant is approximately 7,500 square feet, seats approximately 230 guests and features BJs extensive menu, including BJs signature deep-dish pizza, award-winning handcrafted beer and famous Pizookie dessert. BJs unique, contemporary decor provides the perfect environment for all dining occasions. Hours of operation are from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. We are excited to open our 5th and last restaurant of the year, commented Greg Trojan, Chief Executive Officer. Rookwood is our 12th restaurant in the state of Ohio and our second restaurant in the Cincinnati market, joining our Tri-County Mall location, which opened in 2008. Our 2019 new restaurant pipeline is in excellent shape as we currently plan to open seven to nine restaurants. As with all of our new restaurant openings, BJs invited members of the Cincinnati community to attend a soft opening event prior to our grand opening. As our team members put the final touches on the restaurant, invited guests were treated to complimentary food and had the opportunity to make a voluntary donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a very important charity to BJs. Additionally, BJs donated the proceeds of all alcohol purchases during the soft opening event to the BJs Restaurants Foundation. BJs Restaurants, Inc. (BJs) is a national brand with brewhouse roots and a menu with over 120 offerings where craft matters. BJs broad menu has something for everyone: slow-roasted entrees, like prime rib, BJs EnLIGHTened Entrees including Cherry Chipotle Glazed Salmon, signature deep dish pizza and the often imitated, but never replicated world-famous Pizookie dessert. BJs has been a pioneer in the craft brewing world since 1996, and takes pride in serving BJs award-winning proprietary handcrafted beers, brewed at its brewing operations in five states and by independent third-party craft brewers. The BJs experience offers high-quality ingredients, bold flavors, moderate prices, sincere service and a cool, contemporary atmosphere. Founded in 1978, BJs owns and operates 202 casual dining restaurants under the BJs Restaurant & Brewhouse, BJs Restaurant & Brewery, BJs Pizza & Grill and BJs Grill brand names. All restaurants offer dine-in, take-out, delivery and large party catering. BJs restaurants are located in 27 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. For more BJs information, visit http://www.bjsrestaurants.com . Story continues BJs Restaurants Foundation (the Foundation) is a registered 501(c)(3) qualified non-profit charitable organization principally dedicated to supporting charities that benefit childrens healthcare and education, with a primary focus on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In addition, the Foundation supports volunteer efforts of BJs team members across the country as they help give back to the communities in which our restaurants do business. Certain statements in the preceding paragraphs and all other statements that are not purely historical constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on current assumptions and expectations and BJs Restaurants, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors are referred to the full discussion of risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements contained in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. For further information, please contact Greg Levin of BJs Restaurants, Inc. at (714) 500-2400 or JCIR at (212) 835-8500 or at bjri@jcir.com. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras is pictured in the company headquarters in Sao Paulo, Brazil February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker/File photo By Gram Slattery, Rodrigo Viga Gaier and Marta Nogueira RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - A University of Chicago-trained economist named on Monday to head Brazil's Petrobras will not privatize the state-run company, but wants to push ahead with selling non-core assets and to focus on oil exploration and production. Brazil's incoming far-right government announced Roberto Castello Branco as the next chief executive of Petroleo Brasileiro SA , amid a debate over how far to pursue asset sales at the indebted company, Latin America's largest by market capitalization. Castello Branco's appointment is the latest in a string of market-friendly selections by President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, many of them influenced by his adviser and future Economy Minister, Paulo Guedes. The appointments have raised hopes among investors that the former army captain, who takes office on Jan. 1, will deliver significant reforms needed to improve Brazil's creaking public finances, including a pension overhaul. Castello Branco, who in the past has spoken in favor of privatizing Petrobras, on Monday said he had not been tasked with selling off the company but signaled his intention to cut costs, do away with some of the company's downstream operations and focus on its core business. "The privatization of the company is not in question. I do not have a mandate to think about it," he told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, adding that he expected Brazil's Supreme Court to approve a path enabling the company to continue selling assets such as majority stakes in two blocks of refineries and in a gas pipeline company. In an earlier interview, with the O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper, he said BR Distribuidora , Petrobras' fuel distribution unit, was not a natural fit for the company and does not generate returns, sending its shares up almost 6 percent as investors bet the government may sell its 70 percent stake in the unit. Story continues Castello Branco also said he would consider all current asset sales, including that of liquid petroleum gas distribution company Liquigas. "Petrobras' competence is in oil exploration and production," he told the newspaper. Guedes has advocated a full privatization of the company while military generals around Bolsonaro oppose such an idea. Underlining that tension, Bolsonaro told reporters on Monday that certain units of Petrobras could be privatized, even though the company is deemed strategic for the nation. CHICAGO BOYS Castello Branco, a one-time post-doctoral fellow at the University of Chicago, will join other school alumni in the ranks of the incoming administration, including Guedes and former Finance Minister Joaquim Levy, who has been tapped to lead Brazil's powerful state development bank, BNDES. Chicago's economics department has long been known for orthodox economics, particularly in Latin America, and much of Brazil's business elite is enthused by the prospect of Chicago-linked appointees in top posts in public administration. "We basically have the University of Chicago economics department taking over the Brazilian economy," said James Gulbrandsen, chief investment officer for Latin American investments at NCH Capital, welcoming Castello Branco's appointment. "He's been public in the past about advocating for less government intervention ... all the way to privatizing parts of Petrobras." Castello Branco, a member of Petrobras's board until 2016, has also held executive positions at Brazil's central bank and at iron ore miner Vale SA . "We expect Petrobras' deleveraging process and divestment program to continue under Castello Branco's tenure," Vincente Falanga and Oscar Camilo, analysts at Banco Bradesco BBI, wrote in a note to clients. CHALLENGES AHEAD Petrobras, which is burdened by some $88 billion of gross debt, has played a leading role in developing a bonanza of deep-water oil finds in recent decades. Castello Branco told Folha that the company would now double-down on that strategy, seeking to maximize potential of the so-called pre-salt deep-water area. "We need to seize this wealth while there is time. In some decades, oil will lose the relevance it has today," he said. Petrobras is a source of national pride for many Brazilians, but its central role in Brazil's "Car Wash" investigation, considered by many to be the world's largest corruption probe, has hurt its public image and bottom line in recent years. Preferred shares of Petrobras rose 0.8 percent after experiencing swings during the day, while Brazil's benchmark Bovespa index <.BVSP> fell 0.7 percent. Bolsonaro on Monday said that Petrobras' outgoing boss, Ivan Monteiro, could go to state-run Banco do Brasil, the country's largest, although no decision has been made. Petrobras said Monteiro would leave his post on Jan. 1. (Reporting by Gram Slattery in Sao Paulo and Rodrigo Viga Gaier in Rio de Janeiro; Additional reporting by Marta Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro and Paula Arend Laier in Sao Paulo; Editing by Daniel Flynn, Lisa Shumaker and Tom Brown) By Julie Gordon Nov 20 (Reuters) - Alberta said on Tuesday that it will double its incentives for companies developing new plants to make petrochemical products, as the Western Canadian province seeks to diversify its economy beyond crude extraction and export. The province will now provide royalty credits worth C$2.1 billion ($1.6 billion), up from earlier commitments totaling C$1.1 billion, to projects that convert natural gas and oil into value added products like gasoline, fertilizer and plastics. Alberta said it was expanding the program after receiving 23 applications from Canadian and international companies for the incentive program, representing C$60.2 billion in potential investment in the province. "It sends a clear signal that companies from around the world want to invest in Alberta," said Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, Minister of Energy, in a statement. "We need to put our foot on the gas pedal." The province has been struggling with sagging oil and gas prices, as rising crude output has outstripped existing pipeline takeaway capacity, while gas production that used to be sold into the Northeastern United States has been displaced by expanding U.S. supplies. In Alberta, most petrochemical upgrading uses natural gas byproducts like ethane, propane and butane. The province first launched the petrochemical incentives in 2016. Two projects, including Inter Pipeline Ltd's C$3.5 billion petrochemical plant near Edmonton, were approved to share the original C$500 million in royalty credits. It announced the second round earlier this year. Alberta also said it would double its support for petrochemical feedstock plants, which provide the raw materials for petrochemical upgrading. ($1 = 1.3245 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Julie Gordon in Vancouver; Editing by David Gregorio) Nissan Motor Co. will remove Carlos Ghosn as chairman after he was arrested in Tokyo for violations of financial law, throwing the auto industrys largest global alliance into turmoil. Ghosn, a towering figure who saved Nissan from collapse and brought it together with Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., was detained Monday in Tokyo over the suspected breach of Japanese financial laws, Nissan Chief Executive Officer Hiroto Saikawa told reporters in Yokohama, Japan. Ghosn and Director Greg Kelly have been under investigation at Nissan for several months, and the board is set to meet Thursday to remove them both. Both Ghosn and Kelly were reporting compensation to securities regulators in Tokyo that was less than the actual amount, Nissan said, adding that they did this to reduce Ghosns disclosed compensation. Regarding Ghosn, numerous other significant acts of misconduct have been uncovered such as personal use of company assets and Kellys deep involvement has also been confirmed, the carmaker said in a statement. Saikawa said the company cant disclose further details of the suspected wrongdoing. Too much power being concentrated to one individual allowed for the misconduct, and Nissan failed to detect it because its structure wasnt transparent enough, he said. Ghosn is suspected of understating his income by 5 billion yen ($44 million) over five years, Kyodo reported. If Davos Were a Person, It Would Be Carlos Ghosn The bombshell allegations threaten to bring down one of the auto industrys most powerful executives, who turned Nissan and Renault into a challenger to giants Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp. They also cast doubt over the future of the alliance, a three-way pact that has sought to go deeper under the steady hand of Ghosn, 64. While no longer Nissans CEO, hes been laying the groundwork as chairman to make the alliance permanent after his departure including the possibility of a merger. Investors need to be reassured, as Ghosn is a key driver of the collaboration, Jose M. Asumendi, an analyst with JPMorgan, said in a research note. Cooperation with Nissan is critical to Renaults strategy going forward. Story continues The news rattled the European equity market, with shares of Renault falling as much as 15 percent in Paris, while Nissans global depository receipts sank more than 11 percent. Big Challenges The crisis at Nissan is taking place amid a tectonic shift in the auto landscape. The move toward electric and self-driving cars has forced traditional automakers to invest billions, while new competitors like Uber Technologies Inc. and Tesla Inc. invade their turf. Ghosn would be the second major auto-industry figure to leave unexpectedly before seeing through the transition. Sergio Marchionne, who led Fiat back from the brink and engineered its merger with Chrysler, died in July, leaving 54-year-old former Jeep chief Mike Manley at the helm. Why Ghosns departure would come at a particularly bad time. Nissan said it has been providing information to Japanese prosecutors and is cooperating fully with their investigation. Ghosn went voluntarily with prosecutors, the Asahi newspaper reported earlier. A representative for the Tokyo prosecutors office said they dont comment on individual cases and a spokesman for Renault also declined to comment. Under Japanese law, prosecutors need to make official charges before a case can be brought to court. So Ghosns arrest doesnt mean hell be found guilty. Its unclear where he is now and how long the legal process will take. Ghosn said in September that he will continue to pare back his role at the three automakers he brought together, while continuing to head their alliance. Among the best paid executives in both Japan and France for several years, Ghosns compensation has regularly drawn criticism. Ghosn receives numerous paychecks in his multiple roles as chairman of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, CEO of Renault, and chairman of both Nissan and Mitsubishi. At Nissan, he was paid about 1.1 billion yen ($10 million) for 2016 and about $6.5 million in the most recent fiscal year. He took home about $8.5 million at Renault and about $2 million from Mitsubishi in the latest period. At Renault, his package for 2017 was narrowly passed by Renault shareholders, but only after he agreed a 20 percent reduction. A spokesman for Frances finance ministry declined to comment on the news. The country owns about 15 percent of Renault and supported Ghosns renewal at the helm of the French automaker. Ghosn has been contemplating his next career step as the companies look to change the pacts structure, possibly through a merger. Ghosn gave up his role as CEO of Nissan last year and has said that he may step down as CEO of Renault before his four-year term ends in 2022, fueling speculation the alliance could lose its architect and main leader for the past two decades. The carmakers have given themselves two years to decide on a possible merger between them or find an alternative mechanism to enhance their partnership, Bloomberg News reported in July. Ghosn said in September that the companies will clarify everything within the first half of his current term as Renault CEO. A Brazilian-born French national, Ghosn revived Renault as executive vice president from 1996 to 1999. He then was assigned to turn around Nissan, where he reduced the companys purchasing costs, shut five factories, eliminated 21,000 jobs and invested the savings back into 22 car and truck models in three years. The latest developments add to a string of crises in the Japanese auto industry, from scandals involving product quality to falsification of records. Nissan found itself in the midst of a controversy last year, when Japans regulators discovered uncertified inspectors were approving vehicles, leading to a recall of more than 1.2 million cars. In this article: * PREVIOUS TRADING SESSION MOVES: * SSEC +0.9 pct, CSI300 +1.1 pct, HSI +0.7 pct * HK->Shanghai Connect daily quota used 2.6 pct * HK->Shenzhen Connect daily quota used 1.1 pct, Shenzhen->HK daily quota used 0.4 pct * CNY official close 6.9415 per dollar * FTSE China A50 +1.3 pct, BNY Mellon ADR China Select Index -2.5 pct SHANGHAI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Following is a list of recent corporate and policy announcements, as well as other news that might affect Chinese financial markets. Policy, government, sector news: * China will propose WTO reforms, but don't try to trap us - Beijing's WTO envoy * ANALYSIS-APEC fails to live up to its name amid U.S., China acrimony * EU closes in on system to screen foreign investment * In dumping probe, China spooks Australia grain trade already sweating out drought hit * China investors dump once-acquisitive firms on write-down fears * China state planner issues notice on debt-for-equity swaps Data: * Home prices could fall in some smaller Chinese cities in 2019 - Fitch * China's Xinjiang region to cut cotton production in next five years Company moves: In focus * China's Xiaomi swings to net profit in Q3 on robust sales in India, Europe * China's JD.com feels pressure as sales of big ticket items slow * China's CIC sovereign wealth fund plans UK manufacturing investment fund * China's CEFC paid out compensation after Rosneft stake deal fell through * China Railway Group's controlling shareholder proposes to increase shareholding * China's Sangang buys steel capacity with eye toward bolstering output Earnings/Performance * S.F. Holding's Oct courier business revenue up 21.06 percent y/y Equity changes/IPOs * Juneyao Airlines's controlling shareholder, party acting in concert to unload stake * Hoshine Silicon's shareholder to unload up to 12.3 pct stake * Weihai Guangwei Composites's shareholder plans to cut stake by up to 6 percent * China Gezhouba gets regulatory approval to issue up to 2.8 bln yuan corporate bonds M&A Story continues * Avic Capital's trust unit plans to bid for stake in Bank of Guizhou for at least 122.9 mln yuan Trading halt/resumption * Aluminum Corp of China's A-share trade to halt pending regulatory review of asset acquisition * Yinyi Co's shares to resume trading from Nov 20 Other moves (spin-offs, divestitures, deals) * Part of Shandong Hualu Hengsheng Chemical's production facilities to shut down for maintenance (Compiled by Luoyan Liu) El Pollo Loco, Inc. LOCO has been relying heavily on expansion strategies and menu innovation in order to fortify its brand presence. The companys tactic of driving customers and building loyalty is through launching distinguished menu offerings, and providing revamped ambiance in its restaurants. To this end, the company recently launched Handmade Chicken Tamales to provide guests with additional satisfaction during the holiday season. As for expansion, El Pollo Loco opened a restaurant at Grand Prairie, TX. The restaurant, which is the second location in Grand Prairie, is to be managed by the companys franchise partner,Chicken Time Holdings. The restaurant will roughly seat 66 guests and will feature the companys Vision Design initiative. A unique brand positioning and other sales-building strategies have led El Pollo Locos shares to gain 56.9% in the past year, outperforming the industrys rally of 12.9%. Focus on Vision Design El Pollo Loco is opening all of its restaurants under the Vision Design initiative. Restaurants under this program offer authentic atmosphere inspired by Mexico that includes El Pollo Locos menu and brand identity. Those restaurants also have an open kitchen layout to display the preparation of the signature dish. The company believes that its vision model is going to position it better in the quick-service restaurant space. According to El Polo Loco, it is witnessing encouraging results from the implementation of this model in various company-owned and franchised restaurants. It also aims to reduce costs and drive sales through this initiative. Our Take The recent restaurant launch underscores El Pollo Locos efforts to further foray into various markets. Giving expansion strategies an utmost priority, it also announced that it will open eight company-owned and nine to 10 franchised restaurants in the current year. Story continues The distinguished menu that is served in the restaurant also shows that the company is focusing on enriching guest experience to drive foot traffic and sales. El Pollo Locos relentless focus on providing excellent service and reasonable pricing is expected to continue driving revenues. Banking on menu innovation, limited-time offers and a strong brand positioning, the company witnessed year-over-year sales growth of 10.9% in the last reported quarter. Further, per the Zacks Consensus Estimate, current-year revenues are likely to grow 8.1% from the year ago. Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider El Pollo Loco currently carries a Zacks Rank #2(Buy). Other top-ranked restaurant stocks are BJs Restaurants BJRI, Darden DRI and Dunkin Brands DNKN, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Earnings for BJs Restaurants, Darden and Dunkin Brands for the current year are projected to increase by 66.8%, 16.8% and 16.5%, respectively. Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars? Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge. With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research. It's not the one you think. See This Ticker Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (DNKN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) : Free Stock Analysis Report BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) : Free Stock Analysis Report El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Facebook is under fire from international human rights organizations for not stopping the sale of a 16-year-old child bride on its site that started at the end of October. An auction was held on the social media giant for the marriage of a 16-year-old girl in South Sudan on Nov. 3. The winner reportedly gave the girls father 500 cows, three cars and $10,000 in exchange for his daughter, according to Plan International, a childrens rights organization. A spokesperson for Facebook said in a statement to FOX Business that the company removed the post as soon as it learned about it on Nov. 9 but that wasnt until after the auction had taken place more than a week prior. Any form of human trafficking - whether posts, pages, ads or groups is not allowed on Facebook, the spokesperson said. We removed the post and permanently disabled the account belonging to the person who posted this to Facebook. Facebook has a community operations team that reviews reported posts in more than 50 different languages, but the spokesperson declined to comment on why it took almost a week for this particular post to be removed, or whether the company would change its policies going forward. Were always improving the methods we use to identify content that breaks our policies, including doubling our safety and security team to more than 30,000 and investing in technology, the spokesperson added. But Plan International lambasted Facebook in a statement for the barbaric use of technology that it said was reminiscent of latter-day slave markets. That a girl could be sold for marriage on the worlds biggest social networking site in this day and age is beyond belief, said George Otim, the director of Plan International South Sudan. Equality Now, a non-governmental organization that advocates for womens rights, also warned this incident could create a dangerous precedent in which other families try to use social media sites to get better dowries for their daughters. Story continues More than 41,000 girls will be married off each day before they turn 18 in countries across the world, according to the group. It affects 15 million girls each year. Related Articles The cannabis industry in Massachusetts is taking a big step Tuesday with the opening of the first two adult-use dispensaries two years after legalization and more than a month after the Cannabis Control Commission voted on the matter and issued four licenses. What Happened The Cannabis Control Commission announced Friday that two stores, New England Treatment Access in Northampton and Cultivate Holdings in Leicester, would be allowed to open in three calendar days. The three-day period is required for cannabis stores to coordinate with local officials and law enforcement. The stores are expected to open at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Why It's Important Massachusetts voted to legalize recreational weed in 2016, with 1.8 million voters supporting the move. Yet it took almost two years for the Cannabis Control Commission to develop the regulatory framework and issue licenses. Overall, the CCC issued 38 provisional licenses for cultivation, processing and retail, but only two companies received final licenses. Three of them are held by Cultivate Holdings and include cultivation and processing in addition to retail. What's Next In addition to the hurdles to opening a recreational cannabis store, there are other restrictions on cannabis consumption in Massachusetts. Recreational weed is available to people over 21, and one person cannot purchase more than 1 ounce of flower or 5 grams of concentrate. For edibles, a single serving cannot contain more than 5 milligrams of THC, and packages should have up to 20 individual servings. The Marijuana Business Factbook 2018 had estimated that recreational pot sales in Massachusetts could land between $150 million and $250 million if they commenced July 1, but the delay of more than four months will result in a lower figure for the year. Related Links: The Best-Selling And Fastest-Growing Cannabis Brands, According To LeafLink Experts React To State-By-State Cannabis Votes: 'Constituents Are Starting To Make Their Voice Heard' Story continues See more from Benzinga 2018 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. FILE - In this June 30, 1982, file photo, the new space shuttle Challenger sits behind the four astronauts that will fly it during turnover ceremonies at Rockwell International's final assembly site in Palmdale, Calif. From left: Dr. Story Musgrave, pilot Karol J. Bobko, mission specialist Donald H. Peterson and commander Paul J. Weitz. Weitz, a retired NASA astronaut who commanded the first flight of the space shuttle Challenger and flew on Skylab in the early 1970s, has died at 85. Weitz died at his retirement home in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, said Laura Cutchens of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Once upon a time, Los Angeles was the capital of the space age. McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed Martin, Hughes Aerospace, Rockwell International, North American Aviationfifteen of the twenty-five largest aerospace companies were based in southern California during the Cold War, before production spread to the rest of the country. Today, a newer, nimbler space industry backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital is being launched from Los Angeles, enabling new businesses that will change the way people communicate and understand our planet. A wave of small rocket-makers are joining area old timers like Caltechs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Boeing and Northrop Grumman, and following in the footsteps of SpaceX, which was founded in LA in 2002. Los Angeless aerospace infrastructure may have shrunk over the years, but its proximity to many technical universities, major ports, US Air Force launch sites and test facilities in the Mojave desert make it an attractive location for rocket makers; plus, all those old space giants left behind plenty of empty factory space for rent. And have you been to the beach? Trans-Pacific rocketry Rocket Labs launched its first operational rocket on Nov. 11 and immediately afterward raised $140 million, leaving it poised to begin lucrative, regular service to orbit in December. The New Zealand-US operation marked its first successful orbital launch in January. For $5 million, the companys Electron rocket can carry payloads up to 500 lbs (225 kilograms) into orbit. The reason why California and Huntington Beach was just the access to fantastic talent, and the closeness to New Zealand from Los Angeles, Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck told me in 2017. In LA were doing primarily engine and guidance electronics, and down here in New Zealand we do the larger tube structures and the final integration and of course launchas we grow the US domestic launch market as well, well build complete rockets in the US. Story continues Rocket Lab and its competitors are targeting the market generated by a slew of new satellite firms. The large rockets built by SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Arianespace are designed to transport large satellites to high orbits. With new technology, small satellite start-ups are designing their satellite networks for bespoke orbits, and need bespoke solutions to get them there. Payam Banazadeh, the CEO of Capella Space, is building a satellite radar network, and says his start-up cant succeed without more flexible launch options. You can find some rides that go to some other [orbits, but]your mission is to build this constellation. This is only going to happen with dedicated rockets like Rocket Lab. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket "It's Business Time" lifts off in New Zealand on Nov. 11 2018. Rocket Labs Electron rocket Its Business Time lifts off in New Zealand on Nov. 11 2018. More than a dozen companies want to fly these new constellations into orbit, but most analysts believe that the market can only support a few winners. The leading contenders are down on the beach. Cosmic Girls love LA Just up the coast in Long Beach, Richard Bransons Virgin Orbit is almost ready to begin flying rockets of its own. The company will launch them in from the wing of a former Virgin Atlantic 747 named Cosmic Girl. The jet liner sits on the tarmac at Long Beach airport while the companys engineers test the equipment that will secure their spacecraft to its wings during flight. Virgin Orbit is nearing test flights with the rocket, followed by actual air launches. Last month, for the first time, the rocket was mated to the wing, and on Nov. 18 Cosmic Girl took to the sky for its first flight with a rocket attached. Cosmic Girl's first flight with a rocket slung under her wing. Cosmic Girls first flight with a rocket slung under her wing. In mid-October, the Long Beach factory was humming with activity. Besides the completed rocket that will be used for the first test flights, and technicians are now assembling the first rocket that will be launched during flight. In the rear of the 200,000 square foot building, hardware for the third and fourth rockets, including large propulsion tanks, is arranged in neat rows. These vehicles will carry payloads for customers like NASA and the internet satellite firm OneWeb. The companys strategy is straightforward: Adapt a proven method of putting rockets into spacethe Pegasus air-launched rocket has successfully flown 38 timesbut use modern design and production methods like advanced 3D printing to cut the costs. Pegasus cost $55 million per launch, but Virgins LauncherOne will cost $12 to $15 million. Orbit was spun out of Virgin Galactic, Bransons space tourism enterprise, in 2017, and may beat its parent to commercial operations. Whats your Vector, Victor? Another big contender in the small launch game is Vector. Headquartered in Tucson, its engineering operations are based in Huntington Beach, California. In October, the company raised $70 million in a round led by Kodem Growth Partners to continue its test program and build out its manufacturing facility. A Vector rocket takes flight in 2017. A Vector rocket takes flight in 2017. Vector has the deepest California roots: It grew out of Garvey Space Systems, a company founded by former Boeing engineer John Garvey to develop a small rocket. Garvey and Vectors CEO, Jim Cantrell, both consulted with Elon Musk in SpaceXs early days. Now, the two are aiming to snap up the small-launch market Musk abandoned when SpaceX cancelled the Falcon 1 rocket. The rocket has flown suborbital test flights, but the real dealan orbital launchis expected in the next six months from a spaceport in Kodiak, Alaska. The companys first rocket, the Vector-R, is expected to cost just $3.5 million and fly 132 lbs into orbit, sufficient for many small satellites. A larger version to follow, the Vector-H, will charge about $5 million to launch 638 lbs. In September, the engineers were granted a patent for their unique engine design, which is fueled by propylene, a simple petroleum derivative used to manufacture plastics. Garvey and his team are pushing for the simplest possible rocket; it doesnt require a turbopump, an expensive component used by most rockets to increase engine pressure, or use explosives or toxic ignition methods that complicate ground operations. Relativity speaking Just up the street from Los Angeles International Airport, in a nondescript office park, you can find some of the worlds most advanced 3D printers. Relativity Space, founded by former engineers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos space firm, is a prime example of how successful space companies are abetting ambitious start-ups. Inside Relativitys main workshop, three enormous robotic arms are deployed to 3D print rocket parts. Relativitys goal is to make nearly its entire rocket this wayin just 60 daysto drive down cost and ensure precision. As well as the printing engines it has tested more than 100 times, the system has produced large tanks for the rockets plumbing that meet stringent engineering standards. In another room, wooden crates of high-end manufacturing robots from Germany await deployment as the company prepares to expand past its development stage. CEO Tim Ellis believes the company has more robots than Blue Origin and SpaceX combined. Relativity's additive manufacturing workshop, with CEO for scale. Relativitys additive manufacturing workshop, with CEO for scale. While Relativitys passion for automation is an outlierthe company has barely 45 employeesthe new rocket companies are all pushing to cut costs in manufacturing. That means even if these venture firms catch on, they wont bring back tens of thousands of technical jobsbut together they are on a path to create thousands of opportunities for highly-skilled workers. Relativity is still a few years away from launching their Terran rocket. Ellis says it can catch up to its competitors thanks to the companys slightly larger rocket, designed to carry 1,980 lbs (900 kg) on a nominal mission for a $10 million price taga significant reduction in cost-per-kilogram if they can pull it off. To that end, the company has been on a recruiting spree, bringing in engineer Tim Buzza, one of the original SpaceX employees, as an advisor and hiring Brandon Pearce, who designed the electronic systems for SpaceXs rockets and those at Virgin Orbit. Another new hire is Tobias Duschl, a former Tesla executive, as the companys chief of operations. Duschl, who helped roll out the carmakers international service network, is helping the start-up scale up. Relativity now needs an expanded facility to manufacture its rockets. The company is looking in LA. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. Hyatt Hotels Corporation H recently signed a contract with Tamdeen Group to open Hyatt Regency Al Kout Mall in Kuwait. The property marks Hyatts second management agreement with Tamdeen Group, one of the largest privately held conglomerates in Kuwait. The new property is under renovation and is likely to open in January 2019. It is in close proximity to Kuwait International Airport that will provide easy connectivity to business travelers. Meanwhile, Grand Hyatt Kuwait, the companys first collaboration with the group, will be launched in 2020. The latest move underscores Hyatts efforts to expand and strengthen its Regency brand in the Middle East. Meanwhile, shares of Hyatt have declined 1.2% compared with the industrys decline of 17.6% in a year. Continual Expansion A Major Growth Driver Hyatt continues to expand its presence in Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. Meanwhile, the companys new brand signings globally have consistently outpaced its openings and this trend is expected to continue. Hyatt registered net room growth of 7.6% on a year-over-year basis in third-quarter 2018, which marked the 14th successive quarter of growth above 6%. The companys development pipeline grew roughly 6% in the third quarter compared with the prior-year quarter. For 2018, the company expects to grow units on a net room basis by roughly 6.5-7%. As of Sep 30, 2018, the company entered into management or franchise contracts for around 340 hotels or 73,000 rooms. Meanwhile, the recent hotel addition should fortify the Hyatt Regency brands global presence and boost revenues from EAME/SW Asia Management and Franchising segment. In fact, in the third quarter of 2018, revenues at the segment increased 17% (21.1% in a constant currency) year over year to $21 million. Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Hyatt carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks in the Consumer-Discretionary sector are Belmond Ltd. BEL, Peak Resorts, Inc. SKIS and DISH Network Corporation DISH. While both Belmond and Peak Resorts carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), DISH Network carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Belmond has an expected current-year earnings growth rate of 150%. Peak Resorts has an expected 2019 earnings growth rate of 342.9%. DISH Network has an expected current-year earnings growth rate of 11.8%. Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars? Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge. With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research. It's not the one you think. See This Ticker Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report DISH Network Corporation (DISH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hyatt Hotels Corporation (H) : Free Stock Analysis Report Peak Resorts, Inc. (SKIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Belmond Ltd. (BEL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Airbnb will remove all listings by Jewish settlers in the West Bank, an Israeli-controlled disputed territory. In response, Israel said it would act to restrict Airbnb in the country, and encouraged affected Airbnb hosts to file lawsuits under Israels anti-boycott law. Airbnbs action affects about 200 hosts. Airbnb announced on Nov. 19 that it would change its policy regarding home rentals in occupied territories, singling out the West Bank. Previously, it had relied on the principle that such rentals were legal. In its decision, it said it developed a framework that examines safety risks for hosts and guests, whether listings contribute to existing human suffering, and if the listings themselves send a political message by their simple existence. Airbnb didnt reply to a request for comment from Fortune. Airbnbs actions came a day before the planned release of a report from the Human Rights Watch documenting what the organization describes as human rights harms of #Airbnb business in settlements, the organization said on Twitter. Human Rights Watch has previously decried Israels building or allowing settlements in the West Bank, which the group labels illegal. BREAKING: On eve of @HRW report of human rights harms of #Airbnb business in settlements, company announces it will remove all settlement listings. This is the right outcome. Kudos. https://t.co/sKfMrMoUtg Sarah Leah Whitson (@sarahleah1) November 19, 2018 Israelis, the countrys advocates, and the government noted in response to the announcement that Airbnb continues to offer listings in a number of other locales that remain in dispute or controlled by dictators. Former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, pointed out Turkish-occupied Cyprus, Morrocan-occupied Sahara, Tibet, and the Crimea as examples. Story continues Israel maintains control of key pieces of territory seized in 1967 from adjoining Arab nations, including the West Bank, and its occupation has remained in dispute ever since. The country defends its actions as strategic and necessary. However, the settlements are a particular flashpoint. The United Nations Security Council voted 14-0 in December 2016, with the U.S. abstaining, to reaffirm previous statements that settlements in these territories are a flagrant violation under international law, a major obstacle to a two-state solution with the Palestinian Authority, and have no legal validity. Israels Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan said he will work with U.S. officials to determine if Airbnb has violated laws in some U.S. states that prohibit boycotts targeting Israel, according to Haaretz. About 25 states have enacted anti-boycott laws. Israels press office didnt respond to Fortunes request for comment. However, its unclear whether Airbnbs actions, which only affect one portion of territory that Israel claims and doesnt apply to the countrys U.N. accepted borders, would constitute a form of boycott under Israeli or U.S. state law. In similar previous cases, boycotts have constituted companies, performing artists, or others refusing to engage in business anywhere in Israel. The U.S. Congress has attempted this year to produce a federal anti-boycott law to protect Israel that would impose penalties on businesses that heeded calls from organizations outside the U.S. to join boycotts. The ACLU has said the proposal is unconstitutional. This law would target in particular the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement, a coordinated strategy designed to apply pressure on Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, among other territorial and alleged human-rights issues. Leeds Trinity University, where lecturers have been advised not to write to students in capital letters (Google). Lecturers have been banned from using capital letters when assigning work to students because it might upset them. Staff at Leeds Trinitys journalism department have been told writing to students using capital letters could scare them into failure and instead suggested using a friendly tone and avoiding the use of negative language. Critics have since slammed the memo, saying it is just aiding to the snowflake generation being overindulged throughout their education following incidents in Manchester and Kent. The memo said: 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. The Express reports that it goes on to say writing words in capital letters could make the assignment appear more difficult adding to anxieties. Leeds Trinity University has been criticised for a memo telling staff how to address students without upsetting them stock image. (PA) But one staff member said capitals helped ensure students didnt misunderstand their instructions. They added: We are not doing our students any favours with this kind of nonsense. A spokesperson for Leeds Trinity said the memo was guidance on how to explain tasks to students so they achieve their full potential. The move is the latest in a string of incidents which have seen universities criticised for pandering to students. The University of Manchesters students union replaced applause with jazz hands at one event to alleviate stress among the anxious and people with sensory issues. Kent University last month was criticised for banning students wearing offensive costumes, including cowboy outfits or sombreros, in case it affected students right to a safe space at the institution. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Robert A. Schwinger As commercial activity increasingly intertwines with applications of blockchain technology with participants around the world, courts have had to grapple with the personal jurisdiction implications of such arrangements. Will participants in these blockchain applications based outside the United States find themselves subject to U.S. jurisdiction when disputes arise, based on how they have conducted their activities? Two recent New York federal court decisions examined such questions under traditional personal jurisdiction principles and upheld exercising personal jurisdiction over nonresident defendants. 'Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.' Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. v. Alibabacoin Found., 18-CV-2897 (JPO), 2018 WL 5118638 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 22, 2018), involved a suit by Alibaba Group Holding Limited, the parent corporation for a multinational web services conglomerate based abroad, against Alibabacoin Foundation and related parties to enjoin alleged trademark infringement, alleging they were using Alibabas trademarked names and symbols to promote sales of their AlibabaCoin cryptocurrency. The defendants, all based in Dubai and Belarus, argued that the New York court could not properly exercise personal jurisdiction over them in this action by a nonresident plaintiff. The court looked at whether the defendants had purposefully transacted any business with the state of New York as required under New Yorks long-arm statute, N.Y. Civ. Prac. L. & R. 302(a)(1), and then further analyzed whether the exercise of personal jurisdiction comported with federal constitutional due process requirements. It held that the defendants activity satisfied these tests. The court found purposeful transaction of business in New York because during discovery, Defendants produced a list of the email addresses associated with AlibabaCoin investors, and an investigation has revealed that at least one of these email addressesconnected to three transactionsbelongs to an individual who overwhelmingly appears to be a New York resident. The defendants argued in response that these sales did not occur in the United States because they consist of ledger entries made in Minsk, Belarus, following observation of changes in blockchain data outside the United States, but the court deemed this argument unpersuasive, explaining that, as with a debit card purchase, it would strain common usage to say that the transaction occurs at the potentially remote location of the servers that process the buyers activity and not at the location where the buyer clicks the button that commits her to the terms of sale. The court also rejected defendants argument that their role in these transactions was not purposeful, based on their claim that unbeknownst to them, New York-based users of their website chose to effectuate cryptocurrency sales by initiating data exchanges with Defendants out-of-state electronic apparatus. The court held this argument contrary to precedent that had been developed in personal jurisdiction rulings involving website sales by out-of-state concerns to New York customers. The court also held these transactions had a substantial relationship with Alibabas trademark infringement claims. Noting that Alibaba had presented evidence that over one thousand New York users had visited Defendants website by mid-June 2018, the court held Alibaba had established a reasonable probability that the transactions at issue here are not isolated instances, but rather a part of a larger business plan that involves the purposeful marketing and sale of AlibabaCoin to, among others, New York consumers. Story continues Ultimately, by adducing evidence that a New York resident has purchased AlibabaCoin through Defendants website, Alibaba has demonstrated a reasonable probability that Defendants have transacted business in New York within the meaning of New Yorks long-arm statute. Exercising personal jurisdiction over these defendants also met federal due process reasonableness requirements, said the court. It rejected defendants suggestion that subjecting them to litigation in New York would present so great an inconvenience as to constitute a deprivation of due process, given defendants obvious familiarity with internet communication in this modern age. It further noted that New York has a clear interest in protecting in-state consumers from confusion resulting from the misappropriation of trademarks or trade dress, and that Alibaba likewise has an interest in safeguarding its corporate reputation among potential New York customers or investors. Lastly, the court held that the fact that related proceedings might be pending in other counties did not suggest that an exercise of personal jurisdiction here would be inefficient or would trench on the prerogatives of other states. Accordingly, the court rejected defendants personal jurisdiction challenge and issued preliminary injunctive relief against the alleged trademark infringement. 'PlexCorps' SEC v. PlexCorps, No. 17-cv-7007 (CBA) (RML), 2018 WL 4299983 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2018), was an SEC enforcement action charging the defendant promoters of the PlexCoin cryptocurrency with various counts of securities fraud, alleging they had participated in a fraudulent scheme to raise funds from thousands of investors. The individual defendants, based in Canada, moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. PlexCoin had been sold through an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) which had been publicized through a white paper and through webpages and Facebook accounts. Early purchasers had been promised a return on investment of 1,354 percent within 29 days. In assessing purposeful contacts with the United States, the court noted that both individual defendants had traveled to the United States at the start of the ICO pre-sale. Although the defendants claimed the trip was for leisure purposes, the court said the evidence suggested it related to the PlexCoin venture, noting that one of the individual defendants registered two PlexCoin-related websites with a United States registration company during the trip, and logged onto PlexCoins PayPal account about 20 times. The court also cited the Individual Defendants repeated use of United States-based payment servicers such as PayPal, Square, Stripe and Kraken as being significant contacts, particularly where U.S. dollar transactions were involved. The court analogized this to cases holding that the use of a forums banking system as part of an allegedly wrongful course of conduct may provide sufficient jurisdictional contacts when that use is an integral part of the wrongful conduct. Similar to the defendants in Alibaba, the Individual Defendants argued that jurisdiction was not proper because the actual sale takes place outside the United States, arguing that because PlexCoin sales are not finalized until the cryptocurrency transfer occurs, and because the transfer does not complete until the PlexCoin owner publicly logs a record of the transfer on the online, network-wide ledger, the PlexCoin sales necessarily occur at the location of the servers of the PlexCoin owner publicly logging the transfer. The court rejected this argument, stating even if the final step of those sales (the public transfer of PlexCoin on the ledger) occurred outside the United States, the initial steps (the payment through the accounts) involved in-forum contacts. The court lastly pointed to the purposeful distribution of web content to United States investors, focusing on Facebook accounts and websites through which the defendants advertised and marketed to persons in and outside the United States, and websites that were used to market and ultimately process sales to persons both within and without the United States. The court held that defendants Facebook activity, while not necessarily dispositive, was a notable contact. The court cited the interactive nature of some of these Facebook accounts, noting that they conveyed information and responded to questions about the ICO, and provided links to the plexcorps.com website. It found that the Facebook accounts were integral to finding investors and directing statements at them to encourage them to participate in the alleged fraudulent scheme, and moreover that the defendants directed Facebook advertisements and messages containing fraudulent misrepresentations to potential purchasers who were United States residents. The defendants claimed they excluded the United States from their Facebook marketing campaign and never directly communicated with potential United States purchasers. However, the court noted that PlexCoins marketing strategy as stated in its white paper was to focus efforts on Facebook, and that Facebook was their main ally in making PlexCoin known to the highest number of people possible, with at least one advertising campaign specifically targeting North America. In fact, two United States purchasers declared that they learned about the sale from Facebook ads. The court also pointed to the www.plexcoin.com website, which is interactive, is accessible to United States buyers, and facilitates sales by those buyers, including taking credit card information and sending emails to users. Four United States buyers declared that they created accounts to purchase PlexCoin. Declarants attested that everyone involved with the PlexCoin project knew of purchases from the United States buyers and even the defendants admitted that PlexCoin employees suspected from the outset that some individuals from the United States would attempt to access the website and purchase PlexCoin. While at one time the website required purchasers to certify they were not United States citizens or residents, the evidence showed the defendants knew the checkbox and Exclusion clause were at least somewhat ineffective, as they learned about purchases from United States-based IP addresses. Moreover, the checkbox statement was later removed from the website to try to gain more United States-based purchasers. Finally, as in Alibaba, the court upheld exercising personal jurisdiction over the nonresidents under constitutional reasonableness requirements. Like the Alibaba court, the PlexCorps court cited how the conveniences of modern communication and transportation ease what would have been a serious burden only a few decades ago. The court also noted the United States strong federal interests in pursuing securities cases and protecting domestic investors, and rejected the notion that exercising jurisdiction here could interfere with related proceedings ongoing in Canada. Conclusion In both Alibaba and PlexCorps, the courts were not persuaded by personal jurisdiction defenses based on arguments about how and where blockchain transactions were effectuated and recorded. Instead, the courts upheld jurisdiction by focusing on traditional jurisdictional indicators such as marketing and sales activity directed toward the United States, use of interactive websites, website purchases, and use of U.S. financial systems in receiving payment. Such holdings may help provide comfort to persons affected by such activity that they will not lose access to U.S. courts for relief against nonresidents merely because blockchain activity is involved that takes place overseas. As more such cases arise, the courts will make clearer whether they will follow the personal jurisdiction approach taken by these courts when faced with blockchain fact patterns. Robert A. Schwinger is a partner in the commercial litigation group at Norton Rose Fulbright US. Nov 20 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - Carlos Ghosn, who created an alliance between Nissan and Renault that made it effectively the world's largest carmaker, was arrested by the authorities in Japan on Monday in a remarkable tumble for one of the industry's most powerful and admired leaders. https://nyti.ms/2BikQEB - The Trump administration stood down on Monday from its nearly two-week-long dispute with CNN over the White House credentials of Jim Acosta, informing the correspondent that his badge was formally restored. CNN in turn dropped its lawsuit on the matter, which had ballooned into a test of press freedoms in the Trump era. https://nyti.ms/2BjzfAu - Walt Disney Co said on Monday that Chinese regulators had unconditionally approved its purchase of 21st Century Fox Inc assets, pushing the $71.3 billion deal closer to completion. https://nyti.ms/2BhqPtw - David's Bridal, the largest wedding retailer in the country, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday as it tries to shed more than $400 million in debt and adjust to new rivals, but said brides would receive their gowns on time. https://nyti.ms/2BjLEEN (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom) CHICO, Calif. (AP) It's been 12 days since Christina Taft started the frantic search for her mother Victoria, who refused to evacuate their Paradise home as flames neared, and six days since she gave authorities a cheek swab to identify remains that are likely her mother's. She still hasn't received confirmation that her mother is dead, and says she's been frustrated by what she feels is a lack of communication from Butte County officials. "They said they found remains, they didn't say her remains. They won't confirm it to me the whole time," Taft said Monday. With 79 people killed in the nation's deadliest wildfire in at least a century, there are still nearly 700 names on the list of those unaccounted for. While it's down from nearly 1,000 the day before, it is inexact, progress has been slow, and the many days of uncertainty are adding to the stress. More than a dozen people are marked as "unknowns," without first or last names. In some cases, names are listed twice or more times under different spellings. Others are confirmed dead, and their names simply haven't been taken off yet. Survivors and relatives of those caught in the fire in Northern California are using social media to get the word out: In some cases, to post that their loved ones were safe; in others, to plead for help. "Aunt Dorothy is still missing. There has been confusion going on at the Sheriffs office regarding her whereabouts because she was taken off the list," a man wrote on Facebook on Monday. "I have an uncle and two cousins that I have not been able to make contact with," one woman wrote on Facebook, with their names. "Any info would be appreciated." Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has said he released the rough and incomplete list in hopes that people would contact authorities to say they are OK. He has called it "raw data" compiled from phone calls, emails and other reports. Story continues "We put the list out. It will fluctuate. It will go up. It will go down because this is in a state of flux," Honea said Monday. "My view on this has been that I would prefer to get the information out and start working to find who is unaccounted for and who is not. I would put progress over perfection." Officials have also culled reports from the earliest hours of the disaster, when fire knocked out mobile phone communications and thousands fled, some to safe shelter that was hundreds of miles away. Honea said his office was working with the Red Cross to account for people entering and leaving shelters. Evacuees are also helping authorities narrow the list, sometimes by chance. Robert James Miles, who lost his Paradise trailer in the blaze, was staying at a shelter in Chico where people posted names of those they hadn't heard from. Miles said he alerted a Red Cross worker Saturday that he recognized eight names on the board as friends he knew were OK. "Two of them were in the shelter," he said with a chuckle. Owen and Phyllis Suihkonen understand the chaos. Their family is scattered after they lost their home to the wildfire, as did their two adult children. Phyllis Suihkonen, 69, says she spotted the names of two friends on the list of unaccounted people, and doesn't know if they are safe. But her daughter has seen names of friends who are OK and called sheriff's officials to let them know. "I'm concerned," Phyllis said. "But like I said, there's been other friends' names on the list that have been accounted for and taken off." Meanwhile, those searching for bodies were in a race against the weather, as rain was forecast for Wednesday. The precipitation could help knock out the flames, but it could also hinder the search by washing away fragmentary remains and turning ash into a thick paste. The fire, which burned at least 236 square miles (611 square kilometers) and destroyed nearly 12,000 homes, was 70 percent contained on Monday. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco's cable cars, the Oakland Zoo and other San Francisco Bay Area area attractions were closed Monday because of smoke from the blaze some 140 miles (225 kilometers) away. Several San Francisco museums over the weekend offered free admission to give people something to do indoors. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said it is "way too early" to estimate the damage done by the wildfire. But for perspective, he said the Northern California fires that gutted 6,800 homes last year resulted in $12.6 billion in insured losses. "It's going to be a long and painful process," he said. ___ Har reported from San Francisco. ___ Associated Press journalists Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California, and Paul Elias and Jocelyn Gecker in San Francisco also contributed to this report. Matt Rourke/AP/REX/Shutterstock When it comes to Lowes, easy access to stores around the United States may have been too much of a good thing. The home improvement chain recently announced that it is closing 20 of its most underperforming stores around the United States and an additional 31 stores in Canada, CNBC reported. Most of the closures involve Lowes that are located within ten miles of each other. The affected stores are in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. This map will show you if a Lowes near you is closing. Lowes runs about 1,800 stores in the United States. The shuttering of the stores is expected to take place by February. The closures are a "necessary step in [the companys] strategic reassessment as [it focuses] on building a stronger business," Lowes CEO Marvin Ellison said. Competition is a major factor. Lowes has tried to catch up with Home Depot over the past year, but industry analysts say Home Depot has better real estate and has invested more in e-commerce. Don't miss these 8 money-saving secrets Home Depot employees want you to know. Lowes decision to close the underperforming stores isnt surprising, Wells Fargo Analyst Zachary Fadem wrote. "We suspect the 51 stores being closed are losing money, are being cannibalized by other Lowes stores, or face heightened competition by Home Depot and others," Fadem added. Here are 10 weird things you didn't know you could buy at Lowe's. Lowe's appointed two new board members in January after an activist hedge fund with a stake in the company revealed concerns about the companys performance. Ellison took over as CEO in May and recently outlined what he thinks is wrong with the company, according to Forbes. Ellison plans to "change everythingfrom supply chain to logistics to design." The company has also been revisiting its pricing strategy, with lots of two-for-one deals. But Home Depot, which operates more than 2,280 stores around the country, is making improvements of its own. The company is investing $1.2 million over the next five years in its own supply chain, according to Forbes. That will enable Home Depot to provide same and next-day delivery to 90 percent of the population in the United States. So someday soon, upgrading your home might not even require a trip to a store at all. Next, find out the 14 things you shouldn't buy in home improvement stores. Societe Generale Group SCGLY has agreed to pay nearly $1.4 billion to the authorities in the United States. This comes as this French banking giant decides to settle some of its long-pending legal disputes. Of the total fine, nearly $95 million is expected to be paid to settle a dispute over violations of anti-money laundering regulations. On the other hand, the bank said that it will pay $1.34 billion to settle allegations that it processed billions of dollars in transactions related to countries under sanctions. The authorities that issued the fines were the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the New York County District Attorney's Office and the New York Department of Financial Services. These authorities claimed that between 2003 and 2013 the bank implemented billions of dollars of illegal transactions to parties in countries like Iran, Sudan, Cuba and Libya, which were sanctioned by the United States. Prior to this settlement, in June, the bank agreed to pay a penalty to the U.S. and French authorities for its alleged manipulation of Libor rates and transactions, involving Libyan counterparts. Societe Generales chief executive officer, Frederic Oudea stated, We acknowledge and regret the shortcomings that were identified in these settlements, and have cooperated with the U.S. Authorities to resolve these matters. He added, These resolutions, following on the heels of the resolution of other investigations earlier this year, allow the Bank to close a chapter on our most important historical disputes. Notably, per the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, this $1.34 billion is the second-largest fine that has ever been imposed on a bank for violating U.S. sanctions. The largest was paid by another French bank, BNP Paribas, in 2014, when it agreed to pay nearly $8.9 billion for conspiring to violate sanctions that prohibit transactions with Sudan and other regimes. Notably, Societe Generale has also signed deferred prosecution agreements that have a probation period of three years and are subject to U.S court approval. Accordingly, following the probation period, the bank cannot be prosecuted if it abides by the terms of the agreements. The bank informed that the fine was entirely covered by the provision for disputes booked in its accounts. In fact, the settlement will not have any additional impact on its 2018 results. Shares of the company have lost 25.4% over the past year compared with 12.3% decline recorded by the industry it belongs to. Story continues Societe Generale currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Stocks to Consider Some better-ranked stocks from the finance space are Old Second Bancorp, Inc. OSBC, Ares Capital Corporation ARCC and JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM. Each of these stocks carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Old Second Bancorp has increased 2.6% for the current year. The companys share price has increased nearly 10.1% in the past year. Ares Capital Corporations shares have gained 5.4% in a year. Further, its 2018 earnings estimates have moved 2.5% upward over the past 60 days. Over the past 60 days, JPMorgan witnessed a 1.4% upward earnings estimate revision for the current year. Its share price has increased 12% in the past year. Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars? Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge. With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research. It's not the one you think. See This Ticker Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Societe Generale Group (SCGLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Old Second Bancorp, Inc. (OSBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The CIA is reportedly preparing to present President Donald Trump with an assessment that ties the Saudi crown prince to the death of Jamal Khashoggi. This comes just two weeks before major oil producers will decide whether to cut output, a move that Trump opposes because it will boost the cost of crude. Trump's ongoing support for the crown prince gives the Saudis an incentive to abandon or moderate the production cuts. The oil market has largely shrugged off the killing last month of Washington Post columnist Jamal Kashoggi by Saudi agents. However, a new CIA assessment that reportedly links the slaying to the kingdom's crown prince could soon change that, according to a commodities strategist and former CIA analyst. The assessment concludes that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's killing , according to the Washington Post and NBC News. The CIA is expected to present its report to President Donald Trump by Tuesday, just two weeks before major oil producers including OPEC and Russia meet in Vienna, Austria. The group has been coordinating oil policy since last year, and the members are now considering a fresh round of production cuts after a sharp pullback in the oil market. New supply caps would boost oil prices and prevent financial pain in countries dependent on fossil fuel revenue, including Saudi Arabia. The kingdom expects to its crude shipments to drop by 500,000 barrels per day in December, and its energy minister recently said OPEC and its allies may cut output by about 1 million bpd next year. But Trump, a populist focused on filling Americans' pocketbooks, opposes the output cuts because he wants prices to fall at U.S. gas stations. @realDonaldTrump: Hopefully, Saudi Arabia and OPEC will not be cutting oil production. Oil prices should be much lower based on supply! Despite reportedly being shown evidence that links Khashoggi's death to Prince Mohammed, Trump continues to cast doubt on the royal's role in the slaying. The Trump administration is closely aligned with Prince Mohammed, and the president wants to preserve billions of dollars in potential arms sales to the Saudis. Story continues In an interview with Fox News that aired Sunday, Trump stressed that Prince Mohammed has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing during the leaders' private conversations. That gives the Saudis an incentive to hold off on cutting output, especially in light of growing pressure on the regime from Congressional Republicans, according to Helima Croft, the global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets and a former intelligence analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency. "I think there is a corner of the market that says, 'Well wait a second, is Saudi Arabia really going to go forward with removing so many barrels in a situation where President Trump remains a stalwart ally of the Saudi government?" she told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday. "Would they want to offend President Trump given the fact that he continues to stand by the Saudi leadership?" On the other hand, Croft says there's a view that Saudi Arabia was led to believe the Trump administration would impose strict sanctions on Iran. That expectation played a role in the kingdom's decision to back an output hike in June. The talk in the region is that the Saudis are not pleased that Trump is allowing some of Iran's biggest customers to continue importing crude, said Croft. Trump's decision to grant sanctions waivers, after pushing the OPEC alliance to boost output, is contributing to the looming oversupply that has sent oil prices plunging into a bear market . "Some believe [the Saudis] were sort of tricked into putting so many barrels on the market in advance of those sanctions," Croft said. "It's going to be very interesting to see where Saudi Arabia comes down on this issue." Ultimately, Croft believes Saudi Arabia will protect its own economic welfare and push through output cuts, rather than see oil prices fall even further. More From CNBC This is the 12th of 20 profiles of The Gazette's Best and Brightest Class of 2015. Serene Singh can speak five languages fluently. "I think communication is the most important aspect of anyone's life," Singh said. Singh has used her own communication skills in many ways. She recently used her voice to travel to the U.S. Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C., as one of two delegates selected from the state of Colorado this past March. There she met the president and other government officials. "I definitely say it was the best week of my life so far," Singh said. She plans to double major in political science and pre-law with a minor in leadership studies in college. "I think government "You got to pay because you never have money when you come in here," a manager of a Chipotle in St. Paul, Minnesota, told a group of young African American men in a video one of them posted Friday to Twitter, and the exchange only got testier from there. "We got no money? That's racist!" one man says, as the manager explains that they have to prepay for their burritos. "I might just run off with my food today, bro," another says. "She's making crazy accusations." A white customer got his order, and the group erupted. "Why did he not have to pay before?" a number of the men said. After the video was posted to Twitter, launching a conversation about implicit bias and the challenges of merely existing in public spaces while being black, the manager was fired. Chipotle announced that it would retrain its employees to prevent further incidents. But the company now says it may rehire the manager based on "additional information." "Our actions were based on the facts known to us immediately after the incident, including video footage, social media posts and conversations with the customer, manager, and our employees," Laurie Schalow, Chipotle's chief communications officer, told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "We now have additional information which needs to be investigated further. We want to do the right thing, so after further investigation we will re-train and re-hire if the facts warrant it." Chipotle has not yet responded to an inquiry from The Washington Post about what the additional information entails. The Pioneer Press reported that Masud Ali, the man who posted the video, had also Tweeted multiple times about dining and dashing at Chipotle and other restaurants. Several of those tweets were found by other Twitter users. A screenshot of a tweet from July 15, 2015, says, "Dine and dash is forever interesting." A tweet from March 28, 2015, describes a plan to go to an Applebee's and tip a server 20 cents. Another tweet from the same day says, "Not a dine and dash we're just borrowing the food for a couple hours that's all." In January 2016, he tweeted, "Aye man I think Chipotle catching up to us fam . . . should we change locations. . ." A screenshot of a tweet from this July reads, "I caught myself taking the Chipotle Tabasco sauce the other day lol not because I needed it but because it felt so natural to me." Ali has not yet responded to a request for comment. A Chipotle representative told the Pioneer Press that the company was aware of the tweets when it decided to fire the manager and that its latest statement was not based on them. The video followed several incidents this year involving treatment of African Americans at chain restaurants. In February, two black men were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks after they asked to use the restroom while waiting for an associate to arrive. The incident resulted in Starbucks's closing of 8,000 stores in May for anti-racial-bias training. Various Waffle House locations were the site of four racial incidents - one involving a police officer choking a teen in prom attire - during a 12-day stretch in May. Also in May, a Toronto Chinese restaurant was ordered to pay $10,000 in damages after demanding that a black customer prepay for his meal. A man was stabbed Monday night near The Citadel mall in east Colorado Springs, police said. A cadet was dismissed from the Air Force Academy and will face jail time after he was convicted for cocaine use and lying to investigators Tuesday. One Fort Carson soldier shot and killed another early Saturday in southeast Colorado Springs after finding his wife in their bedroom with the other man, police said. Army Spc. Shakir D. Cook-Troynel, 23, was slain about 2 a.m. at the Stratus Apartment Homes at South Murray Boulevard and Airport Road. Arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder was Pfc. Isaiah Towns, 20, who remained in El Paso County jail Tuesday on $100,000 bond. An affidavit says Towns gave police this account: Armed with a pistol, he entered the apartment he shared with his wife, Ashley Charmain Mary Pace, 27, and heard moans coming from the master bedroom. Towns entered and found Pace mostly naked and Cook-Troynel in the closet with the door open. Towns said he intended to intimidate Cook-Troynel to get answers, but his adrenaline was high and Pace was yelling at him and trying to push him out of the room. Towns fired his pistol, shooting Cook-Troynel in the upper torso. Pace, who has a child with Cook-Troynel from a prior relationship, had told Towns on Friday that she wanted a divorce. Pace told police she did push Towns but wasnt struggling with him when he shot Cook-Troynel. Pace and Towns got married Oct. 5, county records show. Cook-Troynel, of Homestead, Fla., had been in the Army since May 5, 2015. He came to Fort Carson in February and was assigned to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He was deployed to Afghanistan from May to July. Cook-Troynel received several commendations during his 3 years of service, including the Army achievement medal. Spc. Shakir D. Cook-Troynel served honorably as an indirect fire infantryman in the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, over the past nine months. He was only with our unit for a short time, but while here he demonstrated excellent performance, said Lt. Col. Ryan D. Barnett, the battalion commander, in a statement. He was instrumental in the success of the unit, and he made a lasting impact on our formation and everyone whose life he touched. Our most sincere condolences go out to the Cook-Troynel family. Towns, of Batesville, Miss., also was assigned to the combat team as a signal support systems specialist, records show. He has served in the Army for 17 months. Towns doesnt have a previous criminal history in Colorado, court records show. Cook-Troynels death is the citys 31st homicide this year, compared with 27 at this time last year, police said. Over the Black Friday craze and ready to head outdoors? You can emerge from that Thanksgiving food coma and enjoy any of 41 state parks for free Friday. Fresh Air Friday aims to turn Black Friday into a blue skies Friday, a green trees Friday, a white snow Friday a Fresh Air Friday, says Colorado Parks & Wildlife, which sponsors the initiative with Great Outdoors Colorado. For locals seeking a new and challenging adventure, check out the long-awaited Dixon Trail in Cheyenne Mountain State Park. The trail leads to the Pikes Peak regions second-most famous summit, Cheyenne Mountain, in about 15 miles with 3,330 feet in elevation gain. The park offers plenty of shorter options, too, as do Mueller and Eleven Mile state parks in Teller County and Spinney Mountain State Park in Park County. For a full list of state parks, go to cpw.state.co.us/places togo/parks/Pages/parkMap.aspx. Jason Crow finds himself in a difficult spot. He can throw former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi under the bus or betray Colorado voters. He could lose either way and has no way out. Crow, the Democrat who unseated Colorados U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman this month, will have a nightmarish start to his congressional career if he betrays Pelosi and she wins election as speaker. If that happens, Pelosi will deprive him of desirable committee assignments. She will blacklist him with anyone and everyone with political clout within her House caucus, among Senate Democrats, and other of Washingtons political elite. Thats how Washington works. And who could blame Pelosi, anyway? She helped elect Crow, directing money from at least two of the Democratic Partys political action committees help defeat Coffman. To get elected in Colorados purplish and swingy Sixth District, Crow had to distance himself from Pelosi just as Coffman distanced himself from President Donald Trump. Sixth District voters have never favored extremism, and Pelosi is extreme. Heres what Crow told The Denver Post in July: I wont be supporting Nancy Pelsoi. I want new leadership to step up and move this country forward, Crow said. Pelosi, the powerful multimillionaire from San Francisco, is the farthest thing from new leadership. Her old-style, doctrinaire manner as speaker of the House eight years ago and earlier helped Republicans achieve a House and Senate red wave in 2010 that then-President Barack Obama called a shellacking. The 78-year-old Pelosi is best known for nutty statements one expects from inebriated in-law bombasts at a Thanksgiving table. Strong employment numbers mean little Hip hip hooray, unemployment is down. What does that mean to me in my life? I need a bigger paycheck. Thats the apprehension American families have had for a while. We have to pass the bill (Obamacare) so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy. That type of stuff, reliably. U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat representing the Seventh District since 2007, has also pledged he wont vote for Pelosi in her bid for another go-round as speaker of the House. He joined 15 other Democrats Monday in signing a Never Pelosi letter, which says Democrats ran and won on a message of change We promised to change the status quo, and we intend to deliver on that promise. A key name missing from that letter? Jason Crow, observes Kyle Kohli, Colorado Communications Director for the Republican National Committee. Crow cannot have it both ways. He cannot win election by promising voters he wont be supporting Nancy Pelosi, then get soft on the matter after getting the seat he wanted. We dont understand why Crow did not join his senior Colorado colleague in signing the letter, but we fully expect him to vote for someone other than Pelosi. She can make his freshman term hellish, but Colorado voters can make it the only term he gets. Crow should cross Pelosi, despite her support of his victory. We hope he does right by the people who gave him their votes. The Gazette editorial board Woodland Park merchants are enhancing their shopping experience this weekend for Small Business Saturday. A welcome station will be set up at the Woodland Square Vintage Market. Photo by Pat Hill Three of the 32 winners of the 2019 Rhodes Scholarship have ties to Colorado Springs. Two recipients of the prestigious award, which pays for college seniors to study at Oxford University in England in the fall, are cadets at the Air Force Academy, and another is a Colorado Springs native who attends the University of Colorado in Boulder. Cadet 1st Class James Brahm of Huntsville, Ala., is majoring in computer science, with a minor in Chinese and nuclear weapons and strategy; and Cadet 1st Class Madison Tung, of Santa Monica, Calif., is double majoring in mathematics and humanities. She also is pursuing a minor in Chinese. Serene Singh, a 2015 graduate of Rampart High School, is majoring in political science and journalism at CU Boulder. Singh is the 20th Rhodes Scholarship recipient from CU Boulder and the first in 25 years. Shes also the first woman from the campus to win the scholarship. The cadets are the Air Force Academys 40th and 41st recipients of the award since it was established in 1902 by philanthropist Cecil Rhodes. Brahm is a Truman Scholar who has a computer science-related patent pending with the U.S. Patent Office. He commands the Wing Information Services Team, which ensures IT support to 4,000 cadets. He has worked extensively in cybersecurity. Tung, also a Truman Scholar, researches the use of artificial intelligence and other mathematical techniques. Shes a six-time All-American, national champion in womens wrestling. Singh holds the titles of Miss Colorado Teen 2016 and Americas Junior Miss. She also won a Boettcher Scholarship and a Truman Scholarship. She started a nonprofit, the Serenity Project, Brave Enough to Fly, to empower at-risk women through skills shes gained in pageantry. I still feel like I am dreaming, Singh said in a statement Sunday, after returning to Colorado from Salt Lake City, where she interviewed with a Rhodes selection committee. I woke up this morning with a feeling Ive never had before. It truly felt like cloud nine times a thousand. Singh, the daughter of G.B. Singh and Nitu Singh, aspires to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Rhodes Scholarship winners are selected on academic achievement, personal integrity and leadership potential, among other attributes. A Rhodes Scholar should show great promise of leadership, Elliot F. Gerson, the American secretary of the Rhodes Trust, said in a news release. In short, we seek outstanding young men and women of intellect, character, leadership and commitment to service. Applicants must be endorsed by their college or university. This year, more than 2,500 students sought their universitys endorsement, and 880 students were endorsed by 281 colleges. Nearly half of this years 32 recipients are immigrants or first-generation Americans. The scholarship pays all college fees, provides a stipend and transportation to and from England, for an award of up to $70,000 per year for up to four years. Contact the writer: 719-476-1656. These are several shots of 'Rhinestone Pigeon', a pigeon found on the back porch of a Glendale, Arizona woman's home, who turned the bird over to rescue organization Fallen Feathers, who are now looking for the bird's owner since, and I'm not sure if you were aware of this or not, pigeons don't dress themselves. The rescue's owner, Judy Kieran, told the news outlet they're searching for the pigeon's owner -- because the bedazzled ensemble indicates it's someone's pet. Since posting photos of the missing bird online, the gemmed pigeon has become something of an online sensation. Kieran joked, "Is he Liberace or the Rhinestone Cowboy? I haven't figured that one out yet. It was more hysterical than anything." There are several more shots from different angles after the jump, just in case you aren't positive if this is the exact bedazzled flight suit you made for one of your birds. "Hey, I make a lot of rhinestone flight suits." And I understand that. Ten bucks says it's Mike Tyson's. Keep going for several more shots. Thanks to K Diddie, who agrees there must be one frantic bird owner out there right now. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ICC International Cannabis Corp. (CSE: WRLD)(FWB: 8K51)(OTC: KNHBF) ("ICC" or International Cannabis or the Company) is pleased to announce it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100 per-cent of Green Gene Research Inc. (Green Gene). Green Gene boasts 17 years of experience in the fields of Cannabis research, testing, cultivation, as well as the optimization of proprietary seeds and strains. Green Gene controls a portfolio of over 120 laboratory-tested craft Cannabis strains. These unique craft strains will allow for the continued differentiation of the International Cannabis brand, in an increasingly generic and homogenized market. Green Genes strain and seed inventory has been curated and assembled over the past 17 years by a team of experiences geneticists and breeders. The acquisition of Green Gene positions International Cannabis to realize multiple revenue streams using its unique genetic catalogue. These revenue streams will result in consistent, accretive cash flows and include: Licencing of premium genetic strains; Wholesale seed sales; Clone fulfillment services; Custom breeding programs; and, Tissue culture and strain patenting services. Under the terms of the agreement, Green Gene will transfer ownership of its proprietary strain portfolio, seed inventory and clone catalogue to International Cannabis. The acquisition of Green Gene further augments International Cannabis robust portfolio of vertically integrated Cannabis assets, as well as positions the Company to capitalize on Canadas legal recreational Cannabis marketplace. With the addition of Green Gene, International Cannabis has access to a robust collection of genetics of top ranked strains from around the World. International Cannabis plans to deploy Green Genes premium genetic strains and seed bank capabilities to its Cannabis operations in Colombia, Denmark, Poland, Greece, Portugal, South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho. This acquisition will also afford International Cannabis the ability to provide highly coveted Cannabis flower to its distribution network of approximately 35,000 pharmacies across 16 countries. Through an exclusive agreement with Cosmos Holdings, the Company has access to a trans-European network of over 160 clients and vendors. International Cannabis distribution network is augmented by various value added services including strategic procurement, warehousing, product registrations and regulatory representations. Eugene Beukman, CEO and a director of International Cannabis stated, The acquisition of Green Gene broadens the product offering that ICC can provide to its clients and to its distribution network. Proprietary strain portfolios, seed inventory and clone catalogues increase the breadth of ICCs unique product offering and presents an exciting opportunity to provide superior strains and higher quality products to the Cannabis consumer worldwide. The inclusion of Green Gene strains and seed library is yet another step towards achieving ICCs goal of servicing top-tier products to the EU and LATAM. ICC International Cannabis, through its subsidiaries, has agreements in place for European-based pharmaceutical distribution, wholesale importation, and research and development, as well as licences to cultivate, produce, distribute, store and export cannabis, cannabis derivatives and industrial hemp in Colombia, Denmark, Poland, Greece, Portugal, South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will issue 10 million common shares. A finders fee is payable on this transaction. ON BEHALF OF THE ICC INTERNATIONAL CANNABIS CORP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eugene Beukman Eugene Beukman CEO, Director +1 (604) 687-2038 info@intlcannabiscorp.com Learn more about ICC by visiting our website at: https://intlcannabiscorp.com/ Stay up to date with everything happening at ICC by following or liking us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ICCWRLD/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ICC_WRLD LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/icc-wrld/ THE CSE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information: This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to: political changes in Canada and internationally, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis in Canada and internationally, the Companys ability to secure distribution channels in international jurisdictions, competition and other risks affecting the Company in particular and the cannabis industry generally. The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward- looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. WINNEMUCCA, Nevada, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. (NYSE American: PZG) ("Paramount or the Company) announced today that it has mobilized drill rigs to its 100%-owned Grassy Mountain Gold Project (Grassy) in Eastern Oregon where the Company is in the process of permitting a proposed high grade underground gold mine. Approvals from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) have been received for the first phase of the program, which will consist of both exploration and geotechnical drilling within the area currently being permitted for the proposed mine. A second phase of the drill program will test targets outside the proposed mine project area. The first phase exploration program will include reverse circulation drill holes in the immediate vicinity of the Grassy Mountain deposit at the North Spur target and shallow core holes 1,000 feet east of the deposit for geotechnical reasons and to test for possible extensions to the mineralization underneath post mineral basalts. In the first phase, reverse circulation drilling to a depth of approximately 700 feet will test the North Spur zone, a target located 500 feet north of the Grassy deposit. Historical shallow drilling at North Spur returned low grade gold values but did not penetrate the deeper silicified structures where the mineralization could have been concentrated. In addition to testing the hidden upper portion of the underlying Grassy formation, which is the host for the gold deposit at Grassy Mountain, a core rig will be used for geochemical and geotechnical testing to define material for back-fill and tailings dam construction. Paramount has also received approval from the BLM to drill beyond the Grassy permit area and will initiate the second phase of drilling upon completion of BLM bonding and DOGAMI approval. In the second phase, five reverse circulation holes are planned in two high priority target areas, including three holes at the Wally/Wood zone and two holes at the Dennis Folley target. Wally/Wood is located one mile north-northwest of the main Grassy deposit, while the Dennis Folley target is located about two miles north of the deposit, as shown in the map below. Paramount President and CEO Glen Van Treek stated: We are excited to have begun our first step-out exploration program at Grassy to test several high priority targets. These targets not only have successful historical shallow drilling, but also exhibit similar geophysical properties to the Grassy deposit, including a well-defined resistivity anomaly. We are also planning to include our recently acquired Frost Project in our 2019 exploration program. The Frost property is located just 12 miles west of Grassy and historical drilling has returned several high grade gold intercepts in a geological setting which is strikingly similar to the Grassy deposit. The helicopter mag and radiometric survey results from Frost are still pending and will be a great asset in prioritizing drill targets, Van Treek added. See the Frost press release of November 14, 2018 . NI 43-101 Disclosure The exploration program will be overseen by Michael F. McGinnis, Project Manager. Mr. McGinnis is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved this press release. To stay informed of future press releases, subscribe to our E-Alerts Program and to learn more about our projects visit the projects section of our website . About Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. Paramount Gold Nevada is a U.S. based precious metals exploration and development company. Paramounts strategy is to create shareholder value through exploring and developing its mineral properties and to realize this value for its shareholders in three ways: by selling its assets to established producers; entering into joint ventures with producers for construction and operation; or constructing and operating mines for its own account. Paramount owns 100% of the Grassy Mountain Gold Project which consists of approximately 9,300 acres located on private and BLM land in Malheur County, Oregon. The Grassy Mountain Gold Project contains a gold-silver deposit (100% located on private land) for which results of a positive PFS have been released and key permitting milestones accomplished (see press release dated May 24, 2018). Additionally, Paramount owns a 100% interest in the Sleeper Gold Project located in Northern Nevada. The Sleeper Gold Project, which includes the former producing Sleeper mine, totals 2,322 unpatented mining claims (approximately 60 square miles or 15,500 hectares). Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements This release and related documents may include "forward-looking statements" and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) pursuant to applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. Paramounts future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable securities laws. Words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although these words may not be present in all forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements included in this news release include, without limitation, statements with respect to: production estimates and assumptions, including production rate and grade per tonne; revenue, cash flow and cost estimates and assumptions; statements with respect to future events or future performance; anticipated exploration, development, permitting and other activities on the Grassy Mountain project; the economics of the Grassy Mountain project, including the potential for improving project economics and finding more ore to extend mine life; and mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Management believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conclusions made in the PFS; the quantity and grade of resources included in resource estimates; the accuracy and achievability of projections included in the PFS; Paramounts ability to carry on exploration and development activities, including construction; the timely receipt of required approvals and permits; the price of silver, gold and other metals; prices for key mining supplies, including labor costs and consumables, remaining consistent with current expectations; work meeting expectations and being consistent with estimates and plant, equipment and processes operating as anticipated. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: uncertainties involving interpretation of drilling results; environmental matters; the ability to obtain required permitting; equipment breakdown or disruptions; additional financing requirements; the completion of a definitive feasibility study for the Grassy Mountain project; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, between actual and estimated development and operating costs and between estimated and actual production; and the other factors described in Paramounts disclosures as filed with the SEC and the Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta Securities Commissions. Except as required by applicable law, Paramount disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this document. Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. Glen Van Treek, President, CEO and Director Christos Theodossiou, Director of Corporate Communications 866-481-2233 Twitter: @ParamountNV A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4bae4a21-4c00-47ca-a99e-db3c9a63f0b0. TORONTO, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toachi Mining Inc. (Toachi or the Company) (TSX-V: TIM) (OTCQB: TIMGF) is pleased to announce the completion of the second last payment required as part of the earn-in agreement on the La Plata high grade gold copper-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) polymetallic project. In addition, the Company notes that the La Plata project is featured in the Ecuador governments mining project initiative. Option Agreement Update Pursuant to the option agreement defined in the Companys press release dated October 28th 2015, Toachi completed a cash payment of US $350,000 as required for November 2018. The Company has now completed US $1.0M in option payments while completing over US $4.0M of exploration expenditures on the La Plata project. In doing so, the Company has fulfilled all financial obligations required at this time. A final payment of US $1.0M by November 2019 is required to finalize the earn-in agreement and obtain a controlling ownership position of 60% of the La Plata project, located near Quito in Ecuador. At its discretion, the Company reserves the right to accelerate the final payment in order to assume operational control. Exploration & Metallurgical Updates Toachi engaged SGS Canada to prepare an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) to be completed by the end of first quarter 2019. The PEA is exploring various opportunities to reduce capital costs, including the use of existing infrastructure and tunnels to access high grade deposits located close to surface. SGS is also completing a metallurgical testing program at this time. Recent testing has demonstrated significant advances in recoveries of all metals which will be used to refine the projects final processing flow sheet. The Companys current exploration program, which includes surface and channel sampling, stream sediment sampling and mapping, have continued to indicate positive results on areas identified by the previously completed geophysics survey. Establishment of Ecuadorian Branch In conjunction with the Companys ownership transition plan, Toachi Mining established its Ecuadorian branch, employing mining professionals to assist in the transition to majority control of the project, including the supervision of all necessary activities and operations in Ecuador. The offices, located in Cumbaya, a suburb of Quito, are now fully operational with a full in-country team. The Companys in-country team has collaborated on various community based social projects with CELEC, the National Electrical Company of Ecuador and the municipality of Palo Quemado, where Toachis field offices are located. Ecuador Update The mining industry in Ecuador has grown substantially throughout 2018 with world-renowned mining companies sponsoring projects in the country. As publicly announced by the Vice Minister of Mines, at IMARC 2018 in Melbourne, Ecuador has a renewed focus on developing the mining sector. This renewed focus has been aligned with Ecuadors intentions of more than doubling the mining industrys economic impact on GDP by 2021 and supports a robust long-term outlook for domestic mining projects. The Government, as part of the economic growth initiative for the mining sector, is showcasing upcoming mining projects, including Toachis La Plata project and has expressed that it seeks to strengthen its relationships with local operators. These new initiatives are expected to foster improved communications and create a supporting environment for Toachi and all mining companies located in Ecuador, in both the near and long term. About Toachi Mining Inc. Toachi brings a disciplined and veteran team of project managers together with one of the industrys highest grade projects at La Plata in Ecuador. Toachi is focused on and committed to the development of advanced stage mineral projects throughout the Americas using industry best practices combined with a strong social license from local communities. Toachi Mining has 81,166,435 shares issued and outstanding. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Companys financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains regulatory approval. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Companys financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Companys continuous disclosure filings filed under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Alain Bureau President and CEO Candace Di Vito Manager, Investor Relations Telephone: 416 365 7043 Email: cdivito@toachimining.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is dened in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Vancouver, British Columbia, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Future Farm Technologies Inc. (the Company, Future Farm or FFT) (CSE: FFT) (OTCQB: FFRMF) is pleased to provide an update regarding activities for the calendar year-to-date and plans for the remainder of 2018. The Companys CEO, Bill Gildea, thanks current and prospective shareholders for their ongoing support. Early 2018 was an active period for Future Farm. The Company closed new investments in Florida, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and Maine, and the market responded positively to this portfolio expansion and diversification. Since that time, Future Farm has primarily focused on increasing shareholder value by integrating these acquisitions, improving operations, and taking advantage of synergies. The Company has successfully raised US$6.34 million of new capital from a fund of Yorkville Advisors over the course of the year to develop and expedite growth in its operations. The summaries below provide a more in-depth update on the Companys various projects in its four business segments over the year-to-date. CULTIVATION With cultivation projects underway in strategic markets in the U.S. and Canada, Future Farm is positioned to be a leading cultivator of cannabis, including hemp, and other types of produce. The Companys Build-Own-Operate model, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) practices, and adherence to the highest standards position FFT to be a leading producer of cannabis, hemp and CBD products. FLORIDA Future Farm owns a fully operational, approximately 10-acre greenhouse business in Apopka, Florida known as White Sand Nursery (White Sand). White Sand currently grows ornamental plants that are sold in large retail stores throughout North America, but the intent is to cultivate cannabis in its greenhouses and outdoor farmland, once fully licensed. White Sand hired Jose Sikaffy in August 2018 as Director of Cultivation in preparation for entering the Florida medical cannabis business. Before joining White Sand, Mr. Sikaffy was Cultivation Director of Remeny/Tredwell Nursery, a Florida licensed medical cannabis facility in Eustis. Mr. Sikaffy graduated from Valencia College in Orlando and holds a degree in plant science and agriculture technology. MAINE Future Farms 80% subsidiary, Future Farm Maine, LLC, received three licenses for industrial hemp cultivation in the state: one each for farms in Amity and Hersey, and one for the Companys hemp processing facility in Belfast. Future Farm Maine is expected to provide multiple revenue streams from the sale of harvested hemp biomass, CBD concentrate and isolate extracted from the biomass, and hemp seeds. The Company completed its harvest of 50 acres of hemp in Maine in October 2018 and announced that the harvested hemp easily passed state-mandated testing for acceptable limits of THC (<0.3% THC). RHODE ISLAND In January 2018, Future Farm purchased a 15,000-square foot building in Providence, Rhode Island to be used as a licensed medical marijuana cultivation facility. Once licensed, this property will be used to provide wholesale cannabis to Rhode Islands state-sanctioned dispensaries. The building is located in an M-1 zone, which permits the cultivation of cannabis by right. Future Farm has a letter of intent to lease the building to an entity that holds a provisional license for the cultivation of wholesale medical marijuana. Renovation is underway to create 6,480-square feet of cultivation space, in addition to processing space and a commercial kitchen to prepare edible cannabis products. Creative Environment Corp. of Cranston, Rhode Island has been engaged to lead the construction effort in Providence. PRODUCE FARMS: MARYLAND AND ALABAMA Future Farm is pursuing opportunities to grow produce in Maryland and Alabama using CEA in collaboration with CBO Financial Inc. (CBO) and Volunteers of America (VOA). The primary objectives of both farms is to establish economical and environmentally friendly vertical farms, provide job training opportunities (specifically to the VOAs reentry program for ex-offenders), provide therapeutic programs, support entrepreneurship development, and establish a model for replication at other reentry and social services facilities. The Company, with the assistance of CBO Financial, is pursuing locations in Maryland and Alabama of approximately 25,000 square feet each. While it is not yet possible to predict the exact timing of these projects, Future Farms plan is still to first develop a prototype farm as a demonstration project for potential sources of financing, then to use this model to expand the Companys CEA technology as well as the training and therapeutic programs developed by VOA into other markets throughout the United States. PROCESSING, BREEDING AND GENETICS PROCESSING Concentrates are used to make edibles, topical ointments, capsules and other packaged products that require professional extraction technology and facilities. The market for high-quality cannabis concentrates is increasingly strong. Future Farm has made the strategic decision to optimize operations by moving the extraction equipment it acquired for use in California to the Companys hemp drying and curing facility in Maine. The equipment recently arrived in Maine in time to meet the farms post-harvest processing needs. The extraction operation will be set up once harvest and seed sorting are completed. BREEDING AND GENETICS 2018 has been a pivotal year for Future Farms breeding and genetics operations. The Company intends to form a jointly owned limited liability company, Future Farm Rahan, with world-renowned global agro-biotechnology company Rahan Meristem Ltd. Future Farm Rahan will develop, own and utilize Rahan's proven, patented and proprietary technology to mass-produce elite clones of cannabis and hemp and related technology. These clones are expected to have higher levels of THC and CBD that are focused on achieving specific, desired results in patients and recreational users. The new company intends to commercialize the intellectual property it develops by both selling clones and licensing technology. RETAIL OPERATIONS VERTICALLY INTEGRATED DISPENSARIES: MASSACHUSETTS The Company has loaned $1.325 million to BCWC, LLC (BCWC), the holder of a provisional medical license and two provisional adult use licenses in Massachusetts. Currently, the Company is in discussions with BCWC regarding the terms under which it would provide further financial support for BCWC and will provide updates as those discussions progress. In addition, Future Farm has recently begun discussions with other holders of provisional licenses in Massachusetts about acquiring interests in those businesses. DISPENSARIES: PUERTO RICO Future Farm is a 40% owner of and holds a 60% economic interest in FFPR, LLC (FFPR). FFPR will own and operate five dispensaries in Puerto Rico under the Clinica Verde brand, which is already established as a leading medical cannabis dispensary operator in Puerto Rico. As of September 2018, about 34,000 patients were signed up for the Puerto Rico medical marijuana program according to Marijuana Business Daily. This almost triple the 12,000 registered patients accounted for in 2017. FFPR is preparing to launch three of the five dispensaries early in the new year. The three dispensaries will be located in the well-known Condado area of San Juan, on busy University Avenue in the Rio Piedras neighborhood of San Juan and in the city of Ponce. Work is underway at both the Condado and University Avenue locations. LED CANADA LED Canada continues to operate out of its showroom and integrated warehouse in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company is conducting a technology and marketing review in order to increase sales via e-commerce channels. TECHNOLOGY Future Farm is utilizing and developing state-of-the-art technology in all aspects of its operations from cultivation to processing to the end-user experience. Also, as has been previously reported, the Company completed its spinout of NexTech AR Solutions Corp. in September. CORPORATE UPDATES FINANCING In August 2018, the Company entered into a Secured Convertible Debenture from a fund of Yorkville Advisors Global, LP (Yorkville) in the Principal Amount of US$4,202,423, of which US$3,202,423 refinanced the remaining principal and accrued interest on the US$4,000,000 Convertible Debenture entered into with Yorkville in March 2018 and US$1,000,000 was paid in cash to Future Farm. In September 2018, the Company announced an extension to its Conditional Lease Commitment with Veterans Capital Corp, a specialty finance company providing financial and leasing services (Veterans Capital). Veterans Capital agreed to extend to March 1, 2019 the period of time during which the Company can access its secured lease line of credit in an amount not to exceed US$500,000.00. In November 2018, the Company entered into two Secured Convertible Debentures with Yorkville. One Debenture is in the Principal Amount of US$1,777,155, which refinanced the principal and accrued interest on the US$1,660,000 Convertible Debenture entered into with Yorkville in December 2017. The other Debenture is in the principal amount of US$1,340,00, which was paid to the Company in cash net of certain fees and expenses. Proceeds from the private placements will be used to support the continued development of the Companys various projects throughout North America. CONCLUSION Future Farm continues to forge ahead on a number of diversified activities in cannabis and agriculture. The Company is very pleased with the expansion of its portfolio over 2018 and the execution of its business divisions across North America. The Company continues to raise capital and look for new opportunities in which to expedite growth. Future Farm thanks current and prospective shareholders for their interest and ongoing support. For further information, contact Investor Relations at investor@FutureFarmTech.com. On behalf of the Board, Future Farm Technologies Inc. William Gildea, CEO & Chairman About Future Farm Technologies Inc. Future Farm is a Canadian company with holdings throughout North America including California, Massachusetts, Florida, Maine, Puerto Rico and Newfoundland. The Companys mission is to advance sustainable agriculture through production of wholesale and retail cannabis products, including hemp. As a leader in its field, Future Farm is committed to using only the highest quality processes and products. Towards this goal, the Company acquires or partners with licensed cannabis operators, and acquires or develops leading technologies in cannabis production, breeding, genetics, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Future Farms scalable, indoor CEA systems utilize minimal land, water and energy resources. The Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license to use a patented vertical farming technology that, when compared to traditional plant production methods, generates yields up to 10 times greater per square foot of land. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. There is no guarantee that the Company will complete the Arrangement, or if completed, will be listed on a stock exchange. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws. SAN DIEGO, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) will host U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman as a keynote speaker during its 2018 Fall Conference & Exhibition, Nov. 27-30 in San Diego. Speaking during the Nov. 29 luncheon, Burman will address public water agency leaders from throughout California, where the Bureau oversees the Central Valley Project. She will share a national perspective on key issues and top priorities important to all ACWA public agency members. The Bureau of Reclamation is the largest wholesale provider of water in the country and operates the Central Valley Project and Hoover Dam. ACWA represents more than 450 public water agencies that are collectively responsible for 90% of water delivered to California cities, farms and businesses. Its biannual conferences attract more than 1,500 attendees over four days and include panel discussions touching on every aspect of Californias water supply, quality and sustainability. ACWA members will also hear keynote addresses from California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth and Water Foundation CEO Wade Crowfoot on Nov. 28. Nemeth previously worked at the California Natural Resources Agency as Gov. Jerry Browns deputy secretary and senior advisor for water policy since 2014. Before coming to the Water Foundation in 2017, Crowfoot served as a senior advisor to Brown on his administrations response to drought. The full conference program with event dates and times is available online: https://www.acwa.com/events/2018-fall-conference-exhibition/ WHAT: ACWA 2018 Fall Conference & Exhibition WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 27 through Friday, Nov. 30 WHERE: Manchester Grand Hyatt, 1 Market Place, San Diego ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose more than 450 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com. ACWA Contact: Heather Engel, Director of Communications | (916) 441-4545 | C (760) 217-0627 Grand Old Partisan salutes John Croxton, born in Kentucky this day of 1836. Graduating from Yale University, the brilliant student became a lawyer. Though from a plantation family, he opposed slavery. Not only was the peculiar institution inhumane, he believed, it was economically ruinous. In 1860, the staunch Republican voted for Abraham Lincoln. During the Civil War, Croxton enlisted as lieutenant colonel of the 4th (U.S.) Kentucky Mounted Infantry. His regiment fought at Perryville and Chickamauga and Atlanta. A brigade under his command won the last battle east of the Mississippi, near Talladega. Peace restored, for six months he was provisional governor of southwestern Georgia. In 1872, President Ulysses Grant appointed him ambassador to Bolivia. Though already feeling the effects of tuberculosis, he accepted, serving there until death two years later. Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bM347fz60z8 Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement. Each day, his Grand Old Partisan blog celebrates more than sixteen decades of Republican heritage. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far. Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision. Buy the book at Amazon See www.youtube.com/q?v=IzxKCiXc5Qc for a brief video of a Texas Republican praising Back to Basics for the Republican Party. "This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!" "Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP." "Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan." "Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before." and "one of the best books I ever read" Haifa is on the "front line" in any action in the north but this blog looks at life in the shadow of danger to all of Israel The moment forage is baled, losses begin. Adequately protecting bales from the elements can help minimize loss and make your hay last longer. So, whats best for your operation? Hay loss causes Exposing large round bales to moisture and storing directly on the ground can lead to major losses from water infiltration, spoilage, pest and disease issues. High-humidity environments can also lead to quicker spoilage if bales are left uncovered. The amount of precipitation that falls on unprotected bales can affect storage losses. However, precipitation alone is not a good indicator of projected losses. Much of the dry matter loss associated with outside storage is the result of microbial respiration, where carbohydrates in the plant tissue plus oxygen are converted to carbon dioxide, water and heat, according to Oklahoma State University Extension Agricultural Engineer Raymond Huhnke. Extended periods of warm, humid and cloudy conditions with abundant rainfall are favorable for microbial activity, resulting in greater losses of forage dry matter and quality than in periods of cool, dry and sunny conditions. How much can be lost? University of Tennessee research shows bales stored with no protection directly on the ground could lose around 37 percent of each bale during normal storage longevity (ranging from six months to 20 years, depending on the storage option used), typically coming from the outer few inches of the bale where hay is most exposed to the elements. Eliminate one of the variables by either covering bales stored on the ground or elevating unwrapped bales and losses could fall to just under 30 percent. Wrapping bales stored on the ground can drop losses to around 19 percent, while covering bales and elevating them off the ground can drop losses to around eight percent. Storing bales inside and off the exposed ground can yield the lowest loss at around six percent. Each method of hay storage has different costs associated with it and one of the major costs is associated with storage loss, said University of Tennessee Agricultural Economist Andrew Griffith. The more hay lost to storage means the more hay that must be harvested to meet winter feeding demands. Given a $150/ton price for large round bales weighing around 1,200 pounds (544.3 kg), a 30-percent loss would mean a bale that ordinarily has a value of $90 would instead be worth just $63. Solid bales and the right location The first step to help protect your large round bales starts before theyre even out of the field. One of the important keys to reducing weathering is the tightness of the outer layer of the bale. Moisture penetration and bale deterioration are inversely proportional to the tightness of the outer 2 to 6 inches (5.1 to 15.2 cm), Huhnke said. The tighter the outer layer, the lower the losses could be. Hay loss can be minimized by how theyre arranged outdoors. According to University of Minnesota Extension Equine Specialist Krishona Martinson, the optimal location has good drainage and provides a surface between the hay and the bare ground to prevent ground moisture absorption. Moisture from the ground accounts for around half of overall hay loss in bales stacked outdoors, according to Huhnke. A well-drained, 4 to 6 inch (10.2 to 15.2 cm) coarse rock base will help minimize bottom spoilage, as will storing on wood pallets, Martinson said in a university report. Store round bales end-to-end when storing outside. Position round bales as tightly as possible in long lines on a well-drained site. If more than one line of bales is needed, space adjacent lines at least 3 feet (.9 m) apart. This will increase air flow and allow sunlight to penetrate the bales. Bale coverage options If stored outside, plastic tarps, bale wraps or sleeves offer varying levels of coverage from precipitation. Though more costly than tarps, bale wraps and sleeves can offer better protection from environmental moisture, both from the ground and precipitation. Breathable netwraps help keep bales dense and allow the outer hay layers to shield inner layers from damage, but are not completely waterproof. Plastic bale wraps are impervious to moisture, but also dont allow moisture to escape from bales and can promote spoilage in some cases. Some farmers believe that more layers, up to six, are well worth the extra cost, according to Michigan State University Extension Crop Production Specialist Jim Isleib. A thicker barrier is more dependable than a thin one, but more costly. All of these types of storage costs should be contrasted with the changes in potential storage losses to determine what will work best for your hay. The total storage cost is the sum of the storage system and the cost of the projected losses while bales are in storage. If bales were stored under a plastic cover, storage cost with an estimated eight percent ($6.40 per ton) dry matter loss would be about $10 per ton ($3.60 per ton plastic cost plus $6.40 per ton loss in hay value), Huhnke said. If the same bales were stored outside uncovered, loss of hay value could be as much as 10 percent or $8 per ton. This assumes the bales are well-shaped with a tight outer layer, but in contact with the ground. If elevated, the dry matter loss can be less than four percent or $4 per ton. Cost factors Traditional twine carries a cost of around $0.50 per bale, while plastic tarp-type covers can range from $1.25 to $1.75 per bale depending on the amount of times the bales are covered. Netwrap costs between $1.25 to $1.45 per bale, but can be more efficient from a time and labor perspective. Twine sometimes requires as many as 20 to 30 turns around the bale to provide sufficient structure and protection. The same coverage can be provided by netwrap in as few as one-and-a-half turns, making the process much quicker and more efficient during baling. Plastic bale wrap carries a cost of between $3.60 and $3.80 per bale, though that cost can vary depending on how many layers of the plastic wrap are used. The heavier and denser the forage being baled, the more layers typically recommended for longer-lasting protection. In some situations, a combination of netwrap and up to six layers of plastic wrap is recommended. Balance storage costs and hay value Beyond the specific costs for bale wraps and protection, producers should take into account both the time they will store their bales and determine what level of loss is acceptable in deciding what strategy is best for them. Forages packaged in large round bales benefit from protection while in storage. However, there are several factors that must be considered in justifying the cost of providing this protection, Huhnke said. These factors include hay value, projected in-storage losses, local environmental conditions and where the hay will be used. 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 Lets look at some of those. Statements In Tehran, a member of Resistance Unit 815 said Down with Khamenei; Commander, we are ready. In Qaemshahr, a member of Resistance Unit 400 also sent a message saying that the unit is ready for the overthrow of the Regime. In Abhar, northwest Iran, a member of Resistance Unit 910 said that they heard the message and support the calling. In Gilan, northern Iran, a resistance unit member said millions of Iranians are ready to fight the mullahs regime. In Shiraz, south-central Iran, a member of Resistance Unit 6067 expressed the units readiness for the regimes overthrow. Graffiti and Burnings In Mashad, a member of Resistance Unit 739 used graffiti to share the statement Khamenei is a murderer His rule is void We shall return. In Amol, Karaj, Kermanshah, Tehran, Arak and Zahedan, resistance unit members used graffiti to express the sentiment: Death to Khamenei, Hail to Rajavi. In Kermanshah, western Iran, a member of a resistance unit used graffiti to express that the ongoing nationwide protests against the Regime, led by the MEK, will only increase. In Tehran, Qarchak and Zibashahr, members of resistance units set fire to images of Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. MEK publicity In Isfahan, central Iran, resistance unit members handed out a leaflet about Iranian opposition President Maryam Rajavi and her ten-point plan for future free Iran. In Shahin Shahr, central Iran, a resistance unit member put up a sign containing excerpts of the plan. In West Azerbaijan Province, northwest Iran, members of Resistance Units 540 and 533 put up posters to support Massoud Rajavis message, which read that the fire of the Iranian peoples protests will never die. In Rasht, northern Iran, a resistance unit member distributed a leaflet in support of the recent nationwide teachers strike. Their support for Irans teachers comes in response to a call made by Maryam Rajavi. Paying tribute Many resistance unit members across Iran paid tribute to fallen MEK martyrs at their gravesites and vowed that they were ready in this ongoing struggle. 1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. 2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks. 3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown". 4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam). I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published. Tuesday, November 20, 2018 Time For Another Edition Of Reader Vox Populi Steve Pearce Could the giant projected state surplus of over $1.2 billion and perhaps nearing $2 billion be in jeopardy because of the recent slide in oil prices? That's the question a number of readers posed recently as oil dropped below $60 a barrel. The answer? Probably not. Unlike past oil booms this time we're dealing with once in a lifetime production levels that are going to stay up even if the price drops some more. The NM SE Permian Basin can profitably churn out the black gold with the fracking process even if the price drops to the low 40's. The boom will eventually end but probably not because of price but because Basin production gradually slows. Some follow-up on our comment that if NM Dem US Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, presided over a loss of the House or only a small gain, his DC status could be in jeopardy. Well, his supporters are quick to tell us that Dems have now picked up nearly 40 seats, meaning Lujan has presided over a It was, by any historical standard, a blue wave. Democrats look like theyre going to pick up around 38 House seats, which would be the third-biggest gain by any party in 40 years (after Republicans in 2010 and 1994). The Senate moved in the opposite direction, but not by much. NO HOPE Longtime NM Republican Spiro Vassilopoulos is in the oil business. He offers this comment on the election of Democrat Stephanie Garcia Richard as state land commissioner: Joe: There is no hope for New Mexico Republicans. The whole election process is a ruse. Let's take one race as an example. The current Commissioner-elect of Public Lands ran on the platform that she was "for women and planned parenthood." So, in order to spare all Republicans from false hopes and save money in advertising and the cost of running elections, we should do the following: Once the Democratic primaries are decided, the winner should be declared the rightful occupant of the respective office and sworn in. Republicans can grouse all they want to, but they best just move to Utah or Wyoming. Meantime, Commissioner-elect Garcia Richard has 30 job vacancies she is seeking to fill. Job seekers can check them out OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST Many of our best and brightest high school graduates leave the state for college and never return as opportunities are thin here. A Best and Brightest Initiative could seek to identify those students early in high school, offer them mentoring in their areas of interest from academic, engineering, scientific and other leaders. Perhaps internships and summer jobs with local enterprises could be arranged and subsidized, connections made, etc. Financial assistance for college might be part of the package for student participants tied to a commitment to serve a certain number of years locally. The idea, in addition to giving talented youngsters a path to stay in New Mexico, would be to build a talented work force to attract other enterprises here. It would take some money for staff and the like, hence the connection to the oil windfall money. Whether this is a new idea or even viable matters not. It felt good to think positively about the State, my home for over fifty years. Good stuff, Norm. And it's the right week of the year for some positive thinking. THE RESULTS Reader Richard Flores checks in with thoughts on the results of Election '18: With Democrat Xochitl Torres-Small's win in the southern congressional district, New Mexico experienced a blue tsunami as opposed to a blue wave. Congratulations to all the winners. Looking forward to reforms in public education, a big boost in teacher pay, early childhood education, infrastructure, health care and immigration policy. With all due respect, if Senator John Arthur Smith, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, continues to be an obstacle, legislative leadership must do what is necessary to get around him, and bring on the reforms that are needed to improve the lives and the future prospects for all of our children. Also, Joe, thanks for your coverage of the campaigns, election day results and post election analysis. Thank you, Richard. Senator Smith is standing at the crossroads of history with this new Governor-elect. We won't say it's the last best chance to turn the state in the right direction, but it's something like that. IT'S PETER In a first blog draft Monday we omitted the name of State Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth regarding his selection once again for that position by the Senate Dem caucus. Congrats, Peter. Now about Senator Smith. . . This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. ( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018 A few notes before we get to reader Vox Populi. . .Steve Pearce has confirmed that he is running for chairman of the NM Republican Party. The news follows our Monday blog in which our sources told us Pearce was thinking about running. The entry of the southern GOP congressman and unsuccessful '18 Guv candidate will likely clear the field of most competitors for the slot. The GOP State Central Committee will meet December 8 to choose the new chair.Could the giant projected state surplus of over $1.2 billion and perhaps nearing $2 billion be in jeopardy because of the recent slide in oil prices? That's the question a number of readers posed recently as oil dropped below $60 a barrel. The answer?Probably not. Unlike past oil booms this time we're dealing with once in a lifetime production levels that are going to stay up even if the price drops some more. The NM SE Permian Basin can profitably churn out the black gold with the fracking process even if the price drops to the low 40's. The boom will eventually end but probably not because of price but because Basin production gradually slows.Some follow-up on our comment that if NM Dem US Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, presided over a loss of the House or only a small gain, his DC status could be in jeopardy. Well, his supporters are quick to tell us that Dems have now picked up nearly 40 seats, meaning Lujan has presided over a "blue wave." They believe that success will help him secure the House leadership role he is pursuing--as long as his mentor House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi takes over the speakership.Longtime NM Republican Spiro Vassilopoulos is in the oil business. He offers this comment on the election of Democrat Stephanie Garcia Richard as state land commissioner:Meantime, Commissioner-elect Garcia Richard has 30 job vacancies she is seeking to fill. Job seekers can check them out here . And in case you missed it, here's the transition website for the Governor-elect where applications for state jobs are being taken and where you can also schedule a meeting with her.Reader Norm Gagne writes:Good stuff, Norm. And it's the right week of the year for some positive thinking.Reader Richard Flores checks in with thoughts on the results of Election '18:Thank you, Richard.Senator Smith is standing at the crossroads of history with this new Governor-elect. We won't say it's the last best chance to turn the state in the right direction, but it's something like that.In a first blog draft Monday we omitted the name of State Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth regarding his selection once again for that position by the Senate Dem caucus. Congrats, Peter. Now about Senator Smith. . .This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Links HOME E-MAIL ME About Joe Google News Real Clear Politics Huffington Post Drudge Report The Politico NM TV stations Gov. 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President Xi Jinpings airplane has just landed at NAIA PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed China flags were seen along Roxas Boulevard waving with Philippine flags as our country welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit. KAMI learned that Xi visited the country to sign deals and agreements that could strengthen the relationship between China and Philippines. In a report by Rappler, Filipinos gave poor trust ratings to China. In a recent result of Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released two hours before the visit of Chinas President. They had a -16 net trust ratings from the Filipinos. However, United States has a very good +59 net trust ratings and +28 for Japan. According to SWS, those who gave lower rate to China are those who know the issue regarding West Philippine Sea and South China Sea. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! In a recent report by DZRH News, the airplane of Xi has just landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). As previously reported by KAMI, President Rodrigo Duterte has commented regarding the issue of South China Sea. He also insisted that he is negotiating with the Chinese President regarding the West Philippine Sea. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Philippines social experiment: can you answer these tricky questions? Today we are going to ask Philippines strangers some very funny Tagalog tricky questions! Do you think you can answer them correctly? These individuals from the Philippines have their answers! Saan Aabot Ang Bente Pesos Mo? This questions might sound easy, but in reality, they are pretty tricky and it is easy to make a mistake! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in the Philippines for a state visit - A lot will be discussed during the Chinese presidents two-day visit - The Philippines has also prepared for the historic visit of Jinping PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Chinese and Philippines have established relations hundreds of years ago starting from our ancestors. Even Filipino leaders have Chinese in their roots like Philippine national hero Jose Rizal, then President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III and current President Rodrigo Duterte. In a recent report by KAMI, Chinese President Xi Jinping has set his foot in the lands of Philippines. His airplane landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was welcomed with red carpet. Philippines also prepared for the Chinese presidents two-day state visit by placing Chinese flags with Philippine flags. The last Chinese president who made a state visit in the country was Hu Jintao back in 2005. The question is, why is Xi Jinpings visit in the Philippines so important for the Filipinos? As reported by Rappler, the joint exploration between Philippines and China for West Philippine Sea will be discussed during the state visit. As previously reported by KAMI, President Duterte is still negotiating with Xi and China has been eyeing to give bigger share to the Philippines if ever the joint development pushes through. In addition, Philippines might be falling into a debt trap with China. They are willing to grant loans to the Philippines and it will be further discussed during the state visit. As reported by ABS-CBN News, Philippines and China had strengthened relations in terms of trade, infrastructure, telecommunications and tourism. Two years ago, China bought lots of fruits from the Philippines which made farmers earn $1.5 billion. This year, around 972, 550 Chinese tourists came in the Philippines as recorded by Department of Tourism. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Philippines social experiment: can you answer these tricky questions? Today we are going to ask Philippines strangers some very funny Tagalog tricky questions! Do you think you can answer them correctly? These individuals from the Philippines have their answers! Saan Aabot Ang Bente Pesos Mo? This questions might sound easy, but in reality, they are pretty tricky and it is easy to make a mistake! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - Some Filipinos condemn the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping - Therefore, some netizens use the photo of Winnie the Pooh to protest - Winnie the Pooh was banned in China for being compared to President Xi PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed In order to protest against the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Philippines, the netizens have been changing their profile pictures on social media to Disney character Winnie the Pooh. KAMI learned the protesters also urged others to let out photos and effigies of Pooh to protest. As reported by CNN Philippines, Winnie the Pooh has been banned in China after photos of President Xi with former US President Barack Obama was compared to Pooh and Tiger circulated online. China has been known for their restrictive filtering on the Internet and for censoring some information, they call this as Great Firewall of China. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! It came to the point that if a user sends a viral photo of Xi and Obama being compared to Pooh and Tiger, the receiver wont be able to see it. If Chinese would search Winnie the Pooh and Xi Jinping on Weibo, a website often used by Chinese, a message will pop up saying, In accordance with relevant laws and regulations, results are not displayed. Here are some tweets of the netizens regarding the use of Winnie the Pooh to protest against the Chinese leader: As previously reported by KAMI, President Xi has arrived in the Philippines. He came for a two-day state visit in the country. He was welcomed with red carpet at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Philippines social experiment: can you answer these tricky questions? Today we are going to ask Philippines strangers some very funny Tagalog tricky questions! Do you think you can answer them correctly? These individuals from the Philippines have their answers! Saan Aabot Ang Bente Pesos Mo? This questions might sound easy, but in reality, they are pretty tricky and it is easy to make a mistake! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - Philippines and China had an exchange of memorandum of understanding - The two countries signed oil and gas development during the first day of President Xi Jinpings state visit - China and PH also signed 29 deals when President Xi visited the Palace PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed During the first day of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Philippines, the two countries have signed deals for oil and gas development. KAMI learned that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Teddy Locsin Jr. had exchange memorandum of understanding. In a report by ABS-CBN News, the recently signed agreement was part of the 29 deals signed during the state visit of President Xi. President Rodrigo Duterte and China have been eyeing to conduct joint exploration deal in some parts of South China Sea. However, no announcement has been made yet if the signed oil and gas deal includes those in South China Sea. As reported by Rappler, here are the 29 deals signed by China and Philippines: MOU on oil and gas development between the Philippines and China MOU on cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative MOU on basic education cooperation between Department of Education and Chinas Ministry of Education MOU between Department of Information Communication Technology and Ministry of Industry and Information Communication Technology MOU between Philippine Cooperative Development Authority and Ministry of Agricutlure and Rural Affairs on strengthening the building of agricultural cooperatives MOU on Foreign Service Institute of the Philippines and China Foreign Affairs University Exchange of Executive Program of the Cultural Agreement between Philippines and China for 2019 to 2023 Implementation agreement on feasibility study for Davao City Expressway Project Implementation agreement of feasibility study for Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project MOU on renminbi clearing arrangement Protocol of phytosanitary requirements for export of fresh young coconuts from Philippines to China and protocol of sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for export of frozen fruits from Philippines to China Infrastructure cooperation program between Philippines and China Program for cooperation on industrial parks development between Philippines and China Handover certificate of emergency humanitarian cash assistance betwen Philippines and China Letters on project of container inspection equipment Letters on Davao Region Bridge Project Letters on China-aided Bridge and Road Project in Marawi MOU on panda bonds issuance Framework agreement for industrial park between Bases Conversion and Development Authority and Gezhouba Exchange of contract for project management consultancy of Philippine National South Longhaul Project North-South Railway Project between Department of Transportation and China Railway Design Corp Ltd Letter of no objection to the organization of the Renmindi-Philippine Peso Foreign Exchange Trading Market between Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Bank of China Handover of Certificate of Authority to operate for Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC) Manila branch between ICBC and BSP MOU on jointly promoting cooperation in key infrastructure projects in Davao region Handover certificate of humanitarian cash assistance between Philippines and China Agreement on economic and technical cooperation between Philippines and China (between DOF and China International Development Cooperation Agency) MOU on supporting feasibility study of major projects between Department of Finance and China International Development Cooperation Agency Loan agreement on New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam Project Commercial contract of Safe Philippines Project Phase I between Department of Interior and Local Government and China Telecom Commercial contract on New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam Project between Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and China Engineering Group PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! In addition, a Facebook post of Manila Bulletin shows the sign of President Xi in the Palaces guest book. The Chinese President wrote May China-Philippines friendship last for a long time. As previously reported by KAMI, President Xi visited the monument of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal at the Luneta Park, Manila. He even paid respect and gave wreath to honor Rizal who he said had Chinese roots. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Philippines social experiment: can you answer these tricky questions? Today we are going to ask Philippines strangers some very funny Tagalog tricky questions! Do you think you can answer them correctly? These individuals from the Philippines have their answers! Saan Aabot Ang Bente Pesos Mo? This questions might sound easy, but in reality, they are pretty tricky and it is easy to make a mistake! on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph Doppelmayr/Garaventa systems can operate for up to 40 years. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko says the city's authorities in 2019 plan to completely renovate the Kyiv funicular railway located on Poshtova Square and will buy cable cars with air conditioning abroad. Read alsoKyiv authorities plan to extend pedestrian-only zone on Khreshchatyk to Bessarabska Square "Next year we'll launch new transparent Doppelmayr/Garaventa funiculars with air conditioners," he told the Village newspaper on November 16. "Doppelmayr/Garaventa funiculars can be built in cities, in the country, or in mountain regions. Curves and changes in gradient are mastered by this ropeway system without any problem. The low profile ensures high availability for the funicular in all weather conditions," according to the Group's website. Doppelmayr/Garaventa systems can operate for up to 40 years. Moreover, the funiculars carry up to several hundred passengers and travel at a maximum speed of 14 m/s. The Doppelmayr Garaventa Group is an AustrianSwiss company that manufactures chairlifts, cable cars, gondolas, surface tows for ski and amusement parks, as well as urban people movers and material handling systems. The Kyiv Funicular Railway connects Kyiv's historic Uppertown, and the lower commercial neighborhood of Podil through the steep Volodymyrska Hill overseeing the Dnieper River. The line consists of only two stations and is operated by Kyiv-based municipally owned enterprise Kyivpastrans. The funicular was constructed during 1902-1905, and was first opened to the public on May 20, 1905. Two Executive Second Amendment Actions Available to President? By Dean Weingarten. November 19th, 2018 Original Source What can President Trump accomplish in the wake of the 2018 mid-term elections, with respect to the Second Amendment? The Democrats, with the aid of their colleagues in the media, have managed to take control of the House of Representatives. At the same time, the Republicans have gained seats in the Senate, cementing their control there, especially with the retirement of Senator Jeff Flake and the death of John McCain. Given the new reality, Donald Trump's presidency has gained some potential and lost some potential. The losses are real. They mean little legislation will be passed. I do not expect any positive legislative reforms to restore Second Amendment rights to pass in the next two years. The House will work to bog down the executive branch with frivolous investigations. The gains are real, and can be acted on. President Trump now controls the executive branch more effectively than he has previously. President Trump can issue executive orders. He has more latitude to pick his cabinet and have his selections approved by the Senate. He can work with his new AG to clarify existing law. ....... Two major factors are discussed - one of huge importance would be a relaxation of laws that create many 'gun-free-zones' - something that is long overdue. The second concerns the potential for rescinding the need for a tax stamp with NFA items and simplifying the application process. Better still of course would be a repeal of the 1968 Act altogether, but any changes for the good would still be welcome if achieved. Back to Top Two Executive Second Amendment Actions Available to President? By Dean Weingarten. November 19th, 2018 Original Source What can President Trump accomplish in the wake of the 2018 mid-term elections, with respect to the Second Amendment? The Democrats, with the aid of their colleagues in the media, have managed to take control of the House of Representatives. At the same time, the Republicans have gained seats in the Senate, cementing their control there, especially with the retirement of Senator Jeff Flake and the death of John McCain. Given the new reality, Donald Trump's presidency has gained some potential and lost some potential. The losses are real. They mean little legislation will be passed. I do not expect any positive legislative reforms to restore Second Amendment rights to pass in the next two years. The House will work to bog down the executive branch with frivolous investigations. The gains are real, and can be acted on. President Trump now controls the executive branch more effectively than he has previously. President Trump can issue executive orders. He has more latitude to pick his cabinet and have his selections approved by the Senate. He can work with his new AG to clarify existing law. The first action: Many Federal gun free zones are based on interpretation of 18 U.S. Code 930 - Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in Federal facilities. The relevant paragraphs are (a) and (d). (a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both. (d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to (1) the lawful performance of official duties by an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof, who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of law; (2) the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon by a Federal official or a member of the Armed Forces if such possession is authorized by law; or (3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes. The new U.S. Attorney General can issue an opinion that self defense is a lawful purpose for the carry of firearms under (3). It is hardly a controversial opinion. All 50 states and the District of Columbia issue permits specifically for people to carry firearms for the purposes of self defense. In spite of the obvious nature that carrying a firearm for self defense is a lawful purpose, expect much wailing in the media about such a move "making us less safe". Exactly the opposite is the case. Expect some semi-retired judge in a deep blue state, most likely in the Ninth Circuit, to place an injunction on any action based on the opinion. With any luck, such an injunction would be appealed to the Supreme Court. Second action: Have the Secretary of the Treasury issue an amnesty for the registration of items requiring a tax stamp under the National Firearms Act (NFA). When the Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed, the Congress concurrently passed a bill to allow an amnesty for people who had possessed unregistered NFA items. No fingerprints or tax was required. Fill out a paper form and send it in, and your NFA item was registered. The initial amnesty was for 30 days in 1968, from October 2nd to November 1st. The law contained a provision for further amnesties at the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury. They need to be announced beforehand in the Federal Register. From PUBLIC LAW 90-619-OCT. 22, 1968, found on page 1236 of United States Statutes at Large Volume 82.djvu/1278: (d) The Secretary of the Treasury, after publication in the Federal Register of his intention to do so, is authorized to establish such periods of amnesty, not to exceed ninety days in the case of any single period, and immunity from liability during any such period, as the Secretary determines will contribute to the purposes of this title. TITLE III AMENDMENTS TO TITLE VII OF THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT OF 1968 I do not believe this statute has ever been repealed or superseded. It appears to be effective law. In 1968, there was an expectation that amnesties would be a common, regular occurrence to bring unregistered NFA items into the legal fold. No Amnesty has been announced in the last fifty years. It is past time to do so. With the current ruling by the BATFE that "bump stocks" are NFA items, all existing "bump stocks" should be included in an amnesty. The Secretary of the Treasury should declare a 90 day amnesty for the registration of all NFA items. As a backup, because the BATFE has been transferred to the Department of Justice, the Attorney General should be ready with a duplicate declaration. Partial amnesties have been pushed in Congress in recent years, for the purpose of registering war trophies brought home by returning veterans. Some will argue these actions will incite the media to a greater condemnation of President Trump. I doubt the media can exceed its current level of 90% negative coverage of the President. 2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included. Gun Watch Back to Top Hate-Crime Indictments Returned in Kentucky Grocery Killings LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Federal prosecutors have charged a white man with federal hate crimes in the killings of two African-Americans at a grocery store last month in Kentucky. A federal grand jury in Louisville returned three hate crime charges against 51-year-old Gregory Bush on Thursday afternoon. ADVERTISEMENT U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman said Bush is charged with killing two people based on their race and attempting to kill a third person based on his race. Bush also was indicted on three firearms charges. Police said Bush walked into a Kroger grocery store with a .40-caliber handgun on Oct. 24 and shot one person, and then killed another in the parking lot before exchanging fire with an armed man before fleeing. Coleman said there has been a specter that reared its head and laid across this community since the Oct. 24 shootings. This is not acceptable, Coleman said at a news conference Thursday. No Kentuckian should be frightened to go shopping, no Kentuckian should be frightened to go worship, no Kentuckian should be frightened to go to school. Coleman said the FBI has been involved in investigating the shooting since the day it happened. Bush has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in state court, and is being held on a $5 million cash bond. Prosecutors have not made a decision on seeking the death penalty. Bushs attorney could not be reached for comment on Thursday afternoon. ADVERTISEMENT Victims, Vicki Lee Jones and Maurice Stallard Bush had stopped at a historically black church in suburban Louisville before heading to the supermarket, where 69-year-old Maurice Stallard and 67-year-old Vicki Lee Jones were shot at close range. Bush was seen on surveillance video trying to enter the church, but the door was locked and he left. The pastor of that church, Kevin Nelson, said his flock is simply hoping to see justice be done. We have to learn how to get along with each other and generally accept each others differences, he said. Sadiqa Reynolds, president of Louisvilles Urban League, said after the U.S. Attorneys announcement Thursday that we cannot live in a community with hate, and there must be severe consequences for that. Racism is real and we see that our country is very, very divided, Reynolds said. That is not going to go away. Monday, November 19, 2018 The quarterly report of the North Carolina Office of Counsel shows how carefully that office tracks its work ATTORNEY CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The ACAP staff responded to 2,801 phone calls from members of the public and contacted 650 lawyers in efforts to resolve concerns expressed by members of the public. Staff also responded to 707 emails and 533 letters from inmates. During the same quarter of 2017, staff responded to 3,320 phone calls, contacted 921 lawyers and responded to 790 emails and 584 letters from inmates. The office received 133 requests for fee dispute resolution during the quarter. One hundred fourteen files were assigned to the two State Bar facilitators. The remaining 19 files were assigned to district bar committees. During the same quarter in 2017, the office received 148 requests for fee dispute resolution of which 134 files were assigned to State Bar facilitators and 34 were assigned to district bar committees. GRIEVANCES In 2015, 1,331 grievance files were opened. In 2016, 1,375 grievance files were opened. In 2017, 1,305 grievance files were opened. Since January 1, 2018, 1027 grievance files have been opened. As of October 19, 955 grievances were pending. One hundred-eight grievances were stayed. Thirty-eight pending files were in the judicial district grievance committees or had been returned by the district grievance committees within the past 30 days. The OOC had made its recommendation in 201 of the pending cases and the cases were ready for the Grievance Committees decision. Of the remaining 608 files in which no recommendation has yet been made, 144 were more than six months old. Since the July 2018 meeting, 206 files were dismissed by the Grievance chair or by the Grievance chair and a vice chair. The office received no advertising inquiries this quarter. There are summaries of completed and pending matters. A sampling Altman, of Rockingham, violated multiple trust account rules. Altman also disclosed confidential client information to a jury without his clients permission, resulting in a mistrial, and spoke to a prospective client he knew was represented by counsel without consent of the prospective clients counsel. He was suspended by the DHC for two years. The suspension is stayed for three years upon Altmans compliance with numerous conditions. The Chair of the Grievance Committee issued an Order of Reciprocal Discipline reprimanding George Robert Blakey of Paradise Valley, Arizona. In 2015, the District of Columbia Office of Bar Counsel issued a public informal admonition to Blakey for knowingly assisting his client in revealing confidences and secrets or using a confidence or secret to the disadvantage of a former client/employer. A notable reinstatement of a former Durham County DA not named Nifong Cline was the elected district attorney of Durham County until she was removed from office pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-66. In June 2015, Cline was suspended by the DHC for five years for filing pleadings containing false and outrageous statements about a judge and making false representations in court filings in an attempt to obtain confidential prison visitation records. After she served two years of the suspension, Cline was eligible to petition for a stay of the balance upon demonstrating compliance with enumerated conditions. Cline filed a petition for a stay but did not appear at the hearing on that petition. The DHC denied the petition on December 20, 2017. Also on December 20, 2017, Cline filed a second petition for a stay of the suspension. The DHC denied the second petition after a hearing on April 6, 2018. Cline filed a third petition for reinstatement or stay on June 1, 2018. The DHC reinstated Cline to active status after a hearing held on August 27, 2018. Pending Levinson, of Benson, pled guilty to the felony offense of conspiracy to obtain money in the custody of a bank by false pretenses by, among other devices, fabricating lease agreements to cause lenders to believe his client was purchasing houses as rental property when his client was actually purchasing them as marijuana grow houses for a large-scale drug trafficking operation. The Chair of the DHC entered an order of interim suspension of his law license. Levinson was recently released from prison. The complaint has not been filed. Blitzer, of Reidsville, was the elected district attorney of Rockingham County. It is alleged that Blitzer allowed his staff to take online academic tests for his wife on State time. Blitzer pled guilty in Wake County Superior Court to misdemeanor willful failure to discharge duties. The Chair of the DHC entered an order of interim suspension of his law license. The grievance is stayed pending receipt of the SBI investigative report. A couple of cases that I have been keeping an eye on Venus Yvette Springs 18DHC 25 It is alleged that Springs, formerly of Charlotte and currently of New York, published material obtained in discovery on YouTube for no substantial purpose other than to embarrass a third party and that she maintained the publication after she was ordered by the court to take it down. Hearing was continued and has not been rescheduled. Christopher A. Stella 18 DHC 28 It is alleged that Stella, of Winston-Salem, committed criminal acts by patronizing a prostitute and filing a false police report about the incident. Hearing was continued to allow for a forensic psychological evaluation. The report also summarizes litigation involving the State Bar, such as North Carolina State Bar v. Michael Asen. At the July 2017 meeting, the Executive Committee authorized the Office of Counsel to file a lawsuit against Michael Asen, a New York attorney who offers to provide legal services in North Carolina to retail stores that have been victimized by shoplifters. The State Bar is currently negotiating a consent order. At the July 2018 meeting, the Executive Committee authorized the OOC to file a lawsuit against Linh Quach, a woman in Charlotte who has been providing legal services related to immigration matters, mostly to Vietnamese immigrants. The complaint was filed on September 17, 2018. Quachs answer is due October 19, 2018. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC v. Donald H. Bumgardner, et al (Gaston County Superior Court). Bayview alleges that it is the assignee and the holder of a note and deed of trust on real property previously owned by Bumgardner. Bumgardner was disbarred in 2015 for stealing entrusted funds. Bayview alleges that it foreclosed and was the high bidder at the foreclosure sale. Bayview seeks a judgment that a defect in the notice of foreclosure does not impair its first lien position and seeks a declaration that its lien remains prior to the liens of all named defendants. Bayview sued the State Bar because the State Bar obtained two judgments against Bumgardner totaling approximately $123,000 for funds paid by the Client Security Fund to Bumgardners victims. Bayview does not seek affirmative recovery from any defendant. The court granted Bayviews motion for judgment on the pleadings. The OOC represented the State Bar. Eugene Boyce v. North Carolina State Bar (Wake County Superior Court). Boyce alleged that on an unnamed date, he filed a grievance with the State Bar against now Governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper for conduct that allegedly occurred in 2000 when Cooper was a political candidate running against Boyces son to become Attorney General of North Carolina. Boyce sought declaratory judgments that (1) the State Bar has a conflict in handling the grievance because the Attorney General represents the State Bar in various lawsuits and (2) the State Bar is obliged by law to refer the grievance to the courts for investigation and disciplinary action. He also sought an award of costs. On May 6, 2016, the trial court granted the State Bars motion to dismiss. Boyce appealed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. On April 3, 2018, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial courts conclusion that Boyce does not have standing to bring his claim against the State Bar. The Court also held that Boyce does have standing to seek a declaratory judgment that the Superior Court has concurrent jurisdiction over attorney discipline, and remanded to the trial court for further proceedings. The State Bar requested a status conference with the trial court and Boyce concurred. No conference date has been set. The State Bar was represented by Parker Poe Adams and Bernstein in the trial court before the appeal, was represented by the Office of Counsel on appeal, and will be represented by the OOC on remand. There are also a number of failed attempts by respondents to sue their bar prosecutor. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/11/the-quarterly-report-of-the-north-carolina-office-of-counsel-shows-how-carefully-that-office-tracks-its-work-attorney-client.html A United States federal judge has barred the Trump administration from changing asylum laws. The judge stopped a presidential order that would have blocked immigrants from seeking asylum if they entered the United States illegally. President Donald Trump signed the order on November 9. It denied asylum to anyone who crossed the southern border without going through official ports of entry. He acted in answer to large groups of Central Americans currently walking to the U.S. border with Mexico. They have said they plan to enter the U.S. Many are fleeing violence in their homelands. Trump described the so-called caravan of Central Americans as a national security threat. U.S. troops are deployed to the border to help stop what Trump has also called an invasion. But on Monday, the judge in the case said that the president is not permitted to rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden. The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act says a migrant is permitted to make a claim for asylum up to one year after arriving in the U.S. The law does not set any conditions about how they arrive. A lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights said the law couldnt be clearer. The center is part of the group that took legal action against the order. The Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, and the Department of Justice answered the court decision in a joint statement Tuesday. It said, "As the Supreme Court affirmed this summer, Congress has given the President broad authority to limit or even stop the entry of aliens into this country." Last June, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump has the power to establish a travel ban against people from some Muslim-majority countries. The federal judges ruling against the asylum ban, however, will remain in effect for one month barring an appeal. It will also make it harder for the government to deport illegal migrants. DHS officials say about 70,000 people a year request asylum after entering the country illegally. But illegal crossings overall are well below historical highs from previous decades. Trump administration officials had argued that the order is meant to force asylum seekers to go through official border crossings. The legal ports of entry have very long lines of people waiting for entry. Im Jonathan Evans. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English based on Associated Press, VOA and Reuters news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story impose v. to force someone to accept something forbidden adj. not permitted or allowed affirm v. to decide that the judgement of another court is correct authority n. the power to make decisions alien n. a person who was born in a different country decade n. a period of 10 years This is Whats Trending Scientists have uncovered a sensual drawing on a wall in the ruins of ancient Pompeii. The fresco represents the myth of Leda and the Swan. In the story, the Roman god Jupiter, takes the form of the bird, the swan. It has sex with the mortal girl Leda, who becomes pregnant. The painting shows a naked Leda seated with the Swan on top of her. Leda and the Swan was a common subject of artwork in the ancient Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Both were destroyed by the volcanic burst of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79. Famous artists have drawn representations of Leda and the Swan throughout history, including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Irish poet W.B. Yeats wrote a poem about the story, as well. Experts say this recently discovered image of Leda and the Swan is special. Massimo Osanna is the director of the Pompeii archaeological park. He praised the fresco as exceptional because Leda appears to be looking out from the picture. Osanna told the Italian news agency ANSA, Leda watches the spectator with a sensuality thats absolutely pronounced. The fresco was found inside a costly domus, or home, which stood near the center of town. Archaeologists discovered the still-colorful work of art last week during a dig aimed at protecting the ancient citys structures. Heavy rainfall and usual wear-and-tear have caused some ruins to collapse. Ossana said the homes owner may have been a rich trader. The owner may have wanted to make people believe he was cultured with his choice of myth-related frescoes. Because of safety concerns, the still-undug parts of the home where the fresco was found will likely remain that way, ANSA reported. Archaeologists are still considering removing the fresco, as well as another fresco discovered in the home earlier this year, to a place where they can be protected and shown to the public, Osanna said. The Pompeii archaeological park is one of Italys top tourist sites. About 2.5 million people visit each year. And thats Whats Trending Today I'm Ashley Thompson. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English with additional sources. Caty Weaver was the editor. From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. What used to be an outdoor activity for only extreme foodies is now becoming more and more popular in many parts of the United States. I am talking about mushroom hunting! Mushroom hunters also called foragers -- spend hours, even days, in wooded areas searching for wild mushrooms. Dennis Aita lives in New York City. He has been a mushroom hunter since the 1980s. He first became interested in them while exploring the Appalachian Trail in the 1970s. As he hiked, he began noticing mushrooms and other wild edibles. So, he decided to try foraging for mushrooms. Aita says mushroom foraging changed his relationship with the environment. When hiking, he says, he would walk quickly and not see much of the plants and trees around him. However, to find mushrooms, you must walk slowly. Um, by looking for mushrooms, you tend to slow up a little bit. You get a chance to see the birds. You get a chance to see the trees and shrubs, little animal life and everything. So, it is necessary to pay close attention to the details on trees and on the ground. But this presents its own problem. Mushroom foragers, with their heads turned downward, can easily get lost in the woods. In the States, people have died after spending all night unprotected in the cold woods -- lost while hunting mushrooms. So, what makes people go out for hours and hours searching for a fungus? Mushrooms, after all, are often found growing from dead and dying things in the woods. Well, some people just love mushrooms! They love finding them in unexpected places. They love cooking them. And they love eating them. Many restaurants buy different kinds of mushrooms for the meals they prepare. So foraging can be profitable. Mushrooms grow very well in wet climates. Some countries in Europe, parts of Russia, Japan and Iran are known for having different mushrooms as well as a food culture based on mushroom foraging. Dennis Aita has traveled to Canada, Italy, India, Nepal and Argentina in search of mushrooms. He says some cultures seem to like them more than others. ...You go to Italy, not only do you go mushroom hunting, but of course, theres great food there, and they cook with mushrooms in a very big way. Italians, they love mushrooms. Most of the Europeans eat mushrooms. Many of the Asians do. But, um, there are certain cultures that dont. Health benefits Experts say eating mushrooms can be good for your health. Mushrooms contain the mineral selenium. This mineral helps the liver to work properly. The mineral also helps to prevent infection in the body and may decrease the growth of cancerous tumors. Most fruits and vegetables do not have selenium. Mushrooms may also help you to lose weight. They are high in fiber some more than others. So, they can make us feel fuller for long periods. As a result, we eat less. Mushroom are healthy (except for the ones that can kill you) So mushrooms are good for you and can be tasty. But foraging on your own can be dangerous. For those who have never been mushroom hunting, but want to start, Dennis Aita has one important suggestion: do not do it alone! Well, they should join a club a mushroom club. If theres a club in your area that's the best way to learn about, you know, which mushrooms to eat. You go on walks. And then you start to learn which books to buy. You know, you buy a few mushroom books with some pictures. And thats the best way to do it. Deadly mushrooms With mushroom foraging, it is important to know that some mushrooms can kill you. The online Encyclopedia Britannica lists the most deadly ones and gives pictures of each. One thing that makes some mushrooms so deadly is that they look like perfectly common, edible mushrooms. So they are sometimes collected and eaten by mistake. For example, the Death Cap is perhaps the deadliest of all mushrooms. Found throughout Europe, it looks similar to two types of edible mushrooms. Another thing that makes poisonous mushrooms so deadly is that signs of poisoning can take a long time to show. Or they show themselves and then go away. People think that they are in good health and fail to get proper treatment. Sometimes the signs are similar to influenza. So, mushroom poisoning can easily be misdiagnosed. For whatever reason, if left untreated, mushroom poisoning can result in serious health conditions, like kidney failure, or even death. That is why Aita warns beginners to go out foraging with experienced mushroom hunters. As I say, its very dangerous. People really should not go out to the woods and come back with things and start eating mushrooms. No. It can be a deadly endeavor. And thats the Health & Lifestyle report. Im Anna Matteo. Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz - Mushroom Hunting Gains Popularity in US Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story forage v. to search for something (such as food or supplies) hike v. to walk a long distance especially for pleasure or exercise edible n. something to be eaten shrub n. a low usually several-stemmed woody plant fungus n. organisms once classified as plants that lack the green coloring chlorophyll fiber n. plant material that cannot be digested but that helps you to digest other food club n. a group or organization of people who share common interests diagnose v. to recognize (something, such as a disease) by signs and symptoms : misdiagnose v. to diagnose incorrectly endeavor n. a serious effort or attempt In the year 1620, Native Americans met the English settlers who arrived in the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Those settlers, known as Pilgrims, helped launch the United States as we know it today. But for the Native Americans who had long been living in the area, the settlers arrival was the beginning of the end, one tribal leader said. Today, historians, educators and activists are preparing for the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims landing. They are aiming to better tell the native peoples side of the story. Wampanoags The Native American group that helped the Pilgrims survive their first winter is called the Wampanoag Nation. New exhibits aim to show how the Wampanoag were later cheated and enslaved. Also, in the coming months, members of the Wampanoag tribe will lead visitors around the area where English settlers first arrived in 1620. They will show the special places where their ancestors once lived. Jim Peters is a Wampanoag. He directs the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs. He says, Well be able to tell some stories of what happened to us Hopefully it will give us a chance to re-educate people and have a national discussion about how we should be treating each other. Hearing the Native Americans story is especially important after what happened 50 years ago. In 1970, many events honored the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrims arrival. A leader of the Wampanoag Nation was invited to speak. Wamsutta Frank James planned to talk about the disease, racism and oppression the Native Americans experienced after the Pilgrims arrived. When state officials learned about the speech, they withdrew James invitation to talk. In answer, leaders of some tribes in the area organized a yearly event to remember what happened to native people in the United States. Instead of following the usual tradition of Thanksgiving, they observe a National Day of Mourning. For the upcoming 400th anniversary of the English settlers' arrival, Peters says there is pressure to get the historical facts right. Im Kelly Jean Kelly. Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story exhibit - n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has proposed new guidelines on a law that protects against sexual violence in schools. The plan, announced last week, would change earlier guidelines created during the administration of Barack Obama. The rules are meant to guide schools in carrying out a 1972 federal law called Title IX. Title IX bars discrimination based on sex at American colleges and universities, as well as at elementary and secondary schools. Schools that receive federal money are required to offer a clear way for students and employees to report sexual assault. Title IX rules require that schools hold fair, open investigations. In addition, they must provide special medical services for victims. Under the new rules, colleges would only be required to investigate accusations if reported incidents happened on school grounds or in other areas overseen by the school. Current rules require colleges to investigate all student complaints, no matter where they happened or how they were reported. The new guidelines also include several changes sought by groups that support students accused of sexual wrongdoing. For example, one of the new guidelines would give accused students the chance to cross-examine their accusers. The new rules also give both accusers and those accused equal rights to see evidence and launch appeals. The Department of Education says the proposed changes are aimed at providing a fair process to both the accuser and the accused. In a statement, Secretary DeVos said, We can, and must, condemn sexual violence and punish those who perpetrate it, while ensuring a fair grievance process. Since 2011, schools have used a series of letters issued by the Obama administration as guidance for how to deal with sexual violence complaints. Schools that did not follow the guidelines could be subject to federal investigations and risk losing federal funding. Victims rights groups had praised the Obama guidelines for helping to prevent schools from not taking sexual violence accusations and investigations seriously. Other groups argued the rules favored accusers too much. Some colleges criticized the guidelines for being complex and taking too long to carry out. DeVos withdrew the 2011 Obama guidelines in September 2017. The newly released 150-page proposal aims to replace them. The new plan must go through a 60-day public comment process before it can be finalized. Legal experts say the new rules could greatly reduce the number of complaints that schools investigate. Saunie Schuster is a lawyer who has advised several colleges on sexual misconduct cases. She told the Associated Press the majority of incidents of sexual violence happen off school grounds. In such cases, schools would no longer be required to launch an investigation. However, schools could still decide to do so. Other experts say the new plan is likely to reduce the level of Education Department actions against schools found to be violating Title IX. That is because the new guidelines include a stronger definition for sexual harassment that could make it more difficult to hold schools legally responsible for violations. Several groups and lawmakers have criticized the proposed new guidelines. The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU said it strongly opposes the proposed guidelines. In a tweet, the group said the rules would lead to an unfair process favoring the accused. It added that the guidelines would permit schools to ignore their responsibility under Title IX and make schools less safe for survivors of sexual abuse. The head of the National Education Association, Lily Eskelsen Garcia, wrote in statement that by approving the plan, DeVos had failed to carry out the duty to protect all students. Garcia added that the proposed rule changes would encourage schools to ignore students who ask for help. Virginia Representative Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee, urged DeVos to withdraw the proposal. He called the guidelines a damaging setback in efforts to fight sexual violence. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from Connecticut, is expected to become the next chairwoman of the committee that proposes the budget for the Department of Education. She said in a statement that DeVos proposal fails to support survivors of sexual violence. If she does not get this right in the final rule, Congress needs to step up to return the proper balance, DeLauro said. Im Bryan Lynn. And I'm Alice Bryant. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on a report from the Associated Press and online sources. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz - US Education Secretary Proposes New Rules on Sexual Misconduct Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story misconduct n. behavior or activity that is illegal or morally wrong complaint n. statement that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something perpetrate v. to carry out or commit grievance n. a complaint, often about unfair behavior harassment n. repeated attacks made against someone encourage v. tell or advise to do something proper adj. correct or suitable Neanderthals are extinct, but they were the closest relative of modern humans. Up until about 30,000 years ago, human beings shared the Earth with Neanderthals. The two species were so close that they sometimes mated. Scientists have long believed that life for Neanderthals was more dangerous and stressful than it was for humans during this period. Some studies have suggested that Neanderthals suffered high injury rates. Scientists have blamed the high rates on social violence, their hunting methods, attacks by meat-eating animals and the dangers of travel in snow and ice. Katerina Harvati is with the University of Tuebingen in Germany. She studies the evolution of Neanderthals and modern humans. Harvati believes the Neanderthals probably did face more dangers than humans do today. But she and other researchers wanted to know if that was true when the two species shared the planet tens of thousands of years ago. To do that, she and her research team studied evidence of head injuries in fossilized Neanderthal remains. They examined information from earlier studies of fossils from western Eurasia. The skull bones were from about 80,000 to 20,000 years old. The team looked at information in 295 skull fossils from 114 individual Neanderthals. They also examined 541 fossils from the heads of 90 members of our own species, Homo sapiens. The researchers found the injury rates were about the same in the two groups. The findings were published in the journal Nature. It also published a commentary on the study by Marta Mirazon Lahr of Cambridge University in England. She noted that the findings dispute the idea that the behavior of Neanderthals led to increased danger and risk in their lives. She also said that the study is not the final word because it only examined injuries to the head. Scientists still have to identify the causes of all injuries and how the injured were cared for. That could give us more understanding into the behavior of both Neanderthals and ancient humans, she wrote. Im Dorothy Gundy. Malcom Ritter reported on this story for the Associated Press. Dorothy Gundy adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story extinct adj. no longer existing stressful adj. full of or causing stress : making you feel worried or anxious evolution n. a theory that the differences between modern plants and animals are because of changes that happened by a natural process over a very long time We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. LINGUIST List 29.4577 Mon Nov 19 2018 Confs: Applied Linguistics/United Arab Emirates Editor for this issue: Everett Green 15-Nov-2018shagun bhalla Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching International Conference and Exhibition 2019Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching International Conference and Exhibition 2019Date: 07-Mar-2019 - 09-Mar-2019Location: Dubai, United Arab EmiratesContact: shagun bhallaContact Email: < click here to access email > Meeting URL: http://www.allt-uae.org Linguistic Field(s): Applied LinguisticsMeeting Description:The Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching International Conference and Exhibition (ALLT 2019) will be held from March 7 to 9 2019 at Zayed University Convention Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, under the theme: Engaging in Change: New Perspectives of Teaching and Learning. Attorneys office to seek custody for three accused Biratnagar Attorneys Office is preparing to file a case in the Supreme Court, demanding overturn of the Biratnagar High Courts decision to release the three suspects involved in the 33kg gold smuggling and Sanam Shakya murder case. A 49-year-old woman has been accused of aggravated assault causing bodily harm to another woman, a 20-something-year-old who shared the same house with the suspect, the Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesperson informed during yesterdays joint police press conference held at the Public Security Police Force (PSP) facilities. The case occurred on November 15 at around 11 p.m. and was initially reported to the Taipa Police station, which was informed that two Filipino nationals had had an argument and one of them had injured the other with a knife in an apartment located on Rua de Nam Keng. Deployed to the location, the officers found out that the two women, both non-resident workers, and five other women also at the venue when the incident occurred shared the apartment. At about 10 p.m. that evening, the suspect arrived home and went to her room where the victim and the other residents of the house were socializing. The suspect claimed that she understood that the victim was gossiping about her and she became angry about it. She then slapped the victim. Then the argument intensified and, as the victim rushed to her room to hide from the suspect, the suspect went to the kitchen and picked up a knife with a 27-centimeter blade, following the victim into her room. The police said that the room had a wooden partition installed that separated the beds and so the suspect could not reach the victim. The suspect then made use of the fact that the partition did not go all the way to the ceiling to throw the knife to the other side, hitting the victim in the head. According to the medical report of the hospital where the victim was taken, she sustained a cut in the head from the incident. After concluding the preliminary investigation, the next day the PJ searched for the suspect in the house during the afternoon. Upon finding her, the suspect was taken into custody under the accusation of aggravated assault with a forbidden weapon, with intent to cause bodily harm. The case was then transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office. Three protest leaders and six others went on trial yesterday for their involvement in the Occupy Central demonstration that paralyzed Hong Kongs 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 Kongs top leader, are charged with conspiracy to commit a public disturbance and incitement to commit public nuisance. The other defendants two current and one former lawmaker, two student leaders and a political activist face charges of incitement to commit a public nuisance. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years. Three university students prosecuted in 2016 for their leadership role in the protests received community service. But Hong Kong judges have since faced mounting pressure from Beijing to hand down heavier sentences to deter future protests. Some in the semi-autonomous Chinese city fear that central government meddling will erode judiciary independence, a bedrock value that undergirds the citys standing as a global business capital. The protesters, in what was also known as the umbrella movement, laid siege to government headquarters for 79 days but failed to win any concessions. Thousands staked out encampments on major thoroughfares in the financial district. Several hundred were arrested. Ranging in age from 30 to 74 years old, the nine defendants span generations of Hong Kong citizens who have been agitating for full democracy as the former British colony transitions to Chinese sovereignty under a one country, two systems arrangement that is supposed to preserve the citys civil liberties. The trial is expected to last 20 days. AP You may have heard the U.S. Postal Service has problems. Well, try delivering the mail in Indonesia, a far-flung archipelago with so many islands the government literally doesnt know how many there are. Post offices everywhere have to contend with the fact that people send so few letters these days. In Indonesia, though, an online shopping boom that should be helping the postal service is actually hurting because regulators have set parcel delivery prices so low, according to Gilarsi Wahyu Setijono, a former Merrill Lynch investment banker who became post office president in 2015. The tariffs are below our commercial costs, Setijono said in a recent interview in Jakarta. Ive asked for adjustment many times. Indonesias far-flung geography makes online shopping a godsend for consumers, but its hard on the people who have to deliver the packages, often over water and mountains. By 2022 the countrys e-commerce market will grow to USD65 billion from last years $8 billion, according to McKinsey. And the post office will do much of the heavy lifting, shipping 4.4 million online-shopping parcels each day, six times what it does today. In the U.S., President Donald Trump attacks Amazon.com for treating the Postal Service as a delivery boy and paying less than it should for shipping, but the parcel business is actually a bright spot for the post office. Its losses $656 million in the second quarter alone stem from falling letter volumes and higher costs for health and retirement benefits. For Indonesias post office the state-owned PT Pos Indonesia the finances arent so bad now, but Setijono said the burden of shipping packages will make things worse with every passing quarter. Profit fell 18 percent last year. To put the 272-year-old postal service on more solid footing, Setijono is restructuring. Hes spinning off a logistics unit, building a new business to handle digital payments, and planning the companys first-ever bond sale, a 1 trillion rupiah issuance ($60 million). One thing nobody can change is Indonesias geography. The country has so many islands that the government last year embarked on a census to come up with an official count. At last tally, there were more than 18,000 spread over a chain that would stretch from New York to Alaska. That along with poor roads and bridges is why shipping and other kinds of logistics consumes 23 percent of the countrys gross domestic product, according to government figures. Its also why more than half of the post offices 4,800 branches are in commercially nonviable locations, Setijono says. Consider a two-kilogram package sent from bustling Jakarta to Waropen, a sparsely populated territory 3,300 kilometers away on the isolated coast of Papua, where roads wind through forested mountains and are often impassable in monsoon season. Government mandates set the post office rate at about 268,000 rupiah ($16). For the same delivery, private shipper JNE Express charges 430,000 rupiah, according to its online rate calculator. That kind of discrepancy rankled Setijono from the moment he took the top job at the post office three years ago. He wants rates set by the market, and not by the communications ministry, which hasnt raised tariffs since 2009 even as the economy clocked an average annual growth rate of about 5.5 percent. Far from sufficient, Setijono said. We have an obligation to operate in nonviable areas. Whether its mountaintops, or remote islands, we have to operate where our citizens are. Rudiantara, the minister of communications (like many Indonesians, he goes by one name), says hes sympathetic, but rates cant be changed without a thorough assessment of the post offices costs, which will take time. We cannot just amend the tariffs, he said in an interview. It has to be part of our logistics strategy. Strictly speaking, rates are only fixed for personal deliveries. The idea is to make sure that regular people can afford to send packages to family and friends. In practice, however, online merchants often take advantage of the governments largess. Berliana, a 37-year-old West Java woman who sells clothes on Facebook and Instagram, admits as much. She says shes been in business for four or five years, sending her merchandise via the post offices personal rates whenever possible. Small post offices dont ask many questions, she said. For Setijono, the dilemma remains. The more we improve our performance, the more volumes rise, he said. The higher the volume, the more I bleed. Rieka Rahadiana, Tassia Sipahutar, Bloomberg Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn has been arrested over suspected financial violations, the NHK reported, and the carmaker said it will seek a removal of the industry icon as its chairman after an investigation into his alleged misconduct. Ghosn, among the most prominent auto-industry leaders globally and also the Chief Executive Officer of Renault SA, was detained over a suspected breach of Japanese financial law, NHK said. Based on a whistleblower tip, Nissan has been doing an internal investigation over the past several months into suspected financial misconduct involving Ghosn and director Greg Kelly, the company said yesterday. Nissan seeks to remove both Ghosn and Kelly. The investigation showed that over many years both Ghosn and Kelly have been reporting compensation amounts in the Tokyo Stock Exchange securities report that were less than the actual amount, in order to reduce the disclosed amount of Carlos Ghosns compensation, Nissan said. Also, in regards to Ghosn, numerous other significant acts of misconduct have been uncovered, such as personal use of company assets, and Kellys deep involvement has also been confirmed. Nissan said it has been providing information to the Japanese prosecutors and is cooperating fully with their investigation. Ghosn voluntarily went with Tokyo prosecutors, Asahi reported. The company is set to hold a press conference at 9 p.m. in Tokyo. A representative for the Tokyo prosecutors said they dont comment on individual cases. A spokesman for Renault declined to comment. Shares of the French carmaker fell as much as 15 percent in Paris, while Nissan global depository receipts sank more than 11 percent. Ghosn, 64, built the three-way union of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. He said in September that he will continue to pare back his roles at the three individual companies, while continuing to head their alliance. A spokesman for the Frances finance ministry declined to comment on the report. The country owns about 15 percent of Renault and supported Ghosns renewal at the helm of the French automaker. Among the best paid executives in both Japan and France for several years, Ghosns compensation has regularly drawn criticism. Ghosn receives numerous paychecks in his multiple roles as chairman of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, CEO of Renault, and chairman of both Nissan and Mitsubishi. At Nissan, he was paid about 1.1 billion yen (USD10 million) for 2016 and about $6.5 million in the most recent fiscal year. He took home about $8.5 million at Renault and about $2 million from Mitsubishi in the latest period. At Renault, his package for 2017 was narrowly passed by Renault shareholders, but only after he agreed a 20 percent reduction. Ghosn has been contemplating his career moves as the companies plan to change the pacts structure, possibly through a merger. Ghosn gave up his role as CEO of Nissan last year and has said that he may step down as CEO of Renault before his four-year term ends in 2022, fueling speculation the alliance could lose its architect and main leader for the past two decades. Ma Jie, Bloomberg Since the Soviet Union fell in the early 1990s, Southeast Asia has sought to avoid getting caught in a fight between major powers. The Trump administration is making that position look increasingly untenable. Vice President Mike Pence sharpened U.S. attacks on China during a week of summits that ended Sunday, most notably with a call for nations to avoid loans that would leave them indebted to Beijing. He said the U.S. wasnt in a rush to end the trade war and would not change course until China changes its ways a worrying prospect for a region heavily reliant on exports. The language we heard from Pence is quite concerning because it shows were moving toward a zero-sum game geopolitics in the Asia-Pacific, said Jonathan Pryke, a researcher specializing in the Pacific at the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based research group. The great hope of convergence between China and the U.S. is becoming less and less of a likely reality. The meetings in Singapore and Papua New Guinea produced little to suggest U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping would reach a deal when they meet in a few weeks at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit ended in disarray on Sunday after leaders failed to agree on a joint statement, reflecting tensions after Trump threatened to add to tariffs already in place on USD250 billion worth of Chinese goods. Xi has retaliated with duties on $110 billion in U.S. imports. Stocks in Asia kicked off the week in lackluster fashion after the discord, and the Australian and New Zealand dollars fell from near multi-month highs. Financial markets have swerved in recent weeks as investors gauge whether an end to the trade war is near. Smaller economies in the Asia-Pacific have long sought to balance ties, reaping the benefits of trade with Chinas fast-growing economy while relying on American firepower to rein in Beijings assertiveness over disputed territory. Yet the trade war has raised the prospect that nations will now need to pick sides, particularly as higher U.S. tariffs threaten to alter long-established supply chains. Earlier this month, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson warned of an Economic Iron Curtain dividing the world if the U.S. and China fail to resolve strategic differences. That could lead both sides to deny each other technology, capital and investment, reversing decades of gains from globalization. SINGAPORE WARNING Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong echoed those fears last week, saying tensions between the U.S. and China are rising to a point where Southeast Asia may one day have to choose one or the other. For the moment, that day still looks a ways off. Papua New Guinea, an economy smaller than all 50 U.S. states that hosted the APEC summit, signed deals in excess of $1 billion with both China and a U.S.-led bloc. Smaller and middle powers lean to one side or to the other, Richard Maude, a senior adviser at Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, told an Asia Society event hosted by Bloomberg in Sydney earlier this month. They dont want to make one big single binary choice between Washington and Beijing. What they want is to find the space to stay in the middle and to prosecute their own interests. DESPERATE FENCE SITTERS While the U.S. can depend on allies like Japan, Australia and Taiwan, nations such as South Korea and the Philippines that have defense arrangements with the U.S. would try to hedge, according to Minxin Pei, a China scholar and specialist in U.S.-Asia relations. Southeast Asian countries were desperate fence sitters who dont want to make China an enemy, said Pei, who is a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College in California. China and the U.S will try very hard in the next few years to charm the countries in the region. While in Asia, Pence said the U.S. provides a better option for nations in the region and announced a plan along with key Pacific allies to build a $1.7 billion electricity grid in Papua New Guinea. The U.S. also joined with Australia to redevelop a naval base, and held a meeting of the Quad a grouping that also includes India and Japan in a bid to balance Chinas rising economic and military strength. SEEKING FRIENDS Pence also had stinging remarks for Xis Belt-and-Road Initiative, which Morgan Stanley says may total $1.3 trillion by 2027 dwarfing the funds the U.S. and allies have mobilized. The vice president said the U.S. doesnt drown our partners in a sea of debt or offer a constricting belt or a one-way road. Compared with Pence, Xi had a softer message for Asia this week. He voiced support for the multilateral trading system, called for greater cooperation, and said that implementing tariffs and breaking up supply chains was doomed to failure. He also defended his signature Belt-and-Road Initiative, which dwarfs any infrastructure funding backed by the U.S., saying its not a trap as some people have labeled it. As the tension with U.S. has risen, Chinas approach to its neighboring countries has changed, said Shi Yinhong, an international relations professor at Renmin University in Beijing. China would like to gain as many friends as it can at the moment. After APEC, Xi is due to visit Brunei and the Philippines, a U.S. ally that has moved closer to China under Rodrigo Duterte. Xi also recently hosted Shinzo Abe in the first bilateral visit by a Japanese leader to Beijing in seven years. Bloomberg Banks post record first quarter profits Banks posted record profits in the first quarter ended mid-October despite encountering an acute shortage of loanable funds. Unaudited financial reports of 27 commercial banks show a staggering 45.87 percent growth in profits year-on-year. One bank among the 28 commercial banks in the country is yet to issue its financial report for the first quarter. A Hong Kong fraud syndicate was arrested last week after scamming victims out of HKD4 million over almost two years. The 11 fraudsters spun a story of money men from mainland China and Macau looking to channel funds into Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post reported. Hong Kong police underwent a month-long operation called Jetblast, seizing HKD1.4 million worth of items ranging from cars and phones to luxury clothes and handbags. We have successfully dissolved an online investment fraud syndicate. [] Police arrested four ringleaders including two involved in romance scams, two in charge of investment fraud, two bank account holders and others, said acting chief inspector Billy Ho Yiu-chung of the New Territories North Region squad. The syndicates scams typically targeted men by creating 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 so-called financial experts would then persuade the victims to transfer their savings or take out loans to put into high-return investment products. In Hong Kong, there have already been 463 such cases of online financial fraud this year, with losses valued at HKD400 million during the first three quarters significantly higher than that of last year. The prime ministers of Vietnam and Russia agreed yesterday to nearly triple their countries two- way trade to USD10 billion by 2020 from $3.55 billion last year. Speaking to reporters after talks in Hanoi, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the countries will expand their cooperation in the oil and gas industries and transportation. We emphasized that energy companies from Russia and Vietnam have had successful cooperation and we wish that cooperation will continue to be consolidated, Medvedev said through a translator. Russia currently invests in over a hundred projects in Vietnam worth $990 million, many in oil and gas exploration and exploitation, according to Vietnams Foreign Ministry. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said cooperation in defense and security and other areas has seen positive results. Russia is Vietnams main weapons supplier. Phuc said the two countries will be able to cooperate more effectively through the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union trade deal which took effect in 2016, and will boost bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2020. Medvedev was scheduled to meet with Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan yesterday before concluding his visit. AP For all the recent transatlantic debate about creating a joint European army, Germany has little interest in setting up any kind of supranational force under the EUs command. This reluctance is key to understanding the ineffectiveness of all the blocs existing military projects. In a recent op-ed for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen laid out her vision of an army of the Europeans note the change of accent from European army. Von der Leyen sees it as armed forces under national responsibility, closely interlinked, uniformly equipped, trained for joint operations and ready for action, such as the Franco-German Brigade and the German-Dutch Corps. The key words here are under national responsibility. This means keeping in place the existing procedures for deploying troops a decision that, in Europe, lies with each member state. I consider smart the German institution of parliamentary scrutiny, von der Leyen wrote. Our troops need the broad support of the population for difficult and dangerous missions. Of course, parliamentary procedures are slow, especially given the fractiousness of todays European politics. Von der Leyen wants to speed things up by getting domestic legislators specializing in defense to work with European colleagues in a special grouping that would draw up guidelines for the sake of national decision-makers. But Id be hard pushed to recall a situation in which an EU committee has ever made something faster rather than slower. The need to decide everything by committee has already de-fanged the closest thing the EU has to a common army the two EU Battlegroups, each comprised of as many as 2,000 soldiers. Since 2007, one of these multinational rapid response forces has been on permanent standby. Theyve never been deployed because EU members have never reached unanimous agreement to do so. The closest they came was in 2013, when an intervention in the Central African Republic was discussed, but France ended up leading a mission there that didnt involve the Battlegroups. The EU has an endless capacity for setting up lots of experimental mechanisms without completely dumping old, failed or unproven projects. This makes for an exceedingly complex defense cooperation landscape, in which much joint training and low-level coordination goes on, but no overarching structure is ever built. New proposals, such as French President Emmanuel Macrons European Intervention Initiative, or EI2, merely add to the jumble of acronyms. France, with the biggest military in the EU, has a simple system of making deployment decisions: The president has the last word. Its also relatively easy in Italy, where the government decides, and in Poland, where its up to the president but, for example, in the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary and the Czech Republic the prior parliamentary authorization is necessary, as in Germany. A European army would require these different procedures to be harmonized. That looks next to impossible. Von der Leyen and other European politicians understand this perfectly well. Their comments are largely aimed at American ears. They are a response to U.S. demands for increased military spending, which President Donald Trump frames as contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Europes militarily strongest nations are keen to show Washington they are investing in their own defense rather than, as Trump has put it crudely, paying the U.S. to defend them. The U.S. focuses on demanding more military spending from European countries, especially on equipment, while disregarding the inefficiency of the member states procurement systems, something NATO has tolerated for decades. It bears a share of the blame for the unnecessary variety of military equipment in the EU countries. They use 178 weapon systems compared with 30 for the U.S., 17 main battle tanks compared with just one, and 20 types of fighter planes compared with six. More spending isnt the answer. Instead, Europeans realize they need more cooperation in procurement to bring down costs and introduce more uniformity. If thats not what NATO, or essentially the U.S., wants from them, they will attempt to do it outside NATOs existing Defense Planning Process. So the coordination of budgeting through a relatively new process, called the Common Annual Review on Defense, is probably the most important part of Europes plans for an army. Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg Beginning at home Attending COP24 without research and preparation will be futile EIB delegation to discuss support for energy sector A high-level team from the worlds largest international public bank, European Investment Bank (EIB), is arriving in Kathmandu to discuss its support for Nepals energy, transport and forestry sectors with political and business leaders. Enovy nominee Acharya faces tough challenges in Delhi Ambassador nominee Nilamber Acharyathe 75-year-old former minister, parliamentarian and diplomatwill confront numerous challenges when he takes up his new assignment in New Delhi. (HealthDay)An 11th child has died in an outbreak of a respiratory virus at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in New Jersey, health officials say. The "severely ill child" had the adenovirus infection and died Thursday night in a hospital, according to the state health department, CBS News/Associated Press reported. Health officials provided no further details about the child. The child was among 34 youngsters at the care facility who became ill between Sept. 26 and Nov. 12. All the patients had severely compromised immune systems due to other medical conditions, officials say, CBS News/AP reported. Another case was confirmed late last week. One staff member at the facility was also affected by the virus but has since recovered, CBS News/AP reported. Explore further 10th patient dies at pediatric facility in viral outbreak Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Improving staff training in care homes and reducing reliance on harmful medications saves thousands of pounds per year, as well as improving quality of life and reducing agitation in dementia, new research has demonstrated. A team jointly led by the University of Exeter, King's College London and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust examined the cost effectiveness of a study of 549 care home residents with clinically significant agitation in dementia across 69 care homes. The research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research and published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. It compared residents receiving usual treatment to those receiving treatment under the Wellbeing and Health for people with Dementia (WHELD) training programme. The team analysed outcomes on health and social care costs, agitation and quality of life. In each area, WHELD performed better than current treatment, saving up to 4,000 per care home over the nine month studyor up to 2,000 once the cost of delivering WHELD was taken into account. The savings were made in a reduction in emergency and routine hospital admissions and in less contact with GPs, in part because of reduced agitation. The programme found that the WHELD programme cost 660 per resident to achieve significant improvements in their quality of life. When first approved for use in the UK, commonly used cholinesterase inhibitor drugs cost around 35,000 to achieve similar measures of improvement. The programme cost around 1,400 per resident to significantly improve agitation. Drugs that are prescribed for this purpose are known to increase harms to people with dementia. Senior author, Clive Ballard, Professor of Age-Related Diseases at the University of Exeter Medical School, said: "People with dementia living in care homes are among the most vulnerable in our society. We now know we have a programme that provides huge value in improving their quality of life and reducing agitationand now crucially, we know this saves money. Our research has previously shown that only four of 170 carer training manuals available on the market were based on evidence that they work. We must roll this out to benefit those in need." Corresponding author, Renee Romeo, Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at King's College London, said: "As a person's dementia progresses they will need more intensive care and support and often residential care is seen as the best option by those who care for them. Our research can assist commissioning decisions around care and treatment options in these settings. By providing the evidence, that effective and affordable care responses following consultation around individual preferences do exist. The failure to recognise and introduce such interventions in not only ethically questionable but very costly." The WHELD programme involved training two carer "champions" from each home to deliver person-centred care, which involves individuals in the decisions that affect them. Previous research has found that the average care home resident engages in just two minutes of social interaction in a six hour period. WHELD increased this to ten minutes of activity, focussed around the interests of the resident. It also included GP training to reduce prescribing antipsychotics, known to significantly increase the risk of stroke and death in people with dementia. Alzheimer's Society policy director Sally Copley commented: "As 70 per cent of people in care homes have dementia, it is essential that staff working there have the right training to provide good quality dementia care. "This study supports what we know from our own research: that training is crucial to provide this kind of specialist care, and has huge benefits for people with dementia in care homes and for the wider system, and that anti-psychotics are often overused and sometimes harmfulan area we have campaigned on for many years. With many care homes on the brink of collapse and the NHS under pressure, cost-efficient initiatives like WHELD could make all the difference. "But specialist training costs money, so without Government investment in social care to allow innovative solutions like WHELD to be put in practice, it won't be possible to provide this for everyone who needs it. I urge Matt Hancock to take bold steps in the forthcoming Green Paper and commit to the sustainable social care funding that people with dementia have already waited too long for." The paper, entitled 'Improving the quality of life of care home residents with dementia: Cost effectiveness of an optimised intervention for residents with clinically significant agitation in dementia' is published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. Explore further Just 10 minutes of social interaction a day improves wellbeing in dementia care More information: Improving the quality of life of care home residents with dementia: Cost effectiveness of an optimised intervention for residents with clinically significant agitation in dementia, Improving the quality of life of care home residents with dementia: Cost effectiveness of an optimised intervention for residents with clinically significant agitation in dementia, DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.08.010 Man accused of raping 12-year-old girl arrested from New Delhi Police arrested a man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl in Chitwan district from New Delhi. Bob Harris and Harald Lund at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience. Credit: Karolinska Institutet A new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet supports the theory that replacement of dysfunctional immune cells in the brain has therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's disease. The study, which involved repopulating the brain with new immune cells in an experimental disease model, is published in Nature Communications. Macrophages are immune cells present throughout the body, and are specialised according to the organ in which they operate; in the brain they are known as microglia. In a healthy brain, microglia are involved in many caretaking functions that support the activities and health of nerve cells. In diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's disease, microglia instead function to harm nerve cells. New model of microglia depletion The researchers behind the current study believe that replacement of the dysfunctional microglia with healthy cells will potentially be of therapeutic benefit in such neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore they have developed a new disease model in which the animal's own microglia are removed from the central nervous system (CNS). This leads to a rapid influx of monocytes, precursors of macrophages, into the brain and spinal cord, giving rise to new microglia-like cells. Microglia in the brain, however, have a different embryonic origin to blood-borne monocytes. "We knew that blood monocytes would infiltrate the CNS in our experimental mouse model, but we did not know to what degree they would adapt to the new microenvironment," says first author Harald Lund, a recently graduated doctoral student at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet. "So we dissected the process of repopulation and fully characterised what happened to these cells with time." Nurture trumps nature The infiltrating cells adapted to the 'empty' tissue but did not fully differentiate into microglia. However, the monocytes started to express many genes characteristic of microglia, adopted their morphology and exhibited similar functions to microglia. A meta-analysis of several recent studies of microglia repopulation further confirmed the gene signatures as being specific to infiltrating monocytes adapting to the CNS microenvironment, which goes against their nature. The apparent dominance of the tissue microenvironment in dictating cell functionality could be exploited therapeutically, the researchers believe. The study provides support for the researchers' current projects aiming to develop novel immunotherapies for neurodegenerative diseases. "There are several incurable neurodegenerative diseases in humans, but a complete lack of efficient immunotherapies," says Professor Bob Harris at the Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet. "We believe that efficient replacement of dysfunctional microglia has the potential to be an effective therapy, so understanding the molecular events and consequences of repopulation of a microglia-depleted CNS are critical in working towards this goal." Explore further New disease model to facilitate development of ALS and MS therapies More information: Harald Lund et al. Competitive repopulation of an empty microglial niche yields functionally distinct subsets of microglia-like cells, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Harald Lund et al. Competitive repopulation of an empty microglial niche yields functionally distinct subsets of microglia-like cells,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07295-7 (HealthDay)Pacifiers filled with or dipped in honey should not be given to infants, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. The agency issued the warning after receiving reports of four infants in Texas who were hospitalized with botulism after using pacifiers containing honey. The pacifiers were bought in Mexico, but similar products can be bought online in the United States. Honey can contain botulism-causing bacteria spores, which can multiply in an infant's immature digestive system, and has been linked to cases of infant botulism. Honey should not be given to infants younger than 12 months, the FDA, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and American Academy of Pediatrics advise. Explore further Final update on Salmonella-tainted honey smacks cereal More information: More Information Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Scientists find we anticipate time in two different parts of the brain. Credit: University of California - Berkeley That moment when you step on the gas pedal a split second before the light changes, or when you tap your toes even before the first piano note of Camila Cabello's "Havana" is struck. That's anticipatory timing. One type relies on memories from past experiences. The other on rhythm. Both are critical to our ability to navigate and enjoy the world. New UC Berkeley research shows the neural networks supporting each of these timekeepers are split between two different parts of the brain, depending on the task at hand. "Whether it's sports, music, speech or even allocating attention, our study suggests that timing is not a unified process, but that there are two distinct ways in which we make temporal predictions and these depend on different parts of the brain," said study lead author Assaf Breska, a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience at UC Berkeley. The findings, published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, offer a new perspective on how humans calculate when to make a move. "Together, these brain systems allow us to not just exist in the moment, but to also actively anticipate the future," said study senior author Richard Ivry, a UC Berkeley neuroscientist. Breska and Ivry studied the anticipatory timing strengths and deficits of people with Parkinson's disease and people with cerebellar degeneration. Colored squares move in rhythmic sequence. Credit: Video courtesy of Assaf Breska They connected rhythmic timing to the basal ganglia, and interval timing an internal timer based largely on our memory of prior experiences to the cerebellum. Both are primal brain regions associated with movement and cognition. Moreover, their results suggest that if one of these neural clocks is misfiring, the other could theoretically step in. "Our study identifies not only the anticipatory contexts in which these neurological patients are impaired, but also the contexts in which they have no difficulty, suggesting we could modify their environments to make it easier for them to interact with the world in face of their symptoms," Breska said. Non-pharmaceutical fixes for neurological timing deficits could include brain-training computer games and smartphone apps, deep brain stimulation and environmental design modifications, he said. How they conducted the study To arrive at their conclusion, Breska and Ivry compared how well Parkinson's and cerebellar degeneration patients used timing or "temporal" cues to focus their attention. Both groups viewed sequences of red, white and green squares as they flashed by at varying speeds on a computer screen, and pushed a button the moment they saw the green square. The white squares alerted them that the green square was coming up. Colored squares move in interval-based sequence. Credit: University of California - Berkeley In one sequence, the red, white and green squares followed a steady rhythm, and the cerebellar degeneration patients responded well to these rhythmic cues. In another, the colored squares followed a more complex pattern, with differing intervals between the red and green squares. This sequence was easier for the Parkinson's patients to follow, and succeed at. "We show that patients with cerebellar degeneration are impaired in using non-rhythmic temporal cues while patients with basal ganglia degeneration associated with Parkinson's disease are impaired in using rhythmic cues," Ivry said. Ultimately, the results confirm that the brain uses two different mechanisms for anticipatory timing, challenging theories that a single brain system handles all our timing needs, researchers said. "Our results suggest at least two different ways in which the brain has evolved to anticipate the future," said Breska. "A rhythm-based system is sensitive to periodic events in the world such as is inherent in speech and music," he added. "And an interval system provides a more general anticipatory ability, sensitive to temporal regularities even in the absence of a rhythmic signal." Explore further Beat it: how the brain perceives rhythm More information: Assaf Breska et al. Double dissociation of single-interval and rhythmic temporal prediction in cerebellar degeneration and Parkinson's disease, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2018). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Assaf Breska et al. Double dissociation of single-interval and rhythmic temporal prediction in cerebellar degeneration and Parkinson's disease,(2018). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1810596115 Credit: CC0 Public Domain A researcher from the University of Bristol presented research at Parliament yesterday that recommends the consideration of more holistic interventions in the world's poorest countries. An unintended consequence of water tap access in rural Ethiopian villages is population growth. The provision of a safe water supply increases child survival and improves women's health in these communities, but Dr. Mhairi Gibson, a Reader in Anthropology at Bristol, has discovered a subsequent rise in child malnutrition as village resources are strained by a booming population. Dr. Gibson is presenting her study findings to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Population, Development and Reproductive Health (PDRH) yesterday (Monday 19 November), recommending that culturally appropriate family planning and reproductive services are combined in such future development interventions. She said: "Increased birth rates in some resource-restricted environments can have negative consequences for the local community if it's not expected or planned. Assessing any unmet need for family planning should be a routine aspect of any intervention." Population growth hampers the economic growth of the world's poorest countries, and with the recent move by the Trump administration to remove USA support from reproductive health services across the world, Dr. Gibson thinks this is an opportunity for the UK government to step in and do more in this area. The APPG for PDRH aims to stabilise the world's population through influencing the Department for International Development's development budget and policies to achieve universal access to family planning and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Dr. Gibson said: "The goal is to get these key stakeholders to push the government for more investment in family planning. "There's little known about the long-term impact of development projects in poor countries such as Ethiopia, and so projects such as ours are important for the honing of intervention policies." In this particular project, the researchers tracked birth and infant mortality rates in eight rural Ethiopian villages where taps were installed and found that infant mortality dropped dramatically, 50 percent for every month of life, but also that fertility rates had increased. Previous studies have shown that female energy levels affect hormone levels and consequently fertility, and for women in the study, the elimination of a six-hour trek for water every day would have dramatically improved their energy levels. The long-term effect was an increase in family size. In the 1,400 village households that took part in the study, tap installation led to scarcity of resources, and subsequent childhood malnutrition, biases in education and youth out-migration. The study results were published in the journal PLoS Medicine in 2006 and in PLoS ONE in 2012, but Dr. Gibson's team have continued to monitor to find out if there have been any wider downstream effects of the unexpected and unplanned growth in family size. Dr. Gibson said: "Parents no longer have farmland to give to their children, so the only option is for the children to migrate out to the cities for work." Dr. Gibson has seen first-hand the hugely positive impact the installation of water taps has in rural African villages, but because of the surprising increase in fertility and subsequent negative impacts on the community that her study revealed; she suggests that a different approach to developmental intervention might be more effective. Dr. Gibson explained: "There are unforeseen consequences of development, but one way of getting around this issue is to do more community-based interventions. So rather than focusing on a single issue, for example providing clean water, have a longer-term commitment to a community and deal with the full cross-section of community needs as they emerge." Explore further The hidden consequences of helping rural communities in Africa More information: Mhairi A Gibson et al. An Energy-Saving Development Initiative Increases Birth Rate and Childhood Malnutrition in Rural Ethiopia, PLoS Medicine (2006). Mhairi A Gibson et al. An Energy-Saving Development Initiative Increases Birth Rate and Childhood Malnutrition in Rural Ethiopia,(2006). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0030087 Mhairi A. Gibson et al. Rural to Urban Migration Is an Unforeseen Impact of Development Intervention in Ethiopia, PLoS ONE (2012). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048708 Journal information: PLoS Medicine , PLoS ONE Credit: CC0 Public Domain A significant proportion of suicidal teens treated in a psychiatric emergency department said that watching the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why" had increased their suicide risk, a University of Michigan study finds. The hit drama, widely popular among teens, has generated controversy for its depiction of suicide. Its story centers around a 17-year-old student, who, before her death, recorded cassettes that detail 13 reasons why she took her own life. The show has raised concerns among mental health experts about its potentially negative impact on vulnerable youths. Which is why Michigan Medicine researchers asked suicidal adolescents whether the show had contributed to suicide-related symptoms. The findings, published in the journal Psychiatric Services, add to the body of literature about how at-risk teens may be reacting to the program. "This show has been a real phenomenon, especially among teenagers," says lead author Victor Hong, M.D., medical director of psychiatric emergency services at Michigan Medicine. "Its depiction of teen suicide has raised great concern among parents, health providers and educators." Of the 87 youths who participated in the survey between 2017 and 2018, half had watched at least one episode of the show, mostly teens ages 13 to 17. Among the 43 who had watched it, about half (21) said it heightened their suicide risk. "Our study doesn't confirm that the show is increasing suicide risk, but it confirms that we should definitely be concerned about its impact on impressionable and vulnerable youth," says Hong. "Few believe this type of media exposure will take kids who are not depressed and make them suicidal. The concern is about how this may negatively impact youth who are already teetering on the edge." Parental viewership absent The idea for the study stemmed from anecdotal narratives shared among colleagues at different children's hospitals, says Hong, noting that providers were hearing more teens being treated for suicidal symptoms talk about "13 Reasons Why." The study also found that the majority of surveyed youth who had seen the show viewed it alone and were more likely to discuss their reactions with peers (81 percent) than with a parent (35 percent). A second season of "13 Reasons Why," which debuted in May, opens with a disclaimer urging young viewers to watch the show with a trusted adultand the importance of seeking help. Still, very few parents in the U-M sample had watched the series themselves; some were unaware that their child had watched it. The findings clash with a previous Netflix-commissioned report that found 71 percent of youths in a U.S. community sample talked to a parent about the series. Hong says this possibly indicates some differences in the ability or desire of youths at high risk of suicide to have such discussions with their parents. "The data from our sample of teens demonstrated that kids who were at high risk of suicide did not reach out to adults," he adds. "They mostly watched the show alone or talked to friends, but they weren't talking to parents, teachers or school counselors. "Youths who are in greatest need of adult support may be less likely to seek it out." Diligence, conversation crucial Of the teen viewers who said they believed the series increased their suicide risk, the majority strongly identified with the lead female character, Hannah Baker. "The main character is easy to identify with," Hong says. "She's a teen girl who has suffered from sexual assault, bullying and anxietywhich, unfortunately, impact too many of our youth today." Researchers developed a 44-item questionnaire to assess several aspects of youths' interactions with "13 Reasons Why," using caution to avoid advertising the series to those who were not already aware of it. Teens unfamiliar with the show weren't asked additional questions. Authors say further research is needed to accurately gauge how media content that focuses on youth suicide can influence the mental health and suicide risk of its viewers. But in the meantime, there are plenty of red flags for parents to watch for. "Our findings support the need for tailored prevention programming for vulnerable youths and education and training for their parents," says study senior author Cheryl King, Ph.D., a child and adolescent psychologist at U-M's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. "Parents whose kids may be vulnerable or at a high risk for suicide should be even more diligent about what their kids watch and if they are being exposed to content that could trigger them," she adds. "They also shouldn't shy away from open, honest and difficult conversations with their kids about these topics." Explore further Research examines whether media can promote parent/child conversation about difficult topics Example of white matter pathways measured by a diffusion MRI. Credit: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) Researchers in the Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology and Osaka University have identified a human white matter pathway associated with individual variability in human stereoacuity. By combining neuroimaging and psychophysical measurements, we found that the neural tissue density of the white matter pathway, the vertical occipital fasciculus (VOF), correlated with the individual variability in stereoacuity. The VOF connects the dorsal and ventral visual areas involved in stereopsis. This finding is important to understand the neural basis of dysfunction in stereopsis. Three-dimensional sight, stereopsis, is an important visual function. A series of previous studies have revealed that stereopsis is established by neural processing of binocular disparity, which is the retinal image difference between the two eyes. A number of studies have investigated which brain regions are involved in such information processing. Understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying stereopsis is crucial not only for visual neuroscience but also for application in virtual reality systems. There is one unanswered key question regarding stereopsis: why the ability of depth discrimination (stereoacuity) varies greatly among people. In fact, previous studies have reported a broad distribution of human stereoacuity. Although it is likely that such a difference is related to a difference in the neural systems, the neurobiological origin of such individual differences is unknown. In this study, researchers in NICT and Osaka University examined the neuronal basis of individual differences in stereoacuity by combining cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques and psychophysics. We specifically focused on white matter pathways connecting distant brain areas because previous studies have demonstrated multiple brain areas in the dorsal and ventral visual areas are involved in stereopsis. We first identified trajectories of major white matter pathways related to visual processing by analyzing a diffusion MRI dataset. We then quantified neural tissues in the white matter using a quantitative MRI method. Furthermore, we estimated the stereoacuity of each individual human participant in a psychophysical experiment. As a result, we found that the group with good stereoacuity showed significantly higher neural tissue density along a specific white matter pathway, the vertical occipital fasciculus (VOF) in the right hemisphere, compared to the group with poor stereoacuity (See Figure 1). A functional MRI experiment revealed that the dorsal and ventral visual areas connected by the VOF are involved in stereopsis. Finally, we also confirmed that the neural tissue properties of the VOF did not correlate with performance in contrast detection, which does not require binocular integration of visual information. These results suggest that the communication between the dorsal and ventral visual brain areas via the VOF plays an important role in human stereopsis A previous study found that approximately 30 percent of healthy individuals have relatively lower performance in stereoacuity. Further research on stereoacuity and white matter will contribute to a method for improving our performance in stereopsis. More information: Hiroki Oishi et al, Microstructural properties of the vertical occipital fasciculus explain the variability in human stereoacuity, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2018). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Hiroki Oishi et al, Microstructural properties of the vertical occipital fasciculus explain the variability in human stereoacuity,(2018). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804741115 Provided by National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) A Republican observer looks at a ballot during a hand recount, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, at the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office in Lauderhill, Fla. Florida's acrimonious U.S. Senate contest is headed to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by fewer than 13,000 votes. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) FLWL102 After two weeks of machine and manual recounts, lawsuits, accusations of "rampant fraud" and near-nonstop controversy, Florida's midterm election ended Tuesday morning with little fanfare. With nearly a dozen cameras watching, the state's Elections Canvassing Commission signed off on the election results in a ceremony that lasted barely five minutes. State Sen. Rob Bradley, who was filling in for Gov. Rick Scott, gave a smile and a thumbs-up to the cameras after signing the results. "The voters can be assured that the results that we just certified reflect the intent of the voters in this election," Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said. "Everyone we certified as winners were the winners in these elections." Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, the other two members of the commission, certified the results over the phone. Bondi apparently could have appeared in person she was on the Senate floor of the Capitol just a few minutes later. In normal years, the canvassing commission is hardly notable. It meets after every general election to certify the results of each federal, state and multi-county race. Scott, a Republican, recused himself from the commission after denouncing heavily-Democratic Broward and Palm Beach counties for committing "rampant fraud." That prompted President Donald Trump to repeatedly claim voter fraud in the election. "I have not personally been presented with evidence of fraud," Bradley said when asked whether Scott's claims were true. He said that voters should vote out the elections supervisors in Palm Beach, Broward and Hillsborough counties, however. "The voters need to hold those officials accountable," Bradley said. Senate President Joe Negron shakes hands with Sen. Bill Galvano during the first day of the 2017 legislative session. The two senators are leading supporters of a 2018 bill that boosts higher education, including restoring the Bright Futures scholarship to its original levels. [SCOTT KEELER | Times] The next leader of the Florida Senate rejected the sharp political discourse that dominates America's politics, telling his fellow senators today that the chamber will be an "example" to other states and governments over the next two years. Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, who took over for Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, on Tuesday, encouraged both sides to come together after a "vigorously fought" election cycle. "As Senate President, I have very little ability to change the national discourse, or to stem the tide of modern-day incivility that is so pervasive in an era of social media and 24-hour news cycle," he said, "But I can tell you as Senate president, and while Im Senate president, that the Florida Senate will have civility, transparency, candor, and provide opportunity." He added that the actions of his fellow senators "stand in stark contrast to much of the dialogue we are witnessing today, not just in the political process, but really, in all areas of society." Galvano, a soft-spoken moderate who has spent 16 years in the Legislature, earned praise last year for leading the Parkland school safety bill through the Senate last year. It was a largely bipartisan bill that included some of the first gun restrictions in Florida in decades, earning him the ire of the National Rifle Association and a $200,000 check to his political committee from the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund. "Incoming Florida Senate President Bill Galvano calls himself a Republican but is rumored to be the one who colluded with anti-gun Democrats to engineer the gun control package," NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer wrote in September. Tuesday's swearing in, with Governor-elect Ron DeSantis watching, kicked off the start of the 2019 legislative session. Over the next few months, lawmakers will begin pitching bills until March 5, when the official two-month sprint in the legislature begins. Galvano said he couldn't predict what lawmakers would be facing next year, but he encouraged his colleagues to "think innovatively." He said that he looked forward to implementing the many constitutional amendments that were passed this year. "Together, we can be the example for other states and world governments, as to how to focus on policy, not politics, service, not severance," he said. His message of unity earned praise from the Democratic minority leader, Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville. "You have always been a measured thinker, very receptive to ideas, and very thoughtful and willing to listen," Gibson said. Officials from Nepal, China to meet in Kathmandu next month Officials from Nepal and China are set to meet next month to discuss the prospects of developing the Kathmandu-Kerung railway line connecting the two countries. Sangam Prasain is Business Editor at The Kathmandu Post, covering tourism, agriculture, mountaineering, aviation, infrastructure and other economic affairs. He joined The Kathmandu Post in October 2009. Marion County, FL A Florida man has been arrested for having sex with a miniature horse on multiple occasions, deputies say. According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, 21-year-old Nicholas Anthony Sardo, of Citra, has been arrested and charged with four counts of bestiality/sexual contact with an animal. Deputies say that on October 16, a witness came forward and reported that she had witnessed Sardo having sex with a miniature male pony named Jackie G in a pasture on a family members property three days earlier. Another witness came forward saying she saw it as well, and she approached Sardo about what she had seen, according to the sheriff's office. Sardo immediately admitted to her that he had sex with the horse and also gave the same admission to a detective investigating the allegation. Sardo added that he had sex with the horse four times during the course of a week, according to the detective. The sheriff's office stated in a press release that, "he used a condom each time because he didnt want to get a disease from the horse." Additionally, Sardo told the detective that he knew he was wrong for what he did and that, "he was a sick man," according to the sheriff's office. One of Sardos family members is the owner of the horse and the horse is currently under their care. Stipulations of Sardos future contact with the horse could be determined by a judge in the near future. Sardo is currently being held in the Marion County Jail. ARCHIVED - Outrage over Francoist shawl worn by the patron of Spain The error occurred the day before the anniversary of Francos death 20th November is a date which is indelibly etched in the memories of Spaniards of a certain age, as it was on this date in 1975 that television broadcasts were interrupted by the sombre announcement of the death of General Franco. 43 years have passed since that event, which eventually led to the re-introduction of democracy after Francos dictatorship and the signing of the Spanish Constitution on 6th December 1978, but the man who assumed the role of the leader of the country for 36 years after his forces triumphed in the Spanish Civil War is far from forgotten, and in fact in recent months it appears that those who support his ideology have become, if not more numerous, then at least more visible and vociferous. This was illustrated by what in other circumstances may have been treated as little more than an anecdotal incident in Zaragoza on Monday, when the figure of the Virgen del Pilar, the patron of Spain, was dressed in the shawl of the Falange (the sole legal political party under Francos rule). The Basilica Chapter apologized for the error during the day, attributing it to an individual who had access to the statue, but around an hour passed before the shawl was replaced and there was scepticism over claims that there was no malice or political intent behind the mistake. During that time the group which derives from the Falange took the opportunity to publish images celebrating the event. It has emerged that an urgent meeting is to be held in order to decide upon appropriate measures, but perhaps more important is that this occurred on the date that it did: the suspicion is that the shawl did not appear on 20th November (also the date of the death of Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, the founder of the Falange, at the start of the Civil War in 1936) only because tradition demands that the Virgen del Pilar should not wear any of her 450 shawls on the 20th of each month. As for why Francos supporters are becoming more visible in Spain recently, the general consensus is that there are three main factors: the governments plans to exhume his mortal remains and have them re-buried at a site where the former dictator may not be glorified, the strength of feelings awakened by the Catalan independence movement and the Constitutional crisis it has come close to provoking, and the dramatic increase in the number of migrants making their way across the Mediterranean to the southern coastline, particularly in Andalucia. Follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news, events and information in the Region of Murcia and the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/ article_detail --> Cybersmart has unveiled its Black Friday 2018 Lightspeed fibre specials. The company will offer a range of deals on Black Friday, 23 November, for new and existing customers, it told MyBroadband. To take advantage of the deals, users must order a product or upgrade their existing package on Black Friday. Cybersmart highlighted the following deals which will be available on Black Friday. 600Mbps uncapped fibre for R899 The company is offering a 600Mbps Lightspeed fibre package at the following prices: New customers 600Mbps uncapped for R899, with a R1,499 installation fee. 600Mbps uncapped for R899, with a R1,499 installation fee. Existing customers 600Mbps uncapped for R899, with a once-off fee of R749. Free fibre forever New customers can also sign up for a 500Mbps fibre service for a once-off fee of R4,999. Users will then receive 50GB of Daytime data and 2,500GB of Night-time data every month, indefinitely. Fibre upgrade As part of their Black Friday promotion, Cybersmart is also offering existing customers who are on a free fibre forever product the option to upgrade to an uncapped service for R599 per month with no installation fee. Cybersmart has previously stated that its Lightspeed fibre service is available across most of the Atlantic seaboard, as well as Claremont, Mowbray, Swellendam, and Rosebank in Cape Town. It is also available at around 1,000 buildings across the country. Now read: The average price for broadband in South Africa is of the highest in the world Taxify has announced that it is expanding its operations to include an additional four coastal towns in South Africa. The ride-hailing service will launch in Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, George, and Mossel Bay in late November 2018. Taxify also expanded into East London, Polokwane, and Pietermaritzburg over the last two months, following the completion of an investment round of $175 million which it earmarked for further expansion. Adding these four new towns to our South African network emphasizes our continued focus on launching ride-hailing services in more towns and cities across the country, outside of the obvious main centres, said Taxify South Africa country manager Gareth Taylor. Taxify said it will now operate in 13 cities and towns across South Africa, making it available in more South African urban centres than any other ride-hailing platform. The company started operations in South Africa in 2016, and experienced overall year-on-year growth of 600% in South Africa in 2017. At an international level, South Africa will have more Taxify-serviced cities and towns than any other country in its global network, Taxify said. The ride-hailing service said it plans to continue expanding during 2019, providing more South Africans with the benefit of the platform. For the third year, Rabobank, N.A. is supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program by creating in-branch donation stations. Rabobank is also introducing a Letters to Santa program. In addition to paying the first-class postage for letter delivery to the North Pole, the bank is helping Santas elves send personalized responses back to children who drop off their letters at a nearby branch. Through Dec. 14, customers and residents can donate new, unwrapped toys at drop boxes at Rabobanks local branch, 700 Trancas St., in Napa. Rabobank will pay the first-class postage on all letters dropped off at a local branch on or before Friday, Dec. 7, and confirm that the letters are directly delivered to Santas workshop. Apple chief executive Tim Cook argued in an interview with Axios that aired on HBO Sunday that the tech industrys approach to privacy reflects a failure of the free market, and that government regulation is inevitable in the face of missteps by platforms such as Google and Facebook. Cook said that he was no fan of regulation, and that he prefers markets to operate unimpeded. But Silicon Valley needs to get with the program, he said. We have to admit when the free market is not working, Cook said, and it hasnt worked here. I think its inevitable that there will be some level of regulation. I think Congress and the administration at some point will pass something. The interview marks the latest attempt by Cook to distance his company from other tech giants as they increasingly come under scrutiny for their role in spreading misinformation and hate speech and losing control over customer data. Apple has emphasized in recent weeks that it is unlike social media platforms, because its business model depends on selling hardware such as smartphones and tablets and not selling targeted advertisements based on user information. In a speech last month in Brussels, Cook called for stronger privacy rules in the United States, and said Apple celebrates the passage of recent privacy regulations in Europe that many others in the tech industry opposed. But Cook on Sunday faced questions over his companys ties to Googlein particular, why Apple continues to take billions of dollars from the search giant, making it the default on Safari and iOS, when Apple rejects the tactics that has made Google what it is. Cook defended the agreements, saying simply that Googles search engine is the best, and that Apple-designed features have helped safeguard users from prying. We have private web browsing. We have intelligent tracking prevention, he said. We come up with ways to help our users through the course of the day. Its not a perfect thing, but it goes a long way in helping. Cooks remarks add fuel to the brewing policy battle in Washington, where industry groups and policymakers have been discussing what principles ought to guide the government as it explores an intervention. In the coming months, the Trump administration and a reshaped Congress will likely be faced with interpreting the fault lines in the debate. Telecom and cable companies have been urging for a single federal standard that applies to Internet providers and tech companies alike. Meanwhile, consumer groups have pushed for rules that treat reputational damage from a loss of privacy as seriously as financial harms. Tech industry advocates have called for policies that protect user privacy while not hindering innovation. But on Sunday, Cook called that a false choice. This is not a matter of privacy versus profits, or privacy versus technical innovation, he said. Your device has incredible intelligence about you, but as a company I dont have to have that. This winter, when it snows on Mt. St. Helena, Calistogan Jim Flamson said hes going to drive up there and hike in the snow. I havent done that in 44 years. Jim and Kathy Flamson are retiring next month: Kathy on Dec. 28, Jim three days later on Dec. 31. Jim has been in business since 1974, most recently as a tax preparer, prior to that as an insurance agent, when he took over his fathers business. Kathy has had a varied career and most recently has served as Calistoga city clerk since February 2014. Im looking forward to a February or a March day when it floods. I hate to say this, but Im actually going to go out and watch it, instead of being in my office, hoping that the power doesnt go out, Jim said. Those are the kind of silly things I want to do and Ill get over that. Preparing for retirement has been interesting, he said, adding he bought the same amount of firewood this year that he has bought in the past. Wait a minute, well probably need more firewood, because Im going to be home during the day all winter. Both Jim and Kathy are early risers and Jim said its going to be hard to break the habit of getting up at 4:30 in the morning, especially during tax season. But, he added, Ill bet I still get up early. I love sitting out in the morning with a cup of coffee reading the paper. Kathy said shes looking forward to retirement. We have about six months of almost freedom, then on July 1, Im going to be District Governor for the local Rotary region, she said. That will keep us busy for a year. Then, after that, we know what we want to do Jim broke in, Were taking it a day at a time right now. He added their long-term plan is to buy a little trailer that can be towed behind a pickup truck. Its got a bathroom, shower and its small enough that I can back the thing up, Jim said. Were gonna travel. We want to go back to some of the places we visited with everybodys children when we were Scout leaders. This time without the Scouts. In October, Jim Flamson sent out a letter to his clients and friends, saying he had sold his tax preparation and bookkeeping business, James Flamson Tax Service, to Calistoga CPA Ron Koscielak, who has lived and worked in Calistoga since July 1989. Over the past few years, Flamson said he would go to Koscielak to discuss particular tax issues. I was real comfortable going into his office and saying, You got a minute? And hed stop what he was doing and wed talk about it or do the research together, Flamson said. When it was time to sell the business, Koscielak was the first and only person I went to, he added. Flamson said Koscielak will take over his physical offices at 1422 Lincoln Ave., where both Jim and his father before him had their offices. For a long time, the Flamsons offices were in the front part of the building; today, they are in the rear. Jims parents Flamson said his parents, James H. and Dora Flamson, moved to Calistoga in August 1950, when Jim was 4 months old. James H. was a teacher in Calistoga from 1950 to 1963, when he went into the insurance business and started his agency. Jim said the original plan was for him to work for two years for an insurance brokerage in Anaheim and then move up and form a partnership with his dad, who would eventually retire. Halfway through his second year, his dad developed brain cancer and passed away suddenly, Flamson said. So Kathy and I quickly moved back to Calistoga, not because we were ready for it, but because we had to. We helped my mom hold the agency together and the rest is history, he said. Jim and Kathy were married in 1972. Their two sons, Tom and Dan, were raised in Calistoga. Today, Tom is 41, works as an anthropologist for the State of California, and is married. Dan, who lives in Angwin, is married, and is a juvenile probation supervisor for Sonoma County. Both Tom and Dan each has a son and daughter. They both love their jobs, Jim said. When asked if the sons ever wanted to take over the business, Kathy added, They made it real clear they didnt want to take over the business. Furthermore, Jim added, I have to do their taxes. Learning the business Today, Dora is 94 and lives in Calistoga. She had been the local justice court clerk when the court was in Calistoga and after her husbands death, she became a licensed tax preparer. She started doing taxes in 1968. A few years later, in 1976, Dora asked for Jims help. Its time you learned the tax business, she told her son. Flamson said he learned the business by using an old typewriter, typing the original tax forms she filled out with pencil. Back in those days, there were no computers, we did them in triplicate with carbon paper. Make a mistake, and you erase three copies. I did that for a few years, thats how I learned the tax business, he said. Dora retired in 1979 and after that, Jim says, Its been all me. At the beginning, Dora did 50 or 60 returns and the business has grown, so for the last 10 years, Flamson has been doing well over 400 every year, but never over 500. Kathy said, I remember when I was doing them, when we did 250 that was a big year. Kathy worked with Jim in the office right after their two children were born until Flamson sold the insurance agency, at the end of 2007, to Tom Lincoln of Lincoln-Leavitt in Lakeport. During the day, while Jim was running his insurance agency, Kathy worked at St. Helena Hospital. During the tax season from January to April 15 at the end of the day, Jim would gather up the taxes that had been brought in that day and split them up. Id say, these are mine, these are hers, he said. During those years, Kathy was a student at Capella University, seeking to earn her bachelors degree. She would do three or four hours of homework, and then at 10 p.m., shed work on the taxes until 1 in the morning, Jim said. Kathy added, Id get up at 6 and go back to work at St. Helena Hospital. Those were long, 16-hour days. Their kids were little and Jim said, We were working hard just to make ends meet. Kathys career Kathy started working as deputy city clerk for the City of Calistoga in September 2013, working under City Manager Richard Spitler. She became city clerk in February 2014. He wanted to make sure I was comfortable and knew what I was doing, she said. I had one city election under my belt and he said I could have it. After arriving in Calistoga in 1974, Kathy first worked at Hurds Candle Factory, which was adjacent to Freemark Abbey in the 1970s. Then she worked at Bank of America and then Napa Valley Bank, the year after it began. She and Jim were members of the volunteer Calistoga Fire Department and then became Emergency Medical Technicians, when Jim drove the ambulance. Afterwards, Kathy worked for Jim and then was an advertising rep for The Weekly Calistogan, working with Pat Hampton. Together, they started a Hispanic page. That was my passion, Kathy said. My grandparents came from Italy, they didnt speak English and my grandmother was the only literate one. She would get her Italian newspaper every Friday and shed read everything to my grandfather. Kathy was a masseuse at Nances, one of Calistogas former hot springs and spas. For a couple of years and during her training, she would have to give Jim massages at home, to learn her trade. That was the best tax season I ever had. Every night I got home and got a massage. Then, Kathy spent 18 years working at St. Helena Hospital, ending her career there in 2012. Summing it up, Jim said, Shes had an interesting career. Me, I just did the same thing for 44 years. Thats why I cant wait to be done. Its going to be weird. Its funny, Kathy posted a thing on Facebook the other day that said, When I retire, Im going to live off my savings. What Im going to do the next day, I dont know. Both Jim and Kathy have been volunteers for years, with Cub and Boy Scouts and with the fire department Jim served as volunteer chief and with Relay for Life and with Rotary, both with the local club and the district. But, thats another story for another time. Editors Note: For years, the Stonebergs have known the Flamsons, partially because they have prepared our taxes. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PMO directs pregnant girl be brought to Kathmandu for safe delivery A 12-year-old girl from Makwanpur district about to give birth is being brought to Kathmandu on Tuesday following direction from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to ensure safe delivery of her baby. Chris Canning may have stepped down as executive director of the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce, but he hasnt gone far. Aside from keeping his other job as mayor of the town, Canning has taken a job heading a new telecommunications company that will be based in Calistoga. Cannings new office is expected to be on the second floor of the now-vacant Carmel Gallery on Lincoln Avenue, next to Sugar Daddys. The building is currently undergoing renovation. The new position started Oct. 29. The company is to be called Illuminations Technology California, and the technology it uses exists in eight other countries, but is new to the U.S. Canning said he is still getting up to date on the companys technology, but one of the jobs draws was that it allowed him to stay in Calistoga. For me, the fact that there is a public benefit to it is really what made it attractive. The fact that I can stay in Calistoga made it even more attractive, Canning said. Heres how it works: Illumination Technologies partners with local municipalities to build infrastructure for wireless companies. In exchange, the telecom funds fire detection and warning systems, such as surveillance for earthquake and fire risks, that wont cost the city anything. Also, the city gets to dictate where the wireless companies put their equipment, Otherwise, you could have three different sets of equipment, Canning said. Illuminations allows wireless companies to be able to expand their service within the city but also with infrastructure that can be created to look like just about anything. They can put it up so its disguised. It could look like a tree, a decorative lamp post, or artwork, Canning said. The company currently has a pilot program in Miami for public surveillance, but it wouldnt make sense to put those kinds of cameras in Napa Valley. What makes sense here are fire and earthquake warning systems, Canning said. The company is owned by Jorge Hernandez, a former Calistoga resident, now in St. Helena, and originally from Guatemala. Hernandez prefers to remain quiet and discreet, but the family is very philanthropic, Canning said. They were also displaced by the 2017 wildfires, but fortunately did not lose their home. Tenure at the Chamber Canning has been nothing if not a cheerleader for Calistogas business climate. Im a positive person, I get accused of being the cheerleader. But if youre not out there exhibiting, encouraging, and drawing out that energy, its far easier to just slide into a lull, and woe is me attitude, versus lets fire it up, lets go. Youve got to do that at every level, at every opportunity, he said. Ive seen a change in the communitys attitude, how we view ourselves and how others view us. Were there now. When Canning joined the chamber in 2010, it, like the city, was in bad shape both financially and spiritually. The chamber also had a tough relationship with the city, and the board had a challenging financial and staffing situation. To prove himself and his intentions, Canning worked for the chamber pro bono the first couple of months. There was nothing illegal, but one of the first things I did was audit for financial management practices. And there wasnt a lot of energy there. Weve changed that now. We are the destination, Canning said. We dont market to the masses. Marketing is targeted to a specific type of bank account, regardless of ethnicity, religion, color or gender. Thats what weve done since we were founded. We dont want just more people here. We want more of the right people with disposable income. One of the biggest successes for Calistoga is the rising popularity of the Lighted Tractor Parade. Its made Conde Nasts top ten holiday events in the world, and is the single busiest bar and restaurant night in town. In the town of 5,000, last year, 16,000 spectators turned out to watch the parade. We dont even advertise anymore. Were afraid to. Were concerned, where do we put all these people? Canning said. Canning has also served on various boards up and down the Valley, and at the Sonoma County Airport, trying to build relationships, said Charlene Peters, marketing and communications director of the chamber. He is always immersed in the towns culture and an advocate for businesses, Peters said. As for the chamber itself, Canning built an autonomous team that could work on their own. He left us in good shape, Peters said. Overall, since he started with the chamber, the community as a whole is a little more proud of itself. We certainly hold our own against Yountville (which derives the majority of its revenue from TOT taxes), and we hold our own to Napa, Canning said. Mayor and Chamber CEO Canning likes to stay busy. But in wearing both hats as head of the chamber and as mayor, sometimes those roles collided. In 2013, Canning was fined $3,000 by a state regulatory agency for violating conflict of interest rules when he participated in voting, as mayor, on new resort developments. The ruling of the Fair Political Practices Commission concluded that because the developments could result in an increase of dues collected by the chamber, Canning could financially benefit from the growth. Now that Canning has departed, the chamber will figure out a more clearly demarked role for the new executive director, Troy Campbell, which will give the chamber a little more stability, Peters said. For the last eight years, Campbell ran Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco, with 15 million visitors a year. He was also one of 74 applicants for the job. Troy should do very well and hes well supported by a great team, Canning said. He has a great background and a good-spirited energy. Meanwhile, its a good time to leave, Canning says. The chambers financial situation has improved, as has the relationship with the city. They also have a great board of directors and a great staff, he said. Its a pretty special place. The enthusiasm for the town has rocketed, by people that live here, by people elsewhere in the valley, and by people who want to visit, Canning said. He also abides by Moms first rule leave the place better than you found it. You can reach Cynthia Sweeney at csweeney@weeklycalistogan.com or 942-4035. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mayor Alan Galbraith conceded the election Monday to challenger Geoff Ellsworth after the latest election count showed Ellsworth leading by 41 votes. Ellsworth has 1,275 votes (50.82 percent) and Galbraith has 1,234 votes (49.18 percent), according to Mondays vote tally, which includes 95 percent of the ballots cast in the St. Helena mayoral race. Based on the latest results, Mr. Ellsworth is our new mayor, Galbraith said in a statement released late Monday. I compliment him on an effective campaign. I wish him, the Council, and the City well as they face the many challenges ahead. I most enjoyed my four years as mayor. I now look forward to observing City affairs from the sidelines. No more St. Helena results will be released until the election is certified the week of Nov. 26. At midday on Tuesday, Ellsworth released the following statement: "I want to thank Mayor Galbraith for his service to St. Helena and also welcome Anna Chouteau to the City Council. Working with the City Manager and staff over the last two years, this council created a solid work program that is focused on many important issues -- such as downtown revitalization, housing, water, SHAPE, quality of life, and city finances. I look forward to continued collaboration with my fellow Council members and the full engagement of the community as we work to understand, evaluate and act on the many opportunities ahead for our wonderful town. "Thank you to my supporters and campaign volunteers. It was a long campaign, and my hope now is that the entire community will come together to bring out the best in our city. I'm very optimistic about the future of St. Helena." With Ellsworth as mayor, the council has the choice of appointing someone to fill his council seat or calling a special election. Galbraiths concession statement continued, I wish to thank the many enthusiastic supporters of my campaign: Napa County political leaders (Congressman Mike Thompson, all Supervisors, and especially all mayors, a most exceptional group), my informal brain trust (Kim Phinney, Tracy Sweeney, and Wayne Armstrong), treasurer Howard Walker, consultants Jim Scott and Rob Muelrath, the editorial board of the St. Helena Star for its strong endorsement, the financial contributors to my campaign, and the many residents who lent their names in support of my candidacy. My last word: City revenues are inadequate to support what we as a community wish of our City. We cannot equivocate on this point. We need to coalesce around a solution. Above all, we have an unsafe City Hall. The highest priority is its replacement. In the uncontested election for two City Council seats, Anna Chouteau has 1,693 votes and incumbent Paul Dohring has 1,541 votes. Measure E, which would increase St. Helenas hotel tax by 1 percent to raise money for housing, is passing with 2,031 yes votes (80.63 percent) and 488 no votes (19.37 percent). It needs a two-thirds supermajority (66.6 percent) to pass. Sandy Jones, the longtime park ranger who became a passionate advocate for the Bale Grist Mill and Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, died Nov. 11 of breast cancer at the age of 56. Colleagues and fellow parks supporters say Jones was instrumental in restoring the mill, developing programs and fundraisers, and overseeing the parks transition from state to local control. Everything really bloomed under Sandys care, said Jeanne Marioni, who worked closely with her. Her leadership came from the top. Nobody worked harder than her. Jones developed an interest in parks while attending San Jose State University. She earned a degree in parks and recreation and spent 30 years as a state park ranger, working in Carlsbad, Half Moon Bay, Bodega Bay and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park before transferring to the Napa Valley around 2003. Friends say her greatest passion was the 19th century Bale Grist Mill. Celebrating its history became one of the great joys of her life, and in the mid-2000s she guided the restoration of the mill, including the complex sifting apparatus upstairs. She brought the mill back to what it was in 1860, said Tyler Beach, who moved to Bothe as a seasonal lifeguard and later joined the staff. They installed elevators for the grist, cleaners for the corn and the wheat, and a bolter that sifted the milled flour into different grades, Beach said. That all ran off an upstairs gear that hadnt been in operation for 140 years or so. She got it all restored, she got all the grant money for it, and she really put her heart and soul into making sure that huge project got done. More than a job Jones developed a miller training program, expanded tours for students, raised money to maintain the mill, and either created or revitalized events that became annual traditions, including the Harvest Dinner, Old Mill Days, Pancake Breakfast, Winter Dinner and Pioneer Christmas. Even as she neared the end of her fight with breast cancer, Jones worked from bed to organize the first Fiesta en el Bolino Bale, a free event geared toward Latinos. Health problems had prevented her from attending the Harvest Dinner on Sept. 8, but she attended the Fiesta a week later with the help of a motorized wheelchair. Back when Michael Fradelizio was running the Silverado Brewing Company, he dropped by the Bale Grist Mill and was greeted by Jones. She mentioned the mill needed money for roof repairs, so Fradelizio offered to cook for a fundraiser. The event, which became known as the first annual Harvest Dinner, drew 120 people and raised about $12,000. Fradelizio has been cooking to support the mill ever since, and Jones talked him into joining the board of the Napa Valley State Parks Association (NVSPA). She helped shake off the dust of the Bale Mill, not only restoring it but celebrating it, Fradelizio said. It was more than a job to her. Today the mill embodies Jones vision as a meeting place to draw people together from all walks of life, Fradelizio said. Ranger Sandy As a ranger, friends say Jones was an outstanding ambassador for the parks who shared her enthusiasm with visitors. She got to know all the campers who would come back here year after year, Beach said. She got to know their families and watch their kids grow up. They all loved Ranger Sandy. She developed or expanded programs like Bothes Junior Rangers, summer camp and outdoor education. During her tenure, yurts and cabins were built to accommodate campers, the Pioneer Cemetery was restored, the old visitor center was repaired and opened for expanded hours, and the Bothe pool was repaired and developed into a popular family destination. She was passionate about outdoor education and getting kids involved, said Jessica Ardizzone, a park staff member who worked with Jones for almost 10 years. She would go into classrooms and talk to students and parks and the outdoors. That really helped our program grow. At Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, Jones served as a ranger, lived at the abandoned town of Silverado, and arranged the installation of new signs this year. Heart and soul By the time the state handed over control of the two parks, Jones was the only ranger assigned to Bothe, the mill and Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. Jones was a pivotal player who kept the parks on track during that transitional period, said Pete McGee, vice president of the NVSPA. She was always the personable side of the bureaucratic machine that kept the parks running, McGee said. Kathy Carrick, president of the NVSPA, said Jones was always her go-to person when the association wanted to coordinate with the Napa County Regional Park & Open Space District, which contracted with the state for Jones services late in her career. She did so much, and we have a huge learning curve that we need to overcome with her gone, Carrick said. She was the heart and soul of Bale Mill and Bothe. Colleagues also praised her ability to rally volunteers and staff to accomplish goals. She made it easy to want to work hard for her, Beach said. A lot of the employees have been here for a long time, and I think its because of Sandys attitude and Sandys approach to management. She was the best boss Ive ever had, and theres going to be a big void here at the park without her. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. John Bakers favorite Scouting adventures were either backpacking in the Sierras, on the Lost Coast or earning his Scuba certification on Catalina Island. On Oct. 28, he was honored with a Court of Honor after earning 38 merit badges to reach the rank of Eagle Scout in St. Helenas Troop One. Troop One Scoutmaster Jon Dodge said 71 local Boy Scouts have earned the Eagle rank since the troop was formed in 1920. In the entire BSA organization, the first Eagle Scout rank was awarded in 1912, and since then 2.4 million scouts have attained the Eagle Scout rank, according to the meritbadgeknot.com. During a recent interview following his Court of Honor, Baker said hes been in scouting for six-and-a-half years and earning the rank of Eagle has been a very long process but a very valuable one as well. Baker said scouting teaches boys the scout law, which lists key and core values. He quickly rattled them off: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Baker added, Over the years I have learned them and know how it is to live by them. I know when Im living by them and I know when Im not. He added, Its not so much getting the Eagle Scout rank that really matters, its learning the values of scouting and being able to give back to scouting and to the community in a daily life. Bakers Eagle Court of Honor was held in the Odd Fellows Hall and arranged by his parents, Jerry and Emily Baker. They did a fantastic job, their son said. Jerry added, We invited all of the people who touched his scouting career, all of the people that were important in the accomplishments and development along the way. Plus his friendship circle and our immediate families. Two of those attending were Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and District 3 Supervisor Diane Dillon, both St. Helena residents. The Bakers have lived in the Upvalley area since 1990 and have lived in St. Helena for the past five years. Jerry has spent his career working for many of the major wineries up and down the valley. Not an easy task The new Eagle Scout said reaching the highest rank is not an easy task by any means and added hes worked a long time to achieve it. Baker said he hopes his accomplishment might inspire other scouts to become Eagle Scouts, to stick through the ups and downs of scouting. Earning the required 21 merit badges there are some 135 total that can be earned takes time and planning. Baker said some, like personal fitness, took him six weeks, because there are tests done at both the beginning and the end of the period, while others, like swimming, he was able to accomplish in one week at summer camp. There are some badges that take months, while others you can earn in 15 minutes, Baker added. Traditionally, only 4 percent of all scouts attain Eagle rank, although in 2014 the last year figures are available 6 percent of all scouts were named Eagles. Still, its pretty rare. Even rarer is a scout who earns all 135 merit badges. Since the Boy Scouts of America began in 1910, only 388 Scouts have earned all of the merit badges available, according to meritbadgeknot.com. In Troop One, the last Scout to earn the Eagle rank was Glen Williams, about three years ago, Dodge said; and the next Scout to achieve the rank will be George Conwell. Eagle Scout project Beyond merit badges, a scout has to plan, design and complete an Eagle project. Bakers project was building three benches and a shade structure on the 1.3-mile Sam the Eagle trail in Moore Creek Park, off Sage Canyon Road, near Lake Hennessey. Imagine three really hot days in the middle of June. Baker is directing a dozen people who are using iron bars to dig holes three feet deep for the welded shade structure. After the holes were dug, they anchored it and the benches in concrete. One bench was placed at the beginning of the trail, the second at the end of the trail and the third next to the shade structure in the middle of the trail. Trucks were used to transport all of the materials, tools, benches and shade structure, which had to be carried in by hand. Half of the people Baker was directing were scouts. The other half were parents and friends. Jerry Baker was there all three days, taking photographs to document the work. I was not allowed to do any of the work, because an Eagle project is how well you plan, execute and lead a group through a project like this. It is not so much can you do something for your community, Baker said. The Eagle project is a test of your leadership skills and style and a way for you to assess what you did right and what you did wrong. Although the installation took three days, the planning took some nine months, from August 2017 to May 2018, when Baker worked with an architect, a soil engineer, and a geotech to design the project. Part of the delay, however, was because of the horrific Northern California wildfires, when those people were just too busy to help. His father estimated the project was delayed three or four months. After Baker got the designs approved, he sourced all the materials, most of which were donated. He sought and received funds from the Rotary Club of St. Helena to pay for concrete and steel for the shade structure. Then he contacted and worked with Carl Shellhorn, owner of Carls Welding & Repair Service, to get the shade structure welded together. He was very easy to work with and he donated materials as well, Baker said. After those three hot days in June, after everything was set in place and the concrete had dried, Baker had more paperwork to do, which was basically just an evaluation of himself, he said. Jerry Baker said his sons Eagle project was advanced and something special. We like to have our boys earning the Eagle Scout rank to have really earned it, he said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I was looking the future of food in the eye. Or, rather it was looking at me: goggles in a big, box-like headset, along with a set of earphones and a cursor; these were all accompaniments for a food tasting at the CIA at Copias annual conference, reThink Food. We were going to experience a virtual reality dining experience. Over three days at the CIA, Nov. 7-9, we got a glimpse of projects from around the world that are examining, directing and changing what and how we will eat in the future. We heard about research at MIT, UC Davis and Stanford; we were served by robotic waiters carrying desserts on their flat-tray heads at reception hosted by Google. Established, giant food companies described their mad dash to catch up with fast-moving entrepreneurs. One corporation had even rented an unheated warehouse for employees to try to recreate the innovative spirit and come up with cool artisan pizza. A speaker called it, Teaching Goliath to Use a Slingshot. Whereas the big guys motivation might be not to lose out on profits, there are also an inspiring number of people spearheading international collaborations to figure out how to feed, not just the wealthy few, but everyone well, and preserve the home planet, too. Among them is Sarah Roversi, the founder of the Future Food Institute, an Italian-based nonprofit, with global horizons that aims to build a more equitable world. The website notes, Food is a global language and a driver for global economic prosperity. Food is also a catalyst for change, and food players are often pioneers that are responsible for more than just the bottom line; their choices can have tremendous impacts on human health and world sustainability. Roversi asks, So how do we face the urgent issues of creating a more sustainable future of food while understanding technologys role in closing the gaps in our food system? The key is knowledge and education, the cornerstone of innovation. The headset and earphones were part of a seminar titled Using Virtual Reality to Enhance Dining Experiences. This was a thoughtful presentation by Jenny Dorsey, a chef and founder of Studio ATAO, who is exploring ways to share her own journey as an an Asian-American chef. She has created animated, virtual reality videos to accompany a six-course meal. To view the videos required donning a headset that looked like something youd wear if you were a Navy SEAL on a top-secret rescue mission. Over this, we attached earphones, and only once these were in place did I realize I was, thus, unable to see to locate the cursor that was necessary for the whole show. Trying to peak under the headset caused the whole contraption to spring off my head, and it was back to step one. I am sure a Navy SEAL would have gotten to the presentation much faster. Once successfully assembled, the headset began to unfold a poetic, animated story about the dish we were going to eat. But then oh no! the images started sliding off the screen, disappearing to the right. I took the equipment off again to ask if I were doing something wrong with the cursor. No, it turned out that the video was unfolding in a 360-degree circle, and we were supposed to spin our chairs to see it all; and this was another challenge for those not-so-adept at managing life with a box on the head. Finally, it was time to taste the dish. But first we had to take all the equipment because, as chef Dorsey admitted, they werent confident that people would be able to combine virtual reality with the real thing and find the food, let alone navigate it up their mouths. Surely, a wise decision. After all the build-up, the spinning in chairs and blindly flailing about with cursors, eating the noodles, served in a jar, was a bit of an anti-climax. We tried three of the six courses in this fashion, and while it was an interesting adventure, I had to wonder: what if the chef had just told us the stories in the old-fashioned story-teller way? The final day of the conference was devoted to robots and the role they will play in the future of food. Two films were particularly memorable. In one animated sequence, a man was in a room furnished with a dining table and a long, smooth, completely plain bar. He instructed the bar: There will be two additional guests for dinner. It opened up magically, and all sorts of tools began to cook, peeling potatoes, basting a fowl and cooking a soup with a heated whisk. Guests arrived and sat down at the table. A little robot sprang out of the multi-talented bar and darted about serving drinks. The man presided over the arrival of the dishes: Most prominent was a turkey on a platter; and a strange, futuristic moment evoked Norman Rockwell: It was a Thanksgiving dinner. The man did carve the turkey himself. Lest anyone in the process of getting ready for Thursdays feast contemplate this vision of Thanksgiving wistfully, I should mention that the presenter of this film emphasized that this was just a fantasy, still far from reality. The real state of robots was demonstrated by a video from Carnegie-Mellon University, a leader in robot research. It showed todays human-style robots experiencing difficulties. No C-3PO here. They crashed about, falling forwards, sideways and backwards. They tripped over nothing, fell down stairs, and one, when handed a drill, keeled over and dropped it on itself. One could only think, thank goodness no one was trying to make the poor robots put on headsets and earphones at the same time. Yet from this fascinating, far-reaching look at the future, came a surprisingly optimistic sense that a great many brilliant people are really trying to figure out how to feed 10 billion people and still preserve our little blue and green planet. Meanwhile, we still have to peel our own potatoes and baste our own Thanksgiving turkey. Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Fire officials say two men were arrested on suspicion of burglarizing a fire station during a wildfire that decimated a Northern California town. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Monday Robert DePalma and William Erlbacher were arrested on suspicion of looting, stealing a vehicle and being in possession of stolen property. The department says the Concow men were booked into Butte County Jail on $250,000 bail. No information on attorneys for the men was available. The blaze that started on Nov. 8 leveled the town of Paradise and heavily damaged the communities of Magalia and Concow. The fire continued to burn Monday in steep, rugged terrain in the Plumas National Forest. Last week, authorities arrested five men and a woman six suspected of looting evacuated homes. In this high-tech Age of Instant, Napa Countys elections can still provide a touch of drawn-out drama. The Election Division as of Monday morning had released five updates for the Nov. 6 election, with a six and seventh due by Tuesday evening. At that point, about 95 percent of the vote should be counted and no more results will be available until certification, officials said. Virtually every race has been decided either mathematically or by any reasonable measure of probability. One exception is the tight St. Helena mayor race, which might have to wait for the final count at certification for a victor to be declared. County Registrar of Voters John Tuteur said he has until Dec. 6 to certify the election, and he expects to finish ahead of that deadline, possibly during the week of Nov. 26. California doesnt rush things like some other states youre hearing about in the news, Tuteur said. The reason for that is: 1. accuracy and 2. to make certain every vote counts. Napa Countys elections depend on paper ballots returned to the county by mail or by voters at drop boxes and vote centers. This hack-proof communications method means the county cant arrive at a final tally on election night with the mere push of a button. Workers, not robots, make certain the signature on each vote-by-mail ballot envelop matches the voters registration signature. Tuteur called signature-checking the measure of the elections integrity. Then the votes must be counted using a scanner. Tuteur portrayed the effort as trying to do a good job, not a rush job. Theres a limit as to what you can ask people to do before they start to crack and you get mistakes and signatures arent checked right, Tuteur told the Napa County Board of Supervisors last week. At 8:01 p.m. election night, the county released the results of 21,732 ballots that had been received by or during the prior weekend. That left about 35,000 to be counted. Tuteur said more people are waiting until the Election Day deadline to turn their ballots in. All of this assures that election results come in post-Election Day dribs and drabs of updates. There are larger counties that have been able to produce better results, county Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza told Tuteur at the Nov. 13 Board meeting. Is there something we can do to support you in being able to provide bigger vote counts in the subsequent reports? As it turns out, there is a technological fix. Tuteur mentioned a quarter-million-dollar machine that can do the signature checking. But the Election Division has no room for this large machine. Also, Tuteur said, the temporary employees who check signatures can also help voters with questions on Election Day, something a machine cant do. The gain by using the quarter-million-dollar machine would be days in reporting results, not weeks, Tuteur said. Of course, another option would be to hire more people to check signatures and count votes. But, Tuteur said, there are limits to how many people can fit into the Election Divisions downtown offices. Theres no room to hire more people, Tuteur said. We have to keep the ballots under our secure control. They cant leave our office. They cant be shipped across town to some big rental space to be counted. Sonoma County has an older ballot system, Tuteur said. Unlike Napa County, Sonoma cant provide updates between the election night count and the final, certified count. Also, many of the larger counties with faster election update reports still have polling places, Tuteur said. They dont have to deal with the same percentage of vote-by-mail ballots as Napa County, which is all vote-by-mail. Tuteur said hes happy to talk to the Board of Supervisors about how Napa County can provide faster election results. Its not a quick fix, he said. It gets to the very basis of how were organized and where we are located. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A new guidebook for signs in Napa may allow some businesses to put up their branding a little larger. The citys first new sign ordinance in nearly a quarter century would replace strict rules on letter height and the percentage of a facade that may be covered with a new standard based on the width of a storefront. The revision is meant to prevent businesses from being stuck with obviously undersized lettering that may be harder to see, according to city planning staff. The Planning Commission on Thursday signed off on the new rule package, which would replace a sign ordinance from 1994. A favorable City Council vote would put the updated standards into law. Changing the way Napa calculates a stores largest allowable sign area should prevent merchants in larger spaces from being at a disadvantage compared those in small storefronts, where current rules could allow most of the frontage to be covered, according to senior planner Michael Walker. Under the existing ordinance, overhead storefront signs are limited to 10 percent of the front-facing area with letters no more than 24 inches high. Two businesses at Napa Crossing South at Soscol and Kansas avenues illustrate the conundrum created by those rules, he told the commission. Branding for Michaels, a craft-store chain in one of the shopping centers largest spaces, is squeezed into the center of a vast stretch of corrugated metal between roof and windows. On the opposite side of the parking lot, the modest rectangular logo of Mod Pizza covers just 16 square feet but could have occupied 66 square feet under city law. The revised design rule would tie an outdoor store signs maximum area to the linear width of the storefront for example, up to 40 square feet of signage for a 40-foot-wide space and eliminate the letter-height limit to permit signs in better proportion to their businesses, said Walker. On taller and high-profile structures, the new sign code will encourage more use of the type of vertical lettering used at Archer Hotel Napa, which opened on First Street downtown in 2017. Top-to-bottom signage will be allowed on buildings of three or more stories if the characters are placed on an architectural element of the structure. The overhauled sign rules would not revoke or change existing permits, and other prohibitions would remain, such as a city ban on A-frame displays outside shops. Elsewhere, the rewritten ordinance is meant to make it easier to parse the signage rules for different situations. Allowed uses are organized into one table based on zoning and whether a business is freestanding or part of a shopping center, and the code sets down permitted sign types and standards based on land uses. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Provinces get their Police Act together Internal affairs ministers of all seven provinces will meet next week in Butwal to pressure the federal government and devolve full authority to them to mobilise police forces. As the Camp Fire burns in Butte County, public attention is transfixed on the risk many Californians face when it comes to wildfires. Thousands of people who live in the so-called wildland-urban interface -- the border between rural areas and cities -- have been affected in recent years as the same scenario plays out with stunning familiarity. Regulators sought solutions for this problem once before and in 2014 began requiring utility companies to report when there is a fire incident on one of their power lines. Over a four-year period, there have been 2,009 such incidents reported -- many of them small. The data, obtained from the California Public Utilities Commission, show that PG&E experiences significantly more fire incidents than other large utilities in the state. One reason could be the nature of its service area which includes many of the state's rural counties in the north. But the frequency is still stark when compared to others, including Southern California Edison which serves a customer base similar in size to PG&E's. The suspected cause of the Camp Fire is a power line owned by Pacific Gas & Electric, a fact that has hurled the San Francisco-based utility into another crisis related to damaging wildfires. Fire investigators have found the company's infrastructure at fault for some of California's worst fires in that last three years. The ignition that started the 151,000-acre Camp Fire -- now the deadliest blaze in state history -- was outside the small town of Paradise. The cause is still under investigation, but PG&E is girding itself for a wave of lawsuits from those affected. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. YUBA CITY -- The main exhibit hall at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds here has become the home of last resort for 68 people who fled the fires that swept through a broad swath of forest and hill towns nearby. And some days, an ambulance shows up. A team of paramedics, wearing protective masks and disposable yellow plastic aprons, wheeled a sick man out of the exhibit hall Monday on a stretcher, another victim of the bitter repercussions of mass displacement that the Camp Fire has created. The outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea has carried on for days. "On average, about one a day goes to the hospital," said Bob Christensen, 77, smoking a cigarette outside the exhibit hall and watching a cleanup crew with mops and buckets begin wiping down the metal door handles with a powerful chemical disinfectant. Ethia Carter, who arrived with the Red Cross from southern Florida, is on her second day running the facility after her predecessor got sick. "We have four in isolation," she said, indicating an infirmary set up behind blue curtains on one side of the yawning hall, stacked with bottles of fresh water and other supplies. The most devastating fire in California history began in the Sierra foothills in the morning hours of Nov. 8, prompting a hectic evacuation that has left at least 52,000 people in hotels, relatives' homes, parking lots and makeshift shelters such as this one in Yuba City. More than 10 days later, those temporary accommodations are being overwhelmed by overcrowding and disease. As heavy rain moves into the area for the first time since the fire began, those living in tents face the threat of flooding, too. More than 120 people have been taken to hospitals in recent days with stomach ailments that resemble the symptoms of the norovirus, a highly contagious infection. The symptoms include severe vomiting and diarrhea and, like many such infections, fall hardest on children. Casey Hatcher, a Butte County, California, spokeswoman, said state and local authorities are trying to respond to the scale of the displacement. "People keep using the word unprecedented, and I keep looking for a different word, but I can't find one because it works so well," Hatcher said. "We have an entire community that is displaced." Emergency officials say 77 people are confirmed dead, and just under 1,000 are listed as unaccounted for, though that list might include duplicate names and people who have since been found by relatives. Four of the six emergency evacuation shelters are full, as those who have been camping outside in subfreezing nights begin to look for indoor shelter with rain in the forecast. Church and superstore parking lots have become tent cities, with portable toilets, hand-washing stations and Salvation Army food trucks helping to sustain them. "Now, the goal is to get people off the streets and out of their cars while we identify where they are going to live," Hatcher said. The Walmart parking lot in Chico, California, where scores of families have been living in tents, has begun to clear out amid forecasts of rain and rumors that services the retailer has been providing to evacuees - including toilets and hand-washing stations - will be pulled soon. Walmart spokeswoman Tiffany Wilson said the company will continue to provide services but added, "We realize our parking lots are not viable alternatives to longer-term temporary housing." The lot is a flood zone, said store manager DeMarcus Montgomery, ensuring the neighboring field will turn into a swamp in coming days. Local resident Rain Scher is working with a group of volunteers to bring in pallets to elevate tents and cots in light of the coming rain. She said she believes the tent city is more sanitary than the shelters. "We intend to support the needs of the people," said Scher, who added that those in crisis should have "agency and self-determination." The centers and camps are used primarily by those without the resources - or home insurance plans - to cover extended hotel stays. But those accommodations would be hard to come by anyway with most hotels filled across a 175-mile span from Redding to Sacramento, California. "They were booked as soon as the fire broke out," said Carolyn Denero, executive director of Explore Butte County, which promotes tourism in the region. "We'll have properties where a room will suddenly come open for a night, but even those are taken right away. And this really extends at least until the end of November." The options are limited for those living in the makeshift shelters and will be for some time. No one has been allowed back into their devastated towns, so they have little sense of what awaits them there and how plausible returning and rebuilding really is. Nearly 12,000 homes have been destroyed. The result is that tens of thousands of Californians are facing months, if not longer, without permanent housing options in a region that borders some of the most expensive in the nation. Chris and Tanya Kennedy are on their second temporary home since the fire drove their family from their house in Paradise, California. They first fled with their 6- and 4-year-old children to a shelter in Oroville. But when the fire also threatened that facility, they moved to the fairgrounds, where they're now threatened by illness. "We are washing our hands and everything," Tanya Kennedy said. The buildings where Chris and Tanya worked - as a manger of a storage facility and as a housekeeper - burned down. But they want to remain close by. Their top priority, they say, is to provide some continuity for the children, and they are hoping their school will reopen a temporary campus in either Chico or Oroville. "It's just a lot of waiting," Tanya said. Martha Pichotta, 65, who has been in this shelter with her son and caregiver since the day of the fire, hoped to leave Monday for a motel in Quincey, a town northeast of here, that was arranged by FEMA. The cots have been small and cramped, especially for her son. She is hoping to get at least $6,000 for the trailer she owned in Paradise to supplement her $900 monthly income from social security. Her son, she says, will have to get a part-time job to make ends meet. "We've made so many friends here," Pichotta said. "We're all in it together." As of Sunday night, FEMA had determined that 1,315 families are eligible for some form of assistance. But David Passey, a FEMA spokesman, said the availability of hotel rooms will remain slim, even after firefighters leave the area. The fire is 60 percent contained. Passey said FEMA will be working with those who are underinsured or uninsured to find short-term and midterm housing options, including the possible use of hotels and motels. But within 50 miles of Paradise, there are just nine hotels that have registered to participate in FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, and as Passey noted, "participation does not equal availability." "One of the challenges we will have in northern California, and it was the same challenge we had in northwest Florida after Hurricane Michael, is the limited supply of rooms," Passey said. "We are eager for more to join, but that is really each hotel's choice." Nicole Wharton, 41, lived on the outskirts of Paradise, making the family's escape from their subsidized housing relatively easy, even with a gas tank on empty. Once safe, the single mother of four realized the family would have to split up. Nicole slept several nights in a car until she set up camp in a field by the Walmart in Chico. Jessica, 17, took 3-year-old Alexa to stay with her boyfriend's family. And Jacquelyn, Jessica's twin, went to stay with a half brother and then her high school English teacher. "I just want my family back together," Nicole said, blinking back tears. Now living in a tent, Nicole was trying to make a medical appointment for Jacquelyn, with the doctor's office in ashes. She is trying to locate Alexa's car seat. She is trying to figure out, above all else, where the family will be able to live together. "I'm looking for a house," she said. "I don't want to live in some crevice. The girls are grown women. They won't want that." She hopes her teenage daughters will go Thursday to an uncle's house for what she believes could be their great-grandmother's last Thanksgiving. But more immediately, she wants to shop for Alexa, still dressed in pajamas as she clutched her mother's hand during a visit before heading back with Jessica. "I want to buy her an outfit, walk in the store. . . . I don't know, perhaps go to the park," she said. "I'm her mother. Just being with her is what I want." Craig and Wilson reported from Washington, D.C. Ever since the 2010 passage of Proposition 14, Libertarians and members of other small but sometimes significant California political parties have griped about the lack of choices presented to voters in the states biennial November general elections. Advocates of the Top Two primary election system set up by that eight-year-old initiative respond that it actually does provide runoff election choices, even if theyre often between different wings of the same political party. Voters had just such a choice this fall in the contest between longtime incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and former state Senate President Kevin de Leon. Feinstein represented moderate Democrats, de Leon the partys more extreme leftist Young Turks. This race ended up tossing a monkey wrench into Top Two, the first time the system has not worked as planned. Top Two, known to some as the jungle primary, puts the two leading vote-getters in California primaries into the finals, regardless of political party. The major parties despise this system because it cuts their organizational influence, as it did last spring when the states Democratic Party apparatus leaned to de Leon, but 70 percent of Democratic primary voters went instead for Feinstein. Top Two supporters enjoyed the fact that their rules reduced party influence. They dont mind that dozens of district elections for Congress and the Legislature have been one-party affairs since 2010, some involving two Democrats and others matching two Republicans, depending on which major party was dominant in any particular district. They have rejoiced in the fact that voters of the minority party, whose smaller numbers previously gave them little or no voice in district elections and a few statewide races, could moderate the way their representatives behaved once in office in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. But then came the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh, where Feinstein played a key role in getting #MeToo movement-style complaints about Kavanaughs alleged sexual misbehavior as a young man before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she is the ranking Democrat. Feinsteins role infuriated many Republicans, who saw the claims about Kavanaugh as trumped-up falsehoods. Rather than going for the more moderate Feinstein, who beat de Leon by a margin of more than 3-1 in the primary, Republicans by a margin of about 2-1 voted for de Leon. This was a real head-scratcher, as de Leon during the campaign often blasted Feinstein for her friendliness with some Republicans. De Leon is also the prime author of Californias sanctuary state law and his stances on everything from health care to climate change run diametrically counter to standard GOP positions. Still, many Republicans came to detest Feinstein last fall, and decided to vote for anyone over her. De Leon became their only possible fallback, allowing him to improve greatly on his primary performance, losing by an eventual margin of only about 9 percent. Their sentiments were expressed by the editor of one small Central Valley newspaper, who wrote in his pre-election endorsements column, where he also blasted Democrats for their often stupid ideas: Vote for Kevin de Leon. Incumbent Dianne Feinstein embarrassed herself and California by carrying the water on the phony and vicious campaign againstKavanaugh. Her days in the Senate should be brought to a close. That did not happen, but GOP voters became strange bedfellows for the Democratic left and gave Feinstein some anxious moments. Had de Leon won, he would have voted consistently for six years against almost everything favored by the Republican voters who so avidly helped him out. Thats not how former GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his fellow Republican sidekick, ex-Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado, planned it when they helped create Top Two. Under their predicted scenario, the ultra-conservative voters who backed de Leon this fall were supposed to vote for the more moderate Feinstein. If they were being rational, they would have done that. But they were governed by emotion, as many voters often are. So GOP-dominated counties like Shasta, Butte, Madera and Merced went big for de Leon. If more monkey wrenches like this ever get tossed into Top Two, theres a chance the same voters who opted into it will someday opt out. Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column. He is author of the book, The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It. Political scientists like to talk about the differences between being the head of state and the head of government. We are nerds like that. Crudely put, the head of state acts as the symbolic representative of the sovereign nation, while the head of government oversees the bureaucracy and decides on public policy. The head of state is the more ceremonial role of the two. In many countries, these roles are split. In Great Britain, for example, the head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, while Prime Minister Theresa May is the head of government. These roles can also be split in non-monarchical governments. Both Germany and Israel, for example, have presidents who function as the head of state, and prime ministers who run the country as head of government. In the United States, the two roles are fused into one office, the presidency. Which means that right now Donald Trump is both head of state and head of government. When Trump was about to start his term of office as president, I had a deep sense of foreboding about how well he would do as the head of government. He has mostly lived down to my expectations. I suppose I should be grateful that his incompetence has sabotaged his more destructive policy efforts, but still, the midterm results mean he will face more formidable checks and balances than before. But I expected Trump to do a better job as head of state. Being head of state requires a lot of pomp and circumstance and grandeur, qualities that would seem to fit a man fond of gold leaf. During the campaign it was clear that Trump enjoyed the pageantry of the presidency: the thought of riding Air Force One, and so forth. If there was any dimension of the presidency that Trump would embrace, I thought, it would be its symbolic moments. So it is noteworthy that it is in his role as head of state that Trump has flailed the most. It has been so bad that Trump did something this past week he seldom does; he copped to making a mistake: "President Trump on not going to Arlington Cemetery: 'I should have done that. I was extremely busy on calls for the country, we did a lot of calling, as you know...I probably in retrospect I should have and I did last year and I will virtually every year,' " "Fox News Sunday" tweeted Nov. 18 after an interview. First, Trump did not go to Arlington National Cemetery in 2017 because he was on his Pacific Rim tour. Second, this highlights the difficulties Trump has had in interactions with the military. He did not just pass on Arlington; he bailed on joining German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron at a wreath-laying ceremony during his misbegotten Paris trip. He has also failed to visit troops in war zones such as Iraq or Afghanistan. It is not just Trump's ceremonial interactions with the military that are awkward. Other symbolic tasks seem beyond him. In the past week alone, there was this lulu of a tweet when he visited California to survey the fire damage there: "You gotta take care of the floors. You know the floors of the forest, very important... I was with the President of Finland... he called it a forest nation and they spent a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don't have any problem." This has prompted much mockery in Finland. Then, during the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House, Trump ad-libbed his way into further mockery: He tripped over Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's name, and and seemed to commend the sex life of the late Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia, listing his nine children and telling his widow, "You were very busy. Wow. ... I always knew I liked him." It did not take long to find these examples, and I have barely scratched the surface. I did not even get into Trump's disregard for the SEAL commander who helped orchestrate the killing of Osama bin Laden. There is just no getting around it: Trump is a God-awful head of state. Why? I can think of three reasons - which, as it turns out, also help to explain why he's not that great as the head of government either. First, Trump is not an experienced politician. His supporters love this about him, but it also means that he is unprepared for the performative parts of the job. He has no idea how to read a speech with any conviction (you can always tell when he's winging it, because those are the only times when there is energy to his voice). He cannot for the life of him display any kind of empathy. He lacks the political instincts to realize that flying all the way to France to not attend an important ritual is a boneheaded move. These are essential traits to competently perform the rituals of a head of state, such as eulogies or commemorations. Trump lacks the muscle memory to do these things well. Second, Trump wants everything to be about himself, but playing the role of the head of state actually requires more sacrifice than this president can stomach. It means traveling long distances to attend lengthy ceremonies, sometimes in inclement weather. More than the logistics, being the head of state often means directing attention toward others: someone winning a prize, someone in mourning, and so forth. The head of state bestows recognition on others, but Trump only wants recognition directed at himself. The irony is that if he was better at this part of the job, he probably would earn some reflected glory. That kind of logic is beyond him, however. Finally, being a good head of state requires believing in something larger than one's self. The ideals that animate this country should stir the soul: a nation conceived in liberty, dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal, resolved that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth. Trump, however, believes in nothing beyond himself, and he cannot feign that belief. When he tries, he ends up going meta and joking about how corny it sounds. The qualities of a good head of state are not identical to being a good head of government, but there is a fair degree of overlap. Trump is a bad head of state because he is unschooled, soft and cannot conceive of a higher ideal. It helps to explain why he has blundered so much as the head of government. Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a regular contributor to PostEverything. He wrote this for The Washington Post. In a recent tussle between the White House and CNN, the losers are the American people, the free press and truth. In a press conference, Jim Acosta pushed the president to explain whether the move of U.S. troops to the southern border during midterm elections was a political attempt to raise fear with American voters. A caravan of Central American invaders appeared to offer no real threat to the U.S. in a Pentagon assessment. President Trump refused to answer the question even as Acosta persisted and then signaled a young female staffer to take the microphone away from him. Acosta at first refused to give up the mic until he had an answer. He said Excuse me to the young intern and persisted to hold the mic until he had an answer. It was obvious the president was not going to answer the question, so Acosta relinquished the microphone to the staffer. The president later suspended Acostas White House press credentials. Acosta works for CNN, which the president has constantly attacked as fake news. This president prefers softball questions from Fox News rather than answer tough questions from the real press. But here is where it gets interesting. After suspending Acostas White House press credentials, press secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders posted a doctored video that makes it appear Acosta aggressively laid his hand on the staffer; he didnt. We know this because there were other video cameras running during the press conference from different angles that show no such thing happened. The doctored version even removed Acostas Excuse me. The source for the video was InfoWars, the extreme far-right conspiracy website run by Alex Jones. It panders to those who like to blame easy targets and are incapable of doing real research on their own. InfoWars are the same people who claimed the U.S. government created the 9/11 attacks, Barack Obama was born in Kenya and not a U.S. citizen, the Sandy Hook school massacre never happened, condensation trails (chemtrails) from high-flying aircraft are biological mind control agents being dumped on our population, the claim that millions voted illegally in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, students at Stoneman Douglas High School were paid crisis actors, Chobani yogurt (whose owner is an immigrant from Turkey) was spreading disease and hiring migrant rapists (actually he has created over 7,000 jobs for American workers), and hardly last - Pizzagate, where Hillary Clinton was running a pedophilia ring out of Ping Pong Pizza in Washington, D.C. for members of the Democratic Party. All quite laughable until not very bright, gullible and hate-filled followers began making death threats against the parents of murdered children, Hillary Clinton, the owner of Ping Pong Pizza and many others. InfoWars and Alex Jones have now been forced to remove contentious material or been suspended or banned from various social media websites, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Apple. Long overdue. So the honorable press secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders who has consistently supported this president, and like him, has attacked the real press with the same baseless lies of fake news has shown the public that she is completely comfortable promoting lies and doctored videos to push the presidents agenda. Back in 2017, InfoWars received a White House press pass and in 2018 CNN has been booted out. Your nations democracy requires a free press to inform the public of the misuse of political power; it is being replaced with an authoritarian propaganda machine like that of the former Soviet Union and currently Putins Russia. How embarrassing it is to watch a U.S. president grovel to a former Russian KGB agent. I suspect our founding fathers are twisting in their graves. Ron Rogers Napa For both Republicans and Democrats, the tone of this election season has been fraught with strong language, charged speeches, and unbridled passion. This year in particular, the nature of the candidates political positions has generated hateful messages from politicians, supporters, and the media. Civil discourse has not been the norm. Comments about race, ethnicity, immigration, gender, integrity, and patriotism, have resonated throughout the country and into the hallways of schools and classrooms. Teachers in the United States use elections to impart valuable lessons to students about the electoral process, democracy, government and the responsibilities of citizenship. But the current national dialogue makes this curricular process difficult for students and teachers alike. The results of a 2016 online survey conducted by Teaching Tolerance suggest that election campaigning is having a profoundly negative effect on children and classrooms. Its producing an alarming level of fear and anxiety among children of color and inflaming racial and ethnic tensions in the classroom. Many students worry about being deported. Other students have been emboldened by the divisive, often juvenile rhetoric in the campaign. Nationally, teachers have noted an increase in bullying, harassment and intimidation of students whose races, religions, nationalities, sexual or gender identities have been the verbal targets of candidates on the campaign trail. At Blue Oak School, we are keenly aware of these tensions. We want to encourage an open and candid discussion of the national political dialogue, with all views represented. Free speech is an important aspect of our national heritage. That said, we will not allow mean-spirited or hateful language to taint this important dialogue. It is important that, as a community, we revisit these important tenets reflected in our core values: We bring learning to life. We teach the whole child. We build a community of learners and leaders. We develop culturally competent and socially conscious citizens who want to change the world. We engender a love of learning. We prepare students for the future. In A Letter From A Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated that: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectlyHistory has presented us with a cosmic challenge...we must now learn to live together as brothers or we will perish together as fools. Blue Oak School faculty and staff create classroom environments in which students can express their thoughts, ask questions, and take positions without risk. We ask them to use facts to defend their views, and require them to be sensitive to the feelings of others as equal members of our school community. We ask that you join us in this exercise in democracy. Daniel Schwartz is Head of School at the Blue Oak School in Napa. This commentary was originally distributed as a letter to the school community. The AOC-in C, Eastern Air Command of Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar was of the view that the infrastructural development done by the IAF in the Northeast is one of the best in the country and can boost tourism in the region. Nambiar said this during a media interaction in Guwahati on Monday. Also read: Kovind to present award to Indian Air Force Helicopter unit in Guwahati Nambiar interacted with the media over the proposed visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to present the coveted Presidents standard to 118 Helicopter Unit and colours to the Air Defence College at Guwahati Air Force Station on November 29 next. Detailing on the IAFs infrastructure development in the region, Nambiar said that the Force has operationalized six Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in Arunachal Pradesh. These facilities will be used by civilians. These ALGs include Mechuka, Tuting, Passighat, Ziro, Aalo and Walong. We are yet to operationalize the Vijaynagar ALG, for there is some road connectivity issue. Operationalization of these ALGs will come as a major boost to tourism. Regarding the Rafale fighter jets deal, Air Marshal Nambiar said that the image of IAF will not be dented due to the controversy. He also said the people can differentiate between chaff and grain. My fellow citizens can differentiate between chaff and grain. The place of armed forces in India is very sacred, he said. Notably, the opposition Congress has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in a debate over the details of the Rafale fighter jets deal signed with the French government. Armenian PM: Remains of Vano Siradeghyan will be transferred to Armenia soon Armenian PM: 40-45 square kilometer territories of Armenia under Azerbaijani control after Azerbaijan's May 12 attack Armenia premier says what the heaviest blow was during his term of office, adds that it's not the defeat in the war Armenia PM: I had planned to deliver a message on circumstances of war and negotiations on Nov. 9 PM: Armenia decides road through which communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan will be ensured Armenia PM: Karabakh conflict settlement and unblocking of communications shouldn't be discussed in '3+3' format Pashinyan fails to clearly state whether Armenia applied to Russia and CSTO in writing in regard to Nov. 16 attack Armenia PM: Azerbaijan is trying to turn the region into a jungle Pashinyan: Armenia and Azerbaijan recognized each other's territorial integrity when they acceded to CIS in 1991 Pashinyan: If government of Armenia was a giver, there wouldn't be shootings Armenia PM: 32 servicemen were captured on Nov. 16, according to unverified information PM: It's the first time that direct communication is established between Armenian and Azerbaijani defense ministers Armenian premier: Armenia will not give in to that policy of blackmail Armenia PM answers question about online meeting with Azerbaijani leader on Nov. 9 Armenia PM on upcoming meetings with Azerbaijan President in Brussels and Sochi Azerbaijani plane flies from Nakhchivan to Baku through Armenia's airspace (PHOTOS) Armenia PM is giving a press conference 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 In Yerevan, citizens block main streets to draw attention to the situation at the border El Salvador plans to build the world's first Bitcoin city Canadian portal publishes list of countries with strongest Air Force on Earth Japan announces self-destruction of COVID-19 delta strain Israel to sign solar energy agreement with Jordan in UAE Unleashing e-commerce Back in 2011, when I started Sastodeal.com with my friends, the word online was alien to the market and households. People laughed at the idea of buying and selling online. Merely 9 percent of Nepals population had access to the internet. This was also the time when the e-commerce giant Amazon US clocked in $48 billion in annual net sales. 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 https://news.am/eng/news/482008.html https://news.am/eng/news/481825.html ARMENIAS PASHINYAN TO BELARUS We are not setting a task of a change in the CSTO charter. We are asking: What does it mean the fact that you are selling weapons to a country that threatens to seize our capital city? And we will get the answer to that question, acting Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, stated the aforementioned at his press conference on Tuesday. He said this commenting on his recent battle of words with Belarus. Its written in the CSTO charter that they are politico-military allies, he said, in particular. We are not setting a task of a change in the charter; we are setting a task of a change in practice. We are saying its strange, at the least, that they [Belarus] tell the closed conversation to the adversary [Azerbaijan] of the country [Armenia] that is a party of the alliance [the CSTO], [and] which [Azerbaijan] announces that it will capture the capital city of Armenia. Are you selling the weapon [to them] so that they capture our capital city? And when asked about the Russian presidents position on the present-day situation at the CSTO, Pashinyan said: I consider the Russian Federations position to be very constructive. Earlier it was reported that Belarus and Azerbaijan were preparing a contract for the supply of the next batch of Belarusian military equipment. https://style.news.am/eng/news/54689/alexis-ohanians-new-brand-to-help-with-armenia-reforestation.html ALEXIS OHANIAN ABOUT HIS NEW BRAND Well-known American Armenian internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian recently introduced his new product: the Armenian brandy, Shakmat. Also, the co-founder of Reddit and Initialized Capital had noted that there were only 2,400 bottles in the first run of this product. Ohanian has now posted a photo on Instagram, and which was taken during his visit to Armenia this year. He had planted a tree at a park in capital city Yerevan, and he posted the respective photo on Instagram. Shakmat will not only be many peoples first taste of Armenia, but itll also help with the reforestation of Armenia, Alexis Ohanian commented, in particular, regarding this photo. https://news.am/eng/news/481933.html ARMENIA BALLET DANCER DIES Vahagn Margaryan, a dancer at the Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater in Armenias capital city of Yerevan, has died Tuesday morning at a Yerevan hospital. On November 6, two cars had collided on the Yerevan-Ashtarak motorway. As a result, the driver and four passengers of one of these vehicles had suffered injuries and were hospitalized. Vahagn Margaryan also was in this car, and among the injured. https://news.am/eng/news/481943.html https://news.am/eng/news/481836.html TONOYAN ARRIVES IN AFGHANISTAN Armenia's acting Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan arrived in Afghanistan for an official visit, the press secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Artsrun Hovhannisyan wrote on his Facebok page. Afghanistan's Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami received Armenia's acting Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan. The Ministers discussed the regional developments, the military-political situation in the country, the mission of the Armenian peacekeepers and other issues. Davit Tonoyan also met in Afghanistan with the Resolute Support Mission Deputy Commander, General Salvatore Camporeale. General briefed the Armenian minister on troops and peculiarities of the service. Salvatore Camporeale thanked Tonoyan for excellent training of the Armenian peacekeepers. https://news.am/eng/news/481857.html CEC REGISTERS LISTS OF 11 POLITICAL FORCES Armenias Central Electoral Commission registered proportional lists of all 11 political forces willing to participate in the early parliamentary elections. Italian authorities have ordered the seizure of the migrant rescue ship Aquarius after claiming that discarded clothes worn by the migrants on their voyage from Libya to Italy could have been contaminated by HIV, meningitis and tuberculosis, The Guardian reported. Prosecutors from Catania, eastern Sicily, alleged that the waste was illegally labelled by the ships crew as special waste rather than toxic waste. The Aquarius is currently docked in Marseilles, France, where so far it is beyond the reach of the Italian authorities. The ship is operated by the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and SOS Mediterranee. Prosecutors in Catania said: If Aquarius would disembark to Italy, it will be immediately put under seizure. Nevertheless, the Italian authorities have placed 24 people under investigation for trafficking and the illegal management of waste, including the captain of the Aquarius, Evgenii Talanin, and Michele Trainiti, deputy head of the Italy mission of MSF Belgium. The Sicilian prosecutors also fined MSF a total of 460,000 (409,000) and froze some of its bank accounts based in Italy. A total of 24 tonnes of discarded material including leftover food and medical materials as well as clothes was being investigated. Losses from the most destructive wildfire in California history, which has claimed at least 77 lives and more than 10,000 structures, are incalculable. But, years from now, the casualties are likely to mountwith cancer striking an inordinate number of the thousands of firefighters who are still battling the northern Camp Fire inferno and the Woolsey Fire to the south, both of which erupted on November 8. Of this, Erin Kobetz, director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centers Firefighter Cancer Initiative, is almost certain. For the past four years, Kobetz and a multidisciplinary team of researchers have partnered with firefighters across Florida to learn why their cancer rates are so much higher than the general population, and what to do about it. Among their discoveries: firefighters are inundated by chemical-related carcinogens, but not just when fighting fires. The contaminants adhere to their skin, their gear, and their clothes, and spread to their fire trucks, stations, personal cars, even their homes. Kobetz, Sylvesters associate director for population science and cancer disparity and professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, who has devoted much of her career addressing the high incidence of cervical cancer among Haitian women, discusses the cancer risks posed to Californias firefighters with News@TheU. Do firefighters in California face the same cancer risks as Florida firefighters? Cancer, not smoke inhalation, not burns, is the No. 1 in-the-line-of duty killer of firefighters nationally and internationally. Its obviously a slower killer and, until a few years ago, not openly discussed, but exposure to chemicals that contain known carcinogens is a routine part of firefighting. The last meta-analysis, done 16 years ago, showed an increased risk of four types of cancer in firefighters: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and prostate and testicular cancers. But other studies suggest the risk is not limited to just those cancers. We found that firefighters in South Florida have a higher risk of melanoma, and it tends to occur in younger individuals compared to the general population. The risks likely differ elsewhere too. We are about to publish new data to update and further characterize the cancer burden among Florida firefighters. Without giving too much away, we see higher incidence for multiple sites beyond those reported in the meta-analysis. Which chemicals pose the greatest cancer risks and are they more prevalent in structural fires or brush and forest fires? The chemicals are everywhere and include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, and the fire retardant poly-brominated diphenyl ether, which are found in an array of productsfrom paint and furnishings to naturally burning forest fires. While trees may burn cleaner than, say, a couch, there are certain saps or phytochemicals in leaves that have carcinogenic potential. Dont firefighters wear gear that protects them from inhaling carcinogens? Yes, but these carcinogens are likely absorbed through the skin, not inhaled. Absorption increases with heat and firefighters wear a lot of gear so we believe much of the exposure happens through skin absorption, not inhalation. Thats why the more than 4,000 post-fire, on-site decontamination kits that have been distributed to hundreds of fire stations and thousands of firefighters across Florida are an essential protective tool for reducing exposure. Are the fire kits being used in California, and if not, could they be effective there? When youre dealing with fires like those in California, there may not be time to decontaminate. There doesnt seem to be a fire season in California anymore. There are significant wildfires across California most of the year and they can endure for weeks. Theres a sustained exposure and that sustained exposure could increase the risk of cancer. Firefighters also have significant disruptions to their circadian rhythms. When they are on duty and on call, they dont sleep for an uninterrupted period of time. When they are fighting fires that never seem to end, such as in California, stress is likely a huge risk factor for disease onset and progression. In such situations, firefighters are in a constant state of fight or flight. Add that to the fact they, too, are losing their homes and their communities, and that is just challenging for health broadly. You usually work with underserved populations like Haitian women who, for lack of a routine Pap smear, were dying of cervical cancer. Firefighters arent really underserved, are they? As I got to know firefighters, I came to realize they are medically underserved in a different but meaningful way. Women in Miami's Little Haiti are the classic definition of underserved. They dont have access to a formal health care system, and there are other structural barriers to engaging in disease prevention, such as limited proficiency in English, and lack of transportation and/or child care. Firefighters all have health insurance. They work with the health system. They have a political platform. But they are underserved in the realm of research to understand why they contribute to excess cancer risk. As different as these communities are, thats the common thread. They are both characterized by a health disparity and there is an obligation for us to use science to use solutions to address it. To learn more about Kobetzs work with Haitian women and South Floridas firefighters, view her Cane Talk. Posted by Mark Williams | November 20, 2018 By Matthew Barnes Today is your lucky day, especially if you want to buy a new 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor, because we had a free ticket to the same racing school all new Raptor buyers receive (at least since 2017), and we're ready to tell you how it is and what's new for the off-road monster for the 2019 model year. Completely included in the purchase price of your 2019 Ford Raptor is the opportunity for a one-day training session at the Ford Performance Racing School in Tooele Valley, Utah (owners have to pay for travel and lodging but not the class). The course allows new owners to drive the Raptor over various terrains while exposing them to Raptor's many features and capabilities. Ford invited us to attend the Raptor Assault Performance School in the newly updated 2019 Raptor and we gladly accepted. What's New While the 2019 Raptor has just three significant updates from the previous model year Recaro seats, the Trail Control system and new Fox Racing Live Valve shocks they provide some interesting benefits and expanded capabilities. Related: 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor Will Share Trail Control With Ranger The Recaro seats Ford is offering as an option in the 2019 F-150 Raptor are similar to those offered in the Ford GT supercar. They are comfortable and certainly helped hold drivers in place during our extreme off-road maneuvers; unfortunately, the side bolsters are not adjustable. That means they don't accommodate all body types. We advise testing them before you choose. Think of Trail Control as a slow-motion cruise control system. It allows the driver to fine-tune the speed of the Raptor, both uphill and down, using the cruise control speed plus and minus buttons. In 4-High, the speed adjusts by 1 mph increments between 1 and 20 mph. In 4-Low, the speed adjusts by 0.5 mph increments with a range of 1 to 10 mph. Trail Control adjusts throttle and brake inputs automatically to keep the Raptor moving at your selected and desired speed; all the driver needs to do is steer. The final update for the 2019 Raptor is the Fox 3-inch diameter, Internal Bypass Live Valve shocks. These shocks have nine different zones and additional adjustable damping that uses a solenoid to adjust the hydraulic pressure within the shock. The Raptor uses inputs from the steering angle, throttle position, front ride height sensors, accelerometer and brakes to determine how much damping should be applied for the situation at hand. This adjustability provides a smooth, on-road ride while preserving the ability to jump without bottoming out the shocks. So how did all this new technology work in the real world? In short, quite well, but there is always room for improvement. How It Drives We used Trail Control on various steep grades, both up and down, and found that the system was more fluid and quieter than many similar systems we've tried. The braking system is much less intrusive and noisy compared to Toyota and Land Rover systems, which means less jerking and fewer unnerving sounds from the anti-lock braking system. Using Trail Control while driving in Baja mode in 4-High on some rough roads allowed us to run at speeds up to 20 mph. Trail Control kept us moving at the desired speed regardless of how rocky, steep or smooth the road was. On the other end of the spectrum, running Trail Control in Rock mode for climbing jagged shelves at more precise speeds made climbing a breeze. There were a few times when the Raptor, in order to climb a small obstacle, revved the engine speed higher than needed and lurched forward only to apply the brakes quickly to bring the speed back down. It took time to trust the Trail Control system to do its job; initially is was difficult to resist using the brakes. When descending steeper grades, Trail Control functions just like a normal hill decent control system and keeps the Raptor moving at the set speed. There are no additional buttons to push to switch from climbing to descending, which makes the system incredibly easy to operate just set it and forget it. Still, there is room for improvement, especially when the front tires overcome an obstacle, but the rear tires still need to be careful. We had one situation where the engine throttled up our speed after the front tires made it through to the tough stuff, but the rear tires still had not hit the ruts. It seems like there needs to be some extra software tuning at the slowest settings. Still, Trail Control is a top-tier technology that few manufacturers have dialed in so well. We enjoyed using it in a variety of situations and found it exceptionally smooth over tough obstacles. As for the new Ranger-specific Fox Internal Bypass Live Valve shocks, standard on all 2019 Raptors, they are superbly integrated with the suspension in both high- and low-speed scenarios. There are always compromises in a vehicle that is street legal and tuned for serious off-roading, but having adjustable shocks is the most obvious way to minimize having to choose between a good ride on or off pavement. Driving on pavement, the 2019 Raptor leans less in the corners than previous versions, and performs surprisingly well when pushed, delivering a firm-yet-comfortable ride. Heading onto high-speed dirt roads, the damping feels soft and accommodating of undulations. Get into whoops and the damping increases to prevent the shocks from bottoming out. Additionally, the live valve shocks will adjust not only to the terrain, but the driver. In discussing how the inputs affect the damping of the shocks, Ford Performance instructor Chris Paiva said if the driver is being aggressive, the damping of the shocks will learn from those inputs over time and increase the firmness when compared to someone who takes it easy. The increased damping helps prevent the shocks from bottoming out when a sudden or unexpected hit happens. Related: 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor Moves to Active Racing Shocks At the end of the day on the trails, we headed back to the Ford Performance school to jump the Raptors on a dedicated, closed-course track. Most production vehicle engineers don't have to think about what to do with the shocks and suspension to compensate for landing an airborne vehicle. Ford engineers do. The Fox live valve shocks are smart enough to detect when the Raptor is off the ground and can instantly respond to set the shocks to the stiffest damping possible. This worked extremely well on the track. The shocks provided for a smooth, worry-free landing, without any of the harsh impacts we expected. If any of the Raptors that day bottomed out their shocks completely after a jump, we didn't notice. Final Assessment The 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor claims an immense amount of off-road capability for a street-legal production pickup and backs up those claims with almost unbelievable performance both on and off pavement. While Trail Control could still use some tuning work, it is one of the best off-road cruise-control systems we've ever driven (and for context, my most recent drives include Jeep's Selec-Speed Control in the Cherokee Trailhawk and Crawl Control in the Toyota Land Cruiser). What really makes a difference in the 2019 Raptor, compared to previous model-year Raptors and competitors' off-road vehicles, are the impressive Fox live valve shocks just that technology alone is worth the price of admission for this ride. You can find more information about the Raptor Assault Performance School on its website. Cars.com photos by Matthew Barnes; manufacturer images 00:39 President Donald Trump on Tuesday signalled that the United States will not take strong action against Saudi Arabia or its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the brutal murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi and intends to remain steadfast partner of Riyadh in the interests of his country, Israel and all other partners in the region. He, however, said that the US intelligence agencies would continue to assess all information related to the murder and dismemberment of Washington Post journalist. 'King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event -- maybe he did and maybe he didn't!' Trump said in a statement, headlined 'America First'. Days after being briefed by the Central Intelligence Agency Director, the US President said we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. 'In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The US intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!' Trump said in the statement, which started with the sentence that 'the world is a very dangerous place'. Acknowledging that there were members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction, he said they are free to do so. "I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America," he said. Noting that after the US, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world, Trump said they have worked closely with America and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels -- so important for the world. 'As the President of the US, I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!' Trump said. Trump said the crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that US does not condone. 'Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body,' he said. Trump asserted that representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an 'enemy of the state' and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but 'my decision is in no way based on that -- this is an unacceptable and horrible crime'. Observing that the world is a dangerous place, Trump said Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilise Iraq's fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, 'Death to America!' and 'Death to Israel!' Iran is considered 'the world's leading sponsor of terror', he alleged. 'On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism,' he said. Trump said that after his heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the US. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the US. -- PTI Isaiah Tanner explores the new Multi-Use Trail System under construction at SIUs Touch of Nature Environmental Center. (Photo provided) SIUs new premier multi-use trail system expects to draw users from far and wide by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. Could Southern Illinois University Carbondale soon boast one of the Midwests premier mountain biking parks? Thanks to some imagination, hard work, determination and a new grant, thats a very real possibility. Staff and volunteers have already been hard at work SIUs Touch of Nature Environmental Center forging a pathway through the beautiful Shawnee Forest a pathway for biking and other recreational purposes. The recent award of a $200,000 federal grant is a big shot in the arm for the project, according to JD Tanner, Touch of Nature director. It began with a vision Mountain biking is becoming a big business these days and the hunt is always on for great trails, Tanner said. He knows that the terrain in Southern Illinois is perfect for the sport but theres currently not much on the map. So, he and his team went to work about four years ago, dreaming and planning. SIUs forestry department and Touch of Nature have partnered to secure $47,000 in SIU Green Fund grant awards to develop a 10-year land management plan for the facility. Students and faculty have worked together on the project, giving students practical experience to supplement their classroom learning. A substantial segment of that management plan includes the International Mountain Biking Associations (IMBA) Conceptual Plan and partial trail design that Touch of Nature staff raised $22,000 in public donations to have IMBA create. Public donations and grants assured progress continues Touch of Nature staff members also secured a third Green Fund grant for $11,615 in 2017 to provide an IMBA trail-building clinic for staff and community volunteers, teaching them the fundamentals of sustainable trail building and design. Another $8,000 in grants and donations went toward archeological surveys of the land where the trail is being built. A trail system, about 30 miles long, was mapped out in such a way as to be sustainable, durable and low-impact for the environment. They quickly came to realize that this trail system, the first of its kind in the region, would be a big draw for a variety of populations. Not just for biking Although bikes were the impetus for the project, the Touch of Nature Multiuse Trail System will, as its name indicates, have more than one use. It will be open for hiking and running and will offer a variety of volunteer and educational opportunities for SIU students, staff and community members. From beginners to advanced riders and walkers, the new trail system will appeal to all, officials said. SIU is the only university in the country with a multi-purpose/bike trail of this size, and organizers note that while serving as a great boost for tourism, it also offers a quality of life boost for area residents. In addition, the trails will offer a unique opportunity to explore the beautiful Shawnee Forest. Built by volunteers Volunteers have been the backbone of the project so far, officials said. Isaiah Tanner began working on the project as a graduate student. After graduating in May with his degree in outdoor recreation and resource management, he continued to lend a hand as a part-time SIU employee. Weve worked hard to create a trail system that will have a minimal impact on the forest and yet provide maximum benefits for those who use it, Tanner said. Its the first trail designated for such uses in Southern Illinois and we think it will not only draw people from throughout the region, but from across the country and even internationally. The site will be great for special events like adventure races or trail races, too. This past summer, Tanner worked with a variety of groups on the trails. Volunteers from the Youth Conservation Corps in Oklahoma leant a hand as did tribal teens from the Shawnee Conservation Corps and participants in the American Hiking Societys Volunteer Vacation program. Trail Build Days held regularly Touch of Nature has also sponsored a series of trail-building days, welcoming community volunteers to help clear trails. The center provides all of the equipment and refreshments while people give of their time and energy. Students helping with the work can log volunteer hours that help them qualify for the Environmental Ambassador Award as well. Grant will complete several miles of trails The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced recently that Touch of Nature would receive a $200,000 Recreational Trails Program grant, with a substantial portion of the funding actually coming from the Federal Highway Administration. This cash infusion will enable TON to hire professionals to get the project moving along more quickly. Grant will open miles of trails JD Tanner estimates that with the grant funding and continuing volunteer build days, 8-10 miles of trails can be completed, featuring a mixture of beginner and intermediate terrain layouts. He anticipates the first section of trails could be open by sometime in fall 2019. Tanners research indicates that when the trail is completely finished and open to users, it could potentially draw 55,000 or more users annually. Donations welcomed to complete the work Funding is still needed to complete the remainder of the trail circuit. Donations are being accepted online through the Southern Illinois University Foundation for the project. More opportunities available Additional opportunities for volunteers to help with the project await when the weather cooperates. Visit https://ton.siu.edu/facilities-and-services/touch-of-nature-forest/multi-use-trail-projects.php, call 618/453-1121 or email tonec@siu.edu for more information. By Ssebuliba Samuel. The 2018 world health malaria report has indicated stalemate in reduction of malaria cases after years of decline globally. According to the report, for the second consecutive year, the annual report estimated 219 million cases of malaria were recorded, compared to 217 million IN 2016 even though the number of people contracting malaria globally had been steadily falling, from 239 million in 2010 to 214 million in 2015. The world health organizations Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom said that world faces a new reality as progress stagnates and thus urgent measures are need. In 2017 3.5 million more malaria cases reported in 10 African countries including Uganda. By Ssebuliba Samuel. Bank of Uganda has dismissed the perception by the Parliaments Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises committee that bank of Uganda has hidden agenda in closing all seven commercial banks. Speaking the ongoing investigations by COSASE committee, Edward Katimbo Mugwanyathe Statutory Manager for crane bank said that the process to close a bank lengthily at involves wide consultations. He said that many of these banks was closed 25 years ago, but officers in bank of Uganda then must have had valid an avoidable reasons to cease these banks. However the committee chairperson Abdul Katuntu asked him to ready terms of reference because they are not investigating intention but whether the due process was followed. her neck is serving dutch christmas teas someone stop this white woman Reply Thread Link Her artpop could mean anything ??? Edited at 2018-11-20 12:16 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link It must take a lot of dedication to bronze her entire body. Reply Thread Link What I wanna know is why were Camila stans replying to her tweet telling her to reply to her ??? Reply Thread Link Do Camila stans ship Ariana and Camila like they used to ship Lauren and Camila? Cause there are so many Camila stans replying to the tweet saying she's cheating on Camila what aldsfjldskj Reply Parent Thread Link i think it's just because of that running joke of them being married? i don't think anyone actually tinhats them as a couple Reply Parent Thread Link casual incest? more proof she's white mods please make another secrets post before the end of the year pleaaase Edited at 2018-11-20 12:33 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link also, she's kissing her because the thank u, next music video is gonna be mean girls themed Reply Parent Thread Link Waiting for Iggy Eggz 4 fans on Twitter to claim shes copying her. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yikes so they are actual cousins. I saw some people saying that Ari's mom Joan and Courtney's dad are just best friends and Ari was there when Courtney was born, so they've been family friends since birth, but not cousins. And I see some Ari stans shipping her with Courtney alsdjflasfjs. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Aaaannd the pony is back RIP Reply Thread Link why did we get our hopes up? Reply Parent Thread Link Her photo aesthetic is annoying. Reply Thread Link Her entire style, and personality aesthetic is annoying too Reply Parent Thread Link she's a living tumblr tbh Reply Parent Thread Link I dig the filter she uses Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yikes @ her tan Reply Thread Link Her fucking tan... Reply Thread Link I hate when girls peck girls and make it a spectacle. Nobody plays straight for laughs. And adding incest to that.. Reply Thread Link i was scrolling tumblr the other day and saw this and couldnt at how dark her bronzer is in comparison to even the kardashians i was scrolling tumblr the other day and saw this and couldnt at how dark her bronzer is in comparison to even the kardashians Reply Thread Link Lol @ her being darker than Kim, who is half Armenian and naturally olive/light brown Reply Parent Thread Link everyone in that picture is dead behind the eyes Reply Parent Thread Link She's about the same color as Joan Smalls. Reply Parent Thread Link why do they all look sickly? Reply Parent Thread Link And people try to claim shes not trying to look less white... Reply Parent Thread Link i am fucking HOWLING at them looking at themselves in the camera Reply Parent Thread Link omg Kendall's old nose! Reply Parent Thread Link Aw, I was hoping the video would be "First Wives Club" themed! Reply Thread Link This is the WEIRDEST fucking timeline. Reply Thread Link i'd say most annoying Reply Parent Thread Link Seriously. Its annoying bc no one gives a fuck when Dump and his family do the exact same shit or worse than what they went after others for. Is2g Im in the twilight zone most of the time. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She wont suffer any consequences so ... Reply Thread Link We'll see when the Democrats get control of the committees in Congress on January 3rd. They can force her to testify in public, and they should. For the past two years, the Republican's in control of the House and the Senate have abdicated their duty of oversight. It's literally their job to check on the President and his administration, to make sure they aren't corrupt. The Democrats will do their job, unlike the GOP. Trvmp's days of getting away with everything will be over and he knows it, which is why he's been so batshit since the midterms. Reply Parent Thread Link Please Do the damn job lol Reply Parent Thread Link TBH, at this point and with my low expectations, I'd settle for that entire trash family (even Tiffany) being ostracized from the "elite" society they want to be a part of. In some ways, I feel like that would hurt them more than actually going to jail. Reply Parent Thread Link of course, why am i not surprised. hoping vehemently she won't make it out of this timeline unscathed ughhh Reply Thread Link GO TO JAIL BOO Reply Thread Link How will his supporters spin this? Reply Thread Link Why won't his supporters just take the fucking L and admit they picked the wrong horse? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link His supporters are unhinged and have no concept of reality. Reply Parent Thread Link They won't because they don't care Reply Parent Thread Link "the liberals didn't think this was a bad thing when hillary did it but as soon as ivanka does it it's suddenly bad?!?!?!" Reply Parent Thread Link They'll bury it. Trump has proven to be a master of controlling the news-cycle because he knows he brings in ratings and will say some stupid bullshit to pull attention from this. Reply Parent Thread Link they don't actually care. hillary's emails were just a jumping off point for their crazy conspiracy theories Reply Parent Thread Link They're already saying that she 1) didn't build a private server in her home 2) the emails weren't classified; blah blah Reply Parent Thread Link "Ivanka's emails didn't include classified information UNLIKE HILLARY." No really, that's the agreed-upon excuse they've been parroting all over reddit and such. Reply Parent Thread Link LOCK HER UP Reply Thread Link John Fugelsang is a god. Reply Thread Link He randomly showed up and did a quick set a friend of a friend's comedy show several months ago. He totally killed and I mildly stan now. Reply Parent Thread Link The ortho guy is so hot. Reply Parent Thread Link To think I already loved him when he was "just" a VH1 vj and AFV cohost 20ish years ago. Reply Parent Thread Link LOCK HER UP. No but seriously that entire family belongs in prison. Or dead. I'm not picky. Reply Thread Link Know what I think about a lot? That debate when they were supposed to say something nice about each other and Hillary said he raised good kids or something like that and it was like no??? Theyre not good??? Reply Thread Link I mean... I probably couldn't think of anything better. I can't think of a single thing to compliment Trump on. Reply Parent Thread Link Lol I think about that too. She was too kind! [ETA] but his compliment to her about her being a fighter who never gives up is true and everyone at the election party I was watching it at clapped. It seemed like he genuinely believed it or it was unscripted. Edited at 2018-11-20 04:56 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I think what she said was more along the lines of them being an excellent reflection of their father. Reply Parent Thread Link If so, that's a great angle. Reply Parent Thread Link Lol ik his children are eldritch horrors just like himself. Ivanka tried to plastic surgery her way out of her genes but her soul is Trump Sorry "Barron" idt you have a chance in hell :( Reply Parent Thread Link I mean none of them have been to jail (yet) so its probavly the only thing she could think of in the moment. Reply Parent Thread Link I thought she was being a little shady because its not a direct compliment toward him and he admitted years ago that he never truly raised his kids Reply Parent Thread Link He didn't even raise them too Reply Parent Thread Link I remember at the RNC Tiffany gave a speech about what a wonderful and supportive father he always was and how she would bring home her good grades and he would tell her how proud he was of her but he literally didn't even raise her lmao she grew up in California. Reply Parent Thread Link That bothered me too. Maybe she meant Barron?! lmao. But I honestly don't know what I'd say if I had to come up with something good about Trump. Reply Parent Thread Link wasn't Ivanka close friends with Chelsea and part of the Clinton social circle? she probably honestly thought they were "good kids". Reply Parent Thread Link GOODBYEEEEE GOODBYEEEEE Reply Thread Link This gif tho! ROFLMAO Reply Parent Thread Link I hope that drop wasn't too far, eek Reply Parent Thread Link CURRENT MUSIC: Britney Spears - E-Mail My Heart lmao love it Reply Thread Link This shithead wasn't even voted in, why the fuck is she doing any government anything???!?! Reply Thread Link Revolting nepotism. Reply Parent Thread Link Lock her up Reply Thread Link lol at dumbghazi Reply Parent Thread Link I want this family to suffer. Reply Thread Link Me too. Especially Don Jr. Reply Parent Thread Link Don't forget the scum that is Eric. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link But like A LOT Reply Parent Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link They kinda do already, with those facial features tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link By Damali Mukhaye. Kampala Capital City Authority has revealed a pilot traffic control center for monitoring and managing traffic in the city. While addressing journalists at her office at city hall.the outgoing KCCA executive director, Jennifer Musisi explains that the traffic control centre will also monitor radio communications on field activities by traffic wardens, ambulance, enforcement staff and security personnel. Musisi says that the center is currently used to monitor traffic at the 12 city signalised junctions through surveillance cameras The junctions are: Kabira 1, Kabira 2, Kira Road Police Station, Fairway, Bwaise, Junjju, Makerere Main Gate and Gaddafi Road among others. The pilot traffic center, which is already operational, was funded by the World Bank under the second phase of the Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP-2) with the infrastructural support of ministry of ICT. Iraq is set to bring long disrupted oil back online, adding fresh barrels to a market already weighed down by ample supplies across the globe. A little over a year ago, Kurdistan held a referendum on independence from Iraq, which passed with overwhelming support. The vote was non-binding, but was meant to lay down a marker and increase leverage in negotiations with Baghdad over the regions eventual independence. The gambit backfired, however, as the Iraqi government sent in troops to seize parts of Kirkuk and its surrounding oil fields. The events led to the disruption of the Kirkuk oil fields, temporarily knocking some 400,000 bpd offline. The seizure of the Kirkuk oil fields also put an end to Kurdistans bid for independence. But, the issue over who controls the oil fields and how it should be exported has been bogged down since last year. Kurdistan controls the only functional pipeline out of the country, which runs north to Turkey. Last week, Baghdad and Erbil reached an agreement to allow more oil to flow. The tentative agreement has reportedly led to the resumption of 50,000 to 100,000 bpd. Last year, the Kirkuk fields exported 300,000 bpd, according to Reuters, and at this point, it is not clear if more increases are in the offing. There are still major issues that need to be resolved, including the longstanding fight over whether or not Kurdistan should receive oil revenues directly or via budgetary transfers from Baghdad. The United States was highly interested in pushing Erbil and Baghdad to resolve their differences. The Trump administration has been trying to slash Irans oil exports for much of this year, and integral to that campaign has been an effort to find supplies elsewhere. Most notably, President Trump himself has repeatedly pressed OPEC to boost production via a series of angry tweets. More methodically, however, U.S. diplomats pressed the Saudis to increase production. Related: New Quotas Could Trigger EV Breakthrough In China That effort succeeded Saudi Arabia boosted production by 600,000 bpd in October compared to May levels, when Iran sanctions were announced. To be sure, however, Saudi Arabia is reportedly upset about the degree to which the Trump administration offered waivers, feeling duped after they agreed to increase output. The U.S. also scoured other parts of the Middle East for extra barrels. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that American diplomats were urging Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to resolve their territorial disputes over the Neutral Zone oil fields. The fields have been offline for several years and have a capacity of around 500,000 bpd. The logic was obvious if the Saudis and Kuwaitis could overcome their outstanding differences, half a million barrels per day could flow from those fields, essentially allowing the U.S. to step up the pressure campaign on Iran. If that had worked, the U.S. would not have needed to grant waivers to so many countries importing Iranian oil. That effort failed after Saudi-Kuwaiti talks broke down. But Kirkuk has also been a high priority for the Trump administration. The WSJ reported a few weeks ago that American diplomats were enticing the Iraqis with the possibility of an exemption on sanctions related to other areas of business with Iran. For instance, Iraq imports natural gas for electricity generation from Iran, but because banks have been wary about engaging in this business, Iraq has had trouble paying for the gas. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on twitter last Friday that the ramp up of oil output from Kirkuk was a positive development for Iraq and another important step in our efforts to reduce Irans oil exports. Related: Why The EU Can't Save Iran Despite the new oil from Kirkuk, it may not matter much at the global level. The resumption of Kirkuk shipments of between 50,000 and 100,000 barrels per day will not add to Iraqs total exports, a spokesman for Iraqs oil minister told Reuters. Instead, the oil might be consumed domestically in under-utilized refineries. The volumes may remain low until there is a comprehensive agreement with all sides, Shwan Zulal of Carduci Consulting, told the FT. The FT had reported last week that the two sides were nearing a deal. Resumption has only [been] possible due to relentless pressure from the US on Baghdad, so they are giving Trump something. Oil prices barely budged, and in fact, Reuters noted that Brent rose $1 per barrel after the news broke, perhaps because the market had already factored in higher oil flows than the 50,000 to 100,000 bpd. More oil could be forthcoming, but for now, the diplomatic breakthrough will be a relatively minor affair for the global oil market. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: OPEC will very likely agree to cut oil production at its upcoming meeting in early December, although the size of the cuts is yet to be decided, Ahmed al-Kaabi, Governor for OPEC of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), told the local Al Bayan newspaper on Tuesday. The OPEC-Non-OPEC Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) is still assessing the state of the oil market and will share with the group its findings before the meeting in Vienna on December 6-7, al-Kaabi added. The UAE is committed to comply with any decision of OPEC, the official noted. Two weeks before the meeting of the OPEC and non-OPEC partners, speculation has intensified that the cartel and its de facto leader Saudi Arabia may be willing to make another U-turn in oil production policy and decide to cut production next year, just months after increasing output to offset expected losses from Iran and Venezuela. While Saudi Arabia says that there may be a need of cutting oil production by 1 million bpd, Russiathe leader of the non-OPEC partners in the deallooks more non-committal, at least for the time being. Last week, reports emerged that Russia may prefer to stay out of any fresh oil production cuts. Russias only hints to the market so far are that it is discussing potential oil production cuts with local producers and will continue talks to come up with a position by the December meeting, as Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Monday. Despite the flurry of various reports from many sides within the cartel that an OPEC cut is in the making, oil prices plunged on Tuesday morning, depressed by the stock market sell-off and renewed concerns about oil oversupply. WTI Crude was plunging 5.24 percent at $54.20, while Brent Crude was plummeting 4.15 percent at $64.02 at 10:22 a.m. EST. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: U.S. president Trump is facing strong internal pressure to punish Saudi Arabia in the coming days. For Washington, however, this could be a double-edged sword, as turning on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman could result in two unwanted major geopolitical consequences. The still fresh Jamal Khashoggi murder case continues to make headlines due to a relentless anti-Saudi media and a diplomatic offensive by Turkey, Qatar and Western diplomats, and it could trigger the largest U.S.-Saudi/Arab crisis in decades. U.S. politicians have set their sights on the position of the young Saudi Crown Prince, based on still unsubstantiated claims of direct involvement by Ankara and unnamed CIA-officials, U.S. president Trump finds himself backed into a corner to deal directly with the Kingdom. Until now, the U.S. Administration has refrained from mentioning the direct involvement of MbS in the murder of the former Saudi journalist, but has put sanctions on the officials being connected to the case. Inside of the Kingdom, the pressure is also increasing but this time not to remove MbS, but instead to prepare a harsh response to any possible U.S. claims or sanctions on Royal Family members. Senior Saudi officials have already indicated that a direct attack by Washington or European leaders will be met by severe repercussions. A Western-Turkish move to pressure Saudi King Salman to remove his son from power is at present unrealistic. Looking at the ongoing situation inside of the Kingdom, and in the Arab world, the support gathered the last weeks by the Saudis from their allies UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, is clear. No Arab country will allow for a ruling Crown Prince to be removed from power by an outside, non-Arab entity. Inside of the Kingdom, the atmosphere is very clear, keep your hands off MbS. In contrast to the ongoing discussions in the Western media or Turkish outlets, there are no clear signs of a growing opposition to the plans and rule of MbS. The Crown Prince has not only been able to weather the storm before and during the FII2018 period, when global media reported on a failure of the Desert in the Storm financial conference, he has also removed potential opposition to his Saudi Vision 2030 strategy and power plays before. Related: Natural Gas Price Explosion Bankrupts Traders Still, some opposition exists, even if it is not vocal at the moment. Conservative elements in the Saudi power constellation, supported by former high-ranking Royals, will be waiting for any sign of weakness, trying to hit where it really hurts. Currently, three major factors could lead to instability: MbSs future depends on a partial success of the high profile diversification of the Saudi economy, weaning it from its oil addiction, and implementing some hard needed changes to give future perspective to the large young population of the country. At the same time, the diversification needs a reasonably high volume of FDI, which is supported by higher oil prices. For the immediate and mid-long term, MbS will need to have the support of the regional power players, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (Abu Dhabi), Bahrains Crown Prince, Egypts President Sisi and King Abdullah II of Jordan. Looking at FII2018 and the last weeks, these factors he still has in place. To counter the U.S., Saudi Arabias Crown Prince has made the right choices the last couple of years. MbS and Russias Vladimir Putin are reading out of the same book. The ongoing OPEC-Russia cooperation comes out of the screenplay written by MbS (and Khalid Al-Falih) and Putin (supported by Novak). Even before the Khashoggi case, both leaders understood that in times of need new friends could be needed. At the same time, the advantages of changing sides or alliances had become clear after the disaster called the Arab Spring. The West went flat on its face, and left the region to bleed. The only strong man willing to bleed with the Arabs has been Putin, which is currently being appreciated in all Arab capitals, from East to West. Washington now has to decide what it wants from the region. Without any doubt, Washington and Brussels, even combined with Ankara, will not be able to remove the Crown Prince from power. When looking at the power composition of the Kingdom, and the intertwining of the future of the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt with the future of the Saudi Kingdom. The rapprochement between Cairo and Riyadh, the in-depth economic and military cooperation between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, and the bloodline between Riyadh and Manama, are not to be underestimated. Outside threats have brought them together, maybe even with the help of the invisible powers of the Jordanians, but these relationships cannot be easily dissolved by outside powers. A decade ago, all of the above relied on Washington, or some positive feelings in the EU, but at present a new kid is in town, called Vladimir the Bear. Any pressure from Washington, even if based on facts or relevant assessments, will result in a countermove in the Arab capitals. The removal of Gadhafi, Hosni Mubarak and others, helped by Westerners, has left deep and ugly scars in the mind of the Arab leadership. As long as U.S. president Trump is not openly showing a confrontational course with the Saudi Royals, some friendship or partnership is still on the table. However, if Trump, maybe forced by the U.S. Senate and Congress, addresses MbS as the main culprit in the Khashoggi case, the gloves will be off. An anti-Western/U.S. move by the mainstream Arab countries will be a threat not only to Western influence in the region, but also confirms Russias growing influence in the region. Intensified cooperation between Russia and Arab power players will be a nightmare scenario for U.S. and EU policy strategists. The first effects will be that Trumps Tweets and Brussels warnings will be met by a one-sided NOPEC oil production cut and price strategy. Without any doubt, one of the outcomes could be that OPEC and Moscow, already accused of playing a price cartel strategy, will no longer keep the wishes of Western partners in mind. There will be no more room for policy negotiations on volumes, prices and economic growth as Putin and Crown Prince will decide their own fate. Related: Another Nuclear Megaproject Bites The Dust The second issue will be that Russia and the Arab world will decide their own new geopolitical structures and power plays, in which the U.S. and Europe are no longer on their priority list. A full-scale 180 degree strategic turn by the Arab world is not in the interest of the world, and especially not of the West. A strong NOPEC oil strategy, based not only on market fundamentals, but infused with geopolitical backlashes and power play, will result in a very volatile and risky environment. Politics always have been playing an important role, even if Khalid Al Falih continues to reiterate that OPEC is not a geopolitical policy maker, but a producer of commodities. Strangely none of the major analysts have looked at the position of Moscow in the Khashoggi affair. Putin and his consorts have been totally quiet, not addressing the case at all. At the same time, Moscow and Riyadh have been working out major investment deals, energy cooperation for the next century, while Russian forces have been flying into major Arab capitals for so-called military exercises with friends. While we have been reading newspapers and listening to one-sided news analysis coming from Turkey and unnamed sources, the main players have discussed already the full answer to any threat possible. The OPEC meeting in December could be the first sign of a new energy/geopolitical reality, in which U.S. shale is being met by a Russian dreadnought fueled by Saudi oil. The signs are written on the wall that changes are imminent, but dont expect it to be news about the removal of the Saudi Crown Prince. OPEC is changing, while geopolitical power brokers have already created a new theater of powers. Trump will have to switch gears to cope with this growing threat. Without some real brinkmanship, Khashoggi could be the next millstone around the neck of the U.S. president, not on the head of MbS. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Although the U.S. waivers for Irans key oil customers were a relief to the oil market, the worlds economy is still very fragile and skimpy overall spare capacity remains an issue, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), told Reuters on Tuesday. The U.S. decision to grant waivers to eight Iranian oil buyersincluding the biggest customers China and Indiasurprised some of the oil market players, but resulted in a $20 oil price drop and a well-supplied market, Birol told Reuters on the sidelines of an energy conference in Oslo today. But the global economy is still going through a very difficult time and is very fragile and, as a result of the increase in production, we have very thin production capacity left in the world, in a world which is becoming more dangerous, Birol noted. IEA and Birol have been warning for some time that the high oil prices from early October had started to hurt global demand. Earlier this month, speaking about the state of the market and the precarious situation in Venezuela, Birol said that he hoped prices do not rise again because this will not really be good news for the global economy which is very fragile. Prices havent yet risen because the oil market is currently concerned with a possible oversupply building. OPEC and its de facto leader Saudi Arabia have already started to hint that a new production cut may be in the works. Just yesterday, IEAs Birol urged oil producers to use common sense because fresh cuts could have negative effects on the oil market. My appeal to all producers and consumers across the world is to have common sense in these difficult days, Reuters quoted Birol as saying on Monday. Despite the fact that the IEA itself sees a surplus next year, the agency doesnt see the oversupply as a threat to the markets, because such is the volatility of events that rising stocks should be welcomed as a form of insurance, rather than a threat, the IEA said in its Oil Market Report last week. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iraqs oil exports from the Kirkuk oil province could reach up to 400,000 bpd, higher than the 300,000-bpd exported before the halt last year, a Kurdish politician told Sputnik on Tuesday after exports resumed last weeka move that adds more oil to the market at a time when participants fear an oversupply and OPEC considers new production cuts. On Friday, Iraq resumed oil exports from Kirkuk, a year after it had stopped oil flows from the area due to a dispute with the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Initial flows were 50,000 bpd-60,000 bpd, industry sources told Reuters. The export of oil from Kirkuk through the Iraqi Kurdistan oil pipeline, which transports oil to international markets through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, began on November 16, Hoshawi Babakr, the Kurdistan Democratic Partys (KDP) representative in Russia, told Sputnik. The increase in the volume of this export will take place in several stages: from 50,000 100,000 barrels per day at the moment to 400,000 barrels upon reaching full capacity. I would like to note that prior to the suspension of the export of Kirkuk oil through the Kurdish oil pipeline in 2017, its volume was 300,000 barrels per day, Babakr said. Related: The Saudis Are Hinting At Another U-Turn In Oil Markets In the talks with Iraqs federal government, Kurdistan insists that the rights of Russias Rosneft in the oil production in Kirkuk be preserved, Babakr told Sputnik. Under a 2017 agreement between Rosneft and Kurdistan, the Russian giant received the partial right to extract oil and gas, export, and manage flows from Kirkuk to Turkey, Babakr said. Around 300,000 bpd of crude oil exported in the Kirkuk province were shut in when the Iraqi federal government moved in October last year to take control over the oil fields in Kirkuk from Kurdish forces after the semi-autonomous region held a referendum that Baghdad didnt recognize. The only export outlet of the Kirkuk oil is the oil pipeline of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). On Saturday, Kurdistan regions Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani welcomed the Iraqi government decision to resume export of Kirkuk oil through the Kurdistan Region pipeline to benefit all Iraqis, Barzani said at a meeting with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran, Andrew Peek. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: After reports that South Korea would restart its imports of Iranian crude, now sources familiar with refiners plans in both South Korea and Japan, have told Reuters both countries will resume Iranian oil imports beginning in January. Earlier this month, S&P Global Platts reported, citing unnamed sources, too, South Korea will resume Iranian crude oil imports at a rate of about 4 million barrels a month. At the same time, the sources added, the country will continue to look for alternative sources of the commodity. Also earlier this month, Japans Trade Minister Hiroshige Seki said, as quoted by Reuters, Japanese refiners were now preparing to resume Iranian oil imports. It would be up to the judgment of private firms, but based on this decision, the (Japanese) companies would likely prepare for resuming Iran crude imports, Seki said, declining to comment on the size of shipments as compared to imports before the announcement of the sanctions. The moment the Trump administration granted waivers from the sanctions to eight major importers, it was clear they will resume their imports, at least for the next six months or so, which is the length of the waivers. What wasnt clear was how quickly they will restart imports. Based on what Reuters sources said, South Korea and Japan seem still reluctant to go back to importing a lot of Iranian oil and no wonder since they would only have the right to do it for 180 days beginning November 5, when the sanctions came into effect. And there is something else: most tankers carrying Iranian crude are booked until December, the sources said, so January is the earliest point when shipments could restart. Also, They are seeking to get the best price and are in talks with Iran, one source told Reuters, referring to South Korean refiners. The size of shipments was not mentioned. Japanese refiners, on the other hand, could start importing Iranian crude at a rate of 100,000 bpd, compared with 165,000 bpd before the sanctions hit. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oman, a Persian Gulf producer with 1 million bpd of oil production and not a member of OPEC, is integrating two of its government-owned companies to create one large refining and trading firm. Oman Oil Company and Oman Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (ORPIC) are integrating their downstream businesses as phase one of their merger plan, ORPIC said on Monday. The boards of directors of the two companies appointed Musab Al Mahruqi as the Group chief executive officer, effective December 2, 2018. The integration of the two companies will take place in several stages, taking into account the specifics of each business, ORPIC said. ORPIC has two refineries, a polypropylene plant, and an aromatics plant in Oman. The two refineries, Mina Al Fahal and Suhar, have a combined production capacity of 222,000 bpd. Oman Oil plans to build a refinery in Duqm, in which Oman is joined by Kuwait in the project. Oman Oil also has a 26-percent stake in Bharat Oman Refineries Limited (BORL), the company that owns and operates the Bina refinery in India with capacity of 120,000 bpd, and 7 percent in Hungarys oil producer and refiner MOL Group. Oman Oil is also the majority owner of Oman Trading International, which trades crude oil, petroleum products, petrochemicals, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). According to Bloomberg estimates, the Oman Oil-ORPIC merged company will hold a combined 1.1 million bpd of refining capacity in Oman, India, and Hungary and oil and gas production in Oman. Oman is not part of OPEC, but it is a part of the non-OPEC group of countries that cooperate with the cartel in the production cut deal. Omanlike other Persian Gulf producers and Saudi Aramco and ADNOC for exampleis increasingly betting on downstream businesses to take advantage of its own cheap crude oil and sell higher-value oil products and petrochemicals and secure new markets. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Monday on the Russia-born, South African national Vladlen Amtchentsev, for having advised North Korea on how to evade U.S. sanctions. The Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is blocking any property or interests in property of Amtchentsev in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within or transiting the United States, and U.S. persons are prohibited from dealing with him. Amtchentsev was designated for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the company Velmur Management Pte Ltd. Singapore-based company Velmur was designated by the Treasury in August last year, when the U.S. announced sanctions on three Russian individuals and two Singapore-based companies involved in providing oil to North Korea. Velmur was one of the companies designated, while the other was Transatlantic Partners Pte Ltd. According to the Treasury, Velmur was designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Transatlantic. Transatlantic was found to have concluded a contract to buy fuel oil with Daesong Credit Development Bank, a North Korean bank designated in 2016, and Transatlantic and Velmur representatives also worked to buy gasoil for delivery to North Korea. Velmur also sold gasoil to North Korea. Both of these companies have attempted to use the U.S. financial system to send millions of dollars in payments on behalf of North Korea-related transactions, the Treasury said in August 2017. North Korea depends upon the help of criminals and illicit actors to raise and transfer funds, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the Treasurys press release on Monday. As part of our commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, Treasury will continue to enforce and implement sanctions against any actor that seeks to aid the regimes deceptive practices. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: CHINA and the Philippines will always be "good neighbors, good friends, and good partners," President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, November 20, said during his expanded bilateral meeting with President CHINA and the Philippines will always be "good neighbors, good friends, and good partners," President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, November 20, said during his expanded bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. Xi reaffirmed China's good ties with the Philippines, as he embarked on a two-day state visit to Manila upon Duterte's invitation. "Mr. President , I agree with what you have said in your opening markers that my visit will be a milestone in the history of exchange between our two countries. And the two of us working together to open a new chapter in the bilateral relations," Xi told Duterte. "I am ready to work with you to chart the course for the future development of our relations from a strategic perspective, deeper friendship, and cooperation so that our two countries will always be good neighbors, good friends and good partners that enjoy common debt and prosperity," he added. The relations between the Philippines and China have improved under Duterte's watch. Prior to the two leaders' bilateral meeting, the Chinese leader wrote in the guest book: "Long live for the kind friendship of Philippines and China." Duterte, for his part, said Xi's visit to the Philippines "is more than a reciprocal visit." He said he was expecting to have "fruitful discussions" with Xi, as they review the progress the two nations have made and chart the course "to further enhance partnership in the spirit of friendship, mutual understanding and respect for sovereign equality." "It is a historic occasion, the very first state visit to be made by Chinese president in 13 years," Duterte said. "Today therefore is a landmark moment in our shared history. We have turned a new page and we are ready to write a new chapter of openness and cooperation," he added. Xi said he was satisfied over the growth in the Philippines and China's relations. "Over the past two years since you took office, we had in-depth exchange on views on Philippine-China relationship, and issues of common interests, cemented our friendship and common understanding," the Chinese leader said. "We are each other's good friends. Thanks to our joint efforts, we have made productive results in cooperation in all areas, bringing benefits to our two peoples, making contribution to peace and stability of the region," he added. (SunStar Philippines) New home for Chinese dog after her three-month roadside vigil for owner killed in car crash Animal lovers in northern China have found a home for a dog that sat a three-month vigil at the roadside where her owner was killed in a car accident. The animals tale reminded dog lovers in Hohhot, Inner Mongolias capital city, and across China of a 15-year-old hound called Xiongxiong, who waits outside Liziba metro station in Yuzhong district, Chongqing, until his master returns from work in the evening. The dog has gained a huge following on social media and fans travel to keep him company as he waits. Others mentioned Hachiko, a Japanese Akita that waited outside a subway station for his deceased owner for more than nine years in the 1920s and 1930s. He was also reminiscent of a Skye terrier called Greyfriars Bobby that guarded his owners grave from 1858 until 1872 and still draws visitors to Edinburgh, Scotlands capital. Dogs daily vigil at station for Chinese owner's return home The dog caught the attention of Chinese social media after she was reported to have waited for more than 80 days by the roadside. One woman died during a car accident on August 21. And the dog had been there since then, no matter how heavy the traffic was and how bad the weather was, Guo Xinhua, a night shift taxi driver in Hohhot, said in the report. Volunteers from an animal welfare charity tried to trace the womans relatives. Its dangerous for both herself and the cars passing by if she continued to stand by the roadside, said Xu Xiaogang, a volunteer from the charity, Blue Khata. And the weather is getting cold. It took a team of animal control officers from the citys police department to catch the dog on Thursday, as she would walk away from strangers when she was approached, the report said. Hohhot resident Zhang Lei adopted the dog the same day after completing formalities at the animal control centre. I was touched, no matter for whom the dog was waiting for, China News Service quoted Zhang as saying. I want to give her a home. This article New home for Chinese dog after her three-month roadside vigil for owner killed in car crash first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. By Ritah Kemigisa. More than half of Ugandans do not know how to use toilets and latrines in the country. The remark has been made by David Katwere, the Uganda Sanitation Fund project Technical assistant at the ministry of health at the World toilet day dialogue held in Kampala. Katwere says it is unfortunate that people are still using direct fingers for anal cleansing while some of the toilets are not well designed to allow comfortability of the users. He says due to this inconvenience, people spoil the toilets with their fecal substance while others have no idea when to empty latrines when full. The ministry of health statistics Uganda has a toilet coverage of 79% while the remaining 21% do not have toilets. Related Stories. City-wide assessment of toilets needed In just over two years Thomas McRae watched his business expand from an online shop to three stores in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island. He sells e-cigarettes, which have taken off in a big way in the city and worldwide in recent years. The Hong Kong Vape Association, founded in 2015, now has about 100 members, covering around 50 shops, 20 wholesalers and 30 manufacturers of e-cigarette products. The retail turnover is estimated at between HK$20 million (US$2.55 million) and HK$30 million a year. Hong Kong also re-exports e-cigarettes made in mainland China and this is said to be worth about US$10 million a month. Business has been brisk and lucrative, but it may all fall apart if Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor goes ahead with her proposal to ban the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and advertisement of e-cigarettes as well as other new smoking alternatives. In her policy address in October, Lam said these products were promoted as being less harmful than cigarettes and targeted young people and non-smokers, when in fact they led users eventually to smoking cigarettes. Her threat to ban them was unexpected, because as recently as June the government was only considering suggestions to regulate their sale. I honestly didnt believe they would ban it, said McRae, 27, an Australian who moved to Hong Kong in 2015. Anti-smoking campaigners have long called for e-cigarette products to be outlawed, saying they are no less damaging to peoples health than cigarettes. The World Health Organisation and US authorities have highlighted the dangers of e-cigarettes. Taking a hard line, Singapore banned the products last November. As e-cigarettes have boomed into a multibillion-dollar industry worldwide, with hundreds of brands, the debate over their health risks has continued. There have been claims that vaping as using e-cigarettes is called is less harmful than smoking, and that it may even help smokers quit their habit. Story continues McRae, for one, swears that his health has improved since he switched from cigarettes to vaping. Declan Kam, who opened an e-cigarette shop in Sham Shui Po in May, insists he wants to help smokers. I decided to open this shop as I was told that e-cigarettes were less harmful than conventional cigarettes and could help people quit smoking, he said. They and others in the industry are now awaiting firm details of the governments threat to impose a ban. The discussion on curbing use has been going on since 2015, when the Hong Kong government first proposed the idea. It is understood that despite being in favour of a total ban in 2016, former health chief Dr Ko Wing-man found it hard to move ahead after studies by related departments found implementation would be problematic. A source familiar with the previous administration said there were two concerns, the main one being the impact on the livelihood of retailers. The government is not afraid of the big tobacco companies, despite their strong lobbies, the source said. The other concern was that some would respond to a ban by asking why conventional cigarettes were not being outlawed too. The source said no country would be able to ban smoking, because the habit had existed for so long, and such a ban could affect the interests of tobacco companies, smokers and the advertising industry. E-cigarettes work by heating a solution, which usually contains propylene glycol, flavourings, and sometimes nicotine. For heat-not-burn products, tobacco is heated by an electronic device rather than set alight. Users of both types of products inhale the aerosol delivered through the devices. A few years ago, e-cigarettes were found mostly in small shopping malls in areas such as Mong Kok and Causeway Bay, and cost between HK$100 and HK$500. Today, there are specialised shops in busy business areas including Tsim Sha Tsui. McRae has seen a steady increase in customers. In September, he said, about 1,700 people visited his shops, up from about 300 a month when he opened his first store in 2016. If the government goes ahead with the ban, all this will change. There will be no shops, said McRae, who used to be a musician. We would be forced to close. Max Chan Man-fai, chairman of the Vape Association, said the citys retail market was small compared to the wholesale business and re-exporting to countries such as the United States and Britain. He said the government had not made clear if its ban, if carried out, would extend to re-exporting e-cigarette products as well. The Food and Health Bureau was unable to clarify whether re-exports would be affected when responding an inquiry from the Post. Chan said the impact on the international e-cigarette trade would be considerable if re-exporting was banned. He said Shenzhen alone produced about 90 per cent of the worlds e-cigarettes and many mainland producers preferred to ship through Hong Kong. Cui Tao, director of Innokin Technology, a Shenzhen-based e-cigarette manufacturer, said 60 to 70 per cent of the companys exports went via Hong Kong to other countries, such as the US, Canada and Australia. Cui said it would be a big blow to Shenzhen manufacturers if Hong Kong barred re-exporting e-cigarettes, as it would cost more and take longer to ship their products through mainland ports. Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, a group which advocates for the industry, said Hong Kong was key to the e-cigarette trade between mainland China and the US. America imported more than US$310 million worth of e-cigarette products from China, including Hong Kong, in 2016, according to a document from the US Government Accountability Office. That accounted for more than 90 per cent of e-cigarettes imported to the US that year. Conley said if Hong Kong was not able to re-export those products, there could be higher prices and delays for American companies receiving them. Similar problems could be expected in Britain, where the vaping market is worth about 800 million (US$1.03 billion) and has about 3.2 million vapers. A spokeswoman for the UK Vaping Industry Association said: We reckon a lot of those imports come through Hong Kong. But the debate over the risks posed by e-cigarettes shows no sign of abating. Tobacco companies have been actively marketing their heat-not-burn products as potentially less harmful than cigarettes. Philip Morris Asia, which manufactures heat-not-burn products, claims its ultimate goal is to replace cigarettes with better non-combustible alternatives. Public Health England, an executive agency of Britains Department of Health and Social Care, published a review in 2015 concluding that e-cigarettes were about 95 per cent less harmful than smoking. Its study has been cited often by vaping supporters. McRae hopes there is still time to persuade the Hong Kong government that regulation is preferable to a ban. Their main concerns could be easily fixed with regulation, he said. But Dr Daniel Ho Sai-yin, associate professor of the University of Hong Kongs School of Public Health, said the interests of businesspeople had not been considered by health experts in debates over smoking alternatives. He said if a full ban were to be implemented, re-exports should also be banned to avoid any contradiction in policies. Some medical groups, including the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, the citys two medical schools and the Medical Association, have been lobbying for a full ban on e-cigarettes and other smoking alternatives. They say the products bring substantial harm to children and young people with new or unknown toxins. A Hong Kong Baptist University study, commissioned by the anti-smoking group the Council on Smoking and Health and released in 2016, found harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in e-cigarettes. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have said e-cigarette aerosol is not harmless water vapour, but could contain harmful substances such as cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead. The WHO has said there is no evidence to demonstrate that heated tobacco products are less harmful than conventional tobacco products. HKUs Ho said other studies had already shown not only that e-cigarettes did not help smokers quit, but also that they increased the risk of heart attacks. Tobacco companies have earned a lot in the past, and the price has been the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. We dont have to worry for those companies, Ho said. What should be placed first is the health of the public rather than businesses. This article Hong Kongs burgeoning e-cigarette industry on the precipice as city mulls total ban first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo MANILA, Philippines Malacanang admitted that the Philippines cannot make use of the arbitral ruling to insist its sovereign rights on the disputed islands in the South China Sea. Though the Arbitral court ruled that it has jurisdiction over the case filed by the Philippines against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), its decision in 2015 remained useless as it is not binding and no international body has the power to implement the decision. However, the Palace said, it does not mean that the Philippines will just watch and not act to defend its rights over the disputed territories. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo recalled President Rodrigo Dutertes words that someday, the Philippines will have its chance to press its rights to China. When asked if the ruling is useless, Panelo said, As of now, yes. But as I said, we can get what we are supposed to have by negotiation. He added that the ruling will become substantial if all claimant countries will unite and support the ruling against China. Perhaps, if all countries of the world will unite, and pressure China, who knows? In other words, there must be a collective action by the countries of the world, and either persuade or pressure China into respecting the arbitral decision. We cannot give us this claim simply because its already ours. weve won it and it will be there forever, Panelo added. Meanwhile, the Palace questioned the timing and the questionnaire of the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) which stated in the results that more Filipinos are against the alleged inaction or corruption in the Duterte administration on the issue of West Philippine Sea. The survey was released on the day of President Xi Jinpings arrival in the Philippines for the state visit. Panelo claimed that the questionnaires seemed suggestive. He denied the governments alleged inaction on the matter. We have one entered into bilateral talks, where problems common to this region are discussed like security, like terrorism, like the drug menace, like trade relations, will be beneficial to all countries in this region, Panelo said. Marje Pelayo (with reports from Rosalie Coz) The post Malacanang: Arbitral ruling is useless unless claimant countries unite vs. China appeared first on UNTV News. (UPDATED) - The Philippines and China have signed at least 29 agreements, including the joint oil and gas exploration deal, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's historic state visit to Manila under (UPDATED) - The Philippines and China have signed at least 29 agreements, including the joint oil and gas exploration deal, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's historic state visit to Manila under President Rodrigo Duterte's watch. After their expanded bilateral meeting, Duterte and Xi witnessed the signing of the agreements, which include a memorandum on understanding (MOU) that seeks cooperation in oil and gas development between the Philippines and China. On the sidelines of the signing of agreements, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi explained that the MOU on oil and gas and development was meant to "explore a solution [on] how we can enjoy the resources in the area." "It is just a memorandum of cooperation to explore a solution," the Energy chief said. "It is really just cooperation to find ways or to find a solution." China, which claims nearly 90 percent of the resource-rich South China Sea, has expressed willingness to enter into a 60-40 joint exploration arrangement with the Philippines. Under the joint exploration arrangement, Manila will receive 60 percent of the oil and natural gas deposits while Beijing will get the remaining 40 percent. Cusi, however, told reporters that the Philippines and China have yet to determine the specific area that they would explore. In October, Malacanang emphasized the need to fast-track the procedures for the impending joint exploration agreement between the Philippines and China in the contested South China Sea, explaining that the deal would be beneficial for Manila, which is heavily dependent on oil imports. In March, the two nations considered the conduct of joint exploration and exploitation of oil and gas reserves at Service Contracts (SC) 57 (Calamian) and 72 (Recto Bank) "by corporations and not by sovereign states." The Energy department, however, issued a moratorium on all exploration and drilling activities in SC 72 in December 2015 amid the escalating maritime tension with China. The moratorium has yet to be lifted. Story continues As for the South China Sea disputes, Xi said both countries have agreed to resolve sea disputes through "friendly consultations." Xi said he and Duterte also both committed to work with Southeast Asian nations towards the conclusion of consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea within three years to ensure peace stability and welfare in the region. "China and the Philippines have a lot of common interests in the South China Sea. We will continue to manage contentious issues and promote maritime cooperation through friendly consultation," he said. Other agreements Meanwhile, other signed bilateral agreements aim at boosting cooperation in the field of trade and investment, infrastructure, agriculture, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Six MOUs were signed to intensify cooperation in the Belt and Road initiative, basic education, information and communications technology, agricultural cooperatives, infrastructure projects in Davao region, nature projects, and panda bonds issuance. The Philippines and China also has an exchange of executive program of the cultural agreement for 2019 to 2023. The two nations also exchanged infrastructure cooperation program, program for cooperation on industrial parks, and handover certificate of emergency humanitarian cash assistance. They also had exchanges on the implementation agreement of the feasibility study for Davao City Expressway project as well as on the implementation agreement of feasibility study for the Panay-Guimaras-Negros islands bridges project. They also exchanged protocols for sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh young coconuts and frozen fruits from the Philippines to China. Both countries also exchanged agreements on economic and technical cooperation, letters on project of container inspection equipment, letters on project of Davao River Bridge Project, letters on China bridge and road project in Marawi, and loan agreement on New Centennial Water Source Kaliwan Dam Project. They also forged a commercial contract of Safe Philippines Project Phase 1, a commercial contract of the New Centennial Water Source Kaliwan Dam Project, a framework agreement for industrial park, and a contract for the project management consultancy of the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul Project - North-South Railway Project. They also handed over a letter of no objection to the organization of Renminbi-Philippine peso foreign exchange trading market, as well as a certificate of authority to operate the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited Manila branch. In a statement delivered after the signing of agreements, Duterte said he was elated by the "growing strength" of the Philippines and China's friendship and cooperation. "A lot of work remains, but President Xi's visit gives us new impetus to our mutual efforts to enhance collaboration in ensuring the well-being of our peoples and contributing to peace and stability in the region," he said. "I am pleased with the current positive momentum of the Philippines-China relations," Duterte added. For Xi, the two nations' "strong" relationship was a "shared asset of the two countries' peoples." The Chinese leader also noted that he and Duterte both agreed to elevate their relationship into "comprehensive [and] strategic cooperation." "This vision charts a clear course for China-Philippine relations and sends a strong message to the world that our two countries are partners in seeking common development," Xi said. "Both sides have the view that we have been good and close neighbors for thousands of years, that our relationship has been defined by equality, mutual assistance and common destiny," he added. (SunStar Philippines) Singapore said Tuesday it is investigating Noble Group for making suspected "false and misleading" financial statements, the latest trouble to hit the embattled commodities trader. Once one of the world's top commodity trading houses, Noble is struggling to stay afloat after shareholders backed a $3.5 billion restructuring deal that snatched it from the jaws of collapse following allegations by a research firm of irregular accounting practices. It has sold off billions of dollars worth of assets while battling creditors and shareholders in a bid to survive. The Singapore Police Force, the central bank and the accounting and corporate regulatory authority said in a joint statement Tuesday that they have launched the probe into Noble Group Ltd and its wholly owned subsidiary Noble Resources International. Noble Group is being investigated for "suspected false and misleading statements" in its financial reports and potential breaches of financial disclosure requirements. Noble Resources is under investigation for non-compliance with accounting standards following an "extensive review" of the firm's financial statements from 2012-2016. The police's white-collar crime body and the Monetary Authority of Singapore -- the central bank -- directed the firms "to produce documents" relating to the preparation of financial reports, the statement said. Noble -- which is headquartered in Hong Kong and listed in Singapore -- saw its market value of $6 billion in February 2015 almost wiped out after being accused by Iceberg Research of inflating its assets through irregular accounting practices. The allegations marked the start of the crisis that engulfed the company. Trading of Noble shares have been suspended since Monday as it seeks to transform itself into a smaller Asia-focussed business after the rescue deal. Founded in 1986 by British businessman Richard Elman, Noble rode the crest of a rise in commodity prices to become one of the world's biggest commodity trading houses. Bangkok, 20 November 2018 ONYX Hospitality Group, one of the regions leading hotel management companies, has a management agreement with Laos-based Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole Co,Ltd. (AIDC), to develop a new-build Amari hotel in the city centre of Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. AIDC is an investment and construction joint venture led by Tang Charoen Group, developer of Amari Vang Vieng which opened early this year. Amari Vientiane will occupy a central Mekong Riverside location at the intersection of Quai Fa Ngum and Khun Bu Lom Roads, a short stroll to the citys popular night market street and the Chao Anouvong Park. Vientianes other top city centre attractions including the Patuxay Victory Monument, Lao National Museum and Wat Si Saket are easily accessible on foot or by tuk tuk or fixed-route shared jumbos. Featuring 250 rooms and suites in a 15-storey building, Amari Vientiane will offer all the key Amari brand signatures including service from Amari Hosts, the street market-style Amaya Food Gallery, Breeze Spa, creative meetings facilities and generous indoor and outdoor space thoughtfully designed for sharing and informal gatherings. Other facilities include a specialty restaurant, an outdoor pool and fully equipped fitness centre. In the photo (from left to right) 1. M.L. Suravut Thongthaem, Senior Vice President, Development and Owner Relations SE Asia, ONYX Hospitality Group 2. Mr. Yuthachai Charanachitta, Group CEO, Italthai Group 3. Mr. Douglas Martell, President & CEO, ONYX Hospitality Group 4. Mr. Pheutsapha Phoummasak, President, Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole Co.,Ltd. (AIDC) 5. Mr. Houa Sengaroun, President, Tang Charoen Group 6. Mr. Denxay Sengaroun, Director, Tang Charoen Group 7. Mr. Adul Chaiprom, Vice President, Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole Co.,Ltd. (AIDC) Mr. Douglas Martell, President and Chief Executive Officer, ONYX Hospitality Group, said: We are excited to be in partnership with AIDC and extending our collaboration with Tang Charoen Group to establish their second Amari property in Laos. As a rapidly booming tourism destination, Laos recently saw the doubling in capacity of its international terminal at Vientianes Wattay International Airport. We look forward to the opportunity of targeting more international visitors as flight connectivity increases in the coming years. This deal is part of the strategic expansion of the ONYX portfolio, with 50 operating properties and close to 30 additional projects in the development pipeline. Mr. Pheutsapha Phoummasak, President of Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole Co.,Ltd. (AIDC), said We are pleased to be in partnership with ONYX Hospitality Group, one of leading hotel management companies in Asia Pacific, for the first time. I look forward to being a part of this projects success. We are proud to play a key role in Laos ongoing tourism and robust economic growth. Laos is a beautiful country with a huge tourism potential, with its natural wonders and welcoming people, and is poised to be one of the fastest growing Southeast Asian destinations among international travellers. Mr. Houa Sengaroun, President of Tang Charoen Group, said To be working with ONYX Hospitality Group in opening our second Amari property in Laos is an excellent opportunity for all parties to learn and grow. Following the opening of Amari Vang Vieng earlier this year, we are proud of the positive feedback and performance, as well as the role this hotel has played in raising international awareness of Laos. I look forward to the opportunity of working together on future projects. The Amari brand by ONYX Hospitality Group celebrates the essence of modern Thai elements, with each hotel in its portfolio highlighting the textures and flavours of its unique setting through architecture, design, cuisine and service complemented by subtle Thai touches. The years 2017 and 2018 have been significant for the regional expansion of Amari, with the brand being launched in new locations including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China and Laos, and Amari Kuala Lumpur and Amari Penang signed earlier this year Based in Bangkok, ONYX Hospitality Group has a growing regional portfolio of 50 operating properties across three core brands in eight countries. The Group has a robust development pipeline of close to 30 new properties in markets such as Laos and Australia, and has set a target of having 99 hotels open by 2024 as part of its journey towards being the best medium-sized hospitality player in the region. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Norwegian aviation executives like to joke among themselves that when God created aviation, he was thinking of Norway. The country's long coastline and mountainous interior make conventional road travel challenging. Even travelling relatively short distances in Norway's populated south, say from Bergen to Trondheim, two major coastal cities 700 km apart, takes up to 12 hours by carbut just an hour by plane. For all these reasons and more, the Norwegian government has set a goal that 30 percent of all jet fuel used in Norway by 2030 will be sustainably produced biofuels. To jumpstart this transition, the government announced in October that airlines operating in Norwegian airspace will have to use 0.5 percent biofuels in their jet fuel by 2020. Two researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Industrial Ecology Programme decided to look at how producing aviation biofuels in Norway would affect the climate and other environmental aspects identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. These goals have been developed to guide the world's transition to a more sustainable society. They found that producing jet fuels from forestry residues would be good for the climate but can put pressures on some SDGs, such as Zero Hunger, Clean Water and Sanitation and Responsible Consumption and Production. The good news, the researchers say, is that knowing this now allows policy makers and engineers to make technological and supply chain improvements to reduce adverse side effects. This knowledge is especially important as the industry ramps up to making biofuels. "The options for aviation are very limited," says Francesco Cherubini, the senior author of the paper and a professor in the Industrial Ecology Programme. "If we want to decarbonize aviation, we must use biofuels. There is a lot of potential here." The article describing their research, "Contribution of jet fuel from forest residues to multiple Sustainable Development Goals," is published in Nature Sustainability. Two technologies and Norwegian forestry residues First of all, the researchers selected two different technologies that are considered market ready. The first was an alcohol-to-jet fuel technology, which uses a biochemical process to turn wastes into ethanol, which is then converted to jet fuel. The second relies on a process called Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, which uses high temperatures to produce a kind of synthetic gas that is then converted to a liquid bio jet fuel. They then figured out how much waste materials might be available from Norwegian forest management, which currently doesn't actually use forest residues for anything. Based on forestry practices in other Nordic countries, the researchers determined that as much as 34 percent of the total forest residues in Norway could be used to produce bio jet fuels. They then created a model that looked at what would happen if Norway began to use forest residues for jet fuel production, with all the associated direct and indirect emissions to air, water and soil. The good news, they found, is that that Norway could potentially produce 20 percent of the country's projected jet fuel use in 2030 from forest residues, which is well on the way towards the country's policy target of 30 percent. But the researchers also wanted to look for potential problems, too. So they ran their model and crunched their numbers. Short-term versus long-term climate benefits Air travel emits two different kinds of pollution that harm the climate. The most well known are the CO 2 emissions that result from burning jet fuel. However, when a jet travels through the sky, the plane also leaves a long condensation trail, a contrail, which has a short-term effect on the planet's temperatures. Burning jet fuel also creates aerosols and black carbon, which also have a short-term effect on the climate. The researchers decided to look at how burning biofuels made using the two different processes would affect these types of emissions, called Near Term Climate Forcers, or NTCFs, because they can affect the climate over the short term but don't have a long lasting influence on global temperatures. What they found was that both types bio jet fuels had relatively lower climate impacts than conventional fossil fuels from a short (20 year) to a long (100 year) perspective. But the benefits from bio jet fuels were not as strong from a short-term perspective because of the NTCFs. Contrails were the biggest contributor to reducing the short-term benefits from biofuels, the researchers found. However, the climate benefits are important in the context of the long-term temperature stabilization target that was agreed to in the context of the Paris Agreements. On average, 20 percent bio jet fuel use in the Norwegian aviation sector in 2030 can reduce climate impacts by approximately 17 percent. Linking the analysis to Sustainable Development Goals Next, the researchers looked at how the different biofuel technologies affect the UN sustainability goals. Cherubini said this was an important part of their analysis because a specific technology may look good in terms of its climate benefits, but it might have other negative effects. If these negative effects aren't known, then governments or industries might choose to invest in a technology to benefit the climate, only to discover at a later stage that the technology has unintended negative side effects on other environmental areas of concern. "Sustainability research plays a key role in the success of our energy transition, especially when it is applied to new technologies before their large-scale implementation," Cherubini said. For that reason, he and his colleague and first author Otavio Cavalett decided to look at how nine of the UN SDGs that relate to the environment would be affected by biofuels production. These were: Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Life Below Water and Life on Land. "This is one of the first papers to provide an overview of what will happen with SDGs," if a specific climate-friendly technology is deployed," Cavalett said. Better than fossil fuels in some ways but room for improvement When the researchers looked at how renewable jet fuels compared to existing fossil jet fuels, they found clear benefits from the renewables when it came to climate impacts, of course. But there were also benefits for two SDGs, Affordable and Clean Energy, and Responsible Consumption and Production. However, one of the renewable technologies they looked at did have larger impacts than fossil-based fuels for some SDGs. As one example, Cavalett said that harvesting forest residues requires diesel fuel to power the trucks and machines that will pick up and transport the twigs, bark, tree tops and other residues that would be converted to biofuel. But burning diesel can cause low-level ozone and particulate matter to form, affecting the Good Health and Well-being SDGs. They also found that the different environmental impacts added up along the energy and material supply chains that are needed to produce the biofuels. That means if producers use cleaner raw materials or cleaner forms of energy to produce the bio jet fuels, the impacts will drop accordingly, the researchers said. They found that the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process had lower initial impacts than the alcohol-to-jet fuel technology, but that the impacts from the alcohol-to-jet fuel technology benefitted from improving the efficiency of the process. Bio jet fuel technologies need help, incentives to take flight Cherubini said that even though air travel does contribute to climate change, it also has value to society. "Getting people in contact has value," he said. "The fact that people (in Europe) can get on a plane and go to the US in 6 hours has value for society." For that reason, he said, policymakers should consider finding ways to help these new bio jet fuel technologies get off the ground, so to speak. He pointed out that humankind has been tinkering with fossil fuel technologies for a century now, while renewable bio jet fuel technologies are still in their infancy. "The role of sustainability research is very important in identifying the technological improvements needed to achieve benefits across the different SDGs and to make a sustainable transition to a greener society," he said. "The technology can improve quite a lot if we keep this in mind." Explore further Aviation fuel from Norwegian forests More information: Otavio Cavalett et al, Contribution of jet fuel from forest residues to multiple Sustainable Development Goals, Nature Sustainability (2018). Journal information: Nature Sustainability Otavio Cavalett et al, Contribution of jet fuel from forest residues to multiple Sustainable Development Goals,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0181-2 A female twelve-wired bird-of-paradise inspects a male during courtship. Credit: Timothy G. Laman Male birds-of-paradise are notorious for their wildly extravagant feather ornaments, complex calls, and shape-shifting dance movesall evolved to attract a mate. New research published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology on November 20 suggests for the first time that female preferences drive the evolution of combinations of physical and behavioral traits that may also be tied to where the male does his courting: on the ground or up in the trees. Lead author Russell Ligon, a postdoctoral researcher at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, suggests that females evaluate not only how attractive the male is, but also how well he sings and dances. Female preferences for certain combinations of traits result in what the researchers call a "courtship phenotype"bundled traits determined by both genetics and environment. There are 40 known species of birds-of-paradise, most found in New Guinea and northern Australia. Study authors examined 961 video clips and 176 audio clips in the Cornell Lab's Macaulay Library archive as well as 393 museum specimens from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. They conclude that certain behaviors and traits are correlated: As the number of colors on a male increase so do the number of different sounds he makes. The most elaborate dancers also have a large repertoire of sounds. Males that display in a group (called a lek) have more colors to stand out better visually amid the competition Because female birds-of-paradise judge male quality based on a combination of characteristics, the study suggests that males may be able to evolve new features while still maintaining their overall attractiveness to femalesthere's room to "experiment" in this unique ecological niche where there are few predators to quash exuberant courtship displays. The researchers found that where a bird-of-paradise puts on his courtship display also makes a difference. "Species that display on the ground have more dance moves than those displaying in the treetops or the forest understory," explains Edwin Scholes, study co-author and leader of the Cornell Lab's Bird-of-Paradise Project. "On the dark forest floor, males may need to up their game to get female attention." Above the canopy, where there is less interference from trees and shrubs, the researchers found that males sang more complex notes, where they are more likely to be heard. But their dances were less elaborateperhaps a nod to the risks of cutting footloose on a wobbly branch. Adapted from the press release by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology media relations team. Explore further Smooth dance moves confirm new bird-of-paradise species More information: Ligon RA, Diaz CD, Morano JL, Troscianko J, Stevens M, Moskeland A, et al. (2018) Evolution of correlated complexity in the radically different courtship signals of birds-of-paradise. PLoS Biol 16(11): e2006962. Journal information: PLoS Biology Ligon RA, Diaz CD, Morano JL, Troscianko J, Stevens M, Moskeland A, et al. (2018) Evolution of correlated complexity in the radically different courtship signals of birds-of-paradise.16(11): e2006962. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2006962 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Different subpopulations of a plant species can have distinct traits, varying in size, seed count, coloration, and so on. The primary source of this variation is genes: different versions of a gene can lead to different traits. However, genes are not the only determinant of such traits, and researchers are learning more about another contributor: epigenetics. Epigenetic factors are things that regulate genes, altering their expression, and like genes they can be inherited from generation to generation, even though they are independent of the actual DNA sequences of the genes. One epigenetic mechanism is DNA methylation, in which the addition of chemical tags called methyl groups can turn genes on or off. Genes that share the identical DNA sequence but have different patterns of methylation are called epialleles. Several studies have shown that epialleles, like different versions of genes, can cause differences in traits between plant subpopulations, or strains, but whether genetic factors are also at play can be difficult to determine. The lab of Whitehead Member Mary Gehring, who is also an associate professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has described evidence that epialleles alone can lead to different heritable traits in plants. In research published online November 5 in the journal PLoS Genetics, Gehring, along with co-first authors and former lab members Daniela Pignatta and Katherine Novitzky, showed that altering the methylation state of the gene HDG3 in different strains of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana was enough to cause changes in seed weight and in the timing of certain aspects of seed development. In plants, methylation states of genes change most frequently during seed development, when genes are switched on or off to progress development of the organism. This period is also when a conflict of interest arises in the genome of each seed between the parts inherited from its mother and father. The mother plants produce seeds fertilized by different fathers at the same time. It's in the mother's interest to give an equal share of nutrients to each seedto have many smaller seeds. But it's in the father's interest for its seed to get the most nutrients and grow larger. This conflict plays out through an epigenetic mechanism called imprinting, in which, through differential methylation between the father's and mother's copies of a gene, one parent's copy is silenced in the offspring so that only the other parent's version of the gene is expressed. The gene HDG3 is imprinted in one strain of Arabidopsis so that only the father's copy is expressed. Gehring and her team found that when the strain loses its paternal imprinting, the timing of seed development is affected and the plant ends up with smaller seeds. This is consistent with the theory of imprinting: When the father's genes have the advantage, the seeds are larger than when both parents' genes are equally expressed. Other experiments tested the effect of either activating or silencing HDG3 by methylation in a variety of scenarios, both in a separate strain of Arabidopsis in which the gene starts off silenced, as well as in crosses between the two strains. The researchers found that altering the methylation state of the gene was sufficient to affect seed size and the timing of seed development. In the crosses, these traits depended on whether the paternal copy of the gene came from the strain in which HDG3 was normally silenced or the strain in which it was normally activated. Altogether these experiments demonstrate a link between changes in methylation state and differences in seed development and size. This suggests that epialleles in natural populations function much like variations in genes, creating heritable traits that differ within the larger population. Explore further Exploiting epigenetic variation for plant breeding More information: Daniela Pignatta et al. A variably imprinted epiallele impacts seed development, PLOS Genetics (2018). Journal information: PLoS Genetics Daniela Pignatta et al. A variably imprinted epiallele impacts seed development,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007469 RUDN Chemists Found Out How to Avoid Byproducts in the Synthesis of Perovskites Credit: Natalia Deryugina A RUDN professor, together with his colleagues from other Moscow universities, has described the mechanism of byproducts produced in the course of the synthesis of perovskitesminerals that have numerous prospective applications, e.g. as superconductors. The discovery could make their production faster and more efficient. The article was published in Chemistry of Materials. Perovskites are crystalline substances that consist of two or more metals and contain three oxygen atoms. These materials are used as superconductors, in solar cells, lasers and sensors. The crystal structure of perovskites is formed in solvents such as dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). The main issue with their synthesis lies in the formation of intermediate compounds between the initial substances and the molecules of a solvent. This complicates the crystallization process and reduces the volumes of the end product. The authors studied the structure of intermediates that formed in the course of perovskites synthesis in GBL. The study was based on perovskites that contain lead and atoms of different halogens (chlorine, bromine, and iodine). To see the compounds formed in the course of the reaction, the researchers used Raman scattering spectroscopy. During the experiment, the chemists changed the ratios of initial synthesis components and studied the structures formed in each case. "We were the first to find three types of intermediary phases that are formed in the course of perovskite crystallization in gamma-butyrolactone. The first type is similar to the structures that are already familiar to us, while types two and three are new super-octahedral formations. We also found out why it happens. At high concentrations of iodine ions in a solution, the structure is dominated by small-sized molecules consisting of one lead and three iodine atoms. However, as the concentration of iodine ions goes down, the solvent starts to play the leading role. Complex super-octahedral shapes of the intermediaries are formed under its influence," says Viktor Khrustalyov, a co-author of the study, Ph.D. in Chemistry, and head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at RUDN. Having studied how intermediary products that slow down the reaction and reduce the volumes of the end product occur in the course of a reaction, the chemists developed a method to avoid it. To do so, they suggested depositing perovskites as thin films and also using initial solutions with higher iodine concentrations. Explore further Perovskites materials of the future in optical communication More information: Sergey A. Fateev et al. Solution Processing of Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite from -Butyrolactone: Crystallization Mediated by Solvation Equilibrium, Chemistry of Materials (2018). Journal information: Chemistry of Materials Sergey A. Fateev et al. Solution Processing of Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite from -Butyrolactone: Crystallization Mediated by Solvation Equilibrium,(2018). DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.8b01906 An image of the screen in the Michigan Traffic Lab while a virtual train (in green) travels through a rail crossing at Mcity. Real (red) and simulated vehicles (blue) react. Credit: Screen capture from a video by Mike Wood Augmented reality technology can accelerate testing of connected and automated vehicles by 1,000 to 100,000 times, and reduce additional testing costsbeyond the price of physical vehiclesto almost zero, according to a new white paper published by Mcity. Augmented reality combines the real world with a virtual world to create a faster, more efficient and economical approach to testing connected and automated vehicles at the University of Michigan's Mcity Test Facility. This unique testing methodology is outlined in the new white paper, published today. Mcity is a U-M led public-private partnership working to advance the development of connected and automated vehicles. "In order for the public to accept and widely adopt driverless vehicles, we must be able to prove they are safe and trustworthy," said Henry Liu, an author of the paper. Liu is professor of civil and environmental engineering, and research professor at the U-M Transportation Research Institute. "This requires rigorous and extensive testing that would otherwise take more than a decade to accomplish," Liu said. "Augmented reality testing is not only more efficient, it is safer and will allow us to ensure driverless vehicles operate dependably with the ability to prevent and avoid crashes." A Working Combination Liu and his team borrowed from video-gaming and other virtual technologies to create an augmented reality environment where real vehicles inside the safety of U-M's Mcity Test Facility can interact with and react to computer-generated vehicles in real time through connected vehicle communications. The test facility, located on U-M's North Campus in Ann Arbor, features more than 16 acres of roads and traffic infrastructure. The grounds include urban and suburban streets with intersections, multiple lane configurations, sidewalks, traffic signs and signals, simulated buildings, bikes lanes and more. Researchers are able to create testing scenarios and interactions between test vehicles and computer-generated vehicles from the Michigan Traffic Laboratory at UMTRI. The traffic lab is also the control center for the Mcity Test Facility. Virtual connected vehicles (blue) can be seen traveling at Mcity alongside real connected and automated vehicles (red). This unique type of augmented reality can dramatically accelerate testing of connected and automated vehicles and enable researchers to test scenarios in a safer, more cost-effective manner. Credit: Screen capture from a video by Mike Wood According to the white paper, an observer of such a test might see a test vehicle approach a traffic light and stop several yards short of the intersection to avoid rear-ending a computer-generated car already stopped at the light. The computer-generated virtual traffic elements are broadcast to Mcity test vehicles using a patent-pending, secure, wireless technology to allow both real and virtual vehicles to communicate with each other and to the test-course infrastructure. This patent-pending technology was developed by Liu and Yiheng Feng, an assistant research scientist at UMTRI. "Our new procedure shows great potential to speed up and reduce the cost of testing," Liu said. "It also has the added benefit of allowing us to build a virtual library of computer-generated traffic scenarios that can be practiced without risk of damage or human injuries." Conquering Challenges Researchers now test fully automated vehicles using three methods: closed-course testing; computer generated simulations; and operating vehicles or components on public roads. But testing these new technologies on public roads comes with legal risks, exposure to liabilities, and concern for public safety. From 2014 to 2017, 11 suppliers and manufacturers reported 26 crashes while testing self-driving technology on public roads in California, according to the white paper. In 2018, an Arizona woman was killed by a driverless vehicle operated by Uber as she walked her bicycle across a street. Developing automated vehicles also comes with added challenges compared to conventional, driver-piloted cars and trucks. Beyond testing for dependability and occupant safety, driverless vehicles must work to prevent and avoid crashes. This requires testing countless crash scenarios, including those that rarely occur with conventional vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an accident serious enough to report to policeone resulting in at least $1,000 worth of damageoccurs once in every 530,000 miles of driving. A fatal crash typically occurs once in every 100 million miles. "Most strategies for testing automated vehicles today fall short of what is needed to ensure the safety necessary to make driverless technology viable," said Huei Peng, director of Mcity and the Roger L. McCarthy Professor of Mechanical Engineering at U-M. "The augmented reality environment at the Mcity Test Facility brings us a step closer by offering comprehensive, limitless testing scenarios that can be accomplished in a shorter period of time. That means testing is faster, cheaper, and safer." The white paper is titled, "Real World Meets Virtual World: Augmented Reality Makes Driverless Vehicle Testing Faster, Safer, and Cheaper." The researchers have applied for patent protection. More information: Real World Meets Virtual World: Augmented Reality Makes Driverless Vehicle Testing Faster, Safer, and Cheaper: Real World Meets Virtual World: Augmented Reality Makes Driverless Vehicle Testing Faster, Safer, and Cheaper: mcity.umich.edu/wp-content/upl ugmented-reality.pdf Credit: City University London An economist has called for the creation of a global tax authority as a way of tackling worldwide wealth inequality. In a new book, Professor Photis Lysandrou of City, University of London argues a powerful international body is essential because the current financial system is geared towards more wealth concentration and further financial crises. Commodity: The Global Commodity System in the 21st Century says the new authority should be given powers to coordinate national tax regimes and to implement a tax on global wealth that would target high-net-worth individuals, especially those with net asset holdings of $30 million and above. Professor Lysandrou argues the body could recoup large amounts of money that are lost through tax avoidance, and governments could then invest this money in projects and services that have a positive impact on jobs and wages. He said: "The statistics about global inequality are horrific. All the evidence I have seen points inexorably to the need for a global tax authority. This would be a supranational body composed of tax experts nominated by the world's national governments that is vested with the power of authority in the realm of taxation." Commodity looks at the global financial crisis from an original perspective that views the international commodity system as a newly operational totality which includes government capacity as well as private capacities, financial securities and material goods and services. The book claims wealth inequality caused by this system will lead to repeated financial crises, unless a new set of international institutions is created to control ita global tax authority would be the first of these bodies. Professor Lysandrou cites data which show that in the years after the financial crisis, between 2007 and 2015, the combined wealth accumulated per year by high-net-worth individuals rose from about $41 trillion to almost $59 trillion. He points out that 34 per cent of the $59 trillion accumulated in 2015 was held by just 145,000 people. Professor Lysandrou said: "As society is far from ready to move onto a different organisational principle, the only way to avoid financial crises on the scale of the last one is to allow the global commodity system to continue to operate as a complete totality while at the same time controlling for its negative effects. "A global tax authority would only go a small way in achieving this aim, but it would represent an opening initiative that could lead to the creation of others. Together, they could reverse the current inequalities in income and wealth distribution that have now reached obscene proportions." Professor Lysandrou, of the City Political Economy Research Centre, says his proposals go further than similar ideas suggested by the economist Thomas Piketty. The City academic says Piketty does not prioritise wealth concentration as the key cause of the 2008 financial crisis and so can only give a moral case for a global wealth tax. In his new book, Professor Lysandrou puts forward an economic case for the tax by showing that the global super rich played a key role in the crisis. Explore further A wealth tax forces those responsible for climate change to pay for it Eels are mentioned in England's 11th-century Domesday Book and used to be an accepted tax payment in medieval times Billions of euros worth of critically endangered eels are being trafficked each year from Europe, ending up on tables in China and Japan in what campaigners say is "the largest wildlife crime on Earth." Stocks of European eel (anguilla anguilla) have plummeted 90 percent in three decades as mankind has developed the wetlands and dammed the rivers it needs to grow and feed in, and experts fear criminal gangs smuggling the lucrative fish are pushing it towards oblivion. Despite growing alarm from conservationists, hundreds of tonnes of eels are still legally and illegally fished each year. In Francewhich catches more of the fish than any other EU statethe issue has taken on political dimensions. "There's around 10 percent of stocks left compared to 30 years ago due to habitat loss and what we've done to the migration pathways in Europe," Andrew Kerr, chairman of the Sustainable Eel Group (SEG) that works to conserve the species, told AFP. The eel's vertiginous decline has provoked some action from governments and law enforcement agencies. It is now listed in the CITES international convention on trade in endangered species, resulting in strict national catch quotas. The problem, according to Michel Vignaud, head of fishing regulation at France's National Biodiversity Agency, is exploding Asian demand for a product viewed as both a delicacy and an aphrodisiac. "We cannot legally export eels outside the EU, but the prices are different in Asia. There is a real Asian demand for eel," he told AFP. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said that in 2016 China produced close to a quarter of a million tonnes of eel for consumption, far ahead of Japanwhere eating eel is seen as bringing good luck and fertilityand the EU. The bloc's law enforcement agency EUROPOL estimates as many as 100 tonnes of baby eelsknown as glass eels for their translucent skinare trafficked abroad each year: equivalent to around 350 million fish. The life cycle of the European eel. Stocks have declined 90% in 3 decades. "Glass eels trafficking involves environmental crime, smuggling, document fraud, tax evasion and money laundering," a spokesman told AFP. The live eels are largely caughtlegally or otherwisein Western Europe before being smuggled eastwards in vans or lorries, often falsely labelled as non-endangered fish, police and conservationists say. Criminal gangs then divide the eels into suitcases, up to 50,000 of the tiny fish per bag, which are then flown by commercial airliner to Asia. The fish are grown in special farms to their full sizeup to a metre and a halfand then sold to market for the equivalent of 10 euros each. "Prices vary so you can only come up with bracket figures, but we're talking billions (of euros). It's the biggest wildlife crime by value on Earth," said Kerr. "It's the most trafficked and travelled animal on the planet." Quota controversy The European eel's extraordinary life-cycle begins in the topaz waters of the Sargasso Sea. The eggs drift on the current across the Atlantic, often taking up to two years to reach the feeding grounds of Europe. The baby eels swim up rivers where they live for up to 25 years, feeding on larvae and worms until fully grown before embarking on the 4,000-mile (6,500-kilometre) journey back home to the Caribbean, where they breed and finally die. But they are under threat from a host of manmade dangers, including illegal fishing, pollution, and the estimated 1.3 million river barriers blocking their path across Europe. The European eel, despite its status as critically endangered, is legally fished in the EU under a strict national quota system "Our hope is that any eels still alive are left alone by humans," said Charlotte Nithart, head of the Robin des Bois conservation group. She said that France's current legal eel quota60 tonnes per year, of which 60 percent must go to restocking effortswas contributing to the species' decline. "We have never said that trafficking alone is responsible for the disappearance of eels," she said. "We want to cancel or at least dramatically reduce fishing quotas and reinforce the means to fight trafficking." 'Getting more dangerous' For Guillaume de Preillec, who represents the local fishing committee in Brittany, quotas are "justified" for those whose livelihoods depend on the eel fishing season, which began across France last week. "If you are in commercial fishing people tell you that when you fish more you earn more. So the fishermen always want more," he said. As the numbers of fish arriving on Europe's shores goes down, smugglers are taking greater risks to sate voracious Asian demand. "Trying to control the traffickers is getting more dangerous. These are people who operate on the sidelines of mass organised crime," said Vignaud. Law enforcement agencies estimate up to 350 million tiny glass eels are smuggled out of Europe each year EUROPOL has scored a number of major hauls in recent years, including Spanish police busting an eel-smuggling gang in possession of 350 kilogrammes of glass eels in April. But despite such seizures and a handful of ongoing trials, campaigners say the penalties remain flimsy compared with those for other trafficking crimes. "EUROPOL can act on the level of customs but there's not a European intervention force to fight trafficking and traffickers," said Nithart. Eels are mentioned in England's 11th-century Domesday Book and used to be an accepted tax payment in medieval times. But as mass trafficking continues to undermine EU-wide efforts to save the threatened species, there are fears for the future of one of the world's most storied fish. "One of the sad things about today in general is how human beings are losing touch with nature, and the eel really symbolises this," said Kerr. Explore further Japan faces record low eel catch, renewing stock fears 2018 AFP The waters of Alaska's Inside Passage are often calm as they are relatively protected from the Pacific Ocean. However, the tide changes in the region can be extreme and require experts at the helm. Credit: Benjamin Barst It takes six months to get really good at accurately gauging the age of yelloweye rockfish. Because they can live for up to 120 years, this species is of particular interest to Benjamin Barst and scientists like him who study the effects of toxic chemicals on living organisms. Over the course of their lifetime, the fish can accumulate high levels of mercury and other trace elements in their tissues. But it wasn't known how much of those elements accumulate in sensitive sites within yelloweye cells. So Barst, a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University's Department of Natural Resource Sciences, set out for Alaska's Inside Passage in search of answers. The results are to be found in a paper published in this month's issue of Environmental Pollution. The research team collected eight yelloweye, weighing up to 8.8 kilograms, from the waters of Alaska's Inside Passage on a sport fishing vessel called the Pheasant Plucker. The fish's livers were removed and tissue samples immediately frozen so they could be analyzed later at laboratory facilities back in Quebec City and Montreal. Isolating toxic elements to better deal with them By examining the tissues at a subcellular level, the researchers discovered yelloweye were able to immobilize several potentially toxic elements within their liver tissues (cadmium, lead, and arsenic) thus preventing them from interacting with sensitive parts of the cell. But mercury was found in concentrations known to be toxicand most of it was in sensitive sites, such as mitochondria and enzymes, within liver cells. Ben Barst holding a yelloweye rockfish caught in the waters of Alaska's Inside Passage. Credit: Melton Griggers "Alaska appears to be a pristine place," says Barst, "but mercury from industrial activities can be transported over long distances and accumulate in sensitive sites within fish livers with dangerous results. Our earlier work had shown clear damage to the livers of rockfish in the fish with the highest levels of mercury. But we didn't know whether the damage was caused by the mercury or by other trace elements. Now we know that mercury is not well detoxified by these fish. This adds another layer of evidence indicating mercury may be the cause of the problem." The results underscore the potential risk that contaminants pose for yelloweye rockfish, one of the largest species of rockfish in the coastal waters of western North America. Yelloweye are listed as threatened in the Puget Sound-Georgia Basin of the U.S., and as a species of "special concern" in Canada, where conservation areas have been established to protect rockfish habitat from commercial and recreational fishing. Alaska's Inside Passage is strikingly beautiful. Unfortunately, older fish (like mature yelloweye rockfish) in the region can have elevated mercury levels in their tissues. Credit: Benjamin Barst Explore further Warmer oceans could raise mercury levels in fish More information: Benjamin D. Barst et al, Subcellular distributions of trace elements (Cd, Pb, As, Hg, Se) in the livers of Alaskan yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus), Environmental Pollution (2018). Journal information: Environmental Pollution Benjamin D. Barst et al, Subcellular distributions of trace elements (Cd, Pb, As, Hg, Se) in the livers of Alaskan yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus),(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.06.077 Hyena cubs. Credit: Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (FVB) Infectious diseases can substantially reduce the size of wildlife populations, thereby affecting both the dynamics of ecosystems and biodiversity. Predicting the long-term consequences of epidemics is thus essential for conservation. Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) in Berlin and from the Center for Functional Ecology and Evolution (CEFE) in Montpellier, France, have now developed a mathematical model ("matrix model") to determine the impact of a major epidemic of canine distemper virus (CDV) on the population of spotted hyenas in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The results of the study are published in the new Nature open-access journal Communications Biology. In 1993 and 1994, a severe epidemic of canine distemper virus (CDV) swept through the Serengeti National Park in north-western Tanzania and reduced the lion population by about a third. It also hit the spotted hyena, a keystone social predator of the African Savannah. Many young hyenas showed clinical symptoms of the disease and died. CDV was probably introduced to Africa in the early 20th century. The epidemic in lions and hyenas in the early 90s was caused by a novel strain that was highly contagious for these two carnivore species. The lion population in the park recovered relatively quickly, reaching its pre-epidemic size within a period of a few years. In contrast, the projected recovery of the hyena population required more than a decade, as the current study reveals. The main reason for its slow recovery lies probably in the relatively slow rate of reproduction of the species, the researchers say. "Spotted hyenas invest much more energy in raising their cubs than lions" says Sarah Benhaiem, a scientist at Leibniz-IZW. "Females give birth to only one or two cubs per litter and then feed them with highly nutritious milk for almost up to two years, which is exceptionally long for a carnivore." Species with low reproductive rates are likely to be particularly at risk from human-made threats such as the introduction of exotic diseases, which CDV is in Africa. "The study shows that such threats apply even to animal populations in one of Africa's largest National Parks" adds Marion L. East (Leibniz-IZW). The mathematical model ("matrix model") included data from 625 individually known female spotted hyenas, collected as part of a long-term research project between 1990 and 2010. An extensive and diverse data base on all these females was compiled, which included information on social interactions, clinical signs of disease, molecular and immunological evidence of infection and deaths. This allowed the researchers to build a complex model with three relevant layers of information: disease data were combined with information on the social status of the female hyenas and data on their age and reproductive state. "To our knowledge, this level of sophistication was not reached by previous matrix models developed for wildlife diseases," comment Heribert Hofer (Leibniz-IZW) and Jean-Dominique Lebreton (CEFE). The current study builds on a previous work conducted by the same team, and published in the journal Functional Ecology in March 2018. In their previous work, the authors investigated how the CDV epidemic affected the mortality of individuals, and discovered that cubs of high-ranking females had a higher chance to survive the disease than those of low-ranking females. "High-ranking females have preferential access to hunted prey, which means that they are able to nurse their cubs more often. As a result, their cubs are stronger and grow faster" says Lucile Marescot (formerly at Leibniz-IZW, now at CEFE). This likely explains why the current study found that high-ranking females are essential to the recovery of the population. The new model made it possible to determine for the first time the "basic reproduction number" (R0) of the disease in spotted hyenas. "This is a useful measure in epidemiology because it tells us if and how quickly an infectious disease will spread in a population" explains Olivier Gimenez (CEFE). During the epidemic, this number was almost six, indicating that an infected hyena could transmit the virus to six other healthy hyenas. "This is a fairly high value, similar to that of measles in humans, which also explains why the epidemic spread so rapidly in the 1990s," says Stephanie Kramer-Schadt (Leibniz-IZW). What is true for measles in humans also applies to CDV in hyenas: if young survive the infection they develop antibodies and gain immunity for the rest of their life. The study highlights the importance of age and social status in the spread of a childhood illness. Explore further Social status influences infection risk and disease-induced mortality More information: Sarah Benhaiem et al. Slow recovery from a disease epidemic in the spotted hyena, a keystone social carnivore, Communications Biology (2018). Sarah Benhaiem et al. Slow recovery from a disease epidemic in the spotted hyena, a keystone social carnivore,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0197-1 Lucile Marescot et al. Social status mediates the fitness costs of infection with canine distemper virus in Serengeti spotted hyenas, Functional Ecology (2018). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13059 Journal information: Functional Ecology A study analyzes the effectiveness of microsegmented political advertising on social networks such as Facebook. Credit: UC3M Republican Donald Trump's team spent $44 million on Facebook, running 175,000 different adverts during the 2016 election campaign, compared to a spend of $28 million by Democrat Hillary Clinton. These campaigns target Facebook users based on factors such as gender, location or political allegiance. This micro-targeted advertising on social media was highly effective in persuading undecided voters to support Trump, as well as in convincing Republican supporters to turn out on polling day. In particular, it increased the probability that a non-aligned voter would decide to vote for candidate Trump by at least five percentage points, according to the results of the study. On the other hand, "the results show that Clinton did not manage to increase support among her potential natural voters nor boost their participation in the elections. Unfortunately, we do not have the necessary data to be able to understand why it worked for Trump and not for Clinton," the authors of the paper point out. This disparity shows there are other variables to consider in addition to the use of social media. In Trump's case, the impact of the campaign was strongest among voters who used Facebook regularly, those who used it as their main source of news, and among voters without university or college-level education. Specifically, political micro-targeting was particularly effective when based on ideology, gender or educational level, much less so when based on race or age. "Our results show that learning about politics on Facebook does not make voters more informed, but does make them less likely to change their voting choice, which is very in line with the concept of political polarisation. This effect is particularly visible among men, Republican voters and people with a low level of education," confirms one of the authors of the paper, Federica Libernini, from the ETH Zurich department of Economy, Technology and Business Management. According to the authors, the paper contributes to an incipient body of literature that is using Facebook data in a completely privacy-preserving manner. The platform represents a novel and highly valuable data source to address important socio-economic questions. "Thanks to predictive analytics, companies like Facebook offer a toolkit for targeting voters at an extremely granular level based on their previous online behaviour. These online campaign channels are potentially very powerful political instruments. It is therefore vital that we understand how political campaigns on social media work, their impact on voter behaviour, and, ultimately, on election results," saysco-author Michela Redoano, associate professor at the University of Warwick Department of Economics. Antonio Russo, another of the researchers from this multidisciplinary team, points out that Facebook's impact on turnout "suggests that social media has great potential for stimulating the political participation of people who would otherwise have lost interest in politics. In a world where confidence in democracy is dwindling, I believe this is good news. However, we still have much to learn about whether the information that voters are exposed to on social media really helps them make informed choices." This research project used mainly two sources of data: First, the cost of displaying advertising on the platform according to the different demographic factors and political alignment (conservative, liberal or moderate) of the targeted users of an advertising campaign. Second, the results from election interviews carried out by the American National Election Studies (ANES) on 2414 voters who were interviewed before and after the 2016 North American presidential elections. In this case, they were asked about their political ideology, gender, educational level, age and other data, as well as who they were voting for at both points in time. In addition, they were asked about their use of Facebook in order to find out if they were exposed to the electoral adverts. This data was then crossed-referenced and the results were analysed. Explore further Targeted Facebook ads shown to be highly effective in the 2016 US Presidential election Credit: Ianthi Tsimpli Multilingualism is the norm in India. But rather than enjoying the cognitive and learning advantages seen in multilingual children in the Global North, Indian children show low levels of learning basic school skills. Professor Ianthi Tsimpli is trying to disentangle the causes of this paradox. The crowded and bustling streets of Delhi teem with life. Stop to listen and, above the din of rickshaws, taxis and buses, you'll hear a multitude of languages, as more than 20 million men, women and children go about their daily lives. Many were born and raised there, and many millions more have made India's capital their home, having moved from surrounding neighbourhoods, cities and states or across the country, often in search of a better job, a better home and a better life. Some arrive speaking fluent Hindi, the dominant language in Delhi (and the official language of government), but many arrive speaking any number of India's 22 officially recognised languages, let alone the hundreds of regional and tribal languages in a country of more than 1.3 billion people. Around 950 miles south of Delhi lies Hyderabad, where more than 70% of its seven million people speak Telugu. Meanwhile, in Bihar, in the northeast of India, Urdu has replaced Hindi as the dominant language across this poor and populous state of more than 100 million people. What links Delhi, Hyderabad and Bihar is a four-year project, Multilingualism and multiliteracy: raising learning outcomes in challenging contexts in primary schools across India, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Department for International Development. Led by Professor Ianthi Tsimpli, from the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, the project involves Dr. Denes Szucs from the Department of Psychology, plus researchers from the University of Reading and project partners in Karnataka, Hyderabad and New Delhi. The overriding aim of the project is to find out why in a country where multilingualism is so common (more than 255 million people in India speak at least two languages, and nearly 90 million speak three or more languages), the benefits and advantages of speaking more than one language, observed in Europe for instance, do not apply to many of India's schoolchildren. For Tsimpli, the answers to this conundrum may lie within the dataset she and her colleagues are compiling with the help of more than 1,000 primary-age schoolchildren across Delhi, Hyderabad and Bihar. "Each year across India, 600,000 children are tested, and year after year more than half of children in Standard 5 [ten-year-olds] cannot read a Standard 2 [seven-year-olds] task fluently, and nearly half of them could not solve a Standard 2 subtraction task," says Tsimpli, who co-leads Cambridge Language Sciences, the University's Interdisciplinary Research Centre that brings together researchers from different fields to tackle 'grand challenges' where language is a factor. "Low literacy and numeracy limit other important capabilities, including critical thinking and problem solving. Low educational achievement can lead to many dropping out of school a problem disproportionately affecting female students. And the gap between state schools and private schools increases every year." She and colleagues are looking at whether these low learning outcomes could be a by-product of an Indian school system whereby the language that children are taught in often differs from the language used at home. "We are looking at eight to 11-year-old schoolchildren in rural and urban areas," she explains. "Within those urban areas we make the distinction between boys and girls living in slum and non-slum areas. "Many children are internal migrants who move from remote, rural areas to urban areas. They are so poor they have to live in slums and, as a result of migration, these children may speak languages that are different to the regional language. Credit: Ianthi Tsimpli "By looking at the mismatch between home and school languages, and by using tests and other socio-economic and educational variables, we try to find out whether these children are advantaged or disadvantaged in literacy, numeracy, mathematical reasoning, problem solving and cognitive skills." Two years into the four-year project, the team has discovered considerable variation in the provision of education across government schools in the three areas, with different teaching practices and standards. Having tested all 1,000 children, they will now embark on retesting them, looking not only at test results, but also allowing for other variables such as the standard of schooling, the environment and the teaching practices themselves. It's possible that one of the causes of low performance is the lack of pupil-centred teaching methods; instead, the teacher dominates and there is little room for independent learning. Although the findings are at a preliminary stage, Tsimpli and her team have found that the medium of instruction used in schools, especially English, may hold back those children who have little familiarity with, or exposure to,the language before starting school and outside of school life. "Most of the evidence from this and other projects shows that English instruction in very disadvantaged areas might not be the best way to start, at least in the first three years [Standards 1 to 3] of primary," says Tsimpli. "What we would recommend for everyone, not just low socio-economic status children, would be to start learning in the language they feel comfortable learning in. The medium of instruction should reflect the strengths of the child. When it does, that child will learn better. English can still be used, but perhaps not as the medium of instruction in primary schools. It could, for example, be one of the subjects that are being taught alongside other subjects, starting perhaps from the third year of primary school. "We are not suggesting that English be withdrawn that ship has sailed but we perhaps have to think more about learner needs. There is perhaps too much uniformity in teaching and less tailoring to the children's language abilities and needs." While the preliminary results show that there is no difference in general intelligence among boys and girls from slum versus urban poor backgrounds, a surprising finding has been that children from slum backgrounds in Delhi do not seem to lag behind other children from other urban poor backgrounds and in some cases perform better (e.g. in numeracy and literacy tasks). This unexpected finding may be down to the life experiences of children growing up in slums, where they are likely to mature faster and come into closer contact with the numeracy skills essential for day-to-day survival. Tsimpli adds that, despite the project only being at its midpoint, it has already caught the attention of government ministers, including Delhi's Minister for Education, who is keen to use their findings to inform and adjust school policy in India's capital city and the wider state. "Delhi may be keen to adopt root-and-branch reform if our findings support it," explains Tsimpli. "They are as keen as us to understand how the challenging context of deprivation can be attenuated when focusing on the languages children learn and use while at school. "Our findings don't mean that you're doomed if you're poor. It may be that these low learning outcomes are because of the way education is provided in India, with a huge focus on Hindi and English as the mediums of instruction, to the potential detriment of children unfamiliar with those languages. "Language is central to the way knowledge is transferred so the medium of instruction is obviously hugely influential. We hope to be able to show that problem solving, numeracy and literacy can and do improve in children who are educated in a language of instruction that they know. The trick may be to bridge school skills with life skills and make use of the richness of a child's life experience to help them learn in the most effective ways possible." Explore further Marrying technology and home language boosts maths and science learning SpaceX founder Elon Musk, whose appearance on a livetream podcast smoking a joint reportedly sparked NASA's sweeping reviews to ensure drug-free workspace at both SpaceX and Boeing The US space agency has ordered a sweeping safety review of operations and workplace culture, including drug-free policies, at Boeing and SpaceX, two companies working to send astronauts to space, US media said Tuesday. The review was "prompted by the recent behavior of SpaceX's founder, Elon Musk, according to three officials with knowledge of the probe, after he took a hit of marijuana and sipped whiskey on a podcast streamed on the Internet," said the Washington Post, which first reported on the story. NASA declined to comment on the allegations, but confirmed the review would start next year as the agency focuses "on safe and successful commercial crew missions" to the International Space Station. "In the coming months, prior to the crew test flights of Crew Dragon and Starliner, NASA will be conducting a cultural assessment study in coordination with our commercial partners to ensure the companies are meeting NASA's requirements for workplace safety, including the adherence to a drug-free environment," said the NASA statement. "We fully expect our commercial partners to meet all workplace safety requirements in the execution of our missions and the services they provide the American people. As always, NASA will ensure they do so." Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla Motors, has faced increased scrutiny over his volatile behavior, including smoking marijuana during a podcast interview earlier this year and assailing a man involved in the Thailand cave rescue as a "pedo guy." In response to the news of the inquiry, SpaceX said in a statement: "human spaceflight is the core mission of our company. There is nothing more important to SpaceX than this endeavor, and we take seriously the responsibility that NASA has entrusted in us to safely and reliably carry American astronauts to and from the International Space Station." The company added it "actively promotes workplace safety, and we are confident that our comprehensive drug-free workforce and workplace programs exceed all applicable contractual requirements." Boeing also insisted its culture "ensures the integrity, safety and quality of our products, our people and their work environment," a spokesman said in a statement emailed to AFP. "As NASA's trusted partner since the beginning of human spaceflight, we share the same values and are committed to continuing our legacy of trust, openness and mission success." Both SpaceX and Boeing plan to launch their first unmanned flights of spacecraft that will eventually carry people to the ISS early in 2019, followed by the first crewed flights later in the year. The spaceships aim to restore US capacity to send astronauts to space. The retirement of the US space shuttle program in 2011 has left the United States without it own spacecraft for ferrying astronauts. Instead, the world's astronauts must now buy tickets aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft at a cost of some $80 million per seat. Explore further First SpaceX mission with astronauts set for June 2019: NASA 2018 AFP Credit: Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin gGmbH Municipal wastewater treatment in Europe consumes the energy equivalent of around two power stations per year but could actually be generating the energy of 12. The EU-funded POWERSTEP project demonstrates how to make this more than a pipe dream. Whilst much of the European wastewater treatment industry, with incremental energy efficiencies, is looking to achieve energy neutrality where treatment generates the same amount of energy as it consumes research indicates that the level of ambition could be much higher. Studies point to the fact that processing sewage at treatment plants could already offer a new source of renewable energy, without compromising performance. In fact, it has been calculated that the potential chemical energy contained within European municipal wastewater is about 87 500 GWh per year. The EU-funded POWERSTEP (Full scale demonstration of energy positive sewage treatment plant concepts towards market penetration) project set out to show just how it is possible to achieve energy-positive wastewater treatment plants without any other external renewable energy sources, by only using the power of sludge. The overall POWERSTEP concept could be achieved, drawing on lessons from six full-scale case studies, spread across four countries, of each essential process step. Benefiting from the involvement of industry partners, the project was able to move to large scale demonstrations, paving the way to quick market roll-out and supporting the business plans of participating technology providers. Integrating technologies POWERSTEP was set up to integrate the various individual technology assessments developed in the case studies pre-dating the project. This enabled the researchers to streamline whole processes such as treatment scheme modelling and design, global energy and heat management, carbon foot printing and integrated design options. The key first stage of the POWERSTEP wastewater treatment plant concept for enabling energy-neutrality, or even energy-positivity, is carbon extraction. The extraction of carbon rich sludge (with an 80 percent extraction rate possible using POWERSTEP technology) allows a strong increase in biogas production. In terms of improved treatment methods towards this end, the team investigated enhanced carbon extraction (pre-filtration), innovative nitrogen removal processes (such as advanced control, main-stream deammonification, duckweed reactor), power-to-gas (biogas upgrades) with a smart grid approach, heat-to-power concepts (thermoelectric recovery in combined heat and power units, steam rankine cycle, heat storage concepts) and innovative process water treatment (nitritation, membrane ammonia stripping). As Dr. Christian Loderer explains, "Across the EU, wastewater energy self-supply that is biogas production for electricity production is at very different levels. In some countries such as the Netherlands and Germany, self-supply is high but not reaching the energy-neutrality of 100 percent (except in very few cases). Other countries, especially in Eastern Europe, have very low self-supply, missing 50-80 percent of the energy-potential of their wastewater." This highlights the fact that there are a number of barriers to be overcome. One is that biogas from water treatment is currently not yet accepted as a quality renewable energy, in comparison with biogas from energy crops. This is despite the negative side-effects of biogas from crops such as the creation of corn mono-cultures, excessive fertiliser application and nutrient release into the aquatic environment. Conversely, biogas from sewage sludge does not have these negative side-effects. Contributing to the circular economy POWERSTEP, with its practical examples of how to best produce renewable energy from wastewater, significantly contributes to EU efforts towards transitioning to the circular economy, guided by ambitions for sustainability across society, the economy and the environment. This fact was recently underlined by the Director-General of the European Commission's DG Energy, Dominique Ristori, who described POWERSTEP as, "extremely well placed when considering the priorities of the Energy Union." Furthermore, with the electricity to run treatment plants costing around EUR 2 billion per year, the savings could be pronounced. Dr. Loderer contends that if municipalities were to follow the POWERSTEP approach, EU citizens would also directly benefit with reduced energy bills. "Energy-neutral wastewater treatment is not illusionary anymore, we have shown that it is absolutely possible now with commercially available state-of-the-art technologies," as Dr. Loderer says. And with the Altenrhein Waste Water Treatment Plant in Switzerland now equipped with a full-scale Nitrogen-recovery unit, which had been studied in detail by the POWERSTEP partner EAWAG, momentum is literally building. Looking to the future Dr. Loderer adds that, "Energy-positive treatment, up to 140-170 percent, is also possible but still requires more work on technology reliability and economic viability, for full-scale systems to be rolled out." In the immediate term, as a proof of concept showing that the technology works for the small as well as large scale, the team is in discussions with key industrial partners from the project on how to establish a network of small wastewater treatment plants which will partly implement POWERSTEP approaches. Explore further How biomethane can help turn gas into a renewable energy source Going, going Ghosn: Nissan and Mitsubishi look set to oust charistmatic chairman Carlos Ghosn after his arrest for alleged financial misconduct Nissan and Mitsubishi shares plunged Tuesday, as the automakers prepared to oust chairman Carlos Ghosn a day after he was arrested for alleged financial misconduct. Details began to emerge about the allegations against Ghosn, whose arrest sent shockwaves through the auto industry, including claims that "huge sums" were spent on homes for him in four countries. His legacy appeared in danger of total collapse, with his own handpicked successor as Nissan CEO accusing Ghosn of accruing too much power, in what he called the "dark side" of his leadership. The spectacular fall of the Brazil-born executive, which Japan's top government spokesman called "truly regrettable," also raised questions about the future of the sometimes fractious alliance he led of Nissan, Mitsubishi and Renault. Nissan and Mitsubishi have said they will propose his removal as chairman, with Renault's board also meeting to discuss his fate. The automakers and Japanese government officials said they would work to protect the alliance. "Keeping a stable relationship (among the three companies) is important," industry minister Hiroshige Seko told reporters. On Tuesday there were still many unanswered questions about the allegations against a man long credited with an almost magical ability to turn around ailing auto companies. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said a months-long investigation prompted by a whistleblower had uncovered years of financial wrongdoing, including under-reporting of Ghosn's salary and misuse of company assets. Shares plunged at Nissan and Mitsubishi following the news of Ghosn's arrest Prosecutors said they were holding him as they probed allegations he had under-reported his income by around five billion yen ($44.5 million) over five years. Public broadcaster NHK reported Nissan has provided Ghosn with houses in four countries "without any legitimate business reason," and that Nissan paid "huge sums" for the homes in Rio de Janeiro, Beirut, Paris and Amsterdam. It also reported that some compensation due to other executives ended up going to Ghosn, without specifying how the process had worked. At the close of Tokyo trade, Nissan was down 5.45 percent while Mitsubishi had fallen 6.84 percent. 'It's all about money' The shock of Ghosn's arrest was compounded by the harsh language levelled against him by Saikawa, who in a news conference accused the titan of accruing too much power. "Too much authority was given to one person in terms of governance," he told reporters at Nissan's headquarters in Yokohama on Monday. "I have to say that this is a dark side of the Ghosn era which lasted for a long time." It was an almost unthinkable turn of events for Ghosn, 64, who had earned a virtually unparallelled reputation, particularly in Japan, for his role in resurrecting Nissan. Ghosn has dominated the country's corporate landscape, and is a well-known figure among the Japanese public, who know him as "Mr Fix It", partly through a popular manga comic of his life story. The structure of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, the production sites and sales figures. But the tables had turned Tuesday, with the Yomiuri Shimbun describing executives at Nissan slamming Ghosn as "greedy". "He says the right things, but in the end it's all about money," the daily quoted senior employees as saying. It was unclear how long Ghosn could be held, or even when prosecutors would officially announce the charges against him. 'Masterminds' Local media reported prosecutors had negotiated a plea bargain for only the second time since Japanese law changed this year that would allow Nissan officials who are cooperating to receive lesser charges or lighter penalties. Nissan said the ongoing investigation had uncovered years of misconduct by Ghosn and Representative Director Greg Kelly but refused to be drawn on whether other people were involved, saying only: "These two gentlemen are the masterminds, that is definite." The news sparked concern in France, where the state owns a 15 percent stake in Renault. President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would be "extremely vigilant" about the stability of the firm and its three-way tie-up. Despite his international renown and rock-star status, particularly in Japan, where he was a rare foreign-born executive, Ghosn was not without detractors. He earned admiration but also anger for his ruthless restructuring at firms like Nissan, and was nicknamed "Le Cost Cutter" in France. And his pay packet was regularly the subject of criticism, including at Renault, where it sparked a spat with shareholders. Explore further Nissan chief Ghosn arrested over financial misconduct: reports 2018 AFP The receptor is the key regulatory switch controlling calcium release from bones, and thus a prime target for developing new drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis. The receptor consists of an extracellular part (purple) and a part that resides in the membrane (green). Parathyroid hormone (orange) activates the receptor. Credit: University of Zurich Researchers at the University of Zurich have determined the three-dimensional structure of a receptor that controls the release of calcium from bones. The receptor is now one of the main candidates for developing new drugs to treat osteoporosis. Knowing the receptor's blueprint will be instrumental for designing drugs that could even help to rebuild bones. Osteoporosis affects about 400,000 people in Switzerland, mostly women after menopause. It is often described as a silent disease, because bone loss usually occurs little by little over the years and without any symptoms. The body gradually absorbs calcium from the bones, which become brittle. This process is controlled via what is called the parathyroid hormone (PTH) and a closely related peptidea protein fragment. They bind to the PTH-1 receptor, thereby telling the body to either release calcium from the bone or to build new bone. An extremely difficult undertaking A team led by Andreas Pluckthun, professor at the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Zurich (UZH), has now been able to determine the three-dimensional structure of the PTH-1 receptor. The atomic structure can now serve as the blueprint for the future development of drugs. Such receptor-binding compounds may slow down, and perhaps even reverse, osteoporosis to some degree. Determining the structure of this receptor was an extremely tough undertaking, as cells only produce a very small amount of it, and it is also very unstable. "The directed evolution and protein engineering methods we have developed over the last few years were absolutely instrumental in making this possible," explains Andreas Pluckthun. One of the most effective current treatments for severe osteoporosis involves the use of substances that look like the natural hormone and its related peptide. "However, this treatment is extremely expensive. The substances have to be injected into the thigh or abdomen once a day, and the treatment also has significant side effects," says Christoph Klenk, co-author of the study. The scientists are convinced that thanks to the new insights into the mechanisms of the PTH-1 receptor, new drugs can be developed that don't have any of the previous disadvantages. "The receptor is like a lock, and the peptides are the keys that turn it," describes Pluckthun. "Having the atomic 3-D blueprint on a computer screen gives us an unprecedented level of insight into how the lock actually works." Understanding a whole class of receptors The PTH-1 receptor is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors. In particular, these include receptors that bind to other hormones, such as the ones involved in controlling diabetes. The work by the UZH scientists thus also sheds light on how the whole family of receptors works, as the PTH-1 receptor was examined at the highest level of detail for any of these receptors so far. This has enabled the scientists to describe similarities as well as differences to other class B receptors. "Having the blueprint of the lock doesn't give us a key yet, but now it's possible to build one," says Andreas Pluckthun. Explore further Hidden estrogen receptors in the breast epithelium More information: Janosch Ehrenmann et al, High-resolution crystal structure of parathyroid hormone 1 receptor in complex with a peptide agonist, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2018). Journal information: Nature Structural & Molecular Biology Janosch Ehrenmann et al, High-resolution crystal structure of parathyroid hormone 1 receptor in complex with a peptide agonist,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41594-018-0151-4 The once-revered Carlos Ghosn's life was even made into a manga comic but soon after Monday's arrest his successor at Nissan referred to the 'dark side' of his tenure Carlos Ghosn's status as an outsider in Japan brought him huge success, as his maverick style blew a gale through a musty corporate world, but his disregard of business norms may ultimately prove his undoing. The man so embraced as the saviour of a once-stumbling firm that his life was made into an inspiring manga comic was Tuesday under arrest and facing allegations of financial misconductincluding under-reporting his huge salary. The companies he rescuedNissan and Mitsubishilooked set to dump him as chairman and his legacy as a boardroom saviour lay in tatters. Until this week's dramatic events, the storyline had been one of almost unbounded optimism. "Ghosn is likely the most successful foreign chairman in Japan," said Kosuke Sato, a senior economist at the Japan Research Institute. "What he did was unprecedented in Japanese corporate history." But that narrative was rapidly unravelling by Monday evening. At a news conference hours after Ghosn's arrest his hand-picked successor as Nissan CEO offered a revisionist history that minimised the role played by the Brazil-born executive in the automaker's turnaround. Hiroto Saikawa also referred to the "dark side" of Ghosn's tenure, suggesting he had accrued too much power and had become far removed from the daily operations of the firm. And he pointedly declined to offer the deep bow of apology that has become a standard part of any press conference involving a Japanese company acknowledging misdeeds by staff. Ghosn 'made enemies' Japan's media, who once feted Ghosn for his role in resurrecting Nissan and reviving the country's auto industry, also pounced. The financial Nikkei daily noted he had failed to cut short his holiday when an inspection scandal at Nissan broke in 2017, and the Yomiuri Shimbun described Nissan executives calling Ghosn "greedy". "He says the right things, but in the end it's all about money," the daily quoted employees as saying. Corporate scandals are nothing new in Japan, but a case apparently centred on personal enrichment has left a bitter taste. "Ghosn is a victim of his own hubris and success," said Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University Japan. Carlos Ghosn rescued Nissan but now its board looks set to out him, with his legacy in tatters "He was lionised for bursting through Japan's fusty corporate culture, taking no prisoners, and now he is paying the price. "He trampled on Japanese cultural norms with his flamboyant glory-hogging ways, and his massive compensation incited jealousies and invited retaliation," he told AFP. His salary was enormous by Japanese standards and drew criticism even at the government level in France. "He certainly made enemies and was envied in the Japanese establishment because in a sense he breached the norms of CEO compensation," said Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University Japan. "Ghosn also had a CEO lifestyle. The major Japanese bosses are more discreet," he added. Culture clash Indeed it may have been Ghosn's brash style, rather than his status as a foreigner, that ultimately set him apart. Whether in the aggressive restructuring that earned him the nickname "Le Cost Cutter" or his decision to celebrate his marriage to his second wife with a Marie Antoinette-themed party at Versailles, Ghosn was the antithesis of the low-key persona of his peers in Japanese firms. The fall of such a high-profile outsider comes as Japan wrestles with addressing longstanding labour shortages by bringing in foreign blue-collar migrant workers. The proposition has caused unease in some quarters as a major departure from Japan's strict immigration policy, which has ensured a relatively homogenous society. Sato said the Ghosn case illustrated a fundamental culture clash in Japan's corporate sector, where "The case occurred partially because Japanese firms do not have a culture of offering huge salaries to CEOs," he told AFP. "After this case, Japanese companies may hesitate to accept foreign leaders in the future." And that, said Jenny Corbett, of the Foundation for Australia-Japan Studies, would be a pity for Japan Inc. "For those companies that need to turn themselves around, it can be seen as almost the only way to achieve it, you have to have an outsider," she said. "After Ghosn, it may be that the companies that need that kind of shake up will be more nervous about bringing outsiders to do that." Explore further Nissan chief Ghosn arrested over financial misconduct: reports 2018 AFP The founder of Bloomberg said he was making the gift to his alma mater to help qualified low and middle-income students more easily afford access to university Michael Bloomberg's record $1.8 billion donation for financial aid to Johns Hopkins University highlights the problem of student debt in America, which can still be a burden even years after graduation. According to the Department of Education, 42.2 million Americans were repaying a federal student loan at the end of June 2018 for a total sum of nearly $1.5 trillion, the largest volume of debt after home loans. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, said he was making the gift to his alma mater to help qualified low- and middle-income students more easily afford access to university in a country where post-secondary education fees at elite schools routinely exceed $50,000 a year, a prohibitive barrier for most families. "I was lucky: My father was a bookkeeper who never made more than $6,000 a year. But I was able to afford Johns Hopkins University through a National Defense student loan and by holding down a job on campus," Bloomberg, who also founded the financial news service of the same name, wrote in a New York Times op-ed. The donation, believed to be the biggest ever to a university, "will ensure that we are able to recruit more first-generation and low-income students and provide them with full access to every dimension of the Johns Hopkins experience," its head Ronald Daniels said. Currently, 44 percent of students at the institution in Baltimore, Maryland, complete their studies in debt, on average owing more than $24,000, university data shows. 'Drop in the ocean' For Sandy Baum, a university professor at the Urban Institute, Bloomberg's gift is "great" but "that's just a drop in the ocean." His move would have had a bigger impact if he gave money to improve the quality of education for more students, in less elite private or public institutions, she told AFP, adding that they sorely lack funding. Baum is not opposed to student loans because for most students, the choice becomes one between not going to university or borrowing to go. Most students' loans, she says, amount to between $15,000 and $20,000 but getting $40,000 in debt is not unusual for a bachelor's degree (four years of study). The College Board estimates the average cost of a four-year course in a private university at $34,740, not counting additional accommodation and living expenses. Many students take out loans from the federal government or private lenders. Some, especially the less wealthy, fall into the spiral of over-indebtedness when they find themselves unable to repay their loans. They no longer have access to credit, cannot rent a home or buy a car. A local cable channel this summer launched a game, "Paid Off," in which the participants battle it out to see who has their student debt cleared. Fed worries The problem worries everyoneeven the US central bank. "As student loans continue to grow and become larger and larger, then it absolutely could hold back growth," Jerome Powell warned in March. Joanna Darcus, a lawyer for the consumer protection organization NCLC, welcomed Bloomberg's big donation. It's needed in our "completely broken system of financing university education by debt," she said. For students from low-income backgrounds "it is very important to lower the cost of education" as student debt increases the gap between rich and poor, she told AFP. The NCLC advocates for an increase in the number and size of university scholarships. "If its possible for people to go to school without incurring debt we are all better off; we don't have to spend money on debt collection and student debt doesn't impair the decision-making on a personal, professional or financial level," she added. Explore further Financial education key to reducing student loan stress 2018 AFP Illustration of the main concepts described in this paper. Credit: Kansai University Takashi Miyata at Kansai University and colleagues report in Nature Communications a temperature-responsive gel that absorbs moisture and, when heated, releases it in the form of water. Applications include energy-efficient materials for condensing moisture into water. Hydrogels are highly absorbent materials, and when they incorporate polymer chains that respond to external stimuli (such as pH or temperature) they that can display abrupt volume changes when the surrounding conditions change. Such stimuli-responsive hydrogels have a range of potential applications, for example in drug delivery systems, sensors, cell culture and so on. In particular, thermo-responsive hydrogels kept in an aqueous solution undergo a reversible phase transition above a critical temperature that causes a transition from a hydrated to a dehydrated state, which results in a drastic shrinking of the gel. Many studies exist on hydrogels that respond to changes in temperature while in solution, but the behavior of the dried gels in air has not been studied yet. Now, Takashi Miyata at Kansai University and colleagues present in a study published in Nature Communications a temperature-responsive gel that absorbs moisture and, when heated, releases it in the form of water. The gel contains a thermo-responsive polymer and a hydrophilic component (sodium alginate) that boosts water absorption. The transition temperature for this material is close to room temperature, 32 C. When exposed to high relative humidity (80%) at 25C, the gel absorbs 0.6 g of water per gram and swells. The presence of water on the polymer chains causes them to respond to temperature in a similar way as hydrogels immersed in solution, so that the chains, that are initially hydrophilic, change to hydrophobic with raising temperature. When this happens, the water molecules desorb and condense into liquid water. Indeed, as the sample is heated to a temperature of up to 50C, water appears on its surface, and its amount increases sizably for temperatures above 40 C. Thus the gel acts as a dehumidifier but, unlike traditional dehumidifiers that require energy to evaporate the absorbed water to regenerate the material, and then to condense it for collection, the gel can condense water simply in response to a small temperature change (from 25 C to 50 C). Regeneration of the material and collection of the water can thus be achieved using very little energy. Further optimization is still needed, but thermo-responsive gels like the one presented in this paper could find applications as energy-efficient materials for condensing moisture into water. Hydrogel A hydrogel is a polymeric network formed by hydrophilic polymer chains; the hydrophilicity of the chains means that when immersed in waters hydrogels can absorb big quantities of water (a hydrogel can contain more than 90% water), which causes the gel to swell, maintaining its 3-D structure. Hydrogels are used in many contexts, for example as scaffolds in tissue engineering, for sustained drug delivery or, if they contain additive sensitive to specific molecules, as biosensors. Explore further Turning up the heat on shape-shifting gels More information: Kazuya Matsumoto et al. Thermo-responsive gels that absorb moisture and ooze water, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Kazuya Matsumoto et al. Thermo-responsive gels that absorb moisture and ooze water,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04810-8 Provided by Kansai University Username: Password: or Register Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Thread Rating: 1 Vote(s) - 5 Average 1 2 3 4 5 The Only Regime Change That Is Needed Is In Washington ALADIN * weird wizard1* User ID: 473649 11-20-2018 04:52 AM Posts: 5,423 Post: #1 The Only Regime Change That Is Needed Is In Washington Advertisement One of the things to look forward to in the upcoming holiday season is the special treats that one is allowed to sample. Fruitcake and nuts are Thanksgiving and Christmas favorites. They usually come in tins or special packages but it seems that this season some of the nuts have escaped and have fled to obtain sanctuary from the Trump Administration. Currently, there is certainly a wide range of nuts available on display in the West Wing. There is the delicate but hairy Bolton, which has recently received the coveted Defender of Israel award, and also the robust Pompeo, courageously bucking the trend to overeat during the holidays by telling the Iranian people that they should either surrender or starve to death. And then there is the always popular Haley, voting audaciously to give part of Syria to Israel as a holiday treat. Secretary Pompeo officiates the Swearing-In Ceremony for Ambassador James F. Jeffrey. But my vote for the most magnificent nut in an Administration that is overflowing with such talent would be the esteemed United States Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey. The accolade is in part due to the fact that Jeffrey started out relatively sane as a career diplomat with the State Department, holding ambassadorships in Iraq, Turkey, and Albania. He had to work hard to become as demented as he now is but was helped along the way by signing on as a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), which is a spin-off of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Jeffrey set the tone for his term of office shortly after being appointed back in August when he argued that the Syrian terrorists were . . . not terrorists, but people fighting a civil war against a brutal dictator. Jeffrey, who must have somehow missed a lot of the head chopping and rape going on, subsequently traveled to the Middle East and stopped off in Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It has been suggested that Jeffrey received his marching orders during the visit. James Jeffrey has been particularly active during this past month. On November 7th he declared that he would like to see Russia maintain a permissive approach to allowing the Israelis to attack Iranian targets inside Syria. Regarding Irans possible future role in Syria, he observed that Iranians are part of the problem not part of the solution. What Jeffrey meant was that because Israel had been allowed to carry out hundreds of air attacks in Syria ostensibly directed against Iran-linked targets, the practice should be permitted to continue. Israel had suspended nearly all of its airstrikes in the wake of the shoot-down of a Russian aircraft in September, an incident which Moscow has blamed on Israel even though the missile that brought down the plane was fired by Syria. Fifteen Russian servicemen were killed. Israel reportedly was deliberately using the Russian plane to mask the presence of its own aircraft. Russia responded to the incident by deploying advanced S-300 anti-aircraft systems to Syria, which can cover most of the more heavily developed areas of the country. Jeffrey was unhappy with that decision, saying We are concerned very much about the S-300 system being deployed to Syria. The issue https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-11-1...washington 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 ... The Only Regime Change That Is Needed Is In WashingtonOne of the things to look forward to in the upcoming holiday season is the special treats that one is allowed to sample. Fruitcake and nuts are Thanksgiving and Christmas favorites. They usually come in tins or special packages but it seems that this season some of the nuts have escaped and have fled to obtain sanctuary from the Trump Administration.Currently, there is certainly a wide range of nuts available on display in the West Wing. There is the delicate but hairy Bolton, which has recently received the coveted Defender of Israel award, and also the robust Pompeo, courageously bucking the trend to overeat during the holidays by telling the Iranian people that they should either surrender or starve to death. And then there is the always popular Haley, voting audaciously to give part of Syria to Israel as a holiday treat.Secretary Pompeo officiates the Swearing-In Ceremony for Ambassador James F. Jeffrey.But my vote for the most magnificent nut in an Administration that is overflowing with such talent would be the esteemed United States Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey. The accolade is in part due to the fact that Jeffrey started out relatively sane as a career diplomat with the State Department, holding ambassadorships in Iraq, Turkey, and Albania. He had to work hard to become as demented as he now is but was helped along the way by signing on as a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), which is a spin-off of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).Jeffrey set the tone for his term of office shortly after being appointed back in August when he argued that the Syrian terrorists were . . . not terrorists, but people fighting a civil war against a brutal dictator. Jeffrey, who must have somehow missed a lot of the head chopping and rape going on, subsequently traveled to the Middle East and stopped off in Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It has been suggested that Jeffrey received his marching orders during the visit.James Jeffrey has been particularly active during this past month. On November 7th he declared that he would like to see Russia maintain a permissive approach to allowing the Israelis to attack Iranian targets inside Syria. Regarding Irans possible future role in Syria, he observed that Iranians are part of the problem not part of the solution.What Jeffrey meant was that because Israel had been allowed to carry out hundreds of air attacks in Syria ostensibly directed against Iran-linked targets, the practice should be permitted to continue. Israel had suspended nearly all of its airstrikes in the wake of the shoot-down of a Russian aircraft in September, an incident which Moscow has blamed on Israel even though the missile that brought down the plane was fired by Syria. Fifteen Russian servicemen were killed. Israel reportedly was deliberately using the Russian plane to mask the presence of its own aircraft.Russia responded to the incident by deploying advanced S-300 anti-aircraft systems to Syria, which can cover most of the more heavily developed areas of the country. Jeffrey was unhappy with that decision, saying We are concerned very much about the S-300 system being deployed to Syria. The issue LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 423870 11-20-2018 05:12 AM Post: #2 RE: The Only Regime Change That Is Needed Is In Washington DC is 99.9% Anti-American Traitors.... and State Govts. are almost as bad. Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread 8 hours ago Is Cracker Barrel A High-Yield Trap? Inflation Weighs On Cracker Barrel Results Cracker Barrel (NASDAQ: CBRL) has been, to us, an attractive dividend growth stock over the years but my how the times have changed. While the 3.6% dividend yield looks safe enough, for now, the payout is still below the pre-COVID levels and were not holding our breaths for any large increases any time soon. 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Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito Lambino II said Peza should justify its stance rather than make an 11th-hour appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his own directive supporting corporate income tax and fiscal incentives reform that would benefit more than 99 percent of businesses. Lambino said the Duterte administrations proposal aimed to rationalize tax incentives now enjoyed by just a select group of mostly big businesses located in large cities and level the playing field for some 90,000 small and medium enterprises across the country that currently pay the CIT rate of 30 percent, which was the regions highest. Lambino said the second package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program was not eliminating tax incentives altogether, as the proposed bill would actually continue to provide incentives to businesses, including SMEs, that would lead to increased investment inflows and create more jobs. Peza [director-general Charito Plaza] is free to talk to the president. But the president already approved this comprehensive tax reform program as early as January 2018 in a Cabinet meeting and reiterated this in his State-of-the-Nation Address. We should not stand in the way of a presidential directive, Lambino said. Lambino was responding to reports quoting Plaza as saying she would talk to the president about her misgivings over the CIT reform bill now pending in Congress. Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua said contrary to Plazas claim that neither Peza nor its locators were consulted in the crafting of Package 2, several dialogues were in fact held with Peza and other stakeholders. In fact, we took into consideration Pezas comments, which was why several changes were made to the original Package 2 proposal, Chua said. During our consultations with director-general Plaza, she even agreed to the principles of Package 2that it be performance-based, targeted, time bound and transparent, Chua said.Chua said he was puzzled why Plaza had apparently changed her mind and was now opposing the tax reform bill that aimed to benefit struggling SMEs rather than protect a few firms with oversized profit margins. Following such consultations with PEZA officials and industry players, Chua said that several adjustments were made to Package 2 to take into account their concerns. These adjustments include retaining Pezas power to extend incentives to most projects, keeping the one-stop-shop function and retaining the provision in lieu of local business taxes on the grant of special rates for locators. The House of Representatives approved on Sept. 10 its version of CTRP Package 2 dubbed the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher-quality Opportunities Act or Trabaho bill. The Senate, meanwhile, is still deliberating on the CIT reform bill introduced by Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Lambino said the status quo of dangling tax incentives as a band-aid solution to make up for the structural defects of the business environment, which the government had been doing for over 50 years, had not encouraged export diversification and innovation. Instead, the outcomes are corporate geese fattened from incentives granted forever, declining export competitiveness, and foreign direct investment inflows that remain lackluster if compared to our neighboring countries, Lambino said. He said the Trabaho bill aimed to reverse this unfair setup because it favors investors that support our development objectives, which are: to create more and better jobs, promote research and development, encourage innovation, stimulate domestic industries, promote countryside development, and diversify our product base to higher-value exports. The Finance Department said that in 2015, the government gave away P86.3 billion worth of income tax incentives to firms that paid out a total of P141.8 billion combined in dividends to their respective shareholders. By Alice Hancock Artist Kendall Koppe and gallerist Emma Astner founded the Glasgow gallery Koppe Astner in 2006 but reached a landmark this year when one of the first artists they represented, the Scottish sculptor and film artist Charlotte Prodger, was nominated for the Turner Prize. They champion contemporary artists from around the world producing media from sketches to full room installations. They focus on individuals such as women or LGBTQ+ artists who are under-represented in modern galleries. Emma Astner and Kendall Koppe How did you meet? Astner: We met in Basel in the Kunsthalle museum; Kendall was ranting over the price of a Big Mac in Switzerland. We kept meeting at fairs and carried on a conversation, always joking that one day we would work together. Glasgow was a natural fit because that was where Kendall had studied and it has a longstanding tradition of artists paving the way for their own voices. Dickon Drury, The Whos Who of Whos (2016) How do you go about discovering artists? Koppe: From the onset I was interested in the queer and female voices of our generation. Historically, these voices have always been overshadowed; creating a space that focused on this was pertinent to an unbalanced art world. I keep this in mind whenever we look for artists and when I look at art. Astner: The process of finding artists is so fluid. We often meet artists socially and start a conversation that then develops over months or even years. Then we try to think of a good opportunity to do something together a fair or an exhibition at the gallery and eventually, if it feels right to us and to the artist, we add them to our roster. Its quite a serious step to take: once you represent an artist it is an almost unconditional commitment to promoting them and their practice. There can often be years of showing an artist at fairs and in the gallery where there is little or no interest, but this only makes it all the more satisfying when things take off and the artist gets the attention they deserve. It feels like a shared triumph. A still from Charlotte Prodgers video Bridgit (2016) How would you characterise the type of work you show? Astner: Most of our artists relate a narrative of personal experience to larger social issues, gender politics, art history and popular culture. Name your top three influences Astner: [Television personality] Kris Jenner. Koppe: Queer history and culture, and great fiction. What do you think art should add to a space? Astner: Im more interested in what art does to your mind than what it does to a space. I believe art should take a familiar experience, thought or question and make you experience it in a different way as if its putting a glitch in the neurological paths your brain normally accesses. Corin Sworn, Work House (2018) What has been your most exciting sale or the artist you are most proud of working with? Astner: Sales are essential but are not the focus of our business. Seeing our artists work exhibited in museums is the most satisfying, whether through an acquisition or in a show. George Henry Longly recently had a solo exhibition at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, which was an exciting milestone. We will also have two artists representing their countries at the Venice Biennale in 2019: Kris Lemsalu will represent Estonia and Charlotte Prodger Scotland. George Henry Longly, The Tissue Equivalent (2018) Koppe: Im excited by all our artists, what they make and think. Sales are a welcome bonus. I had the honour of working with Emory Douglas from the Black Panther party [a rights movement that grew up in the US in the late 1960s] his experience and mind are invaluable. Emory Douglas, Seize the Time (2012) If you could choose one artist, living or dead, to paint a bespoke piece for you, who would it be? Astner: Frida Kahlo. I never tire of her paintings beautiful but laden with violent suffering. Koppe: Robert Mapplethorpe. There is a particular quietness that speaks volumes within his images. Its a notably queer language. Is there anyone in your field you particularly admire? Astner: I have immense respect and admiration for my peers. Vanessa Carlos of Carlos/Ishikawa is someone whose vision and opinions I place great value on. We run things by each other so often; we joke that we are director-at-large at each others galleries. How would you describe your homes? Astner: Sparse. Unnecessary objects make me anxious. Koppe: Eclectic. I love living with pieces that I collect or get given. What has been the strangest project you have worked on? Astner: I worked on Mark Wallingers [Titian-inspired 2012] show at Londons National Gallery, because I was his assistant in the days before Koppe Astner. I had to find 25 women named Diana who would be willing to take shifts grooming themselves in a replica of a bathroom with peepholes for the public to observe them from. It was a funny and unique journey, but the result was spectacular. What do you look for in a client? Astner: Genuine enthusiasm and a sense of humour, and its nice to have a dialogue that continues over many years. Koppe: Humour, definitely. Also the urge to collect what they want without following trends or what other people have. Kris Lemsalu, Mysteriously Conceived and Deeply Felt (2018) The design and art worlds move quickly. How do you keep abreast of the next thing? Astner: Talking to peers, talking to our artists, seeing shows in the cities we travel to, walking through art fairs and researching online. Koppe: Its almost like you need to keep headphones on to drown out the noise of constant images and trends that will just come and go. I like to choose what I see and try to avoid over-saturation. What do you see as the overriding trend in your field at the moment, even if you dont subscribe to it? Astner: We are still figuring out how to optimise a virtual experience of art. Not unrelated to that, many people are questioning the conventional gallery and art fair models. Koppe: Sadly, greed is an overriding trend in all aspects of life. I never want it near me. Photographs: Courtesy of Koppe Astner, Glasgow; Philip Ryan; Nicolas Deshayes In-person social contact may help buffer against symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the same is not true of contact on Facebook, according to a new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. When we look at a head-to-head comparison of time spent socializing on Facebook vs. face-to-face, it is the time spend in-person with our friends and family that probably matters most to reducing symptoms of depression and PTSD in veterans, said Dr. Alan Teo, lead author on the paper and a researcher with the Veterans Administration. Previous studies have found that social isolation is closely tied to negative mental health outcomes. It is believed that social support may act as a buffer against stress factors that exacerbate depression, anxiety, or other emotional problems. But while in-person social contact is associated with better health, it has remained unclear whether this link also applies to social media interaction on the internet. For the study, researchers from the Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System and Oregon Health and Science University issued an online survey to 587 veterans who had served since September 2001. Participants were recruited through Facebook ads, meaning that all participants were Facebook users. The survey asked participants how often they had social contact with family and friends both in-person and on Facebook. Each participant was also screened for major depression, PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and suicidality. The findings reveal that participants who had in-person contact at least a few times per week had about 50 percent lower chances for both major depression and PTSD symptoms, compared with those who saw friends and family infrequently. The researchers emphasize that the results do not necessarily mean a direct cause and effect between social contact and better mental health. Because while this study and others suggest that social relationships may directly impact health, it may also be that mental health problems can lead to more social isolation. The frequency of social contact through Facebook did not affect risk for depression or PTSD. Neither in-person nor Facebook interaction frequency affected risk for alcohol use disorder or suicidality for the study group. The findings line up with previous research. A 2015 study led by Teo found that in-person social contact reduced the risk of developing depression, but contact via phone, writing, or email did not. Although Facebook contact did not seem to directly affect mental health one way or the other, keeping in touch over social media could have other benefits. The findings show that participants who interacted with other Facebook users more frequently tended to have more in-person social contact. Of those who used Facebook at least daily, 37 percent also met up with family or friends several times a day. Only 19 percent of participants who used Facebook less than daily saw people in-person several times a day. The researchers say this finding contradicts the prevailing notion that frequent Facebook users engage in less face-to-face social contact than those who only use it occasionally. Social media use has become increasingly common in recent years. The average Facebook user spends 50 minutes per day on the platform. In todays world, communication with friends and family online and particularly through social media is part of daily life, say the researchers. While the findings suggest that frequent Facebook users are also very social in real life, it is their in-person interactions that seem to protect against psychiatric problems. The researchers conclude that lack of face-to-face time with family and friends may pose a unique and specific risk to the mental health of veterans, who tend to have higher rates of depression and PTSD than the general population. Social contact over the Internet is no substitute for in-person interaction, say the researchers. I think the excitement in the VA and other health systems about the opportunities associated with online interventions is great, said Teo. But at the same time, this study is a bit of a reminder that the foundation to good mental health care probably starts with promoting good, old-fashioned social connections. Source: Veterans Affairs Research Communications NOTICE "Registered Readers" may access New York Public Personnel Law's 7,000+ case summaries posted on its Archive Site. For information on becoming a registered reader send an email to n467fl@gmail.com . Please type "Archives" in the subject line and include your name, preferred email address, and affiliation in your mail. CAUTION Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the decisions summarized here. Accordingly, these summaries should be Shepardized or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader. THE MATERIAL ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. AGAIN, CHANGES IN LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND NEW COURT AND ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS MAY AFFECT THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS LAWBLOG. THE MATERIAL PRESENTED IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND THE USE OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Panhua Group Co. Ltd. of China will set up a 305-hectare integrated steel manufacturing plant at the Phividec Industrial Estate of the Misamis Oriental-Special Economic Zone in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. Lopez led the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Panhua chairman Xinghua Li, Phividec Industrial Authority chief executive and administrator Franklin Quijano and Philippine Economic Zone Authority deputy director-general Tereso Panga at the sidelines of Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to the Philippines.The $3.5-billion investment will consist of a port, an integrated steel mill with a capacity of 10 million tons, an industrial park and other downstream industries. The three-phase project is expected to be completed in six to seven years and will generate 50,000 jobs, according to the Trade Department. The signing of this MOU is a testament to the strengthened relations between Philippines and China. A completely private undertaking, Panhua, is set to accomplish President Rodrigo Dutertes vision of growing the integrated iron and steel industry so it can cater to the growing domestic and external market demand, said Lopez.Panhua will proceed to obtain a Peza registration and an environmental compliance certificate from the Environment Department. It will then sign a memorandum of agreement to begin the construction of the project. Panhua chairman Xinghua Li said he was looking forward to the inception of the project and was optimistic about building more industrial parks to increase employment and attract businesses into the provinces. The Trade Department said it committed to assisting Panhua in accomplishing the succeeding steps to immediately set up the steel plant early next year. SM building SMX, expands Clark hotel posted November 20, 2018 at 07:05 pm by Jess Malabanan November 20, 2018 at 07:05 pm SM expands in Clark. SM Group is investing nearly P1 billion in twin projects, including the SMX Convention Center and the expansion of Park Inn by Radisson Hotel within the SM City-Clark shopping complex in Clark Freeport. Leading the groundbreaking ceremony of Park Inn Hotel are (from left) Park Inn manager Ann Ulalo, SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. executive vice president Peggy Angeles, Mabalacat Mayor Cris Garbo, SMC vice president and general manager Walid Wafik and SMX vice president for sales and marketing Agnes Pacis. Jess Malabanan CLARK FREEPORTThe SM Group is expected to invest at least close to P1 billion in the construction of SMX Convention Center and the expansion of Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, both situated within the SM City-Clark shopping complex here, key officials said Tuesday. Top officials of the SMX, SM City shopping complex and Park Inn also held a ground breaking of the convention center project.SMX Clark will be the second stand-alone convention center after SMX Manila, said Peggy Angeles, executive vice president of SM Hotels and Convention Corp., in a press conference held at Park Inn Hotel here.The developments, Angeles said, would strengthen SM Hotels niche in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry and reinforce SMX as the countrys premier events venue. SMX Clark will stand on a 4,000-square meter lot with two levels for the event venues and a mezzanine floor for offices. The structure will be built adjacent to Park Inn Hotel. It has three trade halls and three function rooms complemented by 14 small meeting rooms. COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said a unit earmarked P1 billion to develop biogas facilities for fresh fruits producer Dole Philippines Inc. in Mindanao. Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned subsidiary Metpower Venture Partners Holdings Inc., through Surallah Biogas Ventures Corp., signed agreements to design, construct and operate biogas facilities specifically for Dole Philippines. The biogas facilities aim to complement Dole Philippines existing operation by processing organic fruit waste from its Surallah and Polomolok facilities in South Cotabato, Mindanao, and harnessing renewable energy in the form of biogas. SBVCs facilities will produce about 50,000 megawatt-hour of clean energy annually to be used by Dole Philippines for power generation and fossil fuel substitute. Both Metro Pacific and Dole Philippines said the long-term project would be an innovative, environment-friendly, and sustainable waste management solution that would further elevates the business tradition of Dole Philippines. The project is expected to positively impact climate change through carbon dioxide emission reduction of 100,000 tons per year.Dole Philippines is the worlds largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and fresh cut flowers with a growing line of quality packaged foods. Metro Pacific said the project marked first foray in bio-energy and would serve as a catalyst for a highly scalable waste-to-energy platform it planned to build in the Philippines through MVPHI. The infrastructure conglomerate earlier said it was looking to create a portfolio of waste-to-energy facilities with a generating capacity of 300 MW over the next few years. Metro Pacific currently has a pending unsolicited proposal to develop a waste-to-energy project in Payatas, Quezon City. The project which involves the construction of solid waste management facility will have a capacity to handle 3,000 tons of solid waste a day and produce 30 MW to 40 MW of power. It is now subject to Swiss Challenge. Education Reporter Mathew Burciaga is a Santa Maria Times reporter who covers education, agriculture and public safety. Prior to joining the Times, Mathew ran a 114-year-old community newspaper in Wyoming. He owns more than 40 pairs of crazy socks from across the globe. [STOCKHOLM] Global use of antibiotics and pesticides is outside the planetary safe zone, risking widespread resistance to both, according to a study published last week. In terms of antibiotics resistance, the international Living with Resistance project judges that the Gram negative class of bacteriawhich includes diseases such as E.coli, salmonella and gonorrhoeahas surpassed what it considers to be safe planetary boundaries. These diseases disproportionally affect urban areas in developing countries, which suffer from dense population levels and unsanitary conditions. We are at a very high risk where we now see resistance to all antibiotics that work against Gram negative bacteria, said Peter Sgaard Jrgensen, a researcher at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm and co-author of the study. The findings, published on 13 November in Nature Sustainability, come from a workshop conducted at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center in Annapolis, United States, in 2016 and 2017. We are at a very high risk where we now see resistance to all antibiotics that work against Gram negative bacteria. Peter Sgaard Jrgensen, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Seeking to exploit the social dynamics of strategies to deal with resistance, Jrgensen proposed the project together with Scott Carroll from University of California, Davis. The researchers looked at resistance using the planetary boundaries concept pioneered by Johan Rockstrom from the Stockholm Resilience Centre, with which Jrgensen is also affiliated. The project lumps antibiotics and pesticides together under the term biocides, because their effectiveness relies on organisms remaining susceptible to them. The researchers found that many of these biocides kill both dangerous bacteria and benevolent ones that consume them, which undermines the resistance of natural ecosystems or the human immune system. Promoting biodiverse environments can therefore help suppress outbreaks of pests or pathogens, the researchers said. They explained that benign bacteria and organisms should be seen as an ecosystem service. According to the World Health Organization, antibiotics resistance needs to be tackled by better control over how these medicines are prescribed, and by reducing antibiotics use in livestock farming. So far, only antibiotics for Gram negative organisms have completely surpassed planetary boundaries, the study found. But two other antibiotic classes and three pesticide classes are also moving beyond safe limits, Jrgensen said. India and other regions, including parts of the United States, are seeing resistance to pesticides like Bt or glyphosate, because crops bred to be resistant to certain pests are interbreeding with wild species. For pesticides used in combination with transgenic crops, we are on the verge of transgressing the [planetary] boundary, Jrgensen said. Alison Mather from the Quadram Institute in Norwich, United Kingdom, says that this work reminds us that resistance and susceptibility are two sides of the same coin. She said it would be important to manage both, and to recognise that interactions between resistant and susceptible organisms is complex. The Living with Resistance is now seeking to determine how to bring antibiotics resistance back down to the planetary safe space. In their study, the team promoted biocide-susceptible organisms as a potentially important area that, they said, has so far been understudied. Were looking at developing scientific approaches to both antibiotic and pesticide resistance that aim to de-escalate the arms race that we have initiated, Jrgensen said. " " This bronze statuette of a cat is from the Egyptian third intermediate period, ca. 1076-723 B.C.E. and can be seen at the Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University. Bruce M. White, 2012/ Emory Photo/Video. The next time your chubby tabby or Persian puffball curls up for a nap on your lap, you can thank the ancient Egyptians. DNA evidence suggests that wild cats first "self-domesticated" in the Near East and Egypt roughly 10,000 years ago when spotted felines wandered into early agricultural societies to feed on grain-stealing rodents and stuck around for the free scraps and backrubs from grateful humans. But the level of devotion ancient Egyptians showed toward their cats went far beyond a pet owner's warm affection. Over the millennia, cats in Egypt evolved from useful village predators to physical embodiments of the gods and symbols of divine protection. Advertisement "The Egyptians looked at the cat the same way they looked at everything, as a way to explain and personify the universe," explains Egyptologist Melinda Hartwig, curator of ancient Egyptian, Nubian and Near Eastern art at Emory University's Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta. Hartwig wants to make one thing clear, though: Egyptians did not worship cats, but they did believe that cats held a bit of divine energy within them. The most widespread belief was that domestic cats carried the divine essence of Bastet (or Bast), the cat-headed goddess who represented fertility, domesticity, music, dance and pleasure. For that reason, cats were to be protected and venerated. At the height of the popularity of the cult of Bastet, which took hold in the second-century B.C.E., the penalty for killing a cat, even by accident, was death. And charms and amulets depicting cats were worn by men and women to protect the home and bring good luck during childbirth. Jewelry fashioned into cats and kittens were popular New Year's gifts. Most remarkable for modern archaeologists is the sheer number of mummified cats that have been recovered from burial sites across Egypt, including hundreds of thousands piled up in the catacombs of Saqqara and Tell-Basta, the chief worship sites for the goddess Bastet. At the Temple of Bastet in Tell-Basta, it's believed that priests maintained large "catteries" that supplied a thriving trade in cat mummies. "Mummified cats would be sold to pilgrims who would go to the temple of the goddess Bastet and give the goddess back a little bit of her energy," says Hartwig. "They would also ask for a favor in the form of a prayer, known as a votive." Hartwig says that so many cat mummies have survived the centuries because destroying them would have been prohibited in ancient Egypt, since they carried the essence of Bastet. So they wound up being stashed away in pre-existing burial chambers and secondary catacombs. An excavation this month in the pyramid complex at Saqqara unearthed dozens of cat mummies, including some buried in limestone coffins. In the case of the coffins, Hartwig says those would have been reserved for family pets that died of natural causes. Other cats were undoubtedly killed and mummified to accompany their owners into the afterlife. And still more were temple cats and kittens sacrificed and mummified for the temple rituals. Cats appear frequently in ancient Egyptian murals and artifacts, including the cast-bronze figurine of a cat nursing four kittens and a large limestone sculpture of a seated lion featured in a recent "Divine Felines" exhibit at the Carlos Museum. But most of the information we have about the Egyptians' veneration of cats comes via the ancient Greek historian Herodotus writing in the fourth-century B.C.E. " " The cat represents the goddess Bastet, who could also be shown in leonine form, with four kittens. The 'Divine Felines' exhibit was originally shown at the Brooklyn Museum. Creative Commons-BY/Brooklyn Museum Hartwig isn't sure how much credence should be given to Herodotus' accounts, which go to great lengths to portray Egyptians as the exotic "other." For example, according to Herodotus, Egyptian families would shave off their eyebrows if their pet cat died of natural causes and would shave off all body hair if their dog died. And if an Egyptian house caught on fire, Herodotus reported, the men wouldn't try to combat the fire, but focused all their attention on saving the cats and stopping them from leaping back into the blaze. Herodotus also spread the colorful story of the Persian invasion of Egypt in 525 B.C.E., when the Persian King Cambyses II supposedly turned the Egyptians' love of cats against them in battle. Herodotus writes that Cambyses II had images of cats painted on his soldiers' shields and drove a large pack of cats and other pets ahead of his army. The Egyptians, so afraid of killing the animals and offending the goddess Bastet, surrendered. Now That's Cool The ancient Egyptian word for cat, written with the letters "MW," was pronounced "mew," and some Egyptian parents named their children after cats, particularly girl names like Mit and Miut. Another round of news and notes from the front lines of the debate over the FIRST STEP Act | Main | "The process to pardon turkeys is more rational than the one used for humans" November 19, 2018 Wondering about plea deals and departure authority in Washington after sentencing in awful rape and manslaughter case Debates about federal sentencing and judicial discretion have long included district judges lamenting having to impose unduly severe sentences under federal statutory mandatory minimums (or under the federal sentencing guidelines before Booker made them advisory). But this stunning story out of Washington, headlined "Man who raped dying Everett teen gets less than 3 years," reports on a state sentencing judge lamenting having to impose what seems like an unduly lenient sentence under state sentencing guidelines. Here are the details: Alyssa Noceda was still growing up when she died. The young man who watched her overdose, Brian Varela, will serve less than three years in prison for giving her drugs, raping her and joking about her lifeless body over texts with friends. Superior Court Judge Linda Krese said Thursday she was bound by law to sentence Varela to 2 years and 10 months. Its the most time allowed under state guidelines for second-degree manslaughter, third-degree rape and unlawful disposal of human remains, for someone with no prior record. Krese was surprised, even outraged, by the inadequacy of the sentence. She has seen auto theft cases with more serious penalties. Im not sure the Legislature really contemplated something like this, Krese said. Noceda had just turned 18.... Varela, 20, told detectives Noceda came to a party in February at a mobile home near Martha Lake. In Varelas room, she snorted crushed pills and he offered her a dab of concentrated THC. She collapsed within a minute of mixing the two, according to Varelas story. He told police the pills were Percocet. Tests later showed shed taken a fatal mix of fentanyl and alprazolam, a generic name for Xanax. Varela did not call for help. Instead he texted pictures of Nocedas partly nude body to coworkers, with comments like, LOL. Bro you killed her, one friend said. But not joking she od bruh, Varela wrote. He didnt care, he added, because he was sexually assaulting her to pass the time.... Varela played an online game until he fell asleep, according to charging papers. He woke up the next morning, he told police, to find Nocedas lips blue. She was cold to the touch. Again, he didnt call for help. He went to work at Dairy Queen. Once he returned, he stuffed the body in a plastic crate. He kept her hidden for days. He used the thumbprint of Nocedas hand to hack into her iPhone, to make a post on Snapchat suggesting that she ran away. He washed her body to try to destroy evidence. He told friends he planned to bury her near Marysville, then flee to Mexico. One coworker called police.... Deputy prosecutor Toni Montgomery reached a plea agreement in September. His complete disregard for the value in her life, and the way he treated her body and what he did with it 34 months is really the only sentence that would be appropriate, given the current sentencing structure, Montgomery said in court. Nocedas mother [Gina Pierson] and aunt cried when they learned the likely sentence.... In a packed courtroom Thursday, friends and family wore matching black hoodies with Justice-4-Alyssa printed across the back. The front showed Noceda, with angel wings sprouting from her shoulders. One by one for about a half-hour, Nocedas loved ones stood in front of the judge and called Varela a monster and a murderer. When it was Varelas turn in court, he spoke two sentences. Im sorry for my foolish actions, he said. Whatever I get is what I deserve. In an interview before the hearing, Pierson said state laws need to change so other families dont suffer like hers. She struggled to explain her feelings toward the defendant. She has tried to forgive him, she said. I can fully understand why the mother of the victim here thinks "state laws need to change," but I do not understand why existing Washington law could not have allowed for a more serious sanction in this horrible case. For starters, the facts as presented here would arguably fit a charge of Rape in the Second Degree under Washington law ("victim is incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless"), which is a much more serious offense likely to carry a much more serious sanction. Even without a conviction of a higher charge, the manslaughter and rape charges here carry statutory maximum sentences of 10 and 5 years. For a first offender, it seems, the applicable sentencing guidelines provide for a much lower maximum sentence, but Washington law provides a lengthy list of aggravating circumstances that can allow for a departure above the standard sentencing range. Any number of possible aggravating circumstances seem readily provable here: e.g., the first two listed are "defendant's conduct during the commission of the current offense manifested deliberate cruelty to the victim" and "defendant knew or should have known that the victim of the current offense was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance" and other potential aggravators include the "offense involved an invasion of the victim's privacy" and the "defendant demonstrated or displayed an egregious lack of remorse." Because a number of aggravating circumstances seem to fir this case, I am not sure the sentencing judge here was correct when saying "Im not sure the Legislature really contemplated something like this." Rather, as I see it, the Washington legislature expressly provided a means for judges to go above the applicable sentencing range if and when prosecutors pursue and prove one of these aggravating factors Perhaps someone who know the work-a-day realities of Washington sentencing law and practice can help me better understand what seems to have gone wrong here. November 19, 2018 at 07:55 PM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Senator Juan Edgardo Angara has endorsed for plenary approval the bill creating judges-at-large positions in the lower courts to help unclog court dockets and speed up the resolution of cases. In sponsoring the proposed Judges-At-Large Act of 2018, Angara said Filipinos could somehow expect the wheels of justice in the country to turn faster with the appointment of acting or assisting judges in regional and municipal trial courts across the country. According to Angara, these so-called judges-at-largewho shall have no permanent salas and can be detailed by the Supreme Court to any lower courtwould help ensure that justice is not only served timely, but also swiftly. This measure is but another step in our long-standing quest to make sure that justice is never delayed and denied in the Philippines, Angara said in his sponsorship speech delivered at the Senate plenary. It also becomes part of our efforts to make justice real and alive to our people, he said. Angara strongly believes the measure is a solution to court delays brought about by the shortage of judges to hear cases. Citing a study by the National Statistical Coordination Board from 2005 to 2010, Angara said that lower courts had an annual average load of 1,059,484 cases. This translates to over 4,000 cases per working day. Clearly such workload is impossible for the courts and its workers to handle, leading to a blatant affront on every persons constitutional right to the speedy disposition of their cases, he said.The primary factors for this congestion is the lack of judges, he said, and the deployment of regular judges as assisting or acting judges. According to Angara, appointing regular judges as assisting or acting judges has been proven to be unproductive and inefficient solution since those who are deployed often have to divide their attention between their own salas and the vacant or congested courts to which they have been assigned. Latest data from the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office showed that out of the 37,230 total positions in the Supreme Court and the lower courts, 12,076 are unfilledor roughly a third. Since these judges-at-large have no salas, they can be deployed to any regional or municipal trial court in the country. The bill provides that these judges-at-large shall have the same qualifications, salaries, privileges, allowances, emoluments, benefits, and rank as their counterpart judges. To compensate for their mobile nature, they will also be given displacement allowances to cover their housing, food, transportation and other necessary expenses incurred during their detail to courts outside their places of residence. (Reuters) - Danske Bank is embroiled in a money laundering scandal that has triggered criminal investigations, forced out its CEO and chairman and rattled investors in Denmark's largest bank. An internal investigation, published in September, charted how 200 billion euro (177.70 billion pounds) flowed through Danske Bank's tiny Estonian branch from clients registered or incorporated in countries including Russia and Britain between 2007 and 2015. Danske Bank said many of the payments were suspicious. The following timeline summarises developments, some of which were highlighted in an 87-page report by Danish law firm Bruun & Hjejle, which led Danske Bank's internal investigation into the allegations. Nov. 19: Whistleblower Howard Wilkinson testifies at Danish parliament. Nov. 11: Danske's chairman Ole Andersen and chairman of audit committee, Jrn Jensen, say they will step down, under pressure from the bank's biggest shareholder A.P. Moller Holding. A.P Moller calls for the CEO of the Confederation of Danish Industry, Karsten Dybvad, to succeed Andersen. Danske continues its search for a permanent CEO. [L8N1XH5JB] Oct. 17: Denmark's regulator, the Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), rejects Danske's chosen successor to departed CEO Thomas Borgen as too inexperienced. Oct. 4: Danske says the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into its Estonian branch, which could lead to a crippling fine. Many non-resident accounts were held by entities or individuals in Russia, which is the subject of U.S. sanctions. Sept. 26: Danish newspaper Berlingske names Briton Wilkinson as the whistleblower who helped reveal the scandal. In an email to the paper, Wilkinson confirms his role. Sept. 19: Danske publishes the Bruun & Hjejle report, revealing that payments totalling 200 billion euros had flowed through its Estonian branch between 2007-2015, many of which it says were suspicious. Borgen, who was in charge of Danske Bank's international operations, including Estonia, between 2009 and 2012, resigns. The report said he had not breached his legal obligations. Story continues Jesper Nielsen, the head of Danske's domestic banking business, is appointed interim CEO around two weeks later. July-August: Estonian and Danish prosecutors launch criminal investigations in the wake of a complaint by Bill Browder, the chief of asset manager Hermitage Capital. Once the biggest foreign money manager in Russia, Browder has led a vocal campaign against the Kremlin. May 3: Denmark's FSA criticises Danske's handling of the Estonian crisis and orders it to reassess its solvency needs, strengthen governance and review management in Estonia. It stops short of action against anyone under its fit and proper rules. Dec. 2017: Danske fined 12.5 million Danish crowns (1.5 million pounds) by a Danish public prosecutor for violating anti-money laundering rules. Sept. 21, 2017: Danske says it has "major deficiencies in controls and governance that made it possible to use Danske Bank's branch in Estonia for criminal activities such as money laundering". Follows a report prepared by US-based consultancy Promontory Financial Group. The bank expands an investigation into its Estonian branch. March 2016: Denmark's financial regulator says it has reported Danske to the police for breaching anti money laundering rules and censures it for not having identified and reduced "significant money laundering risks" in its Estonian branch. End-2015: Danske shuts the bulk of its non-resident portfolio in Estonia. From 2007-2015, there were around 10,000 customers in total in the portfolio, the Bruun & Hjejle report said. Feb. 3-6, 2014: The bank conducts an on-site audit in Estonia. In draft conclusions sent by email on Feb 5, 2014, it says: "we cannot identify actual source of funds or beneficial owners", the law firm's report said. The report adds that a branch employee had "confirmed verbally ... that the reason underlying beneficial owners are not identified is that it could cause problems for clients if Russian authorities request information." Dec. 27, 2013: A whistleblower, working at Danske's Estonian branch, emails a first report, entitled "Whistleblower disclosure - knowingly dealing with criminals in Estonia Branch", the Bruun & Hjejle report says. It was sent to managers on the bank's executive board, at group compliance & anti money laundering and in internal audit. The whistleblower said the accounts of a customer at the Estonian branch were closed in Sept. 2013. "Apparently it was discovered that they included the Putin family and the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service)," the law firm quoted the whistleblower as saying in the email. The Kremlin had not replied to repeated requests for comment about the allegations from Reuters. The whistleblower reports more customers with "similar irregularities" to Danske's group internal audit department between Jan. and April 2014, the law firm's report says. 2013: A correspondent bank stops clearing dollar transactions out of Danske's Estonian branch because of money laundering concerns, Bruun & Hjejle report says. Aug. 2008: Danske abandons a costly plan to migrate its Baltic banking activities onto the group IT platform. As a result, the Estonian branch does not use the anti-money laundering procedures, transaction and risk monitoring developed at group level, the Bruun & Hjejle report said. June 8, 2007: The Russian Central Bank writes to the Danish financial regulator, voicing concerns that clients of newly-acquired Sampo Bank "permanently participate in financial transactions of doubtful origin" estimated at "billions of rubles monthly", the Bruun & Hjejle report says. The letter is forwarded to Danske's executive board and board of directors. The Estonian regulator also issues a critical inspection report, the law firm says. Nov. 2006: Danske buys Sampo Bank, Finland's third-largest bank, which has businesses in countries such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The acquisition is completed in Feb. 2007. (Tommy Lund, Izabela Niemec, Joseph Birch, editing by Kirstin Ridley and Alexander Smith) FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's financial watchdog has asked Deutsche Bank to provide information on its dealings with Danske Bank , which is caught up in money laundering allegations, a source close to the matter said on Tuesday. After evaluating the data, the regulator - BaFin - will decide whether to launch a formal investigation into Deutsche Bank, the source said. BaFin declined to comment. A spokesman for Deutsche Bank said: "We are neither aware of any investigation by BaFin nor have we received any formal requests for information." On Monday, Deutsche Bank confirmed for the first time that it had acted as a correspondent bank for Danske Bank in Estonia. "Our role was to process payments for Danske Bank," a spokesman for Deutsche Bank said on Monday. "We terminated the relationship in 2015 after identifying suspicious activity." A spokesman for Danske Bank declined to comment on its relationship with Deutsche Bank. A whistleblower, who revealed alleged money laundering involving Danske Bank, had said on Monday that a major European bank helped process up to $150 billion (116.6 billion pounds) in suspicious payments, or nearly two-thirds of the transactions under scrutiny. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said BaFin was trying to determine to what extent Deutsche, as correspondent bank, should have been aware of who was behind the transactions it was helping to process. A finance industry expert at a major consulting firm said that regulators increasingly expect correspondent banks to know the senders and receivers of the funds they help to transfer, especially in high risk regions. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Deutsche Bank found in an internal investigation that it handled about $150 billion in potentially suspicious transactions for Danske Bank. A Deutsche Bank spokesman declined to comment on the Journal report. Story continues In September, BaFin ordered Deutsche Bank to do more to prevent money laundering and "terrorist financing," and appointed a third party to assess progress. Deutsche Bank is restructuring to recover from three years of losses and has been trying to draw a line under a legal and regulatory issues that the group has been caught up in since the financial crisis. The bank's shares were down 4 percent in late trading in Frankfurt, and are down 48 percent so far this year. (Reporting by Andreas Framke, Tom Sims and Arno Schuetze; Additional reporting by Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen; Editing by Riham Alkousaa/Kathrin Jones/Michelle Martin/Jane Merriman) FILE PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore Singapore maintained its position as the worlds 13th-best economy in developing, attracting and retaining highly-skilled professionals, according to the fifth edition of the World Talent Rankings by Swiss business school IMD, released on Tuesday (20 November). Its position is also the best among the Asia Pacific economies, ahead of Hong Kong (18th) and Malaysia (22nd). Hong Kong was ranked one position ahead of Singapore last year. Switzerland topped the rankings, followed by Denmark and Norway. The other countries that complete the top 10 are: Austria, Netherlands, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Germany. Among the 63 economies surveyed, the United States is ranked 12th while China is in 39th spot. Ukraine enjoyed the biggest jump (48th, from 59th last year), while Slovakia suffered the biggest drop (59th, from 46th last year). IMD surveyed over 6,000 executives, and assessed the economies on three main factors: investment and development, appeal and readiness. Among these factors are indicators that capture the resources invested in developing local talent, the extent to which a country attracts and retains talent, as well as the quality of skills available in the talent pool. Ranked high in readiness Singapore is ranked second in the world in readiness, topping all economies in terms of emphasis of science in schools and education level of its youths. However, it is ranked only 34th in investment and development, placing a lowly 60th in terms of total public expenditure on education in relation to its GDP. In terms of appeal, it is ranked 15th. Both Singapore and Hong Kong continue to excel in appealing professionals from abroad to sustain their top-tier talent pool. Conversely, Malaysias six-spot rise up the rankings is rooted in investments in education to develop its homegrown skilled workforce, in addition to improved perceptions about the quality of the talent pool available in the country. Arturo Bris, director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center, said, Cultivating a skilled and educated workforce is crucial to strengthening competitiveness and achieving long-term prosperity, particularly in the current dynamic landscape where artificial intelligence, robotics and other new technologies constantly redefine the challenges that governments, businesses and society in general will have to face in the future. Story continues This year the most successful countries in talent competitiveness are mainly European, mid-size economies. Moreover, these countries share high levels of investment in education and quality of life. Why Switzerland is top Switzerland topped the rankings after being rated the best economy in apprenticeships, health infrastructure, highly-skilled foreign personnel, remuneration in the services professions, remuneration of management, the education system, university education and management education. Other strengths include international experience (second), retaining human capital (second), and quality of life (third). The US moved up four spots with respect to last year, after showing advancements in all three talent factors. China is placed in the lower half of the rankings because of its difficulties in attracting foreign skilled workers paired with a level of public expenditure in education that is below the average of other advanced economies. Other Singapore stories: SAF medical officers dont revoke MCs from external doctors: Ng Eng Hen Social enterprise hawker centres need time to establish themselves: Masagos SMRT CEO Neo Kian Hong rallies staff on the ground in mission to regain public trust Nobles wholly owned subsidiary, Noble Resources International Pte Ltd (NRI), is also being investigated for potential non-compliance with accounting standards. (Reuters file photo) Singapore authorities are investigating Noble Group, once Asias largest commodity trader, for suspected false and misleading statements and breaches of disclosure requirements under the Securities and Futures Act. The Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) are also investigating Nobles wholly owned subsidiary, Noble Resources International (NRI), for alleged non-compliance with accounting standards, said the three bodies in a joint statement Tuesday (20 November). ACRA said it has notified NRIs board of directors about its findings of suspected breaches of the Companies Act and has required the directors to furnish further information as part of the ongoing investigation, the statement said. This follows an extensive review of NRIs financial statements for the financial years ended 31 December 2012 to 31 December 2016. CAD and MAS have directed Noble and NRI to produce documents relating to the preparation of Nobles financial statements, after a thorough review of other relevant information, including information referred to the authorities by the Singapore Exchange Regulation and other third parties. Approval for restructuring granted Singapore-listed Noble said last week that it had obtained approval from the courts for its restructuring and payment to creditors, clearing the final hurdle to completing its debt-for-equity swap. Noble was founded in 1986 by Richard Elman, who took advantage of a commodities bull run to build it into one of the worlds biggest traders. The crisis for the company started in February 2015 after Arnaud Vagner, a former employee, published anonymous reports under the name of Iceberg Research that accused Noble of inflating its assets. Trading of Nobles shares has been halted since Monday, pending updates on its financial restructuring. Its shares last traded on Friday, when they fell 2.4 per cent to 8.1 Singapore cents. A Singapore political website has suspended publication after police said Tuesday it is being investigated for possible "criminal defamation" over an article alleging corruption among the city-state's top leaders. The Online Citizen (TOC), which carries news articles and comments critical of the government, said in a Facebook post it will cease publication temporarily after police seized computers and other devices used for the portal. TOC -- which describes itself as Singapore's longest running independent online media platform -- said the items were taken from the house of its editor Terry Xu. The portal "will be on hiatus for the time being as all electronic equipment used for the purpose of the website have been seized by the Singapore Police Force," it said in the post, which sparked angry comments online. "Here we go again... sad state in our country," said netizen Andy Tan. The Singapore police said investigations are underway after a complaint was lodged over an article published on the website making "serious allegations that the governments highest officers are corrupt and that the Constitution has been tampered with". "The police are investigating this, for the offence of criminal defamation. Electronic equipment such as laptops and handphones were seized in relation to the case," police said in a statement responding to AFP queries. The original article did not mention any names of the alleged corrupt officials or provide evidence of corruption. Singapore has ranked consistently as among the world's least corrupt countries in international surveys. But while praised highly for its economic prosperity and clean government, Singapore has been criticised for restricting political freedoms, including free speech, as well as slapping critics with financially ruinous libel suits. Earlier this month, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said it filed a police report against the author of an online article in another anti-government news website called States Times Review, which it said maligned the central bank's reputation. The government's media regulator blocked access to the website after it refused to take down the article. The States Times Review founder, a Singaporean political activist living in Australia, said he plans to close the website. The local media scene is dominated by pro-government publications, with critical commentary expressed mostly on social media and a few websites. Officials insist that tough libel laws are necessary to protect their reputation from unfounded allegations. SINGAPORE (Nov 20): United Overseas Bank (UOB) is partnering Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee (SIPAC), which governs and administers Chinas Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), to facilitate the expansion of companies through cross-border trade and investment. The bank signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SIPAC at the 12th Meeting of the Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council today. Peter Foo, president and CEO of UOB (China) (front row, second from left), at the MoU signing ceremony Under the MoU, both parties will collaborate to offer companies including those looking to set up operations in the SIP financial solutions and business advisory as they tap Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for expansion across the region. UOB and SIPAC will also encourage the development of financial technology (fintech) capabilities by promoting the growth of fintech companies, as well as promoting knowledge sharing and talent development across borders. In a statement on Tuesday, UOB says its collaboration with SIPAC is expected to contribute to the deepening of bilateral cooperation between Singapore and China. The bank also notes that both countries signed the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Upgrade Protocol earlier this month with the aim of enabling greater market access for enhanced bilateral trade and investment. Riding on the momentum of the upgraded FTA, our MoU with SIPAC will strengthen UOBs position as a conduit for trade and investment flows between China and Singapore and other ASEAN countries, says Peter Foo, president and CEO of UOB (China). We will continue to harness our expertise, experience and ecosystem of partners to help our clients seize the business opportunities arising from the enhanced economic ties and connectivity across the region, he adds. SIP, where the UOB (China) Suzhou Branch is located, was launched in 1994 as the first government-to-government project between China and Singapore. Buildings stand illuminated at night in Makati City, the Philippines. (Photo: Getty Images) By Andreo Calonzo Xi Jinping is expected to seal billions of dollars worth of deals during a trip to Manila starting Tuesday as Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes administration shrugs off U.S. warnings about accepting Chinese cash. Xis two-day trip marks the first state visit to the Philippines by a Chinese president in 13 years. Philippine officials say dozens of agreements will be signed on everything from infrastructure to trade to security, building on $24 billion in investment pledges made two years ago when Duterte visited Beijing. The visit reflects warmer ties that began when Duterte took office and pivoted toward China and away from the U.S., a longstanding defense ally. Since then, the Asian nations have made progress on reaching an agreement to jointly explore for energy in a disputed part of the South China Sea, an issue that roiled ties between Beijing and Dutertes predecessor. Given the profound and complex changes in the world, good-neighborliness and friendship is the only right choice for China and the Philippines, Xi said in his statement upon arrival in Manila shortly before noon local time. He said he looked forward to discussions with Duterte on strengthening ties and world affairs. Xis trip is taking on even greater significance given it comes shortly after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit ended without a joint statement for the first time due to simmering U.S.-China trade tensions. Vice President Mike Pence attacked China at APEC, calling on member states to avoid loans that will leave them indebted to Beijing. We must take his statement with a grain of salt of course the U.S. would not want the whole world to be dependent on China, Philippine Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said at a forum in Manila on Monday. Pences statements dont apply to Dutertes government, which has a rigorous process to evaluate funding from Beijing, he said. Indeed, much of the money that China has previously pledged has yet to come through. Few projects in the first batch of $24 billion have gotten off the ground, including a previous $780 million proposal to raise three islands from a waterlogged area of Dutertes hometown, which was canceled last year after being found not commercially viable. Story continues Chinese bureaucracy is having difficulty complying with requirements for projects in the island nation, Diokno said. I think with this visit, the projects will speed up, he said. Were very optimistic that this will put pressure on their bureaucracy to speed up the process. The slow pace has been criticized by Dutertes political opponents. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the Philippine leader had adopted a policy of appeasement toward China and he hoped the loan deals wouldnt be a case of broken promises. During Xis visit this week, expected deals include a $2 billion Chinese investment to convert part of a former U.S. airbase north of Manila into an industrial park and $694 million loan agreement for a railway across the main Philippine island of Luzon, according to separate statements from government agencies. The expected new deals are a reaffirmation of the deepening relations between the Philippines and China, said Chito Sta Romana, the Southeast Asian nations envoy to Beijing. More Chinese companies are also looking to set up production bases in the Philippines as a way to elude trade tariffs imposed by the U.S., Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said last week at meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore. I Am Worried The Philippines wont agree to unreasonable terms in any transaction including with China, Lopez said at the APEC meetings. The costs of the deals with Beijing are really reasonable or better than the others, he said. Duterte has brushed off concerns that hes undermined Philippine sovereignty with little to show in return, saying close ties with the U.S. and Europe had previously failed to produce material gains for the country. He hasnt challenged Chinese assertions that it controls the majority of the disputed South China Sea a stance he once opposed. At Asean, Duterte called on the U.S. to stop military drills near disputed areas, saying China is already in possession of it. Pence last week said the U.S. supports a free and open Indo-Pacific and will continue to sail and fly wherever international law allows and our national interests demand. Theres friction between China and Western nations, Duterte said last week, noting that the Philippines doesnt want to see any miscalculation. I am worried. 2018 Bloomberg L.P 500 Vietnam, which was originally targeting to close the fund at US$10M, plans to invest in up to 100 startups by 2020 500 Startups Vietnam heads Eddie Thai (L) and Binh Tran Global steed-stage VC firm, 500 Startups, has announced the closing of its first Vietnam fund with over US$14 million in committed capital, surpassing its original target of US$10 million. The Vietnam fund plans to invest in up to 100 startups by 2020. The fund targets companies serving the local market or leveraging the local talent. Also Read: An overview of Vietnams venture capital industry Although it is formally vertical agnostic, lead partners Eddie Thai and Binh Tran are bullish on deep solutions to common gaps in emerging markets, including education & training, financial services, transportation & logistics, and SME productivity. Its corporate and institutional backers include multimedia retailer GS SHOP, consumer electronics manufacturer HUMAX, and venture capital firm NCORE. A number of individuals and family offices in Asia, Europe, and the US also joined. Vietnam has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world since 1990, defying the recent strains in other emerging markets, said Thai. Its an exciting context to look for great tech companies. Weve proud of the founders of the 36 startups weve already backed, and were thankful to our LPs who have partnered with us to invest in dozens more. 500 has been doubling down on Vietnam since 2016 due to the strong economy, good demographics, and low-cost high talent. Engineers in Vietnam understand the pains of poverty more intimately than their counterparts in San Francisco, New York, or London, and so are probably better positioned to find solutions for them, added Thai. Also Read: Focus on impacting human lives rather than trying to be a unicorn, says Eddie Thai of 500 Startups Vietnam Since April 2017, the Vietnam fund has invested in 36 companies. Of the companies it has invested in more than a year ago, 75 per cent have reported raising downstream capital or exited. Select portfolio companies include electric scooter sharing company Beam (later backed by Sequoia), English learning app ELSA (SXSWedu pitch competition winner, later backed by Monks Hill Ventures), and password-sharing app WifiChua (acquired by Appota). Story continues Since its inception in Silicon Valley, 500 Startups has invested in over 2,000 companies via its four global funds and 14 microfunds dedicated to specific geographic markets or verticals. Its 100-plus team members are located in multiple locations worldwide, with 500 Startups global portfolio of investments spanning over 60 countries. Notable portfolio companies include: Twilio , SendGrid, Credit Karma, Grab, Carousell, Udemy, Kudo (acquired by Grab), Talkdesk, Makerbot (acquired by SSYS), Wildfire (acquired by GOOG), and Viki (acquired by Rakuten). The post 500 Startups Vietnam closes its first fund oversubscribed at US$14M appeared first on e27. RIGHT TO SAFE TOYS. To mark the Universal Childrens Day and in anticipation of the increased demand for toys this Christmas season, consumer and environmental protection advocates from the Ecowaste Coalition and Laban Konsyumer gather at San Vicente Elementary School in Quezon City to affirm the right of every child to toys that will not pose chemical and other safety hazards, which can adversely affect a childs body, mind and health. Manny Palmero Protect children from unsafe toys this Christmas. Officials and members of environmentalist group Ecowaste Coalition made the appeal to consumers on Tuesday to ensure that children must only be given toys that would not expose them to harm.The market is flooded with cheap and unregistered toys whose quality, safety and suitability cannot be guaranteed. Under this situation, consumers, particularly parents, will have a huge responsibility to play in terms of picking the right toy for children that will not pose harm to their young bodies and minds, said Ecowaste chemical safety campaigner Thony Dizon. In an event held at San Vicente Elementary School in Quezon City, the group emphasized societys responsibility to provide safe toys that could help a child to discover and enhance her or his potentials to the fullest. The event dubbed Every child deserves a safe toy: Make it happen, coincided with the celebration of the Universal Childrens Day on Nov. 20, the day when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. Ecowaste cited the findings of its recent study in collaboration with IPEN Chemicals in Products Program indicating the presence of lead and other toxic metals in 32 out of 100 sampled toys (32 percent). None of the samples, including a fidget spinner with 198,900 ppm of lead, provided a list of chemicals that make up a toy nor provided text or graphic warnings. The study further revealed that the countrys toy registration and labeling requirements are not effectively enforced as evidenced by 77 percent of the samples providing zero information about their manufacturers and/or distributors, 75 percent not indicating License to Operate number on the product label, and 75 percent failing to meet other required labeling information on the packaging. In addition to toxic chemicals lurking in toys, Dizon also pointed to other hazards that might be present in some toys. Toys with small parts may be ingested causing choking, or, in some instances, get pushed into the nostrils or ears. Toys with pointed or sharp edges may injure the eyes or cut the skin. Toys with cords longer than 12 inches may cause strangulation. There are also toys with the potential to cause blunt force injury or trauma. Consumer rights advocate lawyer Vic Dimagiba, president of Laban Konsyumer Inc., also stressed the importance of ensuring that toys are adequately and truthfully labeled. The provision of complete and honest labeling information will help consumers in making an informed choice on what toy to buy for a child. I cannot overstress the importance of product labeling information, which is an indispensable tool for making the right purchasing decision, he said.Dimagiba also underlined the urgency of enforcing Republic Act 10620, or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013, emphasizing that the over-delay in the promulgation of the laws Implementing Rules and Regulations is not serving the best interests of the Filipino child and is only benefiting the toy industry. Dr. Erle Castillo, a toxicologist at Medical Center Manila, cautioned parents against buying toys that have not passed through the quality and assessment verification of the Food and Drug Administration, the government health agency in charge of regulating toys. Some toys may contain undisclosed chemical ingredients such as lead that can interfere with the growth and development of a child, Castillo, a member of the Philippine Society on Clinical and Occupational Toxicology, said. He explained that chronic exposure to lead even at low doses can affect a childs health over time, damage brain development and result to decreased intelligence as measured by IQ points, lower school performance, and behavioral problems. In choosing toys to be given as gifts this Christmas, Ecowaste suggested to consumers to: Carefully read the product label and refrain from buying unlabeled and unregistered toys. Choose toys that are suited to a childs age, ability and behavior. Watch out for toys that may cause injury or pose burn, chemical, choking, laceration, strangulation and other safety hazards. Shun toys that have small parts such as button batteries and magnets that can be pulled off and get swallowed by a child. Steer clear of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic toys that may contain banned phthalates and other hazardous substances such as cadmium and lead. Refrain from picking toys that have a strong chemical or perfumed smell. Avoid painted toys unless labeled as certified lead-safe, and. Avoid face paints unless guaranteed free of toxic metals and other cosmetic contaminants. Corporal First Class (CFC) Liu Kai succumbed to his injuries on Nov 3, a tragic result of an alleged safety lapse during military training. A Bionix Armoured Fighting Vehicle reversed onto the Land Rover truck he was in, and the 22-year-old full-time National Serviceman (NSF) was pronounced dead not long after the accident. Investigations are still ongoing into the circumstances surrounding CFC Lius death an impartial Committee of Inquiry (COI) independent of the Ministry of Defence had been convened to determine the facts and make recommendations to rectify any lapses found. Yesterday, Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen provided further insight into the accident in response to queries from Members of Parliament. A Transport Operator in the Singapore Armed Forces, CFC Liu was in charge of driving a Land Rover for an exercise at the Jalan Murai Training Area. Next to him was a trainer involved in the exercise. The truck had been stationary behind a Bionix vehicle, which was part of the exercise. The Bionix responded to a simulated enemy encounter and reversed away from simulated enemy fire. Unfortunately, the armored vehicle reversed into the Land Rover, partially mounting the truck. A picture of this scene was leaked online. The trainer managed to escape unscathed. CFC Liu, however, sustained serious injuries. Training was immediately halted and an on-site medic attended to him. The SAF Emergency Ambulance Service, unit medical officer, and Singapore Civil Defence Force were activated and arrived soon after to attend to CFC Liu. The young man succumbed to his injuries not long after and was pronounced dead by the medical officers around 10.35am. Unanswered questions Without pinning the blame on anyone, Dr. Ng pointed out that the accident can be attributed to many factors, which for now remain unknown. There are obviously a number of questions that need to be answered in determining the cause of this incident. They include: Were safety protocols followed by the crew of the Land Rover and the Bionix vehicle during this phase of the exercise? Were the vehicle commander, driver, and crew of the Bionix aware of the Land Rover behind them and did they conduct their reversal safely? What was the physical state of exercise participants and did it have an effect on their attention to safety protocols? Was there any mechanical malfunction of vehicles or platforms? Did Safety Officers and Vehicle Commanders perform their responsibilities? The COI and Police investigations will fully examine these and other related questions into the death of CFC Liu. Story continues When all the facts have been gathered, I will give Parliament a full account, as we have done previously in this House. Dr. Ng assured Parliament that MINDEF and SAF will implement the necessary changes in accordance with the recommendations made by the COI after the investigations are complete. The SAF will continue in its efforts to instill a strong safety culture to achieve zero training fatalities which can only be achieved if every soldier has an ingrained concern for the well-being of himself and his fellow soldiers, he concluded. This will be emphasized to every commander and soldier. The post Bionix reversed in response to simulated enemy fire and mounted CFC Lius Land Rover: Minister for Defence appeared first on Coconuts. Possible contributing factors are the Bitcoin Cash fork and a quickening pace of ICOs converting their coins to fiat currencies Some may have hoped that when Bitcoin fell below US$5,000, and then stabilised a bit, that the market would buttress further decline. That has not been the case. As of publishing, the price of Bitcoin is US$4,579 with a 24-hour low of US$4,545. If we take the 24-hour low and compare it to the highest price over the last day, the market has crashed 16 per cent. As per usual, secondary coins have fallen along with Bitcoin. Ethereum dropped US$24 (a 14.85 per cent dip to US$138), Litecoin lost US$4.88 (a 12.35 per cent to US$34.55) while Bitcoin Cash has plummeted by 19.96 per cent to US$211. Speaking of Bitcoin Cash, the coin went through its pre-determined hard fork on November 15 (the coins protocol requires it to fork twice a year), which is widely being blamed for the current market conditions. Why? Because the process was an unmitigated disaster. Instead of following the protocol, the fork turned into an ugly fight between two sides of the Bitcoin Cash communicty and has essentially turned into a full-blown civil war over who will be the real Bitcoin Cash. As of today, there is a coin called Bitcoin Cash ABC (the old one) and Bitcoin Cash SV (the new one). They are now battling for hashing-power to decide a winner (as if there will actually be one in this situation). The face of Bitcoin Cash SV is Craig Wright, a crypto veteran who claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto. He is being blamed for using brinkmanship tactics to sabotage the hard fork. Layla Harding of Coinnounce posited that this internal struggle has tanked the entire cryptocurrency market. Her logic is that these types of high-profile blowups scare off mom-and-pop investors who worry similar conflicts could hit other coins. While the Bitcoin Cash drama is where a lot of analysts point to explain the crash, todays drop comes five-days after the fork. Story continues Also Read: Not just a Millennial thing, green workspaces result in happier employees and a healthier environment What may worry investors hoping to buy the dip is that the volatility index has also dropped. Today it is at 2.06 per cent, which is on par with a slow decline from 3.84 per cent in July. Prior to the recent stumble, the price of Bitcoin had hovered in the low-to-mid US$6,000s from early September to Mid-November. Some worry is that we have reached a new normal whereby the price now hovers in the US$4,000 range for a few months. The volatility index would suggest this is a possible outcome. Also Read: 500 Startups Vietnam closes its first fund oversubscribed at US$14M One other factor that may be contributing to the price drop is the decision by the US Securities and Exchange Commission to fine two blockchain companies US$250,000 for failing to comply with securities laws. This impacts the market because people see it as another data point towards increased government regulations in the future. The result is that ICOs rush to convert their coins to fiat currencies before regulators impact their ability to do so. If 2017 was defined by the Bitcoin Bubble, 2018 is the year it popped. Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash The post Bitcoin continues tumble and is hovering around US$4,500 appeared first on e27. The number of arson attacks and other "acts of violence" has soared in southern Chile's indigenous communities in the week since the killing by police of a young Mapuche man, the government said Tuesday. "There have been 101 acts of violence" in the week since 24-year-old Camilo Catrillanca was shot dead in a police operation, interior ministry official Rodrigo Ubilla told a press conference. Sporadic violence has dragged on for years in the Araucania and Biobio regions of southern Chile -- home to most of Chile's indigenous Mapuche. "What happens in these regions is not equivalent to other areas of the country -- we are facing a special situation that has dragged on for decades," said Ubilla. Radical Mapuche activists have claimed "resistance attacks" in the area as part of their claims for the return of ancestral lands. Since 2011, 20 people have been killed in Mapuche-related violence, with 2,895 "acts of violence," including 920 firebomb attacks, according to the government. But violence has spiked over the past week amid the scandal surrounding Catrillanca's death. President Sebastian Pinera last week described the killing as "lamentable" but gave his backing to the police unit that carried out the operation. However, initial inquiries into the killing found that the official police recording of the incident had been erased. Subsequently, two senior officers and four paramilitary troops were dismissed. Chile's police force have been criticized for their heavy-handed response to crimes in Mapuche communities. The police operation in which the young Mapuche was killed was carried out by the so-called Jungle Commando, a special unit of the Carabineros paramilitary police -- some of whose members were trained in Colombia -- to counter Mapuche unrest. Ubilla said the government was bringing in a bill to modernize the police force and give it greater control of the institution, rocked by allegations of corruption and previous accusations that it fabricated evidence in Mapuche cases. The Chilean state has long been accused of discrimination against the Mapuche people, who centuries ago controlled vast areas of Chile but have since been marginalized. Considered the earliest inhabitants of parts of Chile, the Mapuche fought against the Spanish conquerors and later the Chilean army after the country's independence in the 19th century. Interpol named South Korea's Kim Jong-yang as its new president on Wednesday, in a blow to Russia which denounced "unprecedented pressure" against its own candidate to lead the global policing body. There had been growing Western calls for Interpol to reject Alexander Prokopchuk -- a Russian interior ministry official and current Interpol vice president -- over fears Moscow could abuse the role to target political opponents. US-backed Kim, Interpol's acting president, was picked at a meeting of delegates from member nations in Dubai to replace Meng Hongwei, who went missing in his native China in September. Beijing later said Meng resigned after being charged with accepting bribes. The Kremlin expressed dismay that Prokopchuk, who had been seen as the frontrunner, was beaten. "The election took place in the atmosphere of unprecedented pressure and interference in these elections," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. The meeting was Interpol's largest to date with 180 member states present, its secretary general Jurgen Stock said. Describing the agency as "neutral and independent", he said a breakdown of the secret ballot would not be made public. Kim's election was "democratic, transparent, free and clear," Stock said at a Dubai press conference. - 'Unprecedented changes' - On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threw his weight behind Kim, who will serve out Meng's term until 2020. "We encourage all nations and organisations that are part of Interpol and that respect the rule of law to choose a leader with integrity. We believe Mr. Kim will be just that," Pompeo told reporters. Critics have raised concerns over Russia's previous applications for Interpol "Red Notices", or international arrest warrants, to target those who have fallen foul of the Kremlin. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed the vote's "excellent" outcome. "Very important news for rule of law internationally and encouraging that in a secret ballot this was so widely recognised," he wrote on Twitter. Interpol's president chairs its General Assembly while day-to-day operations are handled by Stock. In remarks posted on Interpol's official Twitter account, Kim said after his election: "Our world is now facing unprecedented changes which present huge challenges to public security and safety. "To overcome them, we need a clear vision: we need to build a bridge to the future." - 'Political persecution' - In an open letter this week, a bipartisan group of US senators said choosing Prokopchuk would be like "putting a fox in charge of a henhouse". "Russia routinely abuses Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists," they wrote. Russian spokesman Peskov dismissed the US senators' letter as a "vivid example" of an attempt to interfere in the vote. Anti-Kremlin figures had also raised concerns, including Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who has been repeatedly jailed by authorities. "Our team has suffered from abuse of Interpol for political persecution by Russia," Navalny wrote on Twitter. "I don't think that a president from Russia will help to reduce such violations." The controversy comes amid security concerns over accusations of Russian agents attempting to poison an ex-spy in Britain and trying to hack the network of the global chemical weapons watchdog. Ukraine, deeply at odds with Moscow over its annexation of Crimea and support for separatists, threatened to pull out of Interpol if Prokopchuk prevailed. Lithuania also said it would consider withdrawing from the network. The Ukrainian foreign ministry welcomed Kim's selection, saying it had campaigned not to allow Moscow to use Interpol to help Russian special services on foreign soil. "This battle is won," Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov tweeted. Two foes of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who have been targeted by international arrest warrants sought by Moscow, said Tuesday they were launching a bid to get Russia suspended from Interpol for abusing the agency. The legal challenge was announced by financier Bill Browder, named in multiple Interpol warrants, and Mikhail Khodorkovsky -- a former oil baron who spent 10 years in a Russian jail and now lives in exile in London. "The Interpol constitution has very specific rules which forbid countries who are serial abusers from using the system," Browder told reporters. Briefly arrested in Spain this year under a Moscow-issued Red Notice, Browder said the Russian candidacy was an attempt by Putin to "expand his criminal tentacles to every corner of the globe". EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to examine possible sanctions against Iran over two foiled attacks in Europe blamed on Iranian intelligence, as demands grow for tough action against Tehran. France has hit two suspected Iranian agents with asset freezes over a plot to bomb a rally near Paris, while Denmark has called for a coordinated EU response to a foiled murder bid on its soil. The move came as 150 MEPs slammed the bloc's "silence" over the plots as well as human rights abuse in Iran and called for steps to hold Tehran to account. Up to now the EU has trod cautiously on Iran as it seeks to save the beleaguered nuclear deal with Tehran, after the US withdrew from it earlier this year and reimposed sanctions. Copenhagen has been consulting EU partners about economic sanctions against Tehran after Danish intelligence accused Iran of planning to murder three Iranian dissidents in Denmark. EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels discussed the incident and decided to press ahead with work on sanctions. "What happened (in Denmark) was completely unacceptable and this was clearly stated by all of us," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters. "The council will take forward some work to explore appropriate targeted responses in light of what has happened in Danish territory." The measures could include adopting at EU level the sanctions France imposed last month on two suspected Iranian agents and others from Iran's ministry of intelligence and security. France's security services concluded that the head of operations at the Iranian intelligence ministry had ordered a plot to bomb a rally of the People's Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK) opposition group in a suburb of Paris in June. Iran has been blamed in the past for attacks in countries as far afield as Argentina, India and Thailand, and French officials say Tehran is also suspected of carrying out "several" assassinations of opposition figures in Europe since 2015. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager on Tuesday warned China against unfair competition, urging it to offer "the same conditions" to European companies as those enjoyed by Chinese firms in the EU. In an interview with AFP, Vestager stressed the importance of "fair competition not only with competition enforcement but also with... reciprocity." "It is a problem that a Chinese company can do business in Europe but there are quite strict limitations as to how a European company can do business in China," she added. "It is important" that Europeans can have "access to screening of foreign direct investments... to consider public order, security issues, cyber security," she said. This could be "a good example of how competition law enforcement... and regulation will supplement or complement each other to have a more level playing field," she added. Vestager was referring to a mooted European framework for assessing foreign investment wanted by France and Germany in order to address worries about acquisitions by foreign companies, mainly Chinese, in their strategic sectors. Paris and Berlin are concerned that foreign groups are seeking to pilfer key technologies by buying their companies and have long called for European legislation to filter certain operations. The idea faced significant opposition from pro-export Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic, all highly suspicious of meddling in the open market or of scaring off investors. Pressed by French President Emmanuel Macron, the EU agreed to a limited proposal on Tuesday that encourages European cooperation on the matter, which must be approved by European Parliament early next year. Cagayan de Oro CityOne of Northern Mindanaos top cop in Police Supt. Michael John Deloso is in critical condition after he was ambushed on Tuesday around 9:55 am just outside the National Bureau of Investigation Region 10 headquarters. Scene of Crime Operatives Police Senior Insp. Derlyn Reuyan said that Deloso had just dropped off his wife, a medical doctor at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center when he was ambushed less than two blocks away from NMMC and just a stone throws away from the NBI headquarters. The crime occurred along Juan Luna Street corner Capitol Road at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Compound, this city. Reuyan said that they were able to recover nine pieces of .45 caliber, 12 pieces of 9mm, 3 pieces of deformed fired bullets and a piece of metal jacket from a fired bullet. We are not sure yet which bullets were fired from which direction, Reuyan said. Deloso was rushed to the NMMC where he has undergone operation for his wounds. Reuyan said the suspects were riding in two motorcycles. Bullets holes are still visible in the vans driver side. According to Cagayan de Oro City Police Office chief of DCDO PSupt Reynante Reyes, Deloso is assigned at the Regional Police Strategy Management Unit, Regional Police Headquarters in Camp Vicente Alagar.Deloso was implicated in an extortion attempt in 2014 in a complaint by drivers and jeepney operators in this city while he was chief of the Cocpo traffic unit. An NBI entrapment nabbed Deloso and Police Officer 3 Ernesto Galleto but Deloso was later acquitted. Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno has condemned all acts of violence including the attempt on the life of Deloso. Any shooting or killing is a barbaric act and must be condemned by any decent society, Moreno said. We must condemn any acts on extrajudicial killings, I do not condone it, I dont allow it, he added. We urge police authorities, including the NBI, CIDG and other law enforcement agencies to conduct immediately an investigation in order to identify the perpetrators and other persons responsible, the mayor said. We hope and pray that Col. Deloso recovers fully and speedily as we expect to identify the suspects and brought them before the bar of justice, he added. That is US$40 billion more than previous estimates, the report said Southeast Asias internet economy is set to skyrocket to US$240 billion by 2025 about triple the size (US$72 billion) this year according to the e-Conomy SEA 2018 report jointly commissioned by Google and Temasek. The report, which takes into account four key internet sectors, online travel, online media, ride-hailing, and e-commerce, states that the figure is US$40 billion more than their previous forecast in their 2017 report. This massive growth can be attributed to the regions mobile-first economy. More users are coming online than before, thanks to the proliferation of smartphones. The reports findings say that 90 per cent of Southeast Asian users connect to the internet via their smartphones and that accounts for 350 million users across Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Southeast Asian users are also generally more engaged with their smartphones than their Western counterparts. According to recent research by Hootsuite, internet users in Thailand spend nearly 5 hours per day using mobile internet, while those in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia spend an average of 4 hours. These figures are at least double the amount spent by users residing in the UK and the US. With regards to market size, Indonesia dominates all four internet sectors, which is no surprise given that it has the largest user internet base (150 million) in the region. So what are they spending on? E-commerce remains one of the fastest and largest growing internet sector in Southeast Asia. Its platforms have contributed to over US$23 billion to the internet economy this year, and is set to collect US$100 billion in GMV by 2025. A huge part of it can be attributed to three major e-commerce players, namely Lazada, Shopee and Indonesias Tokopedia. Collectively, these three platforms have grown over seven times in the past three years. According to the report, Indonesians are the most voracious e-commerce users, contributing to over US$12 billion in e-commerce spending which is US$1 for every US$2 spent on e-commerce in the region. Indonesians are projected to spend US$53 billion on e-commerce goods by 2025. Story continues Also Read: How can I prepare my business for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Thai and Vietnamese users are also increasingly buying goods online. The two countries have each spent US$3 billion on e-commerce products this year alone, and are projected to hit US$13 billion and US$15 billion by 2025, respectively. Southeast Asian consumers are also increasingly becoming drawn to online media subscription services such as Spotify and Netflix, although a majority of them still prefer free or ad-supported variations. The report forecasts that subscription music & video on demand, worth approximately $400 million in 2018, may rise to US$1.5 billion by 2025. In general, the biggest driver of online media revenue will still come from online advertising, which accounted for over US$7 billion in media sales this year, and is projected to hit US$25 billion by 2025. Coming in second place is online gaming, hitting about US$3 billion in sales this year, and is expected to reach US$10 billion by 2025. With 164 million of Southeast Asians playing games online in 2018, up from 130 million in 2015, we estimate that the online gaming segment has continued to grow the most popular games, released by global gaming studios or developed by leading Southeast Asian companies like Garena and VNG, command increasing monetization through app stores, in-app purchases, and in-app advertising, said the report. More Southeast Asians are also turning to online platforms to book their holidays. Online travel is expected to hit $30 billion in gross bookings value (GBV) in 2018, and is expected to hit US$78 billion by 2025, with online hotel and flight bookings contributing to the bulk of the revenue. Significant improvements in user experiences on mobile websites and apps, coupled with widespread smartphone adoption, have made online travel bookings accessible to more and more Southeast Asians. As these trends continue to unfold, we project that up to 57 per cent of all travel bookings will be completed online by 2025, said the report. As ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Go-Jek continue to gain traction and expand their offerings to include ancillary services such as food delivery, they can expect to exponentially onboard more consumers in the coming years. Currently, ride-hailing apps have brought in US$7.7 billion in GMV this year, and is set to hit US$28 billion by 2025 (with food delivery accounting for US$8 billion). Still, the report states that the ride-hailing sector has a lot more room for growth. An estimated 35 million Southeast Asians [are] actively using ride-hailing services and booking 8 million rides on an average day up more than 4X from 2015. Despite this impressive growth, ride-hailing services continue to have huge headroom for further growth, by considering that more than 80 per cent of Southeast Asian internet users are not yet actively using them, said the report. The post Google Temasek Report: Southeast Asias internet economy to hit US$240B by 2025 appeared first on e27. Singapores Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing speaks before a signing ceremony of ASEAN Agreements at the ASEAN Summit in Singapore November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Edgar Su Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing has dismissed an attempt by Workers Party MP Png Eng Huat to compare the Aljunied-Hougang Town Councils (AHTC) lawsuit with the Auditor Generals Offices (AGO) findings of lapses in government agencies, saying the issues involved are very different. Chan was responding to questions by the Hougang MP in Parliament on Tuesday (20 November) on the lapses at Peoples Association (PA) highlighted by the AGO in the award of contracts to an overseas tenderer for the Mid-Autumn Festival 2016 and Chingay Parade 2017. The tenderer had listed additional costs for the two street light-ups. PA did not consider the costs listed by the company on top of the tender price during the evaluation process. The relevant organiser had acknowledged the lapses and put in place measures to avoid a recurrence, said Chan, who is also the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service. Chan noted that an independent investigation panel led by a senior officer in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth was set up in June this year to check and review past overseas Chingay payments. The panel has completed its investigations including on the reimbursement claims made by a PA staff member for Chingay-related overseas purchases. He added, While there was no conclusive evidence that there was wrongdoing, there were concerns over the authenticity of some transactions. PA has referred the matter to the police and will fully cooperate with the police in investigation. We will decide on further steps after the police complete their investigations. But Chan told the House that the issues surrounding the AHTC lawsuit are very different from the lapses found by the AGO in government agencies. The accounts of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC), and later AHTC, have been found by its auditors to be unreliable from financial years 2012 to 2017, the minister pointed out. However, the governments accounts are in order. The AGO has consistently given the government unmodified audit opinions on its financial statementsThat does not mean that theres no mistake, Chan said. Story continues AHTC and Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC) are suing WP chief Pritam Singh, chairman Sylvia Lim and former WP chief Low Thia Khiang, and other parties. The two town councils allege, among other things, a breach of fiduciary duties and improper payments made to managing agent FMSS and its service provider FM Solutions and Integrated Services (FMSI), between 15 July 2011 and 14 July 2015. AHTCs suit was initiated in July last year at the direction of an independent panel. Two months later, PRPTC initiated its suit. In addition, Chan noted that auditor KPMG had found in a 2016 report that the failures of financial control, procurement and management at AHTC were pervasive. The government does not face similar issues. The government has rules and procedures in place to ensure proper system of checks and balancesDifference is this: Our rules are in place when compliance is not in order, we take officers to task and we improve and tighten up the system, he added. And when there is a criminal offence involved, the relevant agency would highlight the case to the enforcement authorities, said Chan, citing the example of a former National Library Board officer who had been charged for corruption. In other instances, disciplinary actions are taken against officers where warranted, ranging from counselling and warning, to stoppage of salary increment and dismissal. Chan also pointed out that the AHTC lawsuit was instituted in the name of the town council by an independent panel over the breach of fiduciary duties by its town counsellors. The key point is that the lawsuit was not brought by the government. As such, it is wrong to compare the problems flagged by auditors in AHTCs case with lapses by government agencies identified in AGOs reports, Chan said. Government accounts are reliable, and public funds are properly accounted with proper procedures in place to ensure checks and balances. We dont run away from them, not like in other cases. And I think the public can have every confidence that this government takes our responsibility seriously, transparently, Chan said. Related stories Workers Party MPs raise $1 million to fight lawsuits, close appeal for funding WP ex-chief Low Thia Khiang testifies he didnt spend AHTC residents monies improperly Former Macedonian premier Nikola Gruevski -- who fled to Budapest after being sentenced to jail for abuse of power -- said Tuesday that he has been granted asylum by Hungary. Hungary, a member of both EU and NATO, "today accepted my request to be given political asylum over political persecution" in Macedonia, Gruevski, who is close to Orban, wrote on his Facebook account, a week after fleeing to the Hungarian capital. Earlier, a Hungarian daily close to Orban, Magyar Idok, had said that Gruevski had been given asylum, but neither the government nor the Immigration and Asylum Office had confirmed the information. Gruevski -- who has said he received death threats in Macedonia -- wrote on Facebook that the government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev "wanted to rob me of my freedom by using non-democratic steps and methods and misusing prosecuting and judicial systems." Skopje had issued an international warrant for his arrest after he failed to show up for his two-year jail term. According to Magyar Idok, Hungary's Immigration and Asylum Office had decided that Gruevski met the legal conditions for recognition as a refugee. "The body considers Gruevski's fears that his life would be in danger in his homeland to be plausible," the newspaper wrote. It was via Facebook that 48-year-old Gruevski -- who was prime minister of the Balkan country between 2006 and 2016 -- announced last week that he had fled to the Hungarian capital. "I am now in Budapest, where I have requested political asylum from the Hungarian authorities," he wrote at the time. Calling on Budapest not to grant his request, Macedonian premier Zoran Zaev had urged Hungary to "respect international practice, international law" and not provide "a refuge shelter for criminals". But Budapest had said Gruevski's long tenure as premier justified "special treatment". "The Immigration Office concluded that if Gruevski returned home, his political past and stance, as well as accusations made against him by the new government, could make him subject to official persecution," the daily Magyar Idok said. Budapest has denied that it helped Gruevski escape from Macedonia although police in both Albania and Montenegro say Hungarian diplomats helped drive him to Serbia on his way to Hungary. Gruevski's diplomatic and personal passports had been seized by the Macedonian authorities. Gruevski reached Hungary only using his personal identity document and was allowed a one-time entry, said Magyar Idok. Orban's ruling party Fidesz has said that Gruevski was "persecuted and threatened by a left-wing government, which clearly has the support of George Soros". Both Gruevski and Orban have accused the Hungarian-US billionaire of stoking illegal immigration, claims that Soros denies. Cyprus has welcomed home a rare sixth-century Christian mosaic from the Byzantine period four decades after it was looted from a church in the island's Turkish-held north, Cypriot authorities said Tuesday. "The mosaic of Apostle Mark has been repatriated to Cyprus from the Netherlands," Cyprus's antiquities department said in a statement. "This is very important for Cyprus because we have so few mosaics from this period and indeed the world has very few examples of this Byzantine art form," Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, the antiquities department head, told AFP. The mosaic was stolen from the church of Panayia Kanakaria in northern Cyprus following the Turkish invasion in 1974. It was one of several icons looted from the church during this time. "The walled mosaics of Panayia Kanakaria, dating back to the sixth century AD, are highly important works of art and among the few remaining early Christian mosaics in the world," the antiquities department said. Dutch art investigator Arthur Brand tracked down the mosaic in Monaco after a nearly two-year chase across Europe. It was handed over to the antiquities department and the Church of Cyprus during a private ceremony Sunday in The Hague. It is to go on display to the public at the Byzantium Museum in the capital Nicosia. The return "shows we can successfully repatriate stolen treasures... There are other missing pieces we will seek to repatriate when information on their whereabouts comes to light," said Solomidou-Ieronymidou. Dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" because of his exploits to recover stolen works, Brand won world fame in 2015 after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are known as "Hitler's Horses". He told AFP the Cypriot mosaic depicting the Byzantine saint had been "in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago". "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 Cyprus in exchange for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, Brand said, adding that the relic was worth five to 10 million euros ($5.7 to $11.4 million). The mosaic, believed to have been made around 550 AD, was one of many that adorned the walls of Panayia Kanakaria church, northwest of the capital. According to the antiquities department, it was "violently detached and stolen from the church, between 1977-79 by the Turkish looter and art dealer Aydin Dikmen" along with other mosaics. 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. Fallen Malaysian leader Najib Razak is being questioned over the purchase of two French-made submarines, an official told AFP Tuesday, the latest probe to engulf the former prime minister since his government's ousting. Najib, his wife and key allies have been been hit with a flurry of charges since his surprise election loss earlier this year as public anger crescendoed over a series of graft scandals. Most of the charges have stemmed from the 1MDB scandal where top officials allegedly looted billions from a government fund to go on a worldwide spending spree. But the latest probe centres on a controversial $1.2 billion deal signed sixteen years ago when Najib was defence minister to purchase two Scorpene-class submarines. "Najib is being probed with regards to the purchase of the two Scorpene-class submarines," an official inside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) familiar with the ongoing probe, told AFP. "On Monday, MACC officials grilled Najib for four hours over the deal," the officer added, requesting anonymity. The submarine deal has long been mired in controversy. French submarine maker -- then called DCNS -- is alleged to have paid more than 114 million euros ($134 million) in kickbacks to a shell company linked to Abdul Razak Baginda, a close Najib associate who brokered the deal. Razak Baginda's Mongolian mistress Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was said to have demanded a cut for translating during negotiations, was shot dead and her body blown up with military-grade plastic explosives near Kuala Lumpur in 2006. The case sank off the radar after a Malaysian court in 2008 cleared Razak Baginda of abetting the murder, sparking allegations of a huge cover-up to protect Najib. But Najib's election defeat has reignited interest from Malaysia's anti-graft body. The MACC official said Razak Baginda may also be hauled up to assist in their investigation of the submarine purchase. A French investigation since 2010 has already led to four French executives involved in the deal being charged as well as an open criminal case against Razak Baginda. Both Razak Baginda and Najib's government have denied any wrongdoing as well as the four French executives. DCNS has since changed its name to Naval Group. It is part owned by the French state and by French multinational giant Thales. A congressman on Tuesday criticized as uncalled for the attempt of the controversial utility firm Panay Electric Co. to blackmail Congress into granting it a franchise with a threat to plunge Iloilo City into a citywide power blackout. Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting said PECO legal counsel Inocencio Ferrer was wrong in threatening to cut off the operation of PECO and cause citywide blackout in Iloilo City as it is not the fault of Congress to grant the franchise for distribution utility in Iloilo City to another company because Congress has to choose the company that can best serve the consumers. Congress has decided to give the franchise to another company. A franchise is a privilege granted by Congress. We have testimonies of how PECO has been inefficient through the years, Tambunting said. He noted that Congress received all the complaints filed over the years by Iloilo City consumers against PECOs penchant for overbilling its customers, the dilapidated transmission facilities like old leaning electricity poles that endanger residents, low quality of public service and the consistently high electricity rates already proven by industry experts as the highest not only in the Philippines but in the entire world. PECO employees also complained to Congress of the companys failure to pay overtime salary while an employee, Guadioso Arnejo Sumandi, complained to President Rodrigo Duterte in his 8888 Citizens complaint number that PECO employees had to pay for repair materials because the company had not been buying repair materials for the past two years.The Paranaque solon also criticized the failure of PECO to send anyone to the meeting of the Technical Working Group(TWG) created by the Senate Committee on Public Services chaired by Sen. Grace Poe to take up the transition plan for the takeover of PECOs operation by the new utility firm More Electric and Power Corp which was granted the legislative franchise by the Senate and the House. PECO should also know better than to threaten Congress and the national government to plunge Iloilo City into a power blackout, Tambunting said. PECO knows what Congress can do if they refuse to comply, Tambunting said, as he stressed Congress could order the police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest PECO officials to compel them to participate in the preparation of the transition planning process of the Senate TWG. The power of Congress to exercise its functions cannot be hostaged by their refusal to participate in the TWG. Government also has the power of eminent domain. Article III, Sec. 9 of the Constitution says (P)rivate property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. Government can choose to exercise its power of eminent domain if they refuse to comply, Tambunting added. Officials in Hong Kong and mainland China disagree over fate of white dolphins in Pearl River The population of Chinese white dolphins in the Pearl River estuary is basically stable despite nearly a decade of disruptive marine construction works on the worlds longest sea crossing and a near 20 per cent drop since 2005, according to the bridges management authority. Research commissioned by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Authority a project-managing body jointly established by the three governments indicated that dolphin numbers in the Lingding Channel have remained roughly the same since work began in 2009. The survey results conducted in waters of the central channel of the Pearl River Delta running from the mouth at Humen all the way down to Dongao island were mentioned in a post on its website on Sunday. Construction of the multibillion-dollar, 55km bridge began in 2009 and it finally opened on October 23 after years of cost overruns and delays. From 955 individual dolphins identified in abundance surveys between August 2010 and January 2011, and 957 between 2015 and 2016, the number stood at 945 between 2017 and 2018. In 2005-06, before any of the work began, the figure stood at about 1,167. The frequency of dolphin sightings in the Pearl River Estuary Chinese White Dolphin Nature Reserve also rose from 258 groups in 2016, to 380 in 2017, the authority said. Therefore, since the construction of the main bridge, the distribution of the Chinese white dolphins in the Lingdingyang has basically remained stable and within the studys margin of error, the authority said, citing the findings by the South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute. Comparison of data before and after construction work indicate no serious impact on the Chinese white dolphins due to the construction of the [bridge]. The institute is an arm of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, an institution of the Chinas Ministry of Agriculture. The full report has not been made public. Story continues The authority, quoting institute researcher Chen Tao, said conclusions about the mammals overall survivability should not be based on observational data sampled from small marine areas a presumed reference to Hong Kong waters. The authoritys figures stand in contrast to the annual studies commissioned separately by Hong Kongs Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department on Chinese white dolphin around Lantau Island, their main habitat. The survey methodologies used in both studies are the same. According to the department, a historic low of 47 dolphins were spotted around the island from April 2017 to March 2018, down from 87 in 2010-11. They have largely disappeared from northeast Lantau since 2012, when work on the Hong Kong section of the bridge started. Even with most of the bridge work completed last year, there were no signs of recovery at all, said Dr Samuel Hung Ka-yiu of the Cetacean Research Project, which conducted the study. Other cumulative pressures on their habitat include ongoing work on a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport, and other planned reclamation projects such as the Tung Chung new Town extension. Taison Chang Ka-tai, chairman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, said from both the authority and the departments data, it was undeniable that the overall population has been in decline since construction started. They cant preclude that there had been no impact on dolphin populations from the bridge works, he said. It may not have only be because of it, as the marine environment of the entire Pearl River estuary is getting worse, but was definitely a contributing factor. This article Officials in Hong Kong and mainland China disagree over fate of white dolphins in Pearl River 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: The Singapore Police Force is currently investigating an alleged offense of criminal defamation involving one of the nations longest-running socio-political websites The Online Citizen and its chief editor Terry Xu. The site renowned for its anti-establishment position will be on hiatus for now. According to a Facebook post earlier today, five police officers came by to Xus house in the morning to seize his desktop, mobile devices, and laptops. All electronic equipment used for the purpose of the website have been confiscated with no confirmed date of return. Unclear as well is the exact reason why TOC is under investigations. The only thing that was noted was that it involved an alleged offense of criminal defamation under Section 21 (1) of Chapter 68 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The section simply describes that someone acquainted with any facts and circumstances of a case is required to assist with police investigations. AGC website screengrab Having garnered a mass of local fans and readers since it was founded by Andrew Loh in 2006, this wouldnt be the first time the online publication landed in the crosshairs of the authorities. Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam accused TOC of conducting an orchestrated campaign against the authorities in 2016, during the period of time when the tragic suicide of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim became a national discussion. After that incident, members of TOCs editorial team departed, leaving Xu to run the show solo. The year before that saw TOC being issued with take-down notices for its published pieces, including a letter written by the lawyer of refugee-blogger Amos Yee, as well as features covering a patent rights case involving the Ministry of Defence. Still alive Though readers may not be seeing new content being put out by TOC for now, the site itself remains live. It remains unclear which (if any) TOC piece is being accused of criminal defamation, but of late, Xu and his contributors have been focusing heavily on the contentious issue surrounding hawker centers run by social enterprises here. Story continues The post The Online Citizen involved in case of criminal defamation; cops seize chief editors electronic devices appeared first on Coconuts. PHOTO: Screenshot from The Online Citizen Police on Tuesday (20 November) seized equipment such as desktop computers, mobile devices and laptops from the residence of Terry Xu, executive editor of long-running socio-political website The Online Citizen (TOC). In a statement, the police said the TOC article The take away from Seah Kian Pings Facebook post made serious allegations that the Governments highest officers are corrupt and that the Constitution has been tampered with. The article has been removed. The police confirmed that a report has been lodged against the website and the author of the article. They are being investigated for the offence of criminal defamation, said the police, adding that related electronic equipment such as laptops and handphones were seized. TOC confirmed in a post on its Facebook page at about 1.45pm about the seizure and investigation, saying it will be on hiatus for the time being as all electronic equipment used for the purpose of the website have been seized. It added, The equipment, which include desktop, mobile devices and laptops, was seized at the residence of Terry Xu in the presence of five police officers this morning. No confirmed date of return has been given as investigation will take some time to conclude. Kirsten Han, freelance journalist and editor-in-chief of online journalism platform New Naratif, tweeted at around 2.05pm about the incident at Xus house. Xu was uncontactable when Yahoo News Singapore tried to reach him via his mobile phone. Founded by Andrew Loh in 2006, TOC is one of the longest-running independent online media platforms in Singapore. In 2011, the Singapore Registry of Political Donations gazetted the platform as a political organisation, noting that the editors of the website organised online and offline campaigns to change legislation and government policies. Under the Political Donations Act, political entities cannot receive funds from foreign contributors and anonymous contributions above S$5,000. Story continues In February 2018, TOC was de-gazetted as a political association, as it is currently run by only Xu. Related stories: The Online Citizen removed as political association, must register with IMDA The Online Citizen registers with IMDA to continue operations in Singapore Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen. (FILE PHOTO: Reuters/Edgar Su) Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Monday (19 November) refuted a claim that Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) medical officers revoke medical certificates (MCs) issued by external practitioners. He was responding in writing to a parliamentary question from Member of Parliament Muhammad Faisal Abdul Manap. The Aljunied GRC MP asked about the number of MCs from private general practitioners which have been revoked by SAF medical officers in the last three years, as well as the main reasons behind such revocations. Forum letter from doctor The question came after a forum letter on The Straits Times in October, in which a doctor claimed that he had encountered cases where injured full-time national servicemen (NSF) were given medical leave by doctors outside of the in-camp medical centre, only to have the medical leave revoked. The soldiers were then made to return to their duties, which aggravated the injuries sustained by them. The doctor suggested that that errant commanders and doctors should be reported to Mindef and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) respectively. Clinical review and amendment to MCs In his written response, Ng said, Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) medical officers do not revoke medical certificates (MCs) issued by external medical practitioners. Unit medical officers may, however, conduct a clinical review of the SAF personnels medical condition and propose an amendment to the MC. To effect such an amendment, the medical officer either discusses the case with the medical practitioner who issued the original MC, or refers the SAF personnel to a relevant specialist who can advise on the proposed amendment. An amendment could include an adjustment to the duration of the MC, or exemption from specific activities. Personnel may at any point see the unit medical officer for a further clinical review. He added that instances of amendments to MCs are infrequent in the SAF. Other Singapore stories: Bionix that mounted Land Rover and led to NSFs death was reacting to simulated enemy fire: Ng Eng Hen SCDF files police report on 5 NSFs who took and circulated photo of SAF vehicular incident SAF lifts safety timeout, exercise in Australia continues Senior Minister of State for Law and Health Edwin Tong. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) Singapore cannot rely on the goodwill of service provider platforms such as social media giant Facebook to protect the nation from disinformation campaigns, said Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong on Tuesday (20 November). Speaking in Parliament, the 48-year-old was referring to Facebooks recent refusal to remove an inflammatory post linking Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. (Facebook) will allow itself to be a platform for the spread of lies, falsity, to poison and divide society with such lies, encourage xenophobia and profit from that, said Tong, who is also Senior Minister of State for Health and a Marine Parade GRC Member of Parliament (MP). At this point in time, there are limited options to stem the spreadit is difficult to curtail them. Responding to a question by Bukit Batok MP Murali Pillai on the allegations that appeared in online platforms like the States Times Review and China Press, Tong reiterated that the incident reinforces the need for legislative powers to protect (Singapore) from deliberate falsehoods. Inflammatory post On 6 November, sociopolitical website States Times Review shared on Facebook its article carrying the headline: Lee Hsien Loong becomes 1MDBs key investigation target. The social media giant had refused the Info-communications Media Development Authoritys (IMDA) request to have the article taken down while stating that the company will handle any government request to restrict alleged misinformation carefully and thoughtfully, consistent with our approach to government requests around the world. Facebook, however, does not have a policy that prohibits alleged falsehoods, apart from in situations where this content has the potential to contribute to imminent violence or physical harm, said a spokesperson. While access to the States Times Review site has since been restricted by local internet service providers as per IMDAs request, the Facebook post had been shared over 1,700 times as of press time. The site was founded by Singaporean political activist Alex Tan who is based in Australia. Story continues Calling the social media giants refusal surprising, Tong said in Parliament, The slow drip of poison over a period of time can one day result and burst into violence. When asked by Murali whether the attitudes of social media giants towards take-down requests would differ if the demands were made by an independent body, such as a judiciary, Tong replied, Yes, perhaps so. A Facebook spokesperson referred Yahoo News Singapore to the companys previous statement when contacted for comment on Tongs remarks. Pattern of spreading falsehood Tong noted that a similar article had been published by the States Times Review in May, but it was later repackaged on 5 November with a quote from investigative news site Sarawak Report. The newer version of the article contained a malicious twist and conspiracy theory alleging that PM Lee and the government had allowed the laundering of 1MDB funds to take place in Singapore in exchanges for deals signed with Malaysia that favoured the Republic. The spread of falsehood in this incident followed a pattern that has been established elsewhere, where it first appears on an obscure site and is later picked up by mainstream media outlets, lending credence to the claims, said Tong. A concerted effort had also been made by seven Facebook users to share the post 45 times over three days across 39 Facebook groups, including groups that ostensibly cover unrelated subjects, he added. For one, the post was very quickly and widely spread to five different Facebook groups within the span of just one minute, noted Tong. This resulted in the Facebook post and article being potentially seen by over 800,000 users on Facebook, with an estimated reach of 380,000 on the social media platform. The article was reproduced on Malaysian website The Coverage and picked up by Malaysian Chinese language newspaper China Press, whose article received 45,000 views by 8 November. Two YouTube videos were also uploaded in which the allegations were translated into Mandarin, said Tong. Moves to debunk false claims The articles by Malaysian media outlets including China Post were later taken down following a clarification issued by the Singapore High Commission in Malaysia, which called them fake news and clearly libellous. The Sarawak Post also made two Facebook posts, one slamming the States Times Review article for being misleading and erroneous and the other debunking its false claims. Tong also stressed that there was no basis for the corruption allegations made against Singapore officials over their alleged involvement in the 1MDB scandal. We are the first and only country to date of at least ten jurisdictions involved in this to have secured convictions of individuals who facilitated the laundering, he said. Singapore has been providing information to the Malaysian side on 1MDB fund flows since March 2015. Related stories: States Times Review to shut down Facebook page in 2 weeks following libellous 1MDB article MAS files police report over States Times Review article Singapore: The Coverage article linking PM Lee, 1MDB fake news, libellous The Manila International Airport Authority has joined flag carrier Philippine Airlines in bringing Yuletide spirit at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by installing a pop art Christmas tree showcasing symbols identifying Manila. We want this Christmas tree to be a beacon of hope and goodwill that illuminates the dreams and wishes of everyone with their families this year, said PAL president Jaime Bautista in a simple ceremony Monday night. This Christmas tree is meant to project a uniquely Filipino spirit, honoring the fun-loving, creative and passionate people who make our capital city such a dynamic and unforgettable place. So when citizens of faraway nations came to visit our country, they will feel and see that theres no Christmas like a Pinoy Christmas, he added. MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal thanked PAL for coming up the kind of holiday decoration, which he said, every air traveler can have an opportunity for a self-portrait (selfie) and group photos as a remembrance in NAIA before leaving Manila with a spirit of joy. PAL corporate communications head and spokesperson Ma. Cielo Villaluna said the legacy carrier commissioned Miguel Minana and ThemeWorks (an event firm) to give the airport terminals a different decorative twist for the holiday season. She added that the goal of the designers is to transform the businesslike terminal spaces into the streets of Manila, evoking the sound and colors of the mega-city that sprawls beyond the confines of the airport.The twenty-feet Christmas tree has pop art panel installations that rise to the ceilings of the airport lobbies. It has cut-out stands of the jeepneys, kalesas, and sorbetes (ice cream) carts. The color schemes of the two terminals evoked the Philippine flag blue for terminal 1 and red for terminal 2. The giant Christmas tree offers photo opportunities for selfies and group photos for arriving tourist and returning Filipino family members at Terminal 2, where the tree is mounted outdoors at both the arrival and departure lobby foyers while Christmas tree at the NAIA Terminal 1 at the check-in counters that can offer fitting pictorial remembrance before departing to distant destination. PAL has linked hands with the MIAA to brighten the airport terminals for holiday season, reinforcing among travelers the Filipino distinctions of having the worlds longest Christmas celebration. The airline maintains its international and domestic hub at terminal 2, the flag carrier operates six international flights out of terminal 1- to Canada and select Middle East destinations. Flights arriving from Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco are also at terminal 1. It appears to be that not enough of us were displeased about the plan to implement Goods and Services Tax (GST) on online services when the Ministry of Finance called for feedback. In Parliament yesterday, the amendment to the GST Tax Bill passed, ensuring that well have to pay extra for digital goods come Jan 1, 2020. The amendment will allow the government to collect GST on overseas services by imposing a registration regime on business-to-consumer services. The registration will be mandatory for vendors that make sales of digital services of at least $100,000 to consumers in Singapore and have a global annual turnover of $1 million or more. These GST-registered overseas vendors will then charge and collect GST on their sale of digital services to consumers in Singapore, and pay the GST they collect to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, said Second Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong in Parliament yesterday. He pinpointed video and music streaming services, mobile applications and software effectively meaning that we will be paying more for things such as video games on Steam, apps from iTunes and Google Play stores, as well as subscriptions to Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Spotify. Interestingly enough, Netflix is exploring a mobile-only subscription plan in Asian markets that could cut membership costs by about 50 percent, according to Malaysias The Star. According to Wong, the new taxes are expected to rake in $90 million of tax revenue each year and will help level the playing field between local retailers and overseas vendors. In response to concerns about implementing the taxes on lower income groups, the minister stated that the government has the GST voucher scheme in place to help such households offset the GST burden, but didnt elaborate further. Associate Professor of Accounting Simon Poh from the National University of Singapore Business School forecasts that we might have to foot between 7 to 9 percent GST if the changes take place, according to a TODAY report. The post Singapore to impose taxes on digital goods like iTunes apps and Netflix subscriptions in 2020 appeared first on Coconuts. FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at the Facebook logo on an iPad in this photo illustration taken June 3, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/Illustration By Fathin Ungku SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A Singapore lawmaker hit out at Facebook on Tuesday, saying it had reneged on a promise to help rein in fake news and calling for tougher regulations, which the social media firm has cautioned against. The criticism follows Facebook's refusal this month of a government request to remove an online article about the city-state's banks and Malaysia's scandal-linked 1MDB state fund, which the government said was false and malicious. "Facebook has...given assurances that it would work closely with the Singapore authorities to swiftly address online falsehoods. And yet, when there is an actual falsehood that attacks Singapore, Facebook refuses to remove the content," Edwin Tong told parliament. It was not immediately clear what assurances he was referring to. "It (Facebook) will allow itself to be a platform for the spread of lies, falsity, to poison and divide society through such lies, encourage xenophobia, and profit from that," added Tong, who is Singapore's senior minister of state for law. This month's incident "reinforces" the need for legislation, said Tong, who is also on a panel of lawmakers that has recommended the government consider legislation to tackle the spread of online falsehoods or 'fake news'. Regarding its refusal to take down the post, Facebook earlier said in an emailed statement it did not have a policy "that prohibits alleged falsehoods, apart from in situations where this content has the potential to contribute to imminent violence or physical harm". Contacted for comment following Tong's remarks, a Facebook spokeswoman referred Reuters to the firm's previous statement. Also on Tuesday, Singapore police said in a statement they are investigating a local blog, The Online Citizen, in relation to an allegedly defamatory article. "The Online Citizen article...made serious allegations that the government's highest officers are corrupt and that the constitution has been tampered with," the police said, adding that laptops and handphones were seized in connection with the case. Story continues The Online Citizen's editor Terry Xu could not be immediately reached for comment. FALSEHOODS Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority this month said Facebook had declined its request to take down a post linking to the 1MDB article by an Australian-based independent blogger. "Facebook has declined to take down a post that is clearly false, defamatory and attacks Singapore, using falsehoods," the law ministry said in a statement on its website at the time. Facebook, which has its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore and recently unveiled plans to invest $1 billion in its first Asian data centre in the city-state, has previously sparred with the government over fake news. In March, Law Minister K Shanmugam questioned during a parliamentary debate whether social media networks were capable of regulating themselves, while senior Facebook executives pushed back at the idea of further laws to battle fake news. Singapore ranks 151 among 180 countries rated by the World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders, a non-government group that promotes freedom of information. (Reporting by Fathin Ungku; Additional reporting by Aradhana Aravindan; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Darren Schuettler) Its been a daunting month for the crisis communications team at NTUC Foodfare. News of their merger with competitor food centre chain Kopitiam in late September were soon overshadowed by allegations of tight-fisted contracts with the hawkers of Old Airport Road Food Centre. In a since-deleted Facebook post, regular patron Gary Ho alleged a list of problems, such as mandatory insurance premiums, increased cleaning costs, and very long opening hours. In response, NTUC Foodfare clarified that only two new stallowners who entered after NTUC Foodfare took over in July 2017 have to operate at least eight hours each day. Less than a month after, NTUC Foodfare found itself in the spotlight yet again, as an online report published yesterday (19 Nov) alleged that an elderly hawker passed away after working 18-hour days to avoid a hefty fine by NTUC Foodfare, who rejected an appeal to shorten operating hours. The story is still developing, as is its legitimacy, but it already sounds familiar. Many similar David vs Goliath incidents in the previous months have seen dramatic backpedalling by operators and at least one discussion in Parliament. Much has changed since the case that started it all in early September: a miscommunication between Fei Siong Food Management and the hawkers of Ci Yuan Hawker Centre over a $600 quality control management fee and $50 coin exchange fee imposed on hawkers. Most recently, a stipulation for hawkers at Our Tampines Hub to remain open 24 hours a day was cancelled by operator OTMH, the social enterprise arm of Kopitiam. The buzzword of the year has morphed from class divide to hawker culture, as Singapore guns for its hawker culture to be listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. But where do we go from here? Makansutra is very concerned and you should be too Its heartwarming to see Makansutra founder K. F. Seetoh speak truth to power about how our collective bellyaching and Facebook shares can lead to contractual amendments. Story continues Seetoh has spoken publicly on behalf of the underdog hawker in the various cases, even penning an open letter to Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Amy Khor, who has borne the brunt of being the political face in the hawker culture debate. In his interview with Yahoo Singapore last month, Seetoh believed that indignant public reactions would pave the way for changes in the social enterprise business model. Seetoh reiterated his longstanding position that ultimately, the authorities should take over the management of these hawker centres and charge hawkers a lower rental fee than market rate. Why you hand to these KPI, profit-driven companies to run these hawker centres? To be fair, nobody knows how to run hawker centres except the NEA. Not even the big boys, said Seetoh, who praised the government for its ability to build thriving hawker centres. Yahoo Singapore, 19 Oct This, however, marked a shift in his stance from an earlier interview with Channel NewsAsia. In his comments about the Incubation Stall Programme for aspiring hawkers, Seetoh felt intervention from the authorities would stifle the organic spirit of hawkers. I think the Government should stay out of this. They are not fit. They are not qualified, he says definitively. Because theyre only throwing money at you. Hawker work is tough. Just because the Government wants to incubate you, doesnt mean this job is easy. You have to cook well, know how to reach people, know how to cook a hundred portions an hour and so on. A short course is not enough and pumping money into the industry to fire this up may not be helpful. It gives people the impression that it is so easy. They say, Lets go and do a try, try thing. Its easy to walk out when you are funded by somebody elses money, but if its your own and you realise that this is good, this is what you really want to do, its a different story. Channel NewsAsia, 3 June Perhaps understandably so. There is little purpose in nitpicking our shortcomings in shaping potential hawkers when theres been so much bad press about how we treat our current ones. As an educated populace, Singaporeans look forward to comfortable jobs and balk at the thought of waking at odd hours, earning little, and dealing with various people and their varied demands. Seetohs underlying message remains clear. Hawker culture is important, but being a hawker is difficult work. To survive, the industry needs the best help it can get. (Much like journalism today, so support your local reporters.) Hawker Food In Singapore - Popspoken Hawkers have to eat too A concept, yes. In April last year, Kyle Malinda-White of Popspoken mused about the dissonance of Singaporeans paying high prices for modern Singaporean cuisine (Mod-Sin) and hawker fare reproduced by upmarket hotels. Undergraduates Popspoken spoke to then felt that the hawker trade risks dying a slow death if prices continue to be as cheap in the face of mounting costs. Over the weekend, Channel NewsAsia released an episode of Talking Point confronting Singaporeans with the actual dollars and cents of being a hawker. One man thought the profit margin for a plate of nasi lemak was S$1 to S$1.50. When told it was 30 cents, he exclaimed: I dont believe it. How to survive with that! Another man was also surprised at the same profit margin for a S$3.50 bowl of ban mian (flat noodle soup), thinking it was S$1.50 instead. But despite saying that 30 cents was a low margin, he would not pay for the same bowl if the price were S$4. Id change my food, he said. Because hawker food is mostly catered for the low-income group. Channel NewsAsia, 20 Nov While discussions about the rising costs of living typically devolve into a blame game, the fact remains that the profile and conditions of hawkers in Singapore are still not attractive enough for young Singaporeans to want to join the industry, especially not with a low income. Young people make more money blogging or writing listicles about hawker food than they ever will running a hawker stall. Why slave in a cramped and hot hawker stall when you can make pronouncements on the five best Hokkien mee stalls in Singapore on a laptop? Tan Hseuh Yun, The Straits Times, Feb 2017 Growing up on $2 wanton mee was a treat, but its unrealistic to expect these prices to remain with us till adulthood. You wouldnt haggle with an elderly tissue seller over the number of packets you can get with a dollar, so why not extend this graciousness to hawkers, too? Social enterprise, socially conscious operators, or ??? In Parliament Monday (19 Nov), MP of Nee Soon GRC Ms Lee Bee Wah asked Dr Amy Khor for the definition of a social enterprise. According to The Straits Times, Dr Khor replied that the phrase social enterprise hawker centre used by the media may be a misnomer, adding: We actually started by saying socially conscious operators. This refers to operators who know that if they tender for these hawker centres and run them, there must be a social mission, she said. Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) asked whether the social enterprise model is the only way to go for new hawker centres, and if NEA is open to other models as well, such as the hawkers coming together to self-manage, or for NEA to run the hawker centres at least for a while and then translate the model to a non-NEA run one. Dr Khor replied the Government is open to any model as long as it can achieve the social objectives set out for new hawker centres. The Straits Times, 19 Nov For hawker culture to not just survive but evolve to suit the next generation, its time to put our money where our mouth is. We need to be ready to accept pricier hawker food for the industry to be sufficiently lucrative to attract innovation. The social enterprise/socially conscious operator model is not perfect, but neither will it improve if it remains the only viable institution in place to support a declining hawker industry. Without a change in the profile of hawkers, whether in terms of income, conditions, or perceptions, we face a stagnation in the quality and longevity of hawker food in Singapore. What good is landing that UNESCO heritage bid if we dont respect hawkers enough to accept increments of 10, 20, or 50 cents a meal? Like what Rice Media asserted in February last year, hawker food is cheap because you are. Prizes and awards like the Bib Gourmand list may feel like global validation for the homegrown food we hold so dear to us. There is certainly pride, and a rather poetic arc, in seeing a $3.80 plate of soya sauce chicken rice winning the hearts, minds, and stomachs of diners the world over, the same way it has captured ours. But its important to remember that each dish, from the washing of the rice to the preparations at 3am, represents someones livelihood. We, as customers, can be socially conscious too. == Also on Popspoken: Hawker Stalls Are Businessess Too == Images: Jovi Ho for Popspoken, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Stay updated and social with Popspoken: Telegram| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram This article The Social Enterprise Cannot Save Hawkers, But The Customer Can appeared first on Popspoken. South Africa captain Siya Kolisi controversially escaped a ban on Monday despite headbutting Scotland's Peter Horne during the Springboks' 26-20 win against Scotland. TV footage appeared to show Kolisi's head making contact with the head of Horne as he tried to extricate himself from being pinned to the floor by the Scotland centre in a pulsating encounter in Edinburgh on Saturday. A statement from global governing body World Rugby said Kolisi, 27, had received a warning from citing commissioner David Pelton for striking with the head during the match at Murrayfield but that the offence did not merit a red card. "Having reviewed the video angles, the citing commissioner determined that there were mitigating factors which meant that the action did not meet the red card threshold, including the player being illegally prevented from rejoining the play by Scotland's Peter Horne and the moderate force of the strike to the side of the head," it added. "The match officials did not see the incident at the time on the field of play." A citing commissioner warning is issued for offences falling just short of a red card and forms part of a player's disciplinary record. South Africa play Wales on Saturday in the final match of their European tour. They narrowly lost to England but beat France and Scotland. Chinese President Xi Jinpings two-day state visit to the Philippines starts on Tuesday as relations continue to thaw following years of tensions over the two countries competing claims to the South China Sea. It is the first visit by Chinas head of state in 13 years, and comes with usual trappings a welcome ceremony, a state banquet and a number of agreements to be signed. The trip is also the final leg of Xis diplomatic tour of the Pacific, as part of a drive to expand Chinese influence. Here are the five things to look out for. 1 Joint Exploration Deal Efforts to reach a deal on the joint oil and gas exploration of the South China Sea are at the heart of the renewed cooperation between the two sides. In January, the Philippines identified two areas to be searched for oil and gas, and the following month the two sides set up a special panel to work out how to how to explore disputed areas both sides claim. Dutertes stance is in sharp contrast to that of the previous government, which took the territorial dispute to an international tribunal and secured a ruling in its favour. There are also legal hurdles to overcome, with Philippine law banning foreign companies prospecting for resources in waters the country claims, as well as considerable domestic opposition. Fishing groups worried that the deal will undermine the Philippine claim to the South China Sea are planning to protest during Xis visit, using the slogan China, out of the Philippine waters! A deal would also be significant for China, since it would provide a model for any future cooperation with other South China Sea claimants such as Vietnam. 2 Dam project China has been funding irrigation schemes in the Philippines under its Belt and Road Initiative since Dutertes accession in 2016 ushered in a more Beijing-friendly stance. This month they expected to sign the loan agreement for the Kaliwa Dam in Quezon province, which is designed to address the risk of future water shortages in the Metro Manila area. Story continues But many people inside the Philippines oppose this project, some on environmental grounds while others fear it will lead the country to take on debts it will struggle to repay a common criticism of the Belt and Road Initiative. 3 Arms supplies Last October, China donated US$22 million worth of guns and ammunition to the Philippine National Police. The weapons some of which will be used to fight terrorism include 3,000 M4 rifles, 3 million rounds of assorted ammunition, and 30 sniper scopes. Observers are watching whether Xis trip will result in more arms deals. Such a move could help to draw Manila further away from Washington. In 2016, the US blocked the sale of 26,000 M4 rifles in 2016 over concerns about the countrys crackdown on drugs, which has prompted widespread accusations of extrajudicial killing. 4 Coastguard Fishing crews from the Philippines have frequently complained about the activities of Chinas coastguard, and Xis visit may help pave the way for a change in their stance. The role of the coastguard in protecting Chinas interests in the South China Sea has prompted protests by Duterte and accusations from a US congressional committee that they are being used as a tool of coercion. In May, coastguards intercepted a group of Filipino fishermen operating off the Scarborough Shoal, which is currently under Chinese control, and seized their catch. After protests from Manila that the practice was unacceptable, an agreement has been secured to allow Filipinos to carry on fishing there, but it remains to be seen how the coastguard will act in future. 5 The United States If the two sides do sign any strategic agreements, they must be considered in light of the Philippines long-standing relationship with the US. However, since he came to power in 2016, Duterte has been trying to pivot away from the countrys reliance on America which in turn gives China an opportunity to expand its own sphere of influence. In 2016, the Philippine leader vented his anger at American criticism of his deadly anti-drug crackdown, hurling insults at the former US president Barack Obama and saying bye-bye America. More materially, the following year he cancelled the annual joint military exercise with the US military in the South China Sea. This article From South China Sea deals to loosening ties with the US: five things to look out for on Xi Jinpings visit to the Philippines first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority government, which is struggling to pass its draft 2019 budget, would not rule out holding an early general election, a top cabinet minister said Monday. Asked about the possibility of the government calling snap polls to coincide with European, regional and municipal elections on May 26, Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos said: "Of course, we can't rule out anything." "You can't venture anything, between now and May there is a lot of time," said Abalos, a heavyweight in the ruling Socialist party who is close to the prime minister. Sanchez, who took over in June from the conservative Mariano Rajoy after a surprise no-confidence vote, has up until now vowed to stay in office until 2020 when the next general election is due. But conservative opposition parties have repeatedly pressed for early elections, arguing that the government of Sanchez, whose party controls just 84 seats in the 350-seat parliament, is not viable. "When we will have (elections), and we will logically have elections because we are a democracy, will be known," Sanchez said when asked about the transport minister's comments during a press conference in Morocco. To pass his draft budget, Sanchez needs the support of the parties that brought him to power in June, including Catalan separatist parties which have so far steadfastly refused to back the spending plan. Failure to pass the budget would force the government to roll over this year's budget, which was drafted by the previous conservative government, and try to pass some of the announced measures by decree. "Does it make sense that a government which has 84 seats governs by decree... What would be sensible would be to hold elections," Pablo Iglesias, the leader of the far-left Podemos party which is the Socialists' main ally in parliament, said Friday. Podemos leaders will hold an extraordinary meeting on Friday to prepare for "any possibility proposed by the government, be it snap elections this year, next year, or whenever they decide," said Podemos spokeswoman Noelia Vera. Only the prime minister has the power to dissolve parliament and call a general election. Under Spanish law, Sanchez would have to do so by April 1 at the latest for the vote to be held on May 26. The Socialists are leading in the polls, with 31.6 percent support, more than 13 points ahead of the main opposition conservative Popular Party, according to a closely-watched survey by state pollster CIS last month. Sri Lanka's largest party warned Tuesday that the island could default on its debt as Moody's slashed its credit rating and a bitter power struggle dragged into a fourth week. The South Asian nation has been gripped by an unprecedented political crisis since the president sacked his prime minister on October 26 and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse in his place. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the ousted premier and leader of the United National Party -- the largest single party in parliament -- refused to step down, declaring his sacking illegal. President Maithripala Sirisena then dissolved parliament and called snap elections for January 5 -- a decision later suspended by the Supreme Court. The parliament, restored by court order, voted twice to topple Rajapakse last week but he has also refused to step down, leaving Sri Lanka without a government since November 15. Mangala Samaraweera, a member of Wickremesinghe's party who served as finance minister until the chaos broke out, said he was worried the crisis could lead the country into an "economic abyss". "If we don't have a budget approved unveiled in the next few weeks, the government will not be able to spend any money from January 1, 2019," he told reporters in Colombo. International ratings agency Moody said its decision to downgrade Sri Lanka's credit rating from B1 to B2 reflected external and internal issues, which were "exacerbated most recently by a political crisis which seems likely to have a lasting impact on policy even if ostensibly resolved quickly." A credit downgrade means Sri Lanka would have to pay more by way of interest on its foreign borrowings, because of a greater risk of default. The political unrest also saw the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suspend a tranche of a $1.5-billion bailout loan agreed to in 2016. Samaraweera said there was a serious risk of the country defaulting on a $1-billion sovereign bond that matures on January 10. "We are now in uncharted territory," he said. "We have never been in a situation where we were unable to meet our foreign debt." You cant scare me. I am not your wife: Hong Kong judge shuts down bully, 77, found guilty of raping daughter, 10 A 77-year-old man who aggressively challenged a Hong Kong judge after being found guilty of repeatedly raping his daughter starting when she was 10 was sharply reprimanded in court on Tuesday. If you think you can scare me with your loud voice, you are wrong, Mr Justice Andrew Chan Hing-wai said. I am not your wife. I am not your daughter. The man, named only as Y.H.L. in court to protect his daughters identity, was found guilty moments earlier on three counts of rape. But he remained uncharacteristically silent, until the prosecutor revealed he had prior convictions, one of which involved an assault on his wife. I never assaulted [my wife] nor did I rape [my daughter], he shouted from the dock in Mandarin. The judge is unprofessional, I am going to appeal. But Chan countered that he had seen through the mans methods when he tried to scare both women while conducting his own defence during the trial. In court I have seen men who are more cunning and fierce, Chan said. The High Court previously heard that the part-time security guard began sexually assaulting his daughter in 2015 while his wife, who is 20 years his junior, was away from home. If you think you can scare me with your loud voice, you are wrong Mr Justice Andrew Chan Hing-wai The child shouted and cried in pain, but was silenced by her father, who warned her not to tell anyone. Since then, the assaults happened almost every Saturday, according to what the girl told police. The mother found out about what was happening on February 3 last year, after she noticed the girls underwear was stained with secretions. She asked her daughter if she had been raped. The case was reported to police with the help of a social worker. Y.H.L. had cross-examined the two women himself during the trial, at times so loudly that he was ordered to move out of the courtroom and into the corridor for questioning. Story continues He was convicted by a seven-member jury on three counts of rape, by two majority verdicts of 5-2 and a unanimous verdict of 7-0, following four hours of deliberation. The 23-day trial ended on Tuesday. Chan observed that the case was one of the longest rape trials he had presided over and exempted the jury from service for 10 years to show gratitude for their patience. Prosecutor Terence Wai stated Y.H.L. was a university graduate who had fathered four children: two sons with his ex-wife, plus a son and daughter from his current marriage. Wai also revealed the man had two prior convictions, which included a case of assaulting his wife in 2012. The Post was told the wife has filed for divorce after discovering the present case. Mitigation and sentencing is adjourned to December 4. Rape is punishable by life imprisonment in Hong Kong. This article You cant scare me. I am not your wife: Hong Kong judge shuts down bully, 77, found guilty of raping daughter, 10 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: Three men who allegedly plotted "chilling" terror attacks in Melbourne were charged early Tuesday, less than two weeks after a stabbing rampage inspired by the Islamic State group left two dead in Australia's second city, police said. The trio, all Australian nationals of Turkish descent, were detained by counter-terror police in overnight raids as they escalated preparations to attack crowded areas of Melbourne, according to police. The three, two brothers aged 31 and 26 and 21-year-old, were later charged with planning a terrorist action, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, officials said. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the men were "certainly inspired by ISIS", the Islamic State group, but had no known links to a specific organisation. They had been under investigation since March but had become "more energised" since the IS-inspired stabbing attack in Melbourne on November 9, he said. The men had sought to purchase semi-automatic .22 calibre rifles and police were concerned they could target upcoming Christmas season events that will see huge crowds gathering in the city. "There was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able to kill, we allege, as maximum an amount of people as possible," Ashton told reporters. The group had not yet picked a specific target or time for the attack, and Ashton added that police were confident Tuesday's arrests had "neutralised any threat to the... community from this group". In the November 9 attack, a Somali-born Australian, Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, stabbed and killed one man and wounded two others in a central shopping area before being shot dead by police. Coincidentally, the victim of that attack, Sisto Malaspina, 74, was honoured by a state funeral in Melbourne on Tuesday. Hundreds of Melbournians and dignitaries attended a service at Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral to bid farewell to Malaspina, the beloved owner of a local Italian cafe and a well-known figure on the city's vibrant restaurant scene. - 'Potential loss of life' - The three arrested men were identified by local media as Ertunc and Samed Eriklioglu, aged 30 and 26 respectively, and Hanifi Halis, 21. Court officials could not immediately confirm their identities. "If we had not acted early in preventing this attack, we'll allege the consequences would have been chilling, with... a potential significant loss of human life," said Ian Mccartney, a federal counter-terror police spokesman, in announcing the arrests. Australian police have charged 90 people in relation to 40 counter-terrorism investigations since 2014, when the country's terror alert level was raised to "probable". Melbourne has been the target for a number of attacks and plots. In addition to the November 9 knife rampage, a 28-year-old man was convicted on six counts of murder last week for mowing down dozens of people in the same street in January 2017, and Shire Ali's brother is in jail awaiting trial for a plot to cause mass casualties last New Year's in the city's Federation Square. Shire Ali, like the three men arrested Tuesday, had his passport cancelled to keep him from joining ISIS in the Mideast, and Ashton said this may have led to their actions at home. "Unfortunately, the ISIS propaganda machine and that of al-Qaeda promotes this type of activity so when people are prevented from travelling or it's difficult to get to the conflict zone, often the view will be to change tack and commit an act in the country in which they live," he said. Police said the probe which led to Tuesday's arrests had been complicated by the suspects' use of encrypted messaging applications, prompting the government to renew calls for urgent action on controversial legislation that would allow authorities to break the encryption. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said nine out of 10 of the high priority intelligence investigations currently underway were being undermined by suspects' use of encrypted messaging. "That's an unacceptable risk in this environment," he said. By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu did not request a U.N. inquiry into the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi when he met with U.N. Secretary-General con Monday, a U.N. spokesman said, though they did discuss the case. "They discussed Yemen, Syria, Cyprus, as well as the murder of Jamal Khashoggi," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. On a possible U.N. inquiry into Khashoggi, he added: "We have not received any formal request from the Turkish side." Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post columnist who was a critic of the Saudi government run by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. As Cavusoglu left the United Nations after meeting Guterres he was asked if he requested an international investigation. "We discussed all the aspects of this," he said. After offering numerous contradictory explanations for Khashoggi's disappearance, Riyadh said last week he had been killed and his body dismembered when "negotiations" to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia failed. The public prosecutor said it would seek the death penalty for five suspects in the case. The CIA believes the Saudi prince ordered the killing of Khashoggi, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, complicating U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to preserve ties with a key ally. Four prominent western rights groups - Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders - last month urged Turkey to ask the United Nations to investigate the disappearance of Khashoggi. They say a precedent was set for such a move in 2008 when Pakistan asked then U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to establish an international inquiry into the assassination of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Ban consulted Pakistani officials and members of the U.N. Security Council. He then notified the 15-member council in 2009 of his intention to establish an inquiry and was given informal approval by the body to do so in a letter. Story continues "The Secretary General does not have the authority to do it (an investigation) without a mandate given to him by a legislative body," U.N. spokesman Dujarric said on Friday, citing as examples the Security Council or the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council. Dujarric said that if a country made a formal request for an inquiry into Khashoggi's death "we would obviously have to study the content of that letter." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool) Former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon may now assume his post as director general of the Bureau of Corrections, an attached agency of the Department of Justice. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte had finally signed Faeldons appointment papers to replace Ronald dela Rosa, who resigned last month to run for senator in next years elections. Nicanor Faeldons appointment papers as director general of the BuCor have been signed by the President and ready for release by the executive secretary, Guevarra said in a text message to reporters. He said Faeldons appointment coincided with the 113th anniversary of the bureau, which is tasked to manage the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City and other penal colonies in the provinces. Duterte announced Faeldons appointment to the bureau last month, but the former Marine captain was not able to assume his post because he had no appointment papers. Guevarra said his office had earlier requested the Civil Service Commission to evaluate and endorse Faeldon to the Office of the President as part of the requirements for his appointment. He said Assistant Secretary Melvin Ramon Buenafe, who is the Bureau of Corrections deputy director general for security and operations, was temporarily tapped as officer-in-charge of the bureau. Dela Rosa was the bureaus chief post for six months.Faeldon was the former chief of Customs but he had since stepped down from the post over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment case that hounded Customs last year. Faeldon tendered his resignation thrice before Duterte accepted it. Duterte then reappointed Faeldon as deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense under the Department of National Defense in December last year, or four months after he quit as Customs chief. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency filed a complaint against Faeldon and several other Customs officials over the multi-billion-peso shabu case, but the Justice department dismissed the charges against Faeldon. State prosecutors said the complainants failed to state with clarity the acts or omission supposedly committed by the respondents that would constitute violation of the offense charged. Faeldon may have avoided criminal prosecution but he is still facing investigation at the Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsmans fact-finding panel recommended cases against the former Customs chief and other officials of the agency. Tran Thi Bao Trang, 29, was fined $6,000 for illegally importing 330 pieces of embryonated quail eggs into Singapore. A 29-year-old woman who imported 330 embryonated quail eggs into Singapore was fined $6,000 on Tuesday (20 November) under the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act. Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers detected the eggs in a box at Changi Airport and referred the case to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA). The eggs were found to contain developing quail embryos. The maximum penalty for importing food products from unapproved sources is a fine of up to $50,000 and up to two years jail for a first offence. The maximum penalty for subsequent convictions is a fine of up to $100,000 and up to three years jail. Reminder to travellers In a joint news release, the AVA and ICA said the import of food including meat and eggs, and their products, are regulated for both food safety and animal health reasons, such as preventing bird flu. The AVA and ICA reminded travellers not to bring food products into Singapore without a licence. The public can refer to AVAs website or its mobile app SG TravelKaki for more information on travellers allowances for food products from overseas. More Singapore stories: Man who molested 3 young girls, including niece, given 8 years jail and 24 strokes Governments accounts in order unlike AHTCs lapses flagged by auditors: Chan Chun Sing Singapore cannot count on social media platforms to protect it from fake news: Edwin Tong Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in the Philippines Tuesday for his first state visit to the country, a traditional US ally that is a key prize as Beijing and Washington jostle for supremacy in the Pacific. China won a windfall partner with the 2016 election of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has rattled the Philippines' century-old bond with the US while courting trade and investment from the rising American rival. Manila has said it hopes the two-day stopover, the first from a Chinese president in 13 years, will finally net signed deals for investment in major infrastructure projects promised by Beijing when Duterte visited two years ago. China has dispersed tens of billions of dollars in loans since 2013 as it expands its political influence globally, countering the American hegemony that characterised the post-World War II order, especially in Asia. However, even before Xi's expected arrival Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of protestors descended on the Chinese embassy to voice opposition to closer ties with Beijing. "Philippines is not for sale," the marchers chanted, as some brandished signs saying "China out of Philippine waters" in reference to a long-running dispute over the South China Sea. Duterte has enthusiastically embraced Xi, even setting aside a key 2016 ruling from an international tribunal that declared as without basis Beijing's expansive claim over the waterway. At the same time, the mercurial leader has declared an end to what he characterised as the Philippines' submissive relationship with the US, even calling then-US president Barack Obama a "son of a whore". But relations have been warmer since Donald Trump became US president and dropped American criticism of Duterte's anti-drug crackdown that has killed thousands. The dispute over the resource-rich South China Sea, a key transit route for billions in trade, led to a freeze in Manila-Beijing relations, which thawed with Duterte's pivot. - Duterte taken for a ride? - China subsequently pledged $24 billion in loans and investments, but just a tiny portion has come through, prompting critics to say Duterte was tricked. Meanwhile, others have warned of a "debt trap" citing China's lending record with the rest of the developing world. Filipino analyst Richard Heydarian said China's pledges induced Manila to "soft-pedal" on the South China Sea issue, but Beijing failed to hold up its end of the bargain. "We know there was a geopolitical calculation," he told AFP. "What is the incentive to rush if Duterte has been giving them whatever they want?" Filipino Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno conceded last week the delays were partly due to China's unfamiliarity with the Philippine bidding process on big infrastructure projects, but didn't hide his wish for things to accelerate. "The visit of the head of state of China will put pressure on the team (in Beijing)," Diokno added. Gregory Wyatt, director for business intelligence at PSA Philippines Consultancy, said big projects face many barriers in the Philippines, like right of way issues, regulatory approvals and political dissent. "The foreign investment has come, the infrastructure loans have not," he added. Chinese investments in the Philippines surged more than five-fold in the first six months of the year after a 67 percent expansion last year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a Manila visit last month. Two-way trade also topped 10 percent over both periods, he added. Chinese investors poured money into online gaming, real estate, service providers and stakes in existing Filipino firms, but not into large-scale infrastructure or manufacturing, Wyatt said. While there was support in government for the latter, "that doesn't mean that every bureaucrat, local politician, and the general public enthusiastically jumps on board", Wyatt said. bill Voting 196 to 8, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, putting to rest fears of a reenacted budget next year. The voting on House Bill 8169, or the 2019 General Appropriations Bill, came as House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. assured everyone that next years national budget was pork-free. We have been meeting since last week, we have agreed on a schedule and we are now stepping forward and even advancing the schedule that we have been talking about, Andaya told reporters. The House approved the budget in a plenary session with Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay as presiding speaker. Andaya said the 2019 budget was transparent and itemized, and was P10 billion less than the 2018 budget. The House leadership led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo earlier ordered the alignment of the alleged pork barrel following the discovery of P52 billion in insertions in the proposed 2019 budget. Arroyo ordered the realignment of the P51.792-billion insertions to other departments and projects to ensure an equitable distribution among all regions. The allocations or alleged insertions that were being questioned were already realigned to the following items when the House convened into a committee of the whole: P5 billion as additional National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for the rehabilitation of the areas badly hit by Typhoon Ompong, especially Cagayan Valley; P3 billion for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health, which was reduced to P50 million; P3 billion for the departments Health Human Resources Development to stave off the mass layoff of 6,000 nurses and doctors and dentists as well; P1.2 billion for the Capital Outlay of State Universities and Colleges ; P3 billion for the Technical-Vocational Laboratories under the Department of Education; P11 billion for roads to decongest traffic in the urban areas; P10 billion for roads for identified tourism areas; another P10 billion for roads to trade areas, economic zones, livelihood centers and markets; and P5 billion for the Department of Agricultures farm-to-market roads. For the fiscal year 2019, the education sector will get the lions share of the national budget.Of the proposed appropriations of P659.3 billion for the education sector, P528.8 billion will be allocated to the Health department; P65.2 billion will go to State Colleges and Universities; P50.5 billion to Commission on Higher Education; and P14.8 billion to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Public Works will receive the second highest allocation of P555.7 billion, which represents an increase of 25.8 percent or P113.9 billion compared with its P441.8 billion budget in 2018. The Department of the Interior and Local Government will receive the third largest appropriation in 2019 of P225.6 billion, or 30.9 percent or P53.2 billion more than its 2018 funding of P172.4 billion. The other top recipients are the Department of National Defense, P183.4 billion; Department of Social Welfare and Development, P173.3 billion; Department of Health, P141.2 billion, which includes P67.4 billion for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.; Department of Transportation, P141.4 billion; Department of Agriculture, P76.1 billion; the Judiciary with P37.3 billion; and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, P32.3 billion. The infrastructure program for 2019, which will receive an appropriation of P909.7 billion, will fuel the administrations Build, Build, Build Program. READ: Senate buying time on Canceling all of Americas student debt in one big jubilee is a popular idea on the left. It is also, as David Leonhardt points out in a New York Times column this week, a pretty regressive idea. Thats because just under half of the countrys outstanding student loan balance is held by the highest-earning 25 percent of households in which the adults are age 25 or older. About a quarter belongs to the top 10 percent of households, whose incomes top $144,720. This partly reflects the fact that the heaviest borrowers tend to be graduate and professional degree students who are en route to a well-paid career. According to the most recent Department of Education data, grad schoolers currently take out about 39 percent of all student loan dollars, even though those borrowers make up just 16 percent of recipients. If you forgave all student loans indiscriminately, youd end up handing a windfall to a lot of corporate lawyers, MBAs, Google engineers, and surgeons with six-figure balances they could otherwise pay back without sweating their bank accounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been writing and tweeting my heart out about this point for a couple of years now. However, I also recognize that our student loan program, and the countrys broader system of funding higher education, is a rolling disaster that has plunged millions of young adultsand especially black Americansinto financial hardship. Significant student debt forgiveness could be part of a grand restart in which Washington rips up the old higher-ed finance system and starts fresh, perhaps with some kind of tuition-free college program, accreditation reforms to weed out scam schools, sane loan limits, and a better approach to managing repayment. (Even in countries with free college, students still often take out loans to pay living expenses.) Beyond that far off possibility, there are already multiple student-loan forgiveness mechanisms in place that badly need to be fixed, and left-leaning politicians could get to work on now. Advertisement So, with all of that in mind, here are four ways to approach student debt forgiveness that would be less horribly skewed toward helping anesthesiologists and M&A attorneys. The first two are narrow, technical things Democrats could start working on now. The other two are more like moonshots, the types of policies you might imagine having a shot under President Bernie. Advertisement Option 1: Make sure borrowers who were cheated by shady for-profit schools can get their loans forgiven This one is a gimme. Predatory for-profit college companies like Corinthian and ITT convinced droves of students to take on debt so they could pursue worthless degrees before federal intervention forced the schools to close. Other former students claim to have been scammed by schools still in operation. (Full disclosure: Slate is owned by Graham Holdings Co., which is the corporate parent of for-profit educator Kaplan.) Victims of outright fraud are supposed to be eligible for student-loan forgiveness through the federal borrower defense to repayment rule. However, the Trump administration has been doing everything in its power to stonewall applicants and limit the relief they can receive. Advertisement Advertisement Under Secretary Betsy DeVos, the Department of Education tried to stop a version of the borrower defense rule that was issued under the Obama administration from going into effect and proposed a replacement with a stricter forgiveness formula that would only relieve portions of a borrowers debt, saving the government (and costing ex-students) some $12.7 billion. Last month, a federal judge ruled that DeVos delay tactics were unlawful and forced her to implement the Obama-era rule for the time being. But her stingier rewrite could still go into effect by 2020. Advertisement That is, unless Congress steps in. Rather than leaving it up to regulators, Democrats could try to pass legislation forcing the Department of Education to implement borrower defense the way Obamas team envisioned it, instead of DeVos more meager version. Republicans might not be on board, but progressives could try to force the language into a budget bill. Thats the advantage of controlling the House. Advertisement Option 2: Make sure the student loan forgiveness programs we already have actually work Today, the federal government offers student borrowers two main paths to getting their loans forgiven. First, theres Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF, which wipes away borrowers debts if they go to work in the nonprofit or government sector for a decade. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has estimated that a quarter of the whole U.S. workforce is employed in jobs that could qualify for this program. (That includes my wife, whos banking on it to retire her voluminous law-school debt.) Honestly, this program shouldnt have to exist. Its basically a workaround for the fact that U.S. taxpayers refuse to pay their teachers, public defenders, and various other civil servants nearly enough to afford the educational credentials they need in order to do their jobs. But until Americans understand that you get the government you pay for, its a necessary kludge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those not in public service, the government offers various income-driven repayment options that clear debt once youve made payments for a couple decades. The most recent is Revised Pay as You Earn, or REPAYE, which caps what borrowers owe each month at 10 percent of their discretionary income, and makes them eligible for forgiveness after 20 years. Unfortunately, both of these programs suffer from major shortcomings. The management of PSLF has simply been a mess, which is distressing, given how many people have organized their financial lives and careers around it. The first wave of borrowers technically became eligible for forgiveness under the scheme last year, and through this June, Americans sent in almost 29,000 applications. Of those, more than 99 percent were rejected. Nobody is entirely sure why the rejection rate has been so astronomically high, but its clear at this point that many people mistakenly thought they were following all of the programs complicated rules properly in order to qualify, when in fact they were not, because their servicer never explained the requirements correctly. Ive received dozens of emails from people who made years of payments before finding out they either needed to be in a different repayment plan or consolidate into a different kind of loan, among other problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for REPAYE: Right now, anybody who gets their loans canceled after the 20-year timer tolls could face a potentially massive tax bill, because the IRS considers debt forgiveness to be income. (This issue doesnt apply to PSLF.) Perversely, a lot of people might not be able to afford having their loans wiped away. Thanks to Democrats, Congress has already created a $350 million pool to help people who were rejected from PSLF on technicalities, but the amount of money is almost certainly too small and rules too stringent, which is why the vast majority of applicants to this backstop program are being denied. With their House majority, the party could push for more funding and more lenient requirements, and try to fix the bureaucratic flaws that have turned PSLF into a morass. They could start by making it easier for borrowers to know for certain that theyre on track for forgiveness. As for REPAYE, they should just fix the tax glitch. Advertisement Advertisement Option 3: Forgive $20,000 for every students debt OK, it doesnt have to be $20,000 exactly. But the idea here would be to forgive up to a flat amount of loans for every borrower, so that you help the most troubled population of debtors without handing out those outsize windfalls to solidly upper-middle-class professionals. Advertisement One deeply underappreciated fact about the student-debt crisis is that the biggest borrowers arent necessarily the ones who end up in the most financial duress. More than half of student debtors who default have balances of less than $10,000, for instance. Thats because many of them dropped out of school, and as a result, never got decent counseling on how to manage their loans or earned enough to make paying them back feasible, no matter what repayment plan they picked. Private-sector college attendees were especially prone to end up in this scenario: Among borrowers who started school in 2004, more than 46 percent of those at for-profits defaulted within 12 years, compared with about 12 percent at public four-year schools. Advertisement One moral argument you could make in favor of this approach is that it would forgive the debts of students who may not have been outright defrauded by for-profit colleges but who were lured into pursuing effectively worthless degrees or programs they couldnt realistically complete. The federal government is deeply complicit in those borrowers misfortune: Our national policy wedded a loan program that included zero underwriting with years of lax regulation of the for-profit sector. (Even now, the Trump administration is trying to delay any implementation of the long-awaited gainful employment rule, which is supposed to freeze the scammiest vocational programs out of federal aid eligibility.) Across-the-board forgiveness at a fixed dollar amount would also help out the many millennials who borrowed too much to attend traditional colleges they werent able to graduate from. (Our dropout rates are not great.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So why $20,000? I mean, you can pick a number that you think would do the greatest good at the lowest cost, but thats roughly the median debt load of a borrower who began repayment in the 201314 academic year, the most recent figure available from the College Board. Youd be forgiving the typical borrowers loans but not someone who decided to debt-finance their way through a couple years at Columbia Business School. Option 4: Forgive college debt but not grad school debt This one is straightforward. Its also a moonshot that at least gestures toward dealing with the regressiveness problem. Ive heard lots of strong arguments for why college should be free. I have yet to hear many strong arguments for why grad school should be free, except insofar as it might incentivize people to go into lower-paying but socially necessary fields. Those tend to be in public servicewhich is the argument for making sure PSLF works as advertised. If you believe education debt is an economic scourge upon a generation, canceling undergraduate debt might be the best way to make progress toward remedying it without wasting public funds on budding 1 percenters that might better be spent on the truly needy. Advertisement Advertisement This approach wont satisfy everybody; people who borrowed too much for a journalism grad program before setting out into the financial hellscape of online media, for instance, wouldnt find themselves suddenly free and in the clear. But unless you believe a critical mass of Democrats are about to embrace Modern Monetary Theory,1 were going to be working in a world of limited resources for the foreseeable future. Even idealists sometimes need to make trade-offs. Update, Nov. 20, 10:18 AM: A few readers have asked why I didnt include making it easier to discharge student loans through bankruptcy on this list. I probably should have, especially since Ive written about it before! Somewhat unexpectedly, the Department of Education has sent signals that it might ease up the undue burden standard that makes it nearly impossible for most borrowers to get relief in court. But Congress could certainly still step in. The story of a bright-eyed writer who travels to the legendary birthplace of cabaret in 1900 Paris to help a ragtag Bohemian theatre troupe produce their stage show Spectacular Spectacular and in the process falls in love with a famed trapeze-using prostitute, Baz Luhrmanns Moulin Rouge! is already pretty theatrical. (That exclamation point in the title is not just for show.) In the summer of 2019, the story will get a real-life Broadway adaption: The show starts previews on June 28 and will open July 25 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Advertisement Joining producer Carmen Pavlovic will be several cast members staying on from the shows original Boston run, including Karen Olivo and Aaron Tveit. Danny Burstein (a six-time Tony nominee), Sahr Ngaujah (Fela), Tam Mutu (Doctor Zhivago, Encores!s Hey, Look Me Over!, and The New Yorkers), Ricky Rojas (Burn the Floor), and Robyn Hurder (Nice Work If You Can Get It) will also star. One of the most delightful parts of the vibrant and romantic 2001 film was that, despite its early 1900s backdrop, the musical re-created pop hits from throughout the late 20th century. Accordingly, the new stage adaptation is set to feature many songs from the movie, but it will also add pop music from the intervening years since the film came out. While Luhrmann and co. went with the Police, David Bowie, Elton John, and the like, we can look forward to finding out which iconic artists a 2019 rendition will cover. On tonights A Closer Look segment, Seth Meyers Donald Trumps bizarre claim that Californians should begin raking their forests like hes somehow gotten it into his head they do in Finland. (They dont.) This is only the latest in a long line of weird fictions our weird president has made up about other countries, from the terror attack he invented in Sweden to his mysterious friend Jim, who is always telling him that Paris sucks now. Like most things having to do with Donald Trump, its funny but also very, very depressing: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watching Donald Trump boast that hes seen nicer mansions than the bunker complex where Osama bin Laden was killed was enough for this writer to finally cross the threshold from I feel existential dread about where this man is taking the planet to I didnt think there were any pain receptors in the human brain, but I was obviously so, so wrong. Watching other people make fun of Donald Trump requires thinking about Donald Trump, and weve all had just about enough of that for one lifetime. But Meyers joke about the Swedish Chef suggests at least a temporary solution: Watching a bunch of Swedish Chef videos for medicinal purposes while your mind repairs the damage caused by prolonged exposure to the rotting pile of Armour Potted Meat Food Product weve entrusted with nuclear weapons. (Please note that severe cases of Trump exposure will require the classic Swedish Chef bits from the original Muppet Show, which have not been uploaded to YouTube by their copyright holders, so if youre experiencing a medical emergency, youre gonna want to type Swedish chef chocolate mousse into your search engine and maybe call an ambulance.) For the rest of us, here is the Swedish Chef performing Gershon Kingsleys seminal 1969 synthesizer track, Popcorn: Advertisement Advertisement You can literally feel your brain slowly regaining its ability to grasp complicated concepts like object permanence as Donald Trump recedes. But recovery is a journey, and this one is far from over, so heres the Swedish Chef helping out Beaker and Animal with a stirring rendition of Mykola Leontovychs Carol of the Bells: Advertisement Advertisement Well, it turns out Christmas carols inevitably remind the ol brain of Donald Trumps weird thing about saying Merry Christmas, so we apologize but take no responsibilityfor any injuries caused by banging your head on your desk in a futile effort to make the thoughts go away. This is clearly going to require a more aggressive course of treatment, so heres the banned-by-the-FDA video where the Swedish Chef performs a karaoke version of the Sugar Hill Gangs Rappers Delight while the other Muppets and Ed Helms stare in slack-jawed amazement: Advertisement h ww, this curse of treatment is finally starting to wrk! XIS SIGNATURE. Chinese President Xi Jinping signs the Palace guestbook on his arrival at the riverside Malacanang Tuesday as part of his two-day state visit to Manila. Witnessing the guest imprint his signature are President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio. Malacanang Photo ARRIVAL HONORS. Chinese President Xi Jinping (top left) waves to media during arrival honors for him Tuesday at the NAIA in Pasay City. At top right, Xi bows in front of the national flags of the Philippines and China as President Rodrigo Duterte watches from behind him. Xi called his visit to the long-time ally of the United States a milestone. Malacanang Photo and AFP Xi and Duterte start their bilateral meeting in Malacanang. Malacanang Photo Last Wednesday morning, as a fellow reporter and I drove the three and a half hours from Oakland, California, to the tiny town of Pulga, our phones kept telling us to turn around. Thanks to the Camp Fire, a roughly 200-square-mile swath of Butte County and the surrounding area is now burnt or burning. Google Maps knew this, rerouting us around the evacuation zone every time we typed in our destination. Since the fire began on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 8, it has killed at least 77 peoplea number that increases every day as investigators and rescue dogs find more remains. The list of missing persons initially grew until it passed 1,200, but is finally starting to shrink. As of Friday, only firefighters, electric company workers, railroaders, emergency personnel, and credentialed journalists were being allowed into the evacuated area. The officer at our first checkpoint said officials have caught people trying to use forged documentation to enter the evacuation zone to loot the few homes that didnt burn down in the blaze. Advertisement Once we entered the zone via Highway 70 around Oroville, the roads were empty save for the occasional emergency management truck and armored vehicles stationed at checkpoints. It had been six days since the fire started, and smoke was still piping from smoldering tree stumps and the rubble of burned houses. The air was impossibly thick, casting an emerald and amber matte across the partially erased pine forest. Some of the trees left standing were burnt only on one side, while others had been whittled by fire, like matchsticks balanced in ashtrays. A sparrow taking flight off a charred branch could be enough to push a dead pine to the groundor into a telephone or power line. Ash was everywhere. More than 50,000 people had evacuated the area, leaving towns like Concow, Magalia, North Pines, Lovelock, Paradise, Humbug, Powellton, Centerville, Inskip, and Stirling essentially vacant. About 14,000 structures, largely homes, are gone forever, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. So far, the only obvious trace of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is an office in an old Sears in Chico where people can apply for assistance, even though the evacuated area looks like a war zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How the fire started is unclear. By 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 8, firefighters were dispatched to contain a vegetation fire, being fanned by 35 mph winds, that started under the high-tension power lines at Poe Dam on the Feather River, according to radio dispatches obtained by the Mercury News. Poe Dam is about a mile from Pulga, across the river from where we were headed. And PG&E, the investor-owned utility that powers most of Northern California, has since reported two equipment failures that occurred the morning the fire started, one right near the spot where the firefighters were dispatched on the Feather River. The other was in Concowwhich the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection cited last week as a potential second origin of the fire. Advertisement Pulga is a ghost town, of sorts, located in a gully on a stunning part of the Feather River. Ive gone there every couple of months or so for nearly four years, since my friend Betsy Ann Cowley bought the town from some people who had run a hypnotism school there since the mid-1990s. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the area was home to hundreds of people who worked in the Vesuvianite mine and on the railroad and sent their kids to the towns one-room schoolhouse. Most everyone left by the end of the 60s, and today its just Betsy and a rotating cast of friends working to rebuild the property. Pulga is in the heart of the Camp Fire evacuation zoneand I went there last week to learn how people who had not gotten out were managing. Cowley is there now, and she cant leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one who lives in the evacuation zone and has stayed through the fire can leave, now, except for in a few areas that have begun to reopen. If they did leave, they wouldnt be let back in. The people I met who have stayed in their homes, however, did not do so by choice: They were trapped by fires that walled off roads within minutes of the first sign of smoke, leaving them to fight to save their properties or die in the flames. Those who did manage to leave are packed in the homes of friends and family, hotels, shelters, cars, or tent towns that sprouted nearly as quickly as the fire spread, destroying the towns and hamlets in its path. Its unclear how long the ones who stayed will be trapped in the evacuation zone. It could be days, or weeks. And its a mystery, too, how long the ones who made it outmany of whom have formed an ad hoc community while living in donated tents, in parking lots, in the neighboring town of Chicowill remain displaced. The ones who stayed are surviving on whatever food and gas they happened to have before the firestorm. The ones who left but had nowhere to go are surviving on whatever savings they had plus donations of food, blankets, and cigarettes from strangers. Advertisement Time is different for me right now, said Jeff Evans, who prevented fires from engulfing his home, where he remains now with parents Chuck, 91, and Janet, 82. Living with them are eight dogs Jeff rescued from all over their backcountry town of Concow, plus three dogs of his own. The Evanses are surviving off of a gas-guzzling generator. Jeff described how on the day the fire started, after things had calmed enough that Chuck could take care of any spot fires still threatening the property, he canvassed the area to look for others who could use assistance: So I said Im going to go up the road and see if I can help anybody. So, I went up Hoffman Road, and you saw the vehicles there on the side of the road? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I did see the cars. They were lined up on the shoulder, adjacent to a lake, and had pink plastic ribbons tied to their side mirrors. Those ribbons, Evans told me, meant that there were no bodies inside and no need for further inspection. Thats where most of the dogs came fromthose cars, he said. The cars parked there were abandoned with their keys inside by people fleeing their homes only to drive straight into a firestorm that was barreling down Concow Road, forcing them to jump into the lake and swim across for refuge. No one who lives in the evacuation zone and has stayed through the fire can leave, now, except for in a few areas that have begun to reopen. If they did, they wouldnt be let back in. There was no warning, said Virginia Wildblood, a neighbor of the Evanses who was unable to evacuate before the fire reached her and her husbands home. As the fire raged, the Wildbloods, the Evanses, and a neighbor named Fred worked to terraform their land as fast as possible to blockade their homes from walls of fire. Using dozers and whatever farm implements they could find, neighbors started throwing dirt in piles to stop the encroaching flames. The homes of neighbors who had left were consumed by the blaze. Advertisement No one knows how long the evacuation order will last. Wildblood and her husband have been trapped on their property for more than a week, knowing that if theyre caught away from their home they could be forced to evacuate indefinitely. The only phone call we got was from PG&E the day before saying there is high fire danger. Theres going to be high winds, and we may turn off the power, Wildblood said as we chatted in the Evanses kitchen. That never happened. If they had done that, this fire wouldnt have happened. The Wildbloods are leaving Concow this week, in part for Thanksgiving and in part because theyve run out of gas for their generators. They dont know when theyll be able to return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some vehicles made it out in time the day the Camp Fire ignited. Others became grenades after being hit by flaming embers. The worst of it may have happened in a town called Paradise, approximate population 26,000. I was driving down Neal Road, and the houses by the horse stables were already on firethe side of the road was on fire as we were driving through, said David Cuen, a Paradise resident whom I met at a tent encampment of Camp Fire survivors in a Walmart parking lot in Chico. Neal Road is one of only three roads from Paradise with access to Highway 99. It was one of the few ways out: I look in my rearview mirror, count back 10 cars, and the 10th or 15th car, it blew up. The flames had overwhelmed all the cars by it. And the cops were making people get in cars that had room. So, youre talking four to five people in each car. Cuen spent the week after escaping the fire sharing a tent with his wife and her family. Advertisement I look in my rearview mirror, count back 10 cars, and the 10 th or 15 th car, it blew up. David Cuen That Walmart parking lot was an evacuee camp. Most of the people there knew their homes were gone. Everyone felt lucky to be alive. Here was ground zero for people who lost everything, who had no relatives with extra room, no cars, no moneyonly what they were able to grab in the slim window of time before everyone realized the fire was coming and they needed a way out. Volunteers ferried around paper plates of hot food, baby clothes, jackets, and blankets. No one was wearing a mask; the air, which was nearly unbreathable, was far from the biggest concern. More pressing was the cold at night. I stayed out in a tent one day over there because I was helping out, one girl, around 13, told me as she approached Cuen and I midconversation with a tray of quesadillas. It was freezing. I put handwarmers in my socks and in my shirt just for that one night. Still, despite the chill, the uncertainty, the crying babies, the alphabet soup of emergency personnelNational Guard, Cal Fire, sheriffs offices, California Highway Patroleveryone in the parking lot said that they were being taken care of. I couldnt speak to anyone at a tent for more than five minutes without someone interrupting us with an offering of food, gift cards, or warm clothing donated mostly from people in and around Chico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Decency prevailed. There was a problem with looting early on, but we pretty much try to keep the bad element out, Cuen told me, hunkered on a folding chair with his hands tucked inside a sweatshirt. We dont like tweakers around, and we dont mess with thieves or people who are trying to take advantage of the situation. But the security has been pretty good. Thats why we formed this connection, and we watch out for each other. Police came, but security at the encampment was mostly vigilante: the dispossessed protecting each other. Cuen showed me his storage tent, which couldnt be slept in because it was missing poles but was good enough to keep his familys blankets shielded from the ash hanging in the air. Id rather be in a tent than a shelter because with the tents we know the people all around us. You know, in a shelter, you dont know who youre going to sleep next to day by day. I take my dog and make my rounds here, make sure no one is messing with no ones stuff. In addition to the tent cities, nearly a dozen shelters are housing about 1,400 evacuees outside the evacuation zone. One large shelter in Chico experienced an outbreak of norovirus and had to quarantine some of its temporary residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuen had only lived in Paradise for two months before the fires came. Hed moved there with his wife this fall to help care for her aging mother. He told me he had a sense the fire was coming when the sky became red around 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 8. Within a couple of hours, the entire town of Paradise was struggling to make it out alive. Now, its a smoldering wasteland. He found a new community in that Walmart parking lot. They had grown to know each others stories, what towns they fled from, who was missing, whose houses might have survived, who had babies, dog food, and extra cigarettes. I walked in on conversations about plans to rebuild, about neighbors who had been trapped, stories of flights from towering flames that snapped pines, of red skies, of the haunting roar from the rapidly encroaching inferno. Fires are loud. Beyond the sounds of propane tanks and cars exploding, beyond the cracking of ancient trees and caving roofs, the whoosh of fires was amplified by the winds that spread the flames. And yet: People were smiling. Kids were laughing and pestering their parents to help them open toy cars strangers handed to them. Walmart must have been making a killing. But like the fires that took everything, the community formed in that Walmart parking lot didnt take long to disappear. By Sunday afternoon, the area was ordered to start evacuating. The fire survivors, if they had any mobility, were being told to re-establish camp somewhere else, find another parking lot, or if they were willing, go to a shelter at a local fairgrounds about 30 minutes away. But like the fires that took everything, the community formed in that Walmart parking lot didnt take long to disappear. Last Thursday, Jazmin Hamburg didnt know what would happen next. She had lived in a small house in Magalia with eight other family members, including her two kids: Her younger son Aden was 10 months old, while Lucas was 4. She and her family were living in a battered motor home in a nearby parking lot. There was no communication. There was no alert, she told me, describing the day the fire broke out and her family fled: There was nothing. If my sister didnt contact me, I dont even know what would have happened. Were not sure if our house is burned. Shed been checking Facebook constantly to get more information but said nothing she was reading on social media, about which properties were still standing and where to get help, was reliable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im angry that we barely got out. They didnt give us any warning. Im angry that nobody came by to evacuate us, she told me, watching as Aden sipped from a pouch of donated baby food. When a child goes missing, theres an Amber Alert. When theres a weather warning, they put it on the stereo. There were options. There were things they could have done to keep us informed, and they didnt. Inside and outside the evacuation zone, the people I met expressed a kind of nebulous rancor toward PG&E. The utility owns the electrical equipment and power lines that have been responsible for at least 17 of the 21 major fires that burned across Northern California last year. The company is already on the hook for what could amount to about $15 billion in damages from those fires, a figure that could double with the Camp Fire if PG&E is found responsible for the latest conflagration. Its unclear who will absorb that expense. If it is PG&Es fault, people who lost their homes but hope to rebuild will probably have to rely on the very company that cost them everythingunless they choose to use solar power or some alternative form of energy in order to pry themselves from the grid. Were not supposed to worry about infrastructure. Its just whats under the hood of cities and towns. Even in places like Butte County, where you can drive on one-lane highways a half-hour or more without seeing a gas station or general store, a utility like PG&E is ubiquitous. Almost everyone there depends on PG&E, and everyone knows PG&E is culpable for some wildfires, but theres no way to protest: Its most peoples only option for power. It has no face; it shows itself in the form of monthly bills, branded trucks, and the occasional phone call or email about upcoming maintenance. Everyone who told me they were unhappy with PG&E paused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were they really angry at the electric company? Yes. But what did that even mean? People want their homes back and money to rebuild. PG&E may end up funding some of the recovery as it fixes its wires and rebuilds its towers; when the lights are back on, theyll also be the ones sending people the bill. And earlier this year, state lawmakers helped to shield PG&E from billions in wildfire liability: California Senate Bill 901, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed in September, allows electric utilities in the state to pass on such costs to ratepayers, though the law only applies to some fires from 2017 and doesnt fully go into effect until 2019. In Pulga now, there is an investigation underway. Personnel from Cal Fire were driving up and down a stretch of Pulga Road, hoping to discern what started the flames. Private security guards have been stationed to keep media and others away, but we were staying there, so we had some access to the area. The investigation could take months. Its hard to say what will fill this vacuum of certainty. PG&E emailed my friend Betsy Ann Cowley on Nov. 7, the day before the fire started, saying it was planning some maintenance nearby and would probably need to come by her town, as well. Both Virginia Wildblood and Jeff Evans told me they received a robocall the day before the fire begana warning that power might be temporarily suspended. To Cowley and others, all of this feels ominous now, though no one knows what it really means. As she waits to find out, Cowley cant leave her property until the evacuation order is lifted. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protections office said theres no telling when that will be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to say what will fill this vacuum of certainty. People are rushing to local Facebook groups to share resources about where evacuees can wait in lines to get gift cards and have their cheeks swabbed to help identify the remains of missing relatives. Some neighbors with spare resources are planning to build new structures on their land for families in need. The community seems prepared to come together now, but its not clear how long that feeling will last. Not everyone has fire insurance. Applying for FEMA aid requires the kind of paperwork most survivors may no longer have handy, like their insurance information. The will to rebuild felt strong among everyone I spoke toButte County is their home. But community isnt something that stands strong on its own. It requires a space for people to gather, to communicate, to realize that for better or worse they are in something together. As the days the evacuation zone remains active continue to add up, as investigators continue to look for and identify remains and determine the Camp Fires cause, the weight of shared uncertainty that appears to have united so manyto save pets and protect each others salvaged belongings in the tent cities now being disbandedmay force some to look out more for themselves. Its supposed to rain on Wednesday. Water can extinguish fire. But after a firestorm, rain can also push burned trees down mountains so they might clog waterways, causing flooding and mudslides. The Camp Fire may soon be out, but there are still thousands of people with nowhere to go. The blaze took what it wanted, which appears to be almost everything. The now-hollowed-out towns and skeletal forests left in its wake arent a sure foundation on which to rebuild. Theyre the groundwork of the next crisis. This essay is excerpted from Hungover: The Morning After and One Mans Quest for the Cure by Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, out now from Penguin Books. Throughout history, people have done all sorts of weird things involving animals in the hopes of curing a hangover. It is said that the epic drinkers of Outer Mongolia pickled the eyeballs of sheep, horse wranglers in the Wild West made tea out of rabbit shit, and my Welsh ancestors roasted the lungs of a pigall very literally. But the most common remedy has always been figurative: to pluck a hair of the dog that bit you. Advertisement That catchy metaphor goes back to at least around 400 B.C., when Antiphanes wrote these words (or at least their equivalent in ancient Greek). And they appear to be riffing on something even earlier: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take the hair, it is well written, Of the dog by which youre bitten, Work off one wine by his brother, One labor with another. Thanks to Antiphaness contemporary Hippocrates, the forefather of both the Hippocratic oath and homeopathy, it was a concept popular to all forms of medical treatment: fight fire with fire, yet do no harm. A tricky combination, but one that people have been attempting forever. And of course, it wasnt just hangovers that were treated with alcohol. Hippocrates devised an elaborate system of wine therapy, prescribing different types for different ailments and incorporating it into the regimen for almost all chronic and acute illness. Advertisement Galen the Greek, who served in the court of Marcus Aurelius, brought Hippocrates methods to the Roman Empire. Prolific as Pliny, he published 2.5 million words in his lifetime, much of it about wine therapy. Amid a hundred other wine-soaked remedies, he used it to treat the wounds of gladiators, and apparently not one of them died from infectionfrom decapitation, disembowelment, and hungry lions, sure, but not from infection. By the 11th century, medieval healers were still looking to Hippocrates, Galen, and other ancient doctors whose teachings had been translated by monks into Latin and compiled into the great medical tome Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum. This compendium of all medical knowledge prescribed wine and other alcoholic beverages for everything from indigestion to insanity. And it tells you exactly what to do should you exceed the recommended dose. If you develop a hangover from drinking at night, drink again in the morning. It will be your best medicine. Advertisement Advertisement And of course, booze was the least questionable ingredient in many curative elixirs. The Dispensatorium Pharmacorum, a medical dictionary from the mid-16th century, contains recipes that combine wine with ingredients such as the ashes of scorpions, dog excrement, and wolfs liver. And an article from The London Distiller in 1667 explains how to make an apparently well-known tonic from a crushed human skull: Take the Cranium-Humanum as you please, break it into small pieces then put string fire to it by degrees, continuing until you see no more fumes come forth; and you shall have a yellowish spirit, a red Oyl, and a volatile salt. The resulting liquor is supposed to help with the falling-sickness, Gout, Dropsie, infirm Stomach; and indeed strengthens all weak parts, and openeth all obstructions, and is a kind of Panacea. Advertisement Advertisement If, however, your hangovers tend to be accompanied by tinges of remorse, you might want to avoid getting drunk on crushed human skull. But then again, theres always this for the morning after, from Andy Topers list of ancient hangover cures: In Old Europe it was widespread to cultivate moss inside a skull, dry it, powder it, then snort ita bit of the skull that bit you. Advertisement It is also possible that, at certain times and places in history, whole towns, cities, and civilizations never got a chance to be hungoverthey just kept a slight buzz going all day, then into the next, apparently without a lick of guilt. Today, it is this aspectthe degree to which your hangover makes you feel guiltythat may decide what kind of hair of the dog you choose: a warm, stale beer; a spicy Bloody Caesar; or one of countless cocktails invented specifically for this purpose. Such concoctions tend to come in two overarching categories: sweet, soft soothers meant to ease you back to baseline with something milky, fruity, relaxing and restorative (these have names like Morning Glory, Milk of Human Kindness, and Mothers Little Helper) or short, sharp shocks intended to twist your system into sobriety with bitterness, blinding heat, and/or gag reflex (Khans Curse, Suffering Bastard, Guy Fawkes Explosion). Advertisement Historically, this second variety could contain anything from anchovies to ammonia, garlic to gunpowder. As Clement Freud (sounding more than a little like his overly analytical grandfather) puts it, such tonics also sublimate any guilt feelings by subjecting an already remorseful bastard to a more precise moment of suffering: Liquid cures of this type, he opines, owe much of their effectiveness to the popular belief that anything that tastes really disgusting must actually do you good. Advertisement Advertisement But guilt feelings aside, does a hair of the dog make practical sense? Sure it does, and always has. Even the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. admits that the observation that alcohol readministration alleviates the unpleasantness of both AW (alcohol withdrawal) and hangovers suggest that the two experiences share a common process. Advertisement But in regard to readministration, those in such institutes also warn you should never, ever do it, lest you turn into a certified drunk. In 2009, Dutch researcher Joris Verster published a paper addressing precisely this. The Hair of the Dog: A Useful Hangover Remedy or a Predictor of Future Problem Drinking? was based on a survey of Dutch undergrads. It revealed, among other things, that those who used alcohol as a morning-after treatment consumed approximately three times as much alcohol and that those who did so more often had a significantly higher lifetime alcohol dependence diagnosis. But of course, theres an aspect of chicken-and-egginess to all of this. And also, Versters paper never did tackle the first part of the question: A Useful Hangover Remedy? Advertisement The hair of the dog may, in fact, work in ways we never imagined. In Proof, Adam Rogers excellent recent book about the science of alcohol, the author suggests that ethanol might help with a hangover because it stops the body from breaking down methanol. As Rogers explains it, ethanol is the magical essence of alcohol, while methanol is a nasty molecule that, at low levels, sneaks into most alcoholic drinks and, at high levels, might just kill you. Broken down, it becomes the poison known as formaldehyde. While recognizing that some studies dismiss its effects, Rogers concludes that one piece of evidence is suggestive: the relative efficacy of the hair of the dogdrinking more booze. From Hungover by Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, published by Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright 2018 by Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall. Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. Despite the existence of the entire year of 2016, Ivanka Trumpjust months later!used her private email to conduct official White House business, the Washington Post reported Monday. President Trumps daughter had used her personal email during the Trump transition, where she played an informal role, but on March 30, 2017, she took an official, albeit unpaid role as a senior adviser in the Trump administration, making her subject to White House records rules. Throughout her fathers first year in office, Ivanka either discussed or forwarded White House business to her private email account with a ijkfamily.com domain name that was set up by Trump and her husband Jared Kushner. The disclosure of Trumps email usage came to light courtesy of a public records request from the liberal watchdog group American Oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ivanka Trump sent hundreds of emails from her personal account to White House aides and Cabinet officials over the course of the year. The Washington Post reports that less than 100 of those emails contained discussion of government policies and official White House business, while hundreds more were regarding White House scheduling and logistics, considered a lesser violation of federal records rules. Some aides were startled by the volume of Ivanka Trumps personal emailsand taken aback by her response when questioned about the practice. Trump said she was not familiar with some details of the rules, according to people with knowledge of her reaction, the Post reports. The discovery alarmed some advisers to President Trump, who feared that his daughters practices bore similarities to the personal email use of Hillary Clinton, an issue he made a focus of his 2016 campaign. Advertisement Trumps lawyers stressed that Ivankas email usage was distinct from Hillary Clintons email practice, which hounded her throughout the 2016 campaign, thanks, in part, to Donald Trumps baying during the campaign about Crooked Hillary to his supporters chants of lock her up. Ivankas lawyers said there was no discussion of classified information on her private email and that Trump and Kushner did not have a private server, instead relying on Microsoft servers to host the email domain and the Trump Organization to prescreen for viruses and malware. Of course, thats what Hillary Clinton said about her classified emails too when first asked about her handling of emails while secretary of state. Ivankas lawyers downplayed the extent of her private email usage, saying she changed her behavior once informed about federal records requirements, [b]ut Trump had used her personal email for official business far more frequently than known, according to people familiar with the administrations reviewa fact that remained a closely held secret inside the White House, according to the Post. She was the worst offender in the White House, a former senior U.S. government official said. With the midterms over, most Americans have stopped paying attention to the migrant caravan that left Honduras in early October. But the influx of at least 2,500 migrants from the group in Tijuana has put the bustling border city on edge. Migrants have been steadily arriving in Tijuana over the past few weeks with the intention of seeking asylum in the United States. With points of entry very slowly processing potential refugees, migrants have found a bottleneck that will likely keep them in the area for months, if not longer. Advertisement For Tijuana, a city of more than 1.5 million people, the large group of new arrivals (which will likely grow in the coming days) presents a complex set of challenges. Even though the city had ample time to prepare for the arrival of the caravan, local government officials at first failed to offer safe accommodation or proper services to the crowd. Many ended up walking along Tijuanas winding roads to the citys beaches, including the area around the imposing border fence. Once there, as many as 25 men climbed the structure, straddling it, one leg wagging over Mexican territory, the other over Californian soil, where a group of Border Patrol officers watched their every move. Other migrants held hands and prayed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not everyone in Tijuana has reacted kindly to their presence. Residents along the citys beaches verbally confronted local authorities. Our families come first! a man shouted on Wednesday. Our country comes first and then its their turn. If they come here violently, they will leave the same way! With tensions running high, city and state officials scrambled to turn a local sporting complex near the border into a large temporary encampment. Just as many had done earlier while passing through Mexico City, migrants slept in makeshift tents, children running around everywhere. The Mexican media reported that local authorities tried to persuade migrants to leave the streets and use the makeshift facilities instead. Not everyone heeded the call. Those who did received clothes and food. Advertisement In the last few days, small groups of Tijuanenses have begun vocally protesting the chaos surrounding the caravan situation in the city. On Sunday, a group of about 300 residents marched, sometimes shoving barricades set up by local police outside the migrants camp. News reports showed a woman wearing heavy makeup and carrying a Mexican flag shouting, Leave, Honduran! We dont want you here! No to the invasion, read a banner held high by a man hovering just a few feet from the police line. Mexico First, said another one. Instead of being a voice for reason and temperance, Gastelum has gone after the caravan with nativist zeal. Things were tense in Tijuana before the caravan arrived. The city is wrapping up its most violent year on record, with more than 2,000 homicides in 2018 alone. With the border effectively closed, the situation is bad and will likely get worse. It could even become tragic, in a heartbeat. This potentially nightmarish scenario requires a steady hand to soothe the communitys fears and help migrants in whatever comes next in their grueling journey. Advertisement Instead, Tijuanas got Juan Manuel Gastelum. Advertisement Gastelum, the mayor since 2016, has made a tough problem considerably worse. Instead of being a voice for reason and temperance, Gastelum has gone after the caravan with nativist zeal. Human rights are for humans who behave the right way, he said, in an example of rhetoric that would make Stephen Miller proud. The mayor then went on to threaten the migrants with Article 33 of the Mexican Constitution, which states that the executive branch can immediately expel any foreigner whose presence becomes inconvenient: Tijuana is a city of migrants, but we just dont want them this way they are aggressive, vulgar and they bully authorities, Gastelum insisted. Not surprisingly, Mayor Gastelum quickly caught the attention of a man very much in tune with the mayors nativist ramblings. On Sunday, Donald Trump approvingly cited Gastelum in a tweet, telling the migrants to go home! Advertisement Advertisement The problem, for men like Gastelum and Trump, is that crises rarely conclude by decree. There is no end in sight for the humanitarian calamity currently unfolding in Central Americas Northern Triangle. The caravan that has made its way to Tijuana might be the most numerous in memory, but it will not be the last. Even if entry into the United States turns nearly impossible and passage through Mexico becomes even more hazardous, Central American migrants will continue to flock north. The reason is simple: For many, the alternative to the hazardous and unpredictable journey is death. People cant be scared into turning back toward death. The solution to the crisis, then, lies not with coils of barbed wire tightly wrapped around the border fence but in a sensitive, ambitious approach to the region. The only way to prevent an exodus such as this is to guarantee that life is possible in the place people are leaving in earnest. In the meantime, Gastelum, Trump, and nativists on both sides of the border between Mexico and the United States should respect the caravans human rights. Those rights, after all, are for everyone, despite what the crude Gastelum might think. An active shooter at Chicagos Mercy Hospital left multiple victims wounded and the shooter dead during an afternoon shootout with police Monday. A police officer is among the wounded, according to multiple reports. The shooting started outside and then carried on inside the hospital, according to witnesses. The gunman identified as a 32-year-old maleshot his ex-fiance, who was a doctor at Mercy Hospital, in the parking lot as she as arriving for work, according to the local ABC News affiliate in Chicago. The shooting reportedly began between 3 and 3:30 p.m. (Central Time); Chicago Mercy tweeted out an all clear an hour or so later. Advertisement A shooting took place at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center this afternoon. The shooting at Mercy Hospital is over. Chicago Police Department have secured the hospital and patients are safe. Mercy Chicago (@MercyChicago) November 19, 2018 Eyewitness James Gray told ABC7 that the shooter was talking to a woman almost casually before he opened fire. They were walking and talking and he just turned around and started shooting. It wasnt a heated exchange. It was just like were talking now, he said. The woman fell to the ground and the gunman stood over her, shooting her three more times before firing on an arriving police car, Gray told the Chicago Tribune. On April 1, 2015, Vanessa Stuart crashed into Tiffany Howells car outside Daphne, Alabama, killing her. Prosecutors charged Stuart with criminally negligent homicide and driving under the influence. At trial, the evidence of Stuarts intoxication was conflicting. Four hours after the crash, a nurse drew Stuarts blood, and the state submitted a lab report finding her blood-alcohol level to be .174, well above the legal limit. But the nurse testified that Stuart did not appear drunk and had no odor of alcohol. The case thus centered on the reliability of the states lab report, so Stuarts lawyer attempted to call to the stand Belicia Sutton, the technician who signed it. But prosecutors declined to make her available. Instead, they produced a lab supervisor who began his job after Sutton tested Stuarts blood. The jury convicted Stuart, and she was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of this sat well with Justices Neil Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor. On Monday, the unlikely duo teamed up to raise a red flag over Stuarts case, criticizing their colleagues for declining to reverse Stuarts conviction. In a sharp opinion joined only by Sotomayor, Gorsuch wrote that the Supreme Court should affirm the right of defendants like Stuart to cross-examine forensic analysts who produce the evidence used to convict them. Hes absolutely right. And its distressing that no other justice joined his full-throated defense of this basic constitutional right. The Sixth Amendment guarantees all criminal defendants the ability to be confronted with the witnesses against him. In 2009s Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, the Supreme Court ruled that a lab technician who produces a report used to convict a defendant qualifies as a witness who must be made available for cross-examination. Writing for the court, Justice Antonin Scalia noted, correctly, that forensic analysis is frequently flawed; most defendants only hope of challenging forensic evidence is to interrogate the technician to reveal their lack of proper training or deficiency in judgment. Two years later, the court held in Bullcoming v. New Mexico that the state cannot provide surrogate testimony by some other lab tech: The person who produces a forensic report, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for the court, is the person who must take the stand. Advertisement Advertisement Both decisions splintered the court along unusual ideological lines. In Bullcoming, Ginsburg and Scalia joined with Justices Clarence Thomas, Elena Kagan, and Sotomayor to uphold the Sixth Amendment. Justice Stephen Breyer, meanwhile, joined the remaining conservative justices (Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, John Roberts) in dissent. The dissenters argued that it was pointless and impractical, a hollow formality, to demand the cross-examination of every analyst. In a later opinion, Breyer even created a flowchart purporting to illustrate the difficulties of calling every forensic witness to the stand. Advertisement In the years since Bullcoming, however, the Scalia/Ginsburg approach to the Confrontation Clause has proved startlingly prescient. A series of crime lab scandals have revealed that forensic analysts can easily manipulate evidence to secure convictions. One lab tech, Annie Dookhan, falsified tens of thousands of reports with the goal of getting drug users off the streets. Another, Sonja Farak, regularly stole drug samples and conducted analyses while high. Combined, Dookhan and Farak tainted about 42,000 convictions in Massachussetts. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has since overturned 47,612 charges in about 29,000 different cases, with more to come. Advertisement Meanwhile, weve also seen crime lab scandals in California, Florida, Ohio, Oregon, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas. There is a very real possibility that hundreds of thousands of drug convictions in the United States were secured on the basis of tainted forensic evidence. Advertisement Its encouraging to see Gorsuch continue Scalias legacy as a champion of the Confrontation Clause. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court began retreating from the Confrontation Clause just as it became clear what a vital role it served to keep forensic labs accountable. In 2012s Williams v. Illinois, a plurality of the court held that an expert witness could testify about a lab report even if the tech who produced it did not take the stand. Williams divided 414, and it is essentially impossible to glean a rule from its four separate opinions. Thomas was the source of the muddle. He condemned the pluralitys decision and agreed with Scalia, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan that lab techs are generally subject to the Confrontation Clause. But he insisted that they are only obligated to testify when their reports have formality and solemnitythat is, when they are a sworn [or] a certified declaration of fact. A lab report sworn to before a notary public, or affixed with some official certificate, triggers the Confrontation Clause. A report with no certificate of accuracy does not. Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Gorsuch bemoaned the confusion wrought by Williams and rejected Thomas arcane, rigid test. He noted that the lower courts have struggled to understand the decision, questioning whether it even serves as precedent. What rule, after all, should they follow? Five justicesThomas, Scalia, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kaganheld that lab techs are still subject to the Confrontation Clause. But Thomas embarked on his own esoteric adventure rather than join any opinion. And the plurality launched an attack on Bullcoming that a majority of the court rejected. Advertisement Gorsuch proposed seizing upon Vanessa Stuarts case to cut through the haze. A routine postarrest forensic report like the one here, he wrote, plainly triggers the protections of the Sixth Amendment. Gorsuch seemed to reject Thomas strange formality and solemnity principle and embrace a common-sense understanding of the Sixth Amendment: If a lab tech produces a report that might help secure a conviction, she must take the stand at trial. Because Belicia Sutton did not testify at Stuarts trial, Gorsuch wrote, the engine of cross-examination was left unengaged, and the Sixth Amendment was violated. Advertisement Its encouraging to see Gorsuch continue Scalias legacy as a champion of the Confrontation Clause. And its unsurprising that Sotomayor joined him: The justice is perhaps the courts fiercest defender of the rights of the accused. An alliance between Gorsuch and Sotomayor could mirror the Scalia-Ginsburg partnership that led the court to reinvigorate the Confrontation Clause in the first place. Criminal justice issues do not always split the court along partisan lines, and Gorsuchs libertarian streak gives him a deep (if selective) skepticism of government power. Dookhan and Farak were not isolated incidents. And the ability of future defendants to uncover forensic manipulation may depend upon Gorsuch and Sotomayors ability to convince their colleagues that the Confrontation Clause means what it says. Donald Trump finally came out as a nationalist last month. The president thrilled the crowd at a Ted Cruz rally by declaring, You know what I am? Im a nationalist, OK? Im a nationalist. Nationalist! Use that word! Use that word! Reactions were predictable. Liberals gnashed their teeth, Breitbart cheered, and white supremacists called it the greatest thing since Birth of a Nation. Americas European allies have condemned Trumps embrace of nationalism. French President Emanuel Macron declared on Nov. 11 that nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. To Macron, nationalism, exemplified by Trumps America First slogan, means pursuing our own interests first, with no regard to others. The proper attitude of loyalty to ones nation, Macron said, is patriotism, which he said is the exact opposite of nationalism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The elusive distinction between patriotism and nationalism, however, does not really explain the dispute between Trump and Macron or what makes the Trump presidency such a radical break with American traditions. Patriotism is generally understood to mean citizens love and loyalty to their country. How it differs from nationalism is not altogether clear, in part because nationalism has no agreed meaning. The term comes freighted with associations with dangerous and violent right-wing movements throughout history, including fascism, separatist movements like those of the Basques or Kurds, and racist movements like white nationalism. Some political scientists use nationalism to mean an extreme devotion to the nation, in which loyalty to the nation outweighs all other interests. Others use the term in a less negative way to mean simply the belief that a community sharing certain common attributes (shared values, culture, language, race, or religion) is entitled to self-rule. In this latter understanding, every citizen who is loyal to the nation is a nationalist. Advertisement Trumps use of the label elides these distinctions. He explained that his embrace of the term nationalist is just another way of saying America First. As he explained to Laura Ingraham, It means I love the country. It means Im fighting for the country. For Trump, the opposite of nationalism is not patriotism but globalism. By Trumps account, all recent presidents have been globalists, not nationalists: For many, many years our leaders have been more worried about the world than they have about the United States and they leave us in the mess. The distinction between patriotism and nationalism has a Goldilocks quality. It suggests that nationalists have too much devotion to their nation, while patriots have just the right amount. For decades, U.S. presidents have shied away from calling themselves nationalists and have preferred to describe their enthusiasm for the state as patriotism. The most recent president to describe himself as a nationalist was Teddy Roosevelt, who called his progressive agenda a New Nationalism, but that was before the associations between nationalism and extremism had become fixed. By embracing the term today, Trump is clearly trying to goad his adversaries and cheer his supporters, like the loyalists at Breitbart, who routinely divide political figures into nationalist and globalist categories. (A quick search of Breitbart finds more than 400 articles that refer to the French president as Globalist Macron.) It takes little scratching under the surface to recognize that in the Breitbart world, globalist is a code word frequently employed to describe the supposed Jewish control of banking, the media, and the levers of political power. Advertisement Advertisement In distinguishing between nationalism and patriotism, Macron echoed George Orwell, who in the immediate aftermath of World War II condemned the excesses of German and Italian nationalism while praising proper British patriotism. Like Macron, Orwell understood nationalism to mean a devotion to the state that is paramount to other interests. To Orwell, a patriot, in contrast, had more modest devotion to the nation, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Advertisement Although it may be comforting to think of our own feelings of loyalty to the state as falling within the healthy range of patriotism and not veering into the excessive devotion of nationalism, the distinction between the two still proves elusive. Advertisement Macron and Orwell suggest that nationalists believe that national loyalty supersedes other interests. Yet patriots too believe that loyalty to the state can require sacrificing all interests, even ones life, to defend the nation. Orwell also argues that nationalists support aggressively advancing national interests, while patriots will act only to defend the nation. But whether an act is aggressive or defensive is often in the eye of the beholder. To their supporters, the war in Vietnam and the invasion of Iraq were patriotic acts to defend the nations interests, while opponents saw them as wars of nationalist aggression. The distinction between patriotism and nationalism has a Goldilocks quality. It suggests that nationalists have too much devotion to their nation, while patriots have just the right amount. But how much devotion to ones nation is too much? As sociologist Michael Billig has explained, labeling our loyalty to the state as patriotism serves to obscure nationalist dangers within established nations: Advertisement Advertisement Our loyalties to our nation-state can be defended, even praised. A rhetorical distinction is necessary for accomplishing this defence. Our nationalism is not presented as nationalism, which is dangerously irrational, surplus and alien. A new identity, a different label, is found for it. Our nationalism appears as patriotism. Advertisement Macron is right to call out Trump for making a radical break with past American commitments, but what makes Trump radical cannot be explained by saying that he is a nationalist rather than merely a patriot. What makes the Trump presidency radical is his vision for the nation. For decades, the cornerstone of American nationalism, embraced by presidents of both parties, has been constitutional nationalism, the belief that what binds the nation together is a commitment to a core set of values found primarily in its founding documents. As Franklin Roosevelt put it in 1943: Advertisement The principle on which this country was founded and by which it has always been governed is that Americanism is a matter of the mind and heart; Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry. A good American is one who is loyal to this country and to our creed of liberty and democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Every president elected from Roosevelt until Trump declared their adherence to the conviction that despite differences in our backgrounds, Americans share a common creed founded in the Constitution. In his inaugural address, President George W. Bush declared, We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds. Barack Obama, in his inaugural address, agreed: What binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptionalwhat makes us Americanis our allegiance to an idea. Advertisement Constitutional nationalism has likewise informed American foreign policy, which was built on creating international alliances and an international legal regime that, at least nominally, is committed to protecting many of the same principles of liberty, equality, and self-rule found in the Constitution. Although the content of the nations fundamental principles has often been disputed, presidential declarations that the nation shares a common creed convey the aspiration that the nation should strive to fulfill its ideals, that one day the nation may, in Martin Luther Kings words, rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed. As Obama put it, Each successive generation can look upon our imperfections and decide that it is in our power to remake this nation to more closely align with our highest ideals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump doesnt talk like this. His inaugural address did not mention the Constitution, the nations founding principles, or any sort of shared commitment to liberty or equality. Instead, he painted a terrifying picture of a nation under siege, in which gangs, drugs, and crime have destroyed Americas cities, while rusted factories lie scattered like tombstones across the landscape. At the core of Trumps national vision is a more-or-less explicitly racial, gendered, and religious narrative of grievance, in which liberals, women, and racial minorities have attacked and undermined what was once great about the nation. His foreign policy is built around the same narrative of American victimization. Past presidents have allowed our NATO allies and trade partners to rip us off, he declared. American humiliation abroad has been a constant Trump theme, and more than 100 times Trump has complained that the world is laughing at us. Advertisement For Trump, the solution at home and abroad is much the same. In his inaugural address, he promised, This American carnage stops right here and right now. Ending the nations humiliation and restoring our national greatness means building a wall to keep out the Mexican rapists and thugs, stopping Muslims from entering the country, and ending legal immigration from shithole countries. It means tearing up treaties written to humiliate us. It means rejecting so-called allies who mooch from us and dont respect us. The radical nationalist vision at the heart of the Trump presidency is simply unrecognizable for a nation committed to a common creed founded on the Constitution. The Trump presidency represents a sharp break from American traditions because of the content of that vision, not the label nationalism. What is it with Trump and the troops? His skipping out of the memorial for the American soldiers buried outside Paris on the centenary of World War Is armistice, his no-show at Arlington Cemetery on Veterans Day, his failure to visit a single American war zone after almost two years in officeall reflect something strangely aloof about this presidents view of his most basic rituals and obligations as the commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces. But what are the roots of this strangeness? Advertisement A recent story in the New York Times cited an unnamed source suggesting that Trump hasnt greeted the troops in battle because he doesnt support the wars theyre fighting and thinks a visit would lend their mission legitimacy. But this makes no sense for at least two reasons. First, though Trump initially wanted to get out of the war in Afghanistan, he ultimately decided early this year to increase the number of troops there. Second, President Obama campaigned on withdrawing troops from Iraqand did so, on schedulebut nonetheless paid them a visit less than three months into his first term. Similarly, Dwight Eisenhower ran in 1952 on a promise to end the war in Korea but visited the troops after winning the election as a prelude to withdrawal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some see Trumps laxity as another instance of his narcissism: if an event, trip, commitment, or policy cant be seen as all about him, hes not interested. And if hes the object of criticism, he swings back, often wildly, regardless of the critic. This explains his rant this week against retired Adm. William McRaven, the former commander of U.S. special operations forces and architect of the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, as a Hillary Clinton fan and Obama backer and, ipso facto, unworthy of respect. McRaven had criticized Trump for attacking the media and, before then, for revoking former CIA Director John Brennans security clearance. But this trait doesnt explain his failure to visit troops, who would treat any president with respect and cheers, or to stand solemnly at a military cemetery, where he could wrap himself in past glories without protest. Advertisement When people give their service and make sacrifices on Trumps orders, as the men and women of the armed forces do routinely, his discomfort intensifies to nausea. Others wonder if he might be afraid to put himself in what might be harms way. Possibly, but security around a president in a war zone is massively tight; the chances of getting shot or blown up are probably lower than at many other sites where he might travel. Advertisement I think the real cause of his failure here runs deeper: It lies in a discomfort with the whole idea of service or sacrifice. On an everyday level, he regards those who give something of themselves as chumps. Note his pride in evading taxes (That makes me smart, he bragged during one of the 2016 debates), his skirting of promises to make charitable donations and even his obligations to pay vendors in his various failed business projects. Advertisement But in extraordinary matters, specifically when people give their service and make sacrifices on his orders, as the men and women of the armed forces do routinely, his discomfort intensifies to nauseahe cant face the connection to death and tragedy. Advertisement One time, early in his presidency, Trump made the journey to Dover Air Base to see a fallen warrior returned in his casket and to mourn with his family. In this case, the soldier was William Ryan Owens, whod died in an ambush in Yemen, during the first military operation that Trump approved as president. Trump was rattled by the ceremony (by all accounts, they are always grimly overpowering affairs) and, according to Bob Woodwards Fear, let it be known he would never come to Dover again. Subsequently, he blamed Owens death on the generals whod planned the mission, ignoring the fact that hed approved it. Advertisement Advertisement Trump says hes done more for the troops than any president in many, many yearsa claim he might believe, since hes never studied the past. He tosses around references to my military and my generals, and arguably, he has a claim to the possessive, since he is their commander in chief. But such talk would seem less arrogant and pretentious if he displayed the slightest interest in what they do and how they are. No president so devoted to the troops would have sent 5,200 of them to the Mexican border for the sole purpose of shoring up his partys candidates for the midterms, a motive all too clearly confirmed when he stopped hyping the Central American migrant caravan as an invasion the day after and, a week hence, announced the mission would be ending, even as the migrants drew near. Advertisement Trump adores the pomp and circumstance of wars vestiges. He craves a military parade and was crushed when the Pentagon told him the price tag for the parade he wanted to throw in downtown Washington would be too high even for his taste. Hed said the idea was to honor the troops, few of whom wanted it (theyre too busy for pageantry these days), though its real purposeas was clear to the officers whod rolled their eyes at the requestwould have been to lavish garlands on himself as he stood on the dais, beaming, like the commissars on May Day in Red Square, as he inspected their ranks. He knows nothing of wars realities and, clearly, has no desire for enlightenment. Even a peripheral exposure might highlight his responsibility for what happens on the battlefields as well as the aftermath, and that would be unacceptable to a man who seems to treat his presidency as a big show judged by ratings, not consequences. This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy. The inadvertent disclosure of the likely existence of a sealed indictment against Julian Assange raises the question of what the constitutional implications of such an indictment might be. Only an indictment narrowly focused on knowing collaboration with a foreign intelligence agency, if in fact the evidence supports such a finding, would avoid the broad threat that such a prosecution would otherwise pose to First Amendment rights and press freedoms. Any prosecution for the publication of the Chelsea Manning disclosures (war logs and embassy cables) or for involvement in the Edward Snowden disclosures would meet the same constitutional difficulties that arose at those times. As I argued in detail in 2011, and then as a witness for the defense in the Manning trial, for purposes of constitutional protection, it is impossible to distinguish WikiLeaks from more traditional media on stable grounds that cannot be leveraged against all manner of media organizations over time, including both partisan and mainstream media. No distinguishing line can usefully be drawn in organizational terms. Central to this discussion are federal cases concerning journalists privilege under state law as well as the Supreme Courts clear statement that liberty of the press is the right of the lonely pamphleteer who uses carbon paper or a mimeograph just as much as of the large metropolitan publisher who utilizes the latest photocomposition methods from Branzburg v. Hayes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats more, the long history of rabid partisan presses in the 19th century and the rise of frankly partisan media in the present environment mean that we cannot anchor the limits of press freedom in the organizational habits and institutional forms of professional journalism of the few decades between World War I and the rise of Fox News. The explosion of online journalism, by individuals and small teams relying on diverse motivationscommercial, political, or socialmakes any legal regime that enables prosecutors to finely thread needles and identify targets for prosecution because they are not really media inadequate to the times and the models that pervade contemporary media. The touchstone used in the journalists privilege cases from the 2nd, 3rd, and 9th circuits was intent and function at the time of gathering information, not the mode of dissemination. As long as there is intent to gather information for public dissemination, the actor is acting as the role of the press. Advertisement It is well settled that a journalist who passively receives illegally obtained information is privileged to publish it (Bartnicki v. Vopper). Thats why the media organizations that published the Manning and Snowden materials could not be prosecuted, and WikiLeaks was no different. Knowing that the materials were stolen by a foreign intelligence agency alone is insufficient to sustain a prosecution. The only distinctive feature that might implicate WikiLeaks in a criminal case arising from publication of the DNC and Podesta email dumps in the runup to the 2016 election is that the underlying illegal action was undertaken by a hostile foreign intelligence service, rather than by a whistleblower or domestic leaker. Whistleblowers play a vital role in checking systemic failures in all major public institutions and organizations. This is true even in the national security system, where disclosing documents to unauthorized third parties is almost always illegal, precisely because errors and abuses in the national security system can exact such high costs. This is why I have argued that national security whistleblowers deserve a robust defense against criminal prosecution. The case is different where a foreign intelligence service is concerned. Because whistleblowers take substantial risks when they disclose materials illegally, we can assume that they will not generally undertake that risky act except when they observe what they at least believe is serious wrongdoing involving significant public interests. That has certainly been the case in all major national security leaks investigated or prosecuted criminally in a manner that reached public knowledge since the end of World War II. By contrast, there is little reason to think that a foreign intelligence agency will seek to leak information or hack into systems illegally only where there is strong reason to think that the disclosed facts raise significant public-interest considerations and expose wrongdoing. If a newspaper publishes materials it knows were obtained illegally by a foreign intelligence agency, therefore, the outlet should exercise particular care because there is every reason to believe that the source is using the outlet to manipulate, rather than inform, the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But knowing that the materials were stolen by a foreign intelligence agency alone is insufficient to sustain a prosecution. By Oct. 7, 2016, the day that WikiLeaks dumped the Podesta emails immediately after the Access Hollywood tape came out, and on the same day that the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement about the Russian origins of the DNC hacks, most media organizations should at least have suspected, if not worked with the operating assumption, that the DNC and Podesta emails were hacked by a foreign intelligence agency. Nonetheless, I doubt there are many who would argue that if reporters from the New York Times or Fox News decided to dig into the DNC and Podesta emails (as they did) to look for news stories, knowing full well that their source was likely a foreign intelligence agency that released the emails in order to help Russian interests at the expense of American interests, these reporters would be deprived of the protections under the passive-receipt framework of Bartnicki. Advertisement So where, if anywhere, might the nature of the source of the informationpotential whistleblower or foreign intelligence agencymatter? The answer lies primarily in the extent to which the media outlet is protected over time if it continues to coordinate with the source but did not originally solicit and participate in the illegal action. Even this, however, may be a bridge too far. Let me explain. Advertisement There seems to be a broad sense, though no precedenteven among those who support strict limits on prosecution of journalists, like Dan Froomkin and Elizabeth Goiteinthat if a journalist knowingly solicits and participates in the illegality in advance, even when the source of the leak is a good-faith whistleblower, the journalists First Amendment defense is on shaky grounds. On the other hand, media organizations coordinate with leak sources as a matter of course, including sources whose act of leaking is illegal, in meeting secretly and receiving the information without exposing the source to prosecution. To treat coordination after the initial illegality, aimed to maintain the secrecy of the source as a prosecutable offense, would sweep in too much of normal journalistic practice in leak cases and severely limit the ability of the press to fulfill its constitutionally protected role. Advertisement Advertisement So if WikiLeaks knew and coordinated in advance around the DNC hacking and leaking, the case would be within the zone that most commentators see as prosecutable. But I doubt that the GRU needed much encouragement or help from WikiLeaks before the hack or while continuing to hack. Assuming prosecutors cannot prove such prior active collaboration under the normal interpretation of Bartnicki, that would be the end of the story. The only question that remains in my mind is whether WikiLeaks can be prosecuted if it knowingly coordinated after the hack, knowing specifically that the source was a foreign intelligence agency, beyond what would be appropriate in charging a newspaper that coordinated with a source who had committed a crime to meet in secret or help arrange a meeting (say, renting a hotel room). Again, the reason for differentiating domestic leakers and whistleblowers from foreign intelligence agencies is that the likely motivations and risks they undertake suggest that the public interest in the disclosures of the former are likely high, whereas the public interest in the latter case will more commonly be that they not reach the public sphere. Or, at least, we have no systematic reason to think that such disclosures will be aimed toward abuses of power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider two hypothetical cases to mark the boundaries. Say a journalist at the New York Times receives materials from a person she knows to be a foreign intelligence agent (from Country X) and knows that the materials were stolen in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Espionage Act. Imagine that the documents show that the U.S. attorney general was bribed by an American firm to look the other way as the firm violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act while competing for a contract for sale of weapons, in which the American company competed with a company from Country X whose intelligence agency is offering the information. Imagine further that the newspaper agrees to meet the intelligence agent two or three times, in secret locations, to receive information that would help in the newspapers own investigation to verify the claims. Here we have a case of a journalist who receives true information of enormous public value from a foreign intelligence agency working to advance its countrys military industry at the expense of the U.S. military industry. We even have some active cooperation over time. And yet, given the clear public interest in disclosure, I doubt there would be many who would argue that the publication should be susceptible to prosecution. In part, this is because the story discloses a true case of public corruption at the highest levels and involves only passive receipt of the information. And, in part, because the nature of the cooperation was within the normal practice of meeting sources clandestinely, because their exposure would subject them to severe negative consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the other end of the spectrum, consider an individual knowingly recruited, trained, and paid by an intelligence agency of a foreign adversary to be a reporter in the U.S. The aim is to use that reporters position to inject into the American media system occasional stories, some true and some false, selected, framed, and timed to inflict damage on the U.S. to the benefit of the foreign power. While maintaining her cover, the reporter regularly files bona fide stories as well. In this case, the risk that prosecution under a conspiracy theory to violate the Espionage Act or CFAA would spill over to other journalistic practices is minimal, since the strict necessity of showing active participation as a foreign agent would all but contain the case either to its facts or to defense against active measures of a foreign adversary. Moreover, there is no reason to think that the disclosures would tend toward the public interest. Advertisement Its here that I think the distinction between the normal cases of leakers and whistleblowers and the rare (as in, this would be the first) case of knowing active collaboration with a foreign intelligence agency offers the most leeway for a prosecution. The precedent would need to be tightly contained to deal with foreign active measures and would not touch the overwhelming breadth of cases involving national security whistleblowers and other leakers. Even in such cases, passive receipt in the Bartnicki model and minimal cooperation to achieve the handover of the documents would be constitutionally protected. Advertisement I dont know whether there was any knowing coordination between WikiLeaks and Russian intelligence, and if there was, of what form. Certainly, the allegations in the DNC lawsuit, focusing on a broad and vague alliance of interestsessentially, hating Hillary Clinton and occasionally associating with RTare woefully inadequate as evidence of knowing active cooperation. But the case may be stronger if there is clear evidence, for example, of direct and knowing collaboration with Russian intelligence to cover up the Russian origins of the hack. Consider, for example, when, on Aug. 9, 2016, WikiLeaks offered a $20,000 bounty to anyone who found information leading to the murderer of Seth Rich, or when WikiLeaks published Robbin Young Twitter DMs with Guccifer 2.0 in another attempt to obscure the Russian origins of the hack. Again, these activities alone, without direct evidence of knowing collaboration or coordination, would not be enough to sustain a prosecution. After all, all these stories and other clearly Russian-origin stories received continuous amplification from Fox News, Zerohedge, the Gateway Pundit, and elsewhere throughout the right-wing media ecosystem. (You can see the details of these and other interventions, including Wikileaks, in chapters 5, 7, and 8 of Network Propaganda.) It does not help the cause of protecting journalists and national security whistleblowers, who play a crucial role in holding the American national security establishment to account, to refuse to accept that there is a difference between publishing illegally obtained documents in the normal course of working with whistleblowers and knowing active collaboration with a foreign adversarys intelligence agency engaged in information operations aimed against American democracy. The former is a pressure valve that has, particularly in the 1970s and 2000s, served a critical role in exposing errors and abuses in the national security system. The latter presents a systemic risk. The trick is to define the level of proof and the elements of the offense narrowly and clearly enough to make sure that this limited exception cannot be used to erode the otherwise broad immunity journalists enjoy under the First Amendment to publish materials, including illegally obtained materials. I think that insisting on the case being narrowly focused on knowing, active collaboration with a foreign intelligence agency could do just that. But if prosecutors cannot find evidence that would support such a limited charge, then the risks that a prosecution based on looser standards like those proposed in the DNC lawsuit, or based on a narrow definition of what a press function means, would pose too great a danger to press freedom. More From Just Security: Asylum Seekers Being Turned Away No Matter Where They Cross the Border Was Your Voting Machine Hacked? Without More User-Friendly Devices, We May Not Know. "What were those senators thinking?" As if the country is not fragmented enough, the Senate voted to divide Palawan into three provinces. A look at the map of the Philippines with its 7,107 (depending on whether its high or low tide) would show that the country is so broken up making it unmanageable and hard to govern even with a strong leadership from imperial Manila. Yet 14 senators saw it fit to divide Palawan into three provinces of Palawan del Sur, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Norte. Only Liberal Party Senator Risa Hontiveros had the sense to oppose the measure. What were the other senators thinking? Voters in the May 13 mid-term elections should remember to strike out the names of the reelectionist senators from their ballot for not thinking. These include senatorial frontrunners Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay and Edgardo Sonny Angara who sponsored the House bill calling for the division which is a form of gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is a process wherein the boundaries of congressional districts are expanded to dilute the votes of a certain area to give advantage to the party in power. If there is a pending proposal for a federal form of government to join some provinces together, what in heavens name were the 14 senators thinking ? Critics of the divide Palawan into three move voiced their concern that a divided Palawan would further weaken the countrys sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea against the encroachment of China. Speak of divide and conquer, splitting Palawan into three would suit Chinas agenda well. How will three Palawans respond to Chinas creeping advance in the West Philippine Sea? Palawan is a frontier province in the South China Sea which Beijing has militarized. Yet, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo has this notion that it is the United States that is provoking China by sailing its warships near the artificial islands China built to install military airports and naval bases,Listening to Panelos preposterous statements makes us miss former presidential spokesman Harry Roque who talks more sense. There are reports from Palace insiders who claim the President is already looking for Panelos replacement. While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has the overall supervision over exploration and mining operations, local and foreign companies complain that local governments also exact extortionist fees for permits to operate even if the DENR had already granted approval. The question is: Who are pushing for the split of Palawan into three? It has to be the local officials whose support is needed by reelectionist senators and congressmen.Aside from the divide-and-conquer agenda with the split of Palawan into three provinces, there is also a growing concern the Philippines is falling into a debt trap because of the governments unabated borrowing of funds from China for its infrastructure projects. President Rodrigo Duterte is locked in the embrace of Chinese President Xi Jinping whom he welcomed into the country yesterday. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno rejected the debt trap claim as without basis. Yeah, right. Vehicular traffic has been rerouted in Manila with so many major streets closed to give Xis motorcade of official entourage unimpeded passage. No curses from Digong as when he spewed invectives upon being caught in traffic because of Pope Francis visit to the Philippines on Jan. 15 to 19, 2015. On another matter, the Philippine National Police in a statement said it is withdrawing its support for the ABS-CBN TV series Ang Probinsyano. PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said the TV series had put the police organization in a bad light by depicting its officials and men as totally corrupt and criminals in uniform. The networks producers cited its disclaimer at the start of each episode saying the plot and characters are fictional and not based on any actual persons and events, But because Ang Probinsyano resemble some real people and events, viewers relate to the TV series which happens to be on its third year. As someone who follows the series, my take on the matter is simply this. Its time to end it and ring down the curtain. Anything no matter it good it is can turn boring because the audience is waiting for a denouement. There are so many sub-plots and villains that come up to bring harm to the main character of Cardo portrayed by Coco Martin. It has become ho-hum even to those who had gotten addicted to the series. To the ABS-CBN top honchos, think of another series to replace Ang Probinsyano. Give it a rest, guys. The foreign affairs minister also admitted to some disputes with PM Robert Fico. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak may consider his resignation if Slovakia rejects to support the UN migration compact. Since I took the ministerial post, Ive been trying to pursue the vision of a democratic, European Slovakia that is part of solutions, Lajcak said before the November 20 government session, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Moreover, he warned that the government plans to discuss simpler rules for employing people coming from non-EU countries. This compact defines exactly what legal, regulated migration is, the minister added. Read also: Read also: Migration compact: Will Slovakia stay out? Read more Meanwhile, the private broadcaster TV JOJ reported that Lajcak has admitted to a dispute with Smer chair Robert Fico. With their attitudes towards the migration document, politicians want to solve the problem with their preferences, he reportedly added. If MPs want to separate Slovakia, be a part of problems and let others offer solutions, I cannot pursue thus, Lajcak explained, as quoted by TV JOJ. The information surprised PM Peter Pellegrini (Smer), who had just arrived to the session, the broadcaster added. Hunt for preferences Apart from the Slovak National Party (SNS), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), and Sme Rodina of Boris Kollar, the Smer party criticised the document, calling it unacceptable, TV JOJ reported. Fico even published a video on Facebook on November 18, in which he claimed that the document is not in compliance with Slovakias migration policy and that the MPs should give a clear mandate to the person who would attend the negotiations over the UN compact at their next session. Lajcak admitted that he had talked with Fico before the video was posted. The basic element has been taken into consideration: that we cannot sit behind the oven or post statuses on Facebook when we have objections, but go there and discuss it, Lajcak said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. When asked why the critical comments are coming up now, even though the document had been discussed for several months, even during his presidency over the UN General Assembly, Lajcak said that it is not about the document, but the hunt for preferences. Everybody is dealing with our small, stay-at-home politics, the minister added, as quoted by SITA. When asked whether this includes Fico, Lajcak repeated that he meant everybody. Compact will be discussed in parliament The parliament is expected to discuss the objections to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Lajcak will talk about it during the session of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee on November 21. SNS does not want the document to be binding for Slovakia. Its MP's propose that Slovakia not ratify it, TASR reported. The adoption of the migration compact was supported by 193 UN member states in September 2016, while the preparation of the text started in April 2017. The aim of the 34-page document is to better help organise migration flows and strengthen the rights of migrants. It emphasises the sovereignty of countries and their right for their own migration policy. Kiska concerned about the resignation threat President Andrej Kiska is worried about the conflict in the government and the threat of Lajcaks resignation. He expects that the personal disputes in the coalition will be solved so that Slovakia will remain trustworthy in the eyes of its partners, said the presidents spokesperson Roman Krpelan. At the same time, the president considers the UN compact on migration a non-binding document that does not oblige Slovakia to accept migrants. On the contrary, it emphasises the right of every country to decide who can or cannot enter and stay on its territory, as reported by TASR. The document should also be a manual to help create conditions under which people will not be forced to leave their homes and will be allowed to live a decent life in their country. The president also regrets that every time the word migration is mentioned, it works as a red cloth for many politicians that makes them use populist statements, Krpelan said, as quoted by TASR. SNS keeps its position Pellegrini hopes that the politicians will agree at the upcoming session of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee on how Slovakia will express its objections with the migration compact. He also admitted that Lajcaks resignation statement surprised him, but he considers it a hypothetical possibility, as reported by TASR. Speaker of Parliament and SNS chair Andrej Danko, meanwhile, voiced his refusal to support the migration compact in parliament. In its current form the global compact is unacceptable for us, he said, as quoted by the Sme daily. SNS does not want anyone from Slovakia to be present at the discussions held in Marrakesh. He does not plan to leave the coalition and hopes that together with Smer, they will find a compromise. When commenting on Lajcak, Danko said they have a correct relationship, Sme reported. Beata Balogova is a respected figure in the region for her dedication to press freedom and independent journalism, according to the press organisation. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Beata Balogova at the memorial march for Jan Kuciak in Bratislava. (Source: SME) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Beata Balogova, editor-in-chief of the Slovak Sme daily and former editor-in-chief of The Slovak Spectator, was appointed one of the vice-chairs of the International Press Institute (IPI) on November 2. It is important for IPI to have a strong voice in central and eastern Europe, and Beata is a strong voice, IPI Executive Board Chair Markus Spillmann announced in Bratislava. Balogova has been a key figure demanding an impartial and honest investigation of the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak. She is a respected figure in the region for her dedication to press freedom and independent journalism, the IPI wrote on its website. The IPI Executive Board met in Bratislava in early November to call for justice in the Kuciak case, who was shot dead together with his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, at the end of February 2018. The IPI gathers editors, leading journalists for press freedom, and media executives from around the world. They promote quality journalism, freed from interference, and stand up for journalism, which serves the public. Balogova has become IPIs fourth current vice chair. She will join vice-chairs Woosuk Choi of South Korea, Khadija Patel of South Africa, and Dawn Thomas of Trinidad and Tobago. "Congressmen are still busy making insertions here and there." Despite calls for change under the Duterte administration, it appears things remain the same. Take for instance the much-delayed approval of the 2019 national budget by the House of Representatives, which has moved its final enactment to November 28. As Senator Panfilo Lacson, the nemesis of pork barrel, said, members of Congress are still inserting their pet projects into the budget although it is ready for third and final reading. Normally, budget insertions are done before the second reading of the budget. Why is this so? The obvious answer is that next year is an election year. Reelectionists must show their constituents that they have some kind of achievement. What a scam, right? Allocations for roads, bridges, highways and livelihood projects go to their favorite contractors, a system where reelectionist congressmen gets a kickback of anywhere between 20 and 30 percent. This explains the delays. If as scheduled by the House, the budget gets enacted by Nov. 28, it leaves the Senate only about six session days to come up with its on version. My gulay! With the printing, and the approaching Christmas holidays, there is reason for senators to worry. Even Senate President Tito Sotto is beginning to doubt if they could come up with their own version before the year ends. The problem with a reenacted budget is that Malacanang will have the power to allocate funds from savings to its allies. Neat, huh? The Supreme Court has ruled against the pork barrel system. But who can stop the President from allocating funds? * * * With all the accolades given to visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a two-day state visit here, questions are raised on the relations between our two countries. Polls show many Filipinos do not trust China despite President Rodrigo Dutertes love for his counterpart. The same polls also show that Filipinos want the Chinese to leave the contested shoals and islets they had occupied for military purposes. There are even misgivings on the loans and investments that will be signed during this visit. Will these result in a debt trap?There are problematic arrangements being signed by the two countries like that on the joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea. Another issue is the consortium that is slated to be the third player in the telecommunications industry. Mislatel is partnering with China Telecom, a government entity, on this one. Another question that may be asked who is Dennis Uy? There are rumors he is the biggest campaign contributor of President Duterte. The rumor is that Uy represents Chinese money in the Philippines. Speaking of Mislatel, I doubt that it can break the duopoly of Smart and Globe right away. * * * I dont know how far the 600 or so members of the Armed Forces, ordered by the President to help Customs Commissioner Leonardo Rey Guerrero, are doing in their mission. What I do know is that entrenched syndicates at the agency will run circles around them. I have known past presidents who tried their best to stop corruption and smuggling...and failed. The reason is that Customs is a highly specialized job. Valuing imports is tricky and it will take months for new officials to learn the intricacies of the job. I covered Customs decades ago and I know that syndicates try their best to take advantage of a newcomers learning curve. I wonder what the 600 soldiers will do when hundred of imported containers are unloaded at the Manila Port? Nothing will scare these corrupt Customs people. And nothing can stop smuggling even right under the noses of the most well-intentioned officials. This is why smugglers are so brazen. So long as there is human intervention and discretion at Customs, it will continue to be corrupt. The presence of the AFP will not deter the presence of fixers who can navigate their way around Customs. President Benigno Aquino III had six Customs Commissioners. President Duterte is on his third yearand his third Commissioner as well. I have often said that the solution is privatization. Is Mr. Duterte listening? * * * A dear friend of mine, Gualberto Lumauig of Ifugao, died last Sunday after a lingering illness. He was a former governor and congressman. He was also a journalist and former chief of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan. Berts wife was my wifes classmate at UP. We often saw them at parties. We will miss Bert. To his familyour deepest condolences. Well-known American Armenian internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian recently introduced his new product: the Armenian brandy, Shakmat. Also, the co-founder of Reddit and Initialized Capital had noted that there were only 2,400 bottles in the first run of this product. Ohanian has now posted a photo on Instagram, and which was taken during his visit to Armenia this year. He had planted a tree at a park in capital city Yerevan, and he posted the respective photo on Instagram. Shakmat will not only be many peoples first taste of Armenia, but itll also help with the reforestation of Armenia, Alexis Ohanian commented, in particular, regarding this photo. Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Huda Youssef al-Jubai has overcome countless challenges to see beyond the tragedies in her life and the events that surround her, to forge ahead and create something better writes Ana Insan. The explosive bullets penetrated the beautifully painted walls of Ms. Huda Youssef al-Jubai house on Thursday morning, Jul. 20, announcing the start of a special type of battle, planned by the Islamic State (ISIS) and its many servants, to humiliate Jabel al-Arab by capturing the largest possible number of women and children and killing the men, as has happened in other areas in Syria. The education worker and studentwho obtained a secondary degree at the age of 44prevented her husband from going to the roof of the house with his Czech rifle, which hed received as part of his work. She persuaded him that he would die in vain. Her inner mind told her that they were coming to take her alone, and so in a small room she gathered the children and her neighbor, who had fled her house. The bullets began to beat down everywhere and smash the walls, glass and furniture to bits. She bolted the door from inside with metal, and for many hours, fear and watchfulness prevailed. The neighbor was nearly paralyzed, her blood pressure lowered and she lost consciousness. Huda slipped into the kitchen beneath the bullets and brought some food and matte. She then crawled toward the room to give her children and their guest a sense of security and to restore a little peace to their hearts, despite the spasms raging in her husbands heart after losing all forms of contact with his family because of the houses position far from the center of the al-Shabaki area in the eastern Suweida countryside. They remained surrounded until evening, when people arrived from other villages, and the family was able to flee through the back window of the house. With the help of young men from the villages of al-Rashida and Bousan, who had come to rescue their brothers and sisters, the family was put into a special car that fled under gunfire to the city of Shahba. The head of the family, Emad al-Jubai, remained to take revenge for the cold-blooded killing of his family. The surprise that pained Huda greatly came hours later when she learned of the deaths of her mother, uncle, and a large number of her cousins. But she knew that the sadness was useless, and that she needed to be stronger than all this deathespecially after becoming responsible for her family because of her the absence of her husband, who had remained to protect the village. Obtaining a secondary degree was one of the great triumphs of her life, especially after a marriage that failed miserably and which in the beginning led to her being prevented from studying, and which had tortured her indescribably, and also prevented her from seeing her two small children. Her second marriage to her cousin helped restore her self-confidence and she was successful in mothering her new children and in obtaining a secondary degree in the literary department even though she had not studied more than 10 days. Foreign languages were a great obstacle, which she overcame with great skill and determination. A few days after The Four Black Days (as the people of Jabel al-Arab call them), Huda completed her exams for her secondary degree. Despite the darkness and mourning, she went to the exam with encouragement from her husband and she is now planning to enter a literature college to achieve her dream and fulfil herself. Huda, who has seen great tragedy in her short life, looks forward with great optimism to her oldest daughter obtaining a secondary degree and entering arts college and her son achieving his dream of entering the mechanics college, which will bring out his talents in invention and help him achieve what she could not. 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. It is hoped, that by giving control of the border to the regime, any possible Turkish attack will be stopped writes Zaman Al Wasl. As Turkey prepares for a new offensive to uproot Kurdish militias near the border, the powerful Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) is still trying to mobilize the Arab tribes to join the US-led militias the in northeastern province of Hassakeh. Most of the key tribal figures who met with Kurdish officials in the border town of Ras al-Ayn this week suggested that the border with Turkey should be handed over to the Syrian regime, to negate the Turkish threat and the state of fear and anticipation in the Kurdish areas. The Turkish army has launched a wave of attacks across the Syrian border over the past few weeks, ahead of what President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said was an imminent offensive to destroy the terrorist establishment on the east of the Euphrates, according to The Independent. Erdogan vowed to crush Syrian Kurdish fighters, where some 2,000 US soldiers stand alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Kurdish-led (SDF), to which Erdogan refers, have been a key ally of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), and control a swathe of northern Syria. But Turkey views the SDF as a terrorist group and has vowed to remove them from the border. This week, Turkish forces shelled positions in the town of Tal Abyad, in northern Syria, which is under the control of the SDF. The SDF alliance, which the Kurdish YPG militia spearheads, returned fire and pledged to respond to any more attacks. Ankara has repeatedly warned it would launch a cross-border offensive east of the Euphrates River in Syria if the US military does not ensure the YPGs withdrawal. Washingtons support for the YPG has infuriated Ankara, which sees it as an extension of the outlawed Kurdish PKK movement that has waged an insurgency inside Turkey for decades. Over the past two years, Turkish forces have swept into parts of Syria to push Kurdish fighters out of their territory west of the Euphrates. Previous offensives halted at the banks of the river, partly to avoid a confrontation with US troops stationed further east. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Many Syrian children living in Lebanon have missed large portions of their education due to their situation reports Asharq al-Awsat The number of Syrian students enrolled in formal education in Lebanon is 213,358, of whom 59,149 study in the normal morning hours, and 154,209 attend school in the afternoon. This record not found in any other country reflects the size of Syrian refugees compared to to the population of Lebanon. Lebanese public schools receive the highest proportion of refugee students in the world compared to the population, said Fadi Yaraq, Director General of the Ministry of Education. The enrolment of Syrian pupils in public schools is supported by international donors, especially the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the British Department for International Development and many United Nations agencies, as part of the Ministrys Education for All Children program, which was started in Lebanon in 2014. The education of Syrian students in Lebanon is funded by the European Union, Germany, Britain, Norway, France and the United States. The transfers are carried out through the Ministry of Education from UNICEF, the UNHCR and World Bank, Yaraq noted. In the afternoon hours, around 14,328 employees work for the Syrian refugees, of whom 2,076 hold administrative posts, 9,124 are teachers, 1,051 are psychologists and counsellors, 364 are directors and 1,712 are supervisors, he added. He noted that Syrian students have registered remarkable successes in official examinations. Their results were slightly lower compared to those recorded by Lebanese students. The first observation is that there is a disparity between the ages of Syrians within the same class, said Fadia Wehbe, a specialist in psychology and a primary school teacher. She told Asharq Al-Awsat that some students did not attend school for one or two years, which meant sending them to courses for literacy and reeducating them in general subjects. Those students were later evaluated and distributed according to their academic and scientific level. Despite the differences in age, a large percentage of students caught up on what they missed, she added. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Imams in Deir ez-Zor have been dismissed after they refused to recite the Shia call to prayer writes Anadolu Agency. The Assad regime and Iranian backed terror groups are attempting to propagate the Shia faith in Sunni-majority Syria, local sources told Anadolu Agency. In Syrias eastern oil-rich province of Deir ez-Zor, the regime and Iranian backed groups are forcing people to recite a Shia-style call to prayer in the Mayadin and Abou Kamal districts near the Iraqi border, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to security concerns. At least 20 imams who refused to recite the Shia call to prayer were dismissed, the sources said, while a number of others were detained. Unlike the Sunni call to prayer, Shias add the refrain, I bear witness that Ali is the guardian of Allah. Located near the Iraqi border, Deir ez-Zor is home to Syrias largest oilfields. Eleven of the countrys largest oilfields are located east of the Euphrates River, which snakes through Deir ez-Zor province. Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. With the planned arrival of a Jordanian delegation in Damascus, it is hoped that improved relations will create more economic opportunities reports Damas Post. The Rai al-Youm newspaper has said that political and bureaucratic normalization was accelerating between Jordan and Syria, with Damascus set to receive on Monday the first official high-level Jordanian parliamentary delegation. On the other side, a delegation representing the Syrian agricultural sector is supposed to travel to Amman in an unprecedented acceleration of official communications between the two countries, as arrangements proceed for the post-reopening phase and operation of the Nasib Border Crossing. Rai al-Youm quoted Jordanian parliamentary sources as saying that relations with Syria were accelerating amid a political desire from both governments and with support from the Jordanian Presidential Palace and the Syrian Republican Palace. According to the newspaper, whose editor is the writer and journalist Abdel Bari Atwan, Jordanian Prime Minister Dr. Omar Razzaz hopes that Syrian ministers will soon be received in Amman for the first time since 2011, including the tourism and agricultural ministers. There has been an official announcement of a Jordanian parliamentary delegation. It was arranged by Jordanian Member of Parliament, Tareq Khoury, who is close to Damascus, and will include at least eight MPs from a variety of blocs. The newspaper added that there has a volley of calls from some MPs who want the fastest possible opening to Damascus. Meanwhile, the Head of the Jordanian Association of Exporters of Agricultural Products, Suleiman al-Hayari, said that a Syrian delegation from the private sectors Fruit and Vegetable Export Committee would soon visit Jordan. According to Rai al-Youm, this means that the Syrian agricultural products, which are favored by Jordanians, will soon flood Jordanian markets in a swift fashion, especially given the developing relations. Hayari said that the Syrian committee had informed him that the coming visit would be for the purpose of discussing the possibility of activating the agreement signed between the two countries which was operated previously, in preparation for expected commercial activity and connected to the agricultural products between the two countries, which are at their peak during the winter season. According to Hayari, and according to the Al-Dustour newspaper, within days he will meet the Agricultural Minister Ibrahim Shahahdah to discuss the issue of the two sides complying or not with the agreement signed previously between the two countries, noting that commercial activity between the two had previously been conducted under the Greater Arab Free Trade Agreement, signed in 2005, as well as the deal signed in 2010 which allowed Jordanian exporters to market their products in all Syrian provinces without restrictions, according to the Rai al-Youm report. 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. Turkeys national flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) will as of Nov.30 fly to Banjul, The Gambia, and to Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia as the airline continues its expansion in the African continent where it already services 35 countries. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Cahit Turhan made the announcement Monday at a ceremony for an air transport agreement with the Southern African country Lesotho represented by its Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister, Lesgo Makgothi, Daily Sabah reports. With the addition of the two cities, the number of cities to which the airline flies in Africa has increased to 55. THY is currently the global airline with the highest number of flights to Africa connecting the continent to the World, the media notes. As of now, the Ankara-based airline flies to 303 destinations in 122 countries making it the airline with the largest number of country destinations. The air transport agreement with Lesotho, will enable THY to establish 14 flights between the two countries while there is no limit for air cargo operations, Daily Sabah reveals. US-based home rental company Airbnb took stand against Israels illegal occupation in Palestinian West Bank, removing 200 properties from its website. Airbnb has enraged Israel after it announced Monday that it was removing 200 properties located in Jewish illegal settlements in the Palestinian territory of West Bank from its website adding that the decision is made to support the emergence of a resolution to the bone of contention between Palestinians and Israelis. We concluded that we should remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians, a statement on the Airbnb website said. Our hope is that someday sooner rather than later, a framework is put in place where the entire global community is aligned so there will be a resolution to this historic conflict and a clear path forward for everybody to follow. The 200 properties owned by Jews in the settlements will be removed from the companys website. Israel currently occupies parts of the West Bank and Jerusalem where some 500,000 Israeli settlers live. Israel is still continuing its expansion policy described by Palestinians as a way to prevent the construction of the future Palestinian state. The Israeli policy has been condemned by the UN Security Council in 2016 as a flagrant violation under international law, a major obstacle to a two-state solution with the Palestinian Authority, and have no legal validity. The Israeli government condemned the Airbnbs change of policy noting it will take action against the company. Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan said he will work with US officials to determine if Airbnb has violated laws in some US states that prohibit boycotts targeting Israel, Fortune magazine reports citing Haaretz. Oded Revivi, mayor of the West Bank settlement of Efrat and a representative of the umbrella settler council Yesha, slammed the company claiming that boycott of properties in the settlements is contrary to the businesss own mission, as stated on the website, of help(ing) to bring people together in as many places as possible around the world, Reuters reports. When they make such a decision, they get involved with politics, which is going to defeat the actual purpose of the enterprise itself, he told the media. Hamas, the ruler of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, has claimed Israel attempted to plant a spying equipment in the Strip during its recent incursion that turned bloody after the Israeli troops were spotted and confronted. The Zionist enemy tried to achieve a major security breakthrough. It apparently tried to install equipment and build something that would make it easy for it to kill, hack and abduct, Deputy Hamas chief in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, told the Hamas-affiliated al-Aqsa TV over the weekend. To make it easy for them to do anything. To make it easy to eavesdrop on all parts of the Palestinian people, he added. It possibly could have made it easy for them to discover tunnels and other things, he stressed. A secret incursion by a group of Israeli soldiers on board a private vehicle into Gaza last week turned poor. Hamas fighters uncovered the squad and fought off the intruders. Several fighters of the movement including a senior commander were killed in the fighting that ensued and air strikes by Israel air forces who tried to extract their members. One senior Israeli officer also died while several were injured. The botched operation forced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short his visit to France where he was attending the commemoration of the 100 anniversary of World War I Armistice. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the operation aimed at gathering intelligence. It has not however confirmed or denied Hamass claims. Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. 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. African leaders on Sunday agreed on measures compelling member states to pay their dues to reinforce the unions financial autonomy from its donors and development partners. The 11th extraordinary summit of the AU, held over the weekend in Addis Ababa, aimed at advancing the institutional reform of the union. The meeting was seen as a last-ditch attempt to push through reforms that have been mulled for nearly two years. The reforms cover multiple aspects, including self-financing. It also introduced trimmed institutional structures within the African Union Commission, including cutting the number of commissioners from eight to six. Speaking at a press conference Sunday at the conclusion of the two-day summit, Moussa Faki, the AU commissions chair, said so far only 50 percent of the amount expected from member states contributions is received. The African leaders have decided a battery of sanctions, including the suspension of states that do not make their annual financial contributions from membership, he said. The first duty of a member state is to make its contribution, Faki insisted. During the 31st Ordinary Session of the AU Summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania, in July this year, the continental bloc approved a budget of $681.5 million for financial year 2019. The budget, excluding the peace-support operations, expects member states contribution to reach 66 percent while 34 percent is projected to be secured from the development partners. Mountain Shadows in Wayanad is just the place for a dreamy vacation HANOI - Vietnam and Russia on Monday agreed to nearly triple bilateral trade to US$10 billion by 2020 from $3.55 billion last year, while expanding energy ties. Russian companies are involved in several Vietnamese energy projects. "We have agreed to cooperate more closely and effectively implement a free trade agreement Vietnam has signed with the (Russia-led) Eurasian Economic Union, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told reporters in Hanoi on Monday after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. Phuc said the two countries are looking to facilitate bilateral trade in farm produce and seafood and will have measures to support joint energy investment projects. Russian and Vietnamese energy companies are cooperating effectively and we want to strengthen these ties further with measures to facilitate joint energy investment projects in Russia, Vietnam and in third countries, Medvedev said. Vietnam was the fourth largest buyer of Russian wheat after Egypt, Turkey and Bangladesh in the previous marketing season. The Southeast Asian country has imported 1.2 million tonnes of Russian wheat since the start of the current 2018/19 marketing season on July 1. Russias food safety watchdog beefed up quality controls on grain exports in mid-September citing complaints from Vietnam and some other major buyers about falling crop standards. As important as the dates of the national exams, Teachers Day (November 20) marks a time to show appreciation, respect and love for your favorite teachers in Vietnam. And to remind the teachers that you are still there! In the Vietnamese education system, there are over 20 million students and a million teachers. The preparations for celebrations for Teachers Day usually start about a week beforehand and occur at all levels of education. Its common for students to visit their teachers at their homes to offer flowers or small gifts. For some students, a trip to somewhere with the teacher and classmates can also be a treat. Calling upon former or retired teachers is not unusual either. According to Wikipedia, the occasion originated from different traditions dating back to the 19th century resulting in countries honoring their teachers on different dates although International Teachers Day is usually October 5th. The day often involves performances, songs, dancing and even sometimes the talents of former schoolmates! A national saying goes: When you eat a fruit, think of the man who planted the tree, meaning how we see the world is created by the knowledge given by teachers so we should appreciate them and what we have learnt. As a former English teacher for thirty four years, I know all too well the pressures, problems and joys of the job. Its even harder for the Vietnamese teachers who work under tough conditions throughout most of the country. Unless you have a dream job working for a respected school or university, its a hard gig, and even harder to rise up the ranks in such a highly competitive system for both teachers and students. The complications of over-crowded classrooms, poor salaries, lack of systemic support and confusion over textbooks and curriculums all add to the headaches. Think of the teachers who suffer along with their students in the poorly built and maintained classrooms of the mountains. Its pretty cold when many of these places are just wooden shacks no bricks and miles from outside support in barely accessible locations. Hardly the ideal situation for learning but then again, its repeated in poor classrooms from Africa to South America too. Doesnt make that acceptable, just part of the way it is for a lot of the world. As recently as last year, I remember reading a classroom in the Mekong Delta finally getting electricity so the barely literate local adults could attend night classes to improve their ability to read and write. And of course, youll need a teacher for that too! There are many teachers in Vietnam who do far more for their students than expected. Theres 49-year-old Luong Thi Kim Loan teaching literacy classes to children with handicaps in Quang Nam. Another dedicated former teacher, Huynh Van Phe, 77, has been offering free lessons for 24 years! Theres Le Thi Chau, retired but still offering classes to kids for the last 12 years. No doubt dedicated teachers all over Vietnam probably dont get any rewards or publicity for their hard work either but at least Teachers Day makes up for that in some ways. Certainly its become a far harder job than in the past. Numerous instances of bad behavior on the part of both teachers and students are difficult issues to resolve and the use of smartphones for bullying or revenge messages against teachers and students is still a major headache in many schools. But at least for Teachers Day, we can focus on the positive side of teaching. Fifty-two years ago I had a teacher, Mr Fox, who was the primary schools scary teacher because we had to go to him if we were in trouble. Sure enough, I did the visit too. After punishing me, he put me in the back of his advanced class for one day. To this day I still remember the brilliant lesson on air pressure he taught that day with a blackboard that was an artwork of colored chalk and illustrated explanations. It took me years later to understand that he put me in that class deliberately to show me the joys of education. Thanks, Mr Fox! This is the magic of the teacher: to inspire your heart, to stretch your imagination and help you make of the world around you. Happy Teachers Day! A campaign in Sunflower Festival, a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper-backed annual charity event for children with cancer, has attracted great attention and participation from the public only after a few days of launching. The campaign Toi dong hanh, which is literally translated as I accompany, kicked off on Sunday in a series of activities of the Sunflower Festival, which is in its 11th edition, commemorating the death of Le Thanh Thuy, a high school girl famous for her long fight against bone cancer prior to her death on November 2, 2007. The Sunflower Festival also promotes the work of Thuys Dream Foundation, set up by Tuoi Tre to support children with cancer. To participate in the Toi dong hanh campaign, entrants can draw or make paper sunflowers with messages of wishes for children with cancer written on the works, before uploading the photos of them on Facebook with the hashtags #ngayhoihoahuongduong2018 and #uocnguyenhong2018 and tagging three Facebook friends. Each of these entries will mean VND30,000 (US$1.3) in support for children with cancer. After two days, more than 1,000 entries have been submitted in response to the call of the campaign. Painting sunflowers together A Facebook user named Nguyen Hanh My posted a painting of a smiling sunflower with the message Lets cherish every day when you wake up in the morning. As long as you wake up, therere still chances for change. My also called for her friends participation in the campaign. Dozens in the social work team of the Hue University of Science in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue gathered together and painted sunflowers on Saturday afternoon. Lets join hands to overcome the disease together! Try your best, a message from a member of the team reads. This is the fifth time the team has responded to the Sunflower Festival. The fundraising activity also has the participation of fourth graders at Nguyen Minh Quang Elementary School in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City. When Hua Nguyen Kim Nguyen, the homeroom teacher of the schools class 4/7, told her students about the story of cancer fighter Le Thanh Thuy, the Sunflower Festival, and the Toi dong hanh campaign, a misbehaving boy in the class was so moved that he burst into tears. The teacher and students then drew sunflower paintings together. Showing sympathy, understanding and sharing are always the best ways to protect and help children with cancer, teacher Nguyen said. I hope that the children will be strong as fighting the disease takes time, she added. 5,000 handmade sunflowers Some tens of student volunteers from several universities and colleges in Ho Chi Minh City have completed 1,000 paper sunflowers on the 4th floor of Tuoi Tres head office at 60A Hoang Van Thu Street, Phu Nhuan District over the past few days. The volunteers are targeting 5,000 handmade sunflowers for decoration and fundraising sale at a fair at the Sunflower Festival on November 25, according to Dang Thi Ly, a senior at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, who is in charge of materials for the sunflower making. The team has reused more than 4,000 sunflowers from the previous editions of the event to avoid waste, Ly said. Particularly, the Sunflower Festival also maintains the long-term participation of loyal volunteers. I feel that I, not the little cancer patients, am the donee as I learn from them the determination and endurance to fight pain whenever I have the chance to meet them, said Binh, a 58-year-old philanthropist in District 11 and early member of Thuys Dream Foundation. In addition to the campaign, a series of activities including blood donation, a charity walk, art galleries, fair markets, and art performances will be conducted in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi on the day of the Sunflower Festival to help raise money for young cancer patients. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and the First Lady on Monday toured the My Son Sanctuary, a world cultural heritage site in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam, as part of his ongoing state visit to Vietnam. The trip was made within the framework of President Kovinds first state visit to the Southeast Asian county, scheduled from November 18 to 20. The Indian leader praised local works in protecting the sanctuary, believing that joint efforts among the two governments, Indian experts, and Quang Nam authorities will contribute significantly to the reservation and promotion of the world cultural heritage. Nguyen Ngoc Quang, secretary of the Quang Nam Party Committee, thanked President Kovind and the Indian government for their sponsorship, hoping that more assistance would come regarding the conservation of the historical site. After touring the site, the visiting leader planted a bodhi tree, brought from India, near the entrance of the sanctuary. President Ram Nath Kovind receives flowers from a local student. Photo: Tuoi Tre My Son Sanctuary was previously a religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom, located on a hilly landscape in Duy Xuyen District, about 70 kilometers southwest of the central city of Da Nang and 40 kilometers from Hoi An, a coastal city in Quang Nam. The site is comprised of eight groups of 71 monuments, built from the seventh to 13th centuries. As of 1999, My Son has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. An electric bus takes President Kovind and his delegation into the site. :Photo: Tuoi Tre India has been aiding a project on the reservation of the cultural site under an agreement signed by the two nations governments. Following the tour, the Indian president left Quang Nam for Hanoi to officially commence his state visit in the Vietnamese capital. A welcome ceremony was held for Kovind on Tuesday morning, after which he was scheduled to have talks with Party chief and State President Nguyen Phu Trong and other Vietnamese leaders. A traditional Champa dance is performed at the My Son Sanctuary. Photo: Tuoi Tre The Indian leader poses for a photo with a tower within the sanctuary. Photo: Tuoi Tre President Kovind tours the site. Photo: Tuoi Tre President Kovind tours the site. Photo: Tuoi Tre The president talks with his officials about the world cultural heritage site. Photo: Tuoi Tre President Kovind plantes a bodhi tree brought from India near the entrance of the sanctuary. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev have discussed measures to further boost the two nations comprehensive strategic partnership. The Russian head of government joined talks with PM Phuc in Hanoi on Monday, during his official visit to Hanoi on November 18 and 19. During the conversation, Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and prioritizes its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. Replying to his host, PM Medvedev said that Russia considers Vietnam as one of its most important partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Both sides conveyed their delight at the growing ties in economic matters, trade, and investment between the two nations, along with the effective implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union. They promised to coordinate and gradually remove barriers to the import and export of goods, especially agro-fishery-forestry products, with the aim of raising two-way trade turnover to US$10 billion by 2020. The premiers praised the results of oil and gas cooperation, considering the ties one of the important pillars in Vietnam-Russia collaboration. They vowed to continue facilitating oil and gas exploration and exploitation on Vietnams continental shelf and in Russias territory, and to expand cooperation in other fields such as liquefied natural gas and gas power supply. Measures will also be taken to expedite major projects in energy, transport, and agriculture, as well as advance collaboration in information, digital technology, and e-government. The leaders affirmed their commitment to initiate a $350 million project on a nuclear science and technology center. They reached consensus on tightening collaboration in defense and security, science and technology, culture, tourism, education and training, and labor. Regarding the situation in the East Vietnam Sea, both sides agreed on the preservation of aviation and navigation safety and freedom in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Coordination at multilateral forums should also be maintained for the interests of the two peoples, they stated. Following the talks, PM Medvedev met with Party chief and State President Nguyen Phu Trong and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in Hanoi on the same day. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are the leading news stories of today, November 20: Politics -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev discussed measures to further promote partnership between the two countries during their talks in Hanoi on Monday, as part of the latters official visit to Vietnam on November 18 and 19. -- Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his spouse toured the My Son Sanctuary, a world cultural heritage site in the central province of Quang Nam, on Monday within the framework of his first state visit to Vietnam from November 18 to 20. -- The law-making National Assembly on Monday adopted five bills, including the amended amnesty law, cultivation law, animal husbandry law, coast guard law, and some adjustments to the higher education law, during their ongoing sixth session in Hanoi. Society -- Vietnamese police on Monday arrested Nguyen Huu Tin, former deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, as they widened their investigations into the wrongdoings related to a Vietnamese tycoon, Phan Van Anh Vu. -- Over 400 officers have been mobilized on Sunday and Monday to search for the missing victims after downpours brought about by Storm Toraji triggered serious landslides in multiple residential areas across Nha Trang City, located in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa. -- A tropical depression has formed southeast of the Philippines and is forecast to enter the East Vietnam Sea on Thursday, potentially becoming the ninth storm to his Vietnam this year. -- Police in the south-central province of Binh Dinh impounded a tractor trailer on Monday morning for carrying a giant bayan tree trunk without a special type of license required for such massive transport. Business -- The cost of fertilizer in Vietnam has increased by 30 percent compared to the same period of last year, affecting the income of many farmers, while manufacturers explained that the increase followed the global trend. -- Vietnams rice exports to Indonesia reached US$531 million after the first ten months of 2018, up 6.8 times year-on-year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Sports -- Vietnam will battle against Myanmar in their third group stage game of the 2018 AFF Championship in Yangon, Myanmar at 6:30 pm on Tuesday (Vietnam time). The game will be broadcasted live on VTV6 television channel. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Panic erupted on a passenger flight of Vietnamese airline Vietjet on Monday when an alarm sounded minutes after take-off from an airport in Ho Chi Minh City, forcing it to return to the airport for a check. Vietjet flight number VJ198 departed at 7:05 pm on Monday from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to head for Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Ten minutes after take-off, alarms on the plane were triggered, giving warnings of a technical problem, a representative of the budget carrier said the same day. The flight captain made a swift decision to bring the plane back to Tan Son Nhat for a check and asked passengers to get into a brace position to prepare for rough landing. The announcement plunged hundreds of passengers on the packed flight into panic, as a video captured by one of the passengers showed people praying for their lives during the turbulent event. Data retrieved from plane-tracking site Flightradar24 shows the Vietjet aircraft reaching 11,000 feet, or over 3,300 meters, before alarms sounded. The crew had to circle Tan Son Nhat for around 30 minutes at 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) before they could safely land at 8:06 pm. According to the Vietjet representative, a thorough check was performed afterward and found no technical issue with the plane, which is an Airbus A320. The narrow-body jet was registered under flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and has been loaned to Vietjet since May 2013, according to documents acquired by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Engineers have concluded it was a false alarm that was triggered mid-flight, and the plane has resumed its regular service, Vietjet said in a statement. Meanwhile, passengers on the VJ198 flight were put on another plane to continue their journey to Hanoi with a short delay. Last month, a Vietjet plane en route from Hanoi to Busan, South Korea was also forced to make an emergency landing in Hong Kong after a false alarm went off. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! HANOI - Vietnamese police arrested a former deputy chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, the countrys business hub, on Monday as the country steps up a crackdown on corruption. Nguyen Huu Tin, 61, was accused of violating regulations on state asset management and use, causing serious consequences, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement. Police also arrested Dao Anh Kiet, a former director of the citys department of natural resources and environment, and Truong Van Ut, an official of the department, for alleged involvement in the case, the ministry said. The three were arrested to serve an investigation in their alleged violations at a land plot on Thi Sach Street in District 1. The arrest came as police widen their investigations into the wrongdoings related to a fugitive Vietnamese tycoon, Phan Van Anh Vu, the ministry said. Vu, who fled to Singapore but was arrested in Vietnam earlier this year, was jailed for nine years in July for deliberate disclosure of state secrets. The Greens have announced plans to establish a Creativity Commission and a Content Creator Fund with a grant fund of $50 million each year for local content. The Content Creator Fund will support high quality local content, including $2 million for First Nations content creation. A $10 million Creativity Commission fund, will provide oversight, advice and structural support to the creative sector and beyond. Greens arts spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said, There is no limit to creativity in Australia, yet our producers, artists and talent are limited by the ebb and flow international markets and commercial broadcasters disinterest in good local content. We need consistent investment for people to get a foothold in creative industries and be able to stay there. If the big commercial broadcasters have their way, local content requirements for childrens television will be abolished and Australian-made drama will be cut, which would have a devastating ripple effect on the production sector. Australians deserve to have their stories told, and their communities reflected back to them on screen. Not only that, but it helps Australia engage with the rest of the world, while providing a lucrative export. A creative Australia is something our nation can be proud of at home and abroad. In this ever-increasingly globally connected world, the soft diplomacy great Australian content and childrens content can foster is a win-win. We export so much world-class content. We have huge names starring in major roles around the world. This is the time to invest in our creative industries to see just how far we could go. The Greens have also vowed to restore funding to the Australia Council and push for local content requirements for streaming services, such as Netflix and Stan. However they have not indicated preferred numbers in quotas. US mystery Mr. Mercedes has been renewed for a third season by AT&T-owned Audience Network. The show is based on Stephen Kings books Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch and stars Brendan Gleeson and Harry Treadaway. David E. Kelley will return to oversee the writers room with Jack Bender directing. Mr. Mercedes has resonated with such a wide audience, so were thrilled to bring it back for a third season for our customers, said Daniel York, senior executive vice president and chief content officer for AT&T. David E. Kelley, Jack Bender and Sonar have crafted a series that honours the original work by Stephen King and we cant wait to see where they take the show in a post-Mr. Mercedes world. Production on 10 one-hour episodes is scheduled to begin in early 2019 in South Carolina. It airs in Australia on FOX Showcase. Source: Variety . , , , . , , , ! By Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) - Uncertainty about Brexit negotiations are not hurting sales at easyJet , CEO Johan Lundgren said on Tuesday, adding the British budget airline is well-prepared should the UK leave the European Union without a deal next March. Bookings for around that time have not seen any drop-off and those for next summer are slightly ahead of summer sales a year ago, Lundgren said. "There doesn't seem to be any concern for people to book their holidays and go away for next summer," easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren told the BBC. "We've been preparing ourselves for the past two years for any scenario, a deal or a no deal," he added. Larger rival Ryanair has warned that depending on the deal reached, Brexit could force carriers to ground flights. As well as setting up a new airline in Austria, Lundgren said that by the time the UK leaves the EU next year, easyJet aims to have over 50 percent of its shareholders from outside the UK and from other EU countries, up from 47 percent currently, to enable it to comply with EU rules. "What me and Andrew (Findlay, CFO) are going to do right now after today is continue to go and see European shareholders and talk to them about the story of easyJet," he said. EASYJET PULLS AHEAD That story has over the last year has been one of easyJet outperforming its rivals. The airline reported a 41 percent jump in annual profit on Tuesday, helped in part by the collapse of smaller rival Monarch and cancellations and strikes at Ryanair, which last month issued a profit warning. Signalling its confidence in its future performance, easyJet lifted its full-year payout by 43 percent, despite turbulence in the wider industry. Over 2018, higher oil prices have pushed some smaller European airlines, Cyprus's Cobalt Air and Denmark-based Primera Air, out of business, while British regional carrier Flybe has put itself up for sale after warning on profit. Story continues Lundgren said that easyJet was always looking for strategic opportunities but Flybe was not currently one of them. "We have no interest in Flybe at the moment," he told reporters, adding that easyJet had a strong balance sheet. "We're well-hedged and in a stronger position than others to mitigate the higher fuel price environment," he said. Despite last year's performance and its confidence on summer 2019 bookings, easyJet stuck to a forecast for first-half revenue per seat to fall by low to mid-single digits. Its shares were down 5.5 percent to 1,110 pence at 1305 GMT, as analysts said this year would be trickier than last. "easyJet has made significant preparations for Brexit but overall the market faces uncertainties on higher fuel costs and a likely pick-up in increased competitor capacity," said aviation consultant John Strickland. (Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Kate Holton and Jason Neely) PARIS (Reuters) - The French economy minister and Japan's trade minister on Tuesday expressed their support for the Renault/Nissan car alliance, which has been hit by the arrest earlier this week of top executive Carlos Ghosn. French Finance and Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and Japan's Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko said in a joint statement that they had discussed the matter via telephone on Tuesday. The joint statement added that the two ministers "reaffirmed the strong support of the French and Japanese governments to the Alliance formed between Renault and Nissan, a world-leading car manufacturer and one of the greatest symbols of Franco-Japanese industrial cooperation and their shared wish to maintain this winning cooperation." (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Leigh Thomas) FILE PHOTO: A view of Rotterdam's Kunsthal art gallery in the Netherlands October 16, 2012. REUTERS/Robin van Lonkhuijsen Thomson Reuters AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A painting that Romanian prosecutors said on Sunday might be a work by Pablo Picasso stolen in 2012 is more likely a forgery created as a publicity stunt, Dutch media reported. State broadcaster NOS cited author Frank Westerman, who helped locate the painting in Romania's Tulcea county after an anonymous tip, turning it over to Romanian police on Saturday. Westerman told NOS on Sunday he had received an e-mail from a Belgian theatre company which is staging a play about a famed art forger. He said the painting he recovered appears to have been a forgery hidden as part of an elaborate hoax. Separately a former curator of the museum that owned the real "Tete dArlequin", or Harlequin's Head, told Dutch television that based on photos he had seen of the painting that was found, it appeared to be a forgery. Romanian prosecutors, who said Sunday they were trying to verify the work's authenticity, could not immediately be reached for comment. The BERLIN theatre company in Antwerp, Belgium, which is putting on the play about forgery, said in a carefully worded tweet that it had "brought back" Tete d'Arlequin in a new frame. On its website it said it would "be back with more details on this issue within the next few days" and listed links to reports of the discovery of the painting. The real Picasso was stolen from an exhibition in Rotterdam in one of the art world's most dramatic heists. The other paintings taken 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". A Romanian man and several accomplices were convicted of the theft in 2013, but none of the artworks have been recovered. Romanian experts believed at least three of them were burned in an attempt to destroy evidence. Story continues (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) See Also: A US Coast Guard helicopter evacuated a 63-year-old crew member who was displaying stroke symptoms from a fishing vessel in choppy waters near St Paul, Alaska, on November 19. The Coast Guard crew brought the man from the 147-foot Blue Attu to St Paul, where he was then transported to Anchorage for medical care. The man was in stable condition at the time of the transfer, according to officials cited by KTVA. The National Weather Service had issued a small craft advisory for the area on November 19, due to expected wind speeds and swell heights. Credit: US Coast Guard District 17 via Storyful By Teis Jensen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danske Bank has been caught up in one of the largest-ever money laundering scandals. Howard Wilkinson, the whistleblower who first alerted Denmark's biggest bank to the problem, testified before the Danish parliament on Monday. HOW BIG A SCANDAL IS THIS? Some 200 billion euros (177.7 billion pounds)in payments flowed through the non-resident portfolio of Danske Bank's tiny Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015. The bank eventually commissioned a report which concluded in September that many of these payments were suspicious. WHERE WAS THIS MONEY FROM? Most of the payments came from Estonia, Russia, Latvia and Cyprus and Britain, the report said. Shell companies were used to disguise the identities of those involved, former chairman Ole Andersen has told Reuters. AND WHERE WAS IT GOING? Payments went to Estonia, Latvia, China, Switzerland, Turkey, Britain and more than 150 other countries, the report said. WHO BLEW THE WHISTLE? Howard Wilkinson, the head of the bank's trading unit in the Baltics from 2007 to 2014, was the whistleblower who had warned the executive board in Copenhagen in 2013 and 2014 about suspicious activities at the Estonian branch, Danish newspaper Berlingske reported in September. WHY DIDN'T AUTHORITIES ACT SOONER? Denmark's financial watchdog faces an inquiry by the European Union's banking supervisor, and the Danish business minister has criticised the regulator for not being critical enough towards the bank and for trusting it too much. HAS ANYONE BEEN FOUND RESPONSIBLE? Not yet. The case is under criminal investigation in Denmark, Estonia and the United States. The Danish state prosecutor's investigation includes whether top management can be held personally liable. Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) has said it is investigating the use of UK-registered companies. CONSEQUENCES FOR DANSKE BANK? Denmark's financial regulator has said the bank's compliance and reputational risks have risen and increased its capital requirements by 10 billion Danish crowns (1.2 billion pounds) Story continues In May the regulator, which is still looking at the case, imposed eight orders for reforms and eight reprimands. HAS ANYONE TAKEN THE BLAME? Danske Bank's former chief executive Thomas Borgen stepped down, saying that although he was "personally cleared from a legal point of view" he held "the ultimate responsibility". The Maersk family, which controls about 21 percent of the bank's shares, ousted chairman Ole Andersen and nominated Karsten Dybvad, who heads the Confederation of Danish Industry, to take over. WHAT ABOUT DANSKE'S SHARES? Danske Bank's shares are trading 40 percent below their level at the end of February, even following an uptick when its Nov. 1 earnings report showed lending increased in the third quarter despite the scandal. https://tmsnrt.rs/2PvfSwZ WHAT NEXT FOR DANSKE BANK? The U.S investigation is worrying for Danske Bank shareholders as U.S. fines tend to be much larger than those in Denmark and Estonia, and Europe in general. For many, the worst-case scenario is if the bank suffers the same fate as Latvian bank ABLV, which lost access to dollar funding when U.S. authorities accused it in February of covering up money laundering, forcing its closure. Danske Bank has said the two cases cannot be compared as it closed the part of the Estonian business under suspicion. The U.S. authorities also alleged that ABLV violated sanctions imposed on North Korea. Danske Bank has said that it has not found any breaches of sanctions. ARE THERE WIDER CONSEQUENCES FOR DENMARK? Danske Bank is an integral part of Danish business and the scandal comes as a government tax scandal and a fraud case in the ministry for social affairs have undermined confidence in institutions on which its welfare society is built. The case is also a risk for Denmark's entire financial sector, the Systemic Risk Council said in September, prompting the government to increase the cash cushion financial firms must hold to protect against economic shocks. WHAT DOES THE BANK SAY IN ITS DEFENCE? Danske Bank has acknowledged that its money laundering controls in Estonia has been insufficient. But in its September report it said the board had not breached its legal obligations. The bank has since boosted compliance efforts, with around 1,000 of its 20,000 staff working on this. IS IT ONLY DANSKE BANK? Danske might only be the "tip of the iceberg" and investigators should examine major Western banks, Wilkinson's lawyer told Reuters. HOW TO PREVENT A REPEAT? Denmark plans to strengthen its financial regulator, while a broad majority in the Danish parliament has agreed to tighten the country's anti-money laundering laws, including increasing penalties by up to 700 percent. European Union states are still divided over an overhaul of rules for the supervision of banks against money laundering, two EU sources told Reuters. (Additional reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Alexander Smith) Lockheed Martin Lockheed has begun construction of parts for a jet which could bring back the era of supersonic travel travelling faster than the speed of sound with no sonic boom. The planned jet, X-59, could fly from London to New York in just three hours and will take off in 2021. The company announced on Friday that it had begun manufacturing the first part for a demonstrator aircraft scheduled to begin flights in three years time. The low-boom flight demonstrator for X-59 will be used to gather data on peoples response to the quiet boom described as quieter than a car door closing. The plane could reignite the age of supersonic travel (Getty) NASA hopes that this will allow it to establish an acceptable noise level and overturn regulations banning supersonic travel over land. MORE: Argentine submarine found in Atlantic a year after going missing with 44 crew on board MORE: Woman claims airport valet drove her car 500 miles then got her a parking ticket NASA has already conducted initial tests over the Texas Gulf Coast with two FA-18 jets climbed to 55,000 feet and diving to replicate the sonic thump. Jerry Barker, 46, said, I just heard one, right at eleven oclock. Very small, two tiny bumps. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump departs after awarding the 2018 Presidential Medals of Freedom in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S. November 16, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan summoned the U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad on Tuesday to protest President Donald Trump's criticism of Pakistan's role in fighting terrorism and the killing of Osama bin Laden. Trump's comments over the last few days have angered Pakistan, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, who on Monday hit back by saying on Twitter that few allies had sacrificed or helped the United States as much as Pakistan in its war on terror, suffering 75,000 casualties. The friction threatens to worsen already fragile relations between Islamabad and Washington, on-off allies which have repeatedly clashed over the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan's alleged support for Islamist militants. Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua called in U.S envoy Paul Jones "to register a strong protest on the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan". Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Over the weekend, Trump said in an interview Pakistan doesn't "do a damn thing" for the United States despite billions of dollars in U.S. aid, and alleged Pakistani officials knew of former al Qaeda leader bin Laden's location before his killing by U.S. troops in a raid inside Pakistan in 2011. On Monday, Trump tweeted again and doubled down on those claims. "Rejecting the insinuations about OBL, Foreign Secretary reminded the US (Charge d'Affaires) that it was Pakistan's intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of OBL," the ministry said. On Tuesday, Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, without mentioning Trump, said "Pakistan has done much more for peace in Afghanistan" than any other country. "We have paid the highest military, economic, political and social cost and the world should acknowledge that," Bajwa added, according to comments released by military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor. (Reporting by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Nick Macfie) COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) The man who blew the whistle on a massive money laundering scheme through the Estonian branch of Denmark's Danske Bank, says the bank "deliberately ignored" the warning he made that dirty money was flowing, some from Russia. Howard Wilkinson says "there was a big smoke alarm that started. But (Danske Bank) tried actively to turn off the smoke alarm." Wilkinson told a hearing at Denmark's Parliament on Monday that he wrote four whistleblower reports. He also said Denmark' financial regulator only reacted nine years after he first reported something was wrong. Jesper Berg, the head of Denmark's Financial Supervisory Authority, admitted it wasn't until Denmark's Berlingske daily in February cited an internal Danske Bank report that it launched an investigation. See Also: The U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan of eight (8) Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B Missiles and thirteen (13) Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 2A Missiles for an estimated cost of $561 million. These are intended to be deployed aboard the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) AEGIS destroyers. The U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan of eight (8) Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B Missiles and thirteen (13) Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 2A Missiles for an estimated cost of $561 million. These are intended to be deployed aboard the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) AEGIS destroyers. The SM-3 missiles are intended to be deployed aboard the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) AEGIS destroyers. The proposed sale will provide Japan with an increased ballistic missile defense capability to assist in defending the Japanese homeland and U.S. personnel stationed there. Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these additional munitions and support into the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). The SM-3 Block IIA is being developed cooperatively by the U.S. and Japan and operates as part of the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense system. The IIA variant has larger rocket motors and a bigger kinetic warhead, raising its effectiveness against evolving threats. SM-3 is the only ballistic missile interceptor that can be launched at sea and on land. Japan currently employs the SM-3 Block IA interceptor, but the IB variant's improved two-color seeker and upgraded throttling divert and attitude control system enables engagements with a larger set of threats. The SM-3 is produced at Raytheon's Space Factory in Tucson, Arizona, and the company's integration facility in Huntsville, Alabama. Fresh eruptions by the Volcano of Fire in Guatemala is forcing the disaster coordination authorities to advise the people to leave the area and move to safer places. It's been erupting since 2002 and has now become a more or less regular affair since 2017. The height of the lava being spewed is a matter of concern because these are unpredictable. There was one eruption a few months ago and it left 194 dead with another 234 missing. Lava is spewing from the summit of the volcano and some areas in the south-central part of the country are in danger. Daily Mail UK reports that a spokesman for the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction advised that there is constant monitoring of the activities of the Volcano of Fire and there is no letup in the intensity of eruptions. It is a natural disaster and the situation is serious. Therefore, authorities feel people must evacuate for their own safety. Ten communities in Guatemala have been asked to evacuate and go to safe areas after an increased eruption of the Volcano of Fire, one of the most active in Central America. https://t.co/nPwIDUwYw3 #NBC7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) November 19, 2018 Volcano of Fire leaves a trail of destruction The volcano in Guatemala is leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. The molten lava from deep down in the earth erupts with violence and spews ash and rock. These flow down the flanks of the mountain and burn down everything in its path. Temperatures reach very high levels of up to 700C (1,300F), and the mix of hot ash and volcanic gases can cause health hazards. Moreover, they destroy homes and block roads, bringing communication to a standstill. Discuss this news on Eunomia Volcano of Fire also known as Volcan de Fuego is one of the most active in Central America and erupted in June. There is confusion about the casualty figures. In the opinion of aid groups who helped with rescue, the number of those still unaccounted could be high. In fact, it runs into thousands. It is a major disaster According to Press Republican, nearly 4,000 residents have moved out of the region of the Volcano of Fire in Guatemala. The eruption threw dangerous red-hot rock, molten lava and ash into the surroundings that was already in the grip of the previous eruptions earlier this year. The height of the mountain is 12,300-foot and nearby homes felt the vibration from the explosion in its depths. It seems the hot rock and ash extended to about 1.5 miles down one flank of the volcano and Guatemala City felt the effect as ash drifted towards it. People took heed of the warnings by disaster coordination authorities and relocated to shelters. They will now have to rebuild their lives because Natural Disasters of this nature leave behind only destruction and the survivors may have to begin from scratch. While on the subject of volcanoes, here are 5 volcanoes that could erupt in our lifetime. By any conventional measure, Robert Francis Beto ORourke should be headed for political obscurity. He was an undistinguished three-term congressman from El Paso who tried and failed to take Ted Cruzs Senate seat away from him. He ran in Texas with a conventional far left agenda and with a lot of personal baggage, including a DUI incident in which he was reported to have tried to flee the scene of the accident. He relentlessly tried to prove himself to be cool, going so far as to skateboard onto the stage during rallies. Even the name Beto was seen as a subterfuge to try to convince voters that the Irish-American was, in fact, Hispanic. However, because ORourke was not blown out during his Senate contest, Democratic donors and other backroom boys think that the 46-year-old politician should run for president. The desire reveals a certain degree of desperation on the part of Democrats. No shortage of possible Democratic candidates It is not as if the Democrats have any shortage of possible candidates. They have liberal firebrands such as Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders. The Democrats have elder statesmen like Joe Biden. Michael Bloomberg is even thinking of offering himself as a billionaire who is not Donald Trump. Supporters of Hillary Clinton supporters are touting a third run for the presidency. The case for Beto Politico quoted a Democratic insider as suggesting that ORourke is the second coming of Barack Obama, only hes white. Comparisons have also been made to Bobby Kennedy. Besides the fact that ORourke was defeated by Cruz by only a comfortable margin, Democrats note that he is a superb fundraiser. He managed to garner $70 million in donations from coastal elites as well as small contributors. Discuss this news on Eunomia The soon to be former congressman also actually does have a cool factor, at least among certain voting groups such as millennials. A Beto ORourke presidential candidacy is not outside the realm of sanity. Barack Obama did not prove to be too leftwing to win the presidency twice. Donald Trump, the most unlikely of presidents, managed to overcome a boatload of personal failings, perhaps by using them for good effect, to shock the world and win the Oval Office. Everything depends on the state of the world in 2020. An economic downturn, a foreign policy disaster, or a Trump scandal that even his supporters find hard to tolerate, could propel another unlikely politician to the presidency. On the other hand, the landscape is riddled with the bodies, metaphorically speaking, of people who went up against Trump and lost. The president is likely already working on an insulting nickname with perhaps unbecoming relish. The death of a man, probably from an injury inflicted by a stingray, has shocked the people in and around Hobart. The 42-year-old man was swimming near the Lauderdale Beach when he suffered a Cardiac Arrest presumably from a stingray. It happened some distance from Hobart and the spot is a not just a low tide shallow area but is popular amongst swimmers. ABC Au reports that police arrived at the scene and believed that the death occurred due to a "puncture wound possibly inflicted by a marine animal". Hobart beach has a large population of stingrays and the Australian Museum clarifies that the smooth stingray species is not aggressive. Man dies after stingray attack as he swam at popular tourist beach in Australiahttps://t.co/hIOorAvbJN pic.twitter.com/jJxl0EpvR0 Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) November 18, 2018 Questions arise on closure of the beach Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman indicated that it is for the council to decide on whether the tragedy requires closure of the beach. He went on to add that it is necessary to establish if this was a one-off incident involving a stingray. It is also important to ascertain if there is a real threat to swimmers and others who frequent the area. The Tasmania Police have begun investigations and the beach will remain open. The Australian Museum has explained that the spine of the stingray can inflict severe or potentially fatal wounds. A local has said that there are large stingrays in the shallows at Lauderdale Beach. Another has mentioned about skates while a third person expressed surprise about finding these in the cooler waters of Tasmania. The incident is a worry for the people According to Sky News, a stingray attacked the victim while he was swimming close to Lauderdale Beach and his friends pulled him out from the water. They were nearby. Discuss this news on Eunomia He had suffered a cardiac arrest and they tried to resuscitate him but their efforts failed. The police have described it as a traumatic incident. It resulted in a puncture wound to his lower abdomen and resembled an injury from a stingray. However, a more detailed investigation will be required to arrive at a conclusion. Stingrays usually inhabit tropical waters. In appearance, they are a flattish, diamond-shaped fish and seldom attack humans. They possess barbs at the end of their tails and these pose dangers. These have a coating of a toxic venom and they use it for defense. People suffer injuries when they accidentally step on them in shallow waters and the fish react instinctively with their thorns. Incidentally, an Australian conservationist and "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin fell victim to a stingray barb when it punctured his chest. It was in 2006 when he was engaged in filming the Great Barrier Reef. This guest post is from Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, my fellow co-founder at Bayit: Your Jewish Home, and his CBST colleague Rabbi Yael Rapport. It features some of the amazing Torah of allyship that R' Mike was teaching when he visited North Adams and Williamstown last month. I'm delighted to be able to share it here, especially on Transgender Day of Remembrance as I recommit myself to being a good ally to my trans friends, loved ones, and congregants. - Rachel Recently, nearly 70% of Massachusetts voted YES on ballot initiative 3, protecting the rights of transfolks against discrimination. This tremendous display of support was brought about by the tireless efforts of transfolks, activists, advocates, and allies. Now that this clear action item has been achieved, we must again ask ourselves: now what? How can we continue to strengthen our sense of communal responsibility, advanced through our quest for inclusivity and human dignity? We witnessed what a powerful result was achieved through the spiritual exercise of networking our resources or "allying up." This is a responsibility that Judaism demands as continual practice, independent of the stakes, high or low. Our Jewish tradition has embedded within it a deep notion of what it means to be an ally, although the language is not commonly known. Judaisms perspective provides a new framework for this ancient concept. The word "ally" comes from the Latin alligare, bind together. In rabbinic Hebrew, the best term is chaver / , a word whose most common translation is friend. How might our understanding of what it means to be an ally evolve if seen through this interpretive lens? We find in the Talmud that the word chaver has additionally expanded meanings: things connected to the earth are called mechuver lkarka and an author is a mchaver. What is the linguistic connection between these three forms of the same word? Our rabbis teach that the word chaver, at its core, means to attach, whether it is to share the burden with another person, to connect two physical objects, or to manifest thoughts to words and paper. The mishnah teaches us kneh lcha chaver/acquire for yourself a friend. Perhaps we should understand this directive as a charge to attach ourselves to those who could use support from isolation and marginalization. This is for our benefit; we shouldnt live uninvested in the struggle of another. Its often hard to stand up for what we believe in, especially when the dominant culture acts in opposition. The Hebrew letter , grammatically known as the vav hachebor, the vav that attaches, literally models standing up, as the most vertical letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Its shape also embodies a hook and is found in the construction of the Tabernacle - the vavei hamishkan, the hooks that would connect the curtains to the pillars. In Hebrew grammar it serves the same connective purpose, as the conjunction and. In the mystical tradition, the Genesis narrative speaks to the creative power of Hebrew letters. The Hebrew alphabet itself is said to be the building material for creation. Exploring applications of the letter vav provides enduring modalities for connectivity and allyship illustrated by the function of the vav in scriptural sources. By examining the ways in which the vav is used to connect, in Hebrew grammar, the insights of the Torah can provide new outlooks on how best to parallel our own actions in allyship. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Barry Latzer in the National Review: New Yorks governor, Andrew Cuomo, just announced a bail-reform program. Details were not yet available at press time, but its clear that Cuomo intends to release thousands of arrested persons, even suspected felons, without bail. Meanwhile, across the Hudson, New Jersey has already launched its bail-reform plan. It replaces money bail with an algorithm that scores recently arrested defendants on dangerousness plus the likelihood of their appearance at court hearings. In the first three months of operation, three-quarters of the states defendants were released. After six months, New Jerseys non-sentenced jail population declined 20 percent and was 35 percent lower than it had been two years earlier. Thats good for the defendants, who dont have to spend time in jail in the event that theyre unable to make bail. But is it safe for the public? As with virtually every other criminal-justice reform, these experiments increase public risk. Any reform that keeps parolees, probationers, or pretrial defendants out of jail or prison, either by making their sentences shorter or by replacing incarceration with release to the community, is risky. More here. Bianca Bosker in The Atlantic: One afternoon in the summer of 2013, Anna Todd was in the checkout line at Target when, as most of us do, she pulled out her phone. Then she propped her elbows on her shopping cart and began to type. Todd was 24 years old and living near Fort Hood, Texas, with her husband, a soldier she had married a month after graduating high school, and their newborn, who suffered daily seizures. While caring for her son and taking online community-college courses, she helped support the family by babysitting for a neighbor and working the beauty counter at Ulta. For fun, she read. Wuthering Heights, Twilight, The Things They Carried. Since the previous fall, shed also indulged an addiction to One Direction fan fictionstories featuring the boy band in imagined scenarios. After blazing through all that she could find online and then tiring of waiting for updates from erratic authors (many of them teens juggling writing and school), Todd decided to attempt her own series. She called it After and wrote on her smartphone whenever she could steal a momentwhile shopping for groceries, waiting to get her teeth cleaned, riding in friends cars. She used a pseudonym (imaginator1D) and hid her alter ego from family and friends. My husband just thought I had a phone addiction or something, she has said. More here. It's no secret that California is home to some incredible outdoor destinations. From the serrated ridge lines of the High Sierra to the gargantuan ancient coast redwoods of the North Coast, the Golden State is diverse, alluring, and awe-inspiring. With so much terrain to cover, the question then becomes where to focus your time? We've culled together 30 must-do California outdoor adventures and destinations. From easily accessible yet strikingly scenic waterfalls and state parks to multi-day backpacking excursions and demanding climbing routes, there's something in here for everyone. Old growth redwoods along Damnation Creek Trail (Aron Bosworth) Redwood National and State Parks Few places in the world command the awe of a redwood grove in Redwood National and State Parks. The collective of Redwood National Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Parks along northern California's Pacific coast is home to some of the finest forest scenery in the world. Delving into this international biosphere reserve is a must for anyone who appreciates forest beauty. Read more. PROS: Largest aggregation of old growth coast redwoods in world. Tallest living organism. Largest aggregation of old growth coast redwoods in world. Tallest living organism. CONS: None None REGION: Redwoods + Del Norte Coast, CA Redwoods + Del Norte Coast, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($8.00) State Park Fee ($8.00) DOGS ALLOWED: Yes, with restrictions Stout Memorial Grove (Aron Bosworth) Stout Memorial Grove Tucked away from the drive-through limelight of Highway 199, Stout Memorial Grove is out of sight and out of mind for many, if not most, redwood-bound visitors. Those who do make the side trip down Howland Hill Road to see Stout Grove's magnificent coast redwoods are well rewarded. Stout Grove is arguably the most scenic of the coast redwood groves in Jedidiah Smith Redwood State Park, and the location on the other side of the Smith River from the highway keeps the visitor count down. Read more. PROS: Cathedral-like redwood grove. Few people. Cathedral-like redwood grove. Few people. CONS: Tougher to find than other nearby groves. Tougher to find than other nearby groves. REGION: Redwoods + Del Norte Coast, CA Redwoods + Del Norte Coast, CA CONGESTION: Low Low PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required DOGS ALLOWED: No Fern Canyon (Aron Bosworth) Fern Canyon Fern Canyon is one of the West Coast's most exquisite natural hallways, where a blanket of brilliant ferns and moss provide the art. Carved over millennia by Home Creek eroding through the coastal bluffs, Fern Canyon provides a portal into an ancient canyon habitat, with some of the inhabitant fern species dating back hundreds of millions of years. Read more. PROS : Easily navigable fern-lined slot canyon. Family-friendly. : Easily navigable fern-lined slot canyon. Family-friendly. CONS: Long unpaved access road. Long unpaved access road. REGION: Humboldt, CA Humboldt, CA CONGESTION: High High PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED : State Park Fee ($8.00) : State Park Fee ($8.00) DOGS ALLOWED: No The sunset at Buck Creek on the Lost Coast Trail (Brandon Katcher) The Lost Coast Trail The Lost Coast Trail is a wild and unique backpacking adventure along one of the most rugged sections of the Northern California Coast. The trail provides incredible views, a variety of wildlife and flora, and a glimpse of some rarely seen California coastal terrain. Keep in mind that portions of this trip take a great deal of effort; the majority of the 25-mile, 3-day trip takes place on sandy beaches, which can be exhausting for legs and feet. Read more. PROS: Beautiful landscape. Only backpackers. Wildflowers. Plenty of water. Beautiful landscape. Only backpackers. Wildflowers. Plenty of water. CONS: Long shuttle ride. Hard on legs and feet. Many river crossings. Long shuttle ride. Hard on legs and feet. Many river crossings. REGION: Humboldt, CA Humboldt, CA CONGESTION: Low Low PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer, Fall Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required TOTAL DISTANCE : 24.60 mi (39.59 km) : 24.60 mi (39.59 km) DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Gibson Peak visible from the trail (Jason Mandly) Granite Lake and Seven Up Pass The bridge that begins the Granite Lake Trail is adjacent to a nice creekside beach that makes for a great rest stop. You will be embedded in impressive old-growth forest for the next 1.5 miles of trail paralleling Granite Creek. Most people on this trail will go no further than Granite Lake, but the 1.5-mile push from Granite Lake to Seven Up Pass is well worth the effort. Summer wildflowers will vie for your attention in the foreground, and the red versus white battle of Seven Up Peak (to your north) and Gibson Peak (to the south) will be the backdrop of your climb. A large percentage of the Trinity Alps will open up before you once you make the pass, and these mountains will try to convince you to keep hiking. Read more. PROS: Great views. Wildflowers. Further hiking options. Great views. Wildflowers. Further hiking options. CONS: Popular destination. Popular destination. REGION: Trinity Alps + Marble Mountain Wilderness, CA Trinity Alps + Marble Mountain Wilderness, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required TOTAL DISTANCE: 13.10 mi (21.08 km) 13.10 mi (21.08 km) DOGS ALLOWED: Yes (Josh Lupkin) Mount Shasta, Avalanche Gulch Standing at an impressive 10,000 feet above its base, Mount Shasta offers an approach hike through a red fir forest followed by a steep ascent above tree line to the popular base camp at Helen Lake. The hike presents views of Mount Lassen to the south, the snowcapped California Coast Range to the west, and spectacular views of the volcanic ridges flanking the snow covered Avalanche Gulch. Read more. PROS : Clear route. Views of surrounding valleys. Classic alpine climb. : Clear route. Views of surrounding valleys. Classic alpine climb. CONS: Crowded on weekends. Acute mountain sickness. Avalanche hazard. High winds. Crowded on weekends. Acute mountain sickness. Avalanche hazard. High winds. REGION: Mount Shasta + Medicine Lake Area, CA Mount Shasta + Medicine Lake Area, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer Spring, Summer DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Wilderness/Climbing Permit required above 10,000 ft. ($20/3 days or $30 for annual pass) Wilderness/Climbing Permit required above 10,000 ft. ($20/3 days or $30 for annual pass) TOTAL DISTANCE: 13.60 mi (21.89 km) 13.60 mi (21.89 km) DOGS ALLOWED: No Looking into the caldera from the highest point (Patrick Mueller) Lassen Peak Mount Lassen is the world's largest plug dome volcano and the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range. This volcano was formed from redirected lava flow after a larger nearby volcano (known as Mount Tehama) went extinct around 400,000 years ago. A special animal is found on the slopes of Mount Lassen: the American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small mammal that helps scientists study climate change. Read more. PROS : Great views. Active volcano. Mountain summit. Short trail. : Great views. Active volcano. Mountain summit. Short trail. CONS: Strenuous. High elevation. Exposed. Strenuous. High elevation. Exposed. REGION: Mount Lassen Volcanic Area, CA Mount Lassen Volcanic Area, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: National Park Pass National Park Pass DOGS ALLOWED: No McArthur-Burney Falls (Patrick Mueller) McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park McArthur-Burney Falls State Park may be a ways off the beaten trail, but that should not sway anyone from visiting. The 129-foot waterfall around which the state park is built is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in California. President Theodore Roosevelt visited here and was so impressed that he declared them the eighth wonder of the world. These falls are fed from an underground spring a quarter mile upstream, so there is never any worry that the falls will run dry. Read more. PROS: Gorgeous waterfall with year-round flow. Several picnic areas. Excellent wildlife viewing. New visitor center. Gorgeous waterfall with year-round flow. Several picnic areas. Excellent wildlife viewing. New visitor center. CONS: Big crowds in summer. Limited hiking trails. Trails can be icy in winter. Far from a major city. Big crowds in summer. Limited hiking trails. Trails can be icy in winter. Far from a major city. REGION: Mount Shasta + Medicine Lake Area, CA Mount Shasta + Medicine Lake Area, CA CONGESTION: High High PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer, Fall Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($8.00) State Park Fee ($8.00) DOGS ALLOWED: Yes, with restrictions Ravine Falls in the spring (Jason Mandly) Ravine and Phantom Falls, North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve A solitary oak greets you at the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve parking area. As there are currently no established trails, you should note the oak as a landmark while you embark on your cross-country walkabout. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore in this reserve, and some of the highlights are the twin cascades of Ravine Falls and Phantom Falls. Read more. PROS: Wildflowers. Waterfalls. Room to explore. Wildflowers. Waterfalls. Room to explore. CONS: Short hiking season. Crowds on weekends. Short hiking season. Crowds on weekends. REGION: Northern Sacramento Valley, CA Northern Sacramento Valley, CA CONGESTION: HighPREFERABLE SEASON(S): Winter, Spring Winter, Spring DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Required Required DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Round Lake (Aron Bosworth) Bear Lakes Loop Via Round Lake Bear Lakes are in the heart of the Lakes Basin Recreation Area, the northernmost section of the Sierra Nevada. Less visited than Sierra regions to the south, the area is home to spectacular alpine lakes set among a forested and granitic mountain backdrop. Multiple trails weave through the Bear Lakes area forming various loops that provide access to the lakes. Read more. PROS: Plenty of serene mountain lakes. Dog friendly. Plenty of serene mountain lakes. Dog friendly. CONS: No backcountry camping. No backcountry camping. REGION: Lake Tahoe + Northern Sierra, CA Lake Tahoe + Northern Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Sierra Buttes as seen from the road leading up to Packer Saddle. (Aron Bosworth) Sierra Buttes Trail At 8,857 feet in elevation, Sierra Buttes is the tallest peak in the Lakes Basin region, and offers a fantastic day hike excursion. During summer months, open road access allows an approach up from Packer Lake that abbreviates a 2,800-foot climb to a very doable 1,600 feet over 2.5 miles (County Route 621 climbs to Packer Saddle and connects to Butcher Ranch Road, which leads to the Sierra Buttes Trailhead a short distance past the Saddle). Read more. PROS: Hiking to the top of the region's highest peak. Fire lookout tower. Hiking to the top of the region's highest peak. Fire lookout tower. CONS: The height factor may be problematic for some. The height factor may be problematic for some. REGION: Lake Tahoe + Northern Sierra, CA Lake Tahoe + Northern Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Low Low PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Chimney Rock Trail (Aron Bosworth) Point Reyes National Seashore A stunning California coastal territory managed under the National Park Service, Point Reyes National Seashore comprises the majority of land on the Point Reyes Peninsula as well as the surrounding near-shore Pacific waters. A wonderful network of trails exists throughout Point Reyes, and there are excellent trail options for day hiking and backpacking that traverse the coastline, forests, and uplands of the peninnsula. Outstanding day hikes include Chimney Rock, Tomales Point, and the Palomarin-Alamere Falls trail. Read more. PROS: Scenic coastal hiking. Abundant wildlife. Historic lighthouse. Expansive beaches. Scenic coastal hiking. Abundant wildlife. Historic lighthouse. Expansive beaches. CONS: Often foggy and windy. Often foggy and windy. REGION: Marin, CA Marin, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Winter, Spring, Fall Winter, Spring, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required DOGS ALLOWED: No Lake Tahoe is an impressive sight from Tallac's summit (Aron Bosworth) Mount Tallac, Summer Trail Most who have visited Lake Tahoe have heard of Mount Tallac, or at the very least, have laid their eyes on it. Rising above the southwest shore of the lake, Mount Tallac is part of Desolation Wilderness and the tallest mountain on the lake's immediate shoreline. At 9,738 feet, the mountain stands as a commanding landmark, and it is a continual draw for hikers in the summer and backcountry skiers in the winter. Read more. PROS: Hike Lake Tahoe's tallest peak. Fantastic lake views. Hike Lake Tahoe's tallest peak. Fantastic lake views. CONS: None. None. REGION: Lake Tahoe + Northern Sierra, CA Lake Tahoe + Northern Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Views south along the Rubicon Trail (Aron Bosworth) Rubicon Trail If you have a free day in Tahoe or are just looking for a fantastic summer, hike we highly recommend checking out the Rubicon Trail on Tahoe's southwest shore. Not to be confused with the 22-mile long, four-wheel drive route west of the lake, this lakeside foot trail is 6.5 miles long and connects two of Tahoe's premier state parks, D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay. Most people set out do the section between Rubicon Point and Vikingsholm (4.6 miles one way), but the full length of the trail extends from Rubicon Point south around Emerald Bay to Eagle Point Campground. Read more. PROS: Lakeside trail. Lofty cliff section. Connects two state parks. Lakeside trail. Lofty cliff section. Connects two state parks. CONS: None. None. REGION: Lake Tahoe + Northern Sierra, CA Lake Tahoe + Northern Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer, Fall Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($10.00) State Park Fee ($10.00) DOGS ALLOWED: No Biker's view of Upper Yosemite Falls (Aron Bosworth) Yosemite Valley Bicycle Loop Exploring Yosemite Valley by bicycle opens a world of possibilities that aren't afforded by car. In addition to having an endless supply of bike parking (you can pull off just about anywhere), you have the open air freedom to take in the scenery while cruising and can stop on a whim to tour an a magnificent meadow, gaze up at granite monoliths, or warm up in front of a fire at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel. Read more. PROS: Great way to sightsee and cover the valley landmarks. Don't have to deal with parking. Great way to sightsee and cover the valley landmarks. Don't have to deal with parking. CONS: Bike path network is limited. Must share roads with cars. Bike path network is limited. Must share roads with cars. REGION: Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer, Fall Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: National Park Pass National Park Pass TOTAL DISTANCE: 20.50 mi (32.99 km) 20.50 mi (32.99 km) DOGS ALLOWED: No Tuolumne River (Aron Bosworth) Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite's high country is an outdoor enthusiast's dreamscape, filled with jagged peaks, granite domes, expansive meadows, and glacially-carved lakes. At the heart of it all lies Tuolumne Meadows, one of the largest meadows in the Sierra Nevada and the main access point for exploring much of Yosemite's higher elevations. Read more. PROS: Yosemite high-country scenery. Hiking and climbing access. One of the largest meadows in the Sierra. Yosemite high-country scenery. Hiking and climbing access. One of the largest meadows in the Sierra. CONS: Accessible by car only seasonally. Accessible by car only seasonally. REGION: Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA CONGESTION: High High PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: National Park Pass National Park Pass DOGS ALLOWED: No View south with climbers on route (Aron Bosworth) Matthes Crest Traverse Matthes Crest is a 1-mile, fifth-class ridge traverse in the High Sierra of Yosemite National Park's Tuolumne Meadows. This route is one of a kind, and it features wild movements, breathtaking views, incredible exposure, and excellent rock quality. It's undoubtedly one of the best traverse routes of it's kind in the United States. Read more. PROS : Excellent climbing. Incredible location. Unique style of route. : Excellent climbing. Incredible location. Unique style of route. CONS: May be crowded during summer months. May be crowded during summer months. REGION: Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer Summer DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: National Park Pass National Park Pass TOTAL DISTANCE: 7.50 mi (12.07 km) 7.50 mi (12.07 km) DOGS ALLOWED: No Summit view facing east overlooking the Sierras (Jackie Arnal) Half Dome Hike via John Muir Trail The Half Dome Hike in Yosemite National Park is easily among the most iconic and challenging in the United States. This hike will test you physically and mentally as you climb the last quarter-mile of trail and ascend the sheer flank of Half Dome using bolted cables. The hike up this Yosemite icon features incredible mountain and valley views, wildflowers, waterfalls, old-growth sequoias, and fascinating glimpses of some of California's most dynamic geological history. Read more. PROS: Great views. Wildflowers. Waterfalls. Giant sequoias. Great views. Wildflowers. Waterfalls. Giant sequoias. CONS: Big crowds. Afternoon lightening storms in summer. Big crowds. Afternoon lightening storms in summer. REGION: Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA CONGESTION: High High PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: National Park Pass National Park Pass TOTAL DISTANCE: 16.50 mi (26.55 km) 16.50 mi (26.55 km) DOGS ALLOWED: No Sunrise from the Whitney Massif (Rini Sugianto) John Muir Trail (JMT) Overview Anyone hiking a section or the entirety of the JMT will experience firsthand the impact Muir left on these iconic lands, as the trail runs entirely through national park lands and/or designated wilderness. The vast majority of the JMT shares footsteps with one of the most scenic sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, where mile after mile of High Sierra peaks, passes and lakes will leave the hiker awe-struck by the display nature has on offer. Read more. PROS: One of the top scenic trails in the country. Trail goes through three national parks. High Sierra scenery. One of the top scenic trails in the country. Trail goes through three national parks. High Sierra scenery. CONS: Hard to get permit. Thru-hiking is logistically complex. Hard to get permit. Thru-hiking is logistically complex. REGION: Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA Yosemite + Central Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer Summer DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required TOTAL DISTANCE: 211.00 mi (339.57 km) 211.00 mi (339.57 km) DOGS ALLOWED: No Rae Lakes region (Alix Sorrell) Rae Lakes Loop Rae Lakes loop is a scenic Sierra multi-day loop and truly a backpacking trip that has it all. Stunning lake basins, rushing waterfalls, and splendidly carved canyons envelop your being for the three to six days necessary to complete the circuit in Kings Canyon National Park. Read more. PROS: Beautiful lakes. Great High Sierra scenery. Well maintained trail. Beautiful lakes. Great High Sierra scenery. Well maintained trail. CONS: Summer crowds. Heavily used campsites. Summer crowds. Heavily used campsites. REGION: Southern Sierra, CA Southern Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: National Park Pass National Park Pass TOTAL DISTANCE: 42.00 mi (67.59 km) 42.00 mi (67.59 km) DOGS ALLOWED: No Crescent Meadow lies nestled among the ancient sequoia trees of the Giant Forest. Sequoia National Park. (Aron Bosworth) Crescent Meadow Surrounded by giant sequoias and filled with burgeoning flowers, lush grasses, and ferns in the summer, it's easy to see why John Muir called Crescent Meadow the "Gem of the Sierra." A beautiful 1.5-mile trail encircles the boot-shaped portion of the meadow, and this is a great walk for families looking to extend their exploration of the Giant Forest. Crescent Creek enters the meadow at the south end, and a trail also leads to Log Meadow, which sits just east of Crescent Meadow. Read more. PROS: Picturesque meadow backed by massive trees. Start of High Sierra Trail. Picturesque meadow backed by massive trees. Start of High Sierra Trail. CONS: None. None. REGION: Southern Sierra, CA Southern Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer, Fall Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: National Park Pass National Park Pass DOGS ALLOWED: No Mineral King Valley (Aron Bosworth) Mineral King Valley The access point to a handful of trailheads leading up to the lakes, passes, and peaks of the surrounding high country, Mineral King is a popular recreation area for hikers and backpackers exploring the southern portions of the park from late spring to early fall. Mineral King offers a spectacular, verdant explosion in spring and early summer and a brilliant foliage display in fall led by the quaking aspen inhabitants. Read more. PROS: Access to southern Sequoia National Park. Numerous hiking trails. Fall Colors. Access to southern Sequoia National Park. Numerous hiking trails. Fall Colors. CONS: Seasonal access. Seasonal access. REGION: Southern Sierra, CA Southern Sierra, CA CONGESTION: Moderate Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: National Park Pass National Park Pass DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Middle Little Five Lakes reflection (Aron Bosworth) Glacier Pass, Sawtooth Pass and Big Five Lakes Hiking Loop There are several day and multi-day backcountry hiking loop options available from the Mineral King Valley. Hiking the Glacier Pass to Sawtooth Pass Loop via Big Five Lakes qualifies at the top of this list. If you are interested in a loop that is approximately 27 miles long and blends cross-country route finding and on-trail travel, stunning alpine landscape, and high Sierra lake fishing, this hike is for you. Read more. PROS : Quick access to the high Sierra. Good Fishing. Nice mix of trail and cross-country travel. : Quick access to the high Sierra. Good Fishing. Nice mix of trail and cross-country travel. CONS : Rough access road. Marmot issues at trailhead in late spring and early summer. : Rough access road. Marmot issues at trailhead in late spring and early summer. REGION : Southern Sierra, CA : Southern Sierra, CA CONGESTION : Low : Low PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer Summer DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: National Park Pass National Park Pass TOTAL DISTANCE: 27.00 mi (43.45 km) 27.00 mi (43.45 km) DOGS ALLOWED: No Mono Lake's South Tufa (Gina Teichert) Mono Basin National Scenic Area Mono Basin National Scenic Area encompasses the salty waters of Mono Lake and unique geological features that include tufa towers and the Mono Craters. Paoha and Negit Islands, along with Mono Lake itself, are home to over a million migrating birds that feed on alkali flies and brine shrimp. Read more. PROS: Diversity of activities. Photogenic. Educational. Diversity of activities. Photogenic. Educational. CONS: Some areas are very crowded. Winter road closures. Some areas are very crowded. Winter road closures. REGION: Eastern Sierra + White Mountains Area, CA Eastern Sierra + White Mountains Area, CA CONGESTION: High High PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: General Day Use Fee ($3.00) General Day Use Fee ($3.00) DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Big Pine Creek South Fork Canyon (Taylor Reilly) Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail, First and Second Lake The Big Pine Creek North Fork Hiking Trail rises into California's High Sierra toward the southernmost glaciers in the United States. Palisade glacier sits above a series of lakes, named First Lake through Seventh Lake, where you'll find some of the best trout fishing in the Sierra Nevada. Read more. PROS: Access to Palisades Range and High Sierra. Access to Palisades Range and High Sierra. CONS: Trailhead access closed in winter. Trailhead access closed in winter. REGION: Eastern Sierra + White Mountains Area, CA Eastern Sierra + White Mountains Area, CA CONGESTION : Low : Low PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer, Fall Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required DOGS ALLOWED: Yes The Mount Whitney Trail just before Trail Camp (Runi Sugianto) Mount Whitney Hike Via Whitney Portal The 22-mile round-trip Mount Whitney Trail is often a hiker's first experience with high-altitudes, which is certainly a factor to consider when planning the pace of an ascent. Strong and experienced hikers can complete the Mount Whitney Trail in one long day, but for most, a two-day approach provides much needed time for rest and acclimatization. Many hikers on this two-day schedule will camp at Trail Camp, which sits at 12,039 feet and a little over 6 miles from the trailhead. Read more. PROS: Amazing views. Wildflowers. Alpine lakes. Amazing views. Wildflowers. Alpine lakes. CONS: Crowded. Permits are difficlut to obtain. Bear and marmot country. Crowded. Permits are difficlut to obtain. Bear and marmot country. REGION: Eastern Sierra + White Mountains Area, CA Eastern Sierra + White Mountains Area, CA CONGESTION: High High PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer, Fall Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required Not Required TOTAL DISTANCE : 22.00 mi (35.41 km) : 22.00 mi (35.41 km) DOGS ALLOWED: No Sea Lion Post and Sea Lion Rocks in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (Aron Bosworth) Point Lobos State Natural Reserve For the nature lover, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is nothing short of spectacular. Hidden from Highway 1, this cove-laden coastline situated between Carmel and Big Sur teems with wildlife that is attracted to the nutrient-rich waters prevalent around Monterey Bay. A network of trails makes exploring the reserve both easy and accessible. Read more. PROS: Diversity of marine life. Scenic coves. Diversity of marine life. Scenic coves. CONS: None. None. REGION: Big Sur Coastline, CA Big Sur Coastline, CA CONGESTION: High High PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($10.00) State Park Fee ($10.00) DOGS ALLOWED: No Andrew Molera State Park framed by Molera Point headland (Aron Bosworth) Andrew Molera State Park Located on the northern stretch of the Big Sur coast, Andrew Molera State Park is the largest of the state parks within the magnificent Big Sur area. With over 20 miles of hiking trails, a scenic and accessible beach, an abundance of wildlife, and the Big Sur River, the park offers something for just about everyone. Read more. PROS: Wildlife. Scenic beach. Diversity of hiking trails. Surf. Wildlife. Scenic beach. Diversity of hiking trails. Surf. CONS: Can get crowded on weekends and holidays. Can get crowded on weekends and holidays. REGION: Big Sur Coastline, CA Big Sur Coastline, CA CONGESTION: High High PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($10.00) State Park Fee ($10.00) DOGS ALLOWED: No View north from Mcway Falls (Patrick Mueller) Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Of Big Sur's iconic coastal landscapes, the one that is likely to be pictured in most people's minds is the stretch of coast comprising Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. This dramatic section of central Big Sur is one of the most picturesque settings in California.The park is best known for its centerpiece attraction: McWay Falls gracefully plunges onto the sands of McWay Cove some 80 feet below. Read more. PROS: Oceanside waterfall. Big coastal vistas. Cove and moutainside hikes. Oceanside waterfall. Big coastal vistas. Cove and moutainside hikes. CONS: Limited beach access. Limited beach access. REGION: Big Sur Coastline, CA Big Sur Coastline, CA CONGESTION: High High PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($10.00) State Park Fee ($10.00) DOGS ALLOWED: No Valley view from Marion Mountain Trail (Runi Sugianto) Mount San Jacinto via Marion Mountain Trail Mount San Jacinto is the highest peak in San Jacinto Mountains and the second highest point in Southern California. This summit receives a lot of visitors everyday, facilitated in part by the tram that runs up from Palm Springs to 8,500 feet. The Marion Mountain Trail stays on the southwest aspect of Mount San Jacinto, and apart from the Skyline Trail hike, it is one of the most challenging routes to the San Jacinto summit. Read more. With its quieter surroundings and family-run shops paired with top-notch restaurants and a strollable, tree-lined downtown, Lafayette manages to combine the best aspects of the Bay: access to the outdoors, farm-to-table dining, and a less frenetic energy. And even if you're not visiting Lafayette the one weekend a year when the population explodes for a popular art and wine festival, the city still beckons with small-town charm and big-city amenities worthy of whiling away a few days. Where to Eat in Lafayette Sandwiches and burgers inspired by international flavors and family recipes reign supreme at Batch & Brine. (Chris Andre) American Eats Hidden off the main dining stretch in Lafayette, The Hideout Kitchen & Cafe (3406 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) serves lunch and dinner but is best known for its bustling brunch business, which often draws a wait (make it more bearable with a mimosa in hand). Expect elevated comfort food: The beast of a waffle sandwich is a staple, with a chicken-fried steak, cheddar cheese, and an over-easy egg sandwiched between two waffles and smothered in sausage gravy; the harvest scramble offers a slightly less gut-busting option, with seasonal veggies and goat cheese. If you do make it for dinner, consider the honey-fried chicken, and then cap off your evening with a cranberry bread pudding (free with a check-in on Yelp). // Many a local bemoaned the closing of Lafayette institution Petar's in 2013, but luckily its replacement, The Cooperage (32 Lafayette Cir.), delivers well-executed new American dishes and a seasonal cocktail selection to rival any bar in San Francisco. Menu standouts range from the warm shaved Brussels sprouts to the Brown Derby, which feels like a slightly lighter Cobb salad, to the very photogenic trio of riffs on the traditional gin and tonic, served in giant wine glasses and adorned with flowers and spices. // Beloved Danville restaurant Sideboard (3535 Plaza Way) opened a Lafayette location in 2016, bringing its largely house-made, farm-to-table fresh fare to a relaxed, farmyard-esque space. For breakfast/brunch, the poached eggs on levain toast, freshly made beignets, and chilaquiles are favorites, whereas dinnertime diners should opt for comfort-food classics such as the meatloaf sandwich, mac 'n' cheese, or Thai chicken salad. Act like an insider and come on Friday night for the fish fry, or to order off the secret menu, which leans deliciously unhealthy with items such as nachos, a bucket of fries, and a cinnamon roll sundae. When movies are screened in the Plaza Park over the summer, you can reserve a picnic basket meal, borrow a few blankets, and cuddle up for dinner and a flick. // Meat lovers head to Bonehead's Texas BBQ (3422 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) for juicy brisket, smoky ribs, and spicy barbecue sauce, but stick around for the cornhole, weekend live music, and Wednesday night open mic. For a true taste of Texas, Bonehead's moves more than 700 pounds of meat a week sourced from Harris Ranch (the only independently owned restaurant to get it direct) through its smoker only after it's spent 72 hours soaking in the dry rub. // The cozy interior of American Kitchen (71 Lafayette Cir.) brings to mind dining in a good friend's home, in part because the restaurant is housed in a historic 80-year-old farmhouse in downtown Lafayette, but also for the feeling of conviviality around the fire pit on the outdoor patio. Comfort food reigns supreme across the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, with fun theme nights through the week (breakfast for dinner on Tuesday, Sunday night grilled cheese). Flavors of Italia Lafayette mainstay Postino (3565 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) has managed to stand the test of time not only for its expertly executed Italian-inflected dishes, but also for its unparalleled service and impressive wine list. Tucked in an ivy-shrouded building complete with exposed brick interior, this white-tablecloth restaurant remains the top choice for celebratory and special-occasion meals, and the attentive servers are more than happy to help you decide between tender braised short ribs, pan-roasted duck breast, or seared yellowfin tuna. // Sure, you definitely won't go wrong ordering one of the blistery, wood-fired pieswhich combine Italian flavors with fresh California ingredientsfrom Pizza Antica (3600 Mt. Diablo Blvd.). But the dish that keeps us up at night (or at least slaving to recreate it) is the warm Brussels sprouts salad laced with bacon, hard-cooked egg, and caramelized onions. Swing by the first Friday of the month for the chef's porchetta, done in the Tuscan tradition with fennel pollen before being rolled and roasted into porky goodness, or for weekday happy hour to score $5 small bites and discounted wine and beer pours. // Blink-and-you'll-miss-it Locanda Positano (1005 Brown Ave.) evokes the Amalfi coast with its blue and yellow tiled accents, a bright and airy all-weather outdoor patio, and congenial staff that'll have you swearing you've been transported to a seaside Italian town. The menu follows suit, with many of the recipes handed down from family of inspired by the owner's Italian upbringing. You can't say no to Mamma Carmela's meatballs, gnocchi, or lasagna (Mamma herself often travels over from Italy to oversee the kitchen), but you also won't go wrong with the thin-crust pizza or meat-forward secondi options either. Around-the-World Dining Restaurant Row newcomer Batch & Brine (3602 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) sprang from the combined wisdom of life-long restaurateurs, and the truly family-run restaurant (from parents to children to siblings to cousins) draws upon the combined knowledge of its members, transforming passed-down recipes into globally-inspired dishes served up in an artsy, patio-bedecked interior. Burgers and sandwiches are the main eventwe suggest the falafel, fried chicken, and Greek-inspired kuftawith loaded fries (think hatch chile and pork or duck and cheese), capped off with boozy milkshakes and s'mores ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Make sure you check out the bathroom for graffiti art provided by LA artist Berk Visual, who also did the street artinspired murals in the interior. // Peruvian restaurant Barranco (3596 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) not only occupies an enviable airy, patio-adorned spot on Mount Diablo Boulevard, but capitalizes on the indoor-outdoor atmosphere with transportive dishes tinged with Latin American flair. The selection of ceviche and other chilled dishes burst with freshness, but it's the dishes that get a healthy lick of flamewhether the grilled Spanish octopus, slow-roasted pollo a la brasa, or pan-seared day boat scallopsthat let the complex flavors truly shine. Sip a pisco sour or two and save room: It'd be criminal to not end the meal with the tender and crumbly alfajores filled with dulce de leche. // It's worth springing for a stay at the chateau-inspired Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa at least once, but if you want a taste of provencal France without committing to an overnight, head to the hotel's The Park Bistro & Bar (3287 Mt. Diablo Blvd.). Inside the French farmhouseinspired interior, you'll find farm-to-table California cuisine with a French twist, including smoked salmon deviled eggs, an unctuous French onion soup, and braised short rib over polenta spooned with bordelaise. The outdoor fire pit proves an especially nice respite from the craziness of the week, especially when paired with one of the bar's award-winning cocktails such as the Chimney Sweeper, made with California-produced vodka, amari, orgeat, and activated charcoal and served in an atomized Laphroaig glass. // No frills, decades-old Mexican joint El Charro Mexican Restaurant (3339 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) manages to capture south-of-the-border flavor at a reasonable price point that locals clearly love, since the oft-packed dining room often spills over onto the covered patio. But don't expect a run-of-the-mill cantina or taqueria: Classic dishes such as smothered enchiladas, crispy fish tacos, and chimichangas come on colorful earthenware dishes; the house margaritas are a step above your standard cocktail; and even the unlimited chips and salsa come with the perk of a piquant cheese dip. // Comfortingly consistent, Uncle Yu's (999 Oak Hill Rd.) gets top marks for upscale Chinese with a modern twist, with classics such as juicy potstickers, rainbow chicken, honey-walnut prawns, and peking duck turned out with reliably high-quality precision. Celiacs and gluten-free diners can also rest easy with an entirely gluten-free menu. // Hidden between a fro-yo shop and a Whole Foods in Lafayette's main strip mall, Blue Ginkgo (3518 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) still manages to be your best bet for familiar Japanese fare, with Japanese izakaya bites and a solid menu of rolls and sashimi. Drinks, Snacks + Sweets If it's life on top of the world you crave, then head up Russian Hill to get a gander of this fully renovated contemporary home with views of the city's most glorious landmarks as well as of Marin. Built in 1990 with soaring ceilings and walls of windows that soak up all the natural light, the 5,800-square-foot house is spacious, airy, and hyper luxe. Five bedrooms and a dreamy seven-and-a-half baths span five full stories where dark hardwoods, marble finishes, and modern fireplaces create a unified feeling throughout. And it's all about the detailsjust take a look at the central staircase with its glass banister that seems to float between levels (of course, you can always take the elevator). The kitchenclad in white marble and dark macassar wood that envelops the built-in, double-door refrigeratoropens to an intimate living space with a fireplace; the formal dining area, meanwhile, has elegant recessed lighting and a delicate chandelier. The master bedroom is a plush retreat with a sitting area and fireplace and French doors that open onto the terrace with a sweeping panorama of the city. Also not to be missed is the master's sprawling walk-in closet with its large, circular skylight. On the top level, a comfy family room fits snugly into the treetops; there are also multiple patios and an expansive roof deck for basking in the sun (or fog). Location: 1089 Chestnut St. (Russian Hill) Size: 5,800 sq. ft. Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 7.5 Asking price: $10,900,000 // For more information, visit pacificunion.com. Teetering on the edge of a bridge at Christmastime, family man George Bailey is ready to leave life behind. His business is in ruins, and his family ties threaten to unravel. George can see no way forward, no futurethat is, until a real-life angel crosses his path. That's the point of departure for San Francisco Opera's latest co-production, It's a Wonderful Life, a vibrant new take on the 1946 holiday classic. Just like Frank Capra's original film, this opera is a lush celebration of life's everyday pleasuresthe love stories, trials, and triumphs that make each day worthwhile. And this being a holiday story, there's no shortage of magic, with breathtaking music and high-flying stunts manifested before your very eyes. The production, however, is no mere rehash. Composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Sheer have infused the film's storyline with a fresh new vision, heightened by a splash of jazz-age beats. Notable among the changes is the creation of the character Clara, an angel whose job is to help save George's life. Clara's got a problem, though: Unlike all the other angels, she's still a rookie with no wings to fly. But this character's also got sass and charisma, and she's willing to stop at nothing to earn those wings by showing George just how valuable life is. With its message about unity and friendship in the face of economic hardship, It's a Wonderful Life remains as timely as ever. This production is a lavish tribute to what ordinary people can accomplish with grit and sacrificeplus, of course, a little help from their friends. In the spirit of community building, the San Francisco Opera is launching the Earn Your Wings campaign, in honor of all the real-life Claras and Georges out there in the Bay Area. This community initiative aims to recognize individuals who have made a profound impact on their communities, just like George Bailey did in It's a Wonderful Life. Know an angel who deserves to be recognized? Nominate that person on social media, using the hashtag #EarnYourWings and tag @sfopera. We'll be featuring stories from our communities online every day at sfopera.com. Then, on Saturday, November 24th, San Francisco Opera is inviting kids of all ages to attend a special performance of It's a Wonderful Life, as part of its first-ever Family Day. All tickets for youth under 18 are half off. The lobby of the War Memorial Opera House will be festooned with decorations and activities, plus we're hosting a Bedford Falls Makers Marketplace (11:30am to 2pm), complete with crafts, holiday gifts, and food trucks from Off the Grid in the courtyard of the War Memorial Opera House. Bring the whole family for an afternoon of holiday drinks, art and games. Come join the Family Day fun, and revel in the joy of the holiday season! No matter how cold it is outside, It's a Wonderful Life will be sure to melt your heart. // For more information and tickets, go to sfopera.com/wonderful. Warmed by the heat of the fire pits (and more than a few vodka martinis) on an unseasonably chilly Indian Summer night, the honorees of our 2018 Style Council basked in the glow of a celebration just for them. Red-and-white striped poolside cabanas, string lights, and heat lamps set a festive scene outside of Chambers Eat + Drink on October 17th, where our seven tastemakers this year gathered with their nearest and dearest for cocktails, canapes, and Instagramable moments to remember. But first: drinks! San Francisco newcomer Blue Angel Vodka was a star on this Wednesday night thanks to its Humpday-blues-crushing martinis, mules, and grapefruit hounds. Ashes & Diamondsthe hottest thing to hit Wine Country latelykept the Vin de Table and Napa Valley Blanc flowing all night. Many thanks to these incredible partners, as well as to the fabulous innovators who joined us to celebrate our annual spotlight on Bay Area stylemakers. Get your FOMO on with the sideshow below! The air is heavy in the Bay Area this week as the Camp Fire rages on, closing schools and forcing us all indoors. Lighten the mood with a few Bay Area headlines you may have missedsome of them totally lack gravitas, we promise. (Courtesy of @kanyewest) Kanye and Zuckerberg Sang Backstreet Boys at This SF Karaoke Bar, SF Eater Apparently Ye and Zuck were yucking it up recently at YamaSho. And they want it that way. Read more. A Model T, Abandoned as Paradise Burned, Emerges With Barely a Scratch, The New York Times Paradise resident Ron Westbrook lost his home to the Camp Fire. He garage collapsed, and the two cars inside were burnt to a crisp. But parked in the driveway, his 103-year-old collectible Ford Model T survived the fire with nary a scratch. Read more. Drag-Queen Nuns Crash Stormy Daniels' San Francisco Gig, Canonize Her a Saint, KQED The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence bestowed their highest honor upon the president's porn star nemesis. Read more. Are Organic Farms Ruining California's Rural Coast?, Pacific Standard Conservationists say that California's eat local and sustainable ethos may be damaging our grasslands. Read more. UN expert: San Francisco's homelessness crisis is a human rights violation and suggests 'a cruelty that is unsurpassed', Business Insider The UN's Leilani Farha compares San Francisco's homeless crisis to the slums of Mumbai, Jakarta, Mexico City, and Manila. Yep, that's bad. Read more. The news coming from Butte County is weighing heavily on us all. To support the relief efforts, check out our list of ways to help the fire victims. UF-led consortium aims to make Alzheimers treatable, preventable and one day curable Its estimated that as many as 600,000 Floridians currently live with Alzheimers disease. Thats over 10 percent of all Americans coping with the devastating neurodegenerative disorder, which slowly erodes memory and other cognitive functions and imposes an enormous burden not only on the sufferer but on caregivers, loved ones and society as a whole. As the population grows, the number of Floridians with Alzheimers is expected to at least double by 2050. To address this crisis, University of Florida Health is leading a consortium of institutions that banded together in 2015 to form the 1Florida Alzheimers Disease Research Center. This November, to mark Alzheimers disease awareness month, Todd Golde, M.D., Ph.D., director of the 1Florida ADRC and the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida, shines light on UFs role in a nationwide initiative to combat the disease and his hopes for the future. Q. What is the 1Florida Alzheimers Disease Research Center? Dr. Golde: The 1Florida ADRC is a National Institutes of Health-funded center and the only of its kind based in Florida. Its a University of Florida-led consortium of institutions including Mount Sinai Medical Center, the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University. We have over 40 faculty members from these institutions working together to conduct research around Alzheimers disease. Q. What treatment options are available for Alzheimers disease? Dr. Golde: Current options include several classes of drugs that are designed to enhance memory. These drugs have very minimal impact in most people. They do not modify the disease course, so the disease will continue to progress. In some people, these drugs seem to temporarily improve their cognitive function and memory, but in most cases, that effect is not noticeable by the spouse or caregiver. So we have a huge unmet medical need. Q. How will the 1Florida Alzheimers Disease Research Center advance our knowledge of the disease? Dr. Golde: A central component of the 1Florida ADRC revolves around our clinical core. We will follow a cohort of individuals, ranging from those considered normal to those with varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Over many years time, we will study their trajectories and phenotype them, recording various fluid and imaging biomarkers to try to understand who has Alzheimers disease, what are the predictors and which aspects influence rates of progression. Q. The 1Florida Alzheimers Disease Research Center is following participants of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Why is this significant? Dr. Golde: The vast majority of published data on Alzheimers disease has been on people of Caucasian European descent. This is significant when we draw conclusions about Alzheimers disease with respect to incidence, progression and risk factors. A major focus of the 1Florida ADRC that distinguishes us from counterparts in other parts of the country is that our cohort is about 60 percent Hispanic. There are studies that suggest the incidence of dementia may be higher among people of Hispanic origin, but we dont know yet if thats true or not. Q. How many participants are currently enrolled in the 1Florida Alzheimers Disease Research Center? Dr. Golde: Weve enrolled about 400 participants so far. We hope to expand the clinical core activity with an increasing focus on recruitment of African Americans. At UF Health, well partner with our movement disorders center to focus on what we call atypical dementias, or non-Alzheimers dementias. That will create a bigger reach throughout the state. Q. What is the ultimate goal? Dr. Golde: Our ultimate goal is to help contribute to research that will change the lexicon around Alzheimers disease from being untreatable, incurable and inevitable to treatable, curable and preventable. We are now two-and-a-half decades into trying to crack this nut of developing therapies, and weve seen a lot of failures. We know this is going to be hard. Its going to take a team effort, but we hope within the next 10 years or less we can begin to shift the dialogue. November 20, 2018 04:20 pm Scott Wilson Pennsylvania is clearing a path for patients ready to ask primary care physicians for help treating opioid use disorder. And those doctors will reclaim potentially life-saving time previously spent on administrative burden. In a move applauded by the Pennsylvania AFP and other medical organizations, Gov. Tom Wolf last month announced an agreement between his state and seven of the largest health insurers there to end prior authorization requirements for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of substance use disorder (SUD). Under the agreement, the insurers -- Aetna, Capital BlueCross, Geisinger, Highmark, Independence Blue Cross, UPMC Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare -- will cover, without pre-approval, at least one buprenorphine-naloxone product, methadone as MAT, injectable and oral naltrexone, and at least one form of nasal naloxone without quantity limits. They also will provide MAT coverage "at the lowest patient cost tier on the plan's pharmacy benefit." The move will align commercial insurers' MAT requirements with those of Pennsylvania's Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care programs. "It's an encouraging step forward," Brent Ennis, the Pennsylvania AFP's vice president of practice advocacy and government affairs, told AAFP News. David O'Gurek, M.D., of Philadelphia -- who chaired the AAFP workgroup that oversaw a 2016 update to the "Chronic Pain Management and Opioid Misuse: A Public Health Concern" position paper -- agreed. "With this requirement lifted for a preferred buprenorphine agent, significantly less administrative time is spent completing forms, attaching chart notes and compiling results to submit to insurance companies, as well as monitoring when prior authorizations need to be renewed," he told AAFP News. And time saved translates to lives saved. Story Highlights DemKota's new Army partnership to help military personnel find jobs The partnership was made official at a signing ceremony on Nov. 10. The annual Letter Carriers Food Drive this past Saturday delivered 198,370 pounds of food donations to Roadrunner Food Bank, an increase of 23,000 pounds over last years drive. Mag Strittmatter, president and CEO of Roadrunner Food Bank said, the food drive also represents a relief from the shortage of non-perishable food items the food bank has been experiencing the last couple of months. We are tremendously grateful. Our community recognizes that not everyone in our state has access to basic needs like food, she said. Thanks to each and every single letter carrier who has helped, and to each and every single member of our community who gave food. For more than two decades, the National Association of Letter Carriers, the United States Postal Service and the Rural Letter Carriers Association have come together on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to collect food that people leave at their mailboxes for donation to Roadrunner. It is one of two letter carrier drives held each year. The second one held in May, the annual Stamp Out Hunger drive, is conducted nationally. The shortage of perishable food has occurred nationwide. The reason is not clear, but it is offset to some extent by increased donations of milk, beans and other items from the government, which purchases it to help stabilize farm prices, said Roadrunner spokeswoman Sonya Warwick. About 20 percent of Roadrunners food comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the majority of that is currently perishable goods. Roadrunner is part of Feeding America, a network of 200 affiliated member food banks and more than 60,000 partner agencies that include food pantries, soup kitchens, group homes, shelters, schools and senior programs. In New Mexico, Roadrunner supplies food to nearly 500 locations through its sister food banks in Santa Fe, Clovis, Farmington and Gallup, Warwick said. Through that statewide network, more than 70,000 people are provided food weekly, or about 33 million pounds of food a year, she said. We have more than doubled our distribution in the last 10 years because we needed to. We have such high poverty rates in New Mexico, and with that comes hunger. According to Feeding Americas Map the Meal Gap survey, which looks at hunger in all 50 states down to the county level, New Mexico ranks first in the nation in food insecurity. Just over 25 percent of New Mexico children are at risk of hunger. Thats one in every four kids, or about 125,210 kids in all. New Mexico ranks sixth in the nation for hunger among adults and children, with 15.8 percent of the states residents reporting food insecurity, or 327,930 people. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com. Clack clack clack clack was how they described the sound of your worst nightmare. Just after midnight Friday, a group of six people was descending from the 95th floor of Chicagos 875 N. Michigan Avenue building, the famous, 100-story skyscraper formerly known as the John Hancock Center, when they heard it, as 50-year-old tourist Jaime Montemayor told CBS Chicago. The group in the elevator had gone up to the 95th floor to visit a swanky restaurant overlooking the skyline, and they had chosen the express elevator on their way down. But suddenly, it started moving a little too fast for comfort. It started to get bumpy, like an incoming flight to Chicago, a Northwestern law student who was in the elevator told the Chicago Tribune. It whizzed past all the usual stops, falling and falling and falling 84 floors before coming to an abrupt stop somewhere between the 11th and the 12th. Then came the noise: Clack clack clack clack. Then came the dust and dirt, floating into the elevator from the ceiling. And then came the panic. The strangers started freaking out, the law student, who declined to be identified, told the Tribune. Some were screaming, others crying. Montemayor, who was visiting with his wife from Mexico City, said he and his wife held each other tightly and began to pray. I believed we were going to die, Montemayor told CBS. We were going down, and then I felt that we were falling down, and then I heard a noise: clack clack clack clack the sound of getting trapped in an elevator. They pressed the emergency button. The six strangers including Montemayor and his wife, two law students from Northwestern University and two others, including a pregnant woman were stuck in the elevator for roughly two and a half hours as firefighters tried to figure out a way to reach them. The problem? They were trapped in a blind shaft, meaning there were no doors through which firefighters could enter the shaft and get to them, Chicago Fire Department Battalion Chief Patrick Maloney told reporters at the scene, according to ABC 7 Chicago. The malfunction had been caused by a snapped hoist rope, or elevator cable, Maloney said. Other cables were still attached, keeping the elevator from plummeting to the floor. It was a pretty precarious situation where the cables that broke were on top of the elevator, Maloney said. We couldnt do an elevator-to-elevator rescue. We had to breach a wall on the 11th floor of the parking garage in order to open up the elevator doors. Luis Vazquez, a friend of the Montemayors who took a different elevator to the ground floor, told the Tribune he couldnt believe what was happening. This is the second-most important building in Chicago? And this is the third-most important city in the United States? he questioned. In the 98 floors, they have no place to open any door? That is the craziest thing. Finally, the firefighters busted through the brick wall of the parking garage, creating a 5-by-5-foot hole through which they could see the top half of the elevator. From inside, the trapped group could hear the firefighters drilling their way in. One of the law students captured the moment on video as a bizarre liquid oozed from the elevator doors crevice and firefighters worked to pry open the doors. Finally, just before 3 a.m., they were rescued. None of the six were injured. When they opened the door, Montemayor told the Tribune, the feeling was, Thanks, bud! A Chicago Buildings Department spokesman told the Tribune that the elevator had last been inspected in July and that the cause of the cables malfunction would remain under investigation. On Saturday, ABC 7 Chicago reported that tourists had to go up to the 95th floor in a service elevator operated by building employees while the investigation and maintenance continued. The buildings general manager could not be immediately reached for comment regarding the status of both the investigation and the ongoing maintenance. SANTA FE Tai Chan, a former Santa Fe County sheriffs deputy accused of fatally shooting a fellow deputy in Las Cruces after a night of drinking in 2014, is back in jail on the latest charge he faces, voluntary manslaughter. Chan, 32, turned himself into at the Sandoval County jail in Bernalillo after about 11 p.m. Friday and is to be transferred to a lock-up Dona Ana County. A judge will soon decide on a motion for pretrial detention filed Monday by the District Attorneys Office, according to office spokesperson Roxanne McElmell. John Day, one of Chans lawyers, is seeking Chans release. A new criminal complaint for voluntary manslaughter and an arrest warrant against Chan were filed Friday in Dona Ana County Magistrate Court by the Las Cruces Police. Chan made a first court appearance on this charge via video on Monday, according to Day. The new charge is a fifth try at prosecuting Chan for the death of Jeremy Martin, 29, who died in 2014 at Las Cruces Hotel Encanto. He and Chan were staying in Las Cruces on the way back from delivering a prisoner to Arizona. Last month, District Court Judge Conrad Perea dismissed a prior voluntary manslaughter case against Chan brought by District Attorney Mark DAntonios office because the office didnt go to a grand jury or preliminary court hearing to determine probable cause. Before that, Chan was previously tried twice for murder in Martins death. Both trials ended in a hung juries. Another effort at making a murder case against Chan was dropped earlier this year when Perea ruled that Chan could not be prosecuted for murder yet again on double jeopardy grounds, because of errors by another judge at the end of the second trial. Mondays pre-trial detention motion by the Dona Ana County D.As Office argues that Chan should not be granted release because he admitted to shooting an unarmed Martin Chan claimed self-defense and the fact that Chan was intoxicated at the time of the shoothing. Interviews with personnel in Santa Fe indicated that Chan often drank to intoxication and became very belligerent and had to be removed from situations to avoid violence. Because this defendant drinks to intoxication, becomes belligerent and uses firearms, the public would not be safe if he is released, the motion states. The night Martin was killed, two deputies argued and drank heavily at a bar, and then returned to their hotel room. Martin died after being shot five times in the back and arm. Ten shots were fired from Chans duty weapon. Who shot the gun first and who was the aggressor were disputed at trial. Day pointed out that his client has been out of custody for four years while fighting the charges and prosecutors never had a problem with that. He reiterated that he intends to seek sanctions against Las Cruces District Attorney Mark DAntonio, calling the pre-trial detention motion vindictive. SANTA FE A lawyer representing the family of a mentally ill man killed in a standoff with Santa Fe police has confirmed that the city of Santa Fe has reached a settlement in the familys wrongful death lawsuit. Attorney Shannon Kennedy said the city has agreed to a $400,000 settlement with Benavidezs sister Roseanne Lopez, who filed the suit against the city and Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center on behalf of Benavidezs estate. Kennedy said the suit will now shift its aim toward the hospital. We really wanted to resolve the case with Santa Fe before focusing on St. Vincents, Kennedy said. Benavidez, 24, was shot by SWAT members in July 2017 at the Tuscany at St. Francis apartments. Benavidez had broken into the apartment after being evicted from it the day before by the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office. He had thrown two makeshift devices, a propane tank that didnt explode and a bottle of ammonia, at officers, and had stabbed a case worker who was brought in to help remove him. Benavidez was shot from outside seconds after officers tore out an apartment window and shouted commands for him to show his hands. Several officers say Benavidez, still inside, charged toward them with a knife. Two offiers filed 17 shots through the window opening. Benavidez was taken to St. Vincent the day before he was killed by the Samta Fe County sheriffs deputies for mental health evaluation, but was later signed out by a case worker and released. Police reports indicate that Benavidezs mother told SFPD in September 2016 that her son had a severe case of schizophrenia and depression. She also said he was admitted himself to St. Vincent in 2011 for having suicidal thoughts. Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna convened a panel of other district attorneys to determine if the shooting was justified, but no decision on that issue has been made. Serna did not return a phone call seeking comment Monday. Firefighters from around New Mexico, including Albuquerque and Bernalillo, teamed up to help fight the deadly wildfires in California. Albuquerque Fire Rescue Lt. Brian Fox led the 24 member team from New Mexico, which was dispatched to the Woolsey Fire near Malibu. The fire has killed at least two people and destroyed nearly 1,500 structures. The Camp Fire, in northern California, has killed nearly 80 people so far. Its always in the back of your head, the loss of life, Fox said. The New Mexican firefighters were requested on Nov. 8. California firefighting resources are taxed from the two massive fires on opposite ends of the state. They are tired, Fox said of California firefighters. Some of those guys, their own homes have burned down and they are out there doing what they need to do for the public. In addition to five firefighters from Albuquerque, Angel Fire, Corrales, Los Alamos, Sandoval and Bernalillo counties also sent personnel to California. Fox said they slept in tents and woke up at 6 a.m. every day to get their objectives. The Woolsey Fire is almost 100,000 acres, or more than 150 square miles. It was 94 percent contained on Monday when the New Mexico crew returned home. He said the New Mexico firefighters helped Malibu residents by offering them use of the crews satellite phone so they could contact family members. You always try to put yourselves in their shoes, Fox said. Thats kind of what stands out to me the most. Something as simple as that. It was something simple that we did to comfort them and their families. Santa Fe is one step closer to naming a park after a convicted felon but one who is largely responsible for the parks creation and preservation. A resolution to rename Torreon Park after Mike T. Jaramillo was approved on a 3-2 vote by the Finance Committee on Monday. Jaramillo, who died in May, was the husband Debbie Jaramillo, the only female mayor in the citys history, and a 16-year employee of the city before he was fired in 1980 while serving as the citys zoning administrator. The 3.44-acre park, located at the corner of West Alameda and Huddleson streets about a mile west of downtown, would formally be called Mike T. Jaramillo Torreon Park, under the resolution. Journal reports from 1980 indicate that Mike Jaramillo was fired for conflict of interest following allegations of numerous outside real estate transactions and of failing to report them to city officials, as required by ordinance. The Journal also reported that the state Attorney Generals Office was conducting a separate investigation into irregularities in zoning changes made by the city of Santa Fe while he headed the zoning department. Other newspaper accounts say that Mike Jaramillo served more than four months in federal prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion in 1984. He had been accused of failing to report more than $125,000 in taxes from 1977 to 1980, most of it during the time he was working for the city. Among the criteria for naming a park after someone are that the individual must be deceased, must have made significant contributions to the community, and must have been of high integrity and good moral character. For the latter reason, Councilor Mike Harris said he would not support the resolution. Councilor Carol Romero-Wirth also voted against the proposal. Harris said he would propose that the park be simply named Jaramillo Torreon Park when it came up for final approval at the councils Dec. 12 meeting. They worked together as a team, he said of Mike and Debbie Jaramillo. They were successful in really advocating for the cause and the people that they spoke to. I thought that would be an acceptable compromise, if you will. But Councilor Signe Lindell, who introduced the resolution, wasnt willing to go along with that idea. She said Mike Jaramillo was a deserving namesake for the park. While he was sentenced to six months for tax evasion, He returned to his beloved city and worked tirelessly on civic concerns. Thats the example I want people to know, she said. I screwed up, I paid for it and now Im here to help. I really admire that kind of person. Renaming the park seems destined to pass, as seven of the eight city councilors and Mayor Alan Webber signed on as sponsors. Lindell, Chris Rivera and Roman Abeyta voted in favor of the proposal at Mondays meeting. According to the resolution, Jaramillo lived in the Torreon neighborhood for more than 40 years and served as president of the Torreon Neighborhood Association for 30 years. While in that capacity, Jaramillo learned about a proposed condominium development. Mike fought the proposal and was able to stop the development and keep the space open for a park to be used by the community and the neighborhood, the resolution states. Several other parks in Santa Fe are named for individuals, including murder victim Adam Gabriel Armijo, former mayor Frank S. Ortiz, Vietnam War veteran John F. Griego, and artist Tommy Macaione. Also on Monday, the city replaced a photo of Debbie Jaramillo at City Hall that had been missing for close to 20 years. Her portrait, that had appeared on a wall featuring the citys former mayors, went missing shortly after she left office after one four-year term in 1998. NEW YORK Its easy to get distracted by the circus of the Donald Trump presidency. But what is its larger effect? For an answer to that question, take a look at three gatherings this month on the other side of the planet. Attended by all the major Asian countries, the ASEAN and East Asia summits in Singapore and the APEC conference in Papua New Guinea are particularly important because countries in the region are trying to navigate the once-in-a-lifetime power shift taking place: the rise of China. For this, it is crucial they understand the role of the worlds current superpower, the United States. But the president of the United States is MIA. Trump chose to skip the summits and send Vice President Mike Pence in his place. Yet Chinas Xi Jinping, Russias Vladimir Putin and Indias Narendra Modi are all visiting either Singapore or Papua New Guinea, while Japans Shinzo Abe and South Koreas Moon Jae-in are traveling to both. Really, everyone except Trump was going. A persistent complaint from Asian countries has been that while the United States worries about the rise of China, as Pence did in his speech at the ASEAN summit, it is abandoning the field to Beijing. It does not take the time to attend meetings, shape the agenda, shore up its alliances and deepen its ties in the region. Trumps continued lack of interest will only feed this fear. We are seeing the Trump effect in the retreat on trade in Asia. The two mechanisms for greater prosperity and cooperation that were moving toward completion in the region had been the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Trump pulled America out of the TPP, undermining the pacts goal of giving Asian countries an alternative to a Chinese-dominated system. The RCEP, which includes China, is also meant to open up Asian economies and increase commerce and contact in the region. But after 24 rounds of negotiations, momentum appears to have slowed, perhaps even stalled. India is trying to protect its market from Chinese imports, other countries are trying to keep Indias service industries out, and everyone can take solace that this is all simply an echo of what the worlds superpower, the United States, is doing in its own trade negotiations. Ive written before, and continue to believe, that the Trump administration has a valid point about Chinas abuse of the trading system and is right to get tough with Beijing. But it is grossly mistaken in its instinctive opposition to trade, repeatedly voiced by the president. If we didnt trade, wed save a hell of a lot of money, Trump said in a speech in July, a statement that is simply false. According to calculations by Gary Hufbauer and Lucy Lu of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the expansion of trade since 1950 increased U.S. GDP to the tune of $2.1 trillion in 2016. That is equivalent to a gain of $7,014 per person or $18,131 per household. To watch Indias government now try to protect its markets and raise tariffs is a sad case of a country that appears to have forgotten its own history. India has decades of experience with high tariffs, which were designed to give its domestic industries a boost. The result was uncompetitive companies, shoddy products, widespread corruption and economic stagnation. Then, in the early 1990s, it slashed tariffs and red tape, ushering in three decades as the worlds second-fastest-growing large economy, lifting more than 150 million people out of extreme poverty. Does it really want to try to make Indian socialism great again? There are few ideas that have been as thoroughly tested through history as the notion that trade raises a countrys income and living standards. It can also have the effect of creating habits of cooperation, even peace, as it has done in Europe and as it might help do in Asia. American leaders understood that for decades, until now. In 1988, Ronald Reagan warned, We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world all while cynically waving the American flag. The expansion of the international economy is not a foreign invasion; it is an American triumph, one we worked hard to achieve, and something central to our vision of a peaceful and prosperous world of freedom. E-mail comments@fareedzakaria.com. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal A doctor has agreed to voluntarily surrender his license to the New Mexico Medical Board after being convicted of attempted kidnapping, stalking and unlawful tampering with a vehicle. In a stipulated agreement with the medical board, Richard Lee Austin acknowledged he was convicted of those crimes earlier this year in a California superior court. He also acknowledged that he failed to report to the medical board that he was arrested in Albuquerque in 2017 in connection to the crimes, according to the agreement. Under medical board rules, licensees must report an arrest within 30 days of the event. Austin has agreed to voluntarily surrender his license while the board completes its investigation into his conduct. Austins attorney, Jack Earley of Santa Ana, Calif., said he has not represented Austin in his dealings with the medical board and would not be able to comment on them. According to a complaint filed by the Orange County District Attorneys Office, Austin was accused of stalking and attempting to kidnap Newport Beach, Calif.-based attorney Limor Lehavi. The state also accused him of attempting to murder Lehavi, among other allegations. Lehavi declined to comment and referred questions to the district attorneys office. Austin allegedly began stalking Lehavi after she successfully defended an insurance company against him in litigation stemming from a 2008 vehicular incident in California. According to news reports, prosecutors said Austins behavior toward Lehavi escalated until her co-workers confronted him when they found him in their law firms parking garage. He subsequently drove off, nearly hitting the co-workers in the process, according to prosecutors. Austin was eventually arrested in Albuquerque, and prosecutors said police found zip ties, duct tape and a loaded gun in his car. The Journal was unable to confirm the circumstances surrounding the vehicle tampering conviction. Earley said Austin had worked as an anesthesiologist in both California and New Mexico, and owned a trailer located in the Albuquerque area. He described the period leading up to the confrontation with Lehavi as a difficult time for Austin, as he had undergone surgery for cancer. But Earley said Austin never intended to kill Lehavi. Our position has always been that (Austins) intention was to make the lawyer go to her boss and come clean with the problems she had created for (Austin), Earley said. While he was convicted of attempted kidnapping, stalking and unlawful tampering with a vehicle, Earley said two juries have been unable to come to an agreement on whether or not Austin should be convicted of attempted murder. The attorney has filed a motion to dismiss any further trials. The Journal could not determine late Monday whether Austin was currently in custody or whether he had received sentences for his convictions. The Daily Times FARMINGTON The San Juan County Sheriffs Office is urging gun owners to follow the four universal firearms safety rules after retrieving a bullet that was found lodged in a wall of a residence earlier this month. Cpl. Adam Rogers of the Sheriffs Office on Nov. 2 recovered a bullet found embedded in the drywall inside a living room of a La Plata residence, Rogers told The Daily Times. The Sheriffs Office posted an entry on the investigation to its Facebook page. The post stated the bullet entered the residence through a window on the front door. The bullets trajectory suggested it might have been fired a mile away or farther, Rogers said. The residence is a property owned by a bank and it was not occupied. With the downward trajectory and the fact it stopped in a layer of drywall, it tells me it was at the end of its trajectory and lost a lot of velocity as it was probably coming from very far away, Rogers said. Rogers had a hard time believing the person who fired the bullet did it on purpose, stating the person probably just missed the target and didnt have an effective backstop. The corporal, who is the firearms instructor for the Sheriffs Office and local police academy, stressed that all gun owners follow the four universal firearm safety rules. Treat every gun as if it were loaded. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the decision to shoot. Know your target, backstop and beyond. It doesnt matter what your ability level is, if you apply those four concepts, you will be safe, Rogers said. Even if you not a good shooter, you will be safe shooter. Bloomfield resident Craig Hunter shares a lot of the sentiments Rogers spoke about. Hunter has been operating a shooting program at the San Juan Wildlife Federation gun range to familiarize people diagnosed with disabilities with firearms. He spent six years volunteering for a similar program called Outdoor Buddies in Colorado. Theyve got to have places where theyve got a good backstop, Hunter said. A good place where the bullet cannot get out. Hunter warned people target shooting or hunting game to make sure they have a large enough berm or raised barrier to prevent the bullet from ricocheting. I know you want that buck, but if you miss, where is that bullet going? Rogers said. Rogers suggests if you are target shooting, you should seek an effective backstop like a hillside and make sure you are far away from a populated area. If you dont know what is going to stop your bullet, you should reconsider your shot, Rogers said. SANTA FE The owner of a Santa Fe construction company is offering a $2,500 reward after someone broke into his truck in a bank parking lot and took a cash box containing $38,000 on Friday afternoon. Thats just for information leading to an arrest, not a conviction, said Julian Moreno, who runs Always Construction Services. I just want to catch the culprits. He said he fears they will do the same to someone else. A big part of the missing cash was to cover payroll for his employees. It breaks my heart that this would happen, said Moreno. On Monday, he was working on getting a loan to cover pay for his workers. Moreno said the money was stolen after he went inside the Bank of America branch at 4037 Rodeo Rd. Hed previously been at a nearby Wells Fargo, where he went to cash two checks with that bank from clients and at one point asked a teller to count some of the money he had in the truck. He went out to the truck, but couldnt get the cash box open, so he just went back inside and got the money from his checks. Moreno planned to eventually end up at a credit union to put his money in a safety deposit box. But he first went to the Bank of America branch to cash a BOA check there. When he came out, a window on the truck was smashed and someone had taken the cash box. I just went, Please Lord, no, please, he said. Moreno said police detectives have described a surveillance video that shows a vehicle pulling into the parking lot, then speedily backing up before the driver pulls up next to Morenos truck and does the smash-and-grab. Moreno said that, at the Wells Fargo, someone may have seen him cashing checks or heard him asking for some cash to be counted, then followed him to the Bank of America. He said that as he exited the truck at the BOA, he had an inner feeling that he should deposit his cash without further ado. Moreno broke into tears Monday as he described how his mother had offered to get her own loan to cover his losses. I have the most generous mama in the whole world, he said. He rejected her offer. Moreno said he needs cash to pay many of his employees because they have no I.D. Thats just the way it is, he said. Thats just the way it is out there. No additional details were available from a Santa Fe police spokesman. Do you have info? Anyone with information on the $38,000 theft from Julian Morenos truck can call him at 505-577-8503. He is offering $2,500 for information leading to an arrest. PARIS Frances embattled President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday defended fuel tax hikes that have prompted nationwide protests, but called for dialogue to calm tensions. In his first comments about the protests since more than a quarter million French drivers blocked roads Saturday, Macron acknowledged that its normal that people are expressing frustration. He said hes trying to change habits by weaning the French off fossil fuels, which is never simple. He reiterated promises of subsidies for low-income households to buy cleaner cars or switch to cleaner home heating methods. He didnt comment on protest violence. One protester was killed in a road accident Saturday and hundreds were injured. Scattered protests continued Tuesday on roads across France by drivers who dub themselves the yellow jackets for the neon vests they don during roadside emergencies. Macron, whose popularity has been sinking, was speaking at a university debate in Belgium, where student protesters unfurled a banner and threw papers in the auditorium. One protester shouted about protecting migrants and police violence against demonstrations. PHOENIX More than 10 years after being sent to prison for committing bank robberies in four states, an 82-year-old man fled a California halfway house and returned to his old ways in Arizona, federal authorities said. The FBI said Monday that Charles Richard Manrow is facing charges on suspicion of robbing a suburban Phoenix bank at gunpoint. Manrow was armed with a BB gun on Nov. 15 when he demanded money from a bank teller in Goodyear, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona. He fled with $1,270, but he was arrested by police at a traffic stop. Manrow admitted in a police interview to being the robbery suspect seen on surveillance images. He has been wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service since September, when he fled a federal halfway house in Long Beach, California. Manrow was living there as part of his recent prison release. Manrow told authorities that he had devised a plan to get into marijuana smuggling in Arizona. He was able to travel thanks to a former drug associate, who gave him $25,000 to pay for his escape, authorities said. While a fugitive, he rode a bus to Georgia, where he bought a car from his daughter, authorities said. Manrow then purchased a map and a cellphone and drove to Oregon. While there, he stole an Oregon license plate and purchased the BB gun, authorities said. FBI officials say Manrow had little money upon arriving in Arizona and decided to rob a bank. He told investigators that had he not been caught, he would have kept robbing banks every two weeks until he could start drug smuggling. A federal public defender listed as his attorney did not immediately return messages left Tuesday. Manrow was sentenced in 2007 to more than 15 years, court documents show. He was convicted of 11 bank robberies in California, Colorado, Utah and Arizona between 2005 and 2007. Seven New Mexico elementary school teachers from four different communities across the state have been named recipients of the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2019. Announcing the Golden Apple Award recipients and Teachers of Distinction is the proudest day of the year for us, said Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico Executive Director Brian OConnell in a statement. These teachers are inspirational, and it is a profound honor to reward them for their hard work and commitment to educating New Mexicos children, he said. The award includes a stipend and $4,000 to be used by each recipient toward their professional development. They also become part of an ongoing professional community of outstanding teachers called the Golden Apple Academy of Fellows. The 22-year-old program honoring exceptional teachers gathers nominations from their communities and then conducts a rigorous application and site visit process, organizers said in a news release. The 2019 recipients are: Michael Anderson, Inez Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools Brittany Behenna Griffith, Nye Early Childhood Center in Santa Fe Public Schools Sharon Eanes, Double Eagle Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools Cynthia Gustamantes, McCoy Avenue Elementary in Aztec Municipal Schools Amy Lauer, Monte Vista Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools Roxanne Mitchell, Sandia Elementary School in Clovis Municipal Schools Stephanie Walstrom, Bandelier Elementary School in Albuquerque Public Schools They were selected from among 329 nominees in 77 different New Mexico communities. All nominated teachers must complete a lengthy application describing their teaching methodology, professional development experiences, volunteerism, and other aspects of their teaching philosophy, organizers said. The program also honors the nine teachers who were part of that group that did not receive Golden Apples as Golden Apple Teachers of Distinction. They are: DENVER More Colorado ski resorts are opening in time for the holiday weekend thanks to early snow and good snowmaking conditions. Steamboat Resort will open Wednesday with up to 60 acres of terrain, the most on opening day since 2014. The opening day festivities will include a snow dance by the Northern Ute Indian Tribe. The Steamboat Pilot & Today reports snowmaking crews were able to run snow guns more frequently this month. Crested Butte Mountain Resort will open for the season on Thursday. Sunlight Mountain Resort near Glenwood Springs will open for its 52nd season Friday but only for the weekend. The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports its the first time Sunlight will be open for Thanksgiving weekend since 2014. PLATTEVILLE, Colo. Two people were killed when a freight train struck a car at a rural crossing in northern Colorado. The Colorado State Patrol says the collision was reported around 6 a.m. Tuesday. No information about the victims has been released. The crossing when the collision happened as a stop sign but does not have crossing arms. Platteville police are investigating. Clovis teacher Silvia Miranda, who teaches fourth-graders and other students that writing is fundamental to improving in math and other subjects at Mesa Elementary, was surprised Tuesday morning during a school assembly with the national Milken Educator Award and its accompanying $25,000 cash prize. Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley and state Education Secretary-designate Christopher Ruszkowski made the presentation to a stunned Miranda, the only Milken Educator Award winner from New Mexico this year and one of 40 nationwide, according to a news release. As evidenced by her students academic growth, she is one of New Mexicos highest-performing teachers, Ruszkowski said, adding that she has demonstrated brilliance in her craft and is a testament to the transformative power of excellent teaching in our students lives. Organizers of the program said Miranda had an epiphany that improved writing could lead to other improvements as well, so she worked with other teachers and staff, adjusting their teaching methods on the fly. Mirandas students consistently outperform school, district and state averages on assessments in reading, writing and math. Superintendent of Clovis Municipal Schools Jody Balch said, Silvia would be the first to recognize her fantastic students and her peers for her ongoing teaching success. This award is fantastic for our district and the community of Clovis. An experienced bilingual educator, Miranda prepares students for the districts Spanish spelling bee and she organized the Mesa Science Fair for fourth- and fifth-graders. She also helped write Mesas National Blue Ribbon Award winning application. Miranda earned her bachelors degree in education from Eastern New Mexico University in 2004 and a masters from Wayland Baptist University in 2013. We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com. Police have identified the man who they say was shot and killed by a business owner while trespassing at a business on Jefferson near McLeod NE two weeks ago as 25-year-old Adrian Magana. The owner has not been charged in the fatal shooting. Simon Drobik, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department, said on Nov. 9 officers were called to Chavez Concrete Contractors on the 4800 block of Jefferson NE because a person was trespassing and was inside his business lot casing vehicles. He said the property owner confronted the man, later identified as Magana, and the two shot at each other. Magana was killed. David Serna, an attorney representing Chavez Concrete, said the owner was shot but the bullet hit his cell phone in his jacket pocket and he was not injured. He said his client has cooperated extensively with police, sat down for interviews and turned over additional evidence. He was not arrested. The case will be forwarded to the District Attorneys Office to determine whether charges should be filed. It is one of nine fatal shootings police have considered to be justified so far this year. Magana, of Santa Fe, is listed as homeless in court documents which show he has a history of breaking into vehicles and businesses, including the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Fe. According to court documents, in June 2017 he pleaded guilty to three separate burglary cases spanning from June 2016 to Feb 2017. Magana was sentenced to five years of probation but fell off the map in April 2018. He had a warrant out for his arrest for absconding and violating the conditions of his probation. "There are old demons which are coming back to the surface," French President Emmanuel Macron warned during a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, reminding us that the ethnic nationalism that sparked devastating global wars in the 20th century remains a threat of potentially monstrous proportions. Many saw this cautionary statement as a rebuke to US President Donald Trump, who has embraced openly nativist policies and recently declared himself a nationalist. But Macron's remarks spoke to a larger issue of our dangerous misunderstanding of the dynamics of far-right violence. When white supremacists and far-right militia groups commit acts of violence in the United States, the Justice Department calls them domestic terrorists. Academic studies in 2012 and in 2017, respectively, show these groups have attacked and killed as many or more Americans than any other terrorist movements in recent years. Yet the FBI considers them a secondary threat to "homegrown violent extremists," by which it generally means Muslim Americans "inspired" by foreign terrorist organizations like ISIS and al Qaeda. The truth is we don't know the full extent of the racist, xenophobic, anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and homophobic far-right violence in the US because the government's hate crime statistics are based upon voluntary information. In 2017, of the 16,149 police departments that participate in hate crime reporting, only 2,040 reported hate crimes. Even without that data, there are indications of the problem's scope. Justice Department victim surveys conducted between 2004-2015 estimated there were approximately 250,000 hate crimes in the US each year. And yet the Justice Department prosecuted only 27 hate-crimes defendants in 2016. The Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan law and policy institute, published a report last month documenting the multitude of criminal statutes the Justice Department has available to investigate and prosecute far-right terrorism, but too often chooses not to as a matter of policy and practice. Treating far-right violence as a purely domestic issue deprioritizes these crimes on the national security agenda. It also ignores the international reach of militant white supremacist groups, and obscures the greater threat posed when governments become enthralled with exclusionary nationalism, which mobilizes popular support by stigmatizing groups of "others" -- often identified by race, religion or ethnicity -- as national enemies. First, many of the ideologies, philosophies and theologies that underpin the white supremacist movement in the United States did not originate in this country. American white supremacists are influenced by British Israelism, a 19th century interpretation of Christianity that cast Anglo-Saxons as the true Israelites of the Bible; ancient Norse and Icelandic religions; and German National Socialism, which gave Nazis their name, among others. These ideologies justified the horrors of colonialism, slavery, exclusionary immigration policies, racial segregation and state-sanctioned discrimination. Likewise, discriminatory policies implemented in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Jim Crow laws and exclusionary immigration practices, influenced the development of European fascism. Many prominent Americans supported the Nazis' rise to power in Germany, and many more lobbied to keep us out of the European war under the banner of the America First Committee, using a vocabulary Trump would later adopt. In a different context, the United States likewise supported the racist apartheid government of South Africa until Congress imposed sanctions in 1986. American far-right militants continue to communicate and network with like-minded groups abroad, just as they always have. The neo-Nazi skinhead movement began in Britain in the 1970s and spread around the world, remaining one of the more violent of the white supremacist subcultures -- including in the United States. More recently, after members of a California white nationalist fight club called the Rise Above Movement attacked protesters at far-right rallies in Huntington Beach, Berkeley, and Charlottesville in 2017, they left the US for a tour of Europe to celebrate Hitler's birthday and meet with fascist groups in Germany, Italy and Ukraine. Other Americans have traveled to fight in the Ukrainian civil war with the neo-Nazi-affiliated Azov Battalion. And the feedback loop goes both ways. White supremacist groups abroad have been influenced by American white supremacists. A Nebraska man was the leading supplier of Nazi propaganda into Germany for decades starting in the 1970s. The British man who killed a member of Parliament, Jo Cox, in 2016 was a "longtime supporter" of the National Alliance, an American neo-Nazi group, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. And, most recently, a CNN investigation exposed links between US and South African hate groups. We can expect these cross-border associations and the persistent levels of violence coming from these groups to continue, as they have for decades. What Macron warned about, however, is the exponentially deadlier outcomes that are produced when government leaders sanction this hatred and violence and leverage it to gain power. In Europe, nativist and neo-fascist parties have won electoral victories exploiting anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments. Police and intelligence officials have been accused of inattention to, if not sympathy with, violent groups engaging in racist or nativist political violence in the streets. We have begun to see this phenomenon in the US as well, with a series of far-right protests across the country resulting in little law enforcement intervention and few arrests, while President Trump declared there were "very fine people on both sides" of the deadly Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally. White supremacists and their sympathizers are no longer in the shadows; they are running for political office. These trends are troubling, and Macron's bold speech should be a wakeup call for the Justice Department and intelligence agencies to start taking far-right violence more seriously -- in order to avoid another century of brutal conflict. Fomenting fear of enemy invasions and subversion and scapegoating the weakest among us won't make us a stronger nation, but a weaker one. Our leaders need to take heed to Macron's admonition that "nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism" -- rather than an expression of it. BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - The Camp Fire not only created a local and a state-wide crisis response, but federal assistance as well when President Trump visited Butte County. The President arrived in Butte County on Saturday, Nov. 17, his motorcade passing through areas of Butte County, including Chico. There were mixed emotions about President Trump's visit to Chico and Paradise. Action News Now anchor Lauren Martinez spoke with some locals in the area that were excited to be close to the President. "I mean with everything going on in our community and with everything going on our town, and our part of the world, to have the President come here and see what's going on and showing that he cares, showing that he's here for the people," said Odeh Hijazeen, a local attorney in Chico. "Being able to see him in person, or at least the motorcade, it's not an everyday event. It's just something really really special. I recently went to the white house and toured D.C., it's just something that doesn't happen everyday." However, others in the area didn't share the same response, following a tweet from the President the week before threatening to withhold federal funding for forest management in California. "It breaks my heart to see so many of our resources to move this process forward are being dedicated to the visit of a politician who chastised us in the first place," said David Coffee, a resident in the Centerville area. "There are thousands of people living in my position, living in anxiety. We don't know if our homes are standing and those resources are dedicated to him coming here and kicking some ashes for a photo-op. That hurts." The President's visit to areas affected by the Camp Fire on Saturday reinforced the notion that federal help is on the way. BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - In wake of the Camp Fire, the Chico City Council approved a temporary 10 percent cap on rate increases for rental properties. For a new property, it can go for 160 percent of the HUD established market value. Representatives from the North Valley Property Owners Association say they're concerned that any sort of rent company will degrade property values and the local economy long-term. The ordinance also applied toward short-term rentals and hotels. "This city council asked me, 'What can we do to find something to help these evacuees to ensure that they are adequately supported?" said Chico City Manager Mark. "This was one that was just right off the bat." The ordinance takes effect immediately and is good for six months, at which point the council can then choose to renew every 30 days. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) is exploring the idea of using virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home through smart speakers like Echo to deliver live updates and news during 2019 general election. The department is currently running a pilot project, wherein it will be using Amazons Alexa to deliver live updates through Echo speakers during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which is being held in Goa, between November, 20-28. A senior ministry official, said We will be using Alexa to deliver updates about press conferences, special announcements, among others twice in the day, once in the morning, followed by an afternoon bulletin. The idea is to add more services such as delivering cabinet decisions, latest updates from other important ministries as we go forward, on condition of being anonymous. At present the ministry plans to install a total of six speakers including Echo and Google Home including expansion of the service in other regional languages. Moreover, the ministry plans to expand the services into other virtual assistants such as Siri by Apple, among others. In September this year, All India Radios (AIR) Vividh Bharati and 14 other regional language services were launched on Amazon Alexa. According to industry analysts, in run-up-to-the general election 2019, digital is expected to play a greater role both in terms of dissemination of news and usage of the medium to drive viewpoints of people. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well the Congress is believed to have already begun to put in a strong digital team for the upcoming 2019 general election. With an endeavor of providing sustainable and affordable sanitation solutions to eradicate open defecation practices in the world, World Toilet Organization (WTO), a global non-profit body, along with RB as Swachh Bharat partner and LIXIL as the main summit organizer hosted the World Toilet Summit in Mumbai, India. In its 18 years legacy of continuously working towards reducing the gap between the government, corporate organizations, and civil society, the World Toilet Summit, this year has come to India for the third time, with the theme Can the world be ODF by 2030. With the success of government led Swachh Bharat Mission, India serves as a learning ground for the international WaSH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) community and has hosted the World Toilet Summit twice previously in 2007 and 2015. This year, supported by Government of Maharashtra, the summit was inaugurated by Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Honble Chief Minister of Maharashtra. In his inaugural address, Shri Fadnavis said, It gives me immense pleasure to share that now Maharashtra has become 100% open defecation free (ODF), 55% of which has been covered since 2014. After becoming ODF, we have given plans of sustainability to every Village Panchayat, encouraging them by presenting awards every year, even kids engaged themselves in awareness drive. We also did a lot of work on clean water & all this lead to creation of jobs, economic development. Now, rural area is witnessing major transformation with this and many other initiatives. I am happy to see the efforts by World Toilet Organization and their partners in taking necessary steps to achieve ODF status. I am sure with the given pace; we will make ODF India by 2019, as planned by Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He added. According to World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that about 2.3 billion people in the world do not have access to clean, safe and reliable toilets. This number is 732 million in India. They defecate in open, which often leads to exposure of life-threatening diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, intestinal worms etc. In addition, inadequate sanitation is estimated to cause 280, 000 deaths worldwide, annually. Open defecation also leads to rapes, humiliation and school drop-outs, especially for females. Keeping this in mind, the Summit provided sustainable solutions, in terms of comprehensive behavioural change strategy that focuses on changing the mindset of people and eradicating the current open-defecation habit. RB, under its flagship initiative Dettol Harpic Banega Swachh India has been supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modis Swachh Bharat Mission and strives to make a contribution in making India open defecation free by 2nd October 2018. RB in association with the World Toilet Organization and Jagran Pehel, has laid the foundation of Indias first World Toilet College for sanitation workers in Aurangabad, Maharashtra in August this year. Through an effective curriculum, the World Toilet College aims to help sanitation workers in their skill development by improving their socio-economic standard and provide them with better employment opportunities. Since its launch, the college has trained ~100 sanitation workers across independent workers and workers employed with the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation provided sustainable employment opportunities to 100% of the candidates. As part of continued efforts by RB to improve sanitation and hygiene, the company has built 17,000 toilets out of the 25,000 toilets it aims to create through people participation. It also partnered with Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) to launch the Toilet Karenge Search, Toilets Rakhenge Swachh campaign that focuses on encouraging citizens to use Google Maps to locate public toilets, and share their ratings and reviews after using them. Commenting on RBs work for an ODF India, Rob de Groot, President, Hygiene Home, RB, said, RB has a long-standing collaboration and partnership with the World Toilet Organization with the aim of making the world Open Defecation Free by 2030. Together we have launched the World Toilet College, an institution dedicated to building skills and capabilities, providing dignity to sanitation workers. The World Toilet Summit brings together experts across sanitation and hygiene disciplines to expediate the change needed to help deliver a cleaner world. We hope through this platform; more organisations and individuals join us in making a positive impact. Sharing his thoughts at the event, Akshay Kumar, Swachhta Ambassador, Harpic said, I am pleased to see more and more people joining the movement that our honorable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, started four years ago. We have seen a major transformation-taking place in India owing to the Swachh Bharat Mission. I am proud to associate with Harpic in spreading the message of sanitation across the country. But we still have a long road ahead of us and I urge everyone to contribute at their individual level to sensitize people about the consequences of open defecation and the importance of clean toilets. Some of the prominent speakers like Mr. Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Swachh Bharat Mission, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Manisha Mhaiskar, Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, India, Rob de Groot, President - Hygiene Home, RB, Jin Song Montesano, Chief Public Affairs, LIXIL Group, Jack Sim, Founder WTO were a part of the summit and addressed the key sanitation problems the world has been facing. By Kevin Barry, President First Freedoms, Inc. November 19, 2018 Part 2 of a 6 part series Support this series via PayPal: Introduction The Spanish Flu killed an estimated 50-100 million people during a pandemic 1918-19. What if the story we have been told about this pandemic isnt true? What if, instead, the killer infection was neither the flu nor Spanish in origin? Newly analyzed documents reveal that the Spanish Flu may have been a military vaccine experiment gone awry. In looking back on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, we need to delve deeper to solve this mystery. Summary from Part 1 (1): More soldiers died from disease than bullets during WWI. The Spanish Flu was neither Spanish, nor Flu. According to a 2008 study by the U.S. National Institute of Health, the predominant killer in 1918-19 was bacterial pneumonia, and the first cases were not in Spain. Initial outbreaks can be traced to U.S. military bases. A bacterial vaccine experiment on soldiers at Fort Riley, Kansas is one of the military epicenters of the epidemic. The serums. Anti-toxins and vaccines used on soldiers were made in horses at the Rockefeller Institute in New York (and in NJ). The same horses were used in the preparation of diphtheria, tetanus antitoxin and antimeningococcus serum. Same horses, multiple pathogens. When WW1 ended on November 11, 1918, soldiers returned to their home countries and colonial outposts, spreading the killer bacterial pneumonia worldwide. During WW1, the Rockefeller Institute also sent similar batches of the antimeningococcic serum used at Fort Riley to England, France, Belgium, Italy and other countries. Vaccine experiments like the WWI experiments on soldiers in WW1 are not a thing of the past. Watch as Dr. Stanley Plotkin,(2) the Godfather of the US vaccine program, describes his vaccine experiments on the mentally handicapped, orphans, children of mothers in prison. Dr. Plotkin expresses a preference for experimenting on children and adults who are human in form but not in social potential. The deposition was taken in January 2018. In Part 1, I asked if medical products made in horses may have played a role in the new disease which killed millions worldwide in the pandemic of 1918-19. 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. A court complaint has been filed against the City of North Augusta alleging the city violated the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) during a May 2018 City Council meeting. Filed in the Court of Common Pleas by plaintiff Perry Holcomb on Nov. 16, the complaint against the city, and the mayor and City Council, says the city violated FOIA by amending a resolution that set the citys list of projects for Capital Projects Sales Tax (CPST) IV. During the meeting on May 7, Council unanimously passed an amendment, on motion by Mayor Bob Pettit, to add New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam to the list. Providing funding to the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam was not initially on the list included in the agenda, which is posted on the citys website. In Amending the Agenda item, the city and City Council failed to make a finding by the body that an emergency or an exigent circumstance existed if the item was not added to the agenda, the complaint states. The South Carolina Code of Laws states that once an agenda for a public meeting is posted, "no items may be added to the agenda without an additional 24 hours before the meeting." "However, if the item is one upon which final action can be taken at the meeting or if the item is one in which there has not been and will not be an opportunity for public comment with prior public notice given in accordance with this section, it only may be added to the agenda by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting and upon a finding by the body that an emergency or an exigent circumstance exists if the item is not added to the agenda," the Code says in Section 30-4-80. +2 North Augusta City Council votes on CPST 4, announces hire of new Planner North Augusta City Council met Monday night to vote on a Capital Projects Sales Tax 4 resolution, ticket admissions tax and a water tank lease The resolution listing the projects for CPST IV passed unanimously, and CPST IV passed countywide during the election on Nov. 6. The total amount set to be collected by North Augusta during CPST IV is $30.7 million, with $500,000 allocated to the Lock and Dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced their chosen alternative for the Lock and Dam Wednesday, Nov. 14. The complaint filed Friday by Holcomb and attorney Dione Carroll says by failing to give notice to the public, the city and Council allowed the addition of a project to the agenda to evade public comment and adequate consideration. Upon review of the May 7 meeting, plaintiff Holcomb did speak in front of Council twice during the meeting, once after the amendment passed and once after all business on the agenda had been completed. +2 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers presents their recommended plan for future of Lock and Dam At a meeting with both South Carolina and Georgia residents Wednesday afternoon, the Savannah District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ann In a statement to the Aiken Standard, Holcomb said: The general public needs to be aware of how they are governed at any level. As my maternal grandfather, with whom I spent a lot of time as a child, told me many times, Son, if you don't stand up for your rights, then who will? Such actions as my complaint addresses are why laws are passed to protect the citizens from political mischief. The SC Freedom of Information Act, on which my complaint is based, is just one of those. In the complaint, the plaintiff asks the court declare the city violated FOIA, the court invalidate the vote taken on the resolution, the court enjoin the city, its Mayor and its City Council from further FOIA violations, and the court order the defendants pay Holcomb his attorney fees and other legal costs. A September letter from North Augusta's City Attorney Kelly Zier to Carroll calls the allegation "baseless" and says the city did not violate FOIA during the meeting. "Dr. Holcomb's allegation, as supported by your letter, apparently is asserting the position that Council does not have the right to amend a resolution that is properly on the agenda for consideration at the public meeting. That most certainly is not a valid claim," says the letter, which is included as an exhibit in the complaint. Zier echoed that statement Monday night, saying he believed there was "no merit to the action." The Donald Trump administration today announced sanctions on individuals and businesses it accuses of participating in an illicit Iranian-Russian scheme to smuggle oil to Syria. The scheme allegedly provides millions of barrels of oil to Syrias Bashar al-Assad government in defiance of US sanctions. Today we are acting against a complex scheme Iran and Russia have used to bolster the Assad regime and generate funds for Iranian malign activity, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement announcing the sanctions on nine individuals and companies. The statement goes on to issue an explicit warning to shipping companies around the world. We are issuing an advisory today identifying the grave risks to the maritime community if they participate in shipping oil to the government of Syria, Mnuchin said. Why it matters: The crackdown on the oil smuggling network comes after the United States reimposed sweeping oil sanctions on Iran earlier this month following President Trumps withdrawal from the nuclear deal. The Trump administration has repeatedly vowed to aggressively pursue sanctions evaders. The United States hopes to discourage international investment in Iran as part of its maximum pressure strategy. The scheme: According to the Treasury Department, Irans central bank pays for Syrias illicit Russian oil imports by concealing payments from the Tadbir Kish Medical and Pharmaceutical Company. Syrian national Mohammad Amer Alchwiki then remits the payments to Moscow via his Russia-based Global Vision Group. Russian oil tankers have allegedly turned off their tracking devices since 2014 to obfuscate their clandestine shipments to Syria. A Treasury Department press release also calls Alchwiki a critical conduit for the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars for Hezbollah and Hamas. This network is a quintessential example of why we so often warn about the risks of doing business with Iran, a senior administration official said on a White House press call. Humanitarian exemptions: Mnuchin also condemned Irans use of Tadbir Kish, an ostensible pharmaceutical company, to facilitate the illicit oil transactions. While US sanctions allow for humanitarian exemptions, the sweeping sanctions on multiple Iranian banks choke off medicinal imports by rendering them unable to facilitate the necessary transactions. Earlier this month, the United States sanctioned Irans Parsian Bank, a key conduit for humanitarian transactions. But the Trump administration lays the blame squarely on Tehran. This is now incumbent upon the Iranian regime to stop engaging in these kinds of deceptive practices that make it difficult for companies and financial institutions to know and understand who it is in Iran that theyre doing business with, the senior administration official told Al-Monitor on the White House call. Whats next? With the Trump administration eager to maximize economic pressure on Iran, more sanctions on Iranian individuals and companies are likely in the pipeline. Know more: In addition to the US sanctions on Irans oil industry, the Treasury Department has announced multiple targeted sanctions on Iran and its proxies including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Basij militia, IRGC-supported members of the Afghan Taliban as well as Hezbollah and Hamas officials. Plus, Al-Monitors Barbara Slavin explains how US sanctions have exacerbated Irans medicine shortage. - Bryant Harris President Donald Trump is daring Congress to a face-off over Saudi Arabias murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a full-throated defense of the kingdom today, Trump challenged the bipartisan chorus of lawmakers zeroing in on punitive action against Riyadh, all but announcing that he would veto or otherwise seek to undercut their efforts to hold Saudi Arabia to account. I understand there are members of Congress, who for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction and they are free to do so, Trump said in a statement highlighting the need to ally with Saudi Arabia in his hard-line Iran strategy. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America. Why it matters: Despite Trumps defiant statement, both Democrats and Republicans, including notable Iran hawks, have called for punitive action against Saudi Arabia and have introduced legislation to do just that. In this failure of leadership from President Trump, it now falls to Congress to stand up for Americas true values and lasting interests, Washington Post CEO Fred Ryan said in a statement. On cue, Democratic lawmakers issued a flurry of condemnations. Congress will need to act where President Trump is refusing, said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., a top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We will send the right signal to the world that despite our current president, America will continue to be a beacon of justice and defender of human rights. The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff, D-Calif., called for an end to US support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, the suspension of arms sales and a diminishment of our reliance on Riyadh regarding other matters in the region. And Khashoggis home-state senator, Tim Kaine, D-Va., called on Congress to take similar steps, accusing Trump of siding with a murderous regime over patriotic American intelligence officials. Whats next? One of Trumps staunchest defenders, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has partnered with the top Democrats on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., to introduce the bipartisan Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act. Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., are also co-sponsoring the bill. Following Trumps statement, Shaheen called for Congress to pass the bill, stating that President Trumps habit of siding with murderous foreign dictators over American intelligence professionals is a stain on our democracy that undermines the American ideal. And Graham reiterated his call for the United States to stop supporting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, even as Trump equivocates over the young leaders implication in the murder plot despite assertions to that effect from US intelligence agencies. I firmly believe there will be strong bipartisan support for serious sanctions against Saudi Arabia, including appropriate members of the royal family, for this barbaric act which defied all civilized norms, Graham said. While Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally, the behavior of the crown prince in multiple ways has shown disrespect for the relationship and made him, in my view, beyond toxic. Know more: Congressional correspondent Bryant Harris has the low-down on what the Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act entails. And be sure to read Pentagon correspondent Jack Detschs report on how Trump oversells Saudi Arabias contributions to US defense sector jobs and revenues. - Bryant Harris US military ties with Saudi Arabia, under harsh scrutiny after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, arent all theyre trumped up to be. Thats according to a new report from the Center for International Policy (CIP), an anti-war Washington think tank. Why it matters: US President Donald Trump has said hes not willing to let Khashoggis death get in the way of a touted $110 billion arms deal with Riyadh inked during a trip to Saudi Arabia in May 2017. But the CIP report concludes that the United States has only implemented $14.5 billion worth of arms deals with Saudi Arabia since Trump took office. And the relationship faces even more headwinds as Congress debates bipartisan legislation to suspend bomb sales to Saudi Arabia over mounting civilian casualties in the Yemen war. Its the economy, stupid: Trumps main argument for keeping US arms deals to Saudi Arabia intact is to protect up to one million American jobs a number the president appeared to inflate over the course of the Khashoggi probe. But CIP estimates that Riyadhs arms purchases have only supported 20,000 to 40,000 US jobs over the past decade, a small fraction of what the White House has claimed. Reuters reported in October that US defense contractor Lockheed Martin saw less than 1,000 American jobs created from Trumps 2017 deal and up to 10,000 jobs in Saudi Arabia. Recommendations: The report calls on the United States to use its arms relationship with Saudi Arabia to create leverage to curtail civilian casualties in Yemen and engage in a full-throated probe of Khashoggis killing. Many of the jobs sustained by Saudi arms sales would not be at risk if specific deals were to be cancelled. Defense firms with huge backlogs from contracts with the Pentagon would simply shift many of the workers involved to other projects, the report says, citing the production of Paveway laser-guided bombs in Arizona and M-1 tanks in Ohio. Whats next: Look for Congress to further restrict arms sales as pressure builds on both sides of the aisle to end US involvement in the Yemen war. Know more: Check out Jack Detschs latest on how Saudi Arabia is looking past US companies when it comes to arms sales. -Jack Detsch "Imprisoned workers must be released!" shouted hundreds of workers at Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company, as their strike entered the 16th day. The workers are demanding that the company pay them their salaries, which they say have remained unpaid for months now. The strikers have shuttled from venue to venue, hoping to have their voices heard. They have protested at the factory's main site outside the town of Shush, as well as the governor's office, and, even more boldly, at the town's Friday prayers, where they shouted, "We turn our faces to the homeland and our backs to the enemy!" Despite their peaceful nature, the protests have reportedly seen some 20 people taken away in police cars. Khuzestan provincial officials have confirmed that at least four striking workers and a female journalist covering the protests have been arrested. A lawyer representing the arrested protest leaders said he was kept in the dark regarding the whereabouts of his clients, adding that they face security charges. After decades of ups and downs, the government-owned enterprise in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province was privatized in 2015. Ever since, the workers say, the company has been in the red. Now confirmed to be a fugitive, the owner is said to have been granted $800 million in government development loans, which he has failed to pay off. Speculations have been rife about the owner's identity. Earlier this week, some media reported the owner was a nephew of Iran's First Vice President Ishaq Jahangiri. The Reformist politician, however, was quick to deny any association, describing the "allegation" in a public statement as baseless and part of "psychological media warfare." While they have received little support from the government, the workers have been largely applauded by students across the country. And on social media, calls are growing for laborers who suffer similar conditions to come out in solidarity. As the debate grew heated on social media, the key Iranian newspapers gave little room to the story on their front pages. Iran newspaper, voicing the official stance of President Hassan Rouhani's government, reported that the workers' family members have now joined the protests. "Its about empty stomachs," the wife of a worker was quoted by the paper, as it reported a massive police presence in the vicinity of the Shush governor's office. With few details on the protests, Javan, a hard-line paper close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, blamed the workers' plight on the "immature privatization" of the company. The government has not viewed the workers' demands as a matter of urgency. A lawmaker representing the Shush constituency said promises had been offered to facilitate the due wages in the "near future." The governor of Khuzestan province also reported his talks with the country's finance minister for a "proper" settlement of the matter a tweet that was met with a barrage of angry comments. "Stop playing with words. It would have been 'proper' if the workers had not been beaten up and arrested," one user tweeted back, advising the governor to apologize. "Paying due salaries does not need special meetings and plans at a Cabinet level. The workers and their families are starving," another replied. Already the target of an all-out US economic war, Iran's crumbling industry is suffering its worst times. With many Iranian factory workers struggling to live on the breadline, the protests at Haft Tappeh could spill over to other factories across the nation, creating just another headache for a government fighting battles on multiple fronts. Oct. 26 was marked by a rare development in the Middle East: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Oman, the first official trip by an Israeli leader to the Persian Gulf nation since 1996, where he was welcomed by Sultan Qaboos bin Said. News of Netanyahus trip made waves in Iranian media. Regardless of Irans turbulent relations with other Arab states, Oman has for years maintained warm and friendly ties with the Islamic Republic. As part of this posture, Muscat has remained neutral toward the political rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Thus, at a time when Israel and Saudi Arabia are more than ever before moving closer to each other, Omans welcoming of Netanyahu could have many different implications for Iran. Despite the reactions in local media, Iranian officials have reacted cautiously to the visit. On Oct. 27, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said, "Muslim states should not allow Tel Aviv to create further trouble for the region under pressures from the United States. Irans foreign minister adopted a softer tone. In an interview Nov. 13 with the London-based news network Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Mohammad Javad Zarif said, Israel wants to create a rift between Iran and Arab countries. Arab governments should be aware of this. But we will not meddle in Omans foreign policy, just as Russia and Turkey also have relations with Israel [without meddling from Iran]. But the analysis coming out of Tehran was very different. While most politicians believed that Netanyahus visit to Muscat was aimed at influencing the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, others said Iran was also on the agenda. Former Iranian Ambassador to Jordan Nosratollah Tajik told Al-Monitor, This trip has different dimensions for different players. On the one hand, unlike the era of [former US President] Barack Obama, the White House has not been paying attention to Oman since Donald Trump took office and Muscat does not mind being more in focus. Tajik noted that Netanyahus aim with his visit was diverse. The official recognition of Israel by an Arab capital is surely a victory for Netanyahu. This is not to mention that he is aware that Oman is one of the few Arab countries that has close relations with Iran and will surely try to influence this [dimension to Omani foreign policy], he said. But even assuming that this is indeed Israels aim, how would it seek to influence matters related to Iran? In this vein, most Iranian experts think Netanyahus trip was aimed at pressuring Iran while discouraging one of Tehrans Arab allies from maintaining normal ties. Qasem Mohebali, former director-general of political affairs for the Middle East at Iran's Foreign Ministry, thinks otherwise. Appearing to dismiss the extent to which the Saudi-Israeli warming of ties is genuine, he told Al-Monitor, It is possible that Israel has sent a positive message to Iran through Oman, because the Israelis in their foreign policy act in accordance with a policy of the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as other Arab countries are Israels enemies, and Tel Aviv in accordance with this situation is trying to get close to at least one of them. According to Mohebali, such a supposed Israeli policy is nothing new. During the [1980-88] war between Iran and Iraq and the McFarlane situation a similar story was seen. With any advance Iraq made, Israel moved closer to Iran. And when Iran succeeded [on the battlefield], it helped Iraq avoid defeat. A high-ranking official at Irans Foreign Ministry who spoke on condition of anonymity refrained from confirming or denying this line of analysis, telling Al-Monitor, We were not surprised by what happened in Muscat. It is natural for any country to decide what players it should have relations with based on its national interests. This is not to mention that in the past decades, Oman has shown its commitment to maintaining close ties with Tehran and will not move toward destroying this. The rarity of Netanyahus trip to Muscat along with Omans historic role in issues to do with Iran have prompted many analysts to look for a link between the visit and Iran. At the same time, some Iranians believe the visit should be viewed within the framework of domestic Israeli politics, especially since Netanyahu visited Oman shortly after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas embarked on a similar trip. Whatever the aim of the visit, it is likely that Iran was at the very least mentioned in the conversation between Netanyahu and Sultan Qaboos. In such a situation, how is Tehran likely to react toward an old friend? The senior source at Irans Foreign Ministry said, We have experienced similar situations before and among non-Arab neighboring countries. For example, Azerbaijan has close ties with Israel although from our point of view, no key or new development emerged [from the dialogue] between Israel and Oman, not to mention that for us, [the visit] was not unpredictable. Therefore, we have no intention of changing our relations with Oman. But where does this pragmatic Iranian approach and especially in the Foreign Ministry stem from, and how can Iran reduce the Israeli pressures on it? Iranian journalist Kamran Karami told Al-Monitor, The reality is that we are witnessing a key development in relations between Israel and neighboring Arab countries. It seems that full relations have been established between Israel and Arab countries, and the only thing left is the official announcement of these ties and the opening of embassies. Karami, who is an Arab affairs expert, added, What Iran can do in the current situation is to refrain from hasty measures regarding Arab countries, and especially Oman. We must accept the developments in the Middle East while at the same time very intelligently remind Arab countries about their failed experiences and negotiations with Israel. Iranian officials may not have been happy with Netanyahu visiting the capital of a friendly country in the Persian Gulf. However, they have tried to address the matter in a pragmatic way in order to prevent tensions with Oman, with which they have enjoyed close ties for decades. As such, will the Israeli-Omani engagement be limited to the Israeli-Palestinian issue? Or will there be a change in Omans policy toward Iran? Only time will tell. Iranian media was stunned late last month by what was nothing less than an earthquake in the holy city of Qom, home to the leading Shiite seminary in the country. On Oct. 27, hard-line Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, the secretary of the influential Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom, published an open letter addressed to Grand Ayatollah Musa Shobeiri Zanjani. Adopting a harsh tone, Yazdi lashed out at Shobeiri for meeting with a number of figures "who do not respect the Islamic Republics establishment and the Supreme Leader." He then proceeded to "remind" Shobeiri, who holds the highest clerical rank, that the admiration he enjoys is dependent on his respect for the political system. The perhaps most controversial part of the letter was how Yazdi an ayatollah was instructing a grand ayatollah not to repeat such actions. The open letter came in the wake of Shobeiris meeting with Reformist leader Mohammad Khatami, a former president (1997-2005) who has for years been banned from Iranian media by the authorities. The reason for the ban is that the hard-liners believe that Khatami is no longer loyal to the political system, a conviction that has been repudiated by Reformists and moderates alike. Who is Grand Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani? Born in Qom in 1928, Shobeiri followed his fathers path in becoming a cleric. Although widely respected, he avoided publishing his "risalah" until a few years ago. (A risalah is a book containing jurisprudential rulings and fatwas of a particular mujtahid about various issues.) Shobeiri enjoys a good relationship with a broad spectrum of clerics in Qom and is generally viewed as symbolizing clerical independence. The grand ayatollah has never entered politics, unlike peers such as Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, who often enters debates on such matters. Moreover, Shobeiri has never declared support for any electoral candidate nor accepted any governmental jobs and positions, rather focusing on his study of Islam. His avoidance of politics has led him to meet with figures including clerics who are in disagreement with the political establishment and especially the hard-line camp. Indeed, long-running irritants for the hard-liners include Shobeiris friendships with late Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri as well as Reformist Grand Ayatollah Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili. Shobeiri notably opposed the Islamic Republics decision to put Montazeri, an opposition leader, under house arrest for over a decade until his death in 2011. In this vein, Shobeiri has also mediated the release of a number of political activists. What should not be ignored here is that Shobeiri has in parallel maintained an amicable relationship with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose sons have attended his classes. The grand ayatollah has always avoided the media and political discussions. Indeed, even in the face of Yazdi's letter, he has preferred to remain silent and asked his office not to declare any position. As such, he in reality represents a spectrum of Shiite jurists who will only involve themselves in scholarly activities. Reflecting this sentiment which is anathema to the hard-liners Shobeiri stated in a rare speech Jan. 29, "A number of gentlemen think that if they overly enter political discussions, they can better protect the clergy's position, [but] we believe that this can weaken religion." The source of Yazdi's letter Yazdi's open letter was penned two months after a contentious summit in Qom in which a hard-line theoretician accused the seminary in the holy city of being secular and not backing the political establishment when needed. On Aug. 16, hard-liner Hassan Rahimpour Azghadi stated at a rally that the Qom seminary only "focuses on secular Islamic jurisprudence instead of theorizing religious civilization. Yazdis controversial letter has once again brought the issue of the seminary's independence to the fore. Of note, being among the most prominent hard-line figures in Qom, he has repeatedly called for a "revolutionary seminary," and has slammed senior instructors in the holy city for avoiding politics. In a speech in December 2017, Yazdi criticized teachers and professors at Qom seminaries for not paying attention to politics. "How many times have they talked about the political system in their classes so that the students may reach a decision to support the political system or not?" he said in a direct hit at senior independent instructors. The harsh rhetoric and warnings by the likes of Yazdi stem from their anxiety that the Qom seminary may steer toward secularism. This belief is rooted in the view that the seminary does not sufficiently generate support for the issues the political establishment is grappling with. Yet at the same time, the hard-liners attempts to convince the seminary to stand behind the political system has backfired, prompting a number of clerics to emigrate to the seminary in the holy city of Najaf in neighboring Iraq. The importance of the harsh reactions of the Qom seminary against the open letter is that it demonstrates the deep opposition to the political current that Yazdi represents. Right after the publishing of the letter, many of the senior clerics and grand ayatollahs in Qom including Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli visited Shobeiri in an apparent message to the hard-liners. Yazdis maneuver has thus been a strategic mistake as the silent part of the seminary, which is opposed to the hard-liners and steers clear of politics, was awakened, as it saw the position of the Shiite clerical leadership and its independence being endangered, leading even to the influential Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom to retreat and be divided. Indeed, the latter emphasized that the letter was not issued by the society but rather was only the position of Yazdi himself. Moreover, a leading member of the society wrote an open letter to Yazdi to declare his resignation from the group. Meanwhile, in an unprecedented letter, 84 prominent seminary teachers issued a statement Oct. 29 to condemn Yazdi's remarks, writing, "No political establishment will [survive] by [resorting] to insults against [esteemed] figures of society and threatening them." Furthermore, Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, issued a statement Oct. 29 to express his regret over the "insult" against Shobeiri, further infuriating the hard-liners who claimed that he is siding with the enemies of his grandfather's approach. The younger Khomeini had dared to argue, "The protection of [the Islamic Republic] is not only dependent on the Shiite clergy being absorbed by the establishment, but also [tied to] the independence of the seminary and the maraji [top clerics]." Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, leaders of HaBayit HaYehudi, have logged many hours with Benjamin Netanyahu over the years. They spent almost two years (2006-2008) with him as close advisers Bennett as his chief of staff and Shaked as the director of his office when he served as chair of the opposition and was preparing to run for prime minister. A clash with Netanyahus wife, Sara, forced the pair to leave a year before Netanyahu was re-elected to office. Like many others who worked with Netanyahu over the years ministers, advisers, spokespersons Bennett and Shaked supposedly knew how he makes decisions. They were also familiar with the indecisiveness that grips him until the very last moment, his flip-flops and reaction to pressure, and his susceptibility to blackmail. In 2005, then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon described Netanyahu as easily panicked. Following the Nov. 14 resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, Bennett saw an opportunity to blackmail Netanyahu. The ultimatum delivered by his party appoint Bennett as defense minister or we walk out of your government was based on his familiarity with the Netanyahu of old. The resignation of Liberman had left Netanyahu with a narrow majority coalition, and a departure by HaBayit HaYehudi would have meant the toppling of the government and early elections. Bennett knew that Netanyahu did not want to call snap elections at this point in time. He also knew that Liberman had left Netanyahu exposed and vulnerable to right-wing criticism over his allegedly insipid policy on Gaza. Bennett must have assumed this was the opportunity of a lifetime: to walk into the defense ministers office and succeed where others before him had failed, restoring Israels deterrence capability and resolving the seemingly intractable problem of the Gaza Strip. Bennett has been eyeing the defense portfolio for a long time, periodically lashing out at Liberman and claiming he and Netanyahu were weak on Hamas. Bennett wants to be prime minister, but polls indicate the public does not find him fit for the job. On the other hand, his second-in-command, Ayelet Shaked, has surged in public opinion and is viewed as a potential successor to Netanyahu as leader of Israels political right. Shakeds rising star has created tensions under the surface of her partnership with Bennett. This, too, led Bennett to conclude this was finally his moment. He had been sure he could get Netanyahu to fold, and that just as he forced him to give Shaked the justice ministers job in the 2015 coalition negotiations, he would succeed this time with the defense portfolio. However, Bennett miscalculated badly in failing to realize he was facing a new Netanyahu who since the 2015 elections believes he and his wife were solely responsible for the Likuds impressive performance in garnering 30 Knesset seats. Netanyahu has become somewhat reckless during this term and far less susceptible to pressure. When he accepted Bennetts ultimatum in 2015 and handed Shaked the justice portfolio, he did so based on practical considerations having to do with forming a viable governing coalition. This time, faced with a similar Bennett ultimatum, Netanyahu stood firm. It was a nonstarter. He had no intention of naming Bennett defense minister. In March 2017, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon similarly miscalculated in believing he could push Netanyahu into a corner over the newly formed Public Broadcasting Authority. Netanyahu stood his ground, and Kahlon almost found himself dismantling the coalition and facing snap elections he did not want. Kahlon, too, thought he knew Netanyahu best from their days together in the Likud. He was sure he understood Netanyahus thinking and found himself instead trapped up a tree, seeking a way down. The miserable 24 hours that Bennett would rather forget began in the early evening hours of Nov. 18, when reports began surfacing that he and Shaked would resign the following day unless his party was handed the defense portfolio. Netanyahu responded a few hours later, announcing in a live television broadcast that he was taking over the job of defense minister for the first time in my life. The speech was largely personal in nature, alluding to his defense expertise, including his service as an officer in an elite commando unit, his injury in the operation to save the hostages of the Sabena hijacking, and the handling of Israeli security and defense issues over the past decade as prime minister. Netanyahu obviously also reminded his listeners that he had lost his brother Yoni in the dramatic Entebbe hostage rescue mission, and above all hinted broadly that Israel was facing a concrete security challenge and now was not the time for political adventures. His broadcast delivered a knockout to Bennett on live television. The subtext was clear: Liberman and Bennett cannot hold a candle to my experience on defense matters at such a sensitive time. This left Bennett with two bad options: to resign and be accused of bringing down a right-wing government, or to humiliate himself and hope the damage could be contained. The next day, it turned out Bennett had opted for the second choice. The picture of Bennett sweating as he addressed reports at the Knesset with Shaked at his side handed Netanyahu a clear victory. While Bennett did direct deadly criticism at Netanyahus defense policy, accusing him of containing the enemy rather than crushing him, he would remain beside Netanyahu to ensure Israel gets back to winning, in his words. Two politicians celebrated Bennetts embarrassing performance. The first was Liberman, who did not conceal his enjoyment, accusing the education and justice ministers of sacrificing principles to remain in office. The second was, of course, the prime minister, who was in high spirits when he addressed his Likud party's Knesset faction several hours later and announced that elections would be held on schedule in November 2019. I dont need oversight from the right. I dont need anyone to guard me. I am protecting our state, our security, our children, he said. Netanyahus victory, however, could be short-lived. He has avoided snap elections for now, but he will have to restore the image he nurtured of "Mr. Security," which has been tarnished by his Gaza policy. Libermans resignation has also stuck Netanyahu in a narrow coalition, with only a one-vote majority in the Knesset (61 out of 120 Knesset seats) a problem that became immediately evident when the coalition lost the vote on a government-sponsored property law the next day. The head of the oppositions Zionist Camp faction, Knesset member Yoel Hasson, promised this was only a promo for other defeats to come. On condition of anonymity, a senior Likud minister told Al-Monitor in response that Netanyahu declared elections would be held in 2019, but this clearly will not happen. There is no way to keep going with 61 Knesset members. The elections will be moved up and everybody knows it. The only question is the timing. Moshe Leon won the election for Jerusalem's next mayor on Nov. 13. The next day, Leons key sponsor, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, resigned his office. The back-to-back events were no coincidence. The new mayor, by his own admission, is in the pocket of his boss Liberman, as he terms his long-time political benefactor. In recordings from 2014 obtained by Haaretz, Leon is heard saying that Liberman takes his support for granted. Undoubtedly, the hawkish head of Yisrael Beitenu will turn the holy city into his political bedrock ahead of the elections to the 21st Knesset, which may be moved up to early 2019 due to the shrinking of the government coalition following Libermans resignation. Still, he will be obliged to share it with Leons other sponsor, ultra-Orthodox Shas chair Aryeh Deri. The Likud's battle cry grab as many right-wing voters as you can burst forth even before the victory celebrations by Leon and his sponsors died down. On Nov. 15, the Likud faction in the Knesset set out to fast-track a new law enabling construction in the City of David National Park in Jerusalems Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, at the foot of the Temple Mount. Spearheading the project is the non-profit organization Elad, the darling of the political right and its wealthy American backers. Another example of right-wing zeal in promoting radical projects that discriminate against Arabs is the restoration of the 19th century Yemenite synagogue in Silwan. This past August, Likud activists attended the inauguration of a project to restore the synagogue. The ceremony was conducted by another nongovernmental organization, Ateret Cohanim, Elads partner/rival in the campaign to settle Jews all over the area of Jerusalem known as the Holy Basin, where many of Judaism and Islams holiest sites are located. At the ceremony, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Zeev Elkin, who lost the mayoral race to Leon in the election runoff this month, called Ateret Cohanim's founder Mati Dan the greatest Cohen of them all, for whom we all work in the Knesset and the government for the sake of restoring these sites of the Israeli people. Leon was also present. The violent clashes set off by irresponsible Israeli politicians in Jerusalems Old City are too numerous to count. Nir Barkat, the citys mayor for the past decade, was held hostage by the radical right in the city council to such an extent that he abetted in the violation of court orders to vacate an apartment building named Jonathan House (after spy Jonathan Pollard) erected by Israeli settlers in the heart of Silwan. On the other hand, when Barkat sought to promote a precedent-setting plan to build thousands of housing units for the citys Palestinian residents, Ateret Cohanim joined petitions by right-wing forces against the plan. When he served as Jerusalem mayor, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert moved his office to the plaza in front of the Western Wall, Judaisms holiest site, to protest what he termed concession policies toward the Palestinians adopted by then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak in December 2000. He also joined residents of the Jewish quarter in the Old City on a torch parade around the Temple Mount and the lighting of Hanukah candles adjacent to the citys Lion Gate. Four years earlier, he pressed Baraks predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu to open up the Western Wall tunnels, igniting rioting in which 17 Israelis and dozens of Palestinians were killed. Subsequently, when he became prime minister in 2006 and tried to forge a deal with the Palestinians, Olmert realized the dream of peace was not compatible with the united Jerusalem slogan and policies to Judaize Jerusalem. Netanyahu and his partners in the current government openly declare that Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish nation and of the Jewish nation only. To do his job properly, Leon will need Olympic-level acrobatic skills. On the one hand, in order to prevent violence, he must come up with immediate solutions for the dire housing crisis in the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, build hundreds of classrooms, rehabilitate crumbling infrastructure and improve municipal services in the neglected Palestinian neighborhoods. On the other hand, being the first ever Jerusalem mayor without a single representative on the city council, his partners on the right will tie his hands when voting on budgets for the development of East Jerusalem. His predecessors successfully formed coalitions enabling them to fend off heavy pressure by ultra-Orthodox Jewish circles to maintain the status quo on the Sabbath (against opening businesses or public transportation on Saturdays in the city). Absent city council backing, Leon will find it hard to impossible to maneuver between the interests of his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners seeking to impose their ways on city life and the desire to stop the wave of non-religious Israelis leaving the city. The recent election campaign in Jerusalem indicates that President Donald Trump not only relocated the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem this year, he also exported the strident tones and propaganda methods that brought him to power two years ago, and Leon used them in his fight for the capital. For example, on election day tens of thousands of Jerusalemites received recorded calls on their phones dubbing Leons rival Ofer Berkovitch a leftist. The calls were purported to have been made by two human rights organizations Peace Now and the New Israel Fund that the right reviles as treasonous Israel-bashers. The fraudulent announcements, suspected to have been sent from the election headquarters of the right, were intended to get their supporters out to vote. Only you can make history, said the recorded voice. We in the New Israel Fund and Peace Now movement have invested heavily in Ofer Berkovitchs election campaign and it is important for you to do your bit, too. Its good for Jerusalem, its good for our Palestinian neighbors, its good for security and the peace process. See you at the ballot boxes. On election day, flyers in Arabic were handed out and a fake video clip was uploaded showing a car blaring calls to support Berkovitch in Arabic. They were not his doing. In the final hours before the polling stations closed, residents identified in polls as secular voters received calls warning them of the long lines at their local polling stations. It should be noted that half of the first 10 names on Berkovitchs ticket called Hitorerut, Hebrew for awakening are members of the right-wing Likud and HaBayit HaYehudi. Given that tactics of slander and fake news helped Netanyahu get elected in 2015 especially his election day warning that Arabs were mobbing the polling stations as well as Leons successful bid for the mayorship, why shouldn't the right use these tactics in the coming general elections? In a clip he uploaded on Nov. 11, the eve of the second round of Jerusalems municipal elections, Deri warned that the devil has enlisted all of his armies to support Berkovitch. This alleged plot failed and we are left with Leon as Jerusalems mayor. And so, for the sake of the city residents, we should wish Jerusalem and the State of Israel a blessing from Psalm 122:7: May there be peace within your walls, and prosperity inside your fortresses. For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, Peace be within you." While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didnt want to go to war in Gaza, he is paying a political price for that. Had he not promised Israelis that he would come up with some magical solution to the problem of Gaza, he may never have found himself caught in this trap or at least he would not have emerged so hurt. But even after Education Minister Naftali Bennett reneged on his threats to resign and agreed to remain part of a narrow right-wing government, at least for now Netanyahu is still left with negotiations on an arrangement with Hamas, which would be hard for him to implement. Just two days after Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman handed in his resignation, Hamas Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar whom Netanyahu released from prison in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit deal appeared in Khan Yunis, waving a pistol with a silencer. He claimed it had been taken from a member of the Israeli special forces unit, which was discovered recently in Gaza. Gun in hand, Sinwar boasted on Nov. 16: What did the Israeli leadership think when it allowed in fuel and Qatari funds to pay the salaries of government workers and to help needy families? That we would sell our blood for diesel and dollars? Theyve been disappointed, and their goals have failed." With these comments hovering in the background and given recent political developments in Israel several questions must be asked: Will Netanyahu allow another suitcase stuffed with money to get into Gaza next month after authorizing the transfer of $15 million to Gaza on Nov. 11 and thereby face another humiliating photo? As part of his arrangement with Hamas, will he agree to open the border crossings and allow thousands of day laborers from Gaza to enter Israel and in doing so, face even more public criticism? Given his narrow government, will he be able to deliver on the arrangement as if some 500 rockets hadnt been fired at Israel in just two days? Can he ignore the polls, which show that most Israelis believe he has failed in handling the security crisis in the south? Netanyahu uses the polls on an almost daily basis to assess the mood of the country and check the percentage of support he has. A survey by Israel's Hadashot TV, released after Libermans resignation Nov. 14, found that 74% of respondents were unhappy with Netanyahus handling of the Gaza issue. Meanwhile, though Libermans party, Yisrael Beitenu, was hovering around the electoral threshold to get into the Knesset before this, the current poll gives them two additional seats. The Likud won 30 seats in the last election, and previous polls gave it as many as 35 seats with Netanyahus own goal for the next election being 40 seats. Now, the Likud is given just 29 seats. In other words, not only did its target of 40 seats seem further away than ever, but given this weeks mood, it is doubtful whether the Likud will be able to maintain its current strength. Before Bennett could announce whether he would resign or remain in the government, Netanyahu used a press conference on the evening of Nov. 18 to boost his reputation as Mr. Security. He said: I was a fighter and commander in the Matkal commando unit. I lost brothers in arms. I lost my brother Yoni. I almost lost my own life at Suez, during the Attrition War. I was wounded in the operation to release the hijacked hostages on the Sabena flight. I put my life at risk time after time to ensure that we could continue to live here in the Land of Israel. Much of the criticism stems from the fact that it is impossible to present the whole story to you as it is seen by the chief of staff [Israel Defense Forces] generals, Shin Bet director, Mossad director and me. The reasons for that are totally understandable. In an effort to defend his decision to avoid launching a devastating attack on Hamas, Netanyahu explained that together with the security chiefs, I see the general picture of Israels security. The public sometimes cannot be a part of decisive considerations. These must be hidden from the enemy, especially since the campaign is still being waged. The security situation in Gaza is, in fact, complicated. Egypts attempts to mediate an arrangement have continued for many long months already. During the rounds of talks and potential obstacles, there were also rounds of armed conflict, which included the firing of rockets at Israeli localities along the Gaza border. Each of these rounds of violence ended with the intervention of Egyptian mediators and a cease-fire. Last week, following the discovery of the Israeli special forces unit operating in Gaza and the ensuing gunfight in which Lieutenant Colonel M. and seven members of Hamas were killed, Hamas responded particularly strongly. This was the organizations most massive response since 2014's Operation Protective Edge. Still, Netanyahu just bit his lip, ignored the battle cries of his ministers and reached another cease-fire behind their backs. The criticism he faced for this was severe. Was it possible that a political augur like Netanyahu finally failed to read the signs? Could he not have foretold that his government would be in danger of falling as soon as Israelis concluded that Hamas had gone too far? Did he not realize that his self-restraint would be interpreted as weakness and that he would have to pay for that politically? It is not yet clear what far-reaching campaign the prime minister meant during his press conference. He might have meant that significant progress has been made in negotiations to reach an arrangement or that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to lift his opposition to a Gaza arrangement and would henceforth assist Egyptian efforts at mediation. Netanyahu recently received clear messages from Egypt that Abbas succumbed to pressure from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. A Palestinian source told Al-Monitor that Abbas realized his opposition to an arrangement would lead to war between Israel and Hamas with thousands of Palestinian casualties, and that he would ultimately be blamed for their deaths. In its second stage after agreeing to a cease-fire and to open crossing points the agreement between Israel and Hamas should see the return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, being held by Hamas, as well as the release of Israeli citizens Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are being held in Gaza. Egyptian sources recently leaked to the Arab media that there has been considerable progress on a deal to release Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The impetus for this, these sources claimed, was Israels agreement to free Hamas prisoners, who were originally released in the 2011 Shalit deal and were arrested again upon the outbreak of Operation Protective Edge. If the reports are accurate, Netanyahu could have avoided the publics impression that he acted weakly and gave in to Hamas. One word from Netanyahu about the emerging deal could have embarrassed the resigning defense minister and won the prime minister widespread public support. Now, Netanyahu is forced to contend with a damaged image as Mr. Security." He will have a hard time moving forward with the arrangement until Israelis see the whole picture. That is, of course, unless Hamas decides to fire hundreds of rockets at Israel again. Sinwar claimed that Hamas received the Qatari funds without selling out its principles or losing its capability for deterrence against Israel. Now it is up to Netanyahu to prove to Israelis that despite his restraint policy, he did not sell out his principles. He agreed to reach an arrangement with Hamas so that he could get the bodies of Israels fallen troops back, bring about the release of Israelis prisoners in Gaza and safeguard the security of Israeli citizens. While Hamas seeks to further develop regional relations with countries such as Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Turkey and Lebanon in light of the organization's deteriorating ties with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Syria, the Gaza-based group is also making efforts to improve its international relations with Russia, the EU, Malaysia and South Africa. While the United States has pressured some nations not to communicate with Hamas, some countries, including Russia, continue their communication channels with the movement to ensure their position in the region. Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov told the Times of Israel on Nov. 9 that Russia does not view Hamas a terrorist group, but consider it part of Palestinian society. We are keeping contacts with Hamas, he added, saying the group is a legitimate political force in Palestine. Viktorov said labeling Hamas as a terrorist group undermines the political process, suggesting that the movement should be involved in a possible political solution. He further said that Israel should engage with Hamas. These statements are important for two reasons. First, the Russian ambassador is in Tel Aviv and represents the policy of Russia, a permanent UN Security Council member. Second, the statements came from the heart of Israel, which considers Hamas a terrorist organization that engages in armed conflict, the most recent being the Nov. 12-13 escalation between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Husam Badran, a member of Hamas political bureau in charge of its international relations who resides in Qatar, told Al-Monitor, The Russian stance is part of an increasing international conviction of Hamas role and importance and its impact on the Palestinian arena. Russia is a major country that realized this fact early on, and it is dealing with us on that basis. The Palestinian cause cannot be settled without our participation or approval. Our relations with Moscow were not born yesterday, and we have ongoing visits between us as Russia seeks a positive role in the Palestinian cause and this is what we want from this relationship. Hamas has sought to organize periodic visits to Moscow, most recently in June through a delegation headed by Mousa Abu Marzouk, another member of the Hamas political bureau. He met with Mikhail Bogdanov, a deputy foreign minister and special envoy to the Middle East, at the Russian Foreign Ministry. In March, a leading delegation from Hamas visited Moscow. In 2017, Hamas officials visited Moscow in January and September. In August 2016, then-Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal met with Bogdanov. In August 2015, Meshaal met with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Doha, Qatar. Hamas paid its first official visit to Moscow in 2006, after winning the Palestinian legislative elections. Russia was the first international country that invited Hamas to visit. All visits between Hamas and Moscow and meetings between Hamas leaders and Russian officials discussed their bilateral relations, developments in the Palestinian situation, regional issues and reconciliation with Fatah. The visits angered Israel, which considered them international marketing for Hamas. Bassem Naim, head of the Council on International Relations in Gaza, an independent institution aimed at building international relations, told Al-Monitor, Hamas has an undeclared office in Moscow, through which it communicates with high-ranking Russian officials constantly. Some meetings are open, while others are secret. Russia is bent on playing a positive role in the Palestinian cause, and Hamas knows that Russia has become influential in the Middle East and a partner in its events. For that reason, the rapprochement is in Hamas interest. US-Russian disputes are not restricted to regional issues such as the Iranian nuclear case, the Syrian situation and the case of Ukraine and North Korea. The two do not see eye to eye on Hamas either. Viktorov said positive things about Hamas in his Nov. 9 interview, while the United States lists some Hamas leaders as terrorists, the latest of whom is Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of the political bureau, on Nov. 13. The United States placed a $5 million bounty on Arouri. Israel had informed Russia about its opposition to Arouris visit to Moscow in September 2017, following his meeting with Bogdanov as part of the Hamas delegation. Also on Nov. 13, the Russian Foreign Ministry blamed Israel for the military escalation in the Gaza Strip that claimed the lives of seven Palestinians. The ministry called the escalation provocative. The previous day, US Middle East peace envoy Jason Greenblatt had condemned Hamas and stood with Israel for defending itself against the movement. Barhoum Jaraysi, a Palestinian expert on Israeli affairs from Nazareth, Israel, told Al-Monitor, The sympathetic talk of the Russian ambassador about Hamas might annoy Israel, but Tel Aviv will not risk harming its relations with Moscow over this statement. Still, Russia does not translate its statements into political behavior on the ground, and it does not pressure Israel to be fair to Hamas. Actually, by clinging to the Syrian affair, Russia becomes less interested in the Palestinian cause, which comforts Israel. Viktorovs statements seem to conflict with his countrys actual stances because, through Russias membership in the international quartet, it calls on Hamas to recognize Israel and reject violence. He did say at the beginning of the interview, Were condemning any violent actions. In our contacts with Hamas representatives we usually underline that its not acceptable. Issam al-Dhalis, the deputy head of Hamas' political department, told Al-Monitor, We thank the Russian ambassador for his just stance toward the movement. His words are in line with our openness to all parties, as mentioned in Hamas political document in 2017, which welcomed the stances of countries supporting Palestinian rights. Hamas case is just, and we welcome any Russian role to solve the issue without going into the peace process and negotiations with Israel. Hamas might list Russia as a friend rather than ally, and could use Russian help to promote Hamas' political stances. Hamas might benefit from its growing relations with Iran to further develop its contacts with Russia in light of the close relations between Moscow and Tehran. But this does not mean Hamas and Russia have identical stances. They disagree on several issues, including armed resistance, their take on Israel and their relations with Syria. WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump, in a bizarre written statement, said today that maybe Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman authorized the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but argued that regardless, preserving good relations with the Saudi kingdom is in the United States national interests. Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an enemy of the state and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that this is an unacceptable and horrible crime, Trump said in the eight paragraph statement that began and ended with America first! King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, the statement continued. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi, he continued. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world! Veteran former CIA and National Security Council official Bruce Riedel, a columnist for Al-Monitors Gulf Pulse, said Trumps message of, essentially, I dont really care if he did it, was unsurprising. Typical, Riedel, now with the Brookings Institution, told Al-Monitor. The president doesnt want to know because the entire edifice of his Middle East policy collapses if MBS is a premeditated murderer, using the initials by which the Saudi crown prince is often called. He's right about the importance of Saudi Arabia, but everything else about the message is all wrong, said former US diplomat Gerald Feierstein. Trumps statement was issued shortly after senior US administration officials, on a background call with journalists on new US sanctions designations, said they had no information about a US report on Khashoggis case that Trump had told journalists over the weekend would be released early this week. The administration will be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday, Trump told journalists on Saturday, that would assess who did it. Trump has repeatedly expressed reluctance to let revelations about the Saudi regimes role in Khashoggis killing at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 impact US relations with the kingdom, which is central to his administrations economic pressure campaign against Iran, fight against terrorism and an important customer for US weapons exports to the Gulf. You know, we also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia. They give us a lot of jobs, Trump told journalists on Saturday as he headed to California. They give us a lot of business, a lot of economic development. They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development. And I have to take a lot of things into consideration. But if MBS found comfort in Trumps message that he is willing to essentially overlook any role the crown prince may have played in sending a hit team to kill Khashoggi, its worth noting that Trumps statement also made clear that he has no real sentimental attachment to MBS in particular. The US relationship with the kingdom is what he said is important. Our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Trumps statement said. The United States will continue to have a relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia it is an important partner of ours, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a press conference this afternoon. That is the commitment that the president made today. On Monday, Reuters reported that some members of the Saudi royal family have been seeking to try to prevent Prince Mohammed from becoming the future Saudi king. They recognize that the king is unlikely to turn against his favorite son, known in the West as MbS, Reuters wrote, citing three unnamed sources close to the royal court. Rather, they are discussing the possibility with other family members that after the kings death, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 76, a younger full brother of King Salman and uncle of the crown prince, could take the throne, according to the sources. BAGHDAD One day Baghdad will go back to its glorious times of beauty, Hussein Motar, an engineering student and photographer, told Al-Monitor during Baghdad Walk, a narrative walking tour and exhibition about the Iraqi capital. We are trying to tell the history of Baghdad and raise our voices, to reach the government, to make some major adjustments and changes in historical places destroyed or abandoned. Motar chose Rasheed Street, one of the main thoroughfares in downtown Baghdad, as the location to exhibit his photographic project. The street dates to the Ottoman era. It took me seven months to take all 20 pictures, Motar told Al-Monitor. I first chose 20 old images of Baghdad, and then I took the same ones in 2018. I tried to take them from the same angle as the old photos. I also contacted the families of some people in the old pictures, to visit them and tell them about my idea. Its not only the photos that are brilliant but the stories behind them. Walking along Rasheed Street with other emerging Iraqi artists, as well as passers-by and journalists in tow, Motar stopped at the site of each image and at every historical place to explain the story behind them. When I was a child I used to come here with my father, Motar explained. The building of the Central Bank of Iraq here on Rasheed Street changed the street. The blocks surrounding it and the Abbasid mosque in front has cut the street in two. Motars large photographs hang on the walls of various old buildings and mosques along the steet. The group stops to take a close look at each one, and the artist speaks about them and provides information about the area. Baghdad Walk organized by Tarkib Baghdad Contemporary Arts Institute, in cooperation with Germany's Goethe Institut took place Nov. 16-17, offering a fresh look at the Iraqi capital through the eyes of young Iraqi artists. In the beginning, in 2015, Tarkib came together to organize the Festival of Contemporary Arts, for which we had little means, Ali Amer al-Mikdam, coordinator for public information and media for Dar al-Tarkib, told Al-Monitor. When the festival started to grow, and the number of artists increased, we needed a space. We have had our space for a year, a place for young artists to meet, organize workshops, exhibit artistic works and other cultural events. Baghdad Walk is one of our events. It is a first in Iraq. Loay Al Hadharis sculpture symbolizing a Yazidi girl, Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq. (photo by Marta Bellingreri) A large number of Iraqi contemporary artists live abroad, and the younger generations at Tarkib felt it was time to work in their city rather than leave. This is the message of Zaid Saads piece, which combines installations and sound on the shores of the Tigris River in the Karrada area, near a bombed and abandoned old theater on Abu Nawwas Boulevard. The work, Sanduq (or Box), looks at the attempted migrations that took hundreds of Iraqis and thousands of others from all over the Middle East to their demise at sea in the last few years. Eleven stacked cardboard boxes, prepared as packages, are addressed From Iraq to the Sea, from insecurity to death. Inside each of the 11 boxes the 12th package is missing, because it was never found are recordings of people telling stories about their loved ones who left Iraq. My message is that we Iraqis have to stay in Iraq for two main reasons, Saad told Al-Monitor. First, we need to rebuild our country, and second, Europe treats us like boxes to send and receive, not as human beings seeking protection. They need workers, and so they admit us, if we survive the journey. Tabarek al-Atrakchi, a painter and performer, chose to exhibit her work downtown in front of the Kulbankian Gallery, which belonged to a famous Armenian Iraqi. Although the gallery is officially open, it has not held an exhibition in years. I chose childrens drawings to represent the future, Atrakchi said, explaining that she collected drawings from children selling chewing gum and bottles of water on the streets. Most of them had lost their parents in a terrorist or other attack or were simply economically marginalized and therefore working in the streets. Atrakchi further remarked, I put bottles and chewing gums next to their drawings. They are living difficult childhoods, but they have a lot of dreams. Some of the Baghdad Walk artists, among them the musician and sculptor Ameen Moqdad, staged street performances to involve members of the public with the aim of encouraging them to take a stand or to reflect on something. Moqdad made a huge ball out of a thousand empty plastic water bottles he found in the street. Calling it 1000 Iraqi Lip Prints, he put it in the middle of a street to denounce waste and garbage. It was not difficult to find a thousand bottles, Moqdad told Al-Monitor. They are everywhere in Baghdad. I decided to put it in front of the Rida Alwan Cafe, where intellectuals and artists usually meet, because I want them to be the ones to launch the change! On iconic Tahrir Square, where Iraqis hold demonstrations, Loay Al Hadhari installed a statue of a woman with chains on her wrists. A tag attached to her shroud-like, nylon attire reads, Not for sale. It stands as a reminder of the fate of the Yazidi girls kidnapped, sold and raped by members of the Islamic State (IS). Hadhari explained, I covered the body to also highlight the contradiction of Daesh [IS], which wants women to cover up, but they dont think that it is haram a sin, forbidden by religion to sell and rape them. After participating in the two days of Baghdad Walk, some of the artists involved had a new outlook on life. I feel like I realized a dream, walking in old Baghdad and telling its stories, Motar said. And when you are not alone, but with a team like Tarkib, dreams come true. A Spanish Fort woman who died while on cruise to Aruba Tuesday may have been murdered, according to the cruise line. Almarosa Tenorio, 52, fell from the 16th floor onto life rafts below. A 52-year-old, American, female guest passed away early Tuesday morning aboard Royal Princess as the ship was en route to Aruba, said a statement from Carnival Cruises. The incident was reported to the FBI and local authorities, and the local authorities met and boarded the ship upon arrival in Aruba. Authorities now believe she may have been pushed. Tenorios husband was taken in for questioning while in Aruba, according to local news coverage. Its also reported that she was seen struggling with a muscular man earlier in the evening. An autopsy is also expected to be performed while investigators are hopeful of finding clues on the ships CCTV. The cruise returned to the Everglades Saturday morning. A Democratic House member from Alabama could be thrust in the national spotlight next year if the newly-minted Democratic House majority looks to restore a provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, the only Democratic representative from Alabama, is pitching a restored version of the Voting Rights Act she has termed, Voting Rights Advancement Act. The timing could be right for Sewells proposal to go before the House chamber as the Democratic majority has pledged to focus on strengthening democratic institutions and traditions. We are in a position to introduce it quickly in the new year, and we hope it gets considered early, said Christopher MacKenzie, spokesman for the congresswoman. Sewells provision also comes at a time when the House bill would establish automatic voter registration while restoring the preclearance portion of the Voting Rights Act that was invalidated by the Supreme Court in the 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision. Sewells proposal requires any state to clear its election changes with the Department of Justice thereby, reinstituting the preclearance requirement of the 1965 law removed in 2013 if a state has 15 or more voting rights violations occurring in the past 25 years. According to Sewells office, 11 states would be covered under this new formula including those covered under the previous Voting Rights Act. Alabama would be one of them. But other states, like California, New York and Virginia, would also be covered. Charles Bullock III, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, said he can see problems with jurisdictions being covered under a new VRA, which were not covered in the original law passed 53 years ago. The Supreme Court, in its 2013 decision, ruled that the formula determining which states were covered by the VRA was outdated, and preclearance was scrapped. A number of ideas (to restoring the VRA) have been proposed and the problem with any of these is that there are some jurisdictions covered in the past that will be covered and no one representing those jurisdictions wants to see that happened, said Bullock. He said the biggest challenge in restoring the key provisions of the law, which Congress can reauthorize, is establishing new standards that can be agreed upon by a bipartisan majority in both chambers. That is what makes it a real difficult situation, said Bullock. As long as the notion was limited to the South, the northern (congressional) members could vote on it. Sewell, in a June 25 Guest Voices editorial on AL.com, said a new formula is needed to avoid what she says has been a rash of laws passed by states intended to restrict voting. She said the laws are meant to have a disproportionate impact on minority voters. The Voting Rights Act has been praised by Sewell and others, including the Brennan Center for Justice, as model legislation that reduced disparities in voter registration rates between white and black voters. Conservative watchdog groups see things differently. Logan Churchwell, a spokesman with Public Interest Legal Foundation, crunched the numbers and showed that during the 48 years of the VRA, the DOJ objected 256 times or to less than 1 percent of the 35,206 election-related changes submitted to them for preclearance review. Nationwide, the percentages were even less, Churchwell said. When there was discrimination, it was usually a high-profile example that was going to get attention anyway like redistricting, said Churchwell. He said since 2013, the Justice Department hasnt had a flood of discrimination cases to investigate, and he argues that little has changed. Churchwell calls proposals, like the one Sewell is backing, as messaging and fundraising opportunities for Democrats. Josh 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, said he cannot see a reauthorized VRA becoming a reality. Aside from Sewell, Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin has previously pitched federal legislation to revive the federal governments election oversight power under the VRA. Sensenbrenners past attempts died in the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, which is soon to be led by a Democrat. I think its great that the House Democrats plan to focus on voting rights as one of their first initiatives once they take over as the majority in January, said Douglas. But Im quite doubtful that the Republican-controlled Senate would go along or that the president would sign a law restoring some of the Voting Rights Act. This has unfortunately become such a partisan issue. MacKenzie, with Sewells office, said the political atmosphere is changing and hes pointing to national results on November 6, which he says shows a growing public support for democracy reforms. Examples included: - Florida voters authorized the restoration of voting rights for more than 1.4 million former felons. Florida was one of only four states that permanently disenfranchises former felons. - Voters endorsed nonpartisan redistricting commissions in Colorado, Missouri, Michigan and Utah. - Nevada and Michigan voters endorsed automatic voter registration Said MacKenzie: The reason these things passed is because when it comes outside the Beltway, they have public support. People believe that voting should be accessible for all Americans. He said that the last time the VRA was reauthorized by Congress, in 2007, it sailed through with unanimous support from Congress. He said that reality coupled with the outcomes on November 6 could make passage for Sewells initiative likely. Hopefully, the public is able to put more pressure on Republican lawmakers, he said. Huntsville-based real estate agent Matt Curtis just upped the billboard game. He took on personal injury attorneys known for their expert and copious use of roadside advertising and people cant stop laughing. So far, Curtis has spoofed the firm Wettermark & Keith, as well as Alexander Shunnarah, who is so well known for saturating the billboard market that people created a count the billboards travel game based on his advertisements. A post on Curtis Facebook page Tuesday, accompanied by photos of his Wettermark and Keith spoof, alerted the public: Keep an eye out for our parody billboards all around town! They might just make you do a DOUBLE take! The emphasis on double is a pun; two copies of Curtis face appear side-by-side on the board to mimic the layout of the Wettermark & Keith ad. Keep an eye out for our parody billboards all around town! They might just make you do a DOUBLE take! Posted by Matt Curtis Real Estate, Inc. on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 A few hours later, a photo of the Shunnarah spoof appeared on Curtis Facebook page accompanied by the comment: No representation has been made that the quality of our sense of humor is greater than the quality of other companies throughout the Huntsville area. The Shunnarah spoof billboard is located on Interstate 565 in Huntsville. Both spoofs appear atop the attorneys billboards. We were just wanting to do something fun for the holidays and give people something fun to look at while they were driving, Curtis said. Commenters seem to appreciate the humor, saying things like: This is the funniest billboard Ive seen ever. You win billboard of the year. Brilliant! Now thats funny. You win the internet. If you want to see what Curtis has planned next, visit his Facebook page here. This is an opinion column. Several hands have held onto the wheel of the listing Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority in recent months. But after the sudden firing Monday of two senior executivesChief of Staff Adrian Solomon and Finance Director Gary Collinsit seems the agency is certainly in the grip of Interim Executive Director Christopher Ruffin, who once actually drove a BJCTA bus. Last week, amid more turmoil for the beleaguered authority, Ruffin told AL,.com: I found out [recently], the buck stops with me. Screechingly so, at times. Most members of the BJCTAs Board of Directors were surprised when informed of the terminations via email around midday. None offered comment. Will the movesone of them expected, the other somewhat of a shock steady the reeling agency or send it careening further along a road that already been long and treacherous? My guess? Buckle up. Ruffin, the former director of operations who was elevated in April when predecessor Barbara Murdock was suspended (and later fired) for allegedly using an authority credit card for personal expenses, did not respond to emails or text messages Monday regarding reasons for the terminations. Collinss dismissal, however, was not a complete surprise. Last week, AL.com reported he pleaded guilty in 2015 to conspiracy to submit false tax returns and wire fraud and agreed to give up his status as a Certified Public Accountant. Collins was sentenced to nine months home detention and three years of probation by U.S. District Court Judge David Proctor. He was also ordered to pay $12,908. Yet in a conversation Monday with AL.com, Collins insisted he told Ruffinwho himself served five years in a federal prison for participating in a 1996 armed robbery of a U.S. postal workerSolomon and HR Director Deidra Byrd about his criminal background during the interview process and that it was revealed in the background check the agency apparently requested. Everything was fully disclosed, said Collins, who was hired on September 4 of this year. A full background check was done, and everything came up. As the second interview was wrapping up, I said, Hold on, let me explain something that will come up in the background check. Last week, the BJCTA would not say whether it conducted a background check on Collins. I told them everything, Collins said. Christopher said, Yeah, man, its okay. People go through things. Were a second-chance company. [Ruffin, as of this writing, also did not respond to a request to confirm this encounter.] Its all in my employee file, Collins said. I didnt lie about anything. The BJCTA has yet to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain copies of Collins HR file and background check. Collins replaced Karen Jacobs, who resigned in June with little-to-no warning. In the interim, the BJCTAs financial procedures fell into disarray. In October, it was revealed the BJCTA had invoiced Hoover and Vestavia Hills for amounts higher than what they had previously been told would be required to service their citiesamounts they had locked into their approved budgets. Hoover was billed for $89,000 rather than $81,000; Vestavia Hills was billed $92,000 when the city had only allocated $69,000 in its FY19 budget. Last Tuesday, AL.com reported the agencys 300+ employees lost medical and prescription benefits on October 1 because BJCTA missed two premium payments while continuing to deduct premiums from employee paychecks. Coverage was restored on Tuesday after a check for $888,000representing two months premiumswas sent to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. I was trying to make the organization look good and turn it around, said Collins, a native of Riverside, Alabama whose mother died of cancer before he reached the age of two and whose father battled drug addiction and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in Vietnam. I know I did everything right. I know I have a background and a past but Im trying to be a better man. I was there to do the best job I could and be an inspiration for someone else. Collins says he has a hearing with the Alabama Board of Public Accountants in January to request his SPA status be reinstated. Solomon was initially hired by the BJCTA as customer service/marketing manager six years ago, according to the agencys website. She was promoted to chief of staff under Ruffins predecessor, Barbara Murdock, who was suspended in April and later terminated for allegedly using a BJCTA credit card for personal expenses. Murdocks suspension launched what emerged as months of dysfunction, chaos, terminations, and turnover throughout all levels of the authoritymatched only by infighting and persistent leadership coups among the board of directors. While the board appears to have stabilized someone following the election of new leadership last month, the same clearly cannot be said for the agency. Since April, the agency lost three other department heads: Human Resources, Maintenance and Safety, along with numerous employees in various areas, many of whom were terminated by Solomon and Ruffin. The turbulence and uncertainty created a tense environment that reverberated well beyond the agencys spanking new Intermodal facility downtown. Several angry current and former BJCTA employees recently flooded the inboxes of board members and city officials throughout Jefferson County with messages hyper-critical of BJCTA leadership, particularly management styles and practices. Last Wednesday, the board of directors voted to engage a search firm to conduct a national search for a permanent executive director. So, dont expect the bumpy ride to end anytime soon, no matter whose hands grip the wheel. Roy S. Johnsons column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Hit me up at rjohnson@al.com or/and follow me at twitter.com/roysj or on Instagram at instagram.com/roysj An Alabama man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the death of his girlfriends toddler daughter, Serenity Irene Renfroe. Shannon Gargis was sentenced Monday in Franklin County Circuit Court. Just weeks ago, the 31-year-old was convicted of manslaughter and aggravated child abuse. Shannon Gargis was found guilty of manslaughter and aggravated child abuse in the death of his girlfriend's 22-month-old daughter, Serenity Renfroe. Gargis was accused of grabbing 22-month-old Serenity by the throat and throwing her against a couch, causing blunt force trauma to her head. Serenitys mother, Hailey Renfroe, was at work at the time. Authorities were called to the couples home on Railslitter Road in Phil Campbell during the early-morning hours of March 22, 2016. Renfroe told authorities her daughter was dead on the love seat when she returned home from work. During the trial, Gargis admitted that after Serenity had spilled a bowl of cereal he tossed her onto the love seat, the TimesDaily reported. The defense claims he woke up to find the child dead in the early hours of March 22. Gargis was charged with capital murder, but the jury convicted on the two lesser charges. Had he been convicted of capital murder, Gargis would have faced life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Renfroe was charged with aggravated child abuse and first-degree hindering prosecution. Court records show in July 2017, she pleaded guilty to the hindering prosecution charge. The aggravated child abuse charged was dropped as part of her plea deal and a lack of evidence, according to court records. The children of a Spanish Fort woman that was apparently murdered on a cruise ship one week ago spoke out on national television Tuesday about their mothers unusual behavior the night before she was due to leave with her husband. My mother did not want to go on this cruise, said Andrea Smith, the daughter of 52-year-old Almarosa Tenorio, on Good Morning America (GMA). She knew something was gonna happen. Timothy Tenorio, the victims son, also said on GMA that he felt something wasnt right. The night before they left my mom hugged me for like a good five minutes, he said. And I was kind of curious why it was so long. And I asked her and she said it might be the last hug you get from me. The Royal Princess cruise ship had only just left the Everglades on route to Aruba when Tenorio was allegedly pushed from the 16th floor. Her body then hit a life raft and to the deck below. Earlier that evening she was seen struggling with an unidentified man. The FBI is helping local authorities investigate the case. Tenorios husband, Leo, was taken in for questioning while in Aruba, according to local news coverage. He is no longer a suspect and GMA reports that no new suspects are being looked at. An autopsy is also expected to be performed while investigators are hopeful of finding clues on the ships CCTV. A research program based at Rutgers University is publicizing another report showing Alabamas pre-kindergarten ranks at the top among state-funded programs in certain measurements for quality. The National Institute for Early Education Research analysis, dated in July but released this month, says Alabamas First Class pre-k program has 14 of 15 of what researchers determined were essential elements for quality, more than any other state. The NIEER has given Alabama similarly high marks in its annual reports for the last 12 years. The 176-page report compares 59 state-funded programs in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Overall, the programs met an average of only 6 of the 15 essential elements during the 2017-2018 school year. Alabamas First Class pre-kindergarten program started in 2000 and has grown substantially over the last five years with increased funding. Still, it is available to only about one-third of the states 4-year-olds, according to the Alabama School Readiness Alliance, which promotes the program. The Legislature provided $96 million this year, an $18.5 million increase over last year. The program operates in public schools, private schools, child care centers, faith-based centers, Head Start programs and in other settings. Classrooms are funded through competitive grants. Officials say research has shown the program is improving learning over time. The NIEER report says the 15 essential elements for quality are political will; compelling vision and strong leadership; well-educated and well-compensated teachers; maximum class size of 22 students; maximum child-teacher ratio of 11 to 1; full-day classes; appropriate learning standards; effective curriculum; strong support for inclusion of special needs children; strong support for dual language learners; high quality teaching; professional development for teachers; appropriate child assessments that inform instruction; data-driven decision making; and integrated standards, curriculum, assessments, professional development and evaluations. The report says Alabamas pre-K fully met every standard except strong support for dual language learners, which it partially met. Allison Muhlendorf, executive director of the Alabama School Readiness Alliance, issued a statement about the NIEERs latest assessment of Alabamas program. The Essential Elements report confirms that the long-term effectiveness of a pre-k program is dependent on its commitment to quality, and we are proud that Alabama continues to differentiate itself as the nations standard-bearer in this effort, Muhlendorf said. The Southern Poverty Law Center is suing the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency over a law that allows the state to, without warning, suspend a persons drivers license for unpaid traffic tickets. The SPLC claims the law violates the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits punishing a person simply because they are poor, according to a federal lawsuit filed Monday. The lawsuit claims in 2018, nearly 23,000 Alabama residents had suspended drivers licenses for failure to pay traffic tickets. A suspended drivers license has disastrous implications for individuals living in poverty, said Micah West, SPLC senior staff attorney. The U.S. Constitution prohibits the state from suspending a persons drivers license without first determining their ability to pay. Through this lawsuit, we hope to end this illegal practice in Alabama. The lawsuit says Alabama courts routinely suspend drivers licenses for nonpayment of traffic tickets without prior notice, the opportunity to be heard or a finding the person can afford the tickets and willfully failed to do so. Hal Taylor, in his role as the Secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is named as the sole defendant in the lawsuit. Two women, one from Birmingham and the other Montgomery, and one man from Homewood are named as plaintiffs. The lawsuit claims both women, Lakendra Cook and Sharon Motley, have struggled to find employment because their licenses are suspended over tickets they cant afford to pay. It also claims they have no choice but to drive because public transportation is limited in Montgomery and Birmingham. Cooks license is suspended for failing to fines totaling $456 for two traffic tickets in Wetumka Municipal Court. Whenever I see a police officer my heart starts pounding and I start calculating in my head whether I will be able to afford bail if I am arrested for driving on a suspended license, Cook said. Driving on a suspended license makes me feel like I am a criminal even though my life largely consists of going to work and caring for my family. It is my hope that this lawsuit will result in a clearer path for me and others in a similar situation, to get our drivers license back. No one should have their license suspended because they dont have enough money to pay traffic tickets. Motleys license is suspended because she cannot afford to pay a $310 fine for a traffic ticket she received in Montgomery County District Court in 2013. I have been struggling financially for many years, Motley said. When my license was suspended in 2013 because I couldnt afford to pay a traffic ticket, I was devastated. I completely lost the ability to legally drive and secure a well-paying job that would allow me to pay my bills and the traffic ticket. I want to get to a better place financially so that I can afford to pay the traffic ticket but I cant do that without a valid drivers license. The lawsuit claims Christopher Grays suspended license makes it more difficult to pay his tickets, since he does not have valid identification. He also cannot drive to work without risking more tickets or arrest, according to the lawsuit. Grays license is suspended because he cannot afford to pay two traffic tickets he received in the Lee County District Court. The plaintiffs are seeking declaration that the law allowing the suspension of licenses for unpaid tickets be declared unconstitutional, an injunction preventing ALEA from suspending licenses for unpaid tickets and an injunction requiring ALEA to reinstate any drivers licenses suspending for unpaid tickets without a reinstatement fee. They also request an injunction requiring ALEA to provide notice of reinstatement for those with suspended licenses for nonpayment. Alabama residents whose licenses were suspended for nonpayment are among the more than 800,000 residents living in poverty. Alabama has the sixth highest poverty rate in the U.S. with 18.5 percent of residents living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Alabama also has the third highest percentage of people living in hunger and the sixth highest unemployment rate in the country, the lawsuit claims. The need for a car is particularly great in Alabama, where public transit networksare among the weakest of quality in the country, the lawsuit claims, citing that 95 percent of Alabama residents drive a car to work. Persons whose licenses are suspended face an unenviable choice: drive illegally and risk further punishment, or stay home and forgo the ability to meet the daily needs of themselves and their familiesindividuals often chose the latterrisking arrest, additional fines and costs, and longer suspension periodsso they can maintain their livelihood and support their families. Earlier this year, SPLC filed a lawsuit challenging similar practices in North Carolina and reached an agreement with the Mississippi last year that will result in the state lifting failure to pay suspensions for over 100,000 people. Lawsuits have also been filed challenging the suspension of drivers licenses for nonpayment in Tennessee, Michigan, California and Virginia. ALEA officials responded to AL.coms request for comment Tuesday afternoon. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is evaluating the SPLCs serious claims and will issue a statement at the appropriate time and in the appropriate forum. The agency and its leadership have the utmost regard for the constitutional rights of Alabamas citizens and will continue enforcing Alabama law to protect public safety, spokesperson Robyn Bradley Bryan said in an email to AL.com Tuesday. Read the full complaint below. Updated at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday to add a statement from ALEA officials. Though overall school-based violations of board policies and state law are down, theres been an uptick in a few worrisome categories, according to reports posted online recently by the Alabama State Department of Education. For the 2017-2018 school year, the number of students being disciplined for assault increased to 1,380 statewide, up 26 percent, from 1,097, the previous year and up 50 percent, from 922, during the 2013-2014 school year. Considering there are 10,000 fewer students in Alabamas schools than there were five years ago---737,000 in 2013-2014 compared with 727,000 during the 2017-2018 school year---any increase catches ones attention. Even comparing apples to apples---using a rate per 1,000 students---the increase in assaults is still evident, though small, from one per thousand students enrolled to two per thousand. Threats and intimidation reports are also up, from 2,998 five years ago, to 4,272 last year, a 42 percent increase and an increase in the rate per thousand students enrolled from four to six. Students disciplined for handgun possession more than doubled from 20 five years ago to 47 last year. And a category describing the use of an other/unknown weapon also more than doubled, from 36 to 80 over the same five-year period. Another category that showed an increase? Bomb threats. They were up from 29 five years ago, to 44 last year, a 52 percent increase. Those numbers statewide are small, but if a handgun is found or a bomb threat is made in your childs school, it likely makes you sit up and take notice. The news is not all bad, though. Overall, the number of students who are disciplined for committing violations of school rules has dropped from 177 per 1,000 students in the 2013-2014 school year to 128 per 1,000 students in the 2017-2018 school year. The actual number of student violations dropped from 130,173 five years ago to 93,165 last year. Four categories of violation accounted for most of the drop and also saw the rate per 1,000-student drop over the same period of time: persistent and willful disobedience, defiance of authority, fighting, and other incidents resulting in a state-defined disciplinary action. That drop didnt occur by accident, according to state education officials. Student support administrator Greg DeJarnett said state department efforts to work with district and school personnel to create a positive culture and climate could be one reason for the declining rate. We have been doing regional training throughout the state concerning reducing office discipline referrals, suspensions, student incidents, on a pretty consistent basis, DeJarnett said, since the formation of a statewide support network and task force a few years ago. He was quick to say that the state department isnt advocating for no discipline at all. Rather, he said, We are promoting teaching [behavioral] expectations and being proactive in addressing a problem before one occurs. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, he said. That idea is catching on throughout the state. The states data reports, known as student incident reports, track 53 different types of infractions and contain a host of numbers related to disciplinary offenses committed by Alabamas public school students. School officials are required to report all violations that result in a student being given in-school or out-of-school suspension, placed into alternative school, expelled, or given corporal punishment. The information is gathered to help with school improvement efforts and resource allocation, according to the states manual about the incident reporting system. Though the state-level reports show what kind of violations students are committing, they are limited in that they do not show the punishment the school doled out in response. School districts do have that information, and some, like Jefferson County schools, publish that information online. Dr. Orletta Rush directs special initiatives for Jefferson County, which includes working with discipline data in the SIR report. The SIR report data helps us to determine our strengths and weaknesses, Rush said, and these reflections allow us to make decisions that are focused on enlightening, engaging and empowering all students. Rush said data shown in the SIR report is used to develop district- and school-level continuous improvement plans as well as plan professional development and educational activities for teachers and students. AL.com took a look at the most recent five years of district SIR reports, looking at the actual number of students disciplined but also converting the number of incidents into a rate per 1,000 students to make district-to-district comparisons. A full searchable database is available at the end of this article. The infractions can generally be sorted into two buckets: those that violate state or local law, like student possession of a handgun, and those that violate board policy, like student harassment of other students. Board policy violations---things like defiance of authority, disobedience, fighting, profanity---far outweigh violations of state law. Looking at the statewide level, the categories with the highest rates are: Fighting 16,960 student violations, or 23 per thousand students enrolled, Defiance of authority 13,129 student violations, or 18 per thousand, Other incidents resulting in a state defined disciplinary action 10,807 student violations, or 15 per thousand, Disobedience persistent, willful 10,363 student violations, or 14 per thousand, and Disorderly conduct other 8,261 student violations, or 11 per thousand. Heres a look at all categories. The number shown is that actual number of student violations that occurred. Incident 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 Alcohol Possession 283 236 252 189 204 Alcohol Sale 8 6 3 9 10 Alcohol Use 250 274 233 260 296 Arson 39 36 20 19 23 Assault 922 996 1165 1097 1380 Bomb Threat 29 28 26 36 44 Burglary/Breaking & Entry 67 58 70 62 85 Criminal Mischief(Vandalism) 534 444 422 339 376 Defiance of Authority 21002 18359 17805 15088 13129 Disobedience - Persistent, Willful 18941 17389 16448 13562 10363 Disorderly Conduct - Other 10176 9711 9813 9315 8261 Disruptive Demonstrations 4568 4438 4437 4448 4139 Drugs, Possession 1973 1701 1569 1405 1326 Drugs, Sale 171 154 148 125 103 Drugs, Use 709 708 751 611 613 Electronic Pagers/Unauthorized Communication device 1856 1829 1705 1606 1319 Explosive/incendiary or Poison Gas, Sale 0 0 1 0 0 Explosive/incendiary or Poison Gas, Use 0 0 3 0 0 Fighting 19314 19025 21008 20651 16960 Fire Alarm, Tampering with or Setting off 70 68 101 88 89 Firearm Component, Possession 29 23 30 46 26 Firearm Component, Sale 7 1 0 0 0 Gambling 232 289 201 104 160 Handgun, Possession 20 22 31 50 47 Handgun, Use 3 2 6 10 0 Harassment 4295 3772 3841 3435 2825 Inciting Other Students to Create a Disturbance 1062 901 1015 1039 1036 Kidnapping 0 0 0 1 0 Knife, Possession 742 633 658 501 524 Knife, Sale 4 2 6 3 1 Knife, Use 131 115 126 104 12 Larceny/Theft/Robbery/Possession of Stolen Property 1967 1734 1627 1339 1057 Motor Vehicle Theft or Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle 13 5 2 6 0 Other Incidents Resulting in a State defined Disciplinary Action 18738 16202 16275 15509 10807 Other Weapon, Possession 371 329 455 455 451 Other Weapon, Sale 2 6 2 1 2 Other Weapon, Use 34 20 29 29 16 Other/Unknown Weapon, Possession 210 226 231 230 150 Other/Unknown Weapon, Sale 9 1 6 5 1 Other/Unknown Weapon, Use 36 69 68 42 80 Profanity or Vulgarity 7903 7251 7712 6661 5472 Rifle/Shotgun, Possession 3 1 3 2 2 Robbery 73 47 50 54 23 Sexual Battery 15 10 7 30 17 Sexual Harassment 471 420 395 412 492 Sexual Offenses - Other 700 838 868 766 772 Threats/Intimidation 2998 2943 3515 3221 4272 Tobacco, Possession 1228 1308 1179 853 830 Tobacco, Sale 28 32 25 27 43 Tobacco, Use 1185 1178 1018 764 914 Trespassing 225 234 201 269 142 Truancy/Unauthorized Absence 6527 6990 6688 6575 4271 Total of all incidents 130173 121064 122250 111453 93165 Statewide, the numbers look low. But drill down to the district, and ultimately to the school level, available on the state departments website, and thats where school culture and discipline problems become clearer. When reviewing the reports, its important not to rush to judgement or make broad characterizations about schools and districts, DeJarnett said, as there are always dynamics in the detail that may impact student behavior. One trend noted in the reports is that students in high-poverty schools and districts tend to have higher discipline rates for incidents of fighting, defiance of authority, and disorderly conduct, among others. Living in poverty impacts student behavior at school, DeJarnett said. When students are in high-poverty areas, the resources are not as abundant to provide students with a lot of outlets that middle-class families and wealthy families have. Lack of access to good medical care and nutrition contribute to classroom problems, he said. Without proper outlets and teaching on how to release that frustration in a positive way, [those challenges] can lead to more hostilities and aggression at school. In wealthier systems, DeJarnett said, You have extracurricular activities, sports, band, the arts, music, dance, more technology opportunities. All of that allows students, and adults for that matter, to release energies in a more positive way rather than releasing them out of frustration. DeJarnett works with schools to implement a system known as Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports, or PBIS, a schoolwide effort to change the way teachers and students interact, he said. When implemented correctly and completely, PBIS can result in less disruptions and ultimately less need for discipline referrals. A guidebook for implementing PBIS in Alabamas classrooms was published in May by the statewide, 30-member committee DeJarnett led and can be viewed by clicking here. PBIS is not a one-and-done training, he said. It requires ongoing support and training by all staff in a school and up to three to five years to affect meaningful change. Districts what the reports show AL.com found that high-poverty districts were more likely to have higher rates of reported violations of board policies than lower-poverty districts. The five school districts with the highest rates of fighting for the 2017-2018 school year are listed below. In every school district, 100 percent of their students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, which is commonly used as a measure of student poverty. Chickasaw City 188 per thousand, 207 student violations, total enrollment 1,100 Perry County 152 per thousand, 200 student violations, total enrollment 1,317 Lowndes County 125 per thousand, 178 student violations, total enrollment 1,419 Barbour County 123 per thousand, 95 student violations, total enrollment 772, and Bullock County 106 per thousand, 150 student violations, total enrollment 1,418. Each of those districts had fewer than 1,500 students last year. In the next-highest category, defiance of authority, the five districts with the highest rates are listed below. In each of these districts, all students are in poverty: Bullock County 249 per thousand, 353 student violations, total enrollment 1,418, Barbour County 229 per thousand, 177 student violations, total enrollment 772, Lowndes County 174 per thousand, 247 student violations, total enrollment 1,419, Butler County, 172 per thousand, 501 student violations, total enrollment 2,912 and Acceleration Day and Evening Academy [public charter school] - 114 per thousand, 28 student violations, total enrollment 245. If your schools or districts rates of discipline cause concern, DeJarnett said, talk with the schools principal or other school or district officials. Schools are symptomatic of what goes on in a community, he said. What happens in a community, he added, oftentimes affects the school in like fashion. Therefore, addressing a schools rate of discipline, which affects the schools climate and culture involves all of the systems and stakeholders to help remedy the problem. That includes not only the schools, he said, but also local politicians, community leaders, church groups, and families. Search for your local school districts rates below. The rates are displayed a few different ways. The table and map are best viewed on larger screens. Click here to view the visualization below in a separate window. The map below helps to see a comparison of rates per 1,000 students by district. The visualization below allows you to view a districts rate over time. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has released a set of guidelines explaining how state law covers the sale and possession of cannabidiol, a marijuana extract. In a public notice issued today, the attorney generals office said the laws that make it illegal to possess and sell marijuana also apply to cannabidiol, also known as CBD. The AGs office said laws passed by the Legislature in 2014 and 2016 provide defenses against prosecution for CBD possession for certain people under specific circumstances but do not make the substance legal. The public notice comes in response to inquiries about expanding sales of CBD across the state, Marshalls office said. Read the public notice. Carlys Law, passed in 2014, provides an affirmative defense to prosecution for people with a debilitating epileptic condition who have a prescription for CBD authorized by the UAB Department of Neurology. That defense also applies to the parents and caretakers of children and people with the epileptic condition and prescription authorized by UAB. Carlys Law is scheduled to expire on July 1, 2019. Lenis Law, passed in 2016, applies the affirmative defense against prosecution for CBD possession to additional people those who are being treated for a chronic or debilitating condition that causes seizures. The CBD must have been tested by an independent third-party laboratory. The affirmative defense provided by Lenis Law also covers parents and guardians of children with debilitating epileptic conditions. For the defenses under Carlys Law and Lenis Law to apply, CBD can only contain 3 percent or less of THC, the intoxicating substance in marijuana. On Oct. 28, the Alabama Department of Public Health adopted a rule allowing for the medical use of FDA-approved drugs that contain CBD. It is now legal for a doctor to provide the drug Epidiolex to treat two forms of epilepsy Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Epidiolex will be regulated in the same was as other prescription drugs. Selling, delivering or distributing CBD, other than Epidiolex, is illegal. The affirmative defenses offered by Carlys Law and Lenis Law are only for possession of CBD. It is illegal for CBD to be sold by any convenience store, gas station or private individual, the AGs office said. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Office of Prosecution Services, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences also collaborated on issuing the notice. Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin said she has asked state and federal agents to investigate the Sunday afternoon death of an inmate. Heather Legg was found unresponsive at the Morgan County jail on Sunday, authorities said. She died at a local hospital. Heather Nicole Legg, a 27-year-old from Lester, died after being taken to Decatur Morgan Hospital, the sheriff said. Legg faced federal drug charges, court documents show. Jail staff found Legg unresponsive around 3:30 p.m., Franklin said. Corrections staff immediately began CPR and nursing staff was on the scene almost simultaneously, the sheriff said in a press release. An ambulance took Legg to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead as a result of undisclosed medical reasons. The sheriff asked the State Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals to investigate the death. In Florida communities recovering from Hurricane Michael, FEMA is seeking applicants for job openings meant to be opportunities for survivors to help other survivors. The offer is open in Tallahassee and other parts of the state affected by the storm. FEMA is looking for people with a general background in construction, project management, engineering, public works or working with local governments. Available jobs include Public Assistance Site Inspector and Program Delivery Manager positions, which entail validating disaster damage and collecting specific and detailed information on damaged public facilities. Other positions are expected to open in the future. According to information released by FEMA, "most temporary local hires are employed through a streamlined, rather than a competitive, process. A local hire's term of employment is 120 days, though it may be extended in 120-day increments up to one year." Potential applicants can find information on open positions at www.USAjobs.gov. Use the search terms "FEMA" and "local hire" and specify Florida as the area of interest. As of Monday, several position were listed for Florida. No comparable openings were listed for Alabama. Authorities are trying to find family members of a woman who was hit by a car and killed more than a week ago in Hoover. The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the woman as Treva Michelle Stanley. She was 56. The accident happened at 7:13 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12. Hoover police responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the 1500 block of Montgomery Highway. Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector said the driver of a 2005 Saturn was traveling southbound when a female pedestrian now identified as Stanley - tried to cross over to the westbound side of the highway. She was taken to UAB Hospital by a Hoover Fire Department rescue unit but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The driver of the Saturn remained on the scene and cooperated with investigators. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Stanley is ready to be released for burial, but authorities have not yet been able to find her next of kin. She has previous addresses in Ft. Worth, Texas and Titusville, Florida. She also spent time in Oneonta. She did not have any addresses listed in Alabama. Family members, or anyone with information on her relatives, are asked to call the coroners office at 205-930-3603. A suspect in the murder of a woman found dead in her Leeds home early Monday morning has taken his own life. It all began about 7:30 a.m. when St. Clair County authorities received a call from a concerned citizen. Assistant Sheriff Billy Murray said the caller reported a possible shooting at 252 Trails End Lane in Leeds. Once on the scene, lawmen found 36-year-old Barbara Posey dead inside the residence. St. Clair County investigators, Moody police and Jacksonville State Forensics responded to the home. After an extensive investigation, St. Clair County investigators issued an arrest warrant for her boyfriend George Darrell Heath, 39. The two lived together and shared children, though the children were not home at the time of the shooting. Authorities said neighbors told them the couple had a volatile relationship. Authorities said they developed information on the possible whereabouts of Heath. St. Clair County Investigators, along with Haralson County Georgia Sheriffs Office and the Cleburne County Alabama Sheriffs Office, located Heath at the Alabama state line. After an attempted traffic stop by authorities, Heath committed suicide by shooting himself. [November 20, 2018] Arrayworks Recognized as Representative Vendor in Gartner's 2018 Market Guide for Technologies Supporting a Digital Twin of the Organization MANSFIELD, Mass., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Gartner, Inc., a leading industry analyst firm has included Boston-based low-code application provider, Arrayworks in its July 2018 Market Guide for Technologies Supporting a DTO. A DTO, or Digital Twin of an Organization, is defined by Gartner as a "dynamic software model of any organization that relies on operational and/or other data to understand how an organization operationalizes its business model, connects with its current state, responds to changes, deploys resources and delivers expected customer value." "Arrayworks is proud to be recognized by Gartner for our Transformation Acceleration Platform (TAP) in its 2018 Market Guide for Technologies Supporting a DTO," said Gordon Earle, Founder, and CEO of Arrayworks. "The concept of Digital Twin of an Organization is essentially what we've been delivering to our clients for years. Using TAP, our clients can digitally represent every asset creating a 360-degree view of their entire business ecosystem. Our clients have had enormous success in using these real-time insights to make enterprise-wide decisions, streamline processes and ultimately achieve operational excellence." Arrayworks Transformation Acceleration Platform (TAP), version 3.2, enables the proper digital representation of every critical aspect of an organization. The processes, people, documents and "things" all require robust digital representation, a Digital Twin, to gain actionable insights from across te entire value chain. TAP monitors these entities for changes in attribution and for event triggers that require action. TAP then orchestrates the proper responses across the entire digital ecosystem, providing real-time insights and knowledge to understand what's taking place, support better decisions and deliver reliable customer experiences every time. As the 2018 Market Guide for Technologies Supporting a DTO further explains, "Coordinating the interdependencies within and across digital business transformation initiatives is challenging yet key to success. A digital twin of the organization helps EA and technology innovation leaders to prioritize, guide, monitor, analyze and scale complex initiatives." Arrayworks is committed to providing the most advanced and easy to use declarative tools to help organizations achieve a true competitive advantage by seeing, knowing and responding faster and more accurately than their competition. To read the Arrayworks Newsletter which includes a complimentary copy of Gartner's 2018 Market Guide for Technologies Supporting a DTO, visit: https://go.arrayworks.com/dto/ Gartner Disclaimer Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Arrayworks Both business and IT leaders rely on the Arrayworks Transformation Acceleration Platform (TAP) to achieve their digital transformation objectives. On-premise or in the cloud, the Arrayworks platform delivers sophisticated solutions quickly, easily and cost-effectively. For more information, visit www.arrayworks.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arrayworks-recognized-as-representative-vendor-in-gartners-2018-market-guide-for-technologies-supporting-a-digital-twin-of-the-organization-300753288.html SOURCE Arrayworks [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] A Shelby County man is charged with more than two dozen felony crimes involving child porn possession. Brian Christopher Weber, 41, was arrested Sunday by the Shelby County Sheriffs Office, according to court records made public Monday. He is charged with 25 counts of child pornography possession. According to Alabama law, a person commits that crime by knowingly possessing any obscene matter that contains a visual depiction of a person under the age of 17 years engaged in any act of sado-masochistic abuse, sexual intercourse, sexual excitement, masturbation, genital nudity, or other sexual conduct. Charging documents that could provide more detail on the accusations against Weber werent immediately available. He was booked into the Shelby County Jail Sunday and released the same day after posting $250,000 bond. This story will be updated if more information becomes available. White Flowers is returning to its original location in Brookwood Village on Black Friday, the shopping center announced. Diana and Eric Hansen first opened the home decor and gifts boutique at Brookwood Village more than 30 years ago. Since that time, the shop moved to Mountain Brook and then to downtown Homewood. The downtown Homewood store is now closed. Brookwood Village recently welcomed two holiday pop-up shops: Sees Candie Company, a well-known chocolate shop based out of San Francisco, which opened last month; and Priesters Pecans, an Alabama favorite pecan shop. Brookwood Village is launching a holiday pop-up shop program to help fill vacancies, according to the shopping center. Spaces are being offered to small businesses, makers and artisans at low-costs until the shopping center undergoes forthcoming upgrades. Black Friday shoppers will receive an incentive for visiting Brookwood Village early on Black Friday. Most stores will open at 7 a.m. The first 250 shoppers in line will receive a complimentary tote bag and gift card ranging from $5 to $500. The Alabama Attorney Generals Office has named a new leader of its Special Prosecutions Division. AG Steve Marshall issued a press release Tuesday announcing longtime federal prosecutor A. Clark Morris will lead the offices SPD, which investigates public corruption and white-collar crime. Morris currently serves as First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama and will officially take over the SPD on Jan. 7. The top spot in the division became open after prosecutor Matt Hart resigned yesterday. I am delighted that Clark Morris has agreed to lead my public corruption unit, Marshall said. She is universally respected throughout the law enforcement community and is the kind of hard-nosed prosecutor you want on your team. Her work ethic, professionalism, and integrity are visible to those with whom she interacts on both sides of her cases. Public corruption continues to be a scourge on our great state, and I am confident that the people of Alabama will be well served by Clark in this role. He said, "Clark is not only highly experienced, but she also commands a strong working relationship with the U.S. Justice Department. Her addition to our office will make the Attorney Generals Special Prosecutions Division more effective in partnering with federal law enforcement to target public corruption a goal I have sought since I first took office in 2017. Morris has worked for two decades in the Department of Justice, serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Middle and Northern Districts of Alabama. The Alexander City native also worked in the White Collar Crime Unit of the Middle Districts Criminal Division and served as acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District from March 2017 to November 2017. Marshall named James Houtsthe former chief of criminal appeals for the AGs Office as interim Division Chief for the SPD. U.S. Attorney Louis Franklin also said in a press release that Morris appointment will help crime-fighting efforts. Mrs. Morris has been an incredible asset to the U.S. Attorneys Office and her absence will be a huge loss. However, her new position at the Attorney Generals Office creates an opportunity for a partnership that we have not seen in years. Her leadership and judgment will serve the State of Alabama well, they are lucky to have her. "We are in constant contact to have a position ready by December", Novak said. Oil prices rose on Monday as traders expected top exporter Saudi Arabia to push producer club OPEC to cut supply towards the end of the year. Presumably, prices at that level would be too low even for USA president Donald Trump, who has spent the better part of the year pressuring OPEC to produce more and lower prices from earlier highs of $80; this week the brash billionaire met with Russian president Vladimir Putin and discussed the issue, with the latter subsequently telling media that "where [the market] is now, where it was recently, anything around $70 suits us completely". OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, is pushing for the group and its partners to reduce output by 1 million to 1.4 million barrels per day to prevent a build-up of unused fuel. The market is less sure that a move is coming in December after Russian energy minister Novak said they need to watch the market in the weeks ahead before making any decisions. But he added that Moscow would continue cooperating with OPEC on global crude production levels. "It appears that the market takes a production cut for granted", PVM Oil Associates analyst Tamas Varga wrote in a report. Oil's in a bear market after slipping from a four-year high last month as the US granted surprise waivers for sanctioned Iranian crude. Brent crude futures were down $1.04 at $65.72 a barrel at 1447 GMT, having retreated from a session high of $67.64. "Oil prices rose (last week) on hope OPEC and partners will act to reverse bearish sentiment, but from a technical set up, bear mode remains intact", OANDA strategist Stephen Innes said. Despite that, markets remained wary amid deep trade disputes between the world's two biggest economies, the United States and China, after the pair could not find a solution to their spat at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) last weekend. Meanwhile, drillers in the USA added two more working rigs last week, bringing the total to 888, the highest level since March 2015, according to Baker Hughes data. This comes as supply in the United States is surging. Babin added that the biggest surprise among the confluence of factors contributing to the sudden bear market for crude was the US issuing waivers to countries such as China and India so that they can continue to buy oil from Iran. The speculator group cut its combined futures and options positions on US and Brent crude during the week ended November 13 to the lowest since June 27, 2017. Weekly exchange data shows money managers hold a combined net long position equivalent to around 364 million barrels of USA and Brent crude futures and options, down from over 800 million barrels two months ago. Silence is often the only option for Palestinian women subject to domestic violence, Palestinian NGO workers say. Occupied East Jerusalem Soon after she was married, Nisreen bought her sister-in-law a handbag as a wedding gift. When she went to give it to her, she accidentally dropped it in the process. My sister-in-law told me my value had gone down now and refused the gift, Nisreen A, 54, whose name has been changed to protect her privacy, told Al Jazeera. After this incident, Nisreens husband came back to their East Jerusalem home and hit her so hard he knocked her unconscious. He called my brother and said come take your sister, Nisreen explained. When my brother arrived he just shouted at me because of what I had done, she said. Nisreens story of abuse, which started only six months into her marriage, is one of many, Palestinian health workers told Al Jazeera, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem, where she resides. A recent report by Palestinian NGO Juzoor states that 55 percent of women living in East Jerusalem have experienced domestic violence. The report, titled Empowering Women in Marginalised East Jerusalem Communities, outlined that 50 percent of these women had their first exposure to domestic violence by age 15 or younger. Talking to Israeli authorities As East Jerusalem has been occupied by Israel since 1967, the duty of providing public services, including counselling centres and shelters, falls on the occupying state. However, for East Jerusalem Palestinians, turning to Israeli police or social workers is an absolute last resort. Juzoors spokesperson Majd Hardan said talking to Israeli service providers is being considered by the Palestinian community as betrayal, or as abandoning family structures. Family, in-laws, neighbours and friends believe the woman is asking the enemy for help, Hardan told Al Jazeera. She should take the pain and be silent, she said, explaining the mentality in East Jerusalem. Living in Jerusalems Old City, Nisreen never thought of going to the Israeli police. An Israeli social affairs officer came to the hospital when I was there. I said I had fallen on the ground, she explained, adding she couldnt say what her husband had done. I wont talk to them because of the stigma and for fear of losing custody of my sons. Occupation increases violence Hardan from Juzoor also stressed that the continual presence of Israeli soldiers and settlers in East Jerusalem has an effect on gender-based violence in the city. A lot of families dont accept women to leave the house, theyre afraid if they take the bus or transportation someone will hit on them or violate their freedom, Hardan said. This is a form of domestic violence; you cant keep them prisoner in the house just because you dont want them to go out and see soldiers and settlers. My husbands family always tell him that Im not good, you must hit her, you have to be stronger, Nisreen A. said [Tessa Fox/Al Jazeera] Nisreen has stayed married for 32 years and, even after having three sons, the abuse never ceased. She said that as they grew up, they started to abuse her as well, adopting their fathers traits. They forbid me to leave the house. I have to lie to get out; I say that Im going to the doctor or have a meeting somewhere, Nisreen explained. Im constantly scared because they threaten me by [for example] throwing a chair right next to me, which makes my heart race. Family denial The issue of domestic violence transcends the boundaries of East Jerusalem and, just as Nisreen found no support from her brother when she was abused, women in other areas of the occupied West Bank face similar concerns. The village of Fasail, 14km north of Jericho in the Jordan Valley, has the highest recorded rate of sexual harassment in the West Bank, according to the Palestine Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA). Farida, a 40-year-old mother of six, was married at the young age of 17. She requested her name to be changed for safety concerns. I didnt know anything about married life, Farida told Al Jazeera while sitting out of sight of her children. My family said my new father-in-law would be like a father to me, and my mother-in-law like a new mother. Farida still lives in Fasail, though in the home behind her husband and his second wife. She recalled the time three days after her marriage when her father-in-law sexually abused her. He would touch me in inappropriate places, so I told my aunt and my husbands brother about the situation. They said maybe it was by accident, that he didnt mean to touch me. After delivering her first child two years later, she received guests in the family home for a celebration. After everyone had left, her father-in-law repeated the abuse. He grabbed me from my hand and led me to the kitchen. He wanted to rape me, he was touching me in inappropriate places. I was lucky I could run, Farida said, breathing heavily to hold back tears as she spoke. I cannot forget what happened that day, and I cant remember why I didnt scream. When Farida told the rest of the family about the incident, she was called a liar, a title she has borne to this day. You cant argue with this kind of community, they wont confess they did anything wrong. Instead, her husbands family threatened to take her son from her and stopped providing her with money she needed to live comfortably. Entrenched patriarchal norms YWCA Jericho coordinator Aman Hammad points to entrenched patriarchal family structures in the Palestinian territories as a major factor in the levels of domestic abuse. Particularly in Fasail, girls are not allowed to leave the village for work or educational opportunities from a young age, subsequently leaving them powerless and financially dependent. If they move around a lot, it means shes a bad girl and she wont have an opportunity to be married afterwards, Hammad told Al Jazeera. The community starts to think theyve experienced things or are prone to many factors that could harm her or affect her reputation. Jericho Governorate Gender Unit Manager Samah Salman mentioned that girls are raised to serve men. It reinforces the stereotype of men being better, in all aspects of life. They take control of decision-making, inheritances go to men, land can only be registered in mens names and even at home, men should eat first, Salman told Al Jazeera. The 37-year-old Duchess is now pregnant with their first child and is beginning to show a baby bump under her outfits. Ian Vogler/Pool via REUTERS Britain's Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, raises her glass as she attends a state dinner at Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji October 23, 2018. Her look, which featured a low back, was in contrast to the Duchess of Cambridge's past choices for the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium, which has seen Kate opt for long-sleeved dresses. Royal Variety Charity chairman Giles Cooper said the posy was to mark Meghan's first visit to the gala, which he said had one of the best line-ups in recent years. Samantha Markle has revealed she's planning to release her tell-all memoir in time to coincide with the birth of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's baby next year. Over time it has developed into the Royal Variety Performance many look forward to every holiday season. It was first held when King George V and Queen Mary attended what was then known as the " Royal Command Performance" at the Palace Theatre in London. It was Peepo! by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, a children's book and a teddy bear with a "gender-neutral" yellow ribbon. Expectant mother Meghan also met veteran boyband Take That as she made her debut appearance at the star-studded annual event. Afterwards, Jo recalled to Hello! about her greeting with Meghan: "I said congratulations and she thanked us". Last night's Royal Variety show saw the Duke and Duchess meet performers including Take That and the cast of hit West End musical Hamilton before taking their seats to watch the acts from the royal box. Nuns are joined by crowds in Kerala to demand justice for those who allege sexual abuse by powerful church figures. Kerala, India The Catholic Church in India is facing a trying time, with a growing protest movement in response to allegations of sexual assault by clergymen. In June, police in the southern Indian state of Kerala registered a case against the bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, in the northern state of Punjab. A nun had alleged that the bishop, Franko Mulakkal, had raped her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016 at a convent in Kerala. The nun is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation based in Jalandhar. The bishop was arrested but then released from prison on October 15 on bail on the condition that he presents himself in the police station once every fortnight. Five nuns of the same congregation have come out in support of the complainant. Six of them live in a convent in Kerala, under police protection. The events in India come as the Catholic church continues to face a crisis regarding sexual abuse allegations across the world [Raksha Kumar/Al Jazeera] A few weeks before the case involving Mulakkal, in a separate incident, Keralas Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church set up a panel of lawyers and priests to investigate allegations of sexual abuse by a woman from Thiruvalla, a town in Kerala. She accused five priests of using her confession to blackmail and sexually abuse her for several years. We intend to clean up the system and also seek justice to the nuns who have been wronged, said Father Augustine Vattoly of Eranakulam, Kerala. He now leads a newly formed umbrella organisation, Save Our Sisters (SOS), which was set up to fight for nuns who speak out, and is one of few church officials to back survivors. I trust that God will grant me justice. Survivor nun On November 14, about 250 churchgoers, womens rights activists and concerned citizens marched to the Kerala Government Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. In front of the North Gate of the building, they called for action to be taken against powerful clergymen. Fighting back tears, the nun in the case against Mulakkal said: Perhaps God chose me as a tool in this fight against injustice. M.Sylvester, a Kochi resident, said: All my life I have believed in the sanctity of the Church. I want that sanctity to be restored. Officially, all arms of the Church have come out in support of the accused priests. The October issue of Christward, a monthly magazine published by the Diocese of Jalandhar, of which Franco Mullakal was the bishop until recently, blamed pressure from the media and the scenario created by some sisters and their supporters for Mulakkals arrest in Kerala. Father Kuriakose, a priest with same Jalandhar diocese, was a witness in the rape case against the bishop. He was found dead in his room in October; no investigation was ordered into his death and the priests family suspects foul play. Nun viewed with suspicion Initially, the complaint against the bishop was viewed with suspicion. Many within the Catholic Church saw the nuns complaint as malicious, said Anita Cheria, a journalist and activist based in Bangalore. PC George, a member of the Kerala state legislative assembly who is also a Catholic, called the nun a prostitute. In a September press conference in Trivandrum, he said the victim nun is not eligible to be a nun, she has ceased to be a virgin the day she was abused the first time, but failed to question the celibacy of the accused bishop. However, as public pressure increased, church officials have made fewer statements. Protesters in Kerala have come out in support of those who claim to have been abused [Raksha Kumar/Al Jazeera] The fallout has highlighted a lack of infrastructure to deal with allegations of sexual harassment within the church. While India has the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013, churches and other religious institutions are not covered by it. Even if we assume that there was an internal committee set up, the Church is so prudish about sex that I am not sure how such complaints would be addressed within the setup, said Rima Thomas, a resident of Ernakulam. In October, Cheria, the journalist, wrote: Despite the passage of the CBCI Guidelines to Deal with Sexual Harassment at Work Place by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Indias standing committee in September 2016, these guidelines provided no support to the survivor nun. CBCI refers to the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. The Church has not formally acknowledged the nuns complaint. She has said that she was she forced to approach police after attempting and failing to communicate with church officials. Between September 8 and 21, five nuns staged a sit-in protest in Kochi in support of the alleged victim. She has been a kind soul who has helped us for nearly a decade, how can we not support her now? said Sister Anupama, a nun. Anupama has written to the Vatican several times demanding attention but says she has not received any letters in response. Despite the lack of action, the survivor nun, however, has not lost hope. I trust that God will grant me justice, she said. The Trump White House and the Saudi crown prince have been struggling with damage control after the Khashoggi murder. Oh what a tangled web we weave/when first we practice to deceive, are lines often attributed to Shakespeare that were, in fact, written in 1808 by the great Scottish bard Sir Walter Scott. But how well they describe the tangled web Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (known as MBS) has woven and now caught himself in with the brutal murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 this year. On October 3 in a wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg, MBS was asked about the disappearance of Khashoggi. His reply became the first Saudi narrative: My understanding is he entered (the consulate) and he got out after a few minutes or one hour. Subsequently, Saudi authorities took the line that Jamal Khashoggi had disappeared. They had no idea where he was. When Bloomberg asked MBS if he was still in the consulate, the crown prince answered, Hes not inside. That at any rate, as events were to show, was the truth. The Saudi authorities clung to the narrative of not knowing where Khashoggi was while smearing him in the domestic press and having friendly journalists in the West attempt to do the same. But the Turkish authorities began a drip-drip campaign, based on surreptitious recordings and CCTV images they held that soon undermined this initial narrative. So, the Saudis pursued another one: that Khashoggi had been accidentally killed after an argument and a fist fight broke out in the consulate. That, too, collapsed under the weight of the Turks relentlessly calculated release of information. {articleGUID} Then, a third line: Khashoggi had been strangled by a rogue agent and his body given to a mysterious Turkish collaborator to dispose of. Next, came yet another narrative the killing had been pre-meditated but that those responsible would be held accountable. And sure enough, 18 suspects were arrested. None of them was named. Then, on November 15, the public prosecutor announced, again without supplying any names, that 11 were being charged and he was seeking the death penalty for five of the men held. The rogue narrative was resuscitated. But instead of Khashoggi being strangled, the claim was that he had been killed by a lethal dose of a sedative. Within a few hours, the US Treasury Department released a list of 17 Saudi citizens facing sanctions under the Magnitsky Act. The list included Saud al-Qahtani, a senior adviser and very close confidante of MBS as well as Maher Mutreb, a senior security officer who was said to have led the attack on Khashoggi. Mutreb had frequently accompanied the crown prince on his foreign trips. It was all of a set piece: the Saudis would punish those they claimed as perpetrators and the US would follow suit with sanctions, all while sticking to the line that MBS was not involved. And to make sure the plan would run smooth, the White House also appointed a US ambassador to Riyadh after the post had been left vacant for almost two years. But major cracks in the Trump-Saudi arrangement remain. For example, Saud al-Qahtani is not, it appears, one of those being pursued by the Saudi judicial system, yet he is on the Treasury Department list because he is considered to be one of the key plotters. Ahmed al-Assiri, another very close confidante of MBS, is not on the Treasury list even though the Saudi public prosecutor has claimed that al-Assiri, without the knowledge of MBS, had approved a plan to bring Khashoggi to Riyadh by persuasion or force. So, one is on the US sanctions list and one is not, yet both are deeply implicated in the killing. At the same time, the Turkish government is not showing any signs of backing off. Just a day after the Saudi public prosecutions announcement, Turkish daily Hurriyet ran a column claiming that the authorities had a second tape of what went on in the Saudi consulate on October 2. Then, the same day, numerous US media outlets reported that the CIA has concluded that MBS personally ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. The president announced he was going to think about things while calling Saudi Arabia a truly spectacular ally. All this effort has been put into pushing suspicion away from MBS because President Trump would really like to keep him in power. There are three reasons for this. The first is the so-called deal of the century cobbled together by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and MBS. The Saudis are seen as crucial to arm-twisting the Palestinians into accepting the deal. {articleGUID} The second is the alliance against Iran. The presidents national security adviser, John Bolton, has long advocated for regime change there but the Americans dont want to repeat the Iraq fiasco so they want regional players that is the Israelis, the Saudis and the Emiratis to provide the military muscle should Boltons dangerous fantasy threaten to become reality. The third factor in Trumps calculations is his desire to ensure that MBS manages oil prices so that the US economy doesnt suffer negative consequences from the oil sanctions on Iran, as he begins his campaign for re-election. There are, however, potentially lethal consequences for Trumps political career if he insists on standing by the crown prince. The midterm elections swung control of Congress to the Democrats who would like nothing better than to hold the presidents feet to the fire over his handling of the Khashoggi killing. And as the impact of the midterm results begins to take hold the Republicans lost key support in suburban America the GOP may start to rethink whether Trump is indeed able to win the next presidential election. Meanwhile, European pressure on Saudi Arabia is growing; Germany just announced it is halting all arms sales to the Saudi state and imposing an entry ban on 18 Saudi nationals suspected of being directly involved in the killing. Still, what plays in MBSs favour is the fact that any serious challengers, such as former Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed Bin Nayef and the former head of the National Guard Miteb Bin Abdullah, have already been sidelined and others such as his uncle Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz are considered too weak and ineffectual to bring change within the House of Saud. Nonetheless, the damage to MBS reputation is profound and largely irreparable. The Western media, foreign businesses and politicians will no longer be able to fete him as a great moderniser and visionary pulling his desert kingdom into the 21st century. Now, he will forever be seen for what he is: a reckless authoritarian thug who uses murder as a weapon to silence those who criticise him. Were MBS able to rewind the clock, one wonders, would he repeat his blunder? Would he weave the same web? Unfortunately, the answer is yes, he probably would. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Ethiopia needs both accountability and reconciliation to come to terms with its violent and divisive past. Since November 9, the Ethiopian government has arrested more than 60 leading figures from the National Intelligence Service and Security (NISS) and the state-owned conglomerate Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC). They stand accused of committing egregious human rights and participating in organised corruption. This is the biggest campaign of mass arrests targeting powerful figures from the security and military establishment since the reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power seven months ago. Days after the top leadership of two of the most powerful institutions in the country were charged, Ahmeds cabinet approved draft legislation on the establishment of a National Peace and Reconciliation Commission with the objective of healing the deep social wounds left by years of repression under previous Ethiopian governments. While Ethiopia certainly needs both accountability and reconciliation to come to terms with its violent and divisive past, it is not clear how the government aims to reconcile the two processes. While legal accountability and reconciliation are not incompatible, they are nevertheless separate processes, with their own unique procedures and different goals. Prosecution emphasises punishment and vengeance, while reconciliation underscores healing. Prosecution is governed by the strict rules of criminal procedure and focuses on an uncovering the truth about a particular crime and delivering individualised justice. Reconciliation, on the other hand, is not governed by strict legalistic procedures and its primary aim is to help the entire nation confront the past by producing as complete a picture of what happened as possible. Pursuing prosecutorial justice while at the same time promoting reconciliation of a highly divided society, particularly in a highly fragile setting in which decades of state-sponsored acts of terror and violence resulted in the gradual rupture of the social fabric, requires a strategic and holistic integration of the processes, as well as careful planning. Detestable crimes Announcing the charges against the accused, Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye revealed gruesome details of heinous crimes committed by security forces. Tsegaye accused the top leadership of the Ethiopian intelligence of torturing political detainees suspected of holding critical views of the government, using cruel methods such as waterboarding, gang rape, electric shocks, hanging suspects on a tree and beating them, and tying suspects naked to a tree overnight. The attorney general also accused METEC, the largest military-industrial conglomerate in the country tasked with building major projects, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), of perpetrating an outrageous plunder of the national wealth. A recent documentary produced by Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN) and broadcasted by several state TV channels shows how ships, cranes and aeroplanes were purchased without any formal bids for the private gain of certain individuals. The corporation, which was established as part of Ethiopias ambitious Growth and Transformation Plan, is blighted by incompetence, nepotism, militarised patronage, and impunity it is nothing but a grand embezzlement scheme. While the routine use of torture and the plunder of national wealth by a criminal underworld comprised of members of the national intelligence, financial institutions, and other key state sectors had already been well documented by human rights organisations in the past, the latest revelations provided more substance to these allegations. As a country undergoing a complex period of transition, Ethiopia should hold to account those who perpetrated these detestable crimes which have torn apart the nation. Under these conditions, the legal prosecution can be an integral part of a multipronged institutional response to state-sponsored acts of violence and organised plunder. It can contribute to the creation of a culture of accountability and strengthen the rule of law. Reconciliation or justice? However, the legal prosecution of these criminals would not heal the deep wounds and repair the social fabric ripped apart by decades of violence and antagonism. In her seminal book titled, Between Vengeance and Forgiveness: Facing History after Genocide and Mass Violence, Martha Minow writes, when the societal goals include restoring dignity to victims, offering a basis for individual healing, and promoting reconciliation across a divided nation, a truth commission again may be as or more powerful than prosecutions. For those subjected to torture and other forms of rights abuses, a trial is unlikely to heal their wounds or restore their trust in public authority. As Holocaust survivor Jean Amery wrote in his famous essay, Torture, whoever was tortured, stays tortured. Torture is ineradicably burned into him, even when no clinically objective traces can be detected. The adversarial nature of the criminal trial, the minimal role of victims in the proceedings, and the specific nature of truth and justice pursued in criminal justice makes trials a rather limited instrument for healing and reconciliation. Decades of state-sponsored violence left behind an institutional culture of impunity and a collective trauma that will continue to haunt the Ethiopian body-politic. Coming to terms with this painful past requires both accountability and a peace and reconciliation process that allows for a comprehensive official investigation and a public acknowledgement of the abuses and harms done. An online survey of more than 2,700 individuals revealed that 77 percent of those surveyed are not prepared to forgive individuals accused of torture and other grave atrocities, even if the accused are willing to tell the whole truth and acknowledge their wrongdoings fully and unreservedly. While the urge for retribution is understandable, the way the government reconciles the apparent tension between these two processes can go a long way in channelling the desire for vengeance towards a commitment to forgiveness and peaceful coexistence. Making a clean break with the past and charting a new path towards democracy is no easy feat. But if these processes are to serve as a bridge to help Ethiopia transition from a painful and divisive past to a democratic future committed to human rights and human dignity, the government should consider at least the following. First, the law creating the Peace and Reconciliation Commission must establish a threshold test for the type of cases that will be prosecuted. This is critical not only to guarantee the credibility, legitimacy and integrity of the process but also to minimise the likelihood of politicisation of both processes. Second, the law must place victims at the centre of the process, allowing them a proper place and voice to share their experiences and articulate a coherent and comprehensive narrative of what happened. Third, the government must grant and guarantee a fair trial for all those it prosecutes. The way the government reconciles the apparent tension between these two processes can go a long way in channelling the desire for vengeance towards a commitment to forgiveness and peaceful coexistence. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The two air strikes on Monday took place near Debatscile, the US Africa Command says. The US military says it has carried out air raids against al-Shabab in Somalia, killing at least 37 suspected fighters. In a statement on Tuesday, the US Africa Command (US AFRICOM) said the two attacks on Monday took place near Debatscile. Air strikes reduce al-Shababs ability to plot future attacks, disrupt its leadership networks, and degrade its freedom of manoeuvre within the region, the statement said. We currently assess these strikes did not kill or injure any civilians. There was no immediate reaction from al-Shabab, which is fighting to overthrow Somalias internationally recognised government. Somali government officials have also not commented on the statement. Al-Shabaab Degraded by U.S., Federal Government of Somalia https://t.co/zcu8kQcere pic.twitter.com/12Kxv50aRU US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) November 20, 2018 US military involvement in Somalia has grown since President Donald Trump approved expanded operations against al-Shabab early in his term. Dozens of drone attacks followed, while this year there have been more than 20 air raids against the group. Late last year, the military also carried out its first air raid against a small presence of fighters linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, known as ISIS) group in northern Somalia. Since the expanded operations, two US military personnel have been killed in Somalia. A soldier died in May 2017 during an operation about 64km west of the capital, Mogadishu. In June, another US soldier was killed and four others were wounded in an enemy attack as Somali and Kenyan forces came under mortar and small-arms fire in Jubaland. The US currently has about 500 military personnel in the Horn of Africa nation. Al-Shabab was pushed out of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in recent years but continues to control rural areas in the south and central regions. The al-Qaeda-linked group has been carrying our bomb and gun attacks for more than a decade. Police say men were planning attack in Melbourne with the aim of killing as many people as possible. Australian police arrested three men they say were preparing a terrorist attack in Melbourne, the countrys second biggest city, less than two weeks after a man was killed in a rampage that police said was inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL). Australian federal and state police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and other agencies that form part of the countrys Joint Counter Terrorism Team carried out the arrests on Tuesday morning. The three men Australians of Turkish descent aged 30, 26 and 21 will be charged with terrorism-related offences in a Melbourne court later on Tuesday. They will face life in prison if found guilty, police said. The three were taken into custody after they allegedly sought to acquire a semi-automatic weapon to carry out an attack. We now have sufficient evidence to act in relation to preventing a terrorist attack, Graham Ashton, chief commissioner of Victoria Police, told reporters. Police said although the suspects had yet to decide on the site of their planned attack, they believed the act was imminent. Crowds were target They were certainly looking at a place of mass gathering, where there would be crowds, Ashton said. They were trying to focus on trying to have a place where they could kill as many people as possible. Police said they believed the arrests had neutralised any further threat. Australia, an ally of the United States, has deployed troops to Afghanistan and Iraq. The country has been on heightened alert since 2014 for attacks by those returning from fighting in the Middle East or their supporters. Police said the three men were known to authorities and their passports had been cancelled earlier this year because of concerns they would travel to a conflict zone overseas. The arrests come less than two weeks after a man set fire to a pick-up truck laden with gas cylinders in the centre of Melbourne and stabbed three people, killing one, before being shot by police. Like that attacker, police said the three men detained on Tuesday had been inspired by ISIL rather than directed by the armed group. Friends Sergio Caceres and Daniel Folgar hope to find work in US to be able to afford treatment for their conditions. Tijuana, Mexico Lying in the shade in a little green strip between a walkway and a fence in the Tijuana stadium-turned-shelter for Central American migrants and refugees, Daniel Folgar launches into a chronology of the bones he has broken and re-broken. He has dislocated his right hip six times; repeatedly broken both femurs; and his knees have metal screws. My height and growth was no longer normal, says 49-year-old Folgar, who is 1.4m tall, as his crutches rest against the fence next to him. Folgar suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder, also known as brittle bone disease. There is no known cure. Doctors in his home country, Guatemala, recommended he avoid falling and suggested calcium supplements to help strengthen his bones. But Folgar has not been able to afford those, he says. I practically have no family. I have not been able to work, he adds, explaining that he hopes to find work in the US to support himself and afford supplements. Job opportunities are scarce in Guatemala, and even more so for people with disabilities. Sidewalks and streets are peppered with obstacles blocking the path for wheelchairs, and access to some government buildings and services involve stairs. Folgar arrived in Tijuana last week with hundreds of other participants of whats now being called the Central American exodus. Six thousand people are now at the US border in northwestern Mexico and thousands more are on their way, with the goal of applying for asylum in the United States. The journey has been gruelling, especially on Folgar who runs the risk of breaking or fracturing a bone. Hes found comfort though in a friendship with Sergio Caceres, who travelled with him for the more than 2,500km from Guadalajara, Mexico where they met. {articleGUID} Caceres, 40, has spent half his life wondering if things could be different. Twenty years ago, he suffered severe spinal cord injuries when he fell in the shower, Caceres says. One surgery improved the range of motion in his neck, but a potential second surgery to improve his leg function never happened. The doctor said it could only be done if I had money, Caceres says, adding that the surgeon told him the best option would be to try to get the surgery in the US. Caceres never had the money, however. Without work, he lived with his mother and stepfather in Villanueva, in northwestern Honduras. My country is very poor. The millionaires have all the money, he says. Sergio Caceres suffered spinal injuries 20 years ago [Sandra Cuffe/Al Jazeera] It was only a year ago that he received a wheelchair, making such a long journey to the US border possible. I would have never made it all the way here with the walker, Caceres says, explaining he was unable to use the seat to rest because he would always slip off. Strict border measures Now, thousands of kilometres away from their homes, both Caceres and Folgar, are in for a long wait. The two friends, like most of those part of the collective exodus, plan on crossing into the US, but due to the Trump administrations zero tolerance policy and recent extreme measures, their futures seem uncertain. {articleGUID} On Monday, US border officials shut down all northbound lanes at the San Ysidro vehicle crossing for roughly three hours in order to further fortify the area, according to Department of Homeland Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Last month, US President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 US military troops to the border. Since then theyve been installing concertina wire along fences. Nielsen tweeted Mondays lane closures came after border officials were notified that a large [number] of caravan migrants were planning to rush the border. No such rush occurred, and Pueblo Sin Fronteras, the cross-border social movement group accompanying the exodus, condemned the measure and Nielsens message as ways to stoke anger and impatience against the refugees. Nielsens false comments about the Refugee Exodus are a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and demonize refugees fleeing government-sponsored violence and displacement, Pueblos Sin Fronteras said in a statement Monday. Migrants and refugees queue for aid in a shelter in Tijuana [Hannah McKay/Reuters] Separately on Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked Trumps latest measure to restrict asylum seekers, which including barring those who cross between official ports of entry from being eligible for asylum. Whatever the scope of the Presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden, Judge John Tigar wrote in his ruling. The ruling is an important victory for asylum seekers, but other measures also have advocates and immigrants worried. Proposed rules may make it harder Under proposed changes to the definition of what constitutes a public charge, immigrants seeking green cards or other visas would be judged negatively if they may use public assistance programmes, including food stamps, non-emergency Medicaid and housing vouchers. Rights groups say the change will adversely affect people with disabilities. The proposed public charge rule would discriminate against immigrants on the basis of disability and scare people with chronic illnesses away from getting the healthcare they need to thrive, Madison Hardee, a Center for Law and Social Policy Lawyer and Senior Policy Analyst, told Al Jazeera in an email. Sergio Caceres rests beside his wheelchair in Arriaga, Mexico [Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo] More than 1,500 community, social services, religious, non-profit and other groups have signed a letter opposing the proposed rule change, which the public can comment on until December 10. Immigrants hoping for a future in the US shouldnt be afraid to apply for health programmes but if this rule moves forward, they will, Hardee said. It is critically important for health and disability rights advocates to fight alongside anti-poverty and immigrant rights groups to oppose this discriminatory proposal. Back at the Tijuana stadium, the immediate goal for Folgar and Caceres, however, is to figure out what to do next. {articleGUID} Despite the challenges, the two new friends remain positive. Folgar is extremely thankful to everyone who has sheltered, fed, and otherwise supported the Central American migrants and refugees throughout Mexico. He is hoping for the same kind of humanitarian assistance and compassion from the US. Philippines needs to show value of China relationship with $24bn in loans and investment mostly undelivered. Xi Jinping arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday for the first state visit by a Chinese president in 13 years, with the administration of Rodrigo Duterte under pressure to show there is value in its pivot to China. The state visit comes two years after Duterte declared he would pursue a more independent foreign policy, shifting the Philippines away from the United States and towards China in the hope of receiving billions of dollars for infrastructure development. The government needs to show that its concessions, its pivot to China, are actually worth it, said Jamela Alindogan, Al Jazeeras Manila correspondent. It needs to show to the general public that its choice to move away from its long-standing ally, the United States, is beneficial. China has pledged about $24bn in loans and investments, although just three of dozens of planned projects have broken ground. Xi and Duterte are expected to release a joint statement at the end of the two-day visit. A rainbow In a commentary published in Mondays Philippine Star newspaper, Xi praised Duterte and described ties as being a rainbow after the rain and repeatedly called for the proper handling of rows over the South China Sea. China has become increasingly assertive over the sea, which it claims in its entirety. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia also have territorial claims over parts of the waterway. But Dutertes handling of the issue has frustrated some Filipinos, who say he has been too submissive by refusing to criticise Chinas military build-up or seek its compliance with a 2016 arbitration award that invalidated Beijings claim to the sea. While public opinion has been largely supportive of Dutertes presidency, surveys show persistent reservations about his China policy and disdain for the US. A cautious diplomat A Social Weather Stations survey released late on Monday showed 84 percent of Filipinos felt it was wrong not to oppose Chinas militarisation of its man-made islands, and 86 percent believed it was right to strengthen the Philippine military, especially the navy. The poll of 1,200 people conducted in late September also showed trust in the US remained very good, but China was considered poor. A small protest took place outside Chinas embassy in Manila on Tuesday. Asked about the survey, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Dutertes strategy was to avoid a potential inferno of conflict while reaping the rewards of improved business ties. They are not aware of the real geopolitics in the region. The president is a very cautious diplomat, Panelo told news channel ANC. Rather than provoke, hed rather talk with them and get some trade relations that will benefit this country. Some analysts note despite the so-called reorientation of foreign policy, relations with the US remain healthy. Bells return In terms of optics and in terms of rhetoric the president would seem to be moving away from the old alliance, but if you scratch beneath the surface you will see that defence cooperation with the US remains very much robust, Lucio Blanco Pitlo, a lecturer in the Chinese Studies Programme at Ateneo de Manila University, told Al Jazeera. Recent reports that the US will repatriate the Balangiga Bells [also] bodes well for the improvement of relations. Panelo acknowledged Chinas promised benefits were yet to materialise, but said Duterte was not scared to speak up. This is the best time for the president to exert pressure on the Chinese president, he said. Knowing the man, hell do that, hes that kind of person. Other Philippine experts say delays in securing Chinese credit could be a blessing given the potential debt burden, echoing a warning delivered by US Vice President Mike Pence. Rights group says activists arrested by Saudi Arabia this year faced sexual harassment and torture. Saudi activists, including women, arrested in a government crackdown this year have faced sexual harassment and torture during interrogation, Amnesty International said. Since May, the kingdom has held at least 10 women and seven men on vague national security allegations related to their human rights work. Those arrested include Loujain al-Hathloul, Eman al Nafjan and Aziza al-Yousef, who campaigned for the right to drive before the decades-long ban was lifted in June. The activists, held in Dhahban prison on the western Red Sea coast, faced repeated electrocution and flogging, leaving some of them unable to stand or walk, Amnesty said in a report on Tuesday, citing three separate testimonies. At least one activist was made to hang from a ceiling and another woman was sexually harassed by interrogators wearing face masks, the UK-based rights group added. Many of those arrested were accused of undermining security and aiding enemies of the state. Some were subsequently released, but those still held include al-Yousef, a retired professor at Riyadhs King Saud University, Amnesty said. Horrendous physical suffering The groups report comes as Saudi Arabia faces intense global criticism over the killing of insider-turned-critic Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate on October 2, which tipped the kingdom into one of its worst crises. 4- A mere few weeks after the ruthless killing of #JamalKashoggi these reports are extremely worrying. The international community must put pressure on Saudi to immediately and unconditionally release all those jailed for peacefully exercising their human rights lynn maalouf (@lynn_maalouf) November 20, 2018 Only a few weeks after the ruthless killing of Jamal Khashoggi, these shocking reports of torture, sexual harassment and other forms of ill-treatment, if verified, expose further outrageous human rights violations by the Saudi authorities, Lynn Maalouf, Amnestys Middle East research director, said. In addition to detaining the activists simply for peacefully expressing their views, they are also subjecting them to horrendous physical suffering, added Maalouf. Some of the jailed activists had uncontrolled shaking of the hands and marks on their bodies. One of them reportedly attempted to take her own life repeatedly inside the prison, Amnesty said. White House stands by Saudi Arabia meanwhile @amnesty releases new report on torture and sexual violence against Saudi activists https://t.co/aEr2DqzpgU https://t.co/0bV8z4DMUL Louise Allen (@AllenLouiseA) November 20, 2018 Many of the activists are being held without charge or legal representation, Amnesty said. Al-Hathloul, an activist in her late 20s, was held in solitary confinement for around three months after her May arrest, a person close to her told The Associated Press. She was forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia earlier this year from the United Arab Emirates, where she was pursuing a masters degree in Abu Dhabi. Her husband was pressured into divorcing her after he too was forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia from Jordan, where he was working, according to the individual, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions. There was no immediate reaction to the Amnesty report from Saudi authorities. Riyadh has, in the past, denied using torture and said that arrests were made on the basis of suspicious contacts with foreign entities and offering financial support to enemies overseas. ECHR says extensions to his detention for last two years are not justified, calling end to his pre-trial imprisonment. A lawyer of Selahattin Demirtas, a pro-Kurdish opposition politician in Turkey, has applied for his release, shortly after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that his pre-trial imprisonment was unjustified and urged his release. In Tuesdays judgment, the top human rights court accepted that Demirtas, who has been in jail since November 2016, had been arrested on reasonable suspicion of having committed a criminal offence. But the ECHR said judicial authorities had extended the politicians imprisonment on grounds that could not be regarded as sufficient to justify its duration. It added that his pre-trial imprisonment interfered with his freedom of expression as he could not take part in parliament activities as an elected MP. Later on Tuesday, Benan Molu, one of the the politicians lawyers, told Al Jazeera that an application for Demirtass release had been filed to the Ankara court responsible for the case. The lawyers expect the court to make the decision to release Demirtas as soon as possible as instructed by the ECHR judgment, she added. Later on Tuesday, Demirtas released a short statement which said: My position as a political hostage has been legally confirmed. Demirtas, 45, was a co-leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP). He, along with several other former HDP members of parliament, has been in jail for two years on the charge of having links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party ( PKK ), which has been fighting the Turkish army for more autonomy since the 1980s. Demirtas was arrested after his immunity as MP was lifted earlier in 2016. Demirtas denies the charges. His trial began in December last year and he faces up to 142 years in prison. He received his first sentencing last September for carrying out terrorist propaganda for a speech he made in 2013. Ulterior purpose The ECHR said in its judgment the extensions of his detention were beyond reasonable doubt, especially during his campaigns for April 2017 constitutional referendum and June 2018 presidential election. [The extensions of detention] had pursued the predominant ulterior purpose of stifling pluralism and limiting freedom of political debate, which was at the very core of the concept of a democratic society, the courts statement said. {articleGUID} The Court therefore held, unanimously, that the respondent state was to take all necessary measures to put an end to the applicants pre-trial detention, it added. The former HDP co-leader was his partys presidential candidate in the last elections and campaigned against the constitutional changes in 2017. He tried to campaign from the prison through social media in both cases. Amnesty Internationals senior Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner said the ECHRs judgment on the Demirtas case has an immense importance, not only for the politician but for the judicial system in Turkey. {articleGUID} It is the first time the court found a violation according to the Article 18 of the convention. In line with that, the judgment says Demirtass detention is not only unjustified, but also politically motivated. For the court to declare this is huge, he told Al Jazeera. This is meaningful not only for this particular case, but for all the cases of journalists, activists and human rights defenders, who are in prison on unjustified charges in Turkey. This decision can be made equally in their cases, he added. Gardner also said Demirtas should be released right away as the court made it clear that the only way to implement its judgment is to end his pre-trial custody. In his first comments after the ECHR judgment, Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul was quoted by the state media that the court responsible for the case will make the decision on the issue, but added that the ECHR judgments are part of domestic law. Turkey is one of the 47 signatories of the European Convention on Human Rights that established the supranational human rights court, which makes legally binding verdicts on the cases related to the signatories in question. Follow Umut Uras on Twitter: @Um_Uras Attacker detonates explosives at wedding hall where hundreds of religious figures marked Prophet Muhammads birthday. Dozens of people have been killed in a powerful suicide bomb blast that targeted a large gathering of top religious figures in Afghanistans capital, Kabul, according to officials. Wahid Majroh, health ministry spokesperson, said Tuesdays explosion killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 70 others. He added that the death toll could rise further as many of those injured were in critical condition. Najib Danish, interior ministry spokesperson, said a suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside a large wedding hall where hundreds of scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the birthday of Islams Prophet Muhammad. I heard the explosion, I just managed to take my cousin out of there who was seriously wounded, Ahmad Fahim said lying in a hospital bed. But when I got here, I realised that I was wounded as well. Religious studies lecturer Mohammad Hanif said verses of the Quran were being recited when there was a deafening explosion followed by chaos inside the packed hall. More than 60 or 70 people were martyred, Hanif, 31, told the AFP news agency outside a trauma facility run by Italian NGO Emergency. He escaped unhurt. They suffered burns, everyone in the halls was screaming for help. A manager of Uranus Wedding Palace, which also hosts political and religious functions, told AFP a suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the gathering of religious scholars. There are a lot of casualties I myself have counted 30 casualties, he added, on the condition of anonymity. #KabulExplosion Dozens of ambulances rushed to the scene of tonights deadly bombing at a major wedding hall in the city center. Health officials said early indications are that over 40 people have been killed and dozens more wounded #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/YrTagLtPo6 TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) November 20, 2018 Officials at Kabuls Emergency Hospital said 30 ambulances had rushed to the blast site and more than 40 people were critically wounded. Day of mourning Afghanistans President Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the attack and declared Wednesday a day of national mourning, his spokesperson, Haroon Chakhansuri, wrote on Twitter. The President declared tomorrow, November 21, a national day of mourning following the horrendous attack. The national flag will be flown at half-mast all over Afghanistan and Afghan diplomatic missions abroad. Haroon Chakhansuri (@hchakhansuri) November 20, 2018 There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The Taliban condemned the attack in a WhatsApp message. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group have stepped up attacks on Kabul. In June, a suicide attack targeting Muslim scholars who had gathered in a tent near Kabuls Polytechnic University killed at least seven people. Russian prosecutors on Monday accused Bill Browder, a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin, of ordering the murder of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and several other business associates - the latest in a string of efforts to discredit one of the most vocal advocates of sanctions against the regime. "It was his government that cheated and hacked in elections in the United States and Europe", Browder said of Putin. "To put his representative in charge of the most important worldwide crime-fighting organisation is like putting the mafia in charge, and that will only lead to bad things going forward". He died a year later in a Moscow prison, after he was reportedly assaulted and denied proper medical treatment. Browder, the British head of investment fund Hermitage Capital Management, has led a campaign to expose corruption and punish Russian officials he blames for the 2009 death of Sergei Magnitsky, whom he had employed as a lawyer, in a Moscow jail. Interpol itself won't comment on the upcoming vote. A decade later he was elected to a vice president position in the organisation. The president oversees the executive committee, which meets a few times a year and decides Interpol's strategy and direction. The accusations are the latest chapter in an ongoing battle between the Kremlin and Browder, a US -born Briton who was once the biggest foreign investor in Russian Federation but fell afoul of the government and is now a foe of President Vladimir Putin. Interpol is due to elect a new head on November 21 and four U.S. senators, including Marco Rubio, published a joint statement on Monday urging the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to oppose the candidacy of Russia's Alexander Prokopchuk. "This is probably a certain kind of interference in the electoral process of an global organization", Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call. The victor will serve the last two years of Meng Hongwei's original four-year mandate. Human Rights Watch warned that Meng's election would "embolden and encourage abuses" in the Interpol system. "On the eve of Interpol deciding whether a Russian official should be president of Interpol, the Russian prosecutor's office holds a huge press conference about me and how they will chase me down anywhere in the world", he tweeted. Meng is now under arrest in China as part of a possible domestic political purge - hence the vote to replace him. Interpol members voted previous year to admit Palestine as a member, causing an uproar in Israel. Filipinos protest against Dutertes new China deals Critics worry about increasing Chinese influence in the South China Sea and say the government needs to prove that these agreements with China will be worthwhile for Filipinos. Hodeidah residents report most intense fighting in days as UN envoy lays groundwork for peace talks in Sweden. Fighting between the Saudi-UAE coalition and Houthi rebels in Yemen has flared up again around the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, despite the United Nations calls for a ceasefire there, Yemeni officials and witnesses say. Saudi-UAE coalition planes launched at least 10 air raids on positions held by the Houthis late on Monday, witnesses told Al Jazeera. The rebels fired artillery in response. Earlier on Monday, Yemens internationally recognised government said it would attend UN-backed talks next month to put an end to the violence. The announcement came hours after the Houthis said they were ready for a broader ceasefire, but only if the coalition forces backing the Yemeni government want peace. Al Jazeeras Mohammed Adow, reporting from neighbouring Djibouti, said residents of Hodeidah spoke of the most intense fighting in days. Most of the fighting is happening around the 7th of July neighbourhood, about 4km from the port. The warring parties are using mortars and machine guns to attack each other since last night. {articleGUID} The Houthis are adamant that they did not start the latest round of violence. One Houthi official we spoke to this morning said you will see these kind of flare-ups as we grow closer to peace talks, because everyone wants to come to these talks in a position of strength, Adow reported. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to talk to reporters; the witnesses did so for fear for their safety. The Saudi-UAE coalition, backed by the United States, has been attempting to retake Hodeidah from the rebels since last summer with its forces now only several kilometres from the port, Yemens traditional lifeline. The renewed Hodeidah fighting is a blow to the UN efforts to end the three-year war. Martin Griffiths, UNs special envoy for Yemen, had announced on Friday that both sides had agreed to attend peace talks in Sweden soon. The internationally backed government said on Monday that it would attend, but also insisted the Houthis do so unconditionally. The coalition has been battling the rebels on the side of Yemens internationally recognised government since March 2015 in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed much of the country to the brink of starvation. Meanwhile, a new draft UN resolution, circulated by the United Kingdom in the UN Security Council, is calling for the cessation of hostilities in Hodeidah and other places that are critical to the aid delivery to Yemen. {articleGUID} Kuwait, currently the only Arab member of the UNSC, has been under pressure from the Saudi-UAE coalition to reject the resolution. The Kuwaiti ambassador to the UN told journalist on Monday that he did not think it would be helpful if they put this draft up for a vote this week. As international pressure on Saudi Arabia and the UAE increased, the Gulf nations pledged a new $500m food aid programme for Yemen on Tuesday. The programme was announced by Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, general supervisor of Saudi Arabias King Salman Centre for Humanitarian Relief and Works, at a joint press conference in Riyadh with Reem al-Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation. Another convicted given a life sentence for part in carnage that killed nearly 3,000 people. A court in India has sentenced to death a man convicted of murder during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that left nearly 3,000 people dead, following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The 1984 carnage erupted just hours after Prime Minister Gandhi was killed by her Sikh bodyguards. The violence, which occurred mostly in the capital New Delhi, lasted three days when Sikhs were raped, murdered and burned alive, while their homes and businesses were torched. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey on Tuesday handed the death sentence to Yashpal Singh and a life sentence to Naresh Sherawat, both for murder, rioting and other charges. The pair were convicted last week of killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh, two men in their 20s, during the riots. The verdict was pronounced in the high-security Tihar Jail due to security concerns after the convicts were attacked on a New Delhi courts premises last week. Singh and Sherawat took out the victims, who were hiding inside a room, injured them with dangerous weapons with the intention to kill and threw them down from the first floor, causing their deaths, the judge said while delivering the punishment, according to The Hindu newspaper. Relatives of victims rejoiced after the judge announced the ruling, the first since 1996, which follows the setting up of a special probe in 2015. They said they were relieved that justice has been finally served and hoped that next up would be two former Congress ministers, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. Ray of hope Government-appointed commissions in the past failed to prosecute more than a handful in minor cases. Indias top investigating agency blamed Kumar for inciting the mobs, but he was acquitted by a court in 2013. Amarinder Singh, Punjabs chief minister, welcomed the ruling in a Twitter post, saying that he hoped others involved in the attacks are also soon brought to book for their horrendous and inhuman acts. Welcome the first conviction by a Delhi court in the 1984 riots case. Justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the heinous crimes. Hope the others involved in the attacks are also soon brought to book for their horrendous and inhuman acts. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 20, 2018 Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a politician from Punjab, said the verdict gave Sikhs a ray of hope. We will not rest till the last murderer is brought to justice, she added in a post on Twitter. At 20 million, Sikhs make up a little under two percent of Indias population of 1.25 billion. Reaching for the stars, the International Space Station celebrates 20 years in orbit. By Six months after general election, parties are still wrangling for ministerial posts to form a new government. Beirut, Lebanon After nearly a decade of turbulent politics and postponed elections, Lebanon held its first general election since 2009 this May. Six months later, parties are still wrangling for ministerial slots to form a government. A country defined by a rigid sectarian political balance where custom dictates how cabinet seats are allocated, Lebanon is no stranger to political stalemate. Back in 2009, it took five months to form a government, and it took twice as long to appoint a new one in 2014. But with concerns that an already-frail economy could go into a dangerous tailspin, a new government is urgently needed to launch the fiscal reforms required to unlock billions of dollars in conditional loans and grants Lebanon secured from lenders in April. Along with the high stakes and dizzying political horse-trading, results from the new proportional electoral system, first used in May, have complicated the cabinet formation talks ongoing for months. The complexity is compounded by regional and international dynamics: the Saudi Arabia-Iran regional rivalry, the future of the Syrian regime next door and the attention these issues attract from Washington. Political representation There are several factors behind the hold-up, but at the core of it is the political equilibrium at both the national and regional level, Johnny Mounayar, a political commentator, told Al Jazeera. Each side has its own calculations. At a recent press conference in Beirut, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said he has a government line-up ready, but that Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shia paramilitary-cum-political movement, is obstructing the formation of a national unity government. {articleGUID} Constitutionally, it is the prime minister and presidents task to form a cabinet. However, in a country that recognises 18 official religious sects, all with a stake in governance, cabinet selection is more about political representation than technocratic efficiency. The countrys 15-year civil war was brought to an end in 1990 through a power-sharing system that divided the legislature equally among Muslims and Christians, reinforcing an older formula that dictated the president must be Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of parliament a Shia Muslim. Hariris comments addressed Hezbollahs demand that one of their Sunni allies be awarded a ministerial seat, which would come out of the premiers share a request Hariri rejects outright. The way Hariri sees it is that he has the exclusive power of the Sunnis, said political analyst Kamal Wazne. But the election results show[ed] there is a portion of the Sunnis that did not side with the mainstream. Sunni tangle Hariris Saudi-backed Future Movement (FM) party suffered losses in the May parliamentary election: out of 27 legislative seats allocated to Sunnis, Hariris bloc secured only 17 a result Hariri blamed on the new electoral system. Although FM still represents a majority of Sunni voters, for the first time, Hariri no longer monopolises representation of the Sunni community. The PM-designate does not want to acknowledge an outcome in which 40 percent of Sunni MPs were elected out of his political power, said Wazne. {articleGUID} The whole issue is about fair representation in government, Wazne told Al Jazeera, explaining Hezbollahs rationale for insisting its Sunni allies be granted a ministerial portfolio. So, excluding them is actually not democratic. Lebanons cabinet mirrors the allotment of parliamentary seats. Its 30-minister cabinet is split equally between Christians and Muslims, divided in turn among each confessions sects. Sunnis receive six seats in the Muslim share, Shia get another six, and Druze get three. The cabinet must also reflect electoral results. While there is no official ratio of parliamentary seats to cabinet roles, it is largely understood among political leaders that a bloc of five or more MPs qualifies for one ministry. Enter the six MPs Hezbollah is lobbying for: they ran on separate parliamentary tickets. In other words, they do not constitute a single bloc an argument the Hariri camp has used to call Hezbollahs motives into question. The debate over the Sunni MPs, dubbed in Lebanon the Sunni tangle, is only the latest episode of political manoeuvering that has defined the formation talks. For months, Christian leaders debated how many seats to allot to the Lebanese Forces, one of the countrys largest parties and a rival of the presidents Free Patriotic Movement. An agreement was only reached in October. Foreign dynamics The Sunni tangle is a microcosm of Lebanons inter- and intra-sectarian politics, as well as entrenched foreign interests. Lebanons pluralism leads to this competition between factions and leaders, said Anthony Elghossain, a Lebanese-American writer focused on Washington-Beirut relations. That provides space for regional intervention, often because the leaders themselves recruit regional or international actors to participate in the politics of Lebanon. Hezbollahs demand for a single ministerial seat practically, doesnt change anything, but it is symbolic, said Mounayar. First, it would weaken Hariris position as the father of the Sunnis, a term he often uses himself. But it also serves as a marker of Saudi influence, somewhat derailed of late, in the face of Iranian sway over the country and neighbouring affairs, Mounayar said. The killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has strained Saudi Arabias ties with the international community. Iraqs recent parliamentary election tilted the scales in Irans favour even more than before. Meanwhile, in Yemen, the Saudis are being pressured into a ceasefire with the Houthis, backed by Iran. All these events indicate a game change, which in turn, is a relief for Hezbollah, Mounayar explained. The regional climate is appropriate for Hezbollah to nurture the insistence that the Sunni MPs outside Hariris camp be represented in the cabinet, he said. Some of these MPs are believed to have ties to Syrias regime, which Hezbollah has been fighting alongside during the countrys civil war. With that conflict nearing an end, granting a cabinet seat to an affiliated MP could strengthen Damascus and Tehrans influence over Lebanese politics. The Kamal there is a portion of the Sunnis that did not side with the mainstream] In recent weeks, the US expanded financial sanctions on Hezbollah, as well as individuals or entities who knowingly assist, support, recruit, or fundraise for the group. Reports have surfaced of Washington delivering a message to Hariri, subtly warning against Hezbollah being awarded the Health Ministry, often categorized as a service ministry, in reference to the patronage system practised and endorsed by Lebanons sectarian leaders. To some in Washington, the ministry appears to be an avenue for Hezbollah to bypass financial pressures. To Hezbollah, it is the best way to provide services for its base through state resources. The US has long been concerned that increased Hezbollah influence in government will negatively shape issues ranging from Hezbollahs own arsenal to the future of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Yet the intended impact of US sanctions and the concern over Hezbollah potentially running the Health Ministry both appear detached from the on-the-ground reality of Lebanese politics, analysts told Al Jazeera. They dont understand Hezbollah, said Wazne, meaning the US and other anti-Hezbollah actors. Once they understand Hezbollah, then they know how this organisation gets tougher under scrutiny. What other option do the Americans have? asked Mounayar, referring to the Sunni tangle. The alternative is chaos; that would be a great service to Hezbollah, he said. We learned this from experience: Hezbollah can control chaos and use it to its advantage, Mounayar added, referring to an episode in 2008 when Hezbollah used the threat of violence as a negotiation tactic with the government. One ministerial seat is not that big a price, he said, predicting that Washington and Paris, which also influences Lebanese politics, would ultimately prioritize political stability. President Michel Aoun and his son-in-law, current Foreign Minister Bassil Gebran, offered a solution to the Hariri-Hezbollah stalemate: Aoun would give the Sunni MPs one cabinet seat from the Maronite Christian share. But the offer was rejected. Another suggested solution was to award a cabinet position to a candidate of the Sunni MPs choosing, creating two layers of separation from Hezbollah. This was also reportedly rejected. But Mounayar said the rejections were tactical moves taken by Hezbollah-backed MPs to up the ante before an eventual compromise. Everything and nothing at stake Everything and nothing is at stake, Elghossain said about the governments formation. Nothing is at stake because if, and when, a government is formed, its hard to imagine that it will somehow manage to tackle all of these challenges. At the same time, everything is at stake because its almost impossible to think of how Lebanon still exists and survives in this sort of state of controlled chaos, he added, referencing a term used by Lebanese to describe the countrys social and political equilibrium. Lebanon is a pyramid of problems sometimes, Elghossain said. Wazne was even more pessimistic. We are a country on the verge of collapse, he said. Literally. Lebanon has over $85bn in public debt, ranked the worlds third-largest and constituting over 150 percent of the gross domestic product. The country has chronic power cuts, a rubbish management crisis, water collection and distribution challenges, environmental degradations and rampant corruption, to name a few issues. In addition, the country has had to deal with more than a million Syrian refugees. In the midst of this crisis, Wazne said, Were acting like adolescents in Lebanon. More than 90 refugees and migrants refused to leave rescue ship in a standoff that lasted 10 days. Libyan authorities have used rubber bullets and tear gas to forcibly disembark more than 90 refugees and migrants who had refused to leave a cargo ship docked in the port of Misrata. The Panama-flagged ship rescued them off the Libyan coast 10 days ago, as their boat began sinking, and brought them to Misrata. Once there, 14 disembarked willingly but, in the first documented case of its kind, the other 92 refused to leave. A joint force raided the cargo ship and used rubber bullets and tear gas to force [them off the ship], the commander of the central region coastguards, Tawfiq Esskair, told the Reuters news agency by phone on Tuesday. Some of those on board were wounded during disembarkation but were now in good condition after treatment in hospital, and all had been taken to a detention centre in the city, said Esskair. Refugees and migrants on the cargo ship [Sally Hayden/Al Jazeera] During the 10-day standoff, the migrants pleaded to be taken to Europe, saying they are prepared to die than be returned to detention in the North African country. Two of those on board Kai, 18, and Daniel, 16, both from South Sudan told Al Jazeera earlier this week that it was too dangerous to go back to the centres, where they risk being abused and sold to people smugglers while having little hope of being evacuated. The group was brought to Misrata on November 10, four days after setting sail in a rubber boat with the hope of reaching Italy. Daniel said that the rubber boat had travelled almost 200km before the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship, The Nivin, crossed its path. Both Daniel and Kai said the crew on board The Nivin told them they would be taken to Italy, but instead brought them to Misrata. While many on board said they survived torture by human traffickers in Libya, others had stories about serious abuses in official detention centres. Al Jazeera has previously heard reports of deaths in detention centres run by the Libyan Department for Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM) which has not responded to multiple requests for comment. Libyas western coast has been a main departure point for refugees and migrants fleeing wars and poverty and hoping for new lives in Europe. But since last year, heavy pressure from Italy which had been bearing the brunt of arrivals resulted in the disruption of coastal smuggling networks and the withdrawal of charity rescue ships. US State Department official tells ABC News there is overwhelming consensus that the leadership is involved. A United States Department of State official, who has seen a version of the CIAs assessment on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has said it is blindingly obvious that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing. The idea that it goes all the way to the top is blindingly obvious. Theres overwhelming consensus that the leadership is involved no one is debating it within the government, the official told ABC News on condition of anonymity on Tuesday. However, the official acknowledged that the words probably and likely are used when attributing the death to Prince Mohammed, ABC News reported, adding that the source noted that CIA analysis reports rarely include explicit conclusions. US President Donald Trump is facing increasing pressure to take tougher measures against Saudi Arabia before the expected release of an official report into the killing. Trump had told reporters on Saturday that a detailed report, including information about who was responsible for last months murder of the Washington Post columnist inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, would be released probably on Monday or Tuesday. {articleGUID} According to US media reports, the CIA has concluded that Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, ordered Khashoggis killing. Trump has called the reports premature saying hes not convinced that Prince Mohammed, the kingdoms de facto leader, was directly responsible for the October 2 slaying of the writer. Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has rejected the media reports, saying such allegations about the crown prince have no basis in truth. But there are increasing calls, both from Democrats and Republicans in Congress, for more action amid a growing consensus that MBS must have known about the operation. Donald Trump just says, Will anybody really know? as if our intelligence agencies are incapable of making an assessment, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said on Monday. {articleGUID} He urged CIA Director Gina Haspel and National Intelligence Director Dan Coats to come out and provide the American people and the Congress with a public assessment of who ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Al Jazeeras Mike Hana, reporting from Washington, said the fact that the CIA assessment was reported in so many outlets at the same time indicates that this could have been some kind of a coordinated leak. Some observers say that the CIA is bringing pressure to bear on the president to make the report public, he said. The 63-year old was arrested for making provocative statements in an interview with Al Jazeera on mass protests. Shahidul Alam, an award-winning photographer and activist in Bangladesh, has been released from jail on bail after spending more than 100 days behind bars. Authorities had said the 63-year old had made provocative statements during an interview with Al Jazeera and on Facebook, commenting on the mass student protests that gripped the countrys capital, Dhaka, in August. Alam, who was granted bail on Thursday and freed on Tuesday, told the AFP news agency that he hoped his release would signal freedom for many others also arrested during the protests. It is a fantastic feeling to be free in a free country, breathing free air. But I hope for freedom for everyone else, Alam said. The photographer had previously said he was badly beaten while in custody. {articleGUID} Despite being released from prison, Alam still faces a maximum of 14 years in prison if convicted. His lawyers have argued that Alams detention was a clear violation of his fundamental rights under Bangladeshs constitution. Reacting to the news of his his release, Amnesty International said Bangladesh authorities must immediately drop charges against him and uphold its international commitments to protect the right to freedom of expression. Shahidul Alam is a bold representation of Bangladesh through his lens. He should not have been detained at the first place, Saad Hammadi, Amnestys regional campaigner for South Asia, said. Alam was arrested shortly after widespread demonstrations began in Bangladesh when a speeding bus killed two teenagers on July 29. Following that accident, student protesters pressed the government to make the countrys chaotic and lethal roads safer. {articleGUID} In an interview about the protests, however, Alam told Al Jazeera that the protests were about more than road safety alone. He highlighted the looting of the banks and the gaggling of the media and widespread extrajudicial killings, disappearings, bribery and corruption as the real reasons behind the publics growing anger. He said civil discontent in the country had been building for a very long time and the killing of the two teenagers was only a valve through which that unhappiness was released. Alam then said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had lost all credibility in the eyes of the Bangladeshi public for failing to institute reforms. He also connected the governments brutal response to the current protests to the general election that is expected to take place later this year. Hours after his interview, Alam was arrested and charged under Section 57 of Bangladeshs Information Communications Technology (ICT) Act, a broad law against electronic communication that tends to deprave or corrupt the image of the state. Democrats and Republicans vow to put serious sanctions on Saudi Arabia and crown prince over Jamal Khashoggis murder. The United States senators have accused President Donald Trump of putting Saudi Arabia first by his decision to not take punitive measures against the kingdom or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trumps decision is yet another fawning prostration to a foreign authoritarian, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine tweeted on Tuesday. Its only a matter of time until actions like this one by the president directly threaten our security, he added. In a statement issued by the White House, Trump said the US intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia even though it could very well be that Prince Mohammed had knowledge of Khashoggis killing. We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Trump said. He added he did not intend to cancel military deals with the kingdom, saying if we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries. Evidence not definitive Trumps comments came despite pressure from US politicians who have called on the administration to do more to hold Saudi Arabia accountable. That pressure mounted following US media reports on Friday that said the CIA concluded Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, ordered Khashoggis murder. Senators Bob Corker and Bob Menendez called on Trump, in a letter sent on Tuesday, to investigate the part MBS played in Khashoggis death after the CIA reportedly determined the killing was ordered by the Saudi crown prince. In light of recent developments, including the Saudi governments acknowledgement that Saudi officials killed Mr. Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate, we request that your determination specifically address whether [MBS] is responsible for Mr. Khashoggis murder, Republican Corker and Democrat Menendez wrote. The senators invoked the Magnitsky Act, which allows the US government to sanction individuals who are found to have committed gross human rights violations. In his statement, Trump said it could be very well that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! Later on Tuesday, the president added the CIA assessment of the intelligence surrounding the murder is not definitive. Khashoggi, a contributing columnist for the Washington Post, was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 when he went there to pick up documents needed for his planned marriage. A critic of the Saudi government, Khashoggi had resisted pressure from Riyadh for him to return home. Saudi Arabia initially rejected the allegation its nationals were behind the killing, but as Turkish authorities continued to leak evidence of high-level involvement, Riyadh eventually admitted its agents carried out the killing with a series of contradictory explanations. Saudi Arabias deputy public prosecutor has said he was seeking the death penalty for five suspects charged in Khashoggis killing. He told reporters Prince Mohammed knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggis body was dismembered and removed from the consulate. The corpse has yet to be recovered. Serious sanctions Several senators vowed to put serious sanctions on Saudi Arabia, including on the appropriate members of the royal family. We should, at the very least, NOT reward Saudi Arabia with our sophisticated armaments that they in turn use to bomb civilians, tweeted Republican Senator Rand Paul. Im pretty sure this statement is Saudi Arabia first, not American First, he added. Trump ally and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said it is not in our national security interest to look the other way when it comes to Khashoggis killing. I firmly believe there will be strong bipartisan support for serious sanctions against Saudi Arabia, including appropriate members of the royal family, for this barbaric act which defied all civilised norms, Graham said. While Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally, the behaviour of the crown prince in multiple ways has shown disrespect for the relationship and made him, in my view, beyond toxic. {articleGUID} Last week, a bipartisan group of US senators introduced legislation seeking to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing, and for its role in the devastating war in Yemen. The move came not long after the US imposed economic sanctions on 17 Saudis allegedly involved in the journalists murder. Many senators expressed disappointment that those sanctions did not include MBS himself, and called on the US to take tougher action. The proposed legislation seeks to suspend weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and prohibit the refuelling of Saudi coalition aircraft conducting air raids in Yemen by the US. It would also impose sanctions on anyone blocking humanitarian access in Yemen and anyone supporting the Houthi rebels. I never thought Id see the day a White House would moonlight as a public relations firm for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. https://t.co/MQ4JsoQtqk Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) November 20, 2018 Senator Bernie Sanders said a vote on the Senate legislation could come as early as next week. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said she plans to vote against any future arms sales and appropriation to Saudi Arabia. {articleGUID} Human rights is more than just a phrase, it has to mean something. And that means standing up and condemning a brazen murder by a foreign government, she said. In his statement on Tuesday, Trump said he was aware that some members of Congress would like to go in a different direction and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America, he added. Determine MBS role Also on Tuesday, Republican Bob Corker and Democrat Bob Menendez, chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, demanded the administration make a determination on whether Prince Mohammed is responsible for the murder of Khashoggi. The pair led the effort in triggering the Global Magnitsky Act on October 10, which required the president to investigate within 120 days and determine if a foreign person is responsible for a gross human rights violation. The sanctions on the 17 Saudi nationals came as a result of the measure, but Corker and Menendez want the administration to specifically address whether MBS is responsible for Khashoggis murder. The initial letter triggering the Magnitsky Act did not mention the crown princes name. The senators said they expect to receive Trumps determination within 120 days of the original October 10 request. Amid outcry over writers killing, dozens of princes and cousins want to see change in line of succession, report says. Members of Saudi Arabias ruling family are agitating to prevent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) from becoming king after the international uproar over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, sources close to the royal court told Reuters news agency. Senior US officials, meanwhile, have indicated to Saudi advisers in recent weeks they would support Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz who was deputy interior minister for nearly 40 years as a potential successor to King Salman, according to Saudi sources with direct knowledge of the consultations. Amid international outrage over Khashoggis murder, dozens of princes and cousins from powerful branches of the Al Saud family want to see a change in the line of succession, but will not act while King Salman the crown princes 82-year-old father is still alive, sources said. They recognise the king is unlikely to turn against his favourite son, the report added. Rather, they are discussing the possibility with other family members that after the kings death, Prince Ahmed, 76, uncle of the crown prince, could take the throne, according to the sources. Prince Ahmed, King Salmans only surviving full brother, would have the support of family members, the security apparatus, and some Western powers, one of the Saudi sources said. Prince Ahmed returned to Riyadh in October after two months abroad. During the trip, he appeared to criticise the Saudi leadership while responding to protesters outside a London residence chanting for the downfall of the Al Saud dynasty. He was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling familys senior members, who opposed MBS becoming crown prince in 2017, Saudi sources said at the time. Neither Prince Ahmed nor his representatives could be reached for comment. Officials in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests from Reuters for comment on succession issues. Tribal tradition The House of Saud is made up of hundreds of princes. Unlike typical European monarchies, there is no automatic succession from father to eldest son. Instead, the kingdoms tribal traditions dictate the king and senior family members from each branch select the heir they consider fittest to lead. Saudi sources said they were confident Prince Ahmed would not change or reverse any of the social or economic reforms enacted by the crown prince, would honour existing military procurement contracts, and would restore the unity of the family. However, one senior US official said the White House is in no hurry to distance itself from MBS despite pressure from legislators and the CIAs assessment he ordered Khashoggis murder, though that could change once Trump gets a definitive report on the killing from the intelligence community. The official also said the White House saw it as noteworthy that King Salman seemed to stand by his son also known as MBS in a speech in Riyadh on Monday and made no direct reference to Khashoggis killing, except to praise the Saudi public prosecutor. The Saudi sources said US officials had cooled on MBS not only because of his suspected role in the murder of Khashoggi. They are also unhappy because the crown prince recently urged the Saudi defence ministry to explore alternative weapons supplies from Russia, the sources said. In a letter dated May 15, seen by Reuters, the crown prince requested the defence ministry focus on purchasing weapon systems and equipment in the most pressing fields and get training on them, including the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. Neither the Russian defence ministry nor officials in Riyadh immediately responded to requests for comment. {articleGUID} A red line The brutal killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the crown prince, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month has drawn global condemnation, including from many politicians and officials in the United States, a key Saudi ally. Saudi Arabias foreign minister said on Tuesday claims, including by the CIA, that MBS gave the order to kill Khashoggi were false, according to an Arabic-language newspaper interview. We in the kingdom know that such allegations about the crown prince have no basis in truth and we categorically reject them, whether through leaks or not, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was quoted as saying in Saudi-owned al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper. They are leaks that have not been officially announced, and I have noticed that they are based on an assessment, not conclusive evidence. Jubeir was also asked about comments by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the kill order came from the highest level of the Saudi leadership but probably not King Salman, which has put the spotlight instead on the 33-year-old crown prince. We have already asked the Turkish authorities at the highest level about the meaning of these comments, and they confirmed to us categorically that the crown prince is not meant by these comments, he said. The leadership of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques [the king] and the crown prince is a red line and we will not permit attempts to harm or undermine them. Saudi Arabias public prosecutor has also said the crown prince knew nothing of Khashoggis killing. Consolidated control {articleGUID} Since his ascension, MBS has gained popular support with high-profile social and economic reforms, including ending a ban on women driving and opening cinemas in the conservative kingdom. However, the reforms have been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, a purge of top royals and businessmen on corruption charges, and a costly war in Yemen. He has also marginalised senior members of the royal family and consolidated control over Saudis security and intelligence agencies. The entire House of Saud has emerged weakened as a result. According to one well-placed Saudi source, many princes from senior circles in the family believe a change in the line of succession would not provoke any resistance from the security or intelligence bodies he controls because of their loyalty to the wider family. They [the security apparatus] will follow any consensus reached by the family. Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. He said the USA believes the Taliban knows "that "at some point" it has to reconcile". Taliban officials said Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 that Pakistan has released Abdul Samad Sani, a USA -designated terrorist who served as the Afghan Central Bank governor during the militants' rule, along with a lower-ranking commander named Salahuddin. The US embassy in Kabul sent a recording of Khalilzads remarks to foreign journalists based in Kabul, who had not been invited to attend the briefing. The statement comes a day after United States envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed hopes in Kabul that a peace deal could be struck before the Afghan presidential election, scheduled for April 20 next year. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that Khalilzad held three days of talks with the Taliban in the Gulf state of Qatar. "The second round of talks went on for three days". "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". Khalilzad called for the selection of negotiating teams to enable talks between the militants and Kabul to start. The United States has spoken "loudly and proudly" for equal rights for men and women, said Khalilzad, but how _ or even if _those rights are woven into Afghanistan's "roadmap for the future", will be decided by Afghans. On Saturday, US Joint Chiefs Chairman General Joseph Dunford said: "We used the term stalemate a year ago and relatively speaking it hasn't changed much, but. we do believe that the Taliban know that at some point they have to reconcile". The NATO-led Resolute Support mission involves 41 nations contributing more than 12,000 soldiers, equipment and training for Afghan forces. Dunford said that while there would never be a "military solution" on its own to bring peace to Afghanistan, the U.S. and its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 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. "The Afghan government wants peace", the US envoy also said. "Available measures of security in Afghanistan, including total security incidents, population control, and civilian casualties, showed little change", it said. "At the meeting, Dr. Khalilzad briefed the president about his trips and provided detailed information about his meetings with the Taliban and other officials", said President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri. Sources close to discussions tell the Wall Street Journal move to fund $70bn deal for petrochemical maker called off. Saudi Arabias oil giant Aramco has shelved plans to embark on a massive corporate-bond sale to fund a $70bn stake in the kingdoms national petrochemical firm, a news report said. Looking instead at options requiring less public disclosure, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal on Monday that Aramco executives have soured on the initiative. Saudi Arabian Oil Co, as the company is officially known, was considering issuing up to $40bn in bonds to help buy 70 percent of Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), the Journal reported. Aramco has been in talks with banks to acquire a controlling stake in the Saudi petrochemical maker, a deal that could require up to $70bn in financing. Controlled by the state, SABIC is also the countrys largest publicly listed company with a market cap of about $100bn. Corporate secrets? A corporate bond sale on international markets typically requires public disclosure of three years of audited financial statements as well as any potential obstacles. Aramco is known not to offer analysts such detailed company information. Aramco executives are also concerned that market conditions arent ideal for bond sales, the newspaper reported, and they are now looking at a combination of other potential financing options. Over the past month oil prices have fallen more than 20 percent. Saudi Arabia plans to boost prices with a production cut but uncertainty remains. Saudi-led OPEC and its allies including Russia decided in June to relax output curbs in place since 2017, after pressure from US President Donald Trump to reduce oil prices and make up for supply losses from Iran. Forecasts of a 2019 supply surplus and slowing demand have also dented the market. IPO no show Aramco, the worlds largest crude oil producer, plans to boost investment in refining and petrochemicals in a bid to cut reliance on crude as demand for oil slows. The move to quit the corporate-bond sale was the latest setback for Aramco after the Saudi governments plan to place up to five percent of the company on the stock market also stalled. The planned listing was to be the cornerstone of the kingdoms promised economic overhaul and, at a targeted $100bn, the biggest IPO ever. It was the brainchild of 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, the heir apparent of the worlds largest oil exporter. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih has said the government was committed to conducting the IPO at an unspecified date in the future. Adel al-Jubeir, talking to local media, denies the crown princes involvement in the journalists murder in Istanbul. Saudi Arabias foreign minister rejected media reports that the CIA believes the countrys crown prince ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and said Turkish statements on the matter is not targeting Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). We in the kingdom know that such allegations about the crown prince have no basis in truth and we categorically reject them, whether through leaks or not, Adel al-Jubeir said in an interview with Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published on Tuesday. {articleGUID} They are leaks that have not been officially announced, and I have noticed that they are based on an assessment, not conclusive evidence, he added. Khashoggi, a US-based Washington Post columnist who was a critic of the Saudi government run by the crown prince, was killed on October 2 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by a team of Saudi officers who had travelled from their country to intercept him. Al-Jubeir also said in his remarks to Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat that Ankara had reassured Riyadh that when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the killing was ordered at the highest level of the Saudi leadership, the crown prince was not the intended (target) of these comments. The leadership of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (the king) and the crown prince, is a red line, and we will not permit attempts to harm or undermine them, he added. Riyadhs changing narratives After offering numerous contradictory explanations for Khashoggis disappearance, Riyadh recently said he had been killed and his body dismembered when negotiations to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia failed. {articleGUID} The CIA believes the Saudi prince ordered the killing of Khashoggi, sources told the US media last week, complicating US President Donald Trumps efforts to preserve ties with a key ally. A Saudi public prosecutor said last week that the country would seek the death penalty for five suspects in the case. Shaalan al-Shaalan said that 21 people were now in custody, with 11 indicted and referred to trial, adding that Saud al-Qahtani, a former adviser to the royal court, had been banned from travelling and remained under investigation. {articleGUID} The statement was dismissed as inadequate by Ankara, which seeks extradition of the Saudi suspects. Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkeys foreign minister, criticised the Saudi announcement and insisted the killing was premeditated. Turkish law is applicable in this case, even though the murder took place in the Saudi consulate, he said, demanding that all the suspects be tried in accordance with Turkish law in Turkey. PM Pedro Sanchez says he will vote against draft deal if no changes made to reflect negotiations about Gibraltar status. Spain has said that it will vote against a deal agreed between London and Brussels for Britains departure from the bloc, or Brexit, if it does not guarantee Madrids veto over Gibraltars future status. UK Prime Minister Theresa May is due to sign a treaty with EU leaders to leave the bloc on Sunday, but the warning over the contested British territory on Spains southern tip may add another complication. Speaking in a business conference in Madrid on Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: As a country, we cant conceive that what will happen with the future of Gibraltar will depend on a negotiation between Britain and the European Union. He added: As a consequence, today, I regret to say that a pro-European government like Spains would vote no to Brexit unless there are changes. {articleGUID} According to EU rules, the withdrawal treaty is adopted by a qualified majority and not unanimity. So a single state like Spain cannot block it. The EUs executive said it was aware of Spains concerns and it expected the issue to be resolved. A small peninsula on Spains southern coast and a British territory since 1713, Gibraltar is a major point of contention in British-Spanish relations. Spain has long claimed sovereignty over it. Gibraltar is due to leave the European Union along with the UK in March, although 96 percent of its population voted in the 2016 referendum to remain in the bloc. Sunday meeting According to Article 184 of the draft Brexit deal, the EU and the United Kingdom shall make every effort, in good faith and with full respect for their respective legal systems, to adopt the measures necessary to negotiate rapidly the agreements governing their future relationship. These agreements will be negotiated between Brexit day on March 29, 2019, and December 2020 extendable once and will enter into force at the end of the period. {articleGUID} But Spain wants to retain what it sees as its right to negotiate the future on Gibraltar with the UK on a bilateral basis, giving it an effective veto. Although the legal service of the EU Council has tried to reassure Spain that the text does not preclude this, Madrid is seeking further clarification. Spains Foreign Minister Josep Borrell had already warned on Monday after a meeting of EU ministers that the draft deal does not spell out how Gibraltar should be handled. Until it is clear we will not be able to give our agreement, he said. In Brussels, EU spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said the bloc agreed last year that after the UK leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the UK may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom. Diplomats in Brussels expected the issue to be resolved by adding more such language in the withdrawal agreement and the declaration on post-Brexit ties between the EU and Britain by Sunday, when they are due to be presented to EU leaders for approval. Survivors of Tanzania ferry disaster demand answers Months after an overcrowded ferry capsized in Tanzania survivors demand the results of the investigation be made public. Four people, including suspected attacker, killed at Chicago hospital while another person shot dead in Denver. A gunman at a Chicago hospital killed a police officer and two others before dying in the shooting, while to the west of the country in Denver one person was shot and killed on a street corner and three others were wounded. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said the four dead in the shooting at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center included two hospital employees, a Chicago police officer, and the suspected gunman. Johnson said the shooting began outside the hospital with a verbal altercation in the parking lot between people who knew each other. A friend tried to intervene and the suspected gunman pulled up his shirt and showed a weapon. Gunfire erupted and the shooter ran inside the hospital, where police confronted him. He said one of the women killed was in a domestic relationship with the gunman. A police officer, Samuel Jimenez, died in the attack, a police spokesman said on Twitter. The gunman also was killed, but it was unclear how. Officials said two other people were also struck by gunfire, and an investigator at the Cook County Medical Examiners Office later said those two also died. Sue Jimenez, the manager of Kozys Cyclery bike shop near the hospital, said she heard multiple gunshots separated by pauses. At one point, she heard five shots in quick succession, she said, but the shooting stopped after police arrived. https://twitter.com/MercyChicago/status/1064649892444934144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw In Colorado, Denver police spokesman Doug Schepman told reporters four people were confirmed shot, with one of the victims pronounced dead at the scene. No suspects were immediately arrested. The three surviving victims wounds were believed to be non-life threatening, police said. Shooting erupted about 4pm in the lower-downtown area of Denver known as Lo Do, a district of the Colorado capital filled with hotels, restaurants and high-rise residential lofts. We dont know right now whether there was one shooter or more than one, Schepman said. Its too early to say what happened and why. To have multiple gunshots fired in an area like this is quite concerning. Schepman said witnesses had told police of a possible fifth victim, a woman, who they thought might have been shot in the leg, but he said officers had been unable to locate her. Ruling comes as thousands of Central Americans are traveling towards US border to escape violence and poverty at home. A US judge on Monday put a temporary halt to an order by US President Donald Trumps administration denying the possibility of asylum to people who enter the US informally. US District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order on Tuesday against the asylum rules to take effect immediately, applying nationwide. The measure will last until at least December 19 when the judge scheduled a hearing to consider a more long-lasting injunction. {articleGUID} Trump cited an overwhelmed immigration system for his recent proclamation that officials would only process asylum claims for migrants who present themselves at an official entry point. Civil rights groups sued this, arguing that Trumps November 9 order violated administrative and immigration law. In his ruling, Tigar said Congress clearly mandated that immigrants and refugees can apply for asylum regardless of how they entered the country. The judge called the latest rules an extreme departure from prior practice. Whatever the scope of the Presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden, Tigar wrote. Tigar was nominated to the court by Barack Obama, the previous US president. Previous Trump immigration policies, including measures targeting sanctuary cities, have also been blocked by the courts. Central Americans at US border The latest asylum ruling came as thousands of Central Americans, including a large number of children, are travelling in caravans towards the US-Mexico border to escape violence and poverty at home. Some have already arrived at Tijuana, a Mexican city on the border with California. {articleGUID} Rights groups have said migrants and refugees are being forced to wait days or weeks at the border before they can present themselves for asylum. The American Civil Liberties Union says US law stipulates that the right to request asylum must be granted to anyone entering the country, regardless of whether they do so at an official port of entry or come in informally. Trumps administration has argued that he has the executive power to curb immigration in the name of national security, a power he invoked right after taking office last year with a controversial ban on travellers from several mostly Muslim countries. The final version of that order was upheld by the US Supreme Court on June 26 after a protracted legal battle. US senators call for reported CIA findings that MBS ordered killing of Saudi journalist Khashoggi to be made public. The United States President, Donald Trump, is facing increasing pressure to take tougher measures against Saudi Arabia before the expected release of an official report into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump told reporters on Saturday that a detailed report, including information about who was responsible for last months murder of the Washington Post columnist inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, would be released probably on Monday or Tuesday. According to US media reports, the CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdoms de facto leader, ordered Khashoggis killing. Trump has called the reports premature saying hes not convinced that Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, was directly responsible for the October 2 slaying of the writer. {articleGUID} Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has rejected the media reports, saying such allegations about the crown prince have no basis in truth. But there are increasing calls, both from Democrats and Republicans in Congress, for more action amid a growing consensus that MBS must have known about the operation. Donald Trump just says, Will anybody really know? as if our intelligence agencies are incapable of making an assessment, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said on Monday. He urged CIA Director Gina Haspel and National Intelligence Director Dan Coats to come out and provide the American people and the Congress with a public assessment of who ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Al Jazeeras Mike Hana, reporting from Washington, said the fact that the CIA assessment was reported in so many outlets at the same time indicates that this could have been some kind of a coordinated leak. Some observers say that the CIA is bringing pressure to bear on the president to make the report public, he said. Strategic relationship Late last week, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that calls for suspending weapons sales to Saudi Arabia; sanctions on people who block humanitarian access in Yemen or support the Houthi rebels; and mandatory sanctions on those responsible for Khashoggis death. There must be a transparent, credible investigation into Khashoggis murder, New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said introducing the bill with two Democrat and three Republican colleagues. {articleGUID} The White House has defended Trumps stance, with adviser Kellyanne Conway saying that the US government has been moving fast to sanction those responsible. Hes not reluctant, I disagree with that, she told reporters. Hes not reluctant and not slow moving. The president is anything but slow moving. Amid the growing outcry, 21 Saudi nationals have had visas revoked and last week, the US Treasury sanctioned 17 Saudis in connection with the murder. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have both promised the Trump administration will ensure all those responsible are held accountable. Pence told reporters that Trump on Tuesday would review information about Khashoggis death and then make his decisions about the US enormously important strategic relationship with Riyadh, which is aligned with Washington in pushing back against Iran. Analysts believe the White House is trying to buy time for the Saudis and preserve the strategic US-Saudi relationship that has been in place for decades. Trump understands that he has to salvage the US-Saudi relationship by providing rhetoric in support of the bilateral relationship, Sigurd Neubauer, a Gulf politics analyst, told Al Jazeera. Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, has worked with Prince Mohammed on various issues, including on how to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. US president says it could very well be that the Saudi crown prince had knowledge of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia even though it could very well be that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) had knowledge of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Trump said in a statement issued by the White House. Defying pressure from US legislators to impose tougher sanctions on Saudi Arabia, the president indicated he had no intention of cancelling military contracts with the kingdom. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries, the president said. Trumps comments come just days after US media reported that the CIA concluded MBS ordered Khashoggis murder. Trump told reporters later on Tuesday that the CIA assessment is not definitive. Khashoggi, a contributing columnist for the Washington Post, was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 when he went there to pick up documents needed for his planned marriage. {articleGUID} A critic of the Saudi government, Khashoggi had resisted pressure from Riyadh for him to return home. Saudi Arabia initially rejected the claim that its nationals were behind the killing, but as Turkish authorities continued to leak evidence of high-level involvement, Riyadh eventually admitted that its agents carried out the murder with a series of contradictory explanations. Saudi Arabias deputy public prosecutor has said he was seeking the death penalty for five suspects charged in Khashoggis killing. Al-Shaalan told reporters the Saudi crown prince knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggis body was dismembered and removed from the consulate. Enrage Republicans, Democrats, US intelligence Recent intelligence reports have re-energised efforts of members of Congress to hold MBS responsible for Khashoggis murder. On Thursday, a bipartisan group of US senators introduced legislation seeking to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing and for its role in the devastating war in Yemen. The move came not long after the US imposed economic sanctions on 17 Saudis allegedly involved in the journalists murder. Many senators expressed disappointment that those sanctions did not include the crown prince himself, and called on the US to take tougher actions. In Tuesdays statement, Trump said he was aware that some members of Congress would like to go in a different direction and they are free to do so. {articleGUID} I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America, he said. They (Saudi Arabia) have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed Trumps statement, saying, It is the presidents obligation and the State Departments duty to ensure we adopt policies that further Americas national security. Earlier on Tuesday, a State Department official told ABC News that it was blindingly obvious that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis killing. Pompeo said he could not comment on matters of intelligence. Al Jazeeras Kimberly Halkett, reporting from outside the White House, said Trump comments are going to enrage both Democrats and Republicans, as well as members of the intelligence community. {articleGUID} This is not going to play well for the president, Halkett said. She added that the president will likely be pressured to explain how he reached the conclusion that the facts may never be known, considering he was briefed by the CIA director on the agencys findings. Randa Slim, an analyst with the Middle East Institute, said she believes Congress may try to take action on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and on its role in Yemen. I think it will be tougher and tougher going forward for the administration to be able to spend and rationalise a future cooperation on a number of spheres between the United States and Saudi Arabia, Slim said. Emerging star Suboi pushing the limits as one of the few female rappers in socially conservative Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Life is happy, so what? sings Vietnamese artist Suboi in her new hit single N-sao. The song has resonated with disaffected young Vietnamese and can be heard on smartphones and laptop speakers from Ho Chi Minh City to the capital, Hanoi. Why is it nowadays a shame to be single? Why do we always have to pay when we get pulled over? raps Suboi, 28, taking aim at traditional Vietnamese culture and petty corruption by traffic police. The Ho Chi Minh City artists video has racked up more than 1.7 million views in the last three months. Not bad for a song in Vietnamese with lyrics that could be considered subversive in an increasingly restrictive online environment. Born Hang Lam Trang Anh, Subois name reflects her upbringing. Su is her nickname and Boi comes from being labelled a tomboy as a child. Like all rappers, Suboi represents her city, still known colloquially as Saigon. N-sao is so fast. Exactly like the city. I went somewhere and two months later I went back and there were new buildings, she said. I didnt write this song only for Saigonese. But also for the people whove been to Saigon, and can see how its changed. The music video has English subtitles, but even Vietnamese have a hard time understanding as Suboi spits her verses with ferocity a change from the usual rhythmical rhyme style she became known for. My life has changed dramatically. Ive tried to put all my emotions into writing new songs for this new album, she said. And so N-sao is the first song in a new chapter of my life. Subois influence among Vietnamese women has made many inside and outside of the country take notice [Courtesy: Suboi] Obama encouragement Suboi shot to international fame in 2016 when she rapped for then-US President Barack Obama during a town hall meeting on a visit to Ho Chi Minh City. Obama even provided the beat to encourage her to perform and followed it up with an answer on the importance of freedom of expression. Suboi admits to crying when she heard Obamas remarks. Thats the first time I understood what a town hall was. For us Vietnamese people we dont get to talk to the authorities or whoever is in power, she said. There are a lot of things we dont know. But we know for sure that Vietnam now recognises its own voice. Suboi returned from a two-year hiatus to release N-sao. She spent the time focusing on her creative direction, and to briefly attend the Obama Foundation Summit in 2017. I feel like Im the bridge between Vietnam and the world, she added. Through me, people can learn that Vietnam is not just whatever stereotype theyve heard about it. Art and repression Vietnam has witnessed rapid growth since the communist government opened its markets in 1986 to stave off economic collapse. Since then the one-party state has been flooded with more Western ideas, culture and, of course, music. But no political change has taken place inside Vietnam since reunification in 1975. This lack of progress has been expressed through all forms of art. I think Suboi is making a lot of noise internationally for Vietnamese rap, said Vietmax, one of the countrys first hip-hop performers. We dont have many female rap emcees. All the rappers talk about themselves, how theyre struggling, and how they live. Shes doing a good job. She has some songs that talk about Vietnam. With more than a decade in the music industry now, Suboi has a hard time calling herself a mainstream artist. Star Academy in Ho Chi Minh City hosted an event this month discussing underground rap culture in Vietnam. When Suboi entered the room the crowd erupted into applause and cheered when she was introduced as a guest speaker. She was the only female artist on the panel. Many in attendance were young women Subois most ardent fans. In the crowd I saw a lot of girls. Thats a big change. You know it feels good to see change in Vietnam, she said. Were taught to be quiet and pretty and behaved and all that shit. For me its about expression. Express yourself as a girl and as an artist. Getting airplay is difficult as most television and radio are still controlled by the state, but music distribution is now done independently online [Courtesy: Suboi] Push the limits Censoring music and artistic expression in Vietnam isnt as easy as it used to be. Getting airplay may be difficult as most television and radio are still controlled by the state, but music distribution is now done independently online. Vietnams government passed a new cybersecurity law that goes into effect January 1, 2019. It will require all technology companies to hand over user data or remove content when required by the authorities. Facebook and Google have been given one year to comply with this law. Subois influence among young Vietnamese has made many inside and outside of the country take notice. I think her music first came about at the time Vietnam was changing fast. Hip-hop music was starting to gain traction in society and she was one of the very first women to get attention, said Vi Tran, co-director of Legal Initiatives for Vietnam. Shes used her music to really push the limits in Vietnam. Suboi is set to release a new single and music video in December. She expects her anticipated new album to be ready by mid-2019. The rap star doesnt see her songs or music videos being targeted by Vietnams new online policing policies set to begin next year. Im not trying to be a politician, Suboi said. Im not interested in all that. For me, its about what Ive learned so far, and what I want to learn because I feel that I dont know enough. Im still learning every day. CNN declares victory after White House said itd restore reporters credentials after revoking them earlier this month. The Trump administration said on Monday that it will fully restore CNN reporter Jim Acostas White House credentials, but warned that he must follow a series of rules at future press conferences. White House officials Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Bill Shine sent Acosta a letter explaining his status. His press pass had been revoked after a contentious press conference with President Donald Trump. On Twitter, CNN declared victory, saying: Today the @WhiteHouse fully restored @Acostas press pass. As a result, our lawsuit is no longer necessary. We look forward to continuing to cover the White House. It was an abrupt about-face for the Trump administration, which said Friday that despite a judges injunction allowing Acosta back into the White House, it would seek to bar him again in two weeks. The White Houses letter made clear his credentials could be threatened again. The officials said that at future press conferences, each reporter would be limited to a single question, with follow-up questions permitted at the discretion of the president or staff. It adds that Yielding the floor includes physically surrendering the microphone to White House staff. The letter said failure to abide by the rules may result in suspension or revocation of the journalists hard pass. {articleGUID} The White House revoked Acostas credentials after he and Trump tangled verbally during a November 7 press conference. At the press conference, which occurred a day after the US midterm elections, Trump dodged questions on a number of issues, including those about his role in contributing to the rise of white nationalism in the US. When asked by CNNs Acosta about whether he had demonised immigrants with a controversial campaign advert describing Latin American migrants as invaders, Trump called the reporter rude and ordered an aide to physically remove the mic from the journalist. Sustained pattern of attacks In the Friday ruling, Washington, DC, District Court Judge Timothy Kelly restored Acostas credentials temporarily while a CNN lawsuit against the administration proceeded. {articleGUID} In a letter sent later Friday, Sanders and Shine said they had made a preliminary decision to suspend Acostas pass. They told Acosta his behaviour violated the basic standards governing presidential news conferences because he asked follow-up questions and initially refused to give up a microphone to a White House intern. Trump has called for more decorum at the White House and has said staff is writing up rules and regulations for reporters. The president has been under repeated criticism for his attacks on the media. In late October, more than 200 journalists, most of them retired or semi-retired, accused Trump of a sustained pattern of attacking media in an open letter. It was published the day after a spate of suspected pipe bombs sent to CNN and several Trump critics were found. Trumps condoning of political violence is part of a sustained pattern of attack on a free press which includes labeling any reportage he doesnt like as fake news and barring reporters and news organisations whom he wishes to punish from press briefings and events, said the letter, which included signatories who were former press workers from CNN, ABC and the Los Angeles Times. Trump, during a Fox News TV interview that aired on Sunday, defended cutting aid to Islamabad and also suggested Pakistani authorities knew Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's location prior to his killing by U.S. troops in a raid inside Pakistan in 2011. The statement comes a day after Trump lambasted the former special operations commander in an interview with Fox News, asking why the United States forces didn't get Osama bin Laden "a lot sooner than that". Within four hours of Khan's tweets, President Trump returned to the subject again, tweeting, "Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did". Former Pakistani defense minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar told an Indian TV network in 2015 that Pakistani leadership knew that bin Laden was in Pakistan all along. Referring to the compound in Abbottabad where Osama bin Laden was found in 2011, Trump said Osama had been "living in Pakistan right next to the military academy; everybody in Pakistan knew he was there". Khan did not respond to Trump's bin Laden comments. The Pakistani prime minister also pointed out that his country continues to provide the United States with supply lines into Afghanistan, adding, "Can Mr Trump name another ally that gave such sacrifices?" "I did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else", McRaven said in a statement to CNN. President Trump has promised to cut aid to countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan that "do nothing for us", and has accused Pakistan of sheltering Osama bin Laden since 9/11. "Hillary Clinton fan", Trump said, cutting off Wallace. McRaven, who recently quit as the chancellor of the University of Texas for health reasons, has also defended former CIA Director John Brennan, another Trump critic, whose security clearance was revoked by the president. "Now we will do what is best for our people & our interests." he tweeted. The ties between the two countries strained after Trump, while announcing his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in August a year ago, hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to "agents of chaos" that kill Americans in Afghanistan and warned Islamabad that it has "much to lose" by harbouring terrorists. Host Chris Wallace tried to ask Trump about McRaven's comment that his press attacks were the "greatest threat to democracy" in his lifetime. During a Sunday interview with Fox News, Trump called McRaven a "Hillary Clinton fan" and "Obama backer", before criticizing the four-star admiral for the amount of time it took to kill bin Laden. "We all wanted to get him as soon as we could", tweeted O'Neill, who regularly appears on Fox News as a security expert. Trump's counterpunch at McRaven, who stepped down from the chancellor's post at the University of Texas this year amid health concerns, was reminiscent of his attack in 2015 on the late Sen. In a Munk debate on November 2, 2018, Steve Bannon squared off against David Frum on the question of The Rise of Populism . Bannon argued that the permanent political class brought the country to its knees in the Crash of 2008, and that the party of Davos bailed themselves out, afraid of some sort of deflationary death spiral on the backs of ordinary workers and savers. The future, he said, is either populist nationalism or populist socialism. He told the Canadian squishes that Trumps economic nationalism doesnt care about your race, your religion, your ethnicity, your color, and they laughed at him. We are at the beginning of a new political revolution, and that is populism. The only question before us: is it going to be a populist nationalism that believes in capitalism, and deconstructing the administrative state, and giving the little guy a piece of the action, and break up this crony capitalism of big corporations and big government, or it is going to be a Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders type of populist socialism (starts at 18:45) Of course, that went nowhere with his audience because they were all educated-class Canadian progressives. They know what they have been carefully taught, that nationalist populism is racist, sexist, homophobic. And fascist. But are they right? How fascist is populist nationalism? The Zman has a helpful podcast on fascism this week, and he uses the definition of Stanley G. Paine (starts 4:15), that fascism always has (1) a belief in a permanent nationalistic one-party authoritarianism; is based (2) on nationalism; particularly ethnic identity; has (3) a charismatic leader; features (4) a corporatist political economy with a partnership between between state, capital, and labor, that includes all classes of society; and features (5) voluntarist activism. You can see that almost any modern political movement will have some or most of these characteristics. Thus, our liberal friends can experience everything on the right as fascist, and Jonah Goldberg can write a whole book on Liberal Fascism. So, tell me: who is more fascist than Antifa? But is Bannon right about the future being a choice between nationalist populism or socialist populism? I dont think so. I think that the nationalist populism that Trump is riding is indeed a rebellion against the Party of Davos and the administrative state that has abandoned ordinary middle and working class deplorables. But now that Trump has brought the white working class inside the tent, we wont hear much more from them. Corbyn and Bernie? Socialist populists? Not in my book. They are just the latest upscale lefties calling for All Power to the Activists. Socialism is not and never has been a populist movement. It has always been a revolution from above by educated-class rich kids that want a bit of street action, er, peaceful protest. Nor is Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez a populist. She is a good little girl that learned her lessons well from her lefty Boston University professors: not quite Ivy League, darling, but close. The fact is that the crony capitalism of big corporations and big government that Bannon wants to tame is the necessary milch cow for Corbyn and Bernie and Ocasio-Cortez -- and also for the Canadian educated class at the Munk debate that staffs the administrative state. Why would they want to mess with it? Populism is the politics of people that recently fell through the cracks. If you look at the populism in the U.S. west in the late 19th century it came out of the post-Civil War deflation that was ruining mortgaged farmers. In Europe between the world wars the fascists arose because the old world and its Great War had betrayed and ruined ordinary people. Our present U.S. populism is the rage of the deserted white working class dying of despair . And when the women and minorities get deserted by the progressives in their turn, I doubt that they will rally to a lefty populism. Why would they? Everything on the left, from its fake activism to its fake Antifa is at the very least condoned -- and usually funded -- by the ruling class. Populism is a cry of rage against the ruling class. But once some charismatic Trump tunes into the cry of the dispossessed then a populist movement starts to dissolve into contented followership. Id say that the populists of the Great Plains were as happy as clams once presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan had rallied them with his Cross of Gold speech; ditto the abandoned multitudes of Europe when the fascists rallied them between the wars. Ditto the white working class attending Trumps rallies. I say: whats wrong with simple All-American nationalism? Venerate the Founders; honor the Constitution; celebrate free enterprise; and culturally appropriate everything from German beer to Negro Jazz to Latin rhythm to Jewish intellectuals to Asian wisdom. Its the American way. The 2018 report of the Department of Defense to Congress on Chinas military read like a shopping list a useful compendium of weapons systems. But reading it gives no insight on when the Chicoms will attack. The more recent 539 pages of the 2018 Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has some of the human detail that helps the reader understand what China is attempting. For example on page 137, In 2017, Laos closed Chinese banana plantations in seven provinces due to excessive pesticide use that caused 63 percent of plantation workers to fall ill. Like the Japanese 80 years before them, China takes a casual attitude to human life, and considers the populations of the countries surrounding them as Untermenschen who will benefit from Chinese guidance and instruction. Parts of their own country suffer from intense pollution that China could fix readily if they switched resources from weapons systems to putting scrubbers on smoke stacks. But the leadership would rather have the weapons systems than clean air or drinkable water. Or even food that didnt make you sick -- which the Chinese citizenry must be continually alert to. In his confirmation hearing for the position of Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson made the call for China to be denied access to the artificial islands it had created in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea (Still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft provided by the United States Navy) He did not elucidate on how that might be achieved without full scale war with China. Perhaps he had not put in the work to make the progression from wishful thinking to an actionable plan. But Tillerson was a global warming-believing globalist who wanted the US to sign the Paris climate treaty. Which in turn means that he was either evil or stupid. He is gone, almost forgotten and certainly unlamented. It doesnt matter now if he was evil or just stupid. But his notion of access denial is back, in a good way, and it could be the start of an actionable plan. On November 9 the United States called on China to withdraw its missile systems from disputed features in the Spratly Islands, and reaffirmed that all countries should avoid addressing disputes through coercion or intimidation. The United States has already placed tariffs on some Chinese goods in attempt to change Chinas predatory behaviour in trade. The reason why the 2018 report of the economic and security commission is 539 pages thick is that there is a lot of predatory Chinese behaviour to report on. The tariffs are having the desired effect, and there is a mad scramble by some firms to shift production from China to Vietnam and other countries. US consumers will benefit too from the quality shift. A relative describes Chinese stuff bought at Walmart as landfill, which the buyer temporarilly takes home before it ends up in landfill. The concept of tariffs to change behaviour has come from the economic side; it is now timely to extend that to security considerations. This would start with another round of tariffs imposed until China withdraws from its artificial islands in the South China Sea. The next stage would be another round of tariffs until China stopped trying to intimidate Japan with incursions in the Senkaku Islands. And then stopped trying to intimidate India with incursions on Indian territory in the Himalayas. And then put a ban on imports of electronics containing rare earth elements sourced or processed in China. That last one would get the rare earths supply chain sorted. Chinese companies are now investing in rare earths mines outside of China. Banning rare earth elements processed in China would simply eliminate the middle man. And then start putting restrictions on mainland Chinese visiting the United States. The United States and its allies would have the high moral ground in this process. Dictators such as Xi and Putin cannot afford to be mocked or demeaned because that lessens their stature as all-powerful beings, and they might get knocked off by domestic critics. So China cant back down in this process without losing respect. Which means that its GDP growth will go negative and China will have less to spend on weapons systems. This scenario would be a rerun of Roosevelts ban on oil exports to Japan in response to Japans invasion of China. The mood at the time in the United States was isolationist. Both Germany and Japan were wary of drawing the United States into the war, but Roosevelt had to get one of them to attack first to have the high moral ground so that the United States could come to the aid of China. The Japanese high command did their sums and realised they had to attack before they ran out of oil. The Chinese politburo will make the same calculations on a deteriorating GDP and come to the same conclusion. Roosevelt had to bait Japan into attacking in order to save China. Now we bait China to save Japan, and ourselves. The good thing is that the war with China will come before they are completely ready. We are going to have a war with China anyway it is not a matter of our choosing. Bringing it forward increases our chances, partly on the correlation of forces but mostly as per Napoleons dictum that in war the moral is to the physical as three to one. Our cause will be just and righteous and will save the world from being run on the basis of coercion and intimidation. David Archibald latest book is American Gripen: The Solution to the F-35 Nightmare. This month, voters throughout the country inflicted a bloodbath on climate activism and climate-activist political candidates. Voters rejected the two highest-profile climate-activist ballot initiatives, severely punished Republicans who joined the congressional Climate Solutions Caucus, and sent home the Democratic climate activist most heavily supported by billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer. State Ballot Initiatives Rejected Washington State voters soundly rejected a ballot initiative that would have taxed carbon dioxide emissions. It was the second consecutive election in which Washington voters rejected a carbon dioxide tax. Even in deep-blue Washington, the proposed tax lost by double-digits in 2016 and now in 2018. Meanwhile, Arizona voters inflicted a humiliating defeat on a ballot initiative that would have required 50 percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable sources. Voters rejected the initiative by a whopping 70 percent to 30 percent. The defeat was particularly crushing to Steyer, who wrote the ballot initiative and spent approximately $20 million supporting it. Climate alarmists' only silver lining came in Nevada, where 59 percent of voters approved the same 50-percent renewable power mandate Arizonans rejected. However, to amend the Nevada Constitution, voters must approve an amendment in consecutive elections, which means they'll have to approve the proposed amendment again in 2020. Although Nevadans rendered first-round approval, it was made possible only because Steyer spent $6 million backing the measure and there was very limited organized opposition. In light of Arizona's massive rejection of the same proposal, this Steyer initiative faces an uphill climb in 2020. Climate Caucus Crushed Voters also demolished the notion that climate activism can be a winning message for Republican politicians. The congressional Climate Solutions Caucus, which claims to seek and support "economically viable options to reduce climate risk," lost half its Republican membership. Of the caucus's 43 Republican members, 11 were defeated, another three appeared likely to lose in races yet to be officially decided, one lost earlier this year in the Republican primary, and seven others decided not to seek re-election (most because they realized they were going to lose anyway). That means that 22 of the 43 Republicans more than half the caucus's Republican membership disappeared after the elections. Voters did more than kneecap the caucus by rejecting many of its members. Voters also cut off the caucus's head by sending caucus cofounder and Republican leader Carlos Curbelo home in defeat. Curbelo was the media darling who served as the figurehead of the caucus. But when push came to shove, Curbelo's climate activism did him no political good. Only one environmental activist group supported him, another opposed him, and most sat on the sidelines. Curbelo lost despite the power of incumbency, a huge spending advantage, and the benefit of facing a novice political opponent. Voters reinforced what should have been clear from the outset: Republicans who join the Climate Solutions Caucus betray the conservative grassroots base and gain little support from the environmental left in doing so. Steyer's Golden Child Goes Down in Defeat Democratic climate activists also suffered crushing defeats. The biggest was the defeat of Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum. Global warming activists have long argued that global warming is a winning political issue for Democrats and Republicans alike in Florida. Gillum made global warming a central issue in his campaign, and Steyer donated $7 million on behalf of Gillum's campaign. Gillum was Steyer's political golden child. As noted by CNN in October when reporting on Steyer's donations on behalf of Gillum, "Steyer has picked his favorite candidate and is pulling out all the stops." But voters in politically purple Florida elected a candidate, Ron DeSantis, who explicitly emphasized he is "not a global warming person" and does not believe that Florida's government should be devoting attention or resources to addressing climate change. Alaskan voters also delivered a stinging rebuke to another Democratic climate activist. Global warming activists argue that Alaska, like Florida, is particularly fertile political ground for politicians to emphasize global warming. Nevertheless, Alaskans elected Republican Mike Dunleavy governor instead of Democratic climate activist Mark Begich, who had taken an even more aggressive position on global warming than incumbent Gov. Bill Walker. Dunleavy, by contrast, emphasized that he does not put much stock in global warming alarmism. "I think we have a lot of issues that, in my opinion, are, quite frankly and bluntly, more important than the climate task force," Dunleavy said. The reason alarmists failed on Election Day isn't because Americans don't care about being good stewards of the planet; it's because the more people have a chance to examine the evidence related to the causes and consequences of climate change, the less concerned they are about global warming. There is no evidence that humans are on the verge of suffering from catastrophic man-caused climate change. Voters know it, and that's why they sent a clear message to Democrats and Republicans in the midterms: stop putting the interests of left-wing environmental radicals before those of working families and if you do, do so at your own peril. James Taylor (JTaylor@heartland.org) is senior fellow for environment policy at The Heartland Institute. As my friend Barry Casselman wrote over the weekend, don't jump to conclusions about 2020. First, it may be wise to remember that no one predicted after the 2006 midterms that Senator Obama would be nominated or elected in 2008. Second, do you remember anyone talking about Donald Trump bursting on stage and winning the election in 2016? I certainly did not see them coming. Let's consider a couple of things about 2020: 1. President Reagan, President Clinton, and President Obama were elected after losing a lot of seats in their first midterms. 2. President Trump will actually be running against a Democrat in 2020. We will have a choice rather than a theoretical debate about this or that. I agree with Daniel McCarthy: For all the good news 2018's midterms have given Democrats a House majority, a Senate seat from Arizona, seven more governorships, and an all-blue congressional delegation from Orange County they have also shown that President Trump has a clear path to re-election in 2020. Midterms historically maximize the relative turnout for the opposition party. More voters overall will go to the polls in 2020 than did so this year, just as more people voted in 2016 than did so this November. But the ratio of Democrats to Republicans will be narrower, if the past anything to go by. What this means is that races Democrats narrowly won this year would probably have been lost if they were fought in a presidential year, and races that Republicans narrowly won would have been won by a greater margin. Let me add this. We saw a perfect storm for the Democrats in 2018. For example, congressional candidates had money that they won't have in 2020. The party was generally unified around its hatred of President Trump. The candidates ran disciplined campaigns, talking health care rather than DACA or the caravan. It won't be that way in 2020. Most of the Democrats seeking re-election will face competitive campaigns. They will have to explain why they couldn't get anything done. Someone will have to explain why he voted for Speaker Pelosi after saying he wouldn't. People will have to vote on whose taxes go up to pay for their health care plans. President Trump will have to fight in 2020. He has a problem with suburban women, and it needs to be addressed. The GOP needs to present a message, something we didn't see this year. Again, it's too early. However, I did not see anything this year that means that President Trump will be a one-term president. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. CNN seems to have forgotten the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for." After filing suit over the revocation of Jim Acosta's hard pass to the White House and winning, that network's media beat reporter is upset. Speaking on CNN's Newsroom, Brian Stelter seems certain that danger lurks in the new open and transparent rules provided by the White House in response to the judge's demand for due process on decisions over revocation of access to press conferences or the White House. Joe DePaolo of Mediaite writes: Brian Stelter stated his belief that nothing has been resolved, and the White House will use their battle with Acosta as something of a message to other reporters. "I think that the White House wants to string this along, wants to make this a threat that looms over the entire White House press corps," Stelter said. The Reliable Sources host referred to a letter the White House sent Acosta informing him of ground rules for behavior at future press conferences. Here are the rules that Stelter finds worrisome: Screen grab via Grabien. Per White House letter to Acosta on Nov. 19, here are the new rules for press conferences at the White House. pic.twitter.com/a6C2pmLv2K ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 19, 2018 The rules are absolutely commonsensical, and they work to allow more correspondents access to questioning the president or other official speaking that day. If a follow-up question is necessary and not permitted, then other correspondents can step up and push for answers. If no one does so, then maybe the question was not that compelling in the first place. Remember when the media caterwauled about President Trump's lack of "decorum"? Or his claimed violation of the norms of presidential behavior? This new letter, laying out the explicit rules, will help maintain decorum. Stelter may not be able to admit it, but his colleague Acosta has been way out of line, and only anti-Trump solidarity among the media (a huge problem that the media won't admit) has prevented public shaming of Acosta by his colleagues, many of whom deeply resent him. Stelter has just reinforced President Trump's view of CNN as reflexively opposed to him no matter what he does. Video and transcript via Grabien: STELTER: "What we have here is a two-page letter from the White House that was sent over to Acosta a few minutes ago. And it confirms that his hard pass, that's the pass he uses every day to enter the White House, will be restored. That means the White House is voluntarily granting access back to Acosta. Whereas back on Friday, it was a court that was forcing the White House to give his pass back temporarily. So we've been in the midst of this 14-day temporary restraining order. There's 11 more days remaining on it, as mandated by a judge. There's some back and forth over the weekend, where it seemed the White House was once again threatening Acosta, saying that as soon as that temporary restraining order expires, you're going to be out of here again. CNN went back to court this morning, asked the judge for another hearing, but the change here, this backing down as of 3:00 P.M., is that the White House is saying in this letter, that the pass will be restored voluntarily by the Administration. Now, there is, of course, a caveat. And I think that the White House wants to straighten this along and makes this a threat that looms over the entire White House press corps." Update: The White House Correspondents' Association is openly promising to defy the limitation on follow-up questions. The president of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) said Monday that the group "fully expect[s]" White House reporters to continue asking follow-up questions at presidential news conferences. Earlier Monday, the White House announced new rules for reporters at news conferences that include limiting the ability of reporters to ask follow-up questions. "The White House Correspondents' Association had no role in crafting any procedures for future press conferences. For as long as there have been White House press conferences, White House reporters have asked follow-up questions," WCHA President Olivier Knox wrote in a statement. "We fully expect this tradition will continue. We will continue to make the case that a free and independent news media plays a vital role in the health of our republic," Knox continued. They can back each other up by pressing follow-up to questions asked by others, which would be the grown-up thing to do. But my guess is that we will see another scene of reporters defying the president and grandstanding by refusing to relinquish the microphone. That would play into Trump's hands. What is it about socialists that enables them to ignore the overwhelming evidence that short-circuiting market forces with government controls produces disaster every time it is seriously tried? Maybe it is confidence in the effectiveness of the brainwashing efforts of the education establishment? Or reliance on the media ignoring the actual causes of the starvation, poverty, and economic failure that followed Venezuela's adoption of the socialist model? Or maybe they just know that the lure of free (or artificially cheap) stuff overrides the lessons of experience? Abandoned, partially constructed apartment skyscraper in Caracas (photo credit: EneasMx). Whatever the reason, New Yorkers with brains should be very afraid of the desires expressed by their mayor, Bill de Blasio, when it comes to housing in their city, in a long interview in New York Magazine, as highlighted by Fox News: I think there's a socialistic impulse, which I hear every day, in every kind of community that they would like things to be planned in accordance to their needs. The mayor is obviously referencing some of Karl Marx's most famous words[i]: "From each according to his ability to each according to his needs." Market forces are anathema to his lust for control: Look, if I had my druthers, the city government would determine every single plot of land, how development would proceed[.] ... And there would be very stringent requirements around income levels and rents. He knows that right now, his goal of total control is unworkable: Later in the interview, de Blasio admitted that this type of governmental control is not possible right now saying it causes "friction" and "anger" but said that there are many people in New York City who would like to have a government that better addresses their daily needs. "That's a world I'd love to see, and I think what we have, in this city at least, are people who would love to have the New Deal back, on one level," he said. "They'd love to have a very, very powerful government, including a federal government, involved in directly addressing their day-to-day reality." De Blasio cannot admit that New York's rent control law and regulation of construction are a major reason why housing has failed to meet demand in that city. Where government does not interfere in housing too much in fast growing cities like Houston and Phoenix housing is not a "crisis" because supply can respond to demand. He'd rather that people have to petition his city government to get the apartment they want. Bureaucrats in charge! No danger of favoritism there... Instead, de Blasio's model is for government to create a crisis, and then use that crisis to extort even more power from the citizenry. "In the early morning hours, CBP officials received reports of groups of persons from the caravan gathering in the city of Tijuana for a possible attempt or attempts to rush illegally through the port of entry instead of presenting themselves as required to a CBP officer", the agency said in a statement. The US temporarily closed its busiest border crossing with Mexico to boost security after a migrant caravan arrived in northern Mexico. Northbound traffic and half the pedestrian crossings at the San Ysidro border point were shut to install new movable wire-topped barriers. The angry protests have been fed by concerns raised by President Donald Trump's month-long warnings that criminals and gang members are in the group and even terrorists, though there is no evidence of that. Dulce Alvarado, 28, from Lempira, Honduras, said she was stepping out of a corner grocery near the complex carrying her 2-year-old son when she was surrounded by the demonstrators chanting "Get out!" and "We don't want you here!" But the lane closures have also made it harder for cross-border residents to go back and forth into the U.S.to work and shop. Thousands of migrants have poured into Tijuana in recent days, as up to 10,000 more traveling across three caravans heads north, largely toward the same border city. "We don't want them in Tijuana", protesters shouted. About 6,000 Central Americans have reached the border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali, according to local officials. "U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to prepare for the potential arrival of thousands of people migrating in a caravan to the United States through the Southwest border", said an email from a CBP spokesperson, according to the Examiner. USA border inspectors are processing only about 100 asylum claims a day at Tijuana's main crossing to San Diego. "We want them to return to Honduras", said Rivera. Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum - who has referred to the arrivals as "bums" and questioned whether a referendum in the city of 1.6 million is needed to determine whether or not they should be allowed to stay - reportedly estimated the migrants may have to wait six months for their asylum claims to be processed. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is continuing to voice his own displeasure over the situation, saying that like Tijuana, "the U.S. is ill-prepared for this invasion, and will not stand for it". On Sunday, two dueling demonstrations were planned - one demanding the migrants not engage in protests that can close roadways or confrontations with American officials that can cause the closure of ports of entry, and the other criticizing what some perceive as discrimination against the migrants. They are causing crime and big problems in Mexico. He followed that tweet by writing: "Catch and Release is an obsolete term". Around 110,000 people enter the United States daily through the crossing. Theresa Shook, one of the founders of the Women's March, is calling radical Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour and other board members to resign because they have "steered the Movement away from its true course." National Review: "Bob Bland, Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour and Carmen Perez of Women's March, Inc. have steered the Movement away from its true course," she continued. "I have waited, hoping they would right the ship. But they have not. In opposition to our Unity Principles, they have allowed anti-Semitism, anti-LBGTQIA sentiment and hateful, racist rhetoric to become a part of the platform by their refusal to separate themselves from groups that espouse these racist, hateful beliefs. I call for the current Co-Chairs to step down and to let others lead who can restore faith in the Movement and its original intent." Shook is far too late. The "movement" has been captured by radical left anti-Semites thanks largely to the influence of Mallory and Sarsour. Mallory and Sarsour have been routinely criticized by public figures from across the political spectrum for praising Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who routinely espouses anti-Semitic and homophobic views to his large following. The co-chairs have also come under fire for partnering with and endorsing anti-Semitic pro-Palestinian groups. A regional chapter of Planned Parenthood disinvited Mallory from a previously scheduled speaking event in March after she attended and celebrated Farrakhan's Saviour's Day address in Chicago, in which he described Jewish people as "satanic" and dubbed them his "enemy." Ten days after posting an Instagram video lauding Farrakhan for the contents of his speech, Mallory issued a statement in which she refused to condemn him and said she holds the Nation of Islam "close to [her] heart." For her part, Sarsour wrote a long letter published on her website where she doesn't exactly defend Farrakhan, but she refuses to disassociate herself or the movement from him. This is not a letter in defense of Minister Farrakhan. He can do that for himself. We have been CRYSTAL CLEAR in BOTH of our statements that we REJECT antisemitism and all forms of racism. We have been CLEAR that Minister Farrakhan has said hateful and hurtful things and that he does not align with our Unity Principles of the Women's March that were created by Women of Color. Minister Farrakhan will tell you himself that he does not belong to nor adhere to our progressive movement or yours. We are trained in Kingian nonviolence, the ideology of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that at its core calls us to attack the forces of evil not those doing evil. We believe in redemption for people of color who have been discarded, denounced and condemned for centuries in this country. People who engage in acts or behaviors or hold beliefs based on their own historical trauma. It's why we are not ashamed to work with formerly incarcerated individuals who have committed crimes that for some in society would have determined and decided to give them death. We have been slandered for working with criminals but we are committed to a movement that leaves no one behind. Some folks who claim to be in the resistance or represent the resistance have no ideology or theory of change and have no understanding of the nuance that comes with organizing with communities of color because they have not done the work and I pray that they do meet, build and learn because it will transform how they show up so they can help and not harm. It's a load of horse crap, and she knows it. All this double-talk about "solidarity" and being slandered for working with convicted murderers who "have committed crimes that for some in society would have determined and decided to give them death" fails to address Ms. Shook's point: condemning Farrakhan's language is not good enough. The leader of the NOI spreads hate against Jews, whites, and gays every time he speaks. How can you possibly accept any kind of support from someone like that? It's not just Farrakhan, of course. It's other pro-Palestinian groups who routinely call for the destruction of Israel and the genocide of Jews. Parsing the truth establishes a nauseating double standard that is glaring even to liberal members of the movement. The rise of the BDS movement, which is anti-Semitic by definition, is not being addressed by the supposed "mainstream" left. Some are even sympathetic to it. Linda Sarsour is a cancer and a stain on all those who purport to advocate for the oppressed of the world. Unless and until more rational and reasonable people in the movement rid themselves of her toxic leadership, they will continue to move toward the fringe of American politics. It's hard to understand why Ivanka Trump, who heard crowds at her father's rallies chant "Lock her up!" over Hillary Clinton's email abuses, would not be punctilious over discussing government business in a personal email account. By forgetting that not only Caesar's wife, but Caesar's daughter must be above suspicion, she handed her father's opposition a giant talking point. The Washington Post, the community newspaper of The Swamp, got the scoop from some of its many sources in the federal bureaucracy: Ivanka Trump sent hundreds of emails last year to White House aides, Cabinet officials and her assistants using a personal account, many of them in violation of federal records rules, according to people familiar with a White House examination of her correspondence. White House ethics officials learned of Trump's repeated use of personal email when reviewing emails gathered last fall by five Cabinet agencies to respond to a public records lawsuit. That review revealed that throughout much of 2017, she often discussed or relayed official White House business using a private email account with a domain that she shares with her husband, Jared Kushner. Cue Democrats chanting, "Lock her up!" Photo credit: Rich Gerard. That's good fun, but there are significant differences from Hillary Clinton's criminal behavior, and Ivanka's lawyers pointed them out to Fox News, the sole significant counterpoint to the mainstream media's demonization of everything Trump (even what they asked for): In a statement to Fox News, Peter Mirijanian, the spokesperson for Trump's ethics lawyer Abbe Lowell, emphasized those distinctions to the Hillary Clinton email scandal that engulfed the 2016 presidential campaign. "To address misinformation being peddled about Ms. Trump's personal email, she did not create a private server in her house or office, there was never classified information transmitted, the account was never transferred or housed at Trump Organization, no emails were ever deleted, and the emails have been retained in the official account in conformity with records preservation laws and rules," Mirijanian said. He added: "When concerns were raised in the press 14 months ago, Ms. Trump reviewed and verified her email use with White House Counsel and explained the issue to congressional leaders." Mirijanian told the Post that Trump had used a personal account prior to being briefed on ethics rules. The reason Hillary Clinton should have faced criminal prosecution was the violation of national security laws by sending classified data on an unprotected email. The use of personal email accounts for government business that is not secret is prohibited because of the possibility of concealing information from the public. By retaining the emails erroneously sent via private account and making them available for inspection, no harm has resulted. The left needs to be careful in crowing over this incident, because any detailed discussion will highlight the differences from Hillary Clinton's behavior, especially in deleting 30,000 emails. But of course, the Trump-hating media rarely focus for very long on one topic before moving on to the next fake outrage. As for why Ivanka Trump was negligent, I have only guesses. Busy, arrogant, and careless are the first three that come to mind. Since there was no harm, and since corrective actions were taken, it is hard to get too excited. For a while there, an orderly border entry process was taking place at Tijuana, with thousands of applicants for asylum taking a number and waiting their turn to make their claims. It made more sense to immigrate legally than illegally, given that President Trump issued a national security order saying that asylum claims would be processed only at a U.S. port of entry. This was why the Tijuana residents protested the other day they didn't want these people hanging around, given the large numbers of criminals in their ranks, 500 at last count, and the arrogance, trashing, and thievery they demonstrated rolling in. Now a federal judge has changed all that, leaving flimsy razor wire or even less the only thing separating the U.S. from tens of thousands of caravan migrants making their way into the States. According to the New York Times: LOS ANGELES A federal judge on Monday ordered the Trump administration to resume accepting asylum claims from migrants no matter where or how they entered the United States, dealing at least a temporary setback to the president's attempt to clamp down on a huge wave of Central Americans crossing the border. Judge Jon S. Tigar of the United States District Court in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the government from carrying out a new rule that denies protections to people who enter the country illegally. The order, which suspends the rule until the case is decided by the court, applies nationally. And according to the Associated Press: But in his ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar agreed with legal groups that immediately sued, arguing that U.S. immigration law clearly allows someone to seek asylum even if they enter the country between official ports of entry. "Whatever the scope of the President's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," said Tigar, a nominee of former President Barack Obama. Note that interesting use of language "enter the country between ports of entry" to describe what had previously been called sneaking across the border and breaking in illegally. With that ruling, who is going to wait in line in Tijuana to file his phony asylum claim if he can get across illegally and file their asylum claim right then and there? Why wait in line for six months at the border to get an asylum claim processed when on some desert crossing, you can turn yourself over to a Customs and Border Patrol agent, and get the initial asylum claim processed right then and there? Talk about on-the-spot customer service! And, unlike other forms of legal migration, applying for asylum, frivolously or not, literally costs nothing. After that, you are free to move about the country (and work) as you await your court date some two years on. And that is if you choose to show up. Many don't, and of those who do, well, they got two years in to work in the States free and clear, whether the asylum claim was valid or not, which is what many caravaners have told the press they want, so can take their earnings home upon deportation. Catch and release is back in a big way. The judge justified his ruling according to the reasoning of the leftwing lawyers, who included the ACLU, by saying people are in danger, despite the fact that these asylum applicants are in Mexico, not their Central American countries of origin, where they have already been offered jobs, asylum, and perks for staying. They aren't in the slightest danger, and if you listen to the Tijuana residents, who launched an organized protest over the weekend, they are the danger, given their penchant for looting, stealing, and throwing trash around, as well as insulting the natives, their city, and even their cuisine (as "fit only for pigs"). The federal judge's ruling is claptrap. What makes this dangerous is that President Trump is determined to stop the border-crossers and has sent troops, now with enhanced powers, to stop the flood of migrants from getting in. The legal measure ensured that the action would take place only at ports of entry. But the leftist leaders of the migrant caravan, led by acolytes of former "cowboy hat" deposed president Mel Zelaya, an admirer of Hugo Chavez, are just as determined to get in, by fair means or foul, by left-wing lawyers, or by force. They mean to get in no matter what, ultimately to force the U.S. to abandon any border enforcement. Their caravan project is basically a political project, not a charity project, led with the Honduran banner. This also explains the huge presence of criminals and angry uneducated military-aged young men in their ranks, all potential enforcers and shock troops, even as a few women and children are put before the news cameras. Climbing the razor wire or crossing a dusty desert pass is no problem for them, and the caravan mission organizers know it. This means that confrontation is inevitable. If crossing the border illegally is more profitable than crossing the border legally, who is going to do it legally? And if Trump is determined to ensure that the U.S. does not become the next Europe, where millions of migrants have turned that continent into a crime-infested hellhole with stone-age values, how can this not lead to something violent happening? The federal judge who got rid of Trump's reasonable ruling to restore rule of law in favor of lawless crossings at the border is going to responsible for whatever violence happens. One can only hope the appeals courts can reverse his call for border disorder as soon as possible. Image credit: NBC7 San Diego screenshot. You would think that in victory, Democrats in the House would unify in order to achieve their main goal of impeaching Trump and passing their radical agenda. Not so. In fact, the fractures that have plagued the party over the last several years are widening as opposition to Nancy Pelosi's return to the speakership is growing. Politico: Sixteen Democrats vowed Monday to oppose Nancy Pelosi for speaker on the House floor, throwing the California Democrat's bid to reclaim the gavel in serious jeopardy. In a highly anticipated letter that went public Monday, the Democrats praised Pelosi as "a historic figure" but argued that it is time for change at the top. "Our majority came on the backs of candidates who said that they would support new leadership because voters in hard-won districts, and across the country, want to see real change in Washington," the group of Democrats said in the letter. "We promised to change the status quo, and we intend to deliver on that promise." The show of force underscores the depth of the challenge facing Pelosi, who has led the caucus for 16 years. Pelosi needs 218 votes among lawmakers present and voting to be elected speaker on Jan. 3. House Democrats have won 233 seats, meaning Pelosi can currently afford to lose only 15 votes. The letter includes 11 incumbents, four incoming freshman and one candidate, Ben McAdams of Utah, whose race has not been called. Enter Donald Trump and the Republicans. Is Trump serious about supporting Pelosi for speaker? Would any Republicans break ranks with their own party to vote for her? Would Democrats accept her if Republicans put her over the top? As recently as Sunday, Trump reiterated his support for the California Democrat. 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 It's unusual for a president to insert himself so directly in a leadership fight doubly so if the leadership question is being determined by the opposition party. Would any Republicans really vote for a Democrat for speaker? Mercury News: "If she needs any votes, if she asks me, I will give her the votes to put her over the top," Trump told reporters, according to a White House press pool report. Asked which Republicans would vote for her, Trump again named Reed, who has said he "is open to crossing over." "I saw Tom Reed as an example," Trump said. "I would call him a moderate. ... But whatever number of votes she needs, if its 50 or 10 or two or one, she's got them from me, automatic. So tell her opposition, they're wasting their time." Pelosi is old and often confused in public appearances. Democrats may accept her as a figurehead, but the real power will be wielded by others. Meanwhile, Trump is challenging Democrats to name the real reasons they don't want Pelosi front and center as their leader: she would be an embarrassment to their party and ineffective in opposing Trump. Perhaps some of those Democrats currently in opposition to Pelosi would reconsider if a Trump-led GOP effort to elect her looked as if it was going to succeed. One thing is sure: it will be the most interesting race for speaker of the House in a long time. Purported comedian Michelle Wolf, whose vile attacks at the last White House Correspondents' dinner caused open reactions of dismay from the audience, has induced the group to cancel the custom of featuring a comic at its gatherings. She has managed to diminish laughter, which is in keeping with the thrust of her unfunny, hate-filled work. Cancelation is the current theme of her career: her Netflix series lasted three months before getting the axe. Her reliance on shock and grotesquerie in place of actual humor based on wit is at the level of a three-year-old saying "poo-poo head" at the family dinner table, expecting a reaction. The WHCA demeaned itself by featuring her, and the group seems to have figured that out. Netflix screen grab. In a press release, the group touted its choice of Ron Chernow as featured speaker at the next dinner. "I'm delighted that Ron will share his lively, deeply researched perspectives on American politics and history at the 2019 White House Correspondents' Dinner," said Olivier Knox, Chief Washington Correspondent for SiriusXM and president of the WHCA. "As we celebrate the importance of a free and independent news media to the health of the republic, I look forward to hearing Ron place this unusual moment in the context of American history." "The White House Correspondents' Association has asked me to make the case for the First Amendment and I am happy to oblige," Chernow said. "Freedom of the press is always a timely subject and this seems like the perfect moment to go back to basics. My major worry these days is that we Americans will forget who we are as a people and historians should serve as our chief custodians in preserving that rich storehouse of memory. While I have never been mistaken for a stand-up comedian, I promise that my history lesson won't be dry." I have never heard Chernow speak, but I have read some of his first-rate work. Almost certainly, the WHCA is looking to contrast the current POTUS with practices of the past, but such is Chernow's standing as a serious and fair scholar that he has every incentive to avoid cheap shots. The biggest danger he faces is speaking over the (air)heads of the journalists assembled. The correspondents have taken to calling their fashion-show-cum-laugh-fest the "nerd prom" as if they had the intellectual standing to merit the term "nerd." With Chernow attending, the title may become justified. No doubt, there are hopes that President Trump will attend next year's dinner, appeased by the assurance that he will not be roasted by a professional comedian. But with the WHCA promising to disregard the new guidelines offered by the White House in response to the court-ordered "due process" for removing press passes, it will take some further developments for Trump to risk making himself a target of a group that generally hates him and wants him out of office. Samsung has shed a bit more light on its upcoming Bixby overhaul at its November 20 Bixby Developer Day: Korea event in Seoul, indicating to The Investor that it will make its very first appearance in the companys first folding handset tentatively the Samsung Galaxy F. More directly, thats according to statements made by Samsung AI division head Eui-Suk Chung. The executive also said that the company isnt sure yet whether to name the update AI Bixby 3.0 or something else entirely since it will be much more of an update than previous iterations. So far, Mr. Chung noted, AI technologies have taken baby steps and the vast majority of big changes will be seen over the next decade in a way thats not dissimilar to how Android has evolved over the past ten years. The company is already making serious changes to the AI in order to bring it more in line with Google Assistant and Amazon echo, including opening up Bixby to work with all installed apps. Furthermore, it is delivering support for other developers to participate in Bixby projects and bringing all of its AI efforts under the Bixby umbrella. However, there are almost certainly a huge number of changes incoming that will help the company match the innovation of the handset it is now expected to premiere on. Background: Of course, this isnt the first time that a Samsung executive has made similar statements regarding Googles products. In fact, it isnt the first time the tech giant has made almost exactly that same comparison. The previous comment was made during the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 event in San Francisco, held in early November. Following the initial keynote address, Samsung Electronics VP of Mobile R&D Dag Kittlaus took to the stage to indicate that AI is still in its very earliest stages. He backed up that statement by pointing to the fact that when Google first took to changing the worlds internet search, it was faced by 14 competitors. As with the new comments, Mr. Kittlaus noted that many people dont even search the web anymore. Instead, they Google it and said Samsung hopes to accomplish a similar feat with AI, developing a safe and open platform that any implementation of the technology can run on. The groundwork for that was initiated at that same event and ties directly into the latest news from the companys home region. Moreover, Mr. Chung also spoke at that event and was responsible for unveiling that all of the Bixby API and development tools would become available to third-party developers, as well as third-party manufacturers. Moreover, Mr. Chung revealed that by 2020 it would be included in all of it products across every category, giving the company a serious boost despite its late start especially with consideration for its current boast of more than 500 million products shipped annually. The company went further still and pledged to invest as much as $22 billion to AI research and other related investments over that period in addition to hiring more than 1,000 AI experts. Advertisement At the same time, the company showed off the flexible glass display panel meant for use in the Samsung Galaxy F. The device itself wasnt quite ready for launch yet by the time of the event but the company also gave at least a few details to tide everybody over until its expected unveiling toward the first half of 2019. Specifically, it indicated that the handset will most likely feature a separate external panel measuring at right around 4-inches diagonally. However, thats not the primary configuration in which the device is meant to be used and that will be extended to a full 7.3-inches when the device is unfolded. Any apps that are open on the outward display will shift to the internal folding panel when users open the device up. Impact: Whether or not Samsung accomplishes its goal and dominates the AI market over the coming months and years, there will almost certainly be some very substantial changes to the Bixby platform moving forward. Both the companys ambitious comparison to Googles Android and Search platforms and its dedication to investing so heavily, if nothing else, suggest that it intends to approach the technology much more aggressively. That ambition is presently only topped by its promise to deliver the new Bixby on a hardware platform that, by all accounts, could re-write the standards for premium flagship handsets and smartphone versatility. Google has partnered up with Disney in celebration of the 90-year run, so far, of the latter companys iconic Mickey Mouse character, opening a new exhibit in New York and highlighting recently revealed features for Assistant and Google Home Mini. The headliner of the partnership will be a long-running 16,000 square-foot exhibition featuring both modern and historic Mickey Mouse content and exploring the impact of the character on a variety of arts, in general. That will be open from November 8 through February 10 at 60 10th Avenue in the Big Apple and admission costs $38. For Googles part, the company has worked with Disney to create an exclusive interactive experience that uses Google Home Mini, found in the last room of the exhibit. Background: As of this writing, the company hasnt provided any details as to what that special exhibit entails but, in the meantime, isnt leaving out those who cant make it to New York in time to join in. Instead, it has also added an experience for Google Home users to access from their own home. By saying, Hey Google, Play Mickeys Game Show, participants will be able to take part in a trivia-style game alongside some of the animated mouses most well-known supporting characters including Daisy and Donald Duck, Goofy, and Minnie Mouse. Thats in addition to a huge variety of Mickey Mouse and Disney-related features that the company has revealed over recent weeks for a variety of its products. The most intriguing of those have centered around Google Home and have specifically been marketed in conjunction with Google Home Mini, although the work with Google Assistant in general. For example, parents who buy select Little Golden Books stories to read to their children can say Hey Google, lets read along with Disney before reading the book aloud and Assistant will chime in with appropriate effects and music to bring the stories to life. Beyond that, the companies have even collaborated with Otterbox to create a Mickey Mouse-styled dock for Google Home Mini that makes the device look very nearly exactly like the character, complete with a red-colored base emulating Mickeys clothes. Better still, homeowners who own a Google Home Mini can bring a bit of that Disney magic to their decor for just $20. Advertisement Furthermore, Disney has gone quite a long way to celebrate the nearly century-long existence of its most familiar creation with other partners too. Among those efforts, the company worked with Samsung to help bring the character and his significant other, Minnie Mouse, to life for users of that companys Samsung Galaxy S9 family of handsets through AR masks. Thats on top of previous collaborations that brought other famous and recent Disney characters ranging from those found in Pixars The Incredibles to its own Frozen to the platform. Moreover, Disney has also worked tirelessly with third-party developers to bring Mickey and many others to Android through a host of Android Games and apps covering the gamut of gaming genres and for players of all ages on any device. Impact: Of course, Mickey Mouse doesnt require much introduction for most, even 90-years after he first made his way into the public consciousness and the new partnership wont necessarily equate to many more sales of the search giants already-popular Home family of smart speakers. With that said, this is a great continuation of ongoing collaborations nonetheless. Its also almost certainly worth visiting the exhibit for those who reside in or will be visiting the New York area over the next few months. Conversely, it does equate to just a few more ways to gather around with the family or by oneself and have a good time with Disneys most beloved character, for those who cant make it to the exhibit. Industry insiders now claim that LGs display division is working closely on a joint project to deliver folding smartphone panels to Huawei, Xiaomi, and Lenovo, according to new reports stemming from the companys home country. As part of those ongoing efforts, the sources claim that LG Chem, the companys chemicals division, plans to invest heavily in its Cheongju factory beginning in early 2019 in order to produce the adhesives, substrates, and other components needed for the panels. In the meantime, there havent been any details provided on the Korean tech giants partnership with Xiaomi but Huawei is said to be developing a 6-inch panel with LG. That will also be an outward folding display, meaning that both halves of the screen will still be exposed when the handset its built for is folded up half on the front and the other half on the rear of the gadget. Opening the device up will allow users to access both displays simultaneously. Meanwhile, the work on Lenovos display panels seems to be a bit further along and will reportedly be mass-produced in Q3 2019. That will be an inward folding design with no external display included, the sources say. Rather than including a secondary panel for quick access on the outside, Lenovo will have a portion of that still showing while folded so that pertinent information generally attributed to the notification shade in Android, such as the date and current time, will still be visible. Moreover, it will measure out to a massive 13.6-inch touchscreen set at a resolution of 2560 x 1600 when unfolded. Background: Prior to the new reports, LG had already been indicated to be working with Lenovo on just such a folding display panel but not for a smartphone. Lenovo will reportedly be trying to use the scale of the panel to improve durability and in an attempt to revitalize the Android tablet industry instead. Whats more, the previous speculation on the matter has pointed to additional functionality including the ability to fold the device to a 90-degree angle and use the lower portion as a keyboard like a netbook. While theres no verification for that expectation, for the time being, that would set the tablet apart from both others in the same category and other devices with folding screens. At the same time, the timelines from both the older report and the latest out of South Korea seem to support the concept. Advertisement Conversely, both Xiaomi and Huawei have also previously been reported to be developing smartphones built around a folding display panel. For the latter company, the alleged plan is to launch that new touchscreen technology alongside another relatively new networking tech namely, 5G and Huawei has been rumored to already be talking to carriers about the prospect. Xiaomis situation seems less certain, on the other hand, since it has supposedly been working on a new smartphone since at least July but its original idea was thought to be closer to ZTEs Axon M. Thats not necessarily encouraging because that other handset was essentially just two screens bolted together and didnt have much of an impact on the overall smartphone market. So it may be the case that details are slim on Xiaomis project with LG display due to the company needing to go back to the drawing board on its own project or it may simply be keeping its project under wraps. Impact: Bearing that in mind, LGs apparent timeline for its folding display panels in its own devices has been rumored to line up very closely with Samsungs plans. The latter company already showed off its display, but not a device, at its own developer conference and is expected to announce a Galaxy-branded smartphone created around that in early 2019. Thats going to put a lot of pressure on LGs display unit to get things right the first time since it is competing with one of the industrys foremost display manufacturers and the foremost smartphone OEM. However, these partnerships may be exactly what the company needs to really do that if the sources are correct in their assertions. That will depend largely on the number of third-party devices sold with LG Display panels in relation to Samsungs own push for the technology. However, with LG Display folding panels appearing in a wider assortment of brands, the company could gain access to the resources needed to push research and build recognition at a higher rate than its top competitor. It wouldnt be impossible for that to give LG the edge it needs to come out on top in the folding and flexible display departments. Update: Motorola is discounting the regular model of the Moto X4 by $120 as well, bringing the price down to $229. Motorola is ready for this years Black Friday, having just dropped the price of the Moto X4 Prime Exclusive to $179.99, beating its previous all-time low by $50. Regularly priced at $250, this particular variant of the device is already more affordable than the regular Moto X4 by no less than a $100, with those savings being available to anyone who doesnt mind an occasional lock screen ad. With this latest discount, the Moto X4 is by far the cheapest device powered by the mid-range Snapdragon 630 that you can currently get in the U.S. While its not on par with the very latest $1,000 flagships in terms on raw power, it certainly comes close to them during regular use and may even surpass them as far as battery life is concerned. The critically acclaimed device has been out for just over a year now and offers everything a regular smartphone user might want a sharp screen, water resistance, dual-camera setup that produces a great bokeh effect, and compatibility with every mobile network in the United States. Better yet, the Moto X4 offers support for Amazons Alexa assistant and comes with a microSD card slot which can accept up to 2TB of extra flash storage. Naturally, with this being a Prime Exclusive, youll have to be a Prime subscriber in order to purchase the handset at such an attractive price point but the good news is that you can sign up for a membership for free, order the device, and then cancel your trial if you dont deem it worth the money (though it certainly is). UPDATE: it seems like this is the same issue that we spotted and wrote about three weeks ago, so its not new at all, but Google still hasnt reacted to it. The Google Pixel 3 & Pixel 3 XL seems to be facing yet another bug, this time around its camera-related. It seems like some users are having issues using the Pixel 3s camera in third-party applications, as theyre getting an error which disables the camera completely until you actually reboot the device. To make things worse, the stock camera also becomes completely unusable until you reboot the device. Now, it seems like not all units are having this problem, as already mentioned, as were not experiencing such issues at the moment, weve tried to reproduce it on both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. You can test this yourself, if you want, of course, all you have to do is open an app that uses your phones camera, like Snapchat, for example, and try taking a photo. If an error pops up while you do it (like the one shown in a tweet down below), youre having issues, and chances are you will have to reboot your device in order to get access to the camera in general. It is possible youll get either Cant connect to the camera or The camera device encountered a fatal error message. If you encountered this error once, chances are it will repeat every time you try using the Pixel 3 (XL)s camera in a third-party app, and it would be best if you completely ban third-party apps from using the camera until Google resolves this. Some people even tried factory resetting the device, but that did not help at all. Now, it seems like the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL users are not the only ones who are facing this problem, if reports are to be believed, some Pixel 2 XL units are also affected. Several people reported such issues with the original Pixel lineup as well, so it seems like the issue is not exclusive to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. It seems like BuzzFeed News bureau chief, Mat Honan, had some issues with his personal Pixel 3 unit, which actually made him update the sites review of the device. Google is expected to tend to this issue in the near future, but the company still did not respond to these reports. Advertisement Background: The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL seem to be plagued by various errors ever since they got announced earlier this year. The Pixel 3 XL started growing a second display notch due to a bug, as if the one it has was not enough. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL also had issues with slow wireless charging even though the display indicated that theyre charging fast, though thats one issue that Google resolved. Ambient notifications are broken on some Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL units, though Google said that the fix for this is coming, same goes for the second notch on the Pixel 3 XL. The company also confirmed that fixes are coming for the memory management problems, and for the buzzing in the Pixel 3 XL speaker. Some Pixel 3 XL units are experiencing some sort of clicking noise during phone calls, and that is something Google still did not comment on. Furthermore, some Pixel 3 units are having issues with disappearing messages in the Messages app by Google, though that issue may be related to the app itself, not the device, even though reports regarding it surfaced only for Pixel 3 (XL) units so, who knows, but Google still did not comment on it. As you can see, there are a lot of bugs that are plaguing the Pixel 3 units, though there were more which got fixed via updates. The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are Googles flagship smartphones, both of these devices were introduced last month, and have become available earlier this month. The two devices are quite similar on the outside, save for one detail, the Pixel 3 does not have a display notch, while the Pixel 3 XL does, and a rather large one. Despite all of those bugs, these two devices are quite compelling, as they have a lot of positives as well. The two devices feature front-facing stereo speakers, while they have rather capable cameras as well. Both devices have a single camera on the back, but thanks to Googles algorithms, that camera is capable of taking some really nice images, even in low light, thanks to the companys Night Sight mode. Both phones are fueled by the Snapdragon 845 SoC, while both of them ship with Android 9 Pie out of the box. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL also come with a rear-facing fingerprint scanner, while the two devices are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. The two phones are made out of metal and glass, though its mostly metal, with a small glass panel included on the back. If youd like to know more about them, check out our review. Impact: The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are plagued with bugs, that much is pretty obvious at this point, though it seems like Google is committed to fixing those bugs as soon as possible. The company already responded to a number of bug reports, and a good portion of the bugs that affected the two phones are already fixed, even though the list of unfixed ones is still rather long. Truth be said, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL did not leave the best first impression due to so many problems, but once the company gets a handle on several major bugs that need attending, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL units will leave a much better impression, thats for sure. It is worth noting that not all bugs are affecting all Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL units, quite the contrary, so its even possible that you did not experience a single bug that weve mentioned in this article, or a single bug in general, in which case your opinion when it comes to both of these phones is probably considerably different. It remains to be seen how long will it take Google to fix the phones memory management issues, phantom notch appearances, and this rather annoying bug with third-party apps and the phones camera. Advertisement Weirdest Pixel 3 bug: enable camera access for any third party app and it stops working completely pic.twitter.com/R48Fe0vJAL Owen Williams (@ow) October 25, 2018 The Palace on Monday said it hopes to forge a better cooperation, a more powerful alliance, and closer bonds with China as the Duterte administration rolls out the red carpet for the two-day state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. More than 300 protesters with placards that read "Philippines not for sale" and "Hands off our land and seas" rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate in Manila. The Philippines' provocative president, Rodrigo Duterte, was courting controversy again this week, asserting casually on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Singapore that China was already in possession of the entire South China Sea. China is now considered a top trading partner of the Philippines, a leading export market for the Philippines, and one of the largest tourist origins to the Philippines, Panelo had noted, even as analysis showed that Duterte's move to improve ties with Beijing has produced a small dividend in terms of infrastructure investment so far. Duterte has refused to immediately demand Chinese compliance to the landmark ruling, which invalidated China's sweeping claims to the waters, where Beijing has transformed a string of disputed reefs into missile-protected island bases. Xi said he is convinced the visit will cement the traditional friendship, deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation and enhance the joint efforts of China and the Philippines for common development. But relations have been warmer since Donald Trump became USA president and dropped American criticism of Duterte's anti-drug crackdown that has killed thousands. Beijing's relations with Manila stagnated over long-seething territorial rifts in the South China Sea until Duterte won the presidency in mid-2016 and rebuilt ties with China while often pillorying USA security policies in a dramatic pivot. Both Xi and Duterte have often been in the crosshairs of human rights groups. Chinese President Xi Jinping waves upon his arrival in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 20, 2018. The two nations also signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on Beijing's vast trade and infrastructure strategy, the "Belt and Road Initiative", and agreed to boost ties. Xi will then have a photo opportunity with leaders of the Filipino-Chinese community then depart Manila for China from NAIA Terminal 1. The Philippines, which relies heavily on energy imports is racing against time to develop oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea, but to do that needs foreign help, which China has offered. "The President has different tact in solving the problems confronting us". He hasn't challenged Chinese assertions that it controls the majority of the disputed South China Sea - a stance he once opposed. "During the State Visit, the two Leaders will exchange views on areas of mutual concern and chart the course for the future of Philippines-China bilateral relations", Panelo said. Samsung.com is currently discounting its hugely popular Level On Wireless Headphones, bringing the price down to just $59. That is good for around $140 off of the regular price, which makes this a really good deal for those looking to pick up a new pair of headphones. This is an all-time low price for the Level On Wireless as well. These headphones from Samsung are wireless, so that they will work great with newer smartphones that do not have a headphone jack like the Google Pixel 3 or iPhone XS. But Samsung does include a 3.5mm cable so that you can use these wired, if you choose to do so. These also offer up some really good sounding audio, which is great to see from Samsung. There are 40mm drivers included in these headphones, which are able to produce some really full sound, without sounding distorted at higher sound levels. The Level On Wireless will also last around 12 hours of continuous playback, which is also pretty impressive for a pair of headphones this lightweight. You can pick up the Samsung Level On Wireless headphones right now from Samsung, these wont be this price for long, so youll want to hit the link below before they are gone. The Director of Missions for the Anglican Church of Kenya, the Revd John Mark Oduor, on how God answers prayer but not as you might have expected. The little boy, Jackson, grew up in a sleepy village in the expanse plains of the Great Rift Valley in the east African country of Kenya and as a child of a pastoralist his wildest dream was always to be a pastoralist like his father. One day he visited his uncle who lived in the plains across the ridges on the east side of the Great Rift Valley and was surprised at how many animals the uncle had. So he promised himself that when he grows up he will want to be a Big Shepherd like his uncle, with many sheep, goats and cattle. He couldnt believe that one person could own such a large number of cattle. He began to dream of how he was going to get them. Traditionally, his tribesmen would raid the neighbouring village or tribe and take their animals. To them it wasnt stealing. They culturally believed that they owned all animals and so anybody other than his tribe was keeping it for them. His dream got into his head so much that he would tell his friends and relatives that one day when he grows up, he will be a big rich shepherd with a lot of animals. He remembers being forced to go to school and being removed from the sheep. He didnt like it but one missionary insisted that he must learn to read and write. Which he did and his joy was that finally he will be able to count his cows himself. He was seeing his dream coming true as he asked God to help him be the largest and biggest shepherd in the Land. Many years passed and Jacksons prayer was still to be a big shepherd. God was faithful to the little Maasai boys prayer. God answered Jacksons prayers but not as Jackson wanted but Gods own way. He became a chief shepherd. His consecration and enthronement as the sixth Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya was attended by delegates from several countries and the chief guest was the President of the Republic of Kenya and so many dignitaries. He became the Biggest and largest Shepherd in the Land as Primate and Archbishop. In another world, another culture, another shepherd boy prayed to God to make him a good big shepherd to his fathers sheep. His brothers didnt like him because he talked about one day his sheep will hear his voice and they shall sing new song to Jehovah as he played his harp in praise to the Great I Am. God answered his prayers too. A Prophet came home and asked for a son to be anointed King but his own father wasnt sure he was worth listing in the sons worth mentioning. He became a by the way Son. When the prophet insisted on all sons be called, the father remembered David. God saw in him a shepherd he could trust with more than just sheep in the field. He prepared him for something larger and bigger actually the Biggest and largest responsibility in the land, to be king of the united kingdom of Israel. So you should not be scared to dare to dream. God has a lot of places for dreamers. But dont limit him with your dream just because today the only sheep you see are in the field. God owns sheep in a thousand hills and each hill has enough sheep and they could be different from the others. May the Lord open your dreaming eyes see what the God of the Most Revd Dr Jackson Ole Sapit, and His Majesty King David, son of Jesse, can do with dreamers. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. MadridFive days after the agreement between the PP and the PSOE to reshuffle the governing body of the Spanish judiciary was made public, the PPs spokesperson in the Senate, Ignacio Cosido sent a WhatsApp text message to senators from his party in response to the criticisms made both by the public and within his party. According to Elespanol.com, Cosido described the changes to the General Council of the Judiciary (GCJ) as "positive" for the PP, since, "following negotiations, the PP has 9 members, plus the president (10) and the PSOE has 11". "In other words the PPs spokesperson went on to say numerically were on a par, but weve got a remarkable president [...], a great judge with such a capacity for leadership and authority that the votes wont be 11-10 but more like 21-0, while well also be controlling the second chamber [the criminal court, the only court with powers to prosecute MPs, senators and ministers] from behind the scenes and presiding over court 61 [the special court whose powers include the ability to ban political parties, as occurred with Herri Batasuna]". Cosido welcomed Manuel Marchenas appointment, though he made no mention of the fact that his appointment will change the composition of the court which is set to try the Catalan political prisoners for rebellion. Marchena was originally intended to preside over the court and was to have delivered the verdict, a duty which now falls to the more liberal judges Andres Martinez Arrieta and Susana Polo. This fact in particular has generated unease among the PP ranks, along with the appointment of Jose Ricardo de Prada as one of the GCJs new members, for his role in having presided over the Gurtel case, in which he accused the PP of having benefitted from a graft ring. De Pradas ruling also called into question Mariano Rajoys credibility when giving evidence as a witness in the case. The ruling in the Gurtel case ultimately led to the PSOE successfully pursuing a vote of no confidence in Mariano Rajoy. Regarding this issue, Cosido admitted that "the only things that might not sound too good are the appointments of some of the PSOEs judges, but wed made a deal not to veto nominees, so as not to prolong the process [...]. In any case, removing De Prada from the National Court is a good move. Better that hes a member of the GCJ than handing down sentences against the PP". Cosido ended his WhatsApp message with what appeared to be a swipe at the press, stating that these days hed read articles containing "ignorance bordering on the criminal", and that he was willing to offer his colleagues "more details, if they wished. In his opinion, the reshuffle was a positive move: according to Cosido, "It was a great move that I was able to observe at first hand. At stake were future appointments of two-thirds of the Supreme Court and hundreds of jobs throughout the judiciary, vital to the PP and for the future of Spain". Cosido apologizes This Monday Cosido claimed that his WhatsApp message to MPs in his party about the control of the GCJ following the agreement between the government and the PSOE had been "misinterpreted", although he admitted that the language he used was "unfortunate". Speaking to journalists, Cosido admitted that his choice of words was "unfortunate", while claiming that his words were "misinterpreted" since the PP is not going to control the Council, not least because, "its not possible". The PPs spokesperson stated that his message was an attempt to highlight the fact that the president of the GCJ is a person with "moral authority" -the Spanish government and the PP have agreed that the post will be occupied by Judge Manuel Marchena-, which "will ensure that the decisions are as unanimous as possible" adding that it "safeguards the independence of the judiciary". According to Cosido, "this was what I meant, it didnt mean that it gives us control because, among other things, its not true", before going on to say that he did not wish to comment on the fact that the message had been sent to a group of MPs belonging to the PP. Cosido also declared that he had not detected any disquiet among members of the PP over the agreement with Pedro Sanchezs government and that he hadnt sent the message in an attempt to placate them. "Its not an ideal agreement but its possible and necessary", he stated. In the message Cosido sent on Saturday, the spokesman also argued for "the removal" of Judge Jose Ricardo De Prada from the National Court, claiming that he is "better as a member of the court than handing down sentences against the PP". "Its better that he doesnt issue verdicts", he reiterated, recalling that it is an opinion that his party has expressed publicly in Congress. Former President Carles Puigdemont has already reacted on Twitter by expressing his astonishment, criticising the lack of the separation of powers in Spain once more. Earlier, Carles Puigdemonts lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, criticised the lack of impartiality of the second chamber of the court, which is set to hear the 1-O case. The vice-president of the Catalan government, Pere Aragones, also took advantage of this leak to emphasize that "the separation of powers is an illusion [in Spain]. The cash injection will also allow BAS to become a major regional and possibly international player, offering its ground handling services to airports in other countries. His Excellency the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Chairman of Gulf Air Group Holding Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed and BAS Board of Directors Chairman Mohammed Jalal signed the agreement during the second day of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2018. In attendance were the Gulf Air Group Holding Board of Directors and officials from BAS and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC). The increase is in line with a heads of terms agreement, signed by BAC Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Al-Binfalah and BAS Chief Executive Officer Salman Al-Mahmeed, which will see BAS remain Bahrain International Airports (BIA) ground handling agent for passengers, luggage, aircraft, and catering services until at least 2034. The agreement is aimed at developing the overall level of service at BIA and ensuring all ground handling operations adhere to international standards. HE the Minister said: In line with the objectives of Vision 2030 and efforts to strengthen the aviation sector as a key driver of the Bahrain economy, this purchase allows BAS to play an even more significant role in BIAs transformation into a world class boutique airport. Consolidating control over Bahrains key aviation assets under the umbrella of the Group will improve our ability to implement national strategic plans. For passengers and cargo, it will mean an improvement in the levels of service throughout the airport and a streamlining of procedures. This agreement, in step with the other development projects taking place as part of the $USD 1.1 billion Airport Modernisation Programme, also marks the launch of the Groups strategy to leverage BASs ground handling expertise to expand its business regionally and internationally." Concession contracts were awarded to McDonalds, the globally recognised quick-service restaurant chain; Starbucks, the largest coffee chain in the world; Crepe Cafe, a unique dining concept specialising in the French delicacy; and Boots, the UKs largest pharmacy-led health and beauty chain. Signing the respective five-year agreements alongside BAC chief executive officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah were Fakhro Restaurants Company Chairman, Adel Abdullah Fakhro for McDonalds; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Zakariya Hijris for Crepe Cafe; and Al Shaya Group owner, Faisal Al Shaya for both Boots and Starbucks. Al Binfalah said: Enhancing the overall airport experience is one of the Airport Modernisation Programmes most important goals, which is why we have carefully selected a diverse mix of leading F&B brands for the new terminal. In addition, we will offer a wide range of products to meet travellers last-minute pharmaceutical and health & beauty needs. The new Passenger Terminal Building will increase BIAs capacity to 14 million passengers a year, transforming it into a customer-friendly boutique airport on par with the best in the world. YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan says he is planning to meet with the family of Karen Ghazaryan, the resident of Berdavan who is currently held captive in Azerbaijan. The family of the man were recently carrying out protests and shutting down the road leading to the Georgian border. Ive received the appeal of Karen Ghazaryans parents, Ive tasked for this meeting to be organized, Pashinyan said today. My wife visited this family twice, this issue has always been in our attention. But their rallies caused questions, as to against whom was it directed, if against the Azerbaijani government then why was this road being blocked, the closure of which generally was one of the Azerbaijani strategic goals. If the rally was against us, in terms of why we arent paying sufficient attention to the issue, then another question arises, if this was the case then why was the wife of the prime minister visiting them two times? If it was about Armenia having to make efforts, then yes, but should this process be in conformity with Armenias interests? These are questions that are unclear. We have another man in the same status in Azerbaijan, why arent roads being blocked for him? Because he is a boy from an orphanage? Are we working with this logic? Pashinyan mentioned that theres much talk about Azerbaijan offering to exchange everyone for everyone. Should we go for it? One of the two Azerbaijanis in Artsakh was sentenced to life in prison, the other to 20 years, because they murdered two people and wounded another one. Do we agree to return another two Ramil Safarovs to Azerbaijan? he said, referring to the Azerbaijani army officer convicted for the 2004 shocking murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan during a NATO training program in Budapest, Hungary. He said he treats the familys concern with respect, adding he will meet with the parents. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Mission to NATO participated on November 18 in the annual NATO Charity Bazaar at the organizations headquarters, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress. This year the event was attended by NATOs 39 member and partner states. During the event the visitors got acquainted with the various types of Armenian brandy and wine, pastry goods, as well as handmade souvenirs and jewelry at the Armenian pavilion. The Yerevan Brandy Company and ARMENPRESS news agency greatly contributed to the participation of Armenias Mission in the NATO Charity Bazaar. All proceeds from the Charity Bazaar are provided for implementation of programs of various international charity organizations. YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. New Ambassador of Croatia to Armenia Aleksandar Sunko (residence in Athens, Greece) today presented his credentials to President Armen Sarkissian, the Armenian Presidential Office told Armenpress. President Sarkissian congratulated the Ambassador on appointment and expressed confidence that the diplomats activities will maximally contribute to intensifying the ties between the two friendly countries and peoples. Ambassador Sunko conveyed the greetings of President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to the Armenian President. During the meeting the officials also touched upon the necessity to further strengthen the bilateral commercial and humanitarian relations, as well as discussed the effective mutual partnership within the frames of the EU. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received on November 20 Chairman of Board of the German CRONIMET Mining AG, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in the Baden-Wuertenberg Guenter Pilarsky. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the interlocutors discussed issue related to bilateral relations and the investment projects by the company in Armenia. In particular, the sides touched upon the ongoing activities and development projects of Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine. Saluting the activities of CRONIMET Mining in Armenia, the acting PM noted that the Government of Armenia encourages foreign investments. Nikol Pashinyan also emphasized the importance of abiding to environmental and labor standards. Highlighting the role of the mentioned standards, Guenter Pilarsky noted that their company consistently works in the direction of raising the effectiveness of their activities. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan On September 28, 2018, Brazilian President Michel Temer sanctioned Law 13,720 authorizing the Ministry of Defense to donate 25 M41C light tanks to the Uruguayan Army. The Brazilian Armys 16th Logistics Battalion donated M-41C armored combat vehicles as historical equipment to the Brazilian Armys 22nd Infantry Battalion, based in Tocantins state. (Picture source: EB/Brazilian army) The Brazilian Army (EB, Exercito Brasileiro), which once had 340 units of this US-made tank, now has only 152 ones left, all deactivated. Brazil purchased the M41 Walker Bulldog tanks from the United States in the 1960s. The EB finally used these tanks almost five decades for training purposes. In 2009, all units were deemed obsolete and were permanently retired from the inventory. Some of them were placed in museums and others used as monuments. EB replaced the M41C with Leopard main battle tanks. The donated vehicles are at the Regional Maintenance Park of the EBs 3rd Military Region in Rio Grande do Sul state, at the border with Uruguay. Out of the 25 units for donation, 15 need basic maintenance for transport and shipping, said EBs Press Office. Repairs will be carried out at the Regional Maintenance Park where the vehicles are located. The other 10 vehicles will be sent to Uruguay as-is to be dismantled for parts by the Uruguayan Army. According to the law, the Brazilian Ministry of Defense will cover transfer costs, estimated at $93,200. This is an important form of cooperation with our neighboring country, and the Brazilian land force will see the benefits of a good relationship with our partner nation, surpassing the donations material costs, said Brazilian Senator Pedro Chaves to the Brazilian Congresss Commission of Foreign Affairs and National Defense. The vehicles will be sent to the Uruguayan Armys 3rd Cavalry Regiment, in Rivera city, north of Uruguay. The Uruguayan Army plans to assign the vehicles to the 13th Armored Infantry Battalion to replace the M24 Chaffee tanks dating back to World War 2. The U.S transferred the M24 Chaffees to Uruguay in 1957, under the defense assistance program between both countries. The 13th Armored Infantry Battalion is headquartered in Durazno, at the heart of Uruguay, and will be the location of a new Army headquarters. The 13th Armored Infantry Battalion will combine with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 15th Mechanized Infantry Battalion to form an armored brigade. Uruguayan service members are familiar with the M41 as the Army has 22 such tanks. In 1978, EB began to upgrade the M41 fleet and designated the model M-41C Caxias. The main changes, according to EBs Press Office, were armor improvement and modification of the 76mm M32A1. With the Brazilian M-41C units, the Uruguayan Army will be able to improve troops training and strengthen ground operations. Jonah Peretti. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images BuzzFeed has been given a lot of money over the years $496.3 million, to be exact, over seven rounds of funding. But even with half-a-billion dollars at its disposal, the company hasnt managed to consistently turn a profit, as its founder Jonah Peretti admitted earlier this year. (In fairness, profit is tough when the vast majority of online ad dollars flow to Facebook or Google.) Last year, the company fell short of revenue goals, bringing in $260 million instead of the planned $350 million. Still, the company is trying. Its still churning out native content; it features the banner ads it once scorned; it has video programming on Facebook, Twitter, and Netflix, subsidized by those platforms, of course; and it gets commissions from e-commerce affiliate link programs. It has also laid off dozens of people in the past year, including its entire podcast division. Today, BuzzFeed announced a new revenue stream: you. Earlier this year, BuzzFeed put out a digital tip jar at the end of some of its articles; the membership announcement today is the next step. You can pay $5 a month for BuzzFeeds articles, or you can pay $100 a year and get a tote bag. Its like subscribing to NPR. Except that its not radio and not public. Asking for readers to pay for access to a publication is not a bad idea (just ask us, lol), but its a somewhat different proposition for a website backed by venture capitalists hoping to turn a profit in a liquidity event like a sale or public offering. Its one thing to toss money to a publication whose work you admire and want to support, and quite another to toss money to a publication whose work you admire and want to support thats already received quite a bit of money from investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Comcast. Its hard not to feel like youre being asked, in part, to make some very rich people and companies whole. BuzzFeed has been lauded for innovation and experimentation in building a new type of large-scale digital-revenue model, only to now fall back on something so traditional. Where did that half-a-billion dollars go? Into R&D for a Wi-Fi hot plate? But, well, media needs to figure out some new model. The root cause of all of this experimentation and upheaval and uncertainty is, as previously mentioned, the fact that Facebook and Google dominate digital advertising. BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti has a solution for this too: forming a gigantic megapublisher to negotiate with those two companies and get some of their billions. Consolidation in digital media is something that is going to happen, he told the New York Times. He did not elaborate on who BuzzFeed might merge with. Ironically, the merger idea preaches the virtues of collective action against an entrenched power, while Peretti has spent the last few years discouraging BuzzFeeds many varied departments and global outposts from unionizing. Like most VC-backed start-up founders, Peretti has gotten very good at giving old ideas a new label and reselling them to the public. 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. Best Cologne Subscriptions 7 Cologne Subscriptions Worth Trying The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. With additions by Garrett Munce Finding a fragrance that suits your particular tastes can be a daunting task, and even if you do manage to make your way to the fragrance counter and find a cologne you think you might like, investing in a full-sized bottle of that particular scent to use every single day may get a little mundane. Instead of turning over a bunch of cash to fill your medicine cabinet with an array of different scents, consider something that requires less commitment: the sampler. Weve tracked down the coolest, most convenient ways to discover your signature scent. Whether that means test driving scents until you find the one cologne you love or switching to a fresh new fragrance every month, these sampler services are guaranteed to give you a fresh fragrance game. Scent Trunk Scent Trunk offers a personalized box of niche and indie cologne samplers delivered straight to your door. After completing a short question-and-answer, or Scent Survey, to determine your tastes, the CEOs over at Scent Trunk will personally curate your box of fragrances to ensure it suits your tastes as best as possible. RELATED: AskMen Grooming Awards: The Best Fragrances of 2018 We believe that we are unique, and our scent should be too, says William Yin, founding CEO of Scent Trunk. We're sick of boring department store fragrances and we believe that there's no such thing as one signature scent. We don't wear the same clothes every day, so why wear the same scent? Because of their genuine passion for cologne, Scent Trunk goes above and beyond by ensuring they provide proper education so that their clientele really understands the science behind scents and designer fragrances. Using well known department store fragrances for initial examples, Scent Trunk deconstructs the notes in each fragrance so customers can get a grasp on why they love or loathe certain scents. This gives them the right tools to successfully pick out fragrances on their own if they so please. Alternatively, men can rely on the experts at Scent Trunk to curate their monthly subscription with their choice of fragrances. If you're looking for a gift for the gal in your life, they also offer quite the perfume collection. Find out more at ScentTrunk.com Olfactif Olfactif offers a monthly box of niche fragrances in deluxe-sized samples. You can say goodbye to smelling the same as every other guy in the office because unlike the ones at the department store, these unique artisanal fragrances have been sourced from around the world. Along with each fragrance sample, youll receive stories and in-depth interviews from the artists behind each scent and a smell guide that highlights the compositions and notes found within each sample a welcome change from the monotonous jargon on a lot of mainstream scents. However, the best thing about Olfactif is its credit system. Each month, youll receive an $18 credit to put toward the purchase of a full bottle of your favorite featured fragrance (including a wide selection of all-natural options). Considering this subscription service starts at $15 per month, thats a pretty good incentive to start searching for your next signature scents. Find out more at Olfactif.com Scentbird If you prefer Prada to patchouli, this subscription service may be more your speed. Scentbird allows you to take the wheel when it comes to choosing your selection of sample scents. Unlike Scent Trunk and Olfactif, which send out multiple small samplers, Scentbird sticks with just one generously portioned sample per month, depending on what fragrances you place in your queue. Think of it like Netflix for cologne. RELATED: The Best Woodsy Colognes for Men The right cologne not only smells good on you, it makes you feel great and that confidence immediately comes across. But to find the right cologne, you have to take it for a test drive, Rachel ten Brink, CMO and co-founder of Scentbird, tells us. We wanted to give guys a platform to try cologne in a way that's super convenient. Because really, is a guy going into Sephora to try cologne? With the help of a quick and easy questionnaire, you get to play curator of your own subscription box every month. Depending on your preferences, Scentbird will match you up with colognes that suit your style, leaving the specifics up to you. Simply choose the scent that sounds best, and a month's worth of fragrance will be delivered straight to your door. Find out more at Scentbird.com Luxury Scent Box The general idea behind Luxury Scent Box is similar to others (you automatically receive a personalized scent selection every month) but for those of us who like a little more control, the service has a few important differences. Instead of leaving the selection completely up to fate, you are matched with a Certified Fragrance Specialist who acts as your personal cologne concierge. In addition to filling out a scent survey like some other services, the specialist will help recommend colognes that fit with what you like. Furthermore, you can also choose the fragrance you receive each month, so youre ultimately in control. You can re-up on an old favorite, try something new, or take the advice from your fragrance specialist. You can even keep your calendar like a wish list, adding selections to try directly from the browsing tool. The selection has all the brands youd expect as well as some unexpected upscale brands such as Atelier Cologne, Tiziana Terenzi, and Parfums de Marly. This makes it really easy for even a cologne snob to find something theyd want to try. Find out more at Luxuryscentbox.com Commodity Until we somehow develop scratch-and-sniff computers, buying fragrance over the internet will always be difficult. These other companies have solved that problem by sending you samples before you buy the big bottle. But UK-based brand Commodity has a different approach. Instead of sending you samples by the piece, they offer two sets so you can sample (and layer) multiple scents at once. The Style Guide offers nine of its best selling scents, and The Portfolio is a full fifteen. All the scents are unisex and complex enough to be worn by themselves, but also ideal for layering, so you can find the perfectly personalized way to wear. Once you decide, you can reorder a full-sized bottle of your favorite for around $100. The best thing about these sample sets? They act as perfect travel size editions once your review period is over. Find out more at Commodity.com Debonair Scent Very few services offer you access to both niche and designer fragrances. Thats where Debonair Scent earns its stripes. The service is geared toward gents with an acquired taste for distinct scents, curating a trio of monthly samples that best suit your scent profile. This is all determined through an easy four-question survey you take when signing up. RELATED: Best Men's Fragrances Under $20 Packaging might be the services biggest selling point, presenting the small bottles in a chic, minimalist, slide-out box. The selection isnt as large as ScentBird, but the odds of being blessed with fragrance staples such as Burberry, Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent, and even Creed are high. Debonaire Scent also includes a $15 coupon in every box as an extra incentive to stick around. Find out more at Debonairscent.com Scentbox Backed by more than 80 top designer brands and 850 original designer scents, Scentbox clearly doesnt skimp on selection. Being a subscriber earns you a keepsake box containing a small vial, loaded with about what turns out being 125 sprays of your cologne of choice. The service works on two subscriptions tiers Standard and Premium with the only difference between the two is having the option of seeing all premium fragrances under the latter subscription. Thats not a bad, considering youre getting access to all Scentboxs higher-end designer fragrances. If youre sold on any particular cologne, you can also purchase a bottle directly from the site. Find out more at Scentbox.com Finding a fragrance doesnt have to time-consuming, headache-inducing, or hard at all. Let someone else do the work for you. We swear, theyre happy to do it. You Might Also Dig: AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. Netanyahu thwarted the immediate threat to his coalition. Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is paying a heavy political price for the cease-fire with Hamas that he approved last week, ending a round of violence that had threatened to escalate into another costly war in Gaza. So far, however, it has yet to topple his current government. In a highly anticipated press conference on Monday, education minister Naftali Bennett and justice minister Ayelet Shaked backed down from their threats to resign from the Cabinet and pull their Jewish Home party out of Netanyahus coalition, taking away his slim majority in the Knesset and forcing early elections. In a Trumpian turn of phrase, Bennett said he would stay in the government for the sake of the great mission of making Israel win again. Bennett had issued an ultimatum last Wednesday that he would resign if Netanyahu did not hand him the defense minister position abruptly vacated earlier that day by Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party. Lieberman and Bennett, whose right-wing nationalist constituencies have played a growing role in Netanyahus governing coalition since 2009, were outraged at the cease-fire. They characterized it as a capitulation to terrorism, having long advocated for a more heavy-handed approach to Hamas. Netanyahu balked at that demand, saying he would take over the defense portfolio himself. He then spent the next few days exercising his considerable chops as a political spin doctor, hammering on the talking point that it was irresponsible to create a leadership vacuum in the midst of a national security crisis. He made allusions to security threats beyond what the public could see and reminded his fellow right-wingers that the last two times a coalition led by his Likud Party was felled by internal squabbling, the outcomes of the ensuing elections were the left-wing governments that presided over the Oslo Accords and the Second Intifada. This dont swap horses message seems to have gotten through to Bennett and Shaked, who echoed those sentiments at Mondays presser, contrasting their ostensibly principled decision to remain in leadership with Liebermans abdication. We will not flee from responsibility, Shaked said. At the same time, however, Bennett took the opportunity to enumerate his many disagreements with Netanyahus security strategy and suggested that the prime minister had made concessions to this end on Sunday. Netanyahu struck back, taking umbrage at Bennetts claim that the Israel Defense Forces were hamstrung by legal technicalities, too afraid of violating rules of engagement to do their jobs properly. He also sought to change the narrative about the cease-fire, saying his security Cabinet had not held a formal vote on it because they all supported it and dismissing claims to the contrary as spin. Being a much more talented politician than any of his rivals, Netanyahu may have won Mondays news cycle; the future of his government, however, remains in serious doubt. The opposition in the Knesset has scheduled a vote for Wednesday to force early elections, but that will require at least one or two coalition members to defect and take responsibility for toppling the government. Finance minister Moshe Kahlon and interior minister Aryeh Deri, the heads of the center-right Kulanu and the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, urged the prime minister to call early elections last week; they may or may not be willing to back up that sentiment with a vote of no confidence. Meanwhile, a series of polls over the past few days have shown at least plurality support for early elections among the Israeli public, which overwhelmingly disapproves of how the government handled the Gaza crisis. Even assuming Netanyahu isnt forced into early elections this week or this month, hell still be stuck with a bare majority of 61 out of 120 Knesset seats, which will prevent him from advancing major legislation and leave him vulnerable to legislative blackmail. He also has some big challenges coming his way, like a contentious debate over a draft law that would end ultra-Orthodox mens exemption from military conscription and a plan from his friend President Donald Trump for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is expected in the coming months. That proposal will surely be extremely disadvantageous to the Palestinians, but any concessions it requires from Israel might still be unacceptable to Netanyahus ultranationalist allies. Also hanging over his head is the possibility that the attorney general indicts him early next year in one of several corruption cases in which he is implicated. With all that going on, Netanyahu will probably not have the luxury of holding out until next Novembers regularly scheduled national elections, so his goal now is to call snap polls at a time of his choosing, rather than being forced into them by circumstances that benefit his rivals. The more time he can buy, the more of his popular support he might be able to win back. Likud remains solidly ahead in the polls, so Netanyahu would likely emerge as the head of the next government anyway but theres a vast difference between a 61-seat and a 68-seat majority. Also, the Israeli political scene changes quickly these days, with new parties forming each election cycle and public figures entering the fray who could change the electoral math considerably, depending on whether they decide to run and with whom. Chief among these wildcards are former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz, who may run as the headliner of a new party, and Orly Levy-Abekasis, a sitting Knesset member who defected from Yisrael Beiteinu in 2016 and announced earlier this year that she was forming a party of her own. In Israel as in the U.S., however, the truism holds that the left falls in love while the right falls in line. In all likelihood, Israeli political analyst Ben Caspit predicts, some of the same Cabinet members who have quarreled so intensely and publicly with Netanyahu will ultimately hold their noses and rejoin the fold out of fear of losing the nationalist coalitions hold on power. A well-timed election could also help Netanyahu with his legal troubles, Caspit notes, as the attorney general would be hard-pressed to bring charges against the prime minister either right before an election or soon after one in which he was reelected. Barring an indictment, its hard to envision a scenario in which Netanyahu doesnt win at least one more term. Israels prime ministry has no term limits, so Netanyahu can continue to occupy his office as long as he remains the head of Likud and Likud keeps winning elections. The problem is that while he has many rivals, both inside and outside his party, he has no real competitors: nobody with the popularity, charisma, and political skill to win elections as consistently as he has. Yet the ultranationalist faction represented by Lieberman, Bennett, and Shaked is still winning the long game. The rightward turn of the Israeli electorate, combined with the chronic malaise of the center and the left, suggests that a fifth Netanyahu government is probably in the offing, but popular frustration with the stalemate in Gaza and the rising tide of nationalist sentiment suggest just as strongly that the far right will play a major role in shaping that governments policy priorities. Andrea brings a wealth of leadership experience to the table with a background largely focused on people and culture two aspects of the organisation that we take incredibly seriously here at Coleman Greig, The firm also said that it expects to appoint a second non-executive director, with a particular focus on technology and innovation, in the coming year. The appointment is part of the firms active expansion plan in the region, which it said it is pursuing organically and through acquisitions. Galloway looks forward to using her professional experience to help with the next phase of the firms growth within the greater Western Sydney region. I have long been an admirer, both of what Coleman Greig is doing and has done for Western Sydney, so I was immediately attracted by the opportunity to contribute to their continued success as an innovative and progressive contributor to the greater Western Sydney community and beyond, she said. The new director is currently also managing director of Evolve Housing. She is also part of the board of Defence Housing Australia and the Salvation Army advisory board. She was previously president and CEO of Spherion Asia Pacific, vice president of Lucent Technologies Asia Pacific, managing director of AT&T Australia, and regional director of AT&T Easylink Services Asia Pacific. In the past 12 months alone, many mid-tier firms have merged, including large establishment firms like Henry Davis York, TressCox, DibbsBarker, and Kemp Strang. Keypoint is ideally placed to fill the vacuum caused by these mergers, with its highly competitive offering to both clients and lawyers. Were delighted to welcome two more accomplished lawyers to our firm. Neils joining enables us to open a new practice area in the field of immigration law; and Douglas brings many years of commercial law experience, further strengthening Keypoints corporate practice, which has grown by five senior lawyers since July this year. Keypoint has appointed 12 consulting principals in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane in the past 12 months, making it among the fastest growing firms in Australia by partner-level appointments. Just last week, the firm added consulting principals Warwick Painter and Phil Jamieson in Sydney. In July, top NewLaw shop brought in three consulting principals in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. The two new appointments add immigration and corporate expertise to the firm. Arora, who is an experienced immigration lawyer and registered migration agent, was previously acting principal legal officer at the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and assistant director at the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. He was also a solicitor at Clayton Utz and a senior solicitor at boutique Sydney-based firm Peters Linnette Lawyers. Linnette brings 22 years experience acting in a wide range of commercial matters for businesses. A dual-qualified lawyer in Australia and the UK, he has a particular focus on supporting Australian companies looking to expand into the UK and on UK government export initiatives into Australia. He was formerly the managing principal of Peters Linnette Lawyers. A full day that seems not to be nearly enough to precisely say what this will mean for Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi and all the thousands of people working for one of the largest car groups of the planet.Firstly, Ghosn. Nissan said on Monday the Alliances chairman was under investigation for several months after an unnamed whistleblower alerted the Japanese about his habit of under-reporting compensation amounts to the Tokyo Stock Exchange. During the investigation, other significant acts of misconduct have been uncovered.What these acts of misconduct are is a mystery at this point, but the overall feeling is they must be incredibly serious. These acts pushed Nissan to announce Ghosn will be removed from his post, then Mitsubishi continued the trend denouncing the Alliances leader, and then finally Renault is expected to do the same on Tuesday, after the board's meeting.Secondly, the Alliance. The news of Ghosn misbehaving is so big that even presidents got involved. Frances Emmanuel Macron said on Monday his country "will be extremely vigilant to the stability of the alliance and the group." He also promised support for the companys employees.His comments fueled concerns that whatever Ghosn did, its serious enough to shake the foundations of the Alliance between Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi.At a press conference that left more unanswered questions that journalists would have liked, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa tried to water down those concerns.If he succeeded or not is another matter. The reality remains that shares of both Nissan and Renault tumbled on Monday. If they rebound or continue to drop, if the Alliance will survive, it all depends on what exactly it is Ghosn did, and how much the companies themselves are involved. While the Philippines will only be getting the new Camry soon, most of of the world has already had the next-generation Camry for quite some time now. In fact, the US-spec Camry was first introduced as early as January 2017. For those in Asia however, we had to wait awhile longer. Japan only got the Camry earlier this year; while Thailand got it just last month. Have you been waiting for the all-new Toyota Camry? Well, we don't have to wait much longer as Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has already announced that the next-generation Camry will be arriving soon. For the time being, it is still uncertain which variants of the Camry will be made available locally. What is likely though is that the Camry offered here will be based on the ASEAN-spec model which just debuted in Thailand. Visually, the US-spec, Japan-spec and the ASEAN-spec model look nearly identical. The main difference between the US-spec model and the ASEAN-spec would be the lack of a sport-oriented model. Much like in Thailand, we will likely be getting the standard model only without the more aggressive looking bumpers and wheels. As for powertrain, there are three engine options to choose from in Thailand. It starts with a 2.0-liter engine that produces 167 PS and 199 Nm of torque. Moving up is the 2.5-liter engine which outputs 209 PS and 250 Nm torque. The last option is the hybrid engine which is a combination of the 2.5-liter unit and an electric motor. Combined, the hybrid powertrain generates 211 PS. As for transmission choices, the 2.0-liter unit continues to use a 6-speed automatic while the 2.5-liter engine now gets a new 8-speed unit. Hybrid models will use a continuously variable transmission (CVT). TMP has not mentioned which engine options and features will be made available to the Philippine-spec Camry. Given the favorable tax breaks in hybrid vehicles, it could be possible that the hybrid variant may also join the local line up as the new top spec model. JETcopter, a startup company based in Germany, said this week it has completed tests that confirmed the feasibility of its concept to power its seven-seat VTOL design with two 400-HP automotive engines that will drive two counter-rotating fans on top of the carbon-fiber fuselage. The company said it will bring a full-scale mock-up of the design to Aero, Europes biggest general aviation trade show, to be held in Friedrichshafen, Germany, in April 2019. JETcopter says the aircraft will sell for $350,000, and a cargo version will be built first. The JETcopter engines, according to the companys news release, will be equipped with four vectoring nozzles. The amount of power given to each output point can be manipulated to control vertical hovering and maneuvering. Once the JETcopter is in the air, its fixed nozzles tilt for horizontal flight, and from there it operates much like a jet, the company said. Silicon Valley has a big and growing problem: Americans have rising concerns with its most popular products and a growing majority wants big social media companies regulated, according to new poll conducted by Survey Monkey for Axios on HBO. Why it matters: The public is more aware than ever of some of the negative consequences of the technologies that have changed their lives, which makes Silicon Valley and social media ripe political and regulatory targets. Between the lines: This is a rare topic uniting Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Republicans have been alleging that these companies often founded and still led by idealistic, progressive executives censor conservative viewpoints. Democrats have taken issue over the past year with ways social media technologies, like niche ad-targeting, can be abused by people to discriminate against minorities. By the numbers: In the past year, there has been a 15-point spike in the number of people who fear the federal government wont do enough to regulate big tech companies with 55% now sharing this concern. In that same period, there was a 14-point increase in those who feel technology has hurt democracy and free speech. The biggest spike has been among Republicans, presumably because of increased concern about perceived censorship of conservative voices on social media. The bigger picture: A number of issues that have risen over the past year have caused Americans to recognize the negative consequences of technology more than they have before. The Cambridge Analytica scandal opened consumers' eyes to data security and privacy concerns around how their information is being shared with other entities. The YouTube terrorist video scandal showed how easy it is for bad actors to weaponize platforms and algorithms. Yes, but: About 40% of Americans still feel that social media is a net positive for society. Overall, 65% of people say smartphones have made their quality of life better. Be smart: Unlike most conversations about government regulation, this is not an obscure topic for most Americans. An overwhelming majority use and perhaps over-use the technologies in question. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents say they sleep with their phone in or next to their bed. And that jumps to 73% among millennials. More than half (51%) say smartphones are the hardest technology for most people to live without. And that jumps to 67% among millennials. The bottom line: Americans are more aware than ever before about the dark side of technologies, which should worry Silicon Valley. Go deeper: Methodology: This analysis is based on a SurveyMonkey online poll conducted among adults ages 18 and older in the United States. Respondents were selected from the more than 2 million people who take surveys on the SurveyMonkey platform each day. Data have been weighted for age, race, sex, education, and geography using the Census Bureaus American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States age 18 and over. The first survey was conducted November 9-13, 2018 among 3,622 adults. The modeled error estimate for the full sample is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points and full crosstabs are available here. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images You may have heard that 20 percent of retail storefronts in Manhattan are vacant. But as Rebecca Baird-Remba reported for the Commercial Observer earlier this month, you heard wrong. This is just one of those Numbers People Say, like that we only use 10 percent of our brains. Its false, and you should not make policy based on it. The 20 percent figure has been used to perpetuate the idea that Manhattan faces a crisis of vacant storefronts despite a strong economy, driven by greedy and/or unrealistic landlords holding out for tenants willing to pay ever higher rents. In response, there is a renewed push for commercial rent control, to ensure incumbent stores are offered lease renewal at a fixed rate. The hope, I suppose, is that our citys neighborhoods can be preserved in amber and look forever as they did back when New York was better. (I should note when we talk about how New York used to be better, we mostly mean that we used to be younger. Unfortunately, this problem cannot be addressed through a rent-control policy or any other public policy. But I digress.) Anyway: Comprehensive data about retail vacancy in Manhattan doesnt exist. And nobody has actually promulgated a 20 percent estimate of the phenomenon people claim to be decrying: vacant, closed, unoccupied retail stores. As far as I can tell, the 20 percent claim originated in two places. One is a September 7 story in the New York Times which said, A survey conducted by Douglas Elliman found that about 20 percent of all retail space in Manhattan is currently vacant, she said, compared with roughly 7 percent in 2016. But the she in that story is Elliman broker Faith Hope Consolo, and this month Consolo told the Commercial Observer, a trade publication, that no such report exists. This might explain why Ellimans PR office never responded last month when I contacted them to request the report. (Consolo says she was misquoted in the Times, though Times reporter Corey Kilgannon told the Observer hes confident he quoted Consolo accurately.) The other source for the 20 percent factoid is a 2017 equity research report from Morgan Stanley, which found the amount of available retail space in certain Manhattan submarkets had doubled since 2012, to 20 percent. But there are two issues with using this report to claim 20 percent retail vacancy in the borough. One is that available is not the same as vacant. An available space might be occupied by an operating store that has declined to renew a lease that hasnt yet expired, or by a pop-up store, or by store with a long lease that it would like to get out of by subleasing. To give an example: The JC Penney store at the Manhattan Mall in midtown is available, because it is on the market for sublease. But its not vacant; the store is open and, until Penney strikes a sublease deal, you can go there and buy whatever one buys at JC Penney. Availability is the right metric to look at if you are a retailer looking to sign a lease or a landlord figuring out how to price; you want to know how much of the space in a neighborhood is available so you can compare supply to demand. But if you are a citizen concerned about the liveliness of a neighborhood or the breadth of the retail offerings, vacancy is what matters to you. The other problem with relying on the Morgan Stanley report is that it covers only a tiny fraction of the retail space in Manhattan: High-profile, high-rent retail areas like Soho and Fifth Avenue. These corridors focus less on necessity and experiential retail like bodegas and pharmacies and restaurants and bars, and more on the sort of clothing and specialty retailers you might see in shopping malls. This kind of retail is indeed struggling nationally. (You may have heard something about the struggles of shopping malls; this is Manhattans version of that.) Morgan Stanley notes landlords of this specific kind of retail space in Manhattan did get carried away with asking rents rising faster than sales and making retailers disinclined to sign new leases. There really is elevated availability (and vacancy) in some of these corridors. But they see that problem shaking itself out, with rents falling to meet true market conditions. Broadening out beyond those mall-like corridors, New Yorks 76 Business Improvement Districts estimated their retail vacancy rates at under 6 percent last year, according to the Commercial Observer. And Christopher Okada, who runs the Okada and Company retail brokerage, reports that just 4 percent of Manhattans retail space is currently listed for rent in the Multiple Listing System though he notes this metric may omit shadow inventory not in the MLS. If city leaders feel they must do something to alter (or prevent alteration to) the retail landscape in New York, they really ought to collect data first and determine exactly how much of our retail space is even vacant to begin with. But whatever the answer, they should not control retail rents. I should note that it is possible to control rents in the legal sense of restricting how much a landlord can charge a tenant. But regulation that does not change the supply of a good (in this case, retail real estate) cannot control economic rents that is, the economic returns to the control of scarce assets it can only redistribute them. In the case of residential rent control, thats fine a key objective of the policy is to redistribute economic rents away from landlords to tenants. But in the case of commercial rent control, if you redistribute the economic rents away from landlords to stores, you only shift the windfall of rising land prices from one business to another. Because retail space remains quantity restricted, you should expect the lower rents to accrue to store owners as higher profits not to customers as lower prices. And as for non-price factors, such as selection or quality, retail rent control would help existing stores stay in business, but would make it harder and more expensive for new stores to open both by restricting the supply of retail space available to rent and by discouraging developers from building new retail space. This leads to a problem of what is seen and what is unseen: An old store you like might get to stay, but youll never know what new store you would have liked never got to open at all. In fact, to the extent bad stores have lower profit margins than good stores, retail rent control is likely to protect stores you dont even like. New York, for nearly 400 years, has operated on change. Ossifying our retail landscape isnt in line with our spirit as a city. And we definitely shouldnt do it in reaction to bad statistics. Austrias refusal to play host to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) payment system that would circumvent U.S. sanctions is the latest in a series of setbacks for EU states struggling to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. EU members appear to understand that playing host to the SPV increases their potential for exposure to U.S. secondary sanctions. The big picture: Since the U.S. left the Iran nuclear deal in May, the EU has been scrambling to find creative ways to incentivize Iran to continue adhering to the accord. While EU leaders desired to have the SPV established by November, devising a sanctions-proof channel to clear trade and engage in bartering with Iran was much harder than anticipated. Where it stands: The value of the proposed European SPV is more symbolic than economic. EU leaders remain committed to sovereignty over their trade and security policies, yet there are three main impediments to the plans success: The power and reach of U.S. secondary sanctions. Risk aversion of banks and businesses toward an essentially illicit finance vehicle (many European and multinational firms have already withdrawn from the Iranian market). The challenges of establishing a payment system that avoids the U.S. financial system altogether. Whats next: Luxembourg is the next proposed target to host the SPV. In the interim, Tehran is likely to continue pressing its claim that the Europeans arent doing enough in its bid to extract additional concessions. Should the SPV even nominally get off the ground, Washington would have every incentive to sanction its component parts for facilitating trade with Iran. The bottom line: Every hiccup in establishing the SPV benefits Washington, which has held up a public posture of indifference to the effort. Behnam Ben Taleblu is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Researchers at Palo Alto Networks discovered new malware being used by the Kremlin-backed hacking group Fancy Bear. Why it matters: The "cannon" malware uses email to communicate with its command and control server. That's not common in malware right now, says Jen Miller-Osborn, deputy director of threat Intelligence for the Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 research team, and doesn't appear to be something Fancy Bear has ever done before. Details: Cannon is a new early phase of a multi-stage attack it communicates basic information with command and control servers and downloads new malware. It has only been observed in a single campaign. The malware was sent to government officials in North America, Europe and a former Soviet state, according to the Palo Alto Networks write-up. The intrigue: "We don't know if this is a one-off, or a trojan we'll see again," said Miller-Osborn. "So we also don't know if the email technique is a one off, or something they are starting to use." Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee and Tim Scott called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday and pressured him to move forward with a vote on a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill before the end of the year, Scott's office and another Hill source with knowledge of the call confirmed to Axios. The big picture: President Trump endorsed the legislation, called the First Step Act, last week. But on Thursday, McConnell told Trump there likely wasn't enough time for a vote during the lame duck session, the New York Times reported. The bill will have to go back through the House if it passes the Senate and waiting until next year when Democrats take control would risk killing it, according to reform advocates. McConnell indicated before the midterms that if the bill had more than 60 votes he'd bring it to the floor, and advocates anticipate a whip count following the Thanksgiving break. But the majority leader has since said that with the spending bill, the farm bill, judicial nominations and other priorities, there just might not be enough time. In a statement, Scott told Axios, "We had a good call and are hopeful that Leader McConnell will create floor time for a bill that we believe has 6570 senators on board." What the bill does: If passed, the bill would lower mandatory minimum sentences for certain nonviolent crimes, allow prisoners to earn time off of their sentences by participating in rehabilitation programs, mandate sanitary products be provided to all women in prisons, outlaw shackling during childbirth and ensure inmates are incarcerated close to home. Over the past several days, senators and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner have moved to publicly promote the legislation. Kushner and Tomas Philipson, a member of Trump's Council of Economic Advisers, wrote an op-ed in USA Today promoting the bill. Graham predicted on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that the bill would get 80 votes and publicly called on Trump to "pick up the phone and push the Republican leadership." Grassley told reporters last week that he "would like reciprocity" from McConnell as they "have had a very close working relationship on judges. We've been very very successful." He added that McConnell "ought to be helping the president get his program through." Sen. Rand Paul said the bill would get 6570 votes on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "Its all up to one person," he said. "Sen. McConnell has the ability to call any vote he wants to any time." The Republican opposition to the legislation has come most strongly from Sen. Tom Cotton, who has claimed that the bill would give early release to certain sexual offenders and those who have assaulted law enforcement. His claims were harshly refuted on Twitter by Lee. While some of the largest law enforcement organizations in the U.S. have endorsed the bill, the National Sheriffs Association and a few other groups have announced their opposition. Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker has also expressed concerns about the bill to Trump, the Washington Post reported, but he doesn't intend to kill the bill. Go deeper: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a closed hearing on Monday that Russia recently proposed to Israel and the U.S. that Iran be granted relief from some U.S. sanctions in return for the removal of Iranian forces and proxies from Syria. Why it matters: Iranian retrenchment in Syria is a huge concern for Israel, but the Russian position until now has been, at least publicly, that Iran's presence is legitimate because it came at the Assad regime's invitation. This is the first we're hearing that the Russians have floated an idea for Iran's withdrawal, and that they're linking it to U.S. sanctions. Netanyahu's statements came during a hearing of the foreign affairs and security committee of the Knesset. Lawmakers who attended the hearing said Netanyahu did not say whether the Russian proposal was made during his short conversation with Vladimir Putin in Paris last Sunday, but that it definitely seemed that way from the prime minister's comments. They said Netanyahu spoke favorably about his meeting with Putin, and said the Russians cannot push the Iranians out of Syria on their own, but need help from other world powers. According to the members of Knesset who attended the hearing, Netanyahu said Russia and the U.S. were discussing ways to limit Iranian influence in Syria including the Russian proposal on sanctions relief. Netanyahu said that on November 8th, U.S. special envoy for Syria James Jeffrey met in Vienna with Russian officials to discuss the issue. On November 5th, three days before the Vienna meeting, Netanyahu met Jeffrey in Jerusalem. During the hearing, Netanyahu was asked if Israel had expressed a position on the Russian proposal. He said it was at the moment only an idea, and that Israel hasn't formulated a policy on it. The Russian embassy in Tel-Aviv declined to comment on this story. A senior State Department official didn't deny it, and told me: "We remain engaged with the UN and other parties, including Russia, to encourage all possible efforts to advance the political track as called for in UNSCR 2254. We do not however discuss the substance of these diplomatic discussions". President Trump yesterday gave many American business leaders what they most wanted for Thanksgiving: An excuse to leave their conscience at the door. The big picture: Trump announced that the U.S. will not apply sanctions or other penalties on Saudi Arabia over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, even if it is proven conclusively that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved. Elected officials of both parties objected to both the language and the substance of Trump's statement, suggesting they might take matters into their own hands. But you'd have to go back more than a year since Senate Republicans broke with Trump (the Russia sanctions), so don't hold your breath for the lame duck to do more than quack. American business leaders made a big show of not attending last month's Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, and it no doubt embarrassed MBS. Almost none of those same leaders, however, would commit to altering business ties with the Saudi government which, I should emphasize, is different than cutting ties with the Saudi people instead arguing that such decisions are best left to U.S. policymakers. If sanctions were applied, of course U.S. business would comply. This comes after nearly two years of U.S. business leaders choosing sides on all sorts of federal policy, including hot-button topics like climate change and immigration. This includes everyone from Wall Street powerhouses to Silicon Valley tech founders. As I've written previously, there is a legitimate slippery slope argument to be made here (hello China), and Saudi Arabia's government holds no singular claim to atrocious actions. Nor is Trump the first president to overlook bad actions on behalf of what he believes to be America's best interests, although his predecessors usually were much firmer in their criticisms and louder in their defenses of human rights. The bottom line: The difference here is that few other ascendant autocrats value their relationship with Western business as highly as does MBS, meaning that this particular situation presented an unusually high degree of leverage. Or it did, as U.S. business leaders built themselves an escape route, under the guise of powerless rationality, and Trump just waved them through. Go deeper: President Trump said in a statement Tuesday that the U.S. will stand by Saudi Arabia regardless of whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Why it matters: Saudi Arabia and MBS will face no repercussions after an assassination some believed would fundamentally change the relationship. Democrats in Congress have been calling for a re-evaluation of the relationship, but Trump's position is that security and economic benefits make the relationship too important. "We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," he said. The backdrop: The Saudis are central to Trump's Middle East strategy, and he has been hesitant to rock the boat in the wake of Khashoggi's murder. Axios' Jonathan Swan has reported that, while Trump has admitted the murder of Khashoggi is "really bad," he has been privately questioning why the response has been so strong, especially when compared to the abuses from other countries like China. Details: Trump said in his Tuesday statement that Saudi representatives described Khashoggi as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. A Saudi official denied to the Washington Post that MBS made the characterization on a call with U.S. officials. The statement follows an NBC News report that the administration was considering expelling Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, an enemy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in order to convince Turkey to ease up on the Saudis. Full statement: The world is a very dangerous place! The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraqs fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, Death to America! and Death to Israel! Iran is considered the worlds leading sponsor of terror. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism. After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries - and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States! The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body. Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an enemy of the state and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world! I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction - and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America. After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels so important for the world. As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First! Go deeper: The case that the U.S. and China are entering an era defined by hostility and competition was bolstered this weekend when an annual gathering of Pacific Rim countries turned into a standoff between Washington and Beijing. Why it matters: So deep do the distrust and divisions run that the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was the first to end without a joint statement from the 21 participants. If economic barricades go up, and stay up, countries could be forced to choose between the globes two economic giants. The entire world is worried," the summit's host, Prime Minister Peter ONeill of Papua New Guinea said, per the NYT. Vice President Pence, representing the U.S., said the Trump administration would continue to up the ante on tariffs until China changes its ways, and he urged countries to reject Chinese investment in favor of the U.S. That followed an interview with the Washington Posts Josh Rogin in which Pence said its up to China to avoid a new Cold War, and if they wont budge, so be it." President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, criticized President Trumps zero sum approach: Mankind has once again reached a crossroads. Which direction should we choose? Cooperation or confrontation? That question is being vigorously debated in both Beijing and Washington, including earlier this month at Brookings: David Lampton of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies conceded that with Xi (and Trump) in power were destined to have a problem, but argued that to give up on cooperation is to strengthen hardliners and ignore areas (security, global development) where interests align. Evan Medeiros, the NSC's senior director for Asian affairs under Barack Obama, now at Georgetown, argued, there is a risk you make rivalry a self-fulfilling prophecy, but theres a parallel risk of emboldening a rising power. As the debate rages, both countries are already working to reduce their economic interdependency, particularly when it comes to tech, notes Benjamin Charlton of Oxford Analytica: The Trump administration is developing new processes to limit Chinese investment, issuing regulations on dual-use technology ... imposing sanctions and 'naming and shaming.' There is every sign that it intends to do more of all this. Even if a deal is reached with Washington that blunts the sharpest edges of the current trade conflict ... Beijing will likely only see this as a delaying tactic and an opportunity to make greater progress until a harder line is resumed. What to expect: The endpoint if the process of economic decoupling continues will not be zero bilateral trade and investment as in the Cold War, but rather a gradual separation of the global tech industry along political lines over the next 510 years. All of this sets the stage for Trump and Xi's first meeting since the trade war kicked off, to be held at the G20 (Nov. 30Dec. 1 in Buenos Aires). Axios contributor Bill Bishop writes: The best case scenario appears to be a tariff ceasefire with some sort of framework deal to keep talking, but based on what I am hearing, even that may be a stretch. The big question, Axios Jonathan Swan writes, is whether the meeting will go well enough for Trump to postpone ratcheting up tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, as he's scheduled to do in January. What to watch: Ali Wyne of the RAND Corporation argues in Foreign Affairs that there are major national security implications to an economic decoupling: "A China less constrained by and invested in economic ties with the United States could pose a substantially greater challenge to U.S. foreign policy." A senior Houthi leader announced last night that the rebel fighters would halt military operations against the Saudi-led coalition. Hours later, Yemens internationally recognized government signaled that its ready to take part in peace talks. And this afternoon, the UN Security Council took up a draft resolution to support the talks. Why it matters: Yemens civil war has cost the lives of as many as 10,000 civilians and created the worst humanitarian disaster in the world. It has also become a flash point for conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran that threatens regional stability. Details: The UNSC resolution also calls for emergency measures to stave off the massive famine in Yemen, including: A cease fire in the port city of Hodeidah, the gateway for food and other relief A two-week deadline for parties to remove all obstacles to humanitarian aid A rapid injection of donations into the Central Bank of Yemen to allow for pensioners and civil servants to be paid Where it stands: While it is too early for optimism, external pressure may be creating an opportunity to end the war. Last week, the Saudi-led coalition slowed its offensive into Hodeidah in response to the U.S. decision to cut off aerial refueling for the Saudi bombing campaign. This paved the way for the Houthi cessation of missile attacks and, in turn, for the parties to enter talks. The U.K.s foreign secretary is now in Iran the Houthis foreign patron in a bid to secure Tehrans support for the UN peace process. Whats needed: Outside pressure will also be essential for making progress on the humanitarian front. If the draft UN resolution passes and the parties comply with its terms, it may yet be possible to stave off the worst of the massive famine that threatens to engulf up to 14 million Yemenis. But military operations in Hodeida must cease and humanitarians will need full access to the port city. The bottom line: The Trump administration must be ready to rachet up pressure for compliance, perhaps by threatening to withhold intelligence and logistical support for coalition forces. They have so far resisted these steps, but bipartisan congressional pressure had already been building and has spiked since the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Hardin Lang is vice president for programs and policy at Refugees International. Armenia will maintain its close relationship with neighboring Iran despite renewed U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on Tuesday. We need to develop relations with Iran very intensively and they must be mutually beneficial, Pashinian told reporters, commenting on the impact of the sanctions on Armenian-Iranian ties. He said he sees no need to make any changes in Armenias policy towards Iran. We should not only maintain the good level of our relations but also try to raise them to a new level, he stressed. Pashinian said that the U.S. administration understands our situation and policy. Having good relations with the United States is also very important to Armenia, he added. A team of officials from the U.S. state and treasury departments visited Yerevan last week to explain the sanctions re-imposed by President Donald Trump earlier this year to Armenias government and private sector. No details of their meetings were made public. Iran was also high on the agenda of U.S. National Security Adviser John Boltons October trip to Armenia. Bolton said he hold Pashinian that the Trump administration will enforce the sanctions very vigorously. Commercial and other traffic through the Armenian-Iranian border is therefore going to be a significant issue for Washington, he said. Speaking in the Armenian parliament a few days after his talks with Bolton, Pashinian made clear that his government will maintain Armenias special relationship with Iran. The premier on Tuesday did not deny reports that some Armenian commercial banks have started closing the accounts of Iranian citizens, most of them Armenian descent, living in Armenia. He insisted that those private banks are not acting on his governments orders. He suggested that they have commercial operations with the U.S. and do not want to be sanctioned by Washington. Pashinian met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani when he visited New York in September to address a session of the UN General Assembly. The two leaders discussed ways of expanding Armenian-Iranian trade and reaffirmed their support for joint energy projects planned or already implemented by the two states. With Armenias borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey closed due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Iran as well as Georgia serve as the sole conduits for the landlocked countrys trade with the outside world. Armenia also imports Iranian natural gas and other fuel. by Kamel Abderrahmani Among Muslims, no one has spoken about the fate of the Pakistani woman, stuck in her country after being acquitted on blasphemy charges. The power of Sharia and Islam also affects Great Britain. Asia Bibis fate is similar to what Christians, Jews, atheists and non-Sunni Muslims face in Islamic countries. A young Muslim teacher offers his thoughts on the matter. Paris (AsiaNews) - We receive and publish the reflection of a young Algerian Muslim teacher, who lives in Paris. The author looks at Asia Bibis fate. Sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, the Pakistani woman was later exonerated but is now awaiting a revision of the Supreme Court ruling, following protests by Islamist parties, to which the government caved in. Radio silence: the Muslim world seems to be blinded by his faith! Deaf and dumb when it comes to a Christian, a Jew or a non-Muslim victim of injustice. How can this be explained? Asia Bibi remains an unknown figure, although much of the Muslim world is aware of her conviction by Pakistani authorities. Her sentence was similar to the one issued by the Islamic State group against Yezidis and Christians [In Iraq]. No one was outraged, no Muslim demonstrated in front of the embassy of that country. Is this a complicitous silence or just indifference? So many legitimate questions can be asked. Obviously, we do not ask much, just a minimum of solidarity towards a woman who continues to endure injustice, despite her acquittal. Asia Bibi is only one example of what religious minorities endure in Pakistan. This is a country whose constitution and justice system advocate Sunni sharia, a country that has slid into religious extremism; in other words, an Islamist state with nuclear weapons or even a successful Islamic State group, like Iran and Saudi Arabia. This is a country where Islamists can influence the decisions of the supreme court. Let us return to what happened to this Christian labourer. In June 2009, a dispute arose between her and her Muslim colleagues who were picking berries with her. They told her that as non-Muslim, hinting at her Christianity, she had tainted a goblet which they drank from, and that she had made it unusable. An argument ensued, with each accusing the other of insulting their religion. A few days later, Asia was beaten and taken to court. During her trial, she insisted on her innocence and denied any hostile statement against Islam. Pakistani justice, inspired by Sharia, sentenced her to death in November 2010. This is the fate reserved for all those who "blaspheme", even Muslims who have a different religious view from the Sunni vision. Eight years later, after Herculean efforts on the part of Bibis defence team, the Pakistani justice system decided to review the decision and ended up exonerating the Christian woman. Whilst humanists around the world wait for the Pakistani people to bless such a positive decision on the part of the Supreme Court, fundamentalist voices and Islamists have come out against it, and after a few days, successfully stopped her from leaving the country. For Islamists, what counts is her hanging, nothing else! What is aberrant is that British authorities turned down her application for asylum in Great Britain. Yet, a few days before, three imams and eminent Muslim leaders in the United Kingdom wrote a letter to the Home Affairs Minister, Sajid Javid, "clearly and proactively" stating that Britain "should be happy to receive a request for refuge" from Asia Bibi. This shows how much Islamists can inject fear in others today, because if British authorities refuse to accept Asia Bibi in their country, it is because they are afraid of terrorist attacks. This is partially understandable, but I do not understand how that same country can oppose the request for exile of a Christian woman threatened with death whilst accepting Egyptian, Algerian, Saudis, Pakistani Islamists? This is the big question mark? I wonder why Muslim countries do not offer to welcome this woman? Of course, her Christianity bothers people and religious fundamentalism is spreading slowly but surely. Otherwise, nothing can explain such indifference vis-a-vis Asia Bibis case. That's why I feel at present obliged to write and denounce the injustice, the fundamentalism and the hell that is inflicted on Christians, Jews, atheists, and even non-Sunni Muslims in the Muslim world. Today, so-called Muslim states, implicitly, embody intolerance towards religious minorities. In short, what Asia Bibi has experienced in Pakistan is what other non-Muslims experience in other Muslim countries. I am disappointed by the decadence and fundamentalism that affect the Muslim world whose essence and driving force are based unfortunately on a certain interpretation of religious texts. This is why, unceasingly, several imams have called for serious religious reform like the one undertaken by Catholicism in Europe. Clinton administration press secretary Joe Lockhardt answering questions from White House reporters. Photo: Joyce Naltchayan/AFP/Getty Images Two weeks ago, President Trump denounced CNNs Jim Acosta as a terrible person, and then the Trump administration engaged in a display of dominance by seizing Acostas hard pass and circulating a doctored video purporting to show that he had struck a White House intern. When a court ruled that the White House had improperly violated due process, it obligingly produced a due process. The result is a formalized system for institutionalizing the overbearing relationship with the national media that Trump has always craved. The United Kingdom has a marvelous institution called Question Time, during which the opposition party lobs pointed and frequently insulting questions at the prime minister, while members of rival parties jeer at each other. In the U.S., the legislature has no such role. Floor debates in Congress are tedious and scripted, and dont include the president at all. The presidents briefings with the media provide the closest equivalent to question time. The news media perform the role of opposition, forcing the administration to explain and defend its actions and positions. The Trump administrations new rules define and circumscribe how reporters conduct themselves in these sessions. The rules state: 1. A journalist called upon to ask a question will ask a single question and then will yield the floor to other journalists; 2. At the discretion of the president or other White House official taking questions, a follow-up question or questions may be permitted; and where a follow up has been allowed and asked, the questioner will then yield the floor; 3. Yielding the floor includes, when applicable, physically surrendering the microphone to White House staff for use by the next questioner; 4. Failure to abide by any of rules (1) - (3) may result in suspension or revocation of the journalists hard pass. What gives these rules a patina of legitimacy is their proximate target: Acosta. Like many subjects of free-speech controversies, Acosta makes for an unlovable protagonist. He is fond of preening, more-of-a-comment-than-a-question questions that cant really be answered, but which instead seem intended to position Acosta as the brave face of independent media. But the remedy to Acostas performances is far worse than the disease. The White House rules would literally forbid reporters from shouting out follow-up questions when the president or the press secretary lies or evades their questions, and permit the White House to punish such effrontery by revoking their White House pass. The putative need for these rules is to enforce decorum. Numerous reporters have pointed out that Trump has no standing to demand decorum. But the problem is deeper than that. Its not just that Trump is a hypocrite. Decorum is the wrong standard altogether. Reporters should follow some basic guidelines they should not interrupt prepared remarks, or hog the microphone habitually but they not only can but should behave brusquely. Interactions between the media and the White House are a form of democracy theater. The give-and-take is a tangible and living sign of the fact that in a republic, the president is not a monarch but is simply a citizen like everybody else. In authoritarian regimes, the palpably cowed news media treats leaders with a deference that communicates their inviolable status. Trumps authoritarian instincts and his bullying persona bear directly on his administrations attempts to rein in the media. It is not ironic that the first reality-show-trained insult comic to be elected president is also the first one to impose rules of decorum on the press corps. Trump is imposing on the media the social terms in which he has always demanded to operate: a culture in which he can berate and bully others, but must be treated in turn with obeisance. The most tangible sign sign of any hierarchical relationship is one in which one of the parties must be polite but the other is free to engage in abuse. A world in which Trump can brush aside cogent questions by calling reporters stupid, and in which they cant even request an answer, would be the opposite of democracy theater. It would conscript the White House press corps into a regular televised performance of Trumps monarchial fantasies. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Tuesday claimed to have delivered on all the promises which he made to Armenians when leading the mass protests that brought him to power in May. Pashinian argued that he ousted Armenias longtime former leader, Serzh Sarkisian, without bloodshed, launched a crackdown on corruption and broke up economic monopolies after taking over the government, and prevented fraud in local elections subsequently held in various parts of the country. He said his government has also ensured that everyone is equal before the law. There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from this: in the Republic of Armenia power has been fully given back to the people and really belongs to the people, Pashinian declared at a news conference. The remarks came six days before the official start of campaigning for snap parliamentary elections slated for December 9. Pashinians My Step alliance is widely expected to win them. We expect that we will get a vote of confidence from our people and gain a majority in the parliament, the premier told reporters. Pashinian promised that in case of his victory he will strive for an economic revolution that will turn Armenia into an industrialized and technology-based country. Pashinians political opponents, notably senior members Sarkisians Republican Party (HHK), give a diametrically opposite assessment of his track record. They say, in particular, that economic growth in the country, which reached 7.5 percent last year, has slowed down since the Pashinian-led velvet revolution. They also cite a significant drop in foreign investment recorded in the same period. The downturn stems, in part, from the recent forced shutdowns of two large mining enterprises which are now facing an uncertain future. One of them is a subsidiary of the Anglo-American company Lydian International which was developing a massive gold deposit in the southeastern Vayots Dzor province. U.S. diplomats have repeatedly warned that continued disruption of Lydians operations could scare away other American investors interested in Armenia. Pashinian defended his governments actions regarding the mining industry, while admitting that they have created a certain negative background for the investment climate. But I believe that a [favorable] investment climate will definitely be restored, he added. Pashinian further acknowledged that tax evasion investigations launched into other large foreign-owned companies are causing worries abroad. But we are working hard to present our motives to our foreign partners so that this [negative] investment sentiment is eliminated, he said. The companies accused of large-scale tax evasion or other fraud include the national water operation managed by the French utility giant Veolia, Armenias gas distribution network owned by Russias Gazprom conglomerate and the Armenian state railway also managed by the Russians. All of them strongly deny the accusations brought against them following the dramatic regime change in Yerevan. Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan inspected more than 120 Armenian soldiers serving under NATO command in Afghanistan during a working visit to the country on Tuesday. The soldiers are stationed at the Camp Marmal military base of a NATO-led multinational force located near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif. A short video released by the Armenian Defense Ministry showed them lined up there for Tonoyans visit. The minister thanked the soldiers for their service at the welcoming ceremony. Armenia joined the original NATO mission in Afghanistan in 2010. The deployment highlighted growing cooperation between the U.S.-led alliance and the South Caucasus nation allied to Russia. The Armenian military also contributes around 40 troops to a similar NATO-led force maintaining peace and stability in Kosovo. Tonoyan met with Lieutenant-General Salvatore Camporeale, the deputy commander of NATOs Resolute Support mission, in Kabul earlier on Tuesday. According to the Defense Ministry, Camporeale praised the Armenian soldiers participating in the mission, saying that they are known for their discipline and skills. Tonoyan held talks with Afghan Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami at the start of his visit on Monday. An Armenian Defense Ministry statement said they discussed the military-political situation in the region and possible developments. The statement said Tonoyan also expressed Yerevans readiness to enable young Afghans to study in Armenia in the context of deepening cooperation in the area of defense. By Abdul Kerimkhanov Volume of mutual trade between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan grew by almost 60 percent over the first three quarters of 2018. Uzbekistan significantly increased trade with the countries of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) in the first three quarters of 2018, Uzbek media reported with reference to the words of the Minister of Foreign Trade, Jamshid Khojaev. During the CAREC ministerial conference in Ashgabat, Khojaev noted that trade with CAREC member countries is growing at an accelerated pace. Over the three quarters of this year, the volume of mutual trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan and Mongolia more than doubled, with Tajikistan it grew by almost 60 percent, with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan - by more than 45 percent, with China - by about 30 percent, with Turkmenistan - by 17 percent, with Afghanistan - by 11 percent. In this regard, he noted, the joint efforts of countries should be focused primarily on mutual trade facilitation, elimination of various trade barriers, both technical and sanitary, phytosanitary, which often become insurmountable and their removal requires considerable effort, money and time. The minister also added that Uzbekistan is committed to further liberalization of trade and promotion of open markets. Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan were established on October 2, 1995. To date, more than 110 bilateral documents have been signed between the two countries. At the end of 2017, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $31.2 million, of which $26.2 million was accounted for exports of Uzbek goods and only $4.9 million fell for imports. Uzbekistan supplies vehicles, non-ferrous metals, pharmaceutical products, fertilizers, electrical and mechanical appliances, agricultural products to Azerbaijan, and renders services in the transport, tourism and other spheres. Azerbaijan's export to Uzbekistan mainly consists of mechanical appliances, confectionery products, various organic and chemical compounds, tanning and dyeing extracts. There are more than 80 enterprises in Uzbekistan with the participation of Azerbaijani investments, including 71 joint ventures and 11 enterprises have full Azerbaijani capital. They operate in such areas as trade, engineering, metalworking, finance, energy, services, food and light industry. Two Uzbek enterprises have been established in Baku, including the representative office of Uzbekistan Airways and the Uzavtosanoat dealer company Uzavto Baku LLC. Thus, over the past period of 2018, both countries maintained active contacts in a wide range of areas. These include the visits to Azerbaijan of the delegations of Uzbekistan led by first Deputy Chairman of Senate of Parliament of Uzbekistan Sadig Safayev, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament Sarvar Otamuratov, Minister of Employment and Labor Relations Sherzod Kudbiyev, Defense Minister Abdusalom Azizov, Minister of Culture Bakhtiyor Sayfullaev, Interior Minister Pulat Babajanov and others. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Narmina Mammadova The State Committee on Property Issues of Azerbaijan will hold a regular auction on privatization of state facilities on December 18, the committee said on November 19. According to the report, 78 state-owned facilities, of which 29 are small state-owned enterprises and facilities, 15 - non-residential areas, 23 - joint-stock companies, 11 vehicles, will be privatized. The total usable area of small state-owned enterprises and facilities ranges from 30 square meters to 9,297 square meters. The total usable area of this type of property on N.Narimanov Street in the Lokbatan settlement of the Garadagh district is 621 square meters. This category of state objects also includes a garment factory in the Ujar region, a hotel in the Balaken region, and a health center in the village of Buzovna. Privatized non-residential areas are located in Ganja, Sabirabad and Samukh. The variety of prices for such objects with a total usable area from 10 square meters to 190 square meters creates opportunities for choice. The non-residential area with a total useful area of 93.4 square meters is located in the village of Garachukhur, Surakhani district of Baku. This state facility is suitable for use as a facility for the provision of small services and an office. State-owned investment packages in joint-stock companies located in Baku, Ismayilli, Saatli, Yevlakh are also put up for auction. Such large enterprises include Agdash Qushchuluq, Goranboy Aqrotexservis and Barda Tikinti Gurashdrma and other joint-stock companies. The auction also features Daewoo, BMW, KAMAZ and other brands of vehicles manufactured in 1989-2007. In order to protect state property and effectively manage it in the new economic realities, President of Azerbaijan signed a decree on May 19, 2016. Under the decree, the acceleration of the state property privatization process has been defined as an important direction of the economic policy. The portal for privatization privatization.az, launched in July 2016, reflects all necessary information about the facilities, their addresses, location, and even initial cost and aimed at facilitation of the process. The website is available in two languages - Azerbaijani and English. The privatization process is designed to attract both foreign and local investors, as well as improve the business environment of Azerbaijan. Why Azerbaijan is special section available on the website explains the reasons and advantages of investing in the country. Moreover, the State Committee on Property Issues held the first electronic auction on July 4, 2017. The electronic auction service, which is available on the website privatization.az, combines the privatization procedure of vehicles and equipment. In the future, it will be possible to privatize small state enterprises and facilities, joint-stock companies through electronic auction. Now, the corresponding work in programming is being implemented. The State Committee on Property Issues was established on May 19, 2009 on the basis of the relevant presidential decree. The main activities of the State Committee are the management of state property, attraction of investments, maintenance of a single cadastre of immovable property, maintenance of a land cadastre, organization of a land market, protection and improvement of land quality. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Belarus government intends to continue active comprehensive cooperation with Azerbaijan, Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy said. Rusy made the remarks at a meeting of the Belarus-Azerbaijan intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation in Minsk, BelTA reported. He expressed gratification with the dynamics of trade and economic cooperation with Azerbaijan. In January-September 2018, trade turnover between the two countries increased 3.3 times and amounted to $331.5 million compared to the same period of 2017. "It is necessary to work actively on new joint projects, he said. We attach great importance to expansion of cooperation in industry and agriculture. The establishment of a plant for assembling the Belarus-Azerbaijani tractors in Turkey will raise the cooperation of the two countries to a new level, Rusy said. This is a new promising project of three countries, he said. Its successful implementation will open the opportunities for our new initiatives to jointly develop the regional market. Rusy called cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan in transportation and logistics, petrochemical sector and pharmaceutics as promising. The Belarus government also intends to actively promote mutual food supplies. Azerbaijani consumers have already tasted Belarus dairy, meat, and confectionery products, he said. We welcome the opening of Azerbaijans Trading House in Minsk in 2017 and other similar initiatives of our friends. In turn, Azerbaijani First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov stressed the need to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. "Trade turnover does not correspond to our potential, he said. Following the meeting of the intergovernmental commission, seven documents were signed, three of which relate to the cooperation with the Ganja Automobile Plant. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov The 132-kilometer section of the state border of Azerbaijan with Iran has turned into an uncontrolled zone that delivers drugs to European and other countries, said Ali Hasanov, Vice-Premier, Chairman of the State Commission for combating drug abuse and drugs trafficking. The statement was made at the 53rd session of the UN Subcommittee on Illicit Drug Trafficking in the Middle East and other issues held in Baku on November 19. Hasanov noted that narcotic plants are grown in the Azerbaijani lands occupied by the Armenian armed forces. He said that in the territories are used for the production and transit of drugs, training of terrorist groups, hereby further increasing threats. This is a violation of international norms," Hasanov concluded. Moreover, Hasanov said that the U.S. State Department's International Conference on Combating Drugs will be held in Baku. Azerbaijani-Iranian border remains uncontrolled due to the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and this causes serious concern. Baku has repeatedly stated that Armenia uses the Nagorno-Karabakh territory as a testing ground for terrorist activities, as well as for drug trafficking. A military doctrine, adopted by Azerbaijan in 2010, emphasized that the occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh territory by Armenia not only causes damage to the national security, but also have a negative impact on regional security. 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 regions. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Despite Baku's best efforts, peace in the occupied lands remains a mirage in the distance as Armenia refuses to comply with international law. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has completed his official visit to the Republic of Belarus. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend A portable mini-laboratory is proposed to be created in Azerbaijan, Rahim Aliyev, teacher of the Azerbaijan Technical University, creator of an analogue mini-laboratory with digital electronics, which will allow students and researchers to conduct research at home, told Trend. This device is an advanced prototype of the XK-150 mini-laboratory type, produced by "Elenco" company for using in education sector, he said. This mini-laboratory, which can be applied at universities, is of great importance from the point of view of studying electronics, automation and mechatronics. Aliyev stressed that thanks to the capabilities of the mini-laboratory, it is possible to create 400 schemes and carry out laboratory work. "Every student can buy a mini lab and work at home, he said. The advantage of a mini lab is that in simple lab conditions it is impossible to carry out much work during a limited period of time. Having proposed the industrialization of this project, Aliyev stressed that the implementation of such projects will give impetus to the development of national industry by using human capital in Azerbaijan. "We can launch production of this mini-laboratory in Azerbaijan, he said. The price will be a maximum of 200 manats. The shelf life of such laboratories is 30-40 years." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The relations of strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan contribute to interaction in all spheres, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Ali Alizade said during the Business Roundup program on KAY2 TV channel, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Pakistan said in a message. In the program, where attention was paid to the prospects for the development of trade and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, it was said that Baku is interested in cooperation with Islamabad in this area. It was noted that this year, many joint projects were implemented between the two countries, exhibitions, business forums and meetings were held, joint visits were made, and an increase in trade was observed. The ambassador also said that the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan contributes to cooperation in the economic, trade, military-technical, energy, tourism and other fields. Alizade noted that in 2017, a joint working group was established to expand cooperation in the trade and economic sphere and in agriculture, as well as visa regime for Pakistani citizens was simplified and opportunities for joint investments increased. Alizade also spoke about the ongoing development of political relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, mutual support of the two countries, the work carried out in education, tourism, joint work with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, as well as about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, aggression policy, ethnic cleansing and provocations by Armenia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The upcoming OPEC meeting in December is unlikely end with agreement to cut oil production, Capital Economics, the UK-based consulting company believes. "OPEC and its partners (OPEC+) are set to meet in early December but, in our opinion, a co-ordinated production cut is not a given. Russia has already made it clear that it does not think that a cut is necessary, a view that may be backed by a number of OPEC members. After all, it is still unclear what the effect of US sanctions will be on supply from Iran," the company said in a report obtained by Trend. The consulting company estimates that Irans production could drop by about 1 million barrels per day (1 percent of global supply) owing to sanctions. Indeed, according to the estimates of Capital Economics, the countrys output has already fallen by 0.56 million barrels per day since May, but OPEC+ has raised production by 0.6 million barrels per day over the same timeframe and US shale output continues to surge. "Meanwhile, the new supply is coming on stream at a time of slowing global activity, most notably in China but also Japan and Germany. Whats more, we expect economic growth in the US to soften in 2019. Slower economic activity should translate into more subdued global growth in oil demand of just 1 percent in 2019, down from estimated growth of 1.3 percent this year," said the report. Taking all this together, the company believes that the market should move into a small surplus next year, assuming that OPEC maintains its current level of output. Of course, Iran is not the only risk to supply, the UK company believes. "Venezuelas production is in long-term decline and there is always the risk that civil unrest will disrupt output in Libya and Nigeria." "But the underlying fundamentals point to weaker prices. As such, we are happy to reiterate our forecast that the price of Brent will fall to $60 per barrel by end-2019, from $67 at the time of writing." In December 2016, at a meeting of oil producers in Vienna, 11 non-OPEC countries, including Azerbaijan, agreed to cut oil production by a total of 558,000 barrels a day. The agreement was concluded for the first half of 2017 and was extended until the end of the first quarter of 2018 at a meeting on May 25, 2017. At the last OPEC meeting in Vienna, the agreement was again extended until the end of 2018. Azerbaijan supported the decision. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz President Trump at a ceremony at the Murabba Palace in Riyadh, on May 20, 2017. Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images In several public statements over the weekend, President Trump seemed to be positioning himself to shrug off further confirmation that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi last month. You know, who can really know? Trump mused, when asked on Fox News Sunday if he thinks MBS lied to him. Meanwhile, Axios offered some insight into what Trump really thinks of the journalists murder: Trump has privately called the assassination really bad, but immediately adds that other countries America deals with, including China, do a lot of bad things, according to sources with direct knowledge. Trump has also privately told associates he thinks its ridiculous that people are making so much of the Saudi murder of one man, given the brutal practices of countries like China. Here we learn several important things. First, though you wouldnt know it from his public statements, Trump is aware that the repression and killing of civilians is all too commonplace around the world. Second, despite having ridden a keen understanding of the media into the White House, he doesnt quite grasp that the spectacle of a fellow writer being tortured to death and dismembered might catch press imaginations rather strongly. But most of all, we learn that Trump perhaps surprisingly doesnt understand how one image, one crime, one martyr can crystallize a moment into a movement. The Arab Spring, a year of citizen protests that drove leaders from power in four countries and sparked civil conflicts that are still raging in three, began as an outraged response in North Africa to the suicide by immolation of a Tunisian fruit-seller, Mohamed Bouazizi. Activists from students to labor unions to pro-democracy groups to Islamists had tried to organize across the region for years. Anger at the indignity that would drive a man to burn himself alive catalyzed the deep rage theyd been looking to tap all along. Likewise, the movie Americans play in our heads about the civil rights movement includes Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus to a white man because she was tired after a long day of work. It doesnt include the years of organizing, training, outreach, and networking that led movement leaders to that day and to the choice of Parks for the job. The depth and persistence of anger at the murder of Jamal Khashoggi is a phenomenon that Trump should pay more attention to. The underlying truth is that Americans are unenthusiastic about the alliance with Saudi Arabia. The country scores low in opinion surveys, and has done so consistently since 9/11. Experts point to explanations from the Saudis problematic human rights record, especially toward women, to their role in protecting and incubating Al Qaeda, to resentments over oil prices with a little racism and religious prejudice thrown in. Whats more, even in this age of partisan polarization, the Saudis are unpopular across party lines. The Democrats have been divided for some time between progressive anger at Saudi policies most recently over the humanitarian catastrophe the Saudis have unleashed in Yemen and centrists who appreciate the Saudis contributions to security and energy stability. But as Trump has allied more closely with Riyadh, and the civilian toll in Yemen keeps mounting with apparent Saudi indifference, Democratic support for the relationship is ebbing. Meanwhile, Republican members of Congress are keenly aware that opposing Trump on Saudi Arabia doesnt bring the same threat of retribution from the GOP base that it might on other issues. That is why last week, House Speaker Paul Ryan was forced to use a procedural move to block a House bill aimed at ending all U.S. military support for the Saudi war in Yemen, which was backed by most Democrats and a few Republicans. And its why a bipartisan group of senators, including Trump confidant Lindsey Graham, is pushing legislation that would cut off all offensive arms sales to the kingdom and impose mandatory sanctions on anyone found to have culpability in Khashoggis murder provisions mean to push Trump into a tougher stance against the Saudis. Meanwhile, the German government has frozen new arms sales to Riyadh and begun to unwind some already-promised arms deals. In consultation with France and the U.K., it has also issued a travel ban on 18 men alleged to have been involved in Khashoggis killing, which will have the effect of barring them from 26 countries that coordinate border security under the European Unions Schengen Area. Trump may be able to veto or mitigate some of those actions; he may be able to avoid ever hearing the audio of Khashoggis death, as he told reporters over the weekend he planned to do. But he will not be able to block out the broader consequences for U.S.-Saudi ties. Thats what the death of one man can do. By Abdul Kerimkhanov Armenian acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, showing his incompetence, said that Armenia would require explanations from Belarus and Kazakhstan at the presidential level. He accused the Belarus and Kazakh's leaders of discussing the situation around the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) with Azerbaijan, which is a non-member state. he was esepcially tough about the president of Belarus. Pashinyan expressed "surprise" that a person holding the status of the head of state for 30 years could afford such a step. And I, of course, should demand explanations from the President of Belarus and not only from the President of Belarus, said the acting head of the Armenian Cabinet, adding that he will also require explanations from the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, for speaking with conflicting statements. Earlier, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Armenia called the statement made by President Lukashenko on the CSTO Secretary General as non-correct. In turn, Anatoly Glaz, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, commented a recent statement by the acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on November 17. Glaz said that apparently, the acting Prime Minister of Armenia imagines himself an international prosecutor authorized to punish or pardon. Perhaps this was acceptable in the case of Yuri Khacaturov, former CSTO Secretary General. But in interstate relations there are quite clear rules of protocol and etiquette, Glaz stressed. He noticed that probably, Mr. Pashinyan has not yet understood that the rules of the so-called street democracy are not acceptable in big politics. It's a pity. We hope that this will pass by time, the spokesman for the Belarus Foreign Ministry replied diplomatically. Armenia, despite of being an allied state with Belarus and Kazakhstan in the CSTO, is regarded as an unserious partner. CSTO Secretary General's issue is not discussed with Armenia. One can say safely that Armenia is nothing more than a burden for the CSTO member states. By bringing Yuri Khachaturov to the leadership of the CSTO, which is a full member of Armenia, Armenia has seriously hit the reputation and activities of this organization. Afterwards, the Pashinian government has further complicated the situation by filing a criminal case against that person. After the latest CSTO summit in Astana, Armenia is now facing allegations against its allies. This is inacceptable not only at the level of allied countries but also in ordinary relations between countries. Armenia's main concern, jealousy and envy are respect of Kazakhstan and Belarus towards Azerbaijan, as well as the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and these countries at the level of heads of state. So, if such a situation continues, Armenia may lose CSTO membership altogether. Tensions between Armenia and the CSTO countries arose after Armenia initiated and recalled Yuri Khachaturov from the post of CSTO Secretary General on October 30, without having previously coordinated these procedures with other partners in the Organization. The leaders of the CSTO member countries at the Astana summit failed to reach a consensus on the candidacy of the new Secretary General of the Organization on November 8. It was decided to return to this issue at the organizations summit in St. Petersburg on December 6, until then the acting president of CSTO Secretary General will remain Russian Valery Semerikov. The court of general jurisdiction of Yerevan made a decision to arrest the second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, for two months in the case of the events of March 1, 2008, on the night of July 28. He is accused of overthrowing the constitutional order of preliminary agreement with other persons. CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov, who was released on bail of 5 million drams ($10,400), and former Minister of Defense of Armenia Mikael Harutyunyan, who is currently on the wanted list, were also charged as the accused. Armenian side initiated the procedure for recalling Khachaturov from the post of CSTO Secretary General on August 1. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend A joint Iran-EU conference on development of agricultural cooperation, standards, food and agricultural products was held in Tehran, Fars News Agency reported. The conference will continue on Nov. 20. At the conference, EU representatives will consider areas of cooperation and development with Iran and sign trade agreements with Iran in the field of agriculture. Austrian ambassador, representatives of the European Commissions Department for Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as representatives from other EU member-states are taking part in the conference. Members of the Iranian Parliament's Department for Agriculture and Rural Development and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad attended the conference. "We have three goals, director for international affairs in the European Commission's DG Agriculture John Clarke said at the conference, ILNA reported. The issues related to the European products, high standards of European products and peoples' relations will be discussed." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iranian top negotiator with FATF and director of the Center for Financial Information Center and Combating Money Laundering of the Iranian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance Meisam Nasiri Ahmadabadi has been banned from leaving the country, Fars News Agency reported. Reportedly, Ahmadabadi has visited the US embassy in the UAE to seek citizenship for himself and his family. One of Ahmadabadi's relatives is a US citizen and lives in the US. Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) is an independent organization. This organization plays a role of a bridge in information cooperation with foreign countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Turkey and Austria will hold political consultations during the visit of Secretary General of the Austrian Foreign Ministry Johannes Peterlik to Ankara on Nov. 21, the Turkish Foreign Ministry told Trend on Nov. 20. Peterlik will hold a meeting in Ankara with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Director for EU Affairs Faruk Kaymakci. "The development of bilateral relations, as well as the Turkey-EU relations will be discussed," the ministry said. An association agreement between the EU and Turkey was signed in 1963. Ankara filed an application for membership in the EU in 1987, but accession negotiations were launched in 2005. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Chairman of Tajikistans lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament (Majlisi Oli), Shukurjon Zuhurov, today met here with his Uzbek counterpart Nuriddinjon Ismailov, Chairman of the Legislative Chamber (Uzbekistans lower house of parliament), news.tj reports. The two discussed issues related to inter-parliamentary cooperation between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, told Asia-Plus in an interview. Shukurjon Zuhurov, in particular, expressed hope that inter-parliamentary contacts would promote further expansion of economic, humanitarian and cultural cooperation between the two countries. Tajik parliament speaker noted that Dushanbe and Tashkent had signed more than 180 agreements and contracts for a total cost of 730 million U.S. dollars over the past year. Uzbek parliament speaker, for his part, noted that parliamentarians of the two countries could make contribution to expansion of bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in all areas. Recall, Nuriddinjon Ismailov heading Uzbek parliamentary delegation arrived in Dushanbe Monday evening on a two day official visit. Uzbek MPs are also scheduled to hold talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and visit the Nurek hydroelectric power plant (HPP) and the TALCO Cable plant. The will also visit the Tajik National library and the Kokhi Navrouz State Complex in Dushanbe. Initiated by the leaders of the two countries, it is the first ever visit of Uzbek parliamentary delegation to Tajikistan. The Legislative Chamber is the lower house of the Oliy Majlis (Supreme Assembly) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It has 150 members, 135 elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies using the two-round system and 15 elected by the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz President Trump. Photo: Tasos Katopodis - Pool/Getty Images Most of the public fascination surrounding the legal ordeal of President Trump has attached itself to whether (or, more accurately, how successfully) his campaign colluded with Russia. Much less attention has fixated on the question of Trump committing obstruction of justice in office. This isnt because obstruction is less serious an offense. Quite the opposite: Its the very crime that drove President Nixon from office. Rather, its paradoxically because the obstruction is so public and naked that its been robbed of its mystery. The collusion question has enough hidden tangents to create some compelling drama about the outcome, even if the basic contours are clear. Collusion is more interesting than obstruction for the same reason that the romantic travails of Ross and Rachel are more compelling than those of two people in a porno. But obstruction is still sitting right there. The latest reminder comes in the form of an analysis in the legal blog Lawfare co-authored by James Baker, who until late 2017 served as general counsel of the FBI. The putative subject of the piece is the Watergate road map, which detailed Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworskis grounds for impeaching Nixon. But the real subject of the analysis is Trump, whose offenses appear strikingly similar. Baker plumbs the road map for details of how Nixon interfered with the Department of Justices investigation into the Watergate burglary (which, of course, led to the Oval Office). Nixon had repeated contact with Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen in order to gather intelligence about an ongoing criminal investigation in which he was personally implicated. Nixon also appeared to dangle possible job promotions before Petersen while he was wheedling information out of him. Baker (along with his co-author, Harvard Law student Sarah Grant) notes that this pattern of behavior amounted to an impeachable offense: When the president sought information from Petersen, provided his views to Petersen on the various matters that they discussed, and discussed Petersens future, he was not merely exercising his powers under Article II of the Constitution to supervise the executive branch and trying to get the facts necessary to do so; the president of the United States was also acting as a criminal co-conspirator trying to obstruct lawful investigative activities of the Justice Department. Now, Baker is not saying Trump did the same thing. But hes not not saying it, either. Having spent a year at the FBI during Trumps tenure, Baker might be well-positioned to know if Trump did open some back-channel communications to interfere with the Mueller investigation. And both the editor and the managing editor who published are dropping heavy hints that Baker is not just publishing random historic ruminations for no reason: I would urge people to read every line of this piece carefully and reflect on each and everyone one of them--starting with the byline. Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) November 19, 2018 In trying to slow the Justice Department's investigation of Watergate, Nixon offered a DOJ official a position as FBI director and defended his top aidesboth under investigationas "fine, upstanding guys." https://t.co/loeOjChzoF Quinta Jurecic (@qjurecic) November 19, 2018 Obviously, those of us on the outside cant know what Trump may have done in secret. But we do know that he is rather fond of obstructing justice. Trump fired James Comey after, according to Comey, telling him to go easy on the first target in the Russia investigation and attempting to secure Comeys personal loyalty. He then casually confessed on television that he did this over the Russia investigation. He then repeatedly demanded his Attorney General stop the investigation (again, in public!). Then Trump replaced Sessions with Matt Whitaker, a hack who had proclaimed Trumps innocence. Despite reports showing Trump had met with Whitaker more than a dozen times (and discussed the Russia investigation with him), Trump rather suspiciously told reporters that he does not know Whitaker. Even more suspiciously, he claimed to have knowledge of the inner workings of the Mueller investigation. In the context of all of the above, its fairly striking that somebody who worked at the FBI during some of this period is writing historical essays about a president who used his contacts with a Department of Justice staffer to interfere in an investigation into his own conduct. It is also striking that this person highlights the role of the president dangling a possible promotion to the official he was working, given that Trump has given a huge promotion to Whitaker. At minimum, the sorts of crimes committed by Nixon and described by Jaworski in his memo seem like the kind of thing Trump would do. For all the obstruction thats lying around in plain sight, there may be more to be revealed by Robert Mueller. Photo: tumblr Tumblr, that platform you maybe forgot anybody was using this side of that whole Yahoo (Oath???)running-it-into-the-ground thing, was kicked out of the Apple App Store at the end of last week and has yet to return. While the company initially provided little information for the reason behind the sudden blackout, more recent reports, confirmed by Tumblr, indicate the app was dumped by Apple over child porn being posted and shared on the platform. From Tumblr: Were committed to helping build a safe online environment for all users, and we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to media featuring child sexual exploitation and abuse. As this is an industry-wide problem, we work collaboratively with our industry peers and partners like NCMEC to actively monitor content uploaded to the platform. Every image uploaded to Tumblr is scanned against an industry database of known child sexual abuse material, and images that are detected never reach the platform. A routine audit discovered content on our platform that had not yet been included in the industry database. We immediately removed this content. Content safeguards are a challenging aspect of operating scaled platforms. Were continuously assessing further steps we can take to improve and there is no higher priority for our team. Apple forcing Tumblr to crack down on child porn is, obviously, a good thing. Though it does seem a bit arbitrary that Apple only just decided enough was enough and Tumblr needed to right itself. Tumblr has a bit of reputation for being host to content and art of the lewd and erotic sort. (Though, at least in theory, the legal lewd and erotic sort.) The company was even blocked in Indonesia earlier this year for hosting pornographic content. It seems incredibly unlikely that Tumblrs child-porn problem burst onto the scene last Friday. Meanwhile, users say their accounts particularly accounts hosting NSFW content have been deleted amid the problems with the App Store. Tumblr has not commented on whether or not these users will be able to get their content or accounts back online. so Tumblr deleted my fucking blog pic.twitter.com/A0lLE1SUU9 bee (@witchpepper) November 20, 2018 Without notice Tumblr canceled my account with ALL my blogs "Gerph18up", 60k Followers nsfw "Skarpne" 30k Followers nsfw "Gerph" 40k Followers, but that page is SFW This is painful, 5 years of work deleted without explanation. pic.twitter.com/DUhzFRtU3D Gerph (@gerph_art) November 19, 2018 I am absolutely devastated. I worked so hard to build a following on tumblr and it took so much energy and work and tears and now its all gone. Jas (@jaspurrlock) November 19, 2018 Tumblr hasnt provided any concrete details on when users can expect it to return to the Apple Store, saying only that it is continuing to work with Apple to resolve the problem. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 42F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 42F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. The OECD Observer online archive takes you on a journey through half a century of public policy and world progress. Since November 1962, the OECDs experts and leading guests offer insights on the questions facing our member countries with concise and authoritative analysis, and provide our audiences with an excellent opportunity to understand policy debates and consider solutions. Each edition of the OECD Observer reports on a core theme of the OECDs on-going work, from economics and society through governance, finance, and the environment, and articles are bolstered by tables and graphs. Beaumont ISD's former auditor, who was accused of violating state rules that could have prevented employees' embezzlement of funds, has sued the district for nearly $200,000 for work he was contracted to do. Gayle Botley, 60, was hired to provide independent auditing services for the 2013 fiscal year, work for which he claimed he was not fully paid, according to the Oct. 11 lawsuit. Botley alleges BISD owes him $173,232.50 for work completed and work he couldn't do because of a broken contract. The lawsuit comes after an administrative judge in Austin ruled this summer that Botley failed to follow state rules in testing the district's internal controls but was not negligent in his audits of the district's finances. RELATED: Ex BISD administrator released from federal prison Former chief financial officer Devin McCraney and former district comptroller Sharika Allison stole more than $4 million from the district during the years Botley handled BISD's annual audits. Greg Dykeman, attorney for the school district, said Monday that the district was "caught off guard" by Botley's lawsuit, saying that he thought "the chapter was closed" on the matter. In the auditor's case, BISD sued Botley three years ago, alleging negligence and breach of contract. Under the August 2017 settlement, Botley's insurance carrier paid the district $750,000 and Botley admitted no fault or responsibility. His Houston-based attorney Henry Drewinko said the settlement terms didn't bar Botley from seeking "unpaid monies that he was owed." SCHOOL NEWS: Clock ticking on BISD's effort to avoid 3 campus closures The district still owes Botley $26,242.50 for two contracts signed in April and September of 2013 to provide auditing services, the lawsuit contends. "Those (invoices) were simply never paid," Drewinko said. Botley is also seeking $146,990 stemming from the September 2013 contract which he claims was breached by BISD. Although the auditing work was never completed because of the terminated contract, the lawsuit says Botley "was willing and able to complete" the work. Dykeman, the BISD lawyer, last week defended the district in a written response to Botley's petition. "Undeterred by clear assessments from multiple sources that Botley did not do his job at BISD, Botley now has the temerity to demand payment for failing to do his job," Dykeman wrote. In a telephone interview Monday, Dykeman said the district was "surprised" Botley would seek compensation for work he was previously cited for. Botley's accounting license remains on a probated suspension, according to a Texas State Board of Public Accountancy license registry. Botley was cited for failing to comply with generally accepted auditing standards, failing to exercise professional care and lack of documentation for auditing conclusions and recommendations, according to the board. Judge Michael O'Malley recommended this summer that Botley's license be placed on a two-year probated suspension period in which he would be required to report to the board any time he completed a school district audit. Drewinko said Monday afternoon that he did not know if Botley had completed any school audits recently. He noted that Botley lost a "substantial" amount of money after other governmental agencies pulled their contracts with Botley "due to the cloud that BISD put on his company." "It's unfortunate that people in the community have to deal with this," Drewinko said. "This was due to negligent action on behalf of the board who improperly sued him, who tried to place blame on him for something that happened within their own walls." At the "very minimum," Botley should be paid for the work "he actually had done," Drewinko said. "That's the bottom line." Botley is also "entitled" to the $146,990 he was contracted for, despite the fact that the contract was terminated by BISD, Drewinko said. BISD has said in court documents that it terminated the contract because Botley's work was either "never performed" or "wholly professionally deficient." "Despite years of accepting substantial compensation from BISD for audit work, Botley failed to provide objectively verifiable information to the District that could demonstrate progress made toward completing the relevant audits," Dykeman wrote in his response. "Instead, Botley's refrain was a litany of assurances, incomplete work product and missed deadlines." The district made "periodic payments" to Botley totaling $259,807.50 under the April contract and $308,730 under the September contract, according to court documents. Napkins sat directly on the floor. Ants crawled behind a counter. Employees ignored gloves. Those were just some of the violations Houston health inspectors logged from Nov. 12 to Nov. 19, which also included the typical findings of roaches and rodent droppings at some restaurants. THE PREVIOUS WEEK: 28 live cockroaches found in Houston restaurant during health inspections from Nov. 5 to Nov. 12 Each week, inspectors distribute violations that carry a weight between 1 and 25, increasing in severity. The term "demerit" is used by city health inspectors to describe the weighted value assigned to each violation. The Houston Chronicle obtained the results of routine health inspections throughout the city and tallied each restaurant's demerits for a comprehensive list of violations. To view inspection reports online or learn more about food inspections, visit the health department website. 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 Some Texas firefighters will miss Thanksgiving this year because of the deadly wildfires in California, which have destroyed swaths of land in three counties and left at least 80 people dead, according to CBS News. Texas firefighters recently joined hundreds from around the county to assist with the blazes. Despite the likelihood of missing Turkey Day, they appear to be making the best of a bad situation, assisting with community outreach efforts, eating with people whose homes have been saved and joining with other Texas task forces, according to their Facebook pages. RELATED: Texas fire departments deploy crews to help battle California wildfires Firefighters from North Montgomery County, Bryan, Schertz, Dallas and San Antonio are among the state agencies who have shared photos from the deployment on social media. Most photos include wreckage along the firefighters' path, as well as several hot spots in the hilly terrain. The firefighters have been deployed to one of two large wildfires: The Camp fire in Butte County and the Woolsey fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The Camp fire has been the most deadly with 77 confirmed fatalities across 151,000 burned acres and 12,794 destroyed structures, CBS News reported. The Woolsey fire has left at least three people dead across 96,949 acres and 1,500 destroyed structures. View the gallery above to see what Texas firefighters have been dealing with. 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 Upton County, Mo., resident George Sholtz filed a lawsuit to block a community improvement district that would help Houston, Mo.-based Texas County Memorial Hospital complete a surgery center development, the Houston Herald reports. Here's what you should know: 1. The lawsuit asks a judge to block the Houston City Council's vote and adoption of the CID, which was expected to take place Nov. 19. The council gave the ordinance initial approval Nov. 5. The CID would tax the community to fund the surgery center. 2. Mr. Sholtz said the proposal violates Missouri law and alleges TCMH used a false assessment for its property. He previously voiced his opposition to the proposal at a Houston City Council meeting, during which he said the proposed money was part of a "shuffle game." TCMH CEO Wes Murray said Mr. Sholtz' presentation at that meeting contained a significant amount of misinformation. 3. The CID would create a temporary quarter-cent sales tax to help TCMH replace its 40-year-old surgical wing. The district would collect an estimated $675,000 to be earmarked for the surgery center development. The sales tax would end up to six years after reaching the cap. Some of the country's highest-paid health system executives earn up to $17 million a year, according to a Business Journals analysis. Business Journals looked at the latest-available tax returns, regulatory filings and public payroll records submitted by hospitals and health systems in major U.S. metropolitan areas. The analysis does not include all healthcare executives in U.S. hospital systems and does not account for income earned by employees from outside sources, including drug companies, medical device makers and product royalties. Here are the five top-paid healthcare executives, according to Business Journals: 1. R. Milton Johnson, chairman and CEO, HCA Healthcare (Nashville, Tenn.) Total compensation: $17,268,724 2. Patrick Fry, CEO (partial year; retired), Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.) Total compensation: $15,450,002 3. Tony Tersigni, president and CEO, Ascension (St. Louis) Total compensation: $13,933,318 4. Bernard J. Tyson, CEO, Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.) Total compensation: $10,039,235 5. Samuel Hazen, president and COO, HCA Healthcare Total compensation: $9,529,878 More articles on compensation: 8 notes on advanced practice nurse salary Healthcare may be best way into millionaires' club Healthcare CEOs made $4.6M on average in 2017 Data breaches in healthcare are 50 percent more likely to stem from internal mistakes by employees than from external causes, such as hackers, according to a recent analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers from Michigan State University in East Lansing and the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School in Washington, D.C., reviewed 1,138 breaches of protected health information reported to HHS' Office for Civil Rights from 2009 to 2017. OCR requires HIPAA-covered entities to report data breaches affecting more than 500 individuals. The three most common causes of data breaches, according to the researchers, were theft by outsiders or unknown parties (32.5 percent), disclosing PHI through mailing mistakes by employees (10.5 percent), and theft by former or current employees (9 percent). Overall, 53 percent of breaches were attributable to the healthcare organization's own mistakes or neglect, the report states. Different storage modalities and communication channels also experienced different PHI breach risks. The plurality of breaches involved mobile devices (46.1 percent), followed by paper records (28.7 percent) and network servers (29.3 percent). Of the 20.4 percent of breaches that occurred while communicating PHI, 65.5 percent were due to mailing mistakes and 34.5 percent were due to emailing mistakes. Although the researchers noted their findings may not be generalizable to breaches affecting fewer than 500 individuals, they wrote, "healthcare entities must understand the causes of PHI breaches if they aim to effectively manage the trade-off between wider access or higher efficiency and more security." To access the complete analysis, click here. Cabell Huntington (W. Va.) Hospital will pay the Cabell County Commission $1 million to give up its three seats on the hospital's board, according to WSAZ. The County Commission is entitled to appoint three people to the board: one who lives in the county, one over 65 years old, and one whose income is below average for the area. Under the new agreement, the hospital will now have the power to choose the board members according to the same qualifications. "I believe that the hospital knows more about people who are knowledgeable in running hospitals and would have that information for the board of directors than people we might choose," said Cabell County Commissioner Jim Morgan. Robert "Bo" Cofield, vice president and chief clinical operating officer of Lexington-based UK HealthCare, resigned. Here are five notes: 1. Mr. Cofield is leaving UK HealthCare to pursue new professional opportunities. 2. During his tenure, he helped the organization earn Magnet status and strengthened its partnership with Lexington-based University of Kentucky College of Medicine. 3. Mr. Cofield assumed his current role in 2015. 4. He previously served as associate vice president for hospital and clinics operations of University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. 5. He will work with UK HealthCare's leadership to ensure a smooth transition. Thanksgiving week provides an especially appropriate time to show gratitude. In honor of this time, Becker's asked 15 CEOs to share notes to their staff, team members and families. Michael Dowling President and CEO of Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) More than 150 years before the place we call home ever became the United States, true Americans the Wampanoag Indians celebrated an autumn harvest with a group of uninvited immigrants from Europe. By doing so, they set an example of civility and a precedent of welcoming foreigners that undoubtedly enabled America to become the land of immigrants that it is today. Without a doubt, this kind, welcoming and truly American gesture set a precedent that led to the success of the grand experiment that welcomed those from far-away countries and forever changed the history of the world. As students of history, we know that the vast majority of us are either immigrants ourselves or descended from those who come from someplace else. Very few of our ancestors are native to this land that we so proudly call "home." The fact that so many have come here and so many still desire to come here is a living, breathing testament to what America means and what together our ancestors have managed to create. And so, this Thanksgiving, nearly 400 years after the first one, I think we should come together in thanks to America herself for the opportunity to come, live and prosper here. To honor this great gift we have been given, wouldnt it be wonderful to remember who we are at our core and how we got here? Maybe then, we can return to the foundation of kindness and civility in our public discourse one that has been absent lately that allowed that very first Thanksgiving to occur and set in motion all of the amazing things that followed. Mitchell Katz, MD President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals (New York City) This year has been a time of much change for me. After so many years living and working on the West Coast, I returned home to New York City to serve America's largest public healthcare system. During this time of reflection and Thanksgiving, I count my blessings for my family and for having the opportunity to spend more time with my elderly parents in New York. I am also thankful to the more than 1 million New Yorkers who entrust us with their care every year especially my own patients who keep me grounded and allow me to have a special window into the strengths and challenges of delivering care to all, without exception. I find especially gratifying how many of our doctors, nurses, and other staff relied on Health + Hospitals for their healthcare as children and now work at Health + Hospitals as their way of giving back to a system that took care of them. And not just them! I am enormously grateful for ALL the employees of NYC Health + Hospitals who are so driven by commitment to our mission and have made my first year so memorable and rewarding. I am proud to serve alongside the 40,000+ healthcare professionals who have been at the forefront of transformation. Each and every day, they demonstrate a commitment to reduce health disparities, help patients avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, adopt new technologies and innovations, strengthen our primary care operation to keep more New Yorkers healthy, and build a more stable financial future for our health system. And I give thanks to the new group of physicians and nurses who will consider joining us to help shape the future of America's largest healthcare system. (Learn more about our DOCS4NYC campaign.) It's been amazing to witness what an important role our public health system plays in improving the lives of so many New Yorkers and for that, I am most grateful. Tomislav "Tom" Mihaljevic, MD President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic I'm reminded every day that I have more than 57,000 reasons to be thankful. While healthcare continues to work through an ever-changing landscape of regulations, reimbursements and cost cutting, Cleveland Clinic has 57,000 caregivers worldwide who are committed to providing exceptional care in an exceptional way to every patient. It's not always easy, but through it all they never settle for "good enough." Their expectations are to always do better. Better outcomes. Better patient experiences. Better safety. "Patients First" is not just a motto. It's our mission. Patients trust us with their most valuable possession their lives and all of our caregivers recognize the immense responsibility that comes with that trust. They have bought into multiple efforts to strengthen our culture of safety, from tiered huddles to hand-washing initiatives to checklists, to name a few. They understand that we are a team and we are in this together for the patient. Our purpose is bigger than ourselves. I can't imagine a greater privilege than leading an organization with such incredible accomplishment and inspirational people. Elizabeth Nabel, MD President of Brigham Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital's parent organization (Boston), in an excerpt from an email to employees Dear colleagues, As I reflect on what I'm thankful for this season, I keep coming back to your unwavering dedication to our precious mission. Your devotion and compassion are a gift to thousands of patients and families. Whether through a kind word, helping hand or simply a warm smile, you bring hope and comfort to those around you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being a part of our Brigham family. John Noseworthy, MD President and CEO of Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.) Mayo Clinic's founders Dr. Will Mayo and Dr. Charlie Mayo believed that the combined wisdom of peers is greater than that of any individual. They invented the integrated group practice of medicine, where physicians, medical professionals and administrators work together to solve patients' problems. Dr. Will called it a "union of forces," and it remains our approach to any challenge we face as an organization. Amid the industry disruption and constant change of the 21st century, I'm deeply grateful that our staff continue to live our founders' values. United by a culture of service, our teams have responded to the challenging healthcare environment with more than 400 projects to improve the cost, quality and value of our services, and dozens of re-engineering projects that helped cut nearly $1 billion in the past five years while integrating new technologies. My role as president and CEO of Mayo Clinic concludes at the end of 2018. Many have asked me, when considering my tenure, what makes me most proud. My response is the daily stories I hear of how our staff make a difference in the lives of the patients we serve. Mayo Clinic is powered by the union of incredibly talented people who are truly committed to a common vision and values. We wouldn't be Mayo Clinic without collaboration, and we wouldn't be Mayo Clinic without having extremely driven medical and scientific professionals. We're living proof that the two can co-exist when we are united in our primary value of "the needs of the patient come first." Ronald Rittenmeyer Executive Chairman and CEO of Tenet Healthcare (Dallas) The Thanksgiving holiday provides us with an important opportunity to think about gratitude. We often move so quickly, that we forget to stop and thank those who have changed something for the better in our professional and personal lives. That includes big changes, small changes, and changes that may have gone unnoticed by some, but truly made a difference in another person's life. At Tenet Healthcare, we have embraced change over the last year and become stronger because of it. I am grateful for many things and would like to take this opportunity to extend my personal thanks to our patients, our communities, our partners and our employees. To our patients: It is a privilege to serve you. Our caregivers and supporting staff across the country are passionate about providing you with the right care, in the right place, at the right time. We know you have a choice when it comes to your care, and we are committed to earning your trust. We are grateful for the opportunity to care for you in your time of need. To our communities: From the West coast to the East coast, from Detroit to South Texas we embrace the privilege we have in fostering a community of care. This means not only serving families in our hospitals and outpatient centers but also collecting boxes of cereal during our annual cereal drive, filling backpacks with school supplies, walking together with the American Heart Association to raise awareness of cardiovascular health, and volunteering in our communities to serve and provide support. It means so many things to us as an organization, and it is also espoused by individuals throughout the enterprise. To our partners: We are grateful to have the opportunity to work with you in support of our shared vision of helping people. Strong relationships are built on collaboration, respect and trust, and we deeply value our partnerships with you. We look forward to continuing to grow together and serving our communities. Thank you for your partnership and your commitment to improving the healthcare delivery system. To our employees: Thank you for your passion to care for others. You provide patients with comfort during their most vulnerable moments and you demonstrate incredible strength, courage and professionalism. This comes naturally to so many of you as it's simply part of who you are and for that I am incredibly proud. Providing our communities with a trusted, compassionate environment for care is central to our mission. I appreciate you, and I appreciate your efforts to work together so we can stay true to that mission. Thank you for working to exceed the high standards we set for ourselves. Paul Rothman, MD Dean of the Medical Faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore) I am thankful for the amazing commitment, hard work, decency and heart of all of my colleagues in our shared undertaking: the doctors, nurses, maintenance workers, administrators, students, the list goes on. All of them work hard to do their best, and to provide the best possible care and support for our patients. Every day I am touched by the miracles that my colleagues work, not only saving lives and curing disease, but easing the pain of a grieving family member, or brightening someone's day with the helpful suggestion or a simple smile. I'm also thankful to be part of the communities where we live and work, in Baltimore and beyond. We are all in this together; it is essential to remember that in the end, all of us are reaching for the same goals: meaningful work and personal lives, the opportunity to be part of a supportive community, and health, happiness and peace of mind for ourselves and our loved ones. At Johns Hopkins Medicine, we draw strength from our purpose, which is above all to help and to heal. We are living in challenging, tumultuous times, with increased stress and anxiety for all of us. As we move forward, we must remember to support each other, to listen to one another and to remain keenly aware of our shared humanity. Marschall Runge, MD, PhD CEO of Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor) To the Michigan Medicine community, As we approach the close of another year, I reflect on the many dynamics and challenges we all face on a daily basis. What is most rewarding is being able to be a part of Michigan Medicine, and to see the personal commitment that each of you bring to improving the health of those we serve. Every day, small victories add up to amazing care for our patients from what may seem mundane changes in life, to miraculous team efforts for the critically ill. It is your talent, your innovation, your compassion and your dedication that makes this all happen. None of us could do what we do without all of us. I have the privilege to see this in different ways nearly every day. This year, I hosted a series of breakfasts where groups of 10-12 leaders and their staff shared snapshots of their daily work how they problem solve, enhance the patient experience, motivate and recognize their teams, offer support to colleagues, and encourage work/life balance. The list goes on, with a keen focus on not just our patients and the care they receive, but also on our employees, the resiliency of our teams, and the health of all of us at every opportunity. These discussions have been interesting and enjoyable. They so transparently and simply showcase the excellent caliber of our employees. Whether it be a voice from data analytics, finance, clinical care, research, education or other support functions, they most clearly convey their unwavering commitment to our institutional mission: advancing health to serve Michigan and the world. I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead such an incredible workforce of clinicians, caregivers, researchers, educators and support staff. My sincerest thanks and appreciation to all of you, for the expertise, passion and dedication that collectively makes us uniquely Michigan Medicine. Ernie Sadau President and CEO of Christus Health (Irving, Texas) Being thankful and expressing our gratitude is an important part of being happy in life. And, yet sometimes counting our blessings can be the hardest math to master. That's why this time of year is so important to me and to all of us at Christus. It gives us an opportunity to truly pause and reflect on our successes and appreciate another year of Thanksgiving. We have reached many important milestones and experienced great partnerships and growth this year. It wouldn't be possible without the support I receive from my wonderful family and my wife's continuous caring and backing of my work and life. I have unbelievable guidance in the form of our three sponsoring congregations, the Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word of Houston, the Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word of San Antonio and the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. They keep us focused on our mission, and we're honored to be part of their tremendous healing legacy. I have also come to rely on the respect trust and candor of our Christus board of directors and I know I am grateful, as is the rest of our executive team, for their dedication and leadership. Our team of leaders, associates, physicians, volunteers and other caregivers help us successfully deliver on the fulfillment of our mission every day to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to all those in need. We are able to touch the lives of more than 6 million people each year through our ministries both in the United States and in Latin America. That's a blessing we love counting. 45,000 Christus associates making sure 6 million lives are embraced by God's healing presence and love. I gladly give thanks for all of this. Kevin Spiegel President and CEO of Erlanger Health System (Chattanooga, Tenn.) Dear associates, In todays uncertain times many of us become concerned about our future and our families. In the world of healthcare, our commitment is to provide safe and reliable care to our patients. But it is equally important to take the time to reflect and recognize how rewarding our careers are, despite the stress and frustration that can occur during challenging times in healthcare, both in our state and our country. As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest thanks and gratitude to the Erlanger Health System, my family and friends. While I try to give people the thanks they deserve all year round, this particular holiday is truly the optimal time to show others how much I appreciate their service to Erlanger and the patients we serve. We are blessed by the unique opportunity to put patients and families back together who might be broken apart by psychosocial issues, trauma or disease. Erlanger is the place we take our own families for help. This unique ability of caring for others, as well as our own families, forces us to improve and innovate change for the better each and every day. Thanksgiving is an important time of year because it reminds us to slow down and think about the things in our lives for which we are grateful. I want to personally thank you for your commitment to Erlanger because I consider you part of my family. We are clearly united by our goal to provide world-class care to this community, and to improve the health status of our region. Wishing you and your family a joyous Thanksgiving and wonderful holiday season! Johnese Spisso President of UCLA Health, CEO of UCLA Hospital System and Associate Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences (Los Angeles) I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to every member of our UCLA Health team. Every month, I receive numerous letters from patients and their families who are overcome with gratitude and respect for everyone they have interacted with during the course of their care. In addition to commending your expert skills, they all focus on one aspect of their care that left a lasting impression on them: your compassion. Your daily acts of kindness small and large have brought hope and healing to our patients and their families and it's a contribution that will have a lasting effect on those we serve. Thank you for all that you do at UCLA Health. I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season! Tony Tedeschi, MD CEO of Detroit Medical Center During the fall and leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, there is always an increased energy and momentum to accomplish the year's operational goals. I believe this is also a time for any organization to reflect on its accomplishments and acknowledge efforts that have resulted in meaningful collaboration. Through recognition and appreciation, we can maintain positive momentum moving forward. The healthcare industry continues to be in a state of transformation, and the environment is highly complex. For the most part, our destination is clear but continued uncertainties within the industry related to lower inpatient volumes, reimbursement and continued healthcare coverage for the poor requires a multifaceted approach that requires a keen focus on quality, safety and the overall patient experience. I can honestly say that the Detroit Medical Center's commitment to community and the patients we serve has never been stronger. The DMC is a community built on care our family taking care of Detroit families. I am ever thankful for our employees and clinical care providers who demonstrate their strong commitment to caring for Detroit's residents every day. I am also extremely grateful for the collaborative relationships we have with our community stakeholders, education and research partners. I was a physician long before I became an administrator, and as I reflect on why I chose the medical profession and what motivates me as a physician, it was and still is the desire to provide exceptional healthcare to those most in need within our communities. Working together, we are making a difference in the health and wellbeing of those who live, work and play in the great city of Detroit. Nick Turkal, MD, and Jim Skogsbergh Co-presidents and CEOs of Advocate Aurora Health (Milwaukee and Downers Grove, Ill.) To the dedicated team members of Advocate Aurora Health: As we approach this season of gratitude, reflect on the past year and look ahead to our future, countless reasons to say thank you come to mind. We are grateful for the many ways you deliver on our purpose to help people live well and embody the values of excellence, compassion and respect. We recognize that's easier said than done as healthcare presents new challenges, and opportunities, placing unique demands on each one of our 70,000 team members, physicians and nurses. We also know that strengthening our focus on safety, both for those in our care and for ourselves, requires constant attention and effort in this dynamic environment. Despite frequent hurdles, your performance demonstrates a passion and commitment to safety and quality that is greater than ever before with phenomenal results on our journey to zero serious safety events, patient satisfaction scores, efficiency in care delivery and continually improving health outcomes. We see and hear how teams rally around each other, patients and their families, in groups and individually, to offer support through trying times. Many of you will give up special moments with family and friends this holiday season to make sure it is as joyful and comfortable for others as you would wish for your own loved ones. For these solemn sacrifices and tremendous accomplishments, you have our deepest gratitude. Even though we are physically separated at 500 sites of care across two states, we are so proud to unite together in our hearts, with one purpose, to help people live well. Penny Wheeler, MD President and CEO of Allina Health (Minneapolis) Throughout this season, I hardly know where to begin in expressing my gratitude for the everyday miracles that are the result of your work. I am amazed by the incredible things you, as healthcare professionals, do for each other. The collective impact of all the things you do is beyond amazing whether holding the hand of a worried daughter, welcoming a new life, celebrating with someone who just completed chemotherapy, smoothing the pillow of someone who is dying, providing a listening ear to someone otherwise isolated, or greeting someone with a simple smile. The work we do in healthcare is profound and distinguishes us, but it's the small things we do every day that ultimately define us. Without a doubt, healthcare is in the midst of significant fundamental changes. While we work through these changes, we cannot lose focus or forget why we chose this sacred and servant profession. It's about comforting those starkly facing their human frailty. It's tenderly placing a newborn into the awaiting arms of a parent. It's the ability to keenly diagnose a condition, leading someone to healing. It's about supporting colleagues in need. Most of all, it's about showing up and giving everything you have to give, especially on the hard days. Over the past few days, I've been reflecting on the things I am most grateful for. Foremost among them is our talented group of 29,000 employees at Allina Health and the compassionate care they offer to each other, our patients, and our broader community. Thank you for the work you do to live our mission of providing exceptional whole person care. Without your commitment, creativity, hard work, and talents, we would not be able to touch lives in such a profoundly positive way. For the rest of you committed to this calling, thank you for recognizing the whole person in front of you, including their wondrous and messy parts, and doing everything possible to support each one of them. Thank you for every single minute of time, energy and passion you've given in service of patients, community and each other. Who you are and what you do matters so greatly to so many, and you are making all the difference in the world. Editor's note: This piece was updated on Nov. 21. Wayne, Pa.-based services provider Crothall Healthcare said it did not renew its contract with Chippenham and Johnston-Willis hospitals in Richmond, Va., which will result in 139 layoffs, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch report. Affected Crothall employees primarily include housekeeping workers at the hospitals. They also include operations managers and lead janitors, among others. Crothall filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice Nov. 15 with the Virginia Employment Commission, notifying the state of the layoffs. A letter signed by a human resources consultant with Crothall states the company expects the layoffs to be permanent and begin on Jan. 20 "absent other contractual developments," according to the report. "We have notified the affected employees of the change through WARN notices, where applicable. Employees are eligible to apply for other positions within Crothall Healthcare, as well as with other sectors of the company and with the new EVS [environmental services] company for those hospitals," a Crothall spokesperson told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. A spokesperson for HCA Virginia, which operates Chippenham and Johnston-Willis hospitals, told the publication she expects Austin, Texas-based HHS, the new company contracted for housekeeping services, to rehire workers affected by the layoffs. It was 2002 when Andrew Campbell, MD, a facial plastic surgeon, purchased an intense pulsed light machine so he could treat patients with sun damaged skin more efficiently than with a harsh chemical peel. This purchase helped him realize a whole new side of medicine. "We were able to do multiple treatments with the [intense pulsed light machine] over several months and give them similar results to the chemical peel with no downtime at all," Dr. Campbell said. "This started the non-surgical aspect of my facial plastic surgery practice." Three years later, Quintessa came into inception. Dr. Campbell carved Quintessa out of a larger surgical center in Delafield, Wis., to help patients receive effective aesthetic treatments without the inconvenience and downtime of surgery. Dr. Campbell said the noninvasive aspect of medicine has grown rapidly since Quintessa first launched in 2005, but much of the decision-making power has been taken away from surgeons. "As more and more non-plastic surgeons and non-physicians get into the aesthetic market, it is the surgeon that suffers. I truly feel that the industry in general is taking more and more away from the surgeon, so I've decided that Quintessa is going to help surgeons," he said. "How do we do this? By using the team approach to aesthetic medicine. We have nurse providers that do injectables like Botox and filler, others that do lights and lasers, [like] laser hair removal. These non-surgical procedures keep our centers busy and allow for cross referrals when needed." "Essentially, Quintessa is able to give patients all the options and allow the patient to choose what is best for them at that time. If you only have surgery, or if you only have non-surgical modalities, the patient won't get exposed to all their options, and they may end up getting something that is far less effective than they would like," he added. To learn more about this growing area of medicine, Becker's Hospital Review caught up with Quintessa founder Dr. Campbell. Editor's notes: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length. Question: Can you explain Quintessa? What is its mission? Dr. Andrew Campbell: Quintessa's mission is twofold. For our patients, through the enhancement of natural beauty, we help them look great so they can feel great, have confident beauty and a great relationship with themselves. Our hope is that our patients will then go and make a positive impact on every life they touch. To our surgeons, Quintessa helps passionate providers have incredible careers and a great work-life balance. Q: What has been the most rewarding part of Quintessa? AC: I have been incredibly impressed with the thankfulness of our patients. After speaking to many of them, it became clear that we gave them back something that was terribly missing: themselves. Everyone has a sense of self we know what we look like without looking in a mirror. The problem is our outside appearances often change significantly, yet our inner sense of self does not. This means we look into a mirror and think, "Who is that person looking back at me?" We don't have a good relationship with ourselves because we don't really recognize ourselves. When we rejuvenate someone, or give them the body they used to have or always wanted to have, they now look in the mirror and see themselves. We gave them back to themselves. It's incredibly powerful and patients absolutely love it. Q: What is a typical day at Quintessa like for you? AC: I'm a facial plastic surgeon that specializes in facial rejuvenation, so my typical day would involve consultations with patients that desire rejuvenation, and then performing the rejuvenating procedures. Most surgeries I can perform in the office setting while patients are awake. At first, that kind of freaks them out until I describe exactly what's going to happen. They may be put on some valium or some nitrous oxide for any anesthetic injections, then after that, there's not much to feel it's like a haircut. Patients might feel some pulling and hear some noises like scissors, but nothing hurts. Everyone loves the fact that they don't have to go to an operating room. For more complex problems, I do take some patients to a surgical center where I can perform more advanced techniques to give them a result they will celebrate, but most procedures can be performed in the office. Since we have providers that do Botox and filler, and lights and lasers, I really concentrate on the consultations and surgeries. Since we have five locations and two other plastic surgeons besides me, I do spend a couple hours a week in meetings to make sure the company is running efficiently. I also spend some time "hunting" for other plastic surgeons who would benefit from joining the Quintessa team. Q: What is the biggest challenge you've encountered running Quintessa? AC: The biggest challenge for most practices and businesses is finding great people. A company is only as good as its employees. We have an interesting and very effective hiring process that relies solely on culture or personality to determine who will be a great fit with Quintessa. It has worked extremely well for us. Q: What else should Becker's know about Quintessa? AC: We are in a rapidly growing aspect of medicine that has few regulations in most states. Our competition isn't other plastic surgeons; it's non-physicians. This makes it difficult to show our expertise since pretty much everyone advertises that they are the "best." The public is being duped into believing that they can go to their hair stylist and get Botox and filler. It's a little ridiculous. But unless stricter laws are implemented, we can only continue to do what we do best: give patients amazing results and at the same time, give them an amazing experience. Word of mouth has worked extremely well for us in the past and it will continue to allow us to be successful and grow into the future. The joint health company formed by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase hired its first female executive, CNBC reports. The organization hired Dana Safran, the former chief performance measurement and improvement officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. She will begin her tenure at the health venture early next year as "head of measurement," a spokesperson for the company confirmed to CNBC. Ms. Safran's appointment suggests the Amazon-Berkshire-JPMorgan health venture's decision-making will be largely data-driven. CNBC speculates the hiring move will also lend the organization more expertise if it decides to take on traditional health insurers. Ms. Safran's hiring marks the third executive appointment for the health company. In June, the CEOs of Amazon, Berkshire and JPMorgan named Atul Gawande, MD, CEO of the organization, and hired former Comcast executive Jack Stoddard as COO in September. With Ms. Safran on board, the organization's executive team has grown to at least four employees and is actively recruiting senior leaders, CNBC reports. To access the full report, click here. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, will lead the Senate Finance Committee, the committee at the center of the healthcare debate in Congress, in the new year. Mr. Grassley will take over for Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who is retiring. Mr. Grassley previously led the Finance Committee from June 2001 to January 2003 and January 2007 to January 2011. Here are three ways his leadership could affect the healthcare industry: 1. Based on his commentary and past priorities, Mr. Grassley is likely to push for federal policies that benefit rural hospitals. "Looking ahead, at the Finance Committee, I want to continue to work to make sure that as many Americans as possible get to experience this good economy for themselves," Mr. Grassley said in a press release. "[I]t means improving the affordability, quality and accessibility of healthcare, including in rural America." 2. He is going to be tougher on drug companies. The Hill describes Mr. Grassley as "a thorn in the side of the pharmaceutical industry." He is likely to promote legislation that targets high drug prices. In August, the Senate added his amendment to an appropriations package that requires pharmaceutical companies to list drug prices in advertisements. 3. The Finance Committee oversees taxes, Medicare and Medicaid, so any major healthcare reform initiatives will go through Mr. Grassley. He has previously voted to repeal the ACA, but was quoted in June by the Des Moines Register saying, "We've got to give up on repeal and replace." More articles on leadership and management: 50 employees laid off at Denver hospital Amazon kept HQ2 a secret using code names: 4 things to know NFL grants Boston Children's $14.7M for concussion study Two of the at least four individuals killed during a shooting at Chicago-based Mercy Hospital & Medical Center Nov. 19 were an emergency room physician and a first-year pharmacy resident, USA Today reports. Here are four things to know: 1. Tamara O'Neal, MD, an ER physician at the hospital, was fatally shot outside Mercy Hospital on her way in to work by the alleged gunman, 32-year-old Juan Lopez. Police said the shooting, which took place around 3:30 p.m., was spurred by a domestic altercation, as Mr. Lopez and Dr. O'Neal had previously been engaged, according CBS 2 News. "She loved the action [of the medical field]. She was in on a whole bunch of high-profile cases where people were shot and we'd see it on the news and she'd be treating the victims," Dr. O'Neal's father, Tom O'Neal, told the Chicago Sun-Times Nov. 20. "She always went after what she really wanted in life." 2. Patrick Connor, MD, chief of emergency medicine at Mercy, said during a press conference Nov. 19 that Dr. O'Neal grew up in Portage, Ind., and that the 38-year-old physician was "simply one of the most fascinating, hard-working people." Dr. O'Neal graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago before working at the hospital, according to CBS 2 News. 3. Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez and pharmacy resident Dayna Less, PharmD, were also killed in the shooting. Ms. Less was reportedly shot as she walked out of an elevator, USA Today reports. 4. Ms. Less, a 25-year-old recent graduate of West Lafayette, Ind.-based Purdue University, had begun working at the hospital in July, Dr. Connor said, according to BBC News. "She had a wonderful life. She was the strongest person I know," Brian Less, Ms. Less' father, told the Chicago Tribune Nov. 20. "She was a fighter." Editor's note: Becker's Hospital Review reached out to Mercy Hospital & Medical Center for comment and will update as more information becomes available. Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems plans to sell all of its hospitals in South Carolina. CHS entered a definitive agreement in October to sell Mary Black Health System, a two-hospital system based in Spartanburg, S.C., to Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. That deal is on track to close by the end of this year. On Nov. 19, CHS said it signed a definitive agreement to sell its four other hospitals in South Carolina to the Medical University Hospital Authority in Charleston, S.C. The transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019, includes the following hospitals: 82-bed Chester Regional Medical Center; 225-bed Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster; 396-bed Carolinas Hospital System in Florence; and 124-bed Carolinas Hospital System-Marion in Mullins. The six South Carolina hospitals are among several facilities with combined revenue of $2 billion that CHS intends to sell. More articles on healthcare industry transactions: LifePoint merges with RCCH, goes private CHI, Dignity unveil name for combined system Bankrupt Mississippi hospital receives takeover bid Licensed practical nurses at Chicago-based University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics suspended their strike Nov. 19 and are back at work, according to a Chicago Tribune report. The 35 nurses, who are represented by the Illinois Nurses Association, walked off the job Nov. 15 amid contract negotiations. They told the Tribune they seek job protections and fair pay. Ramona Morales, a licensed practical nurse and a union steward, said nurses suspended the walkout once Mike Zenn, CEO of University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics, agreed to participate in contract negotiations, according to the Tribune. "We felt it was important for him to know what is going on with a segment of his employees and how strongly we felt that we want to have a fair contract that protects our rights, that offers us fair wages and does not disregard our seniority," she told the Tribune. Mr. Zenn said the system is pleased nurses suspended the strike. "We value the critical role LPNs play in providing patient care and we are committed to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement," he told Beckers. "We are hopeful an agreement can be reached in the near future." The health system and nurses have been in negotiations for about a year. Ms. Morales told the Tribune both sides are expected to return to the bargaining table after Thanksgiving. More articles on human capital and risk: Pennsylvania hospital nurses asked to cancel one-day strike 4,000 Kaiser mental health clinicians say they're prepared to walk off job University of Illinois-Chicago nurses suspend strike after CEO agrees to participate in talks From a North Carolina health system settling antitrust allegations to the former revenue cycle director of a Delaware hospital sentenced to prison for embezzlement, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines. 1. CHS settles lawsuit against ex-CEO of Indiana hospital Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network and its parent company Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems settled their lawsuit against LHN's former CEO. 2. CMS appeals ruling on Medicare Advantage overpayments: 4 things to know On Nov. 6, CMS filed an appeal to a September judgment that overturned a 2014 overpayment rule for Medicare Advantage plans. 3. Atrium settles antitrust lawsuit over health plan contracts: 6 things to know Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health agreed to a settlement with the Department of Justice that prohibits the health system from enforcing anticompetitive steering restrictions in contracts between payers and its providers. 4. Ex-revenue cycle director gets prison time for embezzling from Delaware hospital Hope Abram, a former revenue cycle director at Lewes, Del.-based Beebe Healthcare, was sentenced to prison for embezzling more than $100,000 from Beebe Healthcare. 5. Nevada hospital to pay $820K for discovery violations in class-action wage dispute A Nevada federal judge ordered Las Vegas-based University Medical Center to pay nearly $820,000 in sanctions for destroying evidence and discovery violations in a class-action employee wages lawsuit. 6. Financial analyst steals $46K from West Virginia hospital A former financial analyst for Pleasant Valley Hospital in Point Pleasant, W.Va., faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $46,000 from the hospital. 7. Oscar Health sues Florida Blue over 'monopolistic' insurance broker policy Health insurance startup Oscar Health filed a lawsuit against Florida Blue accusing the company of inking exclusive policy agreements with brokers to steer individuals toward Florida Blue plans only. 8. Ex-exec of Cleveland Clinic spinoff admits to defrauding system A former Cleveland Clinic spinoff executive on Nov. 16 pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements in an attempt to defraud the health system. 9. Judge refuses to release hospital management company CEO's money amid investigation A judge in California said the former administrator of Tulare (Calif.) Regional Medical Center will have to wait until 2019 to know what will happen to cash and property seized during an investigation into his management of the hospital. 10. Fired California hospital employee awarded $3.2M in discrimination suit A jury awarded $3.2 million in damages to a former warehouse employee at Loma Linda (Calif.) University Medical Center who says he was harassed for years by his supervisors and ultimately fired because of his Islamic beliefs. 11. Former Chilton Medical Center employee charged in computer theft incident A former IT employee at Chilton Medical Center in Pequannock, N.J., was charged with computer criminal theft for an incident that dates back to January 2015. 12. Former employee alleges New Hampshire hospital fired her for accepting Medicaid patient A former employee is suing Nashua-based Southern New Hampshire Health, alleging the system's Southern New Hampshire Medical Center fired her for accepting a hospice patient who had Medicaid coverage. 13. Detroit health clinic owner gets 13 years for defrauding Medicare Jacklyn Price, owner of two Detroit health clinics, was sentenced to 13 years in prison Nov. 15 for her role in an $8.9 million fraud scheme involving Medicare claims. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: CEO of Louisiana hospital's fundraising arm fired after embezzlement probe FTC: Florida company made $100M selling fake insurance AHA will sue to stop CMS' site-neutral payment policy Members of the Sackler family who own Purdue Pharma, the maker of the prescription opioid OxyContin face "mass litigation" for their alleged role in the opioid epidemic, unnamed sources told The Guardian. Suffolk County, N.Y., recently sued members of the family over opioid overdose deaths spiking in local communities, sources said. Lawyers said this specific case could cause hundreds of other U.S. cities, counties and states to follow suit. Prosecutors in Connecticut and New York are also considering charging the Sacklers with criminal fraud and racketeering over how OxyContin was marketed to physicians, legal sources told The Guardian. Suffolk County already sued Purdue Pharma and included members of the Sackler family in an amended complaint filed in October, according to The Guardian. More articles on opioids: Opioid misuse study examines trends based on sexual orientation Geisinger launches opioid reduction initiative Massachusetts lost $15.2B to opioid epidemic in 2017 After pressure from stakeholders, AstraZeneca has started looking for candidates to replace CEO Pascal Soriot, who has served at the helm of the drug company for six years, according to The (UK) Times. Mr. Soriot isn't expected to leave immediately, but the company reportedly hired headhunters to draw up a list of potential internal candidates. The Times reports that potential candidates could include AstraZeneca's senior executives Mene Pangalos and Ruud Dobber. The news comes after the drugmaker suffered a setback with the failure of a big lung cancer trial in November. Mr. Soriot had promised to achieve at least $40 billion in sales by 2023, and the cancer drug setback pushes that goal further out of reach. Health officials have identified 13 countries with rising malaria cases, which highlights the need to bolster containment initiatives, according to CNN. Here are five things to know: 1. The World Health Organization released its 2018 World Malaria Report Nov. 19, confirming rising or plateauing cases in many countries. Globally, malaria cases jumped from 217 million in 2016 to 219 million cases in 2017. 2. "No significant progress in reducing global malaria cases was made" between 2015-17, the report indicates. Before 2015, global malaria rates were on the decline. 3. Most of the countries that saw a spike in malaria cases were in Africa. Nigeria, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo saw the greatest uptick in malaria cases. 4. Ten countries in Africa, including Tanzania, Mali, and Cameroon, collectively saw 3.5 million more malaria cases in 2017 than the year prior. 5. Brazil, Nicaragua and Venezuela saw large increases in malaria cases, while India, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Rwanda saw a sharp decline in cases. India and Rwanda reported 3 million and 430,000 fewer cases in 2017, respectively. Health officials said these countries' success can be attributed to political leaders' engagement in addressing the issue, their ability to reach marginalized populations and their use of resources like bug nets and malaria vaccines. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Viewpoint: Nurses need to stop bullying EMS workers North Carolina sees worst chickenpox outbreak in 20 years at a school with high vaccine exemption rates Cell-based flu shot 36% more effective than conventional shot, report finds Public health workers are struggling to combat and contain the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to STAT. Here are four things to know: 1. A military encampment near a hotel in the city of Beni housing some Ebola responders was hit by a shell that did not detonate. The aftermath prompted an evacuation of 16 personnel experiencing emotional distress. The responders asked officials to heighten security. 2. As of Nov. 19, there have been 366 confirmed and probable Ebola infection cases with 214 of those cases resulting in death. 3. STAT interviewed Tedros Ghebreyesus, MD, director of the World Health Organization, who visited Beni in early November. "The attacks have increased since Ebola started, both in intensity and frequency. So it's a very dangerous situation," Dr. Ghebreyesus told STAT. "The insecurity is a virus. And there is another virus, Ebola. Managing two viruses at the same time is tough, but at the same time, we're having an impact." 4. When asked if the Congo's elections might incite more violence, Dr. Gebreyesus told STAT that Ebola is an enemy to everyone and should not be used to politicize. Political parties in the Congo have been informed of this issue. To read STAT's interview with Dr. Ghebreyesus, click here. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Veterans' groups demand nursing home changes after 2 nurses found sleeping on job Florida company aims to curb contamination by changing what sales reps wear in ORs Drug-resistant infections linked to higher in-hospital mortality, study finds RepScrubs, a Sanford, Fla.-based company, aims to prevent contamination by placing vending machines with disposable scrubs for sales representatives entering hospital operating rooms, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Each package from the vending machines has a scrub, a red bouffant and shoe covers. The sales representatives receive printed security badges that identify them by name, company and the hospital the scrubs were purchased from. The badges turn red eight hours after they'reprinted, indicating they are not valid for future use. Each packet costs about $7.95. Jeff Feuer, who helped launch RepScrubs, started developing the idea after meeting with a hospital executive who said medical device sales representatives are contaminating ORs. Although there is no evidence that sales representatives' scrubs are linked to an increased infection risk in the operating rooms, sales reps are not hospital employees, meaning hospitals cannot enforce clean attire policies on them. Over 120 hospitals nationwide have signed up with RepScrubs, according to the company's website. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Drug-resistant infections linked to higher in-hospital mortality, study finds New Jersey measles outbreak could spread, health experts say CMS extends Hastings Hospital's compliance deadline after improper syringe use found Joseph Scalea, MD, physician at Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical Center, organized a research group to test whether drones could deliver organs, after experiencing a lag in receiving organs for his own transplant surgeries, according to IEEE Spectrum. "I frequently encounter situations where there's simply no way to get an organ to me fast enough to do a transplant, and then those life-saving organs do not get transplanted into my patient," Dr. Scalea told IEEE Spectrum. "And thats frustrating, so I wanted to develop a better system for doing that." Dr. Scalea formed a group of researchers that included associates from the University of Maryland's aerospace engineering program. The team decided a DJI M600 Pro drone would best fit the experiment due the positions of its six motors and rotors. The research team wanted the heating elements of the motors and rotors far away from the smart cooler, keeping the organ safe. The research team also used a specialized wireless biosensor, the Human Organ Monitoring and Quality Assurance Apparatus for Long-Distance Travel, called Homal for short, to monitor temperature, barometric pressure, altitude, vibration and GPS location. For the experiment, the research team used a donated kidney that was not healthy enough for transplantation. For the drone's first test, the drone stayed in the air a little more than an hour over the course of 14 flight missions. The farthest the drone traveled was 2,415 meters, or about 1.5 miles, which is similar to the distance of shipment routes for donated organs between inner-city hospitals. "I think that what we did here is very cool, very exciting," Dr. Scalea told IEEE Spectrum. "This is the first step among a series that I think will get patients closer to their life-saving organs quicker, and with better outcomes." Click here to read the results published in IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Paramedics turn abandoned garage into makeshift hospital amid California Camp Fire New Jersey Wanaque center separates healthy, adenovirus patients ECRI opens access to clinical practice guidelines after National Guideline Clearinghouse defunded The Haskell, N.J.-based Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation completed a state-mandated patient separation Nov. 20, according to NJTV News. The Wanaque Center facility provides medical care to medically fragile residents. The facility has separated the patients infected with adenovirus from the other patients. Patients were tested and grouped based on the results and the symptoms identified. The New Jersey Department of Health confirmed the separation was completed before the state-set deadline of Nov. 21. The facility has seen a decrease in patients since the outbreak and has the space to separate its patient population. The state health department required the center to hire a certified infection control practitioner and a physician or physician practice with a certification in infectious diseases. So far 34 children have been infected with adenovirus and 11 children have died since the outbreak started in September. More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: ECRI opens access to clinical practice guidelines after National Guideline Clearinghouse defunded Congo's violence allows Ebola to spread, WHO director says Veterans' groups demand nursing home changes after 2 nurses found sleeping on job To bolster its offerings in interventional medicine, Boston Scientific agreed to purchase British device and pharma firm BTG PLC. for $4.24 billion in cash, according to The Wall Street Journal. BTG is a leader in interventional medicine treatments, which include inserting tiny devices into the body using minimally invasive surgery to treat diseases. BTG's interventional medicine portfolio will boost Boston Scientific's offerings in areas like cancer and pulmonary embolism. While Boston Scientific expressed excitement about the interventional medicine treatments, it said it's still considering what to do with BTG's pharmaceutical business, which focuses on antidote products. Boston Scientific has a market value of nearly $50 billion and has made nearly 20 acquisitions in the last five years. BTG, during the first six months ended Sept. 30, reported sales of $495.7 million. Read the full report here. The former headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment in Ballymena could soon be transformed into a multi-million pound science park on the back of the Belfast Region City Deal. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said 26m has been identified for the St Patrick's Barracks project, which it says "would create the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs". The barracks was closed in 2007 after being deemed surplus to Ministry of Defence requirements. The site, spanning 15 hectares, was gifted to the Northern Ireland Executive in 2011 and in turn handed over to the Department for Communities in 2015. All but two of the buildings on the expansive site were razed earlier this year. Part of the site is set to be turned into a new mixed use housing scheme, which would include 150 social and affordable residential units. The council now believes that the 1bn Region City Deal will now unlock a large portion of the site's potential with the creation of the Industrial Inspiration and Innovation Campus (i4C). The site is located close to Ballymena's town centre. TUV Mid and East Antrim councillor Timothy Gaston said: "The plans for St Patrick's are really ambitious and would breathe much-needed new life into our town in the wake of the significant job losses from Michelin and JTI in recent years." Last month Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed a 350m Treasury commitment towards the 1bn pot. Although 100m short of the 450m that the six eastern councils had asked for, it's thought that Stormont could at least match the sum, with a combination of local authorities, universities and the private sector helping keep the 1bn plan on track. If realised, the full investment figure for Mid and East Antrim from the region deal would be around 80m, with The Gobbins, Carrickfergus Castle and St Patrick's Barracks site benefiting. DUP councillor Audrey Wales said: "We are doing everything within our power to create a vibrant business and economic culture in Ballymena and across Mid and East Antrim. "Belfast Region City Deal is a once in a generation opportunity to really drive our new industry sectors, including digital, tourism, financial and business services, and I am hugely excited by the plans for a manufacturing and skills hub at St Patrick's." Lidl is the supermarket with the fastest growing sales in Northern Ireland over the last year, according to research. Kantar Worldpanel's Northern Ireland Consumer Spend data revealed that over the 52 weeks to November 2, the German retailer's sales grew by 8.5% and the number of customers jumped by 9,000 over the same period. And while it holds a market share of 5.8% and is in fourth place, with Tesco's 35.2% at number one, it is still the best performer for sales growth of the top four grocery retailers here. Tesco, which has around 50 stores in the province, saw its sales increase by 1.7%. This was at a slower rate than the increase it has experienced over previous periods, although nine out of 10 shoppers here are going to Tesco. Meanwhile, Asda fell behind Sainsbury's on the leader board. Asda, which has 17 NI stores, saw its sales grow by 0.1%, while Sainsbury's sales rose by 2.1%. Asda and Sainsbury's hold 17.1% and 17.4% of the take home grocery market respectively and have plans to merge their businesses. Douglas Faughnan, consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel, said: "Overall grocery sales in Northern Ireland increased by 1.4% over the 52 weeks to November 4, 2018. "On average, Northern Irish shoppers have spent an additional 34.80 throughout the year and this can largely be attributed to higher prices. "Although Tesco's growth was slower than in the preceding period, sales are 1.7% higher than this time last year, helping the grocer to retain an overall 35.2% share of the market. "More than nine out of 10 Northern Irish households shopped at Tesco in the last 12 months. "Sainsbury's increased sales by 2.1%, widening the gap over rival Asda. "The supermarket attracted an additional 18,000 shoppers through its doors and now accounts for 17.4% of grocery sales in Northern Ireland, ahead of Asda's 17.1%. "For the second consecutive period, Lidl recorded growth of 8.5% and was the only other retailer to increase shopper numbers. More than 9,000 additional customers visited Lidl over the course of the year, helping the retailer capture 5.8% of the market." Meanwhile, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is continuing its investigation of Asda and Sainsbury's merger plans. This week, letters of objection to the merger, which is valued at around 12bn, expressed concern that the sector would become a duopoly between Tesco and the newly merged entity, if the deal goes ahead. 'Supplier B' said in a letter that "regardless of how the market is viewed, at the very least the proposed merger has the potential to create a duopoly between Tesco and the parties (Sainsbury's and Asda). "This could facilitate collusion between Tesco and the parties, ultimately harming consumers." More of Northern Ireland's biggest employers have spoken out in favour of Prime Minister Theresa May's draft Brexit deal, saying a no-deal scenario must be avoided. But Irwin Armstrong of medical testing firm Ciga Healthcare - who is one of the local business world's most outspoken voices in favour of Brexit - pronounced the deal "dead". Just days after Beannchor boss Bill Wolsey urged his contemporaries to find their voice in the wake of the opposition to the draft EU withdrawal agreement in London, more major business figures in Northern Ireland appear to have responded. Among the companies backing the deal yesterday were W&R Barnett, Brett Martin and Bombardier, who between them employ around 6,000 people here. Also speaking yesterday, Argento chief executive Pete Boyle, who owns 50 jewellery stores in the UK, said the draft text was "the best of a bad lot", adding: "No deal is not an option." The Strabane native also voiced his frustration at Sinn Fein. He said: "They have seven votes in Parliament and they're not using them. "It's very easy for nationalists and republicans to sit and blame the DUP for this mess, but Sinn Fein cannot wash their hands of this." Irwin Armstrong was one of the few business figures to voice opposition to the draft withdrawal agreement yesterday, describing it as "dead". He said he feared the deal would hinder Northern Ireland's ability to strike overseas trade deals. One of the biggest pro-Brexit figures in the world of Northern Ireland business has been Wrightbus co-founder William Wright. Yesterday, the Wrights Group said no one was available to comment on the draft agreement. The Ballymena bus manufacturer was not the only firm remaining tight-lipped. However, others spoke to back the position taken up by bodies representing the business and farming communities here. William Barnett, who heads the W&R Barnett Group, one of Northern Ireland's largest agriculture and commodity groups, said: "Our view is that the proposed deal is much better than the no deal option, and its guarantee of full access to both EU and GB markets for Northern Ireland could lead to substantial jobs growth here." Brett Martin director Brian Martin, which employs almost 1,000 people, told Business Telegraph that the firm "welcomes any deal that ensures tariff-free, seamless and unrestricted access to all our markets". Meanwhile, Bombardier has said it will back a deal "that provides assurances for frictionless trade". The company said: "The draft withdrawal agreement proposed by the Government forms a basis for this and is an important step forward. "We will continue to work closely with the Government and industry associations in both our rail and aerospace businesses through this process." Crossgar-based independent wine merchant James Nicholson, who voted for Brexit, was scathing of Northern Ireland's political leaders yesterday, branding them "economic terrorists". "The farming and the business community want to get on with this deal," he said. "I was a Brexit supporter, whether I'm as big a Brexit supporter now having been through the pain of watching the negotiations is questionable." The City saw a slump in the FTSE 100 on Tuesday (PA) Markets were lower on Tuesday as concerns about Britains departure from the European Union, Italys budget woes and the US-China trade relations weighed on investors. The pound continued to weaken on Brexit uncertainty. Northern Irelands Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which have been propping up the Conservatives in Parliament, refused to back the Government in a series of Commons votes on the Budget. The DUP say Mrs Mays EU withdrawal agreement reached in Brussels last week breaches a guarantee that Northern Ireland would not be treated differently from the rest of the UK. Elsewhere, Bank of England governor Mark Carney has backed Theresa Mays EU withdrawal plans and warned a no-deal Brexit would be the worst outcome. Sterling was down 0.3% against the US dollar at 1.281, but up 0.3% versus the euro to 1.125. Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 index fell 52.97 points, or 0.76%, to close at 6,947.92. David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets, said investment sentiment has been slipping recently as worries about Italy, Brexit and US-China trade relationship have prompted traders to become risk-adverse. Today, we are seeing a wide-range sell-off as global sentiment has taken another turn for the worst. In Europe, the French Cac was down 1.2% while the German Dax dropped 1.6%. In corporate news, lender CYBG swung to a full-year loss after it was forced to take an extra 150 million charge linked to the mis-selling of payment protection insurance. The group, which owns the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks, booked a 164 million pre-tax loss in the year to September 30, compared with a 268 million profit in 2017. EasyJet shrugged off strike woes and surging costs to notch up a 41% jump in annual profits. The budget carrier reported pre-tax profits of 578 million for the year to September 30, up significantly on the 408 million seen the previous year. Global catering giant Compass backed Theresa Mays Brexit deal as being better than no deal as it revealed plans to begin stockpiling food if the UK looks on course to crash out of the EU. The group, which is the worlds biggest catering firm, warned in its full-year results over the risks of a no-deal Brexit to its food supply and workforce. Ei Group, the UKs largest owner and operator of pubs, is preparing for a potential sale of its commercial property portfolio, in a deal which could be worth more than 400 million. A barrel of Brent crude was down 0.6% at 63.31 US dollars (49.44) following concerns about supply. Mr Madden said: US stockpiles are rising, the global economy is slowing, and there is a perception that future demand will be weak. To add to the mix, production from Libya has soared, and there is talk that production could be ramped up even further. The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Compass Group up 85.50p to 1,673p, Just Eat up 16.60p to 550.40p, Halma up 39p at 1,350p and 3i Group up 23p at 832.6p. The biggest fallers on the blue-chip index were Evraz down 33.20p to 515.2p, EasyJet down 64.50p to 1,110.5p, Ashtead down 89.50p to 1,708.5p and GVC down 33.50p to 746.5p. The flu season is just around the corner and, with cases of the virus already starting to appear, now is the best time to get yourself protected. Flu is a nasty and potentially dangerous infection and its impact is often underestimated. Public Health England (PHE) says around 15,000 people died from flu-related causes in the UK last year, including complications such as pneumonia arising from an initial flu infection. Most - although not all - of those who become seriously ill are in at-risk groups which are offered free vaccinations on the NHS. And while the peak flu season doesn't usually begin until December, now is the best time to get vaccinated, as it takes between 10-14 days for the immune system to respond fully afterwards. The NHS says that, while the optimum time to have a flu vaccine is from the beginning of October to the end of November, if you have the vaccine later, it will still offer some protection. And, contrary to some media reports, the NHS insists there's no shortage of the vaccine, while supplier Seqirus says any remaining phased vaccine deliveries to GPs and pharmacies will have been completed by the end of this week. The at-risk groups offered free vaccinations are adults aged 65 and over, people with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease and children in at-risk groups from six months of age, pregnant women, children aged two to nine years old, and carers of elderly and disabled people. They also include anyone living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility. Each year, the viruses most likely to cause flu are identified and the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends which type of strains to include in the vaccine. This season there are three types of flu vaccine available, depending on your age and risk level. PHE head of flu Dr Richard Pebody says: "Flu can be extremely serious and can kill the most vulnerable. Vaccination is by far the best defence we have. Anyone at increased risk from the effects of flu is offered the vaccine for free - speak to a GP or pharmacist, or look out for an invitation from your child's school, to get yourself or your loved ones protected this winter. "To help prevent the spread of flu, practice good hand hygiene. Catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue, throw the tissue away and wash your hands." And here are 10 things you should know about flu: 1. When someone with flu coughs or sneezes, expelled droplets can infect people up to 6ft away. 2. In the UK, the annual flu season runs from about October to March or April, although most cases occur between December and February. 3. Flu leads to hundreds of thousands of GP visits and tens of thousands of hospital stays a year. But, if you're otherwise healthy, the virus will usually clear up on its own within a week. 4. The flu virus is extremely variable and changes over time. Each year there are different strains around and a new vaccine has to be prepared to deal with them. Vaccination from previous years isn't likely to protect people against current strains of flu. 5. Oxford University's Vaccine Knowledge Project says there are three basic types of flu: A, B and C. Type A is the most dangerous and can cause serious disease and trigger worldwide pandemics. Type B can make you feel very ill, but has never led to a pandemic, and Type C causes mild disease. 6. Typically, effectiveness of the flu vaccine is in the range of 30-60% and the NHS stresses that having a flu vaccination won't stop all flu viruses. The level of protection may vary, so it's not a 100% guarantee that you'll be flu-free. However, if you do get flu after vaccination, it's likely to be milder and shorter-lived than it would otherwise have been. 7. Side-effects of the nasal vaccine may include a runny or blocked nose, headache, tiredness and loss of appetite. The injected vaccine may have side-effects including a sore arm at the site of the injection, a low-grade fever and aching muscles for a day or two after the vaccination. Serious side-effects with either the nasal spray or jab are extremely rare. 8. Last year, only 68.7% of front line NHS staff took up the free flu vaccination. This autumn, NHS Employers has rolled out its Flu Fighter campaign for the third consecutive year, aiming to encourage more health workers to have the jab. 9. The European Commission estimates more deaths are caused by flu than by car accidents across the continent each year. Yet, around 100 million people recommended for the flu jab annually don't take it up despite recommendations from the World Health Organisation. 10. Research from the Universities of Lincoln and Nottingham suggests the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of having a stroke by about a quarter. TUV leader Jim Allister has written to the Attorney General in London urging him to break his silence on what he believes is the most important issue at the heart of the backstop. Mr Allister said that in all the 500-plus pages of the withdrawal agreement, the most critical and constitutionally destructive clause in EU withdrawal agreement is Article 15 of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. In that clause the UK agrees to allow part of its territory, namely Northern Ireland, to remain in the customs territory of the EU. Only Northern Ireland will legally be defined as part of the customs territory of the European Union. The North Antrim MLA believes this is of immense constitutional significance, in that it transfers a part of the UK into the customs territory of another in circumstances where it cannot escape without the consent of that other, namely the EU. He said: "Moreover, and in consequence, the EU Customs Code (UCC) will apply to Northern Ireland, but not to Great Britain. So, EU customs legislation - over which we would have no say - would apply only to Northern Ireland. EU tariffs and laws would be our lot, along with exclusion from any UK trade deals with other countries." In his letter to Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, Mr Allister wrote: "It seems to me that this, when read with its supplementary references, means that this leaves Northern Ireland, uniquely as a part of the UK, part of the customs territory of the EU. "Whereas, all of the UK, until otherwise agreed, will be part of 'a single customs territory', only Northern Ireland will legally be defined as part of the customs territory of the EU. Is that correct? "Surely, this is of immense constitutional significance, in that it conveys a part of the United Kingdom into the customs territory of another in circumstances where it cannot escape without the consent of that other, namely the EU." Northern Ireland's economy stands "on the brink of chaos" if MPs vote against accepting Theresa May's draft Brexit withdrawal agreement, the Secretary of State has warned. Karen Bradley gave a keynote speech to business groups in Belfast yesterday. In her speech, made on the 20th anniversary of the Northern Ireland Act which brought a power-sharing government to Stormont, the Secretary of State told the audience that the Prime Minister's Brexit deal "preserves the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom, upholds the Belfast Agreement. It also ensures people and businesses that rely on an open border between Northern Ireland and Ireland can continue living their lives and operating as they do now". The event was attended by members of the CBI, the NI Chamber of Commerce, The Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors. Ms Bradley issued a rallying call for continued business support for the deal on the table. "I hope business continues speaking up and speaking out on the benefit it brings to Northern Ireland in the coming crucial days and weeks ahead," she said. "Business input has been thoughtful, constructive and sometimes challenging, but contributions made over the past two-and-a-half years have helped bring us to this point." She added: "The country now faces a choice between this deal, the only workable deal that fulfils the will of the referendum, or going back to square one on Brexit. "This deal will deliver in full on the result of the referendum. It will see the UK take back control of our borders, our laws and our money. "And it is a deal that will see us uphold in full our commitments to the people and businesses of Northern Ireland: protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its parts, including the principle of consent, citizenship rights and human rights provisions; avoiding a hard border and preserving North-South co-operation and funding; preserving the Common Travel Area and reciprocal rights for UK and Irish nationals; and, of course, maintaining the constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom. "This deal does not open the door to divergence. "It is fundamentally in the national interest, which means we can look ahead to a close and productive future relationship with the EU. "Reject this then you are rejecting any deal with the EU." She also made it made clear that a no-deal Brexit will deliver customs and regulatory checks on the island of Ireland. She stressed that while the UK Government is committed to working to avoid a hard border, World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules are "very clear". She added: "We will do, as the UK Government, everything we can to avoid there being a hard border on the island of Ireland. "We do not want to see there being physical infrastructure at the border and we will try to facilitate that in any way we can. "But the WTO rules are clear - tariffs will apply, checks will be required - that is what the WTO says." Business leaders also took the opportunity to reiterate their stance that a no-deal Brexit would be catastrophic for the economy here. Trevor Lockhart, CBI chairman for Northern Ireland told the Belfast Telegraph: "Our message from the outset has been that we want opinions to be formed on the economic evidence. "Follow the facts and they only lead to the conclusion that no deal would be a disaster for Northern Ireland. "The business community understands that political parties will reflect on their political priorities. "But they should not attempt to justify their respective political positions with flawed economic arguments. "Northern Ireland business is together on this like never before. "Companies could not cope with a no-deal Brexit, that would be a risk to jobs, investments and living standards. "The withdrawal agreement may not be perfect, but it is progress and should be supported until the new trade relationship is in place." CBI director Angela McGowan said there is broad support from her organisation for the agreement, though there are some aspects it hopes "will be ironed out". "This opens the path for the UK Government to start moving on to that frictionless trade deal that we hope to get with the EU and that the backstop isn't even needed," she said. Sammy Wilson accused "Brit-bashing" Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of harming good relations he helped forge between the Belfast and Dublin administrations while he was a minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. The East Antrim MP made the comments on Sky News the morning after his party voted against Theresa May's government on its finance bill. He said the move did not cause financial harm but rather sent a political warning shot to the Prime Minister. He argued the move strengthened the hand of the Prime Minister in getting a better agreement with the EU when she returned to Brussels. It was put to him that part of the party's rejection of the draft withdrawal text was in part down to its dislike for the Good Friday Agreement and how it gave Dublin some say over the affairs of Northern Ireland. In 1998 the DUP was an anti-agreement party and vigorously opposed it. Read More Mr Wilson said the party's objections had nothing to do with the agreement. He said EU negotiators had instead used it as a way to extract concessions over the course of the talks. "I worked in the Northern Ireland Assembly as finance minister and as environment minister for six years, working with Dublin administrations and working well with Dublin administrations and setting up good relationships," he said. "And all of that good work has been undone by the Brit-bashing Taoiseach that we have now in the Republic." .@adamboultonSKY pushes Sammy Wilson on why the DUP are not supporting @theresa_may's #Brexit agreement and whether they would back a vote of no confidence in the government. Follow the latest on the #Brexit fallout here: https://t.co/85PHg1hy2M pic.twitter.com/53QV7nueHp Sky News Politics (@SkyNewsPolitics) November 20, 2018 .@adamboultonSKY pushes Sammy Wilson on why the DUP are not supporting @theresa_may's #Brexit agreement and whether they would back a vote of no confidence in the government. Follow the latest on the #Brexit fallout here: https://t.co/85PHg1hy2M pic.twitter.com/53QV7nueHp Sky News Politics (@SkyNewsPolitics) November 20, 2018 '@theresa_may has torn up the promises she made to Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole.' DUP's Sammy Wilson says the confidence and supply pact with the Conservatives is not over - but they've sent a "warning shot" to the PM. More on #Brexit here: https://t.co/85PHg1hy2M pic.twitter.com/BthHo3Rnga Sky News Politics (@SkyNewsPolitics) November 20, 2018 Writing in Tuesday's Belfast Telegraph, the Prime Minister Theresa May said the deal brokered with the EU was good for long term future of Northern Ireland and put the country in a "fantastic position for the future". She also said NI's position in the UK was "guaranteed". Read More Sammy Wilson said his party could never support the agreement. He said it was "strange" and should ring alarm bells that the Taoiseach had made it "quite clear" as well as EU talks chief Michel Barnier there would be no hard border in the eventuality of no agreement being reached. "This illustrates the point we have been making all along. The border issue is a con. If you can have no deal and no hard border then how can you argue that in any other deal there would be a hard border?" The DUP Brexit spokesman said his party was focused on getting a better Brexit withdrawal agreement with the EU than what was on offer from Theresa May. He also argued that the DUP's voting against the government strengthened Theresa May's hand in returning to Brussels to get a better deal and the confidence and supply deal with the Conservatives was still intact. He said the stakes were "far too high" for the party to be "bought off with a few baubles" from the government in order to win their support. "All of our efforts are directed - along with a large number of Conservative MPs in both the remain and leave camps and as well as opposition parties - to defeat this deal," he added. Throughout the Brexit process I have kept the prosperity and security of Northern Ireland, and our entire United Kingdom, at the front of my mind. The draft deal published last week protects jobs and businesses, keeps us safe, and preserves the integrity of our Union, whilst respecting the result of the referendum. This is a decisive step in the process of leaving the EU. Negotiators from both sides are now working tirelessly to fill in the detail of our long term future relationship with the EU before I meet the leaders of the other 27 countries in Brussels on Sunday to finalise the deal. Read More The challenge of Brexit has always been to continue our deep trading links and security cooperation with the EU in our new relationship, whilst freeing us to take advantage of the opportunities, such as an independent trade policy. This deal strikes that balance, and puts Northern Ireland in a fantastic position for the future. Northern Ireland's constitutional status as part of the United Kingdom is guaranteed, with the Belfast Agreement and the consent principle enshrined in this deal. Read More When it comes to the economy, as business leaders in Northern Ireland from the CBI, FSB, IoD and Chamber of Commerce have recognised, the Withdrawal Agreement will provide the clarity and certainty that business needs. It ensures they will have time to adjust to our new relationship, avoids a cliff edge, and therefore protects jobs and investment. As the Ulster Farmers Union have made clear, a No Deal would be especially challenging for Northern Ireland. Although it has been right to prepare for all eventualities, with this deal we have made a critical step towards avoiding this outcome. Read More The Chief Constable of the PSNI has demonstrated why there is nowhere where our policing and security cooperation with the EU is more important than in Northern Ireland. It is vital that we are able to share information and work together as we do now. The UK remains committed to helping to keep our continent safe, but we need to establish the appropriate systems and mechanisms to make that possible. I welcome the progress we have made on data exchange and extradition but we need to go further. This is one of the most crucial elements of our discussions with the EU this week. Under this deal the future is certainly bright for Northern Ireland. It will be a gateway to both the EU market and the rest of the UK's market. With a business-friendly regulatory regime, and strong representation in Westminster, it will remain an attractive place to live, invest and do business. Read More The referendum was won on three main issues: borders, laws and money. This deal will deliver on all three. It makes clear that freedom of movement is coming to an end and that the UK is free to develop a sovereign immigration system that works for every part of our country. This includes retaining the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland, and ensuring that we have access to the international talent that our economy needs. In taking back control of our laws we will make sure that we respect the devolution settlements and, in the relevant areas, pass that control to the devolved administrations. Further reason, if it were needed, why it is vital that the parties in Northern Ireland work together to reconvene the Assembly and the Executive. Read More And this deal confirms that the days of handing over vast sums of money to the EU each year are over. We have agreed a fair settlement on our obligations and rights as a departing member, and so in future we will instead be able to invest in priorities such as health and other public services. Finally, there has been a lot of focus on the so-called backstop to this agreement that ensures that there can never be a return to the borders of the past in the event that we have not entered into our future relationship by 2021. Although it is important to restate that both sides agree that we never want to use it, and will both be legally bound to use our best endeavours to reach agreement on the future in good time, I understand and share some of the concerns that have been expressed. I believe the following three points make this an acceptable insurance policy: first, there is the opportunity to extend the Implementation Period instead of entering the backstop; second, the Government will keep regulations consistent across the whole of the UK in order to minimise any checks or controls and ensure no divergence between Northern Ireland and Great Britain; and third, this is expressly temporary, with a mechanism by which it can be terminated. And of course, in this situation, Northern Ireland would benefit from frictionless access to both the EU and the rest of the UK markets. I recognise that the referendum caused division in our country, sometimes even between friends and families, but I firmly believe that progress over the next few weeks can mark the beginning of the healing process to bring communities and our country back together. As Prime Minister, I am determined to do my job and deliver the best deal possible. It will then be time for MPs to do their job and to choose: move forward with this deal in the national interest, or go back to square one with all the chaos that would entail. Northern Ireland will thrive under the proposed Brexit deal, and its position as part of the UK "is guaranteed", the Prime Minister has said. Writing exclusively for the Belfast Telegraph today, Theresa May also argues that under her plans for leaving the EU "the future is certainly bright for Northern Ireland". Read More In her article, Mrs May said her agreement with Brussels "puts Northern Ireland in a fantastic position for the future". She also reassured unionists that "Northern Ireland's constitutional status as part of the United Kingdom is guaranteed". Mrs May added: "Under this deal the future is certainly bright for Northern Ireland. It will be a gateway to both the EU market and the rest of the UK's market." On the controversial backstop - the trading system that would operate on the island in the absence of a broader UK/EU deal - Mrs May said three things made it "an acceptable insurance policy". She said the transition period could be extended instead of entering the backstop; regulations would be the same across all of the UK, and Northern Ireland would not be treated differently; and it would only be a temporary measure if used. "And of course, in this situation, Northern Ireland would benefit from frictionless access to both the EU and the rest of the UK markets," she added. But last night the rift between Mrs May and her DUP partners in the House of Commons widened. Eight DUP MPs sent a shot across Conservative bows by voting in support of a Labour amendment to the Finance Bill - reducing the Government's majority to just five. As well as voting with Labour on one amendment, DUP MPs also did not vote on three others. The DUP is supposed to back the Government on Budget matters and on confidence votes. Expand Close Iain Duncan Smith, Lord Peter Lilley and David Trimble leave Number 10 last night AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Iain Duncan Smith, Lord Peter Lilley and David Trimble leave Number 10 last night While Sammy Wilson MP later insisted it did not mean the end of the DUP's deal with the Tories, he told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight: "Since the Government has not honoured its side of the bargain we tonight tried to spell out some of the consequences of that being broken." Earlier, Arlene Foster claimed the backstop is not needed to maintain a free flowing Irish border, as the Republic would never consider a hard border The DUP leader was speaking after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was "not contemplating" a hard border in the event of a no-deal Brexit. She said this represented evidence that it was "only ever a negotiating tactic by the European Union". Although Mr Varadkar said on Sunday he was not contemplating a hard border in the event of a crash Brexit, on Friday he said one would be "very difficult to avoid" in a No Deal scenario. Mrs Foster said: "We have been told that the backstop is only necessary to prevent such a hard border, but these comments make it clear that the EU's insistence on a backstop was not aimed at this. The European Union's focus on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic has only ever been a negotiating tactic to secure its own aims in the negotiations. "The Withdrawal Agreement was based on the false choice that an internal UK border was the only way to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic." Meanwhile, David Trimble was part of a Brexiteer group who met Mrs May yesterday in a bid to get the deal renegotiated. The 'gang of four' - who are believed to have urged Mrs May to back a high-tech solution to keeping the Irish border open - were led by former party leader Iain Duncan Smith, and included Lord Lilley and MP Owen Paterson. But moves by Tory Brexiteers to unseat Mrs May appear to have stalled. Last week they were confidently predicting they would get the 48 letters of no confidence needed to trigger a vote in her leadership. But so far, there is no sign they have anything close to that, while the number who have publicly declared they submitted letters remains in the low 20s. Earlier, Ulster Farmers' Union president Ivor Ferguson said leaving the EU without a deal has "consistently been found to be the worst of all possible options" by his organisation. He said a No Deal Brexit would have "a devastating impact on farmers in Northern Ireland". "While the Withdrawal Agreement is not perfect and we need clarification on some areas, the majority of farmers want to see the process move on," he said. "Without a Withdrawal Agreement, this process can't even begin and on March 30 we crash out of the EU with no deal. "This puts family-run farm businesses at risk." A man allegedly beat his wife after she claimed he was not the father of their baby, the High Court heard on Tuesday. Police found her injured and holding the child after being called to the family home in Co Tyrone, prosecutors said. Bernard McDonagh, 22, of Mourne Walk in Newtownstewart, faces charges of common assault, resisting police and criminal damage to a PSNI van over the incident on November 13. A Crown lawyer said officers went to the scene late at night following a series of 999 calls made by McDonagh. They encountered the alleged victim crying outside in the cold, with a bump on her head and scratch marks on her neck. The prosecutor said: "She told police he (McDonagh) had beaten her over the baby, while she was holding the baby." The defendant was allegedly seen shouting, screaming and holding an empty beer bottle. Crown counsel said: "He told police he had been in the living room with his wife... when she unexpectedly announced their baby daughter of three months was not his." McDonagh denied hitting her but claimed he phoned police to prevent anything happening between the couple. The prosecutor opposed bail due to the potential risk of further offences. She said: "It's believed he may make contact with her regarding this matter to see if it's true, there's some discussion that she said it and didn't mean it." Martin McCann, defending, said his client did not dispute having an argument with his wife. "If what we are asked to accept regarding his fatherhood is true, unfortunately it's likely to have provoked an angry response," he said. "But it wasn't a situation where he then set upon his wife and thrashed her in some way." The court was told the alleged victim may have left Northern Ireland to go to family in Dublin. Adjourning McDonagh's application for bail, Mr Justice McAlinden said he wanted further inquiries to be made before making a decision. He added: "The court is very mindful of sending out the correct message in relation to offences of domestic violence." A man allegedly attacked four police officers after being woken at a house in Belfast, the High Court has heard. A man allegedly attacked four police officers after being woken at a house in Belfast, the High Court has heard. Prosecutors claimed Henry Hayes head-butted, punched and kicked constables in the face during checks on his whereabouts. CS spray had to be deployed to bring the 25-year-old under control during the incident on October 21, a judge was told on Tuesday. But defence counsel argued Hayes was himself beaten so badly that his dentures were knocked out. Adjourning the bail application, Mr Justice McAlinden requested mobile phone footage of the incident said to have been recorded by the accused's sister. Hayes, of no fixed address, is charged with four counts of assault on police, criminal damage, resisting police, and two common assaults. A Crown lawyer said officers went to the home of Haye's sister, at an undisclosed address, after being notified about a suspected breach of a previously imposed curfew. He allegedly woke from the sofa, jumped up and punched an officer on the head before spitting in his face. Amid attempts to put him in handcuffs he head-butted and kicked two constables, according to the prosecution. She said one officer received blows to the head and chest. Hayes then allegedly kicked the window of a police car so hard that armour-plated glass cracked. Limb restraints were put on him before a decision was taken to use CS spray. It was claimed the violence continued en route to Musgrave PSNI Station, kicking one constable several times in the face. Joe Brolly, defending, told an alternative version of events where his client sustained multiple injuries. "When my solicitor arrived at the custody suite Mr Hayes had multiple injuries," the barrister said. "He described him as having been badly beaten, his dentures had been knocked out." According to Mr Brolly the accused has learning difficulties and is regarded as illiterate. "He's a vulnerable young man," he said. "He was sprayed in the face with CS spray, that's why he was spitting." Counsel added that Hayes accepted "lashing out", but only because of the way he was allegedly dragged from the sofa. The court heard claims that his sister recorded events at the house before her phone was taken. Putting the bail hearing on hold, the judge requested records and reports connected to the Hayes' arrest. He added: "I would expect the phone to be available." Only 11.9% of urgent breast cancer referrals were seen within two weeks during September at one of Northern Ireland's health trusts. New figures have revealed that the longest wait endured by a patient with an urgent referral in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust was 44 days. Compared to April this year, when 100% of urgent referrals within the trust area were seen within 14 days, the situation in the five months since has collapsed. Initially it fell to 84% in May, slumping to just 59% by July and then collapsing by 40% in just one month to 19% in August. Northern Ireland's six healthcare trusts aim to have 100% of urgent breast cancer referrals seen within 14 days. Ulster Unionist health spokesperson Roy Beggs said it is "totally unfair" for patients who think they may have cancer to wait so long. He said: "I have been told that the cause of the deterioration has been a gap between capacity and patient demand and, even though the trust has been undertaking some additional activity, because of a shortage of staff and others on annual leave, the situation worsened and a backlog of patients accumulated as a result." Meanwhile, chief executive of Action Cancer Gareth Kirk said the latest figures are disappointing and concerning. He added: "Unfortunately the long-term trend is one of increasing waiting times across all trust areas. Clearly urgent action involving all stakeholders is required to address this issue. "We are, however, pleased to note that both the Northern Trust and the HSCB are urgently attempting to address what is currently an appalling situation for all women concerned." The Northern Trust said that from the end of October, 100% of patients were being seen within 14 days of receiving referrals. A spokesperson explained that the normal 14-day referral period came back into force after it secured additional "in-house assessment clinics" in a neighbouring trust and in Antrim. Over the summer, the trust added there was a "high level" of demand for breast assessment services, which had resulted in a longer wait for some of its patients. Irelands deputy premier has said the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement is not open for renegotiation. Simon Coveney said it should no longer be considered a draft and that instead it should be seen as the only agreement. Mr Coveney told parliament in Dublin that it was not going to be re-opened. This is a text that has been agreed between the negotiations teams, it has been agreed by the British government. So to that extent, it is not a draft text, it now the text, and it is not going to be reopened, he said. Mr Coveney said the text should not be changed at this stage because it had taken two years to put together. Its sensitive, its difficult. Its a compromise on both sides, by the UK and the EU, trying to accommodate each others concerns. Its a balanced text that I believe is good for the United Kingdom as a whole and protects against core Irish concerns. Mr Coveney added that the only document that would be changing was the political declaration around the future relationship. It is expected to be a 20-page document when the wording is finalised in the coming days. Theresa May is scheduled to travel to Brussels on Wednesday to meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Junker ahead of a special EU Brexit summit on Sunday. This deal ends free movement, and protects jobs, security and our union. It brings back control of our money, laws and borders. It delivers on the vote of the referendum. pic.twitter.com/41falQEgPM Theresa May (@theresa_may) November 17, 2018 Mr Coveney said he expected the final wording of the declaration on the future relationship would be one of the topics discussed in the meeting. The Tanaiste warned parliamentarians that there was still a long process ahead. He said even if the withdrawal agreement was supported by EU leaders on Sunday and subsequently supported in the House of Commons, negotiators still had the future relationship to negotiate and it could take at least two or three years to complete. This is a process where Ireland will continue to have to be vigilant to mitigate against unintended consequences of the fallout of Brexit, he said. Mr Coveney told the Dail he believed that a lot of people had been far too quick to jump to conclusions and assume the worst that the agreement will not be passed in the UK parliament. We should spend the next few weeks explaining to people and reassuring people as to what is in the deal, he said. It is a good deal in Ireland and it is a good deal for the UK and its a good deal for the EU. Good meeting today with @MichelBarnier + @HMcEntee . Strong consensus across EU 27 that Withdrawal Agreement represents a balanced+fair compromise between UK+EU interests. Negotiators now trying to finalise a positive Political Declaration on Future Relationship. pic.twitter.com/pB5VFIYZuG Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) November 19, 2018 He added: Instead of focusing on contingency after a failed vote in the House of Commons, I think we should be talking about how we talk this up to maximise the chances of it getting support in the House of Commons, which is what the Prime Minister is doing. Mr Coveney was responding to questions from Fianna Fails Brexit spokeswoman Lisa Chambers. She said the Government had accused the party in the past of playing politics with Brexit, but she said they had put on the green jersey and been advocating for the least damaging outcome possible for the island of Ireland. Mairia Cahill has said her meeting with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald about her treatment by the party in recent years was potentially a waste of time for both women. Ms Cahill, a great-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, says she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by alleged IRA member Martin Morris. Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was acquitted of rape when the case against him collapsed. Ms Cahill alleges that the republican movements response to her claims was to subject her to an IRA interrogation. She also accused Sinn Fein of engaging in a cover up and waging a campaign to question her integrity since she waived her right to anonymity. An Ombudsman report revealed the PSNIs view of the investigation including that it did not expect cooperation from Sinn Fein members during the police interviews, something the party always denied. Speaking after the meeting with Ms McDonald at Leinster House, Ms Cahill said she had even lower expectations for the party than ever; if thats humanly possible. I dont feel like I have been treated with the respect I should have been afforded as a sexual abuse victim, she said. Expand Close Mairia Cahill outside Buswells Hotel in Dublin after her meeting with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Liam McBurney/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mairia Cahill outside Buswells Hotel in Dublin after her meeting with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Liam McBurney/PA) She [Ms McDonald] has asserted that she cant admit there was an IRA investigation, so she said that she believed I was abused based on the strength of that there were three alleged victims that came forward. I asserted that if she believed that I was abused on the basis of other victims, she should also believe there was an IRA investigation as I was not the only person who said there was, but she didnt have an answer for that. I feel I have been treated despicably by the Sinn Fein party, people who are now in prominent positions in Sinn Fein. Mary Lou McDonald says she hasnt spoken to them about this which I find incredible, she didnt seem to be across my case and for someone in a leadership position thats flabbergasting. I dont want to be unkind to her, she retracted a statement where she said I had slurred the party. She said she felt sad that this happened, but sad is an understatement for me, I live with this every day, and I never thought this meeting would compensate me for what happened to me. At the very least she could have said that she believed me about what happened to me and she didnt have the decency to do that. A statement from Ms McDonald said the conversation was candid and lengthy. I reiterated my unreserved apology and deep regret that procedures for the mandatory reporting of abuse allegations were not in place at the time of Mairias disclosure, she said. I acknowledged the hurt and pain that Mairia has been through and I stressed to her that robust procedures for the handling of abuse allegations are now in place. Ms Cahill added she is still in contact with her solicitor and exploring other avenues regarding her case. Mairia Cahill has said she is "not optimistic" ahead of a meeting with Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald today. The republican chief is meeting Ms Cahill in Dublin to discuss her alleged abuse and the findings of a Police Ombudsman inquiry into how the case was handled by the PSNI. The probe revealed that Sinn Fein members "did not co-operate" fully with officers. Ms Cahill, a great-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, claimed she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by alleged IRA member Martin Morris. Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was later acquitted of rape and IRA membership when the case against him collapsed. Ms Cahill alleged she was subjected to an IRA interrogation over her claims. She has accused Sinn Fein of engaging in a cover-up. In October 2014, Ms McDonald insisted that Sinn Fein had co-operated with the police investigation into Ms Cahill's case and said it was "unfair" of Ms Cahill to "cast a slur" that the party covered up abuse. She recently "unreservedly apologised" to Ms Cahill and said she "deeply regrets" that Sinn Fein did not have mandatory reporting procedures in place at the time of Ms Cahill's ordeal. But she also said she had "no regrets" over her handling of Ms Cahill's case. Last night Ms Cahill said: "I'm never optimistic when it comes to Sinn Fein, I've been treated very badly by them. "The very baseline would be for the Sinn Fein president to take responsibility for her party's failings in relation to me, and specifically her own treatment of me since I went public. "I want Sinn Fein to admit that people who are now members of Sinn Fein were involved in a forced IRA investigation into my abuse. They need to admit that there was an IRA investigation into my abuse and that I was brought face-to-face with my abuser. And they need to apologise for their treatment of me." Ms Cahill said she thinks people were surprised by how she was previously treated by Ms McDonald. She added that it was a "huge decision for me to meet them". On Saturday, Ms Cahill will be a key speaker at the Reclaim the Night march in Belfast calling for safer streets and an end to sexual harassment and abuse. Sinn Fein confirmed the meeting was to go ahead in Leinster House. "On the back of media commentary, Mary Lou McDonald has sought a meeting with Mairia Cahill, subject to agreed logistics," it said. DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson has said his party is focused on getting a better Brexit withdrawal agreement with the EU. He also said those Northern Ireland businesses and their representatives which supported the Prime Minister's deal, were wrong. "Those people were wrong at the referendum stage and I think they are wrong now," he told the BBC. Writing in Tuesday's Belfast Telegraph, the Prime Minister Theresa May said the deal brokered with the EU was good for long term future of Northern Ireland and put the country in a "fantastic position for the future". She also said NI's position in the UK was "guaranteed". Read More The deal, however, has sparked anger with the DUP and put a strain on the party's relationship with the Tory government. "Our focus on trying to undo this damaging deal," said Sammy Wilson. "It's a deal which is going to leave long term implications for Northern Ireland both constitutionally and economically. "Therefore we want to continue to work with the current government to see if this deal can be changed." Read More The Prime Minister argues the people of Northern Ireland were at the forefront of her negotiations with the EU and the "future was bright". Mr Wilson said that was "certainly not the case" describing how one former Cabinet minister felt fighting against the deal was more important than his own career when he decided to quit the government. "There is considerable opposition within her own government, considerable concern, to the agreement," he added. Read More "The agreement leaves Northern Ireland in a position where forever we would be subject to the EU making rules about our economy which we would have no say over or no ability to amend even if they were damaging to our economy and put a border down the Irish Sea separating us from the GB market which is our biggest market. "It doesn't matter how she interprets it, that what's in black and white in the deal. And of course she is not going to say she broke her promised to the people of Northern Ireland or she broke her manifesto promises to the people of the UK. Which she has done and the reason she had so much turmoil in her own party." Read More On Monday night as the budget moved through the Commons the DUP voted against the government, with Labour and abstained in a number of divisions. "We decided last night we would have to send a message to the Prime Minister. "Prime Minister you have broken promises to us, we had an agreement and you have broken those promises. We do not feel obligated to deliver on all we promised to do for you." Read More He said it would be wrong for the party to dictate to the Conservatives who would be its leader. And hit out at the growing number of Northern Ireland businesses and their representatives who backed the Prime Minister's deal. "Don't forget many of them also predicated chaos in the economy if we voted to leave the EU. The same voices were raised and were saying the same things during the referendum campaign. They were wrong then, the economy of Northern Ireland is actually stronger now than it was in 2016, we've the lowest rate of unemployment we have ever had in 45 years and exports are increasing faster then any other part of the UK." The Justice Secretary David Gauke, however, said the DUP could be convinced to support the deal. He added: "What Northern Ireland needs is to be in a position to trade with the EU including the Republic of Ireland. Jacob Stockdale's family have spoken of their pride after the Ulster and Ireland rugby star's impressive try helped defeat the mighty All Blacks on Saturday. The Lurgan player sealed Ireland's first win against the world champions on home soil by scoring the only try for his side. Stockdale's father and grandfather were in the crowd at the Aviva Stadium as the winger scored his 12th Ireland try in 14 internationals. His second-half try proved to be decisive, and his proud father, Rev Graham Stockdale, described the "outbreak of emotion" which accompanied it. "I thought we would never top the Grand Slam match against England, because that was a very special moment, but Saturday went a notch higher," he told the BBC. "I took my dad down to the match and the two of us were sitting in the VIP seats with all the players' families around us, so there was just incredible high fives, hugging, cheering - just such an outbreak of emotion. "We never anticipated that Jacob would be able to do what he does in such a short period of time. "I suppose the key thing is being part of a pretty special team - I think the best Ireland has ever had." And his little sister Lydia, who didn't attend the match as she was on her school's Scripture Union weekend, told UTV that the "whole family is so proud of Jacob's achievement". "I sneaked out with my best friend to watch it and it was just brilliant," the Wallace High School pupil said. "It seemed like the try went in slow motion but it was amazing and seeing the celebrations at the end it was just great." Jacob is a former pupil of Wallace High School, and principal Deborah O'Hare said the entire school community was very proud of his endeavours. "To have a Wallace pupil play against the All Blacks was exciting just to begin with," she told UTV. "Then to find him kicking the way he did, running the ball down and then scoring a try, everyone's just a little bit taller and their smile is a little bit broader." Wallace High School's director of rugby, Derek Suffren, said that Stockdale "didn't excel when he was younger, but he still worked hard". "It wasn't until Lower Sixth that he made the 1st XV," he said. "He had a growth spurt that summer and when he came back he was the man mountain that he is now. "He just grew in confidence and now he's really expressing himself on the rugby pitch." Sport, Pages 40&41 Rare footage of two killer whales swimming in the Irish Sea has been captured by fishermen. The two animals - which famously featured in 1993 blockbuster Free Willy - were filmed by a crew on board a fishing vessel on Saturday. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has said it is trying to establish whether the animals are those known to be part of the Scottish West Coast Community group of killer whales. It is the second confirmed sighting of a killer whales since the end of October, when a pair were seen off the coast of Skerries travelling north. The Government told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster that the value of frozen Libyan assets had risen to 12 billion while victims of its terrorism had been unable to secure compensation (Parliament/UK). The value of frozen Libyan assets held by the UK has risen to 12 billion but they cannot be used to compensate victims of its support for Irish republican terrorism, the Government has disclosed. Restrictions on how the seized money can be handled means part of the massive fund is in negative yield, witnesses told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster. Ministers were accused by public representatives of treading water on efforts to secure reparation payments to victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA attacks while large sums languished in sealed coffers. That sounds like a Government that is prepared to tread water with no end in sightGregory Campbell Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister Alistair Burt said the North African countrys Government was primarily responsible for helping those who had suffered but British ministers were trying to facilitate progress. DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said: That sounds like a Government that is prepared to tread water with no end in sight. A previous Libyan regime armed the Provisionals with massive amounts of weaponry, extending the Northern Ireland conflict and causing enormous human suffering, the committee has said. Chairman Andrew Murrison said he was disappointed no progress appeared to have been made on securing financial help for survivors of the violence after Mr Burt faced questioning for more than an hour. We are live, questioning Minister @AlistairBurtUK on the Governments approach to supporting victims of Gadaffi-sponsored IRA terrorism. Watch live: https://t.co/idb5XnKl4L pic.twitter.com/hueu6Daxfw Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (@CommonsNIAC) November 20, 2018 Government witnesses told the committee the value of the impounded cash had risen to 12 billion but admitted parts of the fund had performed poorly because of international restrictions. Mr Campbell said the Government should admit its approach was not working. North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon said: This is a burning injustice. DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley added: Nothing is going to happen except victims are going to die. Mr Burt said there was international pressure for a resolution with the oil-rich state. Money is available for the repair of Libya and establishment of a responsible government as well as making sure it can meet its obligations of the past and the future. Expand Close The bombing of Harrods in 1983 (PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The bombing of Harrods in 1983 (PA) The committee has held lengthy hearings with victims of IRA bombings which used Libyan Semtex plastic explosive. These included Harrods in 1983, a Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen in 1987, Warrington in 1993, and Londons Docklands in 1996. The bereaved and injured are pressing for UK Government support in their campaign for compensation paid out of the large number of frozen assets seized from the toppled Gaddafi administration. Jonathan Ganesh, president of the Docklands Victims Association, said: It is very sad and heartbreaking that those that have been left severely disabled and bereaved by Gaddafi Semtex are still waiting to be compensated. It is abhorrent, as Libyan government promised to help those that had been left severely disabled and bereaved. While the US, France and Germany negotiated multimillion-pound settlements with Gaddafi for its citizens impacted by Libyan-sponsored terrorism, the previous Labour government in the UK has been heavily criticised for not striking a similar deal. The current UK Government has said it considers compensation claims to be private matters and the Foreign Office facilitates victims to engage with Libyan authorities to pursue compensation. It has rejected calls for a UK reparations fund for victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA attacks. Police at the scene on Friday evening in Belfast Niall Lyttle passed away after falling from the bike in Belfast city centre on Friday evening Funeral details have been announced for the teenager who died after falling from a party bike in Belfast. Niall Lyttle injured his head when he fell from the 15-seater bike in the city centre last week. He was rushed to intensive care at the Royal Victoria Hospital but passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday. His funeral will be held at St Bernard's Church on Thursday at 9.30am followed by burial at Carnmoney Cemetery. Tributes have flooded in for the "courageous" teen. His former school, Edmund Rice College, said it had been "deeply saddened" to learn of his untimely death. "Niall will always be remembered as a wonderful pupil who always had a smile on his face, with such a warm and positive personality," a tribute read. Two doctors being investigated by the General Medical Council (GMC) are being paid significant financial rewards for medical excellence. Dr Robert Taylor and Dr Heather Steen were two of a number of medical professionals criticised in the Hyponatraemia Report earlier this year. They were both involved in the care of Claire Roberts, who was nine when she died at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in 1996. Dr Taylor was also the anaesthetist in charge during a kidney transplant on four-year-old Adam Strain, who died from hyponatraemia following surgery in 1995. Complaints about doctors normally have to be made to the regulatory body within five years of any alleged incident. However, the GMC has said it is in the public interest to waive that in this case. It is understood the GMC is now deciding whether the two doctors should face fitness to practise hearings. According to the GMC website, both doctors are registered with a licence to practise and there are no restrictions currently placed on either of the medics. Alan Roberts, Claire's father, has welcomed the development - coming almost a year after the Hypoanatraemia Inquiry found there was a cover up following his daughter's tragic death. "Of course we are pleased about this but we would hope that the GMC expedites this investigation," he said. The Hyponatraemia Inquiry examined the deaths of five children in hospitals in Northern Ireland. Hyponatraemia occurs when there is a shortage of sodium in the bloodstream and can be caused as a result of receiving excess fluid. The independent probe found the deaths of four of the children were preventable. Dr Taylor and Dr Steen both continue to receive clinical excellence awards (CEAs), a payment made to doctors for outstanding contribution to the health service. In May, the Belfast Telegraph revealed Dr Taylor, a paediatric anaesthetist, is paid a 31,959 distinction and meritorious service award each year, in addition to his NHS salary. In total, he has received almost 550,000 through the CEA scheme since 2001. Meanwhile, paediatrician Dr Heather Steen has been getting an annual payment of 8,871 under the CEA programme since 2008, according to the Department of Health. It is believed the payments to both doctors will only be reviewed by health officials if charges are brought and found to be proved by a GMC fitness to practise panel. The Hyponatraemia Inquiry, which published its findings in January, came to damning conclusions about the care delivered to the five children in the run-up to their deaths. The chair of the inquiry, John O'Hara QC, said in his report that he was "persuaded that a 'cover up' was attempted by Dr Steen" following Claire's death. He said her actions after Claire died were "very hard to explain on any other basis than that Dr Steen set out to conceal what she knew about the likely cause of Claire's death". Mr O'Hara also said Dr Steen "failed" in her duty by not reporting Claire's death to the coroner. He said Dr Taylor "failed in his duty to notify the coroner" after Claire's death, given his involvement in the care of Adam. Mr O'Hara was also critical of Dr Taylor's management of Adam's fluids before and during surgery, which he said "defied understanding". In his report, he said that Dr Taylor "made fatal errors in his treatment of Adam". He added: "In his oral evidence, Dr Taylor accepted he could not understand it either, nor could he explain or justify what he did or how he subsequently defended it. I heard a lot of evidence from Dr Taylor but do not believe I was told the full story. Dr Taylor offered no insight into why he did what he did during Adam's transplantdespite, or perhaps because, he provided so much evidence, Dr Taylor managed to keep his own thought processes obscure. "Even though he now accepts what he did, he makes no attempt to explain it." Mairia Cahill has described her disappointment following a meeting with Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald. Saying the meeting started with a handshake, but didn't end with one, Ms Cahill told the Belfast Telegraph: "As far Im concerned Mary Lou McDonald has abdicated her responsibility over this." In a statement following the meeting, Mrs McDonald described her conversation with Mairia Cahill as "lengthy and candid". The republican party leader met with Ms Cahill at Dublin's Leinster House to discuss her alleged abuse at the hands of an IRA man and the findings of a Police Ombudsman report into her case. Ms Cahill, a great-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, claimed she was sexually abused by senior republicans and alleged IRA member Martin Morris when she was 16. 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. A Police Ombudsman report published in September criticised the police for its failure to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by three women about a senior member of the IRA. It was distressing, worse than I expected, to listen to the nonsense from Mrs McDonald," said Ms Cahill on Tuesday evening. Ms Cahill added Mrs McDonald did not comment on whether she believed the IRA had carried out an investigation into the alleged sexual assault. In a statement following the meeting Mrs McDonald said: "I listened carefully to what she had to say and I reiterated my unreserved apology and deep regret that procedures for the mandatory reporting of abuse allegations were not in place at the time of Mairias disclosure. I acknowledged the hurt and pain that Mairia has been through and I stressed to her that robust procedures for the handling of abuse allegations are now in place within Sinn Fein. I reiterated to her that allegations of a criminal nature must be dealt with by the statutory authorities with responsibility for doing so. I want to wish Mairia the very best for the future." Independent MP Lady Sylvia Hermon said she is considering voting in favour of the withdrawal bill. (PA/Julien Behal) Northern Ireland Independent unionist MP Lady Sylvia Hermon has said she has secured Government support for a political declaration on Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom. Lady Hermon, Northern Ireland's only sitting MP who is not a member of the DUP, met with Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday night. Ahead of the meeting the North Down MP said she required "personal assurances" before committing her support to the draft withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK. Lady Hermon told the Belfast Telegraph her meeting with the Prime Minister had been "constructive and at all times amicable". "During that meeting I raised a number of issues with her and it was agreed No 10 would let me have written clarification on those points," she said. "In addition, since the constitutional guarantee for Northern Ireland and the consent principle of the Belfast Agreement are already written into the withdrawal agreement I suggested it would be helpful to repeat those in a separate political declaration." The principal of consent included in the the Good Friday Agreement refers to the clause for self-determination, and that Northern Ireland should remain British - or become part of a united Ireland - depending on the will of the majority of the people. A vote on the deal agreed between the United Kingdom and the EU is expected in early December and doubts have been expressed on whether the Government will be able to secure sufficient backing for it in the House of Commons. The DUP is staunchly opposed to the withdrawal agreement in its current form due to the Irish backstop proposal included within it. Tensions over the deal have led to a straining of the confidence and supply agreement between the DUP and the Conservative Government. On Monday and Tuesday nights the DUP abstained and voted against amendments to the Finance Bill put before the House of Commons. In its agreement with Theresa May's Government the DUP agreed to give its support to votes on budgetary matters. East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson said the action did not mean the end of the confidence and supply agreement, but should be taken as a warning to the Government. The DUP warning adds to the pressure on the Prime Minister (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Theresa May will travel to Brussels on Wednesday for Brexit talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. Downing Street said the meeting was part of the ongoing negotiations over the future framework agreement with the EU. It is understood the talks are set to focus on future long-term relations between the UK and EU, rather than on the withdrawal deal that Mrs May unveiled last week. The move follows a stormy few days for Mrs May, which have seen the DUP deliver a warning shot across Government bows after accusing the Prime Minister of breaking fundamental promises on Brexit. And a number of Tory MPs are still pushing for a vote of confidence in the PM, although their attempts to topple her appear to have stalled. Justice Secretary David Gauke said a move to oust Mrs May would be dangerous for the country. I don't think people should be talking about removing her at this pointJustice Secretary David Gauke He told BBC Breakfast: The idea that at this point, in the middle of a very delicate negotiation, that is hugely important to the future of this country, that we should remove the Prime Minister, essentially leave us leaderless, for certainly several weeks, possibly months, would be hugely irresponsible. I dont think people should be talking about removing her at this point. I think that would be self-indulgent and dangerous for the country. In another cause for concern for the PM, Mrs Mays Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez has said Madrid will vote against the withdrawal deal at a special EU summit on Sunday if Gibraltars future is not considered a bilateral issue between the UK and Spain. The DUP showed its anger with Mrs Mays Brexit deal by joining with Labour to cut the Governments majority to just five in a Commons vote on the Budget. They also abstained on a series of other amendments to the Finance Bill on Monday night, in a move intended to send a political message to the Prime Minister. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Their actions appeared to call into question the future of the confidence and supply arrangement by which the DUP props up Mrs Mays minority Conservative Government. Under the terms of the deal, agreed after Mrs May lost her Commons majority in last years general election, the Northern Ireland party is supposed to back the Government on Budget matters and on confidence votes. But DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said Mrs Mays deal with Brussels breached a fundamental assurance that Northern Ireland would not be separated constitutionally or economically from the rest of the UK. We had to do something to show our displeasure, he told the BBC. In a bid to sway opinion, Mrs May has insisted that her draft Brexit deal puts Northern Ireland in a fantastic position for the future. In an opinion piece published in the Belfast Telegraph, the Prime Minister claimed the regions constitutional status within the UK had been guaranteed in the agreement. Mrs May acknowledged that there had been a lot of focus on the Irish border backstop and said she understood and share some of the concerns that have been expressed. But she said the backstop was an acceptable insurance policy due to provisions in the deal. The DUP warning adds to the pressure on the Prime Minister just as the Tory bid to unseat her by Brexiteers appeared to have stuttered. Members of the Conservative European Research Group were last week confidently predicting they would get the 48 letters of no confidence needed to trigger a vote in her leadership. However, there has been no announcement from the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, that they have reached that tally, while the number of MPs who have publicly declared they submitted letters remains in the twenties. Expand Close Theresa May defended her Brexit plans at a CBI conference (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Theresa May defended her Brexit plans at a CBI conference (Stefan Rousseau/PA) There were also reports that the so-called pizza club group of Cabinet Brexiteers was backing away from a plan to go to the Prime Minister to demand she re-opens negotiations with Brussels on a key element of the agreement. Michael Gove, who last week turned down the job of Brexit Secretary following the resignation of Dominic Raab, Andrea Leadsom, Penny Mordaunt, Liam Fox and Chris Grayling were all reported to be unhappy with the terms over the Northern Ireland border. However, there was little sign that they were preparing to force a fresh showdown at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street on Tuesday. Meanwhile, in a further sign of the Governments weakness, ministers were forced to offer fresh concessions to stave off a damaging defeat over the publication of the Governments assessment of the economic impact of Brexit. Treasury Minister Robert Jenrick told MPs they would now release a comparative analysis of the economic impact if Britain was to remain in the EU rather than leave in March 2019. Previously, the Government had only undertaken to publish its assessment of the impact of leaving with a deal, compared with a no-deal Brexit. A charity boss has said she is appalled at the number of people who still think it is acceptable to park in disabled bays. Catherine Doran, who chairs the MS Society's Northern Ireland council, was speaking after it emerged motorists here have been fined 1.4m in the past three years for wrongly using disabled bays. She has called on road users to think of the impact they could be having on someone's life before they park illegally. More than 16,000 fines have been handed out to motorists who used the bays without displaying a blue badge. The figures were supplied by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to the BBC, and show the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued in 2016, 2017 and in the first nine months of this year. A total of 4,859 PCNs were issued in 2016 for abusing on-street disabled parking bays. A further 6,521 were issued in 2017, while up until the end of September this year, 4,851 more fines were issued. Wellington Place in Belfast saw most tickets handed out, with 213 people fined. Other hot-spots were James Street in Cookstown (138), High Street in Omagh (130), Queen's Parade in Bangor (101) and Belfast's Chichester Street (98). Ms Doran, a 36-year-old mum of two from Londonderry, has lived with MS for a decade. She was recently praised by Prime Minister Theresa May for her efforts in raising awareness of the disease. She said she was not shocked by the figures. "It's not a surprise. I see it happening every day, but I am still angry at why they do it," she said. "It's an essential part of my everyday life they're robbing me of. I try to get out as much as possible. "There are over 4,500 people living with MS in Northern Ireland and there are so many more illnesses out there that people need this assistance for. "Being able to park close to where I need to go means I have independence, but a lot of the time disabled parking bays are occupied by a car without a disabled badge and I just drive past. "People might save a minute, but there's a longer term effect for people like me." The DfI said the blue badge scheme is designed to "enable many disabled people to do everyday things most non-disabled people take for granted". It added: "However misuse of the blue badge and accessible parking bays makes life very difficult for disabled people and ruins many journeys." A lorry driver who allegedly vandalised a memorial to murdered British soldiers while chatting on his phone must remain in custody, a High Court judge ruled. Robert James McKeegan, 44, was refused bail amid claims he kicked over poppy crosses and wreathes at the shrine to the Narrow Water massacre. Eighteen soldiers were killed in two IRA bomb attacks at the site near Warrenpoint, Co Down in August 1979. McKeegan, of Beech Close in Bleary, Craigavon, appeared in court on Tuesday. He is charged with criminal damage to the memorial, which belongs to the Royal British Legion, on October 4. He faces a further count of having an indecent photograph of a child on a phone seized last week by police investigating the attack. The case against him involves CCTV images from cameras installed in the area following previous acts of vandalism, the court heard. Crown counsel said: "One male exited the lorry while chatting on a mobile phone, kicking crosses and wreathes off display and damaging the memorial." The incident on the main Newry to Warrenpoint Road occurred at 7.30am, lasting for three minutes before the perpetrator drove off. Dash cam footage was examined as part of inquiries to locate the lorry involved. Expand Close Wreaths and poppies damaged at soldiers' memorial at Narrow Water bombing. Pic: Memorial to the Narrow Water Facebook page / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Wreaths and poppies damaged at soldiers' memorial at Narrow Water bombing. Pic: Memorial to the Narrow Water Facebook page McKeegan was then arrested after being stopped on the M1 last Wednesday. It was claimed that his T-shirt appeared to be the same type as that worn by the man depicted in the CCTV images. A phone recovered by police allegedly contained an indecent image - although the defence contended that it was more of a "vulgar" photo than actual pornography. Mr Justice McAlinden was told McKeegan remained silent during most of his interviews. Cell-site analysis is being carried out in a bid to establish the location of the accused's phone at the time of the attack. But the prosecution said the whereabouts of tachograph charts for the lorry remains unknown. Defence counsel argued those records, if located, will not prove if his client was at the scene. He described the black and white CCTV stills of clothing allegedly linked to McKeegan as "another piece of weak evidence". But denying bail, the judge cited the risk of interference with the course of justice based on the missing charts. Noting the dismay and offence caused by previous attacks on the shrine, Mr Justice McAlinden said the latest alleged offence was "utterly inexplicable". He added: "How anyone in their right mind could engage again in wanton destruction of the memorial at this location at this particular time is something which just beggars belief." A Co Down man has admitted an offence of revenge porn against a 15-year-old girl he had confessed to sexually abusing online A Co Down man has admitted an offence of revenge porn against a 15-year-old girl he had confessed to sexually abusing online. Last week at Downpatrick Crown Court, Adam Nicholson (22) pleaded guilty to sexually communicating with a child and inciting her to engage in sexual activity. Yesterday he confessed to four further charges. Nicholson, from Kinnegar Rocks in Donaghadee, pleaded guilty to disclosing "a sexual photograph or film" of the complainant "with intent to cause her distress". He also admitted two counts of having indecent images of a child and harassing the girl, all between September 23, 2015 and November 17, 2016. A third count relating to indecent images of a child was left on the books. Previous courts heard that despite being charged with inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity, Nicholson has never met her face to face but had committed the offences over the internet. Freeing Nicholson on bail, Judge Piers Grant said he would pass sentence on December 17. Police Chief Constable George Hamilton is appealing a ruling which found the PSNI owes staff around 30m in outstanding holiday pay. A class action brought by officers and civilian staff resulted in a ruling earlier this month that unlawful deductions made from their holiday pay entitlements were in breach of fundamental human rights. The case dates back almost 20 years and it's thought around 3,700 individual claimants may now expect refunds amounting to several thousand pounds each. The Police Federation said the ruling will give officers what they are entitled to and called on the government to make the restitution payments instead of the PSNI, to avoid any adverse impact on the policing budget. Some police forces across the UK have already settled claims with officers in similar cases. However, on Tuesday, the BBC Stephen Nolan show revealed the judgment is being appealed. Solicitor acting for some of the claimants John McShane told the show it was a disappointing development which would cost the public more money. He said he was surprised at the decision of the chief constable. He added: "It is a complex judgment but the strength of the decision by a vice president of the tribunals gives me a strong feeling it will be an appeal that will ultimately be unsuccessful." He said that while it was a concern police may not be able to afford to pay the bill, he said that could be no excuse for getting money staff were "lawfully entitled to". He said he expected the appeal process to last up to 18 months and urged the chief constable to instead engage in "sensible discussions" and put a "reasonable offer on the table". In a statement, the police said: "PSNI is in receipt of the judgment and is lodging an appeal. In light of the ongoing legal processes, it would therefore be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time." At a time when debate around data localisation is gaining ground, The Dialogue, an emerging public-policy think-tank, came up with a report stating India may incur a nearly 1 percentage point loss in gross domestic product (GDP) in the short and medium term if the country goes ahead with forced data localisation in its current avatar. The report says that it could also impact India's ease of doing business ranking if data, on which economies of the future are being built, becomes an expensive commodity. The report, titled 'Data Localisation in a Globalised World: An Indian Perspective' added that localisation policies may have a cascading effect on the economy, costing an average Indian worker up to 11 per cent of his/her monthly salary. The report was launched on Monday at an event at Constitution Club of India (CCI). Kazim Rizvi, Founding Director, The Dialogue, pointed out that he is not against data localisation per se, but the way it is being implemented in the name of data access and data security. "Our approach towards data should be to maximise the potential of cross-border data flows. Rather than deploying a strict hand of forcing companies to store data in India through forced localisation, we should instead incentivise them to come, locate and process their data here," said Rizvi. "Moreover, to seek access of data for law enforcement, we should work with other countries on a bilateral level and enhance our domestic privacy regime to meet global standards under international privacy frameworks," he added. Speaking at the event, Avik Sarkar, Head-Data Analytics Cell, NITI Aayog, said the likes of Facebook, Google and Apple own only 10-15 per cent of global data, so by localisation we are only addressing a part of a big puzzle. "Instead of getting into complex debates, it makes sense to leverage what we already have. India is in a position to make use of its already available data to build constructive policies. Besides, you cannot really access data as long as country, company and funders, all three are not in your own territory," he said, representing his own views and not those of NITI Aayog. In a panel discussion, Ananth Padmanabhan, fellow, Centre for Policy Research, pointed out that data localisation is more of a policy versus principal debate than policy versus policy. "While there might be some valid reasons to build capacity for better access of data by law enforcement agencies, but my fundamental right to carry on with my business should not be hurt. We must have some data as to how many security cases have actually been attributed to servers being located outside before we enforce data localisation for security purposes," he said. Refuting the argument that China has implemented data localisation, then why not India, Padmanabhan noted that China had done a lot of investment in research & development (R&D) and infrastructure before it asked global firms to comply with its localisation policies. Technology Lawyer Meenu Chandra identified that localisation policies may result into conflicts between the policies of two governments. "India may ask global players to localise all the data in its territory, but what if global companies are required to report some data to internal authorities as per their own laws?," he pointed out. The report, comprising twelve chapters, also highlighted that the security of data could, in fact, be compromised as locating all data in one place may increase the risks to cyber threats. "The ideal situation for institutions is to store data in different parts of the world to diversify risk. Quality of services offered to Indians today may also be impacted as localisation will increase costs and may also not offer the best options for tech companies to provide high-end services, as it may not be available currently in India," It says. The think-tank studied data localisation's impact on start-ups as well. "Start-ups will be the most affected as it will cost more to setup and run business as start-ups may not get to store data on cheaper alternatives, such as the cloud infrastructure, if all data is forced to be located in India." A retired appeal court judge has recommended that members of the public should be banned from attending rape trials in Northern Ireland. But Sir John Gillen, who also proposed legislation to curb the 'inappropriate' use of social media during trials, yesterday ruled out giving anonymity to defendants. Read More The draft recommendations are among 220 proposals in Sir John's review ordered by the Criminal Justice Board into how serious sexual offence cases are dealt with here in the wake of the high profile trial of Ulster Rugby stars Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding. The pair were acquitted of rape after a nine-week hearing earlier this year. The case at Belfast Crown Court attracted huge publicity across the UK and in the Republic, as well as highly controversial commentaries on social media where the woman at the centre of the trial was identified despite her right to anonymity. There were also reports that the public gallery at the Laganside court complex was regularly filled with people who had travelled from all over Ireland to attend the trial. Sir John said one of his reasons for recommending that the public should be barred from rape trials was that many complainants had told him that they found the prospect of giving their innermost details in court humiliating, in front of what the retired judge called "the cruel gaze of the public". "We are a very small jurisdiction and in towns such as Strabane, Derry or Newry everybody knows everybody very often, and the prospect of the complainant's legal right to anonymity just disappears once you have the public in," said Sir John. He has also proposed that complainants should have publicly-funded legal representation from solicitors or from barristers in "certain areas" if, for example, their previous sexual history was going to be explored during a trial. He also suggested that victims should be referred to in court throughout a trial by cyphers rather than by name. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Former Ulster Rugby star Paddy Jackson Former Ulster Rugby star Stuart Olding / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former Ulster Rugby star Paddy Jackson Among his other key recommendations are proposals to introduce legislation to "manage the dangers created by the inappropriate use of social media". Sir John said that social media publishers should be made liable for "legally objectionable" material contained on their platforms. He revealed that Northern Ireland was part of a cross-jurisdictional study about social media being carried out by the Westminster government. He said: "You cannot have a situation where juries are exposed to not only inaccuracies but absolute lies at times during the course of a trial - with pictures of the complainant circulating that aren't even the complainant." Sir John called for the introduction of a new offence with prison sentences for jurors who breached judges' directions not to look at social media material. Even though he has come out against anonymity for accused people, Sir John has also proposed that suspects shouldn't actually be identified until they are charged, though he admitted that opinion was split over that question more than any other issue. He said he had talked to a large number of defendants who had been acquitted and there was no doubt that the repercussions for them were enormous, with some of them losing their jobs or having to leave the country amid 'there's no smoke without fire' claims. Sir John said: "I have spoken to people with mental health problems over the accusations made against them and the refusal by the public to accept that they were acquitted." He said suspects should have anonymity pre-charge, citing the cases of Sir Cliff Richard and Christopher Jefferies, the schoolteacher wrongly suspected of involvement in a murder in England. "But once you are charged the key component is that jurisdiction after jurisdiction including Northern Ireland have instances where other complainants come forward." Sir John's proposals include one for complainants, including children and vulnerable people, to have their cross examinations by barristers pre-recorded away from "the daunting atmosphere" of a court. "In Scotland every single complainant in a serious sex case is considered as a vulnerable witness and that's my view," said Sir John. He also rejected calls for the press to be excluded from rape trials, saying the concept of open justice was a very important principle. Sir John dismissed calls for judges and advisors to conduct rape trials without juries but said that jurors should be shown a video at the start of cases debunking the myths surrounding rape. "It's a societal problem," he said. "And the myths include that 'she didn't fight back' or 'she didn't scream or call for a friend therefore she consented' or she 'didn't report it right away' or 'only gay men get raped' or 'women can't be raped by their husband or partner' and 'these women are making this up'." He added: "These are absolute myths that need to be explored along with the absolute calumny that because young women dress fashionably or have a few drinks that somehow that is contributing towards what happened to them." He said he had no idea what the phrase "provocative clothing" meant. Sir John said that at the pre-trial, ground-rules hearings, judges would "robustly" tell the defence lawyers that they wouldn't permit any of the 'myths' to be introduced as questions during the hearings. Sir John said that if the questions were introduced, judges would have the power to stop the proceedings and order a re-trial. He said he wanted to be able to tell complainants that judges will not allow attacks on their characters because they were wearing "a fashionable short skirt or had a few drinks". Sir John said he was concerned by the "vast" problem of under-reporting of rape, with figures from England suggesting that only 17% of people report serious sexual offences to the police. He added that under-reporting was far lower among marginalised people here like black, Asian and ethnic groups, the LGBT community and among the disabled, the elderly and Travellers. He said men also came into that category. Sir John added the attrition rate, whereby complainants didn't proceed with their cases, was high - up to 40% - and conviction rates were low for sexual offences, he conceded. Sir John pointed out that the average time in completing a rape trial here was 943 days - 69% longer than for other Crown Court cases here - which he described as "simply unacceptable", especially as the figures are twice those in England. He proposed a range of measures to tackle the delays in bringing rape cases to trial, claiming there was a "sense of organised hypocrisy over the issue" in that little or nothing was ever done about it. He said the matter of disclosure in rape cases had to be tackled with the appointment of specialist officers in the police and Public Prosecution Service who would work closely together right from the start of cases to prevent injustices and complainants dropping out. Sir John recommended the introduction of time-limited proceedings with the earlier engagement of defence lawyers and the scrapping of committal hearings. The retired judge said the principle of consent was another important issue which had to be examined in depth. "It's been described as a quagmire. It's an extremely difficult, technical area. The definition we have in the legislation at the moment is too vague." Sir John said he could see a role for restorative justice in sexual offences but only if the victims wanted it. The public should be excluded from serious sex trials as part of a radical overhaul in Northern Ireland, a retired senior judge proposed (Niall Carson/PA). The public should be excluded from serious sex trials as part of a radical overhaul in Northern Ireland, a retired senior judge proposed. Sir John Gillen is leading an independent review following the acquittal of two Irish rugby internationals of rape charges in Belfast earlier this year. Sir John published a preliminary report on Tuesday with more than 220 draft recommendations including restricting access to serious sexual crime trials to only close family members of the alleged victim and defendant and the mainstream media. Confidence-building measures for complainants who fear the cruel glare of public exposure, particularly in high-profile trials in front of packed public galleries, are now vitalSir John Gillen He said: Confidence-building measures for complainants who fear the cruel glare of public exposure, particularly in high-profile trials in front of packed public galleries, are now vital. If we are to challenge the gross under-reporting, high dropout rates and an unacceptably daunting trial process, I consider the arguments in favour of restricted access measures carry convincing weight. The public is already excluded in the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. In Scotland onlookers are barred when the complainant gives evidence. Other key draft recommendations from the recently retired Court of Appeal judge included creating new laws surrounding inappropriate use of social media, where the name of the alleged victim and even images may circulate and which in a small jurisdiction like Northern Ireland may seriously damage a persons anonymity. The report urged strong judicial powers to control access to websites during trials and the making of fresh offences for jurors who offend against judicial guidance. Under-reporting of serious sexual crime is unacceptably low, around one in six tell police of their ordeal. Early pre-recording of cross-examination could take place in a non-courtroom setting to make the process easier for alleged victims and encourage people to come forward, the preliminary report said. The physical layout of older courthouses could be altered to ensure a victim and their accused did not meet. Expand Close Most proposed Gillen recommendations do not require legislation but a minority, including those surrounding social media, would (Liam McBurney/PA). PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Most proposed Gillen recommendations do not require legislation but a minority, including those surrounding social media, would (Liam McBurney/PA). A judge would consider whether certain questions could be asked of an accused beforehand. Public funding would enable legal representation for the victim in cases where she or he may be asked about sexual history or face intrusive scrutiny of personal life. The judge provisionally said measures should be introduced at the onset of the trial to combat rape myths which may influence a jury, like what type of clothing a victim was wearing, or the self-blame which many needlessly feel, or whether they struggled or not during an alleged attack which can become an issue during court proceedings. The judges draft report also called for better public education through the school system to combat myths surrounding sexual crime. Most proposed recommendations do not require legislation but a minority, including those surrounding social media, would. The devolved administration at Stormont has not sat for months following a row between former partners the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein. The judge said steps should be taken to combat excessive delay in the justice system, which can make the process more onerous for victims. Sinn Fein's attempt to stop Newry, Mourne and Down District Council selling off a play park named after IRA man Raymond McCreesh by using a 'call-in' procedure has failed. In October, the party said it would use the call-in process to challenge the local authority's decision to dispose of Raymond McCreesh Park. The mechanism allows elected members to request that an issue be re-examined if they feel the initial decision was not handled correctly, or will have an adverse impact on a section of the community. The play park has been a source of controversy since it was renamed after Camlough man McCreesh in 2001. He was reportedly in possession of a rifle used in the 1976 Kingsmill Massacre, in which 10 Protestant workmen were killed, when he was captured later that year. He died in the 1981 hunger strike. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said last month that it had decided to sell the play park as it is now "surplus to requirements". Last night, UUP Slieve Gullion Councillor David Taylor welcomed the fact that the call-in process had upheld the council's decision. "The call-in was rejected - legal advice came back to say it didn't have any merit," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "They found that the decision taken by the council was fine. "I would welcome the fact that the call-in bid has been unsuccessful. I think it was clear that Sinn Fein's decision to do it was an attempt to delay and frustrate the process of disposing of the play park facility." However, Mr Taylor pointed out that the fact that the call-in bid was unsuccessful "doesn't guarantee" that Raymond McCreesh's name will be removed from the play park. "Whether it will be renamed depends on who ends up buying it," he continued. "I believe it will be offered to government departments first, and if they express interest they will take it on. I'm very confident no government department will retain that name. "My concern is to ensure that, whatever happens, the name is removed." Mr Taylor added that naming the play park after McCreesh had had a "negative impact" on community relations. "Victims found that their local authority had a park named after someone who was in the IRA," he said. "It has caused a great deal of concern in the wider community and impacted negatively on community relations." A video has emerged showing two thugs trying to break into a house in Armagh - before they are forced to flee by the 84-year-old resident. The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, fought off the would-be burglars in Bessbrook at 10.24pm on Friday, November 16. Security cameras in the doorway of his house on Millvale Road caught the dramatic scene. The two trespassers, one wearing a hoodie and the other in a dark hat, used what appeared to be a screwdriver or small crowbar to get into the property. They snuck into the house but within 20 seconds were chased out by an unseen person. The man wearing a black hat stopped and they both tried to enter the house again. But the men were chased away for a second time and did not return. There was a break in attempt at the house two weeks ago and have been a number of similar reports in south Armagh in the past week. His son, who lives nearby, said: "That's my father, he's 84 and they broke into his house two weeks ago and then done it again on Friday night and he was on his own and they come back in. "The video shows them getting in the first time, then coming running out and then they went back in and challenged my father. Expand Close CCTV footage shows two males trying to break into a house in Armagh / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp CCTV footage shows two males trying to break into a house in Armagh "My father isn't like the old, frail type but it has annoyed me, you know, as his son. "I'm telling you it's just ridiculous. Once they went back in, he was giving them whatever and they ran out the second time and they ran away. "That shows that obviously they're local to the area because of this. "There is still a police investigation but they need to do something quick because there's a lot of community people who just don't like what's happening." The intruders did not take anything during either break in but the son fears they may try again. He added: "It's just all very unbelievable until it happens to your own father, you don't really realise you know." The video was posted on Facebook by Bessbrook Community Residents Association and has been shared over 1,700 times. Facebook users reacted angrily. One commented: "Two complete wasters! Hope someone can identify them." Another put: "Wonder how they would feel if somebody robbed their house?" The Bessbrook Community page appealed for information on the two culprits. Call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, announces that the Irish government has approved his proposals for a radical new approach to the collection of data on the prevalence of sexual violence in the state (Liam McBurney/PA) A review into how sex crime trials are conducted in Ireland will examine the issue of anonymity for those accused of sexual violence, the Justice Minister has confirmed. Charlie Flanagan previously committed to review all aspects of sexual assault trials and asked lecturer in law at NUI Galway Tom OMalley to conduct an examination and present a review. When asked if he would consider ending anonymity for rape accused, the minister said on Tuesday: This is an issue that will form part and parcel of Tom OMalleys review, I dont want to make any pre-emptive statements, but Im very grateful to him for chairing this working group. Mr OMalleys review is expected early next year. I want to move away from an ad hoc approach to the collection of data on the prevalence of sexual violence. Collecting this data means that it will now become part of statistics that the State collectsJustice Minister Charlie Flanagan Ireland is one of the only jurisdictions where a person accused of sexual violence is given anonymity. Mr Flanagan also announced that the Government had approved proposals for a new approach to the collection of data on sexual violence. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is to undertake a new comprehensive national survey on the prevalence of sexual assault in the state, known as SAVI II. The minister has come under pressure to undertake another Sexual Abuse and Violence Ireland (SAVI) survey, the first and only SAVI survey was conducted in 2002. Recent court cases including the much-publicised Belfast case which saw two Irish rugby players acquitted, and a case in Cork where the complainants underwear was referenced by the defence, has pushed the topic to the forefront of national conversation. Mr Flanagan acknowledged that attitudes in Ireland had changed dramatically in 16 years, that he was concerned about under-reporting of sexual crime and a fresh approach was needed to inform policy. Minister Flanagan This survey is unique and very sensitive it will involve the lives and experiences of real people who may be revealing deeply traumatic experiences. Resources and time are needed to ensure this survey is done right and I am providing for both. pic.twitter.com/DvzySeOBGw MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) November 20, 2018 I want to move away from an ad hoc approach to the collection of data on the prevalence of sexual violence, he said. Collecting this data means that it will now become part of statistics that the State collects. We know from the 2002 survey and from consultations with NGOs that sexual crime is under-reported in Ireland. A survey of this nature will present a truer picture of the reality on the ground and ensure that Government policy is properly informed. I want to pay tribute to the NGOs, in particular the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, which has consistently called for a survey to be conducted. The government says given the complexity and sensitivity of the survey, the entire process of scoping, executing and reporting on the survey will take around five years. A total of 150,000 euro (133,000) has been allocated to allow CSO to carry out technical research, which Padraig Dalton, director general of the office, branded a challenging departure for the CSO. The Conservatives will be stuck with Theresa May as leader for the next general election unless they move to get rid of her now, Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned. Amid signs the attempt by Brexiteers to force a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister has stalled, Mr Rees-Mogg acknowledged they were struggling to get the support they needed. However, the leader of the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) insisted there was little enthusiasm among Tory MPs for Mrs May to take them into the next election, due in 2022. I think it is now or the Prime Minister will lead the Conservatives into the next electionJacob Rees-Mogg I think it is now or the Prime Minister will lead the Conservatives into the next election, he told reporters at a Westminster news conference. You find MPs privately who will say to you they think that is a really good idea in any number and I would be quite surprised. His warning came as Downing Street confirmed Mrs May will meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for talks in Brussels on Wednesday ahead of a special EU Brexit summit on Sunday. In a move likely to be welcomed by Brexiters, Number 10 also confirmed that the Government would look at potential technological solutions to keep the Irish border open. Mrs Mays official spokesman confirmed that references in last weeks draft agreement to alternative arrangements for the border could involve technical measures of the kind previously promoted as the maximum facilitation solution, or Max Fac. Last week, senior ERG figures were confidently predicting they would get the 48 letters of no confidence from MPs needed to trigger a vote in Mrs Mays leadership. But with Brexiteers apparently divided over whether it was the right time to mount a challenge, the prospect of them achieving their target appeared to be dwindling. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) However, Mr Rees-Mogg warned that they needed to consider whether they really wanted to carry on with her at the helm. While party rules would permit a fresh challenge in a years time if there was a failed attempt now, he said that in practice it was doubtful that would happen. Basically, if there is a vote of confidence it is not just for a year, he said. Getting the 48 letters has shown to be quite difficult, so the idea that in a year you just repeat the process and then she would go at that point, I dont think that is realistic. Asked if his attempt to unseat the Prime Minister had been exposed as a Dads Army operation, Mr Rees-Mogg replied: Ive always admired Captain Mainwaring. Expand Close Theresa May will meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Wednesday (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Theresa May will meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Wednesday (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Senior ministers sought to rally round Mrs May, with Justice Secretary David Gauke warning that any move to oust her would be dangerous for the country. He told BBC Breakfast: The idea that at this point, in the middle of a very delicate negotiation, that is hugely important to the future of this country, that we should remove the Prime Minister, essentially leave us leaderless, for certainly several weeks, possibly months, would be hugely irresponsible. I dont think people should be talking about removing her at this point. I think that would be self-indulgent and dangerous for the country. The latest threat to Mrs May followed a shot across the bows from the Democratic Unionist Party, who prop up her minority Government in the Commons. On Monday night, the party joined Labour in voting against the Government on a Budget measure while abstaining in two other divisions in apparent breach of their confidence and supply agreement. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) The partys deputy leader Nigel Dodds made clear the DUP was ready to continue voting against the Government and called on Mrs May to ditch her proposals and work for a better deal. Mr Dodds said that the agreement with Conservatives committed the DUP to pursue the shared objectives of strengthening the Union and seeking a Brexit that benefits all parts of the UK. While the DUP had kept to our word on the agreement, the resignation of several Conservative ministers showed that Mrs Mays deal does not represent those shared objectives, he said. He added: The Government will require DUP support to deliver its domestic agenda. We will continue to use our influence for the good of everyone across the United Kingdom. If the Government can look beyond a Withdrawal Agreement, which is uniting people from across the political spectrum against it, and instead work towards a better deal, then an outcome can be delivered that truly works to benefit all parts of the United Kingdom. Both Brexiteer Boris Johnson and Chancellor Philip Hammond are due to attend the DUPs conference at the weekend, according to Co Fermanagh newspaper the Impartial Reporter. In another cause for concern for the PM, Mrs Mays Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez said Madrid will vote against the withdrawal deal at the summit on Sunday if Gibraltars future is not considered a bilateral issue between the UK and Spain. In a bid to sway opinion, Mrs May has insisted that her draft Brexit deal puts Northern Ireland in a fantastic position for the future. In an opinion piece published in the Belfast Telegraph, the Prime Minister claimed the regions constitutional status within the UK had been guaranteed in the agreement. Mrs May acknowledged that there had been a lot of focus on the Irish border backstop and said she understood and share some of the concerns that have been expressed. But she said the backstop was an acceptable insurance policy due to provisions in the deal. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday extended its directions on Padmashri Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Co-operative Bank for a period of six months due to its weak financial position. According to the RBI's directions, depositors will be allowed to withdraw a sum not exceeding Rs 1,000 of the total balance held in every saving bank or current account or any other deposit account. The RBI said Padamshree Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Co-operative Bank Ltd, Nashik, without its prior approval, will also not be able to grant or renew any loans. It has been stopped from making advances or investment. The bank can't incur any liability, including borrowing of funds and acceptance of fresh deposits. It also can't disburse or agree to disburse any payment whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise. Besides, it will not be able to enter into any compromise or arrangement and sell, transfer or otherwise dispose any of its properties or assets, except as notified in the RBI directions dated May 18, 2018, said a notification from the central bank. The central bank also said that the issue of directions should not be construed as the cancellation of its banking license. The bank will continue to undertake banking business with restrictions till its financial position improves. The tenor of directive period begins from November 19, 2018, to May 18, 2019. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has admitted she has not yet found common ground with Labour over an alternative Brexit deal. Ms Sturgeon met Jeremy Corbyn in Westminster to try to coalesce around another way forward but said were not there yet. Speaking ahead of a meeting with the Prime Minister, the SNP leader said she had met all opposition leaders and they were united in planning to vote down Theresa Mays deal. However, Ms Sturgeon said the next step was to agree on an alternative, citing a Peoples Vote, single market membership and a customs union as options. What I wouldn't say is we got to the stage today where there's an agreement that can be coalesced around one of those but, to be frank, that's the responsibility of the oppositionNicola Sturgeon She said: What we talked about was our unity of purpose in thinking the prime ministers deal is a bad deal and voting that down, unity of purpose in not allowing this to be presented as a bad deal or no deal. No deal is not an option and theres no majority for no deal. What I wouldnt say is we got to the stage today where theres an agreement that can be coalesced around one of those but, to be frank, thats the responsibility of the opposition. Ms Sturgeon did not hold back from criticising Mr Corbyn over a lack of leadership and expressed frustration Labour had stopped short of prioritising a second vote that could stop Brexit. However, she also said she could get behind Labours position on a pushing for a vote of no confidence and a general election instead of wringing my hands. She said: I dont think his position on Brexit has shown a lot of leadership even until very recent days but weve got to look ahead now. Im not saying I can sit here and tell you I can guarantee I can get to a position where me and Jeremy Corbyn are on the same page, but I feel a responsibility to have a go at that. I would relish a general election this is the most incompetent shambolic government in my lifetime, so I would relish that. She also flagged up Labours apparent inability to make the case for immigration as a major sticking point, claiming they had fallen in line with Mrs Mays absolutely despicable immigration policy. Ms Sturgeon said she was open to working with Remain-leaning Tories but had yet to meet them. She said: Yes, I think that will inevitably happen but I havent done that today Ive been meeting the opposition parties but the softer, Remain element of the Conservatives have a role to play in putting that majority together. The SNP leader added it was inconceivable the EU would not work with MPs if they voted down Mrs Mays deal and sought to renegotiate, which she said could include an extension of Article 50. SPS chief executive Colin McConnell told MSPs there has been a drop of almost 75% in the number of offenders released on home detention curfew. (BBC/Press Association Images) Tougher restrictions on the use of home detention curfews (HDC) have resulted in a significant drop in the number or prisoners being freed from jail on electronic tags. Scottish Prison Service (SPS) chief executive Colin McConnell said since the presumption against the granting of HDC for those convicted of violent crimes has been brought in, the number of prisoners freed on these terms has gone from 25 to 30 a week to just seven. Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf announced the new measures last month in the wake of the murder of father-of-three Craig McClelland from Paisley. He was stabbed to death in July 2017 by James Wright, who was unlawfully at large while on home detention curfew. HDC have been used in Scotland since 2006 and allow for prisoners to serve part of their sentence in the community while being monitored via an electronic tag. Expand Close Craig McLellands killer was unlawfully at large while electronically tagged. (Police Scotland/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Craig McLellands killer was unlawfully at large while electronically tagged. (Police Scotland/PA) The new presumption against HDC for those serving a sentence for a violent crime, or one involving the use of a blade or another weapon, has brought about a sea change in the level of grant of HDC, Mr McConnell told MSPs on Holyroods Justice Committee. Overall, he said: Theres been a couple of horrendous experiences with people in the community who have either been on HDC or on licence and that has caused us collectively to reflect on that, which has led us to the position we are in now. Following the introduction of the new guidelines, which also include a presumption against releasing an offender on HDC if they are on the sex offenders register or have been linked to serious, organised crime, he said his instruction to prison governors has been that we should be very, very careful in terms of how we arrive at those decisions to grant HDC. Mr McConnell said that was in part due to the level of political and public concern that there has been quite recently in terms of people being released into the community. He said: In terms of the situation now, there is a considerable restriction and presumption against the grant of HDC, which have resulted in since these new measures were introduced approaching a 75% reduction in the grant of HDC. Where at one time we may have been somewhere between 25 and 30 grants of HDC per week, we are now down to seven. Colin McConnell @scottishprisons tells @SP_Justice Committee there's been a 75% reduction in number of Home Detention Curfews (#tagging) granted in Scotland since "presumptions" introduced in wake of @hmipscot @hmics reports. Folks, expect prison numbers to stay high or increase. Hannah Graham (@DrHannahGraham) November 20, 2018 The SPS boss added: Previously the presumption would have been unless there were particular factors, the anticipation would have been to grant an HDC, so that has completely been turned around, the presumption is not now to grant HDC where there are any concerns at all. Mr McConnell told MSPs he did not know how many crimes had been committed by prisoners who were out on HDC. But he said he would be shocked and stunned if the suggestion by Labour MSP Daniel Johnson that 16 murders have been committed by prisoners who have been released on a tag was correct The Labour justice spokesman said: The numbers that have been intimated to me are 16 murders and dozens of serious sexual assaults. Would those numbers surprise you? Mr McConnell said he would be entirely unfamiliar with those numbers as he told the committee his staff were currently checking the statistics on how many crimes had been committed. His view was backed by Chief Superintendent Garry McEwan, of Police Scotland. He said: I have to say I would be very surprised if there were 16 murders since 2006 with those that have been out of home detention curfew. I would be extremely surprised if that was accurate but I would be interested to get the figures. Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, raised concerns that a tougher stance on the use of HDC could have unexpected consequences for prisons and their staff. She said: I had real concerns before this review started that there might be unintended consequences of a rise in the prison population, and not just from HDC. My concern is if we become risk averse on HDC, we will also become risk averse on parole, people going to the open estate, which means the pressure on the prisons, some of which are already struggling, is going to become huge. The pressure on the population also puts pressure on the staff and also puts pressure on all sorts of other things, the level of self harm goes, the level of violence can go up. She added: I think we need a further review in a further three or five years which says have we got this right, is this having the consequences we wanted for HDC. We need to do that proper evaluation. Both the EIS and the SSTA have voted to reject the pay deal being offered to teachers. (Andrew Milligan/PA) Teachers in two trade unions have voted almost unanimously to reject the pay deal put forward by Scottish ministers. EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said the landmark 98% vote against the pay deal by his union was one of the strongest rejections of an offer in EIS history. Meanwhile, the SSTA union announced 97% of its members who took part in a ballot voted to reject the offer, with only 3% prepared to accept it. Education Secretary John Swinney said the offer to teachers was the best pay deal in the UK for 2018-19, adding it was disappointing it was rejected. Almost three-quarters of eligible members in both unions had taken part in the ballots, with turnouts of 74% and 73% for the EIS and the SSTA respectively. A third union, the NASUWT, said it would now consider a formal ballot for industrial action in the pay row after a survey or more than 1,000 teachers found 54% are so angry about the current pay deal they are prepared to take action. NASUWT members have rejected the pay offer for teachers. We will consider a ballot for industrial action on pay depending on the response from employers & the government.https://t.co/bcSc2cdXEJ NASUWT Scotland (@NASUWT_Scotland) November 20, 2018 Mr Swinney has already said while teachers are being offered a 3% pay rise across the board, restructuring of the main pay grade scale and annual progression meant most teachers would receive a rise of between 5% and 11%. This was the best pay deal in the UK for 2018-19 so it is disappointing that teachers have rejected what I believe was a strong and fair offer, he said. All teachers on the main grade scale were offered at least a 5% annual increase, with some receiving up to 11% in conjunction with their annual progression. The Education Secretary added there would be talks, saying ministers would engage positively with the unions and with Cosla to seek to strike a pay deal. The EIS, Scotlands largest teaching union, has been campaigning for a 10% rise for all teachers, with tens of thousands of protesters taking to the streets of Glasgow last month in support of this. Gail Macgregor, resources spokeswoman for the local government body Cosla, said: The trade unions claim for 10% increase in one year cannot be met within the resources we currently have available. Mr Flanagan said: Todays near-unanimous rejection of the pay offer is a landmark result, one of the strongest rejections of an offer in EIS history and one which is indicative of the current mood of Scotlands teachers, increasingly agitated on pay but angry also at excessive workload, mainstreaming on the cheap and austerity driven cuts to resources. EIS president Alison Thornton added while the union still hoped to reach a negotiated agreement it is fully prepared to ballot for industrial action should this be necessary to secure a fair deal. She added: We urge the Scottish Government and Cosla to return to the negotiating table with a greatly improved offer, before it is too late. SSTA general secretary Seamus Searson said there was a resounding rejection of the pay offer from his unions members. He said: The Government and employers have underestimated teachers and tried to create division within different grades of teachers. With 97% of respondents rejecting the pay offer, it is a strong message to the Government as to the feelings of teachers. It is time for Government to return to the negotiating table and treat teachers with respect and seek a meaningful settlement. The SSTA looks forward to productive talks at the negotiating table in the coming days. I know the ballot closes tomorrow and I genuinely feel for those who work their socks off in our schools. A good friend/colleague asked earlier how things are going. This was my pragmatic response. You might not like it but its true. pic.twitter.com/cx8z0JGzGj Gail Macgregor (@CllrGMacgregor) November 19, 2018 Meanwhile, 56% of the teachers surveyed by the NASUWT indicated they would be willing to take more than one day of strike action as part of the row over pay. Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: Our members are clearly angry and rightly so. Their response clearly shows the divisive nature of this pay offer. It will do nothing to combat the growing crisis in teacher supply. The NASUWT will be conveying the outcome of the survey to employers and to Government and the union will consider a formal ballot for industrial action on pay, depending on their response. We visited our members at Shortlees Primary School in East Ayrshire yesterday. The message is clear- #EISVoteReject #ValueEducationValueTeachers pic.twitter.com/Sz0ksMTj2l EIS (@EISUnion) November 15, 2018 Ms Macgregor urged teachers to recognise the real value of the deal being offered and act accordingly. She said: I want to make it crystal clear to the entire teaching workforce that local government hugely values and respects them and the incredible work they do every day in schools throughout Scotland to educate and support our children and young people. Years of austerity in public finances cannot be remedied in one fell swoop. The trade unions claim for 10% increase in one year cannot be met within the resources we currently have available and we have said that consistently throughout the pay negotiations. With support from our partners in the Scottish Government we have packaged an offer for teachers which includes a 3% pay award and further measures to address recruitment and retention issues. Ms Macgregor said industrial action by teachers would disrupt schools and the education of children and young people. She added: This is both unnecessary and unwarranted and will not result in an unaffordable 10% pay increase. Teachers took to the streets to protest about their pay offer. (Andrew Milligan/PA) Teachers could be balloted on industrial action in the row over pay, a union has warned. Leaders of the NASUWT union in Scotland said its members rejected the wage rise offered to teachers and it will now consider a formal ballot for industrial action. It comes after a survey of more than 1,000 teachers by the union found 54% were so angry about the current pay deal they were willing to take industrial action to demonstrate their concerns Scotlands largest teaching union, the EIS, has also urged its members to reject the offer 3% pay rise put forward by the Scottish Government. NASUWT members have rejected the pay offer for teachers. We will consider a ballot for industrial action on pay depending on the response from employers & the government.https://t.co/bcSc2cdXEJ NASUWT Scotland (@NASUWT_Scotland) November 20, 2018 The EIS has been campaigning for a 10% wage hike for across the board. Education Secretary John Swinney said restructuring of the main pay grade scale and annual progression means most teachers will receive a rise between 5% and 11%. But tens of thousands of teachers took to the streets of Glasgow in October to voice their unhappiness over the offer. More than half (56%) of the teachers surveyed by the NASUWT indicated they would be willing to take more than one day of strike action. Meanwhile, only 10% said they would not be willing to take any action at all. Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: Our members are clearly angry and rightly so. Their response clearly shows the divisive nature of this pay offer. It will do nothing to combat the growing crisis in teacher supply. The NASUWT will be conveying the outcome of the survey to employers and to Government and the union will consider a formal ballot for industrial action on pay, depending on their response. Expand Close Teachers staged a protests against the proposed pay rise in October (Andrew Milligan/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Teachers staged a protests against the proposed pay rise in October (Andrew Milligan/PA) She added: One-off, inadequate annual percentage pay awards do nothing to close the 20% pay gap faced by teachers as a result of year-on-year pay cuts. It is time that ministers and employers recognised that teachers are deeply frustrated by the lack of tangible progress in ensuring that year-on-year pay cuts are addressed, excessive workload is reduced and teachers are supported in tackling pupil indiscipline. Discussions are urgently needed on a new deal for teachers encompassing all of these issues, including a multi-year pay award designed to close the enormous pay gap. The DUP warning adds to the pressure on the Prime Minister (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Theresa Mays DUP allies have delivered a warning shot across the bows after accusing the Prime Minister of breaking fundamental promises on Brexit. The party joined with Labour to cut the Governments majority to just five in a Commons vote on the Budget. They also abstained on a series of other amendments to the Finance Bill on Monday night in a move intended to send a political message to Prime Minister. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Their actions appeared to call into question the future of the confidence and supply arrangement by which the DUP props up Mrs Mays minority Conservative Government. Under the terms of the deal, agreed after Mrs May lost her Commons majority in last years general election, the Northern Ireland party is supposed to back the Government on Budget matters and on confidence votes. We had to do something to show our displeasureDUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson to Newsnight But DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said Mrs Mays deal with Brussels breached a fundamental assurance that Northern Ireland would not be separated constitutionally or economically from the rest of the UK. We had to do something to show our displeasure, he told BBC2s Newsnight. All of them were designed to send a message to the Government: Look, we have got an agreement with you but you have got to keep your side of the bargain otherwise we dont feel obliged to keep ours. She has broken all of those promises to the people of the United Kingdom, to her own party and to the people of Northern Ireland. For Labour, shadow cabinet office minister Jon Trickett said the DUPs withdrawal of support on a Budget measure raised questions as to how long the Government could carry on in the face of widespread opposition to her Brexit deal. We no longer have a functioning government. With Brexit only a few months away something has got to give, he said. The DUP warning adds to the pressure on the Prime Minister just as a move to unseat her by Tory Brexiteers appeared to have stalled. Members of the Conservative European Research Group were last week confidently predicting they would get the 48 letters of no confidence needed to trigger a vote in her leadership. However, there has been no announcement from the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, they have reached that tally while the number of MPs who have publicly declared they submitted letters remains in the twenties. Expand Close Theresa May defended her Brexit plans at a CBI conference (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Theresa May defended her Brexit plans at a CBI conference (Stefan Rousseau/PA) There were also reports that the so-called pizza club group of Cabinet Brexiteers was backing away from a plan to go to the Prime Minister to demand she re-opens negotiations with Brussels on a key element of the agreement. Michael Gove who last week turned down the job of Brexit Secretary following the resignation of Dominic Raab Andrea Leadsom, Penny Mordaunt, Liam Fox and Chris Grayling were all reported to be unhappy with the terms over the Northern Ireland border. However there was little sign that they were preparing to force a fresh showdown at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street on Tuesday. Seeking to remove her risks the most appalling chaos that could be immensely damaging to our national reputationJeremy Hunt Ahead of the meeting, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt delivered a renewed warning against any attempt to oust the Prime Minister. Seeking to remove her risks the most appalling chaos that could be immensely damaging to our national reputation, but also destabilising and potentially stopping us getting through to the other side of Brexit, he told The Guardian during an official visit to Tehran. BREAKING: Treasury Minister, Robert Jenrick, has just conceded that Govt will publish an economic impact assessment which will compare the terms of our EU membership now with the proposed Withdrawal Agreement (leading to an FTA) and no deal(WTO terms) before the meaningful vote ChukaUmunna (@ChukaUmunna) November 19, 2018 Meanwhile, in a further sign of the Governments weakness, ministers were forced to offer fresh concessions to stave off a damaging defeat over the publication of the Governments assessment of the economic impact of Brexit. Treasury Minister Robert Jenrick told MPs they would now release a comparative analysis of the economic impact if Britain was to remain in the EU rather than leave in March 2019. Previously, the Government had only undertaken to publish its assessment of the impact of leaving with a deal compared to a no-deal Brexit. Brexit is not about a political psychodrama or who is up and who is down in Westminster or in and out of the Government it is about the future of our country and our young people in particular. And the #PeoplesVote campaign is gaining ground all the time./2 ChukaUmunna (@ChukaUmunna) November 19, 2018 However, it was left facing the prospect of a defeat after a cross-party group of MPs including Tory Remain supporters Jo Johnson and Anna Soubry backed a motion calling for a comparison with the status quo. Labour MP Chuka Umunna, a supporter of the Peoples Vote campaign who tabled the motion, said it showed the growing support for a second EU referendum. This was the first test of strength facing the Peoples Vote campaign in Parliament since the Government published their draft deal, and it is one that we in the campaign have won after gaining support from all sides of the House, he said. The turmoil facing the Government prompted Tory grandee William Hague, whose frontline political career began in 1990, to warn that he had never witnessed a crisis more serious. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Lord Hague said: I have lived through more crises in British politics than I can remember, but I have never witnessed one more serious than this. It is a fundamental truth that if a party is riven with a long-running dispute and then its leader controversially overthrown, the new leader can only succeed if he or she has some time to heal wounds and a unifying plan to help do so. A Welsh Labour politician has been suspended after she was recorded questioning whether anti-Semitic hate crime was real. Jenny Rathbone AM suggested increasing threats to Jewish worshippers at a synagogue in Cardiff could be all in their own heads. Ms Rathbones suspension from her partys assembly group comes as she awaits a decision from the UK Labour party about possible disciplinary action. On Tuesday, a National Assembly Labour Group spokesman released a short statement about the decision, which said: Jenny Rathbone was today suspended from the National Assembly Labour group pending a decision by the UK Labour Party under its disciplinary procedures. Ms Rathbone, who represents Cardiff Central in the Welsh Assembly, said she was deeply sorry last Wednesday after her remarks, which were recorded at a constituency event in 2017, were published online by the Jewish Chronicle. The recording featured the politician responding to a question about increased security at the Cardiff United Synagogue in the Cyncoed area of the city as a result of anti-Semitism fears. Ms Rathbone is heard saying: The fact that the Jewish synagogue in Cyncoed is behind this fortress is really uncomfortable. And how much of it is for real and how much of it is in their own heads is really hard for an outsider to judge. But I think siege mentalities are also part of this. She also said she believed hate crimes against the Jewish community were a reaction to the failure to come to a peace settlement around Palestine and Israel, and said Israels behaviour drives people to be hostile to the Jewish community in this country. Footage has been taken of two orcas, or killer whales, as they were spotted off the coast of Dublin by fishing crew. The video, taken by prawn fisherman James MacCluskey, was filmed roughly two miles from the coast of Rockabill in Ireland. The fishing crew saw the orcas up close, with MacCluskey exclaiming: Ive been waiting years to see these! MacCluskey comments in the video that the whales could be John Coe and Dopey Dick, two whales from the Scottish West Coast Community, however the whales have not been identified. Scotlands west coast is home to the UKs only resident orca population, a group of eight individuals that havent produced a calf in more than 20 years. MacCluskey told Press Association: This pod of orca is dying out, they havent produced a calf in over 20 years. Its thought to be because of pollution, so its sad that eventually theyre going to die out. The recently-released annual India Skill Report 2019 shows that engineers continue to be the most employable of the lot for the third-year running. The nationwide survey, prepared by People Strong, Wheebox and CII in partnership with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Association of Indian Universities, further revealed the waning employability of MBA students. According to The Times of India, the latest survey showed that MBA courses have lost some of their appeal with employability dropping 3 percentage points over the last year. The list of states boasting the highest employability was topped by Andhra Pradesh, followed by West Bengal and Delhi. While Rajasthan and Haryana joined the Top 10 states in the latest survey, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab fell out of the list. In terms of cities, Guntur and Visakhapatnam reportedly entered the top 10 cities' list after a gap of two years. The list also featured newcomers Thane and Nashik. "The presence of these tier 2 and tier 3 cities makes it clear that the employable talent pool is not limited to metro cities," the daily quoted the report as saying. The overall employability score has increased from 45% in the previous ranking to 47.8% in the latest one. Female employability, optimistically, showed a bigger jump to 46% in the latest survey against 38% in the previous one. What anout salary expectations? According to the survey, almost 70% of freshers expect an annual Rs 2 lakh or more as their first salary and 47% of candidates expect Rs 2.6 lakh or above as their first pay check. The sixth edition of the report reached out to more than 3 lakh students across 29 states and 7 union territories from the supply side as well as corporate players from diverse industry sectors on the demand side. The survey captures the skill levels of students based on the Wheebox work, employability and skills test conducted between July 15 and October 30. The students were tested on several subjects, including English, critical thinking skill, numerical aptitude, domain knowledge and behavioural competence. On the demand side, the survey optimistically reveals positive hiring intent. Nearly 64% of employers reportedly have a positive outlook on hiring. Moreover, it is expected to be 15% higher compared to last year across nine major sectors. While most of the hiring would be for lateral positions, 15-20% of the new jobs would be for freshers. "Almost 40% to 50% of existing jobs which are transaction heavy would get automated. The key sectors are IT, financial services, manufacturing, transportation, packaging and shipping," said the report. Not surprisingly, artificial intelligence (AI), design analytics and research and development (R&D) are the top jobs in terms of hiring potential in the 2019 survey. About 23% of employers plan to hire for design jobs. A flamingo en route to Saudi Arabia has become separated from its flock and fallen onto a road in Siberia, it has been reported in Russia. The Siberian Times newspaper reported that the bird froze in the air and crashed onto a road in front of a car in the Kemerovo region in western Siberia. Expand Close Flamingos searches for food in a salt lake in Cyprus (Petros Karadjias/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Flamingos searches for food in a salt lake in Cyprus (Petros Karadjias/AP) They cited experts saying that the flamingo apparently grew weak and lost its bearings on a migration flight. They said the birds could have departed on their annual flight south later than usual because of an unusually warm autumn and faced freezing temperatures. Rossiya television reported that local residents rescued the flamingo, which is now in good condition. Chicago police say they are responding to a shooting near a hospital with reports of multiple victims. A department spokesman issued a statement on Twitter saying officers are responding after shots were fired near Mercy Hospital on the citys South Side. Officers are doing a methodical search of Mercy hospital. At least one possible offender is shot. Please avoid the area of 26th and Michigan Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 19, 2018 The department says there are reports of multiple victims. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said officers are searching the hospital. A #ChicagoPolice officer has been shot in the active shooter incident at Mercy Hospital. He is in critical condition but receiving excellent care. Please send your prayers. pic.twitter.com/kFfMY1ZmF7 Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 19, 2018 He added that at least one possible offender is shot, but no details were immediately released. Police asked people to avoid the area. Television footage showed several people, including some wearing white coats, walking through a car park with their arms up. Japanese prosecutors were considering whether to file formal charges against Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn amid a probe into allegations he misused company assets and under-reported millions of dollars of income. The arrest of Mr Ghosn after a whistleblower disclosed the alleged misconduct left many in Japan stunned by the downfall of a relentless cost cutter who appears to have spent lavishly on himself. Prosecutors said they were holding Mr Ghosn, 64, for allegedly collaborating to falsify securities statements and under-report 44.6 million dollars in income from 2011 to 2015. A second Nissan executive, Greg Kelly, was also suspected of collaborating with him. Expand Close Nissan cars at the Nissan Factory in Sunderland (OWen Humphreys/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nissan cars at the Nissan Factory in Sunderland (OWen Humphreys/PA) Its extremely regrettable, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. We will watch developments closely. There was no word from Mr Ghosn himself. Prosecutors have refused to say where he was being held. Mr Ghosn officially still leads the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance as CEO and chairman, with the board of directors of French carmaker Renault saying he will remain as chairman and CEO after a meeting on Tuesday evening. The board tapped the carmakers number two, Thierry Bollore, to fill in for Mr Ghosn while he is temporarily incapacitated. A statement issued after the three-hour meeting said the board was unable to comment on the evidence seemingly gathered against Mr Ghosn. It said Mr Bollore, Renaults chief operating officer, will lead on a temporary basis. Expand Close French President Emmanuel Macron on a visit to a Renault factory with Carlos Ghosn earlier this month (Francois Mori/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp French President Emmanuel Macron on a visit to a Renault factory with Carlos Ghosn earlier this month (Francois Mori/AP) The prosecutors, who reportedly arrested Mr Ghosn after questioning him upon his arrival by private jet at Tokyos Haneda airport, have 48 hours from the time of Ghosns arrest on Monday to decide whether to press charges. They can hold a suspect for up to 20 more days per charge if they decide they need more time. Nissans board was due to meet on Thursday to consider dismissing Ghosn and Kelly. Earlier this year, Mr Ghosn signed a contract that would have run through 2022. Of French, Brazilian and Lebanese background, Mr Ghosn also is a towering corporate figure in France, where Renault is one of the heavyweight industrial survivors. He has met repeatedly with the past four French presidents; no major economic event in France was held without Mr Ghosn. Expand Close The logo of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance (Thibault Camus/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The logo of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance (Thibault Camus/AP) But French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told broadcaster Franc-Info on Tuesday that Renault should name temporary leadership as Mr Ghosn is not in a position to head the group. Mr Le Maire said French authorities have found no wrongdoing in Mr Ghosns tax situation in France. Mr Ghosns Lebanese heritage is a source of pride in Lebanon, and in Beirut the foreign minister, Gibran Bassil, issued a statement saying the Lebanese ambassador to Tokyo was told to look out for the model of Lebanese success abroad. He said the Lebanese foreign ministry would stand by Mr Ghosn to ensure he gets a fair trial. In Japan, where foreign executives are scarce and even the biggest corporate bigwigs tend to keep a low profile, Mr Ghosns status is more ambiguous. Expand Close Nissan Motor Co global headquarters in Yokohama, near Tokyo (Kenzaburo Fukuhara/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nissan Motor Co global headquarters in Yokohama, near Tokyo (Kenzaburo Fukuhara/AP) He is admired for driving a turnaround at Nissan when it was near bankruptcy and for his foresight in pushing to bring electric and autonomous cars to the masses. But in a 90-minute news conference late on Monday night, Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa said Mr Ghosn had too much power and the company was overdue for some change. The scandal was a negative outcome of the long regime of Mr Ghosn, he said. With few new developments, Japanese media were avidly detailing allegations against Mr Ghosn. Public broadcaster NHK said Mr Ghosn was in charge of allocating pay among Nissans top executives and is suspected of siphoning off some of that remuneration. Expand Close Nissan Motor Co president and CEO Hiroto Saikawa speaks during a press conference (Shuji Kajiyama/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nissan Motor Co president and CEO Hiroto Saikawa speaks during a press conference (Shuji Kajiyama/AP) He also is suspected of underpaying his share of the rent and misusing company funds on his company-issued housing in Lebanon, Paris, Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro, where his apartment is on the wealthy Copacabana beach strip. Mr Ghosns compensation from Nissan, generous by Japanese standards, was only part of his overall income since he also was paid salaries by the carmakers alliance partners Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motor Corp. Repeatedly questioned over how the company could have let financial misconduct persist for so long, Mr Saikawa said systems inside Nissan limited transparency. The allegations are a serious blow at a time when Nissan and Mitsubishi are still recovering from scandals over altered results of emissions and fuel economy tests on vehicles sold in Japan. The arrest of Nissan Motor Cos chairman Carlos Ghosn on charges he under-reported his income and misused company funds caused the companys shares to tumble and left many in Japan shocked. Prosecutors said on Tuesday that they were holding Mr Ghosn for allegedly collaborating to falsify securities statements and under report Mr Ghosns income. A second Nissan executive, Greg Kelly, was also suspected of collaborating with him to under-report some five billion yen (34.5m) in Mr Ghosns income from 2011-2015. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that the government was watching for economic fallout from the scandal at one of the worlds biggest car makers. Its extremely regrettable, Mr Suga said of the arrest. We will watch the development closely. Mr Ghosn was arrested on Monday and Nissans chief executive Hiroto Saikawa said the companys board will meet on Thursday to approve his dismissal. Prosecutors refused to say where he was being held in Tokyo. Expand Close Nissan Motor Co president and CEO Hiroto Saikawa speaks during a press conference (Shuji Kajiyama/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nissan Motor Co president and CEO Hiroto Saikawa speaks during a press conference (Shuji Kajiyama/AP) There was no word from Mr Ghosn himself about the situation. He reportedly was questioned and arrested shortly after arriving on Monday from overseas aboard a private jet. The Brazilian-born executive became one of the car industrys most powerful executives by engineering a turnaround at Nissan and leading the company for nearly two decades. The scandal abruptly threw into question Mr Ghosns future as leader of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, which sold 10.6 million cars last year, more than any other manufacturer. Mr Saikawa, in a 90-minute news conference late on Monday, said the company was overdue for some change and that power had been too heavily concentrated in one person. The scandal was a negative outcome of the long regime of Mr Ghosn, he said. Mr Ghosn officially still leads the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance as chief executive and chairman. But experts said it is unlikely he will be able to stay on there or at Renault, where he is also chief executive. Renault said its board will hold an emergency meeting soon. Companies in the alliance own parts of each other and share investments in new technologies, among other things. Renault owns 43% of Nissan, which owns 15% of Renault and 34% of Mitsubishi. The allegations are a serious blow at a time when Nissan is still getting over a scandal in which it admitted altering the results of emission and fuel economy tests on vehicles sold in Japan. A press release by the prosecutors office in Tokyo said Mr Ghosn and Mr Kelly collaborated to under-report Mr Ghosns income as 4.99 billion yen even though it actually was almost 10 billion yen, submitting falsified securities statements to the regional finance bureau. The compensation from Nissan was only a part of Mr Ghosns overall income since he also was paid salaries by the car makers alliance partners Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motor Corp. Nissans shares fell 5% in Tokyo trading on Tuesday. Shares in Renault plunged 8.4% in Paris on Monday. Expand Close The stock priceof Nissan Motor shows the days loss on the electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo (Daisuke Suzuki/Kyodo News via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The stock priceof Nissan Motor shows the days loss on the electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo (Daisuke Suzuki/Kyodo News via AP) A next step by prosecutors was expected soon. Police can hold suspects without charge for days, but prosecutors have only 48 hours to decide whether to press charges. If they decide they need more time, they can hold a suspect for up to 20 more days. Mr Ghosn signed a contract this year that would have run through 2022. Of French, Brazilian and Lebanese background, he lives in both Japan and France, where he earlier turned Renault around, making it a global player. Nissan said it informed the authorities about suspicions of falsified financial reporting and misuse of company funds and assets by Mr Ghosn after a months long investigation prompted by a whistleblower. Mr Saikawa provided only limited details about the case, saying he was constrained because of the criminal investigation under way. Apologising repeatedly, he vowed to improve the companys governance. Beyond being sorry, I feel great disappointment, frustration, despair, indignation and resentment, Mr Saikawa said. The Rock of Gibraltar viewed from the departure lounge of Gibraltar Airport (Yui Mok/PA) Spains prime minister has said his country will vote against the divorce agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom if Gibraltars future is not considered a bilateral issue between Madrid and London. The UK and the EU reached a 585-page draft withdrawal agreement and are fleshing out a far less detailed seven-page declaration on their future relations. Both need to be approved by European leaders at a weekend summit. Expand Close The Royal Navys new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it makes its way to Gibraltar (Dave Jenkins/MoD/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Royal Navys new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it makes its way to Gibraltar (Dave Jenkins/MoD/PA) If the documents do not change before Sunday, Spain will vote no, Pedro Sanchez has warned on Tuesday during a business forum organised by The Economist in Madrid. Spain is the only among 27 countries that has voiced opposition to the deal because it deems unclear the wording of how Gibraltar, the British territory at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, would be dealt with. It is an indication of the pivotal position that Northern Ireland holds in the Brexit debate that Prime Minister Theresa May has taken the time to extend her charm offensive to this side of the Irish Sea. Her 900-plus word article published exclusively in this newspaper today can be viewed as an attempt to convince unionists that the draft deal she has struck with the EU is as good as it gets and that it gives Northern Ireland business positive advantages through unfettered access to its main marketplaces in Britain, the Republic and other countries of the EU. Read More Mrs May is well aware that she is unlikely to change the minds of the DUP who, having backed themselves into a corner on the issue and raised fears over the integrity of the Union, can hardly do an about-face. She is also aware that the ordinary unionist on the street, having long memories of what they would call past Tory treachery over the proroguing of Stormont and signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement which gave Dublin a say in the affairs of Northern Ireland, also needs reassurance that whatever the economic outcome, the Union remains safe. The Prime Minister says the consent principle contained in the Belfast Agreement guarantees Northern Ireland's constitutional status as part of the UK, but a large thrust of her argument is of the economic benefits of the draft deal. She is keen to name check the business organisations that have come out in favour of the deal - while admitting it is imperfect but infinitely preferable to a No Deal - and as our business pages today reveal, those who previously trumpeted support for Brexit have suddenly gone quiet. Astonishingly, one former strong advocate of Brexit, wine merchant James Nicholson, now brands local political leaders as economic terrorists for their handling of the debate. Strong words, which have seldom been uttered by any leading business figure here before. If nothing else, that shows the passions that have been aroused by the vote to leave the EU. Mrs May also cites the need for continued security co-operation between Northern Ireland and its EU counterparts, assures people that the common travel area between the Republic and the UK will continue, and assures politicians that when taking back control of laws, Westminster, where appropriate, will devolve them to the devolved administrations. This is another reason for getting the Assembly and Executive back and having a functioning administration here, but that is unlikely to happen soon. The Prime Minister gives three assurances of why there is no need to fear the backstop to the EU divorce bill: the implementation period can be extended instead of entering the backstop; regulations across the UK will be kept consistent, ensuring no divergence between Britain and Northern Ireland and, finally, this is only a temporary measure which can be terminated. So, will her charm offensive work? She is preaching to the converted as far as the business community is concerned - although it cannot be taken as read that everyone in the organisations which have backed the draft deal is in tune with their leaderships. They can begin to plan for the future. Politicians are a different matter. Their expressed concern is of any threat to the Union. All else is of secondary importance to unionists. Having raised fears, will they be reassured that there is no threat from this draft deal? There is probably more chance of Sinn Fein entering the Commons. Theresa May's 905-word eulogy to 'her' deal might contain lots of cogent points but will do nothing to appease her erstwhile Westminster allies in the DUP. As the Prime Minister notes, the 'Barnier-May' Withdrawal Agreement has attracted much enthusiasm from Northern Ireland's business and farming communities. It seems they have wearied of being told that every constitutional deal is a sell-out or betrayal. Cash, cattle and crops matter more than constitutional wrangling in their economic prism. Read More Content that the constitutional question was settled via the consent principle in 1998, the main concern of many food producers and farmers is to avoid a no deal exit from the EU. After all, it was one Arlene Foster who told the Prime Minister in 2016 shortly after the Brexit referendum that Northern Ireland's agri-food sector was "uniquely vulnerable". Businesses appear genuinely excited about the prospect of continuing unfettered access to the EU market and to the UK Single Market. Great Britain's trade with Northern Ireland ought to continue apace, notwithstanding increased checks. Northern Ireland's economy - for so long a public sector dependent under-performer - might even boom. The DUP backed itself into a difficult corner in opposing any regulatory divergence which made Northern Ireland a more distinctive, EU-leaning part of the UK. Yet Northern Ireland IS a different part of the UK. Its position inside is explicitly conditional; its social legislation differs; divergence was growing under devolution (the DUP favoured corporation tax alignment with the rest of Ireland) and a large minority of its people hold Irish citizenship. Moving beyond objective economic and constitutional analysis and into partisan politics however, the DUP's fury with the Prime Minister is understandable. For May has acted duplicitously. She allowed the removal of paragraph 50 of the Joint EU-UK report agreed last December, which offered the prospect of local agreement to alignment - without bothering to inform the region's largest party. Now the PM tells us she will ensure there will be 'no divergence between Northern Ireland and Great Britain'. As EU Single Market rules will prevail in Northern Ireland, her only choice as UK Prime Minister will be to follow those rules for part of 'her' Kingdom. Those EU rules will probably be fine and sensible, so who cares - not businesses probably - but she does need to be frank about who is in control. The Prime Minister also claims this arrangement is "expressly temporary, with a mechanism by which it can be terminated". In the same way that life is temporary and will eventually be terminated, yes. But its average length is 81 years - and you wouldn't bet on the UK-EU Commission agreeing that the backstop can be safely removed much shy of that. And the PM knows full well that the 'mechanism' by which transitional arrangements are terminated has dual controls. She cannot act alone. Among other odd claims, the Prime Minister asserts that the Chief Constable has put cross-border policing in an EU context - not particularly. Most risibly of all, the preservation of the Common Travel Area is passed off as her victory. It came into being more than three decades before she was born and was never under threat from the EU. But raging against a PM's unsubtle dissembling and half-truths does not a policy make. The PM is determined to see this through as the only deal in town, one seeming to attract considerable local sympathy. The DUP raged against a previous 'only show in town' two decades ago but ended up working the deal. Whether the party has to do likewise this time depends now on parliamentary mathematics. Jon Tonge is Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool I have now ploughed through the 585 pages of the proposed withdrawal agreement and the explanation notes and the outline of the political declaration framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom. Like most documents associated with the EU, it is written in EU-speak by lawyers who seem to want to make it as complicated and fudged as possible. Read More But the bottom line for me, as someone who loves my country and who campaigned to leave in order to allow us to take back control of our laws, borders and trade, is the way Northern Ireland is being treated. Quite simply, Northern Ireland to all intents and purposes becomes separated in many ways from the rest of the United Kingdom. The backstop arrangements look like they were written by the Irish government we cannot leave unilaterally and we could be trapped there for ever and, even if the rest of the UK is freed, Northern Ireland stays in, with the Republic of Ireland effectively representing Northern Ireland in the EU. There is no incentive for the EU to sign a free trade deal, ever. Why should they, when our Prime Minister will have signed up to a deal that binds the whole UK into a single customs territory forcing us to abide by EU tariffs. The EU will have a veto over new international agreements and trade partnerships. Indeed, it is worse, as the unelected commission will retain the right to veto our foreign policy too, saying we would have to refrain from any action or initiative which the EU deems to be prejudicial to its interests. The Prime Minister voted to remain, but I believed her when she constantly proclaimed her intention to leave the Customs Union, the Single Market and take control of our laws. As Shailesh Vara, the Minister in the Northern Ireland Office, said in his resignation letter: It is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interest at heart. Undoubtedly, the hard border threat has been weaponised by both the Irish government and the European Union and our negotiators fell for it. It is ironic that the only hard border at the moment between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is in the sea, as Northern Ireland fishermen are banned from fishing in Irish waters, yet Irish fishermen can fish freely in NI waters. The Irish government two years ago reneged on the neighbourhood agreement of 1965, yet accuse Leavers of wanting a hard border. The people of the UK, in the largest ever democratic vote, decided to Leave the EU, not leave a little and stay a little. They have been sold out by a powerful elite who never wanted us to leave and by a Prime Minister who has capitulated to every whim of Brussels. This deal is not worth a penny, never mind 39bn. Kate Hoey is the Northern Ireland-born Labour MP for Vauxhall Bangladeshi photojournalist Shahidul Alam raises a fist and grips a camera after he was released on bail and walked out of the Dhaka Central Jail, Nov. 20, 2018. Updated at 3:13 p.m. ET on 2018-11-20 Prominent Bangladeshi photojournalist Shahidul Alam walked out of jail Tuesday after 107 days in custody, after a court granted him bail last week in a case his supporters had labeled as a miscarriage of justice. Alam emerged at around 8:20 p.m. from the Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, a sub-district about 12 miles from the Bangladeshi capital, where authorities had confined him since his arrest in August on suspicion of violating the nations defamation laws. Every citizen in a free country should have freedom of speech, Alam told reporters as he hugged his wife, Rahnuma Ahmed. If a person in a free country does not have freedom of speech, it is not different from jail. Students and well-wishers cheered Hoye! Hoye! as the photographer came out of jail. Alam was taken to a hospital for checkup. Hours later, his wife told reporters they were on their way home. Alam, whose detention has widely been seen as a test for freedom of speech in Bangladesh, was released after six attempts by his legal team to secure bail since he was taken into custody three and a half months ago. A High Court panel granted Alam bail on Thursday, but he had to remain in jail for several more days as authorities waited to receive the courts official bail and release order. I am glad that the jail authorities finally released him by obeying the High Courts order, Sara Hossain, Alams attorney, told BenarNews. Negligible The arrest of the 63-year-old Alam, one of South Asias most acclaimed photojournalists, angered human rights and free press advocacy groups, which demanded the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina free him. Asked late Tuesday how he had fared in prison, Alam said, "My suffering was very negligible, in comparison to others there." He could still be charged for allegedly spreading false and fabricated content online about student-led protests over road safety that rocked the country in early August. The judges who granted him bail on Nov. 15 did not throw out the potential case against him. During the protests, which flared after two students were killed by a speeding bus, Alam posted accounts about the demonstrations on Facebook Live. He was arrested soon after giving an interview about the protests to the Al Jazeera network. Prosecutors allege that he defamed Hasinas government in the interview by describing it as unelected. In an opinion piece published in August by a U.S. media outlet, Hasinas son Sajeeb Wazed said that Alam had incited violence by spreading false information about student deaths during the protests, in a bid to fan political violence in an election year. Police arrested Mr. Alam not because he held a contrary view but because his latest pronouncements caused real harm. Mr. Alams words helped transformed a peaceful protest into lawless violence, he wrote. Police took Alam from his home on Aug. 5, but authorities officially arrested him on Aug. 6. I was beaten. [They] washed my blood-stained Punjabi [shirt] and made me wear it again, Alam called out to reporters on Aug. 6, while being escorted to a courthouse where he was remanded to seven days in custody for questioning. Supporters and friends cheer after Bangladeshi photojournalist Shahidul Alam received his temporary freedom and walked out of the Dhaka Central Jail, Nov. 20, 2018. (BenarNews] An outrage Hasina told Reuters last month that she was convinced Alam spread what she described as false news about protests against her administration in August. Hasina also said Alam, one of South Asias most-respected photographers, was mentally sick. She did not offer evidence for her statement. Hasina, 71, is seeking a third consecutive term in an election scheduled for Dec. 30 amid growing opposition to what rights groups had described as an increasingly authoritarian rule. This entire episode has been a human rights outrage from the beginning, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, told BenarNews. It started with the Bangladesh government heaping rights abuses and indignities on Shahidul Alam simply because he dared speak the truth about the students bus protests to Al-Jazeera and the wider world. Robertson urged the government to drop any charges against Alam, return his bail money, and compensate him for time in detention. Journalism should not be considered a crime, Robertson said. PM Sheikh Hasina should be ashamed of her governments politically motivated persecution designed to silence a critic who dared point out how officials were failing to ensure safety for youth confronted with reckless bus drivers. Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Haji Aman (left), Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi huddle at the conclusion of their meeting in Pasay city, southeast of Manila, where they discussed halting the flow of militants, weapons, funds and extremist propaganda across their borders, June 22, 2017. Muslims in Malaysian are more likely to support global terror groups, including the Islamic State (IS) and the regional Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), than their counterparts in other Southeast Asian nations, researchers at a Malaysian polling firm said Monday. In a survey of tolerance and susceptibility toward extremism, the Merdeka Center reported that 18 percent of respondents from Malaysia supported the actions of JI, which is linked to al-Qaeda. By comparison, in Indonesia, where the militant group launched a string of attacks including the Bali bombings that killed 202 people 16 years ago, there was 12.6 percent support for JI. The other two nations included in the study, the Philippines and Thailand, showed 15.7 percent support for JI and 9.9 percent support, respectively. During a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Merdeka presented slides of the report and announced that the final version should be released by years end. In addition, support for IS in Malaysia was highest, at 5.2 percent although the Merdeka researchers noted the figure was lower than 11 percent reported by the Pew Research Centers 2015 Global Attitudes survey. Figures for the other three countries were 3.8 percent in the Philippines, 2.4 percent in Thailand and 1.3 percent in Indonesia. Citing the Pew report as a motivation, Merdeka researchers said the survey was aimed at identifying the prevalence of religious extremism among Muslim-majority countries Malaysia and Indonesia, and Thailand and the Philippines, where Muslims are religious minorities. Previous research tended to just focus on the extremists themselves, Merdeka director Ismail Suffian told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. We are trying to gauge the level of tolerance and extremism in the larger population. Conducted in 2017 and 2018, Merdeka researchers surveyed 5,014 individuals age 18 and older in 753 distinct areas across the four countries, with the exception of Indonesia where respondents were age 17 and older. To better understand attitudes to the umbrella term extremism, the researchers said they created one category to measure an individuals willingness to commit sacrifices in defense of his religion while a second category measured ones willingness to perform violent harm to others to achieve the same goal. The report described a person willing to self-sacrifice for Islam as someone (more likely a man) who is educated and religiously-identified, and who is drawn to a narrative that prioritizes purist Islamic goals and religious literalism, and denounces the West, while feeling that Muslims are treated badly around the world. Ananthi Al Ramiah, who co-authored Merdekas survey, explained its importance. As a psychologist, I approach humans as a biological entity and as such the dominant nature of such an entity is survival, she told reporters. Therefore a willingness to self-sacrifice is a distinct deviation from that genetic code. Despite support among Malaysian for extremist groups, the study found that Muslims in the country and neighboring Thailand were more likely to opt for self-sacrifice 31 percent and 32 percent compared with 25 percent in Indonesia and 11 percent in the Philippines. Violence to achieve religious goals Filipino Muslims respondents, at 52 percent, showed the highest tendency toward being receptive to violence to achieve religious goals. Merdeka surveyed 1,000 Filipinos between Nov. 13 and 17, 2017, just weeks after government forces turned back Islamic militants who had taken over the southern city of Marawi for five months. By contrast, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailands responses were 28 percent, 26 percent and 21 percent respectively. The survey described a person drawn toward violent extremism as someone (once again, most likely a man) who is drawn to the narrative that prioritizes purist Islamic goals, religious literalism, and suicide bombing, while feeling that Muslims lack significance and dignity as a group. The survey was able to uncover the difference in motivation toward extremism between countries with a Muslim majority and those with a Muslim minority, Ananthi noted. In Muslim-majority countries it is motivated by the pursuit of a purer form of Islam which is usually Salafism or Saudi-influenced Wahabbism, she said. In Muslim-minority countries it is more abstract, and usually coupled with other struggles for land or livelihood. Among Muslims there is the idea of protecting the dignity of Islam perceived as being humiliated by external forces, she added. Although Malaysia has not suffered significant terror attacks, the survey shows that some Malaysians have terrorist tendencies, said Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid, an analyst at Universiti Sains Malaysia. This is not nearly the same as saying Malaysia or Southeast Asia is already extremist, we are not, he said, adding that Malaysia remained a moderate country with a rising degree of extremism. Shahriman Lockman, a senior analyst at Institute for Strategic and International Studies in Kuala Lumpur, said extremist views stemmed from the propagation of a warped and conspiratorial world view spread by extremist groups that has gone unchallenged for too long. When people believe in conspiracy theories about the world, there is a greater tendency for them to support extreme measures advocated by terror groups, he told BenarNews. Although Tata Sons last week confirmed that the Group is in preliminary talks with Jet Airways over a possible takeover of the beleaguered airline, its board is reportedly in no hurry to seal the deal. The investment holding company of the $103-billion salt-to-software conglomerate is instead advocating a cautious approach. People in the know told The Economic Times that some Tata Sons board members urged Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and his team to appoint external consultants to aid in the due diligence process and make it as comprehensive as possible amid concerns of a jump in the Naresh Goyal-promoted airline's liabilities. The board needs to ratify any investment of more than Rs 100 crore by group companies under its Articles of Association. "Many board members have suggested to the management to be cautious and not to rush to do the deal," said a source, explaining that a preliminary report is expected in a few weeks. "The board will discuss the due diligence report and will later take a call." The board met last Friday to discuss investing in Jet Airways, and a possible takeover. Given the state of affairs at Jet Airways, the person added that two external agencies will be appointed [for the due diligence] apart from the in-house team of the Tatas. The cash-strapped airline reported its third consecutive quarterly losses for the quarter ending September, and is currently scrambling for funds to tide over a liquidity crisis that has resulted in delayed payments to some vendors and salaries to a 15% of its over 16,000 employees. "While Ratan Tata is keen on aviation business, he is not keen on a deal at any cost," another source told the daily, pointing out that the Group would have gone ahead with the Air India deal, where the guarantor was the government, had that been the case. "Jet is not a bad airline but we have to be careful of risks involved with the deal and asses the cultural fit between the two airlines.'' Media reports last week suggested that Tata Sons was mulling a two-step deal, where Jet could merge with Tata SIA Airlines Ltd - the joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines that's known by the brand name Vistara - through a share swap in the first phase, followed by Singapore Airlines buying out the Goyal family's entire 51% stake in the new combined entity. The deal certainly has a lot going for it where both parties are concerned. It would strengthen the Tata Group's position in the aviation business, likely elevating it to India's second biggest airline operator after IndiGo in terms of market share, and third-largest in terms of fleet size. With Jet under its fold, the Tata Group-owned airlines, including AirAsia India, would reportedly have a combined market share of 23.6%, up from 8.2% as of September, as compared to 43.2% for IndiGo. On the other hand, Jet Airways would bag a life vest. Analysts predict a worrying outlook for the airline unless it manages to find a strategic investor. According to a recent note by Edelweiss Securities, Jet Airways is "set to lose market share as it lacks the financial muscle to exploit robust domestic passenger growth". Moreover, yield pressure is unlikely to abate in the near term as IndiGo continues to push for market share. "In the absence of a fund infusion/divestment, Jet Airways may default on the upcoming debt repayment," the note read, adding, "However, the entry of a strategic buyer may alleviate some of these concerns in the near term." Earlier this month, in a post-earnings call, Jet Airways had said that it is at various stages of discussions with multiple "interested parties" for capital infusion and partial stake sale in its loyalty programme Jet Privilege. Although various private equity firms, including Blackstone and TPG, had submitted bids for the frequent flier programme, the negotiations didn't advance much. So, much depends on the outcome of the talks with the Tatas. On Sunday, the airline left hundreds of passengers stranded at the Mumbai international airport after it cancelled 10 domestic flights due to operational issues. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu yesterday virtually ruled out the possibility of a bailout package for the airline. "For a private airline, it is for the board of directors and their management to ensure that the airline functions properly, that (they) have to take appropriate measures depending upon market conditions that will prevail from time to time," Prabhu said without directly mentioning Jet Airways. A senior official told PTI that the ministry has also decided not to intervene with respect to the airline's request for more time to pay dues to airport operators. With PTI inputs Flu cases that do not result in hospital visits are in the majority, but deaths are still a major aspect of influenza cases. On this exclusive, members-only event, Bill breaks down what you need to know about The Real Joe Biden. Who is he and how will he directly affect you and your family? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices For Immediate Release, November 20, 2018 Contact: Miyoko Sakashita, (510) 844-7108, Miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org Trump Moves to Open Alaska Wilderness to More Oil Leasing New Plan Could Remove Wildlife Protections From Western Arctic ANCHORAGE The Trump administration today moved to open protected wildlife habitat in the northern Alaska wilderness to expanded oil and gas leasing. The Bureau of Land Management announced plans to redo the Integrated Activity Plan for the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska, aiming to remove special area protections around Colville River and Teshekpuk Lake, home to the worlds largest caribou herds and flocks of migratory birds. This western Arctic region is the largest roadless area and largest parcel of public land in the United States. The Center for Biological Diversity and other groups sued the Trump administration in February for failing to study how its drastic expansion of NPR-A fossil fuel leasing would impact wildlife and climate change. We should protect our last remaining wilderness areas, not industrialize them. Keeping northern Alaska wild helps avert climate chaos and the extinction crisis, said Miyoko Sakashita, ocean program director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Once we let the oil industry build roads, wells and pipelines in this special place, theres no going back. Whats needed is an end to exploiting the Arctic for fossil fuels, not a new plan for drilling. The Trump administration last year offered all available land in the Arctic reserve to oil companies a total of 900 tracts covering more than 10.3 million acres, an area larger than 12 states. In response to a lawsuit from conservation groups, in 2013 the BLM agreed to exempt the most ecologically sensitive areas from fossil fuel leasing, a decision the Trump administration is now revisiting. Our wilderness areas have only become more valuable as the extinction crisis grows and our climate changes. Theres absolutely no basis for the Trump administration to expand its assault on the Western Arctic, Sakashita said. We need to leave this oil safely in the ground and protect this vital habitat for birds, caribou and grizzly bears. According to new malaria report 2018, reductions in malaria cases have stalled after several years of decline globally In order to scale up prevention and treatment, and increased investment, to protect vulnerable people from Malaria, WHO and partners are joining a new country-led response. According to new malaria report 2018, reductions in malaria cases have stalled after several years of decline globally. Annual report produced by WHO reveals a plateauing in numbers of people affected by malaria. In 2017, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria, compared to 217 million the year before. But in the years prior, the number of people contracting malaria globally had been steadily falling, from 239 million in 2010 to 214 million in 2015. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General says, Nobody should die from malaria. But the world faces a new reality: as progress stagnates, we are at risk of squandering years of toil, investment and success in reducing the number of people suffering from the disease. We recognise we have to do something different now. So today we are launching a country-focused and -led plan to take comprehensive action against malaria by making our work more effective where it counts most at local level. In 2017, approximately 70% of all malaria cases (151 million) and deaths (274 000) were concentrated in 11 countries: 10 in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania) and India. There were 3.5 million more malaria cases reported in these 10 African countries in 2017 compared to the previous year, while India, however, showed progress in reducing its disease burden. The report highlights that despite marginal increases in recent years in the distribution and use of insecticide-treated bed nets in sub-Saharan Africa the primary tool for preventing malaria. In 2017, an estimated half of at-risk people in Africa did not sleep under a treated net. Also, fewer homes are being protected by indoor residual spraying than before, and access to preventive therapies that protect pregnant women and children from malaria remains too low. In line with WHOs strategic vision to scale up activities to protect peoples health, the new country-driven High burden to high impact response plan has been launched to support nations with most malaria cases and deaths. Targets set by the WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 20162030 to reduce malaria case incidence and death rates by at least 40% by 2020 are not on track to being met. Catalyzed by WHO and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, High burden to high impact builds on the principle that no one should die from a disease that can be easily prevented and diagnosed, and that is entirely curable with available treatments. Dr Kesete Admasu, CEO of the RBM Partnership said, There is no standing still with malaria. The latest World malaria report shows that further progress is not inevitable and that business as usual is no longer an option. The new country-led response will jumpstart aggressive new malaria control efforts in the highest burden countries and will be crucial to get back on track with fighting one of the most pressing health challenges we face. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa says, When countries prioritize action on malaria, we see the results in lives saved and cases reduced. WHO and global malaria control partners will continue striving to help governments, especially those with the highest burden, scale up the response to malaria. In 2018, WHO certified Paraguay as malaria free making it the first country in the Americas to receive this status in 45 years. Three other countries Algeria, Argentina and Uzbekistan have requested official malaria-free certification from WHO. India a country that represents 4% of the global malaria burden recorded a 24% reduction in cases in 2017 compared to 2016. Also in Rwanda, 436 000 fewer cases were recorded in 2017 compared to 2016. Ethiopia and Pakistan both reported marked decreases of more than 240 000 in the same period. As a part of its outreach to the industry Merck in India has launched an initiative for emerging startups at the Bio Economy India Conclave 2018 in Pune. From drug discovery and development to manufacturing and diagnostics, the Life Science business of Merck is dedicated to solving the toughest problems in life science by collaborating with the global scientific community. As a part of its outreach to the industry Merck in India has launched an initiative for emerging startups at the Bio Economy India Conclave 2018 in Pune. With this program Merck intends to collaborate with startups from incubation phase until they achieve a scalable solution or a final market ready product. Startups will benefit from the vast knowledge that Merck has amassed over the years, working closely with our customers from academia, biotech and pharma to help deliver the promise of their work better, faster and safer. On registering at www.merckindiastartups.com Merck offers startups support with Regulatory Consultation, provide Access to Subject Matter Experts and opportunity to enroll in the training programs on offer. Besides the above solutions a communication hub within the platform will drive networking among fellow startups, incubation centers, leading academic Institutes and, pharma & biotech companies across the country. This platform has the potential to be that social forum where the important stake holders of the Life Science industry can get together and interact virtually. This is Mercks offering to fuel innovative thinking and faster to market approach within the Life Science industry. The infighting in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) isn't a big secret. The two main characters in the story are CBI Director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana. Both were little known officers up until July 2018. What started as an ego tussle blew out when Verma, a 1979-batch UT cadre officer, told the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) that special director Asthana, a 1984-batch Gujarat cadre officer, was not authorised to represent him in the search committee meetings. Pretty soon by October, the CBI had registered an FIR against Asthana. The government didn't waste a lot of time and got involved by the night of October 23 and appointed M Nageshwar Rao as Interim Director of the premier investigating agency. Both Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana were sent on forced leave. Rao did what he was asked to do by the government. He made some strategic transfers, and shuffled officers and assigned them new tasks. All this didn't stop both Verma and Asthana from sitting quietly. Both moved the apex court, which in turn ordered the CVC, Verma and Asthana to submit their replies in sealed envelopes. Following are the major developments in the matter since then - Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday set an ambitious target of India breaking into top 50 nations on the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking and said efforts are on to nearly double the size of country's economy to USD 5 trillion. In his opening remarks at a meeting called on ease of doing business ranking with the Indian industry, Modi said the era of policy paralysis has ended and his government was giving policy-based governance that has helped catapult the country from 142nd rank among 190 nations on the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking in 2014 to 77th position this year. Reforms will continue and procedures would be further eased to make it easier for companies to do business in the country, he said adding efforts are on to increase the size of the economy to USD 5 trillion. Modi said it is an outcome of India's consistent reforms trajectory that the country's position is getting credence globally and is being recognised by international bodies like the IMF, World Economic Forum and UNCTAD. "All these institutions are confident and hopeful of our future due to the pace of our reforms. Amid the persistent efforts in the country, now our effort is to take India to the 5 trillion dollar club as soon as possible. To achieve this goal we will have to improve every sector of the economy," the prime minister said. The prime minister recalled that when he had first articulated his vision for India to break into the top 50 in ease of doing business ranking in the years to come, it was greeted with scepticism. A great improvement is now visible in just four years, Modi said adding that the central and state governments have both worked together towards improving the ease of doing business ranking, in the spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism. The prime minister further said it is necessary to reduce human intervention in processes and increase the use of modern and digital technologies. Advocating a work culture based on modern technologies, he said it will further promote policy driven governance. A Working Group tasked to develop a road map towards achieving a five trillion dollar economy by 2025 has prepared its report. The group was constituted by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with participation from government and industry. India is one of the fastest growing major economies and is currently ranked as the world's sixth largest economy. Projections of growth, over the medium term, remain encouraging and optimistic for India. The prime minister said all efforts are on to improve India's ranking in the World Bank's Doing Business Report among the top 50 nations. India was ranked 142nd among 190 nations when the Narendra Modi's government took office in 2014. At that time, the country was battling perceptions of excess red-tape and policy paralysis, Modi said. Four years of reform pushed up India's rank to 100th in the World Bank's 'Doing Business' 2018 report. It was 130th in 2017 when India was ranked lower than Iran and Uganda. In its annual 'Doing Business' 2019 report, India secured 77th position. New Zealand tops the list, followed by Singapore, Denmark and Hong Kong. The United States is placed at 8th and China ranked 46th. Neighbouring Pakistan is placed at 136. India has improved its ranking by 53 positions in the last two years and 65 places in four years since 2014. The World Bank ranks 190 countries based on 10 parameters, including starting a business, construction permits, getting electricity, getting credit, paying taxes, trade across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. The prime minister further said the government was working on new a industrial policy to blend realities with progress. "A policy which can understand the industry...this policy will be in line with the vision of a new India," he said. Modi also highlighted a host of reforms like the GST undertaken during the NDA government. Modi also launched the Ease of Doing Business Grand Challenge. The objective of this challenge is to invite innovative ideas based on Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, Blockchain and other cutting edge technologies to reform government processes. The platform for the Grand Challenge is the Startup India Portal. Death Secrets Told By Yamraj Faith Mysticism oi-Amrisha Sharma We all know that we are not immortal and will die one day. In the clock of kaal (death), be it a rich king or a beggar, all share equal position. That is why whenever the topic of death comes up, people become inquisitive to find out everything about death. Here we reveal some deep hidden secrets about death which have been highlighted by the God of Death, Yamraj. According to ancient scriptures, the secrets about death and soul have been discussed between a child named Nachketa and Yamraj. Here are some of the death secrets told by Yamraj to Nachketa. SIGNS OF DEATH AS PER HINDUISM Nachketa's Three Wishes When Nachketa went to meet Yamraj, he asked him to grant three wishes. His first wish was to get his father's love, second to know about agni Vidya, and third wish was about death and aatmagyan (knowledge of the self/soul). Yamraj did not want to fulfill the last wish, but surrendered before the insistent kid. So, Yamraj agreed to reveal the secrets and what happens after death. Onkar Is Parmatma According to scriptures, Yamraj revealed that Om (Onkar) is the swaroop of Parmatma. It means in chanting Om, we remember God. He also said that the heart of a human is the place where Brahma resides. The Soul Yamraj said that the soul of a being does not die after death. While the body is perishable and it dies one day, the soul is immortal. In short, the body has nothing to do with the soul's destruction. The soul does not take birth or die. Brahma Roop It is said that the souls might have to go through many births and deaths. When after the death, a person has finished the cycle of birth and death, he/she gets freedom from the this cycle and thus takes a form which is known as Brahma Roop. This means that he assimilates into God. The Power Of God Yamraj even said that those who do not believe in God and are atheists, they search for peace after death. Apparently, their souls keep wandering looking for peace. We get trapped in desires and trudge the path which leads to materialistic pleasures, but once man abandons all forms of desires, he is liberated from the clutches of senses and discovers a state of forever bliss. This Is Where Spirituality Comes Into Play That is where spirituality comes into play. It is the peace after death that we aim for when we speak about knowledge of the self. When one knows that it is the journey of the soul as a part of which we are here on the earth, one becomes humble, natural and helpful. Hence spirituality helps attain the real and positive qualities of the humans which are helpful for the self as well as fellow humans. Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION Canada NewsWire OTTAWA, Nov. 20, 2018 OTTAWA, Nov. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada is expected to spend $33.7 billion on prescribed drugs in 2018, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). This marks an estimated annual increase of 4.2% for drugs, compared with 4.0% and 3.1% for hospitals and doctors, respectively. In 2018, $14.4 billion (42.7%) of prescribed drug spending is expected to be financed by the public sector, while the remainder will be financed by private insurance and individuals paying out of pocket. Drug spending is just part of the expected $253.5 billion in total health spending in Canada this year. Biologics used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease will account for the highest proportion of public drug spending (8.2%) for the sixth consecutive year, while antiviral drugs to treat hepatitis C will account for the second-highest proportion (5.0%). Looking back to 2017 spending, about 1 in 4 Canadians received a benefit from a public drug program, with people living in low-income and rural/remote areas more likely to receive a benefit. In addition, people with high drug costs ($10,000 or more) represented only 2.3% of beneficiaries but accounted for over one-third (36.6%) of public drug spending last year. Other health spending highlights for 2018: National Health Expenditure Trends, 1975 to 2018 provides an overview of how much is spent on health care annually, in what areas money is spent and on whom, and where the money comes from. It features comparative expenditure data at the provincial/territorial and international levels, as well as health spending trends from 1975 to 2018. Prescribed Drug Spending in Canada, 2018: A Focus on Public Drug Programs includes drug claims from all provinces and Yukon, plus 1 federal program administered by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB). For the first time ever, Quebec data is included. Quote Drug spending is increasing more than the other major areas of health spending with a large proportion of drug spending going toward high-cost drugs for a small number of individuals. Examining recent trends in drug spending is helpful as Canada contemplates policies like international trade agreements, such as the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA), and national pharmacare. Opportunities to benefit from life-changing drugs have never been greater; but at the same time, spending on drugs through public drug programs has never been higher. Brent Diverty, Vice President, Programs, Canadian Institute for Health Information About CIHI The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides essential information on Canada's health systems and the health of Canadians. We provide comparable and actionable data and information that are used to accelerate improvements in health care, health system performance and population health across Canada. Our stakeholders use our broad range of health system databases, measurements and standards, together with our evidence-based reports and analyses, in their decision-making processes. We protect the privacy of Canadians by ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the health care information we provide. SOURCE Canadian Institute for Health Information PR Newswire LONDON, November 20, 2018 LONDON, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New gTLD (generic top-level domain) .Cloud is pleased to announce it has received accreditation from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784281/Cloud_Domain_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784282/Cloud_Domain.jpg ) This marks a strategic step for the Registry and parent Italian company Aruba S.p.A, in expanding its international partner network in the region. Accreditation means that .Cloud domains can be registered and hosted in China's mainland. Mou Mukherjee, Head of Registry Services at .Cloud, comments, "Our success is based on our partnerships and we are eager to collaborate with Chinese registrars and technology providers. These partners play a significant role in guiding Chinese businesses into the future of the digital economy by helping them build, boost, and protect their online identity." China's booming digital economy has created a hotbed of digital innovation, and the country has rapidly become a leading global force in digital innovation. This has spurred huge growth in cloud services led by government initiatives, online shopping, online payments, the sharing economy, social media, casual gaming, video streaming and other B2C services. China's cloud computing market has grown significantly since 2010 according to the Report of Prospects and Investment Strategy Planning on China Cloud Computing Industry (2017-2022) published by Forward Intelligence Co. Ltd., a special market research institute. Its market size reached 178.2 billion yuan in 2016, up 18.8 percent year-on-year. The industry will grow by at least 30 percent year-on-year on average in the coming five years. By 2020, China's cloud computing market is projected to reach 686.6 billion yuan (about $103.6 billion). With a future focus on cloud computing and digital transformation, the .Cloud domain will be an attractive option for any Chinese business or brand that wants to declare their technical advancement or share their modern mindset. Today, the term "cloud" has become synonymous with innovation, modern technology, and the future of business. The .Cloud domain launched in February 2016 and through support from its registrar partners has secured more than 155,000 registrations in over 180 countries. From digital platforms like Rio.Cloud, to startups like Food.Cloud, Fashion.Cloud, and Reward.Cloud - .Cloud is a modern domain for all businesses. Aruba S.p.A., founded in 1994, is the leading company in Italy for data center, cloud solutions, web hosting, email, certified email (PEC) and domain registration services. It boasts extensive experience when it comes to building and managing data centers, with an active European network, as well as the 3 data centers it owns in Italy and another one due to be ready in 2020. In the north of Italy, close to Milan, Aruba has built the biggest Italian data center campus with a surface area of 200,000m(2) The company manages over 2 million domains, 7 million email accounts, 5 million certified email (PEC) accounts, 130,000 physical and virtual servers and a total of more than 4.7 million customers. Connect with .Cloud on Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn. Logo: http://link.get.cloud/cloudlogo PR Newswire DENVER, Nov. 20, 2018 DENVER, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- At a recent international ENT Conference in London, UK Dr. Dave Singh, President and Chief Medical Officer of Vivos Therapeutics, presented pioneering findings regarding the long-term clinical implications of utilizing the Vivos System, garnering a very positive response from attendees. Vivos Therapeutics is a leading company focused on addressing the root causes of mild-to-moderate sleep apnea, advocating a non-surgical treatment as a potentially permanent solution. The large, international audience consisted of renowned otolaryngologistshead and neck surgeons. Dr. Singh's paper, entitled Non-surgical improvement of the upper airway for sleep disordered breathing: 5 year follow up, described the treatment of a 56-year-old male patient diagnosed with sleep apnea. Treatment consisted of 18 months of using the Vivos Therapeutic System. In a 5.5-year follow-up after initial use of a Vivos System oral appliance, the upper airway volume was shown to have increased significantly and its cross-sectional area had also increased dramatically. In other words, no relapse or regression in the size, shape, or function of the airway towards pre-treatment conditions was detected. "The results of this particular case-study serve to further underline the results possible from utilizing the Vivos System of proprietary biomimetic oral appliances and corresponding protocols," said Dr. Singh. "From this, we conclude that the Vivos System may be able to non-surgically enhance the upper airway in adult patients diagnosed with sleep disordered breathing." "In our mission to rid the world of the life-threatening condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, it is essential to reach the wide array of health care professionals involved in treating issues related to obstructive sleep apnea," said Vivos CEO Kirk Huntsman. "We look forward to continue to sharing research and results with doctors around the world." ABOUT VIVOSHeadquartered in Denver Colorado, Vivos Therapeutics Inc. is a company that provides training for dentists and health care providers, allowing them to integrate breathing wellness into their practice. The Vivos System is a proprietary, non-invasive, non-surgical treatment protocol, administered by a multidisciplinary team of highly-trained health care professionals. This revolutionary technology represents the first hope for a lasting solution to the problem of sleep apnea. Vivos Therapeutics has over 850 Certified and Integrated Providers throughout the US and two Canadian Provinces. For more information, please visit https://www.vivoslife.com/. Media Contact:Mollie WagonerLive Wire Media Relations, LLC(703) 519-1600 Ext. [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-dave-singhs-presentation-at-london-ent-conference-met-with-excitement-from-peers-300753883.html SOURCE Vivos Therapeutics The revenue department is planning to integrate e-way bill with NHAI's FASTag mechanism and DMICDC's Logistics Data Bank (LDB) services, to facilitate faster movement of goods and check GST evasion. The proposal, according to officials, will improve operational efficiencies across the country's logistic landscape. Currently, lack of harmonisation under the 'track and trace' mechanism in terms of sharing information among different agencies is affecting the ease of doing business in the country. Besides, it is also impacting the logistic costs of the companies. The proposal, being worked out by the revenue department, will also help in preventing goods and services tax (GST) evasion by unscrupulous traders who take advantage of the loopholes in the supply chain, an official told PTI. Touted as an anti-evasion measure, e-way bill system was rolled out on April 1, 2018, for moving goods worth over Rs 50,000 from one state to another. The same for intra or within the state movement was rolled out in a phased manner from April 15. Transporters of goods worth over Rs 50,000 would be required to present e-way bill during transit to a GST inspector, if asked. "The integration of the e-way bill system with FASTag and LDB is expected to help boost tax collections by clamping down on trade that currently happens on cash basis," the official said. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has put in place the FASTag system for collection of toll electronically on national highways. FASTag also offers non-stop movement of vehicles through toll plazas. Integration of e-way bill with FASTag will help revenue authorities track the movement of vehicles and ensure that they are travelling to the same destination as the transporter or the trader had specified while generating the e-way bill. It will also help the suppliers locate the goods through the e-way bill system. Transporters, too, would be able to track their vehicles through SMS alerts that would be generated at each toll plaza. Similarly, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor's (DMIC's) container tracking services, also called LDB programme, would be integrated with the e-way bill to improve the logistics ecosystem. The official said that the implementation of the proposal would require inter-ministerial coordination as integration would have several operational and technical challenges. The new indirect tax regime GST was rolled out on July 1, 2017. With GST systems now stabilising, the focus of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is now on increasing compliance and checking evasion. The government has also set up the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGSTI) to investigate cases of tax evasion and conduct search and seizure operations under the GST Act, and erstwhile the Excise and Service Tax Act. PR Newswire AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 20, 2018 AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Generation, LLC ("FG") announced today that it has agreed to sell its West Lorain Facility and related assets to Vermillion Power, LLC, an affiliate of Starwood Energy Group Global, LLC ("Starwood"), for a purchase price of $144 million in cash plus customary closing adjustments. The West Lorain Facility is a 545 MW, periodic-start, combustion-turbine generation station located on 500 acres in Lorain, Ohio near Lake Erie. The West Lorain Facility was constructed in 1973 as a combined-cycle electric generating system with two combustion turbines (Units 1A and 1B), two heat recovery steam generators, and a steam turbine generator. In 2001, five additional combustion turbines were installed (Units 26) and placed in operation. The plant currently operates on fuel oil, but is also capable of operating on natural gas. The sale will be accomplished pursuant to a court-supervised bankruptcy auction process in order to maximize the value of the assets being sold. FG has filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court overseeing its chapter 11 cases for approval of auction and bid procedures that will permit other interested parties to submit competitive bids for the West Lorain Facility and related assets. In the event that no higher or better bids are received by FG, Starwood will acquire the business, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions to closing. The sale is subject to receipt of customary approvals, including approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Hart-Scott-Rodino. If approved, the companies expect to close the transaction in the first half of 2019. FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. ("FES"), its subsidiaries (including FG) and FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company on March 31, 2018, filed petitions under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code to facilitate an orderly financial restructuring. The case is proceeding in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, in Akron. Additional information can be found at https://cases.primeclerk.com/FES. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is serving as legal counsel and Lazard is serving as investment banker to FES with respect to this sale and during FES's chapter 11 restructuring. King & Spalding LLP is serving as legal counsel to Starwood. About Starwood Energy Group Global, LLCStarwood Energy Group is a private investment firm based in Greenwich, CT that specializes in energy infrastructure investments. Through its general opportunity funds and other affiliated investment vehicles, Starwood Energy Group has raised equity commitments in excess of $3 billion and has executed transactions totaling more than $7 billion in enterprise value. The Starwood Energy Group team brings extensive development, construction, operations, acquisition and financing expertise to its investments, with a focus on the natural gas and renewable power generation, and transmission sectors. Starwood Energy Group is an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group Global, L.P. Additional information about Starwood Energy Group as well as Starwood Capital Group can be found at www.starwoodenergygroup.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/firstenergy-generation-enters-into-stalking-horse-agreement-to-sell-its-west-lorain-facility-and-related-assets-to-starwood-energy-300753990.html SOURCE FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. Trump on Saturday told reporters in wildfires-ravaged northern California that forest fires were not a problem in Finland because the people in the Nordic country "spend a lot of time on raking" leaves and "cleaning and doing things". "To see what's happened here, nobody would have ever thought this could have happened", Trump said as he visited Paradise, a small community in the Sierra foothills, 175 miles north of San Francisco, where authorities say the remains of at least 71 people have been recovered. "I was with the President of Finland and he said we have.what's different we're forest nation, he called it a forest nation". A total of 993 people were still reported missing, said Miranda Bowersox, a spokeswoman for the Butte County Sheriff's Office, on Sunday. Strong winds have complicated their efforts but they hope 10 centimetres of rain forecast for midweek will slow the spread. "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", the sheriff said. President Donald Trump toured the area on Saturday, joined by California's outgoing and incoming governors, both Democrats who have traded sharp barbs with the Republican administration. In Paradise, home to almost 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. Republicanos se apoderan de Florida en EU Scott llamo a la unidad del estado y del pais y dijo que su enfoque sera "no mirar hacia atras y hacer que el Congreso funcione". Nelson, quien era senador por Florida desde 2001, admitio su derrota la tarde de este domingo. Who is Harry Redknapp's wife and when did he run her over? It's a story sure to make his campmates wary of him in the Bushtucker trials that might involve full awareness. Sandra was rushed to hospital following the incident where she had a successful operation on her ankle. Anne Hegerty to QUIT show after just ONE day? The 60-year-old star of The Chase struggled to contain her emotions as she saw the brutal reality of living in Snake Rock. The star broke down in tears as she told her fellow campmate Emily Atack: 'I'm a really close to saying I can't do this'. "We've never seen anything like this in California, we've never seen anything like this yet". The fire also burned many places to the ground, creating a landscape unique to many search-and-rescue personnel, he said. Speaking to reporters during the weekend while in California to see the impact of devastating forest fires, the U.S. president again blamed forest management, but said Finland had the answer. "Hopefully this is going to be the last of these because this was a really, really bad one". "I think that California's been really disgusting to him and the fights". Usually vocal critics of Trump, the two men stood silently by, nodding along with sombre expressions as the president spoke. "It's back and forth between the state and the feds". 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. The comments prompted many Fins to post on social media mocking the idea that they raked forests, with many using the hashtags #haravointi, #FinnishRakingSeason and #RakingAmericaGreatAgain on Twitter. It is 55 percent contained. When World War I ended, the civil rights movement was just getting started Photo/public domain The 369th Infantry Regiment, known as "the Harlem Hellfighters," marches up Fifth Avenue on Feb. 17, 1919. The hundreds of thousands of African Americans who served in the U.S. Army during World War I and returned home as heroes soon faced many more battles over their equality in American society. While they were celebrated in the streets of New York, they also soon encountered a wave of hatred and violence. Chad Williams, the Samuel J. and Augusta Spector Chair in History and the author of Torchbearers of Democracy: African American Soldiers in the World War I Era, sat down with BrandeisNow to discuss the aftermath of World War I for black people in America. How were black soldiers received in the U.S. after serving in the war? In what ways were they celebrated, and in what ways did they face hostility? African-American soldiers were celebrated as returning heroes after the war. Welcome Home parades took place in small towns and big cities. On February 17, 1919, tens of thousands of New Yorkers welcomed home the all-black 369th Infantry Regiment with a massive parade on Fifth Avenue and into Harlem. Black soldiers symbolized the hopes and aspirations African Americans had for true democracy in the United States after the war. Conversely, many white Americans viewed returning black soldiers as a threat because of their military service and exposure to new ideas about race and equality, especially in France. Many black veterans were victims of a wave of racial violence in 1919 that came to be known as the "Red Summer." How did the African-American experience in the war, and in the postwar period, influence the civil rights movement? World War I was in many ways the beginning of the 20th-century civil rights movement. The war created opportunities for African Americans to demand their civil rights, in and outside of the Army. Moreover, the war transformed the racial and political consciousness of a generation of black people, especially those who served in the military. This would shape the activism and everyday resistance of black people throughout the postwar period. W.E.B. DuBois organized the Pan-African Conference in 1919. Why was this organized, and what was its impact? W.E.B. Du Bois saw the war as a defining moment in the future of Africa. He hoped that the war would provide an opportunity to challenge European imperialism in Africa and lay the foundation for the gradual independence of African peoples. He organized a Pan-African Congress in February 1919 in Paris with the goal of pressuring the assembling representatives of the Versailles Peace Conference to take the future of Africa seriously, especially in relation to Woodrow Wilson's proposed League of Nations. The conference marked a milestone moment in the political organization of black people throughout the diaspora and in the larger history of African independence. Is there an event from the immediate aftermath of World War I that strikes you as particularly prescient today? On Dec. 15, barely one month after the Nov. 11 armistice, a black veteran, Charles Lewis, was lynched in Kentucky. Even after fighting for democracy abroad, African Americans still had to fight for democracy and their very lives at home. Today, 100 years later, we still see the contradictions of American democracy and the endurance of white supremacy. Read more: World War I and the African-American experience Chad Williams in Time Magazine: African-American veterans hoped their service in World War I would secure their rights at home. It didn't. A Cork agricultural technology company that uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor honey bee colonies has received a 1.5m investment from investors that will allow it to create 25 new jobs and expand internationally. Lee Road-based ApisProtect announced the close of a 1.5m seed round of financing led by top-tier international venture capital investors Finistere Ventures and Atlantic Bridge Capital. Radicle Growth, the Yield Lab and Enterprise Ireland also participated in the investment round. ApisProtect said it will use the investment to aggressively accelerate international expansion, opening its first US office at the Western Growers Associations WG Center for Innovation and Technology in Salinas, California. This investment will allow us to accelerate our expansion as we work to create an extensive global hive health database to power our machine learning insights, said Dr Fiona Edwards Murphy, CEO and co-founder of ApisProtect. The Kanturk native added: We look forward to building our team of AI specialists, engineers and scientists over the next three years to 25 staff, and helping to reduce honey bee losses worldwide. ApisProtect helps commercial beekeepers more effectively manage colonies, Dr Murphy Edwards said. Our first leg of our global installs are completed - 139 ApisMonitors are now monitoring the health of 6 million #honeybees across #Europe and #America. Thanks to all our #beekeeping partners for their support. #NatureMatters pic.twitter.com/n466HIsFhJ ApisProtect (@ApisProtect) October 30, 2018 Contributing 153bn worth of pollination to the agri-food industry annually, honey bees play an essential role in global food production. One third of all food that we eat depends on pollinators, and there are 91 million managed beehives worldwide. The aim is to help commercial pollinators and growers to optimise pollination, she added. With the Cork firms technology, beekeepers no longer need to rely solely on periodic, manual hive checks that can allow disease, pests and other issues to deteriorate hive health beyond rescue. Now monitoring the health of over six million honey bees in hives across Europe and North America, ApisProtect brings the power of advanced sensors and machine learning technology into the hive to deliver a 24/7 early warning system so beekeepers can give at-risk hives immediate attention and improve bee health. Atlantic Bridge co-led the seed round with Finistere Ventures, which made its first investment from the Ireland AgTech Fund, a partnership between Finistere Ventures and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund). Radicle Growth, an AgTech Acceleration Fund, played a key role in the round and is actively supporting ApisProtect's US expansion efforts. ApisProtect provides an in-hive sensor network with long-range, cellular and satellite-powered communication to proactively monitor honey bee colonies. Combining the sensor data on hive conditions, health and activity levels with its proprietary big data and machine learning techniques, ApisProtect said it gives beekeepers actionable insights and alerts to help prevent losses and increase colony productivity. ApisProtect said the investment will allow it to rapidly scale deploying its IoT technology to more climates, bee sub-species and bee foraging areas. It said its key focus will be establishing a presence in North America, South Africa and the UK, as well as growing its team in Ireland. ApisProtect is headed up by Dr Edwards Murphy, Dr Padraig Whelan and Andrew Wood, a team with complimentary backgrounds including engineering, scientific, beekeeping and commercial experience. Dr Edwards Murphy has a PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and a BE from UCC in 2013. As a graduate of UCC, Edwards Murphy participated in the Ignite program, an international award-winning business start-up programme that specialises in supporting recent third-level graduates to turn innovative ideas into successful, scalable businesses. She won the Ignite Business of the Year Award in 2016. Her work has received international recognition, including at least eight academic publications, awards from the Irish Research Council, IBM, The Irish Laboratory Awards, and Google. ApisProtect was partially funded by St Louis-based ag-tech accelerator The Yield Lab in 2016. New stats from the CSO show the employment rate is up 3% so far this year while unemployment is down 12.1%. Almost 2.3 million people in Ireland are now in work. Full-time employment increased by 2.5% in the third quarter of 2018. Employment growth has been recorded in the last 25 consecutive quarters. Chief Economist with KBC Bank Ireland, Austin Hughes, says the numbers are positive: "Employment is still growing fairly rapidly in Ireland. "A 3% increase compares with a 1% increase in the UK and 1.3% across the Euro area so things are quite healthy. "It is marginally slower than it was and that could be because of a slow-down globally, Brexit concerns, it could also be because we are running out of workers." The figures released today have been welcomed by Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe. "While there are now more people at work than ever before, the Governments job does not end here," said Minister Donohoe. We are now moving into the next phase of Irelands economic development. "We must continue to implement labour market policies to further to support continued participation and engagement with the labour market, while working to safeguard the gains we have made in competitiveness in recent years. "Increasingly our focus should not only be on job creation alone but also on the sustainability and productivity of jobs into the future." Digital Desk Ulster Bank has urged farmer to hone their digital banking skills to protect themselves against fraud. More than 180 people attended the banks open event in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, which also covered succession planning. Eve Curran, community banker for the North West Region, Ulster Bank, said: We live in an increasingly digital world, with more ways to bank than ever before, so its important that farmers know whats available to them and how to best make use of it. "Much of the paperwork that farmers now have to do is online, so it makes sense for many to use our digital banking channels, be that online, by app or by webchat. Its also vital that we all do more to educate and protect ourselves from fraud. At Ulster Bank, we want to play our part in ensuring customers are kept as safe and secure as possible, regardless of how they bank with us. That is why we have robust monitoring in place to protect customers and are taking steps to help educate us all even further about how customers can protect themselves too. All Ulster Bank staff are to receive Friends Against Scams training to help customers to avoid fraudsters. The training will be completed by all staff this year and will benefit customers and non-customers across the country. The Friends Against Scams initiative was started in the UK to help organisations to train staff and spread the anti-fraud message. Anne-Marie Butler, agriculture manager at Ulster Bank, offered farmers advice on succession planning. The meeting was also addressed by Joe Lambe of IFAC, and agricultural consultant Mark McConnell. A judge has told a property developer who owes more than 1m in unpaid taxes and penalties that he faces jail if he doesn't come to a settlement with Revenue. James Jordan (51) of Laochfail, Outfarm Lane, Castleknock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly and wilfully submitting 16 incorrect VAT returns, six incorrect income tax returns, four incorrect invoices and three false claims of income tax relief. The case was listed for sentence today but Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain adjourned it to January 18 next (2019) to allow Revenue time to assess a settlement offer made by Jordan. The judge said that on Monday she received a letter marked private and confidential which referred to the case. She said she did not read the letter and wouldn't be taking any private correspondence into consideration. Justice is administered in public, she said. The court heard that Jordan came to the attention of a special Revenue unit looking for high wealth individuals due to his having a large property portfolio in the 2000s. Former Revenue Officer Elizabeth Keane testified that Jordan was required to pay capital gains tax on the sale of five properties which he sold for a total value of 1,960,500 between 2004 and 2010 and that he failed to do so. She said the tax returns he submitted during that period were incorrect due to the failure to pay capital gains tax. He also submitted four incorrect invoices which lowered his VAT liability. Judge Ni Chulachain noted that Jordan had failed to pay tax on rental income and had waived a tax exemption on this income which he was entitled to in order to offset it elsewhere. She said he made a number of false claims for Income Tax relief for properties he owned. This relief was ineligible because the properties were not registered to the PRTB. The total figure owed by Jordan when interest and penalties were factored in was 1,236,881. This figure includes a VAT liability of 162,945 and a liability for 297,974 in capital gains gain. The balance of 775,962 owed by Jordan was made up of interest and penalties. Jordan has one previous conviction from 2017 for failure to file an income tax return. Seamus Clarke SC, defending, said Jordan ran a carpet business and that people would lose their jobs if he was given a custodial sentence. He also said that if Jordan was jailed there would be no hope of him paying the money back. Mr Clarke handed in letters written by those who know Jordan and hold him in high esteem. One of the letter described Jordan as being very honest. Judge Ni Chulachain remarked very honest; not so much. She questioned whether the person who wrote the letter was aware of the offences to which Jordan had pleaded guilty. She noted that Jordan was a self made man who left school earlier and went on to build a large property portfolio. She said his fortunes suffered during the financial crash but noted the first offending in this case dated before the crash. She said that Jordan had made a formal offer of settlement to Revenue. Noting the maximum custodial sentence as five years Judge Ni Chulachain said the case fell in the mid range of this type of offending and set a headline sentence of two and a half years. She said she would reduce this by 20% on consideration of the mitigating factors, including the guilty plea, and the fact that he is the primary carer for a teenage son. She also noted his 86-year-old mother is diagnosed blind and he has a number of employees working for him. Judge Ni Chulachain urged Jordan to use the adjournment of the case to reach an agreement with Revenue or face a likely custodial sentence. She adjourned the matter until January 18 next and ordered a report into his suitability for community service to be produced for the court. Japanese prosecutors were considering whether to file formal charges against Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn amid a probe into allegations he misused company assets and under-reported millions of dollars of income. The arrest of Mr Ghosn after a whistleblower disclosed the alleged misconduct left many in Japan stunned by the downfall of a relentless cost cutter who appears to have spent lavishly on himself. Prosecutors said they were holding Mr Ghosn, 64, for allegedly collaborating to falsify securities statements and under-report 44.6 million dollars in income from 2011 to 2015. A second Nissan executive, Greg Kelly, was also suspected of collaborating with him. "It's extremely regrettable," chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. "We will watch developments closely." There was no word from Mr Ghosn himself. Prosecutors have refused to say where he was being held. The prosecutors, who reportedly arrested Mr Ghosn after questioning him upon his arrival by private jet at Tokyo's Haneda airport, have 48 hours from the time of Ghosn's arrest on Monday to decide whether to press charges. They can hold a suspect for up to 20 more days per charge if they decide they need more time. The scandal has thrown into question Mr Ghosn's future as leader of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, which sold 10.6 million cars last year, more than any other manufacturer. Nissan's board was due to meet on Thursday to consider dismissing Ghosn and Kelly. Earlier this year, Mr Ghosn signed a contract that would have run through 2022. Mr Ghosn officially still leads the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance as CEO and chairman. Renault said its board would hold an emergency meeting Tuesday in response to his arrest. Of French, Brazilian and Lebanese background, Mr Ghosn also is a towering corporate figure in France, where Renault is one of the heavyweight industrial survivors. He has met repeatedly with the past four French presidents; no major economic event in France was held without Mr Ghosn. But French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told broadcaster Franc-Info on Tuesday that Renault should name temporary leadership as Mr Ghosn is not in a position to head the group. Mr Le Maire said French authorities have found no wrongdoing in Mr Ghosn's tax situation in France. Pic: AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File Mr Ghosn's Lebanese heritage is a source of pride in Lebanon, and in Beirut the foreign minister, Gibran Bassil, issued a statement saying the Lebanese ambassador to Tokyo was told to look out for "the model of Lebanese success abroad". He said the Lebanese foreign ministry would stand by Mr Ghosn to ensure he gets a fair trial. In Japan, where foreign executives are scarce and even the biggest corporate bigwigs tend to keep a low profile, Mr Ghosn's status is more ambiguous. He is admired for driving a turnaround at Nissan when it was near bankruptcy and for his foresight in pushing to bring electric and autonomous cars to the masses. But in a 90-minute news conference late on Monday night, Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa said Mr Ghosn had too much power and the company was overdue for some change. The scandal was a "negative outcome of the long regime of Mr Ghosn," he said. Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa With few new developments, Japanese media were avidly detailing allegations against Mr Ghosn. Public broadcaster NHK said Mr Ghosn was in charge of allocating pay among Nissan's top executives and is suspected of siphoning off some of that remuneration. He also is suspected of underpaying his share of the rent and misusing company funds on his company-issued housing in Lebanon, Paris, Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro, where his apartment is on the wealthy Copacabana beach strip. Mr Ghosn's compensation from Nissan, generous by Japanese standards, was only part of his overall income since he also was paid salaries by the carmaker's alliance partners Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motor Corp. Repeatedly questioned over how the company could have let financial misconduct persist for so long, Mr Saikawa said systems inside Nissan limited transparency. The allegations are a serious blow at a time when Nissan and Mitsubishi are still recovering from scandals over altered results of emissions and fuel economy tests on vehicles sold in Japan. PA Reorganisation costs of over 510,000 at the family-owned business the Kilkenny Group last year helped cut pre-tax profits by 25%. New accounts filed by the Kilkenny Groups Clydaville Investments Ltd show the luxury goods retailer posted pre-tax profits of 912,920 in the 12 months to the end of January. That is down from the 1.2m profits in the previous 12 months. Revenues dipped by less than 2% to 29.9m. Operating profits rose 31.5% to 1.44m. The group operates 15 stores, with its head office based in Killarney, Co Kerry. No detail is provided on the background to the re-organisation costs of 512,185 but they coincided with a row between chief executive Marian OGorman and her son, the groups former marketing director, Greg OGorman, which ended up in the High Court. The row was triggered after Ms OGorman sacked him in 2016, but the High Court was told this summer the case was resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. In a settlement, her four children were to get shares in the business. In the 2017 accounts for Clydaville Investments Ltd, the directors said that in light of the continuing competitive climate of retail, the directors are very satisfied with the performance. Staff numbers fell from 270 to 256 in the year, while staff costs increased from 7.27m to 7.65m. Ms OGorman and finance director Conor Lynch are listed as directors. Directors pay last year increased from 342,021 to 376,255. Ryanair has announced today that it will commence a new route from Dublin to Kyiv in April 2019. The new route to Ukraine will be part of the airline's Summer 19 schedule and will operate twice-weekly. A Bulgarian man, who thought he was coming to Ireland to work was tricked into signing a fake marriage certificate to help an illegal immigrant get through Dublin Airport, a court has heard. Svetoslav Stefchov, aged 26, who did not speak English, believed he had signed contracts for work in Ireland. However, he really put his name to a bogus Cypriot marriage certificate and residency documents, Judge Dermot Simms heard at Dublin District Court. Father-of-two Stefchov, from Sofia in Bulgaria, was arrested at Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport on November 12 and on the following day he was remanded in custody for a week. He then pleaded guilty to charges under the Theft and Fraud Act and one under Section Two of the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) act 2000 for use of the fake documentation as false instruments and facilitating the entry into the State of an illegal immigrant. Det Garda Joseph Gavin told the court Stefchov arrived on a Ryanair flight from Italy in the company of a woman and her child. He was in possession of documentation including one that stated he was the childs stepfather and that he was married to the woman. Det Garda Gavin agreed with defence solicitor Michael French that when detained Stefchov admitted he came to Ireland to work. The detective accepted Stefchov thought he had signed a contract for a job in Ireland but in fact he signed one stating he was married to the woman. He had no prior convictions and was very co-operative, the judge heard. Det Gavin, who is with the Garda National Immigration Bureau, said while there were Europe-wide criminal aspects to this type of offence, he was said it did not appear Stefchovs case was of that nature and his offence was on a lower level. He only received 400, the court heard. Mr French said his client, who listened the proceedings with the aid of a translator, has had no contact with his family since his arrest. He had two young children and the State could facilitate his repatriation on Wednesday. Judge Simms remanded him in custody with consent to bail on condition he accepts repatriation organised by gardai. He said a suspended sentence would be imposed if he left the State. Update7pm: Mairia Cahill has said her meeting with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald about her treatment by the party in recent years was potentially a waste of time for both women. Ms Cahill, a great-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, says she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by alleged IRA member Martin Morris. Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was acquitted of rape when the case against him collapsed. Ms Cahill alleges that the republican movements response to her claims was to subject her to an IRA interrogation. She also accused Sinn Fein of engaging in a cover-up and waging a campaign to question her integrity since she waived her right to anonymity. An Ombudsman report revealed the PSNIs view of the investigation including that it did not expect cooperation from Sinn Fein members during the police interviews, something the party always denied. Speaking after the meeting with Ms McDonald at Leinster House, Ms Cahill said she had even lower expectations for the party than ever; if thats humanly possible. Mairia Cahill outside Buswells Hotel in Dublin after her meeting with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Liam McBurney/PA) She [Ms McDonald] has asserted that she cant admit there was an IRA investigation, so she said that she believed I was abused based on the strength of that there were three alleged victims that came forward. I asserted that if she believed that I was abused on the basis of other victims, she should also believe their was an IRA investigation as I was not the only person who said there was, but she didnt have an answer for that. I feel I have been treated despicably by the Sinn Fein party, people who are now in prominent positions in Sinn Fein. Mary Lou McDonald says she hasnt spoken to them about this which I find incredible, she didnt seem to be across my case and for someone in a leadership position thats flabbergasting. I dont want to be unkind to her, she retracted a statement where she said I had slurred the party. She said she felt sad that this happened, but sad is an understatement for me, I live with this every day, and I never thought this meeting would compensate me for what happened to me. At the very least she could have said that she believed me about what happened to me and she didnt have the decency to do that. A statement from Ms McDonald said the conversation was candid and lengthy. I reiterated my unreserved apology and deep regret that procedures for the mandatory reporting of abuse allegations were not in place at the time of Mairias disclosure, she said. I acknowledged the hurt and pain that Mairia has been through and I stressed to her that robust procedures for the handling of abuse allegations are now in place. Ms Cahill added she is still in contact with her solicitor and exploring other avenues regarding her case. - Press Association Earlier: Mairia Cahill doesn't have 'any expectations' ahead of meeting with McDonald By Vivienne Clarke Former Senator Mairia Cahill is not holding out any hopes of an admission from Sinn Fein that she was treated badly when she meets with party leader Mary Lou McDonald this afternoon. I don't think I've been treated very well to say the least, by the Sinn Fein party, I would expect an admittance of that, but Im not quite sure that's going to be forthcoming, she told RTEs News at One. Mairia Cahill All along what I've said I wanted was an admission of what happened to me, it hasn't been forthcoming to date, they've accepted that I was abused, they haven't accepted there was an IRA investigation into that abuse or that I was brought into a room to face my abuser. "So, I suppose the best outcome from a meeting for me today would be that that would be the case, again, I said I wouldn't have any expectations going in, because if you have expectations then you have the chance you will be let down, at the need of that. I'm not prepared to psyche myself up for a meeting to be let down at the end of it. Ms Cahill said that the only good thing that has come out of her case was that measures had subsequently been put in place to help other abuse victims. Unfortunately I'm never going to get justice against the man who abused me and the other two victims, that is very hard to take. But one of the things I wanted to make sure was that no one else would be treated in the manner that I was, that included how I was treated by the criminal justice system. I have really worked to the bone in terms of trying to get agencies in the north to change their approach to sexual abuse victims. As a result of my case collapsing the public protection branch within the police in the north was set up in order to streamline the criminal justice system in relation to rape cases. Ms Cahill welcomed Sir John Gillens report and had met with him during his review of the system. I felt it was really important to meet with Sir John Gillen. I would encourage people to fully engage with the public consultation process, that's how we're able to change the system to make sure that no sexual abuse victim is failed again. She said that her health and family relationships had been impacted by her decision to go public on her case and as a result she had been subjected to public shaming and graffiti on walls in Belfast. I would like to think that someone in Sinn Fein would have a modicum of decency about them to finally admit that. Update 5.35pm: Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has ruled out giving children born in Ireland to non-national parents automatic Irish citizenship after three years, claiming the move "amounts to bad law". Mr Flanagan rejected the call after Labour said the 2004 citizenship referendum which removed the automatic citizenship right of children born in Ireland to foreign parents must be reversed after a series of child deportation controversies. In a new bill set to go before the Seanad this evening, Labour will say the 2004 citizenship referendum - which was passed by 79.17% to 20.83% after a 59.95% turnout - is unfairly damaging people who have settled in Ireland. Citing the recent case of nine-year-old Eric Zhi Ying Zhu from Bray, Co Wicklow, who faced deportation to China until Health Minister and local TD Simon Harris and others intervened and a separate case in Portlaoise, Labour senators Ivana Bacik and Aodhan O Riordain said urgent changes are now needed. "We are seeking to regularise the position of children born in Ireland who have been living here for at least three years who are currently facing the prospect of deportation in some cases depending on the situation of their parents. "This [the deportation threat] is despite the fact they have been born in Ireland, know no other home than Ireland and are effectively stateless if we decline to allow them to stay here," she said. Ms Bacik said the existing system deals with cases in an "arbitrary" way and that the 2004 citizenship referendum needs to be altered. Noting the fact the legislation resulting from the 2004 referendum made it "very clear it's open to the Oireachtas to legislate" on the issue, Ms Bacik said the subsequent 14 years have repeatedly highlighted problems in the law. "It's very clear in the 2004 legislation that it's open to the Oireachtas to legislate, I don't expect anyone to raise that [any issue with changing the rules] because that [changing the rules] was specifically kept open in 2004. "All we did in 2004 was remove the automatic birth right," she said. In the 2004 citizenship referendum, the public voted to abolish the right to Irish citizenship by birth amid claims some people were coming to Ireland to give birth in order to gain citizenship via their child. However, Ms Bacik stressed there was no evidence to prove this was taking place on a wide-scale basis. Asked about the potential law change, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said he "cannot accept" the reform as "there are issues in the bill which amount to bad law". Mr Flanagan last month intervened in a case in his own Laois constituency to prevent a child from being deported for similar reasons as Eric Zhi Ying Zhu. Earlier: Calls for automatic citizenship for children born in Ireland to non-national parents The 2004 citizenship referendum which removed the right of children born in Ireland to non-national parents to have automatic Irish citizenship should be reversed in light of a series of recent high profile cases. Labour demanded the move this morning in response to the recent case of nine-year-old Eric Zhi Ying Zhu from Bray, Co Wicklow, who was threatened with deportation to China despite being born in Ireland. Eric Zhi Ying Zhu Speaking to reporters before the party tables a new bill seeking to reform the 2004 referendum's impact in the Seanad tomorrow evening, party senator Ivana Bacik said under existing rules a child born in Ireland to non-national parents is not automatically considered Irish. However, hitting out at the situation, Ms Bacik said the rule is putting children at risk of being made "effectively stateless" by the country - Ireland - in which they were born, and insist new rules "to regularise" the area for children living in Ireland for at least three years are needed. "We are seeking to regularise the position of children born in Ireland who have been living here for at least three years who are currently facing the prospect of deportation in some cases depending on the situation of their parents. This [the deportation threat] is despite the fact they have been born in Ireland, know no other home than Ireland and are effectively stateless if we decline to allow them to stay here. Ms Bacik said the existing system deals with cases in an "arbitrary" way and that the 2004 referendum needs to be altered, a move she said the 2004 referendum legislation made it "very clear it's open to the Oireachtas to legislate" on. "It's very clear in the 2004 legislation that it's open to the Oireachtas to legislate, I don't expect anyone to raise that [any issue with changing the rules] because that [changing the rules] was specifically kept open in 2004. "All we did in 2004 was remove the automatic birthright," she said. In the 2004 citizenship referendum, the public voted by 79.17% to 20.83% after a 59.95% turnout to abolish the right to Irish citizenship by birth amid claims some people were coming to Ireland to give birth in order to gain citizenship via their child. However, Ms Bacik stressed there was no evidence to prove this was taking place on a wide-scale basis. Speaking beside Ms Bacik, fellow Labour senator Aodhan O Riordain cited the case of Eric Zhi Ying Zhu from Bray, Co Wicklow, by noting the Government's support for the nine-year-old and a separate case in Portlaoise, saying: "I'm quite sure with the goodwill Health Minister Simon Harris showed in Wicklow and Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan in Portlaoise, they will be in a position to support it [the Labour bill]." A disqualified driver who crashed into a garda car and a taxi during a high-speed pursuit got a fright when he first spotted the gardai, a court has heard. Lee O'Brien (31) with an address at Cooley Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving and one count of driving without insurance on January 9, 2018 in Dublin City Centre. Sergeant Brendan O'Halloran told John Byrne BL, prosecuting, that at 1.30am on the morning in question a garda patrol unit noticed that a red Nissan Micra seemed to hesitate upon the driver spotting the gardai. The car sped off when the gardai approached and the unit gave pursuit. The car, driven by O'Brien, drove quickly down the wrong direction of several one way streets and through red traffic lights. O'Brien appeared to lose control of the car on North King Street and stalled. When he turned the engine back on he reversed towards the patrol car that had also come to a halt and collided with it while two gardai were still in the car. Another patrol car took up the pursuit, which came to an end on Queen's Street when O'Brien collided with a taxi. This caused the taxi to spin and collide with a pole. O'Brien, his passenger and the driver of the taxi all had to be removed from the vehicles and were brought to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries. Sgt O'Halloran interviewed O'Brien and he admitted that he had been banned from driving at the time of the incident. He accepted all of the charges and said he was genuinely sorry. O'Brien has 122 previous convictions, the bulk of which are for road traffic matters such as drunk driving and dangerous driving. He has three children. Sgt O'Halloran agreed with Karl Monahan BL, defending, that O'Brien had had significant difficulty with drug use. He is on 20ml of methadone per day while in custody and is attempting to break free of his addiction. Mr Monahan said his client had got a fright when he saw the patrol unit and drove away as he was disqualified from driving at the time. O'Brien was intoxicated during the incident. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report and adjourned the matter for sentencing on February 13, 2019. The High Court will rule tomorrow on an application by two Leaving Cert students facing expulsion for videoing and posting on social media a classmate snorting some white powder during a class. Details of the incident, which involved the snorting of sugar by the other pupil, were published in an Irish daily newspaper. Following an investigation of the incident the two teens, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were informed that the school's board of management had made "a preliminary decision" that they should be excluded. The board found the students had behaved in a manner that posed a serious threat to the good order and discipline of the school. The board's final decision on their futures at the school is scheduled to take place on Friday. The students have brought proceedings against the school aimed at quashing a decision they say is in breach of fair procedures and their rights to an education. As part of the actions, Mr Justice Max Barrett today heard the students' application for injunctions allowing them to return to school pending the outcome of their actions. The board of management represented by Feichin McDonagh SC said there were no grounds in the students' claims that give the court the jurisdiction to make an order lifting their suspensions. It also argued that the students' action was premature. Barney Quirke SC for one of the students told the court that the school's decision was "flawed and could never be upheld." He said that at this stage his client wanted to get on with the processes that arising out of the board's findings fairly, but that his client "needs to be in school" until matters have been concluded. Derek Shortall Bl for the second student said his client also wants to see out the processes but was being "penalised for doing the right thing." because of the time it takes to go through any process including a potential appeal. Counsel said that unless his student was allowed back into school his year was "kaput" because of the time it would take to go through the various processes to challenge the board's decision. Following the conclusion of submissions from all the parties the Judge said he was reserving his decision on the injunction applications and would give his ruling on Wednesday. A 24-year old man who sued the Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin over the circumstances of his care when he presented with the sudden onset of blurred vision has settled his High Court action. Horse rider Connor Callaghan had claimed he allegedly suffered permanent visual impairment and is no longer able to compete in showjumping competitions. It was claimed there was an alleged failure to take appropriate action once it was established a haemhorrage in the eye area had not resolved spontaneously within six weeks. It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to schedule surgical intervention and that he was allegedly caused to suffer permanent visual impairment. After talks between the parties, Mr Justice Michael Hanna was told the case had been settled and could be struck out. The settlement is without admission of liability. Connor Callaghan, Inch View, Scarnagh, Gorey Co Wexford had sued the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Adelaide Road, Dublin over the care he received at the hospital five years ago. Mr Callaghan attended the hospital with a history of one day's sudden onset of blurred vision. It was noted there were no symptoms of flashing lights, floaters or double vision and no history of trauma and a consultant review was planned for the next day. A pre-retinal and subhyaloid haemorrhage an accumulation of blood was diagnosed in the macular region which is the area near the centre of the retina. Mr Callaghan claimed conservative treatment was advised and he attended for further review on March 31 and on April 4, n on the left was noted to have reduced to hand movements. It is claimed Mr Callaghan was not considered for surgery. It was further claimed conservative management was continued and there was a guarded prognosis for visual improvement. It was alleged Mr Callaghan had suffered secondary retinal toxicity and permanent visual damage which are recognised risks associated with conservative treatment continuing beyond six weeks from the onset. It was claimed the conservative management of his condition was queried by Mr Callaghan's mother. Mr Callaghan was referred to another hospital and in August 2014, it was claimed another specialist concluded Mr Callaghan's persistent visual deficit was due to retinal toxicity secondary to iron leaching out of the haemoglobin contained within the blood which had collected. It was claimed there was an alleged failure to take appropriate action once it was established the haemhorrage had not resolved spontaneously within six weeks. It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to schedule surgical intervention and that he was allegedly caused permanent visual impairment. The claims were denied. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has been accused of rank hypocrisy after missing the Presidential inauguration on November 11 to attend a $400 plate dinner in New York. During Leaders' Questions, Ms McDonald sought to highlight pending changes to how unvouched expenses are treated by the Revenue Commissioners, saying this would impact some of the lowest paid workers in the country. She compared the planned clamp down to the soft treatment given to the super wealthy by Fine Gael in office. Ms McDonald raised Mr Varadkar's Ard Fheis promise to deliver five years of income tax cuts if re-elected and contrasted it with the decision to cut entitlements for flat rate expenses. This is "a few bob that workers claim to cover the cost of equipment" like tools, uniforms, stationery, she said. In response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar went on the attack saying Ms McDonald sought to skip the swearing-in of President Michael D Higgins at Dublin Castle to attend Sinn Fein fundraising dinner in the United States. All that's changing, from January 2020, if at all is that such claims now have to be vouched; those tax deductions are still available, he said. He accused Ms McDonald of "hobnobbing with the super rich at a $400-a-place lunch for your super-rich supporters". The Taoiseach also accused Ms McDonald and her party of telling "porkies" about its own salaries "for years and years and years" and slams "hypocrisy" over Sinn Fein claiming to care about those on lower pay. "We are clamping down on tax breaks left, right and centre," he said. Also at Leaders' Questions, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin raised the fact that today is International Childrens' Day and highlighted the plight of children who are living in emergency accommodation. "Being homeless is a devastating experience for a child, not a shortcoming that is a terrible devastating position to be in, he said while accusing the Taoiseach of engaging in "glib rhetoric". In resposne, the Taoiseach said it is important to realise the deficiencies but also to acknowledge progress made in recent years. The Government is making inroads on several fronts, he said. "There are many shortcomings and a lot of work still to be done. But it would be wrong not to acknowledge the enormous progress that has been made in recent years as well, the Taoiseach said. Independent TD Tommy Broughan highlighted the ongoing campaign of the families of the victims of the Stardust tragedy in 1981 and called on the Attorney General Seamus Woulfe to use his statutory powers to give the go ahead to a fresh inquest. In response, the Taoiseach set out the powers available to Mr Woulfe as Attorney General and said that while some correspondence has been received from solicitors for victims' families, no formal request about new inquest has been lodged. He said any request would be given full consideration. During questions on promised legislation, Mr Varadkar confirmed that he had recieved the Smyth report into the National Broadband tendering process, which was ordered in the wake of the resignation of ex-Communications Minister Denis Naughten. Mr Varadkar said the report will have to be given to those mentioned in it for their feedback, and certain parts will have to be redacted because of commercial sensitivities. He said the intention of the Government is to publish the report in the coming days. The public should be excluded from serious sex trials as part of a radical overhaul in Northern Ireland, a retired senior judge proposed. John Gillen is leading an independent review following the acquittal of two Irish rugby internationals of rape charges in Belfast earlier this year. Mr Gillen published a preliminary report today with more than 220 draft recommendations - including restricting access to serious sexual crime trials to only close family members of the alleged victim and defendant and the mainstream media. He said: "Confidence-building measures for complainants who fear the cruel glare of public exposure, particularly in high-profile trials in front of packed public galleries, are now vital. If we are to challenge the gross under-reporting, high dropout rates and an unacceptably daunting trial process, I consider the arguments in favour of restricted access measures carry convincing weight. The public is already excluded in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. In Scotland onlookers are barred when the complainant gives evidence. Other key draft recommendations from the recently retired Court of Appeal judge included creating new laws surrounding inappropriate use of social media, where the name of the alleged victim and even images may circulate and which in a small jurisdiction like Northern Ireland may seriously damage a person's anonymity. The report urged strong judicial powers to control access to websites during trials and the making of fresh offences for jurors who offend against judicial guidance. Under-reporting of serious sexual crime is "unacceptably low", around one in six tell police of their ordeal. Early pre-recording of cross-examination could take place in a non-courtroom setting to make the process easier for alleged victims and encourage people to come forward, the preliminary report said. The physical layout of older courthouses could be altered to ensure a victim and their accused did not meet. A judge would consider whether certain questions could be asked of an accused beforehand. Public funding would enable legal representation for the victim in cases where she or he may be asked about sexual history or face intrusive scrutiny of personal life. The judge provisionally said measures should be introduced at the onset of the trial to combat rape myths which may influence a jury, like what type of clothing a victim was wearing, or the self-blame which many needlessly feel, or whether they struggled or not during an alleged attack - which can become an issue during court proceedings. The judge's draft report also called for better public education through the school system to combat myths surrounding sexual crime. Most proposed recommendations do not require legislation but a minority, including those surrounding social media, would. The devolved administration at Stormont has not sat for months following a row between former partners the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein. The judge said steps should be taken to combat excessive delay in the justice system, which can make the process more onerous for victims. PA Rape crisis groups say a change of attitude is needed in the courts and among the public towards victims of sexual violence and their treatment in trials. They back comments from Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan who says a "full-blooded defence" is not always appropriate in rape cases and that new protocols are needed governing the kind of evidence that could be used in court and the way complainants' behaviour was assessed. The remarks were sparked by the case of Read More: Ms O'Callaghan questioned why the issue of consent was raised in her case when she was only 13 at the time she was raped and why defence for the accused was allowed plea in mitigation that she had only been physically held down once in a series of rapes. "The process is hard enough. This is one step away from saying 'she was asking for it'. It's unethical, immoral and it's not needed," she said. Noeline Blackwell of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the case shows up many flaws in the system. "It shows how much of a mindset change is needed in our general public but also in our legal system, in our judicial system, in our trial system so that people understand that anything that is not free and voluntary consent is not consent at all. A woman's clothes, her failure to shout 'no' - none of these things are what rape is about. The judiciary, the legal system needs to understand the myths that we all have in our own heads, jurors need to understand them." Cliona Sadlier of the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland echoed that view. "This is something we have to be absolutely clear about. The absence of a no and a physical fight in terms of sexual violence does not make it not rape," she said. This comes up again and again - that somehow we are asking survivors to perform in a particular way before we believe them and what we are not taking into consideration is the grooming, the coercive control, the threat, the fear, the strategic choices that survivors make either consciously or unconsciously about their safety, about their survival and then we use that against them it the courtroom. Ms O'Callaghan also hit out at the delays in the system as it took four years from the time she made her statement to Gardai until her case concluded. She said she had "barely made it through" and pleaded with the Minister to give more resources to speed things up. Ms Sadlier said delays in processing cases is causing survivors to walk away from the justice system. She said improvements could be made through better case management and pre-trial hearings: "That would be one of the most significant things we can do to make it easier for survivors to go through the system." Both women were speaking on RTE. Debate over how rape trials are conducted re-erupted a fortnight ago with outcry after a 17-year-old girl's lacy thong was produced in court to argue she was anticipating sex. This was followed by Ms O'Callaghan's case and a review in Northern Ireland which recommends radical changes to the law there after the trial and acquittal of four Ireland rugby players earlier this year. The Northern Ireland system is different in that it allows naming of defendants and public admission to trials. Defendants can only be named here after a conviction - and then only if the victim is not in danger of being identified - unless the victim waives that protection or in rare cases where a special application is made to name the defendant where it might bring forward other victims. Mr Flanagan last August appointed law professor, Tom O'Malley, to chair a similar review in this jurisdiction. It is expected to look at, among other issues, the granting of legal representation to all rape complainants as currently this only happens when it is intended by the defence to raise the complainant's sexual history. Professor O'Malley's report is due in the next few months. The Law Reform Commission is also examining the issue. The director of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, Cliona Saidlear has said that there is space in the Irish legal system for protocols for the behaviour of lawyers in rape cases. Its time to put manners on the system, she told RTEs Today with Sean ORourke show. Cliona Saidlear Ms Saidlear was responding to recommendations by retired Northern Ireland senior judge John Gillen in his preliminary review of how the law deals with serious sexual offences. The review, which now goes out to consultation, was ordered in the wake of the controversy that was triggered after two Ireland and Ulster rugby internationals, Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, were acquitted of rape earlier this year. The retired Court of Appeal judges report contains 16 key recommendations but, unlike the situation in the Republic, he does not propose that defendants in rape cases should be anonymous before or during trials. Ms Saidlear also commented on the case of 37-year-old woman, Leona OCallaghan, who waived anonymity on Monday so the man who raped her when she was 13 could be named. Patrick ODea of Pike Avenue, Limerick, pleaded guilty on the second day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court to charges of sexual assault and rape on dates in 1994 and 1995. The Rape Crisis Network director said that the Belfast rugby trial had highlighted the problem of allowing the public attend such cases (the victim was named on social media). There were no rules of engagement for the public, she said. Having people make judgements and assessments all the way through the trial had been a problem. The system of naming defendants had some advantages, she said as other victims might come forward. However, the system in the Republic also had merit, she added as there can be a focus on the details of the case, rather than the identity of the defendant. Ms Saidlear agreed with an appeal by Leona OCallaghan for a speedier process, better case management could remedy this problem, she said. RTE Radio 1 music presenter Sandy Harsch has died aged 76 following a short illness. She is survived by her two daughters and a sister. Following the news of her death, Head of RTE Radio 1 Tom McGuire expressed his sympathies and said her co-workers in the radio centre are "heartbroken". "Sandy Harsch had an encyclopedic knowledge and a tremendous love of American Country music. "This knowledge and love permeated 'Country Time' on RTE Radio 1 and Sandy's unique broadcasting style created a wonderful welcome mat for a most appreciative audience on a Saturday night. "She had met and played with many of the stars of country music and her anecdotes and stories gave new life to the playlists she chose for every show. As a colleague, Sandy was much loved in the radio centre and staff here are heartbroken at her sudden passing. Born in Rhode Island, USA, Sandy spent more than half a century living in Ireland. Since 1996 she has presented 'Country Time' on RTE Radio 1. As well as Country Time, Sandy co-presented along with Lilian Smith Sisters Doing It For Themselves, and had been a contributor to both Arena and Lest we Forget. After moving to Ireland from the US in 1960 Harsch worked as a freelance photo-journalist in music retail and wholesale and then as chief photographer, record reviewer, and interviewer for Hot Press magazine. She got her start in radio at RTE as a guest critic with Pat Kenny on 'Outside Track' and worked regularly as a panelist, critic, and producing feature items. She moved onto the independent nationwide station Century Radio presenting The Country Store in 1989 and then presented a syndicated show on nine local stations. In 1996 she rejoined RTE and started presenting Country Time. In her lifetime, Sandy interviewed many of the top country artists including Dierks Bentley, Merle Haggard, Martina McBride, and Sugarland. Sandy Harsch was a recipient of the CMA International Broadcaster Award which recognizes outstanding achievement by radio broadcasters outside the United States who have made important contributions toward the development of Country Music in their country. On receiving that award she said: "Country Music has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid. I have been sharing this passion on air for 22 years and I am totally honoured that the CMA thinks I am doing a good job. "Country is a wonderful part of my life and it is a knockout to be given an award. Thank you so, so much." A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of hundreds of Muslim religious scholars in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least 43 people, Afghan officials have said. Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said another 83 people were wounded in the attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. He said more than 20 people are in critical condition and that the toll could rise. An injured men receives treatment (Rahmat Gul/AP) The victims of the attack unfortunately are all religious scholars who gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Mohammed, said Basir Mujahid, spokesman for the Kabul police chief. He said police had not been asked to provide security for the event, and that the bomber had easily slipped into the hall. Most wedding halls have private security. Mohammad Muzamil, a waiter at the wedding hall, said he had gone into the back to fetch water for the guests when he heard the explosion. Everything was covered with smoke and dust, he said. Injured men in hospital (Rahmat Gul/AP) Police sealed off roads leading to the scene of the attack and ambulances could still be seen going in. Hundreds of family members and relatives gathered at local hospitals, looking at lists of those killed and wounded that were posted outside. No one immediately claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and a local Islamic State affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past. IS claimed a suicide bombing in June that killed at least seven people and wounded another 20 at a meeting of the countrys top clerics in the capital. The body of religious leaders, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, had issued a decree against suicide attacks and called for peace talks. IS said it had targeted tyrant clerics who were siding with the US-backed government. A man wounded in the attack is brought into hospital (Rahmat Gul/AP) Both militant groups want to overthrow the US-backed government and impose a harsh form of Islamic rule, but they are bitterly divided over leadership and ideology, and they have clashed on a number of occasions. Afghan security forces have struggled to combat the twin insurgencies since the US and Nato formally ended their combat mission in 2014, shifting to a support and counter-terrorism role. President Donald Trumps decision last August to send in additional US forces has had little if any impact on the ground. The Taliban carry out near-daily attacks targeting security forces and government officials across the country, while the IS affiliate has bombed gatherings of minority Shiites, killing hundreds of civilians.- Press Association President Ashraf Ghani declares tomorrow, Nov. 21, a national day of mourning following tonights attack. The national flag will be flown at half-mast in Afghanistan and Afghan diplomatic missions abroad, the presidents spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said in a social media post. TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) November 20, 2018 At least 40 killed in attack on religious scholars in Afghanistan capital A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Muslim religious scholars in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least 40 people, officials have said. Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said another 60 people were wounded in the Kabul attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. 40 Killed, 80 Wounded in Kabul Wedding Hall Blast pic.twitter.com/B5HPBcuzLy TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) November 20, 2018 The suicide bomber was able to sneak into a wedding hall in Kabul where hundreds of religious scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the occasion, Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. No one immediately claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and a local Islamic State affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past. IS claimed a suicide bombing in June that targeted a meeting of the country's top clerics in the capital. That attack killed at least seven people and wounded 20. The body of religious leaders targeted in June, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, had issued a decree against suicide attacks and called for peace talks. IS said it had targeted "tyrant clerics" who were siding with the US-backed government. The Taliban denied involvement in the June attack but they also denounced the gathering. Both militant groups want to overthrow the US-backed government and impose a harsh form of Islamic rule, but they are bitterly divided over leadership and ideology, and they have clashed on a number of occasions. PA A US death row inmate faces a Tuesday afternoon deadline to inform prison officials whether he wants to be executed by lethal injection or electrocution. David Earl Miller, in prison in the US state of Tennessee, is scheduled to die on December 6 for the 1981 murder of 23-year-old Lee Standifer in Knoxville. Fortescue Metals Group founder and current chairman Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest is 'humbled' by his pending induction into the Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame next month. Mr Forrest will be inducted at a ceremony in Perth to be held in conjunction with the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies awards dinner on December 6. Andrew Forrest will be honoured in Australian mining hall of fame next month. Credit:Aaron Bunch/Bloomberg The association said he would be recognised under the entrepreneurs and promoters, and directors and management categories for his vision, drive and knowledge of both the mining and financial markets and his determination to deliver social change through business growth. The hall of fame honours miners and prospectors across the country from the 1800s to present day. Loading In June, the AHA gave the LNP senator five cartons of Furphy beer, five cartons of Great Northern Beer, four cases of Pepperjack wine, four cases of Fifth leg wine, and two cases of "sparkling". In July, the Queensland Hotels Association stumped up 12 bottles of red wine, 12 bottles of white wine and a case of beer. In August, Diageo gave him a "heritage 4 litre barrel" worth $399" and a bottle of Bundaberg Rum. And in November, the Queensland Hotels Association donated 10 cases of beer and four cases of mixed wine worth $736. Senator McGrath also declared receiving "disgusting vegan sausages" from PETA in 2017 and a further 100 sausages and 100 meat patties from Stanbroke Beef. A spokesman said the alcoholic beverages were donated as "in-kind support for functions hosted by the senator". "The senator stands by his description of the vegan sausages as 'disgusting' because they are," his spokesman said. Senator James McGrath declared several gifts from hotel and alcohol groups as well as some "disgusting" vegan sausages from PETA. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Minister for Regional Services and Sport, Senator Bridget McKenzie, declared more than 50 gifts and travel upgrades but gave zero sources for them until contacted by the Herald. "The requirement to list the sources for gifts and hospitality items is an administrative oversight and will be rectified for all items at the next required update," a spokesman for the Victorian National senator said. The chair of the Committee of Privileges and Members' Interests, Liberal MP Ross Vasta, said all members were reminded "a few times each year" of their obligations to update the register within 28 days of receiving the gift. But the Herald found more than 30 federal parliamentarians had failed to update their register this year. Liberal MP Craig Kelly did not declare overseas trips to Japan (pictured) and Azerbaijan, funded by a foreign government and a coal lobby group. Credit:Alamy The Liberal MP for Hughes, Craig Kelly, had not recorded any gifts or hospitality since September 2016 despite taking at least two overseas trips funded by a foreign government and a coal lobby group. In April, the south-west Sydney MP travelled to Azerbaijan on a state-sponsored visit, for the second time, to observe their presidential election. Loading In July, Mr Kelly was flown to Japan, all expenses paid by the Mineral Council of Australias COAL21 fund. The trip, led by former deputy prime minister and current Whitehaven Coal chairman Mark Vaile, included "business class return airfares, accommodation, transfer and hospitality". Mr Kelly said that there was "some miscommunication" by his office when "filing the forms officially" to the clerks office but since being contacted by the Herald, he has rectified the record. "The only updates to my register of interests that are required are the trips to Baku and Japan," Mr Kelly said. University of Melbourne lecturer in politics and lobbying George Rennie said transparency in gift giving was critical because of its underlying influence over decision making. "Time after time, politicians are caught breaking the rules. They are caught because of a vigilant press, not by those responsible for 'overseeing' the register," Mr Rennie said. "When they are caught, they seem to react with a shrug, a 'whoops', and they amend their statement with little further consequence." The rules behind the register are made by resolutions of parliament and breaches are seen as "a serious contempt" to be dealt with "accordingly" by either a senate or house of representatives committee. Qantas Chairman's lounge membership QANTAS Chairman's lounge Brisbane. Credit:Credit: Lucas Muro Roughly half of all federal politicians declared a free Qantas Chairmans Lounge membership, which includes free drinks, a Neil Perry a la carte menu, and top-shelf drinks. The lounge is an exclusive invitation-only club and estimated to be worth thousands of dollars per year as outlined in this article. "Any estimated value of the Chairman's Lounge membership would easily be in the many, many thousands, as the basic Qantas Club membership costs $540 per year," Australian Business Traveller editor David Flynn said. Fewer than half of all politicians recorded a single upgraded flight, and fewer than 20 acknowledged any hotel room upgrades since 2016. Bar fridge gift Senator Fraser Anning has had more than $2600 worth of beverages flow into his office since February. He also received a bar fridge worth $650. Senator Fraser Anning declared $2600 in alcohol since February as well as a bar fridge. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen A spokesman for the Senator said he hosted constituents and parliamentarians for drinks "when appropriate". "The [alcohol] donation is small beer and pales in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations received by both major parties," the spokesman said. Israel and Palestine The declarations also show Israeli and Palestinian groups regularly pay for politicians to visit but not all MPs declared this hospitality. In April, 2017, the Greens Senator Janet Rice was hosted by the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) but it failed to be noted on her register. The Senator said she paid all expenses associated with the trip personally and has donated to APAN in the past, which is noted on the register. The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council sponsored Labor MPs with $10,000 each in 2017 for study tours and many Liberal MPs have also taken up offers to tour Israel. Registered silliness On September 12, 2017, Liberal MP Steven Ciobo added a tie to his register: "The Hon Chris Bowen MP presented me with a gift of sartorial excellence, a - to quote him - 'really classy knitted skinny navy blue tie'. I cannot be sure of its market value, however, would note I count it as priceless". Labor MP for Blaxland Jason Clare is one of the most diligent record keepers with more than 80 items on his list, including, "1 x Pineapple from Yeppoon - received from Michelle Landry MP - approx. value $5". Love is love. A year ago it was the heartfelt, compelling and successful slogan for change in the same-sex marriage debate. On November 14, 2017 the results of the survey were announced: 62 per cent of us endorsed the idea that marriage should be between any two adults who loved each other. Many people in the LGBTI community were, and remain, aghast that a weak and compromised then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull put them through the nationwide postal survey, exposing them to bigotry from many quarters. Celebrations one year on after almost two-thirds of voters supported same-sex marriage. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong So it was distressing this week to hear that perhaps some bigotry might be flowing in the other direction when it was revealed that the wedding magazine White, run by devout Christians Luke and Carla Burrell, was folding after a vociferous campaign against it for not featuring same-sex marriages. If former Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ian Narev was pamphletting the mailboxes with his curriculum vitae, so to speak, he may as well take a nice long holiday. No doubt Narev would be keen on new appointments, although certainly not in the public spotlight after a long stint at the Sydney Theatre Company (where he remains on the board) and with the Australian Banking Association, which he departed in April. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: Since departing the bank, hes not yet made it onto any corporate boards. And courtesy of new Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn and his scrupulous note-taking in executive meetings, he may have to wait a little longer. Even first-year graduates at the Department of Foreign Affairs are well appraised of the sensitivities around Jerusalem which both Israelis and Palestinians want to claim as their capital. Australia's policy has always been carefully calibrated to maintain an equilibrium with Israel as well as the much broader Arab and Muslim worlds, especially Indonesia and Malaysia. All of which made Prime Minister Morrison's stream-of-consciousness musing during the Wentworth byelection about moving the Australian embassy to Jerusalem a faux pas majeur. His motivation for doing so, while still not plausibly explained, is now moot. The consequences of him doing so though are not moot by any stretch. Initial murmurings of discontent from Indonesia, soon turned into a roaring protest from Arab nations and a threat to the ratification of a critical Free Trade Agreement with our closest Muslim neighbour. As the public discord spread further, an even more pernicious consequence was floated had Morrison put national security in jeopardy with his ill-disciplined kite flying? Oman Rohman, centre, the key ideologue for Islamic State militants in Indonesia, on trial earlier this year for ordering a 2016 suicide bombing and gun attack in Jakarta that killed eight people, including the four attackers. Credit:AP Malaysias Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir made that point on the margins of the APEC summit in Port Moresby, but Australias Treasurer Josh Frydenberg shot back, publicly accusing Mahathir of pursuing his trademark anti-Semitic posturing. The very public squabbling now emerging within the Coalition frontbench is a symptom of a government that is divided on this issue and belies attempts by the likes of Simon Birmingham and Mathias Cormann to portray this discussion as one of sober due process. Curiously, Peter Dutton and Marise Payne have been quiet when their portfolios are arguably in the best positions to gauge the threat to national security. No doubt behind the tough rhetoric Morrison is looking for a face-saving solution to this diplomatic own goal. He may well find one, but a breakthrough in the diplomatic impasse may not diminish the nourishment he has thrown to Islamic extremists on our doorstep. A 26-year-old woman allegedly sexually assaulted by Jarryd Hayne was forced to seek medical attention the following day, after she suffered bite wounds so severe she was left bleeding profusely, police have confirmed. The explosive new details were revealed by Seven News on Tuesday evening, and included graphic descriptions of the alleged assault on the young woman at a home north of Newcastle on night of the NRL grand final earlier this year. Hayne has since been charged with aggravated sexual assault. A police source has confirmed to the Herald that the young woman was at a home where she lived with her mother, when Hayne arrived in a taxi, allegedly intoxicated after a session of drinking. Anaesthetists at the new $600 million Northern Beaches Hospital (NBH) have threatened to cancel all elective surgery, and doctors have called a crisis meeting within hours of the facility's official opening. On Monday afternoon, after the celebrations of the ribbon-cutting ceremony in the foyer of the new public-private hospital, its Medical Staff Council sent an alert to doctors announcing a meeting on Wednesday night off hospital grounds urging them to "make every effort to attend". Hours after Gladys Berejiklian and Brad Hazzard attended the official opening of NBH, specialists called a crisis meeting. Credit:Brook Mitchell At a meeting on Monday night the hospital's anaesthetists issued NBH operator Healthscope an ultimatum: fix the staffing shortages, equipment shortages and systemic problems within a week or they would refuse to anaesthetise elective surgery patients. By a show of hands staff within the anaesthesia department overwhelmingly agreed it was unsafe to perform elective surgery at the hospital under the current conditions as they worked to stay on top of emergency surgeries. The brother of a baby girl whose body was found on a Gold Coast beach has been taken into care, police have confirmed. The nine-month-old girl was found by a passer-by at the edge of the water at Surfer's Paradise about 12.30am on Monday. Surf Rescue crew drive past the scene where the body of an infant was found at Surfers Paradise on Monday. Credit:AAP Image/Regi Varghese Her 48-year-old father and 23-year-old mother were located about five kilometres away in Broadbeach and have been arrested but no charges have been laid. The family had been living in parks and seeking shelter between Tweed Heads in New South Wales and Surfers Paradise, Detective Inspector Marc Hogan said. A four-month-old baby has died in the Queensland Children's Hospital after being taken to Logan Hospital on Monday morning with life-threatening injuries. Queensland Police are investigating the death as suspicious, and a 35-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man are assisting detectives with their inquiries. The baby, from the Logan district, was taken to Logan Hospital in the morning with life-threatening injuries before being transported to the Queensland Children's Hospital in a critical condition. She died in the hospital on Tuesday afternoon. Detectives from Logan Child Protection and Investigation Unit and the state crime command's Homicide and Child Trauma squads are investigating. Queensland's police officers would be better protected from shootings and stabbings by violent criminals with plans for a new vest. The Queensland Police Service has opened tenders for an upgraded vest for officers which would provide ballistic, stab and slash protection, in addition to being able to carry accoutrements. The current Queensland Police Service load-bearing vest. It would be able to be worn for entire shifts in all climates. Currently, officers can either wear a load-bearing vest, which is used to carry items such as handcuffs, radio, torch and body worn camera, or a ballistic vest to protect them against knives and firearms. An environmental activist has been arrested after holding a tea party on top of a coal train, creating heavy traffic delays at the Port of Brisbane and prompting police negotiators to be called in. The woman, from the Frontline Action on Coal group, climbed up into one of the freight carriages on Tuesday morning and set up a table and chairs. The zoology student climbed on top of a coal train and was confronted by police near the Port of Brisbane. Credit:Frontline Action on Coal The 21-year-old demanded the chief executive of Aurizon, the country's largest rail freight operator, "join her for a cuppa" and agree to stop transporting Adani coal. Police were called at 11.52am and asked heavy vehicles to avoid the area around the Port of Brisbane because the protest had created heavy traffic delays. A vegetation fire and a scrap fire at a recycling plant at Lytton in Brisbane's east are causing heavy smoke across parts of the Port of Brisbane motorway as fire crews work to bring them under control. A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said crews were called to the first fire at a business off Luke Street in Lytton at 3.30pm, where a pile fire had begun. Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at Lytton Road near the Port of Brisbane which forced the road to close. Credit:Queensland Ambulance Service She said the fire appeared to be in a pile of scrap cardboard, with five crews in attendance. About 10 minutes later crews were again called to Luke Street and Lytton Road for a second fire, this time in vegetation. All citybound lanes are closed on the Calder Freeway after a truck rolled, leaving its trailer dangling over the overpass. Credit:VicRoads A truck trailer has been left dangling over the side of an overpass, dumping its contents on the roadway, causing major delays on the Calder Freeway north of Melbourne. The truck is believed to have struck a side barrier on the Green Gully Road overpass at Keilor at about 5.30pm on Tuesday, police said. The male driver has been taken to Footscray Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No one else was injured and the cause of the crash is not yet known. VicRoads spokesman Andrew Crook said the truck had rolled and its trailer had gone over the barrier, dangling on to the road below. A Bendigo woman who poured paint thinners on her partner before setting him on fire has been found guilty of murder. Kate Stone doused Darren Reid in enamel thinners and set him alight at their Derwent Drive home late on the night of December 18, 2016. Kate Stone with Darren Reid. Following the verdict, Stone told her lawyer in court it is what it is and urged her family members to remain calm. In the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Justice Lesley Taylor thanked the jury for their diligence and patience, in what was a long and difficult trial. The men had been monitored since March last year but police allege they had tried to source a semi-automatic rifle in recent weeks and their communications had become more "energised" in the wake of the Bourke Street terror attack on November 9. Hanifi Halis, 21, was arrested in Greenvale and charged with terrorism offences. Credit:Channel Nine What is their background? All three are Australian nationals of Turkish background. The three men had all had their passports cancelled this year in January, March and October. Authorities had suspected they wanted to travel to a conflict zone. Ertunc Eriklioglu outside AFP offices. Credit:Justin McManus How were they arrested? Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and other agencies from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team conducted raids across Melbourne's north-west about 3am on Tuesday. Four properties were raided in Dallas, Campbellfield, Greenvale and Coolaroo. The three men were taken into custody and faced Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Tuesday afternoon. What happened in the Campbellfield raid? Armagan Eriklioglu said heavily-armed police had burst into the house about 3am, pointed guns at the family and arrested his son, Samed. Mr Eriklioglu claimed police had smashed windows and doors of the house. "My mums bungalow [out the back] was smashed, very messy, the doors are gone," he said. On Tuesday afternoon shattered glass from the broken front windows was scattered all over the well-kempt front yard. Police are believed to have seized two Korans and a number of CDs which contained the teachings of Islamic scholars What happened in the Dallas raid? Ertunc Eriklioglu was arrested by police who raided his Dallas house on Tuesday morning. Neighbours were shocked to see police storming the home. Loading "It's pretty scary after what happened the week before last in the city," one neighbour said. "That's why we came to Australia to get away from things like this but it seems to be happening more and more." On Tuesday afternoon, the front windows of the unit were smashed with shards of glass on the doorstep and the blinds drawn. Pairs of shoes, a plastic bag of rubbish and childrens toys were scattered on the front doorstep. How many people have been charged with terror offences? Since September 2014, when the threat level was raised, 90 people have been charged in relation to 40 counter-terrorism investigations across the nation, police say. In Victoria, there have been four major terror plots foiled since 2014. What police said Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said the alleged terror plot was inspired by Islamic State and designed to kill as many as possible in a crowded place in Melbourne. "It's our view that whilst a specific location was not finalised, there was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able to kill, we allege, a maximum amount of people as possible," Mr Ashton said. Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Ian McCartney said the consequences of the men's alleged actions would have been "chilling". What the politicians said Premier Daniel Andrews called it a "potentially deadly" plot. "The seriousness of this potential incident, should not be underestimated and we congratulate and we are very grateful, all of us, as Victorians for the work that's being done," he said. We faced last night a very serious threat. "That equates to 325 full days of running time," Mr Dhillon said. Hanifi Halis, 21, was arrested in Greenvale and charged with terrorism offences. Credit:Channel Nine The magistrate granted investigators the extra time to prepare the brief of evidence, which is due to be handed to the trio's lawyers in March. The three men were remanded in custody and are due to return to court on April 30. Police seized four mobile phones, three electronic tablets and four USB storage devices during the raids, Mr Dhillon said. Authorities said the group's use of encrypted communication had made it difficult for police to decipher when and where the alleged plot was going to be carried out. However, prosecutors will allege the accused stepped up their plotting of an attack from November 12 this year. Ertunc Eriklioglu outside AFP offices. Credit:Justin McManus Meanwhile, the father of two of the accused plotters has denied his sons are would-be terrorists. Armagan Eriklioglu told reporters outside his Campbellfield home that his sons were "good men". Armagan Eriklioglu, the father of two men arrested on terror charges, speaks to media outside his home. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui He said heavily armed police had burst into the house about 3am, pointed guns at the family and arrested his son, Samed. His sons "dont even know how to use a weapon", Mr Erikioglu said. When asked if he feared his sons had been radicalised or influenced by Islamic State, Mr Erikioglu said: "No, no, they don't like Islamic State." "They are very quiet, theyre not wild, theyre not aggressive. We havent got no weapons, they [police] couldnt find anything." Forensic police remove evidence from the Campbellfield home. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Mr Eriklioglu said Samed lived in the bungalow at the back of the house with his 84-year-old grandmother. Ertunc worked as a painter until recently when he injured himself falling from a ladder. The block of units where Ertunc lived, is less than a kilometre from the Broadmeadows mosque. But Broadmeadows mosque president Ramazan Oztas said the accused men hadn't been regular mosque-goers for some time. "The Erikioglu brothers haven't come to the mosque in the last two-and-a-half to three years" Mr Oztas said. "I've been told by members at the mosque that they haven't been here for a while. "They had distanced themselves from the mosque community and I don't know them." Police are believed to have seized two Korans and CDs that contained the teachings of Islamic scholars during the Campbellfield raid. A neighbour on Lemonwood Drive in Greenvale where Mr Halis was arrested said the 21-year-old had changed his appearance in the past year. He had grown a beard and had started to wear a thawb, a traditional robe. The alleged plot The alleged terror plot was inspired by Islamic State and designed to kill as many as possible in a crowded place in Melbourne, Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said. Police said the accused men all Australian nationals of Turkish background had tried to source a .22 semi-automatic rifle in the past few days and their communications had increased in the wake of the Bourke Street terror attack. Federal police guard the house in Dallas where a terror raid was carried out. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui "It's our view that whilst a specific location was not finalised, there was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able to kill, we allege, a maximum amount of people as possible," Mr Ashton said. "Recently, over about the last week, they've become much more energised. Certainly there's been a lot of publicity and talk about terrorism and certainly public-place activity and the Bourke Street trial as well." The three men all had their passports cancelled this year in January, March and October because authorities suspected they wanted to travel to a conflict zone. None of the men was on bail, unlike Bourke Street attacker Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, Mr Ashton said. Federal police leave the house in Dallas with a packet of rubber gloves. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Police said the men may have focused their attention on planning an attack on home soil after their passports were cancelled. "When people are prevented from travelling or getting to the conflict zone, then often the view will be, 'I'll change tack and I'll commit an act in the country of which I live' and we've seen that all over the world," Victoria Police's counter-terrorism boss, Ross Guenther, said. Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther Credit:Justin McManus Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Ian McCartney said the suspects had not been directed by IS, also known as ISIS, but inspired by the organisation. "We're not suggesting this has been directed by ISIS, this has been inspired by ISIS and the propaganda machine," Mr McCartney said. Counter-terrorism raids in Dallas on Tuesday. Credit:Melissa Cunningham Premier Daniel Andrews called it a "potentially deadly" plot. "The seriousness of this potential incident should not be underestimated and we congratulate and we are very grateful, all of us, as Victorians for the work that's being done," he said. Since the threat level was raised in September 2014, 90 people have been charged in relation to 40 counter-terrorism investigations across the country. In Victoria, Mr Guenther said four major plots had been foiled since then. Three men were found guilty this month of plotting a Christmas Day attack in Melbourne. The fourth member of the terror cell and its ringleader, Ibrahim Abbas, earlier pleaded guilty to plotting the attack and was sentenced to 24 years in prison. On November 9, Hassan Khalif Shire Ali drove his ute laden with gas cylinders into Bourke Street before stabbing much-loved Pellegrini's restaurateur Sisto Malaspina to death and severely injuring two other men. Shire Ali was shot by police and later died in hospital. Several hours after Tuesday's raids were carried out, the state funeral for Mr Malaspina was held at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne. Loading The Bourke Street terror attack occurred during the highly publicised trial of James Gargasoulas, who was found guilty of mowing-down pedestrians in Bourke Street in January 2017. The West Australian mining minister has lashed the former state government for allowing a mining proposal set to uproot hectares of protected banksia woodlands south of Perth, saying he has "no control" over the future of the project. Speaking in parliament recently, Minister for Mines and Petroleum Bill Johnston said the former government should be condemned for allowing the Wellard sand mine proposal to get through environmental approvals processes without significant investigation. The proposed sand mine has caused headaches for local residents. Credit:Hannah Barry The Hanson Construction proposal was met with significant pushback from the community due to the sensitive banksia woodlands on the site and perceived potential adverse health and amenity effects. But it passed through the Barnett government unhindered in 2008, with then-environment minister Donna Faragher passing on a thorough assessment of the environmental impacts to the in-house Department of Mines team. Australias aid organisations have been the subject of 31 substantiated sexual misconduct claims in the past three years, prompting a contrite apology from the sectors umbrella organisation. The findings are contained in a report commissioned by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), which was moved to act earlier this year by revelations of widespread sexual assault and harassment within the British aid sector. The study carried out by the Victorian Institute for Forensic Medicine counted 76 claims of sexual misconduct including two cases in which aid workers allegedly raped people in the overseas communities they were working in. The report calls for a mandatory reporting regime whereby aid organisations would have to tell the Australia Charities and Not-for-profits Commission about all sexual misconduct allegations. ACFID has agreed to implement all 28 of the reports recommendations and has issued an apology. Tap-and-go payments and the decline of coins are hurting the Royal Australian Mint despite its plan to make up lost revenue with a rise in profits from selling collectors' items and manufacturing currencies for countries overseas. The federal auditor has found the mint - Australia's sole supplier of coins and a fixture among Canberra's beloved national institutions - is yet to make up for falling revenue following years of dwindling coin use. Efforts to fill the gap fell short despite 444 per cent growth in profit from its commercial work manufacturing popular collector's edition coins, medals and precious metal products. Profits rose over two years from $2.5 million to $13.6 million in 2017-18. The rise of PayPass, payWave and online shopping have undercut coin circulation in Australia, and profit from the mint's work manufacturing national currency dropped from $83.5 million in 2013-14 to $52.0 million in 2017-18. Coin circulation will drop further and cut that figure to $16 million by 2020 as commercial banks purchase fewer coins, the mint estimates. Two years after noticing falling demand in 2013, it began planning ways to adapt, and decided to rely more on commercial manufacturing. Queensland's top law officer has called for a conversation to be had about lowering the voting age from 18. Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath was speaking at the release of findings from a Queensland Family and Child Commission study which surveyed the views of more than 7000 people aged four to 18. Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath, Queensland Family and Child Commission principal commissioner Cheryl Vardon and youth champion Caroline McVicar launch the Growing up in Queensland report. The study found young people had an "intense desire" to be included in decisions that affected their lives, with more than one-quarter highlighting the need for leaders and decision-makers to listen to their views. Ms D'Ath said the question of whether to lower the voting age was "a discussion we should be having across the nation". Kabul: A suicide bomber blew himself up in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 80, three government officials said. Several people said the blast targeted a gathering of Sunni Muslims who were commemorating the anniversary of the prophet Muhammad's birth. "A suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside a wedding hall where Islamic religious scholars had gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad," Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said. A man injured in a suicide bombing at a gathering of scholars is brought into a hospital in Kabul. Credit:AP The attacker entered a banquet room in the Uranus wedding hall, a massive complex housing several large banqueting halls near Kabul airport, and detonated his explosives. Washington: Democrats called on Tuesday for an investigation into US President Donald Trump's daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump following reports that she repeatedly used a personal email account last year for government business. A White House review of Ivanka Trump's email found she used her personal account up to 100 times to contact other Trump administration officials, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the review. Use of a personal account for government business could potentially violate a law requiring preservation of all presidential records. Representatives for the White House did not respond to a request for comment. Latest News Buyers Choice bought out by MoneyQuest in major acquisition Group CEO promises brokers more choice and more value after big purchase Investors and rentvestors given new tool to buy property sight unseen New platform has mapped every address in Australia with vital stats for investors An SME lender CEO has said a fund to help small businesses gain access to funding could work better in Australia than it did in the UK. Last week the government announced a $2billion Australian Business Securitisation Fund for smaller banks and non-bank lenders to on-lend to small businesses on more competitive terms. As part of the announcement the government said it was also working towards another fund, the Australian Business Growth Fund. This fund is expected to follow the fund established in the UK in 2011, which has now invested more than $2.7billion in a range of sectors in the economy. The CEO of Australian business lender Fifo Capital, Wayne Morris, was in the UK and part of a Government Advisory directly connected to establishing and deploying the fund which came about after the global financial crisis when banks stopped lending to SMEs. The fund required that any investment into an alternative lender was met on a 50/50 basis, de-risking the tax payers position. He said in addition, to counter the fact the banks werent lending and that SMEs were struggling as the banks simply werent providing decisions on funding, the government introduced guidelines that outlined the banks must refer clients to independent aggregators, online platforms with panels of lenders, where SMEs where presented with multiple lenders and choice. Morris said it was about providing information to SMEs to let them know there were alternatives to the big banks, as well as increasing the flow of finance and increasing the diversity. While the fund in the UK was an overall success, Morris said there were things to learn about implementing the fund. He said if it was done right in Australia, theres no reason it shouldnt work, if not better. Explaining why he thinks the fund will work, he said, I have seen this work I have been part of it before. Its not about satisfying the lenders that provide funding. From a governments perspective its ensuring the funds make it to the SMEs and make it in the right format that it enables the growth and that was what was done well in the UK. So it was incredibly successful because it came at the time where SMEs where struggling to compete on an export side because they couldnt get the finance to grow. It was all about enabling the growth, it meant they could recruit. SMEs are the net provider of employment in the country. Create more jobs, more opportunities. It was a really sound investment. As long as its deployed correctly, the right partnerships and the right framework, theres no reason it shouldnt work if not better, because I think Australia has such a capacity for growth. The UK is a little bit stuck, but here theres a lot of opportunity to do more exporting and bits like that. Morris said it would not be plain sailing however and that there were lessons to learn from the UK implementation. He said, This is a step really in the right direction. It comes at just the right time where I think the royal commission has made big banks tidy up their criteria and this is just a nice segway into SMEs getting more flexibility they need in the lending space. But its critical they get the framework and deployment correct. Thats the concern from a tax payers point of view. Having $2billion available is great. The devil in the detail is how youre going to deploy that. That to me is the critical piece to play, but on the face of it is in incredible piece to play. There needs to be a very close run on the finance partners they work with. The critical thing here is that the government needs to put those funds out at an affordable rate that isnt then abused by the financier. For instance, if they were putting the amount out at 4% the financier shouldnt be putting it out at 30%. They also need to ensure the finance partners have robust and credit risk procedures because were talking tax payer money. Credit risk and how those funds are deployed, you cant afford to lose $2billion of tax payers money. Apart from the framework, the ongoing measuring, time and reporting piece would be the first things Id look at. Latest News Buyers Choice bought out by MoneyQuest in major acquisition Group CEO promises brokers more choice and more value after big purchase Investors and rentvestors given new tool to buy property sight unseen New platform has mapped every address in Australia with vital stats for investors A small business lender is reminding brokers of the impact they can make if they understand the difficulty of the upcoming holiday season. Small businesses face increased cash flow concerns as they come up to the busy holiday season. Small business lender Prospa is encouraging brokers to be aware of what causes those concerns for various businesses and what solutions there are for them. The end of the year means small businesses face the need for more staff to accommodate the extra custom and the need to buy in more stock. Other businesses also find that payments might be coming in much slower than normal and therefore will be behind on their own payments. Matt Bauld, general manager, sales & business development at Prospa, said it was important for brokers to understand how different issues affect different sectors. He added, For Australians who run small businesses, the end of the calendar year can be a stressful trading period. Cash flow concerns are high, but the causes are different. Flat out retailers experience staff shortages right when they need bigger teams, and those that dont stock ahead in November miss out on great opportunities to grow their business. On the other hand, construction and professional services start to wind down for the holidays. Instead of enjoying this time with friends and family, trades businesses and accountants are distracted by delayed payments and a lack of cash coming in from new work. Brokers that understand how the holiday season affects different sectors can anticipate their customers finance needs and offer the right solution. Being able to identify the major pain points not only builds trust during a stressful period, but ensures those brokers are front of mind when 2019 kicks off. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor No is getting louder than yes in the Tata-Jet deal talks, sources close to the development said. Top representatives of the the salt-to-software conglomerate have red-flagged reputational issues of Naresh Goyal-led Jet Airways, from the time of inception of the airline, including sources of its funding. This could adversely affect the progress of a deal between the two. While Tata Sons, after a board meeting on Friday, said it was in preliminary talks with Jet and that there was no proposal yet, an internal panel has been constituted within the to carry out due diligence on the financial aspects and funding of Jet. The findings of the committee will determine the direction of the talks for a possible acquisition of by the Tatas, sources indicated. ALSO READ: Jet Airways pilots threaten not to do additional duties over salary delay As things stand now, apart from a clean chit from the internal committee, the Tatas would need some more conditions to be fulfilled for the transaction with Jet to fructify. The group is likely to insist on Goyal selling his entire 51 per cent stake in the airline and relinquishing the board positions held by him and his family. More than anything else, any decision on Jet is likely to hinge on what Tata Trusts Chairman Ratan Tata has to say on the matter, said a source. The recent board meeting of discussed whether the proposed acquisition would fit into the groups overall strategy, especially in relation to aviation. The Tatas and Singapore Airlines have already invested Rs 20 billion in Vistara (the largest single equity infusion ever) to support its expansion plan. Scaling up business is a priority but a few board members are believed to have expressed doubts over the proposed acquisition of Jet. In pursuit of scaling up, when the Tatas did not go for Air India, what is the need to buy Jet. A source said Jets high debt and regulatory issues such as inquiries by several ministries and government agencies over the years also weighed in. Jet had a debt of Rs 84 billion as of end-September, including Rs 18 billion of aircraft-related debt. The airline was trying to sell and lease back its Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 planes to pare down debt, but large repayment is an area of concern. In addition, there could be operational concerns as well. For instance, Tatas joint venture (JV) partner in Vistara, Singapore Airlines, would like to tread cautiously on the deal. If the deal were to mature, the Tatas would want to merge Jet with Vistara. Tatas run two joint airlines in India Vistara in partnership with Singapore Airlines and AirAsia India with Malaysias AirAsia Berhad. Fleet alignment could come in the way too. Vistara operates an all-Airbus A320 fleet, while Boeing 737 is the mainstay of Jet's fleet. Vistara is a 51:49 per cent JV between the Tatas and Singapore Airlines. According to the civil aviation ministry, Tata Singapore Airlines (Vistara) is an Indian controlled entity. However, the Federation of Indian Airlines, or FIA (of which is a part) has challenged the grant of permit to Vistara in the Delhi High Court. Among other things, the FIA has alleged that Vistara is controlled by Singapore Airlines and that litigation is still pending. ALSO READ: No bailout for Jet Airways, management needs to run smoothly, says Prabhu Simone Reis, co-head M&A practice at Nishith Desai Associates, said, investing in an Indian company cannot hold more than 49 per cent (under the government route) and control of such company must be with Indian residents. In the absence of specific restrictions, any downstream investment by such an Indian company (including in another airline company) should be considered Indian. Should the original government approval permitting the airline to invest have conditionalities (including how the Indian JV company will invest going further), those will have to be taken into consideration. Analysts believe the Tatas will not rush into an acquisition and will drive down the purchase price by prolonging the transaction. The BJP said on Tuesday the is the right authority to examine whether the sensational charges brought by CBI DIG Manish Kumar Sinha against a Union minister and top officials has any substantive basis or is "politically motivated". The feud within the CBI turned murkier on Monday with Sinha dragging the names of NSA Ajit Doval, Union minister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC K V Chowdhury over alleged attempts to interfere in the probe against the agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has also been divested of his duties and sent on leave by the government along with Director BJP spokesperson G V L said the matter is "sub judice", but took objection to "somebody serving in an organisation twisting the name of that organisation itself". When asked by reporters about the issue, he said, "The matter is sub judice. The is hearing the matter on a regular basis. The court apparently itself said there is no urgency to hear this particular complaint. Therefore, it is not proper for me to make a political comment." Sinha, who was probing the FIR against Asthana, the CBI's number two, and important cases like the PNB scam involving Nirav Modi, made a litany of sensational allegations in his petition before the that sought urgent hearing for quashing his transfer to "The court itself did not see any merit or emergency in the allegations being made. Therefore, I think the right authority to examine this complaint is the court itself. Whether this statement is politically motivated or has any substantive basis is something that the court will examine," he said. "But, prima facie, I have a strong objection to somebody serving in an organisation twisting the name of that organisation itself... Honestly, in my opinion, that deserves disciplinary action," Rao said. "I think no individual serving in an organisation should have the audacity to really target the organisation. You can always make allegations about individuals, make statements, offer evidence. But, trying to lower the stature of the organisation itself, to my mind, is simply not done. It's a breach of discipline as far as my understanding goes," he said. A furious Supreme Court on Tuesday told all the parties in a case involving the CBI's top brass they did not "deserve" a hearing in the light of the purported leak of the agency chief's reply to the CVC's probe findings against him and making public the allegations by its senior officer Manish Kumar Sinha against top officials. K V Chowdhury did not respond to queries when his reaction was sought while Doval, the Security Advisor, was not immediately available for comments. The union minister termed the allegations as baseless and malicious. A Delhi court on Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. The verdict pronounced in the Tihar Jail due to security concerns and attack on the convicts on the premises of the Delhi court. On November 14, the court had convicted Singh and Sherawat for killing two men during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots -- the first conviction in the cases reopened by the SIT. The had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a Special Investigation Team on the riots reopened it. Taking forward trade dispute with America in the World Trade Organization (WTO), India has asked the Geneva-based multilateral body to set up a panel against the US for imposing high import duties on certain steel and aluminium products, an official said. India took this decision after both the countries failed to resolve the issue in a bilateral consultation process under the dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO. Consultation is the first step of the dispute settlement process in the organisation. If the two countries are not able to reach a mutually agreed solution through consultation, a country can request for a WTO dispute settlement panel to review the matter. "So, now, India has asked the WTO for the establishment of the dispute panel on the matter," the official said. Imposition of high import duties on these items by the US has impacted exports of these products by Indian businesses. The US move is also not in compliance with global trade norms. Besides India, Russia, Norway, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, and European Union have dragged the US in the WTO on America's move to impose 25 per cent and 10 per cent import duties on certain steel and aluminium products, respectively, which has triggered global trade tensions. "We have discussed the matter with all these countries. A common dispute panel could be formed on the matter," the official added. India has a significant export interest to the US on the steel and aluminium sector. As per estimates, India exports steel and aluminium goods worth about $1.6 billion a year to America. The US had imposed these duties on grounds of security. Biswajit Dhar, professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the US decision would not only impact India's export of these goods but would also affect global trade. "The entire basis of the US action is based on its own perception of security threat issue. This cannot be a ground to impose these duties," Dhar said. Some experts, however, said that dragging the US in the dispute over the issue is not in favour of India, as New Delhi has a trade surplus with America. India's exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at about $48 billion, while imports were $26.7 billion. Both the countries are also involved in several other disputes in the WTO. Those disputes are in the areas of poultry, export incentives, solar and steel. In retaliation to the imposition of duties by the US, India has decided to increase customs duty on 29 American products such as almond, walnut, pulses and iron and steel items. The duties would come into effect from December 17. At least six people were killed and 10 others injured in an explosion near an ordnance depot in Maharashtra's Wardha district on Tuesday morning, officials said. The explosion took place around 7 am while ammunition was being unloaded for disposal, a Defence official said. Around 10 to 15 contract labourers were at the site when the incident occurred, Wardha's Additional Superintendent of Police Nikhil Pingle said. "The blast occurred in one of the ammunition boxes while unloading the ammunition. The incident took place in an open land," he said. While four people were killed on the spot, two others succumbed to injuries in hospital, Inspector General of Police (Nagpur Range) K M M Prasanna told PTI. The deceased included an ammunition factory employee and labourers. The injured were admitted to a hospital in the nearby Savangi village, another police official said. Police and fire brigade officials rushed to the spot to carry out the rescue operation. The demolition ground at the Central Ammunition Depot at Pulgaon in the district was given to the Ammunition Factory, Khamaria (Madhya Pradesh), for demolition activities, he said. In 2016, 16 people were killed in a blast at the ammunition depot at Pulgaon in 2016. External Affairs Minister on Tuesday said India had two days ago sought diplomatic access to former Navy officer who is currently in a Pakistani jail after being convicted there for spying. The minister added that Jadhav's case is listed for hearing in February in the International Court of Justice. Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on spying charges in April 2017. India moved the ICJ in May the same year against the verdict. The world court halted Jadhav's execution, on India's appeal, pending the final verdict by it. "We have secured a stay on Jadhav's execution from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This matter is listed for hearing in February," Swaraj told reporters here. While Pakistan has claimed its security forces arrested Jadhav from its Balochistan province in March 2016 after he reportedly entered the country from Iran, India has said Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Speaking on the deportation of Christian Michel, an alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper deal, Swaraj called it a "big success" on the part of the Centre. In a swipe at the opposition Congress, Swaraj asked, "But why has this (deportation) caused discomfort to the Congress?" On the Rafale fighter aircraft purchase, which is at the centre of an acrimonious tussle between the ruling BJP and the Congress, Swaraj said it was not an "issue" and claimed it could not become a poll issue in MP despite the Congress's best efforts. When Sardar Singh Jatav set out walking on a muggy night in early September to talk with the men who employed his son, he found them already waiting for him in the road. But they were not in the mood for discussion. The higher-caste men greeted Mr. Sardar with a punch to the face. Then they broke his arm. Then they pinned him down. Mr. Sardar shrieked for help. Nobody came. One higher-caste man stuffed a rag in his mouth. Another gleefully pulled out a razor. He grabbed Mr. Sardars scalp and began to lift and cut, lift and cut, carving off nearly every inch of ... Stressing on its public commitment to being apolitical, Twitter has extended an apology after its CEO Jack Dorsey, who visited India last week, was seen holding a poster during a round-table with women journalists that read "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy". "I'm very sorry for this. It's not reflective of our views. We took a private photo with a gift just given to us -- we should have been more thoughtful," Vijaya Gadde, Global Head of Legal, Policy, Trust and Safety Lead at Twitter, tweeted late Monday. "Twitter strives to be an impartial platform for all. We failed to do that here & we must do better to serve our customers in India," she added. According to the social network, it hosted a closed-door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. "One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack." "It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world," said the micro-blogging platform. In a statement to IANS, a Twitter spokesperson said that the company is proud of the fact that Twitter is a platform where marginalised voices can be seen and heard. "But we also have a public commitment to being apolitical. We realise that this photo may not accurately represent that commitment," the spokesperson said. "When our executives travel, they meet with a range of public figures from around the world that represent the diversity of the conversation on our platform. This recent trip to India was no exception and Jack and Vijaya met with leaders across the political spectrum, and from a range of religious and cultural backgrounds." Some Twitter users accused Dorsey of "bigotry" and "racism" after the poster went viral. "How can people put such a hate poster and malign a community: @jack How can you as ceo of @twitter be party to this kind of hate," tweeted Mohandas Pai, Chair of Manipal Global Education. The number of people effectively subscribing to Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), or for PF services, peaked in September 2018 with 973,774 net additions to the payroll count in the formal sector. This is the highest figure since inception of the data in September 2017. The previous peak was achieved in July (at 932,498). Total payroll additions in 13 months add up to 7.9 million as of now. However, the data is subject to revisions in successive months due to irregularities. The net payroll addition in September 2017 stood at 529,432, as reported in May 2018. In July, it was lowered to 499,677, further to be revised to 482,442 in September. In the latest release of November, it has further dropped to 411,027. On the contrary, successive revisions of April 2018 data the first month of the financial year have been upward. It got revised from 580,165 in July to 727,662 in September to 743,125 in November. The reason, officials said, is that many companies either stop paying contributions much after an employee leaves the company, or that companies delay returns. The September 2018 peak could be achieved precisely since the month saw the least exits in 13 months for which unique data is available. From a peak of more than a million subscribers leaving the EPFO in March, September witnessed only about 250,000 exits. The EPFO started publishing monthly payroll data from September 2017. Initially, net payroll addition was defined as the difference between new subscribers and subscribers that exited. Since July 2018, the social security provider changed the definition of net payroll addition to bring in re-joiners to the fold. Payroll count for previous months, which was getting revised downward in successive data releases, got revised upward after this change. However, it started getting revised downward again. For example, the September report showed net payroll addition in July 2018 was 951,423. In the November report (latest), it has been revised to 932,498. The revision for June is from 857,934 to 831,872. Some experts, such as group chief economist at SBI Soumya Kanti Ghosh, have maintained that more than half of the payroll count are new jobs. But several experts, including chief statistician of India Pravin Srivastava, have pointed out that EPFO data conveys formalisation of jobs and not employment generation. and agreed to further strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation in defence and sectors as held productive and extensive talks with his counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong on Tuesday. Kovind, who is here on a three-day visit, received a military guard of honour at the Vietnamese Presidential Palace before the talks. This is Kovind's first visit to South-East Asia and to the ASEAN region as the During their talks, the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, according to an official statement. "My talks with Phu Trong were extensive and productive. Our discussions covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation," Kovind said. The two leaders reiterated the importance of building a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region on the basis of respect for national sovereignty and international law. "We have agreed to further strengthen our bilateral cooperation in defence, peaceful uses of atomic energy and outer space, science and technology, oil and gas, infrastructure development, agriculture and innovation-based sectors," he said. The two nations also signed three MoUs in the fields of communications, education and trade and investment to take the bilateral agenda forward. "We committed to further deepen our defence and security cooperation. I reiterated India's commitment to provide training support for Armed Forces. We also reviewed the implementation of the Line of Credit of $ 100 million for building high-speed patrol vessels for the Vietnamese Border Guards," he said. During their talks the two leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation. They agreed to strengthen the global fight against the menace, the statement said. "We expressed satisfaction that the two countries would soon begin dialogue on strengthening maritime security cooperation," he said. The two nations agreed to encourage their industries to tap into the growing economic opportunities in their own countries and in the region. "India- economic relations are on an upswing. Our bilateral trade last year stood at $ 12.8 billion. I am confident that our efforts in facilitating our business interactions will enable us to achieve our bilateral trade target of $ 15 billion by 2020," he said. The president said his visit to the country came 60 years after the 11-day historic state visit of the late president Ho Chi Minh to in 1958. "I am glad that my first visit in the ASEAN region has been to Vietnam, a strategic pillar of India's Act East Policy, and our key interlocutor in ASEAN," he said. As comprehensive strategic partners, and Vietnam have a strong bilateral relationship based on mutual trust, understanding, convergence of views on regional and international issues and strong cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, the president said. Heavy turnout had been reported in the Chhattisgarh assembly elections as 72 constituencies today went to the polls to conclude the second and final phase of voting in the state. Till the last figure came in, about 72 per cent polling in the 72 constituencies were recorded till 6 pm. In the first phase covering 18 seats, 76.28 per cent voters exercised their franchise on November 12 despite the majority of constituencies were in the Naxal-infested pockets. According to state electoral officials, the final figure would be known only by Wednesday morning when all the polling ... Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi-led government of interfering in the functioning of important institutions like the and the Addressing an election rally in poll-bound Mizoram's capital Aizawl, Gandhi said being an RSS man is sufficient qualification to be governor or vice chancellor. He also reiterated his allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal and said Prime Minister has robbed public money and used it to buy publicity. The government has denied the opposition party's allegations on the fighter jet deal with "The is interfering in the functioning of the Planning Commission, RBI, and Four judges of the said they could not do their jobs due to government interference," Gandhi said. In January, four senior-most judges of the -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- called a press conference to say the situation in the top court was "not in order". Gogoi is now "To be governor or VC of a university, being an RSS man is sufficient qualification," Gandhi, who had addressed a rally in Champhai in the state earlier in the day, said while hitting out at the ruling BJP's ideological mentor. The also attacked the opposition MNF for allegedly working with the BJP in the elections. Lauding his party government in the state for the past 10 years, he said the per capita income of is higher than the national average. "This happened due to united efforts of the people, churches and civil societies," he added. Elections to the 40-member assembly will be held on November 28. External Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) senior leader on Tuesday announced that she will not contest next year's Lok Sabha elections. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Swaraj said that while it is the party that decides on such things, she, on her part, has made up her mind not to contest the Swaraj, who has been a Member of Parliament for several years, has, in the past, also held the position of Delhi's Chief Minister from October 13 to December 3, 1998. In fact, she was Delhi's first woman chief minister. She has also been Informational and Broadcasting Minister in the Centre, spokesperson of the and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. During the last two Lok Sabha polls in 2009 and 2014, Swaraj had contested and won from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. A lawyer for Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman recently acquitted of blasphemy charges after eight years on death row in Pakistan, says she would like to leave her homeland for any western country willing to issue visas for her and her family. Lawyer Saiful Malook told reporters in Frankfurt on Tuesday that the failure of any country to offer to take them is why Bibi and her family haven't already left Malook said that for Bibi, who is currently at a secret location in Pakistan, "any western country would be acceptable." Pakistan's judges on October 21 acquitted the 54-year-old mother-of-five of blasphemy charges, but her case has inflamed radical Islamists some of whom are calling for her death. Contact: Mostly, the Rude Pundit doesn't give a shit what you have to say, but, if you have to say it, you can write to Lee Papa here: rudepundit(at)yahoo(dot)com Sri Lanka's largest party warned on Tuesday that the island could default on its debt as Moody's slashed its credit rating and a bitter power struggle dragged into the fourth week. The South Asian nation has been gripped by an unprecedented political crisis since the president sacked his prime minister on October 26 and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse in his place. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the ousted premier and leader of the United National Party -- the largest single party in parliament -- refused to step down, declaring his sacking illegal. President then dissolved parliament and called snap elections for January 5 -- a decision later suspended by the Supreme Court. The parliament, restored by court order, voted twice to topple Rajapakse last week but he has also refused to step down, leaving without a government since November 15. Mangala Samaraweera, a member of Wickremesinghe's party who served as finance minister until the chaos broke out, said he was worried the crisis could lead the country into an "economic abyss". "If we don't have a budget approved unveiled in the next few weeks, the government will not be able to spend any money from January 1, 2019," he told reporters in Colombo. ratings agency Moody said its decision to downgrade Sri Lanka's credit rating from B1 to B2 reflected external and internal issues, which were "exacerbated most recently by a political crisis which seems likely to have a lasting impact on policy even if ostensibly resolved quickly." A credit downgrade means would have to pay more by way of interest on its foreign borrowings, because of a greater risk of default. The political unrest also saw the Monetary Fund (IMF) suspend a tranche of a $1.5-billion bailout loan agreed to in 2016. Samaraweera said there was a serious risk of the country defaulting on a $1-billion sovereign bond that matures on January 10. "We are now in uncharted territory," he said. "We have never been in a situation where we were unable to meet our foreign debt." Cash-strapped Pakistan's negotiations with the for a bailout package faced difficulties as the lender sought complete disclosure of Chinese financial support and hiking of energy prices and levying more taxes, media reports said Tuesday. The Monetary Fund delegation, which was in for nearly two weeks, is set to conclude talks with senior officials on Tuesday over arranging an unspecified amount to help the country in addressing the balance of payment crisis. As talks enter the final phase, the set stricter conditions for to implement in exchange for a bailout package much needed for economic revival. Some of the major conditions include imposition of more taxes worth Rs 150 billion, further reduction in the rupee value as well as a tighter monetary policy. It also sought from all details of financial support from for any bailout package to Pakistan. Led by its mission chief Harald Finger, the delegation is holding meetings with government officials to know their viewpoint on the reforms. There were no indication that the two sides are close to any agreement, Dawn newspaper reported. Finance Minister said on Monday that the talks were moving ahead positively but there were still differences, the report said. "There are still gaps in the position of the IMF and the position that we have," Umar said after a series of meetings with the IMF team. Umar said the IMF visit would conclude on Tuesday and he had no funding emergency to worry about day after tomorrow. He said that $ 1 billion of the $ 3 billion committed by had been remitted to the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday and the remaining $ 2 billion would follow over the next few days. Pakistan looks forward to about $ 6 billion financial bailout for averting its balance of payments crisis. Informed sources said the two sides had a wide gap in their positions on the need for increase in electricity tariff, upward revision in the revenue target and additional tax measures on matters relating to Chinese assistance and its impact both inflow and outflow. The sources said the IMF also demanded that the provincial governments finance the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), instead of the federal government, and wanted committed cash surpluses to minimise the consolidated fiscal deficit. Regarding China's financial help, the minister said there was complete transparency. The sources told the paper that the IMF mission wanted a clear roadmap for elimination of power sector circular debt that currently stood at Rs 1.2 trillion and welcomed administrative measures to recover some arrears, but insisted on further increasing for full cost recovery of power supply, it said. The sources said the IMF team was not satisfied with the power sector reforms plan and wanted the government to surrender its powers to set electricity tariff and let these be independently dealt with by the power regulator. Pakistan's current account deficit widened 43 per cent to $ 18 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June, while the fiscal deficit has ballooned to 6.6 per cent of The sources told the paper that the IMF was very critical of the fiscal federalism arrangements at present and noted with concern that the Centre had transferred all profitable taxes to the provinces while keeping all necessary expenditures of provincial nature as federal responsibility. The IMF mission also sought a complete market-based free float of the exchange rate and complete independence to the State Bank of Pakistan, the apex bank of the country. British Prime Minister Theresa May vowed on Monday to stick to her draft European Union divorce deal as dissenting lawmakers in her own party tried to trigger a leadership challenge. Since striking a deal with the EU on Tuesday, May has faced the most perilous crisis of her premiership with several cabinet ministers resigning, including her Brexit minister. May has pledged to fight on, warning that toppling her risks delaying Britain's exit from the EU, or leaving without a deal, a step that could thrust the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown. Even if she ... The IMF has demanded to provide all details of China's financial support to the cash-strapped country to avail a bailout package from it, according to reports. The Monetary Fund mission is in and holding talks with officials over arranging an unspecified amount to help in addressing the balance of payment issue. As talks enter the final phase, the IMF set stricter conditions for to implement in exchange for a bailout package much needed for economic revival. Some of the major conditions include imposition of more taxes worth Rs 150 billion, further reduction in the rupee value as well as a tighter monetary policy. It also sough from Pakistan all details of Chinese financial support for any bailout package to Pakistan. Led by its mission chief Harald Finger, the IMF delegation is holding meetings with government officials to know their viewpoint on the reforms. There were no indication that the two sides are close to any agreement, Dawn reported. Finance Minister Asad Umar said on Monday that the talks were moving ahead positively but there were still differences, the report said. "There are still gaps in the position of the IMF and the position that we have," Umar said after a series of meetings with an IMF team. Umar said the IMF visit would conclude on Tuesday and he had no funding emergency to worry about day after tomorrow. He said that USD 1 billion of the USD 3 billion committed by Saudi Arabia had been remitted to the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday and the remaining USD 2 billion would follow over the next few days. Pakistan looks forward to about USD 6 billion financial bailout for averting its balance of payments crisis Informed sources said the two sides had a wide gap in their positions on the need for increase in electricity tariff, upward revision in the revenue target and additional tax measures on matters relating to Chinese assistance and its impact both inflow and outflow. The sources said the IMF also demanded that the provincial governments finance the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), instead of the federal government, and wanted committed cash surpluses to minimise the consolidated fiscal deficit. Regarding the Chinese financing, the minister said there was complete transparency in the Chinese assistance and whatever the external debt was would have to be shared with the IMF as part of the programme, the report said. The sources said the IMF mission wanted a clear roadmap for elimination of power sector circular debt that currently stood at Rs1.2tr and welcomed administrative measures to recover some arrears, but insisted on further increasing electricity rates for full cost recovery of power supply, it said. The sources said the IMF team was not satisfied with the power sector reforms plan and wanted the government to surrender its powers to set electricity tariff and let these be independently dealt with by the power regulator. Pakistan's current account deficit widened 43 percent to USD 18 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June, while the fiscal deficit has ballooned to 6.6 per cent of gross domestic product. (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.) Legal groups have argued that a judge should prevent the from enforcing its ban on asylum for anyone who illegally crosses the US- border. US District Judge Jon S. Tigar did not immediately rule on whether to issue a temporary restraining order during a hearing in The request was made by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights, which quickly sued after issued the ban this month in response to the caravans of migrants that have started to arrive at the US- border. Trump issued a proclamation on November 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border would be ineligible for asylum. The regulations, which will remain in place for three months absent a court order, could potentially make it harder for thousands of people who enter the US to avoid deportation. "Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry," said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights. "It couldn't be clearer." In recent years, tens of thousands of immigrants each year have shown up in the Arizona desert or on the north of the Rio Grande in Texas, surrendered to immigration agents and requested asylum. The Department of Homeland Security estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. Trump has argued that the recent caravans are a threat to national security. Migrants, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, shower as they rest in a shelter in Tijuana, (Photo:Reuters) Around 3,000 people from the first of the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, US Customs and Border Protection said Monday that it closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the San Ysidro crossing. It has also installed movable, wire-topped barriers, apparently to stop a potential mass rush of people. As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Trump's order went into effect, according to DHS, which oversees Customs and Border Protection. Officials didn't say whether those people's cases were still progressing through other avenues left to them after the proclamation. DHS has said it wants asylum seekers at the southern border to appear at an official border crossing. But many border crossings like San Ysidro already have long wait times. People are often forced to wait in shelters or outdoor camps on the Mexican side, sometimes for weeks. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because "they're in real danger," either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. "We don't condone people entering between ports of entry, but has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum," he said. What is it that makes Amazon different from other large companies? Certainly, the sheer range of the products it sells and its market power are unmatched in corporate America. The recent frenzy over its HQ2 pick is another expression of its outsize influence on the economy. But there is another difference that is much less appreciated yet has been more significant in shaping its path: Amazons resource-allocation strategy in particular, how it chooses to use the profits that it earns. It is one of very few large American corporations that is choosing to retain its ... Asia, at the broad level, will lose from the US-China trade war, but a few countries will emerge as relative winners. Nomura Holdings Inc. found that a push by companies in the US and China for import substitution towards the rest of Asia will benefit Malaysia in particular, followed by Japan, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines, based on its analysis of specific products on the list of tariffs. At the same time, Vietnam is the clear winner from companies switching production from China, followed by Malaysia, Singapore and India. "As the saying goes, when two ... India and Vietnam on Tuesday signed four agreements- one each in the spheres of communications, foreign affairs, academics, and commerce during the visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to the South East Asian country. The President shared an image on his Twitter account with the caption "India and Vietnam have signed and exchanged four agreements," giving an outline of the agreements signed between the two South Asian nations. An agreement has been signed by the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam and India's Ministry of Communications. The second is an agreement of cooperation between the Department of Foreign Affairs of Provinces, which is a branch of Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam. An academic agreement has also been signed between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of in Hanoi and New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry have also signed an agreement. Earlier today, President Kovind addressed Vietnam's National Assembly in Hanoi and also participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of National Heroes and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. President Kovind, who arrived in Vietnam on Sunday, interacted with leaders of Da Nang People's Committee led by Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang. The President, along with First Lady Savita Kovind, visited the Museum of Cham sculpture in the city of Da Nang on the second day of his three-day visit to Vietnam. President Kovind is expected to proceed to Australia later in the day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "We have no objection if an ordinance is brought for the construction of Ram Mandir. If bringing an ordinance will be good for the country, bring it. We are law-abiding citizens, we will obey every law," he told ANI. Ansari's remark comes amidst demands for urgent pronouncement of a decision in the case by a section, including Hindu seers in Ayodhya. On October 29, the Supreme Court had adjourned the title suit till January 2019 to fix the date of hearing in the matter. The top court adjourned the matter which challenged the Allahabad High Court ruling of 2010. The Court in its 2010 verdict had suggested a division of the disputed land in Ayodhya into three parts- one for each of the parties - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. The Babri Masjid, built by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528, was on December 6, 1992, razed to the ground allegedly by Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed after demolishing a Ram Temple that originally stood there. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was allegedly attacked with chilli powder at the Secretariat, Aam Aadmi Party spokespersons Raghav Chaddha and Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday claimed that the attackers were backed by the BJP's Central government. Talking to media persons, Bharadwaj said, "Bharatiya Janata Party's Central government has created an atmosphere where anti-social elements are being instigated to attack Chief Minister Kejriwal. Attackers know they will get all protection from the Central government." Raghav Chaddha alleged that the Delhi Police had no intention of taking action against the attacker. "The attackers are being provided full protection by the Delhi Police. The police have no intention to take firm action against the attacker on the Chief Minister," said Chaddha. Chaddha claimed to be present at the time of the incident and alleged that nobody attempted to stop the accused from entering Kejriwal's office with something in his hand. "I am an eyewitness to what has happened today. It is shocking and shameful that such an incident took place at the Chief Minister's office. We saw that a man enters his (Arvind Kejriwal) office with something in his hand and nobody tries to stop him. If the police conduct an independent investigation in the matter, I will certainly record my statement." The party alleged that the BJP has a role in the attack. Sharpening their attack on the central government led by the BJP, Bharadwaj said, "Rogue elements, who are attacking the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, are backed by the BJP. They wanted to attack the Chief Minister even on the inauguration of Signature Bridge. It is clear that the BJP is trying to suppress us." "If the Chief Minister is not safe and there are attempts to kill him, then how can the common man be safe?" asked Chaddha. The Delhi Police have detained one person for allegedly throwing chilli powder at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The man, who identified himself as Anil Kumar, allegedly attacked the Delhi Chief Minister near his office inside the Secretariat building with chilli powder. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the voting for the second phase of Chhattisgarh underway, Durg district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 14.2 per cent till 10 am on Tuesday. If one looks closely, the voters have come out in good number to exercise their franchise. The second phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections witnessed 12.54 per cent voter turnout till 10 am. Today, the polling is taking place in 72 constituencies spread over 19 districts. The voting which commenced at 8 am is scheduled to end at 5 PM. As many as 19,300 polling booths have been set up after scrutiny and withdrawal. 1079 candidates including 119 women are in the fray. More than 1,54,00,000 voters are eligible to exercise their voting right. The poll body headed by Om Prakash Rawat has made all the arrangements to ensure smooth and fair elections. Around 600 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed to keep an eye on the anti-democratic elements in the state. In an attempt to encourage women voters, the Election Commission has set up 188 Sangwari polling booths in scores of constituencies to encourage females to cast their votes. Interestingly, these booths will be operated by all-female staff. Not only that, each polling booth has a Voter Selfie Zone to encourage young minds to cast their votes Polling for the first phase took place on November 12 in 18 constituencies of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three people including a police officer are critically injured after an unidentified man opened fire at the Mercy Hospital in Chicago. CNN quoted Chicago Fire Department spokesman Walter Schroeder as saying that the suspect was also shot and is in critical condition. The injured policeman is said to be critical and is receiving "excellent care", Chicago Police chief communications officer Anthony Guglielmi said on Twitter. Guglielmi further said that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson were monitoring the incident at Public Safety headquarters. Federal Bureau of Investigation is also assisting the local authorities in the case. Heavy law enforcement has been deployed at the hospital. As many as 15 medic units have been sent to the hospital, Chicago Fire Department Public Information Officer Larry Merritt stated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the Congress party had offered him Rs 25 lakh to cancel his campaign rally in Telangana's Nirmal. In reaction he said, "what will you give us, we made the Taj Mahal and you will give us (wealth)?" Addressing a rally here on Monday, Owaisi said, "I am not like them, I cannot sell my promise. I truly believe in promoting my people and their interests. I want to see our flag hoisted in every corner of India. I want to see the progress and zeal of the youth of every youth in the country. I salute all the hundreds of youths who came to see me when I reached here. This is the energy I want to create." The AIMIM president further stated that his only demand is to promote justice and dignity. "And these Congress people, they have so much pride in their wealth. What will you give us? We made the Taj Mahal and you will give us (wealth)? The Charminar, Jama Masjid, Qutab Minar, the fort in Nirmal, our presence is strong in every corner of this country. This is the difference! To stop our rally, they were offering Rs 25 lakh in party funds. This is a symbol of their pride," Owaisi added. Political drama in Telangana intensifies as the December 7 Legislative Assembly Elections, which will elect members from 119 constituencies, inch closer. 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.) President of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) M. K. Stalin on Tuesday slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappai K Palaniswami for not spending enough time with the victims of Cyclone Gaja. The statement from Stalin came just a few hours after the state Chief Minister accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam paid visit to Gaja-hit Pudukkottai area and distributed relief material to the people residing in the relief camps. Speaking to media, "After five days, Chief Minister went to Trichy from where he took a helicopter. He went to two- three places in the protection of party workers. Distribution of relief material and pictures were all a setup. If weather was bad, he could have waited there for few days, why cut short visit?." Stalin on Monday announced Rs 1 crore financial assistance for the relief and rehabilitation work in cyclone Gaja hit areas in eight districts of the state. Stalin also declared that his party members of the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Assembly will also donate their one month's salary for the relief and rehabilitation works. The disaster, which has brought the life in several districts of the state to a standstill, has so far claimed 46 lives, apart from causing huge damage to properties and live-stocks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman from Uttar Pradesh was rescued by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) after a complaint was filed by a man, hailing from Dholpur, Rajasthan, alleging illegal confinement and torture of his fiancee by her parents. In his complaint, he said that he was engaged to the girl during a ceremony held four years ago. However, she was pressurized to marry another man. Besides, she wasn't allowed to meet or speak to anyone. The complainant alleged that the girl's parents have fixed her marriage with someone else for November 19 against her will. He approached the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) when he failed to get help from any quarters. Responding to the complaint, the Commission contacted the Rajasthan Police to look into the matter. Though police personnel was sent to her house where she was confined, they returned without the girl and left the issue to be resolved by the village panchayat. Afterward, a team was constituted by the DCW and SHO of Baseri police station was asked to help by gathering more information about the girl. However, the SHO didn't provide any information. Finally, upon the instructions of the DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal, a team of two counsellors from was sent to the office of Additional SP of Dholpur district. When the DCW team reached the office of SHO of PS Baseri, they were requested to wait in the Police Station and the police left to bring the girl with her father. After two hours, the SHO informed the Commission that the door of the girl's house was locked. Meanwhile, the Commission received information that the girl has been taken to Horipura village, near Tantpur, in Agra. The Commission also got to know that the girl's family is planning to kill her. The DCW counsellors were rushed to the spot. In the meantime, DCW chief Swati Maliwal contacted the SSP of Agra who provided immediate assistance through SHO, Mahila Thana, Agra. Consequently, the location of the girl was traced. The girl was finally rescued from Agra. "It is unfortunate that parents are willing to kill their own children to satisfy their false egos. I appeal to the people not to indulge in such acts. I thank the UP Police for cooperating with the DCW. I wish the best for the couple," Swati said. "The girl is now in safe hands," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Newly-weds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on Tuesday jetted off to Bengaluru where the couple will host a wedding reception on November 21. DeepVeer (as they are lovingly called by their fans) were spotted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in the morning. The Mr and Mrs looked elated as they posed for the media outside the airport. Deepika looked resplendent in a beige anarkali and sported a choora and also wore sindoor. The 'Simmba' star, on the other hand, donned a white kurta pajama which he teamed with a floral nehru jacket. After Deepika's hometown, the couple will host their wedding reception in Mumbai at The Grand Hyatt on November 28, which will be attended by their industry friends. The invite of the Mumbai reception reads, "Please join us at a reception to celebrate the wedding of our son Ranveer and Deepika." Deepika and Ranveer took off for their destination wedding on November 3. They tied the knot in Lake Como, Italy 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. After their dreamy destination wedding, the two returned to Mumbai on Sunday when they were swarmed by ardent fans and scores of media persons as soon as they stepped out of the Mumbai airport. On October 21, the couple had announced their wedding on social media. "With the blessings of our families, it gives us immense joy in sharing that our wedding is set to take place on the 14th and 15th of November, 2018. We thank you for all the love you have showered upon us over the years and seek your blessings as we embark on this incredible journey of love, loyalty, friendship and togetherness. Lots of love, Deepika and Ranveer," read the statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Tuesday informed that the French government, regardless of protests across the country last weekend, will stay strong on its decision to raise the tax on diesel and carbon fuels. According to Sputnik, Prime Minister Philippe told the France 2 broadcaster "The carbon tax will be kept in place. We will stick to the line that we have set" He further added that the government understands citizens growing weary of increasing tax burden and pledged to decrease the price by the end of French President Emmanuel Macron's term. According to Sputnik, French Interior Minister Cristophe Castaner on Sunday informed that over 400 people suffered injuries in protests held throughout France against the hiking fuel prices. During the protests, the agitators wearing high-visibility yellow vests blocked the main transport highways, petrol stations as well as suburban supermarkets in some places. The country has seen over 40 percent hike in diesel prices since 2017 after the French government approved the decision to raise direct tax on diesel fuel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Vice-President of Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) Shakti Singh, has staked claim for the top post of the Union after Ankiv Baisoya resigned from the Presidentship last week following his suspension from the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in a fake degree row. In a memorandum submitted to Delhi University Vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi on Monday, Shakti claimed that the post of the DUSU president is an important one and cannot be left vacant for long as it will cause irreparable damage to the interest of common students of University. In his letter to the Vice Chancellor, Shakti cited relevant provisions of Lyngdoh Committee on student's elections in colleges and universities that states: "In the event of any major post of office bearer falling vacant within two months of elections, re-elections should be conducted, otherwise the vice president may be promoted to the post of president, and Joint Secretary to the post of Secretary, as the case may be." Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved its judgment on a plea filed by Students' Union of India (NSUI) candidate Sunny Chillar seeking a re-election and action against Ankiv Baisoya. The High Court bench further observed that the Lyngdoh's recommendation is silent over the issue of conducting an inquiry after more than two months of the elections taking place. The petitioner's counsel -- Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram told the court that the University dragged the issue till November 12 to avail the second part the rule of the Lyngdoh's recommendation. He further requested the court to order fresh elections as the recommendation is allegedly silent on this issue. A first information report (FIR) was also filed against the former DUSU President Baisoya on complaints of the Buddhist department of the university claiming that Baisoya used a fake degree to claim admission and contest elections. It is pertinent to mention that DUSU vice-president won his seat with the highest margin of votes as the DUSU election results were announced on 13 September. However, soon after Ankiv took charge as DUSU president he got mired into the fake-degree row with Students' Union of India (NSUI) alleging him of producing fake degree from Tamil Nadu's Thiruvalluvar University for taking admission in DU. After which the DU set up an inquiry committee to investigate the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale on Tuesday said that India attaches the highest priority to further expanding its unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, based on the priorities of the Royal Government of Bhutan. Gokhale paid an official visit to Bhutan from November 18 to 20. During his visit, the Foreign Secretary met Ambassador Sonam Tshong and Foreign Secretary of Bhutan. He also called on the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Dr. Lotay Tshering and Foreign Minister Lyonpo Dr. Tandi Dorji. The Foreign Secretary had an audience with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan and His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan. Both India and Bhutan discussed all aspects of bilateral relations, including high-level exchanges, economic and development co-operation, hydro-power co-operation, people to people ties, and commemorative activities being jointly organized in the Golden Jubilee year. They also shared their views on regional matters and other issues of mutual interest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The unprecedented hype around newly-weds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh refuses to die down, and the latest snaps from the 'wedding of the year' are bound to fuel this excitement further. Taking to their official Instagram accounts, the newly-married lovebirds posted some candid pictures which captured the happiness of the couple, who got married as per Konkani and Sindhi customs. Looking their ethnic best on their special day, the couple can be seen smiling their hearts out while performing the wedding rituals with their friends and family in a typical Konkani style. In the pictures, the couple can be seen sharing a laugh while performing a post-marriage ritual. For their Konkani wedding, Deepika looked ethereal in a red and gold silk saree complemented perfectly with traditional jewelry including a heavy gold matha-patti. The groom, on the other hand, picked an off-white and gold kurta and dhoti paired with a traditional mundavli. In another picture, the couple can be seen applying tika on each other's forehead during the Konkani ceremony. A third picture shows Deepika feeding a laddoo (Indian sweet) to her other half. Deepika and Ranveer took off for their destination wedding on November 3. They tied the knot in Lake Como, Italy 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. After their dreamy destination wedding, the two returned to Mumbai on Sunday when they were swarmed by ardent fans and scores of media persons as soon as they stepped out of the Mumbai airport. The couple is set to host two receptions- one in Bengaluru on November 21 and the other one in Mumbai on November 28. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Hurriyat activist, named Hafizullah Mir, was shot at by terrorists in Achabal area of South Kashmir on Tuesday. Terrorists barged inside Mir's residence and fired indiscriminately. Mir sustained critical gun shot wounds and was evacuated to nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. According to reports, Mir's wife also sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment at the hospital. Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and initiated investigation in the matter. Mir was reportedly released from jail last month after serving a two-year term. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind, while addressing the National Assembly of Vietnam here on Tuesday, said that "India offers a cooperation model that does not require its friends to make choices but rather expands choices and expands opportunities for all." President Kovind started his speech by thanking the National Assembly, the government and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong for extending to him the invitation to visit the Asian country. President Kovind underlined that both India and Vietnam remain committed to cooperation in multilateral organisations as well as areas of emerging risks, like as cyber-security. The President also thanked Vietnam for its support in "building consensus for an early adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations." President Kovind, who started his three-day visit to Vietnam on Sunday, landed in Hanoi on Monday. Earlier today, he participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of National Heroes and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. He is scheduled to attend the state banquet later in the day before wrapping up his Vietnam visit and leaving for Australia. This is President Kovind's first visit to a South East Asian country ever since he took over as the president last year. The two countries, earlier this year, set a trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020. As per Indian data, bilateral trade between Vietnam and India is about USD 12.8 billion registering an increase of 27 per cent. "Sustained high levels of economic growth, combined with vision and foresight of its leadership, has seen rapid progress and prosperity. Per capita GDP in this country has gone up from less than USD 100 in 1990 to over USD 2500 today, making a huge difference in the lives of ordinary citizens," President Kovind said in his address to the Vietnamese National Assembly. President Kovind reiterated that Indian investors, manufacturers and services providers see Vietnam with much excitement and look forward to cooperation in textiles, agriculture, biotech, IT, energy, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and minerals. At the same time, President Kovind also focused on the global issue of climate change, saying that the challenge "poses a danger to all humankind, but coastal nations such as India and Vietnam feel the pressure that much more." The President also underscored the need for a push towards renewable energy. He further sought a quick resolution in maritime conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region, especially the South China Sea, saying, "Vietnam and India share a vision for the Indo-Pacific Region, of which the South China Sea is a critical component. We share a vision of a rules-based order that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensures freedom of navigation and over-flight, as well as unimpeded commerce." Meanwhile, the President deeply appreciated the rapid progress made by Vietnam in eradicating corruption and poverty in recent years. President Kovind, on Monday addressed a business delegation in Hanoi where he congratulated Vietnam for their "stupendous success" in building the country's economy. "Vietnam and India business partnership speaks for itself. With matching growth and lucrative business prospects on both sides, there is little convincing to be done," said President Kovind, adding that "Indian growth presents opportunities for two-way engagement in financial services, IT, digital economy, hydro-carbons, defence, renewable energy, mining, health-care, tourism and civil aviation sectors. We want Vietnam to collaborate with us in our flagship programmes - Make in India, Clean India, Start-up India, and Digital India." India's investments in Vietnam calculate to almost USD 1.66 billion. India has 93 projects in Vietnam with a total investment of about USD 1 billion, while Vietnam has three investment projects in India with a total investment of USD 23.6 million. Saying that the two Asian countries are on a path to achieve the target of 15 billion US dollars bilateral trade by the year 2020, the Indian leader laid out a roadmap for the future of India-Vietnam relationship. President Kovind also underscored the common historical and cultural bonds shared between the two Asian countries. During his address, the Indian President highlighted the "great significance" of 2019, as it "marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and in Vietnam it is being commemorated as the 50th anniversary of the passing of the great Ho Chi Minh." The Indian President fondly reflected on his visit to the Museum of Cham Culture as well as the My Son temple complex in the city of Da Nang the previous day, noting the contribution of the Archaeological Survey of India in restoring "cultural marvels" in the historic site. President Kovind will complete his Vietnam trip today and then embark on a four-day visit to Australia from tonight. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) Vijay Thakur Singh on Tuesday said at a presser that India and Vietnam share the view that there should be freedom of navigation, over-flight and unimpeded economic interaction in the disputed South China Sea, while adding that India has stakes in the region. Answering a question asked by ANI, Thakur said, "As far as India is concerned, we do see a lot of our trade going through the South China Sea. Therefore, we have stakes in the peace in that area. We also feel that all the issues that are there should be resolved without resorting to force and they should be resolved in accordance with international law, in particular, The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and we also say that there is the common position of both Vietnam and India is that there should be freedom of navigation, over-flight, and unimpeded economic interaction. There was a convergence of views by both India and Vietnam on this issue." She has earlier stated, "On South China Sea, there was convergence of views of ensuring freedom of navigation and over-flight and resolution of disputes in a peaceful manner in accordance with international law notably the UNCLOS of 1982," while highlighting talks held between President Ram Nath Kovind and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong during their meeting at the Presidential Palace. Apart from underscoring views exchanged on the South China Sea issue, the Secretary (East) also gave a brief outline of President Kovind's first visit to Vietnam. "The discussions were substantive, fruitful and particularly warm. They discussed bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern. Rashtrapati ji congratulated President Nguyen Phu Trong on his elections by the national assembly with an overwhelming majority as the President of Vietnam," she said. "Both the leaders expressed their commitment to continue high-level political exchanges and deepen engagement in the various elements of the comprehensive strategic partnership especially defense and security cooperation, economic engagement, development partnership, and people-to-people contacts," she said. Furthermore, both leaders also highlighted the active security and defense cooperation between the two countries including training, UN peace-keeping and maritime security. "They expressed their satisfaction with the implementation of the hundred million dollar line of credit which is being used for high-speed offshore vessels," she said. "The Vietnamese side thanked India for US $ 500 million line of credit and urged India to continue to assist Vietnam for its requirements in the defense sector. They reiterated their commitment to have the first maritime security dialogue soon and also agreed to further cyber-security cooperation," the Secretary mentioned. She also stated, "Both leaders reviewed bilateral trade and investment and expressed confidence that 15 billion US dollars which has been set for 2020 will be achieved." Later, during the question and answer round, Thakur delved deeper into the economic ties between the two nations and said, "We have a very good trade. It was only 3.8 billion US dollars in 2010. Today it stands at 12.8 billion US dollars and our target for the trade is 15 billion US dollars for 2020." "The two leaders also welcomed the existing collaborations and investments by the OVL with Petrovietnam in oil and gas in Vietnam and welcomed tripartite cooperation in this regard," the Secretary said while highlighting trade and investment ties between the Asian countries. "They also concluded that facilitating connectivity between the two countries is vital in promoting trade and business," she said. Highlighting India's vision for a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, she mentioned, "Both leaders reviewed regional peace and security in the context of Asia-Pacific region. President Kovind reiterated India's vision for a free, open, peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on international law and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty in which ASEAN centrality and unity is at the core." "Both leaders agree to cooperate at regional as well as multilateral fora and support each other's candidature at the UNSC non-permanent membership seat elections," the Secretary (East) said. "Both President Kovind and President Phu Trong agreed to work towards an early consensus for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism," she said. "President Kovind expressed our appreciation to Vietnam for their role as a country coordinator in ASEAN during 2015, 2018 when the ASEAN-India commemorative summit took place in New Delhi to mark 25 years of the strong and growing partnership between ASEAN and India," she said while underscoring that four Memoranda of Understanding have been signed in various fields. President Kovind later met Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in the day, following which a banquet shall be held in his honour. He is slated to emplane for Australia for the second leg of the official trip after the banquet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After leaving the Commonwealth of Nations in 2016, the Maldives is set to rejoin the organization under the new leadership of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on November 19, where "Ministers underscored the advantages of being a Commonwealth member, particularly noting that it would open up several opportunities to the Maldivian people, especially for the youth," according to an official release. "In this regard, Ministers discussed the facilitation of education scholarships and the vast opportunities for Maldivian athletes to perform internationally," the statement further noted while highlighting further recommendations made by the ministers towards this. The release further noted that the decision was taken by Solih after extensive deliberations and recommendations from the Cabinet. "The Cabinet Ministers noted the importance of Maldives being a member of the Commonwealth, especially in keeping in line with other members of the international community with regard to upholding and promoting human rights, freedom of expression, and democracy," while mentioning, "Furthermore, the Ministers highlighted the importance of promoting sustainable development while ensuring environmental protection." The final date of rejoining the Commonwealth Nations has not yet been decided, as the release noted that the respective authorities are currently in the process of setting things in motion for the Maldives to re-join the Commonwealth. The Asian island-nation first became a member of the Commonwealth on July 9, 1982, following which the nation decided to pull out of the 53-nation organization on October 13, 2016, citing the uncalled interference by the group in the country's political discourse. The decision had come in the midst of mounting pressure from the Commonwealth over corruption and deteriorating human rights in the Maldives. Solih also established a committee for the liberation of political prisoners which led to the release of former Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, former Justice Ali Hameed, former Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin and former magistrate Ahmed Nihan from house arrest on November 19, according to the Maldives Independent. Solih further urged all ministers in the Cabinet to "steer away from any form of corruption" in executing their respective mandates during the meeting held on the same day. During the same meeting, the newly elected leader discussed details regarding his government's First 100 Days programme with the Cabinet, following which the group of ministers decided to initiate the implementation of the First 100 Days' Goals set by Solih. "Discussions were also held on the rapid assessments conducted by the transition office, to determine the current status of government institutions. Members deliberated on the current budget and forecasted budget set for the operation of Ministries and State enterprises, and the rules and regulations set for the institutions," according to the government's official news portals, Sarukaaru Khabaru. "Moreover, discussions were held on the special programmes currently being undertaken by the government institutions and those planned for the future, and national level programmes being conducted by the institutions," the release stated while adding, "The Cabinet also discussed extensively, on ways to resolve the challenges highlighted in the findings of the transitional committees." The Maldives' new President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, was sworn in on November 17 in a ceremony which was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Humanitarian organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders) has condemned the decision of Italian prosecutors to seize the Aquarius migrant rescue vessel over accusations of alleged illicit disposal of hazardous on-board waste. Earlier in the day, media reported that prosecutors from the Italian city of Catania, located in Sicily, had ordered to seize the vessel and identified more than 20 suspects who had been allegedly repeatedly disposing of hazardous waste, which accumulated during the ship's relief activities. "We strongly condemn the decision by Italian judicial authorities to request the seizure of the Aquarius for alleged anomalies in its disposal of on-board waste. It's a disproportionate & unfounded measure aimed at criminalizing lifesaving medical-humanitarian action at sea," the MSF said via its official Twitter account. The organization also said in a separate tweet that such allegations hampered relief activities and discouraged ships from carrying out rescue operations in the Mediterranean. "We are more than ready to clarify the facts and stand accountable for the operational procedures we followed, but we strongly reaffirm the legitimacy and legality of our humanitarian work," Gabriele Eminente, the Director of MSF Italy was quoted as saying on the organization's official website. The Aquarius, charted by SOS Mediterranee migrant charity and the MSF, is the last migrant rescue vessel operating in the central Mediterranean. The ship is currently docked at France's Marseille and is unable to conduct operations as it has been deprived of the Panamanian flag it had been sailing under. According to the MSF, the organization had either saved or helped more than 80,000 people at sea since 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Saista Praveen alias Madhu, a close aide of Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. Terming the arrest of Madhu as a "big catch", CBI officials said that during the investigation, it was found that Madhu was allegedly involved in teaching children "how to have sex." Madhu had surrendered in Muzaffarpur shortly after the arrest of former Bihar Minister Manju Verma, who surrendered in Begusarai Court in connection with an Arms Act case. CBI sources said that Madhu was the one who was managing the affairs of the NGO-managed shelter home in which over 40 girls were allegedly sexually harassed. As per CBI sources, Madhu is the king-pin in shelter home case. She was involved in sending girls to clients for sexual activities. Sources further revealed that she was very close to Brajesh Thakur and has all the records of clients. CBI officials added that Madhu was taking care of all money and clients. On hearing the details of the case, the Supreme Court, while perusing the status report submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Muzaffarpur shelter home probe, had said that it revealed "shocking, horrible and scary" details of how the crime was committed. During the hearing, the Apex Court said that primary accused Brajesh Thakur should be shifted to a jail outside Bihar as he "is a very influential person." "It's very scary and terrible. What is the Bihar government doing? Brajesh Thakur is a very influential man and obstructing the investigation," the top court said. The case came to light following an audit report submitted by Mumbai's leading research institute, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Social Welfare Minister of Bihar Manju Verma on Tuesday surrendered before Begusarai Court in connection with an Arms Act case. Earlier this month, a non-bailable warrant was issued against Verma after 50 live cartridges were seized from her residence during a raid by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. After issuance of the warrant, Verma had been absconding in this case. The Supreme Court on October 31 had also rapped the Bihar Police for its failure in arresting Verma. She came under the scrutiny after her spouse Chandrashekhar Verma came under fire for allegedly having links with Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. The shelter home rape case pertains to the alleged sexual harassment of 44 girls residing at the state-run shelter home. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday constituted a Implementation Committee (NIC), under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State for Culture as Members, to commemorate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in the country and abroad. Three meetings have been held under the chairmanship of Rajnath Singh in connection with Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary. The last meeting was held on November 8 this year. The central government has also decided to celebrate the event with a series of activities in and outside the country with the help of various ministries and departments. As per the central government, commemorative coin and postage stamps will be released by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Department of Posts. Apart from that, Sultanpur Lodhi, where Guru Nanak spent much of his life, will be developed as a heritage city, also incorporating Pind Babe Nanak Da, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in collaboration with the State Government of Punjab. Ministry of Railways will upgrade Sultanpur Lodhi railway station with modern amenities. A Institute of Inter Faith Studies will also be set up by Ministry of Human Resource Development in Punjab for which the state government will provide land for free of cost. Besides, a high powered telescope in India for the devotees to view Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan has also been planned to install by the Ministry of Electronic and IT. An international seminar on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak in New Delhi will also be organised by the Ministry of Culture as part of the celebration. UNESCO will be requested to translate and publish an anthology of Guru Nanak Dev's writings in world languages and publication of Gurbani in different Indian languages will be made by Book Trust (NBT). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ramnath Kovind, who is on a three-day trip to Vietnam, will address the National Assembly here on Tuesday. On the last day of his Vietnam trip, President Kovind is scheduled to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of National Heroes and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. He will also attend the Welcoming Ceremony at President Palace. President Kovind will meet his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong and hold delegation level talks followed by a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Office of Government. He will also attend the State Banquet at International Convention Center in the evening. President Kovind who arrived in Vietnam on Sunday interacted with leaders of Da Nang People's Committee led by Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang. The President along with First lady Savita Kovind visited the Museum of Cham sculpture in the city of Da Nang on the second day of his three-day visit to Vietnam. During the course of his trip to the Asian country, President Kovind travelled to the city of Hanoi and addressed the Vietnam-India Business Forum. He also addressed the Indian diaspora in Vietnam at an event which was organised as part of his state visit to the country. After completing his Vietnam trip, President Kovind will embark on a four-day visit to Australia on Wednesday. The President is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora and unveil the statue of Mahatma Gandhi marking his 150th Birth anniversary in Australia. The President is also scheduled to meet Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and address the students at Melbourne University where many Indian students go for higher studies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday welcomed the Delhi court's decision in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The court pronounced the death penalty to one accused Yashpal Singh and awarded life imprisonment to another accused Naresh Sehrawat. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "I welcome this judgment by the court and hope that now the other eight pending cases are also taken up by the courts and disposed of without any further delay." A Delhi court on Tuesday pronounced death penalty to Yashpal Singh and life imprisonment to Naresh Sehrawat for killing two Sikhs during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The court also slapped Rs 35 lakh fine on each of them. "The quantum of punishment was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey at Tihar Jail, not at the Patiala Court, apprehending a possible law and order situation in the capital," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Kumar Gyanesh told ANI. On November 14, the court had held Sehrawat and Singh guilty of murdering of two Sikhs in South Delhi's Mahipalpur area during 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Both the accused were booked under Sections 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 395 (Punishment for dacoity), 436 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy) read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh on Tuesday urged all political parties to exercise restraint over the issue of the Amritsar terror attack. He appealed to all political parties across the board to let the investigation agencies do their job. In an informal interaction with some reporters at his residence here, the Speaker said, "It is a serious matter and any attempt to make political capital out of this situation will not only be unfortunate but will also be disastrous for the state." At least, three people were killed and 20 others were injured in a grenade attack on a gathering at Nirankari Bhawan in Rajasansi village on Sunday. He expressed his displeasure over the way certain leaders of various political parties were trying to politicize the event. "This is reflective of the overall decline and degradation in the political discourse that we have seen over past several years," he said. "This is a fight we have to fight together against the enemies of the state and the country and there must not be any blame game against anyone," Rana said, while hoping that the political leaders across the board will show their sagacity and realize the gravity of the situation. The Speaker pointed out, Punjab was yet to heal the wounds of the dark era of terrorism of 1980s and 90s. "The scars are still there as we lost about thirty thousand innocent lives to that dark era," he observed while adding, the disastrous economic situation the state was facing was the result of that era only. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One Indian Army jawan was killed and four terrorists were gunned down in an encounter at Nadigam village of Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Tuesday. The encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the wee hours today. Two days back, two terrorists associated with terror outfit Al-Badr were killed in an encounter in Rebban area of the Shopian district. On the same day, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan lost his life after terrorists opened fire on a CRPF camp at Railway Colony in Pulwama's Kakapora area. Meanwhile, all schools have been closed in Degwar, Malti and other adjoining areas of Poonch sector after Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation along the Line of Control. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least four terrorists have been gunned down in an ongoing encounter at Nadigam village of Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district. The encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the wee hours of Tuesday. This comes after, two terrorists associated with terror outfit Al-Badr were killed in an encounter in Rebban area of the Shopian district on November 18. On the same day, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan lost his life after terrorists opened fire on a CRPF camp at Railway Colony in Pulwama's Kakapora area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The capital is once again heading towards the worst time of the year, where the region's notoriously substandard air quality becomes even more pernicious. Sulfur Oxides, dut and soot are a growing threat for lakhs of people residing in Delhi. According to Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), Delhi remained wrapped under the thick blanket of smog and dust on Tuesday as air quality in scores of areas across the city remained in 'very poor' category. The overall air quality index of the capital has been docked at 333 on Tuesday morning. At Lodhi road, the AQI (Air Quality Index) was 315 with PM (Particulate Matter) 2.5 at 9:15 am. In the Wazirpur area, the air quality also dipped to the severe category with 400. Also in capital's famous locality Mathura road which also has Purana Qila, the AQI fell to 344 with PM 2.5. The India Meteorological Department has predicted that the weather in Delhi will mostly be hazy sunshine accompanied by smoke, with highs and lows reaching 29 Degree Celsius and 13 Degrees Celsius respectively. "Air quality is very poor and expected to remain in the same category with small fluctuations without any significant deterioration. Surface wind speed increased and favorable for dispersion. Humidity is still high which is unfavorable. Fire counts from stubble burning declined and will have a marginal impact, " SAFAR added. Taking cognizance of the prevailing situation, Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change told ANI that if the situation gets worse, the Centre will roll out a notification to induce artificial rain over Delhi. It is believed that such practice will wash away toxic pollutants from the atmosphere and provide people some respite from the toxic air quality. "Increasing menace of air pollution is a big concern for a developing country like India. The Centre has decided that if the air quality will cross 500 mark then they will ask authorities to induce artificial rain or cloud seeding over the capital. Our scientists and authorities are working round the clock to curb this. All requisite preparation for artificial rains are underway," he said. If one looks closely, Delhi which is home to approx 19 million people is reeling under the menace of air pollution from the past couple of years. The region faced a major air quality crisis last year as the literally off-the-charts pollution forced shutdown of schools, traffic snarls, caused road accidents and sparked protests. Not only that, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also described capital as a gas chamber and the local administration declared a public health emergency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) senior leader Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday announced that she will not contest next year's Lok Sabha elections. Speaking at a BJP press conference on Tuesday, Swaraj said that while it is the party that decides on such things, she, on her part, has made up her mind not to contest the 2019 general elections. Swaraj, who has been a Member of Parliament for several years, has, in the past, also held the position of Delhi's Chief Minister from October 13 to December 3, 1998. In fact, she was Delhi's first woman chief minister. She has also been Informational and Broadcasting Minister in the Centre, spokesperson of the BJP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. During the last two Lok Sabha polls in 2009 and 2014, Swaraj had contested and won from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A United States federal judge on Tuesday nullified the President Donald Trump-led administration's decision of refusing asylum to immigrants who enter the US mainland from Central America. The ruling was pronounced by Judge Jon S. Tigar of the US District Court for California, who was nominated to the court in 2012 by former President Barack Obama. Tigar also passed restraining orders after conducting proceedings in San Francisco, Fox News reported. The White House will likely challenge Tigar's ruling. "Whatever the scope of the president's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," The New York Times quoted Tigar's order as saying. The Trump administration had on November 9 sanctioned a proclamation, saying that none of the immigrants entering the US from the southern border will be eligible for asylum. His order came when the first waves of immigrants had started entering the US. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Centre for Constitutional Rights had requested the court to consider overturning Trump's order. The two non-profit organisations had filed lawsuits against Trump following his asylum ban. In their complaint, the group alleged that the government violated Congress' "clear command that manner of entry cannot constitute a categorical asylum bar," adding that they breached federal laws by not allowing public views in the matter. "Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry. It couldn't be clearer," said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights. Illegal migrants are often arrested at the borders and have to resort to asylum or another form of protection. Following the hearing, ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said, "The court made clear that the administration does not have the power to override Congress and that, absent judicial intervention, real harm will occur." On Monday, north-bound traffic from the border areas was closed by the US for several hours for the installation of new security barriers. Additionally, one of the pedestrian crossings at the San Ysidro crossing was closed, evidently to restrict the incoming migrants from crossing the border. Only 100 asylum claims per day are being processed by the US border inspectors at the crossing between Mexico's Tijuana and San Diego in California. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta's press credentials were fully restored on Monday after the White House backed down from the legal battle with CNN. "Today the White House fully restored Jim Acosta's press pass. As a result, our lawsuit is no longer necessary. We look forward to continuing to cover the White House," CNN said in a statement. Acosta's press pass was revoked after he got into a verbal spat with United States President Donald Trump during a press briefing held earlier this month a day after the midterm elections. The White House suspended his credentials in an unprecedented move on the grounds of alleged misconduct. Following this, CNN sued the White House claiming the suspension of Acosta's press pass to be a violation of the First Amendment Rights to freely report on government. The American broadcaster also alleged that the administration had violated Acosta's due process rights by revoking his credentials without warning. Earlier on Friday, the White House was ordered by a Federal Judge to restore CNN reporter's press credentials temporarily. In an exclusive interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump had said that Acosta will be thrown out of the briefing if he misbehaves again. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Central Board met today in Mumbai and discussed the Basel regulatory capital framework, a restructuring scheme for stressed MSMEs, bank health under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework and the Economic Capital Framework (ECF) of RBI. The Board decided to constitute an expert committee to examine the ECF, the membership and terms of reference of which will be jointly determined by the Government of India and the RBI. The Board also advised that the RBI should consider a scheme for restructuring of stressed standard assets of MSME borrowers with aggregate credit facilities of up to 250 million, subject to such conditions as are necessary for ensuring financial stability. The Board, while deciding to retain the CRAR at 9%, agreed to extend the transition period for implementing the last tranche of 0.625% under the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB), by one year, i.e., up to March 31, 2020. With regard to banks under PCA, it was decided that the matter will be examined by the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of RBI. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HEG said its board will meet on 26 November 2018 to consider the proposal of buyback of the equity shares of the company. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 November 2018. Oil India announced that its board approved issuing debt securities for the aggregate principal amount not exceeding Rs 4000 crore or equivalent amount in foreign currency. Further, the Oil India board also approved the proposal to buyback 5.04 crore shares of the company (representing approximately 4.45% of the paid-up share capital of the company) at Rs 215 per equity share payable in cash for an aggregate consideration not exceeding Rs 1085.72 crore, which is not exceeding 10% of the aggregate of the fully paid-up equity share capital and free reserves as per the audited standalone accounts of the company for the financial year ended 31 March 2018. The company has set 3 December 2018 as the record date for determining the entitlement and name of security holders eligible to participate in the buyback offer. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 November 2018. Yes Bank announced that Rentala Chandrashekhar, independent director has tendered his resignation from the bank's board, with immediate effect, due to personal reasons. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 November 2018. Kridhan Infra announced that its Singapore Subsidiary Swee Hong (SHL) has won an order for construction of link sewers for the DTSS phase 2 project from the Public Utilities Board, Singapore worth Rs 195 crore. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 November 2018. PSP Projects announced that it bagged new institutional and industrial projects worth Rs 372.47 crore from various clients. The total work orders received during the financial year 2018-2019 (till date) on standalone basis amounts to Rs 804.62 crore. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 November 2018. SRF said it pegged the cost of the damage to its technical textiles unit in Tamil Nadu, affected by Cyclone Gaja, at Rs 28 crore. The company said damage was covered by adequate insurance. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 November 2018. NMDC will be watched. With reference to media report titled, "Karnataka may cancel NMDC's Donimalai mine lease in levy dispute", NMDC clarified after market hours yesterday, 19 November 2018, that the lease for NMDC Donimalai Mine has already been extended by the Karnataka State Government with effect from 4 November 2018 for a period of 20 years. Other formalities are in the process. The cabinet of Karnataka Government has approved the Mining Lease of Donimalai from 4 November 2018 for a further period of 20 years (upto 3 November 2038) on payment of 80% of the average sale value as published by IBM. A communication was also received to this effect. Since imposition of such conditions is not as per the MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2015 read with Mineral (Mining by Government Companies) Rules, 2015 and as the same is also not economically viable, NMDC has represented the same before the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The Chief Minister of Karnataka directed all the concerned to relook into the representation given by NMDC regarding the legal and other issues raised therein. The Karnataka Cabinet has not taken any decision to cancel the Lease of Donimalai to NMDC. Pending the decision on the representation by the Karnataka Government, the production has been temporarily suspended. Hence, it is clarified that the news item appeared in the press has no impact on the company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kridhan Infra rose 12.03% to Rs 51.70 at 10:19 IST on BSE after the company said its Singapore subsidiary won an order worth Rs 195 crore. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 November 2018. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 115.36 points, or 0.32% to 35,659.52. On the BSE, 45,000 shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 8,719 shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 53.10 and a low of Rs 48.25 so far during the day. The stock hit a record high of Rs 142 on 5 January 2018. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 41 on 1 October 2018. Kridhan Infra announced that its Singapore subsidiary Swee Hong has won an order for construction of link sewers for the DTSS phase 2 project from the public utilities board, Singapore worth Rs 195 crore (SG$37.2 million). On a consolidated basis, net profit of Kridhan Infra rose 6.93% to Rs 14.50 crore on 18.96% decline in net sales to Rs 171.90 crore in Q2 September 2018 over Q2 September 2017. Kridhan Infra is one of the pioneers in introducing the concept of ready-to-use steel for the construction industry in India. The company expanded its business to Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, and other South East Asian countries. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Board of India Radiators at its meeting held on 20 November 2018 has approved the resignation of P. Subramanyam, Company Secretary with effect from 23 November 2018 . The Board considered a proposal for the sale of land and buildings at Puzal either in full or in parts, and has authorised K. Nadanasundaram, Whole-time Director, B.Narendaren, Director and E N Rangaswami, Director to negotiate and finalise the terms and conditions including execution of the necessary documents that are incidental or consequential thereon. 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 Prime Minister of India launched a Grand Challenge on resolving seven identified Ease of Doing Business problems with the use of cutting edge technologies. The objective of this Challenge is to tap the potential of young Indians, startups and other private enterprises to provide solutions to complex problems using current technology. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at a programme organized at his residence, yesterday, interacted with select CEOs from Indian & foreign companies. The Prime Minister apprised CEOs of the efforts being made by the Government to ensure that India consistently improves its business environment. The Prime Minister reiterated his resolve to make India one of the easiest places to conduct business in the world. He congratulated all government officials from the reforming Ministries and Departments as well as states & municipal corporations for their achievements in the last 4 years and exhorted them to work towards reforms with greater zeal and energy. Mr. Hartwig Schafer, Vice President, South Asia of the World Bank Group, also addressed the gathering and appreciated the enormity of India's achievement. He also stressed that it gets tougher to improve ranks as a country moves higher up in the ranking and expressed his belief that India will continue to maintain the momentum it has gained over the last four years in its efforts in improving Ease of Doing Business. In the World Bank's Doing Business Report (DBR, 2019) released on 31st October 2018 India has recorded a jump of 23 positions against its rank of 100 in 2017 to be placed at 77th rank among 190 countries assessed by the World Bank. As a result of continued efforts by the Government, India has improved its rank by 53 positions in the last two years and 65 positions in the last four years [2014-18]. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Board of Minda Corporation has entered into definitive agreements with its joint venture partner, Furukawa Group of Japan, for change in equity structure of Minda Furukawa Electric Private Limited (JVCO). As per the proposed realignment, the equity stake of joint-venture partner in the JVCO will change from 49% to 75% and stake of Minda Corporation will change from existing 51% to 25%. The change in equity structure will be through a mix of sale of shares of JVCO by Minda Corporation and additional equity infusion into JVCO by Furukawa Group of Japan. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yes Bank fell 4.85% to Rs 195.10 at 11:26 IST on BSE after the bank announced the resignation of Rentala Chandrashekhar from its board of directors. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 November 2018. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 122.75 points, or 0.34% to 35,652.13. On the BSE, 35.23 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 36.72 lakh shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 199.65 and a low of Rs 191.75 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 404 on 20 August 2018. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 166.15 on 28 September 2018. Yes Bank announced that Rentala Chandrashekhar, independent director, has tendered his resignation from the bank's board, with immediate effect, due to personal reasons. The Nomination & Remuneration Committee ('N&RC') of the bank will look for a suitable replacement in the field of Information Technology and Cyber Security, the bank added. Yes Bank announced on Saturday, 17 November 2018, that its overall long term issuer ratings have been retained by ICRA Ratings at AA+ with Rating watch with developing Negative Implications. The agency takes note that there has been no adverse impact on Yes Bank's deposit base and liquidity profile post recent developments, the bank said in a statement. Yes Bank's net profit fell 3.79% to Rs 964.70 crore on 43.91% rise in total income to Rs 8704.68 crore in Q2 September 2018 over Q2 September 2017. Yes Bank is India's fourth largest private sector bank with a pan India presence across all 29 states and 7 Union Territories of India. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three men were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of plotting an "Islamic State (IS)-isnpired" terrorist attack in Melbourne, police said. "They were certainly looking at a place of mass gathering, where there would be crowds. They were trying to focus on trying to have a place where they could kill as many people as possible," Graham Ashton, Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, told the media. Ashton said that the suspects, who have not been identified, tried to get .22 caliber semi-automatic rifles but that the exact place in which they sought to attack was unknown, reports CNN. The possible attack "was inspired" by the IS's modus operandi but was not "directed" by this extremist Islamic organisation, the Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner, Ian McCartney, said. The three men, two of them with family ties and who were being watched by the police from March, were arrested during police operations on Tuesday morning in four neighbourhoods in northwest Melbourne. "All three people are Australian nationals of Turkish background," said Ashton, who also said that the passports of the three suspects, ranging in age from 21 to 30, were cancelled this year. The police operation coincides with the funeral of Sisto Malaspina, co-owner of a restaurant in Melbourne, who died on November 9 in the centre of the city in an attack that was also inspired by the IS. Australian authorities raised the terrorist alert in September 2014 and have since passed a series of anti-terrorist laws to prevent attacks. Australia has suffered four attacks recently, and security forces have thwarted more than a dozen plans to carry out attacks and have arrested more than 70 people in various operations. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Have you ever wondered how independent your child actually is? Will your child be able to look after himself/herself if left alone for a while? Do you think your child is well-equipped with essential life skills to face the world? Think about it! It's absolutely important for children to learn more than just academically. Enrolling them in various activity classes isn't enough either. If children can't look after themselves, they will not develop essential life skills or the important personality traits developed alongside them. Life skill simply cannot stop with the exposure your child receives in school. To learn its importance, a child needs to be taught at home through experiences and training activities. The maximum brain development occurs in the first five years of a child's life so we need to utilise the early years to provide the foundation to stimulate a child's creative and innovative thinking. Here are five essential life skills every parent must equip their little ones with: Basic self-defence: In today's world especially, safety is of utmost importance and developing self-defence not only makes the child feel more independent but also more confident. Basic self-defence is a must -- be it for your son or your daughter. Most schools these days invest in teaching basic self-defence to children. But if your child's school does not, don't hesitate to send them for classes outside. First-aid and health: You can't expect to always be around whenever your child is hurt, or gets a bite or a rash. So how about empowering them such that they are able to take care in case of an emergency? This is essentially something the child's schooling should cover but as a parent/guardian, one should strongly encourage its reinforcement at home by teaching your child essential first-aid steps. This can be done by familiarising the kids with a first-aid kit and its contents. Another important skill is teaching your child to take care of his or her health. Instead of forcing your child to eat vegetables, talk to them about health risks of eating junk food all the time and explain how healthy food will benefit them in a way that they can apply to themselves. Being socially active or interacting with people: We've all taught children about the danger from strangers but this doesn't make much logical sense considering every person we're close to as adults was a stranger to us at some point. Instead, teach your children to do exactly what adults do. Teach them to differentiate between good strangers and bad strangers. Teach them how to interact with good strangers. Teach them how to make friends, how to be friendly to good adults, and just how they should go about interacting with these people. If we don't teach children this at a young age, they may not develop positive social skills. Creative thinking and innovation skills: Pre-school children should be exposed to a play-based learning environment to enable them to learn, communicate and express themselves from an early age. Learning through the use of audio-visuals, picture books, story-telling and role-playing is helpful to enhance their creative and innovative skills. Social and cross-cultural skills: Toy-sharing among children, including toy libraries, can expose a child to a social life and a variety of toys without parents having to purchase them all. Toddlers should be encouraged to keep exploring different people and cultures so as to stimulate overall development. (Divya Palaniappan is with Flinto R&D Centre; Dr. Pooja Kuray is Senior Medical Officer, Momspresso. The views expressed are personal. They can be contacted at Divya.p@flinto.in & poojakuray1@gmail.com) --IANS divya-pooja/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Last year, 69 enterprises whose value totals VND365,953 billion (US$15.72 billion) were equalized. Of the total value, state capital was VND160,156 billion. State capital withdrawal of VND9,046 billion yielded VND138,327 billion including revenues from Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (Sabeco) and Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk). Performance reports of 526 businesses last year showed that their total asset value topped VND3,000 trillion, equity topped VND1,300 trillion and revenue neared VND1,600 trillion, pre-tax profit touched VND167 trillion and tax payment hit VND219,468 billion. By HA MY Translated Hai Mien The toll in the blast at Army's ammunition depot in Wardha of Maharashtra has shot up to six, officials said here on Tuesday. Another 10 persons are injured, including four seriously. The tragedy occurred at the Pulgaon Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) around 7.15 a.m when they were unloading a consignment of discarded ammunition intended for destruction at the demolition ground here. According to local eyewitnesses, the deafening blast occurred in one of the ammunition boxes which were being unloaded in the sprawling open demolition ground. They said the intensity of the blast was so severe that the victims were thrown several metres away and their bodies burnt and badly mangled, with body pieces strewn over a large area. The disposal work was being carried out by the Ordnance Factory (OF), Khamaria, Jabalpur with the help of an authorized contractor at the Sonegaon demolition grounds. The contract labourers help dig up pits and place sand bags over the explosives, according to a defence spokesperson, Nagpur, Group Capt. B.B. Pande. Among the fatalities is one staffer of the Khamaria OF and three casual workers employed by the contractor and locals. The injured have been rushed to the nearby Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi-Meghe village where the condition of four is critical, according to Medical Superintendent (Dr.) Chandrashekhar Mahakalkar. He said the four seriously injured have undergone surgery by specialist doctors and teams of expert medicos are monitoring them. The names of the victims are: Uday Veersingh, 37, of Jabalpur, Narayan S. Pachare, 55, Vilas L. Pachare, 40, and Prabhakar R. Wankhede, 40, all from Sonegaon, Pravin P. Munjewar, 25, and Rajkumar R. Bhovate, 23, of Kelapur. Top police, Army, Khamaria OF and civil officials have rushed to the site to investigate the matter. Pulgaon CAD is around 110 km from the state's second capital, Nagpur. --IANS qn/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Bihar Minister Manju Verma, who was absconding for nearly three months in an arms case related to the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror, surrendered at a court on Tuesday. Manju Verma surrendered in the Begusarai District Court after a lower court and the Patna High Court rejected her interim bail petition. The Supreme Court had slammed Bihar Police for its failure to arrest her. According to police, Manju Verma covered her face while reaching the court. Police in Bihar on Saturday started attaching the properties of Manju Verma after a court order in an arms case connected to the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror. Verma faces arrest under the Arms Act following the recovery of 50 live cartridges from her residences in Patna and Begusarai during a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid. Last month, a court in Begusarai issed a warrant against here. Last month, her husband Chandrasekhar Verma, who had been absconding for a month, surrendered before a court after which he was sent to 14 days judicial custody in connection with the shelter home case. Manju Verma resigned on August 8 following allegations that Brajesh Thakur, the main accused in the Muzaffarpur case, had links with her husband. Thankur is now in the Muzaffarpur jail. Of the 42 girls lodged at the short-stay home run by Thakur's NGO, 34 were found to have been sexually assaulted. The crime came to light after a social audit by the Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai. --IANS ik/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to the in-laws of an air hostess who fell to her death from the terrace of her home here in July. Justice Mukta Gupta granted bail to R.S. Singhvi and his wife Sushma, asking them to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties of like amount each. The court directed the petitioner not to leave the country without prior permission of the court. The court observed that Delhi Police has filed chargesheet and supplementary chargesheet in the case and couple had remained in one day police custody and no further custodial interrogation is required. The Singhvis surrendered before a city court on November 1. Anissia Batra's husband Mayank Singhvi was arrested on July 16. Batra's family has alleged that it was a case of murder even as the police registered a suicide case on July 15. The victim fell off the terrace of her home in Panchsheel Park in south Delhi on July 13. The FIR said the woman was assaulted ever since her marriage in February 2016. --IANS akk/pgh/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After Maharashtra, megastar Amitabh Bachchan will pay off loans of farmers in Uttar Pradesh and will personally meet some of them to give them their bank letters. He will arrange for 70 farmers to travel to Mumbai and receive their bank letters, his spokesperson has said. The superstar will be taking care of 1,398 farmer loans from Uttar Pradesh amounting to over Rs 4.05 crore. Amitabh has done an 'OTS: One Time Settlement with Bank Of India' and cleared the farmer's loans with the bank. He has also invited 70 farmers to Mumbai by blocking an entire train compartment for their travel, to personally give them their bank letters on November 26. The farmers will receive their bank letters by Big B at his office here. When approached, his official spokesperson confirmed: "Yes, Mr Bachchan has cleared the loans of 1398 farmers from Uttar Pradesh. He had earlier paid off the loans of Maharashtra's farmers. And now he has done so for the debted farmers of UP. Around 70 farmers have been chosen to personally travel and receive the bank letters directly from Mr Bachchan in Mumbai, clearing their outstanding dues." Earlier this year, the "Paa" star, who is in Baroda to accept Sayaji Ratna Award, helped over 350 farmers by paying off their debts and also helped the families of around 44 martyrs of Maharashtra. Amitabh and his wife Jaya handed over the amount to the farmers and army martyrs families privately in Mumbai a few months ago. --IANS sug/nv/vsc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Divorces are always messy, but none have so much at stake as the separation of Britain from the European Union (EU). Almost two-and-a-half years after 52 percent of Britons who voted in favour of a Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May has managed to draft a deal that aims to withdraw the country from the EU before the cut-off date of March 29, 2019. Even though the deal has been begrudgingly passed by May's cabinet, there are virtually no supporters for it on either side of the Brexit debate. Britain has four ways to go about Brexit: A hard Brexit; a softer Brexit; a sketchy middle ground where May has ended up with the current deal; or simply, no deal, where Britain drops out of the EU after the cut-off date and ends up reverting to standard international trading rules. The last case is simply catastrophic where tariff and border checks would immediately be put in place and movement of people would become restricted. A hard Brexit would also imply the UK making a definitive split from the EU, ending its membership in the single market, customs unions and the court of justice. This would give UK more freedom to set its own rules and regulations. A softer Brexit would imply lesser change from the status quo. A really soft Brexit could even involve the possibility of UK staying on in the single market or customs union. The major complication in coming to an agreement arises from the case of Northern Ireland. The region, which is a part of the UK, could spiral into sectarian violence if it is separated from Ireland through physical barriers or checkpoints or, in other words, a hard border, as it would limit the flow of people and goods between the two regions. The Ireland-Northern Ireland border has been open since 1998 after the Good Friday Agreement was ratified to bring peace to the region after decades of violence. However, a clean Brexit would require imposition of hard borders between the UK and the EU, which implies a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland as the latter is a part of EU. Such a scenario would eventually end in rising tensions, which everyone wants to avoid at all costs. So, the Brexit dilemma lies in coming to an agreement that retains the integrity of the UK and the Good Friday Agreement. May's deal tries to circumvent this by letting the UK stay within the EU's customs area, which would imply staying in the EU single market and avoiding hard borders, while allowing UK to make independent trade deals with other countries. As such a deal would not include the imposition of any hard borders, the free flow of goods and people between Ireland and Northern Ireland would remain unchanged. However, it is obvious why such a deal has appeased no one. The pro-Brexit camp feels that the terms of the draft deal violate the very meaning of Brexit, which was to let UK regain control of its own policies. May's plan forfeits the influential role that the UK played in the EU while making it a mere rule-taker of the union. The ability to negotiate its own trade deals would recover only a fraction of the cost of Brexit by the government's own calculations. Meanwhile, for the Remain camp, the deal is far worse than the status quo for almost similar reasons. The two factions have unanimously united over their dislike for the draft deal. Such reactions should have been expected. It was evident that no one would have been satisfied with the final outcome of such a divisive issue. The very fact that no party is satisfied makes it the least unreasonable compromise. But at this stage, there is a strong case for a referendum on the exit deal. The Brexit votes were won by a very narrow margin at a time when the terms and the cost of the move were not known to the voters. There was a clear democratic deficit, which needs to be filled. The idea of Brexit that was sold to the masses at the time was that the country would somehow manage to seize control of its policies and achieve higher prosperity in the process without incurring any significant economic costs for itself. The deal that has been chalked out in these two-plus years is nothing close to these promises of the "Leave" campaign. It is highly likely that the deal will not pass through the British Parliament itself but now that the extent of economic pain and long-term repercussions of Brexit are becoming clearer, it is vital to get a sense of the public opinion about the matter before the only option of a no-deal remains. The latter outcome would be catastrophic for the both the British and the world economy; a prospect that is completely avoidable. (Amit Kapoor is chair, Institute for Competitiveness. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in and tweets @kautiliya. Chirag Yadav, senior researcher, Institute for Competitiveness, has contributed to the article) --IANS amitk/vm/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Tuesday afternoon attacked by a middle-aged man with chilli powder when he stepped out of his office after a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat. The man , 40-year-old Anil Kumar Sharma, was waiting outside the Chief Minister's office and attacked him when Kejriwal stepped out, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj told IANS. The CCTV footage shows that Sharma tried to touch Kejriwal's feet and got up and threw the powder. "Kejriwal's eyes were not affected in the attack as he was wearing spectacles," Bhardwaj said. However, a scuffle broke out and Kejriwal's spectacles broke, a witness told IANS. The suspect was caught by the police. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called it a breach of security of the Chief Minister. National Spokesperson of the AAP Raghav Chadha, who was with Kejiriwal during the attack, said the attacker was not interrupted as he walked towards the Chief Minister. "I was following Kejriwal along with his personal secretary when he concluded a meeting and exited his chambers on the third floor at Delhi Secretariat. "When we approached the hallway, we saw the attacker moving towards us. We could see he was holding something in his hands. Shockingly, he walked right up to the Chief Minister without being intercepted by any security personnel. He tried to attack the Chief Minister by snatching his glasses, trying to throw red chilli powder into his eyes and physically assault him," Chadha said in a statement. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that the attack was conducted with the help of Delhi Police and the BJP. "The Chief Minister was attacked in a high-security zone, where all high-level officers and Ministers in Delhi have their offices. The office of the Chief Minister is even more sensitive place," he told media. "This is a conspiracy. The BJP, along with Delhi Police, are trying to attack the Delhi Chief Minister. How is it possible that a place where even journalists are not allowed without checking, a man just walked in with chilli powder? "This is not possible without the involvement of Delhi Police, who is working on the orders of the BJP," Sisodia said. He also said that this is not the first time that Kejriwal was attacked. "The Chief Minister was attacked while delivering a speech at Chhatrasal Stadium when ink was thrown at him. A shoe was hurled at him in the media centre of the Secretariat. He was attacked even during the inauguration of the Signature Bridge when bottles were thrown at him by BJP workers." No arrest or chargesheet has been filed in the above cases, he said. He said during the inauguration of the Signature Bridge, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari was trying to get on the stage with his goons. They were allowed to stand near the stage and were throwing bottles. "That day the bottles could have acid in them. There could have been other dangerous substances in the bottle. Today, instead of just powder, the man might have carried a gun or pistol. He could have carried acid in a bottle today. " Sisodia has demanded a probe into the incident. --IANS nks/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday alleged that a candidate of the Congress offered Rs 25 lakh to cancel an election rally in Telangana's Nirmal constituency. The Hyderabad MP told a public meeting in Nirmal town Monday night that he has audio recording to prove his claim. The party on Tuesday released an audio of the purported telephonic conversation between Congress candidate from Mudhole constituency Rama Rao Pawar and MIM leader Jaber Ahmed, who is also municipal chairman of Bhainsa town. Pawan, on behalf of Maheshwar Reddy, offered Rs 25 lakh to stop the MIM meeting. However, Jaber Ahmed refused to accept the offer. He made it clear that even if Rs 50 lakh was offered, he can't do anything. The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) President was addressing a meeting in Nirmal to campaign for his ally, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), for next month's Assembly elections. Owaisi came down heavily on Congress and BJP, describing them as two sides of the same coin. The elections to 119-member Assembly are scheduled to be held on December 7. MIM is contesting eight seats -- all in Hyderabad. These include seven seats it held in the dissolved Assembly. Though MIM has no formal alliance with TRS, they are friendly parties. MIM is backing TRS in all the constituencies except eighth where it has fielded its candidate. --IANS ms/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed the Congress governments for repeatedly "cheating farmers" by making "fake promises" on their loan waiver schemes and transferring the money to their cronies who were not eligible for the benefit. "The Congress keeps talking about farmers. What has it done for them? In Karnataka, it formed a government by making fake promises to farmers. But now it's asking them to pay up or face imprisonment. When farmers turned up at their doors, they shooed them away calling them goons," Modi said in his public address at Jhabua. Elections for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly are scheduled to take place on November 28. Modi said that the Congress party did the same in 2008 just before the 2009 general election, when it did not waive the loans as promised. "The Congress did a similar thing in 2008. Just before the elections, it promised to waive farm loans, which amounted to six lakh crore rupees then. But it did not waive loans worth even Rs 60,000 crore. "This scam never got the limelight because of other big scams by the Congress such as coal scam, 2G scam, and Commonwealth Games scam," he said. Modi also referred to a certain finding by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, according to which, he said, the Congress granted loan waivers to 30-40 lakh people who were not on the rolls as beneficiaries. "They looted the poor's money by putting it in the pocket of their cronies... Then they did not even give certificate to 1.25 crore farmers who got waivers, a proof that their loan has been waived. And these people were then made to run from office to office," Modi said. The Prime Minister also mentioned his government's success in curbing black money sources. "This is the power of Modi that he forced these people to come out with their black money... And now that money is being spent on public welfare schemes. The Prime Minister said that he had plugged all sources of corruption at the top level, but one is still cheated of small amounts at the low level. To stop that, the government is using technology for transferring money directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. --IANS vn/shs/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told people of this north-earstern town of Madhya Pradesh that Congress means "nepotism" and "corruption", and that it kept people of the state in "darkness" during its 55-year rule. "From wherever Congress is voted out of power, it doesn't come back... Please don't let it come back in Madhya Pradesh. Congress means nepotism, casteism, communalism, and corruption. Congress means people may die if they wish," Modi said in his address. He accused the Congress of obstructing the work of successive Bharatiya Janata Party governments in the state for the last 15 years. "People gave us 15 years, but during 10 years of these, Delhi had a government governed through a remote control, run by madam (Sonia Gandhi), whose ears used to prick at the mention of BJP... 'we won't let him (Chouhan) accomplish anything'. "For 10 years, Madhya Pradesh government had to fight everyday for their rights.... and they (Congress) put road blocks in our every work for 10 years... In true sense, the Madhya Pradesh government only got a chance to work in the last 4 years (coinciding with the BJP rule at the Centre)," he said. The Prime Minister exhorted the people to vote in the election not to seal the fate of any political party but to write the fortune of their children. "This election is not about who wins or who loses. This election is for you to decide what kind of Madhya Pradesh you want to give to your children. This election is not to decide the fate of any political party, but your own," he said. "Government should be for the poor, for the common man, for the needy. We have tried to come good on these counts," Modi said. -- IANS vn/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Popular Tamil actors such as superstar Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya and Vijay Sethupathi among others have come forward to donate to the cyclone Gaja relief fund. As cyclone Gaja has wreaked havoc in nearly a dozen districts of Tamil Nadu and rescue operations are underway, members of the Tamil film fraternity have joined hands to do their bit. Actor Suriya was among the first Tamil stars to come forward and lend support. Suriya along with his father Sivakumar, brother Karthi and wife Jyotika have together donated a sum of Rs. 50 lakh as relief fund through various NGOs in the cyclone Gaja affected areas. Via a statement, Suriya said that it was heart-wrenching to see the Delta region being affected severely and added that it's the duty of everyone to extend support to this region. Superstar Rajinikanth, via a statement, on Tuesday announced relief materials worth Rs. 50 lakh towards the relief fund. Basking in the success of his latest Tamil film "Sarkar", Actor Vijay has donated around Rs. 40 lakh to 9 bank accounts of his fan club heads to help those affected by cyclone Gaja. Actor Vijay Sethupathi, last seen in Tamil film "96", has announced a relief fund of Rs. 25 lakh to be spent towards buying rechargeable torch lights and saplings for those whose farms have been destroyed by cyclone Gaja. Actor-producer Sivakarthikeyan donated Rs. 10 lakh to the Tamil Nadu CM relief fund in addition to Rs. 10 lakh worth of relief materials. "2.0" director Shankar has announced donation of Rs. 10 lakh to the Tamil Nadu CM relief fund. --IANS hp/nv/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The event was attended by Anil Sooklal Deputy Director General for Asia and the Middle East at South Africas Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the ambassadors of the four Southeast Asian nations and diplomats of other countries. Opening the ceremony, Sindiswa Mququ, director for South Asia Central Asia and Southeast Asia at the DIRCOs Asia and the Middle East division, reviewed milestones in her countrys diplomatic ties with the four nations. She said the relations, established in 1993, have developed constantly over the last 25 years, with all the four Southeast Asian countries being key economic and trading partners of South Africa. Meanwhile, Anil Sooklal said political ties between South Africa and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are close, but bilateral economic links still have room to grow. South Africa needs to make use of the embassies of the seven most dynamic ASEAN nations in the country to promote not only bilateral relations but also inter-regional cooperation, particularly between the Southern African Development Community and ASEAN. In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Van Dung appreciated the celebration, noting it marked a new development stage in the five countries connections. He said Vietnam and South Africa boast decades of friendship, beginning with the meeting between representatives of their national liberation movements at the Bandung Conference in Indonesia in 1955 and bilateral ties have expanded in all spheres over the last 25 years. Dung elaborated they have stepped up state-to-state, party-to-party and people-to-people diplomacy and perfected the legal framework for cooperation. South Africa is currently the top African trade partner of Vietnam. Two-way trade increased five-fold from 189 million USD in 2007 to 1 billion USD in 2017, and is expected to hit 2 billion USD in the next five years. Based on mutual trust and the defence policy dialogue, the two sides have created many chances to strengthen cooperation, including sharing experience in peacekeeping operations and defence industry, and coordinating in crime fighting and criminal extradition. Much progress has also been attained in their cooperation in environment, science, technology, tourism and education, he noted, adding that Vietnam and South Africa welcome some 4,000 tourists from each other each year and the number is still rising. The ambassador voiced his belief that with both sides determination and efforts, their cooperation will keep flourishing in all fields for the sake of peace and development in their respective regions and the world.-VNA Newlyweds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on Tuesday treated fans to a few glimpses of their wedding celebrations, which was held at the picturesque Lake Como in Italy last week. From haldi to mehendi and the wedding nuptials, Deepika and Ranveer, who kept their wedding images away from the public eye, finally took to social media on Tuesday to share some of their special moments with their fans. In several images the star couple, who are fondly called "DeepVeer" by fans, were seen enjoying joyful moments from the celebrations. Be it sitting with her mehendi (henna), dancing with Ranveer or walking towards the mandap, Deepika looked every inch regal in ensembles by Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Ranveer during the mehendi celebrations looked dapper in a light pink and red Angarkha paired beautifully with a maroon Bundi with Zardozi work. The "Piku" actress chose to colour coordinate with Ranveer and sported a light pink coloured lehenga with elaborate jewellery. Deepika looked resplendent on both wedding traditions -- Konkani and Anand Karaj. The couple's ensembles were rooted in tradition as they chose hues of reds, whites, pinks and gold as their primary colours. For the North Indian style wedding, Deepika's head was covered with an ornate dupatta with the words 'Sada Saubhagyavati Bhavah' embroidered on it, while Ranveer matched up in a colour co-ordinated sherwani. Ranveer wore pristine white for the Konkani wedding, which marked the culmination of a six year-long love story that began on the sets of the 2013 film "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela". The two also shared a beautiful moment from one of their ceremonies, where Deepika can be seen offering sweets to Ranveer. The star couple tied the knot on November 14 and 15. The two are hosting their wedding reception in Bengaluru on Wednesday and in Mumbai on November 28. --IANS sim/dc/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved order on a plea accusing Ankiv Baisoya of submitting fake educational certificates to get admission in the university and seeking re-election for the post of President of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU). Justice Yogesh Khanna reserved the order on National Students' Union of India (NSUI) candidate Sunny Chillar's plea seeking to conduct fresh DUSU election under an independent election officer or an appropriate authority "of impeccable character and integrity". Chillar, in his plea, has sought action against Baisoya for using forged certificate for securing admission in the varsity. Baisoya, of the Department of Buddhist Studies, defeated Sunny Chhillar of Shivaji College by a margin of 1,724 votes on September 12. On November 14, the DU expelled Baisoya for submitting fake documents from Thiruvalluvar University at Vellore in Tamil Nadu to secure admission in the university. Baisoya, on Facebook on November 15, said he was resigning from his post. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student group to which he belonged, too, suspended Baisoya on November 15, asking him to step down from the DUSU post. Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand told the court that if any major office-bearer's post falls vacant only two months after the elections, the Vice President may be promoted to the post of President, as per the recommendation of Lyngdoh Committee. The Lyngdoh Committee says that in the event of the office of any major post of office-bearer falling vacant within two months of elections, re-elections should be conducted; otherwise, the Vice President may be promoted to the post of President and Joint Secretary to the post of Secretary, as the case may be. Chillar's counsel P. Chidambaram told the court that the DU dragged the issue till November 12 to avail the second part of rule of Lyngdoh's recommendation. He requested the court to order fresh elections as the recommendation is silent on this issue. The court also observed that the Lyngdoh's recommendation is silent over the issue of conducting an inquiry after more than two months of the elections taking place. Recently, the NSUI had challenged the genuineness of Basoya's graduation marksheet on the basis of a letter -- copies of which were circulated in the media -- apparently written by the Controller of Examination of the Thiruvalluvar University that dismissing as "fake" the document bearing that university's stamp and logo. Baisoya, along with two others of his group, had won the posts of DUSU President, Vice President and Joint Secretary. --IANS akk/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Bhutan reviewed all aspects of their bilateral ties during a three-day visit by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale to the Himalayan kingdom, the External Affairs Ministry said on Tuesday. "In his interactions, Foreign Secretary conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to further expanding its unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, based on the priorities of the Royal Government of Bhutan," a Ministry statement said. "The two sides discussed all aspects of bilateral relations, including high-level exchanges, economic and development cooperation, hydro-power cooperation, people-to-people ties, and commemorative activities being jointly organised in the Golden Jubilee year (of diplomatic ties). "The two sides also shared their views on regional matters and other issues of mutual interest." During the course of his visit from November 18 to 20, Gokhale held a meeting with Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Sonam Tshong and called on Prime Minister Lotay Tshering and Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji. He also had an audience with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Gokhale's visit comes after the Himalayan nation elected a new government in October. Prime Minister Tshering's Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) party, formed in 2013, won 30 of the 47 National Assembly seats. The country of 800,000 people, located between India and China, has chosen a different party to rule at each election since the end of absolute monarchy in 2008. India is a leading development aid partner for Bhutan. There are a number of institutional mechanisms between India and Bhutan in areas like security, border management, trade, economy, hydroelectricity, development cooperation and water resources. New Delhi has set up three hydroelectric projects in Bhutan with a total capacity of 1,416 MW, which are operational. About three-fourth of the power generated is exported to India and the rest is used for domestic consumption. India is also Bhutan's largest trading partner. --IANS ab/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Vietnam reiterated the importance of building a peaceful Indo-Pacific region during a meeting between President Ram Nath Kovind and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong here on Tuesday. The two sides also signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of communications, education and trade and investment. "Our discussions covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation," Kovind said in an address to the media following the meeting. "We reiterated the importance of building a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region on the basis of respect for national sovereignty and international law," he said. Vietnam is a key partner of India in Southeast Asia and the bilateral relationship was elevated to that of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in 2016 Vietnam also served as country coordinator for India with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc for three years till July this year. New Delhi has been stressing on the centrality of Asean's role in ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region. India is also part of a quad, also comprising the US, Japan and Australia, that was revived last year to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, a region that stretches from the east coast of Japan to the east coast of Africa. This came in the face of China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region and Beijing's belligerence in the South China Sea region. Kovind said that during his talks with President Trong, they agreed to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in defence, peaceful uses of atomic energy and outer space, science and technology, oil and gas, infrastructure development, agriculture and innovation-based sectors. "We committed to further deepen our defence and security cooperation," he said. "I reiterated India's commitment to provide training support for Vietnam Armed Forces." The two leaders also reviewed the implementation of the Indian line of credit of $100 million for building high-speed patrol vessels for Vietnamese Border Guards. "We condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation and agreed to strengthen global fight against this menace," Kovind said. "We expressed satisfaction that the two countries would soon begin dialogue on strengthening maritime security cooperation." Kovind said that both sides agreed to "encourage our industry to tap into the growing economic opportunities in our own countries and in the region". India-Vietnam bilateral trade at $12.8 billion last year. Prior to his meeting with Trong, Kovind addressed the National Assembly during which he said that India and Vietnam shared a common vision for the Indo-Pacific. Kovind also described Vietnam as a key pillar of India's Act East Policy under which is New Delhi is increasing its engagements with Southeast Asia. "Vietnam is always on our minds, and always in our hearts," he said. "It is pivotal to India's Act East policy." Kovind arrived here on Sunday on the first leg of his week-long two-nation trip that will also take him to Australia. This is his first visit to Southeast Asia after assuming office in July last year. --IANS ab/ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An attack by a rebel group has injured an Indian police peacekeeper serving an UN operation in a Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) area facing the Ebola crisis, an UN official said. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the attack was carried out by "suspected" Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) late on Friday evening in the Boikene area in North Kivu Province. "The member of the Indian police unit stationed there was "lightly wounded," he said. He, however, did not identify the injured person. The outbreak of Ebola disease has intensified the crisis in the DRC that has been in the throes of ongoing battles with marauding rebel forces that have claimed the lives of 154 peacekeepers, 15 of them Indians. The World Health Organisation said it evacuated 16 of its staff dealing with Ebola in the area after their residence was hit on Friday by a shell that, however, did not explode. Last week, one Tanzanian and six Malawaian peacekeepers were killed by the AFD in the Beni territory near Boikene. The latest victims were members of the Force Intervention Brigade made up of South African, Malawian and Tanzanian peacekeepers, which operates jointly with DRC military. The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, told IANS in an interview on Friday that although Indian peacekeepers "are not part of the Force Intervention Brigade," they were active in other areas. "Violence is not limited to North Kivu, even though it is currently one of the most affected," he said. For example, "the Indians played a major role in repelling when the town of Uvira was attacked", he said. Mai-Mai militias attacked Uvira, the second largest town in the South Kivu province, in 2017. There were 276 Indian police personnel serving as peacekeepers in the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC that is better known by its French initials, MONUSCO. In addition, the 2,627 Indian troops serving in the mission make up its second largest contingent. MONUSCO radio gave details of an ADF group attack in the area but it was not clear if the Indian police peacekeeper was injured in that action. The radio said that the ADF raided the Boikene area of Rwenzori in North Kivu's Beni, and attacked a MONUSCO base on Friday evening. The peacekeepers reacted immediately and repulsed the attack after exchanges of fire, the radio said. "The UN Mission and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) have increased security measures in the Beni area, including around hotels occupied by UN personnel and humanitarian workers who are focused on the Ebola response, and they have also expanded their support of police operations in the Beni area," Dujarric said. The Force Intervention Brigade intensified its campaign against the ADF on Tuesday last week "in response to repeated attacks against the civilian population of the Beni region," according to MONUSCO. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) --IANS al/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ivanka Trump, US President Donald Trump's daughter, sent hundreds of emails last year to White House aides, Cabinet officials and her assistants using a personal account, many of them in violation of federal records rules, the media reported. White House ethics officials learned of Ivanka's repeated use of personal email when reviewing emails gathered last fall by five Cabinet agencies to respond to a public records lawsuit, informed sources told The Washington Post on Monday. The review revealed that throughout much of 2017, she often discussed or relayed official White House business using a private email account with a domain that she shares with her husband, Jared Kushner, also a senior White House advisor. Ivanka in the past had said that she was not familiar with some details of the federal records rules. In response to the development, Peter Mirijanian, a spokesman for Ivanka's attorney and ethics counsel, Abbe Lowell, acknowledged that the President's daughter occasionally used her private email before she was briefed on the rules, but he said none of her messages contained classified information. "While transitioning into government, after she was given an official account but until the White House provided her the same guidance they had given others who started before she did, Ivanka Trump sometimes used her personal account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family," he said on Monday. Mirijanian said Ivanka turned over all her government-related emails months ago so they could be stored permanently with other White House records. He also said that her email use was different from that of former presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, who had a private email server in the basement of her New York home. At one point, an archive of thousands of Clinton's emails was deleted by a computer specialist amid a congressional investigation. "Ivanka Trump did not create a private server in her house or office, no classified information was ever included, the account was never transferred at Trump Organisation, and no emails were ever deleted," The Washington Post quoted Mirijanian as saying. Ivanka and Kushner set up personal emails with the domain "ijkfamily.com" through a Microsoft system in December 2016, as they were preparing to move to Washington so Kushner could join the White House, according to informed sources. The couple's emails were prescreened by the Trump Organization for security problems such as viruses but were stored by Microsoft. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Hugh Jackman took the opportunity at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where he was being honoured, to take a dig at actors John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds. Krasinski and Reynolds, in banter, had ganged up on Jackman on social media over the weekend after a photograph of the "Logan" star cozying up to Krasinski's actress-wife Emily Blunt at Variety's "Actors on Actors" event, reports variety.com. "You gotta stay on your toes, John. That's all I'm saying," Jackman joked. He went on to add that he would have no problem taking on Krasinski in a physical altercation if it came to that. "I'm fine to fight John, but he arrived this morning at my front door with Ryan. I'm like, 'Come on, guys. One at a time. Not together.'" Jackman said that he might have acquired a taste for rabble-rousing. "I'm really creating all these feuds. This mister nice guy image is over." The initial spat occurred when the "Front Runner" star tweeted a photograph of himself with Blunt praising their conversation together for "Actors on Actors." Krasinksi responded with another pic of the pair, in which Jackman was likely talking in Blunt's ear, writing: "Eeeeeeasy Hugh not sure this is what Variety meant with Actors on Actors. Don't make me think I can hurt you." Reynolds then piled on, tweeting: "This is a call to action. This man must be stopped." Jackman and Reynolds, at least, have a history of ribbing each other online. The pair, who both play characters in the Marvel/X-Men universe as Wolverine and Deadpool, have repeatedly engaged in good-natured smearing in an imitation of their on-screen personas. --IANS dc/sim/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US federal judge has stopped President Donald Trump's administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the country's southern border illegally. US District Judge Jon S. Tigar issued a temporary restraining order after hearing arguments on Monday night in San Francisco, NBC News reported. The request was made by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Centre for Constitutional Rights, which quickly sued the administration after Trump issued the ban earlier this month in response to the caravans of migrants that have started to arrive at the US-Mexico border. In a proclamation on November 9, Trump said that anyone who crossed the southern border would be ineligible for asylum. The regulations, which will remain in place for three months absent a court order, could potentially make it harder for thousands of people who enter the US to avoid deportation. In recent years, tens of thousands of immigrants each year have shown up in the Arizona desert or on the north bank of the Rio Grande in Texas, surrendered to immigration agents and requested asylum, NBC News said. The Department of Homeland Security estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. Trump has argued that the migrant caravans were a threat to national security. Around 3,000 people from the first of the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. US Customs and Border Protection said earlier on Monday that it closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the San Ysidro crossing. It has also installed movable, wire-topped barriers, apparently to stop a potential mass rush of people. As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Trump's order went into effect. --IANS ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday held talks with agitating sugarcane farmers from the state and assured a higher minimum support price for the growers. "I have met with sugarcane farmers from across the state and assured them a higher minimum support price (MSP) for their cane and support in settling dues from sugar mill owners," Kumaraswamy told reporters at the state legislative building after the meeting with farmers and mill representatives. The six-hour long meeting was convened after hundreds of farmers, including their womenfolk, on Sunday staged protests at Belagavi, about 500 km in the state's northwest, against the state government's alleged indifference over ensuring MSP for cane. "The state government will ensure a higher MSP than earlier to cane farmers and make sure they don't face any issues going ahead," Kumaraswamy asserted. The previous Congress government had fixed Rs 2,500 per tonne as MSP of sugarcane last year, while the farmers have been demanding an MSP of Rs 3,000 per tonne in view of the production glut and falling prices. "The farmers claimed that mill owners cumulatively owe them about Rs 450-crore. District officials have been directed to get the details and ensure the dues are cleared by the mills within the next 15 days," the Chief Minister said. A meeting with the southern state's sugar mill owners and representatives will be held on Thursday, he added. "As per farmers' suggestions, the state government will study the models adopted by Maharashtra and Gujarat for sugarcane farmers," Kumaraswamy said. Over farmer complaints about irregularities in the weighing of cane, the Chief Minister said digital weighing scales will be used at all sugar mills to eliminate discrepancies. Stressing that the coalition Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress government was committed to farmer issues, Kumaraswamy said the state will also soon fix a MSP for onion farmers as well. As a protest against Kumarswamy cancelling his visit to Belagavi 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. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit President B.S. Yeddyurappa criticized the coalition government for failing to fix price for cane even after the central government announcing a fair and remunerative price three months back at Rs 2,750 per tonne. "Kumaraswamy has failed to take farmers' issue seriously. The state should soon fix a state advisory price for cane farmers," Yeddyurappa told reporters here. "It is unfortunate that a farmer chief minister had insulted a farmer-woman by telling her that he was not responsible if sugar factory owners had not paid them dues for the last 4-5 years as he (Kumaraswamy) became Chief Minister only five months ago," lamented Yeddyurappa. "By calling farmers 'goondas', Kumaraswamy has indulged in an arrogance of power. BJP will hold state wide agitation if farmer issues aren't resolved soon," added Yeddyurappa, who was the BJP's first Chief Minister in the southern state from May 2008 to July 2011. --IANS bha/ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a first for an Indian academic, Professor S.P. Ganguly, a well-known Hispanist who headed the Centre for Spanish and Latin American Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here, has been awarded the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest civilian honour given to a foreigner by Mexico. Ganguly was decorated with the striking gold-yellow insignia by Mexican Ambassador Melba Pria at a ceremony in the India International Centre (IIC) on Monday evening. The award was in recognition of his "outstanding work in the study and dissemination of the Spanish language and Mexican culture". Describing him as "a pillar of this work", Ambassador Pria said Ganguly belonged to that first generation of a handful of Indian academics who "actually made everybody else interested in Spanish". He has authored, edited and translated over 25 books in an academic career spanning 40 years. "We built an edifice almost from scratch, but it will need more cementing from present and future scholars. I hope this award will pave the way for greater attention to India-Mexico and Indo-Latin American studies," Ganguly said after his conferment. The award ceremony followed a seminar on late Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz, who had constantly endeavoured to create bridges between India and his country. Paz, who was a poet, diplomat and cultural historian, used to say that the India experience had completely transformed him. "His was a sentimental and intellectual engagement of the self with the other," said Ganguly. The two-day seminar, "India Remembers Octavio Paz", was organized by the Mexican Embassy, the Raza Foundation and the Cervantes Institute in India. Forty paintings by Mexican and Indian painters, based on their responses to Paz's poetry, were displayed during the event. Two books on Paz - one brought by the Raza Foundation and the other by Hyderabad University - were also released on the occasion. --IANS tb/mr (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In addition, the legislation would give a newly created National Cyber Security Committee (NCSC) the power to order the removal of content and seize computers without judicial oversight. The committee will be able to access the computers of individuals or private companies, make copies of information, and enter private property without court orders. The NCSC could also summon businesses or individuals for interrogation and force them to hand over information belonging to other parties. Criminal penalties would be imposed for those who do not comply. Deputy Secretary of Thailands Ministry of Digital Economy Somsak Khaosuwan said the government is now discussing revisions of the draft and the law will conform to international standards. It is expected to gain approval by year-end.-VNA Former Bihar Minister Manju Verma, who had been absconding for nearly three months in an arms case related to the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror, surrendered at a court on Tuesday. She has been sent to 14 days' judicial custody. Manju Verma surrendered in the Manjhaul sub-division court of Begusarai district after a lower court and the Patna High Court rejected her interim bail petition. The Supreme Court had slammed Bihar Police for its failure to arrest her. According to the police, Manju Verma covered her face while reaching the court and fainted twice in the court room. "After her surrender, the court has sent her to 14 days' judicial custody till December 1. She has been lodged in Begusarai jail," a district police official said. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Police Headquarters, S.K. Singhal said the police are likely to take Manju Verma on police remand to interrogate her. The Bihar Police on Saturday started attaching the properties of Manju Verma after a court order in an arms case connected to the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. Of the 42 girls lodged at the short-stay home run by main accused Brajesh Thakur's NGO, 34 were found to have been sexually assaulted. Thakur had links with the former Minister's husband. The crime came to light following a social audit by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Verma faces arrest under the Arms Act after 50 live cartridges were recovered from her residences in Patna and Begusarai during a Central Bureau of Investigation raid. Last month, a court in Begusarai had issed an arrest warrant against her. Her husband Chandrasekhar Verma, who had been absconding for a month, last month surrendered before a court after which he was sent to judicial custody. Manju Verma resigned on August 8 following allegations of Thakur having links with her husband. Thakur is currently lodged in Muzaffarpur jail. --IANS ik/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were facing differences over tough conditionalities on key areas of a bailout programme, including further increase in energy prices, more taxes and complete disclosure of Chinese financial support, a Minister said here. "There are still gaps in the position of the IMF and the position that we have," Finance Minister Asad Umar said after a series of meetings with an IMF team on Monday. He, however, said the talks were continuing positively and gaps reducing, reports Dawn news. He said that $1 billion of the $3 billion committed by Saudi Arabia had been remitted to the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday and the remaining $2 billion would follow over the next few days. Informed sources said the two sides had a wide gap in their positions on the need for increase in electricity tariff, upward revision in the revenue target and additional tax measures on matters relating to Chinese assistance and its impact - both inflow and outflow. The sources said the IMF also demanded that the provincial governments finance the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), instead of the federal government, and wanted committed cash surpluses to minimise the consolidated fiscal deficit. The two sides were expected to conclude the talks on Tuesday. The IMF mission also sought a complete market-based free float of the exchange rate and complete independence to the State Bank of Pakistan. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Glass packaging company Piramal Glass on Tuesday announced that it has deployed Microsoft's Azure IoT platform to digitally transform its manufacturing operations. Piramal Glass has implemented the solution, titled "Real-Time Manufacturing Insights" (RTMI), on 46 production lines across its four plants at Kosamba and Jambusar in Gujarat, Sri Lanka and the US. Using Azure IoT Hub, Microsoft helped Piramal Glass acquire data from sensors on production lines to identify quality parameters at each stage and get insights on line efficiencies in real-time. This resulted in improved production efficiency and cost reduction up to 70 per cent as compared to a glass industry manufacturing execution system (MES). "We are happy to have collaborated with Microsoft on our journey towards digital transformation and business critical future readiness. Combining digital technologies with precision high-quality glass manufacturing has helped us fortify our accelerated growth path," said Vijay Shah, Director-Piramal Glass and Executive Director -Piramal Enterprises Ltd. Piramal Glass has leveraged IoT to get real-time visibility into its line manufacturing operations and to analyse production line losses at various stages. "It is significant that Microsoft technology enabled plant operations to continue as usual during the rollout of the Azure IoT solution, ensuring no disruption to the core manufacturing and deep integration with critical business processes," noted Sashi Sreedharan, Managing Director, Microsoft India. To facilitate this transformation, Precimetrix -- a Microsoft partner -- brought in its Plant Monitoring System hosted on Microsoft Azure. Piramal Glass is the largest specialty glass player in Asia and has been the fastest growing glass company in the world for over a decade. According to Microsoft, IoT today is helping businesses improve operational efficiency and generate new business models from their existing assets and equipment. --IANS na/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hours after a middle-aged man with chilli powder attacked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi police booked the accused person, who was found to be unstable. "Taking suo moto cognizance, we have booked Anil Sharma, 40, on the charges of Criminal Intimidation, Obstructing public servant, causing hurt to deter public servant and assault or criminal force on public servant under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code," Joint Commissioner of Police Rajesh Khurana told IANS. "We have not received any complaint from Aam Aadmi Party or the Delhi Secretariat in this regard against Sharma. He was interrogated by local police and other security agencies but found unstable", Khurana said. Sharma on Tuesday attempted to attack on Kejriwal with chilli powder when he stepped out of his office after a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat. "When Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was coming out of his chamber, Sharma tried to hand over his complaint to him. Kejriwal later passed his complaint copy to a staff member. In the meantime, Sharma bowed down to touch Kejriwal's feet, he suddenly attempted charging chief minister but it was swiftly foiled by security staff of Delhi Police", the joint Commissioner added. The CCTV footage shows that Sharma tried to touch Kejriwal's feet and tried to attack on his face but Chief Minister security staff caught hold on him. --IANS sp/vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused government officials of interfering with the CBI's working - the latest being allegations that NSA Ajit Doval attempted to meddle in a case. "A crime thriller called 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' is underway in Delhi," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, in an obvious attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The latest episode reveals serious allegations against a Minister, National Security Advisor (Doval), Law Secretary and Cabinet Secretary by a DIG of the CBI," Gandhi said. A senior Central Bureau of Intelligence officer told the Supreme Court that top government functionaries, including Doval, had interfered in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana who is facing bribery charges. "His (Modi's) partner, who has been brought from Gujarat, is raising crores of extortion money. The officers are tired. The trust has been broken. "Democracy is crying," added Gandhi. Gandhi's latest attack came in the wake of CBI officer M.K. Sinha alleging that Doval and Central Vigilance Commissioner K.V. Chaudhary, among others, interfered in the investigation against Asthana. Deputy Inspector General-rank officer Sinha, who was probing the Asthana case before being shunted out to Nagpur, alleged that a "few crore of rupees was paid to Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhari". --IANS and/in/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rajya Sabha will meet from December 11 to January 8 during the winter session of parliament with President Ram Nath Kovind issuing the formal summons for convening the house. According to an official announcement, the upper house will have 20 sittings during the session. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, had met earlier this month and decided the dates of parliament's winter session. The session commences on the day election results for Assembly polls to five states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram - will be out. The Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha may be adjourned for the day after offering condolences to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who died during the intersession period. --IANS ps/vsc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Tuesday said that it had detained a suspected participant in the 1995 terrorist attack in the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk, in which 129 people were killed and 415 were injured. Its statement did not provide details of the detention of the suspect identified as Khazvakh Cherkhigov, a Russian citizen born in 1978, reports Xinhua news agency. The Budyonnovsk attack, in which more than 1,500 people were taken hostages, was carried out in June 1995 by a gang led by militant leader Shamil Basayev. The terrorists then seized a local hospital and held hostages for several days, demanding the withdrawal of the Russian military from the rebel region of Chechnya. Basayev managed to successfully negotiate a stop of the advance of Russian troops, and the attackers then returned to Chechnya under the cover of human shields. For this crime, 31 participants have been convicted and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment between 1995 and 2013, while 18 others have been killed, the FSB statement said. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday "strongly" criticised the US for imposing new sanctions on Cuba. Such an action of the US, which is implementing the policy of heightening pressure on Havana, created additional obstacles for the socio-economic development of Cuba in the context of ongoing reforms in the country, the ministry said in a statement. It recalled that the UN General Assembly on November 1 almost unanimously adopted a non-binding resolution urging the US to lift its embargo against Cuba, reports Xinhua news agency. With the new sanctions, Washington is turning the overwhelming majority of the representatives of the world community even further away from itself, the Russian statement said. The US State Department on November 14 announced to add 26 tourism-related subentities, including 16 hotels owned by the Cuban military, into its sanction list by barring Americans from visiting them. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih on Monday said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud will participate in the upcoming G20 summit in Argentina, Al Arabiya local news reported. The crown prince's participation in the summit will be part of his foreign tour, al-Falih said, reports Xinhua news agency. Climate change, steel, migration and reform of the World Trade Organisation are expected to top the agenda of the G20 summit scheduled from November 30 to December 1. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mexican street artist and graphic illustrator, Edgar Flores 'Saner' known for his visual satire, says that although art has an "obligation" to speak about political moments, street artists must respect local sentiments as he executes his large scale mural in Delhi bylanes. Working on a "vivid, colourful tribute to the rich cultures" of the two countries in an Indo-Mexican mural in the Lodi art district here, Saner told IANS: "I think street art is very interesting, because whoever sees it, has an opportunity to say something about it." Combining Indian and Mexican motifs the "Discover India and Mexico" project, which would be "a bridge between two cultures", will not be an "aggressive message" as is usually known of the artist's work that speaks of themes like violence, anger, anxiety and fear. "What I did not want to do (here) is give a strong or aggressive message. My work here is a vivid, coluorful tribute to cultures of India and Mexico. Wall murals are moments for people to just stand and appreciate what is painted. "You have to respect the streets, the people, and the neighbourhoods. (Through the mural,) We wanted to have a visual interaction with the local neighbourhood. "If we paint something aggressive, it provokes bad reactions daily. The idea is that the world has enough bad reactions, we don't need more," the 37-year-old artist said. When asked about what Indian motifs he would utilise, Saner said: "Some iconic plants and animals, tigers, symbols from Hindu mythological stories, and traditional clothes of women." Known for being among the most popular contemporary artists of Mexico, he added "when something political happens" he tries to "make and say something". "It's my obligation. But every person has an opinion and a talent, and my talent is images. For India, it's different because I don't know the context," he added. Saner, who started out as a graffiti artist in the late 1990s in Mexico City, creates masked characters and uses colours vividly, that makes his art easily recognised and distinct. He attributes this to the Mexican street art influence. "I, like all Mexicans, grew up under the rich influence of the street art. The muralist tradition of Mexico is really old, because it comes from the time of Aztecs and Mayans (indigenous occupants of central and south American countries), who started painting murals." The moment of change -- the Mexican mural movement in 1920s -- came with artists Jose Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. The government, Saner said, used murals as an educational tool for a mostly illiterate populace. "The best way to pitch to the people was through images, so they started to make big murals to tell the story of our past. Murals now, are more individualistic and depend on what each artist wants to say," Saner explained. The illustrator has previously painted wall murals in Australia, New Zealand, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, Germany, France, the US, Colombia, and Peru, among others, and thinks that street art is picking pace, and is "the voice of the moment". Saner, who has more than 1.14 lakh followers on Instagram, also freely uses the social media as another wall to exhibit his creativity. "We don't need borders because through internet, we just cross (over). We don't need walls between us." Saner has been invited to India by St+art India Foundation, the Mexican Embassy, the Central Public Works Department, and Asian Paints. (Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in) --IANS sj/in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At the Cham sculpture museum, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife were introduced clearly about sculpture exhibits, including three national precious things.Currently, the Museum of Cham Sculpture in collaboration with the National Museum of India has researched and compiled a book to introduce relations between the Cham and India sculpture which is planned to publish in India in December, 2018.On the same day, the distinguished guests presented at My Son - a sample of the ancient Champa civilization which was recognized as a World Heritage Site.Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife visited the Cham tower-groups of B, C, D in My Son, and enjoyed performances of Saranai music instrument and drum dancing of Cham people.The Indian President planted a Ficus tree (is also known as the Bo-Tree) which was moved from India to Vietnam.At the receiving ceremony, Secretary of Party Committee of Quang Nam province Nguyen Ngoc Quang said that a memorandum of understanding between Vietnamese and Indian Government about funded- project to preserve the My Son relic site was signed in 2014, contributing to restore My Son tower temple. BY NGUYEN KHOI- Translated by Huyen Huong Citing health reasons, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was once touted as a prime ministerial candidate in the BJP, on Tuesday said she has decided not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election. "Candidates are decided by the party. But I have made up my mind that I won't be contesting in the next elections," the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said on the sidelines of an event here. "This is in keeping with my health." The 66-year-old Sushma Swaraj, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2016, said she had conveyed her decision to the party. The Vidisha MP's decision not to contest in 2019 came even as campaigning for the November 28 Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP is seeking a fourth consecutive term in office, was in full swing. A former spokesperson of the party, Sushma Swaraj was said to have been reticent in backing Modi when he was first appointed the Chief Campaigner for the BJP in 2013 ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but later made up with him to be included in his cabinet. A prominent face of the BJP with her political career spanning for decades, Sushma Swaraj was the youngest member of the Haryana Assembly when she was elected to it in 1977 at age 25 and made a Minister. She also served as Delhi's fifth Chief Minister in 1998, becoming its first women Chief Minister. She represented the South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency in 1996 and 1998. She served as Union Cabinet Minister for Information and Broadcasting with additional charge of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Health Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's second government. Sushma Swaraj, a four-time Lok Sabha and two-time Rajya Sabha member, also won the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 2004 and served as the leader of the Opposition during during UPA-II government between 2009 to 2014. replacing party veteran L.K. Advani. --IANS aks/vsc/mr/and (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit said on Tuesday that he went by the advice of the Advocate General while freeing three AIADMK activists convicted for burning a bus which killed three young women. In a statement, Purohit's office said the files related to the three convicts - Muniappan, Nedunchezhian and Ravindran - seeking remission of their life term was initially returned to the government for reconsideration. The three were released on Monday after Purohit okayed the AIADMK government's recommendation for their premature release. The convicts burnt a bus in which students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore were travelling during a protest against the conviction of then party leader J. Jayalalithaa in a corruption case in 2000. Three young girl students -- Hemalatha, Kokilavani and Gayathri -- were burnt to death in the bus while other students escaped. The government on October 25 sent the files to Purohit reiterating the recommendation for their release following which the advice of the Advocate General was sought by the Governor, the statement said. The Advocate General argued that the victims were unknown to the convicts and there was no premeditation or planning and that the incident happened in a flash. The three convicts had been in prison for 13 years and orders were issued approving their premature release under Article 161 of the Constitution, the statement said. To mark the birth centenary of MGR, the government has recommended the release of 1,858 life term convicts who have been jailed for 10 years. A total of 1,627 life convicts have been ordered to be released by Purohit. --IANS vj/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a huge setback to Telanganas ruling TRS ahead of next months Assembly elections, its MP K. Vishweshwar Reddy on Tuesday announced his resignation from the party as well as Parliament. Vishweshwar Reddy sent a letter to Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K. Chandrasekhar Rao, stating that he was compelled to take the decision. A member of the Lok Sabha from Chevella constituency, Vishweshwar Reddy wrote in his letter that the party was not doing justice to the those who fought for statehood to Telangana. "I fought for the party in 2014 when the party needed me. However, the party has inducted people who were against Telangana and our ideology into the cabinet and given them more power and prominence. I feel people who were fighting for Telangana and share a common ideology including me are no longer needed in the party," he said. Vishweshwar Reddy, a tech honcho and grandson of former Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy, had joined TRS on the eve of the 2014 elections and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chevella. Vishweshwar Reddy is the husband of Sangeetha Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, one of the largest private hospital groups in the country. With family assets of Rs 528 crore declared in 2014, he is the richest MP from Telangana. Reddy told KCR that that he joined the party and contested the elections with the hope and enthusiasm at his invitation. He stated that during last years the party distanced itself from people. He said he had reasons at personal, constituency, state and party levels behind his decision. "I tried to maintain a fair and selfless stance on all issues despite provocation. "I am powerless within the party and because of the tenets of good behaviour for a party member I could not speak out or take action. Furthermore, my multiple attempts to resolve issues or at least come to terms with them failed. "Since I am unable to acquiescence with the current scenario, I feel the best possible path for me is to resign from the party. I will also resign from the Lok Sabha," he added. It was immediately not clear if Vishweshwar Reddy will join any other party. The development came close on the heels of the prediction by Congress' Telangana unit working President Revanth Reddy that two TRS MPs would quit the party and join the Congress. Interestingly, Vishweshwar Reddy and another TRS MP A. Seetaram Naik had denied reports in a section of media that they were planning to quit. Elections to the 119-member Telangana Assembly are scheduled on December 7. Last month, TRS leader and Rajya Sabha member D. Srinivas had called on Congress president Rahul Gandhi to express his desire to return to the Congress. --IANS ms/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump is expected to grant a new authority to American troops on the Southwest border with Mexico to protect border personnel from migrants if they engage in violence, according to defence officials. Currently troops do not have any authorities that would allow them to intervene if the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel came under attack unless they need to act in their own self-defence. The officials told CNN on Monday that the authority would also allow protection of federal property. There are 5,800 to 5,900 troops assigned to the border mission. The mission would be characterised solely as "protection of CBP" personnel, according to the officials. Monday's development comes as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said earlier in the day that they had started to get information from "multiple sources including individuals in the Mexican government" of potential waves or groups of individuals who were discussing an incursion into legal ports of entry in California by attempting to pass through vehicle lanes. The Pentagon has been working for the last several days on options for how troops can protect CBP. More than 2,000 Central American migrants arrived in the border city of Tijuana in recent days, and about 3,000 more migrants were estimated to be in Mexicali, Mexico, another border city about 100 miles away, a UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokeswoman told CNN. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Twitter has extended an apology after its CEO Jack Dorsey, who visited India last week, was seen holding a poster during a round-table with women journalists that read "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy". "I'm very sorry for this. It's not relective of our views. We took a private photo with a gift just given to us -- we should have been more thoughtful," Vijaya Gadde, Global Head of Legal, Policy, Trust and Safety Lead at Twitter, tweeted late Monday. "Twitter strives to be an impartial platform for all. We failed to do that here & we must do better to serve our customers in India," she added. According to the social network, it hosted a closed-door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. "One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack. "It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world," said the micro-blogging platform. Some Twitter users accused Dorsey of "bigotry" and "racism" after the poster went viral. "How can people put such a hate poster and malign a community: @jack How can you as ceo of @twitter be party to this kind of hate," tweeted Mohandas Pai, Chair of Manipal Global Education. --IANS na/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Indian soldiers were injured on Tuesday on the Line of Control (LoC) as Pakistani troops broke the 2003 ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Poonch districts. Defence Ministry sources said the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations using small arms, automatics and mortar shells. "Two soldiers were injured," an official said. One of them, in Lam area of Rajouri, suffered sniper fire from across the LoC. "Indian positions retaliated strongly. The injured soldiers have been shifted to hospital for treatment," the official said. The Pakistani attack started around 7 a.m. Two mortar shells fired by the Pakistan Army landed close to the brigade headquarters in Poonch while another landed in a village. --IANS sq/nks/mr (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution on sexual harassment, the first of its kind at the the world body. The resolution adopted on Monday serves as a normative framework on work against sexual harassment, urging member states to condemn violence against women and girls, including sexual harassment, and pursue a policy of eliminating such violence, Xinhua news agency reported. It reaffirms that states should not invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with regard to the elimination of violence against women and girls. The non-binding resolution urges states to take effective action to prevent and eliminate sexual harassment against women and girls, to address structural and underlying causes and risk factors, and to protect victims of all forms of violence, including sexual harassment. It calls on states to address discrimination that places women and girls at greater risk of exploitation, violence and abuse, and to take appropriate action to empower and protect them. The resolution calls on states to take necessary measures to ensure that employers in all sectors are held accountable when they fail to abide by laws and regulations addressing sexual harassment. It calls on states to encourage digital technology companies, including Internet service providers and digital platforms, to strengthen or adopt positive measures with a view to eliminating violence and sexual harassment in digital contexts. It also urges states to ensure the promotion and protection of the human rights of all women and their sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A draft resolution on Yemen was circulated among all Security Council members on Monday for their consideration, diplomats said. Dutch ambassador to the UN Karel van Oosterom said he hoped the draft resolution, which calls for a cease-fire around the key Red Sea port of Hudaydah, humanitarian access and injection of foreign currency into the economy, could be adopted as soon as possible "because that's what the Yemeni people need." But Kuwaiti ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi said his delegation has reservations about the British-drafted text, Xinhua news agency reported. Asked by reporters whether the council would be able to vote on the draft resolution within this week, Otaibi said, "I doubt it." He said the draft was first circulated among the five permanent members of the Security Council before it was made available to all the members on Monday. Negotiations on the draft will start on Tuesday, he said. UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock warned on Friday that Yemen suffers worst food insecurity in the world and the ongoing fighting is worsening circumstances for humanitarian response. "Yemen faces the largest food security emergency in the world, and the worsening humanitarian outlook requires urgent action to reduce the likelihood of significant loss of life," he told the Security Council. The UN secretary-general's special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, told the Security Council on Friday that he intended to reconvene the country's warring parties in Sweden, saying he had received firm assurance from the leadership of the parties to attend the meeting. Yemen has been in civil war in the past three years, pitting Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Saudi Arabia leads an Arab military coalition to support the Hadi government. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Treasury on Monday announced that it has imposed sanctions on a South African national for his alleged action of helping Pyongyang "evade US sanctions." The Treasury said in a statement that Vladlen Amtchentsev, a Russian-born South African national, has advised Velmur Management Pte. Ltd. (Velmur), an already blacklisted company by the US on "how to evade US sanctions," reports Xinhua news agency. Washington designated Velmur in August 2017, accusing it of working "to purchase fuel oil and gasoil for North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea)." In Monday's statement, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin claimed that Pyongyang "depends upon the help of criminals and illicit actors to raise and transfer funds." The Treasury's new move was the latest among a series of sanctions imposed by the US on the DPRK-related entities and individuals amid the ongoing talks between the two sides on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Pyongyang has repeatedly criticised the continued sanctions imposed by Washington, calling them actions of "deepening our mistrust." --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Vietnamese activist will be tried on Thursday for insulting the national flag, which is punishable in the country with up to three years in prison, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday. In a statement, HRW called on Vietnamese authorities to drop the charges against Huynh Thuc Vy, who will be tried in a court in Buon Ho, Dak Lak province, reports Efe news. The day before Vietnam's National Day in September 2017, Huynh splashed the national flag with white paint to protest against the government and posted a photo on Facebook along with a message calling for human rights to be respected. Last August, Buon Ho police interrogated Huynh and two months later sent the case to the Public Prosecutor's Office. "For years, Vietnam has sought any excuse to punish Huynh Thuc Vy for her tireless advocacy of human rights and democracy, and in their desperation, the authorities have now latched on the splattering of a flag with white paint," said Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of HRW Asia. "It is wrong to put protecting a national symbol first over protecting the rights of the nations' people," Robertson added. Huynh, a political blogger and defender of democracy, formed the Vietnamese Women for Human Rights NGO in 2013. --IANS ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vietnamese Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich yesterday led a delegation of the Peoples Army of Vietnam to attend in exchange activities in Long Zhou district.On the occasion, the delegation visited and planted memorial trees in Shui Kou towns Border Guard Company, offered gifts and posed photo at school of Shui Kou town.They also visited the memorial house of President Ho Chi Minh in Long Zhou district.Yesterday evening, Mr. Ngo Xuan Lich and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe attended in a talk and co- chaired the fifth Vietnam- China border defense friendship exchange program in Guangxi province.As plan, other exchange activities would be organized in northern province of Cao Bang this morning. BY TRAN BINH- Translated by Huyen Huong A woman constable in Uttar Pradesh was hacked to death by her husband in Kanpur on Tuesday, police said. The husband suspected her of having an illicit affair. He attacked his wife in the morning with a butcher knife and killed her at their Khadepur Nayi Basti house in Naubasta. The assailant, Virendra, fled the crime scene but was arrested by the police in the afternoon. The weapon has also been recovered from him. The victim, Sharda Bhadauria was rushed to a medical facility by her son Shiv and nephew Kapil but was declared dead on arrival. The assailant confessed his crime and said his wife had a bad character and was having an affair with a neighbour, due to which he killed her. --IANS md/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre and the government on Tuesday signed a pact with the under which the multilateral agency will advance a loan of $310 million to boost the state's power system, mainly transmission infrastructure. "The Power System Improvement Project will help build new power transmission infrastructure as well as put in place systems to improve the technical efficiency and commercial performance of the state power sector utilities," the Ministry of said in a statement. The project, part of the central government's 'Power for All' programme launched in 2014, will help bring in modern technology solutions such as automated sub-stations, network analysis and planning tools to provide reliable power supply, it said. The deal was signed by Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry Sameer Kumar Khare, Department Secretary Vandana Dadel and India Country Director Junaid Ahmad. Khare said the project would help meet Jharkhand's needs for its economic growth as demand for reliable power is expected to almost double in coming years. Ahmad said the project would help the state increase supply of reliable to households, industries and businesses, and contribute to poverty alleviation and inclusive growth. Currently, more than 80 per cent of the state's population has access to and the per capita power consumption in Jharkhand at 552 kWh at the end of financial year 2015-16 is roughly half of the national average, the statement said. However, in recent years, the state has achieved lower supply deficits. Some of the major components of the project include construction of new sub-stations and transmission lines, providing support to the Jharkhand Urja Sancharan Nigam Ltd (JUSNL) and helping integrate in the state grid. It will also support smart meters, with two-way communication and backend IT infrastructure, deployed in select urban towns. To begin with, the project will smart metering for around 350,000 consumers in the capital city Ranchi, the Ministry said. The $310-million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a 5-year grace period, and a final maturity of 25 years, it added. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here on Tuesday for the first official visit of a Chinese President to the Philippines in 13 years, a sign of the close bilateral relations since the Southeast Asian country's leader assumed power. Xi said in a statement before he left for Manila that he would have in-depth discussions with President Rodrigo Duterte on elevating cooperation and to make a plan for progressing their bilateral relationship, reports Efe news. Xi defined the current relationship between the two countries as "a rainbow after the rain" under the administration of Duterte, which began in June 2016. The Chinese leader landed at Manila airport from Brunei, where he made an official visit on Monday after having participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Papua New Guinea. The two leaders will meet on Tuesday at Malacanang Palace, Duterte's official residence and principal workplace, and will attend the signing of several bilateral agreements. In recent months, several members of Duterte's cabinet have said the countries are negotiating a joint exploration deal in the disputed South China Sea, which could be signed on this visit. In 2016, the Philippines won a historic ruling at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague against China's claims to territory in the South China Sea, but Duterte has faced criticism for failing to enforce it. The presidential spokesperson of the Philippines, Salvador Panelo, said that Duterte will also talk with Xi about the $24 billion in investments and loans that Beijing promised to the Philippines two years ago and of which only one small part has been executed. Before Xi leaves Manila on Wednesday, he will also meet the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and with the Chinese-Filipino community in the capital. The authorities of Manila have reinforced security measures during the two-day visit with more than 5,500 police officers in the city. They have also closed the streets through which Xi will be travelling. --IANS ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese major on Tuesday announced it has opened a record 500 retail stores in rural parts of Called Mi Stores and opened on October 29, these are similar to the bigger "Mi Home" stores currently operational in metro cities. "The company created a Guinness record for opening the maximum number of stores in one single day. plans to open 5,000 Mi Stores by the end of 2019 that will create nearly 15,000 jobs," Manu Kumar Jain, Vice President, Global and Managing Director, Xiaomi India, told reporters here. "This new business will forever change rural retail in India," he added. Started with the online-only strategy, Xiaomi is fast expanding its presence in offline retail as well. In September, the company launched its fourth flagship "Mi Home" experience store in the country, in Bengaluru, along with a new office. With the purpose of strengthening its offline network further, Xiaomi said in September it wanted to open 100 "Mi Home" stores in 2018 itself. The company grew to a new high on the back of its successful Redmi 5A and Redmi Note 5 Pro series and refreshed Redmi 6/A/Pro portfolio, said the report. But the eight-year-old company wants to be recognised not as just another company and it began working towards this mission in 2014. Along with its products in the smart home portfolio, it is also venturing into non- related segments like luggage, shoes, apparel and more. Riding on its robust sales in and Europe, China-based Xiaomi on Monday reported a 49.1 per cent increase in revenue for its third quarter of 2018 as net profit reached 2.48 billion yuan ($357.23 million). In a bid to further accelerate its robust growth in India, Chinese major on Tuesday announced it has opened a record 500 stores in the rural parts of the country. Called "Mi Stores" and opened on October 29, these are similar to the bigger "Mi Home" stores currently operational in the metros and other big cities. "The company created a Guinness record for simultaneously opening the maximum number of stores in one single day. plans to open 5,000 Mi Stores by the end of 2019 that will create nearly 15,000 jobs," Manu Kumar Jain, Vice President, Global and Managing Director, Xiaomi India, told reporters here. "The average size of a Mi Store is around 300 square feet while the average size of a Mi Home store is about 1,200 square feet. One village could have a maximum of two Mi Stores," he added. To open a store, one would have to visit the company website and fill up a Mi Store franchise application form. "One need not have any or experience to become a partner, but he/she must be passionate about the Mi brand," Jain said, adding that the investment required for opening a Mi Store would be under Rs 1 million for a franchisee. All costs related to the branding in the stores would be borne by Xiaomi, while other expenses, such as on interiors or on rent, would be borne by the partner. Started with the online-only strategy, Xiaomi is fast expanding its presence in offline Xiaomi currently has 50 "Mi Home" stores in the country and over 4,000 Mi Preferred Partner (third party) stores spread across over 50 cities. "The Mi Stores will have full range of Xiaomi products. All the stores would have an air conditioner, a dedicated TV wall and a counter to sell ecosystem products. The aim is offer the visitors almost similar kind of experience that one derives from visiting the Mi Home stores in big cities," Jain said, adding that the company would also like to open service centres in all the areas with Mi Stores. Xiaomi currently has over 1,000 service centres in the country for phones, while the number of service centres for TVs has crossed 650, he said. Best known for its low-cost pones, the company shipped 11.7 million units and became the top brand in the Indian market with a27.3 per cent share in the third quarter this year, with at second spot, according to an International Data Corporation (IDC) report last week. The company grew to a new high on the back of its successful Redmi 5A and Redmi Note 5 Pro series and refreshed Redmi 6/A/Pro portfolio, said the report. But the eight-year-old company wants to be recognised not as just another company. "Our TV in is growing at an explosive rate. We have become the No 1 smart TV brand in just six months," Jain said, adding that the company sold 400,000 TVs during this Diwali season alone. Xiaomi in October announced that it entered into a partnership with Noida-based to locally manufacture Mi LED TVs at its facility in Tirupati, Along with these products and others in the smart home portfolio, Xiaomi is also venturing into non-technology related segments like luggage, shoes, apparel and more. Riding on its robust sales in and Europe, Xiaomi reported a 49.1 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue for its third quarter of 2018 as net profit reached 2.48 billion yuan ($357.23 million). (Gokul Bhagabati can be contacted at gokul.b@ians.in) --IANS gb/vm A 21-year-old man was shot dead in broad daylight by motorcycle-borne assailants here on Tuesday, police said. The victim - Anas (21) - was returning from the market after buying some decorative items for 'Barawafaat' with friend when he was shot twice in his head. He was rushed to the trauma centre of the King George's Medical College (KGMU) where was pronounced dead. The police said the assailants shot at him in a fit of rage after his motorcycle accidentally hit their motorcycle. Due to tension in the area of Raja Bazaar-Subhash Marg extra police force has been deployed in the area, an officer told IANS. Law Minister Brajesh Pathak rushed to the trauma centre to meet the bereaved family and assured them of action and the arrest of the the killers. --IANS md/ahm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The French government has awarded its highest honour to a 100-year-old Kentucky man who fought in World War II. Retired Lt. Col. William Pollard was awarded the French Legion of Honor on Monday during a ceremony at the Kentucky Capitol. Consul General of France Guillaume Lacroix pinned the medal on Pollard, calling him "a true French hero". Pollard was 25 in 1944 when he landed on Omaha Beach as part of the allied invasion of German-occupied France. He rescued 14 soldiers from a concrete caisson that was hit by enemy fire, according to his son, William Pollard Jr. In a written statement read by his son, Pollard said he was honoured to receive the award and his thoughts were with his late wife and the many soldiers he served with. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh and ordered life imprisonment to another, Naresh Sherawat, for killing of two men during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi leaving nearly 3,000 people dead. In the first verdict after the riots-related cases were reopened by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in 2015, the court held that Singh's offence fell under the "rarest of rare" category warranting the death penalty. The Delhi Police had closed this case in 1994 for want of evidence. The SIT is investigating nearly 60 cases related to the riots, while it has filed "untraced report" in 52 cases. The court also imposed fine of Rs 35 lakh each on both the convicts and directed payment of the fine amount as compensation to surviving family members of deceased Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh. While this is the first death penalty after the SIT was formed, one Kishori was earlier given the death penalty by a trial court in as many as seven anti-Sikh riots cases. However, the Delhi High Court confirmed death penalty only in three cases, which were later commuted to life-term by the Supreme Court. Sikh leaders across parties, including Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, welcomed the court decision and hoped that others involved in the riots would also soon be brought to book for their "horrendous and inhuman acts". "Convict Yashpal Singh is sentenced to death for the offence under section 302 (murder) of the IPC. Convict Naresh Sehrawat is sentenced to life for the offence under section 302 (murder) of the IPC," Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey said. Proceedings were held inside the Tihar Jail by Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey due to security concerns as one of the convicts, Yashpal, was attacked inside the Patiala House District courts premises on November 15, the last date of hearing. The court directed that the complete original case file be submitted to the Delhi High Court for confirmation of the death penalty. As per the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the death penalty cannot be executed unless confirmed by the High Court. The convicts have also been awarded varying jail terms and fines for offences including attempt to murder, dacoity and attacking victims by dangerous weapons. The court spared convict Naresh the gallows while taking note of his medical condition and his lawyer's arguments seeking leniency in the quantum of sentence. Earlier, the court had convicted Singh and Sherawat for killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in Mahipalpur area of South Delhi on November 1, 1984 during the riots that had taken place after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at her residence by the two Sikh bodyguards a day before. A mob of about 500 persons, led by the two convicts, had encircled the house of the victims and had killed them. It was just one of the incidents out of several others Delhi alone during the riots that saw around 3,000 people being killed. Of the 650 cases registered in connection with the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, 267 were closed as untraced by the Delhi Police. Of these 267 cases, five were later taken up by the CBI. The SIT also scrutinised records of 18 cancelled cases. The SIT found 60 cases appropriate for further investigation and has filed "untraced report" in 52 cases in the last one-and-a-half years. Out of the eight cases being investigated, charge sheets have been filed in five, while the status of three cases, in which senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar is an accused, is 'pending investigation'. The Congress welcomed the court order saying it was "proud" that the legal process was being allowed to work out its course. Role of several Congress leaders had come under scanner for allegedly inciting violence during the riots across Delhi and some other places that saw thousands getting killed, raped, assaulted and their homes burnt. Today's proceedings were held inside the Tihar Jail due to security concerns as one of the convicts, Yashpal, was attacked inside the Patiala House District courts premises on November 15, the last date of hearing. A day later, as the convicts were being taken to the lock-up inside the Patiala House Courts premises after the arguments on quantum of punishment, BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa had slapped Yashpal Singh and slogans were raised against two convicts. Anticipating a law and order issue, the police requested the court to pronounce the order inside Tihar. The SIT had told the court it was "brutal murder of two innocent young persons aged around 25 each. It was a planned murder since the accused were carrying kerosene oil, sticks etc." "People from only one community were targeted. It was a genocide. The incidents had an international effect and it took 34 years to get justice. A signal should go to the society to deter them from committing such horrible crimes. This is rarest of rare case which calls for death penalty," the SIT had said. However, the advocate for the convicts said that the attack was not deliberate or planned but a sudden flare up. The case was lodged on a complaint by victim Hardev's brother Santokh Singh. The court held both the accused guilty under various sections including 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the IPC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Tuesday welcomed a Delhi court's verdict sentencing one person to death and another to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and said it was "proud" that the legal process was being allowed to work out its course. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the party's stand on the legal process is clear and asserted that there should be no external influences. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also welcomed the decision, saying justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the "heinous crime". In the first capital punishment in the 1984 riots cases, the Delhi court awarded death penalty to Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the cases. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. "The Congress Party's stand is clear. This is a legal process, a legal process which must be allowed to work out its course and we are very proud, happy and fortunate that it is working out its course," Singhvi told reporters. He said the party welcomes it "subject to the usual caveat that there should be no external influences in the process". "The purity of the process should not be compromised and the rights of the accused are counter valid with the process... I think the whole country and everybody should welcome and the Congress Party certainly welcomes it," he said. The Punjab chief minister took to Twitter to express himself. "Welcome the first conviction by a Delhi court in the 1984 riots case. Justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the heinous crimes. Hope the others involved in the attacks are also soon brought to book for their horrendous and inhuman acts," Singh said. The verdict was pronounced in the Tihar Jail due to security concerns and attack on the convicts on the premises of the Delhi court. On November 14, the court convicted Singh and Sherawat for killing two men in Delhi during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots -- the first conviction in the cases reopened by the SIT. Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a Special Investigation Team on the riots reopened it. Thousands of Sikhs were killed in the national capital and its surrounding areas in the three days following the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. Two Army personnel were injured when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts on Tuesday, officials said. The Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and small-arm firing along the LoC in Figwar and Malti areas of the Poonch sector, the officials said. One Armyman suffered injuries and has been hospitalised, the officials said, adding that one shell had landed in Poonch town. There was another violation of ceasefire in Laam belt of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district, with an Armyman injured in a sniper fire, the officials said, adding that he had been hospitalised. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two soldiers were injured after Pakistani troops fired mortar shells and from small arms on areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, prompting authorities to close schools in some places. Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and fired from small arms on places in Poonch sector's Figwar and Malti areas. One shell also landed in Poonch town, officials said. One army man suffered injuries and was hospitalised, they said. In another incident in Laam belt of Rajouri district's Nowshera sector, a soldier was injured in sniper fire from across the border, the officials said, adding that he has been hospitalised. Following the ceasefire violations, schools in several places along the LoC were shut for the day, they said. These include schools in Degwar, Ajote, Malti and Karmara areas, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Odisha government on Tuesday said a total of 227 farmer suicide cases were reported in the state in the last five years, but none of them were due to loan burden. This was informed to the assembly by Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy in reply to a question. "A total of 227 farmers had committed suicide between 2013-14 and 2017-18. However, loan burden was not the reason for them to take such an extreme step," the minister said in a written reply. One farmer in Basta block of Balasore district had committed suicide due to crop loss, the minister said, adding, the other farmers had ended their lives due to different reasons, including family problems. The minister also said that out of the 227 alleged farmer suicides in the state, the case of Brunda Sahu of Bargarh district, who committed suicide on November 1, 2017, was still under investigation. "The alleged suicide may not be due to debt burden and investigation is on," Maharathy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a unique initiative, an NGO, with the support of the West Bengal government, is hosting a three-day exhibition here to showcase paintings made by the inmates of a correctional home. The show - 'Aitijya - Our Heritage' - have given the inmates of Dum Dum Central Correctional Home a platform to display their creativity and earn money for three days, beginning November 19, Chaitali Das, the managing trustee of NGO Rakshak Foundation, said on Tuesday. Thirty-four canvases, painted by 10 women inmates and four male inmates, have been regaling art enthusiasts at the Indian Museum courtyard here, on the occasion of 'World Heritage Week', she said. "Eight acrylic paintings, themed on the city's heritage, have already been booked on the first two days. We are expecting the response to get better," she said. Over the past few years, Rakshak Foundation, with the help of Directorate of Correctional Services, has held several workshops for prison inmates to acquaint them with canvas and paints, Das stated. "As part of these workshops, the women and the men were also taught how to weave the canvas and set it on a frame," she added. Arun Kumar Gupta, the director general of Correctional Home Services of West Bengal, said the exhibition gave the inmates an opportunity to express themselves through their works of art. "We had started facilitating painting workshops for the women inmates, as well as their children, at Dum Dum Correctional Home to enable them to express their feelings. Later on, four male inmates of the same correctional home also joined the initiative," he explained. Celebrated painter Wasim Kapoor, who visited the exhibition, congratulated the inmates on their achievement. "The creativity of these prison inmates, who have not been trained earlier in their lives, is no less than that of trained professionals," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons were detained at the Jaipur International Airport on Tuesday with more than 1.4 kg unaccounted gold, a customs official said. Ghanshyam Soni, Mikesh Kumar and Nirav Hasmukh Lal, all residents of Gujarat, had alighted at the Jaipur airport from Dubai from a SpiceJet flight, Customs Commissioner S C Agarwal told PTI. He said more than 1.4 kg unaccounted gold was seized from the detained accused. The gold has been seized and the accused are being interrogated, Agarwal added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West Bengal Assembly Tuesday passed an amendment in the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) Bill paving the way for 30 per cent reservation of seats in the institution for students domiciled in the state. The amendment bill was placed by the Law Minister Moloy Ghatak and was passed by the Assembly. "It is considered necessary and expedient to amend the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences Act 1999 for the purpose of making provisions of reservation of seats for the student domiciled in the state of West Bengal," the amendment bill read. The amendment also provides for fee waiver to at least five per cent of the students from the poor and economically backward sections of the society. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Debt-ridden has revived its plans to raise Rs 5 billion in short-term loans (STLs) besides mopping up another Rs 61 billion by way of sale and leaseback of seven of its wide-body planes, including six Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) aircraft, an airline official said. In early September, the airline had invited bids for raising Rs 5 billion through STL to meet its working capital requirements with September 10 as the deadline for submission of bids. However, the deadline was extended to October 31 after it failed to get any response. At the same time, managed to get Rs 10 billion from the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) as loan and subsequently the plan to raise Rs 5 billion was put on hold. "We did not pursue the proposal to garner Rs 5 billion in STL after receiving Rs 10 billion from the NSSF. We have now decided to resume the process once again," said a senior official. Sitting on a debt pile of Rs 550 billion, which include Rs 350 billion towards working capital loans, the carrier has been struggling to raise funds since last year. Meanwhile, it last week came out with an invitation of offers for sale and leaseback (SLB) of seven planes - six B787-800 and one B77-300 ER - to raise as much as $856 million (around Rs 61 billion) for repayment of the bridge finance against these planes. Besides 12 B777s, Air India has 27 B787-800s in its fleet. Of these, 21 Dreamliners are already operating under the SLB mode. Under the SLB arrangement, the seller of an asset leases it back from the purchaser for a longterm period and continues to use it without actually owning it. "AI would sell the aircraft to the lessor and immediately lease the same back under operating lease for a period of up to 12 months with an option to extend by three more years at a mutually negotiated price," as per the bid document. The SLB transaction will be supported by the Government of India guarantee in favour of the bank/ institution/lessor, according to the document. The last date for submission of technical and financial bids is December 10, it said. As part of its fleet expansion plan, the national carrier had in 2005 placed orders with Boeing for 68 aircraft 27 Dreamliners, 15 B777300ERs, eight B777200LRs and 18 B737800s. All these aircraft have already been delivered to the carrier. The carrier is staying afloat on a bailout package extended by the government in 2012, as part of a turnaround plan and a financial restructuring plan. Air India is to receive a budgetary support of Rs 302.31 billion over a 10-year period ending March 2021. In June also, Air India borrowed short-term loans worth Rs 10 billion to pay staff salaries and meet other obligations, following a failed privatisation attempt. Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala's elder son Ajay Chautala Tuesday said his new party will contest next year's assembly elections and the Lok Sabha polls from all 10 seats in the state. Ajay Chautala new party is being launched next month following a split Saturday in the Indian National Lok Dal, a result of the power struggle between him and his younger brother Abhay Chautala. He said the name of the new party will include 'Jan Nayak', an apparent reference to the Chautala brothers' grandfather and former deputy prime minister Devi Lal. It's time to follow the path shown by Chaudhary Devi Lal, Ajay Chautala, who was recently expelled from the INLD, said. Ajay Chautala, who is undergoing a 10-year jail term with father Om Prakash Chautala since 2013 in a teachers' recruitment scam, said the new party will hold a rally in Jind on December 9. We will contest on all Lok Sabha seats (from Haryana) as well as the next state assembly elections, he told reporters at his Delhi home, hours before his two-week parole ended. He said the new outfit was also likely to contest the bypoll for the Jind assembly seat, which fell vacant in August when INLD MLA Hari Chand Middha died. Meanwhile, former minister and senior INLD leader from Mewat, Mohammed Illyas, resigned from the INLD on Tuesday to express solidarity with the ousted leader. In Rohtak, some Ajay Chautala supporters also brought down the INLD flag from the party office and removed the name plate of district unit chief Satish Nandal. At a meeting in Jind last week, Ajay Chautala had said, "I hand over the INLD and the spectacles (party symbol) to my younger brother as a gift. Over recent weeks, the feud saw the expulsion of Ajay Chautala and his sons, Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala and Digvijay Chautala, from the Haryana-based party headed by Om Prakash Chautala. The two young leaders were shunted out after their slogan-shouting supporters allegedly targeted Abhay Chautala at an INLD rally in Gohana last month. The Abhay Chautala camp had claimed that the younger brother had offered to hand over the Leader of Opposition post in Haryana Assembly to Ajay Chautala's MLA wife Naina Devi and make his son Dushyant Chautala the INLD's chief ministerial candidate. Neither Naina demanded that she be given such a post nor has Dushyant made any such claim, the elder brother said. Dushyant has always maintained that he will contest the parliamentary elections, he added. On the Jind meeting, he said, We had called a meeting which turned into a rally. We thank all those who overwhelmingly supported us. Asked if Dushyant Chautala will be given the main responsibility of the new outfit, he said, We all will all sit together and decide. Ajay Chautala said he will brief INLD president Om Prakash Chautala, also lodged in Tihar jail, about the recent developments. Chautala said he will also give the patriarch a list of INLD office bearers who have resigned after coming out in his support. Asked what he had to say to those still in the INLD, he said, What is left in the party now. He added it was now Abhay Chautala's responsibility to run it. Meanwhile, Abhay Chautala told reporters that his elder brother was blinded by his love for his sons. One day they will have to apologise before (Om Prakash) Chautala saheb and admit that they made a big mistake, he said in Srisa, referring to alleged hooliganism at the INLD rally by supporters of his two nephews. On the reported resignations, the younger Chautala said, No office bearer has resigned. People who have already been thrown out of the party are being paraded by them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday described the first death conviction by a Delhi court in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case as long overdue. "Justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the heinous crimes," Amarinder said, while reacting to the of sentencing Yashpal Singh to death and Naresh Sherawat to life imprisonment for killing two persons in south Delhi's Mahipalur during the riots. It has taken more than 30 years for the court to deliver justice in this case, the chief minister noted, adding that he hoped that the other cases would also be settled by the judiciary soon. The chief minister also expressed hope that others involved in the attacks would also soon be brought to book for their "horrendous and inhuman acts". The riot cases, which left a deep scar on the national consciousness, need to be expedited and taken to their logical conclusion at the earliest, said Amarinder, who had personally visited the refugee camps to help the victims in the aftermath of the riots that had left thousands dead and lakhs homeless. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Tuesday lashed out at SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal for blaming him for Amritsar grenade attack and said his allegations were "totally unwarranted and politically motivated". Singh accused the former deputy chief minister of "playing" with the religious sentiments of people for promoting vested interests. The chief minister, in a statement, said the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, in his desperate bid to "divert attention from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe against him in the Bargari sacrilege case, was resorting to cheap and petty politicking. Badal on Monday had blamed Singh for the Amritsar grenade attack, accusing him of hobnobbing with Sikh radicals who were hell-bent upon fomenting trouble in the state. Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu also slammed the former deputy chief minister for blaming Singh for the grenade attack in Amritsar and accused him of "playing over dead bodies". There is no caste or religion of terrorism. Is it the time to stand united against terrorism or pointing fingers at somebody? Sidhu said during a press conference here. Three persons were killed and over 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne men threw grenade in a prayer hall at the Nirankari Bhawan near Rajasansi on Sunday, an incident which police are treating as a "terrorist act". Pointing out that the Bargari sacrilege incident was the creation of the Badals-led SAD, Singh said his government was trying to clean-up the mess and the SIT formed by it was investigating the matter thoroughly. Singh also came down heavily on Sukhbir for targeting the Gandhi family and seeking to hold them responsible for the recent incidents involving terrorist forces in Punjab. It was ridiculous to even contemplate that the Gandhis, who had been the worst victims of terrorism in the country, could think of promoting or encouraging radical forces in any way, said the chief minister. The chief minister warned Badal against playing with fire by undermining the growing threat of revival of terrorism backed by cross-border forces. "This was not the time for any political party or leader to play over the issue but to join hands with the government in fighting the menace and protecting Punjab from the renewed threat of revival of terrorism," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP chief Amit Shah will be in Rajasthan on Wednesday, a spokesperson said. Shah will be addressing youths at an event in the state capital and would take part in a road show in Bikaner. The party chief will address youths at a private school in Jaipur in 'Yuva ki baat, Amit Shah ke saath' programme. He will answer questions on national and international issues during the two-hour event, the party spokesperson said. The party will be using social media for allowing people to ask questions from six different locations, he added. Later, Shah will take part in a road show in Bikaner in support of BJP nominees Siddhi Kumari and Gopal Joshi from Bikaner East and West respectively. Rajya Sabha MP Narayan Lal Panchariya said the road show will start from M M Ground and culminate at Junagarh covering various areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has helped farmers of Uttar Pradesh by paying off their loans. The 76-year-old actor paid off loans of 1398 farmers from the state, that amounted to over Rs 4.05 crore. He shared the in his blog where he wrote, "Gratitude leans across to the desire of removing some of the burdens that farmers continue to suffer from... "It was Maharashtra first, when over 350 farmers loans were taken care of... now its UP and 1398 of them that had out standings of loans on banks has been done with an outlay of 4.05 crore... and the inner peace it generates when the desired is completed." Bachchan has also personally arranged for 70 selected farmers to travel to Mumbai and receive their bank letters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The has found striking similarities between the modus operandi of the perpetrators of the grenade attack at a Nirankari congregation in Amritsar and the one allegedly planned by an ISI-backed terror module busted in Patiala early this month. The had nabbed on November 1 Shabnamdeep Singh alias Maninder Lahoria, who "confessed" to the police that he was asked by his Pakistani handlers to target police posts and crowded places during festivals. Besides a motorcycle, Lahoria was found in possession of a pistol and a hand grenade - the weapons used by the two perpetrators of the Sunday grenade attack, in which two motorcycle-borne assailants had barged into the Amritsar Nirankari Bhawn, brandishing a pistol and lobbed a grenade at devotees, pointed out police officials. Lahoria was also found having letter pads of "Khalistan Gadar Force" and other terror outfits, said police officials, probing the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had Monday described the grenade attack as a suspected handiwork of the ISI-backed terror modules. Prima facie, this appears to be an act of terror by separatist forces, organised with the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terrorist groups, Singh had said. There are a lot of similarities between and what Lahoria had planned to do in the state, a senior official of said Tuesday, adding Lahoria too had planned to spread terror by lobbing a hand grenade at a crowded place. Lahoria, who was arrested from Patiala, has confessed that he was getting instructions from his handlers in Pakistan and was promised Rs 1 million for each act of violence, the police official said. The Punjab police also suspects the involvement of Pakistan-based Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) leader Harmeet Singh alias 'PhD' in the Harmeet Singh had been accused of radicalising youths in Punjab through social media, an official said. Pakistan-based handlers seek to radicalise youths here through internet to incite them to spread terror in Punjab, the officials added. Initial investigations into the Amritsar case suggested the grenade used in the attack was similar to the ones manufactured by Pakistani army ordinance factories, the Punjab CM had said Monday, adding that the government has taken serious note of the incident and was "aggressively pursuing all angles of investigation". Asked if the police had been able to get any clue about the duo behind the Amritsar grenade attack, a police official said, We are on the job. The state government has already announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh for anyone providing information, leading to the duo's arrest. Radical outfit Dal Khalsa's spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh, meanwhile, claimed in Amritsar Tuesday that two persons - Paramjit Singh Mand and Gurjant Singh - have been asked to appear before police. While accusing the police of not following the legal procedure in summoning people, Kanwarpal Singh said the police came to their houses in wee hours of Tuesday and told them to appear before it. The Dal Khalsa spokesperson claimed Mand has been asked to appear before Batala SSP while Gurjant was taken in custody. He also claimed several more youths have been summoned by the police for questioning in connection with the grenade attack. The Bathinda police, meanwhile, inspected over 190 paying guest accommodations at Ajit Road to keep a check on anti-social elements. Nothing incriminating has been found, said Bathinda SSP Nanak Singh. He said two persons who were earlier detained during the checking were released after nothing suspicious was found on them. In Ludhiana, the Government Railway Police pasted posters ofZakir Musa, the chief of Jammu and Kashmir-based terror outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind with reported links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Earlier his posters were put up in Gurdaspur district. Last month, Punjab police had arrested three Kashmiri students ofJalandhar's CT Institute of Engineering, Management and Technology, allegedly linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. The police had also recovered weapons, including an assault rifle, from them. In the wake of Amritsar grenade attack, the Punjab Police has beefed up security arrangements in the state and stepped up highway-patrolling and checking of key installations and busy places. Chief of Army Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat will embark on a four-day visit to Vietnam on Thursday with an aim to bolster defence cooperation between the two strategic partners, officials said. They said Gen. Rawat will hold talks with the top brass of the military establishment of Vietnam including Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich. He will also visit a number of key military formations and establishments in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. "The visit will be yet another milestone in giving impetus to the strategic partnership between India and Vietnam and taking forward the military-to-military cooperation to the next level," said an Army spokesperson. Gen. Rawat's visit to Vietnam comes two days after President Ram Nath Kovind paid a three- day visit to that country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vietnam in 2016 during which the relationship was upgraded to comprehensive strategic partnership. Defence cooperation between the two countries has increased "exponentially" over the last few years through exchange programmes, training assistance and cooperation on various service specific issues, said the Army Spokesperson. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of rising pollution level in the city, authorities might seed clouds to induce artificial rain this week to wash away toxic pollutants in the air. Delhi's air quality has deteriorated to alarming levels in the past three weeks. Cloud seeding for artificial rain would be done once the meteorological conditions are stable, a senior official said. He said plans are to induce rainfall this week, but if the meteorological conditions are not found suitable then it would be done next week. Cloud seeding is the process of combining different kinds of chemical agents, including silver iodide, dry ice and even common table salt, with existing clouds in an effort to thicken them and increase the chance of rainfall. The weathermen are monitoring conditions to become favourable for creating artificial rain, which can be induced in 24 hours, the official said. Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Tuesday due to humidity and slow wind speed. The overall air quality index was recorded at 352, which falls in the 'very poor' category, according Central Pollution Control Board data. In 2016, the government tried to explore the possibility of cloud seeding for artificial rain but the plan never worked out. Last year, the government had proposed the possibility of reducing dust by watering Delhi from a helicopter to Union Minister Harsh Vardhan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SAD patron and former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday hailed a Delhi court's verdict sentencing one person to death and another to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. In the first capital punishment in the 1984 riots cases, the Delhi court Tuesday awarded the death penalty to Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. It also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. Parkash Singh Badal in a statement here said he hoped that the verdict was just a stepping stone and "this will lead to the delivery justice to thousands of other innocent victims". "The judgement is proof of what a change in government at the Centre can achieve in securing justice for thousands of innocent Sikhs as these cases had been closed by the previous Congress government at the Centre and had been reopened only when the present Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered these to be reopened at the behest of the SAD," he said. The former CM said the party had urged the prime minister to get the cases reopened and reinvestigated. "Subsequently, the NDA government ordered the setting up of an SIT which reinvestigated the entire sequence of events leading to the conviction and the sentence today," he added. Sukhbir also expressed satisfaction at the court verdict. The SAD president said 34 years after the mass carnage of thousands of Sikhs in Delhi and other parts of the country, the law was finally catching up with the "genocide perpetrators". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said ballots have prevailed over bullets in Jammu and Kashmir civic elections and in Chhattisgarh assembly polls despite threats by terrorists and Maoists. Addressing a poll rally here, Modi said, "The previous governments feared violence in holding elections in Srinagar. Nagar Palika (urban civic body) polls have taken place there with no trace of violence. Now panchayat polls are underway there". "Despite terrorists calling for a bandh, elections were held three days ago in Kashmir valley. The polling percentage there was 65," he said. "People having faith in democracy proved their point," he added. "In Chhattisgarh, naxals threatened that if people did not boycott polls, their fingers would be chopped off. Around 70 per cent voting took place in the first phase of elections and a large voter turnout is seen for the second phase there today," Modi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese retail giant Alibaba-backed online grocery player that aims to be a billion-dollar company by the next fiscal year, is expecting 40 per cent of its projected revenue to come in from its private labels, a top company official has said. "Private labels are around 34 per cent of our business now and we plan to scale this to 40 per cent in about a year. The incremental 6 percentage points of revenue will come from non-fruits and vegetables and non-staples," co-founder and chief executive Hari Menon told PTI. The company aims to clock Rs 35 billion in sales this fiscal year, up from Rs 20 billion last year. He added that the Bengaluru-based company will add a lot of categories to the private labels vertical. that aims to raise up to $ 200 million over the next few months, said, the FMCG sales overall ( and non-food) contributes over 50 per cent of its business, 30 per cent from staples (including 14.5 per cent from private labels) and 18 per cent from fruits and vegetables. It is going to launch beauty as a category in the next few days, with imported products as well, Menon said. The company has a presence in 25 cities and plans to launch its operations in Kochi soon. "Having gone deeper into the existing consumer base already, which has been our growth driver, we are now planning to get into the upper middle class and middle class segments," he said. BigBasket, founded in December 2011, claims 10 million subscribers and close to 1 lakh orders per day. The company expects to break even in the 10 large cities by next June. BigBasket last month acquired Pune-based RainCan and the Bengaluru-based Morning Cart to deliver milk to 20,000 customers. It has already launched this service in seven cities and expects to roll out to other three cities among the top 10 metros. Menon expects the milk delivery business to clock Rs 10 billion by next year and plans to grow this business as it will give access to many homes. He further said the company will look at scaling up the fresh meat segment and increase its contribution to 5-6 per cent from 1-1.5 percent at present. BigBasket has 30 warehouses now and will touch 45 by next year. According to a report by Franchise India, the online grocery market is expected to be $ 2.7 billion market by the end of the current fiscal year. The cabinet Tuesday gave its approval to the second supplementary budget proposals for 2018-19 which would be presented in the winter session of the Assembly, official sources said. The first supplementary budget was of Rs 197.71 billion. Bihar's budget for 2018-19 is of Rs 1.76 trillion. The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, approved the second supplementary budget of Rs 104.63 billion for 2018-19 and it would be tabled during the five-day winter session of the state Assembly beginning November 26. It also approved a hike in the salary, allowances and perks of legislators and ministers, the sources said adding that the quantum of the increase would be tabled in the House first. In another decision, the cabinet gave its nod to education department's proposal to give Rs 200 per month as medical allowance to the pensioners and family pensioners who retired from all government colleges and universities of Bihar, cabinet secretariat department's special secretary Upendra Nath Pandey told reporters here. They would get medical allowance with effect from August the one, 2014. It also approved creation of two posts - Additional Registrar, District Judge (Entry Point) and Research Officer, Civil Judge (Senior Division) - for better supervision of matters relating to juvenile justice, Pandey said. Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon on Tuesday stressed on the need for promoting the learning of Sanskrit, asserting that the ancient language was philologically ideal for computers besides having a rich repertoire of timeless wisdom that would foster national unity and thwart divisive tendencies. Addressing the sixth convocation of Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University here, Tandon underscored that Sanskrit literature was full of inspirational material when it came to ideals like peace, harmony and fraternity and teaching the language to young pupils would automatically lead to their imbibing values like respect for the family and hospitality. Referring to the Vedic hymn Sarve Sukhina Santu, Sarve Santu Niramayah Tandon said it was the only verse of its kind in the entire world wherein a wish has been expressed for the welfare of all living beings. Imparting the knowledge of Sanskrit would result in fostering national unity which is essential at a time when we are faced with sharp divisions along the lines of language, region, caste and also threats like naxalism and terrorism, he added. Another uniqueness of this language is its phonetics. Words are spelled exactly as they are pronounced in Sanskrit and, therefore, many scientists have expressed the opinion that this ancient language is ideal for use in computers. If India is to reclaim its status as Jagadguru (the Guru of the world), it must lay due emphasis on imparting Sanskrit education, he added. The occasion was also marked by the Governor, who is the Chancellor of all the state universities, conferring an honorary doctorate on Sulabh founder Bindeshwari Pathak. Governor showered praise on him for the contributions made in improving sanitation facilities and awareness about the same. Named as the brand ambassador of the Swachh Rail Abhiyan, which is a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Pathak has also authored a book on Sociology of Sanitation. He has also been credited for inclusion of sociology of sanitation as a UGC-approved course at undergraduate and post-graduate levels in many centres of higher learning. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It has been one year and five months since activist group Truth Wins Out (TWO) celebrated their 11th anniversary and also their presumable end pairing their anniversary celebration with a statement announcing they would be closing their doors. All good things must come to an end, TWO founder Wayne Besen wrote at the time. And now it is time to say goodbye. Now, after more than a year sabbatical Besen has announced a reopening of the group via video message to his followers. Besen said it was time to reenter the political arena due to the rhetoric of hate and bigotry perpetuated by Donald Trump and members of his administration. Given the alarming state of the world, from Right Wing violence, to a presidency veering toward authoritarianism, to Vladimir Putins role in exporting homophobia across the globe, many of you have reminded me that Truth Wins Out was ahead of the curve in warning about the existential danger posed by right wing extremism, Besen said in the video. He continued, The time has come for me to re-engage in our fight for freedom. My sabbatical is over, because bigotry and hate has not taken a sabbatical. As of today, Truth Wins Out is open for business effective immediately. TWO was founded in 2006 as a nonprofit think tank that combats anti-LGBT discrimination. They have had many victories over the 11-year lifespan of the organization, including an expose on Rep. Michele Bachmann and her husband owning a clinic that practiced conversion therapy and launching the Center Against Religious Extremism. TWO also conducted a joint investigation with SFGN to expose the leader of JONAH Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality Arthur Abba Goldberg as a Wall Street con artist who served time for fraud. Twenty years prior to his position as the leader of JONAH as well as President of his Jersey City temple and Executive secretary of NARTH, a labelled hate group Goldberg was sent to federal prison for a conspiracy to defraud the United States of America. Besen hopes to continue this work against extremism and LGBT discrimination following TWOs reopening. We need open societies, Besen said. They don't want open societies, they want closed societies that benefit a few people. And they roll us down, in those societies were left out. Were screwed. So its important to drive that message home to our communities, the types of governments that exist in the world. In some of those governments we thrive, and in others we wither and go back into the closet. TWO is able to operate due to community members who involve themselves in the organization through donating, sharing informations, joining protests, and sharing the stories of survivors. We need people who were harmed by the religious right and the ex-gay movements to speak out, Besen said. We save a lot of lives, people identify with these stories and they become an integral part of that process. Besen said there are numeral ways to get involved with TWO and related efforts, and those opportunities will only grow as the organization continues to barrel forward. With your support, I will dig deep with passion and resolve, and give you everything I have as we engage in the greatest struggle of our lives: Battling a corrupt administration and a spineless, quisling Republican Party that has put democracy in peril. If you give me a chance, Ill also work non-stop at putting the remaining ex-gay programs out of business, once and for all. Not just in the U.S., but across the globe, Besen said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said he used the "bitter medicine" of demonetisation to bring back money into banking system and to give "proper treatment to deep-rooted corruption system" in the country. Addressing a poll rally here for the November 28 Assembly elections, Modi also said his government has so far disbursed loans to 14 crore people, "that too without guarantee", under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. "The amount of work we (BJP-led government) have done in four years, Congress would be able to do it in 10 years," Modi said. "Remember the time when Congress was in power here in Madhya Pradesh, what was the condition of people? Madhya Pradesh does not deserve a government which never thinks about the state's welfare," Modi said, targeting the Congress party. Modi said that during the Congress' 55 year rule in Madhya Pradesh, 1,500 schools were made, but Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan established 4,000 schools in the state in just 15 years. "Our mantra is to provide education to boys and girls, income for youth, irrigation facility to farmers and medicines to elders," Modi said. Modi said the Congress promised to waive farmers' loans in Karnataka, but instead of doing so, issued warrants against peasants and sent them to jail. "My government is aiming to double farmers' income by 2022," the prime minister said. On 'housing for all', Modi said, "My dream is to provide 'pucca' houses to everyone in the country by 2022. We have so far given keys of such houses to 1.25 crore people". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP, in collusion with Delhi Police, is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged Tuesday after a man flung chilli powder at Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat. Sisodia said the party and its members are not going to be cowed by the BJP's "petty" tactics. The Aam Aadmi Party has described the incident as "politically motivated". "The attack surprisingly took place at a high security area. Recently, BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of signature bridge. BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister," Sisodia told reporters. "We are not going to be cowed by the BJP'S petty tactics," he added. The man, Anil Kumar, who has been detained, was targeting the bespectacled chief minister's eyes, officials said. Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of 'khaini', or chewing tobacco. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted. The attack took place outside the chief minister's chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch. The Delhi BJP chief said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody". "This calls for a high-level probe," Tiwari said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Tuesday claimed that the RSS and the "know it very well" that the saffron party will not win the elections next year. Addressing his first election rally at Champhai in Mizoram, he also accused the and RSS of trying to destroy the culture of the state. "The RSS and the understand that this is the only opportunity for them to enter Mizoram and destroy its culture. They know that they are unlikely to win the next (Lok Sabha) elections," Gandhi said at a public rally at Champhai. Election to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly will be held on November 28. Mizoram is the only state in the northeastern region where the Congress is in power. He claimed that the state's principal opposition party, the Mizo National Front (MNF), is a partner of the BJP in the forthcoming contest. The Congress has been alleging that the MNF and BJP would go for a post-poll alliance in the event of a hung assembly. However, both the parties denied the charge. "It is sad that an organisation like the MNF is helping the BJP and the RSS in the attempt to destroy the culture, language, heritage and history of Mizoram... Only Congress people are fighting the divisive ideas of the BJP," he added. Raking up the Rafale deal, he alleged that "Narendra Modi personally gave Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani. That is the amount for one year's spending of MGNREGA in the entire country". Reliance Group has denied the allegations relating to the deal under which France's Dassault is supplying the fighter jets and has entered into a joint venture with an Anil Ambani-led group firm to meet its offset requirement of the contract. Ambani had written to Gandhi on the deal, saying his party has been "misinformed, misdirected and misled" by "malicious vested interests and corporate rivals" on the issue. Highlighting the 10-year rule of Congress government headed by Lal Thanhawla, Gandhi said the economy of the state has progressed a lot with the per capita income of the people having almost doubled during this period. "We will make Mizoram as the gateway hub of Eastern India and create 11,000 new jobs in next year," he added. Gandhi also recollected his visit to the tiny hill state with his father, former Prime Minister in 1987. "In 1987, my father drove around Mizoram streets. I came with him that time. I want to do the same after elections. I want to come to Mizoram, drive around and meet people here," he added. Upping the ante, the BJP Tuesday alleged that it was a "police raj" in Sabarimala and asserted that it would intensify its campaign against the CPI(M)-led LDF government's move to "destroy" the Lord Ayyappa temple. BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai alleged that the ruling CPI(M), using police, was trying to "crush" the party and sangh parivar workers who, he said, were staging a "Gandhian model" of protest against the government's "hasty move" to implement the Supreme Court verdict permitting the entry of women of all age groups into the hill shrine. Extending support to the "Sabarimala Karma Samiti", a platform of various right wing outfits protesting the apex court verdict, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said the party would organise "strong agitations against restrictions imposed on devotees visiting Sabarimala temple." "We demand that the state government withdraw the prohibitory orders clamped in Sabarimala and end the police raj there. The state government should immediately remove obstacles created by the police in offering prayers at the shrine," Pillai told reporters here. He alleged that the devotees were being unnecessarily targeted by the police at Sabarimala. Restrictions have been imposed at the shrine following protests by devotees and activists of the BJP and the RSS over the state government's decision to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order allowing the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine. Pillai said the party would organise a signature campaign across the state from November 25-30, during which one crore signatures would be collected, seeking to protect the Sabarimala temple from the "assault of atheists." The party would also organise "Sabarimala Sadas" (conferences) in all 14 districts of the state from December 5 to 10, he said. The BJP leader alleged that the plea filed by the Travancore Devaswom Board in the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking more time to implement its order was not a sincere one. In its plea, the temple board, which is a statutory body under the Kerala government and runs the shrine, has referred to law and order problems and cited the need to arrange for additional infrastructure, such as washrooms for women pilgrims, among the reasons for seeking more time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Chhattisgarh goes to vote Tuesday in the second phase of assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. In a tweet, he requested voters of the state to participate in large numbers in "the festival of democracy". On election days, the Prime Minister often takes to Twitter urging people to vote in large numbers. In the first phase of Chhattisgarh polling on November 12, voting was held in 18 out of 90 seats. In phase 2 on Tuesday, polling will be held in 72 seats. A total of 1079 candidates are contesting in the 72 constituencies of 19 districts in the state with an electorate of 1,54,00,596. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following is the chronology of events that led to conviction and the awarding of capital punishment in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in which Yashpal Singh was given death penalty and co-convict Naresh Sherawat imprisoned to life Tuesday. -Nov 1, 1984: Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh were attacked and killed by a violent mob in the Mahipalpur area of South Delhi during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. -Feb 23, 1985: Charge sheet filed against one Jai Pal Singh -May 1985: Justice Ranganath Misra formed. -Sep 9, 1985: Affidavit filed by Santokh Singh, brother of Hardev Singh before Justice Rangnath Misra Commission and investigation was conducted by Anti-Riot Cell of Delhi Police. -Dec 20, 1986: Jai Pal Singh was acquitted. -1993: A case was registered at Vasant Kunj police station on the recommendation of Justice J D Jain and D K Aggarwal committee based on Singh's affidavit. -Feb 9, 1994: Delhi Police could not gather evidence to prosecute any accused and after investigation, an untraced (closure) report was filed which was accepted by the court -Feb 12, 2015: Ministry of Home Affairs constitutes SIT for reinvestigating the 1984 riots. -Aug 27, 2016: SIT publishes a public notice in leading newspapers of Punjab and Delhi requesting people acquainted with the facts of the case to give evidence about it. -Jan 31, 2017: SIT files its charge sheet naming Naresh Sherawat and Yahspal Singh and cites 18 witnesses in total. -Nov 14, 2018: Court convicts Singh and Sherawat for killing two men in the 1984 riots. -Nov 15: Court reserves order on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to two persons for killing two men. -Nov 20: A Delhi court awards death penalty to convict Yashpal, the first capital punishment in the case and gives life term to Sherawat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "silence" on the allegations made by CBI DIG M K Sinha in the plea submitted before the Supreme Court and said it is an insult to democracy and an affront to the nation's collective intelligence. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the allegations made by the CBI official has left Modi's anti-corruption plank in tatters and have opened a Pandora's box. The opposition party said it has pinned its hopes on the Supreme Court that it will "fix this mess". There was no immediate reaction by the government or the BJP on the charges. Singhvi said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government as usual have maintained a maun vrat' (vow of silence) on the entire petition. This silence has gone on for too long and we will not stand for it. The protracted silence of the current dispensation is an insult to our democracy which mandates a government to be transparent in its dealings. "This silence of the BJP, broken only by outlandish blog posts or press conferences by their Union Ministers who are in no way connected to the matter at hand, is an affront to the collective intelligence of the nation." "The situation turns even direr as the days go by, with more facts being unearthed every single day, this just seems to be a Pandora's Box, but much like the proverbial story of Pandora, we believe that the SC will be our hope to fix this mess," he told reporters. Singhvi alleged that a "corrupt syndicate is ruling the top echelons of power" and the "corruption tsunami has taken the winds out of the sails of PM Modi's anti-corruption boat". He claimed the PM Modi is "visibly rattled and upset" and this is evident in his rallies. He claimed the "affidavit" of M K Sinha "has blown the lid off the nefarious dealings of individuals in the premier investigation agency of the central government". "What is however deafening is the silence of the Modi Government in this regard. They have been silent earlier and are silent now," he said. "Sinha's sworn affidavit has conclusively exposed the underbelly of this government and destroyed any expectation of fair play from PM Modi's leadership. It is intriguing that, nobody in the Government or the officials or ministers that have been named or mentioned in the affidavit has spoken a syllable to defend themselves," he said. The Congress leader alleged that the Modi Government, which is seeking to enforce the 'Gujarat model' to deal with bureaucrats, senior officers and treat them as their "puppets", did not realize their "deliberate denigration in undermining the authority of the CBI that would now reach the doorsteps of the Prime Minister". The party referred to allegations made by M K Sinha against NSA Ajit Doval, Union Minister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC K V Chowdhury. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A sessions court on Tuesday framed charges against Patidar leader Hardik Patel and his two aides in a sedition case filed against them in connection with the violence that had broken out during the community's quota agitation in August 2015, paving the way for their trial. Sessions judge D P Mahida framed charges under IPC sections 124 (A) (sedition), 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) and others against Hardik, Dinesh Bambhaniya and Chirag Patel, who were out on bail, in the sedition case filed by Ahmedabad crime branch, nearly three years after the police filed a charge sheet against them. With this, the trial against the trio is likely to begin from January 29, the next date of hearing. If convicted, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment for these offences. The city crime branch had in January 2016 filed a charge sheet against Hardik, Dinesh and Chirag claiming that they had deliberately indulged in activities which are subject to be charged under sedition and conspiracy to wage war against government. The high court had later dropped the charge under IPC section 121 (A) pertaining to "waging war against the state", which can attract death penalty. Before framing the charges, the court rejected Hardik's application seeking exemption from Tuesday's hearing on the grounds that he has to attend a social function. Since Hardik was not present in the court, the judge directed his lawyer to produce him or else an arrest warrant would be issued against him. After being informed about the court's directions, Hardik rushed to the court, following which the process of framing of charges began. Another accused, Bambhaniya, was arrested by the police on Tuesday morning and brought to the court. The court had earlier issued an arrest warrant against him as he had remained absent despite repeated summons to remain present in the court. Third accused Chirag Patel was present in the court. The framing of charges in the case got delayed as one or the other accused remained absent in the court. As per the charge sheet, Hardik and his aides, who were part of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), were allegedly involved in inciting the Patel community youths to resort to violence as part of their conspiracy to put undue pressure on the government to accept their demand of reservation to their community under the OBC category. Inflammatory messages and rumours on part of the accused resulted in large-scale riots across Gujarat, which forced the police to impose curfew in several parts, as people resorted to stone pelting, arson and damaging public property for almost four days, the charge sheet alleged. Fourteen people were killed in the rioting and arson in the violence. In the charge sheet, police had also attached call detail records, call interception transcripts, CDs containing video and audio clips, forensic reports of mobile phones of Patel leaders, Hardik's speech at GMDC ground on August 25 in 2015 etc. and statement of 502 witnesses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A growing chorus of critics is calling on Interpol to reject a Russian candidate to lead the organisation, over fears Moscow could abuse the role to target political opponents. The Kremlin has denounced what it says is "interference" in the vote, set for Wednesday at the close of Interpol's annual conference in Dubai, to replace the former president who was detained in China on charges of accepting bribes. Concerns have been raised over Russia's previous applications for Interpol "Red Notices", or international arrest warrants, for those who have fallen foul of the Kremlin. Russian interior ministry official and current Interpol vice president Alexander Prokopchuk appears to be the favourite for the position. In an open letter this week, a bipartisan group of US senators said that choosing Prokopchuk would be like "putting a fox in charge of a henhouse". "Russia routinely abuses Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists," they wrote. The senators said Prokopchuk has been "personally involved" in this strategy since being elected to Interpol's executive committee. Delegates from Interpol member countries will elect a new president to replace Meng Hongwei, who went missing in his native China in September. Beijing later informed Interpol that Meng had resigned after being charged with accepting bribes. The other candidate running is South Korea's Kim Jong-Yang, the acting president, and whoever is elected will serve out Meng's term until 2020. British foreign office minister Harriet Baldwin on Tuesday told parliament that London would support the South Korean's bid. "We always seek to endorse candidates who have a history of observing standards of international behaviour," she said. Anti-Kremlin figures have raised concerns ahead of the vote, including Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who has been repeatedly jailed by authorities. "Our team has suffered from abuse of Interpol for political persecution by Russia," Navalny wrote on Twitter. "I don't think that a president from Russia will help to reduce such violations." The controversy also comes amid security concerns over accusations of Russian agents carrying out a spy poisoning in Britain and attempting to hack the network of the global chemical weapons watchdog. Ukraine, deeply at odds with Moscow over its annexation of Crimea and support for separatists, threatened to pull out of Interpol if Prokopchuk prevailed. The Baltic state of Lithuania said it would consider withdrawing from the network. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the US senators' letter as a "vivid example" of an attempt to interfere in the vote. Meanwhile Moscow's interior ministry denounced a "foreign media campaign aimed at discrediting Russia's candidate". "We consider the politicisation of Interpol... unacceptable," spokeswoman Irina Volk said. Analysts point out the position of president is largely honorary, with much greater influence in the hands of the secretary general, currently Germany's Jurgen Stock. But Bill Browder, a British financier who was briefly arrested in Spain this year under a Moscow-issued Red Notice, insisted this was an attempt by Putin to "expand his criminal tentacles to every corner of the globe". Browder fought for -- and in 2012 secured -- US sanctions against Russian officials believed to be involved in the death of his tax consultant, Sergei Magnitsky. Magnitsky died in jail in 2009 after accusing Russian officials of a USD 230 million tax fraud. Russia has rejected the claims and this week announced it was opening a new probe into Browder on suspicion of running a "transnational criminal gang", even suggesting he was behind Magnitsky's death. Russian prosecutors said he would be put on an international wanted list "in the near future". Multilingual Prokopchuk worked in tax enforcement before starting as a Russian representative at Interpol in 2006, according to the interior ministry. A decade later he was elected to a vice president position in the organisation. Russia has already made its mark even if Moscow's candidate does not lead the organisation, security expert Andrei Soldatov told AFP. "Even if people are not extradited to Russia, they face problems," he said, pointing to detention at borders and the reputational damage of being issued with an Interpol notice. "Interpol is a system that Russia has learned to use well for its own purposes." The Interpol general assembly on Tuesday voted for the third time to reject Kosovo's bid for membership. Russia has long blocked Kosovo's attempts to join the United Nations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Denmark said Tuesday its ambassador would return to Iran this week, three weeks after he was recalled over Copenhagen's assertion that Tehran tried to kill three Iranian dissidents on Danish soil. "The ambassador is going back to Iran on Thursday," Danish foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne Moller told AFP. Denmark has accused Tehran of plotting an "attack" against three Iranians believed to be members of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz (ASMLA) who live in Denmark. Tehran blames ASMLA, which it calls a terrorist organisation, for an attack on a military parade in the Iranian city of Ahvaz on September 22, spraying the crowd with gunfire and killing 24 people. Iran has rejected the Danish allegations, claiming Tehran's enemies are conspiring to ruin its relations with Europe. Copenhagen has been consulting with its European allies about possible sanctions against Tehran. "In the meeting yesterday (Monday), we received a lot of support. We are still looking at what kind of sanctions can be applied to Iran," Moller said. "A new phase has begun to counter Iran's unacceptable behaviour. Danish diplomacy will focus heavily on supporting these efforts in European capitals, in Brussels and in Tehran," a foreign ministry statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) November is Trans Awareness Month. There are several events throughout South Florida the highlight is the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). Its a day set aside to honor the men and women who died from suicide, violence, or as a direct result of transphobia. In the last year, 369 people were killed worldwide as a result of that violence. Of those, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) reports that 29 trans people were killed in the U.S. in 2017 due to violence the most ever recorded in the U.S. The HRC says these victims were killed by their loved ones, partners, and strangers, some of whom have been arrested and charged, while others have not. There will be several commemorations for TDOR throughout South Florida. Here are a few of the most notable: Broward County On Nov. 20, LaLa Zannell, a black queer trans woman will address an audience at the Pride Center. Zannell works as a transgender safety advocate and travels around the country talking about the risks faced by the trans community. As the leadorganizer of the New York City Anti-Violence Project,an anti-LGBT violence organization, the 40-year-old has testified before Congress and at the White House about the difficulties transgender people face. (Zannell speaks earlier in the day at an event in Miami, see details below.) The Pride Center event runs from 6:30-9 p.m. The Pride Center is located at 2040 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors. Miami In Miami, Ariannas Center and SAVE host a special luncheon for TDOR. It is from Noon to 2 p.m. at CIC Miami 1951 NW 7th Avenue, 1stfloor, Miami. A complimentary lunch will be served. LaLa Zannell is the national guest speaker. The luncheon also features a presentation by Megan McLemore of Human Rights Watch. Other speakers include Aryah Lester, Pearl Lashae, Rajee Narinesingh, Natalia Pabon, and Justice Devine. Honorees include: Tony Lima, Executive Director, SAVE Rashel Diaz, Telemundo Media Personality Tatiana Williams, Trans Activist Barry University in Miami holds its sixth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience. At its event, the trans lives lost in the last year are also remembered and honored. The TDORR planning committee requests that those who cannot attend, try to support the event financially, as there is no formal funding source.Visit GoFundMe.com/miamiTDORR2018to donate. This TDORR is exclusively grassroots, and exclusively trans/non-binary led. Planners say attendees won't have to endure the typical politician song and dance at this event. You can expect trans performers, trans speakers, and trans-generated content to honor those lost, and to celebrate the vibrancy and liveliness of trans people in the South Florida community.Out of respect for the nature of this specific program, attendees are asked to arrive at promptly 6 p.m. the program begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. If you must arrive later than 6:30 p.m, please come in quietly.The program will also incorporate a healing component for the second year in a row, led by staff of SOUL Sisters Leadership Collective. Barry University is located at 11300 NE 2ndAve, Miami Shores. Palm Beach County A similar night of remembrance will be held in Palm Beach County to honor the memory of the trans men and women who lost their lives to hate and intolerance. The program runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and includes a candlelight vigil, reading of names, and guest speakers. Compass is located at 201 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth. A man threw chilli powder at Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, an attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described as "politically motivated" while asserting that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy in collusion with Delhi Police to attack the chief minister. Even as the man behind the attack - Anil Kumar Sharma was detained, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his party would not be "cowed down" by these "petty tactics" by the BJP. Police said 40-year-old Sharma, a resident of Naraina has been detained for questioning. While the AAP blamed the BJP for the attack, the Delhi chief of the saffron party Manoj Tiwari said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody" and called for a high-level probe. Officials said Kumar was targeting the bespectacled chief minister's eyes. Kejriwal's spectacles broke but his eyes seemed to have been spared any damage, they added. Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of 'khaini', or chewing tobacco, they said. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted. The attack took place outside the chief minister's chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch. AAP's national spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who was behind Kejriwal when the incident took place tweeted, "Was right behind CM @ArvindKejriwal at the Secretariat when he was suddenly attacked, on 3rd floor right outside his office. Shocking lapse of security. Is this Delhi Police's incompetent effort to protect an elected CM? "While today just the CM's glasses fell to the floor and broke, an unacceptable security lapse nonetheless. Imagine if attacker were to be wielding a more dangerous weapon. Who were to have prevented a tragedy from occurring?" Sisodia told reporters that the attack surprisingly took place at a high-security area. "Recently BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of signature bridge. BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister," he told reporters. "We are not going to be cowed down by BJP'S petty tactics," he added. AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP for the attack. According to Bhardwaj, the attack happened at the chief minister's office, which is a "high-security" zone. He said it was a serious matter and termed the attack "politically motivated". "The BJP is behind the attack and the accused are being aided by the Modi government," he alleged. The Delhi BJP chief said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody". "This calls for a high-level probe," Tiwari said. Officials close to Kejriwal accused the Delhi Police of being lax in providing him security and alleged that this was the third attempt to harm him in less than a month. The AAP alleged that water bottles were thrown at Kejriwal by Tiwari at the inauguration ceremony of Signature Bridge earlier this month. "Around the time of Dussehra, an unidentified man had barged inside Kejriwal's residence and had tried to attack the CM," Bhardwaj added. In a statement issued later, Delhi Police said the incident took place around 2.25 pm on the third floor of Delhi Secretariat. "When CM was coming out of his chamber, one person later identified as Anil tried to hand over his complaint to the chief minister who in turn passed it on to a staff member," said the statement. Meanwhile Anil bowed down to touch the feet of Kejriwal. The chief minister's security tried to take him away but in the process Kejriwal's spectacles fell, it said. "Subsequently security personnel removed him aside and found him carrying a pouch in his hand, which got torn and apparently containing chilly powder. "Sharma was visiting the Secretariat with reference of some staff. He has been detained for further questioning," the statement added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court has directed police to file a status report on a complaint seeking lodging of an FIR against a real estate firm for allegedly cheating a buyer and embezzling funds. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jitender Singh asked police to apprise it about the status of the case before December 17, the next date of hearing. The petition was filed by a woman, under cancer remission for several years, requesting for directions to police to register an FIR and conduct an investigation against the owners and developers of the Ireo Grace Real Tech Private Limited. The petition filed through advocate Arpit Bhargav, claimed that the company had advertised for their project, Ireo Corridors, in Gurgaon and received application amount from the complainant on February 16, 2013, at the time when even the licence was not granted by the Director General of Town and Country Planning, Haryana, Chandigarh. The petition alleged Ireo Grace cheated the complainant by aggressive advertising and promotion for their project and hoodwinked her to invest her hard-earned money on the basis of false assurances, raising arbitrary demands from time-to-time, misrepresentation and concealment of material facts. The complainant has paid Rs 2,04,77,418 crore in total from the date of booking of the apartment in February 2013. According to the terms of agreement, the possession was to be handed over on or before January last year, however, the complainant was given no information as to when will the property be handed over to her. It also alleged that the developer of the project have also availed a construction loan facility from Axis Trustee Services Limited to the tune of Rs 450 crores and it was apparent that the loan was secured by creating a charge on entire land and saleable area of Ireo Corridors Project. However, no mention of it was ever made in the Buyer's agreement or any other related document. The petition also stated that it needs to be ascertained and investigated as to where the money, either taken from financial institution or from the complainant, was invested elsewhere, since till date no possession was given to her, alleging that the company has cheated the complainant by enjoying her money for more than six years now. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said he used the "bitter medicine" of demonetisation to bring back money into banking system and to give "proper treatment to deep-rooted corruption system" in the country. He also asked people to vote "intelligently" in the November 28 Assembly poll, asking them to ensure that "not even a single Congress candidate" is elected. Addressing a poll rally at Jhabua for the November 28 Assembly elections, Modi said, "We use poisonous medicine to eradicate termite. Similarly, I used note ban as a 'tez' (bitter) medicine to treat corruption in the country". "People who used to hide their money under beds, in their houses, offices and factories are now paying tax of every single penny and we are using this money for the right schemes for the common man," Modi said. Modi said his government has so far disbursed loans to 14 crore people, "that too without guarantee", under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. "The amount of work we (BJP-led government) have done in four years, Congress would be able to do it in 10 years," Modi said. "Remember the time when Congress was in power here in Madhya Pradesh, what was the condition of people? Madhya Pradesh does not deserve a government which never thinks about the state's welfare," Modi said, targeting the Congress party. On 'housing for all', Modi said, "My dream is to provide 'pucca' houses to everyone in the country by 2022. We have so far given keys of such houses to 1.25 crore people". Attacking Congress, Modi termed the Congress-led UPA regime as 'Madam ki Sarakar' and 'remote controlwali sarkar'. Addressing a poll rally in Rewa, Modi reminded voters that Madhya Pradesh has a "double-engine" as BJP is in power in the state and the Centre. Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, Modi said, "History proves that no dynasty prevails after its fourth generation rule in Delhi and Congress will also meet the same fate". He asked people to "think for a moment" before voting about what Congress has done for them compared to 15 years of BJP rule in the state. "When a pregnant mother had to be rushed to hospital on a tractor or a cot, there were no roads then from the village to the city. Many times either the mother or the child or both died. Those were the days of Congress rule," he said. Asking people to be active participants in development process, Modi said, "If people work for 10 hours, then I will work for 11 hours for the country's progress". Modi credited Chouhan with developing the state. "He is in power for the last 15 years but effectively got only four and a half years as during rest of the period, the state always fought with the Centre for its rights in the UPA-led regime at the Centre, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday asked people to vote "intelligently" in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, ensuring that "not even a single Congress candidate" is elected. Addressing a poll rally for the November 28 elections, Modi said the people of Madhya Pradesh have an opportunity to crush the Congress party's "ego". Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, Modi said, "History has shown us that however big a sultanate in Delhi is, its rule ends after four generations. Congress has also met the same fate". "Congress is a party whose leaders are confused and the party is fused. They can't pass current (power) to you," he said. People in various states who knew what Congress did haven't allowed it to return to power there, Modi said, citing Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal as examples. "In these states, the Congress was struggling for over 30 years but people didn't bring it to power, he added. Modi also said he used the "bitter medicine" of demonetisation to bring back money into banking system and to give "proper treatment to deep-rooted corruption system" in the country. "We use poisonous medicine to eradicate termite. Similarly, I used note ban as a 'tez' (bitter) medicine to treat corruption in the country." he said. "People who used to hide their money under beds, in their houses, offices and factories are now paying tax of every single penny and we are using this money for the right schemes for the common man," Modi said. Modi said ballots have prevailed over bullets in Jammu and Kashmir civic elections and in Chhattisgarh assembly polls despite threats by terrorists and Maoists. "The previous governments feared violence in holding elections in Srinagar," Modi said, adding civic polls were held there with "no trace of violence". "Despite terrorists calling for a bandh, elections were held three days ago in Kashmir valley. The polling percentage there was 65," he said. "People having faith in democracy proved their point," he added. "In Chhattisgarh, naxals threatened that if people did not boycott polls, their fingers would be chopped off. Around 70 per cent voting took place in the first phase of elections and a large voter turnout is seen for the second phase there today," Modi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra government has appointed Dr Jagannath Dixitas the brand ambassador of its anti-obesity campaign. A letter to this effect was given to Dr Dixit by Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan, an official release issued here said. The letter states that Dr Dixit has been appointed due to his experience and knowledge in the field. The method, he had adopted to treat patients has benefited people not just in India, but oversees as well. Dr Dixit is attached to the Government Medical College, Latur as a professor. Dr Dixit had started a WhatsApp group in 2012 to address the issue of obesity and provided guidance to people affected by the lifestyle disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a potentially far-reaching realignment of political forces in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP, Congress and the National Conference appear to be joining hands to form a popular government, sources in the three parties indicated Tuesday. The state is currently under governor's rule which cannot be extended after it completed its six-month period on December 19. It is proposed to impose President's rule thereafter but the 87-member assembly is not being dissolved, according to Governor Satyapal Mallik. A popular government headed by the Peoples Democratic Party's Mehbooba Mufti fell when its partner BJP pulled out of the ruling coalition on June 16. Political circles have been agog with speculation that behind the scene efforts were underway to prop up a government headed by Sajjad Lone's People Conference, which has only two MLAs but which would be banking on support by the 25 MLAs of BJP. However, this combination would fall short of the required majority of 44 which is sought to be made by splitting the PDP which has been rocked by dissidents. The sources said that in order to checkmate such efforts to prop up another BJP-backed government, mainstream parties such as the Congress, PDP and the National Conference are in touch to form a government. The plan envisages a coalition between PDP and Congress, which have been partners in a government between 2002 to 2007, backed from outside by the National Conference. The PDP has 28 MLAs, followed by NC with 15 and Congress with 12 which will make up for a clear majority. The National Conference sources made it clear that they were not interested in joining a coalition government but would not be averse to giving outside support to a PDP-Congress coalition. If such an arrangement comes about, Mehbooba Mufti is unlikely to be the chief minister but the government may be headed by a senior PDP leader. Coming together of traditionally bitter rivals, the PDP and the NC, would mark a significant realignment of political forces in the state. The National Conference had offered its support to the PDP after the 2014 assembly polls but the latter ignored the offer and aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After the June 16 pull-out, Lone is understood to have been approaching disgruntled PDP leaders for forming an alliance with the BJP, the sources said. Imran Ansari, former PDP minister, is among a few others who have been cosy with the People's Conference, which has also approached some of the MLAs for joining the alliance with the BJP. A former separatist leader, Lone had been successful in breaking away National Conference's chief spokesman Junaid Muttu, who recently contested the urban local body elections and became Mayor of Srinagar. Efforts made to get a response from Lone did not fructify as he did not respond to messages sent by PTI. A founder member of PDP, Muzzafar Beigh also joined the bandwagon of Lone on Tuesday and held a press conference here and said "the PDP betrayed the workers, denying them a chance to connect with the people, by boycotting the elections. They left a vacuum and that space has now been occupied. does not wait for people who boycott." Beigh said, "Now this talk of NC-PDP alliance. How will people of Jammu react? How will people of Ladakh react? It will be an alliance of one religion. Jammu would not like it, Ladakh will not remain part of the state. This will lead to trifurcation of the state." A former member of People's Conference, Beigh said he was not averse to formation of a third front led by Lone and went on to say "Sajad Lone is like my son. I had contested the elections that led to registration of Peoples Conference as a political party. If Sajad (Lone) is interested in (formation of third front), it should be encouraged. People want something different from the beaten track". "Sajad has not contacted me directly. The BJP has not contacted me (on government formation or third front formation). However, there are people within the party (PDP) who want an elected government," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eight Indian-American women have been honoured in the US in recognition of their achievements in diverse fields ranging from politics and business to civil rights activism and astrophysics. Immigration lawyer Sheela Murthy, vice chairwoman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Jagruti Panwala and NASA astrophysicist Madhulika Guhathakurta were among the awardees. Other honourees were Maryland Delegate Aruna Miller, Manisha Gaekwad from Florida; Ann Ramakumaran, founder and CEO of a tech company Ampcus, Inc; and Suman Raghunathan, executive director of the racial justice and civil rights group South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT). They were honoured at the inaugural American Bazaar Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders Gala. Tak, a trailblazer for Indian-American women in many fields, was honoured for her contributions in the areas of politics, art and culture. One of the first Indian American women to serve in the United States military, she is also among the first Indian-American women fundraisers to make a mark nationally. Astrophysicist Guhathakurta, who was born in Kolkata, is one of the most prominent Indian-Americans in NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Dozens of prominent women entrepreneurs from across the country, executives of Fortune 500 companies, political and thought leaders, and leaders from the nonprofit world attended the Women Entrepreneurs Forum and Leaders Gala. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Sabarimala shrine Tuesday witnessed moderate crowd of pilgrims, even as eight people were taken into preventive custody from the temple complex and opposition congress-led UDF leaders booked for violating prohibitory orders at the base camps. The police said the eight were taken into preventive custody by police from 'Sannidhanam' Tuesday night based on intelligence report that they were at the shrine to create trouble. A senior police officer told PTI that they were taken into custody after they had offered prayers. Inflow of pilgrims is yet to pick up five days after the hill shrine was opened on November 16 evening for the over two-month-long pilgrimage season amid tension. As the stand-off continued over entry of menstrual women into the shrine, a political slugfest broke out between chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and BJP president Amit Shah. Shah slammed the CPIM-led LDF government's handling of the situation in Sabarimala as "disappointing" and accused the Kerala government of treating pilgrims as "Gulag inmates" and making them spend nights next to "pig droppings". Reacting to Shah's tweet, Vijayan said "arrangements might have caused inconvenience to the Sangh Parivar elements who are bent on formenting trouble with ulterior motives. Shah must have been "carried away" by the campaigns unleashed by these elements, Vijayan said in a Facebook post. "Rajnath Singh, the union home minister, has gone on record that the government does not have any option but to execute the order of the apex court. This itself is a reply to the allegations levelled by Shah," Vijayan said. Vijayan earlier lashed out at the BJP and right-wing outfits, accusing them of exploiting the Sabarimala issue for their "political gains" and trying to 'capture' and take control of the Lord Ayyappa shrine. In hard-hitting remarks, he alleged that the Sangh Parivar's agenda was to create trouble by sending "kar sevaks" to take control of the temple and make the pilgrims the "scapegoats". In a series of tweets, Shah said, "If several reports of flushing resting places for devotees and them having to spend nights next to pig droppings and dustbin are true, then Pinarayi Vijayan must realize that he can't treat Ayyappa devotees like inmates of Gulag. We won't let LDF crush people's faith with impunity,". BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai said it was a "police raj" in Sabarimala and alleged that the ruling CPI(M) was trying to "crush" the sangh parivar workers who were staging a "Gandhian model" of protest. Vijayan said Sabarimala would not be allowed to be transformed into a "centre of violence" and defended the arrest of 69 people from the temple complexSunday night. The Chief Minister also slammed the Congress for opposing implementation of the Supreme Court order allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers and alleged that the RSS and Congress "have become one" on the Sabarimala issue. Both the main opposition Congress-led UDF and the BJP have decided to intensify their agitation on the Sabarimala issue. Meanwhile, UDF leaders defied prohibitory orders at Nilackal and Pamba base camps and sought withdrawal of Section 144 CrPC banning assembly of four or more people. Police have booked 100 identifiable persons, including Congress opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former chief minister Oommen Chandy. They later abandoned their plans to visit the shrine, saying they did not want cause difficulties to the pilgrims at the temple compled. Urging the CPI(M)-led LDF government to withdraw the prohibitory orders in Sabarimala, Chennithala alleged it was trying to sabotage the Sabarimala pilgrimage. BJP MPs V Muraleedharan and Nalin Kumar Kattil, who visited the temple complex and the base camp, flayed the government for the "meagre" factilies at the shrine for the pilgrims. Muraleedharan alleged police officers with criminal background have been posted at the complex. As BJP has decided to line up its central leaders, including ministers and MPs from other states to visit the temple complex in the coming days, Vijayan said "they are welcome", but if they defy the restrictions, the state government would have to take steps accordingly. The day also saw a minor protest at Erumeli, over 90 km from Sabarimala, as rumours floated that a young couple were on their way to Sabarimala. The couple from Vijaywada were informed by some people over the issues at the hill shrine, following which they changed their plans to visit Sabarimala. They left for Chengannur in Alappuzha district after informing protesters that they came to Kerala to offer prayers in various temples. Vijayan said security would be provided to women, wishing to offer prayers at the shrine, if they reach Nilackal. "It is not possible to give protection to those who want to visit the temple from whereever they want.If they come to Nilackal, they will be provided with security," he said. The Kerala Human Rights Commission, which had observed that there was "gross violation" of human rights of sabarimala devotees, Tuesday visited the temple complex for an on-the-spot assessment of the facilties. State Human Rights Commission chairperson Antony Dominic visited the base camps at Nilackal and Pamba following complaints about the lack of infrastructure facilities including toilets and drinking water shortage. Restrictions have been imposed at the Lord Ayyappa temple following protests by devotees and activists of the BJP and RSS over the state government's decision to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A research body linked to the BJP Tuesday said the Union government's scheme to connect all houses with electricity has made positive contributions to people's lives in a host of fields, including ease of living, education, income generation, health and their sense of security. The study by Public Policy Research Centre, which is headed by BJP vice president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, was confined to Madhya Pradesh with researchers covering its 34 revenue villages besides many more habitations spread across seven districts, the researchers said, while releasing the findings. Sahasrabuddhe said 'Saubhagya' scheme, which is aimed at connecting all households in the country with power, has opened the path for security, respect and self-reliance for beneficiaries and has also led to "democratisation of aspirations". The researchers did over 250 case studies. Villages newly connected to electricity have undergone a social change with enhanced use of television, mobile phones and social media, the research said. In remote habitations nestled around forests and hills, residents said cases of snake bites and scorpion bites have come down due to light. Presence of light has given students on an average 90 more minutes for studies, the research said and cited case studies to claim that people running shops near highways have their earnings boosted due to more business during evening. Women are happier because they have to spend less time on household chores, it said. Another case study found that cases of theft have come down due to electrification. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Tuesday asked people to vote intelligently in the November 28 Assembly poll, asking them to ensure that "not even a single Congress candidate" is elected. Addressing a poll rally, Modi reminded voters that Madhya Pradesh has a "double-engine" as BJP is in power in the state and the Centre. Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, Modi said, "History proves that no dynasty prevails after its fourth generation rule in Delhi and Congress will also meet the same fate". Modi urged people to think for a moment before voting about what Congress has done for them compared to 15 years of BJP rule in the state. Asking people to be active participants in the development process, Modi said, "If people work for 10 hours, then I will work for 11 hours for the country's progress". Modi credited Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister with developing the state. "He is in power for the last 15 years but effectively got only four and a half years as, during rest of the period, the state always fought with the Centre for its rights in the UPA-led regime at the Centre, he said. "In 55 years (of Congress rule), only 30 MW green energy was generated (in the state) while in our 15-year rule, 4,000 MW renewable energy is being generated," he said. At six-foot-seven with a full beard and husky physique, Devin is a bear of a man. But, when asked what kind of kinky pleasure in which he prefers to participate, his preference is loud and clear. Im a Pig. Ford Lauderdale is home to Ramrod, one of Americas kinkiest clubs, made famous for its monthly Pig dances, where fetishes fly and leather is everywhere. Now the iconic hot spot will be a major part of Pig Week, Nov. 28 through Dec. 6, with events of every kind scheduled all over South Florida. Just exactly how a group of gay men came to self-identify as pigs is less complicated than youd expect. Its from the 60s womens rights movement, according to Devin, who has been an active participant in pig activities for many years. All men are pigs! Thats what women were shouting while they protested, so thats what we decided to call ourselves. By the AIDS crisis in the early 80s, many gay men were ashamed of their sexuality. Shaming is how bears became a group of their own. It took decades, but by the turn of the century, gay men began reclaiming their sexuality without guilt or shame, doing whatever they enjoyed with whomever captured their interest. As Devin put it, Everyones just trying to find a place to fit in. The idea was being able to do whatever you want, dress the way you want, embrace your fetishes and live your fantasies, regardless if other people find such activities offensive. But bears werent every gay mans preference, so new groups self-segregated and pigs quickly became the hot new fetish group. With the opening of Ramrod in 1994, defining itself as a Levi, Leather and Uniform bar, the pig theme became a more prominent part of the bars event schedule, including the monthly Pig Dance which attracts pigs from all over the world. Wilton Manors beat out San Francisco, New York and New Orleans to host this years Pig Week, which will be full of play/sex parties, lots of leather and special events at Slammers, Leather Werks and even at private homes. The leather masked ball will take place the weekend after Thanksgiving. Devin has been going to these types of events for years, so he knows what to expect. Everything is based around play parties. Thats where people express themselves and own their fetishes, even developing their own phrases and names for their activities. For those who are new to the pig scene, Devin has this advice. Its a journey. When someone comes up and grabs our crotch, thats just saying hello! Its not perceived as inappropriate or a non-consensual act; but consent is fluid and situational. Devin says there are other issues for participants to consider. The South Florida gay community is paying less attention to safe sex due to the availability of PreP, so theyre less concerned about condoms now than they were a few years ago. Many younger gay men feel the same way. I cant tell you what to do with your body, but I also have to face the consequences, he said. Its a slippery slope when people start preaching about what you should do. One group you wont see much of during Pig Week, according to Devin: women. Some women have shown up at a Pig Dance in leather, but not at a play party. There are some leather groups that still have a bio male-only policy. Sounds like the perfect opening for another shunned group to make a new category of their own. Registration costs $150 for the week. Some events still charge to attend but at a discounted rate for registrants. Visit PigWeek.com. The European Court of Justice will at the end of this month begin hearing a legal challenge brought by anti- campaigners to force the government to spell out how Britain could revoke its notice to leave the EU. The hearing comes after the British government was refused permission Tuesday to appeal to the UK Supreme Court over the case, amid growing calls for Prime Minister Theresa May to hold a second referendum on "The best, the really compelling, the objective evidence that all options are still on the table is the desperation with which the government acted to try and block MPs from seeing the clear path to remain," said Jolyon Maugham, a lawyer who has spearheaded the legal challenge. The Supreme Court rejected a bid from the government for permission to appeal against a lower court ruling asking the European Court to spell out "whether, when and how" Britain can unilaterally revoke its notice to leave the EU, which would see the UK pull out on March 29. Labour, Scottish nationalist and Green members of the British, Scottish and European parliaments brought the case through the highest civil court in Scotland. The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled in September to refer the question to the Court of Justice of the EU. A hearing at the Court of Justice of the (CJEU) is set for November 27. The British government applied to the Court of Session for permission to appeal against the ruling to the higher UK-wide Supreme Court, but the application was rejected. The government then applied directly to the Supreme Court itself for permission to appeal. But in refusing that permission on Tuesday, the Supreme Court said the Court of Session's ruling was "preliminary" and the Scottish court would still have to reach a judgement of its own after receiving the CJEU's guidance. Britain invoked Article 50, its two-year notice of intention to withdraw from the EU, in March 2017. Former minister Manju Verma, who had been evading arrest in an Arms Act case lodged in the course of investigations in the Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal, surrendered before a court here Tuesday. Verma reached the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Prabhat Trivedi in an auto rickshaw. She fainted as soon as she entered the court premises along with a few aides. She regained consciousness after water was sprinkled on her face by bystanders after which she was taken into the courtroom. The had on November 12 rapped the 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. 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 Over 30 girls were allegedly raped at the shelter home. The Arms Act case was lodged against Verma following recovery of a huge quantity of ammunition from her residence here during a CBI raid. The RBI board will soon set up a high-level committee for examining the Economic Capital Framework (ECF) to determine the appropriate levels of reserve the central bank should hold, official sources said Tuesday. After a day-long meeting on Monday, the central board of the RBI decided to set up an expert committee to look into the ECF. It was also agreed that the membership and terms of reference of the panel will be jointly determined by the government and the Reserve Bank of India. Currently, the capital base of the RBI is Rs 9.69 lakh crore, and independent director and Swadeshi ideologue S Gurumurthy and the finance ministry have been wanting it to be lowered in line with global practices. The sources further said that guidelines for restructuring of loans for the medium, small and micro enterprises (MSME) will also be released shortly with a view to help the cash-starved sector. A decision in this regard too was taken at the Board meeting held in Mumbai yesterday. The central board headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel, which met amid the on-going tussle between the Finance Ministry and the central bank over various issues, also discussed the Basel regulatory capital framework, a restructuring scheme for stressed MSMEs, and bank health under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework. Earlier this month, Gurumurthy had made a case for calibration of its massive Rs 9.6 lakh crore reserves, saying no central bank in the world maintains such high levels of surplus. He had also said the capital adequacy ratio prescribed in India is 1 per cent higher than the global Basel norms. However, the board decided to retain the capital adequacy ratio or CRAR at 9 per cent against 8 per cent prescribed by Basel III norms. However, it agreed to extend the transition period for implementing the last tranche of 0.625 per cent under the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB), by one year, that is up to March 31, 2020. The CCB currently stands at 1.875 per cent and remaining 0.625 per cent was to be met by March 2019, as per the deadline fixed by the RBI. According to experts, the reduction of 1 per cent capital adequacy ratio will free up about Rs 70,000 crore in the system. With regard to banks under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA), it was decided that the matter will be examined by the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of the RBI. 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police has on Tuesday registered an FIR against ABVP's ex-DUSU president Ankiv Baisoya, for allegedly furnishing a fake degree to get admission in the Delhi University. The university authorities had filed a police complaint in connection with the matter on Monday. According to the complaint filed by K T S Sarao, the head of the Buddhist Studies department, Baisoya had appeared in the entrance examination conducted nationally by the university for admission in the masters course. "After qualifying in this examination, Baisoya took admission in MA Buddhist Studies, Part I, and submitted six marksheets of six semesters of Bachelor of Arts degree from Thiruvalluvar University. "The basic qualification for admission to MA (Buddhist Studies) is a bachelor's degree from any recognised university," Sarao said in the complaint. According to the complaint, in a written response to a request from Sarao for verification of these marksheets, the controller of examinations of Thiruvalluvar University has said that each of these marksheets submitted by Baisoya "is not genuine. It is a fake certi?cate". "On the basis of veri?cation report received from the Controller of Examinations Thiruvalluvar University, admission of Baisoya was cancelled on November 14, Sarao said. Baisoya, who was elected the DUSU president in September, resigned from his post on November 15 after the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) reportedly asked him to do so. He has also been suspended from the students' outfit till an inquiry into the allegations is complete. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court Tuesday granted bail to the in-laws of a flight attendant who allegedly committed suicide in July this year. Justice Mukta Gupta gave the relief to flight attendant Anissia Batra's parents-in-law R S Singhvi and Sushma Singhvi subject to their furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000. "Bail is allowed," the court said. Details of the order would be available once it is uploaded on the high court site. The Singhvis moved the high court after their plea for bail was rejected by the trial court. They surrendered before the police on November 1. Anissia (39), who was married to Mayank Singhvi for two years, worked with a German airline. She allegedly jumped from the terrace of her house in Panchsheel Park in south Delhi on July 13. Mayank rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead. He was arrested on July 16. Anissia's family alleged that her husband physically abused her and often demanded money. The family claimed before the trial court that her death was not suicide but murder. Mayank's parents were earlier denied anticipatory bail by the high court. Before jumping off the terrace, Anissia sent a message to her husband that she would kill herself, police said earlier. Mayank, a software engineer in Gurgaon, told the police that they had regular fights due to "compatibility issues". They had an argument on the day of the incident as well following which she jumped from the terrace, police said. The victim's family had also given a complaint to police on June 27, saying Mayank would be responsible if anything happens to their daughter, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four militants and a soldier were Tuesday killed in an encounter between ultras and security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir,officials said here. Two other Army men were injured in the gunbattle. "Four terrorists have been killed in the operation in Nadigam area of Shopian," Srinagar-based defence spokesman, Col Rajesh Kalia said. He did not give further details. However, a police official said an Army man was killed while two others were injured in the encounter. The operation is on, the police official said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area Tuesday morning after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants there. The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon the forces, who retaliated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP legislator Anil Gote, who had last week announced resignation as member of the Maharashtra Assembly and the party, has fielded candidates for the upcoming Dhule Municipal Corporation polls under the banner of Lok Sangram, an outfit headed by his son. Talking to PTI, Gote said he has fielded candidates for all 74 seats of Dhule civic body under the banner of Lok Sangram. Gote also slammed the BJP saying despite an assurance about not giving candidature to criminals, the party has given tickets to 28 persons "against whom serious cases are registered". Tuesday was the last day of filing of nominations for Dhule civic polls that will take place on December 9. The civic body has a voter population of 4.46 lakh. Gote said Fadnavis asked him not to resign from the BJP membership and as MLA. He added that he would not resign as he has not indulged in any anti-party activities. "The BJP should be felicitating me because I am the only one who has stood by the principles of the RSS and late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Today, the BJP is no more a party of principles," he alleged. Gote's criticism of the BJP comes barely 24 hours after he met Fadnavis, who he claimed had assured him that "criminals" would not be given tickets in Dhule polls, it would be fought under his leadership and that those recommended by him would be given tickets. On November 12, Gote had said he will resign from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as well as the BJP to protest against what he called induction of "criminals" into the saffron outfit. "There are only three candidates in Dhule polls who are originally from the BJP. The rest have been imported from other parties. Out of the nominations filed by BJP, 24 are criminals, while around 14 have very serious charges registered against them," Gote claimed. The legislator had won the 2009 assembly election from Dhule as an independent and joined the BJP ahead of the 2014 state polls. He was earlier arrested in connection with the multi-crore stamp paper scam and is now out on bail. In the past, the legislator had denied any involvement in the scam, which was spread over several states, including Maharashtra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa Tuesday accused Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda of being the "most opportunistic" politicians in the country, as he attacked the JDS-Congress government in the state on the farmers' issues. Extending his party's full support to the farmers' cause by calling for a state wide agitation on Wednesday, Yeddyurappa alleged that Gowda and Kumaraswamy were synonymous with "betrayal". Yeddyurappa also hit out at Kumaraswamy for a remark he made against a protesting woman farmer at Belagavi Sunday. "It is shameful on the part of the chief minister to make a disgraceful remark against a woman farmer. It is also arrogance to call the protesting farmers goondas and dacoits," Yeddyurappa said. Describing the chief minister's remarks against the woman "derogatory", he lashed out at Kumaraswamy for trying to defend it. He said those in public life should gracefully accept criticisms. Farmers protested the way theydid as the chief minister backtracked from his promise, he said. "Power seems to have gone into the chief minister's head," he said, adding that Congress leaders who are supporting Kumaraswamy's government should think over the CM's remarks. "If they have self-respect they should ask the CM to implement the decisions or quit the post," Yeddyurappa said. Farmers are protesting in Belagavi for the last few days demanding clearance of their pending arrears bysugar factories for the cane supplied and announcement of purchase price for sugarcane for the current season. They had intensified their protest Sunday by "gatecrashing" their loaded trucks into "Suvarna Vidhana Soudha", the legislature complex in northern district, protestingKumaraswamy's cancellation of his scheduled visit to meet ryots. In a strong reaction, Kumaraswamy had described thosewho barged into the legislature complex as "goondas" andaccused them of defaming the entire farming community. Also, Kumaraswamy's remarks against a woman farmer while questioning her 'silence' in the last four years on the arrears issue and her farming background, had evoked sharp reaction from her. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy, you and Deve Gowda are most opportunistic" politicians in the country," Yeddyurappa said, while attacking the duo for repeatedly not keeping their promises. They say I had gone to their door to make me chief minister, you should be ashamed to make such statements," he said, recalling that it was Kumaraswamy who quit the Dharm Singh lead Congress-JD(S) coalition in 2006 and joined hands withthe BJP to form the coalition government. Reminding that he had given full support to the JD(S)-led 20 months government, Yeddyurappa accused Kumaraswamy of "betrayal" then. Accusing Gowda of insulting former chief ministers like Ramkrishna Hegde and S R Bommai, he said the father-son duo had also insulted former chief minister Siddaramaiah by trying to end his political career by ensuring his loss in the Chamundeshwari assembly constituency in Mysuru. "...I think Siddaramaiah is tolerating all the insults and is waiting for the right time," he added. Questioning Kumaraswamy about the steps taken for the benefit of farmers and common man in the last five months, he said, "the chief minister repeatedly claims credit for loan waiver, but how much loan waiver has happened so far is the question." "Cooperative sector is in distress, not even a paisehas been waived from nationalised banks who are now givingnotices to farmers...you are just lying and wasting time," he added. Yeddyurappa said the BJP would stage protest at all taluk and district centres across the state Wednesday to highlight state issues and against Kumaraswamy's "derogatory" remarks against the woman farmer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat High Court Tuesday granted bail to Patidar quota agitation leader Alpesh Kathiriya in a sedition case filed here in 2015. The court of Justice A Y Kogje granted bail to the leader of the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) on grounds of parity with other accused in the case who are out on bail. However, Kathiriya will remain in jail as he was Monday arrested by Surat crime branch in connection with two cases, one of sedition, and another under section 307 (attempted murder) of the IPC, both filed in Amroli Police Station in 2015. He was arrested on a transfer warrant from Sabarmati Central Jail where he is currently lodged. The police Tuesday did not seek his remand and the PAAS leader was sent to Lajpore Jail in Surat. He along with PAAS convener Hardik Patel, members Dinesh Bambhaniya and Chirag Patel were accused in cases of sedition filed against them after the August 2015 quota agitation that caused wide-spread violence in different parts of the state, leaving fourteen people dead. While the other three were arrested and subsequently released on bail by the high court, Kathiriya was shown as an absconder by the police. He was arrested in August this year after being detained along with Hardik when he was on his way to take part in a symbolic protest fast. He was later lodged at Sabarmati Central Jail, from where he has been taken to Surat on transit remand. While arguing for his bail in the high court, his lawyer opposed the Gujarat government's argument that Kathiriya was absconding all this while and trying to evade arrest. His lawyer told the HC that Kathiriya, during this time, continued to practice as a lawyer. Kathiriya was accused by the state government of playing a key role in Patidar quota agitation that led to violence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Steve Adkins was in Washington, D.C. recently to accept a major award for the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Were excited, Adkins said. Adkins, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled to accept the 2018 Affiliate Chamber of the Year award at Fridays National LGBT Chamber of Commerce Elevate Awards Gala. The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, in business for 19 years, has grown into the 11th largest chamber in South Florida and second largest LGBT chamber nationally, Adkins said. Everything we do at our chamber is for the betterment of our members and their businesses, Adkins said. Its territorial agreement with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce permits the Miami affiliate to do business in Miami-Dade County only. The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce has more than 55 affiliate chambers. In selecting its Affiliate Chamber of the Year, the national chamber hired an outside panel to evaluate applications based on growth, sustainability and leadership in the LGBT business equality movement, Adkins said. Other honorees at this weekends event include Bank of America (Corporation of the Year), American Airlines (Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year) and Heels & Hardhats Contracting Corp. (Supplier of the Year). The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce is a collection of businesses that contribute $1.7 trillion to the U.S economy and created more than 33,000 jobs, the Washington Post reported. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed two social media platforms to block the weblinks of an offending article levelling "scandalous" allegations against a sitting judge of the high court. The court was hearing a plea in a contempt case against Swaminathan Gurumurthy, the editor of the Chennai-based weekly 'Thuglak' magazine, for his tweets against the judge. A bench of justices Hima Kohli and Manoj Kumar Ohri allowed the plea of advocate Rajshekhar Rao, on whose complaint the high court had initiated on its own the contempt proceedings, seeking to implead various persons and entities as respondents. The court allowed his application to replace Facebook India and Twitter India with their parent US-based firms, Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc, which are responsible for taking down the URLs from the platforms. It directed the intermediaries to block the URLs/weblinks where the offending articles were uploaded by some private persons. The court asked the alleged contemnors to file their response to the contempt notice and listed the matter for December 11. The court had on October 29 issued contempt notice to Gurumurthy and sought his response. Gurumurthy is also a part-time director of the Reserve Bank of India. After a high court bench headed by Justice S Muralidhar passed an order on October 1 releasing rights activists Gautam Navlakha from house arrest in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case, Gurumurthy had tweeted remarks against the judge. The high court, which took up the matter after receiving a letter from advocate Rao who sought contempt action against the scribe, had said the tweets and online video making allegations against the judge should be taken down. Rao, in his letter, has stated that the tweet was a deliberate attempt to attack the sitting high court judge. Earlier in March this year, the high court had dubbed as "mischievous" certain tweets by the journalist in connection with its decision granting interim protection from arrest to Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court Tuesday reserved its verdict on a plea challenging the LIC move to acquire 51 per cent stake in the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI). Justice Vibhu Bakhru concluded hearing arguments on behalf of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the bank and All India IDBI Officers Association, which has filed the petition. In their plea moved through advocates Prashant Bhushan and Pranav Sachdeva, the association has said that the change in shareholding could take away the public sector bank status of the IDBI which in turn could affect their employment conditions. LIC had earlier told the court it wanted to acquire 51 per cent stake in the IDBI as the state-run insurance company has been toying with the idea of having banking operations since 2000. LIC said it had in the past made several attempts to have a bank of its own, but its endeavours had "failed" as "nothing fructified". Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for LIC, had also said it has applied for a banking licence. Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing the bank, said that consent of employees was not required while changing the status of the company by government's dis-investment. The IDBI, in which the government holds 85.96 per cent stake, had posted a net loss of Rs 24.0989 billion in the quarter ended June 2018. It had posted a gross non-performing asset (NPA) of about Rs 578.07 billion. The petition had claimed that the change in shareholding was not in public interest as it "exposes the investments made by the public in the IDBI and corrodes the ability of the LIC to pay back its policyholders since it will have to invest an amount of Rs 130000 millions to acquire the 51 per cent stake". It further stated, "The said investment will be made from the funds of 380 million policyholders of the LIC who have invested their hard earned money to secure their own futures. The said investment made by the LIC will adversely hamper its own abilities to pay its insurance holders. on Tuesday said it will raise its stake in Clearing Corporation of India Ltd (CCIL) to 9 per cent by acquiring 2 million shares of the company. The deal is for a cash consideration of Rs 1.24 billion. "The transaction is for an acquisition of 4 per cent equity in CCIL. The bank currently holds 5 per cent of the total equity capital of CCIL. Hence, it is proposed to increase the stake in CCIL from the current 5 per cent to 9 per cent from an investment perspective," said in a regulatory filing. CCIL provides clearing and settlement services for transactions in the money market, government securities, foreign exchange and carries out related activities. said it would require prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the transaction expected to be completed by the end of December 2018. Incorporated in April 2001, CCIL had consolidated revenue of Rs 6.7 billion in 2017-18. In 2016-17, its total income stood at Rs 7.58 billion, while in 2015-16, the company reported revenues of Rs 6.29 billion. Stock of HDFC Bank closed flat at Rs 2,015.25 on The Bombay High Court has directed the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) to carry out a fresh exercise of identifying unauthorised religious structures in the city and follow the procedure laid down for it by the Maharashtra government. The state government had issued a resolution on May 5, 2011 for regularisation of unauthorised religious shrines. As per the government resolution (GR), the constructions carried out after September 29, 2009 are to be demolished. Religious structures constructed before that will be categorised as those which could be regularised, those which create obstacles to traffic and hence cannot be regularised, and the third category of those which could be relocated to another suitable place. The GR had laid down a specified procedure to be followed before deciding which structure needs to be regularised, demolished or relocated. As per the GR, a committee had to be set up at the corporation and district council levels to undertake the exercise. Two Nashik residents -- Vinod Thorat and Kailas Deshmukh -- approached the high court challenging the city civic body's decision to issue notices of demolition to 530 unauthorised religious structures in August this year. The petition claimed that the NMC had not followed the due procedure laid down in the GR and failed to give opportunity to the stakeholders concerned. The corporation should have also issued a list of religious structures that would face demolition in newspapers before issuing demolition notices as mandated in the GR, the petition said. The corporation in its defence said a list of 530 religious structures was put up on websites of the NMC and the Nashik police. An advertisement about this was also published in prominent newspapers in February 2016. A division bench of Justices B R Gavai and M S Karnik earlier this month accepted contentions of the petition and noted that the GR mandated that the entire list of those religious structures that face demolition has to be published in prominent newspapers. "Mere release of a press note in the newspaper that the list of structures categorised can be found on the website of the corporation is not sufficient compliance of the GR," the court said. It noted that the civic body arrived at the decision that 530 structures were constructed after September 29, 2009 without offering an opportunity to stakeholders to counter the claim and prove that the structures were constructed prior to that date. "...therefore the corporation's decision is in violation of the mandatory procedure prescribed in the GR," the court said. The high court directed the civic body's committee to identify structures constructed prior and post September 29, 2009 afresh and by following the procedure laid down in the GR. After this exercise, the corporation shall submit list of those structures that face demolition in prominent newspapers and invite objections to the same. The civic body shall hear the objections and then take a final decision in a period of three months thereafter, the court said. The bench, however, clarified that the structures located on footpaths or public roads and obstructing traffic shall be demolished and will not be covered under this order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), an initiative launched by the Centre in April, is looking to create an ecosystem of around 1,000 startups working for the defence needs of the country in the next three years, said a senior official. While addressing students at the Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad (IIM-A) here Tuesday, Ajay Kumar, secretary, department of defence production under the ministry of defence, said the iDEX initiative is aimed at encouraging budding entrepreneurs to come up with technology solutions for the defence sector. "Three years down the line, we will have 1,000 startups working in this (defence) space and at least five products adopted by the government. In addition, we would like to see 25 startup solutions accepted by the services," Kumar said while addressing the students of the 'Armed Forces Programme' of IIM-A. Kumar said the larger goal of this initiative of engaging with startups is to reduce dependency on the imports of defence equipments. "China has transited from being the biggest importer (of defence equipments) to the third largest exporter today. How we can do this? We have to create our own technology. We can not do merely by doing assembly," said the IAS officer. He pointed out that since software is India's strength, the country can leverage this strength "to create technology for the world". "iDEX was launched with an aim to work as a bridge between startup ecosystem and defence needs of the country. It will try to indigenise imported defence components worth Rs 40,000 crore," the official added. iDEX, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April, is funded and managed by a Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here signed an MoU with professors Soumitra Dutta and Lourdes Casanova for the constitution of "The Soumitra Dutta Chair in Artificial Intelligence". The two academicians have pledged a support of Rs 1 crore for the purpose. The Chair has been named after Soumitra Dutta, who is a distinguished alumnus of IIT Delhi, and it is envisaged to promote excellence and leadership in teaching, research and development in the field of artificial intelligence and to facilitate wider and deeper interaction between the industry and IIT Delhi faculty and students. "I am very grateful to faculty of IIT Delhi for the valuable education they provided to me and I am glad to contribute to the future academic excellence of IIT Delhi," Dutta said. Lourdes Casanova, a renowned academician working at Cornell University, said, "The chair recognises the important role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of India and supports the aspirations of IIT Delhi for leadership in this important domain." Dutta received a B.Tech degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1985 from IIT Delhi and earned a Ph.D in Computer Science from the University of California in Berkeley. He is an authority on the impact of new technology on the business world with a special focus on strategies for driving growth and innovation in the digital economy. Dutta is best known for being the architect of the Global Innovation Index, which now has become the global standard among innovation indices. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A research team of the IIT Kharagpur has been developing a mechanism to filter critical situational information from social media during disasters from tonnes of other data. During a disaster, people such as victims and on-site empathisers flood social media platforms with real-time information, but the huge volume of posts makes it difficult for one to locate relevant messages from the spot, an IIT-KGP statement said on Tuesday. While the critical information is "less than two per cent", the problem is compounded as the posts often contain informal language without any grammar, arbitrary shortening of words and images. The research team from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the institute is developing the algorithms keeping all of these in mind. The algorithms would be able to search various social media handles with wide access and give situational information from English and Hindi posts, the statement said. "Summarisation is important because the amount of information posted is so much that human beings cannot go through all the information to find out critical tweets which are less than two per cent," the statement said. The algorithm being developed by the team can identify and extract critical, actionable information in real-time and in summarised form which could be helpful for disaster management, lead researcher Prof Saptarshi Ghosh said in the statement. "We studied group posts exchanged among medical practitioners of an NGO on an internal messaging mobile application, during a three-month period following the 2015 Nepal earthquake. From these posts, we extracted detailed information on what are typical medical requirements after an earthquake," Ghosh said. At present, the team is developing web-based systems and mobile apps for aiding post-disaster relief operations. For instance, a person sitting in the control room can get live updates about what resources are needed where, what resources are available and coordinate relief operations accordingly, the statement said. A relief worker can also get updates on his or her smartphone about people being trapped in the vicinity, so that they can be rescued. The project has been jointly funded by IIT Kharagpur's Institute Scheme for Innovative Research and Development grant, Microsoft Research India and ITRA, Media Labs Asia and the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, the IIT KGP statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra Congress Tuesday demanded the state government grant 16 per cent quota to the Maratha community without disturbing the existing 52 per cent reservation for various categories. Maharashtra Congress unit president Ashok Chavan also accused the state government of adopting "delaying tactics" on the issue. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the state government had accepted the report of the State Backward Classes Commission (SBCC) on social and economic backwardness of Marathas, paving the way for quota. Fadnavis had announced creation of a special category--Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC)-- to clear reservation for Marathas in jobs and education. The Maratha community has been demanding 16 per cent reservation under the OBC grouping. "The previous Congress-NCP government had set up committees under Narayan Rane andMehmood-ur-Rehman for studying the demand for Maratha and Muslim quotas, respectively, and accordinglyprovided 16 per cent and 5 per cent quotas in jobs and education. The quotas were also implemented," he said. Chavan said the NDA government did not defend the quota decision in the high court after it was challenged. "The previous government's ordinance was converted intoa law by the current BJP-Sena regime. The NDA government did not submit the affidavit in the HC for 18 months and despite the HC directives, it adopted delaying tactics," the former chief minister said. He said had the SBCC been constituted in 2015 itself, the lives lost in protests for the Maratha quota would have been saved. Chavan was referring to the suicides by members of the Maratha community allegedly for the quota demand. He demanded the SBCC report submitted to the government last week be tabled in the state legislature during ongoing winter session and implemented immediately. "The government can't shirk its responsibility of providing reservation to the Dhangar community and Muslims," he said. The high court in November 2014 had stayed the 16% quota for Marathas, which was introduced earlier that year by the previous Congress-led UPA government. The HC had also put on hold a 5% quota granted to Muslims under special backward class category, but didn't disturb a similar benefit to them in education. Chavan also attacked the Shiv Sena, the ruling ally of the BJP, for its demand to name the upcoming Mumbai-Nagpur super-communication expressway after late Bal Thackeray. The Sena had earlier opposedthe projectand declared that the farm land won't be allowed to be acquired for the project. "Why Sena changed its stand now? Is it because the party has got its commission in the project?" he asked. NCP general secretary Munaf Hakimand BJP leader Ravindra Angre, a former police officer, joined the Congress Tuesday in presence of Chavan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (BLADE) Amid uncertainty over whether House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will be elected speaker next year despite a Democratic majority in the House, a group of 102 LGBT leaders have come out to enthusiastically endorse her to become presiding officer of the chamber. The leaders expressed support for Pelosi in a joint statementFriday asserting they understand that the progress we have made is progress we must protect. Now, more than ever, we need our allies with us in the halls of Congress, the statement says. There is no better ally to the LGBTQ community on Capitol Hill than Leader Pelosi, period. We encourage Democratic House members to support Leader Pelosi in her bid for speaker and hope that these members, whether they be new to Capitol Hill or not, embrace and emulate Leader Pelosis tireless work on behalf of the LGBTQ community. Among the signers of the statement are Annise Parker, CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and former mayor of Houston; Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign; and Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the case that led to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2015 for same-sex marriage nationwide. Parker said in a separate statement shes endorsing Pelosi because the speaker of the House must be someone of vision, tenacity and strength. She must have an intimate knowledge of the working of Congress and run an efficient operation, Pelosi said. But most importantly, she has to understand the lives of everyday Americans. Nancy Pelosi fits the bill. The statement cites the enactment of new laws advancing LGBT rights when Pelosi previously was speaker during the Obama administration, such as the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and Dont Ask, Dont Tell repeal, as well as her efforts on behalf of the LGBT community as minority leader. Pelosi has been a champion of the Equality Act, comprehensive LGBT rights legislation that would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity, and has indicated advancing the measure would be a top prioritywith Democrats in control of the U.S. House. Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry, is also among the co-signers of the statement and signaled his backing of Pelosi in a separate statement. Whether delivering healthcare, jobs, and reform; championing civil rights, womens rights and LGBT rights; or fighting for an economy that leaves no one behind, Nancy Pelosi has proven herself to be a strong, skilled and principled leader, Wolfson said. She knows how to make Congress work again and we urgently need a working Congress to get our country back on track. Pelosis election as speaker is in serious question as numerous members of the Democratic caucus have publicly stated they wont vote her as presiding officer. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) has said hed support for the role Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio). (Fudge is one of two Democrats who in the last Congress wasnt a co-sponsor of the Equality Act.) In a statement Thursday, Fudge said she would put my record of support for the LGBTQ community against anyone elses, but has declined to support the Equality Act because she doesnt like the idea of opening up the Civil Rights Act to legislative action. What I opposed was including the Equality Act in the current Civil Rights Act, Fudge said. The Civil Rights Act is over 50 years old and isnt even adequate to protect the people currently in it. I want us to do a new and modern civil rights bill that protects the LGBTQ community and updates protections for this era. I do not believe it is appropriate to open and relitigate the current Civil Rights Act. Another signer of the joint statement in support of Pelosi is Arizona State Rep. Daniel Hernandez, who gained notoriety for saving the life of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in amass shooting in 2011. At a time when the rights of the LGBTQ community are under constant assault by the Trump administration, we need a champion, Hernandez said in a separate statement. Nancy Pelosi is that champion. Her experience and ability to fight back make her the best choice for speaker. Read the full statement here. Global and company said it is important to address concerns quickly in this era of and this has been a key learning from the 2015 crisis in India, said a top company official. The company also said staying closely engaged with the local governments and the consumers is "super important" in the markets, adding that the strategy had worked in the noodles case of 2015. "The slightest concern gets out on and internet, which builds up sentiments and beliefs very quickly," said Chief Executive Officer Mark Schneider. He further added: "It is important in all times to be totally factually correct but it is also important to react early and quickly as you see sentiment building up..." Recounting the crisis in when the Nestle's popular product was banned for five months, Schneider said that there was "a wave of sentiment building against the product, at the time it was hurting us very strongly". "One of the reasons why we recovered so quickly is that the product was found to be right and that was very important to us," he said on a media roundtable with the visiting journalists. is one of the "key markets" for the company, and India, which is listed on local exchanges, crossed the Rs 10,000-crore sales mark in 2017. Maggi was banned by the Safety and Standards Authority of (FSSAI) in June 2015 for five months for allegedly containing lead beyond permissible limits, forcing to withdraw the product from the market. Following legal battles, the popular noodles brand was back in the market in November 2015. Although has regained its market dominance in the instant noodles segment with around 60 per cent market share, it is still away from the 75 per cent market share it used to have before the crisis. Currently, Maggi contributes around one-third of the total sales of India and 15 other countries in sub-Saharan Africa accounted for almost 80 per cent of the malaria cases reported globally last year, according to a WHO report which notes that a whopping 1.25 billion people in India were at the risk of contracting the mosquito-borne disease. The World Health Organization's (WHO) 2018 World malaria report, however, in an encouraging note said that India was the only country to report progress in reducing its malaria cases in 2017 as compared with 2016. It said five countries to account for nearly half of all malaria cases worldwide were Nigeria (25 per cent), Democratic Republic of the Congo (11 per cent), Mozambique (5 per cent), India and Uganda (4 per cent) both. In all, 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and India carried almost 80 per cent of the global malaria burden. In India, 1.25 billion people in the population were at risk of malaria, the report said. It said that targets to reduce global rates of infections and deaths from malaria were not being met. The study reveals that while new cases fell steadily up until 2016, the number rose from 217 to 219 million in 2017: the targets set by the WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 20162030 call for a drop in malaria case incidence and death rates of at least 40 per cent by 2020. The 10 highest burden countries in Africa reported increases in cases of malaria in 2017 compared with 2016. Of these, Nigeria, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo had the highest estimated increases, all greater than half a million cases. In contrast, India reported three million fewer cases in the same period, a 24 decrease compared with 2016. However, cases in the African countries rose by 3.5 million compared with the previous year. Nearly 80 per cent of global malaria deaths in 2017 were concentrated in 17 countries in the WHO African Region and India, the report said. Seven of these countries accounted for 53 per cent of all global malaria deaths: Nigeria (19 per cent), Democratic Republic of the Congo (11 per cent), Burkina Faso (6 per cent), Tanzania (5 per cent), Sierra Leone (4 per cent), Niger (4 per cent) and India (4 per cent). The report noted that while India "had made impressive gains and was on track" to meet the Global technical strategy for malaria 20162030 targets, it still accounted for 4 pert cent of the global burden of malaria morbidity and 52 per cent of deaths outside of the WHO African Region. India was among the countries that detected high treatment failure rates and responded by changing their treatment policies, it said. The report added that India and Indonesia were on track to achieve a 2040 per cent reduction in case incidence by 2020. The WHO, the main United Nations health agency, and its partners have launched a country-led 'high burden to high impact' response plan to coincide with the release of the report with the aim of scaling up prevention, treatment and investment to protect vulnerable people, and get reductions in malaria deaths and disease back on track. The plan builds on the principle that no one should die from a disease that can be easily prevented and diagnosed, and that is entirely curable with available treatments. "The world faces a new reality: as progress stagnates, we are at risk of squandering years of toil, investment and success in reducing the number of people suffering from the disease," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "We recognise we have to do something different now," Ghebreyesus said. A positive note was struck in Paraguay, which has this year been certified as malaria free, the first country in the Americas to receive this status in 45 years. The number of countries nearing elimination has now grown from 37 to 46, and three countries Algeria, Argentina and Uzbekistan have requested official malaria-free certification from the WHO. Domestic financing has been identified as key to the success of the WHO's malaria strategy. The UN agency says that funding, which has levelled off, needs to reach at least USD 6.6 billion annually by 2020 more than double the amount available today. Malaria kills an estimated 660,000 people each year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale was on a three-day visit to Bhutan from Sunday, during which he told the Bhutanese leaders that India attaches the highest priority to further expand its cooperation with Thimphu. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides discussed a plethora of bilateral, regional and other issues of mutual interests during Gokhale's visit. Besides holding talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Sonam Tshong, the foreign secretary called on Prime Minister Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering and Foreign Minister Lyonpo Tandi Dorji, it said. Tshering became prime minister last month after his party came out victorious in the general elections in Bhutan. Gokhale's trip was the first high-level visit to Bhutan from India after the elections in the Himalayan nation. Gokhale also had an audience with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. "In his interactions, the foreign secretary conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to further expand its unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, based on the priorities of the Royal Government of Bhutan," the MEA said. It said the two sides discussed all aspects of bilateral relations, including development co-operation, hydro-power cooperation and people-to-people ties. "The two sides also shared their views on regional matters and other issues of mutual interest," the MEA said. It is not immediately known whether the situation in India, China, Bhutan tri-junction in Doklam figured during talks between Gokhale and the Bhutanese Foreign Secretary. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped building of a road in the disputed Doklam tri-junction by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The face-off ended on August 28. China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the dispute in the area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) and Tuesday signed a $500 million deal for construction of two warships in Goa for the under the technology transfer model, officials said. They said the agreement for the project was signed between defence PSU Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and Russia's state-run defence major Rosoboronexport under the government-to-government framework for defence cooperation. Under the deal, will provide design, technology and some materials to GSL for construction of the ships in "We have finalised a $500 million deal with for construction of two warships in Goa," CMD of GSL Shekhar Mital told PTI. He said construction of the ships will begin in 2020 and the first one will be ready for induction in 2026 while second one will be ready by 2027. India and Russia Tuesday sealed a USD 500 million deal for construction of two missile frigates in Goa for the Indian Navy, sending a clear signal of continuing with high-level defence collaborations notwithstanding the US warnings of sanctions. Officials said the agreement for manufacturing of the two Talvar-class warships was signed between defence PSU Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and Russia's state-run defence major Rosoboronexport under the government-to-government framework for defence cooperation. Under the deal, Russia will provide design, technology know how and key materials to GSL for construction of the ships in India. The ships will be fitted with most advanced missiles and other weapon systems, they said. "We have finalised a USD 500 million deal with Russia for construction of two warships in Goa," CMD of GSL Shekhar Mital told PTI. He said construction of the ships will begin in 2020 and the first one will be ready for induction in 2026 while second one will be ready by 2027. The two sides already finalised another deal amounting to around USD 1 billion under which Russia will supply two frigates to India by 2023. Tuesday's agreement came nearly six weeks after India signed an agreement with Russia to buy a batch of S-400 air defence missile systems at a cost of around USD 5 billion. India is going ahead with mega defence deals with Russia disregarding warnings by the US of sanctions. The Trump administration has put several Russian firms under sanctions under Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The US said countries engaged with Russia's defence firms may also face actions under CAATSA. India has been hoping to get a waiver from the US on the deals it was signing with Russia. Russia has been India's largest defence supplier. The defence and security cooperation has been on an upswing between the two countries in the last few years. Yesterday, Russian defence major Rosoboronexport emerged as the lowest bidder in the Indian Army's tender for procurement of a batch of short-range air defence missile systems, official sources said Monday. The other contenders for the deal were Swedish firm SAAB and French military firm MBDA. The size of the contract is likely to be around USD 3 billion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Vietnam agreed to further strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation in the defence and oil and gas sectors as President Ram Nath Kovind held productive and extensive talks with his counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong on Tuesday. Kovind, who is here on a three-day visit, received a military guard of honour at the Vietnamese Presidential Palace before the talks. This is Kovind's first visit to South-East Asia and to the ASEAN region as president. During their talks, the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, according to an official statement. "My talks with President Phu Trong were extensive and productive. Our discussions covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation," Kovind said. The two leaders reiterated the importance of building a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region on the basis of respect for national sovereignty and international law. "We have agreed to further strengthen our bilateral cooperation in defence, peaceful uses of atomic energy and outer space, science and technology, oil and gas, infrastructure development, agriculture and innovation-based sectors," he said. The two nations also signed three MoUs in the fields of communications, education and trade and investment to take the bilateral agenda forward. "We committed to further deepen our defence and security cooperation. I reiterated India's commitment to provide training support for Vietnam Armed Forces. We also reviewed the implementation of the Line of Credit of USD 100 million for building high-speed patrol vessels for the Vietnamese Border Guards," the president said. During their talks the two leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation. They agreed to strengthen the global fight against the menace, the statement said. "We expressed satisfaction that the two countries would soon begin dialogue on strengthening maritime security cooperation," he said. The two nations agreed to encourage their industries to tap into the growing economic opportunities in their own countries and in the region. "India-Vietnam economic relations are on an upswing. Our bilateral trade last year stood at USD 12.8 billion. I am confident that our efforts in facilitating our business interactions will enable us to achieve our bilateral trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020," he said. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of MoUs on communications, cooperation between the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam, between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of in Hanoi and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, and a cooperation agreement between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). The president said his visit to Vietnam came 60 years after the 11-day historic state visit of late Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh to India in 1958. "I am glad that my first visit in the ASEAN region has been to Vietnam, a strategic pillar of India's Act East Policy, and our key interlocutor in ASEAN," Kovind said. As comprehensive strategic partners, India and Vietnam have a strong bilateral relationship based on mutual trust, understanding, convergence of views on regional and international issues and strong cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, the president said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), a newly floated political outfit, Tuesday suggested that opposition parties were delaying the formation of a "maha gathbandhan" due to the fear of the CBI. "Why are they delaying the formation of the maha gathbandhan. Who do they fear? Are they afraid of the CBI," the party's founder, Shivpal Yadav, posed at a press conference here. His remarks came a day after Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu announced in Kolkata, following a meeting with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, that a planned conclave of opposition parties for November 22 has been postponed. Responding to a question, he ruled out the possibility of tying up with the BJP, either in the Lok Sabha or assembly elections. "I had earlier said that they (non-BJP parties) should call me, talk to me. We want 50 per cent of the seats. To remove the BJP from power, we are with them (anti-BJP forces) and will remain with them, but we want 50 per cent seats. Include us," he said. While Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats, the strength of the state Assembly is 403. The PSPL founder said, "The party which we have formed has permission of 'Netaji' (Mulayam Singh Yadav). And, let me tell you, we have been blessed by Netaji and will continue to be blessed by him. I have been with Netaji since childhood and hence I know him more than you (media)." He also said that his nascent party will organise grand celebrations across the state to mark the birthday of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and a dangal (wrestling tournament) will be organized in Saifai -- the ancestoral village of the Yadav family. Mulayam, who will turn 79, was a wrestler before he took a plunge into in 1967. After falling out with nephew and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav after a bitter family feud, Shivpal Yadav launched the Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM) on August 29 and announced his new political party last month after it was registered with the Election Commission. Shivpal also announced that on December 9 his PSPL and Bahujan Mukti Party, a Dalit outfit, will organise a joint rally here on "Samvidhan Bachaao, EVM Hataao, Desh Bachaao". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir government has directed authorities to meet the original target of constructing 60,000 individual household toilets (IHHTs) in urban areas under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in the state. The directions were passed by Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam at the 6th state level apex committee meeting of the flagship SBM (Urban) here, an official spokesman said on Tuesday. Subrahmanyam issued the directions to the implementing agencies to complete the original mission target of constructing 60,000 IHHTs, which was based on the demand received earlier across 80 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the state. You have completed nearly 37,000 IHHTs, now focus on the remaining 23,000 and allocate these rationally across the ULBs and let these be beneficiary led, the chief secretary said. He also called for involving the newly elected ULBs to ensure effective ward-wise implementation and monitoring of the programme. The meeting was informed that about 34,000 IHHTs and 800 community toilets or public toilets have been constructed under the programme till date. Nearly, 3000 IHHTs and 1350 Community Toilets are under construction at the moment, the spokesman said. He said the apex committee also reviewed the status of the solid waste management (SWM) Component of the SBM (U). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A policeman, who had allegedly shot himself over some family issue at the official residence of the Director General of Police (DGP) here, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital Tuesday, police said. Head Constable Subash Chander was on duty at the official residence of the DGP at Bikram Chowk when, it is suspected, he attempted suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at around 10:30 am Monday, they said. Chander was rushed to the government medical college hospital by his colleagues, but he succumbed to his injuries at 11:45 am Tuesday, the official said. A case has been registered under Section 309 (attempt to commit suicide) of the Ranbir Penal Code, police said. DGP Dilbagh Singh has not shifted to his official residence yet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jet Airways Tuesday said it was in active discussion with various investors to secure sustainable financing. "We are in active discussions with various investors to secure sustainable financing to navigate through the current headwinds and create long-term growth. There is interest in our strong brand and confidence in our business turnaround efforts," Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube said in a letter to its passengers. There had been round of buzz that Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata Group was carrying out a due-diligence on Jet Airways. Tata Sons in its reaction has said, "We would like to clarify that any such discussions have been preliminary and no proposal has been made." Jet in the Q2FY19' has posted a net loss of Rs 1,261 crore owing as the tough operating environment for the aviation industry continues to impact. He, however, told its customers that the airline will navigate through these challenging times and work towards our long term growth and profitability. Dube said airline has reviewed its network and was deploying aircraft on more profitable, productive and economically efficient routes. "With the peak season upon us, I am optimistic about our ability to build and accelerate revenue momentum even as we continue to review and improve our network," he said in the letter. "Jet Airways will take delivery of another 6 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft this fiscal and will leverage the same for better cost efficiency," he added. Adding further Dube said, "we have launched new services such as the Mumbai - Manchester non-stop flight and will soon be inaugurating our first daily, direct service from Pune to Singapore, as well as adding services and frequencies on select routes such as Bangkok, Doha, Dammam, Dubai, Kathmandu and Singapore from our hubs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (BLADE) After a seven-year period leading the nations largest LGBT group that culminated in massive gains for LGBT rights supporters on Election Day 2018, Chad Griffin announced Thursday he will step down as president of the Human Rights Campaign. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this incredible organization at such an important moment in the history of our movement and our nation, Griffin said in a statement Thursday. The true strength of the Human Rights Campaign is in its fearless army of staff and volunteers, who are committed to ensuring full equality reaches every LGBTQ person across America, and around the world. For decades, this organization has shown the world that love conquers hate. But this year, in this election, with the future of our democracy on the ballot and the equality of future generations on the line, we proved that votes conquer hate, too. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the HRC Board will work to establish an executive search process for Griffins successor in the coming weeks. Griffin plans to stay on until 2019 to ensure a smooth transition. The news was first reported by the Associated Press. The AP reported Griffin informed staff earlier on Thursday of his intent to depart the Human Rights Campaign. Griffins tenure at the Human Rights Campaign ended with massive gains in a blue wave that resulted in Democratic control of the U.S. House, Jared Polis becoming the first openly gay person elected governor and four new lesbian, gay and bisexual candidates elected to the House. The wins were bolstered this week when Kyrsten Sinema was confirmed as the winner in the U.S. Senate race in Arizona, making her the first openly bisexual person elected to the chamber. The Human Rights Campaign contributed to this effort with a $26 million #TurnOut to vote campaign that sought to motivate the estimated 10 million Americans who identify as LGBT and 52 million Americans who support pro-LGBT policies to vote in the election. The #TurnOUT campaign identified six states Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin on which to focus its efforts. In a conference call with reporters last week, Griffin touted those contributions and said they helped drive the blue wave on Election Day that ousted anti-LGBT members of Congress, calling it the largest grassroots expansion in the history of the Human Rights Campaign. It is not only ousting these anti-LGBT equality members of Congress, Griffin said. If you look at the pro-equality champions they were replaced by, all across the country, in red, blue and purple states alike, they were defeated by not just pro-equality champions, but candidates who actually fought for our votes and made passing the Equality Act one of the top campaign issues in their districts. Griffins work to advance LGBT rights pre-dates his tenure at the Human Rights Campaign. In 2009, shortly after the passage of Proposition 8 in California, Griffin established the American Foundation for Equal Rights, hiring the dream team of Ted Olson and David Boies to challenge the ban on same-sex marriage in court. The lawsuit was filed contrary to wishes of major LGBT rights groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, over fears the lawsuit was too risky and would be unsuccessful. Although the litigation worked its way through the courts for several years before making it to the Supreme Court, where justices ultimately issued a ruling based on standing and not the merits of the case, the lawsuit resulted in the restoration of marriage equality to California. Kris Perry, who along with her spouse Sandy Stier was among the plaintiffs in the Prop 8 case, told the Washington Blade in the aftermath of Griffins announcement hes an incredible leader. I first met him in 1999 after he helped Rob Reiner pass Proposition 10 in California, a tobacco tax that still generates hundreds of millions of dollars in public funding for children zero to five, Perry said. As you know in 2008, Chad turned his attention to fighting Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban in California which he masterfully won. Sandy and I have been HRC supporters since his arrival there in 2011 and we are in awe of the energy, expertise and courage he demonstrates year after year in his fight for human rights, fairness and equality. Chad has improved our lives and the lives of tens of thousands of Americans. Early on in 2012 during his tenure as HRC president, Griffin pushed to increase support for marriage equality by encouraging lawmakers to echo President Obamas declaration of support for same-sex marriage. That year, for the first time, three states Maine, Washington State and Maryland legalized same-sex marriage at the ballot, and one state, Minnesota, rejected a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. In 2013, passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act was a priority for the organization. Griffin coordinated an effort that led to passage of the legislation in the Senate, although the bill never came up in the Republican-controlled House. After the legislative effort petered out, Griffin led efforts to develop and introduce the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to bar not only anti-LGBT discrimination in employment, but also public accommodations, housing, education, jury service, federal programs and credit. Griffin also led the Human Rights Campaign during victories at the Supreme Court for same-sex marriage aside from the decision against Prop 8, including the 2013 decision in the Windsor case against the Defense of Marriage Act and the 2015 decision in the Obergefell case for same-sex marriage nationwide. After the Windsor decision in 2013, many skeptics scoffed when Griffin said full marriage equality would come throughout the country within the five years, but that prediction became reality even sooner when the Obergefell decision was handed down years later. But Griffins tenure wasnt successful in every effort. The Human Rights Campaign was an early supporter of Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential bid and contributed to her election campaign. (Griffin at age 18 was a White House press office manager during the Bill Clinton administration.) Those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful and President Trump and Republican majorities were elected to Congress. However, in that same year, the Human Rights Campaign contributed to efforts to unseat North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory after he signed the anti-trans House Bill 2 barring transgender people from access to restrooms in state government-operations buildings. Despite Trumps success, McCrory in that year was ejected from the governors mansion. Griffin also didnt have consistent adulation from the LGBT community. When the book Forcing the Spring came out in 2014 on the Prop 8 case and compared Griffin to civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks on the first page, Griffin became the butt of criticism from LGBT rights supporters who thought he was taking too much credit for the movement. Griffin, however, distanced himself from the comparison and the controversy abated. Hilary Rosen, a lesbian D.C.-based Democratic activist, said Griffins advancement of LGBT rights is consistent with the overall efforts of the Human Rights Campaign over the decades. The most gratifying thing about HRC is how it has tracked and led the progress of the movement, Rosen said. We have had the right leader for each growth spurt and each political season that has been just right. Chad took this organization to the grassroots at the right time in the right way. Rosen also pointed to Griffins creation of Project One American, a multi-year project that sought to advance support for LGBT rights in the South. He did so much for the movement, but one aspect really sticks out for me, Rosen said. His Arkansas roots gave him the incentive to work harder and smarter to make change for young LGBTQ kids and their families in North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and throughout the South. I think that will go down in history as one of his most singular contributions. Speculation emerged immediately after Griffins departure from the Human Rights Campaign that hed seek to join the campaign of one of the potential 2020 Democratic presidential contenders, such as Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). According to the Associated Press, Harris demurred when asked if shed hire Griffin to help with her presidential campaign, saying only that she hadnt made a decision on entering the race. Harris, however, was public on Twitter on Thursday in her praise for Griffin, predicting history would remember him as a leader in the moment he was needed to lead. is in active discussions with various investors to secure sustainable financing, and cost optimisation efforts have resulted in savings worth Rs 5 billion in the first half of the current financial year, its CEO Vinay Dube has said. In a communication to Jet Privilege members, Dube also said the airline is deploying aircraft on more profitable, productive and economically-efficient routes. Grappling with financial woes, the full-service carrier is looking for investors to tide over the liquidity crisis, which has resulted in delayed payments to some vendors and salaries to a section of its over 16,000 employees. "We are in active discussions with various investors to secure sustainable financing to navigate through the current headwinds and create long-term growth. There is interest in our strong brand and confidence in our business turnaround efforts," Dube said. On November 16, Tata Sons confirmed its interest in acquiring the beleaguered but said no concrete "proposal" has been made by the group so far. Last week, the airline posted a net loss of Rs 12.61 billion for the three months ended September. ALSO READ: Plan to buy beleaguered Jet Airways flies into rough winds with Tata bosses Despite a tough operating environment, Dube said the airline's ancillary revenue grew 10 per cent and cargo revenues rose by over 13.7 per cent in the September quarter compared to the year-ago period. "Even as the domestic market RASK (Revenue per Average Seat Kilometre) showed a decrease, we managed to sustain our RASK due to our strong presence in the international market as well as our loyal corporate customer base," he noted. According to him, efforts to reduce costs have yielded "over Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) of savings in the first half of 2018-19". The airline is to take delivery of six more new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft this financial year. "The nil findings in the last IATA Operational Safety Audit, as well as our DGCA audit clearance over the last couple of months, testify to our commitment to safety, which we have always asserted will be sacrosanct for Jet Airways," Dube said in the communication dated November 19. ALSO READ: Jet may seek debt recast if it fails to get equity infusion and sell assets The IATA is a global grouping of airlines while the DGCA is domestic civil aviation regulator. Jet Privilege, the airline's customer loyalty programme, is majority owned by Etihad Airways, which also has 24 per cent stake in the carrier. ALSO READ: Tata Sons may seek a strict non-compete agreement with Jet Airways On November 19, the government virtually ruled out the possibility of a bailout package for the cash-strapped Jet Airways, with Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu saying that a private airline's management has to make sure that the carrier functions properly. Jadavpur University has received the first instalment of Rs 100-crore central grant in pursuit of its excellence, under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) a scheme that provides financial aid to select state universities to upgrade research facilities. Of the sanctioned amount of Rs 41.66 crore the central share was Rs 25 crore and state's share Rs 16.66 crore a letter signed by Jaydip Mukhopadhyay, the additional state project director of RUSA, said. In its address to the university, the letter, dated November 16, also said that the grant would go towards "enhancing quality and excellence of JU". Vice-chancellor Suranjan Das, on his part, said the sanctioned money will used by the institution to set up new infrastructure and create advanced research facilities. Das also said that he would be meeting the faculty members and other officials to discuss about ways to "fully optimise" the fund within a given timeframe. In Bengal, JU is the first institute of higher education to have got the grant, based on its NAAC accreditation for five years, beginning September 2014. Manojit Mandal, the joint coordinator of Centre for Society and Religion at JU, took to social media on Monday to express his gratitude to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the state government for the fund. "JU is the first to receive more than 40 per cent of the Rs 100 crore grants in the 60:40 ratio... Rs 25 crore by MHRD and Rs 16.66 crore by the state government. Our sincere gratitude to MHRD and the Government of West Bengal," Mandal posted on Facebook on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, whose party has announced to contest both the Lok Sabha and the state Assembly elections in Haryana, will hold rallies covering each of the 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state unit president Naveen Jaihind said the party would hold a public rally in Gurugram on November 24. Then on December 2, the party will hold a rally in Faridabad, followed by another one on December 3 in Narnaul, while on December 9, a rally has been planned in the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency. The schedule for the remaining rallies will be announced later, Jaihind told reporters here Tuesday. He also said Kejriwal will go to Sonipat on Wednesday to give ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to the family of BSF jawan Narender Singh, who was brutally killed by Pakistani troopers along the International Border (IB) near Jammu in September. The AAP government had earlier approved a proposal to amend a rule on giving ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to the kin of slain security personnel to include those who have settled in the national capital after joining the service. On September 21, Kejriwal had also visited Singh's native village. Jaihind said Kejriwal was stopped by BJP activists from visiting a state-run dispensary at Karnal on Saturday and wondered if the M L Khattar-led dispensation "will do the same when he visits the martyr to give the ex-gratia". "Will they stop him here too," he wondered. The Delhi chief minister had recently written to Khattar, expressing his wish to inspect some government dispensaries of Haryana. He had also invited his Haryana counterpart to visit the "mohalla clinics" set up by the AAP dispensation to check the "ground reality" of health institutions in the national capital. Lambasting the Khattar dispensation, Kejriwal had on Saturday said, "The Haryana chief minister is well aware that the condition of hospitals and schools in Delhi is far better than in Haryana." The Haryana CM does not have the courage to either visit health clinics in Delhi or allow the AAP to inspect its own clinics because while the Delhi clinics are so well maintained, those of the Haryana are in a total mess and the BJP government has not done anything to improve them, Jaihind alleged. Jaihind charged the BJP-led Haryana government of tearing down the party's 200 banners and posters in the state. "The BJP does not tear posters and banners of other opposition parties like the Indian National Lok Dal and the Congress. Is the BJP afraid of the AAP," Jaihind asked. He alleged that the BJP government in Haryana had failed on all fronts and the people would vote it out in the next election. Ahead of next year's polls, Kejriwal has made multiple visits to Haryana, which is also his native place, and has projected the AAP as the only viable alternative. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Tuesday condemned the attack on his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat. In a statement here, Vijayan said the Centre must view such incidents seriously. A man, Anil Kumar, who has been detained, had flung chilli powder at Kejriwal outside his office. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kosovo's bid to join Interpol failed on Tuesday during a vote at the body's annual general assembly, dealing a blow to the country's efforts to boost recognition of its statehood. "An application for membership by Kosovo was rejected by the INTERPOL General Assembly," the organization announced from its meeting held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The bid's failure marks a significant setback for Kosovo if it had been approved, Kosovo would have been able to request "red notices" from Interpol for arrests of Serbian officials or figures that authorities in Kosovo consider war criminals. Supported by its ally Russia, Serbia had been lobbying against Kosovo's entry into Interpol. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia. The United States and most of the Western states support Kosovo's statehood. Serbia's leaders rejoiced over the outcome. President Aleksandar Vucic held a press conference hailing the vote as a "victory" for Serbia. "I am proud of our country's struggle," he said. "I want to believe that this will be a clear, undoubted message to Europe and the world to understand that things cannot be solved with one-sided pressure." Kosovo's government expressed disappointment, saying in a statement that "Serbia's wild campaign shows once again its stand against Kosovo and against the idea of normalizing ties." "Voting against Kosovo's accession in this international organization only serves ... criminals and no one should rejoice," it said. The US Embassy in Kosovo also expressed disappointment with the outcome of the vote in Dubai. "Support for Kosovo's INTERPOL membership was never about recognition of Kosovo's independence, but about strengthening global law enforcement cooperation and closing a critical security gap in the Balkans. With this outcome, we all lose," it said. Kosovo needed two-thirds of votes cast to be approved for full membership to Interpol. The body, instead, approved new member countries Kiribati and Vanuatu to join Interpol, bringing global membership to 194 countries. Interpol acts as a clearinghouse for national police services that want to hunt down suspects outside their borders. Its red notices are alerts circulated 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. 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. Member-states have final say on whether or not to make arrests based on the red notices. 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 says it enhanced the work of an appeals body for those targeted with red notices. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days after resigning from the BJP's primary membership, Lok Sabha MP Thupstan Chhewang has said "false" promises and unwise decisions were the reason behind his decision, and not the desire to pursue "spiritual life" as projected. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ladakh MP revealed his reason to quit the BJP and resign from the Lok Sabha ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Chhewang's resignation is yet to be accepted by the party and the Speaker. "I have decided to keep my resignation from the party and the Lok Sabha a low-key (affair) as my intentions were never to score political points. However, I am constrained to give vent to my feelings now in view of the propaganda being indulged by the state party president about my writing (a) letter to the party's central leaders 'for the past around one year' expressing my willingness to quit active and opting for spiritual isolation. This is far from truth," Chhewang said in his letter. Last Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina had said the 71-year-old leader had resigned from the House and the party to pursue a "spiritual life", as he had been suffering from health issues. As a local representative, Chhewang said, his position was increasingly becoming morally-and-politically untenable, with the party and its central leaders exhibiting little concern for implementing its last Lok Sabha election promise that the demand of the Ladakh region for a Union Territory status would be met within "six months". "We exposed ourselves to the charge of making false promises even on such sentimental issues as the inclusion of the Bhoti language in the eighth schedule of the Indian constitution. "I kept on writing to almost all party leaders encroached at times even upon your valuable time and also spoke in the national executive meetings reminding all about our commitment to the region," he said. Chhewang accused the leaders of never caring to logically explain the reasons for the delay in executing the electoral assurances, adding that all pleas fell on deaf ears. Some of the central party leaders and the current state leadership made matters worse by repeatedly rubbing salt into the wounds of Ladakh, he alleged. "I felt that I had no choice but to keep away from their thoughtless actions in our region." Chhewang said it was strange that the party decided to contest all seats in the Kargil hill development council elections, where it had no base, while diverting resources, energy and attention from about half-a-dozen seats where the party had a winning chance. Pointing out to the way the chief executive councilor of the Leh Hill development council was "unceremoniously" dropped, much to the anger and anguish of the party loyalists, the Ladakh MP said all these measures had left the local workers in a state of disarray. "These are examples of the total absence of application of mind with the 2019 parliamentary elections round the corner." "In 2014 and its aftermath we had the privilege of you as the prime minister going around the country projecting the first time BJP victories in the Ladakh parliamentary constituency and the Leh hill council as signs of the increasing reach of the party. What could you tell (the) people now?" he asked. Chhewang said what was achieved five years ago was on the strength of the "slogans" which, to the electorate at large, would sound like "empty rhetoric" at this juncture. Reacting to the letter of Chhewang, Raina said the Ladakh MP was not politically active for the last one-and-a-half years and remained aloof from the party activities during the recently-held Kargil autonomous hill development and urban local body polls. "He (Chhewang) had himself told many prominent party leaders, including myself during a recent visit to Ladakh, about his plan to leave and visit Bodh Gaya (in) Bihar to pursue spirituality in accordance with Buddhism." Raina said the Union Territory for Ladakh was in the manifesto of the BJP and was discussed a number of times at party level. "The BJP is the only party which always supported the demand and, after becoming MLA, I, personally, moved a private members' bill for the Union territory status for Ladakh, given its topography, large area, and security concerns in view its proximity to Pakistan and China, but the bill was not taken up and was dropped," he said. Raina said in view of Article 370 of the Constitution, such a bill was needed to be passed by a two-third majority, but the BJP was in the coalition government and did not enjoy the numbers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan police on Tuesday reversed its decision to remove a top detective investigating alleged crimes by the family and associates of disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa following pressure from the civil society. Removing detective Nishantha Silva was seen as a latest move in the ongoing political crisis as President Maithripala Sirisena forged a new alliance with Rajapaksa. The country plunged into a crisis on October 26 when President Sirisena controversially sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former strongman Rajapaksa. Officials said the transfer of inspector Silva, who handled many cases of murder and abduction of journalists and serious crimes committed under the Rajapaksa regime was cancelled by the police chief following inquiries by the police commission. The cases handled by Silva included the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunga, the editor of the Sunday Leader who was a critic of the Rajapaksa regime. Silva was also the main investigator in the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda, another high-profile case during the Rajapaksa administration. Reports said that Sirisena asked the police chief to transfer Silva out of the crime investigation department. However, the independent police commission on public complaints asked the police chief to cancel the transfer. Commenting on the police commission's intervention, Wickremesinghe said that the cancelation of Silva's transfer "symbolised the functioning of strong democratic institutions against arbitrary and tyrannical moves of the executive." The daughter of Wickrematunga, Ahimsa in a letter to Sirisena on Tuesday said, "I know Inspector Silva as the lead investigator into the murder of my father Lasantha Wickrematunga who was bludgeoned to death on 8 January 2009. "You will be remembered as the president who tried to stop some of the most high-profile criminal investigations in the country and failed. Make no mistake Mr President if you try to stand in the way of justice for my father and other victims of brutality, you will fail," she said in the letter which was released to the media. Since 2015 when Rajapaksa was defeated by Sirisena, the Rajapaksa family members and close associates were arrested on many cases of alleged wrong doing. Sirisena's decision to sack the prime minister drew international criticism. He later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court last week overturned President Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls on January 5. Monday's session was conducted peacefully. The House was adjourned till November 23 ten minutes after its opening. Last week, Sri Lanka's parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan police did a U-turn on Tuesday and reversed its decision to transfer a top detective investigating alleged crimes by the family and associates of disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa following pressure from civil society groups. Removing Inspector Nishantha Silva was seen as a latest move in the ongoing political crisis as President Maithripala Sirisena forged a new alliance with ex-strongman Rajapaksa. The country plunged into a crisis on October 26 when President Sirisena controversially sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa. Officials said the transfer of Silva, who handled many cases of murder and abduction of journalists and serious crimes committed under the Rajapaksa regime was cancelled by the police chief following inquiries by the police commission. The cases handled by Silva included the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunga, the editor of the Sunday Leader who was a critic of the former Rajapaksa regime. Silva was also the main investigator in the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda, another high-profile case during the Rajapaksa administration. Reports said President Sirisena asked police chief Pujith Jayasundera to transfer Silva out of the crime investigation department. On Monday, Silva, Officer-In-Charge of the Organised Crimes Investigation Division of Crimes Investigation Department (CID) was transferred to the Negombo Police Division for normal duties. However, the independent police commission on public complaints asked Jayasundera, the Inspector General of Police to cancel Silva's transfer. Commenting on the police commission's intervention, Wickremesinghe said that the cancelation of Silva's transfer "symbolised the functioning of strong democratic institutions against arbitrary and tyrannical moves of the executive." Meanwhile, the daughter of Wickrematunga, Ahimsa in a letter to President Sirisena on Tuesday said, "I know Inspector Silva as the lead investigator into the murder of my father Lasantha Wickrematunga who was bludgeoned to death on 8 January 2009." "You will be remembered as the president who tried to stop some of the most high-profile criminal investigations in the country and failed. Make no mistake Mr President if you try to stand in the way of justice for my father and other victims of brutality, you will fail," she said in the letter which was released to the media. Since 2015 when Rajapaksa was defeated by Sirisena, the Rajapaksa family members and close associates were arrested on many cases of alleged wrong doing. Sirisena's decision to sack prime minister Wickremesinghe has attracted international criticism. He later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court last week overturned President Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls on January 5. Monday's session was conducted peacefully. The House was adjourned till November 23, ten minutes after its opening. Last week, Sri Lanka's Parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 27-year-old Nepali citizen who had fled to India after allegedly raping a minor a week ago has been arrested from Gurgaon near India's capital New Delhi, police said Tuesday. Rajan Bika, a resident of Bharatpur Municipality in central Nepal's Chitawan district, allegedly took a 12-year-old girl to an isolated place in the evening of November 10 and raped her, they said, adding a case was filed by the victim the next day. Following which, police managed to track Bika's mobile location in Bardaghat and Butwal, and deployed teams to arrest him. According to police, the accused, along with his wife, managed to escape to India via Sunauli border and reached New Delhi. A team, under Inspector Ganesh Poudel, was also sent to India to arrest the accused. "The police team, in plainclothes, visited New Delhi along with the victim's family members and arrested the accused a week after committing the crime from Gurgaon, near New Delhi, on Sunday, " said a senior police officer at Chitawan District Police Office. He was produced at the Chitawan district court which remanded him to 10 day police custody for further investigation into the case, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LGBT protections in the new North American Free Trade Agreement have triggered GOP lawmakers in the House to urge President Donald Trump to rescind them, Politico reported. A trade agreement is no place for the adoption of social policy, reads the GOP lawmaker letter. It is especially inappropriate and insulting to our sovereignty to needlessly submit to social policies which the United States Congress has so far explicitly refused to accept. The forty conservative House members sent the letter to Trump Friday, expressing displeasure with pro-LGBT clauses in the pending US-Mexico-Canada-Agreement, which require signatory countries to bolster their anti-discrimination policies for LGBT people. The USMCA, which is an update of the existing NAFTA, would make adjustments to rules on cars, dairy, and other goods flowing between the US, Canada, and Mexico, Business Insider reported. The LGBT clauses would require policies that protect workers against employment discrimination on the basis of sex, including with regard to pregnancy, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, [and] gender identity. The House GOP Nov. 16 letter urges Trump to remove the sexual orientation and gender identity language from the crucial trade deal. But any such changes would be difficult to make. The deal is set to be signed at the G20 summit on Nov. 30, and the Canadian Prime Minister is unlikely to accept any side deals allowing the U.S. to ease up the protections. According to Politico, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus administration wanted an entire chapter on gender equality, but succeeded at getting gender discrimination, [defined] more broadly, included in the deal," a Canadian official said. "We viewed it as important to get gender identity included in the agreement, Its a win for us." Trudeau stated on Nov. 18 that every country will go through its own ratification process, CTV News reported. "Canada will, the United States will," he said. "But we're going to let the American officials and administration focus on their ratification process while we focus on ours." Angry over low attendance of ministers and officials at a government function here, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has sought resignation of the ministers and officials who have no concern for the people. The chief minister made the statement at the 'Quami Ekta Week' (National Integration week) function organised at the premises of the Manipur Rifles on Monday, an official release said. The ministers and officials should resign if they do not discharge their duties for the welfare of the people with sincerity and dedication, he said. The function, organised by the state government, was attended by a handful of ministers, legislators and officials, the release said. All elected representatives and senior officials need to be the role model for the public and do exemplary work during their service period, he said. He cautioned the authority concerned to do the needful to avoid low attendance at any state level function in future and said nothing could be achieved without discipline. Recalling former prime minister late Indira Gandhi for maintaining the unity and integrity of the country, he said the present NDA government under Narendra Modi had started giving recognition to unsung heroes of the battle for independence of the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A hardcore Maoist belonging to the proscribed outfit CPI(Maoist) Tuesday surrendered before the Bihar police in Muzaffarpur district, a police officer said. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Muzaffarpur, Manoj Kumar, said that Binay Kumar alias Binay Ram, wanted in several criminal cases, surrendered before him. Binay Kumar was the area commander of Tirhut sub-zonal committee of CPI (Maoist), the SSP said. He is a resident of Bahuara village in East Champaran district, the SSP added. Several cases were lodged against Binay Kumar in different police stations in Muzaffarpur and East Champaran districts, the police officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Melissa McCarthy will be felicitated with the Spotlight Award during the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The 48-year-old actor will receive the award from Richard E Grant in recognition of her acclaimed portrayal of the troubled author Lee Israel in Marielle Heller's dramedy "Can You Ever Forgive Me?". "Melissa McCarthy delivers a heartbreaking performance as author Lee Israel, perfectly portraying Israel's loneliness as she struggles with her own relevance in society," festival chairman Harold Matzner said Monday in a statement. "McCarthy's dramatic turn is truly captivating and deserving of awards recognition. It is our honour to present this year's Spotlight Award to her," he added. The award will be presented to the actor on January 3, 2019, the opening day of the festival, at the Palm Springs Convention Centre. Past recipients of the Spotlight Award include Amy Adams, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Andrew Garfield, Helen Hunt, Allison Janney, Rooney Mara, Julia Roberts and JK Simmons. The organisers had earlier announced that actors Glenn Close and Rami Malek will be presented with the Icon Award and the Breakthrough Performance Award, respectively, during the festival. The 30th edition of the film festival will run from January 3 to 14, 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Stranger Things" star Millie Bobby Brown has been named UNICEF's youngest-ever Goodwill Ambassador. The appointment was marked on World Children's Day at United Nations Headquarters and the Empire State Building in New York. "It's a dream come true to become a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. It's a huge honour to join such an impressive list of people who have supported UNICEF over the years. I am looking forward to meeting as many children and young people as I can, hearing their stories, and speaking out on their behalf," Brown, 14, said in a press release shared on UNICEF's official website. As a Goodwil Ambassador, Brown will use her global platform to raise awareness of children's rights and issues affecting young people, such as poor education, violence, bullying and poverty. Brown has supported UNICEF's work since 2016, hosting its 70th anniversary celebrations at the United Nations in 2016, and championing UNICEF's inaugural World Children's Day last year. She joins a list of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors including Muzoon Almellehan, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, Jackie Chan, Priyanka Chopra, Danny Glover, Ricky Martin, Leo Messi, Liam Neeson, Shakira and Lilly Singh. "I'm delighted to welcome Millie to the UNICEF family, particularly on World Children's Day a day that is all about giving children and young people a voice. Children are their own best advocates. I know that Millie will use her passion and dedication to defend the rights of vulnerable children and young people everywhere," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A close aide of Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal case, on Tuesday appeared before the CBI and said she was not aware of what happened at the shelter home. Stating that she was not an accused nor a warrant had been issued against her, Madhu said she decided to meet CBI officials as the investigators visited her residence several times causing inconvenience to her family members. "I have nothing to fear as I was not even associated with the shelter home which is under scanner. I did work for Thakur but I have no knowledge of what happened there," Madhu told reporters with her face covered with a dupatta. CBI officials took her inside their camp office located in the district court premises here. She was accompanied by her lawyers. "I am ready to extend full cooperation to the CBI, though I am privy to no secrets. I cannot say whether Thakur was involved in any illegal activities. Although I also handled the affairs of some of his newspapers, I deny reports that I used to liaison with ministers and other VIPs to promote Thakur's business," she said before going inside the CBI office. Asked about reports that she had been hiding in Nepal, Madhu replied with a laugh that she was very much in Bihar and not in hiding. "I had no reason to hide. The reason I have now chosen to appear before the CBI is that recently the investigators have visited my residence a number of times and this was causing inconvenience to my family members," she said. Madhu, who was earlier known as Shaista, was a resident of Chaturbhuj Sthan locality in the town and had come in contact with Thakur a few years back when a drive was launched to rehabilitate girls from a red light area there. Media reports claimed that she used to manage the affairs of all NGOs owned by Thakur, including the Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti, which ran the shelter home where inmates were sexually abused. The issue was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to the state's social welfare department. An FIR was lodged on May 31 against 11 people, including Thakur, who was running the shelter home. The probe was later taken over by the CBI and so far 17 people including Thakur have been arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday stressed on the need for immediate reform in judiciary and said it, along with the legislature, should jointly work to ensure that the right candidates are chosen through a transparent selection process. He said it is necessary for the three institutions -- the judiciary, the legislature and the executive -- to ensure that there is a healthy coordination and respect for each other for the development of the country. A statement quoting Naidu said, "The vice president emphasised on immediate reform in judiciary and said that the judiciary and the legislature should jointly ensure that right candidates are chosen through a quick and transparent selection process." The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, which sought to give more say to the government in the appointments of the Supreme court and high court judges, was struck down by the apex court. The vice president was speaking at 104th birth anniversary of former Supreme Court judge Justice Krishna Iyer. Naidu also emphasised that there should be a collective endeavour to strengthen judiciary, legislature and the executive, and not weaken them. It is necessary to ensure that the public confidence is not eroded in these institutions, he added. The vice-president, who is also the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, asserted that there have been no major conflicts between the three major organs and this mutual respect for each other's powers, roles and responsibilities has strengthened the country's democracy. "It should be our concern and collective endeavour to strengthen judiciary, legislatures and the executive, not weaken them. We should ensure that the public confidence is not eroded in these institutions," the vice president's official handle tweeted. Naidu also added that it was necessary to collectively strive to deliver what the Preamble of Constitution has promised: justice -- social, economic and political -- to all citizens. He said the judiciary can play a critical role in accelerating India's transformation and in ensuring that justice is delivered speedily, transparently and dispassionately. "No doubt the judiciary is overburdened. We need to step up the reformation of our legal system. We need men and women who are sensitive to the complex interplay of socio-economic, cultural and political realities of contemporary India," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-owned NBCC (India) posted 3 per cent decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 76.24 crore for the quarter ended September 2018. Its net profit stood at Rs 78.59 crore in the year-ago period, according to a regulatory filing. Total income rose to Rs 1,465.30 crore during the second quarter of this fiscal from Rs 1,363.41 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. On standalone basis, NBCC posted 16 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 85.96 crore in the reported quarter as against Rs 74.12 crore in the year-ago period, the company said in a statement Tuesday. Total income rose 43 per cent to Rs 1,646.48 crore from Rs 1,153.71 crore during the period under the review. NBCC CMD Anoop Kumar Mittal said EBITDA of this quarter is not comparable with same quarter of the previous year. In the September quarter of 2017-18, the company accounted for some upfront fee for DPR (detailed project report) preparation as per the old policy but with change in accounting norms from April 2018, the upfront fee for DPR preparation is now accounted for as advance and not as part of top line and bottom line at the time of receipt, he said. The upfront fee for DPR preparation will become the part of top line and bottom line during the execution of the project. "Hence the margin of Project Management Consultancy (PMC) segment in the current year would also remain in the range of 6.5 to 7 per cent," Mittal said. NBCC said its 88 per cent of business revenue comes under PMC segment. Its order book has touched nearly Rs 1,00,000 crore. During the reported quarter, NBCC has bagged various projects from state governments like Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jharkhand to name a few. NBCC said it has recently invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from developers to jointly build commercial and residential real estate projects as a co-developer in Delhi-NCR. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NIA Tuesday filed a charge sheet against Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, deputy chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group and brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, and 13 others in connection with a case pertaining to the attack on an Army camp in Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir in November 2016, officials said. The spokesman of the NIA said in a statement that the charge sheet was filed under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (substitute of IPC in Jammu and Kashmir), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Foreigners Act against the accused. "Investigation conducted by the NIA revealed that four local Kashmiri JeM members, namely Mohd. Ashiq Baba alias Mohd. Ashaq, Syed Munir-Ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmad Dar and Ashraf Hamid Khandey (all arrested by NIA) had facilitated a group of three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists and transported them from International Border in Samba-Kathua sector to Hotel Jagdamba in Jammu and subsequently to Nagrota in their vehicles for the attack on the November 28, 2016 on Officers' Mess Complex, 166 Medium Regiment of Indian Army in Nagrota Cantonment (near Jammu)," the spokesman said. The three Pakistani JeM terrorists -- Khalid alias Abu Hissam, Numan and Aadil, who were highly trained and equipped with AK-47 rifles and explosives carried out the attack in which seven Army personnel were killed and three were injured. All the three terrorists were killed. The NIA said the probe showed that Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, Deputy Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad and brother of Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was the mastermind of the Nagrota attack. "He worked out the plan of Fidyeen (suicide) attack and provided training to above three Pakistani JeM terrorists. He also directed Mufti Asgar (launch commander of JeM in Kashmir region) to provide training, funds, equipment and mobile and other logistics to local JeM member Mohd. Ashiq Baba. Mohd Ashiq Baba had visited Pakistan many times and met JeM terrorists Waseem (Operational commander of JeM), Abu Talha alias Doctor (deputy commander in Jammu region) and Qari Zarar (launch commander of JeM for Jammu region). He was taken for a meeting with Mufti Asgar at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On reaching there he was received by Abdullah alias Al Hijama and Tariq Mir, both JeM terrorists who are close associates of Mufti Asgar. "During meeting with top leadership of JeM commanders Mufti Asgar chalked out a detailed plan including the modus operandi to be adopted for infiltration of JeM terrorists and he asked Ashiq to activate local JeM network in Jammu and Kashmir for Jehadi cause. Ashiq Baba was given training at Manshera in Pakistan and handed over money for arranging logistics along with a GPS enabled Huawei mobile phone for communication with JeM leaders in Pakistan," the spokesman said. The NIA has collected evidence on the basis of disclosure of the accused, detailed social media analysis, digital evidence through requests under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and analysis of data extracted from the seized digital devices. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nissan and Mitsubishi shares plunged Tuesday, as the automakers prepared to oust chairman Carlos Ghosn a day after he was arrested for alleged financial misconduct. Details began to emerge about the allegations against Ghosn, whose arrest sent shockwaves through the auto industry, including claims that "huge sums" were spent on homes for him in four countries. His legacy appeared in danger of total collapse, with his own handpicked successor as Nissan CEO accusing Ghosn of accruing too much power, in what he called the "dark side" of his leadership. The spectacular fall of the Brazil-born executive, which Japan's top government spokesman called "truly regrettable," also raised questions about the future of the sometimes fractious alliance he led of Nissan, Mitsubishi and Renault. Nissan and Mitsubishi have said they will propose his removal as chairman, with Renault's board also meeting to discuss his fate. The automakers and Japanese government officials said they would work to protect the alliance. "Keeping a stable relationship (among the three companies) is important," industry minister Hiroshige Seko told reporters. On Tuesday there were still many unanswered questions about the allegations against a man long credited with an almost magical ability to turn around ailing auto companies. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said a months-long investigation prompted by a whistleblower had uncovered years of financial wrongdoing, including under-reporting of Ghosn's salary and misuse of company assets. Prosecutors said they were holding him as they probed allegations he had under-reported his income by around five billion yen (USD 44.5 million) over five years. Public broadcaster NHK reported Nissan has provided Ghosn with houses in four countries "without any legitimate business reason," and that Nissan paid "huge sums" for the homes in Rio de Janeiro, Beirut, Paris and Amsterdam. It also reported that some compensation due to other executives ended up going to Ghosn, without specifying how the process had worked. At the close of Tokyo trade, Nissan was down 5.45 per cent while Mitsubishi had fallen 6.84 per cent. The shock of Ghosn's arrest was compounded by the harsh language levelled against him by Saikawa, who in a conference accused the titan of accruing too much power. "Too much authority was given to one person in terms of governance," he told reporters at Nissan's headquarters in Yokohama on Monday. "I have to say that this is a dark side of the Ghosn era which lasted for a long time." It was an almost unthinkable turn of events for Ghosn, 64, who had earned a virtually unparallelled reputation, particularly in Japan, for his role in resurrecting Nissan. Ghosn has dominated the country's corporate landscape, and is a well-known figure among the Japanese public, who know him as "Mr Fix It", partly through a popular manga comic of his life story. But the tables had turned Tuesday, with the Yomiuri Shimbun describing executives at Nissan slamming Ghosn as "greedy". "He says the right things, but in the end it's all about money," the daily quoted senior employees as saying. It was unclear how long Ghosn could be held, or even when prosecutors would officially announce the charges against him. Local media reported prosecutors had negotiated a plea bargain for only the second time since Japanese law changed this year that would allow Nissan officials who are cooperating to receive lesser charges or lighter penalties. Nissan said the ongoing investigation had uncovered years of misconduct by Ghosn and Representative Director Greg Kelly but refused to be drawn on whether other people were involved, saying only: "These two gentlemen are the masterminds, that is definite." The sparked concern in France, where the state owns a 15 per cent stake in Renault. President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would be "extremely vigilant" about the stability of the firm and its three-way tie-up. Despite his international renown and rock-star status, particularly in Japan, where he was a rare foreign-born executive, Ghosn was not without detractors. He earned admiration but also anger for his ruthless restructuring at firms like Nissan, and was nicknamed "Le Cost Cutter" in France. And his pay packet was regularly the subject of criticism, including at Renault, where it sparked a spat with shareholders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NMDC Limited has suspended iron ore- from its Donimalai mine in following the decision of the State government to impose 80 per cent premium on the sales from the mine, according to a regulatory filing by the public sector undertaking. The company said it has requested the government to reconsider its decision and the Chief Minister had convened a meeting with senior officials on November 14. "In response to our representation, the Chief Minister had convened the urgent high-level meeting on November 14 in Bengaluru and directed all the concerned to re-look into the representation given by us regarding the legal and other issues raised," the company said. The meeting ended on a positive note and there was information that the cabinet has not taken any decision to cancel the lease of Donimalai to NMDC, it said. Pending the decision on representation by the Karnataka government, production has been temporarily suspended, the NMDC said. Sources said if the decided to stick to the 80 per cent premium, NMDC would be losing Rs 1,348 per tonne and may result in a loss of Rs 9.44 billion per annum as it mines about seven million tonnes of per annum from Donimalai. The lease of Donimalai mine has already been extended by the with effect from November 4 for 20 years, NMDC said. The Karnataka cabinet has approved the lease of Donimalai till November 2038, on payment of 80 per cent of the average sale value as published by Indian Bureau of Mines, the NMDC said. "Since imposition of such conditions is not according to the MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2015 read with Mineral (Mining by Government Companies) Rules, 2015 and as it is also not economically viable, we have raised the issue with the Karnataka Chief Minister," the NMDC said. (BLADE) A lesbian Republican activist who fought for acceptance of marriage equality within her party will become the new executive director of the National Log Cabin Republicans, the organization announced Tuesday. Jerri Ann Henry, a communications strategist and GOP consultant, will take the helm of Log Cabin in the aftermath of the departure of Gregory Angelo, who announced in the weeks before the election hed step down from the LGBT Republican group. Log Cabin Republicans have a rich history of grassroots activism and a legacy of great leaders, and there is no other organization better suited to offer solutions to todays challenging political environment than us, Henry said in a statement. Im humbled to step into this leadership role, and I dont take it lightly I believe my experience with the Republican Party and LGBTQ community, combined with this incredible team will allow us to build a strong, effective movement and grow the Republican Party of the future. Henry, who is the first woman to lead Log Cabin, will assume head of the organization as a new chapter begins in Washington with Democrats in control of the U.S. House after victories on Election Day. Prior to her new position, Henry was the head of the Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, a group that sought to encourage support for marriage equality within the Republican Party leading up to the U.S. Supreme Courts 2015 decision for marriage equality nationwide. Henry also headed the Platform Reform campaign that sought to eliminate opposition to same-sex marriage in the 2016 Republican Party platform. We believe its not consistent with Republican values, Henry told the Washington Blade in 2015. Were pro-limited government, were very pro-family. Having more families is a big deal in our community and makes for a more stable society. We would like to replace the hateful language with inclusive language that reinforces our commitment to the values of limited government, individual freedom and family, but is inclusive of all those views. Henrys efforts, however, were ultimately unsuccessful. Not only did the Republican platform affirm opposition to same-sex marriage and support a constitutional amendment reversing that decision, the document was declared by Log Cabin itself as the most anti-LGBT ever. According to Log Cabin, Henry has worked in the last decade in D.C. on digital engagement tools for businesses and non-profit organizations. She has been recognized as a Rising Star by Campaigns & Elections and a Future 40 Leader by Maverick PAC. Henry has also served in leadership roles with Maverick PAC, Young Republicans of Alexandria, Womens Public Leadership Network (WPLN), the National Federation of Republican Women and the Texas State Society. A native of Dallas, Texas and a graduate of Texas A&M University, Henry resides with her spouse and their dog in Alexandria, Virginia. Angelo praised the selection of Henry as the new leader of Log Cabin in a statement, recognizing her past work in LGBT activism within the Republican Party. As someone who has known Jerri Ann Henry for years, I couldnt be more pleased to see the Log Cabin Republicans and Liberty Education Forum Boards of Directors have chosen her to continue the proud legacy of both organizations into the future, Angelo said. The Delhi University (DU) Tuesday ruled out fresh elections for DUSU presidency in the wake of Ankiv Baisoya resigning from the post over furnishing a fake degree, saying the period had already expired. The DU told Delhi High Court Justice Yogesh Khanna that according to the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, fresh elections can only be held if a post falls vacant within two months of the declaration of results. Senior advocate P Chidambaram, appearing for NSUI leader Sunny Chillar who has challenged Baisoya's election, said once the degree is found to be fake, the nomination itself becomes void ab-initio and therefore, the two-month period for conducting fresh elections won't apply in this case. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Pinky Anand, appearing for DU, told the court that the office of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president fell vacant on November 14, and the two-month period expired on November 13 as the poll results were declared on September 13. She said that once the two-month has expired, elections cannot be held and "it is open to DU to declare the DUSU vice president as the president". Chidambaram said the DU should have properly scrutinised Baisoya's certificates at the time of admission and while accepting his nomination. "They should have carried out the verification sooner," he said and added that the issue of fake degree was brought to the varsity's notice much earlier. "Even if I don't attribute motive, I will attribute lethargy and tardiness," Chidambaram said referring to how the DU "dragged" the verification process. "He (Baisoya) should never have been nominated. Fresh elections should be held," the senior lawyer said. During the hearing, the ASG said that action was taken against Baisoya on November 14 after receiving a letter from the Thiruvalluvar University confirming that his bachelor's degree was fake. After hearing both the sides, the court reserved its order. National Students Union of India (NSUI) leader Sunny Chillar had lost to Baisoya in the race for the post of DUSU president. In his plea, Chillar had also sought a time-bound inquiry into the allegation that Baisoya gained admission in MA Buddhist Studies in DU on the basis of a fake degree. Chillar, also represented by advocates V Elanchezhiyan and Rashid N Azam, had earlier alleged that the DU was "deliberately delaying" verification to benefit the ABVP as no fresh polls would be held for the post of DUSU president in case Baisoya's election was set aside over the fake degree issue after expiry of the the two-month period. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Ezra Miller has revealed that the "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" cast was not consulted when Johnny Depp was roped in for the film. Depp's casting as the villain, Gellert Grindelwald, in the franchise had led to a huge uproar as he was accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife Amber Heard, an allegation the actor has denied. In an interview with Playboy, Miller, who plays the role of Credence Barebones in the franchise, was asked whether they were aware that Depp has been cast in the series. "No, none of us were consulted. None of us knew," he replied. The 26-year-old actor then gave a cryptic answer as to how he felt working with Depp. "Look, I bring forth my work to this job, and I do the best that I can. I would say that literally every single aspect of my reality, inclusive of a lot of things that are not fine with me, are fine with me. It's amazing how far the banner of all good can extend," Miller said. Author JK Rowling and director David Yates have both defended Depp's casting in the series, whose latest installment "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" released worldwide on November 16. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Odisha Assembly Tuesday witnessed a noisy scene as BJP legislators demonstrated in the Well of the House and accused the Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of having a secret pact with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Unable to run the House, Speaker P K Amat adjourned the proceedings, thrice, till 3 pm. The issue was raised by the BJP lawmakers as soon as the House assembled for the Question Hour. They rushed to Well of the House and raised slogans against both the chief minister and the opposition leader. Even an all party meeting convened by the Speaker to resolve the matter failed to yield any result. The members of the BJP led by Rabi Naik claimed that Odisha's interest has been compromised due to the nexus between the leader of opposition and the chief minister. "This is something like 'Chor Machae Shor' (thief raising a hue and cry). All of us know that the BJD and the BJP are brothers. They are two sides of the same coin. The Congress has all along opposed the BJD government in the Assembly and outside," the Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA, Narasingha Mishra, said outside the House. BJP legislature party leader KV Singhdeo alleged that the Congress members deliberately create a ruckus whenever the BJP wants to raise a pertinent issue in the House. "Yesterday, we had decided to raise the issue relating to the felling of trees for a beer-bottling plant in Dhenkanal district. But the BJD members, in order to divert the attention of the House, had come up with a letter related to the slashing of the post-matric scholarship fund for the Scheduled Caste students by the Centre. To stall the House proceedings, the Congress members also rushed to the Well of the House, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House till 3 pm," Singhdeo said. "There are several instances in the past which justifies a secret alliance between the Congress and the BJD," Singhdeo said. BJP member Pradip Purohit said former Leader of the Opposition of Congress, Bhupinder Singh, who had criticised the BJD on a number of occasions in the Assembly, later joined the BJD and became a Rajya Sabha MP. "The present Leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra is also following the footsteps of his predecessor. The former Koraput Congress MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria had told the media about the close affinity of the opposition leader with Naveen," Purohit said. Coming down heavily on the BJP, BJD leader Sanjay Dasburma said the saffron party had no moral right to make any statement on issues relating to the interest of the state. Their attitude is a threat to democracy, he said. BJD spokesman and MLA Pushpendra Singhdeo said the BJD had been maintaining equi-distance from both the Congress and the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that the Congress candidate in Nirmal constituency in poll-bound Telangana attempted to bribe him by offering Rs 25 lakh to cancel his rally in support of the TRS in the town, a charge denied by the latter. Addressing a public meeting organised by his party in Nirmal on Monday night, Owaisi alleged that A Maheshwar Reddy called a MIM leader on phone and offered to pay Rs 25 lakh as bribe to stop him from holding the meeting. He also claimed to have recorded the conversation. Rejecting the charge, Reddy termed it as baseless and false and said he would quit if Owaisi proved it. MIM, which is on friendly terms with the TRS, has not fielded its candidate in Nirmal Assembly seat, and organised the meeting in support of the ruling party candidate though there was no formal electoral tie-up between the two parties for the December 7 Assembly elections. The MIM is contesting eight seats -- all in Hyderabad -- while the TRS is going it alone in the polls to the 119-member assembly. Congress heading a 'grand alliance' of TDP, CPI and TJS has announced candidates for 94 segments. "Now when this jalsa (meeting) is happening the Congress people tried to buy Asaduddin Owaisi. Maheshwar (Reddy) phoned a MIM leader telling him to stop Owaisi Saheb, (and) will give Rs 25 lakh party fund. I have the recording (of that phone conversation)," Owaisi said at the meeting. This Congress candidate wants to buy my party for Rs 25 lakh. "Ye log samajthe hain ham apni jamat ka sauda karenge" (these people think we do deal for our party) Rs 25 lakh that is the sign of their arrogance," the Hyderabad MP alleged. Strongly refuting Owaisis allegations, Reddy dared Owaisi to prove the charge with evidence. "Why should somebody stop someone's rally. Owaisi has already started campaigning for TRS party and now this man says that he is being stopped with an offer of Rs 25 lakh. Why somebody will offer him Rs 25 lakh and why he will stop," he told PTI. "I want to make it very clear if really somebody had called him or met him or if he has any evidence let him show the evidences. I am ready to take it as a challenge and I am ready to quit if it is proved. Is he ready to quit politics, if it is untrue? he asked. They were talking of something which was "baseless and false", he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Karachi-bound aircraft landed at the Jaipur International Airport Tuesday after a technical problem, an airport official said. The pilot of the Cirrus SR20 plane sought permission to land following a door open warning. The plane, on what was described as a chartered flight from Lucknow to Karachi, was not carrying any passengers. The small plane can normally carry four or five passengers. The aircraft flew for Karachi after a detailed examination that lasted for three hours, airport director J S Balhara said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's powerful Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Tuesday that his country "has done much more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country", in an apparent reference to the US which is fighting the Taliban militants since 2001 to restore peace in the war-torn nation. Gen Bajwa's remarks came in the midst of a war of words between Pakistan and US after President Donald Trump berated Islamabad for lack of cooperation in the war on terror. Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted General Bajwa's views about Afghanistan and the war on terror. "Pakistan has successfully fought against terrorism while also contributing to regional peace. Pakistan has done much more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country," Gen Bajwa said. He said Pakistan has "paid the highest military, economic, political and social cost and the world should acknowledge that". "We shall continue to contribute towards peace in Afghanistan," the army chief said, "but Pakistan's honour and Pakistan's security shall always stay premier". Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday reacted sharply to President Trump's remarks, saying that instead of making Pakistan a "scapegoat" for its failures in Afghanistan, the US should find out why the Taliban has emerged stronger than before. Pakistan on Tuesday summoned US charge d'affaires Paul Jones to register a strong protest over Trump's "baseless allegations" on harbouring al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, saying it was a "closed chapter of history" and could seriously undermine bilateral ties. Trump on Sunday defended his administration's decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough to curb terrorism and criticised Islamabad for offering a hideout to slain al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad. The US, which is fighting the Taliban militants since 2001 in Afghanistan, continues to seek an exit strategy from the troubled country and in recent months Washington has held direct talks with the Taliban representatives to end the 17 year long war. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan has issued visas to over 3,800 Sikh pilgrims to participate in the birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev there from November 21-30. These visas are in addition to those issued to Sikh pilgrims participating in the event from other countries, the Pakistan High Commission here said in a statement on Tuesday. "This is by far the largest number of visas issued in recent years to Sikh yatrees for Baba Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebrations, well beyond the maximum number of 3000, mutually agreed between the two countries for this event," the statement said. Under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, a large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals and occasions every year, it said. According to Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood, this was a "special gesture" by the Pakistan government in view of Guru Nanak's 550th anniversary celebrations commencing from this year. "We extend profound felicitations to our brothers and sisters celebrating this auspicious occasion and wish all yatrees a spiritually fulfilling yatra," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cash-strapped Pakistan said on Tuesday that "substantive progress" was made with the visiting IMF delegation to develop understanding for financial assistance to address the balance of payment issue, amid reports that the global lender sought complete disclosure of Chinese financial support to the country and hiking of energy prices and levying more taxes. The International Monetary Fund delegation led by Harald Finger visited Pakistan from November 7-20 and held extensive talks with officials after Pakistan formally applied the bailout package, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. It said that the discussions covered all sectors of the economy, as Finance Minister Asad Umar chaired the concluding session with the IMF team on Tuesday. "Substantive progress has been made by the Government of Pakistan and the IMF Mission towards developing a common understanding on the policy and structural reforms framework for the prospective IMF programme, including fiscal and monetary measures, corrective interventions for balance of payments sustainability, pro-poor spending, governance and development of a business-friendly environment," the ministry said. The ministry further said that "positive engagement with the IMF will continue over the coming weeks to finalise the programme with the Fund." It also said that Pakistan acknowledges and appreciates the support that the IMF is providing in achieving the government's broad-based development agenda aimed at enhancing the social and economic well-being of the people of Pakistan. As the mission wrapped up its talks Tuesday, local media reported about key differences between the two sides over the conditions by the IMF. The IMF proposed tough conditions like further increase in energy prices, more taxes and complete disclosure of Chinese financial support for any assistance, Dawn reported. Finance Minister Umar had acknowledged on Monday that the talks were moving ahead positively but there were still differences. "There are still gaps in the position of the IMF and the position that we have, Umar said after a series of meetings with the IMF team. He said that USD 1 billion of the USD 3 billion committed by Saudi Arabia had been remitted to the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday and the remaining USD 2 billion would follow over the next few days. Pakistan looks forward to about USD 6 billion financial bailout for averting its balance of payments crisis. Citing its sources, the paper said the two sides had a wide gap in their positions on the need for increase in electricity tariff, upward revision in the revenue target and additional tax measures on matters relating to Chinese assistance and its impact - both inflow and outflow. The sources said the IMF also demanded that the provincial governments finance the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), instead of the federal government, and wanted committed cash surpluses to minimise the consolidated fiscal deficit. The sources said the IMF was insisting on revising the revenue target upward to Rs 4.75 trillion for the current year - more than eight per cent increase from the existing target of Rs 4.39 trillion. Practically, this means raising about Rs 360 billion additional revenue from the remaining seven months of the current fiscal year. Finance Minister Umar, according to the sources, told the IMF mission that the revenue target could be increased at best to Rs 4.5 trillion and the government's major focus would be on recovering taxes through administrative measures. Regarding the Chinese financing, the minister said there was complete transparency in the Chinese assistance and whatever the external debt was would have to be shared with the IMF as part of the programme. The sources told the paper that the IMF mission wanted a clear roadmap for elimination of power sector circular debt that currently stood at Rs 1.2 trillion and welcomed administrative measures to recover some arrears, but insisted on further increasing electricity rates for full cost recovery of power supply. They said the IMF team was not satisfied with the power sector reforms plan and wanted the government to surrender its powers to set electricity tariff and let these be independently dealt with by the power regulator. Pakistan's current account deficit widened 43 per cent to USD 18 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June, while the fiscal deficit has ballooned to 6.6 per cent of gross domestic product. Citing sources, the paper said that the IMF was very critical of the fiscal federalism arrangements at present and noted with concern that the Centre had transferred all profitable taxes to the provinces while keeping all necessary expenditures of provincial nature as federal responsibility. The IMF mission also sought a complete market-based free float of the exchange rate and complete independence to the State Bank of Pakistan, the apex bank of the country. The sources said the IMF also suggested an increase in the GST rate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan summoned a senior US diplomat here Tuesday and lodged a strong protest over President Donald Trump's "baseless allegations" on Osama bin Laden, saying it was a "closed chapter of history" and could seriously undermine bilateral ties. Trump on Sunday, and in follow up tweets, defended his administration's decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough to curb terrorism and criticised Islamabad for offering a hideout to late Al Qaeda chief bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad. "We give Pakistan USD 1.3 billion a year. ... (Laden] lived in Pakistan, we're supporting Pakistan, we're giving them USD 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," the President told Fox "The Foreign Secretary (Tehmina Janjua) called in the United States charge d'affaires Paul Jones to register a strong protest on the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan," Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal said. "Conveying her Government's disappointment on the recent tweets and comments by the US President, the US charge d'affaires was told that such baseless rhetoric about Pakistan was totally unacceptable," he said in a statement. Faisal said Janjua rejected the insinuations about bin Laden and reminded Jones that it was Pakistan's intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of the late Al Qaeda leader. Janjua told Jones that no other country had paid a heavier price than Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, he said. "The US leadership had acknowledged on multiple occasions that Pakistan's cooperation had helped in decimating the core Al-Qaeda leadership and eradicating the threat of terrorism from the region," the foreign secretary told the US diplomat. She said the US must not forget that scores of top Al Qaeda leaders were killed or captured because of Pakistan's active cooperation. "Pakistan's continued support to the efforts of international community in Afghanistan through Ground/ Air and Sea lines of communication was unquestionably critical to the success of this Mission in Afghanistan," Janjua said. She also said that in the wake of recent US pronouncements to seek political settlement in Afghanistan, Pakistan and America were working in close coordination with other regional stake holders in order to end the prolonged conflict. "At this critical juncture, baseless allegations about a closed chapter of history could seriously undermine this vital cooperation," she said. The summoning of Jones followed after prime minister Imran Khan, in a series of tweets, on Monday lambasted Trump's comments. "Record needs to be put straight on Mr Trump's tirade against Pakistan," Khan, said in a series of tweets defending his country's record in the US-led war on terror. He said that Pakistan decided to "participate in the US War on Terror" although no Pakistani was involved in the 9/11 attacks. "Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties in this war and over USD 123 billion was lost", of which "US 'aid' was a miniscule USD 20 billion", Khan said. "Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140,000 Nato troops, plus 250,000 Afghan troops and reportedly USD 1 trillion spent on the war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before," he suggested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four weeks after the murder of Jharkhand-based journalist Chandan Tiwary, the Press Council of India has constituted a a fact-finding team to look into the matter, the media watchdog said in a statement on Tuesday. Condemning the gruesome attack, the PCI said it is "a cause of concern for all those who believe in the independence of press". The fact finding team comprises V K Chopra, K D Chandola and Kamal Nain Narang. It is "being requested to submit the report expeditiously, preferably within a period of six weeks," the statement said. "The Press Council of India condemns the gruesome attack leading to the death of the journalist and urges the state government to take such remedial steps as considered necessary so that the journalists are allowed to carry out their professional obligations without any obstacle," it said. Tiwary, a journalist with 'Aaj' daily, was allegedly abducted and beaten to death by unidentified people in Jharkhand's Chatra district on October 29. The scribe's family members had blamed ultra outfit Trutiya Prastuti Committee for the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (WB) Exit polling on Election Day 2018 revealed striking data about the strength of LGBT voters, demonstrating that they constitute a sizable 6 percent chunk of the electorate and overwhelmingly support the Democratic Party. A trifecta of sources exit polling from CNN, NBC News, the Wall Street Journal consistently revealed 6 percent of the voting bloc in the congressional mid-term elections identified as LGBT. That sizable bloc represents a slight increase from years past, when an estimated 5 percent would tell a pollster they identified as LGBT. Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a conference call with reporters last week that exit polling has been inconsistent on including LGBT people, but his organization months ago asked media outlets to include this question to assess the size of that voting bloc. Once we know what the total voters are, that is likely to be around 7 million voters identified as LGBT, Griffin said. Whats important to note: That means 6 percent of the electorate identified to a stranger in most cases in a swing state that they were LGBT. That is a powerful voting bloc, and that is an increase in turnout of LGBT voters from 2016. As the number of voters who publicly identify as LGBT has increased, so has that voting blocs support for the Democratic Party at least according to exit polling from CNN and NBC News, which is based on data from the National Election Pool. Both of those outlets reported 82 percent of LGBT people voted in 2018 for a Democratic representative, while 17 percent voted Republican. That represents an increase in Democratic support from years past. In 2016, 76 percent of LGBT-identified voters supported Hillary Clinton, but 14 percent voted for President Trump. In 2012, 77 percent of LGB-identified people voted for President Obama, while 23 percent voted for Mitt Romney. The only other demographic group with stronger support for the Democratic Party was black voters, which in exit polls have consistently voted for Democrats over Republicans by a 9-1 margin. Gary Gates, a former research fellow at the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, said several factors could explain the greater number of voters identifying as LGBT as well as the increased support for the Democratic Party, including the anti-LGBT policies of the Trump administration. Decreased social stigma likely explains recent increases in the portion of the population identifying as LGBT, Gates said. Further, LGBT voters may feel particularly under threat from a Trump administration that has shown open hostility toward the transgender population and has made several attempts to minimize the visibility of LGBT populations in federal data sources. This could explain increases in LGBT voter engagement and willingness to support Democrats. Gates added demographic patterns among those who are coming out to exit pollers suggest younger women who are more likely to support Democratic candidates comprise an increasingly growing portion of people who are openly LGBT. Daniel Pinello, a political scientist at the City University of New Yorks John Jay College, said hes unsure why there would be an increased shift toward Democrats among LGBT voters, but said the desire of federal LGBT non-discrimination protections could be a factor. After marriage equality, after the Obergefell decision of 2015, thats really no longer a hot button political issue for our community, Pinello said. The only thing thats really left is sexual orientation and gender [identity] discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, but I dont know how much of a driving force that is politically in the same way I think marriage equality was. I doubt that most people have had those kinds of personal experiences of job discrimination of being gay or [transgender] or what have you compared to those people who have been denied marriage licenses in their lifetimes. The Wall Street Journal exit poll, however, demonstrates less support for the Democratic Party among LGBT people. In those results, 71 percent of LGBT voters backed Democrats, while 24 percent voted for a Republican candidate. Transgender voters also identified separately in the Wall Street Journal exit poll, making up an estimated 1 percent of voters. Notably, those voters skewed slightly more toward the Republican Party than LGB voters. Although a majority of transgender respondents, 58 percent, said they voted Democrat, 37 percent said they voted Republican. Another notable point about the Wall Street Journal poll: Without the LGBT bloc, voters in the 2018 congressional mid-term election would have broken evenly between Democrats and Republicans. That indicates Democratic victories on Election Day wouldnt have happened without LGBT support. Gates, however, said relying on the CNN and NBC News data based on the National Election Pool is better for assessing LGBT trends as opposed to the Wall Street Journal data, which is relatively new and just started this year. The polling data used by the WSJ does show less, though still very strong, support for Democrats among LGBT voters, but its really not possible to use that to assess trends since this was the first year of that data collection methodology, which does differ from the NEP approach, Gates said. I will admit that the relatively strong support for Republican candidates among those identified as transgender in the new polling seems odd. But I really cant speculate on the accuracy of that finding as data on transgender voting is very rare. Founding member of PDP Muzaffar Hussain Beigh Tuesday hit out at his party for boycotting the civic bodies and panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir saying he will "seriously consider" joining a third front if it emerges. "The PDP betrayed the workers, denying them a chance to connect with the people, by boycotting the elections. They left a vacuum and that space has now been occupied. does not wait for people who boycott," Beigh told reporters at his residence here. Beigh, the Lok Sabha member from Baramulla , said he was not consulted when the party took the decision to boycott the local bodies polls. "I was in Delhi, just a phone call away. I remained quiet because I did not want the PDP to fall asunder," he said. Reacting to speculations that PDP and arch rival National Conference might join hands to form a government in the state to foil BJP's attempts at government formation, Beigh said the PDP was formed to end the family rule and bring in democracy. "Now this talk of NC-PDP alliance. How will people of Jammu react? How will people of Ladakh react? It will be an alliance of one religion," he said. "Jammu would not like it, Ladakh will not remain part of the state. This will lead to trifurcation of the state," he warned. Responding to the possibility of either NC or PDP getting absolute majority in future assembly elections, he said "It will be foolish of me to think that NC or PDP will ever get a majority. There was a wave in 2014 (assembly elections) and we (PDP) still could not get 30 seats." On the PDP-BJP alliance, he said it did not live up to the expecation of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. "The alliance, if it had been implemented properly, was a chance to tell the Muslims of India that they were safe. We failed to form a real alliance with the BJP, we remained aloof. The ministers were not intermingling," he said. Beigh blamed the PDP for failing to deliver on the development front during its alliance with the BJP in the state government. "There was development deficiency during those two-and -half-years. Funds were not utilised or were not released. No proposals were sent to the Centre (for development works) because the Centre does not release any funds without proposals," he said. Beigh said small mistakes in the past led to massive damage to Jammu and Kashmir as was witnessed post 1987 elections. "What would have happened in 1987 (If Muslim United Front would have formed the government)? Yasin Malik (JKLF supremo) said in an interview after those elections that he would go to Pakistan and bring arms. That is what happened. At least we would not have seen terror," he added. Beigh said the mistakes of politicians in the past were responsible for militancy in the state and the killings which are taking place, irrespective which side they belong to. Asked if he would quit PDP, the Baramulla MP said he would await a response from the party leadership before taking the step. "I have not made up my mind. I will have to think about it. It is very difficult to resign from a party which I have formed," he said. Asked if he would join an alternative front to the National Conference and PDP, Beigh said "I will seriously consider joining the third front if it emerges". He said he has not been contacted by the BJP or Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone so far. "Sajad Lone is like my son. I had contested the elections that led to registration of Peoples Conference as a political party. If Sajad (Lone) is interested in (formation of third front), it should be encouraged. People want something different from the beaten track," Beigh said. "Sajad has not contacted me directly. The BJP has not contacted me (on government formation or third front formation). However, there are people within the party (PDP) who want an elected government," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Rightly said by Leon C. Megginson, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most adaptable to change." Ten years down the lane, Pharma Franchise & PCD Pharma wasn't the term heard by many but today, it has emerged as potential business sector in Pharmaceutical Industry. Indian Pharmaceutical Industry is growing with the CAGR of 15% and is expected to touch USD 250 billion by 2020. Investing in Pharma Franchise is considered profitable by pharma experts. With the increasing scope of Pharma Franchise & PCD Pharma in India, it is not wrong to say that PCD Pharma Franchise is the backbone of Pharmaceutical companies. The trajectory of Indian Pharmaceutical is strong from past few years due to: The rise in disposable income Increase in the number of Aging Population Rising Literacy Level Improvement in Medical Infrastructure High fragmentation with the low prices of drugs, low production costs, skills, knowledge, and quality makes the future of PCD Pharma Franchise business bright in the domestic market. If pharma scholars to believed, India's pharmaceutical industry is expected to expand at a CAGR of 22.4 per cent over 2015-20 to reach US$ 55 billion. 180 New Units are coming up in Gujarat with an Investment of around Rs 7,000 Crore Alone in Gujarat, the pharma industry is booming; "Pharma companies have applied for registration of around 180 new units are to be set up in Gujarat, which is a significant happening. This registration has happened during the past one year. Earlier, we had received around 70 applications annually," said State Foods and Drugs Control Authority (FDCA) Commissioner Hemant Koshiya. Although this is also due to the expiry of incentives given by the hilly regional states like the north-eastern states and Himachal Pradesh, for which one cannot deny the growth of the pharma sector in India. These are just the figures about Gujarat, there are many other states as well which have pharma industry and great scope for Pharma Franchise business. Pharmaceutical Franchise Franchise generally helps in escaping the 'corporate world' and makes one an entrepreneur. PCD Pharma Franchise business initially may keep investors on their toes but the rewards, both emotionally and financially, are immeasurable. By being a part of the Pharma Franchise Company, one can achieve good supply of stocks, high advertisement in the market and low-priced products, catering the requirements of a great work experience and helps the individual to earn well. PCD (propaganda Cum Distribution) and Pharma Franchise both work in the same process where a pharma individual gets the marketing and distribution right from a pharma company and the company provides products, brand name, and support to its franchise partner. To find more about Pharmaceutical companies which are involved in PCD Pharma Franchise & Third Party Manufacturing business at PharmaHopers, visit: https://www.pharmahopers.com About PharmaHopers: PharmaHopers is an ambitious and dignified PCD Pharma Franchise Companies business portal, with the vision of connecting pharma professionals with the best pharma companies, working with prestigious clients and companies across India. It is one place which provides one stop solution for importers, exporters, manufacturers, traders, services providers, distributors, wholesalers, and governmental agencies to promote and find pharma opportunities online. With Vision 2020, PharmaHopers is working towards finding a spot in the World's Top 5 B2B Pharma Marketplace exclusively for the Healthcare Industry. This business portal currently has more than 500+ pharma companies registered with their own or third party manufacturing facilities with over 50,000+ poducts ranging in all categories like Pharma Tablets, Capsules, Injections, Syrups, Powders, Oinments, etc. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday left for Kuala Lumpur on a two-day official visit to Malaysia where he is likely to seek monetary assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistan's dependence on an IMF bailout package. Prime Minister Khan was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umer, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Radio Pakistan reported. This is Khan's first bilateral visit to Malaysia after assuming office in August. Prime Minister Khan and his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad will have a tete-a-tete, followed by the delegation-level talks, the Foreign Office said. The two countries enjoy warm brotherly relations founded in mutual respect friendship and understanding reinforced by strong cultural and religious affinities, the Foreign Office said in a statement last week. Khan's visit "would provide an opportunity to further cement the existing friendly and cordial bilateral relations by enhancing economic, trade and commercial ties, for our mutual benefit," the statement said. Pakistan was facing a USD 12 billion financing gap for the current fiscal year. The Pakistan government is keen to minimise the amount borrowed from the International Monetary Fund by getting loans from "friendly" countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials here believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. On Sunday, Khan visited the UAE where he held talks with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and discussed matters of bilateral, regional and mutual interest, amid reports that the Gulf country is ready to extend financial assistance to Pakistan. Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide USD 6 billion in aid to Pakistan. Last month, Saudi Arabia said it would provide Pakistan with a USD 6 billion rescue package during Khan's visit to the Gulf Kingdom. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Brussels police officer was injured in a knife attack in front of the city's main police station early Tuesday, a spokeswoman said. The attack took place on the second day of a state visit to Belgium by French President Emmanuel Macron with memories of the Paris and Brussels attacks running high. An assailant stabbed the officer outside the central police station at 5:30am (local time), police spokeswoman Ilse van de Keere told AFP. "A police officer was stabbed and slightly wounded" and taken to hospital, she said. "His colleagues retaliated by firing shots at the attacker who was subdued" but whose life is not in danger. The spokeswoman refused to confirm a local media report that the attacker had cried "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) during the incident. Later Tuesday, Macron visits the Brussels district of Molenbeek, home of Islamic State jihadists who carried out the 2015 Paris attacks that left 130 people dead. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tuesday hit out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and accused him of misleading people on demonetisation and GST. Prasad said the noteban exercise and implementation of GST helped the country in the long run and steps taken by the Centre had made India the fastest growing economy in the world. Talking to reporters here, Prasad said, "The Congress president has been raking up the issue of demonetisation and GST during the election campaign. He is misleading people. These steps have benefited the Indian economy in the long run." He said 2.24 lakh fake companies were caught after demonetisation was announced, adding that more than Rs 4,000 crore had been deposited in the accounts of these companies. The union minister said the tax base had also increased in the country with the number of people filing Income Tax Return (ITR) rising from 3.82 crore in 2013-14 to 6.86 crore in 2017-18. Moreover, Prasad claimed, income tax collection was Rs 6.38 lakh crore in the fiscal 2013-14, which had increased to over Rs 10 lakh crore. "India is the fastest growing economy in the world due to steps taken by the Centre. Now our economy is the sixth largest in the world," he claimed. He took a swipe at the Congress and said the party lacked internal democracy as it was "tough for the party to appoint a chief from outside the Gandhi family." "Whenever someone from outside the Gandhi family was appointed, the loyalists of this family could not tolerate it," he said. Prasad cited former PM P V Narasimha Rao in this regard and said when the latter died, his body was not kept in the Congress headquarters. Rao was the first PM who was cremated outside the national capital, he said. Sitaram Kesri, who was forced to vacate his government bungalow, was not even allowed to complete his term as Congress chief, he claimed. Prasad went on to cite the examples of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to emphasise the BJP's internal democracy and claimed even a common worker could reach the top in the party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday charged the Modi-led government with interfering in the functioning of institutions like the Election Commission and CBI, as he also accused the Prime Minister of giving Rs 30,000 crore, which is "one year's spending on MGNREGA scheme", to help Reliance's Anil Ambani. Hitting hard at the BJP's ideological mentor, he said being an RSS man is sufficient qualification to be governor or vice chancellor. Gandhi addressed a series of rallies in Mizoram where Congress is making all efforts to hold its lone fort in the North-East. The party is in power in the state since 2008. Elections to 40-member Mizoram assembly is slated for November 28. Reiterating his allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter places purchase, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "robbed" public money and used it to buy publicity. The government has denied the opposition party's allegations on the fighter jet deal with France. "The Modi government is interfering in the functioning of the Planning Commission, RBI, CBI and Election Commission. Four judges of the Supreme Court said they could not do their jobs due to government interference," Gandhi claimed. In January, four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- called a press conference to say the situation in the top court was "not in order". Gogoi is now the chief justice. "To be governor or VC of a university, being an RSS man is sufficient qualification," Gandhi said. "Narendra Modi personally gave Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani. That is the amount for one year's spending on MGNREGA in the entire country," Gandhi said addressing an election rally at Champhai earlier in the day. Alleging that Modi himself finalised the deal at Rs 1,600 crore per aircraft against UPA's Rs 526 crore with conditions "to give the contract to Anil Ambani instead of PSU firm HAL", Gandhi said the negotiation facts between India and France were divulged by the former French President. "That is where Narendra Modi got all the money for his marketing. Remember, when you see Modi on TV next time, it is the money of you and Indian Air Force," he said at Champhai. Gandhi slammed the state's principal opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) for allegedly working with the BJP in the Mizoram elections. "RSS and BJP understand that this is the only opportunity for them to enter Mizoram and destroy its culture. They know that they are unlikely to win the next (Lok Sabha) elections," Gandhi said at Champhai rally. He lamented that the Mizo political party is opening the gates to enter the RSS ideology into Mizoram. "It is sad that an organisation like MNF is helping the BJP and RSS in its attempt to destroy the culture, language, heritage and history of Mizoram... Only Congress people can fight the divisive ideas of BJP," he added. Stating that the Congress wants India to be ruled by its different people with different ideas, languages, cultures and places, he alleged BJP and RSS believe that only one ideology should be imposed on all by destroying others' cultures, languages and expressions. "That is why they are putting RSS people in every single Indian institution. They are putting RSS people as Governors and attacking the RBI, Election Commission and CBI. It is because if they lose elections, they will have their men in the institutions," he charged. Gandhi said the Indian people will not allow imposition of one culture and know that different people have different cultures, views, ideas and languages in different states. Highlighting the 10-year rule of Congress government under iChief Minister Lal Thanhawla, Gandhi said the economy of the state had progressed a lot with almost doubling of per capita income during this period. "We will make Mizoram as the gateway hub of Eastern India and create 11,000 new jobs in next year," he added. Hailing the people of Mizoram, the senior Congress leader said the state has shown the country how to move from an era of violence to an era of peace and development. "I am happy to say that the Congress government under Lal Thanhawla has done tremendous economic development and upgraded the lives of people of Mizoram. In 2008, the per capita income was Rs 57,000 and today it is Rs 1.15 lakh. It is 20 per cent more than the national average," he added. Gandhi said he thanked YMCA, MZP, students, civil societies and the special role of churches for bringing people together for the development of the state, Gandhi also recalled his visit to the tiny hill state with his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, in 1987. "In 1987, my father drove around Mizoram. I came with him that time. I want to do the same after elections. I want to come to Mizoram, drive around and meet people here," he added. He said the relationship between his family and Mizoram is beyond party and urged the people of the state to feel that one of their family members stay in Delhi to do all their work. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Social activists of Rajasthan's three tribal-dominated districts Tuesday urged mainstream political parties to include their demands in their election manifestoes. Following a discussion with nearly 10,000 people of 563 villages in Banswara, Dungarpur and Pratapgarh districts, activists have urged the parties to incorporate their demands related to farming, malnutrition, education and health in their election manifesto, Parmesh Patidar, the convener of the Tribal Development Forum, said at a press conference here. For holistic development of the tribals, the inclusion of these demands in the manifesto are important, Patidar added. Among the key demands include, sustainable and inclusive development of tribal areas, improvement in the healthcare services, rights for tribal children and prioritisation of agriculture above all other occupations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ranchi Mayor Asha Lakra Tuesday claimed that the Jharkhand capital will become the smartest smart city within four years. Speaking on the concluding day of the two-day national workshop on 'Sustainable Urban Development' here, Lakra told the delegates, that "If you come again here in 2022, you will find a totally different city. You will fail to recognise it. You will wonder if it is the same city as you have seen now." The Mayor said she was confident that the administration would overcome all the hurdles and complete the project in time. "I am sure Ranchi will become the smartest Smart City in the country," Lakra said, adding all the state government departments are working in an integrated way to make it the smartest city in four years time. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for including Ranchi in the list of 100 cities selected by the Centre to develop into Smart Cities. The mayor said the administrators were looking forward to receiving inputs from the conference to help the government in its mission of building Ranchi as a smart city. Delivering the closing remarks, Dr des Radu Carciumaru, Resident Representative of Heidelberg University, promised to send a report of the conference to all the stake-holders, especially the government and its various agencies. Such workshops had already been organised by the Heidelberg University in association with Observer Research Foundation and School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, in cities like Shimla, Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Mumbai, Aizwal, etc, Dr des Radu said, adding more cities would be covered in future. Jharkhand Urban Development Minister C P Singh had inaugurated the conference Monday. The two-day national conference was conducted as part of the Indo-German Smart Cities Workshop series, organised by Heidelberg University, Impact and Policy Research Institute and Observer Research Foundation. The Government of Jharkhand, its Urban Development and Housing Department, Ranchi Smart City Corporation Ltd, the Central University of Jharkhand and the Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi, also collaborated with the conference, the first of a kind in the state capital of Ranchi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reliance Mutual Fund (RMF) Tuesday announced Further Fund Offer 3 (FFO3) of its Central Public Sector Enterprises - Exchange Traded Fund (CPSE ETF). RMF plans to raise up to Rs 14,000 crore in FFO3, which includes a base amount of Rs 8,000 crore. The fund is part of the government's overall disinvestment programme, announced earlier, using the exchange traded fund. "We feel confident that the timing of the issue will help investors benefit from their exposure in a diversified basket like CPSE ETF that includes a list of PSUs who are leaders in their respective sectors," Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management's executive director and CEO, Sundeep Sikka said. The fund offers an opportunity for investors, especially retail and retirement funds, to invest in the country's growth story at an attractive valuation, low expense and embedded discounts, he said. CPSE ETF has a very low expense ratio of 0.95 bps. The FFO3 is open for all categories of investors including anchor investors, retail investors, retirement funds, QIBs, non-institutional investors and foreign portfolio investor (FPIs). As part of the FFO3, an upfront discount of 4.5 per cent is being offered to all categories of investors. FFO3 to open and close for anchor investors on November 27, 2018 and for non-anchor investors on November 28, 2018 and close on November 30, 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Devotees opposing the entry of women of menstrual age into the Sabarimala temple Tuesday raised a banner of protest following rumours that a young couple reached here for visiting the hill shrine. However, the issue was resolved when the couple from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh informed the protesters that they were not going to Sabarimala, officials said. Devotees, comprising women in large numbers, had assembled at Erumeli, about 50 km from the hill shrine, following information that the couple were travelling in a Sabarimala-bound Kerala state transport corporation bus. The devotees started their protest when the bus reached the station here. Police threw a security ring around the duo. Protesters followed them when they went to the Erumeli temple to offer prayers. Erumeli is an important pilgrim centre associated with the Lord Ayyappa hill shrine. The couple left for Chengannur in Alappuzha district after informing protesters that they came to Kerala to offer prayers in various temples. They said they had no plans to visit the Sabarimala temple. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior leaders and activists of the Opposition Congress-led UDF, who planned to visit the Sabarimala shrine and staged protests at base camp Pamba and Nilackal Tuesday, have been booked for defying prohibitory orders. The UDF leaders later gave up their plan to visit the shrine, saying they did not want to disturb the pilgrims. The state government has clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code banning assembly of four or more people in Sabarimala and surrounding areas in view of protests by devotees over the government's decision to implement the Supreme Court verdict permitting entry of women of all ages into the hill shrine. A large number of activists led by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, former chief minister Ooomen Chandy, IUML leader M K Muneer and N K Premachandran MP, staged a protest at Pamba demanding withdrawal of prohibitory orders. UDF activists raised "go back" slogans against police and chanted 'swamiye saranam ayyappa' mantras. Pamba police said a case was registered against 100 'identifiable' people, including the leaders, under various sections of IPC including 147 (punishment for rioting). Though the UDF delegation earlier said they would visit 'Sannidhanam', the temple complex, they returned after staging the protest at Pamba, about five km from the shrine. Chennithala said they were not trekking to the hill shrine now as they did not want to disturb the pilgrims arriving at the temple. Earlier, the UDF staged a protest at Nilackal, the base camp located about 20 km from the shrine, demanding withdrawal of prohibitory orders in force in and around Sabarimala. Police initially said they cannot be allowed to visit the Lord Ayyappa temple in such large numbers in view of the prohibitory orders, but later permitted them. The UDF delegation was heading to the shrine to take stock of the facilities amid reports that proper arrangements had not been made for the pilgrims, who will throng the temple during the ongoing two-month long annual season. The delegation demanded that all the party workers accompanying them should be allowed to visit the temple while police said only senior leaders would be permitted in view of the prohibitory orders in place. Later, Superintendent of police, Yatish Chandra made it clear that there was no restriction for ordinary devotees to go to the hill shrine in the state-run KSRTC buses. Urging the CPI(M)-led LDF government to withdraw the prohibitory orders in Sabariamla, Chennithala alleged they were trying to sabotage the Sabarimala pilgrimage. State Human Rights Commission chairperson Antony Dominic also Tuesday visited the base camps at Nilackal and Pamba following complaints about the lack of infrastructure facilities including toilets and drinking water shortage. Restrictions have been imposed at the Lord Ayyappa temple following protests by devotees and activists of the BJP and RSS over the state government's decision to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order. The Kerala High Court Monday came down heavily on the police for the manner in which the Ayyappa devotees were dealt with at the "Sannidhanam" on Sunday when several were arrested and sought a report on the restrictions put in place. The hill shrine was opened on November 16 evening for the over two-month-long pilgrimage season amid tension. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the leak of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing in his case to November 29. The response was filed by Verma and submitted to the secretary general in a sealed cover on Monday. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph handed over to senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, the copy of a report by a portal, which has published the CBI director's response. Nariman after going through the media report told the bench that he was "shattered" and "shocked" on Verma's reply being leaked in the media. The senior lawyer said the portal and its journalists concerned be summoned as the press should be free and responsible. The court was hearing Verma's plea against govt's decision to divest him of duties and sending him on leave. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed deep anguish over the purported leak of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's response to the CVC's findings against him as also the publication of allegations levelled by agency's DIG Manoj Kumar Sinha in his separate plea. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which reheard the matter at the request of senior advocate Fali S Nariman, who is representing Verma, made it clear that the court would not hear any party and would confine itself to the issues red flagged by it. Miffed over the alleged leak of Verma's confidential response to CVC's findings, the bench, which also comprises Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, said that it wanted to keep the CBI Director's response confidential to maintain the probe agency's dignity. The court was hearing Verma's plea against govt's decision to divest him of duties and sending him on leave. The bench, while adjourning the hearing to November 29, then took umbrage of various media reports based on the petition filed by Sinha levelling allegations against various top functionaries. "Yesterday, we had refused the mentioning (seeking urgent listing of Sinha's plea gainst his transfer to Nagpur) and we had expressed that highest degree of confidentiality was to be maintained. "But here is a litigant who mentions it before us and then goes out to distribute the petition to everyone," the CJI said referring to the purported wild allegations of Sinha which have been published in the media. "Our efforts to maintain the respect the respect of this institution is not shared by these people. They are giving it to everybody," the CJI said. Sinha on Monday dragged the names of NSA Ajit Doval, Union minister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC K V Chowdhury over alleged attempts to interfere in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has been divested of his duties and sent on leave along with his boss. Earlier in the morning, the top court had expressed strong displeasure over the leak of Verma's confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing in his case to November 29. Minutes later, Nariman and lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan mentioned the case again before a bench headed by Chief Justice and sought hearing during the day itself. When the bench again took the matter, Nariman said that the apex court had passed order asking Verma to respond to the CVC's finding on November 16 and the article published by the portal was of November 17. Nariman clarified that the article contained Verma's response given to CVC during the preliminary enquiry proceedings. However, the bench then referred to some other articles published based on Sinha's plea levelling against top functionaries of the government. "This is yesterday's article. We want to know what is going on. This court is not a platform for people to come and express whatever they want. This is a place where people come for adjudication of their legal rights. This is not a platform and we will set it right," the CJI said. The top court again adjourned hearing to November 29 and refused to hear any party, including Central Vigilance Commission. At the outset, the alleged leak of Verma's confidential response to the CVC's findings on corruption charges against him irked the top court, which said none of "you deserve any hearing". On the leak of Verma's confidential reply in the media, the bench, without divulging the name of the news portal, which allegedly carried a story on the CBI director's response, handed over to Nariman a copy of the news report. "It is only for you Mr Nariman and not as a counsel for Alok Verma. We have given this to you as you are one of the most respected and senior member of the institution. Please help us," the bench told Nariman. Nariman, after going through the news report, said it was totally "unauthorised" and he was very "disturbed and shocked" by it. The chief justice then told Nariman that Shankaranarayanan, who is also representing Verma, had on Monday mentioned the matter before the court and sought more time to file a reply on behalf of the CBI director. "Nobody had asked him (Shankaranarayanan) to do so. It was totally unauthorised. I was never informed. Nobody asked him to mention the matter. I am very disturbed," Nariman told the bench, adding that he and his junior had worked late in the night to prepare Verma's response. Referring to the media report, Nariman said, "This gives a new twist to the word responsible press and freedom of press", and added that the news portal and its journalists concerned be summoned by the court. "How can this come? It's a leak. I myself is shattered the way it has been done," he said. The CJI then adjourned the hearing to November 29 and said the bench does not want to record any reasons for it and observed ,"We don't think any of you deserve any hearing". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sikh leaders cutting across party lines have welcomed the decision of a court to award death penalty to one of the convicts in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, and vowed to continue their fight till each and every victim gets justice. A Delhi court Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said they will challenge the life sentence of Sherawat and ensure that even he gets "hanged for his crimes". "We are satisfied with the judgement but we will keep on fighting and challenge the life sentence of one accused and ensure that even he gets "hanged for his crimes," he told PTI. He also said that the judgement has given witnesses a very big boost and after 34 years they finally got justice. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief and Akali Dal leader Manjit Singh G K said the judgement will encourage other victims to come forward. "Other culprits who were hiding behind the Z plus security would be nailed down," he said. Sardar R P Singh, National Secretary of BJP, welcomed the decision and urged the apex court to immediately notify the name of third member of the Special Investigation Team formed to monitor further probe into anti-Sikh riots cases of 1984 mainly in Delhi and other states. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader HS Phoolka said it was a great judgement and now the Sikh leaders are quite hopeful that in other cases also the victims would get justice. A Sikh survivor called the judgement "a start", saying the fight will continue till they get "complete justice" and bring all perpetuators to justice. The Tuesday's verdict was pronounced in the Tihar Jail due to security concerns, and attack on one of the convicts on November 15 in the premises of Patiala House Courts moments after a court reserved its order on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to the accused. On November 14, the court had convicted Singh and Sherawat for killing two men here during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots -- the first conviction in the cases reopened by the SIT. The Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a Special Investigation Team on the riots reopened it. Of the 650 cases registered in connection with anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, 267 were closed as untraced by the Delhi Police. Of these 267 cases, five were later taken up by the CBI. The SIT also scrutinised the records of 18 cancelled cases. The SIT found 60 cases appropriate for further investigation. It filed "untraced report" in 52 cases in the last one-and-a-half years. Out of the eight cases being investigated, charge sheets have been filed in five and three, in which senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar is an accused, are pending investigation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Minister for Housing and Fire Services Sovan Chatterjee resigned from the cabinet on Tuesday and has also been asked to quit the post of the Kolkata mayor, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. "He had earlier expressed his will to resign four-five times... We thought that he will realise (his mistakes). He resigned today and we have accepted it. He has also been asked to quit the post of city mayor," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat. The resignation letter has been forwarded to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, the chief minister stated. She said Chatterjee's portfolios had been handed over to state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim. "Hakim will take additional responsibilities of the two departments held by Chatterjee. Since a mayor has to be elected, we will decide on it later," Banerjee said, adding that Kolkata Municipal Corporation Commissioner Khalil Ahmed had been asked to look after the operations of the civic body. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Spinning charkha for one hour daily may improve concentration, multitasking abilities, patience and mind-body coordination of children and youth, a study claims. The study conducted by the Brain Behaviour Research Foundation Of India (BBRFI) here analysed the relevance of charkha (spinning wheel) among children and youth in the society. According to the research conducted for over a month on 30 individuals, 10 to 18 years of age, spinning a charkha everyday had positive and soothing effects on the participants. Pre and post training data was collected using brain mapping & electroencephalogram (EEG). Subjects were also tested for psychological, personality and intelligence quotient (IQ) tests. The study saw positive results in all aspects of behaviour, according to the research recently presented here by Chairperson of BBRFI, Meena Mishra. It provides scientific foundation to anecdotal reports of benefits of charkha spinning, Mishra said. The study was sponsored by Gandhi Darshan, Ministry of Culture. The event also marked the launch of BBRFI's Annual Magazine on mental health, 'Brain Behaviour - Mind Matters'. The magazine shines the spotlight on issues, approaches and prevailing commentary on mental health in India and across the world. "Mental health is even more important that physical health. At AIIMS we are actively looking at working with our psychology department to help family members of patients cope with some trying and difficult times," said Rajesh Malhotra from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Commenting on the status of mental health in India, Rajesh Sagar, Professor, Department Of Psychiatry, AIIMS, Delhi, said, "There is a great deal of stigma in the society on mental health. Mental wellbeing is often construed as being crazy or mad, which mean people find it difficult to talk about and even seek help in intervention. We, as a society, need to change this attitude." The urgency of focus on mental health in India can be pointed out with the fact that, one in four people in the world is likely to be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives, the researchers said. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide, they said. Treatments are available, but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) stigma, discrimination and neglect, prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior BJP leader and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced Tuesday that she will not contest the next Lok Sabha polls due to health reasons. The 66-year-old leader, who is serving her fourth term in the House and has long been her party's most prominent woman face, told reporters, "It is the party which decides, but I have made up my mind not to contest the next (Lok Sabha) elections due to health reasons." Swaraj had undergone kidney transplant in 2016. "After being elected from Vidisha as Lok Sabha MP, I was the Leader of Opposition. Later I was given the responsibility of External Affairs Ministry. Despite holding these prime posts, I used to visit all Assembly segments in my constituency every month for nearly eight years. "Doctors have advised me that I should avoid exposure to dust. Because of this, I am unable to take part even in election rallies," she said. "Due to health reasons, I cannot participate in outdoor public programmes.... I have also told my party leadership, that in view of health reasons, I have to avoid such exposure," Swaraj said. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it was her personal decision and declined to comment any further. Swaraj's husband Swaraj Kaushal posted "thank you" on Twitter and said even Milkha Singh stopped running. A spell-binding orator in Hindi, Swaraj is among the few top politicians capable of speaking in English with equal ease and has had a few rare distinctions, including being the youngest cabinet minister at 25 when she joined the Haryana government in 1977 and the first woman chief minister of Delhi. She is also the first woman external affairs minister of the country. Indira Gandhi, though, as prime minister had held the portfolio. Swaraj has also served in the Rajya Sabha for three terms and was a member of Haryana assembly- the state she comes from - twice. She started her political life with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the RSS' student wing, and later joined the BJP. Her riveting speeches, grasp on issues and image of an ideal Indian woman marked her out for a bigger role at a very young age, and she steadily climbed up the organisational ladder in the Bharatiya Janata Party. She was the Information and Broadcasting Minister in the 13-day Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1996 and got the Cabinet portfolio again after he led the BJP to power in 1998. However, she had to resign to become Delhi chief minister as the party leadership believed she could lead the BJP to power in the national capital when the incumbent was seen as unpopular. Her short tenure, though, was of little help as the party lost badly. Swaraj's most notable political battle was the one against the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Bellary in 1999 Lok Sabha polls. She was her party's nationalist woman counter to Gandhi, often attacked by the BJP for her Italian origins. Swaraj's intensive campaign, during which she gained proficiency in Kannada, won her innumerable local hearts with her speeches in their language, but Gandhi, who was fighting her first Lok Sabha election in a region then seen as her party's pocket borough, got better of her. Swaraj fell short of victory but grew in stature. Long seen as a protege of veteran BJP leader L K Advani, she also was the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha between 2009-14. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The opposition Congress in Maharashtra on Tuesday demanded that the State Backward Class Commission's report on Maratha quota issue be immediately tabled in the state Assembly. On the second day of the Winter Session of the state Legislature, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said there is no clarity on the commission's report. The Maharashtra government Sunday announced the Maratha community will be granted quota under a new category called 'Socially and Educationally Backward Class' (SEBC), as per the recommendation of the State Backward Class Commission. The government is yet to decide the quantum of reservation, though the Marathas are seeking 16 per cent quota. As the Lower House assembled for the day and Speaker Haribhau Bagade called for the Question Hour, Vikhe Patil asked whether the Maratha quota under the new category will be within the existing 52 per cent reservation in the state or over and above that limit. "There should be clarity on the government's stand and the report should have been tabled on the first day of the session on Monday," the senior Congress leader said. There is "tremendous unrest" among the Marathas, he claimed. He said the Maratha community had organised 58 peaceful protest marches for the quota demand and nearly 40 people died for the cause, but it did not move the government. Vikhe Patil expressed doubt over the government's credibility in granting social reservation to various communities. "Our government had given five per cent reservation to Muslims and the court had upheld the decision. But this (BJP-led) government scrapped it," he said. Vikhe Patil also hit out at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the issue of granting reservation to the Dhangar (shepherd) community under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. He said in the first Cabinet meeting after coming to power, the BJP-led state government had promised that the Dhangar community would be granted quota. However, the chief minister is now saying that granting quota to the community falls under the jurisdiction of the Central government, the Congress leader said. Intervening in the matter, state Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said the reservations granted by the previous government did not stand in court. "We formed the State Backward Class Commission and did what is constitutionally necessary. This has unsettled the opposition," he said. The opposition members went to the speaker's podium to object to Patil's remarks. The speaker then adjourned the House for 30 minutes. The Maratha community, which constitutes over 30 per cent of the state's population, 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka's minority Tamils could become victims of the current political turmoil in the country, the main Tamil party's leader told foreign diplomats here on Tuesday. "We told them if the current state of affairs continues there could be serious consequences," R Sampanthan said as 14 of the Tamil National Alliance's 16 parliamentarians attended the meeting with Colombo-based diplomats. The TNA said it stands solidly behind ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe who still claims he is the lawful prime minister. Last month, President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial action sacked Wickremesinghe and replaced him with ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa as premier, plunging the island nation into political chaos. Wickremesinghe has demanded a floor test to prove his majority. Sirisena's party did not cooperate with parliamentary Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to hold the floor test. TNA has said Sirisena's October 26 sacking of Wickremesinghe and his November 9 decision to dissolve Parliament to hold a snap election were both illegal actions. The TNA supported the legal action on Sirisena's move as the Supreme Court issued an interim order annulling Sirisena's gazette which dissolved Parliament. The case is to be heard early next month. Monday's Parliament session was conducted peacefully even though the House was later adjourned till November 23, 10 minutes after its opening. Last week, Sri Lanka's Parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other after Rajapaksa lost a no-trust vote. The political imbroglio has created much uncertainty with work in state institutions being hampered. Sirisena last week urged top bureaucrats to carry on as usual. Wickremesinghe's United National Party has warned officials that carrying out "illegal orders" from an "illegal" government could spell trouble for them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A public prosecutor and two Thais were sentenced for four years Tuesday after they were caught attempting to smuggle more than a dozen rhino horns worth USD 1.4 million through Bangkok's main airport last year. The smugglers were caught with bulging bags of the contraband at Suvarnabhumi airport, accompanied by the senior justice official who tried to sneak them through customs undetected. The trio were convicted Tuesday for "illegally importing prohibited goods" and given four years in prison each, according to a statement from Samut Prakan provincial court where the trial took place. The two smugglers, Thitirat Arai and Kansini Anutranusatra, fled after they were stopped by customs officials who x-rayed the bag. They were later apprehended. Authorities found 21 rhino horns weighing 49 kilogrammes traced back to Africa where the critically endangered species is widely hunted, its horn prized for unproven medicinal qualities and as a status symbol in China and Vietnam. The court said the deputy public prosecutor, Woraphas Boonsri, tried to persuade customs officers not to check the bag and offered a bribe to let the bags pass. "He told officials the bag was carrying wine bottles," the court statement said. Woraphas was caught after he was identified on CCTV footage appearing to escort the women through customs. All three received bail. Thailand's junta has vowed to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade in the kingdom, which is a key gateway to the rest of Asia, namely Vietnam and China where the illicit animal parts are widely consumed, mostly for traditional medicine. But conservationists say Thailand is not doing enough to curb the illicit trade, with officials often implicated in wildlife trafficking cases. China last month announced unexpectedly that it would lift a ban on rhinoceros horns and tiger parts, a move that animal welfare groups said could wipe out the endangered species. But Beijing backtracked on the decision after an international outcry, reinstating the ban on the valuable animal parts. Rhino numbers are down from 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to around 30,000 today, the majority in Africa where illegal poaching has badly dented their numbers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit approved the premature release of three AIADMK men convicted in the killing of three woman students in 2000 after being satisfied that they will be "absorbed" by the society without any disturbance, the Raj Bhavan said Tuesday. The decision was also taken based on grounds that the Supreme Court had observed that the deaths took place in a state of mob frenzy and considering that the convicts had been in prison for 13 years, it said in a release here. Orders were issued approving the premature release after "being satisfied that the three life convicts will be absorbed by the local society without any disturbance..." and based on the apex court's observation," it said. The governor initially returned the files related to the three convicts for reconsideration, but the state government on October 25 last sent back them sticking to its recommendation that they be released. Purohit eventually cleared them only after obtaining legal opinion from the state Advocate General. The three men --A Nedunchezhian, G Ravindran and C Muniappan -- were released Monday from the Vellore Central Prison in commemoration of the birth centenary celebrations of late Chief Minister and ruling AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran, known as MGR. They were serving life sentence for setting ablaze a bus in Dharmapuri that killed three students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 2000 while protesting conviction of former chief minister Jayalalithaa in a corruption case. The Raj Bhavan statement came in the wake of criticism of the state government by DMK and other parties over not securing the pre-mature release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, a recommendation which is pending with Purohit. It said the state government had in February issued a Government Order for a scheme to release prisoners undergoing life imprisonment on the occasion of MGR birth centenary. The release explained the process involving approvals by a committee of secretaries, the Law Minister and finally the Chief Minister before the files of individual convicts are forwarded to the Governor for orders under Article 161 of the Constitution, which deals with his powers to grant pardons. A total of 1,627 life convicts have been so far ordered release by following this procedure, it said. The Raj Bhavan said Advocate General Vijay Narayan, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and Home Secretary Niranjan Mardi had met the Governor on October 31 "and said the three life convicts had no intention to kill and that they set fire to the bus in a state of mob frenzy. Narayan in his opinion 'recorded' the Supreme Court order of March 2016, in which it commuted the death sentence, that it had noticed that the acts leading to the death of the three students were committed in the course of a mob frenzy. He recalled the court's observation that the intent of the mob, including the three, was to cause damage to public property to protest the conviction of Jayalalithaa and the victims were "unknown persons" against whom they had no premeditation or planning to kill. A Sessions Court in Salem had convicted the three men to death in 2007 and the Madras High Court later confirmed it. The release said the AG stated that the cases of the three life convicts fell within the guidelines laid down by the government for release of prisoners on the occasion of the MGR centenary celebrations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Torry Harris Business Solutions (THBS), a global leader in integration, full life-cycle API management and digital transformation, wins Comparably's 'Best of 2018 Award' for 'Work-Life Balance' under the large company category. "This award is significant as we celebrate 20 years of leadership in the integration niche and are looking for growth, both in Products and Services. Employees are our greatest asset and their happiness is important to us; we are thrilled that this aspect of our company culture is recognized," said Brijesh Sequeira, Chief People Officer at THBS. The overall culture score A+, incorporates employee ratings based on their feedback on the Overall Culture, Compensation, Leadership, Diversity and more. "This set of Comparably Awards focuses on companies that most reward their employees. These employers stand out as the best of the best providing amazing benefits and a great work-life balance," said Jason Nazar, CEO of Comparably. About THBS Torry Harris Business Solutions (THBS) is a multinational provider of business, technology and IT consulting services. It specializes in the areas of Integration, Platform Services, Full life-cycle API Management and Digital Transformation Services. THBS has been appraised at level 5 of the CMMI Institute's Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI Level 5). The company has been assessed and certified for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 & ISO 26001. THBS is also compliant with Payment Card Industry's Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). The company has its offshore development centres in Bangalore & Gurgaon (India). It has offices in Bristol (UK), New Jersey (USA), Dubai (UAE), Dublin (Ireland), Munich (Germany), Paris (France) and Vienna (Austria). Visit https://www.thbs.com/ to know more about the company, its services & products. Source: Torry Harris Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Saudi assassination of a US-based journalist has put President Donald Trump in an intractable bind. Does he preserve a close US ally and accept whatever Riyadh says about the murder? Or does he risk a rupture and embrace the conclusion of the Central Intelligence Agency that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto leader, ordered the killing? The US president has refrained from attacking Prince Mohammed ever since Jamal Khashoggi, a veteran Saudi journalist who had been writing articles critical of Riyadh for The Washington Post, was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. With Riyadh under international pressure, the Saudi prosecutor announced the arrest of 21 suspects and charges against 11, saying five will face the possible death penalty. At the same time, Washington announced sanctions on 17 Saudis allegedly involved, including two top aides of the prince. Neither side though named the mastermind of the operation. But, according to the Post and The New York Times, the CIA is certain that it was Prince Mohammed himself. That puts the US president in a bind. He has formed a deep alliance with the Saudis over a mutual dislike for Iran and a shared interest in keeping global oil prices steady. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has sealed the relationship through a close personal connection with the prince, known as "MBS." For that reason, until now, Trump has appears loathe to finger Prince Mohammed for Khashoggi's murder, saying he hasn't seen the evidence. He said on Sunday that he will likely only be briefed on the CIA conclusions by Tuesday. "Trump has only two options," said Michele Dunne, a Middle East expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "He can agree with the intelligence evaluation and go along with what Congress wants to do, which means indicating publicly or privately that the US will no longer work with MBS." Or, she said, he can go against all that and try to protect the White House's relationship with the prince. In either case, the risks are high. Severing relations with the son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud is an extreme step, but would not necessarily mean a complete bilateral rupture, said Dunne. "Saudi Arabia is not MBS, and MBS is not Saudi Arabia." Yet it risks spurring changes in the hierarchy of the Saudi royal family, with the outcome unpredictable for Saudi-US relations. On the other hand, if Trump refuses to condemn Prince Mohammed, an angry Congress could take action that would damage the relationship, such as freezing arms sales to the Middle East giant. Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who is close to the president, does not mince his attacks on the prince over Khashoggi's death. "I believed from day one that 15 people, 18, whatever the number was, they don't get on two airplanes, go to Turkey and chop a guy up in the consulate who's a critic of the crown prince without the crown prince having known about it and sanctioned it," Graham told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. The White House appears divided. Kushner has been quiet about the case and his friend the prince. But on Friday, Kirsten Fontenrose, a White House official who advocated a tough stance, resigned her position, according to the New York Times. Trump himself has waxed hot and cold on the issue. One day he denounces it as "one of the worst cover-ups" in history and a "total fiasco." The next he stresses the importance of the alliance and repeats that Prince Mohammed has personally denied to him that he ordered the assassination. Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution think-tank said Trump's equivocating is risky for the relationship. "The Saudis aren't getting the signal that this kind of activity is damaging," she said. "The signal that they're trying to send is that business can go on as usual with the senior leadership." However, she said, a direct, public accusation against the prince will not work either. "You wouldn't go out in public and say that your crown prince needs to go!" The best alternative is to make the point behind the scenes, and make it clear to the Saudis that they have gone too far. "That's what a genuinely competent administration would do," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has sparked an outrage among Indian users after a picture of him holding a poster with message "smash Brahminical patriarchy" went viral on the micro-blogging platform. The photograph was tweeted by a journalist, who shared the picture and said: "During Twitter CEO @jack's visit here, he & Twitter's Legal head @vijaya took part in a round table with some of us women journalists, activists, writers & @TwitterIndia's @amritat to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation". The class-specific tweet seemed to have offended many Indians with ex-CFO of Infosys TV Mohandas Pai accusing Dorsey of "hate mongering" against Brahmins and of institutionalising hatred. "As an Indian I am disappointed at Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's 'Smash Brahminical Patriarchy' placard - will Minister @Ra_THORe (Rajyavardhan Rathore) pl take action for this hate mongering against an Indian community,spreading hatred? @PMOIndia @rsprasad", Pai tweeted. Twitter, on its part, said the closed door discussion was held to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack, it claimed. "It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world," it tweeted. However, users seemed unconvinced with many questioning why the CEO of a large company would hold such a poster. Twitter, which has over 300 million monthly active users, counts India as among its largest markets. It has a large number of Indian politicians on its platform, who engage regularly with the public and extensively use it around elections. The company, however, does not break-out its country-specific user count. Earlier this month, Dorsey made his maiden trip to India. During his visit, he met Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Dorsey also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the importance of global conversations on social media platforms. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday chaired her first Cabinet meeting at Downing Street since high-profile ministerial resignations over her controversial withdrawal agreement as she saw off a threat to her leadership for the moment. Divisions within the camp of Brexiteer MPs in her Conservative Party meant that the 48 letters required to trigger a no-confidence vote have so far failed to materialise. However, May's troubles are far from over as Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) went into revolt mode by abstaining during some votes in the House of Commons on Monday. This effectively shakes up the May government, which relies on the 10 DUP MPs for its majority in Parliament. "We had to do something to show our displeasure," said DUP spokesperson Sammy Wilson, who said his party believes the agreement with Brussels breached a "fundamental" assurance that Northern Ireland would not be separated from the rest of the UK. Under the terms of their confidence and supply agreement, agreed after May lost her Commons majority in last year's general election, the DUP is supposed to back the government on Budget matters and on confidence votes. Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister, Jon Trickett, said the DUP's withdrawal of support on a Budget measure raised questions as to how long the government could carry on in the face of widespread opposition to May's "We no longer have a functioning government. With Brexit only a few months away, something has got to give," he said. May insists her is in the national interest and will allow the UK to take back control of its "money, laws and borders". ALSO READ: Brexit: Theresa May vows to fight on as opponents seek formal challenge She heads to Brussels on Wednesday to hold talks with European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker on striking a future trade partnership with the (EU) after has formally left the 28-member economic bloc on March 29, 2019. The EU is set to sign off on the draft agreed with the UK at an emergency summit on Sunday. However, there are signs of tension on the EU side over the controversial agreement as well, with Spain saying it will not agree to the draft without clarity over how talks on the future status of Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory on Spain's south coast, should be handled. The British premier's troubles are now expected to come to a head once again when the withdrawal agreement, the so-called divorce deal with the EU, comes up for a vote in the UK Parliament next month. It will be seen as an effective vote on her own leadership and could revive the pro-Brexit rebel backbench MPs into action to try and gather the 48 letters required to trigger a vote of no-confidence. ALSO READ: European ministers agree on terms of 'painful' Brexit divorce deal had voted in favour of Brexit in a referendum in June 2016, which led to the triggering of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to set the clock on the country's exit from the EU. The controversial withdrawal agreement is the result of months of negotiations on both sides and is aimed at preventing the prospect of crashing out of the EU without any deal. Critics of the agreement struck by May believe it gives away too much to the EU, including control over locking the UK into a Customs Union in future. A Muslim congresswoman-elect has co-authored changes to a longstanding rule banning the wearing of head coverings on the US House floor, an effort supported by the nation's largest Muslim rights group. Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee who was one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress earlier this month, has joined Democratic leaders in drafting an update to a 181-year-old rule to allow for religious exemptions for headwear like the Muslim hijab, Jewish yarmulkes or Sikh turban. The change is part of a rules package introduced by top Democrats including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi that is expected to be approved in January, when Democrats take majority control of the chamber. "No one puts a scarf on my head but me. It's my choice -- one protected by the first amendment," Omar posted Saturday on Twitter. "And this is not the last ban I'm going to work to lift," added the Minnesota representative-to-be. The proposal earned the backing of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We support the effort to update this anachronistic policy and to bring the House of Representatives into conformity with the Constitution and its existing protection of religious freedom," said CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad. A record number of women, and scores of minorities including Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans and members of the gay, lesbian and bisexual communities, will fill the ranks of the 116th Congress when it convenes beginning January 3. Democrat Jim McGovern, expected to chair the House Rules Committee starting in January, said the update reflects the broader diversity in Congress. "This change will finally codify that no restriction may be placed on a member's ability to do the job they were elected to do simply because of their faith," he said. The head-covering rule has vexed some lawmakers, notably Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who is known for her colourful hats and has pushed to get the ban lifted. Under the proposed changes, Wilson would still be barred from wearing hats on the House floor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ali Rodriguez, an icon of Venezuela's socialist revolution who went on to serve as a diplomat in top government posts, has died. Rodriguez had served as ambassador to Cuba since 2014. He passed away in Havana on Monday at the age of 81, Venezuela's state TV network said. Among stages of his storied career, Rodriguez oversaw the mass firing of thousands of workers at Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA. He also defended the sharply anti-American foreign policy of the socialist governments of late President Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro. "His experience and honesty were a school for all of us," Maduro said on Twitter, calling Rodriguez, "a tireless fighter" who was "indispensable to the revolution." Born in 1937 in Venezuela's central state of Lara, Rodriguez joined guerrilla fighters as a young man inspired by the Fidel Castro-led revolution in Cuba. He earned a reputation as an expert in explosives and was given the nickname of 'Comandante Fausto.' The revolutionary fervor in Venezuela, however, never captured mass appeal, and in the 1970s most rebel groups surrendered. After former Venezuelan President Rafael Caldera forged a peace pact with the rebels, Rodriguez and others were granted amnesty for crimes that included kidnappings, bomb attacks and bank robberies. In the 1980s, Rodriguez joined the Causa R party. He eventually became a central figure in Fatherland for All another political party that supported then-presidential candidate Chavez. Later elected to Venezuela's congress, Rodriguez made a reputation for himself as a negotiator and consensus seeker, although he was always a staunch opponent of opening up the oil sector to private investment in the 1990s. Rodriguez, a lawyer who did postgraduate studies in economics, was an influence to Chavez and was appointed Minister of Energy and Mines at the beginning of Chavez's first term in 1999. A year later, he left the position to serve as secretary-general of OPEC. In 2002, he was appointed president of PDVSA, where he failed to resolve the brooding internal conflict which led to a massive walkout. To break the strike, 18,000 employees were fired under Rodriguez's management nearly half of the oil firm's payroll. In the years that followed, PDVSA recuperated and became the world's fifth largest oil producer, producing more than 3 million barrels per day. But financial losses after the strike were steep, and the company never recovered its engineering talent. Production is now at its lowest point in decades. Rodriguez served as president of PDVSA until November 2004, when Chavez made him foreign ambassador to Cuba. He used the position to defend Venezuela's anti-American foreign policy amid two decades of socialist rule. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The verdict in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots was pronounced on Monday in Tihar Jail after the local police moved a petition in the High Court citing security reasons and possibility of attack on the convicts on the premises of the Delhi court, said a senior police officer. The local police treaded a cautious path because they did not want to have a situation like 2016 when the then JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was allegedly attacked in the Patiala House Court. A Delhi court Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. The officer said the local police had moved a petition on Monday requesting them to not announce the verdict in the court, since they were anticipating a law and order situation. "We had anticipated that the convicts might be attacked since an untoward incident had happened last week also. The court accepted our petition and ordered that the verdict be pronounced in Tihar Jail. A large crowd had gathered at the court premises before the verdict and had the verdict been announced in the court, there would have been chances of a confrontation," he said. On November 14, the court had convicted Singh and Sherawat for killing two men here during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots -- the first conviction in the cases reopened by the SIT. The Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a Special Investigation Team on the riots reopened it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The use of 'cheat device' by Volkswagen in diesel cars in India leads to inference of environmental damage, the NGT has said while asking the German auto major to deposit an interim amount of Rs 100 crore with the CPCB. The NGT said that even though the standards may be stricter in other countries, "the very fact of deceit devices being installed by the manufacturers calls for an inference of prima-facie violation of environment". The Tribunal's November 16 order, uploaded Monday, said the amount has been fixed having regard to the capacity of the enterprise and possible adverse impact on the environment. It also stated that the deposit was only an interim measure, awaiting expert opinion on the subject. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel constituted a joint team of representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Heavy Industries, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. The NGT has directed the team to give its expert opinion on the subject whether the manufacturer has exceeded the prescribed environmental norms and fair estimate of the damage caused to the environment, after considering the reply of the auto company. "The parties are given liberty to furnish documents considered relevant by them to the Central Pollution Control Board within one week...The report may be furnished to this tribunal by e-mail within one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order," the bench said while listing the matter for further consideration on January 17, 2019. The tribunal referred to Volkswagen's admission to California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the US Environmental Protection Agency that it had deliberately installed software in the cars and issued a statement that it was sorry for having broken the trust of the customers and noted that in United States 4,82,000 cars are equipped with cheat device. "From the above material, it is difficult, prima-facie, to accept the stand of the manufacturer that it has not caused any damage to the environment in India. The manufacturers themselves have accepted the direction for recall. "As noted..., expression of regret was also publicly made. Though, they have chosen to describe the recall as voluntary, it is in pursuance of the direction of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India as per the stand of the Ministry, already noted," said the bench, also comprising Justice S P Wangdi. The tribunal was hearing pleas filed by a school teacher Saloni Ailawadi and a few others seeking ban on sale of Volkswagen vehicles for alleged violation of emission norms. Reacting on the tribunal's directive a Volkswagen Group spokesperson had last week said: "The Volkswagen Group is compliant with emission norms defined in India. The Group is yet to receive a copy of the order from the NGT. The Volkswagen Group in India will review the order and subsequently challenge the same." The tribunal said ARAI found Nitrogen oxide emissions to be five to nine times higher than the laboratory test limits. "This being not acceptable, the Ministry of Heavy Industries, directed for recall of the vehicle which direction was never challenged and has been complied with partially," it said. The tribunal said that even if there is 100 per cent recall, for the past violation of norms, the auto manufacturer cannot avoid its responsibility. The green panel said that as serious damage has been caused to the environment by Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd and Skoda Auto India Private Limited, therefore, the Polluter Pays Principle needs to be invoked to compensate the damage caused, in terms of Section 20 of the NGT Act, 2010. A 'cheat' or 'defeat device' is a software in diesel engines to manipulate emission tests by changing the performance of the cars globally. The tribunal had earlier directed Volkswagen to file an affidavit on the status of proceedings against it in other countries. The green panel had also directed that all parties be given a copy of Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India's (ARAI) 2015 report on emission tests conducted on diesel cars. Volkswagen India had in December 2015 announced the recall of 3,23,700 lakh vehicles in India to fix the emission software after ARAI conducted tests on some models and found that their on-road emissions were 1.1 times to 2.6 times higher than the applicable BS-IV norms. The automobile giant had admitted to the use of 'defeat device' in 11 million diesel engine cars sold in the US, Europe and other global markets to manipulate emission test results. After the tests by ARAI, Volkswagen India had undertaken to rejig the software by recalling around 3.23 lakh vehicles fitted with EA 189 diesel engines which were in alleged violation of emission norms. The company, however, had said that the recall in India was purely voluntary in nature as it did not face any charges regarding violating emission norms in India unlike in the US. The counsel for the car manufacturer had told the NGT that ARAI, which is being consulted on the redesign of the software, had approved it for only 70 per cent of the 3.23 lakh vehicles. ARAI, however, said that Volkswagen had submitted redesigned software for only 70 per cent and was yet to do so for the remaining 30 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kisan Morcha of BJP's West Bengal unit Tuesday staged a protest rally against the worsening law and order situation in the state. West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said democracy is under threat under the present TMC regime. "Democracy is under threat in TMC regime. Everyday our party workers are either being killed or attacked. The opposition parties don't have any democratic right neither inside assembly nor outside. This is really shameful. That is why we are staging this protest rally," Ghosh said. The farmers in West Bengal are in distress. The farmers are not getting the price of their crops. There is a accute agrarian crisis in the rural areas, he said. The Kisan Morcha's rally which started from the BJP party office in central Kolkata was scheduled to march towards the West Bengal State Assembly, which is presently in session. But it was stopped midway at Rani Rashmoni Road following which a scuffle broke out between BJP workers and police officials. Later on police was able to pacify the BJP workers and they left the venue after raising slogans against the state government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Ali Fazal says despite giving critically acclaimed performance in films such as "3 Idiots", "Fukrey" and others, filmmakers still find it hard to gamble money on him. The actor says sometimes producers get confused by his "brand" which he has created by featuring in films of different genres. "Sometimes, producers told me it is hard thing to gamble on you alone and there was one producer who said, 'I am a confused brand', like I am doing a (Vikram) Bhatt film and then something different. I have to grapple before choosing a project, I have to think who is going to produce or present it," Ali told PTI. Ali says he rejected many films, which according to him were awful, even when he was facing a financial crisis. "There was a time when I had no money in my account and I turned down the offers even when I was offered lots of money. I had read the script several times but I couldn't say yes to it." The actor is no stranger to the world of Hollywood, having done a cameo in Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson-starrer "Furious 7" and acting opposite veteran actor Judi Dench in Oscar-nominated feature "Victoria and Abdul". "The unions and guilds are strong there, I am sitting here and for the rest of my life, I am going to get royalty for 'Fast and Furious' no matter where it plays in the world. "It is little token of respect. I played a little character and I did five-six days of work. I want to work there, I love doing work there. I love working not because of money but for the energy. Things are changing here." The actor currently stars in Amazon Prime Video's web series "Mirzapur" where he plays Guddu, an innocent college-going boy, who is fascinated by the gangster world. "I was surprised that they took me for 'Mirzapur'. They took the chance on me. I am glad that they had trust in me. I loved the character graph of Guddu in the series. I got to experiment. I loved being on the edge. I loved that I got to experiment, reinvent myself." He adds, his parents were unable to recognise him on-screen in "Mirzapur" as he has a beefed up look. "The world of 'Mirzapur' is special for me because of the writing of how rooted it is, there is drama and relationship, the turmoil. It is a corporate world in many ways and yet it is rooted right in the heart of India." The series premiered today on November 16. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Though the lost the legal fight with the over the suspension of the press credentials of its Jim Acosta, it has used the opportunity to rein-in the media from raising more than one question to or senior officials at future press conferences. The on Monday restored the press credentials of CNN's chief correspondent Acosta, less than two weeks after withdrawing them over a testy exchange with Trump during a news conference on November 7. The Trump administration's decision came after a judge ordered that Acosta could continue reporting at the White House. Following the decision, said it was withdrawing its lawsuit against the White House. Reacting to the decision restoring his pass, Acosta said he was looking forward to returning to the White House. "Thanks to everybody for their support. As I said last Friday... let's get back to work," he tweeted. But the White House also issued "rules governing future press conferences". The new rules are for reporters covering the news conferences of either Trump or senior administration officials. "This afternoon we have notified and that his hard pass has been restored. We have also notified him of certain rules that will govern White House press conferences going forward," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. As per the new White House guidelines, a reporter can ask a single question and permission for a follow up will be subject to the discretion of the individual holding the news conference. Any violation of the rule might result in revocation of the press credentials, Sanders said, as she announced restoration of full media access to Acosta. Listing out the three new rules, Sanders said a will ask a single question and then yield the floor to other journalists. Secondly, at the discretion of the President or other White House official taking questions, a follow-up question or questions may be permitted. Finally, "yielding the floor" includes, when applicable, physically surrendering the microphone to White House staff for use by the next questioner, Sanders said. "Failure to abide by any of rules may result in suspension or revocation of the journalist's hard pass," she warned. The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) welcomed the decision of the and asserted that a free and independent played a vital role in the health of a republic. "The White House did the right thing in restoring Jim Acosta's hard pass," Olivier Knox, WHCA President said. "The White House Correspondents' Association had no role in crafting any procedures for future press conferences," he said. "For as long as there have been White House press conferences, White House reporters have asked follow-up questions. We fully expect this tradition will continue. We will continue to make the case that a free and independent plays a vital role in the health of our republic," Knox said. However, in her lengthy statement, Sanders noted that White House created the new rules with a degree of regret. For years, members of the White House press corps have attended countless press events with the President and other officials without engaging in the behaviour Acosta displayed at the November 7 press conference, she said. "We would have greatly preferred to continue hosting White House press conferences in reliance on a set of understood professional norms, and we believe the overwhelming majority of journalists covering the White House share that preference. But, given the position taken by CNN, we now feel obligated to replace previously shared practices with explicit rules," she said. During the news conference, a White House intern tried to take the microphone from Acosta as he attempted to ask the president a follow-up question. Trump called Acosta "a rude, terrible person" and the reporter was barred from entering the White House a day later. Sanders said the White House was mindful that a more elaborate and comprehensive set of rules might need to be devised, including, for example, for a conduct in the open (non-press room) areas inside and outside the White House and for Air Force One. "At this time, however, we have decided not to frame such rules in the hope that professional journalistic norms will suffice to regulate conduct in those places. If unprofessional behaviour occurs in those settings, or if a court should decide that explicit rules are required to regulate conduct there, we will be forced to reconsider this decision," she said. "The White House's interaction with the press is, and generally should be, subject to a natural give-and-take," Sanders said. "President Trump believes strongly in the First Amendment, and a free press and is the most accessible President in modern history. It would be a great loss for all if, instead of relying on the professionalism of White House journalists, we were compelled to devise a lengthy and detailed code of conduct for White House events," she said. President Trump often calls the media the "enemy of the people" and denounces as "fake news" reports that are critical of his administration. : The winter session of Karnatakaassembly will be held in the northern district of Belagavifrom December 10 to 21, the assembly Secretariat said Tuesday. The Secretariat has issued intimation about the commencement of the session to all the members and officials concerned. "In exercise of the powers conferred under Article 174(1) of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Karnataka has summoned the Karnataka legislative assembly to meet at 12:15 pm on December 10 in the legislative assembly chamber at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha,Belagavi," the intimation read. This would be the first assembly session for H D Kumaraswamy led Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Belagavi after coming to power in the State. Belagavi in north Karnataka, bordering Mahrarashtra, has been hosting legislature session once a year since 2006. This was followed by construction of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, modelled on the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat in Bengaluru, during the BJP government as an assertion that Belagavi is an integral part of Karnataka. Maharashtra claims Belagavi belongs to it. As the demand for a separate north Karnataka state resurfaced, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in July had said the State government was mulling shifting some government offices to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in the region, in an attemptto address alleged discrimination. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Writing is very clear on the wall", the warned the embattled real estate firm on Tuesday over its repeated non-compliance and "hood-winking" of the court's order. The top court asked the realty firm to reveal by December 3 the details of all its properties in the name of directors, their family members, relatives, Chief Financial Officers and statutory auditors in India and abroad. It gave one last opportunity to and its directors and promoters to comply with each and every direction passed by the court since May last year. A Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit said that will have to disclose each and every detail and activity, including financial transactions by which home-buyers' money was transferred. "We make it very clear that Amrapali Group should disclose each and every activity in clear terms it took since 2008 onwards related to the construction of residential, commercial, personal, official and financial where the money was transferred. If all the disclosures are not made by Amrapali Group and its directors then the writing is very clear on the wall," the Bench said. It said the company has to disclose details of assets of all the directors since 2008, assets created in the name of their family members, relatives, Chief Financial Officer and statutory auditors. The company is responsible for the diversion of home-buyers' money, it said. The court asked the embattled group to furnish details of all the land which has been sub-leased, structures raised on it and the financial benefits to the company. It directed the banks, Noida and Greater Noida authorities and other bodies concerned to cooperate with the forensic auditors saying that they have been acting on the direction of the court and any non-compliance will be treated as contempt of the court. It directed the registry of the court to accept Rs 10 million demand draft given by Amrapali's CFO Chander Wadhwa and asked the group to depute four persons for assisting the forensic auditors in their investigation of company's affair. The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on December 5 and asked the company to file its reply by December 3. On November 13, in a massive crackdown on Amrapali Group for "wilful disobedience" of its orders, the apex court had attached the company's 100-bed multi-speciality hospital, bank accounts, the building which houses its office, certain firms and a "benami" Villa in Goa. It had asked the CFO to deposit Rs 116.9 million with its registry within three weeks. It also asked a statutory auditor Anil Mittal to pay Rs 4.7 million. It restrained the realty firm from alienating its through which it had transactions and ordered attachment of such firms. The top court has also restrained Amrapali Group from creating any third party rights for 86 luxury cars and SUVs purchased from the company's funds. It had sought the presence of CMD Anil Sharma and two directors Shiv Priya and Ajay Kumar on November 19 and said that Amrapali Group had deliberately not complied with its earlier order and committed a "serious fraud" by diverting home-buyers' money from one company to other. It has ordered the attachment of the group's state-of-the-art, multi-speciality, 100-bed hospital situated at Greater Noida for which funds from sister company Ultra Home Construction Pvt Ltd were utilised. The court has also attached the bank accounts of GauriSuta Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, its director Sunil Kumar and its assets after forensic auditors disclosed that Amrapali transferred home-buyers' money from one firm to sister using it as conduit. Besides, it has ordered attachment of towers which housed the company's office and 'Aqua Fortis' villa in Goa for no one came forward to claim ownership. On October 31, the apex court had directed the Amrapali Group to disclose the names of all the with which it had any kind of transactions after forensic auditors pointed out that there may be a web of more than 200-250 such firms where home-buyers' money was transferred. The two forensic auditors, appointed by the court to look into the affairs of Amrapali Group had said besides 47 sister companies, they stumbled upon 31 companies whose names were never disclosed by the embattled real estate firm. It had also initiated contempt proceedings against Sharma and its directors for prima facie violating court's order and thwarting the course of justice. The matter is listed on November 20. The court is seized of a batch of petitions filed by home buyers who are seeking possession of around 42,000 flats booked in projects of the Amrapali Group. Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday negotiations between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations on a nonaggression pact to prevent clashes in the disputed South China Sea could be concluded in three years and promised that any differences will be dealt with peacefully. Xi made the assurances after holding talks with President Rodrigo Duterte and other officials on a visit to the Philippines aimed at deepening relations with the American treaty ally. Xi's overnight visit to the Philippine capital, Manila, was his last stop on a three-nation swing through Asia, where he has offered infrastructure loans and aid and championed free trade amid a rivalry for regional influence with the United States. "We will continue to manage contentious issues and promote maritime cooperation through friendly consultation," Xi said. He said China aims to conclude the talks on the "code of conduct" in the disputed waters with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations within three years. Four members of the 10-nation bloc Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam along with China and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. Many fear the long-simmering disputes could spark an armed conflict that could shatter Asia's bustling economies. Ahead of Xi's visit, China and the Philippines tried to negotiate an agreement allowing joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed waters, but apparently did not reach a consensus. They signed a "memorandum of understanding on cooperation on oil and gas development" on Tuesday but officials provided few details. "It's a cooperation to find ways to find a solution," Philippine Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said of the agreement. China has sought a "maritime and air liaison mechanism," an arrangement for forces of the two countries to coordinate their naval and aircraft movements to prevent incidents in the contested waters, but the proposal has been opposed by Philippine defense officials, two Philippine officials told The Associated Press. There was no mention of the pact after Tuesday's meetings. Filipino nationalists have warned that any agreement that can undermine the Philippines' internationally recognized exclusive rights to fish and exploit resources within 200 nautical miles of the country's coast would violate the Philippine Constitution. Beijing's relations with Manila deteriorated over the territorial rifts until Duterte won the presidency in mid-2016 and sought to rebuild ties with China while criticizing U.S. security policies in a dramatic pivot. The administration of Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, had brought the territorial disputes with China to international arbitration and won, but China has ignored the outcome. Duterte has refused to immediately demand Chinese compliance with the ruling, which invalidated China's sweeping claims to the waters, where Beijing has transformed a string of disputed reefs into missile-protected island bases. Duterte's rapprochement has fostered a new era of warmer relations with the Asian economic powerhouse, from which he has sought trade and investment, infrastructure financing and weapons to fight insurgents. While Western governments have sharply criticized Duterte's brutal crackdown on illegal drugs, China has not. Both Xi and Duterte have often been in the crosshairs of human rights groups. Xi said he and Duterte "agreed to elevate our relationship into one of comprehensive, strategic cooperation," adding, "it sends a strong message to the world that our two countries are partners in seeking common development." Xi's visit to the Philippines is the first by a Chinese president in 13 years. More than 300 protesters with placards reading "Hands off our land and seas" rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate in Manila. Another group of protesters later burned mock Chinese flags near the presidential palace, where Xi and Duterte met. Duterte said Philippine participation in Beijing's "Belt and Road Initiative" was discussed and Xi invited the Philippine leader to attend the infrastructure loan program's second international forum in China next year. The ambitious program has been criticized by the United States as enticing poor nations into debt bondage and has warned it could compromise their independence. Xi has denied that Chinese loans could lead to a "debt trap." Aside from their trade disputes, China and the United States have wrestled over Beijing's assertive claims to the South China Sea. Chinese officials have asked Washington to back off from what they say is a purely Asian dispute, but the U.S. has vowed to maintain a presence in the waters, where it has no claims but has pledged to promote freedom of navigation and overflight. "We will continue to fly and sail wherever international law allows and our national interests demand; harassment will only strengthen our resolve. We will not change course," U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said at a meeting last week in Papua New Guinea that was attended by leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, including Xi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Zircon Technologies, engaged in the business of label printing for packaging of products, has received markets regulator Sebi's go ahead to float an initial public offering. With this, the total number of getting clearance from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to launch IPO has reached 70 so far this year. Zircon Technologies (India), which had filed draft papers with in September, obtained the regulator's observations on November 12, latest update with the markets watchdog showed. The regulator's observations are necessary for the launch of any public issue such as initial public offer (IPO), follow-on public offer (FPO) and rights issue. Zircon, a research-based organisation that creates innovative brand security, anti-counterfeiting, and authenticity for brands and documents, as per company website. Going by the draft papers, the company's IPO comprises 5.9 million equity shares. Proceeds of the issue will be utilised for repayment of certain borrowings availed by the company, for setting up of new manufacturing facility at Dehradun, funding the working capital requirements of the firm and general corporate purposes. "In addition, our company expects to receive the benefits of the listing of the equity shares on the stock exchanges and enhancement of our company's brand name and creation of a public market for our equity shares in India," the draft papers noted. Systematix Corporate Services is the sole book running lead manager to the IPO. The equity shares of the company will be listed on NSE and BSE. By Jessica Resnick-AultNEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude futures rose ahead of settlement in choppy trade on Monday, supported by a reported drawdown of U.S. oil inventories, potential European Union sanctions on Iran and possible OPEC production cuts.Brent crude settled up 3 cents at $66.79 a barrel, strengthening late in the session after earlier hitting a low of $65.27 a barrel. U.S. crude futures traded 30 cents higher at $56.76 a barrel in a session that saw swings in a $2 per barrel range.The market is struggling to find firm footing after a rout that has seen prices fall more than $20 a ... FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is stepping up scrutiny of banks it sees at high risk of laundering money by launching a dedicated network of watchdogs sharing information on the matter, its chief supervisor Daniele Nouy said on Tuesday.It was the first concrete response by the ECB's Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), the euro zone's top banking watchdog, to a string of money-laundering scandals affecting banks in Denmark, Malta and Latvia in recent months.Nouy said the SSM would set up an anti-money laundering (AML) office to collect and share information from its ... TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan was shocked by news that Nissan Motor Co Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who was widely respected for rescuing the car maker from near bankruptcy, was arrested on Monday for alleged financial misconduct.Nissan said that Ghosn, who is also chairman and CEO of Renault and chairman of Mitsubishi Motors, would be fired from his post as Nissan chairman on Thursday.WHAT IS GHOSN ACCUSED OF?Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa told a packed press conference on Monday night that the company had found that Ghosn had been using corporate money for personal purposes and under-reporting his income ... By Alexander Winning and Joe BavierJOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Loss-making South African arms maker Denel has a problem as it fights to survive. Its potential saviour is Saudi Arabia, now drawing fierce criticism following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.But after being mismanaged for years and tainted by a far-reaching influence-peddling scandal, state-owned Denel now needs the kind of help that the deep-pocketed Saudis can provide.Reuters analysed five years of South African arms export data, spoke to former and current Denel employees and obtained internal Denel presentations on ... The Therapeutic Goods Administration has proposed a ban on poppers, which would criminalize an estimated 90,000 LGBT individuals. Alkyl nitrites, or poppers as theyre more commonly known, are used during receptive anal sex. After LGBT health advocates warned the administration they were discriminating against gay and bisexual individuals, they are consulting officials on whether the ban is appropriate, according to The Guardian. They cited the benefits of using poppers, their use as sex aids do to their muscle relaxing properties, as the risks of use. Vincent Cornelisse, a physician, and Daniel Reeders, an advocate, argued the ban could stigmatize the use of the drug with health professionals, and promote the use of other illegal drugs. Men who currently use poppers for more adventurous sexual encounters might consider illicit drugs for the same purposes with greater risks of overdose and dependence, Cornelisse said. (Reuters) - Lowe's Companies Inc said on Tuesday it was shedding some of its non-core businesses including its Mexican operations as part of restructuring, while also posting a smaller-than-expected rise in quarterly same-store sales. The company said it intended to exit its retail operations in Mexico and had identified other underperforming or non-core businesses and stores for divestiture.Sales at stores open for more than a year rose 1.5 percent in the third quarter, below expectations of a 2.93 percent increase, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. (Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in ... By Chang-Ran Kim and Sam NusseyTOKYO (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co's shares fell nearly 6 percent on Tuesday as Chairman Carlos Ghosn's arrest a day earlier sent shockwaves through the business world and threw into doubt the future of Japan's No.2 automaker and its global alliance.Nissan said on Monday an internal investigation triggered by a tip-off from a whistleblower had revealed that Ghosn engaged in wrongdoing including personal use of company money and under-reporting for years how much he was earning. He was arrested and would be fired from Nissan's board this week, it said.Ghosn is ... By Henning GloysteinSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil markets lost steam on Tuesday, giving back earlier gains, as a deteriorating economic outlook and a surge in U.S. production outweighed expected supply cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).Brent crude oil futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $66.55 a barrel at 0313 GMT, down 24 cents, or 0.4 percent from their last close.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $57.07 per barrel, 13 cents, or 0.2 percent, below their last settlement.Oil prices are almost a quarter below their ... OSLO (Reuters) - Oil markets are entering an unprecedented period of uncertainty due to geopolitcal instability, the head of the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday."We are entering an unprecedented period of uncertainty in oil markets," Fatih Birol told a conference organised by Norway's Equinor. "That is why it is extremely important to have Norway as a reliable oil and gas supplier." (Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, editing by Gwladys Fouche)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Henning GloysteinSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices were stable on Tuesday on expectations that producer club OPEC will soon cut supply to prevent oversupply amid slowing demand growth and a surge in output from the United States.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures , were at $57.21 per barrel at 0117 GMT, 1 cent above their last settlement.Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $66.75 a barrel, down 4 cents from their last close.The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), de facto led by Saudi Arabia, is pushing for the producer cartel and its allies to ... PARIS (Reuters) - The board of French carmaker Renault will on Tuesday discuss temporarily replacing Chairman and Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn while he remains in detention in Japan over alleged financial misconduct at alliance partner Nissan, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.The Renault board will meet later in the day, a company spokesman confirmed, declining to elaborate on the agenda.Nissan has moved to oust Ghosn as its chairman this week after an investigation found evidence of serious financial misconduct, leading to his arrest in Tokyo on Monday. The French government, ... Today, China has the worlds only internet companies that can match Americas in ambition and reach. 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. All this, on a patch of cyberspace that is walled off from Facebook and Google, policed by tens of ... Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's India visit has embroiled in a controversy after he posed with a placard bashing the Brahman community. The Twitter Co-founder and CEO, who came to India on November 10, visited several places from IIT-Delhi to actor Shah Rukh Khan's house in Mumbai. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. Nothing created as much news as his Monday event in which he held a poster, which, many dubbed, had a communal touch. The picture was shared by a journalist and it took Twitter by storm, accusing him of inciting hate among people in India. The row erupted after a roundtable in which some women journalists, including Twitter's Legal Head Vijaya Gadde, participated. Dorsey also took part in the event, following which he along with the other six women participants posed for a picture. While taking the picture, the Twitter CEO can be seen holding a placard carrying an illustration of a woman that read "Smash Brahminical patriarchy". During Twitter CEO @jack's visit here, he & Twitter's Legal head @vijaya took part in a round table with some of us women journalists, activists, writers & @TwitterIndia's @amritat to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation pic.twitter.com/LqtJQEABgV - Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) November 18, 2018 Some Twitter users didn't take the Twitter CEO's endorsement of the remarks against Brahmins in a good way. "Do you realise that this picture has the potential of causing communal riots at a time when several States are going to Assembly Elections in India," tweeted Sandeep Mittal, who is an IPS officer. He added that the Twitter CEO has not even offered an apology after trying to defame a particular caste. "...Actually, it is (sic) a fit case for registration of a criminal case for attempt to destabilise (sic) the nation," he added. Several Twitter users asked why the Twitter CEO chose to target one particular community. "Tomorrow if @jack is given a poster with anti Semitic messages in a meeting, will his team allow him to hold it up?" TV Mohandas Pai, former finance chief of software exporter Infosys, tweeted, adding that inciting hate against any community is wrong. Twitter India was quick to respond later during the day. "Recently we hosted a closed-door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack," it tweeted. The company clarified it is not a statement from the Twitter CEO but a tangible reflection of the company's "efforts to see, hear and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world". Some of the voices on Twitter supported the campaign and said some people were trying to shut down the free speech. "An IPS officer demonstrating, real-time, how the Indian police misinterpret the law to justify repression and shutting down free speech," said Columnist Mihir Sharma. The legal head of Twitter Vijaya Gadde apologised and said it was not reflective of Twitter's views. Jack Dorsey, who's rather active on his own social platform, chose not to comment on the issue. Twitter has over 326 million users all over the world, a big chunk of which is from India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is one of the biggest supporters of the platform, has over 44.4 million followers on Twitter. Edited by Manoj Sharma While earlier Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh had released just two pictures from their wedding ceremonies in Italy, we are now in some luck as the two actors have been releasing a number of photos on Instagram. Fans have been blown away with the happy couple's regal pictures in all their traditional glory. Pictures of the South Indian Konkani wedding show the two smiling and truly happy as they go through the rituals. Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy had become the cynosure of all eyes as the actors reached the venue for their much talked-about wedding celebrations. The Konkani wedding took place first followed by the Sindhi one at the swanky Villa del Balbianello which hosts several high-profile weddings. The inside photos of the dreamy affair gives us a peek into a very private occasion but one which the family seems to have enjoyed. The duo had been in a relationship for the past six years before deciding to tie the knot. They returned to Mumbai on Nov 18 and headed to Ranveer's home. New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale was on a three-day visit to Bhutan from Sunday, during which he told the Bhutanese leaders that India attaches the highest priority to further expand its cooperation with Thimphu. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides discussed a plethora of bilateral, regional and other issues of mutual interests during Gokhale's visit.Besides holding talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Sonam Tshong, the foreign secretary called on Prime Minister Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering and Foreign Minister Lyonpo Tandi Dorji, it said.Tshering became prime minister last month after his party came out victorious in the general elections in Bhutan. Gokhale's trip was the first high-level visit to Bhutan from India after the elections in the Himalayan nation. Gokhale also had an audience with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck."In his interactions, the foreign secretary conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to further expand its unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, based on the priorities of the Royal Government of Bhutan," the MEA said. It said the two sides discussed all aspects of bilateral relations, including development co-operation, hydro-power cooperation and people-to-people ties."The two sides also shared their views on regional matters and other issues of mutual interest," the MEA said. It is not immediately known whether the situation in India, China, Bhutan tri-junction in Doklam figured during talks between Gokhale and the Bhutanese Foreign Secretary.Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped building of a road in the disputed Doklam tri-junction by the Chinese Army.Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The face-off ended on August 28. China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the dispute in the area. PTI MPB NSD Tanzanias had a notoriously homophobic past couple of months, with the commissioner of its largest city asking citizens to report gay people to the cops. And Denmarks minister for development and cooperation, Ulla Tornaes isnt having it. Shes withholding 65m krone, or $9.8 million from the Tanzanian government for an unnamed commissioner's homophobic comments, according to BBC. "I am very concerned about the negative development in Tanzania. Most recently the totally unacceptable homophobic statements from a commissioner," Tornaes said on Twitter. "I have therefore decided to withhold DKK 65m in the country. Respect for human rights is crucial for Denmark." Denmark is one of Tanzanias largest aid donors. Paul Makonda, the commissioner of Dar es Salaam, said he expected his allies to be mad for asking to report gay people to the police. "I prefer to anger those countries than to anger God," he said. Manama, Nov 19 (PTI) The Bahrain government is likely to sign an agreement with India early next year for cooperation in space technology, a Bahraini minister has said.In February next year, the Gulf nation, hopefully, will sign a pact with Indian space agency ISRO for training and research purposes, Kamal Bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister for Transportation and Telecommunications, Bahrain, said."The national science and space agency (Bahrain) and ISRO will sign an MoU. It has been approved by the Bahrain government and is in its final stage. And hopefully, I will be in India shortly, maybe in the next air show in February to sign the MoU," the minister, who also holds the space portfolio, said.The agreement will be mainly for training purposes and both countries will cooperate on research and technology, he added."It is just a starting point. The government will send some Bahrainis to be trained in India from January for eight weeks...to study how they can design and build satellites, Mohammed said.Bahrain is also looking to forge closer economic ties with India to attract investment and tech companies. "We are in continuous discussion with the private sector, CII and Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) which is the government agency to promote Bahrain and attract foreign direct investment, and India is one of the important markets for EDB. It has an office there. There will be a delegation there in December, the minister said.He further said India is an important market and it will become one of the superpowers in terms of economy.On investment from India, he said: "I believe Indian companies are becoming bigger, they are expanding outside of India and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries offer them the best opportunity.""We are more focussing on technology and knowledge-based industry and services." India is an important business partner for Bahrain, and the kingdom is keen to further strengthen the relations with the private sector in India. Trade relationship between the two countries also prompted many Indians to set up their businesses there. "Located at the heart of the Middle East, Bahrain is the natural gateway to the Gulf region, with strong, efficient and cost-effective pan-GCC transport links and direct access to Saudi Arabia the regions largest market," Bahraini officials said. PTI BAL ANUANU Google could shut down Google News services in Europe if the European Union goes ahead with its plan to 'link tax' for reproducing news stories in the member countries. Link tax is intended to allow content creators to charge search engines like Google for incorporating short pieces or even linking to their news articles. EU Commission's proposal aims to make certain that artists, notably musicians, performers and script authors, as well as news publishers and journalists, are paid for their work when it is used by sharing platforms such as YouTube or Facebook, and news aggregators such as Google News. After the vote, rapporteur Axel Voss (EPP, DE) said, "I am very glad that despite the very strong lobbying campaign by the internet giants, there is now a majority in the full house backing the need to protect the principle of fair pay for European creatives." The new regulation will require medium to large online platforms to pay copyright holders for reproducing even small bits and pieces of text. The European Parliament's text also specifically requires that journalists themselves, and not just their publishing houses, benefit from remuneration stemming from this liability requirement. This is what could hurt Google the most and it is concerned about the new regulation. In an interview with The Guardian, Google's vice-president of news, Richard Gingras, stated that while it's "not desirable to shut down services," the company "can't make a decision until we see the final language." This isn't the first time Google has closed it services in Europe. Earlier in 2014, Google Spain closed its news services in the country because of the similar requirement. Google news isn't a profit making venture of Google. According to Gingras, advertising isn't used on Google News, however the company encourages the users to spend more time on the site. A top Dubai court Monday upheld a lower court's order to consider the possibility of extraditing British national and alleged middleman Christian Michel, who is wanted by Indian investigative agencies in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, according to media reports. Michel, 54, is currently behind bars in Dubai since he was arrested and sent into custody pending the legal and judicial procedure in the UAE. The Dubai Court of Cassation dismissed the two objections filed by Michel's lawyers and upheld the Appellate Court's decision to consider the possibility of extraditing him to the competent Indian authorities. Judge Abdelaziz Al Zarouni, who headed a bench, pronounced the decision in the presence of member judges Musabeh Thaaloub, Mostafa Al Shinawi, Mahmoud Sultan and another judge, the Khaleej Times reported. However, there was no immediate official confirmation about the court's ruling in New Delhi. On Monday, Michel's lawyer Abdul Moneim submitted documents showing that courts in Switzerland and Italy had ruled not to extradite his client. "The judicial authorities there concluded there was no criminal element in the case," the lawyer argued. Earlier, he argued at Dubai's highest court that the extradition request procedure of Michel would be a "violation" of the international treaty signed between the UAE and India. Contesting the lower court's ruling, according to which his client could be extradited, the lawyer argued that the Indian authorities did not follow "the proper procedures" when requesting the extradition, the paper said. "The request should have been filed by India's Ministry of Home Affairs rather than its Ministry of External Affairs," Abdul Moneim was quoted as saying. He contended that the procedure was "flawed" since it did not comply with the clauses of the treaty signed on the issue, the paper said. "Accordingly, the lower court order should be reversed," he argued. The presiding judge dismissed Michel's appeal and accepted that of Dubai prosecutors and upheld the appeal court's order to approve the extradition, the Gulf News reported. Michel filed his appeal before the Dubai Court of Cassation within 30 days after the lower court's ruling. With Dubai's top court upholding the lower court's decision, it has become final but it will need approval from the UAE Minister of Justice for the extradition procedure to start. The extradition procedure happens in coordination with the Interpol and the Criminal investigation Department. Since the appellate court ruled on September 2 that he could be extradited, in response to a request filed by the Indian authorities to the UAE in connection with corruption-related charges, Michel lost his bail conditions, the Khaleej Times said. Michel, whose passport had been seized by the judicial authorities in Dubai and had been granted release on bail, became 'wanted' on September 2, following the decision issued by the Dubai Court of Appeals. Citing a source, the paper said Michel's extradition request had previously been closed administratively here as the necessary papers were not available then from India. Once his file was complete, the case was re-opened. He was summoned and confronted with the file afterwards. India officially made the request to the Gulf nation in 2017 for his extradition, based on the criminal investigations conducted in the case by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED, in its chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received ?EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. The money was nothing but "kickbacks" paid by the firm to execute the 12 helicopter deal in favour of the firm in "guise of" genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country, according to the chargesheet. Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The ED investigation found that remittances made by Michel through his Dubai-based firm Global Services to a media firm he floated in Delhi, along with two Indians, were made from the funds which he got from AgustaWestland through "criminal activity" and corruption being done in the chopper deal that led to the subsequent generation of proceeds of crime. Michel denies the charges. On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Italy-based Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million. Nearly three lakh Indians migrated and settled in Australia between 2000 and 2016, according to latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. So it stands to reason that visa scams are plentiful, too. Yesterday, the Australian High Commission in the country cautioned Indian nationals planning to shift to Australia against organised contrived marriage scams targeting South Asians. The warning came after Australian Border Force (ABF) shut down a contrived marriages syndicate operating out of Sydney, with a 32-year-old Indian national facing court over his alleged role as the main facilitator. Four Australian citizens are also facing charges of convincing individuals to fraudulently marry non-citizens seeking to obtain permanent residency, the Australian High Commission in the national capital said on Monday. In a statement titled 'warning about fake marriage scams', the High Commission said the long-running operation by the ABF had resulted in 164 foreign nationals having their applications for a "partner visa" refused after they were linked to the syndicate. "None of the participants in this scam obtained permanent residency," read the statement. "Some of these clients paid significant amounts of money, for no immigration outcome. While contrived marriages are not unique to any one nationality, this particular syndicate was attempting to illegally facilitate fake marriages with non-citizens in the South Asian community." According to ABF Acting Investigations Commander Clinton Sims, such syndicates undermine the integrity of Australia's visa programme and exploit desperate individuals. In fact, as the High Commission in Delhi noted, these types of scams generally target vulnerable young Australian women, many of whom come from disadvantaged and low socio-economic backgrounds. "Many of the women involved in these scams have suffered a history of substance abuse, family violence and financial hardship, and are lured in with promises of substantial payments," Sims told The Times of India. "Protecting the integrity of the visa system is an operational priority for the ABF and anyone found to be involved in or facilitating sham marriages should expect to be investigated and face criminal prosecution. Registered agents and marriage celebrants also face losing their registration." The daily added that the ABF has also been successful in combating contrived marriages in Victoria, with one individual being sentenced to six months imprisonment for fraud offences against the Migration Act. With PTI inputs (Edited by Sushmita Choudhury Agarwal) Centre will not be able to lay its hands on any of the Rs 9.59 lakh crore worth of RBI reserves despite the central bank agreeing to set up an expert committee on Economic Capital Framework (ECF) at the full board meeting held at RBI headquarters in Mumbai on Monday, sources told BusinessToday.In. RBI has held its ground and has managed to protect the reserves, a bulk of which are currency and gold revaluation reserves worth Rs 6.91 lakh crore. Another Rs 2.32 lakh crore are under Contingency Fund; Rs 22,811 crore are under Asset Development Fund and another Rs 13.285 crore are under Investment Revaluation Account. Neither of these will be transferred to the Centre. Instead, the Centre is believed to have agreed to RBI's resolve that the ECF Committee's mandate should be limited to examining how to utilise RBI's future reserves rather than past and current reserves. "RBI didn't want to do anything with the past reserves," an RBI director who attended the board meeting told BusinessToday.In. Earlier, reports that the Centre was insisting that one-third of RBI reserves worth over Rs 3 lakh crore be transferred to it were denied by the finance ministry. RBI's reserves amount to nearly 28 per cent of its total assets. The global average is around 16 per cent. Centre believes RBI should maintain reserves amounting to 15-16 per cent of total assets, in line with the global average. Hence, ECF's new formula is likely work towards that end. Centre is believed to have demanded at least Rs 50,000 crore of surplus transfer from RBI this fiscal. It is likely that if fiscal 2018-19 surplus exceeds this amount, all of it will get transferred to the Centre's account. Most likely, a vast majority of all future annual surplus of RBI will be transferred to the Centre until RBI's total reserves hit the global average of 15-16 per cent. Centre will have a substantial say in the ECF Committee, as disclosed by RBI in a statement right after the board meeting: "The Board decided to constitute an expert committee to examine the ECF, the membership and terms of reference of which will be jointly determined by the Government of India and the RBI". Also Read: Urjit Patel, Viral Acharya survive RBI board meeting; agree to many of Centre's demands In last year's Economic Survey, former chief economic advisor (CEA) Arvind Subramaniam had said RBI is highly capitalised and there is no reason why excess capital should be kept with the RBI. "It is one of the most highly capitalised central banks in the world. So, it would seem to be more productive to redeploy some of this capital in other ways," the Economic Survey said. The survey said this capital could be used in recapitalising banks or repaying debt to demonstrate that the government is serious about fiscal prudence. However, he was not in favour of using the RBI reserves to meet Centre's expenses: "the uses to which this is should be of a balance sheet nature". Arvind Virmani, former Chief Economic Advisor, says the demand for higher share of current profits to be paid as dividends to the government is a legitimate demand. However, he says it would be a gross fiscal irresponsibility to convert legacy accumulated reserves into dividends for use for current expenditures. However, he feels the use of excess reserves to write off past loans from RBI to the government would help clean up the balance sheets of the RBI and the government. "This would be completely consistent with the government's approach to the two balance sheets and would have a positive effect on markets," he says. Former deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia says that while there are two views on the reserve issue with someone like Arvind Subramaniam saying that this can be done, the bottom line is that nowhere in the world transfer of funds from central banks is treated as a genuine way of modifying the fiscal deficit. An economist from a rating agency, who refused to be quoted, said that a key question which remains unanswered is who should decide if the RBI has sufficient reserves. "Should the government decide this or should the RBI?" he asks. Yet, the tug-of-war over RBI reserves leaves a critical question: is transferring reserves to the Centre a fiscal compulsion or a political necessity? If it's the latter, it better be left to the next government to decide in April-May, 2019! Also Read: Here's what economists have to say on RBI surplus transfer to govt The latest Morgan McKinley Employment Monitor has been released today. The monitor measures the pulse of the Irish professional jobs market by tracking the number of new job vacancies and new candidates within the Republic of Ireland each month. The monitor registered a significant increase of 8.6% in the number of new professional job opportunities available in October compared to the previous month. Overall, the availability of professional jobs increased by 11% in October 2018 compared to the same month a year ago. The number of professionals seeking employment is the highest that it has been all year. Morgan McKinley say a lot of that is Brexit related where Ireland continue to see a big inflow of talent not just from the UK but from right across Europe where professionals are choosing Ireland for onward career opportunities. While Dublin is a focus of this interest, there is also growing interest from this migrant talent in locating directly to the regions. In October, 76% of the jobs announced through IDA Ireland were for the regions with Carlow, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo and Waterford well represented. Financial Services, Life Sciences and Technology continue to be at the forefront of these announcements. Technology recruitment has become increasingly diverse this month including skills acquisition in the fields of Cloud Computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), eCommerce and Fintech. The top three career areas recruiting professionals in Ireland in October were Financial Services (34%), Software as a Service (13%) (SaaS a specialist area within technology) and Pharma (12%). In financial services, the monitor showed a significant requirement for more complex senior functions in areas including asset management, compliance, financial control, risk management and, for example, controlled functions or roles in entities regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland where there is a considerable level of applicant and approval activity. Commenting on the monitor, Global FDI Director at Morgan McKinley Ireland, Trayc Keevans said, "The number of jobs coming available has risen for three successive months in a row and is at its highest level since July. While it is not unusual to see a ramp-up of recruitment activity towards Christmas, this is currently at a noticeably higher level than last year. Companies are deploying the full extent of their recruitment budgets before year-end, and are also seeking to have people on board and adding value to their organisations in time for the new year." Source: www.businessworld.ie University College Dublin (UCD) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the University of Edinburgh to develop closer collaboration between both universities. As part of the MoA, the universities have announced that they will establish a joint 3-year strategic partnership fund, worth up to 100,000 in the first year, to support collaborative research, along with undergraduate and postgraduate education, in a number of key thematic areas. The collaboration, in areas of research, innovation and training, will focus on the priority areas where both Edinburgh and UCD have significant expertise and a shared ambition to develop a world-leading position. Initially, the partnership will focus on One Health, recognising the continuum between human and animal health addressing challenges such as antimicrobial resistance; Geosciences, looking in particular at how to maximise natural resources while minimising climate impacts, and Migration Studies, that is a shared lived experience in both societies. Both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have long histories of emigration. This collaboration will seek to understand the impact of diasporas. It will also address the more recent experience of both countries in migration. Welcoming the partnership, Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact at UCD, Professor Orla Feely said, "The agreement formalises a close partnership between the two institutions that is one of our most valued and expresses our ambition to jointly contribute our expertise to solving some of the worlds most challenging problems." Vice-Principal of Planning, Resources and Research Policy at University of Edinburgh, Professor Jonathan Seckl added, "Stronger links with our colleagues at University College Dublin will provide exciting new opportunities for students and staff alike. This partnership affords an ideal prospect to discover new knowledge and develop innovative solutions to the worlds most pressing problems." Source: www.businessworld.ie Britain's Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an application from the British government to try to stop Europe's top court from examining a case seeking to determine whether the country can unilaterally reverse Brexit. Scottish politicians who are opposed to Britain exiting the European Union want the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to clarify whether London can withdraw its notification to leave without permission from the EU's other member states. The British government had asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal to prevent the case being referred to the ECJ on the grounds that whether or not Britain could reverse the decision was immaterial, since ministers had no intention of doing so. The ECJ is due to hear the case on Nov. 27. (Reuters) Source: www.busnessworld.ie Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. Chinas Administration of Taxation announced measures to support the countrys private sector on Monday, including the approval of tax deferrals for distressed firms, becoming the latest department to join in the nationwide private sector rescue. Local taxation bureaus should develop practical tax policies to support distressed companies (link in Chinese) with a good record of paying their taxes on time, according to the administrations notice, implying further tax cuts and simplified tax reporting procedures could be on the way. Tax deferrals have long existed in the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on Tax Collection (link in Chinese), which was last revised in 2001. Taxpayers experiencing special difficulties are allowed to request a tax deferral of up to three months, according to the tax collection law. The special difficulties are defined (link in Chinese) as taxpayers who suffer great loss due to circumstances outside of their control. It also applied to companies whose current capital is insufficient to pay the tax after covering their employees wages and social insurance payments. The administration rarely issues specific notices that allow tax payments to be deferred. During the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which killed more than 69,000 people, the administration issued a tax deferral notice (link in Chinese) for the affected provinces. The administration also said it would try to lower social insurance levies. It added that local taxation bureaus shouldnt collect these payments without the authorization of the state administration. Contact reporter Liu Jiefei (jiefeiliu@caixin.com) Brexit has opened a window for greater Spanish influence over Gibraltar, the return of which has been one of Spains long-sought goals. President Xi Jinpings visit to Spain on his way to Buenos Aires at the end of this month will result in the usual and necessary flurry of declarations about strengthening bilateral relations centered on trade as well as discussions on how Spain might support Chinas diplomatic initiatives in the EU. However, what is intriguing and worth watching is how the Gibraltar question plays out, and whether China will take Spains side in resolving this long-standing territorial tussle with the U.K. Because the Strait of Gibraltar is of vital commercial and military importance, this can also be a lens through which bigger geopolitical questions involving the Mediterranean Sea can be brought into focus. In describing the American South, William Faulkner said, The past is never dead. Its not even past. In some ways, this is even more true of Spain. Spain was one of the first transoceanic colonial empires, and its conquests and the flood of silver it unleashed on Europe has had a profound and continuing impact on todays world. Besides the cultural and political legacy left from Mexico to Argentina and the Philippines, this has also resulted in Spanish being the second-most spoken first language in the world (after Chinese). In quite a direct historical sense, Spain is also responsible for Chinas difficulties with the U.S. today. For had not King Philip II failed in his attempt to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I by too-hastily launching the Spanish Armada in 1588, Spain most likely would have maintained and consolidated its dominance of the Americas, North and South. Instead, England supplanted Spain in North America, and the rest, as they say, is history. And in 2018, China is left confronting the Anglophone diktats and threats from this set of former British colonies. Bab-el-Mandeb and the straits of Malacca, Hormuz and Gibraltar are four of the worlds vital maritime chokepoints for both trade and war. The Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe from Africa and is less than 9 miles wide. Spain, with or without Gibraltar, straddles the strait with European Spain on the north and the African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the other side. This makes Spain the only European country with a physical border with an African country (Morocco). Not surprisingly then, as other European countries restrict the flow of refugees, Spain is emerging as the path of least resistance and a likely new flashpoint in this crisis. Given the growing importance of Africa to China, China may sooner or later need to confront this issue in a more-visible manner. The Strait of Gibraltar is also the western gateway from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and the countries abutting it, from France to Greece, and Israel to Turkey. Because of this, access to the Mediterranean is of immense practical and symbolic importance. As the U.S. seeks to re-create its version of the Great Game, with China and Russia cast as its antagonists, these Mediterranean rim states will become increasingly consequential. A monkey sits at a terrace on the top of the Rock of Gibraltar in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, on Nov. 15. Photo: VCG Energy security has been the primary national security motivation for Chinas maritime agenda. Thus, the establishment of its first overseas military base in Djibouti and efforts in the South China Sea address the Bab-el-Mandeb and Strait of Malacca through which much of Chinas energy supply must pass. However, as Chinas interests become increasingly global and the world gets drawn into this new Great Game, it is perhaps inevitable that the Strait of Gibraltar becomes a geopolitical focus for China. But just as the U.S. sees the Belt and Road Initiative as a threat to American influence and has responded with its own plans for meeting the infrastructure needs of previously ignored countries, Spain may also become the recipient of more attention from the U.S. with whom it has a love-hate relationship dating back to the Spanish-American War of 1898, and Spains subsequent loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. While the G-20 may capture the worlds attention, Xis trip to Spain should not be overlooked. As the Great Game gets underway, past may again be prologue. Spain and the Strait of Gibraltar could again be prominent on the global stage. Andy Mok is a non-resident fellow with Center for China and Globalization (CCG) as well as a former RAND Corp. researcher who began covering Chinas economic, technological, military and geopolitical rise in the early 1990s while working for a private equity group in Hong Kong. He is currently based in Beijing. If you want to submit an opinion piece to Caixin Global, please send an email to gangwu@caixin.com. Chinas top state planner has approved a 42.11 billion yuan ($6.06 billion) expansion of Urumqis airport in Northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, as the government looks to transform the airport from a regional flight hub to one of international significance. The development will see Urumqi Diwopu International Airport handling 63 million passengers a year when the expansion is completed in 2030, up from around 15 million passengers now, according to documents published by the National Development and Reform Commission on Monday. Urumqis airport has already benefited substantially from Chinas growing links with Central Asian countries as part of the New Silk Road, the overland development aspect of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to develop Chinas infrastructure and trade links along historical trade routes. Passenger numbers increased by over 10% a year between 2010 and 2015, beyond the intended capacity of 15 million, leading to the proposed expansion. Urumqis geographical advantage is very unique, an airport representative told Caixin. There are many solo routes to Central Asia and West Asia, and many routes within Xinjiang also need to transit through Urumqi, which is very suitable for creating a regional hub. Xinjiang also saw 100 million domestic and foreign tourists in 2017, an increase of about a third from a year earlier, according to Reuters. The airports runway currently is too short for the Airbus A380 passenger plane, the worlds largest passenger jetliner, which is used for long-distance international flights. The two new runways will be large enough for the jetliner, and that should increase the number of connections for China Southern Airlines, which currently uses the airport as a hub, an industry analyst said. The project is part of a wider government push to develop in Xinjiang, the biggest of Chinas provincial-level regions by area but one of the poorest in terms of gross domestic product. In June, state oil giant China National Petroleum Corp. announced it will invest a further 150 billion yuan in developing its oil and gas operations there over the next three years. The approval also appears aimed at showing the governments commitment to ramping up infrastructure development across the country after infrastructure spending growth fell to a record low of 4.2% year-on-year from January to August. Growth pickup in October marked its first rebound of this year after the government made several commitments to ramp up spending. Contact reporter Ke Dawei (daweike@caixin.com) By Charlotte Yang / Nov 20, 2018 06:31 PM / World A nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier and three warships will make a port call in Hong Kong on Wednesday amid escalating tensions in the Sino-U.S. relationship, the Japan Times reported. The USS Ronald Reagan, the U.S. Navys Kanagawa-based aircraft carrier, is expected to arrive on Wednesday morning, according to the Hong Kong Marine Department. The vessel last visited Hong Kong in October 2017. The visit comes after China denied a request from the U.S. in September to make a port call by its amphibious assault ship USS Wasp in Hong Kong last month. China did not give any explanation for its refusal. Theresa May has unveiled the withdrawal agreement she negotiated with the EU and, as of this writing, may survive opposition within her own party to see the deal voted on in Parliament. The 585-page agreement satisfied no party: Leavers find it too uncertain and stultifying, Remainers say it strains ties with the nearest proximate trade bloc. All parties agree: There must be other options. Some have inquired about the Norway Option but what is it? Mark R. Royce explains at the Acton Institutes Religion & Liberty Transatlantic website: The British referendum on June 23, 2016, in favor of leaving the European Union (EU) may be the most widely recognized, but it was far from the first occasion in which a voting public had made that decision in that manner. In both 1972 and 1994, Norwegians had voted nei til EU (no to the EU) via consultative referendums, which the government wisely respected. Therefore, Norway developed a unique European policy frequently referenced in Brexit debates: The Norway Option. In light of the recent withdrawal agreement setting forth the terms of Britains impending departure next March, what exactly is Norways relationship to the EU, and could Britain pursue something similar? Read his full article here. (Photo credit: Michael Klajban. CC BY 3.0.) Published On Nov 19, 2018 04:59 PM By Dhruv for Toyota Corolla Altis While the US-spec and China-spec Corolla sedans might differ in how the look, they are both built on Toyotas new TNGA platform US-spec Corolla to get a hybrid option for the first time ever. In a bid to make it sporty, the US-spec car misses out on chrome while the China-spec car has bling all around. The China-spec Corolla could be what will make it to India in the near future. Toyota recently revealed the latest generation of the Corolla sedan simultaneously in the US and China. Traditionally, the Corolla sold in the US has differed from its Asian counterparts in terms of styling. The new generation sedan is no different. Heres how the new generation US-spec and China-spec Corolla sedan differ from each other: Front fascia: The biggest difference of them all has to be the front end. While the new Corolla features a tighter design language than before, the China-spec sedan still features horizontal slats in the front grille seen on the previous generation Corolla. The US-spec model looks much more sporty with its wide honeycomb grille and strips of LEDs that should be fog lamps. The China-spec car gets round fog lamps instead. Toyota has showcased a sporty version of the Corolla in China called the Levin. And although it gets a honeycomb grille, it too is offered with round fog lamps. The headlamps are similar on both the cars. Rear end: While the profile of both cars are similar, things change again once we reach the back. The tail lamps have also been tweaked to differentiate the two cars. Apart from that, the rear bumpers differ in their styling. Also, the US-spec car gets a black honeycomb insert in the rear bumper which matches the front. To go with the sporty theme, the US-spec Corolla gets twin exhaust pipes that are visible while the China-spec car only gets a single exhaust pipe that is hidden underneath the rear bumper. No chrome on the US-spec: One look at the US-spec car and you will realise Toyota has forgotten all about the bling factor. While the China-spec car gets a healthy amount of chrome all around the car, the shiny bits have been omitted from the US-spec car. Engines: The US-spec car will be offered with the 1.8-litre unit that was present under the bonnet of the last-gen Corolla (it has been revised to offer better efficiency and more power). The China-spec car will be offered with a new 2.0-litre engine that produces 169PS of max power and 204Nm of peak torque. It can be had with a 6-speed manual or a CVT. While Toyota has sold the hybrid Corolla previously in Asia, it will for the first time sell a hybrid Corolla in the US market with the new generation model. Interior: The dashboard design of both the China- and US-spec Corolla appears to be similar with the only striking difference being the interior colour combination. While the China-spec Corolla gets a dark interior theme, the US-spec sedan gets dual-tone beige-black interior scheme. As always, we expect the the Asia-spec model of the Corolla to come to India, but not right away. The US-spec car will be sold exclusively in North America and the China-spec car could come to India by the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020. Read More on : Toyota Corolla Altis diesel Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Canara Bank has released an employment notification calling out aspirants to apply for the post of Manager - Security (MMGS II). Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 45,950 per month. The last date to apply for this government job is 3 December 2018. The application fee can be paid directly at the bank or through NEFT. Bihar Bank Recruitment 2018: 28 Assistant Managers To Be Hired Canara Bank Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Manager Security (MMGS II) Organisation Canara Bank Educational Qualification Graduate degree in any discipline Experience 5 years Job Responsibilities Monitoring security and fire safety and other liasions Skills Required Computer literacy and Hindi proficiency Job Location India Salary Scale INR 31,705 to INR 45,950 per month Industry Banking Application Start Date November 7, 2018 Application End Date December 3, 2018 Age Limit: 25 to 40 years Also Read: RBI Recruitment 2018 For 270 Security Guards How To Apply For Canara Bank Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for Canara Bank Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Log on to the Canara Bank official website. Step 2: Click the Careers tab. Step 3: Select Recruitment. Step 4: The list of vacancies will be displayed on the screen. Step 5: Click on the link that reads, Recruitment Project - 2/2018 - Manager - Security MMG Scale II [NEW]. Step 6: Click the link that reads, Click here to Download Application Form. Step 7: The application form will open. Save it to your computer and take a printout of it. Step 8: Complete the form and send it to Canara Bank. Canara Bank Recruitment 2018 Application Format And Mailing Address Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the post of Manager - Security (MMGS II)" and send it to: The Manager, Canara Bank Recruitment Cell, H R Wing Head Office, 112, J C Road Bengaluru 560 002. Follow the link - https://canarabank.com/media/8358/rp-2-2018-manager-security-web-publ-english.pdf to read the detailed official notification. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur has released an official notification calling out candidates to apply for the post of Senior Resident in various disciplines. The application process and the fee payment are online through the official website. General category candidates must pay an application fee of INR 1000 while ST/SC candidates have a concession and can pay INR 800. The selection of candidates will be on the basis of a written examination, academic records and an interview. The departments in which the vacancies are available are anaesthesiology and critical care, anatomy, biochemistry, burns and plastic surgery, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, community medicine and family medicine, dentistry, diagnostics and interventional radiology, endocrinology and metabolism, forensic medicine and toxicology, gastroentorology, general medicine, general surgery, medical oncology, microbiology, neonatology, nephrology, neurology, neurosurgery, nuclear medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pediatric surgery, pediatrics, pathology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physiology, psychiatry, radiotherapy, trauma and emergency and urology. NIMHANS Recruitment 2018 For Junior Research Fellows AIIMS Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Senior Resident Organisation All India Institute of Medical Sciences Educational Qualification MD or DNB in relevant discipline Experience Desirable Skills Required Clinical judgement Job Location Jodhpur Salary Scale INR 67,700 per month Industry Medicine Application Start Date November 19, 2018 Application End Date December 18, 2018 Maximum Age Limit: 37 years Also Read: NHM Recruitment 2018 For 180 Community Health Officers How To Apply For AIIMS Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for AIIMS Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Log on to the AIIMS, Jodhpur official website. (http://176.9.103.92/SR/SR_2018_2/) Step 2: Under New Registration, click Register Now. Step 3: The registration form will open. Step 4: Enter your details in the fields provided. Step 5: Submit the form and complete the registration process. Step 6: Log in using your credentials and complete the application process. Follow the link - http://176.9.103.92/SR/SR_2018_2/PDF/SR%20ADVERTISEMENT%2019.11.2018.pdf to read the detailed official notification. Photo: The Canadian Press Dennis Oland and his wife Lisa arrive at the Law Courts in Saint John, N.B. on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. A mistrial has been declared in the retrial of Dennis Oland for the second degree murder of his father. The stunning development comes just over a month after jury selection was completed for the complex trial, which was expected to take at least four months. Justice Terrence Morrison of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench announced the mistrial on Tuesday at what was expected to be the start of evidence presentation in Oland's second trial for the 2011 bludgeoning death of his father, Richard Oland. The 16-member jury has been dismissed, and the trial will continue Wednesday by judge alone. Morrison said there were improprieties in the selection process. Oland will have to be re-arraigned and enter his plea. Then there will be opening arguments and, finally, the retrial of Dennis Oland will get underway. "It cannot be helped," Morrison told the jury as he thanked them for their service. "Your services are no longer required." Richard Oland's body was discovered on July 7, 2011, in his uptown Saint John office. The 69-year-old businessman and former executive of Moosehead Breweries Ltd. had been beaten to death. Dennis Oland, his only son, was charged with second-degree murder in 2013 and tried in 2015, but the jury verdict in that case was set aside on appeal in 2016 and a new trial ordered. Mario Gross steps down as CEO of Lafarge Malaysia 20 November 2018 Mario Gross of Lafarge Malaysia stepped down from his role as president and CEO of the company on Friday, after seven months in the position. Mr Gross has been assigned to a new role in the LafargeHolcim group but will also continue as a non-independent non-executive director from 16 November to 31 December this year to facilitate the transition. "During his tenure here, Gross laid the groundwork for the business turnaround plan, putting in place an experienced leadership team and strengthened the fundamentals of the company and reorganised the company to more efficient," said the group in a statement. Yeoh Khoon Cheng, previously CFO of Lafarge Malaysia, has been appointed as interim CEO effective from Friday. Published under ABAD calls for Pakistan's government to support construction in Karachi 20 November 2018 The Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD), one of the main cement consumers in the country has called on Prime Minister Imran Khan, Federal Finance Minister Asad Umar and Syed Murad Ali Shah, the chief minister of Sindh to save the construction industry from crisis. In an appeal, the association has pointed out that the construction industry has been suffering due to the ban on the construction of high-rise building in Karachi. That has caused financial losses to the members of the association and rendering jobless to the workers. The Supreme Court has reportedly banned the construction of high rise buildings for a number of reasons including the shortage of water in the metropolitan of Karachi. The ABAD submitted various suggestions to the government for resolving the issue. Published under Mixed court orders for Pakistan's cement industry 20 November 2018 The cement industry has received mixed court orders from Supreme Court of Pakistan and Peshawar High Court on environmental/water scarcity and the gas tariff issue, respectively last week. Lucky Cement Ltd has received a stay order from the Peshawar High Court bench, which has temporarily directed the gas utility company Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) not to collect a higher tariff from the cement company. The court also sought written response from the petroleum secretary, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and SNGPL to the petition filed by the Lucky Cement Ltd challenging the OGRA's notification for the 142 per cent increase in gas tariff on 4 October 2018. It was pleaded that tariff was proposed to be increased by the Economic Coordination Council (ECC) on 27 September 2018, and not by the federal cabinet, which was a requirement in light of the recent Supreme Court judgement. Meanwhile, the court judgement over the drying out of Katas Raj pond is heading for towards a conclusion. The Supreme Court issued three successive judgements during November 2018. The first stands for a ban on extracting underground water. Secondly, it appointed a special committee to visit the premises of DG Khan Cement factory in Chakwal district to determine how it stored water for its requirement. Thirdly, the Supreme Court (SC) on 19 November concluded the Katas Raj case and ordered DG Khan Cement Company Ltd to deposit PKR100m (US$0.743m) into the SC Dam Fund PKR80m as payment for water utilised by the factory and a PKR20m penalty for attempting to mislead the apex court. DG Khan Cement statement before the court decision read: "The company reported in its recently released 2018 annual report that during the current year, the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan, while taking notice of water shortage and environmental pollution in Kahoon Valley as well as depletion of water reserves at Katas Raj Pond, alleged that it is being caused by the cement companies operating in its vicinity, one of which is the cement segment of the group itself (Khairpur, Chakwal plant). Resultantly, the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan, vide its order dated 8 May 2018 and subsequent order dated 10 July 2018, directed cement companies in the vicinity to make alternate arrangement of water supply within six months to preserve underground water resources. In the meanwhile, as per the aforesaid order, the Government of the Punjab ('GoPb') has been directed to charge the group for usage of underground water by installing water meters that has not yet been done by GoPb. Subsequent to year end, the group has furnished a bank guarantee amounting to PKR600m dated 10 July 2018 in favour of honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan on its order that will be encashable by the GoPB, if the alternate arrangements to preserve water resources have not been made within the prescribed period. The group has taken immediate steps to make alternative arrangements such as rain water harvesting, reduction of water consumption by adopting conservation techniques, converting waste heat power generation through steam cycled with an air cooling system. Progress on all alternative measures is satisfactory, a rain water reservoir has been constructed and contract has been signed for the supply of air cool waste recovery system. No Objection Certificate (NOC) in respect of alternative arrangements has been obtained from Environment Protection Agency, GoPb. Published under A teen who was on GPS monitoring for prior juvenile arrests was taken into custody on Monday morning at Howard School with a handgun in his locker. Desmond Orando McKevie, who just turned 18 last month, is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, vandalism, possessing a firearm with the intent to go armed, and carrying weapons on school property At 10 a.m., members of the Chattanooga Police Department's Gun Team responded to the high school at 2500 Market St. to locate McKevie. Police said he had warrants on file for a firearms-related incident that happened over the weekend. GPS tracked McKevie to inside Howard High. Chattanooga Police contacted the Probation/Parole office who confirmed that McKevie was on GPS monitoring.GPS tracked McKevie to inside Howard High. Officers made contact with the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Howard High prior to their arrival and alerted him that McKevie had active warrants. The SRO located McKevie and placed him in custody for the warrants. Prior to police arriving, McKevie advised the SRO that he had a firearm in his backpack inside of his school locker. The gun was located, secured, and turned over to police who checked it into the Chattanooga Police property room. McKevie was taken into custody and transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident. Signal Mountain Middle High School produced several leaders at this weekends YMCA Southeastern High School Model United Nations Conference. "This is where Tennessee high school students learn about the United Nations by participating in a reenactment of the organization's activities," officials said. Signal Senior Emily Perez served as Under-Secretary-General, the third highest office, at this years conference. Signal Junior Caroline Cornett will serve as the highest-ranking official, Secretary General, at next years conference. Fellow Junior Ethan Fell will serve as President of the General Committee next year. Mr. Fell was chairman of DISEC (Disarmament and International Security) committee this year, while classmate Ms. Cornett chaired the UNIDO (UN Industrial Development Organization). Signals Malynda Wollert, Tehreem Hussain, Maggie Meller and Camille Schmied will attend the National High School Model United Nations in March as members of a 2018 All Star Delegation. The world's largest Model UN conference is held at the United Nations Headquarters and the New York Hilton Midtown with hundreds of schools and thousands of delegates attending from around the world. In addition, five Signal students have interviews the week after Thanksgiving to chair committees next year. Faculty Sponsor Lorri Whitney said results from those interviews should be known in early December. SMMHS, an International Baccalaureate school, sent the largest group, approximately 110 students, to the regional conference in which more than 600 students from three states participated over three days. I am proud of all of our IB learners for their interest in and knowledge of international affairs, Ms. Whitney said. It takes the entire community of our school to prepare these students to be global citizens that understand world issues and come up with novel ideas to solve these problems. They learn writing, critical thinking, and public speaking through all of their courses, as well as the approaches to learning, or soft skills, they need to work well with others and be prepared for the conference. Students spend the prior year writing extensive topic guides and preparing to chair SHSMUNs thirteen committees. They form delegations and represent member countries' interests in the General Assembly by drafting and debating resolutions. These resolutions cover a wide variety of topics of international concern. Members must research the position of the country on his or her committee topics and write three Position papers (what the country's position is) and three Resolution papers (how the country would like to promote/end topic). Ms. Wollert was deemed to have the Best Position Paper of more than 600 delegates. She wrote about topics for her committee, SOCHUM (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural). This years topics were Examining Child Rights in Conflict Areas, Debt Bondage and State-Sanctioned Torture of Political Prisoners. Some students have the opportunity to represent their countries on the Security Council and Secretariat, to participate in a model International Court of Justice, to serve in the Department of Public Information. Signal students recognized as Best Delegates were Tehreem Hussain for Legal, Maggie Meller for UNEP (UN Environment Programme) and Camille Schmied for UNODC (the UN Office on Drugs and Crime). Honorable Mentions were awarded to Signals Emma Wu for work on UNIDO (UN Industrial Development Organization) and Maddi Meier for work on MUNIC, the Model United Nations Introductory Committee that gives beginning Model UN delegates an opportunity to learn and practice debate and parliamentary procedure in a smaller, teaching environment. Ms. Whitney complimented Signals Model UN veterans for working together to ensure new members of the team are ready at conference time. They host paper-writing sessions to aid each other with research and writing, she said, and they do mock debates before the conference to learn parliamentary procedure. The older students pass along their knowledge and passion for the conference and because it is so student-driven, they gain excellent leadership skills as well. Signal also provided middle school students who volunteered as pages at the high school conference to run messages and notes between committee members. A shorter version of Model UN is held in the spring for middle schools. Teachers and parents also served as chaperones. I appreciate the entire Signal Mountain community for their efforts to help these students succeed, Ms. Whitney said. We all have a hand in this process. A Georgia Department of Natural Resources wildlife technician from Rock Spring, Ga., has been convicted of maintaining a baited area within the boundaries of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park as well as game cameras in the park. Authorities said James Alfred Jones "was actively hunting on the edge of the national park on private property with a clear view of the baited area. "During the investigation and during the execution of a search warrant of Jones residence, he made several false statements to federal law enforcement officers. He also admitted to falsifying his deer harvest record and shooting a deer over bait in 2018 on private property adjacent to the national park. These violations occurred off federal property and were passed on to the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division to prosecute at their discretion. "In recent years, the Walker County portion of the park has seen an increase in illegal hunting activity." Jones, who was recently under a lengthy investigation, has been fined in Federal Court for providing false information, for placing game cameras, and for deer bait within the boundaries of the national park." Officials said, "Hunting and trapping is a national pastime and has been since American Indians first settled the mountains and valleys of North Georgia. Every year, many venture out to private and public lands to hunt game. The U.S. Forest Service allows hunting on almost 867,000 acres in 26 Georgia counties, along with Georgias Wildlife Management Areas, which make over 100,000 acres available to the public for hunting. However, not all public land is open to hunting. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is closed to all hunting and trapping. "In recent years, the Walker County portion of the park has seen an increase in illegal hunting activity. If you are in the national park and see or hear illegal hunting activity, please call 911 and inform them of your location. On duty rangers will be dispatched immediately to that area." Park boundary maps are available at the visitor center or online at: https://www.nps.gov/chch/images/CHCH-TRAIL-MAP.jpg Michael B. Jordan put in a lot of hard work to get ready to play the character Adonis Johnson in the upcoming film Creed II. However, there was one thing the actor was doing that caused the director of the film, Steven Caple Jr., to become concerned. Heres the surprising reason Michael B. Jordan worried the Creed II director. How much Michael B. Jordan was paid for Creed II The actor was paid an estimated salary of between $3 million and $4 million, according to Variety. He told the Toronto Sun hes interested in making more Creed sequels in the future: If Im lucky. I want to keep making them as long as theyre good. I always want to keep my finger on the pulse. Forty-two years, I mean, who knows? Why Michael B. Jordan caused the Creed II director to worry When you take one look at Michael B. Jordan, you can tell he puts a lot of hours in the gym. His physique is in top form in Creed and Creed II. We dont think anyone would want to get in the ring with the actor if given a choice. However, the films director, Steven Caple Jr., didnt feel this way. He said when he first saw Jordan, he didnt look like he was fit for the role. In fact, Caple was worried about the actor. Heres what he told Total Film magazine: When I first met Mike, he wasnt in shape for the character. He was eating doughnuts. I was like, Im worried, man. But hes a beast. Caple says Jordan eventually got into shape for the role. The actor followed a strict exercise regimen, working out twice a day and even before filming scenes. Jordan got to the point where he was indeed ready to take on the role of Adonis Creed. Caple was impressed with Jordans dedication: He did so much at once, carrying this film and being the lead. But he gives you everything. He took Creed to another level in this film, said Caple in his Total Film interview. Michael B. Jordan likes his donuts In a 2014 interview with Vibe, Jordan admits he has a sweet tooth. His co-star in the film That Awkward Moment, Miles Teller, told Vibe someone from craft services was usually slipping a piece of candy to the star. Jordan said he tries to be nice to anyone who can sneak him some treats: You always gotta make friends with all of the key people on set, and craft services are very important to me, says Jordan. I like my donuts. I like my snacks. What Michael B. Jordan is up to next The Black Panther star has several television and movie projects in the works. In 2019, he will appear in the TV series Raising Dion. The following year, hes slated to appear in the film Just Mercy in the role of Bryan Stevenson. In the future, Jordan will be working on the film Wrong Answer, playing the role of Damany Lewis. Read more: How Much Money Was Michael B. Jordan Paid for Creed II? Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Kenya Moore joined the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast in Season 5. Since then she has been a huge source of drama in the show, but things might be taking a huge turn. Moore reportedly has been refusing to film with her new husband and got fined for it! Here is everything to know about how much she was reportedly fined and whether there are plans for her to return to the show. Kenya Moore was reportedly fined $125,000 for not filming with her husband, Marc Daly The controversial housewife might not be back because of all the drama behind filming the most recent season. Kenya Moore got married away from the cameras to Marc Daly in Season 10. So it was briefly covered in that seasons premiere. She seems to be continuing to keep her husband private and its reportedly backfiring. Kenyas status as a friend is in jeopardy, a source told Radar Online. Thats because she put a lot of new conditions into the mix. Kenya was told she would have to take a drastic pay cut and there was no guarantee about how many episodes she would appear in, or if she would appear in any at all, the source continued. Its unknown how much of a pay cut that would be from her $1.5 million salary for Season 10. But Kenya Moore was reportedly fined $125,000 for refusing to film with her husband in Season 11. After the report that Moore was demoted to a friend on the show, she denied it on Instagram. She wrote, #FAKERHOANEWS .No one has EVER asked me to be a friend to show .fact: I am THE housewife that has had THE highest rated episodes the past 3 seasons even last year having missed 3 episodes. .#Fact: the Barcelona New Lineup didnt workThe fans have spoken. Ive never been called boring .#Factlove me or hate me I may not be the fan favorite (my sister @kandi is and well deserved) but thank you for being invested in my life and continuing to contribute to the success of #RHOA and my success in my career on all levels . Kandi Burruss said that she thinks Moore will come back to Real Housewives of Atlanta Although it doesnt sound like things are looking good, there is one Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member that is hopeful for Moores return to the show. I wasnt happy about Kenya not being here, Kandy Burruss told Hip Hollywood. But, with that being said, I feel like everything happens for a reason and I feel like more than anything she really needed to just focus on having a healthy pregnancy. Because this is something, shes wanted forever and ever. She then continued, I think shell probably come back next year, hopefully. Im gonna speak it into existence. Bravo has yet to make an official announcement regarding Kenya Moores position on the show. So there is a little bit of hope that she will be returning in some capacity. Read more: Is Kenya Moore Banned From Bravos Real Housewives of Atlanta For Life? Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Followers of Standardbred racing in the Mid-Atlantic region have come to know Sofia Zingale as an upcoming star in RUS as a trainer and rider. She signified her arrival with Egosnattitudes victory over Hyway Marcus in the RUS MidAtlantic Trot at Rosecroft Raceway on November 4. Zingale, who is a young trainer of dressage and show jumping horses, made a relatively smooth transition to the harness sport, which she exhibited with a first year under-saddle UTR of .322. Prior to moving to Delaware, Zingale wasnt even aware harness racing existed. After 14 years of involvement in non-racing equestrian activities, she came to Delaware to ride for the Delaware State Equestrian team as well as get her college degree in biomechanics/kinesiology. Soon after moving, Zingale met Leigh and Tyler Raymer, who hired her. Once the Raymers left the sport, Zingale moved on to work for Joe Columbo and the George Dennis Stable. After having saved some money, Zingale purchased her first racehorse, Hybrid Heidi, whom she continues to campaign. The purchase of Heidi encouraged Zingale to get her trainers license and go out on her own this past May. Since starting her Standardbred training career, Zingale has acquired seven horses (in addition to still training four show horses). It was a problem horse, however, that led Zingale to put her toes into the RUS pool and, fittingly, the horse was Egosnattitudes. I love problem horses. I enjoy the ones that make you think hard and try out of the box, new ideas, Zingale explained. One day I was talking to Jonathan Roberts, he mentioned a trotter named Egosnattitudes who was definitely a problem horse. Jonathan thought RUS might be exactly what this horse needed mentally. He introduced me to Egos owner, Adam Ainspan, and we decided to give Ego a try under saddle. Egosnattitudes and Sofia Zingale in the Rosecroft Raceway winners circle along with Joe Colombo (Best Bet Photos) The first day of training was tough, but Egosnattitudes began to enjoy himself with the new racing discipline. After a few months, Zingale realized what a good horse he was. No doubt, being involved in riding horses for so many years made it easy for her to pick up RUS. Training horses under saddle is not just for RUS in Zingales barn. Of the seven horses in her racing stable, four are regularly trained under saddle. As Zingale says, With my riding-horse background, its easy for me to pick out problem areas from on their back. I think training under saddle is great for pullers and horses that get sour to racing as well. You may think getting a horse to race under saddle is difficult, especially when they have been racing exclusively in sulky. Apparently, you would be mistaken. When queried about the practice, Zingale responded, Easy! Standardbreds take to riding so well. They are such an intelligent breed. This year, I broke Six standardbreds to ride. Two of those horses, Puddin N Pie and Credit Blues, I only sat on once before we qualified them under saddle. Zingale is amazed at how well they handle someone on their back for the first time. Ironically, the only horse which gave her a problem the first time under saddle was Egosnattitudes. Some may question if there is an advantage to racing horses both ways, and in her response, Zingales experience in biomechanics/kinesiology is obvious. I think mentally it is great for the horses to race both under saddle and sulky. I also think it helps to tighten them up.Although RUS races tend to go slower, I think its harder on the horses. Race bikes are designed to be light, aerodynamic and put a lifting pressure on the horse, whereas under saddle the horses have to carry 130+ pounds of direct weight on their back. RUS also causes horses to strengthen different muscles they wouldnt normally use in order to support the weight of their rider. Returning to Egosnattitudes, having had two wins on his card in sulky this year, one may wonder why the decision was made to race him under saddle. Besides Jonathan Roberts recommendation, the decision to commit to RUS was made the moment the horse came into Zingales stable with his large ego and plenty of attitude, as his name implied: a true problem horse which has been passed around from trainer to trainer for a few years. Having missed the Ocean Downs RUS race due to an attempt to qualify barefoot after having lost a shoe Egosnattitudes qualified a week too late and had a long time until the Meadowlands Racetrack leg of the series took place. Hence, the decision was made to qualify him back in the bike and return to the racing wars. Ego was racing so well in sulky that Zingale decided to leave him out of the Meadowlands RUS contest. Out of five sulky races, he picked up a fifth, fourth, second, and a win for Zingale. Egosnattitudes may not have raced under saddle at all, actually that is until a driver didnt hear Zingale mention to avoid the outrider. Of course, Egosnattitudes was a little fired up in the post parade, so the driver took the horse over to the outrider, and you can guess what happened: he never made it to the gate and galloped the entire mile. Luckily for Zingale, the Rosecroft RUS race was scheduled for the following weekend and that proved to be just what the doctor ordered. The Rosecroft race could not have come at a better time, Zingale explained. Ego needed a change, as he was not going to mentally bounce back from his galloping extravaganza easily. Was Zingale surprised with Egos 2:00 victory over Hyway Marcus, especially after having qualified in 2:07.3? Zingale has said no. Being honest, I wasnt the least bit surprised with his performance, Zingale explained. He is an amazing horse. He has so much talent, speed, and stamina. I actually didnt even have a whip in my hand for the race. I knew if I could get him to stay flat he would have no problem beating Sasha (Moczulski) and Marcus. A good rider/driver does their homework. Ego does best under saddle when he can sit to the outside of a horse, it keeps him focused. Sasha and Marcus usually go a faster first half in comparison to their second half. I knew Ego would have more stamina then Marcus in the stretch. All I had to do was stay close. The race [worked] out exactly as I was hoping it would. Sofia explained that Ego did not like her Monte saddle and therefore she used her riding saddle in the race as well. She joked, stating, He [Ego] wanted to show off by having the heaviest saddle and taking the parked trip with a nail-biting win at the wire. Sofia Zingale, pictured with Atout De Fontaine (Photo courtesy Sofia Zingale) Zingale also had a reclamation project by the name of Atout De Fontaine in the Meadowlands and Rosecroft legs of the series: a French-bred horse that had a successful career in Frances Monte Racing (he has a 1:56 mile-rated lifetime mark). He did start a few times in the bike in France, but with under saddle being a popular style of racing, there was little need to make him do something he didnt want to. The horse came to the United States to race in the France-America Trot Series at Yonkers Raceway when he was randomly assigned to trainer/driver Pat Berry. That is when the nightmare started, as Frenchie made it known he wanted nothing to do with racing in the bike. He destroyed race bikes, jog carts, and was a danger in the barn. Shortly afterwards, Frenchie found a new home with the Amish. Zingale was contacted by John Wagner, who asked her if she would train the French trotter under saddle if he purchased him. Zingale has admitted that she knew nothing about Frenchie, although, as she has a soft spot for problem horses, Zingale could not turn him away. Soon after his arrival, research found the 1:56 mile rate and earnings in excess of 200,000 under saddle, and Zingale became excited with the new project. When Frenchie first arrived, he was very nervous. You could not move too fast around him, Zingale explained, I let him detox for a few days before trying him out. His whole demeanour changed after the first day I rode him. He became happy and relaxed. Zingale is hoping that RUS can expand, as she was saddened to see a horse earning 200,000+ become so useless in a short period of time. While he may be tried again in sulky, the hope is to find Frenchie an owner that will race him exclusively under saddle. As for the future of RUS, Zingale hopes wagering comes to the sport, as it is needed to get purses to grow and attract more interest by other trainers and owners. Nothing motivates participation more than purse money. While Zingale is a big proponent of RUS, she realizes purse levels must be competitive with current overnight events. What about allowing pacers to participate in RUS? Zingale would like to see the idea come to fruition. She will definitely participate if it is allowed so horses of both gaits will have the opportunity to freshen up doing something new. Trotting or pacing, problem horse or not, Zingale is ready for next year and looks forward to expanding her reputation as a dual-discipline trainer as well as RUS rider. (RUS MidAtlantic) Pueblo West board terminates road agreement with Pueblo County In a cooperative agreement, Pueblo County officials have agreed to take over Pueblo West road work after a five-year transition period. Asia Bibi: Police warn Christians that terrorists are set to attack; churches in 'critical moment' Christian Post Contributor | 20 November, 2018 by Stoyan Zaimov Pakistani police have warned the leaders of Christian groups that terrorists are planning attacks against believers over the fallout of the Asia Bibi case. The Lahore Police Inspectorate has urged Christian institutions to "pay attention to vigilance," outlining that terror groups such as "Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan" and "Jamaat-ul-Ahrar" have made plans for attacks, Agenzia Fides reported. The police vowed that security measures have been put in place at Christian places and churches, but danger remains high as Islamic extremists seek to punish believers for their support of Bibi. The Christian mother of five was acquitted of blasphemy in October after spending eight years on death row for insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad, something which she has continuously denied. Persecution watchdog groups and her supporters celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to overturn her conviction and sentence, but Bibi and her family are believed to still be in Pakistan, hiding in fear for their lives. In the weeks following her acquittal, Christians have been attacked as hardliners took to the streets to protest. Peter Jacob, the executive director for the Center for Social Justice in Lahore, said earlier in November that Christians were "taken out of their cars and beaten up," among other forms of violence. Bishop Humphrey Peters, an Anglican pastor at the head of the "Church of Pakistan" in Peshawar, responded to the latest police letter by admitting that Christians are in a "critical moment." "Christians in Pakistani have trust in the security forces. We will continue to carry out our role in society, in full cooperation with law enforcement and government," Peters told Fides. Catholic layman Adeel Patras Chaudhry of "Jesus Life TV" commented, "Christians will pay close attention and act with caution in the organization of gatherings and celebrations at Christmas time. We pray for the protection of the faithful and also of the security forces, committed to our protection. We are aware of the delicate situation and collaborate with the police and with the Government." Fr. Qaisar Feroz, executive secretary of the Commission for Social Communications in the Catholic Episcopal Conference, insisted that despite the violent fallout, the judicial system did the right thing in freeing Bibi. "The decision of the Supreme Court has restored justice and truth to this case, in which an innocent was in jail. We hope that the woman can lead a happy life. All citizens must see, in all this, the good for Pakistan: a nation where legality and law are still respected. This is our idea of Pakistan," Feroz argued. Several Western governments, including Canada and Italy, have said that they are reaching out to help Bibi and her family, but they are still awaiting asylum. Read more about Asia Bibi on The Christian Post. Christian pastor John Sanqiang Cao has been sentenced to Chinese prison. "Pastor John has been unjustly targeted for his Christian faith and sentenced to seven years in prison," ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow said. Cao has been in prison for more than 20 months, according to CBN News. In March 2017, Caro and a friend used a bamboo raft to cross from China into Myanmar. He had made the trip many times before to take supplies and food into the country. However, this time, security agents arrested him when he arrived in China, saying that he was taking Bibles into the country. "My father, being a Christian minister, he knew what he was getting himself into and he often took pride in the risk that he might one day become a martyr for his beliefs," Cao's son, Ben, told CBN News earlier this year. Cao became a Christians in his 20s and attended seminary in New York. He is married and has two sons. His permanent home is him North Carolina. He has worked in Central and Southern China for more than 20 years, helping to found Bible schools and providing humanitarian aid. According to the ACLJ, he helped build some 16 schools that serve about 2,000 students. Pastor John should not spend one more horrible day in that prison cell simply because of his faith and desire to help others, a petition for his release says. We are actively and aggressively urging the Chinese government to release Pastor John and allow him to return home to the United States to be reunited with his wife and sons. Sign the petition here. Photo courtesy: Denny Muller/Unsplash Across Europe and the Americas, from Budapest to Brasilia, a striking mass migration is well underway. This migration involves no passports, asylum claims, or border police. It is happening within each nations own borders and can be made without leaving your house, street, or hometown (which may be why many of its migrants are quite unaware that they are part of such a thing). As a mass movement of people, it is based on the emergence of two rival visions of the world. Each envisioned world emits a kind of gravitational pullcultural, rather than physicalthat draws some, but not others. One attracts those receptive to the restoration of national greatness, the importance of groups over individuals, and the conservation of the past. The other pulls on those receptive to a starkly individualistic future, unhitched from the obligations of the past, and bound, instead, to the notion of progress. Crucially, each of these cultural forces also repels those who prove unreceptive to it. For this reason, our cultural commentators now talk of Two Americas, Two Brazils, and Two United Kingdoms. In each of these settings, populations migrate toward opposite polar extremities, one a City of Progress and the other a City of Populism. As those called to reside between the inextricably intermingled City of God and the City of Man, and who are foreigners and strangers on the earth (Heb. 11:13), what should Christians think about their polarized host cultures? Who knew? One largely neglected aspect of this ideological migration concerns the act of knowing itself. The fault lines opening up across the West reflect a fragmented set of beliefs on two distinct kinds of knowledge. On the one hand, there is the apparent expert, drawn from an elastic group of authoritative voices ranging from Stephen Hawking to Lady Gaga. On the other, there is the ordinary Joe with practical, pragmatic wisdom and common sense that understands whats happening on the ground. These two poles have been pushed far apart in the spirit of the current age. On the populist side of this gulf, in the world of Trump, Bolsonaro, and Brexit, the expert is viewed with much cynicism. There, the best kind of knowing is earthy and intuitive, makes no virtue of coherence, and sells itself as anything but expertise. On the progressivist side, the turf of academics and media elites, the opposite is often true: There, the expert is king, and the knowledge possessed by those without higher education is often looked down on as second rate in comparison. Given that this division brings into question what counts as knowledge and wisdom, it is increasingly difficult for the two sides of this dichotomy even to communicate with one another. The question of Who knows best? plays an important, and often destructive, role in our fractured societies. But what are we even asking? Are we asking who has our best interests in mind? Whose understanding matches reality most closely? Or, whose method of knowing things is the most correct? Is the question who knows best? Who knows best? Or, who knows best? You know what I mean Incidentally (or importantly), the particularities of the English language make it a limited vehicle to talk about these questions. We rely on a single verb, to know, when covering a broad range of meaning on which things we know, and the different ways in which we know them. Many other languages express these distinctions in more precise vocabulary. For example, German has a pair of verbs relating to knowing, kennen and wissen, as does French with the equivalents connaitre and savoir. In each of these, the first word (kennen, connaitre) refers to a knowledge that is personal, intuitive, and subjective. It is a kind of knowledge that is indispensable to human existence, but that cannot be taught in textbooks or lecture halls. You use this kind of verb when you talk about knowing a person, a city, an intuition, or a feeling. Article continues below The second word in each couplet (wissen, savoir) is different. It is less immediate, deals with causes, is more impersonal, and comes about in another process: You use this word to talk about why geese fly south in winter, how grammar works, or what economics is. (The same distinction is found in many languages: Hungarian, Finnish, Swedish, and Dutch, among others.) Theologically, these different kinds of knowledge are closely related, and function together in the richness of our human existence. In the goodness of Gods creation, they exist in a complementary way and sustain each other. And in our day-to-day lives, of course, we constantly engage in both kinds of knowing. In a lecture titled, Our Instinctive Life, the 19th-century Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper describes this point by talking about the weather: People empathize with nature; they feel a thunderstorm coming. This kind of knowing deals with sensation, perception, and observation, and it leads to action: We seek shelter. To know the weather, however, takes more than our own subjective impressions. Our kennen becomes wissen as we turn to (or for some, become) meteorologists, in search of a different kind of knowledge: How long will the thunderstorm last? Where will it go next? How intense will it be? Will my flight be canceled? Kuypers point was that our instinct forms the basis of our reflection and that human experience teaches us that both are necessary to the progress of human knowledge. Despite the constant use of both types of knowledge, the relationship between the two has been recast as brutally competitive in our current cultural moment. The spirit of our age sets gut feeling against careful reason, intuition against intentionality. In the blood sport that is 21st-century politics, savoir and connaitre are goaded into fighting as though they were mortal enemies. Those who lead the City of Progress tell us, Trust me, Im an expert and disdain their political opponents as deplorably ignorant, while their equivalents in the City of Populism say the opposite, Trust me, not those phony experts. The politics of knowing This much certainly seems true of current populist versus progressivist conflicts in the United States and the United Kingdom. In a thought-provoking essay last year, Barton Swaim described the new American reality as a struggle between the supporters of Expertocracy, on the one hand, and a War on Expertise on the other. In that setting, it seems, Donald Trumps choice to position himself as anti-expertise and decidedly unprofessionalprecisely the things to which Hillary Clinton appealedwas politically astute, given that many Americans appear to feel the same way about experts and their particular kind of knowledge. Something similar can be observed on the Old World side of the Atlantic. In the build-up to the 2016 Brexit referendum, the Brexiteer politician Michael Gove responded to the near-unanimous anti-Brexit views of British economists by publicly stating that people in this country have had enough of experts. While Goves blanket dismissal of the economist guild drew shock and astonishment from the British media and academy, his dismissal of the experts proved effective. Soon afterward, a narrow majority voted to leave the European Union, despite the intelligentsias dire projections. That studied opposition has not yet abated and continues to be met with general indifference by Brexiteers. Article continues below This growing divide is also heard in commonly aired sentiments on higher education. In progressivist circles, the knowledge gained through an accredited degree is often held to be worth far more than anything the university of life can offer. In populist circles, conversely, many believe themselves to have been quite successful at navigating life without gaining academic credits on Dostoyevsky or retail management. As Swaim has noted, support for anti-expert leaders thrives in cultures whereamong other thingshigher educations purview expands relentlessly in order to provide academic certification in skills that traditionally were learned on the job. Nobody, his argument goes, would assume that holding a BA in business means that person is therefore excellent in the real world of business or that every outstanding businessperson must have a degree in business studies as the essential first step down that path. Navigating the cloud of unknowing What should Christians think as they see this mass migration pull our varied kinds of knowing apart? Should they join the migration, and if so, with which caravan should they march? In their manufactured conflict between the experts and hoi polloi, the Cities of Progress and Populism call on us to support cartoonish leaders who answer the question Who knows best? by pointing to themselves: all savoir and no connaitre, and vice versa. In so doing, they load the world with an antithesis that should not be there. The doctrine of creation provides a better lead: It reminds us that the world, as made by God, is the natural environment for human flourishing and that God has equipped usin our faculties of perception, sensation, and understandingto know our Creator and the world in which we find ourselves. In the divine mandate to be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground (Gen. 1:28), Scripture affirms the human life as one of gut instinct and mental deliberation, of kennen and wissen. This creation mandate from Genesis 1 affirms that a human being does not need a university degree to live wellglorifying and enjoying Godwithin the creation. Likewise, it affirms that the ordinariness of life, knowledge included, is inherently good. However, that mandate also contains the impulse to develop what we know: It is hard to subdue the earth without cultivating knowledge of it. The doctrine of creation teaches us not to despise that kind of knowledge. In our day, it calls for a greater degree of humility and respect across our political divides because it denies either side a monopoly on something as rich and complex as knowing. Taking a cue from Augustine, we can recognize that both Citiesthose of Populism and of Progressare different iterations of the same City of Man. They are disordered differently, to be sure, but neither can be mistaken for the City of God. In both of its present guises, the City of Man certainly has its own gravitational pull. We see this disordered force in action as it draws our fellow citizens toward polar extremes, leaving those who live on the same streets to conclude that they arent really neighbors at all. What should Christians make of this pull, as they find themselves in the midst of this mass migration? Timothy Keller has recently offered a sage reminder of the interaction between Christian faith and political action: Our faith compels us toward political engagement but will always make us an awkward fit on either side of a two-party spectrum. In a bipartisan political environment, he argues, the gospel itself will incline Christians to sympathize with the political right on some issues and the left on others. The same is true between the Cities of Progress and of Populism. Only when a believers sense of Christianitys own unique gravitational pull has diminished will they be fully or uncritically satisfied in either of these two cities. Article continues below Like the City of Man, the City of God exerts its own attractive power. The Christian faith is its own agenda and moves most naturally when dancing to its own tune. When the crucial distinction between City of God and City of Man is recognized, Christians who find themselves as residents at either polar extremity (progressive or populist) will invariably find that they do not quite fit inpilgrims and sojourners who are looking for the city that is to come (Heb. 13:14). James Eglinton is Meldrum Lecturer in Reformed Theology at the University of Edinburgh. In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new. Marilyn Rhames had made it. A journalist in New York City, she worked as a reporter for People and Time magazines. Then she started teaching Sunday school. I discovered how much fun it could be and how good I was in front of kids, she said. But pivoting her career to full-time education felt overwhelmingespecially for the pay. Then came 9/11. In the wake of the terrorist attacks, Rhames felt her priorities recalibrate. Lord, if I had died today, if I was in those towers, would I be doing what I felt was significant? she remembered praying. As much as I loved being a reporter, it had lost its appeal, in terms of changing the world. After 9/11, I said Okay, Lord, Im done. Im going to be a teacher. A Chicago native, Rhames soon returned back to the Windy City and moved into the classroom. In 2011, she founded Teachers Who Pray, a national organization that seeks to support educators spiritual and professional needs through retreats, conferences, and curricula. We want to create communities of faith among educators and mobilize them to deeply love God and deeply love the students hes given us to teach, said Rhames. If we do those two things, we will transform the educational experience, especially for children who are from vulnerable families and underserved communities. Rhames recently spoke with Christianity Today about the power of prayer, talking to God in the classroom, and how public education today is Americas biggest mission field. When did you become first aware of the power of prayer? I was in the third grade and my dad was a national semi-truck driver. Hed say hed come home on Monday but then something would happen at workhis truck might break downand he wouldnt be home until Wednesday. My parents had eight kids at the time and he was the only one that was working. I had a field trip at a skating rink and the money had to be turned in the next day, but my dad wasnt there. He had told me the day before that he was going to come and bring the money, but the day before the money was due, he hadnt made it home. I really wanted to go on the trip, so I got on my knees and I prayed that God would send my father home with the $5 that I needed. When I got up off my knees, I heard my father walk through the doorand he had the money, which was also kind of miraculous because times were really tight. I was like, God is real. Prayer in public schools has been a contentious issue for a long time. Do people find your work controversial? Its contentious if youre a public school teacher who is praying with students, because that has been deemed unconstitutional. Its contentious when teachers present Jesus from a religious conviction. Whether it is supporting Jesus or denigrating Jesus, were not allowed to do that by law. But people often conflate that with what Im doing. The law says that you cant pray with students, but teachers can certainly pray with one another. Thats free exercise of your religious beliefs and of your freedom of speech. If its offensive, its offensive, but its not illegal. Prayer is a conversation with God. I believe in God, so I should be able to have a conversation with him in the privacy of my own classroom with no students present before or after school. The truth is, I could pray any time, but just to be completely within the realm of the law, we tell people to pray before or after school or on a duty-free lunch break. What tensions do you see in Scripture regarding public and private prayer? Scripture tells us that we should pray in our secret closet and God will reward us. If you have to pray with your classroom door closed before school, so that no one can accuse you of doing religious activity on the clock, then God is glorified, because youre in an intimate situation with him that no one knows about. Its a blessing in disguise when youre forced to pray secretly, because thats what God tells us to do anyway. Article continues below What fruits from your ministry have you seen? Can you tell us a specific story or anecdote? I recently visited a teacher in Chicago who has 22 years of teaching experience. She transferred schools this year and felt like a brand new teacher all over again, because she was having a hard time getting a handle on her students. She wanted to quit. I went to her school, we walked the campus together, and then we sat down in her classroom and talked for a while. Then we prayedspecifically for this one special needs student who was having serious behavioral issues. By the end of the week, she sent me a text saying that the student came to her and apologized for his behavior. This is her seventh week of school, and all of a sudden he tells her hes sorry and wants to start over with a clean slate. Every day he had been cursing her out, cursing students out, and walking out of the class. Her posture toward the student has completely changed. She changed her disposition toward him, which caused him to soften his heart toward her. Often, its not about praying for God to change the students, but its more about teachers praying and asking God to change them and give them the eyes of Christ and the heart they need to have toward the kids. Once that stronghold breaks for teachers, they become more humble, malleable, and open to the Spirit of God. He gives them the ability to suffer well. Often, the hardest part of teaching is learning how to be longsuffering and have faith in God in the midst of any situation. One thing I tell teachers is Thank God for the opportunity to serve him in this classroom. Whether its good or bad, its an opportunity to be light in these kids lives. If youre not here, then whos going to be that light? So dry your tears and let God use you. What prayers are you praying for the kids and teachers in public schools today? Im praying against the spirit of suicide; Ive known too many teachers whove lost students to suicide. So one of my constant prayers is against the spirit of depression. Im also praying for the teachers to rise up and own their role as the hands and feet of Christ, to build a community of faith so that they dont feel like theyre alone. Im praying for more prayer in the schools through teachers, teachers aides, the security guards, the lunch ladies, and the principal. Being in Chicago, Im always praying for young people to be safe and that the hand of the enemy will not cut down any more young people. One of my good friends is a principal. His school just lost a senior who was the first in his class to get accepted into a four-year university. He had a 3.9 GPA. He was minding his own business when was gunned down on the sidewalk. Your GPA, your perfect attendance, your stellar extracurricular activitiesthese things dont protect you from the hand of the Enemy. They dont exempt you from being a victim of Satans attack. But prayer does. Prayer is a protecting agent. Its a shield and a sword. Thats why Im always praying and encouraging people to pray for the hand of protection over our children. What makes you passionate about public education in particular? About 90 percent of children in America are educated through public education. Its Americas most fertile mission field. Its also the largest mission field we have for professionals. There are 3.5 million K-12 teachers in America, which makes up 2.7 percent of the workforce. I never thought I would become a teacher, but God has prepared me through all the years of journalism, Bible study, and prayer services to walk into this mission field and get busy. This work is about sowing spiritual seeds in the schools. Its being the church in the schools, as opposed to having church in the schools. Im just being obedient. God called me to this path, and I said, Here am I, Lord. Use me. California fires: Will Graham says Christians should be 'first ones' responding as death toll rises Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Will Graham, grandson of the late evangelist Billy Graham, has urged Christians to help victims of the California wildfires, saying that believers "should be the first ones to be responding because we represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords." "I think as Christians, we should be the first ones to be responding because we represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and we should be the first ones responding to anybody in need," Graham told CBN News. "Pray with them; help with physical needs as well, and there's going to be a lot of physical needs going forward," he continued. California is experiencing the deadliest wildfires in its history, as at least 59 people have died and some 130 people remain unaccounted for, including many in their 80s and 90s. The number of those missing, authorities say, is only expected to rise. Just 35 percent contained as of Thursday morning, the "Camp Fire" alone has destroyed a staggering 8,650 homes and scorched 138,000 acres in Northern California. Overall, more than 10,000 structures have burned down, officials said. As a result of the fires, air quality alerts have been issued for about a dozen cities, including San Francisco, Napa and Chico, California. Graham told CBN that chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team have already been deployed near Sacramento to provide physical and spiritual assistance to those suffering due to the fires. "We send chaplains simply just to sit there and pray with people; cry with people; hold people," he shared. "People have lost everything they're devastated, and they don't even know where the next step begins. And we just sit there, and we just start praying." "We'll see some people come to know Christ, but I don't think we've ever been there when someone said, 'No, don't pray for me,'" he said. "People in times like this, they say, 'You know, I'll do anything I can; I need help any way I can, so they'll say, 'Pray for me.'" Samaritan's Purse, the humanitarian organization led by Will Graham's father, Franklin, will also be on the ground providing disaster relief. "There's going to be a lot of heartaches, and I know a lot of people have died," he said. "More people died in this fire than any other fire in U.S. history. ... It's a very sad time ... you can't replace humans, so here we just simply pray and pray that God would minister to them in their time of grief." The pastor went on to pray that wildfire victims would "cry out" to God in "this great time of need," adding: "But Lord, I pray that we as a Church, as Christians, and as a society, we come along these people and help these people and minister to them." On Facebook, Franklin Graham urged his 7 million followers to pray for all affected by the inferno: "Would you pray especially today for all those in the paths of these deadly fires and especially for the families whose loved ones were killed? Also we need to pray for protection and strength for the many firefighters who are battling these blazes 24/7." What triggered the fires is yet unknown, but experts say the blaze continues to be fueled by strong winds, low humidity, and dry terrain caused by prolonged drought. Episcopal Church head Michael Curry responds to bishop's refusal to allow gay marriage in diocese Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The head of The Episcopal Church has said that he's deciding on what actions to take after the bishop of a New York State-based diocese has refused to officiate same-sex wedding ceremonies. Bishop William Love of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany released a lengthy pastoral letter last week stating that he will not allow same-sex weddings in his churches, despite a recently approved resolution mandating them for all dioceses. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who supports same-sex marriage and leads the mainline Protestant denomination, released a statement earlier this week explaining that he's "assessing the implications of the statement and will make determinations about appropriate actions soon." "We are committed to the principle of full and equal access to, and inclusion in, the sacraments for all of the baptized children of God, including our LGBTQ siblings," said Curry. Curry also said that he believed the Church is tolerant of different points of view on marriage, adding that those who adhere to the biblical definition of marriage should not be forced to officiate same-sex unions. "As members of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12), we also are committed to respecting the conscience of those who hold opinions that differ from the official policy of The Episcopal Church regarding the sacrament of marriage," continued Curry. "It should be noted that the canons of The Episcopal Church give authority to all members of the clergy to decline to officiate a marriage for reasons of conscience, and Resolution B012 of the 79th General Convention does not change this fact." The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies who supports LGBT marriages in all forms, also released a statement in response to Love's pastoral letter, highlighting the denomination's support for LGBT relationships. "We recognize the Holy Spirit at work in the marriages of LGBTQ people and we know that there are Christians who have been drawn further into fidelity and service to the world by living in committed same-sex partnerships and marriages," stated Jennings. "When we celebrate these marriages, the entire church is blessed by the love and fidelity of these faithful couples." Earlier this year, the Episcopal Church General Convention passed Resolution B012, which allows congregations to perform same-sex weddings even in dioceses where leadership objects. The new policy is scheduled to take effect on Dec. 2. While the new resolution still gives clergy the right to refuse to perform gay weddings, bishops who oppose same-sex marriage rites must call on another bishop who does not oppose such unions to provide pastoral support for the couple and a clergy for the ceremony. In addition to the Diocese of Albany, the other impacted dioceses include Dallas; North Dakota; Springfield, Illinois; Tennessee; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and two of the denomination's Florida-based dioceses, the Diocese of Florida and the Diocese of Central Florida. This contrasts with a resolution passed by the General Convention in 2015 that allowed bishops opposed to same-sex marriage to maintain a ban on such unions within their diocese. Love took issues with this new resolution, officially stating that the same-sex marriage rites approved earlier this year "shall not be used anywhere in the Diocese of Albany by diocesan clergy (canonically resident or licensed)." "Jesus is calling the Church to follow His example. He is calling the Church to have the courage to speak His Truth in love about homosexual behavior even though it isn't politically correct," said Love. "Sexual relations between two men or two women was never part of God's plan and is a distortion of His design in creation and as such is to be avoided. To engage in sexual intimacy outside of marriage between a man and women, is against God's will and therefore sinful and needs to be repented of, NOT encouraged or told it is OK." Love also said that he believes both his denomination and overall Western society "have been hijacked by the 'Gay Rights Agenda,'" and that pro-LGBT Episcopalians have been "received into believing a lie that has been planted in the Church by the 'great deceiver' Satan." "There is no doubt The Episcopal Church and now the Diocese of Albany are in the midst of a huge storm that can rip us apart if we are not careful. That is exactly what Satan wants," Love added. "We don't have to play his game. If we focus on what divides us, we will be destroyed. If we focus on what unites us our Lord Jesus Christ He will get us through to the other side. I pray the Lord will help us to see one another as He sees us; to love one another as He loves us; to forgive one another as He forgives us." Francis Chan baptized his best friend after 30 years of praying he'll find Christ Chan says efforts to convince people to find Christ were 'ridiculous,' as prayer is needed Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Francis Chan has revealed that after 30 years of praying for his best friend to find Jesus Christ, he was finally able to baptize him into the faith a couple of years ago. The Christian pastor, author and church planter said that prayer is essential in such cases, admitting that his past efforts to convince people through words were "ridiculous." He said it's similar to the first time he climbed into a cave and experiencing how pitch dark it was, and compared it to the darkness the Apostle Paul described in 2 Corinthians 4:36. "We all walk in complete spiritual darkness unless God decides to shine his light on us. In some mysterious way, God shines light in a person's heart so that he instantly sees the beauty of the Gospel. No amount of human effort can produce this. Salvation is a miracle of God," Chan wrote on desiringGod.org on Wednesday. "Many of us would say that we believe this theological truth, but our actions betray us, revealing just how much we trust in people, speeches, and events. On more than one occasion, people have begged me to speak to their lost friends, believing that my words would make the difference," he continued. "Too often, I have granted their wish (rather than correcting their theology), and tried desperately to come up with the perfect words to talk their friends into falling in love with Jesus. Do you see yet how ridiculous this is?" Chan pointed to Jesus' words in Luke 18:1 about how people "ought always to pray and not lose heart," and shared of his own 30-year prayer journey for his best friend. "My best friend in college decided that he didn't want to follow Jesus. It broke my heart. Ken and I went our separate ways, and our lives went in opposite directions. I never stopped praying for him though I couldn't. Whenever Ken's name would pop into my mind, prayer was my natural reflex," he explained. "Two years ago, I was speaking in Seattle where Ken lived. I invited him to the event so we could reconnect. We graduated from high school in 1985. After 30 years of prayer, God decided to shine his light on his heart. Suddenly Jesus looked beautiful to him and he couldn't believe that he didn't see it all this time," the pastor added. "A few weeks later, Ken and his wife flew down to San Francisco, and I baptized them. I can't express what a gift that was. He is one of the few people I have prayed for consistently for 30 years a small price to pay to be with him for the next 30 million." Chan wrote that the story is a reminder that "no soul is too far gone for God." "No heart is too hard for God to soften. No son or daughter is too lost for God to rescue. Keep praying for God to do what only He can," he insisted. He urged believers to practice persistent prayer for those who reject Christ, even if they still, like him, have questions about how the will of God aligns with such prayers. "For now, I'm more than content to obey and pray. Though I'm still uncertain how it works, I have seen it work," he said. Jordan Standridge, pastor of evangelism at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia, made a similar point days ago on The Cripplegate website, revealing that a 99-year-old man came to Christ during a recent missions trip he carried out in an unnamed communist country. "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," Standridge described. He added that stories like that show 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," Standridge wrote. Pastor John Gray unites with megachurch leaders to push bridging racial divide Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment After coming under heavy criticism from members of the black community for meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss prison reform and urban job creation, Pastor John Gray continued his push for change Wednesday when he gathered with several high profile megachurch pastors to see how churches can lead the healing of the nation's racial divide. "My job is to drive the dialogue not only into the natural but the spiritual and to identify areas where the Church can be an agent of healing as opposed to a place of further division," Gray told WYFF4 at his Relentless Church in Greenville, South Carolina. Joining Gray for the conversation on building bridges were: Steven Furtick, pastor of the popular Elevation Church in North Carolina; the Rev. A.R. Bernard, leader of the 40,000-member Christian Cultural Center; Pastor Levi Lusko of Fresh Life Church in Montana, and Pastor Ken Claytor of Alive Church in Gainesville, Florida. "The church needs to be able to speak about the moral high ground without dishonoring people from different backgrounds," Gray said. In August, Gray was criticized by some members of the black community after he and a group of about 20 black pastors met with Trump to discuss issues related to prison reform and urban job creation. Gray defended his meeting with Trump, comparing it to Jesus' meeting with tax collector Zacchaeus. "Sitting at a table is neither affirming, endorsing, agreeing or aligning. If so Jesus certainly couldn't have sat with Zacch[a]eus or been in the company of lepers," Gray said. "High Priests couldn't go near lepers. Jesus made clear that He came eating and drinking and was a friend to sinners, tax collectors and wine bibbers." Critics like Christian comedian and nationally syndicated radio host Rickey Smiley didn't agree with Gray's position and argued that the Greenville preacher and the other black pastors were being used to help the president attract votes. "You see all these black preachers that were sitting around Donald Trump two weeks ago, same thing. What's the difference between that and remember now, George W. Bush. Only thing Donald Trump needs is 8 percent of the black vote in order to get re-elected. George Bush needed 10 and he got it because he went around and he got all those black preachers to preach abortion and gay marriage sermons which got black Christians in a[n] uproar and 10 percent of them voted for George W. Bush. That pushed him over the top to become re-elected against John Kerry in 2004," Smiley argued. Furtick, however, doesn't agree with that assessment of Gray and described him as a "category killer" instead at the Wednesday event billed as The Bridge, according to Greenville News. "God has used you to break barriers," Furtick said, noting that Gray's bravery in working in places where there isn't a lot of diversity such as Lusko's Montana church. "I know I've been places where I'm the first black man they've hugged," Gray said. Gray launched The Bridge as a new program that he hopes will help foster conversations about race, culture and politics with the Church at the front. "Tonight our nation gets what I believe is the beginning of something I think will change the nation," Gray said. "It's time for the Church to have a necessary, uncomfortable conversation." Lusko revealed that his church recently uncovered World War II era advertisements while renovating and found an ad promoting a KKK gathering at the old theater where he now leads worship services. Having Gray speak there now is a small step forward. "People are saying man, the time is dark. There's so much division, there's so much hatred, there's so much pain. And we just believe that we have a big part to play. We believe this is the Church's finest hour to shine," Claytor said. Grays wife, Aventer, also insisted to WYFF4 that: "We need bridge builders. We need people who can meet in the middle. We can have disagreements but they can be amicable. Like we can have differences of opinion but we can do it in love." The conversation between the megachurch pastors was recorded and will be released as a movie in theaters nationwide, possibly early next year, according to the Greenville News. Tiffany Mashburn, who has been attending Relentless Church since 2010, when it was called Redemption Church before Gray became the church's new pastor in May, noted that the event's diverse audience was a reflection of what she believes Heaven will look like. "You tend to hear a lot of time that people go to the church that preaches the Jesus that's most comfortable for you. But when you go you should be challenged," she said. "This is what Heaven would look like as opposed to a white church here and a black church there." Harness Racing Australia Chairman Michael Taranto has unveiled the full program for HRAs inaugural National Conference, which will take place on Friday, December 14 at Flemington Racecourse. Taranto said, The HRA Executive set an ambitious agenda for our inaugural Conference and I am pleased to reveal a world-class line up of speakers and leaders who will provide unique and thought provoking insights into critical issues facing our industry. The Conference is not a lecture, it is designed to provoke thought and has ample opportunity for audience interaction and I expect that this program will appeal to our entire industry. Headlined by world champion driver and former Standardbred Canada board member Jody Jamieson, who will be sharing his experience of both the racetrack and the boardroom, the Conference will also shine a light on the areas of Industry Development, Breeding, Industry Funding and Youth. While Jody Jamieson will be great, we are also indeed fortunate to have attracted a number of highly credentialed international speakers such as David Haslett from Sky Racing World, and Luke Kemeys who created Boys Get Paid. Locally we have leaders in their field such as Andy Wright from Tabcorp and award winners like Scott Hamilton who has built his own social media business, Taranto explained. The full Conference Program is available here. Taranto also added, In addition to the great support from speakers wanting to be involved, we are also indebted to the generous financial contribution of our sponsors, and I am pleased to announce a further three sponsors today. Lexus of Parramatta, Pointon Partner Lawyers and Garrards Horse and Hound have confirmed their financial commitments, along with Tabcorp, Sky Racing World, Aldebaran Park and Alabar Australia. These sponsors assist in subsidizing the Conference costs and providing such outstanding value for attendees. Tickets are just $30 inclusive of the Conference, Lunch, Cocktail Function and $5 donation to the Womens Cancer Foundation and can be booked directly here. The HRA Coulter Media Awards will be presented at the Cocktail Function following the Conference. The National Conference will start at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 14 in the Hill Stand at Flemington Racecourse. For more information, contact the office of HRA on 03 9227 3000. (HRA) 'Creed II': Michael B. Jordan shares how spirituality helps him when life knocks him down Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment PHILADELPHIA "Creed II" hits theaters on Nov. 21 and in a recent interview, lead actor, Michael B. Jordan revealed that his faith keeps him going when life knocks him down. Last weekend, CP was invited to sit down with the cast of "Creed II" back in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where the movie was filmed. The new installment once again brings the story of beloved fictional boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) and his mentee Adonis Creed (Jordan) to the big screen. Like Stallone, Jordan grew up attending church and says he still draws on his spiritually when life knocks him down. Throughout the film, his character, Creed, refuses to stay down despite taking a beating both in and out of the ring. When asked what helps him rise again, Jordan first credited his family, then his faith. "I have a really strong support system around me, family, friends that are like family," Jordan told The Christian Post. "I meditate a lot, spirituality is as big with me. It's a big deal. It's kind of what keeps me centered a lot of the times, so that's definitely an aspect of my life that helps me push through certain hard times." Jordan has said in the past that he grew up in church and has always believed in God. Ultimately, the actor said his determination helps him to never give up. "In 1985, Russian boxer Ivan Drago killed former U.S. champion Apollo Creed in a tragic match that stunned the world. Against the wishes of trainer Rocky Balboa, Apollo's son and current champ Adonis Creed accepts a challenge from Drago's son another dangerous fighter. Under guidance from Rocky, Adonis trains for the showdown of his life," the synopsis of "Creed II" reads. "Creed II" is filled with Rocky quotes, in keeping with all the heartfelt statements always shared throughout the Rocky franchise. Jordan called these sayings "Rockyisms" and went on to share which one impacted him the most. "'It's not how hard you get hit, its how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.' That's always a quote that I really liked from our films," the young movie star shared. He added, "It's how much can you take, how much can you endure, how long can you last until you get to where you need to get to? A lot of people quit right before things are about to open up for them. They're right there, right on the brink of getting everything you want and then they end up just stopping, just short of it. Not knowing if they would have took a couple more steps forward they would have gotten everything they wanted. So that's something that always resonates with me." After the success of his films "Creed" and "Black Panther," the California native has garnered a large following. When asked to share advice for the next generation, Jordan acknowledged the hardships currently taking place throughout the world and said staying focused is key. "Life is tough right now. You got to be able to take ownership over the things you can control," he said. "I think [for] young people nowadays is like trying to get them focused. The cliche thing is, stay in school and get an education, listen to your parents, those are the kind of the foundations right now." Jordan is no stranger to humanitarian work and says everyone can do fruitful work in the world. "I think using your voice in a productive way, in a positive way is really important," he emphasized. "I think finding out who you really are is crucial as well. Finding your center, sit still, and meditate, listen to the things that comes." His co-star, Tessa Thompson, also really believes in the value of using one's voice, talents and gifts to better the world and encouraged people to fight. "Something central in this film is 'what you fight for' and there's a lot to fight for right now," Thompson told CP. "Whether it be for our own rights in this country and globally and for the rights of folks in communities that maybe we are not a part of but we happen to have a connection to, that injustice in any realm is injustice to all of us." "I know when you read the news it can be really harrowing and depressing but also inside of it there are so many victories," she encouraged. "When the pendulum swings in a negative space, it swings right back again into a positive space and I think that has a lot to do with people staying engaged, active and fighting." "Creed II" features Jordan, Thompson, Stallone, Phylicia Rashad, Florian Munteanu and Dolph Lundgren. The soul-stirring sequel was written by Stallone and produced by Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Kevin King-Templeton as well as Stallone. For more information on the MGM, Warner Bros. Pictures release, visit creedthemovie.com. 'Duck Dynasty's Missy Robertson says daughter's journey with cleft palate strengthened family's faith Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Missy Robertson, "Duck Dynasty" star and wife of Jase Robertson, has reflected on her daughter Mia's journey with a cleft lip and palate and shared how her battle has strengthened the entire family's relationship with Jesus Christ. Robertson told The Christian Post that since her birth in 2004, Mia has undergone "numerous" surgeries to correct her cleft lip and palate, the latest being this past summer. While Mia, now 15, is doing "really, really well" physically and is now a varsity cheerleader in high school, Robertson admitted the journey has been "long and arduous." "What most people don't understand is that when a child is born with a cleft lip and palate, it's not just the quick fix," she told CP. "Every child is different; they don't all fit into the same box. You can't predict, when a child is born, just how many surgeries they're going to have. So I've quit predicting how many more surgeries she'll have when people ask me. The biggest thing I've learned is to sit back and take everything one day at a time." Yet, Robertson told CP that the experience hasn't "tested" her family's faith; rather, it's forced them to rely on God in a deep and powerful way. "We really had to understand quickly going into everything that we can't control this and that God's in control," she shared. "He has His arms around our child. He loves our child more than we do. He is the one that's making all of this work, and we just have to do the best that we can for her with the things that we know and rely on God for everything else." View Photos In 2014, the Robertsons started the Mia Moo Fund to help other families who are facing similar situations. According to the Center for Disease Control, each year in the United States, about 2,650 babies are born with a cleft palate and 4,440 babies are born with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate. "We wanted to help families find the best craniofacial specialists for their children instead of going to the guy down the road who sees one or two cases a year," she explained. "We wanted the financial obstacles to be removed, we wanted to make it easier for parents to find the best care for their children." The Mia Moo Fund's most recent fundraiser was "Poker at the Plantation," a poker tournament on Oct. 26 on the Robertsons' plantation. The event, which raised nearly $90,000 for the Mia Moo Fund, was filled with fun and games, including a carnival, silent auction, potluck, and a poker tournament. "If you know anything about the men in our family, they are very competitive, and so sometimes poker gets a little heated, especially between Si and Jase," Robertson said with a laugh. "Sometimes Jase leaves mad at Si, sometimes Si leaves md at Jase. So it was just a fun, fun night with live music, good food, and encouragement." Guests of honor included 22 families, each personally helped by the foundation. Robertson told CP she wanted the families to have a "fun day where they could forget about doctors, surgeries, and people looking at them differently." The day also included a group therapy session for parents of children with cleft palate, facilitated by a licensed family counselor and personal friend of the Robertsons. "A lot of people don't understand what these families are going through," Robertson said. "It was a wonderful time for these families to get together, to share stories, and to encourage one another." Robertson said she wants to encourage parents going through difficult seasons to remember that God is in control of even the most devastating situations. "These things don't happen by accident; God knows that they're going to happen, and so we need to put that power and trust in Him," she said. "He created us and He loved us enough to want to have a relationship with us. Our main goal in life should be to reach out and have a relationship with God." "Then," she added, "reach out to people around you that will undertsand and will love you through these situations. We were created for community, both with God and with people." More information on the Mia Moo Fund and donation opportunities is available online at miamoo.org/collections/donations. Nicole Kidman opens up about her belief in God, reveals she once wanted to become a nun Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Nicole Kidman shared information about her faith and belief in God while promoting an upcoming film. In the December/January of issue of Allure magazine, Kidman, who was raised in an Irish Catholic family, sported a diamond-studded crucifix, which she said was a gift from her grandmother that she wears all the time. "I'm spiritual in the sense that I absolutely believe in God," she told Allure while gripping her crucifix in her hand. She went on to reveal that she once thought of becoming a nun. "I loved the idea of being a nun. Obviously, I did not choose to go that path, but I was very drawn to it," Kidman added. The 51-year-old is the star of the new film, "Boy Erased," where she plays a pastor's wife. Her role of Nancy Eamons is the wife of a small-town Baptist pastor who put their son in a "gay conversion" program after discovering that he is gay. While the filmakers reportedly didn't want to "throw God under the bus," the film does not present a Christian worldview on issues related to sin and sexuality. Christian film review site Movieguide said the movie "correctly criticizes some bad theology by Christian leaders but ultimately also endorses immoral behavior while inserting some foul language and a graphic scene of homosexual rape." Ex-gays have argued the film is inaccurate in its portrayal of Christian ministries that help those struggling with same-sex attraction. "The mother is struggling herself, and there's a truth to it," Kidman said of her role. "She changes. She's the one that changes, and I love that. I think that's really beautiful." Once linked to Scientology, the actress recently opened about about being estranged from her two eldest children that she and devoted Scientologist Tom Cruise adopted. Her kids decided to live with Cruise after their her divorce to the actor in 2001 and they chose Cruise's religion. "They are adults. They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists and, as a mother, it's my job to love them," she shared with Australia's Who magazine. "And I am an example of that tolerance and that's what I believe that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love and I'm open here. I think that's so important because if that is taken away from a child, to sever that in any child, in any relationship, in any family I believe it's wrong. So that's our job as a parent, to always offer unconditional love." In 2014, a video of the actress and her husband, country music star Keith Urban showed Kidman's Christian roots as the couple sang a popular Christian hymn during a hospital visit. The two visited Monash Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, in the suburbs of Australia, while in town for the Swisse Celebrate Life Ball. The Swisse Celebrate Life Ball is an Australian fundraiser for two children's hospitals, according to Deseret News. Urban and Kidman toured the neonatal ward visiting kids with cancer, with gifts in hand. The couple sang "Amazing Grace" for the children and staff who were noticeably appreciative. Fans sang right along with them as they surrounded the two, hundreds gathered to catch a glimpse and meet the couple at the hospital. Kidman displayed her worship song knowledge when she helped her husband remember the second verse of the song. Dave Ramsey says pastors must stop telling 'broke' people to tithe, must first address debt, budget Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Dave Ramsey has urged pastors to refrain from preaching sermons about tithing "to broke people" unless they first address debt and budgeting from the pulpit. During a recent interview, the CEO of Ramsey Solutions and author of Financial Peace University, said that he regularly tells pastors to stop stressing the importance of tithing to congregants who aren't good stewards of their money. "Unless," he clarified, "you've done two sermons on ... debt one on getting out of debt and one on getting on a budget." "That's the ratio for me instead of just tithe, tithe, tithe," he said. But when pastors fail to address debt and setting a budget, he said, the reaction to a sermon about tithing is often "yeah right, I've got a light bill. That's a great spiritual concept. Maybe someday I'll get around to that.'" Getting out of debt leads to giving, the financial expert said, "Because if you're out of debt and on a budget and you love Jesus, I think tithing is a natural thing that occurs." Still, Ramsey detailed his "incredible love of pastors," describing most of them as "underappreciated" and "underpaid," adding that pastors "could take that same skill set in the marketplace in most cases and make more money." In an address delivered at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in June, Ramsey told pastors: "When you stand up in front of your congregation, you're looking at a large number of people who do not have the ability to handle their money." "Quit preaching tithe lessons to broke people," he said. "Let's teach them how to get on a budget. ... The natural byproduct of a Jesus lover when they have money is giving." During the session, Ramsey offered Financial Peace University to pastors at the SBC for free, saying, "We want you to go through the class as our gift to say thank you for who you are and how you serve the Kingdom of God." The best-selling author said his life was changed when a Christian businessman pointed him to Jesus after he lost everything he owned due to poor money management. "I met Jesus on the way up," he shared. "I got to know Him on the way down. With a brand-new baby and a toddler and a marriage hanging on by a thread, we finally hit bottom at 28 years old. We were bankrupt. I remember standing in the shower with it so hot I could barely stand it, and I would stand there and cry because I didn't know what to do. I was so scared I couldn't breathe." After embracing Christianity, Ramsey said he decided to handle his finances differently, contending that "When the Word of God intersects your life, it changes the trajectory of your life permanently." According to statistics, only around 10-12 percent of all Christians actually tithe, or give one-tenth of their income to the Church. In an op-ed for CP, Chuck Bentley, CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, encouraged believers to tithe regardless of their financial situation: "Remember that giving is not a tax or a legal requirement to please God, but a voluntary act of worship. It is a tangible way to express our love to God," he explained. "Give, even if you can only afford $1. As you give, ask God to multiply it for His Kingdom." "At the same time, I recommend that you begin to save so you can establish an emergency savings account," he added. "It is important to give first, then save next, even if it is a very small amount in each category! By working on these goals simultaneously, you will begin to make important changes in the way you manage your income." "When the offering plate comes your way, thank God for all He's given you and that your heart's desire is to give more to Him," Bentley said. "Don't worry that your gift is small. It's between you and God!' What Did Jesus Say About Children? Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Jesus mentioned children several different times throughout his ministry. One of his most famous interactions with kids occurred in Matthew 19:13-15, which happened after he had gone into Judea, having just spent time in Galilee and taught those gathered there about the nature of marriage, adultery and divorce. "Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there," the passage reads. Theologians have pointed out that when Jesus said that for one to receive the Kingdom he or she must do so like a child in order to enter it reveals something important about God's nature and how He relates to us, his children. Such childlike receiving is expressed in total trust, notes Kent Hughes, professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, writing on the WTS website in a 2016 essay adapted from his book Luke: That You May Know the Truth. So in the Gospels when Jesus instructed the disciples to not hinder children from coming to Him, "for to such belongs the kingdom of God,'" He did not say that the Kingdom belongs to those specific children, but those who are "like" them, Hughes explained. And without their parents, children are utterly helpless, he went on to say. "A newborn, naked, with flailing hands and feet lifted toward the sky, is a hear-wrenching profile of helplessness. And unlike any other creature, its helplessness extends for years. No child would survive its early years without the help of others." "Children are free from the pride of knowledge. He has no learning, no degrees to pile up before the cross. Intellectual conceit is impossible. Children are teachable too. They receive the gospel without proposing amendments to it." Similarly, as Eduard Schweizer, professor of New Testament at the University of Zurich, has observed, that helplessness is the reason children are blessed. "They cannot count on any achievements of their own their hands are empty like those of a beggar. Jesus enlarges the promise to include everyone," Schweizer explained. "With an authority such as only God can claim, he promises the Kingdom to those whose faith resembles the empty hand of a beggar. Such faith is possible because they have no achievements of their own nor any conceptions of God which can intrude between them and God." In the chapter immediately preceding the one where Jesus speaks of the Kingdom belonging to those like children, the Lord speaks in hyperbole, to underscore his value for children. "If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!" Yet that phrase "little ones" marks a shift from the literal "child" in the Greek, noted Kyle Roberts, a theology professor United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota in a 2013 essay. The "little ones" are not only actual children, but also those who have no power, influence, or significance," Roberts explains. "They are the 'withouts.' When the powerful abuse the powerless, they incur the wrath of Jesus." "What does it mean to cause a little one (a marginalized, powerless person) to sin or to quit following Jesus? It's easy to think of child abuse in the church, or overt racism or discrimination, or bullying the weak and 'different,' or excluding by our messages (implicit and explicit) and our programming the poor, the uneducated, the jobless." John Piper celebrates 50 years of Christian hedonism Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Bethlehem College & Seminary Chancellor and Desiring God founder John Piper recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of when he discovered a concept he calls Christian hedonism. In a column posted to DesiringGod.org on Friday, Piper described how 50 years earlier he came to realize that he could reconcile the idea of pursuing happiness and pursuing the Glory of God. According to Piper, this came with his first semester in the fall of 1968 at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California, and a course taught by the son of the seminarys founder. I had never heard before about the relationship of divine glory and human happiness. Fuller pointed me to Jonathan Edwards, Blaise Pascal, C.S. Lewis and the Bible, wrote Piper. This was new to me. I knew about my duty to live for the glory of God. But I had never heard that God lives for the glory of God. I had never heard that Gods command that I glorify Him was an invitation to join Him in His zeal for His own glory. Piper went on to recall that the moment it all clicked for him was on Nov. 16, 1968, specifically at Vromans Bookstore on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, while reading The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis. This was a wind from another land, Piper explained. It was the exact opposite of the counsel from T.W. Manson. Manson told me not to live for the sake of Christs promised reward. Lewis told me that I wasnt living for the reward enough! The problem is not the desire for happiness, but that we settle for mud pies when we are promised paradise. The great problem with mankind is that we dont desire happiness with nearly enough knowledge and passion. Piper explained that he didn't consider himself the best example of Christian hedonism, but nevertheless he was a witness to the spiritual practice. we do not make a god out of joy. We show, rather, that whatever we find greatest joy in is our God. And the greater the joy in Him, the greater the glory we give, noted Piper. A longtime champion of the concept of Christian hedonism, Piper defined the term in a 2015 piece as "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." He has credited various Christian intellectuals as well as his own father as being the ones who led him to embrace the concept. "My father was probably the happiest man I have ever known, and yet he was filled and consumed with the glory of God," wrote Piper at the time. "So there was this both-and in my father's life that had to have a resolution or explanation someday. Abundant joy and total commitment to the glory of God had to go together in some way." In their entry on the topic of Christian hedonism, the website Got Questions identified the theological concept as "biblical" and having "much to commend it." "Christian hedonism is not the pursuit of our own happiness as the greatest good; rather, Christian hedonism is the pursuit of the highest good (God's glory), which will ultimately result in our greatest happiness," noted Got Questions. Ashers Bakery: Evangelical Couple Wins Major UK Supreme Court 'Gay Cake' Discrimination Case Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An evangelical couple have won their court ordeal after the U.K.'s Supreme Court decided that they did not discriminate against a gay man by refusing to make him a same-sex wedding cake. The couple, Daniel McArthur and his wife, Amy, of Ashers Bakery in Belfast, had previously lost the lower court case and a subsequent appeal that found them guilty of discrimination in 2014. They had been accused of refusing to make gay rights activist Gareth Lee a cake in support of same-sex marriage, which they said goes against their religious beliefs. On Wednesday, the five justices unanimously overturned the guilty verdict in London. "The district judge found that the appellants did not refuse to fulfill Mr. Lee's order because of his actual or perceived sexual orientation. The objection was to the message on the cake, not any personal characteristics of the messenger, or anyone with whom he was associated," reads the official judgment. "The message was not indissociable from the sexual orientation of the customer, as support for gay marriage was not a proxy for any particular sexual orientation. The benefit of the message accrues not only to gay or bisexual people, but to their families and friends and to the wider community who recognize the social benefits which such commitment can bring. Thus, there was no discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in this case," it adds. The case has been on the forefront of religious freedom vs. anti-discrimination debates in the U.K. for years. The Christian Institute, the group representing the McArthurs, hailed what they called a landmark victory in a press release. Daniel McArthur, Ashers' general manager, spoke about his delight at the ruling, and gave thanks to God. "We're delighted and relieved at today's ruling. We always knew we hadn't done anything wrong in turning down this order. After more than four years, the Supreme Court has now recognized that and we're very grateful. Grateful to the judges and especially grateful to God," he declared. "We're particularly pleased the Supreme Court emphatically accepted what we've said all along we did not turn down this order because of the person who made it, but because of the message itself." The controversy all began in May 2014, when Ashers turned down an order for a cake with a message reading "Support Gay Marriage" featuring "Sesame Street" characters Bert and Ernie. While they were sued for discrimination, the McArthurs repeatedly insisted that their evangelical faith prevents them from supporting such messages. In response to the verdict, Lee argued that the case has made him feel like a second-class citizen, BBC News reported. The activist added that he is now concerned about "the implications for all of the gay community." "To me, this was never about conscience or a statement. All I wanted to do was to order a cake in a shop," Lee added. The Christian Institute Deputy Director (Public Affairs) Simon Calvert called the ruling "a total vindication of Ashers Baking Company and the McArthur family." "The court strongly agreed with Ashers' lawyers that this case has always been about the message on the cake and not the customer; the message, not the messenger," Calvert said. "Equality law was never intended to be used in the way the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland tried to use it in this case." Asia Bibi Family Pleads With Trump, Western Nations for Asylum; Lives in Danger as Islamists Rage Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The family of Christian mother of five Asia Bibi has pleaded with U.S. President Donald Trump and other Western nations for asylum, fearing that their lives are in immediate danger. "Our family was elated by the recent decision to free my wife but news of the governments capitulation to the rioters who want us all dead has broken our hearts," said Ashiq Masih, Bibi's husband, according to the British Pakistani Christian Association. "My daughters weep for their mother. Their hope that they would be reunited has been broken and they are trying to piece together their frail confidence that she will return to them," he added. Persecution watchdog groups around the world initially hailed the Pakistan Supreme Court's decision to free Bibi after 8 years on death row for blasphemy, after she had been accused of insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The situation has been complicated, however, after violent protests by Islamists forced the Pakistani government into agreeing to delay allowing her to leave the country. "That fundamentalists can cause our government to shift direction, alarms me, but I trust our God will give freedom and peace to Asia through the prayers of our many millions of supporters who are not violent," Masih added. "Jesus loves us and died for us, He will be feeling our pain and will show the world his divine nature by beating these impossible circumstances." In a separate video message, Masih turned to world leaders with a desperate plea. "I request [U.S.] President Donald Trump to help us leave [the country], and I request the prime minister of the U.K. to do their level best to help us, to grant us freedom," the husband said, as reported by Al Jazeera. "I also request [this of] the prime minister of Canada," he added. BBC News noted that Bibi's lawyer, Saif Mulook, was forced to flee Pakistan on Saturday, fearing for his life as hardliners blocked streets and chanted for Bibi's death. Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudry claimed that security had been been "beefed up" to protect the Christian mother. "Yes, there is a situation and we are dealing with it, but I assure you that her life is not in danger," Chaudry insisted. He added that the government had made a deal to delay Bibi's release as a form of "firefighting," aiming to "resolve the situation without resorting to violence." Eisham Masih, Bibi's 18-year-old daughter, revealed that her family has been moved from house to house, hiding from hardliners who want to do them harm. "Sometimes we have seen and heard the large riots and we have watched as little TV as possible all it shows us, is how many people hate us and want us dead. We choose to remember the love shown to us in countries outside of Pakistan," the daughter said. "I have cried for joy when I heard my mother would be set free, I now cry for the despair of our situation only God can save us all and when I pray I have felt his presence at my darkest moments. He will show the world that no worldly institutions can thwart his plans for us. The BPCA has called on Christians around the world to pray for Bibi that she, her family, and all those associated with her case be granted asylum abroad. Asia Bibi: Police warn Christians that terrorists are set to attack; churches in 'critical moment' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Pakistani police have warned the leaders of Christian groups that terrorists are planning attacks against believers over the fallout of the Asia Bibi case. The Lahore Police Inspectorate has urged Christian institutions to "pay attention to vigilance, outlining that terror groups such as "Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan" and "Jamaat-ul-Ahrar" have made plans for attacks, Agenzia Fides reported. The police vowed that security measures have been put in place at Christian places and churches, but danger remains high as Islamic extremists seek to punish believers for their support of Bibi. The Christian mother of five was acquitted of blasphemy in October after spending eight years on death row for insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad, something which she has continuously denied. Persecution watchdog groups and her supporters celebrated the Supreme Courts decision to overturn her conviction and sentence, but Bibi and her family are believed to still be in Pakistan, hiding in fear for their lives. In the weeks following her acquittal, Christians have been attacked as hardliners took to the streets to protest. Peter Jacob, the executive director for the Center for Social Justice in Lahore, said earlier in November that Christians were "taken out of their cars and beaten up," among other forms of violence. Bishop Humphrey Peters, an Anglican pastor at the head of the "Church of Pakistan" in Peshawar, responded to the latest police letter by admitting that Christians are in a critical moment. Christians in Pakistani have trust in the security forces. We will continue to carry out our role in society, in full cooperation with law enforcement and government, Peters told Fides. Catholic layman Adeel Patras Chaudhry of "Jesus Life TV" commented, "Christians will pay close attention and act with caution in the organization of gatherings and celebrations at Christmas time. We pray for the protection of the faithful and also of the security forces, committed to our protection. We are aware of the delicate situation and collaborate with the police and with the Government. Fr. Qaisar Feroz, executive secretary of the Commission for Social Communications in the Catholic Episcopal Conference, insisted that despite the violent fallout, the judicial system did the right thing in freeing Bibi. "The decision of the Supreme Court has restored justice and truth to this case, in which an innocent was in jail. We hope that the woman can lead a happy life. All citizens must see, in all this, the good for Pakistan: a nation where legality and law are still respected. This is our idea of Pakistan, Feroz argued. Several Western governments, including Canada and Italy, have said that they are reaching out to help Bibi and her family, but they are still awaiting asylum. U.S. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul told CNN last week that he has spoken to President Donald Trump about granting Bibi asylum, noting that there are fears she might be killed or imprisoned again if she remains there. "They will probably convict her again, Paul warned. And if she goes through all of that she has already spent eight years in prison on death row, which has to be a horrific experience I'm worried that she won't survive. Paul said he can't speak for the president, but has hopes that the U.S. will be able to help as well. Can the Pope Affect the Everyday Lives of Catholics? Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- The papacy, while seemingly uncomplicated at times, is not fully understand by most people, even Catholics. Why the Pope matters, what the Pope writes and proclaims, and why he is a central figure in the world is all explained in the new book The Papacy: What the Pope Does and Why It Matters by Stephen K. Ray and R. Dennis Walters.THE PAPACY traces the formation of the papacy from St. Peter and why that link is extraordinary and how it still exists today. The book tackles common misconceptions about the papacy, including infallibility, the existence of anti-Popes and what criticism is warranted.The book is written by Stephen Ray, a former teacher of Biblical studies at a Baptist church and current Catholic convert who wrote Upon This Rock, which addresses the papacy in scripture and the early Church, and hosts the popular, award-winning film series on salvation history, The Footprints of God, including the first film in the series, Peter: Keeper of the Keys. The co-author is R. Dennis Walters, a Claretian seminary for eight years who was ordained to the permanent Diaconate in 2007 and now serves at a small parish in rural Michigan.The Catholic Church has existed for over two thousand years. The unbroken line of succession from Peter in the form of the papacy has run throughout its entire history. THE PAPACY explains that without the Pope's divinely guided leadership, the Church would suffer the contradictions and the divisions that many Christian groups know firsthand. The teaching passed down from the apostles would be subject to arbitrary, relative and numerous interpretations; holiness would be only a distant ideal; and the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church founded by Jesus would break apart."This is a clearly written, easy-to-read explanation and defense of the papacy," said Trent Horn, author, The Case for Catholicism. "I would recommend any Catholic, or even anyone interested in this much misunderstood part of the Catholic faith, to pick up a copy."For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Stephen Ray, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications. Canadian hospital advertises euthanasia in hospital waiting room Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Canada is increasingly more open about its embrace of euthanasia and assisted suicide, even advertising it in hospital waiting rooms. Writing on the blog of National Review last week, The Discovery Institute's Wesley Smith shared a photo a source sent him from a Canadian hospital system where "medical aid in dying" (MAiD) referring to physician-assisted suicide is pushed on patients via an on-screen advertisement in the hospital urgent care waiting room. "MAiD is a medical service in Canada, whereby physicians and nurse practitioners help eligible patients fulfill their wish to end their suffering," the ad reads, along with a toll-free phone number for interested persons. "The ad makes no mention of palliative care or other means to reduce or eliminate suffering without killing. It does not describe that counseling can help people regain the desire to live. There is no hint that suicide prevention services might be available. And it obscures the fact that MAiD is a euphemism for homicide by lethal injection," Smith reported. The practice was only legalized in the North American nation three years ago via its Supreme Court. The ad is particularly alarming, Smith went onto explain, because not only is it legal but it is now being presented as a "positive right." "And, they are telling dissenting physicians in Ontario that they either must kill qualified patients, find a doctor willing to do the dirty deed (known as an 'effective referral') or get out of medicine." He added: "And considering that Canada has a single payer socialized healthcare system, what better way to save on costs than by gently persuading those with the most expensive conditions to choose death over fighting to stay alive? Indeed, there is already at least one case in which a disabled patient was offered euthanasia after being denied the independent living services he says he needs to maintain the desire to carry on." The failure to mention any life-affirming options reveals that euthanasia is not only being presented as normal by Canadian medical institutions, but is set to become the preferred treatment for those with debilitating illnesses, he concluded. Such overt promotion of assisted suicide comes amid reports last month that doctors from a Toronto children's hospital had articulated policies on physician-assisted suicide for minors, revealing that in some cases, parents would not be notified until after the child has died. "Usually, the family is intimately involved in this (end-of-life) decision-making process. If, however, a capable patient explicitly indicates that they do not want their family members involved in their decision-making, although health care providers may encourage the patient to reconsider and involve their family, ultimately the wishes of capable patients with respect to confidentiality must be respected," the pediatric doctors at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, administrators and ethicists wrote in a September British Medical Journal article. A 2017 survey of 1,050 Canadian doctors found that 33 percent of them believe assisted suicide should be illegal for minors, while around half think "mature" minors should have the option to request it if they so desire. Bioethicists are worried that protections for those who object to the practice are quickly disappearing. "I think that conscientious objection in Canada, unfortunately, hangs by a thread," Deacon Larry Worthen, executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada, told Catholic News earlier this month. Craig Groeschel on why Hell exists, says most Americans believe Satan's lies about afterlife Craig Groeschel on why Hell exists, says most Americans believe Satan's lies about afterlife Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Life.Church Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel recently discussed the harsh realities of Hell and argued that one of the most dangerous lies Satan tells humans is that such a place does not exist. In a sermon titled The Horrors of Hell, Groeschel contended that its important to discuss the afterlife from the pulpit because what you believe about eternity determines how you live today. If you believe that youre an accident, that youre going nowhere, then why not just live for now, live for yourself? he asked. If you were created by a good God, for His glory, and believe that youll live somewhere forever, it will change the way you live today. Groeschel cited statistics revealing that while 74 percent of Americans believe in Heaven, just 1 in 4 believe that those who do not know Christ will spend eternity in a place called Hell. Most people, if they do believe in Hell, believe its for the really, really, bad people, like the murderers and rapists, terrorists and such, but probably not me, he said. But Jesus said something that might imply otherwise, the pastor argued, citing Matthew 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Groeschel said that if he were the devil, he would try to convince humans that there is no Hell. But if it is real, lets not take it seriously and lets believe that most people would not be going there. If I could convince you of that, then you would probably live however you want, he explained. You would justify your sin, you would reject Christ, you would live with no real fear of God. If you are a follower of Christ and I can convince you that Hell is not real or not that important, you would live ridiculously self-centered lives, he continued. You would very likely idolize comfort and fall in love with this world, you would reject sacrifice, you would avoid persecution, you would love now, and you would not likely share your faith with very many people and have no real sense of spiritual urgency. Unfortunately, this is the way so many of us live today, the pastor lamented. If God is loving, why does Hell exist? First, Hell exists for God to deal righteously with Satan, Groeschel said. Many of us, when we think of Satan, we tend to think of some harmless dude in a red suit with a pitchfork and horns, the pastor said. But Scripture tells us the devil is the embodiment of all evil. Behind every addiction is our spiritual enemy, every bit of fear or pain or shame, it comes from the prince of darkness, he said. Hes the destroyer, the deceiver, the dragon, the dark angel. Hes called your adversary, the tempter, your enemy, the wicked one, the thief, the father of lies, the prince of darkness, he is the angel of the abyss, he is the thief that comes to steal your joy. The second reason Hell exists is for God to deal righteously with unbelievers. While this may not seem fair, the pastor pointed out that it is impossible for God to be holy without being just. God will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, he said. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord. This is no fun to talk about, he added. I'm sure it's no fun to hear about, but if we don't accept the reality of Hell, we will never appreciate the glory of the Gospel and the goodness of Jesus. Some people joke about Hell as if its a party, the pastor said. But according to Scripture, Hell will be a horrible place of isolation and hopelessness where people are eternally separated from Christ. [Those in Hell] will drink the wine of God's fury which has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath, he said. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of holy angels and of the lamb and the smoke of their torment will rise forever. Hell, he added, is a nonstop eternal fire with torture or suffering and unending pain. While so many people have a problem with the idea of a good God sending good people to hell, its important to understand that no one is good. If you, for a moment, stood in front of the holiness of God, you would recognize the depth of your wickedness, he said. By nature, we're sinful. We've all sinned. We have to recognize this about God. He is holy and He is just. He cannot be holy without being just, and because He is just, He must punish wrongdoing. But God is also love, the pastor emphasized, and demonstrated His love by sending Christ to die for humanity while we were still sinners, while we still rejected him, while we didn't know Him, while we were spitting in His face. What did Jesus, His death and resurrection do? It paid the price for our sins, satisfying God's justice, and simultaneously displaying His amazing grace and unquenchable love, the pastor said. Jesus didn't come for the perfect; He came for sinners. He didn't come for the healthy; He came for the sick. Satan is a thief, and he is a liar who comes only to steal, kill and destroy, Groeschel concluded. Jesus said, I have come that they may have life and life to the full. That's why we want people to know Him, not just to avoid the horrors of Hell but to experience the grace, goodness, the power, the love, the mercy, holiness, the righteousness, and the love of a good God. Gospel Coalitions David Powlison battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment David Powlison, executive director of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation and a council member of The Gospel Coalition, has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. When the 68-year-old was diagnosed with what was initially thought to be early stage pancreatic cancer, he had expressed a desire to have a long life. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death, according to Healthline. Kevin Carson, pastor of Sonrise Baptist Church in Ozark, Missouri, who is a friend of Powlisons, revealed the counseling experts diagnosis on his website last Wednesday and requested prayers. Friends, thank you for praying for my friend, David Powlison. During his recent surgery it was determined that his cancer was not as they originally thought; but, instead, is stage 4 pancreatic cancer. For all of us who love him and have been praying for him, we are so saddened by this news. Please continue to pray for him, Nan, his family, the CCEF family, and his many friends as they respond to this news, he wrote. Powlison has worked at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation since 1978 and is currently a faculty member there. He has also written extensively on biblical counseling and on the relationship between faith and psychology. His books, Seeing with New Eyes and Speaking Truth in Love, examine the implications of Scripture for how to understand people and how to counsel. His latest book, released in 2016, is called Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness. About a month ago in a personal video message, he explained that his doctor told him shortly before the annual CCEF conference in Virginia Beach that he had a tumor in his pancreas. He was initially told that the cancer appeared to be in the early stages. Recalling the words of his doctor, Powlison said she initially told him while his diagnosis was serious, there is a silver lining. The serious diagnosis is that I have a tumor in my pancreas. And the silver lining is through a number of providences of God they have discovered it unusually early. Its small, its contained and it looks like surgery will be the approach to dealing with it, Powlison said, cautiously optimistic. He then revealed how the diagnosis immediately began testing his faith. In a way that Ive never expected, Ive had to live Scripture. Ive had to live the things I say I believe and it has really been a really sweet time in a certain sense over the last couple of weeks. I know there will be times where faith has to reach out to God and you feel alone. And where is He and I hurt. But these last couple of weeks have been a time when God has simply been present. Hes been the reality thats there, he said. "I am so deeply grateful that that has been what has happened. Powlison later appeared more vulnerable as he quoted Psalm 121 about the Lord guarding him and asked for prayers. I would like to ask your prayers. I would like to ask your prayers first, that that silver lining proves true. Obviously, medical things dont come with guarantees, they come with possibilities. But I would love to live a long and healthy life, he said. Group suspends $1 million donation to Catholic Church for delaying action on sex abuse scandals Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Michigan-based organization of Catholic business owners has decided to withhold a $1 million donation to the Roman Catholic Church due to a delay on a vote to combat sex abuse in the Church. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was recently told by the Vatican that it was halting any actions on the issue of clergy sex abuse until after a global summit at the Holy See is held in February 2019. Legatus, the international organization of Catholic business leaders, explained in a letter sent to members that in response to the delay order, they were revoking their tithe for 2019 to the Holy See. Legatus' founder and chairman Tom Monaghan noted in the membership letter that the annual tithe has been an important part of Legatus membership since the organization was founded. Thus, it is the intent of the board to reinstate this practice once we have sufficient communication regarding the specific accountability related to the use of these funds. The board will revisit this topic by the fall of 2019 in order to chart a plan related to the 2020 dues, wrote Monaghan, as reported by the National Catholic Register. the Church is most certainly in crisis, but it is not a crisis of faith. As an organization, Legatus continues to pledge its devotion to and solidarity with holy mother church; this is a time when we need to live the mission of Legatus more than ever. In August, the Catholic Church was again rocked by a clergy sex abuse scandal following the release of a lengthy Pennsylvania Grand Jury report. The 1,300-plus page report detailed how 301 priests abused over 1,000 children over the past several decades and how the hierarchy shielded the perpetrators from accountability and covered up their crimes. The grand jury report came weeks after former cardinal and archbishop of Washington D.C., Theodore McCarrick, was stripped of his title, following "credible and substantiated" evidence that he was involved in sexual abuse. Some American Catholic bishops, including the head of the USCCB, expressed dismay at the order from the Vatican to delay action. "We are not, ourselves, happy about this," stated Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the USCCB. "We're disappointed, because we were moving along on this." In August, actress Patricia Heaton said she will no longer be giving any donations to the Catholic Church until the institution removes from its ranks those who have engaged in sexual abuse or covered it up. "Bottom line the Catholic Church will have zero moral authority until everyone who abused or abetted is gone. No excuses. Until then, no more money to this corrupt syndicate," tweeted Heaton at the time. I ran the gauntlet to get my previous marriage annulled - interview, tracking down ex, re-consecrating my marriage - to be able to receive Eucharist. Meanwhile these guys are buggering little boys, covering up, hiding money, running out statutes of limitations. Done, done, done. Jack Phillips' nephew becomes a Christian after seeing uncle withstand hate attacks, death threats Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The nephew of Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips says that he found faith and turned to the Bible after seeing his uncle withstand hate and death threats when he declined to bake a same-sex wedding cake. Alliance Defending Freedom, the law group that successfully represented Phillips in his Supreme Court case concerning his refusal on religious grounds to design custom cakes for gay weddings, pointed out that the baker had hate mail, nasty phone calls, and death threats pouring in. At one point, Jack even received a death threat when his daughter and granddaughter were in the store. He sent them in the back to hide while he called the police. The threats got so bad that Jacks wife, Debi, was too afraid to go into their own shop, the law group revealed. At the time, Sean, Phillips nephew, didnt have a personal relationship with Jesus, ADF said. He saw that his uncle was willing to take a stand for his beliefs, however, and continue to serve and engage with various members of the community, including homeless people. ADF says that Sean became angry and shocked at the hateful messages sent against the Colorado baker. But in observing and talking with Jack, he saw a quiet example of what it looks like to live a life in obedience to Christ, the group stated. Over time, Sean let go of his anger. He dug into the Bible to understand the comfort that Jack had in Christ and how he could withstand such hardship with grace and peace. And eventually, God drew Sean to Himself. Today, Sean is "walking with Jesus" and "is a changed man. Phillips said that others have told him their lives have also been changed by his witness. [We] have been blessed to see countless other Christians, whove watched the effect of this case on our lives, stand up boldly and with greater confidence. Some werent standing up at all, and now they are firm in Gods teachings, the baker revealed. Thats deeply encouraging to us, and I think it is one of the most beautiful things that could happen to anyone in a similar situation to know that other people will be encouraged and, in turn, will encourage others. That really has made all of this worthwhile. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in June that "religious and philosophical objections to gay marriage are protected views and in some instances protected forms of expression." Just two months after his Supreme Court victory, however, Phillips was again taken to court in August for refusing to make a transgender-themed cake. The case concerns an incident where Phillips was accused by the state of Colorado of violating the law by refusing to make a cake celebrating a gender transition. "After Phillips defended himself all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and won, he thought Colorado's hostility toward his faith was over. He was wrong," reads ADF's latest lawsuit on behalf of Phillips. "Colorado has renewed its war against him by embarking on another attempt to prosecute him, in direct conflict with the Supreme Court's ruling in his favor. This lawsuit is necessary to stop Colorado's continuing persecution of Phillips." Joni Eareckson Tada, Husband: Cancer 'Bruising of a Blessing' On Our Marriage (Pt. 1) Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Editor's Note: This is the first part of a three-part series based on a recent interview The Christian Post conducted with Joni Eareckson Tada, and her husband, Ken. The couple reveals candid details about their 30-year marriage, their distress over the condition of Christian marriages today, and their encouragement to the victims of the Boston bombing. Joni Eareckson Tada, president of TV and radio ministry "Joni and Friends" and a prominent disabilities advocate, became well-known among Christian circles ever since her story of quadriplegia and God's grace was told in her autobiography and subsequent feature film, "Joni." It's the story of how the Maryland native found new life as a renowned painter, and later a voice of encouragement to the disabled all over the world after enduring the crippling diving accident at age 17. Perhaps less is known about Tada's husband Ken, a retired history teacher, and their married life together. Although Ken Tada is a more visible presence on mission trips, speaking appearances and retreats, both Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada have never written about their marriage until now. The recently published book Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story shares details about their whirlwind courtship, home life together, and their bouts with quadriplegia, chronic pain, and later, cancer. Part one of their three-part interview is below. CP: What prompted you to write this story at this time? Joni Eareckson Tada: Well, Ken and I celebrated 30 years of marriage last year and after 30 years, you begin feel like you've had some experience under your belt and I don't think Ken and I would have dared write about our marriage before that 30-year mark, but three decades, we feel, gave us a solid platform. It gave us at least some degree of authority to speak to the issues of rustling through marriage that involves a severe disability, the depression that sometimes come with that, the day-to-day routines, the 24/7 non-stop, the things that need to be done when you have a disability. And we thought, you know, marriage is in trouble today. Christian marriages are falling apart and people just don't know to love each other for better or for worse and in sickness and in health. So Ken and I don't presume to be experts but we feel that the many years we've been married has given us a chance to speak into the hearts of couples who wrestle with these kinds of issues. Ken Tada: The other thing, too, is that from my perspective as a man, as Joni was mentioning, you know I think in a society where we don't take our vows as seriously as we once did that this is really a book for men and it's a story that we want to be able to share as a way to reach out to couples. Marriages are difficult. As Joni mentioned, they are hard and they become harder every year, but basically we made those vows for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. I think for us, you know, facing cancer it really kind of brought us closer together and so consequently the book was formed. CP: One of the things I noted is that the book starts with the story of cancer. Why did you choose to start the book that way? Ken Tada: The cancer journey is an interesting journey for both Joni and I because it was the cancer journey that reignited our marriage and our love for each other. Basically, when I when we first discovered the deformity and not knowing what it was, set up the mammogram, the one thing that we learned in that early journey of cancer was it's a hurry-up-and-wait situation. We didn't know how bad this was. We didn't even know it was cancer because no one would use the "C" word. They would just say we need to take this next test and it wasn't until several weeks after Joni's actual surgery that we discovered yes, it was cancer and yes, it was a stage three cancer because of the size of the tumor. And so the cancer journey, during that time everything stopped, we got a chance to talk. We hadn't ever talked before, and the two of us grew closer together during that time not closer just with each other but also closer to Jesus. Joni Eareckson Tada: And also we feel that people picking up this book would be interested right away, 'well, how is Joni doing?' Many, many Christians heard about my battle against cancer a couple years ago, and we thought that might be one of the things that the reader would be wanting to know. What about your cancer? What's going on? So that's another reason we started [writing the book] as well. CP: Ken what was going through your mind when they said cancer? Ken Tada: When we first saw the deformity in Joni's chest there and we went and got that mammogram the next day, it hit me for the first time. At first, we didn't know what it was. But the possibility [was there], and when Joni did the mammogram they said we're going to need to do an ultrasound ... We looked at the ultrasound as they were doing it and there was this dark mass there. We didn't know it was cancer yet, but it was suspicious that's the word that they used and you know it hit me: I may lose my best friend and I just broke down at that point and it was a difficult time personally just because of that knowledge. It took me a while just to get to that realization and then to deal with it and give it to the Lord, and for Joni and I to discuss it. So there was just a closeness that we hadn't discovered before. We always loved each other but we hadn't experienced this before. CP: Did you have any thoughts about the prognosis being breast cancer something that attacks one of the physical attributes women identify as part of their femininity? Ken Tada: Well, you know it's interesting but this goes back to when Joni and I first married and people have asked me that question in terms of why would you get married to someone who's disabled. This takes a different tack but 1 Samuel 16:7 says 'God doesn't look at the things man looks at; man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.' I've always fallen in love, well, I'd fell in love at the time (this is the beginning of our marriage) with Joni's heart. She is a beautiful woman on the inside as well as on the outside, but I had never met anyone like that: that loved the Lord that much. That's been kind of our go-to as far as keeping focus is having Jesus in our marriage. Joni Eareckson Tada: I really love that I hear Kenny say that a lot to people how he fell in love with me because of my heart not because of my bra cup size or what size dress I wear or what my weight is. I mean whether I sit in a wheelchair or walk or run, to Ken that's not the big thing which to me is so awesome because you know men, we have to admit, men are programmed to be very physical and to look at women and physicality. But Ken has always this vision of me that goes a little deep well not a little deeper, a lot deeper and boy, that really helped tremendously when the surgeons lopped off my breasts and I, for the first time, wheeled into my bathroom and saw myself full length in the mirror. Boy, it really helped me over that hump so quickly and so easily to know that Ken accepted me for who I am on the inside. That was awesome. CP: What were some things that you did in the time of crisis that made you two come together rather than come apart? Ken Tada: What I would say, and then Joni can chime in, is that Joni and I found that reading scripture together, reading the Bible truly has been tremendous just in terms of just our marriage. We've done it now for seven years. We're going into our eighth year and we're doing it the last couple of years chronologically. But we look forward to that time in the evening that we can do this together-something that we haven't done before. The other thing is because of the driving situation, driving to and from work which I wasn't been able to do before, but we use that time or utilize that time to pray and it's a great time of prayer and discussion. So those are two things right there that have been different in these last several years and of course, the reading the Bible was even prior to the cancer treatment. Joni Eareckson Tada: Back when Ken and I were dealing with my quadriplegia and then dealing with my chronic pain, there was a verse that I read from Jeremiah 12:5 that goes "If you are worn out in this foot race with men, what makes you think that you can race against horses?" and in a way, our dealing with quadriplegia and chronic pain gave us a chance to be in a foot race so to speak. And so, the cancer became our race against horses. The lessons that were honed and shaped and tested and tried through those times of depression, discouragement through my quadriplegia and my chronic pain, those things prepared us. The principals that we learned, holding fast to Jesus yikes we need him desperately quick, let's get into God's word that sense of urgency really held us tremendously cope and deal with cancer because it was a race against horses and we were in it and we were winning it. CP: What would this book have been like without the cancer chapters? How has cancer changed your story? Ken Tada: Let me just mention that for me, there was several years ago that (this is before cancer) I was at a men's retreat where the speaker said to us go out and try to hear what God has to say to us. That was very uncomfortable to me because I had not done that before. But I actually went out and this was up in Montana and I went out and I heard God say to me with not an audible voice but in my heart, I mean He just said, "Joni is the most important gift I've given you. You take care of her." I had never heard that before. This was for the first time. I said, well, in my head I was saying, 'I'll do that.' I've done this now for 20 some odd years, what's different? So, this is before the cancer and then of course when the cancer took place, all of that kind of came back and I realized this is what God was ultimately saying, "You take care of your wife; you take of Joni because she's such a precious gift." Joni Eareckson Tada: I just love it when he says that. Yes, my goodness, let me slip in here and just say that cancer forced us to face our own mortality. Ken said this earlier, "I might lose my best friend." And when you get a diagnosis of a life-threatening disease, suddenly not only does everything just stop, but in a way everything starts. You start thinking about how you want to spend the rest of your days, who in your life is important, what is it that you're doing that you really value, where do you want to invest your time and your energy and your money and your efforts? Cancer is such a wake-up call to remind us how high the cosmic stakes really are and how short and brief and frail life really is. So, I think cancer for us was, as I like to call it, a bruising of a blessing. It was a bruising. I mean it's not fun having a body that's deformed like this, I mean my quadriplegia was a bad enough hit on my feminine image but now, you know, having to wear a prosthesis. But boy it was blessing; it was a bruising of a blessing, but it was a blessing because it helped us face our own mortality. Judge blocks Trump admins new rule limiting number of asylum seekers Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A judge in California blocked President Donald Trumps new policy of barring asylum for migrants who enter the nation illegally, noting that it goes against federal law. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of San Francisco ruled on Monday that the Trump administrations policy violated the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. The rule barring asylum for immigrants who enter the country outside a port of entry irreconcilably conflicts with the INA and the expressed intent of Congress, wrote Judge Tigar, as reported by USA Today. Whatever the scope of the Presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden. Tigars restraining order is temporary, expiring on Dec. 19, when a court case over the new rules begins. Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced a plan to limit the number of asylum seekers coming to the United States. This included Trump signing a presidential proclamation that stated: "aliens who enter the United States unlawfully through the southern border in contravention of this proclamation will be ineligible to be granted asylum." Those aliens may, however, still seek other forms of protection from persecution or torture, continued the proclamation. In addition, this limited suspension will facilitate ongoing negotiations with Mexico and other countries regarding appropriate cooperative arrangements to prevent unlawful mass migration to the United States through the southern border. President Trumps efforts to reduce the number of asylum seekers came in response to the approach of the thousands-strong migrant caravan from Central America. At one point estimated to have around 7,200 men, women, and children, the caravan entered Mexico last month and is expected to get to the USA's southern border soon. Their headline-grabbing presence has reignited political debate over immigration policy, including the admission of refugees and President Trump's much-promoted border wall. The Rev. Franklin Graham, a prominent evangelical leader who supports Trump, took to his official Facebook page to comment on the caravan situation on Monday. While expressing concerns over the nature of the caravan and that there are also violent criminals mixed into this crowd, Graham called for prayers for all involved. Lets pray for the people in the caravan. Pray for our border police and military that they make the right decisions, and pray for President Donald Trump as he responds to this issue. We dont want people on either side of the fence to get hurt, he stated. Megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant to lead Eddie Longs New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Controversial Baltimore megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant will take over as senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, once led by former benefactor Eddie Long, church officials announced Monday. A report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Bryant, who currently leads the 10,000-member Empowerment Temple, was chosen from a pool of 138 candidates to take the reins of a church that once boasted 25,000 members in its heyday. Membership at New Birth has since dropped to about 10,000 after Long was hit in 2010 by a series of sex scandals involving allegations from multiple young men that haunted him until his death in January 2017. When asked why he chose to leave Empowerment Temple for New Birth, Bryant told the AJC: Because its New Birth. I realize weve got some work to do. By myself, I cannot. Together we will. A representative at Empowerment Temple said "we have no information on that right now," when asked by The Christian Post on Tuesday about the announcement. Bryant, who has preached at New Birth since Longs death, will reportedly deliver his first official sermon as New Births pastor on Dec. 9. Bishop Stephen A. Davis, who took over leadership of New Birth shortly after Longs death, resigned from the church in June. Bryant was among several pastors to serve as guest preachers as the church looked for a replacement. He delivered a spirited sermon at the church about a month ago. Bryant revealed that Long was a benefactor who helped pay his way at Morehouse College shortly after his death but also criticized New Birth for the way the sexual misconduct allegations against him were handled. "I do not know how in this hour, there are those who are crying out and we do not recognize the tears or the cry for help, that the body of Christ has said nothing about ministering to victims. I know people are gonna be upset with me. I know you don't want to talk about this. But here's the reality, we didn't talk about it in bishop's life ... and at this point, many would argue, it is inappropriate to deal with it on the day after his death, and maybe, I don't know," Bryant said to apologists of Long's ministry. "I do know the church has to deal with it." Bryants own ministry at Empowerment Temple was almost destroyed after he admitted to an extramarital affair while he was married to now ex-wife Gizelle Bryant, who stars on Bravo TVs Real Housewives of Potomac. Since his divorce, he was also alleged to have fathered a child with 34-year-old Latoya Shawntee Odom. Bishop Neil C. Ellis of Bahamas-based Global United Fellowship who was also a close friend of Long, admitted that Bryant is flawed but gifted for the role at New Birth. Hes made some missteps, but Ive made them too, said Ellis, who called Bryant a gifted young man who, over time, will speak for himself. Ellis, according to the AJC, was involved in New Births search for a new pastor and told the congregation in a message on Sunday that he is fully aware that not everyone would be pleased with Bryants selection. In the midst of it, Ive found more than I wanted to know, but what I do know is, you need a pastor, he said. Heres my appeal to you (members). I need all of New Birth to guard your spirit, settle your emotions, eliminate your criteria. A lot has gone into this. Is everybody going to be happy about the appointment? I doubt it. No matter who we put in front of you, some people are going to have a challenge and you may be deserving of those challenges, but you have to trust somebody, Ellis said. Thomas W. Dortch Jr., chairman of the churchs board, told the AJC that the person they would select for the job needed to be visionary and energetic and someone who can inspire our congregation and rebuild those various community ministries and missions that we used to have at New Birth. Members like Tracy Johnson, who has been a member at New Birth for more than 20 years, said she was happy with Bryants selection. I believe hes that pastor who will reignite the fire that New Birth had for a long time, she said. Another member, Peggy Rice, called Bryants appointment a new beginning. A teen sex 'recession'? Blame porn, stagnating marriage rates, experts say Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Young Americans are having less sex despite the hook-up culture and liberalized attitudes about its moral dimensions, a phenomenon some attribute to porn and others to falling marriage rates. One of the reasons for a documented "recession" in sex now occurring in the United States is because marriage rates have stagnated, argued the Washington Free Beacon's Charles Fain Lehman, in a blog post for the Institute for Family Studies Monday. He noted that demographers have found, via statistics in the General Social Survey which has tracked particular behaviors and other important social trends among Americans since 1972 that 22 percent of adults reported having no sex in 2016, an uptick from 18 percent in the late 1990s. This is mostly due to millennials having less sex than both their parents and grandparents did at the same age. Generation Z appears to be even less sexually active, he continued, highlighting CDC data showing that 40 percent of high school students have ever had sex, a decrease from 54 percent in 1991. "Americans have conspicuously transitioned en masse from a more sexually active group married people to a less sexually active one the unmarried. Any talk of a 'sex recession' must acknowledge this marriage stagnation," Lehman said. "Today, there are fewer Americans married, and more Americans single, than at any point in at least the past 140 years." Many Americans are also marrying much later in life. More than 80 percent of adults ages 25 to 34 were married in 1960 whereas less than half of that are today, the statistics show. And with less marriage, less sex occurs. Falling marriage rates, however, do not completely account for young people foregoing sex yet "if there is a glut of young people who dont have sex, that group is overwhelmingly clustered among the unmarried," Lehman said. "The implication is that those people are sexless in no small part because they are not participating in humans most reliable avenue to sex." Talk of such a "recession" was the subject of the latest cover story for The Atlantic, which explored many reasons for why sexlessness is now more common in the modern era than many realize. Despite the prevalence of apps like Tinder where with a few clicks and swipes a casual sexual encounter can be arranged, actual sex is not happening as often as many think it is, writer Kate Julian explained at length in the article. Teenagers are having less sex now partly because of the easy accessibility of online pornography, she noted, referencing a 2017 study in the Journal of Population Economics which examined the introduction of broadband Internet at the county-by-county level. The study found that with the arrival of high-speed Internet, the teen birth rate fell 7 to 13 percent from 1999 to 2007. "Maybe adolescents are not the hormone-crazed maniacs we sometimes make them out to be. Maybe the human sex drive is more fragile than we thought, and more easily stalled," she mused. The Christian Post reported on this phenomenon in August 2016 days after the release of a study from the demographers both Lehman and Julian referred to in their analysis of the issue. Jennifer Roback Morse, author of The Sexual State: How Elite Ideologies Are Destroying Lives and Why the Church Was Right All Along believes young people have seen the heartache that rampant casual sex has caused and have begun wisening up. "I think a lot of them are watching the adults around them and concluding that sex without limits is not making people happy. Parents with multiple marriages and divorces, etc.," she said in a statement to CP at the time. Pastor of Texas towns only black church charged for shining light off property Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment [UPDATE: Nov. 20, 2018, 3:00 p.m.] This story has been updated to include a response from Manvel City Manager Kyle Jung. Leaders of Manvel, Texas only predominantly black church are now claiming harassment and discrimination from city officials after they were charged then exonerated in a trial for shining light too brightly off their property. Pastor Patrick Williams of Overflow Church was criminally charged with a class-B misdemeanor for a code violation related to parking lot lights, according to KHOU. At a one-day trial last week, Williams was acquitted by a jury of his peers but said the harassment over the churchs lights continued. And thats why he, backed by his congregation, began speaking out on Sunday. "We came back here [the night of the acquittal] and the harassment started all over again," Williams told KHOU. "We just got to the point where we're not dealing with it anymore. We've got our attorney." In an interview with The Christian Post Tuesday, Manvel City Manager Kyle Jung said even though Williams was acquitted, the lights are still a problem for the neighbor. He also doesnt see the citys request that he turn down the lights in the churchs parking lot as harassment. We had gone to the pastor and asked him if he could simply adjust them down and shine down on the parking lot as opposed to into the neighbors property and into their house. He said no, if she doesnt like the lights she just needs to buy thicker shades. I dont know anything about that (harassment), said Jung when asked about the claims from the pastor and his wife that the city was harassing the church. Were simply asking him to be a good neighbor and he wont do that. Jung said Williams was acquitted of violating a city ordinance because at least two jurors at his trial felt he had done no wrong. He insisted, however, that if he keeps getting complaints about the lights, the city will be forced to act. Since the trial, the city has not taken any action against the church or Williams. They are hoping he would settle the dispute in a Christian manner. If we continue to get complaints from the neighbors then we have to enforce that. Nothing has been done though about that. We simply are asking him to adjust the lights and then the issue goes away. I would think that would be something the church would understand the Christian thing to do would be not to shine your lights in somebody elses house, Jung said. Calls made to Overflow Church were not answered. Williams told the Houston Chronicle that three months before charges were filed against him for the parking lot lights, they were adjusted to address concerns from at least one neighbor. The pastor also told the publication that Manvel does not have a lighting ordinance and the church is the only building the city does not allow to shine light off of its property. In a Facebook Post on Sunday night, Overflow Church accused the city of orchestrating a personal attack on Williams with the charges. The City of Manvel, Texas continue to harass and discriminate against Pastor Pat Williams and information came out in the trial on Nov. 8, 2018. Michael Dumas is the Manvel Fire Marshall. There was an SUP submitted to Council and the documents was changed after the adoption so that they could file criminal charges for parking lots lights against Pastor Pat (Personally) When there is no Light ordinance in Manvel and no other business has this language in their Special Use Permit. Also information came out that the Fire Marshall Michael Dumas had a Confederate Flag as his profile picture, the post said. We are being harassed and discriminated against, Williams declared Sunday at his church with his congregation behind him. If the policy is only for us, then thats unfair, his wife, Marilyn, added. Laurie Cimrharzel, who lives behind the church and has been affected by their bright light, told the Houston Chronicle that the church was not facing discrimination. Rules are rules, she told the publication Sunday. Whether its a church or a business. Cimrharzel said her backyard faces the church, she has to tape down the edges of the fabric blinds in her bedroom to keep the light from the church out so she can sleep. She noted that she could be the only one affected by the churchs light but added that it is still wrong for their light to flow on her property. They have been better, but theyre not fixed, she said of the adjustments the church made. Type of Christians key to Trump victory less likely to pray for him: Barna Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Christians that the Barna Group believes were key to President Donald Trump's 2016 victory, due to their movement away from Democrats, do not largely pray for the commander-in-chief, according to the evangelical research organization. Earlier this month, Barna released a report that included a compilation of recent research that they conducted on various politics-related issues. Among their findings, Barna reported that as of early 2017, around the time Trump was sworn in as president, 37 percent of American adults said they pray for the president. "Evangelicals were the group most active in their prayer, along with majorities of groups with an active Christian faith," noted Barna earlier this month. "These prayers were just as common among black Americans as among white Americans, but less common among those who profess a non-Christian faith or fall into the category of notional Christians." Barna defines "notional Christians" as people who identify as Christian and likely attend church, but do not consider themselves to be "born-again." Barna found that while their research indicated that "Notional Christians" were a key factor in Trump being elected, only 35 percent report praying for the president. According to Barna's post-election report, "perhaps the most significant faith group in relation to the Trump triumph was notional Christians. These individuals ... have supported the Democratic candidate in every election since 1996. On average, notionals have given the Democratic candidate 58 percent of their votes. That trend was broken this year as Hillary Clinton took just 47 percent of the group's votes while Trump was awarded 49 percent. Given that notionals are by far the largest of the five faith segments, that transition was a game changer for the Republicans." Among evangelical Christians, a group that strongly supported Trump, 88 percent reported praying for Trump. By contrast, 18 percent of non-Christian religious believers reported praying for the president. Unlike most polling on evangelicals, Barna defines evangelicals based upon beliefs, a set of nine questions, rather than self-identification. Barna drew from a 2017 survey of 1,109 American adults with a sampling error of plus or minus 2.9 percent. The survey was one of multiple recent findings that Barna highlighted in response to the midterm elections, with the organization explaining that they believed this and other findings "may help provide contextor prompt more questionsabout our present political moment." Last year, it was reported that some theologically liberal churches, All Saints Episcopal Church of Pasadena, California among them, were going to refuse to state Trump's name in their prayers for him. "We are in a unique situation in my lifetime where we have a president elect whose name is literally a trauma trigger to some people," said All Saints Church Rector Mike Kinman, as reported by local media outlet Pasadena Now in 2017. "Whereas before we prayed for 'Barack, our president,' we are now praying for 'our president, our president elect, and all others in authority.' This practice will continue for at least the near future." The Rev. Alice Rose Tewell, associate pastor at The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., told The Christian Post in an interview last year that her congregation will "pray for our political leaders from all backgrounds during our worship service." "We have and we will continue to pray that our next president would act on with justice and mercy for each person throughout our nation and the world," said Tewell. "We pray that our next president will turn from the rhetoric of his campaign and instead stand up for the rights of the immigrant and refugee, the rights of women and children, the rights of people of color, the rights of those who live with disabilities, the rights of the LGBTQ community, for the rights of those living without homes or in unstable conditions, and for all who are lack enough opportunity, chances at a good education, and healthcare." Democrats 'basically godless,' 'God will not bless America' due to abortion: Former SBC president Former SBC President Warns 'God Will Not Bless America' Unless Sacredness of Unborn Life is Protected Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Democratic Party is not a political party but rather a "basically godless" religion, Houston megachurch pastor and former Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Young said on election night. The 82-year-old senior pastor of Houston's Second Baptist Church, one of the largest Baptist churches in the United States, is receiving backlash for comments he made while attending a watch party last Tuesday for outgoing Republican Rep. John Culberson. As the 9-term incumbent was defeated by the Planned Parenthood-endorsed Democrat Lizzie Pannill Fletcher for Texas' 7th congressional district, Young issued remarks over the microphone following a concession speech from Culberson. Young told the Republican crowd about "what we're up against." "It's no longer a [political] party," Young can be seen saying about the Democratic Party in a video of the remarks broadcasted by KHOU. "It's some kind of religion that is basically Godless." Young continued by stating that "as long as America and this is represented by every Democrat I know does not believe in the sacredness of the life in the mother's womb, God will not bless America or make us a great nation." The Christian Post contacted Second Baptist Church of Houston and asked for Young to elaborate on his comments. The request for comment was declined through a church representative. Although Young is known for his social conservative political views, his remarks drew the ire of other religious leaders in the Houston community and beyond. Joel Goza, a former pastor who serves as the visiting Scholar of Race, Religion and Politics at the University of St. Thomas, told KHOU that arguments such as Young's are symbolic of "one-dimensional thinking in a three-dimensional world." "We have very problematic political realities facing our nation," Goza said. On Twitter, former faith adviser and staffer for President Barack Obama, Michael Wear, told Young that he "would be happy to introduce you to faithful Christians who are Democrats." "Your remarks here are wrong and irresponsible...especially in this moment," Wear asserted. Some Christians prefer Democrats because they feel inspired by their faith to call for social justice and social action that they feel is best carried out through the agenda of the Democratic Party. Additionally, left-leaning Christians leaders have argued that Jesus' call to help the poor, orphaned, downtrodden, refugees and other marginalized individuals in society should inspire voters to vote against Republicans and President Donald Trump's agenda. Many conservative Christians, however, can't look past the Democratic Party's staunch support for abortion and Planned Parenthood as well over 300,000 unborn lives are terminated every year. Additionally, some conservative Christians can't overlook the Democratic Party's stance on LGBT issues because they see it is an embrace of sin. Young's comments came on the same day that a church polling place in Florida received backlash over a pastor's sign suggesting that there is a level of hypocrisy if Christians vote for Democrats. The sign outside of the Grace of God Church in New Port Richey on election day read: "Don't vote for Democrats on Tuesday and sing, 'Oh, how I love Jesus' on Sunday." The sign was erected by Pastor Pastor Al Carlisle, who took issue with the Democratic Party's stance on issues like abortion, same-sex marriage and immigration. "It's directed at those who profess to be Christians," Carlisle told Bay9News. "There is a line drawn in the sand by Jesus that we ought not cross." A Pasco County official has assured that Grace of God Church will no longer be used as a polling place in the future. Young is no stranger to speaking out about politics. In 2015, Young was heavily involved in a church-led campaign to overturn a transgender bathroom ordinance passed by the city of Houston. The ordinance was overturned by the city's voters during a 2015 voter referendum. "The bottom line is if we open up our facilities when someone can choose their sexual orientation, those who believe that men should use men's facilities, and women should use women's facilities, we will be discriminated against," Young said in a sermon at the time, according to Houston's pro-LGBT magazine OutSmart. "It is totally deceptive and it is deadly, and I trust that you will vote no, no, no, because it will carry our city further and further and further down the road of being totally, in my opinion, secular and Godless." In 2010, Young produced a sermon series called "Healing Broken America," which "addresses the need to heal our broken worldview and the need to heal our broken Washington." Young is the father of another popular megachurch pastor named Ed Young. ERLC, faith-based coalition urge Congress to repeal parking tax on churches, nonprofits Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A coalition of some 32 faith-based organizations joined with the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention Tuesday in calling on Congress to repeal a provision in the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that will force churches and other historically tax-exempt organizations to file federal and likely state income tax returns on parking benefits. "Churches ought not be seen by the government as untapped sources of tax revenue. While the effect this section of the tax code may very well have been unintended, it must be remedied. As the American founders clearly understood, the power to tax is the power to destroy. The proper separation of the state from the church is at the heart of our American project. This section of the tax code, however, blurs those lines in harmful ways," ERLC President Russell Moore said in a statement on the provision. While churches have long been subject to file IRS Form 990-T as long as they generate unrelated business income, the new law, Section 512(a)(7), will now require many more churches and tax exempt organizations to file the form because the federal income tax is now applied to parking benefits. In the letter sent to members of Congress, the coalition argues that churches and non-profits will lose about $1.7 billion in ten years with the new tax. "Whatever purpose Section 512(a)(7) was intended to serve cannot justify extracting $1.7 billion in taxes from nonprofits and houses of worship within just 10 years. While the organizations and houses of worship will pay these taxes, it is the people they serve who will ultimately suffer from this massive diversion of funds from civil society to the government. We believe these impacts from Section 512(a)(7) were surely unintended and unanticipated. We therefore call upon you to repeal Section 512(a)(7) through any appropriate legislative package before the end of this calendar year," the coalition asked. Earlier this summer, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability also launched a campaign to repeal the new tax noting that it would also create significant administrative challenges for some small churches. "Working in the church world most of my career, my guess is that prior to this provision, there's probably only one or two percent of churches in America that file form 990-T so we're really talking about two issues," ECFA's president Dan Busby told The Christian Post in an earlier report. "We're talking about a financial issue. We're gonna have to pay a tax on providing employee parking and two which may be more important is the administrative piece of this. To file a return with which they are not familiar. If you can imagine, small churches across America have to file a form 990-T that they've never even heard of. And probably they're gonna need to secure professional advice and pay a professional to file the return, even though the money may not be a significant amount, it's just a ridiculous provision that was put in the law," he said. Others who endorsed the letter on Tuesday included: Gerald Causse, Presiding Bishop, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Jerry Silverman, CEO, The Jewish Federations of North America; Leith Anderson, president, National Association of Evangelicals; Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Rise of Post-Religious Right, Post-Religious Left Harming America, Says David French Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The rise of both the post-Religious Right and the post-Religious Left is a detriment to political discourse in the United States, according to notable conservative Christian writer and National Review contributor David French. Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, interviewed French for a Thursday podcast titled "American Conservatism, Past, Present, and Future: A Conversation with David French" that was posted online. During their conversation, French spoke about his concern about the current direction of conservative ideology in America, issuing a warning about what he called the "increasing secularization of conservatism." "A lot of people have been longing for the end of the 'Religious Right,' and the belief that the post-Religious Right that would emerge would be more moderate, would be more civil, would be more reasonable, would be more rational," said French. "The reality is that the post-Religious Right is not more of those things. The Post-Religious Right is more contentious, the Post-Religious Right is more obsessed with politics, the Post-Religious Right has become more intolerant." French referenced Peter Beinhart, contributing editor for The Atlantic and a political science professor, who wrote a recent piece that noted that the "Post-Religious Left" is also worse than its predecessor. "The rise of the Post-Religious Left has increased intolerance," continued French. "These post-religious political movements are very absorbed in politics." "It's the politicization of everything. Its politics as religion. [They] have been excessively neglectful of culture and extraordinarily intolerant. And I think that's something that's partly responsible for the rise of negative polarization in the United States." Mohler agreed with French's assessment, adding that modern American conservatives and liberals should take heed of what "secular conservatism" and "secular liberalism" looked like in twentieth century Europe. "Just look at Europe in the twentieth century. It's not that we have to scratch our heads and wonder what that looks like," Mohler said. "It's horrifying." French went on to state that he believed American culture was "relearning some hard lessons right now," among them being that "the abandonment of God has negative cultural consequences." "It creates holes in the human heart that politics cannot fill," added French. "And then politics just gets more intense and more divisive and more angry as it struggles and strives to do what it cannot possibly do." In recent times, many have noted an apparent decline in the state of political civility in America, with Political Science Professor Marc Hetherington of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill telling The Christian Post last month that it was likely the worst it's been in 125 years. "I suspect that, based on what we know and what we can fill in, this is the highest level of partisan hatred that we've probably had in 125 years," stated Hetherington to CP in October when commenting on a study he did for a new book. "Although we only have the data to 1980, I'm sure with almost complete certainty, that this goes back a lot farther." Outgoing Ohio Governor and former Republican presidential hopeful John Kasich commented earlier this year that he believed a decline in religious belief was fueling a rise in incivility. In an interview with NBC's "Meet The Press" that aired back in August, Kasich commented on a host of issues regarding the current political climate. "Loving your neighbor, elevating others sometimes in front of yourself, putting yourself in other people's shoes. And when we don't do that, we lose the essence of our country," said Kasich at the time. "When my father and my uncle talked about the Great Depression, everybody pulled together and what we're seeing now is people pulling apart rather than coming together." Trump announces support for prison reform bill after major evangelical backing Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Donald Trump officially announced his support for a prison reform bill called the FIRST STEP Act, and hailed pastors such as Paula White for fighting for it. "Today, I'm thrilled to announce my support for this bipartisan bill that will make our communities safer and give former inmates a second chance at life after they have served their time. So important," Trump said at the White House on Wednesday while surrounded by bipartisan leaders backing the bill. "We're all better off when former inmates can receive and re-enter society as law-abiding, productive citizens. And thanks to our booming economy, they now have a chance at more opportunities than they've ever had before. It is true. Our economy is so strong, that when people are getting out of jail, they're actually able to find jobs," the president continued. "And I have three instances of companies that hired people coming out of prison, and they are so thrilled by the performance of these people. And now they're doing it more and more and more. And a lot of people are seeing this. It's great." The FIRST STEP Act aims to reduce the federal recidivism rate by expanding training and educational programs that are helping inmates prepare for life outside of prison. Moreover, it would open up the door for eligible inmates to earn time credits to complete their sentences in halfway homes or in-home confinement. The bill also seeks to ban the shackling of pregnant inmates in labor, and to place a 500-mile limit on how far inmates can be incarcerated from their families. The legislation has stalled in the Senate after it passed the House of Representatives by a 360-59 vote. The latest developments indicate that Senate leadership has now reached an agreement on language in the legislation with the White House. Supporters of the bill, including black pastors who have met with Trump to discuss its benefits, had been hoping to secure the president's backing, which they now have, as he vowed to sign the document when presented before him. In his speech on Wednesday, Trump made special mention of his spiritual adviser, Paula White-Cain, who leads New Destiny Christian Center in Florida. When talking about the incentives for prisoners, he said that they include "vocational training, educational coursework, and faith-based programs. And I want to thank Paula White, very much, because I know you very much wanted that thank you, Paula that reduce their chances of recidivism, and, in other words, reduce their chances of going back to prison substantially." Trump said that his administration has worked closely with law enforcement regarding the legislation, ensuring that it will remain "tough on crime" and support the "tremendous work of our police and the tremendous job that law enforcement does throughout our country." "We're honored that seven of the major police organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Police Chiefs, have fully endorsed this bill," he pointed out. White revealed on Twitter that more than 2,000 evangelical pastors signed a letter in support of the FIRST STEP Act, calling it "the most significant effort at criminal justice reform to be passed in a generation." Trump referenced the letter and said that the faith community in America has shown "unbelievable support" for the bill. "Americans from across the political spectrum can unite around prison reform legislation that will reduce crime while giving our fellow citizens a chance at redemption. So if something happens and they make a mistake, they get a second chance at life," he noted. "Today's announcement shows that true bipartisanship is possible. And maybe it'll be thriving, if we're going to get something done. When Republicans and Democrats talk, debate, and seek common ground, we can achieve breakthroughs that move our country forward and deliver for our citizens." Major faith-based nonprofits serving prisoners and their families, such as Prison Fellowship, said that the agreement between Trump and the Senate is crucial. "Prison Fellowship applauds the President and the members of the Senate and House for reaching this agreement and taking a substantial step forward for justice," said James Ackerman, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship. "Now it is critical for Members of the Senate to act in a swift manner to pass this amended bill." Craig DeRoche, senior vice president of Advocacy and Public Policy, commented, "A vote against this bill is a vote against public safety, religious liberty, and our deeply held belief in redemption. "This legislation will help people transform their behavior and lives while they are incarcerated and this will make our communities safer, lead to more success and less crime. Prison Fellowship believes this bill can pass with an overwhelming bipartisan vote and that the enactment of the FIRST STEP Act will pave the way for more values-driven reforms to come." Heather Rice-Minus, vice president of government affairs for Prison Fellowship, previously told The Christian Post that Trump's relationship with the faith community and his meetings with pastors on the issue have played a big part in securing his support for the initiative. "Having him hear from those pastors and know that he would have the ability to impact some of their communities I am sure was in the front of his mind going into the meeting with Sen. [Chuck] Grassley and others who wanted to see a broader approach to justice reform," Rice-Minus told CP in August. Watch Trump's full remarks on the FIRST STEP Act below: Christian alternative to Boy Scouts sees boost in interest amid Girl Scouts lawsuit against BSA Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Christian scouting group formed in response to the Boy Scouts of America's stance on LGBT leaders and members has reported an increased interest after the Girl Scouts filed a lawsuit against the BSA for its gender-neural policy. Last week, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America filed a federal trademark lawsuit against the Boy Scouts over the latter group's gender-neutral rebranding campaign to start admitting girls. "Since BSA's announcement that it would admit girls to its core programs, GSUSA's fears about the damage that would be caused to its trademarks and the mission those trademarks symbolize have been realized," the complaint says in part, according to Bloomberg. "Throughout the country, families, schools and communities have been told that GSUSA and BSA have merged, or even that GSUSA no longer exists. Parents interested in signing up for Girl Scouts programs have instead mistakenly signed up for the new girls' programs offered by BSA." Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock explained to The Christian Post on Thursday that the lawsuit has generated more interest in his scouting organization. "In the eight days following the announcement of the lawsuit we saw a 79 percent increase in inquiries into starting a troop and a 35 percent increase in traffic to our website, as compared to the eight days before the announcement," explained Hancock. Officially launched on new year's day 2014 and based in Orlando, Florida, Trail Life USA continues to add to their number of local troops and overall membership. According to Hancock, Trail Life has 805 troops, which is a 7 percent increase compared to last year and more than 27,000 members, which is an 18 percent increase from last year. In October of last year, when the Boy Scouts announced that they were planning to admit girls into their ranks starting in 2019, the Girl Scouts were among its critics. "The benefit of the single-gender environment has been well-documented by educators, scholars, other girl- and youth-serving organizations, and Girl Scouts and their families," stated the female-centered scouting organization last year. "Girl Scouts offers a one-of-a-kind experience for girls with a program tailored specifically to their unique developmental needs." Regarding the litigation controversy, Hancock of Trail Life told CP that he believed that the legal battle was inevitable. "While Trail Life USA is secure in its Christ-centered boy-focused identity these are two organizations that, although they have a tremendous history of serving youth, have taken steps to confuse their identity in recent years," said Hancock. "It was only a matter of time before that confusion would affect their membership numbers and attorneys would need to get involved." Christian women's shelter sues city over complaint saying it must admit transgender females Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A faith-based women's shelter in Alaska has filed a lawsuit against the state's most populous city for pressuring it to admit men who identify as women. The Downtown Soup Kitchen Hope Center of Anchorage filed the lawsuit earlier this month in response to issues surrounding a complaint against the nonprofit over a recent incident in which staff sent a trans-identified person to a hospital rather than allow the biological man to stay at the facility. "The Anchorage Municipal Code prohibits public accommodations from denying services based on sex or gender identity or stating those services will be denied. It also forbids property owners or their agents from communicating any preference or limitation on the use of real property based on sex or gender identity," read the lawsuit, in part, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. "Hope Center has not violated this law. It is not a public accommodation, and the code exempts homeless shelters, like Hope Center. But the last eight months, Anchorage has used the code to investigate, harass, and pressure Hope Center to admit men into its women's only shelter, and to stop Hope Center's exercise of its religious beliefs." Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona, which is representing Hope Center, directed The Christian Post to a statement on their website. "If Anchorage succeeds, it would not only force a religious ministry to abandon its mission and message, but also force homeless women to sleep alongside and interact with men in intimate settings even though those women may have been beaten, raped, or sexually assaulted by a man the day before," said the ADF. The district court lawsuit came in response to a complaint filed against Hope Center by the transgender person before the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission earlier this year. Identified in court documents as "Jessie Doe," according to the plaintiffs, the person showed up drunk at the shelter in January and was then given a cab ride to a hospital paid for by the shelter. Dee Ennis, deputy municipal attorney for the Municipality of Anchorage, provided a statement to CP on Thursday, explaining that the commission's investigation was still pending, but had not been completed "due in large part to the noncooperation of the Hope Center." "No decision had been reached by the AERC or enforcement action taken prior to the filing of this complaint in federal court," continued the statement. "There is strong federal policy not to intervene in local agency proceedings prior to any enforcement action or state court review of local code interpretation. Just as filing of this lawsuit was premature, so is requesting injunctive relief from the federal court." Colorado U denies apologetics student group official status for requiring members be Christian Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christian students who have tried for three years to get official status for their campus apologetics group at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs have filed a lawsuit claiming their religious freedom rights have been violated. UCCS' chapter of the Ratio Christi apologetics alliance filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday accusing the university administration of violating the free exercise clause of the First Amendment by refusing to grant the group recognition because the group requires that members and leaders share the organization's Christian beliefs. The group allows students of any and no faiths to attend their events and any student can become a member of Ratio Christi so long as they support the organization's purpose and beliefs, according to Alliance Defending Freedom, the nonprofit legal group representing the student group. According to the law group, the university's Ratio Christi has even had some Hindus and atheists attend their meeting to learn more about Christ. The lawsuit argues that the school's student organization policies and practices are "neither neutral nor generally applicable because they represent a system of individualized assessment." It adds that the policies and practices are unfair because they "grant university officials unbridled discretion when evaluating requests from student organization for 'registered' or 'recognized' status (and the accompanying resources), and thus, they establish a system of individualized assessments." The lawsuit asserts that other student groups at the university are allowed to "require that their officers share the organization's beliefs." In fact, the lawsuit points out, there is already a Christian student group recognized by the university that requires its leaders to faithfully attend church. That group's leadership agreement even requires leaders to "challenge unbelievers to be open to the belief that the Bible is true and Jesus is who He says He is." Additionally, another Christian group on campus requires officers to agree to a statement of faith. The lawsuit notes that fraternities are allowed to have only men and sororities are allowed to have only women, while the university's Trans Student Union is allowed to require members and leaders to "believe that transgender people are the gender they say they are." According to the lawsuit, the Trans Student Union threatens to revoke membership or officer roles to anyone who engages in "transphobic comments or behavior." "Like any other student group at a public university, religious student organizations should be free to choose their leaders without the government meddling," ADF Senior Counsel Travis Barham said in a statement. "It would be absurd for the university to require the vegan student group to appoint a meat-lover as its president. Likewise, the University of Colorado shouldn't force Christian students to let atheists or other non-Christians to lead their Bible studies in order to become a registered club." Not having official status with the university prevents Ratio Christi from accessing the benefits and funding that campus student groups are eligible to receive. According to ADF, lacking official status keeps the group from holding events on campus and limits the group's ability to recruit new members. Because of that, the group is in danger of dying off, says ADF. "Despite claiming inclusiveness and diversity as its core values, the University of Colorado is failing to foster real diversity of thought and is, instead, discriminating against a Christian group based on its beliefs," ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer, director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom, said in a statement. "Today's university students will be tomorrow's legislators, judges, university presidents, and voters, but at the University of Colorado, students are learning the wrong message: that government can dictate who can lead certain student groups. It's vital that public universities model the First Amendment values they are supposed to be teaching to students." The lawsuit filed against the University of Colorado comes as the University of Iowa has faced similar lawsuits for kicking Christian groups off campus for requiring that their leaders be Christian. In August, the University of Iowa reinstated dozens campus groups that were derecognized over the summer because of leadership policies the school deemed to be discriminatory. The move to derecognize the students groups came as the school was sued by the group Business Leaders in Christ after that group was booted off campus last year. A court order forced the school to temporarily reinstate Business Leaders in Christ. But the move to reinstate the campus groups came after a lawsuit was filed by InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship in August. A jury trial is scheduled for March 2019 in the Business Leaders in Christ case. In March, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship filed a lawsuit against Wayne State University in Michigan after its local chapter was re-recognized by the university. The school later reinstated the group when faced with the legal pressure. Megachurch pastor Victor Couzens wanted for aggravated harassment, NYPD confirms Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment NEW YORK Embattled megachurch pastor Victor Couzens, of the 5,000-member Inspirational Bible Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, is wanted for aggravated harassment, the New York City Police Department confirmed Thursday. "Victor Couzens is wanted for aggravated harassment which took place on October 23rd. There are no arrests at this time. The investigation is ongoing," the NYPD's Office of the Deputy Commissioner, public information, said in response to a query from The Christian Post. The announcement comes two weeks after the NYPD confirmed that detectives were investigating a complaint filed by 30-year-old model Andrea Garrison who alleges she was threatened with blackmail unless she recants certain claims about a sexual relationship she had with Couzens. Garrison, who is one of several women who have publicly said they engaged in long-term sexual relationships with Couzens, also suggested that Couzens could face charges for making explicit videos of her without her consent. In a recent CP report, Garrison said that her decision to speak out about her experience with Couzens was to draw attention to a culture of silence that has enabled pastors to exploit women in the black church without penalty. "I feel like, at this point, it's no longer what he did to me, what he did to the other women. It's no longer about that. It's about the fact that the Church allows this. That the Church is OK with this. The Church is OK with sending threats to people who are just trying to expose something that's bad happening," Garrison said. "I'm tired of this type of stuff being swept under the rug and I'm tired of being hushed when all this could have been avoided with him just keeping it real." Couzens did not immediately respond Thursday when told that he is wanted by the NYPD but did express in earlier emails that while the sexual exploitation of women in the church is "one of tremendous concern in the body of Christ," Garrison is not a victim. "Although your subject matter is one of tremendous concern in the body of Christ. And it needs to be addressed. Your primary source (Andrea Garrison) doesn't fit into that context," he said. "There have been people who are actual victims of clergy malpractice and abuse. My heart goes out to them. However, that is not what this situation is. And unfortunately you have been misled simply by what Andrea has told you," Couzens explained. There have been calls for Couzens to step down from his pulpit because of his alleged fornication with multiple women. In a recent message, however, he pointed to the story of how David committed adultery with Bathsheba in the Bible and had her husband Uriah murdered to cover his sin yet still remained king, "[Uriah] would know when his wife's belly starts showing that it wasn't his baby. David sent the man back to the front line of the battle and arranged for his murder. And you mad with me cause you heard I had two girlfriends at the same time," he told his congregation. "But you shout on Psalm 23, written by a man who was an adulterer and a killer, but I'm wrong," he said. Most pastors don't feel qualified to address touchy sexual issues, abuse in church: Survey Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment New research reveals that while pastors routinely face questions about sexuality issues, particularly areas of pain and brokenness, few feel qualified to speak to them. The survey Sexuality & the Church in America I: Are Pastors Responding to Sexual Challenges Within the Church? which was released Wednesday and explores how American pastors are addressing sexual issues within their congregations was based on research conducted by Barna Group on 410 senior Protestant pastors. The research was sponsored by The Brushfires Foundation, True North Freedom Project and Covenant Eyes. Results showed that 99 percent of pastors surveyed dealt with at least one question about sexuality in the past year, and 27 percent handled 13-18 different issues brought by church members or staff. The report also shows that seven in 10 pastors are approached many times a year with concerns about sexual brokenness, with 22 percent approached on a monthly basis or more. However, when pastors were asked about their qualifications for handling sexual problems, less than a third of them reported that they felt "very qualified" to address 15 of the 18 sexual issues in the survey. Among the issues addressed were marital infidelity, porn use by both husbands and wives, sexting, sexual abuse or assault, and struggles with same-sex attraction. The most common of the sexual issues in the study pastors hear about is marital infidelity, with eight in 10 pastors reporting being approached about it within the past year. And on average, pastors were approached by the members of their churches or staff about nine of 18 sexual issues over the past year. Only seven issues were ranked by at least one-quarter of pastors as being among those they feel "very qualified" to address. "I have spoken with many pastors who are trained heavily in theological matters, but have very little actual pastoral training. Theologically, it is easy to simply say that a behavior or thought is wrong or immoral, but living out our faith in a sinful world is messy and not so easily handled, especially since most people under 40 have been thoroughly influenced by a sexualized culture from youth," said Daniel Weiss, founder and president of the Brushfires Foundation in an email to The Christian Post Wednesday, when asked what he believes is at the root of the breakdown and the phenomenon of so many pastors feeling unqualified to speak these topics. (Disclosure: this reporter is a member of the board of the Brushfires Foundation). "Sexuality has challenged humans from the very beginning because it is so essential for God's plan for human thriving. If God made human sexuality to present an earthly picture of divine communion, then it is no accident that our human relationships are under so great an attack." While the Church has not always been skittish about sex, it often has, he added. "Even so, the first Apostles address it clearly and without equivocation. Our bodies are meant to honor God and the way we practice chastity and fidelity within marriage is a clear witness to the greater love of God. The world was as amazed at such a witness 2,000 years ago as it is now." In order to engage the subject effectively, Christian individualism and the accompanying mindset has to die, he went on to say. "God did not create us to live alone or in weak community. He made us in His image and likeness, a robust, interpersonal community flowing with love and self-giving. How many of our churches really look like this today? Very few, but this needs to change. "So too, does our weak or nonexistent efforts at disciple making. Sexuality is part and parcel of a whole new way of life for a Christian. Yet, without teachers, mentors, friends, and family to help us through the daily practice of living out our faith failing, being forgiven, and moving forward again we cannot change the devastating impact of the sexual revolution on the Church." The pastors were surveyed during the final week of October 2017 and hailed from a variety of denominations including mainliners like American Baptist, United Methodist, and Presbyterian Church U.S.A. in addition to nondenominational evangelicals. Two-thirds of pastors "agree strongly" that churches should help people through these issues, yet just 56 percent of pastors who make less than $40,000 annually say so. This contrasts with the 70 percent of pastors who make $60,000 per year who responded similarly about the role of the church in these matters. Although the survey focuses on pastors, no Christian should think that addressing sexuality is the sole job of the pastor, Weiss explained. "It is clear from our research and common experience that our pastors are overwhelmed. We need to rethink our organization structures and training to make it possible for the whole church to pursue sexual discipleship together. This work must be integrated into, not isolated from, the lifeblood of the church's main ministry," he said. Xiaomi announced Mi Stores in India. Mi Stores are Xiaomis venture into the rural markets for offline expansion and a testimony to its new retail business model. Xiaomi India also achieved one more GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS feat by opening the highest number of retail stores in the world, by inaugurating over 500Mi Stores simultaneously at the exact same time. Located across 14 states, all new Mi Stores were collectively inaugurated at sharp 12 pm on 29 October, 2018, marking a first of its kind, unique achievement for the brand. Mi Stores highlight Xiaomis innovative new retail measures which marry the efficiency of Xiaomis e-commerce business with an enhanced retail user experience. Spanning across an average size of 300 sq ft., Mi Stores reflect the signature design of Xiaomis Mi Home stores. Mi Stores display futuristic interiors with minimalism concept, offering customers the valuable opportunity to experience and purchase all Xiaomi products of India under one roof. In line with its expansion plans, Xiaomi India also looks forward to opening 5,000+ Mi Stores all over India by the end of 2019. The Mi Store project is being led by Sunil Baby nationally, who earlier led offline team efforts as Regional Sales Manager at Xiaomi India. The new Mi Store outlets serve as Xiaomis prime retail stores situated in several towns ranging from tier 3, 4, 5 and below. With these initiatives, the brand has rapidly expanded its offline presence in rural India. These stores can also be found in some of the most remote corners of the nation, showcasing the brands vast outreach. For example, Xiaomi opened Mi Stores in Moreh which is 650 kms from Guwahati located on India-Burma border and just 100 meters away from Burma, and also in Aalo (Along) in Arunachal Pradesh which is the last town of India bordering China. As part of Xiaomis extensive efforts to boost entrepreneurship in the rural sector, the company is encouraging Mi Fans from small towns and villages, and other local individuals to run and operate these stores. Xiaomi invites all interested entrepreneurs to apply for a Mi Store via a simple online form on mi.com: https://in.event.mi.com/in/apply/mistoreapplicationform . The Mi Store project is expected to generate massive employment opportunities with over 15,000 jobs in these regions, thereby boosting immense economic output. Marking this occasion, Manu Jain, Vice President, Xiaomi and Managing Director, Xiaomi India, said, Its a truly special moment for Xiaomi India to be celebrating yet another Guinness world record after having achieved one merely two months ago. We have been the No. 1 smartphone brand in India for 5 consecutive quarters. Over last few quarters, offline segment has been a great success story for us, with our offline market share growing about 40 times in one year. While our Mi Home & Mi Preferred Partner stores have performed exceptionally well in metro and large cities, our presence in smaller towns and villages was still negligible till now. He continued, Offline retail is still a huge segment in our country with nearly 40% of the offline market focused in rural regions. As a brand, we are dedicated to ensure that all our Mi Fans can easily access and make the most of our amazing products of the highest quality at incredibly honest prices. With these new retail measures, we are taking it a step further, and serving as a gateway to building a smarter India wherein all Mi Fans and consumers across rural India are also equally empowered to enjoy the best of smart technology. We are positive that this move will transform many lives for the better, and we promise to continue bringing them the best of innovative products as well as innovative brand experience. @Technuter.com News Service 'A scene from Hell': Christians talk being bloodied, pelted with stones, metal by Muslim mob in Kenya Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christian survivors of a stoning in Kenya from September which led to two deaths have described what they called a "scene from hell" at the hands of a Muslim mob. The attack in Elwak town, Mandera, on Sept. 13 was sparked by the police killing of three al-Shabaab militants. Hardline Muslims, blaming Christians for the actions against the terror suspects, rounded up Christian construction workers, killing two and injuring another two, International Christian Concern reported. Jacob Mutua Mativo, one of the survivors, has now shared details of the stoning, explaining how he and others were working on the rooftop of a building when they saw "the local Muslim men and women had engulfed the construction site and everybody was now looking for a space in the fence to escape." The Christian workers were pelted with stones, timber, and metals as they got down from the construction site and fled for their lives. "I saw two of my colleagues already lying down, oozing blood from multiple injuries," Mativo said. "I thought they were still alive. While trying to jump over the fence, I was hit on the head by a huge sharp stone and another flying piece of wood broke my left arm. I passed out. That is all that I can remember." Musee Kiema told the persecution watchdog group that the believers were subjected to a "scene from hell." "It was so swift such that before we could dash out for safety, every corner was occupied by the angry mob, baying for our blood. Before I could jump over the barbed wire fence, several stones had already hit me. I saw my friend, Joseph Mwatha Mwangangi, was knocked down ahead of me close to the fence. I knew death had visited us," the survivor explained. One of the victims of the stoning at the time was identified as Fredrick Mukanda Bahati. A local pastor who wasn't named said that he and the other Christians had only been trying to earn a living. "We are not safe at all and this incident shows how Muslims hate believers in Christ. We have known it is the armed militants belonging to the al-Shabaab that kill people, but now we have discovered that even our close Muslim friends can commit atrocities against us," the pastor said. Al-Shabaab radicals, while based in Somalia, have for years been murdering Christians in Kenya. They have often specifically separated them from Muslim residents, and executed them for their faith. One such recent attack saw al-Shabaab militants ordering travelers off a bus, and forcing them to produce their identity cards. They made the passengers recite the Islamic creed to prove their allegiance to the faith, but two Christians, Fredrick Ngui Ngonde and Joshua Ooko Obila, refused and were shot dead. A witness who wasn't named told ICC that the men "refused to obey the jihad fighters and remained adamant that Christ is their savior and they cannot deny the Christian faith." Heartbroken relatives talked about seeing their loved ones in Heaven. Ngonde's wife, Penianh Mwatha, explained that they have a 2-year-old son who has now been made fatherless. "I don't know what my future will be, but I am persuaded that one day we shall see him in Heaven," the widow said back then through tears. Bible students escape Myanmar army: Not fed for days, suffering health, psychological problems Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A pastor has revealed that 17 Bible students managed to escape an ethnic minority army in Mynamar, but they have not been fed for days and are suffering health problems. A pastor identified as Rev. Lazarus, general secretary of the Lahu Baptist Convention in Kyaing Tong, told UCAnews.com that the 17 male students fled the United Wa State Army in the Wa hills near Myanmar's border with China in groups of two or three, with the last arriving to safety on Monday. "Some them did not have food for several days. Some are suffering health problems and some now have psychological problems," the pastor said. "They can't go back to their homes in the Wa hills, so we are arranging them to continue attending Bible school elsewhere," he added. Twenty-four Christians who were forcefully recruited by the army remain at the Wa headquarters, including 20 females. The Bible students were taken earlier this year from Mong Pawk township, where 52 churches were shut down and over 90 Christian leaders were arrested, part of the region's crackdown on Christianity. The UWSA has declared that only local churches built between 1989 and 1992 are legal, and has banned the teaching of religion in schools. "We are concerned for the remaining students, especially the women, and we are continuing to call for their release through different channels," Rev. Lazarus said. Lazarus told Radio Free Asia at the end of October that UWSA has cut off areas and made travel in the region impossible. "[W]e will hold a prayer ceremony on Oct. 7," the church leader said at the time. "We have about 400 followers, and we'll pray for the quick release of our brethren who have been taken away." Christians have also been targeted with false forced conversion charges, Morning Star News reported. Local Christian leader Keng Tung said that "Wa officials instructed Christians in Mong Pauk not even to worship at home these days." "So some Christian members dare not to live in Mong Pauk any longer," he added. "They came to stay in Keng Tung town as they are fearful." Hundreds of believers have also been forced to sign papers vowing to limit their faith and not pray in churches. The UWSA, which grew out of the Communist Party of Burma, agreed to release 100 Wa Christians in October after they agreed to follow such regulations. U Nyi Rang, the militia's spokesperson, insisted at the time that the measures are being taken in the fight against extremism. "We want stability and rule of law in our area, so extremists may be arrested. Such measures are necessary, as we are preparing to celebrate the 30th Peace Festival on April 17 next year and no extremism is allowed," he said, referring to the 30th anniversary of the USWA cease-fire with the Myanmar government. The crackdown has led to several priests, nuns, and Christian lay teachers being expelled as well, however, which has been condemned by persecution watchdog groups. Benedict Rogers, Christian Solidarity Worldwide's East Asia team leader, said that "the scale, suddenness and severity of this crackdown is profoundly concerning. We urge the international community to monitor this situation closely and consider what action could be taken to protest at this repression and protect the Christians in UWSA-controlled areas." Egypt: Man wielding 'sharp tool,' Quran attacks Christians at prayer service Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christian worshipers in Cairo, Egypt, were left injured after a man wielding a "sharp tool" and a Quran attacked them during a prayer service as he shouted "Allah is great." International Christian Concern reports that on Nov. 11, a 22-year-old man entered the Church of St. George through a room intended for baking bread for the Lord's Supper during a prayer service. The intruder hit the baker on the head with an iron rod while shouting, "Allah is great." When another Christian attempted to rescue the baker, he was also injured. Police arrived at the scene and arrested the man, claiming he carried out the violent attack because of mental health problems and drug use. However, local believers dispute such an explanation, calling it a thinly veiled attempt to hide the Islamic extremism prevalent across Egypt. "The media uses words which don't reveal the truth," one local believer told ICC. "Now we have discovered that that this was a young man, not an old one. Also, he was holding a Quran and sharp tool [while] injuring some people on their heads. The media's role is to reveal the reality and not to hide information to make the Coptic Christians] calm down." Another local Christian, Majeed, added, "It's too awful. I can't imagine that we should adapt to these incidents. Lies and lies and lies. ... I'm sure that this criminal will not be punished." "Mentally ill, what?! How the media manipulates us!" exclaimed Hani, another local Christian. Claire Evans, ICC's regional manager, praised police for "responding quickly" to the incident at St. George's Church, but urged the international community not to "forget the context of the attack." "It is not unusual for the Egyptian authorities to claim that something other than Islamic extremism drives the less publicized incidents of persecution," she said. "The situation surrounding Egypt's Christians will not improve unless there is honesty in confronting why these kinds of incidents happen. We must continue to keep Egypt's Christians in our prayers." Egyptian authorities have faced increasing criticism for failing to address Islamic extremism in the country and protect Christians from escalating violence. The country is ranked 17th on Christian support organization Open Doors' 2018 World Watch List of the countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian. Earlier in November, Islamic extremists murdered seven and injured at least 20 others after they left worship at a monastery in Egypt. The Islamic State claimed responsibility, saying on its Amaq news service that the attack had been in retaliation for the arrest of "our chaste sisters." Amid widespread outrage, the Interior Ministry said Egyptian forces had killed the 19 militants responsible for the massacre. However, a similar attack occurred on a bus near the same monastery last year, leaving 29 Christians dead, prompting many to question the effectiveness of the Egyptian government's strategy in combating Islamic extremism. "The reality is that the Islamic State has successfully executed an attack on the same road, next to the same monastery, one year apart," Timothy E. Kaldas, an analyst with the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, told The New York Times. "That really calls into question the quality of government efforts to enhance security, particularly in Minya, where the Christian minority has been targeted relentlessly." In Rome, Pope Francis denounced the violence. "I pray for the victims, pilgrims killed just because they were Christian," he told worshipers at St. Peter's Square on Sunday. India: Christians' homes destroyed by extremists, families convert back to tribal hinduism amid fears Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment At least three Christian families have converted back to a tribal religion in Jharkhand state, India, after Hindu extremists destroyed their homes, leaving them in fear of losing their land and resources. Morning Star News reported that five families in Lisiya village, West Singhbhum District, returned home from a worship service in October to find that one of the homes had been destroyed by tribal movement Adivasi Ho Samaj. Adivasi Ho Samaj, who are reportedly under the influence of Hindu extremists, destroyed the home of Christian Sidiu Bari and his family as a warning to believers that they are not welcome. "They damaged Bari's roof, threw away their clothes and utensils, and took away a sum of 20,500 rupees [$280]," area resident Subod Sinku said. "Even after all this, they were not done. There was lot of verbal abuse and verbal grilling that continued for at least a week after the [Oct. 18] incident." Threatened with losing their lands and being expelled from the village, three of the Christian families decided to convert back to the tribal religion of Sarnaism. "Pastors and Christians from Lisiya and surrounding village churches tried to encourage them to continue in the Christian faith in these testing times," Sinku said. "But we were only able to get Sidiu Bari to write a complaint and report the matter to a local police station." Another anonymous source told MNN: "The situation in Jharkhand is turning worse since the Ho Samaj joined hands with the RSS [Hindu extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh], holding meetings to instigate the tribal population against their own brethren for choosing to follow Christ." Sinku affirmed that he and other Christians have been warned that they will not receive their share of the land if they do not abandon their faith in Jesus. "Putting faith in Christ is a matter of heart, and gradually as a new convert from the Adivasi religion grows in fellowship with other Christians, one's entire lifestyle gets transformed," Sinku added. "You learn many things. You become particular about hygiene, your intake of food, dressing, and you are not afraid to move to the city for education and get a job. This is not how indigenous tribes live. And, they think that we can afford the clothes, food and education from the supposed amount we received because of conversion to Christianity. It is completely false." Christian communities in the area continue to suffer other forms of persecution as well, such as worship services being interrupted and church buildings being taken over and converted for other purposes. Hindu hardliners have often accused them of forcefully converting villagers to the Christian faith, though church leaders have denied that conversions are being forced. In another attack in July, Pastor Srinivas Sapa told persecution watchdog group International Christian Concern that Hindu radicals in the village of Sangameshwar, north of Hyderabad, destroyed the only church building there. "All that the Hindu radicals want is for Sangameshwar to be a 'Christian-free' village," Sapa said. "Of all the 50 odd Christians who are native to Sangameshwar, most were born in the village and are now panicked over the situation," he added. The pastor warned that even when courts side with Christian churches when it comes to land disputes, radicals take the law into their own hands and attack believers. '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. As Christmas looms, ISIS again threatens attack on Pope Francis A pro-ISIS media group has threatened to attack Pope Francis as Christians around the world gear up to celebrate the birth of Christ. Al-Abd Al-Faqir made the threat in a new propaganda poster showing a handgun being pointed at the Pope. It carries the slogan 'Don't think you are away from our attacks'. Another poster threatened violence to 'slaves of the Cross' and showed a gunman creeping up behind the Pope, PJ Media reports. Last year, the ISIS-affiliated media group Wafa Media Foundation made a similar threat of violence in the run-up to Christmas when it released a poster showing a man in a balaclava driving towards the Vatican. It was captioned 'Christmas blood ... so wait'. According to PJ Media, ISIS produced an e-book in which it said any attack on the Vatican was likely to be met by strong resistence from the Mafia. 'There is no doubt that if Muslims want to take over Italy, the Islamic State European fighters will have to ally with other militias to fight the Mafia before the conquest of Rome,' it reportedly said. The Vatican has previously acknowledged it could be the target of an ISIS attack. In 2015, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Vatican would ensure that the appropriate security measures were in place to deal with any threat. 'The Vatican could be a target because of its religious significance,' he said. 'We are capable of increasing the level of security in the Vatican and the surrounding area. 'But we will not let ourselves be paralysed by fear.' ISIS has previously called for 'lone wolf' attacks to be carried out in Europe. In one ISIS-inspired attack in 2016, 12 people were killed at a Christmas market in Berlin. Instagram removes 'hate speech' post saying only men should be pastors - then apologises The social networking giant Instagram is admitting that it made an error when it removed a Reformed Baptist ministry's post promoting an op-ed contending that women shouldn't be pastors and has restored the post in question. Founders Ministries, a Reformed group within the Southern Baptist Convention, posted to its Instagram account on Nov. 7 a screenshot of an article posted to the Founders webpage by Founders board member Tom Hicks titled "Only Men May Be Pastors." On Nov. 11, Founders Executive Director Tom Ascol took to Twitter to sound an alarm that the Nov. 7 Instagram post had been removed. Ascol posted a screenshot of the notification received from Instagram informing the ministry why the post had been removed. Instagram's initial explanation stated that the post did not comply with the platform's community guidelines on "hate speech or symbols." In the article, Hicks quotes 1 Timothy 2:1214, which states: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet." "We want to keep Instagram a safe place for everyone and we ask that you treat other members of the community with respect," the message from Instagram to Founders Ministries explained. Ascol, who also pastors at Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Florida, told his followers on Twitter that Instagram had "censored" the post. "Big Brother can't tolerate biblical truth in the marketplace of ideas," Ascol wrote. Earlier this week, Hanah Ascol told The Christian Daily Reporter that the post had received great engagement and was the "second best post engagement for this year" on the ministry's Instagram account. "There was good discussion and agreement in the comments. Then Sunday evening, Nov. 11, I got the notice that the post had been reported by a viewer, reviewed by Instagram and then deleted," she explained. "The reason given was that the post 'doesn't follow our Community Guidelines on hate speech.' Included was a warning that if we violated the guidelines again then our account could be restricted or disabled." On Wednesday, a member of Instagram's communications team, Fiona Brown, told The Christian Post that the post had been restored. "We mistakenly removed this piece of content, and we apologize for the inconvenience caused, Brown wrote in an email. "We worked to rectify the mistake as soon as we were notified and have already taken steps to prevent this from happening in the future." Founders Ministries did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Founders Ministries was initially founded as the Southern Baptist Founders Conference and is committed to "encouraging the recovery of the Gospel and the biblical reformation of local churches." Founders Ministries has a goal to establish doctrines of grace and a Calvinist understand in Baptist churches. Founders publishes The Founders Journal four times per year, which highlights a wide range of "pertinent theological and ecclesiological issues." Founders also holds national and regional conferences and publishes books through Founders Press. The organization also played a role in the conservative resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention. Social media sites like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are regularly facing backlash from conservatives who say that the organizations are censoring their content. In July, Instagram was criticized by Ryan Bomberger, the African-American co-founder of the pro-life Radiance Foundation, for removing his meme comparing the blacks lynched by the Ku Klux Klan to the babies aborted by Planned Parenthood. Earlier this year, Facebook again banned Ohio conservative Christian mommy blogger Elizabeth Johnston, also known as "the Activist Mommy," for "hate speech." Johnston was told a day later after she complained that her post was mistakenly flagged and deleted. Johnston was also suspended from Facebook in 2017 for a period of three days because of comments she made about homosexuality. Courtesy of The Christian Post Another noose was reported by Southwest Airlines workers at Hobby Airport, in addition to one cited in a lawsuit by a black employee alleging racial discrimination and hostility at the airline, according to Houston police. Houston police said in a report that they investigated the second possible hangman's knot in July, but could not identify suspects or make an arrest. No video cameras were in the area, which the police report did not specify. Southwest confirmed it was advised of an "an item that could possibly resemble a noose" was found at Hobby Airport in July. The September lawsuit: Former Southwest worker at Hobby alleges 'whites only' break room, discovery of noose Southwest takes such matters seriously, and leadership immediately tried to locate the object and identify any person who might have been involved, the airline said in an email. In addition, Houston police were also notified. Unfortunately, neither Southwest nor the police were able to locate the object or identify any person involved. The airline said its committed to an inclusive environment and takes pride in the companys internal culture. Our goal is to provide our employees with a workplace that is free of discrimination, the email read. We communicate this commitment internally through policies, trainings, and discussions. Jamel Parker, a Pearland resident and former Southwest employee, filed suit against Southwest in September, alleging that the airline had a whites-only break room and that black employees found a noose made of bungee cords in December. The other noose found in July was not cited in the lawsuit. In court documents responding to the lawsuit, Southwest Airlines denied there was a whites-only break room at Hobby Airport and accusations that black employees were treated differently than white employees. Parker also alleged that he was fired in April 2017 for the kind of offense that only resulted in a slap on the wrist for white workers. He was driving a pushback, a vehicle used to push an aircraft away from a gate, when the tow bar attached to the pushback got caught on a power cable under the jet bridge, according to the lawsuit. Parker did not believe he caused damage, so he didn't report it, the lawsuit said. He was then fired for causing damage and not reporting it. The airline's response: Southwest responds to 'whites-only' break room allegations at Hobby In contrast, the lawsuit said, a white employee hit a belt loader with a baggage cart and only admitted to it after camera footage was reviewed. He was given a letter of instruction, the lowest level of discipline an employee can receive. Another white employee was driving a tug, the vehicle that pulls baggage carts, when he hit a different tug. The employee in that other tug reported the incident, but the at-fault employee did not report the accident until confronted about it. He was disciplined, but not fired, according to the lawsuit. Southwest said the first employees actions did not result in damaged equipment. And while the employee in the tug did damage equipment, he was on the way to report it when called into the supervisor's office, according to Southwest. He chose to deliver two late bags before reporting the incident. Parker was not surprised that a second noose was found at Hobby Airport. This didn't happen just once but twice within seven months, he said in an email. There is a clearly a racial issue at Southwest and they are not concerned about protecting its black employees from harassment and discrimination. Southwest should be held accountable. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. The clerk who was shot and killed at a northwest Houston convenience store earlier this month tried to fake out the gunman and made a run for a secure area, prosecutors said at a recent court hearing. Harris County prosecutors provided details of the Nov. 10 shooting at a probable cause hearing for 18 year-old Jose Bonilla-Ortiz, who was arrested and is charged with murder. A second man police said is also responsible in the death of Bangladeshi-immigrant Faruk Bhuiya is still at large. If you have been to a TMC ITEXPO show in South Florida, you have no-doubt seen Rehan Allahwala at the DIDX booth or walking the show floor meeting people and posting selfies on his Facebook page. If you live in the middle-east, your life may have been touched by Rehans numerous endeavors to make the world a better place. As a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist in telecom and tech, we decided to interview Rehan to bring his unique and fascinating story to the world. You are a serial tech entrepreneur from Pakistan an area not known for tech, how did you do it? I, personally, dont think that Pakistan is not really known for tech. Maybe its not known by most because Pakistan has not really been marketed as a tech space. However, there are a lot of companies, which have emerged from Pakistan. But having said that, I was introduced to tech really early in my life. I got my first Commodore 64 when I was 12, I got inspired at 10 by my cousin, who had his first Apple II and then his Apple IIc and Apple IIe, and then I got my Commodore 64, and then the journey began for me. So thats how I started. I was a serial entrepreneur because I just wanted to do everything. I was so excited whenever something new was happening, I did everything and anything I could. There were lots of reasons for me to start a business and to do things, a lot of it was because of nationalism. I created when I was in 10th grade, I think, one of the voice digitizers, modems, speed increasers for the Commodore 64, fast load cartridge and a lot of things. I bought my first company when I was in 10th grade also. I was really exposed, I guess, at a very early stage to entrepreneurship and to tech. So probably thats why I ended up being a tech entrepreneur in the VoIP space. It was just a journey, natural evolution, one after another into where I want it. But Pakistan also, by the way, invented the first virus in the world, Pakistan is also known for the company FireEye, which was sold for a couple of billion dollars. So, Pakistanis, in general, yes, are not known for that space, but if Pakistanis do start a company like I did, I started in the U.S. because one of the famous entrepreneurs in the U.S. in the VoIP industry told me that a company from Pakistan would never fly, and I literally took his word, and started my company in the U.S. for that reason. What were the biggest challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Whenever you have a resistance like being in an exercise when you are training, it makes you only stronger, right? What doesnt kill you makes you stronger. One of the first challenges I had was that when I started my company, I was fourteen or thirteen-and-half, somewhere there, I dont remember the exact date, but everybody who used to come to my home to meet me was always asking for my dads thinking because he might be Rehan, thinking I was not Rehan. And I used to say: I am the one youre looking for he was like, No, you are not. You are too small for that. That was one of the first ones. The second most interesting thing which made me into the person I am today was: I was not allowed to enter the U.S. after I had started my company back in 1990. I was just traveling, I wasnt living in the U.S. A few times, I was rejected but usually allowed to get a visa. Suddenly, after 9/11 when I returned to Pakistan, I was not allowed to go back to the United States. I had constantly rejected visas, one after another, for eleven years, and guess what fixed it. After eleven years of trying to get the visa, and literally giving up on trying to go back to the U.S. to grow my business, I added my family name to my passport, which is Allahwala. My name on my passport was Rehan Ahmed. So, the name changed from Rehan Ahmed to Rehan Ahmed Allahwala, which was my family name anyways in Pakistan, but my father never added that. And I got the visa! It was so funny that a small little thing could fix such a big thing, right? Some of my customers started to say, you dont exist, you are a pseudo-person, or you must have done something wrong, thats why the U.S. doesnt allow you to come because, you know, how you cannot get a visa all my taxi drivers are from Pakistan, my doctors are from Pakistan, so why not you? But I really dont know. I think some other Rehan did something which barred me from entering the U.S. Since I changed my name, I didnt have that problem anymore. You have been an amazing tech philanthropist please tell us about your biggest successes in this area. Now, where I come from, which is Pakistan, we are humble, we are told to be, stay humble, right? And you are not supposed to brag about yourselves, which is totally not American, right? But since you asked that question, I think, what was my biggest success in being a tech philanthropist, was that I found my own calling and desire to teach, to change myself to become a better person, and that is, what I think, was the reward for doing all this. But having said that, I think Rehan School was phenomenal. We produced many videos teaching a lot of people on how to use technology. The problems in Pakistan are very different than in the rest of the world because Pakistan has a very low literacy rate. Out of the 200 million people of Pakistan, only 30% can read and write their own name, so forget about high-end technology being created. We need to fix the fundamentals of the country, so I created a school with the goal of teaching one-hundred and forty million people to read and write basic English and Urdu language, which is the national language of Pakistan. I created a school in a box for fifteen dollars with a stupid phone inside, not a smart-phone but a basic phone with pre-loaded videos from celebrities on it. And that was a very, very interesting thing later on that became an app called Rehan School English, which people can download and learn English from. Now we are coming up with an AI-based Rehan School English which is, literally, a teacher in your phone who will talk to you, chat with you, communicate with you and educate you at the same time. I think that is going to be one of the biggest things which is yet to come, and God knows whats going to come. My dream is to create Samantha from the movie Her eventually for the planet so we can have an AI which can go and learn and teach us. Because I never went to regular college or university to learn. I always used mentors and information, fragmented information around the globe to create whatever I thought: Thats how the world should be. So, if we can actually have a Samantha in our phones and computers, which can go and learn for us and teach us, I think that would be phenomenal, thats my goal now to create that in an AI space. What has driven you to philanthropy? I wasnt given a visa to U.S. for 11 years. I had a company in the U.S., and I always felt that the reason I wasnt given the US visa was because I come from Pakistan, which is a poor country, and because of poverty a lot of Pakistanis leave the country and create, you know, an image of Pakistan, which is not so attractive towards the west. So, I took it upon myself at one point. I said, You know what? If the U.S. doesnt want me, Im going to make the U.S. in Pakistan. And thats what literally pushed me towards being more philanthropic full-time in a tech space and tech-end space and all the work I do. Before then even, I just never enjoyed money in my life. I was born into an affluent family. I never had to work for money, but it was kind of given that I will have to work a little at something because I come from a business family background. So, even though I never actually enjoyed making money, I still did business. And when I was more settled, I said, I can now delegate everything and move into full-time philanthropy, thats what I decided, that is what I need to do because thats, probably, what my life goal is. And Im glad I did because I enjoyed that much more than making just money. I like to solve problems, thats what I want to do, my goal is to help to empower at least a million of the entrepreneurs in Pakistan and get rid of the poverty on the planet and make everyone an equal citizen. Those are ridiculous moonshot goals but why not? Why not try and do them and maybe fail and maybe pass, right? Maybe I can do that, maybe I cannot. But at least Im going to keep on trying as long as I can, and it doesnt really cost me anything if I am doing something for 8 billion people, or if I am doing something for a billion people. The process takes the same amount of time. I have only 24 hours a day to spend on it, but I can perform actions in different ways, with a different mindset which can, maybe, make it possible for me to achieve the goals which I want to achieve. You might call me crazy, but thats what I want to do. You have had the noble goal of bringing the world together via Facebook and achieved great success in this area tell us about how you did it. A few years ago, I started a website called Institute of Peace and its goal was to bring peace within and to bring peace outside. The way of peace coming outside is understanding the other side. If I am having a quarrel with someone, the best way to resolve that quarrel or dispute is by trying to understand the other side of the story, there are always two sides of the coin. When I was not allowed to enter the United States, I actually used Facebook to connect with the rest of the world, so that I can understand how people think, what the needs of my customers are, what the cultural norms of these people are that we kind of think they look like in the movies, but I am absolutely sure it doesnt look like that. I saw a lot of Baywatch and I didnt see any Baywatch kind of people in the United States. I started connecting people when I was 14, I actually threw luncheon parties at my home for the vendors and customers. I had 10 20 people coming over and having a nice meal, which my mom cooked and I am thankful to her for that. I used to connect them, and I saw that after the year and four to five lunches, they started doing business together. Some of these people were the kind of people actually not even talking to each other in the beginning, and they ended up doing business with each other, and they became really good friends. I started connecting people using everything email, in person and Facebook. Every day, I used to spend many, many hours by using the way of suggesting a friend and a lot of times my friends got annoyed by that, Why I am getting 10 20 suggestions from this guy every day or from Facebook? Unfortunately, thats what I was enjoying, so thats what I did. But I didnt want to annoy anyone, so I stopped doing that, and then I bumped into this idea from a friend Ernesto Verdugo, who was a marketing genius, that I might want to give an incentive for people connecting to my Facebook friends. The reason, as I said earlier, is that others can get to know you and you can get to know the other side. I ended up giving a free laptop to whoever, who would come to my Facebook page and add 500 people from my friend list, who were not their Facebook friends yet. I ended up giving over 350 laptops and mobile phones smartphones. I started documenting what happened to these people when they were doing this. I started noticing and I documented that these people became more understanding, more interested in learning, more curious, they unlearned a lot of things they knew, they started learning new things and techniques and because I had really good, interesting friends over the years, these people started to become good and interesting people themselves. Accordingly, You are the sum of the five best friends you have. Now you have 500 amazing Facebook friends, and all of a sudden, you are getting a newsfeed from them which allows you to get really good information into your brain, which makes you a very interesting person. So, it really gives a lot of perspective on that. I also started shows called: Meet an Israeli, where people actually can know people from Israel by having conversations on Facebook live with them and initially starting recording and then having these conversations allowed people to see how real people from Israel look like. Then I started doing the same for Meet a Palestinian, Meet a Kashmiri, Meet an Indian, Meet an American, Meet a Jew, Meet a Muslim, because all these people are kind of the people which we really dont know, especially if you are not from that circle, at least in the majority of cases. The whole goal was that you should actually talk to the person instead of talking about them. Thats the kind of work Ive been doing, and I think, I have, really phenomenal results out of it. Now, the next goal is to scale it all. So far, I have 850,000 following me on Facebook and only a couple of hundred have connected through this five-minute Facebook experiment, but thousands actually did, connected to single and multiple digits of friends but not to scale. Thats what I have been doing on that note. You mentioned you wanted to run for president of Pakistan but once you achieved enormous following on Facebook, you felt you no longer needed to run, why? Its very interesting question. I only shared this with very few people, but I guess we are making this public now. Up until I found Facebook and video to Facebook and Youtubing, I thought that having to use politics or being on top of the ladder in politics, in a political situation like being the president or the prime minister of a country was the only way to actually make a change. But then I bumped into social media, I found that people were listening, I found that I had something to offer to them, it wasnt just a system that was wrong. There are a lot of problems in the whole situation on the planet which needs to be transformed. The reason for transformation, the reason for these problems is not necessarily that the top is bad, but the bottom has a lot of challenges. So, you know, my whole journey since I started working has transformed me, and I no longer see the need to be in power on the top in order to make a change. I see what Rumi says, Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world, but today I am wise, so I am changing myself. And thats my rule. I no longer want to be the president or the prime minister of Pakistan, However, I do whatever I can to make myself into a better person, share whatever I know, be as open as I can. Thats why I dont see the need of being the president of the country to make a change. Bill Gates is not the president of the United States. Zuckerberg is not the president of the United States. These people, Larry and Sergey are not the presidents of the United States, but they make more significant impact to the United States and the planet by doing what they are good at rather than running for a presidency. Thats why I changed my mind about that subject of politics. On the top of all this, these exponential technologies have transformed the world we live in. We no longer live in a country, we live on the internet, we use the same tools as any other country does. While living in Pakistan, I have a gigabit connection at home in Pakistan, and I have a half of gigabit connection in the United States. So, you know, some things are even faster in Pakistan. I have access to the same tools, the same software, and the same computers, same technology, same everything. The only thing that has not changed are the laws of the country, old laws made by old politicians. Through technological evangelism, this is going to change also. Politics is going to disrupt itself. All these exponential technologies are going to disrupt tech politics itself. I would highly recommend the book The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson at this point, people should read it. Then theres a lot going to happen with blockchain and bitcoin and stuff like that which will transform our planet. We are all now presidents of our own selves, so we need to become better presidents to our own selves there in our country, thats what I think now. What else should we know about what youre up to? Thats a very hard question for a spontaneous man like me, who doesnt really have limits in his head on doing whatever he wants to do. I have been very, very blessed to have an amazing life with an amazing, amazing team, amazing family, amazing friends in the world who have helped me to become a better human being. So, what is going to happen in my future is that I would really like to become a better human being. Having said that, I have a few virtual incubators, where I want to create disruption. I want to see disruption happening in the governance of the planet. I want to see disruption happening in the agricultural space on the planet. I want to see disruption happening in the health space on the planet. I am creating a physical incubator in the agricultural space; a virtual incubator has already been made in the governance space and once I have enough incubators, Ill make it into a physical incubator. I am also creating a new city outside my own city of Karachi which is called Cybarea or Cyber Area. Its a plan of having 200 acres of purposely-built city, where people can live 24 hours a day in whatever time zone they want to. A city with a phenomenal number of trees, solar power to their disposable high-speed internet, Wi-Fi everywhere. Like Googleplex city, not just for a work but also for living with 24 hours of food and everything Ive seen in the world. After traveling to 80-plus countries, I want to have the best-of-the-best over there in that city. I also acquired land for making a Health City, where people can come, research and create world-class hospitals and health facilities, retreats related to improving their health. Then there is an education city, where they can come and disrupt the education in the world, having a playground for the educational space. Then there is an industrial park next to it. This is around a thousand plus acres space, which we have acquired for all these things. Im looking for a jungle to go and live in, personally to be speaking. I can just have high-speed internet and work whenever I want and just have peace in my life. Thats what I am up for in the future, and yes one more thing. I recently acquired another goal of creating and bringing Samantha from the film Her to life. So, if there is anybody up for it, let me know. Assuming he gets his visa , we hope to see Rehan once again at ITEXPO, January 29-February 1st, 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Where Doers & Disruptors Find Communications & Technology Solutions Here is more on Rehan: This Page has moved to a new address: Sorry for the inconvenience Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service For most candidates who ran in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 6, their races were settled before midnight, and the celebrations were on. In a few races, however, there were some candidates sitting on pins and needles while the military votes, which are received up until Nov. 16 at 5 p.m., and the provisional votes were counted. That ended on Nov. 14 and the new numbers announced on Nov. 15. According to the district clerk, there were approximately 180 provisional ballots and a few military ballots that added to the previous totals. Races in Tarkington ISD, the Liberty WCID Position 2, and the Hardin City Council were at risk for change. The Hardin races were less likely to have enough ballots to change their outcome and the same was true for the Liberty WCID Position 2 race with 45 votes separating Lynda Hohn and Leroy Hanel. Election day totals held for both the Hardin and Liberty races with no change in the Hardin numbers and only a one vote pickup for Hohn in her win. The eyes of the county, however, were on the Tarkington ISD race. Several of the precincts with provisional ballots were in the Tarkington area including one at Oak Shade Baptist Church, Rural Shade Baptist Church, and Tarkington Prairie Baptist Church polling locations. After the final count, none of the races changed enough to overturn election day winners. In the TISD Position 1 race, Paige Bostwick led Lane Gulledge 1,333 to 1,283 but Gulledge narrowed the gap by only two votes at the end. Donny Halton extended his lead by two more votes and defeated Ronald Shirley, II 1,685 to 929. The closest race of all of them was between incumbent school board president Kem Kirkham Arnold and newcomer Jon Wright. Only three votes separated them and with several of the boxes being in Tarkington Prairie, the expectation for change was high, but it didnt happen. Only one vote was added to Arnolds total and none to Wrights and the school board president squeaked out a narrow win. Commissioners are expected to canvass the results at their next meeting. Klint Bush, the presiding judge over the early ballot board said they knew going into the provisional ballots that the potential for races to be overturned were possible and all care was taken and the law followed. We operate under the Texas Election Code. To get on the board, members must have their names submitted to the Liberty County commissioners court by the major parties in the county. The commissioners approve the nominees, he said. It is just like the boards you see in Florida, Bush pointed out, but without the controversy. No hanging chads, just ballot approval or rejection. We have never had anything crazy like what is going on in Florida, Bush said. Weve never found them in closets, in rental cars at the airport, none of that, he said confidently. Bush said the provisional ballots are kept under lock and key and are sealed. He has a police escort to prevent any fraud. We do that to ensure the safety and security of the ballots, he said. All mail-in ballots and ballots from overseas military for the county, the ballot board conducts signature verifications to make sure there is no fraud. They look at all mail-in ballots for verification and then hand them over to the central counting official in the county clerks office for counting on election day. They also handle all provisional ballots. If you go in to vote and have and issue like a missing drivers license, wrong addresses, or anything that might be missing, youre still allowed to vote, but those votes have to be verified by the ballot board, Bush said. The ballots are examined by the board who must decide if they comply with the law or not, and those that do not comply are rejected and signed by the Presiding Judge of the ballot board which is Klint Bush. The committee is made up of Republicans, Democrats and Independents to assure fairness. Bush said the panel was made up of Republicans Roy Lee (R), Ryan Daniel (R) and Emily Kebodeaux-Cook (R), Delores Moore (I) and Veronica Mallett (D). Delores Moore is also a voter registrar in the Liberty County Tax Assessor-Collectors Office, assisted in the process. There is no partisanship with this board, Bush said. We dont know how they vote. We dont see the ballot until we vote and decide if were going to accept or reject the ballot, he said. Bush said they go by the law as to whether they meet the criteria set up for a legal ballot. If they dont meet the parameters of the law, we reject it, he said. Once the ballots have been accepted or rejected based on legal requirements, Bush says they open them. No one knows whether or not they are Republican or Democrat, he said. We met to count the provisional ballots and on Nov. 19 we will finish our administrative work and the commissioners court will canvass the vote on Nov. 20 to complete the process for this election cycle, he said. Bush said there were about 20 provisional ballots that came out of the precincts in Tarkington related to the closest races in the county. Before we started, we all knew that it could change the outcome of the race, but, in fact, it did not, he said. One ballot was added to the total number of votes by Kem (Kirkham Arnold), Bush said. Bush said most provisional ballots are rejected. If you can vote, you would vote normally, he said, if youre on the roll. The board also has the challenge of trying to figure out intent. If for some reason theres two X marks for the same race, we have to try and figure out if we can what the intent was in the vote, he said. Bush said its rare in Texas because of the type of voting machines. The presiding judge is picked from the governors party. The governor is a Republican, so Bush was appointed. To receive a mail-in ballot, the application must be signed. The ballot board compares the signature on the application with the ballot to assure no fraud has been done. The number one reason for ballot rejection is because of failure to register on time. The law is clear and if you didnt follow it, the ballot is not going to be allowed, Bush said. The next reason is the lack of a photo ID, also required by law. There were 180 provisional ballots and the board only accepted approximately 40. Bush said it was normal to have such a high turn-down rate. They did find possibly one instance of voter fraud that will be referred to the District Attorneys office for consideration. They appeared on election day to vote, but their vote had already been registered, he said. Someone signed their name, we dont know who, he said. The voter was allowed to vote provisionally until it could all be deciphered out. Im not going to make a judgment on it. Id prefer the DA do that. Id like for every vote to count that can be. We have soldiers who have died to make sure they have the ability to vote so I want it to count if possible, he said. Its been another successful election in Liberty County. Commissioners are expected to canvass the results at their next meeting. *Numbers in parenthesis are from election night. U. S. SENATOR R Ted Cruz 16,040 (16,013) D Beto ORourke 4,420 (4,402) L Neal M. Dikeman 114 (113) U. S. REP. DISTRICT 36 R Brian Babin 16,108 (16,080) D Dayna Steele 4,300 (4,282) GOVERNOR R Greg Abbott 16,526 (16,497) D Lupe Valdez 3,815 (3,798) L Mark Jay Tippetts 203 (202) LT. GOVERNOR R Dan Patrick 15,844 (15,815) D Mike Collier 4,350 (4,333) L Kerr Douglas McKennon 320 (318) ATTORNEY GENERAL R Ken Paxton 15,596 (15,568) D Justin Nelson 4,455 (4,438) L Michael Ray Harris 384 (381) COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS R Glenn Hegar 15,728 (15,698) D Joi Chevalier 3,984 (3,968) L Ben Sanders 524 (522) COMMISSIONER GENERAL LAND OFFICE R George P. Bush 15,561 (15,531) D Miguel Suazo 4,084 (4,067) L Matt Pina 683 (682) COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE R Sid Miller 15,520 (15,492) D Kim Olson 4,419 (4,402) L Richard Carpenter 351 (348) RAILROAD COMMISSIONER R Christi Craddick 15,721 (15,693) D Roman McAllen 4,059 (4,042) L Mike Wright (469) STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 3 R Robert Nichols 15,795 (15,764) D Shirley Layton 4,231 (4,216) L Bruce Quarles 257 (255) STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 18 R Ernest Bailes 15,999 (15,971) D Fred Lemond 4,384 (4,364) DISTRICT JUDGE, 75th DISTRICT R Mark Morefield 16,724 (16,688) DISTRICT JUDGE, 253rd DISTRICT Chap Cain 16,828 (16,793) COUNTY JUDGE R Jay Knight 16,815 (16,781) JUDGE, COUNTY COURT-AT-LAW R Tommy Chambers 16,771 (16,735) DISTRICT CLERK R Delia Sellers 16,918 (16,883) COUNTY CLERK R Lee Haidusek Chambers 15,740 (15,710) D Joe Robertson, Jr. 4,480 (4,465) COUNTY TREASURER R Kim Harris 16,825 (16,789) COUNTY SURVEYOR R John C. Johnny Moorman 16,689 (16,653) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PCT. 2 R Greg Arthur 5,179 (5,167) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PCT. 4 R Leon Wilson 4,301 (4,294) JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 1 R Stephen Hebert 2,469 (2,464) JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 2 D Ronnie Davis 705 (703) JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 3 R Cody Parrish 2,002 (1,995) JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 4 R Larry Wilburn 5,739 (5,730) JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 5 R Wade Brown 3,023 (3,022) JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 6 R Ralph Fuller 2,511 (2,505) D Monique McDuffie-Brooks 1,139 (1,131) HARDIN CITY COUNCIL POS. 3 Rachael Smart 160 (160) Robert LeJeune 66 (66) HARDIN CITY COUNCIL POS. 5 Heather L. West-Seward 79 (79) Harvey Finley 160 (160) TARKINGTON TRUSTEE POS. 1 Paige Bostwick 1,333 (1,333) Lane Gulledge 1,285 (1,283) TARKINGTON TRUSTEE POS. 2 Donny Haltom 1,685 (1,683) Ronald Shirley, II 929 (929) TARKINGTON TRUSTEE POS. 3 Jon Wright 1,312 (1,312) Kem Kirkham Arnold 1,316 (1,315) LIBERTY WCID POS. 1 Leonard L. Vyoral 224 (223) LIBERTY WCID POS. 2 Lynda Hohn 158 (157) Leroy Hanel 113 (113) It's a terrible feeling to get out of the airport and realize you don't have any cash for the skycap, or to end a relaxing massage with doubts over whether you tipped enough. And, do you know when a tip is in order for a hotel's front desk clerk? What about the doorman? We all tell stories. And we also make stories to make meaning of what we see and experience around us. One story that is told about Christians is that they are judgmental. In fact, 87 percent of the unchurched view Christians as judgmental. One study revealed that many Christians are more concerned with pointing out unrighteous behavior pointing fingers at immorality in the culture, especially than they are with self-righteousness and confronting Christians who exhibit this trait. We can easily make up stories about others while letting ourselves off the hook. But, in doing so we give those who do not know Jesus an opportunity to create a story about us. The problem with that is: often, the story created about us becomes the same story for God He is judgmental. He is pointing fingers at us when we do wrong. Sometimes we need a new story. Fortunately, Jesus gave us many stories that give us an accurate view of God. If you were to choose just one of Jesus stories to know and tell, youd want to choose the story we will look at today. Charles Dickens called it the greatest short story ever told. You might know it as the Prodigal Son. A younger son takes off with his inheritance and squanders it on loose living. He winds up finding work feeding pigs not the place a young Jewish man wants to be and decides to head home and see if his dad will let him work as a servant. Before he gets close to his home, however, his father runs out to greet him. He covers him with a robe and puts a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. All of this is a sign he is accepting his son back. Then the father throws a party for his prodigal son. The older brother doesnt like any of this. Hes upset he didnt get a party. Hes self-righteous and the story ends with us wondering if he will join the party or not. Thats a great story. When we listen to stories, we find ourselves in the characters. You could see yourself in the younger son. Shame hits us hard and tells us we are not enough: not good enough, smart enough, good-looking enough, rich enough. Shame is hard to defeat. Maybe youve done some things in your life that you are ashamed of. Maybe it was in your teenage years. Or into your twenties. Or just this week. And now you wonder what God would think. You have felt the judgement of his people over the years and now you have begun to wonder if he looks at you the same way they have. If you see yourself as the younger son, then you need to see the Father. I dont know what the younger son expected. I dont know what you expect from him either. But I do know what the son and you or I get. We get a father we most likely did not expect. After the father embraced his son and kissed him, he had a servant bring a robe, a ring and sandals. These were items that restored him to his sonship in the family. But the robe especially did something. It covered his shame. The father covered him so that when he did get to the house, no one would have to know where he had been or what he had done. All that mattered was that he was home. If you see yourself in the younger son, you need to see this part of the story. Let it sink in. feel the Fathers embrace. Talk to him. And let him restore you. And learn from the Father. We have a world that needs us to be more like him, especially when we fall. Instead of being concerned about pointing out other peoples unrighteousness, maybe we should be more concerned about self-righteous attitudes. The Father was. The other character in the story is the older son. You dont want to be him. The only people Jesus gets upset with in the gospels are the self-righteous. They are quick to point out the faults of others without taking into account their own. And because of that, they have no room for the one who has made some mistakes in life. The Father is preparing a great feast and he wants you to be at his table. But you cant come alone. There will be tax collectors and sinners, some recovering Pharisees and scribes. All in need of a savior. Youll see Jesus seat at the banquet. But dont be surprised if its empty. Hell probably be out looking for the next person whos lost their way to the party. rickbrown1Life2Love.com With an eye on plans for a spaceport at Ellington Airport, Houstons planning commission has unanimously recommended that a proposal to build a road in that area be included in the citys transportation plan. Adding Ellington Bypass to the (Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan) would reserve right-of-way needed in preparation for the planned Houston Spaceport, Sharon Moses-Burnside, transportation planning division manager with the citys planning and development department, said at the Nov. 8 meeting in which the vote occurred. The final step in the approval process is for City Council to vote on including the project in the plan, said Jordan McGinty , south sector manager with District E Councilman Dave Martins office. The proposal will be sent to council by Dec.1, but its not known when the amendment will appear on a council agenda. The proposed road would improve access and mobility to the airport, according to a September statement from Martins office. The Houston Spaceport is a long-awaited infrastructure addition to Ellington that would allow space launches from the site. Martin has said that Ellington Bypass, which would extend from Texas 3 to Interstate 45, would improve access to the future spaceport and thwart potential development of a facility for oil storage tanks. Bob Mitchell, president of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, previously said that he learned in mid-summer that Magellan Midstream Partners, a company that transports, stores and distributes petroleum products. had purchased pipeline easements in the area. Tom Byer, a spokesman for Magellan, said in a written statement the company is considering various potential sites in the Houston area for crude oil storage including at its terminal facility in east Houston, but added that, We are not considering a site near Ellington Air Field at this time. But Mitchell, whose group is a membership-funded organization that promotes industry development in the area, said the company may be reacting to opposition from BAHEP and Martins office. Mitchell and Martin say that inclusion of the proposed Ellington Road in the citys thoroughfare plan could prevent development where the road is built. Martin hosted an informational open house on the proposed amendment to include Ellington Road in the citys transportation plan in Oct. 16 at Space Center Houston. Ellington Airport, located within 15 minutes of downtown Houston, is a joint-use facility handling both general aviation operations and flights involving the United States military, the Department of Homeland Security and NASA, reads the airports website. The citys thoroughfare plan identifies right-of-way needs and proposes roadway alignments within the city limits of Houston and its extraterritorial jurisdiction by listening to developers and neighborhoods about issues like congestion, mobility and future development plans, according to the citys website. The planning department can be contacted at mobility.planning@houstontx.gov . jaimy.jones@chron.com Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Rated PG-13 for some sequences of fantasy action Rotten Tomatoes Score: 44% In Theaters What started out as a side story for the Harry Potter series has taken on a life of its own in this second film of the Fantastic Beasts franchise. In this new adventure, the infamous pre-Voldemort baddie Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) has escaped from Azkaban Prison in the hope of going to war with the muggle world. Meanwhile, Newt Scamander and a younger Albus Dumbledore (Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law respectively) are doing everything in their power to stop him. I am impressed with the storytelling and ambition on display here, especially since it came under the guise of much more frivolous pretenses. And as youd expect, the production values are top notch as the special effects keep improving and the imagination has stayed true to the original Potter vision. What sadly lacks here is energy. While it is directed by David Yates, who is on his sixth Harry Potter film here, and the screenplay is written by JK Rowling herself, the film has humongous pacing problems throughout and at times is just plain boring. I would still recommend it to fans as it will prove to be a necessary piece of the overall puzzle of its universe, but its certainly one of the least impressive films from this franchise so far. C+ Crazy Rich Asians Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and language Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92% Available on Disc and Streaming I love a good romantic comedy (there are so few these days) so I was excited and surprised when this Asian romcom hit theaters this summer. Based on the best-selling books by Kevin Kwan, it follows a young NYU professor who finds out that her new fiance comes from a super-rich family in Singapore who is determined to break up their relationship once they travel there. With a clever screenplay that keeps you on your toes and an absolutely hysterical supporting cast, the movie turns out to be a winner on all levels. Im not sure if the planned sequels will be able to churn out this much joy, but Im glad to have this one for now. A The Meg Rated PG-13 for action/peril, bloody images and some language Rotten Tomatoes Score: 45% Available on Disc and Streaming When the worlds greatest deep-sea diver (Jason Statham) is hired to rescue the crew of a submersible at the bottom of the Mariana trench, they come under attack, and allow the escape of, the thought-to-be-extinct 75-foot Megalodon shark, who just cant wait to eat the oceans full of people. This is a true guilty pleasure with very little in the way of horror and only mild thrills to be found. The special effects are pretty cheesy but the actors pull it off, even when you can tell they hate being on set, which is apparently the case with Statham according to his rantings after the films theatrical release. That being said, The Meg turns in a mindless yet somewhat fun adventure. You wont regret wasting your time on it but you certainly wont consider two hours well-spent either. C Danny Minton may be reached at danny@dannyminton.com. Denmax Energy Services Inc. wants to bring business and growth to Willis but it could go down the drain if an agreement is not reached to fund water and sewer facilities. Denmax, a Texas company whose Canadian parent is Denmax Energy Service Ltd., along with city officials are reviewing a proposal to build the new location at the former race track off Interstate 45. Denmax provides mechanical, structural and civil construction services for the oil and gas (upstream, midstream and downstream), utilities and infrastructure industries. While the proposed Willis expansion is still in the planning stage, Denmax officials stated they are interested in building an office facility, maintenance and fabrication shop, and equipment yard; however, one request in the agreement is that the city of Willis supports the project with water and sewer for which Denmax had been willing to provide more than its actual share of costs. However, the city adopted an annexation service plan in 2012 that states after consideration of the topography, land use, population, the adequacy of existing retail utilities, private water wells and septic tanks, anticipated levels of demand, and the existing city utility infrastructure, that the council determined no apparent need at the time for the expansion or extension of the city's water and wastewater facilities to the annexed property. In the case where the city found the lines necessary, it would have two years to assess through engineering and staff analysis and reserved the right to recover the cost of the line extensions from benefited property owners. If the final evaluation determines that it is necessary, the city still has 2.5 years to secure funds and start a project. "The main thing is the funding," City Manager Hector Forestier said. While Forestier agreed the company could be the right match for Willis like any other business, he estimated it would be a $1.5-2 million cost to provide water and sewer services along Texas 75 north of the former racetrack site to not only Denmax, but also the businesses in that area. He shared the city, which passed a $9.5 million sewer expansion and rehabilitation project in 2017 that will help provide the capacity for a project such as this proposed commercial development, is in the process of negotiating with Denmax and other developers in the area to potentially share the cost to be able to move forward with the project. City officials are also in the process of reviewing the proposed plan for the plat and construction for the commercial development, he said. The owners sought interstate frontage property for the Denmax U.S. flagship location and, after over a year of searching for the proper site along Interstate 10 or Interstate 45, decided on Interstate 45 north of Houston in either Conroe or Willis, according to Marion Gerhardt of Counsel Zemp Law Group. She said after discussions with city officials in Conroe and Texas, and more searching for the right site, the owners chose the former racetrack site. "This site was also large enough to develop additional sites for other businesses, which would benefit Willis and the surrounding area," Gerhardt stated. "Willis city officials seemed very welcoming of this proposed development and, although a few complications and delays have occurred with the city, Denmax hopes to overcome any obstacles in order to bring its plans for the site to fruition." Denmax purchased the property in February and believe the site will be a catalyst for local growth. City officials said the proposed Denmax Commercial Development would include 11 lots on 32 acres. Denmax information states the possible tax revenues for the city include fabrication and manufacturing, labor and materials, pass-thru products, subcontractors and/or certain construction services; however, Forestier clarified that due to a state law passed in 2007, the local emergency services district, ESD #1, would capture that sales tax, not the city. City officials also confirmed the commercial development would mean more jobs, however the estimated number of jobs was not available. Denmax currently has an office location in The Woodlands, three Alberta locations, and a heavy-hauling operation in Midland. "We anticipate that a decision will be made in the summer or late summer," Forestier said. mellsworth@hcnonline.com A man was found dead early Tuesday outside of a travel trailer in Highlands, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The sheriffs office arrived at the 900 block of North Battlebell around 3 a.m. The man, who appeared to be in his early 50s, was found dead at the scene. He had been shot, authorities said. A much sought-after author and lifestyle-focused internet personality has been tabbed to be the keynote speaker for an event centered around a local charity in The Woodlands. Rachel Hollis is to address attendees at the sixth annual Women Empowering Women luncheon hosted by Interfaith - The Woodlands, set for Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. Hollis is the New York Times best-selling author of Girl, Wash Your Face and founded a lifestyle blog and womens conference. Shes known for her input on topics such as family life and friendships through her cookbooks, podcasts and overall brand. Interfaith President and CEO Missy Herndon said that the organizers chose Hollis for the event because her message is all about empowering women. Shes an entrepreneur, a mother, a wife, a go-getter, and shes very real. Shes a natural fit and a great way to engage a younger generation, Herndon said. The net proceeds from the luncheon go to support Interfaiths Community Clinic. While the clinic is funded by local hospitals, Herndon said they organize this fundraiser to become more self-sufficient. The clinic offers medical, dental and mental health services to uninsured Montgomery County residents, both men and women. The clinic averages about 9,000 patient visits per year, and does so with volunteers who work as licensed healthcare providers. The clinic was founded in 1996, and Medical Director Jack Lesch said the clinic exists to provide a medical home for those who would otherwise not be eligible to receive baseline medical care. Herndon said by commissioning inspiring and purposeful speakers for the event, Interfaiths goal is to continue to expand the base of support for the clinic. Having a dynamic, trending speaker like Rachel Hollis might bring new people into the fold. They might come to hear her, but they might leave supporting a worthy cause, Herndon said Last year, Herndon said, the event raised $100,000. This year, theyre looking to bump that number up: with a goal to raise $164,000. We are hoping that (Hollis) will bring in a few more people so that we can share the mission of the community clinic with them as well, Herndon said. Individuals may purchase a single ticket for $300, while sponsorships are also available for parties of 10 people. Various levels of sponsorship are available from $2,500 to $7,000 and could include bonuses such as recognition in the event program or post-event passes to meet Hollis. The events presenting sponsor this year is CHI St. Lukes Health. Every year weve increased a bit more in attendance and funds raised, and its exciting to watch it grow, Herndon said. jane.stueckemann@chron.com Get those appetites ready: the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 33rd Taste of the Town event on Jan. 17 from 4 to 9 p.m. at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. Jennifer Coyle, the interim director of special events for the chamber, said that its been easy to reach out to community sponsors, restaurants and businesses to get them involved. There is a lot of tradition, and this event has such a huge presence in the community, Coyle said. As of now, there are 17 restaurants signed up to host booths and give out samples of their popular menu items but Coyle expects that number to double or even triple by the time the event rolls around. We have a good mix of placesfrom the counter order places in town, to the nicer places. You might grab a slider at one booth and a filet (mignon) with crab on top at the next booth, Coyle said. She added that there are also a few new restaurants thatll be joining not just this event, but also The Woodlands community soon: such as Sorrisos Modern Italian Kitchen and First Watch Cafe. Its like a preview, an introduction to town, Coyle said about the new restaurant options thatll be at the event. Other businesses can join in by sponsoring booths or tables to pass out soft drinks and water. The only requirement for participating restaurant vendors and sponsors is that they are members of the chamber, Coyle noted. If a business is chamber member, they can still contribute to the event by way of donating a raffle item worth more than $25. Every 15 to 20 minutes during the event, Coyle said, theyll pull a raffle ticket and award the lucky guest the next basket in line. The event culminates in the years Best of Taste competition, in which each guest will be able to vote for their favorite food samples. There are four food awards: best appetizer, best entree, best dessert and the peoples choice award. This year, attendees can also vote on an added category of the best decorated booth. The reigning champions in the various categories are Broken Barrel for the best appetizer, Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse for the best entree and KICPOPS for both the best dessert and the peoples choice award. Thats no small award, either. Usually, there are about 3,000 people who attend and select the best of the sampled options. Want in on the unlimited samples this year? An adult ticket costs $30 and includes two alcoholic drink vouchers; a child ticket for those ages 4 to 10 costs $20. Ticket prices increase by $5 if bought at the door. Lauren Joerg, the chambers marketing and communications director, said that proceeds from the event help the chamber serve both their members and the business community. jane.stueckemann@chron.com A unidentified person is dead after a fiery big rig crash Monday in northwest Harris County The crash happened in the 12600 block of T C Jester Boulevard just north of Spears Road, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The 18-wheeler is the only vehicle involved in the crash, deputies said. The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office tweeted that they are assisting as firefighters work to clean up the wreck. No other information was available. Check back for updates as they come in. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message They wrapped around the side of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, waiting for the turkeys that will garnish their tables and fill the stomachs of their children and families on Thanksgiving. Some were homeless. Some were down on their luck. Some were working multiple jobs. But on Tuesday, they were grateful. It does my heart good, Spring Branch resident Marcie Jo Miller said while waiting for the food shell take home for the holidays. Its nice to know that theres places like this. The East Spring Branch Food Pantry expected to provide Thanksgiving dinner to more than 1,200 families in west and northwest Houston on Monday and Tuesday, supplying them each with a feast of turkey or chicken, fresh produce and two bags of dried goods. Director Mary White said the pantry spent an estimated $16,000 for a total of 800 turkeys, 400 chickens and the produce. Families from local churches and organizations donated the dried goods, which were crammed in a sea of blue and purple bags that filled a church gym to half-court. The food pantry served 377 families on Monday, all recommended by Spring Branch Independent School District schools, and volunteers expected to give away the rest of the goods by Tuesday afternoon. That sort of giving is a pleasure for many of the volunteers, White said. It feeds us, White said. You come to the pantry, you can be tired or whatever, and you leave feeling so good about life and people. Volunteer Francine Fleming echoed the sentiment, saying shes helped out with the pantrys Thanksgiving services for the past 15 years. It makes you feel really good that youre able to share with them in their Thanksgiving, in a way, Fleming said. Starting at 7 on Tuesday morning, dozens of people lined up around the church, which shares a parking lot with the food pantry. After checking in, those in line had the option to get a flu shot before bringing their cars through a drive-thru line to pick up the goods for their meals. The only requirement for receiving the food was to live in one of six designated ZIP codes in the Houston area. While waiting in line, Lisa Jo Guggenheim wrapped herself in a lime green blanket, smiling as she talked about what the pantry has meant to her for the past 10 years. The people here are always so respectful, and they treat you with dignity, Guggenheim said. They just help so many children. I like to see the kids getting what they need. Anthony Collier, a Spring Branch-area resident who was at the back of the line with his wife, said the wait was nothing compared to the services he was about to receive. This is what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about, being thankful for all that you have, Collier said. The food pantrys Thanksgiving operations started about 30 years ago,on a much smaller scale, White said. Its grown rapidly, she said, with 1,007 families served last year and 1,200 families served this year. At least 100 volunteers helped out on both Monday and Tuesday. The pantry is regularly open four days a week, but Thanksgiving represents the true purpose and culmination of the organizations work, White said. In my life, being thankful is basic to living, because you have to be grateful for the goodness that people give you, because you didnt earn any of this, she said. Life is a gift, everything is a gift. G.L. Gonzales, who will be celebrating Thanksgiving with his wife and his niece, said hes come down on harder times but is choosing to focus on the happiness in his own life. I look at the positive side - this is awesome, I really need it, and itll make mine and my wifes and my nieces holiday a little bit nicer, Gonzales said. It is a time to be thankful. You wake up in the morning and youre alive. samantha.ketterer@chron.com Twitter.com/sam_kett After considering charges for both a Texas prison guard and his accuser, a Jasper County grand jury declined to indict anyone involved in a molestation probe at the Goodman Unit north of Beaumont. Earlier in the year, a Houston woman visiting the East Texas lock-up publicly alleged an officer had fondled her breast. But investigators later called into question her version of events, instead asking a grand jury to consider felony tampering charges against the woman and misdemeanor official oppression charges against the officer, who has since resigned. Earlier this month, a grand jury no-billed the case. The woman at the center of the claims - Sylvia Hidalgo - first went public with her allegations back in August, at a press conference in Houston featuring local activist Quanell X. This guard should be indicted, he should be charged, Quanell told reporters, urging the prison system to have a zero tolerance policy for this kind of behavior. READ MORE: Texas prison guard resigns amid molestation probe But, after looking into the case and getting a warrant for Hidalgos phone, investigators determined there may have been more to it. Its a little bit different story than what was presented, said Jack Choate, executive director of the Special Prosecution Unit, which handles Texas prison criminal cases. The incident caught on tape happened sometime in the fall of 2017, while Hidalgo was driving into the unit for a visit. It wasnt the first time shed interacted with the accused officer, she said, so she knew to set up a camera and catch him in the act when he reached in the window and touched her. I wasnt dressed provocatively, she said. When I left, I was just in total shock. Afterward, she went to prison officials with her allegations. The officer resigned and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice forwarded the case to the Office of the Inspector General, which handles criminal investigations for the agency. Initially they treated her like she was a suspect not a victim, Quanell said. Too often when a woman makes an outcry she is treated as a suspect not a victim. This lady is a victim, the video speaks to her being a victim. The video is louder than words. The short clip shown at the press conference showed a mans hand reaching in the car window and tickling Hidalgos breast, but investigators said that it was only one portion of a longer clip. Initially, according to Choate, Hidalgo was not willing to hand over the rest of the footage, so investigators had to get a search warrant for her phone. The footage reviewed by the Chronicle shows Hidalgo setting her phone on the floor by her foot to clandestinely record the interaction. She pulls up to talk to an officer and asks some questions about visitation, her arm hanging out the window. They chit-chat about where she plans to eat afterward and she leans back in her seat before he reaches in to tickle the underside of her arm. READ MORE: Texas prison guard charged in connection with death of inmate who allegedly spit on him She looks to the side, then appears to nod quickly before he reaches in and touches her breast lightly. Though the most misdemeanors can be charged without taking the case to a grand jury, Choate said, prosecutors needed to do so for a charge like official oppression. The intent was to present all the different possibilities of charges against anybody involved, he said. When reached by phone late Monday, Quanell was surprised both to learn of the grand jurys failure to indict and of the existence of additional footage. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice declined to comment. keri.blakinger@chron.com @keribla Note: This story has been updated to correct information about what charges requires a grand jury. A Houston-based company confirmed that Saturday it found an Argentine submarine after the ship disappeared almost a year ago with 44 crew members on board. Ocean Infinity, a seabed exploration company, announced that it found the wreckage of the ARA San Juan submarine in a deep ocean ravine about 700 miles east of Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean after two months of searching. The ravine was more than 3,000 feet below the surface, the company said. "Our thoughts are with the many families affected by this terrible tragedy," said Oliver Plunkett, Ocean Infinity's CEO. "We sincerely hope that locating the resting place of the ARA San Juan will be of some comfort to them at what must be a profoundly difficult time. Furthermore, we hope our work will lead to their questions being answered and lessons learned which help to prevent anything similar from happening again." The San Juan was on a routine mission from Ushuaia in the Patagonia region to Mar del Plata in Buenos Aires province when it lost contact with the military on Nov. 15, 2017. The Argentine navy later announced that an explosion had been recorded near the submarine's last known location. Plunkett said that the submarine was found broken into pieces, which supports the Argentine navys core hypothesis that an explosion or implosion occurred. He added that locating the wreckage was made all the more difficult because submarines are designed not to be detected by sonar technology. For me, its when you remember this is designed not to be detected by sonar, you realize actually the magnitude of what we achieved, Plunkett said. Ocean Infinitys mission was entirely non-invasive, meaning that they were strictly contracted by the Argentinian government to locate the submarine, not perform any recovery efforts. Argentina's government hired Ocean Infinity in August to search for the submarine for up to 60 days, with a promised $7.5 million payout if the submarine was found. The company had previously been contracted to find Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared over the Indian Ocean in 2014. Ocean Infinity began its search on Sept. 7, using five Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to carry out the search, which was conducted by a team of about 60 crew members on board Seabed Constructor. In addition, three officers of the Argentine navy and four family members of the crew of the ARA San Juan joined Seabed Constructor to observe the search operation. Ocean Infinity's AUV's are capable of operating in water depths from 16 feet to nearly 20,000 feet. The AUVs are not tethered to their host vessel during operations, allowing them to go deeper and collect higher quality data for the search. The AUV software allows the vessels to make its own navigational decisions, particularly as it pertains to collision avoidance. Plunkett said the AUVs found the submarine on the last hour of the last day of its 60-day contract with the Argentinian government. The search crew was initially confounded because there was compelling evidence that the submarine was in a completely different location. Were looking for something less than 60 meters long that, as it was laying on the seabed, looked like rocks, Plunkett said. Where it was found, it was on a 3-meter high ledge surrounded by rocks. So it was not just looking for a needle in a haystack, but the needle looked like a piece of straw. nick.powell@chron.com Alan Nickerson was still in high school when he and a group of friends shot to death an off-duty deputy constable during a botched robbery. It was a capital crime but, at 17, Nickerson wasnt eligible for the death penalty. Instead, he was automatically given a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the murder of Carltrell Odom. That was in 2008. In the intervening years, public opinion has shifted and the laws have changed. Life without parole is no longer a legal sentence for minors in Texas. When a U.S. Supreme Court decision sparked a review of cases like Nickersons, Harris County prosecutors again decided to ask for a sentence of life without parole, a move that surprised Nickersons attorneys and set off months of legal back-and-forth. But on Monday, following a meeting with the victim's family, a strongly worded letter from a coalition of criminal justice advocates and questions from the Houston Chronicle, prosecutors switched course and offered a plea to life with the possibility of parole after 40 years. Were grateful that the district attorneys office has come to this conclusion, said Mandy Miller, the defense attorney representing Nickerson. I hope that this now means that theyre taking a stance that they wont be seeking life without parole on any of these cases when they come back for resentencing. There are only about two dozen cases like Nickersons statewide, and District Attorney Kim Ogg didnt immediately address how she plans to handle those out of Harris County. But she framed the change of heart as a relief to the victims family. Although Carltrells senseless murder is forever a daily presence in their lives, Carltrells family wants the legal wrangling and appeals to end, Ogg said Monday. The certainty that Nickerson must serve at least 40 years before being considered for parole, while it restores nothing to them, gives a measure of peace. Only in rare cases For decades, Texas killers convicted of capital murder had two sentences available to them under law: life with parole or the death penalty. But in 2005, the state Legislature replaced life with parole with a harsher alternative: life without the possibility of parole. It was a change that death penalty supporters had long resisted, fearing it would make juries less apt to agree to death if they knew that a life sentence truly meant a killer would never be able to get out of prison. But convicted capital murderers under 18 werent eligible for death thanks to an earlier Supreme Court decision so instead they got mandatory life without parole. Then in 2012, a groundbreaking Supreme Court case out of Alabama banned mandatory life without parole for minors. Instead, the high court said sentencing for young offenders should be considered on a case-by-case basis, weighing factors such as culpability and the possibility of rehabilitation. The U.S. Supreme Court was clear that the sentence should only be for the rare juvenile that represents permanent incorrigibility and the inability to be rehabilitated, said Marsha Levick, chief legal officer at Juvenile Law Center in Pennsylvania. Teens sentenced in the six years between the creation of life without parole and the Supreme Courts 2012 decision were in a sort of legal limbo, sentenced under a statute deemed no longer constitutional. In 2013, the Texas Legislature passed a law banning life without parole as a sentence for killers under 18. That law wasnt retroactive, so it didnt affect cases like Nickersons. But three years later, another Supreme Court case made the 2012 ruling retroactive, and Nickersons case ended up back in the legal system. An unexpected move The 2007 slaying that started it all was over money for a pair of sneakers. Nickerson and three other teens approached the off-duty constable and another man outside the Concord Apartments, demanding their valuables. Odom, who was off duty and not in uniform, ran away across the parking lot, but Nickerson followed him and opened fire, killing the 20-year-old six months before he was scheduled to graduate from college. Afterward, Miller said, Nickerson showed remorse and helped police catch his co-conspirators. But still, according to First Assistant District Attorney Tom Berg, it was the heinousness of the crime that prompted prosecutors to consider life without parole as the sentence a second time around. In July, the case went before the district attorneys capital review committee, which evaluates every capital murder case and votes on an appropriate sentence. Prosecutors wouldnt say how each member voted, but collectively they decided to move ahead in pursuing life without parole. To Miller, it was an unexpected move, especially from a district attorney who campaigned as a reform candidate. Going forward with life without parole is clearly against the legislative intent, she said, pointing to the 2013 law. This is not the worst of the worst, she said. This is a robbery gone wrong. The case was headed for a jury trial, though prosecutors had filed a motion asking for the judge to handle sentencing instead. Miller, meanwhile, filed a motion asking the court to apply the 2013 law retroactively, thus banning life without parole for her client. And last week the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association and a coalition of advocacy groups sent Oggs office a letter asking them to reconsider, and to think about whether life without parole is ever an appropriate sentence for a juvenile since the Texas Legislature has found it is not. Prosecutors met Monday morning with the family, Berg said. When the Chronicle called for comment just before noon, officials said they were still pursuing life without parole. Then, early Monday afternoon, prosecutors emailed the defense attorney with the offer of a lesser sentence, life with the possibility of parole after 40 years in 2047. What were really talking about here is the chance at mercy, said defense attorney Patrick McCann, who also handled the case. Thats all were talking about the chance. keri.blakinger@chron.com HPD The Houston Police Department is thanking a local company for putting together a Thanksgiving meal for its officers and cadets. Speaking at the "Banquet for Badges," Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said he was grateful to Aggreko for organizing the event as a way to show thanks to the future and current members of the Houston Police Department. NASA will investigate the workplace culture at SpaceX and Boeing, including drug use, less than a year before the two companies are scheduled to launch their first crewed missions to space, the agency confirmed Tuesday. NASA will be conducting a cultural assessment study in coordination with our commercial partners to ensure the companies are meeting NASAs requirements for workplace safety, including the adherence to a drug-free environment, Kathryn Hambleton, a spokeswoman at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., told the Houston Chronicle. News of the probe first was reported Tuesday by the Washington Post, which wrote that the safety review was prompted by a September podcast on which SpaceX founder Elon Musk smoked marijuana and drank whiskey. William Gerstenmaier, NASAs associate administrator for human exploration, told the Post that the review would examine everything and anything that could impact safety, including hours worked, drug policies and if safety concerns are taken seriously. MAJOR LOSS: NASAs recent woes took root with loss of space shuttle program In statements Tuesday, both Boeing and SpaceX confirmed their commitment to safety. The culture at Boeing ensures the integrity, safety and quality of our products, our people and their work environment, Boeing said in its statement. As NASAs trusted partner since the beginning of human spaceflight, we share the same values and are committed to continuing our legacy of trust, openness and mission success. SpaceX said it takes its mission from NASA to carry American astronauts to the International Space Station seriously. SpaceX actively promotes workplace safety and we are confident that our comprehensive drug-free workforce and workplace programs exceed all applicable contractual requirements, the statement read. Both companies were hired in 2014 by NASA to fly astronauts to the space station as a means of replacing the space shuttle program, which was shuttered in 2011. Its not immediately clear if the review will impact the test flights scheduled for next year. FLYING COMMERCIAL: NASA names first 9 astronauts to fly on commercial vehicles by Boeing, SpaceX The review comes at a rough time for both NASA and SpaceX, as the space agency tries to negotiate hurdles that can be traced back to the end of the shuttle program and as Musk negotiates numerous scandals largely related to Tesla, his electric car company. Keith Cowing, editor of NASA Watch, wrote on his website devoted to space news that the investigation could be problematic for the space program. NASA has run out of things to blame its own internal failures on so they go after two external partners to see if there is anything they can dig up, he wrote. The net result will probably be a delay to Boeing and SpaceX launches, which will make [Space Launch System rocket] delays look less bad, I guess. NASA woes The loss of the space shuttle in 2011 was felt acutely over the course of just one week in October. First, the Hubble Space Telescope the groundbreaking observatory that was built to be serviced by the shuttle stopped working. Then, NASAs Office of Inspector General released a report stating the launch of Orion the spacecraft being built to take humans back to the moon likely would be delayed because of cost and development problems with its SLS rocket. And as if that werent enough, the launch of a Russia spacecraft transporting an American to the space station was aborted because of a rocket booster failure the first incident of its kind in 35 years. ABORTED LAUNCH: American, Russian astronauts safe after emergency landing of Soyuz MS-10 Of all the recent problems, the emergency landing of the Russian Soyuz highlighted the need for the commercial crew program to get up and running. Now, NASA pays Russia $82 million per seat to take astronauts to the space station, and for a short while after the aborted launch, American astronauts had no means of getting to the space station the U.S. has dumped billions of dollars into. Russian officials have since said they found the source of the problem and rescheduled the next flight originally expected to take off Dec. 20 to Dec. 3. In an effort to avoid the grounding of astronauts, the U.S. awarded Boeing and SpaceX contracts totaling $6.8 billion in 2014. The two companies initially were expected to launch crewed test flights this year. But, like many space-related programs, their schedules have slipped. Now, SpaceX plans to launch an uncrewed flight test in January, with a crewed flight test the following June. Boeings changes are similar, with an uncrewed flight test in March and crewed flight test in August. A WHIRLWIND FEW MONTHS: NASA astronaut Anne McClain says she's ready for flight to Space Station A NASA safety panel in October released a report calling into question both companies timelines and construction. For example, it found that Boeing still has not completed several important tests on the parachute systems, heat shield and other components of the spacecraft. It also found that SpaceX was struggling with the parachute system. The companies schedules to fly have considerable risk and do not appear achievable given the number of technical issues yet to be resolved, the panel. Despite these delays, NASA already has announced the nine astronauts who will be the first to fly on Boeing and SpaceX vehicles. Controversies Musks SpaceX company has had many successes this year, including launching a Tesla automobile into space and sending its Dragon cargo ship to the space station 15 times. But Musk has also been plagued with controversies. In an August interview with The New York Times in which he choked up several times, he said that this past year has been the most difficult and painful year of my career. The interview came a week after Musk announced on Twitter that he had funding secured to take Tesla private. Musk eventually stepped down as chairman of Tesla, paying a $20 million fine to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which argued that the tweet constituted him lying to investors. Additionally, Musk is being sued for defamation after calling a rescue volunteer trying to save children caught in a Thai cave this summer a pedo and child rapist, apparently without proof. And then, of course, there was the podcast in which he smoked pot, which the Post reported is the cause of the NASA review announced Tuesday. READ MORE: NASAs Orion launch faces further delays as new problems emerge with rocket development Cowing wrote on NASA Watch that it doesnt matter what SpaceX or Boeing may or may not be smoking given their contributions to space exploration. SpaceX can reuse rockets and learned how to do so at a fraction of what it would have taken NASA to do so if they even knew how, that is, he wrote. NASA has no rockets to reuse and they spent a billion dollars to make reusable shuttle engines disposable. Its not clear how long the review will take, but Hambleton said NASA is serious about the investigation. We fully expect our commercial partners to meet all workplace safety requirements in the execution of our missions and the services they provide the American people, according to the NASA statement. Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey. ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN, STR / New York Times AUSTIN Texas on Monday appealed a lower courts rejection of a law requiring fetal and embryonic tissue from most failed pregnancies be buried, arguing the topic deserves a thorough discussion of abortion precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court. Under Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas argued U.S. District Judge David Ezra erred when he failed to place the burden of proof on abortion providers who did not attempt to comply with the 2017 law or find a vendor to handle the remains, according to a filing with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans. The government has announced changes to its procurement practices to boost social value considerations and reduce barriers for social enterprises. In a speech to Business Services Association Annual Chairmans Dinner yesterday, cabinet minister David Lidington said central government would now use a new model to evaluate the social impact of its contracts to outsource public services. Lidington said the changes would remove barriers for "small businesses and social enterprises to central government contracts, worth 48bn a year, while improving skills and employment opportunities for the disadvantaged and increasing equality and diversity in the workforce. He said the approach for central government procurement will be based on a model already being successfully used for assessing social impact in parts of local government. We will ensure this further levels the playing field for our small businesses and social enterprises - they are closest to our communities and will be in the best possible position to deliver social value through the contract, he said. However, he added: The overarching objective for the governments commercial activities will remain achieving the best commercial outcome but it is right that we also use governments purchasing power to support key social outcomes. Procurement changes can grow the sector Andrew OBrien, director of external affairs at Social Enterprise UK, said the government was right to talk about supporting social enterprise and small businesses in the same breath. He said: There are over 100,000 social enterprises contributing 60bn to UK GDP and we are an important part of the economy. Better government procurement can grow the sector even further. Reforming procurement through increasing social value matters because the way that we spend public money should reflect the kind of society we want to see. Meanwhile, Clarity, a charity and social enterprise employing people with disabilities, said it welcomed the changes. Camilla Marcus-Dew, co-founder, said: Working with the Cabinet Office has made a massive difference to our social enterprise - enabling us to grow and boost our revenue. Lidington also announced measures to protect the continuation of public services in the event of a large contractors collapse, such as Carillion earlier this year. These include the requirement for contractors to create living wills a plan for continued services in the event of contractor collapse. 'More profound changes' Kathy Evans, chief executive of Children England, said the changes were welcome but could go further. She said: Yesterdays announcements include several steps in the right direction to tackle problems in public commissioning, especially strengthening prompt payment obligations, and stepping up the role of social value across Whitehall procurement. It was a shame not to hear how the critical report by Public Administration and Constituional Affairs Committee is being responded to by government, as that laid down several much more profound challenges - including the need to halt payment by results, and for government to take wholesale responsibility for the sustainability of public monopsonies. 'Living wills' for individual contractors just won't cut it when it's public commissioners who hold the duties to ensure continuity of service in the event of business failures. Social Value Act The Public Service (Social Value) Act, which requires commissioners to consider the wider value added to society by each bidder, came into force in 2013. Lidington announced in June changes to the act which will now require all major procurements to explicitly evaluate" those benefits. The measures were cast an attempt to level the playing field for charities, social enterprises and other civil society organisations. Nicaragua is at war with itself. On April 18, protestorssparked by a pension reform widely seen as unjust and emblematic of corruption under President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillotook to the streets of every major city and town. Since then, hundreds of protesters, deemed terrorists by their government, have been arrested and tortured. Hundreds more have been killedsome shot by snipers, some burned alive in their homes. Ortega, in power since 2007a Supreme Court, stacked in his favor, lifted term limitshas always maintained his grip with force. The media, dominated by the state, has nevertheless told a story, echoed by much of the international press, of a poor Central American nation guided by a left-wing revolutionary turned business-friendly centrist, a place blissfully on its way to being a premier destination for tourists and foreign investment. That narrative, which continues to dominate Nicaraguas airwaves, is now at striking odds with the violent reality. Many of Nicaraguas big news outlets are controlled either directly by the government, under the rule of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, or by wealthy moguls with state relations to maintain. Leading TV and radio channels are largely owned by Ortegas familyhis children have become successful businessmen like their fatherand the Ortega clan is one half of a media duopoly, with outlets outside its umbrella subject to corruption: moneyin particular, the government ad budgetand access to power. On the international stage, the state-backed Venezuelan network teleSUR, Russias RT, and the faux-grassroots documentarians of Moscows Redfish amplify the story told at home. In the early weeks of spring, coverage in pro-Ortega outlets was characterized by omission: everything was fine, a few malcontents aside, and anything else you heard was a lie, paid for by shadowy right-wing elements, including the Central Intelligence Agency, looking to regime-change a government that partners with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Those journalists telling a different, unfiltered story of an unpopular government at war with its people have been slandered, threatened, and detained. At least one has been murdered: Angel Gahona, in the Caribbean coastal city of Blue Fields. His family says the government did it; the government blames two young men at the anti-government protest Gahona was covering, and convicted them at a trial that the Committee to Protect Journalists dismissed as unfair. For some broadcasters employed by the Nicaraguan state, the contradictionsbetween what they were told to say and what they sawbecame too much. I couldnt go on being a publicist for a government that had caused so much damage to the country, Eva Torres, until March an on-air reporter at Canal 6, a national television station, says. Shed been in the job for three years, until the anti-government sentiment boiled over. These days, journalists who work for the government have been turned into public relations people who just try to make a perverse government look good, Torres explains. The protesters are all right-wing terrorists, for example, or working for the MRS, a dissident Sandinista faction, if not the CIA. Torres, 23, found it to be an impossible fiction to maintain in a country with fewer people than New York City. When I quit Canal 6 is when government sympathizers started calling me a traitor, she says. Supporters of the Sandinista government hide behind false profiles on social media to threaten us and accuse us of being coup-plotters and terrorists, among a number of illogical things. They dont just talk, either. Two months after she quit Canal 6, Torres went to work for a broadcaster in Rivas, a market town known to tourists as the last stop before Nicaraguas Pacific Coast, a premier surfing destination. Using fake accounts on Twitter and Facebook, Ortega partisans both threatened her and, taking a page from tactics deployed against the left in the United States, sought to plant divisive fake newsincluding a story they hoped she would report, about an opposition-aligned professor living in exile in Costa Rica, who was actually (but not, in fact, actually) a government agent. Sign up for CJR 's daily email About half of Nicaraguas 6.1 million people are the same age as Torres or younger, born after the Sandinistas first stint in powerin the 1980s, as a popular, revolutionary forceand coming of age amid Ortegas consecutive terms as president. During his 2006 campaign, he reinvented himself as a pro-business, anti-abortion Catholic centrist, more liable to be praised by the World Bank than by any socialist. The young people, watching his transformation, went on to lead the protests against his proposed pension reform, which would have hurt the poor and elderly; it was these young people who occupied campuses in Managua, the capital, and who were indiscriminately killed, detained, and tortured when the state and pro-government paramilitariesthe masked, heavily armed men who prefer the term volunteer policetook the city back by force. ICYMI: Across the Language Barrier The threat of a demographic that cannot be easily won with nostalgia has been met, also, with a squashing of those who would provide a platform to the disillusioned of all ages. There is a systemic attack on the press, Wilfredo Miranda Aburto, a correspondent with Confidencial, says. Aburto started out the year covering peaceful protests. Then it became the bloodiest massacre since the time of the war, he explains. And journalists dont escape that violence. In May, Aburto published an investigation detailing how a government snipers bullet ended up in an unarmed protesters head. (According to the United Nations, the vast majority of the more than 300 people killed since protests began died at the hands of their government or its partisans.) His report showed that the bullet came from a high-caliber weapon of war, of the sort known only to be in the possession of the state and its proxies. Soon after publication, online threats began: a campaign to discredit and defame, he says. After the trolls came the police, who harassed Aburto at his home. They wanted to commandeer my house and my vehicle, he says. Now, having fled, he adds, I dont reveal to anyone where I live. The Ortega government and its supporters are quick to note they do not have a monopoly on violence in Nicaragua. Opponents of the government have killed nearly two dozen police officersvigilantes have launched reprisal attacks, with kidnappings and beatings, against suspected Sandinista partisans. Journalists and others aligned with the Sandinistas have been threatened, too. But the state owns by far the greatest share of the bloodshed. It also has the might to crack down on narratives that counter its interests. 100% Noticias, one of the more popular non-government news stations, was taken off the air in April after it began wall-to-wall coverage of anti-government protests. The same month, an opposition radio station was set ablaze in Leon. In October, the director of Radio Mi Voz was detained. Every week, local journalists tell CJR, a handful of their colleagues are arrested, an increasingly routine form of harassment. 100% Noticias is now back on the air. But Denny Garcia, a correspondent who also reports for Radio Corporacion in northern Nicaragua, says that restraints on the press have been constant. In the past, when, instead of softballs, reporters quizzed police officials on unsolved cases, he explains, the response was to boot all but government-backed journalists from law enforcements weekly press conferences. State employees of all sorts were forced to shun anyone outside the official press. They stopped giving interviews to independent media, he says. Lately, Ortega partisans have sought to deny Garcia the ability to report at all. We have been harassed every time we do our television newscast, he says. Motorcycles pass by making noise, government militants calling us terrorists, calling us vandals and a series of other insults. On a recent reporting trip to San Juan del Rio Cocoa town in the wet, coffee-growing region of northern NicaraguaGarcia says, police and employees of the mayors office began to stalk him and his crew. Then someone from what he calls the red and black partythose are the Sandinista colorstold us we had to go immediately, otherwise they would take our cameras. They left. Things were not stellar before, says Oscar Navaratte, a journalist with La Prensa, an opposition-aligned newspaper in Managua. But since the protests in April, the press has been besieged. At one rally, Navarrate saw police help a caravan of volunteers break into an opposition crowd to crack skulls; when he moved in for a photo, someone took out a 9mm handgun and pointed it at his head. Photographers, he notes, are targeted the most, for their valuable equipment, but also to prevent an internationally viral imagethese days worth far more than a thousand words in Spanish. And the truth, Navaratte says, is that journalism in Nicaragua gets more dangerous every day. Foreign journalists havent been spared, either. Tim Rogers, a long-time resident, fled Nicaragua after government sympathizers spread the lie that he was a CIA agent, an allegation also made against Carl David Goette-Luciak, a freelance journalist who was deported after an online smear campaign. Toby Hill, a British journalist, has been covering the conflict in Nicaragua for outlets such as The Telegraph and The Guardian. He tells CJR that the risks to the press are like nothing hes seen before. Soon after the popular unrest began, There was a protest on one of the roundabouts in central Managuadesigned by Nicaraguas last dictator to discourage public gatheringsand police responded by driving pickup trucks, with seven or eight police in the back, past the protesters, he says. And they just opened fire. At that point, Hill recalls, it was mainly rubber bullets. That didnt last long. Weeks later, at a rally on Mothers Day, Hill saw people shot and killed by snipers. (The government has suggested, without evidence, that a right-wing paramilitary group was responsible for those attacks.) It was so difficult to report, because it was just insane20 people were being killed a day. I was finding it close to impossible to report with that level of danger. He left for a couple weeks, distancing himself from what had become a war zone. He returned to something altogether new. Its a very different situation because its moved onits that crisis reporting, with this huge potential of gunfire breaking out, Hill says, from Managua. Its a much more totalitarian state, is the feel of it now. No one talks politics over beers anymore, at least not in public. Every journalist Ive spoken to here has faced threats. Some have been shot; some have been beaten on the streets. Constant harassment and intimidation, he adds. Its not a safe place to be working. It is rarely foreigners who have to fear retribution for their work, however. Several Nicaraguan journalists have fled the country after receiving threats. Mike Espinoza, a former editor of the government-run El 19, now lives in exile; because he couldnt go on describing protests as an attempted coup detat by the right, he said in a television interview, he was labeled a traitor. Still, there remains a group of reporters willing to stubbornly resist the governments repression. Patricia Martinez, 21, started her journalism career this year, just before the protests began. She writes for Confidencial, covering the social unrest in her country, and reporting on those, like Espinoza, who have been forced to flee it. I wanted to be a journalist because I want people to know what happens in Nicaragua, Martinez says. Im always scared that practicing my profession will lead to retaliation against me and my family, she adds. I live with fear. But I will not stop. ICYMI: Covering the Koreas Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Charles Davis is a journalist who has lived in Nicaragua, covered congress for public radio, and reported for outlets such as The Daily Beast, The Guardian, and The New Republic. It was a climbdown. After a court ordered the temporary return of CNN correspondent Jim Acostas White House credentials on Friday, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and comms chief Bill Shine warned they would revoke them again the minute the order expired. Yesterday, however, they wrote Acosta with a final determination to restore his pass, dropping the threat. In response, CNN quickly ended its lawsuit over the pass, calling it no longer necessary. Reporters and commentators, meanwhile, hailed a clear defeat for the White House. In effect, WH just surrendered, The Washington Posts Paul Farhi tweeted. Great news! the Society of Professional Journalists exclaimed, also in a tweet. Later, CNN political analyst David Gergen called the U-turn a significant victory for CNN and for the country. The decision did not come without conditions, however. Sanders and Shine laid out a series of briefing room rules they say Acosta and others must obey going forward; if they do not, they risk the suspension or revocation of their credentials. The rules state that reporters may ask only one question before yielding the floor; that follow-up questions may only be permitted at the discretion of the White House; and that yielding the floor may include physically surrendering the microphone to a staffer. Fridays court order that the administration reinstate Acostas pass was premised on a lack of due process. The White House clearly hopes its rules will protect it from this logic in future. ICYMI: Jim Acosta, enemy and selfie trophy CNNs victory is thus part of a more complicated picture. In an email last night, Jonathan Peters, a media law professor at the University of Georgia and CJRs press freedom correspondent, hailed the restoration of Acostas pass as significant and positiveespecially since its revocation was in flagrant violation of the constitutionbut also called the White Houses new rules a club to use against journalists. In particular, Peters worries that the administration will wield that club on outlets it doesnt like. The rules dont discriminate, on their face, between CNN, and Fox News, and The New York Times, he wrote. But news organizations will need to be vigilant against discriminatory enforcement. Peters is clear that discrimination of this type would likely not hold up in court. Its critical to understand that the White House cant suspend or deny credentials on the basis of the content or viewpoint of a journalists reporting, he said. That is a substantive First Amendment violation I wouldnt want the White House to think it could do whatever it wanted as long as due process was satisfied. There are other, less legalistic reasons to see the restoration of Acostas pass as a hollow victory, however. Aside from a court order affirming due-process rights, its not clear that Acosta, CNN, or the press corps as a whole gained much from this sorry episode. The White House, by contrast, won two weeks free airtime for its divisive anti-press rhetoric, and a pretext, however flimsy, to curb reporters questionsall while avoiding a definitive ruling on First Amendment grounds. Thats not to say the White House won on the issue at hand; it did not. When it kicked out Acosta, many press advocates called for an unflinching legal response, and thats exactly what CNN delivered. The fight was necessary. But it probably wasnt a cause for triumphalism. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The media bandwidth the Acosta episode consumed could have been used more productively; on the fires in California, for example, or on the Thousand Oaks mass shooting, or on midterms fallout. At the time, commentators speculated that the White House had booted Acosta to deflect attention from the forced resignation of Jeff Sessions the same day. By that metric, perhaps the White House did win something. Below, more on Acosta-gate: Can, meet road: The Atlantics Scott Nover rounds up more legal reaction to the Acosta climbdown. One attorney, David Lurie, had a particularly interesting point: Because CNN chose to drop its lawsuit, White House threats to expel reporters in a bid to police their questions wont be tested in court, at least for now. The Atlantics Scott Nover rounds up more legal reaction to the Acosta climbdown. One attorney, David Lurie, had a particularly interesting point: Because CNN chose to drop its lawsuit, White House threats to expel reporters in a bid to police their questions wont be tested in court, at least for now. Self-censorship? The Posts Erik Wemple writes that the new White House rules could have a chilling effect on press freedom. Will reporters run afoul of these new rules? Will they ask two questions when theyre allotted only one? he asks. Such technicalities may be beside the point: Reporters will be thinking about those rules and the hassles that come along with violating them. The Posts Erik Wemple writes that the new White House rules could have a chilling effect on press freedom. Will reporters run afoul of these new rules? Will they ask two questions when theyre allotted only one? he asks. Such technicalities may be beside the point: Reporters will be thinking about those rules and the hassles that come along with violating them. A WHCA tradition, part I: The White House Correspondents Association vowed to hold firm against the new rules. For as long as there have been W.H. press conferences, W.H. reporters have asked follow-up questions, it said. We fully expect this tradition will continue. The White House Correspondents Association vowed to hold firm against the new rules. For as long as there have been W.H. press conferences, W.H. reporters have asked follow-up questions, it said. We fully expect this tradition will continue. A WHCA tradition, part II: The WHCA also announced yesterday that a comedian will not headline its next annual dinner; instead, the historian Ron Chernow, who wrote the book behind the hit musical Hamilton, will be the featured speaker. Michelle Wolf, whose controversial routine last year clearly prompted the change, called the organization cowards. Other notable stories: The Timess Edmund Lee splashes an extraordinary suggestion from Jonah Peretti, BuzzFeeds co-founder and CEO, that top digital publishers could merge to demand better terms from social media giants. While Peretti would not say with whom he might have had preliminary discussions, he did namecheck Vice, Vox Media, Group Nine, and Refinery29 as among those doing interesting work. In statements to the Times, the CEOs of Vox and Refinery29 seemingly left the door open to teaming up. Over the weekend, BuzzFeeds Steven Perlberg reported on a different industry plan to gang up on Facebook and Google, as media companies seek permission to bargain collectively with web platforms over content distribution, an option currently banned by antitrust laws. While the proposal languished in Congress after it was presented last year, Perlberg writes, with resentment against Big Tech at an all-time high in Washington and Democrats set to take control of the House, news executives are starting to believe they now have another shot. A chaser from the frantic Facebook news cycle: Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan says Mark Zuckerberg should, at the very least, relinquish his role as the companys chairman, giving its board more independence to check his power as CEO. For CJRs print issue on race and journalism, Alice Driver writes about the benefitsand challengesof translating stories to reach new readers. Last week, I wrote that much early coverage failed to situate the California wildfires in the context of climate change. Yesterday, Mat Honan, BuzzFeeds San Francisco bureau chief, showed how it should be done in a striking piece casting the fires as a defining moment. In California, in mid-November of 2018, it became as clear as it did in New York in mid-September of 2001 that what was a once-distant threat has now arrived, Honan writes. Many factors made the situation what it isa sprawl of homes slung into the wilderness, for example, and fire management practices. But the most salient cause is climate change We have built our homes in canyons and on hillsides that resemble chimneys. And now it doesnt seem like theres any way out. And CJRs Mathew Ingram spoke with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, whose crowdsourced news venture, WikiTribune, laid off its entire journalistic staff in October. WikiTribunes structure, including restrictions on who could publish news, seemed to give would-be contributors the impression they were second-class citizens of the servicethat their job was to submit content that would then be fixed up by professional journalists, Ingram writes. As Wales told him, Thats not the wiki way. ICYMI: The mystery of Tucker Carlson Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Facebooks annus horribilis continues to exceed the expectations of even its harshest critics, with a withering New York Times expose of management blunders just the latest installment in Facebooks troubles. As overheated speculation continues as to whether this is a premature decline for the company or simply temporary growing pains, there remains one inescapable fact: Facebook is faced with a problem of not just optics, but of innovation. Anyone who worked in newspaper publishing over the past twenty years will at some point have found themselves metaphorically beaten about the head with the 1997 book The Innovators Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms To Fail, by Harvard Business Professor Clayton Christensen. The books premise, wrapped up in plenty of talk about value creation and S curves, is that companies with big businesses cannot change the basic, successful core functions of those businesses quickly enough to innovate against their coming obsolescence. Newspapers, too, were becoming obsolete, but the grand publishing houses that produced them would not be able to meet the speed required by new technologies (the internet and social media) to adapt. ICYMI: A reporter asked for 20 years of lottery winner data. After analyzing the records, he noticed something unusual. Now, the innovations that upended creaking legacy media businesses are facing the same dilemma of how to set aside growth and re-engineer for long-term survival. To do that, theyll need to insert safety and civic values into the core of a culturally insensitive product. For ten years the only innovations Facebook was prepared to tolerate were innovations that directly contributed to the companys success, combining scale and speed with commercial targeting. Its looming challenges lurked beneath diminishing phrases like users and content; calling supposedly neutral content propaganda, threats, or abuse would force the company to organize in a totally different way. If they had paid more attention to how their own developing role as a publisher would reshape their businessas well as the newspaper businessrather than stubbornly insisting they bore no responsibility for cultural and political disruption, they would not be in this catastrophic mess. To use Silicon Valley parlance, you could say that they lacked vision about what they were becoming, and now do not have adequate skills to innovate their way into that space. Nowhere was Facebooks lack of vision more evident than in the startling details of The New York Timess investigation into the company last week. The article laid out the levels of denial and obfuscation around the nature of the civic and political problems which beset the heart of the companys products. Russian propaganda masquerading as American election chit-chat flowed freely through the unbelievably simple self-serve advertising platform, yet there were no guard rails against this stunningly obvious scenario. Safety and security experts warned the board about the attendant risks, but the high-powered executives at the company could not anticipate what others could plainly see. Just as print companies in the 1990s failed to prioritize software development or creative technology, Facebook and others have failed to prioritize the forces of change that threaten the social economy. Experts in the political environment and publishing risk were absent from the upper echelons of the company, and critical functions, like moderation, were outsourced to low-paid offshore units. Sign up for CJR 's daily email As we heard from the Times investigation, Facebook hired a lobbying firm in the past year to stave off criticism from all directions, although there appeared to be no oversight of its activities by the most senior executives in the company. In cultural and political organizations, optics arent adjacent to the main business, they are the business. But because Facebook still sees itself as an engineering company, its internal organization is not attuned to the daily risks of publishing. The crisis at Facebook resides in its backward-looking attitude to technology; seeing it is a neutral vector for commerce rather than a potent cultural intervention. Although a decade is a short period in an industrial cycle, it is a generation for cultural changes, so it is not surprising that Facebook did not see the necessity for transformation until it was too late. The question is whether this lumbering company, beset by out-of-date business school thinking, can transform itselfwhether it has the ability to shed its linear thinking, tear itself down, and rebuild to become more appropriate for the moment. The crisis at Facebook resides in its backward-looking attitude to technology; seeing it is a neutral vector for commerce rather than a potent cultural intervention. In two reports released by Facebook in the same week as the devastating assessment by the Times, there are signs that the company at least understands the imperative to change, even if it doesnt have the necessary skills to do so. The first, self-commissioned, report was on the disastrous episode of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, for which Facebooks platforms appear at least in part to be culpable. In it the recommendations for remedy were, in retrospect, incredibly basic to any publishing company: Hire people who speak the language and understand the culture, dont allow just anything to be published into a volatile political environment, think about journalism and media literacy as an important part of what you do. No other publisher would enter a market without thinking through these propositions. The second was a post from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself on the issue of how the company would make decisions about what not to publish in the future, or moderation, as Facebook prefers to call it. A Blueprint for Content Governance and Enforcement is in some ways the most important update the company has published in recent memory. It shows Zuckerberg acknowledging how much and how quickly the company will have to change to meet its aspirations in this area. Marginal concerns will have to become central, the management of expression as important as product or engineering. For an old-fashioned software company, this is a radical step. Zuckerberg and the board of Facebook always knew that they would be disrupted just as they were once disruptors. But they probably imagined it would come from graduates at the engineering department of Stanford, rather than from the heart of political and civic movements, which are urging a different kind of disruption altogether. ICYMI: Conservatives trust conservative media. Heres why. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Emily Bell is the director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia Journalism School. The superintendent of the new entity thats expected next month to begin distributing millions of dollars to Connecticut homeowners with crumbling foundations warned state lawmakers Friday hes within weeks of shutting down if state bond funds arent released soon. Michael Maglaras said the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company has been awaiting more than $19 million for two-and-a-half months. He said the money has been delayed due to onerous and expensive negotiations with the states Department of Housing regarding grant documents that may ultimately have been unnecessary. We are within about two weeks of shutting down if we dont get that money, he said. The indemnity company plans to be operational Dec. 15. I do not want to be inside the state of Connecticut on the day that I put up on the website that were out of business. So, lets fix it and make it work. Maglaras said he has become more hopeful after learning last week the matter was transferred to the State Treasurers Office. However, if the money isnt released in time for the indemnity companys Nov. 28 board meeting, a shut-down notice will likely be posted. Maglaras stressed that future blocks of funding also need to be transferred to the indemnity company, created to oversee the distribution of $100 million in bonding $20 million a year for the next five years as well as the estimated $8.5 million to $9 million in annual proceeds from a new $12 annual surcharge on Connecticut homeowners insurance policies. That surcharge is supposed to last 10 years. Maglaras recently told The Associated Press he will need much more money, at least $1 billion. He estimates the funds committed so far will only cover the cost of replacing foundations for 650 to 700 homes, considering the average $185,000 cost per home. He estimates 5,000 to 9,000 homes with cracked and deteriorating foundations will have to be fixed over the next few years. The problem has been linked to the presence of pyrrhotite, an iron sulfide that has reacted naturally with oxygen and water over the decades. Some state and local officials have estimated more than 35,000 homes in the northern, eastern and central parts of Connecticut could be affected. The problem also has been identified in some homes in western Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, who submitted a letter to the lawmakers, said some progress has been made toward encouraging banks and credit unions to offer low-cost financial products to help affected homeowners fill the gap between an approved claim and the entire cost of remediation. But she warned much work remains to be done to make gap financing available to homeowners whose mortgages have been sold to multiple investors in the secondary market. Bruce Adams, Wymans general counsel, said the issue has gotten more attention recently from federal agencies and could eventually lead to federal financial assistance. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Youve seen them the yellow signs along the states rural roadways that warn of a deer crossing ahead. Trouble is, researchers say, we mostly ignore such warnings. It presents a quandary for highway safety officials in Nebraska seeking to head off collisions between critters and cars in Nebraska. Theres a lot of research that says we use too many signs. Its something we all need to be aware of, said Kyle Schneweis, director of the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Now is the peak season for driving into a deer. About 20 percent of the about 2,200 collisions a year between vehicles and deer happen during November. October is the second-highest month for deer strikes, according to state highway safety figures. Deer are not only in the midst of mating season but are being pushed out of tranquil fields by harvesting machines and hunters. Youve got them moving everywhere, said Fred Zwonechek, the states highway safety director. In Nebraska and Iowa, your chances of hitting a deer are pretty good. The odds in the Cornhusker State were put at 1 in 149, according to recent projections by State Farm Insurance, while the odds in Iowa were about twice that 1 in 73. The Hawkeye State ranked fifth-highest in the country, behind leading road-kill states like West Virginia, Montana and Pennsylvania. Nebraska ranked 26th. If theres any good news, its that Nebraskas deer population hasnt yet rebounded totally from a disease outbreak in 2011-12. Thats reflected in the deer harvest numbers, which used to number more than 3,000 a year before plunging in 2012. In Minnesota, another leading deer collision state, state roads workers are no longer replacing deer crossing signs because of their lack of effectiveness. In one county, Carver County just west of the Twin Cities, workers are removing the warning signs because they think it gives people a false impression about where deer are likely to cross. In Minnesota, anywhere youre traveling, including in the metropolitan Minneapolis-St. Paul area, you have to be alert for deer, said Peter Buchen, assistant traffic engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Schneweis said Nebraska roads workers arent going to that extreme but have become more careful about where deer crossing signs are placed. The signs, which cost about $250 each to produce and erect, are placed only in places where there have been three deer-vehicle crashes per year for five years in a one-mile stretch of highway. At a smaller, specific site, like near a bridge, the standard is five crashes per year, the Omaha World-Herald reported. We look at the data, Schneweis said. If theres not a prevalence of deer crashes, we dont put them up. If you spread out warning signs too much, you stop paying attention to them. Roads officials in Douglas and Sarpy Counties also said they use some discretion about where to post deer crossing signs, but dont have specific criteria. Tom McDonald, construction and maintenance manager for the Douglas County Highway Department, said the placement of such signs is guided by requests from the public and where deer have been seen crossing regularly. Theyre a warning sign, McDonald said. If people pay attention, who knows? Installation of such signs is an engineering judgment call because there is a lack of solid guidance, according to Pat Dowse, chief deputy Sarpy County highway engineer. Of course, deer dont always cross where the signs are placed. Researchers have concluded that, in particular, signs that warn of infrequent dangers, such as deer, icy roads or playing children, are often ignored by motorists. The Federal Highway Administration reported to Congress in 2008 that a study conducted in 15 Kansas counties showed no relationship between the installation of static deer warning signs and crash rates. So what are we and highway safety folks to do to prevent accidents with animals? They cause an estimated $1 billion in property damage a year nationally and led to 181 fatalities in 2016. Dozens of strategies have been tried, with mixed to little impact from mounting high-frequency deer whistles on cars to scare off deer to spreading deer repellent along highways to keep them away. Years ago, Nebraska roads officials installed red flashers along a highway that deflected light from headlights into adjacent woodlands to ward off the deer, with little impact. Schneweis said that self-driving cars may in the future provide a warning via radar systems that detect approaching wildlife. But for now, the most effective deterrent is tall, deer-proof fencing, like that installed along Interstate 80 from Mahoney State Park northward across the Platte River into Sarpy County. But that kind of fencing is expensive, about $300,000 per mile, and requires frequent maintenance. Roadside systems that detect approaching deer and activate a flashing warning on a sign fall into the same, expensive category and sometimes flash false warnings. Some states have built wildlife overpasses or underpasses to safely funnel wildlife, like endangered Florida panthers and Canadian moose and bear, over or under busy freeways. Nebraska has at least one wildlife underpass, for threatened Blandings turtles, on a remote highway in the Sand Hills. And some Interstate bridges near the deer fencing in Sarpy County were modified to allow deer to pass beneath I-80. Overall, officials said that motorists just need to be alert, particularly in low-lying wooded areas where deer are more frequent, and be ready to slow down if deer are visible near the road. At night, use your brights. And always anticipate that if you see one set of eyes, another deer is nearby. Youve just got to be prepared to look for them, Zwonechek said. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Last week, Evergreen Fire Chief Craig Williams stood in a neighborhood near Malibu, California, and took in a blackened, devastated landscape. There is a lot of destruction, he said by phone on Nov. 14 as he and his team of firefighters from Northwest Montana endured a 24-hour-long shift battling the Woolsey Fire, one of nearly a dozen blazes currently burning in California. The Flathead Beacon reported Friday that firefighters from across the West have descended on California as it suffers through the most destructive, and deadly, fire season in the states history. At least 76 people perished, and hundreds are unaccounted for in the California wildfires. The Camp Fire in Northern California has destroyed nearly 10,000 homes, destroyed the town of Paradise and torched 233 square miles (600 square kilometers). The Woolsey Fire in Southern California has destroyed nearly 550 homes and other buildings. Three bodies have been found in the fire zone. Williams has been a firefighter for 20 years and said he has never seen anything as destructive as whats happened in California. Under Williams are 18 firefighters and five engines from Evergreen, Marion, Bigfork, Corvallis and Bull Lake, south of Troy. Williams said his team is focusing on protecting homes and letting the local firefighters have a break after a strenuous week on the fire line. This is unfortunately the new normal, he said. Our fire seasons are just getting longer and longer. Never did I think we would be fighting wildfires in November and December, but weve gone to California two years in a row to do it. Flathead County Fire Service Area Manager Lincoln Chute said the terrifying images out of California are a reminder that people need to be vigilant in protecting their property and homes. Chute recommends taking time before winter sets in to cut brush around homes to create a defensible space and clear gutters of leaves and debris. Embers can easily get into a gutter and quickly engulf an entire home in flames. To think that what is happening in California cant happen here is crazy, Chute said. People need to be aware that it can happen here. Chutes warning comes after back-to-back summers that saw thick smoke and flames across Northwest Montana, including in Glacier National Park. Although homes were lost in Glacier Park this summer, most of the fires in Northwest Montana have been outside of town. But officials fear the day when a fire rolls into a more populated community, much like it did in Paradise, California. Fire in urban areas was the topic of a community forum at Whitefish City Hall on Nov. 14. Speakers included Whitefish Fire Chief Joe Page, Whitefish Area Fire Safe Council member Bambi Goodman, Glacier Superintendent Jeff Mow, retired fire chief and historian Rick Trembath, fire behavior specialist Ed Lieser and Whitefish deputy mayor and fire behavior analyst Richard Hildner. The City of Whitefish, Climate Smart Glacier Country and Firesafe Flathead sponsored the forum. Trembath said that prior to the 1900s, low-intensity fires were frequent in the Flathead Valley and would thin out underbrush. However, as the valleys population grew, more fires were put out and not allowed to play a natural role on the landscape. Trembath said there is a centurys worth of undergrowth waiting to burn in the valley. Page, Whitefishs fire chief, said the images from California of frantic evacuations and torched neighborhoods worry and frustrate him because he knows he does not have enough firefighters to protect every home in Whitefish. He said the fires in California didnt travel from tree to tree like a traditional wildfire but rather home to home. Your home is fuel, he said. As a homeowner you have work to do every year and every season. Hildner shared a slideshow of photos he took around his neighborhood in Whitefish, including gutters overflowing with debris and dry woodpiles right next to homes. He said Whitefish should try to learn from what happened in Paradise and review its own city ordinances to see if there are any regulations that could be improved or implemented to help the community better prepare for fire. Among the ideas shared were requiring more fire-resistant material be used on new buildings or requiring people to clean out their gutters. We have to have these discussions, he said. Its going to take a community-wide effort to be ready for when fires comes (and) if we dont help each other we are going to be in a world of hurt. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. KENT, Ohio - The so-called Kent State gun girl appeared Monday night at Lets Talk Gun Rights," an event that drew about 50 people to the Kiva Auditorium on the Kent State University campus. The event was advertised as an opportunity to clarify the position of gun-rights advocate Kaitlin Bennett, who posed in a photo carrying an assault rifle on campus and Come and take it printed on her graduation cap shortly after graduating. The move was controversial because Kent State prohibits students, but not guests, from carrying weapons on campus guests. I wasnt saying hey world look at me, listen to me, I dont believe in gun control, Bennett told the crowd Monday night. I wanted Kent State to listen, I wanted the administration to listen to me. I wanted them to look at that picture and see how ridiculous it was that I could have a rifle on campus the day of graduation, but the day before I couldnt even have my hand gun on me for self-protection. The policy just doesnt make sense. Bennett has been backed by the advocacy group Liberty Hangout, a conservative student organization created by Bennetts boyfriend, Justin Moldow. Moldow told the Monday night crowd it was his idea for Bennett to go back to KSU after she graduated and carry a rifle on campus. During the talk, the pair showed slides including several showing different types of firearms. They asked attendees if they could identify the weapons and said it is important to know types of guns because laws are being created based on guns that dont exist. This is a fun fact there are more than 20,000 gun laws on the books today when there should be absolutely zero, Bennett said. If there is anybody in the audience who really thinks 20,000 gun laws is working and we need more, I would love to have you come up and try to convince me of that. The pair also showed a video of several Kent State students speaking in support of the ability for students to carry weapons on campus. The reason most of the students voiced was that violence doesnt end when you step on campus. A handful of attendees asked questions. One man questioned whether people with mental illness should be allowed to have guns. According to Bennett, families rather than governments are responsible for seeing that guns dont fall into the hands of those who arent equipped to handle them. She also asserted that gun sellers, not the government, should handle background checks because they would be more diligent in checking peoples credentials. In September, Bennett hosted an open-carry walk on Kent States campus to advocate for concealed carry rights for students on campus. The walk drew hundreds of protestors, and led to stand-offs with police, and four arrests. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. AKRON, Ohio A federal judge sentenced a Massachusetts chemist to six years in prison for acting as the middleman for shipments of synthetic opioids like fentanyl to the U.S. from China. Bin Wang, a once respectable businessman, made a deal with the devil when he started accepting shipments of illegal drugs in exchange for quick cash, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Cronin said. Wang attended Mondays hearing shackled and in an orange jail jumpsuit. He apologized for his actions before U.S. District Judge John Adams imposed the 71-month sentence. Defense attorney Mark DeVan said his client lived a law-abiding life other than the actions for which he was prosecuted. Wang, 43, was part of an operation where people ordered drugs on a series of foreign websites run by Fujing Zheng and his father Guanghua Zheng, officials said. The drugs were shipped to Wang, who worked in the Boston suburbs. Wang and his employees then shipped packages to addresses within the U.S. The drugs from the Zheng operation were linked to two overdose deaths related to a fentanyl analogue in Akron. Wang, a Canadian citizen and native of China who came to the U.S. in 2010, was arrested in 2017 before boarding a plane to Toronto. He maintains he was not trying to flee the country. Wang pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy, distribution of synthetic drugs and use of a communication facility for drug dealing and several other charges. He agreed to forfeit more than $69,000 and will allow the destruction of lab equipment and items that Drug Enforcement Administration agents found at his home and his warehouse in the Boston suburb of Woburn. The judge also ordered Wang removed from the U.S., though DeVan said his client intended to return to Canada upon his release from prison. Local and federal investigators pursued the Zhengs' operation after prosecutors charged Akron couple Leroy Steele and Sabrina Robinson in the death of Thomas Rauh, who died from a drug overdose, according to a story published in August 2017 by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Steele, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, bought the fentanyl he sold Rauh from China and later showed authorities how he bought the drugs online, according to federal officials. From there, authorities found Fujing Zheng, also known as Gordon Jin, who communicated online with undercover federal investigators inquiring about buying synthetic drugs, and Wang, officials said. Ryan Sumlin, another Akron drug dealer, also sold some of the drugs Steele got from China to Carrie Dobbins. She overdosed and died in March 2015. A jury found Sumlin guilty of federal charges in April and he was sentenced to life in prison. Cronin said that while Wangs businesses, which included Wonda Science and Cambridge Chemicals, made hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, it all went back into the companies. Wangs take-home pay was about $36,000 annually, not enough to live in the expensive Boston suburbs, Cronin said. Wangs sentencing memo says that he learned his employees in China were sending illegal substances to the U.S., and then told his employees how to package the shipments to prevent Chinese customs officials from detecting them. They were packaged with other legitimate chemicals and shipped to his warehouse in Massachusetts, the memo says. While Wang played a lesser role in the drug operation, it was still significant and led to incredible amounts of human suffering, Cronin said. DeVan said his client wants to re-enter the biomedical field upon his return to Canada. A grand jury in Ohio issued charges against the Zhengs on Aug. 17, 11 days after Wang pleaded guilty. The 43-count indictment charges them with manufacturing and shipping fentanyl analogues and 250 other drugs to 25 countries and 37 U.S. states. In addition to Wang, the Zhengs had people who worked with them in several countries, federal officials said. The Zhengs are believed to still be in China. It is unclear whether they will ever face prosecution in the U.S. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Mondays crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio A former worker for the Buckeye Shaker Square Development Corporation sued the neighborhood group, its executive director and Cleveland City Councilman Ken Johnson, claiming they violated federal and state laws by not paying them to mow lawns and clean up East Side properties. Brian Coffey is one of at least 50 people who were not paid by the organization, which works to help redevelop the Buckeye and Shaker Square neighborhoods, for work done between mid-July and August of this year, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Cleveland. The lawsuit, filed Sunday, comes less than a month after cleveland.com columnist Mark Naymik detailed similar complaints made to both the city and the news organization. (You can read the full lawsuit here or at the bottom of this story.) For years, the group hired as many as 100 workers each summer to cut grass and clean vacant lots. The organization relied on hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal grants that passed through the city to pay the workers and other program costs. However, the organization lost its funding at the end of June after failing to produce a financial audit for the third year in a row, and after the city and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the grants, began questioning the size of the mowing program. Johnson said in a brief interview Monday that the city is going to pay $42,000 as soon as this week to reimburse the workers, and that amount should cover all of the unpaid wages. Cleveland spokeswoman Latoya Hunter said Monday the city was not aware of any checks being cut. However, Hunter said Tuesday that the city was set to pay $41,949.74 to the organization for staff and other costs for the month of June, before it lost its funding. When asked whether that money could be used to pay the unpaid workers, Hunter said she could not say how the organization would use the money. The lawsuit says Coffey and his attorneys are challenging the organization failure to pay wages for workers who cut grass, cleaned up properties and did other manual labor while simultaneously lining the pockets of the individual Defendants and insiders of (the organization). Coffey worked for the organization for several years and quit in August, attorney Scott Perlmuter said. Theyve been promised payment of these monies for about three or four months now," Perlmuter said. They have been empty promises to date. Johnson, the group, executive director John Hopkins and Johnsons council assistant Garnell Jamison are named as defendants. The lawsuit says they violated the Fair Labor Standards Act as well as other Ohio laws. Perlmuter and attorney Thomas Downie are seeking class-action status and an unspecified amount in damages. The lawsuit does not say exactly how many people were not paid, but there are at least 50 people. A call left for Hopkins was not immediately returned. Johnson, when asked for a comment on the lawsuit, asked a cleveland.com reporter to send him an email but did not immediately respond after the reporter did so. The lawsuit is the latest salvo in a series of ongoing problems with Johnson and the neighborhood group. Johnson has been the organization biggest benefactor, earmarking the federal grant money he controlled for the lots program. He often touted the program as a jobs program for the citys youth and kept tight control over it. Workers, for instance, drove city-owned trucks branded with Johnsons name. Johnsons council assistant, Garnell Jamison, also worked full-time for the group as one of the managers of the program. In addition, one of Johnsons sons, as well Johnsons associate, Ozell Dobbins, were paid through the program. The organization was supposed to end the lots program, which had employed city children, after the city stopped Johnson from earmarking federal money for the program. Some workers have told cleveland.com and the city officials that they were told to keep working and had not been paid for work performed in July and August. Sharon Dumas, Jacksons acting chief of staff, told cleveland.com in October that the city is not responsible for workers shorted by the group, but that city officials were exploring ways to pay them. Johnson said in a meeting with ward residents in October that he wrote a personal check for $15,000 to the organization to help pay the workers, two people present during the meeting told cleveland.com. However, he has not provided evidence that he did so and claimed Monday that the check was to cover a previous payroll. One mother who contacted cleveland.com and asked not to be publicly identified said her 16-year-old son is owed about $1,200. She said Jamison told her son to keep working despite the funding shortfall. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko. This story was updated on 11/20 with a new statement from a city of Cleveland spokeswoman. CLEVELAND, Ohio A contractor was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday on charges that he bribed the former chief of the city of Clevelands demolition bureau to get a leg up on city work. Eric Witherspoon, the head of Aricks Environmental Services and Aricks Services, is charged with two counts of bribery and seven counts of honest services wire fraud. Witherspoon, who does asbestos removal and demolition work, is accused of giving cash to Rufus Taylor, the now-retired head of the citys demolition bureau, in exchange for confidential information and preferential treatment for city jobs. Witherspoon, 55, of Warrensville Heights, gave thousands of dollars in bribes to Taylor over several years, prosecutors say. Taylor pleaded guilty Sept. 4 to extortion and bribery in a federally funded program. He admitted to taking thousands of dollars in bribes from two contractors and gave them preferential treatment for government-funded demolition and abatement projects. Witherspoon was one of two contractors referenced but unnamed in Taylors charging documents. Federal prosecutors have not charged the second contractor. A message left for Witherspoon at one of his businesses was not immediately returned. U.S. Attorneys Office spokesman Mike Tobin said the case remains under investigation. A grand jury subpoena issued July 26 by the U.S. Attorneys Office and the IRS sought records pertaining to Joseph and Gwen Tucceri, as well as companies affiliated with the Lake County couple. The Tucceris have not been charged. Prosecutors say Witherspoon and Taylors schemes involved them meeting at restaurants, job sites and parked cars in which Witherspoon would pay cash to the Cleveland official. In addition to providing information about bids and projects, Taylor gave Witherspoon help to ensure the jobs Witherspoon worked on would be inspected quickly, prosecutors say. In November 2013, Witherspoon promised to pay Taylor $8,000 in exchange for getting Witherspoon on the bid list for a demolition job on Parkwood Drive. The city awarded Witherspoon the contract, worth $147,000. True to his word, Witherspoon gave Taylor $8,000, authorities claim. Taylor also told the contractor about an emergency demolition job between East 123rd Street and Coltman Road in October 2015. Witherspoon agreed to pay Taylor $12,000 in exchange for notifying him about the job, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Witherspoon did work at the location, and the city paid him $94,640. However, he was not awarded the full contract, and Witherspoon never paid Taylor the full $12,000. A federal judge is scheduled to sentence Taylor on Dec. 18. His agreement calls for a prison sentence of between 37 and 46 months. Witherspoons case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi in Akron. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Tuesdays crime and courts comments section. Click here to read the indictment on a mobile device. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cuyahoga County judge granted early release to a social services worker who admitted to carrying out a food-stamp scheme and filing false reports of her visits to the home where 5-year-old Jordan Rodriguezs body would later be found buried in the backyard. Nancy Caraballo was less than eight months into a three-year sentence on Tuesday when Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy Margaret Russo agreed to let her out of prison. Caraballo, who pleaded guilty to trafficking in food stamps, grand theft and tampering with records in March, said in court filings ahead of Tuesdays hearing that she was eligible under Ohio law for early release and completed several counseling programs during her time at the womens prison in Marysville. She is not the same woman that she was when she entered prison, the filings said. She wants to prove to this Honorable Court and society that she can be law-abiding citizen. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalleys office opposed Caraballos release. Caraballo could have prevented a childs death if she had actually conducted thorough home visits and carefully observed the conditions in the Rodriguez home, Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Matthew Meyer said in court filings opposing her release. Caraballo, a parent educator at an agency contracted with Catholic Charities, was assigned to the family of Larissa Rodriguez, who had several children including Jordan. Jordans body was discovered buried in the familys backyard in December 2017, after police received a call from Pakistan that said Larissa Rodriguezs boyfriend, Christopher Rodriguez, confessed to burying the child. Investigators responding to the call found the home in deplorable condition, and it wasnt long before they uncovered that Caraballo, a mandatory reporter of child abuse and neglect, had been buying Larissa Rodriguezs food stamps at discounted prices and lying in her reports of her visits. The scheme began in 2016 and continued until investigators dug up Jordans body in December 2017. Caraballo was supposed to conduct monthly home visits to check on Rodriguez's children and living conditions and file a report each time. But investigators subpoenaed her cellphone records and compared text messages between Caraballo and Rodriguez to the reports and found that, on at least 12 occasions, Caraballo simply showed up to Rodriguez's house to pick up the food stamp card, but filed false reports claiming to have inspected the home. Investigators also found surveillance camera footage of Caraballo using Rodriguezs card to buy groceries at Sams Club, Walmart, Giant Eagle and other stores in Parma and Brooklyn, prosecutors said. Caraballo told Russo at her April sentencing that the scheme was Rodriguezs idea, and she felt like she got brainwashed into thinking she was helping Rodriguez. Theres not a day in my life that I dont live with this pain, Caraballo said as she cried. Russo told Caraballo that she abused her authority in a position of public trust as someone who worked on behalf of taxpayers who themselves may be living paycheck-to-paycheck to feed their families. I dont understand how you can be in that position and ever think that this was going to be OK, Russo told her. To comment on this story, please visit Tuesdays crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio Dozens of people, including four sitting judges, prominent Cleveland attorneys and a congresswoman now considering a bid to become speaker of the House of Representatives, wrote gushing letters of support for former Cuyahoga County Judge Lance Mason after he brutalized his wife in front of their children so badly that her face required reconstructive surgery. The disciplinary arm the Ohio Supreme Court, however, made clear in court filings last year that Mason did little to assure them he no longer posed a threat to his ex-wife, Aisha Fraser Mason, as he fought to keep his law license. Mason couldnt explain what made him snap the day he repeatedly beat his wife. When asked at his disciplinary hearing to reassure the board that nothing like the brutal attack would happen again, Mason only mustered how can I speculate or anyone speculate what they would do in a circumstance they never thought they would be in, the record says. It is important to note that [Masons] attack of his wife on August 2, 2014, was not a mere loss of temper resulting in a single strike or even two. It was a crazed attack involving multiple strikes, multiple bites, and pursuit, the director of the the courts Board of Professional Conduct, Richard Dove, wrote in a July 2017 filing. When those who knew [Mason] would not have believed him capable of the acts he committed on August 2, 2014, and the evidence presented does not sufficiently explain the acts of that date, the reasonable conclusion is that, in the right circumstances, the events of that date could very well happen again." And they did. Mason was arrested Saturday after he was identified as a suspect in the fatal stabbing of the ex-wife. Shaker Heights police have charged Mason with felonious assault after he crashed into the SUV of a police officer responding to a harrowing 911 call from Masons sister. Mason remained hospitalized Tuesday and police expect to file more charges against him. Authorities have not said what precipitated Saturdays deadly attack. Dozens of letters written on Masons behalf between his August 2014 arrest for the first attack on Fraser Mason and when his disciplinary case went before the Ohio Supreme Court in October 2017 showed none of Masons friends and colleagues could believe Mason was capable of carrying out such violence once, let alone twice. U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, four current judges who served alongside Mason on the bench, John J. Russo, Hollie Gallagher, Brendan Sheehan and Joan Synenberg, former Judge Ronald Suster, judge-elect Bill McGinty were among those who condemned the attack, but threw the weight of their reputations behind Masons character. Fudge said in her letter, which was addressed to visiting Judge Patricia Cosgrove in August 2015 as Cosgrove prepared to sentence Mason after he pleaded guilty to felonious assault, that she was deeply saddened by Masons actions, which ran contrary to his reputation as an advocate for his community. Lance accepts full responsibility for his actions and has assured me that something like this will never happen again, Fudge wrote. Lance Mason is a good man who made a very bad mistake. I can only hope that you see in Lance what I and others see. Fudge walked back her glowing support of Mason in a statement sent Monday night that she is heartbroken for Fraser Mason and her children. She said her 2015 letter was based on the version of Mason she had known for 30 years: the accomplished lawyer, prosecutor, state legislator and judge. The person who committed these crimes is not the Lance Mason familiar to me, Fudge said in the statement. It was a horrific crime. I and everyone who knew Aisha are mourning her loss. Many of the letters are dated in early 2017, after lawyer Richard Alkire put out a request for character letters to submit to the Ohio Supreme Court in Masons effort to avoid losing his law license for life. Sheehan and Gallagher both wrote that, during their time on the bench with Mason, he was pleasant, fair and judicious. Russo, the courts administrative and presiding judge, spoke the most directly about Masons attack on Fraser Mason. He said only she could forgive him for that. What happened with Lance Mason was unfortunate and indefensible. But I hope the Board of Professional Conduct considers the entirety of Lance Masons career and future potential in making their decision, Russo wrote. He lost everything that day, but there is still time for the Lance Mason I once knew to put his skills to use in helping others. Synenberg also asked the disciplinary counsel to take into account the good that Mason did in deciding whether to permanently bar him from practicing law. He is worthy of your consideration, Synenberg wrote. Without question, he can reestablish himself and reflect well on our beloved profession. Subodh Chandra, a civil rights attorney, former City of Cleveland law director and candidate for Cuyahoga County prosecutor in 2012, wrote in his letter that, based on the man he knew, Masons chance at recidivism is nil. While I do not excuse the seriousness of what Judge Mason did, I am reminded of Shakespeares words from Julius Caesar: The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones, Chandra wrote. Judge Mason is too young a man for all the good he has done to be forgotten. I hope he will be given a chance at redemption. Chandra, in a statement Monday night, struck a similar tone as Fudge. When responding to the request of Judge Masons attorney, I talked about the distinguished public servant and well-respected judge I thought I knewbelieving that Aisha Fraser and their children deserved to have Mason support them financially, Chandra said. Now my heart is shattered for those children. Suster, whose docket Mason assumed and who still serves as a visiting judge, called Mason a good man who made a mistake. He has not simply addressed his problem he has grown from it, Suster wrote. R. Emmett Moran, a defense attorney at Collins, Roche Utley & Garner LLC, wrote that he could not condone Masons actions, but argued Mason did not lie, cheat or steal, so the attack that shattered his wifes orbital bone was not a flaw of honesty or integrity. This offense was an offense of temper control not moral turpitude, Moran wrote. Mason served only nine months of his two-year prison sentence in protective custody at a state prison in Lima. A May 18, 2016 court filing by attorneys Fernando Mack and Kevin Spellacy included a hand-written appeal from Mason for his early release that included a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. It also included a letter that Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge David Matia had written to Mason during his stint behind bars. I think youre a person of tremendous potential and am optimistic that you have not abandoned the thought of a hopeful future, Matia wrote to Mason. "Life is a long road and it often takes us places where we never have imagined. The filing says that Mason's ability to participate in prison programing was limited by his protective custody. He enrolled in victim's awareness and a thinking skills class provided by the mental health department. He also enrolled in something called "Thinking for a Change" and "Cage Your Rage." He was also active in church and Bible studies, and attended AA meetings "for the sole purpose of supporting the other inmates." The filing references his political career. His work as an assistant prosecutor for Cuyahoga County, his work for Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and his time as a judge. "The term introspection is relevant and significant in the same breadth as it applies to the Defendant. (Mason) has gone through the process of self-examination and the healing has begun. After having served approximately eight months in prison, participating in the available programs, and completing many counseling sessions prior to being delivered to the institution, the defendant is ready for release back into the community." Masons attorneys added supplemental court filing days later that included two letters that Mason had written, one addressed to his ex-wife, and one addressed to his daughters. "The defendant recognized the physical, financial and emotional impact of his conduct on his ex-wife and daughters," the attorneys wrote in the motion. "The letters are not self-serving rather they were written for the Victim Awareness class. They reflect the Defendant's continued acceptance of responsibility and remorse." The hand-written letters contain remorseful statements from Mason that the Ohio State Bar Association did not find so persuasive when they later recommended that Mason be barred from law for life. I am solely and fully responsible for assaulting you in front of our girls on August 2, 2014, and hurting you emotionally during our marriage," he wrote. "I have no excuses or justifications. No one should go through the harm and pain I put you through." And in his letter to his children, he depicted himself as a changed man ready to be the father they needed. "I'm working hard to be a better dad to you and a better man. I think about you every day. I love you, and will see you." Cosgrove signed the order releasing him from prison June 27, 2016. Mason was a free man. The Supreme Court ultimately chose not to yank Masons license for life. Instead, they suspended his license indefinitely, a ruling that required him to be able to prove to the court that he had been sufficiently rehabilitated before could get his law license back. That ruling, in December 2017, came two months after Mason was hired by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jacksons administration to be the citys minority business development director, a $45,000-per-year job. Jackson on Monday defended the citys hiring of Mason. Jackson told WJW Fox 8 that he had no way to predict the future," the station reported. To comment on this story, please visit Tuesdays crime and courts comments page. MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio Investigators suspect arson in a house fire that killed a Mayfield Heights mother and her 8-year-old daughter, the citys fire chief said. A K-9 officer detected an unidentified accelerant in the house where the fire broke out early Tuesday on Longwood Road near Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights Fire Chief Bruce Elliott said. Samples pulled from the home are being sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing. Investigators are still trying to determine the fires cause. It has not officially been ruled arson at this time, Elliott said. A person of interest is being questioned in connection with the fire, but he has not been arrested, Elliott said previously. He did not have an update on the person of interest shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday. Rebecca Pletnewski, 41, was found dead in the home, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office said. Elliott declined to say if she showed any signs of injury outside of any caused by the fire. Her daughter Olivia Schneider, 8, died after she was taken to Hillcrest Hospital, the medical examiners office said. The person of interests connection to Pletnewski is unclear, but Elliott said he is believed to be a friend or acquaintance. Its also unclear whether anyone else lives in the home, but Elliott confirmed Pletnewski and the Olivia were the only two people inside when firefighters arrived. A passerby called 911 about 1 a.m. to report flames coming from the home. Firefighters arrived and quickly extinguished the blaze, Elliott said. They found Pletnewski dead on the first floor, Elliott said. Her daughter was found on the second floor. The home sustained heavy fire damage just inside the door on the first floor, Elliott said. It also had heavy fire damage on the second floor. No firefighters were hurt during the incident. The Hillcrest Fire Investigation Unit, State Fire Marshals Office, and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted at the scene. Pletnewski has owned the home since December 2016, according to Cuyahoga County property records. She was an ICU nurse at University Hospitals' Cleveland Medical Center, a spokeswoman for the health system confirmed. All of us at University Hospitals are saddened to have lost one of our own," University Hospitals said in a statement. "Counselors are administering support to our staff members during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with the family and friends affected by this tragic loss. Olivia was a third-grade student at Lander Elementary School, the Mayfield Heights City Schools confirmed. Grief counselors are at the elementary school today for students and staff who seek counseling. Counselors will also be available at Lander Elementary from 8 a.m to noon on Wednesday, the district said in a statement. To comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts comments page. MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio A woman and child died early Tuesday in a Mayfield Heights house fire, authorities said. Rebecca Pletnewski, 41, died in the fire that started about 1 a.m. at a home on Longwood Road near Mayfield Road, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office said. The childs name has not been released. The Hillcrest Fire Investigation Unit, State Fire Marshals Office, and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are assisting at the scene, the Mayfield Heights Fire Department said. To comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts comments page. COLUMBUS, OhioOhio Secretary of State Jon Husted on Tuesday ordered the immediate resumption of purging inactive voters from the states voter rolls a controversial policy upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year. Under the policy, residents who don't cast a ballot for two years are mailed a "confirmation notice" by the state. If a voter doesn't respond to the notice for four years after that and doesn't vote, he or she is automatically removed from the state's list of registered voters (and therefore must re-register to vote again). Following the Supreme Courts ruling in June, Husted put voter purges on hold through the Nov. 6 midterm election. Husted, a Republican who is set to become Ohios lieutenant governor in January, said in a statement that purging inactive voters helps to make sure the states voter rolls are not bloated with names of people ineligible to vote. Maintaining our voter rolls is a legal requirement and essential part of ensuring Ohio is a place where it is easy to vote and hard to cheat, Husted stated. These efforts have led to well-run elections and reduced the chance of long lines at the polls and other headaches for voters. Opponents of voter purging say it disproportionately disenfranchises low-income voters and minorities. In 2015 alone, hundreds of thousands of infrequent voters were purged from Ohio's voter rolls, including more than 40,600 registrants in Cuyahoga County -- many of whom live in low-income communities and communities of color, according to the A. Philip Randolph Institute, one of the organizations that challenged the practice in court. The incoming secretary of state, Republican Frank LaRose, didnt immediately return a phone call seeking comment on Husteds new directive and whether he plans to continue the policy when he takes office next year. In the past, LaRose has made comments suggesting he backed Ohios voter-purge process. But during a September meeting with the cleveland.com/Plain Dealer editorial board, LaRose said, I dont support the current process. I think that we can make it better. LaRose suggested extending the time period before an Ohioan is removed from voting rolls beyond six years, or perhaps issuing more warning notices to inactive voters. Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper, in a statement, called on LaRose to demand an end to the nationally infamous purges. The current process for removing inactive voters, Pepper stated, "makes it harder for Ohioans to exercise their fundamental freedom to vote and must be put to an end. SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- A community came together in candlelight Monday evening to celebrate the life and mourn the tragic loss of a beloved teacher struck down over the weekend in a senseless act of violence. Hundreds gathered on the lawn of Woodbury Elementary School for a touching tribute to Aisha M. Fraser, the teacher whose life was cut short two days before at the Shaker home of her estranged husband, former judge Lance Mason, who is in custody and facing multiple charges. The remembrance vigil also signified a call for the community to carry her light forward. "She was such a bridge builder -- she poured her heart out into her life," noted her pastor, Chip Freed from Garfield Memorial Church, adding that the tragedy "leaves us with many questions over the sacrifice of this great soul." Her death has also left two young daughters, Audrey and Ava, without a mother. "As (Shaker Heights Teachers' Association President) John Morris said earlier, we need to be here as a community forever and ever to help and support her daughters," said LauraAnn Moore, fellow Woodbury teacher and a sister in the same sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. Another friend and member of her sixth-grade teaching team, Christine Farren, recalled the aphorisms that Fraser used on the job and off. But what stuck most vividly with Farren at this point was last Friday, when "Upper Sixth-grade East" had just dismissed 150 students who were ready for Thanksgiving break. "Aisha had just returned from bus duty and just exclaimed 'Ziggety-boo!' This was followed with a significant laugh," Farren said. "And I little knew that those were going to be the last words she ever said to me." Attending Shaker schools since kindergarten, Fraser was also remembered by members of her Class of '91, including fellow Woodbury teacher Beth Portner and Monroe Jackson. "She was truly a Shakerite with all her heart," Johnson said, recalling her days as a cheerleader and a member of the orchestra. Now a pastor at Christian Kingdom Assembly, Johnson also urged the community to take a stand against domestic violence, to work to "never allow this to happen again." The vigil also included some of Fraser's favorite music, much of it sung by the Shaker Heights High School choir, opening with "Amazing Grace" and closing with "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." Fraser's favorite song, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow," by Lauryn Hill, was also played, with a Woodbury student reading the poem "When Great Trees Fall," by Maya Angelou, as well. Interim Shaker School Superintendent Stephen Wilkins remembered "her words of support and love for her students," adding that he hopes the community "wraps and holds close your lovely daughters." Woodbury Principal Danny Young recalled Fraser as "kind, loving, compassionate, dedicated and an amazing mother -- with a wonderful sense of humor," adding that "we have lost an angel, as well as a phenomenal educator." Even an inspirational speaker got choked up as he took it all in, that being her uncle, George Fraser. He thanked her parents, Edward and Millicent, in addition to the crowd for the show of "love and solidarity," calling his niece "love personified." Standing at the school entrance bedecked with a her photo and the words "Forever In Our Hearts," Fraser also noted that her "two beautiful daughters have been traumatized by life." With that in mind, the SHTA has set up a GoFundMe account for them. On Monday, Morris told everyone to take Fraser's spirit with them along the lit sidewalks and keep it alive for others. "Aisha's light is now shining on another shore," Freed said. "As for the rest of us, we can either curse the darkness, or we can light candles." STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - A plan to make the Pearl Road-Royalton Road intersection safer for pedestrians and cyclists has been delayed because bids for the project's construction are too high. Since August, City Council has rejected two rounds of bids, all of which have exceeded the engineer's estimate by between 34 percent and 65 percent. James Kilbane, Strongsville's design engineer, said that under state law, the city must reject bids if they "substantially" exceed 10 percent of the engineer's estimate. The city has incrementally increased its estimate - from the original amount of $536,794 to the latest figure of $844,382, an increase of 57 percent - at the advice of engineering consultants Euthenics Inc. in Cleveland and TMS Engineers Inc. in Twinsburg. Still, the bids have been too high, and are even rising. The city is now seeking bids for the third time. The bid opening is scheduled for Dec. 10 for a project the city had initially hoped to start building this past summer. Strongsville isn't the only city experiencing trouble with higher-than-expected bids for construction projects. In September, North Royalton delayed plans to build a park on the site of its former City Hall because bids for the work came in too high. Kilbane and city Engineer Ken Mikula didn't say why they believed bids for the Pearl-Royalton project topped estimates by such large amounts. But Nancy Nozik - an architect with the firm Brandstetter Carroll Inc., which is designing the North Royalton park - said at least part of the problem is that business is booming for builders, allowing them to charge more. North Royalton officials, like those in Strongsville, chose to rebid, although it's not certain when. The city may wait a year or two, hoping construction prices will stabilize, although North Royalton officials acknowledged they will probably have to increase the park's budget. Builders' market In 2017, Strongsville won a $141,000 grant from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency for the Pearl-Royalton project. Improvements would include new countdown signals giving pedestrians more time to cross the busy intersection, and traffic islands where pedestrians can take refuge if they can't cross in time. The Pearl-Royalton improvements are part a larger Strongsville Town Center District Redevelopment Plan, completed by NOACA in 2015. The plan recommended improving pedestrian and biker safety by, among other measures, installing striped crosswalks and sloped curbs for the handicapped at several town-center intersections. In June, the city hired DLZ Ohio Inc. for $55,829 to act as construction manager for the Pearl-Royalton project. The city advertised for construction bids and received just one offer, from Perk Co. in Cleveland. Perk's bid was $840,007, which was 56 percent over the estimate at the time of $536,794. City Council rejected Perk's bid, and the city raised its estimate to $684,012, according to bid documents. The city rebid the project and in October received offers from Perk, Fabrizi Trucking and Paving in Middleburg Heights, SET in Lowellville and Lockhart Concrete Co. in Akron. The bids ranged from $917,539 to $1.1 million. Perk's bid jumped to $952,267, an increase of 13 percent over its original August bid. The lowest bid exceeded the engineer's estimate by 34 percent. Earlier this month, council rejected all four bids, and the city again raised its estimate, this time to $844,382. STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - Michael Daymut, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who represented Ward 1 on Strongsville City Council for more than 25 years, died due to illness Friday. He was 72. Daymut died within a week of resigning from council on Nov. 10. He had not attended a council meeting since mid-July. Mayor Thomas Perciak said Daymut suffered a heart attack in early September, after council had ended its August recess. He called Daymut a "true public servant." "He led by example," Perciak said. "Many of our council members, both past and present, chose Mike Daymut as a role model, because of his integrity, honesty and his forthcoming personality. "He was a rare find in the political arena because he told you what he thought," Perciak said. "He was a man of conviction and he truly loved the city of Strongsville." Council President Joe DeMio said Daymut was a "matter-of-fact guy" who made himself thoroughly familiar with all ordinances and resolutions that went before council. "He always shared his opinion and he wanted to hear what your thoughts were, even if they were the polar opposite," DeMio said. "I've always said that even if I got mad at Mike, he was a guy I could never stay mad at," DeMio said. "He had a great gift. He was the ultimate gentleman." Strongsville Mayor Thomas Perciak, during Monday's City Council meeting, spoke kindly of Councilman Michael Daymut, who died Friday. Perciak said Daymut was married to his wife June, a retired Strongsville City Schools aide, for 45 years. The couple had two daughters, Julie Daymut and Mary Vitt, and two grandchildren, Mackenzie and Michael. "Other than council meetings, wherever Mike was, June was with him, by his side," DeMio said. Daymut was born in 1946 in Cleveland and was raised there before his family moved to Warrensville Heights. He graduated from Warrensville Heights High School. Daymut served in the U.S. Marine Corps for two years, then was a driver at UPS for 33 years. He lived in Strongsville for about 40 years. He was first elected to council in 1992, and was a council member when he retired from UPS. He was last re-elected November 2015, when he ran unopposed. He was council president from 2011 to 2015. Daymut was council's representative to the Strongsville Planning Commission for seven years. Until he resigned, he was chairman of council's Economic Development and Building and Utilities committees, and a member of council's Planning, Zoning and Engineering Committee. Perciak said Daymut was involved in the original planning of SouthPark Mall in the mid-1990's. In January 2017, Daymut and then-Councilman Ken Dooner, along with Perciak and Economic Development Director Brent Painter, toured SouthPark after anchor tenants Sears and Macy's announced store closings in other cities. At the time, Daymut's Economic Development Committee formed a subcommittee to focus on the economic health of the mall and the SouthPark property. Sears eventually shut down its SouthPark store. "Mike was instrumental is helping obtain grants for the widening of (Ohio) 82 and Pearl Road, just because of his longstanding commitment to Strongsville, and people knew of Mike statewide," Perciak said. DeMio said Daymut made sure that basic services were provided to his Ward 1 residents. "He would point out that maybe a street needed to be salted or re-salted, or that trash pickup was missed," DeMio said. "Things like that mean a lot to people. I learned a lot from him on that." Councilman Matt Schonhut agreed, saying, "I have heard countless stories from residents about how Mike was there to help them in a time of need." Daymut was the longest-serving council member among the current group, and was on council when Perciak was first became mayor in 2003. Daymut helped teach Perciak, a political novice at the time, how to be a public official, even though Perciak was a Republican and Daymut was a Democrat. "He never let party affiliation get in the way of doing what was best for the city of Strongsville," Perciak said. "I can't put into words how I valued the time he spent with me." Schonhut said Daymut took him under his wing when he was first elected to council. He said Daymut never expected anything in return. "Mike was an encyclopedia of the city of Strongsville," Schonhut said. "I could always go to him and ask why things were done in a certain way in the past, and he would always have the answer." Daymut was also active in the community, attending and volunteering at most events organized by the city and civic groups, Perciak said. He was a trustee for the Strongsville Historical Society and member of the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce. "He was an icon, a great man who was always there for his residents," Councilman Gordon Short said. "We will miss his institutional knowledge. In serving on council 27 years, he knew how things worked." In addition to his wife, daughters and grandchildren, Daymut was survived by son-in-law Andrew Vitt and brother Jack Daymut and his wife Bonnie. He was also an uncle and cousin. Visitation is scheduled for Saturday from 2-7 p.m. at Jardine Funeral Home, 15822 Pearl Road, in Strongsville. Afterward, the family will have private memorial and burial services. The family asked that no flowers be sent, but condolences can be expressed at jardinefh.com. Council is seeking a replacement for Daymut. The replacement will finish Daymut's term, which ends Dec. 31, 2019. Applicants must live in Ward 1 and should submit cover letters and resumes to the Clerk of Council, 16099 Foltz Parkway, Strongsville, 44149. They can also submit application material to aimee.pientka@strongsville.org. The deadline to submit cover letters and resumes is noon Nov. 30. Council is expected to appoint Daymut's replacement in December after interviewing applicants. CLEVELAND, Ohio Its not yet Thanksgiving, but United Airlines hopes Cleveland travelers are looking ahead to spring break. The airline has added extra capacity to three warm-weather routes from Cleveland, including new Saturday-only service to Tampa, starting in March. The additions are part of a bigger announcement from United, which is adding spring break capacity across its network to destinations in Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Mexico. In Cleveland, the additions are: * Saturday-only service to Tampa, running four Saturdays, March 9-30. Flights leave Cleveland at 8:30 a.m., arriving in Tampa at 11:13 a.m.; departing Tampa at noon and arriving in Cleveland at 2:30 p.m. * An additional Saturday flight each to Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale, March 9-30. These flights are in addition to already scheduled daily seasonal service between Cleveland and these two Florida cities. These new flights will be operated by United Express on Embraer regional jets, with seating for 70-76 passengers. United Airlines previously flew to Tampa from Cleveland, but cut that route in early 2015, after pulling its hub from Hopkins a year earlier. At the time, Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale were also eliminated, but United eventually added those routes back. Frontier and Spirit airlines also fly to Tampa from Cleveland; Allegiant flies into nearby St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Assault, Loyola Road: At 5:25 p.m. Nov. 15, a girl, 17, went to the police station to report that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, 21, at his University Heights home. The woman was taken to the hospital and a warrant was issued for the man. OVI, Washington Boulevard: At 3:20 a.m. Nov. 12, police were dispatched to a location where a car had struck a fire hydrant. The driver, a University Heights man, 27, was slow to answer questions, smelled of alcohol, and had difficulty standing. The man was found to be intoxicated and was charged with OVI. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Theft, Cedar Road: At 3:40 p.m. Nov. 14, loss prevention at Target, 14070 Cedar Road, informed police that they had in custody a Cleveland Heights boy, 11, for stealing a bicycle valued at $200. The boy was charged with theft and turned over to his mother. Theft, Warrensville Center Road: At 3:45 p.m. Nov. 15, security at Macy's, 2201 Warrensville Center Road, reported that a male shoplifting suspect, 32, of Akron, began to complain about medical issues shortly after being detained for stealing clothing worth $247. The man was taken to the hospital and charged with theft. Auto towed, Saybrook Road: At 4 a.m. Nov. 16, police towed a car that had been illegally parked overnight. It was the third citation given to the owner for the car. Unnecessary noise, Brockway Road: At 12:15 a.m. Nov. 17, police were called to a home where a party was being held. The noise from the party was disturbing neighbors. The home's two residents, a Temple Terrace, Fla. man, 23, and a Cincinnati man, 20, were cited for unnecessary noise. Both are John Carroll University students. Theft, Warrensville Center Road: At 6:45 p.m. Nov. 17, Macy's loss prevention reported that it had detained for shoplifting a Cleveland man, 20. The man stole $343 worth of merchandise. Disturbing the peace, Saybrook Road: At 12:30 a.m. Nov. 18, police were dispatched to a home on a report of loud music. Officers cited a JCU student, a Euclid man, 20, for disturbing the peace. DUS, East Carroll Boulevard: At 4:55 p.m. Nov. 18, police stopped a car because a traffic violation had been committed. The driver, a South Euclid man, 24, was found to be driving with a suspended license. He was also wanted on a South Euclid police warrant. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. UPDATED Paul Pastorek, the former Louisiana schools chief who helped lead the overhaul of New Orleans schools after Hurricane Katrina, has agreed to a contract with Puerto Ricos Department of Education to provide various services as island schools continue their recovery from their own catastrophic storm, Hurricane Maria in 2017. The Metro newspaper in Puerto Rico reported Tuesday that Pastoreks contract with the islands education department requires him to help on a variety of fronts, from aiding the school system in getting hurricane recovery funds to implementing the states Every Student Succeeds Act plan. The contract reportedly runs until June 2019 and is worth a maximum of $155,000, at $250 an hour. Pastorek could not be immediately reached for comment. Puerto Rico Secretary of Education Julia Keleher said that in addition to his broad portfolio, Pastorek has proven particularly helpful as the island sets up seven new administrative regions for its public schools. Hes not trying to figure this out. Hes lived through all this and led through all this, Keleher said, referring to Pastoreks post-Katrina experience. See Also: Putting Puerto Ricos Schools Back on Track Late last year, we spoke to Pastorek about his perspective on the challenges facing Puerto Ricos public schools . He said that in some ways Puerto Ricos difficulties were greater than those in Louisiana, given that its school system was more than five times as large as New Orleans when Katrina struck, and that it could be harder for the U.S. territory to attract a new influx of teachers than to the Crescent City. If they have to face the same challenges we did, it is going to be a difficult and a long slog through no fault of their own, Pastorek said. There are few options that are easy, automatic, and elegantly right. Pastorek was superintendent of Louisiana schools from 2007 to 2011. He won praise from some quarters for the performance of New Orleans schools when they were placed under state control after Katrina. But teachers unions and others vigorously criticized him for being inflexible on policy matters and inattentive to the needs of educators. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten blasted Pastoreks contract with Puerto Rico, sayin in a statement that, Make no mistake, Pastorek and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos share a vision for education, closing schools, privatization and disinvestment from public schools--and it will mean more disruption. (The teachers union in Puerto Rico is an affiliate of the AFT.) Since then Pastorek has worked at as co-director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundations education work, and as an independent education consultant. Metro reports that Pastorek is also responsible for helping to seek philanthropic support for the islands education system. Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos (l) and Fiat Chrysler chairman John Elkann walk the grounds at the Allen & Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 12, 2018. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has a new "shadow" adviser, a role that's highly coveted inside the company because it involves following around the billionaire founder for a year or two and learning all aspects of the business. The position is now held by Wei Gao, a female executive of Chinese descent, whose LinkedIn profile says she's had the role of "VP, Technical Advisor to CEO" since July. Gao, only the second female to shadow Bezos, replaced Jeffrey Helbling, who was named technical adviser in early 2017. CNBC learned of the change from two people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because they're not authorized to speak for the company. Gao, who was most recently a vice president of forecasting, has filled various roles during her 13 years at Amazon, including senior positions in the Kindle and inventory planning teams. The shadow job, which entails sticking by Bezos' side and accompanying him to all of his meetings, often portends good things for those who are picked. Maria Renz, who left the position in 2017, is now vice president of delivery experience. Other high-profile shadows from the past include Andy Jassy, now CEO of Amazon Web Services, Greg Hart, vice president of of Prime Video, and Dilip Kumar, vice president of Amazon Go. Gao isn't the only woman to capture such a highly desired role of late. Jeff Wilke, Amazon's CEO of consumer retail, named Yunyan Wang, also a female executive of Chinese descent, as his shadow in May, according to Wang's Linkedin Profile. Wang was most recently director of marketplace, and held jobs at other tech companies like Expedia and Microsoft. The diversity problem The Trump administration's mixed messaging on trade with China could result in increased tensions between the United States and the People's Republic, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Monday as the major averages endured a technology-led sell-off. After hearing the hard-line stance embraced by Vice President Mike Pence in his Oct. 4 speech at Washington's Hudson Institute, Cramer worried that what seems like dealmaking could actually be a long-winded strategy to destabilize China's socioeconomic position. "It's hard not to get the impression that this administration cares more about trying to destabilize or even topple the Chinese Communist regime than it does about negotiating a fairer trade deal," Cramer said on "Mad Money." In the October speech, Trump's second-in-command stopped short of declaring what Cramer called "economic war" on China. Pence furthered that stance at his speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Saturday by calling on nations to reconsider backing China's massive Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Those arguments could stymie any progress at the upcoming G-20 summit, at which President Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss U.S.-China trade and the potential for a renewed trade deal, Cramer said. "You can hope that the G-20 yields results, but I would say that Pence's reiteration of the hard-line containment policy makes that event much more binary," Cramer warned. "The odds increased dramatically this weekend that there's no deal to be had." And while investors "could easily make the case that it's all rhetoric" focused on getting better deal terms, the "Mad Money" host was prepared for the worst. "All of this talk of containment sure sounds sincere to me," he warned, saying that Pence's hawkish take this weekend was "just a further extension of the cold war that began Oct. 4 and seems to get hotter every single day." The G-20 meeting of the world's developed economies will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In September, President Donald Trump announced that he would place duties of 10 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. They are set to rise to 25 percent at the end of 2018. CNBC's Jim Cramer wants to see cold, hard proof of a turnaround in beer maker Molson Coors' North America business before recommending its stock to investors. "Molson Coors is definitely getting its act together, but I want to see some signs of real improvement in the core business before I recommend this stock as an investment," Cramer said Monday on "Mad Money." "But if you want to buy Molson Coors purely on speculation that the thing has really turned around? Well, as long as you're prepared to lose a little money, be my guest." Molson Coors, the parent of Coors, Miller, Blue Moon and an assortment of other beer brands, has been struggling since late 2016 as consumers started to shift from mass-market beers to craft brews. From its 2016 peak to its 2018 trough, Molson Coors' stock lost roughly half of its value. Layer on the weakness at other beer businesses see Budweiser parent Anheuser-Busch InBev's dismal third-quarter earnings report and Molson Coors' fate seemed to be in flux. But in its third-quarter report, the Keystone parent surprised to the upside, delivering much better-than-expected earnings per share and a 17 percent boost in net income. Molson Coors shares jumped 10 percent on the news. "Now, the beer business hasn't suddenly turned around, and let's not say that it has. Molson Coors still saw a 1 percent decline in worldwide brand volume with real weakness in North America," Cramer said. "The bear thesis remains the same: maybe Molson Coors has become a better operator, but the fact remains that their core U.S. beer business [is] in trouble." Brand volumes in the United States, which accounts for more than 68 percent of Molson Coors' revenue according to FactSet, were down 3.3 percent a sign that the beer maker isn't exactly in the clear, the "Mad Money" host said. But management's focus on cutting costs, developing higher-end craft beers, growing Molson Coors' international presence and breaking into the cannabis market could form the company's new bull thesis, he argued. In August, Molson Coors' announced a joint venture with The Hydropothecary Corporation, a low-cost cannabis producer, to create marijuana-infused beverages ahead of the legalization of cannabis-based drinks in Canada, which lifted its ban on recreational weed in October. "Like Cramer-fave Constellation Brands, Molson Coors is a brewer that understands the scale of the opportunity here, but, of course, this business won't start making money for nearly a year," Cramer said. Yet, even with management's improved execution and the stock's cheap multiple of 13.3 times next year's earnings estimates, Cramer still worried about Molson Coors' slowing U.S. business. "I worry that there might not be much room for upside. And while I'm intrigued by the cannabis exposure, it's very small compared to what Constellation Brands has done with its investment in Canopy Growth ... and it'll take a lot longer to pay off," he said. "You've gotta ask yourself: is that enough?" Molson Coors' stock climbed 2.55 percent on Monday, settling at $66.39 a share. Ivanka Trump used a personal email account to send "hundreds" of emails discussing government business in 2017, The Washington Post reported Monday, citing people familiar with a White House review of her emails. Peter Mirijanian, spokesman for Ivanka Trump's ethics counsel Abbe Lowell, acknowledged in a statement that Trump "sometimes used her private account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family." He also asserted that emails sent from her personal account never contained classified information. Those emails have been kept in accordance with records preservation laws, Mirijanian said. The Post reported that administration ethics officials discovered Trump's use of a personal account when they were examining emails gathered in response to a public records lawsuit. The Post reported that some of the president's advisors expressed alarm at the similarities between Ivanka Trump's use of a private email account and Hilary Clinton's private email server. The Post reported, citing people familiar with her reaction, that the president's daughter told aides that she was not familiar with rules about personal email use, when she was confronted about her correspondence. Read the full statement from Mirijanian below: "Like most people, before entering into government service, Ms. Trump used a private email. When she entered the government, she was given a government email account for official use. While transitioning into government, until the White House provided her the same guidance they had to others who started before she did, Ms. Trump sometimes used her private account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family. To address misinformation being peddled about Ms. Trump's personal email, she did not create a private server in her house or office, there was never classified information transmitted, the account was never transferred or housed at Trump Organization, no emails were ever deleted, and the emails have been retained in the official account in conformity with records preservation laws and rules. When concerns were raised in the press 14 months ago, Ms. Trump reviewed and verified her email use with White House Counsel and explained the issue to congressional leaders." Read the full report in The Washington Post. WATCH: Trump's economy: Here's where he gets credit, and what could go wrong Which of this generation's biggest tech luminaries and innovators will ultimately be remembered for having the greatest lasting effect on the world? It's a tough question, especially when you consider the role that people like Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg play in our everyday lives. But, if you ask renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, the answer is simple: Elon Musk. "As important as Steve Jobs was, no doubt about it [and] you have to add him to Bill Gates, because they birthed the personal computing revolution kind of together here's the difference: Elon Musk is trying to invent a future, not by providing the next app," deGrasse Tyson tells CNBC Make It about the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. "What Elon Musk is doing is not simply giving us the next app that will be awesome on our smartphone," deGrasse Tyson says. "No, he is thinking about society, culture, how we interact, what forces need to be in play to take civilization into the next century." Between Musk's work at Tesla developing electric cars and his plans to put humans on Mars by 2024 (and, eventually, to colonize the planet), the billionaire tech executive is attempting to revolutionize both human transportation and space exploration, deGrasse Tyson says. Of course, as an astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, deGrasse Tyson might be expected to have a soft spot for Musk's grand intergalactic plans. But deGrasse Tyson, who also hosts the show "StarTalk" on the National Geographic Channel, argues that space colonization could have a tremendous impact on civilization, potentially eliminating the need for warring over dwindling natural resources. "Because there's unlimited resources in space; resources that, on Earth, we fight wars over," deGrasse Tyson tells CNBC Make It. "In space, you don't need to fight a war, just go to another asteroid and get your resources. A whole category of war has the potential of evaporating entirely with the exploitation of space resources, which includes the unlimited access to energy as well." That's the sort of universal issue that Musk is trying to tackle, deGrasse Tyson argues, which gives him the potential to have the greatest long-term effect on our civilization. "[H]e will transform civilization as we know it," deGrasse Tyson says. Granted, Musk has had his share of detractors over the past year. Musk was forced to step down from his role as Tesla's chairman as part of a settlement with the SEC over a series of tweets in August in which he discussed taking Tesla private (the SEC alleged the tweets constituted fraud on Musk's part). The billionaire CEO has also received quite a bit of criticism for, among other things: seemingly smoking marijuana on video, calling a British cave diver a "pedo" on Twitter, and clashing with journalists during an earnings call. However, deGrasse Tyson feels that Musk is somewhat underappreciated, though he argues that Musk is beloved by many people, including Tesla owners and anyone interested in space exploration. ("Go, Elon Musk! And, I don't care if he gets high," deGrasse Tyson jokes about the controversy over Musk supposedly using drugs.) "People who own Teslas love their Tesla " deGrasse Tyson says. "Anyone who knows and cares about space exploration knows and cares about Elon Musk." "[W]e're on the frontier of the future of civilization, and no I don't think he gets his full due from all sectors of society," says deGrasse Tyson, "but ultimately he will when the sectors that he is pioneering transform the lives of those who currently have no clue that their life is about to change." Don't Miss: Elon Musk and others 'are not acting like menthey're acting like children,' says NYU professor Elon Musk: Starting SpaceX and Tesla were 'the dumbest things to do' Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube! A worker lifts a gold bullion bar from a conveyor machine at the Rand Refinery plant in Germiston, South Africa, on Aug. 16. 2017. The precious metal broker, GoldCore, has opened a new storage facility in Dublin as it makes the bet that investors will look to diversify holdings away from London following the United Kingdom's departure from the EU next year. "We think Dublin is much more palatable to the U.K. investor client as they look to store their gold. They want it to be at arm's length," said GoldCore's Chief Executive Stephen Flood on Tuesday. The firm typically buys, sells, and stores physical gold for private clients, pension firms, or smaller retail investors. The company operates five vaults with Zurich its largest and London the next most popular. The company opened a new storage vault in Dublin in October and Flood expects U.K. and Irish customers to seek sanctuary from the political uncertainty of Brexit. "We expect demand in Dublin to exceed that of London sometime in 2019," Flood said. The CEO said at a government level he expected many countries to follow Germany's example of repatriating gold to bolster the reserves of their central banks. Who buys gold? Gold has captivated humans since at least the times of ancient Egypt, prized by pharaohs and temple priests. But for more modern investors gold can be a divisive asset. Some view it as a hedge against both rising prices and volatility while skeptics regard it as an expensive lump of metal, offering no dividend like stocks, or income yield like property. Flood told CNBC that there are often certain characteristics to the type of person that likes to hold gold. "Typically, our type of client tends to be more male than female, they tend to be director types, people who have run companies. They might be still running those companies, or they might be retired," said Flood. The CEO said a typical holder of gold is also more concerned about preserving the safety of capital rather than hunting for returns. Shares of Japanese automaker Nissan fell 5.45 percent on Tuesday after its chairman, Carlos Ghosn, was arrested a day earlier over allegations of financial misconduct. The auto giant said in a statement on Monday that "over many years" Ghosn and board director Greg Kelly had been under-reporting compensation amounts to the Tokyo Stock Exchange securities report. Nissan added that, with regard to Ghosn, "numerous other significant acts of misconduct have been uncovered, such as personal use of company assets." The company said Ghosn had also made inappropriate investments. In a press conference Monday, Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa, said both men had been arrested and this Thursday he would propose to the Nissan Board of Directors to remove them from their roles. Ghosn is also chairman and CEO of the strategic alliance between French automaker Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. Mitsubishi Motors shares were down 6.85 percent. The broader Japanese market also declined, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 down 1.09 percent to close at 21,583.12 and the Topix index lower by 0.73 percent to 1,625.67. In South Korea, the Kospi slipped 0.86 percent to close at 2,082.58. The mainland Chinese markets were also lower on the day. The Shanghai composite fell 2.13 percent to close at around 2,645.85 while the Shenzhen composite shed 2.717 percent to 1,378.92. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined 1.94 percent in late-afternoon trade. Australia's was down 0.38 percent to close at 5,671.8, with almost all sectors in negative territory. KKR and Bain Capital, the private equity firms that owned Toys R Us before the company declared bankruptcy earlier this year, said Tuesday that they have each pledged $10 million to create the TRU Financial Assistance Fund, which aims to distribute severance funds to former employees. The move is unusual for the firms, as they are not required under bankruptcy law to do such a thing. In a joint statement, KKR and Bain said the fund is being established in response to "an extraordinary set of circumstances" for both of the firms. "The confluence of the disruption in retail, the push by the company's secured creditors to liquidate the company's U.S. operations, and the fact that we have never experienced something like this in the history of either firm led us to try and find a way to provide some financial relief for former employees," the firms said in a statement. In order to be eligible for the payments, those who were left jobless as a result of the company's liquidation will have to meet certain criteria. The ex-employees will have to have worked at Toys R Us for at least a year, they can't have more than $110,000 or less than $5,000 in annual income, and they must have met the termination and employment guidelines in the Toys R Us plan. New Jersey Democratic U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., whose district once included the company's headquarters, issued a joint statement regarding Tuesday's announcement of the creation of the fund. "Fundamental to our values as Americans is the ideal that if you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to get ahead," the statement said. "For months, we have been raising concerns around the lack of support for impacted Toys 'R' Us employees and their families in an effort to provide some measure of fairness to the workers who built a great New Jersey company. Today marks a positive step toward fulfilling a moral obligation to thousands of former Toys 'R' Us workers." The two senators and congressman stood with Toys R Us workers in June outside the New Jersey-based retailer's former headquarters in Wayne demanding fairness for the workers and their families affected by the company's demise. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a former presidential candidate, tweeted about the establishment of the severance fund, saying that "We will continue to fight the greed of Wall Street and private equity, and to expand the collective bargaining rights of all Americans." Bernie Sanders tweet Shortly after Toys R Us announced it was going out of business, employees across the country banded together to protest for severance payments in Washington, D.C., and New York, and even lobbied in front of Congress and the firm's investors. In September, the firms and the ex-employees agreed to the deal. Now, ex-employees are focusing their attention on hedge funds Solus Alternative Asset Management and Angelo Gordon & Co. that were behind the decision to liquidate the company. Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros have been appointed by Bain and KKR to be the independent administrators of the fund, according to a joint release from the firms. In the past, the two have assisted in distributing funds to various groups, including compensation to victims of the 9/11 attacks. "We have designed a transparent, straight-forward, and simple process that should provide some financial relief to eligible former employees," Biros said in a statement. "Next, we want to hear from those former employees affected by the unexpected liquidation." There will be a two-week period for all interested parties to comment on the terms and conditions of the plan. These comments will be evaluated by both Feinberg and Biros. After outlining the final terms and conditions, the claims process is expected to begin Dec. 15 and the aim is to complete payments by April 30, 2019. Chief Executive Officer of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, tours the facility at the grand opening of the Amazon Spheres, in Seattle, Washington on January 29, 2018. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Tuesday named 24 organizations that will receive a collective $97.5 million in grants from his new philanthropic fund for their work to help the homeless population. The news comes one week after Amazon's HQ2 decision launched fears around displacement of affordable housing in the two locations it chose to expand its operations Long Island City in New York and an area of Arlington, Virginia. Bezos the wealthiest man in modern history, with a net worth of more than $125 billion, estimated by Forbes launched the $2 billion "Day One Fund" in September. At the time, Bezos said the fund would be split between the Day 1 Families Fund, with the goal of helping homeless families, and the Day 1 Academies Fund, with the aim of creating high-quality, nonprofit preschools for low-income communities. Tuesday's announcement was for the recipients of the Day 1 Families Fund grants. The 24 organizations are spread throughout 16 states and the District of Columbia. Below is the full list of recipients: Abode Services, Fremont, CA $5 million Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA $5 million Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Miami, FL $5 million Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, Tacoma, WA $5 million Community of Hope, Washington, DC $5 million Community Rebuilders, Grand Rapids, MI $5 million Crossroads Rhode Island, Providence, RI $5 million District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH), Washington, DC $2.5 million Emerald Development and Economic Network, Cleveland, OH $2.5 million FrontLine Service, Cleveland, OH $2.5 million Hamilton Families, San Francisco, CA $2.5 million Heartland Family Service, Omaha, NE $5 million Housing Families First, Henrico, VA $2.5 million JOIN, Portland, OR $5 million LA Family Housing, North Hollywood, CA $5 million Northern Virginia Family Service, Oakton, VA $2.5 million Primo Center for Women and Children, Chicago, IL $2.5 million Refugee Women's Alliance, Seattle, WA $2.5 million SEARCH Homeless Services, Houston, TX $5 million Simpson Housing Services, Minneapolis, MN $2.5 million The Salvation Army, Center of Hope, Charlotte, NC $5 million The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, Houston, TX $5 million UMOM New Day Centers, Phoenix, AZ $5 million Urban Resource Institute, New York, NY $5 million Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Boeing shares fell Tuesday after the company canceled a conference call with airlines to discuss systems on the 737 MAX, the model that crashed in Indonesia last month, killing all 189 people aboard. A 737 MAX operated by Lion Air crashed Oct. 29. the first major accident involving the Boeing's latest version of its popular narrow-body plane. Since the crash, investigators have been looking at whether or not the pilots were fully aware of changes in the software of the 737 MAX for a particular part of the plane and how it reacts in extreme situations. Instead of a conference call, the aerospace giant will continue contact with individual airlines on a regular basis, CNBC has learned. Boeing has steadily spoken with different operators of the 737 MAX during the last two weeks. But the reaction Tuesday by Boeing shareholders furthers the perception that the company has not been forthright with its customers. Airlines, as well as members of the pilot's union, told CNBC that Boeing had not provided detailed updates about changes to the 737 MAX's software system. However, CEO Dennis Muilenburg adamantly denied in an email to employees on Monday that Boeing has withheld information. "Continued media speculation has introduced false assumptions. It's important you know the facts to the extent we can share them at this stage of the investigation," Muilenburg wrote in the email. "I have supreme confidence in all of you and our products, including the 737 Max, but when it comes to safety, our standards of excellence can never be too high," Muilenburg added. Indonesian investigators are expected to release a preliminary report regarding the Lion Air crash on Nov. 28 or 29. Boeing shares fell as low as $296.61 a share on Tuesday, dropping more than 4 percent. The stock later recovered much of its losses, closing down 1 percent at $317.70 a share. CNBC's Phil LeBeau and Meghan Reeder contributed to this report. Signage is displayed outside the Campbell Soup Co. factory in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Campbell Soup on Tuesday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that beat analysts' expectations ahead of a key shareholder vote on its board next week. Shares of the company jumped 6.8 percent Tuesday. Campbell is locked in a proxy fight with activist firm Third Point, which wants to place five new directors on its board. The fight comes as Campbell has been working on a business turnaround, following a string of poor quarterly results. After a three-month review this summer, Campbell announced it is selling its fresh food and international snacks business, while focusing on revitalizing its core soup and domestic snack business. "We continue to expect fiscal 2019 to be a transition year as we fully operationalize our plans to turn around Campbell," said interim CEO Keith McLoughlin. In a statement, he said the company has begun to see improved trends in its U.S. soup business, return to sales growth in its V8 drink business and "continued solid performance" in its snack business, which includes Snyder's pretzels and Goldfish crackers. Here's what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv: Earnings per share: 79 cents, adjusted, vs. 70 cents expected Revenue: $2.69 billion vs. $2.67 billion expected Campbell reported fiscal first-quarter 2019 net income of $194 million, or 64 cents per share, down from $275 million, or 91 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding items, Campbell earned 79 cents per share, beating the 70 cents per share expected by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv. It said the impact of its acquisition of Snyder's-Lance and organic soup brand Pacific Foods were "neutral" to the company's adjusted earnings. Net sales rose 25 percent to $2.69 billion, beating expectations of $2.67 billion. Still, the company has challenges ahead. Sales at its meals and beverages unit, which houses its namesake soup, dropped 5 percent after stripping out the impact of currency and acquisitions, driven largely by declines in U.S. soup, Prego pasta sauces and its Canadian business. Sales at its fresh food business, which Campbell plans to sell, fell 1 percent to $232 million, led by declines in refrigerated soup, its Garden Fresh Gourmet salsa and its Bolthouse Farms smoothies. Campbell has already begun to shop its Garden Fresh business, CNBC has reported, to see if it can expedite the sale of the unit. The fresh food business posted an operating loss of $3 million, an improvement over its loss of $6 million a year earlier. Its Bolthouse Farm carrot business, meantime, also showed signs of progress, the company said. The soup company reaffirmed its expectations for 2019. On Aug. 30, Campbell said without taking into account its planned sales, it expects adjusted earnings to be within a range of $2.45 to $2.53 per share. Assuming the divestitures, it expects a range of $2.40 to $2.50 a share. WATCH: How Campbell Soup fell off its perch Chief financial officers (CFOs) from some of the world's largest firms are unsure whether the U.K. will be thrust into the unknown post-Brexit, according to a new survey conducted by CNBC. The results of the survey come at a time when U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is fighting for her political survival, after the government's draft divorce deal with the EU prompted a flurry of cabinet ministers to resign. May is currently trying to rally enough lawmakers to back the proposed plan in order to get it through Parliament next month - a daunting task given the broad criticism it has received. Global CFOs across a wide range of industries were asked whether they expected Parliament to approve a formal Brexit deal with the EU over the coming weeks. An Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray (R) stands with placards and a pro-Brexit supporter (L) stands with a placard demanding an immediate departure from the European Union. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS | AFP | Getty Images Just over 51 percent of respondents said they expected a withdrawal arrangement to be approved by British lawmakers in early December. Almost a third of global CFOs said they did not know what would happen, while 16.2 percent predicted a no-deal scenario. The most divided participants in the survey were EMEA-based, with the majority of CFO's in the region saying they expected a formal deal. However, almost a quarter said they feared both sides would be unable to agree on the terms of Britain's exit from the bloc. A no-deal scenario is generally considered to be where the U.K. crashes out of the EU without any formal relationship and must then rely on WTO trading rules. Responses to the CNBC Global CFO Survey are anonymous. All 37 CFOs who completed the survey responded to this question. What's going on with Brexit? The British government unveiled its long-awaited draft withdrawal agreement last week, which details the terms of the U.K.'s departure from the EU on March 29, 2019. May is facing opposition from across the political spectrum to the proposed draft deal, which must be approved by Parliament, with critics saying it could leave Britain indefinitely tied to the EU post-Brexit. Despite some mutinous members of the prime minister's own party looking to force through an imminent leadership challenge, prominent Brexiteers in the cabinet have also rallied behind May. Market participants are now turning their attention to an EU summit on Sunday. If the 27 remaining member states agree to sign off on the draft agreement later this week, the British government will have to win over lawmakers at a crucial vote in early December. Impact of no-deal Department of Justice Chief of Staff Matt Whitaker (R) participates in a round table event with the Joint Interagency Task Force - South (JIATF-S) foreign liaison officers at the Department of Justice Kennedy building August 29, 2018 in Washington, DC. While it is hard to know at the moment how closely Whitaker may involve himself in the inquiry, Mueller's prosecutors have told a judge they sought approval from their previous overseer, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, for " every key step " of their investigation into former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort . As acting attorney general, Whitaker is tasked with approving any major investigative steps Mueller takes, such as obtaining subpoenas or indictments. Legal challenges against the appointment have piled up in the two weeks since Trump forced out Jeff Sessions and named Whitaker to lead the Justice Department, including one case that's already before the Supreme Court. If Whitaker is found to have been improperly appointed, the spillover effect could invalidate any official decisions he made while in his role including decisions related to Mueller. Matthew Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general could mean trouble for special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia probe, but not necessarily in the way President Donald Trump 's critics expect. The legal challenges, even if they are unlikely to succeed in court, will give Mueller some pause before he takes any major actions, said Joe Moreno, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner in Cadwalader's white collar defense and investigations group. "Mueller will not want anything he does second-guessed because [Whitaker's] authority may be questioned," Moreno said in an email. It is not clear when the legal challenges to Whitaker will be resolved. Tom Goldstein, a prominent Washington lawyer, urged the Supreme Court on Friday to take up the issue of Whitaker's appointment immediately, citing the difficulty of "unwinding" all of the decisions that Whitaker makes while in his role. Those decisions would include approving subpoenas or indictments, or even firing the special counsel, Goldstein told CNBC. The other challenges could take longer. In a case brought by the state of Maryland, which is also represented by Goldstein, a district court in the state has scheduled arguments for late 2019, and has not indicated when it plans to make a ruling. Goldstein has sought a preliminary injunction in the case that would bar Whitaker from carrying out his official duties. Attorneys representing a client in an immigration case before the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals have filed for a similar preliminary injunction. The government has until Dec. 10 to respond to their claim. On Monday, Senate Democrats Mazie Hirono, Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse brought their own case challenging the constitutionality of Whitaker's appointment. That case, the latest, is likely to run into technical hurdles about standing and possible remedies, legal experts say. Critics have called on Whitaker to resign from his oversight role, citing his previous criticism of Mueller's investigation and his close ties to Sam Clovis, a witness in the investigation. Whitaker has said there was "no collusion" between the Trump team and Russia, an echo of Trump and his attorneys' own language. Mueller's prosecutors broached the topic of Whitaker's effect on the probe in a court filing Monday. A panel of judges in Washington is overseeing a case brought by a target of the probe, Andrew Miller, who was held in contempt after failing to comply with grand jury subpoenas obtained by Mueller in May and June. The special counsel's office wrote in its brief that Whitaker's appointment had "no effect" on the grand jury subpoenas issued to Miller. But, they wrote, that was because the subpoenas were issued before Whitaker was appointed. Any "new" challenges should be argued in a different venue, they wrote. A spokesman for the special counsel declined to comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. To be sure, there are ways that Mueller can go about inoculating himself from challenges to future actions. For instance, Mueller could obtain approvals from both Whitaker and Rosenstein. But it may not be politically viable for Whitaker to do so if it is perceived to be in response to questions about his legitimacy. In a statement, the Justice Department said Whitaker's appointment "is lawful and comports with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court precedent, past Department of Justice opinions, and actions of U.S. Presidents, both Republican and Democrat." The Office of Legal Counsel signed off on Whitaker's appointment in a 20-page legal memo earlier this month. Mueller's use of a grand jury could also bolster his legal case against any future challenges. Willy Jay, a former assistant to the solicitor general and a partner at the law firm Goodwin Procter, said that "there are an awful lot of things that generally cannot be litigated after an indictment." "The grand jury returns the indictment, it is not the attorney general," Jay said. "Once the grand jury returns the indictment, things that go into that cannot be second guessed." Jay also pointed to the de facto officer doctrine, under which actions taken by officials can be upheld even if it is later discovered that they were improperly appointed. But that would not necessarily apply if the target of a subpoena or indictment challenges Whitaker's appointment at their first opportunity to do so. A case from 2016 involving actions taken by the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could be instructive. The case arose after the Supreme Court ruled that Richard Cordray, the first head of the CFPB, was improperly appointed by President Barack Obama in 2012. Obama reappointed Cordray in 2013, after which Cordray retroactively affirmed the actions he had taken while he had been improperly serving. A federal appeals court in California upheld decisions Cordray had made before his renomination. The Supreme Court, however, has never said that the courts can retroactively bless the decisions of an official appointed unconstitutionally, Jay said. Health officials in the U.S. and Canada told people on Tuesday to stop eating romaine lettuce because of a new E. coli outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it is working with officials in Canada on the outbreak, which has sickened 32 people in 11 states and 18 people in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The strain identified is different than the one linked to romaine earlier this year but appears similar to last year's outbreak linked to leafy greens. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency doesn't have enough information to ask suppliers for a recall, but he suggested that supermarkets and restaurants should withdraw romaine until the source of the contamination can be identified. The contaminated lettuce is likely still on the market, Gottlieb told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday. He said FDA wanted to issue a warning before people gathered for Thanksgiving meals, where the potential for exposure could increase. "We did feel some pressure to draw conclusions as quickly as we could," he said. Most romaine sold this time of year is grown in California, Gottlieb said. The romaine lettuce linked to the E. coli outbreak earlier this year was from Yuma, Arizona. That outbreak, which sickened about 200 people and killed five, was blamed on tainted irrigation water. No deaths have been reported in the current outbreak, but 13 people in the U.S. and six in Canada have been hospitalized. The last reported U.S. illness was on Oct. 31, while and the most recent illness in Canada was early this month. Tracing the source of contaminated lettuce can be difficult because it's often repackaged by middlemen, said Sarah Sorscher, deputy director of regulatory affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. That can mean the entire industry becomes implicated in outbreaks, even if not all products are contaminated. "One of the problems with produce is that it can be very hard to trace back," she said. She said washing contaminated lettuce won't ensure that harmful germs are killed. Infections from E. coli can cause symptoms including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe. Health officials have also been reminding people to properly handle and cook their Thanksgiving birds amid a widespread salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey. Last week, Hormel recalled some packages of Jennie-O ground turkey that regulators were able to tie to an illness. But unlike with romaine lettuce, regulators are not warning people to avoid turkey. Salmonella is not prohibited in raw meat and poultry, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which overseas raw meat, said cooking should kill any salmonella. WATCH: Diabetics are hacking their own insulin pumps ALSO WATCH: How brands like Domino's and PepsiCo profit from school lunches Alphabet's Google is to invest 600 million euros ($685.98 million) to build its first data center in Denmark. In a blog post Tuesday, Google's Vice President for Global Data Centers, Joe Kava, said the facility would be located just outside Fredericia, in the west of the country. Kava added that Google was "committed to matching its energy use with 100 percent carbon-free energy" in Fredericia. The business was therefore "pursuing new investment opportunities" in Danish renewable energy projects such as solar energy and onshore and offshore wind. It did not name any other companies that it would partner with. "The Fredericia data center will be among the most energy efficient data centers in Denmark to date, taking advantage of advanced machine learning to make sure every watt of electricity counts," Kava added. Denmark is something of a world leader in wind energy. Over one third of the country's electricity production comes from wind turbines, according to the Danish Energy Agency. The Fredericia data center is set to be Google's fifth in Europe. It currently has sites in Belgium, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands. Google is among a number of tech giants turning to renewable energy as they look to green their operations. In July, for example, Facebook said its Prineville Data Center in Oregon would be supported by 100 percent solar power under a new partnership with Pacific Power. In October 2017, Amazon announced that its Amazon Wind Farm Texas was operational. At the time, Amazon said that the facility, located in Scurry County, would add over 1 million megawatt hours of clean energy to the grid each year. Aly Song | Reuters When Google changed the wording of its internal process for granting disability accommodation late last week, employee Cathy Fitzpatrick took it as proof that you can effect change by speaking out. In the past year, the tech industry generally and Google employees in particular have shown an unusually high level of labor organizing, with employees sounding off about multiple workplace issues, including diversity and controversial company business contracts. Google made changes to its sexual harassment and misconduct policies after employees staged massive walkouts earlier this month (though the company ignored several of the organizers' demands like adding an employee representative to Alphabet's board). Fitzpatrick's complaint had to do with Google's policy around providing special accommodation for employees with disabilities, like providing workspace adjustments for someone with an injury or tailored communication resources for an autistic person. She says Google's policy appeared to require employees with disabilities to provide medical documentation before it would discuss accommodation. She says that an anonymous internal mailing list for employees experiencing mental illness was rife with complaints about Google's process, and that one co-worker waited seven months to request accommodation because the documentation requirement was intimidating. Fitzpatrick first brought up her issues with the process internally about a year ago, but the company wouldn't budge. So Fitzpatrick posted a long thread on Twitter laying out why she thought the process violated state and federal law. Google softened its language about the process on its internal site soon after Fitzpatrick complained publicly. Instead of beginning with "Discuss your workplace barriers with your medical provider," the revised site begins with "Where appropriate, we may ask you to provide information about your condition from a third party (e.g., your medical provider)...." The company told CNBC that it "has never required employees to provide medical evidence as the first step in our accommodation process," and anyone who thought otherwise was misinterpreting the policy. But Fitzpatrick is pleased with the change and thinks Google's revised wording is an improvement, since it removes previously implied red tape for employees with clear disabilities. "When a process doesn't accurately describe the circumstances under which documentation can be requested, it has a chilling effect on people's willingness to ask for an accommodation," Fitzpatrick said. "I hope that this change, though minor, will be the beginning of what feels like a less adversarial process for those seeking accommodation." According to federal law and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance, a company is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act if "as a matter of policy or practice" it refuses to engage with an employee about accommodation without first receiving medical documentation, "at least as applied to any employee with an obvious disability who requests a reasonable accommodation," Matt Koski, program director at the National Employment Lawyers Association, told CNBC. Koski declined to address Google's specific case, though Google's new wording makes its compliance with the law more explicit. A culture that discourages talking about labor issues Fitzpatrick said recent events spurred her decision to speak publicly about the issue. As the company responded to massive employee walkouts over its handling of sexual misconduct with salvos about inclusivity and change, she grew frustrated. "The self-congratulatory messaging was a little overwhelming considering some of the major issues they still had not addressed, including their accommodation policy," she said. After she posted on Twitter, she says, she received two types of messages: kudos from employees from a range of companies thanking her for speaking out about the issue and warnings from her peers at Google that she could get in trouble even for posting the accommodation process. "Inside of Google, there's still a culture that discourages people from talking about labor issues," she said. Fitzpatrick knows that California statutes (and Google's own employee communications policy) protect workers who talk about their labor conditions, but she doesn't believe that enough of her co-workers realize their rights. "I think that employees should be willing to talk about them publicly so they can get feedback and find allies." Fitzpatrick points to an ongoing gender pay gap lawsuit against Google led by former employees Kelly Ellis, Holly Pease, and Kelli Wisuri as an inspiring current example of a challenge to the company's employment practices. Expects more to come. Fitzpatrick herself is accustomed to challenging the status quo. In 2014, she won a landmark transgender rights case after suing the province of Alberta, Canada, to switch the gender on her birth certificate even though she did not have sex reassignment surgery, as was previously mandated for changes. "When I filed my lawsuit in Alberta regarding the birth certificate issuance rules, every province in Canada had the same rules as the ones I was challenging, and people thought I was crazy for challenging something so common and universally accepted," she said. Correction: This story was revised to correct that the transgender lawsuit was against Alberta, a Canadian province. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on immigration and border security in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 1, 2018. A federal judge barred the Trump administration on Monday from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar issued a temporary restraining order after hearing arguments in San Francisco. The request was made by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights, which quickly sued after President Donald Trump issued the ban this month in response to the caravans of migrants that have started to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump issued a proclamation on Nov. 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border would be ineligible for asylum. The regulations, which will remain in place for three months absent a court order, could potentially make it harder for thousands of people who enter the U.S. to avoid deportation. "Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry," said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights. "It couldn't be clearer." In recent years, tens of thousands of immigrants each year have shown up in the Arizona desert or on the north bank of the Rio Grande in Texas, surrendered to immigration agents and requested asylum. The Department of Homeland Security estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. Trump has argued that the recent caravans are a threat to national security. Around 3,000 people from the first of the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that it closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the San Ysidro crossing. It has also installed movable, wire-topped barriers, apparently to stop a potential mass rush of people. As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Trump's order went into effect, according to DHS, which oversees Customs and Border Protection. Officials didn't say whether those people's cases were still progressing through other avenues left to them after the proclamation. DHS has said it wants asylum seekers at the southern border to appear at an official border crossing. But many border crossings such as San Ysidro already have long wait times. People are often forced to wait in shelters or outdoor camps on the Mexican side, sometimes for weeks. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because "they're in real danger," either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. "We don't condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum," he said. An Indian policeman stands guard at the entrance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) head office in Mumbai on October 4, 2017. Punit Paranjpe | AFP | Getty Images The independence of the Reserve Bank of India appears to be intact, experts said after a closely-watched board meeting of the central bank concluded. After a nine-hour meeting on Monday, the RBI board decided to form an expert committee to look into how much the central bank should hold in its reserves. "The independence of the central bank is still intact without the institution experiencing excessive pressure from the government," Rajiv Biswas, chief economist for Asia Pacific at IHS Markit, told CNBC by phone on Tuesday. "Some were expecting a fall out this was a better outcome than expected." The meeting has been closely monitored by investors because of heightened tensions between the RBI and the Indian government in recent weeks. Those issues include: monetary policy rates, easing lending restrictions as well as New Delhi's push to access surplus reserves from the RBI to boost the economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has pressured the central bank to ease restrictions on how much capital India's troubled banks should hold. Less stringent rules would allow banks to lend more, so that small and medium enterprises can obtain loans more easily. That comes amid concerns struggling small businesses could hurt the government's prospects in the upcoming general elections next year. The central bank's board is made up of representatives from the RBI, government officials and independent directors nominated by New Delhi. "Central banks with substantial reserves have gone through discussions on the amount of reserves that should be left to accumulate, and the best way for some of the reserves to be used," Biswas said. "This is a complex issue thus, a panel to discuss this deeply was the best measure to take," he said, adding that the debate on how to use the reserves has been going on for many years now. Easing lending rules At Monday's meeting, the RBI board also asked the central bank to ease certain rules for loans of up to 250 million rupees ($3.49 million) to small and medium businesses that particular segment is a key contributor to economic growth and has been hit hard by major reforms such as demonetization and the implementation of India's goods and services tax (GST). It also agreed to extend a deadline for lenders to lift their capital conservation buffers part of the required capital that banks must hold to make themselves more resilient so that they can lend more, at a time when credit expansion remains sluggish. I think the meeting has most likely just kicked the can down the road in terms of solving these issues. Shilan Shah Capital Economics "The capital requirement on banks in India is actually higher than what's required globally," Radhika Rao, an economist at DBS, told CNBC's "Capital Connection." "That was one of the disagreement points where the RBI actually has a 1 percent buffer for the local banks," Rao said. She explained that the overnight change only extended the timeline for local banks to comply with the RBI's requirement the rule is still in place. "But in the short term, it brings relief because the capital infusion requirements from the government has gone down, so it gives them a bit more breathing space," she said, referring to New Delhi's plans to rescue troubled lenders by injecting more money into them. Standoff not over yet The standoff between the central bank and the government is not over yet, according to some experts. Monday's meeting was a bit of an "impasse" between the central bank and the government, according to Shilan Shah, senior India economist at Capital Economics. "I think the meeting has most likely just kicked the can down the road in terms of solving these issues," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "I don't think we've seen any measures that have been too drastic, actually being taken ... we don't think that this issue has been fully solved yet." While Shah said the central bank and the government appeared to be "meeting in the middle," he predicted that "there is still more to come from this." "If we do see a real, sharp loosening of lending restrictions in the future or a very big surplus transfer to the government, then there would be even greater concerns about the RBI's independence," Shah added. Economists have argued that central bank independence is important for a country to keep its inflation rate low and stable. The debate between governments and central banks is age-old. While the governments tend to look at short-term targets, central banks generally focus on longer-term targets for the economy and in doing so are given complete autonomy. Countries where central banks are deemed not to be independent from political influence have seen a hit on their currencies most recently in Turkey. Government wants to see looser monetary policy As investigations into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi continue to cause diplomatic tensions, the U.K.'s foreign office told CNBC that it is ready to sanction Saudi Arabia if evidence points to its involvement in the death. The U.K.'s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said that the U.K. had been clear "that we need to see accountability for the horrific murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi." "We are exploring with EU (European Union) partners the potential for an EU global human rights sanctions regime, which could address such brutal human rights violations," an foreign office spokesperson told CNBC in a statement Monday. "We will of course wait for the final outcome of the Turkish investigation before making any decisions," the spokesperson said. The foreign office said it would base any decision on punitive action against Saudi Arabia on the kingdom's own explanation for Khashoggi's death. "The actions Britain and our allies take will depend on two things: Firstly the credibility of the final explanation given by Saudi Arabia, and secondly on our confidence that such an appalling episode cannot and will not be repeated." Saudi Arabia continues to strenuously deny any involvement in Khashoggi's death, it's foreign minister stating in October that the death happened during an "operation where individuals ended up exceeding the authorities and responsibilities they had." It has already announced forthcoming prosecutions of 11 suspects and it is seeking the death penalty for five of them. A report by the CIA has purportedly come to a different conclusion, however, with media reports suggesting at the weekend that the CIA has said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder. Saudi's foreign minister said early Tuesday that the CIA's assessment of the murder was false. A full report could be released by the CIA on Tuesday, President Trump said. CNBC has asked the U.K. Foreign Office for further detail on what kind of restrictions it could impose on Saudi Arabia and has asked for further detail on an EU global human rights sanctions regime. A Canadian father of three is suing McDonald's for illegally promoting Happy Meals to children, alleging that the company is breaking laws in Quebec that ban most advertising to those under 13. Antonio Bramante has three young children and goes to a McDonald's restaurant at least every two weeks at their encouragement, according to court documents filed last week. He is seeking compensation from the chain for purchases made over the past five years and wants to stop the company from promoting toys and happy meals to children in-store. His law suit states that the toys that come with Happy Meals are marketed with the launch of children's movies and are often part of a series, prompting his family to return to the restaurant to complete the set. The court documents, translated from their original French, also state that toys are displayed in stands at the child's eye level, which Bramante's attorney Joey Zukran claims break laws that are part of Quebec's Consumer Protection Act. McDonald's Happy Meal toys developed for the Canadian market, shown in July 2015 Chris So | Getty Images A spokesperson for McDonald's Canada told CNBC by email that the company had received the ruling and will examine it carefully. "We are aware of our obligations under Quebec's advertising laws and reiterate that we do not believe this class action has merit. We are proud of our long-standing relationship with Quebecers and their families, who have been choosing to enjoy McDonald's for more than 45 years," the spokesperson added. Advertising to children under 13 has been banned in Quebec since the 1970s with three exceptions: advertising in children's magazines, advertising children's entertainment events and advertising via store windows, displays, containers, packaging or labels. Zukran, an attorney at LPC Avocat, told CNBC by phone that McDonald's toy displays are not covered by this exception, with the judgment stating that the company operates restaurants rather than stores. Even if they are considered stores, Zukran said, advertising must not "directly incite a child to buy goods or services," according to the Consumer Protection Act. Zukran claims that his firm has had a "huge" response from other consumers, as anyone who has bought a Happy Meal in Quebec since November 2013 can request to be part of the action. He would not give a number but claims that the website crashed due to people's interest. He pointed to the long-running "McLibel" case of the 1980s and 1990s in which McDonald's sued activists who were part of the London Greenpeace group. They had produced a leaflet called "What's wrong with McDonald's everything they don't want you to know." Most of the claims in the leaflet were rejected by the judge, Justice Bell, but he decided that the advertising from McDonald's had exploited children, a blow to the fast-food chain. Jerome Corsi, CENTRE, who wrote "The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality, follows an immigration department officer holding his passport, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008 as he arrives at the immigration department in Nairobi, Kenya. AP With the midterm elections out of the way, special counsel Robert Mueller's ostensibly dormant probe of Russian election interference appears to be heating up again. That means Jerome Corsi, 72, an author and right-wing conspiracy theorist with connections to President Donald Trump's former advisor Roger Stone and Infowars host Alex Jones, could well be in the cross hairs. Corsi has said he believes he'll soon be indicted in the probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. While Corsi isn't a household name, he has been a mainstay on the political fringe for years, his influence at times extending into the mainstream of American politics. He was one of the main players in smear campaigns against 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and former President Barack Obama. Corsi pushed the "birther" conspiracy theory that falsely alleged Obama was not born in America. Trump himself embraced the birther narrative as he built his political career. Corsi's profile is almost certain to grow if what he says about Mueller's investigation targeting him comes to fruition. Here's what you need to know about him: He claims Mueller is planning to indict him Corsi told NBC News in a phone interview last week that the special counsel "told me they were going to indict me." Hearing that news was "one of the most confusing and frightening things I've experienced," he said. "I'm 72 years and I'm afraid they're going to lock me up and put me in solitary confinement." Mueller's team has reportedly investigated for months whether Corsi learned in advance that online whistleblowing database WikiLeaks had received Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails, which U.S. intelligence services have concluded were stolen by Russian intelligence officers. WikiLeaks dumped troves of Democratic National Committee emails in 2016 during the presidential campaign. Corsi denied that he knew ahead of time about the hacking and release of Podesta's emails. He said he merely deduced that they would be released after finding few of the campaign chief's emails in prior dumps of Democrats' communications by WikiLeaks, NBC reported. Corsi told NBC he has participated in "40 hours" of interview sessions with the special counsel, and that they "seemed determined to find a connection with WikiLeaks and me." A spokesman for the special counsel declined CNBC's request for comment. He has connections to Roger Stone and Alex Jones After revealing in September that Corsi had been subpoenaed by Mueller's team, Corsi lawyer David Gray told journalists in an email that "we intend to cooperate fully with the special counsel's office and we suspect that the focus of the questions will be about my client's communications with Roger Stone." Gray declined to comment on CNBC's inquiries about Corsi. Stone, a longtime advisor to Trump known for dirty politics, had corresponded with numerous associates and other individuals about WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. Multiple outlets reported last week that Justice Department prosecutors in an unrelated court filing revealed by mistake that Assange has been charged in an unspecified matter under seal. Stone had presented himself to Trump campaign-related people as being privy to WikiLeaks' inner workings, according to copies of his emails and text messages that have been made public by various news outlets. He has since denied that he had any direct sources inside WikiLeaks, claiming that his past hints to the contrary were nothing more than political posturing. Corsi and Stone also had connections to Infowars, the broadly pro-Trump conspiracy website led by Alex Jones, which has claimed that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were an "inside job" by the U.S. government and that the 2012 gun massacre of children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut was a "false flag" operation. Corsi had been the site's Washington bureau chief in 2017 but no longer works there. Stone has made appearances on Infowars and hosts a daily show on the network. Stone told CNBC in an email that he "met Dr. Corsi in 2011," and "did not know him prior to that." He did not respond to CNBC's follow-up questions about his relationship with Corsi. Corsi pushed the 'birther' conspiracy theory ... Corsi is the author of "Where's the Birth Certificate?" a 2011 polemic pushing the so-called birther conspiracy that Obama was not born in the U.S. and was possibly raised as a Muslim. While Obama released his long-form birth certificate weeks before Corsi's book was published, the book was not updated prior to its release, The Washington Post reported at the time. Trump, who became one of the leading public figures questioning Obama's birthplace, had contacted Corsi as a source of information, according to The New York Times. While he was still hosting the reality show "The Apprentice," Trump started pushing the conspiracy theory in television interviews as he teased the possibility of a presidential run. It was only on the eve of the 2016 election against Clinton that Trump conceded that Obama was born in the United States. Trump tweet While birtherism was widely spread and discussed, it was also roundly dismissed and debunked by mainstream figures, many of whom decried the conspiracy as racist. Former first lady Michelle Obama wrote in her new memoir, "Becoming," that the "underlying bigotry and xenophobia" of the birther movement was "hardly concealed." She also wrote that she would never forgive Trump for popularizing the baseless claim because it put her family "at risk." ... and the 'Swift Boat veterans' controversy In 1964, Michael Bloomberg graduated from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1965, he made his first gift to the university: $5. Since then, the billionaire businessman and former mayor of New York who is worth $45.4 billion, according to Forbes has donated $1.5 billion to the school. On Monday, Bloomberg announced that he has given an additional $1.8 billion gift to his alma mater. This combined contribution of over $3.35 billion is believed to be the largest philanthropic gift ever made to an American academic institution. "My Hopkins diploma opened up doors that otherwise would have been closed, and allowed me to live the American dream," wrote Bloomberg in an op-ed for The New York Times, in which he said that the funds will be used to provide financial aid for "qualified low and middle-income students." Bloomberg says that this gift will allow Hopkins to remain a need-blind institution, offer more generous financial aid, replace loans with grants and "make the campus more socioeconomically diverse." In an email to the Johns Hopkins community, University President Ronald J. Daniels called the gift an "extraordinary blessing," saying the school will aim to "attract and support" a student body in which 20 percent or more of students qualify for federal Pell grants by 2023. Currently, most students from families making less than $60,000 annually qualify for federal Pell grants, which are awarded based on factors such as family income, household size and tuition costs, and many students from families earning more than $60,000 qualify as well. Recent figures from the U.S. Census indicate that the median household income in the U.S. is $60,336. "This historic gift reflects Mike Bloomberg's deep belief in the transformative power of higher education and his insistence that it be accessible to all qualified students, regardless of financial means," wrote Daniels. "It also affirms Mike's profound devotion to this university for the role that it played in enriching his life." Microsoft announced Tuesday it will now support USB security keys, which give Microsoft account holders the ability to log into their computers and accounts without a username or password at all. The passwords will support users across the range of Microsoft services, including Outlook, Office, OneDrive, Bing, Skype and Xbox Live, according to the company. Microsoft will support keys from well-known names Yubikey and the FEITIAN Biopass key, which retail for between $20 and $60. The keys are USB key fobs that users can insert into their USB-enabled devices. "Passwords are bad for the planet. They're bad for people. They're the easiest way for attackers to get in, and in the case of account takeovers, they're even a way to force people out," said Rob Lefferts, vice president of security at Microsoft. The average worker has well over 100 passwords to maintain, and the majority of data breaches that plague companies are the result of some kind of compromise to user passwords, according to several sources, including Microsoft and password security company LastPass. Expedition 57 Flight Engineer Nick Hague of NASA walks with NASA Associate Administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Directorate William Gerstenmaier (C) and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine (R) prior to boarding the Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft for launch on October 11, 2018. NASA will conduct a safety review of Boeing and SpaceX, months after the latter company's founder and CEO Elon Musk smoked marijuana during a videotaped podcast, according to the Washington Post on Tuesday. The agency's review of the companies will begin next year, the report says. Musk's pot-smoking upset high level NASA officials, the Post reported, causing the agency to take a look at SpaceX. The U.S. Air Force also began looking into Musk's marijuana smoking shortly after the incident. While NASA officials reportedly focused on Musk's behavior, Boeing SpaceX's competitor under NASA's Commercial Crew program is also under review. "We are focused on safe and successful commercial crew missions to the International Space Station. In the coming months, prior to the crew test flights of Crew Dragon and Starliner, NASA will be conducting a cultural assessment study in coordination with our commercial partners to ensure the companies are meeting NASA's requirements for workplace safety, including the adherence to a drug-free environment," NASA said in a statement to CNBC. NASA's Commercial Crew program is part of the agency's plan to once again launch U.S. astronauts from U.S. soil. Since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, astronauts have flown aboard Russian Soyuz at a cost to NASA of more than $70 million per seat. The Commercial Crew program is competitive, with contracts up for grabs for SpaceX to win with its Dragon capsules and Boeing with its Starliner capsules. NASA associate administrator William Gerstenmaier told the Post that the review process will be "pretty invasive." The agency will take a look at "everything and anything that could impact safety," Gerstenmaier said. NASA plans to interview hundreds of Boeing and SpaceX employees, according to Gerstenmaier, at all levels of authority. Top NASA official Jim Bridenstine said in the report that he has "a lot of confidence in the SpaceX team." "Culture and leadership start at the top," Bridenstine told the Post. "Anything that would result in some questioning the culture of safety, we need to fix immediately." SpaceX said in a statement to CNBC that flying humans in space "is the core mission" of Musk's company. Carlos Ghosn, chairman of Nissan Motor Co., speaks during an interview in Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. Akio Kon | Bloomberg | Getty Images The arrest of Carlos Ghosn, chairman of Nissan and a board member at Mitsubishi, has also thrown into question the future of the two companies' global alliance with French automaker Renault. But analysts say that's not likely. Ghosn was arrested Monday amid allegations of financial misconduct, sending shares of the Japanese automakers on a downward spiral on Tuesday. Nissan said in a statement Monday that "over many years," Ghosn and board director, Greg Kelly, had been under-reporting compensation amounts to the Tokyo Stock Exchange securities report. According to Reuters, Japanese media said Ghosn had reported about 10 billion yen ($88.9 million) of annual compensation as about 5 billion yen for several years. Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa, said at a Monday press conference that both men had been arrested and he was planning to propose to the board on Thursday to remove them from their roles. Mitsubishi also said that it would seek to remove Ghosn, who sits on its board of directors, from his current position at the company. We find media headlines saying that the alliance may fall to be overly alarmist. Richard Hilgert Morningstar Shares of Nissan tumbled by 5.45 percent on Tuesday, while Mitsubishi tanked 6.85 percent. Renault shares were down more than 8 percent in European trade on Monday. Alliance will likely continue Ghosn is also the chairman and CEO Renault, and his arrest has thrown into question the future of the company's alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi. He is also chairman and CEO of the alliance. Renault owns 43.4 percent of Nissan, while Nissan owns 15 percent of Renault, with no voting rights in a partnership that began in 1999. Since 2016, Nissan has held a 34 percent controlling stake in its smaller Japanese rival, Mitsubishi. "While we view the allegations against Ghosn as a serious breach of shareholder trust in the senior leadership of not only Nissan but also the entire alliance, we find media headlines saying that the alliance may fall to be overly alarmist," Richard Hilgert, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, said in a note. "The scandal represents substantial key-man risk to the alliance but, in our opinion, the risk does not rise to the level of existential," he said. Another analyst also told CNBC's that the alliance will likely continue despite Ghosn's arrest. "Our belief is that the alliance will continue to pursue the joint activities," said Janet Lewis, head of industrials research, Asia, at Macquarie Capital Securities on "Squawk Box" Tuesday. "It did not depend on one person, there are hundreds of Renault and Mistubishi and Nissan employees working together on these projects." "The degree of integration at lower levels is substantial, nobody wins if they decide to, to move away," she said. Norwegian cruise operator Hurtigruten is to power its ships using liquefied biogas (LBG) produced from dead fish and other kinds of organic waste. In an announcement at the end of last week, the business said that the LBG used to power its ships would be fossil free and renewable. The fish used in the biogas will come from "cutaways" essentially waste produce from fisheries. "What others see as a problem, we see as a resource and a solution," the company's CEO, Daniel Skjeldam, said in a statement. "While competitors are running on cheap, polluting heavy fuel oil, our ships will literally be powered by nature," Skjeldam went on to state. "Biogas is the greenest fuel in shipping and will be a huge advantage for the environment. We would love other cruise companies to follow." Hurtigruten said that 2019 would see the company introduce the MS Roald Amundsen, which it described as "the world's first battery-hybrid powered cruise ship." By the year 2021, the business wants to operate at least six of its ships with biogas and batteries, combined with liquefied natural gas. Hurtigruten is the latest company looking to power its ships with renewable energy. Finnish shipping business Viking Line's M/S Viking Grace has been fitted with a rotor sail that enables it to use wind power during trips between Finland and Sweden. The vessel uses a 24-meter-tall cylindrical rotor sail developed by Norsepower Oy, another Finnish company. The sail uses something called the "Magnus effect" for propulsion. As the rotor spins, passing air flows with a lower pressure on one side compared to the other, creating a propulsion force. WATCH: The Ocean Cleanup is launching a giant plastic catcher to sea to clean up 1.8 trillion pounds of trash A customer enters the offices of La Maison du Bitcoin bank in Paris, France. Christophe Morin | Bloomberg | Getty Images As bitcoin continued its downward slide Tuesday, U.S. regulators are reportedly looking into whether its record-breaking rally last year was the result of market manipulation. The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether traders used tether, a controversial cryptocurrency that founders say is backed 1:1 by a U.S. dollar, to prop up bitcoin, according to a report from Bloomberg News, which cited three people familiar with the matter. Tether and Bitfinex did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Federal prosecutors launched a criminal probe into the cryptocurrencies earlier this year, Bloomberg reported. But they now suspect that traders on crypto exchange Bitfinex might have been using tether to coordinate bitcoin's price moves illegally, Bloomberg reported. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission also subpoenaed tether and Bitfinex, who share many of the same executives, in December in part to prove that these tokens are actually backed by a reserve of U.S. dollars. The potential market tricks include "spoofing," or placing fake orders until the price hits a certain level, then pulling those orders. Other U.S. agencies have cracked down on certain aspects of cryptocurrency in recent weeks. On Friday, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced its first civil penalties against cryptocurrency founders as part of a wide regulatory and legal crackdown on abuses in the industry. Regulators aren't the only ones who have flagged tether's influence on bitcoin. While controversy over a draft Brexit deal with the European Union continues to dominate the U.K.'s political agenda, the thorny subject of Gibraltar is upsetting Spain once again. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will reject the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement, struck between the U.K. and EU last week, without a clarification of the text the will shape future talks on the status of Gibraltar a tiny overseas territory with British sovereignty on the south coast of Spain. The draft Brexit deal, or the "Withdrawal Agreement" as it's officially known, covers a multitude of elements regarding the U.K.'s withdrawal from the EU, including citizens' rights, the financial settlement and a transition period (of 21 months after March 2019 when Britain is scheduled to leave the EU) as well as protocols on Ireland, Gibraltar and Cyprus. Spain wants to make sure it is not left out of any future EU-U.K. talks on Gibraltar. Sanchez tweeted Tuesday that any talks on Gibraltar's status, after the transition period ends, must be held between Spain and the U.K. Tweet It said these changes would have to be made on Sunday, when the European Council (the EU heads of state) meets for a special summit on Brexit. Dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar, Gibraltar was ceded to the Brits in the early 1700s after being captured from Spain. The sovereignty of the territory has been a bone of contention between the U.K. and Spain ever since with various attempts by the Spanish to re-take the land. Spain asserts a claim to Gibraltar although residents have rejected that in two separate referendums, the last one being in 2002. Then, the U.K. government proposed sharing sovereignty with Spain but, giving the people of Gibraltar a vote, 98.9 percent rejected the proposal. Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Target The retailer earned an adjusted $1.09 per share for the third quarter, 3 cents a share below estimates. Revenue exceeded forecasts, however, and comparable-store sales were up 5.1 percent, just slightly below the Refinitiv estimate of a 5.2 percent increase. Best Buy The electronics retailer beat estimates by 8 cents a share, with adjusted quarterly earnings of 93 cents per share. Revenue and comparable-store sales also beat Street forecasts, and Best Buy raised its full-year financial guidance. Kohl's Kohl's earned an adjusted 98 cents per share for the third quarter, 2 cents a share above estimates. Revenue came in above analysts' projections. Comparable-store sales rose more than expected, and the retailer raised its full-year guidance. Lowe's The home improvement retailer reported adjusted quarterly profit of $1.04 per share, beating estimates by 6 cents a share. Revenue topped forecasts. Comparable-store sales rose less than expected, however, and a full-year EPS forecast of $5.08-$5.13 was short of a consensus estimate of $5.15 a share. Medtronic The medical device maker beat forecasts by 7 cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of $1.22 per share. Its revenue beat estimates and Medtronic raised its full-year organic revenue growth guidance. Campbell Soup Campbell earned an adjusted 79 cents per share for its latest quarter, 9 cents a share above estimates. Revenue also exceeded forecasts. The company said it is seeing improved trends in soup sales and a return to growth for its V8 business. Hormel The maker of Spam, Dinty Moore, and other food brands beat estimates by 2 cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of 51 cents per share. Revenue was very slightly below forecasts, however. Hormel also announced a 12 percent dividend increase. Intuit Intuit reported adjusted quarterly earnings of 29 cents per share, beating the consensus estimate of 11 cents a share. The financial software company's revenue also came in above Street forecasts. The maker of TurboTax software also gave an upbeat forecast for the current quarter. Urban Outfitters Urban Outfitters came in 8 cents a share above estimates, with quarterly profit of 70 cents per share. The apparel retailer also reported better-than-expected revenue and reported a better-than-expected 8 percent increase in comparable-store sales. L Brands L Brands beat forecasts by a penny a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of 16 cents per share. The Victoria's Secret parent saw revenue come in slightly above estimates. The company raised its full-year guidance, but also announced it was cutting its annual dividend in half to $1.20 per share. L Brands also appointed John Mehas, the president of women's apparel and accessories brand Tory Burch, as CEO of the Victoria's Secret unit effective in early 2019. Victoria's Secret sales have fallen in seven of the past eight quarters. Boston Scientific Boston Scientific offered to buy British drug maker BTG for about $4.24 billion in cash. The medical device maker's bid represents a premium of nearly 37 percent over BTG's Monday closing price, and the company said it would recommend the deal to its shareholders. Pure Storage Pure Storage reported adjusted quarterly profit of 13 cents per share, 4 cents a share above estimates. The data storage company's revenue came in above estimates and Pure Storage raised the low end of its full-year earnings outlook range. Agilent Technologies Agilent reported adjusted quarterly profit of 81 cents per share, beating estimates by 7 cents a share. The life sciences company's revenue also topped Street forecasts and the company announced a $1.75 billion share buyback program. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the U.S. stands with Saudi Arabia in the wake of the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a lengthy statement punctuated with eight exclamation points Trump said that "we may never know all of the facts surrounding" Khashoggi's death, but "our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Trump said that U.S. intelligence agencies are still assessing all the information surrounding the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi royal family, in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul in October. The Washington Post reported Friday that the CIA had concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself had ordered the assassination of Khashoggi, citing people familiar with the matter. President Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman meet at the White House in Washington, March 14, 2017. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Trump told reporters Saturday that a "very full report" will be coming by Tuesday on the investigation by the U.S. But in his statement Tuesday, Trump appeared to cast doubt that the U.S. probe of the matter was complete. "It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event," Trump said in the statement, though "maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" In remarks outside the White House before departing for the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said the CIA had "nothing definitive" on the crown prince's involvement. The president's written statement sparked a bipartisan backlash among congressional lawmakers. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a statement that Trump's apparent decision not to punish the Saudi crown prince "is offensive to every value the United States holds dear." Feinstein said she plans to vote against future arms sales and appropriation to Saudi Arabia, and called for sanctions against the crown prince and the removal of the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. At least five members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee also criticized the decision in Twitter statements. Flake tweet Rubio tweet Kaine tweet After initially denying that Khashoggi had been killed in the consulate, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir admitted that the slaying was a "tremendous mistake." He denied that the crown prince had ordered the killing. Saudi prosecutors on Thursday said that they would seek the death penalty for five people alleged to be involved in the killing, as well as lesser charges for six others. That same day, the Trump administration announced sanctions on 17 people for their alleged roles in the killing under the Magnitsky Act. Trump's statement comes two weeks before the Saudi-led OPEC oil cartel meets with Russia and other producers to set global oil policy. The allied exporters are widely expected to cut output following a severe pullback in oil prices. Trump recently urged Saudi Arabia and OPEC against throttling back production, a move that would boost oil prices. Trump's statement makes clear that Saudi oil production was a factor in his decision. After the U.S., "Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world," the statement reads. "They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels so important for the world." The president frames his decision as being chiefly interested in the "absolute security and safety of America," highlighting the kingdom's alliance in the "very important fight against Iran" and its role as a partner in "our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!" U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is set to meet the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday afternoon, hoping to strike a rough agreement on the future links between the U.K. and the EU. The future relationship is the focus at the moment in Brussels, while Westminster is still being bogged down by the country's exit agreement. Reporters in the Belgian capital are waiting for the publication of a draft plan that will be fundamental once the U.K. leaves the EU in March of next year. After March 29, the official Brexit date, the U.K. and the European Union will negotiate their future ties including new trading arrangements. However, the aim is to agree on the basis for those talks before a special Brexit summit this Sunday. Margaritis Schinas, chief spokesperson for the European Commission, said Tuesday that the aim of Wednesday's meeting is to prepare for Sunday's summit, when the other 27 EU leaders and May are due to endorse the exit agreement as well as the so-called political declaration on the future relationship. However, the European institutions have yet to confirm when that important political text will be published on Tuesday. Some EU countries have raised concerns regarding fishing and unfair advantages to U.K. businesses. Spain is also concerned about the future status of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory that Madrid maintains a claim on. The future relationship document is likely to address all of these concerns. However, the 585-page document stating how the U.K. will leave the EU in March is unlikely to be altered to accommodate those concerns. Both documents will be discussed and signed off by European leaders on Sunday. There is a greater chance of the Federal Reserve making a mistake these days, noted economist Mohamed El-Erian told CNBC on Tuesday. "There's no doubt in my mind we are more vulnerable," to a "policy mistake" by the Federal Reserve and a "market accident," the chief economic advisor at Allianz said on "Closing Bell." "That's why it would have been better to start the normalization earlier, but it didn't come." El-Erian, former co-CEO of Pimco, had long argued that the Fed should raise rates before it decided to do so. In August 2015, he told CNBC that the central bank had already missed a good opportunity to raise rates. The Fed ultimately instituted its first hike since 2006 in December 2015. The recent market sell-off has heightened concerns over the path of rate increases. If rates rise too quickly, it could hurt the economy and, in some cases, cause a recession. Some prominent market watchers, including Wharton School finance professor Jeremy Siegel, believe the Fed will slow down its pace next year. The central bank is expected to raise rates in December and three more times in 2019. El-Erian attributes the "bumpy" market to the "long overdue transition" from ample liquidity, provided by the Fed, to a more "uncertain liquidity regime." He believes long term it is good for the health of the market. Right now, the key issue is the strength of the United States economy overall and in relation to other nations, he said. He's still bullish on U.S. economic growth, but he pointed out that other nations are lagging in terms of pro-growth policies. "The biggest concern I have is that the rest of the world will drag us down," said El-Erian. He's specifically concerned about China and Europe. China is going back to an old growth model with its economic policy, which is less potent and "like cranking up a machine that's getting exhausted," he said. And Europe needs to sort out political issues in Italy, German and with Brexit so it can focus on economic issues, he added. In the end, "look at the strength of the U.S. economy and hope that other countries get their act together when it comes to policies, which isn't the case as yet." Disclaimer The Justice Department is asking a judge to put the brakes on a civil lawsuit against J. P. Morgan Chase, citing an ongoing probe into a "related criminal case" that involves alleged manipulation of precious metals markets. The department wants a six-month postponement in the proceedings of the civil lawsuit, which was filed in 2015 by hedge fund manager Daniel Shak and two commodity traders. The government also says it could ask for a longer delay in the case, according to a court filing on Monday. The move comes days after Shak's lawyer, David Kovel, sought permission to reopen questioning of two former J. P. Morgan traders and the bank's current global head of base and precious metals trading. Kovel, in making the request with the Manhattan federal judge in the civil case, cited last month's guilty plea by one of those former traders, John Edmonds, in federal court in Connecticut. Edmonds admitted making bogus bids on precious metals contracts while working at the bank from 2009 to 2015. Neither J. P. Morgan Chase nor Kovel's clients have opposed the Justice Department's request. In arguing for a delay, the Justice Department said Shak's lawsuit is "related" to Edmonds' criminal case and that Edmonds has "pleaded guilty and acknowledged his own participation in such conduct, as well as that of other traders." "Edmonds awaits sentencing, but the broader investigation is ongoing," the Justice Department said. The U.S. wants to delay the civil case "to protect the integrity of its ongoing criminal investigation," it said. J. P. Morgan did not respond to a request for comment by CNBC. Kovel declined to comment. Tuesday night, after this story first was published, Judge Paul Engelmayer ordered the federal prosecutors to explain in detail by Monday why postponing proceedings in the civil lawsuit would not harm those involved, and why reopening questioning "would be detrimental to the Government's ongoing criminal investigation." Englemayer also wrote that he regards Edmonds' guilty plea "as potentially highly consequential" to the civil case. In his guilty plea, the 36-year-old Edmonds said he had learned to make bogus trade orders from senior traders at the bank and that he used the strategy hundreds of times with the knowledge and consent of his immediate supervisors. He admitted to working with "unnamed co-conspirators" at J. P. Morgan, according to the Justice Department. Kovel wants to question Edmonds again as well as Michael Nowak, the bank's global head of base and precious metal trading, and former J. P. Morgan Chase Managing Director Robert Gottlieb. The three had previously answered questions under oath in the civil case. Kovel said in court filings that Nowak was the immediate supervisor of Edmonds, while Gottlieb was Edmonds' mentor. In his prior deposition, Edmonds said that Gottlieb sat only a "couple feet" away from him for about five years, and that he was "somebody [he] looked up to in the business," who helped guide and train him. Nowak is described by Edmonds as his direct supervisor, with whom he would sometimes discuss trading strategies. Nowak was also the person responsible for overseeing the performance and risk of Edmonds' portfolio, according to the deposition. Edmonds also stated in his prior deposition that he would enter precious metals trades for both Nowak and Gottlieb, among others. The civil lawsuit claims Shak and his fellow plaintiffs lost tens of millions of dollars as a result of actions by J. P. Morgan's traders. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., attends her swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol's Old Senate Chamber after being sworn in on the Senate floor on April 9, 2018. Walmart, in a tweeted reply to "Will and Grace" star Debra Messing on Tuesday morning, said it "completely" understood her concern about the donation to Hyde-Smith, who is headed for a runoff election against Democratic challenger Mike Espy, a former U.S. Agriculture secretary, on Nov. 27. Meanwhile, private equity giant Blackstone Group declined to comment when CNBC asked if its CEO, Stephen Schwarzman, would seek the return of a $2,700 contribution he made to Hyde-Smith. Five companies so far have asked Hyde-Smith for their campaign contributions back on the heels of the furor over her remark. AT&T , Leidos and Walmart asked Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi on Tuesday to return their campaign donations after getting criticized for their support of the lawmaker, who had make a joke about attending a hypothetical "public hanging." "Sen. Hyde-Smith's recent comments clearly do not reflect the values of our company and associates. As a result, we are withdrawing our support and requesting a refund of all campaign donations," Walmart said in the tweet. Later Tuesday, when asked by CNBC about its own donation to Hyde-Smith, a spokesman for telecommunications behemoth AT&T said, "We are no longer supporting Senator Hyde-Smith and have requested a refund of our campaign contributions." AT&T had contributed $2,000 to Hyde-Smith prior to November. The scientific research company Leidos then told CNBC on Tuesday, "We have already requested a refund." Leidos had contributed $5,000 to Hyde-Smith. "Remarks like those made by Senator Hyde-Smith are offensive and an affront to everything we stand for as a company. The money was sent before the remarks were public. If Leidos had been aware, we would not have made the contribution and are pursuing a refund of our contribution," the company said. Tweet Hyde-Smith's campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Also Tuesday, a Facebook post Hyde-Smith made in 2014 resurfaced, showing her smilingly posing wearing a Confederate cap and holding a rifle. Hyde-Smith, who took the photo while visiting the home of Confederate States of America president Jefferson Davis, wrote, "Mississippi history at its best!" in a caption accompanying the image. In addition to AT&T, Leidos and Walmart, two other companies, Union Pacific and Boston Scientific, had already asked for their money back Monday. All five companies acted after corporate contributions to the GOP incumbent were highlighted by the news site Popular Information, whose article about the donations was tweeted by Messing. Tweet Federal election filings revealed that Walmart had contributed $2,000 to the campaign of Hyde-Smith. That contribution reportedly was made Nov. 18 around a week after the first reports that Hyde-Smith had talked about attending a hanging. In June, Walmart had given Hyde-Smith's campaign an initial $1,000 donation. Filings show that Blackstone's Schwarzman made his own $2,700 contribution to the senator on Nov. 14, days after exposure of her "hanging" comment. However, it is not clear if in fact that was the date the contribution was actually made, or merely reported. On Nov. 2, Hyde-Smith, while attending a campaign stop in Tupelo, referred to a local rancher standing next to her, and said that if he "invited me to a public hanging I'd be on the front row." Tweet That comment sparked a firestorm of criticism after it became widely known. Mississippi has a history of lynching African-Americans and Hyde-Smith's opponent, Espy, is black. Espy's spokesman, Danny Blanton, said, "Cindy Hyde-Smith's comments have embarrassed Mississippi, and shown why she can't be trusted to work with the businesses Mississippi needs to grow good paying jobs." "We're confident that voters will follow Walmart's lead and dump Cindy Hyde-Smith before she has the power to do real damage to our economy," Blanton said. UNITED STATES - MARCH 14: Xochitl Torres, democratic candidate for New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, is interviewed on March 14, 2018. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Democrat Xochitl Torres Small is the apparent winner of a hotly contested House race for New Mexico's 2nd House District, according to NBC News, defeating GOP candidate Yvette Herrell and flipping the previously Republican-held district blue. Democrats targeted the seat as part of their push to gain control of the House in the next Congress that starts in January. The party has now picked up a net 38 seats with two races still undecided, according to NBC. Torres Small was declared the apparent winner in the neck and neck race two weeks after Election Day. The district received millions in spending from outside groups, including more than $3 million spent against Republicans. Torres Small, a water rights lawyer, ran on expanding access to health care and increasing funding for education, workers and veterans. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Singapore tops talent index in APAC, ranked 13th globally Singapore achieved the best placements in Asia Pacific in terms of talent competitiveness, retaining its 13th position globally. According to the fifth edition of World Talent Rankings by Swiss business school IMD, "Singapore continues to excel in appealing professionals from abroad to sustain their toptier talent pool." Its position was ahead of Hong Kong, which was ranked 18th and Malaysia, which took the 22nd place. Released on Tuesday, November 20, the report noted that Singapore "lags behind in terms of public investments in education." Singapore is ranked first in terms of education and emphasis on science in schools. It took the 60th spot in total public expenditure on education, and 58th in the cost of living index. Photo: Connected to India Cultivating a skilled and educated workforce is crucial to strengthening competitiveness and achieving long-term prosperity, said Arturo Bris, Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center. This is especially so, "in the current dynamic landscape where artificial intelligence, robotics and other new technologies constantly redefine the challenges that governments, businesses and society in general will have to face in the future." Switzerland topped the charts for the fifth consecutive year confirming its role as an important global talent hub. It ranked fourth in Investment and Development, and first in both the Appeal and Readiness factors. The country is followed by Denmark, Norway, Austria and the Netherlands. In the fifth to tenth position are Canada (6th), Finland (7th), Sweden (8th), Luxembourg (9th), and Germany (10th). The World Talent Ranking 2018 assesses the extent to which countries develop, attract and retain talent to sustain the pool that enterprises employ to create long-term value. The assessment is based on three factors: Investment and Development, Appeal, and Readiness. These factors include indicators that capture the resources invested in developing local talent, the extent to which a country attracts and retains talent, and the quality of skills available in the talent pool. Eurosceptics admit challenge to May has stalled Tory Eurosceptics have admitted an attempt to unseat Theresa May has stalled as bitter in-fighting broke out among Brexiteers. Despite confident predictions from Tory rebels that a no confidence vote would be held as soon as Tuesday, the extra letters from Conservative MPs needed to trigger a ballot failed to materialise on Monday. The confidence vote now appears to be on hold until after Parliament votes next month on Mrs Mays Brexit deal, which will itself be seen as a referendum on her leadership. Mrs May also faced down senior Brexiteers Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Paterson in Downing Street hours after the so-called gang of five Brexiteer Cabinet ministers who had threatened to make life difficult for the Prime Minister unless she agreed to renegotiate her deal disbanded before they had even met. Daily Telegraph >Today: The Moggcast. This isnt about tactical mistakes this is about the future of the country. >Yesterday: EXCLUSIVE: Recording of the Prime Ministers conference call promoting her draft Brexit deal to Tory activists The Governments majority is at breaking point, as the DUP abstain on key votes Theresa May was abandoned by her Commons partners last night in a move that all but killed off the deal with the Democratic Unionist Party to keep her in power. The Northern Irish party breached the terms of the confidence and supply agreement with the Conservative Party by lining up behind Labour MPs to vote against the Finance Bill. The DUP declined to vote alongside the Conservatives on four parts of the bill, abstaining on three and voting with Labour on a fourth to review the impact of the increases to the personal tax allowance on child poverty. The Times Wallace: This deal threatens a Narnia outcome always winter, but never Christmas There are voters out there who respect her seemingly endless tenacity, even if they dont agree with all her decisions. Within that group, there are some who feel actively protective of her, seeing her as a victim of bullying by her colleagues. A reputation for doggedness or inviting pitying affection are not tags a politician would necessarily choose, but you bank what you can getMays advisers believe there is a deep reservoir of quiet support for a deal which will allow everybody to move on and talk about something other than Brexit. Theyre right that such an audience exists, but it wont automatically welcome this deal If the UK did end up in the backstop, Brexit would not be done with at all. We would be permanently engaged in a tug of war with Brussels, with no right just to leave the arrangement if we wanted to do so. The Prime Ministers deal risks extending, not ending, the current unsatisfying impasse. That grim prospect reminds me of nothing more than Narnia, as Mr Tumnus described it: It is winter in Narnia, and has been for ever so longalways winter, but never Christmas. Mark Wallace, the i paper >Today: ToryDiary: Mays Brexit deal helps to show that British politicians are more honourable and efficient than is claimed Spain instantly reopens the negotiation over Gibraltar Theresa May is facing a fresh threat to her Brexit deal after Spain warned it would reject it unless Madrid were granted a special veto to prevent any future EU trade agreement with Britain that covers Gibraltar. As the EUs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, sought to sell the withdrawal agreement to both its critics in the UK and member states who have expressed concerns, the Spanish foreign minister, Josep Borrell, threw a spanner in the works. Borrell said his government wanted a clear promise that no future trade or security deals would apply to Gibraltar without Spains consent. Negotiations between the UK and the EU do not apply to Gibraltar. Future negotiations on Gibraltar are separate negotiations, he said. That is what must be made clear. The Guardian Lilley: Theres nothing wrong with trading on WTO terms I helped negotiate them Threats of Armageddon are a total myth Roger Bootle, The Sun No Deal is better than trashing democracy Melanie Phillips, The Times So what is so frightening about a Clean Global Exit i.e. leaving without a free trade deal? It would save us the 39 billion divorce bill. The main negative is that our exporters would face EU tariffs. It would be better to continue trading with zero tariffs under a Canada type deal, but that could be easier to negotiate once we leave. However, the Uruguay Round, as well as setting up the WTO, halved tariffs between industrialised countries. So the average tariff British exporters would bear is 4% small beer beside the 15% boost to their competitiveness from the exchange rate movement since the referendum. There would be winners and losers a 10% tariff on cars, higher still on food. But applying EU tariffs to our imports from Europe would yield 13 billion. Even if we slash those tariffs, as we should, it would leave enough to compensate the losers. Peter Lilley, Daily Telegraph >Today: Anthony Browne on Comment: It may take two heaves to achieve a proper Brexit. But accepting the deal for now is the best way to get there. Britain might repay 400 million debt to Iran in return for Zaghari-Ratcliffes release Jeremy Hunt is pushing to settle a 400 million debt owed to Iran for 40 years in a move that could secure the release of a British charity worker held in the country since 2016. Some diplomats believe that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has British-Iranian citizenship and was jailed in Iran on charges of spying, is highly likely to be released if the money is paid.The foreign secretary is facing a cabinet battle to secure agreement for the move amid fears that it would breach the sanctions regime against Iran and could be seen as payment to secure the release of a hostage. A similar deal was proposed by Mr Hunts predecessor Boris Johnson last year but was blocked by Downing Street. The Times Rebels back British plan to end Yemen war The Times We will let violent offenders go if the public dont help us, Police Federation warns The public must respect, and help, the police Daily Telegraph Leader Worboys must stay in prison, parole board rules The Times Rudd returns with challenge to UN rapporteur Police officers could start letting violent suspects go if they do not get the backing of the public, a federation leader has warned. The chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, Ken Marsh, spoke out after video footage appearing to show two officers locked in a violent struggle as they tried to make an arrest was shared thousands of times on social media. The footage, taken in south London on Saturday, appeared to show a male officer being dragged around in the road as he tries to stop a suspect in a white tracksuit running away. The Guardian In a sometimes combative appearance at departmental questions, three days after she was appointed in place of Esther McVey, who resigned in protest at Theresa Mays Brexit deal, Rudd condemned the report by Philip Alston, the UNs rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. At the end of a two-week trip to the UK, Alston said the government had inflicted poverty on people through austerity and called levels of child poverty not just a disgrace but a social calamity and an economic disasterAsked by her Labour shadow counterpart, Margaret Greenwood, about the reports criticism of the governments new all-in-one working benefits system, Rudd said: I have seen the report by the rapporteur, Ive read it over the weekend, and I must say I was disappointed to say the least by the extraordinary political nature of his language. The Guardian She promises to improve Universal Credit Daily Mail That means the Treasury being asked to stump up more money The Times Shadow Education Secretary claims it is snobbery for the civil service to prize academic qualifications Universities are making decisions for bad financial reasons The Times Leader Peterborough MPs trial continues The Sun Corbyn met by silence at CBI conference Daily Mail Student Union president who threatened to paint over war memorial resigns Daily Mail Outsourcing firms agree to draw up living wills to protect services in case of collapse Labour will scrap formal qualifications like degrees and A-levels for civil service jobs in a bid to cut snobbery in Whitehall, the Shadow Education Secretary will say today. Speaking at the Association of Colleges annual conference, Angela Rayner will announce the ditching of academic qualifications for jobs in the civil service if Jeremy Corbyn wins power. Ms Rayner said the party wants to trigger a deep cultural change in Government. It would see academic qualifications only being considered where there is a genuine occupational requirement for the role She will say today: We will end the snobbery that underpins attitudes towards different types of qualification and end the assumption that academic qualifications should be a basic entry requirement for jobs in Whitehall. The Sun Government suppliers including Capita and Serco have agreed to draw up living wills to ensure the continued delivery of public services in case of their collapse. The measures are part of a package drawn up by the Cabinet Office aimed at avoiding the kind of disruption to schools, hospitals and government departments faced when Carillion went bust in January. The government was heavily criticised by the National Audit Office and MPs on the public accounts committee over its handling of the Carillon collapse, which cost taxpayers 148m. Capita, Serco and Sopra Steria will complete their contingency plans within weeks and other companies are expected to follow. The move comes amid growing concerns over Interserve, which employs 75,000 worldwide and 25,000 in Britain where it provides a string of services from probation to healthcare in peoples homes. FT Nannies threaten new sugar tax News in Brief Nick will go on trial next year The Sun What Labour can learn from the Greeks Unherd How did we allow the trans lobby to hijack childhood? Celia Walden, Daily Telegraph Feminism after ISIS New Statesman Officials say the industry could face fresh action if no improvement is seen by next year. Duncan Selbie, chief executive at Public Health England, said: Customers want faster progress, in particular businesses that have taken little or no action. We will be publicly reporting on these during 2019. A Government source said if industry failed to meet the challenge, a tax or shaming of non-compliant firms were options. Critics said targets had failed and shoppers could face shrinkflation where products get smaller, but prices stay the same. Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: In many cases, sugar reduction is not feasible, so the only option is shrinking the product. The Sun It is heartening that Sir Roger Scruton has survived the fury of the Twitter lynchmob to continue in his role as Chairman of the Governments Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission. The way in which his views were misrepresented was quite absurd. All credit to him for persevering and to the Government for standing by him. Nor has he delayed unduly, licking his wounds. Last week he set out his thinking to the Policy Exchange think tank delivering the Colin Amery Memorial Lecture. Scruton is not keen on out of town developments: New housing estates on the edge of towns, in which boxes or towers stand side by side, but with no real conception of the vital spaces between them, and no provision for businesses, shops, schools, or places of worship and recreation, do not create a place. They are at best parasitic on an existing place, created in another way and with another kind of architecture. Houses and tower blocks dumped on the edge of the town never lose the air of temporary accommodation, where people hole up while looking for something better. And they create a radical price differential between the old centre and its new surroundings, thereby causing the old centre to die. The peripheral estate seems to lead inevitably to the void plus sprawl of modern America, the template described by James Howard Kuntsler as the geography of nowhere. In place of it, as Leon Krier has powerfully argued, we should create polycentric cities, of which London, of course, is a specially relevant example. New development should make room for all the buildings that are not residences: shops, schools, community halls, places of worship and recreation, pubs and so on. The failure to make provision for these things in the planning process has led to the proliferation of lifeless estates on the urban perimeter, rather than the creation of genuine settlements. Then there is his dislike of what modernist buildings look like: The degradation of our cities is the result of a modernist vernacular, whose principal device is the stack of horizontal layers, with jutting and obtrusive corners, built without consideration for the street, without a coherent facade, and without intelligible relation to its neighbours. Such buildings, generated from ground plans, cannot be stitched into the urban fabric, but form blank and detached surfaces, bounded by edges, with no welcoming apertures to mark the boundary between inside and outside, and no decorative stitching to bind them to the neighbours, to the skyline or to the street. In order to know why we should not build in that way, it is not sufficient, though it is of course highly relevant, that everybody, other than the developer and the architect, dislikes it. So how do they get away with it? Scruton suggests they do it firstly by dismissing aesthetic objections as subjective. Secondly, to measure success by the extent a new building stands out from its surroundings, that it is iconic, rather than fitting in. Refuting the purely subjective argument, Scruton says that aesthetic interest is always searching for what is permanent, intrinsically valuable, in harmony. It is not just some random chance that ordinary people prefer traditional designs and scales when it comes to housing but entirely natural. He adds: In everyday life we are not animated, as a painter might be, by high aesthetic ideals. We are not trying to reveal the meaning of things, or to create compositions that convey a higher sense of order. Nevertheless we arrange things around us and try to make them fit together in something like the way they fit together in a still-life painting, as when we lay a table for guests, dress for a party or arrange our room. Even in the most minimal tidiness we subject the objects around us to a kind of moral discipline. We tell them: you should stand here, you two belong together, you are the wrong colour, you are out of place, and so on. For whose sake are we doing this? Not for the sake of the objects themselves, for they have no sake. Look at them as they are in themselves and they become inert, inanimate, awaiting our instructions. When we arrange them however, we do so for the sake of people: not just this person here, who is laying the table, but any other person who might come along. While we think we are making one object fit to another, and each object to the whole, we are actually fitting the objects to an imagined community of people. And it is here, I believe, that we should see how misleading is the idea that aesthetic judgments are merely subjective. The idea of what is fitting takes its sense from a wider experience of community. People learn to adapt their behaviour, their remarks and their expressions to the demands and expectations of others around them, and this is what we mean by manners. It is from the resulting conventions, customs and concessions that we draw our conversational repertoire. Knowing how to address a stranger in a new situation, how to move painlessly and quickly to a spirit of cooperation: these are not simple accomplishments. But when we have learned them we have also learned something else: a comprehensive sense of the distinction between fitting in and standing out. The most common form of rudeness involves standing out at all costs, drawing attention to yourself, regardless of whether you deserve it, dismissing attempts to fit in as the ploys of little people who cannot live in a more interesting way. It follows that there is a rebuttal of the second modernist alibi that standing out is some great imperative. Scruton says fitting in should be the aim: Mouldings create shadows and shadows endow things with a posture. Edges without mouldings have a cutting and dynamic character, which can of course be exciting, but which militates against the aim of fitting in. Buildings that stab or bite their neighbours scarcely conform to the civic paradigm, and while the occasional joke of this kind may appeal to the casual passer-by, the joke will inevitably wear thin in time, like the hatchet jobs of Daniel Libeskind. There is an erroneous view among apologists for the modernist vernacular that detailing of the classical kind is an irrelevance, that what matters is space and proportion, and that the Orders should be studied with that in view and without regard to the sculptural language. This view is encouraged by the purely mathematical view of proportion proposed by Le Corbusier in The Modulor, and by the specious arguments about space and time put forward by Siegfried Giedion in a highly influential book, Space, Time and Architecture, which has for fifty or more years been a standard text in schools of architecture. A moments reflection, however, will remind us that proportion and composition are connected: proportion is a relation between perceivable parts, and parts become perceivable when composed. The crucial details of the classical idiom in architecture are those pertaining to boundaries and transitions, lintels, architraves, mullions: places where one element ends and another begins, which are often marked by mouldings, sculpted elements and the shadows that are cast by these things. Scruton, in homage to Colin Amery, chose as his theme the fabric of the city and his concern at how cities had become unstitched. There was no list of policy recommendations to the Government that would have been rather premature. But in the discussion after his lecture Scruton did make reference to research by CreateStreets showing that alienating tower blocks actually provide lower density than the alternative: Replace them with streets along the pattern of streets that they themselves replaced. If you did that, it has been very persuasively argued by Nicholas Boys Smith, that you would actually get more people per acre in the development that replaced the high rise blocks without all the mental health problems and crime problems that come with the high rise blocks. One of the things I would like to think about is one can get rid of those socially destructive estates and rehouse the people in the same place in the streets were taken away. He also made reference to allowing communities to make an informed choice as to the sort of buildings they would like.It is clearly the case that we have to produce templates of some kind, you can have this or you can have thatthe planners have to be presented with what the people want and in some way be compelled to listen. That gives us a clue as to one or two matters that the Commission might pursue. But although we didnt get a manifesto from Scruton we did get a sense of the scope his commission will cover. It will be beyond design. Aesthetics, declared Scruton, are not just about style but the conversational atmosphere around buildings. Anthony Browne: It may take two heaves to achieve a proper Brexit. But accepting the deal for now is the best way to get there. Anthony Browne is former director of Policy Exchange and former Europe editor of the Times. From local radio to national broadsheets, from Brexiteers to Remoaners, the critics of the withdrawal agreement have been as articulate as they have been passionate. There are many concerns, and I suspect the Prime Minister shares some. It has been described as dead in the water, because the chances of getting it through Parliament are so slim. But even those wanting the hardest of Brexits should hold their nose, and support the agreement. They are far more likely that way to get what they want than by bringing it down. Their understandable fury at the prospect of becoming a vassal state is blinding them to the ugly political mood in the UK, how that will fundamentally change after Brexit and that the agreement can be rewritten later. If the deal is rejected, it brings the current political chaos to a new fever pitch. Uncertainty about what happens when we leave the EU is likely to be compounded by a bitter leadership battle that risks tearing the Conservative Party apart. The political maelstrom is already causing almost palpable fear among the electorate, with plunging support for the Tories. Brexit will not be a thing of liberation and inspiration, but a byword for political vandalism. The chaos is leading to declining support for Brexit, and increasing support for a second referendum. Some Remainers want the turmoil because they see it as the most likely way to stop Brexit. You can easily see how that can happen, starting with a request for an extension to Article 50. And if Brexit does happen, it might happen in the worst way with both no deal and limited planning for no deal making turmoil far more likely. Corbyn is reported to want this, as he is convinced it will destroy the Tories, lead to a general election and hand him the keys to Number 10. But what if the deal with all its drawbacks is passed? What we do know for certain is that Brexit will actually happen on March 29th. We will have left the EU (at least in name), and then: There will be limited economic turmoil, as most EU rules affecting trade will still apply. This will massively calm public nerves about Brexit. Project Fear will be finally killed off. The campaign for a second referendum to stop Brexit will have to stop in its tracks because Brexit has happened. It will have to transmute into a campaign to rejoin the EU, which is a much more difficult and longer-term game, especially if Brexit isnt associated with economic turmoil. I suspect it will largely dissipate. Work on the positive aspects of Brexit such as developing our own agricultural and fisheries policies will shift public focus to the opportunities. Support for Brexit will rise. The Tory Party can then in its own time decide who it wants to lead us into the next election. It can do so in a calm and considered fashion, rather than against the background of political crisis, and it can do so without being accused of recklessly bringing the country to the abyss If the Party choses a new leader, and the new leader doesnt like the withdrawal agreement, then they can ditch it. This last part is the most important to understand. The UK would be unilaterally ripping up part of its treaty with the EU. International lawyers the ones normally interviewed about this absolutely hate such an idea. It risks damaging our reputation as a trustworthy country. It risks a backlash from the EU. But unique times can require unique actions. It is absolutely possible to tear up international treaties. Donald Trump is making a habit of it. It would clearly be controversial, but it would have none of the passion of the current crisis. It would not be about something as emotive and existential as membership of the EU. I cannot see mass marches by people opposed to changes to the Withdrawal Agreement. It is not unprecedented. The EU often shows great tolerance for its members being in flagrant breach of their treaty obligations. Sweden is obliged by treaty to join the Euro, but has refused to do so after it was rejected in a referendum. Sweden is permanently in breach of its EU treaty, and the EU hasnt even protested. Many of the Eurozone countries, including France, have been in breach of their commitments to run balanced budgets. The two main questions are: how could the UK ensure a stronger negotiating position; and what would the reaction of the EU be? The UK could strengthen its negotiating position by announcing it will unilaterally disapply the parts of the Withdrawal Agreement it doesnt like in one years time, giving a precise date, and then energetically and publicly plan for that, such as introducing new customs controls. The bits it might unilaterally disapply include the customs arrangement, and the payments to Brussels. At the same time, the UK could say it will immediately stop applying any new EU rules, and start enthusiastically negotiating trade deals with third countries. The UK would have to make clear it is totally happy to walk away, and revert to WTO rules with no deal with the EU. In all negotiations, you have to establish what your walkaway position is, and then make clear you are comfortable with it youre your negotiating strength it almost zero. There will not be public panic, because Brexit itself will already have actually happened. The debate over whether Brexit should happen or not will be over, and the national political mood will be much calmer. There could be widespread public support for insisting on a fairer agreement. And how will the EU respond? There is actually surprisingly little they can do. Normally when countries breach its treaties, the EU threatens to fine them, as it recently has with Italy, but since we will not be in receipt of any money from Brussels they will not be able to. They could threaten to disapply other parts of the withdrawal agreement which we want, such as security co-operation, but that would also harm them, and it is certain when things have calmed down that such win-win co-operation arrangements will resume one way or another. They could threaten to impose trade sanctions on us, but given they export far more to us than we do to them, it would hurt them more. EU politics may also be more helpful. Michel Barnier would be gone, Juncker will be heading for the exit, and there will be a new European Parliament with more populists and fewer federalists. A new generation of EU leaders could be sympathetic to the unfairness of insisting that a country has to accept regulation without representation, and cannot escape a treaty it doesnt want to be in. It wont be easy, but it is doable. It may take two heaves to achieve a full Brexit. But that is much preferable to pushing the country to the abyss, which will jeopardise the Conservative Party, the economy and Brexit itself. Lord Lilley is a former Secretary of State for Trade & Industy and for Social Security. The highly unpopular provisions in the Prime Ministers draft Withdrawal Agreement that could keep the UK indefinitely in the EU Customs Union are driven not just by a pointless attempt to avoid a hard border between the UK and EU in Ireland, but by fears that they will impose costs, cause delays, disrupt supply chains and undermine economic growth. Those fears are unnecessary, for many of the problems ascribed to leaving the EUs Customs Union are imaginary and most of the rest are exaggerated. References to customs paperwork having to be checked at the border after Brexit conjure up visions of lorry drivers filling in forms which are then laboriously checked against their loads, causing delays and queues. In fact, virtually all customs declarations are made electronically ahead of arrival at a port; most consignments are cleared within seconds of arrival; a tiny percentage are physically checked as a result of risk assessment by HMRC computers or intelligence information; and such checks may be carried out away from the border at an importers premises or warehouses. Most checks relate to dutiable goods, drugs or illegal immigrants and are made on the basis of risk or intelligence information. HMRC do not expect any of these risks to increase or new risks to emerge as a result of Brexit so they will not require more checks than at present. The same is true for checks of food, plants and animals. In any case they will prioritise flow over compliance to prevent congestion. It is often assumed that there are no border procedures or checks on trade with the EU at present. Yet, in fact, companies have to report their transactions with EU countries separately in their VAT returns; pay duty on tobacco and alcohol (which yield far more revenue than tariffs would in the event of no deal); they may be searched for illegal drugs or immigrants; drivers must show their passports; and companies of any size must submit details of their intra-EU trade to Intrastat. All but the latter (which will be replaced by customs declarations) will continue post-Brexit and constitute the major element of border compliance. The claim that WTO rules require checks to be made at the border is also incorrect. Checks of customs declarations are carried out electronically and physical checks often made at importers or exporters premises. Even the Union Customs code, which requires agri-food checks at border inspection posts in the vicinity of the border allows them to be as far as 40 kilometres inland. This is particularly important for avoiding infrastructure and checks at the Irish border. Just-in-Time supply chains do not operate exclusively within the EU. Indeed, a fifth of components imported by UK motor manufacturers come from outside the EU, and their timely arrival is just as essential to the reliable operation of assembly lines. They are subject to customs procedures that do not cause the problems supposed to be likely when applied to future imports from the EU. Surveys of research literature show that free trade areas e.g. NAFTA are more trade creating than the EU customs union. Businesses in Switzerland, Norway and other EEA countries are not complaining about completing customs declarations, let alone calling to convert their free trade arrangements into a customs union. This may be because they welcome the free trade agreements their countries have been able to negotiate which would not be possible within a customs union. The Swiss have FTAs with countries whose combined GDP is three times that of the FTAs negotiated by the EU. Although Switzerland and Norway have fewer checks on product compliance because they comply with EU single market rules the customs declarations required at their borders with the EU are similar to those that will be required at the UK border and they too have to comply with rules of origin. Of course, we should endeavour to minimise the cost of compliance with customs procedures. But as the Chair of the European Logistics and Customs Association has said: All the ingredients to ensure a smooth exit process of the UK from the EU and which allow almost frictionless tradeafter the exit, are already available [in the Union Customs Code]. So we do not need to negotiate simplified customs procedures. The HMRC estimate of the cost of completing customs declarations is an order of magnitude larger than actual costs incurred by companies and reported by the Swiss authorities. The HMRC figure is based on the charges by customs agents for large consignments of complex products. It ignores the fact that over two-thirds of businesses complete their own declarations because it is cheaper and that for the small repeat consignments that characterise UK/EU trade the cost of replicating declarations is negligible compared with the cost of the initial declaration. Official estimates of the cost of complying with rules of origin are even less defensible. They are based on outdated and irrelevant studies of trade between underdeveloped countries and the USA or the EU. A more recent authoritative study by the WTO shows that, except for infrequent consignments, the costs of complying with rules of origin are negligible they do not even wipe out a 1% tariff preference. Moreover, the new REX system which the EU has agreed to extend to the UK post Brexit further simplifies the procedure for declaring origin. A particular concern has been fear that lengthy delays at ports and consequent congestion on motorways will disrupt plants dependent on Just-in-Time supply chains (JIT). As explained, HMRC do not expect more checks on imports from the EU post-Brexit and will prioritise flow over compliance. The fear is, however, that delays either deliberate or through lack of preparation on vehicles arriving at Calais from the UK will cause a back-up of vehicles extending back over the channel and up the UK motorway system, interfering even with supplies coming in the opposite direction. Deliberate delays would be a breach of three treaty commitments (the original WTO treaty, the Trade Facilitation Agreement (FCA) and the Lisbon Treaty requiring the EU to behave in a neighbourly fashion towards adjacent states). Of course, legal redress would take time but ports in Belgium and Holland are eager to take trade away from Calais. Moreover, queues resulting from problems at Calais are not unknown. Operation Stack has had to operate on 211 days since 1998 and did so for 23 almost continuous days in 2015 with delays of 35 hours. Yet JIT plants appear to have managed since none were reported halting production. It is natural that businesses contemplate the worst possible consequences in the event of the UK leaving without an agreement due to lack of preparation combined with hostile non-cooperation by the EU. Sadly, some commentators present these scenarios as if they represent what would be a permanent situation post-Brexit, when most such problems are not merely unlikely but, if they happen at all, essentially temporary. Andy Street is Mayor of the West Midlands, and is a former Managing Director of John Lewis. The marches are over. The Last Post has sounded. Across the UK, beneath war memorials, red wreaths flutter in the breeze. Little wooden crosses stand to attention, each proudly wearing a poppy like a campaign medal, keeping watch until next years annual festival of remembrance. The commemorations of 2018 will live long in the memory. Coming a century after the guns fell silent across Europe, they took on an extra resonance as we came together to remember and honour the sacrifice of our armed forces. The focus of these events was rightly on the centenary of the armistice and the men who fought in the Great War. However, its vital that we ensure the act of remembrance remains relevant, by inspiring real, practical help for todays veterans while reflecting the diversity of modern Britain. The Government is doing its part, by launching a UK-wide strategy to support veterans and doubling mental health funding. But it can never be enough. We must match this ambition at a regional level. That means creating initiatives that deliver locally to help todays veterans in practical ways. And in the diverse Britain of the 21st Century, we must build on the sense of togetherness seen on Remembrance Sunday, by recognising the contribution made by brave personnel from all backgrounds. There are 76,000 veterans living in the West Midlands, all of whom will have made the difficult move back to civilian life. It is our duty to help them make that transition and, crucially, to find work on civvy street. Thats because it is a sad truth that the UK has a veteran employment gap. Former service personnel of working age are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as those in the UK general population. An estimated 120,000 veterans are unemployed nationwide. Here in the West Midlands I have launched two programmes to support our veterans. Firstly, my successful Mayors Mentors programme, which supports 1,300 young people across the West Midlands, is being rolled out to help members of the armed forces who are moving back to civilian life. Mayors Mentors for Veterans is recruiting business mentors to support individuals for 12 months, providing friendship, ideas and contacts to help them back into the workplace. Secondly, we are starting a new programme that recognises the clear skills our veterans have the qualities of teamwork and leadership imbued by life in our armed forces and then applying them to our further education and training colleges. Colleges often struggle to recruit teachers and trainers with the expertise to teach construction. This scheme will enable veterans to become trainers in construction skills, vital for our regions future. Schemes like these address the needs of veterans, complementing the great British tradition of remembrance with practical support. That tradition, of course, has been nurtured for almost 100 years by the Royal British Legion, whose Poppy Appeal provides help for veterans. While the great annual civic events of remembrance retain a link to the Legions origins, new ways of honouring the fallen can help keep the tradition alive. In Aldridge, in the West Midlands, the residents of Station Road united to transform 100 of their homes with 24,000 red poppies. The road, which a century ago saw 56 of its residents serve, was rechristened Poppy Road for the project, which attracted visitors from miles around. Sixteen of the homes displayed a black silhouette of a soldier, indicating how a resident failed to return from the war. Todays West Midlands is a tremendously diverse place, much more so than it was 100 years ago when the men of Station Road marched off to war. Yet many do not realise that the Allied forces that served alongside them in the Great War were equally diverse, with troops drawn from across the Commonwealth. By recognising this diversity we can build on the sense of unity of last weekends events and ensure the British tradition of remembrance remains relevant in modern Britain. For instance, more than 70,000 soldiers from the British Indian Army died in the Great War. During my recent trade mission to India I visited the India Gate, which bears the names of 13,000 men who gave their lives. In Smethwick, in the Black Country, a bronze statue of a Sikh soldier has been unveiled, honouring service personnel of all faiths from the Indian subcontinent who fought for Britain during World War One. It has been widely reported that this new memorial has already been vandalised, but the powerful condemnation of this reprehensible act from all sides of the community reveals the true nature of our wonderfully diverse region, while reflecting the dogged determination of the brave men the statue remembers. I am also working with members of the Caribbean community in the West Midlands to raise funds to erect a suitable tribute to the 16,000 men of the British West Indies Regiment who fought at Passchendaele, Ypres and Poelcappelle. Our aim is to unveil this memorial at the one place in the West Midlands where remembrance is a daily pursuit. The National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, is home to 360 monuments including the Armed Forces Memorial, which bears the name of every serviceman or woman killed since 1945. The dozens of regimental and naval monuments there stand next to memorials to Jewish, Sikh and Indian servicemen and women, as well as the Gurkhas. It is only right that the bravery of the Caribbean community is recognised too. It is my hope that in future a rail line will run from Birmingham, through Lichfield to a dedicated station at the arboretum, so many more can experience this deeply moving place. A century on from the trauma of the Great War, we are still finding ways to recognise those who fought. Indeed, the UKs proud tradition of honouring the armed forces lives on in todays diverse and modern society, inspired by their memories. By complementing that tradition with practical schemes that help 21st century personnel, we are creating a legacy of which I hope any First World War Tommy would approve. 100% Website mubawab.ma uses latest and advanced technologies. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 107384 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 23219 bytes (22.67 kb uncompressed) and 5718 bytes (5.58 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-10-06, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. 100% Website zar.mn uses latest and advanced technologies. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of . This CoolSocial report was updated on 2020-09-05, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. Ross Ramsey is executive editor and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. This analysis originated at texastribune.com. Contact Ramsey at rramsey@texastribune.org. Starting late next year the first of at least six ships from Hurtigruten will be re-engined, with the Norwegian company moving to LNG powerplants along with liquified biogas and batteries. Its the first LNG re-engining project in the cruise industry. Weve set ourselves the ambitious target of being the greenest cruise line in the world, said Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam, in an interview with Cruise Industry News. At the core of that is the companys fuel mantra: it will not operate anywhere on HFO. In addition, a coming pipeline of three new ships will feature battery power, and earlier this year the company became the first cruise line to ban single use plastics. Taking that to the next step, Hurtigruten will rip out old diesel powerplants from its vessels built in the 1990s, putting in state-of-the-art LNG-fueled engines. The 90-day drydock period for each vessel will conclcude with the ships emerging as the new environmental standard, Skjeldam said. Just the decision to go with batteries and LNG was an easy solution; it is technology that is out there and there is a lot of LNG availability where we operate, Skjeldam added. The big news is the biogas, a fossil-free, renewable fuel produced from dead fish and other organic waste. It can be mixed in with LNG. The investment totals a fleetwide refurbishment budget of some $850 million, including a complete interior refit. The final product? The most sustainable cruise operation in the world, said Skjeldam. The guest of the future will be focused on this, he added. The six ships slated for re-engining will see a hole cut in the side, and all diesel engines and tanks removed. New engines, tanks and batteries will go in. The LNG tanks will require a larger space commitment. We are doing significant analysis on the entire GA (general arrangement) on the ships; we do have some space here and there, Skjeldam continued. There is a lot of new technology in LNG tanks. Skjeldam said he expects the ships to be able to sail up to 14 days on LNG and battery power without needing to bunker. While the LNG supply chain in Norway is no problem, the biogas opportunities are not yet as appealing as Hurtigruten is working with multiple companies to support biogas bunkering. We are considering sailing completely emissions free in the world heritage fjords. There are new regulations coming in 2025 and we are very much in front of these, Skjeldam said. We are the first ones to re-engine for LNG and the first ones to use biogas. We were the first ones to build hybrid ships. Our strategy is to be in front. The eventual goal? Operate ships emissions free. AD Associates has provided a comprehensive architectural design service to Saga Cruises for the new Spirit of Adventure, including overall design direction and project support, up until the vessels delivery in 2020. With the London-based firm's expertise, the Spirit of Adventure will possess a distinctive personality, AD said, in a statement, that is confident and bold, offering a new, fresh and boutique style to the cruise market. David Pickett, New Build Director for Saga Cruises said: We at Saga are delighted to be working with AD Associates, an agency thats able to interpret and deliver on our commitment to high quality authentic design and customer service. Thanks to her bold and striking interiors, the Spirit of Adventure will be a true representation of the best of British innovation and flair. Chris Finch, ADs CEO and Founder, commented on the philosophy and approach taken for Spirit of Adventure: "Luxury has become more accessible to a wider demographic, therefore people are more discerning and design aware. Understanding the importance of design and its marketability, this presents an opportunity to retain and attract new guests. "Potential Saga guests are looking for aspirational interiors with personality that offer a relaxed and luxurious backdrop to fantastic and unrivalled service," Flinch added. AD said that as experts in the luxury travel and hospitality market, it understood Sagas project needs, the service philosophy and guests' expectations, enabling them to design spaces that optimize the experience and guest enjoyment. The end result has been creating exceptional spaces for the ultimate travel experience through intelligent design. Nicola Preece, Design Director, added: "The interiors will embody the best of British contemporary design. The approach is bold and adventurous, eclectic, and with carefully curated use of colour, offering variation, big scale patterns and a layered palette." AD Associates have designed a wide array of spaces for Spirit of Adventure including: The Living Room - a social space with bar at the heart of the ship, The Amalfi an Italian restaurant, Khukuri House a Nepalese dining venue, and guest cabins. Police arrested two Bridgeport women over the weekend for allegedly stealing more than $1,000 worth of clothes from the Urban Outfitters in Westport in September. According to Westport Police, about 3:45 p.m. on Sept. 28, Fairfield Police observed a large amount of clothing in a vehicle while investigating a motor vehicle accident. The clothing still had price tags attached. The operator was identified as Niajeha Green, 23, and the passenger identified as Tajanique Watson, 26, both of Bridgeport. At the time of the interaction, Watson was also found to be in possession of a large magnet, known to be used for shoplifting from retail stores. BRIDGEPORT A man serving a life term in New York for a killing there was charged Monday with killing two people here in 1993 following unrelated disputes. Howard Brown, 46, was brought to state Superior Court in Bridgeport from the Sing Sing maximum security prison in Ossining, N.Y. He was charged with two counts of murder and one count of second-degree assault and was ordered held in lieu of $2 million bond by Judge Tracy Lee Dayton. We have been working with New York authorities for some time to get him back here so that we could arrest him, said Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald. We get them eventually. Stafford Angus had just ordered a sandwich at the Subway on downtown Main Street on the evening of Sept. 5, 1993, when another customer, a tall, lanky man in a hooded sweatshirt, accused Angus of cutting in front of him. Police said the two men got into an argument and the then-unidentified man walked off. A police officer was standing nearby. The following day, Angus was having a meal with a friend in the Sugar and Spice Restaurant on Main Street when a hooded man walked in. Police said the man stood in front of Angus, pulled out a gun and shot Angus in the abdomen as horrified patrons ran for the door. Police said witnesses identified the shooter as a man known on the street as Malcolm. On Oct. 30, 1993, Fernando Capella and some friends had been playing an arcade-style video game in a small grocery store at the corner of Pequonnock Street and Calhoun Avenue. They went outside and ended up getting in an egg-throwing fight with some friends in a passing van, reports said. An errant egg thrown by Capella hit Malcolm as he was leaving the store. Police said Malcolm pulled out a gun and shot Capella in the head and another man in the right wrist. With the aid of the FBI, police said, they were later able to identify Malcolm as Brown. By that time, Brown was serving a 31-year-to-life prison term in New York for second-degree murder, second-degree assault and weapons charges. Brown was convicted of fatally shooting a man in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1991, according to court papers. He was found guilty, although the key witness against him was fatally shot prior to trial. BRIDGEPORT A 21-year-old city man is facing 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl he met over social media. Hasan Khalid, of Spring Street, pleaded guilty to two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and one count of reckless endangerment. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 15. Police said last year girl complained that she had tested positive for both being pregnant and having Chlamydia and that she had been sexually assaulted by Khalid. The girl said she had been contacted by Khalid over social media and agreed to come to his home to chill, police said. But police said when the girl got to Khalids home he sexually assaulted her. She said he laughed as she tearfully protested the assault. Police said when the girl later told Khalid she was pregnant, he again laughed at her. When officers confronted Khalid with the girls allegations, police said he responded: Well, I have a lot of girls, like all the time, but I never met any girl by (the victims name). Police said the girl has since terminated her pregnancy. The night before Thanksgiving is a holiday all its own. As people have the next day off work and friends and family are all back in town, celebrations ensue. >>Click through the slideshow to see what's going on the night before Thanksgiving in Connecticut. The most popular activity: drinking. Thanksgiving Eve, Blackout Wednesday, Drunksgiving whatever you call it, the night before Thanksgiving is considered one of the biggest drinking occasions of the year. People travel from all corners of the country to converge on their hometowns in time for the holiday, hit up the local bar scene with high school buddies they haven't seen in years, and wax nostalgic over drinks. While celebrating Thanksgiving Eve is a tradition for many, it can be especially pronounced for college students. Many are home for the first time since the semester began and have some serious catching up to do with their hometown friends. Perhaps this is because Connecticut is a mostly suburban state full of quaint hometowns. According to Business Insider, Blackout Wednesday "seems to be more of a suburban phenomenon than urban. Shane Smyth, who owns two bars in the Boston area, said the one located in the city's financial district is typically pretty dead on Thanksgiving Eve, while Hugh O'Neill's in the suburb Malden, is jumping." The issue is that some of these college kids are under 21 which leads to an issue synonymous with Thanksgiving Eve: underage drinking. "Underage drinking is an issue we grapple with in Connecticut," Diana Lejardi, spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), told Hearst in 2017. She acknowledged the increase in drinking rates in college-aged students (legal or not) when they come home for Thanksgiving and get together with old friends. More troubling is the rate of alcohol use in high school students at any time of year. According to the DMHAS Connecticut School Health Survey, one in three Connecticut high school students drink alcohol. Half of those students report they binge drink that is, consume five or more alcoholic drinks in a row. Knowing that underage drinking is prevalent in Connecticut what's a parent to do during this heightened time of holiday drinking? Underage revelers may turn to their parents' liquor cabinets no doubt stocked up Thanksgiving at a time when adults are distracted, busy prepping for dinner the next day, so parents may want to try keeping liquor out of sight for the time being. Read Connecticut's Social Host Law here. Education officials in Butte County, where the devastating Camp Fire has destroyed thousands of homes and claimed at least 77 lives as of Monday, are now looking to find schools for the nearly 4,000 students in Paradise, Calif., whose town and school system were destroyed. The fire destroyed Paradise Elementary School and seven additional buildings in the community were damaged or destroyed, the Sacramento Bee reported. At least 3,800 of Paradises students lost their homes , and staff members are also among those affected by the fire, the paper reported. And more than 5,000 students in Butte County have been displaced, according to the Butte County Board of Education, which covers 14 school districts, including Paradise, and 18 charter schools. Butte County schools will remain closed until December 3, and when students return, officials will need the equivalent of 100 portable classrooms to educate temporarily displaced students, Butte County education officials said. Neighboring districts are also likely to take in displaced students, who will qualify for benefits under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. Those benefits include free lunch and transportation to the students new or former schools. Districts can also use Title 1 funds to pay for students uniforms and medical and dental services. The Camp Fire, the most devasting fire in Californias history , has killed 77 people since it started on Nov. 8. Nearly 1,000 people were still missing on Sunday, according to The Los Angeles Times. In a Monday morning update, Cal Fire said that more than 11,000 residential structures and 472 commercial structures had been damaged in the fire, which was 66 percent contained. Poor air quality forced several districts in the Bay Area to close last week. In addition to the Camp Fire, another fire, the Woolsey Fire, ravaged parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. It killed three people and damaged more than 1,000 structures, the LA Times reported. Several school districts, including Conejo Valley Unified, Las Virgenes Unified, Oak Park Unified, and Malibu, will remain closed until after the Thanksgiving break. Photo caption: Sisters Arissa Harvey, from left, Araya Cipollini, and Arianne Harvey eat beside an RV they were living in near their home that was destroyed by wildfire in Paradise, Calif., earlier this month. Along with their parents, the teenage girls have since relocated to Oroville, Calif., to stay with friends. --John Locher/AP A former Norwalk man was sentenced Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to 12 months and one day in prison for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported. Miguel Angel Arcos-Vasquez is a citizen of Guatemala, who last resided in Norwalk. According to court documents, in November 2011, Arcos-Vasquez attempted to enter the U.S. at the Mexican border using the identity of a Mexican citizen. He was denied entry into the U.S. and returned by foot to Mexico. In March 2014, Arcos-Vasquez was arrested by the Stratford Police Department for a burglary offense. In April 2014, he also was charged with failure to appear. He was not encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at this time. In approximately 2015, Arcos-Vasquez returned to Guatemala voluntarily. In January 2016, he attempted to enter the U.S. three times through Texas, but was removed to Mexico after each attempt. On Jan. 24, 2017, Arcos-Vasquez was arrested by the Stamford Police Department on charges of threatening in the first degree. On Jan. 27, 2017, under the name of Dimas Herrarte-Ramirez, he was charged by the Norwalk Police Department with sale of a hallucinogen/narcotic and criminal possession of a firearm. He has been detained since that time, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified. On Oct. 19, 2017, Arcos-Vasquez was sentenced in state court to five years of incarceration, execution suspended after two years. His state prison term is scheduled to expire in January 2019. Judge Hall ordered Arcos-Vasquez to begin serving his federal sentence upon his release from state prison. On Aug.17, 2018, Arcos-Vasquez pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported. Early last month, the wife of Meng Hongwei, a Chinese national and the president of Interpol, reported that her husband had disappeared on a trip to China. Three days passed before the Chinese government admitted detaining him and placing him under investigation. Following that, Interpol received a notice of Meng's resignation. Whether he wrote it or not is unknown. Last Saturday, news began circulating that a Russian official is the front-runner to replace Meng as president of Interpol. At first, I thought this must be a joke. Russia has demonstrated some of the most criminal tendencies of any country in the world. Its agents used a military-grade chemical weapon in an attack in Salisbury in Britain. Russian missiles murdered 298 innocents on Flight MH17 over Ukraine. And the Kremlin's operatives have interfered with elections in the United States and Europe. Russia shouldn't even be on the list of countries that could provide a leader for Interpol. Later this week, Interpol's general assembly in Dubai will decide who becomes Interpol's next president. The vote will take place on Wednesday, and the choice is between the Russian Interior Ministry officer Alexander Prokopchuk and Interpol's current interim president, a South Korean named Kim Jong Yang. No one should want to see a Russian elevated to this post, but I have a particular personal interest in seeing that it doesn't happen. In 2012, I succeeded in advocating for the U.S. government to pass the Magnitsky Act, named after my colleague Sergei Magnitsky, who was imprisoned by Russian authorities after exposing high-level corruption and died in detention after being beaten and denied medical care. This law allows the United States to freeze the assets and ban visas for Russian human rights abusers. Since then, Russian President Vladimir Putin has embarked on a vendetta against me. This has taken a number of forms, including death threats and plans for illegal renditions. But one of the most pernicious has been Moscow's repeated attempts to misuse Interpol to try to have me arrested and extradited back to Russia, where they will likely torture and kill me. Moscow first attempted to use Interpol to go after me in May 2013 with a request for an Interpol Red Notice. Interpol rejected this, stating that the Russian request violated Interpol's constitution, since it was obviously politically motivated. Several months later, the Russians tried again to get a Red Notice for me - and once again, it was rejected. After two explicit rejections, one might think Russia would give up trying to use Interpol to have me arrested. Instead, the Russians altered their tactics. In October 2017, the Canadian Parliament unanimously passed its own version of the Magnitsky Act. In response, Vladimir Putin's government went after me using something called an Interpol "diffusion notice." This was also an Interpol arrest warrant, but one that required far less oversight than a Red Notice. Again, Interpol intervened, declaring it politically motivated. Then, in May of this year, I was actually arrested in Madrid. I'd been invited there by a senior Spanish prosecutor to give evidence against Russian organized crime and money laundering taking place in Spain and connected to the Magnitsky case. I was arrested at my hotel by Spanish National Police, and only released from custody after Interpol intervened. In reaction to the Madrid incident, Russia's most senior law enforcement officer, Yuri Chaika, gave a news conference in Moscow, saying: "We will redouble our efforts to get Bill Browder. . . . He should not sleep peacefully at night." On Monday morning, the Russian government went one step further. Officials in Moscow held a news conference at which they absurdly accused me of murdering Sergei Magnitsky himself and described me as the leader of a "transnational criminal group" who needed to be apprehended. In total, Russia has tried to use Interpol seven times to have me arrested. If there ever was a case for why Russia should not have any authority at Interpol, I am that case. I am, however, by no means alone. Russia has sought the imprisonment of scores of people connected to Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of oil giant Yukos and an outspoken Putin critic. It is currently pursuing the supporters of Alexei Navalny, the Russian anti-corruption activist. Every week I get a call from a new victim of Russia's abuse of the Interpol system. I'm currently working with lawyers and other victims on an initiative to apply Interpol's own rules to suspend Russia from using the Interpol system. Its serial abuse is welldocumented and undeniable. It would be an absurd and Kafkaesque scenario if - rather than Russia being suspended - one of Putin's henchmen were to become the leader of one of the world's most important law enforcement institutions. Interpol plays a crucial role in tracking and apprehending fugitives around the world. To allow Interpol to be commandeered by one of the most criminal dictators on the planet serves the interests of no one but the Kremlin. On Wednesday, all democratic and transparent nations should band together and use their influence to ensure that Interpol does not debase itself by effectively becoming an arm of the Russian mafia. - - - William Browder is the author of "Red Notice" and an activist who spearheaded the Global Magnitsky Act. A 31-year-old Bridgeport man has been sentenced to two years behind bars for illegally possessing firearms. John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, announced that Tyeshon King, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. Back from an orientation seminar for new governors, Gov.-elect Ned Lamont outlined an approach Monday to finding the best and brightest for his new administration, hinting that some top appointees would be executives from outside politics who are willing to accept a pay cut to work for Connecticut. Two senior human-resource executives, Kevin Myatt of Yale New Haven Hospital and John Denson of the global executive recruiter, Korn Ferry, were introduced as the co-chairs of a talent search committee that Lamont says is intent on broadening the typical pool of potential appointees. Were seeking those people out. Our friends here have a pretty good Rolodex. Weve got a pretty good Rolodex of people as well, Lamont said, predicting that some out of people who have reached out would be surprising. They are ready to step up. Lamont is not expected to announce his first appointments until next week, putting him roughly on the same pace set eight years ago by Dannel P. Malloy, the first Democrat elected governor in 24 years. By this point, Malloy already had named a chief of staff and budget director, but he was four days away from identifying a 22-person transition team. Lamont named his 19-person team last week. Ryan Drajewicz, 39, of Fairfield, an executive at the hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, and a former aide to U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, is executive director of the transition, a job that typically goes to the person who will be the governors chief of staff. But Lamont has not said if he has settled on a chief of staff or the secretary of policy and management, whose extensive portfolio includes the state budget. It is unclear the extent to which Lamont is considering organizational changes. At the National Governors Association orientation over the weekend, Lamont said, briefers talked about states that are creating the position of chief operating officer. The new administrations primary goal is to fill about two-dozen positions, both in the governors office and at state agencies. Eight years ago, Malloy had named five department heads by the third week of December and was conducting national searches for executives to run four others: Transportation, Education, Environmental Protection and Social Services. On Tuesday, Lamont and Lt. Gov.-elect Susan Byswiewicz will be briefed by the Office of State Ethics on rules concerned financial disclosures and conflicts of interest. The governor-elects wife, Annie Lamont, a co-founder of a venture capital firm, will have her own briefing. In a brief interview after her husbands election, Annie Lamont said none of the startups she has helped finance do business with the state. We dont have any right now, and I think well be careful to avoid that in the future, she said. But Annie Lamont said she is mindful of the potential for conflicts or appearances of conflicts as a venture capitalist whose husbands job as governor includes promoting economic growth. She said the Lamonts have heard from people interesting in bringing jobs to Connecticut. Were really jazzed up about being advocates and champions for state, she said. Annie Lamont is a co-founder and managing partner of Oak FC/HT, a firm she helped launch four years ago. She previously was a managing partner at Oak Investment Partners. The Office of State Ethics had also provided an ethics briefing to Cathy Malloy, another first lady with her own career. She is the chief executive officer of the Greater Hartford Arts Council. To lay the groundwork for expanding its business services, Elevations Credit Union asked existing business members what they wanted most from their financial institution. Their top priority was making banking easier. The $2 billion Boulder, Colorado, credit union responded to those concerns on three fronts: expanding its team of experienced business lenders, introducing new deposit and loan products, and launching a new digital banking platform. The digital banking system with mobile and desktop access, developed with business partner Q2, Austin, Texas, lets businesses view account balances, transfer funds between accounts, pay bills, deposit checks, view check images and statements, originate ACH debits and credits, and send domestic wire payments. That suite of functionality comes close to the offerings from big banks like Chase and Wells Fargo at an affordable price for a credit union, and it delivers on business members expectations for the same type of mobile access they enjoy for their personal accounts, says CUES member Ken Bauer, VP/business banking. For Subscribers Meet the Daily American Somerset County All-24 Football All-Stars The inaugural Daily American Somerset County All-24 Football Team is announced. Offensive and defensive MVP's chosen as well as the top performers by sports editor Adam Ripple. OXFORD Oxford Area School District faculty recently participated in an active shooter drill during a professional in-service day, learning what to do and how to react. They participated in three scenarios that they saw from different angles. In one case, the suspect was in the same classroom as them, in another he attempted to enter the classroom and another time he successfully entered the classroom. I think it was valuable for us to experience a simulation, Oxford High School teacher Chris Pierdomencio said. You can never be fully prepared; this feels like the next best thing. In the first scenario, he said he didnt react the way he thought he expected. Two Oxford police officers portrayed students arguing in a classroom and one of them pulled out a fake knife and simulated that he was stabbing the other student. Its hard to know where to go from shock, Pierdomencio said. With guidance from Oxford Training Officer Chris Coverly, a few teachers assisted the injured student, portrayed by a police officer, while a few other teachers pushed a table in front of the doors. They checked to see where the suspect went and then many of the teachers agreed they needed to exit the building. By doing so, the scenario ended. I feel like I have a lot to learn, Pierdomencio said, but common sense is valuable tool as well. He said teachers all over the world think about the possibility of something happening in school and hear about school shootings in the news. I pray it never happens here, Pierdomencio said. Being a teacher, theres a part of you that has this in the back of your mind. Assistant Principal Dana Douglas agreed with Oxford Officer Pedro Melendez, who she said summed it up the best because we need to think this through. If you dont practice it, you dont know what to do. The staff members learned about making decisions and getting out of a natural reaction to freeze in place. This is the first time the Oxford Area School District held training where teachers physically participated in scenarios. In the past, speakers have presented to the staff. She described this training as a nice building block to help us learn without it being in the middle of an emergency situation. It also helps the administration to think about what steps the staff needs to take in various situations and the level of communication that would be required. Melendez and Coverly explained the drill prepared them to react and make the best decision in the moment. Decisions are what keep people alive, Coverly said to the teachers prior to the start of the drill. If you freeze up and do not make a decision, people will get hurt, students could get hurt, you could get hurt. Melendez added that people could run, hide, or fight. The teachers were encouraged to think about safe places to hide children in their classroom and other areas in the school. Everyone is going to react differently. The reason for this training is just that its so that you see how you personally react, Melendez said. People can say Im going to do this, Im going to do that. Without training, youll panic, youll freeze. Youll say, yeah Im going to fight, Im going to hit him with this that person could be standing right in front of you, what are you going to do? Melendez answered that they would freeze otherwise, and this training helps instill in the staff members to react. He quoted former boxer Mike Tyson who said that everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. Melendez explained that the staff members may have a plan, but they wont react without first being trained. You have to do what you have to do to survive. That means you and your kids, Melendez said. If you have to break a window to get out, you break a window. Thats something you need to think about. He also encouraged them to use what you have in the classroom. The teachers barricaded the classroom door with the desks, and they prepared to throw textbooks if the suspect entered the classroom. Several teachers even picked up other objects in the classroom and stood near the door to fight the intruder, while others grabbed something to protect themselves with and exited the building through a back door. Mayor Lorraine Bell attended the sessions and said she noticed the different reactions by staff members in each of the Oxford schools. She said the training teaches the teachers and administrators to know the best way to react because youre constantly in charge of students lives. Bell, along with the Oxford officers, encouraged the staff to do their best to protect the kids. Its important to have your teachers feel empowered to make a decision, Bell said. Oxford police shared the following statistics with the teachers: the FBI conducted a study of 160 shootings that occurred from 2000-2014 and announced that 486 people were killed and another 557 were injured. Of those shootings, 107 ended prior to police arrival. In these incidents, the shootings ended in various ways, including when citizens intervened, the shooter fled, the suspect committed suicide or were killed by someone at the scene. The average police response is about five to six minutes and up to four minutes to locate the threat. WEST CALN Police made an arrest in connection to a homicide that occurred last month. West Caln Police announced on Monday that Nicholas Spadaro, 26, of Valley Township, was arrested and charged with murder, criminal homicide, aggravated assault, firearms not to be carried without a license, possessing instruments of crime, possession of a weapon and drug offenses. The West Caln Township Police Department was dispatched to the area of Summit Ridge Road for a reported shooting at about 11 p.m. on Oct. 7. Officers located a victim, identified as Kevin Root, 44, of West Caln, who had been shot. Root was transported to Paoli Memorial Hospital and eventually Lankenau Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. He later passed away on Oct. 22. An autopsy was conducted and the cause of death was ruled a homicide, according to investigators. Police said as a result of an investigation conducted by the Chester County Detectives Office and the West Caln Township Police Department, Spadaro was arrested. He was arraigned on Nov. 1 in front of District Justice Michael Cabry III in Honey Brook. Because of the nature of the crime, bail was denied and he was remanded to Chester County Prison. His preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 13 in front of Cabry. The West Caln Police were assisted at the scene and the initial investigation by the West Brandywine Police, Valley Township Police, West Sadsbury Police, East Fallowfield Police, Coatesville City Police, the Chester County Detectives Office and several EMS and fire Units. OOPS. Three years ago, David Cameron was heckled by two Eurosceptic lads who had worked their way into the CBI conference and held up a banner saying CBI Voice of Brussels! Yesterday, Theresa May had her own tricky moment when a chap in the audience politely told her that her Brexit deal was dreadful. The Prime Ministers six-car motorcade, all whistle-shrieking motorcycle outriders and sirens, had sped down to Londons Docklands mid-morning. Im afraid by the time she got there I had hoovered up many of the mini-croissants. Baby, they were good. Three years ago David Cameron was heckled by two Eurosceptic lads who had worked their way into the CBI conference and yesterday Theresa May had her own tricky moment Say what you like about the CBI, their conference grub is ripping. Yesterdays onion tartlets? Exquisite. Mrs May made the mornings main speech to the events 1,500 sleek schmoozers. For 15 minutes she spoke fast, rat-a-tat, about her Brexit deal. It was bending far in their direction on frictionless trade that landed her in such trouble with Tory Brexiteers, so she must surely have felt she was among friends. But then came questions from the floor. The first was from a software fellow who gave his company a shameless plug. Mrs May dryly complimented him on his advertisement. Then she pointed to the middle-back of the Aurora ballroom of the Intercontinental Hotel and invited a question from one of several souls who had a hand raised. Ill take Yellow One, she said (he was holding that paddle). Roger Kendrick confronted Theresa May and told her to rip up her Brexit deal at the CBI conference Yellow One might better have been called Red Mist One, a middle-aged gent who thought her deal was stinkeroo. He begged her to think again and to realise that the Europeans dont want us to be more competitive. For good measure, he added that the CBI was really the Confederation of European Industry. There was a rapidly growing market outside the EU, where we have huge opportunities, said the chap. Those opportunities will be lost if you lock us into the EU regulatory framework. Oo-er. Silence. Around him, a certain amount of moist throat-clearing and squeezing of knees ensued. Mrs May didnt like his question. But that actually helped her a little, for at last we saw a spark of irritation at last, some personality. Until that point she had looked pretty beaten-up and puffy round the gills. A headache on two pins. It did not help that she was wearing a jacket that seemed to have been cut from swirly carpet (much walked-over). But the question from Yellow One reminded her that she needed to fight for this deal. During the confederation another audience member told Mrs May: Dont just listen to politicians listen to business' With a pointed talon and some of that tell-tale head leaning when angry, she drops her bean to the right she imperiously told him his portrayal of the deal was a little inaccurate. This won a stir of approval from the previously comatose room. She insisted that Britain would be able to do foreign trade deals, despite what Yellow One claimed. Lets hope shes correct. A CBI conference is Suitsville, power-dressed bods from the multinationals. These arent entrepreneurs or innovators. They are MegaCorps club-class executives, waged networkers who didnt get where they are today by being bold. Black Jaguars. Italian manbags. Lots of palming of business cards. Thats a CBI shindig. Their director-general, Carolyn Fairbairn, very much a Remainer, complained that Brexit was going to hit jobs. Yet at the same time she argued for easier immigration so there would be no labour shortage. Those positions seemed a bit self-contradictory. Another audience member told Mrs May: Dont just listen to politicians listen to business. Dear lamb. Whatever gave him the idea she listens to politicians? If only she did a little more, she might not have lost two Brexit secretaries. At the end of the day the conference was given half an hour of raw Corbyn. The Labour leader was sporting a pair of chunky-framed glasses. Rather Michael Caine. He told them Labour would vote against Mrs Mays deal, might support another public vote, would repeal trade-union laws and that business should pay higher taxes. They needed a few sherbets after that. A Very British Coup revolved around a conspiracy by the military, the media, big business and MI5 to bring down a Left-wing government Some of you will recall the novel A Very British Coup, subsequently made into an award-winning television series by Channel 4. It was written by Labour MP Chris Mullin, published in 1982, and revolved around a conspiracy by the military, the media, big business and MI5 to bring down a Left-wing government. At the time, the plot was entirely credible, since Britain was riven by strikes and revolution was in the air. I read the book as a young labour and industrial correspondent, and it made sense to me. The Bennites were in the ascendancy, Margaret Thatcher was horribly unpopular and it looked as if the wizened Hampstead Leftie Michael Foot Worzel Gummidge, as Private Eye dubbed him would be our next Prime Minister. Mullins assumptions were based on hard fact. In the Seventies there had been well-founded reports about an Establishment plot to depose Labours Harold Wilson. In some quarters, there were even rumblings of a military coup. A couple of years ago, when the unreconstructed Bennite Jeremy Corbyn became Labour leader, Mullin talked about writing a sequel. He imagined the Funny People orchestrating a putsch to thwart a democratically elected Corbyn government. Trouble is, history has a habit of not working out as you expect. Although, as Marx said, history does have the capacity to repeat itself, first as tragedy, then as farce. Thats where we are right now. Except tragedy and farce are running in tandem. We are in the middle of A Very British Coup, but not as Mullin predicted. What were seeing is an elaborate, well-financed and co-ordinated plot to overturn not an extreme Left-wing Prime Minister, but the democratically expressed will of the British people. A couple of years ago, when the unreconstructed Bennite Jeremy Corbyn became Labour leader, Mullin talked about writing a sequel Its being mounted by the Government of the day, aided and abetted by big business and the Civil Service. This is A Very British Coup, only written by Lewis Carroll, not Chris Mullin. In our new Looking Glass World, words mean as Humpty Dumpty declared whatever they want them to mean. Thus, the dwindling band of MPs sticking up for the 17.4 million who voted Leave are condemned as plotters and rebels. Those, including Theresa May, who are doing everything in their power to prevent Britain leaving the EU and becoming once again a proud, sovereign nation are hailed absurdly as true patriots. As Ive said often enough, just because youre paranoid, it doesnt mean theyre not out to get you. About the only thing upon which Ive ever agreed with Ken Livingstone apart from cheap Tube fares was when he wrote a book called If Voting Changed Anything Theyd Abolish It. The Establishment seems hell-bent on proving him right over Brexit. I told you the day after the referendum that the fix was already in. Now theyre on the final furlongs. Were being informed, in no uncertain fashion, that our votes are worthless, that we dont count. Were too ignorant, too uneducated, too racist to be taken seriously. Politicians who try to square the circle are vilified. One minute Dominic Raab, who attempted to make a go of being Brexit Secretary, is a principled, pragmatic operator worthy of the highest praise. One minute Dominic Raab, who attempted to make a go of being Brexit Secretary, is a principled, pragmatic operator worthy of the highest praise The next, when he is forced to resign because Mother Theresa has deliberately undermined his negotiating position and then lied about it, hes dismissed as a disloyal traitor. And if I hear anyone else demanding a second Peoples Vote, Ill scream. All they want to do is reverse the referendum result or give us three options so they can split the Leave vote. To be honest, I cant take much more of this patronising guff. The Beebs idea of discerning, independent commentators these days seems to extend no further than Baroness Shameless Chuckabutty, Potty Toynbee and Mad Alastair Campbell, the author of the dodgy dossier which took us into an illegal war in Iraq. As I believe I may have observed before, Campbell is the only bloke I know with a certificate to prove hes sane. And dont get me started on the CBI, which throughout my career has been wrong about everything, from joining the euro to the Thatcher reforms. The CBI speaks only for monopolistic, multinational megacorps, not the small-to-medium-sized businesses which are the backbone of our economy and always get the rough end of the pineapple from Brussels even though they dont sell so much as a brass washer outside Britains borders. Twenty-five-odd years ago, covering a CBI conference in Glasgow, I watched the chairman of Dunlop take to the stage wearing a kilt and waving a Union Jack, as part of an Im Backing Britain campaign. The following week, he sold the company to the Japanese. The next, when he is forced to resign because Mother Theresa has deliberately undermined his negotiating position and then lied about it, hes dismissed as a disloyal traitor These are the same people now claiming to have British interests at the heart of their determination to keep us shackled to the anti-democratic EU. The final straw came when the arrogant Amber Rudd was restored to Government over the weekend and immediately demanded loyalty and unity around Mrs Mays deal. Her commitment to loyalty hasnt stopped her trashing Cabinet colleagues in the past. This fanatically pro-EU woman, who oozes an inter-galactic sense of entitlement from every pore, is the sister of the PR spiv Roland Rudd, who is paid a small fortune to run Project Fear on behalf of his well-heeled clients. You Couldn't Make It Up Larry David adopts a 'racist' dog in Curb Your Enthusiasm In one episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David adopts a racist dog, which barks only at black people. Now we learn that, in real life, the Met Police investigated as a hate crime a dog which did its business on the pavement outside the home of an (unidentified) member of an ethnic minority. The incident was duly recorded as: An unknown dog has fouled outside of victim address and victim perceived this to be a racial incident. A second hate crime involved a dog which barked at a victim. Another couple of stories I dont know whether to file under Mind How You Go or You Couldnt Make It Up. Advertisement Just imagine if one of Boriss siblings was cashing in on Brexit. The calls from Remainers for the police to investigate would be deafening. By Sunday, Id had enough and reached the point where I came over all Tom Robinson. Ive given up reading the papers, Ive given up watching TV. Look, I repeat, for those of you who missed it the first time round, even tungsten-tipped hard Brexiteers like me accept there will have to be some concessions if were going to escape from the EU straitjacket. And I do think the prospect of a Marxist Corbynista government is too horrible to contemplate. But I also believe its 1992 all over again. This is Mother Theresas Black Wednesday moment. Whatever happens next, the Tories are shot to pieces. All trust and confidence in them has drained away and were looking at a Labour government by default whenever the next election is called. Most of the 17.4 million who believe they have been betrayed will simply stay at home, or drift back to Labour. Democracy will be the ultimate casualty of this shabby debacle. The pathetic, defeatist dogs breakfast of an agreement which Mother Theresa is trying to force down our throats isnt even worthy of the description deal. It is a monstrous capitulation and it will be etched on her political gravestone, even if she does manage to get it, or a version thereof, through Parliament. Where do we go from here? I havent a clue. But at least we now know exactly what A Very British Coup looks like. Digby, Britains first guide horse, has been sacked for being too big. Digby is being retrained to navigate escalators on the London Underground Just as there is a Whitehall department which meets once a week to give me something to write about, so, too, does there appear to be an organisation devoted to giving Gary something to draw. How else to explain the story about Digby, Britains first guide horse, who has been sacked for being too big? Digby, an American Miniature, was being trained to assist a partially sighted BBC journalist. He learned to press the button at pedestrian crossings and post letters. But after a growth spurt, he started knocking items off the shelves in supermarkets and was too large to fit under a desk. Rather than waste his skills, Digby is being retrained to navigate escalators on the London Underground before being reassigned to a new owner who works at the Office for National Statistics. I have visions of finding myself on the Piccadilly Line, sitting next to a horse wearing iPod headphones and reading the Evening Standard. It reminds me of the old story about someone bumping into a chap walking round Regents Park with a gorilla. Im taking him to London Zoo, the man explained. Next day hes spotted on the Finchley Road with the same gorilla. I thought you were taking him to the zoo? That was yesterday. Today, Im taking him to the pictures. To a church hall in soggy Westminster where, amid the faint smell of wet gundog, seven heroically untrendy Brexiteers explained why Theresa Mays complete betrayal of an EU withdrawal agreement was so bad on customs procedures. Their arguments became lost amid repeated yelps from the press about their attempted coup against Mrs May. A peachily bungled event but no worse for that. South American coups are led by beret-topped hombres with soup-strainer moustaches and belts of machine-gun bullets round their chests. Here in Britain, we regard that sort of thing as a bit too enthusiastic. And so we had Jacob Che Rees-Mogg (Con, NE Somerset), clean-shaven, double-breasted and impeccably pukka. Fidel Castro as Savile Row might have preferred him. Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks at a meeting of the pro-Brexit European Research Group Jacob and his six compadres, square as sugar-lumps, had gathered in the Upper Room of the Emmanuel evangelical centre near Church House. At a central table, arranged almost as in a well-known painting by Michelangelo, sat David Davis, Lord (Peter) Lilley, Labour Brexiteer John Mills and Mr Rees-Mogg. Also: a Dutch customs expert, Hans Maessen, steel industrialist Simon Boyd and the head of Bristol Port, Sir David Ord. They ran through various myths and scare stories about leaving the EU customs union. Maessen, Boyd and Ord were perhaps the most interesting because they were the least political. Sir David was asked if British ports would be able to cope with a no-deal Brexit. Yes, he said. Dutchman Maessen noted that Mrs Mays agreement with the EU talks about wet stamps being required on documents at borders. Such things had not been used by customs officers since the early 1990s, he said. The technology was now much more advanced. If this was revolution, word had not reached the streets. The audience was comprised of a few reporters and three or four Conservative MPs. Blairites would have laughed at how amateur the event felt. Find some microphones so that everyone can hear what is being said? That might have been a good idea. Stage management has never been a Eurosceptic forte. The diversity count, if that is your thing, was as low as Wrexham on a wet Friday night. A BBC reporter suggested that Jacobs coup was like something from Dads Army. Mr Rees-Mogg, had he been sensible, would have ignored that. But Jacob feels a good-mannered obligation to cheer people up and at the end of his answer he added, in jocular fashion: Ive always admired Capt Mainwaring. Whoosh. George Osbornes anti-Brexit London Evening Standard soon swooped to portray Mr Rees-Mogg as Mainwaring alongside the headline Stupid Boys. Give me a droll, self-teasing Mainwaring any day rather than ARP Warden Hodges bossily telling us to remain in the EU. Mr Davis was asked why yesterdays research paper was not published earlier. Would that not have helped push back some of the alarmism about a no-deal Brexit? Mr Davis replied that 14 months ago he signed off on a Government paper which made many of the points in yesterdays paper, but Downing Street had ignored it. Lord Lilley thought that Whitehall was over-interpreting customs rules. By over-interpret, polite Lilley probably meant wilfully exaggerating the difficulties so that they can try to block Brexit. Leave it to me, men: A reporter suggested Mr Rees-Moggs so-called coup was like something from Dads Army There was no Tarzan chest-beating about this event. They were (probably too) calm, reasonable, and, yes, they looked eccentric. In politics the most sound-bitey and sleek people are often the dangerous ones and the eccentric ones are often the soundest. Someone returned to the allegation that Mr Rees-Mogg was trying to lead a coup. He replied that coup was a rather silly word for a legitimate attempt to stop a rotten policy. In Britain it was not yet compulsory to agree with your leader. Alleluia to that. As for some night of the long knives that possibly awaits Mrs May, he hoped such violently vivid terms could be avoided. Let us be moderate in our language, he murmured. In Mrs Mays dictionary, alas, the words reconsider and listen are considered profanities. With so many highly recommended foundations on the market, women often struggle to pick the perfect formula for them. So, to make the decision that little bit easier, Priceline Australia has revealed its two best-selling brands for 2018. The number one best-selling formula is an affordable favourite by Australian company Nude By Nature - and it is priced at a mere $26.95. Makeup artist and Instagram influencer Erin (pictured) wearing Maybellline's Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation The Nude By Nature Mineral Cover, $26.95 for 15g, is a powder foundation The Nude By Nature Mineral Cover, $26.95 for 15g, is a powder foundation designed to offer a lightweight coverage with a natural finish. Part of the brand's appeal is that it uses natural ingredients in all its formulations, dispensing with synthetics such as silicones, sulphates and parabens. Product information advises the mineral foundation doesn't 'cake, clog or even look like makeup at all'. Makeup artist Rachael Brook (pictured) reveals how the Nude By Nature formulation offers flawless and natural coverage 'This exceptional all-natural mineral foundation has the ability to make any blemish disappear from sight.' Those who've tried the foundation and left reviews on Priceline Australia's website have hailed it 'amazing' and said it looks 'just like skin'. 'My skin actually looks like skin under this foundation!' One person wrote. Brisbane-based makeup artist (pictured) shows how the mineral foundation formulation creates a naturally glowing base 'It's lightweight, and the ingredients list is minimal and natural. 'The colour range is pretty impressive, and the shelf life is amazing. Highly recommended for those who want to wear makeup without looking like they are.' The product holds a 5/5 star rating on Priceline's site. Youtube makeup star Tata Dias (pictured) wears Maybellline's Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation, priced at $21.95 Priceline's other best-seller was revealed as Maybellline's Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation, priced at $21.95 for 30mL. Users who've tried the Maybelline product and left reviews say it's 'excellent for the thrifty beauty' This foundation is one that not only matches beautifully to skin tone, but is said to 'mould' to the textures of skin types for the 'ultimate natural skin fit'. As well, the liquid formulation is infused with 'micro powders' to smooth over pores and absorb oil for a more naturally matte finish. Users who've tried the product and left reviews say it's 'excellent for the thrifty beauty'. 'Really nice staying power and doesn't feel too heavy on the skin. It's an open pour bottle so be careful not to tip out too much!' One reviewer wrote. While another added, the product had been her go-to foundation for the past three years: 'Creates a perfect photoshopped, even finish on skin and is very blendable. 'Also stays put for long wear. Really great range of shades too!' This product holds a 5/5 star rating on Priceline's site. Martha Stewart has revealed her top safety tips when cooking a turkey ahead of the Thanksgiving festivities on Thursday. The cooking guru, 77, visited the Today Show on Monday where she shared tips when cooking the turkey to avoid any fear of getting sick or spreading bacteria in the kitchen. 'I have never been sick cooking a turkey,' She told Craig Melvin, 39, at the beginning of the segment before walking him through specific steps people should hit when cooking the large bird. Important: Martha, 77, went on the Today Show Monday to share her top turkey safety tips ahead of Thanksgiving on Thursday Sterile: She recommended for people to wear surgical gloves and clean all surfaces with a mixture of white vinegar or bleach in a gallon of water Priorities: The turkey should start thawing two days prior to the Thanksgiving feast Covered: The turkey should remain in its original packaging when thawing. If it is fresh, place on parchment paper and keep in the coldest part of the refrigerator The first step Martha recommends is washing ones hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. 'Really, really wash your hands,' Martha implored viewers before moving onto the second tip. To create a sanitary work environment, it is recommended to wipe up any turkey juices that might come out when thawing the meat. 'You know turkeys are real juicy when they are just thawed or roasted,' Martha said. 'Also, if you like, I think it's not a bad idea [to] use rubber gloves.' She recommends purchasing surgical gloves in a box that way multiple can be thrown out during the preparation of the Thanksgiving feast. Besides keeping ones own hands sterile, it is also important that the work station stays clean throughout the food prep so none of the raw turkey comes in contact with the vegetables or other sides. Martha advised mixing bleach or white vinegar in a gallon of water to help wipe up any surface. Also, she recommends using paper towels instead of terry clothes so they can be thrown out afterwards. Clean: Martha also recommends having two separate cutting boards to avoid mixing any of the raw juices with the other parts of the meal Delicious: The turkey should be at an internal temperature of 165 degrees when it is done cooking, Martha said Necessary: Martha advises cooking the turkey in a roasting pan instead of a disposable one Ready to eat: The turkey should last for three days after the feast before it needs to be thrown out, Martha said One controversial decision when it comes to cooking a turkey is if it should be rinsed before preparing. 'I do rinse my turkey,' Martha revealed. 'Sixty eight per cent of Americans after a survey rinse their turkeys.' To help with the cleaning, she will add some vinegar to the tub of water. But Martha did admit that it is not advised to wash the turkey before prepping it to cook. This is because the bacteria can then spread to other areas of the kitchen during the washing. Martha Stewart's top safety tips to cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving 1. Wash your hand thoroughly throughout. 2. Purchase surgical gloves and wear them when handling the bird. 3. Keep the work station sterile with white vinegar or bleach mixed into a gallon of water. 4. Thaw turkey if frozen in its original bag. If turkey is purchased fresh, keep it on parchment paper in the coldest part of the fridge. 5. Start thawing turkey two days prior to Thanksgiving. 6. Place parchment paper over the cutting board when working with the bird to avoid having to sanitize it later. 7. Use a separate cutting board for all other ingredients and side dishes. 8. Use a heavy duty roasting pan to cook the turkey instead of a disposable aluminum pan. 9. Cook until internal temperature is 165 degrees. This should be measured in the middle and the thickest part of the thigh. 10. Don't place stuffing in the turkey until the morning it goes in the oven. 11. Throw away any leftovers after three days. Advertisement Thawing the turkey correctly is one of the most important steps the ensure the bird is ready to cook when the holiday comes around. Martha says a large turkey needs to be thawed two days prior to the event. 'If you bought a frozen turkey, thaw it in the original bag it comes in,' she said. 'If you have a fresh turkey, just keep it really cold in the coldest part of your refrigerator on a piece of parchment paper and keep it covered.' Another tip is to work with the turkey on a piece of parchment paper over the cutting board. This then makes cleaning easier because you don't have to sanitize the cutting board used. Also, cut up any other vegetables or ingredients on a separate cutting board away from the raw turkey. Once it is time to cook the bird, Martha recommends purchasing a roasting pan instead of using the disposable aluminum version. This eliminates any potential problems when taking the turkey out of the oven. Use a thermometer and stick it into the middle of the bird as well as the thickest part of the thigh when checking if it is cooked. The internal temperature should read 165 degrees, Martha said. If the turkey is getting stuffing placed inside, make sure to do it the morning it is getting cooked instead of the night before. Finally, Martha recommends to throw out any leftovers from the event three days after the feast to be safe. All these tips come after years of Martha cooking the feast for her family and friends. But she revealed to DailyMail.com last year that she actually burned the turkey during her first Thanksgiving cooking. 'Weary and bleary-eyed at 3:00am on Thanksgiving Day, I turned on the oven, stuffed the turkey, and struggled to get the enormous bird into the electric oven by 3:45,' Martha said at the time. 'We had invited everyone for 1:00pm dinner, just like my mother, Big Martha, always did and as tradition demanded. I went back to sleep only to awake to a house full of black smoke the turkey was burning! 'My husband ran downstairs and I followed, thinking of how embarrassed I would be to serve Thanksgiving dinner without turkey. Indeed, the bird was hopelessly charred! (My fateful mistake? I preheated the oven to 500 degrees, then forgot to turn it down to 325.)' But all worked out in the end for Martha as she purchased another bird and had it ready for the family to eat at 7pm six hours later than was expected. Josee Kelly, five, was thrilled when her mother Joelle threw her the Woolworths-themed birthday party of her dreams in January. The Queensland-based little girl had always loved the supermarket chain and everything about grocery shopping with her mother so when she asked for a themed party, it didn't come as a surprise. What did come as a surprise, however, was the heartwarming Christmas letter and personalised name tag that Josee recently received in the mail. The letter was sent by the company's Queensland State General Manager who told Josee that he looked forward to welcoming her to the team when she turned 14 and nine months. In January, five-year-old Josee Kelly (pictured) was thrilled when her mother Joelle threw her the Woolworths-themed birthday party of her dreams She recently received a heartwarming Christmas letter and personalised name tag in the mail from Woolworths Mrs Kelly (left) shared photos of her thrilled little girl on Facebook, accompanied by photos of the letter and name tag 'I love your passion and energy,' he wrote, encouraging her to 'aim high and believe you can do anything'. 'In the meantime I have organised this pass which gets you to visit me in the support office if you ever are in Brisbane.' Mrs Kelly shared photos of her thrilled little girl on Facebook, accompanied by photos of the letter and name tag. 'Josee and Matt first met a few weeks ago and had afternoon tea together. Since then every time we visit our local Woolies she is sure the Meat department sign says "Matt" and not "Meat",' the proud mother wrote. The letter was sent by the Queensland State General Manager of the chain who told Josee that he looked forward to welcoming her to the team when she turned 14 and nine months 'Not many top business people would take the time out to write to a little girl from a tiny little town in their home state,' Mrs Kelly wrote 'Not many top business people would take the time out to write to a little girl from a tiny little town in their home state. We really appreciate the time and effort Matt and all the team from Woolworths place in to our girl. 'It takes a village to raise a child, and we are so blessed our village included top notch people!' Mrs Kelly, who runs the page Josee's Journey of Faith Hope & Love and is the founder of the T21 Mum Australia Network, has always been conscious of raising Josee, who has Down syndrome, with the long term goal of being as independent as possible and shopping is a big part of that. 'Together her and I have created little routines when we shop, and in turn she really enjoys shopping and is a delight to shop with,' Mrs Kelly told FEMAIL. Mrs Kelly has always been conscious of raising Josee, who has Down Syndrome, with the long term goal of being as independent as possible and shopping is a big part of that 'We have a set routine when we go to Woolies where she enters the store by saying "Roll up, roll up welcome to Woolworths!" (I have no idea where that came from) and then she chooses a basket. 'We take a list and we talk about what we are buying and she asks what's next on the list.' Mrs Kelly said Josee has learned where the fruit and vegetable section is, the numbers of the aisles and where to find some of her favourite foods so she loves to help out. 'We always have to take the self serve checkout so she can get all the items out and hand them to me to scan. She even knew my PIN for a while so I had to change it for fear of her announcing it loudly to everyone,' Mrs Kelly said. Josee was thrilled to be thrown a Woolworths themed birthday party when she turned five Josee is pictured with a Woolworths staff member after being gifted a bouquet of flowers The whole process finishes with a high five for a job well done and she is always complimented for her manners and helpfulness. Before she started planning the party in January, she showed Josee photos of what a party was and explained that she could pick a theme. 'Some kids love cartoon characters, barbies or superheroes. Our Josee girl? She loves Woolworths!' Mrs Kelly said. 'I showed her unicorns, fairies, Frozen and rainbows - all things she loved. When I said what do you want... she said "Woolworths", so it all began!' 'Her party bags were Woolies bags, the tables were covered in Woolworths signs from the shop, her cake topper was made by her sister in the shape of a Woolworths symbol, and a lady contacted us to donate a shirt for her, via Josee's Facebook page. Mrs Kelly said Josee has learned where the fruit and vegetable section is, the numbers of the aisles and where to find some of her favourite foods so she loves to help out Her cake topper at the birthday party was made by her sister in the shape of a Woolworths symbol 'When we were buying things at Woolworths for the party Josee told an employee in her own little language that she was having a Woolies party. After I explained it to him he said we needed to tell the manager so we did! 'Josee was presented with some bunches of roses and the smile on her face was so beautiful as she walked out of the shop.' The party, which was attended by a number of friends and family members, was an absolute success and Josee was later invited to Woolworths for a personalised tour. Mrs Kelly has been sharing updates on the page since Josee was born and also runs the page T21 Mum Australia to empower and educate people about Down Syndrome. For many, saving points for travel can seem like a complex process - one that takes too long to reap any actual rewards. But not if you're a 'points guru' like Australian entrepreneur Edward Alder, a man who on average generates a million flying point every year, which is a skill that allows him to travel regularly and in style. The entrepreneur told Escape that he cottoned onto the points hacking idea as a 27-year-old after using his credit card to book and pay for work-related travel and expenses. Within three months he says he had earned 300,000 points, enough to fly from Melbourne to Los Angeles return in business class with his wife for their honeymoon. Here Mr Alder, executive director of online hubPoint Hacks, shares his secrets for maximising reward potential and exactly what you need to do in order to get started. Scroll down for video Saving and redeeming bonus points could see you travelling on a regular basis and in style (stock image) 1. Don't limit yourself to just one rewards program One of the easiest ways to increase your points is to use multiple reward credit cards that are each linked to different programs. Australian entrepreneur Edward Alder (pictured) generates one million point a year on average As well as increased earning potential, Mr Alder explained signing up to different programs also meant greater flexibility when it came to cashing in rewards. 'People often limit themselves in earning reward points which, in turn, limits the award flights available to them, as they are restricted to flying on particular airlines through the rewards program they are a part of,' the points expert said. 2. Use credit cards to pay for everything (but pay the balance off each month) This strategy doesn't mean going hell for leather and maxing out your credit card to pay for everything in sight. Instead, Mr Alder explains, the idea is to live within your budgetary means but use plastic to pay for your regular living expenses. Bills, groceries, petrol and subscription services can all be put on plastic but the trick is to pay it off with the same funds you would have used in first place. That way you avoid incurring hefty interest charges while still earning extra points. 3. Rewards programs that offer the greatest value When it comes to rewards programs, Mr Alder advises searching for a program that not only offers flexibility but is also great value. How to earn extra points: * Many airlines are partnered with a variety of online, and bricks and mortar, stores, which allow you to earn points with every dollar you spend. * For example, you can link your Qantas and Woolworths Rewards accounts to receive Qantas points for simply doing your weekly grocery shop. * You can earn you frequent flyer miles for almost all life expenses including petrol, groceries, hire cars and gym memberships; to alcohol, parking and even household utilities. Source: Executivestyle.com Advertisement He recommends the American Express Membership Rewards program as he says points from this can be transferred to more than 10 programs for airlines and hotels. The points maestro said he will choose to earn AMEX points rather than locking himself into a specific airline rewards program as this doesnt give him enough flexibility when it comes to point redemptions. 4. Shop for credit cards with bonus point offers When signing up for a new credit card, you may well find it comes with the offer of bonus points. Mr Alder explained these bonus points - which can range from between 75,000 - 90,000 points - can be earned simply by switching cards and these serve as a simple way of boosting your points account. He also suggests doing regular research to stay across any bonus offers as a way of earning maximum points. 'This could sometimes be triple bonuses which will earn me three times the amount of points Id normally get for the same spend,' he explained. The key to making a points system work is to diversify across a number of rewards programs, Mr Alder advises (stock image) 5. How to get started on a rewards journey For those starting out on their rewards journey, Mr Alder suggests signing up to the following programs: Qantas Frequent Flyers, Velocity Frequent Flyer, KrisFlyer and American Express. He explained having all four will not only get you on to your point-earning journey but will also offer you greater flexibility. Mr Alder's other recommendation is to have two or three credit cards that link to a range of rewards programs. This, he explained, gives you flexibility. Since time immemorial, Australians have been captivated by the rich history and sophisticated allure of Europe. And in recent years, the advent of cheaper global travel has led to a growing number of older Aussies upping sticks for long term holidays (and permanent moves) to a broad range of European destinations. International Living Australia recently revealed the top three most affordable locations for Australian retirees where warm weather, world renowned cuisine cuisine and an unrivalled, relaxed pace of life are simply part of daily life. Australians have long been captivated by the rich history and sophisticated allure of Europe with many retirees relocating to the charming climes of destinations like Porto in Portugal (pictured) UMBRIA, ITALY Nestled between Rome and Florence, the central Italian region of Umbria has a seemingly endless supply of postcard villages and picturesque landscapes. With fewer than a million residents, Umbria boasts sprawling hills and valleys with award winning hiking paths and bike trails to suit both amateur adventurers and adrenaline junkies. The charming hilltop town of Todi, known for its antique fairs, mouth-watering delicacies and music festivals, was described by International Living's Italy correspondence as 'the friendliest town' in the Umbrian region. The central Italian region of Umbria has a seemingly endless supply of postcard villages and picturesque landscapes Meanwhile, the Umbrian capital of Perugia offers a historic centre equally as compelling as any in Italy, hosting an esteemed array of medieval monuments and Gothic palaces. And with Rome just 112 kilometres away, you could truly live la dolce vita by spending the occasional weekend in the capital all year round. International Living report retirees can live a 'pretty charming life' in Umbria with a monthly budget of $2,110 or just $25,320 a year. The charming hilltop town of Todi, known for its antique fairs, mouth-watering delicacies and music festivals, has been described as the region's friendliest town A ONE DAY ITINERARY FOR PERUGIA, CAPITAL OF UMBRIA 1. Arrive at Piazza Partigiani, the central bus station of Perugia. 2. Visit the palatial former houses of the formidable Baglioni clan who ruled the city for much of the early 16th century. 3. Browse the high end boutiques on Corso Vannucci and take time out at one of the coffee shops lining the central piazza. 4. Discover the Collegio del Cambio, an artistic Renaissance gem painted by Pietro Vannucci and the National Gallery of Umbria which houses renowned works by Fra Angelico, Piero della Fracesa and Pinturicchio. 5. Hang out on the steps of the magnificent 700-year-old Palazzo dei Priori, still used today as the Perugian Council Chamber. 6. Wonder at the unfinished faade of the Cathedral of St Lawrence. 7. Enjoy world-class music (if youre lucky enough to find yourself in Perugia in July for the annual Umbria Jazz festival). Advertisement PORTO, PORTUGAL Portugal's second city of Porto offers an 'enchanting combination of Old World charm and New World convenience' wrapped up in an attractive and affordable package. Sitting on the banks of the Douro River, Porto is home to under a quarter of a million people giving it a real sense of friendly community with the benefit of an international airport. The northwest coastal metropolis is known for its stately architecture and infrastructure, with a plethora of neoclassical palaces, Baroque churches and bridges to explore. The centre of the Old City is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. THE TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS IN PORTO 1. Clerigos Tower a 75 metre ornate bell tower built in 1763 which Time Out refer to as the citys most iconic silhouette. The towers prominent positioning offers incredible 360 degree panoramas of the area (but youll need to climb 225 steps to get there). 2. Crystal Palace Gardens a maze of walkways and tree-lined waterways overlooking the Douro River. 3. Serra do Pilar a jagged hill above the city offering spectacular views of Porto at sunset. 4. Porto Wine Cellars Portos sister city of Gaia boasts beaches and world famous wine cellars, which run guided tasting tours. 5. Livraria Lello recognised as the third most beautiful bookstore in the world both by Lonely Planet and The Guardian. The shop is more than a century old and the art nouveau cum Gothic detailing of the red staircase is said to have inspired the design of Hogwarts after JK Rowling spent time living in Porto. 6. Porto Cathedral the citys most important church, this imposing structure was built throughout the 12th and 13th centuries and is now a national monument. 7. Sao Bento Train Station voted one of the worlds most beautiful railway stations with interiors to rival the finest artwork on earth. 8. Foz Portos city within a city, a seaside resort known for its beaches and pleasant al fresco cafes. 9. Ribeira Portos old district may be swarming with tourists but for good reason. Visit this Instagram friendly area for its dramatic bridges, museums and sprawling squares. 10. Mares Swimming Pool designed by Portugals most award-winning architect Alvaro Siza Vieira, Time Out call it one of the prettiest pools in the world. Source: Time Out Advertisement Social media fanatics should pay a visit to the Ribeira district, one of the most Instagrammable historic quarters you will ever see. The city is also close to a number of acclaimed vineyards which provide wine tasting and lunch packages most of the year. Porto also plays host to an incredibly reasonable Michelin starred restaurant, Antiqvvm, which offers a set lunch menu from as little as $40 AUD. But despite its plethora of lavish lifestyle options, International Living report a couple need just $2,150 per month to live in the lap of luxury in Porto the equivalent of $25,800. Social media fanatics should pay a visit to the Ribeira district, one of the most Instagrammable historic quarters you will ever see TOULON, FRANCE Widely regarded as one of France's most beautiful port cities, the picturesque town of Toulon on the Mediterranean coast oozes sophistication, history and class. But unlike its more expensive coastal neighbours Saint Tropez, Cannes and Cassis, tourism is one of Toulon's secondary industries meaning the bustling city is open for business (and pleasure) all year long. Residents and tourists alike stroll the cobbled streets sampling Toulon's local cuisine of cheese, wine and world renowned seafood, and the centre of the town is always alive with cafe-goers enjoying the atmosphere of the French Riviera. Toulon is widely regarded as one of France's most beautiful port cities, but offers a lavish lifestyle for significantly less than its Riviera neighbours Cannes and Cassis Take a cable car up Toulon's most impressive landmark, Mont Faron, which features breathtaking panoramic views of the Bay of Toulon and the surrounding Le Var region For Australians in search of a slower pace and a taste of every season, Toulon is the perfect blend of laidback lifestyle and thriving culture, with lazy afternoons on the beach and port-side lunches just a minutes' stroll away. A safe haven of affordability in often over-priced France, a couple can live comfortably for just $2,500 per month or $30,000 a year without foregoing life's little luxuries. Lady Kitty Spencer looked stylish in a printed dress as she attended a luxury awards ceremony at The Dorchester. The model, 27, opted for a pale blue cold-shoulder dress by Alice Temperley, featuring billowing sleeves and a sky-inspired motif, for the Walpole British Luxury Awards. She finished off the elegant ensemble with a pair of black heels, along with a pair of dazzling earrings. Wearing her blonde locks up in a high bun, she went for a glamorous make-up look, accentuating lips with a bold red lipstick. Lady Kitty Spencer looked stylish in a printed dress by Alice Temperley as she attended the Walpole British Luxury Awards Lady Kitty was presenting the award for British Luxury Overseas at the glitzy bash on Monday night. The event was the second night out in a row for Princess Diana's niece, who wowed at the Evening Standard's Theatre Awards on Sunday night. She opted for a black tulle gown by Dolce & Gabbana for the event, featuring a lace bodice and silver detailing around the neckline. Lady Kitty has had a busy month so far, recently returning from a trip to China in her role as ambassador for Bulgari. Lady Kitty, 27, for a glamorous make-up look for the glitzy event in London, accentuating lips with a bold red lipstick The model finished off her elegant look with a pair of black heels, along with dazzling earrings She shared a number of Instagram snaps from her visit, including pictures of herself at the Great Wall Of China in Beijing. The model has made a number of overseas trips this years, recently jetting back from Rome where she walked for Dolce & Gabbana. Lady Kitty also paid a visit to Australia last month, and was recently in Dubai with Bulgari. She also stars on the cover of this month's Tatler, alongside model Helena Christensen. In an interview with the magazine, Lady Kitty spoke about her approach fashion, explaining: 'I dress to suit my mood. I love bold, colourful pieces that show a bit of personality. I like to wear something that puts a smile on my face.' Lady Kitty, who was presenting an award at the ceremony, joined Fortnum & Mason CEO Ewan Venters at the event A mummy blogger has implored women to embrace their postpartum figures after a photo which revealed her C-section scar disappeared from Instagram. Bestselling author Anna Whitehouse from London shared the image to the 187,000 followers of her Mother Pukka Instagram page on Friday night. The defiant mother, who co-wrote bestselling book 'Parenting the S*** Out of Life' said: 'The photo I uploaded last night of my c-section scar (still in stories) broached guidelines here. 'I was fairly careful not to flash gusset. And post-operative scarring tissue isn't my idea of X-rated material but anyhow, to pay homage to my "line" as my daughter calls it, here's a safer photo of a mother high as a kite on oxytocin.' However, she later updated her post to explain the situation saying that the picture had not in fact been removed by Instagram, saying: 'It got deleted, not by Instagram who Ive spoken to this morning but by a third party - a bigger security issue we are working on together.' Her photo has had nearly 7,000 likes and encouraged fellow mums to share their scar by using the hashtag #lineofduty. Bestselling author Anna Whitehouse from London shared an image of her post-baby tummy on Instagram to celebrate her C-section scar, but the photo mysteriously disappeared from the photo sharing site Anna, who goes by the name Mother Pukka, explained she'd wanted to encourage positivity around C-section scars by sharing the photo Ann later explained that despite assuming her photo was taken down by Instagram because of breaching nudity rules, a security issue was to blame Among those who also shared an image of their own scars was ThisScottishMummy, who posted a photo taken just four months after she gave birth. In the caption, she said: 'Never in a zillion years did I think I would show this to the world. 'This is a four time C-section scar- you don't see all that many of those kicking about in your feed. 'And I am proud of it because it brought all four of my babies safely into this world. 'It may have a little pouch of wobbly skin and be puckered in places, but I think it's bloody fantastic so there you go.' Other mothers began sharing snaps of their own scars in protest at Instagram's removal of Anna's photo A_littlepieceof us said she was sharing her won snap as she's grown tired of Instagram 'censoring things that are natural' and said that she's proud of this part of her 'tapestry' Another mum, just known as A Little Piece of Us, said her photo reminded her of how strong she was. She said: 'So here's mine. It's huge, wonky and there's actually two running next to each other. 'It still tingles, has a beautiful floppy bit on top but it's warm and comforting for me. It's where my girls came from. One under general and one while awake. Thisscottishmummy Thisscottishmummy said she was proud to show off her scar as it brought her four babies safely into the world 'Both horrific, both I lost so much blood and both stuck on my body forever to remind me of how strong I am/we are. 'It's not pretty but its mine, part of my tapestry and I am growing tired of Instagram censoring things that are natural.' Since posting the photograph, Mother Pukka's post has been flooded with comments praising her for her bravery. Heidi Trask said: 'As a c-section mama, I found that post really uplifting and empowering in celebrating how our amazing bodies give life to our children.' Mari Davies added: 'Your photo was inspiring, as they all are. Showing your battle scar is a homage to the wonderful humans you have produced.' Meghan shunned sister-in-law Kate's more covered-up dresses at the Royal Variety Performance with a daring halterneck number last night. The Duchess of Sussex, 37 - who is expecting her first child in the Spring - showed off her shoulders in a 895 sequin top by British brand Safiyaa, to which she added her own custom strap. Her look, which featured a low back, was in contrast to the Duchess of Cambridge's past choices for the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium, which has seen Kate opt for long-sleeved dresses. Kate, 36, wore a black lace dress by American brand Diane von Furstenberg for her first appearance at the variety show back in 2014. The Duchess opted for a dazzling pale blue dress by British designer Jenny Packham, again featuring sleeves, at the event last year, when she was four months pregnant with Prince Louis. Meghan shunned sister-in-law Kate's more covered-up dresses with a daring halterneck number at the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium last night Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL: 'Meghans outfit is a bit more daring than what we usually see. If we compare to what Kate has been seen in, there is more skin on show.' She added that the differences in styles could be due to their distinct roles in the royal family. 'Kate has a much more prominent role being married to William and could feel that she needs to be seen in much more elegant, more covered outfits, whereas Meghan can have a more relaxed approached to fashion,' Rochelle said. Rochelle explained how it appeared that the decision to add a halterneck strap to the bustier top could have been to make it less revealing. Kate wore a black lace dress by American brand Diane von Furstenberg for her first appearance at the variety show back in 2014 The Duchess opted for a dazzling blue dress by Jenny Packham, featuring long sleeves, when she attended the Royal Variety show last year while pregnant with Prince Louis She added: 'The band around the waist can be used to created a slimmer figure from the front but also from the side show off her growing bump.' Meghan wore her dazzling sequin top by Safiyaa with a black maxi dress by the brand, as she attended her first Royal Variety Performance with Harry, 34, last night. She wore a customised version of the brand's strapless Malaya Top, which included a halterneck strap and a belt around the waist. The Duchess finished her look with a black and gold clutch bag by Australian bag Olga Berg and 7,000 diamond earrings from Canadian jewellery brand Birks, which she has previously worn on a number of occasions. The Duchess of Sussex, 37, showed off her shoulders in a 895 sequin top by British brand Safiyaa, to which she added her own custom halterneck strap Meghan teamed the dazzling sequin top, which featured a low back (right), with a black maxi skirt, also by Safiyaa The Duchess of Sussex met Take That before taking her seat int he royal box at last night's Royal Variety Performance Meghan previously wore a full length cape blue dress by Safiyaa at a black tie reception on the first night of her royal tour in Fiji last month. She showed off a growing baby bump in the spectacular 1,095 gown, which was made in the same shade of blue as the Fijian flag. Last night's Royal Variety show saw the Duke and Duchess meet performers including Take That and the cast of hit West End musical Hamilton before taking their seats to watch the acts from the royal box. The Royal Variety Performance a mixture of music, dance, singing and comedy - is held in aid of the Royal Variety Charity (RVC), of which The Queen is Patron. Piers Morgan vented his fury over a university issuing instructions to lecturers to avoid using capital letters when assigning work to students - for fear of upsetting them. The memo sent out to staff at Leeds Trinity journalism department suggested that using uppercase letters may 'scare them into failure', according to the Express. Piers, 53, was baffled when he read out the news on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, declaring that 'the world's gone nuts' and accused students of not living in the 'real world'. GMB viewers agreed with the presenter's take on the move, with one tweeting: 'You couldn't make it up!' Piers Morgan, 53, ranted on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday after reading the news that Leeds Trinity University's journalism department has ordered lecturers to stop using capital letters to avoid upsetting students. Pictured: Piers (left) with co-host Susanna Reid on GMB 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, including capital letters. 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.' Piers was shocked by the report, calling it 'unbelievable' on GMB. He said: 'What are we doing in this country? The world has gone nuts!' The news left Good Morning Britain viewers on Twitter in shock (pictured), with one tweeting: 'You couldn't make it up!' He asked why the students weren't petitioning the university to reverse the decision. Piers continued: 'What are these students doing? What kind of human being do you want to be? Dont write capital letters it's going to upset me! What do you think the real worlds like?' Realising that he'd raised his voice, Piers couldn't resist poking fun at the students' apparent sensitivities, saying: 'I'm sorry if I triggered you with my shouting. 'I actually think this might be the worst time to be alive ever everyone is offended by everything.' Piers said the news said the news is proof that 'the world's gone nuts' and accused the students of not living in the 'real world'. Pictured: Piers (left) with Susanna (right) on GMB 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. GMB viewers joined in Piers' outrage at the story, with one tweeting: 'How can that possibly upset, the world has definitely gone crazy.' 'My English Grammar teacher from Grammar school will be turning in his grave,' another said. A third wrote: 'I thought it was November 20th, not April 1st!! More nonsense from our universities.' Silicone breast implants could soon be a thing of the past as the cosmetics industry makes way for high tech 'hybrid' boob jobs in 2019. It is just one of the weird and wonderful new trends set to sweep the industry next year according to a top surgeon. MailOnline FEMAIL spoke to industry insider Professor Sforza, from MyAesthetics, to get the lowdown on the latest advancements in plastic surgery. Here, he reveals the hottest cosmetic trends, technological advances and surgical techniques tipped to take the next 12 months by storm. Ultrasonic nose jobs Ultrasonic rhino-sculpture is becoming popular with patients, according to Professor Sforza of MyAesthetics who has revealed the biggest trends to come in 2019 (file photo) 'Regular nose jobs involve a lot of downtime, but ultrasonic rhino-sculpture is becoming increasingly popular, promising faster recoveries and more precise results. 'Other techniques chisel and file at the nasal bone, which can cause tissue trauma. However, by using a probe-like device that emits ultrasonic energy, surgeons accurately shape the nose minimising the damage to the cartilage or soft tissue. 'Its best for eliminating bumps, narrowing the nasal bridge and correcting a deviated septum and bruising and swelling should subside after around two weeks in many cases.' The 4K revolution 'This year we saw the rise in virtual reality 3D imaging to help improve decision-making around cosmetic procedures. 'However, 2019 will now see advances in 4D technology being introduced across UK clinics, taking the benefits of 3D consultations to the next level. '4D augmented reality projects a full body scan of a patients body onto a mirror screen, showing their reflection post-procedure (e.g with adjusted breast sizes and shapes) in a full live body proportion scale. 'Its a big step forward for surgeries like breast augmentation and reconstruction, because it will enable patients to select implants to fit their anatomy, as well as helping them see how their breasts would appear lifted, reduced or reconstructed.' Lip lifts The lift lip helps to raise the lips edges and creates a more natural, plumper appearance (as well as adding definition to the Cupids bow, according to Professor Sforza (file photo) 'When it comes to achieving enhanced lips, fillers have been the most common cosmetic procedure. However, theres a growing demand for more natural-looking features and 2019 will see patients increasingly seeking a more nuanced effect, rather than opting for larger lips which may not suit their face shape. 'Enter the lip lift- a permanent procedure- typically done under local anaesthesia in less than an hour. This operation shortens the space between the bottom of the nose and the top of the lips (aka the philtrum) by carving out a bullhorn-shaped strip of skin just below the nostrils. 'It helps to raise the lips edges and creates a more natural, plumper appearance (as well as adding definition to the Cupids bow.)' The 3D face-lift The 3D face lift technique creates a more attractive look described as a fuller, youthful appearance rather than a tight and possible wind tunnel effect (file photo) 'Micro-surgeries are becoming popular, as more individuals seek minimally invasive procedures with minimal scarring. 'A growing trend in 2019 will be the volumetric or 3D face-lift. This new surgery plumps the face by pulling tissue inside the face back onto the cheek bones. 'The surgeon makes incisions by each ear to reach the inner facial tissue, which usually slips down the face due to ageing. It is pulled back upwards and suspended on the cheek bones. 'It causes less scarring because the process does not involve cutting away as much skin. The technique creates a more attractive look a fuller, youthful appearance rather than a tight and possible wind tunnel effect.' The hybrid boob job According to Professor Sforza, the 'hybrid' boob job greatly reduces the risks of issues like capsular contracture or potential sagging over time (file photo) 'Hybrid breast surgery combines implants with the reshaping possibilities offered by fat transfer. This technique creates more natural looking breasts without having to position the implant under the muscle. 'By incorporating fat transfer, a hybrid breast augmentation also allows the use of smaller implants, so the risks of issues like capsular contracture or potential sagging over time, are greatly reduced. 'Moreover, the recovery time can be reduced to less than a week in many cases.' The Duke and Duchess are the epitome of a happy royal marriage, but they did split up briefly in 2007 and according to a royal expert, Kate's family were part of the reason for the break-up. Former royal editor Duncan Larcombe appears in the Amazon Prime documentary William & Kate: The Journey, released earlier this year, and now a comment he made about the cause of their split has resurfaced online. Kate and William went their separate ways for a few months, after she reportedly gave the royal an ultimatum to propose, but in the programme Larscombe refers to Kate's family playing a part in the split, according to The Express. 'One of the theories of mine is it was because of her family background,' he explained. He referred to well-known reports of how William's friends used to poke fun at Kate's mother's background as an air hostess, by saying doors to manual whenever they saw William's girlfriend. 'Is strenuously denied by the palace now but I dare say one or two people in Williams inner circle may have that view.' The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been happily married for seven years, but when they broke up in 2007 royal watchers suspected it was because of Kate's middle class background, an insider has claimed Kate's family at the christening of Prince Louis in July. Her mother Carole is a former flight attendant turned entrepreneur while her father was an aircraft dispatcher for BA Kate's mother Carole, who comes from a working-class background - descending from a line of impoverished Durham miners and builders - is a former air hostess, while her father Michael was an aircraft dispatcher for BA. Yet despite descending from humble beginnings, Kate's childhood was certainly very comfortable. Carole started started the family firm Party Pieces selling children's party goods over the internet, from scratch and created a multi-million pound fortune. The family home, in Bucklebury, Berkshire, is worth well over 1million, she and husband Michael paid cash for a 750,000 flat in Chelsea and sent their three children to a 27,000-a-year private school. William and Kate pictured at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2007, shortly before they split up after five years of dating Kate and William's split came in 2007 after they had been dating for five years since meeting at St Andrew's University. The prince was starting a new chapter as as Army officer with the Blues and Royals and was eager to avoid the mistake his parents had made by marrying too hastily. News of their split broke in the papers and Kate kept herself busy by immersing herself in the London social scene, while remaining discreetly silent about their relationship. William and Kate exiting Westminster Abbey in London, after their wedding service, on April 29, 2011. By mid-May the couple were talking on the phone, by June Kate was spotted at a fancy dress party at William's barracks, In August, the pair jetted off for a holiday in the Seychelles where William made a promise that a proposal would be forthcoming in the future. The couple got engaged in October 2010 and married in April the following year. During an interview to mark their engagement in November 2010, both admitted the brief time apart had been for the best. Prince William and Kate arriving to pose for photographs at the State Apartments of St James Palace to mark the announcement of their engagement in 2010. In an interview both admitted that their brief split had improved their relationship for the better I think at the time I wasnt very happy about it, but actually it made me a stronger person, you find out things about yourself that maybe you hadnt realised, Kate said. I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when youre younger. I really valued that time for me as well, although I didnt think it at the time. William added: We were both very young . . . we were both finding ourselves and being different characters. 'It was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up so it was just a bit of space and it worked out for the be for the best.' The French president brought a dash of Gallic flair to Brussels today as he greeted Belgium's Queen Mathilde with a kiss on the hand. Emmanuel Macron is on an official state visit to Belgium with the First Lady, Brigitte, and the couple were joined by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at a working breakfast on Tuesday on the second day of their trip. Following the warm greeting, the quartet were snapped chatting to fellow guests at the cultural centre LaVallee, a co-working space at the heart of Molenbeek. Putting on a business-chic display, Brigitte, 65, opted for a grey trouser suit, coordinating with Queen Mathilde, who 45, who looked stylish in a tailored grey dress. Meanwhile President Emmanuel, 40, and King Philippe, 58, put on smart displays in suits and dark overcoats as they toured the 6,000 square-metre centre. French president Emmanuel Macron brought a dash of Gallic flair to Brussels today as he greeted Belgium's Queen Mathilde with a kiss on the hand France's First Lady Brigitte Macron looked in good spirits as she attended a breakfast in Brussels on the second day of her official state visit to Belgium Putting on a business-chic display, Brigitte, 65, (left) opted for a grey trouser suit, coordinating with Queen Mathilde, (centre) 45, who looked stylish in a tailored grey dress Brigitte was seen beaming as she chatted with inhabitants of the Brussels district of Molenbeek over breakfast. The stylish first lady, known for her love of fashion, teamed a crisp white shirt with a grey blazer and coordinating trousers, which she tucked into a pair of red-bottomed boots. Later on she was seen injecting a splash of colour with a pink scarf, and accessorising with a Prada bag, proving her penchant for all things designer. Meanwhile Mathilde looked stylish in a fitted grey shift dress which fell just below her knees, teaming it with a pair of coordinating heels. Meanwhile President Emmanuel, 40, and King Phillipe, 58, (seen centre) put on dapper displays in suits and dark overcoats as they explored the cultural center LaVallee, a 6,000 square-metre co-working space at the heart of Molenbeek Brigitte was seen beaming as she chatted with inhabitants of the Brussels district of Molenbeek over breakfast Queen Mathilde looked stylish in a grey dress and matching berry-coloured accessories, holding a multicoloured bouquet of roses as she arrived for breakfast with the French president Wearing her hair tied into a low chignon and covered with a berry beret, Mathilde proved her own fashion credentials as she visited the LaValee Creative Work Center in the Molenbeek district of Brussels. This came after Mathilde and Brigitte enjoyed a friendly fashion face off during the French lady's first day of her state visit on Monday. The royal hosts welcomed the Presidential party to a lavish state banquet, where the couples exchanged toasts to each other. Earlier France's First Lady, 65, pulled out all the stops in a sharply-tailored grey coat and 2,610 Louis Vuitton tote as she touched down at the Royal Palace on Monday. Later they pair pulled out their best frocks and even a tiara for the lavish banquet. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are seen in Molenbeek, attending breakfast with French president Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte during their state visit to Belgium Wearing her hair tied into a low chignon and covered with a berry beret, Mathilde proved her own fashion credentials as she visited the LaValee Creative Work Center in the Molenbeek district of Brussels Belgium royal couple Philippe of Belgium (4thL) and Mathilde of Belgium (2ndL), French President Emmanuel Macron (3rdL), his wife Brigitte Macron (4thL) attend a meeting at the cultural center LaVallee Mother-of-four Mathilde was joined by husband of 19 years King Philippe, 58, who ascended the throne following the abdication of his father, King Albert II, on 21 July 2013. They are parents to Princess Elisabeth, 17, Prince Gabriel, 15, Prince Emmanuel, 13, Princess Eleonore, 10 - with the eldest recently starting boarding school in Wales. Mathilde, a former speech therapist with a psychology degree, has a somewhat conservative approach to fashion, favouring long hemlines, block colours and sensible silhouettes. By contrast Brigitte, a former teacher, has expensive taste and has a penchant for designer labels - her favourite being Louis Vuitton. France's First Lady has been spotted sitting on the front row at the luxury label's fashion shows, as well as at Christian Dior. Mathilde, a former speech therapist with a psychology degree, has a somewhat conservative approach to fashion, favouring long hemlines, block colours and sensible silhouettes French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Belgian King Philippe as they visit the LaVallee Creative Work Center in the Molenbeek district of Brussels The stylish first lady, Brigitte, known for her love of fashion, teamed a crisp white shirt with a grey blazer and coordinating trousers, which she tucked into a pair of red-bottomed boots King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are parents to Princess Elisabeth, 17, Prince Gabriel, 15, Prince Emmanuel, 13, Princess Eleonore, 10 - with the eldest recently starting boarding school in Wales She also has a penchant for Revival (favouring their ankle boots), Gianvito Rossi shoes, wears an Hermes watch and owns a 1,000 Moncler jacket. Belgium's last visit from a French head of state was made by President Georges Pompidou in 1971. This week's visit, which comes just days before an EU summit next weekend, will focus on deepening the relationship between the two countries. They will also visit the district of Molenbeek, home of IS-inspired jihadists who carried out the notorious 2015 Paris attacks that killed 130. The stylish first lady, known for her love of fashion, teamed a crisp white shirt with a grey blazer and coordinating trousers, which she tucked into a pair of red-bottomed boots The stylish first lady, known for her love of fashion, teamed a crisp white shirt with a grey blazer and coordinating trousers, which she tucked into a pair of red-bottomed boots Putting on a business-chic display, Brigitte, 65, opted for a grey trouser suit, coordinating with Queen Mathilde, who 45, who looked stylish in a tailored grey dress Queen Mathilde of Belgium and French First Lady Brigitte Trogneux pictured during a visit to the La Maisonnee care center Ulrika Jonsson has proudly revealed that her daughter Bo has landed a place to train at the same school where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's nanny learned her craft. Taking to Instagram to announce the happy news, the TV presenter shared a snap of her daughter Bo, saying: 'This ones face. The face of a girl who has just been offered a place to train as a Nanny at Norland College! Were now all in tears....' Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo who looks after George, Charlotte and Louis is also a graduate of the prestigious Bath nanny school. Bo, 18, who was born with a congenital heart defect and continues to be treated for the condition today, has held an ambition to work in childcare from a young age. Ulrika Jonsson has proudly announced that her daughter Bo Monet, 18, is set to train as a nanny at the prestigious Norland College in Bath, where Kate and William's childminder also studied The most famous nanny in the country! Maria Borrallo with Prince George and his grandmother the Queen at Princess Charlotte's christening in July 2015 Norland College has been producing childminders for the rich and famous since 1892. The institution's students are known for their distinctive uniforms and are schooled in all aspects of looking after youngsters during their three-year degree course. The training costs 36,000 in total and the training includes martial arts training and stunt driving to its curriculum to cater for modern clients - many of whom are celebrities and the super-rich. Tae Kwon-Do is believed to be the martial art of choice - which has been specially adapted to include how to dodge a potential kidnapped with a pram. Ulrika on holiday in Spain with her daughters Bo (left) and Martha. The proud mother admitted everyone in their house was in tears on hearing her elder daughter had been accepted at Norland College Ambition: According to her mother Bo has always wanted to be a childminder and paid a visit to Norland College in May this year (pictured) to get a feel for the institution before applying Nannies are also trained in how to deal with paparazzi and are taken to Castle Combe Racing Circuit in Wiltshire to perfect their driving skills and learn how to drive at high speed in any weather condition. Driving away from pursuing photographers being the main reason for the training. Ulrika's daughter Bo was born in 2000, during her relationship with German hotel manager Marcus Kempen, who left when their baby daughter was days old. The former weather presenter has three other children - Cameron, 24, Martha, 14, and Malcolm, 10. 18-year-old Bo was born with a congenital heart defect and still receives treatment to this day Malcolm's father Brian Monet officially adopted Bo in 2014. At the time, Ulrika told The Sun: 'When the judge granted the order, Brian and I wept. We rushed home to tell Bo, who was so happy. 'It is hard to put into words what this means to us, now Bo has someone who has truly earned the right to be her father.' Queen Letizia looked typically chic as she attended the centenary event of the Red Cross' School of Nursing and Central hospital in Madrid on Tuesday. The Queen of Spain stepped out in a recycled Caroline Herrera skirt which she had worn earlier this year for the audience with the Spanish Winter Olympics team. Today the mother-of-two paired the red floral printed skirt with an elegant ivory silk blouse for her engagement in the capital. And despite the colder temperatures the 46-year-old opted for bare legs today and accessorised with a pair of patent red court shoes. Queen Letizia of Spain looked typically chic in Carolina Herrera as she attended the centenary of the Red Cross' School of Nursing in Madrid on Tuesday She wore her brunette locks in a sleek straight style, one that she has been favouring of late and opted for a natural makeup look. Letizia performed her engagement alone today with King Felipe VI believed to have remained at Zarzuela palace. But the Queen was not without company as she met with the hospital's patients and other members of the foundation to celebrate the centenary. It may only be Tuesday but it has already been a busy week for the Royal Consort. On Monday Letizia accompanied her husband to the Prado Museum for an event celebrating the institution's bicentenary. Today the mother-of-two paired the red floral printed skirt with an elegant ivory silk blouse for her engagement in the capital Despite the colder temperatures the 46-year-old opted for bare legs today and accessorised with a pair of patent red court shoes The museum houses artwork by painters like Velazquez, Rubens, Goya, El Bosco and El Greco. And Last week the royal couple carried out an official visit to Peru, where their stops included visiting social initiatives. The Spanish royals touched down in Lima last Monday, where they were greeted by Peru's President Martin Vizcarra and First Lady Maribel Diaz. She took time admiring the exhibit documenting the history of the hospital over the past 100 years Letizia posed for a commemorative photo alongside other members of the foundation The couple were welcomed at the Government Palace in Lima with a Guard of Honour after arriving in Lima. Peru's Foreign Office explained how the Spanish royals were visiting the country at the invitation of President Vizcarra. In a statement, a spokesperson said: 'The presence of Their Majesties in Peru has particular significance, as it helps strengthen the solid friendship with Spain and renew deep historic-cultural, economic, and cooperation ties binding the two nations'. On Monday Letizia donned a flattering belted tweed dress as she arrived at the Prado Museum for an event celebrating the institution's bicentenary Letizia and Felipe, 50, pictured centre, were on hand to mark the first bicentenary event at the museum ahead of the milestone next year The visit to Peru comes after Felipe travelled to France on the previous weekend for Remembrance Day commemorations without Letizia. Queen Letizia is mother to Princesses Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 11, with husband King Felipe, 50, who ascended to the Spanish throne in 2014. Letizia married King Felipe ten years ago at Cathedral Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena in Madrid. The relationship began in November 2002 and in 2003, just months after she had been promoted to the position of anchor on the national news channel, she quit her job and days later the royal engagement was announced. As a glamorous young royal and granddaughter of the Queen, Princess Beatrice had to be particularly discerning when it came to finding a potential suitor. Fortunately the 30-year-old and her sister Princess Eugenie, 28, are part of a well-heeled circle of heiresses, millionaires and fellow European royals who rub shoulders at the world's most exclusive parties, members clubs - and private mansions. It is within this glamorous social set that Beatrice is said to have met her new boyfriend, Italian multi-millionaire property tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 34. The dashing divorce, who is father to a two-year-old son, is thought to have been an acquaintance of Beatrice for years, but the pair have recently seen their friendship evolve into a romance. In love: Princess Beatrice, 30, pictured at an event in London this month, is said to be in a relationship with multi-millionaire property tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 34. The pair are part of the same well-heeled social set, which includes heiresses and European royals The pair are among a group whose number include sisters Irene and Lydia Forte, daughters of hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, and the young Monagasque royals: Andrea, Pierre and Charlotte Casiraghi, according to the Daily Telegraph. Emerging on the scene are social media-savvy society beauties like Princess Talita von Furstenburg, granddaughter of designer Dianne, and Princess Marie-Olympia of Greece. And if friends' reports are anything to go by then this diverse group of movers and shakers could soon find themselves on the guest list for a royal wedding, with some suggesting Edoardo - known as 'Edo' - could pop the question within months. Read on for a who's who of Beatrice's social circle... The boyfriend: Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi Eligible bachelor: Dashing divorce Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, pictured, founded property consultancy Banda in 2007. He is thought to have known Princess Beatrice for years After two months of dating, Princess Beatrice introduced Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 34, as her boyfriend at an exclusive party last week thrown by Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. The pair are believed to have known each other for years. Indeed Beatrice and her mother the Duchess of York were among the 700 mourners at the funeral of Edoardo's stepfather, Christopher Shale, who died at Glastonbury in 2011 and was a close friend of David Cameron. However it appears that the friendship between Edoardo and Beatrice evolved into a romance and the pair have since become quite serious about each other. The fledgling couple are understood to have holidayed together and Beatrice even took the step of 'introducing' Edoardo to the Duke and Duchess of York as her boyfriend. A friend told the Sun: 'They've been on holiday together and Beatrice introduced him to Fergie and her dad. Things are moving very quickly and it wouldn't surprise anyone if they got engaged within a short period of time. Hotting up: Eduardo, who has a two-year-old son named Wolfie from a previous relationship, is thought to have been 'introduced' to the Duke and Duchess of York as Beatrice's boyfriend 'They could even be tying the knot in 2019 it's already been discussed by her friends. Everyone is thrilled that Bea is so happy and in such a good place right now.' Eduardo, who has a two-year-old son named Wolfie from a previous relationship, founded property consultancy Banda in 2007. The firm, whose name means 'big shed' in Swahili, specialises in offering a discreet service finding and developing multi-million pound homes for high net-worth clients. He is Beatrice's first boyfriend since she split from Uber executive Dave Clark in 2016 after 10 years together. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on reports of the new romance. The sister and brother-in-law: Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank Support system: Beatrice's sister Princess Eugenie, 28, and brother-in-law Jack Brooksbank It is no secret that Beatrice and Eugenie enjoy a close relationship, and part of this is because the sisters move in similar social circles. Many of the guests who attended Eugenie and Jack's star-studded Windsor Castle wedding last months would also be expecting to receive an invite when Beatrice ties the knot. The sisters are regularly spotted at the same events and enjoy dinners out with Fergie, who enjoys a close relationship with her son-in-law Jack. The supermodel: Karlie Kloss Beauty and brains: Supermodel Karlie Kloss, 26, is married to Joshua Kushner, brother of President Trump's son-in-law Jared. Kloss, who campaigns for a greater involvement of women in computer science, enjoyed a holiday with Princess Beatrice to Jordan in April this year The supermodel Karlie Kloss, 26, is married to Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared is married to President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka. In 2016, she and Princess Beatrice both took in the Mens US Open final from the VIP box. Ivanka Trump was also there. Karlie and Beatrice were among a group of friends who holidayed in Jordan in April, with photos shared on Instagram. Kloss, an avid computer programmer, campaigns to get more girls and young women involved in coding. Her other close friends include pop star Taylor Swift and Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge. The insider designer: Misha Nonoo Meghan's BFF: Also among the Jordan jet-setters was fashion designer Misha Nonoo, pictured. She was a guest at both Harry and Meghan's and Eugenie and Jack's weddings this year Also among the Jordan jet-setters was fashion designer Misha Nonoo. As a close friend of the Duchess of Sussex, Nonoo is no stranger to mixing in royal circles and attended both Harry and Meghan's and Eugenie and Jack's weddings this year. The fashion designer's profile rocketed when Meghan wore her Husband shirt for her first public appearance with then boyfriend Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in Toronto last September, and enjoyed another boost when the duchess chose a skirt from her label for a Kensington Palace event this year. The Bahrain-born designer is the former wife of Alexander Gilkes, who attended Eton with Princes William and Harry. Guests at their nuptials included Beatrice and her younger sister Eugenie, and Kate Middleton's brother James. Princess Beatrice attended a WE Day event in March wearing a skirt from her friend's fashion line, which also includes a black polo neck called 'Beatrice' - perhaps in a nod to her royal pal. The heiresses: Irene and Lydia Forte Sister act: Society beauties Irene and Lydia Forte are the daughters of Sir Rocco Forte, founder of Rocco Forte Hotels a portfolio of 11 luxury hotels. Pictured, the sisters in June 2017 Society beauties Irene and Lydia Forte are the granddaughters of Lord (Charles) Forte, who started his business with a single diner in Londons Regent Street in 1935, before building an empire of 1,000 restaurants and 800 hotels. He died in 2007. After a hostile takeover in 1995, Lydia and Irenes father Rocco, now 72, went on to start up Rocco Forte Hotels a portfolio of 11 luxury hotels. Sir Rocco (he was knighted in 1995) has five sisters. His niece, Alex Polizzi, is presenter of Channel 5s The Hotel Inspector, making it very much a female-dominated dynasty now estimated to be worth 340 million. Both went to Oxford University Lydias degree was in modern history and Irenes in French and Italian before joining the family firm. Since 2014, they have worked full-time at Rocco Forte. At Lydias 18th birthday party in 2005, at the Fortes former five star St Davids Hotel in Cardiff Bay, Princess Beatrice was among the 150 guests. The Monagasque dynasty: Andrea, Charlotte and Pierre Casiraghi Hollywood heritage: Charlotte Casiraghi, 32, is the daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover and granddaughter of the late Grace Kelly. She is part of the Monagasque royal family Red carpet royals: Andrea Casiraghi, 34, with his wife Tatiana at a Monte Carlo gala in September, left. Right, Pierre Casiraghi with wife Beatrice at the Monaco Rose Ball in March As the grandchildren of Grace Kelly, Andrea, 34, Charlotte, 32, and Pierre Casiraghi, 31, were destined for a life of glamour. The siblings, children of Princess Caroline of Hanover and second husband Stefano Casiraghi, often appear at royal events with their effortlessly stylish partners and growing brood of children. They have crossed paths with Princess Beatrice at a number of public appearances, including the Convivio 2016 fundraiser in Milan. The social media queen: Talita von Furstenburg Poster girl: University student Talita von Furstenburg is the granddaughter of designer Diane von Furstenberg and Prince Egon von Furstenberg. She has 166,000 Instagram followers Part of the next generation of society movers and shakers, model Talita von Furstenburg is likely to be invited to an increasing number of the same events as Princess Beatrice as she establishes herself on the global stage. There is little doubt the Georgetown University student, 19, has the pedigree to warrant a place in the inner circle. Talita is the granddaughter of designer Diane von Furstenberg and Prince Egon von Furstenberg and has built up a 166,000-strong Instagram following - a key part of being a modern day society figure. The heiress, who was unveiled as the new face of Diane von Furstenberg earlier this year, celebrated her 19th birthday at the Met Gala with her grandmother Diane on May 7 before kicking off a summer of enviable holidays. Her travels included a trip to Utah with her father, Prince Alexander von Furstenberg, as well as visits to Spain, Austria, Israel, France and Greece. The globe-trotting princess: Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece Royal ties: Princess Maria-Olympia, known as Olympia, is the oldest child and only daughter of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece and his wife, Marie-Chantal. Her godfather is Prince Charles Goddaughter of Prince Charles, Princess Maria-Olympia, known as Olympia, is the oldest child and only daughter of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece and his wife, Marie-Chantal. The Greek monarchy's reign ended in 1973 but the family have kept their titles. New York City-born Olympia is a student at Parsons School of Art and Design in New York, and has modelled for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana. Her rented apartment in Soho is believed to be worth as much as $9,000 (around 6,500) a month. Her eclectic group includes DJ and heiress Paris Hilton. The Countess of Wessex made a dramatic entrance today when she touched down in Derbyshire by helicopter. Sophie, 53, battled rainy conditions as she disembarked the Queen's private aircraft at the David Nieper Factory in Alfreton this afternoon as part of her whistlestop East Midlands tour. Wrapped up in a collarless cream coat and pink scarf, the wife of Prince Edward was forced to take refuge beneath a large umbrella. She was completing a series of engagements in the East Midlands today, beginning in Northampton. Constructed in 2009 by Sikorsky, the S76C helicopter is part of the royal family's private fleet. The 8m aircraft is capable of a maximum speed of 178 mph, with a 30-minute fuel reserve. The Countess of Wessex arrives at the David Nieper Academy in Alfreton, Derbyshire on 20 November. Sophie is completing a whistlestop tour of the East Midlands today Sophie, 53, chats to staff at the David Nieper Academy. The royal looked suitably smart for the occasion, teaming a powder pink dress with black heeled boots, leather gloves and a clutch Getting stuck in! During her visit to the David Nieper Academy today, Sophie joined in on a design and technology class where she donned an apron and got to work in the kitchen The aircraft is described as 'providing a quiet and comfortable cabin environment, low carbon footprint and best value for money'. Sikorsky has provided helicopters to support the Royal Family since the 1950s. Sophie looked suitably smart for the occasion, teaming a powder pink dress with black heeled boots, leather gloves and a leopard print clutch. The mother-of-two was due to begin her day at Fairfield's School in Northampton before visiting Gussie's Kitchen in Chesterfield. She then travelled on to the David Nieper Academy and David Nieper Factory in Alfreton, Derbyshire. During her visit to the academy, a comprehensive school, she joined in on a design and technology class where she donned an apron and got to work in the kitchen. Sophie, 53, arrives by helicopter. She battled rainy conditions as she disembarked the private aircraft at the David Nieper Factory in Alfreton this afternoon as part of her whistlestop East Midlands tour The Countess of Wessex arrives in Derbyshire. Wrapped up in a collarless cream coat and pink scarf, the wife of Prince Edward was forced to take refuge beneath a large umbrella Sophie disembarks the helicopter in Derbyshire today. Constructed in 2009 by Sikorsky, G-XXEB is part of the royal family's private fleet. It is capable of a maximum speed of 178 mph and a ferry range of 400 miles, with a 30-minute fuel reserve The mother-of-two was due to begin her day at Fairfield's School in Northampton before visiting Gussie's Kitchen in Chesterfield, later travelling onto David Nieper Academy (pictured) Sophie was greeted by youngsters waving Union flags, and unveiled a bronze plaque commemorating her visit to David Nieper Academy in Alfreton, Derbyshire today Sophie chats to youngsters at the David Nieper Academy. Nee Rhys-Jones, Sophie married into the royal family in 1999 and is mother to Lady Louise Windsor, 15 and James Viscount Severn, ten The Countess dons an apron as she joins in a design and technology class at the David Nieper Academy in Alfreton on Tuesday, part of her East Midlands tour The Countess of Wessex unveils a plaque to commemorate her visit to the David Nieper Academy in Alfreton, Derbyshire on 20 November She was greeted by youngsters waving Union flags, and unveiled a bronze plaque commemorating her visit. Nee Rhys-Jones, Sophie married into the royal family in 1999 and is mother to Lady Louise Windsor, 15 and James Viscount Severn, ten. The pair married, after six years of dating, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle - the same location chosen for Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie's respective nuptials. The former PR consultant has previously described herself as 'one of the few ladies in the British royal family who has had a professional business career and their own company'. Unlike other, more glamorous royals, Sophie does her own hair, sometimes drives herself to official engagements, and even makes her own pre-engagement notes without the traditional help of a lady-in-waiting. Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo isn't worried about having 'uncomfortable' conversations about race and diversity and she's being hailed on social media for speaking out about her commitment to being an ally to people of color. The 49-year-old actress sat down with Gabrielle Union, Gina Rodriguez, and Emma Roberts for a panel discussion with Porter Edit magazine on race, gender, and fair pay in Hollywood, and one particular monologue on standing up for others has been making the rounds on Twitter. In her speech, Ellen contended that it's the job of Caucasians to 'speak up in every single room' about inclusion, since Caucasians are the ones who created the racial problems facing society. High praise: Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo has earned positive recognition on social media for speaking out about her commitment to being an ally to people of color Speaking out: The 49-year-old sat down with Gabrielle Union, Gina Rodriguez, and Emma Roberts for a panel discussion with Porter magazine on race, gender, and fair pay in Hollywood Duty: In her speech, Ellen said it's the job of Caucasians to 'speak up in every single room' about inclusion, since Caucasians are the ones who created the racial problems facing society Agreement: She earned raised eyebrows and nods of approval from Gabrielle The four women all posed for a glamorous editorial for the magazine this month, but they also appeared in a nearly 25-minute video, which was uploaded to YouTube this weekend and takes on much more serious subjects than fashion. Toward the end of the panel, in which the women talk about the serious work that still needs to be done to make the industry more inclusive and ensure that women and women of color are paid fairly, Ellen called out their Porter shoot in particular. 'This day has been incredible, and there's a ton of women in the room, but I don't see enough color,' she said. 'And I didn't see enough color when I walked in the room today. 'And I had a meeting with a director of another endorsement project that I'm doing. I said, you know, when I show up on set, I'd like to see the crew look like the world that I walk around in every day. 'And I think it's up to all productions to make sure that your crew looks like the world we see,' she went on, earning raised eyebrows and nods of approval from Gabrielle. 'As Caucasian people, it's our job. It's our task, it's our responsibility to make sure that we speak up in every single room that we walk into,' Ellen asserted. 'That this is not OK, and that we can all to better. It's our job because we created the problem.' Cheers! 'It's our job because we created the problem,' she said, after which the other women clinked cups with her What's in the budget? Gina also talked about being denied the same salary for the same job as another actress because the other woman was a 'bigger' star Serious: At one point, listening to Gina speak, Ellen got a bit choked up The other women looked a bit taken aback by her speech, but also pleased, and they toasted her. Though the interview is full of articulate and eloquent soundbites, that one in particular has been called out on social media. Shonda Rhimes, the showrunner behind Grey's Anatomy, posted the 47-second clip of Ellen speaking with the words, 'Go, Ellen, GO.' ESPN's Jamele Hill reposted it, writing: 'White people sometimes ask me how they can be an ally. @EllenPompeo puts on a master class in how to be one.' 'Once again my nominee for Secretary of Everything is this and only this particular Pompeo,' wrote Sara Benincasa. 'I have nothing else to add to this but yes Ellen Pompeo showing and telling how fellow white people can be allies in the fight for racial justice,' wrote political strategist Atima Omara. 'This is how you use any form of privilege you have to demand change for others who may be marginalized in ways you are not,' added human rights lawyer Prasanna Ranganathan. Be an ally: Social media users have applauded Ellen for the clip Here for it: They called out her words of taking responsibility Speaking up: Gabrielle herself chimed in to promote the whole panel discussion Loving it: Fans are sending words of support to the actress A highlight: The entire clip lasts nearly 25 minutes but this soundbite in particular caught people's attention Yes! 'I support everything she does because I believe her when she speaks,' wrote one fan Wrote another: 'This is how you use any for of privilege you have to demand change for others who may be marginalized in ways you are not' 'Diversity & inclusion work is speaking truth & having complex, uncomfortable conversations to make change. Thank you @EllenPompeo. I have tears in my eyes.' Comedian and writer Jenny Yang wrote, 'The entire video HOOOOOBOY. When it got to 21 mins I lost it w @EllenPompeo then w @itsgabrielleu saying she started her production company in @HereIsGinas footsteps. The realest convo of how much code-switching we gotta do to work in this industry. Gabrielle Union herself retweeted this, adding: 'Please take the time to watch the entire video. Whooooooooaaaanelly.' Others couldn't get enough of Gabrielle's facial expressions in response to Ellen's words. Gabrielle also weighed in during the Porter clip, moments after Ellen talked about her responsibility. 'To go back to what Ellen so eloquently said, it wasn't something that was lost on me, I just did not have the bravery to say it or call it out,' she said. 'There's a part of me that felt lucky to be here.' Way to go: Many pointed her out as a great example of how white people can be allies Going for it: Gabrielle even called out the magazine behind the video and photoshoot Some called out the facial expressions that Gabrielle made while listening to Ellen Wrote one admirer: 'Would like to see conversations like these happening in every profession' 'I think it's up to all productions to make sure that your crew looks like the world we see,' said Ellen Props too: Others noticed that Emma spoke the least during the panel She noted that she might have had certain discussions about unfairness privately with friends, but she never would have said it in a space like this, on camera, because she didn't want to appear as 'an ungrateful brown person'. 'That's why it is my job,' Ellen answered. 'That's why I say we bear the burden, because [women of color] don't feel comfortable to speak up.' Ellen also mentions speaking up about the lack of diversity in her children's school, implying that her three kids, who are biracial, are minorities. The actress is married to music producer Chris Iverym who whom she has daughters Sienna and Stella and son Eli. 'It's been too long. The right thing is never done,' she went on, adding that she is willing to make sacrifices to her career and the way some people view her as a matter of defending what's right. The women also acknowledged that they are better off than women in other jobs and industries, even if that doesn't change the unfairness of a woman or person of color being paid less. Husband and wife: Ellen is married to music producer Chris Ivery Family: The couple has three kids, Sienna, Stella, and Eli Big drama: Ellen stars on Shonda Rhimes' show Grey's Anatomy 'Even though we're struggling in our industries, we're struggling a lot less than people who are working normal jobs,' Ellen said. Gina admitted that she has a harder time speaking out as Ellen does. 'I always feel like I fail when I speak about it, because I can't help but feel already so gracious to do what I do and i feel like culturally I was just raised to feel so appreciative of getting here,' she said. She recalled recently offered a project that had previously been offered to another actress. Gina had asked the other actress how much money they'd offered her. When she asked for the same amount, they said no, because she isn't 'worth that much' . 'Cause she's "bigger" than I am,' Gina said. 'But it's the same job. It's the same amount of hours, it's the same movie.' 'And bigger by what standard?' Gabrielle asked her. 'Let's keep it all the way 100. Bigger by what standard, and who determined that standard? 'You're the only show on a whole a** network where your show has had critical acclaim,' Gabrielle told her, referring to Gina's show Jane the Virgin on The CW. Fashion: The four women also posed for Porter Edit, Net-a-Porter's magazine Getting dolled up: They modeled various designer outfits for a photoshoot Out now: To see the full interview and watch the video, read PorterEdit online or download the NET-A-PORTER app 'You'be been not only nominated, you've won. So, worth by whose standards? 'You wanna go by social media? You're killing that. You want to go by who can't walk down the street without being recognized and loved by all kinds of people? That's you too. So worth based on what?' Gabrielle added that she, too, understood how that feeling of being 'grateful' can get in the way of earning what you're worth. 'You feel like a jacka**. You feel like you should just be quiet and grateful because it's more than others. More than I've ever made. So it's like, lady, stop it. 'But at the same time, when those lists come out, when Forbes drops the Top Paid Actresses in Television, the Top Paid Actresses in Film, and there's no women of color on it, it's like, well why didn't you speak out? 'That feeling that you should be grateful carries over into negotiation,' she said, adding that they are 'conditioned to be grateful'. Ellen, too, knows that feeling, and pointed to studio heads raking in cash while 'talent' gets only a small piece. She specifically called out Harvey Weinstein, though not my name, saying that the stars of films made by his studio were paid less because there was the promise of awards, and that the project would be creatively fulfilling. 'You know what, f*** creatively fulfilling. Give me my money,' she said. 'I don't care about a statue. I care about sending my kids to college.' For the last 90 years, Mickey Mouse has been loved by so many people across all age groups and throughout the world. To celebrate his anniversary, prominent fashion brands like Citizen, Karen Walker and Ruthie Davis have created special limited-edition collections to commemorate the cherished character. FEMAIL reveals the latest Disney collaborations to be released, starting with Citizen, because there's no time (pun intended) like the present to feel like a kid again! It's love: To celebrate Mickey Mouse's 90th anniversary, prominent fashion brands like Citizen, Karen Walker and Ruthie Davis have created special limited-edition collections to commemorate the cherished character DISNEY X CITIZEN The time has come: After announcing their strategic alliance in March of this year, Citizen unveiled eight Mickey Mouse timepieces to mark Mickey's 90th birthday Bling, baby: Citizens two 29.5mm Mickey timepieces feature a black dial with diamond accents and case and bracelet in either stainless or stainless steel with rose gold plating After announcing their strategic alliance in March of this year, Citizen unveiled eight Mickey Mouse timepieces to mark Mickey's 90th birthday. The watches are available in two distinct sizes, 29.5mm and 40mm, all featuring the iconic character's figure, and inspired by the company's best-selling silhouettes. The entire collection ranges from $295$475 and will become available for purchase on Citizen's website at the end of March 2019. Get a sneak peek here. 'Since his big-screen debut in Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928, Mickey has been the global ambassador for The Walt Disney Company and he embodies a positivity that reflects Citizens Better Starts Now initiative,' said President of Citizen Watch America, Jeffrey Cohen. ' 'We are proud to honor this iconic character on our new timepieces and continue celebrating moments like this as we build on our collaboration with the Disney brand.' Mark your calendars: The entire collection ranges from $295$475 and will become available for purchase on Citizen's website at the end of March 2019 Watch out: 'We are proud to honor this iconic character on our new timepieces and continue celebrating moments like this as we build on our collaboration with the Disney brand,' said President of Citizen Watch America, Jeffrey Cohen' In addition to creating Disney-inspired timepieces, newly branded in-park clocks that showcase the Citizen logo can be found throughout both Magic Kingdom Theme Park and Disneyland California Adventure Park. Inside Magic Kingdom Theme Park and at the Disneyland Resort, Citizen clocks can be found on Main Street U.S.A., in various other locations and at multiple Fastpass entrances. Citizen also sponsors the printed 'Time Guides' which provide parkgoers with relevant information including parade start times, bus services and more. The clock is ticking: Along with their new timepieces, Citizen has just unveiled their newly branded in-park clocks at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort Why wait: Inside Magic Kingdom Theme Park and at the Disneyland Resort, Citizen clocks can be found on Main Street U.S.A., as well as a number of other areas and multiple FastPass entrances DISNEY X KAREN WALKER Fashion is fun: In honor of Mickey Mouses 90th birthday Karen Walker and The Walt Disney Company have collaborated to create an exclusive, Mickey-inspired collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, eyewear, jewelry, accessories and homeware In honor of Mickey Mouses 90th birthday Karen Walker and The Walt Disney Company have collaborated to create an exclusive, Mickey-inspired collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, eyewear, jewelry, accessories and homeware. The Disney x Karen Walker collection features pieces that embrace the fun-loving and adventurous spirit of both Karen Walker and Mickey. 'Mickey is a true icon and its a great honor for me to have an opportunity to interpret his personality, which Ive always loved, through my own lens,' said Karen. 'Both Mickey and our Runaway Girl have an inherent sense of adventure, so the collection is a nod to the heritage of both Karen Walker and Disney.' The Disney x Karen Walker collection is limited-edition, and is available globally in all Karen Walker stores and online. Eyes for You by Disney x Karen Walker, $196.40; karenwalker.com Left: Heart Hands by Disney x Karen Walker, $196.40; karenwalker.com. Right: Cast of Two Crazy Tort by Disney x Karen Walker, $196.40; karenwalker.com. Get it while you can: The Disney x Karen Walker collection is a very limited-edition release. It is available globally in all Karen Walker stores and online DISNEY X RUTHIE DAVIS Diamond Mine by Ruthie Davis, $498; ruthiedavis.com Disney x Ruthie Davis is a collection of power shoes for todays Disney Princess, inspired by Disneys 11 princesses. Pictured is the Snow White collection which launched simultaneously with the 80th anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The eight styles ($498 to $798) include sneakers, booties and stiletto sandals in leather and velvet with iconic details from the film captured in the embellishments. Known for her unique and statement-making footwear, the New York-based brand is a favorite of modern-day royalty Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Carrie Underwood. Grumpy by Ruthie Davis, $498; ruthiedavis.com Good vs Evil by Disney x Ruthie Davis, $698; ruthiedavis.com Rotten Apple by Disney x Ruthie Davis, $598; ruthiedavis.com Ellie Chapman was using her laptop to update her CV in the local library when her attention was first drawn to a man using a public computer a few feet away. In his early 60s, he had his back to her but his screen was very much in 23-year-old Ellies line of sight. And on it was content no one should expect to see in a public library. Glancing up from her work, Ellie was stunned to realise the man was watching images that could only be described as pornographic. Ellie Chapman, 23, left, said she witnessed a man in his 60s, right, watching a pornographic movie on a computer while in a library in Pontypridd I couldnt believe it it was absolutely awful, says Ellie, whod only just moved to Pontypridd and was using the library because shed not yet got broadband at home. And to make it worse, he kept adjusting his crotch area. I dont think he realised I was sitting behind him, because when anyone else walked past he would quickly switch screens to look at his email. That anyone would consider it appropriate to view pornographic content in a public library demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the sensibilities of others, yet such behaviour is becoming increasingly prevalent. Earlier this month, a high-flying City lawyer was caught allegedly watching porn on his work computer by a lawyer at a rival firm, who could see directly into the mans office from his own building just across a narrow lane. The partner at the firm Hogan Lovells, who was earning a six-figure salary, has now been suspended for watching an adult film and will face an investigation. Natalia Grigoriou, 25, a teacher who lives in north London, was at a bus stop at 8.30pm one evening in January this year when she realised the man next to her was watching porn on his phone Where once the viewing of pornographic material was something to be done behind firmly closed doors, it is now so utterly unremarkable that its openly viewed on buses, trains, in the pub, even in public libraries. Last month, the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee concluded that problems relating to the onslaught of porn are now so widespread that it is as much of a threat to public health as cigarettes. MPs said the viewing of porn in public, along with a swathe of related activities, was a new form of sexual harassment and called on transport providers to take action. But as Ellie and other women we have spoken to can attest, even blocking access to certain material on public Wi-Fi networks cannot serve as a total filter. What, for instance, about images embedded in emails or downloaded material? What about the many mobile phone users who dont bother to log on to Wi-Fi as they travel but use their own phone network? In most libraries, filters on public computers do exist but they are not impermeable. I spent about 10 minutes wondering what to do, says Ellie. There was a creche with children singing nursery rhymes on the other side of the room, which made it all the more shocking. I was messaging my mum and my boyfriend asking them: What should I do? My adrenaline was pumping. Im only 5ft 1in so I was intimidated and I was worried what he would do if I said anything. In the end, I went over to a woman on the desk and explained what Id seen. I pointed at the man and she went back to her office to speak to someone else but by the time she came back hed scarpered. I think he saw me when I got up and realised what Id seen. Ellie later learned the man was a library regular. Other accounts suggest this was far from an isolated incident. In the summer, a man was filmed viewing pornography at a library in Slough, Berkshire. His response when he realised hed been seen? What are you filming me for? On public transport, where it is not uncommon for women to find themselves travelling alone at night, the experience can be chilling. Natalia Grigoriou, 25, a teacher who lives in North London, was at a bus stop at 8.30pm one evening in January this year when she realised the man next to her was watching porn on his phone. We were probably waiting for the same bus, she says, and at first I thought he was slightly tipsy. But then he answered his phone and seemed to be able to talk normally, which reassured me. When he ended the call, he sat down again and all of a sudden I heard women moaning and groaning. Instinctively, I turned my head and saw what he was watching I just couldnt believe it. He realised then I could see and hear what he was watching, but rather than switch it off, he put in some headphones and carried on. Matters escalated when the bus arrived and the man sat opposite Natalia. He continued to watch and began to touch himself intimately. I didnt know what to do, she says. I was in shock but I was also afraid. The bus driver couldnt see him and there was no one else near us. My mind went to places I didnt want it to go to. I was scared what he might continue to do to himself and what he could do to me if he was aroused. Yet I was rooted to my seat. Luckily for me, he got off after the third stop. Looking back, I cant believe he behaved that way in front of me. He was in his early 30s and looked like a normal guy. Thats the disconcerting thing. Im much more careful now around men when they have their phone out on their lap on public transport. Im always on alert. There are other reports. Samantha Warwick, 32, from Sutton, South London, was on her way home from work when she found herself sitting next to a good-looking, 20-something man, openly watching porn on his phone, so blase he could have been catching up on the news. He had headphones in and seemed so normal but what he was watching was quite graphic not the sort of thing you expect to see on a train. Samantha decided to ignore him and continue her journey, though she admits shed have felt differently had she had her child with her. Then there was mother-of-three Karen Thornton-Brown, who went to a family-friendly pub in the Gosforth area of Newcastle for a late-morning meeting only to encounter a middle-aged man with a glass of wine watching a distinctly lurid video on his phone. I ordered a coffee and noticed a man two tables along with a glass of wine, looking at his phone. Then I heard heavy breathing and looked up to see him fumbling with the phone. It was quite clear what was on his screen. Hed obviously clicked the volume button by mistake. Karen was stunned but says the man did, at least, appear shame-faced. He made a quick departure, leaving his drink, when he realised hed been spotted. Such incidents are, in many respects, a sign of our increasingly hi-tech times. Global sales of top shelf magazines have plummeted since the advent of the internet, but its a different story online, with the porn industry said to be worth in the region of 76 billion worldwide. The pace of technological advance has made access to pornography frighteningly easy as simple as a tap on a smartphone screen. Its been estimated that as many as one in four clicks are porn-related. But what makes anyone think that it is acceptable to inflict their viewing on those around them? Suzie Hayman, a counsellor, agony aunt and trustee of the charity Family Lives, says: If we go back even just 15 years, porn was something you had to put quite an effort into obtaining: it was a brown paper package, the top shelf, it wasnt easy. There was a certain amount of shame attached because of the effort you had to put in. Fast forward to now and it is the ease of delivery that I think has made it all so mainstream. She maintains the crossover of fashion choices and dance moves once associated with the sex industry into the mainstream as another factor in normalising the viewing of pornography. And, of course, the more an action is repeated by other members of a group, the more normal and acceptable that action becomes. Last year, security experts Norton by Symantec reported that a survey indicated as many as one in six people had used public Wi-Fi to view adult content. The damaging effects of the proliferation of pornography have been well documented, with children being particularly vulnerable to its effects. In 2016, a study by the Office of the Childrens Commissioner for England, the NSPCC and Middlesex University found that 53 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds had viewed online pornography, and 42 per cent of 15 to 16-year-olds said it has given them ideas of sexual practices that they would like to emulate. Hayman says this in itself is dangerous. A lot of pornography is violent, abusive and transgressive, and it objectifies women. Young men are picking up the message that your own satisfaction is whats important, that the woman will give in; that its okay, everyone else is doing it. And thats the message girls are getting, too. Adults, too, are damaged by the spread of porn, with couples reporting sexual problems and increased isolation. But are the men who choose to watch porn in public doing so for some kind of twisted sexual gratification? Dr Thaddeus Birchard, clinical director of the Marylebone Centre for Psychological Therapies, says some men may be doing so as a way of shocking or attracting women. In other cases, he adds, it may be as simple as male brain chemistry at play. The brain chemistry of arousal, particularly in men, shuts down the capacity to consider consequences. Just think of Bill Clinton. According to British Transport Police, in 2017 they were called 30 times to reports of people watching porn on the rail network but made no arrests. In 2016, it was 26 times with six arrests. Its a drop in the ocean, one suspects, given the accounts that litter social media forums. British Transport Police, Transport for London and other public transport bodies have all encouraged anyone who has felt uncomfortable by the viewing of pornography in public to report it. But what, realistically, can authorities do? Clare McGlynn, Professor of Law at Durham University, says public order offences could apply, but only if the porn-viewer was causing a real commotion, being threatening or harassing, or otherwise engaging in some form of abusive anti-social behaviour. Other avenues include the common law offence of outraging public decency, which requires a lewd, obscene or disgusting act breaching contemporary standards of public decency, and the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981, originally designed to reduce the advertising of sex shops. But, while watching porn in public could fall under the Act, prosecutions are extremely rare and the threshold of obscenity/indecency relatively high. McGlynn says the key issue is the underlying sexual harassment. People viewing porn in public know they are making others uncomfortable, or worse and they are comfortable with this. Worse, this is part of the kick they are getting from watching porn in public. A medical scanner can take 3D images of the entire body at once for the first time ever. A combination of two commonly-used scanners - positron emission tomography (PET) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) - the EXPLORER scanner offers a fascinating insight to the inner workings of the human body. The machine produces a 3D video that could help diagnose disease, track the spread of cancer or infections, and develop new medicines by creating a whole-body diagnostic scan in 20-30 seconds. Professors Simon Cherry and Ramsey Badawi, from the University of California, Davis, have spent millions of dollars and more than a decade building the machine. Scroll down for video The EXPLORER scanner is the first of its kind to be able to scan the entire body in 3D in one go (pictured: A front view of the human body), and its inventors claim it is faster and higher quality than existing machines being used in hospitals 'While I had imagined what the images would look like for years, nothing prepared me for the incredible detail we could see on that first scan,' Professor Cherry said. The EXPLORER works using radiation, and is a combination of a PET scan and CT scan, both of which are used every day in healthcare around the world. But those machines can only image certain sections of the body and have limitations, such as requiring patients be injected with higher doses of radiation. EXPLORER can produce higher-quality scans than has ever been possible in medicine, and is up to 40 times faster than existing scanners, taking 20-to-30 seconds to produce a scan of the whole body. Professor Badawi, chief of nuclear medicine at UC Davis, said he was 'dumbfounded' by the machine. 'The level of detail was astonishing,' he said. 'We could see features you just don't see on regular PET scans. 'And the dynamic sequence showing the radiotracer moving around the body in three dimensions over time was, frankly, mind-blowing. There is no other device that can obtain data like this in humans.' The EXPLORER can produce a scan of the body in less than 30 seconds (pictured, a profile scan of a human body), or it can be tuned to be able to detect radiation at very low levels, meaning it could be safer to use with children if they need multiple scans PET scans, which produce 3D images of the body, require a radioactive substance, known as a tracer, to be injected into the patient. HOW DO MEDICAL SCANS WORK? PET scans and CT scans are both commonly used imaging techniques to give medics a view inside the human body. PET scans are 3D while CT scans are 2D. Both involve the patient lying partly in a large tubular scanning machine while the scanner rotates to picture the body from the front, back and sides. They work by measuring radiation as it passes through or out of the body, similarly to X-rays but on a more sensitive scale, and the image is mapped by a computer. For PET scans a patient has to be injected with the radioactive substance first, and this may happen in some CT scans. The radiation can then be sensed at different levels in different tissues in the body, giving the radiographer a shaded or colour-coded image of the part of the body they're looking at. Source: NHS Advertisement This can be problematic for children who require regular scans because the radiation could build up to harmful levels. But the extra-sensitive EXPLORER can work with 40 times less radiation than a current PET scan. Professor Cherry said: 'The tradeoff between image quality, [scan] time and injected radiation dose will vary for different applications, but in all cases, we can scan better, faster or with less radiation dose, or some combination of these.' The professors claim the scanner could have countless uses in medicine, such as improving diagnoses and tracking the progression of a disease. For example, medics may be able to find every place a cancer has spread to from a single scan, which currently can require multiple images. They could also track blood flow around the body, measure how well sugar is being absorbed or watch how drugs move around. The scientists plan to put the first scanner to work in Sacramento, California, and to start using it on patients from June 2019. 'I don't think it will be long before we see a number of EXPLORER systems around the world,' Professor Cherry added. The scanner's inventors say it could be used to track where cancer has spread and follow infections which move around the body. One said: 'I don't think it will be long before we see a number of EXPLORER systems around the world' 'Now, our focus turns to planning the studies that will demonstrate how EXPLORER will benefit our patients and contribute to our knowledge of the whole human body in health and disease.' The machine was developed with the help of Chinese manufacturer United Imaging Healthcare, and grants from the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health. The first scans produced by the machine will be presented at the Radiological Society of North America meeting later this week. A North Carolina man learned the runny nose he'd been suffering from for the last five years was actually leaking brain fluid. Greg Phillpotts, from Johnston County, was battling what he believed to be allergies. Some doctors had even diagnosed him with chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. 'You could be anywhere. You could be on the airplane, you could be talking to anybody and this thing just drains out of your face,' he told WTVD. Doctors later told Phillpotts he had a hole in the membrane surrounding his brain and, if he waited any longer to get it fixed, it could have resulted in a brain infection that could have killed him. Greg Phillpotts (left and right), from Johnston County, North Carolina, was suffering from a runny nose for five years. He believed it to be allergies but some doctors had even diagnosed him with chronic bronchitis and pneumonia After years of stuffing tissues up his nose and not being able to breathe, Phillpotts went to see a specialist. Pictured: An X-ray showing Phillpotts's condition There were many situations in which Phillpotts's runny nose would interfere at family functions. Last Thanksgiving, he was preparing dinner for his family when nasal fluid ran into the food. 'I was preparing a meal and standing in the kitchen and it just added itself to the ingredients - it screwed up the whole dinner,' Phillpotts told WTVD. 'I was stuffing tissues up my nose. It became normal up until February because I was up all night coughing. In February, he made an appointment with Dr Alfred Iloreta, an otolaryngologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr Iloreta told Phillpotts he didn't have allergies, but rather a cerebral spinal fluid leak. 'It's the leakage of fluid that surrounds the brain to cushion it primarily to protect it from shock or trauma or anything like that,' Dr Iloreta told WTVD. The leak occurs either from a hole in the skull bone or a tear in membranes surrounding the brain, resulting in fluid draining from the ear or the nose. Doctors told Phillpotts (pictured) he had a hole in the membrane surrounding his brain, which was resulting in a cerebral spinal fluid leak While many leaks can heal on their own, the hole can lead to bacteria traveling from the nose to the brain resulting in meningitis. Pictured: An X-ray showing the hole in Phillpotts's membrane Doctors at Mount Sinai performed minimally invasive surgery in which a flap of tissue from Phillpotts's body was used to patch the hole (pictured) Patients with cerebral spinal fluid leak typically have clear, watery drainage from either one ear or nostril. Symptoms that often accompany the leak include headache, vision changes and loss of hearing. 'Sometimes when you have this leakage of the fluid from the brain, it can evolve into what we call an ascending infection. So bacteria can travel from the nose to the brain resulting in meningitis,' said Dr Iloreta. According to Health, these leaks affect five in every 100,000 patients, not counting leaks induced by trauma. While many leaks can heal on their own and only require the patient being on bed rest, others require less conservative treatments. Doctors may use a nasal endoscopy to perform minimally invasive surgery or an epidural blood patch. The patch involves the patient's own blood being injected into the spinal cord. The blood forms a clot which 'closes' the hole where fluid is leaking from. Dr Iloreta decided to perform a minimally invasive surgery in which a flap of tissue from Phillpotts's body was used to patch the hole. 'Have you ever been so congested that you can't breathe?' Phillpotts told WTVD. 'All of sudden you can breathe again and what a relief that was!' One in five US Army generals wasn't 'medically ready' to fight in 2016 - for many, simply because they failed to get annual physical and dental check-ups, data obtained by USA Today has revealed. Before deployment, every member of the American military must meet minimum fitness requirements. That includes having a clean bill of physical and dental health - but high level servicemen and women can't very well have that if they haven't been to a doctor or dentist in over a year. After launching a broader misconduct investigation in 2014, the Army discovered that not only were some of its highest-ranking members guilty of violations like sexual misconduct - they also don't like the dentist very much. One in five Army generals were not 'medically fit' to serve in 2016 - and many failed simply for skipping annual exams and blood work, USA Today's investigation found Physical fitness is a central qualification for members of the military, whose ultimate role is to fight to defend the country. And the Army doesn't want any surprises while its members are deployed in potentially dangerous environments, so it needs to be acutely aware of any potential health problems facing everyone from cadets all the way up to generals. But accountability has recently been an issue in the Army in recent years. In 2014, an internal investigation was launched into service men and women, prompted in part by a spate of scandals in the highest ranks. USA Today obtained the results of this investigation in 2017, and has since received updated (though heavily redacted) information revealing that one in five generals couldn't technically be deployed because they are 'medically unfit.' This could mean that they failed the physical fitness test (a point of pride for service members) or that they failed to produce up-to-date medical records. It doesn't matter which it is. Every box on the checklist has to be ticked, or the Army will not take the risk of sending a soldier (or officer) into battle. Poor health is a mounting challenge for the US military. As of December 2017, nearly 75 percent of 17- to 24-year-old Americans were unfit to serve, according to Pentagon data. The most common reason - even among this youngest age group - was health problems, which disqualify about a third of potential volunteer servicemen and women. In 2009, a group of generals and admirals started Mission:Readiness, a nonprofit dedicated to confronting the youth issues that could leave the US military short-changed. Ironically, many generals themselves would fall into that same category of unreadiness, according to the 2017 report - documenting 2016 readiness - that USA Today obtained. Army spokesperson, Brig Gen Omar Jones, told USA Today that this problem has since been addressed, and that the Army has made sure its top leaders show up to their teeth cleanings, blood drawings and annual check-ups. 'The Army's top priority is readiness and soldiers are expected to be world-wide deployable to ensure our Army is ready to fight today and in the future,' said Jones. Daily Mail Online sent a request for comment to another Army spokesperson, but had not received a reply at time of publication. A Wisconsin man was struck down with a rare polio-like illness just days after he got married. Adam and Bridget Spoerri, from Burnham Park, were on their honeymoon in late July on Lake Superior when both of them came down with a cold. Bridget's symptoms improved, but Adam's didn't. Within a week, his facial muscles became paralyzed, he could not swallow and he was struggling to breathe. He was rushed to Aurora St Luke's Medical Center where doctors diagnosed him with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). Adam is currently the only adult in Wisconsin to come down with the illness that so far affected 89 others in 27 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adam and Bridget Spoerri, from Burnhan Park, Wisconsin, fell sick while on their honeymoon in July, just days after getting married (pictured). Bridget's symptoms improved but Adam's did not Adam gradually became paralyzed and struggled to breathe. In September, he was diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis. Pictured: Adam and Bridget in the hospital AFM is a rare, but serious condition that affects the nervous system. Specifically it attacks the area of spinal cord called gray matter, which causes the body's muscles and reflexes to weaken. Symptoms often develop after a viral infection, such as poliovirus or West Nile virus, but often no clear cause is found. Patients start off having flu-like symptom including sneezing and coughing. This slowly turns into muscle weakness, difficulty moving the eyes and then polio-like symptoms including facial drooping and difficulty swallowing. The CDC says that mainly children are affected with more than 80 falling ill and another 162 cases still under investigation In the most severe cases, respiratory failure can occur when the muscles that support breathing become weak. In rare cases, AFM can cause neurological complications that could lead to death. No specific treatment is available for AFM and interventions are generally recommended on a case-by-case basis. Adam was diagnosed with AFM in Septmeber, which his family believes he was at risk for because of the immunosuppressant drugs he was taking for asthma and Crohn's disease. 'His head became very weak. He could not swallow and then his breathing was very labored,' Bridget told Fox 6. 'He's still flaccid in his shoulders, his back muscles, his neck is pretty weak. According to a GoFundMe page that was set up by family friends of the couple, Adam is still not able to speak and the couple have been communicating via a notepad. 'I thought he was dying every day those first two weeks. I had no hope,' Bridget told the Journal Sentinel. Adam is currently the only adult in Wisconsin to come down with the illness that so far affected 89 others in 27 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The 30-year-old (pictured) has been transferred to the Post Acute Medical Specialty Hospital, a long-term care facility in Milwaukee, for rehabilitation The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not track AFM in terms of its prevalence, but rather in outbreaks. The agency has confirmed 362 cases since an outbreak in Colorado in August 2014, almost all of them in children. This suggests the pattern of an infectious disease, but much remains unknown about the condition. Currently, doctors are working to wean Adam off the breathing ventilator he's been on since August. According to the Journal Sentinel his record is more than 34 hours. Adam has been transferred from Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center to the Post Acute Medical Specialty Hospital, a long-term care facility in Milwaukee. However, it remains unclear how long he will be there for the recovery process. 'Adam and his wife have shown such strength through this entire illness,' Taylor Finseth, Adam's neurologist at Aurora St Luke's told the Journal Sentinel. ' 'They really amaze me. The love that his wife shows for him is incredible.' A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover Adam's medical costs. So far, more than $8,100 has been raised out of a $20,000 goal. Some years ago I had a pregnant patient who was also under the care of a plastic surgeon with a tendency to range far beyond his area of supposed expertise. He decided that my patient had a thyroid condition and should undergo a scan using radioactive isotopes to determine the problem. Thankfully, she told me. I was appalled, not least because the concentrated radioactive material used in such a test could be highly damaging to her unborn child. I could not believe any reputable doctor would have come up with such a dangerous proposal, so I decided to investigate his credentials. Dr Martin Scurr writes on the current state of affairs surrounding the General Medical Council that recently fell under further scrutiny after not checking the documentation of 'psychiatrist' Zholia Alemi. (Stock image) He hadn't studied or trained in the UK, and I discovered that he did not have a PhD from Oxford University, as he claimed, nor was he a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Deeply concerned about the potential for gross malpractice, I rang the General Medical Council, the supposed guardian of professional standards in medicine. Flaws To my amazement, the GMC wasn't interested. Indeed, I was treated with deep hostility for daring to question the surgeon's credentials. The Council not only said that it would refuse to investigate, but also warned me to be careful about undermining a colleague. Zholia Alemi, believed to be of Iranian extraction, was employed in the NHS for 22 years without any medical qualifications and no one at the GMC checked whether Ms Alemi's documentation was genuine Here was I, the whistleblower worried about my patient and any others being treated by a doctor who did not possess the qualifications he claimed but I was being made to feel as if I was in the wrong. It was a Kafkaesque saga and one of a number of episodes in more than 40 years as a medical practitioner that have provided me with an insight into the GMC's profound flaws. So I was saddened but not surprised to have my disillusionment dramatically reinforced this week by a new scandal linked to the watchdog. As the Mail reported yesterday, 'psychiatrist' Zholia Alemi, believed to be of Iranian extraction, was employed in the NHS for 22 years without any medical qualifications. Unbelievably, no one at the GMC, which is responsible for vetting foreign doctors, had checked whether Ms Alemi's documentation was genuine. This shameful negligence meant the bogus psychiatrist was able to carry on working for decades, perhaps putting patients' lives and mental health at severe risk. As a measure of the seriousness of the case, the Department of Health has launched an inquiry and set up an emergency hotline, while the backgrounds of no fewer than 3,000 foreign doctors in the NHS are being urgently re-examined. This is the job the GMC should have done properly in the first place. I am certain Ms Alemi's case is far from unique, given the GMC's chronic weaknesses. The rigorous oversight of qualifications should be at the absolute core of its work, but I am afraid the GMC has badly lost its sense of purpose. Like so many quangos, it has become an expensive, bloated talking shop, so bogged down in bureaucratic initiatives and the protection of vested interests that it cannot focus properly on its key duties. I do not know a single doctor who holds the GMC in high regard. The central problem, I believe, is that the GMC is driven by a determination to uphold the reputation of the profession at all costs, rather than improve the quality of patient care by stringent policing methods. It explains why you will hardly ever hear a GMC representative expressing concern about the loss of the GPs' out-of-hours service over the past 20 years, or the NHS's poor cancer survival rates compared to other European nations. It is also why the GMC reacts so aggressively to the least criticism by doctors of its work. Abuse Fearful of repercussions, few practitioners are willing to speak out about its flaws. And in this climate of censorship, warped priorities prevail. Far worse was the case of Dr Harold Shipman, a murderer whom the GMC could have stopped The GMC's defensive posturing over the profession's image means the Council is far harsher about doctors' moral misconduct drink-driving or relationships with patients, for example than it is about the inadequacy of treatment or the integrity of qualifications. I think the GMC's approach is wrong and counter-productive. What really concerns the public is quality of care. Nothing does more harm to the medical profession than incidences of abuse like that of 'Dr' Alemi. Of course, far worse was the case of Dr Harold Shipman, a murderer whom I believe the GMC could have stopped before his killing spree began. In 1975, Shipman was arrested and convicted of forging prescriptions for pethidine a controlled drug which is strictly regulated for his own use. He was fined 600 and required to attend a drug rehabilitation clinic, but he was not struck off the medical register by the GMC. Later, using the same method of writing out false prescriptions, Shipman stockpiled a vast arsenal of morphine with which he is believed to have murdered up to 250 patients. My own practice has yielded other examples of the GMC's ineptitude. I had a patient who kept inexplicably collapsing and on the third occasion this happened, I visited her home, where she was lying unconscious on the floor. The General Medical Council is the public body overseeing patient care and ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine On searching her bathroom, I found a large store of Tenuate Dospan, an extreme weight- loss drug linked to addiction, heart attacks and strokes. This appeared to be the cause of my patient's problems, so I asked her family where the drug had been obtained. 'From a private doctor in North London,' I was told. He was apparently writing prescriptions at 20 a go for the pills. Aggressive Again I complained to the GMC. Once more, my concern was dismissed with aggressive contempt and no follow up. In effect, I was warned to mind what I said. It was the same negative story when I was the chairman of the ethics committee at a London hospital and dealing with a major ethics dilemma involving the hospital directors, with far-reaching implications for the patients. When I turned to the GMC for advice it has an ethics committee I was informed that I was on my own. It is not as if the organisation does not have the resources to provide proper support and uphold standards. When I started as a doctor in the Seventies, I paid 25 a year to an organisation run by a few officials. Today I pay hundreds of pounds annually in fees to prop up a sprawling bureaucracy that last year spent 99 million, had total reserves of 80 million and employed 1,135 staff. Yet the GMC cannot even do the basics properly. It employs 23 officers in 'communications' and 55 in 'external relations'. No fewer than 28 employees earn more than 100,000 a year, and, according to the last annual report, seven of them are on over 180,000 a year. The same report reveals, in typical jargonese, that the GMC had 'created a Policy Leadership Group to provide a collective vision for GMC policy in the context of our corporate strategy'. The GMC also boasted of its plans to establish a 'Strategy and Policy Directorate' and a 'Communications and Engagement Directorate' to 'strengthen engagement with all key interest groups'. Little wonder one ex-GMC employee has described 'tons of over-the-top bureaucracy . . . and lots of energy going into maintaining fiefdoms. Senior management was focused on one-upmanship and petty run-ins'. It is exactly that culture which has led the GMC to lose its way so badly and it is hugely detrimental to patient care. Who is watching the watchdog? Why has it got away with presiding over scandal after scandal? Isn't it time the GMC is opened to scrutiny, not least because patients' lives may be at stake? A model uploaded a live video of herself having a seizure to Instagram to show the reality of epilepsy. Sophie Wilson-Smith, 24, of north London, sheds tears as she explains how scary her seizures - which can be unnoticeable to others - are. The masters degree student said: 'I would never usually post this but I've had enough. This is what a simple partial seizure looks like. 'Sometimes it looks like nothing or that I'm staring into space. Sometimes it looks like I'm full on convulsions [sic].' Ms Wilson-Smith, 24, uploaded a live video of herself having a seizure to Instagram to show the reality of epilepsy The 24-year-old model and student from London explains how scary her seizures, which can be unnoticeable to others, are Ms Wilson-Smith had no idea she had the condition until she suffered a terrifying episode while at work in April 2017. A barrage of tests followed until the summer of 2018, when she was officially diagnosed with epilepsy a neurological condition causing seizures, due to a sudden burst of intense electrical activity in the brain. She said: 'The video was like a therapy for me, a way of educating others on the mental aspect of having to deal with this. 'Lots of people don't realise there are different types of seizure. It's not always the typical fit you see on TV, where a person is on the ground shaking.' Ms Wilson-Smith experiences focal seizures, which starts in one side of the brain. You can still be aware of your surroundings. 'The ones I experience are almost unnoticeable, yet I'll be freaking out inside. It can make you feel very alone. 'It usually only lasts a few seconds to a couple of minutes. But it makes my heart feel like it's beating out of my chest and I feel unaware of my surroundings when it's happening. 'Sometimes the left side of my body does that [shake] and I really struggle to get my words out... so it's quite normal for me to get upset afterwards.' 'The ones I experience are almost unnoticeable, yet I'll be freaking out inside. It can make you feel very alone', Ms Wilson-Smith said about her epileptic focal seizures Ms Wilson-Smith first experienced a seizure at her work in April 2017, and was diagnosed over a year later with epilepsy Until her first seizure, Ms Wilson-Smith, who is studying Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, was a healthy individual juggling modelling, a part-time retail job, and studying for her university zoology degree. Remembering the day in April 2017 she said: 'My memory of it is very hazy, but I can only describe the symptoms as being migraine-like, just without the headache. 'I said to my friend, "I really don't feel well. Something is wrong." Apparently, as I spoke, I just went completely blank. WHAT IS A FOCAL SEIZURE? A focal onset seizure, in an epileptic seizure that starts in one side of the brain. Until recently these seizures were called partial seizures. There are two types: A focal aware seizure: You stay fully aware of whats happening around you. This type of seizure used to be called a simple partial seizure. Focal impaired awareness seizure: If your awareness of whats happening around you is affected at any time. This type of seizure used to be called a complex partial seizure. What happens to you during a focal seizure depends on which part of the brain the seizure happens in. This is because different areas of the brain control movements, body functions, feelings and reactions. Some people experience just one symptom during a focal seizure, while others experience several. Symptoms of focal seizures can be split into two groups: Motor symptoms: Examples include part of your body, for example one arm, going stiff, part of your body going limp or floppy, rhythmic jerking in part of your body, the head and eyes turning to one side, lip smacking, repeated swallowing or chewing, undressing, running or walking. Unmotor symptoms: Examples include feelings of being hot or cold, fear, anxiety, anger or pleasure, changes to vision, hearing, smell or taste, hallucinations, feeling like your body is distorted or missing, changes to breathing, heart-rate or skin tone or difficulty processing language Focal seizures mostly last between a few seconds and two minutes. Some people are able to continue what they are doing afterwards, but some people may need to sleep or feel weak. Source: Epilepsy Action Advertisement 'Next thing I knew, I was surrounded by paramedics.' After being checked over at hospital, Ms Wilson-Smith was initially told she had probably had a hemiplegic migraine, where one side of the body becomes temporarily paralysed. But in the throes of a focal seizure, a person may also experience speech difficulties, vision problems or confusion. Ms Wilson-Smith continued: 'I didn't fit the typical epilepsy symptoms, so it took a long time to be properly diagnosed, but the medication I was given didn't help me. 'Over the course of a year, I was having more and more focal seizures. 'Doctors were convinced they were hemiplegic migraines, but I didn't agree. It was incredibly frustrating, and I ended up feeling down and depressed. 'Life was changing so much for me, and yet nobody seemed to understand.' Ms Wilson-Smith was having around five seizures a month and could feel symptoms building up for days on end before they happened. Describing the onset of a seizure, she said: 'I'll feel this uncomfortable, almost anxious feeling in my stomach, before the room gets bigger and smaller. My vision will feel odd, and my hearing is as if someone has their hands over my ears. 'Afterwards, I'll feel really disorientated and upset.' Ms Wilson-Smith began to dread going out in case one happened in public, worried that people will judge her if she has an episode in public. She said: 'I remember being on the Tube in London once when I felt a seizure coming. I explained what was happening and asked for a seat and this person just started at me, without moving. 'I ended up having one standing up, and on that packed carriage, only one person asked if I was okay.' At the end of 2017, Ms Wilson-Smith was forced to quit her retail job, as the stress of juggling everything was making her symptoms worse. Finally, in summer 2018, she met with a specialist at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where she was officially diagnosed with epilepsy. 'I'd come to terms with the fact that something more than originally thought was wrong with me', she said. 'While it wasn't nice to hear, it was a relief to finally have a diagnosis. 'My specialist was amazing. He put me on a course of medicine right away, which took a couple of weeks to kick in, but has been great. 'It's a long road to see if this will be a long-term solution, and I've had to up my dosage twice, but I feel very grateful for now. 'Before, the tiniest bit of stress, tiredness or even being on my period would trigger me but now, my episodes are few and far between.' Ms Wilson-Smith, who is now working with the charity Epilepsy Action, decided to film the video for Instagram around three months ago, before her medication was kicking in. Although nervous as to how people would react, she was hit with a wave of support, receiving messages off strangers from around the globe. Now, by speaking out, she hopes she will educate people on the invisible side of epilepsy and show others living with it that they are not alone. She said: 'Of course, everyone is different, but personally, when I'm in a seizure, I need people to remain calm, sit with me and wait, helping me come back down. 'There's nothing worse than someone panicking, shouting and shaking you. 'Everyone should inform themselves about epilepsy, as it can happen to absolutely anybody. It just hit me out of the blue, and we're all still trying to work out why. 'What people like me need is as much kindness and understanding as possible. Judgement doesn't help anybody. 'To others with epilepsy, I want to also say how important it is to speak up if you don't feel well. You may feel afraid or worry about being a burden but you aren't and your health is so important.' Over 500,000 people in the UK, about one in every 100, have epilepsy, according to Epilepsy Action. One in 50 people will have epilepsy at some time in their life (not everyone with epilepsy will have it for life), and there are over 40 different types of seizures. A mother-of-two's crippling multiple sclerosis went undetected for a decade after she dismissed it as just a pulled muscle. Maggie Conner was diagnosed with the debilitating condition in 2013 aged 29 but believes she first experienced symptoms a decade earlier aged 19 after she collapsed in a nightclub. Before her diagnosis the former business manager was a party-loving professional with a steady job. Now 35, Mrs Conner, who only discovered she had MS while undergoing IVF, is forced to rely on a wheelchair and rarely leaves the house. Terrified her children will one day become her carers, she is fundraising 50,000 for a stem-cell transplant in Mexico that may halt the spread of the disease. The treatment - not available to her on the NHS - will rebalance her immune system via a course of chemotherapy. Scroll down for video Maggie Conner's crippling multiple sclerosis went undetected for more than a decade after she dismissed it as a pulled muscle. Pictured with her daughters Megan (left) and Leah (right), the 35-year-old now relies on a wheelchair to get about and rarely leaves the house Pictured in 2009 at her brothers' 1920s themed wedding, Mrs Conner used to be the life and soul of the party. She was finally diagnosed in 2013 after years of collapsing, and enduring pain in her back and wrists. Mrs Conner thought she had pulled a muscle while working in a shop Mrs Conner, who lives with her children and husband Paul, said: 'I feel trapped inside myself. It's difficult to spend time with my kids and not to be physically capable of playing with them or doing anything with them. 'I can't do what I used to do, it feels like I'm in the way all the time. 'It's an everyday obstacle in allowing me to be a proper mum and the mum my children deserve.' After collapsing in a nightclub in the late 1990s, Mrs Conner went on to experience falls throughout her twenties, which would often cause her to burn her hands on the hob. 'When I was 19 I collapsed in a club, everyone thought I was on drugs, I reckon that was the first sign that something went was wrong,' she said. 'There were lots of little signs like bad back pains and weak wrists. It was one thing after another. 'I was a manager of a busy shop and spent my life working, so I just thought it was a pulled muscle. 'It was really horrible. I was always having falls and burning myself.' Mrs Conner's sister, Gwen Marcar, 40, added: 'There were definitely symptoms of her condition but just none of us noticed it.' Things then took a turn for the worse in 2011 when Mrs Conner woke with numbness in both her feet and legs. Mrs Conner worries her daughters, who she describes as 'miracles', will one day become her carers. She was diagnosed while undergoing IVF to conceive Megan (right) Mrs Conner is pictured at a family Christmas gathering in Peterhead in 2009. Her sister Gwen Marcar admits there were always signs she was suffering but no one took it all that seriously Despite doctors reassuring Mrs Conner at the time of her diagnosis she would unlikely experience symptoms for 20 years, she already feels 'trapped' in her own body. She is pictured with Megan (right) and Leah on May 21 2015. Mrs Conner tries to stay upbeat for her children But it was not until 2013 when Mrs Conner finally went to a doctor and was referred for an MRI scan. She was then given the crushing diagnosis - at the same time as she was receiving fertility treatment. 'The diagnosis was an "oh my god" moment,' Mrs Conner said. Despite her condition, Mrs Conner tried to remain upbeat and went on to give birth to second daughter Leah, now three. 'I tried to be as positive as possible and tried to adapt to things and overcome them,' she said. Speaking of her daughters, Mrs Conner added: 'They were both a miracle and two girls whom I'm so proud of.' Mrs Conner is pictured recently with Megan (right) and Leah, who she is 'so proud of' Despite her diagnosis, Mrs Conner then had Leah (pictured at one-day-old on May 21 2015) Mrs Conner is pinning all her hopes on a pioneering haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) treatment in Mexico, which may halt the spread of the disease. The treatment promises to rebalance her immune system via a course of chemotherapy. 'Each day is a major struggle. It depends if the body wants to work,' Mrs Conner said. 'I really, really need this treatment. It could put me at serious risk of infection but it will give me a second shot at life. 'As long as it stops the progression of the disease, that's all I want. My condition is really bad at the moment, I even need help to roll over. 'People rarely understand what living with MS is like.' Ms Marcar added: 'If you ask Maggie how she is she'll say she's fine but the truth is she has really deteriorated over the last year. 'She always puts on a brave face but she has got worse. She's an incredibly strong person.' Writing on her fundraising page for HSCT, Ms Marcar claims her sister does not qualify for trial treatment in the UK due to her MS being too advanced. Ms Marcar wrote: 'She is becoming trapped and the future is terrifying. 'As well as the physical, her memory and concentration is greatly affected too. Add to that the extreme fatigue and day to day life is very hard.' The family are raising money towards the treatment, which costs $55,000 for 28 days, as well as flights to Mexico, a full-time carer while there, and any additional therapies or scans. Donate towards Mrs Conner's HSCT treatment here. Mrs Conner is pictured on her graduation day in November 2005 after earning a degree from Aberdeen College in Fashion and Textile Design. She later became a business manager A mother-of-two nearly died 'of a broken heart' after she discovered her partner of seven years had left her for her friend. Helen Ross, now 38, from Canterbury in Kent, was diagnosed with stress-induced cardiomyopathy also known as broken heart syndrome after her former childhood sweetheart announced he was leaving her. Just days later, she collapsed and her heart stopped beating, leaving her needing a pacemaker for seven years afterwards. 'I couldn't believe a break up could affect me physically to the point where I could have died,' she said. Helen Ross, now 38, from Canterbury in Kent, was diagnosed with stress-induced cardiomyopathy also known as broken heart syndrome after her partner left her Ms Ross, pictured recently with her sons Hugo (left) and Henry (right) was diagnosed with broken heart syndrome after her childhood sweetheart left her in 2006 Ms Ross, pictured with her former partner, Andy, admitted she was upset by the split but was shocked when she discovered it had caused physical damage to her heart The former model, who was 26 at the time, admits she was 'inconsolable' at the break down of her relationship but jetted to Orlando, Florida, to throw herself into work to take her mind off things. But her trip was cut short when she collapsed on her first day of a shoot. Her heart stopped again in hospital and doctors diagnosed her with stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Ms Ross now runs her own business making saddle pads for horse riders and lives with her two sons, Hugo, six, and Henry, five, from a separate relationship. She said: 'I had never heard of broken heart syndrome before it happened to me. WHAT IS BROKEN HEART SYNDROME? Broken heart syndrome, known medically as stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo syndrome, happens when the heart fails because of extreme stress. It is usually triggered by an emotional event such as the death of a loved one. The condition affects around 3,000 people a year in the UK, and is more common among women than men. It causes part of the heart to become temporarily enlarged, preventing the organ from pumping blood properly. It can cause it to stop altogether. Although broken heart syndrome is not triggered by disease it isn't linked to blocked arteries or high blood pressure it is believed to be able to cause long-lasting damage by weakening the heart and affecting its pumping motion. Spokesperson for Cardiomyopathy UK, Dr Daniel Hammersley, said: 'Patients who develop this condition generally experience symptoms of chest pain or breathlessness. 'Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases the heart muscle function recovers within a few weeks. It is a rare condition overall. Most frequently it affects people in their 50s or 60s, although it has been seen in other age groups.' Sources: Cardiomyopathy UK and the American Heart Association Advertisement 'I couldn't believe a break up could affect me physically, to the point where I could have died. 'I loved him to bits and could have never pictured myself without him after we'd built a life together - we'd only just bought a house. 'I felt distraught by the break up, but I didn't realise it had actually broken my heart.' Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a reaction by the heart to sudden release of stress hormones, which can be triggered by emotional upset. This causes part of the heart to become temporarily enlarged and struggle to pump blood properly. It may be misdiagnosed as a heart attack because symptoms and test results are similar, but there's no evidence arteries become blocked in the condition. The condition is more common among women than men and is more likely to affect older people, such as people who lose their lifelong spouses. A study last year suggested the condition can cause long-lasting damage to the heart by reducing the strength of the muscle and slowing down its pumping motion. 'I'd only been in Orlando for 24 hours and was feeling physically normal,' she explained, 'but out of the blue I just collapsed there were no warning signs.' Staff on the photo shoot called an ambulance and she was rushed to hospital, where she woke up 30 minutes later. Doctors were dumbfounded and couldn't explain why a healthy young woman had collapsed seemingly randomly, so they kept her in overnight. And when she woke up the next morning she noticed a nurse watching her anxiously. Ms Ross said: 'She asked me how I was feeling and how I had slept, and I told her fine as far as I was concerned, I'd slept like a baby. 'She told me my heart had stopped beating while I was asleep it had flatlined. 'I was shocked and couldn't believe it had happened while I was asleep, I could easily have died. 'But weirdly, by the time the doctors had come rushing in with the defibrillator seconds later, my heart had started up again by itself. They called it pot luck.' Ms Ross (pictured recently with her children) went to university after her ordeal to study equine sciences and has since set up her own business selling saddle pads for horse riders Doctors asked if she had experienced a recent trauma which might have triggered the heart problem and, when she explained the break-up, they diagnosed her with broken heart syndrome. Ms Ross explained: 'I told them how hard the break-up had been for me, how devastated I was and they nodded and immediately said it was to blame. 'I had no idea that this sort of thing could happen, but they explained it isn't entirely uncommon in elderly people who lose their life partner but it was rare in someone so young. 'They thought it had almost certainly happened to me the day before, and was the reason I had collapsed at the photoshoot.' Ms Ross now lives with her two sons, who are from a different relationship, and vowed she would never let herself become so dependent on a man it would be life-threatening to break up with him When back in the UK, Ms Ross was fitted with a pacemaker to regulate her heart, which she had removed in 2014 after no further complications. She went to the University of Lincoln to study equine sciences and has since set up her own business, HRP Equestrian. Ms Ross also founded a charity called Hugs4Lungs, running a 24-hour support line for parents with children who have breathing difficulties. Having had relationships since the ill-fated one 12 years, Ms Ross vowed never to let herself feel so dependent on a man again that she risked her life. She added: 'It taught me to focus on the positives and everything I have going for me, as well as to love myself more. 'I know now I will never let myself get in that position again.' Well-meaning parents are sowing the seeds of alcohol addiction in their children - by allowing them to drink at home while still underage. That's the warning from experts at Ireland's Health Service Executive, who criticised 'progressive' upbringings in a new guide for families, this week. The document, Alcohol and Drugs: A Parents Guide, stresses that elders must exhibit a healthy relationship with drinking to avoid misuse by future generations. Specifically, it insists that early exposure to drinking can create a 'huge' likelihood of full-blown addiction for youngsters in later life. Running the risk: Well-meaning parents are sowing the seeds of alcohol addiction in their children - by allowing them to drink at home while still underage, say experts at Ireland's HSE Speaking at Dublins Cathedral Street on Monday, national clinical Eamon Keenan said that being relaxed about alcohol is misplaced. 'While you might think your child is very sensible and very grounded, and this is a very mature and progressive way to deal with it, the reality is that when the child is outside the home, theyve been given the imprimatur that they can drink,' he says. 'Therefore, theyre more likely to drink alcohol outside the home in a harmful manner.' He added: 'A lot of the people who we would see now would have taken drugs or alcohol at an early age. 'If you start using cannabis before the age of 15 you increase your risk of addiction by four times by the age of 26. So its about delaying that onset of the use of these substances as long as possible.' He added that parents should demonstrate a positive relationship with alcohol so it isn't seen used to medicate stress or emotional upset by their children in adulthood. 'When a parent comes home from work, and says, "Oh what an awful day in work, I must have a gin and tonic now, give me a drink", that doesnt send out a good message to the children because that makes the children think one way of dealing with stress is to take alcohol,' he told The Times. 'These are the sort of messages that we dont want to give our children.' Careful: Parents should demonstrate a positive relationship with alcohol so it isn't seen used to medicate stress or emotional upset by their children in adulthood DO YOU DRINK A GLASS OF WINE EACH DAY? YOU'RE AT HIGHER RISK OF BREAST CANCER Drinking just one small glass of wine a day raises a woman's risk of breast cancer, a major report concluded in May 2017. It means even following safe drinking guidelines of 14 units a week could be enough to endanger health. A review of 119 studies, involving 12million women, found a daily glass of wine raises the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer by 5 per cent and post-menopausal breast cancer by 9 per cent. The authors, from the World Cancer Research Fund, estimated 12,000 cases of breast cancer could be prevented in the UK each year if nobody drank alcohol. They based their calculations on consumption of 10g of alcohol a day, the amount in 100ml of 12 per cent strength wine less than a standard 125ml small glass. That is equivalent to 8.75 units a week, which is well within the 14 a week limit advised by the Government. Advertisement It comes shortly after shocking figures revealed that alcohol deaths in America have soared in the past 10 years - particularly among women. The rate of alcohol-related deaths rocketed 35 percent between 2007 and 2017. It shot up 67 percent for women alone. The data from the University of Washington, first reported by USA Today, comes a year after federal data showed a sharp rise in binge-drinking among women and elderly people. To help combat a similar surge in the UK, the HSE is encouraging parents to get the conversation started with their teenagers and young people about the risks linked to alcohol. Dr Gerry McCarney, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, notes how important it is for parents to make opportunities to have these kinds of conversations and to set boundaries for their children. 'Trying to chat about big things like alcohol or drugs with your teenager can feel very difficult. It is tough to find ways to stay close to your child at a time when it may feel like theyre pushing you away, but feeling loved and connected makes a huge difference to them,' he said. 'Teenagers and young people need their parents to steer them in the right direction, which means having conversations about these topics. This guide will help you to decide whats OK and whats not OK in your family, and how to let your child know. 'Teenagers can put up a good argument, but you still have the right to set the rules and say that you dont want them to drink until they are at least 18.' Read the HSE report in full, here Women in their 70s and beyond should continue to have routine breast screening because their risk of getting the cancer rises with age, scientists have urged. Women in the UK currently stop being invited to routine screening when they reach their 70th birthday, and a leading charity has warned many are 'left in the dark' afterwards. But there is a 'considerable incidence' of breast cancer among women over 75, experts say and almost half of cases in the UK (48 per cent) are in women over 65. Experts say the benefits of screening women over the age of 75 would outweigh any disadvantages because of the scans' life-saving potential. Women between the ages of 50 and 70 are invited to routine mammograms every three years in the UK, but 25 per cent of breast cancer cases happen over the age of 75 a recent study claimed the benefits of continuing screening would outweigh any disadvantages (stock image) Researchers from the Elizabeth Wende Breast Center in New York analysed results from 763,256 mammography exams for their research. They found out of 3,944 patients diagnosed with breast cancer from the scans, 616 of them were among women aged 75 or over 16 per cent. This was despite them making up a 'relatively small percentage' of the scans. And Cancer Research UK data shows 25 per cent of breast cancer cases occur in women over the age of 75. 'Our findings provide important data demonstrating that there is value in screening women over 75 because there is a considerable incidence of breast cancer,' said Dr Stamatia Destounis, who ran the study. The NHS currently invites women to routine screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 70. The American Cancer Society in the US recommends women are screened between the ages of 45 and 75. HOW DOES NHS BREAST CANCER SCREENING WORK? Women in the UK are invited for routine breast screening on the NHS every three years between the ages of 50 and 70. The NHS is trialling extending this to between 47 and 73, and women can continue to have free screening after this age, but it falls to them to arrange it with their doctor or local screening unit. The routine screening is separate from screening done if women or their doctors have any concerns any woman who is worried they might have breast cancer should see a doctor. Women who are at particularly high risk such as those with a family history of breast cancer or a genetic disposition towards the disease may have screening more often or at different ages. Breast screening scans are two X-rays of each breast which are done without clothing covering them. The procedure can be uncomfortable but each scan only takes a few minutes. Results are usually sent to the patient and their GP within a fortnight. Source: NHS Advertisement Once women pass the routine screening age the responsibility falls to them to arrange the mammogram scans with their doctor. 'We regularly hear from women on our helpline who have been left in the dark about routine mammograms continuing past 70, when invitations to attend stop,' said Dr Emma Pennery, clinical director at Breast Cancer Care. 'They think they are no longer at risk of breast cancer. In fact, breast cancer risk increases with age and older women can request to continue routine screening up to any age. 'Screening remains our best tool for detecting breast cancer at the earliest possible stage so its crucial that every woman eligible has all the information to make an empowered decision about whether to attend.' In Dr Destounis's study, as well as one in six of the cancers being diagnosed in women over the age of 75, a majority of them 63 per cent were grade two or three, meaning they are fast-growing and spread easily. These types of cancer need urgent treatment or they can spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening. Dr Destounis added: 'Most of the tumors found in this age group were invasive, and almost all of these patients 98 percent underwent surgery. 'The benefits of screening yearly after age 75 continue to outweigh any minimal risk of additional diagnostic testing.' She recommended women in good health should continue getting screened into their late 70s and beyond. Mammogram scans are crucial to spotting cancer early because they can detect changes in the breast up to two years before a doctor can feel them. The ages at which screening should be offered were called into question when, in 2009, the United States Preventive Services Task Force released guidelines stating there was not enough evidence to assess the benefits of screening over-75s. Not all experts agree routine screening into old age is beneficial. Georgina Hill, from Cancer Research UK, said: 'Breast screening can save lives by detecting breast cancer early, but it will also mean cancers are detected and treated that may never have caused a problem in a womens lifetime. 'Overall, the evidence suggests that for women over 70 these harms outweigh the benefits. 'But women over 70 can still take part in screening if they want to. Its important that all women have clear and reliable information when deciding if they want to take part. 'Although breast cancer risk increases with age, women of all ages should get to know whats normal for their breasts and see their doctor if they notice an unusual or persistent change. 'Its probably not cancer, but if it is, finding it early can make a real difference.' Dr Destounis and her team's findings will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Experts warn the NHS is going into winter 'on the back foot' Wales hasn't hit its target for five years and all boards in N. Ireland are failing This includes 16 English hospitals and three health boards in Scotland 29 of 157 hospital trusts and health boards have been missing targets for a year A fifth of NHS hospital trusts and health boards across the UK have been named and shamed for failing to hit their treatment waiting times for an entire year. A&E, cancer treatment, and non-emergency surgery waiting time targets are being missed and keeping patients waiting all over Britain. And all parts of the UK are failing to hit waiting time targets on a national level and haven't met them for at least 12 months, figures have revealed. The Royal College of Nursing today warned the health service is going into the winter 'on the back foot' because hospitals are already under so much pressure. The NHS has failed to hit any of its national waiting time targets in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for A&E, cancer treatment or non-urgent surgery for more than a year Figures analysed by the BBC have revealed the health service is not only struggling under pressure in the winter but is showing signs of strain all year round. Nationwide, waiting time performance is the worst it has been since the targets were introduced 10 years ago. 'Weve all sadly become used to seeing TV pictures of patients waiting on trolleys in corridors in the cold winter months,' said Dame Donna Kinnair, acting chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). 'But trolley waits have now become a summer problem too. 'This increased strain on the health service this summer will inevitably have a knock-on effect on services this winter, and means that the NHS is going into winter on the back foot.' WHICH HOSPITALS AREN'T TREATING THEIR PATIENTS ON TIME? England Bradford Teaching Hospitals Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals East and North Hertfordshire East Kent Hospitals Guy's and St Thomas' Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Leeds Teaching Hospitals Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Mid Essex Hospital Services Northern Lincolnshire & Goole Plymouth Hospitals Taunton and Somerset The Royal Wolverhampton United Lincolnshire Hospitals University College London Hospitals Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Scotland Forth Valley Greater Glasgow and Clyde Lothian Wales Cardiff and Vale Cwm Taf Anuerin Bevan Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Betsi Cadwaladr Northern Ireland Belfast South Eastern Northern Southern Western Advertisement The health service is judged on the time it takes to treat patients in A&E, how long people have to wait for cancer treatment, and how long they have to wait for non-urgent surgeries like hip and knee replacements. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all set their own targets for their branches of the NHS. And the 29 hospital trusts and health boards failing to treat their patients on time have been named by the BBC. The 16 out of 131 lagging behind in England are Bradford Teaching Hospitals, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, East and North Hertfordshire, East Kent, Guy's and St Thomas', Hull and East Yorkshire, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, Mid Essex Hospital Services, Northern Lincolnshire & Goole, Plymouth, Taunton and Somerset, The Royal Wolverhampton, United Lincolnshire Hospitals, University College London Hospitals, and Worcestershire Acute. In Scotland, the Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Lothian health boards all missed their targets, of a total 14 boards. Five out of seven health boards in Wales missed their targets: Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf, Anuerin Bevan, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Betsi Cadwaladr. And all five of the Northern Irish health trusts missed their targets: Belfast, South Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western. On a national level, the performance has been worse. The last time any British country hit their target was Scotland in August 2017, and Wales has failed to hit any of the three for at least five years. The chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson said: 'The pressure on A&E services and the knock-on impact this is having in other parts of the health and care system, coupled with higher levels of staff vacancies, will put services under significant strain this winter.' Hospital leaders themselves have blamed rising numbers of patients. Chief operation officer of Plymouth Hospitals one of the 16 failing to hit targets pointed the finger at 'ever increasing demand'. While the Royal Wolverhampton's Gwen Nuttall added: 'Our hospitals, along with others regionally and nationally, are incredibly busy.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Despite an extra 840,000 people going to A&E, hardworking NHS staff have seen nearly half a million more people within four hours over the last 12 months than compared to last year. 'We have given the NHS 1.6billion this year to improve performance and cut waiting times, as well as 420million in additional winter support to redevelop A&Es, improve emergency care and help patients get home quicker.' MRI brain scans may be more effective than common clinical tests at predicting a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, irreversible brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills - and the number of people being diagnosed is soaring. But it remains elusive: the disease cannot technically be diagnosed during life (only in an autopsy) and scientists haven't been able to say for certain what a brain destined for Alzheimer's looks like. Currently, doctors are able to spot about 70 percent of cases early using questionnaires to measure cognition, and genetic tests for the gene APOE4, which is linked to 50 percent of Alzheimer's cases (but is also detected in healthy people). However, a new study, published today by a team at Washington University School of Medicine, found tell-tale symptoms that appeared on up to 95 percent of MRI scans of future Alzheimer's patients before the disease set in. The small study of 61 patients at Washington University suggests a technique that, if successful, would be a better alternative to the current questionnaire screening method If the finding can be replicated in a bigger group (this study involved 61 people) it could pave the way to the first ever concrete screening technique for Alzheimer's, which is infecting more and more people at an alarming rate. Though 70 percent sounds like a fairly high accuracy rate for the current tests, Alzheimer's is becoming more and more common. Missing 30 percent of cases is a huge margin of error in the grand scheme of things. The new MRI scans conducted at Washingotn, using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess the condition of the brain's white matter, were found to be between 89 and 95 percent accurate. 'Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the world and is expected to increase globally, and especially in the US, as the population gets older,' the study's lead author Dr Cyrus Raji, assistant professor of radiology at the school's Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, said. 'As we develop new drug therapies and study them in trials, we need to identify individuals who will benefit from these drugs earlier in the course of the disease. 'With DTI you look at the movement of water molecules along white matter tracts, the telephone cables of brain. 'When these tracts are not well connected, cognitive problems can result.' He said DTI provides different measures of white matter integrity, including fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of how well water molecules move along white matter tracts. A higher FA value indicates that water is moving in a more orderly fashion along the tracts, while a lower value means that the tracts are likely damaged. For the new study, Dr Raji and his colleagues set out to quantify differences in DTI in people who decline from normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's dementia compared to controls who do not develop dementia. They performed brain DTI scans on 61 people drawn from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, a major study focusing on the progression of the disease. About half of the patients went on to develop Alzheimer's, and DTI identified 'quantifiable differences' in the brains of those patients. People who developed the disease had lower FA compared with those who didn't, suggesting white matter damage. They also had statistically significant reductions in certain frontal white matter tracts. Dr Raji said: 'DTI performed very well compared to other clinical measures. 'Using FA values and other associated global metrics of white matter integrity, we were able to achieve 89 percent accuracy in predicting who would go onto develop Alzheimer's disease. The Mini-mental State Examination and APOE4 gene testing have accuracy rates of about 70 to 71 percent.' The researchers conducted a more detailed analysis of the white matter tracts in about 40 of the study participants. Dr Raji said that, among those patients, the technique achieved 95 percent accuracy. He said many people already receive MRI as part of their care, so DTI could add 'significant value' to the exam without substantially increasing the costs. Dr Raji said MRI measures of white matter integrity could speed interventions that slow the course of the disease or even delay its onset. He added: 'Research shows that Alzheimer's disease risk can be reduced by addressing modifiable risk factors like obesity and diabetes. 'With early detection, we can enact lifestyle interventions and enlist volunteers into drug trials earlier.' The findings are due to be presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago next week. Thirty-three private school students in North Carolina now have chickenpox in the biggest outbreak to hit the state since the vaccine was invented in 1995. Another five cases were reported this week at Asheville Waldorf School, which has been trying to quarantine non-infected, unvaccinated children since late October. In a statement, school directors said it has provided information about the outbreak to the health department as they work to contain the infections. North Carolina's rate of unvaccinated children doubled between 2012 and 2016 due to easy exemption rules for religious reasons. Asheville Waldorf School now has 33 cases of chickenpox, up from 13 earlier this month. North Carolina's rate of unvaccinated children doubled between 2012 and 2016 due to easy exemption rules (file image) To obtain a medical exemption, parents need a doctor to prove that their child is immunocompromised and would be harmed by the vaccine, and the state has to approve their application to prove that. However, religious exemption is much simpler. There is no oversight. The parent need only write a letter to the school claiming religious beliefs, and their child is exempt. According to an article North Carolina's The News & Observer last year, the rate of children exempted for medical reasons remains low (just 180 kids). But religious exemptions have risen dramatically, from 871 in 2012 to 2,073 in 2016. The lack of approval process means 'you dont even have to believe in God,' Asheville-based lawyer Alan Phillips told the newspaper. Trying to bring the latest outbreak under control, Buncombe County Medical Director Dr Jennifer Mullendore said students who can't provide proof of vaccination against chickenpox have been quarantined for 21 days. One of the infected children attends a different school. Asheville Waldorf, a private school, opened in 2009, first with the name Azalea Mountain School. It serves students from nursery school age to Grade 6, with approximately 130 students, for up to $8,900 a year. 'Asheville Waldorf School is committed to protecting the health and safety of our community,' the school said in a statement. The price of bitcoin plunged to a 13 month-low, leaving many punters who jumped onto the crytocurrency bandwagon last winter sitting on substantial a paper loss. Billions of dollars have been wiped from the value of the original and best known cryptocurrency in the past week alone, having tumbled by over 30 per cent to $4,450. The coin hasn't traded under $5,000 since early October last year when it reached the milestone amid its meteoric run-up to an all-time of $19,343 just before Christmas. Until last Wednesday, bitcoin had managed to maintain a two month period of relative stability relatively trading between the $6,000 and $7,000 Many may have invested in the coin in hope of make some serious money before it was too late, but those who bought at that peak are now sitting on a 77 per cent loss - and that's before investment fees are taken into account. To put this into context, it means a 10,000 investment in bitcoin on 17 December 2017 would now be worth just 2,300. It is not just bitcoin that has seen prices nosedive. Other cryptocurrencies like ethereum, bitcoin cash and litecoin have tumbled by 53 per cent, 54 per cent and 33 per cent to $134, $244 and $33 respectively. The jury is out over the cause of the latest tumble in crytocurrency market, but much of the speculation has focused on bitcoin cash - an offshoot of bitcoin - splitting into two separate currencies that are now effectively in competition with each other on 15 November. Bitcoin cash is now known as bitcoin ABC and the new 'fork' is called bitcoin SV. Another reason being touted is the recent enforcement by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission - America's financial watchdog - against startup cryptocurrency companies Paragon and AirFox for unregistered sales of securities. Both have been ordered to repay millions of dollars in initial coin offering revenues to investors, as well as pay a civil money penalty of $250,000 (195,000). Highs and lows: Bitcoin has fallen to a 13 month low - down from a peak of $19,343 in mid-December last year Until last Wednesday, bitcoin had managed to maintain a two month period of relative stability relatively trading between the $6,000 and $7,000. But the recent fall will be grist to the mill for those who think that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can't be classed as credible investments. Ben Yearsley of Shore Financial planning said: 'Quite simply it isnt an investment proposition. It never has been. Its pure speculation. 'Im not a fan of cryptocurrencies as they are for short term speculating and trading and not for proper investors.' Mati Greenspan, analyst at online broker eToro, disagrees. He said: 'In the same way previous cycles have not signalled the end for broader markets, these price movements dont signal the end for cryptoassets. 'Were still very much at the beginning of the crypto journey. At this stage, volatility is to be expected.' He added: 'What were seeing now are the after-effects of the unprecedented rise of bitcoin and other cryptoassets seen in 2017. This year is simply a retracement of that. 'The same is happening in broader markets as well where tech stocks, for example, are following a similar pattern. 'As with all markets, if prices reach levels that are higher than can be justified they need to pull back. These cycles can sometimes be accentuated in the crypto market due to the riskier nature of this nascent industry.' A glamorous single mother claims she was made pregnant by the polo-playing Old Etonian son of Lincoln Cathedral's lay Canon who then walked out on her at the hospital scan and now refuses to pay child support. Georgina David said she was abandoned by former partner, James Reeve, and is struggling to bring up their child alone despite his family owning an 18th Century 20-bedroom stately home set among 3000-acres of countryside and owning a polo club. Mr Reeve's mother, Henrietta, was one of nine new canons collated and installed at Lincoln Cathedral in February. With a potential scandal brewing, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Christopher Lowson, launched an investigation into the matter after being warned it could put his reputation and that of his diocese 'in jeopardy'. Georgina David, 34, is pictured with her baby son, Henry. Henry's father is the old Etonian James Reeve, who lives in his family's 20-bedroom stately home in Lincolnshire, worth 5m Ms David, a legal aide, says that Mr Reeve (pictured), the son of Lincoln Cathedral's lay Canon, was initially but then left her in the hospital when they went for their first scan Ms David (pictured during her pregnancy) says the last time she saw Mr Reeve, 37, was when he abandoned her at the ultrasound. His family spokesman said he had no intention of having children with Ms David and accused her of lying to him about being on the contraceptive pill Mr Reeve is yet to meet his baby son Henry (pictured), who was born in March. His mother Ms David says she just wants her former partner to acknowledge and celebrate the little boy's life The Department for Work and Pensions, which includes the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), are also monitoring the case after being contacted by Ms David's local MP, who is supporting her claims. Speaking to MailOnline, Ms David, who lives in a rented flat in Chelsea, West London, said: 'We've just been left to fend for ourselves and it's been a nightmare. 'I have hardly any money, we are only managing to survive as it is thanks to financial help from my family, who are helping me pay the bills, yet he lives in a huge stately home and owns his own polo club. 'He's also a direct descendant from Edward III apparently. I would have expected more honourable behaviour coming from such nobility. The 34-year-old legal aide said she has suffered Alopecia and has endured sustained stress and anxiety while attempting to care for her young son alone. She said that she and Mr Reeve first met on Facebook but eventually started a six-month relationship. She fell pregnant last summer and gave birth to a baby boy, Henry, in March this year but says Mr Reeve has not once seen his son. 'We were seeing each other for about six months when I fell pregnant by accident last summer. 'He took the news well initially and after talking it over we decided that at our age if it didn't happen for us now it might never happen so we decided to keep the baby. Speaking to MailOnline, Ms David (pictured) who lives in a rented flat in Chelsea and receives no financial support, said: 'We've just been left to fend for ourselves and it's been a nightmare' Ms David's local vicar, Rev Prebendary Dr Brian Leathard felt compelled to write to the Bishop of Lincoln, who launched an investigation. Her case has been taken up by her MP Greg Hands, said he will raising Ms David's case with Justin Tomlinson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Maintenance Despite his family's vast wealth, Mr Reeve (left), who is close to his mother Henrietta, a lay Canon at Lincoln Cathedral (right), he is not required to give his former partner any financial support for their son because Mr Reeve claims to not have a current salary and says he is only given a modest income from his family as he runs their polo club in Lincolshire Mr Reeve lives in his family's home Leadenham House (pictured), a sprawling estate built in 1790, worth at least 5m which boasts stunning views over the surrounding Lincolnshire countryside that has been in their family for generations 'At first James was very supportive and stood by me when I was told I had an ectopic pregnancy and later when I was wrongly diagnosed with a miscarriage. 'That all changed though a few months in. He began to cool on the idea of being a father and abandoned me when we went for a scan and blood test. 'I've no idea why, maybe it all became too real for him and it was too much to take. 'But I'm the one whose now bringing up our son and he should pay his fair share. 'It's not me that I feel for, it's Henry. He's his son and the fact that he's not bothered to even meet him is heartbreaking.' Ms David says she is being crippled financially because she cannot afford child care to go back to work. Her local vicar, Reverend Prebendary Dr Brian Leathard, Rector of Chelsea, felt compelled to write to the Bishop of Lincoln, who runs the diocese. In the letter, Rev Leathard says he wishes to 'institute a formal complaint in respect of a pastorally unacceptable situation, which has clear safeguarding implications and, if proven, has potential to place Lincoln's reputational position in jeopardy'. Mr Reeve's mother, Henrietta, was one of nine new canons collated and installed at Lincoln Cathedral in February. He adds: 'James, early in the pregnancy accompanied Georgie to a hospital appointment and during the appointment left his pregnant partner in the hospital, as I understand, never seeing her again. 'James has never visited his son, though I understand he does not dispute parentage. 'Georgie reports that her sole wish is for her son with James to be acknowledged by the family, to rejoice in a precious new human life. 'I think it is very likely that Georgie will seek the legal and financial support to which she is entitled from James Reeve and I fear for the repute of one of Lincolns' Lay Canons should this matter burst into the public realm.' The Tory MP for Chelsea and Fulham, Greg Hands, said he will raising Ms David's case with Justin Tomlinson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Maintenance. The CMS calculates payment costs from declared annual income but does not currently take into consideration a person's assets. Mr Reeve claims to not have a current salary and says he is only given a modest income from his family. However the Reeves own Leadenham House, a sprawling estate built in 1790, worth at least 5m which boasts stunning views over the surrounding Lincolnshire countryside that has been in their family for generations. They also own the three floor Grade II-listed High House in Leadenham, worth 700,000 and the Leadenham Polo Club and Manor House, which can be hired out as a wedding venue or for stag and hen parties. The club also runs 200-a-head 'Polo Weekends' and sells merchandise, such as polo shirts, hoodies and jackets, for between 45 and 100. Ms David, who met Mr Reeve on Facebook and dated him for six months before falling pregnant, says she is financially crippled because she can't afford child care to go back to work Ms David, a legal aide, pictured during happier times, said she has suffered Alopecia and endured sustained stress and anxiety while attempting to care for her young son alone A family spokesman for Mr Reeve said he only ever wanted a casual relationship and believes Ms David (pictured with their son) lied when she told him she was taking the contraceptive pill Mr Hands has taken umbrage to the fact that an individual's assets are not currently included when calculating the amount of child maintenance owed. Ms David believes that her former partner has declared no earnings to HMRC because his polo club is a not-for-profit organisation Mr Reeve and his mother declined to discuss the matter when contacted by MailOnline. However a family spokesman said Mr Reeve only ever wanted a casual relationship and believes Ms David lied when she told him she was taking the contraceptive pill. The spokesman added: 'Mr Reeve has cooperated fully with the CMS. 'He paid Ms David the amount assessed by the CMS based on their initial estimate. 'When the CMS carried out a further review however it was clear that he lacked a current salary and was only in receipt of a modest income from his family. 'The CMS then assessed him as being unable to pay any maintenance at the current time. Mr Reeve continues to cooperate with the CMS. 'Ms David must have been fully aware of the assessments made and would have had money paid into her account during the first assessment.' A spokesman for the Bishop of Lincoln confirmed he was asked to intervene personally. He said: 'The matter was referred to the Bishop of Lincoln who asked for an investigation. The conclusion was that this is a private matter for the two parents of the child.' The DWP said of the case that they are 'committed to doing all we can to recover child maintenance payments that are owed.' A spokesman said: 'Legislation has recently passed through Parliament that will help tackle issues around self-employment and enable us to take into account a person's assets including property, savings and investments as well as their self-declared income.' Fourteen giant bronze sculptures by British artist Damien Hirst graphically charting the moment of conception to birth greet patients arriving at an 6billion 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 46ft statue 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. The Miraculous Journey is an art installation by artist Damien Hirst outside the Sidra Medical & Research Centre in Doha 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 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 it's becoming iconic. 'We are not expecting everyone to like them. We are not expecting everyone to understand them. 'This is why they are there to actually create this element of debate, this element of thinking.' 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. The monumental work is the centrepiece of an impressive modern art collection at the Sidra Medicine Hospital The sculptures were originally unveiled in October 2013 but then covered from public view until recent weeks 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. The Hirst sculptures are the centrepiece of an impressive modern art collection. Pictured is Damien Hirst (left) and Francois Pinault 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. Staff at the body responsible for blocking Iceland's Christmas advert have faced a torrent of abuse leaving staff 'feeling threatened', their boss has revealed. Pictures of employees were being passed around on Twitter, which led to fears for their safety. The company's Facebook has also been closed indefinitely. The commercial, voiced by actress Emma Thompson and produced by Greenpeace, features cartoon orangutan Rang-tan. The ad highlights the destruction of his rainforest home by palm oil production. Clearcast checks adverts against the UK broadcast advertising code to ensure they follow the rules. It told Iceland's ad agency last month it could not clear the commercial. This was because Greenpeace had made the ad and so it 'fell foul of the rule on political advertisers'. Staff at the company responsible for blocking Iceland's Christmas advert have faced a torrent of abuse since the decision, their boss has revealed In the aftermath of the decision, Clearcast received a 'deluge of contact', managing director Chris Mundy stated in a blog post. He said: 'Unfortunately, this included a substantial amount of abuse and resulted in the team feeling threatened. 'We had to close our switchboard and subsequently took pictures of our team off the website (they had been circulating on Twitter).' The company's Facebook page has been taken down entirely and will not return, he added. A Philippines Airlines flight attendant has told how she went above and beyond her call of duty when she offered to breastfeed a passenger's infant who was wailing from hunger earlier this month. In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV, 24-year-old Patrisha Organo, who has a nine-month-old daughter, said she had no choice but to help another mother in need after the young mom discovered she did not bring enough formula to feed her baby. 'We were just a few minutes into the 90-minute flight, and had just reached 10,000 feet when I heard the baby began to cry,' Organo said. 'As the mother of a nine-month-old, I know the difference between a "fussy" cry and one that means "I'm in distress." As soon as the seat belt sign went off, I approached the mother to ask if there was anything I could do to help.' Patrisha Organo, 24, from Manila, breastfed a stranger's crying infant after the baby's mom discovered she did not pack enough formula for the flight Organo, who has a nine-month-old daughter named Jade, said she felt like she had no choice but to help another mom in need after the infant started wailing just a few minutes into the flight 'As an employee of Philippines Airlines, we are encouraged by our company to make sure passengers know that Filipino people have caring hearts. 'So it's our primary job not just to see to the general needs of our passengers, but to also be caring, compassionate and aware of all their needs. 'The mother was traveling alone and out of necessity she had to arrive at the airport at 9pm, even though the flight was not due to depart until 5am the following morning. 'She misjudged the amount of formula she would need and only realized she was in trouble when the baby began to wail.' The flight took place on November 6, but Organo did not disclose where it originated nor its destination to protect the mother and baby's identity. Organo, who has been a flight attendant for the past four years, says she did her best to help comfort the mother and child, but nothing seemed to work. It was then she offered to breastfeed the stranger's hungry baby. 'I informed my line administrator who was on board of the dilemma and when I suggested I breastfeed the child myself, she didn't hesitate in giving me permission,' says Organo. 'It was an emergency situation and with no formula on board, and a wailing infant, it was the right thing to do.' Organo says she took the baby and her mother to the galley of the aircraft where she proceeded to breastfeed. 'The other passengers had no idea what was happening,' she said. 'It was all done very privately with just me, the line administrator, the mother and the baby sharing the experience.' She says Philippines Airlines encourage employees to 'make sure passengers know that Filipino people have caring hearts' Organo is pictured with her own daughter, Jade, and husband Orson. Because her job requires her to be away from her baby for days at a time, she says she always brings her breast pumping kit with her at work When asked if the baby's mother hesitated at all to allow a stranger to nurse her child, Organo responded: 'There was no hesitation from the child's desperate mother at all. In fact she was very thankful and relieved, and to her utter joy once the baby was fed, she slept soundly until it was time to deplane. 'I know there are people who might worry about allowing a total stranger to nurse their child because the wet- nurse might not be healthy, or drug free. 'But as a flight attendant, I am required to undergo annual physical checkups that insure I am able to fly. I am also breastfeeding my own baby which makes me very aware of my responsibility to take care of my body and remain healthy. 'As a working mother I must be away from my daughter for days at a time, I always bring my breast pumping kit with me whenever I leave for work. 'The kit includes a breast pump, milk bags, cooler bags and other cleaning equipment so I am able to keep my milk and bring it home to my daughter. I plan to keep nursing my own little girl as long as she needs my milk. 'Suffice to say that although I haven't nursed another baby in flight, this is not the first time I've donated my milk to a baby other than mine. 'My husband is very supportive and he was happy I could help the young mother and her child. 'During the early days when I would become frustrated with trying to breastfeed, it was my husband Orson who encouraged me to keep going. 'My company was also very supportive,' she said. 'I actually got a recognition from them acknowledging what I did.' 'Sharing such an intimate experience with another woman and her baby was very rewarding,' says Organo. 'The mother and I exchanged information and we are still in touch. In fact she's invited me to give her family a visit.' A federal judge barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Nov. 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border between official ports of entry would be ineligible for asylum. As the first of several caravans of migrants have started arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump said an asylum ban was necessary to stop what he's attacked as a national security threat. But in his ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar agreed with legal groups that immediately sued, arguing that U.S. immigration law clearly allows someone to seek asylum even if they enter the country between official ports of entry. 'Whatever the scope of the President's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden,' said Tigar, a nominee of former President Barack Obama. President Donald Trump, pictured at Monday's ceremony receiving the White House Christmas tree, had ordered the Homeland Security Department to stop accepting asylum claims from people who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally A federal judge ruled Monday evening that the migrants streaming north from Central America in a large caravan can't be denied the chance to claim asylum no matter how or where they enter the U.S. Regular parts of entry like this one between Tijuana, Mexico and San Ysidro, California, are often traffic jams, and on Monday DHS closed it temporarily to improve the security barriers Migrants children, who are part of the Central American caravan, vie for candy tossed out to them by a social worker at a shelter in Tijuana on Tuesday The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on the ruling, which will remain in effect for one month barring an appeal. In issuing the ban, Trump used the same powers he used last year to impose a travel ban that was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco sided with suing immigrant-rights groups who said Congress was explicit when it wrote asylum laws to encompass everyone If enforced, the ban would potentially make it harder for thousands of people to avoid deportation. DHS estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. But Tigar's ruling notes that federal law says someone may seek asylum if they have arrived in the United States, 'whether or not at a designated port of arrival.' 'Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry,' said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights, which sued the government alongside the American Civil Liberties Union. 'It couldn't be clearer.' Around 3,000 people from the first of the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that it closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the San Ysidro crossing. It has also installed movable, wire-topped barriers, apparently to stop a potential mass rush of people. As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Trump's order went into effect, according to DHS, which oversees Customs and Border Protection. U.S. border inspectors are processing only about 100 asylum claims a day at Tijuana's main crossing to San Diego People lined up Monday to cross into the United States from Tijuana, including some who would apply for permanent asylum; now those who cross into the country illegally elsewhere will be able to make the same claim Officials didn't say whether those people's cases were still progressing through other, more difficult avenues left to them after the proclamation. DHS has said it wants asylum seekers at the southern border to appear at an official border crossing. But many border crossings such as San Ysidro already have long wait times. People are often forced to wait in shelters or outdoor camps on the Mexican side, sometimes for weeks. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because 'they're in real danger,' either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. 'We don't condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum,' he said. Decade-high petrol prices and Australia's supermarket duopoly of Coles and Woolworths could soon come under the microscope of a royal commission. Federal politicians Kevin Hogan, Llew O'Brien and George Christensen are leading the push to have pressure applied to two of the biggest issues facing consumers. The Queensland Nationals trio are planning to put a notice of motion before parliament next week to bring on the royal commission, The Courier-Mail reported. A royal commission could be called into Australia's petrol prices and the country's supermarket duopoly if three Queensland politicians get their way (stock image) Mr Hogan said he had heard enough concerns from struggling farmers to warrant the royal commission. 'The allegations of misuse of market power, unconscionable conduct and the use o unfair contract terms must be investigated by a royal commission. With petrol retailing, I am sick of regional and country retail petrol prices being higher than city prices,' Mr Hogan said. Labor is reportedly expected to support the motion, with the trio also banking on the support of Queensland politician Bob Katter. Mr O'Brien last month called for a royal commission into the supermarket giants after slamming them for failing to apply a 10-cent 'drought levy' to all milk brands. 'In the same way we're having a royal commission into misconduct by the banks, the evidence is mounting for a royal commission into the predatory purchasing practices and pricing policies by the supermarket giants that are destroying farmers,' Mr O'Brien had told parliament. Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Michael McCormack at the time said he was open to discussions about a royal commission focusing on the supermarkets. 'We'll see about that, we'll discuss that obviously in our party room, and we'll reach a position,' Mr McCormack had said. 'I have to say Coles and Woolies do provide a lot of support for those farmers, many of whom would just be trading on farmer's markets in their local towns.' Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has previously said he was open to discussions about a royal commission focusing on Australia's supermarket giants (stock image) But Mr McCormack noted the supermarket giants 'provide a lot of support for... farmers' (stock image) Petrol prices recently hit a 10-year high across Australia, with average unleaded pump prices soaring to 160.5 cents a litre in October, the highest since July 2008. Sydney motorists were the worst hit, forced to fork out $1.75 a litre for unleaded fuel. There is currently a banking royal commission underway, which is costing taxpayers about $65million. Prime Minister Scott Morrison also announced a royal commission into Australia's aged care system in September. The cost of that royal commission is not yet known. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a Woolworths spokesperson said: 'Supplier partnerships of mutual trust are critical to our ability to meet the needs of our customers and we work hard to foster positive relationships. 'We're strong advocates for the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct and believe it's working well across industry. 'The Federal Government recently asked Graeme Samuel to conduct an independent review into the effectiveness of the Code. 'It was pleasing to see his final report recognise the improvement in our relationships with suppliers since the Code came into effect in 2015.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Coles for comment. The Chipotle manager who was controversially fired and called a racist for asking a serial dine-and-dasher to pay before ordering has revealed she has 'officially' been offered her job back after thousands rallied behind her. Dominique Marie Moran, 23, lost her job at the Chipotle restaurant in St Paul, Minnesota on Friday after a 21-year-old customer accused her of racial stereotyping. She exclusively told DailyMail.com: Im not sure if Im going to take the [job] offer yet. I feel grateful but at the same time I still have questions. I feel like Ive really been put on blast, so to speak. The circumstances were not how it looked. It looked like a very hateful thing and it was not that way. She said that she was devastated to have been painted as a racist. I feel Im a genuine person and helpful, I thrive from making people happy. I have nothing to hide. Im not a racist, I know who I am. No one asked my side of the story and I feel I deserve to be heard. People are showing me a lot of support and Im very grateful. Scroll down for video Dominique Moran was controversially fired by Chipotle in St Paul, Minnesota, on Friday after a 21-year-old customer accused her of racial stereotyping Masaud Ali had posted a video on Twitter of the incident on Thursday, saying Dominique refused to serve him and his four black friends and asked them to prove they could pay before taking their order. His post sparked a furious backlash against the manager and Chipotle. But it later emerged that he had posted a series of tweets about dining and dashing and stealing from the restaurant chain. 'Aye man i think chipotle catchin up to us fam. should we change locations and yoooooo what should we do about the other thang,' read a since-deleted post on Ali's account from 2016. 'Dine and dash is forever interesting,' Ali wrote in another 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.' In one post, he also discussed stealing Tabasco bottles from Chipotle and in another it read: 'Guys we're borrowing food... that's it. And if the lady tries to stop you at the door don't hesitate to truck the sh*t out of that b***h.' Ali has since deleted all of these posts. Dominique moved to Minnesota from her home in Long Beach, California, after she was offered a softball scholarship to attend Dakota County Technical College. She studied early childhood education but took a job as a classroom assistant for high-school students with special needs. After she was fired, Dominique shared surveillance footage on Twitter of one of the men leaning over the counter to confront her and film the ordeal She had also worked on and off at Chipotle since 2013. I came back [to Chipotle] in late 2016 and thats when I decided I was going to take it very seriously. I went to school to be a teacher but I was taking a break from the classroom. Chipotle is a really great environment to teach people and grow a team, so I had decided that I wanted to become a general manager. Thats what I was working towards. The 23-year-old explained the context for what happened prior to Masaud posting the video to social media. Dominique said that the group were regulars at the Grant Avenue store and usually arrived near closing time. They had also sometimes not paid for their food and this happened again last Tuesday. Dominique said: I recognized two of the guys and my crew members recognized them as well. The crew expressed to me that they were very frustrated because most of the time, they will hand over a card that gets declined and then they will just leave. That happened on Tuesday. Two of their cards got declined. I said to the guy, Im going to take care of it, dont worry about it but make sure you can pay for it next time. They came in again on Thursday at the same time. I recognized two of them and I double-checked the cameras to be sure. He was expecting me to say something and I said something jokingly, but he took it to a whole different extent. I guess he saw an opportunity and he ran with it. I shouldnt have made a joke, but all I said was: Oh youre going to pay this time? He had the camera[phone] up but I thought he was joking. And then I said as a joke, Oh we have cameras in here too and thats when I realized they all had cameras out. At that point, I decided we couldnt serve them if they were all filming us. Dominique has repeatedly thanked supporters and previous customers who have come out in her defense to describe her as 'hard-working', 'respectful' and 'sweet' Dominique had a day off on Friday and had turned off her phone on Thursday night after work because she was stressed and worn out by what had happened in the store. She said: I woke up around noon, plugged my phone in and I had all these voicemails from my managers telling me to call them right away because the story had really blown up. I had no idea what was happening. Then reality hit. They sent over an area manager and we met up at a coffee shop. She asked me how I was feeling and she said, You know why Im here. I told the manager from Chipotle that I wanted to apologize to the guys and to the company. I wanted the manager to please let the guys know thats not my character and thats not who I am. Im an apologetic person. She didnt say the words youre fired but that was what it was. The reason was because I had denied service. Dominique also shared a petition and GoFundMe page created on her behalf by strangers in the wake of the incident Dominique said that she doesnt spend much time on social media so it took her a while to realize that the video clip of her had gone viral. On Saturday, I got a phone call from my mom in California. She said people were sending her the video and she was really distressed and upset. I told her I hadnt seen the video but I stood up for myself. I know that I wasnt trying to hurt anybody or profile anybody, the scene escalated and thats why I refused service. I knew we had to wait it out and the truth would come out. A few hours later my mom told me that people were exposing him on social media for his tweets and were siding with me. I had no idea he was posting that kind of thing but I had felt like I had no proof. The truth prevailed and it didnt take much to get it out. So many people have been motivating me to speak my mind and explain that Im not the way I was portrayed at all. I feel bad for the Chipotle team at Grant Avenue. Ill be okay. Fear has crossed my mind, its inevitable but Im trying to keep my cool. Its been a mixture of emotions. I went from being hurt to scared. After firing Dominique on Friday, Chipotle has now offered her the job back but have not apologized, she said. I really loved my job. Ive been trying not to think about it. Masaud Ali had posted a video on Twitter (left) of the incident on Thursday, saying Dominique (right) refused to serve him and his four black friends and asked them to prove they could pay before taking their order They did offer me my job back but it is hurtful because Ive put so much time and dedication into it. I worked hard and my team will remember that. I do feel like Ive got a lot to give. Dominique said that most of her wages went to paying off her student loans and that she had been saving money to perhaps one day have her own restaurant. I dont have any family in Minnesota so my family really was my Chipotle family. That was my life honestly. I worked a lot but I was very passionate about it and wanted to grow the store. Dominique, who regularly attends River Valley Church in the St Paul area, said: I consider myself a Christian and I believe in Jesus Christ, I love to talk about that. If you had asked me before this how long I was going to be at Chipotle, I would have said a long time but now Im curious to see what God has in store. The video began with Dominique (pictured above) telling the men that they must pay 'because you never have money when you come in here'. Ali insisted that he was targeted because of his race She said that none of those who had led to her losing her job have apologized but that she forgave them. It makes me feel really sick because they did this all with a smile. I forgive them but I only hope that they will learn from it. Dominique said that the experience has given her a fear of social media. It makes me feel sick because Im not really on social media and I got all this attention. This story blew up without any back story and its really scary. How many stories are out there are of people being judged, threatened and being called the ugliest of names but people dont understand what led up to it? To so easily be able to say, This womans a racist when you know that youve stolen from this business. It also makes me afraid for the people who are watching it online and who are eating it up. Its too easy just to put something out there. Its really scary I dont think Ill ever want to be on social media again after this. She added: I appreciate the people who stood up and said, something doesnt look right here. Ask my people, check my records I am not a racist. Im grateful for the support but if people want to hate thats okay too. Dominque said that she now hopes to go back to school to become an English Literature teacher. After she was fired, Dominique shared surveillance footage on Twitter of one of the men leaning over the counter to confront her and film the ordeal. She has also repeatedly thanked supporters and previous customers who have come out in her defense to describe her as 'hard-working', 'respectful' and 'sweet'. She also shared a petition and GoFundMe page created on her behalf by strangers in the wake of the incident. 'Can't thank you enough for the kind words, positive vibes, prayers and warm thoughts,' she tweeted on Sunday. A series of tweets have since emerged showing the alleged victims boasting about 'dining and dashing' Chipotle had said on Sunday that they were reconsidering its decision to fire her after receiving more information about the incident that warrants additional investigation. 'Our actions were based on the facts known to us immediately after the incident, including video footage, social media posts and conversations with the customer, manager, and our employees,' Chipotle spokeswoman Laurie Schalow said. 'We now have additional information which needs to be investigated further. We want to do the right thing, so after further investigation we will re-train and re-hire if the facts warrant it.' The company said it was aware of reports about since-deleted tweets from Ali's account between 2014 and 2016 that included jokes about dining and dashing when it decided to fire Dominique. Chipotle said the decision to re-evaluate the situation wasn't influenced by the tweets and they have not provided details about the new information. The whole ordeal escalated after Masaud Ali claimed he had been a target of racism after saying he was refused service at the restaurant on Thursday. 'Can a group of young well established African American get a bite to eat after a long workout session. @ChipotleTweets??' he wrote in a tweet alongside a video of the confrontation. The video begins with Dominique telling the men that they must pay 'because you never have money when you come in here'. Ali insisted that he was targeted because of his race. '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. Video of the confrontation had been seen millions of times since it was posted Friday. 'Dine and dash is forever interesting,' Ali wrote in another since-deleted tweet from July 2015 Prior to the tweets emerging, Chipotle on Saturday released a statement saying: 'What happened here is not how our employees should treat our customer. '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. '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.' Advertisement Australia is home to some of the most jaw-dropping islands in the world. And now, Australians have the chance to snap up their own slice of paradise. From the pristine white-sanded beaches of the Whitsundays to the rugged Mornington Peninsula - these are the Australian islands you can purchase right now. Marble Island The Duke Group, QLD Crystal clear: Sitting pretty in the waters of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Marble Island (pictured) boasts golden sandy beaches and crystal-clear water which harbours some of the worlds most beautiful tropical fish Sitting pretty on the waters of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around 20km off the Capricorn Coast, and halfway between Rockhampton and Mackay, this island boasts golden sandy beaches and crystal-clear water on your door step. Owners can snorkel and find some of the world's most beautiful tropical fish right in their very own backyard. There's already a charming cottage with its own beach nestled within the island and it's all ready to be occupied now. Marble Island is priced at $15 million, which may seem pricey, but when you get nearby Hunter and Tynemouth islands thrown into the deal, it's practically a bargain. Paradise: Owners can snorkel and find some of the world's most beautiful tropical fish right in their very own backyard. Three islands for the price of one: Hunter Island and Tynemouth Island are thrown into the deal, if you have a spare $15 million laying around Sandstone Island Bittern, VIC Located just 600m off Victoria's highly sought after Mornington Peninsula, this island combines amazing views across Western Port to the French and Philip islands and is just 80km from Melbourne's CBD - so you can still have absolute privacy but be close to the city. The island features two private island beaches and a mooring area for yachts and larger boats. With its enticing, easy-to-access location, the island could be suited as an exclusive tourist destination - with hard-to-beat fishing opportunities. Or if you just wanted an escape from the big city, you can purchase this property and use it for your own private getaway. Sandstone Island is being sold by private auction. Off-grid: Sandstone Island (pictured) combines amazing views of Western Port while being only 80km away from Melbourne's CBD The island features two private island beaches and a mooring area for yachts and larger boats Poole Island Whitsundays, QLD Its location on one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef, already makes it one of the most enviable islands on this list. But it's the rarity of the opportunity to own this island that makes it truly sing; it's on the market for the first time in 40 years. Surrounded by the Coral Sea, the 20 hectare island features two houses, a handmade rock pool and a 700ft runway so you can jet in and out easily. The island is listed at a bargain price of $1.2 million, which is around the average price of Sydney property. But you better be quick, the island must be sold by Christmas. Surrounded by the Coral Sea, Poole Island (pictured) features two houses, a handmade rock pool and a 700ft runway so you can jet in and out easily A paedophile with over 7000 horror images on his computer has avoided jail time after claiming he had an addiction to child pornography. Mitchell Rowland Cornell, 24, had his laptop seized by police after they raided his home in Buderim, Queensland, in August 2017. Officers found four videos and thousands of images of child abuse. The files found in Cornell's computer contained sickening phrases such as 'lick me please' and 'rape me'. Mitchelle Rowland Cornell had over 7000 child porn images seized on his laptop (stock image) The images included infants with semen on them and young teenagers being penetrated, reports Sunshine Coast Daily. Cornell, who said he was attracted to children, confessed he would masturbate when looking at the images. He admitted to having sexualised conversations with children online but stopped because 'it was too much effort'. He had a folder titled his 'favourite' images but they were deleted when police began investigating his case. Cornell pleaded guilty in Maroochydore District Court to distributing, soliciting and possessing child exploitation material between January 2013 and August 2017. A majority of the child pornography images depicted sexual activity between children or solo masturbation by a child, referred to as category two. Other images fell under the category of penetrative sexual activity between adults and children (category four), sadism or bestiality (category five) and animated or virtual porn (category six). Cornell, who was diagnosed with autism according to his defence barrister, has walked free from court Defence barrister Simon Lewis wrote a report to the court statingCornell's sexual attraction towards children began when he was 14 but there was 'no evidence he poses a risk to children'. Mr Lewis said Cornell was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and paedophilic disorder by a psychologist. The barrister added Cornell's autism meant his understanding of right and wrong was 'severely disrupted'. Judge Gary Long sentenced Cornell to 18 months in jail, suspended immediately for an operational period of three years. One popular Australian holiday hotspot has come up with an innovative solution to its growing number of empty properties, by offering them up to families for free. Japan has an estimated 10 million empty homes, and its 'Akiya' scheme is designed to address this problem while helping young families to get into the property market. 'Akiya' means 'vacant' or 'abandoned' in Japanese, and the properties tend to be in rural areas as regional areas of the country see an exodus of young people destined for city living. Japan has an estimated 10 million empty homes, and its 'Akiya' scheme is designed to address this problem while helping young families to get onto the property ladder Japan's population has been gradually shrinking since 2010 when it stood at 128,551,873, to today's figure of 127,185,33, according to data from Worldometers. In 2013, Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications estimated there to be 8.2 million abandoned homes, Rethink Tokyo reports. Kagoshima, Kochi and Wakayama were the front runners with more than 10 per cent of homes in these municipalities vacant, and it is estimated that by 2033 more than 30 per cent of all Japanese homes could be abandoned. 'Akiya' means 'vacant' or 'abandoned' in Japanese, and the properties tend to be in rural areas as young people are continuing to opt for city living The 'Akiya' scheme gives these homes to young families for free (or at a vastly discounted rate), and in some cases offers subsidies to encourage owners to renovate the properties The 'Akiya' scheme gives these homes to young families for free (or at a vastly discounted rate), and in some cases offers subsidies to encourage owners to renovate the properties. However, there are a number of conditions required to become eligible. For example, some local governments require all family members to be under the age of 43 and to have children young enough to attend junior school. The properties can be found via a range of 'Akiya Banks' that list the abandoned homes online. There are risks to consider when taking on an 'Akiya' property, including the cost of renovation which, in some cases, could amount to the same price as purchasing a property elsewhere The properties can be found via a range of 'Akiya Banks' that list the abandoned homes online These 'Akiya Banks' allegedly ensure the purchasing process is simple and fast, making it a popular option for Japanese buyers and foreigners alike. Many find their rural locations and spacious layouts desirable, but there are a number of risks to consider when taking on an 'Akiya' property. Firstly is the cost of renovation which, in some cases, could amount to the same price as purchasing a property elsewhere. Another hazard is the ambiguity surrounding the property's abandonment, and what might stop an original owner turning up one day and demanding ownership. According to some, purchasing an 'Akiya' home is deemed 'absolute social failure', but with house prices in Tokyo creeping up (around $790,000 for a new build property in January 2018), it may be an option worth considering for many young families. These 'Akiya Banks' allegedly ensure the purchasing process is simple and fast, making it a popular option for the Japanese and foreigners alike Bali Nine drug smuggler Renae Lawrence has undergone a special cleansing ceremony ahead of her release from Indonesian jail. Lawrence is due to be released from jail and return to her Newcastle-based family on Wednesday, but may have to spend some hours at an immigration detention centre before boarding a flight to Australia. The 41-year-old had asked authorities to have the ceremony in the prison's Hindu temple to express thanks to the jail. Bali Nine drug smuggler Renae Lawrence has undergone a special cleansing ceremony (pictured in ceremonial clothing on Monday) ahead of her release from Indonesian jail Photos inside the jail, obtained by Channel 9, showed Lawrence next to prison staff wearing a white collared shirt, brown sash and green headband. A Hindu priest visited the Bangli prison to conduct the ceremony on Monday morning, where Lawrence has spent the final years of her sentence. Lawrence converted to the Hindu religion during her 13-year sentence, and Hindu priest Ida Sri Begawan Wiram Rudra Parama Daksa said she wanted to thank the spirits for her rehabilitation. The 41-year-old asked jail authorities to have the ceremony in the prison's Hindu temple Bangli Jail prisoner service section head Jaya Sentana said Lawrence wanted the ceremony to express thanks to the jail Lawrence (pictured centre) converted to the Hindu religion during her 13-year sentence, and Hindu priest Ida Sri Begawan Wiram Rudra Parama Daksa said she wanted to thank the spirits for her rehabilitation. He said: 'Because Renae has been properly rehabilitated and is leaving this place good and healthy, she wanted to thank the spirits that guard this place.' Bangli Jail prisoner service section head Jaya Sentana previously told The Daily Telegraph: 'It is conducted as she wants to express her thanks as she believes that she has been protected (spiritually) during her time living here.' The Australian woman's lawyer Anggia Browne also visited her in prison on Monday, later telling reporters Lawrence was 'ready' to go home. Prison governor Made Suwendra told The Australian that Lawrence was spending her final days at Bangli with inmate friends and relatives Prison governor Made Suwendra told The Australian that Lawrence was spending her final days at Bangli with inmate friends and relatives. He added she didn't want to talk to the media in case 'her words could get taken out of context and she might ruin her chance of a release, or land herself in trouble once she gets to Australia'. When Lawrence lands in Australia however, the former Newcastle panel beater faces the prospect of being arrested by NSW police over a high-speed chase in a stolen car on the Central Coast in March 2005. Lawrence has been behind bars since she was convicted of attempting to smuggle 2.6kg of heroin into Australia through Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport on April 17, 2005. She has used the more than 12 years she's spent in various Indonesian prisons to learn to speak and read the local language, and she currently follows the Hindu religion. The 41-year-old served the start of her sentence in the notorious Kerobokan jail before being moved to the Negara and then Bangli prisons. The Bali Nine drug mule will be freed having only served 13 years and seven months of her 20-year jail term. Twice-yearly remissions for good behaviour bumped down the length of her jail sentence. While Lawrence has engaged in self-healing programs in prison, jail authorities also revealed she takes anti-depressants. Lawrence has used the more than 12 years she's spent in various Indonesian prisons to learn to speak and read the local language, and she currently follows the Hindu religion The Bali Nine drug mule will be freed from prison next Wednesday and have only served 13 years and seven months of her 20-year jail term Mr Suwendra said Lawrence had received a signed letter from the jail's medical clinic to continue to be prescribed Xanax when she arrived back in Australia. 'As she is undergoing therapy she needs a recommendation letter of some medicine that is left, as she would bring it home,' he said. Jail doctor Gusti Putu Sumertayasa said Lawrence had been on the medication since her stint at Kerobokan jail. Mr Suwendra said Lawrence had received a signed letter from the jail's medical clinic to continue to be prescribed Xanax when she arrived back in Australia Her dosage has been reduced to 1mg twice a day since she was transferred to Bandli jail in 2014. 'She has been much better when she entered this jail. Earlier, she had many medicines, but now it is only left Aprazolam or Xanax.' The doctor also said Lawrence had also used methadone in the past, but had been weened off it. Lawrence will be the first of the Bali Nine to taste freedom - with ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran executed at the hands of a firing squad in 2015 Lawrence will be the first of the Bali Nine to taste freedom. Ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed at the hands of a firing squad in 2015, and Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died of cancer earlier this year. The five remaining survivors will serve life sentences with their only hope of getting a reduced sentence resting on the shoulders of Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Each year their applications have been rejected though. Adrian Dreshaun Middleton, 26, from Houston was arrested last week but is no longer in police custody Monday A Texas father has been charged with child abandonment Friday after his six-year-old daughter strangled her one-year-old brother with a seat belt while he left them alone in a car to go shopping for an hour and 40 minutes. Adrian Dreshaun Middleton, 26, from Houston was arrested last week but on Monday was no longer in police custody in connection with the May 20 incident where Adrian Middleton Jr. fell victim to a homicide by strangulation. The dad told law enforcement he gave the youngsters snacks and water, turned on the air conditioning and played a movie before leaving them alone in the vehicle for only 30 to 45 minutes. However surveillance cameras showed he was gone between 10.45am and 12.15pm. The defendant claimed to have checked on the children through a store window and thought they were fine. But according to video footage he did not. Middleton also said he had strapped the pair into car seats but later admitted there were none present. He left his two children alone in a car while he went shopping for clothes He said when he returned to the Harris County parking lot to load his purchases into the trunk he found his daughter crying, requesting to use the bathroom. When he asked where her brother was she told him she 'did something bad'. After seeing the one-year-old's feet from the open trunk he raced around to the driver's side of the motor and saw his son in the rear seat with a seatbelt wrapped around his neck. He removed the seat belt and attempted to perform CPR on the toddler until paramedics arrived. The incident occurred in the parking lot of Family Thrift Center the morning of May 20 The defendant claimed to have checked on the children through a store window and thought they were fine. But according to video footage he did not The little boy was later pronounced dead at Texas Children's Hospital. Middleton claimed the little girl did not respond initially when he asked what happened. She told authorities her little brother began crying while her parent was in the first store so she played with him to get him to stop. But when she stopped playing with him and he cried again she became 'angry' and tightened the seat belt around his neck. When he fell unconscious she believed he had simply fallen asleep. The incident occurred when Middleton was inside the second venue, Thrift Family Store. The peace officer assigned to the Special Victims Division at the Child Abuse Unit of the Houston Police Department signed a sworn affidavit in regards to the tragedy. Middleton's six-year-old daughter says she strangled her one-year-old brother to get him to stop crying R.C. Johnson visited the hospital and spoke to Middleton who was still with his daughter - and staff members. The affiant said that the child witness knew the difference between fact and fiction so her story was credible and reliable. The affiant was told by Middleton he'd been thrift shopping. The child witness confirmed he had been buying clothes in her interview with Harris County Children's Assessment Center. Middleton was scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Prosecutors claim Middleton put his son at 'an unreasonable risk of harm, namely, and a reasonable person would have believed that such circumstances would place the Complainant in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, physical impairment and mental impairment'. Middleton was charged with abandoning a child after leaving the boy alone for one hour and 40 minutes It adds that Middleton 'did not voluntarily deliver the Complainant to a designated emergency infant care provider' before abandoning the infant. Middleton's brother told ABC 13 he never intended for this to happen and that it was an accident. The publication reports the daughter is now staying with her grandmother and that the Child Protection Service offered help to the family, but it's not clear if they have accepted. The child will not face charges because of her age, Houston police said. Furious passengers have blasted Ryanair for slapping them with 55 fines for not checking-in online - despite the airline's website crashing for hours. Travellers were left fuming when they could not access the budget airline's site last night. They were unable to book flights and complained that they had been handed late penalties for not checking-in in advance. One user @TotallydubbedHD said he was handed a bill for an extra 110 for late check-ins on two 46 return flights. Ryanair has come under fire for charging passengers for not checking-in online when customers claim its website crashed The YouTube technology reviewer and blogger tweeted at about 5.20pm that the firm's customer service refused to acknowledge the website was down. He added: 'Was charged 55/pp (on a @Ryanair flight that cost 46/pp return). 'Customer service, both online and on the phone, refused to acknowledge the website being down and/or having the ability to check in online.' Travellers took to social media to say they were unable to book flights and complained that they had been handed late penalties for not checking-in in advance One user @TotallydubbedHD said he was handed a bill for an extra 110 for late check-ins on two 46 return flights. Pictured: Passengers wait to check in at Barcelona airport during a strike by pilots on August 10 Other users questioned whether Ryanair would charge people the fine even though its website and app were not working. @dorianlj10 said: '@Ryanair Any chance of you sorting out your website and app? Surely you can't be charging a check in fee tomorrow!' But some users said they would not be paying any fines. @RyanRolph_Tryka said: '@Ryanair great work, 55 fee for not checking in online website crashes, app down and no way to check-in safe to say i WILL NOT be paying upon check-in tomorrow if you try and charge me for it!!' The budget airline said that at about 9pm that its website was working normally, following a 'brief' server issue. A spokesman added: 'The website is working normally. There was a brief server issue earlier this evening which was quickly resolved.' An Australian dad has placed a cryptic ad in a newspaper as he searches for his long-lost son. The ad, taken out in a Sydney newspaper on the weekend, contained no more than some sparse details and the name of a lawyer to contact should someone have any information to offer. 'If you are called JAMIE and were born in Casino about 1967 and moved to Grafton and have lived in Victoria and your mother's name was Robyn and stepfather's name was Arthur, please get in touch with Malcolm Carr of Metro Lawyers 0414 128 420,' the classified ad reads. An Aussie Dad has placed a newspaper ad in a desperate search for his long-lost son But since then the Australian dad, Patrick Murnan, has spoken to Daily Mail Australia and furnished some extra details that may help track down his son. Mr Murnan says his son was christened Patrick James Murnan, but was known as Jamie. Jamie, as the ad says, was born in Casino, NSW around 1967 and was raised by his mother and step-father whose full name was Arthur Beverly. Mr Murnan has not laid eyes on his son since he was a toddler: 'I haven't seen him since he was about nine years old,' he said. He has spoken to him, however. 'I rang his mother in the 1980s and Jamie answered the phone. But I didn't tell him I was his father,' Mr Murnan said. 'I haven't been in touch with him or his mother since then,' he added. The long-lost son was born in Casino, in northern NSW, before moving to the town of Grafton (pictured) also in the state's north Six weeks ago he heard from one of two sons he'd had to a different woman in the early 1980s. 'A bloke rang up and said 'did you put an ad in the paper?' I said yeah, and he told he was my son', Mr Murnan said. Since that time he's stayed in touch with his new-found son, Benjamin, and will soon meet up with Benjamin's brother, Kurt. Mr Murnan said issues he had been having with his stepson spurred him to look for his own sons, and now that he's located two of them, he's desperate to contact Jamie. 'I'm hoping someone will see the ad and get in touch with my lawyer,' he said. A woman has been rescued after an early morning swim went horribly wrong and left her with hypothermia. The woman, aged in her 30s, was rescued by emergency services and rushed to hospital with hypothermia after a morning swim in Melbourne's Yarra River on Tuesday. The woman jumped into the river near the Clarendon Street Bridge just after 4.30am. A woman has been rescued (pictured) after an early morning swim at Melbourne's Yarra River went horribly wrong. She was pulled from the water by police early on Tuesday morning The woman had jumped into the Yarra River near Clarendon Street Bridge (pictured) for a morning swim on Tuesday Police were alerted and arrived at the scene, where they found the woman struggling to get to shore. A spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia: 'A woman has been taken to hospital after she went for a swim in the Yarra River at South Bank this morning. 'A Critical Incident Response Unit officer swam to the aid of the woman and assisted her back to shore.' The woman was taken to hospital and is being treated for suspected hypothermia. Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar, one of the first female Muslim member of Congress, is pushing to change an almost two hundred year ban on head gear from the floor of the House of Representatives so she can wear her hijab. 'No one puts a scarf on my head but me. It's my choiceone protected by the first amendment. And this is not the last ban I'm going to work to lift,' she tweeted. The current rules would allow Omar to wear her hijab inside the U.S. Capitol building but not the floor of the House, where members give speeches and vote on legislation. Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar, center, heads to a Democratic Caucus meeting in the basement of the Capitol last week Democratic Representative-elect Ilhan Omar (C) of Minnesota, one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, poses in the front row with other incoming newly-elected members She is working to change an almost two-hundred year ban on hats Many Muslim women wear a hijab - a scarf around their head - for religious reasons. Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Incoming House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern have joined her in her quest, Roll Call reported. Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, will become the first federal legislator to wear a religious headscarf when she's sworn in next month. She's joined by Rep.-elect Rashida Tlaib of Michigan as the first two Muslim women in Congress. Hats of any kind have been banned from the House floor since 1837. With virtually no debate, the rules were modified to read: 'Every member shall remain uncovered during the sessions of the House,' according to the House Historian's office. In the House's early years, lawmakers and guests routinely donned their hats while the chamber was in session - a custom that hearkened to British Parliament. Omar, 36, was born in Somalia but she and her family fled the war-torn nation. They came to the United States in 1995, when she was 12, and they ended up in Minneapolis in 1997. Her election to Congress brought many firsts: the first Somali American and first Muslim refugee elected. She also became the first woman of color to represent Minnesota on Capitol Hill. She won the House seat formerly occupied by Democrat Keith Ellison, who was the first Muslim congressman to be elected to Congress. Another lawmaker famous for her head gear, Democratic Rep. Fredrica Wilson of Florida, tried to change the hat ban in 2010 - when she was first elected to Congress - to no avail. ''It's sexist,' Wilson told the Miami Herald at the time. 'It dates back to when men wore hats and we know that men don't wear hats indoors, but women wear hats indoors. Hats are what I wear. People get excited when they see the hats. Once you get accustomed to it, it's just me. Some people wear wigs, or high heel shoes or big earrings or pins. This is just me.'' Ilhan Omar (right) talks to her fellow newly-elected Member of Congress Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) during new member orientation in the U.S. Capitol last week Rep. Fredrica Wilson, known for her colorful hats, tried and failed to get the ban changed when she was first elected in 2010 Wilson is often seen in the Capitol building donning cowboy hats or sequined creations, of which she owns hundreds. But she always takes her hat off and carries it in her hand before she walks onto the House floor. The wearing of the hijab, the burka, and other head coverings has become a fiercely debate issue in many European countries, some of which have banned them. A report from the Open Society Foundations, an international philanthropic organization founded by George Soros, found there are only six countries within the European Union (EU) - Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Portugal, and Romania - that haven't banned Islamic headscarves or face veils in some form or discussed a proposal to do so. A canola oil factory burst into flames early on Tuesday morning after it was intentionally set on fire, police allege. Video footage from 9 News shows thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the factory at Carrum Downs, in Melbournes south-east, at 1am. 'A factory shed on Boundary Road was completely engulfed by flames just before 1.30am,' a Victoria police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. A canola oil factory burst into flames early on Tuesday morning after it was intentionally set on fire, police allege (pictured) Video footage shows thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the factory at Carrum Downs, in Melbournes south-east, at 1am (pictured) 'The fire is being treated as suspicious and Frankston Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating,' police said. Officers said the shed was 'completely destroyed', with damages estimated at $100,000. Firefighters were called to the scene and took more than 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze. Police are investigating. An arson chemist will attend the scene on Tuesday afternoon. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. 'A factory shed on Boundary Road (pictured) was completely engulfed by flames just before 1.30am,' a Victoria police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia The White House on Monday formalized what it said was a longstanding unwritten rule in the presidential press corps, limiting reporters to one question apiece during future press conferences. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced the change on an afternoon when the West Wing reinstated the 'hard pass' Donald Trump's senior aides took from CNN correspondent Jim Acosta, following his contentious performance sparring with the the president during a Nov. 7 presser. A federal judge slapped back on Friday, ruling that Acosta must be allowed back on the White House grounds while a CNN lawsuit played out, saying the administration had acted arbitrarily without a clear set of rules to impose or a process to enforce them. Trump said on Friday afternoon that a series of 'rules and regulations' would be finalized, but didn't provide a timetable. That materialized Monday afternoon in a letter to Acosta, which several media outlets quickly acquired. The Trump White House announced Monday that a set of formalized rules will govern future press conferences, including a limit on the number of questions per reporter A White House official said writing down what had been unwritten and only loosely followed rules was the result of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's performance during a Nov. 7 presser; he returned to the White House on Friday after a judge ordered the White House to end a nine-day ban for haranguing Trump and refusing to give up the microphone when his turn was up White House journalists will no longer be allowed to engage in a back-and-forth with Trump, and follow-up questions will be only at his discretion White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced the new rules 'reluctantly' on Monday, blaming Acosta and CNN and laying out a set of standards that can be enforced in the future Trump has long battled with CNN and Acosta, calling them purveyors of 'fake news' After telling CNN and its star reporter at 1600 pennsylvania Avenue that he was no longer in immediate danger of being banned from the premises, Sanders wrote that four rules would be in force at future press conferences. They could provide the White House with a rationale to clamp down against what a West Wing official told DailyMail.com could be 'future Acosta eruptions.' 'A journalist called upon to ask a question will ask a single question and then will yield the floor to other journalists,' the first rule reads. 'At the discretion of the President or other White House official taking questions, a follow-up question or questions may be permitted,' says the second, 'and where a follow up has been allowed and asked, the questioner will then yield the floor.' Clarifying the White House's terms, Sanders added: '"Yielding the floor" includes, when applicable, physically surrendering the microphone to White House staff for use by the next questioner.' She said that breaking 'any of [these] rules' will subject journalists to possible 'suspension or revocation' of their hard passes, the Secret Service-approved credentials that allow them to enter the White House campus at will. During the Nov. 7 press conference, Acosta took three bites at theTrumpian apple. Another reporter took four. Sanders and White House communications director Bill Shine (right) have masterminded the White House's response to the Acosta fiasco, ultimately communicating Trump's desire to put it behind them and move on to the Thanksgiving holiday The West Wing source conceded that it was Acosta's tone, not the number of questions he posed, that irked the president to the point where he brought the hammer down. 'He didn't ask questions at all,' the official said Monday. 'He talked about challenging the president, and then argued with him about whether thousands of illegal immigrants crossing the border would constitute an invasion.' 'Those aren't questions. They're complaints,' the aide said. Acosta has been uncharacteristically reserved about Friday's and Monday's turns of events, urging his colleagues to 'get back to work.' Other CNN personalities were more gloating, including the network's chief media correspondent, Brian Stelter. Olivier Knox, president of the White House Correspondents Association, issued a statement suggesting he doesn't expect reporters who have the chance to ask the President of the United States a question will sit down after just one. 'For as long as there have been White House press conferences, White House reporters have asked follow-up questions. We fully expect this tradition will continue,' he said. In one press conference this year, an ABC News reporter consumed four minutes conducting what appeared to be a private one-on-one with President Trump, asking one follow-up after another. It's also common during joint press conferences with foreign leaders for journalists to posed two questions at once to Trump, and then at least one to the guest. The president's Nov. 7 press conference quickly turned acrimonious when Acosta took the floor Acosta said he wanted to 'challenge' Trump and then argued with him about whether the caravan of thousands of migrants would constitute an 'invasion' if they all crossed the border The CNN reporter also refused to hand over the White House's microphone to an intern whose job was to pass it to the next reporter It's unclear when the new rules will first be tested. But Sanders insisted Monday that whatever fallout ensues will lay at Acosta's feet and those of his bureau chief, Sam Feist, who pressed the lawsuit without compromise. '[G]iven the position taken by CNN, we now feel obligated to replace previously shared practices with explicit rules,' she said. 'For years, members of the White House press corps have attended countless press events with the President and other officials without engaging in the behavior Mr. Acosta displayed at the November 7, 2018 press conference,' Sanders added. 'We would have greatly preferred to continue hosting White House press conferences in reliance on a set of understood professional norms, and we believe the overwhelming majority of journalists covering the White House share that preference.' The three alleged terror plotters who police claim were planning a massacre lived in the same small area of Melbourne as the Bourke Street attacker, it has been revealed. Three men of Turkish background including Hanifi Hallis, 21, were arrested during four early-morning raids on houses in the city's north-west on Tuesday. They were allegedly trying to get hold of a semi-automatic rifle and 'kill a maximum amount of people as possible' in a crowded place. The men all lived in suburbs in the same area, near where radicalised knifeman Hassan Khalif Shire Ali resided before his Bourke Street rampage on November 9. The arrested trio, who police allege were inspired by ISIS, are all believed to have attended the same controversial Islamic youth centre as Ali, but there is no suggestion they ever met. Three men of Turkish background including Hanifi Hallis (pictured), 21, were arrested during four early-morning raids on houses in the city's north-west on Tuesday The three men allegedly behind the most recent terror plot all lived near each other in north-west Melbourne. Bourke Street attacker Ali also lived nearby, and the Hume Islamic Youth Centre is in their vicinity The three 'ISIS-inspired' terror plotters who were allegedly planning a massacre and the Bourke Street attacker all lived in the same small area of Melbourne, it has been revealed The men were arrested during raids of properties in the city's north-west (one of the properties is pictured) They were allegedly trying to get hold of a semi-automatic rifle and 'kill a maximum amount of people as possible' in a crowded place A 30-year-old man from Dallas, a 26-year-old man from Campbellfield, and Halis - who hails from Greenvale - were arrested during Tuesday's raids. The 21-year-old has been charged with one count of act in preparation for or planning of terrorist acts. Properties on Geach Street in Dallas, Gentles Avenue in Campbellfield, Lemonwood Drive in Greenvale and Almurta Avenue in Coolaroo were searched as part of the counter-terrorism operation. Ali was living in a converted garage with his wife and young child in the outer north-western Melbourne suburb of Meadow Heights. An elderly landlord let Ali's wife and child move into the renovated garage about six months before last week's attack. She thought a single mother and young child were the only ones living there until Ali joined them too. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther said the three Turkish men 'may have attended' the Hume Islamic Youth Centre. The arrested trio are all believed to have attended the same controversial Hume Islamic Youth Centre (pictured) as Ali Properties on Geach Street in Dallas (pictured), Gentles Avenue in Campbellfield, Lemonwood Drive in Greenvale and Almurta Avenue in Coolaroo were searched The four properties were searched as part of a counter-terrorism operation. Pictured: Almurta Avenue in Coolaroo Before carrying out his horrific acts of violence, Ali often prayed at the centre in Coolaroo, 20km north of Melbourne. The group of three men who planned a Christmas Day massacre in the city's CBD in 2016 also frequented the Hume Islamic Youth Centre. Tuesday's arrests come just 11 days after ISIS-inspired Ali stabbed three people, killing one, on Bourke Street. The funeral for his victim, cafe owner Sisto Malaspina, took place on Tuesday. Two of the men arrested on Tuesday are family members and all three have had their Australian passports cancelled this year. Officers arrested the men following an extensive eight-month investigation, with the trio said to have been 'energerised' in the days after the Bourke Street attack. The men were allegedly planning to massacre dozens in a crowded place in Melbourne, although police said a specific location was never finalised. 'There was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able, to kill, we allege, as a maximum amount of people as possible,' Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said. Ali (pictured) was living in a converted garage with his wife and young child in the outer north-western Melbourne suburb of Meadow Heights Ali stabbed three people, killing one, during an attack on Bourke Street on November 9 Ali was shot dead by police officers during the attack in the city's CBD 'I believe, over more recent days, attempts have been made to source a 0.22 semi-automatic rifle to assist with the carrying out of that terrorism event. 'Fortunately, this is an event we've been able to deal with in relation to our counter-terrorism operation and therefore have been in a position to intercept it prior to it being completed. One of the men had his Australian passport cancelled in January, another had his cancelled in March and the third in October. Two have no criminal history. Police have stressed there is no ongoing threat to the community but residents are being urged to report any suspicious activity to authorities. 'Victoria Police would like to reassure the community that the threat has been contained and there is no ongoing threat,' Victoria Police said in a statement. The trio are expected to face court later on Tuesday, where they will face charges which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Controversial cartoonist Larry Pickering has died aged 76 following a long illness Controversial cartoonist Larry Pickering has died aged 76 following a long illness. He died on Monday night surrounded by his family after losing a two-year battle with cancer. He leaves behind wife Carol and 11 grandchildren. Pickering, who won four Walkleys, drew cartoons that featured in The Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald, as well as other newspapers. The cartoonist and satirist was never afraid to shy away from awkward subjects and was renowned for refusing to be politically correct. He courted controversy last year by giving a speech slamming Muslims to the right-wing Q Society, 'Let's be honest, I can't stand Muslims,' Pickering told the gathering. 'If they are in the same street as me, I start shaking.' Pickering, who also donated one of his cartoons featuring the rape of a woman in a niqab by her son-in-law as an auction item, wryly added he didn't think all Muslims were bad. He officially retired in the 1980s but returned to drawing cartoons after Julia Gillard rose to power. The move did not sit well with Ms Gillard, who called him 'vile and sexist'. A final statement posted on his website, the Pickering Post, on Friday said Pickering accepted he did not have long left. Pickering (pictured in hospital) died on Monday night surrounded by his family after losing a two-year battle with cancer. He leaves behind wife Carol and 11 grandchildren 'He has lost a lot of weight and his condition has spread to his liver. He is now in considerable pain but is refusing pain killers as he intends to remain conscious and lucid for what time he has left with his loved ones,' it said. 'He has checked himself out of hospital and has gone home to be with his family. My thoughts and prayers are with Larry and his loving wife and children who he adores.' A California firefighter has hearts in a flutter after a cat he rescued near the site of the Paradise wildfire refused to let go of him. Ryan Coleman, Engine Captain at Fairview Valley Fire Department, shared a video of the encounter last Tuesday in a post on Facebook. He told followers the feline wouldn't let go of him while he carried out his job in the forest area so he continued with the animal clinging to his body. Ryan Coleman shared pictures and a video of the cat encounter last Tuesday The Engine Captain at Fairview Valley Fire Department posted on Facebook He told followers the feline wouldn't let go of him while he carried out his job 'Kitty rescue. She just chilled on my neck and shoulders as I'd walk around,' he captioned the post of images and a video. In the heart-warming clip Coleman laughs as he says: 'Let's go for a walk. Where are we going? We're walking around.' In the video his gray furry friend seems to be in such a delightful position she could almost purr with delight. And a smiling Coleman seems pretty happy too. He posted shots of the creature nuzzling into his chest and neck and clawing up his knee to stay close in the aftermath of losing the area and people she once knew. By Monday the post had been shared approximately 33,000 times and the video viewed around 1.7 million times. By Monday the animal lover's post had been shared approximately 33,000 times Commenters urged the firefighter to take the cat home but he shared he was still in the area working on the devastation Commenters urged the firefighter to take her home. 'You obviously have to keep her if nobody claims her, she loves you!' one wrote. 'I wish. I'm still out here,' he responded to another. Just a few days earlier he posted about the devastation of the blazes that had reduced an entire town to ashes. 'On scene of the Camp Fire, and starting shift #1. My heart and prayers go out to the more than 2,000 families that lost their homes and all the people that lost loved ones,' he wrote. 'Hoping for the safety of my crew and fellow firefighters. I'm excited to be here helping out, and I'm ready to get started doing what we do!' Coleman is clearly an animal lover. A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, California on November 8 Coleman worked as the number of missing people was on the rise after the blaze broke out November 8. Butte County reduced the number on its missing persons list to 993 Sunday However the death toll in the forest area remained at 77 as brave firefighters worked the wreckage His social media account boasts pictures of himself with dogs and even a baby goat too. The latest official death toll was announced late on Sunday as the Butte County Sheriff's Office also said it was reducing the number of names on its missing persons list to 993, down from 1,276 a day earlier. At least 77 people have been killed. As of Monday, the fire had torched 151,000 acres (61,107 hectares) of drought-parched scrub and trees, incinerating more than 9,800 homes along the way, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said. New light has been shone on Australia's gambling problem after it was revealed thousands of pokie machines can be found in hotels in Sydney's central business district alone. Within the city's 415-square-metre CBD, 3,442 gambling machines rake in more than $300 million every year. Another 977 pokie licences have been distributed to bars and clubs, but of those licensed machines, only 691 are currently in operation. Sydney is one of 105 councils within New South Wales featured in a new and alarming report funded by the state's department of liquor and gaming. From 2016 to 2017, pokies across New South Wales exceed $3billion in turnaround. Sydney city businesses made over $300 million worth of profits on a staggering amount of pokie machines in just one year The inner city of Sydney, spanning a measly 415 square metres, is home to 3,442 pokie machines in hotels alone The descent of NSW into a 'nanny state' since the introduction of lockout laws in Sydney in 2014 has not hampered residents' love of gambling. Pokie profits are set to skyrocket to $7billion across the state by 2021, according to forecasts in the Treasury background report. Sydney's inner-city isn't the only region within the state with a high proportion of gambling machines. Clubs in Wollongong have 2,622 active pokie machines, and the combined profits between clubs and hotels reach close to $160million. NSW's descent into a 'nanny state' since the introduction of lockout laws in Sydney in 2014 has not hampered residents' love of gambling Pokie profits are set to skyrocket to $7 billion across the state by 2021 TOP TEN POKIE HOT SPOTS IN NSW 1. Central Coast Council - 4,060 2. Canterbury-Bankstown Council - 4,023 3. City of Sydney Council - 3,442 4. Fairfield City Council - 3,362 5. Wollongong City Council - 2,732 6. Cumberland Council - 2,243 7. Newcastle City Council - 2,266 8. Blacktown City Council - 2,184 9. Penrith City Council - 2,338 10. Lake Macquarie City Council - 2,120 Advertisement Penrith, in Sydney's outer west, has fewer machines, with just 2,133 located in clubs. Despite this, it generates a higher net profit than Wollongong with close to $180million. The NSW region clocking the lowest number of pokie machines was the unincorporated far west, with a population of only 1,056, according to a 2016 census. But the one machine in the region still manages to generate a $38,000 profit. Greens spokesman Justin Field said the profits forecast to kick in by 2021 'show a total failure of government policy to address gambling harm within our community'. 'NSW already has the highest density of poker machines in the world and the highest gambling losses per person outside of dedicated gambling destinations like Macau,' he said. Ford is in the process of eliminating the new car smell for vehicles that have just been manufactured due to complaints by Chinese customers. Many people love the new car smell, but Ford has filed a patent application for an odor-removal process to accommodate consumer tastes in different parts of the world. In China, the biggest car market in the world, drivers hate the new car smell more than poor fuel economy, officials said. Ford is in the process of eliminating the 'new car smell' for vehicles that have just been manufactured due to complaints by Chinese customers 'If that's an issue, we'll definitely get it addressed,' said Zach Anderson of Bob Maxey Ford told USA Today. 'To me, everyone loves that new car smell, and in fact, when you go to the car wash, they sell the new car scent to put it back in the car,' Anderson said. According to the patent request, Ford's solution is to bake the smell out by parking the car in the sun, rolling down the windows and firing up the engine, heater and fan until the smell is gone. It is not clear if Ford will get rid of the smell worldwide or just in certain markets. Ford made headlines in July last year for counting on a team of recruits to its Chinese research labs or 18 so-called 'Golden Noses to ensure that new cars dont smell bad,' USA Today reported. 'Thats because Chinese car buyers are particularly sensitive to the smell of their new cars. 'They place unpleasant smells ahead of engine performance or safety as their top reason for not buying a new car'. The new car smell is caused by volatile organic compounds given off by leather, plastic and vinyl Smell testers assess the odor of every item in the car, from floor carpets to the steering wheel, rejecting any that may offend a Chinese buyer. Ford has not yet committed on moving forward with the project. While the US Patent and Trademark Office has not yet issued a ruling on the 'vehicle odor remediation' patent application, the paperwork explains what creates the odor that so many drivers like when they purchase their new car. Zach Anderson of Ford said the company must address the issue amid complaints from some customers who dislike the fresh odor The famous smell is caused by volatile organic compounds given off by leather, plastic and vinyl. Chemicals used to attach and seal car parts may also contribute to the odor. People notice odors when compounds are released, which occurs when a car sits in high temperatures. Ford scientists describe baking the car until the odor disappears, which happens after compounds are released. The process described in the patent involves parking the car in the sun, opening the windows slightly, and optionally turning the engine, heater and fan on. The system includes special software and various air quality sensors, and works only when fitted to a driverless or semi-autonomous vehicle. A lot of technology is involved in the patent application. According to the patent application seen by USA Today, the car would determine whether conditions are right to expel compounds. Debbie Mielewski, senior technical leader in materials sustainability at Ford, said the patent is the result of years of research and is just one idea we are considering for future use 'While 'new car smell' is ingrained in American culture, we know Chinese customers dislike that scent. 'This patent is the result of years of research and is just one idea we are considering for future use, Debbie Mielewski, senior technical leader in materials sustainability at Ford told USA Today. The company indicated it had no specific production plans at this time, said Ford spokesman Karl Henkel. Advertisement A young Muslim woman draped head-to-toe in a black niqab lashed out at people outside an alleged terrorist's home as it was raided by police. 'You guys are cockroaches,' she yelled. Police raiding the home of Ertunc Eriklioglu, 30, in Dallas, in Melbourne's north west, told the woman three times to move her car from the front of the property. Yet, she continued to block other residents and workmen inside the block of units throughout the morning. Police were raiding the home as part of their operation which led to three Australian Muslim men of Turkish background being arrested on Tuesday. A young Muslim woman draped head-to-toe in a black niqab (pictured) lashed out at people outside alleged terrorist Ertunc Eriklioglu's home in Melbourne on Tuesday Ertunc Eriklioglu, 30, was later charged with terrorism crimes and will face court on Tuesday afternoon. He appeared to have blood splattered on his trousers The woman continued to block other residents and workmen inside the block of units throughout the morning despite police instructing her to move her car Police raiding a terror suspect's home in Dallas (pictured) appeared to have smashed their way in through a window in the property The others arrested were Hanifi Halis, 21, a mechanic from Greenvale who neighbours said wore a uniform with a Toyota badge on it, and Samed Eriklioglu, 26, from Campbellfield. All three were hours later charged with one count each of act in preparation for, or planning of terrorist acts and will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, the AFP said. It's alleged that the trio were planning to massacre people in a crowded place in Melbourne, potentially using a semi-automatic rifle. All men are Australian but have Turkish backgrounds. Their passports were cancelled earlier this year. Police allege the trio were planning an ISIS-inspired terror attack in a public place and had been trying to get their hands on a semi-automatic rifle. The trio, who may have attended the same Islamic centre as the Bourke Street attacker, wanted to 'kill a maximum amount of people as possible' in a crowded place, police alleged. Hanifi Halis (pictured), 21, of Greenvale, has since been charged with one count of act in preparation for, or planning of terrorist acts, according to a statement by Victoria Police Halis and Samed Eriklioglu, 26, (pictured) were hours later charged with one count each of act in preparation for, or planning of terrorist acts Ertunc Eriklioglu (pictured) and the other men are Australian but have Turkish backgrounds and their passports were cancelled earlier this year The raids were part of Operation Donabate, which involved Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and other agencies Broken glass from a window is seen outside one of the houses involved in counter-terrorism raids across the north-western suburbs in Melbourne (pictured) Police appeared to have smashed their way in through a window in the property Neighbours living near Ertunc Eriklioglu's Dallas home told Daily Mail Australia the raid had left them stunned. The residents, who did not wish to be named, said they knew the alleged terrorist by the name Arcunc and believed his brother to be named Abdul. The family is believed to have lived at the Dallas unit for about three years and police confirmed his family had no involvement in the alleged plot. A sign hung on the front door reading: 'In the name of Allah we enter, in the name of Allah we leave, and in the Lord we depend'. One neighbour said they noticed a change in the woman's husband a year ago when he and a group of friends stop visiting the nearby mosque and started praying in his garage. 'He keeps to himself. He doesn't speak to any of us. We thought it was strange that he was praying in the garage,' she said. Neighbours thought the practice unusual, but never suspected he was allegedly involved in a terrorist plot. 'I don't really see him much but I don't talk with him ever. I'm friends with his wife - she's just had a baby not long ago so I feel really bad for her. Two of the men arrested on Tuesday are family members and all three have had their Australian passports cancelled this year Police seize bags of evidence from inside the home after morning raids and arrests The raids were part of Operation Donabate, which involved Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and other agencies Other bags of evidence were taken out of the house by plain-clothed officers Police are seen outside one of the houses involved in counter-terrorism raids in Melbourne on Tuesday morning The neighbour said her friend was 'distraught' over the allegations against her husband. 'I would suspect she doesn't know anything about it because I'm friends with her - our kids play together and I never suspected any of this,' she said. 'They were not like this before. They were not like this at all. Before he used to talk with us.' A woman believed to be the wife of Ertunc Eriklioglu said she knew nothing of the alleged plot. 'Go and ask him yourself,' she told a media pack perched outside her door in Dallas, in Melbourne northwest. 'I'm not okay. I don't know [what happened]. Go and ask him,' she said. The young couple is believed to have had their second child only weeks ago. The woman refused to confirm she was the man's wife, but police said only his wife and children remained in the Dallas home. Police arrested a 30-year-old from Dallas, a 26-year-old from Campbellfield and a 21-year-old from Greenvale in Melbourne's north west on Tuesday morning. Officers also raided a home in Coolaroo Halis's home in Greenvale was one of the houses raided by police on Tuesday morning Police appeared to have cut into the rollerdoor to gain access to the house when they stormed in Another home in Coolaroo was also raided by police along with those of the alleged terrorists Police were seen wheeling suitcases and carrying bags of evidence out of the Coolaroo house on Tuesday The home was one of four raided and is linked to at least one of the three men charged with terrorism crimes It is understood the woman knew absolutely nothing about the planned attack and has co-operated fully with police. 'I don't know. Leave this house or I'll call the police,' she told reporters. A repairman remains at the Dallas property where police appeared to have smashed their way in through a window. Ertunc Eriklioglu allegedly stopped attending his mosque as he got more radicalised and created his own place of prayer in the garage in his backyard. Armagan Eriklioglu, father of the two brothers, insisted his sons were innocent and never showed any signs of being radicalised. 'They don't even know how to use a weapon. They're really polite, they're not violent or aggressive,' he said outside his home in Campbellfield, which was raided hours earlier. 'They were going to travel to Turkey before passports were cancelled. Samed was going with his mother to get married. 'We haven't got no weapons, they couldn't find anything. They've just been praying at the mosque, same as me. I listen to the scholars as well.' Armagan Eriklioglu, father of the two brothers, insisted his sons were innocent and never showed any signs of being radicalised When asked if they'd been radicalised by ISIS he said: 'No, they don't like Islamic State. They would never attack an Australian, no way.' Mr Eriklioglu said police grabbed him and pointed guns at his wife, who doesn't wear a headscarf. 'They threw me to the ground very hard.' 'No planning an attack, no way. I'm very sure, I'm with them all the time and in a WhatsApp group chatting with them,' he said when the police allegations against his sons were put to him. He said they didn't always go to the same mosque and he often prayed with at his Dallas home. 'I wanted to come out here and say it's not true,' he said. 'I don't know where [police] got this information from.' Mr Eriklioglu also claimed ISIS didn't exist and 'has been created by the USA'. The arrests came just 11 days after ISIS-inspired knifeman Hassan Khalif Shire Ali stabbed three, killing one, on Melbourne's Bourke Street. The funeral for his victim, cafe owner Sisto Malaspina, takes place on Tuesday morning. A number of heavily-armed officers swarmed the four properties on Tuesday morning Police have stressed there is no ongoing threat to the community but residents are being urged to report any suspicious activity to authorities The men were allegedly planning to massacre dozens in a crowded place in Melbourne, although police said a specific location was never finalised. 'There was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able, to kill, we allege, as a maximum amount of people as possible,' Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said. 'I believe, over more recent days, attempts have been made to source a 0.22 semi-automatic rifle to assist with the carrying out of that terrorism event. 'Fortunately, this is an event we've been able to deal with in relation to our counter-terrorism operation and therefore have been in a position to intercept it prior to it being completed.' AFP Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther said the men radicalised themselves with the influence of online ISIS propaganda. 'Unfortunately the ISIS propaganda machine and that of Al Qaida promotes this side of activity,' he said. 'So when people are prevented from travelling or it's difficult to get to the conflict zone, then often the view will be I'll change tactic and commit and act in the country in which I live.' The US Navy has confirmed one of its sailors was on board the Norwegian frigate that began to sink after a collision off the coast of western Norway. Norway's Ministry of Defense spokesperson, AnnKristin Salbuvik, said the American officer was on board Helge Ingstad as a part of an exchange program between the countries. Now the Accident Investigation Board may want to include the individual in its probe to find out what occurred in the incident that injured eight of the 137 people on the vessel. Scroll down for video The KNM Helge Ingstad frigate was returning from NATO training exercises when it collided with an oil tanker November 8 It hit a UK-bound oil tanker in fjord in western Norway and began to sink off coast Eight people were slightly injured in the incident and the vessel was moved on top of underwater rocks to try to prevent it from sinking However commander Kyle Raines of the 6th Fleet said in a statement that the individual cannot be identified publicly. 'The US Navy has an officer assigned to the Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) with Norway as part of the crew of the KNM Helge Ingstad,' he said on Saturday. 'Because of privacy interests, we are not at liberty to identify this officer by name.' It's unknown what kind of a role the officer may have had on the ship. It was one of five Norway Navy frigates. Malta-registered oil tanker, Sola TS, rammed into it and tore a large hole in its side in the early hours of the morning, authorities said. As the 250-meter-long (820ft) tanker weighing a hefty 62,557 tons moved out of the terminal it crashed into the 442ft warship that weighs 5,290 tons. US Navy on Saturday confirmed an American sailor was on board The unnamed person is eligible for questioning as part of the investigation It was doing navigation training in the inner fjords. Its crew were evacuated and the tanker was only slightly damaged in the collision. Crew tried to move the ship onto underwater rocks to prevent it from sinking but several of the wires used to stabilize the KNM Helge Instad snapped, Rear Admiral Nils Andreas Stensoenes, the head of Norway's Navy, said. Built in Spain in 2009, the frigate was part of a Nato fleet in the Atlantic, and had recently taken part in the vast Trident Juncture military drill in Norway. Crew on board the warship, which is one of the largest in the Norwegian Navy, were reportedly warned several times it was on a collision course with a Britain-bound oil tanker before the two vessels smashed into each other. Many have been left baffled by how a war ship could fail to avoid such a slow-moving tanker in the Sture harbor, north of Bergen. The country's military have been fairly quiet on the matter. Navy communications officer Torill Herland told CNN it's now 'police work.' 'Warships, particularly surface combatants like frigates, are generally designed to withstand a degree of battle damage,' he said Sunday about the inability to keep the vessel from sinking. It was revealed the officer was working as part of an exchange program Frigate had warnings it was on collision course but management thought it was under control The military is trying to find a way to raise the frigate. Chief of staff, Admiral Nils Andreas Stensones, told AFP 'It's very hard for a navy to lose a vessel'. However the cost of repair could be as much as getting a new one, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. 'Curiously, if the ship is not repaired, the reduction of one ship that needs to be maintained, upgraded, manned and used over the remaining 20 years of its life will mean that cost for the navy could go down in the long run, however with a loss of capability,' Pape added. A bigger financial loss has come from the shutdown of five oil and gas fields for two days that produce around $48 million per day and pay 78 per cent tax to the state. The Norwegian Coastal Administration said it had cleaned up 10,000 liters of helicopter fuel from the tanker, a minimal amount considering the 100 million liters that could have potentially been spilled. 'The situation is not yet stable and the vessel is still under water. The frigate had additional 385,000 liters of marine diesel, but this has not leaked,' Truls Gulowsen, head of Greenpeace in Norway, said. The man who hauled in a huge 4.6m great white shark off the coast of one of Sydney's most popular beaches has been slammed online by animal activists. The monstrous shark was captured in a government-owned shark net off Maroubra Beach in the city's east on Monday. The fisherman from the NSW south coast - who goes by the handle Trapman Bermagui online - posted images of the great white on social media and has since been slammed by those who believed the shark was killed unnecessarily. Scroll down for video Government employees who hauled in a huge 4.6m great white shark (pictured) off the coast of a popular Sydney beach have been slammed online by animal activists One user attacked those who snared the shark, however, saying 'that fisherman needs a bullet' 'A 4.6m Great White Shark was caught in the beach shark net,' he posted on Facebook. 'The tail alone was 2m tall, with the pectoral fins of over 1m. 'Shark is pushing over a ton in weight...one of Sydney's most popular surf beaches.' Mr Bermagui said the tail on the shark (pictured) alone was 2 metres long, with pectoral fins of more than 1 metre and weight of up to a tonne He posted several pictures of the shark, stressing he was not the one who caught it. 'The shark nets off Sydney are a state government-run project,' he wrote. One user attacked those who snared the shark, however, saying 'that fisherman needs a bullet'. Another commenter said the creature had been 'killed without cause'. Others were keen to defend the employees' actions and the practice of shark nets, with one saying the activists who were criticising the employees were 'raging lunatics' They said: 'Beautiful creature that took god knows how long to grow is now dead, and he's there with a big grin on his face. What a hero.' Another commenter said the creature had been 'killed without cause'. However, others were keen to defend the employees' actions and the practice of using shark nets, with one crediting the devices for 'doing their job'. Trapman Bermagui posted the finding on Facebook, telling his followers how big the shark is In a later post, Trapman Bermagui defended the shark catchers from the abuse they had been receiving - telling animal activists to direct their anger at politicians rather those who were doing their job. The social media storm surrounding the post came as Queensland master fisherman John Reid called for a shark cull after a spate of recent attacks along Australia's coastline. His calls for a shark cull were echoed by Queensland-based federal MP and former minister Keith Pitt, who said the state government has been 'warned over and over again' about the plague proportions of sharks. Animal rights activists, including the Australian Marine Conservation Society, have been fighting the practice of shark culling across Australia. Shark culling is still used in New South Wales via drumlines and shark nets. Dr Barbara Wueringer from Sharks and Rays Australia has warned swimmers to remain vigilant as the summer season approaches. The 4.6 metre great white shark was caught at Maroubra - one of Sydney's most popular beaches 'From the perspective of a biologist, it's really hard to tell what happened there but something must have brought these animals in,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'Sharks are really far-roaming predators so you will find them anywhere in the ocean but there must be some reason why these animals are biting people in that area.' Dr Wueringer referred to the Taronga Conservation Society Australian Shark Attack File, which lists precautions that can be taken to minimise the risk of attacks. The social media storm surrounding the post came as Queensland master fisherman John Reid (pictured) called for a shark cull after a spate of recent attacks along Australia's coastline Queensland-based federal MP Keith Pitt (pictured) also wants to see a shark cull 'I think it's the responsibility of the media to spread that information so that people become more aware of the guidelines,' Dr Wueringer said. The curator of the Australian Shark Attack File, John West, has listed a number of theories about why sharks are likely to attack - including hunger, mistaking humans for prey and threats to their personal space. Sharks are attracted to bright colours, blood, urine and sound. Data compiled by Shark Research Institute's Global Shark Attack File revealed the top 13 locations for unprovoked shark attacks between 1990 and 2016 - with most attacks occurring in New South Wales. According to the institute, there have been 295 unprovoked shark attacks between 1990 and 2016, with 122 of those in NSW. The institute recorded 42 fatalities nationally within that time. Byron Bay, NSW, recorded the most unprovoked attacks, tallying 12 incidents and two fatalities. Also in NSW, Ballina recorded six attacks and one fatality. Sydney Harbour was third on the list with five attacks over the two decades and famous Bondi Beach came sixth with three shark attacks. Raven Blackwing, who was sent to prison in 2015, is alleged to have raped a 17-year-old girl who moved in with her and her husband, Kain Blackwing, in March 2014 A woman who is known by the nickname polygamous ninja for dressing up as a ninja with her husbands other wife and attacking two people now faces rape charges. Raven Blackwing, who was sent to prison in 2015 for a home invasion, is alleged to have raped a 17-year-old girl who moved in with her and her husband, Kain Blackwing, in March 2014. Kain Blackwing, who had three wives, was convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl in 2014. Earlier that year, he allegedly sent two of his wives to the girls home dressed as ninjas in order to kill her, according to KSL. The latest indictment against Raven Blackwing was filed last week in Utahs Third District Court, according to KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City. Authorities allege that the victim of the abuse was being trained in fighting and survival skills by Kain Blackwing. The indictment alleges that three weeks after they met, Kain Blackwing told the victim that he was a Shen Lord and a god and that if he ever bonded with a woman she became his and the only way out of the relationship was death. Raven Blackwing (seen in court in the undated file photo above) is known by the nickname polygamous ninja for dressing up as a ninja with her husbands other wife and attacking two people during a botched home invasion in September 2014 Raven Blackwing is also alleged to have told the teen that her husband possessed supernatural abilities. She encouraged the teen to continue training with her husband and to spend time with him at their home. A month into her training, the teen was allegedly encouraged to end her relationship with her boyfriend and to join their family and become one of Kain Blackwings wives. At a Valentines Day dinner, the teen agreed to move in with Kain and Raven Blackwing. She is currently serving a 15-year sentence for a September 2014 incident in which she and Tylynn Southwick (above), Kain Blackwings other wife, broke into a persons home in West Jordan, Utah and tried to kill a 14-year-old girl who had accused their husband of rape After moving in, Kain and Raven Blackwing engaged in sexual activity with the teen, the indictment alleges. The age of consent in Utah 16, however anyone under the age of 18 is not permitted to legally consent to sex with someone who is at least 10 years older. Kain Blackwing is 49 years old. The victim told authorities that Kain bragged about killing multiple people. She also said she was afraid that he would kill her if she betrayed him. Raven Blackwing was charged with seven counts of rape, a first-degree felony; three counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony; and one count of forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony. The two women and a third, Theresa Baker, are married to Kain Blackwing (above), who was convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl She is currently serving a 15-year sentence for a September 2014 incident in which she and Tylynn Southwick, Kain Blackwings other wife, broke into a persons home in West Jordan, Utah and tried to kill a 14-year-old girl who had accused their husband of rape. In 2015, Kain Blackwing was separately charged with seven counts of rape, forcible sodomy and three counts of forcible sexual abuse. The alleged victim in that case was Southwick, according to KSL. The two women were allegedly dressed as ninjas and armed with a knife, stun gun, a tourniquet, and syringes. They also had a chemical used to knock a person unconscious. Their alleged target was a woman who was set to testify against their husband, who was a rape suspect. One of the occupants of the home subdued the women and took off one of their masks. An officer who responded to the scene said he saw one of the men living in the home holding down a suspect, who was later identified as Southwick. Southwick was dressed in all black, wearing a black mask and black latex gloves, according to the arrest report. Standing a few feet from [Blackwing] was [one of the residents] holding a samurai sword. Kain Blackwings third wife, Theresa Baker, was also charged with plotting the ninja home invasion. Calls are being made for all new cars to be fitted with a high-tech device that would allow police to remotely stop vehicles involved in high-speed chases or terrorist attacks. Queensland Police union boss Ian Leavers wants all new vehicles to have an engine immobiliser installed to allow the vehicle to be disabled by police at any time. He has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison about the proposal to make the devices mandatory. Police would be able to make a call to the manufacturer and have the vehicle slowed down and eventually stopped, preventing a possible crash, if the device was fitted 'This is a safety issue and we should be using technology to the best we can,' Mr Leavers told 7news. Engine immobilisers are typically used in specialist or high-end vehicles to prevent theft. Mr Leavers said the devices would become as common as airbags, which were once only fitted to high-end vehicles. Police would be able to make a call to the manufacturer and have the vehicle slowed down and eventually stopped if the device was in place. Mr Leavers added that the technology would allow vehicles to be stopped in the safest way possible. 'We don't want to endanger people's lives,' he said. Mr Leavers began pushing for the technology to be introduced in Australia in 2012. He said the proposal is starting to get some traction with backing from police across the country. Western Australia Police Union President George Tilbury told reporters on Monday the technology had the potential to end high-speed pursuits and possible terror attacks Queensland Police union boss Ian Leavers wants all new vehicles to have an engine immobiliser installed to allow them to be disabled by police at any time Western Australia Police Union President George Tilbury told reporters on Monday the technology had the potential to end high-speed pursuits and possible terror attacks. 'In certain circumstances where a vehicle needs to be stopped, a call will be able to be made to the manufacturer or another point to ask if that particular vehicle can be disengaged. 'All manufacturers of high-end vehicles currently have access (to technology) to immobilise a vehicle remotely.' Western Australia Police Minister Michelle Roberts said her counterparts from around the nation backed the proposal at a recent meeting. 'We're keen to see it progressed,' she said. 'All of us have seen the tragic results of crashes that have occurred where someone has absconded from police travelling at high speeds, going through red lights, travelling on the wrong side of the road. 'When you've got a vehicle doing that, it's a hazard to everyone.' WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said it was a worthy initiative and rejected suggestions there would be privacy concerns. A theatre-goer has said he is 'appalled' that the actor playing Lord Farquaad in a production of Shrek is 'able-bodied and tall.' Bill Nicholson also said he would be boycotting the production at the Theatre Royal Plymouth as he felt people with dwarfism are being frozen out of stage productions. He says taller men and women are being cast instead of dwarfs because the bigger actors are cheaper. A theatre-goer has said he is 'appalled' that an 'able-bodied and tall' actor has been cast as Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical. Pictured is Samuel Holmes in his reduced height costume Lord Farquaad is known for being 'vertically challenged' but the actor who currently plays the character in this production is more than 6ft. Samuel Holmes, the actor who plays the villain in the touring production, spends the play shuffling around on his knees. Mr Nicholson said that he believes that 'dwarfs are being frozen out' due to the fact that they have to receive a higher rate of pay. Theatre Royal in Plymouth responded to the criticism by saying that it does not have any control of casting, and that it embraces diversity, working with theatre companies which aim to break down barriers of disability and champions diversity. But Mr Nicholson said that he was 'appalled' to see that an 'able-bodied and tall actor' was playing the part of Lord Farquaad. In a letter to The Plymouth Herald, Mr Nicholson wrote: 'I am a supporter of the Theatre Royal both in the council tax I pay and the ticket prices I have to cough up to watch shows and of course the pantomime which I and my family have attended for many years. 'Reading The Plymouth Herald newspaper on November 14, I was appalled to see that yet again an able-bodied and tall actor is to play the part of a dwarf in the hit musical Shrek. Bill Nicholson said he would not be attending Shrek The Musical while it is in Plymouth and that 'dwarfs are being frozen out of stage productions in favour of taller actors on a lower salary' 'I understand that this is partly to do with the fact that dwarfs are normally paid a higher salary to play dwarfs than 'taller' people are paid to impersonate them on their knees. 'Gradually dwarfs are being frozen out of stage productions in favour of taller actors on a lower salary. 'The Theatre Royal is following this trend in spite of having thousands to erect a statue which many feel is an abomination especially as council taxpayers are given no choice in, whether to support this or not. 'Our screens are filled each night with scenes from the BBC Rickshaw Challenge featuring a delightful dwarf called Maisie. That is where my money will be going. 'I for one will not be attending the Shrek musical. What next! Snow white and The Seven Tall people.' In an interview about his role as the pint-sized villain, Samuel Holmes, who is originally from Plymouth, said working on his knees was one of the biggest challenges of his career. Shrek the Musical is currently showing at Theatre Royal Plymouth until Saturday, November 24 He said: 'It's hard work because physically I had never done that before - I have done about 28 years of theatre work and have always done it on my feet. 'Then I was thrown this curve ball and this very clever costume and rig to do it on your knees, and it is very comfortable because it is so well constructed. 'But when we do double show weekends, when we do two on a Saturday and two on a Sunday, it can get a little arduous because it is tiring. 'Everything works differently - the diaphragm works differently, how I look at people - everything changes. When I am stood singing I don't have to think about it because I am so used to it. But being four feet two and having to do it is a little more difficult. 'I've constantly got a sore neck because I am constantly looking up at people. 'It's good fun and the audience spend the first 30 seconds when I walk on trying to work out how it's done. 'I can hear them laugh and then after about 30 seconds I no longer want them to think about me as a six foot one man but to look at the character and think that's a four foot two man. 'That's very important because for them to believe it, especially the kids, they have to forget that I am the height I am and just see him as a little man.' The Theatre Royal Plymouth said: 'We aim to bring the best possible theatre to our audiences here in Plymouth and the South West but we have no control over casting for productions playing at TRP as part of a UK tour. 'As a theatre, we embrace diversity. We value difference and individuality, treating everyone as equally important. 'Our work with Graeae has been award winning and we're proud of our relationship with this remarkable theatre company that breaks down barriers and champions diversity. 'We're equally proud of Funky Llama which celebrates the creative talents of adults with disabilities while raising aspirations and challenging perceptions.' Graeae is a force for change in world-class theatre, boldly placing D/deaf and disabled actors centre stage and challenging preconceptions. Shrek the Musical is currently showing at Theatre Royal Plymouth until Saturday, November 24. President Donald Trump is likely to give U.S. troops authority to protect immigration agents stationed along the U.S. border with Mexico if they come under threat from migrants seeking to cross into the United States, a U.S. official said. Ahead of U.S. congressional elections earlier this month, Trump denounced the approach of a caravan of migrants as an 'invasion' that threatened American national security, and he sent thousands of U.S. troops to the border to help secure it. Currently, the troops do not have authority to protect U.S. Customs and Border Patrol personnel - what is known as a 'force protection mandate'. The new authority could be announced on Tuesday, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. U.S. officials briefly closed the busiest border crossing from Mexico early on Monday to add concrete barricades and razor wire amid concerns some of the thousands of Central American migrants at the border could try to rush the crossing. Watching eye: Troops will be given authority to use force to protect Border Patrol agents under a move being suggested by government sources Don't shoot: Currently U.S. forces on the border are acting only to reinforce the border with barbed wire and other measures but the move by the Trump administration could see them using their weapons Heavily-armed: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Special Response Team officers stand guard at the San Ysidro Port of Entry after the land border crossing was temporarily closed to traffic from Tijuana, Mexico on Monday Pedestrians stand near barbed wire at a legal Mexico-U.S. border crossing as they prepare to leave Tijuana, Mexico, Monday. The United States closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the busiest border crossing with Mexico, leading to delays Northbound lanes at the San Ysidro crossing from Tijuana to San Diego, California, were temporarily closed 'to position additional port hardening materials,' a U.S. CBP spokesperson said. A Department of Homeland Security official, who requested anonymity, told reporters on a conference call that U.S. officials had heard reports some migrants were intending to run through border crossings into California. The closing was rare for the station, which is one of the busiest border crossings in the world with tens of thousands Mexicans heading every day into the United States to work or study. 'Today was a lost day of work. I already called my boss to tell her that everything was closed and I did not know what time I would be able to get in,' said Maria Gomez, a Mexican woman who crosses the border every day for work. 'I cannot believe this is happening.' Trump had remained mostly silent about the caravan since the Nov. 6 vote, but on Monday he posted a photo on Twitter showing a fence that runs from the beach in Tijuana into the ocean now covered with razor wire. Critics charged that his talk of a migrant 'invasion' was an effort to rouse his political base ahead of the elections. Officials have stressed that the 5,900 active-duty U.S. troops on the border are not there in a law enforcement capacity and that there are no plans for them to interact with migrants. Concertina wire is pictured as people wait in line at the San Ysidro Port of Entry after the land border crossing was temporarily closed to foot and vehicle traffic from Tijuana, Mexico on Monday Soldiers are beginning to install concertina wire and fencing along a stretch of the Rio Grande river in southwest Texas as Donald Trump prepares for the migrant 'invasion' from Central America Instead, their mission is to lend support to the CBP, and they have been stringing up concertina wire and erecting temporary housing. The commander of the mission told Reuters last week that the number of troops may have peaked, and he would soon look at whether to begin sending forces home or shifting some to new border positions. About 6,000 Central Americans have reached the border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali, according to local officials. More bands of migrants are making their way toward Tijuana, with around 10,000 expected. Hundreds of local residents on Sunday massed at a monument in a wealthy neighborhood of Tijuana to protest the arrival of the migrants, with some carrying signs that said 'Mexico first' and 'No more migrants.' Last month, thousands of Central American migrants began a long journey from Honduras through Mexico toward the United States to seek asylum. Other bands of mostly Salvadorans followed, with a small group setting off on Sunday from San Salvador. An atheist with pale skin who wears a head scarf to protect herself from the sun was confused for a Muslim and abused on the street. Erin Murphy, who lives at Bundaberg, north of Brisbane, was with her husband, sitting in the passenger seat of their car, when a teenage boy took exception to her pale, blue head scarf. The youth on his bike yelled 'go home' to the 29-year-old woman, who wears a head covering to protect her neck from the sun, following a long history of having pre-cancerous moles removed. An atheist with pale skin who wears a head scarf to protect herself from the sun was confused for a Muslim and yelled at on the street 'I s*** you not my darlings, I just had some teenage **** stain on his bike - without his helmet done up - tell me to "go home",' she told her Facebook friends minutes after the encounter. Ms Murphy said the episode on Targo Street, near Bundaberg's Hinkler Central mall on Monday afternoon, shortly after 4.30, had left had shaken, even though she isn't a Muslim. 'I was bewildered. I was angry and it left me frustrated and generally perplexed,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday. 'I don't know that person. They don't know me. They can't just assume because I'm wearing a scarf over my head to protect myself from the sun, automatically makes me Muslim.' Erin Murphy (pictured), who lives at Bundaberg a four-hour drive north of Brisbane, was with her husband, sitting in the passenger seat of their car, when a teenage boy yelled at her The atheist, whose Irish father converted to Islam, said the episode reminded her of the discrimination Muslims faced in Australia. 'Considering my dad was Muslim and I've got a couple of Muslim friends, that's not okay,' she said. 'Although I'm an atheist myself, people have the right to be religious. 'Even if the hijab wasn't a religious thing, it's more of a modesty for women to feel more comfortable going out into town, it's frustrating. It really freaking is.' A teenager on his bike yelled 'go home' to the 29-year-old woman, who wears a head scarf to protect her neck from the sun (Facebook post describing the incident pictured) The woman also suffers from anxiety. For the past six years, she has worn a head scarf to protect her pale, Irish-Celtic complexion from the sun. 'It actually covers my neck and sunscreen, it's not as effective in physically covering your skin,' she said. She has had 10 moles removed, including six which were pre-cancerous. The first one was removed when she was just five years old. The atheist (pictured), whose Irish father converted to Islam, said the episode reminded her of the discrimination Muslims faced in Australia 'Because I've already had pre-cancerous moles removed, I've got to be extra careful,' Ms Murphy said. 'It's a trait on my father's side of the family for melanoma and cancer in general.' Ms Murphy, who was born in Sydney and grew up in Bundaberg, said she was no longer angry at the boy, who appeared to be 15 or 16. 'I wouldn't necessarily be angry at him. I'm be angry at how society has demonised people from other countries,' she said. 'I'd probably just sit down with him and say, "Why do you think these things?" Erin Murphy (pictured), who was born in Sydney and grew up in Bundaberg, said she was no longer angry at the boy, who appeared to be 15 or 16 The woman had support on Facebook, with a Muslim nurse telling her Islamic women who wore hijabs regularly encountered this kind of abuse '"Why do you assume that just because I'm wearing a piece of cloth on my head that I need to go home? This is my home".' The woman, who also has indigenous heritage, had support on Facebook, with a Muslim nurse telling her Islamic women who wore hijabs regularly encountered this kind of abuse. 'Unfortunately that's what a lot of us Muslim women go through on a daily basis wish it didn't have to be that way,' she said. Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti claims he will be 'fully exonerated' by a now-deleted Instagram post his accuser shared in the hours after he allegedly assaulted her. Mareli Miniutti, an Estonian actress who has appeared in Ocean's Eight, was revealed as the woman who claimed the lawyer, who represents Daniels in her legal battles against President Donald Trump, struck her. Avenatti, 47, was booked for felony domestic assault after he allegedly struck the woman last Tuesday. Her face was 'swollen and bruised' with 'red marks' on both cheeks, law enforcement sources told TMZ. Miniutti filed the domestic violence restraining order against Avenatti in Los Angeles on Monday and a hearing has been set for December 10, The Blast reported. But Avenatti hit back against the allegations on Monday, denying he struck the woman near his ritzy Los Angeles apartment and claimed he would be vindicated by video evidence. He claims his accuser had posted something on Instagram in the hours after the incident that showed her claims were 'bogus.' Avenatti appears to be referring to videos posted on Minuitti's Instagram story - shared in the hours after Avenatti was taken into custody last Wednesday, according to HillReporter. They show a carefree Miniutti laughing and apparently bruise-free - although she may have concealed her injuries with make-up. Scroll down for video Laywer Michael Avenatti claims he will be 'fully exonerated' by a now-deleted Instagram post (above) his accuser, Mareli Miniutti shared in the hours after he allegedly assaulted her 'There is nothing more powerful than video evidence. NOTHING! I will be fully exonerated,' Avenatti tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday He later added that posts that could quash her claims had been shared on her Instagram account that was made private after her restraining order filed at Santa Monica Court House 'There is nothing more powerful than video evidence. NOTHING! I will be fully exonerated,' Avenatti tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday. He earlier hinted that Miniutti has shared posts he said 'undercut' her claims on her Instagram page, which she made private after the restraining order she filed was made public . 'People think they are so smart. Until they post stuff on IG that undercuts their bogus, fabricated claims they made less than 24 hrs earlier. We can't wait for justice!' Avenatti wrote on Twitter, He also hit back at the claims on Monday, writing: 'I look forward to a full clearing of my name and disclosure of all of the facts. I have NEVER abused a woman or committed domestic violence against anyone. 'Any claim to the contrary is completely bogus and fabricated. I am a target. And I will be exonerated.' Blink and you will miss: Mareli Miniutti (center) is seen in her brief appearance in Ocean's 8 - as star Anne Hathaway walks behind They show a carefree Miniutti laughing and apparently bruise-free - although she may have concealed her injuries with make-up Michael Avenatti's accuser has been revealed as Mareli Miniutti, an Estonian actress in her 20s She has appeared in movies starring several big names including Rebel Wilson and Liev Schreiber Miniutti portrayed Met Gala star Cassandra in Ocean's 8 and has other acting credits to her name including 2016's Liev Scriber flick Chuck, Forgetting Sandy Glass and How to Be Single, which starred funny woman Rebel Wilson. In 2018 she's due to appear in Sargasso and Crypto with the likes of Kurt Russel, Luke Hemsworth and Alexis Bledel. Her Instagram bio tells visitors: 'Don't confuse Instagram for real life.' She also began to remove images from her Facebook page Monday. Avanatti's accuser was formerly reported to be his estranged wife, Lisa Storey-Avenatti. But the attorney's wife later released a statement saying she had not seen Avenatti in months, and that he would never be violent to a woman. In 2018 Miniutti's due to appear in Sargasso and Crypto with the likes of Kurt Russel, Luke Hemsworth and Alexis Bledel 'I have known Michael Avenatti for over 26 years we met when he was 21 years old and we were married for 13 years,' she tweeted after his arrest. 'Michael has ALWAYS been a kind loving father to our two daughters and husband to me. He has NEVER been abusive to me or anyone else. He is a good man.' The attorney's fall from grace started shortly after with several people, including actress Alyssa Milano, disavowing him. First it was Milano who called the allegations 'totally disgusting' in a tweet. 'I'm disavowing Avenatti. I do not care what side he's on,' the Charmed actress said Wednesday. She began to remove images from her Facebook page Monday Miniutti made her Instagram account private on the day her restraining order was filed Miniutti's Instagram account was switched to private mode after her restraining order filed at Santa Monica Court House emerged Michael Avenatti's accuser was revealed as Mareli Miniutti, an Estonian actress in her 20s Then it was the hosts from The View followed by Democrats in Vermont who pledged to disavow Avenatti if the allegations are true, along with his client Stormy Daniels who said she'll even consider getting a new lawyer. Daniels also released a statement to DailyMail.com on Thursday, saying the allegations were 'serious and obviously very troubling'. 'But right now that is all they are: allegations,' she added. 'I do not condone violence against women and if these allegations prove true I will be seeking new representation.' The Vermont Democratic Party canceled events planned for Friday and Saturday, where Avenatti was scheduled to speak, and is refunding ticket sales. He had expressed interested in being a candidate for the 2020 elections. Avenatti again called the claims 'bogus' after her identity was revealed Monday Miniutti appears in The Go Girls from 2017. She has also appeared in Chuck and How to Be Single Since his November 15 arrest, Avenatti has denied the claims of domestic violence and even went so far to say that he was set up. 'I have never struck a woman, I never will strike a woman,' Avenatti told reporters Wednesday after being booked and posting $50,000 bail. Avenatti said he has been an advocate for women's rights his entire career and is confident that he will be exonerated. He also released a statement through his law firm slamming the allegation as 'completely bogus' and intended to harm his reputation. She was reportedly wearing sunglasses to conceal the alleged bruises on her face Sources told TMZ that Avenatti and the woman had a confrontation on the evening of November 13. The unnamed woman was seen running out of the apartment and screaming into her cell phone while wearing sunglasses to conceal the alleged bruises on her face. 'I can't believe you did this to me,' she reportedly yelled into the phone. Security guards then led the woman back inside the building, according to TMZ. Five minutes later, Avenatti showed up and ran into the building, chasing after her. 'She hit me first,' Avenatti is reported to have said repeatedly. 'This is bulls***, this is f***ing bulls***.' Stormy Daniels released a statement to DailyMail.com on Thursday, saying if the allegations 'prove true I will be seeking new representation' Avenatti claimed that his domestic violence arrest was a set up from the same man being investigated by the FBI for a smear campaign against Robert Mueller. 'First Mueller and now me,' Avenatti tweeted on Thursday morning. 'When we are fully exonerated I am coming for you Jacob Wohl aka Surefire.' Surefire's domain was connected to Wohl, 20, a right-wing conspiracy theorist. Wohl wrote a Gateway Pundit article claiming Mueller raped a woman in 2010. Two women said the company offered to pay them to make false claims against him. Seemingly boosting Avenatti's claims are the fact that Surefire's official Twitter account tweeted shortly after news of his arrest broke on Wednesday. 'Surefire Intelligence strikes again,' read the tweet, which was replying to a headline that read: 'Michael Avenatti has been arrested for felony domestic violence and is currently in LAPD custody'. This is the moment a police officer sprays a disabled pensioner's dog with capsicum spray and threatens to shoot the animal after arresting his owner. In September 2013, Lytha Owlstara, 59, was arrested at her home after failing to stop when Senior Constable James Hurtak signalled for her to pull her vehicle over. During the arrest, Ms Owlstara's husky, Max, became agitated and growled at the officer as he tried to push him away from his owner. The dog then appears to bite Mr Hurtag. Footage then shows Mr Hurtak aiming capsicum spray at the animal and accusing the dog of biting him before saying: 'He's lucky if I don't shoot him.' The arrest was filmed on Constable Hurtak's dashcam and has emerged as part of an ABC investigation. A NSW court heard Mr Hurtak was driving behind Ms Owlstara's vehicle when his in-car computer detected she had an expired registration. The police officer flashed his red and blue lights but Ms Owlstara failed to stop and instead continued to her home and drove into her garage. Footage from the incident that follows shows the police officer park up outside Ms Owlstara's house and run into the garage with his firearm drawn. In September 2013, Lytha Owlstara 59 at the time was arrested at her home after failing to stop when Senior Constable James Hurtak signalled for her to pull her vehicle over During the arrest, Ms Owlstara's husky, Max, became agitated and growled at the officer as he tried to push him away from his owner. The police officer then used capsicum spray on the dog and threatened to shoot it He then pulls Ms Owlstara out in front of the car in handcuffs and pushes her to the ground, accusing her of failing to stop when directed by police and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle. Max the husky is visible throughout and Ms Owlstara is repeatedly heard asking if she can put him inside. At one point, Mr Hurtak attempts to pull Ms Owlstara to her feet but she says: 'I can't, I've got spinal injuries, I tried to tell you that.' Mr Hurtak is later seen swinging the disabled pensioner around by her jumper, and Ms Owlstara is now suing NSW Police over her arrest. Ms Owlstara told the court she did not stop her car when she saw flashing lights as she was driving well below the speed limit and did not believe the police car was pursuing. Mr Hurtak is later seen swinging the disabled pensioner around by her jumper, and Ms Owlstara is now suing NSW Police over her arrest Mr Hurtak, meanwhile, claims he didn't know who was driving the car and that he only drew his firearm as he wasn't sure what awaited him in the garage. NSW Police have defended Mr Hurtak's story throughout the trial, but Magistrate Mary Ryan said she had never seen anything like this before. 'I'm flabbergasted. What has worried me about this particular case is that it seems that, given the information the constable had, perhaps, it seems to be a gross over-reaction given the cohort,' she said. Ms Owlstara pleaded guilty to the charge, but at her sentencing hearing, these charges were dismissed as it became evident the police officer's in-car computer had wrongly detected that her licence was suspended. A NSW Police Force spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia they 'conducted an internal investigation into alleged misconduct by an officer in 2013'. 'The matter was also independently investigated by the NSW Ombudsman and no findings against the officer were sustained by either review,' the spokesperson said. 'A civil complaint against the State of NSW remains before the courts and due to sub judice, it would be inappropriate to comment further.' The case is now awaiting judgement. A shocking amount of schoolies are ditching booze and risking their lives by taking illicit pills. More than 22,000 school graduates flocked to the Gold Coast in Queensland this week to let their hair down and celebrate their graduation. During festivities, several teen revellers confessed to news.com.au they were under the influence of MDMA or caps, and had not come across someone who hadn't taken drugs. More than 22,000 school graduates flocked to the Gold Coast in Queensland this week to let their hair down and celebrate their graduation (pictured) Several teenagers have confessed that they were under the influence of MDMA or caps (stock) 'Everyone is on stuff...it's cheaper and when you take pills you're just up a bit and relaxed,' Josh said. He told the publication the only bad side effect is when you're coming off the high, you begin to crave more of the illegal substance. The 18-year-old said he and his mates can easily find drugs because they're locals. Man of the teenagers that chatted with news.com.au said they would be open to trying drugs, as long as it was a small amount. They also said they would try it because 'it's Schoolies and would be a good memory'. Most of the teenagers said they would be open to trying drugs, as long as it was a small amount Many said it's important to take substances while surrounded by 'people you trust' and not feel pressured by friends. While the drugs are easy to find, their prices can be steep. One teenager confessed he bought a bag of cocaine for $300, but said it wasn't very good because it was starting to wear off. MDMA costs a lot less, roughly $20 a capsule. Transport New South Wales has been mocked for boasting about its trains running on time. A Twitter account for the much-maligned Sydney train network regularly posts when services are due to arrive on schedule. One traveller shared a series of tweets from Sydney train lines to Reddit on Monday, accusing them of showing off about the services running as normal. One traveller shared a series of tweets from Sydney train lines to Reddit on Monday, accusing them of showing off about the services running as normal Transport NSW has been mocked for boasting about its trains running on time 'Sydney Trains now just tweeting when trains are on time, not tweeting when there are delays!' they said. Another person said the tweets matched a common joke shared among the Sydney Reddit community. 'We have long joked on this (sub-Reddit) that since train delays are now the norm, there should be posts to let people know when trains are actually on time, instead of when they are delayed... well it looks like Sydney Trains has officially adopted this idea,' they said. Another person said the tweets 'perfectly describe Sydney's attitude'. A Twitter account for the much-maligned Sydney train network regularly posts when services are due to arrive on schedule 'F**k it and embrace it,' they said. One person pointed out that the Sydney Trains accounts also posted about delays. 'It's not the same as ''never'' tweeting about delays. Their Twitter accounts are a good way to get information about delays,' they said. A baby girl found dead in the shallows of a popular Gold Coast beach was living with her homeless parents in a hut made from sticks prior to her death. The horrific living conditions of the nine-month-old girl's family have been unveiled a day after her body was found at Surfers Paradise beach at 12.30am on Monday. Sitting in sand dunes only metres from the surf, the shack made of dead wood and twigs was home to the baby girl, her two-year-old brother and their parents - dad, 48 and mum, 23. As police continue to search for answers about how the infant wound up dead in the sand, local residents have told how they reported the young family's shocking living conditions to authorities, yet nothing seemed to be done about it. Scroll down for video The sad living conditions of the family of a nine-month-girl found dead on a Surfers Paradise beach on Monday morning have been unveiled (pictured) Nappies and an empty bucket of KFC (pictured) lie on the ground just metres from the shelter made from sticks and twigs Just metres away is a regular thoroughfare for locals and tourists looking to enjoy some of the best beaches in Australia Reverend Jon Brooks, head of a local housing crisis centre, told Daily Mail Australia the family lived 'as rough as it gets'. 'Anybody who does it homeless does it poorly, but if it is the family I believe it might be, they were in the worst position you could find yourself in,' Rev Brooks said. 'I wasn't aware they'd been living in a humpy - the last I knew they were moving from toilet blocks, to parks, to even under bridges.' 'They moved up here from down south and we gave them assistance with a different organisation that houses homeless people up here. We also provided them meals at lunch time.' A local resident told The Gold Coast Bulletin she often heard the infant 'crying in the night' as she walked past their hut. 'Why was the baby left with the parents, just why?' they said. Another woman wrote on Facebook that she told police of the family's hut, fearing the young children were being exposed to the elements at night. 'It was winter and the dunes were freezing every time the sun went down. I didn't think that was good for a baby or toddler,' she wrote. The little girl was found dead by the water (pictured) in the early hours of Monday. Paramedics desperately tried to revive the little girl but she was pronounced dead at the scene (pictured) Touching tributes were left at the scene on Tuesday, little more than 24 hours after the tragedy unfolded Strangers left balloons and children's toys near the scene of the infant's death on Monday 'I reported it straight away and monitored the following week. And if authorities did the job correctly this little girl would still be here!' Police are continuing to hold the baby girl's parents in custody, but have not yet laid charges. Late on Monday night the couple's two-year-old son was located safe by authorities and taken into care. Emergency services were called to Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise, on Monday in response to a member of the public reporting an unresponsive infant on the beach. Paramedics desperately tried to revive the little girl but she was pronounced dead at the scene, with police now treating the death as 'unnatural'. An investigation is underway to officially determine her cause of death but there are reports she had been in the water at some point prior to being found on the sand. Despite the Gold Coast normally being associated with glitz and glamour, the death of the girl has revealed there are many living it rough by the beach (Pictured is a homeless tent similar to the one the girl's family previously lived in) Local church reverend Jon Brooks said the baby girl's family were living 'as rough as it gets' (Pictured are the belongings of one person living it rough) The tragic reality of the infant's life has been revealed - a far cry from the glitz and glamour that is normally associated with Surfers Paradise (pictured) Police have established a crime scene along the section of Surfers Paradise beach (pictured) where the little girl was found dead 'The body was located on the edge of the surf, so clearly it had been in water, I don't know how long for,' Detective Inspector Marc Hogan said on Monday. 'It's a very tragic event. It's a very sad situation.' The girl's body was discovered by a member of the public, who was not believed to be a Schoolie. Teenagers flock to the area from mid-December to mark the end of their high school education, but police have confirmed the girl's death is not connected to Schoolies. One mother said her daughter - who was near the scene when the infant was found - was devastated when she found out what had happened. A resident said they saw an ambulance and heard screaming on the beach. 'But with the Schoolies around at the moment there's lots of screaming going on, it's impossible to know whether it was harmless fun or not,' the resident said. Detective Inspector Marc Hogan (pictured) told media: 'It's a very tragic event. It's a very sad situation' Detective Inspector Hogan said there were no visible signs of injury on the girl but the police investigation was still in its early stages. The Homicide squad are leading the investigation with the help of New South Wales police as the couple had 'some movement' between the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads. Police are checking CCTV footage from around the area as part of their investigations. Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444. The United States has joined Australia in planning to build a new military base in Papua New Guinea to ward off Chinese influence in the Pacific. The announcement from U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in Port Moresby, has occurred four months after former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull floated the idea with PNG. Under the deal, the United States will partner with Australia to redevelop the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island, which is also home to asylum seekers. The United States has joined Australia in planning to build a new military base in Papua New Guinea to ward off Chinese influence in the Pacific (pictured is a map of Manus Island) U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (pictured at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in Port Moresby) announced the Manus Island idea four months after Malcolm Turnbull floated it 'We will work with these nations to protect the sovereignty and maritime rights of Pacific islands as well,' Mr Pence told the APEC summit. 'And you can be confident, the U.S. will continue to uphold the freedom of the seas and the skies.' The deal, announced at the APEC summit on Saturday, is set to heighten geopolitical tensions with China, which is also Australia's biggest two-way trading partner. The U.S., Australia's biggest defence ally, has been engaged in a long-running dispute with China over maritime routes in the South China Sea. Under the deal, the United States will partner with Australia to redevelop the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island (pictured), which is also home to asylum seekers Washington is also concerned Beijing may use its increased influence, as a provider of foreign aid to poorer Pacific nations, to secure access to infrastructure that could be used for military purposes, including deep-water ports and wharfs. A Chinese presence on Manus Island could also hamper the American military's ability to navigate the Pacific, particularly if China has close access to American bases at Guam. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier this month announced his government would fund the redevelopment of the Manus Island naval base with PNG's support. Australia ran the base until PNG gained independence in 1975. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured in Port Moresby) earlier this month announced his government would fund the redevelopment of the Manus Island naval base with PNG's support Six weeks before he was overthrown as PM, Malcolm Turnbull discussed with this PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill the idea of re-developing the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island Manus Island was also a major U.S. naval station during World War II, playing a key role in Washington's Pacific strategy against Japan. Manus Island is PNG's smallest province with a population of about 50,000 people. PNG's navy is made up largely of patrol boats, mostly donated by Australia, and landing craft. In July, six weeks before he was brought down by a second Liberal Party leadership challenge, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull discussed with his then PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill the idea of re-developing the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island. The political leaders met in Brisbane on July 11, with The Australian learning Mr O'Neill was 'very interested' in the idea and had even put his support in writing. The base, run by Australia for 25 years until PNG gained independence in 1975, would be capable of hosting Australian and American warships on Manus Island The base, run by Australia for 25 years until PNG gained independence in 1975, would be capable of hosting Australian and American warships on Manus Island, where asylum seekers are sent for processing. The Australian Defence Force is understood to be conducting a scoping study of the area, with News Corp Australia reporting the former Turnbull government had wanted a deal signed with PNG before this month's Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit, which is being held in Port Moresby. Chinese President Xi Jinping also hosted a special APEC conference for regional leaders in the PNG capital. Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured this week in Manila) also hosted a special APEC conference for regional leaders in the PNG capital The idea of stationing Australian and American naval warships in the area is set to infuriate China, with Beijing in 2011 expressing diplomatic concern about U.S. marines being stationed in Darwin. While China is Australia's biggest two-way trading partner, Australia is suspicious about Chinese espionage activity, banning telecommunications firm Huawei from bidding for the National Broadband Network. In July, Mr Turnbull signed a deal for Australia to fund a $136 million internet cable between Australia, PNG and the Solomon Islands in a bid to stop Huawei from doing so. He attended the State of Origin with Mr O'Neill and Solomon Islands PM Rick Houenipwela as part of the diplomatic charm offensive, as the Queensland Maroons defeated the New South Wales Blues 18-12. A jilted lover who killed his former fiancee, a pharmacist and a young cop at a Chicago hospital demanded that his ex return the ring he gave her before opening fire. Juan Lopez, a Chicago Housing Authority worker, shot his former partner Dr Tamara O'Neal repeatedly in the parking lot of Mercy Hospital on Monday. The pair were supposed to have gotten married three weeks ago, according to their online gift registry, but she called it off. After killing Dr O'Neal, Lopez went inside the hospital where he fatally shot 25-year-old pharmacy resident Dayna Less and Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez, 28. He then shot at a second police officer who escaped injury when the bullet lodged in the barrel of his handgun while it was holstered on his belt. Lopez was then shot dead by SWAT officers. Scroll down for video Juan Lopez, 32, gunned down his ex-fiancee Tamara O'Neal, 38, (pictured together) in the parking lot of Mercy Hospital in Chicago on Monday. O'Neal was an ER doctor at the hospital Lopez shot Dr O'Neal three times in the parking lot before she could begin her shift as an ER doctor at the hospital. He then stood over her body and fired three more rounds He also killed Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez, 28, (pictured). Jimenez had only just completed his probationary period. He was a father of three Lopez then went inside the hospital and killed 25-year-old Dayna Less (pictured), a first-year pharmacy resident at Mercy who was engaged to be married Lopez also shot at a second police officer, but the bullet struck his holster and embedded into the gun (pictured). He was not injured Witnesses said the shooting began around 3.30pm when Lopez confronted Dr O'Neal in the parking lot. She was wearing her medical scrubs and was about to start her shift as an ER doctor at the hospital. Lopez demanded Dr O'Neal give back the ring he gave her, WGNTV reports, then shot her three times when she told him she didn't have it. She and Lopez had reportedly planned to wed on October 27, but Dr O'Neal called off the wedding in September. It is not yet known why Dr O'Neal broke off her engagement with Lopez. He stood over her body and fired three more rounds, witnesses said, before making his way inside the hospital. It was there that he shot and killed Less, a first-year pharmacy resident at Mercy who was engaged to be married. Lopez then killed Jimenez - a married father-of-three who had only just completed his probationary period on the Chicago police force. There was a 'verbal altercation' between O'Neal and Lopez in the parking lot, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson said during a press conference on Monday night. A witness who was sitting in a van with nursing home patients in the parking lot said Dr O'Neal had run to them for help. 'She got on the phone and she was trying to call the police,' the witness told WGN. 'She asked us not to leave her alone because he is going to kill her.' The witness said Lopez then approached O'Neal and demanded that she give him a ring. Dr O'Neal told him that she didn't have it. Then, he pulled out a gun. Steve Mixon, a clerk at the emergency room, said Lopez had called around 1pm and asked 'to speak with his fiancee'. Witnesses said Lopez shot O'Neal in the hospital parking lot before rushing inside and opening fire at others O'Neal and Lopez were due to marry on October 27, but she called the wedding off in September. O'Neal is pictured here with Lopez's mother, who caption the photo 'my future daughter-in-law' Dr O'Neal, an ER doctor at the hospital, was reporting for work when she was confronted by Lopez just before 3.30pm Lopez shot Less (pictured) just as she was getting off an elevator as his rampage continued inside the hospital Lopez, 32, died inside the hospital after he was reportedly shot by a SWAT team officer The hospital was partially evacuated following reports of an active shooter and a stream of doctors in white coats and scrubs could be seen leaving Mercy Witnesses said Lopez targeted O'Neal in the parking lot, shooting her at least six times before going inside the hospital 'She said, "Oh, just tell him I'm with a patient,"' Mixon told the Chicago Tribune. As Mixon waited for his Uber in front of the hospital after leaving work around 3pm, he saw Dr O'Neal 'being harassed by some gentleman'. 'She was trying to avoid him and move around. And when she saw me, she waved for me to come that way,' he recalled. Mixon had started running to Dr O'Neal when Lopez opened fire. He then ran back into the emergency room to try and get help. James Gray saw Lopez and Dr O'Neal talking to one another in the parking lot when he suddenly pulled out a gun. 'The gentleman turned around and shot three times in the chest,' Gray told WLS. 'Once she fell to the ground, he turned around and shot her three more times'. After Lopez shot Dr O'Neal again, he opened fire at a police car that began driving towards him and then entered the hospital. 'Officers observed him with a handgun,' Johnson said. 'He fired multiple shots before they could exit the squad car.' Lopez is pictured here wearing a mask at his office on Halloween. Lopez went to work as usual just hours before his hospital rampage Officers did a 'methodical search' of the hospital (pictured is a SWAT team inside the hospital) After Lopez shot O'Neal again, he shot at a police car that began driving towards him and then entered the hospital The cops gave chase and put out an officers need assistance call, which Jimenez and his partner responded to. 'When they pulled up, they heard the gunshots,' Johnson said. 'They did what the heroic officers always do, they ran towards the gunfire.' 'They weren't assigned to that particular call, but they went.' Lopez then shot Less just as she was getting off an elevator. 'That poor woman got off an elevator,' Johnson said. 'She had nothing to do with nothing, and he shot her. Why?' Lopez also shot at a second police officer, but the bullet struck his holster and embedded into the gun. He was not injured. Gray said the scene inside the hospital was 'mass chaos'. Plain clothes Chicago police officer salute the arrival of the body of officer Jimenez at the Cook County Medical Examiners office The procession was held in honor of Jimenez as his body was taken from the hospital to the morgue on Monday night A Chicago police officer carries a blue and white flag as he and other officers and firefighters file into the the Cook County Medical Examiners office 'Once he entered, he just started shooting at random,' Gray told NBC Chicago. 'It looked like he was turning and pointing at people at random.' Witness Hector Aditia was watching television in the hospital's waiting room when he saw Lopez shoot O'Neal. Aditia said Lopez reloaded twice, firing '32 bullets each' time, once he went inside the hospital. 'He was shooting like a maniac,' Aditia told the Chicago Tribune. 'And he obviously knows how to shoot because he was holding the gun with both hands.' 'I was trying to help out as much as I could. Get people out of the way of the windows. Because he could have easily just aimed at us too.' Lopez died inside the hospital after he was shot in the head by a SWAT team officer, according to CBS Chicago. Jimenez was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. He died from his injuries just after 7.30pm. A procession from the hospital to Cook County Morgue was held for Jimenez on Monday night. Chicago firefighters and police officers line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office waiting for the remains of Jimenez Police and firefighters follow the ambulance carrying the remains of Jimenez as it arrives at the Cook County Medical Examiner's office People are seen inside the main entrance of Mercy Hospital on Monday night, hours after the horrific shooting 'Today the Fraternal Order of Police lost a valued brother, a courageous police officer who got up this morning went to work and wanted to protect the city of Chicago,' said Kevin Graham, president of the Fraternal Order of Police. 'He did just that, but he did so with his life.' Police did a 'methodical search' of the hospital following the shooting and 15 ambulances arrived at the scene. A hospital employee said a notice came over Mercy's public address system telling everyone in the hospital to lock their doors. The hospital was later 'partially evacuated' and people were put on Chicago Transit Authority buses while officers searched Mercy. Hospital workers had completed active shooter drills less than two weeks before Lopez's rampage. Mayor Rahm Emanuel paid tribute to the victims during a press conference on Monday night as he spoke of the shooting. 'The city of Chicago lost a doctor, a pharmaceutical assistant, and a police officer,' he said. 'All going about their day, all doing what they love.' 'This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and the consequence of evil.' 'I ask each of us to hold our children, our loved ones, closer, remember what is important in life, and that there are others who are part of our larger family who will have a tear and a hole that will never really heal, that will always have a scar.' Employees and patients were put on Chicago Transit Authority buses (pictured) while police searched the hospital Emergency vehicles could still be seen outside Mercy Hospital hours after the shooting Johnson called Jimenez and his fellow responding officers heroes. 'Those officers that responded today saved a lot of lives because this guy was just shooting,' he said. 'We just don't know how much damage he was prepared to do.' One of Lopez's co-workers took to social media to express their shock when news broke about the shooting. 'My heart is broken to know someone you worked with could do such a horrific crime,' she wrote. 'I broke bread with him, picked up and dropped him off at home and even sat on my couch [as he] expressed his concerns about his recent break-up because they were supposed to be married in October. He was at work this morning.' Less, who was planning a spring wedding, was due to go home to Indiana on Tuesday to spend Thanksgiving with her family. Friends said O'Neal was a Christian who was 'very involved in her church' and actively volunteered at school clinics. 'She truly had a big heart that felt more than most,' one friend said. Dr Patrick Connor, head of Emergency Medicine at Mercy Hospital, called O'Neal one of 'the most fascinating, hard working people'. 'From the Mercy family, to the community that we serve, for our physicians and technicians and first responders, we train for this, but we never think we have to experience what we've had today,' he said. 'We'll all need healing to say the least.' Mayor Rahm Emanuel (pictured with Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson) paid tribute to the victims during a press conference on Monday night as he spoke of the shooting Dr John Purakal had tried to save O'Neal's life. 'I knew her, trained with her, saved lives with her and tonight, tried to save her life,' he wrote on Twitter. 'Tonight, I broke down in front of my coworkers when we lost her, and tonight I held hands with her mother in prayer. Tonight, we lost a beautiful, resilient, passionate doc. Keep singing, TO.' O'Neal attended medical school and completed her residency at the University of Illinois. When she was accepted into UIC's residency program, O'Neal said she was excited to save lives. 'You get to impact so many people from so many walks of life,' O'Neal told Illinois Medicine. 'I'm so overwhelmed by so many emotions. I know the future is going to be great. I know I'm going to be the best physician I can possibly be.' President Donald Trump on Monday shared a message of support for the grieving families of the 44 crew members on a submarine that sank a year ago. In the run-up to his visit to Argentina later this month, the US president posted on Twitter after images emerged of the submarine on the seabed. 'I hope the discovery and eventual recovery of the Argentine submarine San Juan brings needed closure to the wonderful families of those brave missing sailors,' he said before mentioning South American leader Mauricio Macri in his social media post. Scroll down for video US President Donald Trump (pictured Monday with Melania Trump) tweeted a message of support Monday night for the families of the Argentine submarine victims He said he hopes the discovery and recovery bring closure to grieving families Relatives of the 44 crew members of the missing at sea ARA San Juan submarine attend a demonstration outside the Argentine Naval Base where the submarine sailed from, in Mar del Plata, Argentina on November 18 'I look forward to hearing more from my friend President @mauriciomacri in Argentina later this month.' The pair will both be present at the G2O summit which is the first to be held on the continent and the 13th meeting of the 20 figures from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 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 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 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 on the seabed Pictures taken by an underwater robot show the submarine's propeller 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 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. A centenarian, who unzipped his fly and exposed himself to a 94-year-old women at their resident care centre, has had his indecent assault charge dismissed on mental health grounds. On Monday, the 102-year-old man pleaded guilty in Waverley Local Court, in Sydney, to the October incident, during which he also grabbed her by the shoulders with both hands. According to a police statement of facts, a nurse at the facility witnessed the event and heard the cognitively impaired women say 'no' twice. Waverley Local Court (pictured) where a 102-year-old pensioner had his sexual assault charge dismissed under Section 32 of the Mental Health Act The concerned nurse then notified police of the attack. The man was discharged unconditionally and his aggravated indecent assault charge was dismissed under Section 32 of the Mental Health Act. An AVO application taken out by police on behalf of the elderly woman is also likely to be withdrawn in court on December 20. A baptism ceremony went horribly wrong when a priest lost his grip on the baby who fell face first into the baptismal font. Video footage shows a family, including the baby's parents and godparents, standing around the baptismal font in a church along with the priest. A woman who is gently cradling the baby, carefully hands the child over to the priest to baptize the child with water. The baby can be seen her falling face first into the fountain after the priest let the child slip He then places the baby in the baptismal font and blesses the child's head with water. However the ceremony takes a turn for the worst when the priest appears to let the infant slip from his hands. The baby then screams hysterically as it faceplants into the baptismal font as its parents and family look on in horror. Faceplanting is a term used to describe someone who involuntarily fall forwards so that their face comes into contact with the surface they fall into. The godmother quickly grabs the baby and hands the child back to its mother as she does her best to comfort and cradle the it in a blanket. The ceremony is going smoothly when the baby is handed over to the priest who blesses it with water The priest then loses his grip on the infant and the child lands face first in the baptismal font The godmother quickly grabs the baby and hands the child back to its mother as she does her best to comfort and cradle the it in a blanket The parents do their best to smile awkwardly at the end of the video while drying the baby as the priest observes from a safe distance. It is not known where in the U.S. the baptism took place, however the father appears to laugh off the incident at the end of the footage. One person has been killed and three others were wounded in a shooting on a downtown street in Denver, Colorado, on Monday afternoon. The shooting occurred in a neighborhood of new apartment buildings, restaurants and bars near the Colorado Rockies' stadium just as the evening rush hour was getting underway. Police spokesman Doug Schepman said investigators did not know whether more than one shooter was involved and had no descriptions of any suspects. Scroll down for video The shooting happened in a neighborhood of new apartment buildings, restaurants and bars near the Colorado Rockies' stadium just as the evening rush hour was getting underway. Police closed off the area to traffic at the intersection of 21st and Lawrence Streets just after 4 pm in response to the latest shooting incident According to cops, witnesses had told officers they saw a fourth victim, a woman who was wounded in the leg, but investigators had not been able to confirm that. The shootings occurred at about 4pm at the beginning of rush hour in a mixed neighborhood of new apartment buildings, restaurants and bars. A witness told The Denver Post he saw a man holding handguns in both hands and fire into a group of people, and someone in the group fired back. 'Oh my God, oh my God,' Hisam Derani said. 'I saw him approach the crowd'. Derani said he was returning home from work when he heard about six gunshots. He said he saw one or two shots fired before he ducked. He said a gunman got into a car, slammed the door and drove away. Derani says police interviewed him and later asked him if a man they had detained as a potential suspect was the shooter, but Derani said he was not. Schepman said investigators did not yet know what led to the shooting. 'It's too early in the investigation right now to be able to say exactly what happened here and why,' he said. Investigators were interviewing witnesses and looking for video. Denver Police Department crime scene investigators look for evidence on the perimeter of a shooting scene One person was pronounced dead and z people were injured, according to Denver Police. The wounded victims were taken to Denver Health medical center. Schepman said they were considered to be in critical condition because they had been shot but their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. Hospital spokesman Simon Crittle said he did not know their conditions. Schepman said uncertainty in the immediate aftermath of the shooting caused the varying reports. Justin Franzen and Robert Abbott were inside the Grafenberg Theater, 1223 21 Street, when they heard the gunfire. The pair had been doing some construction work on the theater and had just finished using a nail gun. Police are still determining how many shooters there were and a motive for the incident They were taking a break, eating tacos, when the gunfire rang out. At first, they thought it was just noise from other construction work nearby. Curious, the pair went outside to check. 'We saw the people lying on the sidewalk. we saw people running,' Franzen told the Denver Post. They also called 911. Once police arrived, the two men directed them to a trail of blood leading away from the scene. 'At first, we were just trying to figure out what was going on. Its definitely troubled us'. Simon Crittle, a Denver Health Medical Center spokesman, said paramedics responded to the scene and found four victims, one who was declared dead. An Instagram account for the California woman self-branded 'Pretty Hoe' seemingly bragged about the sex trafficking charges brought against her after she admitted forcing women into sex acts. Melanie Denae Williams, 23, pleaded guilty to the charge Monday as part of deal that could see her face up to 15 years in prison. She told authorities she used her accounts online to lure in two vulnerable people who were underage. Some victims she beat, covered in bleach and threatened to kill if they tried to leave. A prostitute who dubbed herself 'Pretty Hoe' was charged with sex trafficking in March but has now taken a plea deal for up to 15 years in prison Melanie Denae Williams was charged with recruiting minors to be hookers Going by the moniker on Instagram where her bio labels her the 'most hated hoe in LA', the South Los Angeles woman's account last week posted a video of herself dancing to music during a car journey with a caption featuring to laughing emoji: 'aINt yOu suPpoSeD tO bE iN jAiL' f**k off my page.' It's not clear whether Williams herself shared the clip. After being arrested Christmas Eve 2017, she was charged in March this year. Williams had boasted about her behavior by posting videos of herself 'physically beating and using firearms to threaten young women', an affidavit states. One post on Snapchat stated in all caps: 'I'm not scared of jail so stop telling me anything about the MF police.' Some victims she beat, covered in bleach and threatened to kill if they tried to leave An Instagram post under Williams' handle said: 'Who 18+ & wanna make some legit money?' The affidavit filed with the charges does not offer details about the minors Williams allegedly recruited, though it was noted that she is part of a child exploitation task force. In this new plea she admitted she would retain the proceeds from minors' sex acts for her own benefit. She is due in federal court January 28 for sentencing regarding fraudulently and forcefully coercing victims She is due in federal court January 28 for a sentencing hearing regarding fraudulently and forcefully coercing victims. She previously faced life behind bars but it likely to get a lesser sentence. The United States Department of Justice states: 'Williams also forced the victim to get Williams' name tattooed on her face, confiscated the victim's belongings and identity documents and continually threatened to kill the victim if she left Williams.' The victim was also forced to get the name 'Melanie' etched into her wrist. Williams herself is brandished with the name 'Christopher' on her face. Williams describes herself as 'the most hated hoe in LA' and had videos of herself online beating people up and threatening them with a gun Her Instagram account shows various other inkings all over her body in scantily clad images The affidavit filed noted that she is part of a child exploitation task force She told authorities she used her accounts online to lure in two vulnerable people who were underage Her Instagram account shows various other inkings all over her body in scantily clad images. In some shots she appears to be naked in bed with a man. Other video show her twerking over bills of money. The FBI, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office have teamed up to work on the case. Williams was sentenced last year to three months in jail for prostitution. Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has been involved in the violent New York City-based gang Nine Trey for several years, federal prosecutors allege. Assistant US Attorney Michael Longyear said Monday: '6ix9ine is a member of a violent sect of the Bloods... this defendant participated in multiple acts of violence.' The 22-year-old performer and five other gang members were indicted on racketeering and firearm charges in Manhattan federal court on Monday. The Brooklyn-based rapper, whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez, was arraigned before US Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman alongside five other men affiliated in the New York City-based gang, Nine Trey. Aside from the rapper, his ex-manager, Kifano Jordan, aka Shotti has been charged. Faheem Walter, aka Crippy, Jamel Jones, aka, Mel Murda, Jensel Butler, aka Ish and Fuguan Lovick, aka Fu Banga, have also been charged. One other individual is currently in state custody, according to a press release by the US Department of Justice. He will be transferred to federal custody. Scroll down for video Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has been involved in the violent New York City-based gang Nine Trey for several years, federal prosecutors said 6ix9ine and five other gang members were indicted Monday on racketeering and firearm charges According to the press release, Nine Trey is a 'criminal enterprise involved in committing numerous acts of violence, including shootings, robberies, and assaults in and around Manhattan and Brooklyn. 'Members and associates of Nine Trey engaged in violence to retaliate against rival gangs, to promote the standing and reputation of Nine Trey, and to protect the gangs narcotics business. The group 'enriched themselves by committing robberies and selling drugs, such as heroin, fentanyl, furanly fentanyl, MDMA, dibutylone, and marijuana.' The gang was established in the early 90s at Rikers and operates in other areas of the country, including California. The rapper faces 25 years to life in prison. He is pictured in Manhattan Criminal Court in July 6ix9ine's former manager Kifano Jordan (pictured November 7 in Manhattan court) has also been charged in the gang-related crimes 6ix9ine is currently facing 25 years to life in prison on six counts of the gang-related crimes. US Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said the gang has been involved in multiple acts of violence and has wrecked havoc on New York City. 'Showing reckless indifference to others safety, members of the gang were allegedly involved in robberies and shootings, including a shooting inside the crowded Barclays Center, and a shooting in which an innocent bystander was hit,' Berman said. 'Thanks to the extraordinary work of HSI, ATF, and the NYPD, the defendants will now face justice in federal court.' 6ix9ine was arrested by ATF agents in New York on Sunday night after a joint investigation was done by the ATF, NYPD, and Homeland Security, adds the site. He was denied bail on Monday. 6ix9ine was denied bail Monday. He now faces 25 to life in prison The rapper has been among the most ascendant and controversial names in hip-hop in recent months. His debut album, Day69, is among the most downloaded records on iTunes. But he's had several run-ins with law enforcement. He recently pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in Brooklyn Criminal Court in connection with a May traffic stop. Last week the rapper revealed in an Instagram clip that he had dismissed his entire staff, including his manager and booker. 'I fired everybody on my team,' the Gummo artist said in the clip, imploring his fans that he was not going to be performing live in the near future, even in cases where he might be advertised. He said: 'I don't got no manager, I got no booking agent, no PR, no publicist, I don't got nobody on my team - it's just me.' The family of a woman found murdered and buried in a shallow grave have asked for the public's help to catch her killer. Kym Taylor, 37, was found in an area of bushland in the Jarrahdale State Forest, on the outskirts of Perth on Sunday morning. Police investigating the case believe she could have been there for up to six months. Kym's devastated mother Courtney Hill-Aaron said she always dreamed of making something of herself but that she suffered 'a lot of demons'. Kym Taylor's (pictured) was discovered partially buried in bushland at Jarrahdale State Forest, outside of Perth in the early hours of Sunday morning Ms Taylor's family have revealed that Kym was a troubled woman with 'a lot of demons', while also remembering her as beautiful and intelligent Ms Taylor's family said Kym was a troubled woman who was also beautiful and intelligent,9 News reported. Ms Taylor's body was discovered by a bushwalker 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 'Kym really wanted to make something of herself, she really tried so hard but there was a lot of things in her way, she had a lot of demons Kym did,' Ms Hill-Aaron told 9 News. 'She was a loved little girl even though she's a grown woman all these people love her, and she's not just something that should have been left out there like that.' The area of bushland where Kym's body was found remains cordoned off and a post-mortem is being carried out to determine the cause of death. 'Kym was known to reside in the Hamilton Hill area but she lived an itinerant lifestyle and her movements just prior to her death are not known,' Detective Sergeant Steve Cleal said. Anyone who can assist with this investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The father of two alleged terrorists has denied ISIS exists and claims America 'made up' the group to 'finish Muslims'. Brothers Samad Eriklioglu and Ertunc Eriklioglu and their associate Hanifi Halis were arrested in Melbourne on Tuesday and were later charged. It is alleged that the trio were planning an ISIS-inspired attack in a public place and were trying to get their hands on a semi-automatic rifle. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia their father Armagan Eriklioglu ranted that ISIS does not exist and that 'youse are the killers'. What ISIS man? Im telling youse (sic) are the ones who are the killers in Syria, Russia, America. Youse are the ones who are killers, he said. Samad and Ertuncs father Armagan Eriklioglu (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia his son's were not only not inspired by ISIS, but the terror organisation did not exist Mr Eriklioglu said his sons Samed Eriklioglu, 26, (pictured left) and Ertunc Eriklioglu, 30, (pictured right) could not have been radicalised by ISIS because he does not believe the gorup exists Muslim people are dying. What does Muslims kill? We havent got the tanks, we havent got the jets. They are the ones who are killing - Russians and America and Israel. What are ISIS? America made that up. Theyre smart America. Theyre blaming it on them so they can finish the Muslims, he said. What about Israel? What are they doing in Palestine? Mr Eriklioglu said he saw no ISIS paraphernalia in his home and refused to believe his sons were involved in a terror plot. He said he often prayed in Ertunc's garage in nearby Dallas and said there was nothing unusual about it. If we pray in the mosque they say why are they praying there. We do it in the garage. I was praying in the garage with my sons. We dont have to go to the mosque, he said. Police made the arrests after the men allegedly tried to purchase a semiautomatic rifle on the black market. Mr Eriklioglu said police crashed through his front window, pointed guns at his head, placed him on his knees and cuffed him. Mr Eriklioglu said police crashed through his front window, pointed guns at his head, placed him on his knees and cuffed him As police continued to collect evidence a young Muslim woman draped head-to-toe in a black niqab lashed out at people outside the alleged terrorist's home He had no time to talk with his son Samed, who lives in the bungalow out back. I was like that for 15 minutes. Gun to me, put me on the ground, handcuffed me and after 15 minutes they took them off. Mr Eriklioglu said there was no time to speak to his son before he was whisked away by masked police. I thought it was a bomb. I thought the bomb came to me because someone was calling for me and putting me right on the ground. Mr Eriklioglu said there was no time to speak to his son before he was whisked away by masked police Mr Eriklioglu's comments came after police raided Ertunc Eriklioglu's Dallas home, in Melbourne's north west, where the three men were arrested We didnt have anytime. They arrested him and took him to the city, he said. Eriklioglu said police took his son's computer, mobile phone along with two copies of the Koran and some compact discs containing the preachings of scholars. I said to them if its illegal why is it on YouTube, he said. What did they find? They found nothing, Mr Eriklioglu said. What are they going to find? How were they going to get a gun? Ive never heard that. His comments came after police raided Ertunc Eriklioglu's Dallas home, in Melbourne's north west, where the three men were arrested. The men are each charged with one count of preparing or planning for a terrorist attack. Neighbours living near Ertunc Eriklioglu's Dallas home told Daily Mail Australia the raid had left them stunned (pictured shattered glass from the raid) Police allege the trio were planning an ISIS-inspired terror attack in a public place and had been trying to get their hands on a semi-automatic rifle The trio wanted to 'kill a maximum amount of people as possible' in a crowded place, police alleged. Neighbours living near Ertunc Eriklioglu's Dallas home told Daily Mail Australia the raid had left them stunned. The family is believed to have lived at the Dallas unit for about three years and police confirmed his family had no involvement in the alleged plot. As police continued to collect evidence a young Muslim woman draped head-to-toe in a black niqab lashed out at people outside the alleged terrorist's home. She also blocked other residents and workmen inside the block of units throughout the morning. The arrests came just 11 days after ISIS-inspired knifeman Hassan Khalif Shire Ali stabbed three, killing one, on Melbourne's Bourke Street The men were allegedly planning to massacre dozens in a crowded place in Melbourne, although police said a specific location was never finalised The arrests came just 11 days after ISIS-inspired knifeman Hassan Khalif Shire Ali stabbed three, killing one, on Melbourne's Bourke Street. Officers will need to listen 17,000 phone intercepts, 10,500 text messages and more than 7800 hours of recordings from listening devices will form part of the case, a prosecutor told court. The men were allegedly planning to massacre dozens in a crowded place in Melbourne, although police said a specific location was never finalised. 'There was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able, to kill, we allege, as a maximum amount of people as possible,' Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said. 'I believe, over more recent days, attempts have been made to source a 0.22 semi-automatic rifle to assist with the carrying out of that terrorism event. 'Fortunately, this is an event we've been able to deal with in relation to our counter-terrorism operation and therefore have been in a position to intercept it prior to it being completed.' Advertisement Police have asked the Melbourne Magistrates Court for more time to build a case against three men accused of plotting a terrorist attack in Melbourne. Hanifi Halis, 21, and brothers Samed Eriklioglu, 26, and Ertunc Eriklioglu, 30, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon following their arrests earlier in the day during a series of raids across northern Melbourne. The trio was arrested after a lengthy investigation spanning 12 months when they tried to buy a semiautomatic rifle on the black market. Officers will need to listen 17,000 phone intercepts, 10,500 text messages and more than 7800 hours of recordings from listening devices will form part of the case, a prosecutor told court. They added that police had seized 11 electronic devices, including four phones, three tablets and three USBs during the morning raid. Hanifi Halis, 21, and brothers Samed Erikloglu, 26, and Ertunc, 30 (pictured), fronted court on Tuesday afternoon after they were arrested earlier in the day Hanifi Halis (pictured), 21, of Greenvale, faced court alongside his terror-accused accomplices Samed Eriklioglu, 26, (pictured) and the other terror accused were charged with one count each of act in preparation for, or planning of terrorist acts The men are each charged with one count of preparing or planning for a planning terrorist attack. A brief of evidence is not expected to be ready for at least four months. The accused terrorists were all remanded in custody until April, when they are due to face court again. Police said they needed more time than usual to comb through the extensive evidence against the accused. Magistrate Simon Zebrowski agreed and ordered a brief be tabled by March 19. The three men remained silent during the brief administrative hearing. They have been remanded in custody until April 30 when they will face court for a committal mention via video link. Mr Zebrowski said all three accused were vulnerable while on remand, because they had never been in custody. He said Mr Halis was more so, because he is so young. A lawyer for Mr Eriklioglu requested medical assistance for his client who had allegedly suffered injuries during the morning arrest. According to The Australian the terror accused appeared to have a bruise on the left side of his face, above his eye. As arrests took place this morning, a young Muslim woman draped head-to-toe in a black niqab, shouted outside Mr Erikilioglu's home, in Dallas, as it was raided by police. 'You guys are cockroaches,' she yelled. Officers told the woman three times to move her car from the front of the property. She ignored them and continued to block the entrance throughout the morning. A young Muslim woman draped head-to-toe in a black niqab (pictured) lashed out at people outside alleged terrorist Ertunc Eriklioglu's home in Melbourne on Tuesday The woman continued to block other residents and workmen inside the block of units throughout the morning despite police instructing her to move her car Police raiding a terror suspect's home in Dallas (pictured) appeared to have smashed their way in through a window in the property Co-accused Mr Halis is believed to be a mechanic from Greenvale who wore a uniform with a Toyota badge on it, according to neighbours. Samed Eriklioglu is from Campbellfield. It's alleged that the trio were planning to massacre people in a crowded place in Melbourne, potentially using a semi-automatic rifle. All men are Australian but have Turkish backgrounds. Their passports were cancelled earlier this year. Police allege the trio were planning an ISIS-inspired terror attack in a public place and had been trying to get their hands on a semi-automatic rifle. The trio, who may have attended the same Islamic centre as the Bourke Street attacker, wanted to 'kill a maximum amount of people as possible' in a crowded place, police alleged. Ertunc Eriklioglu (pictured) and the other men are Australian but have Turkish backgrounds and their passports were cancelled earlier this year The raids were part of Operation Donabate, which involved Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and other agencies Broken glass from a window is seen outside one of the houses involved in counter-terrorism raids across the north-western suburbs in Melbourne (pictured) Police appeared to have smashed their way in through a window in the property Neighbours living near Ertunc Eriklioglu's Dallas home told Daily Mail Australia the raid had left them stunned. The residents, who did not wish to be named, said they knew the alleged terrorist by the name Arcunc and believed his brother to be named Abdul. The family is believed to have lived at the Dallas unit for about three years and police confirmed his family had no involvement in the alleged plot. A sign hung on the front door reading: 'In the name of Allah we enter, in the name of Allah we leave, and in the Lord we depend'. One neighbour said they noticed a change in the woman's husband a year ago when he and a group of friends stop visiting the nearby mosque and started praying in his garage. 'He keeps to himself. He doesn't speak to any of us. We thought it was strange that he was praying in the garage,' she said. Neighbours thought the practice unusual, but never suspected he was allegedly involved in a terrorist plot. 'I don't really see him much but I don't talk with him ever. I'm friends with his wife - she's just had a baby not long ago so I feel really bad for her. Two of the men arrested on Tuesday are family members and all three have had their Australian passports cancelled this year Heavily-armed officers wearing tactical gear and masks swooped on the home in Werribee about 8am on Saturday as they continue to investigate Hassan Khalif Shire Ali's attack Police seize bags of evidence from inside the home after morning raids and arrests The raids were part of Operation Donabate, which involved Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and other agencies Other bags of evidence were taken out of the house by plain-clothed officers Police are seen outside one of the houses involved in counter-terrorism raids in Melbourne on Tuesday morning The neighbour said her friend was 'distraught' over the allegations against her husband. 'I would suspect she doesn't know anything about it because I'm friends with her - our kids play together and I never suspected any of this,' she said. 'They were not like this before. They were not like this at all. Before he used to talk with us.' A woman believed to be the wife of Ertunc Eriklioglu said she knew nothing of the alleged plot. 'Go and ask him yourself,' she told a media pack perched outside her door in Dallas, in Melbourne northwest. 'I'm not okay. I don't know [what happened]. Go and ask him,' she said. The young couple is believed to have had their second child only weeks ago. The woman refused to confirm she was the man's wife, but police said only his wife and children remained in the Dallas home. Police arrested a 30-year-old from Dallas, a 26-year-old from Campbellfield and a 21-year-old from Greenvale in Melbourne's north west on Tuesday morning. Officers also raided a home in Coolaroo Halis's home in Greenvale was one of the houses raided by police on Tuesday morning Police appeared to have cut into the rollerdoor to gain access to the house when they stormed in Another home in Coolaroo was also raided by police along with those of the alleged terrorists Police were seen wheeling suitcases and carrying bags of evidence out of the Coolaroo house on Tuesday The home was one of four raided and is linked to at least one of the three men charged with terrorism crimes It is understood the woman knew absolutely nothing about the planned attack and has co-operated fully with police. 'I don't know. Leave this house or I'll call the police,' she told reporters. A repairman remains at the Dallas property where police appeared to have smashed their way in through a window. Ertunc Eriklioglu allegedly stopped attending his mosque as he got more radicalised and created his own place of prayer in the garage in his backyard, which he named after the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Armagan Eriklioglu, father of the two brothers, insisted his sons were innocent and never showed any signs of being radicalised. 'They don't even know how to use a weapon. They're really polite, they're not violent or aggressive,' he said outside his home in Campbellfield, which was raided hours earlier. 'They were going to travel to Turkey before passports were cancelled. Samed was going with his mother to get married. 'We haven't got no weapons, they couldn't find anything. They've just been praying at the mosque, same as me. I listen to the scholars as well.' Armagan Eriklioglu, father of the two brothers, insisted his sons were innocent and never showed any signs of being radicalised When asked if they'd been radicalised by ISIS he said: 'No, they don't like Islamic State. They would never attack an Australian, no way.' Mr Eriklioglu said police grabbed him and pointed guns at his wife, who doesn't wear a headscarf. 'They threw me to the ground very hard.' 'No planning an attack, no way. I'm very sure, I'm with them all the time and in a WhatsApp group chatting with them,' he said when the police allegations against his sons were put to him. He said they didn't always go to the same mosque and he often prayed with at his Dallas home. 'I wanted to come out here and say it's not true,' he said. 'I don't know where [police] got this information from.' Mr Eriklioglu also claimed ISIS didn't exist and 'has been created by the USA'. The arrests came just 11 days after ISIS-inspired knifeman Hassan Khalif Shire Ali stabbed three, killing one, on Melbourne's Bourke Street. The funeral for his victim, cafe owner Sisto Malaspina, takes place on Tuesday morning. A number of heavily-armed officers swarmed the four properties on Tuesday morning Police have stressed there is no ongoing threat to the community but residents are being urged to report any suspicious activity to authorities The men were allegedly planning to massacre dozens in a crowded place in Melbourne, although police said a specific location was never finalised. 'There was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able, to kill, we allege, as a maximum amount of people as possible,' Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said. 'I believe, over more recent days, attempts have been made to source a 0.22 semi-automatic rifle to assist with the carrying out of that terrorism event. 'Fortunately, this is an event we've been able to deal with in relation to our counter-terrorism operation and therefore have been in a position to intercept it prior to it being completed.' AFP Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther said the men radicalised themselves with the influence of online ISIS propaganda. 'Unfortunately the ISIS propaganda machine and that of Al Qaida promotes this side of activity,' he said. 'So when people are prevented from travelling or it's difficult to get to the conflict zone, then often the view will be I'll change tactic and commit and act in the country in which I live.' A man who became stranded on a remote island while on holiday to mark the end of his cancer treatment has died. Jon Paul McAllister travelled to Madagascar with his partner Craig Park to celebrate completing his chemotherapy and the couple's recent engagement. However soon after arriving for their once-in-a-lifetime trip, the 38-year-old fell ill and a scan revealed that the Scot's stage-four bowel cancer had returned. Wellwishers raised 25,000 to help get Mr McAllister home, but on Saturday he revealed that he was deemed too sick to fly back to Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire. Jon Paul McAllister (left) travelled to Madagascar with his partner Craig Park to celebrate completing his chemotherapy and the couple's recent engagement Soon after arriving for their once-in-a-lifetime trip, the 38-year-old (left) fell ill and a scan revealed that the Scot's stage-four bowel cancer had returned Mr McAllister (left) became stranded on remote Reunion Island (right) while on holiday to mark the end of his cancer treatment has died In an emotional post, relatives revealed that Mr McAllister 'slipped away peacefully' on Reunion Island. 'He slipped away peacefully with his rock and best pal, Craig, by his side. 'Jon Paul fought so hard against this awful illness for nine long months and now he's at peace. 'He was a legend that will live on forever in our memories and in our hearts. In an emotional post, relatives revealed that Mr McAllister (right) 'slipped away peacefully' on Reunion Island Wellwishers raised 25,000 to help get Mr McAllister (right) home, but on Saturday he revealed that he was deemed too sick to fly back to Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire 'We were so close to getting JP home. A medical repatriation service had been organised to fly him home on Saturday before his health rapidly deteriorated. 'Unfortunately, this was a non-refundable cost. We are now doing everything we can to bring JP home for that Scottish send off he deserves.' Mr Park had said a scan showed the treatment was shrinking the deposits left behind following surgery to remove a tumour, and the couple were advised they were fine to go on the long-awaited trip. But shortly after arriving, the social worker's health deteriorated rapidly and he spent two weeks in an 'unsanitised' medical facility in Madagascar. Mr McAllister was then transferred on an air ambulance to improved medical facilities on nearby island Reunion 6,000 miles away from home. To donate to the JustGiving page, click here. Mr Mcallister was transferred on an air ambulance to improved medical facilities on island Reunion, east of Madagascar, 6,000 miles away from home Although Covid-19, supply chain issues, inflation and labor shortages may slow or derail Texas economic train, State Comptroller Glenn Hegar is forecasting $24 billion in extra revenue during the current two-year budget period, The Texas Tribune reported. Candidates running for office will be able to point to the surplus as a way of funding proposals like lowering property taxes. What would be your priority for the states surplus funds? You voted: An environmental activist held a tea party on top of a coal train in a bizarre protest against Aurizon, Australia's largest rail freight operator. The blonde activist, known only as Sadie, stopped all freight trains heading to the Port of Brisbane on Tuesday morning. She sarcastically invited the CEO of Aurizon, Andrew Harding to join her 'for a cuppa' atop the train. The protest resulted in heavy traffic delays, causing havoc for commuters and forcing police to redirect heavy vehicles away from the area. Scroll down for video An environmental activist held a bizzare tea party on top of a coal train in protest of Aurizon, Australia's largest rail freight operator The blonde activist named Sadie stopped all freight trains heading to the Port of Brisbane on Tuesday morning and sarcastically invited the CEO of Aurizon, Andrew Harding 'for a cuppa' atop the train Sadie, a 21-year-old Zoology student and Frontline Action on Coal activist, scaled the sides of a coal freight carriage with a full tea set, complete with table and chairs. From there she broadcast a live Facebook video, showcasing her tea party, while baffled police officers looked on in confusion. 'We want CEO of Aurizon, Andrew Harding to come for a cuppa. Tea is cold, passion is not,' Sadie can be heard saying in the video. Zoology student Sadie (pictured) from Frontline Action on Coal scaled the sides of a coal freight carriage with a full tea set, complete with table and chairs From there she broadcast a live Facebook video, showcasing her tea party, while baffled police officers looked on in confusion 'We want CEO of Aurizon, Andrew Harding to come for a cuppa. Tea is cold, passion is not,' Sadie can be heard saying in the video Sadie called on Aurizon to respect the rights of traditional land owners and rule out a coal project with Adani. Adani are looking to build Carmichael coal mine in Central Queensland without the consent of Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners. The activist said: 'Leading climate science shows that we have twelve years to take action on climate change and avoid the extinction of most life on this planet. 'This is no longer about future generations; if I don't spend my twenties standing up to big business, in my thirties it will be too late.' Green activist Zoe Buckley Lennox from Frontline Action on Coal told Daily Mail Australia: 'There is no room for new coal. The Australian government and Aurizon should listen to the science and not support the Adani Coal mine.' Frontline Action on Coal confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Sadie has since been arrested and remains in police custody. Madeleine McCann (pictured) could still be alive and trapped in an underground dungeon, a retired detective has claimed Madeleine McCann could still be alive and trapped in an underground dungeon, a retired detective who investigated her disappearance has claimed. David Edgar believes Maddie could resurface 'at any time' and likely has 'no idea' about her true identity, having probably been abducted by a child sex gang. The investigator, who worked on behalf of Maddie's family for three years, also suspects that she might still be in Portugal, where she vanished from in 2007. It comes as her parents Kate and Gerry were said to be '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, with officers looking into two vital leads. Mr Edgar said officers could be looking into his own theory that Maddie was taken by a paedophile ring and that whoever was responsible may have confided in someone. He said: 'I've always thought that whoever is responsible will have confided in someone else. They usually do and it is very rare that they don't even if it takes years. 'Now we're approaching the 12th year, that's a significant time but I think she could still be alive and someone is protecting her captors. 'Someone knows what happened and it's time they came forward, may be they have and officers are waiting for a confession. It happens.' Mr Edgar added: 'She could literally be anywhere in the world but my hunch is that she is in Portugal. The chance that she may have been smuggled out of the country without being detected is highly unlikely. 'There is someone in Portugal with an open knowledge of where she is and what happened. Someone knows what happened and it's time they came forward - maybe they already have.' It comes as her parents Kate and Gerry (pictured) were said to be 'greatly encouraged' that Scotland Yard could finally be closing in on Maddie's kidnapper after eleven-and-a-half years 'Unless a body is found there is hope. Everyone hopes for a positive outcome and Kate and Gerry will never give up, even when the funding runs out. I hope they get an answer they've been waiting for so long.' Mr Edgar believes Maddie - who if alive would now be aged 15 - could be living with her captor in a hideaway home or underground den inland from the popular seaside towns on the Algarve from where she was snatched. He likened her case to that of kidnapped sex slave Jaycee Lee Dugard who 'came back from the dead.' The 11-year-old schoolgirl was abducted from a street in Tahoe, California, in June 1991, on her way to school and was kept imprisoned for 18 years. She was found alive in August 2009. David Edgar (shown) believes Maddie could resurface 'at any time' and likely has 'no idea' about her true identity Mr Edgar said: 'There is every possibility that Madeleine is still alive and could be being hidden somewhere and having no idea even who she is and that she is at the centre of a worldwide hunt for her. 'He said the vast wilderness where he believes the teenager could be languishing may be almost impossible to search completely. He explained: 'This rural, sprawling terrain makes it extremely difficult to search. You could quite easily keep a child there for years and no-one else would know. 'She could be hidden away in a cellar or dungeon in the lawless villages around the resort she went missing from. The key thing is no body has been found. 'When paedophiles kill they often dump the body nearby and this doesn't appear to be the case here. Even the ocean often gives up his victims.' Maddie vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz eleven and a half years ago just days before her fourth birthday. She had been left alone sleeping with her younger twin siblings while her parents were dining in a nearby tapas restaurant with pals. Police recently told her parents: 'We're hopeful we can get a result.' Op Grange team, who had been thought to be focusing on just one, told Kate and Gerry during a meeting they had 'two specific and active' lines of inquiry. The McCanns are 'greatly encouraged' that cops could finally be closing in on their daughter's kidnapper. It is understood detectives met Kate, a former GP, and eminent cardiologist Gerry, both 50, at their home in Rothley, Leics, last month. Police refuse to make public any clues about the suspects they are determined to track down for fear of them going to ground. Mr Edgar said the new funding was 'totally justified.' He said: 'It's a very delicate case but officers would not have requested extra funding if they didn't need it. 'Whether they'll crack it, it's impossible to say but everyone hopes there is a positive outcome. 'I think there will be a resolution, it will be something simple like someone talking - a confession is the best hope of a breakthrough.' A Scotland Yard spokesperson refused to discuss the two leads they are actively chasing, saying: 'We cannot give a running commentary while there is an ongoing investigation.' Mr Edgar, who has had more than 30 years experience with Cheshire Police and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, stopped working for the McCanns when the Met Police came on board in May 2011 on orders of then Prime Minister David Cameron. He added: 'I firmly believe this case will be solved eventually - it is not beyond the realms of possibility.' The company which runs Boots travel insurance is being investigated following claims customers died after being denied emergency flights home. Doctors working for Travel Insurance Facilities are being investigated for alleged medical negligence and fraud by the General Medical Council, The Times reports. They are accused of 'denying suitable care' to policyholders. The company, which is the second largest travel insurance group in the UK, is also accused of forcing patients pay up front for care they receive while on holiday. Doctors working for Travel Insurance Facilities are being investigated for alleged medical negligence and fraud by the General Medical Council, The Times reports The firm, which trades under brands including Holiday Safe and Alpha, is also being probed by the Financial Conduct Authority over claims policy holders were misled. A whistle-blower said: 'I remember patients needing life-saving or life-changing operations and [the doctor] just wouldn't pick up the phone for weeks. 'Patients would say, and I agree, practice was to frustrate the patient's family so much that they would either give up or pay for the treatment themselves.' Nicholas Kingsbury's father died of sepsis after TIF refused to fly him home after he suffered a blood clot on the brain. He said: 'My father bought Boots cover but was left to die in a hospital that did not even have a defibrillator. Every McDonald's in Britain has one. 'The insurer was told that my father would die unless he was evacuated but it did not even bother to ask for the medical records and just said 'what he needs is peace and quiet''. It is believed at least five cases involving two doctors are now being investigated by the medical council. The company which runs Boots travel insurance is being investigated following claims customers died after being denied emergency flights home A Travel Insurance Facilities spokesman told MailOnline: 'We wholly deny the very serious allegations appearing in The Times articles today. 'We are in the process of taking formal steps to begin legal proceedings against the Times. The allegations made are extremely damaging and not in the public interest. 'When people fall ill abroad, naturally their first instinct is to want to come home. However, this may not necessarily be what is best for them in medical terms to achieve the most optimal recovery. 'Our focus is on the best clinical outcome for patients based on expert medical advice, clinical fact, aviation medicine and our extensive experience of transporting unwell holidaymakers across the globe. 'We advise on the safest course of action in the specific circumstances of every case.' A Boots spokesman commented: `We carefully select our partners and expect them to provide the same high standards of performance and customer care that we do at Boots. `TIF is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the doctors it employs are regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC). `We take all allegations of this nature seriously, and have sought reassurance from TIF.' A 17-year-old girl died as she tried to check her smartphone while taking an evening shower and electrocuted herself. Her mother found her collapsed in the bath tub and rushed to call an ambulance to their apartment in the port town of Outreau, in Pas-de-Calais, northern France. But it was too late for the paramedics and doctors believe she suffered an instant heart attack when the current passed through her body. The teenager was reportedly trying to check her phone as she showered while standing in the bath in the evening of November 13. The apartment block in Outreau in the Pas-de-Calais, northern France where the girl died It was was plugged into the wall with an old charger with a faulty cable and any contact with water would have been extremely dangerous. An autopsy is being held to confirm the cause of death. The company which rents out the building, Pas-de-Calais Habitat, said the flat had received its annual maintenance check in June. A company spokesperson said: 'The report of the provider said that a compliant electrical installation was being used.' Amandine Faraud, a local electrician, told local media: 'If the phone falls into the water while plugged into a socket, there is a risk of electrocution. 'And if the cable was stripped, the current would go directly into the water.' The make and model of the smartphone and charger have not been disclosed. Amnesty has been condemned over the suicide of one of its researchers, who claimed his work load and lack of support from the organisation had left him 'unable to go on', in a final note to his family. West Africa researcher Gaetan Mootoo, 65, had been working for Amnesty International for 32 years when he took his own life in the organisation's Paris offices in May this year. An independent review into his death found that Mr Mootoo had been left feeling 'abandoned and neglected' and that 'his unhappiness at work was a significant contributing factor' into his decision to end his life. Tragedy: Gaetan Mootoo, 65, took his own life in Amnesty International's offices in Paris, after working for the organisation for 32 years On May 25 this year, Mr Mootoo told his wife Martyne that she and their son should not wait up for him as he would be working late, The Times reports. The researcher then wrote a note to his wife and son, and one addressed to Amnesty International's leadership, before taking his own life. French authorities have ruled his death to be a 'work-related accident', which means his family could claim compensation of up to 500,000, according to the newspaper. Mr Mootoo worked for Amnesty's International Secretariat, which is based in London, from the organisation's Paris offices. A 2014 restructuring had seen Amnesty's West Africa resources moved to Dakar, Senegal, which led to the resignations of Mr Mootoo's colleagues in Paris, including his closest co-worker. Heartbreaking: Mr Mootoo wrote in his final note to his wife and son that he felt he was no longer able to do his job properly and that he 'could no longer go on in this way' The review found that this had left Mr Mootoo 'isolated' as the only International Secretariat staff member left in Paris. Repeated requests for an assistant had been ignored, as had colleagues' warnings to senior management that Mr Mootoo was 'fragile', according to French media. In the letter Mr Mootoo left for his wife and son, published in part in the review, he revealed that he 'hadn't been feeling very good' for several years, although had kept it to himself. He added that 'there has been so much work and though I made a request for help, that wasn't possible. 'I love what I do and I want to do it properly. I feel that I could no longer go on in this way, hence this decision' Amnesty said it was 'deeply saddened by the tragic death', and commissioned the independent external review of the incident, which has been published this week. Review: An independent investigation into his death found that Mr Mootoo's unhappiness at work 'was a significant contributing factor' into his decision to end his life The review was undertaken by James Laddie QC of London's Matrix Chambers, who notes in his report that 'it is obvious that he [Mr Mootoo] touched people's lives in a way that most can only aspire to.' Amnesty International's Secretary General Kumi Naidoo has called the report 'a devastating account.' 'The report's findings trouble me profoundly and we must acknowledge our failures in the light of Gaetan's tragic death,' he said in a statement released to Amnesty staff yesterday. '[It] points to challenges that arise from our organizational structure and to failures in our collective responsibility for staff wellbeing and support. 'We always need to ask ourselves whether we should have done things differently and most importantly, what we can and should do differently now.' Fears are growing that Schoolies are putting their lives in danger with stupid stunts, which they film and put online. One video, which was shared on social media, shows the moment a party-goer is bashed over the head with a glass. The the teen doubles over in pain after his friend whacks him with what appears to be a champagne flute on their balcony. Scroll down for video Footage from the celebrations along the Gold Coast showed the moment a party-goer is willingly hit over the head with a wine glass After it fails to break, the senseless party animal recoils and rubs his hand on his head much to the amusement of his so-called friends. Another video showed a young man looking at the camera, oblivious to his mate who is about his whack him with a beer bottle. Schoolies Advisory Board Chairman Mark Reaburn condemned the stunts and told 7 News it was 'plain dumb'. 'I wouldnt call it silly. I would call it downright dumb. 'Putting it on social media is an invitation to say come and get me, and lets hope the police do.' Two more teenagers showed disregard for their lives after standing dangerously close to the edge of a high-rise apartment during Schoolies week. Another video showed a young man looking at the camera, oblivious to his friend in the background as he slammed a beer bottle over his head The video shows the moment a young man opens a window in his room and teeters on what appears to be the window sill of the multi-storey balcony on the Gold Coast in Queensland. He is accompanied by girl who can be seen with her arms stretched wide trying to get the boy to come back inside. Video footage (pictured) has emerged of a young man standing dangerously close to the edge of a high-rise apartment during Schoolies week Schoolies refers to the Australian tradition of high-school graduates having a week-long holiday following the end of their final exams. The teenagers mainly flock to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay (file image of the Gold Coast) Thousands of high school graduates are currently partying in the Gold Coast this week to celebrate the end of their final exams. The incident comes after an elevator carrying 14 Schoolies revellers plummeted eight floors after a malfunction. Video footage shows the moment the group of teens became trapped in the lift, 9 News reported. Balcony safety during Schoolies Dangerous behaviour on balconies can lead to eviction and even police arrests. The Queensland Government has issued some tips on balcony safety to keep young people safe during their Schoolies week. Dont sit on, lean over, climb or hang off the side of balconies. Accidents happen you could slip and fall Never room hop from balcony to balcony. One wrong move could prove fatal Avoid overcrowding. Take it inside or head down to the beach party Dont throw objects Schoolies is a very busy time and there may be people walking below. Objects thrown or dropped from a height can become dangerous projectiles when they reach the ground Source: QLD Government Three female revellers are seen standing on their balcony during this year's Schoolies on a Gold Coast high-rise apartment Advertisement With a maximum limit of seven people, the overcrowded lift's brakes failed, causing it to free-fall from the apartment building's eighth floor to the basement. Rescue crews took more than an hour to free the teenagers from the broken lift. The incident comes after an elevator carrying 14 Schoolies plummeted eight floors after a reported malfunction on the Gold Coast (pictured) A truck driver miraculously survived this horror crash which saw his truck roll and dangle precariously off the edge of a freeway ramp. The man, aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital with soft tissue injuries, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman told 9News.com.au. VicTraffic warned Melbourne motorists that the Calder Freeway had been closed inbound after the truck rolled over near Green Gully Road, Keilor, in Melbourne's north west. A major freeway has been closed after a truck rolled over and was left with its trailer dangling precariously from a traffic bridge The contents of the truck had spilled across multiple lanes of freeway. Traffic remained heavy for much of the evening after the incident, which happened at around 5pm. It is understood that the clean-up will take much of the night. Motorists were being warned to expect significant delays in the Keilor area. Jeremy Hunt has met the four-year-old daughter of a British mother jailed in Iran on spying charges as he called for her to be released. The Foreign Secretary presented Gabriella Zaghari-Ratcliffe with gifts including a John Lewis art set and a Peppa Pig book as he visited her in Iran. Her imprisoned mother Nazanin, 39, who is from West Hampstead, North West London, had also made dolls for Gabriella and one of Mr Hunt's daughters. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt presents four-year-old Gabriella Zaghari-Ratcliffe with gifts Mr Hunt meets the four-year-old daughter of a British mother jailed in Iran on spying charges He tweeted that 'no child should have to go this long without their mother', while the Free Nazanin campaign said: 'The family were very touched by his support.' Mr Hunt was in Tehran as he allegedly pushed for the settlement of a 400million debt owed to Iran by Britain over hundreds of Chieftain tanks sold to the country in 1976 but never delivered. Whitehall sources told The Times he is trying to settle the debt to help secure her release but there are fears this could be seen as payment to release a hostage. It comes after President Barack Obama settled the equivalent US version of the debt in 2016 and, at the same time, Tehran freed five US-Iranian citizens. The Chieftain tanks were blocked after the Iranian revolution of 1979 and most were not delivered before eventually being sold to Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Mr Hunt gives her gifts such as a John Lewis art set and a Peppa Pig book as he visits her in Iran Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard Ratcliffe said he had faith in Mr Hunt to 'unlock' things in a way his predecessor Boris Johnson had been unable to. He said he wanted it to be 'second time lucky' after Mr Hunt flew into Iran to call for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe to be released amid hopes she will be out by Christmas. He became the first western foreign minister to visit Iran since the US pulled out of a nuclear deal and imposed sanctions. Speaking from the country, Mr Hunt told the BBC: 'We are very, very keen to move towards peace in Yemen. That's our number one priority at the moment. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in jail on spying charges, is pictured with her daughter Gabriella 'But also we have the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other dual nationals here who are in prison and shouldn't be. We want to get them home.' Nazanin's husband Richard Ratcliffe said he had faith in Mr Hunt to 'unlock' things in Iran As Foreign Secretary, Mr Johnson was heavily criticised for his handling of the case. He was accused of risking an additional five years being added to her sentence when he told MPs she had been in Iran to train journalists. Mr Johnson was forced to apologise, retracting 'any suggestion she was there in a professional capacity'. Reacting to the visit, Mr Ratcliffe said he hoped his wife would be home for Christmas and her 40th birthday. He said he was 'very pleased' with the way Mr Hunt conducted his visit to Iran, adding: 'Let's hope it leads somewhere. He revealed that he had met with Mr Hunt's team on Friday to discuss the visit to Iran, during which the Foreign Secretary is expected to meet the foreign minister and security representatives. Mr Hunt meets with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran yesterday Iran's Foreign Minister Mr Javad Zarif (left) talks to Mr Hunt (second right) in Tehran yesterday Mr Hunt was welcomed to the capital Tehran by Mr Javad Zarif who shook his hand yesterday During an interview with Sky News, he said there were hopes that the Foreign Secretary would meet with the judiciary or the revolutionary guard, which are responsible for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's internment. He revealed that Mr Hunt was also expected to meet with the couple's four-year-old daughter Gabriella, who lives with her grandparents in Iran and plans to present him with a drawing of herself with Mr Hunt. Asked whether he was more hopeful of his wife's release following Mr Hunt's appointment, Mr Ratcliffe said: 'I hope it's a case of second time lucky for us at this point. 'We're hoping that the Foreign Secretary is able to unlock things in a way that we were hoping Boris Johnson could unlock things, but in the end it didn't work out. We need to wait to see what the reaction is.' Mr Hunt said the aid worker should be reunited with her husband Richard and their daughter He added of Mr Hunt's visit: 'I'm hopeful that he'll be clear that this has gone on for too long and it is time for this to be over and if we're lucky Nazanin will be back for Christmas and back in time for her 40th birthday.' Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband has campaigned ever since for her release Mr Ratcliffe added that he believed his wife was being used as a 'political pawn' by the Iranian regime. In a statement released on Sunday, Mr Hunt warned the hardline Islamic regime against using 'innocent British-Iranian dual nationals' as political pawns. Before setting off Mr Hunt said: 'More than anything, we must see those innocent British-Iranian dual nationals imprisoned in Iran returned to their families in Britain. 'I have just heard too many heartbreaking stories from families who have been forced to endure a terrible separation. So I arrive in Iran with a clear message for the country's leaders: putting innocent people in prison cannot and must not be used as a tool of diplomatic leverage.' Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born in Iran and is married to an Englishman, Mr Ratcliffe. She works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation. She was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016 as she was about to fly home to London with her two-year-old daughter. She was later sentenced to five years in jail after being accused of spying, a charge she vehemently denies. Her husband has campaigned ever since for her release. The Khashoggi murder has opened an opportunity to seize power from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Members of the House of Saud are seeking to find an alternative successor to the throne and prevent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from becoming king, sources close to the royal court said. While they say that no change to the line of succession could take place while the 82-year-old King Salman lives, after his death the field may open. The sources suggest there is a growing conspiracy among members of the House of Saud to ensure the favoured son does not become King. The prodigal son: Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), 33, has fractured relations with influential members, most recently with the CIA pointing the finger at him over the murder of his prominent critic, the journalist Jamal Khashoggi Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 76, younger full brother of King Salman and uncle to the crown prince is the preferred candidate for the throne, according to sources within the Suadi court A preferred candidate is Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 76, younger full brother of King Salman and uncle to the crown prince. King Salman's only surviving brother flirted with power in London in October as he appeared to distance himself from the king and crown prince over the Khashoggi murder. Prince Ahmed was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling family's senior members, who opposed MbS becoming crown prince in 2017, two Saudi sources said at the time. Unlike European monarchies the House of Saud is made up of hundreds of princes, with the power of succession drawn across tribal lines, rather than automatically going to the eldest son. Each branch of the dynasty is consulted before a new King succeeds. Senior U.S. officials have indicated to Saudi courtiers in recent weeks that they would support Prince Ahmed, who was deputy interior minister for nearly 40 years, according to Saudi sources with direct knowledge of the consultations. These Saudi sources said they were confident that Prince Ahmed would not change or reverse any of the social or economic reforms enacted by MbS, would honour existing military procurement contracts and restore the unity of the family. One senior U.S. official said the White House is in no hurry to distance itself from the crown prince despite pressure from lawmakers and the CIA's assessment that MbS ordered Khashoggi's murder. But that could change when President Trump gets a final report on the killing from the intelligence community. The official also said the White House was wary of the King's Riyadh speech on Monday, where he backed his son and made no direct reference to Khashoggi's death, except to praise his own attorney general. King Salman, 82, made a speech in Riyadh on Monday where he backed his son and made no direct reference to Khashoggi's murder, except to praise the Saudi prosecutor According to US sources familiar with the CIA assessment, the Khashoggi death was an assassination ordered by MbS, as Trump said it was 'premature' to say but 'possible' On Saturday Trump called the CIA assessment that MbS ordered Khashoggi's killing 'very premature' but 'possible', and said he would receive a complete report on the case on Tuesday. Relations have cooled dramatically with MbS, who caused further irritation when he urged the Saudi defence ministry to explore alternative weapons supplies from Russia. In a letter dated May 15, the crown prince asked his defence ministry to 'focus on purchasing weapon systems and equipment in the most pressing fields', including Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles. The brutal killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic of MbS, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month sparked global outrage. The CIA believes the crown prince ordered the killing, according to U.S. sources familiar with the assessment. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has said the crown prince knew nothing of the killing. The murder has exposed the young prince who has risen rapidly in stature as he made high-profile social and economic reforms, like allowing women to drive and opening cinemas. But these liberal notes have been counterbalanced by a crackdown on dissent, a purge of top royals and businessmen on corruption charges, and a costly war in Yemen. While the prodigal son lavished himself with a new $500 million yacht, palaces and set a new record on the art market with his acquisition of a Leonardo Da Vinci, he arrested and humiliated 30 other princes. The House of Saud has emerged divided as a result. But Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner have cultivated deep personal relationships with the crown prince. One Saudi insider said MbS feels he still has their support and is willing to 'roll some heads to appease the U.S.' However, U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the House are piling pressure on Trump to bring the crown prince to heel. Those who have met the beleaguered King Salman recently say he appeared to be in denial about the role of MbS in what happened, but that he was worried. MbS continues to secure his position as he builds his father an isolated retirement home at the cost of $2 billion. One of the infamous 'Bali Nine' prisoners has wished Renae Lawrence luck ahead of her release tomorrow. Matthew Norman, 32, said he still has hope despite serving a life sentence for his role in the infamous drugs ring. Speaking on 9News Norman said: 'She's only got a 20-year-sentence and I wish her the best of luck. 'But for me, I'm still here with a life sentence and I'm doing all I can to better myself. I still have hope.' Scroll down for video 'Bali Nine' member Matthew Norman (pictured) has wished Renae Lawrence all the best ahead of her release from a Bali prison on November 21 Lawrence was found with 2.2 kg of heroin strapped to her body but after she turned informant for Bali authorities her sentence was downgraded to 20 years and will be released on November 21 Lawrence, 41, is spending her last night in prison ahead of her release on November 21. She has served 13 years of a 20 year sentence for her role in the attempted smuggling of 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia in April 2005. Lawrence was found with 2.2 kg of heroin strapped to her body but after she turned informant for Bali authorities her sentence was downgraded to 20 years. She further reduced her sentence by being a model prisoner and participating in a number of prison programs during her incarceration. Made Suwendra, the prison's Governor visited Lawrence ahead of her release and told 9News she was in good health and 'happy'. However Lawrence's return to Australia won't be all smooth sailing after it was alleged she may be involved in a historical police investigation into a high speed chase in a stolen car. Lawrence will be the only member of the 'Bali Nine' who will ever walk free from prison with the remaining five all serving life sentences Police confirmed on Thursday that they had two outstanding warrants for a 41-year-old woman but have not yet named Lawrence. Lawrence will be the only member of the Bali nine who will ever walk free from prison with the remaining five all serving life sentences. Along with Norman, Si Yi Chen, 33, Scott Rush, 33, Martin Stephens, 42, and Michael Czugaj, 32, remain in prison for life, while Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died from cancer in May. In 2015 'Bali Nine' ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed for their roles in the drug smuggling operation. 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. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who wrote critically of the kingdom's policies and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish officials say a 15-men team tortured, killed and dismembered the writer, while Saudi Arabia says he died in a 'fistfight.' Here are some key moments in the slaying of the Washington Post columnist: BEFORE HIS DISAPPEARANCE September 2017: The Post publishes the first column by Khashoggi in its newspaper, in which the former royal court insider and longtime journalist writes about going into a self-imposed exile in the U.S. over the rise of Prince Mohammed. His following columns criticize the prince and the kingdom's direction. September 28, 2018: Over a year after the Post published his first column, Khashoggi visits the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, seeking documents in order to get married. He's later told to return October 2, his fiancee Hatice Cengiz says. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says a plan or a 'road map' to kill Khashoggi was devised in Saudi Arabia during this time. September 29: Khashoggi travels to London and speaks at a conference. October 1: Khashoggi returns to Istanbul. At around 4.30pm, a three-person Saudi team arrives in Istanbul on a scheduled flight, checks in to their hotels then visits the consulate, according to Erdogan. The Turkish president says another group of officials from the consulate travel to a forest in Istanbul's outskirts and to the nearby city of Yalova on a 'reconnaissance' trip. Jamal Khashoggi (right) arriving at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 2 THE DAY OF HIS DISAPPEARANCE 3.28am, October 2: A private jet arrives at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport carrying some members of what Turkish media will refer to as a 15-member Saudi 'assassination squad.' Other members of the team arrive by two commercial flights in the afternoon. Erdogan says the team includes Saudi security and intelligence officials and a forensics expert. They meet at the Saudi Consulate. One of the first things they do is to dismantle a hard disk connected to the consulate's camera system, the president says. 11.50am: Khashoggi is called to confirm his appointment at the consulate later that day, Erdogan says. 1.14pm: Surveillance footage later leaked to Turkish media shows Khashoggi walking into the main entrance of the Saudi Consulate. No footage made public ever shows him leaving. His fiancee waits outside, pacing for hours. 3.07pm: Surveillance footage shows vehicles with diplomatic license plates leaving the Saudi Consulate for the consul general's home some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away. 5.50pm: Khashoggi's fiancee alerts authorities, saying he may have been forcibly detained inside the consulate or that something bad may have happened to him, according to Erdogan. 7pm: A private plane from Saudi Arabia carries six members of the alleged Saudi squad from Istanbul to Cairo, the next day returning to Riyadh. 11pm: Seven members of the alleged Saudi squad leave on another private jet to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which the next day returns to Riyadh. Two others leave by commercial flights. Erdogan confirms reports that a 'body double' - a man wearing Khashoggi's clothes, glasses and a beard - leaves the consulate building for Riyadh with another person on a scheduled flight later that day. CCTV images showed a a private jet alleged to have been used by a group of Saudi men suspected of being involved in Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death INITIAL REACTION October 3: Khashoggi's fiancee and the Post go public with his disappearance. Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi visited the consulate and exited shortly thereafter. Turkish officials suggest Khashoggi might still be in the consulate. Prince Mohammed tells Bloomberg: 'We have nothing to hide.' October 4: Saudi Arabia says on its state-run news agency that the consulate is carrying out 'follow-up procedures and coordination with the Turkish local authorities to uncover the circumstances of the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi after he left the consulate building.' October 5: The Post prints a blank column in its newspaper in solidarity with Khashoggi, headlined: 'A missing voice.' October 6: The Post, citing anonymous Turkish officials, reports Khashoggi may have been killed in the consulate in a 'preplanned murder' by a Saudi team. October 7: A friend of Khashoggi tells the AP that officials told him the writer was killed at the consulate. The consulate rejects what it calls 'baseless allegations.' October 8: Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Turkey is summoned over Khashoggi's disappearance and alleged killing. LEAKED FOOTAGE October 9: Turkey says it will search the Saudi Consulate as a picture of Khashoggi walking into the diplomatic post surfaces. October 10: Surveillance footage is leaked of Khashoggi and the alleged Saudi squad that killed him. Khashoggi's fiancee asks President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for help. October 11: Turkish media describes Saudi squad as including royal guards, intelligence officers, soldiers and an autopsy expert. Trump calls Khashoggi's disappearance a 'bad situation' and promises to get to the bottom of it. October 12: Trump again pledges to find out what happened to Khashoggi. October 13: A pro-government newspaper reports that Turkish officials have an audio recording of Khashoggi's alleged killing from his Apple Watch, but details in the report come into question. INTERNATIONAL UPROAR October 14: Trump says that 'we're going to get to the bottom of it, and there will be severe punishment' if Saudi Arabia is involved. The kingdom responds with a blistering attack against those who threaten it, as the manager of a Saudi-owned satellite news channel suggests the country could retaliate through its oil exports. The Saudi stock exchange plunges as much as 7 percent at one point. Khashoggi (pictured), went missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul October 15: A Turkish forensics team enters and searches the Saudi Consulate, an extraordinary development as such diplomatic posts are considered sovereign soil. Trump suggests after a call with Saudi King Salman that 'rogue killers' could be responsible for Khashoggi's alleged slaying. Trump says Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to the Mideast over the case. Meanwhile, business leaders say they won't attend an economic summit in the kingdom that's the brainchild of Prince Mohammed. October 16: A high-level Turkish official tells the AP that 'certain evidence' was found in the Saudi Consulate proving Khashoggi was killed there. Pompeo arrives for meetings in Saudi Arabia with King Salman and Prince Mohammed. Meanwhile, Trump compares the case to the appointment of now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing, saying: 'Here we go again with you're guilty until proven innocent.' October 17: Pompeo meets with Turkey's president and foreign minister in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Turkish police search the official residence of Saudi Arabia's consul general in Istanbul and conduct a second sweep of the consulate. October 18: A leaked surveillance photograph shows a member of Prince Mohammed's entourage walked into the consulate just before Khashoggi vanished there. October 20: Saudi Arabia for the first time acknowledges Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, claiming he was slain in a 'fistfight.' The claim draws immediate skepticism from the kingdom's Western allies, particularly in the U.S. Congress. October 22: A report says a member of Prince Mohammed's entourage made four calls to the royal's office around the time Khashoggi was killed. Police search a vehicle belonging to the Saudi consulate parked at an underground garage in Istanbul. CCTV emerges showing a Saudi intelligence officer dressed in a fake beard and Jamal Khashoggi's clothes and glasses on the day he went missing. October 23: Erdogan says Saudi officials murdered Khashoggi after plotting his death for days, demanding that Saudi Arabia reveal the identities of all involved. October 25: Changing their story again, Saudi prosecutors say Khashoggi's killing was a premeditated crime. November 2: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims the order to kill Khashoggi came from the highest levels of the Saudi government. Earlier the same day, Yasin Aktay, a ruling party adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he believed the body had to have been dissolved in acid. November 4: Khashoggi's sons Salah and Abdullah Khashoggi issue appeal for his remains to be returned so that he may be buried in Saudi Arabia. November 10: President Erdogan says Turkey gave the audio recordings linked to the murder to 'Saudi Arabia, to Washington, to the Germans, to the French, to the British'. November 13: Turkish media reports that the luggage carried by the Saudi 'hit squad' included scissors, defibrillators and syringes that may have been used against Khashoggi. November 15: Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor announces that he is seeking the death penalty for five out of 11 suspects charged in the murder. Shalaan al-Shalaan said the person who had ordered the killing was the head of the negotiating team sent to repatriate him, and exonerated Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. On the same day, the U.S. Treasury announces sanctions against 17 Saudi officials, including the Consul General in Turkey, Mohammed Alotaibi. November 16: A CIA assessment reported in the Washington Post finds that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination. November 18: Germany bans 18 Saudi nationals believed to be connected to the murder from entering Europe's border-free Schengen zone. Berlin also announces it has as halted previously approved arms exports to Saudi Arabia amid the fallout. Energy minister Claire Perry faces being investigation for shouting and swearing at civil servants after trade unions complained about her bullying of staff. Three unions have written a joint letter to Alex Chisholm, the permanent secretary at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) about ministers' behaviour. Ms Perry was singled out for criticism amid claims there have been a series of reports about her abuse of officials. Energy minister Claire Perry (pictured in Downing Street last week) faces being investigation for shouting and swearing at civil servants after trade unions complained about her bullying of staff While the letter does not spell out specific instances, the Guardian said it understood Ms Perry allegedly texted one official to say 'f*** off'. On another she is accused of scrawling 'what's this s***' on a memo produced by staff. Ms Perry was promoted to Energy Minister last year. The job involves attending Cabinet but she is not a member of the PM's top team. Labour's shadow cabinet office minister Jon Trickett demanded an inquiry. He said: 'The unions have raised serious allegations, and we've got to look into them carefully. Labour's shadow cabinet office minister Jon Trickett (file image) demanded an inquiry 'All ministers, however important, must pay close attention to relations with their staff, and avoid any conduct that could be seen as unprofessional. 'Bullying is totally unacceptable in any workplace.' The ministerial code insists members of the Government should behave in a way that is 'proper and appropriate' with officials. It continues: 'Harassing, bullying or other inappropriate or discriminating behaviour wherever it takes place is not consistent with the ministerial code and will not be tolerated.' A spokesman for BEIS said: 'Like all government departments we are committed to ensuring that our staff are treated with respect. We have clear codes of conduct in place, with high standards expected of all. 'Any complaints or grievances made by staff are investigated following agreed internal processes.' Jack Bushell (pictured) beat his then-girlfriend unconscious in the street A brutal domestic abuser who chased his girlfriend while he was naked to beat her in the street was jailed yesterday. Jack Bushell, 22, was locked up for 28 months after his assault on Jade Gallagher left her covered in blood and vomiting as she lost consciousness. He dragged the mother of one through the street after already beating her at home. Bushell, from South Shields, held her head with one hand as he pummelled her with the other. Under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, he turned up at her house at 5.15am after they had both attended a party on a Saturday night despite him being subject to a restraining order. As he punched her, the thug called her a 'f***ing stupid cow' while the 26-year-old tried desperately to get away from him. Then he threw her to the floor and kicked her body. Jade Gallagher (pictured, left, before the horrific attack and, right, after) passed out in the street when her boyfriend chased her down When she did manage to kick him and flee the house, she screamed at one neighbour 'Julie, he's going to kill me'. One neighbour reported that Ms Gallagher was 'covered in blood and her hair was an absolute mess'. But a naked Bushell followed her and dragged her through the street as neighbours called Northumbria Police. Miss Gallagher said in a statement read to Newcastle Crown Court: 'I thought he was going to kill me. 'I'm sure if I had not managed to escape he would have killed me. He showed no signs of stopping and was completely out of control. Even in the street, with neighbours watching, he continued to assault me. Ms Gallagher uploaded this picture to Facebook following the beating which happened while her boyfriend was on a restraining order 'It was completely unprovoked and the punching was relentless, even when I was unconscious. He was still hitting me when I came round.' The yob - who has a conviction for stalking - refused to speak to officers at the station and was 'aggressive' with officers, prosecutor Paul Anderson previously told South Tyneside Magistrates' Court. But he admitted the beating a day later. Bushell was subject to the restraining order so Ms Gallagher could have space with a view to making their relationship work. Bushell (pictured) beat his then-girlfriend after he ran after her naked in the street But she left him after the beating, which followed a history of pestering and violence. Judge Sarah Mallett described the attack as 'relentless' and told Bushell: 'You pose a high risk of re-offending. You pose a high risk of harm to females you are in a relationship with.' Judge Mallett said Bushell was 'totally out of control' when he attacked Miss Gallagher and added: 'She thought she was going to be killed.' The court heard Bushell received injuries himself in an altercation after the attack. After his arrest he made threats to police officers, saying he hoped their wives were raped and making comments about their children. Tony Hawks, defending, said Bushell had been 'drinking and taking cocaine' and was naked during the attack as he had got into bed at the house. Mr Hawks added: 'He knows he's behaved in a completely despicable manner. He is remorseful, he is disgusted by his behaviour. 'He feels he has let his family down. They are a respectable family and not used to having their son in a public court, let alone facing a significant prison sentence. 'He wants to come out and put his life back together. This has been a serious wake-up call for him.' Bushell has now been banned from contacting Ms Gallagher indefinitely. He breached two restraining orders against two former partners, sent Ms Gallagher unwanted texts, turned up at her address twice and caused 200 of damage to her French doors. His nine previous convictions and was also subject to another order at the time of the beating. The order aimed to enable him to 'build better relationships'. He pleaded guilty to ABH and harassing, pestering or intimidating the victim. A jealous lover who stabbed his girlfriend and her two daughters to death in a New York hotel has been jailed for life. Michael Sykes, now 27, stabbed Rebecca Cutler more than 40 times during a frenzied attack in September 2016. He also fatally stabbed her one-year-old daughter Ziana Cutler and four-month-old Maliyah Sykes, his biological daughter with her, at least five times each. Miracle Cutler, Rebecca's other daughter who was then aged two, was also stabbed 11 times but survived her injuries. Michael Sykes was jailed for life without possibility of parole on Monday after being found guilty of stabbing his girlfriend and two of her daughters to death (pictured in 2016) Sykes claimed that girlfriend Rebecca Cutler (right) stabbed the children herself in a psychotic rage, but jurors found him guilty after hearing he was jealous over texts he found on her phone Lawyers said Sykes was jealous over texts that Cutler had received from another man and had attacked her in the street the night before the fatal stabbing. He also stole her cell phone the day before she was killed. The family were caught on CCTV going into the Ramada Inn on Staten Island - which is used as homeless housing - on September 10, which was the last time the family were seen alive together. A housekeeper discovered the bodies of Cutler and her two daughters alongside badly-wounded Miracle the following day and called an ambulance. Sykes, who had fled the scene, was arrested three days later and put on trial. At his first trial, Sykes claimed that Cutler was 'psychotic' and attacked the children herself, saying that he stabbed her to death in self-defense. A jury convicted him of second-degree murder over her death, but deadlocked over whether or not he attacked the children. Prosecutors sought a retrial on those two charges, before he was found guilty of murdering Ziana and Maliyah, and attempting to murder Miracle, last month. Cutler was stabbed more than 40 times during the attack in September 2016, while daughters Ziana and Maliyah were stabbed at least five times each (pictured, the murder weapon) Police spent three days hunting for Sykes after he fled the scene of the stabbing before he was tracked to an address in Queens (pictured, police during the manhunt) The New York Daily News reports that Sykes refused to attend his second trial and testify, and also refused to attend his sentencing. In the end, a judge had to order that he be brought before the court by force before he showed his face. He sat silently as Justice Mario F. Mattei sentenced him to life in jail without possibility of parole. Culter's cousin - who has adopted baby miracle since the attack - wept as she spoke outside court following the sentencing. She said Miracle cries at night and asks for her mother, and says she wants to go to heaven to live with her. She added: 'We wake up some mornings with tears in our eyes because Ziana and Maliyah will never attend nursery school, play in a park, learn how to ride a bike, run in the sprinklers and just enjoy growing up and being kids. 'There will be no more birthday parties, dance recitals, Christmas lists, Easter egg hunts, play dates and family activities to share. 'The laughter, hugs and kisses and those opportunities to say I love you are forever gone. Our family is broken.' Miracle Cutler, Rebecca's third daughter who was aged two at the time of the attack, suffered 11 stab wounds but survived her injuries and has been adopted by a cousin A four-month-old baby girl has died in suspicious circumstances after being found in a critical condition in Logan, south of Brisbane. The child was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital in a critical condition on Tuesday, but died a short time later,news.com.au reported. Detectives in the child protection unit and the homicide and child trauma squads are investigating. This marks the second suspicious death of a young child in Queensland in less than 48 hours. A four-month-old baby girl has died in suspicious circumstances after being found in a critical condition in Logan, south of Brisbane This marks the second suspicious death of a young child in Queensland in less than 48 hours Just one day before, the body of a nine-month-old infant was found washed up on Surfers Paradise beach on the Gold Coast. The baby girl found dead in the shallows of a popular Gold Coast beach was living with her homeless parents in a hut made from sticks prior to her death, the Daily Mail has revealed. Expert police divers have begun the mission of searching for clues along the southern Gold Coast shoreline. Sitting in sand dunes only metres from the surf, the shack made of dead wood and twigs was home to the baby girl, her two-year-old brother and their father, 48 and mother, 23. As police continue to search for answers local residents told how they reported the family's living conditions to authorities, but no action was taken. Reverend Jon Brooks, head of a local housing crisis centre, told Daily Mail Australia the family lived 'as rough as it gets'. 'Anybody who does it homeless does it poorly, but if it is the family I believe it might be, they were in the worst position you could find yourself in,' Rev Brooks said. Reverend Jon Brooks, head of a local housing crisis centre, told Daily Mail Australia the family lived 'as rough as it gets' 'Anybody who does it homeless does it poorly, but if it is the family I believe it might be, they were in the worst position you could find yourself in,' Rev Brooks said 'I wasn't aware they'd been living in a humpy - the last I knew they were moving from toilet blocks, to parks, to even under bridges.' 'They moved up here from down south and we gave them assistance with a different organisation that houses homeless people up here. We also provided them meals at lunch time.' Police are continuing to hold the baby girl's parents in custody, but have not yet laid charges. The DUP is effectively on strike tonight and is expected to abstain again on a series of crucial Budget votes later. The party's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds said the Prime Minister had to 'look beyond' her draft Brexit deal because it is opposed on all sides of the House. The DUP said it wanted to avoid a no deal Brexit but warned Mrs May she would lose the party's support if she did not rethink. The PM only has a majority in the Commons with DUP support under a confidence and supply deal promising the party's 10 votes on Budget, Brexit and confidence issues. Last night the DUP abstained on most Finance Bill votes and even voted with Labour on one - slashing the Government majority to five. The party's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds (left with leader Arlene Foster) said the Prime Minister had to 'look beyond' her draft Brexit deal because it is opposed on all sides of the House Warning the with-holding of votes will continue, Mr Dodds said: 'The Confidence and Supply Agreement was based on shared objectives for strengthening and enhancing the Union and an exit from the European Union that benefits all parts of the United Kingdom. 'We have kept to our word in relation to the Confidence and Supply Agreement, but even Cabinet members have found themselves having to resign because this deal does not represent those shared objectives in relation to the Union. 'The Government will require DUP support to deliver its domestic agenda. We will continue to use our influence for the good of everyone across the United Kingdom.' The BBC reported the DUP abstentions would continue on tonight's Finance Bill debate, set to cover FOBTs and tax avoidance. A senior Tory MP told MailOnline said the votes were a signal the government might not last long even if Theresa May somehow managed to force her Brexit deal through Parliament. They said: 'Without the DUP we are toast.' In return for the confidence and supply deal, the Government promised an extra 1billion in spending in Northern Ireland - but only 430million of it has been handed over, Commons research shows. It could mean the province risks losing 570million it secured for Northern Ireland as its price for propping up Theresa May in No 10. The DUP has said there is 'serious trouble' with Brexit deal, which risks leaving Northern Ireland on a different regulatory footing to the rest of the UK one of party leader Arlene Foster's 'blood red lines'. DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said Mrs May's deal with Brussels breached a 'fundamental' assurance that Northern Ireland would not be separated constitutionally or economically from the rest of the UK. After the votes in the Commons last night, he told Newsnight: 'We had to do something to show our displeasure.' 'She has broken all of those promises - to the people of the United Kingdom, to her own party and to the people of Northern Ireland.' In an address at the Conference of British Industry's annual conference yesterday, Mrs May reminded her critics that people's jobs were on the line if there is no Brexit deal While the Government won the votes on the Finance Bill, the DUP's failure to support it in the first two votes were a blow to Mrs May's authority. When the party voted with Labour - on a demand for a review of the impact of the Budget on child poverty - the Government won by just five votes. The Government would have lost if more Labour MPs had turned up - 30, including Jeremy Corbyn, were missed the vote with permission from the whips. The DUP is pessimistic that she will amend the Brexit deal in any significant way and sees it as driving a regulatory wedge between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Mrs Foster voiced her frustration last week that her party had not been allowed to see the draft of the deal before it was debated by Cabinet. In return for the confidence and supply deal, the Government promised an extra 1billion in spending in Northern Ireland - but only 430million of it has been handed over, Commons research shows (pictured) Downing Street said yesterday the Prime Minister was, for example, looking to improve the provisions for security co-operation. In an address at the CBI's annual conference yesterday, Mrs May reminded her critics that people's jobs were on the line if there is no Brexit deal. She said: 'We are not talking about political theory, but the reality of people's lives and livelihoods. Jobs depend on us getting this right. 'What we have agreed unashamedly puts our future economic success, and the livelihoods of working families up and down this country, first.' She added: 'Don't just listen to the politicians. Listen to what business is saying, listen to what business that is providing your jobs, and ensuring that you have that income that puts food on the table for your family, is saying. And business is saying we want a good deal with the EU.' Stephen Field left Joanne Beattie (pictured together) with bone fractures and a head wound in a vicious attack A brute who broke his girlfriend's hand by repeatedly slamming a door against her fingers has been sent on a course after claiming prison would not tackle his temper. Stephen Field, 42, left Joanne Beattie with bone fractures and a head wound in a vicious attack following a row over household chores. Miss Beattie had been holding on to the door frame to stop her falling over after being shoved by Field, who told her: 'Get out, I will kill you.' She fled downstairs but Field caught up with Miss Beattie and slammed her head against a kitchen cupboard. When he was arrested the thug, of Little Hulton, near Salford, Greater Manchester, dismissed his violent behaviour as an 'accident'. In a statement, mother-of-two Miss Beattie said: 'I can't understand why he would treat me in this way when he's supposed to love me. 'I am not willing to put up with this behaviour and I am worried he has anger issues and I am worried he could assault me in the future. 'I am worried he could influence my daughter. This is what she has witnessed and she believes this type of behaviour is normal.' At Manchester Crown Court, Field admitted to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two charges of criminal damage. But he walked free from court with a two-year community order after he claimed he had 'seen the error in his ways' and needed professional help. Miss Beattie (left) had been holding on to the door frame to stop her falling over after being shoved by Field (shown outside Manchester Crown Court, right), who told her: 'I will kill you' Field will now attend a counselling programme which it is claimed will help him 'get a better understanding of himself' and improve his relationships with others. The court heard the couple are now back together, having first met six years ago and later moving in with her two children aged 15 and 16. Prosecutor Simone Flynn said: 'On this particular occasion on July 27 she was at home with Field in the bedroom, and her two children were also in the house. 'An argument broke out between her and the defendant and she was shoved by the defendant with both hands in the chest area, and she staggered backwards. 'As she fell backwards she grabbed the door frame. But the defendant grabbed hold of the door and slammed it, which closed on her fingers, three to four times. 'On the first slam, she screamed and shouted at him. This didn't stop him and he continued to slam the door and she heard him shout: "Get out, I will kill you".' Field was arrested on July 11 but initially denied wrongdoing. He had 65 offences on his criminal record including offences of ABH and robbery with an imitation firearm. Whilst he was on bail for his attacks upon Miss Beattie he attended her address twice in two days. At Manchester Crown Court, Field admitted to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two charges of criminal damage On the first occasion he claimed he wanted to pick up some clothes, but a row broke out and he threw her mobile phone at her. During the second incident he got access to her Miss Beattie's home and smashed a mug during another argument. In mitigation, defence lawyer Richard Dawson said: 'The past is the past, they remain in that relationship and wish for that relationship to continue. 'He has, at least, some degree of insight into these problems. These underlying issues need to be addressed so they can be tackled. 'If he was to be sent to custody, that will do little if anything to tackle these underlying issues. 'He needs constructive help in regards to tackling this domestic and violent behaviour. He does have underlying anger management difficulties. Field was ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation requirement activities, attend a Building Better programme and will complete 100 hours unpaid work. He was also issued with a restraining order prohibiting him from 'molesting' Miss Beattie for a period of five years. Bosses behind the course says it is 'designed to promote lifelong changes in behaviours and attitudes which, in the past, have resulted in male service users being convicted of intimate partner violence'. Advertisement A charming photo album assembled by Queen Victoria which includes some of her final snaps with Prince Albert has come to light. The monarch, who had a passion for photography, put together the intimate, private collection of 85 photos between 1859 and 1863. Many of the snaps feature Prince Albert who died in December 1861, while others show their nine children. They were taken at the Royal residences Osborne House, Victoria's Isle of Wight retreat, Windsor Castle and Balmoral. Prince Albert is pictured reading as Queen Victoria stands with her husband in one of 85 intimate shots that show their tender relationship. The pictures were taken between 1859 and 1863 and are expected to fetch 6,000 at auction. The photographs were taken at Osborne House, Windsor Castle and Balmoral This shot, taken in 1856 at Osborne House, shows (left to right): Prince Alfred, Prince Albert, Princess Helena, Princess Alice, Prince Arthur, Queen Victoria holding Princess Beatrice, Princess Royal (Victoria), Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, and the Prince of Wales (Edward) Victoria and Beatrice embrace in this family picture which dates back to 1860. Charming pictures show how the Royals lived in a touching collection that is expected to fetch thousands at auction Queen Victoria plants a memorial tree at Windsor Park in 1862 following her husband's death the previous year. The snap features alongside shots of her final days with Prince Albert to form an intimate collection A fascinating shot shows Queen Victoria on horseback as she rides at Balmoral in 1863. On the right of the picture is John Brown, with whom she became so close following Albert's death that there was speculation the pair were romantically involved This 1850 photograph, taken at Osborne House on the Isle of White, shows (left to right): Prince Leopold, Princess Louise, Queen Victoria, Prince Arthur, Princess Alice, Princess Royal (Victoria), Prince Albert holding Princess Beatrice's hand, and Princess Helena Beneath some of the photos are hand written annotations by Victoria and signatures of the Royals in them. One poignant photo shows Victoria surrounded by her family planting a memorial tree for Albert at Windsor in 1862. There are also tender photos of Victoria holding her youngest daughter Beatrice and granddaughter Victoria. Princess Alice is pictured, left, in 1861, as part of a collection of 85 charming pictures showing Queen Victoria's family life up close. Right, the Queen is pictured cradling her granddaughter, whose name was also Victoria, at Balmoral in 1863 And the album also contains a remarkable snap of her on horseback at Balmoral with her beloved servant John Brown. The pair grew so close after Albert's passing it was speculated they were romantically involved. Victoria wrote of him: 'Perhaps never in history was there so strong and true an attachment, so warm and loving a friendship between the sovereign and servant. Queen Victoria gazes at Prince Albert in 1859 - just two years before his death. The Queen was passionate about photography and the tender moments of her family life have been preserved in a collection that will be available to the highest bidder Left, Prince Albert reading in the year before his death and, right, the future Edward VII poses for a photograph Queen Victoria sits for a picture with Alfred and Alice in 1860 in one of 85 shots that form a tender collection providing insight into the every day lives of the Royals 'Strength of character as well as power of frame - the most fearless uprightness, kindness, sense of justice, honesty, independence and unselfishness combined with a tender, warm heart - made him one of the most remarkable men.' Victoria's love of photography, a passion she shared with Albert, stemmed from the very early days of the medium in the 1830s. The Prince of Prussie, Wilhelm II, who was Queen Victoria's grandson, is also depicted in the collection Following his death, she carried on collecting photos in a bid to cure her 'loneliness' as she came to terms with widowhood. The album remained in the Royal Collection until the 1970s when it passed into the hands of a private collector who has now consigned it for sale with auctioneers Bonhams. It is tipped to sell for 6,000 on November 27. Matthew Haley, director of books and manuscripts at Bonhams, said: 'Queen Victoria was fascinated by photography which was still a relatively new technology and she was very aware of her public image so she allowed herself to be photographed often. 'Prince Albert shared this passion and they spent much time together assembling photograph albums - a hobby she turned to again in her widowhood to help allay her loneliness. 'There are photos of all the prominent Royals including Victoria's children and grandchildren, as well as her royal servant John Brown. 'The present collection is especially valuable in that it bridges the period between 1859 - when Albert was still alive - and her widowhood in the 1860s.' Female employees at a Chinese company have been told to abort their babies or face punishment if they get pregnant without their boss's approval. The firm, a bank in provincial capital Shijiazhuang, required all female workers to submit an application every January to be permitted to conceive in the same year, reported Chinese newspaper Workers' Daily. Any staff who fall pregnant without a permission would have to choose between a medical abortion or penalties, the article said. A firm in China required female workers to abort their babies or face penalties if they had become pregnant without their boss's approval, according to Chinese media (file photo) The 'pregnancy policy' was issued by a bank in Shijiazhuang (file photo), a provincial capital According to Workers' Daily, the 'pregnancy policy' came to light when one of the female staff at the bank - which has not been named - called Shijiazhuang Employees' Service Centre in mid-October for help. The woman, unidentified, said she had got pregnant unexpectedly and without permission, and had been asked to choose between keeping her baby and receiving punishment. She also claimed that several of her female colleagues had already been penalised after falling pregnant out of turn and refusing to abort their babies. Although the article did not specify what the company's exact punishment was, the author suggested it could range from a salary deduction to demotion. Chinese laws protect women's reproductive rights under its family-planning policy, which now allows couples to have two children. No businesses shall reduce the salaries of female workers or dismiss them because they are pregnant, according to China's Law on the Protection of Women's Rights. However, a survey by Zhaopin.com, a major job recruitment site in China, found that 33 per cent of women in China had their pay cut after giving birth and 36 per cent were demoted. Globally speaking, United Nations' Proclamation of Teheran from 1968 affirms the reproductive rights of parents as one of the basic human rights, including the parents' rights 'to determine freely and responsibly the number and the spacing of their children'. Couples in China have been allowed to have a maximum of two children since 2016 (file photo) The Workers' Daily report said after receiving the call, Shijiazhuang Employees' Service Centre arranged a meeting with the bank's directors on October 26. During the meeting, the authority explained the relevant laws to the directors and demanded the company abolish the policy instantly. Those female workers who had been penalised saw their previous jobs and wages restored. The news comes after the Chinese authorities launched a series of incentives to encourage couples to have a second child. The incentive policies, released by regional authorities for couples living in the area, come in different forms, but many involve government subsidisation. Beijing scrapped its long-standing one-child policy in 2016 to allow families to have two children, in a bid to boost the country's low birth rate and rapidly ageing population. Results have not been encouraging though, contrary to the government's expectation. China's birth rate didn't increase; instead it dropped to what scholars referred to as a 'shockingly low level' last year. High living costs, long work hours and surging child-care expenses mean that many couples feel that they can only afford to have one child - or none. A perpetually angry loner sexually assaulted and murdered a jogger in Queens because he was sexually frustrated, prosecutors said on the last day of his trial. Chanel Lewis, 22, is accused of killing 30-year-old Karina Vetrano when the pair crossed paths in August 2016. Lawyers said Lewis had no girlfriend, no friends, no job and was 'angry all the time' when he decided to vent that anger on Vetrano in an otherwise random attack. 'On this day he took his anger out on a pretty young woman, a girl in a halter top', District Attorney Brad Leventhal said. Scroll down for videos Chanel Lewis, 22, killed jogger Karina Vetrano in Queens in 2016 out of pent-up anger and sexual frustration, prosecutors have said Lewis had no job, no friends and no girlfriend when he decided to vent his anger on Vetrano as the pair crossed paths in an otherwise random attack, is was claimed Vetrano was hit in the back of the head, dragged off a path, sexually assaulted and then strangled to death as she fought for her life Lawyers for Lewis argued that DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene, including some found under his fingernails, is not reliable. Attorney Robert Moeller said the crime scene had been corrupted by various people, including Vetrano's father, and therefore couldn't be trusted. When Lewis appeared to be confessing the crime to police along with details of the grisly murder, he was actually just repeating information he learned from the news, Moeller added. Lewis faces faces life in prison if convicted of murdering Vetrano, who was killed while jogging in Spring Creek Park not far from her home in the Howard Beach neighborhood of Queens. Karina Vetrano's parents Phil and Cathy Vetrano are seen in court on the final day of summations Lewis' mother Veta leaves Queens Supreme Court after hearing evidence in her son's trial Vetrano was punched in the face, thrown to the ground, violently sexually assaulted and then strangled in a marsh, about a block away from her house. Father Philip Vetrano would later find her body there. Authorities said that the victim fought for her life until the very end, biting her attacker so hard that her teeth cracked. Vetrano's mother and father have been present in court throughout the trial, stoically bearing witness as the prosecution laid out its evidence for the jury. On Tuesday, prosecutors introduced evidence taken from Lewis' black ZTE cell phone, which they found at his Brooklyn home, according to the New York Daily News. Josue Rivera, a detective with the NYPD's Computer Crimes Squad, testified in Queens Supreme Court that investigators recovered the device from Lewis' dresser in his bedroom. The phone contained two photos of the victim, Vetrano, 30, as well as a photo of the crime scene, Rivera testified. Philip Vetrano (left), the victim's father, later found her body in the woods. He has been present every day throughout the trial alongside the victim's mother Cathy (right) Lawyers for Lewis say DNA evidence linking him to the crime is untrustworthy and that during an apparent police confession, he was actually repeating evidence he heard from the news The pictures were taken from online news articles about the crime. Prosecutors said that the phone contained a search history of 137 searches, among them the Wikipedia page for the Catholic Sacrament of Penance. It is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church in which adherents obtain absolution for sins committed against others. Lewis is also alleged to have searched a news article titled 'After a Crime, the Price of a Second Chance,' as well as 'Miranda warning,' 'arraignment,' and 'what happens after a felony conviction?' Rivera was asked by Lewis' defense attorney, Julia Burke, whether the name 'Karina Vetrano' was ever searched by Lewis on his cell phone. 'You can't testify that the name Karina Vetrano was ever search by the user, is that correct?' she asked. 'That is correct,' the detective said. Despite making a videotaped confession, in which he admitted to killing Vetrano, saying he spotted her at random and snapped, Lewis pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and aggravated sex abuse. His lawyers have argued that the confession was coerced by keeping Lewis isolated during his six-hour interrogation. Lewis reportedly refused to speak with white detectives and only confessed when a black detective was brought in. His remarks to detectives that he didn't like people 'over there', referring to the largely Italian-American Howard Beach neighborhood, led to speculation that the attack may have been racially motivated. In February, a judge decided to let DNA evidence and the videotaped confession be used at trial. Lewis' attorneys previously questioned the validity of his DNA sample from a consensual cheek swab, which was compared to DNA evidence recovered from under the victim's fingernails, and the manner in which his confession was gained. Advertisement U.S Air Force personnel in Utah staged the first ever 'Elephant Walk' exercise yesterday with the $100 million F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jet. In a demonstration of military might, the 388th and 419th fighter wings performed the combat power exercise at Hill Air Force Base, launching 35 F-35A fighter jets in 11 minutes. 'Elephant Walk' exercises are also known as short-notice combat readiness drills, and can be conducted using many different types of military aircraft - even helicopters. F-35A pilots from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wing prepare for takeoff as part of an 'Elephant Walk' combat power exercise at Hill Air Force Base 35 deadly F-35 Lightning II jet fighters are 'are ready to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment's notice' to support the U.S military They involve the aircraft taxiing in close formation or in sequence before a minimum interval takeoff. The drill is a test of units' ability to launch as many aircraft as necessary to support the national defense mission in a short time-frame. F-35 FACT SHEET Role: Stealth multirole fighter First flight: December 15, 2006 Unit cost (not including engine): F-35A - $98million F-35B - $104million F-35C - $116million Number built: 115 (as of November 2014) Length: 15.67m Wingspan: 10.7m Height: 4.33m Max speed (F-35A): 1,930kph Advertisement A surge in combat operations could take place at a moment's notice, and require any number of available fighter planes. For this debut drill, the units launched a symbolic 35 of the F-35A jet. 'What this demonstrates is our ability to generate a significant amount of air power,' 388th Wing Vice Commander Col. Michael Ebner said, as reported by Deseret News in Utah. 'Today we're exercising our wing's ability to rapidly deploy combat power,' he said. 'Part of what we do as the military is we conduct exercises to identify any shortfalls and issues that we may have in trying to answer our nation's call. 'It shows not only our Air Force leadership and Department of Defense leadership, (but) also shows our allies and enemies our ability to generate combat power.' During the exercise aircraft took off in 20- to 40-second intervals. The 388th and 419th fighter wings are the U.S Air Force's only combat-ready F-35A units, and must therefore be ready to launch large amounts of aircraft at once should the national defense require support. 'We are ready to fight tonight, and exercising with multiple squadrons of F-35s can demonstrate our ability to defeat potential adversaries wherever they may arise,' Maj. Caleb Guthmann, 34th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations and exercise project officer said in a statement. Conducting large-scale drills send a powerful message to U.S allies, adversaries and to the public that the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings are ready to deploy to protect the nation. The military exercise aims to confirm their ability to quickly employ a large force of jets against air and ground targets, and demonstrate the readiness and lethal force of the F-35 Lightning II Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 program is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of some $400billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years The F-35 family is made up of three variations of the single-seat jet: the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) model, the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) model, and the F-35C carrier (CV) model. With similar performance characteristics, the three models are distinguished most of all by their unique requirements for take off and landing. The F-35 planes have however suffered a number of high-profile crashes. In 2017, Navy pilots using the F-35C - a model of the jet designed for operations on a carrier complained it would move up and down on its nose gear when being launched from a catapult. In August, the nose gear collapsed on an F-35A Lightning II jet worth around $94.3million after a mid-air emergency forced it to land at a Florida base. Then, last month, the Pentagon grounded the F-35B fighter jet in order to inspect the fleet in the wake of a crash in South Carolina. One of the $100million fighter jets was completely destroyed when it crashed during a training exercise in South Carolina on September 28. Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 program is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of some $400billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years. In a demonstration of military might, the 388th and 419th fighter wings performed the combat power exercise at Hill Air Force Base, launching 35 F-35A fighter jets in 11 minutes 'Elephant Walk' exercises are also known as short-notice combat readiness drills, and can be conducted using many different types of military aircraft - even helicopters Four F-35A's of Hill Air Force Bases 388th and 419th fighter wings sit on the runway waiting for take-off on November 19, 2018 in Hill Air Force Base, Utah. This combat training exercise is to help the 388th and 419th, the only combat ready units for the F-35A's, to be ready to launch multiple aircraft on short notice in the defense of the country Hill Air Force Base F-35A Lightning IIs fly in sequence formation over the Utah Test and Training Range (file image from March 30, 2017) The F-35 was billed as a fighter jet that could do almost everything the US military desired, serving the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy and even Britain's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy all in one aircraft design. It was supposed to replace and improve upon and aging aircraft types with widely different missions, and marketed as a cost-effective, powerful multi-role fighter airplane significantly better than anything potential adversaries could build in the next two decades. But it turned out to be none of those things. The program fell nearly a decade behind schedule, and failed to meet many of its original design requirements. The unit cost per airplane, above $100 million, is roughly twice what was promised early on. Even after President Trump lambasted the cost of the program in February 2017, the price per plane dropped just $7million less than 7 percent. Advertisement Italian police seized eight luxury villas and kicked out 30 members of a powerful Roman Mafia clan in dawn raids involving 600 officers. City mayor Virginia Raggi, who watched the operation carried out against the Casamonica mobsters, said the properties would be demolished before the New Year. The gang are known for their gaudy extravagance, decorating their houses like film sets in gold and marble, and wearing Rolex watches as their trademark. They are proud of their gypsy roots and according to the BBC, stood up against the ruling nationalist party in June after they said they wanted to take a census of the Romani population. Scroll down for video A rearing golden stallion sits atop a porcelain base in the dining area - the family originally made their money in the horse trade in the 1960s before criminal diversification and muscling into Rome from the countryside A photo from the TV series Gomorrah which tells the story of Pietro Savastano's Mafia clan in Naples, the don is played by played by Fortunato Cerlino (pictured) and he has a similar penchant for gold decor like the Casamonica family An elaborate glass chandelier hangs from a ceiling painted like the heavens, in a pale imitation of Michelangelo's High-Renaissance works at the Sistine Chapel Two leopards made from porcelain show their teeth beneath a window shrouded with heavy golden curtains, with a large stereo sitting in the fireplace In this picture from the hit Sky Italia series, the Don's son sits beside an all gold jaguar statue, a style which is echoed in the Casamonica villas A golden bathroom featuring sinks on marble counters before a huge mirror, heavy golden curtains over the window, luscious roses in a deep vase and even a toilet seat wrapped in gold linen An officer takes a photograph of a mirror within an archway, with Romanesque columns propping up a table with family photos and a porcelain tiger sitting below, as ginormous oriental vases flank the set-up The police tear into the master bathroom, featuring a luxurious Jacuzzi bath, green marbled counter tops and golden taps Police officers make their way through the huge villa, a chandelier can be seen above the living room through a Romanesque archway, as bottles of white wine sit on the kitchen table The police inside one of the villas, with a gold-leafed Greco-Roman border decking the ceiling, as a chandelier lights the golden room with a cabinet full of crystal glass One of the bedrooms, with a large flat screen TV, an Apple laptop on the bed, and lacquered furnishings to appear like marble A dining area and kitchen, with cabinets full of glass, a bouquet in the corner on top of a column and a Persian rug on the black marble floor A bedraggled resident opens the front door to a crowd of cameras and cops, as he gets a rude awakening at the crack of dawn Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who heads the far-right League party, has promised to join in when the bulldozers set to work on the villas. 'The party is over,' he said on Monday as he visited the police operations room. Mayor Raggi said: 'Today is an historic day for the city of Rome and for Romans.' She is a member of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement who has been criticised for not doing more to clean up the Italian capital. 'We are putting an end to years of illegality and are sending a strong statement to the Casamonica clan,' she said. The family were forced out of their homes bedraggled in the harsh winter morning as armed police trudged through the marble floors of their villas. A large golden stallion in one room, with Persian carpets in another, golden curtains in the bathroom; and colossal vases and porcelain tigers throughout the hallways typify the Casamonica's cinematic taste. After years of operating in the shadows, the family came to public attention with a melodramatic funeral for one of its don's, which included an orchestra playing The Godfather theme music, in 2015. The don's coffin was pulled in by six black stallions, as a helicopter dropped rose petals on mourners and posters reading, 'You have conquered Rome, now conquer paradise,' were strung over balustrades. Some have compared their homes to the set design in TV series, Gomorrah, which tells the story of the Mafia in Naples and is based on the Camorra crime family. The crime boss in the TV show has a similar penchant for gold and animal statues and furthermore, the real-life Camorra family is known to have had links with the Casamonicas. The Casamonica family has been associated with crime in the south-eastern quarters of Rome for several decades, but the high profile funeral sparked a fierce backlash with politicians demanding a comprehensive legal assault on the clan. Another angle of the dining area shows the signature golden drapery on the windows and a ceiling decorated with the Medusa head of Greek mythology, or perhaps a nod to designer brand Versace A crowbar is used in the dawn raids on one of the Roman villas targeted by a massive police operation on Tuesday morning Gilded decorations can be seen on the wall, as well as on a plush sofa within the large wooden doors adorned with a brass lion head knocker The weather station is showing on the large screen in one of the golden rooms, however they were not expecting to be forced out into the cold this morning Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, joined the police and said: 'Today is an historic day for the city of Rome and for Romans' A Roman police officer takes photos of the extravagant decorations outside one of the villas for evidence A resident is surrounded by police officers outside one of the Casamonica villas this morning, where men, women and children were turfed out A resident is taken away from one of the colossal villas, as he carries a bag full of his belongings, surrounded by officers Another resident struggles with her belongings as the Mafiosos are surrounded by police and media crews In July, 33 members of the group were arrested in raids on extravagant homes filled with gilded mirrors, marbled sculptures of animals and regal furniture. A total of 11 women and 22 men were arrested including an alleged chief of the outfit. Their absurd homes were filled with expensive goods - including a life-size marble leopard - in gaudy settings with gilded and marble furniture. Instagram pictures emerged of one of those arrested in July, Ottavio Spada, who posed with bottles of Champagne and diamond encrusted jewellery. Debora Cerreoni, the wife of one of the alleged senior mobsters, Massimiliano Casamonica, turned supergrass to give vital information to police. She told them that the Rolex is the gang's favourite type of watch, their symbol. Horses are a common motif for the Casamonica crime syndicate - they catapulted to global fame in 2015 when their don's coffin was pulled into his funeral by six black stallions, while The Godfather's theme music was played by an orchestra A police officer stands in the large dining area of the house, which includes a large corner sofa, with a picture of the New York skyline showing on the wall Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who heads the far-right League party joined in the operation as he vowed to demolish the villas, saying, 'The party is over' Roman police take footage and pictures of one of the villas' interiors - fine china can be seen in a white cabinet which is dazzled in generous lighting fixtures on the ceiling A heavily armed officer stands in the dining area which has a black marble floor and features a huge flat screen TV framed by a golden border - a common theme throughout the house A woman evicted from her home is bundled out in a blanket along with a boy in pyjamas into the cold morning light A police officer surveys the typical aesthetic of the Casamonica crime family, which incorporates neo-Classical elements and Hollywood portrayals of the Sicilian Mafia The gang are infamous for terrifying anyone they encounter to ensure nobody testifies against them. 'They are animals who chop people up,' one police witness said. An Italian comedian became one of their victims, after he allegedly handed over 600,000 euros to repay a 10,000 euro loan. The summer raids turned up 50,000 euros in cash, current accounts, cars and dozens of luxury watches. Anti-mafia prosecutor Michele Prestipino said: 'They didn't need to use violence, the Casamonica name was enough.' Further intelligence led police to storm these eight homes in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Raggi said some of the villas confiscated on Tuesday had been built in areas of archaeological interest. 'Some houses had even incorporated whole features of the historic Felice Aqueduct,' she said, referring to a 16th century city waterway. She accused the Casamonicas of replacing public authorities in the area and of 'terrorising' honest Romans. In previous raids, cops arrested 39 Casamonica members in 2012 but that failed to make an impact due to the widespread structure of their powerful network. As part of another raid in 2010, they seized 10 million euros-worth in assets from luxury cars, properties, land and bank accounts. This is the amazing moment a humpback whale is cut free by divers from an enormous fishing net that has become tangled around its body. Captain Faizel and Dive leader Jeannot filmed the rescue mission with a head-mounted GoPro as they helped the whale in Trinidad. The divers had spotted a calf jumping frantically in the distance and swam over to investigate. The divers found a mother humpback whale tangled in a huge fishing net in Trinidad The divers film the moment with a head-mounted GoPro as they set to working trying to free it After realising a fishing net has become entangled around a mother humpback whale's body, the divers set to working trying to free it. The huge net is restricting movement and rubs against the whale's skin causing terrible bruising. The divers grab hold of the net as the humpback whale swims and use it to pull themselves along to try and cut it free. Using a sharp knife, the divers saw at the thick rope in several places until parts of it become loose and dislodge. Using a sharp knife, the divers saw at the rope in several places until the net becomes dislodged Eventually, after numerous attempts by the divers, the final piece of net is cut free from the whale's tail and it swims away with it's calf. One of the divers said: 'We decided to veer off and check it out closer. When we got in the water, all we could focus on was this gigantic fishing net covering the mother. 'The net was restricting the whale's movements and badly bruising the skin probably for days. 'When we finished, we pulled the net in the boat and it weighed about half a ton, it was brought back to land and discarded. The whole process took one and a half hours approximately' A newborn baby boy left fighting for life after being attacked by his parents' Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog was said to be 'in a bad way' today. Little Reuben McNulty, aged less than a month old, is believed to be in a critical condition in hospital after being attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning. He is believed to have been set upon by one of two dogs owned by his parents, who have been named locally as Dan McNulty and Amy Litchfield. Two people, aged 28 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of child neglect and released on bail, according to police. Today, the boy's grandfather, Paul Litchfield, visited the home where the attack happened in the village of Yaxley near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. He insisted that Reuben had been injured in a freak accident and that both Amy and Dan were good parents. Little Reuben McNulty (pictured two weeks ago) is critically injured in hospital after a dog attack at his home on Sunday The baby's grandfather says Amy Litchfield and Dan McNulty are 'fantastic' parents The youngster was born four weeks early earlier this month. He is pictured with his mother Speaking from the 160,000 two-bedroom flat, Mr Litchfield said: 'They're not going to be here for months now because that kid is not good bless him. Even the parents are in a bad way. 'At the end of the day it's just a big freak accident and everyone's making a big thing of it. 'They've done nothing wrong and the way it's being portrayed at the minute, they're horrible parents. They bloody aren't, they've been fantastic.' Mr Litchfield added: 'If they were horrible parents they wouldn't be sitting with that young lad now. People need to realise there's always two sides to the story. 'The thing is there's a lot at stake here for everybody, not just them, for us as well, as family.' Reuben is believed to have been attacked by one of the couple's two Staffordshire Bull Terriers, which are called Fizzy and Dotty. It is believed that the dogs have not been destroyed, awaiting a decision by authorities. The couple are understood to be at their child's bedside in hospital this afternoon They had been celebrating the birth of their son in recent weeks, before the horrific incident A neighbour has said he was concerned about the couple's dogs, Fizzy and Dotty The boy's grandfather said the dogs have 'never been dangerous, they've been docile dogs' Paramedics were called to the family's home following the attack which happened at around 1.47am on Sunday morning. Reuben was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. A man who lives opposite the couple's flat says he told them to 'be careful' around the dogs after bringing Reuben home from hospital last month. Asking not to be named, the man said: 'He (Dan) was showing people his new baby because he was so proud of it. 'When he showed me the pictures, I said be careful because those dogs might not be used to the baby. 'I know what dogs are like when they get jealous. He said he would. He said, 'Me and Amy were thinking about that anyway'. I can't work out what happened.' Amy, 31, posted pictures of a newborn baby, believed to be Reuben, less than a month ago on social media. Photos of Fizz and Dotty also appear on her Facebook profile. Ms Litchfield's father, Paul Litchfield, was at the property today and said what happened was a 'freak accident' The incident unfolded at the family's home in Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, pictured The baby was attacked at 1.47am on Sunday at a house in Yaxley, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire What are the laws on dangerous dogs? The 1991 Dangerous Dog Act makes it an offence for an owner to allow any dog 'to be dangerously out of control'. Breeds banned by the act are the: pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro. In 2014, sentencing guidelines were changed to raise the maximum jail sentence for a fatal dog attack from two years to 14. The law was also amended to include incidents on private property. Laws on child neglect do not mention dogs, pets or animals. However, parents can be charged if found to have neglected a child 'in manner likely to cause injury to his health'. The maximum sentence for child cruelty or neglect is 10 years. Advertisement Another neighbour described the dogs as 'vicious'. The man said: 'I have seen those dogs before and they are vicious and will show their teeth at anyone.' He told how he was woken by police sirens in the early hours of Sunday. 'I was woken in the middle of the night to sirens and bright lights and I was worried,' the man said. 'I went outside and there were seven police vehicles, two police vans an ambulance and the paramedics. The police brought a man and a woman out of the house in handcuffs. 'Straight away the ambulance left the house with a police escort. I knew then that someone must be very badly hurt.' A couple aged 28 and 31 have been arrested by police on suspicion of child neglect and released on bail pending further inquiries. The baby boy is in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with life-threatening injuries A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: 'We were called by the ambulance service at 1.47am on Sunday, November 18 to an address in Wykes Road, Yaxley, with reports of concern for baby boy who had been attacked by a dog. 'Officers and paramedics attended the scene and the baby was taken to Peterborough City Hospital before being transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, with life-threatening injuries. He remains in a critical condition. 'A 28-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, both from Yaxley, were arrested on suspicion of child neglect and have been bailed until 15 December. 'Two dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, were taken from the property and are in police kennels. Police remain at the scene and an investigation has been launched.' The flat where the family lives is a 1960s property on a quiet residential cul-de-sac around four miles south of Peterborough. Former President Barack Obama hinted that Donald Trump's 'mommy issues' are part of what makes him incapable of fixing the nation's problems. Obama told the audience at a talk at the Obama Foundation summit, held at the Mariott Marquis hotel in Chicago, on Monday that the world 'badly needs remaking.' And he insisted fixing issues around climate change, education, agriculture and so on are not nearly as complicated as they are made out to be. Without mentioning Trump by name, Obama said 'the reason we don't do it is because we are still confused, blind, shrouded with hate, anger, racism, mommy issues.' Trump has previously credited his mother Mary MacLeod Trump, who died in 2000, for 'so much of what I've done and so much of what I've become.' Former President Barack Obama speaks to attendees at the second Obama Foundation summit at the Mariott Marquis hotel in Chicago on Monday Mommy dearest: Mary MacLeod was an immigrant from a remote Scottish island who spoke English as her second language. Her son's predecessor as president accused him of having 'mommy issues' - although he pointedly did not use his name But she was reported to have been greatly embarrassed by her son's antics throughout the 1990s, when his personal life and failing business often became tabloid fodder. 'What sort of son have I created?' she once famously asked Trump's first wife Ivana, whose highly-publicized divorce came following the revelation that Trump had cheated on her with Marla Maples. Since leaving office, Obama has pointedly avoided direct criticism of his successor, making a calculated effort not to utter Trump's name. But the gloves came off as he campaigned ahead of the midterm elections and assailed Republicans for failing to keep Trump in check. 'What happened to the Republican Party?' asked Obama in September in a speech where he accused Trump of 'capitalizing' on 'fear and anger.' Calling out the president by name, Obama said Trump was a 'symptom, not the cause' of broader ailments in the nation's politics. And in another dig at Trump on Monday, Obama suggested the US was a better place before he was sworn into office. In a conversation with author Dave Eggers, Obama also repeated his belief that if you could choose a time and place to be born, you would choose the US. But he amended that thought and said: 'You'd choose now or maybe two years ago.' Obama made the remarks during a conversation with author Dave Eggers at the summit The former president (left) told the audience that the world 'badly needs remaking' At the summit on Monday night, Obama also maintained that what prevents change that would make the world a better place is the people involved. 'What prevents us from implementing most of the things that we would probably collectively agree would make the world better is not the absence of technological solutions, it's because there are humans involved and that the dynamics of the society,' he said. 'Do we care about these kids? Because maybe we don'tThey look a little different to us.' Obama also urged community organizers and social innovators to be patient in their pursuits of wide-scale change. 'You can remake the world right now, because it badly needs remaking,' he said. He noted that patience is needed because societies are 'complex, organic things that you don't turn (like) switches. They evolve. They shift. They change.' But he said he has faith in the next generation because they are 'ahead of the curve.' He added: 'The thing that inspires me whenever I come to these gatherings is that this generation behind us is smarter, more sophisticated, more tolerant, more welcoming, more innovative, more creative, certainly than I was. 'I'll go ahead and speak for my whole generation, I think. Y'all are ahead of the curve. And you're no less idealistic, in some ways, you're more idealistic. 'And you feel a greater sense of urgency about wrongs that need to be righted.' Obama also talked extensively about his background as a community organizer, his experiences as a politician and writing his book. He joked writing the book is a 'brutal' process that is causing strain in his marriage now that Michelle Obama has launched her book tour. 'I'm just sitting there, I type two words delete them. You know what? Michelle's out there, go buy her book right now. 'This is causing some strain in our marriage. The fact that she is finished and I am not.' The Obama summit is a two-day conference that brings together civic innovators and community activists from around the world to network, exchange ideas. Sir Patrick Stewart and his neighbours have won a battle with a US millionaire over plans to build a classic car museum in Oxfordshire - but the war isn't over yet. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Mullin, 77, has now submitted amended plans to build a 'world-class' museum and holiday lodge complex on the Great Tew Estate. The land is owned by Nicholas Johnston, with 12million from the development to go towards restoring Tew Park House, a manor home on the family's 4,000 acre estate. Entrepreneur Peter Mullin, 77, has submitted amended plans to build a 'world-class' museum The museum will also include a holiday lodge complex on the Great Tew Estate in Oxfordshire More than 250 people objected to the proposals, with some locals angry at increased traffic But residents objected to the original plans, with X-Men star Sir Patrick criticising the lack of affordable homes on the proposed site at Enstone Airfield, calling it 'elitist'. More than 250 people objected, with other locals angry at increased traffic - as well as the development being built on 'attractive farmland'. Mr Mullin has now shelved the original drawings and submitted a fresh proposal with Foster + Partners, the London-based architects led by founder Norman Foster. The proposals involve a 1.7million local investment on housing, a new car park for a primary school and 'environmental improvements' at Enstone and Middle Barton. Spread across 132 acres, the Mullin Automotive Park will be 15 per cent smaller than previously planned and be located 400 yards from Soho Farmhouse. Mr Mullin has shelved the original drawings and put in a fresh proposal with Foster + Partners The Mullin Automotive Park will now be 15 per cent smaller than previously planned The celebrity haunt - described by the Daily Mail's Jan Moir as 'a Butlin's for toffs, trendies and A-listers' - is popular with the likes of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The planned development largely uses a brownfield site and will be made up of a 60,000 sq/ft 'world class classic and collector car museum'. The site will be spread over three floors and include a restaurant and cafe. It is hoped the museum will attract more than 200,000 visitors per year. The site will include 28 luxury holiday lodges, which will only be available to people who loan cars to the museum. The original plans for the car museum, which will be located 400 yards from Soho Farmhouse Supporters of the redevelopment claim it will help provide 100 permanent jobs to the area The plans have been criticised for their 'elitist' nature and lack of affordable housing As part of the proposal, Mr Mullin will put 11million towards the controversial restoration of the Grade II-listed Tew Park House. Star Trek actor Sir Patrick Stewart is a nearby resident who has objected to the plan The flat-roofed lodges have been designed by Foster + Partners to exist below the treeline and 'immerse the occupant into the natural setting, rather than protrude above it'. Mr Mullin has an extraordinary car collection which includes a Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, one of the world's rarest and most valuable cars. He already owns the Petersen Automotive Museum in California, and is investing 130million in the new project, which could create up to 338 local jobs. The amended plans were submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council on November 15. Mr Mullin wants his proposed museum to 'illuminate, innovate and educate'. In a letter to the chief planning officer at the council, the philanthropist said he and his team had 'taken very seriously the genuine concerns' of the planning department and local communities. As a result, Mr Mullin asked 'Britain's greatest living architect', Norman Foster, to design a new scheme. He also pledged to divert 1.7million away from the restoration of Tew Park, putting it towards community projects like affordable housing. The American, who turns 78 in January, wants the museum to be his legacy rather than a business enterprise. He said: 'My aim is always to illuminate, innovate and educate. 'My particular passion for the automobile, is not only about top speed or horsepower, but about the extraordinary impact the car has had on mankind; the mobility, the ingenious design, the engineering and the beauty of art in motion. 'By any conventional measure this will not just be another car museum. In the 6,000+ years of recorded human history, we have had the automobile for just 130 years. My great grandchildren will probably never drive a motor car - at least not as we know it. 'Instead they will travel in secure autonomous pods controlled by a computer. They will only ever experience the wonder and awe of the automobile by coming to a destination like The Mullin.' The businessman dismissed previous claims that the proposed site was an area of outstanding natural beauty, describing Enstone Airfield as 'a blot on your landscape'. He added: 'Finally, I want to reaffirm my personal commitment to this project. 'I am convinced that The Mullin is a great opportunity for West Oxfordshire. In additional to the many clear benefits, the Mullin Automotive Park will solve not one but two problematic sites for WODC and bring significant inward investment at a time of great national uncertainty over Brexit and its unknown consequences. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Mullin (pictured) has ambitious plans for the museum 'If the MAP is approved, it will be a source of sustainable tourism that will attract visitors from all over the world and boost the economy for generations to come.' Project director Kieran Hedigan previously said: 'A huge amount of thought has gone into this project. 'I have heard it said in some quarters that this is elitist. This is to completely misunderstand our intentions and could not be further from the truth. 'One of the key objectives of The Mullin is to serve audiences of all ages, rich and poor, young and old. This is a destination for grandparents and grandchildren and everyone in between. 'Is it elitist to be open 300 days a year, to offer discounted annual membership to local community residents, to welcome school trips with free admission, to employ apprentices, to establish scholarships with local universities, and seek out and train retired car enthusiasts as museum guides?' A major change could be unrolled at Bondi Beach to make it more accessible to the public. Wheelchair-bound Kate Swain kick-started an online petition calling for a '60 metre' long beach mat to be rolled out at the popular Sydney tourist spot. 'Once we reached Bondi, we got as far as the footpath. We could only look at the beach,' Ms Swain told Yahoo 7 News. Wheelchair-bound Kate Swain (pictured) kick-started an online petition calling for a '60 metre' long beach mat to be rolled out at Bondi Beach in Sydney The more than 25,000-signature strong Change.org petition urges Waverley Council to extend access to Bondi Beach beyond its wheelchair friendly footpaths and carparks (stock photo) The more than 25,000-signature strong Change.org petition urges Waverley Council to extend access to the beach beyond its wheelchair friendly footpaths and carparks. 'While in Sydney, a new friend and I decided to visit the famous Bondi Beach,' she said on the page. 'We were two people in wheelchairs making a day trip from Ryde to Bondi. 'I loved seeing Bondi Beach and I so wanted to experience it the way everyone else gets to. 'On the sand. In the water. Being a part of the fun with everyone else. I want it to be inclusive.' Ms Swain is pushing the council to make the beach 'fully accessible, 365 days a year' and to roll out a mat that would reach the hard sand by the water. On top of the mats, the 27-year-old noted ramps would also need to be factored into the mix to allow safe access. 'Beach mats are important for people like me in wheelchairs,' Ms Swain posted. 'They allow us to enjoy the beach while remaining in the comfort of our own chair. 'Ive learnt that the accessible beach matting is cheap and easy to use: lifeguards can roll it out daily when they put out the flags. On top of the mats, the 27-year-old noted ramps would also need to be factored into the mix to allow safe access 'Beach mats are important for people like me in wheelchairs,' Ms Swain posted. 'They allow us to enjoy the beach while remaining in the comfort of our own chair 'Plus, its already in use at beaches around Australia. So why not at Bondi?' Ms Swain is still 10,000 signatures off from reaching her goal, though has already drawn plenty of support from the local community. 'As a Waverley ratepayer, I would really like to see this implemented,' one petitioner said. 'Man that's really nice of you cause honestly I have complained many times and I love that beach my wife has to carry me in and out of the water not long before she hurts her back,' another said. A Waverley Council spokesperson told Yahoo 7 said their Access Bondi Infrastructure project looked at ways of improving accessibility. Bondi Beach has a mat rolled out at its northern end from 8.30am to 2pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. Beach goers can also call Bondi Pavilion to book Sandcruizer beach wheelchairs, with two available for loan. Advertisement These stunning images have come to light documenting the first overland crossing of Antarctica 60 years ago highlighting the bravery of the adventurers who completed the journey. The photographs were taken by George Lowe, who managed to capture some keys moments of the expedition, as he accompanied the historic Trans-Antarctic team between 1955 and 1958. They have now emerged after permission was granted by his widow Mary Lowe to publish the snaps in a new book telling the tale of the adventure, The Crossing. Images have come to light documenting the first overland crossing of Antarctica 60 years ago highlights the bravery of the adventurers who completed the journey including this one of Magga Dan berthed against the ice edge near at Halley Bay A member of the expedition is pictured clearing snow from the team's tents during a blizzard The photographs were taken by George Lowe, who managed to capture some keys moments of the expedition including this image of workers trying to start Sno-cats after a blizzard One of the photos shows the group clearing snow in blizzard as some shelter in snow-topped tents, while another depicts a group out on skis looking for hidden crevasses The 12-man team, led by English explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs and supported by Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary, set off from the Filchner Ice Shelf on November 24, 1957. The epic 99-day voyage arrived in McMurdo Sound after an incredible 2,158 mile journey across the icy planes on March 2, 1958 after battling through freezing conditions. One of the photos shows the group clearing snow in blizzard as some shelter in snow-topped tents, while another depicts a group out on skis looking for hidden crevasses. The 12-man team, led by English explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs and supported by Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary, set off from the Filchner Ice Shelf on November 24, 1957 (pictured the Magga Dan arriving at South Georgia on her way south) The epic 99-day voyage arrived in McMurdo Sound after an incredible 2,158 mile journey across the icy planes on March 2, 1958 after battling through freezing conditions (pictured Neptune on a visit as the crossing party approaches the Pole) A team reconstructing the Otter aircraft at Shackleton base making sure that it was fit to fly again Other moments captured during the expedition include several images of the convoy negotiating their way across across through the snow wearing layers of insulated clothing, bringing in supplies for the team. Another breathtaking photo shows the Magga Dan berthed on the ice's edge, while workers unload supplies off the boat onto the shore where the convoy wait. The triumphant team beam in one of the snaps that caught the moment they arrived at the South Pole, posing in front of a Union Jack with their snowplough. However, the Trans-Antarctic Expedition has been overshadowed by Captain Robert Scott's doomed Terra Nova expedition in 1912, which ended in tragedy (pictured explorers transferring fuel to a Sno-cat) Unlike Captain Robert Scott's doomed Terra Nova expedition in 1912 this expedition was fully mechanised and used Sno-cats, ships and planes to help its success A locator map displays the teams journey from the Filchner Ice Shelf on November 24, 1957, to McMurdo Sound after a 2,159 mile, 99 day voyage on March 2, 1958 However, the Trans-Antarctic Expedition has been overshadowed by Captain Robert Scott's doomed Terra Nova expedition in 1912, which ended in tragedy. Scott was beaten to the South Pole by 34 days by Roald Amundsen's Norwegian expedition and his five man party all died on the return leg. Author John Knight seeks to rectify this with his new book which tells the story of what he considers to be one of the most significant episodes of polar exploration. Fitting Tufnol linings to sledge runners which were used by the team to plough through the snow more easily A workshop was erected at the beginning of the second season shown in the new book by John Knight who seeks to tell the story of what he considers to be one of the most significant episodes of polar exploration Other moments captured during the expedition include several images of the convoy negotiating their way across across through the snow wearing layers of insulated clothing, bringing in supplies for the team He said: 'At the time the Trans-Antarctic Expedition created lots of headlines but over time it has been overshadowed by Scott's expedition because that one ended in tragedy. He said: 'At the time the Trans-Antarctic Expedition created lots of headlines but over time it has been overshadowed by Scott's expedition because that one ended in tragedy. 'With it being the 60th anniversary I thought it was the perfect time to put together a book which will bring their accomplishments back into the spotlight.' Sir Ernest Shackleton had tried unsuccessfully to cross the Antarctic in 1914, calling it the 'Last Great Journey'. 'With it being the 60th anniversary I thought it was the perfect time to put together a book which will bring their accomplishments back into the spotlight.' Firing the explosives used in the seismic tests next to an erect tent branding a flag which had been set up next to a Sno-cat Waking up to another covering of snow during the expedition no doubt proved challenging for the explorers Their ship, Endurance, became trapped in pack ice in the winter of 1915 and was slowly crushed. After months spent in makeshift camps as the ice drifted northwards, the party took to lifeboats to reach the inhospitable, uninhabited Elephant Island. Shackleton and five others then made an epic 800-mile open-boat journey to reach South Georgia and organise the rescue of the stranded crew. The triumphant team beam in one of the snaps that caught the moment they arrived at the South Pole, posing in front of a Union Jack with their snowplough Sno-Cat towing sledges laden with fuel drum across the icy planes of the South Pole as men stand nearby Fuchs' plan involved using mechanised transport to carry the men across the ice desert - though the courageous dog teams were crucial as pathfinders. There were several hairy moments as the party battled the unforgiving elements, but, testament to the skill and organisation of the explorers, there were no casualties. Scientists on the expedition were able to establish the thickness of ice at the pole and the existence of a land mass beneath the ice. Fuel being delivered and lifted of a sledge by members of the group which had been delivered via Sno-cat Mr Knight, 76, a retired engineer from Lincolnshire, said: 'Throughout the whole of the Trans Atlantic Expedition, not one man and only a couple of dogs were lost. 'This alone speaks volumes for the tenacity and bravery of all the men attempting what Sir Ernest Shackleton considered the last great journey in the world. 'The final outcome of the project was an undoubted, essentially bi-national success and credit must be given to all those involved in the planning, administration and most importantly to the men on the ground who carried out the onerous task of overcoming the multitude of obstacles that assailed them.' The Crossing, by John Knight, is published by Amberley and costs 20. A policeman was caught on camera knocking on the door of Number 10 so Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office Larry could be let inside. Larry the cat was seen patiently waiting outside the front door of 10 Downing Street during a live Sky News broadcast on Tuesday. The 12-year-old tabby, who was rescued from Battersea Dogs and Cats home, sat on the doorstep as Tom Rayner continued his segment on Brexit. Larry the cat was caught on camera waiting at the door of Number 10 during a Sky News broadcast The cat, who was also pictured by ITV News in his pursuit to get inside, stood patiently on the doorstep At one point, the moggy turned to glance at the television cameras, before settling back on the step facing the door. But before long, a policeman came to his rescue, knocking on the door to help the mouser get back inside. Larry, who was also caught on camera by ITV News, jumped at the opportunity as soon as the door opened a crack, quickly trotting inside Number 10. The clip, posted to Twitter by Lauren Franklin, has since been shared more than 1,500 times. Larry took a quick glance at a policeman on duty as he approached the door of Number 10 The police officer then noticed Larry and knocked on the door so someone would let him in She said: 'Is there anything more British than this policeman knocking on Number 10 to let the cat in?' Rachel Cunliffe commented: 'Brexit cat! It thought it wanted to be out, but on actually experiencing out it decided it very much wanted to be in.' Alistair Coleman said: 'Apparently there's no way of opening the door from the outside, probably because cats wised up to door handles.' The clip, posted to Twitter by Lauren Franklin, has since been shared more than 1,500 times Larry has been a common sight in and around Number 10 since February 2011, when he became the first cat at the address to be given the title Chief Mouser. The Downing Street website describes his day-to-day role as 'greeting guests at the door', 'inspecting security defences', and 'testing antique furniture for napping quality'. He is also responsible for 'contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house'. The father of a baby girl found dead on a Queensland beach told police his daughter was 'possessed by demons'. Officers are still questioning the 48-year-old man and the little girl's 23-year-old mother over the mysterious death of the nine-month-old girl. The baby's body was found at a Surfers Paradise beach at 12.30am on Monday, but police now believe her body washed 30km up the shore from Tweed Heads in New South Wales. New South Wales are now seeking the extradition of the father after it was established the girl's death occurred there. Scroll down for video Police are still questioning the 48-year-old man (pictured) and his 23-year-old partner over the mysterious death of their nine-month-old girl, who was found at a Surfers Paradise beach at 12.30am on Monday Police spent Tuesday searching Tweed River looking for clues into the death of the nine-month-old baby NSW Police have since taken up the QLD police-led investigation, with authorities now under the impression the death happened in the blue state Police believe the girl died at the Jack Evans Boat Harbour at Tweed Heads and her tiny body was swept 30km north in the ocean. Divers have been scouring waters across south of the Gold Coast in the hope of turning up clues as to the death of the girl who was found washed up. The childs family, who were homeless, had lived for a time in Kingscliff, just inside NSW. It is thought that the baby's father could be charged as soon as Wednesday. A friend of the parents', Kirsty Davis, said the couple were happy to leave the girl in the care of strangers. 'He put the baby in my arms and started walking away,' she said. 'I said, "Are you coming back for the baby?" and he just looked at me, gave me a blank look and just kept walking on.' Friends believe the little girl was taken back and forth across the Queensland and New South Wales border. The victim was living with her homeless parents in a hut made from sticks prior to her death. The Department of Child Safety were informed of the family's living situation and the organisation has since been slammed for not taking action. The sad living conditions of the family of a nine-month-girl found dead on a Surfers Paradise beach on Monday morning have been unveiled (pictured) Nappies and an empty bucket of KFC (pictured) lie on the ground just metres from the shelter made from sticks and twigs Just metres away is a regular thoroughfare for locals and tourists looking to enjoy some of the best beaches in Australia 'If this baby was living in a tent, on a beach, and Child Services knew about it, what the hell were they doing leaving that child there?' Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said. The Queensland Minister for Children chose not to disclose to reporters what they knew of the situation, but its minister reassured the community its officers placed child safety at the top of their priority list. The four-year-old brother to the nine-month-old girl is now with the department. Family friend Tanya said the parents wanted help, but help was not offered. Local residents have told how they reported the young family's shocking living conditions to authorities, yet nothing seemed to be done about it. Reverend Jon Brooks, head of a local housing crisis centre, told Daily Mail Australia the family lived 'as rough as it gets'. 'Anybody who does it homeless does it poorly, but if it is the family I believe it might be, they were in the worst position you could find yourself in,' Rev Brooks said. 'I wasn't aware they'd been living in a humpy - the last I knew they were moving from toilet blocks, to parks, to even under bridges.' 'They moved up here from down south and we gave them assistance with a different organisation that houses homeless people up here. We also provided them meals at lunch time.' A local resident told The Gold Coast Bulletin she often heard the infant 'crying in the night' as she walked past their hut. 'Why was the baby left with the parents, just why?' they said. Another woman wrote on Facebook that she told police of the family's hut, fearing the young children were being exposed to the elements at night. 'It was winter and the dunes were freezing every time the sun went down. I didn't think that was good for a baby or toddler,' she wrote. The little girl was found dead by the water (pictured) in the early hours of Monday. Paramedics desperately tried to revive the little girl but she was pronounced dead at the scene (pictured) Touching tributes were left at the scene on Tuesday, little more than 24 hours after the tragedy unfolded Strangers left balloons and children's toys near the scene of the infant's death on Monday 'I reported it straight away and monitored the following week. And if authorities did the job correctly this little girl would still be here!' Police are continuing to hold the baby girl's parents in custody, but have not yet laid charges. Late on Monday night the couple's two-year-old son was located safe by authorities and taken into care. Emergency services were called to Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise, on Monday in response to a member of the public reporting an unresponsive infant on the beach. Paramedics desperately tried to revive the little girl but she was pronounced dead at the scene, with police now treating the death as 'unnatural'. An investigation is underway to officially determine her cause of death but there are reports she had been in the water at some point prior to being found on the sand. Queensland and NSW police spent the Tuesday searching the Tweed River for vital clues into the little girl's death. Despite the Gold Coast normally being associated with glitz and glamour, the death of the girl has revealed there are many living it rough by the beach (Pictured is a homeless tent similar to the one the girl's family previously lived in) Local church reverend Jon Brooks said the baby girl's family were living 'as rough as it gets' (Pictured are the belongings of one person living it rough) The tragic reality of the infant's life has been revealed - a far cry from the glitz and glamour that is normally associated with Surfers Paradise (pictured) Police have established a crime scene along the section of Surfers Paradise beach (pictured) where the little girl was found dead 'The body was located on the edge of the surf, so clearly it had been in water, I don't know how long for,' Detective Inspector Marc Hogan said on Monday. 'It's a very tragic event. It's a very sad situation.' The girl's body was discovered by a member of the public, who was not believed to be a Schoolie. Teenagers flock to the area from mid-December to mark the end of their high school education, but police have confirmed the girl's death is not connected to Schoolies. One mother said her daughter - who was near the scene when the infant was found - was devastated when she found out what had happened. A resident said they saw an ambulance and heard screaming on the beach. 'But with the Schoolies around at the moment there's lots of screaming going on, it's impossible to know whether it was harmless fun or not,' the resident said. Detective Inspector Marc Hogan (pictured) told media: 'It's a very tragic event. It's a very sad situation' Detective Inspector Hogan said there were no visible signs of injury on the girl but the police investigation was still in its early stages. The Homicide squad are leading the investigation with the help of New South Wales police as the couple had 'some movement' between the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads. Police are checking CCTV footage from around the area as part of their investigations. Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444. 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. Growing numbers of super-savers are stashing away up to half of their annual incomes so they can quit work before the age of 40. A new breed of frugal Britons are followers of the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement using a combination of extreme saving and wise investing to enjoy a job free life. The lifestyle, which originated in the US, has spread to the UK and attracted people in their 20s and 30s who don't want to spend their next 40 years having to work for a living. Experts say you need a nest egg equivalent to 25 times your annual salary to retire early - or as millennials now term it, to 'get Fired' Greg and Frankie Owens, parents to four children, have recently retired - at the age of 43 The couple saved every penny they could, paid off their mortgage and never owned a car It means if you must have 25,000-a-year to live on you need to work towards a nest egg of 625,000 made up of savings and returns from investments or buy-to-let properties. Greg and Frankie Owens, parents to four children, have recently retired - at the age of 43. Mrs Owens told The Guardian: 'We started formulating plans to retire about seven years ago. 'We had our children young - our youngest was 18 this year and knew they would be leaving home at this age. London accountant Barney Whiter, a married father-of-three from Farnham, Surrey, walked away from work at 43 by saving half his annual salary after tax 'I was a teacher and working very hard, and thinking about retiring early was a way to keep going.' The couple saved every penny they could, paid off their mortgage and never owned a car. They sold their house in Bradford, then bought a 55ft narrowboat. Now they cruise the canals of Yorkshire, moving on every couple of months to avoid mooring fees, and live on a budget of 750 a months. Mrs Owens said their children are 'somewhere between amused and despairing' over their lifestyle but are 'secretly quite pleased.' Peter Adeney, who writes a blog called Mr Money Mustache has spearheaded the Fire movement Jordan Hall, 24, earns 50,000 a year as a commercial manager, and saves 50 per cent of his salary. He moved to Manchester from London to lower his living costs, and now pays 400 a month on rent and cycles to work. He told the Guardian: 'I wouldn't want to come across as some tight old git who doesn't socialise.' He says it is the small things that add up over time. He uses a free coffee machine in his office and makes his own sandwiches for lunch. Every month he puts money into a lifetime Isa and hopes to have the option when he is 35 to be able to give up work. Mr Adeney retired at 30. In his blog he gives people a step-by-step guide to retiring in a decade or less Dave Hamilton, 41, of south London, retired five years ago after he spent 15 years working in data analytics. He told the publication that he has paid off his mortgage, and spent the last seven years of his working life saving 35,000 of his 75,000 salary, accumulating a pot of 500,000. SEVEN STEPS TOWARDS AN EARLY RETIREMENT Try to save between 50 and 75 per cent of your earnings every month Invest all savings in low-risk stock market funds or property Stop buying needless gadgets if theres anything you really need (such as a drill for odd jobs around the house) you can often hire it from a special tool library for a small fee. Ask your local council or visit libraryofthings.co.uk. Give up on needless fripperies. Do you really need to spend more than 6 on a bottle of wine? Would a run round the park be as good as a gym membership? Will your partner really appreciate gifts worth hundreds of pounds or is something small and thoughtful enough? Try to 5:2 your finances spend only at the weekend and as little as possible during the week. Stop online shopping. Delete any apps and block tempting emails sending you offers. Save here and there: pop change into a jar and dont fritter it. Take your jar to the bank once a month and put it straight into savings. Advertisement He said: 'I have very simple tastes. I don't buy flashy clothes, cars, computers. 'My aim wasn't to retire rich, but to retire with a realistic understanding of what I would need for my living standards to continue. 'I have been retired for more than five years. In that time, Ive travelled a lot, got married, had a child, learned Italian, taken up painting and built a house.' Peter Adeney, who writes a blog called Mr Money Mustache has spearheaded the Fire movement. He worked for just ten years before he retired at 30. In his blog he gives people a step-by-step guide to retiring in a decade or less. Mr Adeney, 44, who lives in Colorado, said: 'I decided to focus purely on my work for that period of my life, and then focus on being a dad for the 18 years thereafter. 'Im currently on year 13 of the second project.' London accountant Barney Whiter, a married father-of-three from Farnham, Surrey, walked away from work at 43 by saving half his annual salary after tax. He then invested all of it in low-risk stock market funds and shares, bringing in up to 12 per cent return every year for 19 years while also paying down his mortgage. A big house, eating out, expensive holidays, new cars, cable TV and non-essential shopping were all banned so the Whiter family could stick to their 24,000-a-year budget for all spending. He says: 'The tools and techniques of Fire are needed more by low-income people to avoid them being f***** over by the system. In a blog post he writes: 'If youre not a high earner, its even more important not to p*** your money away on ridiculous spending. 'Living paycheck to paycheck leaves people at the bottom of society prone to disaster. 'They, more than anyone, need the techniques of financial independence to build a safety net and gain options to improve their life.' A prison nurse has escaped jail after a judge described her fling with a 'monstrous' inmate as a tragic love affair. Ashleigh Naylor, 30, fell for Paul Lane while he was serving 12 years for a 'barbaric' attack on an Iraq veteran. Christopher Hall, 43, was left temporarily blinded in one eye and with a deep gash across his head which may have been caused by a bottle, a court was told in 2012. Lane, 33, was jailed for 12 years for the attack and while in Holme House Prison in Stockton-on-Tees he met prison nurse Naylor. Ashleigh Naylor (shown arriving at Teesside Crown Court in July, left) fell for Paul Lane (together, right) while he was serving 12 years for a 'barbaric' attack on an Iraq veteran When he was released earlier this year, Lane moved in with Naylor at her home in Skelton, North Yorkshire, and the pair went on to become a couple. Ahead of his release, Naylor visited him 35 times and he was found to have more than 400 photos of her in his cell. She then started to send him codes so that he could use a phone that had been illegally smuggled into prison. Her illicit fling with the jailbird was discovered when a colleague visited her at home when she was drunk and she blurted out her secret, Teesside Crown Court was told. While he was there, Naylor received a call from someone who flashed up on her phone as 'Paul' from a mobile phone. The officer then discovered photographs of the couple on Naylor's Facebook page and reported his findings to bosses, sparking an investigation. Ahead of Lane's release, Naylor visited him 35 times and he was found to have more than 400 photos of her in his cell Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said the investigation revealed Naylor had twice sent codes to her lover so he could top-up the smuggled mobile phone. Rod Hunt, mitigating, said Lane had been on day-release and could have sorted out his credit himself. He told Judge Peter Armstrong that officials from the Offender Management Scheme had agreed that Lane could and should move in with his lover once he was released. 'It is one of those cases where she admitted it straightaway, and says now with hindsight realises the potential harm, but no harm whatsoever took place.' Naylor admitted aiding and abetting the unauthorised possession of a device in prison, and was given a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. Judge Armstrong told her: 'This was a genuine relationship with the two of you falling in love, and sometimes it happens without thought to the consequences. 'Prison officers on very rare occasions can be corrupt and can be put under enormous pressure by prisoners. 'It is a somewhat tragic story. You were of good character, doing a worthwhile job and now find yourself in the dock at the crown court.' Naylor (pictured in July) admitted aiding and abetting the unauthorised possession of a device in prison, and was given a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years Lane's violent past was not mentioned but the same court in 2012 heard how he and accomplice Mark Collishaw left their innocent victim for dead in the street in Darlington, Co Durham. Mr Hall was attacked as he walked home with friend Daniel Mitchell following a night out in Darlington town centre in May 2011. He was left with a deep slash across his forehead and a badly-swollen face after being smashed in the face possibly with a bottle and repeatedly kicked on the ground. Mr Hall, then 37, who served with the Army in Iraq, said in a statement that he had witnessed the horrors of war but nothing compared to the impact of the assault. Teesside Crown Court heard how he was blind in one eye for three days, has been left scarred for life, suffers from memory loss and is apprehensive about going out. Lane, 27, who landed the first blows after telling Mr Hall 'I'm going to bottle you', was jailed for 12 years, while Collishaw, 27, received ten years' imprisonment. A third man, former Army chef Gary Black, 29, was given a 12-month prison term, suspended for two years, with a four-month electronic tag night-time curfew. Advertisement An original nameplate from one of the most iconic trains in British locomotive history the Flying Scotsman has sold for a record-breaking 64,500. The 1926 solid brass plate went under the hammer for the first time at GW Railwayana Auctions in Worcester. Sold by the family of a collector, it went to a mystery online bidder and broke the previous record for the nameplate of the Golden Fleece which sold for 60,000 in 2004. The 1926 solid brass plate, which was being sold by the family of a collector, sold for the huge sum to a mystery online bidder when it went under the hammer with GW Railwayana Auctions in Worcestershire A mystery online bidder clinched the 1926 solid brass plate from the train - once the fastest in the world - for a record 64,500 The Flying Scotsman first emerged from the Doncaster Works railway plant, South Yorkshire, in 1923, and gained worldwide acclaim the following year at the British Empire Exhibition Collectors flocked to the auction house in Worcestershire and watched as a lucky bidder snapped up a piece of locomotive history The Flying Scotsman took eight hours to complete the trip between London and Edinburgh and in 1934 was officially credited with becoming the first steam locomotive to be clocked at 100 miles an hour The Flying Scotsman: Ten facts about the famous locomotive The Flying Scotsman, an A3 Pacific class locomotive, was originally built in 1923 for the London and North East Railway It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and has been in the public eye since it first went into service, having been on display at the British Empire Exhibition the following year The Flying Scotsman took eight hours to complete the trip between London and Edinburgh and in 1934 was officially credited with becoming the first steam locomotive to be clocked at 100 miles an hour It holds a second record for the longest non-stop run of 422 miles when it was in Australia The locomotive weighs about 100 tons The Flying Scotsman has covered around 2,500,000 miles in its long career It had five numbers, 1472, 4472, 502, 103 and 60103 Doncaster railway works is where the engine was built The Flying Scotsman took eight hours to cover the 392 miles between London and Edinburgh At one stage it had a tender with a corridor to enable crew changes during the Edinburgh trip Advertisement The Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 but its early nameplates were prone to cracking, so in 1926 a new design with strengthened webs and a longer radius was fitted to the iconic locomotive and travelled with it until 2003. A crowd of some 500 people gathered to watch the lucky buyer snap up a piece of railway history. Auctioneer Simon Turner said he was 'over the moon' at the sale. He said: 'It's been an honour and a privilege to be able to sell such a prestigious nameplate. 'I am truly surprised that the world record was broken, it certainly is a lifetimes achievement after having run our auctions for over 20 years. 'I doubt this record will ever be eclipsed.' The Flying Scotsman first emerged from the Doncaster Works railway plant, South Yorkshire, in 1923, and gained worldwide acclaim the following year at the British Empire Exhibition. It was the first locomotive of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as part of the A1 class the most powerful locomotives used by the LNER at that time - it left the works on 24 February 1923 with number 1472. By 1924, when it was selected to appear at the British Empire Exhibition in London, the loco had been renumbered 4472 and had been given the name 'Flying Scotsman' after the London to Edinburgh rail service which started daily at 10am in 1862. In 1934, the locomotive was clocked at 100mph, officially the first to reach that speed. It was such boasts which made the Flying Scotsman a post-World War I emblem of modern Britain. The National Railway Museum in York bought the locomotive for 2.3million in 2004 before work got under way on its restoration two years later. A crowd of about 500 people gathered for the sale by GW Railwayana Auctions in Worcestershire The original A1 (later A3) short nameplates were prone to cracking and Doncaster issued a new design in 1926 with strengthened webs and bosses and this is one of those, and is the right hand side from the loco, number 103 its 1946 LNER number is chiselled in to the bottom of one of the mounting webs The plate went under the hammer for the first time, after it was listed for sale by the family of a collector Auctioneer Simon Turner said he was 'over the moon' at the sale. He said: 'It's been an honour and a privilege to be able to sell such a prestigious nameplate' The NRM bought the locomotive for 2.3million in 2004 before work began on its restoration in 2006. The Flying Scotsman was painted in its original livery of British Rail green and had its nameplates have been reattached. The rebuild took much longer than anticipated and cost far more than the original expectation of 1.5million because many more repairs were found to be required than expected During its 40-year, two million-mile working life, the Flying Scotsman enthralled trainspotters and the public alike. Dismissed in 1963, it went on to enjoy a turbulent retirement. It would tour the world, bankrupt one owner and cost others millions. The most overhaul alone has taken an entire decade and cost 4.2 million. The locomotive is now on display at the National Railway Museum, York and next year Network Rail, LNER and the National Railway Museum will run a special train from London Kings Cross to York hauled by Flying Scotsman, in memory of Sir William McAlpine, who died this year. Sir William famously saved the Flying Scotsman when he shipped it home, preventing it from being sold to an American consortium or for scrap. His big idea was a tour of Australia, where, in 1988, the engine smashed another world record by puffing away non-stop for 442 miles. He teamed up with record producer and steam nut Pete Waterman to breathe new life into the Flying Scotsman, but the costs were astronomical and the pair eventually sold out to another consortium. Source: Flying Scotsman and UK Rail Tours A taxi driver who sped through rush-hour traffic to save a toddler has been dubbed 'the real-life Superman'. The driver from China decided to drive as quickly as he could in the opposite lanes after a family rushed into his car with a sick boy, begging him to take the one-year-old to hospital fast, according to local reports. The cabbie, known by his surname Liu, flashed both of lights at the front and the back of his car to indicate emergency while weaving through the busy streets during evening rush hours. Chinese taxi driver Mr Liu talks on the phone while driving as the family urge him to go fast The cabbie waves as the family as they get off, telling them not to worry about paying He managed to take the child, who had a high fever, to the Children's Hospital within eight minutes despite heavy traffic. The incident took place last Wednesday in Shenzhen, a major city in southern China's Guangdong Province with more than 12 million residents, reported Shenzhen News, citing People's Daily. Footage released by local news programme Spot News shows a panicking family getting into Mr Liu's taxi just past 7pm. The boy's parents were on the back seats while his grandmother sat next to the driver. The child's father told the driver 'quick, quick, to the children's hospital'. The grandmother grandmother wailed 'quick, quick' while making a praying hand gesture; while the mother who was holding the child, yelled at him 'Kai Kai, Kai Kai, don't fall asleep'. The 'Superman' driver sped through busy streets to take the sick boy to hospital (file photo) Speaking to Spot News, Mr Liu said: 'When I saw the family was in such a rush, my first reaction was "I don't care anymore". So I flashed both lights and sounded the horn before driving in the opposite direction.' When the family reached the destination, Mr Liu waved his hands and told them 'quick, don't worry about money'. Mr Liu said the boy's father later offered to pay him 500 yuan (56) - some 10 times more than necessary - to thank him for his help. Mr Liu declined. He said all he wanted to do was to save the boy. He told the boy's father to use the money to buy food for the child. The incident took place last Wednesday in Shenzhen (pictured), a major city in southern China Footage of the incident quickly went viral in China, gathering more than one million clicks on the first day, said Shenzhen News. Net users were touched by Mr Liu's act. One user praised the driver on Twitter-like Weibo: 'It is so good to have you. Please be careful while driving.' Another user commented: 'We should always think in other people's shoes while doing things.' A third user wrote: 'Wish this good person a peaceful life.' The child's family explained the situation to the traffic police immediately afterwards, and Mr Liu will not be punished for breaking traffic rules in emergency, Guangzhou Daily reported. A manager at a McDonald's in Indiana was arrested for taking a photo of a 10-year-old boy in one of the restaurant's bathroom stalls. Tyler Mathew Johnson, 35, of Terre Haute, was taken into custody on charges of attempted child molesting and voyeurism, Fox59 reports. Deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office were called to the McDonald's on State Road 46 West, between Bloomington and Ellettsville, on Friday afternoon. Tyler Mathew Johnson (pictured) was taken into custody on charges of attempted child molesting and voyeurism The boy told deputies that he had been using the bathroom when he spotted a cellphone being held over the top of his stall door, WRTV reports. The youngster described the design of the phone's case and the shoes the suspect was wearing. The restaurant's surveillance footage showed a man enter the bathroom after the boy had gone in and leave before he came out. An employee identified the man who entered the bathroom as one of the branch's managers. A manager at a McDonald's in Indiana (above, file photo) was arrested for taking a photo of a 10-year-old boy in one of the restaurant's bathroom stalls 'Nothing is more important to us at McDonald's than the safety and well-being of our customers,' Gregg Ereio, Vice President at McDonald's Corporation, told DailyMail.com. 'The allegations are appalling and the alleged behavior goes against everything we stand for as a company. 'We are fully investigating and will take all appropriate measures.' One of the infamous Cocaine Cowboys gang who flooded Miami with billions of dollars of the drug in the Seventies and Eighties has been deported. Augusto 'Willy' Falcon, now 61, was sent to the Dominican Republic on November 2 after serving most of a 20-year sentence for money laundering. Falcon had fought deportation to his native Cuba on the grounds that he would be killed for helping to secretly finance a CIA plot to kill Fidel Castro in the 1990s. Augusto 'Willy' Falcon (pictured right in the 1980s, alongside fellow gangster Sal Magulta) has been deported to the Dominican Republic after serving a 20 years for cocaine smuggling Falcon, his brother Gustavo and Magulta - who were known as the Cocaine Cowboys - used powerboats to transport cocaine from Colombia to Miami starting in 1978 A judge refused his appeal back in March, the Miami Herald reports, but he escaped that fate after the Dominican Republic agreed to accept him as a resident. Falcon was a high school dropout who became one of America's richest and most notorious drug dealers alongside classmate Salvador 'Sal' Magluta and younger brother Gustavo. The Cocaine Cowboys - or simply 'the Boys', as they were known - imported an estimated 75 tons of the drug into the US starting in 1978. They were the go-to middle men linking Pablo Escobar's Medellin Cartel and the Cali Colombian cartel to the black market in America. Using ocean-racing speed boats, they transported the drug from South America to south Florida, where it was sold on to the streets. Willy Falcon and Magluta were arrested in 1991 while Gustavo Falcon vanished. The elder Falcon and Magulta were slapped with dozens of charges linked to importing and distributing the drug, as well as hiring hitmen to kill snitches. Willy Falcon and Magulta were arrested in 1991 and tried for various crimes including drug smuggling and hiring hitmen, but were acquitted in 96 after buying off the jury (pictured, police seize a haul of cocaine) Magulta was sentenced to 205 years in jail at a retrial in 2002, while Willy Falcon was sentenced to 20 years in 2003 after taking a plea deal (pictured, police seize cocaine) However, following a lengthy trial the pair were acquitted in 1996. It later emerged that they paid off the jury and the foreman to secure the verdict. Magluta, who was fingered as the head of the operation, was retried in 2002 and sentenced to 205 years in jail, reduced on appeal to 195 years. Falcon struck a plea deal in 2003 in which he pleaded guilty to a simple charge of money laundering in return for 20 years in jail. His sentence technically elapsed last year but instead of being freed he was transferred to a detention center in Louisiana pending deportation. While Falcon was a settled permanent resident he never passed the final stage of his citizenship test, so was eligible to be kicked out of the country. Gustavo Falcon remained on the run until April 2017 when he was arrested in Florida. He was sentenced to 11 years in jail During deportation hearings, his lawyers revealed for the first time that he and Magulta had donated substantial parts of their drug smuggling profits to Cuban exile paramilitary groups with the aim of killing then-Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Their efforts were unsuccessful, and Castro died of natural causes in 2016. Willy's younger brother Gustavo remained on the run until April last year when he was finally arrested during a bike ride with his wife in Kissimmee, Florida. Federal officials said Gustavo had fake driver's licenses dating back to 1997 and that used fake addresses in Miami to hide himself. He also had fake licenses for his wife, Amelia, and children, who are now aged in their 30s, authorities said. Authorities said the couple went by the name of Luis Reiss and Maria Reiss. The break in the case came in 2013 when Gustavo was involved in a car accident and he used his fake identification with the Miami address, police said. Authorities say Gustavo and his family had been renting a home in the Kissimmee area, as it was under surveillance by the Marshals Office for some time before his arrest Wednesday. Since 1999, Gustavo and his family had been living in the Orlando area which surprised authorities as it had long been thought he fled the country to Cuba, Mexico or Colombia. 'We figured this all out a month ago,' Golden said. 'We pulled their drivers' licenses and saw it was the same Gustavo Falcon.' Gustavo did not resist at all during his arrest and even confessed to his real identity, authorities said. In April this year, Gustavo was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to a single cocaine distribution conspiracy charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Clark said Falcon was the 'right-hand man' to his older brother. His jobs included keeping transaction ledgers, collecting millions of dollars in cocaine profits, finding stash houses for drugs and organizing tractor-trailer loads of drugs to be shipped from Southern California to Florida. It was probably the most prolific smuggling operation we have found here in South Florida,' Clark said. 'Obviously, this case has had a long and winding road.' A cruel and vicious boyfriend made this shocking phone call from jail where he promised his ex she would have acid thrown in her face, telling her: 'I'll laugh - your son won't recognise his own mother'. Gareth Pierce, 36, had strangled, punched and headbutted Catherine Worsley, from Liverpool, in a campaign of abuse he then tried to continue from behind bars after his arrest. In one call aimed at bullying her into dropping charges against him he told her: 'I'm gonna get you stabbed and acided. I promise you, all your beautiful looks are going to go and it's going to happen very soon. 'You're going to have a mad f***ing looking swollen burnt face and I will laugh when it happens. Your son won't even recognise his own mother.' Brave Catherine responded by saying: 'Oh will you f*** off now, you're getting boring', adding: 'I will be turning up to court, don't worry.' Catherine Worsley was brutally abused and threatened with an acid attack by her violent ex Gareth Pierce (pictured together) who then threatened her from prison The injuries Gareth Pierce inflicted on Catherine Worsley as part of her horrific ordeal, leaving her 'head to toe' in blood Ms Worsley's vicious ex allegedly had her wrongly arrested for smuggling cocaine into America when she went on holiday as he tried to control her life. He also headbutted her, leaving her covered in blood, then threatened to douse her in acid if she didn't drop the charges. But she outsmarted him by recording his disturbing phone calls, leading to him being jailed for 33 months this month. It was three calls led to his prosecution and jail term, it emerged today. In a short first call from prison, after the headbutting attack in August, Pierce said: 'I want you to help me out' and tried to get her to change her statement. In a second call, Pierce tried to make up a 'crazy' alibi and said: 'The only thing I can come out with to say I've not assaulted you is we were having sex, and say like I've dived on ya or I've f***ing slipped and butted you by accident in the bedroom, f***ing blood everywhere, started arguing. I'm trying to say sorry but we've started arguing'. He added: 'if you loved me and my son you wouldn't do this' and as he got more irate he said: ;Why the f*** did you grass? You can't leave me here to f***ing rot. 'You've ruined my life, you've ruined my whole family.' He called her 'unloyal' and a 'slut', then accused her of 's******g' his mates. Gareth Pierce, 36, of Netherfield, Widnes, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation and was jailed for 33 months Pierce said: 'All you've gotta do is change your f***ing statement and not turn up at court, that's nothing to do with me, f***ing help me out.' His former partner then asked him to stop contacting her and he said: 'I don't wanna say this, I've got your mum's address, I've got your sister's address, I've got your got your address, right. 'I'm in here on a wing with 150 f***ing lads, some of them ruthless little bastards and any of them will help me out in here, if I want something doing it'll get f***ing done - I don't want to do anything.' In a third call, Pierce said: 'I'm begging you to help me, please Catherine'. Catherine the said: 'There's not anything I can do about it.' Pierce replied: ''Just f***ing say what I've asked you to say now' He added: 'I f***ing promise I will, I'll get you 5,000 in your bank account tomorrow if you say change that statement for me.' He said he wished he never met her and she said the feeling was mutual. Pierce said: 'You watch then now you little f***ing slag, you watch.' He went on: 'I'll make a phone call right now, your house and car is getting blew up today. 'Your house and car is getting blew up today. Trust me, trust me, I swear on my son's life. You watch. You watch. I promise you, it's already been arranged.' In the third call Pierce said: 'I promise you this. I'm gonna get you stabbed and acided. Stabbed and acid threw in your face. 'I promise you, all your beautiful looks are going to go and it's going to happen very soon. You're a beautiful girl, but not for very long. 'You're going to have a mad f***ing looking swollen burnt face and I will laugh when it happens. Your son won't even recognise his own mother. He also said: 'Don't think I don't mean what I'm saying, I mean what I'm saying, I hope you turn up to court, I hope you lie.' Catherine Worsley who was brutally abused and threatened with an acid attack by her violent ex Gareth Pierce He would fly into a jealous rage if any other men looked at her Catherine revealed her horrific ordeal to encourage other people suffering domestic abuse to speak out. Ms Worsley said the 36-year-old abuser, from Widnes in Chesire, was jealous and controlling throughout their relationship. However, the children's residential support worker, who has an eight-year-old son, said he made her believe he loved her. Gareth Pierce, 36, of Netherfield, Widnes, jailed for horrific domestic violence He was previously locked up in 2011 for supplying cocaine to undercover police, then convicted of dealing again in 2014. When he started seeing her in 2016, she said he was often out of work and had little money, but she told him to stay away from drugs. The 28-year-old mother-of-one said she had 'no chance' of fighting back against the muscular labourer, who always apologised the next day. Catherine first broke up with him after he attacked her while she was sleeping beside her son over Christmas last year. She said: 'He wanted to drive my car drunk. He was strangling me and told me he wanted to kill me. 'I was being sick in my mouth and couldn't breathe. He eventually let go, telling me I wasn't worth the jail time.' Catherine's mother rang the police, leading to Pierce calling her a 'grass', ahead of a terrifying incident on a train in February. She said: 'It was because another lad looked at me. He got his head and smashed it against the seat in front of him. 'There was blood everywhere. Then a young girl said 'what are you doing?' and tried to intervene. He punched her in the face. 'Her face just splattered with blood. I tried to calm him down and he bit my face and smashed it against the window.' Catherine said Pierce often accused men of staring at her on nights out, yelling 'what the f*** are you looking at?' and starting fights. She said: 'The amount of times we got kicked out of clubs and even restaurants - he was just really possessive and jealous.' That month, Pierce was convicted of four counts of battery and received 18 weeks in jail, suspended for two years. Catherine said: 'He got such a little sentence because I refused to attend court and later withdrew my statement. 'I was scared to go through with it, because I know what he is capable of.' She told Liverpool Crown Court this week how he then tried 'everything possible in his power to ruin my life'. Catherine said: 'He harasses me and stalks me. He's tried his best to have my child taken off me and he's posted indecent images of me on social media. 'There is not much more he can do than fulfil the threats to kill me. I live every day in fear of this.' She said Pierce seemingly went one step further when he found out she was jetting off to Las Vegas with her friend in April. Catherine said: 'A picture was posted on social media, which he saw. He went ballistic. 'I believe he rang Manchester airport security, stating we had 20,000 of cocaine between us and we were smuggling it into Las Vegas. 'When we landed in Vegas, we were handcuffed and arrested by security agents on the plane. We were held in custody for nine hours, questioned and intimidated. 'We were sent to Spring Valley Hospital to have stomach X-rays and full CT scans. The results came back all clear and we were both released without charge.' The couple pictured early in their relationship, things soon turned brutal with Gareth becoming abusive Pierce continued to harass Catherine, leading to her making more complaints, which she retracted due to threats ahead of a court case. But the worst was yet to come, after he visited her house in August and accused her of sleeping with another man, which she denied. He threatened to kill them both, pinned her to the bed, punched her and screamed 'I love you'. Pierce went quiet, then headbutted her, causing her nose to 'crunch' and blood to pour down her face. Catherine recalled how her cowardly attacker said: 'Look what you've made me do to you - you made me do this.' She said: 'He locked me in my bedroom for six hours and took my phone and keys. He said he would kill me, then kill himself and if he couldn't have me, nobody could ever have me. 'I sat for hours in that bedroom, covered head to toe in my own blood. I never thought he was going to let me go. Jailing him for 33 months, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said his phone calls were 'chilling' and his threats 'ugly'. Catherine told the court: 'I've lied to everyone for two years. If people said 'are you okay?' I would reply 'yes'. That's the biggest lie I've ever told.' She is now receiving counselling. She said: 'You start blaming yourself and thinking 'it's my own fault, because no-one else goes through stuff like this'. 'I don't want a penny - if I get my story out there that's not the reason behind it - it's to raise awareness. 'It's not until now I look back at the two years and I realise, because at the time I used to convince myself 'it's fine, it's normal, he loves you, he's sorry'. Now looking back, I think 'why did I put up with it?' If you are suffering from domestic violence, contact the police or the National Domestic Violence charity on freephone 0808 2000 247. Lee Hughes, special education teacher at Fillmore, was called a hero by the principal for keeping the pit bull away from students An escaped pit bull burst into an elementary school in Oklahoma on Monday and attacked the children during recess, injuring 12 before a brave teacher wrestled it to the ground. Third and fourth grade students were taking their break in the playground at Fillmore Elementary School in Oklahoma City when the dog entered the grounds. It chased down students and managed to bite several of them before trying to enter the school building. Special education teacher Lee Hughes then tackled the animal and kept it on the ground until Oklahoma City police officers arrived. 'He's our hero,' said Susan Martin Rachels, principal at Fillmore. The dog, whose owner is unknown, was taken away in a patrol car. School staff and faculty members did not recognize it, said Rachels. Oklahoma City schools Superintendent Sean McDaniel also thanked Hughes and said the situation would have been much worse if it wasn't for his actions. Fillmore Elementary School in Oklahoma City, where the escaped dog broke into the playground 'We are really grateful for Mr. Hughes and his commitment to our kids,' McDaniel said. Hughes was reluctant to be called a hero and instead praised the lone police officer helped him keep the dog away from pupils until others arrived. 'Everybody just did what they were supposed to do,' Hughes said. The school said 28 children and three teachers were outside when the dog attacked at 12:40 p.m. Monday. Rachels said the attack lasted around five minutes before Hughes managed to catch the dog. The pit bull entered the playground yesterday at around 12.40pm and injured 12 students before it was wrestled to the ground by a brave teacher (file image) Nobody was critically injured but students suffered superficial bite wounds and injuries sustained running away from the dog. Five were taken to hospital and seven others left the school with their parents. Director of security for the school district Tim Coleman said at a news conference that the district is investigating how the dog got into the school's playground. It's possible that gates to the playground were open, he said. Rachels said the school would be reviewing its safety protocols as a result. The children of a woman who mysteriously plunged to her death while on a cruise ship with her husband in Aruba last week have revealed that they went on the trip to work on their marriage but she was hesitant to go and 'knew something was going to happen'. Almarosa Tenorio, 52, fell from the 16th deck after an argument with a 'muscular man' on the Royal Princess cruise in the early hours of last Tuesday morning. Witnesses couldn't identify the man any further. She and her husband had also been seen arguing in the casino hours earlier, according to passengers. At around 4am, she was seen being 'pushed' from the deck and landing on a lifeboat on the seventh deck, severing her leg in the process. Witnesses saw her being 'choked' by the man but the cause of her death has not been revealed and authorities both in the US and in Aruba are refusing to share details of the investigation. After her death, her 51-year-old airbus executive husband Leo was hauled off the ship for questioning but he was allowed to return home to Alabama without ever being named as a suspect. No one else has been arrested and so far, no explanation for her death has been offered but the Aruban authorities and the FBI are investigating. On Tuesday morning, the couple's adult children appeared on Good Morning America where they made dramatic comments about the trip. Scroll down for video Almarosa Tenorio (right) was on the cruise with her husband, 51-year-old Leo Tenorio (left) when she was 'choked and pushed' to her death last Tuesday by an unidentified 'muscular man' she had been seen arguing with. The couple's children have now revealed she did not want to go on the trip and the pair were there working on their marriage 'My mom did not want to go on this cruise. She did not. Blank point. She knew something was going to happen,' the couple's 32-year-old daughter Andrea said. She added that the couple had 'specifically' gone on the vacation to work on their marriage. 'He specifically said they were going on this cruise because they wanted one week in order to work on their relationship just them two alone,' she said. Their son Tim added that the night before she left for the trip, his mother hugged him for what seemed like an unusually long time. He claimed he asked her why and she said: 'Well it might be the last hug you get from me.' In a statement, Leo said his wife's death would 'haunt him'. He has not yet publicly stated what led to his wife's death but said he hoped to 'treat the memory' of his wife 'with respect'. The children previously told DailyMail.com that they love both their parents and are still searching for answers. 'We don't have any information about anything. We are waiting for the full report by the FBI. 'We are both close to our parents and are in shock,' Andrea told DailyMail.com. Timothy Tenorio and Andrea Smith, the couple's two adult children, said on Monday that their mother 'knew something was going to happen'. They have not offered any explanation for their death nor have they out-rightly accused their father of any involvement . Timothy still lives with his parents A close friend of 27-year-old Tim, a trainee teacher and cancer survivor, said he was in contact with his father and was also not blaming him. Almarosa's husband, 51-year-old Leo, was released by Aruban authorities after being questioned. He has not yet offered a public explanation for his wife's death but said it would 'haunt him forever' 'Tim talked with his dad in Aruba. 'He was never a suspect. Tim doesn't think it was his fault,' Sarah-Beth Hewett told DailyMail.com. Both Tim and Andrea have posted tribute photos of their mother on social media. 'Tim's mother was an amazing woman. She encouraged him, she inspired him to become a teacher,' Hewett said. 'He talked about quitting school because of what's happened but I convinced him that she would have wanted him to carry on.' A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Almarosa's family cover the costs of repatriating her body to her native California and a funeral service. Donations can be made by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/an-unthinkable-tragedy. Tenorio was identified by her brother, who described his sister as a 'loving daughter, sister, mom and grandmother with a good heart' The teacher was an 'avid cruiser' but was hesitant to go on this trip with her husband, her children said Almarosa with her two children on vacation. They did not forthrightly accuse their father of having any involvement in her death and it remains unclear if they are living with him in Alabama Her brother, Tony Rodriguez, previously told ABC Action News she was a 'loving daughter, sister, mom and grandmother.' 'Her passion was teaching and working with children. 'She had a vivacious personality with a smile that would light up a room. We are sad that she was taken from us at such a young age. 'She will be missed by all that knew her,' Rodriguez said in a statement. He has not commented on the nature of her death. Horrified passengers said the woman's leg was torn off in the fall, creating a gruesome scene with glass everywhere. The victim plunged to her death after she was reportedly seen fighting with an unidentified muscular man on the Lido deck on the 16th floor, around 10.30pm last Tuesday. She fell from the deck at 4am, landing on deck 7 on Lifeboat 2 The Royal Princess had embarked on an eight-day cruise around the Caribbean on November 9 and returned to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday. Passenger Logan Tignor described the horrifying incident on a video call with CBS News, saying: 'It's surreal and I'm kind of traumatized for it. 'I never would expect that it would happen on vacation.' Photos from the scene obtained by DailyMail.com show yellow tape cordoning off the area around and below the lifeboat. Earlier this week a spokeswoman for Aruban prosecutors confirmed to DailyMail.com that the man taken off the boat was the woman's partner and that the woman's death is being treated as 'unnatural'. Tenorio's death has been ruled unnatural and authorities are awaiting autopsy results A source aboard the ship told DailyMail.com on the day of the incident: 'We are sailing the southern Caribbean. 'It's the ship that [British TV station] ITV used for their show ''The Cruise''. It was two passengers they had a row in the casino that night.' 'The gossip on board is rife. We were all woken at 4.30am by a security alert by the captain. 'We will be at sea for two days from today heading to Fort Lauderdale.' A second source added: 'We can literally see the lifeboat from our room. Blood and broken glass all over it. Another passenger said: 'Ten police officers came aboard. The announcement was a criminal investigation was to be conducted before we are given clearance. 'Two couples were asked repeatedly to go to customer relations.' This is where the woman's body was found. Witnesses described in horror how she severed her leg in the fall and was found bloody and surrounded by shattered glass The man, described as being muscular, allegedly strangled the woman before tossing her from the ship's 16th deck. Aruba investigators (pictured) are now performing an autopsy to establish if the woman was choked to death or died from the fall Princess Cruises said in a statement to DailyMail.com: 'Princess Cruises can confirm that a 52-year-old American female guest passed away early yesterday morning aboard Royal Princess as the ship was enroute to Aruba. 'It was reported to the local authorities who met and boarded the ship upon arrival. The cause of death is not yet known at this time. 'We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincere condolences to the family and those affected.' Princess Royal departed Aruba at 10pm on Wednesday night, heading towards Kralendijk, Bonaire. The massive cruise ship has a guest capacity of 3,600 at double occupancy. At its launch in Southampton, England in 2013, the ship was christened by the Duchess of Cambridge, who became the vessel's 'godmother'. Renae Lawrence's secret romance with an ice addict jailbird has been revealed. The Bali Nine drug smuggler struck up a turbulent relationship with 38-year-old lesbian lover Agus Erna Wijayanti, known as Erna, behind bars, News Corp reported. Erna, who has been jailed twice for possessing ice, met Lawrence in Bangli jail in Indonesia and is reportedly 'spoiling her like a child' ahead of her release. Renae Lawrence's secret romance with ice addict jailbird Agus Erna Wijayanti (left) has been revealed Renae Lawrence (pictured) is being spoiled 'like a child' by her lesbian prison lover ahead of her release, insiders have claimed The pair first met in 2012 when Erna was given a prison sentence on drug charges, and grew closer when Lawrence was transferred from Kerobokan prison to Bangli jail in 2014. But it hasn't always been smooth sailing for the couple. During her stint outside of prison, Erna was caught with methamphetamine in her scarf while visiting Lawrence. She was jailed for more than five years for possession, but the sentence did reunite her with Lawrence behind bars. The pair also reportedly had to be separated for a few days at one stage after an argument over Erna's ex-boyfriend visiting her in prison. The Bali Nine drug smuggler struck up a turbulent relationship with 38-year-old lesbian lover Agus Erna Wijayanti, known as Erna, behind bars Erna is a fellow drugs prisoner in the jail located northeast of Bali. The pair first met in 2012 when Erna was given a prison sentence on drug charges Lawrence, 41, is spending her last night in prison ahead of her release on November 21. The prison Lawrence and Erna shared for for years was made up of just 11 female inmates and 59 inmates altogether. They did not share a cell. Lawrence has served 13 years of a 20 year sentence for her role in the attempted smuggling of 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia in April 2005. She was found with 2.2 kg of heroin strapped to her body but after she turned informant for Bali authorities her sentence was downgraded to 20 years. She further reduced her sentence by being a model prisoner and participating in a number of prison programs during her incarceration. Lawrence, 41, is spending her last night in prison ahead of her release on November 21 Lawrence (pictured) will be the only member of the 'Bali Nine' who will ever walk free from prison with the remaining five all serving life sentences Made Suwendra, the prison's Governor visited Lawrence ahead of her release and told 9News she was in good health and 'happy'. However Lawrence's return to Australia won't be all smooth sailing after it was alleged she may be involved in a historical police investigation into a high speed chase in a stolen car. Police confirmed on Thursday that they had two outstanding warrants for a 41-year-old woman but have not yet named Lawrence. Lawrence will be the only member of the Bali nine who will ever walk free from prison with the remaining five all serving life sentences. Along with Norman, Si Yi Chen, 33, Scott Rush, 33, Martin Stephens, 42, and Michael Czugaj, 32, remain in prison for life, while Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died from cancer in May. In 2015 'Bali Nine' ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed for their roles in the drug smuggling operation. A Chinese billionaire has suggested 'depraved' women are responsible for the decline of moral standards in China, drawing accusations of sexism and sparking major controversy on social media. Michael Yu Minhong was attending an education forum in Shanghai on Sunday when he made the remarks, saying 'Chinese women's depravity has led to the nation's depravity.' Yu, who is worth $1.92 billion (1.5 billion), was widely regarded as the country's 'godfather of English training' when he founded New Oriental Group, China's largest private education company. The tutoring giant is listed in the United States and the 56-year-old has been named 'the richest teacher in China'. Michael Yu Minhong was at an education forum in Shanghai on Sunday when he made the remarks, saying 'Chinese women's depravity has led to the nation's depravity' (file photo) Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi (pictured) slammed Yu on her Weibo account: 'All those years in Peking University and the success of New Oriental failed to help you understand the value of women or gender equality' Yu's controversial comments came during a discussion on the direction of education, which he said is defined by people's evaluation standards, very much like how women's standards for men define the quality of men. 'If a woman only cares about how much money a man makes rather than how good a person he is, then all men would go and make themselves rich and become a person with no conscience. This is exactly how women in China pick men nowadays,' Yu said in his speech at the Shanghai Educational Forum. 'This is why Chinese women's depravity has led to the entire nation's depravity,' Yu, also a graduate of the prestigious Peking University, added. Video clips of his speech was widely circulated on Chinese social media, which saw the education mogul heavily criticised. The hashtag, 'Yu Minhong discriminates against woman', has been viewed on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo for more than 40 million times. Yu's comments came during a discussion on the direction of education, which he said is defined by people's evaluation standards, very much like how women's standards for men define the quality of men Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi slammed Yu on her Weibo account: 'All those years in Peking University and the success of New Oriental failed to help you understand the value of women or gender equality.' Her post has been liked more than 780,000 times. 'What about when Chinese men pick women based on her appearance and body shape while ignoring if she's a good person? Is that depravity then?' one top-rated comment read. 'To me, rich people like you are responsible for the depravity of the nation!' another person said. 'Nothing to do with men or women.' 'This is what people do nowadays - blame Chinese women for everything,' one comment read. However, some expressed their support for Yu, saying that there is some reality to his comments. 'Maybe it seems a little harsh, but he's just saying the truth. Money is everything now,' one user said. 'It's true though, a lot of women in China are like that nowadays,' another said. 'Maybe the word "deprave" was a bit too extreme.' Yu apologised in a Weibo post on Sunday while attempting to clarify his comments, but upset net users were not buying it. Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi has heavily criticised Yu on her social media account 'At the forum, I illustrated by point with an example of how women choose their spouses. Regretfully, I did not express my point well which led to a big misunderstanding. I am deeply sorry for that,' he wrote. 'What I had meant to say was: Women represent the standard of a country. Women and mothers of high standards are able to nurture high-quality children,' he said. 'Men are also guided by women's values. If women pursue an intellectual life, men will become more intelligent, too. If women only care about money, men will only strive to make themselves rich and ignore their intellectual development.' His attempt did little to salvage the educator's reputation. 'You're wrong. Women do not represent the standard of a country. It's how women are treated in a country that represents the standard of a country,' one top-rated comment said. 'Your explanation is still inappropriate,' another said. 'Are you implying that a child's upbringing has nothing to do with men and fathers? You've successfully offended men and women.' Yu founded New Oriental Group in 1993, offering private English tuition to Chinese students looking to study overseas. In 2006, the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Chinese mainland's first educational institution to go public in the United States. Yu was ranked no. 148 on Forbes's China Rich List 2018, with a net worth of US$1.92 billion (1.5 billion). A Facebook executive has accused California police of lying about her unarmed black brother's death after viewing dashcam footage that she claims contradicts official accounts of how he died. Chinedu Okobi, 36, died on October 3 after being tasered multiple times by San Mateo County Sheriff's deputies on a street in Millbrae near San Francisco. The 34-minute dashcam video, which has not been released publicly, was viewed by Okobi's family on Friday and they claim it shows him being 'tortured to death in broad daylight'. His sister Ebele Okobi, who is Facebook's public policy director for Africa, has since posted a scathing statement on social media as she accused the sheriff's office of lying about her brother's death. Following Okobi's death, the sheriff's office said the father-of-one had been running in and out of traffic on a busy road before he was tasered at least four times and tackled to the ground by five deputies. Chinedu Okobi, 36, died on October 3 after being tasered multiple times by San Mateo County Sheriff's deputies near San Francisco. His sister posted this photo on Facebook of the incident The 36-year-old's family say they have now viewed dashcam footage of the incident involving Okobi and have accused the sheriff's department of lying about the version of events Video courtesy of KRON4 They said he may have been suffering from a 'mental break' and that he 'immediately assaulted' a deputy when he was confronted by authorities. Okobi, who leaves behind a 12-year-old daughter, was pronounced dead at the scene. His family is now demanding that authorities release the 'shocking' dashcam footage of the fatal encounter. Oboki's sister said her brother was begging 'someone, please help me' and 'what did I do?' in the moments before he died. His sister Ebele Okobi (above), who is Facebook's public policy director for Africa, has since posted a scathing statement on social media as she accused the sheriff's office of lying about her brother's death She said the videos were shocking because they contradicted the statements put out by the sheriff's office and San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, and the suggestion that her brother's mental illness played a role in his death. 'The video of my brother's murder starts out with a dash cam view of my brother, walking calmly down the sidewalk, carrying bags. It's notable, because the view shows other people walking - it's broad daylight, so there is nothing particularly interesting or sinister about a man walking down the street, holding bags, heading somewhere. He is dressed normally, and doesn't look disheveled or as if he's in crisis,' Ebele wrote in a lengthy Facebook post. 'The deputy driving the car says something like who is this guy, and then speeds up to get alongside my brother. According to the San Mateo County Sheriff's office and District Attorney Wagstaffe's statements, my brother was 'running in and out of traffic'. My brother was not walking in and out of traffic when the deputy noticed him. He was walking on the sidewalk, as people do.' She claims the audio shows the first deputy had no basis to stop her brother because they were not responding to call about someone running through traffic. Ebele said the video shows the deputy pulling up next to her brother and shouting as he asked him what he was doing. She claims her brother answered quietly, but it was inaudible, and then walked to the intersection, looked out for traffic and then crossed the street. She said the deputy then called for emergency backup, which 'dramatically escalated the situation', and lied about being in danger. Okobi, who leaves behind a 12-year-old daughter, was pronounced dead at the scene. He is pictured above with his daughter back in 2010 Okobi is pictured above with his family after his 2003 graduation from Morehouse College in Atlanta. He graduated with a degree in business administration The video then shows several deputies surrounding Oboki and charging out of their patrol vehicles, according to his sister. 'At this point, my brother drops his bags and puts his arms up in the air,' she said, before adding that Oboki appeared to twist to the side and move his hand up to avoid being hit or to avoid hitting the female deputy. In the moments before he was tasered for the first time, Ebele said the deputies grabbed him and ripped off his jacket. 'He tries to run, asking, 'What's wrong? What did I do?'. My brother falls in the street, on his back, crying. He has the presence of mind to keep his hands in the air, even as... (a deputy) holds the taser and continuously sends volts of electricity through his prone body. He is not fighting, just crying in pain. 'I will never forget the visual of his hands, waving above his head, open, begging. He begs them to take the taser prongs off of him. He tries to pull them off himself. 'My brother never attacked any of the deputies. He did not assault anyone. My baby brother, as big as he was, didn't even defend himself.' Ebele said the deputies tasered him again before he staggered to his knees and tried to run away. 'A deputy pulls out his baton, strikes, they tase him again. My brother goes down. At some point, my brother tries to run across the street, they chase him, they tase him, they pepper spray him, they jump on top of him while he is prone,' she said. At no point in the footage did authorities explain why he was being stopped or if he was being arrested, according to Ebele. Following Ebele's lengthy Facebook post, the sheriff's department issued a statement on Monday acknowledging the calls for the dashcam videos to be released publicly She said deputies were screaming to 'stay on top of him' before someone asks if he was still breathing. 'Someone shouts 'I see blood!' Then it's over... My brother has clearly died, right there on the sidewalk, in broad daylight. 'One of the deputies immediately declares it a crime scene. A deputy asks another, solicitously, if he wants water. Killing my brother is thirsty work, apparently. What not a single one of those deputies does is give my brother CPR. None of them tries to help him. I will never forget the visual of his hands, waving above his head, open, begging. He begs them to take the taser prongs off of him. Victim's sister Ebele Okobi 'They express no shock or remorse at the fact of his death. It's all very casual. They prop his body upright, like an over-full trash bag. His head hangs forward, airways occluded. No one follows even the most basic life-saving procedures. There is no mercy or compassion for my little brother. If they had killed a dog the way they killed my brother, there would be outrage. 'My brother died on the scene, not on the way to the hospital, not at the hospital. They didn't even pretend to try to revive him. 'Now that I have seen the video, I am so angry. It was always wrong, it was always a tragedy, but now, knowing that there wasn't even the pretense of police stopping him 'for his own safety', seeing the way they tortured him to death for simply walking down the sidewalk - this is a crime. 'These deputies have been trained in the use of tasers (and if they have not, then it is criminally negligent that they were allowed to use lethal weapons without training) and they used them repeatedly on my brother, then held him down until he died, then failed to offer any medical assistance. They knew that their actions were likely to result in my brother's death. And they did it anyway. His family are demanding that the sheriff's office and District Attorney investigating Okobi's death release the footage and any audio of 911 calls made prior to the deputy stopping him on the street 'I am angry at myself for believing any of the lie put out by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. I knew that my brother didn't 'attack' or 'assault' deputies, but because of his mental illness, I believed it was possible that he might have been in crisis and acting erratically. 'None of that would have justified him being killed, but there isn't even a reason, at all, that my brother was stopped. My brother's medical history has nothing at all to do with why he was stopped and killed.' His family are demanding that the sheriff's office and District Attorney investigating Okobi's death release the footage and any audio of 911 calls made prior to the deputy stopping him on the street. Following Ebele's lengthy Facebook post, the sheriff's department issued a statement on Monday acknowledging the calls for the dashcam videos to be released publicly. 'The District Attorneys Office is still actively investigating this incident and the videos are an important component of this case. The videos will be released when the investigation allows,' the statement read. 'It is our understanding that there may still be witnesses to interview and therefore the release of video could influence the independent recollection of those witnesses. We need to provide the District Attorneys office with every ability to conduct a full and complete investigation.' Ebele, who lives in London and has previously accompanied Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg to Africa, says there has been outpouring of support from executives at the technology giant. Her brother's death in Millbrae happened just miles from her company's headquarters in Silicon Valley. New mom Cardi B took a midnight trip to a Hollywood pharmacy clad in a slinky negligee and pink fluffy slippers. The rapper hit up the CVS at the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard after midnight to nab a charger for her iPhone. The 26-year-old star appeared to have come straight from bed, as she donned a slinky velvet chemise and slippers and had hair wrap which held back her locks. Cardi, who welcomed her daughter Kulture Kiari in July, browsed the store's makeup aisle, picking up an anti-aging cream, according to a source. Late night shop: Cardi B was seen being her 'regular schmegular' self last month when she wore a black silky nightgown and pink fluffy slippers with her hair wrapped during a midnight trip to CVS in Hollywood The famous rapper was photographed at the drugstore checkout counter after picking up some makeup remover, anti-aging cream and an iPhone charger Cardi, who appeared to have come straight from bed, was accompanied by her driver and browsed the perfume section and makeup aisle before heading to checkout The star was accompanied by her driver during her early morning shop on October 7, according to student Jeidi Diakite, 38, who snapped the images of Cardi. Jeidi said: 'She went to the makeup aisle and picked up some anti-aging cream and makeup remover. 'She seemed to come in to buy a charger for her phone and asked her driver to go and get it. 'She went and was browsing the perfume section and then went to stand in line at the check out. 'She was kind of scratching her head under her hair wrap. I don't know maybe she has dandruff or something. After shopping for 20 minutes, Cardi left the store in an SUV which was waiting for her outside 'She was obviously noticeable because she was wearing slippers and a short dress.' Jeidi, who lives in West Covina, Los Angeles, said Cardi seemed to be extremely humble, and was kind to the staff that rang up her items. 'She seemed really humble and quiet. She seemed like a pleasant person and was really respectful to the staff. 'She didn't seem like a typical celebrity at all.' After shopping for 20 minutes, Cardi left the store in an SUV which was waiting for her outside. An all-out war between neighbours has escalated over a row involving dirt bikes and chainsaws. Dezi Freeman said his relationship with neighbour Zar Sacutelli soured after he requested his family tone down their dirt biking riding outside his back porch. The noisy neighbours had bought a slice of land beside Mr Freeman's home in Mount Buffalo, Victoria, for a weekend getaway, A Current Affair reported. Scroll down for video Dezi Freeman and his wife Mali Freeman (pictured together) said their relationship with their neighbour Zar Sacutelli soured after a seemingly simple request He said he had asked Mr Sacutelli (pictured left) if he and his family could 'tone down' their use of their dirt bikes which sparked a bitter feud He said he had asked Mr Sacutelli if he and his family could 'tone down' their use of dirt bikes around the homes as the noise was excessive. Mr Freeman says the family only retaliated by riding their dirt bikes harder and hauling timber to chop up with a chainsaw. As the feud began to spiral out of control Mr Freeman's wife, Mali, said she had become frightened how it might escalate in the future. 'Anything could happen, its the fear of the unknown, I pray to God that you have peace too. Thats all we want. Why cant you do the same?' Mr and Mrs Freeman filmed a number of encounters in which members of the Sacutelli family are seen hurling profanities and verbally abusing them from the other side of the fence. One clip showed Mr Sacutelli cutting up a log with a chainsaw as he shouts abuse at both Mr and Mrs Freeman. The couple said police had fined the family for the chainsaw incident because it had breached a noise 'abatement notice'. However the couple still fear what might come of the ongoing feud with the family. The community has rallied around the family with many saying Mrs Freeman was the 'mother of Myrtleford' due to her standing in the community, Mary Tomaino told A Current Affair. 'Shes (Mali) just a lovely soul, a lovely person and shes saying, what have we done to you?' she said. However all her attempts at brokering a peace with the Sacutelli's have so far failed. Mr Sacutelli and his family declined to speak with A Current Affair when approached. Detectives have revealed how a critically injured eight-year-old boy told officers his father was responsible for a horrific attack on his family where the boy's mother was shot dead, his autistic sister stabbed to death and their home set ablaze. Ronnie Oneal III, 29, was arrested after the March 18, 2018 attack on his family in Riverview, Florida. Oneal's son Ronnie Oneal IV, 8, stumbled out of the burning home when paramedics arrived, suffering burns on his body and a severe stabbing wound that exposed his intestines. Four days after the murders, detectives interviewed the injured boy from his hospital bed where he said 'My dad was saying 'Allahu Akbar' during his rampage, an Arabic phrase for 'God is greatest'. Ronnie Oneal III, 29, was arrested after he stabbed his son Ronnie Oneal IV, 8, with a knife so badly his intestines were exposed. Detectives interviewed the child from his hospital bed where he said 'My dad was saying "Allahu Akbar"...he had a knife and he stabbed me' 'Do you know who did this to you?' detectives asked. 'Dad' the boy replied. 'Do you know what he did to you?' they asked. On March 18, 2018 Ronnie Oneal III, 29, was arrested after he allegedly shot dead his girlfriend, stabbed his daughter, 9, to death, critically wounded his son 'He had a knife and he stabbed me. I'll tell you more when I wake up,' the boy said before drifting off to sleep, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He said his parents were talking about God when the bloody attack took place. The night of the attacks, Oneal III allegedly shot his girlfriend Kenyatta 'Keke' Barron, 33. Then he allegedly fatally stabbed and beat his 9-year-old daughter Ron'Niveya Oneal, who has autism, to death. 'He shot her. She ran before he could make another shot...I ran but I forgot to get my sister,' the boy told investigators. Oneal then went to the garage to retrieve an axe and used it on the daughter, according to the boy. Then he turned on his young son in the kitchen where he stabbed the child with a cooking knife. He allegedly shot girlfriend Kenyatta 'Keke' Barron, 33, (left) and later said: 'Keke is the devil. The kids are the devil's kids'. He also allegedly beat and stabbed his daughter Ron'Niveya Oneal, 9, (right) to death Ronnie Oneal IV said his dad made him repeat 'allahu akbar' and stabbed him with a cooking knife Ronnie Oneal IV and his little sister pictured above together in this undated photo 'Don't say a word,' Oneal said before coaxing his child to repeat the words 'God is my father'. Cops arrived to the Riverview, Florida home at 13248 Pike Lake Drive after Barron called police at 11.43pm and told the dispatcher she was shot. In the call recording, a series of screams can be heard as the dispatcher repeatedly asks for the home's address. According to transcript notes from the first call, Oneal IV can be heard saying 'Make me a real man. Say "allahu akbar!"' Then a child's voice is heard repeating 'allahu akbar!' Oneal IV then says 'Now get in here and kill this b**** right now,' followed by screams, according to the transcript. 'I'm so sorry, Ronnie,' Barron says over the yelling and pounding noises. Oneal III pictured above at a hearing in October where he was deemed mentally incompetent to face trial On Monday prosecutors revealed how detectives interviewed Ronnie Oneal IV, 8, where he detailed the horrific attack where his mom was shot dead and sister beat with an axe. Oneal III pictured after his arrest Oneal pictured above in an undated handout photo from the Hillsborough State Attorney's office. He's been charged with murder in the double slaying of his girlfriend and daughter The horrific incident unfolded at this home in Riverview, Florida, near Tampa on March 18, 2018. Last month a court deemed Oneal mentally incompetent to face trial 'I'm trusting you. I trust everything you do,' she said. Oneal ordered: 'Say it again' and she replied 'I love you. Allahu akbar'. Several minutes pass before cops receive a second 911 call, this time from Oneal saying 'I've been attacked by some white demons'. When cops arrived to the house at 11.49pm, Barron had ran from the home and collapsed on the front yard as Oneal stood next to her slumped body saying 'You don't understand. she killed me.' Cops drew their guns and pointed then towards Oneal, who ignored the orders to get on the ground. Cops eventually tasered him then arrested him. In the backseat of the squad car he said: 'Keke is the devil. The kids are the devil's kids.' He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder, resisting arrest and arson in the Florida double murder and house fire, according to Heavy. A judge ordered three doctors to assess Oneal to see if he's mentally competent to stand trial. Two doctors said he wasn't and in October he was deemed incompetent to stand trial and sent to a hospital for treatment. After treatment he'll return to face trial and if he's found guilty, prosecutors say they intend to seek the death penalty. White Rutgers University professor James Livingston (pictured), who ranted against white children, calling them 'little Caucasian a**holes' was cleared of violating school policy on Wednesday The white Rutgers University professor who posted a rant against white children, calling them privileged 'little Caucasian a**holes' was cleared of violating school policy by the university on Wednesday. James Livingston was picking up a burger to-go from the Harlem Shake in upper Manhattan on May 31, and completely lost it on Facebook, posting an irate diatribe against his own race. 'OK, officially, I now hate white people. I am a white people, for God's sake, but can we keep them us us out of my neighborhood?' Livingston added: 'I hereby resign from my race. F*** these people. Yeah, I know it's about access to my dinner. F*** you, too.' At the time, Facebook determined the post violated the platform's rules on 'hate speech,' and deleted it. Rutgers originally determined Livingston had violated the school's harassment and discrimination policy, but reversed that decision last week. Livingston, who said his post was satirical commentary on the gentrification of Harlem, addressed the reversal in a statement that read: 'Im relieved that my right to free speech and my academic freedom have been validated by this retraction, thanks to FIRE [Foundation for Individual Rights in Education], the AAUP [American Association of University Professors], and colleagues, who made this strange episode an issue to be debated and decided in public. 'But if I may use the occasion to preach ... As a tenured professor, I have resources and protections that are unavailable to most employees. That is not just unfortunate, it is simply wrong, and needs redressing.' James Livingston was picking up a burger to-go from the Harlem Shake (pictured) in upper Manhattan on May 31, and lost it on Facebook , posting an irate diatribe against his own race Rutgers originally determined Livingston had violated the school's harassment and discrimination policy with the post (pictured) but reversed that decision on Wednesday FIRE took up Livingston's cause after an initial review by Rutgers' Office of Employment Equity (OEE) found he had violated the school's policy, leaving the professor facing possible disciplinary action and potential discharge. An appeal brought by FIRE on Livingston's behalf was first denied, until Rutgers University President Robert L. Barchi ordered the OEE to move forward with the appeal in a letter dated August 29. Barchi noted that despite Livingston's language being offensive, 'few values are as important to the University as the protection of our First Amendment rightseven when the speech we are protecting is insensitive and reckless.' On Wednesday, Fire informed Livingston that the OEE had changed its determination to find he had not violated school police. 'FIRE is pleased that Rutgers did the right thing and reversed the charge of racial discrimination against Professor Livingston,' Marieke Tuthill Beck-Coon, FIREs director of litigation, said in a statement released on Thursday. 'Any other result would have undermined the free speech and academic freedom rights of all Rutgers faculty members.' In the post that started the free speech debate from May, Livingston said that the restaurant on 124 St and Lenox was 'overrun with little Caucasian a**holes who know their parents will approve of anything they do. 'Slide around the floor, you little s***head, sing loudly, you unlikely moron. Do what you want, nobody here is gonna restrict your right to be white.' After Facebook censored the post, he went back to the social media site to discuss the fallout of his comments, and to continue on his original rant. First he hit out at Facebook. 'I've just been told by FB that my rant v, white people makes me dangerous, socially media speaking, even though I'm a white people, or person, or whatever.' Livingston was not about to let the white children thing go either. In yet another post he shared: 'I just don't want little Caucasians overrunning my life, as they did last night.' 'Please God, remand them to the suburbs, where they and their parents can colonize every restaurant, all the while pretending that the idiotic indulgence of their privilege signifies cosmopolitan--you know, as in sophisticated "European"--commitments.' Livingston did not stop after his first post was deleted by Facebook, and continued to rant on the social media platform, only this time he used less profanity Despite Livingston's post being removed by Facebook, he was not about to let that get in the way of his rant against his own race, and continued here And the responses began flooding in: The professor says he received several emails, which included threats of bodily harm Livingston is a tenured history professor who has taught at Rutgers (pictured0 since 1988 Livingston said he received a number of emails regarding his original post, calling him a variety of names, with a handful promising bodily harm. However, he opined that Facebook 'won't let me post about the mostly hilarious email and messages' he received since his original rant. 'One guy even left me a phone message, which I took as a warm and personal approach to the matter. And the designations! 'Racist F***stain' is my fave so far. Let's see if this goes through.' The post did indeed go through. Livingston said that his comments were meant to be satirical, as social commentary on the gentrification of Harlem, according to appeal documents obtained by NorthJersey.com. 'I regret that my remarks were misinterpreted,' Livingston said in his appeal. 'To suggest otherwise in other words, to accuse me of racism is to act as a committee of hanging judges, rather than to acknowledge that human communication is always imperfect. The benefit of the doubt applies here, too.' Livingston is a tenured history professor who has taught at Rutgers since 1988. Landmark gender rights laws have made it through Tasmania's lower house which include parents having to 'opt in' to have a baby's sex recorded on birth certificates. The House of Assembly passed the legislation, which was proposed by Labor and the Greens, on Tuesday night thanks to a deciding vote by Liberal speaker Sue Hickey. Other changes include individuals being allowed to change their gender from the age of 16 by simply filling out a statutory declaration, according to The Australian. Tasmania has passed landmark gender rights laws through the lower house which include parents having to 'opt in' to have a baby's sex recorded on birth certificates (stock image) The House of Assembly passed the legislation, which was proposed by Labor and the Greens, on Tuesday night thanks to a deciding vote by Liberal speaker Sue Hickey Anti-discrimination laws were also widened to include 'gender expression' such as using the correct names and titles of transgender people. The new laws were amendments added to a bill removing the need for a person to become divorced before changing gender. The laws still have to pass the upper house, however, it is the first time these types of laws have been voted through the lower house of any state. Labor politician Ella Haddad said that parents of newborns would simply be given a form asking them if they wish to have the gender of their child printed on the birth certificate. 'It creates an opt-in approach,' Ms Haddad said. 'There are significant drafting flaws and legal consequences; things that need to be considered,' Liberal Attorney-General Elise Archer told the parliament. A Sydney woman discovered she was related to millionaire Harry Potter author JK Rowling while researching her family history. Roxanne Salt made a remarkable connection to Harry Potter author JK Rowling when she started looking into the life of her British great-grandfather. Ms Salt became interested in her grandfather, Stanley Eric Smith, who died in 1986 and was orphaned at the age of four. Roxanne Salt from Sydney (above) made a remarkable connection to Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Pictured at her great grandfather Henry Smith's grave Ms Salt realised her grandfather Stanley Eric Smith (pictured below) - who was orphaned at the age of four - had a half-sister - who was JK Rowling's great-grandmother 'My grandfather worked on the ships and when he came to Australia he met my grandmother and decided to stay,' she told the Lowestoft Journal. Originally from Lowestoft, a coastal town about 200km north-east of London, Ms Salt wasn't sure there would be any of her grandfather's relatives still living in the area. His father, her great grandfather Henry Smith, had died in 1907 leaving his son to be orphaned at the age of four. 'I came to a lot of dead ends,' she said. Nevertheless, she was determined to find out what happened to her grandfather when he was orphaned. Ms Salt's grandfather Stanley Eric Smith (pictured centre) visited the grave of Violet Wegg who looked after him after he was orphaned Stanley Eric Smith grew up in this house (pictured) in Oulton Broad, this picture was taken when he visited Suffolk in 1974 While making her inquiries Ms Salt realised her grandfather's half-sister was JK Rowling's great-grandmother. The world-famous author of the Harry Potter series has also been tracing her family history through the television programme Who Do You Think You Are in 2011. Along the way, Ms Salt (above) realised her grandfather's half-sister was JK Rowling's great-grandmother In the programme, Ms Rowling discovered her great grandmother Eliza Mary Ann Smith was born in Kessingland - the neighbouring town to Lowestoft - on August 26, 1874. Eliza Mary Ann Smith went on to marry French-born Louis Volant and the couple had four children, one of whom was Stanley George Volant, the grandfather of JK Rowling. 'My main aim is to track down what happened to my pop when he was orphaned, why none of his brothers or sisters brought him up,' Ms Salt explained. 'Pop was the only child of Henry and Myra but there were about 12 children including Eliza from his first wife Elizabeth. 'I have done a lot of research looking at the census but I keep hitting brick walls when it comes to my pop and his mum Myra.' Stanley Eric Smith returned to Lowestoft in 1974 to meet up with some of his brothers and sisters but rarely talked about his family, according to his granddaughter. Still searching for answers, anyone with information can contact Roxanne_Salt@yahoo.com.au A faithful dog wouldn't leave its dead friend behind as it guarded its corpse in the snow in north-west China. The black dog's friend, a yellow pooch, had reportedly been killed by a car on a road in Xinjiang's Zhaosu County yesterday. But the little black dog wouldn't give up on its friend as it stood guard next to it and tried to wake it up. A black dog tries to warm a yellow dog which was killed in a traffic accident yesterday in China The black dog wouldn't leave its dead friend and stands guard next to it in the snow in Xinjiang The black dog also snuggled up to the dead dog in an attempt to warm its body in the cold weather. An employee at the local tourism office told Pear Video, a Chinese viral video platform, that he and his colleagues saw the yellow dog being run over by a passing car while they inspected the area. 'Next to it (the dead dog), there was its friend. The dog leant next to it (dead dog) and would not leave,' said the officer, named Yang Wensheng. Local official say they would remove the dead dog so the black dog could stay out of danger Mr Yang said he and his colleagues would clean up the scene and remove the dead yellow dog. He added: 'Otherwise, the other dog would carry on staying here. 'It is dangerous to be by the side of the road. [The dog] could be killed by cars.' Chinese net users have been moved by the video. On Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter, one user said 'little black, please stay strong' while another commentator noted that dogs can sometimes be 'more human than humans'. The scale of fake homelessness in Britain was revealed today in a new documentary where one culprit with a council flat and fortnightly benefits said: 'It was either this or be a hooker'. Emily, who lives in Cambridge, is identified as a professional beggar and describes it as her full time job. Documentary maker Ellie Flynn reveals that while begging for money Emily is also paid benefits twice a month and has access to a taxpayer-funded flat. She replies: 'I try and turn up every day. This is work to me. It was either this or be a hooker. That's the truth. There aren't many options for a person like me.' The extraordinary situation is featured in the BBC Three documentary 'Fake Homeless: Who's Begging On The Streets?', which will be available to stream on iPlayer from Sunday night. Emily, left, who is on benefits and has a council flat told BBC journalist Ellie Flynn that begging in Cambridge was her job because it was 'either this or be a hooker' Emily describes begging as her full time job and suggested that any other options of earning money apart from prostitution are limited for her Police are issuing ASBOs to beggars in an attempt to get them out of town centres (pictured in Cambridge) with one force saying 80% have somewhere to go to One woman told Ellie Flynn she would 'lie low' until they could slip back on to Cambridge's streets to beg Councils, charities and police admit 'deceptive' begging is a growing problem in busy towns and cities with people now urged to give food, drink or clothes - but not money. The number of people sleeping rough in England is at a record high and Government data shows that on any given night over the autumn last year, nearly 5,000 people were recorded sleeping on the streets - a figure that has more than doubled since 2010. But Merseyside Police has revealed that between 2015 and 2018 it believes 80 per cent of people arrested for begging were not genuinely homeless and have 'some kind of home' to go to. Businessman Ashley Sims is vowing to rid Britain's streets of professional beggars, starting in Torbay Damian, from Liverpool told the documentary the fake beggars 'p**s him off' because it gives the 'genuinely' homeless like him a bad name. Men and women identified as professional beggars were filmed being issued with antisocial behaviour notices, which ban them from town and city centres. Homelessness charities say people in the documentary may well have homes, but could have complex and chaotic lives that led to them begging on the streets. They also argue that people are demonising the homeless population, who already face a lack of trust and abuse from the public. Sergeant Phil Priestley of Cambridgeshire Police said earlier this year in a warning to visitors: 'We do not want people to be misled because it can be a lucrative opportunity. 'If you do feel moved to give something - offer food or a warm drink by all means - but please do not offer money.' Humanity Torbay has also urged people to give food, drink or clothes rather than cash. Local man Ashley Sims has vowed to rid the streets of professional beggars who he claims earn up to 150 per day from kind-hearted shoppers. Mr Sims says his campaign to name and shame 'fake homeless' has proved an outstanding success during a trial in Torquay. Mr Sims claims professional beggars like 'Alan', pictured above, see it as a 'turf war' in which those genuinely in need are pushed out of city centres because they are seen as competition Since he began distributing warning posters targeting professional beggars - on lamp-posts and social media sites - he says around a dozen have left the English Riviera to try their luck elsewhere. He insists his threat to post their photographs and in some cases full names have succeeded where police and Torbay Council have failed. He said in February: 'One thing these people don't like is being photographed or filmed, so we've gone and done that. 'We have identified who is genuine with the relevant charities and their names and if they are homeless or not. Five of them have told us they wont go begging anymore if I don't out their photo up. Of the 17 photographed, only two were genuine street homeless.' Fake Homeless: Whos Begging On The Streets? will be available to stream on BBC Three from Sunday November 25. Catherine Werner, 31, a diplomat stationed in southern China, was evacuated to the US in May 2018 after complaining of a mystery illness caused by abnormal sounds and pressure in her apartment in Guangzhou The mother of the US diplomat who was evacuated from southern China earlier this year after suffering a traumatic brain injury caused by what has been described as a 'health attack' has revealed that the damage done to her daughter is most likely permanent. Catherine Werner, a 31-year-old Northeastern University graduate, had been serving in China as a foreign service officer advocating for American business interests in that country. Then in the fall of 2017, her mother tells NBC News Werner began complaining of excruciating headaches, nausea and problems with her memory, vision and balance. 'She's just a shell of what she was,' Laura Hughes, a US Air Force veteran, said of her daughter's appearance during frequent video chats at the time. 'She was ashen. Her complexion was off. She looked very, very fatigued.' Hughes said her daughter started hearing abnormal sounds in her apartment in Guangzhou and feeling waves of unexplained pressure, reminiscent of the mystery illness that affected 26 American diplomats stationed in Havana, Cuba, in 2016 and 2017. Scroll down for video Laura Hughes, an Air Force veteran (left), says the health of her daughter (right) started declining last year, with Werner complaining of odd sounds, nausea, headaches and fatigue Werner initially thought a faulty air conditioner in her apartment (building pictured) was to blame for the odd noises The incident prompted the United States last year to withdraw more than half of its personnel at the embassy in Havana, which reopened in 2015 as the two nations re-established diplomatic relations that had ruptured in 1961. But Werner initially did not make that connection and attributed her sensations to a malfunctioning air conditioner in her apartment, or poor air quality in the city. As Werner's health continued to decline, at the urging of her husband Hughes traveled to China to be with their ailing daughter. Hughes went about buying a new filter for the air conditioner and stocking her daughter's refrigerator with imported food and water, but that did nothing to improve Werner's well-being. Before long, Hughes said she started experiencing strange sounds and pressure herself. We heard a very high-pitched sound in Catherine's bedroom. And we heard a very low, pulsing sound in the living room, Hughes said. Our heads would pulse. You would feel like you would want to regurgitate. You could become instantly paralyzed, instantaneously fatigued." The women soon came to believe they were being watched, and at one point Werner's apartment was broken into, according to her mother. When Werner adopted these two dogs, her mother said the pets soon began vomiting blood and shivering in the apartment Werner and Hughes adopted a pair of dogs - a pug and a white chow chow - in the hope that the pets would help protect them from any intruders. Shortly after, the dogs started showing alarming symptoms, apparently brought on by the sounds and pressure afflicting the human occupants of Werner's home. They would be shivering under the bed when we'd return to the apartment. They would vomit blood, Hughes said of the pups. On one occasion, Hughes said she found the two dogs standing just outside the living room and staring at something in unison. On another, Hughes and Werner came home to find the dogs locked in a room they had not been in when Hughes and Werner left the apartment. After three agonizing months, Hughes said could no longer tolerate the headaches, nausea and dizziness, and returned to the States. She said she begged her daughter to come with her, but Werner did not want to lose her post in the consulate. Ultimately, Werner reported her strange experience to her superiors, who then made the connection between what was happening to the diplomat in Guangzhou and the attacks on the US diplomats stationed in Cuba. Werner underwent a medical examination, the results of which were so alarming that she was evacuated back to the US in May. Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania administered a battery of tests to Werner dubbed HABIT - short for the Havana Acquired Brain Injury Tool which found that the diplomat had an organic brain injury, as well as balance, hearing, vision and cognitive complications akin to the symptoms of a concussion. Werner in May was evacuated to the US, where doctors diagnosed her with an organic brain injury similar to those suffered by 26 diplomats in Cuba in 2016 and 2017 Their findings were the same as they found for the U.S. diplomats from Cuba, Hughes said. After Werner was airlifted from China, the State Department tested about 300 other foreign officers working in the country and evacuated 15 of them for the purpose of further testing, but so far, Werner remains the sole confirmed case. Hughes, however, says she, too, has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury that has affected her vision, balance and cognitive function. The Air Force veteran said she sought medical attention after her husband noticed that she could not recall some basic words and even forgot the names of their pets. Both the mother and daughter remain in rehabilitation, and Werner is currently unable to resume her work with the US Department of Commerce, where she has been employed since 2014 after stints at Barclays and Morgan Stanley. Initially, government officials suspected American diplomats had been targeted by some sort of acoustic weapon, although in public senior officials were more cautious, speaking of 'health attacks'. Media reports have suggested that the FBI has not been able to verify any evidence to support the sonic weapon theory. Hughes, who stayed with Werner in China for three months during her health crisis, was also diagnosed with a brain injury that left her with vision, balance and cognitive complications Scientists familiar with the investigations told NBC News that as of late, they have been looking into the possibility that an electromagnetic weapon, possibly one powered by microwave technology, has been used to harm the diplomats in both Cuba and China. Douglas Smith, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Brain Injury and Repair who studied the Havana cases, said in an interview with CNN in September that microwaves are a main suspect in causing the brain injuries, but he has not ruled out ultrasound and infrasound as potential culprits. It's almost like a concussion, but without a concussion, meaning that they look like individuals who have persistent concussion symptoms but have no history of head impact, Smith said of the damage to the victims. The New York Times reported earlier this fall that the microwave weapon would be portable, so that the person or people wielding it could move from place to place and beam microwaves from a handheld device, or from equipment mounted on a vehicle, at diplomats homes and hotel rooms. Both Cuba and China have strongly denied knowledge of or involvement in any attacks on diplomats. The US embassy issued a health alert to Americans living in China in May, citing the attack on Werner without identifying her by name. 'While in China, if you experience any unusual acute auditory or sensory phenomena accompanied by unusual sounds or piercing noises, do not attempt to locate their source. Instead, move to a location where the sounds are not present,' it said, urging people with medical problems to consult a doctor. Speaking to NBC News, Hughes said she does not believe American diplomats currently stationed around the world are safe, and she is concerned that what happened to her daughter could happen to someone else. She also pointed a finger of blame at the State Department, claiming that instead of conducting a transparent investigation, officials have been downplaying the health attacks. 'It's devastated our lives,' Hughes said. 'We'll never be the same.' A State Department representative stated that the government remains vigilant about any potential threats to US personnel and their families around the globe. Advertisement A defiant old soldier whose home faces tumbling into the sea has been ordered to stop doing DIY to protect his property. Lance Martin, 61, had been using a mechanical digger to transfer concrete blocks and piling up sand at the base of a crumbling cliff to protect his bungalow. This comes after a number of nearby homes perched on a cliff edge were evacuated and demolished in the aftermath of the 'Beast from the East' storm earlier this year. Bungalows were left hanging from the edge of the clifftop at the Marrams, in Hemsby, Norfolk, where some began toppling into the sea in March. Slide me Pictured, left, the chalet home sits among other properties before the storm and, right, the chalet sits alone following the extreme weather, which left Great Yarmouth Council ordering the destruction of homes on the coast. Despite Lance going it alone to save his house, he has been stopped from putting in flood defences it could take the council more than three years to complete This is how badly Lance's chalet was hanging off the cliff in the aftermath of the storm. It faced falling off completely after the extreme weather battered his house. The property is pictured immediately after the extreme weather hit the coast in May this year This image shows how badly another side of the house - pictured immediately after the storm - was affected by the extreme weather with pummelled the coastline in May this year. The storm's damage affected the surroundings of the chalet, which was left in a precarious position despite being the only one in the immediate stretch of land to survive This shocking image shows the effects of the Beast from the East. Both properties either side of Lance's are gone - and now he's being stopped from restoring his to its former glory The former soldier (pictured, outside his home) says that he's willing to put in the sea defences necessary to protect his property but has been told that doing so will violate planning rules Slide me Despite the damage that the storm wrought on his property (pictured, left, the chalet following the impact of the Beast from the East), Lance managed to restore it (pictured, right, the house following his repairs) But Lance has now been ordered to stop building his own sea defences by the local council which says he is breaking planning rules. Lance, who served in the British Army from 1978 to 2000, said: 'I looked at the tide tables and saw there were a lot of high tides coming up. I thought I've got to do something about this.' A major demolition of the chalet-type buildings was conducted by the council after the eroding coastline they were built on left them uninhabitable. The ex-soldier (pictured) took matters into his own hands when disaster struck his house on the seaside, leaving it at risk of crumbling into the sea But homeowner Lance managed to salvage his chalet, which he bought as a retirement property and has since been conducting his own work on his house ahead of the winter. However, the borough council has banned him from carrying out any more work involving the beach. Lance added: 'I know from speaking to the council that they have plans for coastal sea defences but that's going to take at least three years, which is no good to me or other residents. 'I knew there were about 50 concrete blocks under the sand outside my house. I decided off my own bat to go hire a digger, dig them up and use them to fortify my position here, to give myself protection from the high tides.' Lance said the concrete blocks ranged from two to three square metres, and weighed up to four tonnes each. With a friend, the former grenadier guardsman started moving the heavy objects on Thursday October 8, and took a week to get them all into position on the beach. The storm pounded the Norfolk coast, eroding it to such an extent that properties faced plunging down the side of the cliffs and into the sea He added: 'We got to the stage where we had all the blocks where we wanted them and started to back fill them with sand. 'Then on the Thursday evening, I had a phone call from the planning department of Great Yarmouth council telling me to immediately stop and desist what we were doing.' Why did the council demolish chalets? In May, Great Yarmouth Borough Council said the 'loss of cliff material' on the coast meant the wooden chalets were now 'dangerous'. Police cordoned the area off as diggers moved in to clear the debris and demolish the homes. At the time, Lance said he was hopeful that he could save his property. 'The council want to demolish it, it's as simple as that,' he said. 'And I can completely understand it because of the public safety aspect. 'But I am also thinking about the possibility of pulling it [the house] forward. If I can it's a bonus, if I can't life goes on. It was my dream. It still is, and if I can salvage anything from it I will.' An evacuation centre was been set up at Hemsby Village Hall and electricity to the threatened homes was cut. Advertisement Lance asked the if he could fill in the holes left on the beach for public safety, but the council told him no. He said: 'The problem is that I've gone and done something that I should've applied for but because of the imminent danger to the building and myself, I took it upon myself to do what needed to be done. 'If not, we would be two or three months down the line and I would be in the sea on my way to Norway.' Lance said that in a council meeting at Hemsby village hall in May, he was told by a councillor that nothing would happen regarding coastal defences for at least three years. He moved to the spot in Norfolk in November 2017, buying the small bungalow for 95,000. Lance said: 'This is my dream home. When I moved here, I could not see the sea from my roof. 'If I see something that needs doing, I will go ahead and do it. I just don't see the end because it's a committee for this, and a committee for that.' The father-of-one, who lives at the property with his partner Vicki, said he moved to the area because he was a keen bird spotter and nature lover. He added: 'When I first moved here it was surrounded on three sides by sand dunes, it was just beautiful. I've been around this coast over the last 17 years and I just love the area. I used to sit outside with a gin and tonic and watch the sun set.' Asked about the future, he said: 'I feel a bit more secure for now. If the council do pull their finger out and get some defence down, then I will feel more secure and so will the people behind me.' A spokesman from the Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: 'The Borough Council has no record of any related application seeking consent for the works carried out and issued a Temporary Stop Notice, under the powers afforded by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. 'The notice prohibits any further excavations or engineering operations on the affected land without the prior necessary approval of the Council. 'Whilst the Council appreciates the intention of the works is coastal protection, such engineering works cannot be undertaken without consent. 'People using Hemsby beach are asked to take care and to avoid walking in the immediate area of the works, given the uneven surfaces.' Demolition workers bring down first of five clifftop homes on the brink of falling into the sea after severe erosion in coastal village By Victoria Bell for MailOnline Homes perched on the edge of the crumbling clifftop at Hemsby village were demolished after storms battered the Norfolk coastline. Heavy machinery tore through the vulnerable chalets, reducing them to rubble yesterday. Great Yarmouth Borough Council said the properties are also at 'significant risk' of falling down the cliffs are being monitored. A spokesman said shortly after the first demolition: 'Following assessments this morning, two demolition crews working for the council have successfully demolished number 206. 'From tomorrow, the contractor, Anglian Demolition and Asbestos Ltd, will start to work through the other four properties in turn. Any debris which lands on the beach will be removed and disposed of.' Diggers began demolishing the properties on the Norfolk coastline after the Beast from the East pummelled properties in May this year The distraught family who owned the property watched on as the machine's metal jaws ripped through their home. The workmen were deployed to start at 5.30am every day, stopping for the high tides and re-starting during the low tides. A spokesperson for Geoffrey Watling Norwich Limited, who own the land, said at the time: 'Geoffrey Watling Norwich Limited has, and continues to, take its responsibilities for the Marrams seriously. Workmen were deployed to start at 5.30am every day as they moved to demolish the houses that extreme weather had hit during this summer's storms The chalet homes are pictured in the immediate aftermath of this year's storms in May, when the erosion on the cliff-side left them teetering over the edge at risk of falling into the sea 'It has also made a substantial contribution, along with the borough council and Save Hemsby Coastline, for the trial blocks and stone gabions in place on the southern Marrams and are currently under assessment by the relevant agencies. The company has ring-fenced funds for future projects when these can be identified and appraised.' Both the council and Hemsby Lifeboat Station warned people to stay away while the demolition work was being carried out. Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth, who previously lived in Hemsby for 10 years, has visited the site after the astonishing clifftop crisis hit. In 2013, seven homes in the coastal village were either washed away or badly damaged when the biggest tidal surge for 60 years hit the Norfolk coast. Lorna Bevan, the pub landlady at the nearby Lacon Arms said: 'There's an ongoing erosion problem here and, until we get proper sea defences, it's going to keep on battering our dune line and keep on taking away our properties and our livelihoods.' President Trump says he will visit a 'war zone' following a report that he was avoiding a trip out of concerns for his personal safety. As he prepared to board a helicopter for sunny Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving, the president fielded a question about whether he was afraid to visit a war zone like Afghanistan. 'No, I'm going to a war zone,' the president responded. He didn't say whether he intended to visit troops in Iraq or Afghanistan, or when he might do so. Previous presidents have scheduled close-held surprise trips to war zones to visit with U.S. troops stationed overseas, sometimes timed to the holidays. 'No, I'm going to a war zone,' the president responded when a reporter asked if he was afraid to go to a place like Afghanistan. The president is spending the Thanksgiving holiday at Mar-a-Lago with family His comment comes after public clashes with retirement military officers, including retired Adm. William McRaven over the successful mission to kill Osama bin Laden. Trump said in a TV interview it would have been nice if it happened 'sooner.' Trump said he would visit following a Washington Post report that indicated Trump doesn't want to be associated with the wars and has avoided visiting service members because he's worried about the security risks to himself. 'Hes afraid people want to kill him,' a White House official told the news outlet. The report said he's mulling a trip but did not allude to timing of the prospective visit. A spokesman for the National Security Council indicated to DailyMail.com that one is not imminent. In an interview that aired on Sunday, Trump cited his 'unbelievable busy schedule' as a reason he hasn't visited active duty troops overseas in the nearly two years he's been in office and the 'phony witch hunts' into alleged collusion with Russia. '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,' he told Fox News. President Trump says he will visit the troops in Afghanistan or Iraq , but the timing of a possible trip is being closely-held out over concerns about his safety ALL THE TRIMMINGS: US President George W. Bush holds a Thanksgiving turkey for US troops stationed at Baghdad International Airport 27 November, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq JUST A QUICK TRIP: President Barack Obama greets US troops during a surprise visit to Bagram Air Field, north of Kabul, in Afghanistan, May 25, 2014, prior to the Memorial Day holiday A visit to a war zone would be a first for Trump, who obtained medical deferments during the Vietnam War due to bone spurs in his feet. The president is leaving for Florida today for the Thanksgiving holiday and will not return until early next week. He's leaves several days later for Argentina, where he's attending the G20 summit. A trip to Colombia that was nixed over an alleged scheduling conflict after the G20 could provide an opportunity for him to visit the troops while he's already overseas. White House officials were able to comment on timing of the visit that Trump had indicated was under discussion during his Fox News interview on Tuesday and whether it could replace his cancelled trip to Colombia. 'We have no announcement at this time,' NSC spokesman Garrett Marquis told DailyMail.com. Trump has not been to a war zone yet in his presidency, and the holidays could provide an opening for him to thank American service members. It could also help him get out from under criticism that he skipped a traditional Veterans Day event at Arlington National Cemetery last week after a dust-up over a cancelled appearance at a memorial service for soldiers who died on a French battlefield in WWI. An official told the Washington Post that he's 'never been interested in going' to a war zone and 'hes afraid of those situations.' The trips are something that every modern president has done, including George W. Bush, who visited service members in Iraq over Thanksgiving, and George H.W. Bush, who make a Thanksgiving trip to Saudi Arabia. Bill Clinton went to Kosovo over Thanksgiving during the second term of his presidency. Presidents typically make trips to combat zones in secret, telling a limited number of staff and the a small groups of reporters who will be traveling on Air Force One, in order to reduce the risks associated with delivering the president to a danger zone. Former President Barack Obama made his first and only trip to Iraq three months after taking office.He made also surprise visits to Afghanistan 2010, 2012, and 2014. His first Afghanistan visit came over Memorial Day weekend under the cover of darkness roughly 15 months into office. The White House claimed he was spending the holiday at Camp David, only to gather reporters in secret at Andrews Air Force Base for the covert trip. That visit came during a period when Obama was supposed to be traveling in Indonesia and Australia. He'd called the visits off to oversee the congressional debate over health care reform. He made a 12-hour night flight that was announced after he was already in Kabul. He returned to the U.S. after spending six hours in the war-torn country. Trump has not been to a war zone yet in his presidency, and the holidays could provide an opening for him to make his first trip Asked this week on 'Fox News Sunday' why he had not yet visited Iraq or Afghanistan yet, Trump said 'things that are being planned' but he couldn't say more 'because of security reasons and everything else.' 'But there are things that are planned. As you know, I was very much opposed to the war in Iraq. I think it was a tremendous mistake, should have never happened,' he insisted. Host Chris Wallace noted that the trip is about the troops not the Bush-era war that Trump says he opposes. Soldiers currently stationed in the Middle East are fighting the terrorist group ISIS. 'I dont think anybodys been more with the military than I have, as a president. In terms of funding, in terms of all of the things Ive been able to get them, including the vets. I dont think anybodys done more than me,' Trump said in his defense on Fox. He contended, '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,' he promised. Fiona Onasanya is pictured arriving at the Old Bailey this morning A Labour MP accused of plotting to avoid a speeding offence claimed in court yesterday that she was set up by her brother. Fiona Onasanya, 35, accused her younger sibling Festus, 33, of forging her signature and going behind her back to make it look like she was not driving the car at the time. In dramatic evidence to the Old Bailey, the trained solicitor said she was completely unaware about her brother's criminal behaviour and was shocked to learn of his plan. However, prosecutors accused the Peterborough MP of 'working together' with her soul singer brother, suggesting she enlisted him 'to make the problem go away'. Miss Onasanya, who as a Labour whip is in charge of party discipline, claimed she could not remember any details about what she was doing when her Nissan Micra was caught doing 41mph in a 30mph zone last year. During cross-examination, she faced claims from the prosecution that she was in fact behind the wheel when the camera was triggered and was also using her phone at the time. When she was sent a notice of intended prosecution (NIP) following the speeding offence in July last year, police received a response suggesting a man called Aleks Antipow was driving. But a police investigation later found that Mr Antipow, a lodger at a property rented by the Onasanya siblings, was visiting his parents abroad at the time. A still taken from a speeding camera shows the Nissan Micra, belonging to Labour MP Fiona Onasanya, as it is caught speeding on July 24 last year The Labour MP acknowledged for the first time yesterday that her brother filled in the fake details on the police letter and signed it on her behalf. Miss Onasanya told the court she had a close relationship with her brother, speaking to him several times a week and attending church together with him on most Sundays. But she said the relationship has been 'strained' since both were charged with perverting the course of justice earlier this year. 'There is a lot that I didn't know about him,' she said. 'The person I believed he was is turning out to be someone different to the person I am seeing in evidence. 'I am his sister but things he has done I do not agree with and do not think it is acceptable.' Onasanya (pictured left and right) confirmed that her mother Paulina Scott, brother Festus and friends and family could have had access to her car The MP added: 'I think no-one is above making mistakes. He is my only brother. It is just him and my mum. I just don't understand why someone would do something like that. I would never have approved this.' Mr Onasanya has pleaded guilty to three counts of perverting the course of justice, involving both the speeding offence concerning her car and two other offences. His older sister, seen as a rising star in the Labour party, insisted that she had not known about her brother's previous ban for drink-driving or the nine penalty points on his driving licence. She said the pair did not discuss the speeding offence in detail, claiming that her brother simply told her that it had been 'sorted out'. But prosecutor David Jeremy QC said: 'There are not really hard feelings between you, you are just upset that you have been caught.' Describing her defence as a 'charade', he added: 'Your defence has not been an exercise in disclosing the truth, it has been an exercise in evasion and concealing the truth.' Fiona Onasanya (left) and her brother Festus Onasanya (right) are pictured arriving at the Old Bailey last week Miss Onasanya denied claims by the prosecutor that 'the truth has given way to your professional ambition', claiming that a speeding penalty would have had no bearing on her career as an MP. She admitted her brother had 'effectively set her up' by refusing to tell her that he had submitted false details for the speeding offence before they were quizzed by police January. During cross-examination, Miss Onasanya said that she could not remember her movements on the day of the offence, claiming she was so busy that her assistants had to remind her to eat. Asked whether she was curious about who was driving the car when it was caught speeding in Thorney, Cambridgeshire, and she received an NIP nine days after the offence, she said: 'No.' The MP said she had assumed she was working in Westminster at the time of the offence on July 24 last year, despite the House of Commons having risen for summer recess at the time. The trial continues. Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell leaving the High court in London today Dominic Chappell appeared in court today where he told a judge he is unable to pay for a lawyer and 'cannot fight anymore'. The former BHS owner appeared before Judge Daniel Schaffer, at an Insolvency and Companies Court hearing in London where he said he was happy to be banned from serving as a company director. Business Secretary Greg Clark has taken legal action against Mr Chappell, under the terms of legislation governing the disqualification of company directors, and Judge Schaffer was overseeing the latest in a number of hearings. The former racing driver and entrepreneur represented himself at the hearing and told the judge that he did not have enough money to pay for a lawyer. He said he was happy to be banned but said some of the evidence Mr Clark was presenting against him was inaccurate. Mr Chappell said he was embroiled in disputes or discussions with five government departments. 'I don't have the money at the moment to ask for representation from a legal firm,' he told the judge. 'I just cannot fight anymore. I cannot take this pressure anymore.' Outside court, Mr Chappell said: 'I have got five government departments either wanting money or costing me money at the moment. 'I don't think I've had a fair deal. Why is there only me here? 'I don't mind being barred as a company director but I do dispute some of the evidence they are presenting.' The former BHS owner appeared before Judge Daniel Schaffer, at an Insolvency and Companies Court hearing in London Judge Schaffer said a judge's view on the accuracy of evidence could affect the length of a ban. He said a judge would decide on the length of a ban after a further hearing. In March bosses at the Insolvency Service, which comes under Mr Clark's umbrella, said they had written to Mr Chappell and three other former BHS directors, saying they intended to bring proceedings following an investigation into the collapse of department store chain. Businessman Sir Philip Green had sold BHS to Mr Chappell for 1 in 2015 before it went into administration a year later with the loss of 11,000 jobs. Its demise sparked a parliamentary investigation which branded Sir Philip 'the unacceptable face of capitalism'. In September, a judge said Mr Chappell had given 'entirely unbelievable' evidence as she dismissed his appeal against conviction for failing to provide information to the Pensions Regulator. Businessman Sir Philip Green sold BHS to Mr Chappell for 1 in 2015 before it went into administration a year later with the loss of 11,000 jobs Mr Chappell had been ordered to pay more than 87,000, including a 50,000 fine, after being found guilty in January of failing to provide information to the regulator about BHS's pension schemes when it collapsed with the loss of thousands of jobs. He told an appeal hearing, held at Hove Crown Court, that he 'did everything in his power' to help the regulator but had been 'drowning in paperwork' as he was being investigated by five Government departments. Judge Christine Henson, who oversaw the appeal hearing, criticised Mr Chappell for his 'evasive and unbelievable' evidence to the court. Mark Carney warned a no deal Brexit would be the worst hit to the economy since the 1970s era of the three day week and the winter of discontent. The Bank of England Governor told MPs today crashing out of the EU in March without a deal or a transition period would be a 'large, negative shock' to Britain. Mr Carney told the Treasury Committee the Bank would have few options to intervene like it did during the financial crisis. Mark Carney (pictured today at the Treasury committee) warned a no deal Brexit would be the worst hit to the economy since the 1970s era of the three day week and the winter of discontent The latest intervention will enrage Brexiteers who consider Mr Carney to be the high priest of Project Fear, scaremongering over the mission to leave the EU. Asked about a 'no deal, no transition' exit in March, Mr Carney said: 'This would be a very unusual situation. 'You would have to stretch back at least in our analysis until the 1970s to find analogies.' Mr Carney said the problems would be in the 'real economy' as businesses faced their logistics systems slowing down, hitting confidence. Strikes, power cuts and unemployment at 1.5million: Britain's economy in the 1970s Britain's economy on the 1970s was ravaged by powerful unions and lingering stagnation. Unemployment surged to 1.5million in 1978, the highest since the war. Factories were placed on a three-day week to conserve electricity amid coal miner strikes between 1973 and 1974. Strikes consumed much of the decade - culminating in the Winter of Discontent in 1978/79 and the rise of Margaret Thatcher. Advertisement He said it would be dramatically different to the financial crisis which was eased by ploughing money into banks to cover wildly overvalued assets. And the Governor told MPs: '(A no-deal) is not in the interest of any of the parties. 'But our job is not to make the political calculation. Mistakes happen sometimes. 'Events, people run out of time (...) so we need to be in a position in which we ended up with no deal, no transition for whatever reason either by choice or by accident, that we can give the assurance and the valid insurance that the financial system will be there.' Mr Carney said the Bank welcomes 'the transition arrangements in the withdrawal agreement' and noted the 'possibility of extending that transition period'. The Prime Minister is aiming to win over hesitant MPs to back her deal reached in Brussels last week, having faced a string of resignations after she unveiled the agreement. The Bank of England Governor told MPs on the Treasury Committee (pictured) today crashing out of the EU in March without a deal or a transition period would be a 'large, negative shock' to Britain The transition period is supposed to start on March 29 and will end on December 31, 2020. Mr Carney told MPs Mrs May's Brexit 'supports economic outcomes'. In the hearing, Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane said there were already some signs of 'uncertainties around a cliff-edge' which has begun to have material impact on investment plans for businesses. 'As we have got nearer to the point of withdrawal that has had a more material adverse impact on some companies' investment plans,' he said. Best for Britain chief Eloise Todd said: 'Brexit is threatening to turn back the clock on the economy and threatens jobs and our economy. We face an imminent threat from Brexit. 'But no deal is just scare tactics by the government. The real choice is between the Prime Minister's bad deal and staying under the deal we have now.' DJ Casey Kasem's widow claims his three grown children conspired to kill him for his money but they blame her for his death. Jean Kasem, his second wife, alleges her late husband's children tricked their father into signing over power of attorney to them and are responsible for his death. But Kerri, Julie and Michael Kasem claim it was Jean's actions that led to the radio legend's death. And police in Gig Harbor, Washington, have reopened an investigation into Kasem's death after a private investigator hired by Jean concluded Kasem was a victim of homicide, according to 48 Hours. It came after a private investigator hired by Jean concluded Kasem was a victim of homicide. DJ Casey Kasem's widow Jean (pictured with Kasem in 2003) claims his three grown children conspired to kill him for his money but they blame her for his death Kasem died from a Parkinson's-like disease on Father's Day in June 2014 at the age of 82, leaving behind an estate worth up to $100 million. He was best known as the host of music countdown show 'American Top 40' and as the voice of Shaggy in cartoon classic Scooby Doo. But towards the end of his life, his family made headlines as they fought over his estate and final resting place as well as accusing each side of contributing to his death. Four years on, the family's ongoing feud is laid bare in an episode of 48 Hours that is set to air on Saturday. 'They killed my husband, they killed their father,' Jean Kasem told correspondent Peter Van Sant. She claimed Kasem's grown children were only interested in their father's money and he eventually cut them off financially. Casey Kasem (second from right) is pictured with his three children from his first marriage (from left) Michael, Kerri and Julie Kasem's grown children claim it was Jean's actions that led to the radio legend's death. Pictured from left, Julie, Mouner, Kerri and Michael Kasem 'It was always about the money. We became the bank of Kasem. We were their personal ATM machine.' She maintains that Kasem's children were furious and it prompted them to conspire and plan his death. But the three children have made similar allegations against Jean. 'Jean killed my father, what she did led to his death,' Kerri told 48 Hours. 'The only thing she ever wanted from my dad is money. That's it.' Jean claims she moved her ailing husband from a rehab facility in Santa Monica to a friend's home in Silverdale, Washington, in order to protect him in his final days. But she says his children found him and forced him into a hospital, where he died after being taken off life support. A Los Angeles judge stripped Jean of decision-making authority over concerns about her decision to move Kasem from the medical facility to a friend's home. Kasem (pictured in 1957) was best known as the host of music countdown show 'American Top 40' and as the voice of Shaggy in cartoon classic Scooby Doo 'What [Jean] did to my dad was elder abuse,' Julie told 48 Hours. She and her siblings filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jean, accusing her of elder abuse and inflicting emotional distress on them by restricting access to their father before his death. She countersued, accusing them of the same. 'I have never seen such hatred within a family,' Van Sant said, according to the New York Post. 'Both sides tell credible, powerful stories, both proclaim their love for Casey and both blame the other and accuse the other of killing Casey and both use the word 'murder.' In another twist, Kasem's body was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Norway. Jean won't reveal why the grave is unmarked, Van Sant says. Her only explanation for the choice of burial place is that her husband had expressed an interest in Norway although he had never visited. But his children claim it was done out of spite so they'd never be able to visit their father's grave. The Mysterious Death of Casey Kasem will air on CBS at 10pm ET on Saturday. A Moroccan woman has been accused of butchering her lover, cooking his remains and serving them to workers with rice in the United Arab Emirates. The unnamed woman carried out the killing at her home in Al Ain after her boyfriend of seven years said he was planning to marry someone else in Morocco, prosecutors say. Officers said she cut up his body and used a blender to mince her former partner's remains before cooking and serving them to Pakistani workers near her home as machboos - a traditional Gulf dish of rice and meat similar to biryani. A Moroccan woman has been accused of butchering her lover, cooking his remains and serving them to workers as machboos (file picture) - a traditional rice dish - in the United Arab Emirates Police were called after the man was reported missing by his brother. He went to the couple's home in the hope of finding him, but she claimed to have kicked the victim out and said she did not know where he was. Reports in Morocco then quoted the brother as saying that police found a human tooth inside the woman's blender. According to The National, DNA tests confirmed the tooth belonged to the man and his girlfriend was arrested. The unnamed woman carried out the killing at her home in Al Ain (file picture) after her boyfriend of seven years said he was planning to marry someone else in Morocco, prosecutors say She was arrested and is said to have told police she carried out the killing in a moment of 'insanity'. The woman said it was out of revenge, having financially provided for him for years. She said she had asked a friend to help dispose of the body - but the friend denied witnessing the crime when questioned by police, The National reports. A court date will be set once police have completed their investigation. Stacey Abrams, who ended her bid to become governor of Georgia last week, said pointedly that the race was not 'free and fair.' Abrams ended her run Friday, trailing Republican Brian Kemp by 55,000 votes and lacking 'legal remedies.' On Monday night she told MSNBC that Kemp, the Georgia Secretary of State, oversaw the 'dismantling' of democracy in the state. 'It was not a free and fair election,' she told host Chris Hayes, when asked the question directly. 'It was not a free and fair election,' Georgia Democratic candidate for governor Stacey Abrams told MSNBC 'We had thousands of Georgians purged from the rolls. Brian Kemp oversaw for 8 years the systematic and systemic dismantling of our democracy,' she continued. 'That means there could not be free and fair elections in Georgia this year.' She ended her campaign, saying there was no more 'viable remedy.' Abrams said she is forming a new watchdog group, Fair Fight Georgia, which will file a lawsuit next week alleging 'gross mismanagement' and seeking to impose changes. Voters line up to cast their ballots at a polling station set up at Grady High School for the mid-term elections on November 6, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia Abrams is launching a group called Fair Fight Georgia to deal with voter access Abrams outperformed previous candidates as well as the raw vote totals of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in the state even as she failed to force a runoff eletin. She made voter access a centerpiece of her failed bid, focusing on purges of voters, including black voters, from the rolls. 'We had thousands of Georgians who were purged from the rolls wrongly, including a 92-year-old woman who had voted in the same area since 1968 a civil rights leader,' Abrams said. On Sunday, Abrams refused to call Kemp the 'legitimate' governor of Georgia, telling CNN only that he won an 'adequate number of votes.' Abrams has declined to call Republican Brian Kemp the 'legitimate' governor-elect Kemp oversaw the state's election processes including purges of voter rolls Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had Abrams 'had a fair election she already would have won.' But Abrams rejected an argument put forward by University of California Prof. Richard Hasen that Democrats shouldn't call the election 'stolen' since there is no way to prove whether voter suppression tactics determined the outcome. 'I appreciate the professor's thinking but coming from the vantage point of talking to thousands of voters they've already had their confidence eroded, they've already begun to doubt the integrity of the system,' Abrams said. State officials purged an estimated 107,000 Georgians from the rolls for failure to vote in prior elections, American Public Media found. At least 50 people have been killed and 80 more injured in a suicide bomb attack on a gathering to mark the Prophet Mohammad's birthday in Afghanistan. The explosion ripped through a meeting of top clerics during a banquet at a wedding hall in Kabul today in one of the deadliest attacks to strike the Afghan capital in months. No one immediately claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and a local ISIS affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past. Hardline Sunni Muslims do not observe 'mawlid' - the Prophet Mohammad's birthday - at all, considering it a more modern addition to Islam. When ISIS seized the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014, it banned celebrating the prophet's birth. At least 50 people have been killed and 80 more injured in a suicide bomb attack on a gathering to mark the Prophet Mohammad's birthday in Afghanistan. A victim is pictured arriving at hospital after the blast No one immediately claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and a local ISIS affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past This was the horrific scene in the aftermath of the suicide bomb attack at the Kabul wedding hall today Today's blast targeted an Ulema Council gathering as millions of Muslims around the world marked mawlid. It follows a wave of violence across war-torn Afghanistan in recent weeks that has killed hundreds of people as militants step up attacks. A photo posted on WhatsApp purportedly of the function room showed blood splattered bodies, some with the clothes partially ripped off by the force of the blast, overturned chairs and broken glass strewn over the floor. 'The suicide bomber detonated himself inside the hall during a ceremony involving religious scholars,' Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said, confirming the casualty toll. Italian NGO Emergency said on Twitter a dozen wounded had been taken to its trauma facility in Kabul, all of them 'seriously wounded'. A manager of Uranus Wedding Palace, which also hosts political and religious functions, told AFP the suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the gathering of around 1,000 people. 'There are a lot of casualties - I myself have counted 30 casualties,' he told AFP on the condition of anonymity. Security forces inspect the site of a suicide attack, inside a wedding hall in Kabul, Afghanistan The explosion ripped through a meeting of top clerics in Kabul today in one of the deadliest attacks to strike the Afghan capital in months Afghan men carry a bomb blast victim to a hospital after the suicide attack in Kabul There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but the ISIS group has claimed most recent suicide attacks in Kabul, which has become the most dangerous place in the country for civilians. It was the bloodiest assault in the Afghan capital since a twin bomb attack on a wrestling club in September that killed at least 26 people and one of the deadliest in the country this year. A suicide attack on Afghans protesting the appointment of a local police chief in the eastern province of Nangarhar in September killed at least 68 people and wounded another 165. No group claimed the explosion. In January an ambulance packed with explosives detonated in a crowded street in the heart of Kabul, killing more than 100 people, mostly civilians. The attack was claimed by the Taliban. Last month's parliamentary elections sparked a wave of deadly violence across the country, with hundreds killed or wounded in poll-related attacks. The attacker entered a banquet room in the Uranus wedding hall, a massive complex housing several large banqueting halls near Kabul airport, and detonated his explosives Officials at Kabul's Emergency Hospital said 30 ambulances had rushed to the blast site and over 40 people were critically wounded The latest attack comes as the Taliban intensifies pressure on Afghan security forces, even as the international community ramps up efforts to convince the group to engage in peace talks It is not the first time that religious scholars have been targeted by militants in the Islamic country. In June a suicide bomber struck near a gathering of clerics in Kabul, about an hour after the group had proclaimed such attacks a sin. The latest attack comes as the Taliban intensifies pressure on Afghan security forces, even as the international community ramps up efforts to convince the group to engage in peace talks. US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed hopes in Kabul on Sunday that a peace deal to end the 17-year war could be struck before the Afghan presidential election, scheduled for April. His comments underscore an apparent increasing sense of urgency in the White House and among American diplomats for a peace deal to be done quickly. By Azernews By Leman Mammadova Agriculture is important for providing ecological balance, raising the level of socio-economic development in rural areas and protecting rural lifestyle, although its primary function is to produce foodstuffs and raw materials. The World Bank (WB) has an exceptional role on the projects implemented in agricultural reforms in Azerbaijan. At the presentation of a report on Risk Appraisal in Agriculture Sector of Azerbaijan held on November 20, Senior Agricultural World Bank Specialist Sandra Brock spoke about five solutions for the development of agriculture in Azerbaijan proposed by the WB. The solutions offered by the bank envisage using the accurate agricultural technologies suitable for local risk management strategies and climate, facilitating the access of small farms to the markets, diversification of export markets, increasing food security and enhancing education in this area. She added that lack of risk management in the agricultural sector can lead to serious problems, such as large financial losses as the risks in this field are different from risks in other sectors of the economy. Brock noted that limited access to innovative technologies and financial sources, insufficient education in this area, lack of timely and necessary consultations as the main reasons for low productivity in Azerbaijan. She said that 20 tons of tomatoes are grown per hectare in Azerbaijan, while in Turkey this figure reaches 60 tons. In addition, seven tons of apples are grown in Azerbaijan per hectare. This figure in Turkey is 15 tons, and in Poland - over 20 tons. Usually risks in the agricultural sector come as a shock-recovery-shock formula, and this remains the main problem for the development of this sector in many countries, Brock said Speaking at the presentation, head of WB Baku Office Navid Nagvi said that the bank will help Azerbaijan to increase productivity in agriculture. At present 37- 40 percent of the county's of general workforce are involved agriculture, he noted. In comparative figures one farmer in Azerbaijan produces three times less than the same employee Turkey and 6 times less than the same employee in Poland. In this connection Nagvi underlined the necessity of increasing productivity in this sphere. Share of agriculture on the country's total GDP is about 6-7 percent, he added. Azerbaijan pays great attention to the development of agriculture. As a result of the measures taken, The production of agricultural products over the past 15 years has increased by 1.7 times, and by 4.3 percent in the first nine months of the current year. The share of agricultural products in non-oil exports of Azerbaijan accounts for more than 47 percent. By 2017, WBs total commitment to Azerbaijan was $ 3.4 billion. The cost of nine projects completed in agricultural sector was $380.4 million. Agricultural Development and Crediting Project, Agricultural Competitiveness Improvement Project and other projects in Azerbaijan carried out by WB aimed to increase productivity and competitiveness of the countrys agriculture sector. Advertisement More than two years after voters in Massachusetts approved of recreational marijuana for adults, they finally have the chance to buy it legally. On Tuesday morning, scores of eager pot fans turned up as the state's first commercial marijuana shops opened at 8am in Leicester and Northampton. In Leicester, traffic jams formed and would-be weed smokers had to be brought in by shuttle in groups from a satellite parking lot to prevent a stampede. Cultivate Holdings, the Leicester dispensary, brought in heated tents, portable toilets, and even a food truck to make the lengthy wait in line more bearable. A man dresses in costume outside on the opening day of sales of Marijuana to the general public at New England Treatment Access (NETA) in Northampton, Massachusetts on Tuesday Robert Golembeski, left, of Chepachet Rhode Island, compares his driver license with that of another customer as they wait outside the cannabis dispensary in Leicester, Massachussetts Customers line up outside the Cultivate dispensary to purchase recreational marijuana on the first day of legal sales Tuesday Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz makes the first legal recreational sale of marijuana at the NETA facility on Tuesday. The mayor will donate the THC chocolate bar to the historical society Stephen Mandile, right, an Iraq War veteran from Uxbridge, Massachusetts, is the first to purchase recreational marijuana at the Leicester dispensary on Tuesday morning Police kept a visible but low-key presence outside. Customers perused offerings kept behind counters and under glass. Tuesday's grand openings, which follow a 2016 ballot initiative in Massachusetts, make the state the first east of the Mississippi River to begin recreational weed sales. Michigan, Vermont and Maine have all passed laws calling for the legalization of recreational pot, but those states have yet to begin commercial sales. Cannabis is already sold legally in six Western states. In Northampton, Mayor David Narkewicz had the honor of making the first purchase at the NETA dispensary, where staff diligently checked his ID to ensure that he was over 21 as the law requires. The mayor purchased a 50mg bar of THC-infused chocolate, which he plans to donate to the city's historical society. In Leicester, the first customer was Iraq War veteran Stephen Mandile, who for $79 bought an eighth of 'Jack Kerr' and a pre-rolled joint that he said was for 'the Smithsonian or something'. 'It's an honor,' he told the Boston Globe. 'It's something amazing.' Customers wait outside the Cultivate cannabis dispensary to purchase recreational marijuana on the first day of legal sales on Tuesday, in Leicester, Massachusetts Sam Barber, president and CEO of the Cultivate dispensary, arranges smokable strains of cannabis before opening on the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales on Tuesday A customer cheers while waiting in line to purchase recreational marijuana at the Cultivate dispensary on the first day of legal sales on Tuesday in Leicester, Massachusetts Kenny Boisvert, a 33-year-old Blackstone resident, was pleasantly surprised by his purchasing experience in Leicester. 'It's a very nice place. It's way more than I expected,' he said as he waited to pick up the flower and edibles he had bought. 'My thoughts are if Massachusetts, one of the most liberal states in the country, opens up recreational shops, I can see the whole country doing it, just for the revenue.' The stores in Leicester and Northampton already operate as medical marijuana dispensaries, but are the first to be cleared by state regulators to sell recreational pot to adults 21 and older. Customers purchase recreational marijuana at the Cultivate dispensary on Tuesday A warning sign is displayed at the Cultivate dispensary on the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales on Tuesday in Leicester Edible cannabis products are displayed at the Cultivate dispensary on Tuesday Items for sale will include various strains of marijuana flower, pre-rolled joints and edibles such as brownies and chocolate bars. State regulations limit potency levels for edibles to no more than 5 milligrams of THC for a single serving. A package of edibles can contain no more than 20 individual servings. The 'flower' refers to the part of the marijuana plant that might typically be rolled into a joint. It comes in several variations and often with exotic brand names such as Tangerine Haze, Purple Punch and Buddha's Sister. Strains differ in levels of THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. People wait in line for hours in the snow and rain on the opening day of sales of Marijuana to the general public at New England Treatment Access (NETA) in Northampton, Massachusetts on Tuesday People wait in line for hours in the snow and rain on the opening day of sales of Marijuana to the general public at New England Treatment Access (NETA) in Northampton, Massachusetts on Tuesday A customer examines a menu of products while waiting in line purchase recreational marijuana at the Cultivate dispensary on the first day of legal sales on Tuesday A customer purchases recreational marijuana at the Cultivate dispensary on the first day of legal sales on Tuesday in Leicester Gary Lola, center, purchases recreational marijuana at the Cultivate dispensary on the first day of legal sales on Tuesday in Leicester State regulations limit total purchases by a single customer to 1 ounce of flower or its equivalent in concentrate. Stores may also set their own limits, at least in the early going, in the hope of minimizing inevitable supply shortages during the initial sales period. Weed is still illegal in public spaces so consumers won't be allowed to sample anything inside the store, or in the parking lot outside the store, or in a public park near the store. It can be used - legally - only in homes or other private spaces. The rollout of legal pot sales has been slow in Massachusetts, with regulators saying they wanted to make sure it was done safely and without some of the supply issues other states have faced. The slow rollout of recreational marijuana sales is expected to continue for some time in Massachusetts. A third store, in the town of Wareham near Cape Cod, has been issued a final license and could open soon. For the moment, that still leaves large swaths of the state without easy access to legal recreational marijuana, including all of greater Boston where more than half of the state's population resides. A man accused of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl in the toilets of a dance hall allegedly made offensive phone calls to a woman earlier this year. Anthony Peter Sampieri was jailed for seven years after he lured a 60-year-old woman into his home in Wollongong, New South Wales on October 22, 2012. He was out on parole when he allegedly assaulted the young girl in Kogarah on Thursday. He has now been linked to offensive phone calls made to a business in Sydney's south, police say. Scroll down for video A man allegedly caught raping a seven-year-old girl in the toilets of a dance hall while on parole allegedly made offensive phone calls to a woman earlier this year The Kogerah dance studio bathroom where the assault allegedly occoured A 46-year-old mann was 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 The woman reported the phone calls last month but no charges have been laid at this stage. Sampieri, 54, 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. 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. NSW Corrective Services Minister David Elliott has called for an 'urgent' briefing on how the offender received early parole. Mr Elliot said Sampieri was subject to a number of strict parole conditions but his most recent attack had left the minister concerned. 'I am deeply troubled by the events under investigation at the Kogarah dance studio,' he said in a statement 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.' According to a witness, Mo Hariri, the man was stapped with a scalpel suffering wounds to his stomach, arm and ear and neck area 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. His alleged attack was thwarted by a parent, 46, from the class at St George Dance Centre, who heard a commotion and ran to help. Sampieri allegedly lashed out with a surgical scalpel, with a man stabbed in the abdomen and neck. 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 must explain why the alleged offender was granted parole, claiming the community was 'very shook up'. Witnesses said they heard 'blood-curdling screams' come from the toilets at the dance hall on Thursday. Mo Hariri, who was celebrating his 24th birthday in a courtyard nearby, revealed that moments after the Good Samaritan was stabbed, a man ran out on to 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 questioned 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 said 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. A romance mystery novelist charged with shooting her chef husband has been accused of engaging in criminal activity behind bars, according to prosecutors. Lawyers for 68-year-old Nancy Crampton Brophy asked for the woman's jail visitor logs to be shielded as they could include potential outside experts for the case. The shield would prohibit third parties - including the media and the District Attorney's Office - from perusing the logs in a move to protect attorney-client privilege. Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet asserted that the prosecution had little concern with the suspect's strategy and possible experts witnesses, Oregon Live reports. Lawyers for Nancy Crampton Brophy asked for the woman's jail visitor logs to be shielded as they could include potential outside experts for the case (pictured in September) Prosecutors found evidence that insinuated that visitors were helping the woman engage in criminal activity from behind bars Prosecutors argued that they've discovered evidence that suggest that Crompton Brophy's visitors were complicit in crimes she was committing while in custody. No new charges have been brought up against the woman and no additional information was provided about the logs. The woman wore a blue blouse with a black sweater to the hearing at the Multnomah County Circuit Court and scribbled on a piece of yellow legal paper as it progressed. Jude Kenneth Walker announced that he would be issuing a ruling later in the week. Crampton Brophy made a brief appearance via videolink on September 17 where she pleaded not guilty to shooting dead her late husband Daniel at the Oregon Culinary Institute on June 2. Daniel, 63, was found dead in the morning by his students. His wife, whose other works include The Wrong Husband and The Wrong Lover, was arrested in September. Nancy Crampton-Brophy, 68, made a brief appearance via videolink on Monday (left) where she pleaded not guilty to shooting dead her late husband Daniel (right) at the Oregon Culinary Institute on June 2 In 2011, Crampton-Brophy wrote this blog post titled How To Murder Your Husband Police have been tight lipped about why they believe she is guilty. Investigators are yet to offer a motive and they will not say what led them to suspect her. On June 2, Daniel's students found him lying dead in the classroom where he taught. The next day, Nancy took to Facebook to tell friends that he'd died. She wrote: 'For my facebook friends and family, I have sad news to relate. My husband and best friend, Chef Dan Brophy was killed yesterday morning. 'For those of you who are close to me and feel this deserved a phone call, you are right, but I'm struggling to make sense of everything right now,' she wrote. She went on to ask that none of her friends call her while she processed what had happened. In June, Daniel's adult son Nathaniel posted a heartbreaking plea for information about his father's death on Facebook According to CBS, the woman's behavior became strange in the weeks afterwards. She is said to have told friends she knew she was a suspect but, they said, did not seem to care. Brophy was a revered chef and teacher at the culinary institute Don McConnell, who shares a fence with Crampton-Brophy in Beaverton, told KOIN-TV that he had asked her whether she had heard anything about the investigation. 'She said, "No, I'm out of the loop,'" McConell said. 'I went, "Well, what do you mean?" 'She says, "Well, they consider me a suspect."' Since her arrest, she has changed lawyers once. Daniel had children from a previous relationship when he married Nancy 27 years ago. The couple appeared to live a happy life together in Portland where they raised chickens. 'The thing I know about murder is that every one of us have it in him/her when pushed far enough.' Nancy was proud of her husband's work at the institute and shared videos of it on Facebook. She spoke about their marriage in writer forums where she said their marriage, like any other, had its 'ups and downs'. The blog post, which she wrote on site Seeing Jane in 2011, began: 'As a suspense writer, I spend a lot of time thinking about murder and, consequently, about police procedure. 'After all, if the murder is supposed to set me free, I certainly don't want to spend any time in jail, And let me say clearly for the record, I don't like jumpsuits and orange isn't my color.' Nancy's fictional works include erotic novels including one called 'The Wrong Husband' and another called 'Hell on the Heart' It included five potential motives for wanting to kill your husband that were divided into the following categories; 'Financial: Divorce is expensive, and do you really want to split your possessions?' 'Lying, cheating b*****d: This is a crime of passion. In anger, you bash his head in or stab him with a kitchen knife.' 'Fell in love with someone else: Let's say your Church frowns on divorce. You need to be a widow, so you won't fall out of favor with your religion.' 'Abuser: This one is tough. Anybody can claim abuse. What is abuse?' Jude Kenneth Walker announced that he would be issuing a ruling later in the week for the woman's trial 'It's your profession: Now we're talking. You already possess both skill and knowledge. 'You have the moral ambiguity necessary to carry it off.' She also gave the reader 'options' on what their murder weapon or technique should be. She wrote: 'Guns - loud, messy, require some skill. If it takes 10 shots for the sucker to die, either you have terrible aim or he's on drugs. 'Knives - really personal and up close. Blood everywhere. Eww.' She went on to describe poison as the 'woman's weapon' but described why it was not ideal because it took so long to kill the intended victim. 'Poison - considered a woman's weapon. Arsenik is easy to obtain, worse, easy to trace. It takes a month or two to kill someone. Plus, they're sick the entire time. 'Who wants to hang out with a sick husband? Knowledge of pharmaceuticals would be handy. Availability would be even better,' she wrote. Though she said she found it 'easier to wish people dead than to actually kill them', she said ominously: 'The thing I know about murder is that every one of us have it in him/her when pushed far enough.' Kim Porter's death remains a mystery after coroners listed her cause of death as 'deferred' following an autopsy. Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said the manner of the 47-year-old's sudden passing is 'pending investigation', according to her death certificate. Sean 'Diddy' Combs' ex-fiancee and the mother of three of his children was found dead in her Los Angeles home on November 15. A family member who found her unresponsive and called 911 said she'd suffered cardiac arrest after battling pneumonia. Kim Porter's death certificate does not reveal how she died. The cause is listed as 'deferred' as her death is 'pending investigation' Her death certificate revealed the cause of death is 'deferred' as other tests will be conducted Porter was initially believed to have died from cardiac arrest following a bout with pneumonia on November 15 in her Toluca Lake, California home, pictured above with her longtime ex-boyfriend Sean 'Diddy' Combs with whom she shares three children Her body was removed for an autopsy on November 16. Authorities said they didn't find any medications from the scene that could have led to an accidental death But medical examiners failed to come to a concrete conclusion during her autopsy. 'On Nov. 16, an autopsy was performed on Porter. The cause of death was deferred pending additional tests,' a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner said to People in a statement on Monday. 'Porters body was released from our facility,' the statement added. The coroner's van arrived to pick up Porter's body from her Toluca Lake, California home, the day after her death. But the results of that autopsy fail to explain how she suddenly died. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner said in a statement on Monday that her body was released and the cause of her death is 'pending investigation'. A friend of Porter's pictured sadly looking on as the coroner arrived to retrieve her body According to a 911 dispatch call obtained by TMZ, she was described as suffering cardiac arrest and was battling either the flu or pneumonia for several weeks. The night before her death she went to bed early saying she wasn't feeling well. Her time of death is listed as 11.40am on November 15 and the cause is under investigation, according to the certificate obtained by The Blast. The document specifies that Porter was not pregnant at the time of her death. It also states she will be buried in her hometown of Columbus, Georgia. Heartbroken: Diddy was spotted out in LA on Sunday just hours before he posted a tribute on social media for the mother of three of his children The memorial in honor of Kim Porter was held at Diddy's Bel-Air home on Sunday For the memorial his home was filled with pictures of the former couple. They were together with occasional breaks from 1994 until 2007 The star's sudden death at the age of 47 has baffled investigators. She had been suffering from the flu in the days prior to her death and was being treated by a private doctor. There were also no medications taken from the scene by investigators that could have led to an accidental death. According to preliminary interviews with family and friends, Porter had no history of drug or alcohol abuse. In fact, they said she lived a very healthy lifestyle. She is survived by her son Quincy Brown, 27, from her marriage to music producer Al B. Sure, and three children with Diddy - Christian, 20, and 11-year-old twin daughters D'Lila Star and Jessie James. Diddy and Porter dated on and off for 13-years. They were together with occasional breaks from 1994 until 2007 and Diddy even adopted Porter's eldest son Quincy as his own. Quincy Brown, Porter's son from a prior relationship, also paid tribute to his mother by posting a photo of him posing with her and his two half sisters In paying tribute to the mother of his children, Diddy posted a photo of their family on Sunday saying: 'I'll raise our family just like you taught me to. Love you forever' Diddy had remained silent about her death until Sunday when he described them as being 'more than soul mates' and held an emotional memorial for her. 'For the last three days I've been trying to wake up out of this nightmare,' Diddy said in a tweet that included a video of him cuddling up to a pregnant Porter. 'But I haven't. I don't know what I'm going to do without you baby. I miss you so much. Today I'm going to pay tribute to you, I'm going to try and find the words to explain our unexplainable relationship.' In another tweet Diddy said: 'We were more than best friends, we were more than soul mates... And I miss you so much. Super Black Love.' Diddy held the memorial in is Bel-Air mansion filling his home with tokens and photos with his beloved ex-girlfriend. A bag thief who was attempting to jump into a getaway car was shot dead in a car park by the bag's owner pursuing him on foot. The suspect sprinted towards the vehicle as the owner of the brown bag was in in hot pursuit, tailing him across the Cycad Mall car park in Limpopo, South Africa. A video clip shows the moment the owner catches up with him, just as the man who was wearing orange trousers is about to get into the silver Toyota Corolla sedan. As the owner approaches the suspect suddenly drops to the floor as the owner appears to shoot him at close range , just as his getaway vehicle speeds off with the backdoor still open. The alleged gunman then picks up his bag and calmly walks away, leaving the suspect lying on the ground. The bag's owner told police: 'These people, all the time they steal from us.' A bag thief sprinted across a car park closely followed by the owner of the bag As the thief approached his getaway car he suddenly dropped to the ground Police spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe said that the alleged shooter, a 58-year-old local resident, noticed the suspect approaching his vehicle as he walked towards the shopping centre. Ngoepe said: 'He then saw the suspect running away with his bag towards the getaway car, which had four people inside, and he chased him on foot. 'He told the suspect to stop, but he continued running and then he fired some shots. The suspect died instantly.' The alleged shooter stood talking to emergency services next to the thief who had been shot and then covered with white material 'The stolen bag was recovered with some of the contents, including cellphones and an undisclosed amount of cash.' A bystander said: 'And his friends ran away from him. They left him,' reports Times Live. An investigation has been opened and police are currently searching for the four occupants of the alleged getaway vehicle. Smoke from California's deadly wildfires has reached New York City. High-altitude smoke plumes from the massive Camp Fire in Northern California arrived on the East Coast by Monday, after traveling more than 3,000 miles across the country. Modeling from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted the plume over New York would dissipate late Tuesday into Wednesday. The haze in New York was high in the atmosphere, and was not thought to pose a serious health risk. This NOAA forecasting model shows the smoke plume across the country on Tuesday morning Monday's sunset is seen from Midtown Manhattan. Haze from the California wildfire smoke plume was not thought to be dangerous in New York The Camp Fire in California has killed at least 79 and fueled a huge smoke plume. Firefighters are seen battling the blaze in this photo released by the Forest Service on Tuesday The EPA's air quality index for Manhattan was 58, or moderate, on Tuesday, with an advisory for those with an unusual sensitivity to reduce prolonged outdoor exertion. The smoke was noticeable to keen observers though, enhancing the sunset views from Manhattan on Monday night. 'So if you thought it was just a bit hazy this afternoon, we have a California fire smoke plume moving through,' New Jersey meteorologist Gary Szatkowski wrote on Twitter. On the West Coast, the situation remained much more dire, with at least 79 dead in the Camp Fire and some 699 still missing. Unhealthy air from wildfires obscures Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Tuesday in San Francisco Unhealthy air from wildfires obscures Alcatraz Island and a container ship on Tuesday as seen from Sausalito, California Heavy smoke and haze from the blaze blanketed the Bay Area this week, closing tourist attractions and posing a significant health risk. On Tuesday, the EPA's air quality index for San Francisco was 169, or unhealthy, with recommendations in place to reduce or avoid outdoor activity. Flights in and out of San Francisco also have continued to experience some delays or cancellations because of the smoke. Citing poor air quality, schools and colleges in the Sacramento area will remain closed until November 26. In Southern California, the Woolsey Fire has killed three and also contributed to the transcontinental smoke plume. A Michigan hunter had to be rescued on Monday after he fell backwards and became trapped upside down for two hours in a tree stand nearly 40 feet in the air. The Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team shared video of the dramatic rescue of the man in the Pinckney Recreation Area. 'Today we assisted Chelsea Fire Fighters with rescuing a hunter who had fallen out of his tree stand,' the caption of the video read. A Michigan hunter (pictured, hanging from the tree stand) had to be rescued on Monday after he fell backwards and became trapped upside down about 40 feet in the air for at least two hours The Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team shared video of the dramatic rescue of the man in the Pinckney Recreation Area The video shows the man being lowered slowly to the ground as first responders readied themselves to help the man onto a stretcher. Chelsea Area Fire Authority Capt Scott Basar told MLive.com that the unidentified man was going up the tree around 7am on Monday when he slipped off the tree stand. Basar said the man's feet got caught in the stand's rigging when he was about 40 feet high. First reponders said the hunter had been hanging upside down for about two hours before he was rescued. The hunter was able to call 911 around 7.25am. He was freed by rescuers around 9.41am. Basar said the man hadn't connected his safety harness to the tree when he fell back. Chelsea Area Fire Authority Capt Scott Basar said the unidentified man was going up the tree around 7am on Monday when he slipped off the tree stand Team members used technical rope skills to safely remove the hunter from the tree. The hunter suffered minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery 'He's incredibly fortunate his feet got stuck,' Basar told the news site. By the time first responders arrived, the man's coat had slid off. He was exposed to temperatures between 25 to 30 degrees. Team members used technical rope skills to safely remove the hunter from the tree. The hunter suffered minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. The father of a schoolgirl killed more than 30 years ago wept in court today as he denied any involvement in his daughter's death. Russell Bishop, 52, is accused of sexually assaulting and strangling nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in a Brighton woodland in 1986. Bishop's legal team has previously suggested Nicola's father Barrie Fellows may have killed the girls himself to cover up the alleged sexual abuse of his own daughter. Mr Fellows gave evidence in Bishop's Old Bailey murder trial today and insisted he had done no such thing. Russell Bishop is on trial for the murder of schoolgirls Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in 1986. Nicola's father Barrie (right) gave evidence at the trial today He denied 'being party to Nicola being filmed in a pornographic video' and then watching the tape with another man. Bishop's lawyer Joel Bennathan QC asked him: 'Were you anything to do with her death?' 'No,' Mr Fellows replied. Prosecutor Brian Altman QC told him: 'It is being suggested, so that nobody is left in any doubt, Mr Bennathan having sat down; you are being accused of having killed Nicola.' As Ms Johnson wept in the well of the court, the prosecutor continued: 'You are being accused of having killed Karen. 'This is what is being suggested to you; that you sexually assaulted your own daughter and Karen in that den, having punched Nicola in the face.' Mr Fellows denied the claims and left court in floods of tears. Nicola Fellows (left) and Karen Hadaway (right) were found dead in woodland in 1986. Nicola's father gave evidence at the trial of her alleged killer today Earlier, Mr Fellows had spoke of a conversation he had with Bishop in the weeks after the girls' bodies were discovered. Mr Fellows was taken through a witness statement he gave after the girls' were killed. He told police that Bishop had come to see him and said: 'I have come to clear the air.' Pictured: Mr Fellows shortly after his daughter's murdered When Mr Fellows said he would call the police, Bishop told him: 'I didn't kill your daughter'. Mr Fellows also told the court about the day of his daughter's disappearance, how he had become worried and went out to find out where she was. He told the court: 'They shouldn't even have been in the Wild Park. They had been banned from the park after dark. 'I didn't like my children going out after dark anyway. It's not safe.' Bishop was acquitted of the two girls' murders in 1987 but jailed for life three years later for the abduction, sexual assault and attempted murder of a seven-year-old girl. But the roofer is in the dock after senior judges ruled there is compelling new evidence and quashed the decision of a 1987 jury to acquit him. At the centre of the case are fibres, paint traces and plant spores found on a sweater he is accused of dumping as he made his escape. Bishop denies the murders. The trial continues. Theresa May insisted the Brexit deal must work for the 'whole UK family' including Gibraltar today as Spain threatens to scupper the deal over the Rock. The Prime Minister said she was 'steadfast' in support for Gibraltar, which has been a British territory since 1713 despite decades of Spanish complaint and sniping. Madrid has revived a row over the future of the Rock in the final days of the negotiation, warning it could veto the divorce without new guarantees. But Mrs May said at PMQs: 'We have been we will not exclude Gibraltar from negotiations on the future relationship. 'We want a deal that works for the whole UK family.' Madrid has used the final round of talks to ramp up Brexit tensions by signalling a shift in position on an independent Scotland - jibing that the UK will 'split apart before we do'. Theresa May (pictured today at PMQs) insisted the Brexit deal must work for the 'whole UK family' including Gibraltar today as Spain threatens to scupper the deal over the Rock Spain has threatened to block the Brexit deal if it does not get a veto over how any future trade deal applies to Gibraltar (pictured) The swipe came as a row over Gibraltar threatens to derail the Brexit divorce package. Spain has faced internal unrest over Catalan calls for independence. But foreign minister Josep Borrell dismissed the idea that a bad Brexit deal could fuel those calls by driving a wedge between England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. In comments that were gleefully retweeted by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, he made clear Spain would not stop an independent Scotland joining the EU if it left the UK on a legal basis with Westminster's consent. What has Spain said about an independent Scotland? Spain has long harboured fears about an independent Scotland - fearing the it could fuel the Catalan independence movement in Spain. Here are some of the statements the Spanish Government has made about the prospect of an independent Scotland~: February 2012 Spain's foreign minister Jose-Manuel Garcia-Margallo, 'If Scotland becomes independent in accordance with the legal and institutional procedures, it will ask for admission [to the EU]. If that process has indeed been legal, that request can be considered. If not, then no.' March 2017 Spain's foreign minister Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis, said: Spain supports the territorial integrity of the UK and doesn't encourage secessions or divisions in any of the member states April 2017 Alfonso Dastis, the Spanish foreign minister, said Spain would not use their veto to stop an independent Scotland joining the EU. He said: 'We don't want it [Scottish independence] to happen,' he said. 'But if it happens legally and constitutionally, we would not block it. We don't encourage the breakup of any member states, because we think the future goes in a different direction.' November 2018 Spain's foreign minister Josep Borrell, warned the UK will break up because of Brexit, and said Spain would not block an independent Scotland joining the EU. He said: 'I am very much more worried about the unity of the United Kingdom than the unity of the Kingdom of Spain. I think the UK will split apart sooner than the kingdom of Spain.' Advertisement The potential for objections from Madrid was deployed against the independence campaign during the 2014 referendum. The burgeoning row is another headache for Theresa May as she tries to quell revolt at home. Madrid refuses to accept The Rock is a part of Britain despite the fact it has been an overseas territory since 1713. The divorce deal sets up a new UK-Spanish oversight committee to manage ties across the border after Brexit. But Spain is demanding a specific opt out on any trade deal be added to the part of the divorce committing the EU to negotiate it. The divorce deal is supposed to be locked and not due to be reopened before Sunday's summit. However, PM Pedro Sanchez told a business conference in Madrid today that he currently is not prepared to sign off the package. 'As a country, we can't conceive that what will happen with the future of Gibraltar will depend on a negotiation between Britain and the European Union,' he said. 'As a consequence, today, I regret to say that a pro-European government like Spain's would vote no to Brexit unless there are changes.' Downing Street has insisted the deal will apply to the 'whole UK family' including Gibraltar and other overseas territories. Mr Borrell told Politico: 'I am very much (more) worried about the unity of the United Kingdom than the unity of the Kingdom of Spain. 'I think the United Kingdom will split apart before the Kingdom of Spain.' Gibraltar's first minister Fabian Picardo said yesterday it was 'no surprise' to see Spain raising the Rock again at the last minute. He said: 'The language of vetos and exclusions should be the language of the past. 'It has no place in the modern Europe of today at a time when when the United Kingdom and Gibraltar are trying to build a positive future relationship with the EU.' EU leaders will be asked to approve the divorce deal at a special summit on Sunday, assuming Mrs May has not been ousted by her own party before then. Gibraltar is due to leave the European Union along with the United Kingdom in March, although 96 percent of its population voted in the 2016 referendum to remain in the bloc. Spain has frequently tried to use Gibraltar as a negotiating chip in the Brexit talks but has not so far used its veto in the negotiations. The draft Brexit deal sets up a new cooperation framework between Britain and Spain to oversee the Rock. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (left). Nicola Sturgeon (right) seized on Spain's claim that it would not veto an independent Scotland from joining the EU Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell pictured right talking to his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian in Brussels yesterday A six-part clause creates three UK-Spanish committees to supervise cross-border workers, smuggling, environmental protection, law enforcement and border control. An overarching committee of UK-EU officials means Brussels gets an oversight role on the new arrangement. An EU diplomat said the issue could go as far as the Sunday summit of all EU leaders aimed at rubber-stamping the Brexit deal, where other outstanding points are fishing and a limit on any extension of a post-Brexit transition phase. Noting how Spain was obliged to accept British positions on Gibraltar when it was negotiating its 1986 accession to the bloc, a decade after Britain had joined, a senior EU official said London now had to accept that 'the tables have turned'. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova An opening ceremony of the international scientific conference under the motto "The spiritual legacy of Nasimi in historical and cultural context of medieval East" has been held in the Institute of Asian and African Studies (IAAS) at Lomonosov Moscow State University. The event was held as part of the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts and Spirituality, co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia. Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony. In his remarks, Director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies Igor Abylgaziyev stressed that the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an order on holding the anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Imadedin Nasimi at the state level. Abylgaziyev hailed Nasimis works as one of the most perfect examples of world poetry. "The works of Nasimi are one of the most perfect examples of world poetry, which celebrate the greatness of man, the freedom of the individual," he said. Abylgaziyev noted that the legacy of Nasimi is a special stage in the history of Azerbaijani literature. The outstanding poet has invaluable services in enriching Azerbaijani poetry with the ideas of humanism. He particularly noted the role of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev in promotion of Nasimis legacy . "Thanks to his initiative, the 600th anniversary of Nasimi was included in the list of UNESCO events and was marked in 1973 internationally. Since that time, important steps have been taken to study Nasimis legacy more thoroughly," he said. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu hailed the importance of educating youth according to the values of their ancestors. The diplomat stressed that the conference dedicated to Nasimi is taking place at the Institute of Asian and African Studies (IAAS), where the Azerbaijani language is taught. The event then featured the recitation of Nasimis poems in performance of the students in different languages. Azerbaijani actors presented a poetic play "Merhaba" to the viewers. The conference continued its work on November 20. Presentations were made on various topics including "Nasimi Festival: An Experience of Dynamic Interpretation of Ideological and Cultural Legacy", "Nasimi and Jan Hus", "Cultural unity of the East and the West ", The language of Nasimi - yesterday, today, tomorrow", etc. A solemn ceremony to unveil a bust of great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Imadeddin Nasimi has been also held at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the event The ceremony was also held as part of the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts and Spirituality, co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia. Addressing the event, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva highlighted the life and creativity of the great poet. Leyla Aliyeva hailed Nasimis great role in the development of the Azerbaijani literature. She thanked MGIMO rector Anatoly Torkunov, and those who contributed to the event. "Today we have gathered for an event dedicated to the great poet, philosopher and thinker Nasimi. Nasimi lived and worked in the XIV-XV centuries and played a huge role in the development of Azerbaijani literature, created masterpieces of Azerbaijani poetry, laid the foundation of the Azerbaijani literary language. The poetry of Nasimi is alive and relevant today," she said. In her speech, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation stressed that the first Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts and Spirituality was held in Azerbaijan this September. Exhibitions, theatrical performances, video installations were held as part of the festival. The event was held in Shamakhi - the homeland of Nasimi and in Baku. "Nasimis philosophy is so deep that it is capable of embracing the immense, penetrating the hidden layers of the human consciousness and explaining many phenomena. We are eternally grateful and very pleased that today we are opening the bust of this great man in the building of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations", she said. Leyla Aliyeva then recited her poem. In his remarks, MGIMO rector Anatoly Torkunov described the unveiling of Nasimis bust at the university as symbolic. "Nasimis poetry had a great influence on poetry in Azerbaijani and Arabic languages and the culture of the region of the large Middle East. The opening of the bust of this great thinker in our university, where the problems of the East and Eastern languages ??are given great attention, is deeply symbolic," he said. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu thanked the MGIMO leadership for providing an excellent opportunity to unveil the bust of Nasimi, a great Azerbaijani poet, thinker, and philosopher at the university. The Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the sculptor for the creation of the bust. Polad Bulbuloglu stressed that the ceremony is another evidence of the indestructible friendship between Azerbaijan and Russia. The actor of the Vakhtangov Theatre Eldar Tramov read poems by Nasimi to the accompaniment of tar player Gorkhmaz Akhundova. Advertisement Jared and Josh Kushner have purchased the Hotel on Rivington in New York's hip Lower East Side The president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his brother Joshua, are in contract to purchase a hip downtown New York City hotel. The Kushners pending finalized purchase of the Hotel on Rivington will expand their real estate empire, which already includes other New York properties such as the famous Puck building and several walk up apartment buildings. The ultra-modern 20 story glass high-rise has a rooftop penthouse among other party spaces. A representative from Kushner Company told DailyMail.com: 'Kushner Companies is under contract to purchase the Hotel on Rivington.' They did not elaborate on the amount of the pending sale. It houses Cafe Medi, a hip Mediterranean spot on the first level. It also holds S'Zen Lounge which is a mixology spot on the second floor. Additionally there is yet another lounge called Upstairs on Rivington. Finally it has an expansive roof deck called Terrace Suite overlooking the Lower East Side, which likely generated the fair share of complaints. Lower East Side residents have not been particularly happy with their hotel neighbor, lodging a record number of noise complaints stemming from soirees there with the 7th precinct, according to the New York Post. The hospitality industry it a new venture for the Kushners, whose previous properties are more of the residential and business ilk like their misguided purchase of 666 Fifth Ave. They also recently purchased two properties on the Jersey Shore. 'This was Joshua's call,' a source told the Post. 'Jared is busy in Washington.' The stunning, modern glass hotel, features a pent house among other party spaces The penthouse has a wrap around terrace, perfect for purveying the bustling scene below Stunning views: You can look out on the streets below, or bathe with a view of the East River The 20-story high-rise hotel looks down on older tenement style buildings in Lower East Side Plush party spaces are strewn throughout the Hotel on Rivington, which may have contributed to the notorious noise complaints from residents. Pictured is Upstairs on Rivington The stunning glass building has received a record number of noise complaints from local residents to the 7th Precinct (pictured, the penthouse) The cocktail lounge, S Zen, is one of several nightlife/ party destinations in the hotel Jared has his hands full working in Washington as his father-in-laws' adviser. Joshua, who married supermodel Karlie Kloss (both right in October) has taken the reigns of the real-estate business Joshua has stepped more into the role of real-estate since his brother Jared became a presidential adviser two-years-ago. Both Joshua and Jared are Harvard graduates. Joshua founded Thrive Capital which is a private equity and venture capital firm with a focus on media and internet investments. Additionally, Joshua founded Oscar Health, a health insurance startup currently valued at $3billion. For the Hotel on Rivington, which opened in 2005, to be a successful competitor in the area it will need to be renovated to compete with newer hotel properties. Actor James Woods helped alert police in Florida and used Twitter to reach out to a Marine veteran who had posted a worrisome tweet saying he was going to kill himself. The 71-year-old actor contacted police in Orlando and Maitland on Monday night after spotting the troubling tweet from one of his Twitter followers. Woods initially tweeted Orlando police and asked them to conduct a welfare check on former Marine Andrew MacMasters after he posted that he was contemplating suicide. After receiving additional information from his followers on the vet's potential location, Woods then called police in Maitland and urged them to find MacMasters. Actor James Woods contacted police in Orlando and Maitland on Monday night after spotting a troubling tweet from one of his Twitter followers, former Marine Andrew MacMasters Maitland Police told DailyMail.com that officers, who were inundated with calls from concerned Twitter users overnight, had finally managed to speak to MacMasters via phone in the early hours of Tuesday morning. 'He advised that everything was okay and that he did not want to have any further contact with law enforcement at that time,' Lt. Louis Grindle said. Police said they are still trying to physically locate MacMasters to determine his well-being. They are working with nearby law enforcement agencies in case the vet is traveling around. Woods, known for his role in 'Once Upon a Time in America' and 'Casino', had initially tried to reach out to MacMasters to urge the veteran to rethink his decision after spotting his distressed tweet. MacMasters' tweet, which was deleted Monday night, said: 'I'm on Twitter every day, I retweet all the time but this is the first tweet I've ever written. I'm good guy, I'm a veteran, I love America. I'm gonna kill myself tonight. I've lost everything I have nobody, nobody cares.' Woods had responded personally to MacMasters' tweet by asking: 'Tell me where you are'. 'We can talk. I don't care what anybody thinks. Do you? Let's have a conversation. Just you and I,' the actor said in a series of follow-up tweets. Woods initially tweeted Orlando police and asked them to conduct a welfare check on former Marine Andrew MacMasters MacMasters' tweet, which was deleted Monday night, said that he had lost everything and had no one left. He said he was in a parking lot with his dog and everything he owned Woods, known for his role in 'Once Upon a Time in America' and 'Casino', had initially tried to reach out to MacMasters to urge the veteran to rethink his decision after spotting his distressed tweet 'I'm following you now, so you can DM me. We can talk privately. Or we can talk openly right here. Lot of people worried about you right now.' Another one of his tweets read: 'Someone said you're Andrew. In Orlando? I'm not trying to trap you. Let's just talk. You also have your dog. Your little schnoot. Boy or girl?' 'A lot of vets, I understand, have come to where you are tonight. If you could just push this decision off tonight, at least, maybe you would also inspire another vet to seek help. You could save another man, too. By waiting to do this.' The former Marine's tweet and account vanished soon after. The actor then tweeted: 'So I'm seeing that Andrew's tweet has been deleted. Andrew, don't feel embarrassed that you reached out in the darkness. Nobody thinks you're foolish for that. You know every one of us reaching out to you right now has some depression, too. I'll say it. I do.' Police said they will continue to investigate and try to locate MacMasters. Woods, meanwhile, has been active on Twitter of late in trying to help victims of the California fires, including actress Alyssa Milano. The conservative was temporarily kicked of Twitter in September for tweeting a hoax meme that said it came from Democrats and encouraged men not to vote in the midterm elections. Michael Barrymore should receive only 'nominal' damages over the wrongful arrest for rape and murder he says destroyed his TV career, a court heard today. The comedian was at the Court of Appeal in London where Essex Police argued he shouldn't get the 2.4 million in lost earnings for which he is suing. Mr Barrymore launched a High Court damages action after being arrested in June 2007 on suspicion of the rape and murder of Stuart Lubbock. The 31-year-old was found in the swimming pool of the presenter's home in Roydon, Essex, six years earlier. Michael Barrymore (left, outside the Court of Appeal) says he is entitled to millions following his wrongful arrest for the rape and murder of Stuart Lubbock (right) The latest round of the litigation before three appeal judges follows a ruling in August 2017, when a High Court judge said Mr Barrymore was entitled to 'recover more than nominal damages'. Mr Barrymore, who brought his legal action against the police for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment under his real name, Michael Ciaran Parker, values his compensation claim at more than 2.4million in lost earnings. No decision has yet been made on the sum he will eventually receive as the litigation has centred on the preliminary issue of whether it should be nominal or substantial. Depending on the outcome of the appeal, further hearings are expected for a judge to decide on the figure. Terry Lubbock, father of Stuart, also attended the hearing today (pictured, Mr Lubbock outside the Court of Appeal) The force argues that if Mr Barrymore is entitled to substantial damages it would have wide-reaching implications for the police service and other organisations facing similar claims - particularly from wealthy or famous individuals. Lord Faulks QC, representing Essex Police's Chief Constable, told Sir Brian Leveson, Lady Justice Hallett and Sir Ernest Ryder, that Mr Justice Stuart-Smith, had 'erred' in his approach to the law in August last year. Lord Faulks said that, although the focus of the appeal was on Essex Police and Mr Barrymore: 'We should not lose sight of the fact that a young man died'. He added: 'His family, as well as their distress at this young man's death, have never obtained a true explanation for it.' Mr Lubbock's father, Terry, was also present for the hearing. Essex Police admitted the arrest was unlawful as the arresting officer did not have reasonable grounds to suspect Mr Barrymore was guilty of any offence. At the High Court, the force submitted Mr Barrymore could have been lawfully arrested by another officer, meaning that only an award of nominal damages should be made, rather than the 'substantial' sum sought by the star. But Mr Justice Stuart-Smith ruled that the defendant, the Chief Constable, had failed to prove that, if not arrested unlawfully as he was, Mr Barrymore 'could and would have been arrested lawfully'. He said there was 'information available to the police that could have provided an arresting officer with reasonable grounds for a lawful arrest'. But there was only one designated arresting officer who had sufficient information and had been sufficiently briefed to enable her to arrest him lawfully, and she was not present. Hugh Tomlinson QC, for Mr Barrymore, had told the High Court judge that Mr Barrymore was never charged with any offence and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) later made it 'crystal clear' that there was no basis for any charges. Mr Lubbock's body was found in Barrymore's swimming pool at his home in Roydon in 2001 In written argument before the Court of Appeal, Mr Tomlinson submits that they should dismiss the appeal. He argues that the High Court judge 'should have held that the defendant had not established that any police officer had reasonable grounds for believing that it was necessary' to arrest Mr Barrymore. Mr Lubbock's body was found in the pool after a party where drugs and alcohol were consumed. A post-mortem examination revealed that he had suffered serious anal injuries. In 2002, an open verdict was recorded at the inquest into his death. Megyn Kelly is reportedly close to securing a $30 million dollar payout from NBC after she was ousted last month in the wake of her blackface scandal. A source told PageSix that the former Today host is preparing to sign her exit deal next week at the earliest. Kelly is reportedly set to receive $30 million, which will official end the $69million contract she signed after leaving Fox News last year. Sources had earlier told DailyMail.com that she had been asking for an additional $10 million on top of what was left on her contract. The details of her reported exit package emerged as Kelly was photographed running errands in New York on Monday. She could be seen returning to her apartment building following a trip to a nearby Whole Foods, where she loaded up on groceries ahead of Thanksgiving. Kelly enlisted some help from her stepfather and husband Doug Brunt as she prepared for the holiday, with the former helping her to unload groceries and the latter making a trip to the dry cleaner. Scroll down for video Manic Monday: Megyn Kelly was spotted running errands ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on Monday in New York City (above) Boot scootin boogie: Kelly could be seen racing in an out of her New York City apartment building in photos obtained by DailyMail.com Dinner is served: The ousted Today host, 48, made a trip to Whole Foods with her stepfather and was later seen unloading groceries with the help of her doorman Busy bee: Husband Douglas Brunt headed off to drop off the family's dry cleaning (above) Kelly's Thanksgiving prep comes after she spent the weekend celebrating her birthday. She snuck out with husband Doug Brunt to celebrate her birthday over the weekend with a trip to the Comedy Cellar in New York. Photos show the loved-up pair entering the establishment late Saturday night, on the eve of Kelly's 48th birthday. Kelly and Brunt could be seen sharing a kiss before heading into the venue to enjoy a night of laughs. She kicked off her birthday weekend a few days earlier with a Hamptons trip. The former Today host, who is still an NBC employee, stopped by the Wolffer Estate Vineyard with some girlfriends before the group headed to the Topping Rose House, a nearby hotel that also features a Jean George restaurant. The group could be seen posing for photos with one another outside the hotel before making their way inside. Kelly showed off a new short and sleek do just a few days after heading out to catch a preview of the new Broadway play Network in some lengthy extensions. The embattled network host seemed to be channeling Barbara Eden with her high ponytail. Audi: Kelly's Thanksgiving prep comes after she spent the weekend celebrating her birthday What a man: She snuck out with husband Doug Brunt to celebrate her birthday over the weekend with a trip to the Comedy Cellar in New York City Hands full: Kelly did not assist in bringing the groceries upstatirs from the car Kelly's future is still in limbo, but she did get some words of encouragement earlier this month when Lachlan Murdoch was asked about his former employee at The New York Times' Dealbook conference. 'I'm a big fan of Megyn's. We didn't want her to leave Fox,' said Murdoch, speaking publicly for the first time in his new role as the head of New Fox. He then confirmed however the news that DailyMail.com broke last month - Kelly will not be making a return to the network. 'I'm very happy with our current lineup on Fox News and we won't be making any changes there,' said Murdoch. When asked if there was any chance Kelly might find a new job after the 'damage' that was caused by her acrimonious split with NBC, Murdoch said: 'I hope she does because she's very talented.' Help;ing hand: Kelly unloaded groceries with the help of her doorman Lonely task: The man helped to take the food out of Megyn's car so she could get it to her apartment Sunday funday: One day prior,Kelly and her husband were seen walking around with their daughter's tote Kelly has adopted a scorched earth policy in her exit with NBC multiple sources told DailyMail.com earlier this week. 'It's all out war in negotiations between Megyn and NBC,' said one source close to Kelly. It is all too much for one NBC executive to stomach. 'She needs to accept that she is done at NBC and leave. We've already paid her the equivalent of a Powerball win so it's not like she struggling to pay the bills,' said the executive. 'Have some dignity Megyn and move on.' Kelly has already set her sights on the two high-ranking executives to exact her revenge if need be, says once source close to the embattled host. 'She wants to tear the place down now that she's out and her team is telling everyone that she won't be happy unless others are out with her,' said second source close to Kelly. 'She believes that she has information that could do serious damage to NBC News and with her track record of delivering the death blow to Roger Ailes' career she's not afraid to use the information to her advantage.' As for her reason why, the source points to the coverage of her blackface scandal across the network's major television platforms in the days after the scandal. 'She feels that there is no way so many minutes of programming would be dedicated to her scandal unless it was sanctioned by the top of NBC News or even higher - NBC Universal or Comcast. So now she wants them to pay,' said the first source. 'NBC jumped on the 'blackface' comments as a way to push her out the door. They wanted her gone and this was the way to do it. There's no way so many NBC talent or shows would go on the attack unless it was officially sanctioned.' A heartbroken mother is taking legal action against a hospital because she claims doctors failed to carry out a 'simple' blood test that could have saved her son's life. One-year-old Dataeo Scully died at Walsall Manor Hospital in March this year, with a post-mortem revealing the cause of his death was a lack of Vitamin D. The tragedy came five months after the little boy was taken to hospital with a high temperature after suffering a seizure for nearly 30 minutes, before allegedly being sent home by medics. His mother, Sabrina Scully, 34, is now planning legal action against the hospital - accusing the NHS trust that runs it of negligence because she claims more investigations, including a blood test for Vitamin D deficiency, should have been done. Sabrina Scully, pictured holding a framed photograph of her son, is now planning legal action against the hospital Left: Ms Scully holding Dataeo alongside Danico, left and Dakairo, middle. Right: Support worker Ms Scully with Dataeo Bosses at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust have launched an investigation but have defended Dataeo's treatment, saying it is not standard procedure to check vitamin D levels. But Ms Scully, of Walsall, claims Dataeo should have been offered the test, which is available on the NHS in some cases, after he suffered the convulsion and believes it should be more readily available for children. The mother-of-three, who also has son's Dakairo, six, and Danico, 12, said: 'I asked them if another child was presented to them would they do anything different and they said no. I feel disturbed about that. 'My son dying has not made any difference. One little blood test could have saved my little boy's life. Ms Scully says his brothers, Dakairo, left and Danico, middle, are 'lost' without him Ms Scully claims Dataeo (pictured with his mother) should have been offered the test, which is available on the NHS in some cases 'If a doctor had not thought outside the box and not checked his Vitamin D levels, it would say Sudden Infant Death Syndrome on his death certificate. 'But if they had thought that and tested him, he might still be alive. It is heart-breaking. 'They told me it is not protocol to check Vitamin D but it is important and there is not much out there about it. I want to raise awareness by telling Dataeo's story.' Support worker Ms Scully believes if Dataeo had been tested earlier than his death could have been avoided. One-year-old Dataeo with his brothers Dakairo, left and Danico, right Ms Scully, pictured holding a photo of her son, said: 'My son dying has not made any difference. One little blood test could have saved my little boy's life' The mother has since taken her two other sons, six-year-old Dakairo and Danico, 12, to a private clinic so their Vitamin D levels could be checked. She has also placed Dataeo's ashes in the foot of his favourite soft toy to feel close to her son whenever she needs to. What is Vitamin D deficiency? Vitamin D deficiency is caused by inadequate levels of the vitamin due to either limited sunlight exposure or poor nutritional intake. Current health guidelines suggest the levels of sun in the UK are low enough to cause vitamin D deficiencies outside the months of April to October. Vitamin D deficiency can impair bone density but also cause potential cardiovascular disease. Blood tests for the condition may be provided on the NHS if doctors feel there is adequate cause for this. Advertisement Ms Scully also believes that because of Dataeo's darker skin colour, it was harder for him to produce vitamin D because the pigment in dark skin doesn't absorb as much UV radiation as compared to lighter skinned people. She said: 'I hit rock bottom when he died. If he was my only child, I would not be here right now. 'It's been heartbreaking. When he went, a part of me went also. His brother's are lost without him. 'The whole family is devastated, especially knowing that one test could have saved his life. 'We decided to put his ashes into its feet so if I or the kids are having a low day we can hug him and be close to him.' Dr Karen Dunderdale, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Director of Nursing, said: 'We would once again offer our condolences to Ms Scully following the loss of her baby. 'We have met with Ms Scully to discuss our response to the concerns she has raised and can do so again if there is anything further she would like us to clarify.' A night out drinking with friends ended in tragedy when a teenager was blasted with a shotgun as he sat in a car outside a pub. Peter Colwell had been out drinking at the Ship Inn at Llanbedrog near Pwllheli, Wales on Saturday, February 4, 2017. While waiting in a Land Rover Discovery for one of his friends to return from the toilet he was shot with a semi-automatic shotgun. Peter Colwell (pictured), 18, had been waiting inside a Land Rover Discovery with three others when he was shot with a semi-automatic shotgun. The court heard that the killing was neither deliberate nor malicious. But a young man died as the result of the 'cavalier disregard of the fundamental rules of gun safety Ben Andrew Wilson (right) and Benjamin George Fitzsimons (left), are charged with gross negligence manslaughter and are standing trial at Caernarfon Crown Court. The court heard that the semi-automatic shotgun was owned by Wilson, but was discharged on that night by Fitzsimons Two of the men he was with that night, Ben Andrew Wilson and Benjamin George Fitzsimons, are charged with gross negligence manslaughter and are standing trial at Caernarfon Crown Court. Wilson, 28, now of Ely, Cambridgeshire, admitted having a loaded shotgun in a public place. Benjamin Fitzsimons, 22, and his brother Michael, 25, both of Nanhoron, Pwllheli, and Harry Robert Butler, 23, of Llaniestyn, Pwllheli, deny possessing a loaded shotgun in a public place. Outlining the prosecution case to the jury, Patrick Harrington QC said the 18-year-old gamekeeper from Capel Uchaf near Clynnog Fawr was in the vehicle with the other men waiting for Wilson, the vehicle owner, to finish going to the toilet. As they waited the shotgun, also owned by Wilson, was pointed into the rear of the vehicle by the front seat passenger, Benjamin Fitzsimmons. Mr Harrington said: 'Just after midnight on February 5, Peter Colwell was shot dead as he sat in the middle back seat of a Land Rover Discovery. 'The weapon that killed him was a semi-automatic shotgun and was discharged by Ben Fitzsimons. He had been sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle with the gun propped up to his right with the muzzle facing backwards. 'The gun was owned by Ben Wilson. He wasn't in the car at the time. He was in the car park.' Peter Colwell (pictured with a firearm) died after he was shot with a semi-automatic shotgun in the back of a car. CCTV footage shown to the court showed Colwell and his friends returning to their vehicle parked near the pub. After a short while it showed a flash as the gun went off Harry Butler (pictured), 22, of Llaniestyn, Pwllheli, Wales is facing a charge of possessing a loaded shotgun in a public place - a charge he denies Benjamin George Fitzsimons and Michael David Fitzsimons (left to right) are both appearing at Caernarfon Crown Court. Benjamin Fitzsimons is charged with gross negligence manslaughter while his brother Michael denies possessing a loaded shotgun in a public place Mr Harrington said the killing was neither deliberate nor malicious. But a young man died as the result of the 'cavalier disregard of the fundamental rules of gun safety by Ben Wilson and Ben Fitzsimons.' The muzzle should never have been pointing at the teenager he added. Mr Harrington said witness Adam Cook will suggest Wilson had a 'casual attitude' towards handling weapons and the way they were carried in vehicles. Mr Harrington told the jury that Ben Fitzsimons, Wilson, Butler and Peter Colwell were all gamekeepers on the large Boduan Estate near Pwllheli. Wilson lived at the time close to his employer who had a state-of-the-art gun store. The prosecutor said he had taken a gun from the store during the morning and it would have been simple for Wilson to store the gun there after he finished work on the fateful day. During their night out in Abersoch and Llanbedrog the shotgun was left in view of passers by. There were no complaints about the group's behaviour in either the St Tudwal's Hotel, Abersoch, or the Ship. They were said to have bought several rounds of drinks at both pubs. After the Ship closed at midnight CCTV footage showed the group returning to the vehicle parked near the pub. After a short while it showed a flash as the gun went off. Mr Harrington said the weapon had a safety catch which, when operational, stopped it being fired and pressure had to be applied on the trigger, too. The trial, expected to last two or three weeks, continues. Luca Gero, 16, died in the house fire early on Sunday. More than $120,000 has been donated to her family by well wishers online A fundraising page for a family mourning the death of a teenager in a fire in California has raised $120,000 in a few hours, surpassing its original target by $20,000. The Moraga-Orinda Fire District said 16-year-old Luca Gero died in a house fire early on Sunday morning. A firefighter and two others were also injured in the blaze which began about 4am at 524 Moraga Way. Donations to the page, which was created on Sunday, had almost reached its goal by 4pm on Monday. A message on the site asks well-wishers for the Pigniczky-Gero family to 'please donate anything you can to help this wonderful family we love so dearly.' A man and another teenager are being treated at the Bothin Burn Center at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, having suffered second-degree burns. A firefighter was released from hospital on Sunday after receiving treatment for burns to his shoulder and ears. A close member of the family told Mercury News that the family was unable to provide a statement and was requesting privacy. Despite there being no classes over the Thanksgiving break this week, Miramonte High School opened Monday to give students a chance to grieve for Luca and counselors have been made available. About 75 students and teachers went to the campus to write messages and letters to their classmate. The school plans to hold an official memorial for Luca, who was a member of the Latin Club and the cross-country team, on Sunday. Miramonte high school in Orinda, California, where Luca Gero was a student, will hold a memorial on Sunday 'She was a student who lived big, a lot of impact, dynamic, kind, thoughtful,' Principal Julie Parks told NBC. 'She'll be greatly missed.' A bouquet of flowers was left at the entrance of the 500 block on Moraga way yesterday, which is currently sealed off by yellow tape. Nine engines were deployed to the blaze, which burned for over an hour before being pronounced under control at 5.08 am. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. President Donald Trump defended his daughter Ivanka on Tuesday as the Democrats' incoming House majority threatened to probe her use of a personal Internet domain to conduct government business and insisted the case is nothing like Hillary Clinton's infamous private email server. He all but dared House Oversight and Government Reform Democrats, including their top dog Rep. Elijah Cummings, to investigate her. 'Ivanka can handle herself,' Trump told DailyMail.com as he left the White House for the Thanksgiving break, responding to a question about whether he would ever let partisan Democrats interview his elder daughter. He said the emails Ms. Trump sent and received on her personal account to conduct government business 'weren't classified like Hillary Clinton. They weren't deleted like Hillary Clinton, who deleted 33 [thousand] she wasn't doing anything to hide her emails.' 'They're all in presidential records,' he said, confirming that his daughter's lawyer has forwarded the messages from her personal account to her government account. President Donald Trump defended his daughter Ivanka on Tuesday as Democrats threaten to probe her use of a personal Internet domain to conduct government business The president took pains to insist the case is nothing like Hillary Clinton's infamous private email server, and insisted 'Ivanka can take care of herself' if Democrats demand answers from her In what may have been a slip of the tongue, the president twice referred to phone calls, not emails, when comparing his Ivanka's practices Hillary Clinton's. 'There was no hiding. There was no deleting like Hillary Clinton did. There was no servers in the basement like Hillary Clinton had. You're talking about a whole different you're talking about all fake news ... What it is is a false story,' he said. In what may have been a slip of the tongue, the president twice referred to phone calls, not emails, when comparing his daughter's practices with those of his former political nemesis. 'This was just early on when she came in. These calls were not classified, unlike Hillary Clinton's calls which were classified,' he said. 'And it's all fake news.' A White House official who fields reporters' calls about Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner did not respond to a request for comment about the discrepancy. House Oversight Democrats are gearing up to draw Ivanka into an investigation next year. 'We want to know if Ivanka complied with the law,' a Democratic aide told DailyMail.com on Tuesday. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, likely to be led by Maryland Democrat Elijah Cummings (left) in 2019, plans to investigate her email use and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal (right) said the first daughter's actions should be examined The president said Ivanka's emails 'weren't classified like Hillary Clinton. They weren't deleted like Hillary Clinton, who deleted 33 [thousand] she wasn't doing anything to hide her emails' The panel, likely to be led by Cummings in 2019, plans to revive an investigation into the White House's use of private emails, which can violate federal records-retention laws. The powerful committee has investigative oversight of the executive branch and the power to subpoena witnesses and documents. 'We plan to continue our investigation of the Presidential Records Act and Federal Records Act,' the aide said. And Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal said on Tuesday there 'should be some kind of investigative effort.' Blumenthal, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would have oversight on an investigation, told CNN the first daughter's actions should be examined. 'There is no way that she had no knowledge of the rules,' he said. 'But really there is a larger story here which is the mixing of public and private as with her clothing brand and her public position, the blending and mixing of e-mails on her private account, her public account. It raises the issue of whether there has been anything improper. There should be some kind of investigative effort,' he noting, adding it should be done 'through the Office of Government Ethics or through the Congress.' He pointed out: 'Congress can hold the president accountable for putting himself above the law, which is essentially in a sense what Ivanka Trump has done with these e-mails.' The first daughter has even come under fire from fellow Republicans. 'It's hypocritical and certainly it looks bad and I'm sure that the media will have a field day with it today,' Marc Short, who had served as legislative director in the Trump White House, told CNN. And former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci agreed with that assessment. 'Certainly I think it's hypocritical,' he told CNN. The White House declined to offer an official comment on the allegations against the presidents daughter. And Larry Kudlow, the presidents chief economic adviser, defended her in a briefing with reporters on Tuesday morning. I think the absolute world of Ivanka Trump. She is a brilliant woman and a really important adviser to the president, period, he said. Trump used her personal email account to send hundreds of emails last year to White House aides, government officials and her assistants - most of which were in violation of federal rules, it was revealed on Monday by The Washington Post. The revelation sparked immediate comparisons to Hillary Clinton, who famously used a private email server while secretary of state that became subject of a federal investigation and the target of criticism from President Donald Trump, who dubbed her 'Crooked Hillary' and said he would lock her up for it. But Ivanka Trump's lawyer's office slammed any comparisons to Clinton. 'Ms. Trump did not create a private server in her house or office, no classified information was ever included, the account was never transferred at Trump Organization, and no emails were ever deleted,' Peter Mirijanian, a spokesperson for Trump's attorney and ethics counsel, Abbe Lowell, to The Washington Post. Clinton had denied having classified emails on her private server. 'I did not send classified material, and I did not receive any material that was marked or designated classified,' she said on the campaign trail in August 2015. The FBI investigation later found that 110 messages contained information that was classified at the time it was sent. White House ethics officials learned of Ivanka Trump's personal email use when reviewing emails gathered last fall by five Cabinet agencies to respond to a public records lawsuit, sources familiar with the matter told The Post. Trump said she was not familiar with all the rules. The private email account came from a domain she shares with her husband, Jared Kushner. They set up personal emails with the domain 'ijkfamily.com' through a Microsoft system in December 2016, after Trump won the presidency and the couple was preparing to move to Washington D.C. Mirijanian said her use was mainly around her logistics and her family's schedule. The couple, both of whom serve as advisers to President Trump, have three children. 'While transitioning into government, after she was given an official account but until the White House provided her the same guidance they had given others who started before she did, Ms. Trump sometimes used her personal account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family,' he said in a statement. He noted she had turned over all her government-related emails months ago so they could be stored permanently with other White House records as part of requirements by federal law under the Presidential Records Act. Austin Evers, executive director of the liberal watchdog group American Oversight, whose record requests sparked the White House discovery, said it difficult to believe she would not know the rules. 'There's the obvious hypocrisy that her father ran on the misuse of personal email as a central tenet of his campaign,' he told The Post. 'There is no reasonable suggestion that she didn't know better. Clearly everyone joining the Trump administration should have been on high alert about personal email use.' American Oversight wrote to the top members of the House Oversight Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that 'it is incumbent on Congress to investigate this matter immediately.' 'The parallels between Ms. Trump's conduct and that of Secretary Clinton are inescapable,' Evers wrote in the letter. 'In both her use of personal email and post-discovery preservation efforts, Ms. Trump appears to have done exactly what Secretary Clinton did - conduct over which President Trump and many members of Congress regularly lambasted Secretary Clinton and which, they asserted, demonstrated her unfitness for office.' Those close Ivanka Trump said she never intended to use her private email to hide her government work and only used her private email less than a hundred times, mainly to reply to those who emailed her. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner set up personal emails with the domain 'ijkfamily.com' through a Microsoft system after Trump was elected president Ivanka Trump's lawyer's office slammed any comparisons to Hillary Clinton President Trump attacked Clinton's email server during the 2016 campaign as his supporters shouted 'Lock her up' After she told White House lawyers she was unaware that she was breaking any email rules, they discovered that she had not been receiving White House updates and reminders to all staff about prohibited use of private email, sources told the newspaper. Revelations about Clinton's email server led to an FBI investigation, which ultimately concluded she had been reckless but had not broken the law. Clinton had a private email server in the basement of her Chappaqua, N.Y., home. Thousands of her emails were deleted by a computer specialist amid a congressional investigation. She, like Ivanka Trump, had said she didn't understand the rules. President Trump made Clinton's email use a favorite campaign weapon in the race against her, leading crowds of supporters to chant 'lock her up.' Even after he defeated her and won the White House he publicly asked on multiple occasions and in tweets why he was the target of an investigation on whether or not his campaign colluded with Russia while Clinton was not being investigated. 'I look at what's happening with the Justice Department, why aren't they going after Hillary Clinton with her emails and with her dossier and the kind of money? I don't know,' President Trump said in a radio interview last November. 'Hillary Clinton's Emails, many of which are Classified Information, got hacked by China,' the president tweeted in August without providing any evidence. After discovering her private email use in September 2017, White House lawyers relied on Lowell to review which were personal and which were official business. The White House Counsel's Office did not have access to her personal account. Lowell forwarded emails that he had determined were related to official business to Ivanka Trump's government account, sources told The Post. Rezaur Chowdhury, 36, called police on himself after using a piece of wood to smash four windows and a drainpipe at Belgrave Medical Centre, in Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent An illegal immigrant called police to report his own crime after going on a wrecking spree at a medical centre when a doctor refused to 'give him a ticket home to Bangladesh'. Rezaur Chowdhury used a piece of wood to smash four windows and a drainpipe at Belgrave Medical Centre, in Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent. The 36-year-old has been ordered to pay 100 compensation to the surgery. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the vandal attack happened at 10pm on October 25. Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: 'The police received a report that the defendant had damaged the windows and drainpipe by smashing it with a piece of wood. 'He smashed four windows and put a dent in one of the pipes. 'Police intercepted the defendant. He told them he smashed the windows because his doctor would not give him a ticket home to Bangladesh. He was arrested.' In his police interview the defendant said one of the doctors had told him the week before that he could not fly back to Bangladesh and his family had to come to England instead. He went back on October 25 to ask for a letter for his family to come, but the surgery told him they could not do that. This made him angry and he reacted by picking up the wood and smashing it through the windows, also denting a drainpipe. At the hearing on November 13, Angela Trafford, mitigating, said the defendant had accepted responsibility for the damage. She said: 'His family were not able to come over here. He wants to go back to them but there is a lack of funds. 'His status in the UK is illegal and he is currently housed by G4S and is given 37-a-week for food. 'He is not allowed to work or claim any benefits.' Theresa May tried to win over mutinous Brexiteers today by hinting that technology could yet solve the Irish border problem. The PM appeared to revive the so-called 'Max Fac' plan championed by Tory Eurosceptics as she tries to head off a bid to oust her. Senior figures including Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Paterson met Mrs May in Downing Street last night to push for the option to be re-considered. Mrs May has seemingly promised to raise their latest ideas with Brussels. Mr Duncan Smith and Mr Paterson are among the Tory opponents of her deal who have not sent in letters of no-confidence in the PM. However, the EU has previously dismissed the so-called 'Max Fac' solution as 'magical thinking'. And there is no sign either Mrs May or Brussels are considering abandoning the 'backstop' proposal in the Withdrawal Agreement. Senior figures including Iain Duncan Smith (pictured) and Owen Paterson met Mrs May in Downing Street last night to push for the option to be re-considered The EU have long insists that the backstop must apply unless and until another way of guaranteeing there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is found. The PM's official spokesman said of technological solutions to the border 'there are things that have been looked at'. He pointed to the withdrawal agreement draft which says 'alternative arrangements' could be used to bring the backstop plan to an end. The spokesman confirmed they could involve technical measures of the kind previously promoted as the 'maximum facilitation' solution, or Max Fac. 'The aim of all parties is to ensure there is no hard border,' the spokesman added. The PM (pictured at the CBI yesterday) appeared to revive the so-called 'Max Fax' plan championed by Tory Eurosceptics as she tries to head off a bid to oust her Mr Duncan Smith (second left), former Northern Ireland First Minister Lord Trimble (centre), and Mr Paterson (right) met Mrs May in Downing Street last night By Trend Chairman of Tajikistans lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament (Majlisi Oli), Shukurjon Zuhurov, today met here with his Uzbek counterpart Nuriddinjon Ismailov, Chairman of the Legislative Chamber (Uzbekistans lower house of parliament), news.tj reports. The two discussed issues related to inter-parliamentary cooperation between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, told Asia-Plus in an interview. Shukurjon Zuhurov, in particular, expressed hope that inter-parliamentary contacts would promote further expansion of economic, humanitarian and cultural cooperation between the two countries. Tajik parliament speaker noted that Dushanbe and Tashkent had signed more than 180 agreements and contracts for a total cost of 730 million U.S. dollars over the past year. Uzbek parliament speaker, for his part, noted that parliamentarians of the two countries could make contribution to expansion of bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in all areas. Recall, Nuriddinjon Ismailov heading Uzbek parliamentary delegation arrived in Dushanbe Monday evening on a two day official visit. Uzbek MPs are also scheduled to hold talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and visit the Nurek hydroelectric power plant (HPP) and the TALCO Cable plant. The will also visit the Tajik National library and the Kokhi Navrouz State Complex in Dushanbe. Initiated by the leaders of the two countries, it is the first ever visit of Uzbek parliamentary delegation to Tajikistan. The Legislative Chamber is the lower house of the Oliy Majlis (Supreme Assembly) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It has 150 members, 135 elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies using the two-round system and 15 elected by the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan. This is the astonishing moment a scooter driver trying to pick up his dropped headphone miraculously survived being hit by two trucks. The CCTV clip, filmed in Shangrao City, China, captured the motorist as he travelled across a busy highway on a silver scooter. The man appeared to be looking towards oncoming traffic to his right when a blue lorry approached from the opposite direction. The CCTV clip, filmed in Shangrao City, China, captured the motorist as he travelled across a busy highway on a silver scooter He disappeared behind the truck as the vehicle approached, the lorry moving in a semi-circle in an attempt to avoid a collision. The scooter and its rider then reappeared lying in the road as more cars began to approach from the right. A second lorry then came towards the fallen man, taking a sharp turn to avoid hitting him. Instead, the motorist collided with the scooter, dragging it across the tarmac as a white powder spilt onto the road from its back. The rider disappeared behind the truck as the vehicle approached, the lorry moving in a circle in an attempt to avoid a collision A second lorry then came towards the fallen man from the right, taking a sharp turn to avoid hitting him The rider was engulfed in a cloud of the substance for a few seconds as the lorry came to a sudden stop. But the man, who appeared to be shirtless, was then filmed getting up from the floor and walking towards his scooter seemingly unscathed. It is believed the man had been listening to music as he crossed the road, and had been focusing on reclaiming a fallen headphone when the near misses occurred. The rider had allegedly been unable to steer out of the way of the initial blue truck with one hand as the other searched for his headphone. Brexit 'purists' have been warned that if they torpedo Theresa May's divorce deal then they will spark ministerial resignations and could cause a second EU referendum. Pro European ministers have reportedly privately warned they will quit the Government and back a so-called People's Vote rather than sit back and let the country crash out. Amber Rudd, who made a dramatic return to the Cabinet in last week's reshuffle, has previously said another vote is better than a no deal. One pro EU minister told The Times: 'We have made compromises to hold the government together but the hard Brexiteers can only push us so far before we go to war. 'If they get us to no-deal then all bets are off.' While leading Tory Remainer Sarah Wollaston today revealed she is bringing forward an amendment to the Brexit Bill to try to force a new referendum. She told BBC Radio 4's the World at One: 'I'm going to be bringing forward an amendment that actually asks the public what they think of this version of Brexit.' Ms Wollaston said the amendment would say 'we'll approve this on condition that you ask the public for their informed consent'. The MP said any referendum question would be a choice 'between this deal and remain as we are'. Amber Rudd (pictured leaving Cabinet today) who made a dramatic return to the Cabinet in last week's reshuffle has previously said another vote is better than a no deal Leading Tory Remainer Sarah Wollaston (pictured) today revealed she is bringing forward an amendment to the Brexit Bill to try to force a new referendum Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has warned Tory Brexiteer rebels that their campaign against Theresa May's divorce deal risks backfiring and sparking another referendum which could see the UK stay in the EU Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has publicly warned there are many inside the Government that will not tolerate a no deal Brexit. He said that if die-hard Tory Brexiteers refuse to back the PM's plan then the 'consensus' in Government that Brexit must be delivered could break down altogether. Mr Burt fired off the warning shot to Tory MP and Brexiteer organiser in chief Steve Baker - who has been orchestrating the attempted coup against Mrs May. He wrote on Twitter: 'Be very clear. If an agreed deal on leaving between the Government 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.' Pro EU ministers in Government are desperate to stop the UK crashing out of the bloc fearing it will plunge the country into a major recession. Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, today warned a no deal Brexit would be the worst hit to the economy since the 1970s - the era of the three day week and the winter of discontent. He told MPs today crashing out of the EU in March without a deal or a transition period would be a 'large, negative shock' to Britain. Tory Brexit rebels (pictured, centre, Jacob Rees-Mogg) and David Davis tried to get on the front foot again by holding a press conference pushing for a looser Canada-style relationship with the EU - but his stalled coup has sparked comparisons with Dads Army There appears to be no end in sight to the bitter civil war which the Tories have been plunged into in these final, crucial months before Brexit. Tory Brexit rebels Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker today warned that Tory MPs must oust Mrs May in the coming weeks or she will be 'odds on' to lead the party into the next election. But there are growing signs their coup is failing as the number of Conservatives who have publicly declared that they have sent their letters of no confidence in remains stuck at 26 - far short of the 48 needed to trigger a ballot. Mr Baker warned it might be the last chance to change leader. 'I do think it's now or never,' he said. The failure to reach the key threshold, days after Mr Rees-Mogg declared an all-out attack on Mrs May's Brexit deal, sparked amusement among some Tory MPs. One said that Mr Rees-Mogg had been assured he was going to lead the rebels 'over the top' as the 48th MP to send a no-confidence letter but ended up in abject failure. 'I've heard a rumour that the ERG thought they were going to get 350 million letters a week going in,' an MP joked, in a reference to the pledge for NHS cash during the EU referendum campaign. Answering a question from MailOnline about the chances of Mrs May leading the party into the next election, Mr Rees-Mogg said: 'Odds on May leading us - I think if the letters don't go in and we don't have the vote of confidence I think it would be more likely than not that the Prime Minister leads us into the next election.' Monica Lewinsky has detailed one intimate encounter with a badly injured Bill Clinton in the wake of the White House Visit where they rekindled their relationship and he soiled her blue Gap dress. Clinton was on crutches, Lewinsky revealed in the A&E docuseries The Clinton Affair episodes that aired Monday night, noting that this fact led to an awkward intimate encounter because he could not get on his knees. The two still managed to enjoy an afternoon tryst said Lewinsky, and afterwards Clinton even sang the intern a song. Scroll down for videos Take a knee: Monica Lewinsky revealed that in 1997 she and Bill Clinton were intimate while he was on crutches to recover from a injury (above) Gown: He called her to t he White House asking that she bring him a new tie and Betty Currie, his secretary, soon left the two alone (Lewinsky at the 1997 inaugural ball) 'The relationship resumed to a lot of the earlier normal patterns from before the election. Betty [Currie, Clinton's secretary] was sort of the gatekeeper,' recalled Lewinsky. 'In late March, Betty called me at the Pentagon and he got on the phone and he told me that a tie I had recently sent him accidentally was cut and could I get another one and bring it to him that weekend? So, I did.' Lewinsky continued: 'And we had a really nice visit and were intimate, although it was awkward as he had injured his knee and was on crutches. When I was leaving, we were all sort of in Betty's office after and he started to sing "Try a Little Tenderness."' This comes after the premiere of the series on Sunday, when Lewinsky's parents spoke about their daughter's affair for the first time. Dr Bernard Lewinsky and his ex-wife Marcia said on the second episode of the The Clinton Affair that they were thrilled when their daughter got an internship at the White House. 'I'm an immigrant from El Salvador and it was awesome and unbelievable that she would be working at the White House,' said her father, the son of German Jews who fled to Central America during World War II. That internship soon spiraled out of control when Lewinsky was discovered to be having an affair with the president, and the FBI forced her to help in the investigation into Clinton. Lewinsky reveals they did this by threatening to prosecute her mother, breaking down in tears as she recalls how Kenneth Starr's team and federal agents said both women were facing 27 years in prison for lying about the affair. I kept asking could I call my mom, they kept saying no,' recalled Lewinsky of the 12-hour interrogation inside a hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton. 'You're 24, you don't need to call your mommy, you need to make a decision about what to do.' Lewinsky was unflappable at that point however, and told the men: 'Well you should learn I am leaning towards not cooperating.' That is when the men made the decision to threaten not only her, but also her family. 'And then he said, "Well, you should know, we're also thinking about prosecuting your mom for the things you said she did on the tape,"' said Lewinsky, breaking down in tears. Lewinsky then informed the men that she had to call someone, either her mother or a lawyer, before she would make this decision to wear a wire and have her calls tapped by the FBI. The men eventually gave in to Lewinsky's demands, and she said she went to a pay phone and called her mother in the local mall. Lewinsky said her mother attempted to get her to calm down and breathe, before finally coming to realize the situation her daughter was in at the time. 'FBI ... have me ... I'm in a hotel,' recalled Lewinsky of her words to her mother. Monica's mother recalled her daughter's earlier days in the second episode, while sharing some photos of the girl's childhood. 'Monica was a beautiful and very, very smart little girl,' said her mother Marcia. 'But stubborn. Really stubborn. Dr Lewinsky added: 'She was very gregarious, friendly, you know when she was in the room.' And he said of the moment he learned about her internship: 'I was so proud of her and she was so happy about it.' Maternal unit: Monica's mother (left) recalled her daughter's earlier days in the second episode, while sharing some photos of the girl's childhood (Monica's father Dr Bernard Lewinsky on right) Baby girl: Her mother Marcia described her as a 'beautiful and very, very smart little girl,' who was also 'really stubborn' (Monica as a child above) Speaking out: Lewinsky also detailed the events that led to her decision to confide in Linda Tripp, the woman who would eventually alert the special prosecutor Lewinsky also detailed the events that led to her decision to confide in Linda Tripp, the woman who would eventually alert the special prosecutor to the fact that Clinton was having an affair with a former intern. It all started when members of Clinton's staff decided to move Lewinsky out of her post working for Legislative Affairs at The White House and transfer her to the Pentagon amid growing concerns over how close she had become with the president. Lewinsky suggested that this was all done with the knowledge of her paramour, who she describes as 'crestfallen.' The two had been seeing one another daily and enjoying weekly trysts prior to that Lewinsky had revealed, but the move to a new job and building changed all that in an instant. Lewinsky would instead be forced to wait until the middle of the night for Clinton to call, but she said that he had promised to move her back to a White House position after the election. At that point the pair had been carrying on their affair for five months, and a number of staff members had begun to take notice of how often Lewinsky was around the president and Oval Office. It was an optics problem however said staffers, with no one explicitly stating that they believed the intern was having an affair with the president. The job shift also came while Clinton was in the middle of his reelection campaign, meaning that he was not in touch with Lewinsky for days or even weeks at a time. 'I had this nagging insecurity that maybe he just did all these things these last six months cause he wanted to keep me quiet during the election,' explained Lewinsky. 'How stupid am I that I believed this, that I bought this. I felt so deflated and so desperate. And those were the conditions along with some other things that led to me confiding in Linda Tripp.' Lewinsky described her mindset at the time by saying she 'had naively invested in his promise,' but that was shattered when the election came and went without the offer of a White House job. Tight unit: Lewinsky broke down in tears when recalling the moment that she was told both she and her mother were looking at 27 years in prison for lying (Monoica and Marcia above circa 1996) Chatty: 'She was very gregarious, friendly, you know when she was in the room,' said Dr lewinsky of his daughter (above at her graduation) Over her head: Lewinsky said after being detained by the FBI her mother attempted to get her to calm down and breathe, before finally coming to realize the situation her daughter was in at the time The relationship began on November 14, 1995, in the middle of the government shutdown when Lewinsky had been called in to help with the phones. On that date there had been a surprise party for one of Clinton's staffers, and at one point Lewinsky realized her thong was exposed while Clinton was near her in the room. Lewinsky opted to keep her thong out as Clinton walked by, and a short while later when she walked by his office, Clinton smiled at her and motioned for her to come into the room. She soon admitted to Clinton that she had a 'crush' on him, and not long after the two were kissing in the dark room. 'I don't talk about this very often and I still don't feel comfortable talking about it. It's one of those things where it's not as if it didn't register with me that he was the president. Obviously it did,' explained Lewinsky. 'But I think in one way the moment we were actually in the back office for the first time the truth is I think it meant more to me the someone who other people desired, desired me.' She continued: 'However wrong it was, however misguided, for who I was at that time, at 22 years old, it was how I felt.' Lewinsky went back to her desk after that first kiss and was then asked to return to the study later, when the two became more intimate. It was the start of a relationship that would find the two meeting in secret once a week for almost two years. Lewinsky also opened up about the grief and fear she felt when she was told that she would have to cooperate with the FBI investigation of Clinton. 'In order to cooperate and avoid charges and I would have to make monitored phone calls which they would listen in to and record and I might have to wear a wire and go see people in person,' revealed Lewinsky. Tears: Lewinsky considered jumping out of a window at the Ritz Carlton in January 1998 when the FBI told her she would need to become an informant (above in The Clinton Affair) Gifts: She was called to the office with the promise of presents, and Clinton gifted her a hat pin and copy of Walt Whitman's Leave of Grass (Clinton and Lewinsky in 1997 just before their bathroom rendezvous) Apologize: Lewinsky also penned an essay for Vanity Fair revealing that she wished Clinton felt the need to apologize for the fallout from their relationship (Clinton above in 1998 denying the affair) It was too much for Lewinsky, who says that after a few hours she began to think about commiting suicide. Twenty years later, it still causes her to break down in tears. 'The ground completely crumbled in that moment. I felt so much guilt. And I felt terrified,' she revealed in the interview. An FBI agent involved in the case acknowledged this, saying that Lewinsky was 'alternating between being hysterical, being angry, being abusive.' 'They imagined that I would have flipped really easily. They had no plan in place for what would happen if i said no,' said Lewinsky. That then gave way to thoughts of ending her own life. 'There was a point for me somewhere within these first several hours where I would be hysterically crying and then I would just shut down,' she recalled. 'And in the shut down period I just remember looking out the window and thinking the only way to fix this is to kill myself.' Lewinsky, who up until that point had managed to hold back her tears, then burst out sobbing. 'I just felt terrible ... and I was scared ... and I was mortified,' she said while trying to regain her composure. This all played out at the Ritz Carlton in January 1998, with the Office of the Independent Counsel getting Linda Tripp to set up a meeting with Lewinsky. She was then taken to a room and held by prosecutors until that night. Lewinsky admitted that the thing that made this so difficult for her was the fact that she was still in love with Clinton and she stood her ground, until they threatened her mother. Bulger was kept in solitary for eight months after threatening a female medic Two additional suspects have been identified in the murder of notorious Boston mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger, as it is revealed that his threat against a female medic may have led to his transfer to the prison were he was killed. Sean McKinnon, 32, of Vermont and Felix Wilson, 26, of upstate New York were among the four inmates immediately placed in solitary confinement at USP Hazelton in West Virginia after Bulger's October 30 murder there, the New York Times reported. The other two inmates placed in solitary were previously identified suspects Paul J. DeCologero and Fotios 'Freddy' Geas, who both have mafia ties. But in a cryptic statement, the FBI indicated its main suspects were not from Massachusetts, as DeCologero and Geas both are. Bulger was found dead on October 30 after being transferred a day earlier to the high-security Hazelton penitentiary in West Virginia. He is pictured above in 2011 Bulger was transferred to USP Hazelton (above) on October 29 and initially assigned to bunk with Paul DeCologero, one of the murder suspects, before a cell assignment change The first two suspects identified in Bulger's murder were Paul J. DeCologero (left) and Fotios 'Freddy' Geas (right). Now two more suspects have been named McKinnon and Wilson are both serving relatively short sentences, and have no known ties to organized crime. Through their cell assignments, though, they were both connected to an unexplained switch in Bulger's own cell assignment an hour after he arrived at Hazelton. Bulger, seen in an undated photo, ruled the South Boston underworld with an iron fist Before his fateful transfer to USP Hazelton, 89-year-old Bulger had been serving relatively comfortable time at USP Coleman II in Florida since 2014, following his conviction for involvement in 11 murders while he ruled the South Boston underworld with an iron fist in the 1970s and 80s. Coleman is known to be a so-called 'special needs' facility, designed to keep ex-cops, informants and gang defectors safe from inmate retaliation. It was perfect for Bulger, who famously informed to the FBI on his organized crime rivals for decades while running his own criminal empire. Bulger's wealth reportedly bought him comfort and status at Coleman, where he hired other inmates to fetch him treats from the commissary and meals from the mess hall. In February of this year, however, Bulger got in trouble at Coleman after threatening a female medical staffer, telling her that 'her day of reckoning was coming', according to the Times. It remains unclear why Bulger was transferred to USP Hazelton (above), which had a reputation for being a hostile environment for snitches and a recent track record of murders Though prison records say Bulger's punishment was supposed to be be one month of prison time, he remained there for eight months until his transfer to Hazelton in October. The transfer has never been fully explained, and Bureau of Prison officials have declined to comment on it to DailyMail.com. Though Bulger used a wheelchair and had health problems, his medical classification was suddenly lowered by prison officials, perhaps in a move to make him eligible for transfer to Hazelton, the Boston Globe reported. Timeline of Whitey Bulger's murder October 29, 6.45pm: Bulger arrives at USP Hazelton in a wheelchair. He is initially assigned to a cell with Paul DeCologero. Around 8pm: Bulger's cell assignment is switched and he is given a bunk in Felix Wilson's cell. 9.53pm: Bulger is placed in his new cell in general population. The block is already on overnight lockdown. October 30, 5am: Overnight lockdown ends and prisoners proceed to the mess hall after headcount. Around 6am: Surveillance cameras capture multiple inmates entering Bulger's cell and wheeling him into a corner out of the camera's view. 8.20am: Prison officials discover Bulger's body in his cell. Soon after: Fotios 'Freddy' Geas, Paul J. DeCologero, Felix Wilson, and Sean McKinnon are placed in solitary confinement. Advertisement Some prison workers, speaking anonymously, speculate that Bulger's transfer may have been 'diesel therapy', a punitive measure named for the buses used to transfer inmates, according to the Times. Unlike Coleman, Hazelton is a prison known to be highly dangerous for informants, and the three murders inside its walls so far this year attest to the difficulty guards there had controlling the inmate population. Bulger arrived at Hazelton at around 6.45pm on October 29. For reasons that have yet to be explained, he was assigned to general population, rather than a protective unit, despite his failing health and past as an FBI snitch. Sources close to Bulger's inner circle have speculated to DailyMail.com that he may have requested the move to general population either due to weariness with solitary or desire to 'go out with a bang' as his health failed. Nevertheless, prison officials would have had to approve the move. At Hazelton, Bulger had initially been assigned to share a cell with DeCologero, according to the Times. DeCologero is a former member of an organized crime gang that his uncle ran out of a gym in Woburn, Massachusetts, according to court records. DeCologero, 44, is serving 25 years for racketeering and witness tampering. Investigators say he had no known rivalry with Bulger, and DeCologero's brother has said that although there was bad blood between their two families, they never crossed paths. DeCologero (above) was initially assigned to be Bulger's cellmate, before a last minute switch. He is serving a 25-year sentence for racketeering and witness tampering About an hour after Bulger arrived at Hazelton, and perhaps before he set foot in his cell with DeCologero, his cell assignment was suddenly switched. He would be bunking with Felix Wilson. Wilson, 26, has no known connection to Bulger, or to organized crime of any type. He was arrested in 2013 in Buffalo, New York after police stopped him while riding a bicycle and found a .22 caliber revolver illegally in his possession. Wilson is due for release in April of next year. Though Wilson was erroneously identified in a 2016 press release and the New York Times article as a resident of New Hampshire, he was actually a resident of Buffalo, Barbara Burns, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Western District of New York, told DailyMail.com. Bulger's new cell with Wilson was on the same unit as Freddy Geas, a mafia hitman from Western Springfield, Massachusetts who is serving a life sentence. Geas had recently been paired with a new cellmate, McKinnon, who was arrested in Vermont in 2015. McKinnon is serving eight years for breaking into a gun store and stealing five .22 caliber handguns. Prosecutors say he traded the guns for drugs in Hartford, Connecticut. He is due to be released in 2022. The grave site of James Joseph 'Whitey' Bulger is seen at St Joseph's Cemetery in Boston earlier this month. Questions about his murder still remain a mystery Bulger arrived in his cell with Wilson after overnight lockdown had begun, according to reports. Lockdown was lifted at 6am and prisoners went to the mess hall for breakfast. At some point, according to security footage, a group of prisoners rolled Bulger's wheelchair into a corner of his cell. Differing reports have placed the size of the group as anywhere from two to six inmates. He was beaten with a lock in a sock and attempts were made to cut out his eyes and tongue, before the body was wrapped in a blanket to make it appear he was sleeping. Geas, DeCologero, Wilson and McKinnon were all immediately whisked into solitary, prison sources told the Times. Geas was quickly revealed as a suspect, followed days later by DeCologero. It is possible that Wilson and McKinnon were simply segregated to solitary to protect the integrity of the investigation, perhaps as witnesses. But the FBI's statement about the case to the Times adds a confusing twist to the mystery. Both Geas and DeCologero are from Massachusetts, but the FBI said its suspects are from elsewhere. 'The alleged assailants were not known to be threats nor had any known geographical ties to Bulger,' the statement said, adding that 'documented legal residence of both individuals' suspected in the murder 'was not Massachusetts.' The governor of Easter Island wept yesterday as she urged Britain to return a 800-year-old statue considered to represent one of her peoples ancestors. The four-ton, 7ft 10in Hoa Hakananaia is regarded as one of the most spiritually important of the Chilean islands 900 famous stone monoliths, or moai. Each of the figures is said to embody tribal leaders or deified ancestors. It was taken from the island, which lies in the Pacific more than 2,100 miles off the coast of Chile, in 1868 by Commodore Richard Powell, captain of HMS Topaze, who gave it to Queen Victoria. The governor of Easter Island Tarita Alarcon Rapu found the sight of the four-ton, 7ft 10in Hoa Hakananaia so emotional yesterday that she burst into tears as begged the museum to return it She donated it in 1869 to the British Museum, where it now stands at the entrance to Wellcome Trust Gallery. But Easter Islands indigenous community, the Rapa Nui, want Britain to give back the spiritually unique effigy. Governor Tarita Alarcon Rapu found the sight of the artefact so emotional yesterday that she burst into tears as she begged the museum to return it. The statue was taken from the island in 1868 by Commodore Richard Powell, captain of HMS Topaze, who gave it to Queen Victoria. It now lies at the entrance to Wellcome Trust Gallery in the British Museum She said: We are just a body. You, the British people, have our soul. The museum has faced other claims to return artefacts to their original homes, including the Elgin marbles to Greece and the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. A spokesman said the museum would only consider lending the statue out, adding: The museum is one of the worlds leading lenders. The trustees will always consider loan requests. The museum has faced other claims to return artefacts to their original homes, including the Elgin marbles to Greece and the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has taken a swipe at Donald Trump accusing his administration of dividing the nation - as friends confirm to DailyMailTV that he's building towards a 2020 run. In an exclusive interview Garcetti says 'it breaks my heart' to witness what he described as the damage Trump is doing, but feels there is opportunity for unity. He also pointedly avoided using the president's name, in a sign of the unifying message he is likely to see as his path to the Democratic nomination. The 47-year-old politician insisted that the nation could, with the right leadership, became a 'loving place that everybody belongs to,' and he promised 'less talk, more action.' This comes as close friends of the mayor told DailyMailTV that they believe Garcetti will throw his hat into the ring to fight for the Democratic nomination. He is likely to join a crowded field; there are already three registered candidates for the nomination and a slew of big names who have begun maneuvers, among them former vice president Joe Biden, California senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey senator Cory Booker and Ohio senator Sherrod Brown. Running: Friends say Eric Garcetti, pictured with his wife Amy Wakeland and daughter Maya Juanita and another child at the Grove Christmas tree lighting, is getting ready to bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination Rival: Eric Garcetti is considering a run against Donald Trump and told DailyMailTV he wanted a county which is united and where everybody feels they belong Star power: Eric Garcetti poses with Molly Sims on the red carpet of The Grove Christmas tree lighting, Behind the scenes he has been feeling out star power for a potential campaign Garcetti has already sounded out aides and friends in private about his 2020 run, taking advice from former campaign officials about possible tactics, DailyMailTV has learned. And behind closed doors he's already asked for support from celebrities in Hollywood and Democratic party figures. Speaking to DailyMailTV Garcetti spelled out the reasons why he feels he can make a difference to the US. Stopping short of officially confirming a presidential run, he boasted of how his near two decades in Los Angeles politics, first on the city council and five years as mayor has given him huge experience in achieving goals, while understanding the importance of 'humanity and compassion.' He joked that 'no rational person would run for president', but reckons his experience in office means he understands the 'sacrifice' needed to stay a 'real person.' He said: 'It breaks my heart to see a country that is told we are divided, that we don't know how to talk to each other, that we are either red or blue, heartland or coastal people. 'I think all of that is false. We know how to speak each other's language, it doesn't matter where we come from whether it is the Midwest or from Mexico. 'This is a loving place that everybody belongs, and so 20 years from now I hope we are well back to that place, where we are unified, we are thinking about how we can win the future again and we are getting stuff done. Less talk, more action.' Garcetti, who is from a political dynasty - his father Gil Garcetti served as L.A.'s district attorney for two terms - said that running for president will be strenuous. Asked if he has concerns, he replied: 'It is huge. I always joke no rational person would ever run for president, but no rational person would probably run for mayor. And it comes with huge sacrifice. 'You have to carve out time for your family, you have to carve time for your loved ones, to stay a real person and luckily I have done this for 17 years and I feel like the same person from the day before I was an honorable Eric Garcetti. 'My dad once told me "it is not your title that defines you, Eric." You have to know who you are the day you go in, because you have to know who you are on the day you go out - hopefully on your terms. 'And I think if you live for the work itself and what you are going to accomplish, and not the praise or worry about the criticism, you can get a lot done.' Garcetti will be able to draw from the experiences of his father, who as a two-term district attorney for Los Angeles from 1992 to 2000 was elected in the aftermath of the LAPD's beating of Rodney King and the riots which followed, then oversaw both the Menendez brothers and OJ Simpson murder trials. Garcetti says he will make a decision about whether he will run for president in 'around the turn of the year' - a stance he has maintained publicly. But close friends of the LA mayor have told DailyMailTV that the mayor feels he has the 'right appeal', 'experience' and 'understanding' to tackle Trump in 2020. In the last month Garcetti crossed the country to boost Democrats in the midterm elections, but used that trip to 'begin his strides and make alliances' to win the Democratic nomination, a close friend said. His friend says he wants to go 'head to head' with Trump in front of the nation to challenge Trump's regime and present ideas to 'help the struggling nation.' Campaign backing: As Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti might decide he is what Democrats want for a gift by Christmas 2020 The close friend said: 'Eric is 100 per cent running for president and is vying to be the Democratic choice. He may hint and play with media in his interviews, but he is already working on his campaign. 'He genuinely feels that he can be the best man for the job, and take down Trump in 2020. 'He has made allies within the party on his mid-term drive, sounding them out about his plans and proposals to win back the nation's votes.' He believes there is 'significant support', the friend said, among both party figures and - crucially - donors. Money from Los Angeles and its network of donors has become critical to Democrats in recent election cycles, with both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton proving adept at milking the liberal Hollywood elite to fund their campaigns. Garcetti has presented himself as a 'straight talking human being' when meeting donors, senior party figures - within the party hierarchy, and among party donors. He has emphasized his Hispanic background in the belief that he can energize a turnout from voters who have largely stayed out of presidential elections. Unlocking a new demographic would give him a potential path to the White House untested by previous candidates. 'Eric feels like he has a lot to offer voters, given his experiences in LA,' the friend said. 'One key selling point is that he is bilingual, which will prompt huge votes from the Hispanic communities. 'For the Democratic Party that could make a huge difference. His very public stance on supporting immigration from Central America will be popular too.' Garcetti, who was voted in for a second term as LA mayor last year, has been married to Amy Elaine Wakeland since 2009 and the couple has one adopted daughter Maya Juanita, six. They have also fostered several children over the past decade. He's a fourth generation Angeleno, the son of public servants and the grandson and great-grandson of immigrants from Mexico and Eastern Europe. He studied at Columbia University and attended Oxford University in the UK as a Rhodes Scholar, as did his wife. More mayors: Among the former mayors considered possible Democratic 2020 runners are San Antonio's Julian Castro and New York's Michael Bloomberg If he were to gain the Democratic nomination he would be both the first Jewish American and first Hispanic American candidate from a mainstream party, and the first west coast candidate since Ronald Reagan. Prior to being voted on to the L.A. City Council he was a visiting instructor of international affairs at the University of Southern California and an assistant professor of diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College. Garcetti has a long-established national Democratic profile, having stumped for Obama on 2007. However he has never mounted a wider run for office than in his home city. The possibility of a mayor running has become a theme of discussions as Democrats face a vast field of potential candidates. Other current or ex-mayors considered likely to look into a run include New Orleans' Mitch Landrieu; Julian Castro, who was mayor of San Antonio and an Obama secretary for Housing and Urban Development; and Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire New York ex-mayor; and Speaking at The Christmas Tree Lighting at The Grove shopping center in LA Sunday, bilingual Garcetti told DailyMailTV that immigrants can bolster international trade - as opposed to Trump's concerns that many foreigners are damaging the economy. And he said his ability to communicate in English and Spanish could be 'critical', adding: 'I think it is critical for us to embrace, especially in the competitive world, speaking multiple languages. 'And here in America where the Latino community has grown exonentially and some are four and fifth generation Latinos, some even longer; it is really important to speak to people in the languages that they understand and vice versa. 'It fills me with joy when I see kids who know Mandarin in public school in China Town because that is going to help us compete. 'Vice versa we are going to get more trade, more jobs by being able to interact with Latin America - yo estoy muy orgulloso - I am very proud.' He added that it was 'very clear' President Donald Trump is hostile to Latinos. The close friend said Garcetti is now mostly concerned about the timing of his announcement. 'It could be within the month, but may be held back until the start of the year to not get clouded or lost in the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday,' the friend said. Far right group the Proud Boys has been labeled an extremist organization by the FBI. The FBI's designation appeared in an internal affairs report by Washington State Police posted on Monday in regards to a fired employee who was linked to the controversial group. Although the document wasn't published to explicitly classify the group, it marked the first time the group has been publicly labeled as an 'extremist group with ties to white nationalism'. Erin Willey was fired from the Clark County Sheriff's Office in July after they were made aware of the photos of her dressed in Proud Boys clothing. A report on her firing reveals the FBI deem the Proud Boys an extremist group The FBI has officially classified the Proud Boys, led by Vice media co-founder Gavin McInnes (center), as an extremist organization with ties to white nationalism The far-right group that defines themselves as 'western chauvinists' has wreaked havoc in cities like Charlottesville and on college campuses across the nation. The document was an August 10 briefing report that investigated Clark County deputy Erin Willey. She was fired in July after she went viral for wearing a Proud Boys Girls sweatshirt, a female branch of the men-only group, according to The Guardian. The investigation report said: 'The FBI has warned local law enforcement agencies that the Proud Boys are actively recruiting in the Pacific Northwest and that some Proud Boy members have contributed to the recent escalation of violence at political rallies held on college campuses, and in cities like Charlottesville, Va., Portland, Ore., and Seattle.' The group founded in 2016 calls themselves 'western chauvinists' and promote an 'anti-political correctness' and 'anti-white guilt' agenda. The group pictured in Portland, Oregon jeering at Antifa members at a Proud Boys protest in August The FBI said: 'Proud Boy members have contributed to the recent escalation of violence at political rallies held on college campuses, and in cities like Charlottesville, Portland, and Seattle'. Members pictured at a Portland, Oregon riot above The Proud Boys was started by English-born and Canada-raised Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes in 2016. Who are The Proud Boys? The Proud Boys are an alt-right group established in the midst of the 2016 presidential election by Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes. They describe themselves as'western chauvinists' who spread an 'anti-political correctness' and 'anti-white guilt' agenda. The group claims it does not support white supremacist views but its members often appear at racist rallies and events, and leader share white nationalist memes and make anti-Muslim and misogynistic comments. Proud Boys have appeared alongside other hate groups at the infamous 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville The organization has been described as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Advertisement The group is for men exclusively and glorifies violence in politics, with members often appearing at racist rallies and events, despite denying supporting white supremacist views. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the group a a hate group and fronts as a fraternal group spreading 'anti-political correctness' and 'anti-white guilt' agenda. They're also known for anti-Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric. McInnes has denied involvement in the Unite the Right rally last year in Charlottesville that left on protester dead, after the FBI said the group was culpable in the violence that ensued. The group has made headlines over the past couple of months. In October several members were arrested after a street fight in New York. Facebook banned the group from Facebook and Instagram in October, taking down numerous of the group's pages. Many member profiles were suspended from Twitter earlier this year for violating policy 'prohibiting violent extremist groups'. Amazon and Paypal have also cut ties with the organization. Advertisement An Air Force rookie pilot crashed a $140million F-22 stealth fighter jet on the runway right after takeoff because they took off too slowly and pulled the nose up too early, an investigation has revealed. The student, using the callsign 'Topgun 65', was preparing for a training flight to perform BFM (Basic Fighter Maneuvers) against an F-18 Hornet when the aircraft ended up crashed at the Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, on April 13, 2018. Photos taken at the scene show the F-22A Raptor lying on the tarmac with its landing gear up. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Board concluded that the pilot crashed the plane because the pilot brought the nose up to early, failed to reach the right speed for take off and prematurely retracted the landing gear. The F-22 took off going 23 knots below the recommended speed, which was fast enough to leave the ground but too slow to keep the plane in the air. The crash prompted a retraining of all pilots using the aircraft to prevent more blunders in the future. An Air Force rookie pilot crashed a $140million F-22 stealth fighter jet on the runway just seconds after trying to take off because of basic errors, an investigation has revealed. The pilot in this case retracted the landing gear before flight could be maintained, resulting in the aircraft hitting the tarmac with the landing gear up The US Air Force has released the results of its investigation into the crash of a fighter jet, revealing the mishap was due to a common error by a TOPGUN student during a graduation exercise at a Nevada military base in April After the pilot brought the landing gear up, seconds after leaving the runway, the plane began to sink back down. The pilot safely got out of the aircraft and there were no other injuries. The cost and the extent of the damage has not been revealed. However, because proper takeoff speed had not been reached the plane could not maintain its airborne trajectory and returned to the runway with its landing gear retracted. The report found that early rotation was not only common to the pilot involved in the crash, but also to multiple TOPGUN students. The attempted flight was a TOPGUN graduation exercise, with the mission of flying 'to a predetermined point in the assigned airspace in order to fight Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) against a Navy F-18 Hornet.' Since the incident occurred, a review of proper takeoff and landing procedures was completed for all pilots to identify and eliminate any commonplace improper techniques that may be lingering, Business Insider reported. The F-22A Raptor stealth tactical fighter aircraft crash landed during takeoff at NAS Fallon in Nevada, at 10.45am Pacific Daylight Savings time on April 13; The pilot reportedly 'rotated' (or, caused the nose of the plane to lift) before the proper takeoff speed was reached, which proved to be done by many F-22 pilots The F-22A Raptor stealth tactical fighter aircraft crash landed during takeoff at NAS Fallon in Nevada, at 10.45am Pacific Daylight Savings time on April 13. The aircraft then slid 6514 feet on its underside before coming to rest 9,419 feet from the runway threshold, after which the pilot safely emerged from the plane. 'There were no injuries, fatalities, or damage to civilian property,' the report, signed by USAF Colonel Jacob Trigler, who is the president of Accident Investigation Board, read. 'The MP [mishap pilot] failed to ensure that he was operating the aircraft IAW [in accordance with] valid TOLD [takeoff and landing data] and then prematurely retracted the LG [landing gear],' the report read. 'If the MP had performed his takeoff sequence IAW the correct TOLD or if he delayed his LG retraction until the MA [mishap aircraft] had accelerated to the correct takeoff speed, this mishap would not have occurred.' The report acknowledged that although specific procedural errors made by the pilot are what caused the crash, the reason the pilot took those actions was at least partially due to improper training the pilot received. The aircraft that crashed was assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Wing out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska '[T]he organization factors contributing to this mishap were significant in influencing and shaping the MPs actions,' the report read. 'The technique of rotating early will not by itself cause this type of accident. However, rotating early starts a sequence of events that can lead to an early takeoff and early gear retraction. This situation is magnified when an aircraft is operating at a high elevation airfield where aircraft performance is decreased.' The report cited 'inadequate flight brief, organizational acceptance of an incorrect technique, formal training, and organizational overconfidence in equipment' substantially contributed to the mishap. Analysis showed that not only the pilot of this crashed plane, but also multiple TOPGUN pilots, displayed a habit of rotating at similar speeds, which was determined to be early in this case, given the conditions at NAS Fallon. 'There is a clear trend of rotating early among a significant number of F-22 pilots, including the MP, despite being aware of computed TOLD,' the report read. 'The AIB discovered that 80.4% of all pilots sampled became airborne greater than 5 knots before achieving their takeoff speed.' The report added: 'At sea level, this technique doesnt "hurt" the pilot substantially because of the acceleration and power of the F-22; however, it builds a bad habit which can be compounded when flying at high elevation airfields.' All but one F-22 base is located at sea level; NAS Fallon is not that base. The aircraft that crashed was assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Wing out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. An airborne F-22A Raptor stealth tactical fighter aircraft is pictured. The aircrafts cost $140million each Exactly 75 years ago, Michael Rosens great uncle and aunt boarded a train in Paris which took them to their deaths in a Nazi concentration camp. Today the British author, poet, illustrator and former Childrens Laureate was in the French capital at a moving ceremony remembering all those who were murdered on the infamous Convoy 62. Tuesdays solemn anniversary marked some 15 years of research by London-based Mr Rosen, 72, who was determined to piece together the story of Oscar Jeschie Rosen, who was 48 when he died, and his wife, Rachel, 33. There are so many people who lost mothers, fathers, uncles and aunts, and other family members the ceremony paid tribute to more than a thousand people from Convoy 62 who were killed, said Mr Rosen. British author Michael Rosen, 72, (pictured) travelled to Paris to pay tribute to his great aunt and uncle Oscar Jeschie Rosen, who was 48 when he died, and his wife, Rachel, 33, died after being taken to Aushwitz on the infamous convoy 62 death train Thousands of Jews were loaded onto trains which were then taken to death camps like Auschwitz throughout the war It was very moving, and its vitally important that these kind of ceremonies continue to be held. The world needs to know how genocide happens. Family in America only recently sent me pictures of Jeschie and Rachel they had been hidden in a sealed box up until 2016. Today Mr Rosen inspected Jeschie and Rachels names enshrined at the Paris Holocaust Memorial wall and, in pouring rain and freezing cold, read out their names, along with those of others murdered at Auschwitz concentration camp, then in Occupied Poland and part of the Third Reich. By grim coincidence, Jeschie was born in Oswiecim the town where Auschwitz camp was situated and worked as a clock mender during the 1930s, after serving in the Austro-Hungarian Army with Germanys Imperial forces during the First World War. He and Rachel originally fled Sedan, the French town in the Ardennes on the German border, following the Second World War German Blitzkrieg of 1940. They ended up in Niort, in western France, where Aryanisation laws meant they had to wear yellow stars and declare their family firm a Jewish Business. As persecution intensified, they made their way to Nice, where they hoped to travel to North Africa by boat. The holocaust memorial in Paris pays tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and names each one Michael Rosen's relatives' names are among those on the wall as they were killed during the Nazi occupation of France Bernard Montgomery had won his desert campaigns, and many Jews thought they could find safe haven across the Mediterranean. Instead the Nazis came to the Excelsior Hotel in Nice, where Jeschie and Rachel were within a couple of days of sailing. They were transported to the Drancy internment camp. Drancy, in a northern Paris suburb, had been run by French police up until July 1943, and by December the SS were in charge, and organising mass expulsions. Madeleine Levy, the 25-year-old granddaughter of Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish Army officer at the centre of an anti-Semitism scandal in France in the 1890s, was also killed Spurious reasons including listening to Radio London and black market activities were used to criminalise Jews, who were described as undesirables. A telex from Heinz Rothke, the SS chief of the Department of Jewish Affairs, to Adolf Eichmann in Berlin confirmed that at 11.50am on November 1943 a convoy of 1,200 Jews, including 150 children, would leave Paris-Bobigny station. Five days later, on November 25 2018, officials at Auschwitz reported that 1181 had arrived, and that 19 had escaped en route. They were mainly young men who had smuggled a saw on board the train, cut through the floor of a wagon, and dropped out when the convoy slowed down in a tunnel while still in France. The escapees included Jean Cahen-Salvador, who ended up escaping to neutral Switzerland with his wife and two young children. Cahen-Salvador became a senior civil servant and industrialist, and lived until 1995, but the vast majority of those aboard Convoy 62 were murdered. Many were gassed on arrival at Auschwitz and by 1945, a total of just 29 were still alive. These included all the children, some under the age of one. Those killed included Madeleine Levy, the 25-year-old granddaughter of Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish Army officer at the centre of an anti-Semitism scandal in France in the 1890s. Exactly 1,200 Jews were rounded up and sent to Auschwizt-Birkenau (pictured) on Convoy 62 Today Mr Rosen inspected Jeschie and Rachels names enshrined at the Paris Holocaust Memorial wall Some 67,000 French, Polish and German Jews were deported from Drancy between June 1942 and July 1944. They were brutalised not just by the Nazis, but by French police and paramilitaries, and then entrained on wagons belonging to SNCF, Frances national railway. It is only in recent years that the French have begun to acknowledged the part they played in the Holocaust. It was as recently as 1995 that the then conservative president Jacques Chirac finally publically admitted that French police and other authority figures had helped arrest 13,152 Jews on two days July 16 and 17 1942 in Paris. They included more than 4,000 children, and all were held at the so-called Vel dHiv cycle stadium before being entrained to camps such as Auschwitz. Mr Chirac said in 1995: Yes, French people, the French state, assisted the occupier in its criminal madness. The release of crucial records including those of the collaborating Paris police have made the work of historical researchers far easier. Mr Rosen is now planning to produce a mix of prose and poetry, pictures and maps which tell the story of Jeschie and Rachel. Jason Carlile, 47, has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14 and is being represented by a public defender, even though his mother and stepfather won a $15.25million lotto jackpot A convicted sex offender charged in Texas of raping a boy remains eligible for the services of a public defender, even though his stepfather had won more than $15million in the state lottery last month. Jason Wayne Carlile, 47, of Wichita Falls, was arrested in December 2017 on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14 stemming an incident that took place more than a decade earlier. Carlile, who has a history of sex crimes involving minors, was ordered held in jail on $100,000 bail, but he was freed earlier this month after his mother posted his bail, just days after her husband won a $15.25million jackpot. Carlile has pleaded not guilty in the latest case against him. His trial is scheduled to get under way on December 10, reported Wichita Falls Times Record News. During a hearing last week, the defendants 70-year-old mother, Joann Ames, told the court that she and her husband, 76-year-old Floyd Ames, have yet to claim their prize money, and that in order to bail ot her son, the elderly couple living on just over $6,000 a month emptied their savings account to pay a bondsman $10,000. Ames estimated that she and her spouse, who is Carliles stepfather, would take a lump sum payout totaling about $7million by the end of November. The mother went on to tell the lead prosecutor that her sex offender son has no bank account, no credit card, no car and no passport of his own. When Wichita County Assistant District Attorney Dobie Kosub asked Mrs Ames whether Carlile is indigent, the mother said he is. More than a decade ago, Carlile (left) was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for buying Tina Valdez's (right) 15-year-old daughter Judge Barney Fudge sided with Ames by ruling against revoking her son's indigent status, his parents' windfall notwithstanding. But he encouraged the Ames couple to use their soon-to-be newfound wealth to hire a private attorney to represent Carlile at trial as soon as possible. Carlile is currently free on bail. Under the conditions of his release, the 47-year-old has to wear a GPS monitor, reside with his mother and stay indoors between 7pm and 10am every day. The man was convicted and sentenced in 2007 to three years in prison for buying a 15-year-old girl from her mother in exchange for $3,000. Authorities investigating that case tracked Carlile and the victim to Mexico, where he was arrested and the girl was taken into protective custody. The teens mother, Tina Valdez, was later convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for selling her child. Also in 2007, Carlile was convicted of indecency with a child for exposing himself to a two-year-old back in 1994. As part of his sentence, Carlile was required to register as a sex offender until 2020. By Azernews By Leman Mammadova For many years, Turkey and Russia have had close cooperation in the energy sector. Russian gas plays a crucial role to meet Turkey's energy needs. Turkey, the second largest gas importer from Russia, currently imports Russian gas via Trans-Balkan Pipeline through Ukraine and the Blue Stream pipeline which runs across the Black Sea. After the crisis in Ukraine, Russia is eager to establish new energy routes in which Ukraine will not be a transit country to deliver its gas to European markets. One of these energy routes is the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, which will be realized in the near future. This project will further strengthen Turkey's position as a center of important energy projects in the region. The offshore area of the long-awaited Turkish Stream gas pipeline was launched on November 19, 2018. The opening ceremony was attended by the Turkish and Russian Presidents. Russian President Vladimir Putin defined Turkish Stream as good example of an ability to stand up for one's own national interests which is constructive. New gas pipeline project from Russia to Turkey was proposed by Putin for the first time in 2014. In the same year, Gazprom and Botash Corporations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to construct a gas pipeline running across the Black Sea to Turkey. After the crisis over the jet incident between countries in November 2015, negotiations with Turkey on Turkish Stream were suspended. In 2016, after an apology to Russia, the governments signed the Agreement on the Turkish Stream project. Next year, construction of the pipeline was launched near the Russian coast in the Black Sea. The Turkish Stream project envisages transportation of 31.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually by construction of two lines from the Russian port in Black Sea, Anapa, to Kiyikoy, the European part of Turkey, and then to the Greek border, Ipsala. The first line of the pipeline is intended to supply gas for the Turkish market, and the second - to the South and South-East European countries. The capacity of each line is 15.75 billion cubic meters. The first line of the pipeline will meet about 35 percent of Turkey's natural gas demand. Turkey has received 387 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia since 1987, having imported about 29 billion cubic meters last year. The offshore part that is already completed is 930 km of 1,300 km total length pipeline. The main reservoir of the pipeline will be natural gas produced in New Urengoy. As many as 12 trillion cubic meters of natural gas in New Urengoy constitutes 70 percent of the total reserves of Gazprom. The project cost estimated at $ 7 billion. Gazprom will spend $ 3.2 billion in the current year on the Turkish Stream. At present, the underground part of pipeline is not ready. The length of this area will be 180 km. The Turkish Stream is expected to be launched after examination in December 2019. Meanwhile, the EU and the U.S. who are not satisfied with the Russian monopoly in the European energy market, are interested in the delivery of Turkmen gas to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor. Saudi activists, including a number of women, who have been imprisoned for the last six months, have been tortured and sexually harassed in jail, a human rights group has claimed. Several activists being detained in Saudi Arabia's Dhahban Prison, have reportedly faced sexual harassment, torture and ill-treatment during interrogation, Amnesty International said today. Saudi Arabia has detained at least ten women and seven men since a crackdown against dissidents in May on 'national security' allegations related to their human rights work. According to three separate testimonies obtained by Amnesty, the activists were repeatedly tortured by electrocution and flogging, leaving some unable to walk or stand properly. In one reported instance, one of the activists was made to hang from the ceiling, and according to another statement, one of the detained women was reportedly subjected to sexual harassment, by interrogators wearing face masks. Loujain al-Hathloul (right) was arrested over her human rights work earlier this year. She is pictured after befriending Megan Markel at the summit in Ottawa last year. It is not known if she is among the detainees reportedly being tortured Many of the detainees, who have been held without charge since May, suffered uncontrolled shaking of their hands and were left with marks on their bodies. One of the activists reportedly attempted to take her own life repeatedly inside the prison. Torture and other ill-treatment in Saudi Arabian prisons and detention centres have been routinely and widely reported in the past, in violation of its obligations under international law including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Many detainees have reported during trials that torture was used to extract 'confessions' from them, to punish them for refusing to 'repent' or to force them to promise not to criticise the government. Such 'confessions' have furthermore routinely formed the basis for harsh sentences, including the death penalty, without the judiciary taking any steps to duly investigate these claims. Several activists who were arbitrarily detained in a crackdown in May, which saw a number of human rights campaigners, held without charge, with no legal representation and in solitary confinement for the first three months of their detention. Samar Badawi, who is detained in Dhahban Prison, was presented with her International Women of Courage Award by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the-then First Lady Michelle Obama in Washington in 2012 Those detained in Dhahban Prison include Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan, Aziza al-Yousef, Samar Badawi, Nassima al-Sada, Mohammad al-Rabe'a and Dr Ibrahim al-Modeimigh. Award-winning women's rights campaigner, Samar Badawi, and Nassima al-Sada were arrested two days apart in August as the crackdown intensified. Women's rights activists Nouf Abdulaziz and Maya'a al-Zahran were detained in the ensuing months and remain in detention without charge. Before being arrested al-Hathloul befriended Meghan Markle at a summit of global leaders in Ottawa, Canada, also attended by Justin Trudeau, Kofi Annan and Emma Watson in July last year. In 2012 Badawi was presented with the US State Department's International Women of Courage Award by the-then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and First Lady at the time, Michelle Obama for challenging the guardianship system with operates in the ultra-conservative kingdom that means women have to be accompanied in public by a male relative. Nassima al-Sada was arrested two days after Badawi in August as the crackdown by the Saudi regime against dissidents intensified Other activists such as Mohammed al-Bajadi and Khalid al-Omeir, as well as Hatoon al-Fassi, a prominent women's rights activist and academic, were also reportedly detained shortly after the lifting of a ban on women driving in the kingdom. Last week, Hatoon al-Fassi received the Middle East Studies Association Academic Freedom Award, which was awarded in her absence at the association's annual meeting. Activists report that many others, including other women's rights activists, have also been detained since the crackdown in May. But the escalated crackdown on dissenting voices has had a chilling effect on freedom of expression in the country, intensifying an already existing environment of fear for people to report on arrests and other violations. Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International's Middle East research director, said the murder of the Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month also threatens the human rights of Saudi citizens. She added: 'Only a few weeks after the ruthless killing of Jamal Khashoggi, these shocking reports of torture, sexual harassment and other forms of ill-treatment, if verified, expose further outrageous human rights violations by the Saudi authorities. Mohammed al-Bajadi founded the Saudi Civil and Political Human Rights Association in 2009 and was reportedly detained along with two other activists shortly after the ban on women driving was lifted 'Saudi authorities are directly responsible for the well-being of these women and men in detention. Not only have they been deprived them of their liberty for months now, simply for peacefully expressing their views, they are also subjecting them to horrendous physical suffering'. 'The Saudi authorities must immediately and unconditionally release detained human rights defenders who are being held solely for their peaceful human rights work and launch a prompt, thorough and effective investigation into the reports of torture and other ill-treatment with the view of holding those responsible to account. 'The international community must take substantive measures to put pressure on Saudi Arabia to immediately and unconditionally release all those jailed for peacefully exercising their human rights.' Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman lifted restrictions such as the ban on women driving and previously said the abaya robe was mandatory in Islam but he has been criticised for an increased crackdown on dissidents by the regime Last month Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor announced he was seeking the death penalty against five human rights activists, including for the first time a woman. The five stand accused of inciting mass protests in mainly Shiite areas of the Sunni-ruled kingdom's oil-rich Eastern Province and human rights groups charged that the execution threat was a calculated bid to stifle dissent. Female activist, Israa al-Ghomgham, who documented the protests in Eastern Province since they began in 2011, would be the first woman to face the death sentence for human rights-related work. Stomach-churning footage shows the construction of Europe's tallest building under extreme weather conditions. In the dizzying video, viewers are given a glimpse of how the 87-storey Lakhta Tower, located in Saint Petersburg, Russia, was pieced together at incredible elevations. Footage shows how four tower cranes were in continuous operation during the building's construction. Incredible footage from more than 400 metres up in the air shows the construction of the Lakhta Tower, Europe's tallest building, under extreme weather conditions During the tower's construction four tower cranes were in continuous operation under all weather conditions The 87-storey tower is located in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and service technician Ivan Dikun had to ensure that construction ran smoothly During its development, Liebherr service technician Ivan Dikun had to ensure that the construction of the tower ran smoothly at more than 400 metres up in the air. In the video, viewers watch in anticipation as he is seen walking along the jib of the tower crane and continuously having to rehook himself onto the guide rope in case he falls. On Liebherr's website Mr Dikun said: 'We always need to think about our own safety and that of the other workers no matter how high up we are.' The team behind the innovation not only had to work at record-breaking heights but they also had to endure temperatures that dropped to -32C and winds that reached more than 130 km/h. The team behind the innovation had to endure temperatures that dropped to -32C and winds that reached more than 130 km/h In the video the service technician is seen walking along the jib of the tower crane and continuously having to rehook himself onto the guide rope Dizzying footage of the tower's construction, which began in 2015, has gathered more than 106,000 views on YouTube Construction of the 462 metre skyscraper began in 2015 and each construction phase was precisely mapped out. Footage of the tower's construction has since gathered more than 106,000 views on YouTube. One user wrote: 'Awesome video! But, that's exactly why I don't operate tower cranes. My hard hats off to those who do. Stay safe out there!' Donald Trump reiterated his stance after refusing to sanction Saudi Arabia and its crown prince over Jamal Khashoggi's death with a simple two-word tweet Tuesday night. 'America First!,' Trump tweeted after earlier Tuesday defiantly refusing to sanction Saudi Arabia and its de facto leader, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for the torture and murder of journalist Khashoggi. Speaking before he boarded Marine One for the first leg of a trip to Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving, he refused to retreat from a claim he had made in a written statement that there was no certainty bin Salman ordered the brutal killing of the dissident Washington Post columnist and that sanctioning him and the kingdom would cost American jobs. Russia and China would sweep in and take Saudi investments for themselves, he claimed. He also denied he had any personal business interest in the Saudi economy, claiming that being president had cost him 'a fortune like you have never seen.' Trump spoke after the White House issued an exclamation point-littered statement on Khashoggi's killing that went against a reported CIA assessment that it was high probable bin Salman ordered the journalist's murder. His position entirely ignored the CIA's findings and prompted an immediate backlash from prominent senators. But on the White House's South Lawn Trump explained: 'It is all about America first - it is America first. 'We're not going to give up hundreds of billions of dollars of orders and let Russia, China, everybody else have them,' he said. Trump took to Twitter on Tuesday evening tweeting 'America First' America first: Trump defiantly said he would not blame Mohammed bin Salman for Jamal Khashoggi's murder because he did not want to 'break with Saudi Arabia.' That's all folks: Trump spoke before he got on Marine One to begin his journey to Mar-a-Lago Trump suggested that among the deals which would be at stake were investment in military equipment made by Saudi Arabia, which he claimed was part of a $400 billion investment by Saudi in the U.S. 'They're paying us 400 billion plus,' he claimed. 'That's probably the biggest amount ever paid to the United States. This is over a long period of time.' In the past, the president has claimed a $110 billion investment from the Saudis in defense equipment that would disappear if the U.S. sanctioned the nation's military sector. 'If you think I'm going to let Russia have that money or those things, if you think I'm going to let China make the military equipment hey, China and Russia would love to make a hundred billion dollars worth of military equipment from Saudi Arabia. We have the contracts. They wanted those contracts,' he said on Tuesday. 'That would be a big fat beautiful gift to Russia and China. They are not going to get that gift.' He also said that he believed Saudis would send up global oil prices, which he took personal credit for keeping low. 'Saudi Arabia, if we break with them, I think your oil prices would go through the roof,' he said. 'I've kept them down. They've helped me keep them down.' If he were to act against the kingdom, Trump suggested there would be a global economic meltdown. 'Right now we have oil prices in great shape. I'm not going to destroy the world economy, and I'm not going to destroy the economy for our country by being foolish with Saudi Arabia.' He added, 'I think the statement was pretty obvious what I said. It's about America First.' Trump also denied that he had any personal financial interest in Saudi Arabia, saying: 'Well I have nothing to do with Saudi just so you understand. 'I don't make deals with Saudi Arabia. I don't have money from Saudi Arabia. I have nothing to do with Saudi Arabia. I couldn't care less,' he insisted. 'As most of you know, being president has cost me a fortune, and that's okay with me. I knew that a long time ago.' He said the presidency has cost him more than he's profited, although he refused to say how much. 'Being president has cost me a fortune. A tremendous fortune like you've never seen before. But some day I'll tell you what that is.' His claims came in response to the critical reception that a lengthy written statement defending Saudi Arabia had received. Before he pardoned two Thanksgiving turkeys, Trump indicated that he wasn't convinced by the CIA's version of the events leading to Khashoggi's death. 'Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didn't!' the president said. The CIA has determined that Mohammed bin Salman not only knew about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, but that he ordered it. But Trump, in a lengthy statement just before he pardoned two Thanksgiving turkeys, said he wasn't convinced Trump's intervention serves to prop up MBS, who is a close ally of Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, at a time when the top of the wider Saudi royal family is no longer united in backing him. One of his uncles is being suggested as the next king by other family members, leaving MBS more politically exposed than he had been before the furor over the murder. The president's was warned by two Republican senators who he sees as key allies, Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul, that he was wrong not to sanction Saudi Arabia and MBS, even though he left the option open to Congess. Graham said it is not in U.S. national security interests to 'look the other way when it comes to the brutal murder' of Khashoggi. The South Carolina senator said he thinks there will be strong bipartisan support in Congress for serious sanctions against Saudi Arabia and members of the royal family. Paul also said it was a 'mistake' for Trump to continue supporting arms sales to the Saudis, saying 'it's a sign of weakness not to stand up to Saudi Arabia.' The Kentucky senator has been trying to convince Trump to halt the $100 billion in arms sales that Trump says Saudi Arabia already committed to. Paul said Trump's position signals that Saudi Arabia can 'just behead anybody that protests against the kingdom.' He also said selling arms is not a 'jobs program,' and the U.S. should not reward Saudi Arabia's 'bad behavior.' He claimed he has the votes in the Senate to block it. Trump's stunning statement came hours before the president was due to depart the White House for a family holiday at Mar-a-Lago. And it was just days after the president admitted he had not listened to an audio tape provided by the Turkish government of Khashoggi's murder, because it was too gruesome. 'It was very violent, very vicious and terrible,' Trump told told Fox News on Friday. Turmp said then that he didn't know if MBS was lying to him when he told him that he had no knowledge of the murder. In the interview for Fox News Sunday the president replied: '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 explained. The president on Tuesday said that he was still open to sanctions that could be imposed by Congress in the lame duck session but would only support them if they were in the United States' national security interests. He insisted, 'The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone.' Yet, the U.S. president said he would take no further action because the United States' relationship with Saudi Arabia is too valuable. 'That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,' he again asserted. His statement, sent early Tuesday afternoon, claimed, 'They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region.' Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif fired back on Twitter. 'Mr. Trump bizarrely devotes the FIRST paragraph of his shameful statement on Saudi atrocities to accuse IRAN of every sort of malfeasance he can think of. Perhaps we're also responsible for the California fires, because we didn't help rake the forests - just like the Finns do?' The comment was a jab at Trump's claim in an interview that wildfires could be prevented by better raking of weeds and underneath trees. MBS pal Jared Kushner is pictured with his family at the president's turkey pardoning minutes after the statement went out on Tuesday TRUMP'S EXCLAMATION POINT LITTERED STATEMENT ON WHY HE WON'T BLAME SAUDI ARABIA FOR MURDER OF JAMAL KHASHOGGI Statement from President Donald J. Trump on Standing with Saudi Arabia America First! The world is a very dangerous place! The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraq's fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, 'Death to America!' and 'Death to Israel!' Iran is considered 'the world's leading sponsor of terror.' On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism. After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States! The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body. Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an 'enemy of the state' and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didn't! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world! I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America. After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels so important for the world. As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First! Advertisement In addition to invoking Iran, Trump had contended the United States has already taken 'strong action' against the alleged perpetrators of the crime that MBS says he wasn't aware of. 'After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body,' he said. Members of Congress, including expected House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, were incredulous at Trump's statement on Tuesday. 'It is true that our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, not just its Crown Prince, and that must factor into our response. But to suggest 'maybe he did and maybe he didn't' or that we are incapable of finding out the truth, or that knowing the truth our silence can be bought with arms sales, undermines respect for the Office of the Presidency, the credibility of our intelligence community and America's standing as a champion of human rights,' Schiff responded. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, another California Democrat, said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, 'I'm shocked that President Trump said there will be no punishment for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.' 'I plan to vote against any future arms sales and appropriation to Saudi Arabia. I also believe that the United States should consider sanctions against the crown prince and that the Saudi ambassador to the United States should not be allowed to continue in that role,' she insisted. Trump in a rebuttal to the complaints had said in his comments that he understands if Congress wants to pursue a different course of action than he did. 'I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction - and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America,' he argued. He specifically noted that Saudi Arabia is a large producer of oil. 'They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels so important for the world,' he said. 'As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!' JAMAL KHASHOGGI'S PUBLISHER VENTS FURY AT TRUMP'S 'BETRAYAL' OF VALUES Washington Post Publisher and CEO Fred Ryan said: President Trump's response to the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a betrayal of long-established American values of respect for human rights and the expectation of trust and honesty in our strategic relationships. He is placing personal relationships and commercial interests above American interests in his desire to continue to do business as usual with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. The Central Intelligence Agency has thoroughly investigated the murder of this innocent journalist and concluded with high confidence that it was directed by the Crown Prince. If there is reason to doubt the findings of the CIA, President Trump should immediately make that evidence public. President Trump is correct in saying the world is a very dangerous place. His surrender to this state-oriented murder will only make it more so. An innocent man, brutally slain, deserves better, as does the cause of truth and justice and human rights. In this failure of leadership from President Trump, it now falls to Congress to stand up for America's true values and lasting interests. Advertisement At the White House on Monday, the president's counselor, Kellyanne Conway had insisted that sanctions were not permanently off the table after launching a passionate defense of the president's actions so far. She said that Trump would make a decision after reading an intelligence community report. Vice President Mike Pence had told reporters while he was in Australia that the U.S would hold 'all of those who are responsible' for the murder accountable. '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,' Pence told reporters traveling with him on Saturday. Trump then released a puzzling statement defending the Saudis and the crown prince. 'King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi,' he again pointed out. It was more love than MBS was getting from inside the royal family. Sources close to the royal court told Reuters that princes and cousins from inside the Al Saud family are asking for a change in the line of succession. They acknowledged that the 82-year-old king is unlikely to ditch his son, however. A Washington Post report over the weekend said the U.S. had high confidence in a CIA assessment that MBS would have been knowledgeable about events happening in the kingdom he effectively rules. The CIA's confidence level was lifted, CNN reported, after receiving an audio tape provided to the U.S. by the Turkish government earlier this month. Khashoggi can be heard ordering his killers to release him in the audio recording of his murder, before one of the killers shouts: 'Traitor! You will be brought to account,' according to Turkish media. The audio allegedly also includes a conversation between members of the 'hit squad' during which one of them complains about having to wear Khashoggi's clothing to act as a decoy after his murder. Shortly after entering the consulate in Istanbul, according to Haberturk, the journalist can also be heard saying, 'Release my arm! What do you think you are doing?' The exchange is followed by 'a verbal quarrel, noises of a physical fight and then beating and torture', the newspaper reported. More than an hour after Khashoggi enters the consulate, a male voice can allegedly be heard saying 'it is spooky to wear the clothes of a man whom we killed 20 minutes ago.' The 59-year-old Washington Post journalist was last seen entering the building on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his upcoming marriage to his Turkish fiancee. According to Turkish officials, the audio recording proves that Khashoggi was strangled to death and dismembered soon after entering the consulate. At the State Department, the nation's chief diplomat, Mike Pompeo, echoed the president at a press briefing, telling reporters, 'As the president said today, the United States will continue to have a relationship with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.' 'This is a long, historic commitment and one that is absolutely vital to Americans' national security,' he said. In Saudi Arabia, the Khashoggi murder has opened an opportunity to seize power from the Crown Prince. Members of the House of Saud are seeking to find an alternative successor to the throne and prevent MBS from becoming king, sources close to the royal court said. Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 76, younger full brother of King Salman and uncle to the crown prince is the preferred candidate for the throne, according to sources within the Suadi court A preferred candidate is Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 76, younger full brother of King Salman and uncle to the crown prince. King Salman's only surviving brother flirted with power in London in October as he appeared to distance himself from the king and crown prince over the Khashoggi murder. Prince Ahmed was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling family's senior members, who opposed MBS becoming crown prince in 2017, two Saudi sources said at the time. Unlike European monarchies the House of Saud is made up of hundreds of princes, with the power of succession drawn across tribal lines, rather than automatically going to the eldest son. Each branch of the dynasty is consulted before a new king succeeds. King Salman, 82, made a speech in Riyadh on Monday where he backed his son and made no direct reference to Khashoggi's murder, except to praise the Saudi prosecutor 'Release my arm! What do you think you are doing?': Transcript from 'recording of Khashoggi murder' reveals hit squad member warned: 'Traitor! You will be brought to account' Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi can be heard ordering his killers to release him in the audio recording of his murder, before one of the killers shouts: 'Traitor! You will be brought to account,' according to Turkish media. The audio allegedly also includes a conversation between members of the 'hit squad' during which one of them complains about having to wear Khashoggi's clothing to act as a decoy after his murder. The 59-year-old Washington Post journalist was last seen entering the building on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his upcoming marriage to his Turkish fiancee. According to Turkish officials, the audio recording shows that Khashoggi was strangled to death and dismembered soon after entering the consulate. The journalist can be heard saying 'Release my arm! What do you think you are doing?,' shortly after entering the consulate in Istanbul, according to Haberturk. This is followed by 'a verbal quarrel, noises of a physical fight and then beating and torture', the newspaper reported. More than an hour after Khashoggi enters the consulate, a male voice can allegedly be heard saying 'it is spooky to wear the clothes of a man whom we killed 20 minutes ago.' He complains about Khashoggi's shoes being too small, and is told he is allowed to wear his own trainers. This is thought to be the voice of a man identified by Turkish officials as Mustafa al-Madani, who was captured on CCTV walking by Istanbul's famous Blue Mosque in what appears to be Khashoggi's clothes, a few hours later. In the footage he can be seen wearing black and white trainers - different to Khashoggi's black leather shoes clearly visible on the CCTV from the moment when he entered the consulate. According to Turkish officials, the audio recording shows Jamal Khashoggi was strangled to death and dismembered soon after entering the consulate Final moments: Jamal Khashoggi is pictured arriving at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, the day he was killed Body double: A man seen on CCTV a few hours later appearing to be wearing Khashoggi's clothing Saudi Arabia has offered shifting accounts of what happened, initially saying Khashoggi left the embassy after receiving his documents and later that he was killed when an argument degenerated into a fistfight. In the latest version, the Saudi prosecutor said a 15-member team went to Istanbul to bring Khashoggi back to the kingdom 'by means of persuasion', but killed him instead in a rogue operation. Despite allegations of the contrary, the Saudi prosecutor last week exonerated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of involvement in the murder. Saudi Arabia has called for the death penalty against five men, announced indictments against 11 people and said a total of 21 individuals were in custody in connection with the killing. The United States has sanctioned 17 Saudis for the crime, including close aides of Prince Mohammed, and is set to make final conclusions this week over the killing. President Donald Trump, who has praised Saudi Arabia as a 'truly spectacular ally', has refrained from blaming Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite the the CIA's reported assessment that he was behind the killing. The quotes from the audio were published a day after Turkey's foreign minister met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discussed the murder. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed Yemen, Syria and the murder of Khashoggi during a brief meeting with Guterres at UN headquarters in New York, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Turkey has called for an international investigation of the killing of Khashoggi, but there was no formal request for a UN investigation, a spokesman said. The UN spokesman said Guterres would want to have support from a UN body such as the Security Council or the General Assembly to set up an investigation. The United Nations has previously investigated the death of Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto and a UN-backed special tribunal was set up to try those responsible for the assassination of Lebanon's ex-prime minister Rafic Hariri. Police in Washington State have apologized for helping the owner of a frozen yogurt shop kick out a black man because employees said they felt uncomfortable. Ramon Cruz, the owner of Menchie's, a frozen-yogurt franchise located in Kirkland, called police on Byron Ragland, 31, on November 7, according to a police report. Ragland, who works as a court-appointed special advocate, was supervising a court-sanctioned outing between a mother and her 12-year-old son who wanted ice cream at the time. The mother and child are both white. Officers from the Kirkland Police Department responded and told him that the owner wanted him to leave. Ragland left without incident. Cruz said he had called police on Ragland after his employees said they were 'kind of scared because he looks suspicious'. Washington state police have apologized for helping the owner of frozen yogurt shop kick out Byron Ragland (pictured), 31, who is black, after employees said they felt uncomfortable Ramon Cruz, the owner of Menchie's, a frozen-yogurt franchise located in Kirkland, called police on Ragland on November 7, according to a police report. On Monday, police (pictured) of Kirkland apologized to Ragland over the incident Police arrived and requested Ragland's 'full information' and the names of the woman and boy he was with, according to a police report. 'They asked me to leave,' Ragland said. 'They asked for my ID. They told me the manager had been watching me and wanted me to move along.' Ragland, a nine-year Air Force veteran, told officers the request to leave was 'not necessary' but left the store without complaining. Outrage over the incident led police to announce that they've launched an internal investigation. The city also apologized in a press statement on Monday. 'The City of Kirkland and the Kirkland Police Department would like to extend our sincerest apologies to Mr. Byron Ragland and the residents and businesses of Kirkland,' City Manager Kurt Triplett and Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris said in the joint statement. According to the statement, the city's 'initial assessment showed that the interaction that occurred did not meet the expectations of our community or the high standards we set for ourselves'. Cruz, the owner of Menchie's, said he had called police on Ragland (center) after his employees said they were 'kind of scared because he looks suspicious' Cruz also apologized on Monday. The owner said he had previously encouraged employees to call the police if they felt uncomfortable but will now instruct them to call him. Ragland is seen during a press conference outside Menchie's on Tuesday 'As a result, Mr. Ragland and the other individuals with him were left feeling unwelcome in Kirkland. No one regrets this more than the men and women of the Kirkland Police Department. We are truly sorry,' the statement read. Authorities did not say if the officers violated any laws or policies. Cruz also apologized on Monday. The owner said he had previously encouraged employees to call the police if they felt uncomfortable but will now instruct them to call him. Cruz said he will then visit the store and determine whether to call police. The incident follows the high-profile arrests of two black men at a Starbucks coffee shop in Philadelphia in April after a manager called police to say they refused to make a purchase or leave. A High Court judge has barred opponents of foxhunting from trespassing on land used by a hunt. Mr Justice Freedman slapped the ban on anti hunt groups after operators of the Fitzwilliam (Milton) Hunt, which has stables in Peterborough, took legal action. The enforcement of the ban follows several violent clashes between pro and anti hunt groups on the land. This is the terrifying moment a group of anti-hunt demonstrators had their car smashed up on land used by the Fitzwilliam (Milton) Hunt The judge outlined his decision in a ruling following a High Court hearing in London. He granted injunctions against a number of named people plus 'persons unknown'. Hunt operators had complained about trespass and made allegations of intimidation and harassment. Opponents had disputed their complaints and allegations. Mr Justice Freedman said claims and counter-claims could be fully analysed at a trial and added the injunctions might be lifted following any trial. The back window of the car was shattered and several occupants claim to have received injuries from the broken glass He said injunctions 'until trial or further order' barring trespass would protect property rights and reduce the risk of disturbance, injury or damage. In February, North Cambridgeshire Hunt Saboteurs Association were monitoring the Fitzwilliam Hunt when they were set upon by a handful of men in tweed flat caps in a narrow country lane. Footage published by MailOnline shows the hunt saboteurs' car surrounded by the high-powered vehicles, with one skidding in front of them to block them in, before four people jump out. One then approaches the saboteur's car with what appears to be a torch and smashes in several of their windows. The Hunting Act came into force on February 18, 2005, and banned the hunting of mammals with dogs in England and Wale Advertisement President Donald Trump pardoned Peas the Thanksgiving turkey on Tuesday in a ceremony filled with tongue-in-cheek jokes about vote counting, recounts, subpoenas and judicial power. 'I am pleased to announce that today's lucky bird and guest of honor is named Peas along with his alternate named Carrots,' Trump said with first lady Melania Trump at his side. 'The winner of this vote was decided by a fair and open election conducted on the White House website. This was a fair election. Unfortunately Carrots refused to concede and demanded a recount and we are fighting with Carrots. We have come to a conclusion. Carrots, I'm sorry to tell you the result did not change. Too bad for Carrots.' Trump, in his remarks, wished Americans a happy Thanksgiving season and encouraged the country to unite together - but he couldn't resist getting in a few digs at Democrats. PEAS GETS THE PARDON: President Trump pardoned Peas the turkey at a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden Tuesday President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump took part in the annual turkey pardoning ceremony before leaving for Mar-a-Lago for the holiday FAMILY AFFAIR: White House senior advisors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner sit with their children Arabella, Theodore and Joseph Kushner One of the turkeys before the event got started The president got in a few jokes about the recent midterm election, which saw Democrats win control of the House of Representatives and the state of Florida undergo a lengthy recount process. 'Even though Peas and Carrots have received a presidential pardon, I have warned them that House Democrats are likely to issue them both subpoenas,' he said in reference to the investigations of his administration that are expended to happen next year. 'None the less in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I will be issuing both Peas and Carrots a presidential pardon. Unfortunately I can't guarantee that they won't be enjoined by the ninth circuit. Always happens. They are guaranteed. All joking aside, this is a time for Americans to unite together,' the president said, in reference to the liberal judges in that federal court jurisdiction. Melania Trump, dressed in a $9,400 Dior jacket, didn't speak as she watched her husband dispense in the annual tradition. The first couple left for Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday afternoon to spend the Thanksgiving holiday. After the president's remarks, Trump officially pardoned the bird. The first couple approached a table and watched as a handler lifted Peas onto the table. Trump raised his hand over the bird in Charlton Heston parting-of-the-Red-Sea fashion. 'Peas, I hereby grant you a full pardon,' he said, earning laughter and applause. Trump gave the bird a little pat, thanked the crowd and departed with his wife. The Marine Band played 'God Bless America' as he walked back toward the Oval Office. First daughter Ivanka Trump, husband Jared Kushner and their three children - Arabella, Theodore and Joseph Kushner - joined the annual festivities, which help kick off the holiday season at the White House. It was her first public appearance since The Washington Post revealed her use of private email to conduct White House business. Her and the children checked out one birds before the ceremony began. Peas beat out Carrots in an online poll to be pardoned by the president Trump gave the turkey a pat after its pardon Melania Trump was dressed in Dior The first lady's jacket retails for $9,400 President Donald Trump pauses to smile at first lady Melania Trump as he speaks during a ceremony to pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey The turkeys are the first from South Dakota to be given a presidential pardon. Peas is 30 inches high, weighs 39 pounds, and likes to eat popcorn, according to the White House. Carrots is 32 inches high, weighs 41 pounds and prefers to snack on M&Ms. Other VIPs in the crowd included South Dakota Governor-elect Kristi Noem and Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the daughter of the former vice president. This years presentation marks the 71st anniversary of a tradition that has continued now through 13 successive administrations. The tradition got a pre-game warmup on Tuesday with a briefing room visit by one of the white birds. Press aides refused to say whether the visitor was 'Peas' or 'Carrots,' the pair of birds chosen from a flock of 50 to compete in an online poll whose winner gets Trump's clemency and a lifetime of ease at a Virginia Tech University agriculture research center. Photographers made 'gobble' noises. One reporter shouted a question to the bird about whether it had promised anything in exchange for his pardon. The turkey was too short for the podium that Press Secretary Sarah Sanders usually occupies, and eventually offered only its signature sound. Ivanka Trump and her children check out one of the turkeys before the ceremony South Dakota Governor Elect Kristi Noem attended the turkey pardoning Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, daughter of the former vice president, also attended A turkey was brought to the White House press briefing room on Tuesday before President Donald Trump was scheduled to 'pardon' one of two birds named 'Peas' and 'Carrots' It was a windy day in Washington D.C. for the turkey pardoning Ivanka Trump wore a $169 coat from Zara and $15.90 headband This is the first year the presidential turkeys, furnished by the National Turkey Federation, came from a grower in South Dakota. Ruben Waldner, whose farm is near the town of Huron, brought them. The turkey trade group said Waldner prepared them for the pressures of the White House 'from an early age by acclimating the turkeys to the sounds of a crowd, bright camera lights and standing comfortably on a table.' But first came the harsh lights of the briefing room that used to host Sean Spicer and now is Sanders' occasional haunt. Jeff Sven, the NTF's chairman, accompanied the fowl and coaxed it out of a carrying crate with a 'Come on, buddy!' After some wing-stretching and a cascade of camera-shutter noises, its four-minute visit quickly ended. but not until it took a few steps away from the cage. 'Come on, buddy,' Sveen said again. This years presentation marks the 71st anniversary of a tradition that has continued now through 13 successive administrations Young Theodore Kushner sucks his thumb as he waits for the turkey pardoning to begin White House press aides refused to say which bird was the unexpected guest, but it posed amid a cascade of camera shutter clicks The presidential turkey pardoning tradition goes back to 1947, when Harry S. Truman was president. Thirteen successive administrations have taken part. This year's two birds, one of which will officially serve as the 'alternate,' were originally named Jeff and Ruben before the White House rechristened them. The turkeys spent Monday night at the Willard intercontinental Hotel near the White House, shedding feathers on the floor and nesting on a bed of wood chips. Neither turkey will find itself dressed with stuffing. They will both end up at 'Gobbler's Rest' on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, living out their lives with visitors and veterinary care. Clement Attlee, the former Labour prime minister, took in a child refugee who escaped Nazi Germany before the outbreak of World War Two and kept it a secret until now. Mr Attlee, who was then the leader of the opposition secretly sponsored the boy who fled Hitler's Germany with his Jewish mother and brother in 1939, it has been revealed. Paul Willer, the former child refugee who is now 90, was brought safely to the UK to live with the Attlee family in London, testimony and letters given to the Guardian have proven. Mr Attlee never sought political gain from taking Mr Willer into his own home in Stanmore, north-west London. Speaking from his home in South Cerney, Gloucestershire, Mr Willer told The Guardian Attlee, his wife Violet and their own four children took him in on Easter Sunday 1939. Labour Party leader Clement Attlee (1883 - 1967) on holiday at Nevin in Wales, with his wife Violet and their daughters, Janet and Felicity, 2nd September 1938. Felicity's daughter says her mother told her about the time they took in a refugee Former Prime Minister Clement Attlee (pictured in 1961) was remembered as a 'gentle man' by the refugee he took into his home and Mr Willer will meet Jo Roundell Greene, Clement's granddaughter, today He said: 'It was a remarkable kindness, a generous offer. 'Attlee was a modest man. He did not try and glorify himself in any way. He did it for the right reasons. 'They took me inside what was a very large house. They had a maid and a cook too. The next morning, their son Martin, who was my age, took me upstairs and ran a cold bath, bathed, and encouraged me to do the same. 'I thought, 'Is this what they do for Easter?' 'It turned out that cold baths were what the males in the family did every day,' Mr Willer has told how he lived in the Attlee home for four months, aged ten, after his family first arrived from the Bavarian town of Wurzburg. His mother was a doctor but was unable to find work and outbreaks of antisemitic violence, including the Kristallnacht ('night of broken glass') on 9 November 1938, had terrified her. The two Willer brothers and their mother Franziska had been abandoned by their Christian Nazi sympathiser father, Johannes, five years before in 1933. After a stark warning from a friend over the rising antisemitism Mrs Willer began to plan her escape - but her children were unlikely to qualify for Kindertransport because they were 'half Aryan'. Mrs Willer turned to the church in Germany and her brother Otto who lived in London did the same. It was Otto who was successful. He contacted his sister to say there were two families willing to take a boy each in London. Rev William Hewett, the rector at Stanmore arranged for the Attlee family to take in a boy at their Heywood residence, confirming the offer with two letters. The letters of guarantee were enough to allow the mother to slip into the Netherlands and onwards to Britain where Clement Attlee, already leader of the Labour Party for four years, was 56-years-old. Paul, then ten, remembers fleeing over the border. He told the Guardian: 'I was proud of my watch, it was a present with luminous hands. One of the German guards on the Dutch border saw it after he boarded our train. 'The guard said to me, 'I am sure you would like to hand it over as a gift to the Fuhrer. If you give it me, I will make sure he gets it.' 'So I had to hand it over. After they left, my mother told me that we were safe, safe from the Nazis.' Paul spoke no English when he arrived at the Attlee home and communicated with them using Latin through Attlee's daughter Felicity, after having both learnt it at school. Speaking about the Labour politician, Mr Willer said: 'He was a gentle man and a gentleman. 'He was very good with the children and affectionate. At breakfast, we would gather around the table and he played this game where he held out a coin and asked whose monarch's head was on it. Whoever gave the correct answer was allowed to keep the coin.' Mr Attlee (pictured) never sought political gain from taking Mr Willer into his own home in Stanmore, north-west London During young Paul's stay Mr Attlee was formulating Labour's policy to oppose Hitler's advances towards the Sudetenland, as he stood against Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Four months later, Paul left the Attlees in September 1939 and attended school in Northern Ireland. His mother wrote her memoirs 1965, a year after his father killed himself in 1964. Mrs Willer died in 2008 but her notes are being kept in the Wiener library in central London. Before retiring, Paul started a family and lived in Hertforshire, working as a sales manager. In 1945, Attlee defeated Winston Churchill in a landslide victory. Clement Attlee's government enlarged and improved social services and the public sector in post-war Britain, creating the National Health Service and nationalising major industries and public utilities. Attlee's government also presided over the decolonisation of India, Pakistan, Burma, Ceylon and Jordan, and saw the creation of the state of Israel upon Britain's withdrawal from Palestine. He died in 1967. This week, at the event arranged by the Association of Jewish Refugees , the late prime minister's granddaughter Jo Roundell Greene, a Lib Dem councillor from Somerset, will meet Mr Willer. She said her mother Felicity, 'mentioned having a refugee to stay'. Sabine McNeill, 74, allegedly directed a campaign to uncover claims of devil worship in Hampstead primary school A pensioner, described as an online troll of the worst kind, made the lives of innocent families a misery as she accused parents of satanic abuse, a court heard. Sabine McNeill, 74, allegedly directed a campaign to uncover claims of devil worship and child abuse at a primary school in Hampstead, northwest London. Miranda Moore, prosecuting, said she harassed four mothers, who cannot be named, from 2014 until earlier this year. She said: This relates to four totally innocent women who have had their lives turned completely upside down by this defendant. McNeill published scandalous satanic child abuse accusations and encouraged people to take direct action against the children of these women. She allegedly published details of the cult, saying: They would drink the blood of babies and then dance around wearing the skulls on parts of their bodies. They would put them to sleep by injecting them, slit their throats, cook the babies and eat them. McNeill even claimed babies were cooked in a secret room in a McDonalds restaurant on Finchley Road: The ritual is performed on an upstairs room in McDonalds on Mondays and Fridays. Sacrifice, blood drinking and babies flesh eating occurs on Saturdays. The children are frequently injected and put to sleep, apparently the school nurse is the one who does the injections. McNeill claimed up to 18 teachers from the primary school were also involved in abusing children. She said members of the cult - from all walks of society - carried out satanic rituals in secret rooms at a Hampstead church. Referring to McNeills claims, the prosecutor said: There is someone who works in Costa Coffee, a solicitor, someone who works in Waitrose, people who work in Hampstead police station, then we have got people from the Royal Free Hospital, social services and finishing up with people from the Brownies. Ms Moore told the court: In September 2014 the Metropolitan Police received reports of wide spread child abuse. Satanic child rape and murder in churches in Hampstead in north London. These allegations surround two small children, commonly referred to as P and Q. She said police initially took the complaints seriously and interviewed the children. Blackfriars Crown Court heard McNeill denies four counts of harassment and 17 counts of breaching a restraining order The matter eventually reached the High Court and Mrs Justice Pauffley ruled that the accusations relating to the cult were baseless. But recordings of the childrens police interviews surfaced online and McNeill began her campaign to uncover the alleged cult, said Ms Moore. All of this is completely fake and as a result of Ms McNeills activities, these woman have had to change their lives drastically - they have had to take their children out of school, they have had to protect their children. Jurors heard one parent was forced to install a panic alarm and another was approached by a paedophile online looking to sleep with her child, making her physically sick. Describing how McNeill directed the campaign, Ms Moore added: She said online that members of the public should paint dolls of the Barbie variety with red nail polish and send them to business owners in the Hampstead area. She contributed to the GoFundMe account of Rupert Quaintance. He is an American gentleman who was able to read online about the abuse and he decided to come over to the UK and cause problems. She even offered him a bed when he got here. Quaintance was arrested after posting a picture of himself outside the school claiming he had a knife, the court heard. He was subsequently charged and convicted of harassment. McNeill was involved in a protest at the church in March 2015 and subsequently arrested. She was later cleared of plotting to intimidate a vicar and his parishioners after a trial at Blackfriars Crown Court, but handed a retraining order to stop her harassing the parents involved. Having been told not to publish these false allegations, particularly about the school and the church, and having been before the courts on a few occasions she changes method, said Ms Moore. She goes to what I will call the analogue method. She attends the General Synod who were having a meeting to deal with the Church of Englands approach to child abuse. She attends the meeting and gives out leaflets. Ms McNeill was again arrested for doing that. She is an online troll of the worst kind, making the lives of innocent families a misery. McNeill from Camden, denies four counts of harassment and 17 counts of breaching a restraining order. The trial continues. Labour's Clive Lewis caused outrage on Tuesday afternoon after he was filmed pretending to shoot himself in the head during a House of Commons debate. The shadow treasury minister was then seen laughing at his own joke after he reacted to a Conservative MP interrupting his colleague Anneliese Dodds as she made a speech during a debate on the Finance Bill. Footage shows him pointing his fingers into his mouth in a fake-gun motion and rocking back and forth on the front bench of the chamber whilst laughing. The controversial act caused an instant furore on social media where Lewis was slammed for 'mocking suicide' with the impression. Clive Lewis was pictured making the gesture behind Anneliese Dodds as she made a speech during a debate on the Finance Bill One commenter said: '6,213 people died of suicide in the UK last year. It's no laughing matter & this behaviour is ill-befitting of any MP, never mind a frontbencher. Clive Lewis should be ashamed of himself.' While another added: 'Sickening. Corbynite Labour MP mocks suicide in the Commons. Kinder, gentler politics and all that...' But journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer leapt to the defence of the embattled MP, calling claims he was mocking suicide 'nonsense'. 'Right, Clive Lewis is NOT 'mocking suicide', he is making a figurative joke about wanting to kill himself rather than listen to any more nonsense,' Hartley-Brewer tweeted. 'This is not mocking anyone, it's a joke. Everyone, calm down. Can we please stop pretending to be offended by *everything*?' Lewis previously made headlines last year when he said to a colleague at a Momentum conference 'Get on your knees, b****'. He was then seen laughing at the impression after miming blowing his brains out during the debate His act was widely criticised online with some calling the impression 'sickening' and 'unacceptable' In footage taken at a Momentum-organised event, anc circulated widely online, Lewis is heard to say: 'Get on your knees, b****' to a male member of the audience while on stage. Norwich South MP Mr Lewis later said: 'I apologise unreservedly for the language I used at an event in Brighton last month. It was offensive and unacceptable.' The video of Mr Lewis drew widespread criticism in Labour ranks, with former deputy party leader Harriet Harman tweeting: 'Inexplicable. Inexcusable. Dismayed.' A Momentum source said Mr Lewis made the comments to a male participant on stage who was kneeling down to take the score during a game show segment at an event, not to a female audience member. Mr Lewis, who in the past has been spoken of as a future Labour leader, quit the frontbench last year when he rebelled against Mr Corbyn and voted against triggering Brexit negotiations. Other people pointed out that the gesture was made just 24 hours after International Mens Day which focuses on suicide prevention Lewis previously made headlines last year when he said to a colleague at a Momentum conference 'Get on your knees, b****'. An Ohio Republican Party county chair has expressed partial regret after posting on Facebook that the horrific California fires were 'God's punishment' on liberal Californians. Columbiana County GOP chair Dave Johnson posted an image of the fiery inferno that killed at least 79, along with a sign saying 'Welcome to hell.' The post also labeled the fires 'Hell on Earth' that was 'brought to you by the Liberals in California!' But the official, whose county is located south of Youngstown and who was a delegat to the 2016 Republican Convention in Cleveland, wrote off the post a 'figure of speech.' Ohio Columbiana County GOP chair Dave Johnson expressed regret over a post that said deadly fires were 'brought to you by the Liberals in California!' 'Look, that's a meme. And it's how I feel about liberals, but did I mean that God is going to punish everyone who lives in California? No. It's a figure of speech, and I probably shouldn't have done it,' he told Cleveland.com. 'But I did, and it doesn't change how I feel about what's happened in California,' he said. The paper identified Johnson as an influential members of the state central committee and owner of the Spread Eagle Tavern in Hanoverton. Johnson has campaigned for President Trump, who himself took heat after blaming the fires on 'gross mismanagement' on Twitter. 'Look, that's a meme. And it's how I feel about liberals, but did I mean that God is going to punish everyone who lives in California? No,' Johnson wrote The post made a political jab as California fires killed at least 79 Johnson was a delegate to the 2016 GOP convention Johnson is an influential Ohio Republican who was a delegate to the 2016 convention that nominated Donald Trump Johnson continued, saying he was sorry if anyone was offended. 'Now to the extent that that meme would have offended or hurt someone in California, yes, that's not the intent, and I don't think that's what it says. But you know, it's in the eyes of the beholder, and so if it offended anyone that had a loss of life, then I'm sorry. That was not my intent, and anybody who knows me knows better,' he added. A county Democratic chair is calling on Johnson to resign. 'I would say that Johnson should be ashamed of himself, but as he and the president he worships have proved time and again, they have no shame,' said David Betras, the Democratic Party chairman in Mahoning County, Ohio, calling the post 'disturbing.' The renovated church is situated in the first cemetery of the Greek community in Alexandria, where important figures of the Greek history are buried, including famous poet Constantine Cavafy Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodore II, inaugurated the renovated Greek Orthodox church of the Assumption of Mary (Koimisi tis Theotokou) in Alexandria, Egypt. Patriarch Theodore, after chanting the Greek national anthem, noted that the African Church, instead of closing churches, reopens them, renovates and offers them to the glory of the Greek nation, which along with Egypt and Cyprus declare the friendship of our peoples. The renovated church is situated in the first cemetery of the Greek community in Alexandria, where important figures of the Greek history are buried, including famous poet Constantine Cavafy. Greeces General Consul, Athanasios Kotsionis, pointed out that with the blessings of Patriarch Theodore and the support of the Greek community, Egypts Hellenism will manage to endure these difficult times for the nation. The president of the Greek community in Egypt, Edmond Kassimatis, explained that the renovation of the 108-year-old church took place exclusively utilizing funds from the communitys budget. He thanked all those who played a crucial role in achieving this important accomplishment for the community. Read more at greekreporter.com RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Alexandrias Patriarchate Social media users have slammed Ivanka Trump for using a private email for government business and then claiming she didn't know that it was against federal rules. Crowds at President Trump's campaign rallies have chanted 'lock her up' when he has referenced Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server to conduct government business while she was Secretary of State. The irony was not lost on people who took to Twitter in droves and mocked Ivanka and the president while also calling for the First Daughter to be 'locked up.' Trump also repeatedly called Clinton 'Crooked Hillary,' a term that is now being attributed to Ivanka. '#Ivanka sent hundreds of emails re gov'nt business on her personal server! We're scandalized! All I can do is repeat what her father said when Hillary did something not unlike what his First Daughter did!! LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP!!! LOCK HER UP!! How do you like it now, putz?,' wrote actress Bette Midler. Ivanka Trump faced a wave of angry social media users who slammed her for using a private email to conduct government business This meme, which has been used to poke fun of the president's various attacks on Hillary Clinton, and his predecessor Barack Obama was again used for Ivanka's email scandal Bette Midler was among the droves of people to criticize the First Daughter online In Ivanka's emails, according to the New York Times who spoke with someone familiar with their content, the First Daughter had exchanges with cabinet secretaries, as well as forwards of schedules to her assistant for much of 2017. Additionally the Washington Post reported that Ivanka sent 'hundreds' of emails discussing business with cabinet officials and White House aides. Meanwhile Clinton was investigated and cleared by the FBI twice over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. Harvard Law School professor Laurence Tribe called it 'disgusting.' 'You can't make this stuff up. Not after that gang did the 'Lock Her Up!' chant against Hillary for two solid years so Ivanka could become First Daughter. Above the law, just like daddy. Disgusting hardly says it,' he wrote. Ivanka's attorney, Abbe Lowell, acknowledged the First Daughter 'sometimes used her private account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family,' according to a spokesperson for Lowell. Ivanka says she did not know her use of a personal email was against federal rules- despite standing beside her father at rallies where he had the crowd chant lock-her-up in regard to Hillary's use of a private server On Monday night, after a hail storm of tweets about Ivanka's email use, she shared a snap of what appeared to be her and one of her children making s'mores After her email scandal came to light, Ivanka claimed she was ignorant about the rules on private emails for government use. Of course people were skeptical that that could even be the case. 'Ivanka Trump trying to figure out why sending government e-mails over a private server is illegal even though she knew it was illegal when Hillary Clinton did it 2 years,' Brian Gay posted on his account. A North Carolina principal who was said to have raped a preteen student was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted injury, according to local police. Richard Omar Knight, 35, was found dead in Mebane at approximately 12.36am on Friday morning by two hunters, according to a news release from the Orange County Sheriff's Office obtained by The News & Observer. 'The hunters' deer cameras recorded Mr. Knight in the wooded area at approximately 12:36 a.m. on Friday morning,' the release stated. Richard Omar Knight, 35, was found dead in Mebane at approximately 12.36am on Friday morning by two hunters 'The hunters' deer cameras recorded Mr. Knight in the wooded area at approximately 12:36 a.m. on Friday morning,' a release from the stated. 'He is alone in the video and appears to be carrying a blanket. Further investigation led to the discovery of Mr. Knight's Chevrolet Cruze at the Petro Mart on Buckhorn Road. No foul play is suspected in connection with Mr. Knight's death.' The Goldsboro police added: 'Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Office advised that they located Richard Omar Knight in a wooded area within their jurisdiction. Mr. Knight was found deceased. The victim of an apparent self-inflicted injury.' Goldsboro police had learned of allegations against the principal on Thursday afternoon. On Friday, Knight was charged with statutory rape and a sex act and indencent liberties with a female student at Dillard Academy Charter School. On Friday, Knight was charged with statutory rape and a sex act and indencent liberties with a female student, 12, at Dillard Academy Charter School Police say the man was suspended from his role at the nonprofit charter school Police say the man was suspended from his role at the nonprofit charter school. An autopsy is to be preformed by a state medical examiner, according to police. 'The investigation into the allegations made regarding Mr. Knight remain under investigation,' Goldsboro police stated on Facebook. A man who fatally shot dead his ex-fiancee outside a Chicago hospital before killing two people inside the building was once kicked out of the city's firefighting academy after threatening a female cadet. Juan Lopez, a Chicago Housing Authority worker, died following the shooting on Monday at Mercy Hospital where he fatally shot his former partner Dr Tamara O'Neal repeatedly in the parking lot. The pair were supposed to have gotten married three weeks ago, according to their online gift registry, but she called it off. Details of his past are emerging in the aftermath of the shooting, including that he made threats to a female fire cadet and was also the subject of a protection order request filed four years ago. Scroll down for video Juan Lopez died following the shooting on Monday at Mercy Hospital in Chicago where he fatally shot his former partner Dr Tamara O'Neal repeatedly in the parking lot He also legally purchased several guns in recent years, police said. Four years ago, fire department officials learned of the threats to the cadet and told Lopez that he would be disciplined. Fire department spokesman Larry Merritt said he was dismissed after he went AWOL. Sources told the Chicago Tribune that he then threatened to shoot up the fire academy. Merritt did not have any details of the past threats but but they were made the same year a woman sought an order of protection against Lopez because he was incessantly texting her. Police said they have not determined if the woman was granted an order of protection and Lopez was not criminally charged. Lopez's first victim on Monday was his ex-fiance Dr. Tamara O'Neal. Police said O'Neal had recently called off their engagement and Lopez confronted her about returning the engagement ring. After shooting the emergency room doctor near a hospital parking lot, he then ran into the medical center and continued firing. The gunshots killed Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez, 28, and 25-year-old pharmacy resident Dayna Less. He shot at a second police officer who escaped injury when the bullet lodged in the barrel of his handgun while it was holstered on his belt. Lopez was then shot dead by SWAT officers. Lopez shot Dr O'Neal three times in the parking lot before she could begin her shift as an ER doctor at the hospital. He then stood over her body and fired three more rounds He also killed Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez, 28, (pictured). Jimenez had only just completed his probationary period. He was a father of three Lopez then went inside the hospital and killed 25-year-old Dayna Less (pictured), a first-year pharmacy resident at Mercy who was engaged to be married Lopez also shot at a second police officer, but the bullet struck his holster and embedded into the gun (pictured). He was not injured He had a permit to possess a concealed firearm, but it was unclear if officials knew about the 2014 complaint when the permit was granted, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. Lopez had legally purchased four guns in the last five years and worked for the Chicago Housing Authority, Guglielmi said. Witnesses said the shooting began around 3.30pm when Lopez confronted Dr O'Neal in the parking lot. She was wearing her medical scrubs and was about to start her shift as an ER doctor at the hospital. Lopez demanded Dr O'Neal give back the ring he gave her, WGNTV reports, then shot her three times when she told him she didn't have it. She and Lopez had reportedly planned to wed on October 27, but Dr O'Neal called off the wedding in September. It is not yet known why Dr O'Neal broke off her engagement with Lopez. Witnesses said Lopez shot O'Neal in the hospital parking lot before rushing inside and opening fire at others O'Neal and Lopez were due to marry on October 27, but she called the wedding off in September. O'Neal is pictured here with Lopez's mother, who caption the photo 'my future daughter-in-law' Dr O'Neal, an ER doctor at the hospital, was reporting for work when she was confronted by Lopez just before 3.30pm Lopez shot Less (pictured) just as she was getting off an elevator as his rampage continued inside the hospital He stood over her body and fired three more rounds, witnesses said, before making his way inside the hospital. It was there that he shot and killed Less, a first-year pharmacy resident at Mercy who was engaged to be married. Lopez then killed Jimenez - a married father-of-three who had only just completed his probationary period on the Chicago police force. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson paid tribute to the slain officer late Monday outside another hospital. 'This officer, all of those officers, are heroes. They saved a lot of lives because we just don't know how much damage he was prepared to do,' he said. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, fighting back tears, said the victims were 'all going about their day, all doing what they loved.' He added: 'This just tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and a consequence of evil.' Lopez, 32, died inside the hospital after he was reportedly shot by a SWAT team officer Officers did a 'methodical search' of the hospital (pictured is a SWAT team inside the hospital) Jennifer Eldridge was working in a hospital pharmacy when she heard three or four shots that seemed to come from outside. Within seconds, she barricaded the door, as called for in the building's active shooter drills. Then there were six or seven more shots that sounded much closer, just outside the door. 'I could tell he was now inside the lobby. There was screaming,' she recalled. The door jiggled, which Eldridge believed was the shooter trying to get in. Some 15 minutes later, she estimated, a SWAT team officer knocked at the door, came inside and led her away. She looked down and saw blood on the floor but no bodies. 'It may have been 15 minutes, but it seemed like an eternity,' she said. Maria Correa hid under a desk, clutching her 4-month-old son Angel, while the violence unfolded. Correa was in the waiting area of the hospital for her mother-in-law's doctor appointment when a hospital employee told them to lock themselves in offices. She lost track of how many shots she heard while under the desk trying to protect her son for 10 to 15 minutes. 'They were the worst minutes of our lives,' Correa said. The death of Jimenez comes nine months after another member of the Chicago Police Department, Cmdr. Paul Bauer, was fatally shot while pursuing a suspect in the Loop business district. Mercy has a rich history as the city's first chartered hospital. It began in 1852, when the Sisters of Mercy religious group converted a rooming house. During the Civil War, the hospital treated both Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners of war, according to its website. Plain clothes Chicago police officer salute the arrival of the body of officer Jimenez at the Cook County Medical Examiners office The procession was held in honor of Jimenez as his body was taken from the hospital to the morgue on Monday night Chicago firefighters and police officers line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office waiting for the remains of Jimenez The US Department of Justice has announced that 'Operation Vanilla Gorilla' targeting the Ghost Face Gangsters has netted 43 suspected members of the notorious white supremacist prison gang. A 93-page, 83-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed on November 16 in US District Court in Savannah, Georgia, lists the charges against 43 men and women for dozens of offenses related to trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, as well as weapons charges. According to the indictment, the drug-trafficking ring began operating in 2015 and continued its illegal activity until the present, selling methamphetamine in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Emmanuel, Evans, and Tattnall counties in Georgia. The US Department of Justice has announced that 'Operation Vanilla Gorilla' targeting the Ghost Face Gangsters has netted 43 suspected members of the prison gang The men and women, ranging in age from 22 to 55, have been charged with dozens of counts related to trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, as well as gun possession 'Operation Vanilla Gorilla' is one of the largest crackdowns targeting the criminal enterprise The press release from the Justice Department said many of the the suspects at the center of the case are members of the Ghost Face Gangsters, described as a violent white supremacist street gang operated largely from inside prisons, which has been tied to killing police and correctional officers. Of the 43 defendants charged, 41 are currently in custody. Their ages range between 22 and 55, and some have colorful nicknames like 'Hot Boy'; 'Country Crack'; 'Chubs' and 'Picnic.' If convicted, each defendant faces up to a life in prison. 'Operation Vanilla Gorilla' is one of the largest crackdowns targeting the criminal enterprise and follows the March 2018 arrests of 23 gang members in the Northern District of Georgia on federal charges. Additional members were arrested in October 2018 on state charges in Spalding County, Georgia. 'When I was sworn in as the United States Attorney, I pledged that we would make neighborhoods safer and work hard to dismantle criminal street gangs,' said US Attorney Bobby Christine in the news release. 'As this indictment demonstrates, we will coordinate with federal, state and local law enforcement to identify criminal organizations; we will target them; and we will dismantle them.' The name of the operation comes from a title that many gangsters hold, among them one who tattooed the phrase on his chest (pictured) The name for the operation, which was carried out by local, state and federal officials, was inspired by the gang itself. 'Vanilla Gorilla is a title that many of the Ghost Face Gangsters wear proudly. In fact, one of the lead defendants in this case has Vanilla Gorilla tattooed right on his chest,' Assistant United States Attorney Greg Gilluly Jr said. 'Its a sign of pride to be a Ghost Face Gangster and to be included as a Vanilla Gorilla.' The gang got its start in the early 2000s in the Cobb County Jail but has since spread to other prisons in Georgia. The Anti-Defamation League describes the group as white supremacist. Christine said there are currently over 2000 members of the Ghost Face Gangsters in Georgias prison system. Beside trafficking in illegal narcotics, the Ghost Face Gangsters has gained notoriety for violently punishing those who hadnt upheld the rules of the gang or who had offered testimony against members. In one instance a gang leader, Jeffrey Alan Bourassa, gave instructions from prison to punish a gang member only identified as JBB. On December 2016 they held JBB at gunpoint and, using a knife, cut off his gang tattoo. While some of the reported leaders such as Bourassa, David Gene Powell, Marc Avon Lefevre and Richard Brian Sosebee were in prison, others within the gang were given leeway to enforce gang rules or smuggle drugs and cellphones into prisons around the state, according to the October indictment. In February 2014, James Phillips shot a Cobb County police officer five times and told another person prior to the shooting 'this is what it means to be Ghost Face.' Phillips is deceased. The same gang has also been linked to high-profile cases, including the June 2017 shooting deaths of correctional officers Sgt. Christopher Monica and Sgt. Curtis Billue by inmates in Putnam County. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Ricky Dubose and Donnie Rowe for the killings. In September 2017, police say Seth Brandon Spangler a Ghost Face member shot and killed Polk County police Det. Kristen Hearne. Spangler has been charged with murder and the Polk County district attorney is seeking the death penalty. Sydneysiders have been told to brace for a dust storm which could rival 2009's 'red dawn' - which blanketed the city with a thick red mist and plunged the transport system into chaos. The chance of a dust storm forming in rural New South Wales in coming days is 'pretty high' and could impact Sydney and Canberra by Friday according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Drought conditions, a strengthening cold front and strong winds are expected to combine to carry dust from South Australia and western New South Wales towards the state's coast. The conditions are strikingly similar those which led to one of the worst dust storms in Australia's history nearly a decade ago. Sydneysiders have been told to brace for a dust storm which could rival 2009's 'red dawn' A surfer walks up the sand in a dust storm at Bondi Beach in Sydney during 2009's dust storm The Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge were barely visible and flights in and out of the city were cancelled. Bureau of Meteorology weather services manager Jane Golding said its computer model suggested this week's event could be similar. 'A frontal system generates some really strong westerly winds, and that frontal system ends up producing a low pressure system to the south of the country which picks up even more vigorous winds,' Ms Golding told the ABC. She said that while the entire state and the ACT could be at risk, the dust storm's reach would depend on the strength of the winds. The conditions are strikingly similar those which led to one of the worst dust storms in Australia's history nearly a decade ago A number of dust storms have already hit western parts of New South Wales in recent weeks, with one raging through the town of White Cliffs earlier this month 'If the winds are gale force it might make it all the way to the coast. If they are down in the fresh range, so maybe only around 40 kilometres an hour the dust might not even make it to Canberra,' she said. 'At the moment the guidance is pointing to some pretty strong winds, but we'll just have to see how the front and the low pressure system develop.' A number of dust storms have already hit western parts of New South Wales in recent weeks, with one raging through the town of White Cliffs in the state's far west earlier this month. There were similar scenes 231.5 kilometres away in Milpanika, while in October, the skies above Broken Hill were turned a deep red as a dust stormed engulfed the rural city. The skies above Broken Hill were turned a deep red as a dust stormed engulfed the rural city in October A tech company CEO, his wife, and their two young children have been found dead at the scene of an 'intentional' mansion fire in an affluent New Jersey neighborhood. The bodies of Keith Caneiro, 50, his wife Jennifer Caneiro, 45, and their son and daughter were discovered after their $1.5million Colts Neck home went up in flames on Tuesday. Caneiro was found dead in front of the home with a gunshot wound. Jennifer and her children's bodies, discovered inside the residence, were 'severely burned'. It is not yet clear if the bodies found inside the home had died from gunshot wounds or were killed in the fire, which is being investigated as an arson. Scroll down for video Keith Caneiro, 50, his wife Jennifer Caneiro, 45, (pictured) were found dead as their $1.5million two-story Colts Neck home went up in flames on Tuesday The couple's young son and daughter were also found dead in the horrific blaze on Tuesday Caneiro's body was found in front of the home (pictured) with a gunshot wound. Jennifer and her children's bodies were found inside the home 'severely burned' Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims, but law enforcement sources confirmed their identities to NJ.com. It remains unknown if Caneiro's gunshot wound was self-inflicted, but Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said there was not threat to the public. Prosecutors would not reveal whether a weapon was found or if the deaths are being investigated as a murder-suicide. Firefighters responded to the fire around 12.45pm on Tuesday. Video showed smoke pouring from the roof while the mansion was ablaze. Caneiro was listed as the founder, CEO, and chief technology officer of the technology consulting firm Square One in Asbury Park Video showed smoke pouring from the roof while the mansion was ablaze. A sheet, seemingly covering Caneiro's body, could also be seen in the middle of the yard next to the house A sheet, seemingly covering Caneiro's body, could also be seen in the middle of the yard next to the house with police tape cordoning off the area. ONE DAY, TWO FIRES 5am: A fire is reported at the Ocean Township home of Paul Caneiro, Keith Caneiro's brother 12pm: A neighbor said Paul and his wife Susan remained at the home until around noon and were 'devastated' 12.30pm: A blaze is reported at Keith Caneiro's home in Colts Neck, 10 miles away 2pm: Firefighters were still working to control the blaze at Keith Caneiro's home hours later 4pm: Police reveal at a press conference they are investigating the second blaze as an arson Advertisement Adding to the mystery surrounding the mansion blaze is the fact that Caneiro's brother's home caught on fire just hours beforehand. A blaze was reported at the home of Paul Caneiro and his wife Susan Caneiro around 5am on Tuesday morning. Caneiro's brother's home is located in Ocean Township, just about 10 miles away from Colts Neck. A neighbor said they saw Paul and Susan at their home shortly after the fire broke out. They said Paul 'appeared to be upset and left a short time after'. 'He said it must have been a gas leak, he had tears in his eyes. Susan was devastated,' the neighbor said. 'He said, "I'm in complete shock, I can't believe this is happening to me. They were here until about noon.' Firefighters responded to the blaze around 12.45pm on Tuesday. Authorities would not reveal if it is being investigated as a murder-suicide Adding to the mystery surrounding the mansion blaze is the fact that Caneiro's brother's home caught on fire just hours beforehand. Caneiro and Jennifer are both pictured here The was no visible damage at the front of the home, but the flames damaged the back of the residence as well as the attic. Investigators said gas cans were found at the back of the Ocean Township home. They would not confirm if the two fires were linked. 'That remains to be seen but that is an angle we continue to pursue,' said Gramiccioni. Caneiro and Paul were partners in Square One. Caneiro was listed as the founder, CEO, and chief technology officer of the technology consulting firm in Asbury Park. Caneiro's brother's home is located in Ocean Township, just about 10 miles away. A fire was reported at Paul Caneiro's house at 5.30am It remains unknown if Caneiro's gunshot wound was self-inflicted, but Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said there was not threat to the public Paul Caneiro is listed as the vice president of the company. The brothers were also partners in a pest control company they operated from the same office. Colts Neck is a well-to-do community about 50 miles south of New York City and is home to horse farms. The area is home to Bruce Springsteen, as well as comedian and former The Daily Show host Jon Stewart. Typical homes in the town of 10,000 are valued at about $750,000. Advertisement Barron Trump was spotted at the White House on Tuesday for the first time since August as he joined his parents as they boarded Marine One in route to Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving. President Donald Trump's youngest child was last seen in August, when he joined his parents for a flight back from Bedminster, New Jersey, to Washington D.C. as his summer break came to an end. He and mom Melania Trump boarded Marine One Tuesday afternoon as his dad answered questions from the press. Barron Trump joined his parents as they headed to Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving The 12-year-old attends a school in nearby Maryland He walked beside his parents as they held hands Barron and his mother then walked ahead to the helicopter while the President stopped to talk to reporters The first son is on Thanksgiving break from school Barron skipped the turkey pardoning earlier Tuesday He was on Marine One with his parents He boarded Air Force One with his parents, ahead of his sisters It's unclear if brothers Eric and Don Jr will also be in Florida Barron Trump was last seen in August when he returned to the White House with his parents from Bedminister, New Jersey The 12-year-old was wearing dark pants, a dark jacket and light dress shirt. Barron Trump was no where to be seen earlier in the day when President Trump pardoned the Thanksgiving turkey. He was also absent from Monday's arrival of the White House Christmas tree. He attended both ceremonies last year. Melania Trump followed her son on to the presidential helicopter wearing the same $9,400 Dior coat and black stiletto boats she wore to the turkey pardoning earlier in the day. Barron attends St. Andrews Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, and is on his Thanksgiving break. Unlike his older siblings, Barron avoids the spotlight and his parents' public life. Barron will be his family in Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving He smiled after exiting Marine One as he walked to Air Force One Barron walks to Air Force One with President Trump and Melania Trump Barron Trump attended the turkey pardoning last year Barron also joined his mother in welcoming the White House Christmas tree last year At his last sighting it was noted how much taller he is than his former model mother. Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump were seen boarding Marine One too. The two sisters boarded Air Force One together at Joint Base Andrews after the first family boarded. Ivanka put her hand on Tiffany's back as they walked up the plane. Ivanka Trump (right) and Tiffany Trump (left) also boarded Air Force One to go to Mar-A-Lago Ivanka wore the same outfit she wore to the turkey pardoning Tiffany Trump is a student at Georgetown Law School in Washington D.C. The 6' figurine of Mexican folk hero and 'narco saint' Jesus Malverde appeared in El Chapo's defense attorney's room in Brooklyn Federal Court Tuesday El Chapo's team of high powered attorneys have turned to Mexico's 'narco saint' Jesus Malverde for help in getting the Sinola Cartel boss acquitted. They are even keeping a 6-inch statuette of the folk-hero saint in their conference room in Brooklyn Federal Court, according to the New York Post. The figurine shows Malverde sitting atop a purple throne clutching a bag of gold and a fistful of cash. He also appears to have a large marijuana leaf at the base of his throne. The mini-Malverde, which is sold for just $28.00 on Amazon, is featured in the defense's conference room on a shelf inside the court where Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is being tried for multiple drug trafficking offenses. 'It miraculously appeared,' Guzman lawyer Eduardo Balarezo said when he was asked about the statue. The accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, is shown in this courtroom sketch as he appears with defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman El Chapo (pictured in 2016) is facing life in prison if he is convicted. His defense team is praying for a miracle It 'appeared' the same day former Sinola honcho Jesus Zambada took the stand against El Chapo as a government witness against his boss. Jesus Zambada (pictured) was once a top lieutenant in El Chapo's Sinola cartel. Zambada is now a cooperating witness and took the stand against his former boss Tuesday According to folklore, Malverde is revered for his Robin Hood qualities of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor and has also been dubbed the 'angel of the poor.' However, while Malverde has been hailed as a saint in Mexican culture, it is unclear if he ever actually existed. Malverde was said to have been born Jesus Juarez Mazo, growing up under the rule of Mexican dictator whose local supporter Francisco Canedo ran Sinola. He supposedly became a bandit after his parents deaths which was attributed to poverty. His nickname Malverde (evil-green) was bequeathed to him by his wealthy victims, deriving from an association between green and misfortune If he is any sort of saint, the defense team's prayers do not seem to be working. The day the statuette appeared, Zambada testified that the cartel bribed the country's former top security chief and another person who once worked under the current president-elect. Zambada testified Tuesday that in the mid-2000s he gave $6 million in drug money to the security chief, Genero Garcia Luna. Zambada also claimed that more million-dollar payments were made to Gabriel Regino, who worked in the administration of Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's administration when Lopez Obrador was mayor of Mexico City. There was no immediate response Tuesday from Garcia Luna. Regino denied the allegations on Twitter. An auction for a South Sudanese child bride was hosted on Facebook on October 25, unbeknownst to the social networking site for over two weeks. The father who benefited from the sale secured 500 cows, three cars and $10,000 in exchange for his 17-year-old daughter's hand in marriage, from the highest bidder out of five men, some of whom are high-ranking government officials, according to a child's rights organization called Plan International. Facebook found out about the post on November 9, took it down and permanently disabled the account that posted the auction, but the daughter had already been married by that time. 'This barbaric use of technology is reminiscent of latter-day slave markets,' George Otim, Country Director of Plan International South Sudan, said. 'That a girl could be sold for marriage on the worlds biggest social networking site in this day and age is beyond belief.' The issue of paying a dowry for a bride in South Sudan, which Facebook classified as human trafficking, is complicated, to say the least. Western advocacy groups consistently call for an end to the practice altogether, while some young girls in the country have said prices have gotten too high, thus encouraging the sale of younger and younger girls, all while a cattle famine has made resources scarce for everyone involved, also encouraging sales of brides but also creating an environment for theft to thrive as young men hope pay a bride price. The teenage girl in this case was married to the auction's winner on November 3, in the countrys Eastern Lakes state. There's no word on her feelings about the union. Facebook hosted an auction for a South Sudanese child bride on October 25 and didn't know about it or take the post down until November 9, which was six days after the 17-year-old was married to the highest bidder According to 2017 data from UNICEF, 52 percent of young women in South Sudan are married before they turn 18 years old, as reported by GirlsNotBrides.org. Before the age of 15, nine percent of girls in South Sudan are wed. Facebook told CNN that it removed the post containing the auction for this child bride, who would fall among the 52 percent, as soon as the site became aware of its existence on November 9. 'Any form of human trafficking -- whether posts, pages, ads or groups is not allowed on Facebook. We removed the post and permanently disabled the account belonging to the person who posted this to Facebook,' a company spokesperson said in a statement. 'We're always improving the methods we use to identify content that breaks our policies, including doubling our safety and security team to more than 30,000 and investing in technology.' South Sudan is not the only place where dowries are paid for child brides. The top countries with the highest rates of child marriage, based on the percentage of women between the ages of 20-24 years old who were first married before they were 18, include Niger (76 percent), Central African Republic (68 percent), Chad (67 percent), Bangladesh (59 percent) and Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and South Sudan all tied for fifth (52 percent), according to GirlsNotBrides.org. Otim said that offering a bride price is part of the culture in South Sudan, but this instance 'was taken to another level because of technology.' Facebook said it removed the post containing the auction for the child bride as soon as the site became aware of its existence on November 9 (file photo) According to 2017 data from UNICEF, 52 percent of young women in South Sudan are married before they turn 18 years old Before the age of 15, nine percent of girls in South Sudan are wed; Sudanese refugee children are shown standing near tents in a muddy field on July 15, 2012 in Jamam refugee camp The top countries with the highest rates of child marriage, based on the percentage of women between the ages of 20-24 years old who were first married before they were 18, include Niger (76 percent), Central African Republic (68 percent), Chad (67 percent), Bangladesh (59 percent) and Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and South Sudan all tied for fifth (52 percent), according to GirlsNotBrides.org The auction was reportedly posted by someone who was not a member of the family of the child bride, but the family benefited from the bidding war, according to Suzy Natana, a lawyer at the South Sudanese National Alliance for Women Lawyers (NAWL). 'A few of our colleagues were able to get in touch with the mother (of the bride) and she was not happy about it,' Natana said. The final price agreed to as a result of the auction is the highest bride price that has been reported in the region, she said, adding that NAWL is opposed to introducing bidding into the bride price process because 'it makes you more of a commodity instead of a human being.' In the Unity state of South Sudan, one then-17-year-old girl told VOA News she was lucky not to be married, saying that girls as young as 13 in her area had been sold into marriage by their families in exchange for dozens of cattle. Nyapar Gatyiel Puok's recommendation was for the government to set a maximum amount for dowry prices, or at least a minimum age for marriage. 'A girl should not be married before she is 20 years old, because if she reaches 20 years of age, she is able to have responsibility and to know how to do work at home. At 13, 14, 15, that causes stress and that's not good,' Puok said at the time, in 2013. Some officials within Unity felt the high dowry prices were likely introduced from people outside the area, while contemplating instituting the state's own local caps on bride prices. Not every young girl in South Sudan is against dowries, like Nyamal William Bol, who was 15 when she explained her thoughts on the matter. 'Dowries should not be eliminated because there are some girls who may cost a lot to achieve their studies in various colleges and universities, so the only way to pay back to her parents is to pay dowries when it comes to marriage,' Bol said. Rebecca Amok, who was 15 when she was told by her father in 2016 that she was to marry a 25-year-old man whom she had never met, told a different story to the Guardian in June of 2017. Before I married I wanted to be a doctor. I want to be the leader of South Sudan,' Amok said, while nursing her seven-month-old daughter, Yar, in her hut in Rumbek. 'I was not happy about my wedding. I was in my room and crying because I didnt want to marry him but my parents convinced me. They said, "Look at us we dont have cows. We want cows for our survival."' Amok's family received 15 cows in exchange for agreeing for their daughter to marry a man named Sabit. Sabit's family was lucky to have the cattle to pay such a price. Some officials within Unity felt the high dowry prices were likely introduced from people outside the area, while contemplating instituting the state's own local caps on bride prices; Sudanese girls are shown jumping rope as many look on at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 30, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan Jada Tombe, who was 27 years old when he talked with Development and Cooperating in June of 2016, said he considered himself lucky to be alive after participating in 'cattle rustling' (stealing cows) in South Sudan. 'We risk our lives to raid other communities so we can pay bride prices,' Tombe said. Three of Tombe's cousins have died over the past three years while trying to steal animals from neighboring villages, he said, adding: 'Even if you dont go on raids, other communities will attack you, and you may be killed defending your herd.' It seems no matter where people stand on the issue of whether bride prices should be paid in South Sudan, most are in agreement that the child bride auction on Facebook was not a good thing. The social networking site is being called upon by Equality Now, an organization focused on gender equality, to improve monitoring practices. 'Violations against women in South Sudan are a continuing issue, but for Facebook to allow their platform to enhance these violations is a problem,' Judy Gitau, Equality Now's regional coordinator for Africa, said. 'They ought to put in place more human resources to monitor their platform to ensure that women's rights, and indeed the rights of all people, are protected,' Gitau said, adding that Facebook has a responsibility to uphold women's rights. Police are searching for the whereabouts of a Michigan woman who was filmed stealing people's deliveries from their homes in the holiday season. The woman was deemed 'grinchy' by the Sterling Heights Police Department, who posted a Tuesday video of the thief nabbing a package from a local home. 'This white female Grinch has been stealing packages off of doorsteps in our city,' the department said on Facebook. 'The video shows this modern day Grinch traded her sled in for a dark colored mini-van. The Modus Operandi of this Grinch is to swoop in and steal the package shortly after being delivered.' The woman was deemed 'grinchy' by the Sterling Heights Police Department, who posted a Tuesday video of the thief nabbing a package from a local home In the brief clip, a FedEx employee can be seen dropping off a package in front of a home in a very quiet residential neighborhood. As the courier service pulls off, a dark colored mini-van circles the block a few times before pulling into the home's driveway. A woman - who appears to be in her late 20s and early 30s - creeps up to the door and snatches the box. She then runs back to her vehicle and flees the scene. In the brief clip, a FedEx employee can be seen dropping off a package in front of a home in a very quiet residential neighborhood She has her hair pulled back into a ponytail and is wearing a dark winter coat as their has been a light snow in the area. Police had been hoping to find information pertaining to the woman's identity but then learned that she had also been on the same spree in nearby Utica. She has since been identified, although the woman's identity has not been shared with the public. It is unknown what all she was able to confiscate from the area. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has awarded a contract worth Dh157 million ($42.7 million) for the construction of a water reservoir in Al Lusaily, a report said. The reservoir will have a storage capacity of 60 million gallons of desalinated water to increase Dubais storage capacity to 890 million gallons, reported Dubai Media Office. The project supports the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to consolidate Dubais leading position in the region as an example of an effective and efficient infrastructure for water networks, said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa. This contract is managing the continued growth in demand for water and the needs of ambitious urban, economic, and social projects, in line with Dewas strategy to provide water reservoirs. It also enhances the efficiency and reliability of the water network and increases water flow to fulfil the increasing demand for water across all Dubai. The project includes the construction of a rectangular, reinforced, concrete 60-million-gallon reservoir alongside the existing water reservoir, which stores 120 million gallons of desalinated water. Work is expected to proceed according to project schedules, and the construction and operation of the reservoir will be operational within 24 months. Dewas total storage capacity will then increase to 890 million gallons, compared to the current capacity of 830 million gallons. A Tennessee mother-of-two has been arrested in connection to the brutal incest rape of her 16-month-old son, which investigators say was carried out by the child's own father earlier this month. Danielle Bowen, 22, was taken into custody on Monday in Lawrenceburg Township and booked into the county jail on counts of child neglect and failure to seek medical attention for her severely injured son. Her arrest came a day after her son's biological father, 33-year-old Simon Dean Porter, was arrested in Alabama after going on a lam. Mother jailed: Danielle Bowen, 22 (left), has been charged in connection to her toddler son's rape, which police say was carried out by his own father, Simon Porter, 33 (right) Porter allegedly raped his son on November 10 in Lawrenceburg. District Attorney Brent Cooper said the toddler's mother never took the baby to the hospital, and that a caretaker sought medical treatment for him two to three days after the sexual assault, reported WAAY. Bowen is now being held at the Lawrence County Jail in Tennessee on $100,000 bond. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation put Porter on its Top 10 Most Wanted list last week. While he was on the run, Porter's mother Barbara Wright issued a message to her son through the news station WKRN: '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. 'Do the right thing, you know you didnt do this, please bring yourself in, prove to them you are innocent.' Bowen, pictured left and right with her children, is accused of failing to seek medical attention for her severely injured son. His baby sitter took him to the hospital 2-3 days after the rape On Sunday, TBI officials tweeted that police in Scottsboro, Alabama, received a tip about Porter and found him walking alongside a highway. He was taken into custody and extradited back to Tennessee. The 33-year-old is facing aggravated child rape charges. Porter is now being held in the Lawrence County Jail in an isolation cell, for his own protection, on $1million bond. According to an arrest affidavit, Porter and Bowen's son suffered potentially permanent damage after being sexually penetrated during the attack, reported WTVF. The 16-month-old also sustained bone fractures from being held down during the rape. The toddler underwent multiple surgeries and was later discharged from the hospital to continue his recovery in an undisclosed location. Officials say neither Porter nor Bowen had legal custody of the boy. The couple also have a young daughter together. Records cited by WHNT indicate that Porter has a criminal history, including a 2010 arrest on a charge of domestic assault. A police officer has been fired for loaning handcuffs and uniform to a friend to use for kinky sex. The gear was found in 2015 when police raided the friend's home after a tip-off over the suspected production of illicit drugs in a government laboratory. Police-issued handcuffs, considered a prohibited weapon, were found along with a uniform including a belt, leather jacket, hat, shirt, pants and leather gloves. The raid was carried out after drug squad officers raided an Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) facility in Sydney in 2013. An officer has been fired after loaning handcuffs and uniform to a friend, who had wanted to fulfill his uniform fetish Police suspected the lab employee, the friend of the officer, was producing ice and cocaine, reports ABC News. But a formal analysis showed no traces of drugs were found and the ANSTO employee was not charged. The fired Sydney officer, who was a police prosecutor referred to as 'M' said his friend, referred to as 'A' wished to try on the uniform because he wanted to join the police. 'M' admitted in a cross-examination the real reason he stored his uniform at 'A's' house was because he had a uniform fetish. 'M' was sacked by Police Commissioner Mick Fuller in 2017, which was a decision upheld by the Commission in September 'M' later admitted he gave advice to 'A' about evidence authorities had gathered against his him. The sacked officer's supervisor recalled what he had told her to the Industrial Relations Commission. 'I had looked over some documents with him regarding an allegation about three years ago and advised him if there was sufficient evidence to charge,' the supervisor said. The supervisor said his actions had put him in 'outright conflict' with his police duties. 'M' denied he provided advice to his friend about police evidence several times during the investigation. He maintained he would have immediately reported his conflict of interest to his superiors if he understood the extent of the investigation. 'M' was sacked by Police Commissioner Mick Fuller in 2017, which was a decision upheld by the Commission in September. A town with a population of 90,000 has had its streets abandoned by police and been left with just ten officers on duty at a time. Residents of Hartlepool, County Durham, band together to patrol their neighbourhoods after police failed to respond to a spate of thefts and burglaries. Locals have taken to solving their own crimes on Facebook after budget cuts saw the number of frontline officers at Cleveland Police slashed by 500 in the past eight years. Politicians said police had given up responding to some calls from hard-working taxpayers and warned that the situation is similar in towns across Britain. PC Kevin Sutherland shows BBC News around the unused custody building in Hartlepool, which has closed due to cuts Locals in Hartlepool have expressed concern about reductions in police numbers in the town Residents in Hartlepool complain they get less funding for policing than richer areas They complain that the Cleveland force receives less funding than more affluent areas while struggling with high crime in Hartlepool, Redcar, Cleveland, Stockton and Middlesbrough. Just ten officers are on duty overnight in Hartlepool, a coastal town with a population of 92,000, and police cars sit empty because there are not enough officers to fill them. Cleveland Police announced on Monday they were shutting down the towns custody suite to save money forcing officers to drive anyone they arrest to Middlesbrough police station 15 miles away. On a recent Saturday night, all ten police officers were busy dealing with incidents, meaning there was no one left to respond to emergency calls, a BBC News investigation found. At one stage, four officers were driving prisoners to Middlesbrough. Gas engineer Paul Timlin captured thieves stealing all of his tools on CCTV, but was forced to solve the crime himself because police failed to turn up for two weeks. The 57-year-old grandfather was unable to work when 1,500 worth of tools were stolen from his van outside his house. Mr Timlin posted footage of the theft on Facebook, and when someone recognised the thieves he contacted a local hard man who persuaded them to return the tools. Mr Timlin said: Posting on Facebook solves crimes quicker than ringing the police. Its a low-grade crime to the police, but for me its 1,500 of tools that are essential for my job. I called the police straight away and went to the station the next day, but was told there were not enough police to cope. Another local business owner, Corrine Winwood, 37, said: People post their own CCTV footage of when they have been broken into on Facebook saying, have you seen this person? Resident Darren Price helps organise early-morning patrols of the streets in a bid to deter criminals, and says the volunteers are doing the job of the police. We just want to try and make our area safer. The police dont come out, he told the BBC. We want the people who are coming around our area nicking things to know that there are people walking the streets actively looking for them. Hartlepool mayor Allan Barclay said: Criminals are very happy because they know they can get away with it. Policing is now non-existent for low-level crimes and things like burglaries and shoplifting because the polices hands are tied by budget cuts. The empty police building in Hartlepool, County Durham Police have effectively given up on coming out because they just dont have the resources victims get a crime number and thats it. Hartlepools Labour MP Mike Hill said: Frightened, hard-working taxpayers feel the streets have been abandoned by police. The situation in Hartlepool is typical of most British towns. It is a damning indictment of underfunding up and down the country. Police chiefs and politicians say Clevelands budget has been cut to the bone since austerity struck in 2010. Cleveland Police have closed 12 police stations, triggering protests by residents carrying placards reading: We need to feel safe. Over the past eight years, the force has shed 500 officers, leaving it with a uniformed force of 1,257. Community policing superintendent Alison Jackson, of Hartlepool Police, said: We make the most efficient use of the resources available to us and those resources are directed to incidents based on levels of threat, harm and risk to our communities. Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger added: The Government must sit up and listen to what we are telling them about the crippling impact of their cuts on policing in Cleveland. In Bristol, thieves breaking into three vans at one property were caught on CCTV but the owners claim police refused to investigate or even watch the video. Darren Smith, 25, said: The police said they dont come out to this type of crime and there was nothing they could do. They didnt want to come out and take the CCTV and they havent given me a way to send it to them I feel let down by it and I dont feel safe. An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: The investigator allocated to Mr Smiths crime emailed him introducing herself, giving her contact details and with a link for him to upload the CCTV. She has had no reply. Chief Constable calls on public to help not hinder his frontline PCs By Chief Crime Correspondent A police chief yesterday joined calls for the public to help and not hinder frontline officers. The comments by Lancashire Chief Constable Andy Rhodes came after officers condemned the walk on by culture in which members of the public film attacks on their phones instead of stopping them. Mr Rhodes said: We are not saying to the public that we expect you to get involved in physical violence on the streets. What we are saying is there are ways and means of helping us and some of the things that we are seeing are hindering us. This isnt a green light for have-a-go heroes. The Mail yesterday revealed how footage of a London woman police officer being kicked into the path of a bus was shared online. It prompted Ken Marsh, chairman of the Met Police Federation, which represents almost 30,000 junior officers, to warn that officers may let thugs go if the public fails to back them up.However speaking to the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire, Mr Rhodes said: We are trained to deal with violent incidents. If our officers feel they are not in a position to make a safe arrest without being harmed they will back up and wait for more support to come. Responding to the footage of the London policewoman being kicked, Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said: I was shocked, I thought it was sickening to see the violence that my officers were subjected to. I was honestly appalled that somebody should be filming that and laughing about it. When asked if the public should intervene, she said: It depends on the circumstances. It depends on who you are, how fit and able you feel and what is in fact unfolding in front of your eyes. Licensed snake catcher Troy Dupree was then called out to remove the serpent Three young girls were shocked to discover a deadly brown snake in their dollhouse on Monday. The children, from Mount Pleasant, north-east of Adelaide, were playing with the miniature home when they heard a strange noise coming from inside a drawer on the bottom left. When they pulled the drawer open, the horrified young girls spotted a curled up metre-long deadly brown snake. The dollhouse (pictured) where three young girls discovered a deadly brown snake at an Adelaide address on Monday Their parents promptly called Snake Catchers Adelaide, who instructed them to close off the room and place towels over the door's opening. 'It was right down the bottom in the drawer area (of the dollhouse),' licensed snake catcher Troy Dupree said. 'Every time it saw the people it would just pop his head away.' Mr Dupree told the family to keep their eye on the reptile as he made the two-hour commute from Adelaide's CBD to their Mount Pleasant home. Eastern browns are generally reclusive but extremely venomous. 'It doesn't matter if they are big or small, the venom toxicity is the same,' Mr Dupree told Yahoo7. The metre-long brown snake was hidden in the dollhouse's bottom left drawer Ange Broadstock from Snake Catchers Adelaide said the discovery wasn't overly surprising. 'Our most common snake is the eastern brown it is pretty much in every suburb of Adelaide,' she said. The family remain puzzled as to how the snake got into their home and then the dollhouse. Queensland taxpayers are paying to clean up makeshift drug labs in public accommodation - but the evicted tenants are allowed to reapply for housing. The shocking data, sourced under the Right to Information, revealed it cost more than $500,000 to clean up 140 houses in the last two years, ABC News reported. While the number of homes found with illegal drug labs had declined from 89 in the last two years, 53 drug labs were still found on publicly funded properties. Queensland taxpayers are paying to clean up makeshift drug labs in public accommodation - and the evicted tenants are allowed to reapply for housing State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said public housing is a privilege, not a right and Queensland taxpayers shouldn't have to pay to decontaminate homes. She claims the Labor government is soft on offenders and Queenslanders shouldnt have to foot housing bills for convicted criminals. Ms Frecklington said the housing policy was there to ensure the most vulnerable Australians had a roof over their head - not so they can 'make cash on the side'. Spending more than $500,000 to clean up homes that were found to have meth labs was an 'obscene amount of money', she said. A Department of Housing spokesperson told ABC News tenants who manufacture drugs are evicted, but they are still allowed to reapply for a home under the policy. 'The tenant is not prohibited from applying for public housing again, but they must pay any outstanding debts to the department and be assessed on merit,' they said. The shocking data, sourced under the Right to Information, revealed it cost more than $500,000 to clean up about 140 houses in the last two years The spokesperson said tenants health and safety was paramount, which is why they are expected to adhere to the Fair Expectations of Behaviour policy or be evicted. The shocking data also revealed Brisbane had the highest number of homes that required decontamination in the last two years. As a result, the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) is urging homeowners and landlords to have their properties tested for chemical residue. REIQ partner from Smoke Alarm Solutions, Julieanne Worchurst, told the publication her company tested as many as 30 homes regularly every month. She said methamphetamine contaminated homes isn't just a problem in major cities, but also regional ares of Queensland and elsewhere in the country. 'At least 80 per cent of properties that we're engaged to test are returning unacceptably high levels of methamphetamine residue the residue is retained until it's cleaned, so this could go on for multiple years,' Ms Worchurst said. According to the Australian Crime Commission, a positive result of more than 0.5 micrograms can be harmful for your health. Daily Mail Australia reached out to the Department of Housing for comment. A truck teetering off the edge of a freeway overpass for more than 12 hours has been removed, narrowly avoiding further disaster. The chicken farm truck was perched in a precarious position after it rolled off the side of the bridge following a horror crash on the Calder Freeway in Melbourne. The driver, a man in his 50s, survived the crash and was taken to hospital with bruises, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said. Two cranes were required to remove the truck, which had been leaking petrol on to Green Gully Rd below for hours. A major freeway has been closed after a truck rolled over and was left with its trailer dangling precariously from a traffic bridge Debris was also piled up underneath, blocking access in both directions. Footage of the incident captured the moment the truck slid across the bridge before coming to a halt. The debris, which was flying from the truck in all directions, only narrowly avoided a small white car driving through the underpass. A larger piece of white debris, seemingly the side of the truck, also only just missed cars down below as it dropped from the truck and on to the road. A Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman said 'there was a power line in the way so we needed to make sure they were dealt with first'. Traffic remained heavy for much of the evening after the incident, which happened about 5pm, and carried well into Wednesday morning. A VicRoads spokeswoman said a number of agencies worked to remove the truck, including VicRoads, Metropolitan Fire Bridge, Victoria Police and Powerco. It is still not clear what triggered the crash. The alarming scale of childrens addiction to betting is laid bare today in an official report. It says the number of problem gamblers aged 11 to 16 has quadrupled in two years to 55,000. A further 70,000 youngsters are at risk, according to the audit by the Gambling Commission. It found that a worrying 450,000 children one in seven of those in the 11- 16 age group bet regularly. They stake an average of 16 a week each. The alarming scale of childrens addiction to betting is laid bare today in an official report (stock image) The money goes on fruit machines, on bingo, in betting shops or online, which are all illegal for under-18s. The commissions report also said: Children are being inundated with gambling advertising, with two in three saying they have seen it on TV; Close to a million youngsters have been exposed to gambling through loot boxes in computer games or on smartphone apps; More children say they have placed bets in the past week than drunk alcohol, smoked or taken drugs. Lord Chadlington, former chairman of Action on Addiction, demanded an advertising crackdown. We are on the brink of a gambling epidemic in this country, the peer said. I am calling for a stop to gambling advertising on live sporting events on television, and these numbers reinforce the need for urgent action. Italy, which has some 20 per cent fewer problem gamblers than the UK, is banning it. Why is this bombardment of gambling advertising on television continuing in the UK? Lord Chadlington, former chairman of Action on Addiction, demanded an advertising crackdown (stock image) Matt Zarb-Cousin, a former addict who speaks for the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, said: A generation of young people think gambling is part of watching sport. When opportunities to gamble arise they think thats a normal thing to do. If you get addicted to gambling when you are at school and you dont have much life experience before that, its very difficult to recover from it. The fact that problem gambling in children appears to be increasing exponentially should send alarm bells. How to tell if a child is a gambling addict Experts used an internationally recognised test to discover if a child has a problem (stock image) To uncover the scale of compulsive gambling among children the experts used an internationally recognised test. It poses nine questions to isolate types of addictive behaviour, including losing control. A child showing four or more of the different behaviours was considered to be a problem gambler. Two or three behaviours saw them identified as at risk of problem gambling. A lower score showed they were not in danger. The nine questions were: In the past 12 months: How often have you found yourself thinking about gambling or planning to gamble? (2.3 per cent in the survey said they had) How often have you gambled to help you escape from problems or when you were feeling bad? (2.1 per cent) Have you felt bad or fed up when trying to cut down on gambling? (1.8 per cent) Have you needed to gamble with more and more money to get the amount of excitement you want? (2 per cent) Have you ever spent much more than you planned to spend on gambling? (1.2 per cent) Have you ever taken money without permission to spend on gambling? (3.9 per cent) Has your gambling ever led to arguments with family or friends, or you missing school? (2.7 per cent) Have you ever told lies because of gambling? (2.4 per cent) After losing money by gambling, have you returned another day to try to win back the money you lost? (1.9 per cent) Advertisement The report was based on an Ipsos Mori study of 2,865 11 to 16-year-olds between February and July 2018. They were assessed as either a problem or an at risk gambler on the basis of questions about their behaviour. These included how often they thought about gambling, if they had stolen to fund stakes or if betting had ever led them to lie to their parents. It found the most common route into gambling were fruit machines in pubs or arcades and cash bets with friends. Some children admitted using betting shops or online gambling sites, both of which are illegal for under-18s. The study revealed that one in seven boys followed betting brands on social media sites including Facebook and Instagram. It concluded there were 55,000 problem child gamblers 1.7 per cent of children aged 11 to 16. This was 42,000 more than in 2016. The 70,000 at risk of addiction represent 2.2 per cent of the age group. Last week three families, whose sons killed themselves after becoming addicted to gambling, said their children had started aged 17 or under on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals or fruit machines. Liz Ritchies son Jack took his own life aged 24 after gambling with his school dinner money. She said: We need tougher enforcement to restrict childrens access to gambling, a ban on advertising that has normalised gambling in childrens minds and a clear public health warning that includes the high suicide risk of gambling. Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, which represents some of the major betting firms, said: There are still far too many children gambling. Weve all got to do more to push that number down. We would say that the number who are problem gamblers is unacceptable, but a lot of it is outside of our control. On the advertising, the link between children gambling and advertising isnt clear-cut but we are mindful that there are genuine concerns. Hopefully the review process were in at the moment will resolve that. The association, which includes Bet365, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and William Hill, reportedly met yesterday to discuss a complete ban on pre-watershed advertising. Last week ministers made a U-turn over their decision to delay the implementation of a 2 maximum stake on FOBTs after a campaign by the Daily Mail. Loot boxes in computer games are used to redeem bonuses such as weapons and costumes and it is feared the element of chance mirrors gambling. We must ALL act to protect kids By Tim Miller, Executive Director of the Gambling Commission There's no doubt that todays figures on children and gambling should make people sit up and listen. But while discussions about children gambling might conjure up images of kids sneaking into bookies or sitting alone on their iPads gambling on an online casino, our latest research paints a more complex picture. The most common activities that children gamble on are not licensed casinos, bingo providers or bookies. Instead we found children preferred to gamble in informal environments, out of sight of regulation private bets between friends or playing cards with their mates for money. We also found them gambling in places where parents might be expected to be present scratch cards in supermarkets or fruit machines in pubs. Just in the last week we found that nearly 90 per cent of pubs tested failed to prevent children from gambling on fruit machines. These may not be gambling businesses but nevertheless have a duty to protect young people because we know that no form of gambling is risk free. Of course, none of this will divert us from our core duty to protect children from the types of gambling offered by companies we regulate. We continue to take action when children are not properly protected by gambling companies and keep raising the standards of protections in place. Earlier this year we set proposals to strengthen age verification for online gambling sites, including putting free-to-play games behind an age check. In October we introduced new rules which mean we can directly take action, including imposing fines, against gambling businesses that break advertising rules (such as advertising that appeals to children or glamourises gambling). But our actions alone wont stop children being exposed to gambling-style activities in video games or in the app store. They wont protect the child who has been given access by a parent to their online gambling account. They wont prevent the playground or the bedroom from becoming a poker den. Protecting children from harm requires a joined-up approach: a strong, effective regulator, parents and teachers who understand and talk about the risks that can come from gambling, businesses, both in the gambling industry and outside, that act responsibly. It is by working hand in hand that we can help to keep our kids safe. The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly gathering intelligence from paid undercover informants in the migrant caravan. According to NBC News, the 4,000 migrants have been using WhatsApp to communicate during their journey to the US-Mexico border. DHS personnel joined those WhatsApp groups to monitor the messages of migrants. Nearly 3,000 people from the first of the caravans arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on Monday. Scroll down for video The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly gathering intelligence from paid undercover informants in the migrant caravan. According to NBC News , the 4,000 migrants have been using WhatsApp to communicate during their journey to the US-Mexico border DHS officials reportedly told NBC that they are also receiving reports from DHS personnel working in Mexico with the government there in an effort to keep tabs on the caravan's size, movements and any potential security threats. On Monday, DHS officials told reporters that their informants on Sunday had indicated that a group of migrants wanted to run through the car lanes of a border crossing near San Diego. As a result, the US closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the busiest border entry point from Mexico to install new security barriers 3am to 6am. Customs and Border Protection agents also installed movable, wire-topped barriers. But nothing was ever attempted. The news comes after it was reported that more than 500 criminals were found traveling in the caravan. Officials would not reveal how they identified the criminals, but said most of the individuals were adult men and teenage boys, according to Fox News. President Donald Trump (pictured at Monday's ceremony receiving the White House Christmas tree), had ordered the Homeland Security Department to stop accepting asylum claims from people who cross the US-Mexico border illegally Regular parts of entry like this one between Tijuana, Mexico and San Ysidro, California, are often traffic jams, and on Monday DHS closed it temporarily to improve the security barriers On Monday, a federal judge barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on November 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border between official ports of entry would be ineligible for asylum. Trump said an asylum ban was necessary to stop what he's attacked as a national security threat. US District Judge Jon Tigar sided with suing immigrant-rights groups who said Congress was explicit when it wrote asylum laws to encompass everyone But in his ruling Monday, US District Judge Jon Tigar agreed with legal groups that immediately sued, arguing that US immigration law clearly allows someone to seek asylum even if they enter the country between official ports of entry. 'Whatever the scope of the President's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden,' said Tigar, a nominee of former President Barack Obama. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on the ruling, which will remain in effect for one month barring an appeal. In issuing the ban, Trump used the same powers he used last year to impose a travel ban that was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court. If enforced, the ban would potentially make it harder for thousands of people to avoid deportation. DHS estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. But Tigar's ruling notes that federal law says someone may seek asylum if they have arrived in the United States, 'whether or not at a designated port of arrival.' 'Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry,' said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights, which sued the government alongside the American Civil Liberties Union. 'It couldn't be clearer.' People lined up Monday to cross into the US from Tijuana, including some who would apply for permanent asylum; now those who cross into the country illegally elsewhere will be able to make the same claim As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Trump's order went into effect, according to DHS, which oversees Customs and Border Protection. DHS has said it wants asylum seekers at the southern border to appear at an official border crossing. But many border crossings such as San Ysidro already have long wait times. People are often forced to wait in shelters or outdoor camps on the Mexican side, sometimes for weeks. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because 'they're in real danger,' either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. 'We don't condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum,' he said. Joe Shelton Jr, 54, was killed while driving to work when a chunk of concrete crashed through his front windshield on Tuesday A 54-year-old man was tragically killed when a concrete chunk was thrown from a highway overpass and hit him in the face, police said. Joe Shelton Jr was driving to work on Interstate 24 in Nashville when the chunk crashed through his front windshield and struck him just before 5am on Tuesday. Shelton then sideswiped a pickup truck and guardrail before his vehicle came to a stop on Sillman Evans Bridge. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Metro Nashville Police Department is investigating whether the rock was intentionally thrown from the Shelby Avenue Bridge overpass. Police believe the chunk of concrete was thrown from a highway overpass on Interstate 24 in Nashville. It crashed through Shelton's car (pictured) and hit him in the face Tennessee Transportation Department bridge inspectors determined the concrete (pictured) was not part of the nearby bridge and said it more closely resembles part of a roadway curb Tennessee Transportation Department bridge inspectors determined the concrete was not part of the nearby bridge. Inspectors said the chunk more closely resembles part of a roadway curb. Authorities believe the chunk was 'likely' thrown from the bridge, according to WSMV. Investigators are currently reviewing any available surveillance footage from the area in an attempt to locate potential suspects. After he was struck, Shelton sideswiped a pickup truck and guardrail before his vehicle came to a stop on Sillman Evans Bridge (pictured) Shelton was driving to his job at a Nissan plant when he was killed on Tuesday. The company released a statement, saying: 'We are saddened to learn of Joe's passing.' 'Our deepest sympathies are with his family members, friends, and colleagues at this difficult time.' The investigation is ongoing. Police asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. A senior minister has warned the plot to topple Theresa May risks doing historic damage to the Conservatives as even Jacob Rees-Mogg admitted it had become like an episode of Dads Army. In a private letter, Sir Alan Duncan told Mr Rees-Mogg that his attempted coup at the height of the Brexit negotiations amounted to a declaration of war. Yesterday Mr Rees-Mogg urged his band of plotters on, saying it was now or never to ditch the Prime Minister if they didnt want her to lead the party into the next election. But he acknowledged there was a Dads Army feeling to the scheme, saying: Ive always admired Captain Mainwaring. Sir Alan Duncan warned that Jacob Rees-Mogg's plot to topple Theresa May at the height of Brexit declarations amounted to a declaration of war. He launched a public bid to oust Mrs May last week with an extraordinary press conference outside the Commons. The MP revealed he had written a letter of no confidence and urged others to follow suit however the plot has so far failed to gather the 48 Tory MPs needed to force a vote. By yesterday just 24 MPs had gone public calling for Mrs May to go, and Mr Rees-Mogg chairman of the European Research Group, an alliance of pro-Brexit Tories acknowledged it could take another month to reach the target needed to force a leadership contest. Asked whether Mrs May would lead the party into the next election in 2022, he said: I would wait and see about that. You find Tory MPs who say they are really keen that Theresa May should lead us into the next general election. Basically, if there is a vote of confidence it is not just for a year. Getting the 48 letters has shown to be quite difficult, so the idea that in a year you just repeat the process and then she would go at that point I dont think that is realistic. I think it is now, or the Prime Minister will lead the Conservatives into the next election. Mr Rees-Mogg told the Conservative Home website yesterday that the 48 threshold would be reached by next month. He and the ERGs shop steward Steve Baker also met for a post mortem on the scheme, and agreed to press ahead. The attempted coup a term disputed by Mr Rees-Mogg has sparked fury among Tory moderates. In Sir Alans letter, a copy of which has been seen by the Daily Mail, he said that if the antics of the ERG were not toned down, they risked sinking the whole ship. He added: Your press conference last week and your subsequent calls for the Prime Minister to be replaced amount to a declaration of war from a party within the Party. The damage you are now causing is of historic significance and I am writing once again to ask you to appreciate the gravity of your actions and step back from taking any further steps to destabilise the Government. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said removing Mrs May would risk the most appalling chaos which could threaten the stability of the country. Former Tory leader Lord Hague warned the plot was increasing the risk of a Corbyn-led government, adding: I have lived through more crises in British politics than I can remember, but I have never witnessed one more serious than this. The plot has also caused divisions within the ERG. Younger MPs have criticised senior figures such as Iain Duncan Smith, Owen Paterson and Sir Bernard Jenkin for failing to join the plot, despite sharing concerns about Mrs Mays Brexit deal. Yesterday Nadine Dorries, one of those who has sent a no confidence letter, criticised male MPs for failing to show the courage of their convictions. One MP who has submitted a letter told the Mail that some veteran Eurosceptics were being bought off by tea, fruitcake and blether. The source said Mr Duncan Smith and Mr Paterson had been lathered with more butter than the average crumpet. ERG sources yesterday brushed aside claims the plot had proved a flop. One senior figure said the fallout had wrecked government attempts to sell Mrs Mays Brexit deal, adding: Well get there, and in the meantime were wrecking No 10s communications grid. The Education Price Index (EPI) for the academic year 2018/ 2019 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi increased by 3.4 per cent in 2018 compared with 2017, a media report said. The Education Price Index in 2018 was 108.0 per cent and 104.4 per cent in 2017, reported Emirates news agency Wam, citing the Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi. The Education sector in the emirate of Abu Dhabi is one of the most important sectors for the development of a promising and educated generation that contributes their service of the nation and society. Al Ain region recorded the highest increase in the Education Price Index of 4.3 per cent in 2018 as compared to 2017, followed by Abu Dhabi with 3.2 per cent and Al Dhafra with 0.9 per cent. The Higher Education group achieved the highest contribution to the rise in 2018 compared with 2017, contributing 76.7 per cent of the total increase, where prices rose by 11.0 per cent. The Primary and Pre-primary Education group increased by 1.7 per cent, contributing 26.8 per cent of the total increase. The Education not defined by any level group increased by 15.3 per cent, and contributed 4.8 per cent to the overall increase. The Secondary Education group decreased by 2.6 per cent and contributed 13.1 per cent to offsetting the rise. France is threatening to scupper Theresa May's Brexit deal unless it can have rights to fish in UK waters after the country's exit. French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly piling pressure on EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier to squeeze more concessions out of the UK. The Times has seen diplomatic notes that suggest France wants a 'guarantee that there should be a fisheries agreement' allowing French and other European fleets access to British waters. The PM has vowed to take Britain out of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) , which gives EU countries the rights to fish in Britain's waters. British fisherman have long hated the deal, which they say have cut into their stocks and trade. Mrs May would fuel more Brexiteer fury at her already controversial divorce deal if she gave ground on the issue. Esther McVey found fame as a GMTV presenter in the 1990s before turning to politics, and is one of the party's strongest media performers Esther McVey found fame as a GMTV presenter in the 1990s before turning to politics, and is one of the party's strongest media performers. The 51-year-old, who attended Cabinet as employment minister under David Cameron, was the most high-profile Tory casualty of 2015 when she was ousted by Labour in Wirral West. She lost her seat after the unions mounted a nasty campaign in her constituency, which was surrounded by a sea of red. At a distasteful comedy night on Remembrance Sunday in 2014, shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who was then a backbencher, joked about how activists in Liverpool had wanted to lynch her. To applause, he said that at a meeting he had attended they asked: 'Why are sacking her? Why aren't we lynching the b******?'' She returned to Parliament in June 2017 after taking George Osborne's seat in Tatton, and was made deputy chief whip in November the same year. In January 2018, she made a remarkable comeback to the Cabinet table when she was appointed Work and Pensions Secretary. In an interview with the Daily Mail late last year, Miss McVey revealed how she had been put into foster care as a baby after she was born to young parents. She said: 'I believe most people in their life will fall upon tough times at some point. I want to give the message that anyone can succeed given the opportunity. But she sent Mrs May's Cabinet into meltdown in November when she dramatically quit in fury at the PM's Brexit divorce deal. She joined Dominic Raab in storming out in fury after the PM put her blueprint to her ministers in a stormy five-hour cabinet session. In March she boosted talk of a leadership bid after going public with her MP lover Philip Davies. The four-year relationship between her and the stubborn backbench MP for Shipley, 47, was already an open secret at Westminster. But the Brexiteer lovers went public to confirm they are 'two individuals, but a couple' in a joint-interview with the Conservative Home website. She later revealed that they were planning to marry after he proposed in April. NASA has picked an ancient river delta as the landing site for its unmanned Mars 2020 rover, to hunt for evidence of past life on the red planet. Even though Earth's neighbour is now cold and dry, the landing site, Jezero Crater, was once filled with a 1,600-foot (500-meter) deep lake. The reservoir, which opened to a network of rivers, may have hosted microscopic life some 3.5 to 3.9 billion years ago. NASA announced in a statement that it plans to launch a $2.5 billion (1.95 billion) rover to search for signs of this life, a find that could teach us more about how life evolved on Earth. It follows a video released by the agency last week that outlined its plans to land a human colony on the moon before launching manned missions to Mars. Scroll down for video Nasa has picked the location for its unmanned 2020 Mars rover (artist's impression). The probe will search for signs of ancient life on the planet NASA'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY VIDEO Nasa released a teaser video of its future plans as part of the agency's celebration of its 60th anniversary. In the clip, the agency announced its intentions to go back to the moon - and stay there. As well as setting up a permanent base on the rocky satellite, Nasa hopes to use the Moon as a way to launch future missions to Mars and beyond, it said. In the video, voiced by actor Mike Rowe, the agency said: 'We are NASA - and after 60 years, we're just getting started.' The project aims to answer the Space Policy Directive-1, signed by Donald Trump last year, which directed the agency to bolster its space exploration efforts. Advertisement 'The delta is a good place for evidence of life to be deposited and then preserved for the billions of years that have elapsed since this lake was present,' said Ken Farley, Mars 2020 project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Experts believe the 28-mile (45-kilometer) wide basin could have collected and preserved ancient organic molecules and other signs of microbial life. At least five different kinds of rocks, including 'clays and carbonates that have high potential to preserve signatures of past life,' are believed to lie in the crater, just north of the Martian equator, the US space agency said in a statement. Carbonate rock is produced by the interaction of water, atmospheric gases and rock, and leaves clues about habitable environments, said Farley. Scientists have debated where to land the rover for the past four years, and whittled down their decision from more than 60 possible sites. The $2.5 billion (1.95 billion) rover is planned to launch in July 2020, and land in February 2021. Though Mars is now cold and dry, Jezero Crater (pictured) was filled with a 1,600-foot deep lake some 3.5 to 3.9 billion years ago NASA MARS 2020: PERSEVERANCE ROVER AND INGENUITY HELICOPTER ARE SEARCHING FOR LIFE ON THE RED PLANET NASA's Mars 2020 mission was launched to search for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet in a bid to help scientists better understand how life evolved on Earth in the earliest years of the evolution of the solar system. Named Perseverance, the main car-sized rover is exploring an ancient river delta within the Jezero Crater, which was once filled with a 1,600ft deep lake. It is believed that the region hosted microbial life some 3.5 to 3.9 billion years ago and the rover will examine soil samples to hunt for evidence of the life. Nasa's Mars 2020 rover (artist's impression) is searching for signs of ancient life on Mars in a bid to help scientists better understand how life evolved on our own planet The $2.5 billion (1.95 billion) Mars 2020 spaceship launched on July 30 with the rover and helicopter inside - and landed successfully on February 18, 2021. Perseverance landed inside the crater and will slowly collect samples that will eventually be returned to Earth for further analysis. A second mission will fly to the planet and return the samples, perhaps by the later 2020s in partnership with the European Space Agency. This concept art shows the Mars 2020 rover landing on the red planet via NASA's 'sky-crane' system Advertisement Mars 2020 is designed to land inside the crater and collect samples that will eventually be returned to Earth for further analysis, perhaps by the later 2020s. But first, the rover has to make it to the surface intact and upright, dodging a field of boulders, sand traps and the edges of the delta. Mars 2020 will use the same sky crane landing that successfully delivered NASA's unmanned Curiosity rover to a location called Gale Crater on Mars back in 2012. Mars has been the target of a series of missions over several years, some of which have landed on the planet while others have remained in its orbit. This graphic gives a summary of the probes and rovers, past (yellow) and present (grey), that have explored Mars Gale Crater, with its many layers of sediment, was chosen to tell the story of how Mars transitioned from a warm, wet planet to the frigid and dusty one it is today. The landing site of Jezero Crater is different because of its abundant carbonate rocks and what they can hopefully reveal about early habitability on Mars, NASA said. Instead of having an analytical laboratory on board - like Curiosity has - Mars 2020 is designed to look at rocks on a finer scale, seeing what biosignatures are preserved. It will then pile them in a cache for further study back on Earth. A separate mission, yet to be defined, would bring the rocks back to Earth. Knowing more about the ability for life to exist on Mars in the distant past could inform us about how life evolved on Earth. 'Mars is one of four terrestrial planets in the solar system and it actually has the best record of what was going on in the first billion years of planetary formation,' said Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program. NASA has vowed to send people to Mars by the 2030s, but industry experts say it could take longer - at least 25 years from now - before humans could survive on the red planet 'During the same time that life started on Earth, life could have started on Mars,' he added. 'Mars had conditions more similar to Earth early on -- in the first billion years -- so what may have been happening in our solar system that allowed life to start on this planet may also be evident on Mars itself.' Certain features of the Earth - such as plate tectonics which roil the terrain periodically - and flowing water which washes away ancient artefacts, actually make the search to understand early microbial life easier on Mars than on Earth. 'Because there are so many ancient rocks on the surface of Mars, this information is more accessible,' said Meyer. Robotic rover missions are an important part of human space exploration because these tools also help inform NASA's efforts to send people to the surface of Mars sometime in the coming decades. 'Mars is really the obvious place, after the Moon, to go and expand our presence in deep space,' said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's science mission directorate. NASA has vowed to send people to Mars by the 2030s, but industry experts say it could take longer - at least 25 years from now - before humans could survive on the red planet. The agency released a teaser video last week in which it announced its intentions to go back to the moon - and stay there. NASA plans to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s after first landing on the Moon Mars has become the next giant leap for mankind's exploration of space. But before humans get to the red planet, astronauts will take a series of small steps by returning to the moon for a year-long mission. Details of a the mission in lunar orbit have been unveiled as part of a timeline of events leading to missions to Mars in the 2030s. Nasa has outlined its four stage plan (pictured) which it hopes will one day allow humans to visit Mars at he Humans to Mars Summit held in Washington DC yesterday. This will entail multiple missions to the moon over coming decades In May 2017, Greg Williams, deputy associate administrator for policy and plans at Nasa, outlined the space agency's four stage plan that it hopes will one day allow humans to visit Mars, as well as its expected time-frame. Phase one and two will involve multiple trips to lunar space, to allow for construction of a habitat which will provide a staging area for the journey. The last piece of delivered hardware would be the actual Deep Space Transport vehicle that would later be used to carry a crew to Mars. And a year-long simulation of life on Mars will be conducted in 2027. Phase three and and four will begin after 2030 and will involve sustained crew expeditions to the Martian system and surface of Mars. Advertisement As well as setting up a permanent base on the rocky satellite, Nasa hopes to use the Moon as a way to launch future missions to Mars and beyond, it said. Nasa plans to send rovers to the surface of the moon that will make way for a full blown human colony, which will remain on the satellite for long periods. From here it plans to launch manned missions to Mars after a series of exploratory probe missions. In the video, voiced by actor Mike Rowe, the agency said: 'We've taken giant leaps and left our mark in the heavens. 'Now we're building the next chapter, returning to the Moon to stay, and preparing to go beyond. We are NASA - and after 60 years, we're just getting started.' The project aims to answer the Space Policy Directive-1, signed by Donald Trump last year, which directed the agency to renew its physical space exploration efforts. Biologists are trying to save the last of the endangered Puerto Rican parrots after more than half the population of the bright green birds with turquoise-tipped wings disappeared when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and destroyed their habitat and food sources. In the tropical forest of El Yunque, only two of the 56 wild birds that once lived there survived the Category 4 storm that pummeled the U.S. territory in September 2017. Meanwhile, only 4 of 31 wild birds in a forest in the western town of Maricao survived, along with 75 out of 134 wild parrots living in the Rio Abajo forest in the central mountains of Puerto Rico, scientists said. And while several dozen new parrots have been born in captivity and in the wild since Maria, the species is still in danger, according to scientists. Biologists are trying to save the last of the endangered Puerto Rican parrots after more than half the population of birds disappeared when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and destroyed their habitat and food sources 'We have a lot of work to do,' said Gustavo Olivieri, parrot recovery program coordinator for Puerto Rico's Department of Natural Resources. Federal and local scientists will meet next month to debate how best to revive a species that numbered more than 1 million in the 1800s but dwindled to 13 birds during the 1970s after decades of forest clearing. The U.S. and Puerto Rican governments launched a program in 1972 that eventually led to the creation of three breeding centers. Just weeks before Maria hit, scientists reported 56 wild birds at El Yunque, the highest since the program was launched. But the population decline is now especially worrisome because the parrots that vanished from El Yunque were some of the last remaining wild ones, said Marisel Lopez, who oversees the parrot recovery program at El Yunque for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. One of the mountains surrounding the Iguaca Aviary in El Yunque, where Puerto Rican parrots are taken care of by the Fish & Wildlife Service, has part of a parrot recovery program Federal and local scientists will meet next month to debate how best to revive a species that numbered more than 1 million in the 1800s but dwindled to 13 birds during the 1970s after decades of forest clearing 'It was devastating. After so many years of having worked on this project...,' she stopped talking and sighed. The Puerto Rican Amazon is Puerto Rico's only remaining native parrot and is one of roughly 30 species of Amazon parrots found in the Americas. The red-foreheaded birds grow to nearly a foot in length, are known for their secrecy and usually mate for life, reproducing once a year. More than 460 birds remain captive at the breeding centers in El Yunque and Rio Abajo forests, but scientists have not released any of them since Hurricane Maria. A third breeding center in a forest in the western rural town of Maricao has not operated since the storm. While several dozen new parrots have been born in captivity and in the wild since Hurricane Maria, the species is still in danger, according to scientists A RECORD YEAR FOR NATURAL DISASTERS A total of 16 disasters cost the US $1 billion or more in 2017, said the report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The previous costliest year for the US was 2005 with losses of $215 billion driven in large part by Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita. These events included 1 drought event, 2 flooding events, 1 freeze event, 8 severe storm events, 3 tropical cyclone events, and 1 wildfire event. Overall, these events resulted in the deaths of 362 people and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted. Last year, the western wildfire season -- which ravaged large parts of California - cost $18 billion, 'tripling the previous US annual wildfire cost record,' said the report. Hurricane Harvey, which dumped some 50 inches (127 centimeters) of rain on Texas, cost $125 billion, second only to 2005's Hurricane Katrina in historical records of billion-dollar disasters, going back four decades. Hurricane Maria, which flattened much of Puerto Rico, cost $90 billion, while Hurricane Irma, which plowed into the Caribbean and Florida, cost $50 billion. Advertisement Scientists are now trying to determine the best way to prepare the parrots for release since there are such few birds in the wild they can interact with, and whether Puerto Rico's damaged forests can sustain them. One proposal scientists will consider is whether to capture some of the remaining wild parrots in the Rio Abajo forest and place them into the same cage as birds that will be released into the wild, so they can learn to emulate their social behavior to ensure their survival, said Jafet Velez, a wildlife biologist with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Scientists are tentatively planning to release 20 birds next year in Rio Abajo. Another proposal is to release more parrots in Maricao, which was not as heavily damaged by Maria. 'Our priority now is not reproduction...it's to start releasing them,' Lopez said, adding that breeding centers can hold only so many parrots. But first, scientists need to make sure the forests can offer food and safe shelter. Jessica Ilse, a forest biologist at el Yunque for the U.S. Forest Service, said scientists are collecting data about the amount of fruit falling from trees and the number of leaves shed. She said the canopy still has not grown back since Maria and warned that invasive species have taken root since more sunlight now shines through. Ilse said that many of the large trees where parrots used to nest are now gone and noted that it took 14 months for El Yunque's canopy to close after Hurricane Hugo hit Puerto Rico in 1989 as a Category 3 storm. Researchers take coordinates of the area where they will establish an observation platform and nesting areas for the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot The Puerto Rican Parrot requires particular tree structures to establish nesting areas. But, much of its habitat was destroyed during Hurricane Maria More than 460 birds remain captive at the breeding centers in El Yunque and Rio Abajo forests, but scientists have not released any of them since Hurricane Maria. Scientists also are now collecting new data on the number of predators at El Yunque, including el guaraguao, a red-tailed hawk that hunts Puerto Rico parrots. Without a canopy and proper camouflage, wild parrots have become an easy target. Ilse said local and federal scientists plan to help the forest recover through planting. By the end of November, they expect to have a map detailing the most damaged areas in El Yunque and a list of tree species they can plant that are more resistant to hurricanes. 'People keep asking us, 'How long is it going to take?'' Ilse said. But scientists don't know, she added. 'The damage is more extensive than (hurricanes) Hugo and Georges...It's been a complete change to the ecosystem.' Scientists are now trying to determine the best way to prepare the parrots for release since there are such few birds in the wild they can interact with, and whether Puerto Rico's damaged forests can sustain them The skeleton of an ancient Egyptian woman who tragically died during childbirth has been found alongside her unborn baby. The woman, who died 3,700 years ago at the age of 25, was in the final weeks of pregnancy and officials believe she died following the start of labour. She was buried in a graveyard used between 1750 BC and 1550 BC by nomadic people travelling north into the region of Nubia. Scroll down for video The skeleton of an ancient Egyptian woman who tragically died during childbirth has been found alongside her tiny foetus (pictured) Experts from Yale University and the University of Bologna found the remains at the Kom Ombo archaeological project in Aswan, around 530 miles (852km) from Cairo. Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the cemetery was used by travellers during the second transition period, between 1750 and 1550 BC. The foetus is already in the birthing position with its head-down within the woman's pelvis. Experts say the woman seems to have been suffering from a fracture that was not treated correctly and most likely led to her death. The woman's skeleton was wrapped in a leather shroud and surrounded by pottery, including an Egyptian jar that was worn out it had been used so much. The woman, who died 3,700 years ago at the age of 25, was in the final weeks of her pregnancy and officials believe she died following the start of labour. She was also buried with beads made from an ostrich egg (pictured) The woman's skeleton was wrapped in a leather shroud and buried with lots of pottery, including an Egyptian jar (pictured) that was worn out it had been used so much She was buried with a polished red and black container that were made in ancient Nubia at the time. She was also buried with beads made from an ostrich egg. These objects were laid with her body by family members in order to honour her memory. Just earlier this month Egyptian archaeologists discovered a pottery workshop in Kom Ombo that dated back 4,500 years. The find - which included a stone pottery wheel - provided a glimpse into daily life from millenia ago. Just earlier this month Egyptian archaeologists discovered a pottery workshop in Kom Ombo that dated back 4,500 years The workshop was built during the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (between 2613 and 2494 BC), a statement said, the same period in which the famous pyramids of Giza were constructed. 'It is one of the rare finds that sheds light on daily life, industrial activities and the development of art in ancient Egypt,' Mr Waziri said in the statement. He said it showed 'the improvement and adaptation' of tools during the period as people 'responded to the demands of daily life'. Scientists have found the earliest known use of vanilla in an Israeli Bronze Age tomb that is around 3,600 years old. Until now, it was thought that vanilla - the world's second most expensive spice - was first used 13,000 miles (20,000km) away in Mexico around 1,000 years ago. At the time, the sought-after spice would have been used as an additive in food and medicine, as well as being used for embalming the dead, experts say. Scientists have found the earliest known use of vanilla in an Israeli Bronze Age tomb that is around 3,600 years old (stock image) According to Vanessa Linares from Tel Aviv University in Israel, jugs found in a Bronze Age site in Megiddo in northern Israel have two major chemicals found in vanilla extract - vanillin and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. 'Bronze Age people at Megiddo may have used vanillin-infused oils as additives for foods and medicines, for ritual purposes or possibly even in the embalming of the dead,' Dr Linares told Science News. Vanillin, which comes from the vanilla orchid pod, was found in three out of four small jugs placed as food offerings around three skeletons - an adult female, adult male and boy between the age of eight and 12 years old. The surprise discovery was made in a burial chamber that was first found in 2016. Dr Linares presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) in Denver at the weekend. 'Until now it has been commonly accepted that vanilla was domesticated in the New World and subsequently spread to other parts of the globe', Dr Linares said in an abstract of her presentation. Vanillin, which comes from the vanilla orchid pod (stock image), was found in three out of four small jugs placed as food offerings around three skeletons COULD VANILLA EASE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE? Combining an antibiotic with the compound that gives vanilla its rich taste may stop the spread of drug-resistant superbugs, research suggested in July 2018. Mixing the drug spectinomycin with vanillin increases the antibiotic's ability to enter bacterial cells and prevent their growth, a German study found. Spectinomycin was initially used in the 1960s to treat gonorrhoea until the STI developed resistance to it. Experts have previously warned antibiotic resistance poses 'as big a risk as terrorism'. A lack of new drugs combined with overprescribing is thought to have driven the resistance crisis, which, according to the World Health Organization, 'has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country.' Researchers, from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, exposed almost 3,000 drug and food additive combinations to three different disease-causing bacteria. More than 500 mixes boosted antibiotics' effectiveness. A selection of these combinations were then tested in multi-drug resistant bacteria taken from infected hospital patients. Advertisement 'Once all possibilities of contamination were ruled out, a post-organic residue analysis investigation of various species within the plant kingdom from which these principle compounds could have been exploited was conducted. 'These results shed new light on the first known exploitation of vanilla, local uses, significance in mortuary practices, and possible long-distance trade networks in the ancient Near East during the second millennium BC'. The vanillin in the jugs best match orchid species found in East Africa, India and Indonesia. Dr Linares identified three different species as possible sources: V. polylepsis Summerh from central east Africa; V. albidia Blume from India and V. abundiflora J.J. Sm from southeast Asia. The new find challenged the idea that vanilla use originated in Mexico. Experts believe vanilla orchids probably reached Megiddo via trade routes from southwest Asia. 'It's really not surprising that vanillin reached Bronze Age Megiddo given all the trade that occurred between the [Middle East] and South Asia,' archaeologist Eric Cline of George Washington University in Washington told Science News. It is believed the skeletons were elite, or even royal members of the Canaanite people. The Canaanite people lived in a part of the world we now recognise as Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, establishing a culture that became influential in the Middle East and beyond. Experts doubt that the Canaanites were ever politically united into a single kingdom, and instead suggest they may have been made up of different ethnic groups. Trusty sniffer dogs that are used to detect drugs, explosives and missing people could soon be replaced by a 'robo-nose'. Trained dogs are taught to use their sensitive sense of smell to detect the presence of certain chemicals and scientists have successfully recreated a robotic alternative. Researchers used genes from the nose of mice to develop the olfactory organ which they hope will one day replace the dogs. Scroll down for video Trusty sniffer dogs that are used to detect drugs, explosives and missing people could soon be replaced by a 'robo-nose'. Researchers have used genes from the nose of mice to develop an artificial olfactory organ to eventually replace the dogs (stock) Detection dogs are invaluable to security are expensive to train and often get tired. A robotic alternative, being developed by researchers at the Duke School of Medicine in North Carolina, involves a prototype that used odour receptors from mice. 'This idea of an artificial nose has been present for a long time,' said senior study author Hiroaki Matsunami, a professor of molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke. Professor Matsunami explained that 'E noses', which we have now, detect smells using various chemical compounds rather than using receptor stem cells He said those devices are 'not as good as a trained dog.' 'The idea is that by using the actual, living receptors, we can develop a device similar to animals,' Professor Matsunami said. 'Nobody has achieved that yet, but this study is moving towards that goal.' Humans only use about 2 per cent of their genes to make odour receptors but the organ is more important to other animals and includes more genetic coding. 'Mice and rats are very good smellers; we just don't use mice for detecting explosives in real life because of practical problems,' Professor Matsunami added. Experts have taken the first steps towards making an artificial robot nose device made from living mouse cells that could be used to replace sniffer dogs. These detection dogs are invaluable for our security but they are also expensive and get tired often (stock) Experts were able to identify the best receptors to respond to target odours like marijuana and cocaine. The researchers devised a way for a liquid to light up when a reaction between an odour and a receptor occurred. How did they make the robot nose device from mice genes? The first step of the study was to identify the best odour receptors to respond to target odours like cocaine or marijuana. The researchers created a liquid medium primed with molecules that could light up from reactions. They then copied about 80 per cent of the odour receptors from mice, and mixed those receptors with seven target chemicals in the medium. Advertisement They measured the resulting luminescence and chose the best-performing odour receptors. Researchers then endeavoured to expand the study as to make it applicable to the way noses detect signals in real-life with vapours and not liquids. . Receptors created by the team of scientists were then used to identify two odours. 'We only tested two of them in the paper, but it's showing the proof of principle of how it can be used,' Professor Matsunami said. The researchers hope they can fine-tune the device to test all receptors against many different smells. 'We have a panel of receptors so we can monitor how different receptors respond differently to various smells, including ones that are similar to each other in chemical structure or ones that might be related to real-world use, like something associated to explosives or drugs,' Professor Matsunami said. 'We can more clearly see what kind of hurdles to pass in order for the community to create such a device.' Our star has an identical twin, new research suggests. Scientists claim to have found an almost exact clone of our sun that was created from the same gas cloud 4.6 billion years ago. The solar sibling is called HD 186302 and is around 184 light-years away. Scroll down for video Scientists claim to have found an almost exact clone of our sun that may be a true solar sibling created from the same gas cloud. Pictured is an open star cluster called Trumpler 14 which is similar to the one where the sun was born Solar siblings are the thousands of stars which formed in the same massive stellar nursery. In the case of our sun, this is a nursery that was around about 4.6 billion years ago. Stellar nurseries are vast swirls of gas and dust that gradually collapse, disbanding stars through the galaxy. It's believed that up to 85 per cent of all stars are binary pairs but once they have scattered, these stars are very difficult to locate again. 'Since there isn't much information about the sun's past, studying these stars can help us understand where in the Galaxy and under which conditions the sun was formed', said lead researcher Vardan Adibekyan from the Instituto de Astrofisica e Ciencias do Espaco (IA) in Portugal. Reseachers used high-quality data from the AMBRE project and precise astronomical data from ESA's GAIA mission. AMBRE is a galactic archaeology project set up by ESO and the Observatoire de la Cote dAzur. With this, scientists made 'a selection of stars with chemical compositions which best match the sun's composition, followed by an estimate of these stars age and kinematic properties', said Dr Adibekyan. Although only a single solar sibling was found in this work - HD186302, it was a special one. This star is not only a solar sibling by both age and chemical composition, but it is so similar it is believed to be a solar twin, according to the paper published in Astronomy & Astrophysics. In the case of our sun (pictured), this is a nursery that was around about 4.6 billion years ago. Stellar nurseries are vast swirls of gas and dust that gradually collapse, disbanding stars through the galaxy Scientists say solar siblings might be good candidates to search for life. This is because there is a possibility that lifeforms could have been transported between planets around stars in the solar cluster. The transfer of life between exoplanetary systems is called interstellar lithopanspermia. 'Some theoretical calculations show that there is non-negligible probability that life spread from Earth to other planets or exoplanetary systems, during the period of the late heavy bombardment', said Dr Adibekyan. 'If we are lucky, and our sibling candidate has a planet, and the planet is a rocky type, in the habitable zone, and finally if this planet was 'contaminated' by the life seeds from Earth, then we have what one could dream an Earth 2.0, orbiting a Sun 2.0.' Researchers have discovered the smallest dinosaur tracks ever found, with each footprint measuring just 1 centimeter long. The experts say the tiny carnivorous dinosaur was roughly the size of a sparrow, and walked on legs that were each only about the length of a matchstick. The 110 million-year-old footprints found at an excavation site in South Korea indicate the creature that left them was a raptor, having two toes planted on the ground and a third that retracted like a cat's claw. Researchers have discovered the smallest dinosaur tracks ever found, with each footprint measuring just 1 centimeter long. The experts say the tiny carnivorous dinosaur was roughly the size of a sparrow. An artist's impression is pictured 'These new tracks are just one centimetre in length, which means the dinosaur that made them was an animal you could have easily held in your hand,' says University of Queensland researcher Anthony Romilio. 'They are the world's smallest dinosaur tracks.' Romilio was part of a team that examined the ancient footprints that were first found in Jinju Innovation City in 2011. He says he was shocked when he saw the tiny tracks. 'We knew they were raptor tracks, because we know what they look like. It was the size that was the extraordinary component,' Dr Romilio told AAP on Friday, after an article on the findings was released in an international science journal. 'They are the world's smallest dinosaur tracks,' he said. The researchers are unsure if the tracks were adult carnivorous dinosaurs or their chicks but are leaning towards them being the babies. The team says the creature walked on legs that were each only about the length of a matchstick The 110 million-year-old footprints found at an excavation site in South Korea indicate the creature that left them was a raptor, having two toes planted on the ground and a third that retracted like a cat's claw The researchers are unsure if the tracks were adult carnivorous dinosaurs or their chicks but are leaning towards them being the babies. 'Very small dinosaur species like the Chinese Microraptor were crow-sized, but these had feet too large to match the South Korean footprints,' Dr Romilio said. 'If the tracks were made by dinosaur chicks, we are unclear as to the specific dinosaur that made them, since dinosaurs such as Velociraptor and Utahraptor had larger feet then the ones discovered in these new tracks.' Chinese Microraptors are believed to have been fish eaters, the researchers said, but it's unclear what kinds of meat the carnivorous, sparrow-sized raptors feasted on. At the site, the team has also found tracks made by birds, pterosaurs, lizards, turtles, mammals, and even frogs. 'These new tracks are just one centimetre in length, which means the dinosaur that made them was an animal you could have easily held in your hand,' says University of Queensland researcher Anthony Romilio Dr Romilio said the tracks were first found by Professor Kyung Soo Kim from Chinju National University of Education, South Korea. He was there to look for signs of cultural heritage to rescue and conserve as construction in Jinju was underway. 'You've got to hand it to him, spotting it ... We say he has an eagle eye,' Dr Romilio says. The team has dubbed the tracks 'Dromaeosauriformipes rarus,' which means 'rare footprints made by a member of the raptor family,' Kim says. Advertisement By 2025, the World Health Organisation estimates that half of the globe's population will be living in water-stressed areas because of climate change, population growth and urbanisation. Belgian photographer Pascal Mannaerts went travelling to capture how this basic resource is treated from country to country and valued in different ways, whether it's considered 'rare and precious, sacred, a political instrument or dividing'. His imagery shows a woman carrying water in Burkino Faso, where some spend up to four hours a day searching for it, a man drawing water from a well in Tajikistan, one of the most isolated places on earth, and a lone water canister hanging from a pole in the rain-starved Gobi Desert. In stark contrast a picture taken in Kyrgyzstan shows water frivolously shooting forth from fountains. It's certainly thought-provoking. Commenting on water scarcity, Mannaerts told MailOnline Travel: 'It is obvious that water has become an increasingly important and serious problem. Some people are starting to really become aware of it, and consider this evidence. Changes and measures must be taken.' Scroll down to look at Mannaerts' watery visual tale... Mannaerts said of this photo taken in India: 'Rajasthan merchants water their camels during the annual Pushkar fair. Each year, some 200,000 people gather in Pushkar, at the edge of the Thar desert. The city turns into a whirlwind of colours, sounds and movements'. Water shortage is a major problem in the Thar area as the limited groundwater is pretty much the only source of water. Rainfall is limited to 100 - 500 mm per year. By comparison, the western highlands of Scotland gets up to 4,577 mm A girl poses in Gorom-Gorom, in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso in west Africa. Mannaerts notes that Sahel is one of the driest and warmest regions in the world. It stretches 2,500 miles across arid shrub-land, south of the Sahara desert and has been subject to low, and highly variable rainfall patterns. On average it gets around 100 600mm a year. Less than half the population of the Sahel has access to water and women can spend up to four hours a day looking for safe water Mannaerts took this image, showing flood waters washing into Kolkata, India, in 2002. Deadly floods are common in some parts of India, particularly during the monsoon season that runs from July to September each year. Despite the influx of water, the city's groundwater levels have plummeted in various parts, with experts worried the poor will be hit by a water famine. It was reported in The Times of India this spring that in one neighbourhood, there were only two taps, with water dispensed twice daily for 40 minutes at a time. This curtailed supply lead to 'chaos and fights every day' A young boy eagerly slurps water from his hand in this portrait taken in Varanasi, India. The city obtains a total of 270 million litres of water from the river Ganga and wells. Yet every fifth citizen lacks drinking water, as the ground water is polluted due to nitrate and human waste Two girls giggle as they walk through a fountain in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Mannaerts notes that the country has no access to the sea - 85 per cent of Kyrgyz's water reserves come from glaciers. However, these reserves are waning due to rapid urbanisation and climate change, which has seen the glaciers shrink by 30 to 35 per cent over the past 30 years A monk blesses a Wednesday buddha with a small bowl of water at the famed Rangoon Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar. In 2014 it was reported that Myanmar had lost 40 days from its annual monsoon over the past 35 years, leading to severe shortages of water both for consumption and agriculture Hindu worshippers bathe and collect water from the sacred Ganges in Haridwar, India, during a religious festival. The ancient city is in the state of Uttarakhand, where there is a drinking water supply problem in more than 17,000 villages. This is due to due to dried up water sources or failed drinking water projects A woman named Shahandam sits with a bowl of washing water, ready to start a new day in the rural area of Fars Province, Iran. According to Iran's National Drought Warning and Monitoring Center , the period between September and December 2017 was the country's driest in over 67 years, and about 40 per cent of Iran is undergoing a 'serious drought' Mannaerts says that collecting water from a well is part of daily life in the Bulunkul region of Tajikistan. He notes that this area forms one of the most unexplored and isolated regions on earth. A 2012 study by the United Nations found that most Tajiks lack access to safe and clean water. Rivers and ditches, which many people rely on for drinking water, are often polluted by agricultural runoff and human sewage This photo shows the process of leatherworking in the Hazaribagh district of Dhaka. Mannaerts says that in 2013, Hazaribagh was ranked fifth on the list of the most polluted places in the world. Tanneries apparently dump more than 22,000 cubic litres of toxic waste every day into Buriganga, the main river in Dhaka, which can cause skin and respiratory diseases This water reserve is no doubt a welcome sight for those trekking through the arid 500,000-square-mile Gobi Desert in Mongolia (Gobi means 'waterless place' in Mongolian). A 2014 report from the Asian Development Bank warned that Mongolia, despite its wealth of natural resources, faces severe water scarcity. Hundreds of the country's lakes and rivers have dried up due to rising temperatures (it can reach 45C in the summer months) and low rainfall (some areas here receive less than two inches a year), and there is significant desertification of land especially in the south Young farm labourers use river water to cultivate a plot of land in Djenne, Mali. The area has been hit by severe drought over the years and there is a critical lack of cleaning drinking water. According to Charity : Water, 37.13 per cent of those living in rural areas lack access to water, while 78.5 per cent lack sanitation Hindus immerse themselves in basins filled with colourful waters during the Rang Panchami celebrations in the holy city of Nashik, India. The event attracts thousands of attendees and each ancient swimming pool can hold up to 50,000 litres of water. Nashik has been hit by water shortages over recent years due to failing pipelines and falling rain levels. This spring it was reported that as many as 866 villages in the Nashik area were facing water supply issues Two girls pay a visit to a well to fill up their water bottles during break time at a school in Bangladesh. The south Asian country has one of the highest population densities in the world, with a population of 160 million living within 57,000 square miles. But of those 160 million people, four million lack safe water and 85 million lack improved sanitation After prayers in Mumbai, a man stops to cool down and refresh at a drinking fountain. The city faced water problems this year and some suggested supplies should be rationed after holy festivals. It gets its water from several lakes and levels were said to be two million litres down from 2017 A young girl ventures down to a flowing stream to fill up a water jug in the in Langar, Tajikistan. Many families in the country's rural ares spend hours each day trekking to find clean water A man cracks a smile at the camera as he fills up a bottle at a public fountain in central Shiraz, Iran. The fountain features a portrait of Hazrat Abbas drawing water from the river Euphrates. It is estimated there is some form of drought in 97 per cent of the country A man feels the force of a gushing waterfall in Arslanbob, Kyrgyzstan. The water resource crisis blights much of Central Asia. In Kyrgyzstan, finding safe drinking water is difficult due to dried up rivers and holes in decaying irrigation networks TechnipFMC, global leader in subsea, onshore/offshore, and surface projects, has broken ground on its new state-of-the-art manufacturing, aftermarket and training facility in Dhahran in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The 52,500-sq-m facility greatly expands TechnipFMCs footprint in Saudi Arabia with a major investment and 140 new jobs focusing on Saudi talents. The new facility will offer a broad range of manufacturing, aftermarket and training capabilities in-country, supporting the full TechnipFMC portfolio with its advanced technology and integrated systems in the drilling, completion, production, measurement and pressure control activities. Firstly, we are making a commitment to Saudisation and localisation, TechnipFMC Surface Technologies president Richard Alabaster said at the recent ground-breaking ceremonies. Secondly, we are increasing our capacity to meet the challenge of the upcoming rise in activity planned within Saudi Aramco, Alabaster said. Thirdly, we want to have the capabilities in-country to bring the full scope of our Surface Technologies portfolio and integrate in a way that makes the economics of Saudi Aramcos projects much more favourable. The 140 new jobs reinforce TechnipFMC commitment to acquiring a local, diverse and capable workforce in the next five years as part of the In-Kingdom Total Value Add Program (IKTVA), a new programme created by Saudi Aramco to baseline, measure and support increased levels of localization in the Kingdom. Alabaster said he expects the initial investment in the new facility will grow as new capabilities are developed in-country that will allow TechnipFMC to not just supply the local Saudi market but also export from Saudi Arabia. TradeArabia News Service She has been enjoying a sun-soaked holiday in the Philippines with her supermodel BFF Jordan Barrett in recent days. And Tahnee Atkinson offered fans a glimpse of the luxury vacation on Monday, sharing photos to Instagram of their idyllic boat trip. In one sizzling snap, the former Australia's Next Top Model star, 26, flaunted her slender figure in a skimpy pink bikini. A model friendship! Tahnee Atkinson flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a pink bikini while on holiday with Jordan Barrett in the Philippines on Monday 'Peaceful in the Philippines,' she captioned the holiday photo. The swimwear, from Tahnee's own label Kenni & Kai, featured a '90's inspired bikini top and matching hipster briefs. In another smouldering snap, the brunette beauty posed on a picturesque jetty while gazing thoughtfully into the distance. What a view! The swimwear, from Tahnee's own label Kenni & Kai, featured a '90's inspired bikini top and matching hipster briefs The photos were tagged from Palawan, a province of the Philippines. Jordan, who has been friends with Tahnee for several years, also shared images of their travels to Instagram. 'Just leave us here,' he captioned one of their envy-inducing holiday snaps. Holiday vibes! Jordan, who has been friends with Tahnee for several years, also shared photos of their travels to Instagram The overseas trip comes after Jordan appeared at the GQ Australia Men of the Year Awards in Sydney alongside Emily Ratajkowski. The male pin-up was posing with Emily, 27, by the media when she was approached by a journalist who later publicly described her as 'rude' and 'difficult'. In the aftermath of the incident, leaked text messages surfaced in which the Gone Girl star accused the reporter in question of 'sexism'. Sir Desmond de Silva, QC, one of the first barristers to earn 1 million a year, stylishly negotiated all manner of challenges during his extraordinary life, including an assassination attempt in Sierra Leone. But this was nothing compared to the fate that awaited him in death. For I can disclose that nearly six months after dying in London aged 78 of alleged heart failure, he remains unburied to the immense distress of his family. It is bizarre and deeply upsetting. Ive never heard of anything like it, says one of his closest relations. Sir Desmond de Silva, QC, one of the first barristers to earn 1 million a year, stylishly negotiated all manner of challenges. But his body remains unburied after passing away six months ago What is going on? He needs to be buried. There should be a service for him. A lot of people were very fond of him and would like to pay their respects. The cause of the protracted delay is uncertain, though Im told the circumstances of de Silvas death are giving concern in some quarters. Back in the summer, his sister, Helga with whom he grew up at the family home in Sri Lanka, where Gandhi, Nehru and Lord Mountbatten were frequent visitors told me that she was dismayed to learn the coroner was continuing inquiries and that the situation is too, too ghastly. The ebullient de Silva married Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, who was 20 years his junior, in 1987. They had one daughter, Victoria, now 27, before divorcing in 2010, with de Silva declaring the Princess insufficiently intelligent for him. As yet, there is no news from Victoria about a funeral or memorial, says one of the family. Victorias telephone rang unanswered when I called yesterday. Princess Katrina of Yugoslavia and Desmond De Silva at a party celebrating New Year. The couple divorced in 2010 Rather than wait any longer, Helga has memorialised her brother by erecting a Desmond lion sculpture at her home near Kandy, in the heart of Sri Lanka. In the UK, her children, Selina Blow and brothers Amaury and Detmar and the latters fiancee Martha Fiennes have had prayers said for de Silva at morning communion in Gloucester Cathedral. But they yearn to lay the familys most remarkable member to rest. It was a cold and showery late fall day in New York City. And Gigi Hadid made sure she was dressed for the weather when she was spotted out on Sunday, The 23-year-old model wore an eye-catching plaid overcoat in autumnal shades of cream, burnt orange and brown. Fall fashion: Gigi Hadid made sure she was dressed for the cold and showery weather when she was spotted out in NYC on Sunday The beautiful blonde teamed it with a black sweater that featured a broad white stripe across the chest, black leggings and very heavy black lace-up boots. Gigi was busy talking on her phone as she strolled through the city, carrying a white purse in her other hand. She smoothed her long tresses up into a high pony tail. And pop heartthrob Zayn Malik's girlfriend protected her eyes from the weak sunshine with a pair of large shades with a brown plastic frame. Glued to her phone: The 23-year-old model wore an eye-catching plaid overcoat in autumnal shades of cream, burnt orange and brown Out and about: The beautiful blonde teamed her coat with a black sweater that featured a broad white stripe across the chest, black leggings and very heavy black lace-up boots Meanwhile, Gigi showed off her amazingly slender figure when she walked at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Pier 94 in NYC on November 9. She modelled a flowery bra and leggings and colorful 'parachute' wings. Gigi also looked fabulous in a green and red tartan set as she sashayed along the catwalk. Check her out: Gigi looked fab in a tartan set as she sashayed along the catwalk at New York's Pier 94 for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 9 Set for take-off: She also modelled a flowery bra and leggings set and colorful parachute wings Meanwhile, she recently returned from Sydney Australia where she took part in Reebok's Be More Human campaign. Gigi is the daughter of former model Yolanda Hadid and her ex-husband, real estate developer Mohamed Hadid. The former couple, who divorced in 2000, also share daughter Bella, 22, and son Anwar, 19. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show won't air on TV and online until December 2. Australian actress Rebel Wilson is set to star in a film adaption of Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical Cats. The comedian will play 'The Old Gumbie Cat' Jennyanydots alongside a star-studded cast, including US popstar Taylor Swift, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and English thespian Judi Dench, according to Deadline. The Pitch Perfect star will portray the iconic fictional feline known for its' laziness and general aversion to activity during the day. Scroll down for video New role! Rebel Wilson (pictured) is set to star as Jennyanydots in film adaption of 'Cats' alongside Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson and Judi Dench However after the sun goes down Jennyanydots comes to life, and pushes the mice to learn music, crocheting and tatting (method of handcrafting). Meanwhile, Dreamgirls star Jennifer will play Grizabella - the glamourpuss. English actor Idris Elba, 46, will also be joining the cast and is set to play Macavity, the musical's villain. Nicknamed 'The Hidden Paw', Macavity is a master criminal and escape artist. Meow: Cat lover Taylor (right) is no doubt thrilled to score a role in the film adaption of Andrew Lloyd Webbers stage musical Cats Cat lady: Taylor has made her furry friends the highlight of her Instagram page Star-studded cast: The cast also includes, Judi Dench, (pictured) James Corden, Ian McKellen (Gus the Theatre Cat), Royal Ballet principal dancers, Steven McRae (Skimbleshanks) and Francesca Hayward (Victoria), according to the publication The cast also includes James Corden, Ian McKellen (Gus the Theatre Cat), Royal Ballet principal dancers, Steven McRae (Skimbleshanks) and Francesca Hayward (Victoria), according to the publication. A feature film based on the landmark musical has been on the minds of men (and moggies) ever since the show, based on T. S. Eliots Old Possums Book Of Practical Cats, opened in the West End in 1981. Lloyd Webber and director Trevor Nunn wove together a story from a series of poems Eliot wrote to entertain his godchildren. Purrfect role? Dreamgirls star Jennifer will play Grizabella, the glamourpuss Feline good! English actor Idris Elba, 46, will also be joining the cast and is set to play Macavity, the musical's villain Steven Spielberg wanted to turn Cats into a Hollywood blockbuster three decades ago but he and his collaborators couldnt figure out how to make it work. Now Spielberg is billed as an executive producer (though not with a hands-on role) of the film, which will have the actors wearing feline costumes albeit different from the ones worn on stage. The upcoming film adaptation version of Cats will be directed by Tom Hopper, who has spent close to two years working with a team of designers and technical wizards to come up with an innovative form of computer-generated imagery (CGI) that hell fuse with live footage. The exact methods are being closely guarded, for now. In the interim, Rebel has teamed up with Liam Hemsworth for the new rom-com Isn't It Romantic. The comedic actress stars as Natalie, a woman who grew up idolising the 1990 film Pretty Woman, only to be told by her mother she is 'no Julia Roberts'. They welcomed their son Jayden Meeks-Green in May, and have kept a low profile ever since. But it seemed that Chloe Green and Jeremy 'Hot Felon' Meeks were ready to get back into the social circuit on Monday night as they attended the National Day Celebrations Gala in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. The couple were in regal company at the star-studded occasion with the royals of the nation also making an appearance. Stunning: Chloe Green and Jeremy ' Hot Felon ' Meeks attended the National Day Celebrations Gala in Monte-Carlo, Monaco Chloe, 27, looked sensational in an all black ensemble and a glamorous fur coat, featuring striking feathers along its hemline. The layered frock clung to the heiress' toned frame while she complemented the outfit with matching peep-toe heels. Adding a touch of glitz to her attire, the mother-of-one donned sophisticated drop earrings with a matching silver necklace. Regal occasion: Leading the way for the royals who also attended the event, was Prince Albert II accompanied by his wife Princess Charlene of Monaco, clad in a striking monochrome gown Family affair: The mother-of-two's iconic icy-blonde crop was coiffed to perfection as she stood alongside Princess Caroline of Hanover, and her son Andrea Casiraghi Radiant: Caroline stole the stage in a bright red floor-length gown with white gloves and a matching clutch bag Chloe let her brunette locks fall in gentle waves around her shoulders and lightly dusted her cheeks with a sweep of blush, and her lips with a slick of gloss. Showcasing a dapper charm, Jeremy sported a classic tailored two piece-suit with a fetching black bow tie, while leaving a smattering of his inkings on display. Leading the way for the royals was Prince Albert II accompanied by his wife Princess Charlene of Monaco, who wore a striking monochrome gown. Glam: The former Olympic swimmer, who married Prince Albert in 2011 after meeting him some 11 years earlier at a swimming meet in Monaco, looked typically elegant in her ensemble All in the details: The 40-year-old oozed glamour as she teamed her garment with dazzling drop earrings and a stunning rose makeup look The former Olympic swimmer, who married Prince Albert in 2011 after meeting him some 11 years earlier at a swimming meet in Monaco, looked typically elegant in her floor-length ensemble. The 40-year-old oozed glamour as she teamed her garment with dazzling drop earrings and a stunning rose makeup look. The mother-of-two's iconic icy-blonde crop was coiffed to perfection as she stood alongside Princess Caroline of Hanover, and her son Andrea Casiraghi. Caroline stole the stage in a bright red floor-length gown with white gloves and a matching clutch bag. Celebration: The National Day of Monaco, also known as the Sovereign Prince's Day, is celebrated every year on November 19 Royal: The annual holiday takes place on the same day as Prince Albert of Monaco ascended to the throne Tradition: The date of the National Day was traditionally determined by the reigning Prince. The previous Princes often chose the day of the saint they were named after Change: However, when Prince Albert II ascended the throne he ended this tradition by choosing the same day as his father Prince Rainier III The National Day of Monaco, also known as the Sovereign Prince's Day, is celebrated every year on November 19. The annual holiday takes place on the same day as Prince Albert of Monaco ascended to the throne. The date of the National Day was traditionally determined by the reigning Prince. The previous Princes often chose the day of the saint they were named after. However, when Prince Albert II ascended the throne he ended this tradition by choosing the same day as his father Prince Rainier III. Meanwhile, Chloe and Jeremy's sighting comes after her father Sir Philip Green was outed in Parliament as the tycoon who tried to stop bullying accusations being made public. He has denied all allegations. She's known for keen fashion sense on and off the red carpet. And Dakota Johnson was true to form on Monday as she was spotted ambling about Los Angeles. The 29-year-old actress cut a chic figure in a knee-length black coat in an effort to keep cozy. Chic: Dakota Johnson was true to form on Monday as she was spotted ambling about Los Angeles The 50 Shades star donned floral black top underneath and added a pair of high-waisted, wide-leg blue jeans. She added a couple inches with heeled black boots and a brown leather purse hung from one shoulder. Dakota's brown tresses were left to fall freely across her shoulders, and she shaded her eyes with triangular sunglasses. Sweater weather! The 29-year-old actress cut a chic figure in a knee-length black coat in an effort to keep cozy. Over the weekend, the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson took part in Variety Studio: Actors on Actors series. The brunette beauty was chatting to Armie Hammer (On the Basis of Sex / Sorry to Bother You). She was taking part in the pre-Academy Awards talk show stalwart because of her role in Suspiria. Paying her dues: The 50 Shades star donned floral black top underneath and added a pair of high-waisted, wide-leg blue jeans as she fed the meter Earlier in the week, she was spotted hanging out with her boyrfriend Chris Martin, 41, in Los Angels. The couple has been together since October 2017. Dakota has been tight-lipped about her romance, but her mother Melanie Griffith hasn't hesitated to sing Martin's praises. 'I adore him!' Griffith told PEOPLE. 'But she is very private about her life and I respect that.' Chris shares his two childrenApple, 14, and Moses, 12with ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow, whom he was married to for ten years. Blanca Blanco rummaged through her severely damaged home in Malibu days after exclusively revealing to DailyMail.com on Friday that she was still not allowed back in the neighborhood even though looters were everywhere. She was pictured returning back to her property for the first time on Monday just a week after the Woolsey Fire devastated the area. The 37-year-old beauty wore a mask as she rummaged through what was left of her belongings. Scroll down for videos Devastating: Actress Blanca Blanco returned to her Malibu home for the first time on Monday after it was completely destroyed in the Woolsey Fire Blanca wore a pink long sleeved top that she paired with a black full length tights. She completed her ensemble with old bright Nike sneakers and had her brunette hair out in their natural curls. The actress also appeared to be makeup free, adding just a pair of perspex glasses and a smoke mask. Keeping protected: Blanca a face mask as she tried to salvage her precious belongings Damage: The photos saw Blanca stand in the midst of what appeared to have been her lounge room While most of Blanca's possessions were all destroyed, she managed to save a few things including her college diploma, some paintings and a director style chair with her name on the back. Monday was the first time the American Romance star was allowed to return to her home following the devastating Woolsey Fire. Speaking to DailyMail.com on Friday she shared her frustration of not being allowed to enter the premises even though there were looters everywhere. What a mess: Monday was the first time the American Romance star was allowed to return to her home following the devastating Woolsey Fire Holding it close: One of the few remaining possessions was a chair that had her name on the back Gone: Blanca was seen outside standing by a car that had been completely burnt on Monday 'We are hoping to be allowed back to Malibu so we can see our place and get closure. I have some hope maybe I show up and some family pictures aren't burnt,' she said. 'In addition looters in my neighborhood has been an issue - they are everywhere. A neighbor has been securing property with riffles to protect from looters so that's scary.' 'Insurance mentioned we got hit hard in our neighborhood and they are talking rebuilding too - that is hard to digest yet.' 'PCH and Kanan area still has not been open so we are hopeful by this weekend.' No time: Blanca, who's been married to actor John Savage, 69, since 2008, told her harrowing story to DailyMail.com last week about she had just minutes to pack up before fleeing the fire Heartbreaking: While Blanca hasn't been allowed back into her home for the past few weeks, she revealed on Friday that looters had been there On of her only possessions: While most of Blanca's possessions were all destroyed, she managed to save a few things including her college diploma, some paintings and a director style chair with her name on the back Blanca, who's been married to actor John Savage, 69, since 2008, told her harrowing story to DailyMail.com last week about she had just minutes to pack up before fleeing the fire. She revealed that she had just minutes to pack up their house and wake up John, who was sleeping, to flee the property. The pair got out safe and were also about to save their pet bunny, Star. The Dog Of Christmas star also added that she thinks they'll be moving away from Malibu, but may move back after 'a couple of years'. All gone: Photos saw Blanca's kitcehn filled with smoke with the fires also opening cupboard and turning the remains into ash Tormented: 'I felt trapped and claustrophobic when I was trying to escape so not sure I want to live in Malibu again. We are considering living in Beverly Hills or Brentwood,' she dished 'I felt trapped and claustrophobic when I was trying to escape so not sure I want to live in Malibu again. We are considering living in Beverly Hills or Brentwood,' she dished. 'Now we are in a hotel in Beverly Hills. John and I have moved to three hotels since Malibu. It's stressful but lots of hotels do not have long stay since many evacuees are renting. Hotels are increasing prices since fires so that is a shame.' 'For me, I have been having a hard time sleeping and having nightmares.' Blanca continued: 'Finally in the last two days I slept four hours straight. Stress level is high but I work everyday on reminding myself how lucky I am to be alive and John too and our bunny.' They have each other: Blanca is currently married to fellow actor John Savage, 69 Keeping her head up high: 'I am aware I can be happy or sad during this situation but I choose happy. Being optimistic will help me get through these stages,' she said on Friday 'I am aware I can be happy or sad during this situation but I choose happy. Being optimistic will help me get through these stages,' she continued. 'I want to focus on the solution rather than the problem. It is okay to rebuild life. We all do it since life is not linear.' 'John is in good spirits too. His positive attitude is motivating. His stress level is high but every day he works on himself too to maintain calm and being proactive.' 'We meditate and take walks to relieve stress and clear our minds. We are going to get a gym membership this weekend since that was our normal morning routine in Malibu- we want to continue with our normal routine.' Sad loss: But inside the beauty from Washington state was still sad about losing her home to the Malibu fire as she revealed to DailyMail.com Blanca added: 'We are both going to be looking for more work. We are not taking time off from this, we will continue with our schedule as planned and of course with self care being our priority.' 'I will reach out to executive producers I know and send my acting resume so I work on booking more films and help rebuild my life.' 'My goal next year is to do a studio film in addition to independent films I have been doing. So I will continue to work on that.' I am feeling hopeful. We are beyond thankful for all the people that reached out and provided emotional support. The kindness and sweetness of people during this challenging time is beyond words. Growth and strength is what I am gaining from this experience.' Karl Stefanovic and his fiancee Jasmine Yarbrough are just weeks away from their Mexican wedding. And Daily Mail Australia can reveal the ceremony will feature plenty of celebrities, including television stars, billionaires and fashionable socialites. Karl and Jasmine's guest list reportedly includes 60 people, ranging from family members to well-known public figures. REVEALED: The star-studded guest list for Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough's Mexican wedding... and who won't be making an appearance. The couple are pictured earlier this year Karl's side of the aisle will likely include his longtime friend and casino magnate James Packer, as well as the businessman's girlfriend Kylie Lim. His Today show colleague Richard Wilkins will also no doubt make an appearance, bringing along his new partner Virginia Burmeister. And, of course, Karl's manager Sharon Finnigan will be expected to attend. Star-studded: Karl and Jasmine's guest list reportedly includes 60 people, ranging from family members to well-known public figures. Pictured left: Kylie Lim and James Packer, and right: Virginia Burmeister and Richard Wilkins Glamorous crowd: As for Karl's immediate family, it's believed that his younger brother Peter (left) and sister-in-law Sylvia Jeffreys (right) will be sitting front and centre. Pictured in 2016 Richard's son Christian Wilkins has also confirmed his attendance alongside boyfriend Andrew Kelly. The aspiring model told Daily Mail Australia at the Melbourne Cup that he expects lots of 'tequila' at the Cabo San Lucas ceremony. As for Karl's immediate family, it's believed that his younger brother Peter and sister-in-law Sylvia Jeffreys will be sitting front and centre. However, it has previously been reported that Peter will not be the best man. The Channel Nine star will also be flying his 13-year-old daughter Ava and 11-year-old son River to Mexico for the celebrations. Oh, brother! Karl and Peter's younger brother Tom (right) will also make an appearance Ready to party! Richard Wilkins' son Christian (right) has also confirmed his attendance alongside boyfriend Andrew Kelly (left) A family affair! Sitting on Jasmine's side of the aisle will likely be her father Bob, mother Cheryl, sister Jade and brother Joshua. Pictured (left to right): Jade, Bob and Jasmine Yarbrough Meanwhile, Karl and Peter's younger brother Tom has also been invited alongside his wife Jenna Dinicola, who Jasmine recently described as being like a 'sister'. Sitting on Jasmine's side of the aisle will likely be her father Bob, mother Cheryl, sister Jade and brother Joshua. Her Mara & Mine business partner Tamara Ingham will also be in attendance, having recently participated in Jasmine's hen weekend festivities. Sister, sister! Jade (left) and Jasmine (right) hail from Brisbane, Queensland Mixing business and pleasure! Jasmine's Mara & Mine business partner Tamara Ingham (left) is also believed to be in attendance Those who have turned down a wedding invitation include Jasmine's 92-year-old grandmother Isabel, who is too old to fly overseas. Karl's eldest son Jackson, 19, is currently travelling around Europe and is understood to have refused an invitation. Jackson, who also didn't attend his father and stepmother's Palm Beach commitment ceremony in March, is reportedly 'estranged' from Karl. Can't attend: Those who have turned down a wedding invitation include Jasmine's 92-year-old grandmother Isabel (right), who is too old to fly overseas Meanwhile, Lisa Wilkinson recently confirmed she didn't receive an invitation to the wedding, despite having worked with Karl on the Today show for over a decade. New Idea subsequently claimed that Karl knew his former colleague wouldn't show up to the ceremony, even if she was invited. 'There is too much water under that bridge now and they both know it's too hard to come back from everything that's been said and done,' a source alleged. It was also reported that if Lisa did attend the wedding, it would have 'gone down like a lead balloon' with the other guests. Thanks but no thanks! Karl's 19-year-old son Jackson (left) is currently travelling around Europe and is said to have refused an invitation to his father's wedding Karl and Jasmine will exchange vows in a picturesque chapel at the One&Only Palmilla Resort, where they'll also be staying. The wedding will be a three-day affair, with the newlyweds sparing no expense. They have booked two villas, one which costs approximately $11,600 per night, and another priced at around $15,000 per night. She left an apparently flirty comment on Tyga's Instagram over the weekend. And Lindsay Lohan looked gleeful when she was spotted stepping out in Manhattan this Monday, slipping into a tan blazer and matching pants. Her loose-fitted outfit complemented her nude top, and the 32-year-old Lawyer.com commercial star hid her face in massive aviator sunglasses. Glamour: Lindsay Lohan looked gleeful when she was spotted stepping out in Manhattan this Monday, slipping into a tan blazer and matching pants The red-haired beauty, known affectionately to some of her fans as 'LiLo,' complemented white shoes with a white handbag. On Saturday, when Tyga posted a seemingly shirtless selfie in which he lounged on a Chanel pillow, Lindsay commented intriguingly: 'Taste.' The rapper is famous for his former relationship with Kylie Jenner and for having a five-year-old son called King Cairo by Blac Chyna. She looks fab: Her loose-fitted outfit complemented her nude top, and the 32-year-old Lawyer.com commercial star hid her face in massive aviator sunglasses Coordinated: The red-haired beauty, known affectionately to some of her fans as 'LiLo,' complemented white shoes with a white handbag Lindsay, who has taken multiple trips to rehab in the past, has had an eventful autumn, including when she was allegedly punched in Moscow in September. In a video she posted to and then deleted from her Instagram, she could be seen following a family that were assumed by some online commentators to be homeless. Lindsay felt children in the group were being 'trafficked' - a charge for which she had no evidence - and she wanted to save them, but wound up purportedly getting hit. Well-traveled: Earlier this month she was in the Spanish city of Bilbao for the MTV Europe Music Awards, where she was sleek and chic in two outfits Earlier this month she was in the Spanish city of Bilbao for the MTV Europe Music Awards, where she was sleek and chic in two outfits. She got to hit the stage for a presenting gig that evening - and to the great amusement of viewers, made a little gaffe. The Mean Girls and The Parent Trap star mispronounced the de facto Basque Country capital as 'Bilboa' rather than 'Bilbao.' Twilight alum Ashley Greene has landed a new role. The actress, 31, will be playing former Fox & Friends host Abby Huntsman in the still untitled movie about the sexual harassment scandal at Fox News, according to Deadline. The story centers on a group of female employees women who fought against television executive Roger Ailes and the alleged culture of sexism at the network. New edition: Ashley Greene has signed on to join to play Abby Huntsman in Fox New movie Huntsman joined Fox News in 2015 and became co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend the following year. She eventually left the network to join The View earlier this year. The film already features a number of big stars who are playing some of the lead characters in the Fox News controversy. Charlize Theron will play Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman takes on the role of Gretchen Carlson and Margot Robbie will portray producer Kayla Pospisil. Veteran actor John Lithgow steps into the role of the late former network boss Roger Ailes. It will also feature Kate McKinnon, Alice Eve, Spencer Garrett, Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Rohm. Resume: The 31-year old actress last starred in the 2018 British-action thriller Accident Man The film, which has already begun shooting, is being directed by Jay Roach (Trumbo) and written by Academy Award winner Charles Randolph (The Big Short). Greene is best known to audiences for her role as Alice Cullen in the hugely successful Twilight movie franchise that starred Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. She last starred in the British-action thriller Accident Man, which came out earlier this year. Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC) and China Mobile International (CMI) have signed a partnership announcing that CMI will house its Point of Presence PoP at EITCs world-class Datamena Data Centre facilities. EITCs Datamena services will enable CMIs Point of Presence to access the UAE and GCC Regions, as well as act as a hub point to reach the African market, reported Emirates news agency Wam. This partnership intensifies the growing diplomatic relations between the UAE and China, especially in the wake of Chinese President Xi Jinpings three-day visit to the UAE in July, 2018 in which 13 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed between the two nations to strengthen partnerships across various sectors. Furthermore, bilateral similarities between the two countries further compliment their visionary leadership objectives, most obviously through their aligned aspirations towards achieving happiness and improving the lives of citizens through government-led visions and sector-driven technological innovations. Osman Sultan, CEO of EITC, said, "We are extremely pleased that China Mobile International has put its trust in EITC to house its mission-critical PoP at our Datamena Data Centre. Customers are at the heart of what we do and our partnership with China Mobile International further enables us to simplify how we connect customers and create new efficiencies in our business. Through this partnership, we intend to create a new benchmark in world-class services and to serve the evolving needs of our customers. We also look forward to utilising our unique relationship with China Mobile International to better serve the Smart City 2021 agenda to create a seamless, safe, efficient and personalised city experience for all residents and visitors." The Datamena partnership builds upon many other initiatives that EITC and CMI have taken together to connect the communications infrastructure between China and the UAE to support the economic cooperation between the two countries by enhancing the quality of telecom services provided to Chinese Enterprise Customers and Retail Consumers in UAE and China. The Voice Interconnect Agreement aims to provide superior and preferential international voice calling services between the UAE and China. The IPX Agreement will provide a better quality of services for Roaming customers accessing data services on Roaming. Lastly, the Machine to Machine, M2M, data connectivity, MoU allows both parties to further explore opportunities between connected devices in the UAE and China. Given his balmy coastal surroundings and indeed the rather attractive company it was little surprise to find David Guetta in high spirits as he hit the beach in Miami on Monday. With his native France braced for winter the celebrated DJ kicked his feet up and reclined on a sun lounger - where he was joined by stunning girlfriend Jessica Ledon, 24. Guetta, 51, wore nothing more than beach shorts during an animated appearance on Miami Beach, during which he splashed around in the surf with his pet dog. Cute couple: David Guetta, 51, and his stunning girlfriend Jessica Ledon, 24, looked to be in high spirits as they hit the beach in Miami on Monday The DJ and producer is living the good life in Florida after paying $9.5million for a sprawling beach-facing condominium - although he reportedly plans to recoup the money by renting it out for much of the year. And he was in high spirits while cradling his dog before making his way back to his lounger, where the waiting Jessica proved to be an engaging sight. The sultry brunette caught the eye in a striking blue bikini that fully exposed her toned body during her latest outing with Guetta. Loved-up: The French DJ - who started dating Jessica in 2015 - looked besotted with his girlfriend as they cosied up on sun loungers with their sweet pup cuddled up next to them He's pleased: Given his balmy coastal surroundings and indeed the rather attractive company it was little surprise to find David Guetta in high spirits as he hit the beach in Miami on Monday Engaging sight: The DJ's girlfriend Jessica Ledon caught the eye in a striking blue bikini Don't mind me: But the sultry 24-year old was hard to miss as she relaxed on her sun-lounger The French DJ started dating Jessica in 2015, with the couple going public the following year during a state dinner in honor of Cuban President Raul Castro at the Elysee Palace. David divorced his events organiser wife Cathy, 50, in 2014 after 22 years of marriage and two children together. The exes shares 13-year-old son Tim Elvis Eric and daughter Angie Guetta, nine. Happy couple: The couple went public with their romance in 2016 - a year after they began dating - during a state dinner in honor of Cuban President Raul Castro at the Elysee Palace Chiselled: The DJ displayed his washboard abs as he strolled along the sand whilst carrying his adorable pet pooch Man's best friend: Guetta, 51, wore nothing more than beach shorts during an animated appearance on Miami Beach, during which he splashed around in the surf with his pet dog Stunning: Jessica's bikini fully exposed her toned body during her latest outing with Guetta Last year David placed third in Forbes' list of world's top-earning DJ - making $28 million. He previously revealed that he finds writing and producing songs therapeutic. 'When you have a problem, if you keep it to yourself, it makes you go crazy. If you speak about it, you feel better,' he explained. 'So if you make a song about it, it really helps.' Admirer: Jessica's pert bottom appeared to catch the eye of a neighbouring sunbather as she chatted to the French DJ In good company: Wealthy Italian businessman Gianluca Vacchi also joined Guetta on the beach on Monday Best buds: The pals appeared to act out a secret handshake Adorable: Guetta doted on his sweet pooch Happy: The Titanium hitmaker couldn't stop smiling during his day at the beach Earlier this month, Jessica took to Instagram to gush over her talented boyfriend, in a post to mark his birthday. Alongside a set of photographs of the pair, she wrote: 'Happy birthday my love! It was really tempting not to post that video where you dont know your time tables and thought 7x9 was 49, but I figured following your post with humanizing topless pics, was more fitting! 'You are love and light in everyones life, specially mine ! Love you so so so much.' To which Guetta responded, commenting: 'Hahaha thank you so much for saving my honor!' followed by laughing faces. Brooding: The talented DJ cooled off in the water, while ensuring his pet pup was safe Rest: The heavily tattooed Vacchi, famed for his eccentric personality, enjoyed a snooze after finding his way back to his sun-lounger Splashing around: The DJ looked ecstatic as he frolicked in the sea in his dark blue swimming trunks Henry Cavill's mustache became 'a thing' in 2017 when he was not allowed to shave off the fur on his upper lip that he'd grown for Mission: Impossible Fallout for Justice League reshoots as Superman. The decision forced Warner Bros. to turn to CGI to digitally remove the facial hair from his Superman character, much to the derision of Justice League fans when the movie opened in theatres last November. On Monday, Paramount Studios, who own the Mission: Impossible franchise, commemorated the mustache by donating in its name to the men's health charity The Movember Foundation as part of International Men's Day. It lives on: On Monday, Paramount Studios, who own the Mission: Impossible franchise, commemorated the mustache Henry Cavill grew for his role in Fallout by donating in its name to the men's health charity The Movember Foundation as part of International Men's Day 'In memory of Henry Cavill's #KingStache in Mission: Impossible Fallout, @ParamountMovies has made a donation to @Movember in support of their men's health initiatives,' the Hollywood studio tweeted, adding hashtag #LongLiveTheMo.' The studio added a montage of images of Cavill and his mustache to the tweet and the video ended with the hashtag #ShavedButNotForgotten. It was the hashtag that Cavill himself had used when he posted an Instagram video in March revealing his freshly shaved upper lip. #KingStache: Cavill's character in the sixth Mission: Impossible movie, in which he starred with Tom Cruise, had a 'tache and he wasn't allowed to shave it off for Justice League reshoots Furor: The mustache became 'a thing' in 2017 with fans divided over whether the hair on the actor's upper lip should be sacrificed to film more scenes as the clean-shaven Man Of Steel 'Shaved But Not Forgotten': This past March, the mustache finally bit the dust for real and a freshly-shaved Cavill posted a video to Instagram mourning its passing Rugged: He was clean shaven when it finally came to promoting Mission: Impossible - Fallout. He's pictured in Beijing, China, on August 29 The British actor, 35, had had plenty of fun with the problem of the 'tache last year. As the furor over 'to shave or not to shave' reached its zenith, he posted a series of funny photos to social media claiming Paramount and Warner Bros. were locked in a battle to design weapons 'to combat the entity known as 'Henry Cavill's Moustache'.' He wrote: 'There has been no discussion over whether to shave or not to shave for the JL reshoots, simply a relentless campaign to put an end to the seemingly inexorable conquest of this despotic 'stach'. The actor joked: 'It is not a question of IF I should shave - it is a question of how can we possibly be victorious against such a beast without bringing our own doom raining down upon us.' He added the hashtags #HopeIsAllWeHaveLeft and #MoustacheImpossible. Wizardry: Warner Bros. ended up using CGI to digitally remove Cavill's mustache in Justice League, right. It reportedly cost the studio 'approximately $25 million' Not impressed: Fans took to Twitter after the release of Justice League to mock the digital alteration Too much hair: The vanishing facial hair was the brunt of much wit on Twitter Shortly after the release of Justice League, Cavill became Twitter's most talked-about Justice League member thanks to some particularly unsubtle CGI work done on his upper lip. In an interview with Fox, Henry explained that the first step in masking his facial hair was to flatten it with wax. He then went on: 'Then I had dots all over my face..... I was covered in dots and had a big mustache. It was definitely a new look for Superman.' In the end, it's believed the studio ponied up 'approximately $25 million' to digitally remove Cavill's mustache. Audience members were less than enthusiastic about the results, however. 'Justice League's attempt to hide Henry Cavill's mustache with CGI is everything you've hoped it would be,' one fan wrote. Another suggested the 'CGI mustache mouth' should be turned into a drinking game. Funny: Some were amused by the botched job She was thrust into the spotlight in September after debuting her relationship with Tammy Hembrow's ex-fiance, Reece Hawkins. But London Goheen proved she's just like the rest of us while bargain hunting in the candy aisle at a local IGA supermarket on Monday. The 20-year-old was more suitably dressed for a night out as she posed for a photo while browsing through bars of discounted chocolate. Is that really Instagram-worthy? Reece Hawkins' new girlfriend London Goheen (left) posed at a Gold Coast IGA supermarket on Monday... as her love rival Tammy Hembrow (right) continues to live it up in Los Angeles 'Caught in the candy aisle w/ those late night cravings that sometimes you can't resist - (what's your favorite treat?) mines chocolate, sour patch kids, cookies & cream ice cream and apple pie if I really feel like it,' she wrote in the caption. The American model, who has been based on the Gold Coast in recent weeks, wore a black PVC mini-skirt and a full face of makeup as she shopped for snacks. She completed her glamorous look with a white T-shirt and black combat boots. Globetrotter: The IGA scene was quite a contrast from Tammy's recent surroundings. The 24-year-old businesswoman recently flew to Los Angeles to attend VIP events and spend time with her children. Pictured at Disneyland with her daughter Saskia, two, and son Wolf, three The scene was quite a contrast from her love rival Tammy's recent surroundings. The mother-of-two has been busy attending red carpet events in Los Angeles lately and spending time with her youngsters. Last week, the 24-year-old Saski Collection founder stopped by a VIP event hosted by online store Fashion Nova. 'Let us live our lives': Several weeks ago, London told Instagram trolls to leave her and Reece (left) alone after many compared her unfavourably to Tammy and said her relationship won't last. Pictured at Oaks Day at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse Not mincing words: London said she's not interested in negativity and wants to focus on her newfound happiness with Reece, who broke up with Tammy several months ago Hitting back: Reece also branded an Instagram follower 'delusional' after they said his romance with London was 'temporary' She also recently visited Disneyland with her children Saskia, two, and Wolf, three. Tammy and Reece - who is the father of her two kids - split in June after four years together. Within a few months, he had moved on with London. Several weeks ago, London told Instagram trolls to leave her and Reece alone after many compared her unfavourably to Tammy and said her relationship won't last. 'Let us live our lives, my friends. Go be concerned somewhere else. We only got time for good vibes only. Thank you angels,' she wrote. Millie Bobby Brown showed her pride on being named UNICEF's newest Goodwill Ambassador on Monday in New York City. The 14-year-old English actress wore a black T-shirt with a light blue UNICEF logo while headed to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert studio in Midtown. The Stranger Things star tucked her black UNICEF tee into matching black jeans and also donned a black jacket. Goodwill ambassador: Millie Bobby Brown showed her support for UNICEF on Monday while heading to a taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in New York City Millie completed her outfit with black sneakers with blue trim and laces. The Netflix star had her short dark hair swept to the side and accessorized with earrings and rings. Millie also had her nails painted blue and sported a bit of blue eye makeup in another show of support for UNICEF. The actress earlier this month called on some of Hollywood's biggest stars to help her out for UNICEF's World Children's Day on Tuesday. Netflix star: The 14-year-old Stranger Things star wore an all-black outfit Good times: Millie smiled while heading into the chat show studio Fan favorite: The English actress rose to fame on Stranger Things The project called 'Go Blue on World Children's Day' saw Millie call on the help of other stars to spread the world and 'go blue'. Millie shared a video that included stars and past Goodwill Ambassadors such as Liam Neeson, Orlando Bloom, Dua Lipa and Lilly Singh pledging support. She also called on her 18 million followers on Instagram to sign a petition to protect children's rights. Children's rights: Millie has been advocate for children's rights Social media: The actress also urged her 18 million followers on Instagram to sign a petition to protect children's rights Talk show: Millie also recently wrapped filming of season three of Stranger Things Good balance: The actress struck a pose while stopping by The Late Show Millie at age 14 has become UNICEF's youngest-ever Goodwill Ambassador. 'It's a dream come true to become a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. It's a huge honor to join such an impressive list of people who have supported UNICEF over the years,' Millie said in a statement released on Monday by UNICEF. 'I am looking forward to meeting as many children and young people as I can, hearing their stories, and speaking out on their behalf,' she added. Youngest ever: Millie in a statement said it was 'a dream come true to become a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador' Dan fave: Millie happily signed Stranger Things memorabilia Smile! She jumped in for selfies with fans Newest role: The Stranger Things star also took to Instagram on Monday to announce that she's the newest and youngest UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Millie has supported UNICEF's work since 2016 when she hosted its 70th anniversary celebrations at the United Nations in 2016. She also championed UNICEF's inaugural World Children's Day last year. Millie joins a list of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors including: Muzoon Almellehan, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, Jackie Chan, Priyanka Chopra, Danny Glover, Ricky Martin, Leo Messi, Liam Neeson, Shakira, Katy Perry and Lilly Singh. Filming for season three of Stranger Things wrapped earlier this month and it will premiere on Netflix in 2019. Children's day: The actress is shown earlier this year on the set of a video produced for World Children's Day Blood Rating: Poisoning America: The Devil We Know Rating: On the 2018 shortlist of words of the year, among ultra-modern coinages such as techlash and overtourism, was a curiously archaic term gaslighting. It means manipulating someones mind, convincing them that they must be going mad, by denying things that are obviously true. Incredibly, the word harks back to a 1938 play, which was remade for Hollywood in 1944 as Gaslight. Blood on channel 5 is a claustrophobic family drama running all this week. Adrian Dunbar plays an ominously charming doctor in a Galway town, whose affability hides a violent nature In it, a diabolically suave Charles Boyer makes his wife Ingrid Bergman believe shes going out of her mind, by the simple trick of turning the gas lamps up and down, while insisting he hasnt touched them. Gaslights have been redundant for almost a century. How on earth did this word make such a resurgence? Perhaps the Bergman movie was shown on some late-night cable channel, spurring one viewer to invent a buzzword. In the drama Carolina Main plays his youngest daughter, Cat, and is the only one of her siblings who sees through their fathers dishonesty Its perfect for describing the mindgames of the Hogan clan in Blood (C5), a claustrophobic family drama running all this week. Adrian Dunbar (best known as the incorruptible chief from Line Of Duty) plays an ominously charming doctor in a Galway town, whose affability hides a violent nature. Jim Hogans wife has died, apparently from a fall while alone at their home. Hes got an alibi, of course. In fact, hes got four alibis, all conflicting. Carolina Main plays his youngest daughter, Cat, the only one of her siblings who sees through their fathers brazen dishonesty. Or is she actually deluded? By the end of this 90-minute opener, as Cat stood above her sleeping dad brandishing a candlestick, we couldnt know for sure. Its the twisted psychology that makes a noirish murder mystery so compelling, and Blood is dripping in it. Its clear how terrified Cat is the mere act of driving back towards her childhood home leaves her sick and shaking. Even the genial policeman who stops to check she is all right, and who seems unaware that Mrs Hogan has died, might be in on the conspiracy to gaslight Cat and make her doubt her own sanity. Is there no one she can trust? Of course, there isnt. The rural expanses of the west of Ireland are not unlike the Scandi landscapes of detective serials such as Wallander, all cold salt winds and grey skies. The plot sometimes tips over into gothic melodrama, but youd be mad to miss it: this is a thriller to watch with the gaslights turned down low. Blood had a different significance in the depressing Storyville documentary Poisoning America: The Devil We Know (BBC4). It traced the effect of C8, a toxic chemical compound used for decades in the production of Teflon non-stick pans, as well as Scotchguard sprays, Gore-Tex fabrics and numerous other household products. The Storyville documentary Poisoning America: The Devil We Know on BBC 4 traces the effect of C8, a toxic chemical compound used for decades in the production of Teflon non-stick pans The film-makers claimed that scientists at the Du Pont manufacturing giant in West Virginia were long aware that this substance caused tumours, birth defects and auto-immune diseases and that it was virtually indestructible. Once it got into the air and the water supply, through pollution, it might be there for centuries. The film-makers of the documentary claimed that scientists at the Du Pont manufacturing giant in West Virginia were long aware that this substance caused tumours, birth defects and auto-immune diseases By the time they agreed to ban it, following a gargantuan legal case, C8 was present in the blood of 99 per cent of Americans and nearly everyone else on the planet. Told you this was depressing. Like gallons of foaming overflow, spilling from a factory waste pipe, facts and statistics gushed over the viewer in a deluge. There was no end to the torrent of evasive managers, devious scientists, embarrassed lawyers and stricken townsfolk. Finally, though, the evidence stuck against Teflon. Taron Egerton has revealed the powerful rise of Me Too has forced him to reconsider spending time alone with women for fear of being targeted with fabricated accusations of sexual assault. Initially a viral movement, Me Too - a collective reaction to sexual harassment and assault, particularly in the workplace - gained traction following widespread allegations of abuse targeted at disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey. Egerton, 29, worked with Spacey on disastrous box-office flop Billionaire Boys Club a failure owed in no small measure to the American actors dramatic downfall, with the film taking just $126 in opening day receipts. Cautious: Taron Egerton has revealed the powerful rise of Me Too has forced him to reconsider spending time alone with women for fear of being targeted with fabricated accusations of sexual assault And the star admits the allegations aimed at Spacey so far more than 30 men have filed accusations of abuse has made him think seriously about whether or not he wants to actively date, and indeed his own sexual history as an actor with an increasingly public profile. 'Like a lot of people with a profile I was like, "Holy s**t, what have I done since I was 18?"' Egerton, who last relationship was with TV producer Emily Thomas, told the Radio Times. 'I have just become single again and Im not in a place where Im thinking about dating, but when I am, it will probably affect my thinking a bit. There are certainly situations where I avoid being alone with certain people.' Previously: British star Egerton's last relationship was with TV producer Emily Thomas As Egerton's star continue's to rise Spacey has all but disappeared from public and professional life. Indeed, his role in Ridley Scott's All The Money In The World, in which he was originally cast as tycoon J. Paul Getty, was hastily recast and reshot with British actor Christopher Plummer as allegations against the star continued to multiply. He was also fired from popular Netflix show House Of Cards, with bosses killing off his character Frank Underwood. Controversy: The actor was speaking out after former co-star Kevin Spacey was accused of more than 30 counts of unwanted sexual advances But Egerton admits he and Spacey remained in contact after they finished work on Billionaire Boys Club in 2017. 'If I had been the subject of his advances, I dont think that would have been the greatest challenge to deal with,' he said. 'I dont think I would have felt rocked to the core by it. Its weird because he and I had stayed in touch, he had asked me to socialise. When it all kicked off, I dont think I was particularly surprised by it. Its such a tricky, complicated and weird thing, its almost Greek [tragedy], isnt it?' He added: 'Hes just gone now. Gone. We live in the age of the internet maelstrom and one tweet from an anonymous person can bring down a career.' Sometimes dreams do come true. Take the of case of uber-Travis Scott fan Alex Pujols, a teenager diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. His family recently flew him to Houston to see Scott's Astroworld concert, and with the help of producer Swizz Beatz, Pujols got a surprise meeting with his hip-hop hero backstage before the gig. Dream maker: Travis Scott granted a wish and met with Alex Pujols, a teen who has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor According to TMZ, it was Beatz who got wind of the young man's heartfelt story of courage and perseverance from a friend. Inspired, Beatz informed Scott about the teen's wish to meet him, and then the two put their heads together and decided to make his dream a reality. Although Beatz couldn't make it to the show, he did help make it all happen. Doing the right thing: Producer Swizz Beatz heard about the teen's plight and helped facilitate the surprise meeting with Scott before his recent show in Houston With Pujol's family completely in the dark, Scott and his team surprised the teen and his brother and brought them backstage where they got to hang out and chat. They sealed the memory forever with a photo showing the three of them arm-in-arm, and the teen could be seen, fittingly, wearing a Travis Scott Astroworld hoodie. Apparently Pujols is set to undergo brain surgery and he could also be facing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He is currently getting treatment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Director Martin Scorsese reunited with the stars of many of his films at the Museum of Modern Art's 11th Annual Film Benefit in New York City on Monday. The director posed with Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harvey Keitel and Jonah Hill on the red carpet. Two of those stars, De Niro and Keitel, will star in Scorsese's next film, The Irishman, which is slated for release on Netflix in 2019. Marty and friends: Martin Scorsese reunites with stars Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harvey Keitel and Jonah Hill at the MOMA Film Benefit Scorsese, 76, was wearing a black suit with a silver tie, flanked by Keitel, 79, in a tie-less black-on-black suit and De Niro, 75, in a dark blue suit. DiCaprio, 44, was wearing a classic black suit with a white shirt and black tie, while Hill, 34, wore a dark grey on blacak suit with no tie. Scorsese was the honored guest of the Monday night event, which was followed by a brief presentation of Scorsese's body of work. Marty and Leo: Scorsese, 76, was wearing a black suit with a silver tie, flanked by Keitel, 79, in a tie-less black-on-black suit and De Niro, 75, in a dark blue suit Guest of honor: Scorsese was the honored guest of the Monday night event, which was followed by a brief presentation of Scorsese's body of work. Scorsese has worked with De Niro the most of this group, with De Niro starring in eight of Scorsese's films, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, New York, New York, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Goodfellas, Cape Fear and Casino. The iconic director has worked with DiCaprio five times, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island and The Wolf of Wall Street. Scorsese has worked with Keitel four times, his debut film Who's That Knocking On My Door, Street Scenes, Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. Marty, Bobby and Leo: The iconic director has worked with DiCaprio five times, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island and The Wolf of Wall Street The director has only worked with Hill once, in The Wolf of Wall Street. The filmmaker certainly hasn't slowed down with age, with three more projects in various stages of development. He is making a secretive Netflix movie with Meryl Streep and Sharon Stone, which doesn't have a release date set at this time Marty and the Pope: The filmmaker, who recently visited Pope Francis in October, is also attached to direct a biopic of U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt The filmmaker, who recently visited Pope Francis in October, is also attached to direct a biopic of U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt. He is also attached to direct Killers of the Flower Moon, which follows murders of members of the Osage Tribe that sparked an investigation from the FBI in the 1920s. The filmmaker is also producing the biopic Bernstein about composer Elmer Bernstein, which Bradley Cooper is directing. The upcoming Dick Cheney biopic Vice is garnering plenty of awards season buzz. And The Hollywood Reporter has put its two stars Christian Bale and Amy Adams along with director Adam McKay on the cover of its latest issue. Adams, 44, plays Lynne Cheney, the ambitious and supportive wife of Dick Cheney, who served as Vice President to President George W. Bush for two terms. Highly anticipated: The upcoming Dick Cheney biopic Vice is garnering plenty of awards season buzz. And The Hollywood Reporter put its two stars Christian Bale and Amy Adams along with director Adam McKay on the cover of its latest issue Bale, 44, plays Cheney while Sam Rockwell plays Bush, Steve Carell is Donald Rumsfeld and Tyler Perry is Colin Powell. The film, which The Big Short's McKay directs from his own script, follows the rise of Cheney from his early days in the Nixon White House to his unprecedented power during the Bush administration. In an interview, five-time Oscar nominee Adams said she admired her character's strength and sense of purpose. 'The thing that I sort of hooked on to, that I really valued in Lynne, was this shared ambition and this willingness to propel Dick ahead in the way that she did. To not stand behind him but beside him along the way and to be such a motivator,' Adams explained. Meaty role: Adams, 44, plays Lynne Cheney, the ambitious and supportive wife of Dick Cheney, played by Bale, who served as Vice President to President George W. Bush for two terms Empathy: 'I like that she wasn't afraid to be ambitious at a time when ambition in women wasn't as encouraged,' the actress explained 'It's a film about Dick, but Lynne was very accomplished. I like that she wasn't afraid to be ambitious at a time when ambition in women wasn't as encouraged,' she added. The actress also revealed that she understood the character because she reminded her of her own grandmother. 'My grandmother who grew up in Provo, Utah, working-class. She reminded me so much of Lynne. I would just think of her and her offering me money to rub her bunions. 'Amy, I'll give you a quarter',' she told the publication. Blanked: Bale, who gained 45 pounds to play Cheney, revealed he never got to meet or even speak with the former vice president whose lawyers told him to stop trying to contact him Bale told The Hollywood Reporter that despite repeated attempts and even enlisting some of Cheney's friends, he never got to meet or even speak with the former vice president. 'I would greatly have liked to have met with him, if only to have him insult me and kick me out of his house. To me, that's honorable,' the British actor said. 'I spoke with some [of Cheney's] friends who would say, 'Let's get Dick on the phone,' and they would call. And the phone would be ringing and I would be thinking, 'I'm about to speak with Dick Cheney,' and then it would go to voicemail. And then, unfortunately as is the case with everything, lawyers ruined it,' he explained. Cheney's lawyers told Bale that he was not to attempt to contact Cheney who is now 77 and lives in the suburbs of Washington, DC. 'I would like to be able to sit and look Cheney in the eye and say why I feel like it's justified to tell his story. And I hope I will do it one day,' Bale added. The Museum Of Modern Art hosted top celebs at the 11th Annual Film Benefit Monday, which was held in honor of filmmaker Martin Scorsese. Chloe Grace Moretz oozed pure Hollywood elegance at the New York event, wearing a pistachio-hued suit which put her figure front and center. The If I Stay actress, 21, donned a double breasted jacket without a shirt beneath for a flirtatious touch. Mean green acting machine: Chloe Grace Moretz turned heads in a pistachio-hued suit during Monday's MoMA Film Benefit gala in New York Sparkling star: Drew Barrymore was stylish in a shimmering botanical print jacket atop a sparkling striped dress Suede ballerina pink heels added a feminine touch to her bold suit. Chloe, who worked on Scorsese's Hugo, complemented glamorous curls with cherry red lips and diamond earrings for the perfect amount of elegance. Also at the affair was star Drew Barrymore, who was stylish in a shimmering botanical print jacket atop a sparkling striped dress. The Never Been Kissed actress topped things off with a newsboy hat and mid-calf boots. Think pink! Suede ballerina pink heels added a feminine touch to her bold suit Scarlet: She finished the look in a bold red lip Detailed! The Never Been Kissed actress topped things off with a newsboy hat and mid-calf boots Smoke and mirrors: The actress framed her eyes with smokey metallic shadow Ruffling feathers: Chloe Sevigny got hearts racing in a sequined dress with full feathered skirt which she paired with black hosiery and understated heels Chloe Sevigny got hearts racing in a sequined dress with full feathered skirt which she paired with black hosiery and understated heels. Ever the fashionista, the Kids actress rounded out her look with a Chanel handbag. Movie legend Martin Scorsese appeared with one of his favorite talents, Leonardo DiCaprio. Both men looked dapper in their suits. Unrivaled talent: Movie legend Martin Scorsese appeared with one of his favorite talents, Leonardo DiCaprio Talented: Also there was Jonah Hill, who worked with Scorsese on The Wolf of Wall Street Goodfellas: Jonah Hill, Robert DeNiro, Martin Scorsese, Harvey Keitel and Leonardo DiCaprio all got together for a photo Fan fave: Leo happily signed autographs outside No sleeves, no problem: Emily Mortimer was classic in a delicately pleated tube dress which fell all the way to the floor Fashionista: Natasha Lyonne donned a glittering Chanel jumpsuit with a billowy silk blouse beneath Goodfella: Robert BeNiro has collaborated with Scorsese nine times Also there was Jonah Hill, who worked with Scorsese on The Wolf of Wall Street. Natasha Lyonne donned a glittering Chanel jumpsuit with a billowy silk blouse beneath. Her outfit was adorned with layers of pearls, beads and broaches. Emily Mortimer was classic in a delicately pleated tube dress which fell all the way to the floor. Sutton Foster looked lovely in an ivy green dress pleated together for Grecian effect. That's the key! Partricia Clarkson donned a black silk dress with elegant keyhole that flashed a hint of lacy beneath Crooner and company: Tony Bennett and wife Susan Benedetto enjoyed a night out at the MoMa benefit Handsome: John Turturro looked slick in a navy suit with matching tie Partricia Clarkson donned a black silk dress with elegant keyhole that flashed a hint of lacy beneath. She completed the look with T-strap heels. John Turturro looked slick in a navy suit with matching blue tie. Cristin Milioti was timeless in a princess-like navy dress with red embellishments. Rachel Roy got attention in a gold shirt and wide-legged trousers with sexy velvet heels. Three amigos: Inside the affair designer Zac Posen (right) posed with Patricia Clarkson and Cristin Milioti Gold style: Rachel Roy turned heads in a gold shirt and wide-legged trousers with sexy velvet heels Pretty: Cristin Milioti was timeless in a princess-like navy dress with red embellishments Date night: Tonya Lewis Lee and Spike Lee Museum attended the event It take two! Harvey Keitel, who is in Scorsese's upcoming film The Irishman, was there with Daphna Kastner By TCN News Sampoorna Working Group in collaboration with the the Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN), is commemorating the Transgender Day of Remembrance (#TDoR) that falls on Nov 20th, 2018. The following is their statement on the same, which was originally published here. It is being reproduced with their permission. A Brief History of TDoR The brutal murder of Rita Hester, a well known and much loved African American trans woman in Boston, was found with 20 stab wounds in her chest on Nov 28, 1998. This was how a day to memorialise those we have lost to violence began. Though the case was reopened in 2006, predictably it was never solved. The outpouring of grief and rage of the communities she was part of, slowly led to Nov 20th being observed as TDoR all over the globe. Support TwoCircles The day has grown globally, to be one of acknowledgment, when trans & gender diverse people whose lives have been lost to hate crimes and violence, are remembered and honored. Violence against Trans and Gender Diverse People in India Not only do trans & gender diverse people, especially from oppressed caste and class backgrounds in India, have very little access to health care, shelter, nutrition, education & employment, there is also no state protection to address any hate crimes against us. The latest draft of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights Bill) 2016 goes a step further by fixing a maximum punishment of only 2 years for a wide spectrum of crimes against trans people and additionally criminalises begging, one of the few livelihood options of trans women who do street-based labour. The impunity with which the police perpetrates violence against trans folks & hijra sisters is well known. We all remember how Tara was burnt to death inside the compound of a police station in Chennai, India, with no inquiries or action against the authorities taken. Trans men like Pachu and Akshay Dev who we lost in 2018 were misgendered by the media and their lives and bodies were laid bare in perversely offensive ways for public consumption. TDoR Bangalore (6) Every year, we come together, hold candlelight vigils and remember the loved ones we have lost. Every year, the list grows longer and our hearts heavier. This year, we would like to amplify the voices of those who are alive while memorializing the dead. We want to hear your experiences of violence if you would like to share them or your ideas for countering violence against our communities so we can make support systems that our communities need, and that which will enable us to grow old together. This is your campaign We invite trans people living in India to make this campaign their own. The following is a suggested list of thematics along which, if you feel comfortable and secure enough to do so, you may want to share your own experience. If you would rather have a phone call with us, we can reach out to you. The following is not an exhaustive list and if there is something that you would like to share that does not fall within any of these suggested themes, please do not hesitate to send them to us. Suggested themes: 1. Violence your own experiences or your ideas on how to combat it. 2. What does freedom mean to you? What will enable you to live your life more freely? 3. What can non-trans people do to make the world easier for trans people to navigate? How much to write You can write a few lines, or even up-to a page or two; we will help to convert this to an effective format for the campaign. What language can you write in? You can write in any language. Your photo is not mandatory If you are comfortable and feel secure enough to share a photo of yours, we will put it in the campaign along with your quote. But this is not mandatory. Your experience and the necessity for our societies to understand the violence they subject us to, is what is crucial. Please send us your text/text+photo to [email protected] You can also write to the above email id if you would like to have your testimony recorded in audio format and written down by the SPWG. Thanking you, Deen, Gee, Nadika, Satya Sampoorna Working Group Sampoorna, A Network of Trans* and Intersex Indians Across the Globe Ada Nicodemou keeps going from strength to strength, in both body and mind. On Tuesday, the Home and Away star, 41, showed off her incredible physique in a swimsuit in a photo shared to Instagram. In the sizzling snap, Ada wears a blue halterneck-style swimsuit with a lace-up front. Scroll down for video Summer babe! Home and Away's Ada Nicodemou, 41, showed off her gym-honed physique in a daring swimsuit on Tuesday... after debuting her 5kg weight loss The brunette beauty captioned the picture: 'Be confident in your own skin'. She added the hashtags 'strong woman' and 'body confidence'. Ada's followers showered the soap actress with praise, commenting: 'My God, those legs', 'Bloody hell, beautiful!', and 'Gorgeous, my inspiration.' Fitness focused: Ada recently shed five kilograms by following a strict exercise regimen Ada recently shed five kilograms by following a strict exercise regimen. And she was rewarded for her hard work by being named one of Who magazine's 'Sexiest People of 2018'. To celebrate the honour, the mother-of-one old stripped down to her lingerie for a photo shoot for the publication earlier this month. Summer Bay siren! She was rewarded for her hard work by being named one of Who's 'Sexiest People of 2018', even posing for the magazine in a glamorous photo shoot In the photos, Ada posed in a black bra and high-waisted semi sheer skirt, while draping a white shirt over her shoulders. The Greek-Australian star said: 'I've always loved lingerie. It makes you feel confident and sexy. It's not for anyone else, it's for me.' Ada, who is mother to six-year-old son Johnas Xipolitas, also treated her Instagram followers to some behind-the-scenes pictures from the shoot. Picture perfect: Ada, who is mother to six-year-old son Johnas Xipolitas, also treated her Instagram followers to some behind-the-scenes pictures from the Who magazine shoot Ada currently weighs 47kg, but still doesn't deprive herself of the occasional indulgence. 'I think I've always had a balance. I do like the odd glass of champagne and red wine, and I love food - I'm Greek,' she previously told Good Health and Wellbeing. 'I love my food and I've got a sweet tooth as well.' Her beachfront Malibu home narrowly evaded the wildfire that struck the area. And Cindy Crawford looked in good spirits she was spotted emerging from The Bel Air Hotel on Monday with her 17-year-old daughter Kaia Gerber. Cindy, 52, threw a sky blue blazer over a chic pink blouse with pink lace trim at its neckline, showing off her chiseled legs in fitted jeans. Out and about: Cindy Crawford looked in good spirits she was spotted emerging from The Bel Air Hotel on Monday with her 17-year-old daughter Kaia Gerber The 1990s Supermodel added a touch of glitz with jewelry, teaming swinging hoop earrings with a gleaming necklace on her family outing. Letting her signature wavy blonde hair tumble freely in the breeze, Cindy shielded her eyes from the rays with a huge pair of tortoiseshell shades. The DeKalb native was seen smiling sweetly for a photo with a fan who met her there outside the swanky hotel. Hoofing it: Cindy, 52, threw a sky blue blazer over a chic pink blouse with pink lace trim at its neckline, showing off her chiseled legs in fitted jeans Mother-daughter time: The 1990s Supermodel added a touch of glitz with jewelry, teaming swinging hoop earrings with a gleaming necklace on her family outing While Cindy's home was spared from the flames, not all celebrities were so lucky - Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's home was among those destroyed, as were the residences of Robin Thicke and Gerard Butler. Sharing an interior photo of her home last Thursday, Cindy, who was evacuated, wrote: 'Missing this place, but so grateful to hear that we still have a home to return to. There has been so much loss in our beloved Malibu community this week.' The brunette bombshell added: 'We are committed to help rebuild this place that we love so much. Link in my bio for ways to help.' Style icon: Letting her signature wavy blonde hair tumble freely in the breeze, Cindy shielded her eyes from the rays with a huge pair of tortoiseshell shades Gracious: The DeKalb native was seen smiling sweetly for a photo with a fan who met her there outside the swanky hotel Kaia recently told the Guardian that Karl Lagerfeld 'called me his Choupette once, after his cat, which is the biggest compliment coming from him.' Karl, who has collaborated on a new line with Kaia, is famous for how much he dotes on Choupette, even releasing a book of his photographs of her. Her father is businessman Rande Gerber, who married Cindy in 1998 and who started the tequila brand Casamigos with George Clooney and Mike Meldman. Family life: Cindy's husband is businessman Rande Gerber, who married her in 1998 and who started the tequila brand Casamigos with George Clooney and Mike Meldman Throwback: During Milan Fashion Week late last September, Cindy and a claque of her fellow 1990s Supermodels were the scene-stealers at the Versace show Kaia has also got a 19-year-old brother called Presley, who like Kaia went into the modeling business as a teenager. Cindy's first husband was movie star Richard Gere, but the pair divorced in 1995 after just four years of marriage. During Milan Fashion Week late last September, Cindy and a claque of her fellow 1990s Supermodels were the scene-stealers at the Versace show. Cindy, Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell and Helena Christensen all shimmered in silver gowns as they posed around Donatella Verasce herself. Family business: Kaia has also got a 19-year-old brother called Presley, who like Kaia went into the modeling business as a teenager She has kicked butt as Lara Croft, Mrs Smith, and Master Tigress. And Angelina Jolie was clearly delighted the apple has not fallen far from the tree as she watched daughter Vivienne practice karate on Monday night. The proud mama was spotted beaming as she silently spectated her youngest daughter training at her martial arts class in Los Angeles. Master Tigress: Angelina Jolie beamed proudly as she watched daughter Vivienne practice karate in Los Angeles on Monday The 43-year-old could not hide her delight as she stood at the back of the dojo, wrapped in a long grey shawl. With her sunglasses perched on her head and a cup of Starbucks coffee clutched to her chest, she stood alongside one of the Kenpo instructors as the students performed. Along with her ten-year-old twin brother Knox, Vivenne is the screen siren's youngest child of six with ex Brad Pitt. Taking it in: With her sunglasses perched on her head and a cup of Starbucks coffee clutched to her chest, she stood alongside one of the Kenpo instructors as the students performed Pride: The 43-year-old could not hide her delight as she stood at the back of the dojo, wrapped in a long grey shawl The former couple also share 12-year-old Shiloh, 13-year-old Zahara, 14-year-old Pax, and 17-year-old Maddox. In December, the pair are slated to duke it out in a Los Angeles courtroom over custody of the kids. They were reported to have reached an interim custody agreement regarding their six children in late summer. Baby: Along with her ten-year-old twin brother Knox, Vivenne is the screen siren's youngest child of six with ex Brad Pitt But negotiations appear to have broken down, and next month, the couple will ask a judge to rule on the custody battle. Angelina is asking for full custody, while her A-list ex wants a shared custody agreement. In addition, the judge will weigh in on dividing up their shared property, after it was revealed they had no prenup. Hugh Jackman was honoured with the 13th annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film by the Santa Barbara Film Festival on Monday. The Wolverine star was recognised for his contribution to cinema at a black tie gala held at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara. The 50-year-old looked dapper in a tailored grey suit, blue shirt and brown tie as he posed for snaps on the red carpet. Hugh Jackman cuts a dapper figure in a tailored suit with wife Deborra-lee Furness as actor is honoured with Kirk Douglas Award in Santa Barbara Fellow actor and wife Deborra-lee Furness, 62, proudly posed slongside her husband at the star-studded event. She looked elegant in an all-black fitted cape dress and platform sandals. Past recipients of the Kirk Douglas award include Quentin Tarantino, Forest Whitaker and Robert De Niro. Dressed to impress: The 50-year-old looked dapper in a tailored grey suit, blue shirt and brown tie as he posed for snaps on the red carpet In a statement, Kirk Douglas hailed Australian actor Hugh as an 'exceptional talent'. 'I am delighted that Hugh Jackman will receive the 13th annual Kirk Douglas Award,' he said. 'He's an exceptional talent of stage and screen, and one of the nicest people in the business. It's my honor to have my name linked with his on this year's award.' Wedded bliss! Hugh and Deborra-lee have been happily married for 22 years and are each other's number one fans On Sunday, Hugh and Deborra-lee also attended the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences Governors Awards in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, the couple celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary and Hugh revealed the secret behind their happy marriage. 'You've got to find the right person. It's powerful, but simple,' Hugh told Closer magazine at the time. 'From day one, Deb and I had that [comfortable] feeling.' The heavily pregnant WAG is due to welcome her second child with NRL star husband Sam Burgess next month. And as Phoebe Burgess - who is 35 weeks into her pregnancy - prepares to welcome her first son, it's been revealed she will give birth via C-section. A source told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday: 'Phoebe will be giving birth by C-section in three weeks, because the little fella already weighs 4kgs.' 'She'll be having a C-section in three weeks': Heavily pregnant Phoebe Burgess' birthing plan for her '4kg baby' and top pick for the child's name REVEALED... as the NRL WAG is spotted showing off her burgeoning bump in summery maxi dress The source also claimed: 'She's not full term. The C-section is because the baby is that big obviously!' It's also believed Sam and Phoebe are strongly considering naming their bundle of joy William, which they may be able to nickname Billy Burgess. Phoebe, who dressed her burgeoning bump in a tiered summer dress in Sydney on Monday, has previously bemoaned her rapidly growing frame. Taking to Instagram last week, the mother-of-one displayed her huge baby bump at 34 weeks and said she had cramps, swollen feet, stretch marks and gas. Popping out for coffee! Phoebe, who dressed her burgeoning bump in a tiered summer dress in Sydney on Monday, has previously bemoaned her rapidly growing frame 'I'm officially measuring over 40 weeks in size': The mother-of-one displayed her baby bump at 35 weeks and said she had cramps, swollen feet, stretch marks and gas Baby joy! It's also believed Sam and Phoebe are strongly considering naming their bundle of joy William, which they may be able to nickname Billy Burgess Phoebe jokingly 'blamed' her six-foot-four footy player husband for the size of their second child in another Instagram post. 'Baby 2 is 35 weeks and officially measuring over 40 weeks in size. Send Help. I blame you @samburgess8 #hellostretchmarks.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Sam and Phoebe for comment. Mother in full bloom! Phoebe was positively glowing as she stepped out in the floral frock Keeping it casual.. and chic! The NRL WAG wore a comfortable pair of Birkenstocks and accessorised with a pair of stylish shades Time to relax: The journalist is now officially on maternity leave after finishing up at work earlier this week Meanwhile, the journalist is now officially on maternity leave after finishing up at work earlier this week. Phoebe and her NRL star husband were married in 2015 and have a 19-month old daughter, Poppy Alice. The family currently live in $3.8 million four-bedroom house in Sydney's Maroubra, but it's believed the couple have been searching for a new place to call home. She helped put 'super' in the supermodel moniker in the late 1980s and 90s. Now, three decades after she first made a splash in high-fashion as a teenager, Naomi Campbell still looks like she can rock the catwalk with the best of them. The British stunner made 48 look like the new 28 when she attended a promotion for Burberry's Close Your Eyes And Think Of Christmas ad campaign in New York City on Monday. OG supermodel: Naomi Campbell attended a promo for Burberry's Close Your Eyes And Think Of Christmas ad campaign in New York City on Monday Always dressed to impress, Campbell looked amazing in a black lace dress with spaghetti straps. The knee length number showcased her amazingly toned figure and near flawless complexion. The 5ft 9.5in statuesque beauty matched it with a pair of black leather heels, and she wore her raven tresses straight and flowing well past her shoulders with a center part. Dressed to impress: Campbell looked amazing in a black lace dress with spaghetti straps Matt Smith and Naomi Campbell both appear in Burberry's new stylish Christmas ad campaign Handsome: Smith wore a two-piece grey suit with grey dress shoes Campbell is among the stars that Burberry lined up for its stylish and moody Christmas campaign for the brand. Campbell's 64-year old mother, Valerie Morris-Campbell, The Crown star Matt Smith, actress Kristen Scott Thomas and rapper MIA were also featured. The online video is set to the Carol of Bells and is directed by artist and photographer Juno Calypso. It showcases pieces from Burberry's signature collection as well as items from its upcoming collaboration with Vivienne Westwood. Smith was also on hand for the NYC promotion, dressed in a two-piece grey suit and grey dress shoes. He posed solo and with his advert co-star, Campbell, as they stood next to a number of Christmas trees. Guests who stopped in on the party promo included Actor Kendrick Sampson, best known for his appearances in The Vampire Diaries, American ballet dancer extraordinaire Misty Copeland and model/actress Carolyn Murphy. Bringing it: Kendrick Sampson also stopped in on the promo party in an edgy black suit Casual elegance: American ballet dancer extraordinaire Misty Copeland showed off her amazingly toned figure in white flared pants and a black bustier top They were in Shanghai, China, last Thursday for a Louis Vuitton exhibition. But on Monday, Sophie Turner and Joe Jones were back in Los Angeles where they headed for a night out at celeb-friendly Craig's in West Hollywood. The actress, 22, and the musician, 29, who announced their engagement in October 2017, were all smiles on their dinner date. Dinner date: Sophie Turner and Joe Jones were all smiles as they headed for a night out at celeb-friendly Craig's in West Hollywood on Monday night Game Of Thrones star Sophie wore a graphic black t-shirt and black skinny jeans tucked into black bovver boots. She added a bomber jacket with a gold lining and her long hair was swept back into a bun. Her eyes were shaded with red shadow and black mascara she sported glossy red lip color. Joe also went for a black ensemble, pairing a tee with skinny pants, slip-on canvas shoes and an aviator's jacket with sheepskin trim. Casual style: Game Of Thrones star Sophie wore a graphic black t-shirt and black skinny jeans tucked into black bovver boots. She added a dark green bomber jacket with a gold lining Blonde beauty: The British actress wore her long hair swept back into a bun. Her eyes were shaded with red shadow and black mascara she sported glossy red lip color Matched: Joe also went for a black ensemble, pairing a tee with skinny pants, slip-on canvas shoes and an aviator's jacket with sheepskin trim Gent: He gallantly held open the restaurant door for his fiancee to enter first Talking their time: Sophie and Joe have not yet publicly announced a wedding date It's a race to the altar between Joe and his younger brother Nick. Nick, 26, got engaged this year to Quantico star Priyanka Chopra, proposing to her in London on her 36th birthday in July. They celebrated their engagement in Mumbai, India, on August 18 and the actress recently enjoyed a bachelorette party in Amsterdam. 'Even though Joe's been engaged longer, it wouldn't be surprising if Nick got married first,' a source told People in October. 'They're not really competitive in terms of who's going to get hitched first.' Keeping a low profile: Joe was rocking a casual look for his night on the town Wedding planning: It's a race to the altar between Joe and Sophie and the DNCE frontman's younger brother Nick and his finacee Priyanka Chopra Understated look: The dressed down duo were keeping it casual for the evening Also set to wed: Nick, 26, got engaged to Quantico star Priyanka, proposing to her in London on her 36th birthday in July Fun times: Sophie joined Priyanka on her bachelorette party to Amsterdam earlier this month Headed home: Joe and Sophie kept close as they left Craig's later on in the evening Meanwhile, philanthropic Sophie has has designed a new bracelet in aid of Unicef. Sophie, who plays Lady Sansa Stark on the in the HBO juggernaut fantasy drama, created the 276 Silver Lockit with Louis Vuitton. Inspired by the idea of luck, the bracelet was designed with braided red and white cord and a circular charm rabbit illustration, taken from the design of Sophie's most recent tattoo. Charity: Meanwhile, philanthropic Sophie has has designed a new bracelet in aid of Unicef Proceeds will help the organisation deliver life-saving food, water and medicine, as well as give children a safe place to learn. The blonde beauty said: 'The bracelet is meant to hold luck for the people to whom the funds go to. 'It's about bringing people together from all over the world because Unicef works worldwide and Louis Vuitton is all about travel. 'Red is considered a lucky colour in China and white coincides with the circular charm of the bracelet; a rabbit. White rabbits and the rabbit-foot are considered lucky in many parts of the world.' They have been a couple for over a year now. And the scrumptious 35-year-old Scott Disick was glimpsed this Sunday stepping out in Calabasas with his girlfriend Sofia Richie. His son Mason joined as well. Sofia, the 20-year-old daughter of Lionel Richie and half-sister of Nicole Richie, flashed her taut midriff in a pearl grey crop top. T he scrumptious 35-year-old Scott Disick was glimpsed this Sunday stepping out in Calabasas with his dramatically younger squeeze Sofia Richie The model and socialite teamed a charcoal bomber jacket with matching torn jeans, pulling on open-toed sandals that resembled shower slippers. Meanwhile, her hunk of a boyfriend, the soi-disant Lord, threw on a dapper purple hoodie and a pair of aviator sunglasses for his evening out. Scott shares three children - Mason, enelope, six, and Reign, three - with Kourtney Kardashian, whose home narrowly evaded the new California fires. She fired up her Insta Stories on November 10 and wrote that 'the fire was coming up the hill towards my house and it just stopped on its own.' Hoofing it: The model and socialite teamed a charcoal bomber jacket with matching torn jeans, pulling on open-toed sandals that resembled shower slippers Kourtney had earlier fled her home in Calabasas in order to shelter at the home of her 23-year-old half-sister Kendall Jenner. Kendall's father Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce, was evacuated from her Malibu mansion, which barely escaped the blaze. Kourtney's younger sister Kim Kardashian and Kim's husband Kanye West, with whom she has three children, were evacuated from their Calabasas residence as well. The way they were: Scott shares three children - Mason, enelope, six, and Reign, three - with Kourtney Kardashian (left), whose home narrowly evaded the new California fires So was their sister Khloe Kardashian, who dashed over to her younger brother Rob Kardashian's house with her infant daughter True. 'I just left with the clothes on my back but I think I packed Trues entire bedroom and closet into my car,' Khloe tweeted, noting: 'obviously shes all that matters to me.' He very recently split from his wife and is now dating singer Jessie J. But it seemed Channing Tatum has plenty of admirers in the form of Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell who couldn't help swooning over the hunky actor Jimmy Kimmel's (RED) special on Monday night. Both happily married ladies playfully begged the Magic Mike star to strip in a comedy bit during the annual benefit show, which serves as fundraiser for Bono's AIDS charity. Hot stuff: Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell begged 'man candy' Channing Tatum to strip on Jimmy Kimmel's (RED) special on Monday night Shopathon: Mila and Kristen were extolling the features of a flatscreen TV when it flashed to life with a crystal clear picture of Channing Tatum, reciting lines in a cheesy movie The trio were just some of the stars who packed into the Hollywood Masonic Temple for the shopathon, joining Chris Rock, Snoop Dogg, Zoe Saldana, Pharrell Williams, Will Ferrell, and Brad Paisley as they hawked special red items in a fun Home Shopping Network parody. Mila and Kristen were extolling the features of a flatscreen TV when it flashed to life with a crystal clear picture of Channing Tatum, reciting lines in a cheesy movie. 'Ooh that is man candy and I have a sweet tooth,' Kristen purred. But the wife of Dax Shepard quickly grumbled: 'This movie seems serious... I'm worried he wont take his shirt off.' Yum: 'Ooh that is man candy and I have a sweet tooth,' Kristen purred Hurt: 'I'm more than just a piece of meat,' he admonished. 'I'm a piece of meat with feelings!' Sorry: A guilt-ridden Mila accepted: 'I guess there's a lesson to learn here... it's wrong to treat men as sex objects Relentless: After emerging in studio in person, Channing forgave the girls and agreed to jump into a selfie with them, while they continued to hound him to strip 'He better take something off,' Ashton Kutcher's missus agreed. Tatum then suddenly broke the fourth wall and addressed the girls from within the screen: 'I'm a serious actor, okay? All you care about is if I'm gonna show some skin or something. 'I'm more than just a piece of meat,' he admonished. 'I'm a piece of meat with feelings!' Comfy: Mila was later pictured leaving the studio wearing slouchy pants and a slogan T-shirt Refreshing: Mila sipped on a bottle of San Pellegrino as she made her way to a waiting car Well-groomed: Her raven locks were glossy and styled to perfection and she had statement eyeshadow applied A guilt-ridden Mila accepted: 'I guess there's a lesson to learn here... it's wrong to treat men as sex objects. 'No matter how smoking H. O. T. they are,' Kristen added. After emerging in studio in person, Channing forgave the girls and agreed to jump into a selfie with them. Buy it: The trio were just some of the stars who packed into the Hollywood Masonic Temple for the shopathon, joining Chris Rock, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Will Ferrell, Brad Paisley and Zoe Saldana (pictured) as they hawked special red items in a fun Home Shopping Network parody Not legal everywhere: Elsewhere in the show, Snoop Dogg tried to alter the red theme to a green one, offering to sell the 'stickiest, ickiest' weed before he was interrupted Limited offer: Chris Rock voiced the special red version of Alexa, but only for the show Slowed: Bono joined Pharrell for a piano version of the Bee Gee's Stayin Alive 'How about one with your shirt off?' they continued to hound him. 'Take it off... just the shoulder.' Elsewhere in the show, Snoop Dogg tried to alter the red theme to a green one, offering to sell the 'stickiest, ickiest' weed before he was interrupted. After joining Pharrell for a piano version of the Bee Gee's Stayin Alive, Bono described some of the unique items that were up for grabs in the fundraiser sweepstakes including him and Lady Gaga uniting to write a song featuring one lucky winner's name. Sweet Caroline: He then described some of the unique items that were up for grabs in the fundraiser sweepstakes including him and Lady Gaga uniting to write a song featuring one lucky winner's name Tough ask: 'Hopefully it's not Gertrude,' the U2 frontman quipped, before begging his old high school buddy Derek Reamsbottom not to enter the competition Pretty: Guillermo even got dolled up for the special night 'Hopefully it's not Gertrude,' the U2 frontman quipped, before begging his old high school buddy Derek Reamsbottom not to enter the competition. Bono described 'Her Gaganess' as 'the best of what we've got... she's a sacred talent.' Brad Paisley offered his winner a signed guitar, lessons and the chance to play an encore with him and his band at any of his shows; Snoop Dogg offered a 'cooking experience', which of course will include baking brownies. In tune: The whole squad united on stage for a special sing-along usual suspect: Will Ferrell showed up to ask some typically silly questions from the audience Yoink: He ended up 'stealing' the special red Vespa on sale, with Chris Rock's help Also up for grabs is an underwear shopping trip with Sacha Baron Cohen, and swearing en espanol lessons from Penelope Cruz. 'Have you heard her swear?' Bono asked. 'Such a sweet girl but she cusses like a sailor.' Every $10 donation at crowdrise.com/red earns one entry into the sweepstake of your choice. She resigned from 2Day FM in early September, shortly after claims staff refused to work with her because she was 'toxic.' And on Monday, Em Rusciano, 39, revealed the real reason she quit her 'high paying job.' The pregnant personality penned a lengthy blog post, saying it stopped her 'from being able to do the things I love.' The real reason why Em Rusciano quit 2Day FM: Controversial radio host speaks out about leaving the 'high paying job' after claims staff refused to work with her as she was 'toxic' 'I left the security of a very high paying job because it stopped me from being able to do the things I love,' Em said in the post, which was about 'bravery.' Em - who is writing her own book and planning live shows - explained how she feels the pressure of supporting herself and her family. 'For two glorious years I didn't have to worry about people still liking me enough to show up for the art I made,' she wrote. 'I just made it with reckless abandon (and of course you all came anyway because you're fabulous like that). Now it's all on me.' Too much: The pregnant personality penned a lengthy blog post, saying the radio gig stopped her 'from being able to do the things I love' She added that she feels 'vulnerable' about her career and it can cause her to 'implode from anxiety and self-doubt.' The brunette said that she tries to remind herself of just how much she has gotten through in her life, to keep herself going. She also urged her fans to 'be brave.' Em announced her resignation from 2Day FM in early September, telling listeners she'd be finishing up that week and would not be returning following the birth of her third child. Gone: Em announced her resignation from 2Day FM in early September, telling listeners she'd be finishing up that week and would not be returning following the birth of her third child (pictured with breakfast co-hosts Ed Kavalee, L, and Grant Denyer, R) 'Casual bombshell alert. This Friday will be my last day on air for 2Day FM breakfast, and I want to make it crystal clear that this is entirely my decision and not one I made lightly,' she said on air at the time. 'The truth is when I found out I was pregnant, I made my mind up on the spot that this year would be my last year of breakfast radio.' She added: 'I had intended to work through until December, but as my pregnancy is progressing I'm finding it increasingly harder to fulfill the requirements of my job. So after talking it through with my family, and my boss Gemma [Fordham, Hit Network's Head of Content], it was decided that I should finish up.' Em then thanked fans and listeners for their support. Over it? In a blog post written at the time, Em spoke about her relief at no longer waking up at 4am every weekday In a blog post written at the time, Em spoke about her relief at no longer waking up at 4am every weekday. However she did acknowledge some of the well-documented tensions behind the scenes at the struggling Sydney breakfast show. 'My time at 2Day has been a mixed bag,' she wrote. 'I'd be flat out lying if I said any differently. It's been heartbreaking, hilarious, soul-destroying, uplifting, disappointing and bloody hard a lot of the time,' she wrote in part of her post. Em, who is expecting her third child with husband Scott Barrow, had been with 2Day FM since the departure of Rove McManus and Sam Frost in early 2017. The first iteration of the program, The Em Rusciano Radio Show with Harley Breen, lasted less than 12 months before comedian Harley Breen's departure. It was rumoured that the two presenters did not get along behind the scenes. 'My time at 2Day has been a mixed bag': However she did acknowledge some of the well-documented tensions behind the scenes at the struggling Sydney breakfast show He was subsequently replaced by TV personalities Ed Kavalee and Grant Denyer and the show was rebranded Em, Grant and Ed by the Hit Network. Em admitted earlier this year that this shake-up was a difficult transition for her. She said the Hit Network's decision came out of the blue, leaving her with the intimidating task of generating chemistry with two people she'd never met. Speaking to Wil Anderson on his Wilosophy podcast in May, she said: 'It was hectic. It was the Em Rusciano Radio Show - it was my show! And then all of a sudden Ed's anchoring and the show's called "The 2Day FM Breakfast Show".' Em also revealed at the time that she she fought with 2Day FM to let her produce the program and manage staffing, but they declined because they wanted to have a say in the show's direction. 'Toxic': Meanwhile, the mother-of-two was publicly accused of creating a 'toxic' workplace at the Hit Network Shortly after her interview with Wil Anderson made headlines, the mother-of-two was publicly accused of creating a 'toxic' workplace at the Hit Network. 'She makes it a toxic work environment,' a former staff member told News.com.au. 'In all honesty, I actually feel really sad for her. She seems really insecure. She portrays this really confident, "I think I'm the greatest!" image but I think it stems from a really deep-seeded insecurity, which is really sad.' 'She just doesn't know how to interact with people. She won't compromise with anybody. She always has to be right.' Another ex-employee told The Daily Telegraph there 'had been casualties at the hands of Em Rusciano' at 2Day FM. 'Things are at breaking point, people just cannot work with her energy,' they said. 'The audio producer is now working on another show, the publicist is refusing to work with her and one of the producers has told the company that they are looking for other work. All of that on top of the previous host [Harley Breen] leaving.' By Auqib Javeed, TwoCircles.net Dilshada Begum and Arifa Begum were born and brought up in Kashmir. They are in fact, as Kashmiri as Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. But when it comes to their nation, they are Pakistani as they were born in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK). But if the Line of Control is not recognised, arent they Indians too, legally speaking? It might sound confusing to many, but in reality, it is a pretty simple and straightforward matter. Support TwoCircles On November 14, Kashmir (both sides of the LoC) woke up to the rather perplexing news of two women born in PaK winning Panchayat elections in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. The news went viral and made headlines in both local and national media. And for good reasons: in the three decades of the Kashmir conflict, a person from the other side of the border contested and won local elections. More importantly, both the women were elected unopposed. Dilshada won from a halka Pringroo, Handwara Town while Arifa won from Khumriyal area of the Kupwara district. And Arifa won on a BJP seat. A Kashmiri from the other side is still an Indian citizen As per the definition of State Subjects as provided under Notification of 28th April, 1927 (Legal Document No. 44) issued by the Maharaja of then princely state of J&K (including that part which is now under administration of Pakistan) the residents of Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK) are the State Subjects of J&K. Shafqat Nazir, a senior lawyer from Jammu and Kashmir High Court, explains: Nothing stops them from contesting elections in J&K. Further, under section 6(2) of the Constitution of J&K, those permanent residents who, before the 14th day of May, 1954 were the state Subjects but migrated to the territory now included in Pakistan, return and apply for grant of Permanent Resident Status under law and rules can also become the Permanent Resident of State. One may have a difference of opinion regarding whether one should participate in Panchayat elections under present circumstances or not, but that is a political issue and not a legal issue, he added. Advocate G.N. Shaheen concurred with Adv Nazir. They (people from PaK) are legally state subjects of Jammu and Kashmirone doesnt lose state subject rights due to the ceasefire line. They are entitled and have every right to contest elections, said Nazir, adding people living in that part of Kashmir (PaK) have state subject rights in this part of Kashmir (IaK), similarly we too have state subject rights there in PaK. Shaheen gave the example of the wife of separatist leader Yousuf Naseem whose wife is an elected legislator in the PaK assembly. From Muzaffarabad to Kupwara via Nepal The roots of this story lie in the 1990s, when militancy was at its peak in Kashmir. Like thousands of youth, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, then a teenager, crossed the LoC in 1999. He joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen for three years before leaving militancy to set up his own business in Muzaffarabad, PaK. There, he married Dilshada Begum in 2002 and was living an honourable life. When Jammu and Kashmir government announced a rehabilitation policy for returning of ex-militants, it was a moment of joy for Yousuf, he told TwoCircles.net. I told my wife that we will go back to Kashmir as the government has made a special policy for us, says Yousuf, adding that they didnt have enough money for the air tickets. My family members arranged some money for tickets and I sold my business in Muzaffarabad, he says. We drove to Rawalpindi where we boarded a plane to Karachi. From Karachi we flew to Nepal, and from there we reached New Delhi finally, he says. The couple along with the kids got Aadhar and ration card in 2015 but are facing a difficult times due to governments failed rehabilitation policy, says Yousuf. It is important, however, to point that the run up to these elections was marred by violence and threats from militant groups who warned of serious consequences to anyone who contested in the process. As a result, a number of people did not take part in the elections and such is the fear that even when this correspondent reached Kupwara, both candidates refused to meet him in person and instead chose to speak over phone. When asked about the threat of the militants, Dilshada says, We dont have any option. If they want to kill us, its their will but we are living in terrible conditions, for God sake, tell us where should we go? Neither can we go to Pakistan nor we are being allowed to live here peacefullywe have to take this kind of risks in order to live here. Mawar, Handwara, the village in which they live is a remote area and has been neglected by all the governments. In order to change the fate of its inhabitants, Dilshada decided to contest elections, she says. She also said there are around a dozen Pakistani women who have come as spouses of ex-militants in her district. They find it difficult to get their name on ration cards, election cards, and other essential documents. We arent allowed to return Pakistan to see our relatives, so I thought I will also fight for them, she says. A few kilometres from Mawar village is the Khumriyal area in the same district, from where Arifa Begum has won on a BJP ticket. She too came to this part of Kashmir along with her husband Ghulam Mohammad Mir via Nepal. Mir crossed the Line of Control (LoC) in 2001 and remained in PaK till 2010. He got married to Arifa, originally a resident of Palandari village in Muzaffarabad and came back in 2010. Arifa had submitted nomination papers for both Panch as well as Sarpanch wards in Khumriyal-B in the frontier district. There were no nominations against her and as such she has been declared elected unopposed for both Panch and Sarpanch wards, an official from the district administration said. What is interesting is that Arifa was on a BJP ticket. When we asked Altaf Thakur, spokesman of the BJP unit of Kashmir as to how the party nominated a Pakistan-born girl in Panchayat elections in Kashmir, he defended the move. First of all, she isnt from Pakistan, but Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and it is a part of India. We have no issues if someone from PoK came here and contested election; in fact our legislative assembly has 25 seats reserved from them, adding, Aarifa has married a Kashmiri and now she is the citizen of India. It is a welcome step, he said. According to reports, nearly 450 families of former militants came to Kashmir Via Nepal route. However, they are facing a relentless struggle to make both ends meet in the absence of a proper rehabilitation policy. Rather than the usual phoney romances, this week's Made In Chelsea featured such riveting storylines as: Would Habbs and Emily move out leaving Miles having to find two new flat-mates? Would Melissa be in Canada on Harry's birthday? And would Sam really get a spare key to his flat cut? Phew eh? You probably can't wait to immediately find out what happened on Catch Up but try. Louise Thompson (left) claimed Sophie Hermann (right) 'once tried it on with her' in Monday night's episode of Made in Chelsea In fact this desperately dull departure from the usual formula bordered on genius. It ensured we would never complain again that the calibre of the couples in recent series had become increasingly uninteresting. Now you regretted saying that the likes of Melissa & Harry, Habbs & Sam, or the new bloke Tristan & Isolde were inane to the point of being, well, pointless. After the 'drama' of Miles' accommodation problem, the blow to Harry's festivities, and Sam's trip to the shoe repair shop/ locksmiths, suddenly even 'love affairs' such as Sam Prince & Tabitha, Miles & his reflection, or Mimi & Any Man With A Pulse seemed like Shakespeare. The fact that the show didn't even bother to make the storylines relevant was typically weird. Melissa Tattam (left) faced a dilemma of missing her boyfriend Harry Baron's birthday when Olivia Bentley (right) invited her to a 'girls only' trip to Vancouver Island The opening half an hour was devoted to Miles facing the 'crisis' of his flat-mates Habbs and Emily moving out (including Tristan organising a reconciliation dinner) and then...they did anyway. Equally, everyone told Sam not to go too fast by giving Habbs a key to his flat (especially Emily who warned hysterically 'this is going to go down like a sack of s**t!'). But he also did it anyway. And even though Habbs herself had stressed she didn't want such a gesture of commitment, when Sam gave her the key it was...fine. As for the 'dilemma' of Melissa missing her boyfriend Harry's birthday when Olivia Bentley invited her to a 'girls only' trip to Vancouver Island, it always was hard to take seriously - given that Harry was going to be 29 not six years old. It instantly dissipated a few minutes later when Liv said Harry could come to the 'girls only' trip too, meaning all three sub-plots were even more meaningless than when they started. Everyone told Sam Thomson (right) not to go too fast by giving new girlfriend Sophie 'Habbs' Habboo (left) a key to his flat... but he did it anyway The issue between Miles, Habbs, and Emily proved particularly absurd because the dialogue sounded as if it was about a relationship going wrong, not a tenancy agreement. 'For me this is not the end!' Miles kept on pledging. 'I am literally ready to move forward!' But sadly Habbs and Emily were literally ready to move out. 'I think now it's got to a point where it's just too awful to live together because so much has happened,' concluded Habbs gravely, as if they were splitting up and more gravely than when she had broken up with Sam. The issue between Miles Nazaire (left), Habbs, and Emily Blackwell proved particularly absurd because the dialogue sounded as if it was about a relationship going wrong, not a tenancy Yes, poor Miles had paid the price not for having a 'pardy' in his own flat but for having sex in Emily's bed (and not with Emily) - Emily pictured with Tristan Phipps 'Otherwise we're going to get to the point where we despise the guy,' confirmed Emily. Yes, poor Miles had paid the price not for having a 'pardy' in his own flat but for having sex in Emily's bed (and not with Emily). No one ever explained why Miles had sex in his flat-mate's bed rather than his own, why his shirt was on Habbs' bed, or why Habbs found this so abhorrent. We never found out who he'd had the sex with either. This is one of the weirdest things about Made In Chelsea, which is meant to be about the lives of these idiots but then invariably misses the juiciest bits. Sophie revealed she found herself being single for the first time and that last year hadn't made a move for Fredrik Ferrier (right) because she'd gone back to her ex Another is that the characters are forever casually mentioning things that are way more interesting than the rubbish we are actually watching. Louise Thompson for example told her fiance Ryan 'Rymans' Rymanster that Sophie Hermann 'tried it on with me before. Yah! She's a very sexual being.' Yah we noticed. The way Sophie talked about what size of sausage she liked made Ryan blush so much his face changed colour from orange to even more orange (nearly red). The way Sophie talked about what size of sausage she liked made Ryan Libbey blush Sophie has joined Victoria Harber-Baker and Mark-Francis Vandelli as Made In Chelsea's most interesting, intelligent, amusing characters who therefore hardly ever features. On Monday for example, Hermann revealed she found herself being single for the first time and that last year hadn't made a move for Fredrik because she'd gone back to her ex. We had no idea who this was because we never saw him. At least now she was being uncommonly open. She was trying to learn from her past relationships before the next one, she said. 'To try to see it more as an adult, less psycho-bitch.' In truth, this seemed optimistic. Sophie was Made In Chelsea's answer to Mae West: when she was good she was very good. But when she was bad she was better After all, Sophie was Made In Chelsea's answer to Mae West: when she was good she was very good. But when she was bad she was better. Even just hearing her say the word 'psycho-bitch' only made Sophie more appealing. And if she still was one, which of us could honestly say we wouldn't want to see it? These were the 10 Most Embarrassing Moments in this week's episode. 1. 'I feel like this boring old woman going (screeches anciently): can you all leave my house please?!' Seeing Habbs suddenly doing her impersonation of an angry granny complaining about Miles' party was not so much unbecoming from such a goddess like herself but just disturbing frankly. Her impression was also terrible. 2. 'Sweet man! Thanks brother! What's up gangsta? How's the website?' The excruciating attempt by Proudlock 'Oliver' Proudlockster III to ingratiate himself with his younger members of staff by being 'cool' confirmed Proudlock's status as the David Brent of Made In Chelsea. In fact, a spin-off series about life in his office would definitely be better than MIC but probably The Office too. The excruciating attempt by Proudlock 'Oliver' Proudlockster III to ingratiate himself with his younger members of staff by being 'cool' confirmed Proudlock's status as David Brent of MIC 3. 'You don't still call your mum 'mummy' do you?! Harry Baron's question to Louise Thompson was clearly ridiculous. Of course she didn't. She calls her 'mumm-air.' 4. 'It's such a loser bike!' Sophie Hermann confirms that Fredrik is too dull to be 'the male version of me.' 5. 'Look, you love Habbs and she likes you...' Harry Baron succinctly sums up the exact state/status of the relationship between Sam and Habbs. And thousands of others across the country... 6. 'You love Habbs! You don't need to get a tattoo of a bloody bonsai tree!' Harry Baron's succinctly sums up the exact absurdity of, well, Sam Thompson. 'Look, you love Habbs and she likes you': Harry succinctly sums up the exact state/status of the relationship between Sam and Habbs. And thousands of others across the country... 7. 'I'll tell you who is looking good Fredrik. He's like a Greek god! I've always had a bit of a man-crush on him!' Ryan 'Rymans' Rymanster suggests to Louise our suspicions that he likes Fred and Digby more than his fiancee might be true. 8. 'You always appreciate the male form more than the female!' 'You're right actually!' Ryan 'Rymans' Rymanster confirms Louise's suspicions that he likes Fred and Digby more than her are true. 'You always appreciate the male form more than the female!': Ryan 'Rymans' Rymanster confirms Louise's suspicions that he likes Fred and Digby more than her are true 9. 'Is that where Habbs is now?! You're an absolute joke!' Ryan, laughing like hyena and looking happier than he's ever been, sums up exactly how we feel about Sam Thompson when he hears Sam's girlfriend Habbs is having dinner at Tristan's. 10. 'Some would say I'm the king of the gesture!' Sam Thompson boasting to his pals, suggesting the poor soul has no idea what, in our minds, that gesture actually is. Professor Green's ex-girlfriend Fae Williams stunned fans when she eloped with her tattoo artist beau Dan Crowe, seven months after splitting from the rapper. And proving herself to be in the throes of marital bliss, the stunning model stepped out with her new husband for the launch of Rita Ora's second studio album Phoenix, which was sponsored by CIROC Vodka, at London's Annabel's bar on Monday evening. Earlier this month, Fae took to Instagram with the happy news as she posed outside Las Vegas' famous 'A Little White Chapel' with Dan, shortly before the duo returned home and hit the town for the launch. Stunner: Professor Green's ex-girlfriend Fae Williams stunned fans when she eloped with her tattoo artist beau Dan Crowe, before making their first appearance as man and wife on Rita Ora's second studio album Phoenix at London's Annabel's bar on Monday evening. Fae looked sensational for her night on the town with her husband as they rubbed shoulders with the stars and could not resist cosying up to one another. Slipping into a slinky black sheath dress with spaghetti straps while delicate additions slipped off her shoulders to highlight her lithe limbs. In announcing her happy news, Fae took to Instagram to pen: 'I got married! 01.11.18,' beneath a picture which saw her shun the traditional white wedding dress in favour of a chic black slip number and chunky black boots. Despite only splitting from Professor Green in April, Fae has been swept off her feet by Dan - which is evident from her new married status. In September, it emerged that the pretty blonde was preparing to wed tattoo artist Dan. Happy days! Earlier this month, Fae took to Instagram with the happy news as she posed outside Las Vegas' famous 'A Little White Chapel' with Dan, shortly before the duo returned home and hit the town for the launch Moving on: She suffered an acrimonious split from the rapper seven months ago (pictured in December last year) According to The Sun, Dan proposed to Fae in early September and the pair celebrated in London members' club, The Ned shortly after. And it seems things took a cheeky turn from there as Fae took to social media to post pictures of Dan taking off his clothes and running around the pool. The much amused stunner posted 'censored' emojis over his nether regions, making sure fans didn't cop too much of an eyeful. A source told The Sun: 'Fae and Dan have barely left each others sides ever since they got together in May. 'Although its still fairly early in their relationship theyre completely smitten with each other and didnt want to waste any time in taking things further. Wow! Fae looked sensational for her night on the town with her husband as they rubbed shoulders with the stars and could not resist cosying up to one another Shocker: Green took to Instagram to share a screenshot from a video originally posted to Fae's own social media account, which showed the tattoo artist downing a cocktail in one go as they vacationed in Ibiza 'He really wanted to make it special so he booked a room in The Ned and filled it with candles and white roses.' Back in May, Professor Green mocked his ex by saying she had 'downgraded' with her new man. Green took to Instagram to share a screenshot from a video originally posted to Fae's own social media account, which showed the tattoo artist downing a cocktail in one go as they vacationed in Ibiza. The rapper, who was previously married to erstwhile reality TV star Millie Mackintosh, captioned the mean-spirited post: 'When your ex downgrades... Ive really gotta stop giving birds careers, means you bump into em once youve dumped em.' [sic] Happy days: The happy couple looked enamoured as they emerged on Monday Harper Beckham took a walk on the wild side when she swapped her school uniform for a spotty reindeer onesie on Tuesday. Mum-of-four Victoria documented her youngest's look on Instagram with a snap and the caption: 'Wear it wild day at school for Harper.' The Beckham's only daughter, seven, looked very cute when she got into the festive spirit and transformed into a reindeer. Wild side: Harper Beckham swapped her school uniform for a spotty reindeer onesie as she got into the festive spirit on Tuesday Cherishing every sweet moment of bringing her daughter up, Victoria previously shared a snap of Harper dressed in her uniform earlier in November. Harper's smart school uniform includes a purple beret in the same shade of violet as her pinafore dress, paired with a lilac and white striped blouse. She previously captioned the image of Harper in her school uniform with the words: 'The beret is back. Bring on the winter uniform.' Inseparable: Mum-of-four Victoria documented her youngest's look on Instagram with a snap and the caption, 'Wear it wild day at school for Harper.' Dramatically different: Harper's smart school uniform includes a purple beret in the same shade of violet as her pinafore dress, paired with a lilac and white striped blouse Victoria has nurtured her close bond with her daughter and often shares what her daughter is getting up to via Instagram. Harper has returned to school after her once-in-a-lifetime trip Down Under with her family, excluding the eldest son Brooklyn. The little girl joined her brothers Romeo, 15, and Cruz, 13, as well as her mum Victoria and dad David for the sun-soaked getaway. How sweet: Victoria has nurtured her close bond with her daughter and often shares what her daughter is getting up to via Instagram David shared the details of his holiday with his family as he shed some rare light on their private time together. 'This time I was able to bring my kids,' he told AIA Vitality Australia. 'My kids obviously had never been to Australia before, so we'd done all the touristy stuff. I took the boys and we climbed the [Sydney Harbour] Bridge. We did all the touristy things.' She is set to face a bankruptcy hearing in mere weeks, after raking up debts of up to 500,000. But Katie Price took her mind off her financial woes on Tuesday as she headed to a aerial yoga class for a spot of relaxation with her mum Amy. The television personality, 40, made sure she turned heads in a lilac furry coat as she arrived at the fitness studio in London. Keeping busy: Katie Price took her mind off her financial woes on Tuesday as she headed to a aerial yoga class for a spot of relaxation with her mum Amy Katie layered the fluffy coat atop of a white slogan t-shirt, black trainers and tight-fitting wet-look leggings. The former glamour model slicked her brunette tresses back into a high ponytail and enhanced her sun-kissed tan with fluttery eyelashes and a coral manicure. Katie immersed herself in the class as she proceeded to do a number of yoga poses in her purple hammock which showed off her flexibility. Stressful time: Katie, who is set to face a bankruptcy hearing in mere weeks, after raking up debts of up to 500,000, has been keeping busy Eye-catching display: The television personality, 40, made sure she turned heads in a lilac furry coat as she arrived at the fitness studio in London Concentration: Katie immersed herself into the fitness class as she proceeded to do a number of yoga poses in her purple hammock which showed off her flexibility Relaxation: The My Crazy Life star adopted a foetal position as she meditated Bonding: Meanwhile, Katie's mum Amy, 64, also joined in and appeared at ease stretching while Katie swayed around At one point, the mum-of-five started giggling as she struggled to maintain her balance in the hammock. Meanwhile, Katie's mum Amy, 64, also joined in and appeared at ease stretching while Katie swayed around. The television personality was no doubt doing the class, which helps circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems due to blood circulation to support Amy after she was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis last year. Embracing the class: Katie did lots of deep breathing during the yoga session Fit of the giggles: At one point the mum-of-five started giggling as she watched the instructor teach her a move Sweet: The television personality was no doubt doing the class, which helps circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems due to blood circulation to support Amy Bronzed: The former glamour model slicked her brunette tresses back into a high ponytail and enhanced her sun-kissed tan with fluttery eyelashes and a coral manicure Heartbreaking: Amy was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis last year- a terminal condition and has been doing all she can to work on her health Dedicated: Katie is intent to keep that body in shape despite her financial worries Taking a turn: The star looked a little scared as she wobbled around in the hammock Back to reality: After the class Katie caught up with the latest news on her phone It comes as the former Loose Women panelist staved off bankruptcy for another month at the end of October - but could be made homeless at a court hearing in December. The former glamour model - who was worth an estimated 45million - narrowly avoided being declared bankrupt in August, when she was given 12 weeks to come up with the money she owes to creditors. Her lawyers came back to London's High Court at the end of October for a fresh hearing over how she will clear up a 22,000 debt with the taxman. Estimates over the Loose Women star's total debts have ranged from 250,000 to 500,000. Difficult: It comes as the former Loose Women panelist staved off bankruptcy for another month at the end of October - but could be made homeless at a court hearing in December Narrow escape: The former glamour model - who was worth an estimated 45million - narrowly avoided being declared bankrupt in August Katie's legal team stated, in October, she would meet with tax officials on November 16 - but further news has not been announced; nor whether she did or did not meet with them on Friday. It is thought she will attempt to be enter into an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA), a formal alternative for indebted people wishing to avoid bankruptcy. Katie is said to fear having to sell her West Sussex mansion if a trustee is brought in to sell off her possessions. She is unlikely to be made homeless before Christmas due to rules allowing people living with children to appeal for a 12-month delay to losing their home. In recent months there have been reports the former model, a keen horsewoman, had been trying to sell off her pink horsebox and a number of her animals in a bid to reduce her mounting debts. A day before, she cheekily attempted to teach her nine-month-old daughter Stormi her first words - in the form of 'Kylie Cosmetics'. And Kylie Jenner was once again on brand as she threw herself into the promo trail for her lucrative brand while meeting fans in Houston, Texas on Sunday. The 21-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, who is on track to become the world's youngest self-made billionaire thanks to her beauty empire, looked sensational in a silky pink suit while she graciously met with fans. Shop till you drop: Taking to her Instagram stories, Kylie enjoyed a browse around her own station in the store while loading up on her goodies into a bag from the shop Kylie looked sensational in her double-breasted pink ensemble which was slightly over-sized in style to help highlight her flawless curves underneath. She paired the look with wide-legged trousers while tucking a skin-tight white vest top into the bottoms, which meant her eye-popping cleavage was on display. As with all her siblings, Kylie enhances her natural locks with a combination of extensions or wigs - a look she appeared to have opted for during the appearance. Sleek blonde locks cascaded over one-shoulder with a stylish peek of dark roots protruding out of the top while the lengths tumbled down to her waist. Speak for mama! A day before, she cheekily attempted to teach her nine-month-old daughter Stormi her first words - in the form of 'Kylie Cosmetics' Taking to her Instagram stories, Kylie enjoyed a browse around her own station in the store while loading up on her goodies into a bag from the shop. While she was hard at work on Sunday, she has also been hard at work as a mother after revealing her hard work to get her little one chatting. Filming a video of the daughter she shares with rapper Travis Scott, she sweetly attempted to coax the gurgling tot into saying the name of her brand. Out and a pout: As with all her siblings, Kylie enhances her natural locks with a combination of extensions or wigs - a look she appeared to have opted for during the appearance Happy days! Clearly not yet capable of the five syllables of Kylie Cosmetics, her sweet daughter instead simply said: 'Da-da', much to the delight of her mother Clearly not yet capable of the five syllables of Kylie Cosmetics, her sweet daughter instead simply said: 'Da-da', much to the delight of her mother. She also shared a set of black and white photos of Stormi getting some love from da da before his show.In the images, the 26-year-old rapper is holding his only child and giving her smooches as she laughs. 'Only the people around you really know how hard you work,' Kylie wrote. 'I love to watch you make all your dreams come true. Your first festival. Were so proud of you. we love you,' she added. And the makeup mogul posted a quick clip of Travis on stage at his concert as he said: 'My beautiful wife... she came out... and my beautiful daughter.. she's here too... I love you all so much.' There was more love for Travis after The Mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, officially declared Sunday Astroworld Day to honor the rapper and what he contributes to the city's arts and community, and in celebration of his latest album. Jason Statham's stunt double was shot at by a balaclava-clad villain holding a gun as they filmed an exciting car chase, in north Yorkshire on Tuesday. Noticeably the biggest stars of the movie Statham, Dwayne Johnson and Idris Elba were absent from the disused power station setting. The body double looked tense behind the wheel of a 4x4 when he broke away from three Land Rovers and a motorbike during a dramatic chase sequence. Fast and Furious spin-off filming: Jason Statham's body double was SHOT at by balaclava villain wielding a gun in exhilarating car chase in Yorkshire on Tuesday Statham's stunt partner was driving a blonde beauty to safety as he was being shot at by the assassin leaning out of one of the Land Rovers. Clad in a balaclava, the unidentified villain looked fierce when he fixed his gaze and his gun on the target. Eggborough power station, in Yorkshire, was transformed into Chernobyl, Ukraine for the scenes in the action-packed movie. Nail-biting: Clad in a balaclava, the unidentified villain looked fierce when he fixed his gaze and his gun on the target Head on: The body double looked tense behind the wheel of a 4x4 when he broke away from three Land Rovers and a motorbike during a dramatic chase sequence Tense moment: Statham's stunt partner was driving a blonde beauty to safety as he was being shot at by the assassin leaning out of one of the Land Rovers Break away! Vanessa's stunt double took a seat next to Statham's double in the car The Fate of the Furious, or Fast 8, will be followed up with the spin-off movie depicting the relationship between Jason's character Deckard and Luke Hobbs. Stars and stuntmen alike are busy keeping to tight filming schedules across the UK to ensure Hobbs and Shaw is ready to hit cinemas next July. As many as 200 people descended on Glasgow to shoot scenes for the action-packed movie until October 29. Setting the scene: Eggborough power station, in Yorkshire, was transformed into Chernobyl, Ukraine for the scenes in the action-packed movie Revealed: The demand for the film pushed back the release of the ninth installment of the Fast and Furious series. The action film is set for release on August 2, 2019 The demand for the film pushed back the release of the ninth installment of the Fast and Furious series. The action film is set for release on August 2, 2019. The Crown's Vanessa Kirby will also star alongside Statham, The Rock and Elba in the fast-paced action movie. Statham promised his 18 million followers there are 'big things to come' from the Hobbs and Shaw movie. The hunk revealed he was excited to be working with his co-star The Rock once again as he joked he would have to tear him away from the pancake stack. Location, location, location: Stars and stuntmen alike are busy keeping to tight filming schedules across the UK to ensure Hobbs and Shaw is ready to hit cinemas next July Storytelling: The Fate of the Furious, or Fast 8, will be followed up with the spin-off movie depicting the relationship between Jason's character Deckard and Luke Hobbs He shared on Instagram: 'Day 1 on Hobbs & Shaw movie. Getting the instructions from an old pal and the Director of our film @davidmleitch. Massive respect to you Dave for the incredible vision and scope you have planned for this movie. 'There are big things to come! The other big thing to come will be arriving imminently, thats if he can peel himself away from his stack of pancakes. 'My partner in crime on this one, the colossal and world wide loved and respected @therock Just warming things up for you brother! See you on British soil soon. #HobbsAndShaw @universalpictures.' What's going on: Statham promised his 18 million followers there are 'big things to come' from the Hobbs and Shaw movie She's made a name for herself in the fashion industry and recently landed two December Vogue covers. And on Tuesday, Sudanese-Australian model Adut Akech Bior, 18, revealed just how much she looks up to English supermodel Naomi Campbell, 48. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the 2018 Australian Fashion Laureate awards in Sydney, Adut said the pair are so close that the icon is like a mother to her. EXCLUSIVE: 'She's like my mum!' Sudanese-Australian model Adut Akech (pictured) gushes over supermodel and mentor Naomi Campbell 'She's like my mum,' Adut said. 'She's someone I always looked up to when I was growing up. It's crazy.' The stunner - who was named Model of the Year at the awards - added: 'She's a great support to me and my career.' Friends: 'She's someone I always looked up to when I was growing up. It's crazy,' Adut said (pictured with Naomi, 48) Adut - who hails from Australia's Adelaide - modelled in the coveted 2018 Pirrelli calendar alongside mentor Naomi. In October last year, she gushed about Naomi online, writing underneath a selfie shared on Instagram: 'Love you so much ma!' Adut has had an incredible year, after being named Chanel's first black runway bride in over a decade. Icon: In October last year, she gushed about Naomi online, writing underneath a selfie shared on Instagram: 'Love you so much ma!' She also continued to make history in the fashion world by landing two December Vogue covers. At just 18, the South Sudanese-born model appears on both Vogue Australia and British Vogue. She recently said on Instagram that covering the Australian publication has always been 'a dream of mine'. Success: Adut has had an incredible year, after being named Chanel's first black runway bride in over a decade. She also continued to make history in the fashion world by landing two December Vogue covers (pictured on the cover of British Vogue) Adult also shared that landing the cover of British Vogue is a feat for 'women of colour' around the world. Adut moved to Adelaide, Australia with her family as a South Sudanese refugee when she was just seven. She launched her modelling career at age 16, after signing with Chadwick Models. Love Island star Zara McDermott has called for the choice of anonymity for victims of revenge porn, following her own experience with the crime. The 21-year-old former government adviser, who shot to fame on the ITV2 dating show in the summer, insisted victims should be allowed to remain anonymous when material is release, as she claims 'sexting' is a modern form of sex. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the star, who found love with Adam Collard in the house, stated: 'Victims need to be given the choice to remain anonymous, because they never got the choice on whether to release the photos'. Heartache: Love Island star Zara McDermott has called for the choice of anonymity for victims of revenge porn, following her own experience with the crime Shocking research given to the radio show by the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner outlined that a survey showed only 3% of victims had successfully prosecuted an offender. Meanwhile, 76% of victims did not report their crime to the police - while nine out of 10 victims revealed they would have reported if they has been assured anonymity. Revenge porn, which was made a criminal offence in 2015, is currently categorised as a "communications crime", meaning victims are not granted anonymity. Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, launched a petition to change the law, as is the case for complainants in sexual offence cases. Shocking: The 21-year-old former government adviser, who shot to fame on the ITV2 dating show in the summer, insisted victims should be allowed to remain anonymous when material is release, as she claims 'sexting' is a modern form of sex Love: Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the star, who found love with Adam Collard in the house, stated: 'Victims need to be given the choice to remain anonymous, because they never got the choice on whether to release the photos' Zara said: 'I didn't know he had sent it round to other students until I was sat in class and a boy from school held the photo up to the window on his phone... 'I remember having a total meltdown and the rest being a blur - it was a really dark time in my life. The term revenge porn wasn't around then, and girls were always seen as the ones in the wrong for sending the pictures in the first place'. Later, when she was in the confines of the Love Island villa with no access to the outside world, she fell victim again to a leak from an ex. She went on: 'There are still people who say if you don't want this to happen, don't send a picture - but sending pictures isn't a terrible thing to do. You just need to teach people to do it safely... 'It's almost affected him even more than me, because he finds it so difficult knowing that people have treated me so badly in the past.' Moving on: Shocking research given to the radio show by the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner outlined that a survey showed only 3% of victims had successfully prosecuted an offender Revenge porn: What is the law in the UK? Revenge porn laws came into affect in the UK in 2015 as part of the Criminal Justice and Court Act. The Act makes it a criminal offence for a person to: 'disclose a private sexual photograph or film if the disclosure is made (a) without the consent of the individual who appears, and (b) with the intention of causing that individual distress'. It means those who maliciously share sexually explicit images without the subject's consent could face up to two years in prison. The law covers the sharing of images both on and offline. Images posted to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are covered by the offence, as are those that are shared via text message, email, on a website or via physical distribution. The offence covers photographs or films which show people engaged in sexual activity or depicted in a sexual way or with their genitals exposed. Advertisement Prior to her radio chat, Zara revealed that she's finally quit her job as a civil servant, almost six months after she shot to fame on the popular reality show. And after being restricted from discussing politics, she has disclosed that she's a Brexit-supporting Tory, who counts Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd and former Prime Minister David Cameron among her heroes. The Kent native made the revelation during an appearance on BBC's Brexit Blind Dates on the Victoria Derbyshire show, where she debated the pros and cons of Britain leaving the EU with Magid Magid. Of her political heroes, she gushed: 'I worked under Amber Rudd. I kind of looked to her and I was like, "That's a really strong woman." She knows her stuff. She was a really good person to work under. Quite inspiring. 'And also, I really liked David Cameron as well. He really knew what he was doing... I felt a lot safer under his wing, if you know what I mean... I think he was a stronger candidate for a Prime Minister.' Speaking on the show, she said of her job, which she'd held since the age of 18: 'You have to be completely impartial, so I've chosen to resign. Do you know how weird it is to be able to talk about my political opinion? I've been holding it in for three years.' Government position: The Kent native had worked at London's House of Commons in the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Pictured in April 2016 And as she sat down with the 29-year-old Lord Mayor of Sheffield a Green Party councillor, who voted to remain in the EU Zara got straight into the business of sharing her views on why she felt it was right for Britain to leave Europe. Zara, who previously worked in the Department of Energy and Climate Change, told Magid: 'I'm quite conservative I always have been. I voted to leave... 'Did you know that the UK has to submit its annual budget for review to the EU Commission before it even tells its own people what it's going to be spending? 'Things like that, I think there are almost elements of control within the EU that we don't, perhaps, need to have.' Political heores: The reality star listed newly appointed Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd and former Prince Minister David Cameron among her political heroes PM: She argued that Prime Minister Theresa May was 'trying her best' with Brexit negotiations However, when Magid argued that Britain wanted 'all the rights [that come with being a part of Europe], but we don't the freedom of movement', and that Prime Minister Theresa May's government had made 'ridiculous' demands, she agreed. On whether she though Theresa May was doing a good job in her efforts to steer Britain out of the EU with the best deal possible, Zara said: 'She's trying her best, but if I'm completely honest, I think she went in very soft and it's kind of like for me. 'If you wanna leave, leave. If you wanna stay, stay. We can't sit in the middle... The fact of the matter is, you can't keep everyone happy in politics. You never will.' She rejected the idea of a People's Vote, where the public would take to the polls once again to decide on Britain's future in Europe, arguing: 'You can't just vote again until you get the result you want... Brexit Blind Date: Zara spoke discussed her political views with Lord Mayor of Sheffield Magid Magid during an appearance on the BBC's Brexit Blind Dates on the Victoria Derbyshire show 'I think that people would change their mind now [if they voted again]. And I agree, if there was another referendum it would come out remain. But you can't just say, do you know what, we're gonna go down this path. 'And then you start doing it, you go all this way and then you just go, "Should we do it still? Do you think we should still do it?" I just think then that all of that time would have been completely wasted. It's devaluing it, I think. It's devaluing the democracy.' Zara added that she felt many voters voted to leave Europe based on immigration, explaining: 'A lot of people voted leave, it was on immigration. And I think there's no integration. There's no, like, unity. And I do think that's a bit disappointing.' While she admitted to Magid that if she moved to the Democratic Republic of the Congo she'd be drawn to people from Essex if she met them there, she continued: 'I always think, why can't we all be friends? Why can't we all get along, and why can't we respect each other's cultures and understand it?' Say it with flowers: The pair had been set up on a blind date to discuss their points of view, with single Magid optimistically arriving with a bunch of flowers for Zara Deep discussion: While he was disappointed to learn that Zara is in a relationship, he proceeded to discuss the pros and cons of Brexit with the impassioned reality star Somali-born Magid shared that he integrated into British society after arriving without knowing a word of English, but received complaints about his background when he rose to position of Lord Mayor. 'It's a real shame that it's like that,' conceded Zara. 'For me it's less about immigration and more about the fact that people can't keep coming in, taking advantage of things like the NHS and our healthcare system and then leaving, because it's unfair.' 'Cuts to things that are being absolutely taken advantage of, ie, the benefits system and the NHS... There are definitely people on benefits that don't need to be benefits,' she continued. 'But I think that a really good thing to be able to produce in the UK would be almost like a couponing system. To be able to really monitor that and just know that it's not going to waste. Points of view: While the pair held opposing political stances, they appeared to agree on several points made during their meal together 'Because I think that it is quite a risky thing to just give someone a lot of money and just be like, "Here's some money for you." If they're an addict, it won't feed their addiction. So I think that would be really beneficial.' When Magid branded such a proposal 'inhumane', and one that would strip benefits recipients of their freedom, she said: 'I completely agree. 'People want to get a luxury from time to time, and just because they're on benefits doesn't mean that they shouldn't be able to do that. 'But I think that there should be at least 50 to 60 per cent of it should be that. No system is ever going to be perfect. There are always going to be flaws in a system. But we should try and make it as best as we can.' Against: During the discussion, Zara shared that she was against another Brexit referendum A source close to Zara has told MailOnline that the reality star is thrilled at finally being able to engage her fans on political matters. 'Encouraging young people to be more engaged in politics is something Zara feels really passionate about,' revealed the pal. ''She loved working in the civil service and with the people there, however she had to remain completely impartial and wasnt able to discuss her views openly. She wanted to be able to talk freely about her views and help make young people have more understanding about the mechanics of politics and the importance of what government departments do.' Heather Locklear's friends and family are scared for the star after her most recent psychiatric breakdown. Members of her inner circle have been speaking out about their concerns for the 57-year-old, calling her 'unstable,' according to People Magazine. On Monday, DailyMail exclusively reported that the Melrose Place star had a fight with her boyfriend Chris Heisser over the weekend which resulted in her being placed on a 5150 hold. Troubled times: Heather Locklear's friends and family are scared for the star after her most recent psychiatric breakdown, calling her 'unstable,' according to People Magazine 'Heather needs help,' a source told People. 'Everyone wants her to get better.' The added: 'She is unstable and she's had a lot of issues, drug use, and alcohol over the years. No one wants to see her go through something like this.' The former nineties icon had been getting professional help for months following a string of breakdowns and arrests. 'Heather had been in rehab for three months and got out in early October, the day before her daughter's 21st birthday,' a family friend told People. 'Heather needs help. Everyone wants her to get better:' a source close to the star said They added: 'And for the last month, she has been living privately and low-key.' That all came to a head on Sunday when a fight erupted between the blonde bombshell and her current boyfriend. A source told DailyMail that Heather allegedly beat up her Heisser and threw him out of her home. The next day she was placed on the 5150. The television star shares her 21-year-old daughter Ava with ex Richie Sambora. 'It's very hard on the family,' a source told People. 'Richie is a rock for Ava. She is holding up but always worried about her mother.' Breakdown: DailyMail exclusively reported that over the weekend the star allegedly fought with her boyfriend and kicked him out of her home. She was later placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold The Bon Jovi guitarist previously told DailyMail.com exclusively that he was sticking by his ex-wife and daughter. 'I will of course always be there for Heather and especially Ava. I am very proud of my daughter for her composure and strength during this difficult time.' 2018 marked a year of low points for Locklear. The troubled actress was arrested most recently in June, after downing a bottle of tequila and crashing her car into a pylon on the grounds of her California home. She then attacked the cops when they arrived to calm her down and was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail on police battery charges. Legal woes: Over the years the Spin City star has had numerous run ins with the law and has been arrested multiple times Heather was released the following day but was rushed to hospital a little over six hours later after allegedly taking an overdose. Locklear was then placed on a 5250 psychiatric hold, which lasts for up to 14 days and includes a five-day detox as well as mental evaluation. Months later, the actress was sued by the EMT that responded to her home prior to her arrest for allegedly being verbally and physically abusive during the incident. And, that arrest came exactly a week after Locklear was cuffed and taken to hospital after choking her mother Diane, 85, and threatening to shoot herself. Getting help: The star recently spent three months in rehab for substance abuse Locklear's multi-million dollar mansion has been designated a 'hazard' by the Ventura County Fire Department due to altercations at the property. In February, she was arrested for felony domestic violence and battery on a police officer after police were called to her home for a disturbance. A source in the Ventura police department told DailyMail.com that Locklear 'was wasted' when she and Heisser 'got into a physical fight.' When the police arrived, they attempted to arrest Heather after she'd clearly bitten her fiance. She is indisputably The Mummy Diaries' stand-out star. And Billie Faiers' daughter Nelly, four was once again the show-stealer as she joined her mum and nanny Sue in jetting to Chicago for a campaign with Claire's Accessories, in scenes set to air on Wednesday night's edition of the ITVBe show. Turning the camera on herself, Nelly appeared revitalised from having a nap on their long-haul flight as she introduced the camera to her nanny and her mum - who she hilariously called by her first name - before turning the camera on herself. Cute! Billie Faiers' daughter Nelly, four was once again the show-stealer as she joined her mum and nanny Sue in jetting to Chicago for a campaign with Claire's Accessories, in scenes set to air on Wednesday night's edition of the ITVBe show Nelly, whose father is Billie's fiance Greg Shepherd, has spent much of her life in the spotlight all the way from her mum's pregnancy on TOWIE to her current day. Along with her TV work, she has a number of lucrative collaborations including the work they did with Claire's Accessories earlier this year. As they landed in the US, the trio were filmed in the car after landing where the voice over said: 'After her 40 winks on the flight it seems Nelly is full of beans.' As the camera turned to the tot, she said: 'Say hello to my nanny! And this is Billie and I'm called Nelly... How are you doing guys?!' Happy days: Nelly, whose father is Billie's fiance Greg Shepherd, has spent much of her life in the spotlight all the way from her mum's pregnancy on TOWIE to her current day Happy days: Billie's sweet display with her family comes after the Faiers have made a triumphant return to our screens in the new series of The Mummy Diaires Model moments: The duo were snapping away for the campaign in expert style After which, Billie said on camera: 'I'm not quite sure Nelly understands we're practically on the other side of the world she kind of takes everything in her stride'. The duo are then seen larking around on a photoshoot, with Nelly pulling her very best moves for the cameras while Billie looked on proudly. Billie's sweet display with her family comes after the Faiers have made a triumphant return to our screens in the new series of The Mummy Diaires. Sweet: After which, Billie said on camera: 'I'm not quite sure Nelly understands we're practically on the other side of the world she kind of takes everything in her stride' Happy days: Nelly's father is Greg, who is also father to Billie's son Arthur Billie and Greg along with their children Nelly, and Arthur, one, join Sam - who appears with beau Paul Knightley and their children Paul and Rosie - on the show, with the cameras documenting the girls' home life in Essex. This series has been following the lead-up to Billie and Greg's idyllic wedding ceremony, with much focus being on their stag and hen parties. Fans have seen Billie left disgruntled with Greg, after learning of his plans to have two stag dos - one in Marbella and one in Las Vegas - as well as a booze up with his mates the night before their wedding ceremony in the Maldives. The Mummy Diaries airs at 9PM on ITVBe Happy days! This series has been following the lead-up to Billie and Greg's idyllic wedding ceremony, with much focus being on their stag and hen parties Eric Cowell - the 4-year-old son of music mogul Simon - dressed as his famous father on Tuesday, hilariously impersonating his dad for World Children's Day. In support of Unicef UK, Simon, 59, and Eric's mum Lauren Silverman, 41, allowed their son to 'make all of the decisions for the day', to honor the occasion, which 'is a day of action for children, by children'. Eric donned black aviator sunglasses, a white open buttoned shirt, baggy jeans and smart black shoes, all topped off with Simons signature designer stubble (drawn on with make-up). Like son, like father: Eric Cowell - the 4-year-old son of music mogul Simon - dressed as his famous father on Tuesday, hilariously impersonating his dad for World Children's Day Unicef UK is calling upon parents across the country to listen to and champion childrens voices and let them play a key role in decision making by taking part in a #ChildrenTakeover. Fully behind the cause, Simon said: 'Unicefs World Childrens Day is an inspired idea. I can now talk as a very proud Dad about the joy Eric has brought to my life. 'My dream would be to see him one day running the company I have built. And the most important lesson I have learned is what children teach you. They all have a voice.' Lauren added: 'Every child in the world deserves rights and a voice, thankfully today we can celebrate with Eric, and his brother Adam and many children who do have this - but there are many more who still need our support to be able fulfill their potential.' In charge: Eric honored the occasion, which 'is a day of action for children, by children' Copycat: Eric donned black aviator sunglasses, a white open buttoned shirt, baggy jeans and smart black shoes, all topped off with Simons signature designer stubble (drawn on with make-up) ANOTHER Simon: Robbie Williams threw on the same outfit for Halloween two weeks ago Eric - who is often referred to as a 'Mini Simon' - can be regularly be seen with his father behind-the-scenes at The X Factor, sat behind the judging panel, where Simon spends his Saturday and Sunday nights. But he's not the only one to dress up as the music boss recently; co-judge Robbie Williams threw on the same outfit for Halloween two weeks ago. The pop icon, 44, revelled in the spooky time of year by donning a fitted white shirt and boot cut jeans - a signature look for the X Factor boss. Robbie, introduced by Dermot O'Leary as 'Robbie Cowell', teamed the look with a pair of dark aviator shades, which Simon is rarely seen without, and dyed his hair jet black to mirror his co-stars locks. Running the show: Simon, 59, and Eric's mum Lauren Silverman, 41, allowed their son to 'make all of the decisions for the day' Doting dad: Eric - who is often referred to as a 'Mini Simon' - can be regularly be seen with his father behind-the-scenes at The X Factor, sat behind the judging panel, where Simon spends his Saturday and Sunday nights Strutting onto the stage alongside his wife Ayda Field, Louis Tomlinson and Simon himself, Robbie had clearly also perfected Simon's walk. Last month, Simon revealed that he never once changed Eric's nappy while he was a baby, during a candid interview with Piers Morgan for Event Magazine. The X Factor supremo said that he only does 'fun things' with his little boy, and leaves the dirty nappy changing to his partner Lauren. He added: 'We talk a lot. He's like my best friend.' She was more loved-up than ever stepping out with husband Hugo Taylor over the weekend. But Millie Mackintosh was going solo for her latest business venture on Tuesday, as she hosted a lavish lunch with Keratase to celebrate the launch of Elixir Ultime in London's Annabel's. The 29-year-old Made In Chelsea star was perfectly dressed for the winter climes in a forest green velvet dress as she joined a star-studded guest list for the event, finishing her outfit with sparkling platform heels. Glamorous: Millie Mackintosh was going solo for her latest business venture on Tuesday, as she hosted a lavish lunch with Keratase to celebrate the launch of Elixir Ultime Millie had her sensational fashion sense on full display at the launch event, going for a stunning green backless dress with pretty criss-cross trim. The stunning fashion mogul finished her outfit with chunky silver platform heels and dramatic drop earrings. Millie also had her brown tresses styled into effortless glossy waves, accentuating her English rose complexion with a dramatic smoky eye and nude lip. Sensational: The 29-year-old Made In Chelsea star was perfectly dressed for the winter climes in a forest green velvet dress Beautiful: Millie had her trim figure on full display in the dress which boasted a plunging back with criss-cross straps English Rose: She added a quirky twist to the outfit with glamorous statement earrings All dressed up: The stunning fashion star finished off her look with sparkling silver platform heels After being seen looking cosy with her spouse Hugo Taylor over the weekend, Millie had gone solo for this outing, where she was joined by several glamorous female pals including Emma Louise Connolly and Rosanna Falconer. Millie and Hugo married at his uncle's country estate, Whithurst Park, in West Sussex on June 22 in front of a host of famous faces. The couple dated in 2011 while on Made In Chelsea, but split when it emerged Hugo had cheated on her with her friend Rosie Fortescue, who attended the wedding alongside a bevy of their other co-stars including Caggie Dunlop and Jamie Laing. Amazing: Millie had her gorgeous brown tresses styled into typical glossy waves, accentuating her flawless complexion with a bronzed smoky eye and coral lip Pals: The married beauty rubbed shoulders with plenty of the stars who were in attendance for the event, including Doina Ciobanu Out and about: She was also seen at the event with Emma Louise Connolly (right) They reunited in May 2016 shortly after Millie's split from first husband, rapper Professor Green. Millie was married to the musician, real name Stephen Manderson, 34, for two-and-a-half years. The couple announced their split in February 2016 and finalised their divorce in May 2016, the same week that Millie went public with Hugo. Hugo then popped the question during a holiday in Mykonos, Greece, in July 2017. Talking about his bride, Hugo told Hello! magazine at the wedding: 'I knew she was The One within about five minutes of us getting back together.' Beaming: After putting on a loved-up display with husband Hugo Taylor over the weekend, Millie was going solo for this outing Pals: She also chatted up a storm with Juliet Angus at the lavish launch event Cosy: The stars were all gathered at London's Annabel's club to celebrate the launch of the Elixir Ultime Happy as ever: Millie has never been shy to show off her incredible fashion sense, and is always being seen rocking an incredible red carpet or event look Happiness: Also among the stars joining Millie at the event were Portia Freeman (left) and Rosanna Falconer (far right) Millie concurred: 'But if we'd stayed together when we were younger, we wouldn't be together now. We had to go away, do our separate things and grow as people. We needed that time apart.' After years of partying, it is not surprising that the couple injected details of their wild child ways into the day as they revealed they had named tables after nightclubs they held dear to their hearts - with them sitting on the 'Boujis' table. Speaking of the big day, Millie said: 'The whole day has felt like an out-of-body experience. 'Even in my wildest dreams I didn't imagine it would be this perfect. I am so excited to finally be married to Hugo - he's the love of my life.' Grand entrance: Battling the rainy conditions Millie was seen making her arrival for the event A bit chilly? Umbrella in hand the star decided to go without a coat as she arrived at the private members' club Jaw-dropping: Millie looked nothing short of beautiful as she arrived for the event Flawless: Even in towering heels Millie made her way up the stairs with ease Stylish: Sarah Ann Macklin was all bundled up in a leather coat as she made her way into the lunch Danielle Lloyd has unveiled the incredible results of her non-surgical bum lift treatment, after being spotted heading to the Liverpool clinic on Saturday. The 34-year-old model said she opted for the procedure to re-tighten her bum and stomach, adding that she wanted get back into shape after giving birth to four children. It comes after Danielle previously admitted she felt 'disgusted' by her body following a slew of cosmetic surgery complications, as she went under the knife in 2012 for a breast enlargement. Transformed: Danielle Lloyd has unveiled the incredible results of her non-surgical bum lift treatment, after being spotted heading to the Liverpool clinic on Saturday Danielle's peachy posterior was on full display as she opted to transform her derriere with the non-evasive procedure, going against the norm having been a fan of cosmetic surgery in the past. The mother-of-four was seen heading to the Liverpool clinic in a sensational leopard print jumpsuit on Saturday. Speaking out about her choice to have the treatment, Danielle said: 'After my first session I can already see a difference in the shape, it looks and feels rounder and tighter already'. New look: The 34-year-old model said she opted for the procedure to re-tighten her bum and stomach, adding that she wanted get back into shape after giving birth to four children She explained her decision to undertake the procedure, saying: 'After reading about those women who died after having Brazilian bum lifts there's no way I'd put myself in that kind of danger, so I was interested to see if a non-surgical version could work as well. 'Like a lot of women, even though I exercise regularly I still do need a bit of help with some areas, especially after having four children.' The former Miss Great Britain also had a skin tightening treatment on the skin around her stomach. In 2017 Danielle said she was 'disgusted' by her body following a series of complications related to botched breast enlargement procedures, having enlarge her breasts in 2012 from a B cup to a D cup. Danielle has sons Archie, eight, Harry, seven, and George, five, with her ex-husband Jamie O'Hara, and son Ronnie, one, with fiance Michael O'Neill. He's heading to the courthouse next month with Angelina Jolie amid their custody battle. And Brad Pitt has reached out to his estranged wife asking to settle out of court, according to US Weekly. The actor, 54, reached out to Angelina, 43, hoping to 'persuade' her that a 'hearing will cause lasting psychological damage' to their kids, the outlet's source revealed. Working on a resolution: Brad Pitt has reached out to his estranged wife asking to settle out of court, according to US Weekly; seen November June 8, 2017 in NYC for the Okja premiere Angelina wants full custody while Brad is asking for joint custody. They are parents to six children: Maddox, 17; Pax, 14; Zahara, 13; Shiloh, 12; twins Knox and Vivienne, 10. They were in the midst of negotiations but that has appeared to have broken down therefore a judge must rule on the custody battle at a hearing. US Weekly's insider added: 'There will be no winners, no matter what the judge decides.' When they were happy: The actor, 54, reached out to Angelina, 43, hoping to 'persuade' her that a 'hearing will cause lasting psychological damage' to their kids, the outlet's source revealed; pictured November 5, 2015 in LA at the By The Sea premiere One of the magazines sources said that the duo 'are working together to reach a settlement outside of court.' Another insider revealed that Angelina is 'not backing down' on wanting sole primary custody. The judge will also decide on what to do on their shared property and how to divide it since they did not sign a prenup when they wed on August 23, 2014 in France. Focus: One of the magazines sources said that the duo 'are working together to reach a settlement outside of court' while another revealed that Angelina is 'not backing down' on wanting sole primary custody; pictured February 18 in London at BAFTA Brad and Angelina began dating in 2005; they got engaged in April 2012 before tying the knot two years later. Angelina filed for divorce on September 19, 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. The court date for their custody battle is scheduled for December 4. Its a cult series that's draws in millions of viewers. And Peaky Blinders might be gaining even more fans, as the next season of the Birmingham-based period drama is due to hit Netflix next month. The fourth-part of the ratings juggernaut will be arriving to UK and Ireland based users on December 19, the streaming service announced in a comical tweet on Tuesday morning. Coming to a screen near you! Peaky Blinders' fourth season is due to hit Netflix next month Referring to a recent meme on their official Twitter account, Netflix UK & Ireland said: 'us: peaky blinders s4 comes to the service on dec 19!!! them: don't say it don't say it don't say it don't say it don't say it don't say it don't say it don't say it don't say it don't say it them: ok but where's b99?' In a second tweet they added that new episodes of Brooklyn 99 will be dropping in early 2019 too. It comes as one of the show's director's claimed the series is being made into a movie. Otto Bathurst, who directed three episodes in season one of the gritty gangster drama, said the show's creator Steven Knight is currently writing a script. Coming soon: The fourth-part of the ratings juggernaut will be arriving to UK and Ireland based users on December 19, the streaming service announced in a comical tweet on Tuesday Could it be? It comes as one of the show's directors claimed the series is being made into a movie with a script being worked on And Cillian Murphy, who plays Thomas Shelby in the BBC One series, admitted that show bosses have some 'ideas' about the plot and he's 'curious' to see how it unfolds. Speaking to Yahoo! Movies about the possibility of a movie, Otto said: 'I think it's actually being written. 'I think Steve, Steve Knight the writer, I think they're planning something, yeah.' Otto also claimed in 2016 that there were talks of doing a movie and reiterated last year that it was 'probably going to' happen. MailOnline has contacted a BBC spokesperson for comment. Details of the plot and cast have not been revealed, but star Cillian seems intrigued about how the drama would be transformed for the big screen. Rumours: Otto Bathurst, who directed three episodes in season one, claimed in 2016 that there were talks of doing a movie and reiterated last year that it was 'probably going to' happen. Pictured, Aunt Polly Gray (Helen McCrory) and Luca Changretta (Adrien Brody) 'I think Steve [Knight] has some ideas. You'd have to be careful, but I'd be curious to do it,' he previously told Esquire magazine. Meanwhile, filming is currently underway for season five on the show and is set for release on BBC One in 2019. In the series, Arthur and Tommy suffer from PTSD and ongoing nightmares after fighting in World War I. Annie Harrison-Baxter will produce the new series, which sees the welcome return of a host of familiar characters following a vicious gang war. Exciting: Discussing the rumours, Cillian previously said: 'You'd have to be careful, but I'd be curious to do it' There will also be some new faces joining the cast, including Hunger Games star Sam Claflin and Split actress Anya Taylor-Joy among others. It had been rumoured Peaky Blinders' fifth series could be its last, with Deadline reporting the new series will see the story of the Shelby clan 'come to a conclusion'. However, the show's creator Steven Knight confirmed in May, earlier this year, that the gangster drama will come to a close after the seventh season. Show creator Steven explained that he's keen to develop two more seasons. He told Digital Spy: 'My ambition is to make it a story of a family between two wars, so always I've wanted to end it with the first air raid siren in Birmingham in 1939. It'll take three more series [to reach that point].' Could there be another Bachelor baby on the way? Laura Byrne sparked pregnancy rumours on Tuesday when she attended the 2018 Australian Fashion Laureate in Sydney with boyfriend Matty Johnson. The 32-year-old jewellery designer set tongues wagging after onlookers noticed she was not drinking alcohol at the event and avoided question on the red carpet. Baby joy? Bachelor fans are speculating that Laura Byrne (pictured) could be pregnant after she displayed a 'bump' and 'avoided drinking' at a party alongside boyfriend Matty Johnson Something to tell us? Matty couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he posed for photos with his girlfriend at the 2018 Australian Fashion Laureate in Sydney on Tuesday, at one point protectively placing a hand over her tummy Fan speculation: Laura's glowing appearance even prompted one eagle-eyed fan to comment on Instagram, 'Pregnant' While posing by the media wall before the ceremony, Laura displayed what appeared to be a tiny bump in her slinky We Are Kindred dress. Her glowing appearance even prompted one eagle-eyed fan to comment on Instagram: 'Pregnant'. Matty, 31, couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he posed for photos with his live-in girlfriend, at one point protectively placing a hand over her tummy. During the event, The Living Room host was seen proudly taking photos of Laura and, at one point, swooped in to help when she appeared unsteady on her feet. Her knight in shining armour! The Living Room star was seen proudly taking photos of Laura and, at one point, swooped in to help when she appeared momentarily unsteady on her feet Doing it for the 'gram! Matty snapped several photos of his ladylove at Sydney's State Theatre A guest at the event told Daily Mail Australia that the appearance of The Bachelor 2017 couple had raised more than a few eyebrows. 'Laura wasn't drinking at the event like many other guests and didn't talk to media,' they said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Laura Byrne for comment and clarification. Kindred spirits! While posing by the media wall before the ceremony, Laura displayed what appeared to be a tiny bump in her slinky We Are Kindred dress Hmm! The 32-year-old jewellery designer set tongues wagging after onlookers noticed she was not drinking alcohol at the event Matty and Laura fell in love on the fifth season of The Bachelor, less than 12 months after he was left heartbroken by Georgia Love in The Bachelorette 2016 finale. While the couple are not yet engaged, they reached a major milestone in their relationship earlier this year by moving in together in Sydney's Bondi. Matty, who hails from Brisbane, is a marketing manager-turned-TV personality, while Laura is the owner of Paddington jewellery boutique ToniMay. Everybody's talking! A guest at the event told Daily Mail Australia that the appearance of The Bachelor 2017 couple had raised more than a few eyebrows Baby on the way? 'Laura wasn't drinking at the event like many other guests and didn't talk to media,' they said She's known for her elegant displays at star-studded industry events. But on Tuesday evening, Kate Garraway opted for a more risque look as she attended Global's Make Some Noise Night at London's Finsbury Square Marquee. The Good Morning Britain host, 51, put on a busty display as she donned a cobalt blue jumpsuit, complete with a perilously plunging neckline. Sizzling hot! Kate Garraway opted for risque look as she attended Global's Make Some Noise Night at London's Finsbury Square Marquee on Tuesday night Ensuring she'd turn heads, the TV presenter's ensemble featured a dramatic sheer cape, tied in with metallic waist belt. Kate commanded attention with her choice of footwear as she boosted her frame in brown platform boots. Injecting her look with even more glamour, the blonde went for silver jewellery, featuring a flashy watch and her diamond wedding ring. Kate complemented her youthful-looking appearance with a dewy make-up look from a neutral-toned palette, and framed her visage with a lightly-curled bob. All eyes on her: The Good Morning Britain host, 51, put on a busty display as she donned a cobalt blue jumpsuit, complete with a perilously plunging neckline The gala raised money for the national charity Global's Make Some Noise, set up by Smooth Radio to help disadvantaged children, young people and their families across the UK. In a bid to raise money for the event, the TV host took on a whopping 24 jobs in 24 hours - job-hopping from a window cleaner, personal trainer and train platform announcer to barista, shoe shiner and receptionist. Ahead of her busy stint, she said: 'Im giving myself the busiest 24 hours of my life to highlight how easily small charities can get overlooked in our busy day-to-day lives - until we need them. The bigger, the better! Ensuring she'd turn heads, the TV presenter's ensemble featured a dramatic sheer cape, tied in with metallic waist belt 'The small charities supported by Globals Make Some Noise give that vital help to thousands of people every day, often doing it in their own time, on top of their actual jobs', she added. Kate's appearance comes after she revealed how discovering the true age of her liver during a dry January experiment forced her to cut down on boozing as she opened up on her health on a family holiday to the Caribbean. Explaining Lorraine Kelly's Dry January plans caused her to look at her alcohol intake, Kate explained to OK! magazine: 'I had my liver tested at the start and at the end of the month and quitting booze has really improved the way it was functioning. 'The change was so dramatic that the doctor said I had the liver of a four-year old. Now I try not to drink unnecessarily.' Kate added that she's cut down her intake to one glass of wine at an event, but admits to drinking because husband Derek Draper, 51, is. The Good Morning Britain star also revealed how a meningitis health scare prompted her to take the well-earned family holiday. Striking: Kate complemented her youthful-looking appearance with a dewy make-up look from a neutral-toned palette, and framed her visage with a lightly-curled bob She told the publication: 'I felt really groggy for a couple of weeks, then one morning I went into GMB and my temperature shot through the roof. 'I couldnt look at the light and I was quite delirious because my temperature was so high. 'Weve done a lot of stories on the show over the years about meningitis and I was displaying some of the signs.' Kate revealed that after being rushed to hospital she was 'fortunate' to be diagnosed with a virus. Paris Hilton looked fabulous as she took a video of herself while heading to her Platinum Rush fragrance launch party in Dubai on Tuesday. The 37-year-old siren wore silver as she was being driven in a car on her way to the event. This comes the day after it was announced she had ended her engagement with Chris Zylka. TMZ has also claimed that there is a fight over the $2m diamond engagement ring the Leftovers actor gave her. Here I go! Paris Hilton looked fabulous as she took a video of herself while heading to her Platinum Rush fragrance launch party in Dubai on Tuesday It's so fun to be a Hilton! The 37-year-old siren wore silver as she was being driven in a car on her way to the event Paris was first seen in a video where she was thanking her hair stylist, saying he was a 'legend.' Next she was in the makeup chair as she wore a blue lace outfit. She said this was her 24th fragrance launch. And the last video was of her in a silver outfit as she was being driven to the splashy event. And in a fun Instagram post, the siren was seen at the Dubai Festival City Mall with her perfume bottle next to her. GLAM SLAM: Paris was first seen in a video where she was thanking her hair stylist, saying he was a 'legend.' Next she was in the makeup chair as she wore a blue lace outfit. She said this was her 24th fragrance launch Happy Paris: Hey #Dubai So excited to see you all Today at the launch of my 24th Fragrance #PlatinumRush at @DubaiFestivalCityMall As far as her ring, she has yet to return it to Zylka. Though the ring is worth $2m, he got a 'massive discount,' the site claimed. 'The jeweler and Paris have a close relationship,' said an insider. Paris broke off the engagement and Chris wants it back, it was alleged. On Monday Just Jared reported that Paris and Chris were over. Another hit on her hands? Here she wore white to show off the fun bottle 'They broke up and called off their engagement earlier this month,' a source close to the reality TV star and 33-year-old actor told the site. 'Their relationship started to become off-kilter after about two years together.' It was added, 'Paris will be focusing on her brand like DJ-ing and fragrances while Chris will get back into acting and art, like his gallery pop-ups with Banksy during Art Basel,' the source added. Later People added that their friends are 'not surprised' as everyone felt the wedding was never going to happen anyway. Smooch: They were last seen together in October 20 at the ProDNA launch party, held at Just Cavalli Cafe in Milan, Italy. She wore a long purple dress as she kissed Chris who looked dapper in a suit The People source added, 'They postponed the 11/11 date without a new date. No one is surprised by this at all. Paris got caught up in wanting a wedding ([siblings] Nicky and Barron Hilton are both married) and she just didnt think about the marriage part. It was never going to work with Chris.' A second source said it all came to a close 'a few weeks ago' after she 'realized it wasnt right for her.' The insider added, 'The relationship moved very fast. She is traveling the world for her skincare and perfume. She wishes him all the best and hopes they can remain friends.' TMZ added later, 'Paris realized Chris just wasn't the one, and things between them had moved too fast. Paris hopes the two can remain friends and wishes Zylka all the best.' Her last post on social media was shared on Sunday evening and spoke of pain: 'What made her strong was despite the million things that hurt her. She spoke of nothing but happiness.' DailyMail.com has reached out to her rep for comment. Loving looks: The power couple looked in love in February 2017 in LA They were first linked as a couple in early 2017 and were soon inseparable, always holding hands and kissing on the red carpet. Zylka met her family and they all seemed to mesh well. He also went with her all over the globe as she fulfilled her DJ gigs. They became engaged in early 2018 when in Aspen when he gave her a $2m diamond engagement ring. So much hope: They became engaged in early 2018 when in Aspen and she spoke of a big wedding in the fall with her family including sister Nicky Hilton, mom Kathy Hilton and aunts Kyle and Kim Richards by her side She spoke of a big wedding on November 11 - 11/11 - with her family including sister Nicky Hilton, mom Kathy Hilton and aunts Kyle and Kim Richards by her side. The two were set to wed this fall but she moved the date to 2019 saying that she was too busy to plan a big wedding this year. They were last seen together in October 20 at the ProDNA launch party, held at Just Cavalli Cafe in Milan, Italy. She wore a long purple dress as Chris - who looked dapper in a suit - kissed her on the cheek. The bling was there: On November 9 when at her fragrance launch in Mexico, she had on his large diamond engagement ring Solo: Hilton did not appear to be with Zylka when she attended Mathew Morrison's Halloween party held at Peppermint in October dressed as a butterfly The last time she shared an image with him on social media was on September 29 when she wrote: 'He looked at her the way all girls wanted to be looked at.' He tattoo'd her name on his arm Hilton did not appear to be with Zylka when she attended Mathew Morrison's Halloween party held at Peppermint in October dressed as a butterfly in late October. On November 12 Paris was alone when she visited the community of San Gregorio that was affected by the earthquake, Xochimilco, Mexico. She donated $350,000 and gave away items from her home collection. Zylka seemed to think their union would last forever as he has a tattoo of her name on his arm in a Disney font. Hilton has been engaged before. In 2005 she was set to wed Paris Kasidokostas Latsis and from 2002 until 2003 she was engaged to model Jason Shaw. Good ole days: They were much happier in March 2017 in LA at TAO, Beauty & Essex Paris has also dated Benji Madden (2008), Stavros Niarchose (2005 to 2006), Nick Carter (2003 to 2004), Joe Francis (2003), Rick Salomon (2000 to 2001) and Randy Spelling (1996 to 1999), among others. And she has been linked to Cristiano Ronaldo, Jared Leto, 50 Cent, DJ AM and Kid Rock. Her sister Nicky is wed James Rothschild in 2015 and together they have two children, Lily Grace and Teddy. Before that she was wed to Todd Meister in 2004 for a brief time. Big Little Lies might not be back for a third season according to one of it's biggest stars. Nicole Kidman painted a bleak picture of the future of the hit HBO series - which also stars Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and Zoe Kravitz - in a new interview with Variety. The 51-year-old actress was recently dubbed Variety's Show Woman of the Year and opened up about her storied career. Cover girl: Nicole Kidman said that getting the star studded cast of Big Little Lies together for a third season will be 'hard' in a new interview with Variety on Monday After the insane success of the first season of Big Little Lies, which was only slated to be a miniseries, the ladies of Monterey decided to return for a second run. However, when asked if the star studded cast would be back for a third time, Kidman seemed apprehensive. 'I think it would be hard to get the whole group together,' the actress told Variety. 'But we would love to do it.' The Australian beauty scooped up an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of a complicated and abused housewife, Celeste, in the drama. What an honor: The 51-year-old was dubbed Variety's Show Woman of the Year for 2018 Big Little Lies: Season two might mark the end of the hit HBO show 'That's the character people talk to me about more than anything else,' Kidman said. 'It's probably the most commercial thing I've done in my whole career.' 'When I saw the therapy scene, which people really responded to, I thought I was terrible,' Kidman revealed about a tense scene with co-star Alexander Skarsgard. 'And everyone was like, "No, no!" I think it was because I felt too exposed and vulnerable. It was probably too much for me to see,' she said. Leading ladies: 'I think it would be hard to get the whole group together,' the actress told Variety. 'But we would love to do it' Most talked about: Kidman said that her character Celeste is the one she is asked about the most often All of the show's leading ladies from season one will return for the new episodes, And the series, which already boasts an incredible roster of A-listers, will get an infusion of new celebrity clout with the addition of Meryl Streep. Kidman told Variety that the living legend actually emailed she and Reese Witherspoon after the Golden Globes. Streep wrote in the email, ''I suppose now I have to join you.'' And we were like, 'What?'The two of us were just shocked.' Say what? Kidman said she thought she was 'terrible' in her infamous therapy scene with Alexander Skarsgard Sight unseen: Meryl Streep emailed Kidman and Reese Witherspoon after the Golden Globes and signed on for season two without reading the script 'She hadn't even read [the script],' Kidman says. 'That's how much she wanted to support us.' The Hours star gave the outlet some insight as to what it was like working with The Devil Wears Prada star. 'I was terrified,' the Aussie admitted. 'You're acting opposite the great one. I get nervous anyway but to be opposite her and not want her to think, 'Who is this amateur?'' She added: 'And also, we want to deliver a series for her that she's great in. Reese and I were like, 'We want this for her and for the other women.' They have much stronger roles in the second one.' 'We want this for her and for the other women:' Kidman and Witherspoon were feelig the pressure once Meryl was on board Pay bump: All of the main stars will see bigger paychecks in the new season Witherspoon, whose production company makes the show, will return as producer as well as star. She and Kidman, who also serves as producer, will each receive a significant salary bump, and will make 'around $1 million an episode' for season two. Co-stars Kravitz, Dern, and Woodley will reportedly get raises as well. 'Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode [in season two],' According to The Hollywood Reporter. 'The potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom.' During her sit down with Variety, the star who tallied up seven movies in two years, briefly spoke of her work with disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Wow! Nicole will reportedly earn nearly a million dollars and episode 'I knew very little,' she said of Weinstein's long list of sexual misconduct allegations. 'He would get angry,' Kidman said of her interactions with the producer. 'My recollection of Harvey was never anything other than 'Nicole, do this.' I purposely kept my distance.' The Oscar winner also spoke briefly about her marriage to Scientologist Tom Cruise. 'I moved here because I fell in love and got married,' Kidman said. 'I always make choices for love, and everything kind of had to fall in place around that.' She added: 'If I look back, it actually didn't seem like a lot of interest. We didn't have social media then. We didn't have paparazzi like now. You had definite control of it.' Hes only been in the jungle for four days, but John Barrowman has already broken one of the camp rules within the first 24 hours. The on-stage and screen entertainer, 51, was asked by producers to give his vocal cords a rest while on the ITV reality show so as not to rack up a bill of royalties. Yet within moments of filming, the Broadway and West End star could be heard putting his voice to good use, breaking into lyrics from The Sound Of Music and Home Is Where The Heart Is. Naughty: John Barrowman has already broken one of the camp rules within the first 24 hours of appearing on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here This is despite warning from bosses that his singing could become an expensive habit, with the programme having to obtain the rights to any songs played on the show. Speaking ahead of his stint Down Under, John admitting he might belt out a few of his own tunes to scoop up some royalties. 'I discussed this with them [the producers], because I like to sing and I may burst out into song but then theyll have to get the rights for the song and thats expensive,' he explained. Singing sensation: The entertainer, 51, was asked by producers to give his vocal cords a rest while on the ITV reality show so as not to rack up a bill of royalties - but failed to do so The boisterous celeb joked: 'Darling, the songs I sing wont be cheap ones. I might sing a few of my own to get some residual payments in the bag!' John has impressed audiences in hit West End musicals including Matador, Miss Saigon, The Phantom Of The Opera, and Sunset Boulevard. The Arrow actor has also reportedly been banned from exposing his private parts while in the jungle. Tune after tune: The Broadway and West End star could be heard putting his voice to good use, breaking into lyrics from The Sound Of Music and Home Is Where The Heart Is An industry source told The Sun: John has raised eyebrows in the past by going a bit far with his party antics. Hes certainly not shy when it comes to his body, and tends to be quite impulsive and act in the moment which they hope could make him a favourite with viewers. John has promised hell be on his best behaviour, and will be on a self-imposed flashing ban. But fully intends to show everything in the showers. I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here continues on Tuesday November 20 at 9pm on ITV. 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. She's been living up to her busy schedule as she continues to attend London's biggest red carpet events. But Laura Whitmore appeared to be in high spirits as she returned home to Ireland for an appearance on the Eoghan McDermott Show & Ray Darcy Show at RTE studios in Dublin on Tuesday evening. The 33-year-old presenter's outing comes as she supported her boyfriend Iain Stirling on his first comedy show in her native country. Home turf: Laura Whitmore appeared to be in high spirits as she returned to Ireland for an appearance on the Eoghan McDermott Show & Ray Darcy Show at RTE studios in Dublin on Tuesday Showcasing her sartorial flair, the TV host slipped into a pair of ripped jeans, an edgy tee and a leather biker jacket. Laura upped the style ante as she left the studios in a pair of pointed suede boots in a rich purple shade. Framing her striking features with loose waves, the blonde wore rose-tinted blush, nude lipstick and mascara to accentuate her bright blue eyes. Loved-up: The 33-year-old presenter's outing comes as she supported her boyfriend Iain Stirling on his first comedy show in her native country On Sunday, Laura took to Instagram to post a sweet image of herself with her beau and Love Island narrator Iain, 30, who is currently on his comedy tour. The couple appeared smitten as they shared a cosy hug just moments after landing in Dublin. Proving to be every inch the doting girlfriend, MTV star Laura captioned the image: 'Landed in Dublin, after @chasingem @obrienor beautiful (and all the craic) wedding. Love you guys!! - and now get to see this guy do his first Irish show at Vicar St!' Casual chic: Showcasing her sartorial flair, the TV host slipped into a pair of ripped jeans, an edgy tee and a leather biker jacket Standing tall: The MTV star upped the style ante as she left the studios in a pair of pointed suede boots in a rich purple shade Iain has been on his U OK HUN? X UK tour since September, and is set to take to the stage in Cardiff and Leicester in the upcoming weeks. Laura has been going steady with the comedian since they went public with their romance on Instagram in September last year. In October, the Scottish TV host discussed his flourishing romance with his fellow presenter. In good company: The blonde beamed with delight as she joined presenter Eoghan, 35, on his radio show The hunk branded their highly-publicised relationship as 'scary' and 'absolute madness in a recent interview. According to The Irish Mirror, he told Hot Press: 'For me, it's brand new so it's scary. But some of the stuff you've just got to laugh. Some of it is absolute madness.' Soon after the pair got together last year, Laura revealed she had her beau as the screensaver on her phone. Yeah hes my boyfriend. Hes lovely. Ive got him as my screensaver. Ive known him for ages, she told The Sun. David Guetta, 51, has sparked speculation he is engaged to his 24-year-old girlfriend Jessica Ledon as she showed off a diamond ring on the beach in Miami on Monday. The superstar DJ and the brunette beauty, who have been dating for three years. packed on the PDA during their beach trip, as Jessica showed off a large diamond ring on her wedding finger. Flaunting her incredible bikini body in a pastel blue string bikini, the beauty made no effort to hide the beautiful ring on her finger, as she sunbathed before cosying up to David. Loved-up: David Guetta, 51, has sparked speculation he is engaged to his 24-year-old girlfriend Jessica Ledon as she showed off a diamond ring on the beach in Miami on Monday Sparkle: The superstar DJ and the brunette beauty, who have been dating for three years. packed on the PDA during their beach trip, as Jessica showed off a large diamond ring on her wedding finger Millionaire DJ David looked happier than ever as he shot his love an affectionate look, before appearing to plant a kiss on her ample cleavage. MailOnline has contacted David's representatives for comment. The French DJ started dating Jessica in 2015, with the couple going public the following year during a state dinner in honor of Cuban President Raul Castro at the Elysee Palace. Wedding bells? Flaunting her incredible bikini body in a pastel blue string bikini, the beauty made no effort to hide the beautiful ring on her finger David divorced his events organiser wife Cathy, 50, in 2014 after 22 years of marriage and two children together. The exes shares 13-year-old son Tim Elvis Eric and daughter Angie, 11. Guetta wore nothing more than beach shorts during an animated appearance on Miami Beach, during which he splashed around in the surf with his pet dog. The DJ and producer is living the good life in Florida after paying $9.5million for a sprawling beach-facing condominium - although he reportedly plans to recoup the money by renting it out for much of the year. And he was in high spirits while cradling his dog before making his way back to his lounger, where the waiting Jessica proved to be an engaging sight. The sultry brunette caught the eye in a striking blue bikini that fully exposed her toned body during her latest outing with Guetta. Ex wife: David was previously married to Cathy Guetta, with the pair's union ending in 2014 (pictured in 2012) Cute couple: Guetta wore nothing more than beach shorts during an animated appearance on Miami Beach, during which he splashed around in the surf with his pet dog He's pleased: Given his balmy coastal surroundings and indeed the rather attractive company it was little surprise to find David in high spirits as he hit the beach Engaging sight: The DJ's girlfriend Jessica caught the eye in a striking blue bikini Happy couple: The couple went public with their romance in 2016 - a year after they began dating - during a state dinner in honor of Cuban President Raul Castro at the Elysee Palace Chiselled: The DJ displayed his washboard abs as he strolled along the sand whilst carrying his adorable pet pooch Man's best friend: Guetta, 51, wore nothing more than beach shorts during an animated appearance on Miami Beach, during which he splashed around in the surf with his pet dog Stunning: Jessica's bikini fully exposed her toned body during her latest outing with Guetta Last year David placed third in Forbes' list of world's top-earning DJ - making $28 million. He previously revealed that he finds writing and producing songs therapeutic. 'When you have a problem, if you keep it to yourself, it makes you go crazy. If you speak about it, you feel better,' he explained. 'So if you make a song about it, it really helps.' Admirer: Jessica's pert bottom appeared to catch the eye of a neighbouring sunbather as she chatted to the French DJ In good company: Wealthy Italian businessman Gianluca Vacchi also joined Guetta on the beach on Monday Best buds: The pals appeared to act out a secret handshake Adorable: Guetta doted on his sweet pooch Happy: The Titanium hitmaker couldn't stop smiling during his day at the beach Earlier this month, Jessica took to Instagram to gush over her talented boyfriend, in a post to mark his birthday. Alongside a set of photographs of the pair, she wrote: 'Happy birthday my love! It was really tempting not to post that video where you dont know your time tables and thought 7x9 was 49, but I figured following your post with humanizing topless pics, was more fitting! 'You are love and light in everyones life, specially mine ! Love you so so so much.' To which Guetta responded, commenting: 'Hahaha thank you so much for saving my honor!' followed by laughing faces. Brooding: The talented DJ cooled off in the water, while ensuring his pet pup was safe Rest: The heavily tattooed Vacchi, famed for his eccentric personality, enjoyed a snooze after finding his way back to his sun-lounger Splashing around: The DJ looked ecstatic as he frolicked in the sea in his dark blue swimming trunks Advertisement He's built up quite the reputation for his liberally-unbuttoned shirts and trademark bootcut trousers over the years. But despite sticking to his fail-safe style, Simon Cowell suffered an embarrassing wardrobe mishap as he exited the Nutcracker Ball, held in aid of his children's charity Together For Short Lives, at One Marylebone on Tuesday evening. The X Factor head judge, 59, attracted attention as, unbeknownst to him, he was caught with his flies undone while posing alongside girlfriend Lauren Silverman - whom he shares four-year-old son Eric with - at the star-studded event in the capital. Awkward: Simon Cowell suffered an embarrassing wardrobe mishap as he exited the Nutcracker Ball, held in aid of his children's charity Together For Short Lives, at One Marylebone on Tuesday evening Awkwardly Simon seemed unaware of the faux pas, as he clutched on to Lauren's hand as they headed home after hosting the charity gala. It will no doubt leave the music mogul slightly red-faced, as his trouser mishap stole attention away from his suited and booted look, as well as a very glamorous Lauren on his arm. Simon's white shirt could be seen through the open zip, as he and Lauren happily stopped for photographers, flashing a smile alongside each other on their exit. Oops: The X Factor head judge, 59, attracted attention as, unbeknownst to him, he was caught with his flies undone Faux pas: It will no doubt leave the music mogul slightly red-faced, as his trouser mishap stole attention away from his suited and booted look Oh, Simon! The star's white shirt could be seen poking through his zip as he braved the rain in the capital Simon paired his shirt with his signature slightly flared trousers and favoured point-toe shoes, while Lauren dazzled on his arm in a showstopping scarlet gown. The brunette beauty looked incredible in her halterneck creation, which featured a sweeping train and cinched in her waist thanks to the pleated bodice. Styling her hair in a glossy chignon, the 41-year-old accessorised with diamond drop earrings and framed her eyes with smoky shadow and lashings of mascara. Money raised during the event hosted by patron Simon and partner Disney UK will go towards creating moments that matter for seriously ill children. Hours earlier: Simon's look had been pristine on his arrival to the ball, as he showcased his signature style with an open white shirt and flared suit trousers Beaming! He donned a tailored suit jacket while wife Lauren dazzled on his arm in a scarlet red gown Dazzling: The brunette beauty looked incredible in her halterneck creation, which featured a sweeping train and cinched in her waist thanks to the pleated bodice Classic: Simon paired his suit with shiny point-toe shoes and flashed his pearly whites as he appeared in high spirits Simply stunning: Fellow X Factor judge Ayda Fielded exuded gothic glamour in a velvet gown with a plunging neckline Looking good: The 43-year-old wife of Robbie Williams accessorised with a black embellished clutch and diamond jewellery Vampy: Ayda styled her look with a dark manicure and smoky eye makeup, while her highlighted blonde locks were teased into a side-swept ponytail The Nutcracker Ball is to be held in aid of families facing the heartbreak of knowing their child will die young. It will raise vital funds to support families caring for seriously ill children, and to receive the care and support they need to make the most of every moment together. Also at the event was fellow X Factor judge Ayda Fielded exuded gothic glamour in a velvet gown with a plunging neckline and long sleeves. Having a whale of a time! The Turkish-American TV personality cracked up laughing at one point during the ball Ready for her close-up: Ayda styled her caramel-hued hair in a chic half-up 'do that subtly framed her face Wouldn't miss the night: The Loose Women panellist turned out to support her boss, Simon, on the night Turning heads: Mel Sykes dazzled in a burgundy velvet dress with a chic Bardot neckline, teamed with gold lace-up heeled sandals Glowing: The 48-year-old presenter boasted an all-over glow and framed her features with muted make-up Double trouble: Peter Andre, 45, as also in attendance with his stunning wife Emily MacDonagh, 29, who stunning in a shimmering metallic stretch-knit dress Smitten: The couple, who married in 2015, share two children - Theodore, one, and four-year-old Amelia The 43-year-old wife of Robbie Williams accessorised with a black embellished clutch and diamond jewellery. A satin sash showed off her trim waist while a large satin corsage added another glam touch to the dress. Ayda styled her look with a dark manicure and smoky eye makeup, while her highlighted blonde locks were teased into a side-swept ponytail. Other guests on the night included presenter Mel Sykes, dancer Kristina Rihanoff and TV personality Peter Andre with his stunning wife Emily MacDonagh. Scarlet siren: Professional dancer Kristina Rohanoff stole the limelight in a scarlet gown with a princess skirt and bustier-style strapless bodice Just hanging out: The 41-year-old dancer was joined by socialite Lizzie Cundy, 48, who rocked a matching red dress While Simon appeared to be in high spirits on the night, he was left 'devastated' over the weekend, when his acts Bella Penfold and Shan were eliminated from The X Factor. Bella became the first casualty of the Sunday night results show after earning the least amount of votes from the British public, before Shan was sent home after facing off against Acacia and Aaliyah in the sing-off. Showrunner Simon joined his act Shan on stage, and made a bold gesture of support for the singer. Taking centre-stage: X Faxtor favourites Scarlett Lee and Dalton Harris took a break from rehearsals to attend the glitzy ball Glammed up: Scarlett looked stylish in a silver sequin-embroidered minidress, while vocal powerhouse Dalton rocked a shimmering jacket Catching up: Former WAG Lizzie later stopped to pose for a photo with Joy Canfield Family affair: Simon's older brother, journalist Tony Cowell, 68, attended the ball with his wife Emma Glamorous: Lizzie Cundy (centre) was seen rubbing shoulders with Joy Desmond (L) and Kate Walsh (R), with the trio all dressed to impress in their stunning gowns Getting involved: Peter Andre was seen deep in conversation inside the star-studded event He declared: 'I'm more than shocked... but there is something I can do. I'm going to change the rules. There won't be six acts on the live tour, there will be eight. Shan - and Bella - you will be on the tour. I'm devastated.' The show had opened with a special announcement about the upcoming X Factor tour. Simon declared: 'I've just been told this, but the six acts remaining [by the end of tonight] are going to be the six acts going on tour. It's obviously not my show! I've only just been told this.' Good night? The Mysterious Girl hit-maker was seen with his arms wrapped around wife Emily on their exit Sweet: The couple, who have been married for three years, couldn't have looked happier together Loved-up: Peter and Emily were hand-in-hand as they braved the rain on their way home together High spirits: Peter and Emily were seen waving to photographers as they left the ball held at One Marylebone Stunner: Mel Sykes flashed a look at her bronzed pins as she turned the streets of London into her very own catwalk Need a hand? Ayda was seen being helped down the stairs as she made her exit from the bash Ladies in red: Lizzie Cundy (L) and Kristina Rihanoff (R) caught the eye in their statement gowns as they left Chris Pratt will be popping the question to 28-year-old girlfriend Katherine Schwarzenegger. And according to UsWeekly, the proposal will be happening 'very soon.' It was also alleged the Jurassic World star, 39, has been turning down work to spend more time with the daughter of movie icon Arnold Schwarzenegger. Lucky lady: Chris Pratt will be popping the question to 28-year-old girlfriend Katherine Schwarzenegger. And according to UsWeekly, the proposal will be happening 'very soon' The woman who won his heart: The two were set up her mother Maria Shriver; Katherine seen in Malibu in October Schwarzenegger and Pratt were first seen on a date in June, but they got together months before that. A month ago RadarOnline claimed the exact same thing: that the two would get engaged over Thanksgiving weekend. Pratt was seen bonding with her 71-year-old father Arnold of Terminator fame recently. According to People there was 'a lot of laughter and storytelling. The insider added, 'Arnold seemed very pleased to spend time with Chris. It was obvious that they got along and enjoyed getting to know each other. They had eggs, breakfast meats and fruit. Chris settled the check.' Casual date: The lovebirds - who are 11 years apart in age - were seen hand-in-hand in Santa Monica, California where they hit R+D Kitchen in August They were apparently set up by Katherine's mother Maria Shriver, according to People's source. Chris shares joint legal and physical custody of his six-year-old son Jack with his ex-wife of eight years, Anna Faris. They were wed from 2009 until 2018. Faris has since moved on with her Overboard cinematographer Michael Barrett. Pratt was born in Minnesota and got his career in acting going with the TV series Everwood. The ex: Chris shares joint legal and physical custody of his six-year-old son Jack with his ex-wife of eight years, Anna Faris. They were wed from 2009 until 2018. Faris has since moved on with her Overboard cinematographer Michael Barrett They share a son: Chris and Anna with their little boy Jack in April 2017 Next came Parks And Recreation then the film Moneyball. When he stood out in Zero Dark Thirty and Her, he was snapped up for Guardians of the Galaxy. That led to The Lego Movie and then Jurassic World. Pratt is set to appear as Duncan in action film Cowboy Ninja Viking alongside Priyanka Chopra. Katherine is an author. In 2010, Schwarzenegger wrote a book entitled Rock What You've Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty from Someone Who's Been There and Back. Next came I Just Graduated . . . Now What? and then Maverick And Me. Model Montana Cox turned heads as she hit the red carpet at the 2018 Australian Fashion Laureate on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old stunned as she twirled for photographers in a low-cut Alex Perry gown with thigh-high split. The frock flashed plenty of the Australia's Next Top Model winner's flesh as it was backless in design, as well as low-cut in the front. Leggy lady! Montana Cox flaunts her endless legs in a racy thigh split dress at glitzy fashion event after shutting down rumours she's dating pub baron Justin Hemmes Montana let her beautiful dress do the talking by wearing just a pair of leather loafers and no other accessories. She also slicked back her brunette locks and had minimal makeup on her visage. Clearly in her element, she shared a cuddle and a laugh with fashion designer Toni Maticevski on the red carpet. Flashing the flesh! The frock flashed plenty of the Australia's Next Top Model winner's flesh as it was backless in design, as well as low-cut in the front Montana recently silenced rumours that she's in a relationship with multimillionaire Justin Hemmes, 45. 'We are just friends, we have always just been friends, I think people just like to talk about things,' she told The Sun Herald late last month. Justin also denied the claims, telling The Sydney Morning Herald's Private Sydney on Saturday that they are 'just friends'. The speculation came after Justin announced his split from the mother of his two children, Kate Fowler, 28, in July, after nearly five years together. Natural beauty: She also slicked back her brunette locks and wore minimal makeup on her visage Single: Montana recently silenced rumours that she's in a relationship with multimillionaire Justin Hemmes, 45 She shot to fame as a professional choreographer on Strictly Come Dancing. And Kristina Rihanoff stole the limelight in a sensational scarlet gown as she attended the Nutcracker Ball for Simon Cowell's children's charity, Together For Short Lives, at One Marylebone. The 41-year-old dancer commanded attention with her glamorous attire when at the star-studded event in London on Tuesday evening. Scarlet siren: Kristina Rihanoff stole the limelight in a sensational scarlet gown as she attended the Nutcracker Ball for children's charity, Together For Short Lives, at One Marylebone The blonde bombshell highlighted her trim figure with a princess skirt and bustier-style strapless bodice. She teamed the outfit with a golden clutch bag and styled her luscious locks into tight curls, which elegantly descended down her left shoulder. Adding even more glitz to her glam ensemble, the Russian beauty opted for dainty silver drop earrings and a pop of red lipstick. All eyes on her: The dancer commanded attention with her glamorous attire when at the star-studded event in London on Tuesday evening Just hanging out: The 41-year-old was joined by socialite Lizzie Cundy, 48, who rocked a matching red dress Money raised during the event hosted by patron Simon and partner Disney UK will go towards creating moments that matter for seriously ill children. The Nutcracker Ball is to be held in aid of families facing the heartbreak of knowing their child will die young. It will raise vital funds to support families caring for seriously ill children, and to receive the care and support they need to make the most of every moment together. Interesting outfit: Simon Cowell threatened to upstage his glamorous girlfriend Lauren Silverman as he flashed his chest hair in a perilously plunging shirt at his charity ball Smart: The X Factor head judge, 59, attracted attention as he posed with glamorous girlfriend Lauren Silverman, who he shares four-year-old son Eric with Also at the event was fellow X Factor judge Ayda Fielded exuded gothic glamour in a velvet gown with a plunging neckline and long sleeves. Meanwhile, Kristina has insisted there are no plans for her and beau Ben Cohen to tie the knot, as they celebrated his 40th birthday with a lavish Florida getaway. The dancer told OK! magazine there's 'no need' for her and the former rugby player to marry, but said they may do it when they're 'less busy.' It came as Kristina also tipped YouTube star Joe Sugg to win this year's Strictly over current favourite Ashley Roberts, saying it would be good for the show if it wasn't won by a 'trained dancer.' I'm A Celebrity: Extra Camp host Joel Dommett was rushed to hospital with a head injury after a part of the show's set crashed onto his head in windy conditions. The presenter, 32, posted a snap of himself receiving seven stitches in hospital, and revealed he had been forced to miss Tuesday's show. He wrote: 'Unfortunately due to unforeseen windy circumstances blowing the set onto my head during rehearsals, i won't be able to present Extra Camp this evening. Scroll down for video Shock injury:I'm A Celebrity: Extra Camp host Joel Dommett was rushed to hospital with a head injury after a part of the show's set crashed onto his head in windy conditions 'I had seven stitches like a big brave boy and I'll be back tomorrow. 'To be honest I'm less worried about my health and more worried that the show will be better without me 'Half a day off school to go home and watch neighbours! Woo!' Discussing how he sustained the injury in an Instagram video, he said: 'Thank you for all your concerns. I'm OK, got this cartoon bandage on and I was wearing Scarlett's hoodie, which I got blood all over. Sorry Scarlett, I will wash it! Good spirits: The presenter, 32, posted a snap of himself receiving seven stitches in hospital, and revealed he had been forced to miss tonight's show Brave: Sporting a bandage on his head, the star said: I'm OK, got this cartoon bandage on and I was wearing Scarlett's hoodie, which I got blood all over. Sorry Scarlett, I will wash it!' Support: Praising his co-presenters Scarlett Moffatt and Joe Swash, he said: 'I can't actually watch the show because I'm in Australia so let me know what's going on. Joe and Scarlett are the best. Genuinely I fainted and I woke up and Joe was kissing my face' 'I can't actually watch the show because I'm in Australia so let me know what's going on. Joe and Scarlett are the best. Genuinely I fainted and I woke up and Joe was kissing my face. An ITV spokesman said: 'A freak gust of wind blew over the Extra Camp signpost and it caught Joel on the back of the head. Before the incident: Joel was the picture of health in the hours before the accident Sporty: The comedian went shirtless as he showed off his football skills Kick-about: The TV personality was enjoying a break from his filming duties 'He was taken to a hospital in a production car and given seven stitches. The team wish him well and look forward to him returning to the show soon.' Fellow hosts Scarlett Moffatt, 28, and Joe Swash, 36, were seen on the show's famous bridge as they introduced the show, without their comrade. The comedian has presented the spin-off show since 2017, since finishing as runner-up to Scarlett in the 2016 series. A handout satellite image dated April 18, 2017 courtesy of DigitalGlobe and released May 15, 2017 by the US Department of State shows the Saydnaya prison, which Amnesty International has described as a "human slaughterhouse" Dozens of inmates in a prison in central Syria have begun a hunger strike to protest against a raft of death sentences, two of them and rights groups said Monday. Hama central prison holds hundreds of inmates, most of them men who were detained in connection with the anti-regime protests that broke out in 2011 and the subsequent conflict. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and two inmates reached by AFP inside the prison, the hunger strike was launched on November 12. It was a reaction to a decision to transfer 11 inmates to Saydnaya, a prison near Damascus which Amnesty International has described as "a human slaughterhouse". "We started the hunger strike to protest against the death sentences against 11 inmates, and the decision to transfer them to Saydnaya," said one prisoner AFP contacted by phone. The hunger strikers are demanding the death sentences be overturned and also want guarantees that other Hama inmates whose cases are still pending not be sent to death row. Another inmate, who also requested anonymity, was reached by AFP and confirmed the hunger strike. Riots had broken out twice in Hama central prison in 2016, resulting in its director and the local police chief being taken hostage and later released following a negotiation. Many inmates were subsequently freed or saw their sentences commuted. Those who remained have retained some level of control over the facility. The Hama inmates' access to mobile phones has helped them bring public attention to their plight. "This has allowed them to pressure the regime more easily," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A video was posted on social media recently showing the hunger strikers holding banners that demand an amnesty and an end to "arbitrary sentences". "The detainees' ongoing hunger strike is a stark reminder of the flawed judicial processes in Syria," Human Rights Watch wrote in a statement on Monday. Tens of thousands of Syria are believed to have died in Syrian prisons since the start of the conflict more tha seven years ago. Activist and photographer Shahidul Alam, seen here in August 2018, has been freed from prison in Dhaka after four previously unsuccessful bail applications Award-winning Bangladeshi photographer and activist Shahidul Alam was released from prison Tuesday after more than 100 days behind bars, in a closely watched freedom of speech case. The 63-year-old Alam was arrested on August 5 for making "false" and "provocative" statements on Al Jazeera television and Facebook during student protests. He was freed from Dhaka's main jail Tuesday after being granted bail last week. Alam told AFP he hoped his release would "signal freedom for many others" also detained during the massive student demonstrations. "It is a fantastic feeling to be free in a free country, breathing free air. But I hope for freedom for everyone else," he said. He was held under controversial internet laws which critics say have been wielded by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stifle dissent and harass journalists. Alam spoke briefly to reporters after he came out of prison to describe conditions inside jail, Alam's close associate Rezaur Rahman told AFP. The photographer had previously said he was badly beaten while in custody. Although Alam was granted bail on Thursday last week, he had to wait another five days to be set free as the prosecution moved to appeal against the bail order. He had earlier applied unsuccessfully for bail four times. - Mass rallies - Alam, whose work has appeared widely in global media and who founded the renowned Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, faces a maximum 14 years in jail if convicted. His lawyers have argued that Alam's detention was "a clear violation" of his fundamental rights under Bangladesh's constitution. The photographer's arrest triggered international protests -- with rights groups, Nobel laureates and academics calling for his release -- and followed a series of mass rallies this summer after two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus. The massive protests evolved into broader demonstrations against Hasina, who will seek a third consecutive term next month, and her Awami League party. Alam told Al Jazeera at the time that the protests were the result of pent-up anger at corruption and an "unelected government... clinging on by brute force". He was arrested the same day, with many other protesters held on similar charges as authorities cracked down on demonstrators. In reaction to Alam's release, Amnesty International said Tuesday Bangladesh authorities must immediately drop charges against him and "uphold its international commitments to protect the right to freedom of expression". "Shahidul Alam is a bold representation of Bangladesh through his lens. He should not have been detained at the first place," said Saad Hammadi, Amnesty International's Regional Campaigner for South Asia. Human Rights Watch accused Bangladesh of targeting activists and journalists in the wake of the protests instead of prosecuting those who attacked students with fists and rods. Michelle Bachelet used her first statement as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to raise the issue of attacks on journalists in Bangladesh. In recent weeks, Hasina has been accused of stifling dissent further by ratifying a controversial new digital-security law. And a prominent critic of the government was arrested for defamation last month, days after he helped form an opposition coalition. Madagascar presidential hopefuls Marc Ravalomanana (l) and Andry Rajoelina Presidential hopeful Marc Ravalomanana has lodged over 50 complaints at Madagascar's top court about the conduct of presidential polls to "correct irregularities," sources close to his campaign said Tuesday. Neither Ravalomanana nor his arch-rival Andry Rajoelina won the 50 percent of votes required for a first-round victory following the November 7 election, according to results published on Saturday. The run-off vote is scheduled for December 19. "We're not seeking a victory in the first round of voting, just to correct irregularities in the results," said a member of Ravalomanana's legal team who requested anonymity. More than 50 complaints, concerning voting, counting and tallying, have been submitted to the Indian Ocean Island nation's High Constitutional Court. Rajoelina was on 39.19 percent and Ravalomanana on 35.29 percent, according to the official results of the first-round vote. Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who is seeking to hold on to power, secured only 8.84 percent of the vote. Turnout was 54.3 percent. All three leading candidates, from a total of 36, have alleged fraud and malpractice by election authorities, and the result is now subject to a legal battle. Observers from the African Union, EU and Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc have all said the poll was conducted fairly and largely without incident. On Monday, Rajoelina accused election officials of "manipulation" after the results showed him short of the absolute majority needed to avoid a second round run-off vote. He has indicated that he would also approach the courts to challenge the results. The election commission issued a 500-word statement in response to Rajoelina's allegations insisting that it had "ensured the transparency of the electoral system at all times". Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, according to World Bank data, with almost four in five people living in grinding poverty. It also has a long history of political instability and coups. The aftermath of a suicide bomb attack in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on October 1, 2018 and claimed by the Islamist group Al-Shabaab, 37 of whose members the US military said it had killed in its latest air strikes US air strikes in Somalia killed an estimated 37 fighters from the militant Islamist group Al-Shabaab, the US military said Tuesday. The two air strikes were carried out Monday near Debatscile, the military's Africa command said in a statement, adding that the "air strikes did not injure or kill any civilians." It said the first "precision strike" killed 27 militants in a "planned and deliberate action." The second strike killed another 10 fighters. The US military said the strikes were "conducted in support of the Federal Government of Somalia as it continues to degrade Al-Shabaab." Last month, the US military said it had killed 60 Shabaab fighters in a single air strike, the largest since an air raid on one of the Islamist group's training camps that killed around 100 fighters in November 2017. Air assaults and missile strikes have increased in recent months against Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate fighting to overthrow the internationally backed Somali government in Mogadishu, which has the support of an African Union force. Alfred Yekatom, also known as "Colonel Rambo" -- seen here after his arrest in October -- arrived at the ICC's detention unit over the weekend A former Central African militia leader Alfred Yekatom, also known as "Colonel Rambo" will face international war crimes judges for the first time Friday, the International Criminal Court said. "The initial appearance of Alfred Yekatom... is scheduled for Friday, November 23, at 11 am local time," the Hague-based court said in a statement issued Tuesday. At Friday's hearing, judges will "verify the identity of the suspect and the language in which he is able to follow the proceedings." "He will be informed of the charges against him," the ICC added. Yekatom arrived at the ICC's detention unit over the weekend after being extradited from the Central African Republic where he is suspected of having committed war crimes and crimes against humanity including murder and recruiting child soldiers. He is accused of leading a group of some 3,000 so-called anti-Balaka militias responsible for attacks on Muslims in the volatile country between December 2013 and August 2014. Yekatom, who has been an elected MP since 2016, was arrested in October after he drew his gun and fired into the air in the CAR parliament during an altercation. His transfer is the first since the ICC's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened a probe in 2014 on crimes committed in fighting between Christian and Muslim groups. 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 local machete. The deadly violence so far has seen thousands killed and more than a quarter of the country's population fleeing their homes, according to UN figures published this year. Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: the US Treasury accused Iran of creating a complex web of cut-out companies to dodge US sanctiions and ship Iranian oil to Syria, which in turn sent funds to Hezbollah and Hamas The US slapped fresh sanctions on Iran Tuesday, accusing it of creating a complex web of Russian cut-out companies and Syrian intermediaries to ship oil to Damascus, which in turn bankrolled Hezbollah and Hamas. The US considers both Hezbollah, a powerful Lebanese militia, and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, to be terrorist organizations. The US Treasury said in a statement that Tehran, "working with Russian companies, provides millions of barrels of oil to the Syrian government" of President Bashar al-Assad. "The Assad regime, in turn, facilitates the movement of hundreds of millions of US dollars to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force for onward transfer to Hamas and Hezbollah," it said. The new sanctions also target a Syrian national, Mohamed Alchwicki and his Russia-based company, Global Vision Group. He is accused of playing a central role both in the transfer of oil to Syria and the funneling of money to the militant groups. The US said his company had illegally received transfers of funds from the Iranian Central Bank via a set of complex transactions. Intermediary firms involved in the plot to obscure the real destinations of the oil and the money included a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Energy, according to the statement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Twitter that there were "grave consequences for anyone shipping oil to Syria, or trying to evade US sanctions on the Islamic Republic's terrorist activities." He added that Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "should decide if spending the Iranian people's money on the Iranian people is more important than investing schemes to fund Assad, Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorists." Convicted Australian drug smuggler Renae Lawrence (L), seen here in August 2010, is set to be released from Bali's Bangli prison The first member of the "Bali Nine" heroin-trafficking gang to be released from prison is expected to leave jail on Wednesday after serving 13 years, in a case that caused a huge diplomatic rift between Indonesia and Australia. Renae Lawrence, 41, the only female member of the group, was arrested in 2005 when authorities caught her with 2.6 kilogrammes (5.7 pounds) of heroin strapped to her body as she tried to fly out of the international airport on the holiday island of Bali. She was initially handed a life term, but her sentence was later reduced to 20 years and then further cut due to good behaviour. It was not immediately clear what time she would be released from Bali's Bangli prison, but officials said she may be freed around midday (0400 GMT). "Renae Lawrence is in a healthy condition. She seems to be happy, but also a bit nervous," head of Bangli prison Made Suwendra told AFP. It is likely that Lawrence will be deported shortly after her release. The group of Australians imprisoned in Indonesia for drug smuggling in 2005, known as the "Bali Nine" The Australian Police Commissioner for the state of New South Wales, Mick Fuller, told The Australian newspaper there were two outstanding arrest warrants for Lawrence and that they will speak to her when she returns to the country. Reports in Australian media said Lawrence could face arrest once she is back home over a high-speed chase involving a stolen vehicle dating back to just before she was arrested in Indonesia. Of the nine in the original group, ringleaders Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were executed by firing squad in 2015, sparking a diplomatic row between Australia and Indonesia, which has some of the world's strictest drug laws including the death penalty. Another member, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died in prison in June from stomach cancer, while the remaining five are currently serving life sentences. Some critics have lashed out at the Australian police for tipping off their Indonesian counterparts about the gang and putting its members at risk of execution in Indonesia. High-profile cases like that of Australian Schapelle Corby, who spent more than nine years behind bars for smuggling marijuana into Bali, have stoked concern that Indonesia is becoming a destination for trafficked drugs. Corby was deported in 2017 after several years of parole. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - One police officer was killed and three people were wounded in Haiti on Monday amid a second day of countrywide protests over allegations of government corruption. Two of the wounded were foreigners who were hurt by gunfire. One of those was a 29-year-old French woman who was riding with her boyfriend and a Haitian-American tourist from the Port-au-Prince airport to a popular beach club about two hours away. Her name is Marion Bobin, 29, said her boyfriend, Francis Eugene, who explained the incident to The Associated Press. Eugene, 27, said the Haitian-American tourist and the driver were also wounded. He said a group of armed men tried to stop an airport shuttle operated by the club about a half-hour before it arrived at its destination and opened fire when it refused to stop. Residents run past burning barricades during a strike that is part of protests demanding to know how Petro Caribe funds have been used by the current and past administrations, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. Much of the financial support to help Haiti rebuild after the 2010 earthquake comes from Venezuela's Petro Caribe fund, a 2005 pact that gives suppliers below-market financing for oil and is under the control of the central government. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) It wasn't immediately clear how seriously the tourists and driver were hurt. Haitian police said earlier in the day that one of their officers had been killed by a street gang in the capital. Police spokesman Gary Derosier told the AP that the officer was riding in a motorcycle taxi that was stopped at a roadblock run by a street gang, who fatally shot him and burned his body in an alley. Schools were closed and most other activities around the country were stopped Monday, a day after six died in clashes between protesters and police. Demonstrators were calling for the president to resign for not investigating allegations of corruption in the previous government over a Venezuelan subsidized energy program, Petrocaribe. National Police patrol during a strike that is part of protests demanding to know how Petro Caribe funds have been used by the current and past administrations, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. Much of the financial support to help Haiti rebuild after the 2010 earthquake comes from Venezuela's Petro Caribe fund, a 2005 pact that gives suppliers below-market financing for oil and is under the control of the central government. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) A youth runs past a burning roadblock during a strike that is part of protests demanding to know how Petro Caribe funds have been used by the current and past administrations, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. Much of the financial support to help Haiti rebuild after the 2010 earthquake comes from Venezuela's Petro Caribe fund, a 2005 pact that gives suppliers below-market financing for oil and is under the control of the central government. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) Demonstrators block a road with a burning barricade during a strike that is part of protests demanding to know how Petro Caribe funds have been used by the current and past administrations, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. Much of the financial support to help Haiti rebuild after the 2010 earthquake comes from Venezuela's Petro Caribe fund, a 2005 pact that gives suppliers below-market financing for oil and is under the control of the central government. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) BRUSSELS (AP) - An assailant was shot by police after he stabbed and injured a policeman in a pre-dawn attack on Tuesday in Brussels' historic center. The prosecutor's office is investigating whether the attack was linked to any terror group and charged the suspect with "attempted murder in a terrorist context." The suspect is a Belgian national and known to police for a series of robberies. Four years ago, he was jailed four years for attempted manslaughter and had been on conditional release since last month. Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon said the attack was a "cowardly act against our policemen" and that the suspect did not appear to be on the nation's anti-terror data base. The police officer was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after being stabbed in the neck, said Ine Van Wymersch, a spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor's office. She added that the attacker, who was carrying two small kitchen knives, was in critical condition after being shot in the chest and that investigators were looking for clues to his motivation. Police officers stand next to a cordoned off area where a policeman was stabbed in Brussels, early morning Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. A policeman was stabbed Tuesday by an assailant who was shot close to the Grand Place in Brussels' historic centre. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) "It is still unclear what the suspect's motives are," said Van Wymersch. "Some witnesses said he shouted "Allahu akbar (God is great) but the investigation will need to bring more clarity." Belgium has been under heightened security since the March 2016 attacks at Brussels' airport and subway that left 32 people dead. Tuesday's incident had similarities with an attack in May, when a Belgian prison inmate stabbed two officers in eastern Liege and used their handguns to kill them and a bystander. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bloodshed, which also involved a fourth victim. A police officer stands behind a police tape during investigations at a stabbing scene in the center of Brussels, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. A policeman was stabbed and injured by an assailant who was shot close to the Grand Place in Brussels' historic center. It was unclear whether the attack was related to extremism. (AP Photo/Sylvain Plazy) A police officer and dog work in a cordoned off area where a policeman was stabbed in Brussels, early morning Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. A policeman was stabbed Tuesday by an assailant who was shot close to the Grand Place in Brussels' historic centre. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) A police officer stands behind a police tape during investigations at a stabbing scene in the center of Brussels, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. A policeman was stabbed and injured by an assailant who was shot close to the Grand Place in Brussels' historic center. It was unclear whether the attack was related to extremism. (AP Photo/Sylvain Plazy) VACARISSES, Spain (AP) - A commuter train traveling toward Barcelona was derailed by a landslide on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring dozens, Spanish authorities said. The regional civil protection agency said that two train cars of a convoy of six came off the tracks at 6.15 a.m. local (0515 GMT) near Vacarisses, some 45 kilometers northwest of Barcelona. Firefighters and emergency workers evacuated 131 commuters and sent to hospital 11 of the 44 people injured. Three of them are seriously hurt, according to the civil protection agency. Spanish railway operator spokesman Antonio Carmona told local media that heavy rain in the area over the past few days could have caused the landslide. Recent downpours have battered Spain. A woman died Sunday after a river flooded its banks in the northwestern Galicia region. And on Monday, huge waves swept away the balconies of a sea-side apartment building on the Canary island of Tenerife. The heavy rains have also caused travel disruption and damage to farmland across the country. A passenger train after a collision with a landslide, near Vacarisses, some 45 kilometers northwest of Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Nov. 20, 2018. One person died and dozens were injured Tuesday after a landslide derailed a commuter train traveling toward Barcelona, Spanish authorities said. (Anti-radar Catalunya via AP) Emergency workers at the scene of an accident after a passenger train collided with a landslide, near Vacarisses, some 45 kilometers northwest of Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Nov. 20, 2018. One person died and dozens were injured Tuesday after a landslide derailed a commuter train traveling toward Barcelona, Spanish authorities said. (Anti-radar Catalunya via AP) A landslide collides with a passenger train, near Vacarisses, some 45 kilometers northwest of Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday Nov. 20, 2018. One person died and dozens were injured Tuesday after a landslide derailed a commuter train traveling toward Barcelona, Spanish authorities said. (Anti-radar Catalunya via AP) Firefighters and emergency workers stand by the derailed cars of a commuter train that went off the tracks near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. Authorities in Spain say one person has died and six have been slightly injured when a landslide derailed the commuter train traveling toward Barcelona early on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Police and railroad workers look at the derailed cars of a commuter train that went off the tracks near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. Authorities in Spain say one person has died and six have been slightly injured when a landslide derailed the commuter train traveling toward Barcelona early on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Thousands of Guatemalan villagers are beginning to return home a day after being evacuated due to an eruption of the Volcano of Fire. National disaster agency spokesman David de Leon says volcanic activity has subsided at the 12,300-foot (3,763-meter) high mountain, though it's still periodically spitting out ash and rock. He says officials are helping evacuees return home. Officials evacuated nearly 4,000 people Monday after incandescent material burst as high as 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) above the crater and flows of hot rock and ash extended nearly 2 miles (3 kilometers) down one flank of the volcano. A June eruption at the volcano caught many people unprepared, burying whole communities. At least 194 died and 234 are still reported as missing. The Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, spews a plume of ash as seen from San Juan Alotenango, Guatemala, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. The volcanology institute reported that activity subsided Monday evening. Hundreds of families who heeded the call of disaster coordination authorities to evacuate 10 communities began returning to their homes Tuesday. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) Residents get in a truck as they leave their homes to go to work in coffee fields, backdropped by the Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, in San Juan Alotenango, Guatemala, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. The volcanology institute reported that the eruption of the volcano ended on Monday evening, as families who heeded the call of disaster coordination authorities to evacuate 10 communities, started returning home. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) A man leads his horse through San Juan Alotenango, Guatemala, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018, backdropped by the Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire. The volcanology institute reported that activity subsided Monday evening. Hundreds of families who heeded the call of disaster coordination authorities to evacuate 10 communities began returning to their homes Tuesday. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) China's capital city expects to start rating all of its residents with points from 2021 after it finishes building an Orwellian-style social credit system in three years' time, according to Chinese state media. Beijing's municipal government will assign citizens and firms 'personal trustworthiness points', pioneering China's controversial plan for a 'social credit' system to monitor citizens and businesses. The system's rollout has attracted international headlines, sparking comparisons to George Orwell's novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four', with critics saying it could massively heighten the Chinese Communist Party's already strict control over society. Beijing says it will finish building a points-based social credit system by the end of 2020 In a roadmap plan released in 2014, China said it would by 2021 create a 'social credit system' to reward or punish individuals and corporations using technology to record various measures of financial credit, personal behaviour and corporate misdeeds. But it had not made any mention of using points, as proposed by Beijing's municipal government in a new plan released on Monday to improve the city's business environment. Lists of data, actions and measures will be used to create a trial system of 'personal trustworthiness points' for residents and companies in the capital. The term used can also be translated as 'creditworthiness' or 'integrity'. China's plan for a 'social credit' system to monitor citizens and businesses has sparked debate The plan did not include details of how the point system would work. But, it said, information from the system could impact market access, public services, travel, employment and the ability to start businesses, with trustworthy individuals being provided a 'green channel' and those who are blacklisted being 'unable to move a step'. 'This is an important novel approach by Beijing to assess individuals' credit and tie it to their whole life,' an unnamed official from the municipal state planner said, according to the Xinhua news agency. WHAT IS CHINA'S SOCIAL CREDIT SYSTEM? China plans to complete building the national social credit system by the end of 2020 after starting out in 2014. It is a national-level initiative approved by the country's State Council and led by the National Development and Reform Commission as well as the People's Bank of China. The system rates the Chinese citizens based on their daily behaviour, and this could range from their bank credit to their social media activities. By the end of 2020, the number of security cameras in China is due to be 600 million Once built, the national system could determine how easy a citizen could rent a flat, buy travel tickets or pay for a cup of tea. With a tagline of 'once discredited, everywhere restricted', it vows to punish 'untrustworthy' citizens - many of whom debtors - in all areas of life. It is backed by a nationwide database, which tracks and rates the activities of the country's 1.4 billion people, mainly in financial and legal areas. The database is facilitated by information from major internet service providers, banks, utility companies, retailers, among others. Individuals and companies can check their personal social credit report on Credit China. China's social credit system rates the citizens based on their daily behaviour The social credit system is facilitated by China's ever-expanding surveillance network, which currently boasts 200 million AI-powered cameras. The number of cameras is set to triple in two years when the system is built. The surveillance network has been billed as the world's most powerful facial recognition system and aims to identify any one of its 1.4 billion citizens within three seconds. Critics, however, have voiced concerns over the system, claiming it's a way for the government to invade citizens' privacy and restrict their freedom. As of March, 2019, 13.49 million Chinese citizens have been classified as untrustworthy throughout the country. Some 3.59 million defaulters have paid off a total of 440 million yuan (50) debts, according to China's National Development and Reform Commission, which governs the social credit system. Advertisement The plan should serve as an example to the rest of the nation for how to improve the behaviour of individuals and businesses, Xinhua said. A second system will also be set up to assess the trustworthiness of government officials and departments by measuring whether contracts and promises are honoured, the results of which will be included in performance assessments. The social credit system, which is being built on the principle of 'once untrustworthy, always restricted', will encourage government bodies to share more information about individual and business misdeeds in order to coordinate punishments and rewards. The system is assisted by a surveillance network of 200 million AI-powered cameras Citizens and companies in Beijing will be rated by the system based on their social behaviour Some experts say that the system remains nascent and could help tackle social problems like fraud or food security, as well as noting that punishments are mostly restricted to industry specific blacklists rather than a holistic score. A system for penalising individuals blacklisted for such offences as failing to pay a court-mandated fines that was put in place by the central government was extended in March. The penalties include banning offenders from making luxury purchases, such as tickets for flights or high-speed rail, for up to a year. On the battlefield in Afghanistan, the Taliban has the upper hand. The stalemate will prevail at least till the presidential elections. India would do well to scale up its military assistance There is no respite from Taliban assaults in the killing fields of Afghanistan, from Kandahar in the east to Farah in the west. On the battlefield, the Taliban has the upper hand. The killing, in October, of the most powerful Afghan police chief in Kandahar, Lt Gen Abdul Raziq, also the most formidable political voice in the Taliban heartland, while he was holding a meeting with the new US Field Commander, Gen Scott Miller, who miraculously escaped the attack, reflects the ascendency of the Taliban. That Taliban suicide bombers could penetrate the concentric rings of the US and Afghan security around his stronghold affirms their military superiority. But it also reflects the worst ever security situation in Afghanistan, 17 years after the Taliban was ousted from Kabul. Today, they hold/control and have influence over nearly half the countrys space. The drubbing the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are taking is unprecedented, averaging daily killings of 62 to 80 ANSF. That they are holding out under such attrition is remarkable. When the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction in 2014 gave his report on the combat capability of ANSF, just before US troops ended their combat mission, it gave ANSF sufficiency in capability to independently the withstand Taliban offensive, but added that it would require US Air support and logistic assistance. It ruled out any strategic collapse. Then, Konduz, a provincial capital, fell in 2015 and since then, district and provincial capitals have been overrun by the Taliban. In the August attack on Ghazni, Pakistan-based terrorists were involved, prompting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to call it Pakistans undeclared war against his country. US President Donald Trumps warning to Pakistan, repeated several times by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and the famous last chance missive by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, demonstrate the failure of the US military strategy. It is a miracle that the ANSF is holding out despite desertions. The US focus is, therefore, now on reconciliation and kick-starting the peace process after Taliban supremo Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who let down the US on talks, was droned down in an attack in 2016. The Trump team stepped up the tempo of talks, and for the first time, engaged in direct talks with the Talibans Qatar office at Doha at two levels: With US Assistant Deputy Secretary of State, Alice Wells in July; and with Special Envoy of the State Department on Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, in October. The Taliban rejected outright talks with the Kabul Government, which they call US stooges. The Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process is only notional despite offering unconditional talks. The Taliban has indicated it will continue talks with the US on terms and conditions for a full and final withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. Surprisingly, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor has said that Pakistan does not want foreign forces to leave Afghanistan till peace is restored. This is a sharp contradiction of the Talibans stand, and one which Rawalpindi cites to prove that the Taliban is not under its influence, leave alone control. So far, the Americans have called the shots on dialogue with the Taliban. Their diktat has prevailed with Kabul. This month, Russians jumped in for the second time this year with a conference to kick-start talks. Kabul had turned down Russias earlier attempt to begin a dialogue. Russians are keen that they have a key role in dousing the fires in Afghanistan. China has also dabbled in orchestrating talks which will inevitably end with too many cooks spoiling the broth. The most visible change is in Chinas policy towards Afghanistan which until recently, was circumscribed by four Noes: No boots on the ground; No interference in Afghanistans internal affairs; No criticism of the US; and No use of northern distribution network. Policy shift is from development to security. China worries about access from Afghanistan via the Wakhan panhandle to its Xinjiang Province by Uighur (ETIM) militants. For the first time Beijing is training and equipping an Afghan Brigade to be deployed in the mountainous reaches of Wakhan Corridor with joint patrolling in the area. China has signed an MoU with Afghanistan to connect Kabul with the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as some joint Afghanistan-Pakistan energy projects. Kabul is extremely disappointed that the joint India-China project for Afghanistan is merely training diplomats instead of being a big infrastructure project. While Beijing is pound foolish in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Kabul, it is seen as being penny wise in holding back its investments. For Trump, his Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy is in tatters. Still, Pompeo hopes that the reset in US-Pakistan relations will lead to Rawalpindi cooperating in acting against Taliban sanctuaries on its soil. According to Afghanistan expert Barnett Rubin, there are limits to the use of US military force against a nuclear-armed Pakistan. He added that as long as the US and Nato troops are deployed in Afghanistan, the Karachi-Kabul lifeline will render Washington hostage to Rawalpindi, especially after the US sanctions against Russia and China, which make the use of the northern distribution network untenable. Pakistan Army Chief, Gen Qamar Bajwa is upset that Trump is encouraging India to acquire strategic depth in Afghanistan at Pakistans cost. This had never happened before because the US always looked at Afghanistan through Pakistans prism. The prevailing theory is that the US will not leave Afghanistan in order to monitor activities of Iran, Pakistan, Russia and China from its strategic bases in Afghanistan. The stalemate on the ground in which the Taliban has a clear upper hand, will prevail not the least till after presidential elections in Afghanistan in April 2019. The campaigning season will soon come to a close but already, the Taliban has inflicted fatal damage on ANSF and the reputation of US forces in preventing wholesale attacks across the country. India has focussed so far on economic assistance and capacity-building with an investment of two billion dollar, coupled with a commitment to another one billion dollar. This has earned it considerable goodwill and popularity in Kabul but not the scale of influence that Pakistan enjoys with contiguous borders. It is time that New Delhi scales up its military assistance, including supply of military hardware and more specialised training. India will not put boots on the ground on which Trump queried Modi but it can forward deploy at its Aynee Air base in Tajikistan, a full-fledged training centre as well as a field hospital. Both are urgently needed by the ANSF with its back to the wall. (The writer is a retired Major General of the Indian Army and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the revamped Integrated Defence Staff) A senior BSF officer was killed in a blast under mysterious circumstances in one of the border outposts in Samba sector of Jammu frontier while four others received critical injuries, on Monday. The injured were immediately rushed to the military hospital in Jammu. BSF spokesman in Jammu confirmed, "one BSF officer was killed in a blast at a BoP in Samba sector on Monday". The deceased officer was identified as Assistance Commandant Jabbar Singh. Two inspectors and two sub-inspectors received critical injuries in the blast. Unconfirmed reports claimed, during grenade practice inside BoP one Assistant Commander, Jabbar Singh, was killed while four others were injured. India and Russia on Tuesday inked a 500-million-dollar deal for construction of two stealth frigates in Goa for the Navy. Russia will provide design, technology and some material to public sector Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)for construction of these Grigorovich class ships. Incidentally, the two countries signed another one billion dollar deal some weeks back for two more stealth frigates of the same class. Russia will build these ships at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad and are expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy by 2022-23. India and Russia had agreed in 2016 for a deal to build two frigates in India and two to be imported from Russia. As regards the two frigates to be built here, officials said here the agreement for the project was signed between GSL and Russia's state-run defence major Rosoboronexport under the government-to-government framework for defence cooperation. Construction of the ships will begin in 2020 and the first one will be ready for induction in 2026 while second one will be ready by 2027. In another development, Russia emerged as the lowest bidder for a 1.5 billion dollar deal for supplying very short range air defence systems to the Indian Army. These missiles are shoulder fired to take down aerial targets and the proposed deal envisages supply of around 5,180 missiles and about 800 launchers, officials said. The other two contenders in the race were France and Sweden. The firming up of the agreement to build two frigates here came nearly six weeks after India signed an agreement with Russia to buy a batch of S-400 air defence missile systems at a cost of around 5 billion dollars. India is going ahead with mega defence deals with Russia disregarding warnings by the US of sanctions. The Trump administration has put several Russian firms under sanctions under Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The US said countries engaged with Russia's defence firms may also face actions under CAATSA. India has been hoping to get a waiver from the US on the deals it was signing with Russia. Russia is time tested strategic and defence partners of India and is the largest weapon supplier to the Indian forces. The defence and security cooperation has been on an upswing between the two countries in the last few years. Chhattisgarh recorded 72 per cent polling on Tuesday in the second and concluding phase for 72 Assembly seats across 19 districts amid allegations of EVM tampering and malfunctioning in several areas. Amid higher turnout, BJP, Congress and JCC-BSP alliance claimed victory ahead of results on December 11. The Election Commission said that polling percentage could go up to 76-78 per cent as it was still in the process of compiling data. The EC rejected the allegations of widespread malfunctioning of the voting machines and asserted that faulty EVMs were promptly replaced without any disruption to the voting process. Tuesdays polling has sealed fate of nine Cabinet Ministers of Chhattisgarhs BJP Government and four chief ministerial contenders from the Congress. Chhattisgarhs Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo told reporters that polling was peaceful and from first-time voters to centenarians, people from all walks of life queued up to cast their votes at 19,336 polling booths. Among the oldest of 1.54 crore voters eligible to exercise their franchise were 106-year-old Samudri Patel from Baikunthpur in Korea district and 102-year-old Raj Kunwar from Boriyakala in Raipur district. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh who is heading the BJP Government in the mineral-rich State since December 2003, claimed that the BJP would form Government for the record fourth successive term. Voters are coming out in large numbers from their houses to exercise their franchise to keep the BJP in power to spur growth in the State, Singh remarked at Kawardha town after casting his vote along with his spouse Veena Singh. The Congress which is desperate to return to power, too claimed that people voted against BJP regime to get rid of corruption. A Congress delegation led by Congress national general secretary PL Punia met the EC in the national Capital over the alleged attempts to misuse and tamper with EVMs in Chhattisgarh. Punia said the BJP wary of losing the polls, was trying to influence the polling process through malpractices. People want a Congress Government. There are reports coming in from majority of areas about heavy polling against the BJP Government, Congress is all set to form the next Government, remarked Charandas Mahant after casting his vote with family members in Korba. The former Union Minister Mahant is one of the top contenders for the chief ministerial post if the Congress is voted to power. Meanwhile, the former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, who made the 2018 polls a three-way fight in Chhattisgarh after having an alliance with the BSP, announced that people have cast votes in bulk only to see him as the next Chief Minister. Dont be in confusion the JCC-BSP alliance is going to produce shocker for the Congress as well as for the BJP on December 11 when results to be announced Jogi told reporters. Chhattisgarh has total 90 Assembly seats and polling for 18 seats was held on November 12. Publication of CBI DIG's affidavit, Verma's reply to CVC upsets court; hearing on Nov 29 The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed serious displeasure over the purported leak of CBI Director Alok Vermas reply to the CVCs findings against him over corruption allegations as also the publication of sensational charges levelled by the agencys DIG Manish Kumar Sinha and told their lawyers none of the parties deserved any hearing. Making it clear that the court is not a platform where people can come and express whatever they want, an anguished Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi heard the matter twice during the day and said it would not hear any party, including the CVC, and confine itself to the purported leak and publication of Sinhas allegations in the media. The court was apparently irked over the publication of contents of Sinhas petition in newspapers and Vermas reply to a questionnaire to the CVC in a news portal. The court had earlier directed all the parties to maintain the practice of submitting report and replies in sealed cover in order to protect the credibility of the institution of the CBI. The Bench that included Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph vent its ire at the start of the hearing and reminded the parties that its earlier order asking them to maintain confidentiality of the CVCs preliminary enquiry report and Vermas response to it was intended to ensure respect and the integrity of the CBI. As soon as the hearing commenced, the Bench referred to an article published by a news portal and solicited response from senior advocate Fali S Nariman, representing Verma, by saying, It is only for you Mr Nariman and not as a counsel for Alok Verma. We have given this to you as you are one of the most respected and senior members of the institution. Please help us. After going through the news report, Nariman asserted it was totally unauthorised and he was very disturbed and shocked by the leak. He also questioned the move by lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan, who is also representing Verma, to mention the matter in the court on Monday to seek additional time to file the reply on behalf of the CBI Director. After providing the copy of the news report to Nariman, the Bench adjourned the hearing to November 29 on Vermas plea challenging the Centres decision to divest him of duties and sending him on forced leave, saying, We do not think any of you deserve any hearing. Nariman, however, re-entered the courtroom after a few minutes and mentioned the case seeking re-hearing which was allowed. When the hearing re-commenced, Nariman told the court that the news article in question was published by the portal on November 17 and it was related to Vermas reply given to the CVC during the preliminary enquiry proceedings. The SC order asking the CBI chief to respond to the vigilance probes finding was passed only the previous day, Nariman contended. During the first round of hearing of the day, Nariman while referring to the media report said, This gives a new twist to the word responsible press and freedom of press. Nariman also said the news portal and its journalists concerned be summoned by the court. How can this come? Its a leak. I myself am shattered the way it has been done, he said. The Bench also referred to Nariman about the news articles published based on the allegations levelled by CBIs DIG Sinha in his separate plea challenging his transfer to Nagpur following the shake-up in the agency after Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana were benched. Yesterday, we had refused the mentioning (seeking urgent listing of Sinhas plea) and we had expressed that highest degree of confidentiality was to be maintained. But here is a litigant who mentions it before us and then goes out to distribute the petition to everyone, miffed Gogoi said. Our efforts to maintain the respect of this institution are not shared by these people. They are giving it to everybody, the CJI added. When Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CVC, stood up to argue, the Bench tersely told him, We will not hear anything. We will not hear anybody. The Bench then told Nariman about the news articles on Sinhas plea and said, This is yesterdays article. We want to know what is going on. This court is not a platform for people to come and express whatever they want. This is a place where people come for adjudication of their legal rights. This is not a platform and we will set it right. When the matter was being re-heard, Shankaranarayanan referred to the arguments advanced by Nariman and said that he wanted to clear his name which has come under the cloud. Shankaranarayanan said Nariman has submitted that he was not authorised to mention the matter and seek time for filing Vermas reply without the consent of the senior lawyer. We are not prepared to hear Mr Gopal Shankaranarayanan. We are prepared to hear Mr Nariman only. We want this place clear. As far as this court in concerned Mr Shankaranarayanan, nobody is under any cloud, the CJI said. Sinha on Monday dragged the names of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Union Minister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC KV Chowdary over alleged attempts to interfere in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana. The Union Minister named by Sinha has termed the allegations as baseless and malicious. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had a narrow escape on Tuesday after a 40-year-old man threw chilli powder at him outside the Chief Ministers chamber on the third floor of the high security Delhi Secretariat when the CM was leaving for lunch. The man, Anil Kumar, was detained, said police, adding that he was later handed over to IP Estate police station of Central district. A case has been filed against him. Addressing the media immediately after the incident, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader termed the attack as politically motivated. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said it would not be cowed down by these petty tactics by the BJP. Delhi BJP unit president Manoj Tiwari said, Such incidents cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody and called for a high-level probe. Kumar was targeting the bespectacled CMs eyes, officials said. His spectacles broke but his eyes seemed to have been spared any damage, they added. Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of khaini (chewing tobacco), they said. After throwing chilli powder at Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted. AAPs national spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who was behind Kejriwal when the incident took place, tweeted, Was right behind CM @ArvindKejriwal at the Secretariat when he was suddenly attacked on 3rd floor right outside his office. Shocking lapse of security. Is Delhi Polices incompetent to protect an elected CM? While today just the CMs glasses fell to the floor and broke, an unacceptable security lapse nonetheless. Imagine if attacker were to be wielding a more dangerous weapon. Who were to have prevented a tragedy from occurring? Sisodia told reporters. Recently BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of signature bridge. BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister, he told reporters.We are not going to be cowed down by BJPS petty tactics, he added. AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP for the attack. The BJP is behind the attack and the accused are being aided by the Modi Government, he alleged. Officials close to Kejriwal accused the Delhi Police of being lax in providing him security and alleged that this was the third attempt to harm him in less than a month. The AAP alleged that water bottles were thrown at Kejriwal by Tiwari at the inauguration ceremony of Signature Bridge earlier this month. Around the time of Dussehra, an unidentified man had barged inside Kejriwals residence and had tried to attack the CM, Bhardwaj added. In a statement issued later, the Delhi Police said the man is a resident of Nairana in South-west Delhi. There was no security breach as the accused had an authorised entry and he was promptly pinned down by the Delhi Police personnel who were standing close to the CM, said the Additional DCP. Citing health reasons, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday made a major announcement saying she will not contest next Lok Sabha polls. The senior BJP leader told reporters at Indore that she has made up her mind not to contest the elections. It is the party which decides, but I have made up my mind not to contest the next (Lok Sabha) elections, she said in Indore. Sushma, 66, has been elected to the current 16th Lok Sabha from Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. She represented Vidisha in the 15th Lok Sabha as well. Until 2014, Sushma was one of the contenders for the Prime Ministerial post and even skipped the Parliamentary Party meeting when Narendra Modis name for the Prime Ministers post was about to be announced by the party ahead of the 2014 elections. She was Leader of Opposition in the 15th Lok Sabha in place of Lal Krishna Advani and retained this position till May 2014. Though inducted as External Affairs Minister in Modis Cabinet at the Centre, she was seen to be on the margins in terms of decision making , with the PMO itself playing lead role in the matter of foreign affairs. According to sources, if the party puts its seal of approval on Sushmas decision to retire from the Lok Sabha contest, she may still be brought to Parliament through the Rajya Sabha route. The senior BJP leader who all along been a member of the BJPs highest decision-making body, the Parliamentary Board, underwent a five-hour kidney transplant in December, 2016, at AIIMS, New Delhi. The organ was harvested from a living unrelated donor. One of the high points of Swaraj rise in the BJP ranks was her high-voltage contest against Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi in Lok Sabha polls in 1999 from Bellary in Karnataka. She also raked controversy by opposing Sonias candidature as Prime Minister and threatened to shave off her head if Sonia became the PM. Swaraj began her political career with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in the 1970s. Her husband, Swaraj Kaushal, was closely associated with the socialist leader George Fernandes. Sushma became a part of George Fernandess legal defence team in 1975. She actively participated in Jayaprakash Narayans Total Revolution Movement. After the Emergency, she joined the BJP. Swaraj has also served as Delhis Chief Minister from October 13 to December 3, 1998 and was its first woman Chief Minister. She has held several important portfolios at the Centre, including that of Information and Broadcasting. A former Supreme Court lawyer, Swaraj is serving as the Minister of External Affairs since May 26 ,2014. She is the second woman to hold the office after Indira Gandhi. Head of All World Gayatri Pariwar, Pranav Pandya has established branches of the Gayatri Pariwar in 80 countries with headquarters in Haridwar. He was honoured by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the American space centre, in 1996 as a distinguished scientist and reformer for worldwide dissemination of scientific aspects of Indian culture. The Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalayastarted by him aims to disseminate tenets of Indian culture and blend science with spirituality. In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, he shared his views on various issues. Being director and head of All World Gayatri Pariwar, what are your major contributions to humanity and Ganga river? Our main contribution to the society is man-making odyssey, since without man making, nothing can be achieved. That super consciousness which abides in us must be realised and we strive for rise of latent divinity in humans as per guidelines of Gurudev Shri Ram Acharya. This mission has emerged as a mass movement for transformation of era. Regarding Ganga, the river is our lifeline, we live for the holy river and still drink water from the Ganga only. It is our commitment to the world to make Ganga clean along its entire stretch from Gaumukh to Gangasagar by 2026. We have sufficient funds, plans and volunteers for making the Ganga clean and serene. About 10 lakh volunteers are being prepared for this mission of Ganga under Ganga Pragya Mandal programme under which people are made aware not to dispose waste in the river. By 2026 which is centenary year of birth anniversary of Mataji Bhagwati Devi Sharma, mission 2026 of Ganga will be complete whether it is removal of waste or installation of bio digestor toilets on the river banks. You initiated watershed development scheme for harvesting rainwater. This scheme has been extended all over the country. How has Haridwar district benefited from this? Please pinpoint the areas. In Sharandherwala area near Bhogpur village on the route from Dehradun airport to Rishikesh, about 30 kilometre stretch of land has been used as rain water harvesting area. In the last five years this project has been continuing and with arrangements made for holding of rain water, the water table of the area has risen due to these efforts. At Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, regular demonstrations for rain water harvesting are given for visitors. What are the major research projects and findings of the Brahmavarchas Research Institute of which you are the director? Latest research is on Yajna therapy we have made 150 types of Havan Samagri and have conducted 90 pre cent successful trials on patients with blood pressure problem and even cancer. The patient has to perform for three to six months depending on the ailment. About 30,000 scientists from all over the country are associated with us. They undertake diverse projects and report back to us. All the studies are properly documented. On November 21-22, a meeting has been called in which over 2000 scientists from Delhi shall be coming to Shantikunj for deliberations on their findings. A gold medalist in medicine, you qualified for US medical services in 1975 but chose to work for your mentor. Why so? As per directions from my mentor, I quit offer of US$ 25,000 a very lucrative offer at that time in 1976. Pandit Shri Ram Acharyas concern was who would work for propagation of Indian culture if everyone will go to the US. We are spreading from here. Recently our devotees have acquired 640 acres land in North California in the US for which I did ground breaking a few days ago. This is besides Los Angeles where a training centre and laboratory shall be started just like here in Haridwar. What does your organisation plan to do during the Kumbh Mela? Currently in Allahabad, we shall be holding camp for dissemination of ideas of Shantikunj. Detailed plan for the Kumbh Mela to be held in Haridwar later shall be made soon. For Haridwar, I wish to point out to district administration and state government authorities, providing road, infrastructural facilities must begin from now. By-pass bridges and roads must be planned two years in advance. Being the chancellor of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, what new educational projects do you plan for the students? Nearly 10 new educational projects are on the cards for students including projects on artificial intelligence. In association with Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) across the country, we are charting some projects so that India ranks number one in education in the world. The main focus is to stop brain drain as most of the innovative intelligence in India goes to developed countries. Your message to the students? I teach students wherever I go to live the life explicated in the Bhagvad Geeta. Acceptance is the way of life. Do your duties well and leave the rest to God. Any major future projects you wish to announce? Mission 2026 is the major project for Ganga cleanliness and in 2021, golden jubilee of Shantikunj will be observed for a full year in which several humanitarian projects shall be undertaken. What are the major challenges facing Uttarakhand and the nation and your suggestions for tackling these? Migration of people from the mountains to the plains in search of employment is the major challenge which the state of Uttarakhand is facing. India is safe only until the mountain folk remain there. If migration to plains is not stopped, India will face threats from outside. What is your view on the burning Ram Janmabhoomi issue? It can be worked out if judiciary, people and saints come together. With mutual talks, a solution can be sought for this Ram Janmabhoomi- Babri Masjid issue. One thing for sure is there that temple must be made only when the people are ready in their minds. It must be the peoples choice. A two-day national seminar The Role of Tribal Museums in the Preservation of Tribal Culture was held at the Council of Analytic Tribal Studies from the November 18 to 19 as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Tribal Museum of Koraput. Eminent scholars from across the State, students from the Central University of Orissa, Koraput and the Vikram Dev College, Jeypore, took part in the deliberations. While Koraput Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy along with the Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Orissa Dr Sachidananda Mohanty inaugurated it, eminent anthropologist Dr Kishore Basa gave the keynote address in which he elaborated the impact of globalisation on tribal communities. Dr Basa opined that the multifaceted tribes are negatively affected not only in India but all over the world. Vice Chancellor Dr Mohanty said that in the name of development, the life, livelihood, culture and habitat of indigenous people have brought been under severe stress. Octogenarian scholar Prof SN Rath stressed that tribal studies have been traditionally pioneered by anthropologists over the last 100 years whose purposes were different than what they are conceived now. During the colonial rule, British and Indian civil servants studied tribes not for their ethnographic and cultural diversity, but delved just enough to provide the basic information to facilitate administration by indirect rule. Project Head of INTACH Odisha Anil Dhir said that cultural loss among the tribals was intangible in nature; hence it was difficult to comprehend the extent of the loss. The aspect of tribal identity is essential, if the tribes lose it they become mere commodities. He said that platforms like tribal museums should be created where the intangible heritage can be shared, preserved and promoted. As per the 2011 Census, 32 per cent of Odishas tribal population now lives in non-tribal areas, mostly urban. They have been the biggest victims of development, while repeated and mass displacement for industry, mining, dams etc has resulted in a major demographic shift, told Dhir. Former Collector of Koraput and the Director of the Tribal Museum Gadhadhar Parida said that museums can become the catalysts for tribal studies, and serve as a communication tool, disseminating beliefs and traditions of the indigenous people. Dr AC Sahoo, a tribal expert who has spent years in the Bonda hills opined that tribal museums can create a network of support for the fringe and on the edge groups and prevents culture and languages from dying. Prof D Samal, Dr PC Mohapatro, Dr Mira Swain, Dr Aditya Kishore Mishra, Dr Sagarika Mishra, Dr Pritidhara Samal and Dr BK Srinivasan too participated in the seminar. Lashing out at Sukhbir Badal for his totally unwarranted and politically-motivated allegations against him on the Amritsar grenade attack incident, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday accused the SAD president of playing with the religious sentiments of the people for promoting vested interests. Reacting sharply to Sukhbirs blatantly false and unsubstantiated accusation that Capt Amarinder was responsible for the grenade attack, the Chief Minister said that the SAD chief, in his desperate bid to divert attention from the SIT probe against him in the Bargari sacrilege case, was resorting to cheap and petty politicking. Pointing out that Bargari was the creation of the Badals-led SAD, Capt Amarinder said that his Government was trying to clean up the mess and the SIT formed by it was investigating the matter thoroughly. Clearly cornered by these investigations, Sukhbir was indulging in frivolous political games, said the Chief Minister, lambasting the SAD president for his thoughtless and frivolous statements on a serious issue, which had the potential of once again plunging Punjab into the dark days of terrorism. Capt Amarinder expressed shock at the repeated attempts of the Badals to exploit religion to divide the people of the State, unmindful of the devastating effects this could have in the long term. While the Government is going all out to fight radical and extremist elements, which are trying to destabilize the State at the behest of ISI-backed Khalistani and Kashmiri terrorist groups, the Akalis are indulging in politics over the serious issue, he lamented. He said that it wa s typical of the Badals to use religion to further their personal and political ambitions. And this trait had assumed grave proportions since they were unceremoniously ousted from power by the people of Punjab, who had seen through their deceitful games and voted en masse against them, he added. Capt Amarinder also came down heavily on Sukhbir for targeting the Gandhi family and seeking to hold them responsible for the recent incidents involving terrorist forces in Punjab. It is ridiculous to even contemplate that the Gandhis, who had been the worst victims of terrorism in the country, could think of promoting or encouraging radical forces in any way, said the Chief Minister. Sukhbirs allegations against the Gandhis smacked of sheer desperation and frustration at the complete alienation of the Badals, not just at the hands of the people but also by senior Akali leaders, he added. The Chief Minister warned Sukhbir against playing with fire by undermining the growing threat of revival of terrorism backed by cross-border forces. This is not the time for any political party or leader to play politics over the issue but to join hands with the government in fighting the menace and protecting Punjab from the renewed threat of revival of terrorism, he stressed. SPEAKER CALL FOR RESTRAINT ON TERROR ATTACK Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh on Tuesday urged all the political parties to exercise restraint on the issue of the Amritsar terror attack. He appealed to all the political parties across the board to let the investigation agencies do their job. It is a serious matter and any attempt to make political capital out of this situation will not only be unfortunate but disastrous for the State, he said. Expressing displeasure over the way certain leaders of various political parties were trying to politicize the event, he said: This is reflective of the overall decline and degradation in the political discourse that we have seen over past several years. This is a fight we have to fight together against the enemies of the State and the country and there must not be any blame game against anyone, Rana said, while hoping that the political leaders across the board will show their sagacity and realize the gravity of the situation. The Speaker pointed out that Punjab was yet to heal the wounds of the dark era of terrorism of 1980s and 90s. The scars are still there as we lost about 30,000 innocent lives to that dark era, he observed, while adding that the disastrous economic situation the state was facing was the result of that era only. He said that although the challenge was serious, yet it was not difficult to defeat the designs of those behind such incident. Their aim is to sabotage the hard-earned peace and we must not do anything that will help our enemies in sabotaging our peace, he said. Rana said that Punjab has always been at the forefront to defend the nation against all the enemies and Punjabis have always laid down immense sacrifices for the same. And we are faced with yet another challenge and we will face it successfully for which the need of the hour is unity and restraint, he remarked. The upcoming film Ram Janmabhoomi produced by UP Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi portraying police firing on kar sewaks in Ayodhya in October/November 1990 has riled clerics so much that Rizvi had been excommunicated from Shia community. On Monday, Rizvi released a poster and trailer of the film which started 18 months back and announced that the film would hit the theatre screens in December. Prominent Shia cleric and Imam-e-Juma of Lucknow Maulana Kalbe Jawwad on Tuesday demanded the UP government to ban the film. He said that Shia Muslims had already excommunicated Rizvi and by launching the controversial film, he stood expelled from the community of Muslims. Other clerics and leaders of Muslim outfits, including Sunni Muslims, also opposed the film by Rizvi. Maulana Jawwad said that the film trailer released in Lucknow was itself very provocative and the government must immediately act. In an after thought, Jawwad said that they did not expect the BJP government to act against Rizvi and hence they would approach the court and seek a ban on the film. Without naming any political party, Jawwad said that the film release would only spread hatred in society and immensely benefit a particular party. Maulana Jawwad also submitted a memorandum to the state government demanding a ban on the film. Meanwhile, Imam of the Aishgbagh Idgah Khalid Rashid said that the film trailer released on Monday was highly objectionable and it was a nefarious attempt to spread hatred in the society. He said that Islamic practices like triple talaq and halala had been portrayed in the negative light. Rashid added that highly objectionable words were used about Islamic icons and that was something unacceptable. President of Shia Personal Law Board Yasoob Abbas commented that the sole purpose of the film seemed to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims. He said that such nefarious attempts by irresponsible person should not be allowed. The cleric said that all attempts of fanning communal discord be resisted for maintaining social and communal harmony. President of Imam Welfare Association Imran Hassan Siddiqui wrote to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding a ban on the film saying that it aimed at promoting anarchy in the society. Rizvi has developed a habit of issuing provocative statements against Islam, clerics and hurting the sentiments of Muslims, Siddiqui alleged. Refusing to be identified, a Muslim leader of the BJP said that the film production by Rizvi was his personal matter and the party had nothing to do with it. He, however, said that if anything was controversial in the film, the law of the land would take its own course. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sunil Kumar Barnwal today expressed displeasure over the nodal officers of the districts and departments underperforming in execution of cases pending in Jansamvad Kendra. It was found that more than 1,000 cases are pending in Palamu, Giridih, Hazaribagh, Chatra, Ranchi, Dumka, Dhanbad, Deoghar and Garhwa district. The Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioners of all these districts to personally review the cases filed in Jansamvad Kendra every week and ensure that immediate action is taken. Barnwal was reviewing complaints in the weekly review meeting of Jan Samvad Kendra at Suchna Bhawan pn Tuesday. In a complaint Baijnath Mahto, resident of Sonadah, Dhanbad, died in October 2017 due to natural disaster but his dependent was not given compensation so far. The nodal officer of the disaster management said that the post-mortem report of the deceased has not yet received. On this, the secretary said that according to the Cabinet decision, there is a provision for compensation in the special circumstances of the disaster in which there is no need for postmortem but depending on the report of the responsible officer, compensation can be paid. He ordered the department to compensate the dependent within a week, as well as he asked for a detailed report of such cases from the Home, Jail and Disaster Management Department. Boundary wall of Bada Pond of Balthar Village, Deoghar, was damaged, due to which water and sand of the pond enters field during rainy days. Because of this, the farmers were suffering a lot. The concerned nodal officer said that the acceptance of estimation has not been received from DC Deoghar so far. On this, Barnwal, ordered to issue a notice against Executive Engineer of the minor irrigation department and execute the matter within a week. Despite the declaration of drought in six panchayats in Kairo, Lohardaga in 2016, compensation has not been paid to the beneficiaries. On this the Principle Secretary instructed the nodal officer of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Department to execute the matter before next Tuesday. Computer operators working in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Giridih are not paid for the work. Official of the department said that it has to be done by an agency named Privilege Infotech Solution Pvt. The agency was paid more than the amount and the agency has left the job at present and even after several notices, agency is not responding. On this the Principle Secretary ordered the execution of this case by next Tuesday. Lavdera dam of Lavdera village of Simdega is damage since past 10 years and the farmers are unable to make full use of the dam water. The principle secretary instructed the Water Resources Department to issue a guideline to repair all damaged dams in the state. Gujri Shah of Sahebganj has not been given benefits of Kanyadan Scheme even after applying 5 years ago. The Principle Secretary ordered the Department Officer to send the report of this matter within a week. He also directed the Deputy Commissioners to review matters related to the scheme. Prem Sheela, working as an Assistant Environmental Engineer in Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board, Dhurwa, Ranchi, died during service in November 2015, his dependent has not been given compensation or job on compassionate ground so far. The principle secretary ordered to ensure the appointment of the dependent in a week. A delegation of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) on Tuesday met Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal here to express their gratitude to him for providing relief to farmers with the decision of reducing the power tariff to almost half. The BKU delegation under its president Rattan Mann also supported the Mhara Gaon, Jagmag Gaon scheme. The representatives assured to generate awareness among the villagers regarding campaign to prevent power thefts. The members of BKU expressed that Bakaya Bijli Bill Niptaan Yojana of the State Government would provide great relief to consumers of the state. It was a long pending demand of the BKU to provide power at cheap rates and now the Chief Minister has taken necessary steps for providing the same to the people of the state. This would provide a great relief to the rural households,: the delegation said. During interaction with the members of BKU, the Chief Minister said that now in Mhara Gaon, Jagmag Gaon Scheme, 2815 villages are getting 24 hours power supply at par with urban areas and soon villages of two more districts would also be added in the series. The Chief Minister said that micro irrigation is being promoted in view of declining underground water level. The State Government is also providing subsidies to farmers for adopting micro irrigation, he said. On the demand of strengthening the passages in fields, the Chief Minister said that the e government has already decided to make the pavement of three karam and four karam paths. On the demand of renovation of Sugar Mills, he said that the State Government is working on it and the renovation work of Karnal, Sonipat, Assandh and Panipat sugar mills has begun, whereas Tenders of Panipat Sugar Mills have been floated. The Chief Minister also urged the members of BKU to generate awareness among rural people to reduce power thefts by initiating a social campaign and establish better coordination with Power Utilities. Taking a dig at the incident of JPCC president Dr Ajoy Kumar lodging a case in the Anti Corruption Bureau State BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo called it ridiculous. He said that Congress party is a circus and Rahul Gandhi is the ring master. Dr Ajoy Kumar is in the role of a Joker. He does stunts to attract the crowd and acts in a ridiculous way. The people of the State do not take them seriously. When Lalu Prasad was the Chief Minister, he used to often say that Dr. Ajay Kumar meant the meaning of IPS as an Iranian Police Service. Shahdeo said addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. It is known that at that time, Dr. Ajoy Kumar was East Singhbhum SP and then he used to always stay near Tata Steel MD JJ Irani. Congress party adopts such tactics only to be published in the newspapers. In the Shah Brothers case, the BJP and the Advocate General have given point-wise explanation. But, the Congress has nothing to do with it. It is has to do drama. Similarly, the Congress has done only the politics of lies till date and today again it has reiterated its old history, he added. Meanwhile, Shahdeo appealed to para teachers that they should return to work and not become the puppet of political parties. He said that on days of national celebration like January26 and August 15, showing black flags is similar to terrorist and extremist incidents. The para teachers should not be misguided by political parties and engaged in such activities. Shahdeo said that no one would be spared if they play with the future of students. Political parties are using para teachers only for their benefit, while they did not think about the teachers well being during their tenure. Only the BJP government has periodically improved their honorarium and service conditions. The demonstration on November 15 is an insult to Bhagwan Birsa Munda and the opposition has also expressed its sentiment in this insult and has expressed its thinking towards Bhagwan Birsa Munda, he said. Shahdeo said that BJP wants to ask that people who created ruckus during Statehood Day that a function like birthday or wedding is going on in their house and others create ruckus at the same time then how they will feel. Will they like it, he questioned. Shahdev said that the BJP government will not tolerate messing with the future of the students in any way. After Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal directed the officials of Public Works Department (PWD) to repair its potholed arterial roads, the Minister of PWD Sateyendra Jain has asked the department to repair all shortcomings in the various stretches by end of this month. Jain has also directed to submit a certificate after conducting necessary field inspections. The decision was taken in a recent meeting held by the PWD Minister and Puneet Kumar Vats, Engineer-in-Chief of PWD, for proper repair of roads under the department. Executive Engineers (civil & electrical) should ensure all shortcomings in the various stretches should be attended by the 30 November 2018 and shall submit the certificate after conducting the necessary field inspections. "Further, the concerned officers such as the Assistant engineers, executive engineers and the chief engineers have been directed to submit the report by 1st, 9th and 12th December. After which the principal chief engineer will compile the report and submit the same to E-in-C office by 13th December so that the compiled report can be submitted to the officer of Aditional Chief Secreatry (PWD) by 14th," read the minutes of the meeting, a copy of which is with The Pioneer. "Uneven surface and potholes at various locations, un-functional street lights and darks spots, un-effective utilization of maintenance vans by the concerned authorities such as Civil, electrical and horticulture, improper maintenance of flyover, Foot over Bridges, subways, foots paths, kerbstones, lifts, wild growth of weeds and others are some general shortcomings identified on various Delhi roads", it said. "The Minister further directed the department that all the shortcomings should be met out soon. He also ensured that painting should be done after all the repairing works done and a FoB should construted at Multan Nagar," said an official. Earlier, on Tuesday Kejriwal had directed officials of the PWD to ensure that all road repair work is completed by the December 15 deadline. The Chief Minister warned that the PWD engineers will be held "personally responsible" if roads are found to be in a bad condition after the deadline. "Several teams of citizens will be formed to inspect these roads on December 16. Each team will be headed by the members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) which will report any potholes and State of disrepair after the repairing of road work done" he had said. According to the official data, the PWD owns around 1,260-km roads in the national capital and maintenance of these roads is the responsibility of the PWD, some roads belong to the three municipal corporations while national highways passing through the national capital are owned by the Centre. Himachal Government would provide training to 2000 specially abled persons and provide them employment opportunities, state Technical Education, Labor & Employment and Industries Minister Bikram Singhsaid on Tuesday. Addressing a workshop organized for specially abled persons by HP Kaushal Vikas Nigam here, Singh said the state is implementing Himachal Pradesh Skill Development Project through Asian Development Bank in collaboration with the Government of India. Under the project there was a mandate to provide training to 2000 specially abled persons and provide them employment opportunities. The minister said there are 1.55 lakh persons with special abilities in the State and 90,000 had been issued disability certificates. He said that apart from the state, various industrial training institutions (ITIs) were providing training to 200 such persons in different trades to make them employable. The Minister said that convergence of departments especially Education, Health, Social Justice and Empowerment and Industries was extremely essential. He also visited exhibitions put up by NGOs like Abhi, Chinmaya Cord and Chetna associated with specially abled persons. Kapal Mochan expected to witness 7l pilgrims Chandigarh: The ongoing five days Kapal Mochan-Adi-Badri Mela in Bilaspur at district Yamunanagar which has started on November 19, is expected to witness presence of around 7 lakh pilgrims this year. The district administration, police administration and other department have made special arrangements for the safety and convenience of these visitors, said an official spokesman. He said that the whole fair is divided into four sectors and boats have been arranged for all the pious Sarovars. An exhibition having 40 stalls, depicting four years of developmental activities of the State Government has also been set up in the fair, he said. Punjab farmers complete 77 % sowing of wheat Chandigarh: The sowing of wheat has been completed in an area of 26.20 lakh hectares in Punjab, which was 77% of the total area to be sown under wheat, said Director Agriculture, Jasbir Singh Bains. He pointed out that area sown under wheat is 3% more than previous year. Last year wheat was sown in 25.12 lac hectares till date achieving 74 % sowing. He said 97% sowing had been completed in Patiala district while 98% in Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib districts. The Director advised the farmers not to use more than one bag of DAP per acre of wheat crop. Tanwar for strengthening booth committees Chandigarh: Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar on Tuesday stressed the need to strengthen the booth committees and appoint 10 booth sahayogis at each booth under the leadership of booth samrat in the state. Addressing a sammelan of OBC at Kaman Sarain in Gurugram, he exhorted that all sections including OBC should be given proper representation in booth committees. Union Min to be chief guest at Memorial lecture Chandigarh: Union Minister of Steel Chaudhary Birender Singh will be the chief guest of the Sir Chhotu Rams Memorial Lecture to be organised at JC Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad on November 21. The lecture is being organised by the University in association with Rashtriya Chetna Shakti Foundation Faridabad on the topic Farmers Problem and their solutions. The eminent historian and scholar Dr KC Yadav will be the keynote speaker of the program and present his view on the topic in context to Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram. The program will be presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof Dinesh Kumar. Haryana EC issues guidelines on Mayor poll Chandigarh: As per the provision made in Section 8B of the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, the Haryana State Election Commission has prescribed Rs 20 lakh as limit of expenditure for the candidates contesting the election of Mayor of Municipal Corporation, State Election Commissioner, Dalip Singh said. Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 has been amended by the Government according to which Mayor in the state will be chosen through the direct election by the electors of all wards of the concerned Municipal Corporation. State-of-the-art cryoablation machine used in PGIMER Chandigarh: In the second session on Cryoablation, the Department of Radiodiagnosis at PGIMER has recently treated two patients with liver cancer and one patient with renal cancer using the state-of-the-art cryoablation machine. Due to comorbid conditions, these patients could not be treated with surgery and could not be given general anaesthesia. The procedures were performed under local anaesthesia with minimal sedation. 'The cryoablation machine at PGIMER is the first of its kind installed anywhere in the country', said Prof MS Sandhu, Head, Department of Radiodiagnosis, PGIMER. He said Cryoablation can help in the treatment of a few selective patients with Cancer of the Liver, Pancreas, Kidneys and Prostrate amongst others. SAILs Independent Director visits BSL The Independent Director of SAIL, (Prof.) Dr Summer Singh visited Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) today. Singh was received by the plants officials on his arrival later they went on to have a look at the plant accompanied by other top officials. At BSL Singh interacted with the officials and later visited Bokaro General Hospital (BGH), informed the PR official. Singh also met with General Managers and senior officers to have in-depth familiarization about the Plant, officials informed. Fancy dress competition at SBPS An inter-house Fancy Dress Competition was organized for the students of Std. III, in Sarala Birla Public School, Ranchi. The topics selected for the competition were- Inventions and Discoveries, Food Items, Hollywood & Bollywood Characters, Famous Personalities and Fairy Tale Characters. The students mesmerized everybody present, in their colourful and fascinating costumes. School Head Personnel & Admin Pradip Varma and Principal Paramjit Kaur congratulated the students and motivated them for maximum participation. RDCIS, SAIL, C-DAC agreement An Agreement on Indigenous development of model based breakout prediction system for Continuous Caster has been signed between Research and Development Centre for Iron & Steel (RDCIS), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Ranchi and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Thiruvananthapuram. The Agreement has been signed by S. S. Das, DGM & HoG (PC) RDCIS, SAIL, Ranchi and Dr. Lancy Thomas, Scientist G (Control & Instrumentation Group), C-DAC, Trivandrum at a ceremony held at C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram. In this agreement, RDCIS, SAIL and C-DAC shall jointly work to develop Break-Out Prediction System (BOPS) Model for SMS II caster of RSP. Speech competition at Gossner College Under vigilance awareness week-2018, a speech competition was organized at Gossner College, Ranchi on Tuesday by MECON Limited. On this occasion, MECON officials alongwith faculty members of Gossner College namely Meena Sinha (Mass comm.), Umesh Kumar Yadav (B.B.A.), Surendra Prajapati (B.B.A.), Vinay Hansda (B.B.A.) and participating students in large numbers were present. Participants have emphasized the importance of eradication of corruption for building New India. Integrity Pledge was also administered to the students. Mahindras lithium ion 3 wheelers Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd today rolled out its first lithium ion electric 3 wheeler range Treo and Treo Yaari and announced its price, starting at an attractive Rs. 1.36 lakhs ex-showroom Bengaluru, including FAME subsidy. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd and Chairman Mahindra Electric said, As the pioneers of electric mobility in India, Mahindra is poised to be at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution while spearheading the endeavour through its range of clean mobility solutions. We are proud to launch Treo, the first Li-ion 3-wheeler auto developed in India. The Government of Karnataka has been very supportive in this initiative with their progressive policy framework for EVs. It has always supported accelerated adoption of EVs in the state. New feature phones from Jivi Jivi Mobiles, has launched three upgraded versions of its existing feature phones, in the price range of Rs. 800-Rs. 1200, offering more choice to customers in the segment. All the three feature phones X03, N444 and N4332 are dual SIM handsets and have latest features. They all come in beautiful designs and colors. These offerings should give new heft to Jivi Mobiles in the market. X03 has 1.8 display. It can also be used as Mp3 and Mp4 player for enjoying music. This version also has an FM radio built into it. Besides, it has a camera equipped with flash and a bright torch. X03 also has battery saving mode feature that would help prolong life of its 1000 mAH battery. It also has 128 GB expandable memory. The two-day 4th International Conference on Next Generation Computing Technologies (NGCT2018) being hosted by School of Computer Science, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) would commence at the Bidholi campus of the university on Wednesday . The conference is being co-sponsored by UCOST, CSIR India, DRDO, Elsevier and Sumeru Infrastructures. In its fourth version, the conference offers an opportunity to researchers and academicians to discuss and share the cutting edge research issues and ideas on the theme Computational Intelligence, the organisers said and added that in all, 115 research papers of the researchers from the reputed national and international Institutes across the world have been selected after rigorous review process. Dr Manish Prateek, Dean School of Computer Science Engineering & Conference Chair- informed that Rajendra Dobhal, director general, UCOST, Dehradun, would inaugurate the conference. Other eminent persons who would address and share their thoughts with the audience include Durgesh Pant, director, USERC; Marcin Paprzycki, associate professor at the Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences; E G Rajan, founder president of the Pentagram Research Centre (P) Ltd., Hyderabad, India; Deepak Bhaskar Phatak, recipient of the Excellence in Teaching award and Anurag Mishra, associate professor at University of Delhi. The average monthly income of a farmer family in the State was Rs 4,976 against national average of Rs 6,426 in 2012-13 agriculture year as per the 7th round survey of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) conducted in 2013. Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Minister Pradeep Maharathy informed this in the State Assembly in response to a question of BJP MLA Dilip Ray on Tuesday. During the year, a famer familys monthly average income in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Jharkhand was Rs 5,979, Rs 5,177, Rs 3,980 and Rs 4,721, respectively. A farmer familys income is basically calculated from sources like agriculture, wage, livestock and non-agriculture. A peasant family in Odisha earns Rs 1,407 from agriculture source, Rs 1, 716 from wage, Rs 1,314 from livestock and Rs 539 from non-agriculture source per month, according the Minister. In national level, a farmer households average monthly income comprised Rs 3,081 from agriculture, Rs 2,071 from wage, Rs 763 from live stock and Rs 512 from non-agriculture source. A farmer familys monthly average income was highest at Rs 18,059 in Punjab followed by Rs 14,434 in Haryana and Rs 11,888 in Kerala. Other States who are ahead of Odisha in respect of famers average monthly income include Assam (Rs 6,695), Gujarat (Rs 7,926), Karnataka (Rs 8,832), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 6,210), Maharashtra (Rs 7,386), Rajasthan (Rs 7,350), Tamil Nadu (Rs 6,980) and Telangana (Rs 6,311). With the stream of pilgrims from Pakistan pouring in, 91 pilgrims from the neighbouring country arrived here on Tuesday to participate in the 750th annual Urs (death anniversary) fair being held at the fabled Piran Kaliyar shrine near Roorkee which started on Monday. Nearly 20 km away from Haridwar, the religious congregation held on the bank of the Ganga Canal sees a huge throng of pilgrims every year. Revered as a shrine visiting which the desires of the devout are fulfilled, Kaliyer Sharif which is the burial place of a Sufi saint Alla Uddin Ali Ahmad Sabir sees hundreds of Pakistani Zaireens gathering at the place every year. This year being no exception, the local police and administration have put into place elaborate security arrangements to ensure that the fair passes off peacefully. The pilgrims from Pakistan say that they come here after shedding the animosity involving the two neighbouring countries haunting the bilateral relation for years, a gesture which the people here warmly reciprocate through large-hearted hospitality. The same picture was visible on Tuesday morning. The locals welcomed the group of 91 Zaireens warmly with garlands once it reached the Piran Kaliyar Sharif by Amritsar Express. The pilgrims have given the same message as they say that they have come here with message of brotherhood from the people of Pakistan. Among those who welcomed them were the joint magistrate Nitika Khandelwal and the mela in-charge Manoj Semwal.A beaming Abdul Gaffar Farooqui who is leading the group of the pilgrims said that they were happy being here. Meanwhile, the district administration has completed all arrangements for the mega religious congregation. To facilitate the pilgrims, the district administration has put up shelters, shops, toilets and tents aside from lighting the mela area. All arrangements have been put into place to ensure that the people coming here do not face the least of difficulty while on the pilgrimage, said a senior district officer who is monitoring the arrangements. Adequate number of buses for Pakistani Zaireens along with the currency exchange facility at the banks has been made, he added.The locals who welcomed the pilgrims said that they were elated over the guests emanating the same sentiment of love, peace and brotherhood. It is difficult to imagine that the relation between the two neighbours remains bitter and people are dying because of the animosity involving the two countries, said one of them. Mohammand Shah Hasan, a pilgrim from Pakistan said while talking to The Pioneer that the common man (awam) has been searching for the Aman and Mohabbat (peace and love) over the past seven decades. We are impatiently waiting for the time when the two neighbours would live in peace. This is what the shrine embodies Another pilgrim from Lahore said that his long-nurtured dream of having a darshan of the revered Piran Kaliyar has been fulfilled. I am overwhelmed. Besides, the warm welcome we have received here we would never forget, he added. They said that they would return after spending a week in Roorkee. In a major breakthrough, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested a 28-year-old operative of terrorist organisation Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) on Tuesday from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The accused, Ansar Ul Haqe, was involved in the murder of a 30-year-old intelligence officer from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Jammu & Kashmir Police. Police stated that they received information that Ansar would be arriving in Delhi from Bengaluru before leaving for Srinagar. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah revealed that on October 28, this year, a 30-year-old intelligence officer Sub-Inspector (SI) Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, working with CID was found shot dead in Chewa Kalan area. He was reportedly abducted by terrorists and murdered in cold blood. "SI Mir was moved to CID department in March this year and was known for his dedication towards his work. He was leaving for his village Puwana when he was way laid and kidnapped by armed terrorists. He was warned against venturing into his village as there was a possibility of attack by militant groups, who have been targeting policemen in the state recently," said the DCP. When he was on his way, he was entrapped by the accused and his girlfriend who were also from the same village. The girlfriend identified as Syed Saika asked Imtiyaz to drop her enroute to Puwana and leaked his location to Ansar, who further tipped off HM terrorists. On crossing Karimabad, he was intercepted by terrorists and killed. During interrogation, it was revealed that Ansar was a post graduate in English and was recently married. He was a political worker but was later influenced by a HM commander Wajid, and he came in contact with the HM operatives. "He was in regular contact with other HM terrorists Liaqat, Shau Cable, Shahid Ahmad Baba, Zahid Tiger and Zahur. He used to pass information to the HM commanders about the movement of security forces and local police officers," said the DCP. "In October, 2018, he was directed by Zahur Thokar, an HM commander to provide movement details of Imtiyaz. Accused roped in his girlfriend Syed Saika for this task as she had acquaintance with the deceased Sub Inspector. On learning that he was traveling toward Pulwana, she requested him to drop her. She then informed Ansar, who informed HM militants who intercepted him and killed him," said the DCP. World Toilet Day was observed on Monday though several programmes meant to sensitise the people on the importance of matter. Those who addressed the commemorative gatherings said that a lot is left to be done despite the governments both at the Centre and in the state claiming to have made several states open defecation free. This years campaign is focused on imperative of having a toilet. But the reality across the country as well as in Uttarakhand is that a large number of people have no toilet to ease themselves. Besides, as per the environmentalists, the practice of defecating in the open is dangerously contaminating the water and the soil. They say that the toilets and sound sanitation systems must be built while they stress on setting up bio-digestor toilets. Uttarakhand was declared the fourth open defecation free (ODF) state in the country a year ago, but the ground reality is grim, said the brand ambassador of Swachh Bharat Mission for Roorkee, Swachh Shri Ramesh Bhateja. The best way of sewage disposal is sewage line but at certain places like schools in the remote areas and villages where sewage line is not laid, septic tanks are set up. In areas where the water table is high like on the banks of Ganga, readymade septic tanks should be used. In the remote areas, people also use fly ash bricks for the septic tanks. He further said that the attempts made by the government are falling flat thanks to some practical problems like the absence of the water facility. Besides, some water tanks are not safe as they have no boundary wall, he said. However, using a clean toilet and keeping it clean must be made a habit, stressed Bhateja.A visit to the slum areas around the fabled ghats would reveal how the practice of defecating in the open still continues. The people are seen carrying water bottles in the morning to answer natures call. Abandoned toilets stinking for the want of water are still a common sight in the district. Men easing themselves freely at the public places in the cities and the towns are also seen despite the district administration having made it unlawful.The specialists say that though 34.6 percent villages in India have declared themselves ODF factors like absence of water availability, sensitisation about the proper use of toilets, want of cleanliness and maintenance are negating the ODF advantage. They add that there should be regular, third party evaluation to ensure that the surveys are done independently. No comprehensive survey has been conducted by the government so far, admits the district project manager Swach Bharat Grameen, S K Rai.The government is doing random physical verification of all the domestic toilets built after October 2, 2014 when the project was kicked off by the Centre. But the monitoring being random is not serving the purpose it is meant to.Under a scheme by Peyjal Nigam, 1,07,000 toilets have been built in 308 villages of the district since the campaign was launched. However, things in the cities are still dismal. In the shopping complexes, the places meant for toilets are being sold out by the builders for other purposes. Many point out the fact that except for one Sulabh Shauchalaya, there is no public toilet in the main Haridwar city which sees footfalls of lakhs of pilgrims nearly daily. ,Incumbent Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was on Tuesday sworn in for a second term after his ruling FijiFirst party won this year's general elections. Bainimarama was sworn in by President Jioji Konrote in the presence of representatives and high officials of the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the government, reports Efe news. According to the November 14 official election results, Bainimarama's party received 50.02 per cent of the total vote, almost 10 per cent less than the 2014 polls, and secured 27 of the 51 seats in the parliament. The opposition is headed by the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), which received 39.85 per cent votes and 21 seats, followed by the National Federation Party, which managed to retain its three seats with 7.38 per cent support. According to reports, the SODELPA was planning to challenge the results in court, with its leader Sitiveni Rabuka alleging that they were neither genuine nor credible. This is Fiji's second general election since a military coup in 2006 and the last elections took place in 2014. 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Freerks & Associates, SEG Insurance Ltd, SGB-NIA Insurance Brokers, SHILLING Ltd, SKANCO International, SMERI AB, SRS Underwriting Pty Ltd, Secure Enterprises Pty Ltd, Securitas Re, Sellers Group, Sentinel Indemnity LLC, Septagon Insurance PCC Limited, Shuford Insurance Agency, Sigma II Insurance Agency, Sinclair Billard and Weld Limited, Sobieski & Bradley, Solid Benefit Guidance, Spanjers Insurance Agency, Spataro Insurance Agency, Specialised Broking Associates, Specialty Risk, Stackhouse Poland, Stackhouse Poland Bidco Limited, Stackhouse Poland Group Limited, Stackhouse Poland Holdings Limited, Stackhouse Poland Midco Limited, Stackouse Poland Limited, Stanton Group, Stark Johnson & Stinson Inc., Steel Agency, Strata Solicitors Ltd, Strategic Health Plans Corp., Strathearn Insurance Brokers, Strathearn Insurance Brokers (Qld) Trading Trust, Strathern Insurance Group Pty Ltd, Strathern Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Strathern Unit Trust, Strong Financial Resources, Summit Insurance Group, Sunday and Associates, Sunderland Insurance Services, Super Advice Corporate Services Pty Ltd, Taylor Benefits, Texas Insurance Agency, Texas Insurance Managers, The BeneTex Group, The Buchholz Planning, The Chapman Group, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, The Daniels Group Inc., The EHE Group LLC, The EHE Insurance Agency LLC, The Eagle Insurance Agency LLC, The Eriksen Group, The Forker Company, The Gleason Agency, The Great Lakes Agency, The HR Group, The Hawk Agency, The Human Capital Group, The Lance Group, The Levitt/Kristan Co., The MW Bagnall Company, The Old Greenwich Consulting Group, The Parks Johnson Agency, The Plus Companies Inc., The Presidio Group, The Producers Choice, The Rains Group, The Splinter Group, The Titan Group, The Treiber Group, The Woodsmall Companies Inc., Title & Covenant Brokers Ltd., Title Investments Limited, Tom Sherwin Insurance Agency, Total Reward Group, Total Rewards Group (Holdings) Limited, Towle Agency, Transwestern, Tri-State General Insurance Agency, Triad Insurance Agency, Triad USA, Tribeca Strategic Advisors, Trinder & Norwood, Trip Mate, Trissel Graham & Toole, Tropp & Co., Tudor Risk Services, Tyloma Holdings Limited, Uni-Care Inc., Unison Inc., Universico Group, Unoccupied Direct Limited, V2V Holdings LLC, VEBA Service Group, Vasek Insurance Services Limited, Velo ACU LLC, Velo Holdings Inc., Verbag AG., Vertrue LLC, Victory Insurance Agency, Vincent L. Braband Insurance, Vital Benefits, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, W. E. Kingsley Co. Inc., WM. W. George & Associates, Walker Taylor Agency, Welling Associates, Wesfarmers Insurance - Insurance Brokerage Operations, Western Benefit Solutions, White & Company Insurance, Whitehaven Insurance Group, William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, William H. Connolly & Co., Williams Insurance Agency Inc., Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Winn & Company Insurance Brokers, Wischmeyer Benefit Partners, Woodbrook Underwriting Agencies, Woods & Grooms, WorkCare Northwest, Worksite Communications, Y. S. Liedman & Associates, YOA Capsicum Reinsurance Broker Limited, Zenor Limited, Zuber Insurance Agency, and e3 Financial. Ad Investing Trends Get In On This Crisis Investment While You Can The headline screamed "Amazon, Google and Netflix are fighting over this rare gas," which is helium, nonrenewable, and running out. When it's gone it's gone. That's a huge crisis for medicine, the military, and computer chips that run the 21st century's gadgets, appliances, and vehicles. But, a couple small companies have a solution. China Telecom Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides wireline and mobile telecommunications services primarily in the People's Republic of China. It offers wireline voice services, including local wireline telephone services and long distance wireline services; CDMA mobile voice services, such as local calls, domestic and international long distance calls, intra-provincial roaming, and inter-provincial roaming and international roaming; wireline Internet access services comprising dial-up and broadband services; wireless Internet access services; and wireline, Internet, and mobile value-added services. The company also provides Best Tone information services; and information technology-based integrated solutions, such as system integration and consulting, outsourcing, special advisory, information application, knowledge, and software development services. In addition, it offers managed data services that include digital data network, frame relay, and asynchronous transfer mode services for government agencies, large corporations, and institutions; and leased line services, as well as sells, repairs, and maintains customer-end equipment. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, including network, Internet access and transit, Internet data center, and mobile virtual network services in various countries, including the Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America; and music production and related information, instant messenger, finance leasing, capital and financial management, and e-commerce services, as well as sells telecommunications terminals. As of December 31, 2019, it had approximately 336 million mobile subscribers; 153 million wireline broadband subscribers; and 111 million access lines in service. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is based in Wanchai, Hong Kong. China Telecom Corporation Limited is a subsidiary of China Telecommunications Corporation. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil (Taicang) Petroleum Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil Abu Dhabi Offshore Petroleum Company Limited, ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc., ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, ExxonMobil B Resources Company, ExxonMobil Capital Finance Company, ExxonMobil Capital Netherlands B.V., ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited, ExxonMobil Chemical France, ExxonMobil Chemical Gulf Coast Investments LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Holland B.V., ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Company Limited, ExxonMobil Development Africa B.V., ExxonMobil Development Company, ExxonMobil Egypt (S.A.E.), ExxonMobil Exploracao Brasil Ltda., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Tanzania Limited, ExxonMobil Finance Company Limited, ExxonMobil Financial Investment Company Limited, ExxonMobil France Holding SAS, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe Limited, ExxonMobil General Finance Company, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, ExxonMobil Golden Pass Surety LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Company Holland LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Norway AS, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, ExxonMobil International Services SARL, ExxonMobil Iraq Limited, ExxonMobil Italiana Gas S.r.l., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., ExxonMobil LNG Services B.V., ExxonMobil Lubricants Trading Company, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BVBA, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical Holdings Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, ExxonMobil Production Norway Inc., ExxonMobil Qatargas (II) Limited, ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc., ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, ExxonMobil Rasgas Inc., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, ExxonMobil Russia Kara Sea Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC, ExxonMobil Technology Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Funding Ltd., Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Golden Pass LNG Terminal Investments LLC, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC, Imperial Oil Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources N.W.T. Limited, Imperial Oil/Petroliere Imperiale, Infineum Italia s.r.I., Infineum Singapore Pte. Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO ENERGY, XTO Energy Canada, and XTO Holdings LLC. Guess?, Inc. engages in designing, marketing, distributing and licensing of contemporary apparel and accessories for men, women and children that reflect the American lifestyle and European fashion sensibilities. It operates through the following segments: Americas Retail, Americas Wholesale, Europe, Asia, and Licensing. The Americas Retail segment includes the Company's retail and e-Commerce operations in North and Central America and its retail operations in South America. The Americas Wholesale segment consists of the Company's wholesale operations in the Americas. The Europe segment comprises the Company's retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations in Europe and the Middle East. The Asia segment refers to the Company's retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations in Asia and the Pacific. The Licensing segment includes the worldwide licensing operations of the Company. The company was founded by Paul Marciano and Maurice Marciano in 1981 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. Read More There is not enough analysis data for Healthier Choices Management. 4.9 Community Rank Outperform Votes Healthier Choices Management has received 82 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Healthier Choices Management has received 30 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Healthier Choices Management has received 73.21% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Healthier Choices Management and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe HCMC will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe HCMC 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 Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V.. The following companies are subsidiares of 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. Invesco BulletShares 2021 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF's stock was trading at $23.11 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, BSJL stock has decreased by 0.6% and is now trading at $22.98. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Invesco Corporate Income Defensive ETF's stock was trading at $25.0950 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, IHYD shares have increased by 0.0% and is now trading at $25.0950. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Keystone Investment Trust plc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Invesco Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by Invesco Asset Management Limited. The fund invests in public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund employs fundamental analysis with a top-down stock picking approach, focusing on such factors as sound balance sheets, good cash flows, ability to pay and sustain dividends, good asset bases, and market conditions to create its portfolio. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against FTSE All-Share Index. The fund was formerly known as Merrill Lynch UK Investment Trust Plc. Keystone Investment Trust plc was formed on September 17, 1954 and is domiciled in the United Kingdom. Read More Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE:MNK) posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August, 4th. The company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, topping the Thomson Reuters' consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.55. The firm earned $700.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $630.19 million. Mallinckrodt had a negative net margin of 89.94% and a positive trailing twelve-month return on equity of 34.26%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 14.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.53 EPS. View Mallinckrodt's earnings history. Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment offers deposit and credit products; individual life, and individual and group long-term care insurance; and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. It also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, portfolio and mutual fund management, mutual fund dealer, life and financial reinsurance, and fund management businesses. Additionally, the company holds and manages oil and gas properties; holds oil and gas royalties, and foreign bonds and equities; and provides investment management, counseling, advisory, and dealer services. Manulife Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. 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. The following companies are subsidiares of Barclays: Adler Toy Holding Sarl, Aequor Investments Limited, Alymere Investments Limited, Alynore Investments Limited Partnership, Analog Analytics, Analog Analytics Inc, Analytical Trade Holdings LLC, Analytical Trade Investments LLC, Analytical Trade UK Limited, Archstone Equity Holdings Inc, Ardencroft Investments Limited, B D & B Investments Limited, B.P.B. (Holdings) Limited, BB Client Nominees Limited, BBAIL SAS, BCAP LLC, BIFML PTC Limited, BMBF (No.24) Limited, BMI (No.9) Limited, BNC Brazil Consultoria Empresarial Ltda, BNRI ENG 2013 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG 2014 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG GP LLP, BNRI England 2010 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2011 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2012 Limited Partnership, BNRI Limehouse No.1 Sarl, BNRI PIA Scot GP Limited, BNRI Scots GP LLP, BPB Holdings SA, BVP Galvani Global S.A.U., Barafor Limited, Barclay Leasing Limited, Barclaycard Funding PLC, Barclaycard International Payments Limited, Barclays (Barley) Limited, Barclays Aldersgate Investments Limited, Barclays Alzin Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Asia Limited, Barclays Asset Management Limited, Barclays BR Investments S.a r.l., Barclays BWA Inc., Barclays Bank (Suisse) S.A., Barclays Bank Delaware, Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, Barclays Bank Ireland Public Limited Company, Barclays Bank Mexico S.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Barclays Bayard Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bedivere Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bordang Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Brasil Assessoria Financeira Ltda., Barclays CCP Funding LLC, Barclays Cantal Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Capital (Cayman) Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Limited, Barclays Capital Canada Inc., Barclays Capital Casa de Bolsa S.A. de C.V., Barclays Capital Derivatives Funding LLC, Barclays Capital Effekten GmbH, Barclays Capital Energy Inc., Barclays Capital Equities Trading GP, Barclays Capital Finance Limited, Barclays Capital Futures (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Barclays Capital Japan Securities Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Capital Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.2) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.3) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees Limited, Barclays Capital Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Capital Real Estate Finance Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Inc., Barclays Capital Securities Client Nominee Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Trading Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Claudas Investments Partnership, Barclays Claudas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Barclays Converted Investments (No.2) Limited, Barclays Corporation Limited, Barclays Direct Investing Nominees Limited, Barclays Directors Limited, Barclays Dryrock Funding LLC, Barclays Electronic Commerce Holdings Inc., Barclays Equity Holdings Limited, Barclays Equity Index Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Europe Client Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Firm Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Executive Schemes Trustees Limited, Barclays Financial LLC, Barclays Financial Planning Nominee Company Limited, Barclays Funds Investments Limited, Barclays Funds and Advisory Japan Limited, Barclays Global Service Centre Private Limited, Barclays Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Group Holdings Limited, Barclays Group Operations Limited, Barclays Group US Inc., Barclays Index Finance Trust, Barclays Industrial Development Limited, Barclays Industrial Investments Limited, Barclays Insurance Guernsey PCC Limited, Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited, Barclays Insurance U.S. Inc., Barclays International Luxembourg Dollar Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Investment Management Limited, Barclays Investment Solutions Limited, Barclays Investments & Loans (India) Limited, Barclays Korea GP Limited, Barclays Lamorak Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Leasing (No.9) Limited, Barclays Leto Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Long Island Limited, Barclays Luxembourg EUR Holdings S.a r.l, Barclays Luxembourg Finance S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg GBP Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Global Funding S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings SSC B, Barclays Marlist Limited, Barclays Mauritius Overseas Holdings Limited, Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited, Barclays Merchant Bank (Singapore) Ltd., Barclays Nominees (George Yard) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Manx) Limited, Barclays Oversight Management Inc., Barclays Payment Solutions Inc., Barclays Pelleas Investments Limited Partnership, Barclays Pelleas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Pension Funds Trustees Limited, Barclays Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Private Asset Management (Monaco) S.A.M, Barclays Private Bank, Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Barclays Receivables LLC, Barclays SAMS Limited, Barclays Securities (India) Private Limited, Barclays Securities Japan Limited, Barclays Security Trustee Limited, Barclays Services (Japan) Limited, Barclays Services Corporation, Barclays Services Jersey Limited, Barclays Services LLC, Barclays Services Limited, Barclays Shea Limited, Barclays Singapore Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Switzerland Services SA, Barclays Tenedora De Immuebles SL., Barclays Term Funding Limited Liability Partnership, Barclays UK Investments Limited, Barclays US CCP Funding LLC, Barclays US Funding LLC, Barclays US GPF Inc., Barclays US Investments Inc., Barclays US LLC, Barclays Unquoted Investments Limited, Barclays Unquoted Property Investments Limited, Barclays Wealth Management Jersey Limited, Barclays Wealth Nominees Limited, Barclays Wealth Services Limited, Barclays Wealth Trustees (India) Private Limited, Barclayshare Nominees Limited, Barclaytrust Channel Islands Limited, Barcosec Limited, Barsec Nominees Limited, Blossom Finance General Partnership, Branchcall Computers (Pvt) Limited, Braven Investments No.1 Limited, CP Flower Guaranteeco (UK) Limited, CP Newco 1 Limited, CP Newco2 Limited, CP Newco3 Limited, CP Propco 1 Limited, CP Propco 2 Limited, CP Topco Limited, CPIA Canada Holdings, CPIA England 2008 Limited Partnership, CPIA England 2009 Limited Partnership, CPIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, CPIA Investments No.1 Limited, CPIA Investments No.2 Limited, CRE Diversified Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe LLC, Calthorpe Investments Limited, Capton Investments Limited, Carnegie Holdings Limited, Central Platte Valley Management LLC, Chapelcrest Investments Limited, Charles Schwab Europe, Claudas Investments Limited, Claudas Investments Two Limited, Clydesdale Financial Services Limited, Cobalt Investments Limited, Compania Regional del Sur S.A., Compania Sudamerica S.A., Condor No.1 Limited Partnership, Cornwall Homes Loans Limited, Crescent Crown Land Holding SPV LLC, Crescent Legacy LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential L.P., Crescent Plaza Residential LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential LP LLC, Crescent Real Estate Member LLC, Crescent Resort Development LLC, Crescent TRS Holdings LLC, Crescent Tower Residences GP LLC, Crescent Tower Residences L.P., Curve Investments GP, DBL Texas Holdings LLC, DMW Realty Limited, Desert Mountain Development LLC, Desert Mountain Properties Limited Partnership, Develop Training Group Limited, Dorset Home Loans Limited, Durlacher Nominees Limited, EWRD Summit LLC, Eagle Financial and Leasing Services (UK) Limited, East West Resort Development V L.P. L.L.L.P., East West Resort Development VII LLC, Equity Limited Partnership, Equity Value Investments No.1 Limited, Equity Value Investments No.2 Limited, Erimon Home Loans Ireland Limited, Expobank, FIRSTPLUS Financial Group Limited, Finpart Nominees Limited, First Assurance, Foltus Investments Limited, Full House Holdings Limited, Gallen Investments Limited, Global Dynasty Natural Resource Private, Globe Nominees Limited, Gracechurch Services Corporation, Grays Station LLC, Grupo Financiero Barclays Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hawkins Funding Limited, Heraldglen Limited, Holding Stuttgarter Strae GmbH, Hurley Investments No.1 Limited, Imalivest Mineral Resources LP, Investors In Infrastructure Limited, J.V. Estates Limited, JV Assets Limited, Kirsche Investments Limited, LTDL Holdings LLC, La Torretta Beverages LLC, La Torretta Hospitality LLC, La Torretta Operations LLC, Lagalla Investments LLC, Leonis Investments LLP, Liability Partnership, Long Island Assets Limited, Long Island Holding A LLC, Long Island Holding B Limited, MK Opportunities GP Ltd, MK Opportunities LP, MVWP Investors LLC, Maloney Investments Limited, Marbury Holdings LLC, Menlo Investments Limited, Mercantile Credit Company Limited, Mercantile Leasing Company (No.132) Limited, Meridian (SPV-AMC) Corporation, Mintaka Investments No. 4 Limited, Mira Vista Development LLC, Mira Vista Golf Club L.C., Mountainside Partners LLC, Murray House Investment Management Limited, Naxos Investments Limited, Nile Bank, North Colonnade Investments Limited, Northstar Mountain Properties LLC, Northstar Trailside Townhomes LLC, Northstar Village Townhomes LLC, Northwharf Investments Limited, Northwharf Nominees Limited, OGP Leasing Limited, Oakes Millers Ltd, Ownership Trustee Limited, PIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, Palomino Limited, Pecan Aggregator LP, Pelleas Investments Limited, Pelleas Investments Two Limited, Pippin Island Investments Limited, Preferred Liquidity LLC, Preferred Liquidity Limited Partnership, Procella Investments LLC, Procella Investments No.1 LLC, Procella Investments No.2 LLC, Procella Investments No.3 LLC, Protium Finance I LLC, Protium Master Grantor Trust, Protium Master Mortgage LP, Protium REO I LP, R.C. Grieg Nominees Limited, RVH Limited, RVT CLO Investments LLP, Razzoli Investments Limited, Real Estate Participation Management Limited, Real Estate Participation Services Limited, Relative Value Holdings LLC, Relative Value Investments UK Limited, Relative Value Trading Limited, Roder Investments No. 1 Limited, Roder Investments No. 2 Limited, Ruthenium Investments Limited, SPM GP Limited, Securitized Asset Backed Receivables LLC, Servicios Barclays S.A. de C.V., Societe Civile Immobiliere 31 Avenue de la Costa, Solution Personal Finance Limited, Southern Peaks Mining LP, Standard Life Aberdeen, Surety Trust Limited, Surrey Funding Corporation, Sussex Purchasing Corporation, Sutton Funding LLC, Swan Lane Investments Limited, TPLL LLC, TPProperty LLC, Tahoe Club Company LLC, Tahoe Club Employee Company, The Logic Group Enterprises Limited, The Logic Group Holdings Limited, Third Energy Holdings Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No. 2 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.1 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.3 Limited, US Secured Investments LLC, Union Center LLC, United Counties Bank, Verain Investments LLC, Walbrook Group Ltd, Wedd Jefferson (Nominees) Limited, Wessex Investments Limited, Westferry Investments Limited, Wilmington Riverfront Receivables LLC, Woolwich Homes Limited, Woolwich Plan Managers Limited, Woolwich Qualifying Employee Share, Woolwich Surveying Services Limited, Woori BC Pegasus Securitization Specialty Co. Limited, and Zeban Nominees Limited. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. engages in the manufacture of thermoplastic corrugated pipe, which provides suite of water management products and drainage solutions for use in the construction and infrastructure marketplace. It operates through the following segments: Pipe, Infiltrator, International, and Allied Products & Other. The Pipe segment manufactures and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipe throughout the United States. The Infiltrator segment provides plastic leachfield chambers and systems, septic tanks and accessories, primarily for use in residential applications. The International segment manufactures and markets pipe and allied products in regions outside of the United States. The Allied Products & Other segment manufactures and markets products throughout the United States. Products include StormTech, Nyloplast, ARC Septic Chambers, Inserta Tee, water quality filters and structures, Fittings, and FleXstorm. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Hilliard, OH. Read More Anadarko Petroleum Corporation engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of oil and gas properties. It operates through three segments: Exploration and Production, WES Midstream, and Other Midstream. The company explores for and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). It is also involved in gathering, processing, treating, and transporting oil, natural-gas, and NGLs production, as well as the gathering and disposal of produced water. The company's oil and natural gas properties are located in the United States onshore and deepwater Gulf of Mexico; and Algeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Colombia, Peru, and other countries. As of December 31, 2018, it had approximately 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. Read More SPDR Gold Shares' stock was trading at $153.93 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, GLD shares have increased by 8.7% and is now trading at $167.28. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. engages in the acquisition and operation of multifamily properties in select targeted markets throughout the United States. It operates through the following segments: Multifamily Communities, Financing, New Market Properties, Preferred Office Properties, and Others. The Multifamily Communities segment consists of company's portfolio of owned residential multifamily communities. The Financing segment refers to the portfolio of real estate loans, bridge loans, and other instruments deployed by the company to partially finance the development, construction, and prestabilization carrying costs of new multifamily communities and other real estate and real estate related assets. The New Market Properties segment covers portfolio of grocery-anchored shopping centers, as well as the financial results from the retail real estate loans. The Preferred Office Properties segment relates to the portfolio of office buildings. The Others segment includes deferred offering costs. The company was founded by Leonard A. Silverstein and John A. Williams on September 18, 2009 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Read More Consolidated Graphics, Inc. (CGX) is a provider of commercial printing and print-related services with 70 printing businesses located across 27 states, Toronto, and Prague. The Company's services consist of print services, including electronic prepress, digital and offset printing, finishing, storage and delivery of printed documents, which are custom manufactured to the Company's customers' design specifications; fulfilment and mailing services for such printed materials, technology solutions that enable customers to procure and manage printed materials and/or design, procure, distribute, track and analyze results of printing-based marketing programs and activities, and multi-media capabilities allowing its customers to supplement the message of their printed materials through other media, such as the Internet, email, or text messaging. In January 2014, RR Donnelley & Sons completed the acquisition of Consolidated Graphics, Inc. Read More Glencore plc produces, refines, processes, stores, transports, and markets metals and minerals, and energy products in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It operates through two segments, Marketing Activities and Industrial Activities. The company produces and markets copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead, chrome ore, ferrochrome, vanadium, alumina, aluminum, tin, and iron ore. It also engages in the oil exploration/production, distribution, storage, and bunkering activities; and offers coal, crude oil and oil products, refined products, and natural gas. The company markets and distributes physical commodities sourced from third party producers and its production to industrial consumers in the battery, electronic, construction, automotive, steel, energy, and oil industries. It also provides financing, logistics, and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. The company was formerly known as Glencore Xstrata plc and changed its name to Glencore plc in May 2014. Glencore plc was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. 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.. With the presidents of the United States and Russia staying home, it seemed Chinese President Xi Jinping would dominate this weekend at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and increase his country's influence in the Pacific. CNN reports in its article China hoped for a soft power win at APEC, instead Xi Jinping left dissatisfied that China has already lent at least $1.3 billion to the Pacific Islands and about $590 million alone to the summit's host, Papua New Guinea (PNG). And to coincide with the PNG visit, Beijing promised $4 billion of finance to build PNG's first national road network, one of several gestures for which China secured effusive praise from Pacific Island countries including Samoa, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Niue, Fiji and the President of the Federated States of Micronesia. But nevertheless, Xi left PNG dissatisfied and disgruntled. For the first time in APEC's 25-year history, PNG was forced to end the summit with leaders failing to agree on a communique. And Beijing was also left embarrassed by reports of four Chinese officials being unceremoniously banished from the office of PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato after allegedly trying to influence his statement. The Director General of China's Department of International Economic Affairs, Wang Xiaolong, was reported as saying this was "simply not true." For China, the trade summit should have been a public relations victory -- but it was turned into partial defeat when Chinese officials barred most reporters from participant countries and other international outlets from the forum and instead only allowed Chinese state-owned media journalists, citing space and security concerns according to Reuters. Concerted and coordinated push back by the US and its allies Of more enduring consequence than diplomatic embarrassment, is the concerted and coordinated push back by the US and its allies -- such as Japan and Australia -- which was done in a very public way. Earlier this month, Australia announced a $2.2 billion "step-up to the Pacific" -- which includes an Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility and an export credit agency to help Australian companies invest in the region. Then on Saturday, the Trilateral Partnership countries of the US, Japan and Australia released a joint statement declaring together they would identify infrastructure projects for development and financing. Pointedly, these projects would adhere to "international standards and principles for development, including openness, transparency, and fiscal sustainability." That approach, it said, would "help to meet the region's genuine needs while avoiding unsustainable debt burdens for the nations of the region." US Vice President Mike Pence was even more blunt during his speech at the APEC summit. Taking a swipe at China, he said that the US "offers a better option" and "does not drown partners in a sea of debt...coerce" them or "compromise" their independence. To indicate that the US and allied powers were serious about using economic and military means to counter Chinese influence, Pence announced over the weekend the US will join with Australia and PNG to redevelop and create a joint naval base on Manus Island. "We will work with these two nations to protect sovereignty and maritime rights in the Pacific Islands," he said. Previously, in August, it was reported that China could be given the contract to redevelop a port on Manus Island. A military facility on Manus Island is of high strategic significance -- this is a deep-water port capable of hosting aircraft carriers and hundreds of naval vessels. As one of the most important bases for the US fleet in the Pacific theater during World War II, it will be a second line of defence should China's People's Liberation Army Navy successfully break out of the so-called First Island Chain, a line of archipelagos that cover the Kuril Islands, Japan, Taiwan, northern Philippines and Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula. But even if the reports about Chinese involvement in the Manus Island port are untrue, Beijing would be alarmed at the prospect of American and Australian military assets in PNG to counter any Chinese naval breakout. As far as Beijing is concerned, the weekend was the time to showcase China's emergence as a benign superpower in the South Pacific. Instead, public distaste for and rebuke of its 'sharp power' was on show. Xi defended China's trade practices and denied that its Belt and Road Initiative contained hidden geo-political and other sinister motivations. And no matter how adamantly he did so, it was not a conversation that Xi intended to have when he first landed in Port Moresby. And it has not ended. The more China offers economic largesse and inducements, the more it will need to reassure the recipient and the world that it is not laying a 'debt trap' or seeking to buy influence. The weekend was supposed to be China's moment in the sun during this most important regional economic meeting. Instead, it became obvious to all that Beijing's ambitions are as feared and resisted by at least as many countries, as welcomed by others. Grand City Properties S.A. engages in the residential real estate business in Germany, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company invests in, manages, and rents real estate properties in North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin; metropolitan regions of Dresden, Leipzig, and Halle; and the cities in the north of Germany, Bremen, Hamburg, and Hannover, as well as other urban centers, such as Nuremberg, Munch, Mannheim, Frankfurt, and London. Grand City Properties S.A. was founded in 2004 and is based in Luxembourg. Read More The Iranian nuclear problem still determines relations between the West and Tehran and influences geopolitics in the Middle East. Washingtons uncompromised policy makes us think the U.S. administration doesnt intend to find common grounds with the Iranian government. It is pulling out of deals signed by previous American governments with great effort. However, the U.S. is ready to make a new nuclear deal. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 didnt close down all nuclear infrastructure of Iran, including nuclear weapon production. So the current crisis of the American-Iranian relations is another turn of a long-standing struggle. The crucial position of Donald Trump is signing new agreements and ignoring previous ones. The U.S. had been ignoring the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which was signed in 1987, for many years and finally Trump pulled out of it. The everlasting isolation of North Korea is now over and nothing has stopped the head of the White House from signing a historical agreement with Kim Il Sungs grandson. In the end, it came to Iran and its nuclear program. Trump promised to review the nuclear deal as far back as his election campaign. The deal with Iran was one of the biggest foreign political achievements of President Barack Obama as the U.S. actively worked on the agreements development. The review of Washingtons policy on not only Iran, but also China, Russia, as well as NATO members and the EU meets the U.S. economic interests. Offence is the best defence. Obviously, sanctional policy against Iran cant change Tehrans political tack. Geopolitics of the Middle East suggests absence of vacuum if someone is weakening, another one is strengthening. Irans influence has grown significantly in recent 5 years. Tehran is viewed as a participant of the Syrian peace settlement. Despite sanctions, Iran wont give up actively participating in all processes in the Middle East. Moreover, the current sanctions cant isolate Iranian economy. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that the Turkish side didnt support Washingtons position and believed that American anti-Iranian sanctions upset the global balance. The U.S. granted eight countries, including India, Japan, and South Korea, oil sanctions waivers. Once again, it proves that imposed restrictions should make the Iranian government to sign a new deal. They cant do more. New JCPOA will be similar to the previous one. Iran will promise to restrict a number of nuclear centrifuges and to close down highly-enriched uranium and weapon-grade plutonium production. Probably, there will be more inspecting organizations which can visit nuclear facilities along with the IAEA. Nuclear reactors in Arak, Ahvaz, and Bushehr will go on working. A special attention will be paid to the Fordo plant which is thought to be the leading technological center of the Iranian nuclear industry. Tehran is likely to support an initiative of a new deal. It will try to keep the current nuclear potential. In this situation, the Iranian government will hunker down until then. At the moment, Tehran still adheres to JCPOA, even though the U.S. is imposing new sanctions on it. Iran pays much less importance to the U.S. pressing than to consequences of breaking obligations to the EU. Infineon Technologies AG engages in the provision of semiconductor and system solutions. It operates through the following segments: Automotive, Industrial Power Control, Power & Sensor systems, and Connected Secure Systems. The Automotive segment designs, develops, manufactures, and markets semiconductor for automotive applications. The Industrial Power Control segment involves in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of semiconductors for the generation, transmission, and economy in the use of electrical energy. The Power & Sensor systems segment includes design, development, manufacture, and marketing of semiconductors for energy-efficient power supplies as well as for mobile devices and mobile phone network infrastructures. The Connected Secure Systems designs, develops, manufactures, and markets semiconductor-based security products for card applications and network systems. The company was founded on April 1, 1999 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Read More Randgold Resources Limited is engaged in gold mining, exploration and related activities. The Company's activities are focused on West and Central Africa. The Company operates through the gold mining segment. The Company operates various mines, such as Morila, Loulo, Gounkoto, Tongon and Kibali. The Company is exploring in African countries, such as Mali, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Company also holds an interest in the Massawa project. The Company holds Morila Limited, which holds interests in the Morila mine in Mali. As of December 31, 2016, Morila mine has produced 122,370 ounces (oz) of gold. The Company holds a controlling interest in the Loulo mine, located in Mali, through Societe des Mines de Loulo SA (Loulo). The Loulo mine is mining from over two underground mines. As of December 31, 2016, Loulo mine has produced 350,604 oz of gold. It has a controlling interest in the Gounkoto mine through Societe des Mines de Gounkoto SA. Read More The Congressional Uzbekistan Caucus was organized in the U.S. - a lobby organization that will focus on improving Washington-Tashkent relations. The establishment of the group was initiated by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who discussed its contours with members of the U.S. House of Representatives during his visit to the U.S. in May. Back then Mirziyoyev met with Mississippi congressman Trent Kelly. Their talks were the basis of today's actions by Kelly and his colleague from Texas Vicente Gonzalez. According to experts, this is an attempt to adjust the U.S. policy towards Uzbekistan, the Central Asian state itself will continue the current foreign policy, based on the balance between external partners - without assigning a particular priority or ignoring someone, defending its national interests in the first place. Experts consider Tashkent's approach as logical. U.S.-Uzbekistan relations were 'shaken' during Islam Karimov's presidency. After the Andijan unrest, Tashkent fell into disgrace with Washington, being 'blacklisted' as a state, where human rights are an empty sound. The situation has started slightly changing in the last year of Karimovs life, and when Mirziyoyev, who declared a democratic reversal, came to power, serious changes were announced. However, things aren't exactly what Uzbekistan wanted. The country was withdrawn from Washington's list of rogue states, but at the same time Tashkent does not receive any special "preferences", feeling itself alongside Kabul or Islamabad. Therefore, the caucus is what Tashkent needs. According to political scientist, doctor of historical sciences Rafik Sayfulin, U.S-Uzbek relations should be assessed carefully and without unnecessary emotions. According to him, Washington has achieved its goal by obtaining the consent of the Uzbek authorities to restore the northern route of U.S. military supplies in Afghanistan. It seems that military technical cooperation will continue as well, in any case, there is an agreement on thematic negotiations between Washington and Tashkent. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in turn, was recognized by the U.S. as one of the progressive leaders of the region. "The reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan have also been approved," Sayfulin told Vestnik Kavkaza. It was reflected in specific agreements worth almost $5 billion. Thus, it can be considered that in exchange for political support from the Uzbek leadership, Washington received the preferences it needed for the transit of its cargo to Afghanistan. "The United States is not a state that can be ignored or confronted. It is natural that Uzbekistan, at least at a declarative level, prefers to maintain partnership relations with the United States. On the one hand, to some degree, it will secure the leadership from the U.S. possible interference in the internal affairs. On the other hand, Tashkent continues its traditional balancing between the political centers of power - Moscow, Beijing, Washington," Sayfulin believes. According to him, the creation of a caucus outlines the future of the Washington-Tashkent relations, but no more than that. Therefore, the issue of these relations' nature is still open. But one thing is certain, Sayfulin says, the Uzbek-American cooperation does not damage the relations between Tashkent and Moscow., as well as its relations with Beijing. "Russia and China firmly occupy their positions in relations with Uzbekistan, and there is no alternative to them. These two states accounts for half of Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover. And it was worth remembering that Uzbekistan has always striven for equal relations with partners, and has never been 'friends with someone to the detriment of others'. This is the cornerstone position of Tashkent, and it will not change it," Sayfulin believes. As for the caucus, it will be convened twice a year to work out proposals for improving relations with Tashkent and hand them over to the senior U.S. leadership. On November 19, the first meeting of the Uzbek-American parliamentary group was held in Tashkent. The congressmen were also received Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov. According to the press service of the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "the foreign minister welcomed the creation of the Uzbekistan caucus in the lower chamber of the United States Congress for the first time in the entire history of bilateral relations." The sides discussed topical issues of the Uzbek-American agenda, the prospects for strengthening and expanding ties between parliamentarians and "legislative consolidation of positive trends in the dynamically developing Uzbek-U.S. cooperation," the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan said. iShares S&P SmallCap 600 ETF's stock was trading at $62.31 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IJR stock has increased by 89.1% and is now trading at $117.83. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. MAXIMUS, Inc. engages in the operation of government and human services programs. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Services; U.S. Federal Services; and Outside the U.S. The U.S. Services segment offers a variety of business process services, and appeals and assessments for state, provincial and national government programs. The U.S. Federal Services segment includes process solutions, program management, as well as system and software development, and maintenance services for various United States federal civilian programs. The Outside the U.S segment comprises of national, state, and county human services agencies with a variety of business process services, and related consulting services for welfare-to-work, child support, higher education institutions, and other human services programs. The company was founded by David V. Mastran in 1975 and is headquartered in Reston, VA. 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 The following companies are subsidiares of Mueller Industries: ATCO Rubber Products, ATCO Rubber Products Inc., Aegis Oil and Gas Leasing Ltd., Amwest Exploration Company, Arava Exploration Company, Arava Natural Resources Company Inc., B & K Industries Inc., B&K Industries, B&K LLC (d/b/a BK Products), Bayard Mining Corp., Canco Oil & Gas Ltd., Carpentertown Coal & Coke Company, Changzhou Mueller Refrigerant Valve Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Climate Components LLC, DENO Holding Company Inc., DENO Investment Company II Inc., DENO Investment Company Inc., Die-Mold Tool Limited, Die-Mold Tool Limited, Extruded Metals, Extruded Metals Inc., Great Lakes Copper Ltd., Halstead Industries, HeatLink Group, Heatlink Group Inc., Heatlink Group USA LLC (Incorporated 2/7/2019), Howell Metal Company (d/b/a Precision Tube in VA 4/2019), Itawamba Industrial Gas Company Inc., Jungwoo Metal Ind. Co. LTD, Jungwoo Metal Ind. Co. Ltd., Kessler Sales & Distribution, Kessler Sales & Distribution LLC, King Coal Company, Leon Water Enterprises Inc., Lincoln Brass Works, Lincoln Brass Works Inc. (Assumed name: Mueller Gas Products), Linesets, Linesets Inc., MA Industrial Secured Lending LLC, MCTC LLC, MCTP LLC, MII Financial Corporation, MPC Foundry Inc., MPC Machine Shop Inc., Macomber Building and Land Corporation, Macomber Construction Company, Macomber Incorporated, Micro Gauge, Micro Gauge Inc., Microgauge Machining Inc., Mining Remedial Recovery Company, Mueller Advanced Connections LLC, Mueller Brass Co. (Assumed name: Mueller Brass Products), Mueller Brass Forging Company Inc., Mueller Brass Holding Company Inc., Mueller Canada Holding Co. Ltd., Mueller Casting Company Inc., Mueller Comercial de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Mueller Copper Tube Company Inc., Mueller Copper Tube Products Inc., Mueller East Inc., Mueller Europe Investment Company Ltd., Mueller Europe Limited, Mueller Fittings Company Inc., Mueller Fittings LLC, Mueller Formed Tube Company Inc., Mueller Impacts Company Inc., Mueller Industrial Realty Co., Mueller Industries Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mueller LBHC Inc., Mueller Packaging LLC, Mueller Plastics Corporation Inc., Mueller Plastics Holding Company Inc., Mueller Press Company Inc., Mueller Refrigeration Holding Company Inc., Mueller Refrigeration LLC, Mueller Refrigeration Products Company Inc., Mueller Southeast Inc., Mueller Streamline China LLC, Mueller Streamline Co., Mueller Streamline Holding S.L.U., Mueller Streamline II LLC, Mueller Streamline Trading LLC, Mueller Tool and Machine Inc., Muellux Holding Company I SARL, Muellux Holding Company II SARL, Overstreet Hughes, Overstreet-Hughes Co. Inc. (Assumed name: Fabricated Tube Products), PexCor, Pexcor Manufacturing Co. Inc., Precision Tube Company LLC, Propipe Technologies, Propipe Technologies Inc. (Assumed name: Mueller Gas Products), Sherwood Valve LLC, Sherwood Valve Products Inc., Shoals Tubular, Shoals Tubular Inc., Southland Pipe Nipples Company Inc., Summit Systems Inc., Tecumseh Products Co., Tecumseh Products Holdings LLC, Tube Forming, Turbotec Products, Turbotec Products Inc., U.S.S. Lead Refinery Inc., USSRAM Exploration Company, United States Fuel Company, Vemco Brasscapri, WTC HoldCo I LLC, WTC HoldCo II LLC, WTC Holding Company, Washington Mining Company, Westermeyer Industries, Westermeyer Industries Inc., and White Knob Mining Company. The Georgian delegation headed by Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has left for Brussels today to hold a meeting with the EU officials, including President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker. Georgia and the EU will sign several deals tomorrow in Brussels, which will provide up to 231 million euro in support for Georgian education, economy and businesses. "The high level meeting is a new and a unique format of cooperation that the EU has initiated only with Georgia and no other countries. The format indicates the dynamics of Georgia-EU relations and provides opportunities for further enhancement of ties," Agenda.ge cited the Georgian Foreign Ministry as saying. The economy, trade and communications, education, science, culture, innovations, justice, internal security and civil protection will all be among the issues discussed at the meeting. During the visit, Bakhtadze is also scheduled to meet with the European Council President Donald Tusk. Orica Limited manufactures and sells commercial explosives and blasting systems to the mining, quarrying, oil and gas, and construction markets in Australia, the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company provides bulk systems, wireless initiating systems, electronic blasting systems, initiating systems, packaged explosives, and blasting services to the surface and underground mining construction markets. It also offers mining chemical products, including cyanide sparges, emulsifiers, and sodium cyanide, as well as PRO services; and environmental monitoring and consultancy services for the construction and mining industries. In addition, the company provides chemical and mechanical earth control products, adhesives, and ground support equipment comprising steel bolts and plates, glass fiber reinforced polymer bolts, injectable chemicals and foams, mesh, resin capsules, cementitious grouts and coatings, pumps, soil anchoring systems, ballast bonding polymers, and accessories, as well as engineering services. Further, it offers geotechnical deformation and convergence monitoring solutions to the mining and civil industries; and nitrogen fertilizers, which include urea ammonium nitrate and ammonia. Orica Limited was founded in 1874 and is headquartered in East Melbourne, Australia. Read More Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a meeting with chairman of the Russian Union of Journalists Vladimir Solovyov today, according to the statement published on the presidential website. Ralph Lauren Corp. engages in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium lifestyle products. The firm offers apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and other licensed product. It operates through the following segments: North America, Europe, and Asia. The North America segment consists of sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Company's wholesale and retail businesses in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Club Monaco. The Europe segment caters to sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Company's wholesale and retail businesses in Europe and the Middle East, excluding Club Monaco. The Asia segment covers the sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Company's wholesale and retail businesses in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The company was founded by Ralph Lauren in 1967 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: 1711 Waterview Pkwy LLC, ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Acme Aerospace, Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Angus Electronics Co., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Auxitrol SAS, Auxitrol Weston Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Auxitrol Weston Singapore Pte. Ltd., Auxitrol Weston USA Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments LLC, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp LLC, CEF Industries LLC, CMC Electronics Inc., CMC Electronics ME Inc., Champion Aerospace LLC, Cobham, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., EST Defence Company UK Limited, Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Esterline Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Europe Company LLC, Esterline Foreign Sales Corporation, Esterline International Company, Esterline Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Esterline Services China Ltd., Esterline Technologies Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Europe Limited, Esterline Technologies France Holding SAS, Esterline Technologies French Acquisition Limited, Esterline Technologies Global Limited, Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, Esterline Technologies Management France SAS, Esterline Technologies SGIP LLC, Esterline Technologies Unlimited, Esterline do Brasil Assessoria e Intermediacao Ltda, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd, Harco, HarcoSemco LLC, Hartwell Corporation, ILC Holdings Inc., Irvin Aerospace Limited, IrvinGQ France SAS, IrvinGQ Limited, Janco Corporation, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Jupiter SAS, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd, Leach International Europe S.A.S., Leach International Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Leach International UK Ltd, Leach Technology Group Inc., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Militair Aviation Ltd., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas Corp., Norwich Aero Products Inc., Pascall Electronics Limited, Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Pressure Systems International Ltd, Racal Acoustics Inc., Racal Acoustics Limited, Rancho TransTechnology Corporation, Retainers Inc., SSP Industries, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller LLC, Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, ScioTeq LLC, ScioTeq Ltd., ScioTeq Pte. Ltd., ScioTeq SAS, ScioTeq bvba, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics Industries, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TA Mfg Limited, TDG ESL Holdings Inc., TDG France Ultimate Parent SAS, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., TREALITY SVS LLC, TTERUSA Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Technical Airborne Components Industries SPRL, Telair International, Telair International AB, Telair International GmbH, Telair International LLC, Telair International Services PTE Ltd, Telair US LLC, Texas Rotronics Inc., TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm Canada ULC, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Wallop Industries Limited, Weston Aerospace Ltd, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, and Young & Franklin Inc.. 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 Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and creditor and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its field sales force, advice centers, and online, as well as through independent insurance advisors and affinity relationships. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset, cash management, transaction banking, and treasury services to institutional clients; correspondent banking and trade finance services for financial institutions; and short-term funding and liquidity management services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, governments, and central banks. Royal Bank of Canada has a strategic partnership with Royal College Of Physicians & Surgeons Of Canada to support the needs of Canada's medical specialists. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Humana: 154th Street Medical Plaza, 516-526 West Main Street Condominium Council of Co-Owners, 54th Street Medical Plaza, American Eldercare, American Eldercare of North Florida, Anvita Health, Arcadian Health Plan, Arcadian Management Services, Atlantis Physician Group, CAC Medical Center Holdings, CAC-Florida Medical Centers, CDO 1, CDO 2, CHA HMO, CHA Service Company, Care Partners Home Care, CareNetwork, CarePlus Health, CarePlus Health Plans, Cariten Health Plan Inc., Certify Data Systems, CompBenefits, CompBenefits Company, CompBenefits Corporation, CompBenefits Dental, CompBenefits Direct, CompBenefits Insurance Company, Complex Clinical Management, Concentra Managed Care, Continucare Corporation, Continucare MDHC, Continucare MSO, Continucare Medical Management, Dental Care Plus Management, DentiCare, Emphesys, Emphesys Insurance Company, Enclara Healthcare, FPG, FPG Acquisition Corp., FPG Acquisition Holdings Corp., FPG Senior Services, Family Physicians of Winter Park, Go365, HUM Provider Holdings, HUM-e-FL, Harris Rothenberg International, Health Value Management, Humana Active Outlook, Humana At Home (Dallas), Humana At Home (Houston), Humana At Home (San Antonio), Humana At Home (TLC), Humana At Home 1, Humana Behavioral Health, Humana Benefit Plan of Illinois, Humana Dental Company, Humana Digital Health and Analytics Platform Services, Humana EAP and Work-Life Services of California, Humana Employers Health Plan of Georgia, Humana Government Business, Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana, Humana Health Company of New York, Humana Health Insurance Company of Florida, Humana Health Plan, Humana Health Plan of California, Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Humana Health Plan of Texas, Humana Health Plans of Puerto Rico, Humana Healthcare Research, Humana Inc., Humana Innovation Enterprises, Humana Insurance Company, Humana Insurance Company of Kentucky, Humana Insurance Company of New York, Humana Insurance of Puerto Rico, Humana Management Services of Puerto Rico, Humana MarketPOINT, Humana MarketPOINT of Puerto Rico, Humana Medical Plan, Humana Medical Plan of Michigan, Humana Medical Plan of Pennsylvania, Humana Medical Plan of Utah, Humana Pharmacy, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, Humana Regional Health Plan, Humana Veterans Healthcare Services, Humana WellWorks LLC, Humana Wisconsin Health Organization Insurance Corporation, Humana at Home, HumanaDental, HumanaDental Insurance Company, Humco, Hummingbird Coaching Systems LLC, Independent Care Health Plan, KMG America, Kindred Healthcare, MCCI Group Holdings, MCCI Holdings, MCCI Medical Group, MCCI Specialty, MCCI/Lifetime of Aventura, MD Care, METCARE of Florida, Managed Care Indemnity, Medical Care Consortium Incorporated of Texas, MetCare, Metropolitan Health Networks, Naples Health Care Specialists, North Region Providers, Nursing Solutions, OSF HealthCare, PHP Companies, Partners in Integrated Care, Preferred Health Partnership, Preservation on Main, Primary Care Holdings, Primary Care Holdings II, Primary Care Specialists of the Palm Beaches, RMA Medical Centers of Florida, RMA Medical Group of Florida, ROHC, SeniorBridge, SeniorBridge Family Companies (CT), SeniorBridge Family Companies (FL), SeniorBridge Family Companies (IN), SeniorBridge Family Companies (MO), SeniorBridge Family Companies (NY), SeniorBridge-Florida, Texas Dental Plans, The Dental Concern, Transcend Population Health Management, and Transcend Population Health Management II. The following companies are subsidiares of SK Telecom Co.,Ltd: ADT CAPS Co. Ltd., ADT Caps, Atlas Investment, CAPSTEC Co. Ltd., Cyworld, DongGuan Iriver Electronics Co. Ltd., Dreamus Company, Eleven Street Co. Ltd., FSK L&S (Hungary) Co. Ltd., FSK L&S (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FSK L&S Co. Ltd., FSK L&S Vietnam Company Limited, Hana Card, Hanaro Telecom, Happy Hanool Co. Ltd., Home & Service Co. Ltd., ID Quantique, Id Quantique LLC, Incross Co. Ltd., Infra Communications Co. Ltd., Iriver China Co. Ltd., Iriver Enterprise Ltd., K-net Culture and Contents Venture Fund, Korea Thrunet, LG HelloVision, Life & Security Holdings Co. Ltd., Life Design Company Inc., Mindknock Co. Ltd., Onestore Co. Ltd., PS&Marketing Co. Ltd., Panasia Semiconductor Materials LLC, Quantum Innovation Fund I, SK Broadband, SK Broadband Co. Ltd., SK Communications Co. Ltd., SK Global Healthcare Business Group Ltd., SK Infosec Co. Ltd., SK M&Service Co. Ltd., SK O&S Co. Ltd., SK Planet Co. Ltd., SK Planet Global Holdings Pte. Ltd., SK Planet Japan K. K., SK Telecom China Fund I L.P., SK Telecom China Holdings Co. Ltd., SK Telecom Innovation Fund L.P., SK Telecom TMT Investment Corp., SK Telink Co. Ltd., SK stoa Co. Ltd., SK telecom Japan Inc., SKP America LLC, SKT Americas Inc., SKinfosec Information Technology (wuxi) Co. Ltd., Service Ace Co. Ltd., Service Top Co. Ltd., Shopkick, Tbroad Nowon Broadcasting Co. Ltd., YTK Investment Ltd., iRiver Ltd, and id Quantique Ltd.. Russias response to Washington's possible exit from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty will be explained by the need to maintain a global strategic balance, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Russia will be obliged in the interests of peace and stability to take action to restore this balance," TASS cited Peskov as saying. The Kremlin spokesman did not specify the countermeasures that Russia might take, noting that they will be "necessary for ensuring security and observing Russias national interests." At the same time, he focused on Russian President Vladimir Putins statement that "Russia wants and is ready to continue talks with the United States on the INF Treaty and Russia is ready for a dialogue." "This is a very important statement by the president and it cant be ignored," Peskov concluded. Temple Bar Investment Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Ninety One Fund Managers UK Limited. It is co-managed by Ninety One UK Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in stocks of companies across all market capitalizations, which are constituents of the FTSE 350 Index. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the FTSE All-Share Index. Temple Bar Investment Trust PLC was formed in 1926 and is domiciled in the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Textron: AAI Corporation, AAI Services Corporation, ALSTOM Gears, Able Aerospace, Able Aerospace Services Inc., Able Engineering & Component Services, Aeronautical Accessories LLC, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company LLC, Arctic Cat, Arctic Cat ACE Holding GmbH, Arctic Cat France SARL, Arctic Cat GmbH, Arctic Cat Inc., Arctic Cat Production LLC, Arctic Cat Production Support LLC, Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Arctic Cat Shared Services LLC, Arctic Cat UK Ltd., Arkansas Aerospace Inc., Avco Corporation, Aviation Service servis letal doo Ljubljana, Aylesbury Automation, B/K Navigational Equipment sro, Beech Aircraft Corporation, Beech Holdings, Beechcraft Defense Support Holding LLC, Beechcraft Domestic Service Company, Beechcraft Germany GmbH, Beechcraft International Holding LLC, Beechcraft International Service Company, Beechcraft New Zealand, Beechcraft Service Company UK Limited, Bell Helicopter GK, Bell Helicopter KK, Bell Textron Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Bell Textron Canada International Inc., Bell Textron Canada Limited/Limitee, Bell Textron Inc., Bell Textron Korea Inc., Bell Textron Miami Inc, Bell Textron Prague a.s., Bell Textron Rhode Island Inc., Bell Textron Services Inc, Bell Textron Supply Center BV, Bell Textron Technical Services Inc., Benzlers, Brazaco Mapri Industrias, Burkland, Cessna Aircraft Company, Cessna Citation European Service Center SAS, Cessna Dusseldorf Citation Service Center GmbH, Cessna Finance Corporation, Cessna Finance Export Corporation, Cessna Mexico S de RL de CV, Cessna Spanish Citation Service Center SLU, Cessna Zurich Citation Service Center GmbH, Citation Parts Distribution International Inc., Cushman Inc., Datacom Technologies, David Brown Group, Doncaster Citation Service Centre Limited, E-Z-GO Canada Limited, Energy Manufacturing, Flexalloy, HBC LLC, Hawker Beech de Mexico S de RL de CV, Hawker Beechcraft Argentina SA, Howe & Howe Inc., Howe and Howe Technologies, Industrial Technology Inc., InteSys Technologies, International Product Support Inc., KSB Annecy SAS, Kautex (Changchun) Plastics Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Chongqing) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Guangzhou) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Pinghu) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Shanghai) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Wuhan) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex Corporation, Kautex Craiova srl, Kautex Germany Holding GmbH, Kautex Inc., Kautex Japan KK, Kautex Shanghai GmbH, Kautex Textron (UK) Limited, Kautex Textron Benelux BVBA, Kautex Textron Bohemia spol sro, Kautex Textron CVS Limited, Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, Kautex Textron Iberica SL, Kautex Textron Italia Srl, Kautex Textron Management Services Company de Puebla S. de RL de CV, Kautex Textron Portugal Produtos Plasticos Sociedade Unipessoal Lda., Kautex Textron de Mexico S de RL de CV, Kautex Textron do Brasil Ltda., Kautex of Georgia Inc., Kaywood Products Corp., Klauke, LCI Corporation International, LLC Textron RUS, Maag, McCord Corporation, Mechtronix, Medical Numerics Inc., Midland Industrial Plastics, MillenWorks, MillenWorks Themed Technologies, MotorFist LLC, OPINICUS Simulation and Training Services LLC, OmniQuip International, Opinicus, Optical Boring Co., Opto-Electronics, Opto-Electronics Inc., Overwatch Systems Ltd., PEINER Umformtechnik, Pirelli Tyres - General Rubber Goods (GRG) division, Premiair Aviation Maintenance Pty Ltd, Progressive Electronics, Ransomes, Ransomes Inc., Ransomes Investment LLC, Ransomes Jacobsen France SAS, Ransomes Jacobsen Limited, Ransomes Limited, Ransomes Pensions Trustee Company Limited, Replacement Part Solutions LLC, Response Technologies LLC, Rotor Blades Limited, Sukosim Verbindungselemente, TRU Simulation & Training Spain SL, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., TRU Simulation + Training LLC, TekGPS Engineering Srl, Textron Airland LLC, Textron Atlantic LLC, Textron Aviation Australia Pty. Ltd., Textron Aviation Canada Ltd., Textron Aviation Defense LLC, Textron Aviation Finance Corporation, Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Prague Service Center sro, Textron Aviation Rhode Island Inc., Textron Aviation Services de Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Capital BV, Textron Communications Inc., Textron Far East Pte. Ltd., Textron Finance Holding Company, Textron Financial Corporation, Textron Financial Corporation Receivables Trust 2002-CP-2, Textron Fluid and Power Inc., Textron France Holding SAS, Textron France SAS, Textron Global Services Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment UK Limited, Textron IPMP Inc., Textron India Private Limited, Textron Innovations Inc., Textron International Inc., Textron International Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Limited, Textron Management Services Inc., Textron Motors GmbH, Textron Motors North America Inc., Textron Outdoor Power Equipment Inc., Textron Realty Corporation, Textron Shared Service Centre (Canada) Inc., Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., Textron Sweden AB, Textron Systems Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Canada Inc., Textron Systems Corporation, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK (Holdings) Limited, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK Limited, Textron Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Textron UK Pension Trustee Limited, Textron Verwaltungs-GmbH, Turbine Engine Components Textron (Newington Operations) Inc., United Industrial Corporation, Westminster Insurance Company, Williams Machine & Tool, Wuxi Textron Specialized Vehicles Co. Ltd., and Zhenjiang Bell Textron Aviation Services Limited. Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. engages in the management of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It operates through the following segments: Asset Management, Real Estate, Renewable Power, Infrastructure, Private Equity, Residential Development, and Corporate Activities. The Asset Management segment includes the management of its listed partnerships, private funds and public securities. The Real Estate segment is comprised of the ownership, operation and development of core office, core retail, LP investments and other properties. The Renewable Power segment encompasses the ownership, operation and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, storage and other power generating facilities. The Infrastructure segment consists of the ownership, operation and development of utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure and sustainable resource assets. The Private Equity segment refers to the broad range of industries, and is mostly focused on business services, infrastructure services and industrials. The Residential Development segment represents homebuilding, condominium development and land development. The Corporate Activiti Read More Total Energy Services Inc. provides various products and services to the oil and natural gas industry primarily in Canada, the United States, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Contract Drilling Services, Rentals and Transportation Services, Compression and Process Services and Well Servicing. The Contract Drilling Services segment offers contract drilling services to oil and gas exploration and development companies. As of December 31, 2020, it operated a total fleet of 98 drilling rigs. The Rentals and Transportation Services segment provides drilling, completion and production rental equipment, and oilfield transportation services in western Canada and in the United States. This segment owned and operated a fleet of 87 heavy trucks. The Compression and Process Services segment offers gas compression services; and designs and packages skid style compressors and proprietary trailer-mounted compressors under the NOMAD brand in Canada and the United States, the European Union, Australia, and Mexico. It had 54,800 horsepower of compression in its rental fleet. The Well Servicing segment offers well services. This segment operated a total fleet of 83 well servicing rigs across Western Canada, mid-western United States, and Australia. It has a strategic alliance with Pason Systems Inc. to develop and deploy drilling automation and optimization technologies. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More British Prime Minister Theresa May will travel to Brussels tomorrow for a critical meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker ahead of this weekends Brexit summit. The European Commission said that the parties are set to sit down at 5.30 p.m. CET for the meeting about future ties between the UK and the EU, Euronews reported. The talks will come ahead of a special EU summit on Sunday, where Brussels is expected to "finalise and formalise" the Brexit agreement that has been struck with May. They will hold talks as part of the final negotiations of the draft withdrawal agreement and political declaration on the future relationship, which were both published last week. Unifi, Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of synthetic and recycled products made from polyester and nylon. It operates through the following segments: Polyester, Nylon, Brazil, and Asia. The Polyester segment sells polyester-based products to other yarn manufacturers, knitters, and weavers that produce yarn and fabric for the apparel, hosiery, home furnishings, automotive, industrial, and other end-use markets in U.S. and El Salvador. The Nylon segment offers nylon-based products to knitters and weavers that produce fabric for the apparel and hosiery markets in U.S. and Colombia. The Brazil and Asia segments comprises polyester-based products to knitters and weavers that produce fabric for the apparel, home furnishings, automotive, industrial, and other end-use markets principally in South America and Asia. The company was founded by George Allen Mebane IV in 1969 and is headquartered in Greensboro, NC. Read More Alcatel Lucent SA is a provider of Internet protocol (IP) networking, ultra-broadband access and cloud technology solutions. The Company operates through two segments for the networks business. The Ultra Broadband Networks segment consists of Mobile Networks and Fixed Networks business groups. The IP Networks and Applications segment consists of Internet protocol (IP)/Optical Networks and Applications and Analytics business groups. Its other segment consists of businesses run as separate operations (Alcatel Submarine Networks and Radio Frequency Systems (RFS)). The Company offers a range of solutions, including Communications and collaboration, IP Core Routing, IP/optical integration, long term evolution (LTE) Ultra-Broadband, Software-defined networking and Vplus. The Company offers a range of consulting, managed, maintenance and professional services, including Bell Labs Consulting and Build, Operate and Manage (BOM) Solution for Mobility Networks. The main shareholder is Nokia. Read More Ellie Mae, Inc. provides cloud-based platform for the mortgage finance industry in the United States. It provides Encompass, an enterprise solution that engages in running the business of originating mortgages, including marketing and lead management; loan origination and processing; underwriting; preparation of mortgage applications, disclosure agreements, and closing documents; loan funding and closing; compliance with regulatory and investor requirements; and enterprise management. The company's Encompass Digital Lending Platform helps lenders and investors across their workflow from the prospective customers to the point of loan delivery. In addition, the company provides education and training services; professional and technical support services; and loan product, policy, and guideline data and analytics services. Ellie Mae, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California. Read More Vanguard Real Estate ETF's stock was trading at $81.34 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, VNQ shares have increased by 34.9% and is now trading at $109.76. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Xcel Energy, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following three segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and All Others. The Regulated Electric Utility segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity primarily in portions of generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. It also includes commodity trading operations. The Regulated Natural Gas Utility segment transports, stores, and distributes natural gas primarily in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. The All Others segment engages in steam, appliance repair services, nonutility real estate activities, processing solid waste into refuse-derived fuel and investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Read More The majority of Japanese citizens support talks on drafting a peace treaty with Russia based on the Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956, according to an opinion poll carried out by the countrys largest private TV company Fuji and daily Sankei Shimbun. The survey revealed that some 64.9% of respondents back the idea of stepping up talks between Russia and Japan based on the 1956 agreements. Another 27.3% of Japanese are not enthusiastic about the proposal. Nearly 36% of participants of the poll believe that Tokyo would be just satisfied by the handover of Shikotan and the uninhabited island of Habomai, TASS reported. However, another 61.6% of respondents say that Tokyo should strive for the ownership of two large islands of Iturup and Kunashir. At the meeting in Singapore on November 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to intensify Russian-Japanese talks on concluding a peace treaty based on the Joint Declaration signed on October 19, 1956 on ceasing the state of war. Two Syrian servicemen were killed and seven more were wounded in a shelling attack by militants at the Aleppo research center quarters, chief of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides Vladimir Savchenko said. "Militants shelled the positions of Syrian government forces near the settlement of Jubb al-Zarur in the Latakia governorate twice during the day. Seven shelling attacks were reported at Aleppos northwestern residential quarters," he said, noting that as a result of shelling, two Syrian servicemen were killed and seven more were wounded. Savchenko added that officers of the Russian reconciliation center held a working meeting with a representative of the committee on refugee affairs in Aleppo. "The sides specified the list of equipment that refugee centers need in order to prepare for the winter period," TASS cited him as saying. The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The centers officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on providing assistance to refugees returning to their homes. Head of the Russian central banks research department Alexander Morozov, speaking at the Vedomosti forum, compared the effect of possible new sanctions against the Russian economy with the 2014-2015 situation. "In most scenarios, the effect on the economy will be much weaker than the effect we observed in 2014-2015," he said. We are not ready to say that all the negative consequences we will face will be painless, TASS cited Morozov as saying. "But the effect cannot be overestimated," urged the head of the Russian central banks research department urged. Morozov pointed out that the Central Bank has the necessary tools to stabilize the financial market in various situations. The regulator "can provide liquidity to the financial system, and further to the real sector, using ruble and currency refinancing," he noted. The head of the Russian central banks research department stressed that there are no problems with using these tools. "We have resources, our foreign exchange reserves are high," he assured. Morozov added that the bank may halt foreign exchange purchases until the end of the year, if necessary. The advisor on macroeconomics to the CEO of the 'Opening-Broker' brokerage house, economist Sergey Hestanov, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, urged to make a distinction between the voiced sanctions and their real impact on the economy. The Central Bank is absolutely right that the sanctions have not yet had any significant impact on the Russian economy. Most of the observed effects were cause by investors' concerns about sanctions, not sanctions themselves. The very sanctions have hardly touched on the Russian economy," he explained. According to him, so far neither the banks, nor the financial structures under the sanctions, have needed any emergency assistance from the Central Bank. "More precisely, the problems of certain financial structures or businessmen are rather indirectly related to sanctions. Many companies have already received help from the state, but not because of the sanctions. Theoretically, sanctions can create difficulties for Rusal, for some structures linked to Vekselberg. But these sanctions have not yet been adopted," Sergey Hestanov noted. "Paradoxically, but nothing scary going on so far. However, there are no guarantees that we avoid it in the future," the expert concluded. The professor at the department of the stock market and investments at the Higher School of Economics, Alexander Abramov, agreed that the Central Bank's liquidity cushion will largely help mitigate the impact of sanctions, but drew attention to the fact that the main risk is the perception of the situation by business. "Business has long-term interests, while investment is driven by an understanding of long-term prospects, not short-term rates," the expert said. He said that it's not likely that banks and businessmen under sanctions will receive much help from the regulator. The banking system is now frozen due to a rather high rate and the availability of a sufficient amount of ruble liquidity. Therefore, it seems to me that large injections will not be needed in the short-term period," Alexander Abramov noted. Russia's Defense minister Sergei Shoigu and Turkey's minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar have discussed further work on the Idlib demilitarized zone and the situation in Syria in Sochi. "We had to invite you, because the situation in Syria requires our immediate decision and discussion of the urgent issues," TASS cited Shoigu as saying. The Russian Defense minister noted that the dynamics they have gained after signing the documents on Idlib in Sochi needs to be maintained to tackle the remaining issues without losing momentum. The previous meeting of Shoigu and Akar was held in Istanbul on October 27 and was likewise dedicated to the situation in Syria. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed unprecedented levels of cooperation between the EU and NATO ahead of a meeting with the EU Foreign Affairs Council, according to the NWTO website. The Secretary General noted that stronger European defence can contribute to fairer burden-sharing within NATO, but stressed the need for complementarity between NATO and EU efforts. "NATO remains the bedrock for European security," Stoltenberg stressed. On November 6, the French president Emmanuel Macron said that the European Union should have a "real European army" independent of the United States in order to defend itself and guarantee stability in the region. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed Macron's proposal, stressing that a unified European army could be a "good supplement to NATO." A third of the Russian population does not have any savings, TASS reported citing Visa survey. The survey results say that 34% of respondents do not have any savings, and 21% do not keep details of their budget. According to the survey, 63% of Russians prefer to keep Ruble savings in the bank. The share of Russians, who have foreign currency accounts, is law, but still not named in the survey results. The survey was conducted among 2400 people aged between 18 and 60 years in 15 major cities of Russia. The head of Research Center for pension systems and actuarial prediction of the social sphere of the Institute for Social Analysis and Forecasting at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economics and Public Administration, Elena Grishina, speaking with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that there is low detection rates in savings of the population. "The population does not have enough savings, so people are forced to draw upon a credit," the expert said. At the same time, Grishina noted that the lack of savings is very characteristic for Russia. "Only a small part of proportion of the population have savings. Therefore, naturally, during a crisis it experiences significant risks. And if incomes decline, many people may fall below the poverty line," the expert concluded. General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong (Right) and visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev__Photo: VNA , , , , As part of its foreign policy, Vietnam has always and will continue to consider Russia a reliable and leading partner, said General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee (CPVCC) and President Nguyen Phu Trong at a reception for visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Hanoi on November 19.The top leader affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people have maintained great attention towards consolidating and developing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.He expressed his wish that Russia would enhance collaboration with Southeast Asian nations and improve its role and position in the Asia-Pacific region.He stressed that Vietnam welcomes Russian businesses and will continue to create favorable conditions for them to engage in key projects in Vietnam in the fields of energy, transport, and oil and gas.The Party and State leader suggested the Russian Government actively coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to remove difficulties for economic-trade and investment cooperation and effectively implement large-scale joint projects agreed at the recent 21st session of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Government Committee.For his part, PM Medvedev, who is also head of the ruling United Russia Party, asserted that his country has always paid heed to fostering its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, considering the country its leading partner in Southeast Asia.Informing the host of the outcome of his talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Medvedev said the two governments will coordinate closely with each other to organize activities throughout 2019 as the two nations celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the treaty on the fundamental principles of Vietnam-Russia friendship and prepare for the 70th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020.Russia and Vietnam will realize the agreements reached during CPVCC General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs visit to Russia last September.Regarding the relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the United Russia Party, the leaders said they are pleased with the development of the ties over the past time, saying the relationship through the Party channel is an important political foundation to bolster the two countries bonds.They agreed to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two parties in the time ahead, including the continued implementation of the political dialogue mechanism and their cooperation plan for 2018-2021.- The planet is 3.2 times bigger than Earth, and it is orbiting around Barnards star. 521.2K The exoplanet is 3 times bigger than Earth. Source: The Atlantic Astronomers have found evidence of a super-Earth planet orbiting beyond our Solar System. The exoplanet is 3.2 times bigger than Earth and its circling Barnards star. Its also just 6 light years away, making it one of the closest stars to the sun. The other stars include the Alpha Centauri system thats just 4.3 light years from the Earths sun. Scientists are calling the newly detected planet the Barnards star b. Its not clear yet whether its a planet but theres a strong belief among the scientists involved that it does possess the characteristics of a planet. Speaking to an online news outlet, one of the scientists, who was part of the discovery, said that based on their analysis so far, they are 99% sure that the Barnards star b will be confirmed as a planet. If confirmed, it will be the nearest exoplanet to Earth. At the moment, this title is held by Proxima b which orbits the Proxima Centauri. Studies by the NASAs Kepler space telescope have shown that small planets in the Earths Milky Way are very common. The discovery of the Proxima b and now the Barnards star b is clear evidence that there could be other exoplanets that may be even closer to planet Earth than we think. The star is named after an american astronomer. Source: Independent Barnards star was named after E.E. Barnard, an American Astronomer whos credited with making a number of key contributions to understanding the Milky Way and the galaxy in general. Astronomers noted that the Barnards star has been getting closer to Earth with each passing day. Scientists think that in 10,000 years from now, the Barnard star will only be 3.8 light years away. The star is also about twice as old as the Earths sun, even bigger and more luminous. The Barnards Star has been a target for scientists who are searching for exoplanets for quite a few years now. However, during this period, there wasnt much success until now. In addition to this, the new detection wasnt that easy. The team of scientists involved with the discovery had to analyze massive sets of data both newly gathered and archival. There were also numerous equipment and technologies used for this. The exoplanet is being referred to as super-Earth. Source: Independent One of the key characteristics of the Barnards Star b is its huge size. In fact, the star is being referred to now as a super-Earth. These are basically classes of planets that are larger than Earth but generally smaller than the ice giants such as Uranus and Neptune. The scientists also noted that the planet takes about 233 Earth days to fully rotate around its star. Additional measurements and data will probably be needed to confirm the planetary status of the new exoplanet. Important attributes about the planets atmosphere, including wind, will also be assessed in this process. The search for extra-terrestrial life has been going on for years now. Scientists and space agencies have developed better and more accurate technology to aid the searches and so far a number of notable discoveries have already been made including this one. New Delhi: India's largest smartphone vendor Xiaomi said on Tuesday it will set up 5,000 Mi Stores across rural India by the end of 2019, a move that is expected to generate over 15,000 jobs. Xiaomi, which entered India in 2014 and sold smartphones exclusively online, ventured into offline retail in 2017. It operates its own chain of Mi Homes, apart from Mi Preferred Partners through franchise model. "It's been over a year since we started offering our products through offline retail and we have seen strong growth there ... About 4-5 months ago, we started piloting what we called Offline 2.0 - where we are going to tier IV, V and beyond, rural India with our offline retail offering," Xiaomi Vice-President and India Managing Director Manu Jain told reporters here. He added that under the 'Mi Store' model, the company has already set up 500 stores and will take the number to 5,000 by end of 2019. "Located across 14 states, these 500 Mi Stores were inaugurated at the same time on October 29 ... which helped us achieve a Guinness World Records feat for opening the highest number of retail stores in the world at the exact same time," he said. While Mi Homes -- that showcases Xiaomi's entire product range across smartphones, televisions and ecosystem products -- are spread across larger spaces in bigger cities, Mi Stores have an average size of 300 sq ft and will be located in rural India. "These stores can be found in some of the most remote corners of the country... We think this can generate massive employment opportunities with over 15,000 jobs in these regions, thereby boosting immense economic output," he said. Jain explained that offline retail is still a huge segment in our country with nearly 40 per cent of the offline market focused in rural regions. Through its various efforts, the company expects offline retail to account for half of its smartphone sales by next year. Xiaomi expects to ramp up the number of Mi Homes to 100 (from current 50) and take its Mi Preferred Partners programme to 100 cities (from over 50 now). Newlyweds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh were spotted on the balcony of the Padukone apartment in Benson Town on Tuesday morning. The couple arrived in Bengaluru earlier in the day from Mumbai. Deepikas parents Prakash and Ujjala Padukone were also seen smiling alongside the couple. The Padukones will host a wedding reception at a star hotel on Wednesday in the city. Only close family and friends have been invited to the reception and the guest list has been shared with the event organisers. This is to ensure that no gate crashers make an entry. Guests have also been requested to refrain from taking photographs or sharing information with outsiders. DeepVeer matched their outfits beautifully, again. Deepika had on her red chuda that newly-wed brides wear in North India, with a delicate mangalsutra that sported a large teardrop diamond at the centre. She looked beautiful and glowing in her off-white self-printed anarkali and her signature chandbalis. We hear the tear drop cost a whopping Rs 20 lakh owing to the solitaire. Ranveer matched his wifes churidar with a white kurta pyjama, a sleeveless pastel-printed bandhgala jacket with white juttis. Back in March 2017, Vogue Arabia introduced its Middle Eastern edition with none other than supermodel Gigi Hadid on its cover. In the photo, Gigi can be seen wearing an embellished hijab, and while some praised her, others accused her of cultural appropriation and exploiting her own background. And now someone has commented on the social media that she made the hijab a fashion statement. Gigi Hadid Never afraid to stand up to social media trolls, the 23-year-old defended herself over the backlash during a recent discussion panel in Sydney. When I shot the cover of Vogue Arabia, I wasnt Arab enough to be representing those girls, even though Im half-Palestinian, Hadid said, adding, Im as Palestinian as I am Dutch. I have blonde hair, but I still carry the value of my ancestors and I appreciate and respect that. It was December 1989. Prem fell in love with Suman, and the entire nation fell in love with the pretty lass in Sooraj Barjatyas classic romantic tale Maine Pyar Kiya. Actress Bhagyashree Dassani who attained stardom overnight, has earlier acted in a couple of Kannada films including the popular Ammavra Ganda alongside Century Star Shivarajkumar, and a remake of Kannada classic Om directed by Real Star Upendra in Telugu Omkaram. She now returns to Kannada for the Nikhil Kumar and Rachita Ram starrer Seetharama Kalyana, in a special role. In an exclusive interview with Bengaluru Chronicle, the lovely actress who is also busy shooting for 2 States in Telugu, in which she plays a Bengali mother, talks about past ventures, her fitness and nutrition classes which she exclusively takes for a few select clients across the globe, and her thoughts on a newer version of Maine Pyar Kiya, and more. The actress announced that she is ready to take up more challenging roles in the future too. I have had a great experience working in all my Kannada films thanks to the good directors I have had, and the entire casting team. It was like a homecoming for me while working for Seetharama Kalyana. It was all thanks to director A Harsha with whose assistance, I was able to pull it off. It was he who made me understand every single dialogue which helped me emote to such precision while acting. I share a unique chemistry with Nikhil Kumar in the movie which the audience will find surprising, says Bhagyashree Dasani, giving us a peek into the film. For her, after being on a hiatus for long, it is the variety of roles she has had the opportunity to portray in Kannada movies that has given her immense satisfaction as an artiste. Insofar as her other south Indian ventures are concerned, she has been shooting for 2 States in Telugu, where she plays the role portrayed by actress Revathi in the original Hindi version. In between, she acted in a television series titled Laut Aao Trisha. A couple of years ago, I had a health issue. I couldnt move an arm, and the doctors had advised me to get it operated to make it functional again. However, I decided not to get it operated, and let it heal the natural way through exercise and healthy living. This is when I started studying about fitness. I attained several degrees including ones from standard American Universities like Standford and Pennsylvania. Now, I run exclusive fitness and nutrition classes for clients across the globe, of which a majority are connected with me digitally, she adds. She explains that it is never too late to learn new things, and one doesnt really need to age if a healthy way of life is adopted and followed religiously. Health issues, fitness and nutrition education kept me busy and hence I didnt take up more work so I could balance work and studies. I have hardly spoken or publicised much of about myself. Now, I am ready to take up more challenging work. I guess I am ready for it now, the actress says. The actress who married her school sweetheart Himalaya Dasani, and has two children hopes to straddle both her professions now. With a few classic Hindi films being remade in Hindi, what of the blockbuster Maine Pyar Kiya? She says that she had in fact interacted with Sooraj Barjatya himself, who expressed that it would be challenging to recreate such an innocent love tale in the present context. I would love to see a newer version of it. I guess it is truly a classic for the reason that it is difficult to find such innocent love today. But, it will be a challenging task for sure, says the actress who is from the Sangli Royal family. BUDAPEST - A Hungarian doctor has prescribed her lung disease patients a new form of physical and spiritual therapy - singing in public as part of a choir. The Breathing for the Soul choir, which was formed this spring, gave its second performance on Thursday in the ball room of a Budapest Hotel. Its members, many seriously ill with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and drawn from hospitals across Hungary, say the singing has improved the quality of their lives. Ive never thought in my life that I would ever sing, Maria Aranyi, 74, who has been suffering from serious asthma for a decade. After the grey days, there is a place where I feel good ... after singing I noticed that I could also breathe more easily. Many lung disease patients become inhibited in their daily lives and get increasingly isolated. Singing in a choir has brought them new friends. Doctor Katalin Vardi came up with the idea of forming the choir after learning that similar patients in other countries had found singing beneficial. She said introducing concerts had given a new sense of purpose to people who have to cope with the thought that their symptoms could get worse as the disease progresses. We upped the stakes for them, in order to change their own image of themselves, Vardi said. With this community ... they can show their talent to the world and the fact that they work together for this, is a hugely positive feeling for them. The songs were chosen to showcase the patients abilities by conductor Gyorgy Philipp, who said the concert was a huge challenge for people who had never been on stage. We select songs that make it possible for patients to be able to perform longer lines, more difficult tunes and they can develop through that system, he said. During the wedding season, the bills tend to run high. From gifts for loved ones to new products for their own homes, wedding shopping lists are never ending. While checking things off their bucket lists, people often end up spending too much, even during highly competitive wedding sales. This year, if you wish to go through your shopping lists without burning a hole in your pocket, heres a nifty trick. The following 5 platforms exist only to help you save your hard earned money while you shop. Read on for the best online savings destinations for the wedding season. GyFTR: GyFTR is a unique online-to-offline (O2O) platform that facilitates seamless gifting by allowing shoppers to buy instant gift vouchers digitally which can be delivered to the recipient via SMS, e-mail or even physically. These can subsequently be redeemed against any product/service of a set value from leading brands. GyFTR not only enables peer-to-peer gifting across multiple geographies and product categories but also creates a unique ecosystem for savings. It inculcates the habit of savings among users by urging them to redeem their loyalty points earned from several merchants and banks before they expire. The platform has tied up with leading banks including HDFC, Axis, SBI and ICICI rewards to facilitate seamless reward redemption and unparalleled savings. GyFTR users can, therefore, shop more and save more by accumulating and redeeming their precious points. GrabOn: GrabOn is a coupons and deals marketplace with the motto Save on Everything. The platform offers superlative deals on everything including fashion, travel, mobile recharge, food and more. Boasting of 3,000 + merchant partners such as Uber, Ola, Paytm, Freecharge and Myntra among others, GrabOn provides verified and trusted deals and coupons. The top-rated savings destination has recently ventured into the gift-card space as well, tying up with leading retailers including Amazon, Paytm, Jabong and Myntra to facilitate unmatched savings on online shopping. With an unwavering focus on B2C, the platform is also planning a foray into the B2B space in order to expand its offerings. It is currently present in 450+ cities across the country, allowing Indian shoppers to save while they spend through delightful deals and discounts. GoPaisa: One of Indias most lucrative cashback and coupons website, GoPaisa is the Indian shoppers ideal savings destination. The platform has partnered with over 1,500 online retailers including Flipkart, Amazon, Paytm, HomeShop18, Snapdeal, Jabong, Dominos, Makemytrip, and others. GoPaisa has a strong user base of 2 million+ customers out of which 1 lakh users earn cashback with the company every month. The website also offers features such as price comparison so users can easily search for the lowest prices for their desired products. GoPaisa offers cashback that can be transferred directly to the users bank account, making it a unique way to save real cash while shopping online. The platform can help wedding shoppers earn money while spending it on products they need. CashKaro.com: CashKaro.com is one of Indias leading coupons and cashback website. It offers discount codes and vouchers across all major categories and retailers. On top of these existing discount codes and offers, it also provides extra cashback on each purchase. By offering the great discount rates amplified with cash back that can be transferred to your bank account, CashKaro.com makes for supreme savings on online shopping. The leading savings destination, backed by Ratan Tata has tied up with over 1,500 e-commerce websites including Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal so wedding shoppers can shop to their hearts content and save on all their purchases. CouponDuniya: CouponDuniya lists coupons from over 2,000 online stores including Flipkart, Amazon, MakeMyTrip, Paytm and BookMyShow. It gives users access to reliable coupon codes that considerably cut down their billing amount. CouponDuniyas price comparison mechanism also allows buyers to make better buying decisions. In order to add to the existing savings of users, it offers extra cashback over and above the ongoing discounts. Dorsey during his visit, interacted with women journalists, activists and writers to discuss Twitter experience in India. (Twitter Screengrab) Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is facing a huge backlash after a photograph of him holding a placard with the words 'Smash Brahminical Patriarchy' was posted online and subsequently went viral. Dorsey was on his maiden visit to India. During Twitter CEO @jack's visit here, he & Twitter's Legal head @vijaya took part in a round table with some of us women journalists, activists, writers & @TwitterIndia's @amritat to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation pic.twitter.com/LqtJQEABgV Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) November 18, 2018 The CEO of the micro-blogging site interacted with women journalists, activists and writers to discuss Twitter experience in India. However, more from the content of the said discussion, a picture from the gathering soon went viral leading to an outrage online which, according to an India Today report, accused Dorsey of attacking an 'ethnic group'. By holding that offensive poster #Twitter head @jack just proclaimed he is a Brahmin hating, racist, bigot, masquerading as a woke Feminist. And he came to India to play politics. At least the pretence is over. pic.twitter.com/5FlFHMsIxp Smita Barooah (@smitabarooah) November 19, 2018 Amid the controversy, Twitter India was forced to release an unofficial statement, clarifying that a member had offered the poster to Dorsey and assuring that Twitter believes in hearing all voices. The Twitter user @Dalit Diva, who has made the particular poster and gifted the placard to Dorsey tweeted saying that the reactions were nothing but a 'meltdown' over her artwork on ending caste apartheid. Twitter India's unofficial statement following the outrage read. "Recently, we hosted a closed-door discussion with a group of women journalists and changemakers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack." The tweet also said that while the statement itself was not from the CEO or Twitter itself, it depicted the "company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world." Recently we hosted a closed door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack. https://t.co/96gd3XmFgK Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) November 19, 2018 Reactions on Twitter included, Hi @jack I wonder if you're aware of the statement you're making by holding that poster. Are you against "Brahmins"? Are they the sole perpetrators of patriarchy? Why come into an unknown country (to you) and get used as a proxy by vested interests? KBS Ramachandra (@kbs_ramachandra) November 19, 2018 SHOCKING! A "smash Brahmanical" poster on proud display during @Twitter CEO @jack visit to India. Is this demonology of Brahmins by foreign #BreakingIndiaForces acceptable? Is it hate speech? Rajiv Malhotra (@RajivMessage) November 19, 2018 This is a pure hate poster targeting an ethnic group. Does it not violate Twitter policies? Would @jack hold up a poster like this targeting Jews or Muslim mullahs or Church patriarchy? Sankrant Sanu (@sankrant) November 19, 2018 On November 14, the court had convicted Yashpal Singh and Naresh Sherawat for killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in south Delhis Mahipalpur during the 1984 riots. (Photo: File | PTI) New Delhi: In the first capital punishment in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, a Delhi court on Tuesday awarded death penalty to one of the two convicts found guilty of killing two Sikh men. The other convict will spend life in prison, the court added. Yashpal Singh was awarded death penalty while his co-convict in the case, Naresh Sherawat has been sentenced for life. Both the convicts were fined Rs 35 lakh each. On November 14, the court had convicted Yashpal Singh and Naresh Sherawat for killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in south Delhis Mahipalpur during the 1984 riots. The verdict pronounced in the Tihar Jail due to security concerns and attack on the convicts on the premises of the Delhi court. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed in 2015 probing the 60 cases it had reopened out of the total 293, succeeded in getting conviction in the first case last week. The Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a SIT on the riots reopened it. A joint team of the Army's paratroopers, the state police and the CRPF were on a cordon and search operation at Nadigam village, 60 km from Srinagar, when the terrorists opened fire at them, leading to an encounter. (Representational Image) Srinagar: In a fierce encounter, an Army soldier was killed and four terrorists were shot dead in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian on Tuesday morning. Three soldiers were injured. A joint team of the Army's paratroopers, the state police and the CRPF were on a cordon and search operation at Nadigam village, 60 km from Srinagar, when the terrorists opened fire at them, leading to an encounter. The gunfight is going on, the official said, adding that further details are awaited. (With inputs from PTI) Vijayawada: BJP state president Kanna Lakshminarayana on Monday came out all guns blazing against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu cautioning the TD president that he will pay a heavy price for his hunger for land. Mr Lakshminarayana led the BJP state unit in a protest in Vijayawada, alleging large-scale irregularities in the land pooling scheme for the states new capital city, Amaravati and other land allotments to private companies across the state. Addressing the protesters, Mr Lakshminarayana said that the TD government had, on some pretext or the other, been grabbing most valuable government lands. He alleged that the TD government had been silent on various land scams involving Amaravati construction, Kakinada SEZ and land allotments in Vizag. The BJP state chief said that the AP government got a report by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the controversial land scam of Vizag in its favour. Mr Lakshminarayana also said that BJP had thwarted the efforts of TD government to grab properties belonging to Agri Gold group. He alleged that the TD government had been undervaluing properties belonging to Agri Gold over the years to grab them at a dirt cheap price. The BJP leader said that in 2015, the government had valued the Agri Gold properties at `25,000 crore, `16,000 crore in 2016, `10,000 crore in 2017 and 2,200 crore in 2018. He asserted that the BJP will continue to fight against the large- scale corruption that is taking place in Andhra Pradesh. BJP state in charge V. Muraleedharan said that farmers who have lost their land due to projects like Kakinada SEZ are not being paid compensation properly. Of 72 seats, the polling for two constituencies- Amaamora and Modh is being held from 7 am to 3 pm while voting in the remainder of the constituencies will take place from 8 am to 5 pm. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Raipur: The voting for the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections ended on Tuesday. 71.93 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 6 pm on Tuesday. The second phase of polling was held in 72 seats spread across 19 districts, out of the 90-member Assembly. Of 72 seats, the polling for two constituencies- Amaamora and Modh was held from 7 am to 3 pm while voting in the remainder of the constituencies took place from 8 am to 5 pm. Here are updates of the second phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly election: 06:30 pm: 71.93 per cent voter turnout recoreded till 6 pm. 05:32 pm: 64.8 per cent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm. 04:32 pm: 58.47 per cent voting recorded till 4 pm. 03:00 pm: 45.2 per cent voting recorded till 3 pm in the second phase of voting. 01:30 pm: Nearly 25.2 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise till 12.30 pm, an election official told news agency PTI. 01:20 pm: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh cast his vote at a polling booth in Kawardha. (Photo: ANI) (Photo: ANI) 11:20 am: A delegation of Congress leaders led by PL Punia meet the Election Commission in Delhi over alleging attempts to misuse and tamper EVMs in Chhattisgarh. A delegation of Congress leaders led by PL Punia meet the Election Commission in Delhi over alleging attempts to misuse and tamper EVMs in #Chhattisgarh. pic.twitter.com/6HFnHbS0SA ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 10:40 am: 12.54 per cent voting recorded till 10 am in the second phase of voting 10:30 am: Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) president Ajit Jogi and his son Amit Jogi cast their votes at a polling booth in Pendra. Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) President Ajit Jogi and his son Amit Jogi cast their votes at a polling booth in Pendra. #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/2lZCXfmCBp ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 08:10 am: Visuals from a polling booth in Ambikapur. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi if his slogan of 'na khaaoonga, na khaane doonga' has now changed into 'sab khane walaon ko bachaoonga, aankh moondte dekhta jaoonga'. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Congress on Monday demanded an independent probe into the corruption allegations made by a CBI DIG in an affidavit before the Supreme Court, saying they have raised questions on the functioning of Prime Minister's Office and the government. The party also said it would raise the issue in Parliament. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the DIG Manoj Kumar Sinha in his affidavit has named Union minister Haribhai Parthivbhai Chaudhary, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) K V Chowdhury over alleged attempts to interfere in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Also Read: Ajit Doval, minister 'influenced' probe against Asthana: CBI officer to SC K V Chowdhury did not respond to queries when his reaction was sought while Doval, the NSA, was not immediately available for comments. An official in the minister's office said he was not aware of the matter. Surjewala asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi if his slogan of "na khaaoonga, na khaane doonga" (will neither do nor allow anyone to do corruption) has now changed into "sab khane walaon ko bachaoonga, aankh moondte dekhta jaoonga" (will save all the corrupt, will watch with shut eyes). "Who are those helping the corrupt. Are those helping the corrupt sitting in the Prime Minister's Office," he asked. "When IB, RAW and CBI's credibility is at stake, as it has been put at stake by words of this affidavit and when CVC responsible for investigating the entire matter, his own judgment and conduct is under a cloud, then democracy is in peril and Constitution is in danger," he told reporters. "We definitely believe and we will appeal to the court to conduct a separate investigation, if possible, otherwise we will go to the court of people. In democracy like ours, the final defender of peoples' right as also holding accountability of the Government is Parliament and we will go to Parliament," the Congress leader said. The internecine feud in the CBI turned murkier on Monday with a senior officer M K Sinha dragging the names of NSA Ajit Doval, Uminister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC K V Chowdhury over alleged attempts to interfere in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has been divested of his duties and sent on leave along with his boss Alok Verma. Sinha, who was probing the FIR against Asthana, the CBI's number 2, and important cases like the PNB scam involving Nirav Modi, made a litany of allegations in his petition before the Supreme Court that sought urgent hearing for quashing his transfer to Nagpur. Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh elections, Union Minister Uma Bharti on Monday said launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and said that their leaders have joined hands with Pakistan in order to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: File) Damoh: Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh elections, Union Minister Uma Bharti on Monday said launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and said that their leaders have joined hands with Pakistan in order to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "When India and Pakistan fought for Bangladesh, at that time being the leader of Opposition, Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in the Parliament that the Jana Sangh stands with (then Prime Minister) Indira Gandhi, Indian armed forces and the government because we have to defeat Pakistan," Ms Bharti said. "But when India carried surgical strike, Congress leaders called our Army Chief 'gunda'. Congress leader went to Pakistan and said there that they have to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This means that they joined hands with Pakistan and are conspiring to defeat PM Modi," she added. Uma Bharti's statement comes days after Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on over the weekend said that PM Modi was jealous of him as Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan did not invite him to attend his swearing-in ceremony. "Prime Minister Modi is jealous of me for obvious reasons. PM Modi did not receive the invitation from Imran Khan to attend his swearing-in ceremony," said Sidhu here while addressing media persons in Chhattisgarh. The photograph released along with the advisory shows two bearded men in kurtas and traditional headgear posing next to a milestone reading Delhi 360 km, Ferozepur 9 km. New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Tuesday has issued an advisory along with the photograph of two terrorists suspected to be hiding in the city. The police have asked the public to keep a lookout for them. The photograph released along with the advisory shows two bearded men in kurtas and traditional headgear posing next to a milestone reading Delhi 360 km, Ferozepur 9 km. The Police have appealed to people to report to the Paharganj Police Station on 011-23520787 or 011-2352474 in case they have any information regarding these two terrorists. The two wanted terrorists are aged between 25 and 30 and their photographs have been put up on walls at several places. The general public has also been advised to remain vigilant and report to police if they witness any suspicious activity. An alert has been sounded and the authorities have enhanced patrolling and surveillance in sensitive areas. The photos of these two terrorists were released hours after the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Tuesday nabbed a Hizbul Mujahideen operative for his alleged role in the murder of Jammu and Kashmir Police Sub-Inspector Imtiaz Ali Ahmad Mir in Pulwama last month. According to reports, the arrested Hizbul Mujahideen operative has been identified as Ansar-ul Haq. Haq was arrested from Delhi airport after being on the radar of Delhi Police for quite some time. Meanwhile, last week, the counter intelligence wing of Punjab Police alerted about the presence of at least six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists "could be moving towards Delhi" from the state. The letter, issued by the office of the Punjab Inspector General of Police (Counter Intelligence) to law-enforcement agencies across the state on Thursday, sought installation of checkpoints at all important routes, strict vehicle inspections and the adoption of suitable counter-terror measures. "There is a need to review and strengthen the second line of defence along the Indo-Pak border, and coordinate closely with the Border Security Force and other defence establishments in your areas," the document read. Four people had taken over a taxi at gunpoint around 11:30 pm on November 15, sparking fears of another Pathankot-like terrorist attack. Police said the suspects, who hired the Toyota Innova from Jammu, forced its driver out near Madhopur and drove off. Police are yet to confirm if the people involved were carjackers or terrorists. Warbirds Over Monroe 2018 by Mosley Hardy The Show: Now in its eleventh year, the Warbirds Over Monroe airshow is a joint production by the non-profit Warriors & Warbirds group and the City of Monroe . It takes place every year on Veterans day weekend at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport in Monroe, North Carolina. This years event took place on November 10th and 11th and featured performances by: Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 44-8543 Madras Maiden Erickson Aircraft Collection but operated by The Liberty Foundation Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXe MJ730 Military Aviation Museum Goodyear FG-1D Corsair Bu.92508 Military Aviation Museum North American P-51D Mustang 44-63810 Angels Playmate Alex Newsom North American P-51D Mustang 45-11439 Quicksilver Scott Yoak North American P-51D Mustang Swamp Fox 44-74202 RT Dickson Curtiss P-40N Warhawk 42-104977 American Dream Warbird Adventures Douglas C-47 Skytrain 43-30652 Whiskey 7 National Warplane Museum Focke-Wulf 149 Warriors and Warbirds TORA TORA TORA Bomb Squad Commemorative Air Force North American SNJ-5C Larry Morris North American SNJ-5 John Mazza Jr. Super Stearman with Wing Walker Greg Shelton Airshows Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan 42-3069 Allen Aviation Pitts S-1S Chefpitts Air Shows Pitts S-2B Keith Davis Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros Larry Labriola Red Thunder Air Show Team World War II Airborne Demonstration Team As well as numerous static aircraft displays and a WWII re-enactor encampment featuring American, German and British troops. The Experience: From the moment you arrive at Warbirds Over Monroe, its obvious that this event is different from most other air shows. The first thing youll notice is the parking, which is well thought out and runs smoothly. Since the airfield is located adjacent to an industrial park, the show is able to use multiple business parking lots, allowing traffic to be spaced adequately and served efficiently by a fleet of shuttle buses. This arrangement, along with excellent police traffic control, allows relatively low-stress entry to the show and an easy exit at the end of the day. As you enter the show through one of the two entrances, youre already relatively close to the flight line. The event typically has a handful of chalets at show center available for rental to businesses or groups, but there are also some with individual reserved seating available for advance purchase. Except for the chalets, all seating is first-come first-served, with chairs or blankets that you bring, so staking out your preferred spot on the flight line is job #1. Once your chairs are in place, its time to explore. The usual layout is two hot ramps with static exhibits and food vendors in between, and the reenactor encampment at the far south end of the field. One of the most appealing features of the show is how relatively open it is. Unlike many other events where the hot ramp is well away from, and usually inaccessible to the crowd, at Monroe its easy to get up close and personal with the warbirds and their crews on the hot ramps unless an aircraft is launching or recovering. During those moments, the well-trained ground crew shepherds the crowd back to an appropriate distance,, but youre still plenty close enough to feel the aircrafts power and prop wash and even smell its exhaust. This really make you feel connected to whats going on. After youve checked out all of the warbirds, its time to walk over to the WWII re-enactor encampment. If youve never been around serious re-enactors, then youre in for a surprise. Far from grown-ups playing dress-up, almost every re-enactor is an amateur historian who works obsessively on getting each detail of their kit as period-correct as possible. They know the history behind every piece of their gear and how it fits into the story of the war. More than anything, they love sharing that knowledge. If you arrived early, youll have had plenty of time to check out everything on the ground, grab a bite to eat and return to your chairs before the flying starts. First up is usually a parachute jump demonstration from the World War II Airborne Demonstration Team. They leap from either the National Warplane Museums D-Day veteran Douglas C-47 Skytrain known affectionately as Whiskey 7 because of her markings, or the City of Monroes very own Curtiss C-46 Commando named Tinker Belle. Like the rest of the re-enactors at the show, this team uses period-correct equipment, from the jump plane to their uniforms and parachutes. No modern steerable chutes here if they jump at the wrong time they land in the wrong place, period. Its one the most accurate representations of a WWII parachute jump that you can see without a time machine. Once the flying starts it really doesnt let up until the show ends. Warbird demos (often with pyrotechnic effects) are mixed in with aerobatic performers. The show organizers always book enough acts to allow the Airboss to present a fast-paced show that never lags all the way to the finale (with lots more pyro) around 3 PM. Formation Finale Story: This year however, Pete Hovanec, the Director of Warbirds Over Monroe Airshow 2018 had a problem. As the pilots briefing started on Saturday morning his show didnt yet have a finale. All air shows are at the mercy of weather, scheduling and mechanical issues, but for a show like Warbirds Over Monroe that is almost entirely dedicated to WWII warbirds, those variables play an outsized role. A number of performers this year, including both of the pre-announced headliners, required last-minute replacement due to mechanical issues. Added to that were regional weather issues that threatened the arrivals of many of the others and forced most to come in on Saturday morning. Those factors combined to change this years show significantly, which is why the finale had to be created at the morning briefing. According to Air Boss George Cline, We had issues getting aircraft into Monroe on Friday due to low ceilings (400 Overcast) for the better part of the day. We had a 10 am brief set for Saturday and a 12 noon start time. We moved the brief to 1030 to give the Warbirds time to set out early Saturday morning and arrive in time for the FAA Brief. We got the word to all about the delayed briefing time and delayed start time. Everyone got there! After I knew what we would have arriving, I reworked the schedule and conferred with Tora Pyro. I put together a different schedule to conclude with the fighters (3 P-51s/1 Spitfire/1 Corsair/1 P-40). I asked Scott Scooter Yoak to be the flight lead for the fighters and brief the B-17 and all aircraft. I explained to him what I wanted, and he made it happen. All but one pilot was formation qualified and he was the stinger aircraft behind the others. The conclusion is what you see in the photo along the Pyro from Tora Pyro. When the weather does not cooperate, you must regroup. All the performers we use at Monroe are professional and willing to support the show in whatever ways they can. I developed the plan, but the pilots made it happen! Pete Hovanec knows what warbirds we need at this show and he goes all-out to book them and bring in the best and most interesting aircraft. Pete and the City of Monroe are to be congratulated for putting on a CLASS show. Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Monday inquired from the Election Commission about the steps it had taken to ensure that party manifestoes submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer for the ensuing Assembly elections are in accordance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice S.V. Bhatt was hearing a plea by city-based chartered accountant M. Narayana Charyulu, seeking to direct the Election Commission to implement the guidelines of the Model Code of Conduct in respect of election manifestos. EC counsel Avinash Desai informed the court that the CEO had received six manifestos so far, and parties could submit their manifestos even on the last day of the campaign on December 5. Counsel submitted that the EC would examine them only after the CEO forwarded the manifestoes. The petitioner sought that the court make suitable amendments to the guidelines so that the candidates and political parties made themselves accountable to the public for which they had made promises. Hyderabad: The TRS is saying that it will win 100 seats. The figure 100 represents Kauravas in Mahabharata, while the five mandals in Kodangal Assembly constituency represents the Pandavas, said ex-MLA A. Revanth Reddy. Mr Revanth Reddy filed his papers on Monday, the final day for nominations, from Kodangal constituency. Addressing the people afterwards, Mr Revanth Reddy said, I was emotional when I filed the nominations today. I will serve the people of Kodangal until my last breath. He said, Our government will be formed soon after the announcement of the election results. He said, Kodangal will play an important role in the Congress government. He alleged that caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was planning to destroy Kodangal with the help of some groups and promised to protect the constituency. He said, If Harish Rao touches me, see what will happen. The people of Telangana will hunt the TRS like wild boars that are destroying the crop. He alleged that Mr Chandrasekhar Rao had gone for early elections to make his son, caretaker minister K.T. Rama Rao, the Chief Minister. But, the people of Telangana will not allow his dream to come true, he added. New Delhi: In a bid to combat poor air quality which has engulfed the national capital, Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma Tuesday said that inducing artificial rain may be considered. Delhi's air quality remained 'very poor' on Tuesday due to unfavourable wind and high humidity, authorities said. Speaking to ANI, Sharma said, "If the situation worsens then the option of cloud seeding to induce rainfall artificially, as an immediate step will be considered." The overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 349, which comes under the 'very poor' category, according to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR). The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data said 20 areas in Delhi recorded 'very poor' air quality and 13 'poor' air quality. On Tuesday, the PM2.5 particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres level was recorded at 227, while the PM10 level was recorded at 358, 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 air quality is very poor and is expected to increase gradually in the next two to three days, but be well within the 'very poor' limit, the SAFAR said in a report. "At present, winds are unfavourable for dispersion but it may slow down any time with fall in temperature which is expected. Humidity is still high which is unfavourable. Fire counts from stubble burning declined and will have a marginal impact," the report stated. The statement from Stalin came just a few hours after CM Palaniswami accompanied by Deputy CM O Panneerselvam paid a visit to Gaja-hit Pudukkottai area. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Chennai: President of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MK Stalin on Tuesday slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappai K Palaniswami for not spending enough time with the victims of Cyclone Gaja. The statement from Stalin came just a few hours after the state Chief Minister accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam paid a visit to Gaja-hit Pudukkottai area and distributed relief material to the people residing in the relief camps. Speaking to media, "After five days, Chief Minister went to Trichy from where he took a helicopter. He went to two to three places in the protection of party workers. Distribution of relief material and pictures were all a setup. If weather was bad, he could have waited there for a few days, why cut short visit?." Stalin on Monday announced Rs 1 crore financial assistance for the relief and rehabilitation work in cyclone Gaja hit areas in eight districts of the state. Stalin also declared that his party members of the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Assembly will also donate their one month's salary for the relief and rehabilitation works. The disaster, which has brought the life in several districts of the state to a standstill, has so far claimed 46 lives, apart from causing huge damage to properties and live-stocks. 'We have sought appointment with him (Modi). We expect that it could be given day after tomorrow (Thursday). The state government will certainly take steps to get central funds and submit details of the damage with proof,' Palaniswami said. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Pudukottai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Tuesday visited the districts hit by Cyclone Gaja, distributed relief materials among the affected people and indicated he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this week to seek central assistance. "We have sought appointment with him (Modi). We expect that it could be given day after tomorrow (Thursday). The state government will certainly take steps to get central funds and submit details of the damage with proof," Palaniswami told reporters here during his visit to Pudukottai and Thanjavur districts in the morning. Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K.Palaniswami and Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam today distributed relief material to people affected by #CycloneGaja in Pudukkottai. CM says,"We have sought time from the PM Modi, we will explain everything and seek financial assistance from the Union Govt." pic.twitter.com/lOhQ4DqRUf ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 The cyclone crossed the coast near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district, about 300 km from Chennai, with a speed of up to 120 kmph last Friday, claiming 46 lives and leaving a trail of destruction in over 10 districts in southern Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, relief work was hampered after various parts of the Cauvery delta region, including the cyclone-hit Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts, were lashed by heavy rains since Tuesday morning The weather office has forecast heavy rains in the region under the influence of a well-marked low pressure in the Bay of Bengal. Amid criticism of his government's handling of the situation, the chief minister, who announced a Rs 1,000-crore package on Monday for immediate relief and rehabilitation work, urged the Opposition to bury political differences and contribute towards the relief activities. Citing the recent devastating floods in Kerala, Palaniswami said the Opposition there raised no issues then, though it took about a month for the relief activities to be completed. Everyone should go by their conscience and do their bit in helping the affected people, Palaniswami said. On the people's anger over alleged tardy relief works in some places, he said it was due to the government's precautionary measures that loss of lives had been minimised. None can predict the magnitude of a natural phenomenon and 'Gaja' has left a huge trail of destruction, the chief minister said, adding that the government was taking steps on a war-footing to address the people's issues. Earlier, accompanied by ministers and officials, Palaniswami inspected some coconut groves devastated by the cyclone in Thanjavur district and also distributed relief materials, including rice and other essential articles, to the affected people. At Pattukottai, he distributed Rs 30 lakh as compensation to a woman, who lost all her three sons in a wall collapse in the wake of the cyclone. The state government had announced a Rs 10-lakh solatium to the kin of those killed in the cyclone. A report from Nagapattinam said several areas in the district including Vedaranyam and Sirkazhi were experiencing intermittent heavy rains, affecting the relief operations. Protests by the public were reported in some places demanding supply of drinking water and restoration of electricity supply. On Monday, Palaniswami took stock of the situation at a high-level meeting in Chennai and announced an immediate cash assistance totalling Rs 8,800 to each family sheltered in relief camps, besides 10-kg rice and four litres of kerosene. Palaniswami had said the toll in the cyclone has risen to 46, while as many as 2,51,674 people were staying in relief camps. Hyderabad: UPA Chairperson Ms. Sonia Gandhi and All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mr. Rahul Gandhi will be sharing the stage for the first time in Telangana after the State has been formed. The duo will attend a public meeting at Medchal constituency on November 23. This is definitely eye candy for the party workers and leaders of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC). To ensure a huge turnout at the public meeting, TPCC president Mr. N Uttam Kumar Reddy has done a teleconference with the party workers and leaders. Mr Reddy has given a call to all the party workers to attend the meeting and to give a grand welcome to Sonia Gandhi saying that she was the one who gave the statehood to Telangana. Sonia and Rahul will reach Begumpet airport by 4 pm on November 23 and will attend the public meeting from 5 pm to 6.30 pm in Medchal and will return to Delhi from Begumpet airport after the public meeting. Addressing the party workers, Mr. Reddy said, Sonia Gandhi is coming to the State for the first time after the formation of Telangana. All the party workers should attend the meeting to welcome her in a grand manner. The Peoples Front will form the government on December 12. Caretaker Chief Minister Mr. K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), who is now considered as former CM, will continue to be former CM after the election results are announced. We hardly have 15 days for campaigning. KCR and his son KT Rama Rao have looted the State. Commission Bhagiratha is an example of this. Now, they want to use their commission money for winning the elections in an unethical way. Senior leaders like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders of the Mahakutami parties are likely to share the stage with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. The Congress is making huge arrangements for making the public meeting a grand success. Hyderabad: AIMIMs star campaigner Akbaruddin Owaisi has not just inherited properties, but also licensed arms from his ancestors. The second in command of the kite party, owns a 0.22 pistol, and 30-06 rifle, both family heirlooms. He also owns a 12 bore DBBL gun purchased in 2016. Following police orders, around 9,696 licensed arms have been deposited with the Telangana state law and order department before the elections. An analysis of affidavits of various candidates revealed that many recent and former MLAs and contesting candidates own firearms, a majority of them from the AIMIM. The Majilis candidate from Bahadurpura, Mohammed Moazam Khan, owns a 0.32 revolver, 0.315 rifle and a 12-bore gun. The Congresss A. Revanth Reddy, a rebel candidate contesting from Kodangal Assembly constituency, owns a pistol and a rifle. Candidates owning arms are facing the most number of criminal cases, some serious in nature. Since the election code came into effect, contesting candidates were told to submit their licensed arms. Raids however proved that illegal and unlicensed arms have been brought into the state. On the evening of Diwali, Hyderabad police seized Rs 7.5 crore hawala money in cash, along with illegal weapons sourced from states like Chhattisgarh and Bihar, said the police. Hyderabad: As reported disgruntled Lok Sabha MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy on Tuesday resigned from the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti with Assembly elections just a few weeks away. He announced that he will also resign from the Lok Sabha. Earlier, when this newspaper asked Mr Reddy on his plans to quit to join the Congress, he had outrightly denied saying that the would be part of the TRS. Mr Reddy, who is the sitting MP from Chevella, is unhappy with the party leadership giving more prominence to others and neglecting him. Deccan Chronicle had indicated that he is likely to leave the TRS and join the Congress. In his three-page resignation letter to TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Mr Reddy said: I fought for the party in 2014 when the party needed me. However, the party has inducted people who were against Telangana state and our ideology into the Cabinet and given them more power and prominence. I feel people who were fighting for Telangana and share a common ideology including me are no longer needed in the party. He said he had tried to maintain a fair and selfless stance on all issues despite provocation. Since I am unable to acquiescence with the current scenario I feel the best possible path for me is to resign from the party. I will also resign from Lok Sabha. He added, KCR Garu, I will always respect you for your struggle for separate Telangana and your achievements. I feel happy that the people and history will remember you always as a leader who led the struggle, achieved Telangana state and became the first chief minister of a separate Telangana state. I am personally very pained at the situation. I am in and hope you will understand my perspective. Not being a traditional politician I cannot delink action and ideology, sense and sentiment. I sincerely hope to maintain a friendly and cordial relationship with you. Hyderabad: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is in love with the BJP, alleged Congress leader and actress Khushboo. She also slammed caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), saying that he was under the impression that CM referred to Commission Man and was behaving like a Naya Nawab by holding court in Pragathi Bhavan. Speaking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan in the city on Tuesday, Khushboo said, Chandrasekhar Rao thinks he is a Nawab by staying in a house built with hundreds of crores and by roaming in costly cars. The TRS government is meant for only taking commissions but the people will make him zero at these elections. The government is carrying out unethical practices. Its stand on the Maoists is not good. The government is responsible for the fake encounters, including the encounter killing of Sruthi. She also alleged that not even one promise of Chandrasekhar Rao was fulfilled in the last four years. The proposal and promise of a Dalit CM was thrown in the dustbin, she said. Developing on her accusation that the TRS was in love with the BJP, Khushboo said, Chief Minister K. Chandra-sekhar Rao and Prime Minister Narendra Modi confine themselves to ribbon cuttings for programmes, and do not do anything beyond that. She alleged that the lands of the tribals were also sold by Mr Rao for commissions. He is the only Chief Minister in the country who stays in his farmhouse without coming to the secretariat, she said. She added, There is no safety for women under this government. While the Congress gave tickets to 11 women, TRS has given only three tickets for women in the upcoming polls. Mr Chandrasekhar Raos government is an anti-women government. About `220 crore were looted in the name of Bathukamma sarees. Mr Chandra-sekhar Rao considers that the development of Kavitha (his daughter) is the development of women. It is a shame that the TRS has not appointed a woman minister for women and Child welfare department too. Pakistani agencies have also been preventing the Indian high commissioner in Pakistan from visiting Sikh gurdwaras. (Representational Images) New Delhi: Pakistan on Tuesday issued a whopping 3,800 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims to participate in the celebrations to mark the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikhs and the founder of Sikh-ism. Pakistan high commissioner Sohail Mahmood hailed the move as a special gesture by the Pakistan government. While the move is bound to be welcomed by New Delhi, Indian security agencies have been concerned by attempts by notorious Pakistani spy agency ISI to try to radicalise Indian Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan to resurrect the terrorist Khalistan movement that wreaked havoc in Indias Punjab province in the 1980s and early 1990s. The terrorist movement was smashed by the Punjab police way back in 1994. But the recent grenade attack in Amritsar is being viewed in India as a fresh attempt by the ISI to stoke terror in Punjab. Pakistani agencies have also been preventing the Indian high commissioner in Pakistan from visiting Sikh gurdwaras. Yankee Air Museums B-52 by Barry Levine The Yankee Air Museum in Belleville, Michigan has a wide range of aircraft in its collection including a Boeing B-52D Stratofortress on permanent loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force. This early-block B-52D, rolled off Boeings production line in Wichita, Kansas as U.S Air Force serial number 55-0677 during the spring of 1957. She saw extensive service in the Vietnam War, reportedly flying more than 600 missions. She operated from several bases during this period, including Anderson Air Force Base on Guam, U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Air Base in Thailand, and Kadena Air Base, on Okinawa. She also served at Dyess Air Force Base nest Abilene, Texas. The U.S. Air Force retired the old bomber in 1983, with her final flight being to the museums base at Willow Run Airport on October 26th that year. The Museum has had the Stratofortress on external display since that time, as she was simply too big to display indoors. Exposure to the elements took its toll of course, and now there is a restoration project underway on the old bomber. This project is the collective effort of Museum personnel, students and faculty from the MIAT College of Technology (MIAT), and Vietnam War-era veterans who served at U-Tapao (U-Tapao Alumni Association) or other military bases. All three teams have been hard at work on this aircraft. Some of the work includes repairing/replacing damaged metal in the fuselage, wings, engine cowlings and nacelles, and the stringers supporting the wing surface. Museum support includes a core team of workers Joe Provost, Nick Consiglio, Bob Bailey, David Barnhart and Luke Noble, with Ralph Kohler and Bob Catalano providing substantial behind-the-scenes support. The U-Tapao work party takes place on a semi-annual basis, with participants arriving from a number of states to work on 677. At least one of the work party team members, Brad Beall, flew on 677 as a tail gunner during Vietnam; others, such as Consiglio and Provost worked on 677 in a ground crew capacity. As one can see, the crew working on this project has a lot of emotional connection to this aircraft, Vietnam, and this difficult period in US history. The U-Tapao crew work with MIAT instructors and students to prioritize the efforts and to ensure that a high level of historical accuracy is maintained, creating a hands-on learning laboratory on one of the most famous aircraft types in the history of the U.S. Air Force. In addition to the technical skills being taught, this project (in Bob Baileys words) preserves what we can of aviation history and the memory of all the men and woman who came before us. The photographs show some of the work underway, with MIAT students and the U-Tapao team. There is also a short video highlighting these efforts below. Long-term, the Museums vision is to move 677 to its future home indoors at the National Museum of Aviation and Technology, which will reside within the last remaining section of the old Willow Run Bomber Plant (which rolled out a B-24 Liberator every hour during peak production in WWII). As you would expect, restoring an aircraft this large (it has a 185 wingspan, and weighs in at about 175,000 pounds empty) and then moving her across the field will be expensive, so any help from the public which the museum can get will be most gratefully received. If you would like to donate to the 677 restoration effort, please send a check to Yankee Air Museum, 47884 D Street, Belleville MI 48111 (being sure to write Project 677 B52 in the checks memo section). Alternatively, you can call Elisa Guyton, Associate Director of Development, at 734-483-4030, x227 to pledge your help. Lets help to preserve this historic combat-veteran aircraft for generations to come! Srinagar: Unidentified gunmen on Tuesday shot dead an aide of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani inside his house in southern Anantnag district. His wife was injured in the shootout, the police said. The slain man was Hafizullah Mir, the district president of Geelani-led Tehrik-e-Hurriyat party. The police and local sources said that Mir was shot at his residence in Budroo village of Achabal area in Anantnag district. Both husband and wife were rushed to the hospital where doctors declared Mir dead on arrival. Tehrik-e-Hurriyat which is the main constituent of the Hurriyat Conference faction led by Mr Geelani blamed Mirs murder on Indian intelligence agencies. The police said he was killed by terrorists. The police statement read, Terrorists barged into the house of Mir and fired indiscriminately resulting into critical injuries to him. He was evacuated to a nearby hospital where he succumbed. It added that the police has registered a case under relevant sections of the law and initiated investigation in the matter. Doctors said that Mir had received bullet wounds in chest and abdomen. Mir was released from jail last month after serving two-year detention. Tehrik-e-Hurriyat in a statement here said that since his release some unknown people were suspiciously roaming around his house and at times knocking the doors and windows and inquiring about him. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin also alleged that Mirs killing was handiwork of Indian agencies. Meanwhile, the body of a 23-year old youth was recovered from Brass area in central Kashmirs Budgam district on Tuesday. The police and locals said that the victims body was hanging from a walnut tree in the area. New Delhi/ Indore: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, one of the most prominent faces of the BJP and the Narendra Modi government, announced on Tuesday that she had made up her mind not to contest the 2019 general election due to health reasons. Ms Swaraj, 66, announced this at a media interaction in Indore in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh amid growing speculation within the party since early this year that she could be sent to the Rajya Sabha or appointed as a Governor due to health reasons. Ms Swaraj has represented Vidisha in the Lok Sabha since 2009. In Madhya Pradesh, the state BJP is abuzz with rumours that chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans son Kartikeya could make his electoral debut either from Vidisha or Bhopal, considered as the partys strongholds. Speculation in also rife in the BJP state unit that some other family member of the Chief Minister or one of his confidants could stand from Vidisha if Ms Swaraj is not contesting from there. Ms Swaraj, who is serving her fourth term in the Lok Sabha, told reporters in Indore: It is the party which decides, but I have made up my mind not to contest the next (Lok Sabha) elections due to health reasons. She had undergone a kidney transplant in 2016. After being elected from Vidisha as a Lok Sabha MP, I was the Leader of the Opposition. Later, I was given the responsibility of the external affairs ministry. Despite holding these prime posts, I used to visit all Assembly segments in my constituency every month for nearly eight years. Doctors have advised me that I should avoid exposure to dust. Because of this, I am unable to take part even in election rallies. Due to health reasons, I cant participate in outdoor public programmes... I have also told my party leadership that in view of health reasons, I have to avoid such exposure, Ms Swaraj said. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it was her personal decision, and declined to comment any further. Ms Swarajs husband Swaraj Kaushal, a former governor of Mizoram, posted thank you on Twitter, and said that even Milkha Singh had one day stopped running. A spell-binding orator in Hindi, Ms Swaraj is among the few top politicians capable of speaking in English with equal ease, and has had a few rare distinctions, including being the youngest Cabinet minister at 25, when she had joined the Haryana government in 1977, and the first woman chief minister of Delhi. She is also the first woman external affairs minister of the country though Indira Gandhi, as Prime Minister, had held charge of the portfolio. Ms Swaraj also served in the Rajya Sabha for three terms and was a member of the Haryana Assembly the state she comes from twice. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday deferred till November 26 the hearing on a plea filed by Zakia Jafri challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigating Team (SIT) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 riots in Gujarat when he was the chief minister. Zakia, the wife of Ehsan Jafri, an ex-MP who was killed in one of the worst incidents during the riots, has challenged the Guja-rat high courts October 5, 2017 order rejecting her plea against the SITs decision. A bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Deepak Gupta said that the matter would take some time for detailed hearing and the plea will be heard on November 26. The Supreme Court on Monday also said that it will also look into the application by social activist Teesta Setalvad on becoming a co-petitioner in Zakias plea ahead of hearing the main case. At the outset, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said Zakias plea was not maintainable, and raised objection to Setalvad becoming the second petitioner in the case. During the last hearing, Zakias counsel had said that notice needs to be issued in the plea as it pertained to the aspect of alleged larger conspiracy during the period from February 27, 2002 and May 2002. Qutb Shahi Tombs, one of the two heritage monuments, listed from Telangana for World Heritage List. Hyderabad: Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi tombs along with nine others from Karnataka, all belonging to the Deccan Sultanate, have been pitched for the World Heritage List. There are a total of 11 sites, which are being processed by the Archaeological Survey of India for the Unesco. The TS government did not send any representative from the Heritage Authority to the meeting in New Delhi last week. This has created quite a negative impact of the commitment of the sate government. A source in the ASI said, The proposal has been prepared for all the 11 monuments hence there is a need for commitment from the state government and the state ASI. Both have to work in tandem. The World Heritage status depends on a number of other factors such as availability of parking space, sewage disposal, upgraded facilities like toilets, cafeteria and a buffer zone where there is proper landscape so that the deterioration due to climate is controlled. The buffer zone will require removal of encroachments. ASI has found several challenges in removing hawkers from the entrance gates. At the Qutub Shahi tombs, the parking area is encroached. To get the status of a heritage monument, the government will have to get all their departments like public works department, municipal, law and order and state ASI on one table and have all of them co-ordinate to protect the site. This will require a unified effort from all the departments. Apart from this, the ASI has to take up restoration work of the Golconda Fort. Dr Milan Kumar Chauley, superintending archaeologist explained, Under the ASI Act, we can protect 100 metres from the gate of the monument. Beyond that, work on the 300 metres has to be carried out by the state government. An exhibition of the pictures of the renovation has also been put up in the photo-exhibition section showing how much damage had been done and how it has been restored over the years and efforts taken to conserve the fort. Dr Rajeshwari, an archaeological scientist said, The increasing pollutants in the air affect the stone material in the monuments. The acid from micro-vegetation and moss affects the structure. To add to this is the increasing thermal energy, hence the monuments require chemical treatment to preserve it. That is why we ask people not to scribble on the monuments. Golconda Fort, with a 500 year old history has been listed from the Telangana state as one of the heritage monuments. ASI showcases restored sites The celebrations of World Heritage Week of 500 Years of Golconda Fort showcased a series of photographs with the Archaeological Survey of India of the different parts which have been restored. The works started in April 2017 and there has been restoration of Naubat Khana, Darbar Hall, Mecca Darwaza and the inner walls of the fort. The fort walls have been filled with lime water for restoration and organic and durable materials are only being used to ensure that it looks good. The work was taken up in bits and pieces as there are tourists frequenting the fort. Other areas will be taken up by next year. The works at Qutb Shahi Tombs are being taken up by the Aga Khan Development Network. A 27-year-old man, R. Appala Naidu made a suicide attempt by slashing his throat in an open court hall in Vizag city on Monday. (Representational image) Visakhapatnam: A 27-year-old man, R. Appala Naidu made a suicide attempt by slashing his throat in an open court hall in Vizag city on Monday. The Metropolitan Session Judge S. Nagarjuna sentenced Appala Naidu and six others to 14 years imprisonment in a ganja smuggling case under NDPA-Act. The moment Judgement was pronounced, the convict Appala Naidu took out a knife from his shirt and slashed his throat. Severely injured Naidu was rushed to KG Hospital in Vizag city where his condition is said to be critical. Appala Naidu is a resident of MK Patnam area in Vizag district. Naidu along with seven others were arrested by Kothakota police in October 2016 for smuggling around 300 kgs of dry ganja. Naidu was released from the central prison on bail, said Kothakota sub-inspector D. Sekharam. The judge acquitted two persons and convicted six accused in the case and slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. Upset with the judgement, Appala Naidu decided to end his life, Vizag Two-Town police station Inspector G.V. Ramana said. Khammam: Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has changed his style of speech in the second spell of election campaign and he tried to give answer to the allegations levelled by Opposition leaders on various welfare schemes. Mr Rao tried to corner Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu by showing his (Babu) letters copy, addressed to the Central government, stopping the construction of Sitarama lift irrigation project. Sitarama lift irrigation project is being executed to make Khammam district equal to West and East Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh. But, Chandrababu Naidu started checking the construction by writing letters to the Centre, he said. It is the right of the people of the Khammam district to question Mr Naidu on the letter and enter the district. Some of the parties are coming to the people by showing their caste and religion. Poor have never known caste and caste will not fulfill anybodys hunger. In the previous elections, I suggested to the TRS strategy committee to count party winning seats minus Khammam and Hyderabad. In the present election, TRS victory count starts from Khammam and Hyderabad and the party will win in all the 10 seats in the two districts, he said. On the allegation of Opposition parties on 2BHK housing and three acres being given to Dalits, he said that the Congress and the Telugu Desam had no intelligence enough to understand the 2BHK project. The philosophy of the scheme is to build a good house to the poor, where they can live for 70 years. The cost of one 2BHK is equal to seven houses in the earlier housing scheme. Everybody knows the quality of the earlier houses, he said, adding that Congress and Telugu Desam should question themselves about what they achieved in their 70 years rule. These parties have no right to find fault with the TRS government which ruled only for 51 months, KCR opined. He assured that the issue of farmers who practice Podu farming will be solved soon by discussing the matter with the Central government. The TRS government has implemented 411 welfare schemes, including KCR Kit, Kalyanalaxmi and Aasara. Some states have enquired about the Rythu Bandu scheme and how it is being executed in Telangana. He said that the farmers will get Rs 10,000 per year under the scheme from the next year. Yeddyurappa also hit out at Kumaraswamy for a remark he made against a protesting woman farmer at Belagavi Sunday. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa Tuesday accused Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda of being the "most opportunistic" politicians in the country, as he attacked the JDS-Congress government in the state on the farmers' issues. Extending his party's full support to the farmers' cause by calling for a state wide agitation on Wednesday, Yeddyurappa alleged that Gowda and Kumaraswamy were synonymous with "betrayal". Yeddyurappa also hit out at Kumaraswamy for a remark he made against a protesting woman farmer at Belagavi Sunday. "It is shameful on the part of the chief minister to make a disgraceful remark against a woman farmer. It is also arrogance to call the protesting farmers goondas and dacoits," Yeddyurappa said. Describing the chief minister's remarks against the woman "derogatory", he lashed out at Kumaraswamy for trying to defend it. He said those in public life should gracefully accept criticisms. Farmers protested the way they did as the chief minister backtracked from his promise, he said. "Power seems to have gone into the chief minister's head," he said, adding that Congress leaders who are supporting Kumaraswamy's government should think over the CM's remarks. "If they have self-respect they should ask the CM to implement the decisions or quit the post," Yeddyurappa said. Farmers are protesting in Belagavi 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. They had intensified their protest Sunday by "gatecrashing" their loaded trucks into "Suvarna Vidhana Soudha", the legislature complex in northern district, protesting Kumaraswamy's cancellation of his scheduled visit to meet ryots. In a strong reaction, Kumaraswamy had described those who barged into the legislature complex as "goondas" and accused them of defaming the entire farming community. Also, Kumaraswamy's remarks against a woman farmer while questioning her 'silence' in the last four years on the arrears issue and her farming background, had evoked sharp reaction from her. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy, you and Deve Gowda are most opportunistic" politicians in the country," Yeddyurappa said, while attacking the duo for repeatedly not keeping their promises. "They say I had gone to their door to make me chief minister, you should be ashamed to make such statements," he said, recalling that it was Kumaraswamy who quit the Dharm Singh lead Congress-JD(S) coalition in 2006 and joined hands with the BJP to form the coalition government. Reminding that he had given full support to the JD(S)-led 20 months government, Yeddyurappa accused Kumaraswamy of "betrayal" then. Accusing Gowda of insulting former chief ministers like Ramkrishna Hegde and SR Bommai, he said the father-son duo had also insulted former chief minister Siddaramaiah by trying to end his political career by ensuring his loss in the Chamundeshwari assembly constituency in Mysuru. "...I think Siddaramaiah is tolerating all the insults and is waiting for the right time," he added. Questioning Kumaraswamy about the steps taken for the benefit of farmers and common man in the last five months, he said, "the chief minister repeatedly claims credit for loan waiver, but how much loan waiver has happened so far is the question." "Cooperative sector is in distress, not even a paise has been waived from nationalised banks who are now giving notices to farmers...you are just lying and wasting time," he added. Yeddyurappa said the BJP would stage protest at all taluk and district centres across the state Wednesday to highlight state issues and against Kumaraswamy's "derogatory" remarks against the woman farmer. Though they call it a friendly contest, the allies are fighting each other in some constituencies. Hyderabad: The Mahakutami or grand alliance of opposition parties has become a messy kutami. Though they call it a friendly contest, the allies are fighting each other in some constituencies. In some constituencies allotted to the Telangana Telugu Desam, or the Telangana Jana Samithi, the Congress has fielded its candidates. The TJS has fielded candidates in constituencies allotted to the Congress and TD. The TD was allotted 14 seats, the TJS, eight, the CPI, three, and the remaining 94 seats were for the Congress party. But now the Congress is contesting in 100 Assembly constituencies. The TJS is contesting in about 13 Assembly constituencies. By more than one party of the Mahakutami contesting in same constituencies, the main purpose of the alliance which is not to split the anti-TRS vote may be defeated. At the last minute the Congress has given B forms to six candidates in constituencies that were allotted to the TJS and TD. The Ibrahimpatnam Assembly seat was allotted to the TD which announced Sama Rangareddy as its candidate. But the Congress has nominated former MLA Malreddy Rangareddy as the Ibrahimpatnam candidate. The Dubbaka assembly seat was allotted to the TJS, which announced Rajkumar as its candidate and gave him the B form. But the Congress also gave the B form to its candidate M. Nageswara Reddy from Dubbaka. The TD was allotted 14 seats and it has given B forms to 13 candidates. The TD has to decide one seat, and the choice is between Patancheruvu and Huzurabad. But the Congress has announced its candidates for both these constituencies. Kousik Reddy was given the B form as Huzurabad candidate and Kata Srinivas Goud was given the B form as its Patancheruvu candidate. The Warangal East assembly seat was allotted to the TJS, which has given the B form to G. Innaiah, but the Congress has given the B form to its own candidate Gayatri Ravi. The Miryalaguda assembly seat was allotted to the TJS, which gave the B form to Vidyadhar Reddy. The Congress sprang a surprise when it gave the ticket to former MLA, R. Krishnaiah for the same seat. The Mahabubnagar assembly seat was allotted to the TD which announced former MLA Erra Sekhar as its candidate and he filed the nomination. But the TJS has fielded Rajendar Reddy as its candidate from this constituency and he was given the B form. The TJS is also planning to field candidates in Asifabad and Station Ghanpur against Congress candidates. Congress candidate from Khairatabad constituency Dasoju Shravan on his way to file his nomination with large crowd of supporters on Monday. (Photo: GANDHI) Hyderabad: The TRS and the Congress face three crucial days till the withdrawal of nominations to find out how many of the rebel candidates have stayed in the contest. Filing of nominations coming to an end on Monday, and many rebels remained in place. The problem is more for the Congress, which delayed the announcement of candidates. The TRS had the time to pacify rebels as it had announced the candidates early. The BJP is also facing rebel pressure in some constituencies. In the keen fight between the two parties in some seats, the presence of rebels may change the results. TS Telugu Desam rebels are in the fray against both the Congress and the TD in some constituencies. TD president and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is trying to pacify the TD rebels by calling them to Amaravati. The Congress has appointed a committee to persuade the rebels to withdraw. In the TRS, caretaker ministers K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao are playing a key role in winning over the disgruntled candidates. Apart from the party leaders, the candidates are trying to pacify their rebels in their respective constituencies. In Serilimgampally, former MLA Bikshapathi Yadav filled his papers as a rebel against TD candidate Bhavya Anand Prasad. In Khairatabad TRS leader Manne Govardhan Reddy is in the fray against TRS candidate Danam Nagendar. Former home minister Sabita Indra Reddys son has filed his papers from Rajendranagar. In Secunderabad Cantonment, Mr Krishank has filled his nomination papers as a rebel against Congress candidate Sarve Satyanarayana, his father-in-law. Former ministers Suddala Devaiah, G. Vijaya Rama Rao and others have also filed their papers as rebel candidates from the Mahakutami. Party leaders are identifying which rebels could damage their prospects. In the beginning, the TRS had rebels in more than 25 constituencies. Mr Rama Rao and Mr Harish Rao spoke with them and got them over to their side. Political parties while pacifying their own rebels are also trying to encourage those from other parties to split the rival vote. They are also trying to net unhappy leaders from other parties. Former minister Cheraku Mutyam Reddy was disappointed that his allotting Dubbaka seat had been allotted to the TJSs. Mr Harish Rao succeeded to bring him into the TRS fold. Hyderabad: Caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said that the people of Telangana had already decided that the TRS would win and come back to power a second time and the election was just a formality. Interestingly, in his 20 minute-speech, he did not hit out at the Congress or for that matter any of the opposition. When he received a slip from party leaders, during his speech to speak about the Congress, he said there was nothing to speak on the Congress. He appeared to stick with what he planned to implement if he came back a second time. Addressing the massive gathering at the Praja Ashirwada Sabha held at Siddipet on Tuesday, he assured revolutionary changes in the agriculture sector after coming to power. Maintaining that the remunerative price to farmers for their crops had remained a long pending issue even as the spurious food business was spreading its tentacles across the country, he announced that he would introduce a new public distribution system to benefit farmers, self-help groups, ration dealers and members of Farmers Associations Coordination Committees at one go. Stating that the state was witnessing a huge growth in crop production which needed to be streamlined to ensure a remunerative price for farmers, the chief minister said to achieve this, we need to develop crop colonies. Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University is developing a plan by dividing the entire State into crop colonies. With the help of FACCs, we will promote crop colonies and divide crops between them. He said the produce would be purchased through the Indira Kranthi Patham Self-Help Groups who will process it at their food processing units and sell their products through ration dealers. The ongoing election campaign for the legislatures of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh tend to underscore a less than wholesome trend in our politics of late that does no service to the idea of democracy. Even important leaders have not hesitated to thoroughly personalise their campaign. There is to be found hardly any discussion around important policy issues or on social or economic matters that have affected the general populace. These three are Hindi heartland states where the BJP has had a strong presence traditionally, and in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh the party has been in power for long. In general, the chief ministers in these two states have enjoyed a measure of personal popularity. And yet the campaign has not been on the presumed achievements of their governments. In the Gujarat Assembly polls a year ago, the ruling partys leadership had spent more time attacking its opponents on a personal basis, unfortunately inviting counter-attacks on a similar basis. The real issues before the state were duly obscured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the campaign trail on Sunday, attacked the Congress Party saying that it had shown a dalit party president, Sitaram Kesri, the door to make Sonia Gandhi party chief. The shallowness of the assertion becomes clear from the factual inaccuracy of the statement. First, the late Mr Kesri was not of a dalit background. He came from a wealthy trading family of Bihar and had held the crucial position of treasurer for decades in the Congress. Two, under him the party had performed poorly in national elections and the political circumstances of the day impelled the Congress to approach Mrs Gandhi, who had been out in the cold for some time. Interestingly, unlike in the Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi state elections, this time around the PM has not engaged in a carpet-bombing campaign, although BJP president Amit Shah appears to have been active. He too has made the polls in the Hindi states about the Nehru-Gandhi family, or about divisive issues like the refugee question of Assam or the Ram Mandir and Rahul Gandhis supposedly false devotion to his faith. Apart from addressing far fewer meetings than he is wont to do in Assembly elections, Mr Modis image is not on campaign posters all over, as used to be the case in the past. Possibly, anticipating a drawing down of popular support for the BJP due to anti-incumbency in these states, the party leadership may be cautious about projecting the Prime Minister, who is still widely seen as the partys ace of spades, in state-level polls. It is much better tactically to save the real trump card for next years Lok Sabha election. In a Fox News interview on Sunday, US President Donald Trump excoriated Pakistan, essentially for gobbling up lavish American government funding to stamp out terrorism from its soil, but doing little about it. Using sharp tones, Mr Trump said: And we give Pakistan $1.3 billion a year... Laden lived in Pakistan, we are supporting Pakistan... we are giving $1.3 billion which we dont give them any more, I ended it because they dont do a damn thing for us. This is a legitimate grouse. Many US administrations before Mr Trump have felt exactly the same way. Islamabad has taken Washington for a ride. And yet, India will be hasty to conclude that the United States is about to lean so hard on Pakistan as to snap any meaningful ties. Pakistan has built its own leverage over the years. If the US has grown seriously disappointed with Islamabad, the ties of China have deepened and broadened with the Pakistani military as well as civilian regimes. Besides China, Islamabad has forged a new working relationship with Russia, leveraging its ability to influence the situation as regards terrorism. In addition, of course, it practically controls the Pakistan-resident Taliban leadership. So India needs to innovate in these circumstances. India has witnessed rapid urban transformation in the recent decades and the ongoing smart cities initiative by the central government has added new thrust to this change. In the ideal sense, smart cities will enhance the quality of living for citizens by using cutting-edge information and communication technologies to manage civic assets and resources efficiently. The application of technology is expected to transform civic administration and governance and provisioning of utilities including electricity, water and sanitation, along with ensuring efficient management of traffic and transport systems. A strong civic infrastructure lies at the core of most of these services and this includes residential and commercial buildings. Smart buildings and structures therefore become a vital ingredient of smart cities. Further, ecological sustainability is a key requirement of modern smart cities. Indias construction industry, given the role it will play in building smart cities, must evolve and start embracing advanced construction technologies. Below are three important technologies for constructing smart and sustainable buildings: Prefabricated Structures Precast or prefabricated construction is a modern technique where major elements of a building or a structure, including floors, walls and roofs, are manufactured in a factory and then simply assembled on site. Nearly all metro projects, including Delhi Metro and Bangalore Metro, have used Precast or Prefabricated structures, and as a consequence their actual construction has never lagged behind deadlines. Use of precast construction has reportedly helped in saving almost 60% of time in completion of projects (as compared to the conventional construction methods) and has also brought down costs by 10-15%. This technique has today emerged as a preferred and promising alternative to the conventional concrete-based construction practices for speed, accuracy and higher quality. Prefabricated structures are more durable as they are manufactured under controlled conditions and under strict guidelines. Since the modules are factory-built, there are no problems faced when it comes to quality control, placement problems or untimely deliveries. Needless to say, prefabricated buildings are likely to play a key role in keeping the smart cities project on track, both in terms of cost and time. Constructible BIM Construction is a complex process. To convert an architects plan into a built structure requires great precision, which can be achieved by using BIM or Building Information Modeling. BIM enables the creation and management of accurate, detailed, highly constructible 3D structural models which help in visualization of a project from its conception till the end. Detailed BIM models can test the constructability of a building in advance to make sure that errors, rework, wastage is minimised and the project is predictably profitable. India generates a huge construction waste annually. This also amounts to huge losses for the contractors, which makes the cost of construction higher. By using BIM, it is possible to estimate the exact amount of material required and thus wastage can be reduced to negligible amounts. Adopting constructible BIM to build new structures for the smart cities will thus save both time and money. Internet of Things While all the other industries are realizing the true potential of IoT, the construction industry is yet to do so. The growth of smart buildings calls for robust automation of building assets through an IoT-enabled system of connected sensors, which will allow construction workers, machinery and materials to talk to a central data platform, which will capture critical performance parameters. While IOT is useful during the construction of a building, its value is fully realized when a building is in actual use. Sensors embedded in a buildings elements like ventilation or air conditioning ducts, elevators and escalators can monitor patterns and raise alerts in critical stress situations. If abnormal patterns are detected in any structure, building maintenance can be triggered automatically to intervene before an actual failure happens. Using IOT, building collapses can be avoided or predicted beforehand; ensuring zero loss of human lives. Embedded sensors and connected devices in construction equipment and the intelligence derived from these devices has been successfully deployed for creating intelligent and green buildings and has also limited the amount of construction waste generated. With the government pushing for adoption of technology in the construction sector, the onus is now on the industry to embrace cutting edge technologies and practices in order to play a judicious role in Indias urban transformation. Rajan Aiyer, Managing Director, Trimble, SAARC Region, says, "To build the next generation cities, Indias construction industry needs to adopt new-age construction technology solutions, and these solutions are already being used extensively globally. In turn, using the right technology will lead to astute planning, better utilisation of resources, lower project costs and timely completion of projects, something that our smart cities require, and our construction industry will find very useful. Trimble is a leading construction technology solutions company and its products have been used in construction of various metro and airport projects (including Delhi metro, Navi Mumbai station development, Chennai airport expansion etc.), and also by various government bodies, including Railways. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Washington: A prominent Indian-origin professor in the US has been accused of exploiting his students as servants and compelling them to do his personal work, an American daily has claimed. Ashim Mitra, a longtime pharmacy professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, made his students tend his lawn, look after his dog and water the house plants, sometimes for weeks at a time when he and his wife were away, the Kansas City Star reported. According to the paper, over Mitras 24 years as a leader in the UMKC School of Pharmacy, the professor compelled his students to act as his personal servants, a charge dismissed by him. They hauled equipment and bused tables at his social events, it said quoting nearly a dozen former students of Mitra. Former Indian student Kamesh Kuchimanchi told the daily that he considered his life at UMKC nothing more than modern slavery. He alleged that Mitra exploited cultural kinship with students from India. When Kuchimanchi once told Mitra he wouldnt be a servant, he threatened to kick me out of the university and force me to lose my visa and lose everything. That was his ammo. Either fall in line or you would be thrown out. You didnt want to be in that situation where you have to go back home empty-handed. One of his colleagues, Mridul Mukherji, who is also from India, is suing Mitra and university officials. He filed two related lawsuits in Jackson County Circuit Court - one in 2016 and one in 2018, the report said. The lawsuits claim that Mitra mistreated vulnerable foreign students and that the university retaliated against Mukherji when he complained. According to allegations in pending litigation, the university not only knew about Mitras behaviour, but administrators overlooked complaints for years because Mitra was among the most successful faculty members in corralling millions in research dollars for the school. Court documents obtained by the daily show that after one colleague filed a formal complaint, the university investigated, but the probe involved talking to only one student. In a statement to the daily through his attorney, Mitra said, Over the years, I have invited graduate students to my home where they have done work related to their courses of study, and at times eaten meals prepared by my wife. I have not required anyone to perform chores unrelated to their studies. I do not understand the suggestion that anyone was concerned with their visas being at risk. I have worked with over 60 graduate students attending UMKC on F1 (study) visas, and I am not aware of any of those students having their visa status challenged or revoked, he said. Another former student told the daily that students feared the repercussions if they refused Mitra. They were so afraid of not graduating, said the woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear that Mitra could undermine her career. She said students complained to one another privately. Because he had the prestige, he could influence people. He could make things happen. For that reason, they were reluctant to come forward. So were most of Mitras pharmacy school colleagues, she was quoted as saying by the daily Beijing: People who follow Islam but are poisoned by extremism, terrorism and separatism or are in contact with overseas terror groups or act in a conservative Islamic manner in a Chinese town have been ordered to confess to their crimes in 30 days. They are promised to be treated leniently and might avoid punishment, Hami city government in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region has said. Among the crimes that are needed to be reported are calling on people to live entirely in accordance with the Koran, campaigning against television, or for banning alcohol, smoking and dancing at weddings. Openly destroying, rejecting or thwarting the government identification system, as well as rejecting government provided housing, subsidies and cigarettes or booze as being forbidden are also considered crimes. All individuals involved in terrorist crimes are urged to surrender themselves to the judicial organs within 30 days and to confess and hand over the facts of your crime, said the notice. Activists, academics and foreign governments have been criticising China over mass detentions and strict surveillance of the Muslim Uighur minority and other ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Dubai: A Dubai court on Monday ordered the extradition of British national and alleged middleman Christian Michel, who is wanted by Indian investigative agencies in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal case, according to a media report. Michel, 54, is currently behind bars in Dubai since he was arrested and sent into custody pending the legal and judicial procedure in the UAE. The Court of Cassation upheld on Monday a lower court order which ruled that Michel could be extradited, dismissing appeals filed by his defence lawyers, the Khaleej Times reported. Judge Abdelaziz Al Zarouni, who headed a bench, pronounced the decision in the presence of member judges Musabeh Thaaloub, Mostafa Al Shinawi, Mahmoud Sultan and another judge, the paper said. However, there was no immediate official confirmation about the courts ruling in New Delhi. On Monday, Michels lawyer Abdul Moneim submitted documents showing that courts in Switzerland and Italy had ruled not to extradite his client. The judicial authorities there concluded there was no criminal element in the case, the lawyer argued. Earlier, he argued at Dubais highest court that the extradition request procedure of Michel would be a violation of the international treaty signed between the UAE and India. Contesting the lower courts ruling, according to which his client could be extradited, the lawyer argued that the Indian authorities did not follow the proper procedures when requesting the extradition, the paper said. The request should have been filed by Indias Ministry of Home Affairs rather than its Ministry of External Affairs, Abdul Moneim was quoted as saying. He contended that the procedure was flawed since it did not comply with the clauses of the treaty signed on the issue, the paper said. Accordingly, the lower court order should be reversed, he argued. Michel filed his appeal before the Dubai Court of Cassation within 30 days after the lower courts ruling. With Dubais top court upholding the lower courts decision, it has become final but it will need approval from the UAE Minister of Justice for the extradition procedure to start. The extradition procedure happens in coordination with the Interpol and the Criminal investigation Department. 'The kingdom was founded on Islamic principles of justice and equality, and we are proud of the efforts of the judiciary and the public prosecution,' the monarch said. (Photo: AP) Riyadh: Saudi King Salman stood by the crown prince and heaped praise on the judiciary on Monday, in his first public remarks since critic Jamal Khashoggi's murder tipped the country into one of its worst crises. The public prosecutor last week exonerated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king's son, of involvement in the murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, but the CIA reportedly concluded he had ordered the assassination. The prosecutor called for the death penalty against five men, announced indictments against 11 people, and said a total of 21 individuals were in custody in connection with the killing. "The kingdom was founded on Islamic principles of justice and equality, and we are proud of the efforts of the judiciary and the public prosecution," the 82-year-old monarch said in his annual address to the Shura Council, a top advisory body. "We ensure that this country will never deviate from implementing God's law without discrimination," he added, without directly addressing the murder of The Washington Post columnist in his speech. In Saudi Arabia's absolute monarchy, only the king has the authority to oust the powerful crown prince - who faces intense global criticism over the murder - but he has repeatedly indicated that he has no intention to do so. In his speech, the king praised his son's economic reform program aimed at creating jobs for a swelling youth population and preparing the kingdom for a post-crude era. Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television reported the prince will attend the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Argentina, his first overseas trip since the murder. In a show of defiance, the prince will come face-to-face with international leaders from Turkey, the United States and other European nations at the two-day summit that begins November 30. "The crown prince is sending a very clear message to the international community that nothing they say or do over the Khashoggi affair will interfere with Saudi decision making," said Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute in the United States. "Effectively, he is daring his international critics to put their rhetoric into action and betting that they won't." Shoring up support Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who claims the orders for the killing came from "the highest levels" of the Saudi government, has pledged that no cover-up of the crime will be allowed. But US President Donald Trump has praised Saudi Arabia as a "truly spectacular ally" and has refrained from blaming Prince Mohammed despite the Central Intelligence Agency's reported assessment that he was behind the killing. Saudi Arabia -- which quickly dismissed the reported CIA findings -- has offered shifting accounts of what happened, initially saying Khashoggi left the embassy after receiving his documents and later that he was killed when an argument degenerated into a fistfight. In the latest version, the Saudi prosecutor said a 15-member team went to Istanbul to bring Khashoggi back to the kingdom "by means of persuasion", but killed him instead in a rogue operation. The United States has sanctioned 17 Saudis for the crime, including close aides of Prince Mohammed, and is set to make final conclusions this week over the killing. In a sign of further international pressure, Germany on Monday said it will bar 18 Saudis from entering its territory and Europe's Schengen passport-free zone over their alleged links to the murder. But shrugging off the scrutiny, the king and crown prince resumed an unprecedented domestic tour Monday with a visit to northern Tabuk region, as they seek to leverage links with different tribes and religious leaders and shore up support for the leadership. The visit follows a trip to central Qassim province and the neighbouring region of Hail earlier this month. King Salman has pardoned some "insolvent prisoners" on his trips and last month ordered the resumption of annual bonus payments -- which were suspended under austerity measures in 2016 -- to all government workers from the beginning of next year. "The actions point to a campaign inside the kingdom to shore up support within the ruling family and to demonstrate public confidence in the crown prince," said Kristin Diwan, of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. "The king, relying upon the more traditional assets of prestige and patronage, has been central to these efforts, in a clear bid to save the most valuable achievement of his reign: the consolidation of power and future rule in the hands of his direct descendant." There is a need to create awareness on soil health management and application of the judicious use of water among farmers, said Rajya Krishi Samaja President Basavana Gowda Mali Patil. Speaking at Jilla Krishi Samaja meeting on Monday, he said the government has chalked out various programmes for the welfare of farmers. There is a need to create awareness on the same. The farmers should be guided on farming activities. The seeds and fertilisers should be distributed as per the demand. Middlemen have been engaged in using chemicals to ripen the fruits. As a result, consumers think twice while purchasing fruits. There is a need to check the use of chemicals for ripening the fruits, he added. He also said that the quality of farm equipment should be checked at the Krishi Yantradhare Yojane and the government should relax the age limit to avail facilities under Raitha Sanjivini Yojane. Jilla Krishi Samaja President B C Narendra said farmers should take up mechanisation in farming to reduce the cost of production. A Dubai court on Monday ordered the extradition of British national and alleged middleman Christian Michel, who is wanted by Indian investigative agencies in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, according to a media report. Michel, 54, is currently behind bars in Dubai since he was arrested and sent into custody pending the legal and judicial procedure in the UAE. The Court of Cassation upheld on Monday a lower court order which ruled that Michel could be extradited, dismissing appeals filed by his defence lawyers, the Khaleej Times reported. Judge Abdelaziz Al Zarouni, who headed a bench, pronounced the decision in the presence of member judges Musabeh Thaaloub, Mostafa Al Shinawi, Mahmoud Sultan and another judge, the paper said. However, there was no immediate official confirmation about the court's ruling in New Delhi. On Monday, Michel's lawyer Abdul Moneim submitted documents showing that courts in Switzerland and Italy had ruled not to extradite his client. "The judicial authorities there concluded there was no criminal element in the case," the lawyer argued. Earlier, he argued at Dubai's highest court that the extradition request procedure of Michel would be a "violation" of the international treaty signed between the UAE and India. Contesting the lower court's ruling, according to which his client could be extradited, the lawyer argued that the Indian authorities did not follow "the proper procedures" when requesting the extradition, the paper said. "The request should have been filed by India's Ministry of Home Affairs rather than its Ministry of External Affairs," Abdul Moneim was quoted as saying. He contended that the procedure was "flawed" since it did not comply with the clauses of the treaty signed on the issue, the paper said. "Accordingly, the lower court order should be reversed," he argued. Michel filed his appeal before the Dubai Court of Cassation within 30 days after the lower court's ruling. With Dubai's top court upholding the lower court's decision, it has become final but it will need approval from the UAE Minister of Justice for the extradition procedure to start. The extradition procedure happens in coordination with the Interpol and the Criminal investigation Department. Since the appellate court ruled on September 2 that he could be extradited, in response to a request filed by the Indian authorities to the UAE in connection with corruption-related charges, Michel lost his bail conditions, the paper said. Michel, whose passport had been seized by the judicial authorities in Dubai and had been granted release on bail, became 'wanted' on September 2, following the decision issued by the Dubai Court of Appeals. Citing a source, the paper said Michel's extradition request had previously been closed administratively here as the necessary papers were not available then from India. Once his file was complete, the case was re-opened. He was summoned and confronted with the file afterwards. India officially made the request to the Gulf nation sometime back for his extradition, based on the criminal investigations conducted in the case by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED, in its chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. The money was nothing but "kickbacks" paid by the firm to execute the 12 helicopter deal in favour of the firm in "guise of" genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country, according to the chargesheet. Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The ED investigation found that remittances made by Michel through his Dubai-based firm Global Services to a media firm he floated in Delhi, along with two Indians, were made from the funds which he got from AgustaWestland through "criminal activity" and corruption being done in the chopper deal that led to the subsequent generation of proceeds of crime. Michel denies the charges. On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Italy-based Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million. Former Bihar Minister Manju Verma, who was absconding for months, surrendered before a local court in Begusarai on Tuesday. She had been evading arrest ever since she was booked under Arms Act, following a police raid during which 50 live cartridges were recovered from her Begusarai residence. The Supreme Court had expressed its shock and displeasure over the Bihar polices failure to arrest her and asked the DGP to explain it in the apex court about the lapse next week. Verma had earlier resigned as Bihar Social Welfare Minister in August this year after the CBI probe into Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case found her husband Chandrashekhar Verma was in constant touch with the main accused Brajesh Thakur. Chandrashekhar, who surrendered in the court last month, is already languishing in jail. Dramatic Surrender To hide her identity, Manju reached court on Tuesday morning wearing a burqa. She arrived at the court premises in an auto-rickshaw, instead of her car. Manju has surrendered due to pressure built by the police which had started attaching her property, said ADG, SK Singhal. Rise and fall of Manju Manju, who was suspended from the JD (U) last week, is married to a former MLC Chandrashekhar Verma. Her father-in-law Sukhdeo Mahto was a CPI MLA from Cheria Bariarpur in Bihars Begusarai district. Chandrashekhar, however, joined Janata Dal (United) in 2007. One year prior to joining the ruling party, Chandrashekhar fielded his wife Manju Verma in the panchayat poll in 2006. However, Manju lost the election. Later, using his clout, Chandrashekhar managed to get JD (U) ticket for Manju from Cheria Bariarpur Assembly constituency in 2010. This time she won. She again won from this constituency in 2015 and was made Social Welfare Minister. She resigned on August 8 this year after shelter home controversy. Shaheen, Wicker, Coons & Rubio Warn Against Russian Leadership of Interpol Ahead of General Assembly Vote November 19, 2018 Helsinki Commission Members Call on Trump Admin & Interpol General Assembly Members to Oppose Alexander Prokopchuks Candidacy for President of Interpol (Washington, DC) U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), members of the Helsinki Commission, issued the following joint statement, urging the Trump administration and members of Interpols General Assembly to oppose the candidacy of Alexander Prokopchuk of Russia to serve as the President of Interpol. A vote to elect the next President of Interpol will be held at the Interpol General Assembly in Dubai on Wednesday. Interpol electing Major General Alexander Prokopchuk as its new President is akin to putting a fox in charge of a henhouse, said the Senators. Russia routinely abuses Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists. Alexander Prokopchuk has been personally involved in this intimidation strategy which ultimately seeks to weaken democratic institutions and embolden Putins authoritarian regime. If elected as President by the members of Interpols General Assembly on Wednesday, we have no doubt that Mr. Prokopchuk will further institutionalize the abuse of Interpol red notices and block ongoing efforts at meaningful reform. Further, the potential access he would gain to sensitive law enforcement data will bolster the Kremlins ability to harass critics living outside of Russia and aid other authoritarian regimes seeking to do the same. For these reasons, we urge all 192 members to stand for the integrity of Interpol as a legitimate international law enforcement mechanism and vote against Mr. Prokopchuk. We continue to call on our administration to use its voice, vote and influence to ensure that Interpol can no longer be co-opted by Putin and other dictators for their own nefarious purposes. The Russian Federation is one of the main countries to exploit Interpols red notice system, whereby notices of arrest are sent to all member countries. Russia has used the red notice system to harass Russian dissidents, critical Americans and other individuals opposed to the Kremlins aggression around the globe. Russias candidate for the President of Interpol, Major General Alexander Prokopchuk, has been particularly involved in the Kremlins continued harassment campaign since he served as the head of Russias National Central Bureau since 2011. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday alleged that Congress party leaders offered him Rs 25 lakh if he cancels a public meeting at Nirmal town in Adilabad district of Telangana. Speaking at a public rally in the poll-bound Telangana, Owaisi claimed that he has the call record to prove the charge while asserting that nobody can buy him and asked voters to stand firm against similar (monetary) influences. "I would sacrifice my life but would never compromise on party interests," he said. AIMIM is not contesting from Nirmal constituency in the December 7 assembly elections. However, it has extended the support to TRS candidate P Indrakaran Reddy who fights Congress' Maheswara Reddy. AIMIM, which limits itself by contesting in seven seats in old city area in Hyderabad, campaigns in few other Muslim-dominated pockets like Nirmal and Bhainsa in Adilabad district. In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops on Tuesday targeted Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajhouri in Jammu and Kashmir with mortars and small arms. At least two mortar shells landed near Poonch brigade headquarters of Indian army while one landed on the outskirts of the town on Tuesday morning, reports said. The ceasefire violation took place around 7 am, triggering commotion in the area. So, far there was no report of any loss to life or injury. Sources said that Pakistan army also fired mortar shells on Indian forward posts in Nowshera sector of Rajouri. "Own troops effectively and strongly retaliated at both the places," an army official said and added there was no injury or damage on Indian side so far. The Army's Northern Command chief, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh had recently said that Pakistan shall be "punished" if it carries out activities detrimental to India and asserted that befitting replies were given to the neighbouring nation for violating ceasefire. He also said that "as far as infiltration attempts from across the LoC are concerned, Pakistan has continued with its efforts to give impetus to infiltration." According to Union home ministry figures, the first seven months of this year saw 52 deaths and 232 people getting injured in 1,435 ceasefire violations by Pakistan army in Jammu and Kashmir. There is 198 km International Border and over 510 km of LoC with Pakistan in the state. Three AIADMK men, serving life imprisonment for setting ablaze a bus with three girl students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) alive in 2000 in protest against their leader J Jayalalithaas conviction in Pleasant Stay hotel corruption case, were released from Vellore central prison on Monday. The girls -- Kokilavani, Gayathri and Hemalatha were burnt alive in Dharmapuri after the bus in which they and 41 others from the TNAU, Coimbatore were travelling. The trio Nedunchezhiyan, Ravindran and Muniappan were set free from the prison at 12.15 pm on Monday after authorities here received a fax from the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) ordered their release. Their release came after Governor Banwarilal Purohit cleared the Tamil Nadu governments decision to pre-maturely release the trio as part of Dr M G Ramachandrans centenary celebrations. Purohit, who had earlier rejected the governments decision, affixed his seal of approval following the Edappadi K Palaniswami dispensation sending it back to him. The release has come as a surprise at a time when the Tamil Nadu Cabinets decision to set free seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The trio were sentenced to death by a trial court in 2007 and the same was confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2011. However, the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after they went on an appeal. The case relating to the burning of the bus with three girl students dates back to February 2, 2000 when Jayalalithaa was convicted in the Pleasant Stay hotel case. The bus with students who were on a study tour was torched in Dharmapuri by the three AIADMK men. The Tamil Nadu government has recommended the premature release of about 1,800 life convicts on the occasion of the birth centenary of MGR. So far, more than 250 convicts have been released. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) has recently indicated that the 2018-vintage global wine production is "back to normal" in size ( Global wine harvest bounces back ).However, a year ago the OIV reported that the 2017 global wine production had fallen to its lowest level since the beginning of the 1960s. This decrease was the result of the inclement weather that extensively damaged vineyards in the worlds largest production area, western Europe (containing the world's three biggest producers: Italy, France and Spain).As always, I wanted a picture of what it looks like to have "the lowest production for 60 years". Is this decrease only a little bit lower than the past few decades or a lot lower? A graph would obviously answer this for me. However, finding this graph turned out to be much more difficult that I thought. I expected that somewhere there would be a graph of annual global wine production, stretching back for decades, but I turned out to be badly wrong.The trusty Statistical Compendium presents the production data averaged across each decade, only (this was graphed on the AAWE Facebook page after I started writing this post); and the OIV online data go back only to 1995. At least the FAO online data go back to 1961, although it is measured in tonnes of grape must not liters of wine.Eventually, Kym Anderson (of the University of Adelaide) kindly pointed out to me that the spreadsheet associated with thedoes actually have the annual data, all the way back to 1860. So, here is the graph that I have been looking for, with global wine production shown vertically (a hectoliter is 100 liters for comparison, a dozen standard bottles of wine is 9 liters), and time proceeding horizontally. The pink line shows the 2017 production level compared to recent decades.Obviously, there was a slow increase in production until World War II, with a big dip in production during the war itself. In contrast, there was a dip for only one year during World War I, although that year (1915) had the lowest production after 1863. After the second war, there was a rapid increase in production until 1980, followed by a decline until 1990. Production has remained steady since then.As far as the 2017 production is concerned, all production levels prior to 1962 were lower (ie. 55 years earlier). However, both 1991 and 2002 came close to the 2017 level.This result differs somewhat from the OIV reports, which originally agreed with this but then changed their previous low year to 1957 (eg. World wine output falls to 60-year low ). However, the OIV values are an average of 5 million hectoliters greater than the values shown here.This graph leads to the obvious question about wine consumption. After all, we have been told for several decades about a so-called "wine lake" caused by world-wide over-production. Indeed, in the past the EU paid to have excess wine converted to spirits, and more recently it has been paying grape-growers to pull up vines, especially in southern France. The government of South Australia tried the same vine-pull tactic back in the late 1980s.Here is the graph that compares consumption with production, as recorded in thespreadsheet.This shows that consumption kept close pace with production until 1963, although the relevant consumption is usually the year (or two) after production (since the wines do not appear on the shelves until then).After 1963, production has almost always exceeded consumption. This is the origin of the wine lake indeed, in some years production far exceeded consumption. Both consumption and production dipped towards the end of last century, which is when the various governments started to address over-production. Since then, consumption has slowly increased again, although production has continued to exceed consumption. However, the two levels were very close in both 2012 and 2017.Supply and demand caused concern in 2013, when it was reported by Morgan Stanley that "an excess of 600 million unit cases (almost one quarter of global consumption) in 2004, [was] reduced to just 1 million unit cases in 2012." At that time, it was suggested that "there's little indication that world production can keep pace with the oenophilic hordes."The production levels of 20132016 eased this situation. However, the low production in 2017 has once again led to reports of a sharp decline in French wine inventories SALT LAKE CITY Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says his company will fail, eventually. What happened: Bezos held an all-hands meeting last week where he announced that the companys end is inevitable, according to a report from CNBC, which received a recording of the meeting. During the meeting, someone asked Bezos about Sears going bankrupt and what that meant for Amazon. "Amazon is not too big to fail ... In fact, I predict one day Amazon will fail," Bezos reportedly said. "Amazon will go bankrupt. If you look at large companies, their lifespans tend to be 30-plus years, not a hundred-plus years." Bezos said it is important to delay the end as long as possible. "If we start to focus on ourselves, instead of focusing on our customers, that will be the beginning of the end. ... We have to try and delay that day for as long as possible," he said. Worries: Employees told CNBC they are worried about potential government regulation and antitrust violations. "It's a fact that we're a large company," Bezos said in the meeting. "It's reasonable for large institutions of any kind, whether it be companies or governments, to be scrutinized." Why it matters: As Business Insider reported, its unusual for a companys chief executive to say the company will end well before its demise. Its even odder since Bezos heads one of the most successful companies in the world. Bigger picture: Amazon announced two new locations for its second headquarters this week. The new headquarters will lead to more than 50,000 new employees. SALT LAKE CITY A few days before Thanksgiving, dozens of strangers of all ages met in a colorful Salt Lake warehouse filled to the brim with stacks of blankets, coats, scarves and socks. "When I think twice about just going outside to take the dogs out or take the garbage out, I think of people that stay all night outside. I don't even know how they do it with all the warm clothes in the world," said volunteer Rebecca Simmons, sorting socks during the annual Warm the Homeless SLC event on Monday. As the sun set, people bustled through the warehouse of Rico Brand, a Mexican food supplier, preparing the items for donation. Others piled into vans en route to different homeless hubs downtown to distribute the blankets and clothing. Outside the Salt Lake City Main Library, 18-year-old Josie West received a new army-green jacket, which she promptly pulled on. She said she has been homeless in the downtown area since she graduated from high school a year and a half ago. West will soon turn 19 and soon should receive housing. "So that'll be a good birthday present," West explained. But until then, she said the donations will help. "I'm not shivering and stuff at night. Making sure I'm staying healthy. I'm blessed. I honestly can say that. It was a good surprise that you guys showed up tonight, definitely," she said. "It's so nice to have a jacket at all. It's nice to have something." Many who volunteered have personal connections to homelessness, while others simply wanted to help out. "My daughter was a heroin addict for four years and was very briefly homeless. And homelessness touches everyone's lives mental health issues, drug addiction. It's just a small way for us to give back," Lauri Vidal said. Kim Urbanczyk volunteered in hopes of finding her 15-year-old daughter, who ran away from home. "She's a re-occurring runaway, and she kind of blends in with the homeless people," Urbanczyk said. "I've been downtown many, many times asking around all the homeless community. And some of them may know my daughter but they do tell me where I can look for her, and they've been right," Urbanczyk said. "I still want to help out, whether I find her or not." For Edward McGraw, the donations mean that people care. "I got gloves, socks and a beanie. It means that people care about the homeless. And it means that the holidays are a giving time, and love's around," McGraw said. Bernardo Raimondo, who immigrated from Africa, received a new sport coat and socks. "This is the best one," he said, motioning to the sport coat. "I'd like to put on a neck tie and white shirt. It supports me in my situation. It's things I didn't have and I'm very happy." After passing out supplies to people camped on the library grounds, Michael Mangan said, "I don't know how they sleep in the cold." "One girl was only 13 13," he said. The girl told him she was kicked out of her home because she told her parents she was lesbian. "It really breaks your heart," he said. Mangan, who volunteered at the event for the second time, said he enjoys "seeing people come together. I think reaching out to these people is just really valuable," he said. Mangan said he can relate to the experience of homeless people because when he converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ireland when he was younger, his family disowned him. "So I hadn't much of a choice but to go on the street," he said. However, Mangan said he was blessed at the time to have a job and to attend school. Mangan said his experience made him decide "I'm going to reach out and listen." Through helping others, Mangan says, "some people, their lives can be changed forever. Including ourselves, of course." Just five years ago, Spencer Nielsen and his bandmates came up with the idea for the annual Warm the Homeless SLC. The first year, they gathered a few hundred blankets, he said. "We've taken a little bit of flak for it, but we don't care. We are not a 501(c), we're not a charitable organization. We're just like a group of people that started this small service project, and now it's this big event. We've probably outgrown ourselves by like 100 times," Nielsen said. After they began posting about the event on Facebook, Nielsen has seen the grassroots service project grow exponentially. On Monday, he couldn't even estimate how many blankets and other supplies the group had gathered. He said the items that weren't distributed Monday will go to different homeless shelters and elementary schools. As the night went on, the piles only seemed to grow as more people crowded into the building. Nielsen said that he hasn't been able to work in two weeks because the project has consumed his time but he does it because he wants people to realize that "it's not hard" to offer a hand of help to the homeless. "Anyone can do it any day of the week, any time. You know, you can help these people. And we're so fearful of them. And so I think deep down our main goal is to give a voice to the people and change that stigma." MURRAY A Kaysville police officer suffered minor injuries early Tuesday while helping Utah Highway Patrol troopers who were called to a head-on crash caused by a wrong-way driver. The drivers in the head-on collision were both hospitalized in critical conditions Tuesday, according to the UHP. The woman, who was not immediately identified, was doing a ride-along with a UHP trooper. About 2:20 a.m., troopers responded to a crash involving a wrong-way driver on I-15 southbound near 5300 South. A Toyota SUV heading north in the southbound lanes struck a Ford Econoline van head-on, said UHP Sgt. Nick Street. Both drivers, the lone occupants of each vehicle, were wearing their seat belts and were conscious and alert when emergency crews arrived. Both had to be extricated from their vehicles, Street said. Investigators suspect the driver of the SUV may have been intoxicated, according to Street. Troopers did not know Tuesday where the man got on the freeway, but don't believe he had been traveling the wrong way for very long since they did not receive any other calls prior to the crash. At least two witnesses told troopers the SUV was traveling "at freeway speeds" just prior to hitting the van, he said. Corbin Gray Celotto, 28, of Draper, was arrested at the hospital for investigation of DUI. He will be booked into the Salt Lake County Jail once he is released. According to court records, Celotto was convicted of an amended charge of impaired driving in 2016. In exchange for his guilty plea, misdemeanor gun and drug charges were dismissed. The Kaysville officer happened to be riding along with a trooper at the time of the crash on Tuesday, and both responded to the scene. The officer was assisting the troopers by setting by road flares when she was struck by another car. She suffered a hurt knee and possible concussion, Street said. Murray police were called to investigate that crash to avoid a conflict of interest, he said. The incident marks the sixth wrong-way driver case police in Utah have responded to since Friday, including another crash that occurred later Tuesday. Tuesday afternoon, police said an elderly man entered Bangerter Highway at 7000 South driving north in southbound lanes. The wrong-way vehicle struck a police officer's car and a minivan near 6500 South, and a third driver hit the vehicle's engine block. Police were investigating whether the elderly man was experiencing a medical issue. On Monday, an elderly woman drove about 3 miles the wrong way on I-84 in Weber Canyon before troopers were able to pull her over, Street said. No accidents were reported and no one was injured. Bernardino Tereso Gonzalez, 68, was arrested for investigation of DUI on Friday with a 0.148 blood alcohol content, Street said, and driving on a denied license after he got onto I-215, possibly at 4500 South, going the wrong way. He was eventually stopped on I-15 near 3300 South by a UHP trooper who was forced to perform a PIT manuever on the vehicle. In the another incident, an 80-year-old woman was driving north in the southbound lanes of I-15 in Utah County early Friday, according to the UHP. Troopers were able to force her car onto the shoulder and no one was injured. In a third case on Friday, a car rolled off I-15 while trying to avoid a wrong-way driver near Cedar City, the UHP reported. The driver was not injured. SALT LAKE CITY Heres a look at the news for Nov. 20. Democratic County Mayor Ben McAdams claimed victory over Mia Love in Utahs 4th Congressional District. Read more. 90,000 Salt Lake County residents can expect to pay a new service district tax, but not yet. Read more. The U.S. Forest Service can begin negotiations with Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird ski resorts for land trades. Heres why Alta isnt included. Utah Jazz were a step slow in latest loss to Indiana Pacers on the final stop of a five-game road trip. Read more. A booming number of people will travel for Thanksgiving, according to AAA. Read more. Utahn charged with offering random teens $70,000 to have his baby. Read more. Elizabeth Smart announced the birth of a new baby girl. Read more. A look ahead to Thanksgiving: A look at our most popular: A look at national news: SOUTH JORDAN Travel time along Bangerter Highway just got a little bit faster and a little bit smoother. The Utah Department of Transportation on Monday celebrated the completion of four new interchanges on Bangerter Highway and announced plans to remodel three more beginning in 2020. All lanes and ramps have now opened at the freeway-style interchanges at 5400 South, 7000 South, 9000 South and 11400 South. The cost of the project was $215 million. UDOT officials say occasional short-term lane closures are expected at night and on weekends as crews complete landscaping, striping and other small details. In all, seven stoplights on Bangerter Highway have now been replaced with new interchanges including on- and off-ramps. Interchanges at 600 West, Redwood Road and 7800 South were also revamped to improve traffic flow and meet the growing transportation needs in western Salt Lake County. Now, motorists headed south on the highway can drive all the way to 9800 South without hitting a traffic light. "These are the types of projects that when the day you open them people notice a difference, and their lives become better and mobility becomes better, Carlos Braceras, UDOT executive director, said during a press event to mark the completion. And officials say the new interchanges are saving motorists about 10 minutes of drive time and improving safety. "Spending less time in the car matters to everyone, said South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey. It's better for the air. It's better and so many ways. We're really thrilled to have this intersection done. However, neighbors of the 9000 South on-ramp say are unhappy a sound wall tapers and doesn't block as much traffic as they expected. West Jordan and UDOT put in nearly a half-million dollars to raise the height of the wall about 3 feet. I wish it was taller, said Tiffany Skelton, who lives near the wall. "For the safety of our neighborhood, and the protection, and make us feel like we're neighborhood and not just a sideshow of the freeway. "Unfortunately, our work is impactful and we are working through people's neighborhoods. We acknowledge that. It's difficult, Braceras said. UDOT now has its eyes set on the interchanges at 6200 South, 10400 South and 12600 South. Previously, the interchanges at 10400 South and 12600 South were scheduled for construction beginning in 2022, but funds were transferred from other projects to complete these interchanges sooner. In 2019, crews will relocate a section of the Jordan Aqueduct near 6200 South from under Bangerter Highway to west of the highway, prior to the start of major construction on the interchange itself in 2020. A similar relocation was completed near 5400 South in 2016. *** New interchanges During construction of the four interchanges, UDOT crews: Worked nearly 290,000 man-hours. Placed 16 miles of concrete safety barrier and 10 miles of drainage pipe. Excavated or placed 2.2 million tons of dirt. Built seven new bridges and a new pedestrian overpass. Reduced planned full closures of Bangerter Highway by 75 percent. The project had planned to use up to 24 full closures but only needed six. SALT LAKE CITY Thanksgiving brings many people together under one roof, for better or for worse. If youre one of the people that consider it for worse, this article may be for you. Whats up: Mashable's Alison Foreman recently made a list of the best movies to watch with family and stay sane over Thanksgiving. Because after battling over political ideology during dinner, the last thing youll want to do is have to continue arguing over the remote. Here are the highlights. Any Pixar movie: So many classics to choose from. Foreman does warn readers to stay away from WALL-E, as it could potentially turn into a conversation about climate change. Classic action flicks: These are good for the older crowds. Think Indiana Jones or Mission Impossible. Stand-alone Marvel movies: The key word in here being stand-alone. Watching one of the sequel movies or one that relies heavily on background knowledge is sure to confuse the members of your group that arent Marvel experts. Captain America or Iron Man are good places to start. Robin Williams comedies: Foreman suggests the late actor's beloved classics like Flubber, Hook and other light-hearted movies. Charlie Brown: Foreman claims that A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is the only true Thanksgiving movie and therefore cannot be beaten. Click here to see more of Foremans movie suggestions. SALT LAKE CITY The actor who held "Babe" in his arms in the popular 1995 film of the same name walked into the Utah Capitol Tuesday morning holding a dead piglet. James Cromwell joined a crowd of more than 100 protesters with animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere as they gathered in front of the Capitol and, holding several dead young pigs, walked in with the intent of delivering a message to the governor and attorney general, "demanding" that action be taken in response to alleged animal cruelty at Smithfield Foods' Circle Four Farms in Milford, Beaver County. The demonstrators also petitioned for charges to be dropped against activists accused of taking two sick piglets from Circle Four in 2017. The group found the Utah Attorney General's Office locked but were greeted shortly thereafter by Michael Mower, Gov. Gary Herbert's deputy chief of staff, who listened to their concerns. "We appreciate all of you coming up and in a respectful manner sharing this important message. I promise as the governor's deputy chief of staff, I'll share this with the governor and with the lieutenant governor, and with others on his staff as appropriate," Mower said. "They can review some of the issues that you've raised here today." Members of the group then gave speeches from the steps in the Capitol rotunda, including Cromwell and Wayne Hsiung, a lawyer and the groups co-founder. Hsiung is also one of the individuals facing charges in the Smithfield. Members of the group then left the Capitol to head for Milford, where they planned to demand that Circle Four management open its doors to allow activists to inspect conditions and provide care to animals in need. Jeremy Beckham, who works in Utah as a PETA research associate, said Beaver County has asked the group to not come. "They're just trying to peaceably assemble on public property, and Beaver County doesn't want people speaking the truth about what's happening inside the facility," Beckham said. Cromwell said those who are facing charges for "rescuing" pigs from the farm are heroes, and he believes the Utah government doesn't want to "face the truth" of animal abuse. "This is what you're killing," Cromwell said of the dead piglets. "Do you want to do this? As a country, as a people, as Christians, do you want to do this?" The Utah Attorney General's Office in May charged Hsiung, 36, of Berkeley, Calififornia; Paul Picklesimer, 40, of Berkeley; Samer Thomas Masterson, 24, of San Francisco; Andrew George Sharo, 24, of Berkeley; and Jonathan Frohnmayer, 33, of Santa Clara, California, with engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, two counts of burglary committed against an animal enterprise, and theft of livestock, all second-degree felonies. All but Masterson were also charged with riot, a class A misdemeanor. Ooredoo Myanmar and Cisco have entered an alliance to address the digital needs of companies in Myanmar. The two companies will cooperate specifically in areas of Networking, Collaboration Technology, Cybersecurity, and Training and Capability Enablement. The alliance will help accelerate Myanmars digital transformation agenda, which aims to develop a digital economy for an inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. Cisco and Ooredoo will jointly explore potential market opportunities to advance digital transformation across all sectors in Myanmar. Vikram Sinha, Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo Myanmar, said: This partnership will help our business customers to keep their business connected efficiently, safely with secured network to fulfil their digital needs to enhance their business horizon. Myanmar is standing at the cusp of a digital revolution. The ability to connect, communicate and collaborate by leveraging technology will create new business models and drive economic development across the country. Together we can jointly help companies address their digital needs, boost technology adoption across the country, develop the next generation of talent pool and support an inclusive digital economy, said Naveen Menon, President for Southeast Asia at Cisco. The alliance between Cisco and Ooredoo Myanmar will cover the following areas in Networking, Collaboration, Cybersecurity, Training and Capability Enablement: Network: A scalable, resilient and efficient network is the foundation of any IT & Telecom infrastructure. The alliance between Ooredoo & Cisco offers powerful, extensible networks with built-in integrated security. It also delivers centralised and remote management capabilities through offerings such as Network as a Service (NaaS) from Ooredoo that would allow Enterprise & SMB customers in Myanmar to deploy networks at scale and deliver higher returns on investments. Collaboration: Massive adoptions of handheld devices have changed the way we work, live, play & learn. Seamless connectivity and unified experiences are a must today. The alliance will see Oordeoo bring in Ciscos feature-rich and affordable collaboration solutions (Audio, Video Conferencing, Meetings, Webex Teams, TPaaS, UCaaS) that can be flexibly deployed on-premises or in the Cloud, along with its own multi-platform support to customers of every size across the country. Cybersecurity: As digital adoption gather pace it also increases the risk of potential cyberattacks. Companies need to have the right people, processes and technologies in place to ensure they protect themselves and remain a step ahead of malicious actors. Cisco and Ooredoo Myanmar will jointly work to help companies adopt the right security infrastructure to safeguard against any such attacks. This will include defensive and offensive solutions from Ciscos Security portfolio such as Firewalls, Ciscos Intrusion Prevention Systems, Cisco Stealthwatch and Cisco Umbrella. Training and Capability Enablement: Having access to an adequate pool of talent is critical to the success of Myanmars Digital Transformation. It is important for Myanmar to develop local capabilities on this front as the region is facing a talent shortage. Cisco and Ooredoo Myanmar will exchange best-in-class learning resources, and leverage Ciscos Black Belt program, to train local talent for a sustainable growth of the digital economy. Vietnam is looking towards 5G, with four operators expected to receive licences for testing 5G services in January next year. MobiFone and Vietnamobile along with state-owned Viettel Group and VNPT (Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group) are the companies tipped for the licences. Testing is expected to commence in the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Nguyen Manh Hung, Vietnams Minister of Information and Communications and former chairman and director general of the Viettel Group - said: Vietnam should be among the first nations to launch 5G services in order to move up in global telecom rankings. Hung is hopeful that Vietnam can become a leading exporter of 5G equipment, and so is looking to encourage domestic development. He has also stated that he intends to simplify Vietnamese IT sectors current system for licensing and approvals. Several of the operators have signed 5G cooperation agreements, with MobiFone partnering with Samsung earlier this year and VNPT forming an agreement with Nokia. Both of these firms are scheduled to be privatised by 2020, although Viettel will remain owned by the government. Diabetes Digital Media (DDM) has been named Service Industries Entrepreneur of the Year in the Midlands at the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards for 2018. The regional gala final of the NatWest awards took place on 13 November at a special ceremony in Birmingham. Now in its sixth year, the Royal Bank of Scotland Great British Entrepreneur Awards celebrates the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs in the UK. The Service Industries Entrepreneur of the Year award acknowledges Diabetes Digital Medias award-winning Low Carb Program and Diabetes Forum, the largest online diabetes community in Europe. More than 280,000 people support each other on the Diabetes Forum and there have been over 350,000 registrations to the Low Carb Program, which is helping people with type 2 diabetes to reduce medication prescriptions, lower HbA1c levels and put type 2 diabetes into remission. The Low Carb Programs one year health outcomes were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Medical Internet Research earlier this year. Francesca James, co-founder of the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards, said: 2018 has been a record year for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the number of entries we received. But the quality of applications has been above and beyond what weve seen in previous years. Just getting to the gala final as a finalist is a huge achievement given the competition on show, so to walk away with a trophy in your hand deserves huge congratulations. Last week Diabetes Digital Media was also presented with the Most Influential Diabetes Technology Company of the Year award at the Diabetes Professional Care (DPC) Industry Awards. Mr Panesar said of the award: We are delighted that all of the DDM team has been recognised for innovating in digital health and technology. Over 1.2 million members use a digital solution provided by DDM. The impact of these solutions, including the Diabetes Forum and Low Carb Program is not only empowering of people with diabetes around the world, it is pioneering the academic evidence base and redefining diabetes management. Back in August, Lenovo Vice President Chang Cheng claimed on Chinese micro-blogging website Weibo that the worlds first 5G phone will be from Lenovo and it will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, now known as the Snapdragon 8150. Almost three months after the announcement, we could see some development happening on that front. According to XDADevelopers, the company is working on a smartphone that is powered by the Qualcomms this years flagship SoC and is expected to have a 5G Moto Mod. Code-named Odin, the smartphone could be named Motorola Moto Z4. As per the report, this Motorola flagship is having an initial configuration of 4GB RAM and 32GB storage, and it is expected that the phone could also have higher RAM and storage models. The device, which is in its early stages of development, is said to be running on Android 9 Pie. It is also said that this phone is being developed keeping in mind the Moto Mod support. There is no clarity on whether this device will support the existing Moto Mods, but it is being said Odin will have a 5G Moto Mod. XDADevelopers claim that Lenovo is able to develop the 5G Moto Mod due to Qualcomms Snapdragon X50 modem, which Verizon has used to complete its first 5G data transmission using the Moto Z3 with the unreleased 5G Moto Mod. It is also said that Odin is being developed for North America and there are mentions of a Verizon model, which could mean this device will be a Verizon exclusive. Verizons commercial 5G network is set to go live in 2019, the report said. Moreover, Lenovo is also claimed to be is working on a software to handle an in-display fingerprint scanner, it is not confirmed whether Odin will have an in-display fingerprint scanner. It is a well-established fact that Samsung uses the best display available in its flagship devices. With all the major smartphone launches done for the year, the focus now shifts to Samsungs Galaxy S10 series of devices that are expected to launch in the first quarter of 2019. If a report is to be believed, Samsung will incorporate a new type of OLED display in this flagship and will also launch three variants of the smartphone with one being a flat screen type, that is, it will not have a curved display that melts into the sides. According to South Korean news outlet ETNews, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S10 in three different display sizes. It is expected that there will be a standard model with a 5.8-inch flat type display, which means that this phone will not have a curved display design that is generally associated with Samsung flagships. The other two models are expected to have 5.8-inch edge type display and 6.2 inch edge type display. It is also reported that Samsung has recently started producing panels for the Galaxy S10 smartphone. The report also claims that the display of the Galaxy S10 will have a next generation OLED called M9 and it has roped-in new partners to supply hosts for the new panel. A host or a sub-pixel is a material that emits light that belongs to a light emitting layer. As per the report, Dow Chemical will supply the Red host, Nippon Steel and Samsung SDI will supply Green, and SFC will provide company with the Blue host. These will replace the M8 chemicals in the OLEDs that were used in the Galaxy S9 series smartphones and Galaxy Note 9. Interestingly, the report says that the chemicals used for the OLED that Samsung supplies to Apple go under the LT2 designation. This could mean that there are differences between Samsung-made AMOLEDs used in Galaxy smartphones and the iPhones. For the past 17 years, Digit has been recognising the best of the best in consumer electronics with the Zero1 Awards. Digits Zero1 Awards are given out to the best performing gadgets of the year, in an effort to remind you of what you should consider buying if youre the type that has to have the absolute best gadgets in terms of performance. The category of TVs have evolved a lot in 2018 and CES, at the beginning of the year, set the benchmark for features to come. We are now at the end of 2018 and I am happy to say that a lot that was predicted at the beginning of the year has come to pass. AI has made its way to the idiot box, we are now in the third generation of OLED TVs and you can control your smart gadgets from the comfort of your TV. In India, we have also seen a growth in the number of brands launching 4K TVs on a budget and trying to give you features otherwise reserved for the rich. These nominations bring with them outstanding picture quality, impressive smart features and a design that ensures the TV is a piece of art in your house rather than a black mirror on a wall. We have seen some great TVs from numerous brands this year, however for performance we are reserving our judgement for the best that money can buy! AND THE NOMINEES ARE!! A part of Sonys Master Series, the A9F brings with it improved sound when compared to other OLED TVs, Android 8 TV out of the box, the ability to use the TV as the centre speaker in your home theatre setup and live life like a couch potato because the TV can control all your smart appliances. The TV has a resolution of 4K with support for HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. It also comes with a voice remote control out of the box and a simple to use UI. For audio, it has the second generation acoustic surface. The other offering from Sony is the A8F. Put simply, this is last years A1 in a new body. It has the same OLED display, same acoustic surface audio but an all new design. It takes a great product and makes it that much better. LGs C8 OLED TV is a 4K TV with support for HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. The TV also boasts of LGs WebOS and AI capabilities. The TV brings with it a sleek design, 4 HDMI 2.0 capable ports and picture presets that ensure your content looks great out of the box. Panasonic FX 800D The Pansonic FX800D has an IPS panel giving it good viewing angles, a slim design and support for 4K along with HDR 10. The TV also boasts of local dimming to give you deep blacks and great overall visual output. QLED is a technology mostly found on Samsungs TVs however we have a TCL TV running on Android boasting of 4K and HDR support. The TV runs on Android TV which is good. The kicker is that this TV has a 65-inch panel whereas the rest of the contenders on this list we tested were 55-inch variants. To be clear, the other models are available in 65-inch but we tested the 55-inch ones. iFFALCON 75H2A If size matters, then we have the iFFALCON 75H2A. The TV also runs on Android, boasts of 4K and the one we have for testing is the 75-inch variant. Subscriber content preview By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer YOKOHAMA, Japan Nissan Motor Co.'s high-flying chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested Monday and will be dismissed after he allegedly under-reported his income and engaged in other misconduct, the company said Monday. The Japanese automaker's CEO Hiroto Saikawa confirmed that Ghosn was arrested after being questioned by prosecutors following his arrival in Japan earlier in the day. . . . Subscriber content preview MEDFORD, Oregon (AP) The U.S. Forest Service plans to propose measures for southern Oregon aimed at reducing the size and intensity of wildfires and creating healthier forests better able to withstand the hotter, drier conditions brought by climate change. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest plan would include a mix of commercial logging and brush removal on 22,000 acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands, the Mail Tribune reported Sunday. . . . Subscriber content preview Officials said the blast occurred in a building used to process powdered magnesium. By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho An explosion Saturday at a hazardous waste site in southwestern Idaho killed one worker, injured three others and heavily damaged a building, officials said. US Ecology, which runs the site, said Monte Alex Green of Grand View, Idaho, died of his injuries from the explosion at 9:23 a.m. inside one of the buildings at the facility. . . . Saudi Arabia, UAE announce $500 million food aid for war-torn Yemen Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates today pledged a fresh $500 million food aid programme for war-torn Yemen after the country's warring factions agreed to attend negotiations in Sweden aimed at ending more than three years of brutal war. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, general supervisor of Saudi Arabias King Salman Centre for Humanitarian Relief and Works and Reem al-Hashimy, UAE minister of state for international cooperation announced the aid programme at a joint press conference in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia and the UAE together lead a coalition of Arab states fighting against the Houthi movement that controls the Yemeni capital, the UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has said. Griffiths told the UN Security Council on Friday that the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels had shown a "renewed commitment" to work on a political solution to end a war that has driven millions to the brink of famine. In fact, thousands of Yemeni children are suffering from malnutrition and at least one baby girl is reported to have died at the malnutrition ward of the main hospital in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. Four-month-old Hajar al-Faqeh reached the al-Sabeen hospital last week from Saada province, one of thousands of Yemeni children suffering from malnutrition in a country that has been pushed to the brink of famine by more than three years of war. The aid comes at a crucial moment for Yemen where the warring sides have now agreed to attend peace talks, the UN envoy said, adding that the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels will attend negotiations in Sweden. "I have received firm assurances from the leadership of the Yemeni parties - the government of Yemen, of course, first, and the Houthis - that they are committed to attending these consultations," he said. "I expect them to appear for those consultations and indeed, so do the Yemeni people, who are desperate for a political solution to a war in which they are the main victims." Griffiths said he planned to travel to the rebel-held capital Sanaa next week to finalise arrangements and even offered to travel with the Houthi delegation to Sweden "if that's what is needed." Google data shows public interest in conservation is rising The public's interest in conservation is rising, according to a new analysis led by Princeton University. Based on an adapted version of Google Trends which tracks user searches on Google the results show that people search for conservation just as often as they do for climate change. While the researchers cannot pinpoint exactly why people searched the terms they did, they are confident the results point to the public's interest in both topics. The authors of the report, published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, urge conservation scientists to nurture this growing interest and transform it into actual support for conservation. "Some people have expressed concern that when the public began to identify climate change as the single most important environmental threat, interest in other environmental issues diminished, but we find the opposite is true," says lead author Zuzana Burivalova, a post-doctoral research fellow in Professor David Wilcove's lab at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. "We think our work highlights the value of presenting objective, evidence-based findings about conservation in an accessible, engaging and relatable way. This is especially crucial in a time of growing political polarisation and misinformation," said Wilcove, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and public affairs and the Princeton Environmental Institute. Burivalova, a tropical forest ecologist and conservation scientist, began this side project because she had been disappointed to hear that public interest in conservation was declining. She wondered if the disinterest was because of the terminology scientists used like the word "biodiversity," for example, which may be confusing to some or whether climate change trumped all other environment-related searches. Under the guidance of Wilcove and with the help of Rhett Butler, founder of environmental news outlet Mongabay, Burivalova turned toward Google Trends, a website by Google that analyses top search queries. Often used for business and advertising, Google Trends has also been employed to study local health outbreaks like the flu or chicken pox. The researchers used data provided by Google Trends, which they combined with their own model of estimates regarding how the total number of searches changed over time, information not currently provided by Google. They studied monthly search results between 2004 and 2017. In addition to the terms "conservation" and "biodiversity," the researchers also included related terminology like "environmental protection," "ecotourism," and "national parks," among others. To explore the correlation between searches for climate change and conservation, they compared the terms "climate change" and "global warming" with "biodiversity," "extinction" and "endangered species." The results show online interest in conservation (around 110,000 searches per month) is of a similar order of magnitude to interest in poverty, which is around 165,000 searches per month. Interestingly, there was a significant rise in internet searches for "conservation" between 2004 and 2017 in many East African countries as well as India and Nepal. Across the time span studied, public interest in climate change and global warming began to rise in 2007, possibly due to the 2006 release of An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary about climate change, the researchers posit. During this time, there was also a general rise in individual donations to the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund. "Of course, we understand interest does not necessarily equal support," says Burivalova. "So academics and conservation practitioners should continue to explore new ways of communicating scientific findings, for example through collaborations with educators, journalists, storytellers and more." The study points out two of its major limitations. Google Trends is biased toward developed countries with access to the internet. The data available also doesn't include user's motivation for searchers. RBI to ease banks' capital adequacy norms, boost liquidity The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) central board on Monday discussed the Basel regulatory capital framework, a restructuring scheme for stressed MSMEs, bank health under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework and the Economic Capital Framework (ECF) of RBI. The board, while deciding to retain the CRAR at 9 per cent, agreed to extend the transition period for implementing the last tranche of 0.625 per cent under the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB), by one year, ie, up to 31 March 2020. The relaxation will reduce banks capital requirements by about Rs2,50,000 crore to Rs3,00,000 crore, freeing up cash for onward lending, reports quoting RBI sources said. The board also advised that the RBI should consider a scheme for restructuring of stressed standard assets of medium, small and micro enterprises (MSME) borrowers with aggregate credit facilities of up to Rs25 crore, subject to such conditions as are necessary for ensuring financial stability. As far as sharing reserve with the government, the board decided to constitute an expert committee to examine the ECF, the membership and terms of reference of which will be jointly determined by the government and the RBI. With regard to banks under PCA, it was decided that the matter will be examined by the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of RBI. The RBI, sitting on a Rs9,60,000 crore worth of reserve that include revalued gold and foreign exchange (thanks to the rupees sustained depreciation) and does not want to lose it to the stressed assets of banks and emerge itself a strained central bank. The government, on the other hand,, wants cash, and is not worried from where it comes, or what will happen if the central bank loses its buffer. The RBIs board, which contains several government nominees, agreed to set up a committee to examine the banks reserves, one whose membership would be jointly determined by the finance minister and the RBI governor. While the government refrained from invoking a never-before-used clause of the law governing the RBI and forcing the transfer of reserves, it is a far cry from the central banks position prior to the board meeting. Deputy governor Viral Acharya had, in a speech, warned against governments that meddle with central banks reserve requirements. Dubai may hand over agent Christian Michel in AgustaWestland case Dubai's highest court on Monday approved India's request to extradite British middlemen Christian Michel, who is wanted in a money laundering, bribery, and fraud case in connection with the Rs3,600-crore worth VVIP chopper scam under the UPA government. The 54-yer-old British businessman, who allegedly served as middlemen for the VVIP chopper deal in India, is currently behind bars in Dubai since he was arrested and sent to custody pending the legal and judicial procedure in the UAE. The Court of Cassation dismissed appeals filed by his defence lawyers and upheld a lower court order, which ruled that Michel could be extradited, the Khaleej Times reported. A bench headed by Judge Abdelaziz Al Zarouni and judges Musabeh Thaaloub, Mostafa Al Shinawi, Mahmoud Sultan and another judge pronounced the decision, the paper said. Michel will now have the option to approach the Ministry of Justice in UAE to request for his extradition to be halted. His lawyer Abdul Moneim submitted documents showing that courts in Switzerland and Italy had ruled not to extradite his client. The judicial authorities there concluded there was no criminal element in the case, the lawyer argued. Earlier, he argued at Dubais highest court that the extradition request procedure of Michel would be a violation of the international treaty signed between the UAE and India. Contesting the lower courts ruling, according to which his client could be extradited, the lawyer argued that the Indian authorities did not follow the proper procedures when requesting the extradition, the paper said. The request should have been filed by Indias Ministry of Home Affairs rather than its Ministry of External Affairs, Abdul Moneim was quoted as saying. He contended that the procedure was flawed since it did not comply with the clauses of the treaty signed on the issue, the paper said. Accordingly, the lower court order should be reversed, he argued. With Dubais top court upholding the lower courts decision, it has become final but will need approval from the UAE minister of justice for the extradition procedure to start. The extradition procedure happens in coordination with the Interpol and the Criminal investigation Department. Since the appellate court ruled on September 2 that he could be extradited, in response to a request filed by the Indian authorities to the UAE in connection with corruption-related charges, Michel lost his bail conditions, the paper said. Michel, whose passport had been seized by the judicial authorities in Dubai and had been granted release on bail, became wanted on September 2, following the decision issued by the Dubai Court of Appeals. Citing a source, the paper said Michels extradition request had previously been closed administratively here as the necessary papers were not available then from India. Once his file was complete, the case was re-opened. He was summoned and confronted with the file afterwards. India officially made the request to the Gulf nation sometime back for his extradition, based on the criminal investigations conducted in the case by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED, in charges filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. The money was nothing but kickbacks paid by the firm to execute the 12 helicopter deal in favour of the firm in guise of genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country, according to the chargesheet. Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, along with Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The UK-based middleman has been accused of organising bribes for securing the deal for VVIP helicopters for AgustaWestland. The charges filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Michel in June 2016 alleged that he had received EUR 30 million (around Rs 225 crore) from defence equipment manufacturer AgustaWestland. On 1 January 2014, India terminated the contract to purchase 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers for the Indian Air Force from AgustaWestland, which is the British subsidiary of Italian firm Finmeccanica, after allegations of breach of contractual obligations came to fore, which included an exchange of money as kickbacks worth Rs423 crore by the firm. Naidu, Mamata team up to fight CBI and BJP Days after Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu withdraw 'General Consent' to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to enter the state, in a move to ward off any possible investigations against him, on Monday said he would prefer seasoned Congress and opposition front politicians to Modi and BJP. Naidu, who broke off an alliance with the BJP, on Monday met his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee at West Bengal secretariat Nabanna in Howrah near Kolkata in a grand stand against the Modi ,as the Trinamool Congress chief also withdrew 'general consent' to CBI to enter West Bengal. The two leaders also announced plans to defer a meeting of opposition parties planned later this week to early December. Naidu also said, the proposed front doesnt intend to project a presumptive prime minister and will let this question be settled by the numbers that the parties get in the 2019 elections. The so-called grand alliance is a ganging up of divergent groups with no common agenda except usurping power from Narendra Modi-led BJP. However, the question of leadership continues to haunt the opposition parties that are planning to band together. The fronts leadership face has, in fact, come up at a briefing that Naidu and Mamata Banerjee addressed after their meeting. Everyone will be face of this grand alliance, the Andhra chief minister, who heads the Telugu Desam Party, shot back. Compared to Narendra Modi, we are all seniors... (and) better performers, he said. Mamata Banerjee said the meeting of opposition parties had been put off because of the ongoing assembly elections. She said the meeting will now be held days before the winter session of Parliament resumes and campaigning for December 7 elections in Rajasthan and Telangana. Naidu said those who are opposing the BJP will join and discuss. We will chalk out a programme to move forward take this momentum further on the agenda to protect the nation, the TDP chief said. He also attacked the NDA government at the Centre alleging that institutions like the CBI, ED, Income Tax department, RBI and CAG are under severe pressure from the government. The move by Naidu and Mamata to withdraw 'General Consent' to the CBI to enter their respective states comes at a time when the central investigating agency is entangled in litigations of its own creation and its credibility on the wane. The agency's chief and number two are embroiled in a bitter feud and are currently being probed for corruption. The move could give credence to opposition's claim that CBI is a 'caged parrot' being used to settle scores with former allies and opposition leaders. However, there is another, less visible aspect to Naidus and Mamatas moves, which could be the anxiety around the agency's intentions in probing state administration and senior functionaries. Outstanding achievements by Donegal Travellers in a number of different categories will be celebrated during a Donegal Traveller Pride Awards event hosted by Donegal Travellers Project (DTP) this Thursday at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Like the national Traveller Pride Awards that are run each year in Dublin, the Donegal event will honour recent accomplishments that Traveller community members have had despite the barriers that they continue to face in Irish society. We will be promoting Traveller pride in the county by showcasing many of the achievements and successes that Donegal Travellers have had, including in the area of higher education, said DTP Mens Health Worker Hugh Friel, who received the national Overall Traveller Pride Award in 2015. We will also be recognising the dedication and commitment shown by Donegal Travellers who have played a leading role in the struggle for Traveller rights. Voting In the past few weeks Travellers throughout Donegal have been voting on their choices to win event categories including: Outstanding Traveller Community Person of the Year, Outstanding Young Traveller Community Person of the Year, Outstanding Promotion of Traveller Culture and History, Excellence in Sports, Excellence in Music, and Outstanding Youth Participation. Also celebrated during the event will be the exceptional educational accomplishments of Donegal Travellers who have successfully completed Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)-accredited higher education courses and degree programmes in Community Work, Health and Social Care, Management and Supervision, and Youth Work. The event will additionally commend a number of Donegal Travellers for their successful completion of further education courses organised by DTP, including QQI-accredited courses in Learning for Living and Food and Nutrition taught by Donegal ETB, a Gender Equality course, and a Small Changes, Big Difference health awareness programme run by Travellers for Travellers. More information about the DTP Traveller Pride Awards is available by ringing Donegal Travellers Project on (074) 912 9281. Irish Water is to host a public information evening in Letterkenny as work in improving water services in the town continues. The event will be held on Monday, December 3. Irish Water, working in partnership with Donegal County Council, is working to upgrade the water mains and sewer infrastructure in Letterkenny. In a statement, Irish Water say they are committed to the upgrade of the water and wastewater infrastructure across Donegal. At the information event Irish Water will meet with the public at a drop in session in Radisson Blu Hotel Letterkenny to present the upcoming works in 2019. The public information session will take place from 5pm to 7.30pm on Monday, December 3. The investment in water services in Letterkenny is essential to improve water and wastewater service across the town, will act as a platform for social and economic development. "The project will also help ensure that the water quality standards set out in relevant legislation will be achieved, said Colm Claffey, Irish Waters Infrastructure Regional Lead. This project forms part of Irish Waters investment plan. Works have been prioritised to address the most critical issues in line with commitments outlined in Irish Waters Business Plan. Delivery of the business plan will involve a 5.5 billion investment in capital spending on drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure up to 2021. A public meeting is to take place in Moville this weekend with the aim of ensuring that the 100 asylum seekers who will be arriving in the town under the Direct Provision system are warmly welcomed. A meeting held in the town last weekend heard locals voice concerns that there was no consultation on the housing of 100 people in the Caiseal Mara Hotel. There are concerns that adequate resources have not been put in place to deal with the arrivals. Failte Inishowen said it is pleased to announce the first event in its campaign to ensure that all of the asylum seekers arriving in the coming weeks are warmly welcomed and strongly supported in settling in to this vibrant community by the sea. The event, which is described as a public information meeting with a lively panel of experts and campaigners, takes place at the Methodist Hall, Main Street, Moville, from 3pm on Sunday, November 25. All are welcome to attend, and representatives from health, education and social agencies in the area will be in attendance to offer their perspectives and to take questions from the floor. Invited speakers who have come through the system of Direct Provision will focus on how best local people might show solidarity and friendship to those who are arriving. Vukasin Nedeljkovic is an artist and researcher from Serbia whose excellent multidisciplinary project, Asylum Archive, documents his own experience of Direct Provision. Stress of waiting for asylum application to be processed Having sought asylum in Ireland in 2007, Vukasin was put into the Direct Provision system and, faced with the stress of life waiting to for his asylum application to be processed, began his excellent project as a coping mechanism. Vukasins recently-published Asylum Archive book tells a story of weight and importance that too few people have heard about we will be petitioning Donegal County Library to include a copy in every branch. South African activist Lucky Khambule has called Ireland home for the last five years. He lived in Direct Provision for three years and this experience drove him to co-found MASI, the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland in pursuit of justice, dignity, social equality and the right to work for people seeking asylum as they had been banned from doing so since Direct Provision was enacted. Caroline Radcliffe from Moville is experienced in the field of human rights and will speak of her time working with asylum seekers in the hostel that existed in the early 2000s in Moville. Generosity Siobhan Shiels of Inishowen Welcomes and Inishowen Together said: Im very proud to join forces with Failte Inishowen in order to rise to the challenges ahead with compassion and understanding for everyone affected by Direct Provision and the community they will be joining. I am bowled over by the generosity already shown by the people of Inishowen and am confident that we can create a thriving multicultural community. I am very much looking forward to hearing about the reality of Direct Provision and how our community can work with the asylum seekers to help to provide a good quality of life. Tracy Cullen Sheehan of Failte Inishowen said: I welcome this gathering and hope it will address some of the issues and concerns identified at the recent Public Information Session. I hope it will work two fold in that it will educate all of us and create a link between the Community and the families and individuals in Direct Provision. We can also take inspiration from the compassion and practical support shown to recent arrivals in different parts of Inishowen, improving often dire circumstances immeasurably. I am particularly looking forward to hearing the human story behind the system." One parish in Clogher Diocese is asking people to rediscover the gift of Christmas through Christmas trees. St. Finbarrs Church of Ireland parish in Carrickmacross is staging its community Christmas Tree Festival next weekend from Friday November 30 to Sunday December 2. The Festival is being staged in conjunction with Carrickmacross Chamber of Commerce. The official opening of the Festival will follow the switch on of the Christmas lights in Carrickmacross on Friday November 30, at 6pm from the front of St. Finbarrs Church. One of the towns main Christmas trees will be located in the church grounds. Santa will make his way from the towns switch on ceremony to his Grotto set up as part of the Festival to greet children. Local businesses and groups have been involved in setting up their own Christmas tree decorated with their own corporate or personal theme. The Rector, the Revd Colin McConaghie, explained that as well as the Christmas trees in the church, there will be other special displays including a winter wonderland. Following Friday evenings opening ceremony, St. Finbarrs Church will be open for the Christmas Tree Festival on Saturday December 1, from 10.30am to 6pm and on Sunday from 1pm finishing with a community Carols of Praise Service at 7pm. During the weekend, children will be welcomed to Santas Grotto, there will be refreshments served and parishioners will be involved in a cake sale and raffle as well as selling their new parish cookery book. Dutch engineering firm Royal HaskoningDHV has been appointed by the Colombian government to design two navigational locks at both ends of the Canal del Dique, a 114 km-long navigation route connecting Cartagena Bay, on the coast, to the Magdalena river. It will be Colombias first locks. The pre-construction phase of the project is due to begin in June 2019. The 400-years old Canal del Dique is being reconstructed as part of a strategic plan, including navigation, flood prevention and nature conservation. Flood prevention, navigation and eco restoration Royal HaskoningDHV is involved in a wider scheme for the reconstruction of the 400-year old canal. In December 2010, the banks along the Canal del Dique burst, flooding dozens of villages, rendering almost 100,000 people homeless and destroying crops and important infrastructure. The Government of Colombia asked Royal HaskoningDHV to address this flooding with an integrated scheme that included inland navigation and restorations of the wetlands on both sides of the canal. Strategic plan These first two navigation locks for Colombia are complemented by other hydraulic works like new dikes, inlets, outlets, reinforcements of existing protection levees and road infrastructure. Edgar Ortiz Pabon, Manager of the Adaptation Fund, said: "The Canal del Dique macro-project is a strategically important project and the execution of the second Phase will definitively restore this ecoregion". Royal HaskoningDHVs solution reduces inflow of water and sediment into the Canal del Dique and manages water levels to ensure flood safety, while significantly improving and restoring deteriorated ecosystems. The levees along the canal are being reinforced, following the bursts in December 2010. Digital engineering For the design of the full project, RoyalHaskoningDHV developed 1D, 2D and 3D models to simulate hydraulics, water quality, sediment transport and morphological changes in the project area. To build these numerical models, new data was collected by bathymetric surveys (total 1,350km) and topographic surveys using LIDAR (project area 1,920km2). To optimize these numerical models, hydro-sedimentological measurements were carried out including extensive measurement to determine discharges, sediment concentrations, salinity intrusion and several water quality parameters under different hydrological conditions. Following an extensive baseline study including other technical, environmental and social studies covering all villages and ecosystems, several solution strategies were proposed. Two locks The approved solution consists of a 250-meter-long navigation lock and a 60-meter-wide inlet structure at Calamar to reduce and control the inflow of water and sediments into Canal del Dique, resulting in flood protection for the complete system. Additionally, closure of the Canal del Dique itself at Puerto Badel will restore the ecological system in the bay of Cartagena. A second lock will maintain navigation between Magdalena River and Cartagena harbour. The whole plan making for the scheme has been carried out by Consorcio Dique, a joint venture of Royal HaskoningDHV from the Netherlands and Gomez Cajiao (company of Setec) from Colombia. The whole project is being executed by Fondo Adaptacion , entity of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit in Colombia. This news iem was originally published on the website of Royal HaskoningDHV. (Photos: Royal HaskoningDHV) Read also on this website Ministers launch master plan to boost inland waterway transport in Colombia, 7 September 2015 Royal HaskoningDHV wins major flood control contract for Canal del Dique, Colombia, 6 August 2013 Expertise: Enabling delta life Country: Colombia More information RoyalHaskoningDHV Amersfoort, the Netherlands +31 88 348 20 00 www.royalhaskoningdhv.com See a video impression of the locks as published on the website of the Fondo Adaptacion. As e-commerce continues to evolve, so too do consumers purchasing behaviours and preferences. Its no longer just a case of having the option to buy in-store or online the avenues for purchase have expanded with the growth of more marketplaces such as Amazon as well as the development of social selling. Consumers can now view a coveted pair of sneakers on Instagram Stories, click through to the brands website and view them on a models feet before heading in-store to try them on for size or just complete the purchase directly online. Consumers are no longer relying on a single destination to shop; theyre combining online and in-store experiences to browse, and eventually purchase, a product or service. New research from BigCommerce shows that in the last six months, 78 per cent of global shoppers made a purchase on Amazon, 65 per cent in a physical store, 45 per cent on a branded online store, 34 per cent on eBay and another 11 per cent Facebook. Talk about multi-tasking! The study, which surveyed nearly 3,000 respondents from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, highlights that consumers are shopping on a combination of different platforms simultaneously. Aussie retailers need to ensure their products are featured across a variety of channels to capture and retain consumer attention, and ensure they are able to survive in an increasingly crowded retail market. So how and where exactly are Aussies buying? Lets take a dive into some key consumer behaviours and highlight where Aussie retailers need to be focusing their attention. Aussie consumers combine online browsing with in-store shopping Customers are increasingly utilising a variety of channels when browsing and purchasing, whether that be on a website, via a marketplace or in-store. If your products dont appear when and where a customer searches for them, youre doing your brand a disservice by limiting your brand awareness opportunities and missing out on potential sale opportunities. In Australia, it appears that in-store experiences are not falling victim to the so-called death of retail, also known as the retail apocalypse. Instead, Aussie consumers rely heavily on digital tools to aid decisions before making the journey to purchase in-store. Survey results outline nearly half (48 per cent) of Australian respondents visited a brands website before making a purchase in store, and another 28 per cent read online customer reviews about the brand or product. Aussie merchants that embrace an omnichannel approach to retail by developing a presence in multiple channels, be it online, in-store or via social media have a greater opportunity to attract, convert and advance a sale than competitors that dont. And with the proliferation of Facebook advertising and the launch of Shopping on Instagram earlier this year, there is more opportunity than ever before for retailers to reach consumers. Aussie consumers browse and shop online using a combination of mobile with desktop When we browse and shop online, were big on flicking between mobile and desktop devices. Aussie respondents indicated that they use mobile (39 per cent) nearly as frequently as they use desktop (41 per cent) to shop. To influence the millions of potential Aussie customers that browse online stores on their smartphones, brands need to ensure their websites are optimised to provide a seamless experience for customers across both mobile and desktop. Despite the distractions a potential consumer may face along the way when shopping on mobile (hello work emails!), making products available across all avenues of the shopping journey is essential to help increase the likelihood that a consumer will buy your product, no matter where they ultimately make the decision to do so. A majority of Aussies prefer to shop from local retailers and marketplace over global brands The growing presence of brands like H&M and Zara and the arrival of marketplaces like Amazon to our shores isnt having as strong of an impact as the industry predicted. As Starbucks discovered the hard way, Aussies tend to support local businesses over global giants, which is great news for smaller local retailers trying to compete in the retail industry. The majority of Aussie respondents (57 per cent) felt the presence of more global retailers entering the market did not impact their decision to buy from local merchants. While only a quarter (24 per cent) of Aussies have made a purchase on Amazon over the last six months, eBay is continuing to thrive as the marketplace of choice, with more than half (63 per cent) making a purchase on the platform in the last six months. When evaluating what digital presence works best for the audiences you want to capture, focus on channels where your consumers are spending time and consider marketplaces your friend, keeping in mind each consumer touchpoint is another opportunity to strengthen the awareness of your brand. So what do those figures tell us about the changing retail landscape globally, but also here in Australia? Clearly, its a great time for consumer choice. People are browsing and shopping across more channels than they have ever had access to before. But this is also great news for Aussie retailers, who now have even more avenues to connect consumers to their products in new and exciting ways. In order to truly maximise this opportunity and to compete in the ever crowded retail market, all Aussie retailers should consider having an omnichannel solution. Utilising all touchpoints bricks-and-mortar, ecommerce sites including social channels and bigger marketplaces will give retailers the best chance of succeeding in the Australian market and globally. Jordan Sim, Group Product Manager BigCommerce. Completion of Lehmann's Well Gold Project Divestment Perth, Nov 20, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Intermin Resources Limited ( ASX:IRC ) ("Intermin" or "the Company") is pleased to advise that the divestment of Intermin's interest in the Lehmann's Well Gold Joint Venture has been completed.As announced to the ASX on 7 November 2018, the Company agreed to terminate the joint venture and Intermin has agreed to divest its 100% interest in the exploration license to Saracen on the following terms:- Payment to Intermin of A$250,000 in cash on execution.- Payment to Intermin of A$2.25 million in cash on completion.- A 2.5% Net Smelter Royalty that is payable by Saracen once Saracen has produced 42,000 ounces of gold from the transaction tenements, and ending once Saracen has produced 100,000 ounces from the transaction tenements.- Intermin and Saracen to be released from any rights and obligations under the joint venture agreement.All condition precedent including provision of signed transfers, all mining information and statutory consents have now been completed and the final payment of A$2.25 million received from Saracen.About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Enterprise IT Lead Generation Services Fuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more. Many brick-and-mortar shops have been expanding their business to the online realm. It's no wonder why, considering global retail e-commerce sales are expected to reach US$4.5 trillion by 2021. However, brands making the move first need to consider the differences between brick-and-mortar and e-commerce, and implement SMEA: Set Up -- The first step involves brands getting their items set up online so that shoppers can buy them on Amazon, Walmart, Target and other sites. Manage -- Brands need to manage their product content consistently, organize all of it in one place, and update it on retailer websites, as well as on their own sites. Enrich -- If brands don't already have rich product content like videos and 360-degree views of their items, they need to create it to maximize product content success. Audit -- Once the content is ready to go, brands need to monitor for the updated content on retailers' sites and ensure everything is how it should be. Item Setup Traditionally, item setup has been handled through manual processes and a variety of spreadsheet templates and forms. The process is time-consuming and resource-intensive, not to mention fraught with errors, as teams try to cope with the thankless task of copying data from supply chain systems, product information management (PIM) systems and other data repositories to retailer-specific spreadsheets To make matters more challenging, omnichannel retailers often have separate processes for in-store and online item setup. This has doubled the work for suppliers. As a result, suppliers have been looking to automate the process of setting up new items, in an effort to streamline workflows and free up resources to focus on other areas. The key challenges for suppliers when it comes to item setup: Gathering data necessary for the item setup process Completing retailer-specific forms Validating accuracy of the data Submitting item setup forms to retailers Addressing any issues Ensuring items go live For larger suppliers, the first step is often the most complicated. Item setup data is stored in multiple supply chain systems, while product content is stored in legacy PIM and digital asset management (DAM) systems. Historically, these systems served different customers with different needs. For example, internal and external customers of supply chain data didn't need long-form, search-optimized product descriptions. Rather, they needed attribute data (dimensions, weight, color, etc.), along with a short product name. Similarly, marketing departments and brand managers didn't need item setup data, because they were focused on brand marketing and advertising. It is only recently, with the advent of e-commerce, that suppliers have needed all their data and content in one place. Fortunately, new tools are available that make the process of gathering item setup data and submitting it to multiple retailers significantly easier. These new systems can integrate with existing supply chain, PIM and DAM solutions, or replace them altogether. As suppliers seek to get their items online faster, many are leveraging software tools and automation to get the job done more efficiently. Content Management To support the move to automation, new tools have emerged that consolidate the functionality of item setup, content management, content syndication and digital asset management in one place. These tools help users manage the end-to-end workflow of content management and item setup. This workflow ensures that New products are loaded into the system; The correct item setup data gets added to each item form; Each item is populated with sufficient product content initially; Items are updated with new content as it becomes available; Content is validated against retailer submission requirements, prior to submission; Proper sign-offs are obtained before items and content are pushed to retailers; New items get setup at retailers; and Product content goes live and stays live on e-commerce websites. When it comes to product content, many legacy content management tools help consolidate content into one centralized location, but they don't deliver that content to retailers. As a result, organizations invest a lot of time and effort getting their content into a PIM system, only to discover they have no way to get it out. Modern PIM systems, designed with e-commerce in mind, not only consolidate content, but also syndicate it to retailers. Retailers employ a wide variety of mechanisms to receive product content: Web-based portals through which suppliers can upload template and image files; Email; File servers; and APIs (software interfaces that allow computer systems to connect to each other). Figuring out how to get content to the retailer is just the first of many steps in a complex process. Suppliers also must ensure that the content they're delivering adheres to the retailers requirements, or it will be rejected. Retailers have varying image size/resolution and file type requirements, and they require varying quantities of text-based information, such as descriptions, summary bullets and product names (which also must comply with a varying set of requirements). Without the right software, suppliers would need to perform a lot of manual work, such as checking each image to ensure it meets the minimum image size requirements, or converting images from one format to another before submission. Meanwhile, some retailers accept multiple images, while others accept only one image. All of this means that without the right tools, getting content over to a retailer can be a very time-consuming job indeed. The good news is that modern PIM systems not only ingest content from multiple sources, but also automate the delivery of that content to retailers. For those retailers that don't accept direct connections, these systems streamline the output of completed template files and image files, so that suppliers don't have to do this manually. However, more retailers are opening up their systems. Walmart, for example, has created the Connected Content Partner (CCP) program to enable approved providers to connect directly to its systems. More retailers are likely to follow suit. Product Content Enrichment Although content enrichment has been around for a long time, it's only recently that suppliers have taken an interest in enriching their product content on a very broad scale. What's changed? Shopper behavior. More and more shoppers now start their purchase journey online, even when they make the purchase in-store. As a result, great product packaging and in-store displays are not enough. Suppliers want to deliver the best possible digital experience. That means they need to optimize their product content for both search results and on-page conversion. To do so, they need the right combination of search-optimized product names and descriptions, combined with multiple high-resolution images, videos, rich media and reviews. When it comes to optimizing product content, suppliers generally look at two areas of the product detail page (PDP) -- the page on which the buy button is located. Above-the-fold content includes the product name, description and imagery. This core content has received increased focus from suppliers because it has the most impact on search results. Below-the-fold content requires the user to scroll down on the page or click additional navigation links on a mobile device. However, incorporating this content into a page helps provide more detailed information to shoppers and has been shown to increase conversion rates. It often includes comprehensive marketing content, comparison charts, videos, and 360-degree product views Historically, rich media has been used most frequently in categories like electronics. Recently, suppliers across a number of categories have started leveraging rich media. PepsiCo is one example -- it has leveraged enriched content across its entire product line, such as with this enhanced marketing content on Walmart.com for its recently launched sparkling water line. Since the Bubly line is new, this enriched content is especially useful. It enables PepsiCo to provide shoppers with additional information, educating them about the new product offering. Website Audits The final step in the content process is auditing. Auditing is the process of validating that content has gone live on a retailer's website. Retailers accept content from multiple sources (including internal sources, such as in-house photo studios and copywriting teams). To address this, retailers use a variety of approaches to prioritize which content is displayed. Some assign a specific priority to each content source, while others push the most recently received content live to the website. Due to these factors, it's important for suppliers to audit the content they push to each retailer. Doing this auditing by hand is a slow and cumbersome task, and one that has to be repeated every single day. That's why choosing a software platform that includes built-in auditing is a must. Leading platforms include a variety of automating tools, including visual comparison tools like the one shown below. Click Image to Enlarge Built-in image and text comparison features compare the content the supplier submitted with content currently available on the retailer's site, identifying any differences and rolling them up into a summary dashboard, and sending alerts/notifications directly to users. These tools enable suppliers to streamline their workflows so they can focus on handling key exceptions rather than trying to find issues across thousands of items and dozens of retailers. SMEA in Action Firms like PepsiCo, Mattel and many others have found that the four-step SMEA approach delivers the very best results when it comes to delivering great digital content at scale. Without the right tools, suppliers need to deal with an overwhelming number of systems, templates and item pages. However, with the right tools, they can streamline their workflows so that rather than having to spend their time managing a cumbersome process, they can invest their time in building great content that sells. David Feinleib is CEO of Content Analytics, which provides end-to-end e-commerce content management and analytics solutions. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 20) Mislatel Consortium is now officially the country's third major telecommunications player after it signed an agreement with the Philippines government on Tuesday. The consortium, led by China Telecom and business tycoon Dennis Uy's Udenna Corporation, has entered into an agreement that allows China Telecom's submarine cables to connect from Hong Kong to the Philippine soil. Mislatel said doing so is its "first step in lowering the price of internet." "By using our submarine cables, ang internet access natin ay mabibili po natin from Hong Kong or U.S. Now yung prices po sa Hong Kong and U.S., mga $2 po yan. Compared to the current sometimes $7 or up to $15 cost of internet natin currently coming from the two major telco," Mislatel spokesperson Adel Tamano told the media. The group is allaying concerns the Chinese government will use China Telecom to spy the Philippines, as the two countries are engaged in a territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. "It will be very clear that as we do our rollout, it will be top priority for us to ensure national security," Tamano said. The signing of the agreement happened on the same day Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Philippines for a two-day state visit. Department of Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio, however, maintained the latest development has nothing to do with the Chinese leader's arrival. "It has nothing to do with the third telco. This is because we need a gateway very badly for our national broadband plan," Rio said. READ: Mislatel's confirmation as 3rd telco nothing to do with Chinese President's visit -DICT Faster internet Mislatel aims to start operating by late 2019, covering 10 to 50 million subscribers in its first year. The group vows to provide 27 megabits per second (mbps) of internet speed in its first year of operation. If realized, it will be nearly thrice faster than the 10 mbps currently offered by incumbents Globe Telecom and PLDT-Smart. Mislatel will further add speed to its internet service to up to 55 mbps in the next five years as it plans to invest a whopping P256 billion during the period. The group said they will utilize the high-end technology of China telecom to enhance services. Mislatel also said it's still open to partner with Globe, Smart or smaller telco companies. B2B Lead Generation Service Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more. Just five years ago, mobile e-commerce was a minor part of the e-commerce landscape. Today, most online searches are carried out from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, and 40 percent of all e-commerce is carried out from smartphones. This has forever changed the e-commerce industry. Why Mobile E-Commerce Is Important for Businesses The smartphone is the most important lead channel. Smartphones are an extended part of our brains and social life. We check our phones approximately 80 times a day, and they have become an integrated part of both our online and offline shopping experience. You probably recognize this: A product you consider buying comes to mind, and you instantly grab your smartphone to google it. So do most other customers, with the statistics speaking for themselves: A staggering 76 percent of all Americans rely on their smartphone to find a local store to carry out purchases, which has made the smartphone the most important lead channel to retail stores. Furthermore, 30 percent use their smartphone to compare prices when shopping in store, based on Deloitte's Omni-Channel Consumer Survey. The smartphone's importance is not limited to attracting local shoppers to your retail store. It has become a major part of the online shopping experience, with 73 percent of all customers using their smartphone to research an item before buying it, and 70 percent using it to check prices, according to Nielsen. Needless to say, the smartphone in just a few years has become a game changer in both the online and offline industry. On top of this, 40 percent of all global e-commerce today comes from directly from mobile e-commerce, which furthermore underlines why mobile e-commerce is important for all businesses to attract, convert and retain customers. Keeping that in mind, how do businesses prepare themselves for this new mobile e-commerce paradigm? First, they should know an essential fact: Customer conversion rates on smartphones are approximately 50 percent lower than the equivalent desktop customer conversion rates. This means that 50 percent fewer visitors end up buying a product. In an analysis based on 100,000 visitors, Monetate identified the following average Customer Conversion Rates: A desktop has a 3.5 percent customer conversion rate, while a smartphone has a 1.4 percent customer conversion rate. These numbers very clearly illustrate that most online shops have a largely untapped business potential in terms of truly optimizing their e-commerce stores for smartphones. The Top 10 Mobile E-Commerce Conversion Killers To realize their full mobile e-commerce potential, businesses should avoid these top 10 mobile e-commerce conversion killers: 1. Not Mobile Ready If an e-commerce store is not mobile ready, it not only will provide a poor or close-to-no shopping experience, but also will not be indexed in search engines such as Google. This is due to the fact that Google is rolling out Google Mobile First Index as we speak. First it crawls your smartphone e-commerce store to decide how to rank your smartphone, tablet and desktop store in Google search results. This has forever changed online search and e-commerce. To make sure your e-commerce store is mobile ready, start by running a test at this site. 2. Not Optimized for Smartphone DNA The most common way to make sure that an e-commerce store is mobile ready is to implement a "responsive design," which in simple terms ensures that a website's content adjusts to the screen sizes of smartphones, tablets and desktops, accordingly. Responsive design, however, does not fully comply with the DNA of the smartphone interface. You therefore must adapt features -- such as navigation, search, filters, the shopping cart, and especially checkout -- to the smartphone interface to maximize your mobile e-commerce customer conversion rate. 3. Too Slow - Speed Matters Speed always has been an essential part of the online shopping experience. If a site is too slow, customers lose patience and go astray. On the smartphone, however, this fact is even more predominant -- 53 percent of all customers abandon mobile websites that take longer than three seconds to load. It is therefore essential that businesses do everything they can to optimize the way their website content, images and code are structured and programmed. To fully master quick load time, businesses can implement AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) which ensures that customers experience very quick and close-to-instant page loads when entering a Mobile website. To avoid losing customers due to slow page loads, test the speed of your mobile e-commerce store and then correct the errors identified in the test report. 4. Complicated Navigation Poor navigation is the Achilles heel of many mobile e-commerce stores. The main reason for this is that the navigation has not been adapted specifically to the small smartphone interface and navigation patterns. Since approximately 30 percent of all customers in smartphone e-commerce stores do not find what they are looking for, a smooth and simple navigation is especially important. When you design a navigation, there are five fundamental principles you can keep in mind, where your customers must get answers to all the following questions without having to think: Where is my navigation? Where am I? Where can I go? Where did I come from? How do I get back to where I came from? As simple as this may sound, it may be very difficult to design. To cut corners, I recommend that you seek inspiration from the navigation design at Zalando. 5. Poor Search Due to these smartphone-specific navigation problems, more customers search mobile e-commerce stores than desktop stores. Since mobile e-commerce customers quickly lose their orientation and patience on the small smartphone screen, the search feature really is the mobile e-commerce epicenter. If the search engine does not work well, the mobile customer conversion rate will suffer dramatically. Customers not only expect you help them find the products they are looking for when pressing the "search" button, but also expect that you suggest matching products or product categories as they type along. Amazon.com is a champion at mastering mobile e-commerce search. If a customer for instance writes "furni" in the search field, Amazon suggests "furniture pads," "furniture sliders," etc., based on the customer's search input. On top of that, about 10-15 percent of all searches carried out at Mobile e-commerce stores are based on misspelled searches. It is therefore crucial that you help customers correct typos when they enter their search words or when they get a search result. If a customer carries out a misspelled search for "battari," Amazon then inserts a link to "did you mean: battery" at the top of the search results. A customer who clicks on that link gets the correct battery search result. These two intelligent search features undoubtedly are a central key to Amazon's massive online success. You therefore can feel safe in checking out Amazon's mobile e-commerce store for high-end search engine inspiration. It is best-in-class. 6. Poor Filters Approximately 30 percent of all customers give up locating products at mobile e-commerce stores, even though they are in stock. Imagine the same scenario in the retail industry -- that would be terrifying. The main reason customers cannot figure out how to locate products has to do with poor filters in search results and product lists. The first filter trick is to display an obvious "Filter" button on all product list pages, since many customers press this to narrow down the number of matching products. After a customer has pressed this button, you should then offer the option of more filters, such as size and brand on a separate page or in a dimmed layer on top of the page. Many mobile e-commerce companies wrongly open filters inside the product filter page, which clutters the page and makes is difficult to use. After selecting one or more filters, a customer should be able to press a "View items" button to return to the product list page in order to browse the products available. This may sound simple; however, it can be difficult to design in a user-friendly manor. To save a lot of time and money, you can look at the filters at Asos -- they are close to perfect. 7. Not Able to Save for Later Approximately 71 percent of abandoned shopping carts, according to Forrester, are due to three main reasons: The delivery costs are too high Customers are not ready to buy Customers compare prices at multiple sites Not many shop owners are aware that customers leave their e-commerce store simply because they are not ready to buy. Amazon, however, has a very clever way of solving this issue -- it displays "Save for later" buttons next to each item in the shopping cart. If a customer is not ready to buy the Levi's jeans in his shopping cart, he can just save them for later and then return to buy them whenever he is ready. This is a brilliant solution, especially since Amazon displays products saved for later below the shopping cart. Customers are exposed to the products every single time they add a product to the shopping cart. Knowing which products, a customer has saved for later and thus considered buying is a gold mine for personalized emails and other marketing purposes. Very clever indeed. 8. No Guest Checkout Option If you force customers to register to shop at your mobile e-commerce store, 30-50 percent will leave it at the login page, according to Jakob Nielsen. Tthis is one of the worst conversion killers of all. This login problem is quite easy to solve, however, simply by offering the customer a "guest checkout" option that does not require that customers create a password to complete a checkout. Debenhams has solved this issue by allowing the customer to "continue as a guest" (with no registration required) when entering its checkout flow. After they have completed the checkout process, customers can decide if they would like to register to get membership deals, etc. This is a very good way to maximize the mobile e-commerce customer conversion rate, based on a simple solution. 9. Complicated Checkout Approximately 50 percent of all customers who enter checkout do not complete it, according to Boston Consulting Group, mainly since many mobile e-commerce stores ask for too many personal details and due to poor usability. Bearing that in mind, this is where you can improve your customer conversion rate the most. To design a smooth checkout, the first trick is to create a checkout funnel, where you remove the store's main navigation and instead insert an obvious 1, 2, and 3 checkout step-indicator. At this point, customers would appreciate a quick and hassle-free checkout, rather than being required to navigate to your mobile e-commerce store. Since you would like to close the deal, you and the customer have a shared interest and goal. Next, you should make it very easy to select and understand time of delivery and delivery costs, based on a "fat-finger-proof interface," especially optimized for smartphones. When delivery has been selected, it is very important that the customer can enter personal details as quickly as possible. It takes a lot of time to enter name, address, etc. on a smartphone, so you should remove all unnecessary input fields and help customers look up addresses, based on phone number and postal code, if possible. Since you may lose 20-25 percent of all customers based on a complex personal data page during checkout, this can help you make a lot of money. Finally, you must make sure that customers can pay by selecting a preferred means of payment, and that they can verify their orders -- to make sure everything is OK -- before pressing that crucial "pay" button. 10. Not User-Tested It is obvious that many mobile e-commerce stores have not been user-tested. This is a shame, since it is the fastest and most efficient way to locate about 85 percent of all usability errors. What is a user test? A user test first and foremost has the secret superpower of including real customers in the design and optimization process. A user test is also called a "think-aloud test" because the users in the test talk aloud about how they perceive the user interface: what they like, why they get stuck, etc. Most user tests are based on five representative customers who help you locate approximately 85 percent of all errors within the given tasks. This makes a user test the most powerful conversion optimization tool out there. It does not take a lot of time to test, and it is based on real customers interacting with your e-commerce store, based on real-life shopping scenarios. When you carry out a user test, normally you locate 30-50 usability errors, of which four to five are conversion killers that cause you to lose customers -- customers who most likely never will return. By solving the usability errors located in the user test, you ensure that your mobile e-commerce store is better than most of your competitors, which certainly will improve your mobile customer conversion rate and revenue. If you are a "Do-It-Yourself" person, you can even learn how to carry out user tests yourself by reading Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug. Benjamin Gundgaard is a European e-commerce expert, keynote speaker and founder of CustomerSense, an independent, high-end e-commerce consultancy that helps companies build and optimize their e-commerce Web stores. Gundgaard is also the author of Smartphone E-commerce. He lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. In an interview with Breitbart News on Sunday, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke blamed "radical environmentalists" for the wildfires that have devastated California in recent weeks, The Huffington Post reported. "I will lay this on the foot of those environmental radicals that have prevented us from managing the forests for years. And you know what? This is on them," he said in the interview. You can listen to the whole thing here: The remarks come as California has suffered the deadliest blaze in the state's history. The death toll from the Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise in Northern California, has now risen to 79. Around 1,000 people are still listed as missing, and the fire is now 70 percent contained, according to an Associated Press report Monday. California Governor Jerry Brown blamed climate change in a statement made last weekend. "Managing all the forests everywhere we can does not stop climate change, and those who deny that definitely are contributing to the tragedies that we are witnessing and will continue to witness," Brown said. Regardless, Zinke has remained consistent in pointing the finger at forest management. His current criticisms echo his remarks following other fires this August, in which he said the increasingly frequent and violent blazes were the result of inadequate forest management, and not climate change. He continued in that vein during Sunday's interview: "In many cases, it's these radical environmentalists who want nature to take its course. We have dead and dying timber. We can manage it using best science, best practices. But to let this devastation go on year after year after year is unacceptable, it's not going to happen. The president is absolutely engaged." President Donald Trump has indeed vehemently blamed forest mismanagement ever since the recent batch of fires broke out, even threatening at one point to withhold federal funding if the forests weren't managed properly. During a visit to California Saturday to survey damage, Trump brought up forest management again, suggesting that the problem in California was that the forests were not raked enough. "You look at other countries where they do it differently, and it's a whole different story," he said, as CNN reported. "I was with the president of Finland, and he said: 'We have a much different [sic] ..., we're a forest nation.' And they spent a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things, and they don't have any problem," he added. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, however, told a Finnish newspaper he did not recall suggesting raking to Trump. "I mentioned [to] him that Finland is a land covered by forests and we also have a good monitoring system and network," he said. Finnish people have taken to Twitter to poke fun at the U.S. President's statement using the hashtag "Raking America Great Again." Despite Trump and Zinke's criticisms, the fact remains that the federal government controls almost 60 percent of the forests in California while the state controls only three percent. Paradise was surrounded by federal, not state, forests. Further, the fires in Southern California spread in suburban and urban areas, The Huffington Post reported. Some think the emphasis put by Zinke and Trump on forest management is not about preventing fires at all but rather an attempt to justify opening more public forests to private logging interests. Much like his boss, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will blame anything but climate change for California's ongoing wildfires and insists that clearing trees will help reduce the risk of fires spreading. "I've heard the climate change argument back and forth," Zinke, who is currently touring communities devastated by the massive Carr Fire, told Sacramento's KCRA. "This has nothing to do with climate change. This has to do with active forest management." In an op-ed last week in USA Today, Zinke wrote that "active forest management" including prescribed burns, mechanical thinning, timber harvests and logging will help prevent large forest fires. The interior secretary was echoing President Donald Trump's tweet last week that included the firefighting tidbit, "Must also tree clear." (The widely criticized tweet also falsely accused California lawmakers for diverting water needed for firefighting into the Pacific Ocean.) Zinke also accused "radical environmentalists" for blocking forest management practices. "Every year we watch our forests burn, and every year there is a call for action," he wrote in the USA Today op-ed. "Yet, when action comes, and we try to thin forests of dead and dying timber, or we try to sustainably harvest timber from dense and fire-prone areas, we are attacked with frivolous litigation from radical environmentalists who would rather see forests and communities burn than see a logger in the woods." There is some merit to the argument that clearing trees can starve a fire by removing the fuel. However, as The New York Times explained, the issue has become politically polarized: "Republicans in Congress have sought to loosen environmental restrictions to allow more thinning. Democrats and environmentalists argue the practice will open the door to expanded commercial logging and threaten wildlife." Indeed, during his interview with KCRA, Zinke touted the economic benefits of logging. "The irony is we have billions of board feet that is rotting on our forest floor, where we are importing lumber, and that lumber could be better utilized for people to build houses, lower the price and make it affordable for people to build a home," the former Montana congressman said. Dan Jacobson of Environment California told KCRA he is skeptical of Zinke's intentions. "Business groups come in and say, 'Oh we need to manage the forests,'" Jacobson said. "And that's their code word for, 'We need to cut everything down.'" Experts and officials have linked California's string of wildfires to population growth and development, years of prolonged drought that have dried vegetation and climate change. "We need to deal with the reality that climate change is a big part of the problem," Paul Mason, vice president of Pacific Forest Trust commented to KCRA. ABC News senior meteorologist Rob Marciano explained that a prolonged heatwave and high temperatures exacerbated the spread of the Carr Fire, one of the most destructive in state history. "Even by July standards, this is an unusually long July heat wave with triple-digit heat in areas for three weeks straight. And the night that the fire went off, temperatures were well above 110 degrees. In cases like this, there's an undeniable link to climate change," Marciano said. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) said the key issue in managing wildfires is climate change. "Contrary to his tweets, the Trump administration's anti-environment policies, not California's pro-environment reforms, will make matters worse and hurt our planet for generations to come," DeSaulnier wrote in an op-ed for The Hill on Friday. There are more than 100 major active blazes in the country right now, with 30,000 first responders battling wildfires that have burned more than 1.6 million acres of land. Scientists recently warned that Earth may be descending into "hothouse earth," where increasing temperatures cause larger and more frequent wildfires. Major/Minor: Biology Classification: Sophomore Hometown: Camden, North Carolina Hobbies/Interests: Running, personal styling, modeling, graphic design Dream Job: Orthodontist in the U.S. Army Campus Events You Enjoyed Participating In and The Reason(s): Back to School Week! I love the feeling of freshly coming back on campus every school year. Plans After Graduating From ECSU: Upon graduation will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and continue my professional studies in dental school to work towards becoming an orthodontist. Your words to live by: Take advantage of the opportunity in your community! Favorite Place on Campus Telecommunications/TV Station; I complete my work study in the TV station and its my favorite place to be. I love the atmosphere and always get my school work done along with the creative work and graphic design aspect I create for the schools TV channel, W18BB. Professors Who Have Influenced You Dr. Mary-Lynn Chambers has encouraged me to seek out the world and not get comfortable with where I stand because, "The opportunities are endless for those who seek them." Dr. Kenneth E. Jones has pushed me to go above and beyond what is expected of me in order to reach past my maximum potential. Finally, Dr. Gary Harmon, my advisor, has taught me the importance of making decisions and learning from them. Without the help of faculty and staff on campus, I wouldnt have been half of the student that I am today. I appreciate their help very dearly. Advice for Younger Students Dont take on more than you can bear. College is the place to meet new people, join clubs and organizations that interest you, but never forget why youre here. Your purpose is to complete your studies and earn your degree. Make a plan and execute. Easy to say but hard to maintain. (Photo: Reuters / Albert Gonzalez)Kariya Mohamed Abbakar, 50, from Jebel Saiey, North Darfur, gives Ismael Adam, 2, water to drink at her shelter at the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced people, in El-Fasher March 19, 2013. The family must limit their consumption of water due to the labor and cost of getting it. The poorest people often have to pay the most out of their earnings for water, a World Council of Churches official has told the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. "More often it is the poor who pay a higher percentage of their income to access water and sanitation than the rich," said Dinesh Suna, coordinator of the WCC's Ecumenical Water Network. He spoke about a recent visit to the West Bank in the Holy Land sponsored by his group, where he said communities are paying two-thirds of their income for water and sanitation, and many people do not have access to the public water distribution system. "Upon return from our visit, in a strongly worded statement, EWN called on churches and governments to work toward ending the 'water apartheid' in Palestine." Affordability of water and sanitation as a human right were deliberated at a side-event during the 30th Session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland from Sept 14 to Oct. 2. Sun was among people giving a faith-based perspectives on behalf of the WCC which represents more than 500 Christians from mainly Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant tradions. The event was organized by the Permanent Missions of Brazil, Germany and Spain, with participation from the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Prof. Leo Heller. The Special Rapporteur's first thematic report to the Human Rights Council was on affordability one of the five normative contents of human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, along with availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality. Along with Suna, other panellists included representatives of the World Health Organization and Human Rights Watch, as civil society organizations responding to Heller's report. The public subsidies and cross subsides proposed by Heller in his report can be effectively implemented, Suna said. He cited the experience of India. "The current government of New Delhi has declared water to be distributed free of cost up to 20,000 liters per household, per month. Anyone who consumes above this limit has to pay the full amount of the bill at a 10 percent hike. "This model, even with its loopholes, has worked well and does not deprive those who cannot pay the bills," he said Suna emphasized that religious communities can and do contribute significantly to realizing the human right to water and sanitation. Religious leaders must be supported in that work, he urged, since they can influence large constituencies. Suna said that water has a "strong spiritual significance" in almost all religions. "Therefore, it is not difficult to talk about water to people of faith. Laudato Si' the recent encyclical of Pope Francis on 'Care for our Common Home'is a case in point," he said. "The Pope not only talks about climate change but affirms human rights to water and sanitation." (Photo: LWF / Lucia de Vries)Rosni Paryar, in front of her home, partially destroyed by Nepal's 7.8 magnitude earthquake that claimed 8,000 lives. She fears she will remain unemployed because she is of the Dalit caste. India's Dalits were once known as untouchables in the days when the caste system had no laws against it. And although India has more than 200 million Dalits, other countries such as neighboring Nepal have significant numbers. Although discrimination was outlawed in Nepal by the 1962 Civil Code and 1990 Constitution, Dalits still face many obstacles to social, economic and political equality. Dalit means "oppressed" in Marathi, and it is the self-chosen political name of the castes formerly considered "untouchable" according to the Hindu varna system. The Indian federal government has tried to give Dalits a lift-up with affirmative action legislation. In Nepal there are some 4.5 million Dalits and other countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the United Knigdom also have relatively high numbers of them. Dalits are one of the five vulnerable groups which receive special attention from Lutheran World Federation Nepal. "Dalit artisans do not have equal access to services even in normal times," says LWF Nepal Country Director Prabin Manandhar. "They usually live in less accessible places, on hill tops for instance, and lack the political connections that are helpful to get support." During the first relief phase, immediately after the massive 7.8 magnitude Nepal earthquake in April, LWF Nepal used a "blanket approach" of reaching out to all households in allocated areas. "Dalit communities like Kusunthali received the same support as other villages," Manandhar says. As LWF relief work now focuses on recovery, special emphasis is given to women-headed households, elderly people, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and Dalits. In the 14 districts affected by the earthquake, 13 per cent of the population belongs to artisan castes such as tailors, cobblers, blacksmiths and "washer men." As Dalits, they had a difficult life even before the earthquake. With Nepal connecting to international markets, its homemade goods face competition from cheaper ready-made goods, making it harder for them to sell their products. It is estimated that 41 per cent of Dalits live below poverty level. DALITS TAINTED FROM BIRTH Formerly referred to as "untouchables", members of this caste are tainted by birth in a system that deems them impure. "What am I supposed to do now?" a worried and disheveled looking Rosni Paryar, 19, said looking at her collapsed house in Kusunthali village in the outskirts of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The top floor of her brick house is almost fully destroyed and the ground floor is filled with rubble. "Me and my family have been hit by the earthquake in two ways," she told the LWF. Paryar is the first young woman in her village of 75 people to finish high school. She was preparing for the final exam in April when the earthquake destroyed all but one house in Kusunthali. She now lives with her parents and three siblings in a temporary shelter. As her father is the only provider for the family, Paryar has also been looking for work for the past two months. She applied to work as a teacher in different schools but has not yet been hired. "Without connections a person like me will not be selected," she says, despondent. Paryar belongs to the caste of the tailors, together with other artisan groups, termed Dalits, the lowest Hindu caste. In the 14 districts affected by the earthquake, 13 per cent of the population belongs to artisan castes such as tailors, cobblers, blacksmiths and "washer men." As Dalits, they had a difficult life even before the earthquake. With Nepal connecting to international markets, their homemade goods face competition from cheaper ready-made goods, making it harder for them to sell their products. It is estimated that 41 percent of Dalits live below poverty level. The LWF found that in Kusunthali, artisans have different needs from other groups. None of the Dalit families own any land beyond that on which their houses are built. Almost all of them depend on tailoring and daily wage labor to survive. Owning no land, only very few are eligible for a loan to rebuild. FALLEN INCOME FROM TAILORING The income from tailoring has been sharply reduced since the earthquake. Almost all sewing machines were buried in the rubble. A few women continue to sew by hand and one surviving sewing machine was recently repaired. Still, clients have stopped visiting the village. Private customers need all their money for rebuilding after the damage and therefore do not often order new clothes. Many business customers are still closed mostly because staff has not shown up for work - they help their families in the villages planting and harvesting, or constructing better shelter. Paryar wonders how her people will recover from the earthquake. "In my parents' generation almost nobody can read or write," she says. "They have no power in this world and depend solely on manual work. My father has six mouths to feed. Without me having a job, how on earth can he manage?" Manandhar says the story of Paryar can be repeated all over Nepal. "While other families will soon be harvesting crops or get back to work and out of dependency, landless artisans will need much longer to recover. That is why we are committed to provide the tools and other kinds of support needed to get Dalits back on their feet." In July, LWF's corrugated iron sheets have arrived in Kusunthali. They will enable the families to build a stronger roof on their temporary shelter. Livelihood support and psychological counselling will follow soon. With the extra support from LWF Nepal, quake-affected Dalit families stand a chance of rebuilding their lives. In the immediate response to the 2015 earthquake, LWF Nepal, with the support of ACT Alliance members, supported over 110,000 families with emergency relief. They are committed to helping families in five affected districts to rebuild their lives through food security, shelter, water and sanitation and psychological assistance, and link this with long-term development. To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020. An early Eichler sales brochure summed it up this way: "One of the luxury features of an Eichler home is the cork floor... (It is) durable, easy to maintain, and easy on the feet; and its rich, natural tones add warmth and elegance to a room. Properly installed and properly maintained, it is virtually indestructible." Cork floors have an impeccable heritage: Frank Lloyd Wright used it in his iconic Fallingwater house. For Eichler owners craving a warm, natural flooring surface, cork seems to fit the bill. But if it's not installed right, it can lead to headaches down the road. While the popularity of cork flooring is increasing among Eichler fans, it's still not an easy material to source and have installed properly. Many flooring stores don't sell it, and installation is tricky, even for a pro. Proper surface preparation is critical. A clean, level concrete or plywood sub-floor is required. Don't install cork over any type of old flooring. Any irregularities in the sub-floor surface can show up after the cork tiles have been laid, so all irregularities have to be taken care of in advance. After he has removed the old flooring materials and hand-scraped the surface of the slab to take off any high spots, expert installer Perry Cordova, one of our flooring resources, uses a very thin (about 1/16 inch) skim coat of Ardex "Feather Finish" cement-based underlayment to smooth out the floor. The skim coat also serves to cover over and seal in old adhesives, and avoid the mess that machine sanding the floor would inevitably create. Although cork has insulating properties, cork floors do not seem to adversely affect radiant-heat systems. After all, Eichler himself used cork tiles liberally in his subdivisions. Unlike in the '50s, there is now a choice between floating cork-floor panels and cork tiles glued directly to the floor. A floating floor will be significantly thicker than thin tiles, offering more resistance to radiant-heat transmission. In addition, it is noisier to walk on, and many homeowners prefer tiles for that reason. What's more, if a tile becomes damaged or a section of tile needs to be removed to repair a radiant-heat leak, tiles are easier to remove and replace than floating panels. Manufacturers of cork floating floors specify that a 6 to 8 mil plastic film "vapor barrier" be laid down between the sub-floor and the cork. Larry Wagner of Anderson Radiant Heating claims that plastic films will definitely make radiant-heat leak detection more difficult, given that helium leak detectors are the method of choice for pinpointing leaks in radiant tubing. There are many size and style choices with cork tile. While Eichler used 12-inch square tiles, modern day homeowners often follow Eichler interior designer Sue Olson's advice to go with the slightly more expensive 24-inch square tiles. "Larger tiles mean fewer lines and a less busy look," says Olson. Some manufacturers also offer a range of rectangular dimensions. Tiles are available in a variety of shades, from quite light to very dark; and even in patterns, though Eichler purists will strive for a uniform, even look. Modern tiles start at 3/16 inch (Eichler used 1/8-inch thick tiles), and thicker tiles are available, but there seems little reason to use them, and they cost more. Protecting a cork floor is the key to its longevity. While tiles are available unfinished, waxed, or varnished with a polyurethane sealer, Olson only uses the varnished variety, and recommends that after they are laid, two additional polyurethane coats be applied to seal the seams. Cork is a resilient material, yet pads should be placed under sharp furniture legs or other objects. It is not easily dented or marked, but if not sealed properly, staining may occur. Like other natural materials, including wood and bamboo flooring, cork will fade when exposed to sunlight. Interior designer Patsy Zakian-Greenough lays it on the line for her clients: "Cork will always fade to a certain degree, and you have to be prepared for that." Generally, fading is more noticeable in the darker shades of cork. In part, it occurs due to heat and visible light, but the principal culprit is in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. Fortunately, UV-blocking window film is widely available, and also can include varying degrees of reflectance to visible light, if desired. If cork is used anywhere near a window, it is highly recommended that an appropriate window film be applied. Of course, window film offers other advantages to Eichler owners with walls of glass, as it can reduce solar heat gain, cut down on glare, and make original un-tempered glass safer around children and in earthquakes. Sun-Chek offers film in 72-inch widths. Zakian-Greenough points out a benefit of cork that won't be full appreciated until after it is installed. A client of hers who was hard of hearing found that changing a hard floor surface over to cork made it was easier for her to have conversation in her kitchen. The cork absorbed sound better, resulting in fewer acoustic reflections. Properly applied and protected, cork is a marvelous floor surface that fits perfectly with the Eichler style, and with proper care and maintenance will last for decades. Turkish National Defense Minister spoke to the BBC In an interview with the BBC, Turkish Defense Minister Akar retorted the remarks claim that Turkeys approach to Khashoggi murder is insincere. British media started blaming Turkey on the case of Saudi journalists murder. After the articles blaming Turkey published in the papers, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar spoke to the BBC. Turkey has tapes of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi but did not obtain them by bugging the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he was killed, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has told BBC Turkce in an exclusive interview with BBC. "THEY ARE NOT JOURNALISTS" Asked about Turkeys sincerity in seeking justice for a Saudi journalist while some Turkish journalists remain imprisoned, Akar answered that said there was no comparison between the Khashoggi case and any of the jailed journalists, none of whom, he said, had been arrested for journalistic activities. "They may be called journalists, but they arent journalists, Akar said. Turkish National Defense Minister spoke to the BBC WATCH Akar also said the Saudi consulate was not bugged by Turkey. The consulate was not bugged. We cannot reveal the source of the audio recordings, Akar told the BBC on Nov. 19. Akar replied to a question on whether Turkey would make the recordings public. At the moment, no. But it depends on the situation, according to the developments, under the control of the prosecutor, he said. Researchers at Utah State University have found that an object that has fallen into a body of water can significantly reduce the impact force felt by a second object that lands in the same space WASHINGTON, D.C., November 20, 2018 -- When professional divers jump from a springboard, their hands are perpendicular to the water, with wrists pointed upward, as they continue toward their plunge at 30 mph. As they complete what's known as a rip dive, their hands remove water in front of the body, creating a cavity that reduces the initial impact force. The rest of the body, from head to toe, is aligned to shoot through the same cavity created by the hands. Using the hands to create cavities in the water's surface is similar to the concept behind the fluid-structure studies that researchers at Utah State University are conducting using spheres. Utah State researcher Rafsan Rabbi will present his team's research at the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics 71st Annual Meeting, which will take place Nov. 18-20 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. In one study, two consecutive spheres falling into a water tank were tested. The first sphere dropped into the water to create the cavity was made of steel. Five different sizes were used. The diameters ranged from 10 millimeters to 38 millimeters, but they were always smaller than the second sphere. The second sphere, which went through the cavity, was made from 3D-printed Vero plastic. These spheres had a fixed diameter of 50 mm (or about 2 inches). Attached to each of these plastic objects was an accelerometer. The researchers investigated how much acceleration the plastic spheres experienced as they went through the cavity created by the first steel spheres and calculated the force reductions from that. They found that the impact force of the plastic spheres was reduced by the steel ones by 40-60 percent. "We have found that this 'free surface preparation' phenomenon can have a huge impact in reducing the initial high-impact force any object experiences while falling into a body of water," Rabbi said. The research could have practical applications, such as lessening the blow of rockets landing unintentionally into the ocean. A second study used Worthington jets instead of cavities to reduce the impact force. Such a jet results from a cavity collapsing on itself. The spacing between the two spheres were fixed in such a way that after the cavity collapses, the second sphere falls through the jet. "This also reduced the impact force dramatically by up to 60 percent," said Tadd Truscott, director of the Splash Lab at Utah State who heads the research team. "Our studies show that prior preparations to the surface create a disturbance in the water surface to help cushion the impact of any falling object." ### Presentation M05.2, "Surviving a cliff jump: go second" by Rafsan Rabbi, Nathan B. Speirs, Jesse L. Belden and Tadd T. Truscott, will be Tuesday, Nov. 20, 8:13 a.m. in Room B207 of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Abstract: http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DFD18/Session/M05.2 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/. It's known that cancer involves unchecked cell growth and that a biological pathway that regulates organ size, known at the Hippo pathway, is also involved in cancer. It's further known that a major player in this pathway, YAP, drives many types of tumors. Now, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have solved an ongoing problem: how to turn this knowledge into a practical drug target. In a study published November 16 in Nature Communications, they show that YAP acts largely through another downstream player called NUAK2 that can readily be inactivated with a small molecule. "The Hippo pathway, and especially YAP, has been hard to target with drugs," says senior study author Fernando Camargo, PhD, of Boston Children's Stem Cell Research program. "This is the first demonstration of a 'druggable' molecule that could be targeted in any type of tumor driven by YAP." Although the study involved liver cancer, the findings could be relevant to many YAP-driven oral cancers, head and neck squamous carcinomas, pancreatic cancers, ovarian cancers and squamous cell skin cancers, Camargo adds. The team hopes to test that in future studies. Finding a druggable cancer target YAP is a transcription factor, a type of target that's been considered "undruggable," since transcription factors lack structural features that enable a drug to bind to them. But YAP in turn regulates the activity of many other genes, and Wei-Chien Yuan, PhD, in the Camargo lab set out to identify these genes, in hopes of finding something else to target. Using human liver cancer cell lines and a mouse model of liver cancer, Yuan combined several assays to zero in on what downstream genes YAP influences. She found 14, then narrowed her search to kinases, enzymes that are especially amenable to being targeted with drugs. Just one emerged: NUAK2. Further experiments showed that NUAK2 (also known as sucrose nonfermenting [SNF1]-like kinase, or SNARK) is critical for YAP-driven growth in human cancer cell lines and for liver cancer proliferation in mouse models. Finally, they showed that a small-molecule compound that inactivates NUAK2 strongly curbed YAP-driven cancer cell proliferation and liver overgrowth. Targeting NUAK2 has an added benefit, says Camargo, who is also affiliated with the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. "It feeds back to further activate YAP itself, so inhibiting NUAK2 further decreases activity of YAP, which is exactly what you want." Future plans Yuan and her colleagues now hope to extend their findings. "We know that inhibiting NUAK2 works in liver cancer. We now need to see if same mechanism is in play in other cancers," says Camargo. They also plan to modify their small molecule, originally synthesized in the lab of Nathanael Gray, PhD, at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "We want to see if we can make the compound more selective," says Yuan, first author on the paper. "It has other nonspecific targets, so we need to modify it to make it usable." A growth mindset The story of YAP began over a decade ago with the discovery of the size-control pathway Hippo - so named because manipulating it in fruit flies led to growth of enormous tumors, oversized eyes and wings eight times the normal size. Larger animals with defects in Hippo were also found to have overgrown body parts, and Camargo showed that activating YAP can quadruple the size of a mouse liver. Hippo and YAP later became of interest to cancer researchers. ### The current study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Pew Scholars Program, the Taiwan National Science Council, the National Cancer Center and the Swiss National Science Foundation. About Boston Children's Hospital Boston Children's Hospital, the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center. Its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. Today, more than 3,000 scientists, including nine members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 11 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's is now a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. For more, visit our Vector and Thriving blogs and follow us on social media @BostonChildrens, @BCH_Innovation, Facebook and YouTube. Epigenetic therapies -- targeting enzymes that alter what genes are turned on or off in a cell -- are of growing interest in the cancer field as a way of making a cancer less aggressive or less malignant. Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital now report that at least one epigenetic therapy that initially looked promising for lung cancer actually has the opposite effect, boosting cancer stem cells that are believed to drive tumors. They also identify a strategy that reduces these cells, curbing lung cancer in mice. Findings were published online today in Nature Communications. Cancer stem cells have been identified in blood cancers and a variety of solid tumors. They make up a tiny fraction of tumor cells, but can regenerate a cancer on their own. Carla Kim, PhD, and colleagues in Boston Children's Hospital's Stem Cell Research program have shown that cancer stem cells play a role in adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. When they transplanted cancer stem cells from a diseased mouse, previously healthy mice developed lung cancer. The new study, led by lab member Samuel Rowbotham, PhD, looked at an epigenetic therapy that inhibits the enzyme G9a, a type of histone methyltransferase. G9a had been thought to be cancer-promoting, and some studies have suggested that inhibiting G9a is an effective strategy in certain cancers, including adenocarcinoma. Rowbotham and Kim now call this into question. "People had looked at cell lines from lung tumors and found that they are sensitive to drugs inhibiting G9a," says Rowbotham, first author on the paper. "In general tumor cell populations, these drugs would slow down growth or even kill the cells. But we found that these drugs were also making the surviving tumor cells more stem-like. We predicted that this would advance disease progression, and this is what we saw." The team first looked at adenocarcinoma cell lines and found that when the cells were treated with G9a, they became more like stem cells. They then transplanted cancer stem cells into live mice and tracked the development of adenocarcinoma. When they knocked down the G9a gene in lung tumors, the tumors grew bigger and spread farther. Kim believes this down side to G9a hadn't been noticed because prior studies only looked at cell lines, and because cancer stem cells are hard to detect. "Earlier studies couldn't see that cancer stem cells were still around, and there's more of them when you treat with these drugs," she says. "Because they're such a small fraction of the tumor, anything that affects them can easily be missed." A new epigenetic target? But Rowbotham, Kim and colleagues also found potentially better enzymes to target: Histone demethylases. Their action is chemically opposite to that of G9a, stripping off a methyl group from histone where G9a adds one. When Rowbotham knocked down the gene for demethylase enzymes, and added drug that prevents them from working, he was able to make the cells look less like cancer stem cells in a dish and behave less like cancer stem cells in live mice. When he gave demethylase inhibitors to mice with established lung tumors, cancer progression was slowed and the animals survived longer than untreated mice. Although a cancer stem cell hasn't been found in human adenocarcinoma, Kim believes the findings are worth pursuing further. She notes a related line of evidence -- a 2017 study that found that demethylase inhibitors were effective in killing chemotherapy-resistant cells from patient tumors. "Even if we can't pinpoint cancer stem cells in human patients, Sam's work shows you can start by studying a cancer stem cell in a mouse model and identify targets that could be clinically important," she says. "It shows the importance of finding the right molecule the cancer is sensitive to. In adenocarcinoma, a demethylase inhibitor is likelier to be more useful than methyltransferase inhibitor." They and others envision a two-phase strategy for adenocarcinoma that would first target the general population of cancer cells to "debulk" the tumor, then add a second treatment specifically directed at cancer stem cells. The team is now doing further studies to explore demethylase inhibitors as potential therapeutic drugs, alone or in combination with other treatments. Because demethylase inhibitors have very broad effects, they will also look for genes the inhibitors affect downstream, which could provide more specific drug targets. ### This study was funded by a IASLC Young Investigator Fellowship, the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the Thoracic Foundation, the Ellison Foundation, the BCH-Broad Institute Award, Harvard Medical School, the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, the American Lung Association, the ATS and the National Cancer Institute. For a full list of authors and affiliations, see the paper (DOI 10:1038/s41467-018-07077-1). About Boston Children's Hospital Boston Children's Hospital, the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center. Its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. Today, more than 3,000 scientists, including nine members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 11 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's is now a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. For more, visit our Vector and Thriving blogs and follow us on social media @BostonChildrens, @BCH_Innovation, Facebook and YouTube. The Mexican tetra fish can repair its heart after damage -- something researchers have been striving to achieve in humans for years. Now, new research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) published in Cell Reports suggests that a gene called lrrc10 may hold the key to this fish's remarkable ability. Around 1.5 million years ago, the tetra fish (Astyanax Mexicanus) living in the rivers of Northern Mexico were periodically washed into caves by seasonal floodwaters. Over time, the floods became less frequent and eventually stopped. This created the perfect environment for different members of the same species to adapt and evolve to suit their different habitats--the river and the caves. To this day, the surface fish still living in the rivers of Mexico have retained their ability to repair their heart tissue. However, the fish in one particular cave, called Pachon, lost this amazing ability. They also lost their colour and ability to see, with neither trait giving them any advantage in the perpetual darkness of their new home. Dr Mathilda Mommersteeg and her team at the University of Oxford compared the genetic code of the river fish to that of the blind cave fish to discover what special mechanisms are required for heart repair. They found three areas of the fish genome were implicated in the fish's ability to repair their hearts. The researchers also compared the activity of genes in the river versus the cave fish in the period after heart injury. Two genes, lrrc10 and caveolin were much more active in the river fish and could be key in allowing the river fish to repair their hearts. Lrrc10 is already linked to a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in people. Studies in mice have previously shown that this gene is involved in the way that heart cells contract with every heartbeat. The researchers went on to study the effect of this gene in the zebrafish, another fish which has the remarkable ability to heal its own heart. When the team inactivated the lrrc10 gene in zebrafish they saw that the fish could no-longer fully repair their hearts. Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are living with debilitating heart failure, often as a result of a heart attack. During a heart attack, the heart is deprived of oxygen leading to the death of heart muscle cells and their replacement by scar tissue. This stops the heart muscle from contracting properly and reduces the heart's ability to pump blood around the body. People suffering from heart failure can't regenerate their damaged hearts, and often the only cure is a heart transplant. Researchers hope that by unlocking the secrets of these remarkable fish, we will one day be able to heal human hearts in much the same way. Professor Metin Avkiran, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "These remarkable findings show how much there is still to learn from the rich tapestry of the natural world. It's particularly interesting that the ability of the river fish to regenerate its heart may arise from an ability to suppress scar formation. We now need to determine if we can exploit similar mechanisms to repair damaged human hearts. "Survival rates for heart failure have barely changed over the last 20 years, and life expectancy is worse than for many cancers. Breakthroughs are desperately needed to ease the devastation caused by this dreadful condition." Dr Mathilda Mommersteeg, Associate Professor of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Oxford, who led the research, said: "A real challenge until now was comparing heart damage and repair in fish with what we see in humans. But by looking at river fish and cave fish side by side, we've been able to pick apart the genes responsible for heart regeneration. "Heart failure is a cruel and debilitating illness that more than half a million people across the UK are living with. It's early days but we're incredibly excited about these remarkable fish and the potential to change the lives of people with damaged hearts." ### To request interviews or for more information please call the BHF press office on 020 7554 0164 (07764 290 381 - out of hours) or email newsdesk@bhf.org.uk. British Heart Foundation For over 50 years we've pioneered research that's transformed the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions. Our work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are changing the fight against heart disease. But so many people still need our help. From babies born with life-threatening heart problems to the many Mums, Dads and Grandparents who survive a stroke or heart attack. Every pound raised, minute of your time and donation to our shops will help make a difference to people's lives. Find out more at bhf.org.uk PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -- On March 3, 2018, a liquid nitrogen storage tank at the University Hospitals Fertility Center in Cleveland failed. Dr. Eli Adashi, a professor of medical science at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School, characterized the event as a "tragic accident" in which 950 patients lost more than 4,000 frozen eggs and embryos. However, one couple's wrongful death lawsuit following the incident, which seeks to establish that embryos should be treated as "persons" under the law, could have "a chain of profound implications for other families," Adashi says. In an "Ideas and Opinions" article published on Nov. 20 in Annals of Internal Medicine, Adashi and co-authors I. Glenn Cohen, a professor of law at Harvard University, and Dov Fox, a professor of law policy and bioethics at the University of San Diego, wrote about the potential implications should the Ohio court hearing the case rule in favor of the couple. They argue that a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs could lead to limits on abortion, stem cell research and in vitro fertilization (IVF). "It would be a sad irony if a legal claim aimed at protecting the rights of those who lost their ability to reproduce had the effect of limiting the reproductive rights of countless others," the authors wrote. The plaintiffs in the case, Wendy and Rick Penniman, are challenging a legal precedent in Ohio establishing that "a fetus that is not yet viable is not a 'person' under its wrongful death law," the authors wrote. The challenge is based on "the grounds that the 'life of a person begins at the moment of conception,'" the article notes. A ruling that embryos are "persons" could be used as grounds to limit abortion rights, the authors say, as well as to potentially restrict research on embryonic stem cells. There could be implications for the future of IVF as well. "IVF would be significantly compromised," Adashi said. "If a clinician were to freeze embryos, and some do not survive the process, how would that be dealt with? Would that be manslaughter? One needs to view this suit in that context. The implications are of national interest. They go beyond the pro-life / pro-choice debate and reach into the very conduct of IVF and other fertility promotion techniques." Legal limitations The authors also discuss the limitations of conventional legal strategies tried in similar cases, including breach of contract, medical malpractice, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and loss of property. Many fertility clinics require patients to sign waivers that explicitly excuse liability for storage failures due to negligence, limiting breach of contract suits, the authors wrote. Medical malpractice also doesn't apply in a case such as this, because the egg-harvesting procedures were performed properly. And in Ohio, negligent infliction of emotional distress requires the plaintiffs to be "bystanders" to a physical threat to another person; in this case, they did not witness the tank failure, the authors wrote. The last strategy, loss of property and medical costs, doesn't fully capture the painful disruption of "family-building plans," Adashi said. However, these are the legal grounds the other 70 other patients affected by the accident are pursing in their class-action lawsuit. The legal system hasn't established appropriate venues for seeking damages for the destruction of eggs or embryos, he added. "At this point, there's no clarity in the courts as to how to deal with cases like this." Revising regulations Accidents happen, but more needs to be done to limit and track them, Adashi said. "It was a wake-up call for a lot of people in the field," he said. "How do we deal with something like this? How do we prevent something like this? Who should be in charge?" Professional societies in the fertility field are evaluating the root cause of the incident and are working on new recommendations and guidelines, Adashi said, in an effort to avoid similar situations in the future. The authors note that currently there are few federal regulations pertaining to assisted reproduction technologies and there is no system for tracking reproductive errors in the U.S. Because agents from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already visit IVF labs to screen donated human tissues for communicable diseases, Adashi says the FDA would be the most relevant agency to assume responsibility for the liquid nitrogen freezers involved in assisted reproduction clinics and track accidents involving eggs and embryos. ### Myriad biological and societal factors can impact the occurrence and accelerate progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for children of African descent - including preterm birth, exposure to toxins during gestation and lower socioeconomic status - and can complicate these children's access to effective treatments, according to an invited commentary published in the November 2018 edition of American Journal of Kidney Diseases. Clinicians caring for "these vulnerable children should be mindful of these multiple competing and compounding issues as treatment options are being considered along the continuum from CKD to kidney failure to transplantation," writes Marva Moxey-Mims, M.D., chief of the Division of Nephrology at Children's National Health System. The supplemental article was informed by lessons learned from The Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) longitudinal study and conversations that occurred during the Frank M. Norfleet Forum for Advancement of Health, "African Americans and Kidney Disease in the 21st Century." African American children represent 23 percent of the overall population of kids with CKD in the CKiD study. While acquired kidney diseases can get their start during childhood when the diseases betray few symptoms, the full impact of illness may not be felt until adulthood. A number of factors can uniquely affect children of African descent, heightening risk for some kids who already are predisposed to suffering more severe symptoms. These include: Preterm birth. African American children make up 36 percent of patients in CKiD with glomerular disease, which tends to have faster progression to end-stage renal disease. These diseases impair kidney function by weakening glomeruli, which impairs the kidneys' ability to clean blood. Patients with a high-risk apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) genotype already are at higher risk for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and CKD. Researchers hypothesize that preterm birth may represent "a second hit that facilitates the development of glomerular damage resulting from the high-risk genotype." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 10 U.S. infants in 2016 was born preterm, e.g., prior to 37 weeks gestation. APOL1 genotype. Compared with children who had a low-risk genotype and FSGS, children with a high-risk genotype had higher rates of uncontrolled hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, elevated C-reactive protein levels and obesity. Human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) status. About 65 percent of U.S. children with HIV-1/AIDS are African American. In a recent nested case-control study of children infected with HIV in the womb, infants with high-risk APOL1 genotypes were 3.5 times more likely to develop CKD with viral infection serving as "a likely second hit." Access to kidney transplant. African American adults experience a faster transition to end-stage renal disease and are less likely to receive kidney transplants. African American children with CKD from nonglomerular diseases begin renal replacement therapy 1.6 years earlier than children of other races, after adjusting for socioeconomic status. Their wait for dialysis therapy was 37.5 percent shorter. However, these African American children waited 53.7 percent longer for transplants. Although donor blood types, genetic characteristics and other biological factors each play contributing roles, "these findings may reflect sociocultural and institutional differences not captured by socioeconomic status," Dr. Moxey-Mims writes. To alleviate future health care disparities, she suggests that additional research explore the impact of expanding services to pregnant women to lower their chances of giving birth prematurely; early childhood interventions to help boost children's educational outcomes, future job prospects and income levels; expanded studies about the impact of environmental toxicities on prenatal and postnatal development; and heightened surveillance of preterm infants as they grow older to spot signs of kidney disease earlier to slow or prevent disease progression. "Clinicians can now begin to take into account genetics, socioeconomic status and the impact of the built environment, rather than blaming people and assuming that their behavior alone brought on kidney disease," Dr. Moxey-Mims adds. "Smoking, not eating properly and not exercising can certainly make people vulnerable to disease. However, there are so many factors that go into developing a disease that patients cannot control: You don't control to whom you're born, where you live or available resources where you live. These research projects will be useful to help us really get to the bottom of which factors we can impact and which things can't we prevent but can strive to mitigate." ### The article covered in this post is part of a supplement that arose from the Frank M. Norfleet Forum for Advancement of Health: African Americans and Kidney Disease in the 21st Century, held March 24, 2017, in Memphis, Tennessee. The Forum and the publication of this supplement were funded by the Frank M. Norfleet Forum for Advancement of Health, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Of the more than 23,000 genes in the human genome, only a handful assume a very central role in signal transduction and growth regulation. Of these, the three genes encoding RAS proteins are particularly important, as they are found mutated in over 25% of human cancers. The processes around the RAS gene products are also involved in a variety of rare human developmental disorders called the RASopathies. RAS proteins are absolutely central regulators of growth and oncogenesis and, in turn, every regulator of RAS is poised to be fundamentally important for cancer and a broad variety of human diseases. Driven by the interest in identifying underlying genetic determinants of drug response in a specific type of cancer of the hematopoietic system, CeMM now reports on the mechanistic link between the LZTR1 gene, previously associated with a variety of rare disorders and rare cancers, and RAS. These findings provide a new key regulator of a pathway that is one of the best studied signaling pathways in biology. As such, it represents a major advancement. The study not only sheds new light and details on the regulation of a central growth-promoting protein, but also offers a molecular explanation for an unusually large number of pathological conditions, ranging from different types of brain and pediatric cancers to developmental pathologies like Noonan syndrome. The research team found that the protein called LZTR1, in concert with its copartner cullin 3, regulates RAS by attaching to it a small molecular tag, called ubiquitin. The modified RAS proteins demonstrate altered localization within the cell and reduced abundance. Mutational defects or inactivation of LZTR1 lead to an increase of RAS dependent pathways causing dysregulation of growth and differentiation. LZTR1 can therefore be considered a breaker of RAS action. Giulio Superti-Furga, the Principal Investigator who directed the study, CeMM's Scientific Director and Professor for Medical Systems Biology at the Medical University of Vienna explains: "The study is part of a long-term effort to understand the mechanism of anti-cancer drugs in leukemia and beyond and I find it very rewarding to have contributed to the discovery of a fundamental aspect of RAS regulation, the key player in cellular growth." Johannes Bigenzahn, the MD postdoctoral fellow and first author adds: "I am very happy from a medical as well as scientific perspective to have discovered a mechanism behind so many different genetic diseases as well as many unusual forms of cancer. It is reasonable to expect that our discovery may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting RAS-dependent phenotypes in the future." ### The study appearing in Science was carried out in close collaboration with the laboratories of Marek Mlodzik at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, New York and Thijn Brummelkamp from the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam. A parallel study led by Anna Sablina and colleagues at KU Leuven in Belgium both validates and expands these findings, prominently proposing LZTR1 as a future textbook cornerstone of cellular growth regulation. The study "LZTR1 is a regulator of RAS ubiquitination and signaling" was published in Science (DOI:10.1126/science.aap8210). Authors: Johannes W. Bigenzahn, Giovanna M. Collu, Felix Kartnig, Melanie Pieraks, Gregory I. Vladimer, Leonhard X. Heinz, Vitaly Sedlyarov, Fiorella Schischlik, Astrid Fauster, Manuele Rebsamen, Katja Parapatics, Vincent A. Blomen, Andre? C. Mu?ller, Georg E. Winter, Robert Kralovics, Thijn R. Brummelkamp, Marek Mlodzik, Giulio Superti-Furga The study was funded by the European Research Council (ERC), the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW). Ithaca, NY--Male birds-of-paradise are justly world famous for their wildly extravagant feather ornaments, complex calls, and shape-shifting dance moves--all evolved to attract a mate. New research published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology suggests for the first time that female preferences drive the evolution of physical and behavioral trait combinations that may also be tied to where the male does his courting: on the ground or up in the trees. There are 40 known species of birds-of-paradise, most found in New Guinea and northern Australia. Study lead author Russell Ligon, a postdoctoral researcher at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, suggests females are evaluating not only how great the male looks but, simultaneously, how well he sings and dances. Female preferences for certain combinations of traits result in what the researchers call a "courtship phenotype"--bundled traits determined by both genetics and environment. Study authors examined 961 video clips and 176 audio clips in the Cornell Lab's Macaulay Library archive as well as 393 museum specimens from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. They conclude that certain behaviors and traits are correlated: As the number of colors on a male increase so do the number of different sounds he makes. The most elaborate dancers also have a large repertoire of sounds. Males that display in a group (called a lek) have more colors to stand out better visually amid the competition. Because female birds-of-paradise judge male quality based on a combination of characteristics, the study suggests that males may be able to evolve new features while still maintaining their overall attractiveness to females--there's room to "experiment" in this unique ecological niche where there are few predators to quash exuberant courtship displays. The researchers found that where a bird-of-paradise puts on his courtship display also makes a difference. "Species that display on the ground have more dance moves than those displaying in the treetops or the forest understory," explains Edwin Scholes, study co-author and leader of the Cornell Lab's Bird-of-Paradise Project. On the dark forest floor, males may need to up their game to get female attention." Above the canopy, where there is less interference from trees and shrubs, males sang more complex notes, where they are more likely to be heard. But their dances were less elaborate--perhaps a nod to the risks of cutting footloose on a wobbly branch. ### This study was conducted by scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University, the Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Science at the University of Exeter in the U.K., and the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. The work was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Clemson University researchers aim to protect humans and other mammals from the debilitating and even deadly effects of African sleeping sickness. CLEMSON, South Carolina - A team of Clemson University researchers wants to protect humans and other mammals from the debilitating and even deadly effects of African sleeping sickness. James Morris, a Clemson professor in the College of Science's department of genetics and biochemistry, said that studying the cause of the disease is vital because, although the transmission of African sleeping sickness by tsetse flies has been studied for more than 100 years, the secret to the underlying parasite's success remains largely a mystery. "There are a number of questions about how the parasite grows and develops in the fly and then gets transmitted to humans and other mammals," said Morris, who is on the faculty of Clemson's Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center. A paper titled "Glucose Signaling is Important for Nutrient Adaptation During Differentiation of Pleomorphic African Trypanosomes" was recently published on the American Society of Microbiology's mSphere site. It focuses on the biological cues that "tell" the parasite - the African trypanosome (Trypanosoma brucei) - to change life cycle stages as it moves from host to host. "One of the key things that happens is that, as the parasite is floating around in (mammalian) blood, it perceives its neighbors and says 'oh, there are a lot of us,' and becomes a different form that is ready to go into a fly, if the fly were to happen to bite that person," Morris said. "That form that's ready for life in the fly doesn't grow - it's not a growing form - it's really sitting there, waiting to be taken up by a fly. Once it passes into the fly, though, it begins to grow again. It becomes a form that can live in the fly, and that's the insect-stage form, or procyclic form." The team worked to unravel the mechanism by which the parasite knows when to grow and when not to grow. "What has been a mystery, and still is a mystery, is how the parasite really knows where it is," Morris said. "It turns out that if you take the form that lives in the fly and inject it into a mammal, it is killed instantly by the mammal's immune system. So, the parasite really has to do an excellent job of recognizing its environment." As the study's name suggests, the team focused on sugar, or glucose, as a possible cue for the parasite's changing ways. "We've always suspected the sugar was the cause, but it's been hard to prove," Morris said, so the team looked at the possibility that the parasite was somehow monitoring the glucose in its environment. "We felt, wouldn't it be interesting if the parasite is monitoring that sugar to know when it has moved into a fly, because when there's lots of sugar, the parasite thinks 'I'm in a mammal,' and when there's no sugar, the parasite thinks 'oh, I'm in a fly'," Morris said. "We found that if you take the parasites and remove glucose nearly completely, they're still alive, which was: A, very surprising because they're so reliant on the sugar; but B, they also then quickly changed into the form that can live in the fly." That discovery opens the possibility for treatment that can defuse an outbreak of the potentially deadly African sleeping sickness in humans. "That's the first step in understanding that pathway and trying to confuse the parasite with drugs later," Morris said, "so that when they're in your blood, perhaps you could give them a drug and make them think 'oh, there's no glucose around, I should become the insect stage,' and they would be killed." Yijian Qiu, who was a doctoral student in Morris' lab before recently becoming a post-doctoral associate at the University of Buffalo, was the lead author of the paper. Qiu's research focus is in organism-environment interaction and interaction between different organisms. "This is why I found my Ph.D. project on how T. brucei communicates with its environment so fascinating," Qiu said. "I think the most exciting part of the results is that we found that glucose, the most common energy source for the majority of organisms, could actually become a signal for cell development or an inhibitor for proliferation in different stages of a lethal parasite. We discovered this during the process of addressing a long-standing debate in the parasite field: whether environmental glucose plays a role in the differentiation of T. brucei during its traveling from mammalian host to insect vector." Although there have been no recent outbreaks of African sleeping sickness among humans, Morris said it's important that scientists continue to unlock the disease's secrets. "Currently, I'd say there are certainly less than 10,000 cases of the sickness on the planet each year, but certainly in our lifetime there have been epidemic levels of the stuff, and so it comes and goes," he said. In humans and animals, African sleeping sickness entails bouts of fever, headaches, joint pains and itching. The parasite can eventually enter the brain, causing changes of behavior, confusion and poor coordination. It also can disturb the sleep cycle, hence its name. Without treatment, sleeping sickness is usually fatal. But while the disease numbers aren't currently at epidemic levels in humans, the same is not true for other mammals. "The problem really is that in animals it's unchecked, and it has a really catastrophic effect on agriculture and those pursuits in sub-Saharan Africa," Morris said. Morris has worked on the mysteries surrounding African sleeping sickness for 26 years, and he said that many questions still remain unanswered. "We want to exploit this new understanding," Morris said. "The question then becomes, how does the parasite measure glucose, how does it know it's going away? There are a couple of possibilities - more than a couple, probably - but we think one thing that's happening is that the parasite has a receptor for the sugar somewhere on its surface where it can assess what's out there, sort of sample it and say okay, there's sugar out there or there's not. And all those pieces are missing right now. "I think we have the genetic tools to understand how all that's connected," he added, "so I think that's the next big step." In addition to Morris and Qiu, the authors were Jillian Milanes, Jessica Jones, Rooksana Noorai and Vijay Shankar, all of whom were affiliated with Clemson during the research and writing of the paper. Morris credited Noorai's and Shankar's work at Clemson's Genomics and Computational Biology Lab, without which "we wouldn't have the depth of insight that we do." ### In a new book, Professor Photis Lysandrou of City, University of London argues a powerful international body is essential because the current financial system is geared towards more wealth concentration and further financial crises An economist has called for the creation of a global tax authority as a way of tackling worldwide wealth inequality. In a new book, Professor Photis Lysandrou of City, University of London argues a powerful international body is essential because the current financial system is geared towards more wealth concentration and further financial crises. Commodity: The Global Commodity System in the 21st Century says the new authority should be given powers to coordinate national tax regimes and to implement a tax on global wealth that would target high-net-worth individuals, especially those with net asset holdings of $30 million and above. Professor Lysandrou argues the body could recoup large amounts of money that are lost through tax avoidance, and governments could then invest this money in projects and services that have a positive impact on jobs and wages. He said: "The statistics about global inequality are horrific. All the evidence I have seen points inexorably to the need for a global tax authority. This would be a supranational body composed of tax experts nominated by the world's national governments that is vested with the power of authority in the realm of taxation." Commodity looks at the global financial crisis from an original perspective that views the international commodity system as a newly operational totality which includes government capacity as well as private capacities, financial securities and material goods and services. The book claims wealth inequality caused by this system will lead to repeated financial crises, unless a new set of international institutions is created to control it - a global tax authority would be the first of these bodies. Professor Lysandrou cites data which show that in the years after the financial crisis, between 2007 and 2015, the combined wealth accumulated per year by high-net-worth individuals rose from about $41 trillion to almost $59 trillion. He points out that 34 per cent of the $59 trillion accumulated in 2015 was held by just 145,000 people. Professor Lysandrou said: "As society is far from ready to move onto a different organisational principle, the only way to avoid financial crises on the scale of the last one is to allow the global commodity system to continue to operate as a complete totality while at the same time controlling for its negative effects. "A global tax authority would only go a small way in achieving this aim, but it would represent an opening initiative that could lead to the creation of others. Together, they could reverse the current inequalities in income and wealth distribution that have now reached obscene proportions." Professor Lysandrou, of the City Political Economy Research Centre, says his proposals go further than similar ideas suggested by the economist Thomas Piketty. The City academic says Piketty does not prioritise wealth concentration as the key cause of the 2008 financial crisis and so can only give a moral case for a global wealth tax. In his new book, Professor Lysandrou puts forward an economic case for the tax by showing that the global super rich played a key role in the crisis. ### When the tension rises, unexpected things can happen - not least when it comes to gold atoms. Researchers from, among others, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have now managed, for the first time, to make the surface of a gold object melt at room temperature. Ludvig de Knoop, from Chalmers' Department of Physics, placed a small piece of gold in an electron microscope. Observing it at the highest level of magnification and increasing the electric field step-by-step to extremely high levels, he was interested to see how it influenced the gold atoms. It was when he studied the atoms in the recordings from the microscope, that he saw something exciting. The surface layers of gold had actually melted - at room temperature. "I was really stunned by the discovery. This is an extraordinary phenomenon, and it gives us new, foundational knowledge of gold," says Ludvig de Knoop. What happened was that the gold atoms became excited. Under the influence of the electric field, they suddenly lost their ordered structure and released almost all their connections to each other. Upon further experimentation, the researchers discovered that it was also possible to switch between a solid and a molten structure. The discovery of how gold atoms can lose their structure in this way is not just spectacular, but also groundbreaking scientifically. Together with the theoretician Mikael Juhani Kuisma, from the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, Ludvig de Knoop and colleagues have opened up new avenues in materials science. The results are now published in the journal Physical Review Materials. Thanks to theoretical calculations, the researchers are able to suggest why gold can melt at room temperature. Possibly, the surface melting can also be seen as a so-called low-dimensional phase transition. In that case, the discovery is connected to the research field of topology, where pioneers David Thouless, Duncan Haldane and Michael Kosterlitz received the Nobel Prize in Physics 2016. With Mikael Juhani Kuisma in the lead, the researchers are now looking into that possibility. In any case, the ability to melt surface layers of gold in this manner enables various novel practical applications in the future. "Because we can control and change the properties of the surface atom layers, it opens doors for different kinds of applications. For example, the technology could be used in different types of sensors, catalysts and transistors. There could also be opportunities for new concepts for contactless components," says Eva Olsson, Professor at the Department of Physics at Chalmers. But for now, for those who want to melt gold without an electron microscope, a trip to the goldsmith is still in order. ### About the scientific article The article "Electric-field-controlled reversible order-disorder switching of a metal tip surface" has been published in the journal Physical Review Materials. It was written by Ludvig de Knoop, Mikael Juhani Kuisma, Joakim Lofgren, Kristof Lodewijks, Mattias Thuvander, Paul Erhart, Alexandre Dmitriev and Eva Olsson. The researchers behind the results are active at Chalmers, Gothenburg University, the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, and Stanford University in the United States. More about the research infrastructure at Chalmers The Chalmers Material Analysis Laboratory (CMAL) has advanced instruments for material research. The laboratory formally belongs to the Department of Physics, but is open to all researchers from universities, institutes and industry. The experiments in this study have been carried out using advanced and high-resolution electron microscopes - in this case, transmission electron microscopes (TEM). Major investments have recently been made, to further push the laboratory to the forefront of material research. In total, the investments are about 66 million Swedish kronor, of which the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation has contributed half. Read more about Chalmers Material Analysis Laboratory here. More about electron microscopy Electron microscopy is a collective name for different types of microscopy, using electrons instead of electromagnetic radiation to produce images of very small objects. Using this technique makes it possible to study individual atoms. There are different types of electron microscopes, such as transmission electron microscopes (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopes (STEM), scanning electron microscopes (SEM) and combined Focused Ion Beam and SEM (FIB-SEM). For more information, contact: Ludvig de Knoop Post-doctoral researcher in Physics Chalmers ludvig.deknoop@chalmers.se +46 31 772 51 80 Eva Olsson Professor of Physics, Chalmers eva.olsson@chalmers.se +46 31 772 32 47 Topics range from 3D tissue constructs and bioactive peptides to forms of the aesthetic 71 million for an initial four and a half years The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is establishing 15 new Research Training Groups (RTGs) to further support early career researchers. This was decided by the responsible Grants Committee during its autumn session in Bonn. The new RTGs will receive a total of approximately 71 million for an initial period of four and a half years, starting from April 2019. This includes a 22 percent programme allowance for indirect project costs. Two of the new collaborations are International Research Training Groups (IRTG) with partners in Mexico and the United States. In addition to the 15 new projects, the Grants Committee also approved the extension of ten RTGs for an additional funding period. The collaborations cover a broad spectrum with regard to their topics and research questions as well as their set-up and funding requirements. Research Training Groups offer doctoral researchers the opportunity to complete their theses in a structured research and qualification programme at a high academic level. The DFG currently funds 217 RTGs, 38 of which are IRTGs. The 15 new Research Training Groups (in alphabetical order by their host universities, including the names of spokespersons and cooperation partners) The RTG "Mechanobiology in Epithelial 3D Tissue Constructs" aims to investigate the mechanisms that influence the properties and formation of tissues. In doing so, the cell biologists, biophysicists and bioengineers intend to concentrate on lining or covering tissue, also known as the epithelia. This basic research is aimed at contributing to the development of complex tissue constructs that could take the place of animal experimentation, for example in pharmaceutical studies. (RWTH Aachen University, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Rudolf Leube) Computer-aided methods are becoming increasingly important in cancer research since ever larger data sets need to be converted into clinical knowledge. The RTG "Computational Methods for Oncology: Towards Personalized Therapies in Cancer" aims to derive individualised therapies from molecular patterns with computer-aided processes. The collaboration will work at the interface between bioinformatics, molecular biology and clinical oncology. (Charite Berlin - FU Berlin and HU Berlin, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Nils Bluthgen) The IRTG "Temporalities of Future in Latin America: Dynamics of Aspiration and Anticipation" aims to research social practices that are designed to change social conditions. The researchers will focus on individual actors whose actions produce new "temporalities of future". The topic of investigation will be visions for the future in colonial, post-colonial and modern-day Latin America. (FU Berlin, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Stefan Rinke; Cooperation Partner: Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropologia Social, El Colegio de Mexico, UNICIT-UNAM Campus Juriquilla; all Mexico) What impacts does demographic change have on our political system? And how are political decisions about overcoming demographic challenges made? The RTG "The Dynamics of Demography, Democratic Processes and Public Policy (DYNAMICS)" aims to use these fundamental questions to systematically investigate the relationships between demographic development, demographic processes and public policies using an interdisciplinary approach. (HU Berlin, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Heike Kluver) Peptides are organic chemical compounds that consist of a chain of two or more amino acids. They are produced and used in many areas, from biochemistry and molecular biology, cell biology and biomedicine to the materials sciences. The RTG "Bioactive Peptides - Innovative Aspects of Synthesis and Biosynthesis" aims to develop new strategies for peptide and protein synthesis and also biosynthesis and bioengineering. In addition, researchers will examine the structure, stability and bioactivity of peptides. (TU Berlin, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Roderich D. Sumuth) Unlike humans and animals, plants are tied to one location. Because they adapt to their surroundings, plants with the same hereditary information (genotype) and very different appearances (phenotypes) occur. The IRTG "Network, Exchange, and Training Program to Understand Plant Resource Allocation (NEXTplant)" aims to investigate genotype-phenotype relationships more precisely and develop models that predict the allocation of plant resources in growth processes, nutrient absorption and photosynthesis. (University of Dusseldorf, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Andreas P. M. Weber; Cooperation Partner: Michigan State University, United States) The RTG "Intrinsically Disordered Proteins - Molecular Principles, Cellular Functions and Diseases" will work at the interface between biology and biophysics. The researchers' focus will be on the eponymous intrinsically disordered proteins (IDP) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDR), which are present in numerous biological polypeptides. Despite their disordered structure, these proteins perform important functions, such as the formation of membraneless organelles, but have hardly been researched to date. University of Halle-Wittenberg, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Andrea Sinz) Until now, studies of plant cell compartments have mostly concentrated on individual organelles. The RTG "Communication and Dynamics of Plant Cell Compartments" will now focus its work on the coordination between individual plant organelles. Using this approach, the researchers aim to find out how the dynamics and communication of plant cell compartments, for example plastids or cell nuclei, influence the characteristics of a plant cell. (University of Halle-Wittenberg, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Ingo Hartmut Heilmann) The RTG will study "Processes in Natural and Technical Particle-Fluid Systems (PintPFS)" and will include both natural soil constituents such as clay or sand and also technical particles such as plastic granulate or cement in its investigation. Certain properties of the particles can be generated by physical, chemical and biological processes. The researchers aim to optimise these processes, comparing the technical materials with the natural materials for this purpose. (TU Hamburg, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jurgen Grabe) New approaches for preventing and combating viral infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa are the focus of the research programme of the RTG "Virus Detection, Pathogenesis and Intervention (VIPER)". In the past, viral infections were either approached solely from the perspective of veterinary medicine or that of human medicine - the RTG will now combine both approaches. (TiHo Hannover, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Baumgartner, Ph.D.) In its project entitled "Aesthetic Practice," the RTG will examine forms of the aesthetic, in relation both to its creation and its performance. These processes can, but do not have to, culminate in the production and reception of art works. The researchers will investigate art forms such as theatre, performance, fine art, literature and music, and the way they are practised. At the same time, they aim to take account of non-European artistic practices in order to decolonise aesthetic discourse and free it from Eurocentrism. The ultimate aim is to produce a theory of aesthetic practice. (University of Hildesheim Foundation, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Andreas Hetzel) Computer simulations are increasingly replacing classical experimental and empirical methods for describing real-life application scenarios. However, these scenarios often run on a wide range of scales of time and space, and are recursive, that is, events on a longer scale determine structure and function on a short scale. The RTG "Tailored Scale-Bridging Approaches to Computational Nanoscience" is therefore developing recursive multi-scale approaches on all relevant length and time scales in order to obtain improved predictions about phenomena such as friction, ageing of materials, material design and biological function. (KIT Karlsruhe, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Marcus Elstner) The way that substances from surrounding areas make their way into bodies of water is well researched scientifically. The reverse process of transport from the water onto land is far less researched, however. What effects do flood events have on adjacent terrestrial areas? The RTG "Crossing Boundaries: Propagation of In-Stream Environmental Alterations to Adjacent Terrestrial Ecosystems" will study microcontaminants such as fungicides and insecticides as well as invasive species, such as riparian plants and invertebrates, in order to answer this question. (University of Koblenz-Landau, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Ralf Schulz) The RTG CONVEY - Continuous Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems" will be concerned with cyber-physical systems (CPSs). These are systems controlled by software that interact with the physical world, for example autonomous vehicles, robot surgery or intelligent networks. The biggest problem for these systems is that the environment changes frequently and unpredictably. For CPSs to operate safely and reliably, processes are therefore needed that guarantee correct system behaviour even in changeable settings. These processes are the subject of the RTG's in-depth research. (TU Munich, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Helmut Seidl) Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is an important cellular messenger chemical that is responsible for the transmission of signals in the cell. Many drugs use it as a signal transmitter. The objective of the RTG "cGMP: From Bedside to Bench" is to shed further light on the significance of cGMP in various cell types and tissues in the healthy and diseased organism and hence to obtain new insights into the role of cGMP in tumours and cardiovascular and neurological disorders. (University of Tubingen, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Robert Feil) The ten RTGs extended for a further funding period (in alphabetical order by their host universities, including the names of spokespersons and with reference to project descriptions in the DFG online project database GEPRIS) RTG "Quantum Many-Body Methods in Condensed Matter Systems" Quantum Many-Body Methods in Condensed Matter Systems(RWTH Aachen University, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Volker Meden) RTG "Philosophy, Science and the Sciences" (HU Berlin, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Jonathan Beere) RTG "Metrology for Complex Nanosystems - NANOMET" (TU Braunschweig, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Meinhard Schilling) RTG "Competition Economics" (University of Dusseldorf, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Hans-Theo Normann) RTG "Complex Light Control" (University of Frankfurt, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Alexander Heckel) RTG "Nominal Modification" (University of Frankfurt, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Esther Rinke) RTG "Functional Diversity of Cofactors in Enzymes" (University of Freiburg, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Andreas Bechthold) RTG "Transfer of Culture and 'Cultural Identity'. German-Russian Contacts in the European Context" (University of Freiburg, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Cheaure) RTG "Physical Modelling for Virtual Manufacturing Systems and Processes" (TU Kaiserslautern, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan C. Aurich) RTG "Neural Circuit Analysis on the Cellular and Subcellular Level" (University of Cologne, Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Ansgar Buschges) ### Further Information Media contact: DFG Press and Public Relations, Tel. +49-228-885-2109, presse@dfg.de Further information will also be provided by the spokespersons of the Research Training Groups. Programme contact at the DFG Head Office: Dr. Armin Krawisch, Head of Research Careers, Tel. +49-228-885-2424, Armin.Krawisch@dfg.de Additional details about the funding programme and the funded Research Training Groups are available at: http://www.dfg.de/gk/en The Phlegraean Fields near the bustling metropolis of Naples is one of the world's most active and volatile volcanic regions. Its calderas were formed by enormous eruptions that took place 39,000 and 15,000 years ago, in addition to countless minor eruptions. Smaller volcanoes also erupted repeatedly during the period in between. The Phlegraean Fields have become more active again in recent years. In an article in the journal Science Advances, a team of vulcanologists, led by ETH Zurich's Francesca Forni and Olivier Bachmann, argues that the Phlegraean Fields are subject to caldera cycles. It concludes that the volcanic area is at the early stage of a new cycle, which could culminate in another gigantic eruption. A cycle begins with the accumulation of magma in a large reservoir in the Earth's crust, a process that takes millennia. This stage is characterised by long periods of dormancy and small eruptions of differentiated magma. A further injection of magma into the magma chamber triggers an enormous eruption. The reservoir is emptied abruptly, the roof collapses, and a new caldera is formed - the cycle begins anew. Minerals as data loggers Rock samples from 23 earlier eruptions at the Phlegraean Fields provided the researchers with evidence of the start of a new cycle. In particular, rock material from Monte Nuovo, which last erupted in 1538, resembles in its composition rock ejected just before the last two major eruptions. The researchers took advantage of the fact that the chemical composition of minerals from magmatic rock stores information on the conditions under which it originates. A comparison of the chemical signatures of rock from different eras enables vulcanologists to reconstruct the conditions in the crust at the time of its formation. This allows them to determine the current stage of the magma system. The vulcanologists also created a model of the cycle. "The importance of this study is that we can reconstruct from past eruptions the rhythm that super volcanoes have, and hopefully predict where they stand in their cycle. Here of course, in the Phlegraean Fields, but doable in principle in any super volcanoes on this planet," explains ETH Professor Bachmann. Despite these advances, the researchers cannot predict when the next major eruption at the Phlegraean Fields may occur. But former ETH doctoral student Forni is certain: "We do not have to worry about a catastrophic eruption in the next 20,000 years. The magma reservoir underneath the Phlegraean Fields fills up only very slowly. We, the next generations and perhaps the entire human race will not be here to witness a massive eruption. Nonetheless, it is important to continue to monitor the evolution of the Phlegraean Fields on a sustained basis. Forni warns that even a small eruption, which can occur during the early stages of a cycle, would wreak havoc on the region. Early warning signs of an impending eruption of a magma chamber include land elevation and changes in the composition of the gases emitted by the Phlegraean Fields. A massive volcanic eruption would be devastating not only for the Naples region but the entire world. Supervolcanoes have caused short-term climate catastrophes, crop failure and famines in the past. The eruption of the Indonesian supervolcano Tambora in 1815 is a well-documented example: the following summer was dubbed the "year without a summer", and even Switzerland suffered crop failure. ### In most animal societies, members of one sex dominate those of the other. Is this, as widely believed, an inevitable consequence of a disparity in strength and ferocity between males and females? Not necessarily. A new study on wild spotted hyaenas shows that in this social carnivore, females dominate males because they can rely on greater social support than males, not because they are stronger or more competitive in any other individual attribute. The main reason for females having, on average, more social support than males is that males are more likely to disperse and that dispersal disrupts social bonds. The study by scientists of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW, Germany) and the Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM, France) was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Spotted hyaena females are often portrayed as archetypes of powerful and ferocious females. They are on average heavier than the males, have highly masculinised outer genitalia (a 'pseudo-penis' and a 'pseudo-scrotum'), and usually occupy the highest position in the society. But according to the new study, it is not their manliness that allows them to dominate males. "When two hyaenas squabble, the one that can rely on greater social support wins, irrespective of sex, body mass or aggressiveness", explains Oliver Hoener, head of the Ngorongoro Hyena Project of the Leibniz-IZW. Differences in social support between two individuals correctly predicted who will be the dominant in almost all encounters and in all contexts - between natives and immigrants, members of the same and different clans, residents and intruders, and individuals of the same and opposite sex. Female dominance thus emerges from females being more likely to receive greater social support than males. "What is so fascinating is that it all works without any direct involvement of other hyaenas," says Colin Vullioud, Hoener's colleague at Leibniz-IZW and first author of the study. "In the end, it's all about assertiveness and how confident a hyaena is of receiving support if needed." For their study, the scientists analysed the outcome of 4133 agonistic interactions between 748 hyaenas from eight different clans monitored for 21 years in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. To estimate potential social support, they developed an algorithm that predicted for each clan member, which of two interacting hyaenas it would support; this algorithm was derived from behavioural observations of social support and relatedness estimates based on one of the most comprehensive pedigrees of a free-ranging mammal. "To tease apart the effects of social support and intrinsic attributes such as body mass, one needs to evaluate each effect while controlling for the presence of the other" explains Francois Rousset (ISEM), who has developed statistical methods for such purposes. "When this is done, the effects of sex and body mass appear negligible". In many social contexts, female and male hyaenas can rely on equal social support and are equally likely to win. But there is one exception: when natives interact with immigrant clan members. "Hyaena society is highly nepotistic and social support is primarily given to kin. Native clan members live among their relatives and have a competitive advantage over immigrants because immigrants lose their social bonds when they disperse from home" explains Eve Davidian (Leibniz-IZW), co-first author of the study. "In this context, females have the upper hand because immigrants are usually males." Female dominance in spotted hyaenas is therefore driven by the sex bias in dispersal and the demographic structure of the clan: when the clan contains a high proportion of immigrant males, female dominance is nearly absolute. But when the clan contains many native males, males win almost as often as females and the sexes are co-dominant. "Identifying the determinants of dominance relationships between the sexes is fundamental to understanding the evolution of reproductive strategies, gender roles, and sexual conflicts", concludes Alexandre Courtiol (Leibniz-IZW), co-senior author of the study. "Our findings show that social dominance of one sex over the other - a trait that characterises gender roles - does not need to be a direct consequence of sex or physical strength, but can be shaped by the social environment." By demonstrating the key role of social support in mediating the establishment of dominance - and sex-biased dominance - the study improves our understanding of the social impact of nepotism, political alliances, as well as emigration and immigration patterns in animal and human societies. ### Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that a program designed to enhance self-care and lead to more seamless management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults successfully reduced rates of emergency room visits and hospitalization, and the burdensome symptoms and limitations caused by the condition. Describing results of the six-month trial of the program in the Nov. 12 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, the investigators said patients in the new program (called BREATHE) were re-hospitalized at half the rate of a similar group of patients who received standard care without the program. BREATHE patients also reported improved quality of life, the research team said--a boon to high value health care efforts being made in the field of medicine. "When a person with COPD gets admitted to the hospital with difficulty breathing, the doctors and nurses focus on their immediate problem and not their chronic disease and overall health, and so the chance that the person will have another flare-up and end up in the hospital again remains high," says lead author Hanan Aboumatar, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "About half of patients will end up back in the hospital within six months." "COPD is incurable and chronic, and our new program--which combines hospital to home transition support with chronic disease management support--is one way of reorganizing care in a way that reduces future hospitalization risk and expenses, while preserving patients' quality of life," she adds. COPD is a label applied to a group of chronic conditions --including emphysema and chronic bronchitis-- that damage the lungs and cause breathing problems. An estimated 16 million Americans are living with COPD, generating costs to the health care system of more than $30 billion annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking, air pollution, lung injury and genetics can all play a role in the development of COPD. Coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing symptoms range in severity, and people with COPD often experience worsening flare-ups over time. Because the damage is irreversible and progressive, treatment focus is on symptom management with drugs, oxygen, and lifestyle changes. Previous studies have shown that patients who follow a set of strategies to manage their COPD do much better and have a greater quality of life, says Aboumatar, but "getting these strategies to patients and ensuring their successful use has been a challenge." To address that challenge, Aboumatar and her colleagues teamed up with COPD patients and caregivers to design a program that would give patients better support immediately after being hospitalized with a COPD flare-up. Specifically, the program--delivered to COPD patients admitted to medical units at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center between March 2015 and May 2016--paired patients and their family caregivers with a COPD nurse who met with them during hospitalization. The nurse continued consultation with the patient and caregiver, on average, 6.1 times over the three months after hospitalization through phone calls and/or home visits depending on patients' preference. The nurse offered tailored support on how to take medications, use inhalers and breathing techniques, and manage COPD symptoms. In addition, the nurse worked through issues patients may face when living with COPD, including access to care, mobility services and other community resources. Overall, 240 patients hospitalized for COPD were randomized to receive either the standard of care or the new three-month program. The control and intervention groups had average patient ages of 63.9 and 66, respectively, were 36.7 and 40 percent men, and 83.3 and 81.6 percent white. Participants in both groups had been diagnosed with COPD for an average of three years. The patients' hospitalizations and emergency department visits, as well as quality of life scores, were tracked for six months from the time of initial hospitalization. Some 203 patients completed the six months of follow-up. During that time, there were 15 deaths and 337 subsequent hospitalizations. The number of COPD-related acute care events--either hospitalization or emergency department visits--per participant was 1.4 in the control group and 0.72 among those enrolled in the new program. In addition, the quality of life-- as measured by a standard questionnaire known as the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire--showed better scores in the intervention compared to the control group. While the score declined by 1.53 points on average over the six months of study for those in the intervention group, it increased by 5.44 points for those in the control group. The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores range from 0-100 (lower scores indicate better quality of life), and a four-point difference on the 100 point scale is considered clinically meaningful. "Our findings support the idea that a comprehensive program that reorganizes care for patients to help address long-term COPD self-management at a time when they're already struggling with a hospitalization due to a COPD flare-up is more effective than limited support that is focused on recovery from the current hospitalization," says Aboumatar. "When hospitalized due to a COPD flare-up, this condition becomes more of a priority, so it's a good moment to start a conversation with a patient about what they can do to successfully manage it." Aboumatar adds that having the same nurse interact with patients both in the hospital setting and after discharge helped build a relationship that allowed the patients to communicate effectively with and trust their nurse. Aboumatar and her colleagues plan to test the program in other settings. She acknowledges that the program may be less feasible in rural areas, where patients and resources are more geographically spread out. The program is also being adapted for potential use with other chronic diseases marked by acute flare-ups, such as congestive heart failure. ### The BREATHE program was developed in partnership with COPD patients, their family caregivers and clinicians of various disciplines. Other authors on the paper include Mohammad Naqibuddin, Suna Chung, Hina Chaudhry, Samuel Kim, Jamia Saunders, Lee Bone, Ayse Gurses, Amy Knowlton, Peter Provonost, Nirupama Putcha, Cynthia Rand, Debra Roter, Carol Sylvester, Carol Thompson, Jennifer Wolff and Robert Wise of Johns Hopkins, and Judith Hibbard of the University of Oregon. This work was supported by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Award HIS 1304-7118 BATON ROUGE - It's no secret that political polarization is creating an ever-widening and divisive gap in American politics. Partisan cable news outlets get the majority of the blame for increasingly isolating people into echo chambers that confirm their own political and ideological ideas, but as these outlets grow in popularity, some local newspapers have begun to silently vanish from the media landscape. According to new research by Joshua Darr, assistant professor at LSU's Manship School of Mass Communication, this loss itself has potent effects on political polarization. "It's easy to put the blame for increasing polarization on partisan national news, and a lot of really good studies have found that the internet and cable news are behind some of that polarization. But we need to look at what's disappearing, too," Darr said. In his groundbreaking new research, Darr and his coauthors, Matthew Hitt of Colorado State University and Johanna Dunaway of Texas A&M University, compared split ticket voting, which happens when voters cast their ballots for candidates in one party for one office and for a candidate hailing from a different party for another office, in statistically similar counties that had and had not experienced the closure of their local newspaper. The authors found that split ticket voting in counties that had lost their local newspaper dropped by 1.9 percent, a hefty figure in elections research where a difference of even 1 percent is substantial. "Where there's less local media, there's going to either be less information on the candidates for office or people are going to use a different kind of media when the local source goes away, and that tends to be more loaded with partisan messaging," said Darr. When local media disappears, many voters naturally turn to national media to get their voting information. This poses a problem because even neutral sources, Darr said, feature political voices that are well-known for their partisan rhetoric. This makes voters in local elections more likely to vote strictly on party rather than on the actual platforms of the candidates. "Voters are forced to fall back on something easy, which is party, rather than something hard, which is knowing lots of facts about the candidates they're voting on," Darr said. Darr noted that these results are not dependent upon the type of content featured in local newspapers. "Consuming local news and supporting local news really does matter, and that's what the research shows," Darr said. "The very existence of local papers is what shields people from turning to more partisan sources that they might otherwise read." Darr's research is the first of its kind to look broadly at the polarizing effects of newspaper closures across the nation, especially closures and mergers of weekly papers. Previous research has focused on the political effects of large, metropolitan daily paper closures, Darr said. Most small communities in the U.S. rely on weekly papers instead, which magnifies the potential impact when these papers close. ### Darr's research was published this month in in the Journal of Communication, https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqy051. For more information on the Manship School of Mass Communication, visit http://www.lsu.edu/manship. It takes six months to get really good at accurately gauging the age of yelloweye rockfish. Because they can live for up to 120 years, this species is of particular interest to Benjamin Barst and scientists like him who study the effects of toxic chemicals on living organisms. Over the course of their lifetime, the fish can accumulate high levels of mercury and other trace elements in their tissues. But it wasn't known how much of those elements accumulate in sensitive sites within yelloweye cells. So Barst, a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University's Department of Natural Resource Sciences, set out for Alaska's Inside Passage in search of answers. The results are to be found in a paper published in this month's issue of Environmental Pollution. The research team collected eight yelloweye, weighing up to 8.8 kilograms, from the waters of Alaska's Inside Passage on a sport fishing vessel called the Pheasant Plucker. The fish's livers were removed and tissue samples immediately frozen so they could be analyzed later at laboratory facilities back in Quebec City and Montreal. Isolating toxic elements to better deal with them By examining the tissues at a subcellular level, the researchers discovered yelloweye were able to immobilize several potentially toxic elements within their liver tissues (cadmium, lead, and arsenic) thus preventing them from interacting with sensitive parts of the cell. But mercury was found in concentrations known to be toxic - and most of it was in sensitive sites, such as mitochondria and enzymes, within liver cells. "Alaska appears to be a pristine place," says Barst, "but mercury from industrial activities can be transported over long distances and accumulate in sensitive sites within fish livers with dangerous results. Our earlier work had shown clear damage to the livers of rockfish in the fish with the highest levels of mercury. But we didn't know whether the damage was caused by the mercury or by other trace elements. Now we know that mercury is not well detoxified by these fish. This adds another layer of evidence indicating mercury may be the cause of the problem." The results underscore the potential risk that contaminants pose for yelloweye rockfish, one of the largest species of rockfish in the coastal waters of western North America. Yelloweye are listed as threatened in the Puget Sound-Georgia Basin of the U.S., and as a species of "special concern" in Canada, where conservation areas have been established to protect rockfish habitat from commercial and recreational fishing. ### To read "Subcellular distributions of trace elements (Cd, Pb, Hg, Se) in the livers of Alaskan yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus)" by Benjamin Barst et al in Environmental Pollution: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749118302045?via%3Dihub Contacts: Benjamin Barst, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Benjamin.barst@mcgill.ca (English & French interviews) Katherine Gombay, Media Relations, McGill University Katherine.gombay@mcgill.ca, 514 398-2189 http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/ http://www.twitter.com/mcgillu Assistant Professor Polly Leilei Chen, who is from the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore), has been inducted into the prestigious Young Investigator Programme, an initiative under the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). Asst Prof Chen, whose work primarily focuses on research in ribonucleic acid (RNA) biology and human cancer, is the only Singapore-based scientist among this year's awardees and she joins 25 other life science researchers from 10 countries who will receive support from EMBO during the foundation of their first independent laboratory. The EMBO Young Investigator Programme identifies recent group leaders with proven record of scientific excellence and offers them access to a range of benefits during their four-year tenure. These include a funding award and practical support such as mentorship by a senior from the community, access to training in leadership skills and responsible research practices, as well as networking opportunities. Asst Prof Chen joined CSI Singapore as a Senior Research Scientist in 2012, and she became a fully independent Principal Investigator in June 2014. She now leads a team studying epigenetic mechanisms such as RNA editing and its role in cancer development. Asst Prof Chen is also a faculty member of the Department of Anatomy at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. In 2014, she received the NUS Young Investigator Award, and in the following year, she was conferred the NUS President Assistant Professorship in recognition of her exceptional research profile and strong trajectory as a very highly qualified junior faculty. She was among a group of investigators to first describe RNA editing dysregulation in human cancers including liver, stomach and esophageal cancer. Together with her team, Asst Prof Chen has gained international recognition for their work. She has been invited to speak at several international conferences, such as the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association in 2014 and the 2017 Gordon Research Conference on RNA Editing - the most renowned conference in the area of RNA editing research. Among her notable novel scientific contributions include the discovery of the links between RNA editing imbalance and tumorigenesis in three types of gastrointestinal cancers, as well as the uncovering of a previously undescribed mechanism in which a group of enzymes (Adenosine DeAminases acting on double-stranded RNA enzymes also known as ADAR enzymes) regulate the expression of cancer-related genes. Her discovery of the first bidirectional regulator of A-to-I RNA editing and characterising the functional roles of the DHX9 gene also further helped unravel that the regulation of A-to-I RNA editing is much more complex than previously anticipated. "The focus of my current and future research has been placed on projects which could answer the long-standing questions in the area of RNA editing research, such as the non-ADAR regulators of A-to-I RNA editing and the substrate selectivity and sensitivity of ADAR," said Asst Prof Chen. "As a young independent investigator, I am personally and passionately committed to becoming a world expert in RNA editing in cancer. Findings from my research has the potential to directly lead to new insights into etiology of tumorigenesis, further providing useful targets for early diagnosis and help develop RNA-based therapeutics, ultimately making a difference in the lives of cancer patients, which fits well with the major health problem in the world." "I am honoured to be selected and inducted into the EMBO Young Investigator Programme. With its backing, I can receive extensive support for networking interactions in the form of visits, student exchanges or joint group meetings and other career development opportunities," she added. ### COLUMBUS, Ohio - People who vape and smoke cigarettes are no more likely to drop the nicotine habit than those who just smoke, a new study suggests. Researchers at The Ohio State University studied 617 tobacco users and found no differences in quit rates for "dual users" of both traditional and electronic cigarettes. This research adds important information to the conversation as public health and medical professionals grapple with the role vaping might play in reducing cigarette smoking, said study senior author Mary Ellen Wewers, a professor emeritus of health behavior and health promotion, and a member of Ohio State's Center of Excellence in Tobacco Regulatory Science. Participants in the study were part of a larger group of about 1,200 rural and urban Ohioans whose habits are being followed by researchers. All of them are considered heavy tobacco users - those who smoke every day or at least some days every week. The study appears in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research. The researchers sat down with participants every six months for 18 months to ask them about tobacco use, interest in quitting and quit attempts they'd made. They also documented what type of tobacco products the participants used. At the first check-in, six months into the study, the dual users were more likely to have stopped using tobacco, but that difference disappeared by the 1-year and 18-month interviews. By the end of the study, most dual users were back to smoking cigarettes exclusively. "The initial difference we saw might be due to a higher interest in quitting among the dual users, but that higher quit rate vanished with time," said lead author Laura Sweet, a graduate student in Ohio State's College of Public Health. "Tobacco is such a huge killer, and if these products help people quit, that could be really significant for public health. But in this study it looks like they don't, and we need to know that as well," Sweet said. Though electronic products still deliver nicotine and much remains unknown about their long-term health effects, there's general agreement that they are less harmful than cigarettes in adults. "The hope would be that adult cigarette smokers are trying e-cigarettes because they want to stop cigarettes and are looking for alternatives to help them," Wewers said, adding that she and others who work on tobacco prevention are concerned that younger people who vape will start there and transition to cigarettes down the road. The researchers can't be sure what factors contributed to their findings, but the results prompted Sweet to wonder if many adults who smoke and vape are doing so because vaping is more accepted in certain environments, rather than because vaping might help them drop nicotine altogether, she said. Wewers, a member of the Cancer Control Research Program at Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center, said she wasn't surprised to see a higher likelihood of quitting cigarettes at six months in the dual users, because that group expressed greater interest in quitting overall. "It makes sense that during the first few months they may do better at quitting, but given that cigarette smoking is such a cyclical thing - people quit and resume all the time - it's not surprising that they went back to smoking after a year," she said. Because this study didn't assess light smokers or those who consider themselves "social" smokers, it's hard to say what role vaping might play in quitting, Wewers said. But for health care providers trying how best to help heavy smokers quit, this study could help inform those doctor-patient conversations, she said. "Providers get questions about trying e-cigarettes all the time from people who want to quit. Our paper would suggest that it's not a promising approach - the majority don't quit, and most of them go back to combustible products exclusively," Wewers said. "This reinforces the recommendation that there are good, approved medications and nicotine-replacement products out there now and that those should be the first-line approach to helping smokers quit." The study findings are limited in that the researchers relied on self-reported information from the smokers and did not conduct tests to confirm whether someone had quit. But the study is stronger than some other similar work, because it used a randomly selected sample of smokers in both an urban Ohio county and in six Appalachian counties in the state, Wewers said. Next, Wewers said she's interested in exploring the role of flavored products for those who vape, and wants to know more about what motivates smokers to pick up e-cigarettes. "Is it because e-cigarettes haven't been banned to the same extent as cigarettes? Is it that there's so much advertising? We'd really like some answers to these questions." ### Theodore Brasky, Sarah Cooper, Nathan Doogan, Alice Hinton, Elizabeth Klein, Haikady Nagaraja, Amanda Quisenberry and Wenna Xi - all of Ohio State - also worked on the study. The National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration supported the research. CONTACT: Mary Ellen Wewers, Wewers.1@osu.edu Written by Misti Crane, 614-477-2964; Crane.11@osu.edu Chemical clues in waters near Marcellus Shale gas wells in rural Pennsylvania can identify new drilling-related sources of methane contamination, according to scientists. The findings provide a new tool for distinguishing potential environmental impacts of shale drilling from pre-existing methane levels commonly found in Pennsylvania waterways, the researchers said. Scientists also found that methane contamination may be more likely to occur when drilling takes place in certain geological settings, like those found in the study area in Lycoming County. "This study provides new clues about where we might expect to find potential environmental impacts related to shale drilling and how to better identify new incidents after they occur," said Joshua Woda, a graduate student in geosciences at Penn State. Woda and a team of researchers reported the finding in a paper published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study focuses on an area where state regulators have cited multiple Marcellus Shale gas wells for well integrity issues. The nearest gas well was cited by state regulators for contaminating five residential water wells with high levels of methane. This gas poses an explosion hazard in enclosed spaces. Methane levels remain above pre-drill conditions in stream and well water samples seven years after leaks were initially reported, researchers said. Natural gas is primarily composed of methane, and drilling can cause the gas to escape into waterways or the atmosphere, where it is a potent greenhouse gas. Scientists think these incidents are rare compared to the overall number of shale gas wells drilled, but they are also difficult to identify. Methane is common in Pennsylvania waterways, caused by natural sources like bogs and wetlands, as well as natural migration from deep underground rocks. This migration occurs separately from shale drilling. "Because we lack good baseline data for water quality throughout Pennsylvania, it can be difficult to identify possible impacts of shale drilling," said Susan Brantley, distinguished professor of geosciences at Penn State and director of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. "While we believe these incidents of gas-well leakage are rare compared to the total number of gas wells, this study gives us a new tool to identity them when they occur." Scientists analyzed pre- and post-drilling water samples from stream and well water around the reported leaks. They found that concentrations of some metals in the water began to rise shortly after the leaks began. "We've documented that recent methane migration can change water chemistry in a way that can mobilize metals, such as iron, and release other unwanted chemical compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide," Woda said. "This is important because it can let people know what they might expect if they are recently impacted by something like a shale gas well leaking into their water supply." The change in water chemistry indicates a gas plume moved into an aquifer from deep underground where horizontal drilling into shale has been accompanied by fracking. The clues could be used elsewhere to determine new leaks, researchers said. "In other words, we have come up with new tracers that can be used with other lines of evidence to determine if a water well was impacted by recent gas migration," Woda said. "It is especially useful for people who did not collect pre-drill water samples." Scientists said a high number of wells around the study area have been cited for cementing or casing violations. Drilling-related leaks are often caused by these types of construction issues. "A high percentage of unconventional wells have received violations in this study area -- about one third of the 101 producing wells -- which is much higher than statewide estimates," Woda said. The shale formation in the area is shallow and located along the axis of a large fold. Scientists said wells there may intersect fractures that are interconnected, forming good pathways for upward migration. "We discovered that the drilled shale is very shallow at this point and the overlying rocks are tightly folded," Brantley said. "We think we have discovered a site where fractures in the folded rock may be helping natural gas come to the surface and that it may be accelerated by the presence of gas wells." Further study could provide maps of areas where drilling could be avoided or lead to better management practices that could reduce risks for methane migration, the researchers said. ### The National Science Foundation and the Pennsylvania State University General Electric Fund for the Center for Collaborative Research on intelligent Natural Gas Supply Systems funded this research. Until humans can find a way to geoengineer ourselves out of the climate disaster we've created, we must rely on natural carbon sinks, such as oceans and forests, to suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. These ecosystems are deteriorating at the hand of climate change, and once destroyed they may not only stop absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, but start emitting it. Ecosystems that host a carbon-dioxide rich type of soil called peat, known as peatlands, are the most efficient natural carbon sink on the planet. When undisturbed, they store more carbon dioxide than all other vegetation types on Earth combined. But when they're drained and deforested, they can release nearly six percent of global carbon dioxide emissions each year. Climate researchers are worried that many of the peatlands soaking up carbon now will soon be doing the opposite. "Global peatlands cover only about 3 percent of global land area, but hold around 30 percent of the earth's soil organic carbon," said Qianlai Zhuang, a professor of earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences at Purdue University. "Peatlands act like a 'terrestrial ocean' because of their sequestering carbon, but will this large amount of peat carbon be released under a warmer climate, causing further warming?" In collaboration with Sirui Wang, a Ph.D. candidate at Purdue, Zhuang looked to peatlands in the Peruvian Amazon to try to answer this question. According to an earth systems model spanning from 12,000 years ago to 2100 AD, this relatively small basin could lose up to 500 million tons of carbon by the end of this century. That's about 5 percent of current global annual fossil fuel carbon emissions, or 10 percent of U.S. emissions, being spit back out into the atmosphere. By most estimates, South America will become both warmer and wetter by the end of the century. Zhuang's findings, which were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, show that higher temperatures lead to more peat carbon loss, while increased precipitation slightly enhances the build-up of peat carbon over long timescales. Together, this is likely to increase carbon loss from peatlands to the atmosphere. Peatlands in northwest Peru remain nearly intact, but this is isn't the case in most places with significant peat stocks, which are being cleared to make room for agriculture. Peatlands in some parts of the world, including Canada, Siberia and Southeast Asia, have already turned into significant carbon sources. The same fate may be coming soon for the Peruvian peatlands. "If the area we looked at could represent the whole Amazonia or tropical peatlands, the loss of peat carbon to the atmosphere under future climate scenarios should be of great concern to our society," Zhuang said. "Agricultural intensification and increasing land-use disturbances, such as forest fires, threaten the persistence of peat carbon stocks. These peatland ecosystems may turn into carbon sources instead of sinks unless necessary actions are taken." ### Men with a greater range of personality traits, especially those deemed extraverted, emotionally stable, agreeable or conscientious, have sex more often and produce more children, according to a new QUT study out of Australia Men with a greater range of personality traits, especially those deemed extraverted, emotionally stable, agreeable or conscientious, have sex more often and produce more children, according to a new QUT study. QUT behavioural economists Dr Stephen Whyte, Dr Ho Fai Chan and Professor Benno Torgler have undertaken the largest ever behavioural economics study conducted in Australia looking into personality, sex and offspring. Their paper - Do certain personality traits provide a mating market competitive advantage? Sex, Offspring & the Big 5 - has just been published in the international journal Personality and Individual Differences. Dr Whyte said they collected their data from the online Australian Sex Survey of 2016 in which participants were asked a range of socio-demographic questions, as well as given a mini-marker BIG 5 personality test. "Throughout history, competitive advantages have helped men and women achieve increased success in their occupation, sport, artistic endeavours, their ability to acquire and secure resources, and ultimately, their survival," Dr Whyte said. "However, little is known about the advantages, or disadvantages, personality traits provide in relation to sexual activity and offspring success. Science doesn't really have a firm understanding around how personality traits influence human mating and reproductive behaviour, and particularly whether certain personality types are favoured by either males or females. "Only those who identified as heterosexual were included in our analysis which gave us a sample of close to 3,000 males and 1500 females. "We found key personality differences between the sexes in both sexual frequency and offspring success. Compared to females, males report a larger number of personality factors that influence such outcomes, which explains a greater proportion of the variation in sexual activity. "For both men and women, extraversion equated to greater sexual frequency. "The results showed certain trait combinations appear to result in higher sexual frequency and more offspring for select males. The combinations producing higher sexual frequency for select males being high extraversion and high agreeableness, high extraversion and high conscientiousness, and high agreeableness with high conscientiousness." Dr Whyte added that certain combinations of the BIG 5 traits, including high extraversion and low openness, also appeared to be related with increased offspring for males, while only more agreeable females had more children. "Our findings suggest that the greater variance in male traits and their particular combinations may provide an advantage for them when it comes to sex and reproduction but that doesn't appear to be the case for the women we analysed," he said. ### Read the full study online at: Personality and Individual Differences. Media contact: Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07-3138-3151, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407-585-901, media@qut.edu.au Inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis, may directly increase the risk of type-2 diabetes, according to a new study presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in Glasgow. The study findings indicate that improving skin health could be of major importance for the control of blood sugar and lowering diabetes risk. Approximately 2-3% of the global population suffer from psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory disorder where the immune system attacks skin cells, resulting in too much growth of younger skin cells leading to itchy red sores. Unfortunately there is currently no cure for psoriasis with patients having to use treatments to alleviate the symptoms throughout their life. To add to this burden, previous studies have shown that having psoriasis increases your risk of developing type-2 diabetes. However, the specific biological mechanisms linking the two disorders are unknown, and if defined, they could lead to new therapies to treat patients suffering from skin problems and reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes. In this study, Elizabeth Evans and colleagues at King's College London used animal and human skin models, to look for changes caused by psoriasis which may influence the development of diabetes. Mice with psoriasis showed changes indicative of insulin resistance, a key feature of diabetes development where insulin fails to stimulate glucose uptake in cells. Changes included a decrease in glucose uptake capacity in fat tissue under the skin and increased insulin production from insulin producing cells, indicating that the body is trying to compensate for the lack of glucose uptake. Similar alterations were seen in fat and islet cells outside the body when exposed to the culture liquid used to support inflamed skin samples, suggesting that inflamed skin releases chemical signals to cause the changes. Elizabeth Evans commented, "The laboratory model we used in this study closely-resembles many of the major hallmarks of psoriasis and we have observed some changes caused by the condition which reflect what is seen in a pre-diabetic patient." Next Elizabeth and her colleagues plan to determine which skin derived factors are released during psoriasis, and the impact they have on the development of diabetes. Elizabeth Evans said, "If we can pin point novel skin-derived factors that are directly affecting blood sugar control they may lead to potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of diabetes or insulin resistance. Additionally, finding out if skin-derived factors which alter blood sugar control are lower when treatment for psoriasis is properly adhered to would be very interesting, as it may lower a patient's risk of developing type-2 diabetes." ### Scientists have developed a potential new therapeutic approach for synovial sarcoma, one of the most common soft-tissue cancers in teenagers and young adults. At present the long-term survival rates for synovial sarcoma patients is well below 50%; a fact that underlines just how important new discoveries are if we are to improve the outlook for patients and their families. Using state-of-the-art CRISPR genome screening technology, the scientists first identified the a protein (BRD9) as essential for the survival of synovial sarcoma tumours. They then set about designing new drugs to target this protein. Pre-clinical trials in mice showed that a newly developed drug blocks tumour progression. The next step will be to test the new drug in clinical trials in patients, which the scientists hope will take place in the near future. Dr Gerard Brien, Research Fellow in Genetics at Trinity College Dublin and lead author of the research published in international journal eLife, set out to identify "molecular vulnerabilities" in synovial sarcoma tumours. Synovial sarcoma patients do not respond well to conventional treatment approaches, and therefore, like many other difficult-to-treat cancers, have low survival rates. At odds with our inability to cure synovial sarcoma is our knowledge of the genetic abnormality that causes the disease - for years scientists have known it is caused by a singular genetic mutation that occurs in 100% of patients. This mutation creates a harmful protein (SS18-SSX) that is responsible for the cancer development. As a result, scientists reasoned that somehow impeding SS18-SSX would provide an ideal therapy. Until now, however, no such approaches had been developed. In the current study, Dr Brien and colleagues used CRISPR-based genomic screening technologies - to perform "genetic screens" - to identify potential therapeutic vulnerabilities in synovial sarcoma tumours. Significantly, they found a protein (BRD9) that is essential for the survival of synovial sarcoma cells. They confirmed through biochemical studies in synovial sarcoma cells that BRD9 partners with the disease-causing SS18-SSX protein, and thus supports it in driving cancer development. Next, using cutting-edge approaches to drug design, they created a new BRD9 "degrader" drug, and in pre-clinical trials in mice, they found that BRD9 degradation was successful in blocking the progression of synovial sarcoma tumours. Commenting on the breakthrough, Dr Gerard Brien said: "As the term degrader suggests, the drug we created "degrades" the BRD9 protein, removing it from cancer cells. It essentially 'tricks' the cells into eliminating this protein on which they rely, which in turn leads to their death." "Excitingly, our work demonstrates that degrading BRD9 impedes the SS18-SSX protein, which is the underlying cause of synovial sarcoma. We also found that our new drug primarily impacts cellular processes important in synovial sarcoma, but not normal cells. This is very important, because it should result in less unwanted side-effects in patients. We now hope these promising findings will lead to clinical trials of this new drug in patients in the near future." ### Dr Gerard Brien is the 2018 Irish Cancer Society Biomedical Research Fellow, and recently returned to Trinity College Dublin to establish his own research laboratory. He trained at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York), Harvard Medical School and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Boston). His current research focuses on using CRISPR technologies and other molecular approaches to identify new therapeutic targets in pediatric cancers with a view to developing more effective and personalised cancer treatments. Patients with stronger-pumping hearts have as many physical and cognitive impairments as those with weaker hearts, suggesting the need for better treatment PHILADELPHIA, Nov 20 -- Heart failure patients fall into two general categories: those with weaker hearts, and those with stronger, but stiffer hearts that continue to eject the normal volume of blood with every beat. Although their hearts have different pump strength, new research shows that both groups suffer from similar levels of physical and cognitive impairments after a hospitalization for their heart failure, and that surprisingly, patients with stronger hearts have higher rates of depressive symptoms and lower quality of life. "The results speak to how bad heart failure is across the board," says senior author Gordon Reeves, MD, Associate Professor of Cardiology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. "Heart failure is one of the most common reasons for older patients to be in the hospital and the issues experienced as a consequence of a heart failure hospitalization can have a huge effect on their daily function and independence. This appears to be true regardless of the pumping function of the heart and, in some regards, may actually be worse in those in whom the squeezing function is preserved." The results were published online in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure. Many treatments for heart failure - for example medications like angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or beta blockers, and certain types of pacemakers, -- are only effective in patients with weaker hearts, those with a so-called reduced ejection fraction (rEF), meaning the main pumping chamber of their heart pumps out or ejects a smaller portion of blood than it should with each heartbeat. Heart failure in patients with stronger hearts, those with preserved ejection fraction (pEF), is actually the most common form of heart failure in older adults and is more likely to affect women, but there are far fewer effective therapies currently available. "This research gives us a much clearer picture of the symptoms and potential barriers to successful care affecting older patients with both reduced and preserved ejection fractions following a heart failure hospitalization, and gives us new insight into the interventions that might improve their quality of life and clinical outcomes," said Dr. Reeves. Dr. Reeves and colleagues from the coordinating center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, and Duke University Medical Center analyzed data from the first 202 patients enrolled in the ongoing multi-center REHAB-HF (NIH study number: NCT02196038) clinical trial. The overarching goal of that study, which aims to enroll 360 patients, is to determine the benefit of rehabilitation interventions for older patients recovering from a heart failure hospitalization who may find it challenging to complete the types of physical activity that are included in traditional cardiac rehabilitation. In fact, such patients are currently excluded from participating in cardiac rehabilitation by CMS policy because there has been so little prior research in these patients. The early baseline analysis presented in this interim report, is the first to look at the differences in physical performance, frailty, depression and cognition between preserved and reduced ejection fraction patients. In an accompanying editorial, Kelsey M Flint, MD from Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center and Daniel E Forman, MD, from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine; say that this characterization is significant, because heart failure is a condition that hasn't been fully addressed by current standards of care. "Over 70% of Medicare beneficiaries who are hospitalized for heart failure (HF) die or are re-hospitalized by one year after discharge," the editorial authors write. Using a number of assessments more common in the field of geriatric medicine than cardiology, the researchers found that both types of patients scored equally poorly on measures of physical ability, such as walking speed, getting up from a chair unassisted and endurance. They had similar scores on measures of frailty and also cognitive impairment. However, depression and quality of life scores were consistently lower in patients with preserved ejection fractions, or stronger hearts. "We think of these results as a call to action for the cardiology community," said Dr. Reeves. "These findings indicate we need to do more than decongesting the hearts of these patients." ### Article reference: Haider J. Warraich, Dalane W. Kitzman, David J. Whellan, Pamela W. Duncan, Robert J. Mentz, Amy M. Pastva, M. Benjamin Nelson, Bharathi Upadhya, and Gordon R. Reeves, "Physical Function, Frailty, Cognition, Depression and Quality-of-Life in Hospitalized Adults ?60 Years with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Preserved versus Reduced Ejection Fraction: Insights from the REHAB-HF Trial," Circ-HF, DOI: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.118.005254, 2018. Media contact: Edyta Zielinska, edyta.zielinska@jefferson.edu, 215-955-7359. In music, sports and other activities, we calculate movement in two different parts of the brain That moment when you step on the gas pedal a split second before the light changes, or when you tap your toes even before the first piano note of Camila Cabello's "Havana" is struck. That's anticipatory timing. One type relies on memories from past experiences. The other on rhythm. Both are critical to our ability to navigate and enjoy the world. New University of California, Berkeley, research shows the neural networks supporting each of these timekeepers are split between two different parts of the brain, depending on the task at hand. "Whether it's sports, music, speech or even allocating attention, our study suggests that timing is not a unified process, but that there are two distinct ways in which we make temporal predictions and these depend on different parts of the brain," said study lead author Assaf Breska, a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience at UC Berkeley. The findings, published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, offer a new perspective on how humans calculate when to make a move. "Together, these brain systems allow us to not just exist in the moment, but to also actively anticipate the future," said study senior author Richard Ivry, a UC Berkeley neuroscientist. Breska and Ivry studied the anticipatory timing strengths and deficits of people with Parkinson's disease and people with cerebellar degeneration. They connected rhythmic timing to the basal ganglia, and interval timing - an internal timer based largely on our memory of prior experiences - to the cerebellum. Both are primal brain regions associated with movement and cognition. Moreover, their results suggest that if one of these neural clocks is misfiring, the other could theoretically step in. "Our study identifies not only the anticipatory contexts in which these neurological patients are impaired, but also the contexts in which they have no difficulty, suggesting we could modify their environments to make it easier for them to interact with the world in face of their symptoms," Breska said. Non-pharmaceutical fixes for neurological timing deficits could include brain-training computer games and smartphone apps, deep brain stimulation and environmental design modifications, he said. To arrive at their conclusion, Breska and Ivry compared how well Parkinson's and cerebellar degeneration patients used timing or "temporal" cues to focus their attention. Both groups viewed sequences of red, white and green squares as they flashed by at varying speeds on a computer screen, and pushed a button the moment they saw the green square. The white squares alerted them that the green square was coming up. In one sequence, the red, white and green squares followed a steady rhythm, and the cerebellar degeneration patients responded well to these rhythmic cues. In another, the colored squares followed a more complex pattern, with differing intervals between the red and green squares. This sequence was easier for the Parkinson's patients to follow, and succeed at. "We show that patients with cerebellar degeneration are impaired in using non-rhythmic temporal cues while patients with basal ganglia degeneration associated with Parkinson's disease are impaired in using rhythmic cues," Ivry said. Ultimately, the results confirm that the brain uses two different mechanisms for anticipatory timing, challenging theories that a single brain system handles all our timing needs, researchers said. "Our results suggest at least two different ways in which the brain has evolved to anticipate the future," said Breska. "A rhythm-based system is sensitive to periodic events in the world such as is inherent in speech and music," he added. "And an interval system provides a more general anticipatory ability, sensitive to temporal regularities even in the absence of a rhythmic signal." ### University of Cincinnati biologists discover the parasite's metabolism speeds up after months of fasting so it can pursue a meal. Ticks are hardy little brutes that can go as long as a year without a meal. Now scientists at the University of Cincinnati say the hungrier ticks are, the harder they try to find you or other hosts. The findings could have implications for the spread of tick-borne disease such as Lyme or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. "Starved ticks are more likely to look for a host," said Andrew Rosendale, lead author of the study and UC adjunct assistant professor of biology. "Other studies have found that starved ticks take larger blood meals. They're attached to the host longer, which provides a greater opportunity to transmit diseases." The study was published in the journal Molecular Ecology. Ticks drink blood as larvae, nymphs and adults but spend most of their lives on the ground in tall grass, patiently biding their time for a victim and presumably ignoring their rumbling stomachs. Finding a suitable animal upon which to feed is hard, so ticks must be prepared to wait. And wait. Rosendale, who also works as assistant professor at Mount St. Joseph University, said being able to go long periods without a meal is a tick's superpower. Biologists in UC's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences studied the changing gene expression and physiology of lab-raised dog ticks that were subjected to more than 36 weeks of starvation. Studies have found that starving animals often take bigger risks, such as hunting more dangerous prey or exposing themselves to predators to forage for food. UC's research suggests ticks are no exception. In the wild, adult ticks explore the undergrowth and climb tall grass. They reach out with the claws on their forelegs, a behavior called questing, to snag an animal's fur or your denim jeans. Then they burrow into their hosts with mouthparts shaped like ratchets that keep them in place. In the lab, UC researchers stimulated the ticks' questing behavior by breathing into identical glass cylinders. (Ticks can sense carbon dioxide so they know when a possible meal is close at hand.) Biologists recorded differences in activity between just-fed ticks and starving ones. They found that starved ticks had higher activity levels and increased questing behavior than recently fed ones. Starved ticks also had marked changes in their physiology and gene expression. Ticks can go so long between meals because of their slow metabolism. "In the absence of any host cues, they go into a dormant state where they don't move around a lot," UC biology professor Joshua Benoit said. This helps conserve energy for the ticks' preferred wait-and-see ambush strategy. But after three months without food, a tick's metabolism actually increases significantly -- by as much as 100 percent -- and remains at this higher rate for weeks in association with its increased activity. In fact, some researchers collect ticks in the wild by placing dry ice in the woods to entice them with the sublimation of carbon dioxide. Likewise, UC biologists found that genes related to immunity were activated by starvation, which could be another survival mechanism. Animals that feed on blood must have a immune system capable of fighting bacteria and other microorganisms. By activating genes associated with immunity, ticks might be preparing for an imminent meal. More strangely, UC biologists found that genes associated with a starved tick's salivary glands were activated. Saliva is known to help ticks drink more blood more quickly, a useful ability when you're clinging precariously to a moving animal in thick brush. The sticky saliva also helps cement the tick to the host. "The more they were starved, the more they were priming themselves for that next blood meal," Rosendale said. The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, UC's Faculty Development Research Grant and the National Science Foundation. UC graduate Megan Dunlevy and Marshall McCue of the metabolic measurement firm Sable Systems International contributed to the study. UC is tracking tick populations at its Center for Field Studies and in several forests in the Great Parks of Hamilton County, Ohio. Benoit and Rosendale have collaborated on several other tick studies. Tick larvae feed mostly on mice and rabbits they find close to the ground. Nymphs and adults feed on larger mammals they reach by climbing up tall blades of grass. Benoit said ticks typically do not climb up trees or drop onto animals from the tree canopy. So if you find a tick on your head, it likely climbed up from your legs or waist. Ticks are susceptible to temperature and humidity. Even short bouts of dehydration can shorten a tick's lifespan considerably in the wild. But Rosendale said ticks are expanding their territories to exploit new habitat made available by climate change. Ticks are especially problematic for wildlife such as moose that live in regions where the cold historically kept parasite numbers in check. Infested animals are sometimes called "ghost moose" because they rub off their dark fur to remove ticks. "We've studied the moose tick as well in our lab. Moose are particularly susceptible because they're not good at grooming themselves of ticks. They can be infested with thousands and thousands of ticks, so much so that they can die from blood loss," Rosendale said. While ticks might make a short list of most-reviled creatures, Benoit said they serve an important ecological role. "People want to think of parasites as being awful things. But in ecosystems they're important regulators in keeping populations in check. They transmit diseases that will kill deer, rabbits or mice," Benoit said. "Ecosystems are [delicate] networks. So eliminating a parasite could have major implications," he said. "Two years of rabbit reproduction is a lot of rabbits." The earliest ticks recorded are more than 90 million years old and fed on dinosaurs. Benoit said there is something almost admirable about a natural design that has been perfected by evolution. "Biologically, they're interesting," Benoit said. "They're perfectly adapted to one thing: survival." ### Frogs from groups exposed to a deadly virus are breeding at younger ages, new research suggests. Scientists studying European common frogs in the UK compared groups ("populations") exposed to ranavirus and those free from the disease. While the youngest breeding frogs in disease-free populations are four years old, frogs in virus-exposed groups breed as young as two. The reasons for this are not yet clear, but the team - led by researchers from the University of Exeter and the Zoological Society of London - warn that this decrease in breeding age means disease-exposed populations are at greater risk of local extinction sparked by environmental changes. Frogs gather at breeding spots such as ponds and then disperse, but most return to the same ponds year after year. "Our research shows that the ages of the frogs that return to breed varies between populations which are known to have ranavirus and those which don't," said Dr Lewis Campbell, who conducted the research during his PhD at the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall. "We found significantly fewer old frogs and significantly more young frogs at populations which have ranavirus. "It's possible that the more times an older frog returns to the same infected breeding pond, the more likely they are to become diseased and die. "The absence of older frogs may then create an opportunity for younger - and therefore smaller and less competitive - frogs to successfully breed. "With high mortality among older frogs, it's also possible that natural selection pressure has favoured those that are genetically disposed to breed younger." Ranavirus, first recorded in the UK in the 1980s, can cause severe skin sores and internal bleeding. It is usually fatal. In the new study, which incorporated data collected by citizen scientists, breeding frogs in disease-free populations were most commonly six to eight years old, while in populations where ranavirus was present they were mostly three to six years old. Commenting on the differences between the two kinds of frog population, Dr Campbell, now of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said: "Our models suggest both infected and uninfected populations can continue to thrive in normal conditions. "But disease-exposed populations appear to depend heavily on younger breeders that don't produce as many offspring as older, larger frogs. "For these populations, an environmental change such as a late frost - that would kill frogspawn and further lower the number of offspring produced - could cause that population to collapse (known as a local extinction)." He added: "We live in times of increasing environmental change, so understanding how wildlife diseases change the ability of their hosts to cope with such uncertainty is increasingly critical." Dr Xavier Harrison, of the Zoological Society of London, said: "We often think of the negative consequences of wildlife disease as being the death of infected individuals in the short term. "But this study shows that even when a population seems to have survived a disease outbreak and appears otherwise healthy, there are still lingering consequences of that disease months or years afterwards. "If we really want to understand the full impact of wildlife diseases in nature we need to monitor disease-challenged populations over much longer timescales." Ranavirus is believed to be spreading in the UK, and human activity such as movement of animals and soils is thought to be the major cause of this. Amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates globally, and emerging infectious diseases play a large role in their continued population declines. ### The paper, published in the journal PeerJ, is entitled: "An emerging viral pathogen truncates population age structure in a European amphibian and may reduce population viability." The UNC School of Medicine lab of Ben Philpot, Ph.D., discovered key details for how a deficiency in the gene UBE3A affects the brain and how replacing it could benefit children with the neuro-genetic disorder CHAPEL HILL, NC - Angelman syndrome is a genetic disease with no cure. Children grow up with severe intellectual disabilities and a range of other problems, arguably the worst of which are epileptic seizures. Now scientists at the UNC School of Medicine have found evidence that genetic therapy may prevent the enhanced seizure susceptibility. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the research marks the first time scientists were able to reduce seizure susceptibility in mice by activating a dormant copy of the UBE3A gene so it could replace the faulty mutant version. While replacing the faulty gene in juveniles reduced seizures, replacing the faulty gene in adult mice had no effect. The UNC scientists also found evidence that the loss of this gene in Angelman syndrome promotes seizures by impairing the normal activity of inhibitory neurons - cells that normally keep brain circuits from being overstimulated. "These findings should be very useful in the development and testing of therapies for Angelman syndrome," said senior author Benjamin D. Philpot, PhD, Kenan Distinguished Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, associate director of the UNC Neuroscience Center, and member of the UNC Autism Research Center. Angelman syndrome, named for the pediatrician who first described it in 1965, afflicts roughly one in 20,000 people, which implies that there are more than 16,000 people with the syndrome in the United States alone. The syndrome is caused by the loss of function of a single gene, UBE3A, but with an odd twist: the mutant or deleted copy of UBE3A is the one inherited from the patient's mother. This maternal copy is crucial in neurons because - for reasons still unknown - the paternal copy of UBE3A is silenced in these cells via a mechanism called genomic imprinting. UBE3A encodes a protein that works in an important cellular waste-disposal and gene-regulating system. Precisely how the absence of this protein in neurons causes Angelman syndrome has never been clear. Even so, scientists have been working on candidate therapies to restore UBE3A activity in neurons, thereby preventing or reversing some or all of the features of the disease. Among these features is epilepsy, which afflicts about 90 percent of Angelman syndrome patients, who typically do not respond well to standard anti-seizure medications. Some aspects of the disease reflect abnormal prenatal and early postnatal development, and may never be reversible with treatments that start years after birth. But epilepsy often doesn't start in Angelman patients until age 2 or 3, suggesting that early life replacement of UBE3A might cure it or prevent it. Philpot and colleagues decided to investigate how early the gene reinstatement needed to take place. They took advantage of an Angelman syndrome mouse model, in which researchers inserted a working copy of the UBE3A gene that would lie dormant in brain cells until scientists turned it on with a chemical switch. The scientists found that switching on UBE3A failed to prevent or reverse the high susceptibility to seizures in adult Angelman mice. However, switching on the gene when the mice were just three weeks old made them as resistant to seizures as ordinary mice. "Three weeks of age for a mouse corresponds to early childhood for a human, so this suggests that there may be a window of opportunity in childhood for the prevention of Angelman syndrome epilepsy," said first author Bin Gu, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Philpot Lab who performed most of the key experiments. Another big question for Angelman syndrome researchers has to do with the neurons affected by the disease. Philpot wondered, to treat the condition successfully, would UBE3A activity need to be restored in all types of neurons or just in some? Philpot's team removed functional UBE3A from excitatory neurons - which trigger activity in connected neurons - and observed that the resulting mice were unaffected. Then they blocked the gene just in inhibitory neurons, whose activity normally quiets and regulates connected neurons, thereby preventing the neural hyperactivity that can trigger seizures. With UBE3A gone from the inhibitory neurons, the mice became even more susceptible to seizures than if UBE3A were absent from all neurons. "This result implies that if you want to limit epilepsy in Angelman syndrome, you'll need at least to restore the function of UBE3A in inhibitory neurons," Philpot said. The researchers gained another clue to the mechanism of Angelman syndrome seizures when they examined the brains of the seizure-prone mice, particularly in an area of the brain known as the hippocampus. They detected an abnormal accumulation of perineuronal nets (PNNs) - structures that surround neurons and block them from making new connections. Abnormal PNN formation has previously been linked to seizures. The scientists found that the abnormal PNN deposition did not occur in the young mice where UBE3A activity had been restored. "We can now think of these abnormal PNNs as biomarkers for enhanced seizure susceptibility," Philpot said. "We now want to determine if these structures actually cause seizure susceptibility, for example by disrupting the connections that inhibitory neurons normally would make in this brain region." Philpot and collaborators at UNC, along with other researchers elsewhere, are working on potential Angelman syndrome treatments, including drugs that would activate the previously silenced paternal copy of UBE3A in brain cells. ### The American Epilepsy Society, the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health funded this research. Machine learning can help healthcare workers predict whether patients may require emergency hospital admission, new study finds Machine learning - a field of artificial intelligence that uses statistical techniques to enable computer systems to 'learn' from data - can be used to analyse electronic health records and predict the risk of emergency hospital admissions, a new study from The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Oxford has found. The research, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, suggests that using these techniques could help health practitioners accurately monitor the risks faced by patients and put in place measures to avoid unplanned admissions, which are a major source of healthcare spending. 'There were over 5.9 million recorded emergency hospital admissions in the UK in 2017, and a large proportion of them were avoidable,' said Fatemeh Rahimian, former data scientist at The George Institute UK, who led the research. 'We wanted to provide a tool that would enable healthcare workers to accurately monitor the risks faced by their patients, and as a result make better decisions around patient screening and proactive care that could help reduce the burden of emergency admissions.' The study, of 4.6 million patients from 1985 to 2015, was conducted using linked electronic health records from the UK's Clinical Practice Research Datalink. A wide range of factors was taken into account, including age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, family history, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, medication and marital status, as well as the time since first diagnosis, last use of the health system and latest laboratory tests. Using more variables combined with information about their timing, machine learning models were found to provide a more robust prediction of the risk of emergency hospital admission than any models used previously. 'Our findings show that with large datasets which contain rich information about individuals, machine learning models outperform one of the best conventional statistical models,' Rahimian said. 'We think this is because machine learning models automatically capture and 'learn' from interactions between the data that we were not previously aware of.' Whether machine learning models can lead to similarly strong improvements in risk prediction in other areas of medicine requires further research. ### The study by The George Institute UK was funded by the Oxford Martin School's Deep Medicine programme. The paper in PLOS Medicine will be available at this link once the embargo lifts: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002695 Media enquiries Ana Bow-Bertrand Communications Manager The George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford Tel: 07918 553680 anastasia.bow-bertrand@georgeinstitute.ox.ac.uk Emma Feeny Senior Advocacy Advisor The George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford Tel: 07864 652347 emma.feeny@georgeinstitute.ox.ac.uk About The George Institute for Global Health The George Institute for Global Health conducts clinical, population and health system research aimed at changing health practice and policy worldwide. The Institute has a global network of medical and health experts working together to address the leading causes of death and disability. Established in Australia and affiliated with UNSW Sydney, the Institute today also has offices in China, India and the United Kingdom. The George Institute UK was established in 2010 in partnership with the University of Oxford. Facebook at thegeorgeinstitute Twitter @GeorgeInstUK Web georgeinstitute.org.uk PHILADELPHIA - The Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) at the University of Pennsylvania announced today that it is joining the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) as its 28th member institution. The ACC joins top academic cancer centers from across the United States in creating the most frequently updated cancer care guidelines worldwide. The ACC's membership includes the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "The Abramson Cancer Center is leading the charge of the immunorevolution, with research that has led to four new FDA-approved cancer drugs this year alone," said Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, director of the Abramson Cancer Center. "We're energized to share our expertise with the NCCN, as well as for the chance to collaborate with other Member Institutions to ensure patients across the country are receiving the best possible care." Clinicians and scientists from the ACC will join more than 1,300 experts from current NCCN Member Institutions to work together across 53 panels to review the latest innovations and approvals in cancer care in order to update the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). There are currently 73 different NCCN Guidelines, which apply to 97 percent of cancers affecting patients in the United States, plus recommendations for related conditions like nausea, fatigue, distress, or immunotherapy-related toxicities. The ACC's expertise is especially highlighted by its role as global pioneers in new approaches to cancer treatment, particularly in personalized cellular therapies and proton beam radiation. Penn developed the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy, which has since been approved for a second indication and in multiple countries. The approach has successfully eradicated blood cancer in hundreds of patients around the world. Studies show it leads to overall remission rates of 80 percent among acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients whose cancer could not be contained by the standard chemotherapies doctors have relied on for decades. "The Abramson Cancer Center is a perfect fit and wonderful addition to the group of leading cancer centers that comprise NCCN," said Robert W. Carlson, MD, the chief executive officer of the NCCN. "Penn Medicine is one of the pioneers for immunotherapy and is also at the forefront for innovative treatment approaches involving stem cell transplantation, genetics, palliative care, pediatric cancer care, pediatrics, and other areas. Penn Medicine also shares NCCN's commitment to improving care for underserved populations in the United States and abroad. We look forward to working together to make sure people with cancer everywhere receive the very best evidence-based care possible." "Our experience bringing cancer treatment to patients all over the world has given us a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities involved, and our experts are looking forward to collaborating on these issues with fellow experts from other NCCN Member Institutions," said Lawrence Shulman, MD, the deputy director for Clinical Services at the ACC. Shulman also serves as chair of the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer. NCCN will soon begin the process of incorporating experts from the ACC onto current and future NCCN Guidelines Panels. The group was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. "Our Member Institutions represent some of the best care available across the country. The addition of the Abramson Cancer Center serves to further strengthen our network," said Gary J. Weyhmuller, MBA, SPHR, the executive vice president and chief operating officer at NCCN. ### Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise. The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $405 million awarded in the 2017 fiscal year. The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare. Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2017, Penn Medicine provided more than $500 million to benefit our community. Melanoma skin cancer tumors grow larger and are more likely to metastasize due to interactions between a pair of molecules, according to experiments in mice and human cells. The results may restore the potential for a type of cancer therapy previously abandoned in clinical trials. The results also implicate one molecule already connected to obesity and dementia as a potential cause of metastasis, or spread of cancer cells to other areas of the body. Melanoma accounts for about 1 percent of skin cancers, but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Few treatments exist to prevent melanoma from metastasizing. A research team led by Associate Professor Beate Heissig at the University of Tokyo Institute of Medical Science has studied tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) for over a decade. tPA is a protease, a small molecule that can cut proteins. tPA bonds to a larger protein that sits within the membrane barrier of animal cells, called low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1). Heissig's research team proposes blocking the metastasis-promoting action of tPA by preventing it from connecting to LRP1. Mice without LRP1 had smaller tumors, even when researchers provided extra tPA. Other studies have linked LRP1 to chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer's disease. "It's surprising that LRP1 is also regulating cancer growth and spread. It's normally a receptor for fat molecules," said Heissig. Controlling cancer's spread In 2016, Heissig's research group discovered that mice given extra tPA had greater numbers of a specific type of cell. This same cell type usually increases within the melanoma tumors and can enhance tumor growth. Based on that potential connection, the current project was designed to investigate what role tPA might play in skin cancer. When cancer cells metastasize, they use proteases to cut through the matrix of protein chains that holds healthy cells in place. When cancer cells arrive in a new part of the body and begin to form new tumors, they corrupt nearby cells to build a niche, or supportive home for themselves. Clinical researchers have attempted to prevent metastasis by stopping proteases. However, completely blocking all proteases causes unintended side effects. No protease-based cancer therapy has succeeded in clinical trials. "Our vision is a cancer therapy that specifically prevents the interaction of LRP1 and tPA so that only the metastasis effect of the protease is stopped. Better understanding of the specific interactions of LRP1 and tPA will hopefully lead to protease cancer treatments that maintain the normal, healthy protease actions of tPA," said Yousef Salama, first author of the research paper and postdoctoral researcher in Heissig's lab. Salama also suggests that tPA may be linked to cancer immunotherapy, the life-saving treatment awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. "The scientific community knows that tPA can interfere with the cell signals being studied for cancer immunotherapy. Blocking tPA could enhance the immune system's action and potentially boost the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy treatments," said Salama. ### About the Research Collaborators at the Juntendo University School of Medicine also contributed to the research. This research is an experimental study using live mice as well as mouse and human cells published in Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. Background Information For more information about melanoma skin cancer, please visit the American Cancer Society website: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/melanoma-skin-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Previous research on tPA and mesenchymal stromal cells was published by Heissig and colleagues in August 2016 in the journal Blood. Please see the citation information below. Douaa Dhahri, Kaori Sato-Kusubata, Makiko Ohki-Koizumi, Chiemi Nishida, Yoshihiko Tashiro, Shinya Munakata, Hiroshi Shimazu, Yousef Salama, Salita Eiamboonsert, Hiromitsu Nakauchi, Koichi Hattori and Beate Heissig. Fibrinolytic crosstalk with endothelial cells expands murine mesenchymal stromal cells. Blood 25 August 2016 128:1063-1075. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-10-673103. Journal Article Salama Y, Lin SY, Dhahri D, Hattori K, Heissig B. The fibrinolytic factor tPA drives LRP1-mediated melanoma growth and metastasis. 20 November 2018. FASEB Journal. DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801339RRR Related Links Institute of Medical Science: http://www.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/imsut/en/ Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine: http://stemcell-u-tokyo.org/en/ Heissig lab website: http://stemcell-u-tokyo.org/en/scd/ Research Contact Beate Heissig, M.D., Ph.D. Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Stem Cell Dynamics, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo 4-6-1, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, JAPAN Phone: +81-3-6409-2108 E-mail: heissig@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp Press Contact Ms. Caitlin Devor Division for Strategic Public Relations, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, JAPAN Tel: +81-3-5841-0876 Email: press-releases.adm@mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp About the University of Tokyo The University of Tokyo is Japan's leading university and one of the world's top research universities. The vast research output of some 6,000 researchers is published in the world's top journals across the arts and sciences. Our vibrant student body of around 15,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students includes over 2,000 international students. Find out more at http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ or follow us on Twitter at @UTokyo_News_en. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and colleagues have isolated a human monoclonal antibody that can "neutralize" the West Nile virus and potentially prevent a leading cause of viral encephalitis (brain inflammation) in the United States. Their findings, reported this week in the journal Nature Microbiology, could lead to the first effective treatment for this mosquito-transmitted infection, which sickens 2,500 and kills more than 100 people throughout the country each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC). "West Nile virus is still an important cause of brain infections in the U.S., and there is very little we can do to help these patients," said James Crowe Jr., MD, co-corresponding author of the paper and director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center. "It was exciting for us to use our antibody discovery technologies to find naturally occurring human antibodies that can prevent or treat the infection," he said. Crowe holds the Ann Scott Carell Chair in the Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He and his colleagues have isolated human monoclonal antibodies for many pathogenic viruses, including Zika, HIV, dengue, influenza, Ebola, norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rotavirus. In the current study, the researchers obtained serum and blood cell samples from 13 adults who were infected by the virus during the 2012 outbreak of West Nile encephalitis in Dallas, Texas. Antibody-producing white blood cells from the subjects were fused to myeloma (cancer) cells to produce fast-growing "factories" of specific, monoclonal antibodies. One of these antibodies, WNV-86, completely inhibited the virus in laboratory studies. A single dose of WNV-86 completely protected mice from an otherwise lethal West Nile infection. Further studies are needed before human testing can begin. But these findings are raising hopes for development of the first effective way to counter this potentially dangerous infection. ### Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Washington University in St. Louis contributed to the study. Vanderbilt contributors included senior research specialist Nurgun Kose, graduate student Michael P. Doyle and Gopal Sapparapu, PhD, research assistant professor of Pediatrics. The research was supported in part by NIH studies AI073755 and HHSN272201400018C. One day, MRI brain scans may help predict whether older people will develop dementia, new research suggests. In a small study, MRI brain scans predicted with 89 percent accuracy who would go on to develop dementia within three years, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of California San Francisco. The findings, presented Sunday, Nov. 25 at the Radiological Society of North America meeting in Chicago, suggest that doctors may one day be able to use widely available tests to tell people their risk of developing dementia before symptoms arise. "Right now it's hard to say whether an older person with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment is likely to develop dementia," said lead author Cyrus A. Raji, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of radiology at Washington University's Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. "We showed that a single MRI scan can predict dementia on average 2.6 years before memory loss is clinically detectable, which could help doctors advise and care for their patients." Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, irreversible brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills. The disease affects 5.5 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Neurologists can get a ballpark estimate of a patient's risk of Alzheimer's dementia using the Mini-Mental State Examination questionnaire, or by testing for the high-risk form of the gene ApoE, which increases a person's risk of Alzheimer's by up to 12-fold. Both tests were about 70 to 80 percent accurate in this study. Other assessments, such as PET scans for plaques of Alzheimer's proteins in the brain, are good at detecting early signs of Alzheimer's disease, but available to few patients. PET scans cost thousands of dollars and require radioactive materials not found in a typical hospital. MRI brain scans are widely available and give doctors a glimpse into what's going on inside a person's brain. Raji and colleagues at the School of Medicine including Tammie Benzinger, MD, PhD, a professor of radiology, Parinaz Massoumzadeh, PhD, and Adedamola Adedokun, as well as radiologist Pratik Mukherjee, MD, PhD, of the University of California San Francisco, analyzed MRI scans for physical signs of impending cognitive decline. They used a technique called diffusion tensor imaging to assess the health of the brain's white matter, which encompasses the cables that enable different parts of the brain to talk to one another. "Diffusion tensor imaging is a way of measuring the movement of water molecules along white matter tracts," Raji said. "If water molecules are not moving normally it suggests underlying damage to white tracts that can underlie problems with cognition." Using information from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative - a multisite collaboration that pools data, funding and expertise to improve clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease - Raji and colleagues identified 10 people whose cognitive skills declined over a two-year period and matched them by age and sex with 10 people whose thinking skills held steady. The average age of people in both groups was 73. Then, the researchers analyzed diffusion tensor MRI scans taken just before the two-year period for all 20 people. The researchers found that people who went on to experience cognitive decline had significantly more signs of damage to their white matter. The researchers repeated their analysis in a separate sample of 61 people, using a more refined measure of white matter integrity. With this new analysis, they were able to predict cognitive decline with 89 percent accuracy when looking at the whole brain. When the researchers focused on specific parts of the brain most likely to show damage, the accuracy rose to 95 percent. "We could tell that the individuals who went on to develop dementia have these differences on diffusion MRI, compared with scans of cognitively normal people whose memory and thinking skills remained intact," Raji said. "What we need now, before we can bring it into the clinic, is to get more control subjects and develop computerized tools that can more reliably compare individual patients' scans to a baseline normal standard. With that, doctors might soon be able to tell people whether they are likely to have Alzheimer's develop in the next few years." Although there are no drugs available yet to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, identifying those at high risk of developing dementia within the next few years could still be beneficial, the researchers said. People could make decisions on their financial and living arrangements while they are still in full control of their faculties. ### Resistance against key Gann arc. Bearish divergence present. Key Gann arc acting as resistance Above: USD/CAD exchange rate fails to move higher. The current 4-hour chart shows an attempt at a rally at the 1.3132 value area, which is the inner 5/8th harmonic that represents the uppermost trading range between the Major Harmonic levels of 1.3465 and 1.2577. Both the upper and lower bands of the current Gann arc have acted as strong resistance against any further upwards movement and pressure. It appears price action is forming a corrective wave with the third motive wave extending from 1.7173 and then moving down to the current Volume-Point-Of-Control which rests at 1.31. It is entirely possible that we could get an extension wave lower down to the 1.3021 zone. Divergence detected There is clear and powerful evidence of hidden bearish divergence on the 4-hour chart. While the RSI and price action both show lower highs, there is a powerful contrary piece of technical evidence indicating that the move will continue lower. The hidden bearish divergence is currently appearing between the RSI and the Composite Index and between price and the Composite Index. The Composite Index, created by Constance Brown, is an ingenious and powerful indicator that is essentially the RSI with a momentum calculation. With this indicator, Constance Brown suggested using the RSI and the Composite Index together to identify divergences. Her point was that the RSI is unable to catch a good number of real and fake moves. Looking at the current chart, we see both the RSI and price printing lower highs, but the Composite Index is showing higher highs. This is referred to as hidden bearish divergence. Oil price gap affecting the Canadian economy The Financial Post reported that the Canadian economy is losing approximately $20 million a day due to a price gap in oil. Albertas Premier Rachel Notley reported that frustrations over current and prior governments have contributed to the worsening conditions of oil situation. She strongly condemned the current situation by saying, Alberta is being treated as a branch plant for the U.S. and its got to stop. She recommends continued growth of Canadian oil and other experts argue for shipping and exporting to customers around the globe. General Atomics Aeronautical System (GA-ASI) has been notified that the Government of Belgium has approved Belgian Defense to begin negotiations with the U.S. Government to acquire the MQ-9B SkyGuardian Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), the US company said on November 19. General Atomics' MQ-9B Skyguardian UAV (Credit: GA-ASI) We look forward to providing our unmanned aircraft systems to meet Belgiums mission requirements, while also supporting the NATO Alliance, said Linden Blue, CEO of GA-ASI. We are also eager to work with our industrial partners in Belgium on a host of activities ranging from manufacturing to maintenance. The Belgian government reportedly agreed in October to negotiate with the United States for the purchase of two MALE drone systems. The country's former Defense Ministry Steven Vandeput said: "MALE drones play an increasingly important role in operations, but at the European level, there is a shortage of this type of drones. With this purchase, the Belgian Defense is committed to the future while filling a capacity deficit at the European level. Using MALE drones and keeping them operational is a complex undertaking. One of the conditions of this purchase was that our country would be able to partner with another country." Cooperation with a partner country guarantees economies of scale in terms of equipment, maintenance, training and operations. Since MALE drones will be mainly engaged in EU and NATO operations, a partnership will be sought with an EU or NATO member country. With these decisions, the government shows that it believes in a strong Belgian Defense and wishes to continue to invest in it. In the spirit of the Strategic Vision, it gives the department the means to properly carry out its missions in the short and long term. MQ-9B is the latest generation of GA-ASIs multi-mission Predator B fleet. GA-ASI named its baseline MQ-9B aircraft SkyGuardian and the maritime surveillance variant SeaGuardian. MQ-9B is the result of a five-year company-funded effort to deliver an unmanned aircraft system that can operate in non-segregated, civil airspace, which meets the stringent airworthiness type-certification requirements of NATO STANAG 4671. To highlight these capabilities in support of the celebration of the United Kingdoms Royal Air Force 100th anniversary (RAF100) in July, SkyGuardian became the first Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) UAS to fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. The system features >40 hour endurance, all-weather, short-field, self-deployment (through SATCOM controlled automatic take-off and landing), and detect-and-avoid capabilities. SkyGuardian has also been selected by the Royal Air Force for its PROTECTOR RG Mk1 program. Sterling to Euro (GBP/EUR) Exchange Rate Expected to Hit 1.00 in No Deal Scenario Rabobank analyst Jane Foley joins Danske Bank analysts in predicting parity for the GBP to EUR exchange rate If it appears that the UK is on course to crash out of the EU. Rabobanks market research suggests the outlook for the upcoming crucial vote on PM Mays Brexit deal is bleak, implying that there is a real risk of a hard Brexit in March 2019. Looking ahead, Foley predicts The coming days will be difficult for PM May. She has an uphill challenge in holding down her job and bringing together her government and a potentially an even bigger task in trying to persuade parliament to back the deal she has struck with the EU. This comes as Danske Bank also predicts parity for the Sterling to Euro exchange rate in the worst case scenario that the UK exits the EU without a deal in place. The silver lining for the Sterling would seem to be any apparent progress domestically with Any sign that the PM is succeeding is likely to be met by a relief rally in the pound The political landscape in the UK remains unsettled with investor caution at an all-time high ahead of further developments. Spain to Veto EU Deal in Lieu of Favourable Gibraltar Trade Terms In a spirited piece of market research, Rabobank analyst Michael Every outlines the ominous hurdles in the path of PM May and her Brexit deal. With the threshold of 48 no-confidence letters yet to be reached (or announced), Every maintains that a vote of no confidence cant be ruled out. Citing Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, a challenge to PM Mays leadership could result in the most appalling chaos. With this weekends special summit of the EU Council due to approve the current Brexit text, Spain have thrown a spanner in the works, proposing it will veto the already-agreed May EU deal if it doesnt get the terms it wants on trade with Gibraltar. A move which Every states is "the best way to trigger the ... bulldog spirit of a the white-van-man nation". Supposing PM May survives as leader and the Brexit text receives the EU rubber stamp the next obstacle will be to get the deal through the House of Commons, with Labour underlining that if the Brexit deal fails to pass Parliament they could call a no-confidence vote in the government, triggering an election. All in all it looks like a tough few weeks ahead for PM May as the Brexit negotiations either come to fruition successfully or fall apart spectacularly. Either way, were likely to continue to see high volatility for Pound Sterling exchange rates and UK political news is likely to dominate intraday movements as the future, longer-term, ramifications remain as yet unclear. My thoughts on moving with your furniture: I moved from Dubai to Japan (exactly a year ago) and was given an allowance to chose 90kgs of Air cargo + one month salary (As a bonus) or chose an 8 cbm + 50% of monthly salary (as a bonus). Well because I had the option, I chose to go with the first and had a 3CBM sea cargo shipped at my cost. The perks was that I got the allowance to move my stuff. However, after I got the sea cargo after about 45 days - which I needed some basic stuff here ( i had to buy it). What was in the sea cargo ? My utensils, my clothes, footwear, motorbike riding gear (Helmets, jackets, shoes etc etc), camping gear (which I havent used till date in Japan) are the items which I could survive without for 2-3 months. What came by air cargo? My wife's clothes, her shoes (yeah about 60 pairs), and her bags. By the time the cargo reached Japan, I already bought brand new things for my basic use (utensils etc etc which I absolutely needed). And the sea cargo was a waste of money. I could have sold more than half the things, and instead of spending on the sea cargo, I could have bought brand new kitchen utensils, sold the camping gear etc etc etc. So basically, dont move your things if you can get them for the same price as your shipping. You might as well buy the new things in the new country. When I move, I will only move my clothes and essentials - the rest maybe donations or charity. Never to make the mistake of moving by sea unless absolutely required, or paid by the company. Cheers! 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. https://www.aish.com/ci/s/Airbnbs-Outrageous-Decision-Against-Israel.html The rental site is delisting vacation rentals that are outside of Israel's 1967 borders. Airbnb, the popular vacation rental website, announced that its planning to remove listings in the Occupied West Bank - in other words, territories that Israel captured from Jordan in 1967. The site has seemingly decided that Israels pre-1967 borders should delineate where tourists to the region are able to stay. Any listings outside those borders - land whose final status is currently formally under negotiation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority - are being removed. Thats a shame, because Airbnb has built a global following on the promise of freedom and helping people see the real side of places they visit by avoiding hotels and getting a taste of local life. Now it doesnt seem to trust its own customers. Ive used Airbnb to book an apartment in Jerusalem, and Im not sure whether Id be able to find the same great place to stay today. The truth is, the apartment my family and I stayed in was in central Jerusalem, and Im just not sure which side of the 1967 border it was on. In todays unified Jerusalem where all people are free to go, its hard to tell. I remember walking through the area with my Israeli cousin, and hearing her reminisce about how dangerous that downtown part of the city used to be. Jordan controlled the eastern half of Jerusalem, including the Old City, and didnt allow any Jews to live or even to visit its territory. Snipers used to shoot from the Jordanian side of the border into the Jewish areas of Jerusalem, killing civilians. I was shocked when a friend once explained that her mother grew up an orphan: their family lived along the pre-1967 border in Jerusalem, and Jordanian snipers killed both her parents, who were civilians. Does Airbnb really want to go back to that? When I stayed in my Jerusalem Airbnb I had Jewish and Arab neighbors. Arabs and Jews walk freely in the streets, where before 1967 Jews were forbidden to set foot. I was able to walk from the apartment to the Old City of Jerusalem, which is teeming with tourists from all over the world and is home to Jews, Muslims and Christians. That wasnt the case before 1967, when Jordan didnt allow Jews to worship at holy sites like the Western Wall, when Jews whose families lived in the Old City for centuries were forced out, and when Jewish synagogues and cemeteries were desecrated and destroyed. Its particularly galling that Airbnb would take the step of banning listings from outside of Israels pre-1967 borders because the site lists thousands of vacation rentals in other areas that are disputed and that have terrible human rights records. In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, occupying areas where Greek families had lived for centuries, and continuing to occupy them to this day. 150,000 Greeks were forced out of northern Cyprus, to be replaced with ethnic Turks. Yet today Airbnb offers listings like a Beautiful three bedroom house with a pool in Girne, Cyprus, an area currently under illegal Turkish rule. In 1976, Morocco annexed the Western Sahara, a region that continues to fight for its independence and whose sovereignty has been recognized by the UN. A 2018 US State Department report documented the use of torture in Western Saharan areas by Moroccan forces. That hasnt prevented Airbnb from listing vacation rentals in the disputed territory, including a Bungalow Deluxe Triple in the Moroccan-occupied Western Saharan city of Dakhla, which is specifically mentioned in the State Department report as a site of tension and poor human rights. Airbnbs decision to cut off Israeli listings is tragic. It limits travelers horizons instead of expanding them, and it spreads the false assumption that somehow out of the 191 countries that list on Airbnb, the Jewish state is uniquely problematic and in need of censure. At a time of rising anti-Jewish sentiment worldwide, that is a terrible message to convey. Now that Airbnb is no longer listing Israeli vacation rentals outside of Israels 1967 borders, were all going to have to be more creative, finding hotel listings and vacation rentals on other sites. Lets take a stand by making sure our next vacation is in Israel, and spend some of your time in a vacation rental in Judea and Samaria. And follow the advice of Michael Oren, an Israeli Member of Parliament and deputy minister in the Prime Ministers Office: Airbnbs policy is the very definition of anti-Semitism. No one should use its services. Tuesday, November 20, 2018 About AEA The American Evaluation Association is an international professional association and the largest in its field. Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products and organizations to improve their effectiveness. AEAs mission is to improve evaluation practices and methods worldwide, to increase evaluation use, promote evaluation as a profession and support the contribution of evaluation to the generation of theory and knowledge about effective human action. For more information about AEA, visit www.eval.org. Were, an I-O Psychology Doctoral candidate at the Florida Institute of Technology and Consulting Research Intern, and, Principal Consultant with Talent Metrics, a data-driven consulting firm. Frequently we say, What gets measuredmatters, and vice versa to imply that as both professionals and people we want to know that our invested efforts (time, incentives, programming etc.), especially in terms of Work Life Balance (WLB), will achieve the intended outcome. Further, if you randomly asked ten people, Whatwork life balance? youd have ten different definitions and theyd all be rightfor them. Often employees ask, Balanced? According to who? Some may recall a 2012 piece in The Atlantic magazine by Anne Marie Slaughter, Women Still Cant Have it All in it implying women cant have both a fulfilling career and family life, (she noted that men cant have it all either in a later interview). WLB is effectively managing the juggling act between peoples important paid-work and non-paid work activities. Employees experiencing effective balance arent feeling that stressful conflict between the two (Bryne, 2005).With WLB needs being individualized, some question the pursuit of broad WLB programming at all. Findings from a 2018 Federal Work-Life Survey report by US Government Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reported employee satisfaction with five traditional WLB programs (Figure 2). Consider schedule flexibility or telework to start the WLB conversation in your organization.: Fight the temptation of the quick fix/off the shelf solution. Use techniques like focus groups, surveys, and exit interviews to collect WLB specific data to know your employees needs and to tailor your programs. Aligning your WLB program offerings to your employee needs-analysis findings will make translating your programs selection into impact, and the later evaluation much clearer.When evaluating WLB programs, decide what impact the program might have on important target populations. For example, when evaluating the effect of a childcare program on low-income working parents (women), survey their ability to attend work or their concerns around childcare overall. By translating these programs into specific impacts, itll make the broader evaluation much easier.: Use a pre and post survey strategy when evaluating WLB programs. Consider both objective/subjective indicators of broad WLB issues among your employees. Identify indicators of WLB success (i.e. job satisfaction, and lower absenteeism). A strong example of WLB viewed as organizational wellness can be found in this PubMed article summary: Organizational Wellness Programs: A meta-analysis : Learn more about Work Life Balance.Julie Zhuo Product design VP @ Facebook. https://medium.com/the-year-of-the-looking-glass/the-mystery-of-work-life-balance-b8cf09c140f8 Full OPM Work Life Survey Report: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/worklife/federal-work-life-survey/ Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an aea365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org . aea365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluators. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Today there have been over 300 mass killings in the U.S. in 2019, and the usual liberal response is to call for reducing the number of guns. The kids from Parkland High School have contributed to this call for gun control and to the drumbeat in the media to get rid of guns. However, in Crime in America, criminal justice expert Paul Brakke has examined crime and the criminal justice system, which has led him to make some suggestions that could apply to reducing the number of mass murders in America. He writes from a conservative perspective, so he is in agreement with many other conservatives who don't feel gun control is the answer. Rather they view most mass murders as due to a mental illness, given that most of these murderers are loners who have trouble relating to others in their school or community. Some killers also have a pattern of past violence and brushes with the law, or they have been in and out of rehab facilities or mental hospitals. Accordingly, one way to better deal with the problem, according to Brakke, is to reach out to individuals who show signs of being an alienated loner to help integrate them back into the community and turn them into productive citizens. This is a suggestion he makes in a chapter on reducing recidivism as a way to reduce the high cost of incarcerating prisoners who have committed minor non-violent crimes. Brakke further points out that apart from increasing costs, over-incarcerating prisoners contributes to the crime rate, since it leads to the break-up of families and makes it more difficult for ex-cons to get jobs. Instead, he recommends finding ways to reintegrate ex-cons into the community and help them find jobs. As Brakke suggests, the same principle might be applied to individuals who are at risk of becoming the next mass murderer statistic. An effort might be made to identify individuals, especially males, who are loners and seem to be either closed off from others or acting out aggressively. Identifying them will allow professionals to help such loners get reconnected to others. All it might take is reaching out to them like a friend to dissuade them from acting on their anger by shooting others they feel wronged them or randomly picking off victims. It doesn't matter whether they are seething internally or are acting out like bullies. The same strategy of offering them friendship and community support might work to keep them from killing others. This approach is part of Brakke's suggestions to seek community-based solutions to help individuals become more productive citizens, preserve family unity, and create stronger communities. This way, with closer more cohesive communities, supportive friends, and jobs, individuals have less incentive to return to any type of crime, including committing a mass murder. The strategy helps ex-cons avoid returning to prison, and it could similarly help to keep prospective mass murderers from killing anyone. To learn more, you can now get a free review copy of Crime in America, which is available for preorder, too. Brakke is offering these books for free to anyone who wants to review and comment on the book. Also, copies are available for government officials who might turn some of these suggestions for reducing crime and fixing the criminal justice system into legislation. Members of the media are additionally invited to request copies of the book. To help draw attention to these suggested fixes in the book, Brakke has launched a video and social media campaign with five new videos each day. The first 10 videos are featured on his American Leadership Books' YouTube channel. Among the most recent videos are "Want to Know Still More About U.S. Crime?" https://youtu.be/cFK9Bmcr_9w and "Want to Know More about U.S. Crime and Prisons?" https://youtu.be/87fLsRId3Is . Brakke brings to this discussion of crime and the divisions in American society an extensive background in researching the subject as the publisher of American Leadership Books and the author of seven books. Six of them deal with what to do about crime in America and one deals with understanding and healing the great national divides in America. Other past books include: The Costly U.S. Prison System, The Price of Justice in America, and Fixing the U.S. Criminal Justice System. Since these first books were designed especially for law enforcement professionals, government officials, and academics, Brakke is now adapting these books for a general audience and will be bringing out his next books -- Fractured America and Prisons in America -- in the next few months. Copies of Crime in America for review are available to the general public at no charge at www.crimeinamericathebook.com. For media copies of the book, along with additional information on American Leadership Books and Paul Brakke and to set up interviews, please contact: Jana Collins Jones & O'Malley Toluca Lake, California jana@jonesomalley.com (818) 762-8353 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The recent election has revealed the deep divisions in American society, and repeatedly liberal news commentators and pundits have pointed this out. They have talked about the women's vote leading to more women getting elected to office, Latino voters being influenced by the immigration conflict, older voters being especially concerned about health care, rural voters being Trump's primary supporters, and so on. And the statistics show how different racial, ethnic, and age groups commit different kinds of crimes and experience different results at all phases of the criminal justice system -- from rates for arrest to conviction to sentencing to getting released on probation or parole. In general, poor and minority group members fare much more poorly, though much could be done to reduce the extra costs in how the system processes these individuals. Also, much could be done to help produce more productive citizens less likely to return to crime. But conservatives and liberals are wide apart on how to resolve these problems. What can be done about it? In his latest book, Crime in America, criminal justice expert Paul Brakke examines these divisions in society and their effects on crime. In his book, he provides an overview of what's wrong and suggests some solutions for healing these divisions. The book is written from a conservative perspective in describing some fixes to make the system more efficient and cost effective, as well as reduce crime, recidivism, and the divisions in society. Brakke additionally provides a number of community based recommendations to help individuals become more productive citizens, preserve family unity, and create stronger communities, despite divisions between groups based on race, ethnicity, income, culture, and other factors. This way, by living in closer more cohesive communities and having more job opportunities, individuals have less incentive to return to crime and end up back in prison. Now that Crime in America is available for preorder, Brakke is offering books for free to anyone who wants to review and comment on the book. He is also providing copies to government officials who might turn some of these suggestions for healing divisions and fixing the criminal justice system into legislation. Members of the media are additionally invited to request copies of the book. To help draw attention to these suggested fixes in the book, Brakke has launched a daily video and social media campaign. The first 10 videos are featured on his American Leadership Books' YouTube channel. Among the most recent videos are "Paradoxes in Politics" https://youtu.be/kPoQ1wnc-yI and "Why Is There So Much Crime? Why So Little Justice?" https://youtu.be/i956JhqYHcs Brakke brings to this discussion of crime and the divisions in American society an extensive background in researching the subject as the publisher of American Leadership Books and the author of seven books. Six of them deal with what to do about crime in America and one deals with understanding and healing the great national divides in America. Other past books include: The Great National Divides, The Price of Justice in America, and Fixing the U.S. Criminal Justice System. Since these first books were designed especially for law enforcement professionals, government officials, and academics, Brakke is now adapting these books for a general audience and will be bringing out his next books -- Fractured America and Prisons in America -- in the next few months. Copies of Crime in America for review are available to the general public at no charge at www.crimeinamericathebook.com. For media copies of the book, along with additional information on American Leadership Books and Paul Brakke and to set up interviews, please contact: Jana Collins Jones & O'Malley Toluca Lake, California jana@jonesomalley.com 818) 762-8353 A plunge in prices fueled by a flood of petroleum had San Antonians lining up at gas stations Monday, creating scenes typically seen during shortages. Oh yeah, look at that, thats awesome, said Connie Acuna, filling up her Toyota Corolla for $16.60 about $10 less than usual. A handful of stations across North San Antonio posted prices below $2 a gallon for regular gas. GasBuddy.com reported that as of Monday evening, the lowest price in the city was $1.93 at a Quick Trip on Bandera in Leon Valley. News of the best gas deals spread quickly Monday, and lines began building throughout the day at membership discount vendors, including the Costco at UTSA Boulevard and Interstate 10 and the Sams Club at Interstate 35 North and Judson Road, which were both selling regular gas for $1.94. Acuna filled up at the Quick Trip earlier in the day, when the price was $1.96 a gallon and cars were lined up three and four deep. She said she always keeps an eye on the gas price a consequence of driving at least 20 miles daily to drop off her girlfriend whos taking classes at San Antonio College. RELATED: Bankruptcy judge OKs Alamo Towers sale When gas is cheap, Im going to buy it, she said. A lane over, Debbie Ortiz was filling up her GMC Yukon SUV. She had seen a Facebook post about the low prices and headed out to take advantage of the deals. I was on empty, so Im already at 20 gallons, 21 gallons today, she said, watching the tally top out at $42.32. I usually spend around $80. The scene was reminiscent of the lines that formed last year after Harvey shut down refineries along Texas Gulf Coast and panicked drivers stockpiling gas depleted the tanks of 91 percent of gas stations in South and West Texas. But this time around the problem is a glut of oil. Gasoline prices are mirroring the more than 20 percent decrease in oil prices since October, said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddys head of petroleum analysis. The drop in oil prices are tied to increased production as well as jitters in the stock market and global economy. RELATED: Whataburger urged by activists to stop using Styrofoam cups, containers OPEC had pumped up oil production ahead of U.S. sanctions in Iran, but then the Trump administration issued waivers to countries that buy oil from Iran. That move effectively kept spigots open, DeHaan said. So suddenly you have a case that theres plenty of oil on the market, instead of potentially lost oil production from Iran. Crude oil prices have plunged more than 25 percent from a peak of about $76 a barrel to below $56 Wednesday, a slide that included a record 12-session losing streak. Oil closed Monday at $57.20 a barrel, up 52 cents for the day. Texas is one of eight states to this week see gas prices below $2 per gallon at some spots, DeHaan said. In addition to the global turmoil, Texas drivers are benefiting from being a low tax state and home to both the oil wells and refineries, DeHaan said According to gas price tracker GasBuddy, their daily survey of 886 stations showed fuel prices in the Alamo City have fallen 6.4 cents per gallon this week, averaging $2.22 per gallon Saturday. The national average was down 5.6 cents per gallon for the week, for an average price of $2.62. For the month, average prices are down 32.2 cents in San Antonio and 24.1 cents nationally. Still, gas prices are higher than theyve been for recent Thanksgiving travel weeks, averaging $2.18 per gallon in San Antonio in 2017, $1.88 in 2016 and $1.90 in 2015. But theyre dramatically lower than in 2014, when prices at the pump averaged $2.66 per gallon and 2013, when prices were almost a dollar higher at $2.93. While prices will likely tick lower through the Thanksgiving weekend, that could change after OPEC meets again on Dec. 6, DeHaan said. For now, motorists may be able to save significantly by downloading a gas comparison app or otherwise keeping an eye out for the best prices, he said. The big drop that happened in such condensed timing has opened up dramatic variety among gas stations, DeHaan said. Some are passing along the drop quickly; some are dragging their feet. He said those taking to the road to celebrate Thanksgiving in distant states may have the most to gain. According to AAA, more than 3.6 million Texans will travel more than 50 miles away by car this week, a 4.7 increase compared with 2017. Crossing state lines may mean finding prices that are lower by 50 cents or more per gallon, a savings of about $6 when filling up a midsized sedan, $10 for a minivan or $24 for a super thirsty Ford F-350. Which is why San Antonian John McKinley filled up two vehicles Monday, first the Chevrolet Trax SUV he plans to take to spend Thanksgiving in Louisiana and then his smaller Kia Soul. I got it on half right now so its probably going to take $12, he said of the Soul. Maybe less than that considering prices are real low now lbrezosky@express-news.net Global warming is posing such wide-ranging risks to humanity, involving so many types of phenomena, that by the end of this century some parts of the world could face as many as six climate-related crises at the same time, researchers say. This chilling prospect is described in a paper published Monday in Nature Climate Change, a respected academic journal, that shows the effects of climate change across a broad spectrum of problems, including heat waves, wildfires, sea level rise, hurricanes, flooding, drought and shortages of clean water. Such problems are already coming in combination, said the lead author, Camilo Mora of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He noted that Florida had recently experienced extreme drought, record high temperatures and wildfires and also Hurricane Michael, the powerful Category 4 storm that slammed into the Panhandle last month. Similarly, California is suffering through the worst wildfires the state has ever seen, as well as drought, extreme heat waves and degraded air quality that threatens the health of residents. Things will get worse, the authors wrote. The paper projects future trends and suggests that, by 2100, unless humanity takes forceful action to curb the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change, some tropical coastal areas of the planet, like the Atlantic coast of South and Central America, could be hit by as many as six crises at a time. That prospect is like a terror movie that is real, Mora said. The authors include a list of caveats about the research: Since it is a review of papers, it will reflect some of the potential biases of science in this area, which include the possibility that scientists might focus on negative effects more than positive ones; there is also a margin of uncertainty involved in discerning the imprint of climate change from natural variability. New York can expect to be hit by four climate crises at a time by 2100 if carbon emissions continue at their current pace, the study says, but if emissions are cut significantly that number could be reduced to one. The troubled regions of the coastal tropics could see their number of concurrent hazards reduced from six to three. The paper explores the ways that climate change intensifies hazards and describes the interconnected nature of such crises. Greenhouse gas emissions, by warming the atmosphere, can enhance drought in places that are normally dry, ripening conditions for wildfires and heat waves, the researchers say. In wetter areas, a warmer atmosphere retains more moisture and strengthens downpours, while higher sea levels increase storm surge and warmer ocean waters can contribute to the overall destructiveness of storms. In a scientific world marked by specialization and siloed research, this multidisciplinary effort by 23 authors reviewed more than 3,000 papers on various effects of climate change. The authors determined 467 ways in which those changes in climate affect human physical and mental health, food security, water availability, infrastructure and other facets of life on Earth. The paper concludes that traditional research into one element of climate change and its effects can miss the bigger picture of interrelation and risk. Climate change also has different ramifications for the worlds haves and have-nots, the authors found: The largest losses of human life during extreme climatic events occurred in developing nations, whereas developed nations commonly face a high economic burden of damages and requirements for adaptation. People are not generally attuned to dealing with problems like climate change, Mora said. We as humans dont feel the pain of people who are far away or far into the future, he said. We normally care about people who are close to us or that are impacting us, or things that will happen tomorrow. And so, he said, people tend to look at events far in the future and tell themselves, We can deal with these things later, we have more pressing problems now. But, he added, this research documented how bad this already is. The paper includes an interactive map of the various hazards under different emissions scenarios for any location in the world, produced by Esri, which develops geographic information systems. We see that climate change is literally redrawing the lines on the map, and revealing the threats that our world faces at every level, said Dawn Wright, the companys chief scientist. Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Pennsylvania State University who was not involved in the paper, said it underscored the urgency for action to curb the effects of climate change and showed that the costs of inaction greatly outweigh the costs of taking action. Mann published a recent paper suggesting that climate change effects on the jet stream are contributing to a range of extreme summer weather events, such as heat waves in North America, Europe and Asia, wildfires in California and flooding in Japan. The new study, he said, dovetails with that research, and is, if anything, overly conservative that is, it may underestimate the threats and costs associated with human-caused climate change. A co-author of the new paper, Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, hailed its interdisciplinary approach. Theres more than one kind of risk out there, he said, but scientists tend to focus on their area of research. Nations, societies in general, have to deal with multiple hazards and its important to put the whole picture together. Like military leaders developing the capability to fight wars on more than one front, governments have to be ready to face more than one climate crisis at a time, Emanuel said. Mora said he had considered writing a book or a movie that would reflect the frightening results of the research. His working title, which describes how dire the situation is for humanity, is unprintable here. His alternate title, he said, is We Told You So. This article originally appeared in The New York Times It's been two weeks since Election Day, and while the matchups that captured national intrigue are officially over, a handful of outstanding races remain to be called. First, a quick primer on what has been resolved: Democrats in the most high-profile, too-close-to-call races effectively all admitted defeat over the weekend. In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams did not officially concede but acknowledged that her GOP opponent, Brian Kemp, would win the gubernatorial election, though she refused to say his win was legitimate after widespread accusations of voter suppression. In Florida, Andrew Gillum, who conceded on election night and then retracted it when the closeness of the gubernatorial race triggered a machine recount, didn't get near close enough to overcoming Republican Ron DeSantis's lead. And the Senate contest in Florida, which had the best, although still unlikely, chance of flipping, narrowed only slightly after a manual recount and so, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson admitted defeat to GOP Gov. Rick Scott. The tight races that were called in the days after Nov. 6 were all breaking for Democrats until Monday, when Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones conceded to GOP Rep. Will Hurd in the 23rd District of Texas, a race that was decided by just under 700 votes. Until this week, Jones was so committed to contesting the results that she even attended last week's orientation for new members in Washington. There remain five races where there is not yet an official winner. In each of them, the Republican incumbent is defending the seat. Senate in Mississippi There's only one Senate race yet to be decided, and that's in Mississippi, where none of the candidates secured 50 percent of the vote, so the highest vote-getters, Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Mike Espy, will face each other in a runoff election on Nov. 27. Hyde-Smith, who was appointed to replace Sen. Thad Cochran last spring, will likely emerge victorious next week in a deep-red state that President Trump won by nearly 18 points. Hyde-Smith bested Espy by only one point, but would have won easily had she not lost 16 percent of the votes to conservative Chris McDaniel, who ran as a third-party candidate. But Republicans aren't taking anything for granted. The runoff may be closer than they are comfortable with, considering they already face a slim majority in the Senate. Democrats are hoping for a large turnout of black voters - Espy is black, as is more than one-third of the state's population. Potential Democratic presidential contenders Sen. Kamala Harris, Calif. and Sen. Cory Booker, N.J., went down this week to campaign for him. And Trump is planning to hold a rally for Hyde-Smith next week. The star power descending on the state suggests Republicans are not confident and Democrats see an opening. Utah's 4th District Rep. Mia Love, the only Republican African-American woman in the House, seemed to be headed for defeat but recently pulled ahead of Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams by several hundred votes, giving her a fighting chance. But late Monday night, McAdams was up by more than 700 votes and declared himself the victor, saying there weren't enough provisional ballots to be counted for Love to overcome him, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Love was considered among the most vulnerable Republicans this year and like many in her situation tried to separate herself from Trump. After Election Day, when it was believed that Love had lost, Trump named her among the Republican incumbents who lost because they distanced themselves from him. "Mia Love gave me no love and she lost," Trump said. "Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia." New York's 22nd District Democrat Anthony Brindisi has declared victory over GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney. There are still absentee ballots to be counted, but Tenney would need to win most of them to overcome Brindisi's lead. Unlike many vulnerable Republicans who distanced themselves from the president, Tenney embraced Trump, who even came to the district in October to raise money for her. Though Trump lost New York handily in 2016, he won the district by double digits. New York's 27th District GOP Rep. Chris Collins is holding on to his lead over Nate McMurray, but absentee ballots are still being counted. Collins was indicted in August on insider-trading charges, but that did not deter voters. Though McMurray is a long shot, he still came to Washington last week for freshman orientation. Georgia's 7th District As of late last week, GOP Rep. Rob Woodall had won reelection by less than 500 votes over Democrat Carolyn Bourdeauz, but because the margin of victory is less than 1 percent, Bourdeauz has asked for a recount. It's unlikely to change the results, but it still means this race is not quite over. After mostly avoiding getting dragged into the partisan fights between President Donald Trump and his opponents, the U.S. military faced an uncomfortable reality this month: There's no easy escape from Washington's battles. Thousands of troops were moved to the U.S.-Mexico border just before the midterm election as Trump warned of a looming "invasion," even as his critics cautioned that the decision was a campaign ploy. And just as it was reported on Monday that some of those soldiers may be ordered back from the border in the coming days ahead of most migrants' arrival there, Trump escalated a separate spat that may further infuriate advocates of a politically independent military. Over the weekend, the commander in chief took aim at retired Adm. William H. McRaven - one of the military's most revered Navy SEAL and Special Operations commanders who oversaw the killing of Osama bin Laden and the capture of Saddam Hussein. Deriding him as an "Obama backer," Trump told Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday: "Wouldn't it have been nice if we got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner than that, wouldn't it have been nice?" Undeterred by the criticism that ensued after his verbal attack, Trump doubled down in several tweets on Monday in which he lashed out at Pakistan, where bin Laden hid for years. "Of course we should have captured Osama bin Laden long before we did," Trump wrote. Bin Laden was killed in a U.S. military operation in 2011, a couple of years before another man was getting ready to claim his role as the world's most feared terror group leader: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, self-declared caliph of the so-called Islamic State. Baghdadi's death has been reported multiple times since the Islamic State's territorial retreat sped up in 2016, but audio recordings suggest that he's likely still alive. Amid Trump's attacks on his predecessors and U.S. military leaders over bin Laden, there's one question Trump has so far not publicly asked since assuming office: where's Baghdadi, and why hasn't he been captured yet? Some of the most recent intelligence by U.S.-allied partners in the region suggests that any answer would involve the painstaking and years-long work that's almost always needed to track down top militant commanders like bin Laden or Baghdadi. A senior commander with Iraq's elite U.S.-trained Counter Terrorism Service, the nation's most effective fighting group against The Islamic State, said in an interview with The Washington Post last week that Baghdadi is likely suffering from physical injuries sustained over the last four years and is limited in his movements. The commander said Iraq's latest intelligence indicates the militant leader is moving between the sparsely populated desert regions that straddle Syria and Iraq's borders in areas that are yet to be secured by Iraqi or Syrian forces. Despite losing the territory it controlled in Iraq by December 2017, Islamic State still maintains pockets of influence along the lengthy border with Syria and in villages inside Iraq's Sunni heartland. The group has recently mounted low level terrorist attacks in places it has long been evicted from like Mosul, Ramadi and Tikrit. Both bin Laden and Baghdadi have succeeded at erasing most of their traces. While bin Laden was involved in the day-to-day operations of his al-Qaeda group before the 9/11 attacks, the subsequent U.S. focus on capturing or killing him led to him becoming a more subdued and symbolic figure. Keeping a low profile, bin Laden worked on a broad strategy for the group. Baghdadi has kept an even lower profile, with only one public appearance even before a U.S.-led coalition intervened in Syria and Iraq. The intervention - which has mostly consisted of airstrikes and some U.S. ground forces operations inside Syria and Iraq - was launched under then President Barack Obama and continued by Trump, who publicly pondered withdrawing ground troops but has so far not followed through at the urging of top military commanders. Celebrated as a military success in the United States, human rights organizations have cautioned that the U.S.-led operation "took a horrendous toll on civilians," in formerly Islamic State-controlled cities like Raqqa. While it helped local forces to win back about 95 percent of territory previously held by the Islamic States, some of the group's top leaders still remain at large. With the Islamic State turning into a more guerilla-style terror group, tracking them down might not become easier, as American and allied Syrian and Iraqi forces have been slow to transition from combat to the more intensive intelligence operations needed to target the clandestine Islamic State remnants. The last time the Islamic State claimed to have released an audio message by Baghdadi was in August, to mark the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday and to urge the group's sympathizers to keep up the fight. The Islamic State leader had been silent for almost a year before the 54-minute August address. "The scale of victory or defeat . . . is not tied to a city or village," he said in August. Amid U.S. and U.N. estimates that up to 30,000 Islamic State supporters may still be in Iraq and Syria, his message may also apply to U.S. efforts to locate the city, village or remote stretch of land where Baghdadi himself may be hiding. Gina Ortiz Jones has conceded her bid to unseat incumbent Republican Will Hurd in Congress, marking the end of a closely-watched race that likely will be decided by less than 1,000 votes. While we came up short this time, we ran a race of which we can be proud, Jones, a Democrat, said Monday. I remain committed to serving my community and country, and I wish Will Hurd the courage to fight for TX-23 in the way in which our district deserves. Hurds victory secures his third term representing Congressional District 23, which sprawls from San Antonio to El Paso County and is one of the most consistently competitive seats in Texas. "I want to thank my opponent and her supporters for engaging in the democratic process. To thrive, our democracy needs a vigorous competition of ideas, and whether you voted for me or not, I will need your help, Hurd said Monday. RELATED: Julian Castro says O'Rourke's future no factor in 2020 bid To the residents of TX-23, thank you for giving me something that hasn't happened in over a decade, the privilege of representing you for a third term. I will continue fighting for you every day in Congress." The congressman is no stranger to close calls he won his previous two elections by 1.3 and 2.1 percentage points but this win was his narrowest. More than 200,000 people voted in the election, and Hurd leads by roughly half of a percentage point. Counties have until Tuesday to submit their official results, and the governor has until Dec. 6 to certify the election. Jones, 37, was running her first campaign and hoping to return the seat to Democratic hands. She is a former Air Force intelligence analyst who served in Iraq and also worked in the Obama administration. The Democrat consistently challenged the idea that Hurd was a moderate. Jones criticized his votes for President Donald Trumps tax cuts and repealing the Affordable Care Act, though Hurd was one of the few GOP defectors to vote against the bill that ultimately repealed part of the health care program. RELATED: Two Texas Republicans join 17 newly elected military veterans heading for Capitol Hill The race between two former spies Hurd was an undercover CIA officer became a political roller coaster when the result flipped twice in the early-morning hours after election night. Hurd appeared ready to coast to a relatively comfortable victory, and The Associated Press called the race for him around 11 p.m. But around 2:30 a.m., results on the secretary of states website showed Ortiz Jones pulling off a come-from-behind upset by less than 300 votes. Officials later said that was due to a reporting error in Medina County. The correction gave the lead back to Hurd one he wouldnt relinquish again. Jones vowed after that to ensure all outstanding votes were counted, hoping absentee and provisional ballots would lift her back into the lead. Her campaign doggedly pursued that effort, leading to clashes with state and local election officials, one of which was resolved in a Bexar County courtroom. Theyre beating me up, Bexar Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said at the time. Jones camp had been trying to force Callanen to release a list of provisional voters, but the official said that list was not yet public record an assertion validated by a state district judge. In the end, there werent enough outstanding ballots for Jones to catch up. Over the weekend, the Hurd campaign said their lead remained around 900 votes with just six ballots uncounted. Jones is well within the margin to request a recount, but she evidently declined to do so. Many of the counties in the district use electronic voting machines that dont produce a paper record of each vote. The Democrat was able to cut into Hurds margins in Bexar County, which he carried by around 14,000 votes in 2016 and 9,000 votes in 2014. This year, he won the districts portion of Bexar by less than 5,000. But the Republican was able to rack up lopsided victories in the smaller, more rural counties. The district includes 29 counties, but 24 of them produce less than 10,000 votes. Hurd won those counties by about 4,000 votes. Dylan McGuinness covers local politics and the Bexar County government for the Express-News. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | dylan.mcguinness@express-news.net | Twitter: @DylMcGuinness In a church full of beaming, curious children, 5-year-old Luke Cyr stood out. Adults noticed his polished shoes, his shirt tucked into his pants, his hair neatly combed into place. He would run down the aisle before, during the service, at any time, and just hug me around the knees, said the Rev. Patrick Gahan, senior pastor at Christ Episcopal Church. The sheer happiness of his hugs could propel you into the next week. Just hours after Gahan last saw Luke, he and his grandmother, Joanne Cyr, 67, were killed by a fire in their Alamo Heights home at around 10:30 p.m. Sunday. They had celebrated the boys birthday at church; on Tuesday he was going to be 6. A tragedy beyond tragedies, Gahan said. Alamo Heights Fire Chief Buddy Kuhn said he would not disclose the cause of the fire until a report is complete, but said it was not deliberately set, nor could it be blamed on the heating system, electrical wiring or anything in the kitchen. What I can confirm is that the home had no smoke alarms, said Kuhn, visibly frustrated as he stood outside the s small 1950s-era Craftsman-style home Monday morning. His department has a fire station just two blocks away, on Broadway. Its so unfortunate, he said. We have smoke alarm programs. We install them for free. Every house should have them. The nonprofit National Fire Protection Association, which develops fire safety codes for local governments, reports that about five million homes in the United States do not have smoke alarms and that residents are roughly twice as likely to die in a house fire if none is present. Neighbors said Joanne Cyr worked at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Others close to the family said the grandmother and child likely both died in their sleep because she would put Luke to bed by 7:30 p.m. and went to bed early herself so she could leave for work at 7 a.m. every morning. Kuhn would not say where the two were found by firefighters. He said the rear interior of the all-wood house was consumed by smoke, and chemically-treated furniture, drapes and rugs were fully burned. We tried to resuscitate them right here on the front lawn. We really worked them hard, Kuhn said. But they were pronounced dead at BAMC (Brooke Army Medical Center). The outside of the olive green-and-white home hardly looked damaged at all, except for blackened vents beneath the roof. Pumpkins sat on the front steps beside neatly-trimmed shrubs and a small barbecue cooker. On a street marked by home security systems and well-kept lawns, saddened neighbors stopped each other on their dog walks to chat about the tragic fire that woke them Sunday night. We were watching a movie on TV, said the Cyrs next-door neighbor, Aimee Escamilla, when my husband smelled smoke and ran over to Joannes house to bang on her front door. They called 911. Fire trucks seemed to arrive almost immediately, she said. Escamilla remembered Luke as the kid who played in his front lawn with a glow-in-the-dark plastic saber, and Joanne, who had lived there more than 20 years, as a diligent grandmother pressed into service as Lukes guardian due to his parents divorce. I remember Lukes smile, said Escamillas son, Jackson, a student at Alamo Heights High School. Its not often an older kid notices a younger kid, but he was always laughing. Another neighbor, Lynne Williams, gripping a tissue in one hand at her kitchen table, said she met Joanne Cyr about 18 years ago and got her involved at Bible study at Christ Episcopal. Joanne was a great cook and would sometimes bring pot roast to Williams and her husband, Ron Williams. Joanne came from a military family, said Lynne Williams. Her dad is 94 and fought in three wars. Her siblings were military, shes divorced from a military man, and she was raised in Germany and all over the U.S., like most military children. Cyr, a petite and disciplined woman, was the acting parent of Luke since about his first birthday and was completely devoted to his education, recalled Williams. She had enrolled Luke in the nearby Kumon Math and Reading Center and the Howard Early Childhood Center in the Alamo Heights Independent School District. At the church, Gahan said congregants with upcoming birthdays had joined in a circle Sunday to celebrate, and that Luke, a charmingly rambunctious child soon to turn 6, enjoyed holding the hands of his much-older friends. In a church where everyone is loved, Luke was especially loved, Gahan said. I will tell you this about Luke on the day he died. He was about as happy as a human being could be. Bruce Selcraig is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read his stories on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | BSelcraig@express-news.net A well-known San Antonio lawyer is mounting an unusual defense for a man accused of selling stolen oil. Donald Flanary III is trying to clear his clients name by challenging the legality of President Donald Trumps appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general. He is among the first attorneys in the nation if not the first to use a constitutional line of attack against prosecutions by the Department of Justice. He asserts that because Whitaker has never been confirmed by the U.S. Senate, as the Constitution requires, he is unlawfully in office and so federal prosecutors have no jurisdiction to proceed against his client. Trump fired Jeff Sessions as attorney general on Nov. 7 and immediately named Whitaker, who was Sessions chief of staff, as acting attorney general. READ ALSO: Guilty pleas in Eagle Ford Shale stolen oil case His selection was controversial from the start, and the legal basis for it is likely to end up at the U.S. Supreme Court. Whitaker could limit or even end Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russias role in the 2016 U.S. election. On Nov. 12, Flanary filed a motion asking U.S. District Judge David Ezra to dismiss the federal governments case against his client, Luis Valencia, one of five Texas oilfield workers accused of selling nearly $2 million of oil stolen from companies in the Eagle Ford Shale. Over the next few days, several lawyers in Washington D.C. and elsewhere filed similar motions, calling into question Whitakers appointment and the authority of the Justice Department to act in other legal matters including a challenge to the federal health care law. Three Senate Democrats also sued Monday, arguing that Rod Rosenstein, deputy attorney general, should have the interim job until Trump nominates, and the Senate confirms, a permanent successor. I saw a problem Flanary is known representing clients in for high-profile cases, and this one has taken that turn. It certainly is unusual, Flanary said Monday about his filing. Its unusual whats transpiring in Washington that has put everything in motion. He said Whitakers appointment caught his attention immediately. The second I saw it, I saw the problem, Flanary said. It became apparent to me and countless scholars, politicians, senators and law professors that the appointment ... was not constitutional. He said he cant speak in detail about the other lawsuits, but he said he wouldnt be surprised if more criminal defense lawyers representing clients in federal cases follow suit. READ ALSO: Marshals seize Ferrari, Mercedes, jewelry at Alfaro's Shavano Park home This has never happened in our history before, Flanary said. What we have here at the core is a fundamental abuse of the separations of powers. The president is trying to appoint someone he has no authority to be in that position and prohibiting the Senate from their authority. In a 20-page opinion, the Justice Department last week backed Trumps decision to appoint Whitaker. Flanarys motion seeks to have the criminal charges against Valencia dismissed permanently. Valencia is the one of two defendants seeking a trial. He is out on bond and under house arrest. Three co-defendants have agreed to plead guilty. Prosecutors, responding to Flanarys motion Monday, wrote that they get their authority from the United States attorney in San Antonio, who is confirmed by the Senate, rather than the attorney general. In addition to Valencias case, Flanary filed similar motions on behalf of in two clients in federal court. Flanary, 43, began his law career in 2003 while working as a law clerk at the Goldstein, Goldstein & Hilley law firm. He received his law degree from St. Marys University the following year. Flanary started his own firm in 2016. He volunteered to defend a young man accused of making a terroristic threat in a Facebook post about shooting up a kindergarten. The case ended in a plea deal. Among his clients were a former Mexican prosecutor accused of wire fraud and a disgraced lawyer who fabricated court documents, forged judges' signatures and stole money from his own firm. Because he jumped on the challenge to Whitakers appointment so quickly, Flanary said Judge Ezras decision may lead the way across the country as the first in a number of rulings. This has never happened in our history before, he said. Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton Texas is sending two new members to Congress who are military veterans, contributing to the largest freshman class of former soldiers on Capitol Hill since 2010. Nationwide, 17 newly elected members of the U.S. House are veterans, assuring that Congress will begin 2019 with at least 78 veterans -- one more than the number currently serving in the House. We have just elected to Congress a record number of new Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, while witnessing the largest influx ever of women veterans, said Seth Lynn, founder of Veterans Campaign, which helps recruit and prepare former soldiers to run for office. The list of veterans includes Houston Republican Dan Crenshaw, a retired Navy SEAL who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Plano Republican Van Taylor, a retired Marine who fought in Iraq. RELATED: Trump critic Hurd keeps Texas US House seat for Republicans They will be among six veterans representing Texas in Congress. The state has 6 veterans in Congress now, but two of them -- Ted Poe, R-Atascocita, and Sam Johnson, R-Plano are retiring. Crenshaw is replacing Poe in the 2nd Congressional District, while Taylor is replacing Johnson in the 3rd District. For most of the last 20 years, the number of military veterans has been on the decline in Congress. Even Texas, which has 15 active-duty military bases and 1.6 million veterans, has seen its number of veteran u.s. representatives decline from 16 in 1971 to 6 today. Nationally, 72 percent of House members were veterans in 1971. Today, just 18 percent are . The decline in veterans has prompted former soldiers to become more aggressive in trying to convince more of their former service colleagues to run for office. Nearly 200 veterans ran for Congress this year. RELATED: Julian Castro says O'Rourke's future no factor in 2020 bid Currently, veteran representation in Congress is at a record low and young veterans often face high barriers to entry due to the rising costs to run for office, said Rye Barcott, a Marine Corp veteran and co-founder of With Honor, a Washington D.C. group that works to get more veterans in Congress. I am encouraged to see this surge of fellow veterans who are answering the call to serve our country again. Several military veterans running for Congress came up short in Texas, including Air Force veteran MJ Hegar and Army veteran Joseph Kopser. The two Democats both came within a few percentage points of pulling off big upsets in central Texas districts. Crenshaw, 34, will be the only Navy SEAL veteran in Congress. Another SEAL, U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor, R-Virginia, lost his re-election bid. Crenshaw nearly died on a battlefield in Afghanistan six years ago after a roadside bomb killed his Afghan interpreter. Crenshaw said that at first he couldnt see at all. He credits his doctors with pulling off a miracle to keep him alive and restore vision in his left eye. Lynn said veterans not only bring first-hand knowledge on military issues, but they have historically been more aggressive in challenging presidents, regardless of party, on national defense issues. According to With Honor, the surge in military veterans can help cut down on partisanship in Washington. That group says veterans are more likely than non-veteran politicians to work with their colleagues across the aisle. Veterans from Texas in Congress include U.S. Reps Brian Babin, R-Woodville; Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land; Louie Gohmert R-Tyler, and Michael Conaway, R-Midland. Gohmert and Conaway served in the Army, Babin in the Air Force, and Olson in the Navy. Crenshaw gained national attention for a recent appearance on NBCs Saturday Night Live. In a previous show, comedian Pete Davidson had made fun of Crenshaw and his eye patch, evoking complaints from both Democrats and Republicans that the gibe was in poor taste. Appearing on a subsequent SNL, Crenshaw accepted Davidsons apology and took playful jabs at the comic. If almost any other member of President Donald Trumps Cabinet had sought to justify his deployment of thousands of troops to the border by talking about the threat of Mexican revolutionaries more than a century ago, it probably would have sailed right past me. Hyperbole, hysteria and convenient invocations of history are the native tongue of this administration, whose members were either fluent in it beforehand or picked it up quickly. But Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who recently evoked that specter, was supposed to speak a better language. He was known to be a saner sort not just the proverbial adult in the room but the conscience amid the corruption and the barricade against disaster. I like to think that millions of American parents instructed their children to expand their bedtime prayers. Watch over Mommy. Protect Daddy. And dont let anything bad happen to Gen. Mattis. Well, something bad happened to Gen. Mattis. On Wednesday he traveled to southernmost Texas to visit those troops. The trip was a good and necessary thing. Trump, for all his lip service to venerating the military, doesnt go out of his way to mingle with or pay tribute to servicemen and servicewomen; somebody has to make them feel appreciated. But that wasnt doable without dabbling in deception, because the propping up of this president requires it. In Mattis case, it required Pancho Villa. Pancho Villa was a Mexican revolutionary who, along with hundreds of armed followers, attacked an American border town, burning houses and killing people, before retreating into Mexico, where President Woodrow Wilson ordered him pursued. I think many of you are aware that President Wilson 100 years ago a little over 100 years ago deployed the U.S. Army to the southwest border, he said. The threat then was Pancho Villas troops, a revolutionary, raiding across the border into the United States New Mexico in 1916. Interesting. Also irrelevant. Theres no Pancho Villa in the caravan of migrants proceeding north through Mexico. Before Election Day, the caravan was a Trojan horse for jihadis. Trump used such overheated imagery in an effort to activate his base. To lend credibility to this scaremongering, he dispatched the troops. Now theyre laying concertina wire when theyre not twiddling their thumbs, and Trump doesnt mention the supposed enemy heading their way. Just like that poof! the caravan ceased to be an emergency. Many journalists have noted that, correctly deeming it proof that the deployment was a baldly, cynically political move. So Mattis told the troops on the border to ignore them. Theres all sorts of stuff in the news, he said. If you read all that stuff, you know, youll go nuts. Yes, because its true. And to hint otherwise is to bolster Trumps dangerous demonization of the media and his branding of reporters as the enemy of the people. Mattis knows better. According to Bob Woodwards book Fear, he sees Trump clearly because he has seen Trump in private situations where his ignorance and recklessness were bare. Mattis compared Trumps comprehension and acuity to those of a fifth- or sixth-grader. And then he felt Trumps lash, which confirmed for him what a petty creature the president is. On 60 Minutes last month, Lesley Stahl asked Trump about Mattis future in the administration, and Trump answered dismissively: I think hes sort of a Democrat, if you want to know the truth. Mattis, who subsequently told reporters he doesnt belong to either political party, has stuck with Trump for what seem to be the best reasons. The president needs competent, even-keeled people around him, and theres no surfeit of A-list takers for even the administrations highest-ranking jobs. But theres a fine line between taming the president and enabling him between tempering the way he governs and implicitly validating it. To stand beside him is to signal assent. And thats what Mattis did during his visit to the troops, who no doubt yearned to hear that their presence made sense but could be told that only if Mattis lied for the president and to all of us. Its not true, as Republican strategist Rick Wilson wrote, that everything Trump touches dies. But everything wilts, at least if its in his employ long enough. Thats why Nikki Haley announced that shed leave her post as ambassador to the United Nations around the two-year mark. Miraculously, she has managed to fill a big hole in her resume without putting a big dent in her reputation, and she knows that the longer she stays, the more she tempts fate. Mattis just proved her right. Electric scooters are a little like Q-Tips. In both cases, the products are marketed with explicit warnings about how not to use them, even though everyone knows thats precisely the way pretty much every customer will use them. For scooter riders in Santa Monica, Calif., it means: Dont you dare ride on the sidewalk, which is against the law, even though it sometimes feels super unsafe to ride next to cars. Or: Wink-wink, always wear a helmet. Also, the beach bike path is verboten, even though it is the smoothest, most fun, most scenic ride possible. And definitely dont just dump your scooter in the middle of a busy path or sidewalk. Aw, shucks, well, we did warn you. Guess its your fault if you land in the ER. I get it. Electric scooters are hard to regulate. Theyre different from other popular modes of transit skateboards, bicycles, motorcycles, cars so theres no template for rules or best practices. And how do we retrofit both our laws and our car-centric infrastructure to accommodate such a promising new(ish) technology? Compounding all this, public officials are also somewhat scarred by their experience in the ride-hailing wars. Not so long ago, companies such as Uber and Lyft appeared and proceeded to ignore existing livery laws some of which were sensible, some of which were stupid to gain market share. In the process of turning themselves into billion-dollar-plus unicorns, the companies mounted aggressive public-relations campaigns. Persnickety politicians who tried to enforce the law were labeled puppets of Big Taxi, or worse Luddites. Faced with this new alien e-species, regulators may fear earning another scarlet L. About a year ago, Santa Monica became the first city to fully grapple with the task of regulating scooters. It shows how difficult it is to get the regs right. Developments here followed an arc that will sound familiar to the scores of other cities that have since been inundated. First came giddy media coverage about these whiz-bang devices. Theyre cheap and fast! Theyre super fun! Second came the furious stories about tangled nests of discarded scooters and, more seriously, injuries to riders and pedestrians. One gentleman, William Kairala, recalls waking up in the emergency room with a fractured skull and possibly permanent brain damage. Theyre very handy. The problem is: You find a scooter, but you dont find a helmet, he said during an interview for a PBS NewsHour segment I did on Santa Monicas experience. And, unfortunately, I fell off of one. I wasnt even going fast. Third, the backlash: scooters thrown into the ocean or off buildings, set on fire, or desecrated by dogs. Brakes and batteries cut. Furious town halls. Lawsuits. Santa Monica initially fought with the scooter companies, even filing a criminal complaint against one, Bird. Ultimately the city launched a pilot program in September with tighter regulations governing when and where the devices could be used, which companies could operate, and so on. But after another PR campaign, Santa Monica appeared to cave on its original criteria for which firms could participate, and when I interviewed city officials more recently, they took on a more conciliatory tone. So, strikingly, did the vendors themselves, perhaps wary of being banned altogether. Ride-hailing companies had an established, motivated customer base people frustrated with their local taxi monopoly willing to fight the regulators on their behalf. Scooter companies dont really have an equivalent. Which perhaps explains why even Lyft emphasizes just how deferential its being in rolling out its scooter business. Our goal here is to do whats right, and whats right in this context is to work closely with the cities, get permits and launch once we have permission, David Fairbank, Lyfts bikes and scooters market manager, told me. Why does its scooter-sharing strategy seem so different from its car-sharing one? I asked. I dont have a ton of context on that but, yeah, were working closely with the governments this time, he said. Meanwhile, the bad habits that riders developed during the Wild West days remain. Helmet use is still virtually nonexistent. (In January, California will actually stop requiring them.) Scooters are still on sidewalks, beach paths and other places officially forbidden for safety reasons. It is great that regulators and firms have turned the temperature down a little this time and are trying to develop a workable, safety-minded set of regulations. But only if those regulations actually get enforced. crampell@washpost.com Its been more than a dozen years since Jennifer Allen first learned that her oldest son, Sam, had Aspergers syndrome, now diagnosed as high-functioning autism. And still she remembers how fast her sadness turned to relief. At last she knew why Sam, who was 10 at the tmie, always isolated himself from the other kids in class. Why he could never finish a sentence without losing his train of thought. Why despite being bright his grades suffered. I knew now maybe Id be able to understand my son a lot better, Allen said. It was a breakthrough. It was also the beginning of a mission to help other families identify and understand Aspergers, with Sam as both guide and inspiration for how to succeed with such a complex and often bewildering neurological condition. READ ALSO: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints president addresses more than 23,000 at the Alamodome Eventually we got the hang of how to deal with my autism, said Sam Allen, now 23 and about to graduate from college with a degree in engineering. But we decided we wanted to give these other parents the opportunity to get the information that they need in order for their child to cope with their autism. We didnt want them to be in the same position we were, when we were in the complete dark about autism. Thats why mother and son founded Aspergers101, a San Antonio nonprofit dedicated to educating and empowering all lives touched by Aspergers and high-functioning autism. Aspergers101.org provides free access to the latest autism research and policies, with numerous articles and resources from leading doctors, educators and other experts. The user-friendly site covers autism across the spectrum and across ages, from prekindergarten through college and infancy through adulthood. Aspergers101 also creates and compiles online videos and school presentations with about a dozen volunteers and staff, including Sams younger brother, Charlie. For the Allens, it doesnt get any closer to home. Jennifer Allen literally runs the nonprofit out of a converted bedroom closet, which the former broadcast marketing executive shares with her husband, Herb, as a compact home office. That small space has led to some big strides in Aspergers and autism advocacy. READ ALSO: Volunteers prepare to feed 25,000 at annual Thanksgiving dinner The Allens have crafted several Aspergers and autism-awareness programs, most notably a self-produced documentary called Coping to Excelling, which was screened in several Texas theaters and aired on WOAI. Their first-person look at raising a child with high-functioning autism includes insights from leading Aspergers and autism experts, such as noted British psychologist Tony Attwood and autism spokeswoman and animal behaviorist Temple Grandin. Then theres Asperger101s Driving with Autism initiative. In 2015, Jennifer and Sam Allen partnered with the Texas Department of Public Safety to improve interaction between law enforcement and a person with communication challenges. The result was the driver license restriction code Communication Impediment with a Peace Officer, which helps protect a person diagnosed with Aspergers and autism, as well as deafness or other conditions that may impede communication, from potential misunderstandings with an officer if pulled over. Cynthia Hamilton, development director for the Autism Treatment Center in San Antonio, said there are never enough autism services, especially social and employment programs for those with higher-functioning autism. Adults with high-functioning autism can make up large numbers of the homeless and unemployed. Aspergers101 helps cover that gap. Just another reason to support them, Hamilton said. Aspergers now falls under the umbrella term of autism, or autism spectrum disorder. As Aspergers101 notes on its website, the term Aspergers syndrome was dropped from the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual in March 2013, though those diagnosed prior to that still identify as having Aspergers. READ ALSO: Use your head, not just heart, when giving to charity The National Institute of Mental Health and Aspergers101 define Aspergers as a developmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and communication, along with repetitive behaviors and/or resistance to change in daily routines. Symptoms typically start in early childhood and can cause a person to require help with daily life. Jennifer Allen said the treatment for Aspergers or high-functioning autism for children 6 and older include cognitive behavior or talk therapy to manage emotions and repetitive behaviors, social skills training, and physical or speech therapies. Medications may also be used to treat related problems with anxiety or depression. Through his years as an Aspergers spokesman, Sam has learned to cope with his remaining symptoms, such as the antisocial tendencies and inability to deliver a straight sentence. Temple Grandin herself taught him how to deliver a firm but friendly handshake, and hes spoken with relative ease at the Texas State Capitol and for other Aspergers101 presentations. Over the years, I feel like Ive gained a better self-understanding of my autism, he said. Sam and he and his mom hope to continue bringing such insight. Aspergers101 welcomes donations and manpower to maintain its website, as well as outreach for more families, employers and law enforcement officials with autism workshops and conferences. Because as Jennifer Allen said, discovering a child has high-functioning autism is not a death sentence. Its just the beginning of a challenging but rewarding journey. Im telling you that your child has a chance to be very independent, she said. Theres a brilliant mind in there. The expression pay it forward conjures heartwarming pictures of picking up the tab for the next guy in line at the coffeeshop. For 5-year-old Jaxon Davis, paying it forward meant gathering up gifts and toys for kids in cancer treatment even when he was one of those kids himself. Brain cancer took Jaxons life in November 2012, but his spirit of giving continues through the Jaxons FROG Foundation his parents set up to continue his spirit of giving by providing toys, stuffed animals, CDs, meals, gas money, hospital playrooms and more to children going through cancer treatment and their families. Jaxons mother, Lenzie Davis, talks with the calm compassion of a friend helping other friends through a tough time. But she and her family are no stranger to the painful realities of childhood cancer. Jaxons illness began when he was 3, suffering seizures that led to a brain scan and a cancer diagnosis. Surgeons removed a malignant tumor and the family moved to Houston for seven months while Jaxon underwent advanced radiation treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, followed by treatments at Texas Childrens Hospital that by turn destroyed and rebuilt his bone marrow and left his immune system in flux. Then the cancer returned. How to help Lenzie Davis of the Jaxon's FROG Foundation identified the following as the group's greatest needs: Gift cards: "Walmart and H-E-B are the most requested gift cards to support families with a variety of needs. Fuel gift cards help our families get to appointments, and Uber gift cards allow even patients with no transportation to be there for chemo. Restaurant gift cards are also helpful, as families are eating on the go, split between the hospital and home." Mail gift cards to Jaxon's FROG Foundation, P.O. Box 160104, San Antonio TX 78280. Cash: Donations can be made by mail or at jaxonsfrogfoundation.com. Stuffed animals, toys and crafts: "The children we serve have weak immune systems and thus we are only able to accept new items," Davis said. New items can be sent by mail to the address above or through an Amazon wish list that ships items directly to the foundation for hospital delivery at this shortened Amazon link: a.co/jbXiX0o See More Collapse Through it all even as his cancer and the uncompromising treatments left him unable to walk and eventually unable to see Jaxons thoughts turned ever outward. Things really started when we were in Houston at the proton center for radiation, Davis said, referring to the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center. He would call it froton with an f. Thats just how he said it. He was a little guy, so hed say, I want to get the froton kids this, or I want to get the froton kids that. Jaxon and his family started putting together welcoming gifts for incoming families: blankets, cuddly stuffed animals called Pillow Pets, crafts and more. Shortly after Jaxons death, his family started the nonprofit Jaxons FROG Foundation, named not for Jaxons favorite animal (thats the zebra), but for the familys determination to live out its central acronym: Fully Rely on God. The foundations work extends beyond the humanity of hugs and stuffed animals. The group has given more than $80,000 to fund trials directed at treating pediatric brain cancer, Davis said. The reality is that the funding for these pediatric trials comes from families that were impacted and are now out trying to raise funds, she said. Theyre out shaving their heads, theyre out selling lemonade. Its hard. The reality is that its not impacting a lot of us anymore. Our kids are gone. But youre trying to step in for the next family. Six years after Jaxons death what his parents call his heavenversary you could forgive the Davis family had they chosen to step back rather than step in. They have three young children and careers to look after, and the foundations a volunteer job. Lenzie Davis sells commercial property and casualty insurance, and Cory Davis is a chemical engineer searching for a new job. But all it takes is a look at the Jaxons FROG Foundation Facebook page to know they havent slowed down a bit. In the last few months alone, Lenzie Davis dressed as a zebra for Halloween to trick or treat with the kids at Methodist Childrens Hospital; the foundation hosted a fall festival for families in treatment; they fielded a team for a charity 5K run; and Cory Davis accepted a Valero Energy grant for the foundations Escape to Fun program. The foundations also sponsored a playroom at University Hospital, a teen room and an inpatient playroom at Methodist Childrens Hospital and a temporary playroom for the bone marrow transplant wing at Childrens Hospital of San Antonio. All of this, starting with a sweet kid named Jaxon who wanted something nice for the other kids at the froton center. Let that be a challenge to each of us, Lenzie Davis said. That if someone so young can leave such a legacy, what footprint or impression are the rest of us leaving? Mike Sutter is a food and drink reporter and restaurant critic in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read more of his stories on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking | Instagram: @fedmanwalking Turn off the television, put down the phone and get outdoors for a unique adventure. Thats the message of Come into the Outside, a San Antonio environmental nonprofit aiming to get area residents from elementary age to adults alike exposed to outdoor activities that will change the way they spend their weekends and free time. San Antonio and the surrounding area has so many beautiful parks and trails, and they often go unused because people arent aware of whats out there or have a way to get there, said Stephanie Regets, who founded the group in 2014 and continues to serve as its president. For many of the attendees who take part in a Come into the Outside activity, it can be the first time they ever sat next to a campfire, hiked a wooded trail, hooked a fish or walked on the beach. All of the equipment needed for any activity, from tents to cooking skillets, is provided by the organization at no cost. I tell people that all they need is a pair of sneakers and a day pack that can store some water and bug spray, Regets said. We have the means to take care of the rest. How to help Come into the Outside has a 2019 goal to obtain enough funding to acquire a van for more convenient group transport to and from outings. The organization also has a scholarship program and actively encourage donations of camping supplies, tools and other outdoor-related gear. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 6793, San Antonio, TX 78209. For more information, to donate or volunteer in any capacity, interested parties should call the office at 210-951-0301 or email admin@comeintotheoutside.org. Facebook: ComeintotheOutside. Online: comeintotheoutside.org See More Collapse Experienced hikers and outdoor enthusiasts are also encouraged to take part in events. The group relies on a network of volunteers that have outdoor-related skill sets. The program follows the principles of the Leave No Trace for Outdoor Ethics organization, with the goal to leave everything as it was originally found in nature or improved upon with the pickup of litter. That means that whatever is brought into the outdoor experience is packed out, and steps are taken to not disturb native plants or wildlife. Come into the Outside events, which are open to the public, are usually scheduled quarterly during the months when school is in session, and once per month during the summer. Upcoming events are posted on the group Facebook page, although none are scheduled at this time. Regets said theres usually one major summer trip, where the group will travel to Colorado or New Mexico. Regionally, popular outdoor destinations that the group will visit outside San Antonio include Enchanted Rock, South Llano River State Park, McKinley Falls State Park, Guadalupe River State Park and trips to the coast at the Padre Island National Seashore near Corpus Christi. Inside Bexar County, the group schedules outings to Hardberger Park, Eisenhower Park, Comanche Lookout Park, Mission Trail and Walker Ranch Historic Landmark Park. San Antonio has done a great job providing and upgrading the facilities that are out there, Regets said. People will go out to Eisenhower Park for the first time and just be in awe of what they are seeing. Come into the Outside also has the means to book and arrange corporate team building events. Chuck Blount is a food writer and columnist covering all things grilled and smoked in the San Antonio area. Find his Chuck's Food Shack columns on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com, or read his other coverage on our free site, mySA.com. | cblount@express-news.net | Twitter: @chuck_blount | Instagram: @bbqdiver STAMFORD Low wages, poor benefits, excessive work and an overall lack of respect are some of the reasons Sheraton Stamford Hotel employees say they want to unionize. Employees held a protest Monday at the Main Street hotel, demonstrating their desire to join Local 217 of Unite Here, a union representing about 3,000 hotel and food-service workers in Connecticut. If successful, the Sheraton would join Hilton Stamford as the only two hotels in the city to unionize. In January, Hilton Stamford workers voted overwhelmingly to unionize, but their contract has not been voted on by hotel management. On Monday, Sheraton workers handed over union cards signed by 80 percent of the roughly 120 workers at the hotel, according to union leadership. Pierre Belizaire, who has worked in the Sheraton banquet department for 13 years, said his job changed radically eight years ago. When he started at the hotel, he said banquet workers, including waiters, all shared gratuity. But he said that practice has been eliminated. Belizaire said he used to make more than $800 after tax every week, but his paycheck is now between $200 and $400 a week. On Monday, one of his demands to management was to return the eight years of gratuity to the workers. They dont respect us, he said. Rodolfo Oyarvide, a waiter at the hotel, said he is in charge of serving people at seven tables for one event. By comparison, he works three tables at the unionized Hyatt Regency in Greenwich. He also must wash dishes, a job handled by a different department at the Hyatt. Thats a lot of work, he said. Quincy McNellie works at the hotel front desk and said his job duties have grown since he was hired, and now include serving customers drinks from the Starbucks inside the building. He also has to drive customers to and from locations. It takes me away from the front desk, where I need to deal with a million guests, he said. We got people from management standing right there watching this happen and not even assisting in helping us. On Monday, while addressing front office manager David Montaque, McNellie said he wants to focus on front desk duties. We dont want to do multiple jobs, he said. No barista at Starbucks, no van driving we just want to do front desk work. Multiple workers and elected officials spoke directly to Montaque, unloading a litany of complaints. Thomas Carlos, general manager of the Sheraton, was not at the hotel during the protest, but said he was shocked when he heard so many employees are unhappy with the work environment. We provide a lot of love and care for our team members, he said. I feel like its one of the best hotel working environments in the entire market. Nina Sherwood, a member of the Stamford Board of Representatives, was among the elected officials who joined workers at the protest. She voiced concerns about the Sheraton hiring Cruz & Associates, a union-avoidance company that seeks to dissuade workers from unionizing. Cruz & Associates was used by President Donald Trumps company to block organized labor at his hotels, including at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, where workers voted for a union after learning they earned $3 an hour less than their counterparts at other hotels. Im concerned about you hiring Cruz and Associates, Sherwood said. The issue is that having one-on-one meetings with employees is intimidating. Even though it may be legal, what you are doing, in my opinion, its unethical. Officials shared stories of workers being approached by Cruz employees inside hotel rooms in an apparent effort to scare them from organized labor. The city of Stamford will not tolerate any kind of harassment, intimidation, threatening that goes against these peoples right to vote for the unionization process, said Jonathan Jacobson, another member of the Stamford Board of Representatives. Sheraton workers voted against forming a union 15 years ago. The hotel has become a popular location for the Stamford Democratic City Committee to host election night watch parties. Sherwood wondered why members of the committee, as well as Mayor David Martin, did not attend Mondays rally. This is the Democratic Party and this is the Northeast, this is New England. Where are the stewards of the labor movement? I think its problematic that theyre not here, she said. Martin did not respond to a request for comment. Josh Fedeli, chairman of the Stamford Democratic City Committee, said the Sheraton union issue has not been discussed in meetings and the committee has not voted on a position. With this being brought up, it may change the approach based on the outcome, he said, referring to the committees relationship with the hotel going forward. The committees next meeting is Nov. 28. Four more worker rallies are planned at the Sheraton in the next two weeks. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) Im sure youve heard many stories about the struggles of being LGBTQ+ in the Philippines. It goes without saying that being different in our country comes with a lot of difficulties. I cannot speak in behalf of the entire transman community. I can only do so much as share my personal experiences, actual accounts of some of my brothers experiences, and my opinions. I was 19 when I realized I was trans. On the same year, I asked my family and friends to transition with me by calling me by my preferred name (Julian/Tolits) and gender pronouns (him/his/he). I was fortunate enough to have been in the University of the Philippines where progressive ideas are welcomed and embraced. I was also fortunate to gain a wider understanding of the community by being a member of UP Babaylan, the premier student LGBT organization in the country. The access we had to each others life stories (coming out, family life, confessions, etc.) paved the way to my own story of how I came out and built my relationships. Eventually, I earned my parents support, and began hormone replacement therapy at age 20. Medical transition was also made less difficult thanks to the support group Pioneer Filipino Transgender Men (formerly known as Pinoy FTM), which has always given premium to educating each other on the technicalities and the real-life experiences of those who braved the transition before us. Transgender men in the Philippines, like many members of the LGBTQ+ community, experience a lot of pain growing up. Sometimes, we have to remember that our parents too, were confused, and didnt know any better. For me, the real pain begins when you start speaking up with a sound mind and a brave heart and be rejected by the only people youve known to love so far in life. I have trans brothers who, because of this rejection, had to grow up on their own too early in life. Some of my brothers had to face the world alone at an early age after being pushed out of the house that was supposed to be home. Some brothers had to stay in the house and tolerate their family praying over them until they were old enough or brave enough to find a home somewhere else. These are only some of the more painful examples of how a transman's journey begins. And when your initiation starts that way, it is as though everything else that follows may seem like easier hills to climb. But of course, we can only really prepare so much for how life really is as a transgender male in the Philippines. There were things I was prepared for, and things that I did not expect. The beginning of a transmans social transition (including but not necessarily medical transition) is always the biggest hill to overcome. I remember the days when I avoided peeing in public bathrooms at all costs. Before I head out to start my day, I always made sure to empty the tank at home. I kept a visual memory of all the areas I frequented and which places within those areas had single occupancy bathrooms. Sometimes, when I didnt have a choice but to use a public bathroom, I would ask one of my male friends to come pee with me and made sure he waited for me in the bathroom until I finished. On my first year of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as part of my medical transition (again, this is a choice, not a requirement), all the changes happening in my body were very exciting. My voice was getting lower, hair everywhere was growing thicker, etc. The privileges that came with these changes strengthened the feminist in me. Because my body was helping others see me as male, I noticed that suddenly, people started to listen to what I had to say. This was especially true when people dont know that Im trans. Im glad that my ideas were being heard but I kid you not, some of these were the same ideas I had when I was perceived as female. My attitude towards a task was now suddenly inspiring when it used to be dismissed as mayabang and bossy. My attention to detail was now suddenly admirable when they used to be dismissed as maarte. All of a sudden, I was valid and powerful. Im not saying that I dont enjoy being empowered (because who wouldnt want to be?) but this was very disturbing, especially when dealing with older men. Being suddenly privy to locker room talk was even more disturbing. One of the most memorable ones was when some of my titos suddenly told me about how much simpler their boys team got over losing a big game as compared to girls teams having to have long meetings with tears and all. They bragged about how theyd simply have to drink and share sex workers on a trip out of town. I admittedly gave it a nervous laugh and said nothing to call them out on it. I was confused because I felt that they shared this information as a gesture of outspokenly recognizing me as a man since they knew me in my younger days. I was torn because I was happy to be welcomed yet appalled by this world of real men. I was ashamed of not speaking up, but I was more afraid theyd think that I was still a girl after all because I didnt go with the flow. That was the day I decided to grow into my own man, often consciously rebelling against using the words bro, pare, etc. because I did not want the toxicity of masculinity to consume me and reel me into something I do not want to be part of. But of course, I slip sometimes. I catch myself feeling so out of place when I see photos of me standing beside cisgender men, or sometimes women who are taller than me. I catch myself lowering my voice when Im talking to a group of guys. I catch myself worrying if my female partner might not want to be with me because we cannot produce biological children. I catch myself feeling like I will never be a man because all the pieces of paper that identify who and what I am say differently. And every time that happens, I feel as if I have to compensate by going with the flow. And that sucks because when I dont compensate, I sometimes fall into the trap of self-pity and hate. So in a way, I did some of those things to survive. I do cringe at myself and my trans brothers when we sometimes work too hard to adhere to these rules and roles to help each other feel valid, safe, and tough. We know that we need to push each other to be well because we know its probable that in our lifetime, we will always have to explain what we are and why at job interviews, ID renewals, immigration counters, and nervously hope that we are not in trouble. *** On the surface, its easy being a man in the Philippines until you have to explain why your documents say otherwise. Its very difficult in the beginning when youre experiencing all these changes, all these new interactions, and adding new things in your routine. Everyday, we gear up for the emotions we have to combat, shifting in and out of spaces where we sometimes blend in and sometimes stand out. It gets better in time with the help of family who do not only protect us, but also encourage us to be happy. Eventually, things become manageable. Some days we dont notice that we are different anymore when we go for days without an incident that reminds us otherwise. Some might argue that we have it easier because being a man in this country comes with privileges ten-fold from when we werent perceived as one. But at the end of the day, we are hindered from being truly free to be ourselves by the acts of physical and social violence that begin with denying us the slightest bit of legal protection from discrimination. The SOGIE-Equality Bill (formerly the Anti-Discrimination Bill) has been forcefully stuck for more than two decades by leaders in government who have nothing better to do but make sure we stay where we are. If that first step will take forever to be made, how much longer will it take until we can fully push for our recognition? Contributed Photo / Department of Justice / Contributed Photo BRIDGEPORT A city man was charged with drug offenses Monday after an indictment was returned in federal court, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday. Rocky Twin Samas, 47, of Bridgeport, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base crack and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. BRIDGEPORT A New Haven man accused of raping and robbing a woman as she walked home from the Fairfield train station was found mentally incompetent to stand trial. Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin, following a hearing Friday morning, ordered Michael Fontaine committed to the Whiting Forensic Division of the Connecticut Valley Hospital for 90 days after a psychiatric social worker testified that Fontaine cannot assist in his own defense. Blanche Grinowsky, a psychiatric social worker, also testified that Fontaine suffers from the delusion that he inherited a large amount of money. Fontaine sat looking down at the desk in front of him during the brief hearing. The judge continued the case to Feb. 13 when it will be determined if Fontaine can be restored to competency. Fontaine, 48, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree robbery, third-degree assault and second-degree larceny. Fairfield police said on Dec. 17, 2016, the victim had taken the train to New York City where she had gone with friends to the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall. When she got back to the Fairfield Train Station about 10 p.m., police said, she decided to take the short walk to her home, not far from the Police Department. Fontaine was apparently waiting in the shadows, police said. Neighbors reported hearing a woman screaming and called police. The woman, her clothes pulled off, managed to get to a house, police said. Officers began to track shoe prints in freshly fallen snow along with a blood trail left by the suspect as a result of the struggle with the victim, police said. The trail led to Fontaine, who was hiding in bushes on Old Post Road with items he had allegedly stolen from the woman, police said. HARTFORD Outgoing State Treasurer Denise Nappier said last week that the state should use Connecticut Lottery revenues and other state assets to ensure its contribution to the Teachers Retirement Fund. Theres no other solution, she said. I can assure you that there is no investment portfolio composition that would generate investment returns that would allow us to earn our way out of this unfunded liability, Nappier told the state Pension Stability Commission. She said that if Connecticut issued lottery-backed revenue bonds sufficient to generate cash proceeds of approximately $1.5 billion for deposit into the Teachers Retirement Fund, and it transferred an additional $1.5 billion of state assets that can then be developed and appreciate in value then it would start heading in the right direction. The proposal I offer today is designed to put the Teachers Retirement Fund back on firm fiscal footing, and represents a concrete, tangible plan that would strengthen the long-term sustainability of the TRF while providing relief to the State and avoiding a potential spike, Nappier said. The annual contribution to the Teachers Retirement System is about $1.3 billion, but it could top $3.25 billion to $6.2 billion by 2032, depending on different experts, because of years of underfunding. Connecticut didnt start setting aside money to pay for teachers retirements until around 1982. The pension fund, according to the last valuation, has enough assets to cover 57.7 percent of its long-term obligations. Another complication is that in 2008 Connecticut borrowed $2 billion to shore up the fund. The bond is expected to be paid off by 2033. When that borrowing was approved, Connecticut pledged in a bond covenant to contribute the annual payment to the fund for 25 years. Only in extreme circumstances would Connecticut be allowed to skip the payment. Contributing the Connecticut Lottery and other state assets would slowly lower the annual amount the state is required to contribute and free up a similar amount of money in the state budget, according to Nappier. Then it could move toward a more realistic long-term investment return assumption of 7.5 percent. Its currently 8 percent. That would give the state enough breathing room to pay off the pension obligation bonds it took out in 2008 early, finishing them off by fiscal year 2026, which would remove the restrictions of the covenant and allow the board to further reduce the investment returns from 7.5 percent to 7 percent and modify the amortization schedule for the unfunded portion of the liabilities. Under Nappiers plan, Connecticut will be required to contribute $1.42 billion to the Teachers Retirement Fund in 2020. That number will escalate to $2 billion by 2025. If the state takes Nappiers advice, then the payment in 2020 will be about $1.42 billion, and it would only be about $1.78 billion in 2025. Over the next five years the proposal saves the state about $440 million. The funded ratio of the Teachers Retirement Fund is 57.7 percent. Under Nappiers plan it goes to 68 percent, and thats if the rate of return stays at 8 percent. However, Nappier warned that contributing more than the $3 billion to the fund would result in negative cash flow. The Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth had recommended transferring all the assets of the Connecticut Lottery, or $5 billion, to the Teachers Retirement Fund. Deputy Treasurer Larry Wilson said that while transferring $5 billion in lottery assets to the Teachers Retirement may seem like a better option because it would free up more general fund revenue it would actually reduce the cash flow to the fund. The states contribution would go down so less money would be flowing into the Teachers Retirement Fund, Wilson said. The Teachers Retirement Board learned last week that the states contribution to the fund this year is $63 million less than what it expected when the state adopted its budget in May. Thats partly because the fund averaged a 10.76 percent return over the past two years. The average return in the prior two years was under 2 percent. Nappier said she doesnt like to comment on those returns because they are smoothed over a longer period of time. The Connecticut Lottery currently contributes about $350 million a year to the general fund and Nappiers proposal calls for using about one-quarter of those funds to cover the debt service on the Teachers Retirement Fund. Gov.-elect Ned Lamont has said hes open to using the Connecticut Lottery to shore up the Teachers Retirement Fund. What I can promise you is I want to put the state Lottery into the teachers pension fund, Lamont told the retired teachers in late October. He said the lottery revenue will help shore up the pension fund, which is underfunded by about $13 billion. This story has been modified from its original version. See the original at ctnewsjunkie.com. KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation produces and sells a range of containerboards, corrugated products, and specialty paper products in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Paper and Packaging, and Distribution. The Paper and Packaging segment offers containerboards consisting of linerboard and corrugated medium to manufacture corrugated containers for packaging products; and corrugated products. It also offers specialty paper products, including kraft paper, such as multiwall paper used to produce bags for agricultural products, pet food, baking products, cement and chemicals; specialty products comprising shingle wraps, end caps, roll wraps, and dunnage bags; and lightweight paper. In addition, this segment provides saturating kraft paper under the Durasorb trade name for use in construction, electronics manufacturing, and furniture manufacturing industries; and unbleached folding carton board under the Kraftpak trade name to integrated and independent converters in the folding carton industry. The Distribution segment distributes corrugated and other specialty packaging products consisting of stretch films, void fills, carton sealing tapes, and other specialty tapes. KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. 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. Tahoe Resources Inc., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, explores for, develops, and operates mineral properties in the Americas. It explores for silver, gold, lead, zinc, and copper deposits, as well as precious metals assets. The company holds interest in the La Arena gold mine located in the Huamachuco district of northern Peru; Shahuindo mine located in the province of Cajabamba in northern Peru; and La Arena II, a copper-gold porphyry deposit located in Peru. It also holds interest in the Timmins mines, including the Bell Creek and Timmins West mines, the Fenn-Gib project, the Juby project, the Vogel project, and the Gold River project located in Timmins, Ontario. The company was formerly known as CKM Resources Inc. and changed its name to Tahoe Resources Inc. in January 2010. Tahoe Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Read More PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Micro Business, Retail Business, Corporate Business, and Subsidiary Business. The Micro Business segment offers banking products and services to individual and micro entrepreneurs. The Retail Business segment provides consumer and commercial banking products and services to small and medium-sized enterprises. The Corporate Business segment caters large corporations and institutions with international banking services, treasury services, and capital market support services. The Subsidiary Business segment includes conventional banking, financing services, remittance services, life insurance, general insurance, venture capital, and securities. The company was founded by Aria Wiriatmaja on December 16, 1895 and is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. Read More Agilent Technologies, Inc. engages in the provision of application focused solutions for life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets; Diagnostics and Genomics; and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers application-focused solutions that include instruments and software that enable to identify, quantify, and analyze the physical and biological properties of substances and products, as well as the clinical and life sciences research areas to interrogate samples at the molecular and cellular level. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment consists of activity providing active pharmaceutical ingredients for oligo-based therapeutics, as well as solutions that include reagents, instruments, software and consumables. The Agilent CrossLab segment includes startup, operational, training and compliance support, software as a service, and asset management and consultative services. The company was founded in May 1999 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA. Read More 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 1 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Premier Oil in the last twelve months. There are currently 1 hold rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "hold" Premier Oil stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in PMO, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View analyst ratings for Premier Oil or view top-rated stocks. by CD Hill | Cavaliers Correspondent | Tue, Nov 20th 3:56am EST In Monday's 121-94 loss to Indiana, Ricky Rubio scored 28 points (10-for-13 from the field, 5-for-6 from beyond the arc and 3-for-4 from the charity stripe), dished out six assists, grabbed four boards, had three steals, blocked one shot and turned the ball over four times in 28 minutes. by CD Hill | Thunder Correspondent | Tue, Nov 20th 4:16am EST In a 121-94 loss to Indiana on Monday, Derrick Favors sported five points (shot 2-for-6 from the field, 0-for-1 from three-point range and 1-for-2 from the charity stripe), grabbed six boards, blocked two shots, dished out one assist and turned the ball over one time in 27 minutes on the floor. The Canton Audubon Society is offering a $1,000 scholarship, named the Arnold W. Fritz Memorial Scholarship, to be awarded annually to college students majoring in any environmental science program. Eligibility A student must be a junior, senior or graduate student in college at the time of the award to be eligible. Potential candidates may be college sophomores at the time of the application. The scholarship is awarded for the year following application. Eligible students must be majoring in any environmental science discipline or in law or business with the intent of pursuing a career in the environmental field. In the latter case, the student must be able to prove an interest in the environment and a commitment to serving in this field. This scholarship is offered to any student residing in or attending school in any county served by Canton Audubon Society or any contiguous county. Thus, the student must live in or attend college in Ashland, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Knox, Mahoning, Medina, Muskingum, Portage, Stark, Summitt, Tuscarawas or Wayne counties in Ohio. Apply The application deadline is March 1. Application forms and guidelines are available at the Canton Audubon Society website, www.cantonaudubon.org, and must be mailed to Canton Audubon Society, P.O. Box 9586, Canton, Ohio, 44711, to arrive by the deadline date. Questions or problems may be directed to the Scholarship Committee Chairman, Laura Dornan, at cantonaudubonsociety@gmail.com. REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio Some 15 people from farm and nonfarm backgrounds testified Nov. 20 during a public hearing at the Ohio Department of Agriculture, where they commented on a set of rules that could potentially be applied to eight northwestern Ohio watersheds, if those watersheds are declared in distress. Most of the people who testified took issue with the proposed changes and their impact on water quality and agriculture. The rule package seeks to amend existing rules that apply to farmers in the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed in western Ohio, with practices the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Kasich administration believe would improve the Lake Erie watersheds. Most notably, the rule seeks to include commercial fertilizer in the states definition of nutrients, and it seeks to restrict fertilizer application in the same way as manure application. The rule package also requires farmers in distressed watersheds to have a nutrient management plan, if applying nutrients to more than 50 acres. Industry concern Jed Bower, president of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association, said it is clear that the Ohio Legislature, in writing laws that define ag pollution, did not intend on including commercial fertilizer in that definition. Bower said the Kasich administration, while acting on its own, exercised poor decision making that resulted in extremely poor government, not deserved by the people of the state of Ohio and most certainly not deserved by our farming community. Many who spoke cautioned against comparing the two land masses. The Grand Lake St. Marys watershed encompasses roughly 50,000 acres near Grand Lake, compared to about 1.5 million acres in the eight watersheds that the governor wants declared distressed. The changes being proposed would also rewrite the rules for the Grand Lake region, where many say the rules are working as intended. Nick Rentz, president of the Lake Improvement Association at Grand Lake, said the distressed rules have been a success story, and he doesnt want to see it compromised. I completely disagree with a statewide mandate on distressed watershed packages thats a silly thing to even propose, said Rentz. To compare 57,000 acres chock-full of animals with 1.8 million (acres) up in the western Lake Erie Basin were talking about two completely different things here. Please dont change whats working. We have a success story on our hands. The proposed rule change also includes an elimination of the date restrictions for winter manure application, and instead inserts specific winter conditions and precipitation events, in which fertilizer and manure are not to be applied. Success story But some landowners and farmers have argued that, indeed, the success of the Grand Lake cleanup should be applied on a broader scale. Jack Albers, a resident of Grand Lake, said the accomplishments there should be viewed as a model for the state of Ohio, and he cautioned against efforts that would deter the hard work and achievements that happened Grand Lake. One of the strongest supporters of the rule proposal is Jim Zehringer, director of the Department of Natural Resources, who has argued on multiple occasions that nutrient management plans work, and that they achieve results. But the new rules, including the requirement that each farmer in the proposed distressed watershed designation have a nutrient management plan will come at a cost. The states own analysis of the rule change shows the need for additional employees to write and enforce the plans in the Lake Erie watersheds would cost millions of dollars for taxpayers and for farmers. Cost factor According to an Ohio Farm Bureau analysis presented at the hearing, the USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service would need 2,100 staff members at a cost of at least $1.8 billion, to accomplish the same efforts they undertook for Grand Lake. The cost for a nutrient management plan can range from $3,000 for a simple plan, with an average cost of $8,100 for a comprehensive plan. In the eight watersheds, about 7,000 farms would be affected. Multiple concerns have been raised throughout the water quality discussion, which came to a head in July, when the governor issued an executive order seeking to declare the watersheds in distress. Along with cost, there are concerns with logistics of implementing the rules, whether theyre practical, whether the rules would result in the intended nutrient loss reduction, and whether the proposed rules exceed the legal authority of the state ag department. Tony Seegers, spokesperson for the Ohio Farm Bureau, said the proposed changes to the rules, especially including nutrients/commercial fertilizer, is outside the statutory authority granted to ODA by the General Assembly. Seegers said the states current definition of agricultural pollution is clear, in that the legislature did not include commercial fertilizer and therefore, any rule going forward would be an unlawful expansion of the departments authority. Former Ag Director David Daniels expressed similar concerns to Kasichs team mostly about the cost and logistics but was fired in October, apparently for taking issue with the governors directive. Two other ODA staff members were asked to resign at the same time. Different perspective Matt Fisher, of the Lake Erie Foundation, said he supports the governors executive order, but has come to the realization it may make more sense to target a couple watersheds at first, versus the entire landmass. Ive been to these meetings since August, and I can just feel that theres not enough people or dollars to implement it in eight watersheds, especially in 2019. Lets narrow down our scope, put more resources on it, make it happen, find some learnings in 2019 that will help us make changes to do the right thing in 2020. The rules are open for written or electronic comment, until 5 p.m. Nov. 20. Public comment can also be made Dec. 10, at the Statehouse, before the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. The Ohio Soil and Water Commission will have final say on whether the watersheds are to be declared in distress, and on the rule proposals being considered. The commission tabled its vote during its last meeting, to allow more time to understand the rules, and has until Feb. 15 to make a decision. A separate group within the Ohio Legislature is scheduled to meet Nov. 26. That group, known as the Toward a Cleaner Lake Erie Working Group, is exploring what the Legislature can do to help improve Lake Erie. Related coverage: A farmer has labelled the perpetrator of a huge deliberate farm fire which destroyed more than 3,000 bales as evil. A major blaze at Stanton House Farm in Derbyshire is thought to have been deliberately started by arsonists. The incident happened on Sunday night, November 18. A spokesman from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said on Monday (November 19) said the service is investigating whether the incident was arson. He said: "A crew is returning to inspect at around 5.30pm tonight. The probable cause is that it is due to deliberate ignition." Owners of the farm, E H Kinston and Son, posted a viral post on Facebook explaining how three thousand bales had been destroyed in an act of evil duty. Facebook users have commented on the post calling for swift police action to take place. One user said: So awful I hope the police catch the people that did this. People really dont realise the effects things like this cause to everyone involved. Another said: Dreadful. Some people are completely careless about the effects of the things they do. The consequences on people who work so hard to look after our countryside and provide our food. The Chief Veterinary Officer of the UK has warned hauliers of the risks of bringing African swine fever into the UK. Christine Middlemiss has written to the Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport Association, the British Retail Consortium and the Federation of Wholesale Distributors. She stresses the need for everyone travelling between the continent and the UK, including all types of hauliers, to take "several precautions to reduce the risk of ASF entering the UK". The letter from the Chief Vet and a poster offering guidance to hauliers are the latest steps in a communication campaign involving Defra, the National Pig Association and others to raise awareness among relevant sectors and the wider public about the current severe risks posed by African swine fever (ASF) The associations have sent the poster explaining why there a heightened risk associated with ASF and what they should and should not do to minimise the risk. Advice to hauliers in the poster includes: PLEASE DO NOT bring pork, wild boar meat or meat products back to the UK from affected areas. USE A SECURE BIN to dispose of waste food avoid dropping meat products. NEVER feed pigs or wild boar with meat or meat products THIS IS ILLEGAL. AVOID CONTACT with wild boar found dead or sick, and the area near them It also provides detailed instructions on how to clean and disinfect vehicles. The advice comes as Belgian authorities plan a cull of wild boar to prevent a further spread of ASF. A total of 114 dead wild boars have been diagnosed with the deadly disease. China has also been suffering its most serious case of African swine fever yet, further damaging the country's cherished $1 trillion pig industry. Farmers have been urged to follow strict procedures when working at heights to avoid severe injuries and even death. Falls from height are the second highest cause of death in agriculture. Every year, at least eight people die across Britain as a result of falling from height, with many others suffering severe injuries. Falls often happen from roofs, lofts, ladders, vehicles, bale stacks, and unsuitable access equipment, such as buckets, and even the most safety conscious farmers can experience the effects of a serious injury. Ian Argo, a Scottish arable farmer at Auchcairnie Farm, Laurencekirk, dislocated his knee cap and severed tendons after he fell when coming out of his tractor the wrong way. Like many farm accidents, it was a routine task that Ian had done many times. For years he had been climbing out of the tractor the wrong way, effectively front facing. However, on 12 September 2013, for a reason unknown to him, he fell. Wrong way Ian found himself lying on the ground after getting out to fill up the tractor with diesel at the end of the working day whilst working for a neighbour. Ian, who farms in partnership with his son Steven, wife Alison and mother Edith, said: I got out of the tractor, effectively the wrong way and the next thing I know I was lying on the ground. Im not sure whether I slipped or tripped, it happened so fast and I can just remember lying on the ground. At the time I was working alone and I tried to get up but couldnt get my left leg to work. There was no blood and I wasnt feeling any pain at that point, but I could see that my knee cap had moved significantly up my leg. I then tried to phone someone, however I soon realised that my phone was in the tractor cab and there was no way I could reach it. Ian added: The diesel tank was around 50 yards from the house, and I could hear voices coming from there, so shouted. Thankfully there was someone nearby that could hear me otherwise I would have been in bigger trouble. Ian suffered serious injuries to his knee cap and tendons. He ended in hospital for around four days, and then had an operation. Overall, he spent just over a week in hospital and following that he had his leg in a brace frame for three months, attending hospital every couple of weeks to have it adjusted. I couldnt drive for a number of months and I had to change my car to an automatic to make it easier, Ian said. I was off work for six months but managed to get back in time for the spring work starting. We had to get someone into help my son Steven with the potato lifting, but thankfully they werent required over the winter months. Id underwent a few months of physiotherapy which has helped in the range of movement I now have in my leg, Ian added. Learning curve The accident has made Ian more aware of coming out of tractors the correct way, and he said that he hopes it has been a learning curve for his son of how accidents can happen so easily. Ian added: I want to highlight the impact an accident like this can have on your family and your business. Were much more conscious of safety all the while on the farm now and its made me slow down and think about every process. This case reinforces that fact that farm workers of any age run the risk of injury or death from falls. Falls constitute one of the most common farm accidents, accounting for 23 fatal accidents in the last five years. Safety measures Farm Safety Partnership Scotland is laying out measures to follow for safe working practices at heights, whether that is on roofs, stacking or loading bales, ladders or when using forklifts, for example. This includes: Avoid roof work or work at height maintaining buildings. Do as much as you can from the ground for example, use extending equipment to clear gutters. Avoid doing the work yourself. Where possible use a professional contractor with the knowledge, skills equipment and experience to safely work at height on buildings. On very rare occasions where roof work or building maintenance at height cannot be avoided make sure the work is planned and carried out by people with the right training and equipment. Dont be tempted to use the wrong equipment. Being lifted on the forks or bucket of a telehandler is illegal. FSPS, which consists of key industry stakeholders, will be focussing on different types of farming activities each quarter to deliver key messages and encourage those working and living on farms to take action. Last year alone there were 33 deaths in the agricultural industry in Great Britain. The most common causes of death and injury in the agricultural industry continues to involve falls, transport, animals and equipment. Five new livestock traits that farmers are directly paid for have been developed to help improve profits by producing more beef animals that meet target specification. The new Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) have been created to help farmers improve profit. This is the first set of EBVs for traits that farmers are directly paid for, so they are considered useful to commercial as well as pedigree farmers. The five new EBVs are; carcase weight, carcase conformation, carcase fat class, slaughter age and average daily carcase gain. AHDB Beef & Lamb, Scotlands Rural College and Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) have created the new traits. Dr Alex Brown, AHDB Beef Breeding Projects Manager, said: Considering a sires carcase figures when selecting calves for rearing is an example of how commercial farmers could use them to purchase better-performing cattle. However, it is important to consider this new data alongside other EBVs when selecting individuals for breeding. For example, animals of high carcase merit should not be chosen to the detriment of health and fertility traits such as calving ease. Dr Brown added: We are seeing high levels of variation within all beef breeds for the new traits, so all breeds have the opportunity to make genetic progress in this area. The EBVs are expressed on two bases, native and continental, so EBVs can be compared between animals of the same breed type, he said. The new EBVs have been calculated by combining data from abattoirs, British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) and breed societies. The abattoir data currently covers 40 per cent of the national kill and more than two million carcase records for both purebred and crossbred animals have been used to develop the EBVs. The new EBVs are freely accessible by searching by eartag or pedigree name via the AHDB National Beef Evaluations. 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. 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has helped farmers of Uttar Pradesh by paying off their loans. The 76-year-old actor paid off loans of 1398 farmers from the state, that amounted to over Rs 4.05 crore. He shared the news in his blog where he wrote, "Gratitude leans across to the desire of removing some of the burdens that farmers continue to suffer from. It was Maharashtra first, when over 350 farmers loans were taken care of. Now its UP and 1398 of them that had out standings of loans on banks has been done with an outlay of 4.05 Crore and the inner peace it generates when the desired is completed." Amitabh Bachchan has also personally arranged for 70 selected farmers to travel to Mumbai and receive their bank letters. Amitabh Bachchan's spokesperson opened up by saying to the Indian Express, "Yes, Mr Bachchan has cleared the loans of 1398 farmers from Uttar Pradesh. He had earlier paid off the loans of Maharashtra's farmers. And now he has done so for the debted farmers of UP. Around 70 farmers have been chosen to personally travel and receive the bank letters directly from Mr Bachchan in Mumbai, clearing their outstanding dues." Earlier this year, Amitabh Bachchan had paid off the loans of 350 farmers from Maharashtra and also helped the Army Martyrs families with the much needed financial support a few months ago. All the families hailed from Mumbai. (Inputs From PTI) Rakhi Sawant: Tanushree Dutta Had Lesbian S*x With Me & She Has Raped Other Women Too, I Have Proof To be held in Bangkok, CMT's 5th Biomass & BioEnergy Asia on 23-24 January 2019 zooms in on biomass power projects in Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, while also exploring the region's growing wood pellets and PKS exports to the high demand North Asian markets. BANGKOK, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As more and more Southeast Asian countries embrace biomass to power projects, the summit is a key platform for regional biomass stakeholders and global companies to network and get updates on the latest developments. Four countries from the region will be under the spotlight: Thailand's Experience for Biomass Power & Prospects presented by Surat Green Group, Federation of Thai Industries; Experience for Biomass Power & Prospects presented by Philippines' Biopower Growth especially in Negros and other areas by AC Energy Development Company; Growth especially in Negros and other areas by Indonesia's Biomass to Power Situation & Prospects by Growth Steel Group and Clean Power Indonesia; Biomass to Power Situation & Prospects by and Malaysia's Biogas-based Power Generation prospects and projects by Concord Group. Southeast Asia, a key exporter of biomass wood pellets to Japan and South Korea, features in Poyry Energy's report - 'Regional Development of In-Country Biomass Power, Corresponding Opportunities & Impact of Biomass Availability for Export'. Global Palm oil company - Sime Darbypresents on 'Sustainability & Traceability Development in the Oil Palm Value Chain' while HanwaThailandwill elaborate on 'Export Potential of Oil Palm related Biomass Products'. Other sessions include: Thailand's Wood Pellets Export Outlook - Tipawat Corporation Wood Pellets Export Outlook - Sustainability Certification and Traceability of Biomass in Thailand - BNS Wood Industry - Biomass Demand of their IPP Biomass Power projects in Japan and Opportunities for SE Asian Supplies - Renova & Equis BioEnergy KK and Opportunities for SE Asian Supplies - Opportunities in South Korean market - Korea Forest Wood Energy Association Palm Kernel Shell in Indonesia : Combustion Quality & Availability for Sustainable Supply - Association of Palm Kernel Shell Entrepreneur of Indonesia : Combustion Quality & Availability for Sustainable Supply - FSC Certification for Sustainable Biomass - FSC Asia Pacific Cellmark is hosting and sponsoring an Evening Cocktail Reception for all summit attendees while also presenting a session on 'Developing Sustainable-Certified Wood Pellet & Traceability for Biomass Products in Southeast Asia'. Organized by Centre for Management Technology (CMT) and supported by Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the summit also includes a visit to Power Prospect Company's 9.9MW Woodchips Biomass Power Plant in Ayutthaya Province. View event website or contact Ms. Hafizah Adam at hafizah@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9218 for more details. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/786642/5th_Biomass_Asia.jpg GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- During its 124th session, the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) has implemented specialized promotional programs for local industrial clusters, helping them demonstrate their competitive products in local cluster exhibition zones. Cities participating in this zone include Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, Meishan, Sichuan Province, and Anxi and Jinjiang, Fujian Province. "The industrial cluster protocol is a win-win scenario for exhibitors and buyers," said Maggie Pu, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office at Canton Fair. "Canton Fair has hosted 105 local industrial cluster promotion conferences and business-matching events for 20 provinces and cities. Local companies and industries have had the opportunity to meet global buyers, while buyers enjoy access to valuable products from a specialized region which may be unknown to competitors but have huge market potential." Regional Textile and Garment Industry Featured 7 textile and garment industrial clusters in Canton Fair's Central Lane formed a concentrated display of local sources for global buyers of yarns, fabric accessories, home textiles and garments. Highlights from this area include: Xintang, a town in Guangzhou with the largest denim manufacturing and export base in China , has comprehensive industrial support and advanced manufacturing capabilities, which was shown to the buyers at the Fair. with the largest denim manufacturing and export base in , has comprehensive industrial support and advanced manufacturing capabilities, which was shown to the buyers at the Fair. Shishi, a city in Fujian and one of the birthplaces and distribution centers for textile and garment products in China , has formed a comprehensive industrial chain covering textile raw materials, spinning and weaving, bleaching and dyeing finishing, garment processing, and auxiliary materials production, as well as R&D and marketing. The city has more than 3,500 textile and garment companies and more than 20,000 owners with annual gross domestic value reaching RMB 56.6 billion . Canton Fair Helps Boost Economic Growth for Less-developed Regions Canton Fair's mission to provide a platform for Chinese products includes a strong social responsibility component. To assist less-developed regions in spreading economic opportunity to their populations, the Fair helped them introduce some of their signature products to global buyers. 668 companies that cover 15 product categories have benefited from free access and service fee reductions, with 179 of them, from 22 trade delegations, joining the Traditional Chinese Specialty section to promote their products, such as food, men's and women's clothing, and medical and healthcare products. Xu Bing, Deputy Director General of the China Foreign Trade Centre, said that the specialized exhibition area has boosted economic development in these areas. "Exhibitors have met customers through the Canton Fair, gaining knowledge and understanding of markets so that they can develop competitive products to further explore target international markets." About Canton Fair The China Import and Export Fair ("Canton Fair"), is held biannually in Guangzhou every spring and fall. Established in 1957, the fair is now a comprehensive exhibition with the longest history, highest level, largest scale and largest number of products as well as the broadest distribution of buyer origins and the highest business turnover in China. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/787391/CANTON_FAIR_promotion.jpg AECI LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration Number 1924/002590/06) Tax reference number: 9000008608 Share code: AFEP ISIN: ZAE000000238 Bond company code AECI ("AECI" or "the Company") DECLARATION OF PREFERENCE SHARE DIVIDEND NO. 161 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, on Tuesday, 20 November 2018, the Directors of AECI declared a gross cash dividend, at the rate of 5,5 per cent per annum (equivalent to 2,75 pence sterling), for the six months ending Friday, 14 December 2018. The dividend is payable on Friday, 14 December 2018 to holders of preference shares recorded in the register of the Company at the close of business on the record date, being Friday, 7 December 2018. The last day to trade "cum" dividend will be Tuesday, 4 December 2018 and shares will commence trading "ex" dividend as from the commencement of business on Wednesday, 5 December 2018. The dividend is declared in pound sterling and payment will be made from the offices of the Transfer Secretaries in South Africa and the United Kingdom on Friday, 14 December 2018. Dividends payable from South Africa will be paid in South African currency at the rate of 50,82743 ZAR cents per share (gross dividend) in accordance with the exchange rate ruling on Monday, 12 November 2018 (1 pound sterling = ZAR18,4827). A South African dividend withholding tax of 20% will be applicable to all shareholders who are not either exempt or entitled to a reduction of the withholding tax rate in terms of a relevant Double Taxation Agreement resulting in a net dividend of 40,66194 cents per share payable to those shareholders who are not eligible for exemption or reduction. Application forms for exemption or reduction may be obtained from the Transfer Secretaries and must be returned to them on or before Tuesday, 4 December 2018. Dividends payable from the United Kingdom office will be subject to such tax deductions as are prescribed by United Kingdom legislation unless a certificate exempting the shareholder concerned from such tax deduction is received before Tuesday, 4 December 2018. The issued share capital of the Company at the declaration date is 121 829 083 listed ordinary shares, 10 117 951 unlisted redeemable convertible B ordinary shares and 3 000 000 listed cumulative preference shares. The dividend has been declared from the income reserves of the Company. Any change of address or dividend instruction must be received on or before Tuesday, 4 December 2018. Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Wednesday, 5 December 2018 to Friday, 7 December 2018, both days inclusive. By order of the Board E N Rapoo Group Company Secretary Woodmead, Sandton 20 November 2018 Transfer Secretaries Computershare Investor Services Proprietary Limited Rosebank Towers, 15 Biermann Avenue, Rosebank, 2196 and Computershare Investor Services PLC P O Box 82 The Pavilions Bridgwater Road Bristol BS99 7NH England Registered office 1st Floor, AECI Place 24 The Woodlands Woodlands Drive Woodmead Sandton Sponsor Rand Merchant Bank (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited) 20 November 2018 TECTONIC GOLD PLC ("Tectonic Gold" or the "Company") R&D Tax Incentive Funding Tectonic Gold plc (TDIM: TTAU), the Intrusive Related Gold System ("IRGS") exploration pioneer, is pleased to announce that Signature Gold Ltd ("Signature"), the Company's 100% owned Australian subsidiary, has received A$590,180.95 under the Australian Federal Government R&D Tax Incentive Scheme in a tax rebate for the year to 30 June 2018. Highlights: Signature is eligible for a 43.5% cash rebate on all qualifying technical expenditure A$590,180.95 received for the tax year to June 2018 Over A$2 million received under the program to date Program remains ongoing and future expenditures expected to qualify for additional cash rebates About the R&D Tax Incentive Program: Signature is conducting an on-going research and development program investigating exploration technologies and methodologies to improve the identification and delineation of Intrusive Related Gold Systems (IRGS). This program is registered under the Australian Federal Government R&D Tax Incentive Scheme, which provides for a 43.5% cash rebate on an annual basis on qualifying expenditures. Signature has successfully qualified for participation in the scheme for each of the last five years and received over A$2 million in rebates for work done on advancing exploration methodologies focused on IRGS. The program being conducted by Tectonic Gold remains active with current efforts focused on work at Specimen Hill. Recent drilling at Specimen Hill is being used for, inter alia, validation of the predictive approach that has been developed by the Company and used to map extensions of the known gold from old workings, under cover and to depth. The Company has utilised a range of new technologies to develop this exploration capability with an aim of significantly improving the economics of gold exploration in the region and beyond. About Tectonic Gold: Tectonic Gold is a specialist gold exploration company, focused on the identification and delineation of large-scale, multimillion-ounce Intrusion Related Gold System assets. Tectonic Gold holds a number of gold discoveries in the Lachlan Fold Belt in Eastern Australia, a prolific gold region that is home to Australia's two largest gold production companies, Newcrest Mining and Evolution Mining. Mr. Brett Boynton, Managing Director - Tectonic Gold plc "The support from the Australian Government and the research institutions that we have been working with over a number of years is a key reason for Australia being one of the world's top gold investment destinations. This significant financial contribution to our work and endorsement of the value of what we are doing by the Australian Government is a key factor in Tectonic Gold being able to attract international investment. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this excellent program and look forward to maximising the benefits we can bring to the industry from the work it has enabled." The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. For further information, please contact: Tectonic Gold plc Brett Boynton Sam Quinn www.tectonicgold.com @tectonic_gold +61 2 9241 7665 NEX Exchange Corporate Adviser and Broker Peterhouse Capital Limited Mark Anwyl +44 20 7469 0930 Financial Adviser and Broker VSA Capital Limited Andrew Raca +44 20 3005 5004 Ends Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. Engle Martin Associates, a leading national independent loss adjusting and claims management provider, announced today that it has elected to join vrs Adjusters, a global organization of loss adjusting companies operating in over 140 countries around the world. The vrs Adjusters organization offers loss adjusting and claims management services to global risk management and insurance markets, with over 300 offices in more than 140 countries. vrs Adjusters' members are independent claims service providers with a long-standing tradition of excellence in their home territories and leaders in their respective claims handling markets. Each of the professional companies have a deep understanding of their local territories and of the finer cultural nuances that make all the difference to achieving a well-resolved claim. Highly experienced loss adjusters and technical staff provide client-focused, local claims services across all lines of the insurance business, managing hundreds of major global corporate programs and thousands of single territory corporate programs around the world. The high proficiency and high quality standards enable greater control of the mitigation process and the ability to minimize the total cost of the loss. For additional information, visit www.vrsadjusters.com. "We welcome our new partner, Engle Martin Associates, one of the most influential companies in our sector in the US," says Tancrede Stagnara, President of vrs Adjusters. "Our organization is present everywhere in the world and we continue to grow, meeting the ever-changing demands of the insurance industry by delivering a comprehensive offer of quality claims services." "The Engle Martin family is very excited to join vrs Adjusters. For us, this partnership is the next logical step forward in enhancing our ability to provide clients with a truly global solution. Our goal is to positively impact the lives of those we touch and it is clear that we are aligned with partner firms that share that commitment," shared Stephen Beene, President of Engle Martin Associates. About Engle Martin Associates Atlanta-based Engle Martin Associates is a leading national independent loss adjusting and claims management provider with 70 offices and 650+ employees throughout the United States. Privately held and owner operated, the firm delivers a comprehensive line of service offerings including commercial property, casualty, inland marine/cargo, heavy equipment and large loss adjusting, as well as TPA/claims management and subrogation services. For more information, visit www.englemartin.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005157/en/ Contacts: John Ketch Engle Martin Associates Senior Vice President jketch@englemartin.com ALBANY, New York, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to study done by Transparency Market Research, the global white biotechnology market is predicted to expand at a steady CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period 2016 - 2024. The market which was valued at US$178.1 bn recently, is foreseen to touch a valuation of US$262.3 bn by the end of the tenure period. Based on type, the market is segregated into biofuel, biochemical, bioproduct, and biomaterial. Of these biofuel domain held a whopping share of 38.16% of the overall market. Demand for biofuel segment is likely to rise in during the assessed period. On the basis of region, the market is dominated by North America owing to significant flow of funds from government for research and development activities. The region held a massive share of 35% of the overall market in recent past. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2317 Agricultural Lands Suffering Reduced Fertility to Deter Market Growth Rising demand for bio crops, has resulted in the extensive usage of pesticides and fertilizers. This is predicted to impair the agricultural lands. Bio crops are expected to increase the yield procured from a land. However, surge in usage of pesticides and fertilizers are eradicating the fertility properties from the agricultural lands. This is expected to have a tremendous negative impact on the production of bio crops, which is the central element required for the development of the white technology market. This problem is anticipated to deter the growth of the global market. However, usage of less productive lands for producing bio fuels is expected to push the market in the forward direction. Request a Sample of Report athttps://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2317 Stringent Emission Norms to Force Players to Uptake White Biotechnology Numerous environment related advantages that are associated with the use of white biotechnology products in various applications has helped the market to develop. Several governmental bodies and private players are spending heavily behind the research and development activities to obtain enhanced and more efficient market products. Several governments have already laid out substantial budget to implement white biotechnology in the industrial sector. Another reason driving the market is the rising production rate for biofuels owing to meet the demand. Bio fuel is a significant products of the white biotechnology. This is likely to reduce the level of dependence on other countries for oil and gas imports. Stringent emission norms are forcing industries to espouse white biotechnology in numerous application areas. Apart from these, rapid advancement in the white biotechnological field is likely to provide extra boosts to the market. Request For Discount On This Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=2317 The global white biotechnology market is expected to grow at a stellar rate during the forecast period owing to rapid development in the healthcare industry all across the world. The global white biotechnology market is highly consolidated in nature owing to few players controlling the overall market. Key five players holding a majority share of 71% of the overall market are BASF SE, Cagill Inc., Archer Daniels Midland Company, DuPoint, and Novozymes. Players in the market are undergoing strategic partnership such as merger and acquisitions to expand their global footprint in various pockets of the world. In the developing countries, barriers for entry of new players is less along with lesser competition thus allowing new players to flourish. This is likely to help the market to grow. Browse Press Release - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/white-biotechnology-market.htm This review is based on a recent market research report published by Transparency Market Research, titled "White Biotechnology Market (Product - Biochemical, Biofuel, Biomaterial, Bioproduct; Application - Food and Feed, Pharmaceuticals, Pulp and Paper, Textile, Energy; Feedstock - Grains and Starch Crops, Agricultural Residues, Food Waste, Forestry Material, and Animal) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024." Browse MoreHealthcare Market Research Reports Popular Research Reports by TMR: Prepacked Chromatography Columns Market: (Product Type - 1-100 ml, 100-1000 ml, and >1L; Technique - Hydrophobic Stationary Phase, Ion Exchange Chromatography, Affinity Chromatography, Multimodal Chromatography, Gel Filtration; Application Type - Sample Preparation, Resin Screening, Protein Purification, Anion and Cation Exchange,and Desalting; End-user - Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Food and Beverage, Agriculture and Environmental, Nutraceutical, Academics and Research, and Analytical Laboratories): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/prepacked-chromatography-columns-market.html Cell Expansion Market (Cell Type - Human Stem Cells, Human Differentiated Cells, and Animal Cells; Product - Instruments, Consumables, and Disposables; End User - Hospitals, CMO & CRO, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies, and Academic & Research Institutes): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cell-expansion-market.html Single-use Bioprocessing Sensors and Probes Market (Products - pH Sensor (Electrochemical, Optical, and Solid- State), Valve (Pneumatic Pinch Valve and Electrically Actuated Pinch Valves), Bench Top Control System (Decentralized Control System and Programmable Logic Controllers), Spectroscopy (Raman Spectroscopy, NIR, and Scattering Spectroscopy), Optochemical DO, Temperature, and Pressure; Application - Biotechnology Industry, Pharmaceutical Industry, and Academic Research): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/single-use-bioprocessing-sensors-probes-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr. Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://theglobalhealthnews.com/ DUBLIN, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Allows Users of the Global Leader in CRM to Enhance Client Onboarding Process Fenergo, a leading provider of Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions for financial institutions today announced the creation of a Fenergo-powered application on Salesforce AppExchange. The app, called Client Lifecycle Management: Front to Middle Office Transformation, will allow those financial firms deploying Salesforce to streamline their client onboarding and lifecycle management processes. The application will allow end-users to configure Salesforce with Fenergo's industry standard set of mandatory and optional fields for regulatory compliance processes, including KYC, CDD and AML. Built on the Salesforce Platform, the Fenergo CLM app is currently available on Salesforce AppExchange at https://sforce.co/2K56DO4. The app will allow financial institutions that deploy Salesforce to: Configure Fenergo instances and map to existing objects in Salesforce Capture mandatory and optional fields for new legal entity creation Trigger Client Onboarding Cases Link to existing entity registers Search for existing Fenergo entities Drill down into status of cases Upload required onboarding documents View existing and add new products Customise data sets Retrieve latest case status Comments on the News Marc Murphy, Fenergo's CEO, stated: "As financial institutions look to digitally transform, the need to create a client ecosystem becomes essential, ensuring every touchpoint on a client journey is seamless, accessible and frictionless. The launch of Fenergo's native Salesforce application connects the CRM and CLM platforms of two leading providers, giving financial institutions a truly Single Client View, Digital Client Orchestration and a sophisticated and dynamic compliance solution, delivering true compliance by design." "We are happy to welcome Fenergo onto AppExchange, as they provide financial institutions with a solution for end-to-end client onboarding and regulatory compliance," said Mike Wolff, SVP, ISV Sales, Salesforce. "The exponential growth of AppExchange underscores the enormous opportunity the entire Salesforce ecosystem has in creating cutting-edge solutions and driving customer success." About Salesforce AppExchange Salesforce AppExchange, the world's leading enterprise cloud marketplace, empowers companies to sell, service, market and engage in entirely new ways. With more than 5,000 solutions, 6 million customer installs and 80,000 peer reviews, it is the most comprehensive source of cloud, mobile, social, IoT, analytics and artificial intelligence technologies for businesses. Additional Resources Like Salesforce on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/salesforce Follow Salesforce on Twitter: https://twitter.com/salesforce Follow Fenergo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fenergo/ Follow Fenergo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fenergo Salesforce, AppExchange and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc. To discover how Fenergo CLM for Salesforce can deliver greater front to middle office connectivity, register here for a webinar and live demo. Fenergo (www.fenergo.com) Fenergo is the digital enabler of client and regulatory technology for financial services. It provides Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) software solutions for Financial Institutions including; Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial & Retail Banking, Asset Management, Private Banking & Wealth Management. Counting 70 global Financial Institutions as clients, its award-winning CLM suite transforms how Financial Institutions manage clients; from initial onboarding to KYC/AML and regulatory compliance, to client data management and ongoing lifecycle KYC reviews and refreshes. Fenergo CLM empowers financial institutions to deliver a faster, more efficient and compliant client experience and achieve a single client view across channels, products, business lines and jurisdictions. Fenergo's community-based approach to product development allows clients to collaborate on solution design on a global scale. Its rules-driven solution ensures compliance with multiple global and local regulatory frameworks including AML, KYC, Tax (CRS, FATCA, 871M), OTC Derivatives (EMIR, Dodd-Frank, MiFID II, Margin Requirements) and data privacy rules (GDPR). It supports the collection, centralization and sharing of client and counterparty data and documentation across the institution and deploys an API-first approach to advanced integration with a host of external KYC, AML and entity data providers, KYC and industry utilities. The solution is underpinned by next generation Artificial Intelligence, Robotics Process Automation and Machine Learning technologies, using advanced OCR and NLP capabilities to extract information, expedite compliance and improve operational efficiencies. NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK COMMODITIES INCOME INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 54930040ALEAVPMMDC31 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Commodities Income Investment Trust plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 77.30p Capital only 78.67p Including current year income Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3. Following the Buyback of 37,897 ordinary shares on 22 October 2018, the Company now has 116,126,515 Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding 2,839,485 Ordinary Shares which are held in Treasury). 4. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK GREATER EUROPE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 5493003R8FJ6I76ZUW55 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 340.63p Capital only (undiluted) 340.63p Capital only (Diluted for treasury shares) 340.88p Including current year income (undiluted) XD 340.88p Including current year income (Diluted for treasury shares) XD Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3. Following the purchase of 50,000 ordinary shares on 12th November 2018, the Company now has 86,409,691 Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding 23,919,247 Ordinary Shares which are held in Treasury). 4. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK WORLD MINING TRUST PLC LNFFPBEUZJBOSR6PW155 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock World Mining Trust plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 394.53p Capital only (undiluted) 405.53p Including current year income (undiluted) Notes: 1. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 2. Following the buyback of 25,000 ordinary shares on 23 October 2018, the Company has 176,330,242 ordinary shares in issue, excluding 16,681,600 which are held in treasury. 3. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). 4. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK THROGMORTON TRUST PLC 5493003B7ETS1JEDPF59 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Throgmorton Trust plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 516.98p Capital only 525.07p Including current year income 516.98p Capital only (adjusted for treasury shares) 525.07p Including current year income (adjusted for treasury shares) Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. The Company's issued share capital comprises 73,130,326 Ordinary Shares and 7,400,000 Treasury Shares. 3. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK EMERGING EUROPE PLC 549300OGTQA24Y3KMI14 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Emerging Europe plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 412.20c per share (US cents) - Capital only 320.49p per share (pence sterling) - Capital only 423.86c per share (US cents) - Including current year income 329.55p per share (pence sterling) - Including current year income Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value. 3. Following the cancellation of 5,000,000 treasury shares on 09 November 2018, the Company's share capital consists of 35,916,028 Ordinary shares carrying one vote each. There are no shares held in treasury. 4. As announced on 19 October 2018, the Company has published proposals which will result in the liquidation of the Company's assets subject to approval at a General Meeting to be held on 15 November 2018. The daily valuation includes an accrual in respect of expected costs associated with the liquidation. This accrual accounts for costs directly attributable to the liquidation. It is expected disposal costs will also be encountered while selling down the portfolio however such costs cannot be reliably estimated until the sale is executed. Consequently disposal costs have not been accrued in the valuation at this point." NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK NORTH AMERICAN INCOME TRUST PLC 549300WWOCXSC241W468 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock North American Income Trust plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 172.74p Capital only 174.56p Including current year income Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3. Following the share issuance of 100,000 ordinary shares on 14 November 2018, the Company has 68,974,044 ordinary shares in issue, including 31,387,261 which are held in treasury. NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC UK9OG5Q0CYUDFGRX4151 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 660.29c per share (US cents) - Capital only 660.48c per share (US cents) - Including current year income 513.38p per share (pence sterling) Capital only 513.52p per share (pence sterling) - Including current year income Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3. Following the Buyback of 20,000 ordinary shares on 24 May 2018, the Company now has 39,259,620 Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding 2,181,662 Ordinary Shares which are held in Treasury). 4. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK INCOME AND GROWTH INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 5493003YBY59H9EJLJ16 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 185.96p Capital only (undiluted) 191.04p Including current year income (undiluted) Notes: 1. Following the buyback of 41,500 ordinary shares on 08 October 2018, the Company has 24,059,668 ordinary shares in issue excluding 8,874,264 shares in treasury. 2. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis, with the exception of the holding in Patisserie Valerie which has been valued at a directors' valuation following its suspension from trading on AIM on 10 Oct. The portfolio's holding in Patisserie Valerie at 19th November 2018 represents 0.16% of the Company's total portfolio following this revaluation 3. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC 549300MS535KC2WH4082 The unaudited net asset values for BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 1381.51p Capital only and including debt at par value 1374.98p Capital only and including debt at fair value 1395.74p Including current year income and debt at par value XD 1389.21p Including current year income and debt at fair value XD Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. The total number of ordinary shares in issue excluding treasury shares is 47,879,792. The total amount of ordinary shares held in treasury is 2,113,731. 3. For the latest daily net asset value, previous month end performance statistics, asset allocation and ten largest holdings of the BlackRock managed Investment Trusts; see BLRKINDEX on Reuters or page 8800 on ICB (Topic 3). NET ASSET VALUE BLACKROCK FRONTIERS INVESTMENT TRUST PLC 5493003K5E043LHLO706 The unaudited net asset values for the ordinary shares of BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc at close of business on 19 November 2018 were: 166.46c Capital only USD (cents) 129.42p Capital only Sterling (pence) 173.62c Including current year income USD (cents) 134.99p Including current year income Sterling (pence) Notes: 1. Investments have been valued on a bid price basis. 2. Revenue items included in net asset value, with dividends payable deducted on the ex-dividend date. 3. Following the share issuance of 500,000 ordinary shares on 12th November 2018, the Company has 203,991,108 ordinary shares in issue. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Team8 , the leading think tank and company-creation platform specializing in cyber resilience and data science, today announced the official launch of Portshift , a cloud-workload protection platform backed with $5.3million in seed funding. Portshift introduces a new IT security paradigm in which developers can deploy applications at efficiency and speed with security built-into the deployment rather than layered on after. The solution offers continuous security from code to run-time. While operating in stealth mode, Portshift is already working with several large organizations across multiple sectors with massive deployment in the cloud in both US and Europe. Portshift is built on the premise that the world of IT has changed dramatically, defined by unprecedented and unmanageable infrastructure complexity that render traditional legacy systems as obsolete. Infrastructure that ran for months before being updated or changed is now replaced with ongoing deployments of new applications and hourly updates of granular compute units. Whereas security signoff was previously required for firewall rules to be configured, and servers to be installed, today developers enjoy the agility to deploy new applications at scale, independent of the traditional security checkpoints. Security teams are left behind with the old network rules and firewalls that cannot keep up with the pace of change. The result is a loss of ownership and lack of control of what is happening in the enterprise networks. "The old world of security based on IPs and ports is not able to keep up with the way IT infrastructure scales today, resulting in a lack of visibility and loss of control of the network and even worse, a complete bypass of security by developers or even worse an attacker. In order to keep up, security has to 'shift left', to be integrated into part of the development, deployment, and operations processes." said Ran Ilany, Portshift CEO & Founder. "Security should be something that operational teams can orchestrate as part of their day-to-day job, rather than a separate step once the application is already deployed," added Zohar Kaufman VP R&D and Founder. "As enterprises strive to realize the true benefits of digital transformation and accelerate their cloud workflows, there must be a shift in mindset around security as an enabler, not an enforcer, said Nadav Zafrir, CEO & Co-Founder of Team8. "Security and operational agility cannot be two different discussions, but rather work hand-in-hand to unleash business growth and ensure organizations thrive." From network IP to application ID, Portshift is unveiling a new way of controlling security for application deployment and communication. With Portshift, security teams can define guardrails for identities, instead of being limited by network constraints. Portshift is born out of Team8's unique company-building model. Portshift is founded by serial entrepreneur and former head of security infrastructure division at Check Point Technologies, Ran Ilany, and Zohar Kaufman who spent 20 years managing software, networking and embedded system development teams and was previously the founder and VP of R&D at CTERA Networks and VP of R&D at SofaWare technologies. Eran Grabiner, who joined the team recently after being the COO of Spotinst, will lead the company's business activity. In 2019, the team plans to double in size and expand its US presence. Portshift is attending AWS Re:Invent, Las Vegas from Nov 26-30 2018 - book your meeting here About Portshift Portshift is an identity-based cloud workload protection platform that secures applications from CI/CD to runtime. Portshift enables organizations to know which applications are running on their cloud environments, to see and enforce how the applications communicate and to easily find information that is associated with their development and deployment cycles enabling DevOps teams to orchestrate security as part of their day-to-day job. Portshift's unique model introduces security that is decoupled from the network and operations that is decoupled from security. Portshift was spun out of think tank and company-builder Team8. Go to portshift.io for more info. About Team8 Team8 is a leading think tank and company creation platform specializing in cyber resilience and data science. Leveraging the expertise of former leaders from Israel's elite military intelligence Unit 8200, Team8 is supported by an in-house team of top researchers, engineers and analysts. Team8 combines its in-depth understanding of the attacker perspective, data science AI to develop disruptive technologies and category-leading companies that enable businesses to reap the benefits of digital transformation in an agile and secure manner. Team8 is backed by some of the world's most renowned businesses including Cisco, Microsoft, AT&T, Walmart, Airbus, Softbank, Accenture, Qualcomm, Moody's, Munich-Re, Dimension Data, Nokia and Scotiabank. For more information, please visit www.team8.vc . Media Contact: Diane Mckaye Silicon Valley Communications Diane@siliconvpr.com +44-7771-926726 ATLIT, Israel, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Salt of the Earth, Ltd., announces new, exclusive distribution agreements for Australia, Poland, South Africa, and Thailand of its clean-label Mediterranean Umami savory flavor enhancement and sodium reduction ingredient. The company is expanding offerings of the plant-based ingredient by partnering with leading food ingredient distributors around the world. These global deals have served to underline the broad functionality of this ingredient and have elicited the company to identify several key factors for marketing Mediterranean Umami in four new countries: In Thailand , Wang Chemicals Co. Ltd. will market Mediterranean Umami as a natural alternative to MSG as well as for salt-reduction. Natural products and clean-label ingredients are on-trend in Thailand . , will market Mediterranean Umami as a natural alternative to MSG as well as for salt-reduction. Natural products and clean-label ingredients are on-trend in . Ingredientbox Pty. , Australia , is focusing on the savory flavor enhancement properties of Mediterranean Umami for a number of food products. , , is focusing on the savory flavor enhancement properties of Mediterranean Umami for a number of food products. Bajar , Poland , cites a growing demand for premium products using only natural ingredients. In addition, many Polish food manufacturers specialize in private label manufacturing for export to Western Europe , and so are required to adhere to WHO and EFSA sodium recommendations. , , cites a growing demand for premium products using only natural ingredients. In addition, many Polish food manufacturers specialize in private label manufacturing for export to , and so are required to adhere to WHO and EFSA sodium recommendations. WCA Life Science (Pty)Ltd. will provide the natural salt-reduction solution to manufacturers meeting compliance with South Africa's mandatory salt reduction policy. The growing acceptance of Mediterranean Umami in the market is supported by the increased consumer demand for healthy and clean label foods. "We are pleased to announce these new commercial partnerships around the world, expanding the reach of Mediterranean Umami," says David Hart, Business Unit Director for Salt of the Earth. "Each of these companies is a leader in its respective market, with extensive experience bringing value-added ingredients to the food industry. We look forward to working closely with them and their customers to help create tastier and healthier foods using Mediterranean Umami." Mediterranean Umami is a distinctive blend of simple, consumer-friendly ingredients based on natural plant extracts combined with sea-salt. It was granted an IFT17 Innovation Award and provides multiple functions as a savory flavor enhancer, a salt-reduction agent, and a sugar reduction ingredient. In addition to existing agreements for the four new countries as well as North America, the UK, and Benelux, Salt of the Earth continues to seek additional distribution partners that would like to introduce Mediterranean Umami to their local markets. About Salt of the Earth With innovation and quality as its driving principles, Salt of the Earth has been producing sustainable sea salt solutions for the global food industry since 1922. Salt of the Earth's customers span more than 20 countries on 5 continents. The company controls and tracks sustainable salt resources and works to promote balanced salt consumption through innovative sodium reduction solutions. SOUTHAMPTON, England, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In a ground-breaking partnership - the first of its kind - luxury cruise line Cunard is proud to announce that the world renowned English National Ballet will join Queen Mary 2 for a unique voyage from Southampton to New York from 11th - 18th August 2019. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/787488/Cunard.jpg ) Guests on the seven night Transatlantic Crossing will have the opportunity to meet the leading dancers from the British ballet company, including Lead Principal Erina Takahashi and First Soloist James Streeter, watch their morning ballet class and drop in on afternoon rehearsals. Guests will also enjoy spectacular performances in the ship's beautiful Royal Court Theatre, including extracts from the enthralling all-time classic Swan Lake, the poignant contemporary work Dust and the stunningly visual Le Corsaire - demonstrating the huge breadth of the company's repertoire. In another first, dance workshops will run daily throughout the week at sea, offering a fantastic opportunity for guests to learn directly from English National Ballet associates. There will also be insight talks, offering a fascinating understanding of the dedication and exhilaration of the dancer's life, along with dance themed films and documentaries. Angus Struthers, VP Marketing, Cunard said: "Dance in all forms is a passion for our guests and this unique partnership with English National Ballet is a great example of how Cunard wants to provide the very best of the arts on board. This voyage is a celebration of dance and what better lead partner than one of the world's most revered dance establishments." He added: "The epitome of luxury, Queen Mary 2 is the flagship of the Cunard fleet and provides the perfect stage for what promises to be a very special experience." Patrick Harrison, Executive Director, English National Ballet said: "English National Ballet is thrilled to be partnering with Cunard on this exciting voyage. Guests will get to experience the joy of ballet including performances and glimpses of behind-the-scenes. We're very much looking forward to sharing our artform with the guests on board Queen Mary 2." For more information on Cunard or voyages: http://www.cunard.co.uk Cunard photography is available online at: https://cunard.assetbank-server.com Log in details: Email: pressoffice@cunard.co.uk, Password: Cunard175 International standard ensures customer and regulatory requirements are consistently met for the lifecycle of medical device products AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 20, 2018, a leading digital authority and consulting company, announces it has achieved the ISO 13485:2016 standard - an internationally recognized standard that defines quality management system requirements for medical device manufacturers as set by the International Organization for Standardization SoftServe implemented and established a quality management system compliant with the requirements of ISO 13485:2016. This activity was verified by third-party audits by Loyd's Register, an accredited certification company. One critical advantage of the certification is it cultivates a preventative approach to assure software medical device quality versus a reactive approach of inspection and rejection during production. "With software as a medical device and software in a medical device continuing to gain momentum, it's imperative that companies adhere to best practices to ensure the very best medical device quality," said Richard Herrington, senior vice president, client success at SoftServe. "The ISO 13485 certification gives our clients the confidence that our solutions use a consistent design, development, production, installation, and delivery process that ensures they meet the highest safety standards for the intended use." About ISO 13485 ISO 13485, Medical devices - Quality management systems - Requirements for regulatory purposes, is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for a quality management system specific to the medical device industry. It was recently revised and a new version was published in March 2016. This version places greater emphasis on risk management and risk-based decision making, as well as changes related to the increased regulatory requirements for organizations in the supply chain. Loyd's Register Lloyd's Register (LR) is the world's leading provider of independent assessment services including certification, validation, verification, and training across a broad spectrum of standards and schemes, with recognition from over 50 accreditation bodies. The company was founded in the UK in 1760 and is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to provide ISO 13485:2016 certification. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / Universal mCloud Corp. (TSX-V: MCLD; OTCQB: MCLDF) ("mCloud" or the "Company"), a leading provider of Artificial Intelligence and Analytics ("AI&A") and IoT-connected asset care technology, is pleased to announce its participation in the 11th annual LD Micro Main Event on Wednesday, December 5 at 5:30 PM PST / 2:30 PM EST. President and CEO of mCloud, Russel McMeekin, will be presenting and meeting with investors. To access a live webcast of this presentation, please visit: http://wsw.com/webcast/ldmicro15/mcld/. A replay will be available 60 days following the presentation. The LD Micro Main Event will take place December 4th, 5th, and 6th, in Los Angeles at the Luxe Sunset Bel Air Hotel, will feature 250 companies, and will be attended by over 1,200 individuals. View Universal mCloud's profile here: http://www.ldmicro.com/profile/MCLD.V Profiles powered by LD Micro - News Compliments of Accesswire About Universal mCloud Corp. Universal mCloud is headquartered in Vancouver, BC with technology and operations centers in San Francisco, CA and Bristol, PA. mCloud is an Artificial Intelligence and Analytics, IoT connected asset care cloud solution company utilizing connected IoT devices, AI, deep energy analytics, secure mobile and 3D technologies that rally all asset stakeholders around an Asset-Circle-of-Care, providing complete real-time and historical data coupled with guidance and advice based on deep analytics and diagnostics resulting in optimal performance and care of critical equipment. It's all about the asset. The powerful and secure AssetCare environment is accessible everywhere, 24/7 through standard mobile devices, ruggedized headsets, and web browsers. For more information, visit www.mCloudCorp.com. About LD Micro LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into several influential events annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event). In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and micro-cap universe. For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information. For further information: Madelin Daviau, NATIONAL | Equicom, T: 416-848-9833, mdaviau@national.ca; Darren Anderson, Chief Financial Officer, Universal mCloud Corp., T: 604-601-2008 SOURCE: Universal-mCloud View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528499/Universal-mCloud-to-Present-at-the-11th-Annual-LD-Micro-Main-Event Prospect Co., Ltd. (the "Company") hereby announces the establishment of a Special Investigation Committee, which consists of third-party experts without interests in the Company, in relation to a tax expense error of a specific overseas project in the previous fiscal years, as announced on November 14, 2018, "Notice on the Delay of Submission of Second Quarter Earnings Report of Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2019 and Designation of Securities Under Supervision (Confirmation)". Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - Revelo Resources Corp. (TSXV: RVL) ("Revelo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has agreed terms (the "Agreement") with Atacama Copper Exploration Limited, a private Canadian company ("Atacama"), in which Revelo will sell a 100% interest in three of Revelo's copper-focused projects at San Valentino, T4 and Las Animas in northern Chile (individually each a "Property", and collectively the "Properties") in exchange for shares in Atacama, a royalty interest over any future production from the Properties, and minor cash. San Valentino is located along the Chilean Miocene porphyry copper belt to the north of Santiago and represents a porphyry copper target displaying widespread geological and geochemical characteristics possibly related to the upper parts of porphyry copper systems. T4 and Las Animas are located to the northeast of Taltal and to the west of Copiapo in northern Chile, respectively, and represent IOCG (iron-oxide-copper-gold) targets located along the Chilean Coastal Cordillera. Terms of the Agreement include: 100% sale and transfer of the Properties from Revelo to Atacama (via Chilean subsidiaries). Atacama to issue 2 million shares, representing 15% of the outstanding shares of Atacama, to Revelo. Revelo will retain a 15% pro-rata interest in Atacama for 24 months from signing definitive documentation, regardless of any further issuances of shares by Atacama in order to raise finance. Revelo will retain a 1.5% NSR royalty interest on precious metals and base metals at T4 and Las Animas, and a 1% NSR royalty interest on precious metals and base metals at San Valentino. Atacama will assume responsibility for an underlying, 3 rd -party royalty interest at San Valentino. Atacama will make a cash payment equivalent to the 2018 property taxes paid on the Properties to date, totalling approximately US$42,000, to Revelo, on signing of definitive documentation. Atacama has agreed to spend a minimum of US$250,000 in exploration activities on each Property, and to drill test any two out of the three Properties within 24 months, and to drill test the third Property within 36 months, of signing definitive documentation. The Agreement is subject to possible regulatory approvals from the TSX and the signing of definitive documentation, which Revelo and Atacama hope to complete by year end. Additionally, Revelo will have a seat on a Technical Committee to help guide exploration activities on the Properties. Tim Beale, CEO and President of Revelo commented, "We are very pleased to have made this Agreement with Atacama. This Agreement, together with the three joint-venture agreements that Revelo currently has active in Chile, supports the Company's business model, and the furtherance of exploration and drill testing of its property portfolio. Atacama's management and technical team has specific experience in the exploration of IOCG and porphyry-style systems, and we are excited to see the exploration programs develop on each of the three targets." ABOUT SAN VALENTINO The San Valentino Property lies along the southern extensions of the principal northern Chile copper belts and covers a hydrothermal alteration system with porphyry copper characteristics. The Property is located close to the Central Chilean Miocene porphyry copper belt, and just 48 km south-southwest of the giant copper mine at Los Pelambres (Antofagasta Minerals & Japanese Consortium. The reader is cautioned that there is no evidence to date that a comparable mineral resource could be found at San Valentino). San Valentino encompasses approximately 1,100 hectares of 100% owned tenement. The Property is prospective for porphyry copper mineralization related to an extensive hydrothermal alteration zone with overall dimensions of approximately 3.5 km long by 1.5 km wide, oriented approximately N-S parallel to the regional strike and major fault structures. The main target at San Valentino is defined by advanced argillic (pyrophyllite-alunite-diaspore-topaz) alteration over an area of approximately 1,600m x 650m, coincident with a significant Mo-Pb-Au-As (including Mo up to 50 ppm) in soil geochemical anomaly, developed above dacitic and dioritic host rocks. Surface outcrops are intensely leached. These characteristics are typical of the advanced argillic / base of lithocap environment above a porphyry copper system at depth. Historic drilling at San Valentino was directed towards auriferous silica ledges at topographically higher elevations, located some 3 Km to the north of the principal porphyry copper target, which itself has never been drill tested. Potential exists for (possibly) immature secondary copper enrichment, but the main exploration target is hypogene porphyry copper mineralisation beneath the geochemically anomalous lithocap. ABOUT T4 AND LAS ANIMAS T4 and Las Animas are situated along the highly productive Coastal Mineral Belt in northern Chile, which hosts numerous important iron, copper and gold mines and projects, including numerous "IOCG" (Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold) type deposits. T4 is located approximately 80 km northeast of the coastal town of Taltal and Las Animas is centred 13 km to the northwest of the Manto Verde IOCG copper mine (Mantos Copper. The reader is cautioned that there is no evidence to date that a comparable mineral resource could be found at Las Animas). The T4 Property totals approximately 1,950 hectares, and Las Animas approximately 3,900 hectares, of 100% owned tenement. The T4 Property consists of a low hill, approximately 1 km across, surrounded by flat 'pampas' made up of post-mineral colluvial and alluvial deposits. Late Jurassic volcanic rocks of the prospective La Negra Formation form the main outcrops on the T4 hill, and these have been extensively hydrothermally altered (silicification, argillic alteration and advanced argillic alteration) with associated characteristic red, earthy hematite. Specular hematite breccias occur within the Jurassic volcanic rocks at the base of the hill to the north, which have yielded highly anomalous values in gold. A significant magnetic anomaly underlies the altered outcrops, suggesting the presence of a large magnetite-rich body at shallow depths. Modelling of the magnetics data suggest a series of steeply dipping surfaces, which could represent the principal drill targets. The Las Animas Property is underlain by a middle to upper Jurassic plutonic suite of diorites, granodiorites and granites together with deep seated volcanics of dioritic composition and volcanoclastics of the La Negra Fm (Middle to Upper Jurassic age). North-south, northwest-southeast and east-west structures are commonly observed, often with IOCG-type mineral occurrences evident along them. A particularly prominent northwest-southeast structural trend extends from the Manto Verde mine area and crosses the Las Animas property. Chlorite-epidote alteration is common across the property, together with sodic alteration in the form of albite. Numerous small copper showings across the property are typically associated with this alteration suite, together with variable amounts of specular hematite ad/or magnetite. Calcite, quartz and siderite are associated with some of the mineralised structures. Historic gold and copper anomalies in stream sediment data, together with limited rock-chip sampling data, suggest potential areas for detailed follow-up. For further details the San Valentino, T4 and Las Animas Properties please refer to the relevant project page on Revelo's website (www.reveloresources.com). Dr. Demetrius Pohl, Ph.D., Certified Professional Geoscientist (CPG), an independent consultant, is the Company's Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosures for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators and has approved the written disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release. ABOUT REVELO Revelo has interests in an outstanding portfolio of projects prospective for copper, gold and silver located along proven mineral belts in one of the world's top mining jurisdictions - Chile. The Company has a combination of wholly-owned projects (available for option, JV or sale), option agreements, royalty interests (non-producing to date), and equity interests in mining and exploration companies. Revelo's total exposure to mineral tenements in northern Chile, either wholly-owned or through royalty interests, is around 200,000 hectares. Revelo is a Canadian company and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: RVL). For more information, please visit Revelo's website at www.reveloresources.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Michael Winn" Michael Winn, Chairman INVESTOR CONTACT Timothy J Beale | President & CEO T: +1 604 687-5544 | info@reveloresources.com | www.reveloresources.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Revelo expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicate" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Revelo believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Figure 1. SIMPLIFIED GEOLOGIC MINERAL BELTS OF NORTHERN CHILE SHOWING REVELO PROJECTS AND LOCATION OF T4 AND LAS ANIMAS PROPERTIES To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3761/41150_5aedf9f4d4487a13_005full.jpg Figure 2. SIMPLIFIED GEOLOGIC MINERAL BELTS OF NORTHERN CHILE SHOWING REVELO PROJECTS AND LOCATION OF SAN VALENTINO PROPERTY To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3761/41150_5aedf9f4d4487a13_004full.jpg The "Europe Medical Robot Market (2018-2023)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The value of the global medical robot market is expected to reach a value of USD 11.36 billion by 2023, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.58% during 2018-2023. The European medical robot market is expected to grow to a value of USD 1.9 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 6.07%. The major factor contributing to the growth of the market in this region is that many governments in the region have various healthcare reimbursement plans for its citizens. There is also a facility of cross-border healthcare in the region which implies that a person who belongs to a country which is part of the European Union (EU), can seek medical help in any of the countries belonging to the EU. The person will get reimbursed by their home country including the cost of prescription and delivery of medicines. This region has advanced Health Technology Assessment plans which measure the value added by a new technology to the sector. The major impact would be from the United Kingdom's (U.K.) Brexit decision. The decision would make it difficult for the country to control diseases due to financial constraints and exclusion from various policies applicable to countries belonging only to the EU. Also, the recent dispute between Italy and the EU, and the trade dispute between the EU and the United States (U.S.) have made the market highly unstable. Key Players Profiled Omnicell Ossur Mazor Robotics Ekso Bionics Accuray Rewalk Robotics Varian Elekta Topics Covered Chapter 1. Executive Summary Chapter 2. Europe Medical Robot Market Overview Chapter 3. Europe Segment Overview Chapter 4. Competitive Landscape Chapter 5. Conclusion and Outlook For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/663l2n/the_medical_robot?w=4 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005334/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Related Topics: Medical Devices, Robotics, Surgical Devices Development of therapeutic antibodies for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and ALS are top priorities for drug development and potential partnering TORONTO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 20, 2018 In this presentation, Dr. Elliot Goldstein, ProMIS President and CEO, discusses progress to date and priorities for future development. Based on results of prior clinical trials targeting amyloid beta in AD and years of scientific research, there is a growing body of evidence that the optimum profile for a successful disease modifying therapy should be to selectively target the toxic, low molecular weight oligomers of amyloid beta. Results of preclinical studies announced earlier this year clearly showed that PMN310, our lead therapeutic antibody for AD, selectively targets human toxic oligomers from AD patients. "In our planned first clinical trial we look forward to evaluating this 'best in class' product profile with an innovative clinical trial design using emerging biomarkers that may indicate early signs of efficacy. Our goal is to generate initial clinical results by end of 2020," stated Dr. Goldstein. Over the course of the year, ProMIS has made considerable progress in expanding its portfolio of opportunities across multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Using its unique discovery platform, ProMIS is developing and validating therapeutic antibodies for Parkinson's disease, targeting toxic oligomers of alpha-synuclein. Therapeutic antibodies are also under development for ALS, selectively targeting toxic aggregates of Tar-DNA binding protein (TDP43). ProMIS also recently announced discovery of novel therapeutic targets on tau protein implicated in the development of AD and other dementias. "Based on interactions with potential pharmaceutical partners, we believe our proprietary discovery platform and the resulting expanded portfolio offer real partnering opportunities. Antibody therapeutics targeting toxic forms of tau, TDP43 and, especially, alpha-synuclein, are high on the list of partnering objectives for many companies in the field. We are actively pursuing partnering discussions for our developing portfolio as we continue to generate data in support of these programs," stated Dr. Goldstein. Both the narrated overview and related transcript can be accessed directly on the ProMIS Neurosciences website, or at https://bit.ly/2Ts1pk2 About ProMIS Neurosciences ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. is a development stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody therapeutics selectively targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The Company's proprietary target discovery engine is based on the use of two complementary techniques. The Company applies its thermodynamic, computational discovery platform -ProMIS and Collective Coordinates - to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique precision medicine approach, the Company is developing novel antibody therapeutics for AD, ALS and PD. ProMIS is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ProMIS is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PMN, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol ARFXF. For further information about ProMIS Neurosciences, please consult the Company's website at: www.promisneurosciences.com Follow us on Twitter Like us on LinkedIn For media inquiries, please contact: Shanti Skiffington shanti.skiffington@gmail.com Tel. 617 921-0808 For Investor Relations please contact: Alpine Equity Advisors Nicholas Rigopulos, President nick@alpineequityadv.com Tel. 617 901-0785 Dr. Elliot Goldstein President and Chief Executive Officer, ProMIS Neurosciences Inc. Tel. 415 341-5783 Elliot.goldstein@promisneurosciences.com The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release contains certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Magazine honors the best employers in Massachusetts Globoforce, a leading provider of human applications, has been named one of the Top Places to Work in Massachusetts in the annual employee-based survey project from The Boston Globe. Globoforce was ranked 39 in the medium-sized company category for the fourth consecutive year and honored for the sixth time since 2012. Globoforce makes work more human. The company's human applications software (including the industry's fastest-growing social recognition and performance management platforms) helps 4 million people around the world have a more inclusive, positive employee experience at work. Many of the most-admired companies in the world rely on Globoforce's cloud-based software to drive more connected workplace cultures and help managers and employees reach their full potential. Globoforce's software leadership began with Social Recognition, which enables all employees to recognize each other for the good work and behaviors they see every day, no matter where they are in the world. The company is now redefining the performance management market with Conversations, a continuous performance development solution with a full spectrum of feedback, check-ins, and priorities to better connect managers and employees. Both these solutions are part of the WorkHuman Cloud, a suite of human applications used by four million people around the world. "Since our inception nearly 20 years ago, our objective has been to strengthen employee connections in the workplace by allowing employees across an organization to better connect with each other through recognition and more human interactions," said Eric Mosley, co-founder and CEO of Globoforce. "We are truly thankful to our employees who set the bar high when it comes to our own culture. Our culture is infused with gratitude, positivity and a passion around making peoples' work lives better." Globoforce is on an aggressive growth path and hiring across all functions. Check out Globoforce's careers page for open positions. What makes Globoforce a top place to work? Limitless opportunities and empowerment to change the modern workplace by helping organizations build workplaces where all employees feel recognized and appreciated and have a strong sense of belonging. A workplace where every employee is on the lookout for standout work, individuals feel valued for their unique contributions and behaviors, and teams connect to celebrate each other for their accomplishments and for living the company's values through its recognition program, Globostars. Pioneer of the WorkHuman movement, which is dedicated to helping educate, energize and engage business and HR leaders to build more human-focused work cultures worldwide. The movement, which serves as the catalyst for creating a more inclusive and human workplaces around the world, has grown more than 500% since its inception. An organization that believes in leading from the front when tackling tough workplace topics like harassment and mental health. Globoforce pushed the national conversation internally and externally about sexual harassment in the workplace, leading to a MeToo panel discussion with Ronan Farrow, Tarana Burke, Ashley Judd and Adam Grant at WorkHuman. Top Places to Work recognizes the most admired workplaces in the state voted on by the people who know them the best-their employees. The survey measures employee opinions about their company's direction, execution, connection, management, work, pay and benefits, and engagement. About Globoforce Pioneer of the WorkHuman movement, Globoforce makes work more human for millions of people and organizations worldwide. Today, Globoforce is the leading provider of human applications, including its market-leading Social Recognition and continuous performance development solutions. Through its WorkHuman Cloud suite of products, companies can strengthen employee performance and the connection between people and teams on a more positive, emotional level in tune with how work gets done today. Founded in 1999, the company is headquartered in Framingham, Mass., and Dublin, Ireland. To learn more: Visit: https://www.globoforce.com/ Read: https://resources.globoforce.com/globoforce-blog Follow: Twitter @Globoforce LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globoforce Facebook: www.facebook.com/globoforce Instagram: www.instagram.com/globoforce View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005132/en/ Contacts: Shweta Agarwal (508) 229-1541 Shweta.Agarwal@globoforce.com The Abramson Cancer Center joins 27 other leading academic cancer centers from across the United States in creating the most frequently updated cancer care guidelines worldwide. PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pennsylvania, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) today announced that Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania (ACC) will become the organization's 28thMember Institution. This alliance of top academic cancer centers from across the United States is devoted to improving and facilitating quality, effective, efficient, and accessible cancer care so patients can live better lives. The ACC's membership into NCCN will include the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Clinicians and scientists from the ACC will join more than 1,300 experts from current NCCN Member Institutions to work together across 53 panels to review the latest innovations and approvals in cancer care, in order to update the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). Those guidelines were downloaded more than 8 million times in 2017 alone and help to establish high-quality standards for care worldwide. There are currently 73 different NCCN Guidelines, which apply to 97% of cancers affecting patients in the United States, plus recommendations for related conditions like nausea, fatigue, distress, or immunotherapy-related toxicities. "The Abramson Cancer Center is a perfect fit and wonderful addition to the group of leading cancer centers that comprise NCCN," said Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. "Penn is one of the pioneers for immunotherapy and is also at the forefront for innovative treatment approaches involving stem cell transplantation, genetics, palliative care, pediatric cancer care, and other areas. Penn Medicine also shares NCCN's commitment to improving care for underserved populations in the United States and abroad. We look forward to working together to make sure people with cancer everywhere receive the very best evidence-based care possible." NCCN was started by 13 founding Member Institutions in 1995, including Philadelphia-based Fox Chase Cancer Center, which also housed the nonprofit's original headquarters. Since then, the alliance has expanded significantly, both in membership and resources, which also include the Library of NCCN Compendia, NCCN Guidelines for Patients, NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for low- and middle-income countries, and numerous international Adaptations and Translations. Earlier this year, NCCN moved to new headquarters in Plymouth Meeting, PA, to accommodate its continuing growth. "We are pleased and excited to welcome the Abramson Cancer Center as a member of NCCN," said Gary J. Weyhmuller, MBA, SPHR, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, NCCN. "Our Member Institutions represent some of the best care available across the country. The addition of the Abramson Cancer Center serves to further strengthen our network." "The Abramson Cancer Center is leading the charge of the immunorevolution, with research that has led to four new Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cancer drugs this year alone," said Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, Director of the ACC. "We're energized to share our expertise with NCCN, as well as the chance to collaborate with other Member Institutions to ensure patients across the country are receiving the best possible care." The ACC's expertise is especially highlighted by its role as global pioneers in new approaches to cancer treatment, particularly in personalized cellular therapies and proton beam radiation. Penn developed the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy, which has since been approved for a second indication and in multiple countries. The approach has successfully eradicated blood cancer in hundreds of patients around the world. Studies show it leads to overall remission rates of 80 percent among acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients whose cancer could not be contained by the standard chemotherapies doctors have relied on for decades. "Our experience bringing cancer treatment to patients all over the world has given us a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities involved, and our experts are looking forward to collaborating on these issues with fellow experts from other NCCN Member Institutions," said Lawrence Shulman, MD, Deputy Director for Clinical Services at the ACC. Shulman also serves as chair of the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer. NCCN will soon begin the process of incorporating experts from the ACC onto current and future NCCN Guidelines Panels. The NCCN Guidelines are the most frequently-updated medical guidelines in any discipline and are available free-of-charge for non-commercial use at NCCN.org or via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelinesapp. About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 28 leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, is dedicated to improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care so that patients can live better lives. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The NCCN Member Institutions are: Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH; City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA; Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center | Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA; Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA; The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, and Rochester, MN; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH; Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY; Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, CA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL; UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA; UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO; University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN; and Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer Hospital, New Haven, CT. Clinicians, visit NCCN.org. Patients and caregivers, visit NCCN.org/patients. Media, visit NCCN.org/news. Follow NCCN on Twitter @NCCNnews and Facebook @National.Comprehensive.Cancer.Network. Media Contact: Rachel Darwin 267-622-6624 darwin@nccn.org Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/441768/NCCN_Logo.jpg AMSTERDAM, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The development of new medical products that are considered the highest priority for people in developing countries is highly concentrated- among five pharmaceutical companies and on five diseases The 2018 Access to Medicine Index, published Tuesday, is an independent ranking of 20 of the leading pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to improve access to medicine in low- and middle-income countries. Takeda rises furthest in 2018, jumping ten places to fifth. GSK retains its position at the top of the Index. Novartis moves into second, ahead of Johnson & Johnson and Merck KGaA, which complete the group of leaders in 2018. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/786928/Overall_Ranking_ATMI_2018.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/786929/RnD_ATMI_2018.jpg ) The four leaders, together with Sanofi (in 6th ), account for 63% of the priority research and development (R&D) being undertaken. "The fact that a handful of companies are carrying the bulk of the priority R&D load shows how fragile the situation is. A retreatby even one of these players would have a significant impact," said Jayasree K. Iyer, Executive Director of the Access to Medicine Foundation. "If more companies joined this group, that would bring much needed resilience." The Index found that the industry's engagement in such R&D is focused on five diseases, with half of all such activity targeting malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. All five diseases are the target of global health initiatives and have international donors behind them. In total, 45 diseases have been identified as a priority for R&D by the WHO and others. The analysis indicates that the majority of the priority R&D projects are being carried out with public sector research organisations. However, some companies are developing priority products without such facilitation. One example is Merck KGaA developing tests and treatments for schistosomiasis, a water-borne parasitic disease that affects around 252 million people. "This is evidence that, when society agrees on the priorities, this clearly works in focusing the industry's efforts," said Danny Edwards, research lead for the Index. "Our analysis found evidence of this not only in R&D but also in the actions companies take to make medicines accessible afterthey reach the market.In short, where there is a call to action or donor funding, more companies will get involved, particularly in areas with low commercial potential." The concentration in companies and diseases is also seen in other activities important for access to medicine: for example, small groups of companies account for the increases in fairer pricing strategies, and in access planning while products are still in the pipeline. Progress over the last two years The Index measures companies in seven areas of corporate behaviour that are important for increasing access to medicine. Overall, the industry continues to mature in its approach to access to medicine. Three companies have set new or strengthened access strategies since the 2016 Index. Five companies are scaling up commercial models that explicitly view people living in underserved communities as customers. Companies are also more transparent about where they have patents in force, which is valuable information for international medicines procurers. Also, strategies that set different prices for different segments of a country's population continue to become more sensitive to what people can afford. However, performance continues to lag in some areas. For example, while companies are refining their pricing strategies to improve the affordability of more products, they are applying them in few countries, mostly emerging markets. Also, while licensing has enabled the manufacture and distribution of generic versions of all recommended treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS, its use remains confined to that disease and to hepatitis C but could be extended to other diseases. The companies have more projects in the pipeline that target global health priorities than they did two years ago. Since the 2016 Index, at least 66 products have moved through the pipeline to reach the market. They are for 14 diseases that the Index covers, with half of them targeting cancers. Other examples include: Three new pills that each can cure all six major genotypes of hepatitis C. Gilead has voluntary licensing agreements in place with 11 India-based generic pharmaceutical manufacturers which enable the manufacture and distribution of two of these products in 105 developing countries. (Gilead and AbbVie) A child-friendly chewable form of a tablet for roundworm and whipworm, which currently infects an estimated 795 million people. The company has pledged a donation programme of 200 million doses per year until 2020. (Johnson & Johnson) 65% of cancer deaths globally in developing countries Cancer is taking an increasing toll in low- and middle-income countries, where approximately 65% of cancer deaths now occur. The Index examined company efforts to increase access to cancer products for the first time this year, focusing on those that are included on the World Health Organization (WHO) list of medicines it considers essential for all healthcare systems. It identified 72 such products. Novartis markets the largest proportion of these, including half of the cancer products that have an access initiative attached to them. Efforts during the R&D phase to plan access initiatives for cancer products lag far behind those for communicable diseases. Plans are in place for 5% of candidate cancer products by the time they reach the later stages of development, compared with 54% for communicable disease pipeline products. "There have been massive improvements in global health in the past decades, with all major pharmaceutical companies taking action. To close the gaps that remain, a greater diversity of companies must get involved and stay engaged for the long haul."Jayasree K. Iyer, Executive Director. About the Access to Medicine Index: The Access to Medicine Index analyses 20 of the largest research-based pharmaceutical companies with products for high-burden diseases in low- and middle-income countries. It ranks them on their efforts to improve access to medicine in seven areas of corporate behaviour and identifies best practices, highlights where progress is being made and uncovers where critical action is still required. The Index is endorsed by more than 80 investors, collectively managing assets worth more than USD 10 trillion. It is published every two years by the Access to Medicine Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation funded by the UK Government (UK AID), the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Website: www.accesstomedicinefoundation.org VANCOUVER, British Columbia, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (US OTC: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM") is pleased to report record testing results from the most recent harvest in Nevada. The company has received testing results from NVCAN Laboratory detailing THC content of the recently harvested Hardcore OG strain at 30.5 % THC. "Body and Mind has been recognized as a premium quality cultivator since we started growing and producing medical cannabis roughly 4 years ago," stated Robert Hasman, a director at BaM. "Our dried flower strains typically achieve testing in the mid twenty per cent THC range and contains strong terpene profiles. While THC is only one measure of cannabis quality, this achievement has received very positive feedback from dispensaries and customers. This record result is an indication of our deep experience combined and efficiencies from our completed Phase II renovation." The company completed Phase II renovation to improve efficiency and increase cultivation space in early 2018. The first harvest from the increased Phase II space has been completed and will be sold in November. The company has completed the transition to a perpetual harvest system which produces dried flower on a consistent basis and reduces costs throughout the cultivation process. Body and Mind edibles continue to be popular items and the company has increased the product offerings based on feedback from buyers and customers. Infused pretzel bites with caramel and chocolate are one of the more popular edibles and additional options including peppermint and white chocolate will be available shortly. Body and Mind will be relaunching the popular infused beef jerky edibles with flavours with a choice of Teriyaki and Siracha flavors. The company has commenced manufacturing LucidMood pens and is in the process of finalizing the production process. Sales of LucidMood vape pens are anticipated throughout Nevada in early December. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Body and Mind Inc. BaM is a publicly traded company investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation and production and retail. Our wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licences and holds cultivation and production licenses in Nevada and partial ownership of a production and dispensary license in Ohio. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, topicals, extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM marijuana strains have won numerous awards including the Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup. Body and Mind continues to expand operations in Nevada and Ohio and is constantly reviewing accretive expansion opportunities. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. For further information, please contact: Michael Mills +1-778-389-0007 mmills@bamcannabis.com Infiniti Research, a world-renowned market intelligence solutions provider, has announced the completion of their latest article on the food and beverage industry trends and challenges for the year 2018. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005221/en/ Food and beverage industry trends and challenges: 2018 (Graphic: Business Wire) With the latest advancements in the food and beverage industry, few trends have shown a surge among consumers. Food and beverage companies need to keep pace with these emerging trends and revitalize the way they market their products to meet these demands as they are expected to continue for a longer period. However, along with the growing competition, this industry is also facing several critical challenges such as technology adoption and budget restraints. In addition, companies in the food and beverage industry should also address challenges like environmental impact and social responsibility to stay relevant in the competitive market space. "Food production is considered to be a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, companies in the food and beverage industry need to consider new food sources and alternative energy to tackle these challenges," says a food and beverage industry expert from Infiniti Research. Choosing the right market intelligence company that meets your every requirement is a tumultuous task for companies. We at Infiniti Research, understand this conundrum and have made a name for ourselves when it comes to offering customized market information to food and beverage companies. Request a free proposal today! Food and Beverage Industry Trends 2018: Shifting customer preferences Customer preferences across the globe have seen a shift towards exotic flavors and healthy food products. Products such as quinoa and kale have witnessed heavy demand from consumers in recent times. Convenient packaging and food home delivery are some popular trends that are expected to evolve over time. To keep pace with these changes, companies need to understand the lifestyle of customers. To know how we've helped boost revenues for companies in the food and beverage industry, get in touch with our experts. Digital transformation The sales percentage of the food and beverage companies have seen a steep rise after digital transformation. At present, online channels drive a major share of revenues for companies. This food and beverage industry trend is expected to soar as consumers prefer doorstep deliveries. Since the home delivery option is convenient, viable, and popular, it is expected to grow in the local markets too. To know more about the food and beverage industry trends and challenges, consult with our industry experts. Acquisitions and mergers Food and beverage companies are rapidly evolving to keep pace with the industry dynamism. They are expected to add healthier products and ingredients to their current offerings. However, to implement it, they need to opt for mergers and acquisitions. In recent times, established companies have acquired many food businesses as these acquisitions are economically viable and save the time required for developing new products. To know more about the challenges faced by companies in the food and beverage industry, view the full article here! About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005221/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us Reno, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - Scandium International Mining Corp. (TSX: SCY) ("Scandium International" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Austal Ltd. ("Austal"), to test scandium-containing aluminum alloys in marine applications. Austal is an Australian-based global shipbuilding company that specializes in the design, construction and support of both defense and commercial vessels. Austal is the world's largest aluminum shipbuilder and Australia's largest defense exporter. The LOI calls for the Company to contribute various aluminum alloy samples containing scandium, for testing by Austal and potentially other third-party testing groups, to determine suitability in marine and defense applications. The Company intends to publicly report a summary of the results at the conclusion of the program. LOI AGREEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: LOI defines specific alloy sample contributions by the Company to Austal , Austal will test various properties on the samples , to determine suitability for marine use, in both commercial and military applications , Testing results are to be shared , understood, possibly publicly disclosed, recognizing any intellectual property discovery, Austal is a leading global supplier of large high - speed marine vessels, typically with both hull and superstructure fabricated from aluminum , and Successful testing results potentially form a basis of marine certification and use of Al-Sc alloys in various marine applications, leading to stronger and lighter vessels. DISCUSSION: Austal Ltd. Is an Australian public corporation, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: ASB), headquartered in Henderson, Western Australia, (Australia). The company has over 5,200 employees, and shipbuilding facilities in Perth, Australia, Mobile, Alabama (USA), Vung Tau, Vietnam and Balamban, Cebu (Philippines). The company maintains a focus on research and development of emerging maritime technologies and cutting-edge ship designs, and is today a recognized world leader in the design and construction of large aluminum commercial and defense vessels, In over thirty years of operation, Austal has constructed over 300 vessels for 100 operators in 54 countries around the world. Austal's extensive product range includes passenger and vehicle-passenger ferries, patrol boats, high speed support vessels, surface combatants and revolutionary, multi-role vessels. Specifically, Austal's USA shipyard is serving as the center of manufacturing for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) programs for the US Navy. The company has delivered a total of nine Independence Class Littoral Combat Ships to the US Navy, and in September 2018 announced the award of two more ships (#16 and 17) in class, valued at A$1.6Bn. Austal's commercial shipbuilding facilities in the Philippines and Vietnam specialize in high speed passenger, vehicle-passenger ferries, offshore crew transfer and windfarm vessels for growing South East Asia markets and beyond. Austal's Australian shipyards build a combination of both naval and commercial vessels for the Australian domestic market and for export globally. Australia also serves as the Group headquarters and a vessel design and new technology hub. Austal's order book is approximately A$3Bn currently, representing 47 ships either under construction or ordered. In addition to shipbuilding operations, Austal also provides vessel maintenance and support services from facilities in the United States, Australia and the Middle East, along with a network of partner service providers located throughout the world. More information on Austal Ltd. can be found on their website, www.Austal.com. George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented: "We are very pleased to add Austal to our list of partners exploring scandium's advantages in marine/naval applications. Austal is a design-leader in high-speed marine vessels utilizing aluminum hulls and superstructures for lightweight design and fast, efficient performance. We believe scandium additions will deliver unique and useful property values in marine environments, and we believe Austal represents an ideal partner to determine their applicability." ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP. The Company is focused on developing its Nyngan Scandium Project, located in NSW, Australia, into the world's first scandium-only producing mine. The project owned by our 100% held Australian subsidiary, EMC Metals Australia Pty Limited, has received all key approvals, including a mining lease, necessary to proceed with project construction. The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in May 2016, titled "Feasibility Study - Nyngan Scandium Project". That feasibility study delivered an expanded scandium resource, a first reserve figure, and an estimated 33.1% IRR on the project, supported by extensive metallurgical test work and an independent, 10-year global marketing outlook for scandium demand. Willem Duyvesteyn, MSc, AIME, CIM, a Director and CTO of the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of the Company. For inquiries to Scandium International Mining Corp, please contact: Edward Dickinson (CFO) Tel: (775) 233-7328 George Putnam (CEO) Tel: (925) 208-1775 Email: info@scandiummining.com For inquiries to Austal Ltd., please contact: Gemma Whiting - Government Relations Mobile: +61 (0)408 982 727 Email: gemma.whiting@austal.com Austal Ltd. Website: www.austal.com This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to statements regarding any future development of the project. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: risks related to uncertainty in the demand for scandium, the possibility that results of test work will not fulfill expectations, or not realize the perceived market utilization and potential of scandium sources that may be developed for sale by the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances, should change. RhythmOne Continues to Help Lead the Advanced TV and OTT Ad Market with Commitment to Providing Clients with Highest Quality Inventory RhythmOne plc (LSE AIM: RTHM), a global advertising technology company, today announced that it has formed an early, collaborative partnership with Pixalate, Inc. regarding its newly Media Ratings Council, Inc. (MRC) accredited over-the-top (OTT) invalid traffic (IVT) detection and filtration solution, a key component of Pixalate's comprehensive ad fraud detection and prevention platform. RhythmOne's planned integration of Pixalate's solution into its unified programmatic platform offers an added layer of IVT detection and protection for OTT ad impressions. The Pixalate solution will work in conjunction with RhythmGuard, RhythmOne's proprietary brand safety technology, which actively combats IVT within its platform across all screens, including desktop, mobile, tablet, and connected TV/OTT. "Brand safety is a paramount concern for our clients, and a top priority for all campaigns that run through our platform," said Jorg Nowak, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, RhythmOne. "As a leader in the advanced TV ad market, we take our responsibility to provide clients with high-quality OTT inventory very seriously. We've invested in the tools and technology that enable advertisers to buy brand-safe, cross-screen inventory from our marketplace, and are excited to bring a new measure of quality assurance to the rapidly growing OTT market." Pixalate's analysis shows global OTT IVT rates average 19% and forecasts marketers stand to lose $10 billion in OTT spend in 2020. "High CPMs and lack of measurement standards have made the OTT channel a breeding ground for fraudsters," said Jalal Nasir, CEO of Pixalate. "We are proud to meet the challenge head-on with our industry-first MRC accreditation for invalid traffic detection and filtration in OTT. We applaud RhythmOne's leadership in adopting new OTT safeguards and helping their clients protect their ad investments and reputation." RhythmOne and Pixalate have been working together for over two years to test and develop solutions that help protect buyers from the ad spend loss and brand reputation risk present in OTT/CTV. The two companies have worked closely, as part of an OTT solutions group, to experiment and apply advanced data science methods for testing OTT fraud blocking and monitoring products, as well as determining methods for addressing server-side ad insertion (SSAI) and other OTT issues. As Pixalate announced last week, it was the first company to receive accreditation from the MRC for Sophisticated Invalid Traffic (SIVT) detection and filtration for OTT video ad impressions. RhythmOne is consistently ranked by Pixalate as a trusted platform for agencies and brands. RhythmOne earned the #1 spot for US and International rankings on Pixalate's Global Seller Trust Index (GSTI) for all of 2017. About RhythmOne RhythmOne drives engagement between advertisers and targeted audiences resulting in real, measurable business outcomes. We offer fully-integrated, cross-screen solutions that span desktop, mobile, and connected TV ("CTV") across high-impact video, rich media, display, social, and native advertising formats helping advertisers reach high-propensity audiences wherever and however they consume content. The connections we make are further enhanced through unique audience data and powered by our unified programmatic platform, RhythmMax. RhythmMax includes, RhythmGuard, a verification technology which ensures quality audiences in brand safe environments. This end-to-end platform coupled with the world-class service of our account teams is designed to provide more direct, efficient, and effective connections, driving ROI for advertisers and publishers. Founded in 2004 in the UK, RhythmOne is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in the US, Europe, APAC, and Canada. For more information, please visit www.rhythmone.com. About Pixalate Pixalate is an omni-channel fraud intelligence company that works with brands and platforms to prevent invalid traffic and improve ad inventory quality. We offer the only system of coordinated solutions across display, app, video, and OTT for better detection and elimination of ad fraud. Pixalate is the only MRC-accredited solution for sophisticated invalid traffic (SIVT) detection and filtration across display, in-app, video, and OTT advertising. www.pixalate.com Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those in management quotations. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "plan," "objective," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue" and "ongoing," or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology intended to identify statements about the future. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the adoption of the newly Media Relations Council (MRC) accredited over-the-top (OTT) invalid traffic (IVT) detection and filtration solution from Pixalate. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from future results that are expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the dynamic and rapidly evolving sector, as well as the highly competitive industry that RhythmOne operates in, which make it difficult to evaluate prospects. These and other risk factors are discussed in RhythmOne's Annual Report for the period ended March 31, 2018. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to RhythmOne as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005052/en/ Contacts: Media Industry Contact Melissa Laverty Seismic for RhythmOne Melissa@teamseismic.com Analyst and Investor Contact Mark Bonney RhythmOne plc IR@rhythmone.com Nomad and Broker for RhythmOne Nick Westlake (Nomad) Numis Securities Limited (UK) 020 7260 1000 LONDON, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CleanEquityMonaco was founded 12 years ago by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco & Mungo Park, Chairman of Innovator Capital. On 14th & 15thMarch 2019, it will continue its mission to enable and accelerate world relevant, best in class, sustainable technology companies. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Innovator Capital's CleanEquity unit will consider over 600 companies and technologies, 30 will be selected to present at the event. The audience will include financial, strategic, sovereign, corporate and family investors, established industry representatives, government officials, end users and international trade media. The chosen companies must meet high standards of management ability & integrity, unique technological differentiation protected by intellectual property and high, global revenue potential. Over the last 11 years 290 companies have presented their ideas and products to over 1,700 attendees. Those companies have gone on to raise almost two billion dollars. The invitation only conference, provides an intimate and collegiate setting for inventors and entrepreneurs to share their stories with delegates - key decision makers looking to assist them with reaching their commercial and strategic goals. CleanEquity's proven team works efficiently to facilitate introductions and meetings before, during and after the conference. We are delighted to be partnering with Covington & Burling LLP for their 10th year. Andrew Jack, Partner and co-chair of Covington & Burling's Clean Energy and Climate Industry Group, commented: "In the crowded calendar of sustainability conferences and investor forums, CleanEquity Monaco stands out as a signature event that convenes leading entrepreneurs, investors and advisors in a special setting to collaborate in efforts to commercialise transformational technologies and to expand sustainability thought leadership. We at Covington are proud to support and assist both aspects of CleanEquity. Now in our tenth year of sponsorship, we commit year round participation of a dedicated group of our senior technology, policy and transactional lawyers to source and advise CleanEquity investors and presenting companies. At the conference we develop and deepen relationships with these investors and entrepreneurs and lead a program of "Covington CleanEquity Conversations" where conference participants breakout into groups for curated Chatham House discussions of critical issues confronting cleantech deployment and commercialisation. In a world that is increasingly complex and highly regulated, Covington & Burling have built a powerful firm-wide capability to help our clients navigate the intersection of law and policy, a capability, which is aligned perfectly with the dynamic development of the global cleantech sector and the focus of events such as CleanEquityMonaco. The firm's transactional and technology expertise coupled with our ability to advise on the toughest legal, policy and commercial challenges produces consistent results for our clients' businesses." We are happy also to continue our collaboration with Parkview International, for the third successive year. Parkview International is a global property development company founded in the 1950s. One of its recent projects, 200,000 sqm Parkview Green in Beijing, was the first mixed-use project in China to be awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification. Parkview International believes there is a responsibility to build better. By sponsoring an event such as CleanEquity's prestigious platform for innovative renewable technologies, Parkview International hope to play a bigger role in this change going forward. For further information about attending CleanEquityMonaco 2019, use the contact details below or visit the conference website: www.cleanequitymonaco.com Contact: Conor Barrett Innovator Capital conor.barrett@innovator-capital.com Twitter: @CleanEquity Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/787481/CEM2019_Logo.jpg Gill's 25 years of health and consumer tech experience across Asia, Europe and the Middle East will help guide ResMed's expanding global connected health businesses Also at annual shareholder meeting, long-serving director Gary W. Pace retired ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD), a leader in cloud-connected medical devices and out-of-hospital software-as-a-service business solutions, today announced it has elected experienced consumer and healthcare executive Harjit Gill to its Board of Directors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005179/en/ Harjit Gill, BA (Photo: Business Wire) Ms. Gill was elected by shareholders at its annual shareholder meeting last week in Sydney, Australia. Also, announced at that meeting, Gary W. Pace has retired from ResMed's board after serving on it since July 1994. Ms. Gill's appointment and Dr. Pace's retirement both took effect Thursday, November 15. Ms. Gill has more than 25 years' experience in health and consumer technology products as an executive, investor and regional business leader spanning Asia, Europe and the Middle East. From 1990 to 2015, she worked for Royal Philips as executive vice president and CEO for Philips ASEAN Pacific, overseeing Healthcare/Lighting and Consumer Lifestyle Products; senior vice president of International Sales; vice president of Asia for Philips Consumer Lifestyle Products; and various other senior roles in Philips Consumer Electronics businesses in the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore. From 2015 to 2016, she served as chief operations and marketing officer for HTC, Taiwan. Since 2016, she has been advisor to Delmedica Investments, a Singapore-based company focused on respiratory health and inventors of the X-Halo breath thermometer. Ms. Gill is also a board director for Apollo Education and Training, a private company providing English teaching in Vietnam, and has held various leadership roles at the Singapore chapter of YPO, which provides growth and networking opportunities to CEOs worldwide. "I'm very excited to welcome Harjit Gill to ResMed's Board," said ResMed Founder and Board Chairman Peter Farrell. "ResMed will greatly benefit from her vast experience, not only in healthcare and consumer technology, but across the many global regions where ResMed continues to expand its reach. "I'd also like to thank Dr. Gary Pace for his valuable and effective guidance to ResMed during his 24 years of service as a director," said Farrell, "including during the period of ResMed's important transformation from medical device company to global leader in connected medical devices and out-of-hospital software." About ResMed ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD), a world-leading connected health company with more than 6 million cloud-connected devices for daily remote patient monitoring, changes lives with every breath. Its award-winning devices and software solutions help treat and manage sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory conditions. Its 6,000-member team strives to improve patients' quality of life, reduce the impact of chronic disease and save healthcare costs in more than 120 countries. ResMed.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005179/en/ Contacts: For media: Jayme Rubenstein +1 858.836.6798 news@resmed.com For investors: Amy Wakeham +1 858.836.5000 investorrelations@resmed.com VANTIQ Pronto Dynamic Advanced Event Broker enables organizations with real-time business responsiveness across enterprise, cloud and edge events LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / Recently, at the nGage Enterprise Transformation Exchange Summit, VANTIQ announced VANTIQ Pronto, the industry's first dynamic "Advanced Event Broker" (AEB). IT leaders from across the U.S. learned how Pronto is designed to deliver unique advantages for companies looking to power modern, event-driven applications with the real-time business responsiveness, intelligence and agility required for digital transformation initiatives. VANTIQ Pronto will be generally available to developers on November 30 at no charge for up to 2 million event messages in production per month. According to Gartner, "Application leaders engaged in digital transformation must include event-driven computing in their portfolio of skills and technology, including the key related responsibilities for event brokering and event stream analytics." Providing capabilities well beyond traditional event and message brokers, the VANTIQ Pronto Dynamic AEB enables constant monitoring of an operation by accepting events from anywhere (e.g. IoT, mobile devices, legacy systems), analyzing them in real time, and sending those event messages to subscribing applications and systems. Events can be analyzed independently, in streams, or combined with other events or information from external services - enabling comprehensive situational awareness and true digital business innovation. "VANTIQ continues to innovate on the real-time, event-driven technologies required for successful IoT, IIoT, artificial intelligence, and business blockchain initiatives," said Marty Sprinzen, CEO and co-founder of VANTIQ. "VANTIQ Pronto can even function as a broker of brokers, supporting event management for real-time business responsiveness in complex systems. Pronto enables applications to easily sense, analyze and act on events in a way that was not previously easily achievable." The Purpose of Event Brokers: Why the Right Choice Matters: Gartner continues, "Middleware products that additionally offer special support for event-centric use cases (for example, a persistent event ledger for analysis and event sourcing, or programmable extensibility for custom filtering and analysis) are 'advanced' event brokers." VANTIQ Pronto has those advanced event broker capabilities, yet is unique in that it delivers a Dynamic AEB that: Provides for the easy discovery and re-use of event streams across enterprise applications via the Pronto Dynamic Event Catalog Enables the rapid development and application of complex augmentations and transformations to events from multiple sources, using VANTIQ's high-productivity, low/no-code approach - also featured in VANTIQ's rapid application development platform, Modelo Ensures there is no single point of failure, removes bottlenecks, and reduces latency with the unique Pronto Dynamic Event Mesh deployment at run-time Orchestrates connections between data sources, other event brokers and message queues via standard integrations including Kafka, IBM MQ, MQTT, AMQP, and others; easily integrates into virtually any application platform or environment using the VANTIQ Enterprise Connectors SDK As a result, the VANTIQ Pronto Dynamic AEB is the only advanced event broker that delivers the continuous awareness, intelligence and agility required for modern event-driven systems. "Our industrial customers who are on a digital transformation journey can benefit from VANTIQ's innovation with the Pronto Dynamic AEB, as well as the highly productive distributed VANTIQ Modelo application development platform," said Bryan DeBois, software manager at RoviSys - VANTIQ partner and the largest independent systems integrator in the United States building industrial applications that enable powerful process control and automation. "By combining our deep expertise in OSIsoft PI System(R) and industrial software projects with VANTIQ's scalable Pronto for event management, we can deliver real-time event-driven applications with greater speed and agility." Availability: VANTIQ Pronto is available in a Cloud Edition, fully managed by VANTIQ running on major clouds including AWS, Azure, and Alibaba Cloud; a Server Edition for use in private clouds; and an Edge Edition for use on edge nodes. Users can build dynamic event broker applications with the VANTIQ Pronto Cloud Edition and bring them to production at no charge up to 2 million event messages per month. Pronto will be generally available on November 30, 2018. Sign up here to be notified when Pronto releases. About VANTIQ: VANTIQ - the company that powers real-time business operations - provides the only truly dynamic platform for quickly and easily creating transformative, digital applications to drive agile business operations in real time. Founded in 2015 by renowned tech industry veterans Marty Sprinzen and Paul Butterworth, VANTIQ enables those involved in mission-critical business operations to benefit from a new breed of digital applications with dramatically reduced time-to-market, significantly lower development and maintenance costs, and maximum agility in response to constantly-changing operational requirements. For more information, visit www.vantiq.com Media contact: VANTIQ Dana Dye +1-415-928-1310 ddye@vantiq.com Contact: Dana Dye ddye@vantiq.com +1-415-928-1310 SOURCE: VANTIQ View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528567/New-VANTIQ-Pronto-Drives-Modern-Event-Driven-Systems Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - OSPREY GOLD DEVELOPMENT LTD. (TSXV: OS) (OTCQB: OSSPF) (the "Company" or "Osprey") is pleased to provide further results from its ongoing 2018 exploration program underway at the Caribou Gold Project ("Caribou") located in Nova Scotia, Canada. Caribou is approximately 80 kilometers ("kms") northeast of the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 8 kms north of Atlantic Gold's Moose River Consolidated mill site. These results provide continued evidence of lower grade disseminated mineralization within the host sediments, around the historically sampled high grade veins. The best reported intercept being hole CM87-23 reporting 70.57 metres ("m") of 1.58 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au"), or 0.80 g/t Au if utilizing a 70 g/t Au grade cap. More complete results are available below in Table 1. Sampling this core is a cost-effective step to determining Caribou's potential to host significant zones of gold mineralization disseminated within the host sediments, between the historically mined high grade veins. These results are being used to refine drill plans on these broad mineralization targets within the host sediments. Highlight Results include: 7 holes sampled from 4 key areas for a total of 395 samples submitted for analysis Mineralization identified within host rock sediments in all 7 holes Highlight intercept of 70.57 metres of 1.58 g/t Au in hole CM87-23 (52% recovery) Favorable initial results lead to expanded trenching and channel sampling in the Elk Zone, along strike to the east of the previously reported trench results in ELK18-01 "These results continue to support our thesis that there is significant disseminated mineralization at Caribou, in addition to the high grade stockwork systems, and veins," said Company President Cooper Quinn. "Due to the condition of the on-site stored core, Osprey personnel re-boxed and relogged historic holes before sampling intervals from them. Although not all historic core was recoverable, there was sufficient recovered core to verify intervals and to sample, and assay large zones of previously unsampled host rock. We're very pleased with these results. These longer intervals of disseminated mineralization, augmented by the historic higher grade intercepts, are similar in style to what Atlantic Gold is mining at the Touquoy open pit, and are one key type of mineralization we've been systematically exploring for at Caribou." Table 1: Significant Assay Intercepts Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Gold (g/t Au) Recovered Core (m) Sampled Interval Grade (g/t Au) Recovery (%) CM87-6 26.00 36.00 10.00 0.57 10.00 0.57 100.0 incl 26.00 32.00 6.00 0.92 6.00 0.92 100.0 CM87-23 79.10 149.67 70.57 1.58 37.06 3.01 52.5 CM87-23 79.10 131.36 52.26 0.70 31.44 1.17 60.2 CM87-43 5.50 62.03 56.53 0.33 36.34 0.50 64.3 incl 11.20 22.76 11.56 0.58 10.39 0.64 89.9 and 41.04 51.67 10.63 0.45 5.85 0.82 55.0 and 56.44 62.03 5.59 0.50 5.59 0.50 100.0 CM87-43 85.65 161.53 75.88 0.35 43.70 0.62 57.6 incl 85.65 113.30 27.65 0.43 19.90 0.59 72.0 and 116.40 136.53 20.13 0.66 10.72 1.24 53.3 incl 116.40 129.59 13.19 0.88 8.29 1.40 62.9 CM87-49 91.53 101.66 10.13 0.78 10.13 0.78 100.0 CM88-26 35.50 174.06 138.56 0.25 87.15 0.40 62.9 incl 84.60 105.31 20.71 0.58 13.81 0.88 66.7 incl 90.00 105.31 15.31 0.71 8.41 1.3 54.9 and 159.20 173.88 14.68 0.49 14.68 0.49 100.0 CM88-28 74.62 87.67 13.05 0.60 8.37 0.94 64.1 CM88-30 69.75 75.79 6.04 0.66 6.04 0.66 100.0 incl 69.75 72.77 3.02 1.21 3.02 1.21 100.0 True widths are unknown, but should be approximated by these results. Holes were drilled approximately perpendicular to the strike of the anticlinal axis. For intervals which were unrecoverable or unverifiable, a grade of 0 g/t Au was inserted for compositing, and is displayed in "Gold (g/t Au)". The sampled interval alone, excluding unsampled zones, is given in "Sampled Interval Grade (g/t Au)". Figure 1 - Caribou Project overview, showing sampled hole locations, past drilling, and current trenching status and location. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5059/41163_d15cd839b4974964_001full.jpg Caribou is one of 5 key projects controlled by Osprey, and is host to an historical mineral resource estimate. Activity at Caribou is the first systematic program undertaken at Caribou since the Company acquired an option to acquire the property in September 2017. About the Caribou Property Strategically located, 8 kilometres north of Atlantic Gold's Touquoy Mine and Moose River Consolidated mill site and surrounded by Atlantic Gold claim holdings; Historic drill results in stockwork zones include 11.2 metres grading 10.86 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold in Hole CM-98-01 and 9.8 metres grading 12.2 g/t gold in Hole SB-88-11; Project area includes broad areas of Halifax Group argillites, which overlie the quartzite/ argillite Goldenville Group, host rock for gold bearing quartz veining, and are largely unexplored at Caribou; Reported past production of over 100,000 gold ounces between 1869 and 1955, as reported in a historical technical report prepared for Scorpio Gold Corporation by Guy Mac Gillivray, P.Geo. of W.G. Shaw and Associates Limited in a report dated October 8, 2008 (the "Historical Report"); An inferred historic resource of 94,763 ounces of gold in 350,305 tonnes grading 8.81 g/t gold, uncut (the "Historic Estimate"); and Using a grade cap for gold of 47.0 g/t (to compensate for nugget effect) the Historical Estimate for the Caribou Gold Property is 350,305 tonnes grading 5.83 g/t gold, or 67,425 ounces of gold; The reader is cautioned that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify this Historical Estimate as current resources and Osprey is not treating this Historical Estimate as a current mineral resource. While this estimate was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the "Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Definition Guidelines" in effect at the time, there is no guarantee that it would be consistent with current standards and it should not be regarded as consistent with current standards. The Historical Estimate is relevant to obtain a reference to mineral potential present on the property. The Company has not undertaken any verification of the historical data upon which the historical estimates are based on. About Goldenville and Osprey Osprey is focused on exploring five historically producing gold properties in Nova Scotia, Canada. Osprey has the option to earn 100% (subject to certain royalties) in all five properties, including the Goldenville Gold Project, Nova Scotia's largest historic gold producer. Goldenville hosts a current NI 43-101 Inferred Resource of 2,800,000 tonnes at 3.20 g/t gold for 288,000 ounces of gold (2,800,000 tonnes at 4.96 g/t gold for 447,000 ounces of gold uncapped) near the town of Sherbrooke, NS. All five properties in Osprey's current portfolio have a history of high-grade gold production. A copy of the Company's technical report titled "Technical Report on the Goldenville Property, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia Canada" prepared by David G. Thomas, M.Sc., P. Geo. and Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P. Geo. is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. A Quality Control/Quality Assurance program, including the insertion of Standards and Blanks, has been implemented. The 2018 exploration program on the Company's properties is performed under the supervision of Perry MacKinnon, P.Geo, Vice-President of Exploration of Osprey and a 'Qualified Person' under NI 43-101. Mr. MacKinnon has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. Additional information regarding Osprey and the Goldenville property is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and at www.ospreygold.com. For further information please contact: ON BEHALF OF OSPREY GOLD DEVELOPMENT LTD., "Cooper Quinn" Cooper Quinn, President and Director For further information please contact Osprey at (778)986-8192 or cooper@ospreygold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Osprey within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Osprey provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to exploration findings, results and recommendations, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in Osprey's public filings under Osprey's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Osprey has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Osprey disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - APPx Group Holdings, Inc. (CSE: APPX) (the "Company" or "APPx") a Canadian Fintech incubator and blockchain development company, is pleased to update the recent Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire Cimtel (Quebec) Inc. ("Cimtel") (see press release dated November 13, 2018) and announces that Cimtel is entering into the Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) space. Cimtel sees this move towards the SD-WAN space as a way to improve network connectivity for its enterprise clients while increasing its recurring revenue stream. Hanspaul Pannu, Chief Financial Officer at APPx stated, "According to a July report from the researchers at Dell'Oro Group, over the next five years, world-wide SD-WAN software revenue will grow at a 41% compounded annual growth rate compared to 21% for hardware. This is a booming sector and we are pleased that APPx will be part of this growth through our partnership with Cimtel." Cimtel, is a privately-held, cashflow-positive company specializing in business VOIP systems, network architecture, data centers, and network management & monitoring services. The 65-year-old company has come to represent the gold standard for IT Managed Services in Montreal. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, Cimtel reported unaudited revenues of $2.5M and unaudited normalized EBITDA of approximately $380,000. A definitive purchase agreement, is expected to close the acquisition on or before December 12, 2018 - pending completion of due diligence and all regulatory approvals. As a result of the transaction, Cimtel will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of APPx. About APPx Group Holdings, Inc. APPx Group Holdings, Inc. is a Fintech incubator that offers technology-based business solutions. Our growing partnership network allows us to service a wide range of markets: advertising, blockchain, crypto, Fintech, and telecommunications products and services. With our strong reach, we're consistently adding to, and enhancing, our portfolio. We strive to be industry leaders, creating innovations engineered from the ground up by our diverse culture of talent. APPx delivers sustained value by strategically solving our customers' immediate and long-term needs, helping them reach their goals on a global scale. About Cimtel (Quebec) Inc. Celebrating its 65th anniversary, Cimtel has built its reputation on delivering and maintaining state-of-the-art, robust Unified Communication and Cloud solutions to its customers, ranging anywhere from 10 users and upwards of 3000 users, with the assistance of world-class leaders such as Mitel, Cisco, and Avaya. Cimtel's long history can directly be attributed to its strong customer care and relationships with its partners. Forward-looking Information This news release includes forward-looking information that is subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although APPx believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. These factors include, among others, the risks associated with the failure to execute any of APPx's current or anticipated projects or transactions. Although management of APPx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information APPx does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Contact: APPx Group Holdings, Inc. Rahim Mohamed, CEO RM@appxgroup.com (833) 777-APPX Jay Ruckenstein, President jay@appxgroup.com (833) 777-APPX Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - Altiplano Metals Inc. (TSXV: APN) (OTCQB: ALTPF) (FSE: A2JNFG) ("Altiplano" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from a revised extraction plan designed to test viability of operations based on the current environment of lower copper prices, at the historic Farellon Copper-Gold Mine near La Serena, Chile. CEO John Williamson stated, "We would like to thank Salvatore Peralta for his contributions and wish him well in his Ph.D. studies. Since his departure, we have developed a six-month operating plan to determine viability of extraction at lower copper prices. Results from the latest 2,445 tonnes extracted during October show considerable improvement through minimizing dilution and reducing costs. With the latest cost reductions, increased productivity, and higher recoveries achieved at the treatment plant, we are well positioned to benefit from potentially increased copper prices in the medium term." During October, the extraction of 2,445 tonnes of material from the 401M and 395M levels yielded an average grade of 1.50% copper. These results show an improvement of 0.4% Copper compared with previous averages during August-September. Based on early 2018 results from this section of the mine, further improvement of grades is expected. To combat dilution, where possible, lower grade shoulders are being left on the walls and only the higher- grade portions are being extracted. As a result, copper recoveries during processing have increased to 94.9%. This current phase of mineral extraction focuses on grade control and is planned to run into January 2019. The intention is to test operational capability to extract copper-gold material during a lower price environment and further refine costs structures. About Altiplano Altiplano Metals Inc. (TSXV: APN) is a mineral exploration company focused on evaluating and acquiring projects with significant potential for advancement from discovery through to production, in Canada and abroad. Management has a substantial record of success in capitalizing on opportunity, overcoming challenges and building shareholder value. Additional information concerning Altiplano can be found on its website at www.apnmetals.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD /s/ "John Williamson" President and CEO For further information, contact: Jeremy Yaseniuk, Director jeremyy@apnmetals.com Tel: (604) 773-1467 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd. (TSXV: ICAU) (the "Company") a gold and metals trading company, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended September 30, 2018. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. Financial Highlights - Second Quarter-Ended September 30, 2018 Record quarterly Gold Trading Revenue of $35.2 million as compared to $4.0 million over the same period in the prior year and $29.7 million in Q1 2019 Net Loss of $0.25 million, a reduction of $0.37 million (a 60% reduction) Year over Year ("YoY") versus Q2 2017 and a reduction of $0.52 million (a 68% reduction) from Q1 2018 Gross Trading Cash Margin increased 972% YoY to $0.59 million from $0.05 million in Q2 2017 and a 75% increase over $0.34 million reported in Q1 2019 Operating Highlights - Second Quarter-Ended September 30, 2018 Record quarterly Gold Exports of 28,440 ounces as compared to 2,370 ounces over the same period in the prior year and 11,813 ounces in Q1 2019 First full quarter of refined gold exports with consistent purity of 24 carat "Our record Q2 operating and financial results reflect the experience and commitment of our operations personnel. Our team in Latin America continue to deliver a "best in class" service experience to our artisanal clients. Our growing reputation as a trusted gold exporter is a key driver in our quarterly growth achievements enabling us to make significant gains in market share. During the last twelve months we successfully demonstrated the market potential of our business plan of gold and metals trading and have now positioned ourselves as a leading gold exporter and refiner in Latin America," said Gorden Glenn, President and CEO. "The next twelve months and beyond will be equally exciting and challenging as we continue to expand our market presence across the continent, increase revenues and diversify our revenue streams." Last Twelve Months August 2017- September 2018 Highlights Successfully completed our transformation from junior exploration company to revenue generating gold and metals trading business plan Raised $5.79 million from sale of Units (Promissory Notes plus share units) Paid $0.27 million in interest payments in the Last Twelve Months ("LTM") Purchased, transformed and exported over 57,571 ounces of gold Including refined gold (bullion) exports of 36,409 ounces since May 1, 2018 Constructed, commissioned and licensed a gold refinery on time and on schedule in April 2018 Achieved total revenues since restructuring of $93.3 million Revenue per employee of approximately $2.7 million Achieved average quarter over quarter gold export volume growth of 125% Corporate Update - Outlook and Future Growth Opportunities and Initiatives Expansion into Peru completed with first revenues anticipated in the current quarter-ended December 31, 2018 Work is ongoing to establish operating subsidiaries in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America Refined gold (24 carat) production is now being actively marketed to global refiners, financial services companies and directly to jewelers and jewelry manufacturers In 2019 the Company plans to initiate online bullion sales, offering gold bullion with optional storage of physical gold direct to investors In addition to physical bullion sales expansion plans the company continues to advance discussions with consultants to establish a digital currency platform secured by physical gold. 'Gold as Money' is an emerging, disruptive financial service with allocated physical gold being the basis for every day electronic payments. The market opportunity is global as gold's inherent value transcends borders as a truly global currency Gorden Glenn, CEO, commented: "We continue see significant opportunities for growth in our core gold and metals trading businesses, new jurisdictions and entry into online bullion sales and gold back digital currency markets. Our operating and financial results successes to date are the building blocks to establishing Intercontinental Gold and Metals as a Next Generation Metals and Mining Company of the future." About Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd. Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd. is a Next Generation Metals and Mining Company providing exposure to commodity prices, exploration and development success and significant growth potential for our stakeholders. Our physical commodities marketing and trading operations provide insights in global primary supply and demand trends that in turn create a strategic and competitive advantage investment and expansion opportunities on a global basis. The Company generates revenues from the purchases and sales of gold and silver (accounted for as revenue). Cost of sales is measured at the fair value of the precious metals purchased and inventory sold, which is purchased at a competitive discount from licensed artisanal and small gold miners (ASGM) in Latin America (LATAM). ASGM supply supports a sustainable revenue generation model. We are unique being the only publicly listed company servicing the LATAM ASGM market. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTERCONTINENTAL GOLD AND METALS LTD. Gorden Glenn President & Chief Executive Officer Forward Looking Statements This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements".All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expect, are forward-looking statements.Actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws. 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. LONDON, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greek authorities announced that BIOPROCANN S.A. is the recipient of the first production license in Greece. The license will allow BIOPROCANN S.A. to become a cornerstone in medical cannabis production in Greece, Europe's premium cultivation ground. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/787523/BIOPROCANN_Logo.jpg ) BIOPROCANN will be conducting business from a state-of-the-art growing facility of 48.000 m2 in Corinth, Greece. From inception to investment and implementation, the Company is leveraged to become a premium cannabis cultivator business brand with an international footprint. The Company is set to penetrate in the global cannabis market demand which is increasing exponentially. The major market opportunities for medical cannabis include: A $57 Billion Worldwide Market Worldwide Market Continuing major gains of Companies stocks in the US and Canada Rapid global wave towards legalization of medical and recreational cannabis extending across the US, Europe and Canada and A surge of giant consumer companies expanding their product offerings with cannabis infused or generic cannabis products under their labelling A growing list of qualifying conditions and benefits from medical cannabis As a premium cannabis cultivator which surpasses quality assurance requirements, BIOPROCANN S.A. will be the standard for precision cultivation environment while offering a significant number of new jobs for the country. The global cannabis revolution just reached Greece and it is forecasted that these licenses will play a major role in meeting the rapid increase of demand for medical cannabis being available for prescription for an increasing number of medical conditions. Inundated by market developments, one country after another will seek to fulfil internal demand with imports. The British Government has added medical cannabis to the list of medicines available to patients on the National Health Service as of November 1st 2018. In considering the global demand development landscape and having already structured its operations accordingly, BIOPROCANN S.A. is geared for rapid production turn out and is also targeting its business priorities towards the UK and German markets. ABOUT BIOPROCANN S.A. BIOPROCANN S.A. was created in 2018 in Greece, in view of the opening of the market for the cultivation of medical cannabis in the country. The Company obtained the first license issued by the Greek Government, having submitted a proposal for a model of precision cultivation that exceeds international standards to become the benchmark of the requirements of the domestic and international market for medical cannabis production. URL: http://www.bioprocann.gr E-MAIL: info@bioprocann.gr AmeriCann is Poised to Benefit from the Emergence of the Only Adult-Use Market in the Eastern United States DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / AmeriCann, Inc. (OTCQB: ACAN), a cannabis company that is developing cultivation, processing and manufacturing facilities announces the commencement of Adult-Use sales in Massachusetts. Adults over 21 years of age now have a safe, legal market to purchase laboratory tested cannabis and cannabis products in Massachusetts. Industry experts believe that the Massachusetts adult-use market, in conjunction with its existing medical program, will exceed $1 billion annually generating hundreds of millions in taxes for the Commonwealth. Massachusetts has a population of 6.8 million people and over 47 million people live within a 4 hour drive of Boston, MA. "AmeriCann identified the potential of Massachusetts and executed a plan to make a major impact in the Commonwealth several years ago," stated Tim Keogh. "The official launch of the Adult-Use program validates our efforts to secure nearly a million square feet of infrastructure to serve this market where demand may outstrip supply for the foreseeable future." AmeriCann has commenced construction on the Massachusetts Medical Cannabis Center (MMCC) on a 52-acre parcel located in Southeastern Massachusetts. The MMCC project is designed and approved for 987,000 sq. ft. of cannabis cultivation and processing infrastructure. The facilities will be developed in phases and will support both the existing medical cannabis and the newly emerging adult-use cannabis market. The Company also announced plans to build and operate an advanced large-scale processing and product manufacturing facility at the MMCC. AmeriCann, through a 100% owned subsidiary AmeriCann Brands, Inc., plans to provide extraction and product manufacturing support to the entire MMCC project, as well as to other licensed cannabis farmers throughout regulated markets. In addition to large-scale extraction of cannabis plant material, AmeriCann Brands plans to produce branded consumer packaged goods including cannabis beverages, vaporizer products, edible products, non-edible products and concentrates at the state-of-the-art facility. AmeriCann plans to replicate the brands, technology and innovations developed at its MMCC project to new markets as a multi-state licensed operator. Massachusetts Voters legalized marijuana by approving election ballot questions. Recreational marijuana was legalized in 2016 and medical marijuana in 2012. As the first approved adult-use cannabis market on the Eastern U.S., Massachusetts has the potential to become the epicenter for cannabis innovation and research. About Massachusetts Medical Cannabis Center Massachusetts Medical Cannabis Center (MMCC), is a one million square foot sustainable greenhouse facility in Freetown, Mass which is being developed by AmeriCann. The first phase of the facility is scheduled to open and be ready for cannabis cultivation, processing, and infused product production in the spring of 2019. Once fully developed, the MMCC design calls for a research facility, a training center, corporate offices, a quality-assurance laboratory, and a facility for manufacturing cannabis-infused food, nutraceuticals and consumer packaged cannabis goods. AmeriCann, through a 100% owned subsidiary AmeriCann Brands, Inc., plans to provide extraction and product manufacturing support to the entire MMCC project, as well as to other licensed cannabis farmers throughout regulated markets. In addition to large-scale extraction of cannabis plant material, AmeriCann Brands has applied for a license to produce branded consumer packaged goods including cannabis beverages, vaporizer products, edible products, non-edible products and concentrates at the state-of-the-art facility. AmeriCann intends to open similar facilities in states in which cannabis is legal for medical and adult use. About AmeriCann AmeriCann (OTCQB: ACAN) is a publicly traded cannabis company that is developing a new generation of sustainable, state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation and processing properties. AmeriCann uses greenhouse technology which is superior to the current industry standard of growing cannabis in warehouse facilities under artificial lights. According to industry experts, by capturing natural sunlight, greenhouses use 25 percent fewer light bulbs, and utility bills are up to 75 percent less than in typical warehouse cultivation facilities. As such, AmeriCann's Cannopy System enables cannabis to be produced with a greatly reduced carbon footprint, making the final product less expensive. Additionally, greenhouse construction costs are nearly half of warehouse construction costs. The first publicly traded Certified B Corp in the cannabis industry, AmeriCann has proven its commitment to sustainable, clean cultivation of medical cannabis and to social and environmental ethics, transparency and accountability. More information about the Company is available at: www.americann.co , or follow AmeriCann on Twitter @ACANinfo. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act") (which Sections were adopted as part of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "prospects," "outlook," and similar words or expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may," and "could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated results, performance or achievements. The Company disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, a future event, or otherwise. For additional uncertainties that could impact the Company's forward-looking statements, please see the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, which the Company recently filed with the SEC and which may be viewed at www.sec.gov. Contact Information: Corporate: AmeriCann, Inc. 1550 Wewatta Street 2nd Floor Denver, CO 80202 (303) 862-9000 info@americann.co www.americann.co @ACANinfo on Twitter @AmeriCann on Facebook @AmeriCannInc on Instagram AmeriCann, Inc on LinkedIn Media: Teak Media + Communication Stacy Wilbur stacy@teakmedia.com 617-269-7171 Investors: Hayden IR hart@haydenir.com (917) 658-7878 SOURCE: AmeriCann, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528576/Massachusetts-Officially-Launches-Adult-Use-Cannabis-Market Fourth Consecutive Year on the Deloitte Fast 500 List for TraceLink, with 480 Percent Revenue Growth NORTH READING, Massachusetts, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- TraceLink Inc., the World's Largest Track and Trace Network for connecting the life sciences supply chain and providing real-time information sharing for better patient outcomes, today announced it ranked #201 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. TraceLink, which achieved 480 percent growth from 2014 to 2017, is the #5 fastest growing software company headquartered in Massachusetts and the #10 fastest growing company overall in the state, to be ranked on the 2018 Deloitte Technology Fast 500. As the world's largest integrated digital supply network, TraceLink connects the end-to-end pharmaceutical supply chain, with over 1,000 customers and more than 270,000 trading partners, providing a patient-centric, digital information-sharing ecosystem that crosses the globe to maximize the efficacy, quality, safety, security and availability of pharmaceutical products. "We are honored to be named by Deloitte as one of the nation's fastest growing companies for the fourth year in a row. This recognition further exemplifies TraceLink's market leadership and our enduring commitment to invest and innovate in an industry that truly impacts human life," said Shabbir Dahod, president and CEO, TraceLink. "Congratulations to the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 500 winners on this impressive achievement," said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are innovators who have converted their disruptive ideas into products, services and experiences that can captivate new customers and drive remarkable growth." "Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics," said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloitte's audit and assurance practice. "This year's ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth." About Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500 Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies - both public and private - in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. About TraceLink TraceLink is the World's Largest Track and Trace Network for connecting the Life Sciences supply chain and eliminating counterfeit prescription drugs from the global marketplace. Leading businesses trust the TraceLink Life Sciences Cloud to deliver complete global connectivity, visibility and traceability of pharmaceuticals from ingredient to patient. A single point and click connection to the Life Sciences Cloud creates a supply chain control tower that delivers the information, insight and collaboration needed to improve performance and reduce risk across global supply, manufacturing and distribution operations. A winner of numerous industry awards including three consecutive years on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 (ranked number 177 in 2017), the Amazon AWS Global Start-Up Challenge Grand Prize, and the Edison Award for Innovation in Health Management, the Life Sciences Cloud is used by businesses across the globe to meet strategic goals in ensuring global compliance, fighting drug counterfeiting, improving on-time and in-full delivery, protecting product quality and reducing operational cost. For more information on TraceLink and our solutions, visit www.tracelink.com. TraceLink is funded by Georgian Partners , Willett Advisors LLC , Vulcan Capital , Goldman Sachs , FirstMark Capital , Volition Capital and F-Prime Capital . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/690309/TraceLink_Logo.jpg Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - Agau Resources, Inc. ("Agau" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent (the "LOI") dated November 19, 2018 with California-based The Hacienda Company, LLC ("Hacienda"), whereby the parties will complete a business combination by way of a transaction that will constitute a reverse takeover of the Company by Hacienda (the "Transaction"). In connection with the Transaction, the Resulting Issuer (as defined below) will apply to list on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The resulting issuer that will exist upon completion of the Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer") will change its business to the cannabis industry and is expected to change its name to "Lowell Herb Co." The final structure of the Transaction will be determined by the parties following receipt of tax, corporate and securities law advice. In connection with the Transaction, Hacienda intends to complete a brokered private placement of subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to US$45,000,000 (the "Offering"). Hacienda has engaged Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Canaccord Genuity LLC (together, "Canaccord") and GMP Securities L.P. ("GMP" and, collectively with Canaccord, the "Agents") to assist with completion of the Offering on the terms described below. Hacienda And Its Business The Hacienda Company is a branded cannabis business and the creator of Lowell Herb Co. Lowell is currently one of the fastest growing, most talked about cannabis brands in the U.S. Its signature product, Lowell Smokes, is the number one selling pre-roll in California, with a dominant market share (BDS Analytics). Available in over 350 dispensaries, Lowell cultivates and sources flowers grown with only organic fertilizer, never using synthetic pesticides. Vanity Fair recently described Lowell as "The California family of farms that grows organic cannabis for green-minded consumers who value premium goods and sophisticated design." Lowell has been featured in major media outlets including Newsweek, The New Yorker, High Times, NPR, Time Out LA, CBS News, Huffington Post, and many others. Agau Shareholder Meeting Prior to, and as a condition of, the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"), Agau will call a meeting of its shareholders (the "Agau Meeting") for the purpose of approving, among other matters: a change of name of the Company to "Lowell Herb Co." or such other name as is directed by Hacienda and acceptable to applicable regulatory authorities effective upon Closing; the consolidation of its shares on a ratio to be determined (such ratio to be acceptable to Hacienda, acting reasonably) (the " Share Consolidation "); "); the creation of a new class of securities, which will have multiple voting rights per security; the continuance of the Company from the Province of Alberta to either the Province of British Columbia or the Province of Ontario, to be determined by Hacienda, acting reasonably; the approval of a new stock option plan to be effective upon Closing; the election of new nominee directors appointed by Hacienda to form the new board of directors, which elections will be effective upon Closing; the appointment of a new auditor; and if required by governing regulatory bodies, the approval of the Transaction. The Transaction is an arm's length transaction. Agau will prepare and file a CSE Form 2A listing statement or other principal disclosure document (the "Listing Statement") with the CSE providing comprehensive disclosure on Hacienda and the Transaction in connection with the proposed CSE listing. Hacienda Private Placement In connection with the Transaction, Hacienda has engaged the Agents to assist with completion of the Offering, whereby the Agents will assist Hacienda in selling, on a commercially reasonable efforts private placement basis, up to US$35,000,000 of Subscription Receipts at an expected price range between US$3.00 to US$4.00 per Subscription Receipt (such determined price, the "Issue Price"), amounting to aggregate gross proceeds of up to US$35,000,000 (or US$45,000,000 if the Agents' Option (as defined below) is exercised in full). The Agents' obligations in respect of the Offering are subject to, among other things, entry into a binding agency agreement with Hacienda. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur in December 2018 (the "Closing Date") and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and corporate approvals. Pursuant to the terms of the Offering, the Agents have been granted an option to arrange for the sale of up to an additional US$10,000,000 of Subscription Receipts at the Issue Price, which option is exercisable by the Agents any time prior to the Closing Date (the "Agents' Option"). Each Subscription Receipt shall entitle the holder to receive, upon satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions and without payment of additional consideration, one unit of Hacienda (a "Unit"). Each Unit shall be comprised of one common share of Hacienda (a "Common Share") and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall be exercisable into one Common Share at a price that is at least 35% greater than the Issue Price for a period of 24 months from the date the escrow release conditions are satisfied. Management of the Resulting Issuer Upon closing of the Transaction, all of Agau's current directors and executive officers will resign and be replaced by nominees of Hacienda approved at the Agau Meeting, all in a manner that complies with the requirements of governing regulatory bodies and applicable securities and corporate laws. Details of insiders and proposed directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer will be disclosed in a further news release. Closing Conditions The completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to the following: the execution of a definitive agreement; completion of satisfactory due diligence; completion of the Share Consolidation; completion of the Offering; the conditional approval to the listing of the shares of the Resulting Issuer on the CSE; and receipt of all required regulatory, corporate and third party approvals, including approvals by the CSE, applicable governmental authorities, and the fulfillment of all applicable regulatory requirements and conditions necessary to complete the Transaction. Further Information Further details about the Transaction and the Resulting Issuer will be provided in a comprehensive news release when the parties enter into the definitive agreement. Investors are cautioned that any information released or received with respect to the Transaction in this press release may not be complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the common shares of the Company should be considered highly speculative. The securities to be issued in connection with the Transaction have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, CSE acceptance, requisite shareholder approvals, and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or Listing Statement, as applicable, of the Company to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Agau should be considered highly speculative. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Agau Resources, Inc. Agau Resources, Inc. is a mineral exploration company with no current activities or operations. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the proposal to complete the Transaction and associated transactions. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements about, among other things, the expected timing and terms of the Transaction and the Offering, the number of securities of Agau or the Resulting Issuer that may be issued in connection with the Transaction, the ownership ratio of the Resulting Issuer post-closing, the Private Placement, the required shareholder approvals or the ability to obtain such approvals, Hacienda's strategic plans and the parties' ability to satisfy closing conditions and receive necessary approvals are all forward-looking information. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the Transaction will occur or that, if the Transaction does occur, it will be completed on the terms described above. Agau and Hacienda assume no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by applicable law. For more information, please contact: Agau Resources, Inc. Binyomin Posen CEO and Director Telephone: (416) 481.2222 x 246 Email: bposen@plazacapital.ca The Hacienda Company, LLC David Elias CEO and Director Telephone: (805) 244.5076 Email: ir@thehacienda.com THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - Mark Jarvis, CEO of Giga Metals Corp. (TSXV: GIGA) announced today that Martin Vydra, a former executive with Sherritt International Corporation and current Head of Strategy at Cobalt 27 Capital Corp., has been appointed to the Board of Giga Metals. "This is exciting news for our company," said Mr. Jarvis. "Martin has a unique and deep background both in the technical aspects of nickel and cobalt processing and in marketing intermediate and finished products to end users ranging from aerospace to lithium ion battery manufacturers. Martin will be active in helping us select the offtake partners we want to work with." "Turnagain is a very interesting, very large project," said Mr. Vydra. "One of the project's strengths is the quality of concentrates that can be produced. I have already had initial discussions with potential offtake partners and their interest is evident when they review our concentrate specifications. I look forward to working with Mark and his management and technical team to advance development of the Turnagain project." Martin Vydra is widely recognized as an expert in nickel and cobalt extraction, processing and refining including the development and application of advanced technologies to maximize the recovery of valuable metals such as nickel and cobalt from a variety of feeds. From 2012 to 2017, Martin held the position of Senior Vice-President of Metals at Sherritt International Corporation, where he successfully guided the division through one of the most challenging periods in the commodities cycle, while delivering production at near to bottom quartile costs. Martin's technical accomplishments at Sherritt spanned four continents and over 20 operations including postings in Australia where he was integral in Murrin Murrin's refinery start up; Finland for the design of Harjavalta's nickel reduction circuit; and, in Chile where he oversaw the design, construction and commissioning of a major pressure oxidation operation. Martin also played a key role in the assessment of Sherritt's Cuba's operations at Moa Bay, which resulted in the formation of Sherritt's Moa Joint Venture. Additionally, from 2005 to 2007, Martin was responsible for engineering, maintenance and capital construction at Sherritt's nickel refinery and was considered one of Sherritt's top technical experts across global operations. -2- Most recently, Martin served as Sherritt's Senior Vice President, Commercial and Technologies, where he had oversight for the sales and marketing of nickel and cobalt, and marketing and commercialization of Sherritt's proprietary technologies. Martin was instrumental in gaining access to numerous markets culminating with large-scale commercial plants built in China (zinc processing and coinage), Australia (HPAL), and in South America (pressure oxidation of sulphide ores). In addition to his technical expertise, from 2008 to 2011, Martin held the position of Managing Director, Commercial Contracts and Marketing, with global responsibility for metal marketing which included finished products from Sherritt's Ambatovy and Moa joint ventures. Over his career Martin has been responsible for the sales and marketing of cobalt, nickel, fine cobalt powders and chemicals, thermal spray powders and coinage with end users ranging from aerospace to lithium-ion battery manufacturers. Martin is a current and founding member of the London Metals Exchange Cobalt Committee and served on the board of directors of the Cobalt Institute. Martin was also a member of the board of directors of the Nickel Institute from 2010 to 2018, where he served as chair from 2015 to 2017. Martin's ability to combine technical and commercial aspects of the nickel and cobalt industries places him within a distinct group of industry professionals who offer this skill set. About Giga Metal's Turnagain Nickel-Cobalt Project The Turnagain Project hosts the Horsetrail nickel-cobalt deposit, a significant undeveloped nickel-cobalt sulphide deposit, located in British Columbia, Canada. Engineering and metallurgical studies are underway with an objective of producing a Pre-Feasibility study by the end of 2019. Extensive metallurgical work indicates a clean concentrate grading 18% nickel and 1% cobalt is reliably achievable using simple "off-the-shelf" processing technology. The Turnagain project covers a large, relatively underexplored land package prospective for additional ultramafic-hosted nickel-cobalt discoveries. Turnagain is one of the few projects in a stable jurisdiction that can potentially deliver large quantities of nickel and cobalt to meet the growing needs of the electric vehicle and energy storage markets at a time when many research analysts are projecting there will be shortages in the cobalt and nickel required by battery manufacturers. Grant of Incentive Stock Options The Company also announced that pursuant to its Stock Option Plan, approved by the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company will be granting 585,000 stock options to certain Consultants, Directors, Officers and Employees, exercisable at $0.35 per share, expiring November 20, 2023. -3- The Company further announces that 250,000 options were cancelled in February 2018, exercisable at $0.55. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Mark Jarvis" MARK JARVIS, PRESIDENT & CEO GIGA METALS CORPORATION Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include the possibility of finding an offtake partner, that a Pre-Feasibility Study will be completed by the end of 2019 and that the Turnagain project could deliver large quantities of nickel and cobalt. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include that geological interpretations based on drillingmay change with more detailed information; the availability of labour, equipment, infrastructure and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine cannot be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Suite 203 - 700 West Pender St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1G8 T: 604-681-2300 E: info@gigametals.com W: www.gigametals.com Madrid accounts for more than 40% of land investments made by AEDAS Homes So far in 2018, the developer has acquired assets worth 40 million in the Madrid region These acquisitions have further boosted the homebuilder's position in Spain's leading market, as more than 35% of the company's GDV is in Madrid November 2018.- AEDAS Homes (https://www.aedashomes.com/), a leading developer in the real estate market for new-build homes, continues to make its mark by investing in one of the Spanish regions with the strongest levels of demand: the Community of Madrid. In the first half of 2018, the developer acquired assets worth 40 million in the Madrid region; this land accounts for 40% of its new land investments. In the Community of Madrid, AEDAS Homes has a special focus on northwest Madrid, which has the strongest demand and is where 85% of its investments have been made. El Canaveral, a sought-after new development district in the east, accounts for the remaining 15%. With these investments, AEDAS Homes has consolidated its leading position in the Community of Madrid-the most attractive in terms of residential demand in Spain-, and particularly in the area to the west, home to four of the five municipalities with the highest per capita income in Spain: Pozuelo de Alarcon, Las Rozas, Majadahonda and Boadilla del Monte. The land purchased in the Madrid region will enable the developer to buildapproximately 710 homes in the Spanish housing market with the most traction in terms of the total number of transactions and price. The cost per unit for these investments is 56,000, which includes the cost to convert the portfolio from fully-permitted into ready-to-build. "Our investment efforts have always centered on Madrid. With 13% year-on-year growth, this market is the leader in terms of rising home prices. In 2017, it accounted for 15% of total residential demand in Spain, with approximately 81,000 units sold," noted Sergio Galvez, the developer's Chief Strategy and Investment Officer. "The areas we have focused on have the strongest demand and their growth rates are clearly above those in the rest of the Community," he pointed out. This concentration of investment in land in Madrid over the course of 2018 has made it possible for AEDAS Homes to significantly increase its exposure in Spain's top residential market. Madrid now accounts for more than 35% of the company's GDV, given its focus on consolidating its position the region. Land Bank in Spain In the first half of 2018, AEDAS Homes closed 16 deals worth a total of 96.6 in the national market. These investments were made in three provinces where the company currently operates (Madrid, Seville and Valencia) and in two new ones (Granada and Valladolid). These investments in land on which more than 1,900 homes can be built mean that the developer's total land portfolio now exceeds 1.5 million square meters for the construction of over 14,500 homes. In August, the company took out a 150 million corporate term loan in order to continue expanding its land bank. According to Galvez, this financing will enable the company to "make the most of the competitive advantage of our land bank to bring forward our land investment schedule and secure top-quality assets currently available on the market". Furthermore, as of September 30, the company had issued letters of intent for land on which to build an additional 1,010 units. Looking ahead, "We will continue investing in our traditional geographic footprint, further improving visibility on our business plan and maintaining the quality of our land bank," stated Galvez. About AEDAS Homes The developer AEDAS Homes became a listed company in Madrid on October 20, 2017, with a market capitalization of over 1.5 billion. As an industry leader at the national level, the company aims to play an important role in the new cycle of the Spanish real estate sector, which must be marked by professionalism and an adherence to rigorous standards. AEDAS Homes has a fully-permitted residential land bank with more than 1.5 million square meters (the highest quality land bank in Spain, according to experts). This portfolio will allow the developer to build over 14,500 homes in Spain's key markets and their surrounding areas (both in terms of real estate and finance): the Centre (Madrid region), Catalonia, the East & Mallorca, Costa del Sol and Andalucia. For additional information: aedashomes.com/ (https://www.aedashomes.com/) AEDAS Homes corporate video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5QNVtpPfNo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5QNVtpPfNo) Investor Conference Expects 1,200+ Attendees, with 250 Presenting Companies SAN CLEMENTE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / Concierge Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: CNCG), a diversified global holding firm, today announced it will be presenting at the 11th annual LD Micro Main Event on Wednesday, December 5, at 4:30 p.m. PST. Nicholas Gerber, Chief Executive Officer of Concierge, and David Neibert, Chief Operations Officer, will be presenting and meeting with investors. The LD Micro Main Event, https://www.ldmicro.com/profile/CNCG, will take place December 4 through 6 at the Luxe Sunset Bel Air Hotel, 1146 Sunset Blvd. The conference will feature 250 companies, with more than 1,200 attendees. About Concierge Technologies, Inc. Initially founded in 1996, Concierge Technologies was repositioned as a global holding firm in 2015, and currently has operating subsidiaries in financial services, food manufacturing, security systems and beauty products. Offices and manufacturing operations are in the U.S., New Zealand and Canada. For more information, visit www.conciergetechnology.net. About LD Micro LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into several influential events annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event). In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and micro-cap universe. For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information. Investor Relations: Roger S. Pondel PondelWilkinson Inc. D: 310-279-5965 | O: 310-279-5980 rpondel@pondel.com | www.pondel.com SOURCE: Concierge Technologies, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528525/Concierge-Technologies-to-Present-at-11th-Annual-LD-Micro-Main-Event Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd. / Santhera enters into agreement to acquire option from Idorsia for exclusive sub-license of first-in-class dissociative steroid vamorolone . Processed and transmitted by West Corporation. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Vamorolone in clinical development for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) by ReveraGen BioPharma Inc. - pivotal VISION-DMD Phase 2b study ongoing Vamorolone has the potential to become standard of care in young patients with DMD Positions Santhera as a leading company in the DMD space with two late-stage assets addressing the medical need of DMD patients at all disease stages Idorsia to become the largest shareholder in Santhera with a 13.3% equity stake Pratteln and Allschwil, Switzerland, November 20, 2018 Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN) and Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) have entered into an agreement under which Santhera will acquire the option to exclusively in-license, by way of sub-license, the first-in-class dissociative steroid vamorolone in all indications and all countries worldwide except Japan and South Korea. Initial clinical data suggest that vamorolone has the anti-inflammatory efficacy of steroids with reduced steroid-associated safety concerns, which would represent a significant improvement over current standard of care glucocorticoid therapy in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), vamorolone's lead indication. Thomas Meier, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Santhera, said: "Vamorolone is a highly promising drug candidate for the treatment of patients with DMD and a perfect strategic fit alongside idebenone. Our late-stage DMD drug portfolio covers a broad DMD patient spectrum, irrespective of genetic background, disease stage or age. This agreement underscores our strategy of in-licensing high-quality, late-stage rare disease assets, which leverage our existing capabilities and expertise. We are also delighted to welcome Idorsia as our largest shareholder and partner and look forward to working with ReveraGen in the development of vamorolone, which has the potential to replace standard glucocorticoids as treatment for DMD." Vamorolone - first-in-class dissociative steroid Vamorolone is a first-in-class drug candidate that binds to the same receptors as glucocorticoids but modifies the downstream activity of the receptors. This has the potential to 'dissociate' efficacy from typical steroid safety concerns and therefore could replace existing glucocorticoids, the current standard of care in children and adolescent patients with DMD. There is significant unmet medical need in this patient group as high dose glucocorticoids have severe systemic side effects, which limit long-term usage. Vamorolone was discovered by US-based ReveraGen BioPharma Inc. and has been developed with participation in funding and design of studies by 12 international non-profit foundations, the US National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Defense and the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program. Actelion had acquired an option to license the product in 2016. This option was subsequently transferred to Idorsia following the acquisition of Actelion by Johnson & Johnson in 2017. Eric Hoffman, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of ReveraGen, commented: "Our hope for vamorolone is that it can replace existing glucocorticoids in DMD therapy. Early clinical development of vamorolone in patients with DMD, using an innovative approach with an array of pre-selected biomarkers in multiple contexts of use, suggests that vamorolone preserves anti-inflammatory efficacy while decreasing steroid-associated safety concerns. I am delighted to work with Santhera to advance this exciting therapeutic candidate for patients with DMD." Vamorolone in DMD Following single and multiple ascending dose clinical pharmacology studies (VBP15-001) in healthy volunteers [1] vamorolone completed a Phase 2a study (VBP15-002) in 48 boys with DMD aged 4 to <7 years. Vamorolone was reported to be safe and well tolerated up to 6.0mg/kg/day, around 10 times the standard glucocorticoid dose [2]. A 6-month extension study (VBP15-003) also demonstrated dose-dependent improvement in timed function tests which was comparable to standard glucocorticoid treatment. The ongoing Phase 2b VISION-DMD study (VBP15-004) builds on the available promising preliminary safety and efficacy data from Phase 2a and is designed to bridge exploratory biomarker data to clinical outcomes. This pivotal study will enroll approximately 120 boys aged 4 to <7 with DMD that have not yet been treated with glucocorticoids, randomized to one of four groups: low dose vamorolone (2 mg/kg/day), high dose vamorolone (6 mg/kg/day), prednisone (0.75 mg/kg/day), or placebo. After the initial 24-week treatment period, the prednisone and placebo groups will cross-over to low dose or high dose vamorolone. The second treatment period then has all patients treated for an additional 20 weeks with vamorolone. Clinical outcomes for efficacy include timed function tests and measures of muscle strength and endurance. Clinical outcomes for safety include monitoring of bone changes, weight changes, cataracts, and biomarkers of metabolic disturbances. The study is being conducted at approximately 30 sites across North America, Europe, Israel and Australia. Enrolment, which began in August 2018, is expected to take about 12 months, with a total study duration of about 24 months. If successful, the data filing with health authorities in the US is anticipated by the end of 2020 and in the EU in 2021. Vamorolone has received Orphan Drug Designation in the US and in Europe and fast-track status in the US. Santhera management anticipates peak sales potential for vamorolone for the DMD indication of USD 500 million. The Agreement Under the terms of the agreement, Idorsia will grant Santhera the option to obtain an exclusive sub-license for vamorolone in all indications and all territories except Japan and South Korea. Idorsia will receive as consideration for entering into the agreement 1,000,000 (one million) new registered shares from Santhera's existing authorized share capital and an upfront cash component of USD 20 million, of which USD 15 million is intended to compensate Idorsia for its investment into the Phase 2b VISION-DMD study currently conducted by ReveraGen. While the cash component of the consideration is subject to financing, the share component of the consideration is unconditional and, like the cash component, not redeemable under any circumstances. As a consequence of the transaction, Idorsia will become the largest shareholder in Santhera with a 13.3% equity position. The shares to be issued to Idorsia will be subject to a lock-up undertaking expiring if and when vamorolone receives marketing authorization in DMD in the United States. Santhera may exercise the option upon receipt of data from the Phase 2b VISION-DMD study (VBP15-004) and following a one-time consideration to Idorsia of USD 30 million. Following the exercise of the worldwide vamorolone license option by Idorsia and exercise of the vamorolone sub-license option for all territories worldwide except Japan and South Korea by Santhera, Santhera will pay to Idorsia regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to USD 80 million in the DMD indication and four one-time sales milestone payments of up to USD 130 million in aggregate. Regulatory milestone payments by Santhera to Idorsia for three additional indications amount to up to USD 205 million in aggregate. Upon commercialization of vamorolone, Santhera has committed to pay tiered royalties ranging from a single-digit percentage to low double-digit percentage on the annual net sales of vamorolone to Idorsia. Jean-Paul Clozel, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Idorsia, concluded: "With four compounds in late-stage clinical development and more innovative compounds coming through the pipeline, Idorsia's newly established commercial function has many assets to focus on. We have decided to hand the option to license vamorolone to Santhera because they are ideally placed to maximize the potential of this asset. If successful, Santhera's network and expertise in the field of DMD will allow patients to benefit from this potential new treatment approach as soon as possible. In addition, with this agreement we become Santhera's largest shareholder, so we remain highly motivated and committed to make vamorolone a success." Notes to the editor About Santhera Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN) is a Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines for rare and other diseases with high unmet medical needs. The portfolio comprises clinical stage and marketed treatments for neuro-ophthalmologic, neuromuscular and pulmonary diseases. Santhera's Raxone (idebenone) is authorized in the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Israel for the treatment of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and is currently commercialized in more than 20 countries. For further information, please visit www.santhera.com. Raxone is a trademark of Santhera Pharmaceuticals. About ReveraGen BioPharma ReveraGen was founded in 2008 to develop first-in-class dissociative steroidal drugs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other chronic inflammatory disorders. The development of ReveraGen's lead compound, vamorolone, has been supported through partnerships with foundations worldwide, including Muscular Dystrophy Association USA, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne, Save Our Sons, JoiningJack, Action Duchenne, CureDuchenne, Ryan's Quest, Alex's Wish, DuchenneUK, Pietro's Fight, Michael's Cause, and Duchenne Research Fund. ReveraGen has also received generous support from the US Department of Defense CDMRP, National Institutes of Health (NCATS, NINDS, NIAMS), and European Commission (Horizons 2020). www.reveragen.com About Idorsia Idorsia Ltd is reaching out for more - We have more ideas, we see more opportunities and we want to help more patients. In order to achieve this, we will develop Idorsia into one of Europe's leading biopharmaceutical companies, with a strong scientific core. Headquartered in Switzerland - a biotech-hub of Europe - Idorsia is specialized in the discovery and development of small molecules, to transform the horizon of therapeutic options. Idorsia has a broad portfolio of innovative drugs in the pipeline, an experienced team, a fully-functional research center, and a strong balance sheet - the ideal constellation to bringing R&D efforts to business success. Idorsia was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA) in June 2017 and has over 700 highly qualified specialists dedicated to realizing our ambitious targets. About the exclusive worldwide license agreement between Idorsia and ReveraGen Idorsia's agreement with ReveraGen relating to the vamorolone license option was last renewed and amended on November 5, 2018. Under the agreement, as amended, Idorsia is entitled to exercise an option to obtain the exclusive worldwide license rights relating to vamorolone at any time, but not later than upon receipt of the Phase 2b study results in exchange for a consideration of USD 20 million. If the option is exercised, ReveraGen will be entitled to regulatory and commercial milestone payments from Idorsia of up to USD 75 million in the DMD indication and three one-time sales milestone payments of up to USD 120 million in aggregate. Regulatory milestone payments by Idorsia to ReveraGen for three additional indications amount to up to USD 190 million in aggregate. Upon commercialization of vamorolone, Idorsia has committed to pay tiered single-digit to low double-digit royalties on the annual net sales of vamorolone to ReveraGen. References [1] Hoffman E et al. (2018). Phase 1 trial of vamorolone, a first-in-class steroid, shows improvements in side effects via biomarkers bridged to clinical outcomes. Steroids 134: 43-52 [2] Conklin LS et al. (2018). Phase IIa trial in Duchenne muscular dystrophy shows vamorolone is a first in-class dissociative steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Pharmacological Research 136:140-150. For further information, please contact Santhera Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG, Hohenrainstrasse 24, CH-4133 Pratteln public-relations@santhera.com or Eva Kalias, Head External Communications Phone: +41 79 875 27 80 eva.kalias@santhera.com For Investors: investor-relations@santhera.com or Christoph Rentsch, Chief Financial Officer Hans Vitzthum, LifeSci Advisors Europe: +41 61 906 89 65 USA: +1 212 915 2568 christoph.rentsch@santhera.com hans@lifesciadvisors.com Santhera Webcast & Conference Call Santhera will hold an audio webcast / conference call tomorrow, November 21, 2018 at 13:00 CET, 12:00 GMT, 07:00 EST to discuss the agreement on vamorolone. Participants are invited to join either the audio webcast or telephone conference 10-15 minutes before the start: Webcast: click this link to access the webcast Telephone conference: dial one of the following numbers (no code required): Europe: +41 58 310 50 00 UK: +44 207 107 0613 USA: +1 631 570 5613 Idorsia Andrew C. Weiss Senior Vice President, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil +41 (0) 58 844 10 10 www.idorsia.com (http://www.idorsia.com) The above information contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seeks", "pending" or "anticipates" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of the company's investment and research and development programs and anticipated expenditures in connection therewith, descriptions of new products expected to be introduced by the company and anticipated customer demand for such products and products in the company's existing portfolio. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Press Release PDF (http://hugin.info/174259/R/2226410/873739.pdf) Samsung-backed startup partner AERGO, announces it has secured $30M from top investors including Sequoia Capital China and GBIC, to develop its end-to-end open-source platform for distributed services HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / AERGO , the strategic technology partner of Samsung Ventures funded startup Blocko , announces it has secured $30 million in a venture funding round to allow businesses to share data through trustless blockchain networks. Blocko supports, develops, and subsequently plans to use the AERGO platform to offer a broader set of enterprise-IT solutions and cloud-based application development capabilities to many existing blockchain clients. AERGO is an end-to-end open-source based platform that features customizable high-scale hybrid-blockchain deployments, a serverless cloud architecture, and data bridging technology. The company was founded by Blocko's leadership team consisting of enterprise-IT and blockchain veterans. AERGO's architecture will allow enterprises to transfer data without having to trust an intermediary while also being flexibly governed and integrated seamlessly into existing systems. AERGO will use the funds to develop the AERGO platform. This includes: Releasing a new base-layer public blockchain protocol Delivering a set of easy-to-use IT integration software deployment blueprints Scaling-out its research and development teams Launching new applications on the platform to demonstrate use cases Expanding its partner ecosystem and global reach The AERGO organization has raised $30 million in funds to build a public blockchain platform that incorporates insights Blocko has gained from delivering 23 private blockchain products to enterprises, fintech companies, and government bodies since 2014. The funding round included Sequoia Capital China, GBIC, Neo Global Capital, Dekrypt Capital, FBG Capital, Arrington XRP Capital, JRR Crypto, Rockaway Capital, Block Crafters Capital, and more. "I've spent over twenty-five years leading firms like Red Hat and VMWare in driving adoption of open-source technologies by delivering complex systems to corporations like Deutsche Telekom, HSBC, Ferrari, Sony, Ericsson, and Siemens," said Phil Zamani, Founder and Chairman of the AERGO organization. "Blocko's approach to the next frontier of open-source technology, blockchain, will emulate that which I made when leading business strategies in firms like Red Hat, where innate customer know-how, which Blocko has, was the edge over competitors like IBM." Mr. Zamani believes the success of the funding round is credited to the open-source enterprise-IT leadership experience he holds and the four years of practical blockchain implementation experience Blocko holds having delivered many in-production systems to clients including Korea Exchange , Samsung Card , Lotte Card , a South Korean government body (and more). Blocko's services became increasingly demanded by large companies after Samsung first made an investment in the company in 2016 . AERGO takes a hybrid blockchain approach to its design architecture which entails a mix of a public chain, private chains, and side chains all connected through interoperability technology. AERGO claims a hybrid approach should allow ease of integration into existing systems by giving businesses the flexibility of coupling completely trustless environments for sensitive data or value transfers with regulatory compliant record-keeping, privacy, and customization. "Many of the newer blockchain solutions are still not suited for enterprises and existing businesses. AERGO has the greatest potential to bring blockchain technology closer to the real world as it is leveraging Blocko's core technology which has dozens of production-level projects with millions of end-users," said Sinhae Lee, Partner at GBIC, in a statement. "The team has been focusing on blockchain technology since 2014 and has been providing its blockchain product, Coinstack, to some of the largest conglomerates including Samsung Card, Hyundai, and Kia Motors." Roger Lim, Partner at Neo Global Capital, the investment arm of China's blockchain platform NEO, added, "There are three things needed for a platform to be successful: great technology, a strong team, and a proven track record to deliver on a disruptive vision. The team's extensive experience in delivering blockchain implementations stands out and fulfills these requirements. We look forward to working with AERGO to help them to deliver a platform for decentralized applications running on the blockchain." The startup previously raised USD 8.9 M in a Series-B round in June of this year which included a follow-on investment from Samsung Ventures from a previous funding round. Leadership: Won Beom-Kim - Founder and Chief Scientist Phil Zamani - Chairman & CEO Hunyoung Park - CTO & Board Member About AERGO: AERGO is an open platform that allows businesses to build innovative applications and services by sharing data on a trustless and distributed IT ecosystem. AERGO is supported and developed by Blocko, Korea's largest blockchain infrastructure provider. About GBIC: GBIC (Global Blockchain Innovative Capital) is a multi-strategy crypto fund with offices in New York, Shanghai, and Seoul. GBIC is a global fund that furthers the development, acceleration, and launch of blockchain projects. CONTACT: Hong Kong, China hello@aergo.io SOURCE: AERGO View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/528587/AERGO-Secures-30-Million-from-Top-Investors-to-Build-First-of-its-Kind-Public-Blockchain-Platform Frankfurt am Main (ots) -- EUR 80 million to increase capacities of wastewater treatment plants - More water for use in agriculture, industry and tourism - Adaptation to climate changeIn the presence of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), KfW today signed a loan agreement with the City of Cape Town in the amount of EUR 80 million to promote energy-efficient and environmentally and economically sustainable urban wastewater disposal. The funds will support the modernisation and expansion of the 22 existing plants under the scope of the "Climate Initiative for Urban Wastewater Disposal in Cape Town". This is KfW's first direct cooperation with a municipality in a Financial Cooperation (FC) partner country."Through the modernisation of its wastewater management facilities, Cape Town will be better equipped to face climate change and deal with scarce water resources induced by periods of drought," said Dr Gunther Braunig, Chief Executive Officer of KfW Group.The aim is also to increase energy efficiency by replacing the plants, some of which are more than 50 years old. By increasing the maximum capacity of the wastewater plants, more water will be available for use in agriculture, industry and tourism. The plan also includes improved treatment of the sewage sludge and the associated reduction of methane gas emissions.This project is the first measure in the framework of the "Clean Oceans Initiative" that was founded in October by KfW together with the European Investment Bank and the French development bank AFD. The initiative aims to promote sustainable projects that reduce pollution of the world's oceans with a total volume of EUR 2 billion.Further informationFurther information on the International Climate Initiative (IKI): https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/about KfW Development Bank can be found at http://ots.de/cehvYB.Originaltext: KfW digital press kits: http://www.presseportal.de/nr/41193 press kits via RSS: http://www.presseportal.de/rss/pm_41193.rss2Pressekontakt: KfW, Palmengartenstr. 5 - 9, 60325 Frankfurt Kommunikation (KOM), Dr. Charis Pothig Tel. +49 (0)69 7431 4683, Fax: +49 (0)69 7431 3266, E-Mail: Charis.Poethig@kfw.de, Internet: www.kfw.de Key risk and confidence findings from the first global CNA Hardy Risk and Confidence Survey LONDON, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Risk levels are broadly consistent around the world, with 82% of business leaders feeling they operate in a moderate to high risk environment. Confidence levels vary dramatically from 39% in the UK to 70% in Continental Europe as protectionist economic policy threatens to undermine companies' international growth ambitions. Businesses everywhere are prioritising investment in technology and R&D over people. Look ahead six months and increased dependency on technology means cyber overtakes economic risk as the biggest perceived threat to business, with the largest companies feeling the least confident. Increasingly global and interconnected risks mean companies must focus on leadership, culture and strategy to stay ahead. Less than two thirds (59%) of business executives worldwide are currently confident about the ability of their business to grow and prosper, according to the latest edition of CNA Hardy's Risk and Confidence Survey, released today. However, there are substantial regional variations, with 70% of leaders in Continental Europe expressing confidence, well ahead of those in North America (64%), Asia Pacific (53%) and the UK (39%). In terms of threat perception, there is greater consensus: economic risk is the primary concern for 22% of business leaders worldwide, ranking in the two top risks in every region ahead of cyber (19%), technology (14%) and political risk (13%). Dave Brosnan, CEO, CNA Hardy, commented: "Economic risk is top of the leader board in every region bar Continental Europe and it hits business confidence hardest where organisations feel they have most to lose - namely in the UK where Brexit is paralysing decision-making and in Asia where trade wars are distorting trade patterns. "By contrast, in North America and Continental Europe, comparatively strong economic growth means business leaders are far more confident, despite the overall sense that they are operating in a moderate to high risk environment. "However, what is interesting to note is that no matter what their confidence levels are, executives in every single region are prioritising international expansion to fuel growth. While this bullish approach is positive from a business perspective, growth should be treated with caution. Increasingly protectionist economic policy could undermine companies' international growth ambitions. Executing a global growth strategy is much harder against political and economic headwinds." Rising technology investment sees tech and cyber risk rise Alongside international expansion, executives globally are showing a strong preference for technology and R&D investments over people. 74% of business leaders worldwide are prioritising technology spend and 70% R&D spend in order to support topline growth. Historically, CNA Hardy research data has shown an equal preference for technology and talent to support companies' growth ambitions. In November 2018, however, hiring of temporary staff was a lower priority than spending on corporate development (e.g. M&A) or plant and equipment. This shift in investment priorities has also altered risk perceptions, making technology1 a global top three risk, with 14% of leaders globally ranking it as their top risk now and 37% suggesting the risk will increase in six months' time. Dave Brosnan commented: "Although technology is essential to fuel the global expansion on which business growth depends, in many ways it is also the soft under-belly of the 4th industrial revolution. As technology becomes ever more critical and embedded, so managing it becomes harder and the risk of getting it wrong increases. Greater dependence inevitably paves the way for greater cyber exposure and other technology-related risks. It is an inescapable but vicious circle. "It is no wonder then, that looking ahead six months to May '19, cyber risk takes centre stage as the top risk globally, with almost half (49%) of executives saying it is set to increase. Interestingly, 50% of large companies, with turnover in excess of $US1.3bn, said the risk was likely to increase compared with only 36% of small and 45% of mid-size companies. Our data suggests that SMEs are not viewing cyber as a priority as they appear to feel less vulnerable to the risk. This is a false impression, and insurers need to do more to highlight the risk of cyber to businesses of all sizes." Companies must prepare for interconnected risks The top three business risks - economic, cyber and technology - are global, inter-connected and complex. In our view, companies need more than the traditional financial and legal skills if they are to manage these risks. They also need a broader, more diverse range of skills on the board to help identify and manage the threats to brand reputation posed, for example, by failure to prepare adequately for Brexit or a disruption to the supply chain caused by a cyber-attack. Organisations also need to think about embedding a more proactive approach to loss and risk prevention. Stronger leadership teams, operating within a more proactive risk culture will be better placed to make the strategic investments in technology, people and processes that will enable growth. Dave Brosnan commented: "Large losses today are caused by the same drivers as twenty years ago - fire and flood. If businesses cannot master these more obvious risks, inevitably they will struggle when faced with more complex, global and interconnected risks. Leadership, culture and strategy are key as insurers get better at understanding and responding to these risks and communicating what needs to change. "Risk management is as much about service and support as it is about balance sheet risk transfer, and for that to work effectively there has to be better dialogue between clients and the industry." Regional highlights North America strides forward, confidence riding high 86% of US and Canadian firms see the risk environment as being high or moderately high, dropping by just 2 percentage points to 84% in six months' time. Despite the high-risk perception, with the economy cited by a sizeable proportion as the key to this sentiment, business leaders remain bullish. Almost two thirds (64%) describe themselves as confident now, with that number rising to 70% in six months' time. Global growth tempts US and Canadian firms. While local markets remain the key focus, investment is declining in favour of other regions, with interest in Asia rising by 4 percentage points and the rest of the world by 5 percentage points. However, investment in the UK and Europe is set to decline 5 percentage points as Brexit complicates trade deals. rising by 4 percentage points and the rest of the world by 5 percentage points. However, investment in the UK and is set to decline 5 percentage points as Brexit complicates trade deals. Trade wars are impacting the growth plans of well over a third (37%) of business leaders but almost two thirds (61%) believe Brexit will not have a significant impact. Key risk concerns are economic (21% rank this top), cyber (20%) and technology (16%). Conversely, corporate2, supply chain and regulatory risks are given low priority. Nick Creatura, President and CEO, CNA Canada commented: "The US and Canada are experiencing the twin phenomena of high growth and high risk. The high levels of confidence among business leaders across North America appear to be driven by local factors, predominantly the strength of their economies. In contrast, risks are becoming increasingly global - such as trade wars and Brexit - which are beyond the immediate control of business leaders." Is the Asia Pacific tiger losing its roar? Asia Pacific business leaders are second only to North America in terms of risk perception. Some 82% believe they operate in a moderate to high risk environment. business leaders are second only to in terms of risk perception. Some 82% believe they operate in a moderate to high risk environment. Economic and political risks are at the forefront of people's minds, cited by 26% and 14% of business leaders respectively, reflecting concerns about the impact of trade war disruptions and protectionism on future growth. Trade wars are impacting the growth plans of well over a third (38%) of business leaders. Just over half (56%) believe Brexit will have a significant impact. Against this backdrop, executives have the lowest confidence of any region save the UK. Only 53% of executives say they are confident now, with the figure rising to 61% in six months' time. Despite low confidence, growth remains a priority. Investment in both technology and R&D is a key area of focus, along with growing topline sales. Rob Hands, CEO, CNA Hardy Asia commented: "Asia has experienced a long period of rapid growth, underpinned by a buoyant Chinese economy and strong demand. The on-going trade war with the US may cause an economic slowdown in China, and we can see increasing caution amongst company executives as a result." UK and Europe: a continent divided by Brexit Globally, Continental Europe is the most confident region in the world, with 70% of executives saying they are confident now. That number rises to 73% in six months' time. In contrast, UK business confidence is the lowest in the world, with just 39% confident now, rising to 45% in six months' time. The key driver of diverging sentiment across the region is economic risk, courtesy of Brexit, which is felt much more acutely by UK executives - 23% of whom rank it as their top risk, compared with 16% in Continental Europe. In line with high confidence levels, Continental Europe leaders have the most positive view on risk with 74% feeling they operate in a moderate to high risk environment; seven percentage points fewer than in the UK, where 81% of leaders perceive they operate in a moderate to high risk environment. Continental European businesses are much more likely to be proceeding with spending on business fundamentals than UK businesses and by a significant margin. The gap in technology investment, for example, is 18 percentage points and for hiring temporary staff, it's 25 percentage points. The UK and Continental Europe both continue to look for growth, but not from each other, as their existing EU trading relationship looks set to come to an end. While the UK sees interest in the rest of the world rise three-fold, Continental European leaders are turning increasingly to Asia (+8 percentage points) and North America (+7 percentage points). Stuart Middleton, CEO, CNA Hardy Europe commented: "The Channel between Europe and the UK is narrow, but the gulf in confidence between the two markets is enormous. Continental European businesses have the luxury of balancing cyber, technology and the economy as their top concerns. In the UK, it's economic risk that is dominating the C-suite risk agenda and sucking up all the oxygen in the boardroom." CONTACT: Ruth Starling I 07812 089710 - ruthstarling@luther.co.uk Charlie Evans I 07769 648812 - charlieevans@luther.co.uk About the research Opinion Matters, an independent research agency, conducted quantitative research on behalf of CNA Hardy. This research was undertaken during July and September 2018, via an online survey of 1,500 business leaders of multinational firms with operations in Europe. Company size ranged from businesses with turnover of US$6.5m up to more than US$1.3bn. The regional sample split was: The survey respondents were evenly split from across the following industry sectors: - 450 firms based in the UK - Manufacturing - 250 firms based in France and Germany - Construction - 450 firms based in the USA - Transportation and Logistics - 100 firms based in Canada - Financial Services - 250 firms based in Singapore, South Korea & Australia - Professional Services - Tech - Fintech - Healthcare (private) - Life Science In addition, Luther Pendragon, undertook telephone interviews with representatives across the target business sectors and CNA Hardy representatives based in the UK, North America, Continental Europe and Asia Pacific. Luther Pendragon worked with CNA Hardy to analyse the data, write and prepare the November 2018 Global Risk and Confidence survey report. About CNA Hardy CNA Hardy, acting through Hardy (Underwriting Agencies) Limited and CNA Insurance Company Limited, independent wholly-owned UK subsidiaries, are a leading specialist commercial insurance provider for clients within both the Lloyd's and company markets. For more information, please visit CNA Hardy at www.cnahardy.com. CNA is one of the largest U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance companies. CNA provides a broad range of standard and specialized property and casualty insurance products and services for businesses and professionals in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia, backed by 120 years of experience and more than $45 billion of assets. For more information about CNA, visit our website at www.cna.com. Follow CNA Hardy on: LinkedIn Follow CNA on: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube CNA Insurance Company Limited (company registration number 950) and Hardy (Underwriting Agencies) Limited (company registration number 1264271) are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (firm reference number 202777 and 204843 respectively). CNA Services (UK) Limited (registered number 8836589). 'CNAHardy' is a trading name of CNA Insurance Company Limited and Hardy Underwriting Group PLC (which includes Hardy (Underwriting Agencies) Limited and Hardy Underwriting Asia PTE). VAT registration number 667557779. The above companies are all registered in England with their registered office at 20 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BY. Switchboard: +44 (0)20 7743 6800 Facsimile: +44 (0)20 7743 6801 1 Technology risk definition - IT system failure, disruption from new tech-enabled competitors or start-ups 2 Corporate risk definition - fraud, corruption, poor governance, pension exposure, poor corporate culture Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/518641/CNA_Hardy_Logo.jpg In September, Air India had invited bids for raising Rs 500 crore through STL to meet its working capital requirements with 10 September as the deadline for submission of bids. Mumbai: Debt-ridden Air India has revived its plans to raise Rs 500 crore in short-term loans (STLs) besides mopping up another Rs 6,100 crore by way of sale and lease back of seven of its wide-body planes, including six Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) aircraft, an airline official said. In early September, the airline had invited bids for raising Rs 500 crore through STL to meet its working capital requirements with 10 September as the deadline for submission of bids. However, the deadline was extended to 31 October after it failed to get any response. At the same time, Air India managed to get Rs 1,000 crore from the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) as loan and subsequently the plan to raise Rs 500 crore was put on hold. "We did not pursue the proposal to garner Rs 500 crore in STL after receiving Rs 1,000 crore from the NSSF. We have now decided to resume the process once again," said a senior Air India official. Sitting on a debt pile of Rs 55,000 crore, which include Rs 35,000 crore towards working capital loans, the carrier has been struggling to raise funds since last year. Meanwhile, it last week came out with invitation of offers for sale and lease back (SLB) of seven planes six B787-800 and one B77-300 ER to raise as much as $856 million (around Rs 6,100 crore) for repayment of the bridge finance against these planes. Besides 12 B777s, Air India has 27 B787-800s in its fleet. Of these, 21 Dreamliners are already operating under the SLB mode. Under the SLB arrangement, the seller of an asset leases it back from the purchaser for a long-term period and continues to use it without actually owning it. "Air India would sell the aircraft to the lessor and immediately lease the same back under operating lease for a period of up to 12 months with an option to extend by three more years at a mutually negotiated price," as per the bid document. The SLB transaction will be supported by the government of India guarantee in favour of the bank, institution or lessor, according to the document. The last date for submission of technical and financial bids is 10 December, it said. As part of its fleet expansion plan, the national carrier had in 2005 placed orders with Boeing for 68 aircraft 27 Dreamliners, 15 B777300ERs, eight B777200LRs and 18 B737800s. All these aircraft have already been delivered to the carrier. The carrier is staying afloat on a bailout package extended by the government in 2012, as part of a turnaround plan and a financial restructuring plan. Air India is to receive a budgetary support of Rs 30,231 crore over a 10-year period ending March 2021. In June also, Air India borrowed short-term loans worth Rs 1,000 crore to pay staff salaries and meet other obligations, following a failed privatisation attempt. By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Home-renting company Airbnb Inc said on Monday it would remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move Israel called a 'wretched capitulation' to boycotters and Palestinians hailed as a step towards peace. The decision, affecting some 200 listings, would take effect in the coming days, Airbnb said. Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war. By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Home-renting company Airbnb Inc said on Monday it would remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move Israel called a "wretched capitulation" to boycotters and Palestinians hailed as a step towards peace. The decision, affecting some 200 listings, would take effect in the coming days, Airbnb said. Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war. Its settlements there are considered illegal by most world powers. Palestinians deem the settlements, and the military presence needed to protect them, to be obstacles to their goal of establishing a state. Israel disputes this. "We concluded that we should remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians," Airbnb said on its website. "Our hope is that someday sooner rather than later, a framework is put in place where the entire global community is aligned so there will be a resolution to this historic conflict and a clear path forward for everybody to follow." Palestinians and their supporters had long lobbied Airbnb to delist the settlements. Israel strongly opposes such calls for boycotts, which it considers a biased approach to the conflict. Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin called Airbnb's move "the most wretched of wretched capitulations to the boycott efforts". Speaking on Israel's Channel 13 television, he said Israel was not told of the decision in advance and that it would respond by backing lawsuits by settlement listers against Airbnb in U.S. courts. Waleed Assraf, head of a Palestinian anti-settlement group run by the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation, welcomed Airbnb's decision. Should other companies follow suit, he told Reuters, "this will contribute to achieving peace". Oded Revivi, mayor of the West Bank settlement of Efrat and a representative of the umbrella settler council Yesha, said Airbnb's decision was contrary to the company's stated mission of helping "to bring people together in as many places as possible around the world". "When they make such a decision, they get involved with politics, which ... is going to defeat the actual purpose of the enterprise itself," Revivi told Reuters Human Rights Watch said the Airbnb move came on the eve of its publication of a 65-page report it has carried out into tourist rental listings in settlements, including by Airbnb. Airbnbs decision to end its listings in Israeli settlements is an important recognition that such listings cant square with its human rights responsibilities," the group said on Monday. "We urge other companies to follow suit. The group said its report would be released on Tuesday morning. Some 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas that are also home to more than 2.6 million Palestinians. Israel considers the West Bank, the biblical cradle of Judaism, as a security bulwark to the east. Palestinians want the West Bank for a future state, along with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. U.S.-sponsored peace talks have been stalled since 2014. San Francisco-basked Airbnb is eyeing an IPO next year after announcing in February it would not make a public debut this year. (Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta and Stephen Farrell; Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Richard Balmforth) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Responding to queries related to Jet Airways, including possible bailout package, Prabhu said that in a deregulated atmosphere, the ministry's endeavour is to deal with sector-specific issues. New Delhi: The government on Monday virtually ruled out the possibility of a bailout package for cash-strapped Jet Airways, with Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu saying that a private airline's management has to make sure that the carrier functions properly. The Civil Aviation Ministry has also decided not to intervene with respect to Jet Airways' request seeking more time for making payments to airport operators as such matters need to be dealt commercially between the two entities, according to a senior official. Jet Airways has been grappling with financial woes that have also resulted in the full-service carrier delaying payment of salaries to staff, including pilots. The airline posted a loss of Rs 1,261 crore in the three months ended September. Responding to queries related to Jet Airways, including possible bailout package, Prabhu said that in a deregulated atmosphere, the ministry's endeavour is to deal with sector-specific issues. "For a private airline, it is for the airline's board of directors, their management to make sure that the airline functions properly and they have to take appropriate measures depending upon market conditions that will prevail from time to time," the minister said. However, he did not directly mention Jet Airways. While emphasising that the ministry is very clear about taking up aviation sector-specific issues, Prabhu cited the example of pitching for bringing aviation fuel under the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said the airline wanted some more lead time with regard to payments to airport operators but that was something to be done commercially between the two entities. "That is something that they have to deal with airport operators. The ministry does not get into that. "We don't get into commercial discussions between airlines and airport operators. It is to be done commercially between the two entities," Choubey said. They were speaking at the sidelines of an event here. On 13 November, cash-strapped Jet Airways said it is at various stages of discussions with multiple "interested parties" for capital infusion and partial stake sale in its loyalty programme Jet Privilege. The airline is looking for investors to tide over the liquidity crisis, which has resulted in delayed payments to some vendors and salaries to a section of its over 16,000 employees. On 16 November, Tata Sons confirmed its interest in acquiring the beleaguered Jet Airways but said no concrete "proposal" has been made by the group so far. Earlier in the day, an airline source said that Jet Airways' pilots have threatened not to perform additional duties from next month if their salary dues were not cleared by 30 November. Meanwhile, Prabhu said there would be zero tolerance on aviation safety-related issues. "We have asked the DGCA to carry out safety audit of all airlines... strict safety audit," he added. The DGCA is the aviation regulator. Shares of Jet Airways declined nearly 2.69 percent trading at Rs 314 on the BSE on Tuesday. The Reserve Bank of India's PCA framework, which intends to nurse financially weak banks back to health, restricts lending and expansion of lenders. Mumbai: Principal economic adviser Sanjeev Sanyal on Monday said that the country cannot have 'Hotel California' approach towards banks under the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework, where the exit mechanism for these lenders is undefined. The Reserve Bank of India's PCA framework, which intends to nurse financially weak banks back to health, restricts lending and expansion of lenders. Out of the 21 state-owned banks, 11 are under the PCA framework at present. "We cannot have a 'Hotel California' approach to PCA banks that you can check out anytime but you cannot leave. We have to have a plan on how these institutions will come out of PCA," Sanyal said referring to the Hotel California song by America's famous band Eagles. The song talks about a person who reaches mystical Hotel California, from where the person is able to check out but unable to exit. Speaking at the third annual event of Foreign Exchange Dealers' Association of India (FEDAI) here, he said the ultimate aim should be to make sure that credit flow reaches the bottom of the system. "Because there is no point in having this highly capitalised central bank and highly capitalised banking system, none of which supports the financial requirements lower ring of economy," he added. The banks currently under the PCA framework 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. There has been no decision in this regard as of now, not even pre-bid meeting has taken place, IOC CGM (LPG) Abhijit Dey said Kolkata: Indian Oil Corporation said on Monday it has not decided on the strategy for bidding under the 10th city gas distribution licence but options are open for joint ventures and partnerships in other cities of West Bengal. All options remain open. There has been no decision in this regard as of now, not even pre-bid meeting has taken place, IOC CGM (LPG) Abhijit Dey said when asked about whether the oil refiner-cum-retailer will go solo or through partners for the bidding process in February 2019. "It may happen we may go solo, partner with another entity including GAIL," he said. GAIL has an existing partnership with Greater Calcutta Gas Supply Corporation for city gas which already has a piped gas infrastructure in the metropolitan area and some portions of adjoining districts of Kolkata. The next round of bidding will happen for key cities of Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas Darjeeling, North and South Dinajpur and a few others. However, the bidding will not intervene in the area which is already under Greater Calcutta Gas Supply Corporation. So, hypothetically, a 3-way JV could be possible with Gail being the gas supplier, GCGSC bringing the piped gas infrastructure and IOC bringing additional infrastructure and capital to offer seamless CNG stations for automotive and piped gas distribution in the city. Officials said that in February 2019 the picture will be clear on the exact nature of the strategy. In a communication to Jet Privilege members, Dube also said the airline is deploying aircraft on more profitable, productive and economically-efficient routes New Delhi: Jet Airways is in active discussions with various investors to secure sustainable financing, and cost optimisation efforts have resulted in savings worth Rs 500 crore in the first half of the current fiscal, its CEO Vinay Dube has said. In a communication to Jet Privilege members, Dube also said the airline is deploying aircraft on more profitable, productive and economically-efficient routes. Grappling with financial woes, the full-service carrier is looking for investors to tide over the liquidity crisis, which has resulted in delayed payments to some vendors and salaries to a section of its over 16,000 employees. "We are in active discussions with various investors to secure sustainable financing to navigate through the current headwinds and create long-term growth. There is interest in our strong brand and confidence in our business turnaround efforts," Dube said. On 16 November, Tata Sons confirmed its interest in acquiring the beleaguered Jet Airways but said no concrete "proposal" has been made by the group so far. Last week, the airline posted a net loss of Rs 1,261 crore for the three months ended September. Despite tough operating environment, Dube said the airline's ancillary revenue grew 10 per cent and cargo revenues rose by over 13.7 percent in the September quarter compared to the year-ago period. "Even as the domestic market RASK (Revenue per Average Seat Kilometer) showed a decrease, we managed to sustain our RASK due to our strong presence in the international market as well as our loyal corporate customer base," he noted. According to him, efforts to reduce costs have yielded "over Rs 500 crore of savings in the first half of 2018-19". The airline is to take delivery of six more new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft this fiscal. "The nil findings in the last IATA Operational Safety Audit as well as our DGCA audit clearance over the last couple of months testify to our commitment to safety, which we have always asserted will be sacrosanct for Jet Airways," Dube said in the communication dated 19 November. The IATA is a global grouping of airlines while the DGCA is domestic civil aviation regulator. Jet Privilege, the airline's customer loyalty programme, is majority owned by Etihad Airways, which also has 24 per cent stake in the carrier. On 19 November, the government virtually ruled out possibility of bailout package for the cash-strapped Jet Airways, with Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu saying that a private airline's management has to make sure that the carrier functions properly. NTPC has signed pacts with online cab aggregators Ola, Lithium, Shuttl, Bikxie, Bounce, Electrie and Zoom Car for creation of public charging infrastructure for EVs. New Delhi: State-run power major NTPC on Tuesday said that it has signed pacts with online cab aggregators Ola, Lithium, Shuttl, Bikxie, Bounce, Electrie and Zoom Car for creation of public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). The collaboration with these aggregators, having presence in the entire spectrum of e-mobility across India, will lead to development of charging infrastructure for the various vehicle segments as well as effective utilisation of public charging infrastructure, an NTPC statement said. The arrangement would thus provide a win-win situation for all stakeholders. NTPC is planning to provide charging solutions for the entire range of electric vehicles ranging from electric buses to electric two/three-wheelers and developing associated e-mobility ecosystem across the country. NTPC is in discussion with various state/city administrations for creation of charging infrastructure for public transport and has signed MoUs for cities of Jabalpur, Navi Mumbai and Bhopal. The NTPC has already installed charging stations across its generating stations and regional offices. The company has also been associated with IOCL, HPCL and DMRC for development of public charging infrastructure. With these tie-ups, NTPC plans to set up a broad-based charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, effectively addressing the issue of range anxiety for these vehicles. The NTPC is thus supporting the government's initiatives for adoption of e-mobility. The e-mobility in India is at nascent stage and close coordination among the various stakeholders in the e-mobility ecosystem is required for enabling rapid transition to electric mobility. Three Paytm employees, including Dhawan, were arrested for allegedly trying to extort Rs 20 crore from the e-wallet giant's founder Sharma Former Paytm executive Sonia Dhawan, arrested for blackmailing and making an extortion bid on the e-wallet giant's CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, has reportedly appealed for bail which will be heard by a sessions court in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday, a media report said. She has been in jail since 22 October, 2018. According to The Indian Express, the judicial custody of Dhawan and her husband, Rupak Jain has been extended by 14 days by the Gautam Budh Nagar district court. Last week the court rejected Jain's bail plea. Dhawan's lawyer claimed that she had neither made any extortion nor threat calls or had asked for any money, The Economic Times reported. Last month, two Paytm employees -- Devender Kumar from the administration department and Dhawan -- were arrested for allegedly trying to extort Rs 20 crore from the e-wallet company founder Sharma after allegedly threatening to leak stolen personal data and confidential information. Dhawan, who allegedly masterminded the extortion bid, was the secretary of Sharma and was promoted as Vice President (Corporate communications) of the online payments firm in September. Along with Dhawan, and Kumar was Rohit Chomal, the third associate based in Kolkata who had threatened to leak the data and misuse the information to cause the firm loss and dent its public image, Noida Police had said. The two employees of the Noida-headquartered e-commerce and wallet firm and Dhawan's husband was arrested by a team from the Sector 20 police station, while the fourth accused Chomal is still at large, a senior official said. Sharma had made a complaint with the police that his employees, a woman and her aides, had stolen some data from the company and were blackmailing him. They were demanding Rs 20 crore for not leaking it, said senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ajay Pal Sharma said. Taking immediate action, an FIR was registered and three persons, including Dhawan, was arrested. They are being probed about the data and their modus operandi. With inputs from PTI The board of the RBI advised it to act to support small businesses and give banks more time to step up capital norms Mumbai/New Delhi: The board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) advised it to act to support small businesses and give banks more time to step up capital norms, following weeks of pressure from Prime Minister Narendra Modis government to spur lending ahead of elections. After a nine-hour board meeting on Monday, the RBI said its board also decided to form an expert committee to look into whether the central bank's reserves are adequate, in light of a push from New Delhi for access to surplus reserves built up by the central bank. Overall it appears some of the governments concerns have been addressed within the parameters of the RBIs existing regulatory framework, said A Prasanna, chief economist at ICICI Securities Primary Dealership Ltd. The Modi government officials and one independent director have pressed the RBI to ease lending and capital rules for banks, provide more liquidity to the shadow banking sector, support lending to small businesses and let the government use more of the RBIs surplus reserves to boost the economy. Unhappy about such pressure, last month RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya warned that undermining central bank independence could be catastrophic. That triggered a public spat between the two sides and tension in the run-up to Mondays board meet. The RBI board comprises representatives of the RBI, the government and some independent directors nominated by the government. Typically RBI board meetings are staid affairs, but markets were closely focused on Mondays meeting in light of the public spat. However the meeting itself was cordial, two sources who attended it told Reuters. The meeting happened in a very cordial environment. Most of the issues were resolved in an amicable manner, one board member told Reuters. A panel will be formed to work out a framework to determine the reserves requirements of the RBI, and transfer surplus funds to the government, the board member added. The second source said the RBI accepted suggestions from board members to ease stressed asset classification rules for loans of up to Rs 250 million ($3.49 million) to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to support this segment, a key contributor to economic growth. In a statement, the RBI said the board had advised it to consider a restructuring scheme for small borrowers but it didnt specify whether it had agreed or not. RBI board meet outcome is a clear victory for govt; RBI has been shown its place At the end of the nine-hour-long board meet of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday, which was set in the backdrop of a bitter public spat between the central bank and the Narendra Modi government, the latter had a clear victory on a majority of the contentious issues. The RBI has been largely pushed to agree to the government line with respect to most of its demands. The only positive takeaway for the central bank was that it got to draft a press release that made the whole affair look like a truce. It was not. To understand this, lets look closer at the RBI statement. Demand for transfer of RBI reserves to government: The RBI had for long fought tooth and nail against the transfer of a sizeable chunk of its reserves to the government. At the meeting, the RBI agreed to set up an expert committee to examine the ECF (Economic Capital Framework), the membership and terms of reference of which will be jointly determined by the Government of India and the RBI. The formation of this panel itself is a big deal for the government. It is now one step closer to what it ultimately wanted. The government desperately needs RBI reserves because its fiscal situation is very week. Despite Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys confidence on achieving the 3.3 percent deficit target, top bureaucrats in Delhi privately speak of a developing fiscal crisis that could worsen post-December if global crude prices dont ease significantly. Remember, the board (which consists of Patel and all his four deputies) has agreed to form a panel on ECF after Viral Acharya, publicly spoke of the perils of the government raiding RBIs reserves and the need for better sense to prevail. Many RBI veterans, too, had cautioned the government against dipping its hands into RBI reserves that are essentially meant to be a cushion should the economy plunge into a full-blown crisis. But, ultimately, the RBI has in-principle agreed to this demand. It is fairly certain that the government will find a way to eventually get part of the RBI reserves. The only thing remaining is to watch where this money will be deployed. The chances are that this fund will be used to bridge the deficit gap and fill the bottomless pits of badly-governed public sector banks. Thus, on the issue of capital transfer, government wins the round. Relaxing the punitive measures on weak, NPA-ridden banks: Secondly, the RBI has agreed to consider easing the prompt corrective action (PCA) on close to a dozen public sector banks that are neck-deep in bad loans and are clear examples of how badly run are the banking institutions in the country. With regard to banks under PCA, it was decided that the matter will be examined by the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of RBI, the RBI statement said. Now, remember, these entities were downgraded to the PCA category for a good reason. This was done after the central bank was convinced that the financial mess in these banks was too severe to let them operate freely like healthy banks. Without a doubt, this action was part of the overall bad loan clean-up process initiated by the central bank in 2015. Diluting the PCA on these near-sick banks would mean undoing part of the work the RBI has done so far as far as NPA clean-up goes. But, that the central bank has agreed to relook at this action speaks volumes of who won round one. MSME loan restructuring: Restructuring the stressed standard assets of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSEMEs) was another demand from some quarters of the government in an election year and this was publicly pitched for by the likes of S Gurumurthy as a key demand from the RBI. The RBI statement says, The Board also advised that the RBI should consider a scheme for restructuring of stressed standard assets of MSME borrowers with aggregate credit facilities of up to Rs 25 crore, subject to such conditions as are necessary for ensuring financial stability. The RBI top brass was against the idea of large-scale loan restructuring for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) because banks have already burnt their fingers in this segment. A substantial chunk of existing non-performing assets (NPAs) are from SMEs and even smaller firms which got severely hit during the demonetisation-induced cash crunch and GST rollout. Basel III capital requirement: The RBI Board also agreed to extend the transition period for implementing the last tranche of 0.625 percent under the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) by one year, i.e., up to 31 March, 2020 while retaining the CRAR at 9 percent. This, too, will ease the burden on the government which is the majority owner in state-run banks that dominates 70 percent of the assets in the banking sector and will have to infuse large amount of capital in these banks. It is learnt that the most contentious issue of government tightening its grip on the central bank by equipping the board to exercise greater control over the RBI didnt even come up at Mondays meeting. Probably, this will be discussed at the next board meeting. The assurance that the RBI will continue to take measures to ease liquidity in the banking system is no surprise because RBI has been doing it anyway through multiple Open Market Operations (OMOs). The good news is that the speculation on Patels resignation remained just a speculation which is a big comfort for the financial markets. Both the government and RBI representatives did well by not escalating the problem to the point of pushing the governor to resign in protest. It would have sent a bad signal to the financial markets and foreigners looking at the Indian economy. But, one important question remains: If the RBI was in agreement with the government on most of the contentious issues, why did it feel the need to go in for a public display of outrage and why did the government feel the necessity to flash the Section 7 card sparking unnecessary confusion in the financial markets? Going ahead, it will augur well for the economy if both the government and the RBI conduct dialogue in a manner that generates confidence in the public at a time when the economy is still struggling to regain its mojo. Public spats wont help. To sum up, Mondays RBI board meeting can hardly be seen as a clash between the two sides. Rather, it was an event when the RBI got a reminder that the government is the ultimate authority and was forced to act accordingly. Round one clearly goes to the government. One understands that SBI has been taking this precaution for large net banking payments and that the recent tightening of norms is only for smaller payments. State Bank of India (SBI) has read the riot act to its net-banking account holders---please register your mobile number on or before 30 November 2018 at the pain of losing the net banking facility from 1 December 2018. While this is welcome, it is surprising that the bank has allowed net banking payments to go through all these years without the additional layer of protection---OTP (one-time password) sent through ones mobile. One understands that SBI has been taking this precaution for large net banking payments and that the recent tightening of norms is only for smaller payments. OTP sent through ones mobile number is an additional layer of protection. Kotak Mahindra Bank allows a customer to log into his net banking account only if he first uses his ID (identity) or nickname, either of which should be authenticated by a password. Once this barrier is crossed, the OTP is sent. Without an OTP, a customer cannot access his net banking account. Hackers might have successfully penetrated the banks system to access the account holders user ID and password but would be frustrated and baulked by OTP which will land in the mobile set of the account holder who would not only immediately know that a hacker is at work but also that he has been halted in his tracks. To be sure, for small payments (Rs 2,000 or less) to merchants through their payment gateways, the bank relaxes the guard if the account holder has volunteered to dispense with OTP which freedom the bank does not invariably allow except for trusted merchant establishments. RBI, however, would do well to mandate the double layering of protection---password followed by OTP---for all payments, small or big. A few months ago, an unwell homemaker in Bangalore had allowed her hubby to withdraw from Rs 25,000 from a SBI ATM. Not only was the money was not received at the ATM, but the homemaker was nevertheless debited. The bank took umbrage to and shelter under the fact that she had sent her proxy for withdrawal. The consumer court agreeing with the bank absolved it of any liability. The RBI would do well to rein in ATM fraudulent withdrawals through the time-tested OTP mechanism. Cash in excess of Rs 1,000 should not be made available through ATM machines unless it has been fed with OTP as an additional safeguard. It is easy to manipulate and befool the ATM machine but difficult to fool both the ATM machine and ones mobile phone. Banks and consumer courts should not make an issue out of proxies withdrawing from ATMs so long as the double layer of protection against fraud is complied with. As an additional safeguard, if one has withdrawn upto Rs 1,000 during the course of a day without an OTP, he should not be allowed further withdrawals without OTP till the day is over. At merchant establishments, too, where a customer swipes his card, OTP should be mandated lest the establishment or its employees get to tinker with the machine and glean the card number and the password. The OTP then presents itself as the panacea for preventing digital payment frauds. It follows the basic auditing principle that an employee should not be allowed to go through with a transaction all by himself. Likewise, involving two devices---ATM machine and mobile---rules out the possibility of fraud unless a person has lost both his card with PIN and his mobile phone simultaneously! What about mobile wallets and payments through mobile apps? Well, the RBI can mandate OTP being sent to the alternate cell number which could be that of ones spouse for transactions in excess of Rs 1,000. Part of the reluctance to make digital payments is attributable to stories of hacking and systems failure doing the rounds. The OTP can win over such reluctance. In any case, no precaution is too much if mandated to guard precious amount of money of account holders. Double layering protection with OTP is not security overkill. It is possible that banks SMS servers, as well as the mobile operators system, might be overburdened and as a result collapse sometimes, thus stopping the digital transaction or ATM withdrawal at the last minute. It is for this reason that some banks simultaneously send OTP to ones registered email address as well in addition to ones registered mobile number. (The author is a senior columnist and tweets @smurlidharan) Tata Sons board may want a full-blown due diligence report by a reputed firm before taking a call to acquire debt-laden Jet Airways Tata Sons Ltd will go slow on a deal to buy Jet Airways (India) Ltd after some directors expressed reservations at an inconclusive board meeting last Friday, a media report said. The Board is expected to meet in the third week of December and directors are likely to ask for more details on the deal, The Times of India said, citing people close to the development. You cant rush into a complex situation that could cost the group up to $2 billion (143.21 billion rupees) without doing serious homework, the paper quoted one source as saying. Another source indicated that the board may want a full-blown due diligence report by a reputed firm before taking a call, the paper added. According to Business Standard, Tata Sons might seek a non-compete agreement with Jet Airways promoter Naresh Goyal. "The Tatas are likely to insist on heavy non-compete clause with no travel-related business participation. This will be insisted along with no board presence of Goyal or his family members. Goyal may not agree to some of the clauses," a source aware of the development was quoted by the daily. Tata Sons last Friday said it was in preliminary talks with struggling Jet Airways but had not made a proposal to buy a stake. "Over the last few days, there has been growing speculation about Tata's interest in Jet Airways. We would like to clarify that any such discussions (to acquire Jet Airways) have been preliminary and no proposal has been made," Tata Sons had said in a statement. Jet Airways has been grappling with financial woes that have also resulted in the full-service carrier delaying payment of salaries to staff, including pilots. The airline posted a loss of Rs 1,261 crore in the three months ended September. The pilots of Jet Airways have threatened not to perform additional duties from next month if their salary dues were not cleared by 30 November, an airline source said Monday. Besides, the airline's domestic pilots body, National Aviator's Guild (NAG), which has so far allegedly been soft on the issue, is likely to meet on Tuesday to discuss the prevailing financial situation at the carrier, he said. The Naresh Goyal-controlled private carrier has been reporting losses since the last three successive quarters and defaulting on salary payments to a section of its staff. On Monday, the government virtually ruled out the possibility of a bailout package for Jet Airways, with Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu saying that a private airline's management has to make sure that the carrier functions properly. --With inputs from agencies (Reuters) - Danske Bank is embroiled in a money laundering scandal that has triggered criminal investigations, forced out its CEO and chairman and rattled investors in Denmark's largest bank. An internal investigation, published in September, charted how 200 billion euro ($229 billion) flowed through Danske Bank's tiny Estonian branch from clients registered or incorporated in countries including Russia and Britain between 2007 and 2015. (Reuters) - Danske Bank is embroiled in a money laundering scandal that has triggered criminal investigations, forced out its CEO and chairman and rattled investors in Denmark's largest bank. An internal investigation, published in September, charted how 200 billion euro ($229 billion) flowed through Danske Bank's tiny Estonian branch from clients registered or incorporated in countries including Russia and Britain between 2007 and 2015. Danske Bank said many of the payments were suspicious. The following timeline summarises developments, some of which were highlighted in an 87-page report by Danish law firm Bruun & Hjejle, which led Danske Bank's internal investigation into the allegations. Nov. 19: Whistleblower Howard Wilkinson testifies at Danish parliament. Nov. 11: Danske's chairman Ole Andersen and chairman of audit committee, Jrn Jensen, say they will step down, under pressure from the bank's biggest shareholder A.P. Moller Holding. A.P Moller calls for the CEO of the Confederation of Danish Industry, Karsten Dybvad, to succeed Andersen. Danske continues its search for a permanent CEO. Oct. 17: Denmark's regulator, the Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), rejects Danske's chosen successor to departed CEO Thomas Borgen as too inexperienced. Oct. 4: Danske says the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into its Estonian branch, which could lead to a crippling fine. Many non-resident accounts were held by entities or individuals in Russia, which is the subject of U.S. sanctions. Sept. 26: Danish newspaper Berlingske names Briton Wilkinson as the whistleblower who helped reveal the scandal. In an email to the paper, Wilkinson confirms his role. Sept. 19: Danske publishes the Bruun & Hjejle report, revealing that payments totalling 200 billion euros had flowed through its Estonian branch between 2007-2015, many of which it says were suspicious. Borgen, who was in charge of Danske Bank's international operations, including Estonia, between 2009 and 2012, resigns. The report said he had not breached his legal obligations. Jesper Nielsen, the head of Danske's domestic banking business, is appointed interim CEO around two weeks later. July-August: Estonian and Danish prosecutors launch criminal investigations in the wake of a complaint by Bill Browder, the chief of asset manager Hermitage Capital. Once the biggest foreign money manager in Russia, Browder has led a vocal campaign against the Kremlin. May 3: Denmark's FSA criticises Danske's handling of the Estonian crisis and orders it to reassess its solvency needs, strengthen governance and review management in Estonia. It stops short of action against anyone under its fit and proper rules. Dec. 2017: Danske fined 12.5 million Danish crowns ($1.9 million) by a Danish public prosecutor for violating anti-money laundering rules. Sept. 21, 2017: Danske says it has "major deficiencies in controls and governance that made it possible to use Danske Bank's branch in Estonia for criminal activities such as money laundering". Follows a report prepared by US-based consultancy Promontory Financial Group. The bank expands an investigation into its Estonian branch. March 2016: Denmark's financial regulator says it has reported Danske to the police for breaching anti money laundering rules and censures it for not having identified and reduced "significant money laundering risks" in its Estonian branch. End-2015: Danske shuts the bulk of its non-resident portfolio in Estonia. From 2007-2015, there were around 10,000 customers in total in the portfolio, the Bruun & Hjejle report said. Feb. 3-6, 2014: The bank conducts an on-site audit in Estonia. In draft conclusions sent by email on Feb 5, 2014, it says: "we cannot identify actual source of funds or beneficial owners", the law firm's report said. The report adds that a branch employee had "confirmed verbally ... that the reason underlying beneficial owners are not identified is that it could cause problems for clients if Russian authorities request information." Dec. 27, 2013: A whistleblower, working at Danske's Estonian branch, emails a first report, entitled "Whistleblower disclosure - knowingly dealing with criminals in Estonia Branch", the Bruun & Hjejle report says. It was sent to managers on the bank's executive board, at group compliance & anti money laundering and in internal audit. The whistleblower said the accounts of a customer at the Estonian branch were closed in Sept. 2013. "Apparently it was discovered that they included the Putin family and the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service)," the law firm quoted the whistleblower as saying in the email. The Kremlin had not replied to repeated requests for comment about the allegations from Reuters. The whistleblower reports more customers with "similar irregularities" to Danske's group internal audit department between Jan. and April 2014, the law firm's report says. 2013: A correspondent bank stops clearing dollar transactions out of Danske's Estonian branch because of money laundering concerns, Bruun & Hjejle report says. Aug. 2008: Danske abandons a costly plan to migrate its Baltic banking activities onto the group IT platform. As a result, the Estonian branch does not use the anti-money laundering procedures, transaction and risk monitoring developed at group level, the Bruun & Hjejle report said. June 8, 2007: The Russian Central Bank writes to the Danish financial regulator, voicing concerns that clients of newly-acquired Sampo Bank "permanently participate in financial transactions of doubtful origin" estimated at "billions of rubles monthly", the Bruun & Hjejle report says. The letter is forwarded to Danske's executive board and board of directors. The Estonian regulator also issues a critical inspection report, the law firm says. Nov. 2006: Danske buys Sampo Bank, Finland's third-largest bank, which has businesses in countries such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The acquisition is completed in Feb. 2007. ($1 = 6.5327 Danish crowns) ($1 = 0.8749 euros) (Tommy Lund, Izabela Niemec, Joseph Birch, editing by Kirstin Ridley and Alexander Smith) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Delhi court had held both the accused guilty under various sections including 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the IPC. The Patiala House Court in Delhi on Tuesday sentenced 1984 Sikh riots convict Yashpal Singh to death, and gave life imprisonment to another convict Naresh Sehrawat. Three decades after the riots, the Delhi court had held Sehrawat and Singh guilty on 14 November in connection with the murder of two Sikhs in South Delhi's Mahipalpur area in 1984. The court held both the accused guilty under various sections including 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the IPC. Akali leader and BJP MLA Manjinder Sirsa welcomed the court order for the two convicts. On 15 November, Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey reserved for 20 November the order on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to the two convicts for killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh. It was the first conviction in the cases reopened by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up in 2015. The Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a SIT on the riots reopened it. The SIT demand was opposed by the counsel appearing for the convicts who sought life imprisonment for his clients, the minimum for the offence of murder. During the proceedings, the public prosecutor for SIT Surinder Mohit Singh had said that it was "brutal murder of two innocent young persons aged around 25 each. It was a planned murder since the accused were carrying kerosene oil, sticks etc." It was not the only incident in Delhi and around 3,000 people were killed, he added. "People from only one community were targeted. It was a genocide. The incidents had an international effect and it took 34 years to get justice. A signal should go to the society to deter them from committing such horrible crimes. This is rarest of rare case which calls for death penalty," Singh had said. However, the demand was opposed by advocate OP Sharma, appearing for the convicts, who said that the attack was not deliberate or planned but a sudden flare up. "The prime minister of the country was shot dead by her own bodyguards belonging to a particular community. What could be more wrong than that? She was warned and suggested to change her guards. Still she kept them. But she was betrayed and brutally killed. The present case was a sudden flare up. There was no pre-planning," the defence counsel said. His submission was opposed by senior advocate HS Phoolka, who appeared for the victims. "Every Sikh condemned the act of killing of the prime minister. It was tragic. But does that mean that Sikhs be killed? Does that give licence to kill?" Later, as the convicts were being taken to the lock up inside the Patiala House Courts premises after the proceedings, Manjinder Sirsa slapped Yashpal while slogans were raised against both the convicts. However, the police separated Sirsa, his supporters and the convicts. Of the 650 cases registered in connection with anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, 267 were closed as untraced by the Delhi Police. Of these 267 cases, five were later taken up by the CBI. The SIT also scrutinised the records of 18 cancelled cases. The SIT found 60 cases appropriate for further investigation. It filed "untraced report" in 52 cases in the last one-and-a-half years. Out of the eight cases being investigated, chargesheets have been filed in five and three, in which senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar is an accused, are pending investigation. With inputs from PTI Once hailed by India's first president Rajendra Prasad, Pando Nagar in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district is now disillusioned by the apathy of the state. Subhar Sai Pando still remembers being mesmerised by Rajendra Prasad. He was a young man when India's first president visited his village of Pando Nagar in Chhattisgarhs Surguja district on 22 November 1952. Our Pando tribe used to live in forests. Rajendra Prasad rehabilitated us here, he says with a smile on his face, deepening his wrinkles. We were excited for our future because no less than the president had more or less adopted us. Subhar, now aged 90, has lost his hearing ability a fair bit. But his memories of Prasads visit are sharp as ever. It was like a festival, he recollects, sitting across the arch in the village that reads Rashtrapati Bhavan. We danced, we sang. Prasad gave us the land, wished us the best in stabilising our lives. He even stayed over in the village. The villagers after that built and nurtured a small complex in the village to remember the occasion, and called it Rashtrapati Bhavan, thereby marking only the second place in the country with that kind of a board. The ground-storied structure inside the complex has a photograph of Prasad. Around it is a shed, a water tanker and a tree that he had planted back then. Today, Subhar has a bitter taste in his mouth as Pando Nagar with around 150 families reluctantly casts its vote in the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections. We got pattas in 1980s, he says. But we are still fighting to get ownership of the land. No ownership means we cannot get loans from the bank, cannot sell our harvest at cooperative societies. In spite of several attempts over the years, the tribe has only managed to be disappointed at the hands of the local administration. Their frustration levels reached its zenith in the first week of November when they declared Pando Nagar would boycott the ongoing elections. The first phase of voting transpired on 12 November. The second, or the one where Pando Nagar cast its vote, is today on 20 November. Sanjho Pando, a middle-aged woman in the village, says they later on decided against the boycott because every vote matters. But isnt it sad that the people rehabilitated by Indias first ever president even have to consider it? she asks. Every year, on 3 December, Pando Nagar celebrates the birth anniversary of Prasad. We decorate the Rashtrapati Bhavan, says Banarsi Pando, a resident of the village. And cut a cake in the memory of Prasad. He was a great man, who would have been sad to know of our condition had he been alive. And 15 kilometres from Ambikapur, Pando Nagars gripes are those experienced by too many tribals in the state of Chhattisgarh. Ganga Ram Paikra, Ambikapur-based tribal activist, says their case is straightforward. If you have acquired the land before 2005, you deserve to be its rightful owner according to the law books, he says. But hardly has the Forest Rights Act been enforced honestly. Sanjho, therefore, says they feel they are at the mercy of the forest officials, who are letting us farm on our own land. Recently the state acquired land from some of the farmers for a godown in the village, she adds. They didnt even get any compensation. How long before all of us lose our livelihood like that? One of those who lost his land was Ahibaran Pando, 35. I lost 7 acres of my farmland, he says. Now I have to rely on labour work to meet my ends. When Ahibaran resisted, he claims the administration told him that he never owned the land for the state to compensate him. Those in power only care for the interests of the rich, he says. In the entire state, the Adivasis are losing their land. The chowk off the main road that leads to Pando Nagar is called Adani chowk. That is where his coal is unloaded, says Banarsi. The goods train then transports it to wherever the mines are. In the process, the air quality of Pando Nagar has worsened. It has even blackened the Rashtrapati Bhavan, says Banarsi. Several of the villagers have breathing difficulties. The coal transportation has stopped since 1 November. But it may resume after the elections. The villagers say the establishment has ignored them in every which way. Around 600 acres of land, out of which, people with only 250 acres have got their land rights. The political parties, they say, did not even bother to change their minds after they announced the boycott. Sanjho, who cultivates rice on her farmland, says the state does not care for Adivasis and farmers. The minimum support price of Rs 1,750 is insufficient, she says. The Raman Singh government has not even given the bonus to paddy farmers for two years. On a tranquil afternoon in Pando Nagar, not many young people were around for a chat. There are no jobs either, says Sanjho, upon asked where the youth is. They have gone out in search of labour work. Those who are not locals are working here as government servants, and our kids with decent degrees are daily wage labourers. With such blatant neglect, Banarsi asks, Were we wrong to consider the boycott? But no, he says, without waiting for an answer. Not voting would have meant accepting defeat. We are part of the society, and we will have our rightful say. We will not throw in the towel just yet. The Socio, Economic and Caste Census, 2011 found that 17390 rural households in UP were registered as houses of manual scavengers. A more recent survey, conducted by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has identified over 53,236 manual scavengers in India. Although the survey is still ongoing and has data from only 18 states, Uttar Pradesh has had the dubious distinction of topping this list with 28,796 identified manual scavengers. They were not given any oxygen, nothing. They were working with the support of just a rope, says Arvind Kumar, family member of Dinesh Pashwan and Vikas Kumar, two manual scavengers who died while cleaning a sewer in Choukaghat, Varanasi, as part of the cleaning drive prep to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month. Workers present at the scene blamed the contractor and supervisor for not providing them with any safety equipment. The Natural Disaster Relief Force, which was called to the scene to retrieve the dead bodies, determined that the men died because of inhalation of toxic gases. Manual scavenging is an age-old practice in India, deeply entrenched in the caste system. It refers to the practice of cleaning untreated human excreta from dry latrines, railways, sewers and septic tanks by hand. This caste-based profession has been the responsibility of Dalits like Valmikis and tribals. Despite it being outlawed, the practice persists in both urban and rural areas all over the country. It was brought back in the spotlight by mainstream national media, when five workers died while cleaning a septic tank in Delhi earlier this year. According to Human Rights Watch, it is a prominent practice in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. This story, too, is just another statistic in the scores of deaths of manual scavengers in India. They were labourers working under the Ganga Pollution Control Unit, says Mr. Madanmohan from the MDM. Pashwan and Kumar were sent into this particular sewer to break a plug, essentially clean it a task that on an average takes two hours to complete, says Pankaj Srivastav, from the Ganga Pollution Control Unit. Satendra Prasad, also a member of the family of the victims, was on his way to work when he heard that two people had fallen into a sewer. He rushed to the scene and dialled 100, the police helpline. According to him, Pashwan and Kumar were in the sewers for around two hours, before their bodies were retrieved by NDRF. The Socio, Economic and Caste Census, 2011 found that 17390 rural households in UP were registered as houses of manual scavengers. A more recent survey, conducted by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has identified over 53,236 manual scavengers in India. Although the survey is still ongoing and has data from only 18 states, Uttar Pradesh has had the dubious distinction of topping this list with 28,796 identified manual scavengers. According to the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), there have been 123 sewer deaths in 2017, and a total of 612 since 1993. Manhar Valjibhai Zala, chairman of NCSK, confessed that this data is likely to be incomplete due to the data collection methodology NCSK relies on reports from state governments and analysis of English and Hindi media. Out of 35 states and UTs, only 13 have sent in their data. State authorities also tend to undercount the number of workers present. Any deaths investigated or reported by regional language papers are also unaccounted for. However, Safai Karamchari Andolan, a Delhi-based NGO which works to end manual scavenging, projects far higher numbers. According to their data, 1,760 people have died cleaning sewers and septic tanks since 1993, and at least 221 people have died since 2017. In UP alone, 37 deaths have been reported. In the Varanasi episode, there was palpable confusion when Kumar and Prasad were interviewed; neither were present when the two men descended, nor they could say, for sure, what the purpose of their visit in the sewers was. But, both seem certain that it was the fault of the supervisor and the contractor. The contractor just gave them a rope and left. It was only when the situation caused a commotion, did he come back running, alleges Arvind Kumar. Srivastav seemed relaxed as he denied the allegations: This incident did not happen during work. Who knows if they went back inside or if they slipped, it did not happen during work. He says that the workers were inexperienced, insinuating that their death was their own fault. Satendra Prasad acknowledges that Vikas had only started working the day of the incident, but Dinesh, their uncle, had been working as a sewage worker for three years. They belonged to the same village in Bihar, and had migrated to Varanasi. We provide masks, safety belts and oxygen, says Srivastav, but insists that this location is a dry point, and work here did not require any equipment. When asked how the workers died, he says that they must have re-entered when the flow started. This passing-the-buck affair is not a surprise; due process has largely not worked in the favour of manual scavengers. A study by Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan, a coalition of civil society organisations, found that FIRs are rarely filed in cases of deaths due to manual scavenging, arrests are almost never made, and convictions dont stick. The mandatory post-death compensation of Rs 10 lakh has rarely been awarded. The RGA argues that this is the reality for two main reasons denial of existence of a practice that had been outlawed in 1993, and caste oppression, where manual scavengers and their families are threatened by member of upper castes into silence. In this case, the police have arrested both the contractor and the supervisor for the deaths of these workers. Chief Officer Bijendra Sinha says that they are investigating the deaths. When asked when the pump machines in the sewers had started, he says, That Im not aware of. But I do know that what has happened here today has never happened before. Khabar Lahariya is a women-only network of rural reporters from Bundelkhand. Addressing a press conference here, Eastern Air Command's Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar said the IAF would never do anything wrong. 'I believe my fellow citizens can differentiate between chaff and wheat. And I am sure they are very well aware of what is happening around them, much more than what we probably think they are capable of knowing,' Nambiar said. Guwahati: The controversy over the Rafale fighter jet deal will not tarnish the image of the Indian Air Force as the people know the difference between "chaff and wheat", a senior IAF official said on Monday. Addressing a press conference here, Eastern Air Command's Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar said the IAF would never do anything wrong. "I believe my fellow citizens can differentiate between chaff and wheat. And I am sure they are very well aware of what is happening around them, much more than what we probably think they are capable of knowing," Nambiar said. He was replying to a question on whether the ongoing Rafale controversy has tainted the image of the IAF. "And I believe the Indian Air Force will never do anything wrong. We are very very focused, very very highly professional (in) service and we will continue to work to live up to the images that our citizens expect from us," Nambiar asserted. Nambiar, who flight tested the Rafale fighter jet, said the armed forces are sacred to the Indian people. The Rafale aircraft is far more superior in terms of performance compared to China's fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft like the recently-tested Chengdu J-20 stealth multi-role fighters, he had said in Shillong last week. After taking charge of the Eastern Air Command, Nambiar had last month said that the Rafale fighter jets are "highly capable" and will be a game changer for the Air Force. On 20 September, as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Nambiar flew the first Rafale fighter jet manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation for India to assess its efficacy in Paris. The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). The Congress has alleged a scam in the deal signed in 2016 while the government denied any irregularity. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 20) An international arbitral tribunal's ruling that recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea is "useless" for now since it cannot be enforced, a spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday. "The arbitral ruling cannot be taken away from us. It will be there forever. But meanwhile, who will enforce it? There is no power on earth presently that can enforce it. The United Nations cannot. The U.S. cannot. Who will enforce it?" Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Malacanang press briefing. When asked if it makes the landmark decision useless, Panelo said, "as of now, yes." "For purposes of enforcement [it is useless] but psychologically, it benefits us. Because as far as the world is concerned, this (West Philippine Sea) is ours, not theirs (China)," Panelo added. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in July 2016 recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, or areas of the South China Sea that lie within the country's 200-mile exclusive economic zone. China, however, rejects the ruling and continues to claim virtually the entire global waterway - parts of which are contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, and Taiwan. Panelo said, "There must be a collective action by the countries of the world to either persuade or pressure China into respecting the arbitral decision." Questions about the South China Sea dispute dominated the Malacanang press briefing shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the country for a two-day state visit. Panelo said Duterte "could raise" the dispute in his meetings with the Chinese President. Xi's visit is marked with protests as Duterte has been criticized for pursuing friendlier ties with China despite the East Asian giant's alleged militarization in the disputed region. Duterte refused to bring the arbitral ruling up with China - saying the Philippines cannot afford to go to war against it - but he promised to raise it within his term. READ: 84% of Filipinos reject gov't inaction vs. China on West Philippine Sea survey Panelo said Duterte will one day ask China to "respect the decision because right now they are not respecting it. They are using might." Panelo, however, also argued that the President has been using "another tact to get things that he wants to get from [China] through negotiation." Duterte said he will do everything he can to lead the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China into signing a Code of Conduct (COC) defining what states can and cannot do in the contested waters, within the Philippines' term as country coordinator for relations between the region and Beijing. The Philippines' term ends in 2021, a year before Duterte is supposed to step down as president. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi handed over a report published in The Wire to Fali Nariman, one of Verma's lawyers, which had contents of Verma's response which was supposed to be in sealed cover, reports said. Bar and Bench reported that Gogoi was 'deeply upset' about the leak. The Wire issued a clarification, claiming that the reports were on Verma's responses to questions the CVC put to him. The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing in CBI director Alok Verma's case to 29 November citing leakage of CVC (Central Vigilance Committee) report which was submitted to the Supreme Court last week. Verma submitted his response to the CVC report, which is probing corruption charges against him, after the top court granted him additional time to make the submission. On Tuesday, however, adjourning the hearing to 29 November, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi handed over a report published in The Wire to Fali Nariman, one of Verma's lawyers, which had contents of Verma's response which was supposed to be in sealed cover, reports said. Bar and Bench reported that Gogoi was "deeply upset" about the leak. The Wire issued a clarification, claiming that the reports were on Verma's responses to questions the CVC put to him. "We expressed that highest degree of confidentiality should be maintained and this litigant takes the papers and shares it with everyone. Our respect for this institution is not shared by anyone for some strange reason," said CJI Gogoi. This is to clarify that @thewire_in stories were on Alok Vermas responses to questions the CVC put to him. These were not in a sealed cover and were not meant for the SC. As for his response to CVCs final report, handed over to SC in sealed cover, we havent seen/reported that. https://t.co/ej7htVwBRJ The Wire (@thewire_in) November 20, 2018 Nariman also clarified reiterating that the reports published by The Wire about response to CVC and it was published before the Supreme Court order. "We did not give the article to you as a counsel for Alok Verma", Gogoi was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench. #CBI - #AlokVerma: Fali Nariman says @thewire_in article handed over to him is about response to CVC and it was published before the Supreme Court order. "We did not give the article to you as a counsel for Alok Verma", says CJI Gogoi. Bar & Bench (@barandbench) November 20, 2018 After the Supreme Court deferred the matter to 29 November, Nariman asked the apex court again to give some time before the bench rises to make some clarifications. A fresh hearing began soon after where Nariman told Gogoi that the articles by The Wire were about responses to the CVC and it "was published before the Supreme Court order". As Gogoi lost his temper over secretive contents of Alok Verma's response to the apex court were leaked, Nariman has responded saying, "What do we do with everyone snooping around and trying to get some information?" The Supreme Court, which was to give its ruling on Centre's order divesting Verma of his power, expressed strong displeasure over the leak of the sidelined CBI director's confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing. Gogoi was agitated with Nariman over the mentioning on Monday seeking additional time to file reply. Nariman said that mentioning by Gopal Sankaranarayanan on Monday was "unauthorised" and he was not even informed. He got to know from media. Asserting that BJP stands firmly with every Ayyappa devotee who holds the Sabarimala tradition close to his heart, the Amit Shah said his party will not let the LDF 'crush people's faith with impunity' New Delhi: BJP President Amit Shah on Tuesday slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan government's handling of the situation in Sabarimala as "disappointing" and accused the Kerala government of treating pilgrims as "Gulag inmates" and making them spend nights next to "pig droppings". The way Pinarayi Vijayans govt is handling the sensitive issue of Sabarimala is disappointing. Kerala police is treating young girls, mothers and aged inhumanly, forcing them to take the arduous pilgrimage, without even basic facilities like food, water, shelter & clean toilets. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 20, 2018 Asserting that his party stands firmly with every Ayyappa devotee who holds the Sabarimala tradition close to his heart, the BJP President said his party will not let the LDF "crush people's faith with impunity". In a series of tweets, Shah said, "If several reports of flushing resting places for devotees and them having to spend nights next to pig droppings and dustbin are true, then Pinarayi Vijayan must realize that he can't treat Ayyappa devotees like inmates of Gulag. We won't let LDF crush people's faith with impunity," the BJP chief said. If several reports of flushing resting places for devotees and them having to spend nights next to pig droppings & dustbin are true, then Pinarayi Vijayan must realize that he cant treat Ayyappa devotees like inmates of Gulag. We won't let LDF crush people's faith with impunity. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 20, 2018 Gulag was a system of forced labour camps established during Joseph Stalin's rule in the Soviet Union. Shah's comments underlined his party's support to devotees protesting against the state government's move to implement a Supreme Court order lifting the bar on women of menstruating age from visiting the temple. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has accused the BJP of politicising the court order with the chief minister asserting that it is the job of a government to implement the apex court's order. Shah said the way the way Pinarayi Vijayan's government is handling the sensitive issue of Sabarimala is disappointing as the "Kerala police is treating young girls, mothers and aged inhumanly, forcing them to take the arduous pilgrimage, without even basic facilities like food, water, shelter and clean toilets". "If Pinarayi Vijayan thinks he can rise against people's movement to preserve Sabarimala by arresting K Surendran, BJP's Thrissur district president and six others, then he is mistaken," Shah said. The Punjab Police have detained a few people having links to separatist organisations in connection with Amritsar's grenade attack on Sunday on a prayer meeting of the Nirankari sect. The Punjab Police have detained a few people having links to separatist organisations in connection with Sunday's grenade attack on a prayer meeting of the Nirankari sect in Amritsar, police said on Tuesday. The Sikh hardliner elements were detained in raids conducted by various teams of the state police at different places, including in Amritsar and Bathinda districts. CNN-News18 reported that the state police has also summoned two members of the Dal Khalsa organisation in connection to the case. The police have not, however, officially confirmed or denied the detentions. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora had earlier said that a "local hand" could be behind the grenade attack. Three persons were killed and 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne youths threw a grenade at a religious congregation in Adliwal village in Rajasansi area, about 15 kilometres from Amritsar, on Sunday. All victims were sect followers from nearby villages who had gathered for the weekly religious meeting. Police officials told IANS that various leads were being followed in the grenade attack case to nab the culprits. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said the attack seemingly carried "Pakistan's signature", with initial probe indicating the grenade used was similar to the ones being manufactured by the Pakistani Army Ordinance factory. "Prima facie, this appears to be an act of terror by separatist forces, organised with the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terrorist groups. "My government has taken serious note of the incident and is aggressively pursuing all angles of investigation," he said. He also announced Rs 50 lakh as reward for any information leading to the arrest of the assailants. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and forensic experts were helping in the investigations. The Chief Minister has said Sunday's attack was a clear case of terrorism and there was no religious connection to it. With inputs from agencies Anissia Batra, who was married to Mayank Singhvi for two years, allegedly jumped from the terrace of her house in Panchsheel Park in south Delhi on 13 July. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to the in-laws of a flight attendant who allegedly committed suicide in July this year. Justice Mukta Gupta gave the relief to flight attendant Anissia Batra's parents-in-law RS Singhvi and Sushma Singhvi subject to their furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000. "Bail is allowed," the court said. The Singhvis had moved the high court after their plea for bail was rejected by the trial court. They surrendered before the police on 1 November. Anissia (39), who was married to Mayank Singhvi for two years, worked with a German airline. She allegedly jumped from the terrace of her house in Panchsheel Park in south Delhi on 13 July. Mayank rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead. He was arrested on 16 July. Anissia's family alleged that her husband physically abused her and often demanded money. The family claimed before the trial court that her death was not suicide but murder. Mayank's parents were earlier denied anticipatory bail by the high court. Before jumping off the terrace, Anissia sent a message to her husband that she would kill herself, police had said earlier. Mayank, a software engineer in Gurgaon, told the police that they had regular fights due to "compatibility issues". They had an argument on the day of the incident as well following which she jumped from the terrace, police said. The victim's family had also given a complaint to police on 27 June, saying Mayank would be responsible if anything happens to their daughter, police said. Shivpal Singh Yadav's remarks came a day after Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu announced in Kolkata, following a meeting with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, that a planned conclave of opposition parties for 22 November has been postponed Lucknow: The Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), a newly floated political outfit, on Tuesday suggested that Opposition parties were delaying the formation of a mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) due to fear of the CBI. "Why are they delaying the formation of the mahagathbandhan. Who do they fear? Are they afraid of the CBI?" the party's founder, Shivpal Yadav, aske at a press conference. His remarks came a day after Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu announced in Kolkata, following a meeting with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, that a planned conclave of Opposition parties for 22 November has been postponed. Responding to a question, he ruled out the possibility of tying up with the BJP, either in the Lok Sabha or Assembly elections. "I had earlier said that they (non-BJP parties) should call me, talk to me. We want 50 percent of the seats. To remove the BJP from power, we are with them (anti-BJP forces) and will remain with them, but we want 50 percent seats. Include us," he said. While Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats, the strength of the state Assembly is 403. The PSPL founder added, "The party which we have formed has permission of 'Netaji' (Mulayam Singh Yadav). And, let me tell you, we have been blessed by Netaji and will continue to be blessed by him. I have been with Netaji since childhood and hence I know him more than you (media)." He also said that his nascent party will organise grand celebrations across the state to mark the birthday of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam and a dangal (wrestling tournament) will be organised in Saifai: the ancestral village of the Yadav family. Mulayam, who will turn 79 on Wednesday, was a wrestler before he took a plunge into politics in 1967. After falling out with nephew and SP president Akhilesh Yadav after a bitter family feud, Shivpal launched the Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM) on 29 August and announced his new political party last month after it was registered with the Election Commission. Shivpal also announced that on 9 December his PSPL and Bahujan Mukti Party, a Dalit outfit, will organise a joint rally in Lucknow on "Samvidhan Bachaao, EVM Hataao, Desh Bachaao". The gang war in the CBI has raised raising serious questions about the high and mighty entrusted with crucial organisations governing the country "Turning and turning in the widening gyre, the falcon cannot hear the falconer; things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, the blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere, the ceremony of innocence is drowned, the best lack all conviction, while the worst, are full of passionate intensity." These lines by William Butler Yeats best describe the gang war in the CBI, which has also led to the corrosion of the steel frame of other institutions, raising serious questions about the high and mighty entrusted with crucial organisations governing the country. The hostile and vindictive behaviour of faction-ridden agencies may have already altered the lifespan of a seasoned R&AW spy and undermined the State's authority. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi's outburst over the shoddy state of affairs only betrays his inner feelings on the lingering mudslinging. A meeting last year at the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) office at INA triggered a chain reaction and unfortunately, dragged the top institutions starting from the PMO to NSA into the open battle involving the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and R&AW, besides the CBI and the CVC. The meeting was held to promote Rakesh Asthana as the second-in-command of the CBI. The director Alok Verma opposed it, but the government overruled his reservation. Knives were out of the scabbard. Much has been written about Verma-Asthana factions and officers of other agencies pulling the strings, targeting each other with charges and counter-charges but the falconer watched from the sideline until the ceremony of innocence was buried on 15 October, 2018. Verma decided to lodge an FIR against his deputy for allegedly taking a bribe to scuttle the probe in the Moin Qureshi case and named an R&AW officer and two Dubai-based men alleged to be middlemen. At this juncture, the shadowy war had turned into a public duel unravelling some very inconvenient truths after a midnight sweep. The story thereafter turned into that of a turf war between agencies, one about greed, settling personal scores, spying on each other and illegally tapping phones of officers. A series of applications filed in the courts and selective leakages of classified documents show the officers used all sorts of weapons with a vengeance. A senior officer said naming R&AW officer Samanta Goel in the CBIs FIR was the EDs revenge for tapping phones of and generating a report against one of its senior officer's way back in 2016. "For CBI, the two persons named in the FIR are alleged middlemen; for spy organisations, they are assets. Activities of R&AW are supposed to be cloaked in secrecy but by dragging out Goel's name, they inflicted incalculable damage," the officer said. Meir Amit, former Mossad chief had once famously said, "Naming a serving spy is serious. Spying is a secret business and not a pleasant one. No matter what someone has done, you have to protect him or her from outsiders. You can deal as harshly as you think fit with her/him inside the organisation. But to the outside world, s/he must remain untouchable and, better yet, unaccountable and unknown." But that did not happen in Goels case. He was not only named, his conversations and details of phone interception were put out in the public domain. It is very clear from AK Bassi's petition in the Supreme Court that that Goel's phone was tapped. Bassi, who was the investigating officer against Asthana was termed as a 'person of doubtful integrity' by the latter. Bassi gave a list of conversations between the R&AW officer and Somesh (Prasad, alleged middleman), alleging that the duo had linkages with Asthana and detailed efforts to allegedly frame honest officers and complainant Sathish Babu Sana. Bassi in his application said: "The all-pervasive manipulations and machinations to save some select officers from their misdeeds and penalise officers like the applicant for conscientiously carrying out their duties, have forced the applicant herein to knock the doors of this Honourable Court, and seek justice." After Bassi, another CBI officer MK Sinha moved the Supreme Court and dragged everyone from the PMO, a Union minister and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval into the controversy alleging the ongoing controversy was symptomatic of a larger deep-rooted malaise in the country's premier investigation agency, the CBI. Besides allegations against top decision-makers in the government, Sinha's petition reveals another ugly truth: That the CBI was intercepting calls like it was its primary job responsibility. Sinha, dragging the PMO into the tussle, admitted that Goel's phone was tapped on 23 October when he was in Chandigarh. "The applicant herein was informed by DIG/DD (SU) that someone spoke to Goel (who was in Chandigarh at that time) and asked him to help, to which Goel replied that things have been managed with the PMO and everything is fine. The same night the entire investigating team was shifted," Sinhas application said. Besides naming the PMO, R&AW, NSA, a Union minister, the Cabinet secretary, law secretary and CVC, Sinha also pointed to the malaise in the CBI and ED, arguing that if not reined in, the CBI may become 'Centre for Bogus Investigation' and ED may turn into 'Extortion Directorate'. There are also two central figures in this entire controversy: Moin Qureshi and Satish Babu Sana. Qureshi has been under the scanner of various Central agencies including ED, CBI, Income Tax Department since 2013 and the latest case was filed against him in early 2017. According to the CBI: "Moin Akhtar Qureshi has collected huge amount of money in this manner as he was in connivance with said public servants holding high public office and thereby been able to illegally acquire immovable properties situated outside India." Who are these public servants close to Qureshi? Well, the CBI, ED and I-T Department are still trying to figure it out, even though a former CBI director's name had already cropped up. "The man, who had in 2013-14 revealed his annual income as around Rs 80 lakh allegedly acquired seven properties abroad situated in London, Singapore, New York and Dubai. It is very clear that entire system was compromised, otherwise why has no action been taken yet? From politicians to bureaucrats, everyone is a suspect in scuttling the probe," a source said. Sana, is not just an acquaintance of Qureshi. He had transferred Rs 50 lakh to Qureshi in July 2012 through his bank account. Subsequently, in November 2013, Qureshi gave a share certificate of M/s Great Height Infratech worth Rs 50 lakh to Sana. He also allegedly delivered Rs 1.5 crore to Qureshi in November 2012. Like Qureshi, Sana is also being probed by the ED while treating him as a witness in the case. The details of the case including chats and transcripts of calls reviewed by Firstpost shows they had top-level connections and were making efforts to dilute the cases pending against them. Whether money exchanged hands is a matter of further investigation, but evidence on record makes it amply clear that there was a nefarious nexus with the officers in order to scuttle the investigation. The bigger question is who is benefitting from already damaged institutions? Obviously, those accused of corruption and their godfathers in the system are the happiest men. They have successfully turned agencies against each other and are busy chasing each other's rivals instead of the corrupt. Whosoever wins, the loser surely will be the political leadership. The decision-makers must be reminded of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: "Ah! well a-day! what evil looks, had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross, about my neck was hung". The political leadership will have to deal with the situation with an iron fist. It hardly has any choice. It won't want to head to the 2019 election with an albatross around its neck. It sends a chill down the spine to think of all that a CBI officer scorned can do taking cue from two two illustrious gents. What this sordid drama shows is that both the director and special director have been busy carving up the CBI into their personal fiefdoms, forcing everybody around them to become part of this dirty factional war. Editor's note: This article was originally published on 20 November, 2018, arguing why Alok Verma did not deserve to return to CBI. It is being republished in light of the Selection Committee's decision on Thursday evening (10 January, 2019) to remove Verma from the post of CBI chief following the findings of the Central Vigilance Commission. The high-powered Selection Committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice AK Sikri voted 2-1 to sack Verma just a day after he resumed office. Here is the piece written on 20 November: *** The Supreme Court of India will take up on 29 November further hearing in the plea of Alok Verma, director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), for being reinstated. Verma was sent on forced leave by the government in the wee hours of 23 October along with Rakesh Asthana, his deputy and special director. Most of the speculation around Vermas future has since centred on the findings of the court-ordered probe by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) into the charges leveled against him by Asthana. For a few days before and after 12 November the media was full of reports of a CVC clean chit to Verma; the inference being that Verma would give the government a bloody nose in court and return to resume his duties. That narrative changed dramatically after 16 November when the Supreme Court, having reviewed the report of the CVC, revealed that some of its findings were very uncomplimentary to Verma. The chorus changed to how Vermas fate was sealed. It is clear from the above that there is general agreement that Vermas future is tied to what the CVC investigation has found and what the Supreme Court will make of it once it takes Vermas response on board. It is stupid to predict what the court will find. I am not treading that path. Instead I am arguing that Alok Verma should not be allowed to set foot in the CBI headquarters ever again, whichever way the Supreme Court rules on 29 November (or later) on the legality of the charges against him. Thats because Verma has simply lost the moral authority to run the CBI, an institution of public trust. As the head of the countrys federal investigation agency it is his job to preserve the integrity of the institution. He has instead participated fully in achieving the opposite: besmirching the image of the institution further. Asthana is as responsible for betraying the trust of the public. It can be said of every employee of every institution that it is their responsibility to preserve the integrity of the institution they serve. But there is one crucial difference between the director and the rest of the staff. It is only the director of the CBI who gets a fixed two-year tenure. The Supreme Court provided this suraksha kavach a ring of protection only to the director of the CBI, not to every officer of the CBI, for a very good reason. The Supreme Court ring-fenced only the director because that officer is the custodian of public trust in the institution. It is the directors responsibility to protect the image of the CBI (such as it is) and enhance it during his charge. The Supreme Court indicated that this trust factor weighs heavily on its mind when it explained on Friday (16 November) why it had asked the CVC to file its report in a sealed cover. This course of action has been considered necessary by the court keeping in mind the need to preserve and maintain the sanctity of the institution of CBI and public confidence in the said institution, said the court. The operative parts being "sanctity of the institution of CBI" and "public confidence". Verma claimed his deputy had gone rogue. Even if that were true, the solution was not in turning rogue himself. Never has a CBI director supervised the filing of an FIR as flimsy as the one that was filed against Asthana, his immediate deputy. By the same token it is now clear that at least some of the charges brought by Asthana against Verma have failed legal scrutiny. If the special director can put up corruption charges against his boss (in his letter to the Cabinet Secretary no less) some which are unsustainable and if the director can file an FIR in retaliation against his deputy that has the smell of a frame up, it throws up important questions: a) What is the level of efficiency of the CBI that even when the director and the special director want to fix each other, they cant come up with charges that will stick, and b) If this is the extent to which the director and special director can go to fix each other, what must their juniors be doing to ordinary citizen? It sends a chill down the spine to think of all that a CBI officer scorned can do taking cue from these two illustrious gents. What this sordid drama shows is that both the director and special director have been busy carving up the CBI into their personal fiefdoms, forcing everybody around them to become part of this dirty factional war. For that and that alone, Verma should be allowed retire in disgrace rather than retake office. In fact, it might be quite in order for the collegium to convene and dismiss him for the simple fact of allowing himself to be leader of one vicious faction of the CBI against another rather be leader of the entire institution. Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal was slapped allegedly by a disgruntled supporter of the party during a roadshow in Moti Nagar on Saturday, prompting a strong reaction from AAP, which alleged that the BJP was behind the 'cowardly act' Editor's Note: This article, originally published on 20 November, 2018, is being republished to include the latest attack on against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal was slapped allegedly by a disgruntled supporter of the party during a roadshow in Moti Nagar on Saturday, prompting a strong reaction from AAP, which alleged that the BJP was behind the "cowardly act". The Delhi Police, which has taken the man into custody, claimed he was dissatisfied with the behaviour of AAP leaders. Kejriwal was atop an open jeep when a man wearing a red t-shirt jumped onto the vehicle and slapped the chief minister before being pulled off the jeep. The 33-year-old man, identified as Suresh, who is a scrap dealer in the area, has been a supporter of AAP and used to work as an organiser of the party's rallies and meetings, police said. Such an assault is not new to the Delhi chief minister, who has been on the receiving end of many similar attacks in the past in various ways. On 20 November, Kejriwal was attacked by a man armed with chilli powder outside the Chief Minister's Office at the Delhi Secretariat. A man identified as Anil Kumar Hindustani attacked Kejriwal inside the Delhi Secretariat around 2.10 pm when the chief minister was leaving for lunch. He was taken into custody, as well. Condemning the attack, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blamed the Delhi Police for the "serious security lapses". FIRST ON CNN-NEWS18 -- CCTV footage of the attack on Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal | #KejriMirchiAttack pic.twitter.com/2xFgoXPuEc News18 (@CNNnews18) November 20, 2018 Since Kejriwal entered public life, he has been the target of several projectile attacks. In October 2016, two ABVP activists threw ink at Kejriwal for his comments on surgical strikes by the army on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in Transport Nagar of Rajasthan's Bikaner district, PTI had reported. Following the ink attack, ABVP activists Dinesh Ojha and Vikram Singh were taken into custody. In April 2016, a man identified as Ved Sharma and claiming to be from the Aam Aadmi Sena (a breakaway faction from Aam Aadmi Party) had thrown a shoe at the Delhi chief minister when he was addressing a press conference in the secretariat, News18 had reported. Sharma was eventually detained by the police. In March 2016, Kejriwal's car was pelted with stones by protesters in Punjab's Ludhiana. The car's windshield was broken in the attack, The Hindu had reported. Kejriwal had been in Ludhiana on the last day of his tour to Punjab ahead of the Assembly polls which had taken place in 2017. In January 2016, a woman identified as Bhavna Arora, a woman from the AAP's breakaway group in Punjab, had thrown ink at Kejriwal at a public gathering, alleging a "CNG scam" in the Delhi government. In April 2014, a 38-year-old autorickshaw driver called Lali had slapped Kejriwal at a roadshow in Sultanpuri area of North-west Delhi. He had first garlanded Kejriwal and then slapped him at the roadshow. Kejriwal sustained a minor injury in his left eye and his spectacles were damaged in the attack. Lali had accused Kejriwal of not fulfilling promises made to autodrivers. Lali was later detained by the police, but was let off as no complaint was lodged either by Kejriwal or AAP against him. Kejriwal had later visited Lali's residence and had said he had forgiven the man. During the campaign for the 2014 Delhi Assembly polls, a person punched Kejriwal on his back and had even tried to slap him during his roadshow in south Delhi's Dakshinpuri area. In March 2014, unidentified people had thrown ink at Kejriwal when he was camapaigning for the Lok Sabha polls in Varanasi. The open vehicle in which Kejriwal was travelling was also pelted with eggs. With inputs from PTI Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also welcomed the decision, saying justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the 'heinous crime'. New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday welcomed a Delhi court's verdict sentencing one person to death and another to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and said it was "proud" that the legal process was being allowed to work out its course. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the party's stand on the legal process is clear and asserted that there should be no external influences. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also welcomed the decision, saying justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the "heinous crime". In the first capital punishment in the 1984 riots cases, the Delhi court awarded death penalty to Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the cases. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. "The Congress Party's stand is clear. This is a legal process, a legal process which must be allowed to work out its course and we are very proud, happy and fortunate that it is working out its course," Singhvi told reporters. He said the party welcomes it "subject to the usual caveat that there should be no external influences in the process". "The purity of the process should not be compromised and the rights of the accused are counter valid with the process... I think the whole country and everybody should welcome and the Congress Party certainly welcomes it," he said. The Punjab chief minister took to Twitter to express himself. "Welcome the first conviction by a Delhi court in the 1984 riots case. Justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the heinous crimes. Hope the others involved in the attacks are also soon brought to book for their horrendous and inhuman acts," Singh said. The verdict was pronounced in the Tihar Jail due to security concerns and attack on the convicts on the premises of the Delhi court. On November 14, the court convicted Singh and Sherawat for killing two men in Delhi during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots -- the first conviction in the cases reopened by the SIT. Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a Special Investigation Team on the riots reopened it. Thousands of Sikhs were killed in the national capital and its surrounding areas in the three days following the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on 31 October 1984. According to reports, the Maharashtra Police confirmed the number of casualties. The report also said that the casualties include a worker of an ordinance factory and four civilians. Six people died and 10 were injured in an explosion in an Army base camp in Maharashtra's Wardha on Tuesday. CNN-News18 reported that the Maharashtra Police confirmed the number of casualties. The report also said that the casualties include a worker of an ordinance factory and three civilians. The blast, in the Pulgaon Army depot in Wardha, reportedly occurred while destroying old explosives. #NewsAlert Explosion in firing range near Wardha, Maharashtra. Police confirm that 1 worker of an ordinance factory and 3 local residents have died in the blast while 6 people have been injured. The blast happened while destroying old explosives. | @c_mangure with more details pic.twitter.com/7fuBboHqdT News18 (@CNNnews18) November 20, 2018 Around 10 to 15 contract labourers were at the site when the explosion occurred, Wardha's Additional Superintendent of Police Nikhil Pingle said. "The blast took place in one of the ammunition boxes while unloading the ammunition. The incident took place in an open space," he said. While four people were killed on the spot, two others succumbed to injuries in hospital, Inspector General of Police (Nagpur Range) KMM Prasanna told PTI. The ground near the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) was given to the Ordnance factory, Khamaria (in Madhya Pradesh) for demolition activities, a Defence official said. "The demolition was being carried out by staff of the Ordnance Factory, Khamaria, with the help of an authorised contractor. Contractual services are used for digging pits and placing sandbags over the explosives," he said. The deceased included a staff member of the Khamaria-based factory and other labourers. The 10 injured were admitted to a hospital in the nearby Savangi village, Prasanna said. One of them was in a critical condition while three others received serious injuries, he said, and six others were out of danger. Officials from the ordnance factories at Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Khamaria in Madhya Pradesh rushed to the spot to ascertain the cause of the accident, the Defence official said. With inputs from agencies Kerala was faced with another potential health crisis post-floods it has the highest number (5 million) of diabetes and hypertension patients in India. Many chronic patients had been left homeless, without access to their daily, critical dose of medicines. Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Alappuzha (Kerala): Around 2.30 am on 15 August, 2018, Abey Sushan, the programme manager of the National Health Mission for Pathanamthitta district, got an SOS call from the local administration. Flood waters had entered the taluk hospital in Ranni town and were rising so fast they threatened the safety of inpatients. Three pregnant women had gone into labour at the hospital which also had 25 bedridden patients. Pathanamthitta was one of the one worst affected districts in the floods that devastated Kerala in August 2018, leaving an estimated 5 million people displaced. Sushan had to arrange for the immediate evacuation of the three women and their transfer to the Pathanamthitta general hospital. Luckily we were able to summon ambulances, he said. A contingency plan was drawn up for the evacuation of the other patients in case the waters rose further. This was just one of the many medical crises averted by quick thinking and action by state health authorities in Kerala. A deluge on this scale usually brings with it fears of water- and vector-borne epidemics such as cholera, leptospirosis (rat fever), hepatitis A, and malaria. The July 1998 floods in Malda district in West Bengal, for instance, had ended in a cholera epidemic, followed by a diarrhoea outbreak which had left 276 dead. Besides, Kerala was faced with another potential health crisis post-floods it has the highest number (5 million) of diabetes and hypertension patients in India. Many chronic patients had been left homeless, without access to their daily, critical dose of medicines. Non communicable diseases (NCDs) have also led to an increase in kidney ailments in Kerala. About 100,000 dialyses are conducted in the state in a year and number of dialysis centres increased six times in the last five years, Mathrubhumi reported on 29 April, 2018. Kerala is known for its robust healthcare system maternal mortality rate here is 61 deaths per 100,000 live births (India average is 167) and neonatal mortality rate is 6 deaths per 1,000 live births. But the floods had inflicted a loss of nearly Rs 325 crore on its health infrastructure, crippling it. So how did the state cope? Our investigations found that planned monitoring and surveillance of disease and medical issues at state and district levels helped to minimise deaths and contain an impending crisis. Volunteers played a critical role in this effort as did the states determination to bypass red tape at critical points. The scale of the disaster was unprecedented, recalled Rajeev Sadanandan, additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, and the officer credited for containing the Nipah outbreak. With Nipah we were handling a virus we did not know, which was stressful. Here, we knew what to expect which helped us stay ahead, although the scale was massive. The state established a control room in capital city Thiruvananthapuram to coordinate the logistics of providing manpower and medicines statewide. Communicable diseases were to be contained by providing access to clean water and ensuring close monitoring at camps. Health volunteers were to ensure that those with non communicable diseases would be provided medicines, care and monitoring. Source: Directorate of Health Services (here, here, and here) Note: Data for 2018 is as of September 2018 In this concluding part of our three-part series (you can read part one here and part two here) of how Kerala is rebuilding itself after the floods, we investigate how the state managed to prevent a major health crisis though eight of its 14 districts were in the heavily affected category. IndiaSpend travelled to four districts, three Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam,and Alappuzha of which have been categorised as highly affected districts by a Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) report, to understand how the state managed to stave off a health crisis. How daily monitoring and surveillance worked It was a little after lunch time at the directorate of health services in Thiruvananthapuram on 10 September, 2018. A nationwide hartal (strike) had left the building empty. But on the first floor, a team of more than 60 people, mostly doctors, were hard at work, handling post-flood surveillance and monitoring at the 24x7 disaster control room set up on 18 August, 2018. At the control room, doctors had been appointed as nodal officers for 10 teams that dealt with public health, drugs and logistics, damage assessment, human resource management, documentation, media surveillance and so on. The teams meet in the morning to plan for the day, and again in the evening to review and evaluate, said Sarita RL, director of health services. The review meeting in the evening usually has the health minister and the secretary of health who evaluate daily reports. During the initial phase, it was imperative that medicines, medical assistance and clean water reached the camps and affected homes as per need. The drugs and logistics management and human resource teams ensured that the scores of doctors and volunteers pouring in from different regions were directed to relevant locations. Stocks of medicines and consumables were maintained at district levels based on local inputs and reports that reached via email by 4 pm each evening. In Ernakulam, the district health services set up a control room with five desks including a call centre. (Initially, the call centre was operated from Kollam which was not affected by the floods.) The calls would be colour-coded based on urgency after screening and volunteer doctors attended calls, said Asha Vijayan, a nodal officer for the control room. In the five days to August 22, 2018, the helpline received 4,266 calls of which over 72% were addressed successfully, noted a report accessed by IndiaSpend. The team also received 3,411 WhatsApp messages. It was a WhatsApp-managed disaster, said Sadanandan. There were so many officials from across the country volunteering to help that at one point people were asked to exit a WhatsApp group because it was getting overcrowded, he said. In addition, a team of doctors from Tamil Nadu provided technical support based on their experience of the 2015 Chennai floods. There were fears of a leptospirosis outbreak Preventing an outbreak of leptospirosis or any other water-borne disease was high on the agenda of the health mission. This was because there were high chances that displaced people could come in contact with infected water. Flooding facilitates the proliferation of rodents which shed large amounts of leptospires (bacteria) in their urine that cause the disease, noted a World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. Outbreaks of leptospirosis had occurred post-floods in Brazil (1983, 1988 and 1996), in Nicaragua (1995), Krasnodar region, Russian Federation (1997), Santa Fe, USA (1998) Orissa, India (1999) and Thailand (2000). Between August and September 2018, Kerala did report 1,084 cases of leptospirosis, of which 39 proved fatal, and 568 cases of dengue of which two led to deaths, according to provisional data available in the DHS website. But the crisis did not spin out of control. In Ernakulam, nearly 2.3 million 100 milligram doxycycline tablets--that prevent leptospirosis--were given to flood victims and cleaning volunteers, recalled Shibu Balakrishnan, medical consultant with WHO India. This prophylactic programme for leptospirosis probably ranks as the largest in world, he pointed out. Ten teams, including medical and non-medical staff, were assigned across the district specifically in highly affected regions around Ranni including Chittar and Seethathode. We would go to camps in the morning and the afternoon to ensure doxycycline tablets were provided, said Anil Kumar, a junior health inspector (JHI) in Ranni taluk hospital. We were constantly in touch with community members we had identified to report on any health related events. Patients who visited the taluk hospital were supplied with doxycycline tablets and were instructed to consume it immediately if they had been in contact with water. We were concerned that people who were returning home to clean their homes could be infected, said Vaishakh VR at Ranni. We did not wait for instructions to prescribe the tablets." By the time I got involved in Ernakulam on August 21, the system had handled the challenge well, especially ensuring that water and doxycycline was provided extensively, said Shibu Balakrishnan, medical consultant with WHO India. How the volunteer network was put to use Volunteers played a significant role in the measures to prevent a leptospirosis outbreak. Jasmine Paulfin and Sajitha are members of Kudumbashree, state poverty eradication programme, which played a big role in relief and rehabilitation work, as we reported in the first part of the series. The duo work in Gothuruth in Ernakulam and are a part of Shradhha, a post-disaster monitoring programme devised in the district. Under the programme, each volunteer from the same neighborhood is assigned about 40 homes to monitor cases of leptospirosis and its treatment. We have been visiting homes to ensure that wells are chlorinated, provide information on rat fever and enquire about doxycycline availability and consumption, said Paulfin. They visited the same homes again after three days to repeat the process. If we find persistent fevers reported in an area, then we focus closely on those cluster of homes, said Manju KS, medical officer at the primary health clinic (PHC) in Gothruthu. "In the initial phase, it was difficult to find volunteers, as everyone including me were affected, said Reethamma CA, PHCs junior health inspector. But a Rs 5 incentive for visiting each house was helpful. But communicable diseases werent the only challenge for Kerala. Ensuring insulin, medicines and dialysis for diabetics Diabetics on insulin therapy were facing a crisis in Pathanamthitta during the floods: Cold storage systems had broken down because power supply had been disrupted. Insulin needs to be in a temperature-controlled environment to prevent protein breakdown that would render it ineffective. Patients identified in camps were given oral hypoglycemic drugs by medical officers. Although it is not most effective for patients who are severely diabetic, but under the circumstances we had to opt for it, said Sushan. Dialysis was another critical area of patient care crippled by power breakdown. Patients were identified at camps by staff like JHI, junior public health inspector (JPHI), ASHA workers and health volunteers. With a total of 18 dialysis machines in two hospitals, patients were treated in three shifts of six hours each. Purified water needed for dialysis was ensured by the authorities which pressed reverse osmosis equipment. Treatment was resumed for patients whose medication had been interrupted based on the guidelines provided by the state health department. In Ernakulam, palliative care nurses helped identify people with NCDs like hypertension, kidney ailments, and diabetes. When technology came in handy Kuttanad in Alappuzha is located at the lowest altitude in India. A low water table makes it vulnerable to water-borne diseases. We had used KoBo application (field data collection tool) on mobile phones here earlier to check for communicable diseases," said Anil Kumar, block medical officer of Veliyanadu. It helps us locate the homes by geo-tagging and identifying hotspots. We have continued it for post-flood surveillance also." They have had a monitoring mechanism where volunteers, mostly women, inform health staff about any health issue in the neighborhood. In Ernakulam, the health administration used KoBo to report data from private hospitals. Most of the data in the integrated diseases surveillance programme were from government hospitals. An interdepartmental coordination mechanism was established with the district health officials and private hospitals, said Balakrishnan. Medical officers were given the responsibility of liaising with private hospitals to report communicable diseases, especially leptospirosis, using the app, said Balakrishnan of WHO India. They would go through medical records and registers among others to pick any probable cases, and sensitise private practitioners about reporting any suspected cases immediately. The author is an analyst with IndiaSpend Calling the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections a 'big battle' against a formidable force, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has said he is 'hungry' to bring his party back in power in the state. Piplani :Calling the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections a "big battle" against a formidable force, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has said he is "hungry" to bring his party back in power in the state. The Congress has been out of power in this vast state with about 5 crore voters since 2003 when it was ousted by the BJP. The grand-old party is making its all-out efforts to wrest control of the state from the BJP and has mounted an aggressive campaign for the November 28 elections for 230 assembly seats. The BJP had won 165 seats in the last state elections in 2013 with 44.88 per cent votes, while the Congress had got only 58 seats with 42.67 percent. Nath, the state Congress chief and a key campaigner for his party, told PTI in an interview that he is a "party worker who is hungry to bring the Congress back in power in Madhya Pradesh". He, however, evaded a direct reply to a question on whether he could be made the chief minister if his party wins the polls. "(Congress president) Rahul Gandhiji will decide how it will happen," he said during his first campaign rally in the Budhni assembly seat in support of Congress candidate Arun Yadav. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the BJP candidate from Budhni and it has traditionally been known as a bastion of the saffron party leader who has been heading the state government for 13 years and is now eyeing his fourth term. Yadav is Nath's predecessor in the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief post and the change of guard was undertaken by the party high-command in Delhi only a few months back. Nath, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Chhindwara constituency of the state, also hit back at the BJP over the recent controversy about the Congress party's manifesto proposing a ban on holding RSS 'shakhas' in government premises. While some BJP leaders have alleged that the Congress wants to ban the RSS, Nath said his party was only wanting to implement a protocol that was also in operation during the regimes of two BJP CMs before Chouhan. "They (BJP) are trying to incite people by telling lies. I have never said that we will ban the RSS. I have said we will do that is as per central government rules and what was prevalent in Uma Bharti and Babulal Gaur's time," he said. Chouhan had replaced Gaur as the chief minister in November 2005, while it Bharti who was made the chief minister after the BJP stormed to power in Madhya Pradesh in 2003 by ending the ten-year rule of the then Congress chief minister Digvijay Singh. The Congress manifesto says that "the holding of RSS shakhas in government premises would be banned and the order regarding relaxation given to public servants to attend them will be revoked". The then Congress government had banned RSS activities in government premises in Madhya Pradesh in 1981. The ban was later revived in 2000 by the then chief minister Digvijaya Singh under the Civil Services Conduct Rule. Asked if it was a battle where everything of the Congress was at stake, Nath said, "There is nothing do or die in politics but certainly this is a big battle to expose this government who has cheated every section of society." The 72-year-old Congress heavyweight, who has been elected to the Parliament nine times, said, "Today the question is that who do the people trust and I think the people have lost their trust in Shivraj Singh Chouhan ji and Modiji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi)." Asked about his recent statement that his constituency of Chhindwara has seen better strides of development than chief minister Chouhan's assembly constituency, Nath said he was astounded by the under-development in Budhni. "The people of Budhni and people of Chhindwara are witness to the great difference between Budhni and Chhindwara. "In Chhindwara's development and Budhni's development there is a vast difference and the neglect of Budhni by the CM is not only surprising, it is shocking," he said. Two terrorists were killed after an encounter broke out between militants and security forces at Nadigam village of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir in the wee hours of Tuesday. Five people, including four Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists and a paratrooper from the Indian Army, were killed on Tuesday morning after an encounter broke out between militants and security forces in the Nadigam village of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports, the encounter lasted for at least four hours. CNN-News18 reported that a paratrooper was also killed in the gunfight, and three jawans were injured in the encounter which has now ended. The Kashmir Valley has been witnessing a spurt in terror activities over the past few months. #NewsAlert -- In an update to an ongoing encounter in Nadigam village in Shopian, two militants have been killed. pic.twitter.com/lmyuwtEw88 News18 (@CNNnews18) November 20, 2018 On 18 November, two terrorists associated with terror outfit Al-Badr were killed in an encounter in Rebban area of Shopian district. Based on a credible input about the presence of militants, a cordon and search operation was launched by security forces at the crack of dawn in the area. Police said that as the search operation was going on, the search party was fired upon by the hiding militants. A police spokesperson said, "They were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Al-Badar. Both the killed terrorists were involved in a series of terror attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area." Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. No collateral damage took place during the encounter, he said. On the same day, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan lost his life after terrorists opened fire on a CRPF camp at Railway Colony in Pulwama's Kakapora area. With inputs from agencies Tehreek-e-Hurriyat district president Hafizullah Mir on Tuesday was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in south Kashmir's Achabal area. The separatist leader was shifted to a hospital in a critical condition after being shot, where he succumbed to his injuries. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) district president Hafizullah Mir on Tuesday was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in south Kashmir's Achabal area. The separatist leader was shifted to a hospital in a critical condition after being shot, where he succumbed to his injuries. Gunmen reportedly shot Mir at his home in Akingam area of Achabal. According to a Kashmir Life report, his wife was also injured and is currently being treated at the hospital. Mir was released from jail last month after serving two-year detention. In a statement released a few days ago, TeH had alleged that Mir was receiving life threats over the phone, reported Greater Kashmir. "Since last one month some unknown people [were] suspiciously roaming around his house and at times knocking the doors and windows and inquiring about Mir Hafizullah that makes the whole family frightened," a spokesman of TeH had said. Further details are awaited. In a pre-dawn gunfight on Tuesday, four militants were killed in Shopian by government forces all local members of the Hizbul Mujahideen in the Nadigam area of the South Kashmir district. In a pre-dawn gunfight on Tuesday, four militants were killed by government forces all local members of the Hizbul Mujahideen in the Nadigam area of South Kashmir's Shopian district. The encounter took place a few days after the group executed suspected informers working for security forces in the district and filmed the acts. The videos were later circulated on social media. By filming the brutal killings and circulating the videos, the militants aimed to create fear among such "informers" to stop them from passing on information on the movement of militants and their sleeper cells to security agencies. But the move appears to have not worked as a deterrent at all. At the gunfight in Shopian, an elite para commando was also killed, while another was critically injured. The elite forces are deployed in extreme circumstance when counter-insurgency forces are at a disadvantage against militants in a difficult terrain or congested localities. "As a search operation was going on today, the search party was confronted with bullets fired by the hiding militants. In the initial exchange of fire, one army jawan identified as HC Vijay of 23 Para sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital for medical treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries," a police statement said. However, the militant killings was followed by protests, with youth taking to the streets near the site of the gunfight at Nadigam village, four kilometers from the main town of Shopian. The police and paramilitary forces fired teargas shells, pellets and live ammunition to disperse the crowds, injuring eight people. "People were protesting against the killings. Forces fired at them suddenly while trying to push them away. Two women, identified as Meena Shah and Rafia Bhat, suffered bullet injuries," said Gulzar Ahmad, a resident of Nadigam village. At the heart of these killings and the continued violence in Shopian lies the fact that the district, which was once a safe bastion of militants post Burhan Wani, is fast turning into a slaughterhouse of militants getting killed at the hands of security forces. This year, Shopian has witnessed the maximum number of militant deaths. According to a police officer, forces killed 40 militants in Shopian this year, so far. The figure is likely to break the record of the past 15 years in terms of the number of militant killings in one year in Kashmir. What makes the situation fiery is that almost all the militants killed were local residents. "For their survival, the militants used to bank on three tactics protests (during funerals), recruitment and (local) intelligence. Now, their space is shrinking," said Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Swayam Prakash Pani. Pani added that the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Indian Army re-established their intelligence network in South Kashmir after the killing of former Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on 8 July, 2016. His death had triggered killings, a months-long shutdown and lawlessness across the southern region, resulting in the collapse of the intelligence network. "We started from almost zero," a police officer in the district said on Sunday, "Except for Shopian, everywhere it (gathering intelligence) was easy." The district had the maximum number of militant killings, including foreign ultras, this year. According to the police, a large majority of those involved in the new age militancy were from the area, but many of them had been killed. "Being a local," the police officer said, "has a massive advantage, including the knowledge of terrain. The problems are the big orchards where, after few metres, you can't see a man on the other side." But gradually, while the army continued to expand its intelligence network, the police worked on an elaborate plan of human intelligence, the details of which are interesting as well as dangerous and has paid off for them. This is why Shopian, once a bastion of militants, has come to this pass as the location where most encounters take place, and that the highest number of militants who get killed are from this district. "Now, all three things are going against them (militants): one, we have a strong intelligence network in place because of which militants have been getting killed over the decade like never before; two, protests have diminished; and three, these two combined have added to the lack of recruitment," Pani said. The recent development in the Kathua rape and murder case has also brought focus on an often-ignored aspect of the criminal justice system in India rights of victims during trials. The Kathua rape and murder case saw an unexpected turn of events earlier this week when the father of the 8-year-old victim filed an application in court saying that he wished to withdraw lawyer Deepika Rajawat from the case. Speaking to Firstpost, a relative of the victim, who has been involved in the legal battle to secure justice for her, said that the family does not have any complaints against Rajawat, but maintained that the lawyer had only appeared in court two times. "For some time now, we have been hearing news that advocate Rajawat has been facing abuse and threats. She has also said that she fears that her life may be in danger, and that she has been threatened with sexual assault. In addition to this, we found that she had only appeared in court a couple of times, although the case is being heard on a day-to-day basis in Pathankot. Keeping this in mind, we thought it would be better to free her from the case. We do not want any harm to come to her on account of the case that we are fighting in court," uncle of the rape victim. He further said, "There is no question of having any complaints about her (Rajawat). Our concern is that we should be able to secure justice for the child (the victim in the case)." Describing the difficulties faced by the family after the incident of rape and murder, he said, "Tensions with the local people have certainly increased after the incident. The Hindu community in our neighborhood are very good people, but there a few with vested interests who do not wish to see brotherhood and amity between different communities." Reacting to the application of the victims father withdrawing his power of attorney, Rajawat said that the family had not spoken to her before filing the plea in court. She further said, "I began appearing for the family in February, when I filed a writ petition before the high court seeking that it should monitor the investigation which was being conducted by the crime branch. It was after the high court began supervising the progress of the case that several arrests were made. In the Supreme Court as well, I appeared along with advocate Indira Jaising, seeking that the trial in the case should be shifted out of Kathua. Now that the trial has begun, the state government has appointed three public prosecutors to conduct the case, and as the lawyer for the victim, there is not much of a role that I can play now. Hence, I decided to focus on the cases that I was handling in Jammu." Subsequent to the filing of the application in the court in Pathankot by the victims father, Rajawat has faced abuse, on social media. She was also criticised for a statement she put out on Twitter saying, I was there with them when no one was. Now since the rainy days have passed, they are winding up with me just because I could not regularly attend the trial which is taken care of by senior criminal lawyersI don't blame them; it is the human tendency which travels in genes. (sic)" I was there with them when no one was. Now since the rainy days have passed, they are winding up with me just because I could not regularly attend the trial which is taken care of by senior criminal lawyers. I don't blame them. it is the human tendency which travels in genes. Deepika Singh Rajawat (@DeepikaSRajawat) November 14, 2018 If you're working for the protection of human rights, stop telling disadvantaged people you were there with them when no one was. It was from your own volition. If you stop feeling good about it after a while doesn't give you license to be a bigot. Priyanka (@autumnrainwish) November 16, 2018 Victims right to representation in trials a far cry? The recent development in the Kathua rape and murder case has also brought focus on an often-ignored aspect of the criminal justice system in India rights of victims during trials. In India, victims (or their families) have little say in the progress of a trial, as the case is conducted by a public prosecutor (who represents the State) and a defence lawyer (who represents the accused.) Section 301(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) provides for the possibility of appointing a lawyer to assist the public prosecutor in conducting a trial, but severely limits such a lawyers role. According to the provision, such a lawyer can present written arguments after the evidence is closed in the case, with the permission of the court. Ashif Sheikh, founder of NGO Jan Sahas, spoke about the need for victims of crime to be represented in court. The organisation, among other things, works on access to justice and has a team of lawyers who assist public prosecutors during trials. Shekh says, Most people have to depend on the public prosecutors to get justice, and these officers have a heavy burden of cases to deal with. It is impossible for them to remember the details of each case. Often, prosecutors manage to read case files of a criminal trial only a couple of minutes before entering the court." Sheikh adds, "As of now, the law does not allow a victim's lawyer to present oral arguments in court. However, lawyers who assist prosecutors can help victims make statements in court, and explain the contents of the chargesheet to them. Sometimes, the police leave loopholes in the chargesheet, and this problem can be addressed if victims know what is written in the document. Measures like these can help bring more cases to justice." A bench comprising justices A M Khanwilkar and Deepak Gupta rejected the 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. New Delhi: 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 A M Khanwilkar and Deepak Gupta rejected the 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 minority 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 22 October, 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 13 November 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. India has to decide whether it has the will and standing to go it alone in Maldives with of course a little help from its friends like Japan and slowly but surely entirely replace China in terms of influence and projects in the archipelago. The images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and newly-sworn in President of Maldives Ibrahim Solih walking virtually arm in arm at his swearing-in ceremony at Male, must have provided considerable solace to the Ministry of External Affairs. This state of satisfaction is likely to be more marked since less than 3 months ago, the somewhat mercurial former president Abdullah Yameen seemed to set on throwing out all Indians and their interests out of the archipelago, even while laying out the mat for China. Indian media has, therefore, been gleeful in noting that Modi was the only foreign leader invited to the swearing-in, that the new president declared New Delhi as the closest ally, and even went so far as to ponder a review of the archipelagos commitments under the Belt and Road Initiative. While all this is no doubt a foreign policy win for the moment, the question is whether the bonhomie is durable given some hard facts. One, is the question of Maldives' debt to China, which is equivalent to over 25 percent of their gross domestic product, and which is not likely to go away any time soon. The likelihood of this being re-negotiated is slim, though Male will probably have a try. The issue here is that most these contracts have been made with Chinese companies, and not in government to government deals. The Velana airport contract, for instance, is being carried out by the Beijing Construction Group Company, a mega construction firm with a declared asset based of 63 billion RMB and an annual turnover of 65 billion Yuan. These companies are there for profit, and will expect to be paid as per the terms agreed on. When the media notes that Solih "briefed" the Indian Prime Minister on the economic distress of the country, it means that Maldives is basically asking whether India can come up with the dibs and get Male out of economic hot water. If New Delhi agrees, this will mark a sea change in the way we do diplomatic business. A second aspect of Chinese projects in Maldives is the sheer efficiency that Beijing can bring to bear. The "China Maldives Friendship Bridge" opened to traffic on 31 August, just 33 months after work began. Both airport and bridge, first mooted by Indian companies, were thrown out without ceremony in 2015 by the then government. Not only that, Male was able to secure a preferential buyer credit loan agreement from Beijing which reportedly also took care of the arbitration costs that GMR imposed on the country. This is not just about a heavy Chinese purse. This is about the speed at which Beijing moved into Male ( 2011) grabbed the contract ( 2015) and executed it (2015). Contrast this to the snails pace at which the Indian bureaucracy moves. GMR went into the country in 2010. Our embassy has been around for decades, and that too, with a virtual monopoly in foreign involvement until recently. If India expects to be able to deliver in Maldives, its embassy has to be far more nimble than it is now. For instance, a look at the embassy web page shows it hasnt been updated since 2017. Bilateral trade figures are similarly dated. Thats no way to do business. Even more difficult is the question of existing Chinese investments, like the 50-year lease of an uninhabited island Feydhoo Finolhu in late 2016. At the time not only were laws calling for competitive bidding set aside, the deal itself has been ridden with accusations of corruption. The atoll which had earlier been used by the police welfare company, benefitted considerably from the lease, with China promising a donation of $85 million for welfare. The Maldivian police force is not going to be happy if that contract is cancelled. Curiously, the name of the Chinese company involved is not listed anywhere. What is known is that it is already in the process of building a resort on the island. Lying just 75 nautical miles from Indias Exclusive Economic Zone, the island has the potential of being developed into a Chinese snooping station, which could endanger Indian coastal activity. A radar was also rumoured to be planned on another nearby atoll of Makhundoo. If such activities has to be ended, it will have to be through using Maldives own legal system to examine the processes whereby this, and other concessions were given. This will need political commitment especially when interested parties are likely to fuel opposition to winding up such lucrative contracts. Conversely, it is assumed that the Indian naval plans to install Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems along not only the Indian but also the Maldivian coast will be re-started. Part of a network of a reported 45, the Maldivian network was supposed to include 10. As of early this year, only seven were understood to have been installed with the fate of the rest uncertain given the hostile political climate. The system is supposed to be integrated with an Automated Identification System that allows all concerned including Maldives, and Sri Lanka among others to have a clear picture of all mercantile shipping in the area. Obviously, that also means Chinese ships. Male will need something really solid to agree to what is a virtual maritime surveillance system. Meanwhile, the Joint Press Statement between the two sides has emphasised the priorities of the country, which includes the the pressing need for increased housing and infrastructure development as well as for establishing water and sewerage systems in the outlying islands. The Chinese Construction Third Engineering Co Ltd is already in the business of building affordable housing. Some 7000 such homes are being constructed on Hulhumale, while other Chinese companies are building bridges and infrastructure. No wonder then that while the Chinese Ambassador hastened to congratulate the new President the day after Modis visit, the Global Times editorial was almost Solomon-like in its language. Though it patronisingly conceded that China has no objection to neighboring countries having a close relationship with India it, however, also noted "China's cooperation with these countries was never meant to replace India's influence. Indian leadership is strengthening mutual trust with China over this issue, but some Indian and Western media have failed to follow the rhythm. Another article by the Director of a Centre for Indian Studies, China West Normal University, while observing that Chinese built infrastructure was good for Indian companies, also suggests the 2 plus 1 mechanism in Maldives. This had been earlier proposed during the visit of Prime Minister KP Oli to Beijing, where it seemed to suggest a China - India dialogue relating to any third South Asian country as a kind of big players dialogue. Clearly this cooperation mechanism is a way for Beijing to get India into the BRI, apart from indicating that Beijing had no intention of vacating its position of influence in these countries. So the Wuhan Summit notwithstanding, India has to decide whether it has the will and standing to go it alone in Maldives with of course a little help from its friends like Japan and slowly but surely entirely replace China in terms of influence and projects in the archipelago. The only other option is that it could accept Chinese money as inevitable, and decide to simply use its reinvigorated influence to ensure that the Renminbi is kept within commercial limits, while staying away from security. Either way its a tough call. For the moment however, the second option seems to be the way to go. Meanwhile learn the lessons of the past well. As the Chinese themselves say A man grows most tired when standing still." For the full Pro Kabaddi League schedule, click here For all the results from this Pro Kabaddi League season, click here For the Pro Kabaddi League points table, click here Preview: After a fascinating Inter-Zone Challenge Week, the zonal battles resume with Tamil Thalaivas facing off against Telugu Titans at the Arena by TransStadia in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. A victory for Tamil Thalaivas is of utmost importance as they are currently in sixth place in Zone B and trail Bengal Warriors, who occupy the third and final Super Playoff spot, by 12 points. The two teams faced off earlier in the campaign and Telugu Titans came out victors by a scoreline of 33-28. Key Players Amit Hooda - Tamil Thalaivas Right Corner Amit Hoodas return to form has been a huge impetus for Tamil Thalaivas. The 22-year old ranks second among all Tamil Thalaivas players in tackle points with 28 to his name. He was brilliant in his sides 46-24 win over UP Yoddha, scoring six tackle points in just seven attempts on the night. A repeat of that performance is what Tamil Thalaivas will be hopeful for from their brilliant Right Corner. Abozar Mohajermighani - Telugu Titans Speaking of brilliant Right Corners, there have few better than Abozar Mighani in Season 6 of Pro Kabaddi. With 31 tackle points in just eight games, Abozar leads the league in average tackle points by a Right Corner with 3.88. Among players with more than 20 tackle points, his successful tackle percentage of 68% also ranks the best. A master of the Thigh Hold, Mighani is capable of single-handedly bringing down any raider by himself, making him a potent weapon in defence for his side. India and Vietnam agreed to further strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation in defence, oil and gas sectors during President Kovind's three-day visit to the country Hanoi: India and Vietnam agreed to further strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation in defence, oil and gas sectors as President Ram Nath Kovind held productive and extensive talks with his counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong on Tuesday. Kovind, who is here on a three-day visit, received a military guard of honour at the Presidential Palace before the talks. This is Kovind's first visit to South East Asia and to the ASEAN region as president. During their talks, the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, according to an official statement. "My talks with President Phu Trong were extensive and productive. Our discussions covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation," Kovind said. The two leaders reiterated the importance of building a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region on the basis of respect for national sovereignty and international law. "We have agreed to further strengthen our bilateral cooperation in defence, peaceful uses of atomic energy and outer space, science and technology, oil and gas, infrastructure development, agriculture and innovation-based sectors," he added. The two nations also signed three MoUs in the fields of communications, education and trade and investment to take the bilateral agenda forward. "We are committed to further deepen our defence and security cooperation. I reiterated India's commitment to provide training support for Vietnam Armed Forces. We also reviewed the implementation of the Line of Credit of $100 million for building high-speed patrol vessels for the Vietnamese Border Guards," he said. During their talks the two leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation. They agreed to strengthen the global fight against the menace, the statement said. "We expressed satisfaction that the two countries would soon begin dialogue on strengthening maritime security cooperation," Kovind said. The two nations agreed to encourage their industries to tap into the growing economic opportunities in their own countries and in the region. "India-Vietnam economic relations are on an upswing. Our bilateral trade last year stood at $12.8 billion. I am confident that our efforts in facilitating our business interactions will enable us to achieve our bilateral trade target of $15 billion by 2020," he said. The president said his visit to the country came 60 years after the 11-day historic state visit of the late President Ho Chi Minh to India in 1958. "I am glad that my first visit in the ASEAN region has been to Vietnam, a strategic pillar of India's Act East Policy, and our key interlocutor in ASEAN," he said. As comprehensive strategic partners, India and Vietnam have a strong bilateral relationship based on mutual trust, understanding, convergence of views on regional and international issues and strong cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, the president said. Stop killing animals, treat them with love and respect as another form of God and see how your happiness increases. For me, food is at the core of every religion because it signifies the most important commandment of the universe: those shalt not harm. People who eat meat cause vast amounts of suffering, not just to the animals but to the planet itself. The five most amazing vegetarians in the world, in my opinion, were the Holy Prophet Mohammad, Jesus Christ, the Buddha, Rumi and Mahatma Gandhi. How sad that all their followers eat vast amounts of meat while mouthing the phrases of their religious books or teachings. You should know about Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi, known simply as Rumi, a 13th century (1207-1273) Muslim poet, jurist, theologian and Sufi mystic, born in Balkh (in Iran then and now in Afghanistan) and died in Konya, now in Turkey. Known as Maulana and Maulawi (master), he is regarded as one of the greatest Sufi spiritual masters and poets, famous for his epic Masnavi-yi Manavi (Spiritual Couplets), which widely influenced mystical thought and literature throughout the Muslim world. Upon his death, his followers, and his son founded the Mevlevi Order, also known as the Order of the Whirling Dervishes. Rumis influence has spread across nations and ethnic divisions. Iranians, Tajiks, Turks, Greeks, Pashtuns, Muslims of different nationalities. His poems have been widely translated into most of the world's languages and have influenced literature hugely, especially Persian, Turkish, Urdu and Pashto. Sufism, or Tasawwuf, is the inward mystic philosophy, the spiritual dimension/discipline of Islam. It considers the Holy Prophet Muhammad as the perfect being who exemplifies the morality of God. Sufis belong to different orders, congregations, formed around a grand master. These strive for perfection of worship. According to William Chittick, "In a broad sense, Sufism can be described as the interiorisation, and intensification of Islamic faith and practice." Sufism is perceived as a peaceful and apolitical form of Islam, particularly suited for inter-religious dialogue and intercultural harmonisation in pluralist societies; a symbol of tolerance which is humanism-flexible and non-violent. While Sufis strictly observe Islamic law, they are ascetics, firm in their practice of Dhikr, the remembrance of God. Classical Sufi scholars have defined Tasawwuf as "a science whose objective is the reparation of the heart and turning it away from all else but God". Sufis believe that by pledging allegiance to Muhammad spiritually, they may connect with God. "Intensive devotion, pious abstemiousness and pondering the divine mysteries" is the Sufi way, the science of purifying the heart". Existing in both Sunni and Shia Islam, Sufism is not a sect, but a method of approaching, or a way of understanding the religion, which works "through simultaneously fulfilling the obligatory religious duties" and finding a "way and a means of striking a root through the 'narrow gate' in the depth of the soul out into the domain of the pure unimpressionable Spirit which itself opens out on to the Divinity." While all Muslims believe that they are on the pathway to Allah and hope to become close to God in Paradise after death and after the Last Judgment Sufis also believe that it is possible to draw closer to God and embrace the divine presence in this life through repentance from sin, the purging of contemptible qualities and evil traits of character, and adornment with virtues and good character. Devotion to Muhammad is an exceptionally strong practice within Sufism. Rumi attributes his self-control and abstinence from worldly desires as qualities attained by him through the guidance of Muhammad. Rumi states, "I 'sewed' my two eyes shut from [desires for] this world and the next this I learned from Muhammad." Dhikr is the remembrance of Allah commanded in the Qur'an for all Muslims through a specific devotional act, such as the repetition of divine names and supplications from Hadith literature and the Quran. Ritualised dhikr ceremonies of the Sufis include "recitation, singing (the most well known being Qawwali music), instrumental music, dance, incense, meditation, ecstasy, and trance." Sufi whirling originated and is still practised by the Sufi Dervishes of the Mevlevi order. It is a dance through which dervishes aim to reach the source of all perfection. This is sought through abandoning one's egos, personal desires, listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one's body in repetitive circles, seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the solar system orbiting the sun. At the age of 12, Rumi, born in a Muslim meat-eating world, wrote this quatrain and became a vegetarian till he died. 'Shadeed-az-kwa nee ast munazin/Ya rafeer ul-qist amnazeer/Choon ke ast shadaaz raftam ke azdaan/Wahen ul-khirama, za dizt'un bu'azir? (I have existence and I value it so much/So have all the beings on earth and they too, try to preserve it/ Then, how can I kill even the tiniest creature/Just to satiate my palate?).' Rumi believed that all lives were sacred: 'Taa'shif nifaak b'astz sang (Even a seemingly lifeless stone has a degree of consciousness; respect it).' Rumi was a staunch vegetarian and shunned even milk and milk products ('heer mun-haraam nuzt: To me, even milk is forbidden'). He even refrained from sacrificing animal/s as an Islamic ritual on Eid-Al-Adah (Bakrid). Rumi says in Turkish, 'Ye'k dez charinda-ul-insaan rish'h'aaz (Look at all animals as you look at humans)'. This is of paramount importance. This creates sensitivity that further blossoms into universal empathy. The sanctity of every life is to be saved and preserved: 'Kahin nish shudam el-fazeer-un-nisaar.' Rumi writes that what we eat directly influences our thinking. If we consume an animal, its blood and gore will make us act like a slaughterer: 'Un qasaab, gosht-e-zakaaf'. We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten our former states, except in early Spring when we slightly recall being green again, Rumi said in one of this poems. When Rumi died, his body was interred and a shrine, the Yesil Turbe (Green Tomb), was erected over his place of burial. His epitaph reads: 'When we are dead, seek not our tomb in the earth, but find it in the hearts of men.' Rumi believed passionately in the use of music, poetry and dance as a path to reach God. It was from these ideas that the practice of whirling dervishes developed into a ritual form. In the Mevlevi tradition, worship represents a mystical journey of spiritual ascent through mind and love to the Perfect One. In this journey, the seeker symbolically turns towards the truth, grows through love, abandons the ego, finds the truth and arrives at the Perfect. The seeker then returns from this spiritual journey, with greater maturity, to love and to be of service to the whole of creation without discrimination. And that includes animals. There is a belief, expressed by chroniclers, that much of his poetry was composed in a state of ecstasy, induced by the music of the flute or the drum, the sound of the water mill in Meram, where Rumi went with his disciples to enjoy nature. He found in nature the reflection of the radiant beauty, and felt flowers and birds partaking in his love. Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi says, "All loves are a bridge to Divine love. Yet, those who have not had a taste of it do not know!" The Mewlewi order issues an invitation to people of all backgrounds: Come, Come, Whoever you are Wanderer, idolater, worshipper of fire Come even though you have broken your vows a thousand times Come, and come yet again Ours is not a caravan of despair. I would repeat this invitation to all of you who eat the flesh of animals. Stop killing them, treat them with love and respect as another form of God and see how your happiness increases and the world changes around you. To join the animal welfare movement, contact gandhim@nic.in, www.peopleforanimalsindia.org The Sabarimala saga just got a little more complicated. That's saying quite a bit in the light of what's been happening in Kerala ever since the Supreme Court passed an order at the end of September overturning the existing ban on girls and women between the ages of 10 and 50 offering prayers in the inner sanctum. The Sabarimala saga just got a little more complicated. That's saying quite a bit in the light of what's been happening in Kerala ever since the Supreme Court passed an order at the end of September overturning the existing ban on girls and women between the ages of 10 and 50 offering prayers in the inner sanctum. Briefly, 'devotees' have expressed grave concern and have virtually prevented the previously 'disenfranchised' women from exercising their newly acquired rights. Though Hindu groups have been sedulously trying to promote the idea that this is a spontaneous movement of the elect, all the evidence available suggests that a considerable quantum of energy has gone into organising these spontaneous attempts to disturb the peace and prevent menstruating women, that is women or girls of an age at which they are construed as being capable, even if in exceptional cases, of menstruating, from entering the sanctum to offer prayers. The constituents of the Sangh parivar, most notably the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have been in the thick of organising these spontaneous protests. We shall return to the BJPs role in blocking a Supreme Court order in a while, because it is most germane. Full text of the BJP circular BJP Circular on Sabarimala by Firstpost on Scribd Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has made some observations in response to complaints from some devotees that they have been prevented from camping overnight in the last stretch leading to the steps leading to the temple as is the usual custom. The high courts observations are curious, if not inexplicable. It has admitted that the Supreme Court order has to be implemented, but has also questioned the heavy police deployment to ensure implementation. According to the court, the police have intervened excessively, while the devoted petitioners have submitted that the police presence is excessive as is its stringent control over the area, ranging from transport to the working hours of restaurants and shops (which have to close by 10 pm), thus restricting the pilgrims access to basic amenities. Other questions have been raised along these lines. The question, of course, is what is excessive. The answer equally obviously is that it depends on the context. The court has asked Keralas director-general of police to file an affidavit detailing action taken by the police. One does not know what exactly the police will say. But it certainly would not be outrageous to argue that an enhanced police presence is necessary alongside the imposition of extraordinary measures because the implementation of the orders of the Supreme Court is being opposed by many groups, including the mainstream political parties, to the accompaniment of violent means. The role of the BJP and the Congress has been most invidious. While the latter has opposed the Left Front government's commitment to uphold what is tantamount to the law in a relatively low-key manner, with its usual opportunistic eye to immediate political and electoral gains, the former has elevated its opposition to the Supreme Court order to a point of principle. Its calculations are also rooted in securing electoral gains, but its position is more dangerous because it is inextricably located in an ideological position that privileges majoritarian reflexes over everything else, including the rule of law. Given that the party is in power at the Centre, makes the situation even more dangerous. BJP president Amit Shah has repeatedly attacked the Kerala government over the past few weeks for trying to implement the Supreme Court order his most over-the-top statement, issued on Tuesday, accuses the Left Front government of treating Sabarimala pilgrims like Gulag inmates. The most charitable interpretation of this comparison is that Shahs knowledge of what the Gulag is, or was, has been gleaned from casual conversations. The BJPs witting falsifications, or those made from pure ignorance, are, of course, intrinsically woven into the fabric of its politics. The Left Front government must be applauded for trying to implement the letter of the law, in the right spirit, without bowing to electoral compulsions. It is unfortunate that it has had to moderate its commitment in the face of opposition stoked and fanned by political parties and those with who, in their determination to protect their investment, continue to pose as the guardians of sacred tradition. There is every reason to believe that these traditions are not, in the first place, age-old customs, but have been invented fairly recently. One tribal community, the Mala Arya Adivasis, a scheduled tribe, for instance, has claimed that they were the original custodians of the shrine but were driven out of the area in the nineteenth century. They also say that the ban on women of menstruating age entering the sanctum is a later accretion which was imposed after they were driven out and Brahmanical practices imposed. The Mala Aryas have demanded that Sabarimala and other shrines be handed back to them. Whatever the truth of this claim and this can only be validated or disproved by credible historical research the basic point cannot change: that tradition or no, the ban is discriminatory, on the basis of gender (and biology, in this case) and infringes a number of constitutional rights, which is why the Supreme Court struck down the ban in the first place. The Supreme Court has now agreed to give a hearing on 22 January to a bunch of petitions urging it to review its judgement but has declined to stay the September order. In the meanwhile, strongarm tactics have been used to ensure that not a single woman or girl between the ages of 10 and 50 be allowed to enter Sabarimalas inner sanctum. This is a travesty. There are two appropriate responses to these stratagems: the use of proportionate force to subdue the protestors; or women and girls saying, a plague on your shrine, well worship elsewhere, but will never vote for those parties that have conspired to deny us our hard-won right. A 'secret' circular issued by BJP in Kerala revealed that the protests on Sunday (18 November), which led to the arrest of 72 people at Sabarimala, were part of carefully planned operation by the saffron party to execute its political agenda in the state. A "secret" circular issued by general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala revealed that the protests on Sunday (18 November), which led to the arrest of 72 people at Sabarimala, were part of carefully planned operation by the saffron party to execute its political agenda in the state. Issued by BJP general secretary AN Radhakrishnan, the circular, a copy which was obtained by Firstpost, said that the BJP had kept a group of workers from three Assembly constituencies Aruvikkara, Vamanapuram and Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram district ready to go to Sabarimala on the third day of the pilgrimage (18 November). Those arrested included Sangh Parivar workers from three constituencies in Thiruvananthapuram district. The action was coordinated by party spokesman advocate J R Padmakumar. The "secret" operation is in tune with state BJP presidents statement that the Supreme Court verdict was a golden opportunity for the party to implement its agenda in the state. The circular has listed 28 Sangh districts identified for sending activists to Sabarimala till 20 December, along with the names and phone numbers of the coordinators for each district. The coordinators have been asked to fix the time and place for the gathering of the workers. The circular also asked party state committee and council members and morcha, district and zonal office bearers to ensure mobilisation of maximum workers from each district. Senior BJP leader and state secretary MT Ramesh said he was not aware of the circular. "If at all there is such a circular, it is not issued with the knowledge of the state leadership. The plan did not come up in the party's state forums for discussion," he added. However, the state advocate-general submitted a copy of the circular before the high court on Monday after he was summoned to explain the restrictions imposed on the devotees by the police. The senior law officer said that the restrictions were necessitated after deliberate attempts by certain groups to create trouble in the hill shrine. The high court had come down heavily on the police for its failure to ensure smooth darshan for the devotees. The court said that police could not place restrictions on the devotees in the name of the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter the temple. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan justified the police action in Sabarimala, saying those who were arrested by the police were not devotees but Sangh Parivar activists, who were trying to create trouble. While addressing the state conference of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists at Kozhikode, he said the Sangh Parivar activists had gone to Sabarimala disguised as devotees. "They have been camping at Sannidhanam with a motive to create trouble as part of the BJP's political agenda. Their attempt is to make Sabarimala a war zone. We are not against the devotees, but at the same we will not allow anyone to create trouble in the name of the devotees," he added. Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said that the BJP and the Sangh Parivar were not guided by true faith. "They have no regard for the customs and rituals at Sabarimala. Their attempt is to provoke Hindus and gain few votes," he said. He said that the actions of the BJP were in tune with the party chiefs appeal to the workers to make maximum political mileage from the Supreme Court verdict. He had described the verdict as a golden opportunity for the party to implement its agenda in the state. The party is trying to consolidate the Hindus by whipping up communal passions, he added. The Sangh Parivar had mounted a resistance against young women trying to enter the temple during the monthly pooja in October and the Chithira Atha Visehsm pooja in November by camping at the hill top. They changed the tack this time as large number of their activists were arrested in connection with the troubles and the police had beefed up security to ensure that no trouble makers trekked to the hill top this time. The BJP had readied volunteers to prevent women in the age group of 10 to 50 years from entering the temple. However, they turned against the police as no women from the restricted age group reached Sabarimala to visit the temple in the first three days of the pilgrimage. They found the restrictions imposed by the police on the devotees, especially the overnight stay at Sannidhanam, an ideal opportunity to keep the flames of protest going. The protest came as a surprise to the police since it had scanned every devotee to ensure that no activist had reached the hill top. Hindu Aikya Vedi leader KP Sasikala and BJP general secretary K Surendran were refused permission to go to Sannidhanam on 16 and 17 November and arrested as per this move. Police sources believe that the activists who staged the protest on Sunday may have entered the temple disguised as devotees. The police has not been subjecting those coming to Sabarimala with irumudikettu (holy offering to Lord Ayyappa), as it would have created provocation. The Devaswom minister said that a junior BJP leader who was camping at the hill top may have led the protests. The police could not identify the leader, V Rajesh as he was less-known in police circles. The minister said that Rajesh may have been hiding in the forest to escape the police scanner. The police was not expecting any trouble on Sunday as there was only a small number of devotees at the Sannidhanam when the temple was about to be closed after the days puja and all of them were happy with the opportunity, they got to do the darshan comfortably. Upsetting the police calculations, a group emerged at the nadapanthal and started chanting Ayyappa slogans in protest against the police restrictions minutes before the closure of the sanctorum. The police tried to avert trouble by appealing to them to leave Sannidhanam. They had agreed to go back after the closure of the sanctorum. When they refused to leave, the police tried to take the leaders into custody. However, the protesters insisted everybody be arrested. Accordingly, around 100 protesters were removed to the police camp at Maniyar, around 30 kilometres away from the temple. The police has slapped non-bailable offences against 70-or-so protesters. Superintendent of police and Sannidhanam special officer Pratheesh Kumar said the protesters were detained for violating Section 144 that prohibits assembly of more than four people at a spot. We had asked them to disperse after the Harivarasanam but most of them refused, he added. The BJP and Sangh Parivar workers swung into action immediately after the arrests and took the protests to several parts of the state. While a large number of workers surrounded the Maniyar police camp demanding the release of those in custody another group staged protests outside Vijayans official residence in the state capital. The BJP workers also tried to block chief minister when he went to Kozhikode for attending a function and staged a prayer protest outside the venue. They also waved black flags against Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran. The protestors also pelted stones at Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses in a few places. The party had supported a state-wide shut down strike and organised road blockade following the arrest of Sasikala and Surendran. Both the protests had caused considerable difficulty to the devotees, leading to a drop in the number of pilgrim arrivals at Sabarimala. BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai said the arrest of the devotees as an example of the police excess at Sabarimala and demanded a judicial inquiry into them. He said that the hill shrine was under the "police raj" and the police was denying devotees the right to exercise their religious beliefs. "The police is forcing pilgrims to go back. It is a dangerous situation. The whole world is watching the naked rights violation in Sabarimala. We will meet Governor P Sathasivam and request him to ensure a peaceful pilgrimage," he said. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said both the BJP and the Left Democratic Front government were trying to make Sabarimala a war zone. He came down heavily on the chief minister asking if Kerala was under the rule of Adolf Hitler. He alleged the government was trying to "brand" Ayyappa devotees as Sangh Parivar activists and thus helping RSS recruit people to its fold. Full text of the BJP circular BJP Circular on Sabarimala by Firstpost on Scribd The Board, which manages the hill shrine, has cited lack of basic amenities among other things as the reason for seeking more time from the top court. The announcement on the TDB's move came amid mounting tension against the backdrop of the stand-off over entry of women in the 10-50 age group, traditionally barred at the shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, a celibate. New Delhi: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking more time to implement its verdict allowing women of all age groups to enter Kerala's Sabarimala temple. The Board, which manages the hill shrine, has cited lack of basic amenities among other things as the reason for seeking more time from the top court. The announcement on the TDB's move came amid mounting tension against the backdrop of the stand-off over entry of women in the 10-50 age group, traditionally barred at the shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, a celibate. Pilgrims had said there was lack of adequate toilet facilities, causing immense difficulties especially to women, and rest rooms after the floods in August that had destroyed the infrastructure. The top court had earlier refused to stay its verdict while agreeing to hear in open court a batch of petitions seeking review of its September 28 verdict by which it had lifted the ban on entry of women of menstruating age into the Sabarimala temple. On 28 September, a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in 4:1 verdict had paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, saying the ban amounted to gender discrimination. The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed deep anguish over the purported leak of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's response to the CVC's findings against him as also the publication of allegations levelled by agency's DIG Manoj Kumar Sinha in his separate plea. New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed deep anguish over the purported leak of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's response to the CVC's findings against him as also the publication of allegations levelled by agency's DIG Manoj Kumar Sinha in his separate plea. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which reheard the matter at the request of senior advocate Fali S Nariman, who is representing Verma, made it clear that the court would not hear any party and would confine itself to the issues red flagged by it. Miffed over the alleged leak of Verma's confidential response to CVC's findings, the bench, which also comprises Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, said that it wanted to keep the CBI Director's response confidential to maintain the probe agency's dignity. The court was hearing Verma's plea against govt's decision to divest him of duties and sending him on leave. The bench, while adjourning the hearing to 29 November , then took umbrage of various media reports based on the petition filed by Sinha levelling allegations against various top functionaries. "Yesterday, we had refused the mentioning (seeking urgent listing of Sinha's plea gainst his transfer to Nagpur) and we had expressed that highest degree of confidentiality was to be maintained. "But here is a litigant who mentions it before us and then goes out to distribute the petition to everyone," the CJI said referring to the purported wild allegations of Sinha which have been published in the media. "Our efforts to maintain the respect the respect of this institution is not shared by these people. They are giving it to everybody," the CJI said. Sinha on Monday dragged the names of NSA Ajit Doval, Union minister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC K V Chowdhury over alleged attempts to interfere in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has been divested of his duties and sent on leave along with his boss. Earlier in the morning, the top court had expressed strong displeasure over the leak of Verma's confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing in his case to 29 November. Minutes later, Nariman and lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan mentioned the case again before a bench headed by Chief Justice and sought hearing during the day itself. When the bench again took the matter, Nariman said that the apex court had passed order asking Verma to respond to the CVC's finding on 16 November and the news article published by the portal was of 17 November. Nariman clarified that the news article contained Verma's response given to CVC during the preliminary enquiry proceedings. However, the bench then referred to some other news articles published based on Sinha's plea levelling against top functionaries of the government. "This is yesterday's article. We want to know what is going on. This court is not a platform for people to come and express whatever they want. This is a place where people come for adjudication of their legal rights. This is not a platform and we will set it right," the CJI said. The top court again adjourned hearing to 29 November and refused to hear any party, including Central Vigilance Commission. At the outset, the alleged leak of Verma's confidential response to the CVC's findings on corruption charges against him irked the top court, which said none of "you deserve any hearing". On the leak of Verma's confidential reply in the media, the bench, without divulging the name of the news portal, which allegedly carried a story on the CBI director's response, handed over to Nariman a copy of the news report. "It is only for you Mr Nariman and not as a counsel for Alok Verma. We have given this to you as you are one of the most respected and senior member of the institution. Please help us," the bench told Nariman. Nariman, after going through the news report, said it was totally "unauthorised" and he was very "disturbed and shocked" by it. The chief justice then told Nariman that Shankaranarayanan, who is also representing Verma, had on Monday mentioned the matter before the court and sought more time to file a reply on behalf of the CBI director. "Nobody had asked him (Shankaranarayanan) to do so. It was totally unauthorised. I was never informed. Nobody asked him to mention the matter. I am very disturbed," Nariman told the bench, adding that he and his junior had worked late in the night to prepare Verma's response. Referring to the media report, Nariman said, "This gives a new twist to the word responsible press and freedom of press", and added that the news portal and its journalists concerned be summoned by the court. "How can this come? It's a leak. I myself is shattered the way it has been done," he said. The CJI then adjourned the hearing to 29 November and said the bench does not want to record any reasons for it and observed ,"We don't think any of you deserve any hearing". Since the Amritsar attack, there have been several news reports quoting intelligence sources claiming that there have been attempts to revive Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Punjab. An attack on a Nirankari congregation on the outskirts of Amritsar on Sunday, that left three dead and at least 20 injured, has various quarters debating the possible perpetrators of the crime. On Wednesday, the Punjab Police arrested one of the two "turbaned", bike-borne men who had lobbed a grenade at the gathering at Nirankari Bhawan in Rajasansi village. However, even before CNN-News18 reported that the suspect had claimed that Happy Singh 'PhD' alias Harmeet Singh, a handler for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Pakistan's spy agency was the mastermind behind the attack, there was speculation abound over which group could be involved. The attack in Amritsar came as a surprise as Punjab was already on alert following intelligence reports that six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists had entered the state and were "planning to move towards Delhi". While investigators have dismissed the hand of terrorist Zakir Musa chief of the Jammu and Kashmir-based Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a terror outfit linked to the Al-Qaeda they have not ruled out a "terror angle". However, it was Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's statement that they could not ignore the "possible involvement of ISI-based Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups" that hit headlines and triggered speculation on whether the Amritsar attack was orchestrated by forces across the border in Pakistan and its army. Since the grenade blast near Amritsar, there are been several news reports quoting intelligence sources claiming that there have been attempts to revive Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Punjab. The Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) has reportedly shared multiple inputs on Sikh militant outfits, such as the Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Commando Force (Panjwar faction), International Sikh Youth Federation, Khalistan Tiger Force and Khalistan Liberation Force, which are believed to be under pressure from the ISI to revive militancy in Punjab. Furthermore, the National Investigation Agency had also claimed to have found a common link between all the six killings of Hindu leaders in Punjab over the past year and a half. The agency said these killings were part of a larger conspiracy by the ISI to incite trouble and bring to life the Khalistani movement in Punjab. The incidents being reported from Punjab are reminiscent of the activities from the 1980s, which culminated into the Indian Army's Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. This led to the subsequent assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, which was followed by the anti-Sikh riots across the country. Club the incidents in Punjab with the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, and one would wonder whether there's more to the theories than mere speculation and whether there, indeed, is a Pakistani hand behind the violence in both Indian states. "Pakistan has been the biggest perpetrator of terrorism in India and has taken every opportunity to fan radical forces in the country," former Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar, writes for The Print. "With mass stone pelting for the first time in 2010, Pakistan began to derive its strength through organising people." "As far as Punjab is concerned, militancy never died down completely. The attack on Lieutenant-General KS Brar (retd) in London in 2012, or the attack on a Jalandhar police station in September this year, or the arrest of Kashmiri students in Jalandhar when explosives were recovered from them are all examples of persistent militancy. So it would be naive on our part to think the Khalistani movement has died down." Kumar's opinion adds to the multiple theories of Pakistani forces trying to revive militancy in Punjab, no matter how many times Islamabad rejects this claim. The theories include reports that ISI is using social media to influence youth and radicalise them against India to stoke violence in the border states of Punjab and Kashmir, and that it was also training members of the Khalistan Tiger Force to create unrest in Punjab. Given the spy agency's history of trying to foment trouble in India and support any and all anti-India activities, it may not be too far-fetched to believe the theories of the ISI's involvement in the Amritsar attack and also that it was trying to rebuild a Khalistani militant base in Punjab by lending a helping hand to Sikh radicals. Krishnan says that readers could takeaway from Invisible Men what she did while researching which is the realisation that sexuality is not the only aspect that there is to a person Nandini Krishnan, author, humourist, journalist and playwright, witnessed firsthand the plight of transmen, who were largely left to their own devices, in 2006 while she was shooting a documentary on the community. It was nearly a decade later that she reconnected with them and discovered that by now, the community had formed a close-knit network of its own, small WhatsApp groups with members from across the world. Her research into the day-to-day lives of these individuals, their small and big concerns, their struggle for acceptance and their many interesting anecdotes fill her latest work, Invisible Men, with stories which otherwise are simply lost in the broader framework of the transgender community as a whole. As journalist Manu Joseph writes in the foreword, she gives the reins of storytelling to the voices in her book which speak of their own trials. In this interview, Krishnan discusses the vulnerability of many transmen and the importance of going beyond the sexual identity of an individual to find the person within. Why do you think has the issue of transmen not been a part of mainstream discussions on gender and sexuality? Part of what inspired the title of my book is that transmen are generally invisible. Transwomen are very prominent because of how they carry themselves, how they dress. They live in a jamaat system a house with several other transwomen with a sort of hierarchy within whereas transmen dont live like that. It is not a community which is banded in groups. Each one lives alone. When I spoke to the community itself, there were several interesting reasons for why they are invisible compared to male-to-female trans-people. Part of it is the vulnerability, part of it is that though families may be horrified when they find out that their son, in fact, sees himself as a daughter and wants to become a transwoman, they may disown that person, but that person is not lost because there is always a group that she can join. In the case of transmen, this is not true. Another reason transmen can blend in is their stature. Transwomen are abnormally tall women, largely because biologically they have the chromosomes of a male. Transmen, on the other hand, are often relatively small men and you cant tell by looking at somebody that he has transitioned from female to male. Also, when you have the organs of a woman, you are extremely vulnerable in any country. When people know that you are transitioning or you basically are a man but you have the body of a woman, they see you as easily exploitable, sexually. A lot of transmen whom I have known have faced sexual assault. They have also faced violence in other ways, physically, emotionally. Besides larger concerns like red tape or stigma, what were some of the day-to-day difficulties faced by the community that you came across? Transmen often have short hair and many of them look very male even before surgery. So when they walk into a womans bathroom, they are always stared at. Going into a mens bathroom is also a bit of a challenge. In one place, they had a transgender toilet. One of my transman friends said transwomen will use those because they are conspicuous but transmen would not because they will immediately be exposed as trans-people. You can pass off for a male far more easily than a transwoman can for a female. I was speaking to a transman and his partner and they said every single step is difficult: finding work, acceptance from society, acceptance from family, ones love life, surgery, affording hormone treatment, getting certificates, changing ones name on legal documents. One person who is transitioning and lives in an Islamic country where this is illegal said to me, "I am constantly scared. What if I get into an accident or something happens which requires me to be medically examined?" In your book, you have stories of transmen that take us across the country from Manipur to Tamil Nadu, way down to Kerala. Were there any cultural differences in the treatment accorded to transmen in each of these places? In areas of conflict like Manipur or Kashmir, security checks are a big issue. People are subject to searches at random and searches would also involve segregation by sex. So the gender of the person who is patting you down becomes a factor. Culturally there are many differences. Manipur is a place where arranged marriages are not very common. A 22-year-old transman was telling me that usually, parents dont find you a match. You find somebody for yourself. So that pressure of getting married off is not really there. But will they accept whomever you find? Religion is also a factor. There are some religions which explicitly ban gender transition. I have quoted a couple of passages from the Bible [in the book] which say that if youre born a man according to how people see it, you must dress like a man and you cant grow your hair. And if youre born a woman, you cant cut your hair and there are certain clothes you should wear. And again, Islam also explicitly bans homosexuality but in terms of transition, things are a bit vaguer. LGBTQIA is seen under one umbrella and people tend to confuse the two. Muslim transmen whom I spoke to said part of it is family prejudice but all of them would say that as children they would constantly wonder, am I haram? Am I doing something haram? I met several people who were forced into marriage with men or pressured into marriage but only one person I met had experienced marital rape and had a child as a woman. His story is in the book. How do you see the youth of today, in both rural and urban settings, dealing with the issue of transmen? Do you find them to be more open-minded than their parents/elders? I dont think age is a factor in most cases. I think a lot of it has to do with awareness before acceptance. I would often find transmen who said their grandparents were more accepting of them than their parents. It is only now that transmen are also feeling safe enough to come out. Still, I wouldnt make a blanket statement saying that transmen can be out, because it is very tricky. Across the world, there is a lot of hate crime against LGBTQIA people. Was there anything in the data that you gathered that did not make it into the book? There were certain things I had to leave out. And there were some things which I wish I had spent more time on such as intimate partner violence encountered by transmen. And I am not just talking about those who have been forced into cis-heterosexual marriage. Sometimes even within a romantic partnership between a transman and a cis woman or a transwoman or another transman or a cisman, the transman can be on the receiving end of intimate partner violence which could be sexual, physical or emotional abuse. What according to you should the takeaway be for readers? I think Id like them to have the same takeaway that I did while I was doing my research which is that at some point you realise that this is not the only aspect that there is to a person. One of them was saying to me that no one is going to call you 'cis gender Nandini' or 'heterosexual Nandini' whereas people in the LGBTQIA community are sort of identified with a tag-based entirely on their gender identity or sexual orientation. So I think part of the takeaway is that I would like them to see each of the people I have interviewed or spoken to or spoken about as individuals. And I would also like them to start questioning things as I myself have. What kind of an impact did the book have on you as you listened to and wrote these stories? I think as a journalist you often think that you know your subject really well or you feel you have to sound authoritative about something that you have been researching. But it [the book] made me aware that unless you have lived a certain life, you cant write about it with authority and thats okay. Your job is simply to report and your job is also to be vulnerable in the book. There were times when something would simply not occur to me. When I spoke to a couple of transmen who were saying things that I would find very chauvinist in a cis man, it didnt even occur to me that they were being chauvinist. And I was thinking [later] do I not see them as male? Do I not see them as male, as a cis man? Over time, it moved to a stage where I didnt think of a man as trans or cis. Once I found a packet of sanitary napkins in a house where only men lived. There was a gay couple and a transman and I think a student or someone who was also gay. And without a second thought, I said, "Looks like someones girlfriend left this behind." And then I was thinking that none of them has a girlfriend. Its only when someone said its this persons, and that was the transman, that I remembered, "Oh my God, he gets his period." I also realised that, yes, in a way I have been insensitive in making that remark, but in my head I thought of him as so male that I completely discounted the monthly period. Nandini Krishnans Invisible Men is published by Penguin Random House, India Addressing a rally at Nirmal, Owaisi said that Congress offered a bribe to cancel the rally but the AIMIM chief further that he is not like them and that he cannot sell my promise. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday claimed that the Congress had offered him Rs 25 lakh to cancel his campaign rally in Telangana's Nirmal. Addressing a rally at Nirmal on Monday, Owaisi said: "I am not like them, I cannot sell my promise. I truly believe in promoting my people and their interests. I want to see our flag hoisted in every corner of India. I want to see the progress and zeal of the youth of every youth in the country. I salute all the hundreds of youths who came to see me when I reached here. This is the energy I want to create." The AIMIM president added that his only demand is to promote justice and dignity. "And these Congress people, they have so much pride in their wealth. What will you give us? We made the Taj Mahal and you will give us (wealth)? The Charminar, Jama Masjid, Qutab Minar, the fort in Nirmal, our presence is strong in every corner of this country. This is the difference! To stop our rally, they were offering Rs 25 lakh in party funds. This is a symbol of their pride," Owaisi said. Unsurprisingly, the Congress did not take lightly to Owaisis allegations of bribery. Khushboo Sundar, a Congress spokesperson told reporters: "He is just proving his worth. That he is worth a few lakhs. We dont think that AIMIM is such a big group that it will threaten the Congress. Its a small group and a communal based group. Meem Afzal, Congress spokesperson told India Today: Owaisi is like two sides of the same coin. One side is Owaisi and the other side is BJP. They make such statements because they want to help BJP. His statements are just to make his rallies successful and gather more crowd. BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh also mocked Owaisis allegations. Singh said, "I am not surprised at his allegations against the Congress. Congress has been doing this since the time of his father. Congress has brought down Owaisis status whereas his fathers was higher. Singh also alleged that Congress and Owaisis AIMIM were dividing the electorate. Political drama in Telangana has intensified as the 7 December Legislative Assembly elections inches closer. The votes will be counted on 11 December. With inputs from ANI The second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly election 2018 on Tuesday saw a voter turnout of 58.47 percent till 4 pm, amid EVMs malfunctioning and missing names from voters' lists. The second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly election 2018 on Tuesday saw a voter turnout of 71.93 percent, amid EVMs malfunctioning and missing names from voters' lists. Polling began on a slow note in several constituencies because of the technical snag, but it picked up pace later. Jashpur saw 51.2 percent polling, Kunkuri recorded 50.1 percent, Pathalgaon 50.8 percent, Kurud 49 percent and Bharatpur-Sonhat, 47.82 percent. However, the sole polling booths in the villages of Chatrang, Pal Kevra and Ghuidih in Baikunthpur constituency saw zero voter participation, with people boycotting the polls citing lack of development in the region. Although the allotted polling time was 8 am to 5 pm, voting was held between 7 am and 3 pm at two polling booths Amamora (booth no 72) and Modh (booth no 76) in the Bindranavgarh constituency of Gariaband district) due to the threat posed by Naxals, an official told PTI. Congress claims BJP behind faulty EVMs Many instances of EVM malfunctioning or faulty voting machines were reported from at least 10 constituencies across Chhattisgarh, which led to a delay in voting. Congress workers accused the ruling BJP of purposely disrupting the polling process by tampering with the EVMs. Senior party leader PL Punia also lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against "certain individuals" for indulging in "insidious attempts" to "infiltrate and influence" the outcome of the Chhattisgarh Assembly election. In Raipur's Boriakala, around 1,100 names were missing from the voter list. Booth no 243 had 99 names missing, while at booth no 244 had 1,061 names missing. Officials said their votes had been shifted to other booths, but the voters were not aware of where to go to exercise their franchise. Around 1.5 lakh security personnel were deployed across Chhattisgarh to ensure peaceful polling. The second phase of the election was held in 19 districts, including the Naxal-affected districts of Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur and Balrampur. As many as 19,336 polling booths were set up for the second phase, of which 444 were in sensitive locations. Of the 72 seats in the fray, 17 are reserved for candidates from Scheduled Tribes and nine for those from Scheduled Castes. Special pink booths were also set-up in Jaspur for women, and the booths were managed by woman-only staff. Even during the first phase of the Chhattisgarh elections, these special pink booths had been set up to get more women to come out and exercise their voting right. The first phase of the polls on 12 November, held in 18 seats across eight Naxal-affected districts, had recorded a voter turnout of 76.28 percent. The votes will be counted on 11 December. With inputs from 101Reporters and PTI Chhattisgarh Assembly election phase 2 LIVE updates: At 2.30 pm, over 50% voting was in Lundra, Ambikapur, Bilaigarh, Kasdol and Balodabazar. Lundra saw a polling percentage of 62%, Ambikapur 55%, the EC reported. Meanwhile, parties continued to spar over faulty EVMs with the Congress blaming the BJP for tampering of the voting machines. Auto refresh feeds Voting in 72 seats across 19 districts of Chhattisgarh will begin at 8 am and will go on till 5 pm. Over a lakh security personnel have been deployed to ensure a peaceful polling process. A total of 18 Assembly seats in eight districts of Chhattisgarh clocked a 76.28 percent voter turnout in the first phase of the elections on 12 November, despite the Naxal threat to boycott the polls. This could likely be an indication of the importance of infrastructure development. A total of 1,079 candidates are in the fray in phase two, and both Congress and BJP are contesting all the 72 seats. The BSP is in the fray for 25 seats and its ally and former chief minister Ajit Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh is contesting 46 seats. AAP has fielded candidates in 66 constituencies. Polling for the second phase will be held from 8 am to 5 pm in these seats of central and north Chhattisgarh where as many as 1,079 candidates, including 72 each from the BJP and the Congress, are in fray, an election official said. However, two seats Amaamora and Modh both Naxal-hit areas will poll between the 7 am and 3 pm window. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP supremo Mayawati have all campaigned in the region, in a reflection of its significance. In the 2013 polls, the 24 seats in the five districts of Bilaspur saw a close fight with BJP winning 12 seats, Congress 11 and BSP taking away one. However, this time with the BSP tying up with former chief minister Ajit Jogi's Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J), a three-way fight contest between the BJP, Congress and the Jogi-led alliance is being anticipated. While the BSP is contesting 10 of the 24 seats in the division, the JCC(J) has fielded candidates on the rest. The Bilaspur division in Chhattisgarh which has 24 Assembly seats, the highest among the five divisions in the poll-bound state, is expected to play a crucial role in deciding the winner. Located in the centre of the state, the division comprises of five districts Bilaspur, Mungeli, Korba, Janjgir-Champa and Raigarh. Of the 72 seats, 46 are for the general category, while nine are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 17 for Scheduled Tribes candidates. Of these seats, the BJP had won 43 seats in the 2013 polls while the Congress had bagged 27. One seat each was won by the BSP and an independent candidate. Polling will be held from 8 am to 5 pm in these seats of central and north Chhattisgarh where as many as 1,079 candidates, including 72 each from the BJP and the Congress, are in fray, an election official told PTI. As many as 19,296 polling booths have been set up for the second phase, the official said. Extra vigil is being maintained in Naxal-affected Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur and Balrampur districts, he said. All arrangements are in place for the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. On Tuesday polling will be held in 72 seats of 19 districts amid tight security as over one lakh police personnel have been deployed for the voting process. The fate of nine ministers, the Assembly speaker will be decided in the polls. Among the Naxal-affected districts going to polls in the second phase are Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur, and Balrampur. Naxals carried out an aggressive campaign against the elections in Chhattisgarh with several attacks on security forces and party candidates being reported from the Bastar region ahead of the first phase of polling across 18 sensitive constituencies. Even on the on 12 November, during the first phase of polling, an encounter had broken out in Pamed area of Bijapur district and an IED bomb went off barely a kilometer and a half away from the polling booth in Tumakpal, near Katekalyan area in Dantewada. IED bombs were also found near polling booths and diffused successfully in Konta and Bijapur. Looking at data of the previous Lok Sabha election, NOTA got a thumping response in the tribal-dominated areas of Chhattisgarh, with the option securing third place in five of 11 such seats. In Maoist-affected Bastar, for instance, 38,772 voters preferred None of the Above - over Aam Aadmi Party candidate Soni Sori, who got only 16,903 votes. Similarly in Kanker, 31,917 voters pressed the NOTA button, and in three-time CM Raman Singh's home district Rajnandgaon, 32,384 people chose NOTA over him. Chhattisgarh was in the news for polling the maximum number of NOTA votes in the 2013 Assembly election, with NOTA even playing spoilsport for candidates on many seats. In 2013, NOTA was at the third position in as many as 35 of the 90 Assembly seats. Whereas Bhupesh Baghel, the Chhattisgarh Congress president sat on dharna on Monday after Congress in charge Chhattisgarh, PL Punia was forced to leave the state by the election commission. BJP candidate Siddhnath Paikra was detained by the police late Monday night after Rs 2 lakh in cash was found from his car. He is contesting from the Samri Vidhan Sabha in Balrampur district. Former chief minister Ajit Jogi, having left the Congress, is fighting from Mariachi. His wife Renu Jogi is contesting from Kota, whereas their daughter-in-law Richa Jogi is contesting from Akaltara on a BSP ticket. While the Chhattisgarh Assembly speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal is fighting from Kasdol. Opposition leader and Congress' TS Singh Deo is contesting from Ambikapur for the third time. In Koreya, voting did not start in the Urumduga polling booting of the Baikunthpur Vidhan Sabha due to EVM glitches. Voting also stopped in a polling centre in the Bharatpur Sonhat Vidhan Sabha after theEVM stopped working. Jogi, however, went on to say his main target in the elections is the BJP. "Narendra Modi has done nothing for the farmers," he said, "For the first time, Chhattisgarh farmers are committing suicide. They never took this step earlier, not even under British rule. It means the farmers do not have faith in the government." Former chief minister Ajit Jogi, who once used to be the face of the Congress in the state, broke away to form the JCC in 2016. He has forged a pre-poll alliance with the BSP and CPI, hoping to be the kingmaker on 11 December. The difference between the promises of Congress and JCC, said Jogi, is that he has sworn to deliver on a 100-rupee stamp paper. "If I go back on my assurances, anyone can file a complaint, and I could be jailed for two years," he told Firstpost EVM glitches have been reported from Jora booth in Raipur (rural) and voting hasn't yet started there yet. EVM's in two booths in the Raipur (north) seat have also stopped functioning. In a report submitted to the Election Commission, state chief electoral officer has said the videos are not from anywhere in Chhattisgarh and has given reasons to support his claim. He said the voting compartment shown in the video is different from the one used in Chhattisgarh in the phase one of polling on 12 November. "The voting compartment we are using is corrugated plastic sheet with full colour ECI symbol, whereas in the video it shows normal cardboard type without any symbol ...the ballot papers we are using are pink colour. But in the video, it shows white colour ballot paper," he told the poll panel in the report. Election authorities in Chhattisgarh on Monday described as fake a video being shared on social media that purportedly shows EVMs displaying incorrect symbols during the recently-held first phase of elections in the state. The video shows voters claiming that the symbols of the party that they had voted for did not correspond to the ones on paper trail machines attached to the electronic voting machines (EVMs), PTI reported. Meanwhile, in the Akaltara seat, Ajit Jogi's daughter-in-law Richa Jogi who is contesting on a BSP ticket is likely to give a tough fight to Saurabh Singh of BJP and incumbent MLA Chunnilal Sahu of Congress. The Kota seat is likely to witness a three-cornered contest among incumbent MLA Renu Jogi (JCC-J), Vibhor Singh of Congress and Kashi Sahu (BJP). Modi, however, praised the high voter turnouts in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh in the first phase of polling on 12 November and also in the panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir. "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," he said. Narendra Modi, while speaking at a poll rally in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund, claimed that Dalit leader Sitaram Kesri was ousted unceremoniously by the Congress, "locked in a bathroom" and "thrown out on the footpath". 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, Modi alleged. In the first assembly elections held in 2003, after formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000, the BJP put up a good show in this region winning 10 of total 14 segments whereas the Congress could bag just four seats. Raman Singh was elected as the chief minister for the first time after the 2003 elections. In the 2008 polls, the BJP continued its winning streak in the Surguja division, but its tally fell to 9 seats whereas the Congress improved its performance by adding one more seat to its 2003 kitty. However, in the 2013 elections, the BJP lost its edge over the Congress with each party settling for seven seats in the region. A keen contest is on the cards in Pratappur (ST) segment between Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra of BJP and former Congress minister Premsai Tekam. In Raipur's Mowa, voting stopped working after voting had started and only around 30 votes could casted till then. Voters were very agitated as even in Raipur West, faulty EVMs halted the polling process. Multiple instances of EVM malfunctioning have been reported from Dhamtari, Jashpur and Raipur constituencies. In the Sihawa constituency of Dhamtari the EVM stopped working and no voter has been able to cast vote since morning. The administration is busy in repairing the faulty EVMs. Whereas, in Jashpur voting hasnt yet started in many areas due to faulty EVMs. In Ambikapur, voting hasnt yet started in two polling booths due to EVM malfunctioning. While in Korba, EVM machines in polling booth No. 154 of Ravishankar Nagar and in polling booth No. 127 in Rampur primary school stopped working. 12.54% voting had been recorded till 10 am in the second phase of voting in the Chattisgarh Assembly elections, ANI reported. Meanwhile, BJP senior leader and minister Amar Agrawal violated the code of conduct in Raipur as he went to cast his vote with a lotus flower in his pocket. The Congress had raised a faulty Electronic Voting Machines claim in the Chhattisgarh polls, saying that faulty EVMs are being deployed in the party's stronghold areas. Congress leader PL Punia is having a meeting with the Election Commission to discuss the tampering claims. BJP president Amit Shah while addressing a rally in Dhamtari on Saturday 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. 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 Election commission, however, clarified that he might have been given the post of a sector in-charge. Meanwhile, the Police has seized the EVMs. Chhattisgarh Congress in charge PL Punia complained to the Election Commission that three EVMs were found at the residence of the Headmaster of Chirmiri municipality. In Raipur's Boriakala, around 1,100 names of voters are missing from the voter list. Booth No. 243 has 99 names missing while at booth no. 244 has 1,061 names are missing. The officials are saying that their votes have been shifted to other booths but the voters are unaware of those booths. Toppo was allegedly caught on tape asking a journalist to film a video of Congress members abusing one of their senior leaders. The official is purportedly heard saying that he is willing to spend some money for the sting video, PTI reported. The Election Commission on Saturday had asked the Chhattisgarh government to transfer one of its senior officials who was allegedly caught on tape offering money for a sting operation against opposition Congress leaders in the poll-bound state. The commission directed that S Rajesh Toppo, secretary and commissioner of public relations in the state government, be transferred from his present post "in context of alleged statements made by him", a spokesperson said. "The commission observed that such statements indicate partisan behaviour apart from use of uncivilised language unbecoming of a senior civil servant," the spokesperson said. 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. Rahul Gandhi during his poll campaigning had alleged the Narendra Modi made honest people suffer in 2016 but spared the rich. Addressing a poll rally in Koriya district, he alleged that 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. Attacking the Congress over alleged minority appeasement, Adityanath said that the "anti-national activity of religious conversion" reached its peak when the party ruled the state. Addressing a campaign rally in Jashpur Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath had attacked the Opposition by saying: "Italy se ayatit saudagar" (agents imported from Italy) undertook "anti-national" activities like conversion of tribals in the state. His remark was a veiled reference to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's origins. The villagers of Chatrang, Pal Kevra and Ghuidih have boycotted the elections due to no development work done by the government in their villages. According to the villagers, the decision to boycott the elections was taken by the Panchayat and it was decided that a fine of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed if any person from these three villages is found participating in the voting process. Officials at the Baikunthpur polling booth have confirmed zero voting at these villages. After a slow start, polling has picked up at 14 constituencies in the Durg division, with 28% turnout recorded till 1 pm. The District Election Office said that the Daundi Lohara Assembly constituency has registered the highest voter turnout until of 48% at 1 pm and the lowest turnout in the division has been recorded at 29% in Saja. EC spokesperson tweeted the voter turnout for various constituencies in the second phase of Chhattisgarh elections. The overall percentage stood at 23.71%. Congress candidate from Ambikapur and Leader of Opposition in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, TS Singh Deo while speaking to the media said that he was confident of Congress' win in the state as the farmers were supporting the party. When asked about Congress' claims of EVM tampering, Deo said that it not uncommon now for one to hear of such incidents as around 20-25 machines are malfunctioning in one constituency and this was a clear case of misconduct. TS Singh Deo says he is not the CM candidate yet; attacks Opposition for faulty EVMs The villagers of Chatrang, Pal Kevra and Ghuidih have boycotted the elections due to no development work done by the government in their villages. According to the villagers, the decision to boycott the elections was taken by the Panchayat and it was decided that a fine of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed if any person from these three villages is found participating in the voting process. Officials at the Baikunthpur polling booth have confirmed zero voting at these villages. After a slow start, polling has picked up at 14 constituencies in the Durg division, with 28% turnout recorded till 1 pm. The District Election Office said that the Daundi Lohara Assembly constituency has registered the highest voter turnout until of 48% at 1 pm and the lowest turnout in the division has been recorded at 29% in Saja. Women Congress supporters have complained about losing polling hours due to EVM glitches at polling booth no. 63 in the Durg district. They have alleged that the ruling government is behind malfunctioning EVMs as otherwise, Congress candidate Arun Vohra had clear chances of victory Chhattisgarh Assembly election phase 2 LATEST updates: At 2.30 pm, over 50% voting was in Lundra, Ambikapur, Bilaigarh, Kasdol and Balodabazar. Lundra saw a polling percentage of 62%, Ambikapur 55%, the EC reported. Meanwhile, parties continued to spar over faulty EVMs with the Congress blaming the BJP for tampering of the voting machines. The villagers of Chatrang, Pal Kevra and Ghuidih have boycotted the elections due to no development work done by the government in their villages. According to the villagers, the decision to boycott the elections was taken by the Panchayat and it was decided that a fine of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed if any person from these three villages is found participating in the voting process. Officials at the Baikunthpur polling booth have confirmed zero voting at these villages. Congress candidate from Ambikapur and Leader of Opposition in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, TS Singh Deo while speaking to the media said that he was confident of Congress' win in the state as the farmers were supporting the party. When asked about Congress' claims of EVM tampering, Deo said that it not uncommon now for one to hear of such incidents as around 20-25 machines are malfunctioning in one constituency and this was a clear case of misconduct. At 12 pm, 25.2% voter turnout was recorded in phase 2 of the Chhattisgarh Assembly election, sources said. EC spokesperson tweeted the voter turnout for various constituencies in the second phase of Chhattisgarh elections. The overall percentage stood at 23.71%. In Raipur's Boriakala, around 1,100 names of voters are missing from the voter list. Booth No. 243 has 99 names missing while at booth no. 244 has 1,061 names are missing. The officials are saying that their votes have been shifted to other booths but the voters are unaware of those booths. The Congress had raised a faulty Electronic Voting Machines claim in the Chhattisgarh polls, saying that faulty EVMs are being deployed in the party's stronghold areas. Congress leader PL Punia is having a meeting with the Election Commission to discuss the tampering claims. The Durg district reported the highest turnout of 14.2% at 10.00 am. Meanwhile, BJP senior leader and minister Amar Agrawal violated the code of conduct in Raipur as he went to cast his vote with a lotus flower in his pocket. 12.54% voting had been recorded till 10 am in the second phase of voting in the Chattisgarh Assembly elections, ANI reported. Multiple instances of EVM malfunctioning have been reported from Dhamtari, Jashpur and Raipur constituencies. In the Sihawa constituency of Dhamtari the EVM stopped working and no voter has been able to cast vote since morning. The administration is busy in repairing the faulty EVMs. Whereas, in Jashpur voting hasnt yet started in many areas due to faulty EVMs. In Raipur's Mowa, voting stopped working after voting had started and only around 30 votes could casted till then. Voters were very agitated as even in Raipur West, faulty EVMs halted the polling process. Voters have boycotted the elections in Bhatgaon constituency over zero development and not even a single vote has been cast here till now. Officials are trying to convince the people to come out and vote. Whereas, in Jashpur where the Pathhalgadi movement took place. enthusiastic voters came out to vote in huge numbers early morning. The Kota seat is likely to witness a three-cornered contest among incumbent MLA Renu Jogi (JCC-J), Vibhor Singh of Congress and Kashi Sahu (BJP). Meanwhile, in the Akaltara seat, Ajit Jogi's daughter-in-law Richa Jogi who is contesting on a BSP ticket is likely to give a tough fight to Saurabh Singh of BJP and incumbent MLA Chunnilal Sahu of Congress. Former chief minister Ajit Jogi, who once used to be the face of the Congress in the state, broke away to form the JCC in 2016. He has forged a pre-poll alliance with the BSP and CPI, hoping to be the kingmaker on 11 December. The difference between the promises of Congress and JCC, said Jogi, is that he has sworn to deliver on a 100-rupee stamp paper. "If I go back on my assurances, anyone can file a complaint, and I could be jailed for two years," he told Firstpost . "Has the Congress done it [provided such assurances]?" Jogi, however, went on to say his main target in the elections is the BJP. "Narendra Modi has done nothing for the farmers," he said, "For the first time, Chhattisgarh farmers are committing suicide. They never took this step earlier, not even under British rule. It means the farmers do not have faith in the government." Polling was halted in Balrampur's Mahaveerganj, Deviganj, and Bhanaura polling booths after the EVM machines installed there stopped working. Anti-Naxal Special DIG DM Awasthi said that "paramilitary forces have been deployed in six. districts where voting is scheduled for Tuesday. Besides this STF, DRG, and Cobra battalion have also been deployed. In Koreya, voting did not start in the Urumduga polling booting of the Baikunthpur Vidhan Sabha due to EVM glitches. Voting also stopped in a polling centre in the Bharatpur Sonhat Vidhan Sabha after the EVM stopped working. In Raipur, voting on booth number 126, 127 was halted because of EVM malfunctioning. BJP candidate Siddhnath Paikra was detained by the police late Monday night after Rs 2 lakh in cash was found from his car. He is contesting from the Samri Vidhan Sabha in Balrampur district. Whereas Bhupesh Baghel, the Chhattisgarh Congress president sat on dharna on Monday after Congress in charge Chhattisgarh, PL Punia was forced to leave the state by the election commission. Six out of 19 districts where polling is scheduled on Tuesday are Naxal-affected. Conducting peaceful polling in Gariaband, Baled, Balrampur, Dhamtari, Kabiradham, and Mahasamund will be a challenge for security forces. Meanwhile, the Bilaspur division which has 24 Assembly seats could hold the key to deciding the winner in the state. A three-way contest is in the offing as Chhattisgarh goes for the second and concluding phase of the Assembly polls on Tuesday for 72 seats spread across 19 districts. The ruling BJP wrestling it out with the Opposition Congress, and the Ajit Jogi-Mayawati-CPI alliance has emerged as a formidable third front in Chhattisgarh. A total of 1,079 candidates are in the fray, and both Congress and BJP are contesting all the 72 seats. The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is in the fray for 25 seats and its ally and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) is vying in 46 seats. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded candidates in 66 constituencies. Carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, the state where the BJP is in power since 2003, is witnessing a three-way poll battle for the first time. Jogi, who ruled Chhattisgarh for the first three years as a Congress chief minister, later floated his own outfit and aligned with the BSP and the CPI, is perceived to impact the poll battle where the vote share difference between the BJP and the Congress was less than 1 percent in 2013. In 2013, the BJP, with 41.04 percent vote share, had own 49 seat, while the Congress won 38 seats with a vote share of 40.29 percent in the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly. Among the prominent faces in fray in the last phase are state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel (Patan), Leader of Opposition in the Assembly TS Singh Deo (Ambikapur) and former Union minister Charandas Mahant (Shakti). For the BJP, the list includes state ministers Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur City South), Rajesh Munat (Raipur City West), Amar Agrawal (Bilaspur), Prem Prakash Pandey (Bhilai Nagar), Dayaldas Baghel (Nawagarh) and state party president Dharamlal Kaushik (Bilha). For the alliance, Jogi is in the fray from Marwahi, his wife Renu Jogi is contesting from Kota, and his daughter-in-law Richa Jogi is a BSP nominee from the Akaltara seat. The high-decibel poll campaign, which ended on Sunday, saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Chief Minister Raman Singh and his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath raising the pitch for the party in Chhattisgarh. For the Congress, which looking to unseat the BJP, party chief Rahul Gandhi led from the front, targeting Modi and the Raman Singh government over corruption and agrarian distress. Besides flaying Modi for demonetisation, Rahul also dared the prime minister to speak up over the Rafale deal, which the Congress claimed is India's "biggest defence scam". The BJP's campaign in Chhattisgarh centered around attacking the Congress over dynasty politics, with the Nehru-Gandhi family being the focal point of both Modi and Shah's attacks. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the second phase where an electorate of over 1.5 crore is eligible to exercise its franchise. The first phase of election in 18 constituencies across eight Naxal-affected districts of the state took place on 12 November and saw 76.28 percent voting despite the rebels threatening people to stay away from the poll process. The results will be declared on 11 December. Criticising the Raman Singh government, Congress state in-charge PL Punia said that mere construction of buildings and roads cant be called development. Despite Ajit Jogi quitting the party, Congress is upbeat about its chances in Chhattisgarh as the state votes for a new Assembly in the second phase of polls on Tuesday. PL Punia, the Congress leader who is spearheading the party's effort is basking in confidence that the party would do well. "Its a direct fight between the ruling BJP and us," says a Punia, All-India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state. His party, which has been out of power in the state for 15 long years, is trying hard to bridge the slender vote deficit vis-a-vis the BJP. Punia, a Rajya Sabha member, is certain that the well-coordinated efforts of grassroots workers and the top leadership will ensure a thumping victory for the Congress. Speaking to Firstpost on the eve of the second phase of polls in the state, he provides a low down of the partys prospects and rumours dogging its poll campaign. Edited excerpts: In the last phase of polling for 72 seats, how do you see the prospect of Congress in Chhattisgarh this time, given the fact that the party is out of power for 15 years? Congress is confident of winning Chhattisgarh election with a comfortable margin. Our party is well prepared to take the ruling BJP by the horns. Right from Chhattisgarh Congress top leadership to workers at the grassroots in the state, all are working hard on the ground to achieve this goal. In the last Assembly election in 2013, the margin between the Congress and the BJP was less than 1 percent. This time our party workers have taken a strong resolve to fight the BJP out of power. How much dent former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogis party, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), will cause to the Congress? The JCC-BSP alliance wont have any impact on Congress. If one moves around in Chhattisgarh, one will get to know that Ajit Jogi or his party JCC, has hardly any presence across the state and even in public domain, he is rarely discussed. Moreover, the BSP virtually has no presence in this election. Is there any possibility of Congress willing to enter into a post-poll tie up or take support from Jogi, an ex-Congress leader, or vice versa in forming the government? No way. Its out of the question. We dont need Ajit Jogi. In fact, it was Jogi who had said that he would support the BJP. But when the BSP chief Mayawati said a stern no to it, he backtracked. Besides anti-incumbency, whats the most important factor that will ensure Congress victory in Chhattisgarh? Theres not one but several factors. Theres severe discontent among farmers, as the Raman Singh government has reduced the minimum support price (MSP) on several products and they failed to get the bonus promised to them by the state government. As a result, the tribal and farmers are left to suffer. Weve included the issue of MSP in our manifesto and given top priority to farmers issue. Unemployment is on the rise and youth is frustrated. Young people want change. Besides the issue of corruption, small traders have been hit due to demonetisation and poor implementation of Good and Services Tax. As a result, farmers, labourers, youth, students, Adivasis and small traders all are with us. Even a large section of government employees have expressed their support to the Congress. But Raman Singh government has been projecting development as a major issue... Mere construction of buildings and roads cant be development. Where are the doctors in hospitals, teachers in educational institutions? Moreover, in the name of development, theres rampant corruption. If theres so much development taking place, why is there so much unemployment? During the distribution of tickets, a tiff between you and Pradesh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel made headlines. When the BJP started feeling that they would badly lose, they started manufacturing lies and began making baseless allegations, spreading fake news and rumours. Theres not an iota of truth in this. At many places, even the government machinery has been used for this purpose. The fact is that the state leadership of Congress along with the AICC in-charge has been working as a team. But there were voices of dissent within the party after the lists of contesting candidates were announced... Our distribution of tickets to candidates has been 100 percent better than that of the BJP. At one or two places, there had been some disgruntlement over ticket distribution. It happens in any party. The dissent expressed by some candidates who didnt get tickets had been an immediate reaction and was temporary. Congress is like a family and theres no disagreement, I can assure about that. How do you see the performance of Congress, after the first phase of polling that took place on 12 November? Out of 18 seats that went to polls in the first phase (in the Bastar division), 12 were won by the Congress in the last elections in 2013. Were not losing seats in Bastar and are expecting to take the tally to 15 seats this time in the first phase of polling. Lets keep our fingers crossed till tomorrows polling gets over and results are announced. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP aims to win a fourth consecutive, while the Congress is seeking to end the saffron party's reign in the state after 15 years. Chhattisgarh is all set for the second and final phase of the Assembly elections, for which there are 1,079 candidates in the fray for 72 constituencies in 19 districts. Voters can exercise their franchise between 8 am to 5 pm in these seats of central and north Chhattisgarh at the 19,296 polling booths set up for Phase Two. All arrangements have been made, and polling will he held amid tight security, with over one lakh police personnel deployed to ensure a peaceful polling praocess. Extra vigil is being maintained in the Naxal-affected districts of Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur and Balrampur, an official said. The electorate in the second phase of the Chhattisgarh polls has 1,53,85,983 voters, including 77,46,628 men, 76,38,415 women and 940 of the third gender. State politics Eyeing a fourth consecutive term, the BJP has set a target of winning over 65 seats in the 90-member Assembly, while the Congress is seeking to end the saffron party's reign in Chhattisgarh after 15 years. Also, the coalition between the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), former chief minister Ajit Jogi's Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) has emerged as a formidable third front and added a new dimension to the state politics. The alliance is expected to eat into the vote share of both the BJP and the Congress. In 2013, the BJP, with 41.04 percent vote share, had won 49 seats, while the Congress had bagged 38 seats, with a vote share of 40.29 percent in the 90-member Assembly. The BJP and Congress are contesting all 72 seats in the fray for phase two of the Chhattisgarh elections, the BSP is in the fray for 25 seats and the JCC, 46 seats. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party has fielded candidates in 66 constituencies. Key candidates and constituencies Among the 1,079 candidates in the fray, there are 72 each from the BJP and the Congress. The highest number of 46 contestants are in the Raipur City South constituency, while the lowest number of six contestants are in the Bindranavagarh seat. Of the 72 seats, 46 are for the general category, while nine are reserved for candidates from Scheduled Castes and 17 for Scheduled Tribes. Of these seats, the BJP had won 43 seats in the 2013 polls, while the Congress had bagged 27. The BSP and an independent candidate had bagged one seat each. This time, the fate of nine ministers, the Assembly speaker and a few other prominent leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as of the Congress will be decided. Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal has been retained from the Kasdol seat, which he had won against the Congress' Rajkamal Singhaniya in the 2013 election. This time, the Congress has fielded a fresh face, Shankutala Sahu, from the seat. The nine ministers the BJP fielded for the polls are Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur City South), Rajesh Munat (Raipur City West), Amar Agrawal (Bilaspur), Bhaiyyalal Rajwade (Baikunthpur), Ramsevak Paikra (Pratappur), Punnulal Mohile (Mungeli), Prem Prakash Pandey (Bhilai Nagar), Dayaldas Baghel (Nawagarh) and Ajay Chandrakar (Kurud) and also state party chief Dharamlal Kaushik (Bilha). Chhattisgarh Congress president Bhupesh Baghel (Patan), Leader of Opposition TS Singh Deo (Ambikapur), Congress MP from Durg Lok Sabha seat Tamradhwaj Sahu (Durg rural) and former Union minister Charandas Mahant (Shakti) are among the key nominees of the Opposition party. A three-way fight is expected in several seats of Bilaspur division, where Ajit Jogi's JCC and the BSP have a considerable presence. Jogi is contesting from the Marwahi segment, where the BJP and the Congress have fielded new faces, Archana Porte and Gulab Singh. The Kota seat is also likely to witness a three-way contest among incumbent MLA Renu Jogi (JCC), Vibhor Singh (Congress) and Kashi Sahu (BJP). In the Akaltara seat, Ajit Jogi's daughter-in-law Richa Jogi contesting on a BSP ticket is likely to give a tough fight to Saurabh Singh (BJP) and incumbent MLA Chunnilal Sahu (Congress). Election campaigns and blame games The high-decibel poll campaign, which ended on Sunday, saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Chief Minister Raman Singh and his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath raising the pitch for the party. They had targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his family and accused the Opposition party of misleading people during its 50-year rule in the country. The BJP had also recalled the development works and achievements of its 15-year rule in Chhattisgarh. The Congress, however, raised farmers' issues during the poll campaign and promised them loan waivers, bonuses on paddy procurement and food processing units if voted to power. It also accused the prime minister of remaining silent on the "corruption charges" against Chief Minister Raman Singh in the alleged Rs 36,000-crore civil supply scam and not acting against the chief minister's son Abhishek Singh in the case of the Panama Papers leak. Besides flaying Modi for demonetisation, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also dared the prime minister to speak up on the Rafale deal, which the Congress claims is India's "biggest defence scam". In the first phase of the election on 12 November, voting was held in 18 seats in eight Naxal-affected districts of Chhattisgarh. Phase one of the polls had recorded a voter turnout of 76.28 percent, despite Naxals threatening people to boycott the poll process. The votes polled in both phases will be counted on 11 December, along with those polled in the four other Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Mizoram and Rajasthan. With inputs from agencies The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has described the attack on Arvind Kejriwal as 'politically motivated'. Manish Sisodia said the party and its members are not going to be cowed by the BJP's 'petty' tactics. New Delhi: The BJP, in collusion with Delhi Police, is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged Tuesday after a man flung chilli powder at Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat. Sisodia said the party and its members are not going to be cowed by the BJP's "petty" tactics. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has described the incident as "politically motivated". "The attack surprisingly took place at a high security area. Recently, BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of Signature bridge. BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister," Sisodia told reporters. Dangerous attack on Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal. Serious security lapses from Delhi Police. Even the Chief Minister is not safe in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/h60VUVOGhi AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 20, 2018 "We are not going to be cowed by the BJP'S petty tactics," he added. "The man, Anil Kumar, who has been detained, was targeting the bespectacled chief minister's eyes," officials said. Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of 'khaini', or chewing tobacco. "After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail," an official recounted. The attack took place outside the chief minister's chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch. The Delhi BJP chief said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody". "This calls for a high-level probe," Tiwari said. The VHP has built up the argument saying it was asking only for correction as was done in case of Orissa to Odisha, Pondicherry to Puducherry, Bombay to Mumbai, Uttranchal to Uttrakhand, Calcutta to Kolkata and Bangalore to Bengaluru. Shimla: In the gentle state, where renaming of important buildings, institutions and schemes has, till now, dominated the political narratives is finding itself caught up in a debate around changing name of Shimla -- the erstwhile summer capital of the British Raj days and now Himachal Pradesh's capital. Till now, successive governments, both BJP and Congress, have renamed some British era buildings, old institutions -- including three leading government hospitals and even changed the names of the schemes. Now, its about Shimla. The right-wing Hindu organisation -- Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), backed by Sangh Parivar, has vociferously demanded the renaming Shimla as Shyamala, thus putting the states BJP government, in a piquant situation, both politically and ideologically, ahead of its completing one year in the power. The name change issue has, strong political as well as ideological ramifications in the small hill state but no big again for the BJP. The VHP demand for change of name is not new but has got force following Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's decision to rename important cities namely Allahabad, Faizabad and Mughalsarai as Prayagraj, Ayodhya and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya respectively. In April 2016, Haryanas BJP government move to change Gurgaons name to Gurugram had provoked the VHP to raise demand for Shimla, which the then Congress government led by Virbhadra Singh turned down the plea for want of justification and basis. What the VHP is asking is not even the change of name its only about a correction or correct pronunciation of the name Shimla, says Aman Puri, state VHP president. He says Shimla's name was derived from its patron Goddess Shyamla Devi, which is the incarnation of Ma Kali, whose popular temple still exists in the town. The Britishers had some bias against word Shyamala, thus they addressed it Simla, which later changed as Shimla, and his list of names of towns and places, however, doesn't stop at Shimla. Two other towns of Dalhousie and Nurpur are also on the VHPs wish-list for the states BJP government for a probable name change. The two-lakh population town Shimla has not only an interesting history but several British landmarks, which have made it a place of world-wide attraction. There is no concrete evidence to suggest how and why the Britishers named it as Simla. Definitely, there must have existed some place, house, temple or village making the basis for the name. Shimla was selected by the Britishers because of its climate similar to England and at that time it was untouched by human habitations. There were dense wooded forests around, walkways and fascinating hill slopes. The Britishers loved the place so much they decided to make it as the summer capital of India in 1864. Thereafter, the process of building the town, its infrastructure started. The first building which came up in Shimla was the Kennedy House, which led to the establishment of a series of institutions and buildings, few of these stand witness to towns colonial past. But how about the sudden demand of right ideology groups to change Shimla to Shyamala? Chetan Singh, a history scholar and former Director Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) says, Demand is a far cry and will amount to negation of history. Shimla is not simply a place, there is history buried deep in its soil, majestic buildings and places. There is no evidence suggesting the existence of temple named Shyamala. There are, of course, spoken stories about it, but no documentary or archaeological evidence. Renaming of cities in India is not a new trend which the rightist ideologists are trying to impose. During the post-1947, several towns and places witnessed changes in their names after approval from the Government of India. The VHP has thus build up the argument saying it was asking only for correction as was done in case of Orissa to Odisha, Pondicherry to Puducherry, Bombay to Mumbai, Uttranchal to Uttrakhand, Calcutta to Kolkata and Bangalore to Bengaluru. Very soon, we are going to have a state level conference. Now since the issue of Ram temple is also getting focussed, together we will push for Shimlas case, says Puri. The demand, however, has no takers among citizens. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur after his initial response to examine and study the issue says, "Right now there is no proposal before us for changing Shimlas name. The government keep getting suggestions from different sections of society. Since the names of some cities were changed recently, it was natural that demand was raised afresh. Thakur, a first-time chief minister, who has chosen to run the affairs of the state without getting himself embroiled into controversies is not very much in favour of changing names unlike his counterparts in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh or Gujarat. I wonder how media chose to make such big headlines, he says, adding that being a small state, where sentiments of the citizens some time strongly override the political agenda, such a decision becomes tough unlike bigger states. The government as such has no agenda on changing names unless there lies a justification or a strong basis. The fact remains that Sangh Parivar which forms part of the BJP governments ideological agenda will definitely keep hammering or injecting mythological justifications. Shimlas former mayor and CPM leader Tikender Singh Panwar argues the name of Shyamala has never been found in any of the gazetteers printed by the British, though these contained very minute details as well. Nowhere has the name Shyamala been mentioned in the texts available with the Shimlas civic body. Some old records reveals that early local communities, which inhabited the Shimla ridge, especially residing in the villages around Shimla hill were under the two princely states -- Koti and Keonthal (Junga). They too had no any deity named Shyamala. It seems both the states had Tara Devi as their deity. The other communities had their own devtas/deities. None of them was called Shyamala. These facts are endorsed by Chetan Singh and Panwar. Another Shimla historian Raaja Bhasin, who is also the author of several books in Shimlas colonial past also disputes the VHP claim. "I haven't found any document on Shyamala Devi temple in the town. Some references about Alexander Gerard, a Britisher, are definitely (there). He referred to Shimla as Shemla. Few people even called as Shimlu or Shimlah." He believes renaming Shimla as Shyamala will neither enhance Shimlas USP as world-famed tourists destination nor its rich glory. It will rather be a huge blow to the towns legacy. Former BJP chief minister Shanta Kumar in 1991-92 took a decision to change the name of Dalhousie -- another famous hill destination as Subhash Nagar. The proposal did not work though he did manage to change the name of Shimla's Rippen Hospital as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya (DDU) hospital. Earlier to this Snowdown Hospital was also named as Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital and Lady Reading hospital as Kamla Nehru Hospital. Shanta Kumar's government also changed the name of historic Peterhoff, a majestic British era building which once housed the Raj Bhawan but was later gutted in a fire and rebuilt as Meghdoot hotel. This was changed back to Peterhoff again. This is place where trial of Nathu Ram Godse took place in Mahatama Gandhis assassination case. The famous Scandal Point a hub of tourists activity in Shimla town was changed to Lala Lajpat Rai noted freedom fighter but even now Scandal Point is more famous for its name. Some of Shimlas landmarks like Viceregal Lodge, which hosts the Indian Instituted of Advanced Study, the UNSECO heritage narrow gauge railway line, Ellerslie the government secretariat building, Barnes court (currently Raj Bhawan), Historic Gaiety Theatre, Annandale ground, Shimla drinking water supply built by the Britishers. The visits of Mahatama Gandhi ,Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Abdul Ghaffar Khan and several other noted freedom fighters to Shimla for working out modalities on India's Independence, thereafter the Post-Independence Simla Agreement on 2 July, 1972 between Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and his Pakistani counterpart Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, will remain biggest historical challenges, if the Himachal Pradesh government seeks to change Shimla's name. With just a few days left for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conducted a high-level meeting in the state late on Monday night to chalk out the strategy for the ensuing polls. Bhopal: With just a few days left for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conducted a high-level meeting in the state late on Monday night to chalk out the strategy for the ensuing polls. BJP president Amit Shah, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, party's National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and other leaders attended the meeting that took place at the party's office in Bhopal. The Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to polls on 28 November and the counting of votes will be held on 11 December. Chouhan, who has been serving as the chief minister of the state since 2005, is eyeing to secure his fourth consecutive term. The Assembly election in the state is seen as a direct political battle between the BJP and the Congress. While Chouhan is eyeing to secure his fourth consecutive term as the chief minister of the state, the Congress party is looking to regain power after 2003. Addressing his first election rally at Champhai in Mizoram, Rahul Gandhi also accused the BJP and RSS of trying to destroy the culture of the state. Champhai: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that the RSS and the BJP "know it very well" that the saffron party will not win the Lok Sabha elections next year. Addressing his first election rally at Champhai in Mizoram, he also accused the BJP and RSS of trying to destroy the culture of the state. "The RSS and the BJP understand that this is the only opportunity for them to enter Mizoram and destroy its culture. They know that they are unlikely to win the next (Lok Sabha) elections," Gandhi said at a public rally at Champhai. Election to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly will be held on 28 November. Mizoram is the only state in the northeastern region where the Congress is in power. He claimed that the state's principal opposition party, the Mizo National Front (MNF), is a partner of the BJP in the forthcoming contest. The Congress has been alleging that the MNF and BJP would go for a post-poll alliance in the event of a hung assembly. However, both the parties denied the charge. "It is sad that an organisation like the MNF is helping the BJP and the RSS in the attempt to destroy the culture, language, heritage and history of Mizoram... Only Congress people are fighting the divisive ideas of the BJP," he added. Raking up the Rafale deal, he alleged that "Narendra Modi personally gave Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani. That is the amount for one year's spending of MGNREGA in the entire country". Reliance Group has denied the allegations relating to the deal under which France's Dassault is supplying the fighter jets and has entered into a joint venture with an Anil Ambani-led group firm to meet its offset requirement of the contract. Ambani had written to Gandhi on the deal, saying his party has been "misinformed, misdirected and misled" by "malicious vested interests and corporate rivals" on the issue. Highlighting the 10-year rule of Congress government headed by Lal Thanhawla, Gandhi said the economy of the state has progressed a lot with the per capita income of the people having almost doubled during this period. "We will make Mizoram as the gateway hub of Eastern India and create 11,000 new jobs in next year," he added. Gandhi also recollected his visit to the hill state with his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1987. "In 1987, my father drove around Mizoram streets. I came with him that time. I want to do the same after elections. I want to come to Mizoram, drive around and meet people here," he added. Addressing a poll rally at Jhabua for the upcoming Assembly elections, Modi also said his government has so far disbursed loans to 14 crore people without guarantee. Jhabua: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he used the "bitter medicine" of demonetisation to bring back money into banking system and to give "proper treatment to deep-rooted corruption system" in the country. Addressing a poll rally at Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh for the 28 November Assembly elections, Modi also said his government has so far disbursed loans to 14 crore people, "that too without guarantee", under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. "The amount of work we (BJP-led government) have done in four years, Congress would be able to do it in 10 years," Modi said. "Remember the time when Congress was in power here in Madhya Pradesh, what was the condition of people? Madhya Pradesh does not deserve a government which never thinks about the state's welfare," Modi said, targeting the Congress party. Modi said that during the Congress' 55 year rule in Madhya Pradesh, 1,500 schools were made, but chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan established 4,000 schools in the state in just 15 years. "Our mantra is to provide education to boys and girls, income for youth, irrigation facility to farmers and medicines to elders," Modi said. Modi said the Congress promised to waive farmers' loans in Karnataka, but instead of doing so, issued warrants against peasants and sent them to jail. "My government is aiming to double farmers' income by 2022," the prime minister said. On 'housing for all', Modi said, "My dream is to provide 'pucca' houses to everyone in the country by 2022. We have so far given keys of such houses to 1.25 crore people". Addressing a poll rally in Madhya Pradesh, Narendra Modi said that when the Congress was in power, the roads connecting the villages to the city were not developed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Congress on Tuesday in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa, saying that the erstwhile 'remote-control sarkar' derailed development in the state. Addressing a poll rally in Rewa for the 28 November Assembly elections, Modi said that when the Congress was in power, the roads connecting the villages to the city were not developed. The prime minister said that this caused a delay in the journey when pregnant women needed to be taken to hospitals. When pregnant mother had to be rushed to hospital on a tractor or a cot, there were no roads from village to the city. Often the mother died, the child died or sometimes both. Those were the days of Congress: PM Modi in Rewa. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/FOb4Vw0okq ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 Comparing the 50 years' rule of Congress in the state with that of BJP's 15 years, Modi praised Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's 'tireless' efforts for the development in Madhya Pradesh. Modi accused the Congress of ignoring the poor and claimed that his government work for 125 crore Indians. Earlier on Tuesday, in his rally in Jhabua, Modi had said he used the "bitter medicine" of demonetisation to bring back money into banking system and to give "proper treatment to deep-rooted corruption system" in the country. "We use poisonous medicine to eradicate termite. Similarly, I used note ban as a 'tez' (bitter) medicine to treat corruption in the country," Modi said. "People who used to hide their money under beds, in their houses, offices and factories are now paying tax of every single penny and we are using this money for the right schemes for the common man,"the prime minister had said. Modi had warned the Madhya Pradesh farmers not to get carried away by the Congress' loan waiver promise, claiming it was a sham. "The Congress made loan waiver promise to farmers in Karnataka before state Assembly polls there but instead of doing so, it is preparing to send peasants to jail," he had said. "My government is aiming to double farmers' income by 2022," Modi had added. With inputs from PTI Almost a year ago, Sushma Swaraj met Narendra Modi with an unusual request to allow her not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election Almost a year ago, Sushma Swaraj met Narendra Modi with an unusual request to allow her not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election. She had undergone kidney transplant surgery in December 2017 after being admitted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences for around a month. Over the past four years through her performance as Minister of External Affairs, she had the gained confidence and goodwill of the prime minister. On some occasions, Modi had publicly lauded her work, particularly in helping and evacuating Indians faced with distressing situations abroad. Her decision not to contest the next election must therefore have surprised him. After conveying her feelings to the prime minister, she met BJP president Amit Shah and told him of her decision. Her argument was twofold: First, her current health situation did not allow her to take care of the constituency as a serving MP ideally should. A Lok Sabha MP has a whole lot of commitments for people of her/his constituency, which are not just related to taking care of developmental work in the area. Fulfilling these commitments requires a great personal connect with people of the region. Due to her health issues, she was not able to do it the way she used to in preceding years when she represented the South Delhi parliamentary constituency for two terms and Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh for the previous and her present term. Second, if she contests in 2019, she would be committing to that constituency for another five years. Her contention was that she would be failing in her duty as a directly-elected public representative if her health did not permit to be in regular contact with people, which includes paying visits to her constituency. Sources told Firstpost she was told by the leadership that she should not worry about that and that the party would take care of her election and her concerns for the constituency. She, however, succeeded in convincing them about her decision. Swaraj had also kept Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the loop. Vidisha used to be Chouhans parliamentary constituency till he was chosen by the leadership to be chief minister of the state. She won from Vidisha in 2009 and in 2014. It should be noted that in 2009 when the then prime ministerial candidate LK Advani had advised all senior leaders to contest the Lok Sabha elections, her first choice was Bhopal. Senior leaders in the party also felt that Bhopal would be a good constituency for her. She was then the party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha. But the then-sitting MP of Bhopal Kailash Joshi placed some tough conditions (demands) before her and she moved to Vidisha, as offered by Chouhan. Fast-forward to 2018 and speculation went wild for a while in political circles after she announced at a press conference in Indore that she wouldnt contest the next parliamentary election, scheduled in the next five months. It's important to note here that she had announced her decision not to fight Lok Sabha elections, she has not announced that she is quitting politics. That makes a great deal of difference and that gives rise to speculation of the other kind. A Union minister told Firstpost, "She has only said she will not contest the Lok Sabha election, she has not said she won't enter Rajya Sabha. You all know that she has served in the Rajya Sabha for three terms. Who knows, next year she might be in the Upper House to serve another term." That means if the BJP returns to power in 2019, she might again be a top ranking minister. There could be some other responsibilities, but those are all within realm of ifs and buts. Swaraj chose her timing adroitly for this important announcement. She was in Madhya Pradesh to campaign for the BJP. Due to her health conditions, she had not visited the state and her constituency for a long time. Her non-availability could have caused some resentment as well. In one deft stroke, she cleared her position, something that will allow aspirants for the seat to start nourishing the constituency. Interestingly, this is not the first time that Swaraj has announced that she won't contest Lok Sabha elections. Way back in 1998, she was reelected from the South Delhi parliamentary constituency and then there was a "smear campaign" against her for a slogan that some enthusiastic supporters had chanted in the run-up to the elections, "Abki baari Atal Bihari, agli baari behan hamari (This time it's Atal Bihari Vajpayee's turn, next time it's our sister's)". She was particularly hurt by the way a colleague who also used to be general secretary of the party when she also held that post commented about that slogan in a closed-door meeting. She was so upset that she announced that she wouldn't contest the Lok Sabha election again and proposed the name of VK Malhotra for that constituency. In that election for the 13th Lok Sabha, the Congress fielded Manmohan Singh from the South Delhi constituency and Malhotra was nominated by the BJP. Malhotra won and Singh lost. That was the only election that Manmohan fought and lost. When nominations were being filed, the Congress sprang a surprise by making Sonia Gandhi file her nomination from Bellary in Karnataka as her second seat (besides Raebareli). Swaraj was instructed by Vajpayee and Advani to forget about her previous pledge (not to contest any more elections) and fly to Bellary to file her nomination against Sonia. Although Swaraj lost, she fought valiantly and polled around 3.5 lakh votes in a constituency that had been a Congress stronghold. Will 2019 see a repeat of 1999 for her or will it be different? Nobody has an answer right now. tech2 News Staff If you use Google Photos, your iPhone can do what the Pixels can. In a brand new update to the Google Photos app on iOS, Google has added two new editing features to it. According to a tweet shared by Google Photos, iOS users will now be able to use portrait depth editing and the colour pop feature on the app. New to iOS, adjust the background blur and change the focus of your portrait mode photo. Just pull up a portrait photo in Google Photos, click the editing icon to get to the editing menu, then tap it one more time to edit depth and focus. Google Photos (@googlephotos) November 19, 2018 These features were added to Android about a month ago. With the portrait depth editing feature, you can now adjust the blur and also tap to change the focus area of those shots. According to a report by The Verge, who tested out the feature, when you move the slider around on the app to adjust the blur, it does some processing on its own, which is some cases apparently gives better results than what you can get on Apple's photo app. The second feature added to the iOS app is Colour Pop, which basically lets you choose a subject and keep its colours, while monochrome-ing everything else in the picture. Both these features should be available on the Google Photos iOS app. In case you don't see it, ensure that the app is updated to the latest version. Indo-Asian News Service The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Monday said the industry needed a web-based automatic and timely approval process for Right of Way (ROW) for the country to be prepared for 5G connectivity. The Right of Way refers to the legal right, established by usage or grant, to pass along a specific route through grounds or property belonging to another. In terms of the telecom industry, it refers to the right to establish infrastructures such as towers and fibre cables. Speaking to the reporters here, Rajan Mathews, Director General of the industry body said that there should be no restriction on tower installations as it affects coverage and quality of services of telecom networks. "Need web-based automatic and timely approval process for ROW for 5G preparedness wherein approximately 1,000 BTS (Base Transceiver Station) are required per square kilometre," according to a COAI presentation. COAI sought a single window clearance for setting up infrastructure in a time-bound manner and a one time "nominal" administration fee. It further asked for the alignment of all state telecom infrastructure policies with the Department of Telecommunications' RoW Rules, 2016. Lack of telecom towers and optical fibre, according to Mathews is a major reason of call drops in the country. Other reasons for call drop include "congestion (overloaded cell sites)", weather condition which affects microwave links, faulty handsets, shutting down of mobile towers and sealing by local authorities, the COAI presentation showed. Asheeta Regidi Editors note: This is a two-part series discussing the issues raised in TRAIs 2018 Consultation Paper on Over-The-Top Services, which seeks views on the imposition of regulatory norms on par with telecom service providers on over-the-top services. Part I of the series argued that OTT services are not responsible for the drop in telecom service providers' (TSP) revenues, and the real reasons need to be identified and addressed. In Part II, we suggest some specific steps which the government can take to support the TSPs, as well as solutions for regulating OTT services. The realisation of the vision of Digital India needs not only governmental support in the form of tax incentives, regulatory sandboxes, access to risk capital, etc., but also an overhaul of traditional licensing and regulatory regimes which can hold back progress. One such regulatory system that is in need of an overhaul is the telecom system. This is currently the subject of a debate brought forth by a second consultation paper by TRAI on the regulation of OTT services. The issue at hand is on whether OTT communication services like WhatsApp and Skype should be subject to the same regulatory requirements as the telecom service providers. The previous part of this series argued that the competing OTT services are not the cause of the drop in the TSPs revenue. The reasons instead are the lack of timely adaption to new technologies such as VoLTE by the TSPs and the lack of a supportive regulatory regime provided by the government. Resolving spectrum issues and licensing fees One area where the government can play a role in supporting TSPs is in relation to spectrum availability and charges. Spectrums refer to the range of electromagnetic or radio waves, which are used to transmit sound and data services from one device to another. Telecom spectrum ranges between 800 MHz and goes up to 2300 MHz. These spectrums are available to the TSPs at a huge cost, and in fact, the price of Indian spectrums is said to be among the highest in the world. Further, as per the IAMAIs response to the 2015 OTT Paper, the International Telecommunication Union reports that 60 percent of the spectrum in India remains unallocated. As per the IAMAI response, this restriction on the release of the spectrum and the high cost per MHz is what leads to the huge licensing fees for the TSPs. Telcos are, in fact, required to pay 5 percent of their adjusted gross revenues as a part of the license fee. A crucial issue faced by TSPs in increasing their revenues, thus, is not the cannibalisation of revenues by OTT services as argued by the TSPs, but the heavy costs imposed by the government on them. Providing regulatory support through addressing these issues is crucial to enable the TSPs to adapt to data-based services and new age technologies. It is only recently that reports have arisen of the aim to align spectrum prices in India with the rest of the world, in order to speed up deployments of fast mobile 5G broadband networks in the country. Regulating TSPs as an essential public utility service In addition to the bearing of the huge costs for the underlying infrastructure, the licensing fees and the spectrum charges, TSPs, as mentioned in Part I, are subjected to a number of regulatory obligations. These include requirements such as fulfilling quality of service parameters, interconnection requirements, privacy and security obligations, providing emergency services, enabling caller identification and mobile number portability, dealing with unsolicited customer communication, and so on. These requirements are imposed largely because the TSPs communication services form an essential public utility service. The requirement of such regulation is a crucial factor in ensuring that the public has reliable and good quality access to such an essential service. Experiences with adapting regulatory frameworks for aggregators Whether OTT services like WhatsApp are also equally an essential public utility service is an important question that needs to be addressed. The disruptive nature of technology raises many such questions, particularly on whether equally stringent regulations must apply. A parallel example that can immediately be drawn is with the regulation of taxi aggregators. Here as well, the taxi aggregators like Uber circumvented the highly regulated taxi system to introduce their service via an app. The existing traditional taxi services around the world, such as the kaali peelis in India, naturally, objected to this, since their own activities were highly regulated, such as fixed tariffs and minimum fleet sizes. This led to a huge dispute as to the laws which were to apply to aggregators (see here). The new age taxi aggregators did lead to the need for new regulations, such as Karnatakas On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016 in India. In the case of taxi aggregators, however, these were fundamentally a taxi service which was using technology to a greater extent. This allowed the government, in many cases, to simply require the aggregators to register under existing taxi laws, such as under Delhis Radio Taxi Scheme, 2006. Differentiating aggregator and OTT communication services The situation with OTT based communication services can be differentiated in this respect. While the service is fundamentally the same as that of the TSPs traditional voice and messaging services, there is a major difference in the way the service is delivered. The first is through IP based networks, while the second is through packet switched networks. The TSPs services, in fact, are now also being switched to IP based networks, in other words, traditional voice services are now also being provided as an application enabled via the internet (explained in Part I). This is thus, a different case where the existing traditional service itself is undergoing changes to adapt to a new system or technology. Further, the new system requires the network (the underlying internet) and service (the application provided via the internet) layers to be separated (explained in Part I), which also requires a change in applicable laws. Overhauling traditional regimes to regulate disruptive technologies To deal with this situation, therefore, applying traditional regulations to the new service will not do, particularly since the traditional service itself is undergoing a significant change. Instead, the traditional regulatory system itself needs to be overhauled. One form this can take is to create new laws of the following broad types. The first are general rules that apply to all services, businesses and other activities enabled via the internet. A good example of this is the forthcoming data protection law, which will take care of the privacy and security obligations for any service or business. Such a law will take care of these requirements in relation to any OTT service. The Information Technology Act, 2000 is another such law. The second will be the fundamental law required for the underlying infrastructure required by all such services the internet. In separating the regulations for the network and service layers, this law will deal with the requirements in relation to the network layer. This may include, for example, rules in relation to spectrum, as discussed previously. Care must be taken to ensure that the system enabled by the government is a supportive one. Revenues for the TSPs will be enabled through the data services enabled, and not through the service layer. Looking at optional regulations or essential service certifications The next set of laws will take the form of sector-specific regulations, which will apply to the service layer. These laws need to be tailored to the needs of that particular sector. One example is that for taxi aggregators as one form of a service. Another would be with communication services. A law for such a service may firstly lay down the basic requirement, if required and as identified and agreed upon by various stakeholders, to apply across all communication services. In addition to these, communication services can be given the option to register or certify as an essential communication service. To such an essential service, the requirements and obligations would be higher and may include essential requirements such as quality of service, emergency calls, unsolicited communication requirements, and so on. Making it optional will not hamper innovation, allowing OTT players to choose which system would be most suitable for them, while simultaneously enabling a reliable essential service to be available to the public. Registering as an essential service can also be incentivised by the government. Ancillary services and the role of market forces Such an optional system further gives the flexibility for OTT services which provide communication as an ancillary service, such as by e-commerce companies (buyer-seller communications), social media companies (chat), or others like Google Docs, to allow such a function without being subjected to the restrictions of a regulation. The OTT sector, further, given its huge scope, witnesses intense competition. Market forces may thus also play a key role in encouraging services to register as an essential service, or alternatively to provide a service of a level where it is usable as an essential service. Consider, for instance, the increasing use of WhatsApp for businesses. This allows the delivery of many communications via an OTT service like WhatsApp, such as the delivery of financial communications, business documents, e-tickets, confidential communications and even legal notices. There is likely to be a huge requirement in the future for a reliable communication service, and this can encourage the provision of communication as an essential service. Establishing QoS and pricing requirements It may also be considered to what extent certain other factors can be left to market forces or if they require regulation. For instance, quality of service is one such parameter, and this is suggested by TRAI itself in its 2017 Recommendations on Internet Telephony. Another factor is the pricing or charges put to consumers by the application itself. A case to consider is the surge pricing in use by taxi aggregators, which when left unregulated, led to enormous surges during peak hours and emergencies. Regulation kept surge pricing under control in some jurisdictions. Anonymity in OTT communications Another issue raised by stakeholders like Reliance Jio in previous consultation papers was on the anonymity enabled by certain apps. An example, for instance, is of calling apps like Voxox which not only enabled anonymous calls and call masking but also enabled assuming the identity of another caller. In the Internet Telephony Recommendations made last year, for instance, TRAI had recommended that the Public IP address used for originating/terminating Internet Telephony calls should be made a mandatory part of Call Data Records in case of Internet Telephony. The storage of location details in the form of latitudes and longitudes were also required. Such alternatives need to be evaluated as a part of the proposed regulations. It must be noted here, however, that no amount of regulation can prevent the creation of such apps since such apps would simply continue to be available but as illegal apps. Exploring alternative regulatory options Application of traditional regulations to OTT services will only result in creating entry barriers for OTT services and will hamper innovation in the field. Further, it may lead to a violation of net neutrality principles by enabling double dipping, or the charging of a consumer twice for the use of the same data. The imposition of requirements in the form as discussed here, however, will be with the view of ensuring a basic and quality service, and not in relation to requiring OTT services to participate in infusing investments in the development of telecom networks. The revenues of TSPs, further, will continue to rise in the form of data services, as opposed to the dying source of traditional voice revenues. There are thus other options available, which need to be explored in order to resolve the issues of the TSPs and OTT services. The TRAI paper on OTT services needs to generate this discussion on the most appropriate way to regulate OTT services in the digital age. TRAI has been taking several positive steps, especially in relation to net neutrality, first through the issue of the Discriminatory Tariff Regulations and secondly through the issue of its Recommendations on Net Neutrality. Hopefully, it will continue with this trend and make the necessary changes to support both the TSPs and the OTT services in the provision of services to the people. The responses from stakeholders are invited until 10 December, 2018 and counter-comments until 24 December, 2018. The author is a lawyer specialising in technology, privacy and cyber laws. tech2 News Staff In an event, which is second only to the Big Bang, astronomers have identified a "nearby" star system that is capable of producing a gamma-ray burst one of the most energetic events in the universe. According to a study, published in Nature Astronomy on Tuesday, scientists have found the first of this rare kind of star system in our galaxy, a mere 8,000 light years from Earth. "We knew immediately we had found something quite exceptional: the luminosity across the spectrum from the radio to the infrared was off the charts," Dr Joe Callingham, lead author of the study from the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, told university press. "When we saw the stunning dust plume coiled around these incandescent stars, we decided to name it 'Apep' the monstrous serpent deity and mortal enemy of Sun god Ra from Egyptian mythology." Two of Apep's stars are of the Wolf-Rayet variety, which means they are not just massive, but nearing the end of their life. These stars could explode into supernovae at any time, resulting in a cataclysmic gamma-ray event that could create extreme conditions in the solar system. "Normal supernovae are already extreme events but adding rotation to the mix can really throw gasoline on the fire," co-author Benjamin Pope from New York University told university press. "The rapid rotation puts Apep into a whole new class." Luckily for us, Apep seems to have its gamma-rage pointed elsewhere. However, the researchers also report that a gamma-ray burst of this proximity could strip Earth of its slowly-recovering ozone layer, exposing all life on Earth to a dramatically higher volume of radiation from the Sun and space. "Ultimately, we can't be certain what the future has in store for Apep," Professor Peter Tuthill, group leader of the study from the University of Sydney, told university press. "The system might slow down enough so it explodes as a normal supernova rather than a gamma-ray burst." In the meantime, the star system is giving astronomers a front-row seat to watch the never-before-seen physics behind the stunning (and lethal) gamma-ray bursts. US President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. will not punish Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at this time nor cut arms sales to Saudi Arabia for the killing of U.S.-based columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Washington: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. will not punish Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at this time nor cut arms sales to Saudi Arabia for the killing of U.S.-based columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump called the killing of Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a "horrible crime" that the U.S. does not condone, but said Saudi Arabia is a "great ally" and canceling billions in arms sales would only benefit China and Russia, which would be glad to step in and make the sales. Trump's decision, announced in a statement released just before he left for the long Thanksgiving weekend in Florida, will disappoint and anger critics who have called for a much firmer rebuke to the kingdom and especially bin Salman. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that bin Salman, the kingdom's de factor leader, ordered the 2 October killing, according to a U.S. official familiar with the assessment. Others familiar with the case caution that while it's likely that the crown prince had a role in the death there continue to be questions about the degree to which he was involved. The U.S. earlier sanctioned 17 Saudi officials suspected of being responsible for or complicit in the killing, but members of Congress have called for harsher actions. Trump said Tuesday in his statement that the king of Saudi Arabia and the crown prince "vigorously deny" any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Khashoggi. "Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Trump said. "That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran." He said the United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of the United States. "America First!" he wrote. Trump said he knows some members of Congress will disagree with his decision. He said he would listen to their ideas, but only if they are focused on U.S. national security. Late last week, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that calls for suspending weapons sales to Saudi Arabia; sanctions on people who block humanitarian access in Yemen or support the Houthi rebels, and mandatory sanctions on those responsible for Khashoggi's death. France's top diplomat said Monday that his country was mulling sanctions against Saudi Arabia. And Germany on Monday announced that it has banned 18 Saudi nationals from entering Europe's border-free Schengen zone because of their suspected connections to the killing. German officials, who earlier banned new weapons exports to Riyadh, also said they were halting previously approved arms exports. Some foreign policy experts have not only recommended tougher punitive measures against Saudi Arabia, but have advocated for a complete reset on relations with Riyadh. Emile Nakhleh, a former member of CIA's senior intelligence service, said that since the crown prince assumed power three years ago, he has turned his country into a "strongman autocracy" that can't be trusted. "His ruthless power grab, repression of potential challengers within his family, and crackdown on all opposition to his policies and projects inside and outside of Saudi Arabia have put American-Saudi relations at risk," Nakhleh wrote in an op-ed article Monday in the online intelligence newsletter The Cipher Brief. "He feels empowered to crush his potential rivals within the ruling family by his close relationship to President Trump and Jared Kushner." Kushner, the president's son-in-law, has worked with the crown prince on various issues, including on how to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. LONDON (Reuters) - Amid international uproar over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, some members of Saudi Arabia's ruling family are agitating to prevent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from becoming king, three sources close to the royal court said. Dozens of princes and cousins from powerful branches of the Al Saud family want to see a change in the line of succession but would not act while King Salman - the crown princes 82-year-old father - is still alive, the sources said. They recognise that the king is unlikely to turn against his favourite son, known in the West as MbS. LONDON (Reuters) - Amid international uproar over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, some members of Saudi Arabia's ruling family are agitating to prevent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from becoming king, three sources close to the royal court said. Dozens of princes and cousins from powerful branches of the Al Saud family want to see a change in the line of succession but would not act while King Salman - the crown princes 82-year-old father - is still alive, the sources said. They recognise that the king is unlikely to turn against his favourite son, known in the West as MbS. Rather, they are discussing the possibility with other family members that after the king's death, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 76, a younger full brother of King Salman and uncle of the crown prince, could take the throne, according to the sources. Prince Ahmed, King Salmans only surviving full brother, would have the support of family members, the security apparatus and some Western powers, one of the Saudi sources said. Prince Ahmed returned to Riyadh in October after 2-1/2 months abroad. During the trip, he appeared to criticise the Saudi leadership while responding to protesters outside a London residence chanting for the downfall of the Al Saud dynasty. He was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling family's senior members, who opposed MbS becoming crown prince in 2017, two Saudi sources said at the time. Neither Prince Ahmed nor his representatives could be reached for comment. Officials in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests from Reuters for comment on succession issues. The House of Saud is made up of hundreds of princes. Unlike typical European monarchies, there is no automatic succession from father to eldest son. Instead the kingdoms tribal traditions dictate that the king and senior family members from each branch select the heir they consider fittest to lead. Senior U.S. officials have indicated to Saudi advisers in recent weeks that they would support Prince Ahmed, who was deputy interior minister for nearly 40 years, as a potential successor, according to Saudi sources with direct knowledge of the consultations. These Saudi sources said they were confident that Prince Ahmed would not change or reverse any of the social or economic reforms enacted by MbS, would honour existing military procurement contracts and would restore the unity of the family. One senior U.S. official said the White House is in no hurry to distance itself from the crown prince despite pressure from lawmakers and the CIAs assessment that MbS ordered Khashoggis murder, though that could change once Trump gets a definitive report on the killing from the intelligence community. The official also said the White House saw it as noteworthy that King Salman seemed to stand by his son in a speech in Riyadh on Monday and made no direct reference to Khashoggis killing, except to praise the Saudi public prosecutor. President Donald Trump on Saturday called the CIA assessment that MbS ordered Khashoggi's killing "very premature" but "possible", and said he would receive a complete report on the case on Tuesday. A White House official referred Reuters to those comments and had "nothing else to add at this time". The Saudi sources said U.S. officials had cooled on MbS not only because of his suspected role in the murder of Khashoggi. They are also rankled because the crown prince recently urged the Saudi defence ministry to explore alternative weapons supplies from Russia, the sources said. In a letter dated May 15, seen by Reuters, the crown prince requested that the defence ministry "focus on purchasing weapon systems and equipment in the most pressing fields" and get training on them, including the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. Neither the Russian defence ministry nor officials in Riyadh immediately responded to Reuters requests for comment. U.S. ROLE KEY The brutal killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the crown prince, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month has drawn global condemnation, including from many politicians and officials in the United States, a key Saudi ally. The CIA believes the crown prince ordered the killing, according to U.S. sources familiar with the assessment. Saudi Arabias public prosecutor has said the crown prince knew nothing of the killing. The international uproar has piled pressure on a royal court already divided over 33-year-old Prince Mohammed's rapid rise to power. Since his ascension, the prince has gained popular support with high-profile social and economic reforms including ending a ban on women driving and opening cinemas in the conservative kingdom. His reforms have been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, a purge of top royals and businessmen on corruption charges, and a costly war in Yemen. He has also marginalized senior members of the royal family and consolidated control over Saudis security and intelligence agencies. He first ousted then-powerful crown prince and interior minister Mohammed bin Nayef (MbN), 59, in June 2017. Then he removed Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, 65, son of the late King Abdullah, as head of the National Guard and detained him as part of an anti-corruption campaign. Some 30 other princes were also arrested, mistreated, humiliated and stripped of their wealth, even as MbS splashed out on palaces, a $500 million yacht, and set a new record in the international art market with the purchase of a painting by Italian Renaissance engineer and painter Leonardo Da Vinci. The entire House of Saud has emerged weakened as a result. According to one well-placed Saudi source, many princes from senior circles in the family believe a change in the line of succession "would not provoke any resistance from the security or intelligence bodies he controls" because of their loyalty to the wider family. "They (the security apparatus) will follow any consensus reached by the family." Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. The United States, a key ally in economic and security terms, is likely to be a determining factor in how matters unfold in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi sources and diplomats say. Trump and his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner have cultivated deep personal relationships with the crown prince. One Saudi insider said MbS feels he still has their support and is willing to "roll some heads to appease the U.S." But Trump and top administration officials have said Saudi officials should be held to account for any involvement in Khashoggis death and have imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for their alleged role including one of MbS's closest aides. U.S. lawmakers are meanwhile pushing legislation to punish Riyadh for the killing, and both Republican and Democratic senators have urged Trump to get tough on the crown prince. King Salman, 82, is aware of the consequences of a major clash with the United States and the possibility that Congress could try to freeze Saudi assets. Those who have met the king recently say he appeared to be in denial about the role of MbS in what happened, believing there to be a conspiracy against the kingdom. But they added that he looked burdened and worried. ALLEGIANCE COUNCIL When the king dies or is no longer be able to rule, the 34-member Allegiance Council, a body representing each line of the ruling family to lend legitimacy to succession decisions, would not automatically declare MbS the new king. Even as crown prince, MbS would still need the council to ratify his ascension, one of the three Saudi sources said. While the council accepted King Salman's wish to make MbS crown prince, it would not necessarily accept MbS becoming king when his father dies, especially given that he sought to marginalise council members. Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. The Saudi sources say MbS has destroyed the institutional pillars of nearly a century of Al Saud rule: the family, the clerics, the tribes and the merchant families. They say this is seen inside the family as destabilising. Despite the controversy over Khashoggi's killing, MbS is continuing to pursue his agenda. Some insiders believe he built his father a new but remote Red Sea palace in Sharma, at the Neom City development site -- thrown up in a record one year at a cost of $2 billion -- as a gilded cage for his retirement. The site is isolated, the closest city of Tabouk more than 100 km (60 miles) away. Residence there would keep the king out of the loop on most affairs of state, one of the sources close to the royal family said. Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Reuters correspondents; Editing by Nick Tattersall) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The shooter killed the first victim a woman who was in a 'domestic relationship' with him in the parking lot of Chicago's Mercy Hospital, then fired at police when they got to the hospital, and ran inside. An argument in a hospital parking lot escalated into a shooting that killed three people, including a police officer, in the US city of Chicago on Monday. The violence only ended when police engaged in a shootout with the gunman inside Mercy Hospital. "We have four deceased individuals: police officer, two female staff employees at the hospital, and the offender," Superintendent of Police Eddie Johnson told journalists. The shooter killed the first victim a woman who was in a "domestic relationship" with him during an argument in the parking lot, then fired at police when they got to the hospital, and ran inside, Johnson said. Additional police including SWAT officers arrived at the scene, and "engaged the offender for several minutes in the hospital, with gunshots being fired by the offender and by the police," he said. During the shootout, the gunman killed a second woman when she got off an elevator, Johnson said. The shooter also fatally wounded, but it was unclear if he killed himself or was killed by police. Mayor Rahm Emanuel identified the two female victims as a doctor and a "pharmaceutical assistant". Patients described being alarmed by the sound of gunshots outside Mercy Hospital and seeing a man apparently walking with a woman in the parking lot before shooting her three times in the chest. "Once she fell to the ground, he stood over her and shot her three more times," bystander James Gray told reporters, adding that the attack played out "like a movie scene". TV footage showed terrified patients and staff filing out of the hospital into a parking lot with their hands in the air after officers flooded the area. 'Scared as hell' Patient Hector Avitia told the local CBS television affiliate he was with his wife waiting for test results when he saw a gunman dressed in black fire on someone on the ground several times in the parking lot. "Then almost immediately, an officer was already coming in an SUV, and (the assailant) exchanged fire at them and then reloaded and shot the person on the ground again," another witness said. "And then he made his way into the hospital and more shots were fired." The shooting followed a series of recent high-profile gun rampages that have fueled calls for reform of firearms regulations in a country plagued by gun violence. Less than two weeks earlier, a gunman killed 12 people in a California music bar packed with college students. That came after the worst anti-Semitic attack in modern US history, when a gunman opened fire on congregants at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh on 27 October. Bypassers alerted to the latest incident spoke of hearing between six and nine gunshots that initially sounded like construction noise. "I am scared as hell. I have never been so scared, I hear of shootings going on every day at people's workplaces, but not where I work," an employee of the hospital's family clinic said. Mercy, founded in 1852, has locations throughout Chicago and provides outpatient treatment and acute inpatient care, boasting of doctors who are leaders in their field. Another hospital employee quoted by the Chicago Tribune said she was in her office when a notice came over a public address system telling those in the hospital to lock their doors. "I don't know what happened," the unnamed employee said. "They told us to run, so we did." Shahidul was picked up by the police on 5 August, hours after his scathing interview with Al Jazeera, in which he harshly criticised the governments dealing of student protests for safer roads in Dhaka. Shahidul Alam, the imprisoned Bangladeshi photojournalist and activist, has finally been released from jail over a hundred days since his arrest over a media interview. Dozens of his friends, relatives and disciples greeted him at Dhaka Central Jail. In a quick reaction to the media after his release, a jubilant Shahidul said, Freedom is what everyone wants. Its only normal that the free people of free Bangladesh remain free. However, if free citizens cannot express their thoughts or speak freely, they are not free. His lawyer Sara Hossain added, I think his release means the judicial system hasnt collapsed yet. Shahiduls freedom, however, was delayed for hours due to 'discrepancies' between the addresses mentioned in the release order and the jail document, according to Iqbal Kabir Chowdhury, a senior jail superintendent at Dhaka Central Jail. However, Jyotirmoy Barua, a member of Shahidul's legal team, said, Prolonging ones release over such trivial issues is harassment. On Monday, despite Shahidul Alams lawyers having presented the high courts order granting him bail, a Dhaka magistrate had refused to issue the release order, citing the governments appeal petition against the high court verdict. However, the petition was not moved further by the attorney-generals office on Tuesday, paving the way for his release. Hossain, his lawyer, had expected him to be released by Sunday. The high court granted him bail last Thursday after several benches of the court declined to decide whether to grant him bail. Shahidul was picked up by the police on 5 August, hours after his scathing interview with Al Jazeera, in which he harshly criticised the governments dealing of student protests for safer roads in Dhaka. He was later charged under the Information and Technology Act, a much-criticised internet law. He was accused of "provoking people and spreading false information and propaganda against the government". His arrest triggered worldwide outrage, with rights groups and prominent personalities including Nobel laureates urging the government to drop the charges against him. The author is a Dhaka-based journalist The IMF delegation is set to conclude talks with senior officials on Tuesday over arranging an unspecified amount to help Pakistan in addressing the balance of payment crisis. Islamabad: Cash-strapped Pakistan's negotiations with the IMF for a bailout package faced difficulties as the international lender sought complete disclosure of Chinese financial support and hiking of energy prices and levying more taxes, media reports said Tuesday. The International Monetary Fund delegation, which was in Pakistan for nearly two weeks, is set to conclude talks with senior officials on Tuesday over arranging an unspecified amount to help the country in addressing the balance of payment crisis. As talks enter the final phase, the IMF set stricter conditions for Pakistan to implement in exchange for a bailout package much needed for economic revival. Some of the major conditions include imposition of more taxes worth Rs 150 billion, further reduction in the rupee value as well as a tighter monetary policy. It also sought from Pakistan all details of financial support from China for any bailout package to Pakistan. Led by its mission chief Harald Finger, the IMF delegation is holding meetings with government officials to know their viewpoint on the reforms. There were no indication that the two sides are close to any agreement, Dawn newspaper reported. Finance Minister Asad Umar said on Monday that the talks were moving ahead positively but there were still differences, the report said. "There are still gaps in the position of the IMF and the position that we have," Umar said after a series of meetings with the IMF team. Umar said the IMF visit would conclude on Tuesday and he had no funding emergency to worry about day after tomorrow. He said that $1 billion of the $3 billion committed by Saudi Arabia had been remitted to the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday and the remaining $2 billion would follow over the next few days. Pakistan looks forward to about $ billion financial bailout for averting its balance of payments crisis. Informed sources said the two sides had a wide gap in their positions on the need for increase in electricity tariff, upward revision in the revenue target and additional tax measures on matters relating to Chinese assistance and its impact both inflow and outflow. The sources said the IMF also demanded that the provincial governments finance the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), instead of the federal government, and wanted committed cash surpluses to minimise the consolidated fiscal deficit. Regarding China's financial help, the minister said there was complete transparency. The sources told the paper that the IMF mission wanted a clear roadmap for elimination of power sector circular debt that currently stood at Rs 1.2 trillion and welcomed administrative measures to recover some arrears, but insisted on further increasing electricity rates for full cost recovery of power supply, it said. The sources said the IMF team was not satisfied with the power sector reforms plan and wanted the government to surrender its powers to set electricity tariff and let these be independently dealt with by the power regulator. Pakistan's current account deficit widened 43 percent to $18 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June, while the fiscal deficit has ballooned to 6.6 percent of gross domestic product. The sources told the paper that the IMF was very critical of the fiscal federalism arrangements at present and noted with concern that the Centre had transferred all profitable taxes to the provinces while keeping all necessary expenditures of provincial nature as federal responsibility. The IMF mission also sought a complete market-based free float of the exchange rate and complete independence to the State Bank of Pakistan, the apex bank of the country. It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! is how US president Donald Trump mounted a spirited defence of Saudi Arabia and its crown prince despite all the evidence that is piling up against the kingdoms de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salmans role in the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. New York: It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! is how US president Donald Trump mounted a spirited defence of Saudi Arabia and its crown prince despite all the evidence that is piling up against the kingdoms de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salmans role in the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. "The world is a very dangerous place! declares the first line of a strangely worded White House statement in seven thick paragraphs on the Trump administration response to the Khashoggi murder and whatever the CIA or anybody else may come up with. Soon after Trump's remarks, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo too fell in line with the Trump view saying "it's a mean, nasty world out there the Middle East in particular. There are important American interests. To keep the American people safe. To protect Americans ... It is the president's obligation ... to ensure we adopt policies that further America's national security." Trump says the CIA never made a determination about who killed Saudi writer and critic Jamal Khashoggi, he says intelligence officials never had anything "definitive." This is in stark contrast to the story Washington Post broke last week headlined 'CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggis assassination'. The divergence of the CIA and State Department on Khashoggi is not atypical. These two agencies have long had a complicated relationship. Diplomats and spies work together but are often chasing different ends; diplomats cultivate relationships and spies extract information. In the Trump-Mohammad bin Salman-Jared Kushner triage, extracting information is the last thing this White House wants. Both in the written statement and while speaking to reporters later in the day, Trump portrayed the gory Khashoggi story as one which should not defile the halo around his America First war cry. The letter begins with Iran - yes Iran - which Trump berates at length before he goes to to heap praise on the Saudis for agreeing to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism: The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraqs fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, Death to America! and Death to Israel! Iran is considered the worlds leading sponsor of terror. Trumps communications team has done everything it can to distinguish between Khashoggi the individual and relations between heads of state, saying we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite losing the House majority in the midterms, Trump is back at his old game of spinning even the gory Khashoggi killing with an eye on his political base, claiming that business from the Saudis adds hundreds of thousands of jobs and portratying himself as a protector of jobs and American prosperty in a dangerous world. After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!, Trump said. All this comes on a day when more chilling tapes emerged of Khashoggi's final moments inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. Khashoggi is heard yelling at his attackers and is called a traitor in recordings from final hours, a Turkish newspaper reported Tuesday. Citing Turkish security sources, Haberturk newspaper reports that Khashoggi was seized moments after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and he is heard yelling Release my arm! What do you think you are doing?. The report says Khashoggi and his captors "argued" for seven minutes before he was taken away to another section of the consulate. Recording from the second location indicate arguments, a physical fight, beating and torture, the newspaper reports. Trump says he has not heard the tapes and does not plan to. "I feel more afraid today to live in America than I did even a few hours ago", Jason Rezaian, also a Washington Post columnist and who was imprisoned for 544 days in Iran, said in reaction to Trump's stunning defence of the Saudis. News outlets, including Reuters, reported the CIAs finding over the weekend in a case that has sparked an international outcry against the worlds top oil exporter. This was the most definitive US assessment to date tying Saudi Arabias de facto ruler directly to the Khashoggi's killing and contradicted Saudi government assertions that he was not involved. Cairo: Saudi Arabias foreign minister said on Tuesday that claims, including by the CIA, that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave the order to kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi were false, according to an Arabic-language newspaper interview. News outlets, including Reuters, reported the CIAs finding over the weekend in a case that has sparked an international outcry against the worlds top oil exporter. This was the most definitive US assessment to date tying Saudi Arabias de facto ruler directly to the killing and contradicted Saudi government assertions that he was not involved. We in the kingdom know that such allegations about the crown prince have no basis in truth and we categorically reject them, whether through leaks or not, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was quoted as saying in Saudi-owned Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper in the first Saudi official comment on the CIA report. They are leaks that have not been officially announced, and I have noticed that they are based on an assessment, not conclusive evidence, he added. A source familiar with the CIAs assessment said it was based largely on circumstantial evidence relating to the princes central role in running the Saudi government. Jubeir was also asked about comments by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that the kill order came from the highest level of the Saudi leadership but probably not King Salman, which has put the spotlight instead on the 33-year-old crown prince. We have already asked the Turkish authorities at the highest level about the meaning of these comments, and they confirmed to us categorically that the crown prince is not meant by these comments, he said. The leadership of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (the king) and the crown prince, is a red line, and we will not permit attempts to harm or undermine them, he added. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and one-time royal insider who had been critical of the crown prince recently, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. Last week, after offering numerous contradictory explanations for Khashoggis disappearance, Riyadh said he had been killed and his body dismembered when negotiations to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia failed. Two things that Donald Trump did this week attracted huge attention from the world media he tried to ban CNN reporter Jim Acosta from the White House and avoided the APEC Summit Editor's note: Men like Trump is a series of dispatches that tell of how a reckless president is steering the White House, and the manner in which his actions are fundamentally altering the office he holds. The writer, being a woman political journalist from India, now transplanted to the US, is in a unique position to observe the three aspects that are critical to defining this presidency: chauvinism, gunslinger politics, and immigration. Two things that President Donald Trump did attracted huge attention from the world media he tried to ensure that CNN reporter Jim Acosta did not enter White House again (at the time of writing, the White House has rolled back the ban on Acosta) and he avoided attending an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, where Vice-President Mike Pence and Chinese president Xi Jinping traded barbs, leaving the rest of the world dismayed. Both acts of commission and omission are likely to have long-term repercussions. Besides this, there were also several colourful, but by-now-routine interventions by Trump, like an implicit joke on the sex life of a dead former justice at a ceremony to honour him, a vicious jab at US ally Pakistan calling the nation "fools" that was met with indignant discomfiture, yet-another-shotgun dismissal of a close aide, former attorney-general Jeff Sessions and a paraphrase of Democrat senator Adam Schiffs name to Schitt (to rhyme with the common term for excreta) for being bull-headed about investigation into the president's alleged Russia links. He celebrated Diwali in the White House on 14 November and called it: "...a holiday observed by Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains throughout the United States & around the world to mark the beginning of the New Year". He added in the next tweet, the Hindu festival of lights very, very special people.. Two elements over the past two weeks in the public life of the tempestuous US president have been extremely intriguing. Trump is himself aware of the fallout of his missing out on a traditional expression of gratitude to army personnel on Veterans' Day (11 November) when he was expected to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac river from Washington, DC. Trump, who attended an event to honour veterans at Paris but missed another one in the same city to much criticism, faced a re-run on Veterans' Day as he stayed in the White House, but did not go to Arlington rousing anger among the American public, including a huge section of his own supporters, for not honouring the army as expected. A social media post claiming that Trump was the first president in 56 years to not go to Arlington went viral. Fact-checker websites called this out and said besides Trump, former presidents Barack Obama and both George Bushes had missed out on the visit to Arlington, although mostly they did spend the Veterans' Day with army personnel at various bases. Trump, though, was attacked rather harshly on Twitter for not visiting the cemetery, leading to him telling Fox News' Chris Wallace, who questioned him persistently in an interview, "I probably, you know, in retrospect, I should have. And I did last year, and I will virtually every year. But we had come in very late at night and I had just left, literally, the American Cemetery in Paris. And I really probably assumed that was fine and I was extremely busy because of affairs of state doing other things." Trump's near-apology indicates the seriousness with which the average American regards the military and the day to honour them. It is an extremely strong sentiment among both Republicans and Democrats, and they consider any criticism or belittling of their army as a slur on their nationalism, because, they affirm that their nation came into being due to the American War of Independence. He tweeted, later, on 16 November: "To everyone here today who has served our Country in uniform, & to every Veteran & Military family across our land, I want to express the eternal gratitude of our entire Nation!" And in another tweet: "Last year, I signed the landmark VA Accountability Act to ensure those who mistreat our Veterans can be held fully accountable. Since my inauguration, we have removed more than 3,600 government employees who were not giving our Vets the care they deserve..." The other intriguing incident over the past two weeks was the shunting out of now-former deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel because First Lady Melania Trump was unhappy with her. Trump and Melania's marriage and the First Lady's rather unconventional ways have kept the American public and media interest constantly engaged. Melania has struck out on her own path and appears to be pushing the edges of what her role should be. She stayed with her son in New York till he completed his school year in the first months of the Trump presidency, unlike other First Ladies who tended to put their husbands first. And she has often taken a line contrary to Trump's, the most memorable being her visit to migrant children, who were separated from their parents at the American border due to her husband's hard line on immigration. The recent incident over Ricardel, however, has confounded the American imagination, with everyone calling it unprecedented. Unconfirmed reports state that Melania was unhappy with Mira over demands for seats on the First Ladys plane during her visit last month to African countries. Melania undertook the tour following an unguarded expletive-ridden comment by Trump about African nations which created an international furore. Several negative reports came in the American media including some rather unfair comparisons with the reception got by Melanias predecessor Michelle Obama, the first American First Lady of African descent. It is said that Melania felt that many of the negative reports, particularly those about her exorbitant hotel bills, were leaked by or sourced from Ricardel, who had a confrontation with the First Ladys staff about the seating arrangements. The result was, weeks after the visit, the First Ladys office issued a statement via spokesperson Stephanie Grisham: It is the position of the office of the first lady that she [Ricardel] no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House. Within 24 hours, Ricardel was moved out of her post and has still not got an alternate posting, although Trump spoke words of praise about her. The incident has altered the perception of Melania as a reluctant First Lady and it is now being said that she has begun to wield the power that the post normally carries. Till now, Melanias actions were overshadowed by those of Trumps daughter Ivanka, whom the American media initially dubbed the real First Lady. Still, there is a section of the public that feels that this might be an act of pique from Melania and not a real assertion of power. It has, however, opened up an interesting view into the power equations in Trumps life. The issues of the killing of Washington Post columnist and Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the approaching migrant caravan continued to generate interest, though not to the frenzy pitch that it had reached before the midterm elections on November 6th that threw up a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives and a Republican-controlled Senate. The mixed bag of results had Trump claiming victory and abusing his Democrat opponents and the media, whom he persists in calling Fake News Media. There are reports that the CIA has said that Khashoggi was killed at the instance of Saudi crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS to the American media) but Trump, whose son-in-law Jared Kushner is said to be close to the Saudi royalty, has said this has not been confirmed. The caravan of around 4,000 migrants seeking refuge in the US has been halted at the Mexican town of Tijuana. And Trump triumphantly tweeted: "The Mayor of Tijuana, Mexico, just stated that 'the City is ill-prepared to handle this many migrants, the backlog could last 6 months'. Likewise, the US is ill-prepared for this invasion, and will not stand for it. They are causing crime and big problems in Mexico. Go home!" He followed this one up with: "Catch and Release is an obsolete term. It is now Catch and Detain. Illegal Immigrants trying to come into the USA, often proudly flying the flag of their nation as they ask for US Asylum, will be detained or turned away. Dems must approve Border Security & Wall NOW!" WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's Catholic Church on Monday asked victims of sexual abuse by the clergy for forgiveness, a month after an appeal court upheld a ruling stating the Church was responsible for the crimes of one if its priests. The Catholic Church worldwide is reeling from crises involving sexual abuse of minors, damaging confidence in the Church in Chile, the United States, Australia and Ireland and other countries. WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's Catholic Church on Monday asked victims of sexual abuse by the clergy for forgiveness, a month after an appeal court upheld a ruling stating the Church was responsible for the crimes of one if its priests. The Catholic Church worldwide is reeling from crises involving sexual abuse of minors, damaging confidence in the Church in Chile, the United States, Australia and Ireland and other countries. The Polish court of appeal upheld last month a landmark ruling granting a million zloty ($260,000) in compensation to a victim of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest, accepting that the Church was responsible. "We ask God, the victims of abuse, their families and the Church community for forgiveness for all the harm done to children and young people and their relatives," the Polish Bishops wrote in a statement after a conference dedicated to the issue. They called on victims to report the crimes to Church and state authorities. "We note with sadness that in Poland too there are cases of sexual abuse of children and young people by some members of the clergy and those working in the Church. We repeat after Pope Francis: 'The pain of the victims and of their families is also our pain,'" the bishops said. Pope Francis will meet bishops from around the world at the Vatican in February to discuss the protection of minors. More than 5 million people flocked to cinemas across Poland in recent weeks to watch a movie called "Clergy" that depicts Catholic priests in a highly unflattering light, breaking box-office records. ($1 = 3.7833 zlotys) (Reporting by Marcin Goclowski; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. CAIRO (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Tuesday that claims, including by the CIA, that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave the order to kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi were false, according to an Arabic-language newspaper interview. News outlets, including Reuters, reported the CIA's finding over the weekend in a case that has sparked an international outcry against the world's top oil exporter. CAIRO (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Tuesday that claims, including by the CIA, that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave the order to kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi were false, according to an Arabic-language newspaper interview. News outlets, including Reuters, reported the CIA's finding over the weekend in a case that has sparked an international outcry against the world's top oil exporter. This was the most definitive U.S. assessment to date tying Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler directly to the killing and contradicted Saudi government assertions that he was not involved. "We in the kingdom know that such allegations about the crown prince have no basis in truth and we categorically reject them, whether through leaks or not," Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was quoted as saying in Saudi-owned Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper in the first Saudi official comment on the CIA report. "They are leaks that have not been officially announced, and I have noticed that they are based on an assessment, not conclusive evidence," he added. 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. Jubeir was also asked about comments by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that the kill order came from the highest level of the Saudi leadership but probably not King Salman, which has put the spotlight instead on the 33-year-old crown prince. "We have already asked the Turkish authorities at the highest level about the meaning of these comments, and they confirmed to us categorically that the crown prince is not meant by these comments," he said. "The leadership of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (the king) and the crown prince, is a red line, and we will not permit attempts to harm or undermine them," he added. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and one-time royal insider who had been critical of the crown prince recently, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Last week, after offering numerous contradictory explanations for Khashoggis disappearance, Riyadh said he had been killed and his body dismembered when negotiations to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia failed. (Reporting by Mohammed El Sherif; Writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Sandra Maler and Cynthia Osterman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A magistrate court in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, refused to issue the order of release for photographer Shahidul Alam, who has been in jail for at least 100 days. Bangladeshi lensman Shahidul Alam was freed on Tuesday after his advocate produced a certified copy of the bail order granted by the high court. Earlier Monday, a magistrate court in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka refused to issue Alam's release order. The photographer was in jail for over 100 days. Alam was released after the high court's 15 November verdict which granted him bail in the case against him. Alam's lawyers approached a magistrate on Monday, the magistrate refused to issue a release order citing the stay petition filed by the government. But it is not in the mandate of the magistrate to do so as the high court stay petition hasn't been decided upon. Nevertheless, Alam's lawyers were able to secure a release order on Tuesday from another magistrate. When they approached jail authorities with this order, the jailer refused to release Alam citing errors in the order. Alam's lawyers have gone back to the same magistrate to correct the errors. Alam was arrested on 5 August under the controversial Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, and was accused of making "false" and "provocative" statements on Al Jazeera and on Facebook Live during massive student protests in the capital Dhaka. According to a report by New Age Bangladesh, the magistrate declined to issue the release order because of the government's appeal against the verdict passed by the High Court Division. The report says, "In the appeal, the government stated that the High Court Division had granted bail to Shahidul Alam without applying its judicial mind." The court granted permanent bail to Alam considering his age and the time he spent behind bars. The photojournalist had unsuccessfully applied for bail four times since being arrested in August. Alam, whose work has appeared widely in global media and who founded the renowned Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, faced a maximum 14 years in jail if he had been convicted. Earlier, rights groups, UN rights experts, Nobel laureates and hundreds of academics had called for the immediate release of the 63-year-old, who said that he had been beaten in custody. Alam was picked within hours of Al Jazeera broadcasting his interview in which he spoke about schoolchildrens road safety movement. Lawyers have argued Alam's continued detention was "a clear violation" of his fundamental rights under Bangladesh's constitution. Alam had told Al Jazeera at the time that the protests were the result of pent-up anger at corruption and an "unelected government... clinging on by brute force". He was arrested the same day, the most high-profile of many protesters held on similar charges as authorities cracked down on demonstrators. Alam was held under the ICT Act which critics say has been wielded by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stifle dissent and harass journalists. With inputs from agencies By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Jibran Ahmed KABUL (Reuters) - A three-day meeting between the Taliban and the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan to pave the way for peace talks ended with no agreement, the militant group said a day after the diplomat declared a deadline of April 2019 to end a 17-year-long war. Afghanistan's security situation has worsened since NATO formally ended combat operations in 2014, as Taliban insurgents battle to reimpose strict Islamic law following their overthrow in 2001 by U.S.-led troops. By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Jibran Ahmed KABUL (Reuters) - A three-day meeting between the Taliban and the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan to pave the way for peace talks ended with no agreement, the militant group said a day after the diplomat declared a deadline of April 2019 to end a 17-year-long war. Afghanistan's security situation has worsened since NATO formally ended combat operations in 2014, as Taliban insurgents battle to reimpose strict Islamic law following their overthrow in 2001 by U.S.-led troops. Taliban leaders met U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad at their political headquarters in Qatar last week for the second time in the past month, spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said. "These were preliminary talks and no agreement was reached on any issue," he said in a statement on Monday. Taliban leaders had not accepted any deadline set by the United States to wrap up talks, according to three Taliban officials. The U.S embassy in Kabul declined to comment. Khalilzad, an Afghan-born diplomat authorised by U.S. President Donald Trump's government to lead negotiations with the Taliban, on Sunday said he hoped to cut a peace deal by April 20, a deadline that coincides with the date set for presidential elections in Afghanistan. Two senior U.S. officials confirmed that the second round of peace talks ended last week and the Taliban expected Khalilzad to visit Qatar for a meeting before the end of 2018. "The second round of talks went on for three days. This clearly proves that both sides are exercising patience and caution during their diplomatic engagement," a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. But Khalilzad's public statement that the Taliban believe they will "not win militarily" angered senior members of the group, who warned U.S. officials against mixed messages that could muddle the peace process. "We were astonished to see Khalilzad's statement in Kabul on Sunday. He wrongly quoted us, saying that the Taliban admitted that militarily we would not succeed," said a senior Taliban member in Afghanistan. Another senior member said Khalilzad's strategy to declare a deadline showed how desperate the United States was to withdraw foreign forces. The Taliban "are not losing" in Afghanistan, Gen. Joseph Dunford, the top U.S. military officer, said last week. "We used the term stalemate a year ago and, relatively speaking, it has not changed much," he told a security forum. The NATO-led Resolute Support mission involves 41 nations contributing more than 12,000 soldiers, equipment and training for Afghan forces. The Taliban have strengthened their grip over the past three years, with the government in Kabul controlling just 56 percent of Afghanistan, down from 72 percent in 2015, a U.S. government report showed this month. A separate report released by a U.S. government watchdog on Monday said there had been little progress towards reconciliation between July and September. "In public statements, diplomatic and military leaders emphasized that progress towards the goals of the South Asia strategy is being made," the Department of Defense inspector general report said. "Available measures of security in Afghanistan, including total security incidents, population control, and civilian casualties, showed little change," it said. Diplomats and political analysts in Kabul have labelled Khalilzad a man "in hurry" who must include Afghan politicians and officials from neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Iran before the third round of talks. "Khalilzad's hasty approach could lead to an epic disaster," said a senior Western diplomat in Kabul. "The Taliban would trust him only if he did not speak on their behalf." (Additional reporting by Rupam Jain and Idrees Ali in Washington. Writing by Rupam Jain ; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Grant McCool) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to remain a 'steadfast partner' of Saudi Arabia despite saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month. Defying pressure from U.S WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia despite saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month. Defying pressure from U.S. lawmakers to impose tougher sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Trump also said he would not cancel military contracts with the kingdom, saying such a "foolish" move would only benefit Russia and China. Trump said U.S. intelligence agencies were still studying the evidence around Khashoggi's murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and who planned it. "Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt!" Trump said in a statement issued by the White House, U.S. intelligence sources say the CIA's assessment is that Khashoggi's death was ordered by the crown prince, who is Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler and is widely known by his initials MbS. Democratic and Republican lawmakers have urged Trump to drop his support for MbS, but the president has been reluctant. He said on Tuesday that both Saudi Arabia's King Salman and MbS "vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder," and that the truth may never be known. He also stressed that Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, is an important business partner and a "great ally" in the fight against Iranian power in the Middle East. "The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region," Trump said. (Reporting by David Alexander; editing by Mohammad Zargham and Jonathan Oatis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States intends to remain a 'steadfast partner' of Saudi Arabia even though 'it could very well be' that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had knowledge of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump, in a statement issued by the White House, indicated he had no intention of canceling military contracts with Riyadh, saying, 'if we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries.' (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States intends to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia even though "it could very well be" that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had knowledge of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump, in a statement issued by the White House, indicated he had no intention of canceling military contracts with Riyadh, saying, "if we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries." (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. FP Staff Criticisms poured on Twitter against its CEO Jack Dorsey after a photograph of him holding a placard with the words 'Smash Brahminical Patriarchy' was posted online while he was visiting India. By holding that offensive poster #Twitter head @jack just proclaimed he is a Brahmin hating, racist, bigot, masquerading as a woke Feminist. And he came to India to play politics. At least the pretence is over. pic.twitter.com/5FlFHMsIxp Smita Barooah (@smitabarooah) November 19, 2018 On his maiden voyage to the country, the CEO of the micro-blogging site interacted with a group of women journalists, activists and writers to discuss the Twitter experience in India. But a picture from the gathering soon went viral leading to an outrage on the website that, according to an India Today report, accused Dorsey of attacking an "ethnic group." During Twitter CEO @jack's visit here, he & Twitter's Legal head @vijaya took part in a round table with some of us women journalists, activists, writers & @TwitterIndia's @amritat to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation pic.twitter.com/LqtJQEABgV Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) November 18, 2018 Meanwhile, the Twitter user who made the posters and gifted this particular placard to Dorsey tweeted her response saying that these reactions were a 'meltdown' over her artwork on ending caste apartheid. Following these comments, Twitter India issued an apology which stated: "Recently, we hosted a closed-door discussion with a group of women journalists and changemakers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack." The tweet also said that while the statement itself was not from the CEO or Twitter itself, it depicted the "company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world." Recently we hosted a closed door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack. https://t.co/96gd3XmFgK Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) November 19, 2018 It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world. Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) November 19, 2018 I'm very sorry for this. It's not relective of our views. We took a private photo with a gift just given to us - we should have been more thoughtful. Twitter strives to be an impartial platform for all. We failed to do that here & we must do better to serve our customers in India Vijaya Gadde (@vijaya) November 19, 2018 While in India, Dorsey also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and delivered a talk at an event in IIT Delhi where he discussed Twitter's new youth initiative #Powerof18 and the platform's strategies to tackle fake news ahead of the 2019 elections. By Dan Levine SAN FRANCISCO - A U.S. judge closely questioned the government on Monday as he weighed whether to temporarily halt an order from President Donald Trump that bars asylum for migrants who illegally cross the border with Mexico By Dan Levine SAN FRANCISCO - A U.S. judge closely questioned the government on Monday as he weighed whether to temporarily halt an order from President Donald Trump that bars asylum for migrants who illegally cross the border with Mexico. Trump cited an overwhelmed immigration system for his recent proclamation that officials will only process asylum claims for migrants who present themselves at an official entry point. Civil rights groups argue that Trump's Nov. 9 order violated administrative and immigration law. At hearing in San Francisco federal court, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar repeatedly asked a Justice Department attorney whether Trump's order was justified and supported by actual evidence. "To say something is true does not make it true," Tigar said. The judge did not issue a ruling during the hearing. Any decision would likely be procedural and would restore prior asylum rules while the rights groups made their case for a preliminary injunction at a future hearing. Tigar was nominated to the court by President Barack Obama. The hearing came as thousands of Central Americans, including a large number of children, are travelling in caravans towards the U.S. border to escape violence and poverty at home. Some have already arrived at Tijuana, a Mexican city on the border with California. Rights groups have said immigrants are being forced to wait days or weeks at the border before they can present themselves for asylum, and the administration has been sued for deliberately slowing processing times at official ports. At the hearing, American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt said the order clearly conflicted with the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows any person present in the United States to seek asylum, regardless of how they entered the country. Gelernt said the ACLU has recently learned Mexican authorities have begun barring unaccompanied minors from applying at U.S. ports of entry. "These kids are in desperate danger," he said. Caravan participants began to arrive last week in Tijuana on the Mexican side of the U.S. border, which has put a strain on humanitarian shelters where many will wait to seek asylum. Their presence has also strained Tijuana's reputation as a welcoming city, with some residents screaming at the migrants, "Get out!" Trump sent more than 5,000 soldiers to the 2,000-mile (3,100 km) frontier with Mexico to harden the border, although critics dismissed the move as a political stunt ahead of congressional elections on Nov. 6. (Reporting by Dan Levine in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Leslie Adler and Tom Brown) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. US District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order against the asylum rules. Tigars order takes effect immediately, applies nationwide, and lasts until at least 19 December when the judge scheduled a hearing to consider a more long-lasting injunction. Representatives for the US Department of Justice could not immediately be reached for comment. San Francisco: A US judge on Monday temporarily blocked an order by President Donald Trump that barred asylum for immigrants who enter the country illegally from Mexico, the latest courtroom defeat for Trump on immigration policy. US District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order against the asylum rules. Tigars order takes effect immediately, applies nationwide, and lasts until at least 19 December when the judge scheduled a hearing to consider a more long-lasting injunction. Representatives for the US Department of Justice could not immediately be reached for comment. Trump cited an overwhelmed immigration system for his recent proclamation that officials will only process asylum claims for migrants who present themselves at an official entry point. Civil rights groups sued, arguing that Trumps 9 November order violated administrative and immigration law. In his ruling, Tigar said Congress clearly mandated that immigrants can apply for asylum regardless of how they entered the country. The judge called the latest rules an extreme departure from prior practice. Whatever the scope of the Presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden, Tigar wrote. Tigar was nominated to the court by President Barack Obama. Previous Trump immigration policies, including measures targeting sanctuary cities, have also been blocked by the courts. The asylum ruling came as thousands of Central Americans, including a large number of children, are traveling in caravans toward the US border to escape violence and poverty at home. Some have already arrived at Tijuana, a Mexican city on the border with California. "It is too much" Rights groups have said immigrants are being forced to wait days or weeks at the border before they can present themselves for asylum, and the administration has been sued for deliberately slowing processing times at official ports. At a hearing earlier on Monday, American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt said the order clearly conflicted with the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows any person present in the United States to seek asylum, regardless of how they entered the country. Gelernt said the ACLU had recently learned Mexican authorities have begun barring unaccompanied minors from applying at US ports of entry. Mexicos migration institute said in a statement to Reuters that there was no basis for the ACLUs claims, noting that there had been no such reports from the United Nations or human rights groups that are monitoring the situation at the border. Uriel Gonzalez, the head of a YMCA shelter for young migrants in Tijuana, said he had not heard of any new measures directed at unaccompanied minors. He noted there were already long lines to get a turn with US authorities. This can take a while because the number of migrants has overwhelmed capacity. It is too much, he said. The judge on Monday wrote that Trumps refugee rule would force people with legitimate asylum claims to choose between violence at the border, violence at home, or giving up a pathway to refugee status. Caravan participants began to arrive last week in Tijuana on the Mexican side of the US border, which has put a strain on shelters where many will wait to seek asylum. Their presence has also strained Tijuanas reputation as a welcoming city, with some residents screaming at the migrants, Get out! Trump sent more than 5,000 soldiers to the 2,000-mile (3,100 km) frontier with Mexico to harden the border, although critics dismissed the move as a political stunt ahead of congressional elections on 6 November. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Months after comic Michelle Wolf angered Trump administration officials with her blistering routine at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the group said on Monday it would feature a historian, not a comedian, at next year's event. The WHCA said Ron Chernow, who has written biographies of presidents George Washington and Ulysses Grant and founding father Alexander Hamilton, has been asked to speak on freedom of the press at next year's black-tie affair in April. 'Freedom of the press is always a timely subject and this seems like the perfect moment to go back to the basics,' Chernow said in a statement released by the WHCA. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Months after comic Michelle Wolf angered Trump administration officials with her blistering routine at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the group said on Monday it would feature a historian, not a comedian, at next year's event. The WHCA said Ron Chernow, who has written biographies of presidents George Washington and Ulysses Grant and founding father Alexander Hamilton, has been asked to speak on freedom of the press at next year's black-tie affair in April. "Freedom of the press is always a timely subject and this seems like the perfect moment to go back to the basics," Chernow said in a statement released by the WHCA. President Donald Trump has repeatedly derided some media organizations as "fake news" and the "enemy of the people." The decision breaks with the association's long-standing tradition of having a comic roast the president and the press at the dinner, and it drew a sharp response from Wolf. "The @whca are cowards. The media is complicit. And I couldn't be prouder," she said on Twitter. Presidents traditionally have been given the floor to make their own humorous remarks before the comic speaks. But President Donald Trump, who frequently found himself the target of jokes when he attended before he ran for office, including by then-President Obama, has refused to attend the dinner his first two years in office. Wolf angered Trump administration officials last April with jokes that many felt were caustic and overly personal, saying of presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway "all she does is lie" and ridiculing press secretary Sarah Sanders' eye makeup. It was not the first time comics at the dinner have riled their targets. Stephen Colbert, Wanda Sykes and Seth Meyers have spoken at the dinner and also had their detractors. But Wolf's jabs at Trump administration officials prompted the New York Times to question in a headline last April: "Did Michelle Wolf kill the White House Correspondents' Dinner?" Although the dinner has become a high-profile event on Washington's social calendar, it is primarily a fund-raiser to earn money for college journalism scholarships, journalism awards and to pay for other programs sponsored by the WHCA, which represents journalists covering the White House. "While I have never been mistaken for a stand-up comedian," Chernow said, "I promise that my history lesson won't be dry." (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Bill Berkrot) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. After creating Guinness World Record by building the largest light mosaic (logo) in the world, back in September Xiaomi today announced that it has created a new Guinness World Record by inaugurating over 500 Mi Stores simultaneously at the exact same time. Located across 14 states, all new Mi Stores were collectively inaugurated at sharp 12 pm on 29 October, 2018, marking a first of its kind, unique achievement for the brand. Spanning across an average size of 300 sq ft., Mi Stores reflect the signature design of Xiaomis Mi Home stores. Mi Stores display futuristic interiors with minimalism concept, offering customers the valuable opportunity to experience and purchase all Xiaomi products of India under one roof. In line with its expansion plans, the company is planning to open over 5,000 Mi Stores all over India by the end of 2019. Were proud to share the 3rd #Super3 BIG NEWS today! #OfficiallyAmazing, yet again! We have opened 500+ new #MiStore across India simultaneously and have set a new Guinness World Record @GWR. pic.twitter.com/eG6vFUMvxN Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) November 20, 2018 The Mi Store project is being led by Sunil Baby nationally, who earlier led offline team efforts as Regional Sales Manager at Xiaomi India. The new Mi Store outlets serve as Xiaomis prime retail stores situated in several towns ranging from tier 3, 4, 5 and below. With these initiatives, the brand has rapidly expanded its offline presence in rural India. These stores can also be found in some of the most remote corners of the nation, showcasing the brands vast outreach. Xiaomi is inviting all interested entrepreneurs to apply for a Mi Store via a simple online form on mi.com. The Mi Store project is expected to generate massive employment opportunities with over 15,000 jobs in these regions, thereby boosting immense economic output. #MiStore is the New Retail model for rural India that gives flagship store experience to our rural customers. Our plan is to open 5000 Mi Stores by end of 2019 & generate 15,000+ jobs across India. Mi fans, apply here to join us and be an entrepreneur: https://t.co/mVGpPwwOer pic.twitter.com/2VK3TOTwfv Mi India (@XiaomiIndia) November 20, 2018 Marking this occasion, Manu Jain, Vice President, Xiaomi and Managing Director, Xiaomi India, shared: Its a truly special moment for Xiaomi India to be celebrating yet another Guinness world record after having achieved one merely two months ago. We have been the No. 1 smartphone brand in India for 5 consecutive quarters. Over last few quarters, offline segment has been a great success story for us, with our offline market share growing about 40 times in one year. While our Mi Home & Mi Preferred Partner stores have performed exceptionally well in metro and large cities, our presence in smaller towns and villages was still negligible till now. Offline retail is still a huge segment in our country with nearly 40% of the offline market focused in rural regions. As a brand, we are dedicated to ensure that all our Mi Fans can easily access and make the most of our amazing products of the highest quality at incredibly honest prices. With these new retail measures, we are taking it a step further, and serving as a gateway to building a smarter India wherein all Mi Fans and consumers across rural India are also equally empowered to enjoy the best of smart technology. We are positive that this move will transform many lives for the better, and we promise to continue bringing them the best of innovative products as well as innovative brand experience. Update: Xiaomi has confirmed that it has stopped development of global MIUI ROM for Mi 5 and Redmi Note 3 Pro (Redmi Note 3 in India) Earlier: Xiaomi has a good reputation when it comes to providing the software update to devices, the company usually provides MIUI updates to devices for 4 to 5 years. Even at the MIUI 9 Global launch, Xiaomi highlighted the fact that 5-year-old phones including Mi 2/2S will be supported for MIUI 9 Global Stable update. Last year, it dropped software support for some devices that were launched in 2015 or before, now as per a post on MIUI China Forum Xiaomi has decided to suspend MIUI China ROM updates for some of its smartphones including 2016 flagship Mi 5, and these devices will not receive MIUI 11 update. Devices affected by the decision are: Redmi Note 3 Pro (called Redmi Note 3 in India) Mi 5 Mi 4 Mi 4C Mi 4S Post from MIUI China Forum admin says (translated with Google Translate), MIUI has been updated to 395 weeks so far. At the same time as the weekly update, MIUI is also continuously optimizing the experience of each model, hoping to bring a better system experience to rice noodles. At the same time, due to the consideration of the model release date, model activity, stability, software experience and other comprehensive factors, MIUI released the last one of Xiaomi mobile phone 5and red rice Note 3 full Netcom on November 22, 2018. MIUI 10 experience version / development version 8.11.22, the two models will no longer support subsequent version upgrades. For this part of the model, we have also prepared a stable version of the upgrade program, rice noodles can choose to continue to stay in the development version or schedule an upgrade to the subsequent MIUI 10.2 stable version (expected to be released in January). MIUI 10.2 China Stable will be the last Stable ROM release for Mi 5 and Redmi Note 3 Pro, MIUI 10.1 China Stable will be the last Stable ROM release Mi 4, Mi 4S and Mi 4C which is expected to be released in January. Xiaomi has suspended MIUI China Beta ROM updates for these devices with immediate effect from 22nd November saying that MIUI China Beta 8.11.22 will be the update for Mi 5 and Redmi Note 3 Pro, while MIUI 8.9.14 was the last MIUI China Beta update for Mi 4, Mi 4S and Mi 4C. The company has not made any such announcement regarding MIUI Global ROM for the above-mentioned devices, we will keep the post updated as soon as any information regarding Global ROM is released. Source 1, 2 Consumers understand that fibers are good for them as they increasingly make better food choices. However, higher prices of fruits and vegetables and the convenience of... Read More The stock market fell sharply on Monday, with major benchmark indexes declining by between 2% and 3%. Investors reacted to a raft of concerns, including word of high-profile slowdowns in the technology industry, ongoing worries about global trade disputes, and President Trump's suggestion that there could be a partial shutdown of the federal government in December. Yet even amidst the big declines in the broader market, some stocks attracted positive interest and rose significantly. NIO (NYSE:NIO), Resolute Energy (NYSE: REN), and Zayo Group Holdings (NYSE:ZAYO) were among the best performers on the day. Below, we'll look more closely at these companies to tell you why their share prices did so well. NIO wins praise from an unusual source NIO climbed 7% as the Chinese electric car manufacturer benefited from some rare positive comments from an analyst known best for taking short positions on stocks. Andrew Left of Citron Research issued a favorable report about NIO, setting a price target of $12 per share and arguing that the automaker's management has done an exceptionally good job so far of building brand awareness and a reputation for high quality at an early stage in its lifespan. Some onlookers fear that China's recent economic hiccups could hurt demand for upscale consumer goods, but NIO's sales figures remain encouraging. In addition, the Chinese government's desire to reduce air pollution could lead it to institute more favorable policies toward electric vehicles. Resolute gets a bid Resolute Energy jumped 14% after the oil and gas exploration and production company got a buyout offer from peer Cimarex Energy (NYSE:XEC). The $1.6 billion bid would give Resolute investors the choice to receive either $35 in cash, 0.3943 shares of Cimarex stock, or a 60%/40% mix of 0.2366 shares of Cimarex plus $14 in cash for every share of Resolute stock they own. Activist shareholders have been pushing Resolute's management toward a strategic move along these lines; the benefits from Cimarex's perspective are that a deal would add to its position in the Delaware Basin area of West Texas, which has looked increasingly promising recently. In short, the proposed acquisition looks like a win-win. Is Zayo a target? Finally, Zayo Group Holdings rose 10%. A number of prominent private equity investors are looking at putting together a buyout offer for the communications infrastructure specialist, according to reports compiled by Bloomberg. The companies named as being involved -- among them, KKR, Blackstone Group, and several other institutional investors -- didn't explicitly comment on Bloomberg's article. However, challenging conditions recently led Zayo management to contemplate splitting the company into two pieces -- one to concentrate on enterprise solutions, and the other to own infrastructure assets. A private equity deal could provide an attractive alternative, so it'll be interesting to see if any firm offer results from the rumored discussions. (ANSA) - Rome, November 20 - Environment Minister Sergio Costa has joined his counterparts from Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden in writing a letter to the European Commission calling on the EU to commit itself to achieving zero net greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. The letter also calls for a revision of the short- and medium-term targets, with a cut in emissions of at least 40% by 2030. The aim is to push Brussels towards more ambitious targets in its long-term strategy. Several years of strong sectoral growth, combined with business opportunities that are often backed by an investor safety net, have made franchising the top choice for many who want to own their own business. This assessment is based on the strong foundations of my own experience of establishing Cash Converters nearly a quarter century ago and the recent results of the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) annual industry survey. These figures show that the South African franchise industry has grown its turnover by 55 percent from R465 billion (US$32.6 billion) in 2014 when FASA conducted its first survey, to R721 billion (US$50.5 billion) in 2017. Alongside this, the sectors contribution to South Africas GDP has expanded by 62 percent, from 9.7 percent in 2014 to 15.7 percent in 2017. The countrys recent Job Summit highlighted the critical need to reduce unemployment and boost the national economy by growing business and stimulating job creation. The franchise sector employs 369,573 people, 93 percent employed by individual franchisees (rather than franchisors). These factors make franchising a particularly attractive option for those wishing to start their own business. But with 865 different franchise systems active in the country last year, the huge range of choices can be confusing. To prevent analysis paralysis and ensure franchise seekers can make the most of their investment, I offer four top tips for selecting the best franchise opportunity for you: Choose a credible brand As you shortlist franchisors that appeal to you, go beyond what they tell you about themselves and find out about what people are saying about them. Do social media searches to find out how consumers are reacting to the product or service offered, pricing, and customer service. Your franchise fee should buy you a halo effect thanks to your franchisors good reputation. Too much negativity around the brand will affect the potential success of your franchise, affecting your ability to attract customers and the turnover and profit you can hope to generate. Look for a proven business model A worthwhile franchise shares with franchisees the intellectual property it has developed over the years. It has created and grown this business model over time, knocking off rough edges and fine-tuning systems for mistakes as they become apparent. Check the brands news history online as well as its own sales material. Be wary of any franchise that claims to be perfect or invincible. Nobody is so either it has something to hide or it is fooling itself. Either way, such a brand is not keeping its eyes open to navigate the brand and its franchisees through the changing fortunes of business. Check the support systems Getting relationships and systems right is vital in business success. They have become even more important since we founded Cash Converters nearly 25 years ago because the volume of legal compliance has mushroomed. Make sure that the franchises you shortlist offer you support in coping with this, and that those running the brand are in touch with what happens on the ground in the franchisees stores. At Cash Converters, for example, our front-end support staff are in stores every day and the directors devote three days each month to visiting stores. This ensures that our expertise is available to guide the franchisees through any business issues they face. Follow the recipe When you sign up with a franchisor, you receive access to its business model, including the recipe for running your franchise. This forms a kind of safety net so you do not need to reinvent a wheel when setting up your business. But you cannot complain that the business model does not work if you do not implement it. This is one of those times when you must follow the recipe to bake the cake successfully. If you are not the kind of person who wants to do that, then think again about whether franchising is for you. Richard Mukheibir is CEO of Cash Converters Southern Africa, which he co-founded in 1994 when he and CFO Peter Forshaw bought the license to establish a master franchise of the Australian brand, which purchases merchandise from customers, enabling them to have instant access to cash. Part of the nearly 750-unit Cash Converters International network, the master franchisees have about 85 stores generating R1.7 billion (US$119.1 million) across all products and services in 2018. When it comes to expanding overseas, Bolivia is not the first country that comes to mind... if it comes to mind at all. But several U.S. franchise brands are already operating there, including TGI Fridays, KFC, Burger King, Subway, Cinnabon, Papa John's, and Sbarro, according to Export.gov, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. The latest U.S. franchisor to join this group is Tony Roma's, whose parent company Romacorp announced the opening of a new restaurant in Bolivia, the first of 3 planned there in a deal announced in May 2017. According to Export.gov, "These franchises are popular with Bolivian consumers who enjoy an American experience. The concept of having a foreign experience through interaction with a franchise is a relatively new one in Bolivia, but one that the Bolivian elite continue to embrace." This is the 14th restaurant Tony Roma's has opened in South America, with others in Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The newest restaurant, in one of Bolivia's most populated cities, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, is located in Barrio Equipetrol, a center for nightlife known for its popular restaurants, cafes, and nightclubs. Santa Cruz itself, with a year-round sub-tropical climate, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The new restaurant will have 40 outdoor seats, 200 indoor seats, 17 TVs, and a full liquor and wine bar. The three-unit deal is with Grupo Restaurantes Internationales de Bolivia (Grupo RIB). "The Tony Roma's franchise is one of the most recognizable brands in the world," said Diego Alcazar, public relations manager for Grupo RIB, when the 3-unit deal was announced. Some facts about Bolivia from The World Factbook, a CIA-produced resource that provides country profiles: (ANSA) - Rome, November 20 - Italian judicial authorities on Tuesday ordered the preventative seizure of the Aquarius migrant-rescue ship in relation to a probe into the alleged illegal dumping of waste in which Medical-aid NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF - Doctors Without Borders) is under investigation. The ship is currently in Marseilles. The case regards the alleged dumping of dangerous and potentially infectious refuse, including medical materials, without the waste being separated, as if it were ordinary household waste. Prosecutors suspect that 24,000 kilos of waste was dumped in this way on 44 different occasions. The waste was alleged dumped in 11 ports - Trapani, Pozzallo, Augusta, Catania and Messina in Sicily; Vibo Valentia, Reggio Calabria and Corigliano Calabro in Calabria; Naples and Salerno in Campania; and Brindisi in Puglia. In total, 14 people are under investigation in the probe conducted by State and finance police and coordinated by Catania prosecutors, sources said. The authorities also requested the seizure of 460,000 euros. "I was right to stop the NGOs' ships (landing in Italian ports)," Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said via Twitter. "Not only did I stop the trafficking of migrants but, according to what has emerged, I stopped the trafficking of refuse too. #portichiusi (#portsclosed)". MSF said that the Italian judicial authorities' request was a "disproportionate and unfounded measure, purely aimed at criminalising lifesaving medical-humanitarian action at sea". "After two years of defamatory and unfounded allegations of collusion with human traffickers, judicial investigations, and bureaucratic obstacles against our humanitarian work, we are now accused of organised crime aimed at illicit waste trafficking," said Karline Kleijer, MSF's head of emergencies. The NGO said the in-port operations, including waste management, of its search-and-rescue vessels had always followed standard procedures. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 20) China wants state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to conduct oil and gas exploration in the disputed South China Sea years after the firm's botched venture during the previous administration. "China authorizes China National Offshore Oil Corporation as Chinese enterprise," according to a draft framework agreement penned by the Chinese government. The document, titled "Framework Agreement on Joint Maritime Oil and Gas Exploration between China and the Philippines," was released to the media by opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday. It is not clear if changes have been made in the draft to date. The document marked as a Chinese draft states that China and the Philippines have agreed to conduct joint oil and gas exploration in "relevant sea areas" in the South China Sea, but did not specify where. The draft deal also leaves blank the company the Philippines has chosen to take on the joint exploration with China. Businessman Manny Pangilinan, chairperson of PXP Energy, earlier said he hopes to restart talks with the CNOOC for a possible exploration in the West Philippine Sea. The two firms were earlier in talks to drill the disputed Reed Bank or Recto Bank, a disputed islet 85 nautical miles from Palawan. The Department of Energy has since issued a moratorium on oil exploration and drilling works amid rising maritime tension with China. Duterte, as early as November 2017, said he may lift the moratorium. Chinese President Xi Jinping is in the country to discuss plans for the joint exploration. Meanwhile, Malacanang shrugged off concerns about the draft being prepared by China. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he has not seen a copy of the draft, adding that he would ask the Foreign Affairs Department about it. "It doesn't matter who drafted it. As far as we are concerned, you give us the draft, then we'll go over it. We have to see whether this is legal or not, whether it is beneficial to us or not," he said. "In the same manner that if we draft it, it will have to pass over them too." Setting aside claims Senators Trillanes and Kiko Pangilinan earlier called on the government to release the final draft of the joint exploration deal before it is signed. They protest China's draft, saying it wants exploration, development and utilization of the resources to be jointly decided by Chinese and Filipino nationals. This is a violation of the Constitution, they argued, because it promotes a "co-ownership with China of the West Philippine Sea" when the Constitution states that "exploration, development and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the state." READ: Senators push for release of draft joint exploration deal with China The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in July 2016 recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, or areas of the South China Sea that lie within the country's 200-mile exclusive economic zone. China, however, rejects the ruling and continues to claim virtually the entire global waterway---parts of which are contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. The draft framework sets aside these claims. "The joint oil and gas exploration shall not affect the respective position on sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the two parties," the draft framework read. China also wants to make things confidential amid the clamor for transparency. "Any document, information or data concerning the joint maritime oil and gas exploration between the two parties shall be kept confidential, unless the two parties decide otherwise," it states. CNN Philippines' Joyce Ilas and Eimor Santos contributed to this report. (ANSA) - Milan, November 20 - Gianfranco Battisti, the CEO of Italian rail company FS, said Tuesday that a new high-speed Freccia Rossa train service connecting Rome Fiumicino airport to Venice will start with the arrival of the network's winter timetable. He said a similar service connecting Milan's Malpensa airport should kick off next year. "We are highly confident that Malpensa can become another transport opportunity that we will develop with the Frecce (trains) in 2019," said Battisti. He said the aim was to create "a great integrated transport network" connecting Italy's "stations, airports and ports". (ANSA) - Rome, November 20 - There has been a big rise in the number of Italian people in favour of the euro, according to the results of a Eurobarometer survey released on Tuesday. The study said that 57% of respondents said that the euro was good for Italy, an increase of 12 points with respect to last year. This was the biggest rise in support for the euro among the member States along with that registered in Austria. Nevertheless, 57% is still the third-lowest level of support among the 19 eurozone countries, with backing lower only in Cyprus and Lithuania. The Italians were top, however, in terms of viewing positively greater euro-area coordination of economic policy, including budgetary policies, with 79% in favour. Georgia and Switzerland have more in common than you might think - GeorgianJournal Libyans force way onto Nivin ship, violence against migrants At least 5 injured, migrants did not want to get off (ANSAmed) - ROME, NOVEMBER 20 - Libyan armed forces have pushed their way onto The Nivin, a boat carrying 79 migrants that had been stuck in the Misrata port for two days. There have been reports of violence and injured people taken to hospital, with others taken by force to Libyan centers, said Mediterranea, an NGO that uses its Mare Jonio ship to monitor the situation and incidents in the sea near Libya. "Italy and the EU must take responsibility for their political choices, the NGO added. "We want to know what has happened to every one of the refugees." At least 5 migrants were injured in the operation by the Libyan security forces, who shot rubber bullets onboard the Panamanian-flagged Nivin, UNHCR sources said. (ANSAmed). Yemen: minister, 'Houthis violated ceasefire' 'Missile against Saudi Arabia fell on Yemeni territory' (ANSAmed) - ROME, NOVEMBER 20 - The information minister of Yemen, Moammar El Eryani, said that Houthi militias have violated a ceasefire, Al Arabiya reports. ''Hours after the statement released by Houthis in which they announced the suspension of ballistic missile launches, one of their fighters fired a rocket against Saudi territory'', the Yemeni minister wrote on Twitter. ''The Iranian missile did not reach its target and fell on Yemeni territory, confirming how Yemenis did not keep their word'', he added. (ANSAmed) ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean (ANSAmed) - ROME, NOVEMBER 20 - These are some of the main events scheduled for today in the Euro-Mediterranean area: BRUSSELS - EU, speech by High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini on the occasion of Human Rights Week to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. MADRID - The Prado Museum celebrates its 200th anniversary with a large commemorative exhibition titled 'Prado Museum 1819-2019: A Place of Memory' (to March 3). TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM - 3rd edition of Italian Cuisine Week continues (until 25/11). BRUSSELS - EU, Council of Agriculture and Fishing Ministers. BRUSSELS - EU, Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers.(ANSAmed). Motorola's flagship device Odin to be powered by Snapdragon 8150 SoC News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The suggested smartphone's basic variant will be available in 4GB RAM and 32GB internal storage variant. Motorola, the American smartphone manufacturer has introduced some decent smartphones this year. The company's latest offering Motorola One Power packs some decent hardware for its price tag and offers a lag free performance. The Motorola One Power is company's first smartphone which comes under Android One program; this means that the device is first in line to receive the Android updates and security patches. Now, it appears that the company is prepping up for its next release which will be a flagship offering. As per a report from XDA, Motorola is now working towards a new flagship phone which is codenamed as Motorola Odin. The Motorola Odin is rumored to be under development in North America and it might be Verizon Exclusive in the country. The suggested smartphone's basic variant will be available in 4GB RAM and 32GB internal storage variant. Powering the Motorola Odin will be the latest Snapdragon 8150 processor. The device will ship with Android 9 Pie out-of-the-box and will come pre-installed with Moto Mods which we already have seen in the company's previous releases. Motorola had first introduced the Moto Mod support along with the Moto Z lineup in 2016. Considering that the Motorola Odin could be Motorola Z4, the smartphone will the 4th generation of Moto Z series of smartphones. While Verizon has successfully tested the 5G Data transmission with Moto Z3, it would be safe to assume that Motorola Odin might come with 5G capabilities. Motorola is also working on an in-display fingerprint scanner; however, it is not immediately clear whether it's for Odin or any other upcoming Motorola smartphone. While the company is yet to confirm any details regarding the same, it is being suggested that the Motorola Odin could be the Motorola Z4. With all the rumors and speculations, we would love to see a 5G enabled smartphone by the company. We are waiting for the company to confirm the rumors and it would be interesting to see what new Motorola has in store for the users. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Samsung Galaxy A9 launch live-stream: Watch the unveiling of the quad-camera smartphone News oi-Vivek Galaxy A9 is expected to retail for Rs 34,999 Samsung is all set for the launch of India's first Quad-camera smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy A9 on the 20th of November. The company is hosting a launch event in India's capital New Delhi, and the launch event will commence from 12:30 PM. Watch the live unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy A9 here The company has already started to tease the smartphone on various e-commerce websites like Amazon and Flipkart. Similarly, the smartphone will also be available in the offline markets as well. According to rumours, the Samsung Galaxy A9 with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage will retail for Rs 34,999. Samsung Galaxy A9 specifications The Samsung Galaxy A9 comes with a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2220 x 1080p, protected by 2.5D curved tempered glass on the front and back. Under the hood, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE SoC powers the smartphone with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage with a dedicated microSD card slot for additional storage expansion. The USP (unique selling point) for the Galaxy A9 is the quad-camera setup. The Galaxy A9 is the world's first smartphone with four cameras. The smartphone has a 24 MP RGB sensor (standard lens), 10 MP telephoto lens to obtain 2x optical zooming, 8 MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 5 MP depth sensor to offer portrait effect. The phone does pack-in a big 3800 mAh Li-ion battery with support for fast charging via USB type C port. Also, note that the smartphone does offer a dedicated 3.5 mm headphone jack as well. The device runs on Android 8.1 Oreo-based custom OS (Samsung Experience UX). Overall, the Galaxy A9 is made for those, who are looking for a premium looking smartphone with impeccable camera capability. At the price tag of Rs 34,999, the Galaxy A9 will compete against the likes of the OnePlus 6T, LG G7 ThinQ, and other affordable flagship smartphones. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Samsung Galaxy S10 standard variant might offer 5.8-inch flat display News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Samsung might introduce three different display sizes of the Galaxy S10 smartphone including a 5.8-inch flat OLED panel, a 5.8-inch curved OLED panel, and a 6.2-inch curved OLED panel. While Samsung's foldable smartphone Galaxy F has been stealing the stage, the company's upcoming flagship, i.e, the Samsung Galaxy S10 is also not left behind. By now, the internet is flooded with the rumored specs and features of the Galaxy S10 and this time another report sheds some insight on the device's display. While the rumor mill had suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S10 will offer an Infinity-O display, some others suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S10 will offer a display with 'punch hole' to deliver enhanced viewing experience. According to a new report from ET News (South Korean website), Samsung might bring the Galaxy S10 with a flat display. The report also quotes that Samsung's executives have revealed that the South Korean tech giant is working towards developing a new QLED display type for its upcoming Galaxy S10 smartphone. This panel will be used for the Galaxy S10 with flat screen. The report also sheds some light on the different sizes which are expected to be available with the Galaxy S10 lineup of smartphones. The report further suggests that Samsung might introduce three different display sizes of the upcoming Galaxy S10 smartphone. The suggested display sizes include a 5.8-inch flat OLED panel, a 5.8-inch curved OLED panel, and a 6.2-inch curved OLED panel. The 6.2-inch display variant is expected to be the successor of Galaxy S9+. The Samsung Galaxy S10 series might pack M9 OLED displays unlike the M8 generation of OLED displays used on this year's flagship Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ and Note 9 smartphones. The new Galaxy S10 lineup is further said to comprise of an organic material such as the compounds which consists of the color components for the LED (light-emitting diodes). Samsung is also planning to change the suppliers of the color components of the M9 display. The red colored components were being supplied by Duksan Neolux, now; it will be Dow who will supply these components to the company. Samsung is yet to reveal any official statement on the same and it remains to be seen what all new features will the Galaxy S10 lineup will offer to the users. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications The Good An impressive display The Samsung Galaxy A9 flaunts a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2220 pixels and 392 PPI. Although the pixel density of the Galaxy A9 is less than its less costly Galaxy A9 (411ppi), it still makes for a great viewing experience. It has an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 ratio which is ideal for multimedia consumption. Besides, the True FHD+ resolution and the Widewine L1 certification allows for HD playback from all the video streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, among others. The device is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and also has Always-On functionality allowing users to check time and notification without having to wake up the device. Gives you space The smartphone comes with 128GB of internal storage which is somewhat sufficient for most of the users. If you are someone who likes to keep their smartphones stuffed with a lot of pictures, music, videos, movies, and other media files, then there is an option to expand the memory up to 512GB using a microSD card. What's even better is that the device lets you install apps on the memory card. You can also move your social media content directly to the microSD card, a feature missing from a lot of phones in this range. 3.5mm still in place As we move forward in time, the removal of the audio jack is slowly becoming a norm with major firms like Apple, OnePlus, HTC opting to produce smartphones sans the 3.5mm audio jack in favor of Lightning or Type-C ports. But, Samsung has still managed to keep the functionality intact throughout its range of smartphones. Although Samsung also uses the Type-C port for fast charging purposes, it has never supported the removal of the audio jack in its devices, as it opens the device for a lot of third-party hands-free accessories. The Bad Still running Android Oreo The new Galaxy A9 still runs on the dated Android 8.0 Oreo, which is a setback given that Android 9 Pie is already out and has been available on many phones. This doesn't necessarily mean that Android Oreo is a bad choice, but if the company is following the latest industry trends for its camera sensors, it might as well consider the software front. The software also comes with a lot of bloatware, which could hamper the performance of the phone after a few months of extensive usage. The company might roll out the Android Pie update for the new phone, but making it available out-of-the-box would have been a different experience altogether. Old processor The four-camera phone has a Snapdragon 660 at its heart. It is an octa-core CPU build using the 14nm process. But, the company could have used the latest Snapdragon 670 processor, which is the successor to the SD 660 and is slightly underpowered compared to SD 710, but that could have ramped up the cost the device as well. The SD 660 is capable of handling cameras up to 24MP easily, making it borderline for the Galaxy A9 (2018). Old school biometrics Though Samsung has been always on top of their game when it comes to mobile security, the company is still not ready to overhaul the biometric methods. The company has used a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for its Galaxy A9, where it could have used a trimmed down version of its in-display sensor that is reported to feature on company's next flagship - the Galaxy S10. This would have given the company a chance to see the user feedback helping it overcome the challenges with its next phone. Smartphone makers such as Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus have already launched their phones with the in-display sensors. The inclusion of the new tech could have made the device a great value for money. The X factor The biggest selling point of the Galaxy A9 that Samsung is betting on is its four camera setup. This is the first smartphone to come with four cameras. The camera setup comes with a primary 24 MP with f/1.7 aperture and PDAF, an 8MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.4 aperture, a 10MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 5MP with f/2.2 aperture. The 24MP lens leverages the SuperPixel technology merging 4 pixels into one resulting in a clear picture. The 8MP sensor, on the other hand, lets you take ultra wide shots at 120-degree angles compared to the normal 78-degree angles seen on other smartphones. This sensor also works while taking videos. The 5MP sensor does what a DSLR camera does, but with the help of a software. It gives you the bokeh effect by blurring the background of the subject. The background can be blurred even after the picture is clicked. And the additional 10MP telephoto sensor with 2x lens that makes for clear pictures when zoomed in. For selfies, Samsung has added a 24MP shooter which also has support for AR Emoji and wide selfie mode. Other camera features include Scene Optimizer that offers the best color correction based on the detected scenes in the picture. The camera also supports the Slow motion and Hyperlapse mode which is another term for the time lapse mode. In our short time with the device, the camera performance was good and the pictures came out really well. The pictures had an ample amount of detail with minimal noise. Hit or a miss? Overall the Samsung Galaxy A9 is a well-built smartphone which is complemented by a vertically aligned four-camera setup. The smartphone will give a premium look and feel to its users alongside Samsung's suite of apps. Starting at Rs 36,990 the Galaxy A9 is an impressive device. But we feel the device is bit overpriced given the fact it's using an old processor. The only give away here is the four camera which we are yet to put through our extensive tests before passing the final judgment. But judging by the pricing, we feel the device is a bit overpriced and the company could have cut down the price a little bit. Apart from the additional 10MP telephoto lens, Samsung justifies the price difference between the Galaxy A9 and Galaxy A7 by adding minor upgrades to the existing. Rift Widens Between Trump, Former US Intel Bosses By Steve Herman November 19, 2018 The chasm between U.S. President Donald Trump and elders of the intelligence community is widening. Trump, repeating a criticism he made in a television interview the previous day, took to Twitter on Monday to again exclaim that the United States "should have captured Osama bin Laden long before we did." In the Fox News Sunday interview, the president labeled retired U.S. Navy Admiral William McRaven, the leader of the operation that killed the al-Qaida founder, "a Hillary Clinton backer and an Obama backer," referring to his 2016 Democratic Party opponent and his predecessor as president. McRaven has repeatedly criticized Trump's presidency, calling it an embarrassment and a humiliation of the United States on the world stage that has divided the country. After Trump's broadcast remarks, McRaven declared he did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else in the previous presidential election, but said he is "a fan of President Obama and President George W. Bush, both of whom I worked for." He added that he admires all presidents, regardless of political party, "who uphold the dignity of the office and who use that office to bring the Nation together in challenging times." McRaven, a former commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, said he stands by his comment that Trump's attack on the media "is the greatest threat to our democracy in my lifetime." Others with inside knowledge of the 2011 operation in Pakistan against bin Laden are coming to McRaven's defense. Former intelligence officials push back Former acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency Michael Morell tweeted that a correction is needed following Trump's implication that the terrorist leader should have been nabbed faster. A former director of both the CIA and the National Security Agency, retired Air Force General Michael Hayden, in reaction to Trump's attack on McRaven, taunted the president on Twitter for not capturing the current leaders of al-Qaida and the Islamic State terror group, who are in hiding. The Navy SEAL who is credited with having fired the head shot that killed bin Laden on Monday tweeted that the bin Laden mission was bipartisan. "The president is simply wrong and pushing an idea that I think is not helpful," said retired Army General Stanley McChrystal on CNN about Trump asserting previous administrations were tardy in eliminating the al-Qaida head. Trump's criticism "is symptomatic of the crisis of leadership we have today," added McChrystal, who headed the Joint Special Operations Command for five years. "This president owes Admiral McRaven and all of the SEALs involved in that operation an apology for what he's saying," said former CIA Director and ex Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on MSNBC. "He's undermining his position as Commander-in-Chief. Not only with those that conducted the operation, but with the entire military." One senator from Trump's party is also coming to McRaven's defense. In a tweet, Marco Rubio of Florida, who is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed gratitude for the retired admiral's service. McRaven, who recently quit as the chancellor of the University of Texas for health reasons, has also defended former CIA Director John Brennan, another Trump critic, whose security clearance was revoked by the president. The official Twitter account of the Republican party on Monday claimed McRaven has been critical of Trump since during the 2016 presidential campaign and was reportedly on Hillary Clinton's short list as her running mate in that race something the retired admiral and campaign officials have denied. A contentious relationship Trump has had a contentious relationship with the U.S. intelligence community from the start of his presidency, most notably rebutting its consensus Russia attempted to influence the election on his behalf. He has also alleged a "deep state" conspiracy of shadowy figures from the intelligence community and other elements of the federal government is intent on thwarting his agenda, pursuing a "witch hunt" linking him to Moscow and leaking to the media what the president asserts is false information. Trump on Saturday countered media reports that the CIA had concluded the Saudi crown prince had ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying who is really responsible may never be known. The biggest current source of tension between the president and the U.S. intelligence community is over Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a former senior CIA officer, Paul Pillar. "The relationship was already bad and we had already seen before this week most of the implications of that bad relationship," Pillar, a non-resident senior fellow at Georgetown University, told VOA News. Trump's denial of the CIA's conclusions about the crown prince are, by implication, "a criticism of the intelligence analysis on the subject. But the administration will have a hard time winning a battle of public perceptions on this one," according to Pillar. "The general perception," he said, "is that the implausible and ever-shifting Saudi cover stories show the Saudis are hiding something and the analysis of outside observers conforms with what reportedly is the intelligence analysis about [the crown prince's] involvement." Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Defense Ministers Endorse Creation of Joint Intelligence School Sputnik News 01:14 20.11.2018(updated 03:09 20.11.2018) BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The Council of the European Union adopted on Monday an updated version of the EU Cyber defense Policy Framework, having set several priority areas, such as cyber defense capabilities development, military drills, and enhancement of civil and military cooperation, the council said in a press release. "A primary role of this policy framework is the development of cyberdefense capabilities, as well as the protection of the EU CSDP [Common Security and Defence Policy] communication and information networks. Other priority areas include: training and exercises, research and technology, civil-military cooperation and international cooperation," the document read. The document also stresses the importance of adequately addressing cyberthreats during exercises in order to "improve the EU's ability to react to cyber and hybrid crises by improving decision-making procedures and availability of information." "Civil-military cooperation in cyberfield is key to ensure a coherent response to cyberthreats," the document stipulates. At their meeting held in Brussels on October 18, the EU leaders focused on combating cyberwarfare, pledging to strengthen EU "deterrence" and 'resilience" against various kinds of threats. The participants of the summit also voiced the need to adopt "all cybersecurity proposals" before May 2019, when the elections to the European Parliament will be held. On October 18, the European Council stressed the necessity to build strong cybersecurity within the bloc, emphasizing the importance of raising the capability to respond to cyberattacks. The updated version of the document aims at developing EU cyberdefense policy, taking into account the changing security challenges. The document specifies the priority spheres of the cyberdefense, while it also "clarifies the roles of the different European actors." Meanwhile, the defense ministers of the EU member states adopted on Monday at a meeting in Brussels a plan providing for the creation of a Joint EU Intelligence School (JEIS), a document published on the official website of the European Council and the Council of European Union said. "The JEIS, in collaboration with member states, NATO CoEs, Intelligence and Security Services, will provide education and training in intelligence disciplines and other specific fields to EU member states intelligence personnel," the updated list of EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects said, noting that the initiative was adopted on November 19. It is planned that 25 of the EU 28 member states will be a part of the future project except for Denmark, Malta and the United Kingdom, a source familiar with the issue told Sputnik. The need to create supranational joint intelligence agencies and train joint intelligence staff has been set out in the Maastricht Treaty of 1992, however, the EU member states used to have disagreements regarding the establishment of a joint European intelligence service. In addition, the EU defense ministers also adopted on Monday a plan, under which the number of joint EU defense and security projects will double to 34, with the new projects being related to unmanned aerial vehicles suppression, tactical missile systems, electronic warfare systems, and chemical threat tracking systems. The previous 17 EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects were adopted in early March. According to the updated list of PESCO projects, EU states are planning to develop a new generation medium range Beyond Line Of Sight missile systems facility, set to be integrated on a variety of platforms. France, Belgium and Cyprus will engage in this program. A total of 10 EU countries will participate in the development of the Integrated Unmanned Ground System, set to transport various payloads and sensors. Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, France, and Italy will engage in the creation of the European Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, while Germany and Cyprus will be tasked to establish a Joint EU Intelligence School, where EU intelligence personnel will receive education and training. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S., Japanese medical personnel discuss key topics, issues at bilateral conference By Noriko Kudo, U.S. Army Garrison Japan Public Affairs November 19, 2018 CAMP ZAMA, Japan (Nov. 19, 2018) -- U.S. Army Medical Activity - Japan hosted its annual bilateral medical conference here Nov. 14, during which U.S. and Japanese medical personnel received updates on a variety of relevant topics and issues. U.S. Soldiers joined more than a dozen Japan Ground Self-Defense Force senior medical officers from the Ground Staff Office and Ground Component Command at the Camp Zama Community Club to discuss the Defense Health Agency, the Armed Services Blood Program and the U.S. Army dental care system. Attendees also received an overview of the JGSDF's medical capabilities, as well as the current state of lifesaving support and multilateral joint exercises. Col. Marvin Emerson, MEDDAC-J commander, said the objective of the conference is to exchange new ideas and tactical, strategical and operational medical information between the U.S. Army and the JGSDF. "Another important part is to ensure that we have interoperability," said Emerson. Emerson said meetings like the conference help both sides understand each other's medical system and "operate together smoothly and flawlessly in the event that support is needed in any category- humanitarian relief, disaster relief and even defense." Maj. Gen. Masahisa Kawaguchi, director of the Medical Department Ground Staff Office, said he would like to continue to have in-depth discussions on common themes and issues both sides deal with, in order to learn from each other. "We have many more opportunities to work closely with the U.S. Army compared to before," said Kawaguchi. "Therefore, conferences like this definitely help strengthen the face-to-face relationship between the U.S. Army and the JGSDF, and it benefits both sides." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. British Member of Parliament Madeleine Moon was elected Monday as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, succeeding Rasa Jukneviciene from Lithuania, whose mandate had expired, the organization reported on its website. Moon was endorsed by acclamation at the 64th NATO PA plenary session in Halifax, Canada, becoming the first woman to be voted President by the entire Assembly. Her term runs for up to two years. In her acceptance speech, Moon underlined the need for NATO allies to meet their defence spending pledges, and emphasized her commitment to aspiring NATO partners, women in defence, youth leadership and, more broadly, peace and security. We all know we are living in a period of great flux and change, and I see this as a time of change for the Assembly also. This is not a time for business as usual, she told the parliamentarians. But, she insisted, this is not going to be a case of one woman driving change. All of us need to work together in unison and with a shared sense of common purpose, to develop new ways of cooperation and collaboration that allow this Assembly to continue to grow and to make its voice heard. Moon has served at the Assembly since 2009 and been the Deputy Head of the United Kingdom Delegation for three years. From 2012-2015, the Welsh Labour MP was vice-Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Defence and Security Cooperation. She later acted as Rapporteur for the Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defence Capabilities. Moon will be ably supported five vice presidents, who were also elected by acclamation. They are Vitalino Canas from Portugal, Franklin Van Kappen from the Netherlands, Osman Askin Bak from Turkey, Richard Benyon from the United Kingdom and US Congressman Mike Turner. Thanking parliamentarians and officials in her final address as president, Jukneviciene said: Growing up in occupied Lithuania, I would never have imagined that I would one day become the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. For me, as the grand-daughter of a victim of the Stalin gulags, it was an honour and a privilege to be able to serve in this capacity, said Jukneviciene, who served as president for two months, stepping in to complete former president Paolo Allis mandate. Established in 1955, the NATO PA brings together members of parliaments from all NATO member countries and some associate parliaments. The Assembly is a forum for discussion on a wide range of security, political and economic matters and is NATOs link to national parliaments and therefore citizens in the trans-Atlantic area. Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister Lithuania, Saulius Skvernelis NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 19 Nov. 2018 (As delivered) Prime Minister Skvernelis, it's a pleasure to welcome you to NATO and to the new NATO HQ and the new building. We have just had an excellent meeting where we talked about the security situation we face and how NATO continues to adapt. So Prime Minister, I really appreciate your strong personal commitment to NATO. And I also want to thank Lithuania for its valuable contributions to the Alliance. Your troops help build security in Afghanistan and in Kosovo. Lithuania is host nation to NATO's multinational battlegroup in Lithuania, boosting our defence and deterrence. And you share expertise on energy security through the NATO Centre of Excellence in Vilnius. Lithuania also leads by example on defence spending. Investing in major equipment. And committing to spend 2% of GDP on defence this year. So Lithuania's support for NATO is strong. And NATO's support for Lithuania is just as strong. Allied jets keep your skies safe. Allied ships keep the Baltic Sea secure. And NATO's battlegroups in the region prevent conflict and preserve the peace. This shows the strength and unity of our Alliance. Forces from Europe and North America standing together, defending each other. Today, Lithuania is leading exercise Iron Wolf. Bringing together thirteen Allies, providing training for one of our four battlegroups in the region. I want to thank you for hosting this exercise, giving NATO troops the chance to train together and to test our military mobility. Such exercises are part of the Alliance's strengthened defence and deterrence. We are also working to raise the readiness of our forces. To increase our ability to move them across the Atlantic and within Europe. And to modernise our command structure. So that it will remain able to deal with the threats we face. Prime Minister, this year, Lithuania celebrates one hundred years of independence. And as we see, Lithuania is in NATO, and NATO is in Lithuania. NATO safeguards your independence and your security. As it does for every Ally. So once again, welcome, it's a great honour to have you here and it's great to be able to show you the new NATO Headquarters. Welcome. [Remarks by the Prime Minister of Lithuania] Q (Belarus TV): Some days ago, the former head of NATO, Mr. Rasmussen, said that after Ukraine and Georgia, NATO is ready to admit Belarus, but for this it's necessary to change the power and leadership in this countryfor democratic. Does NATO share this position? How do you comment on this statement? Secretary General: I will not speculate about that. We are now in a very close partnership with Georgia and Ukraine. Georgia is a close partner we have worked with for many years. Also Ukraine. And I will not speculate about what may happen after we have addressed the issue of membership related to these two countries. We have strong statements and positions on that from several NATO Summits and I don't have anything to add to what we have said about that earlier. Prime Minister of Lithuania: I believe that this is the matter of self-determination of each sovereign state. Georgia and Ukraine have made up their minds to follow this direction and we have to support this independent aspiration of these sovereign states to become members of NATO. As regards Belarus, if the state makes up its mind at any time, then probably it would apply and then we would consider. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Secretary General addresses NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Halifax NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 19 Nov. 2018 NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller stressed the importance of Alliance unity in a keynote address to the 64th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Halifax, Canada on Monday (19 November 2018). Noting that unity among allies has underpinned Euro-Atlantic security for almost seventy years, she thanked parliamentarians for their support for NATO. She said: "There is nothing stronger than this Alliance when it is united, and when our publics are behind it. In that, your support is essential." Ms. Gottemoeller acknowledged that "the bonds that unite us are under strain", pointing to serious differences on issues like trade, climate change and the Iran nuclear deal. However, she underlined that differences of view are normal among friends and Allies, and have been overcome before. Pointing to the Suez Crisis, France's departure from the NATO command structure in the 1960s, and the Iraq War in the early 2000s, she said "despite all of this, when it came to the crunch, when it came to our commitment to stand together and protect each other, we remained united." The Deputy Secretary General raised NATO's recent Exercise Trident Juncture as an example of Allies and partners working together for collective security. She also welcomed recent increases in defence spending among Canada and European Allies, amounting to an additional $87 billion since 2014. Turning to current security challenges, Ms. Gottemoeller highlighted serious concerns over Russia's compliance with the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Noting that Allies first raised concerns that Russia might be in violation several years ago, she said "at the time, Russia categorically denied developing a new missile. Now they have finally admitted that it does exist. And this new weapons system has placed the INF Treaty at serious risk. If a treaty is only respected by one party, it cannot effectively keep us safe." Signed in 1987 by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the INF Treaty eliminated an entire category of weapons. "Now is the time for dialogue," said Ms. Gottemoeller, "but it is also time for action by Russia to allay our very serious concerns." Previewing next month's meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels, the Deputy Secretary General noted that the INF Treaty will be discussed, as well as burden sharing, NATO's training efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and current developments in the Western Balkans. Ms. Gottemoeller is concluding a three day visit to Canada. On Saturday and Sunday, she participated in the Halifax International Security Forum, along with Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Chairman of NATO's Military Committee. While in Halifax, Ms. Gottemoeller also had a series of bilateral meetings, including with Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, and a US Congressional delegation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A First: U.S. Navy Admiral Pilots Brunei Black Hawk Helicopter at CARAT 2018 Navy News Service Story Number: NNS181119-40 Release Date: 11/19/2018 1:18:00 PM By Lt. Clyde Shavers, CTF73/DESRON 7 Public Affairs RIMBA AIR BASE, Brunei (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Joey Tynch, Commander Task Force 73, along with members from the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF), flew a Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopter during maritime exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2018 at Rimba Air Base, Brunei, Nov. 14. The flight marks the first time a U.S. Navy admiral has piloted an RBAF Black Hawk helicopter, a testament of the close partnership between the U.S. and Royal Brunei Armed Forces and mutual commitment to the CARAT exercise series. With the U.S.-Brunei relationship entering its fourth decade, the U.S. and Royal Brunei Navies have participated in the CARAT exercises for 24 years. In CARAT 2015, the RBAF S-70i successfully made deck landings aboard the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82). "As an H-60 pilot myself, it was an incredible experience flying over Brunei while sharing the cockpit with a fellow pilot from the Royal Brunei Air Force. Our ability to sit shoulder-to-shoulder and trust each other, while flying an airframe used by both our countries, absolutely demonstrates the partnership and interoperability that makes CARAT such a tremendous event," said Tynch. "I look forward to visiting Brunei again in the near future and to work with the professional men and women in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces." The one-hour flight consisted of a navigation route to the RBAF training area and landings plus a fly-over of the U.S. Navy's expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4) which is also participating in CARAT. Earlier in the day, Tynch and the US Charge d'Affaires to Brunei Scott Woodard flew in the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft with the crew of Patrol Squadron Sixteen. The flight consisted of a simulated tracking of a vessel-of-interest in a demonstration of the aircraft's information sharing capability during maritime interdiction operations. Following the flight, Tynch met with Col. Abdul Rahman, Acting Commander of Royal Brunei Air Force, to discuss ways to continue increasing the sophistication of future CARAT iterations and to thank the RBAF for the unique flying experience. "It is amazing how close the U.S. and Royal Brunei Armed Forces work together across a broad spectrum of military operations," Tynch said. "So far in just a few days, we have held a wide-range of exchanges in submarine operations, cyber law, maritime domain awareness, diving and salvage, public affairs and medical training. As we speak, both navies are sailing side-by-side at sea and conducting a myriad of cooperative evolutions that enforce the strong relationship that already exists between our Sailors. I couldn't' be happier with this year's event and we all look forward to next year's 25th anniversary of the CARAT series." The next day, Tynch visited the S-70i full-flight simulator at the CAE Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Center. During the visit, Tynch met Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, a captain in the RBAF. The U.S. and Royal Brunei Navies continue to participate in a growing number of bilateral and multilateral maritime exercises including this year's 17th annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Training (SEACAT) and 26th biennial Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC). In August, the U.S. and Brunei Armed Forces held their first-ever army exercise in an effort to expand military engagements between both partner nations. "We value our strong partnership with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces as we share an unwavering commitment to engage with each other more frequently and in more complex and sophisticated scenarios that address our shared interests and goals of ensuring freedom of navigation and respect for international law," Tynch said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway's Prime Minister Visits USS Iwo Jima Navy News Service Story Number: NNS181119-38 Release Date: 11/19/2018 1:17:00 PM By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Kristopher Regan , USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Public Affairs Office OSLO, Norway (NNS) -- Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg attended a reception aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) during a recent port visit in Oslo, Norway Nov. 15 after the conclusion of Trident Juncture 18. "Trident Juncture is about showing that the NATO alliance is capable of conducting preparations, working together and becoming stronger together," said PM Solberg. The ship arrived in Norway's capital to enhance U.S.-Norway relations as the two nations continue to strengthen regional security and stability. "I'm glad to hear all of the stories of how the allied forces were welcomed to the communities during the exercise and I think you'll see that what we really value is the importance of your contribution to our security," Solberg said. "It seems to me that Norwegians felt proud to be hosting you during this historic exercise." U.S. Ambassador to Norway was also in attendance and spoke on the importance of Trident Juncture 18. "As we all know now, Trident Juncture was the largest NATO exercise to be held since the end of the Cold War, and we are grateful to the Norwegian government and to the people of Norway for their generous commitment of time, energy and financial investment to ensure the success of this important NATO undertaking," Ambassador Kenneth J. Braithwaite said. Trident Juncture 18 was a NATO-led exercise designed to certify NATO response forces and develop interoperability among participating NATO allied and partner nations. The Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group embarks the 24th MEU and is comprised of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), Fleet Surgical Team 6, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Tactical Air Control Squadron 22, components of Naval Beach Group 2 and the embarked staffs of Expeditionary Strike Group 2 and Amphibious Squadron 8. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban: No deal reached with US in Qatar on deadline to end Afghan war Iran Press TV Mon Nov 19, 2018 11:08AM The Taliban militant group says it has failed to reach any agreement with the United States after three days of talks in Qatar, citing dissatisfaction with a deadline set by Washington's Afghanistan envoy to end the war. The Taliban leaders met US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad at their political headquarters in Qatar last week for the second time in the past month, said the militant group's spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid on Monday. "These were preliminary talks and no agreement was reached on any issue," Mujahid added. The statement came a day after Khalilzad said he was hoping to cut a peace deal with the Taliban by April 20, 2019, the date set for presidential elections in Afghanistan. The militant group, however, said they had not accepted any deadline set by Washington. Another senior member of the Taliban said Khalilzad's strategy to declare a deadline showed how desperate Washington was to withdraw foreign forces from Afghanistan. "Taliban leaders have not agreed to any deadline because we are winning on all fronts," he claimed. The Taliban also warned the US against sending mixed messages that could muddle the peace process. The group was apparently referring to an earlier statement by Khalilzad that said the Taliban believe they will "not win militarily." "We were astonished to see Khalilzad's statement in Kabul on Sunday. He wrongly quoted us, saying that the Taliban admitted that militarily we would not succeed," said a senior Taliban member in Afghanistan. The United States appointed Khalilzad, its former ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, in September to lead the reconciliation efforts with the Taliban. Khalilzad has since been traveling to the region for discussions with the national government and the Taliban, trying to renew the peace talks. Two senior US officials also confirmed that the second round of talks ended last week, and that the Taliban expected Khalilzad to visit Qatar for a meeting before the end of 2018. "The second round of talks went on for three days. This clearly proves that both sides are exercising patience and caution during their diplomatic engagement," a US official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The group's five-year rule over at least three quarters of Afghanistan came to an end following the 2001 US-led invasion, but 17 years on, Washington -- having failed to end Taliban's militancy campaign is seeking truce with the militants. The Taliban have strengthened their grip over the past three years, with the government in Kabul controlling just 56 percent of the country, down from 72 percent in 2015, a US government report showed this month. The Taliban issued a statement earlier this month, demanding the lifting of sanctions against its leaders; the release of prisoners and the recognition of their office in Qatar. Kabul, however, is strongly opposed to any recognition of the Qatar office, which was established at the request of Washington in 2013 to "facilitate peace talks." Diplomats and political analysts in Kabul have urged Khalilzad to include Afghan politicians and officials from neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Iran in the process before a third round of talks. "Khalilzad's hasty approach could lead to an epic disaster," Reuters cited a Western diplomat in Kabul as saying. "The Taliban would trust him only if he did not speak on their behalf." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 17 years into Afghanistan War, US admits 'Taliban not losing' Iran Press TV Mon Nov 19, 2018 07:57AM The top US military officer has admitted that the Taliban "are not losing" in Afghanistan and much more needs to be done to bring peace to the war-torn country 17 years into the longest war in American history. "They are not losing right now, I think that is fair to say," General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said of the Taliban during a discussion at a security forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Sunday. "We used the term stalemate a year ago and, relatively speaking, it has not changed much." The top US military officer said while there was no "military solution" to peace in Afghanistan, Washington and its allies in the NATO military alliance were trying to use all their military, political and economic potentials in a bid to convince the Taliban that it was time to come to the negotiation table. "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 incentivize the Taliban" to negotiate. The commander said reconciliation was still too far-fetched, conceding that "we are a long way" from that stage. Despite Dunford's claims that Washington sees no military solution, US President Donald Trump's strategy for the long-running war revolves around bringing more troops and use them to force a political resolution to militant groups. The new strategy, unveiled last year, announced an increase in US troop levels, bringing the total number of foreign foot soldiers in the country to about 14,000. The US State Department has named former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad as its special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation process. Khalilzad has traveled to the region to meet national government officials and the Taliban to try and jump-start a dialogue. But progress has proven elusive. That is partly because the Taliban are gaining strength as the Afghan government in Kabul struggles to keep ground. The US government's overseer for the military push in Afghanistan warned in a report earlier this month that the Taliban had cemented their position by taking control over larger chunks of the country while the Afghan government had seen its control shrink to about 56 percent of the land -- down from 72 percent in 2015. Also contributing to the issue is the fact that Afghan security forces who took over in 2014 -- after undergoing years of US training have failed to secure the country and suffered a high number of casualties in their battle against the Taliban. US Defense Secretary James Mattis said last month that Afghan forces had sustained "over a thousand dead and wounded" in August and September in their effort to protect Afghan parliamentary elections in October. The long-delayed vote dissolved into chaos as blasts rocked polling centers across Kabul, forcing authorities to extend voting in some constituencies. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belgium to Purchase US MQ-9 SkyGuardian Predator Drones General Atomics Sputnik News 23:50 19.11.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The manufacturer describes the MQ-9B as the latest generation of its multi-mission Predator B fleet. The system features 40-hour endurance, all-weather, short-field, self-deployment, and "detect-and-avoid" capabilities. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced in a press release on Monday that the government of Belgium has authorized the purchase of the US MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicle for its defense forces. "General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has been notified that the Government of Belgium has approved Belgian Defense to begin negotiations with the US Government to acquire the MQ-9B SkyGuardian Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)," the release stated. "We are also eager to work with our industrial partners in Belgium on a host of activities ranging from manufacturing to maintenance," General Atomics CEO Linden Blue said in the release. In July, SkyGuardian became the first medium-altitude, long-endurance drone to fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, the release added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address RAF Announces US Spy Planes Moving Due to Shutdown of Mildenhall Air Base Sputnik News 21:57 19.11.2018(updated 22:02 19.11.2018) The US Air Force is proceeding with the shutdown of a key air base in Britain as part of a cost-saving effort and redistributing its forces elsewhere in Europe. The Royal Air Force has now announced that hundreds of servicemen will be moved to a base in Gloucestershire, along with some of the USAF's best spy planes. The Royal Air Force's base in Suffolk, England RAF MIldenhall is due to be closed around 2023, but the RAF and USAF are already drawing up plans for who'll be going where. The British Ministry of Defense announced earlier this week that the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron and 488th Intelligence Squadron will be moved to RAF Fairford in England's Gloucestershire, along with about 530 USAF personnel and 740 dependents, according to the East Anglian Daily Times. About 3,300 airmen are based at Mildenhall, which is scheduled to be closed by 2024. However, the squadrons should be moved to Fairford by 2021, the ministry said. Plans to close Mildenhall were announced by then US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in 2015, who said the move, which included closing RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth as well, would save the USAF $500 million a year. Both spy planes and aerial refueling tankers used by the USAF fly out of Mildenhall; while the RC-135 Rivet Joint spy planes will go to Fairford, the KC-135 tanker fleet will head to Germany. The spy planes' new home, RAF Fairford, has been undergoing extensive renovations to make it ready to host the recon squadrons. About $45 million has been shelled out by the USAF, since Fairford hosts one of the longest runways in the UK, the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard noted. A sleepy town in the rural Cotswolds region of western England, Fairford's residents see the move as a sign of the times. "It's a change of policy, really, because the Obama administration was nice and calm wasn't it?" one resident told WGS. "And now we've got the Trump administration which wants more 'umph,' I think. I'm just worried, because it's quiet in Fairford, and I'm happy with it. But once it gets noisy at the base, I get anxious." However, British officials painted a more optimistic picture. "The agreement to relocate the United States Rivet Joint capability to RAF Fairford cements US presence at the base and will bring substantial benefits to Gloucestershire and local communities," UK Defense Minister Tobias Ellwood said in a statement. "The presence of over 1,200 personnel and dependents to the area will bring substantial financial benefits to the local economy and our local community," Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Conservative MP for the Cotswolds, said in a statement. "I look forward to welcoming all incoming personnel to the Cotswolds, and I hope this represents a continuation of our long-lasting and deep military cooperation with our American allies." Originally built in 1934, RAF Mildenhall was leased by the US Air Force in 1950 and served as a major base for its nuclear bomber fleet in Europe during the Cold War. It also housed some of the Air Force's most advanced spy aircraft, including the SR-71 Blackbird. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finnish Foreign Ministry Expresses Concern to Russian Envoy Over GPS Scandal Sputnik News 12:24 19.11.2018(updated 13:25 19.11.2018) Russian Ambassador to Finland Pavel Kuznetsov was summoned by the Finnish Foreign Ministry earlier this month following an incident of alleged GPS jamming by Russia during the Trident Juncture exercises. "Finland's concern regarding GPS signal disruption and the security risks it causes to i.a. civilian air traffic were conveyed to the Russian Ambassador at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs today. We expect from Russia responsible behavior and further information on the issue," the ministry said on Twitter Monday. Helsinki launched an investigation after several pilots reported losing GPS signal during the two-week Trident Juncture military drills. Commenting on the issue, Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila claimed that the disruption could have been caused by Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the jamming accusations, adding that "there is an obvious trend to blame Russia for everything" without providing any evidence. The NATO Trident Juncture drill, which involved about 50,000 troops from over 30 countries, including formally non-aligned Sweden and Finland, took place from October 25 to November 7. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese President Calls on Philippines to Enhance Dialogue on S China Sea Issue Sputnik News 09:33 19.11.2018(updated 09:57 19.11.2018) BEIJING (Sputnik) Beijing and Manila should intensify dialogue on settling territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in an article published in The Philippine Star. "We need to properly handle differences through friendly consultations, enhance dialogue and cooperation on maritime issues, and make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation that truly benefits our two peoples," Xi said. He noted that since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had taken office, dialogue on the issue had resumed. "I am visiting [the Philippines] this time mainly to have in-depth discussions with President Duterte on how to elevate our all-around cooperation under new circumstances and make an overall plan for greater progress in our relationship toward a higher level We need to deepen political mutual trust to sustain the growth of China-Philippine relations," Xi stated. China is involved in a number of territorial disputes over islands in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines along with Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam are contesting the Spratly archipelago, whose shelf has significant oil and gas reserves. In July 2016, The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration said that there was no legal basis for China's maritime claims in the region after a relevant request by Manila. China has refused to recognise the court's ruling. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Roads in the territory of Armenia are mostly passable as of 08:00, November 20. The ministry of emergency situations urged drivers to use winter tires exclusively while traveling to provinces. Georgian authorities reported to the Armenian ministry that the Stepantsminda-Lars road is open for all types of vehicles. According to North Ossetian authorities vehicles are in a traffic congestion from the Russian side of the checkpoint. The Stepantsminda-Lars road is the only land connection between Armenia and Russia, which runs through Georgia. Stepantsminda is a small town in north-eastern Georgia. The road is used for both passenger and cargo transportations and is of major significance. Vehicles pass through the Verkhni (Upper) Lars customs checkpoint into Russia. During winter seasons the road gets closed frequently due to bad weather and risk of avalanches. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Portugal Builds Spaceport in the Azores Sputnik News 16:43 19.11.2018(updated 16:45 19.11.2018) One of the islands of the Azores archipelago, Santa Maria, may soon become a base for launching small satellites, unique in Europe (the spaceport will deal with launching only small satellites, unlike the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana). Currently, companies from eight countries are competing for the right to use the port. Fourteen enterprises from the US, Russia, Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal have submitted applications for the first stage of Atlantic International Satellite Launch Programme. Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology Gui Manuel Machado Menezes explained to Sputnik: "At the moment, a senior officials committee is being gathered to consider the applications. After that, the committee will invite certain companies to participate in the second stage, where more concrete projects will be examined. The second stage will take place in January February 2019." The programme is an important step for Portugal in developing new technologies and subsequently changing the market structure. The description of the project reads: "The base is expected to satisfy growing demand for special orbits of small satellites, used for different purposes, such as communication programmes [] Earth observation programmes that can monitor agricultural and fishing activities, observe oceans, make measurements on the Earth and in the air, monitor infrastructure, city development and security. This market will bring billions of dollars in the decades to come." The creators of the programme plan to offer affordable services to those who are going to launch satellites weighing up to 500kg into polar orbits, or those, synchronized with the Sun at an altitude ranging from 400 to 1,000km above Earth. This project is a joint initiative of the Portuguese government and the regional authorities of the Azores, being carried out with technical support from the European Space Agency, which Portugal is a member of. Piero Messina, a representative of the ESA's Strategy Department in Paris, confirmed that: "The agency will participate in the projects and provide advice at all stages." For example, in July the Portuguese sent a recent study to the agency outlining the reasons for building a spaceport on the Azores. The document mentions that the location of the island of Santa Maria is well suited for launching such objects. Messina explained: "The island is in the middle of the Atlantic, far from other populated territories, which provides greater security of launches." Apart from private funding that will be invested in the base by the prevailing company, the government of Portugal will give 5 million euros. Gui Menezes said: "To provide access to the spaceport, several roads will be rebuilt, some airport areas, such as warehouses and compartments for fuel storage, will be improved. The basic infrastructure of the island, such as the water-supply network and electricity grid, as well as a launching site, will be enhanced." It is expected that the spaceport will be operational by the first half of 2021. According to the Portuguese government, the new object will be a stimulus for the development of the region, creating more workplaces. Menezes concluded: "We hope that other companies from this sphere, dealing not only with small satellite launches but also with the whole production chain, including software and hardware, will take part in the project. We also hope that Portuguese companies will actively participate in the process and qualified personnel will come to the Azores." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Designates Individual Who Helped North Korea Acquire Oil U.S. Department of the Treasury November 19, 2018 WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today announced a North Korea-related designation of one individual pursuant to Executive Order 13722, continuing the implementation of existing sanctions. Today's action highlights North Korea's reliance upon illicit use of the financial system to circumvent sanctions. "North Korea depends upon the help of criminals and illicit actors to raise and transfer funds," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. "As part of our commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, Treasury will continue to enforce and implement sanctions against any actor that seeks to aid the regime's deceptive practices." OFAC designated the Russia-born, South African national Vladlen Amtchentsev pursuant to E.O. 13722 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Velmur Management Pte. Ltd. ("Velmur"). Amtchentsev has advised on how to evade U.S. sanctions. In August 2017, OFAC designated Transatlantic Partners Pte. Ltd. ("Transatlantic") for operating in the energy industry in the North Korean economy, and OFAC simultaneously designated Velmur for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Transatlantic. These companies and associated individuals worked to purchase fuel oil and gasoil for North Korea. In addition, according to a complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2017 at the same time as Transatlantic and Velmur were designated, these same companies allegedly laundered millions of dollars in connection with North Korea. As a result of today's action, any property or interests in property of the designated person in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within or transiting the United States is blocked, and U.S. persons generally are prohibited from dealing with him. View identifying information on the individual designated today. #### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korean Weapon Test Demonstrates Pyongyang's Resolve By Steve Miller November 19, 2018 What does a new "tactical" weapon mean for the North Korean denuclearization process? Both the United States and the South Korean government downplayed the weapons test, but Adam Mount, a member of the Federation of American Scientists, disagreed. Speaking to Reuters news agency, he said the test may serve as a warning to Washington. "They're trying to signal that they are willing to walk away from talks and restart weapons testing," he said. "It is the most explicit in a series of escalating statements designed to send this message." The U.S. State Department suggested the test would not derail efforts to persuade North Korea to give up a nuclear weapons program. "We remain confident that the promises made by President Trump and Chairman Kim will be fulfilled," a spokesman for the U.S. State Department said. Troy University lecturer in international relations Daniel Pinkston, also does not believe the test will have any direct impact on current talks and says it's another example that "North Korea's orientation policy objectives haven't fundamentally changed." He adds that this "particular system is just another indication of the importance of military to military strength in North Korea." South Korea's Ministry of Defense said Friday the test shouldn't be classified as a "provocation." In addition, an anonymous South Korean government official speaking to South Korea's Yonhap News, said while the test should be watched carefully, it didn't necessarily mean North Korea was willing to walk away from denuclearization talks. A North Korean threat? Seong Whun Cheon, Visiting Research Fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, says he has concerns about Seoul's assessment of the recent test, because a tactical weapon refers to a short-range device, "which means even if it's not a threat to the United States, [it's] a direct threat to our (South Korean) national security." Pyongyang has positioned a large assortment of conventional weapons within striking distance of the South Korea capital. The proximity of those weapons and their potential to inflict massive casualties should a country attempt to attack North Korea, has been a powerful deterrent to such actions. Cheon adds that if Pyongyang and the United States were able to reach a deal that would allow North Korea to "continue to purchase either technical or medium-range missiles, including some nuclear capability, that is the worst nightmare that we can imagine at the moment." Pinkston says the latest test sends "a signal to South Korea on how North Korea is prepared to stand fast and be resolute in their relations with the South... and to the United States and others on the UN Security Council." Ultimately Cheon says, "We don't see any significant changes, or revisions, in their conventional strategy." What weapon was tested? North Korea's state media said Friday, leader Kim Jong-un inspected a test of a newly developed high-tech weapon. The visit and announcement came as talks with the United States over Pyongyang's denuclearization have stalled, even though Washington says a second summit with Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump is still being planned for early 2019. In the English version of the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report, it said Kim visited "the Academy of Defense Science and supervised a newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon test." "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," it said. As of Monday, the South Korean government had not concluded what kind of weapon was tested, though South Korea's Yonhap news suggested it may be some sort of long-range artillery; however, that has not been verified. "Regarding the North Korean high tech weapon test, South Korea and the United States are investigating it. We cannot confirm what it is," a defense ministry spokesman said. "The testing of the high-tech tactical weapon has been carried out successfully, meeting all superior and powerful designing indicators," the Korean Central Broadcasting Station added. The KCNA report said, "After seeing the power of the tactical weapon, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un was so excited to say that another great work was done by the defense scientists and munitions industrial workers to increase the defense capability of the country." North Korea's KCNA news agency did not identify the weapon and only posted a picture of Kim standing on a beach surrounded by officials in military uniforms. No weapons were visible in those images. Lee Ju-hyun contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India-Russia Joint Military Exercise Gets Underway in India's Jhansi Sputnik News 17:31 19.11.2018(updated 22:12 19.11.2018) The exercise provides an opportunity to Indian and Russian forces to train in joint counter-terrorism operations in a multinational scenario. Indra-2018, an Indo-Russian joint military exercise aimed at enhancing the interoperability of the two armies in peacekeeping and enforcement environments under the aegis of the United Nations has started at the Indian Army's Babina Field Firing Range in Jhansi, India. India's mechanized infantry battalion and motorized infantry units of the Russian Eastern Military District, deployed in the Primorye Region in the Far East, are participating in the exercise. Indra-2018 focuses on special tactical level operations, which include cordon and search operations, house intervention, handling and neutralization of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), and integrated employment of force multipliers. India and Russia have been conducting Indra since 2003, alternately at different locations in the two countries. Last year, the joint military exercise was conducted at the 149th Combine Army Range Sergeevisky and in the Sea of Japan near Vladivostok, Russia. The Indian contingent consisted of 350 personnel from the army, 80 from the air force, two Il-76 aircraft and one frigate and one corvette from the navy. While around 1,000 Russian troops of the 5th Army, marines, and ships of the Pacific Fleet and aircraft from the Eastern Military District took part in last year's exercise. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US economic sanctions restrict Iran's access to medical, health services: IRIMC Iran Press TV Mon Nov 19, 2018 02:10PM The Islamic Republic of Iran Medical Council (IRIMC) says illegal economic sanctions imposed by the United States against Tehran have negative impacts on the country's health sector, calling for an immediate and humanitarian solution to the issue. The illegal US economic sanctions and restrictions in foreign trade have seriously affected Iran's access to health and medical services, medicine and medical essentials, IRIMC President Iradj Fazel and Chairperson of the Supreme Council Mohammad Reza Zafarqandi said in a Monday letter to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. They added that the US unilateral sanctions, which took effect after Washington's withdrawal from the multilateral nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in May had harmful impacts on Iran's health services. All countries are duty-bound to respect and protect every individual's right to have access to medical services and to prevent any restriction in this regard, the senior Iranian medical officials said. They called on the UN chief to adopt necessary strategies to solve the issue and prevent any deterioration of the situation in the future. Earlier this month, the administration of US President Donald Trump announced the re-imposition of the "toughest" sanctions ever against Iran's banking and energy sectors with the aim of cutting off the country's oil sales and crucial exports. A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector. In a letter to the UN chief on November 10, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the Islamic Republic of Iran Alireza Marandi said the United States had endangered the lives of many Iranian patients by imposing "unjust" food and medicine sanctions against Tehran. "Despite the illegality of sanctioning food and medicine, the US government is preventing access to these vital resources and has therefore put in danger the lives of many patients from small children to the elderly who are in urgent need of medicine and medical equipment," Marandi said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rouhani Vows Continued Oil Exports Despite US Sanctions Sputnik News 22:06 19.11.2018 Iran is remaining resolute when it comes to the country continuing to export its oil in the face of US sanctions specifically targeted at the sector, President Hassan Rouhani vowed on Monday. "We will not yield to this pressure that is part of the psychological war against Iran," Rouhani declared during a live, televised speech he delivered from the city of Khoy. The sanctions so far have "failed to stop our oil exports," Rouhani said, vowing to "keep exporting it." The president said that the US blames Iran for its own failures in the region. While the sanctions targeting Iran stem from the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran Nuclear Deal, Washington's overall posture towards the country is marked by hostility towards Tehran's foreign policy, specifically as it pertains to the rest of the Middle East. The US accuses Iran of interfering in countries like Syria and Yemen, where America is itself heavily entrenched. US President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Deal in May, imposing related sanctions first in August and adding more in early November, despite UN weapons authorities' contention that Iran has been in compliance with the terms of the JCPOA. The US was the only party to the agreement that withdrew. The November 5 sanctions are the "toughest ever," according to Trump. The currency of Iran, the rial, has lost more than half of its value since the US withdrew from the JCPOA. Iran has looked at relaxing its laws when it comes to the exchange of cryptocurrency in a bid to counter the devastating effects of US sanctions on its economy. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sea Power: Iran to Maintain Naval Presence on High Seas - Commander Sputnik News 12:28 19.11.2018(updated 12:29 19.11.2018) In recent years, the Iranian Navy has increased its presence in international waters to secure naval routes and protect ships and oil tankers from pirates. The Iranian Navy will maintain its presence on the high seas in defence of the country's national interests, a senior military commander said. "So long as the presence of the Iranian Army's fleets is necessary to secure Iran's interests, the dispatch of the fleets to the high seas will continue," Army's Deputy Commander for Operations, Rear Admiral Mahmoud Moussavi, told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Sunday. Moussavi added that Iran's strong Navy would consistently maintain its presence on the high seas so that other countries do not take advantage of its absence. He also said that Tehran planned to send its naval ships to the Atlantic Ocean whenever necessary, just like it did in November 2016, when an Iranian naval flotilla sailed into the Atlantic for the first time after a stopover in South Africa. Rear Admiral Moussavi mentions the great achievements made by the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution despite "cruel sanctions that have never succeeded in preventing our defensive progress". Iran has recently increased its naval presence in international waters in an effort to protect naval routes and ensure the security of merchant vessels and tankers. The Iranian Navy has also been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 fully in line with international anti-piracy efforts, safeguarding merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries. During the Navy's missions in international waters, it has prevented a number of attacks on Iranian and foreign tankers. Iran, which in recent years has seriously upgraded its military potential attaining self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and hardware, insists that its military poses no threat to other countries and is merely based on the doctrine of deterrence. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Conflict and inequality shape children's lives in Iraq; UNICEF urges 'right policies' for protection 19 November 2018 - Conflict and inequality remain the defining features of children being raised in Iraq today, according to the first comprehensive survey conducted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in seven years. "The data is the clearest indication yet that the most vulnerable children in Iraq are the ones that are most likely to fall behind," Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Iraq said on Monday. Most poor children are not receiving any form of Government assistance, and even as the fighting has subsided, 80 per cent of all children experience violence either at home or in school. While 92 per cent of children are enrolled in primary school, just over half of those from poorer backgrounds complete their education. The gap widens in upper secondary school, where less than a quarter of poor children graduate, compared to three quarters of children from wealthier backgrounds. Children's education needs in Iraq are vast. Half of the country's public schools need to be rehabilitated, while one-in-three juggle multiple shifts, squeezing children's learning time. The five governorates with the lowest school enrollment and attendance rates are concentrated in the country's poorest southern governorates, and the two that have borne the brunt of the last few years' violence, Anbar and Ninawa. Regular school attendance regularly is essential for the more than one million children who require psychosocial support to cope with the invisible wounds of war. "The hard-won gains to end the conflict in Iraq and transition to a stable future could be lost without additional investments for all children to reach their full potential," stressed Mr. Hawkins. On a more positive note, Iraq has made progress on health, including maintaining high levels of assisted births and reducing newborn mortality. Babies who die in their first month of life dropped from 20 deaths per 1000 live births to 14 since the 2011survey was conducted. But the challenges arise soon after birth when only four out of 10 of children are fully vaccinated with mostly the poorest missing out. Moreover, half of all Iraqi households risk drinking contaminated water and less than 40 per cent of the population has access to drinking water at home, increasing the grave risk of waterborne diseases. "As Iraq moves past the violence of the last few years and forges a new path for itself, it must prioritize the wellbeing of all children," underscored Mr. Hawkins. To maintain Iraq's recent gains and protect all children, UNICEF called on the Iraq Government to invest in services that benefit children affected by conflict and poverty, and to work towards putting an end to all forms of violence against children. "Children are the future of this country, and a growing gap between the haves and the have nots sows discord and is detrimental for children and for Iraq," said the UNICEF Representative. "With the right commitment and the right policies in place, the Government of Iraq can make a difference," he concluded. The study was launched under the auspices of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netanyahu's Coalition Intact After Minister Backs Off Withdrawal Threat By VOA News November 19, 2018 Israel's ruling coalition remained intact Monday after a key minister backed off his threat to withdraw his party from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Education Minister Naftali Bennett had pressured Netanyahu to name him defense minister, but said his Jewish Home party would drop all of its demands and give the prime minister a chance to get Israel "to win again." The defense chief post became vacant last week with the resignation of Avigdor Lieberman, who was upset that Israel did not respond more forcefully in a flare-up of tensions with militants in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu said Sunday he would take on defense duties. He further cautioned that due to the security situation it would be "irresponsible" at this time to send his government into a minority and bring on early elections. With Bennett's party remaining, the coalition retains its slim majority with 61 of the 120 seats in parliament. The next regularly scheduled elections are due to take place in November 2019. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan - AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No: 18-45 WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan of thirty-two (32) AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) for an estimated cost of $63 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on November 16, 2018. The Government of Japan has requested to buy thirty-two (32) AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). Also included are containers, weapon support and support equipment, spare and repair parts, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $63 million. This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States. Japan is one of the major political and economic powers in East Asia and the Western Pacific and is a key partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in that region. It is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Japan in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-defense capability. The proposed sale of these missiles will provide Japan a critical air defense capability to assist in defending the Japanese homeland and U.S. personnel stationed there. Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support does not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the Purchaser and the prime contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor personnel in Japan. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. -30- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The holiday season officially kicked off at the White House Monday when U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump received the 2018 White House Christmas tree, CNN reported. The tree arrived at the North Portico of the White House by jingle bell-adorned horse and carriage, continuing an annual tradition. The Trumps, both dressed festively in red, surveyed the tree as a military band played Christmas carols, walking hand-in-hand as they inspected the carriage's cargo. This year's tree, standing 19-and-a-half-feet tall, hails from Mountain Top Fraser Fir farm in Newland, North Carolina, and will be displayed in the Blue Room. White House Christmas tree selection is a competitive process overseen by the National Christmas Tree Association, which has provided the official tree since 1966. The tradition of the White House Christmas tree dates back to 1889, when President Benjamin Harrison placed the first tree in the Yellow Room, decorated with candles and toys for his grandchildren, according to the White House Historical Association. The tree is believed to have made its debut in the Blue Room during the Taft administration in 1912. Treasury Sanctions Militia Leader Responsible for Multiple Attacks on Libyan Capital U.S. Department of the Treasury November 19, 2018 Action Taken Concurrently with the UN Security Council WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), concurrent with the UN Security Council's Libya Sanctions Committee, took action today targeting Salah Badi (Badi), the leader of the Sumud Brigade militia that has sparked violent clashes in the south of Libya's capital, Tripoli. Upon entering Tripoli in late August 2018, Badi also called for support from other militias to attack the city, plunging it into turmoil. The Sumud Brigade has waged attacks against rival militias aligned with the Government of National Accord, through which Badi has undermined the peace, security, and stability of Libya. "Salah Badi's prolonged militia attacks on Libya's capital have devastated the city and disrupted the peace," said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "Treasury is targeting rogue actors in Libya who have contributed to chaos and turmoil that undermines the internationally recognized Government of National Accord." Today, OFAC designated Salah Badi pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13726, "Blocking Property and Suspending Entry Into the United States of Persons Contributing to the Situation in Libya," for being the leader of an entity that has, or whose members have, engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Libya, including through the supply of arms or related materiel. In September 2018, militia forces under Badi's command battled rival militias, despite repeated calls from the UN for all sides to adhere to a ceasefire. Among those killed in the fighting were members of the ambulance and emergency services in Tripoli. Since the beginning of the clashes, Badi's Sumud Brigade has used highly destructive Grad rockets in densely populated areas, adding to the devastation of the attacks. Badi previously served in the former parliament in Tripoli, the General National Congress (GNC), and is renowned for having led fierce battles to keep the GNC in power beyond its mandate in 2014, during which Tripoli's main international airport was nearly destroyed and suffered more than $2 billion in damage. Badi's critical role as a commander in the 2014 attacks, which the attackers dubbed Operation Libya Dawn, caused considerable material and institutional damage and led to massive population displacements. As the situation escalated into open armed conflict, the Government of Libya was unable to function properly, the newly elected parliament left the capital, the UN evacuated, and most embassies closed, further exacerbating Libya's vulnerability in the wake of the country's 2011 revolution. As a result of today's actions, any property or interest in property of Badi within or transiting U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with blocked persons, including entities owned or controlled by designated persons. Additionally, the corresponding UN sanctions obligate all UN Member States to impose an asset freeze and travel ban. View identifying information on the individual designated today. #### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Imran Khan hits back after Trump's 'tirade' against Pakistan Iran Press TV Mon Nov 19, 2018 07:02PM Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has hit back at US President Donald Trump following his remarks that Islamabad doesn't do anything for Washington despite billions of dollars in American aid for the Asian country. Khan in a series of tweets on Monday defended his country's record in Washington's so-called war on terror. The premier, who is known for his fiery anti-American rhetoric said that "record needs to be put straight on Mr. Trump's tirade against Pakistan." He went on to say that Pakistan had borne the brunt of Washington's so-called war on terror. "No Pakistani was involved in 9/11 but Pak decided to participate in US War on Terror," he said. "Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties in this war & over $123 bn was lost to economy. US 'aid' was a minuscule $20 bn," he added. Khan also noted that Pakistan continued to provide its roads and air space for re-supply for thousands of US-led soldiers currently based in Afghanistan. "Can Mr. Trump name another ally that gave such sacrifices?" he asked. Elsewhere in his tweets, khan accused Trump of making Pakistan a scapegoat to cover Washington's failure in Afghanistan. "Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140,000 NATO troops plus 250,000 Afghan troops & reportedly $1 trillion spent on war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before." The remarks come after Trump, during a Fox News TV interview aired on Sunday, defended canceling assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Pakistan earlier this year because "they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us." Trump suggested Pakistani authorities knew former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's location prior to his killing by US troops in a raid inside Pakistan in 2011. He said bin Laden had been living in "a nice mansion" in Pakistan next to a military academy and "everybody in Pakistan knew he was there." "And we give Pakistan $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," he added. The latest friction threatens to further worsen already fragile relations between Islamabad and Washington. In August last year, the American president also in a major speech outlining US policy on Afghanistan accused Islamabad of offering safe haven to "agents of chaos." "We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond," Trump said. Successive US governments have criticized Pakistan for links with the Taliban and for harboring bin Laden. Washington has also long accused Pakistan of ignoring or even collaborating with groups which attack Afghanistan from safe havens along the border between the two countries. Pakistan denies supporting Afghan Taliban militants. In addition, Pakistan and Afghanistan also regularly accuse each other of sheltering their enemy militants. Both sides, however, deny such an allegation. Afghanistan has been gripped by insecurity since the US and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington's so-called war on terror in 2001. Many parts of the country remain plagued by militancy despite the presence of foreign troops. US forces have been bogged down there through the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and now Trump. Militants are now launching attacks on both Pakistani and Afghan soil. Pakistan, which joined the US war on terror in 2001, says it has paid the price for the alliance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan's Khan Fires Back After Trump's 'Tirade' By RFE/RL November 19, 2018 Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has hit back at Donald Trump's claim that Islamabad does not do "a damn thing" for the Unites States, calling on the U.S. president to name an ally that has sacrificed more in the fight against militancy. Khan tweeted on November 19 that his country had suffered 75,000 casualties and lost $123 billion in the "US War on Terror" that followed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, despite the fact that no Pakistanis were involved in these attacks. He also wrote that the United States has only provided a "miniscule" $20 billion in aid. Trump has slashed nearly $800 million in military assistance to Pakistan this year, saying it has not done enough to eliminate safe havens for the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network within its borders. The Trump administration has vowed to freeze other forms of security assistance, bringing the total of security funds that could be held back to at least $1.3 billion. Pakistan rejects allegations it is not doing enough to fight terrorism and that it provides safe havens for militants operating in Afghanistan. Trump, in an interview with Fox News aired on November 18, said his administration had withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Islamabad "because they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us." He said "everybody in Pakistan" knew Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden was there and no one said anything despite the United States providing $1.3 billion a year in aid. Bin Laden was killed in 2011 during a raid by U.S. Special Forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan. His hideout was located just a short distance away from one of Pakistan's most prestigious military academies. 'Devastated' Tribal Areas "Record needs to be put straight on Mr Trump's tirade against Pakistan," Khan wrote in a series of tweets defending his country's record in the war on terror. "No Pakistani was involved in 9/11 but Pak decided to participate in US War on Terror," he wrote, adding that his country "suffered 75,000 casualties in this war & over $123 bn was lost to economy. US 'aid' was a miniscule $20 bn." "Our tribal areas were devastated & millions of [people] uprooted from their homes. The war drastically impacted lives of ordinary Pakistanis," he continued. The Pakistani prime minister also pointed out that his country continues to provide the United States with supply lines into Afghanistan, adding, "Can Mr Trump name another ally that gave such sacrifices?" Instead of making Pakistan "a scapegoat for their failures," Washington should do a serious assessment of "why the Taliban today are stronger than before," Khan concluded. As part of Trump's effort to resolve the 17-year war in Afghanistan, Washington has escalated pressure on Pakistan, whose assistance the U.S. believes is needed to compel the Taliban to agree to negotiate with the government in Kabul. The insurgents have so far declined government overtures for peace talks this year, and instead have escalated violence against U.S. and Afghan forces. With reporting by Fox News Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-khan-fires-back- trump-tirade-/29609090.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 Should Assess Afghan Campaign Instead of Blaming Islamabad for Failures PM Sputnik News 16:49 19.11.2018(updated 16:51 19.11.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) The United States should assess the efficiency of its military operation in Afghanistan instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for its failures in the region, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday responding to US President Donald Trump's critical remarks about Islamabad. "Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140000 NATO troops plus 250,000 Afghan troops & reportedly $1 trillion spent on war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before," Khan wrote on his Twitter page. The prime minister pointed out that Pakistan did a lot to support the US military operation in Afghanistan. "1. No Pakistani was involved in 9/11 but Pak decided to participate in US War on Terror. 2. Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties in this war & over $123 bn was lost to economy. US 'aid' was a miniscule $20 bn. 3. Our tribal areas were devastated & millions of ppl uprooted from their homes. The war drastically impacted lives of ordinary Pakistanis. 4. Pak continues to provide free lines of ground & air communication Can Mr Trump name another ally that gave such sacrifices?" Khan tweeted. On Sunday, the Fox News broadcaster issued an interview with Trump, who said that the United States had stopped providing support for Pakistan as Islamabad was doing nothing for Washington. In September, the Pentagon suspended $300 million in aid to Islamabad, citing the government's alleged failure to fight the Taliban and terrorist groups that conduct cross-border attacks from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. The US move came after Washington announced in January that it was suspending $900 million in security aid to Islamabad until it takes action against the Afghan Taliban. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian servicemen arrive in India to take part in Indra-2018 joint military drills Iran Press TV Mon Nov 19, 2018 07:09PM Russian troops of the Eastern Military District have arrived in India to participate in the Indra-2018 joint military drills, which will be held in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Russia's military says. According to Nikolai Voskresensky, the Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman, the servicemen would be part of 500 Russian and Indian troops set to take part in the joint drills, which are scheduled to officially begin in India later on Monday and last until November 28. "Il-76 military transport aircraft have landed at the Indian military air base of Gwalior. Then, Russian troops were taken by land transport to the Babin training ground in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northwest India, where a solemn meeting of the participants of the exercises was held in accordance with the national traditions of India," Russian news agency Sputnik quoted Voskresensky as saying in a press conference on Monday. The military vehicles for the exercises will be provided by the Indian side, the report by Sputnik further said, adding that during the joint drills, troops of both countries would be working on jointly planning peacemaking operations, coordinating the two sides' headquarters and ground forces units, as well as neutralizing a simulated group of terrorists. Last year, Russia and India conducted the Indra-2017 joint military exercises using ships from the Russian and Indian navies, which practiced creating a partial naval and air blockade of the simulated enemy. According to a statement by the press service of Russia's Eastern Military District, the drills consisted of a practical part and a second phase in which the ships of [Russia's] Pacific Fleet and the Indian Navy fulfilled the tasks of organizing joint air defense at the sea crossing and creating a partial naval and air blockade of the simulated enemy. Indian and Russian forces taking part in the drills also practiced escorting ships, creating humanitarian corridors, transferring various cargoes on the move, and detaining and inspecting ships that are conventionally captured by pirates. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Veterans Appeal To ICC Over Moscow's Alleged Use Of Mercenaries By RFE/RL's Russian Service November 19, 2018 An umbrella organization of groups representing Russian military veterans has appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the alleged mercenary activities of Russian private security firms. Yevgeny Shabayev, head of the All-Russia Officers Assembly, told RFE/RL on November 19 that the group approved the appeal to ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at its meeting in Moscow the previous day. It was not immediately clear whether or how the ICC would respond to the groups' petition. Russia is not a member of the court. The ICC has jurisdiction only when a country's own government is unwilling or unable to prosecute an extremely grave crime, and only over crimes committed on the territory of its member states. The Russian government does not acknowledge the use of private military contractors abroad, and mercenary activity is illegal under Russian law. Moscow has said that Russian civilians fighting in foreign conflicts do so of their own volition and have no connection with the Russian military. The veterans' groups assert that over the last three years they have received "thousands of complaints from Russian citizens" who participated in military actions in eastern Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and elsewhere. Shabayev told RFE/RL that his group has identified people who would be willing to testify about their experiences if the ICC opens an investigation. According to the veterans' groups' letter to the ICC, "employees of private military firms are intentionally deprived of their legal status, as a result of which they do not receive the health and economic benefits afforded to veterans by the government and are prosecuted under the law on mercenary activity." The group contends that the use of mercenaries in this way violates Article 7 of the ICC's Rome Statute, which bans the "enforced disappearance of persons...with the intention of removing them from the protection of the law." They also cite the same article's prohibition on transferring people by force "from the area in which they are lawfully present, without grounds permitted under international law." Russian Presidential Human Rights Council member Sergei Krivenko told RFE/RL that he welcomes the appeal to the ICC. "This problem exists because the state is using mercenaries in military conflicts through private military firms while acting as if it is not involved," Krivenko said. "Either we need to legalize private military firms with all the standard benefits for fighters or we need to prosecute them under the law on mercenary activity. But neither of these is happening." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-veterans- appeal-to-icc-over-moscow-s-alleged-use- of-mercenaries/29609013.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 Russia Targets Kremlin Critic Browder With 'Kafkaesque' Poison Probe By RFE/RL November 19, 2018 Russian authorities have leveled new accusations at British-based financier Bill Browder, saying the vocal Kremlin critic is now suspected of involvement in the death of his associate Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow jail a decade ago. In November 19 announcements that were swiftly dismissed by Browder as baseless and "Kafkaesque," state prosecutors also told a news conference that they had charged Browder in absentia with forming a "transnational criminal group." The accusations are the latest chapter in an ongoing battle between the Kremlin and Browder, a U.S.-born Briton who was once the biggest foreign investor in Russia but fell afoul of the government and is now a foe of President Vladimir Putin. In a tweet, Browder said that "Putin's 'fever dream' response to being caught poisoning the Skripals is accusing me of four murders, including poisoning of Sergei Magnitsky." The remark was a reference to the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in March, which Britain accuses Russia of carrying out with a nerve agent developed in the late Soviet era. The Russian claims come ahead of an Interpol election that could put a Russian Interior Ministry veteran at the head of the international policing group despite allegations that Moscow has used the agency to pursue political enemies, including Browder. Browder was the employer of Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who was arrested in 2008 after exposing a scheme in which mid-ranking Interior Ministry, tax service, and other officials allegedly defrauded the Russian state of $230 million. The officials who Magnitsky accused turned the tables, claiming he perpetrated the fraud himself, and he died in jail in November 2009 after what associates and activists said was a beating, the denial of medical care, and treatment that amounted to torture. Since Magnitsky's death, Browder has campaigned for laws in countries worldwide that are designed to punish those responsible for human rights abuses -- including the 2012 U.S. Magnitsky Act, which riled the Kremlin. Magnitsky was prosecuted and convicted posthumously, a development that caused outrage abroad, and a Moscow court sentenced Browder in absentia to nine years in prison in December 2017 after convicting him of large-scale tax evasion. At the news conference in Moscow, Nikolai Atmonyev, an assistant to Russia's prosecutor-general, said the authorities were investigating Browder's possible involvement in what he called "the fatal poisoning with a chemical" of Magnitsky and three other people. Another representative of the Prosecutor-General's Office, Mikhail Aleksandrov, claimed that Magnitsky and three other late associates of Browder had been poisoned with a chemical substance that he suggested was of Western origin. "Russia never conducted targeted studies" of the substances in question, Aleksandrov said, adding that "toxicological studies of aluminum compounds have been conducted exclusively by research centers in the United States, France, and Italy." The officials presented no evidence to back the alleged poison suspicion. But Prosecutor-General's Office spokesman Aleksandr Kurennoi claimed that Oleg Lurye, a journalist who was Magnitsky's cellmate, has said Browder might have poisoned Magnitsky. Atmonyev also said Browder was also charged with organizing a transnational criminal group and will be added to an international wanted list, while any property he has in Russia will be impounded. Browder said on Twitter that the Russian accusation came one day before "the Dutch government will be inviting all EU member states to The Hague to propose an EU wide Magnitsky Act." "In advance of that, the Russian government today has accused me of murdering Sergei Magnitsky," he tweeted. "Kafkaeske to say the least." Browder also suggested that the Russian accusations were connected to an election expected on November 21 in which a Russian, Aleksandr Prokopchuk, could be chosen as president of the French-based Interpol. "On the eve of Interpol deciding whether a Russian official should be president of Interpol, the Russian prosecutor's office holds a huge press conference about me and how they will chase me down anywhere in the world," he tweeted. "I really struck a nerve with the Magnitsky Act." Browder, who was barred from entering Russia in 2005, has been detained several times in various countries -- most recently in Spain in May of this year -- while Interpol sought to verify arrest warrants issued by Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov sought to challenge Browder's criticism, telling journalists in Moscow that the "so-called Browder case began, as far as I know, long before the episode with the Skripals" -- but said a "new episode was added" to the case. Browder's lawyer, Aleksandr Antipov, cried foul, saying that the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office and Investigative Committee officially informed him that Browder was not under investigation as a suspect in any case. Antipov called the prosecutors' new accusations "illegal" and said he will fight them. "Today's information was unexpected and unclear because by the law, first the person who is going to be charged and his/her lawyers must be informed about the charges before they are made public," Antipov said. Peskov also said that the Kremlin "naturally" supported Prokupchuk, who is now an Interpol vice president, and wanted him "to be victorious in this election." With reporting by Interfax, Dozhd, and The Guardian Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-prosecutor- financier-browder-suspected-of-involvement -in-magnitsky-s-death/29608530.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 Putin Says Russia 'Will Certainly Respond' to US Withdrawal From INF Treaty Sputnik News 21:40 19.11.2018(updated 21:41 19.11.2018) BOCHAROV RUCHEI (outside Moscow) (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Monday to discuss Russia's steps in regard to the US plans to withdraw from the Treaty on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF Treaty). "The US decision to withdraw from the INF treaty, certainly, cannot and will not remain without a response from our country," Putin stressed at a meeting on defence industry issues. "I propose today to discuss our steps related to the possible withdrawal of the United States from the INF treaty. I emphasize again that we are ready to hold a dialogue with American partners on this key issue and we hope that they will regard this with full responsibility." In October, US President Donald Trump said that his country planned to leave the INF Treaty, accusing Russia of violating it numerous times, while the Kremlin rejected the accusations, adding that Russia would be forced to take measures to ensure its security if the treaty was terminated by Washington. The INF Treaty is an agreement that the United States and the Soviet Union signed in December 1987. It prohibited either country from possessing, producing or flight-testing ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres (311 to 3,418 miles) and their launchers. On Russian Armed Forces and Global Arms Race The Russian President also addressed a development of the military forces in the country, stressing that "the situation on the planet has not become calmer." "In these conditions, not allowing to be drawn into a militarist race, and using flexible, non-costly for the budget, but effective solutions, we must ensure the steady and balanced development of the army and the navy so that they are able to neutralize any potential threats," Putin stressed. Earlier in October, US President Donald Trump said the United States was creating a space force to catch up with China and Russia. In September, Moscow warned Washington against deploying conventional arms in space, saying that the international community had to adopt an agreement on the issue. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany bans 18 Saudis from entering Schengen zone over Khashoggi killing Iran Press TV Mon Nov 19, 2018 03:28PM Germany has imposed travel bans on 18 Saudi nationals suspected of having links to the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's diplomatic mission in Turkey's Istanbul early last month. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas made the announcement on Monday, saying the 18 Saudi citizens had been banned from entering the country's territory as well as Europe's Schengen passport-free zone over Khashoggi's killing. "As before, there are more questions than answers in this case, with the crime itself and who is behind it," Maas said on the sidelines of a European Union meeting in Brussels, adding that he had discussed the decision with his British and French counterparts prior to the announcement. Berlin has "decided that Germany should impose an entry ban on 18 Saudi citizens, who are presumed to be in connection with this deed, in the Schengen information system," Maas told reporters. Mass' office later announced that it could not release the names of those sanctioned Saudi nationals due to Germany's privacy laws, but said the members of the 15-strong squad accused of carrying out the killing and a further three suspected of organizing the brutal act had been given entry bans. The Schengen Area comprises 22 EU countries and four non-EU countries. Britain is not part of the passport-free Schengen zone but shares intelligence through Schengen Information System (SIS) for law enforcement purposes. Germany has already imposed a ban on selling weapons to Riyadh until the circumstances of Khashoggi's killing are fully cleared up. The United States also imposed economic sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals last week, including suspected members of the alleged hit squad and senior advisers to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who is alleged to have been involved in the killing of the 59-year-old critic. US media reported on Saturday that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) believed with "high confidence" that the Saudi crown prince directly ordered the killing. Saudi Arabia is facing global criticism over Khashoggi's killing inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Khashoggi, a prominent commentator on Saudi affairs who wrote for the Washington Post's Global Opinions section, had lived in self-imposed exile in the US since September 2017, when he left Saudi Arabia over fears of the Riyadh regime's crackdown on critical voices. The 59-year-old was seeking to secure documentation for his forthcoming marriage when he entered the Saudi consulate, but never came out despite Riyadh's initial claim that he exited the mission less than an hour after completing his paperwork. The Saudi kingdom, after denying the murder for several days, finally admitted that Khashoggi had been killed in the consulate during an interrogation by rogue operatives that had gone wrong after diplomatic pressure grew tremendously on Riyadh to give an account on the mysterious fate of its national. However, Saudi Arabia said that it did not know the whereabouts of Khashoggi's body, which is widely believed to have been dismembered. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the assassination was ordered at the "highest levels" of the Saudi government, but stopped short of pointing the finger of blame at the crown prince. Turkey wants the 15-man team that it says killed the journalist to be tried there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump can't ditch MbS because of personal stakes: report Iran Press TV Mon Nov 19, 2018 07:49AM US President Donald Trump can't let go of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite increasing evidence that the prince ordered the murder of a Saudi critic overseas, and that is because the US president has personal stakes in propping up Mohammed, a new report suggests. An article by The New York Times' White House correspondent on Sunday explained why Trump was sticking with Mohammed even as "evidence piles up pointing to the Saudi crown prince's responsibility in the brutal killing of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi." Khashoggi was assassinated by a hit squad of 15 Saudi Arabian agents including a frequent companion of Mohammed's and some members of his security detail inside the Saudi consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul on October 2. Turkey "moved heaven and earth" to bring international attention to the killing. As that attention was attracted, Saudi Arabia became incapable of quietly getting away with the assassination. Riyadh has several times altered its narrative on the killing. Initially, it denied the killing altogether. After 18 days of blatant denial, Riyadh finally acknowledged the killing but said Khashoggi had been killed in a "rogue" operation that had gone haywire. Still later, on Thursday, November 15, the Saudi Public Prosecution offered yet another account, saying the 15 agents had acted on "an order to bring back the victim (Khashoggi) by means of persuasion, and if persuasion fails, to do so by force" but had then went on to kill him on their own. Citing informed sources, The Washington Post reported on November 16 that the CIA "has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination." Trump, who had already refused to directly implicate Mohammed, then defied his own country's intelligence agency by saying that the CIA assessment was "very premature." The New York Times said in its Sunday article that Trump had basically three reasons why he was resisting blaming Mohammed. It said Saudi Arabia which is under the de facto rule of Mohammed is "a linchpin" of the Trump administration's hawkish strategy on Iran. The Saudi crown prince also has a close relationship with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is pursuing what he thinks would be a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians. And lastly, Mohammed has pledged to buy 110 billion dollars' worth of American military equipment. The stance is "a vivid illustration of how deeply Mr. Trump has invested in the 33-year-old heir [to the Saudi crown], who has become the fulcrum of the administration's strategy in the Middle East from Iran to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process as well as a prolific shopper for American military weapons, even if most of those contracts have not paid off yet," the article read. 'Even Israel...' All of that has worked to dissuade the American president from blaming Mohammed for the murder of Khashoggi, a position, according to the Times, that is "increasingly isolated" on a global scale. "The European Union has demanded 'full clarity' from the Saudis about the killing of Mr. Khashoggi," the article said. Even Israel, "with strategic ties to Saudi Arabia, is not vocally defending" Mohammed, it added. All the three reasons mentioned by The New York Times have to do with Trump's personal agenda for his presidency. He has long promised to pressure Iran, broker what he likes to tout as the "deal of the century" while awkwardly working to anger the Palestinians by moving the US embassy to Jerusalem al-Quds, and creating jobs in America supposedly with the sale of American military hardware to rich Arab governments. Failure on any of those fronts would potentially make Trump look bad in the eyes of his base. 'Fractures inside the White House' Separately, the Times reported that a top White House official responsible for American policy toward Saudi Arabia including recent sanctions on Saudi Arabian nationals over the killing of Khashoggi had resigned on Friday. It called the resignation "a move that may suggest fractures inside the Trump administration over the response to the brutal killing of" Khashoggi. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has attempted to shift the blame for Khashoggi's murder to Mohammed's underlings, including at least one of his advisers. But it has claimed that the criminality somehow stops short of reaching the crown prince himself. Riyadh has also failed to produce Khashoggi's body as of yet. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 20) Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival in Manila on Tuesday, a number of militant groups have called for his immediate exit upon entry to the country. Protesters on Tuesday held a demonstration in front of the Chinese consulate in Makati to oppose his two-day state visit. "Philippines, not for sale! Atin ang Pinas, China layas!" they chanted. They also protested against the reclamation and militarization in the South China Sea, including Philippine waters. They criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for letting China get away with it, despite the country's victory in the arbitral court against China. China has refused to recognize the July 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The ruling also recognized the Philippines' rights within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Sal Panelo said the government has its own take on how to deal with China. He added the Philippines has not become a "province of China." "The President has different tact in solving the problems confronting us. He's using diplomacy, negotiation and persuasion to get what we want," he said in a media briefing on Tuesday. A Social Weather Stations survey released on Tuesday showed 84 percent of Filipinos oppose the Duterte administration's inaction in the face of China's intrusion in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Seventy-two percent said it is "very important" for the Philippines to regain full control of the islands occupied by China in the WPS. Fifteen percent said it is "somewhat important." Related: 84% of Filipinos reject gov't inaction vs. China on West Philippine Sea survey YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The relative calm at the border is the result of the agreements reached in Dushanbe, caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said today at a press conference. The operative communication is one of the components of the agreement. Discussions took place over this issue too, some people thought me and Azerbaijans president are talking to one another all day. Of course this isnt so, information was exchanged through representatives, upon necessity, he said. He said that he has states his stance over the Artsakh issue very clearly. We must unite our pan-national potential for fully protecting and pursuing our interests in the Artsakh issue. It is clear that the Artsakh issue is of key significance for the people of the country, Pashinyan said. According to Pashinyan, from the very first day the negotiations process was seemingly covered with mystery. He said that there is a certain impression that a limited number of people are familiar with the negotiations process. I find this approach to be wrong. I think that maximally many people must be familiar with the negotiations process over the Artsakh issue. The Armenian people are familiar with the negotiations process and content regarding the Artsakh issue more than ever before. This approach will be continued, he said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Berlin Bans 18 Saudis From Schengen Zone, Halts Arms Exports Amid Khashoggi Case Sputnik News 13:43 19.11.2018(updated 18:50 19.11.2018) Saudi Arabia recently announced it had charged 11 citizens of being involved in planning and executing the journalist's murder, with 5 of them facing death penalty. Riyadh denies any of the Royal Family was involved in the crime and urged against politicising the case. Germany announced on 19 November that it would freeze arms shipments to Saudi Arabia, including already approved contracts, amid the ongoing investigation into Jamal Khashoggi's murder, the AP reported. German Economy Ministry spokesman Philipp Jornitz said that Berlin is working with arms producers to halt supplies. Previously, Germany announced that it wouldn't approve any new arms export contracts with Saudi Arabia. Earlier in the day, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has announced via the ministry's official Twitter account that Germany has imposed Schengen zone entry bans on 18 Saudi nationals allegedly linked to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist of Saudi descent. The statement said that the measures had been coordinated with France and the UK. Maas added that so far Khashoggi's case has generated more questions than answers. The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman refused to name those affected by the ban, citing the country's privacy laws, Reuters reported. Earlier, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, called on Saudi Arabia to 'shed full clarity' on the murder of The Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi. She noted that despite Riyadh's reporting the arrests of those responsible for the murder, some circumstances surrounding the case remain unclear. Saudi authorities have arrested 21 people, 11 of whom have already been charged for the murder of Khashoggi, who was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. Five of those charged face the death penalty. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir noted that Riyadh considers the murder to be a 'crime and a big mistake,' but cautioned against politicising it. The kingdom also assured that none of the members of the Royal Family, including the Crown Prince was responsible for organizing the killing. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi King's Speech Makes No Mention of Slain Journalist By Ken Bredemeier November 19, 2018 Saudi King Salman broke his long-running public silence since the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi to make his annual policy speech. During the address he praised the Kingdom's judicial system, a week after it exonerated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is widely believed to have ordered the assassination. But the king made no mention of allegations the young royal ordered the killing. "The kingdom was founded on Islamic principles of justice and equality, and we are proud of the efforts of the judiciary and the public prosecution," the king said in his annual address to the Shura Council, a legislative body that serves him. A Saudi prosecutor cleared the crown prince of wrongdoing last week while calling for the death penalty for five men, announcing indictments against 11. The prosecutor said a total of 21 people had been detained in connection with the killing. The CIA reportedly has concluded the crown prince, de facto leader of the kingdom, ordered the October 2 hit on Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in the Turkish capital Ankara. Germany's foreign minister said Monday that Berlin will ban 18 Saudi nationals from entering Europe's border-free Schengen zone because of their alleged links to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Heiko Maas said he had consulted with France and Britain before announcing the ban. "There are more questions than answers in this case, with the crime itself and who is behind it," Mass said on the sidelines of a European Union meeting in Brussels. U.S. President Donald Trump says he has been fully briefed on an audio recording of the killing of the dissident Saudi journalist 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 in a White House interview that was recorded 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 the Central Intelligence Agency has concluded the Saudi Crown Prince ordered the killing. 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?" adding, "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. 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. Trump said it depends, "I want to see Yemen end. 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. 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. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 18 Saudis Banned From Europe's Schengen Zone By Ken Bredemeier November 19, 2018 Germany's foreign minister said Monday that Berlin will ban 18 Saudi nationals from entering Europe's border-free Schengen zone because of their alleged links to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Heiko Maas said he had consulted with France and Britain before announcing the ban. "There are more questions than answers in this case, with the crime itself and who is behind it," Mass said on the sidelines of a European Union meeting in Brussels. U.S. President Donald Trump says he has been fully briefed on an audio recording of the killing of the dissident Saudi journalist 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. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian army repels terrorists infiltration attempts in Hama IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Nov 20, IRNA -- Terrorist groups continued to violate the demilitarized zone agreement in Idleb countryside and Hama northern countryside by infiltrating towards strategic points to attack military posts positioned in the area to protect civilians in the safe villages. In the surroundings of al-Latamina town, an army unit in the surrounding of al-Zalaqiyat town tracked the movement of a terrorist group affiliated to the so-called "al-Ezza Brigades" terrorist organization towards a number of military posts on the outskirts of the demilitarized zone, SANA reported. The army unit targeted the infiltrating terrorist group with light weapons inflicting heavy losses among the ranks of terrorists who fled away. To the north of Mhardeh City, SANA's reporter said that an army unit positioned in the surrounding of al-Hamamyiat village confronted with shells a terrorist group which infiltrated from the surrounding of Tal al-Sakher town towards military posts as a number of terrorists were killed or injured. The reporter indicated that terrorist groups from the same organization moved from the direction of al-Latamina-al-Zakat benefiting from the thick fog in the early morning to infiltrate and attack a military post on the outskirts of Shalyout village to the north of Mhardeh city. The reporter added that the vigilance among army personnel who are positioned in the area and the night vision binoculars allowed them to ambush the infiltrating terrorists and to inflict heavy losses upon them in the personnel and equipment while their remnants fled away. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Envoy to UN Urges to Set Up Country's Constitutional Committee Sputnik News 04:09 20.11.2018 UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura voiced late on Monday his hope that the Syrian Constitutional Committee, set to draft reforms to the country's constitution, could convene in December. "Let me declare: our aim is and remains for the UN to issue invitations latest, we believe. mid [middle] of December and convene the first meeting of the Constitutional Committee within December, before the 31st of December, which is the date indicated in the Istanbul, very constructive, declaration," de Mistura told the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, Damascus believes that the Syrian Constitutional Committee, set to draft reforms to the country's constitution, should be established as soon as possible, Syria's Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari told the UN Security Council. "We positively look on the establishment of a committee to discuss a current constitution," Jaafari said on Monday. "We are mindful of the establishment of such a constitution [committee] and we believe it should be set up as soon as possible." Jaafari pointed out that the constitutional committee should be based on the commitment to Syria's sovereignty and integrity, and any process related to the constitution should not affect this commitment. Secondly, the envoy continued, the political process should be led by Syrians without external interference. "Any prior conclusion with regard to the work of the committee and its recommendations cannot be accepted," he added. "The constructional committee is sovereign and takes its decisions." On October 27, the leaders of Russia, Turkey, Germany and France held a summit in Istanbul aimed at brokering an end to the war in Syria. In a joint communique issued after the summit, the leaders said the Syrian Constitutional Committee should convene in Geneva by the end of 2018. The idea to form a Syrian constitutional committee was first agreed at the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi in January. Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the government forces fighting against numerous opposition groups and terrorist organizations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Continues De-escalation Effort Between Turkey, Kurds in Syria - Pentagon Sputnik News 01:59 20.11.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States continues to try to de-escalate the situation between the Kurds and Turkey in Syria, US Department of Defense spokesperson Sean Robertson told Sputnik. "We continue to engage the leadership on all sides in order to deescalate the situation," Robertson said on Monday. "The idea is to keep fight focus on ISIS [Daesh]." The Syrian Democratic Forces have long been the point of disagreements between Turkey and the United States. Ankara has condemned Washington for sending arms and providing other support to the group while Washington has been calling on Ankara for restraint in its conflict with the Kurds. In late October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara would soon begin a large-scale operation against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to the east of the Euphrates. The YPG makes up a major component of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which seek to defeat the Daesh terrorist group in Syria. The United States has been supplying the Kurds with weapons and sees its aid to the militia as part of the fight against terrorism. Turkey has said it considers the YPG to be a terrorist organization associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), banned by Turkey. Ankara has been claiming that the YPG's presence near its border hampers its national security. Earlier this year, Turkey conducted an offensive against the Kurdish militia in Syria's northern border city of Afrin and is also engaged in an operation to eliminate Kurdish strongholds in northern Iraq. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon Supports Enhanced Dialogue Between US, Russian Troops in Syria Sputnik News 00:20 20.11.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Department of Defense spokesman Eric Pahon told Sputnik on Monday that the existing deconfliction channel between the Russian and US militaries in Syria has worked well. "More dialogue could only be better," Pahon said. "We are talking with the Russians in the area The more we talk and the more we are able to avoid miscalculation, the better." Pahon said the established military-to-military deconfliction channel has been working well and there have not been any interruptions, but pointed out that the US military is prohibited from actually cooperating with Russia. "General Dunford has had communications with his counterpart on the mil-to-mil level. We haven't had any significant incidents between the coalition aircraft or Russian aircraft operating in the area. So, clearly we were able to deconflict our operations and that continues," Pahon said. In August, The US government extended its ban against cooperating militarily with Russia in a bilateral format through 2019, according to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The prohibition, first enacted in the 2017 NDAA, says none of the funds authorized may be used for any bilateral military-to-military cooperation with Russia until Moscow implements the Minsk accords and returns Crimea to Ukrainian sovereignty. However, the 2019 law adds a provision missing from two previous NDAAs that explicitly authorizes negotiations between Washington and Moscow. Syria has been in a state of conflict since 2011, with the government forces of President Bashar Assad fighting against numerous opposition groups and terrorist organizations. Russia, along with Turkey and Iran, is a guarantor of a countrywide ceasefire in Syria, while it also provides humanitarian assistance to Syrian civilians and is actively engaged in dialogue on the settlement to the Syrian crisis. The US-led coalition of more than 70 members has been conducting military operations against the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria and Iraq since September 2014. The coalition's activities in Syria are authorized neither by the Syrian government, nor by the UN Security Council. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon, US Congress Seek Alternatives to Russia's S-400 for Turkey - Spokesman Sputnik News 02:46 20.11.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Russia's S-300 air defense systems in Syria have no impact on the United States' operations in the country, US Department of Defense spokesman Eric Pahon told Sputnik. "Not on our operations," Pahon said on Monday refereeing to the impact of Russia's S-300 air defense systems in Syria. Pahon cautioned that adding more weapons systems in Syria could only endanger multiple militaries operating in the area and cause potential danger to civilian aircraft transiting the area. "Any additional arms [sent] into Syria only serves to escalate the situation at this point," Pahon said. "We need to be having diplomatic discussions to end the conflict in eastern Syria, and we need to be supporting the Geneva-led process to come to a resolution of that conflict. By adding more armaments and more systems, that only complicates the situation at this point." Pahon reiterated that the mission of the United States in Syria remains unchanged. "We remain focused on the defeat of ISIS [Daesh]," Pahon said. On October 2, Russia finished delivering S-300 systems to Syria in an attempt to increase the safety of Russian troops deployed there. The move was announced after a Russian Il-20 military plane was downed on September 17 by a missile launched by a Syrian S-200 air defense system targeting Israeli F-16 jets that were carrying out airstrikes in Latakia. The Russian Defense Ministry has blamed the crash on the Israeli Air Force, claiming that the Israeli jets used the Russian aircraft as a shield against Syrian air defense systems. Israel has voiced concerns over Russia's decision to supply Syria with S-300 systems, saying that Damascus would be able to control Israeli airspace. However, Eric Pahon told Sputnik told Sputnik that the Pentagon is working with Congress to help find alternatives to Russia's S-400 air defense systems for Turkey "We've got ongoing diplomatic discussions on that," Pahon said. "We turned in our congressionally mandated report on the relationship with Turkey last Friday, November 9, to Congress. As part of the report, I mean it was only encompassing look at our relationship with Turkey, goods, bads and everything. We are in diplomatic discussions with Turkey to look for viable alternatives to the S-400. So, we are helping them to find alternatives along with Congress to the S-400 purchase. We are continuing to work with Turkey, continuing to work with Congress to try to find the alternatives." In December 2017, Ankara signed a loan agreement with Moscow envisaging the delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to Turkey. Russia's Rostec state corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov said then that the contract envisaged the delivery of four S-400 battalion-size sets worth $2.5 billion, with 55 percent of the contract sum being covered by Russian loans. On October 25, Akara said that Turkey would begin the deployment of the S-400s in October 2019. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov clarified on Wednesday that the contract allows Ankara to exercise the right of option after the main deliveries under the deal have been made. "As we've discussed with our Turkish counterparts, the S-400 purchase would have significant consequences or could have significant consequences on the US-Turkey defense relationship. There is a lot of things that that purchase comes along with," Pahon said. US officials have warned that if Ankara goes ahead with its plans to purchase the S-400 system, the United States could withhold the transfer of F-35 jets to Turkey. In addition, the US Congress passed legislation that would block the transfer of F-35 jets. S-400 is the next-generation mobile missile system which can carry three different types of missiles capable of destroying a variety of aerial targets at a short-to-extremely-long range, from reconnaissance aircraft to ballistic missiles. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spain warns it could reject Brexit deal over Gibraltar Iran Press TV Mon Nov 19, 2018 05:56PM Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell has threatened that his country could torpedo Britain's agreement for withdrawing from the European Union because it still fails to mention that Madrid would have the right to independently discuss the future of Gibraltar with London after Brexit. "The negotiations between Britain and the EU have a territorial scope that does not include Gibraltar, the negotiations on the future of Gibraltar are separate discussions," said Borrell on Monday. The top Spanish diplomat said that unless a Brexit deal between London and Brussels made it clear that Gibraltar's future would be up for discussion outside the EU's jurisdiction after Brexit, Spain would not support the agreement. "This is what needs to (be) made clear, and until it is clarified in the withdrawal agreement and in the political declaration on the future relationship, we cannot give our backing (to the deal)," said Borrell as he was in Brussels to attend an EU ministerial summit for endorsing the draft Brexit agreement. EU leaders are expected to give their final approval to the Brexit deal in a special summit on Sunday. Spain has for long opposed Britain's sovereignty on Gibraltar, a small peninsula on Spain's southern coast which became British territory in 1713. Spanish authorities said last week that it would be positive for residents of Gibraltar that Britain and the EU included a protocol on the territory in the draft Brexit agreement. Some 96 percent of Gibraltar's population voted in the 2016 Brexit referendum to remain in the EU. However, the peninsula should leave the bloc along the United Kingdom on March 29, 2019. EU sources have defended Spain's claims about the need for Britain to renegotiate Gibraltar's status after Brexit. One diplomat said Monday that the issue could even be raised during the EU's November 25 summit. Another EU official said Spain had accepted Britain's position on Gibraltar in 1986 when the peninsula was joining the EU more than a decade after London's accession to the bloc. The official said it was now Britain's turn to accept that "the tables have turned." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spain Needs More 'Clarity' on Gibraltar Before Endorsing Brexit Deal Officials Sputnik News 20:29 19.11.2018 27 European Union member states have examined UK prime minister Theresa May's Brexit draft agreement regarding Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, with Spanish officials stating that it cannot endorse the plan due to a lack of understanding over the contentious position of Gibraltar. Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell urged EU Brexit chief Michel Barnier to change stipulations in Article 184, which was not communicated to Spanish officials until Barnier dispersed the document to all 27 EU members on Wednesday, El Pais reported while citing diplomatic sources. However, the Gibraltar first minister Fabian Picardo and UK Prime Minister Theresa May saw the document. "We want the interpretation to be clear in that text that the negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU will not apply to Gibraltar," Borrell stated after an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels. Borrell also demanded changes to the article to clearly separate Brexit negotiations from those on Gibraltar, which are held bilaterally between Madrid and London. "That what is being negotiated has a territorial scope that does not include Gibraltar," Borrell continued, adding that "future negotiations on Gibraltar are separate. And that is what has to be made clear." Spain is satisfied with the UK-EU draft agreement on Brexit, including the protocol on Gibraltar, the country's Foreign Ministry said Thursday. Brexit talks between London and Brussels previously included protocols concerning Gibraltar, Cyprus and backstops to prevent a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Whilst the agreement was not "ideal", it was still successful and coincided with Spain's position on the "need to respect the rights of citizens" after Brexit, Spanish state secretary for the EU Luis Marco Aguiriano Nalda said during a press conference. "Spain is very satisfied with the protocol on Gibraltar [and] satisfied that the EU sided with Spain in negotiations with the UK," he said. The disagreement could extend to an EU impasses over fishing regulations and limitations on post-Brexit transitional phases, an EU diplomat said as quoted by Reuters. The 2.3 square mile territory of Gibraltar, which was handed over to Britain in 1713 after the Treaty of Utrecht, has seen repeated tensions between Spain and the UK after Britain forced Spanish officials to accept its positions. But decades later, London realises that "the tables have turned", one senior EU official stated. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More Than 500 Safety Scares Recorded at UK's Trident Nuclear Base Since 2006 Sputnik News 19:54 19.11.2018(updated 20:00 19.11.2018) There have long been concerns about the security of the UK's Trident submarine fleet based in Scotland. Accusations that the government has covered up safety scares have long been in circulation. Now, it appears that such concerns were well founded. More than 500 safety events of "near-misses" and "human error" have been recorded at the storage place of the UK's 'Trident' nuclear deterrent since 2006, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). According to the Daily Mail Online, the Minister of Defence Procurement, Stuart Andrew, wrote in a letter to the British parliament that overall, 505 "events" over the past 12 years were recorded at HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane, Scotland, were the overwhelming majority of the UK's nuclear submarines are based. The findings come on the heels of a public row last year when Downing Street was accused of trying to cover up a missile malfunction when the weapon was tested and failed mid-flight off the coast of Florida in June 2016. In the letter, Mr Andrew's rather alarmingly explains how the events that occurred consisted of "near-misses, equipment failures, human error or procedural failings." In what could be described as a peacenik's worst nightmare, two of the accidents that happened were recorded as 'Category A', which means that they were of the upmost level of danger. These allegedly occurred in the years 2006 and 2007. Category A events have "actual or high potential for radioactive release to the environment," according to reports on the letter. Despite the alarm, Mr Andrew reportedly wrote that in "neither event was any radiological contamination evident." To temper concerns about public and staff safety, he also added that, "none of the events caused harm to the health of any member of staff on the naval base, or to any member of the public." Deidre Brock, an MP for the Scottish National Party who originally requested the information from the MoD is widely quoted as saying that, "discovering that there is a succession of safety failures, more than one a week in recent years, really brings home how dangerous Faslane is." The UK's MoD came under heavy fire back in late 2017 when it made the decision to classify annual reports from the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) as 'secret.' The DNSR is an internal MoD watchdog, which has warned for years about safety risks and a shortage of experiences nuclear engineers to work on the Trident submarines. In 2007, the DNSR warned of "crew fatigue" and warned of "11 potentially significant risks" at Faslane. In 2014, the group said that a lack of skilled personnel constituted "the principal threat to the delivery of nuclear safety." Kate Hudson, the general Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has been quoted across the British media as saying of these latest revelations that she "welcomes a return to a degree of transparency" marked by the public release of the figures. However, she cautions that the numbers "confirm our fears, revealing a catalogue of accidents in the last three years.""Many of these incidents involved the Trident submarines which carry Britain's nuclear weapons," she reportedly added Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MOD awards 160m contract to prepare RAF Lakenheath for US F-35s The MOD has awarded a contract worth 160m to Kier VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver infrastructure to ready RAF Lakenheath for two squadrons of US F-35s. 19 November 2018 The Suffolk airbase will be the first permanent international site for US Air Force F-35s in Europe and continues the base's long and proud history of supporting US Air Force capability in the UK. Co-locating US and UK F-35 capability in the UK will help strengthen the historic military ties between the two nations as well as the partnership between the RAF and US Air Forces The contract awarded to Kier VolkerFitzpatrick includes the construction of a flight simulator facility, a maintenance unit, new hangars and storage facilities. The flight simulator will have the capacity to link to other simulators used pilots across the UK and beyond, allowing expertise to be shared and pilots from the UK and US to train together on a regular basis. At the height of construction, it is expected that there will be up to 700 contractors on site. The investment will also provide wider benefits to the local economy with over 1,000 personnel and family members living at the base. MOD is also working closely with Forest Heath District Council and Kier VolkerFitzpatrick to ensure that the opportunities to create employment and training are maximised to ensure they last beyond the end of construction. A ceremony, attended by representatives from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa (USAFE- AFAFRICA), Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), Kier VolkerFitzpatrick and Forest Heath District Council, was held at the base to celebrate the award of the contract. Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Tobias Ellwood, said: "For more than one hundred years now our armed forces have fought in defence of our common values and interests. Our two countries have developed the deepest, broadest and most advanced relationship of any two nations." "Today marks another step towards reinforcing the strong partnership between our two nations and an exciting milestone for RAF Lakenheath." "This investment will see substantial benefits to local economy, bringing 1,000 new personnel with their families and we will work hard to ensure that the benefits will last long after construction ends." USAF 48th Fighter Wing Commander, Colonel Will Marshall, said: "This is an exciting milestone for the 48th Fighter Wing and for all our partners. We're transforming RAF Lakenheath together, and the work we do today is critical to the future security of the United States, the United Kingdom and the NATO Alliance." DIO Commercial Director, Jacqui Rock, said: "We welcome this investment into RAF Lakenheath. This is an incredible opportunity for UK Defence and for the local area and DIO is pleased to be able to support the development of this key infrastructure which will make the beddown of the US F-35s possible." Managing director of aviation and defence at Kier, James Hindes, said: "We're extremely proud to have been appointed to deliver another prestigious defence project for DIO. It builds on our extensive expertise in the defence sector delivering first-class projects within secure environments including facilities at MoD Lyneham and RAF Shawbury." "We look forward to working closely with the DIO and our local supply chain to provide this crucial infrastructure and deliver this exciting opportunity ready for the arrival of the two permanent squadrons." Managing director of VolkerFitzpatrick's Civils division, Chris Evans, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this highly significant project with DIO. VolkerFitzpatrick has been working with the United States Air Force at RAF Lakenheath for over ten years and we look forward to bringing the knowledge we have gained to this new contract." "The project will allow us to build on our substantial experience within the civil airports and defence sector, to deliver the highest quality infrastructure for the new F-35 Fighter Jet." The contract has been designed so that the enabling work can begin immediately on the award. Building work is programmed to start in the summer next year so that the base can welcome the first of the new aircraft in 2021. The contract award is the first in a wider programme of work to support US Air Force operations in the UK, with more than US$1bn expected to be in invested in the UK over the next seven to ten years. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Armed Forces Minister reaffirms importance of Gibraltar to UK defence Armed Forces Minister Mark Lancaster reaffirmed the strategic importance of Gibraltar for UK defence at the signing ceremony for the Armed Forces (Gibraltar) Act onboard HMS Diamond. 19 November 2018 The signing of the Armed Forces (Gibraltar) Act marks an important milestone for both the UK and Gibraltar and will ensure the relationship between Service Police on The Rock and the Royal Gibraltar Police to go from strength to strength. Armed Forces Minister Mark Lancaster said: "Gibraltar is of vital importance to the UK Armed Forces and our allies. Whilst our relationship with the EU is changing, our commitment to European prosperity and security remains steadfast and our duty to support Gibraltar, its people and its economy is resolute." Mark Lancaster also met Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, they discussed the strategic importance of Gibraltar to UK defence. Its value is best demonstrated by the support delivered to HMS Ocean as she docked to load humanitarian aid and disaster relief before sailing to the Caribbean Islands to assist those devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017 as well as welcoming future flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, this year whilst on sea trials. While onboard HMS Diamond, Mark Lancaster also met Commanding Officer, Commander Ben Keith, and his crew who are returning from training in the eastern Mediterranean. The Portsmouth-based Type 45 warship and her 200 crew have been tested by fighter jets including Tornados, Typhoons and F16s, plus E3 surveillance aircraft and Voyager transporters in the skies above and around Cyprus as well as training in anti-submarine warfare. The Minister also took the opportunity to catch up with a number of units within British Forces Gibraltar. A visit to the Spyglass and Rockgun Battery's was followed by a visit to the Gibraltar Defence Police Headquarters. He then met with UK Armed Forces service personnel stationed at RAF Gibraltar and got the chance to see the Airfield Fire and Rescue Service's new fire vehicles, which have been procured through joint funding between MOD and HMGoG. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NISSAN Australia says it is building a business case to import the off-road-focused Navara AT32 dual-cab pick-up, which has sold out in Europe ahead of a wider rollout via the Japanese brands partnership with Icelandic four-wheel-drive specialist Arctic Trucks. Shaping up as a rival to Toyotas HiLux Rugged X, the AT32 or a similar variant could enter the higher end of the ute segment with a pricetag well above $60,000 in the next 12 months. The Navaras current flagship, the ST-X, starts from $51,990 before on-road costs. We are actively working on securing the AT32 for Australia; we believe it would be a popular addition to the Navara line-up for Australian customers, Nissan Australia said in a statement. Speaking to Australian journalists at an international light-commercial vehicle drive event in Morocco, Nissan Motor Company frame-based SUVs and pick-ups chief product specialist Pedro de Anda said the AT32 was one of several upcoming enhanced Navaras, but this particular variant could soon extend its reach Down Under if key hurdles are overcome. We do want to enhance the toughness of Navara and the overall capability, he said. (The AT32) is proof of our intention to offer more capable grades. Now its in Europe, we also have the intention to expand this to other markets (but) theres one main restriction, which is Arctic Trucks only has operations in Europe. Theres no sales, technical support, anything outside of Europe. Originally limited to 400 examples when launched two months ago across several countries in Western Europe, the AT32 quickly sold out and had its production run extended. When asked if Arctic Trucks exclusively European operations mean that Australia would not be one of these new markets to offer the AT32, Mr de Anda said various solutions exist for this issue. There are many possibilities, he said. Navara for Australia is coming from Thailand, so you could have Arctic Trucks setting up operations and supporting from Thailand, or doing the conversion in Australia, or in Europe and shipping to Australia. Mr de Anda added that the initial arrangement with Arctic Trucks deliberately allows it to complete the AT32s upgrades, as opposed to Nissan doing it on the Navara production line. They are the experts in this conversion, he said. As experts, we believe it was better for them to do the conversion. In Europe, the Arctic Trucks name is quite strong, so its a win-win to have the name on the truck. Its good for them to have trucks with their name and grow, and it also gives confidence to the customers about the capability. When asked if there is potential for another third party to offer an off-road-focused Navara in collaboration with Nissan, Mr de Anda left the door ajar but warned that its expectations were high. Its not exclusive with Arctic Trucks but the standards need to be met, he said. Whoever does the conversion, there are very strict standards that need to be met, and quality cannot be compromised. If there is someone who has the same, or maybe even better, quality and performance than Arctic Trucks, then it could be a potential partner. If the AT32 is not made available to Australia, a local four-wheel-drive specialist could deliver a similar factory-backed product, according to Mr de Anda. Theres pros and cons, he said. If its a local partner, they might know a little bit more about that market specifically, because usage might not be the same but then you start having a little more complexity. The AT32 is based on the recently revealed N-Guard grade of the Spanish-built European-market Series II Navara, with specifically prepared examples transported from the Barcelona plant to Arctic Trucks conversion facility to be upgraded before being sent back to Nissan for sale. As reported by GoAuto, Nissan Australia also has its hand up for the N-Guard, which offers a sportier look. The AT32 then adds increased off-road capability. Specifically, the N-Guard features black finishes for its front grille, headlights, roof rails, doorhandles and alloy wheels, plus a decal pack and black leather/cloth upholstery with yellow stitching. The AT32 then ups the ante with its raised suspension, full underbody protection, 32-inch tyres and wheelarch extensions, all while maintaining Nissans factory warranty. A snorkel and a front differential lock are optional. The N-Guard and AT32 could give the Navara a much-needed boost in sales, with its volume down 1.9 per cent, to 13,435 units, in the year to date. As a result, it is currently sixth in the ute segment, trailing the HiLux (43,163) and Ranger (35,310), among others. Having now sampled the AT32 in some of the worlds harshest terrains, we can safely say it will be a competitive offering if Nissan Australia has its way. Morocco served up tarmac, sand, gravel, rocks, mud and water during our extensive test program, with the AT32 proving that no terrain was too challenging. Even though the AT32 uses the Navaras multi-link, coil-sprung live rear axle, it misses out on the Series III models Australian-developed dual-rate springs that are slowly being introduced overseas. As such, it was hard to assess the AT32s ride comfort over these terrains, as any new Navara variant sold Down Under will feature the Series III setup that addresses customer and media feedback regarding unladen performance. Ignoring this, it is clear that the AT32 builds upon the Navaras strong off-road foundations by increasing its ride height 40mm and, in turn, further honing its approach, departure and ramp-over angles. These improvements were particularly handy when navigating massive sand dunes in the Sahara Desert and being confronted with near-vertical descents. Similarly, the AT32s higher-profile rubber provided extra confidence when making contact with stones. As mentioned, the AT32s other upgrades are cosmetic but make the Navara look that little bit tougher. In particular, the wheelarch extensions are an obvious highlight, accentuating its width. Other than that, this is the same Navara we have come to know and love, providing similar on-road manners and 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel performance, albeit it with a much more competitive edge off the beaten track. While its not quite the Nismo performance flagship we hoped for, the 140kW/450Nm AT32 is definitely a step in the right direction and will be a strong alternative to the Rugged X if it heads Down Under in this form. Fingers crossed. The Road to Recovery podcast series The long Thanksgiving holiday will have the highest volume of travelers in a dozen years, according to AAA Northeast. The estimated 54.3 million people who will be traveling by vehicles, trains and planes is nearly 5 percent more than last year. Why the increase? Consumers have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season: Higher wages, more disposable income and rising levels of household wealth, said Bill Sutherland, AAA Travel senior vice president. This is translating into more travelers kicking off the holiday season with a Thanksgiving getaway, building on a positive year for the travel industry. AAA counts the Thanksgiving holiday period from Wednesday to Monday, Nov. 25. Worst traffic times Because 89 percent will be traveling by vehicle, expect roads like I-95, I-91, I-84 and the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways to be jammed with traffic. Based on historical travel trends, motorists will experience the greatest amount of traffic on Tuesday evening on Nov. 20 during rush hour when commuters mix with holiday travelers. If youre heading to New York or Boston, you may see traffic delays four times longer than normal drive times between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday afternoon/evening is also expected to have heavy traffic. A very cold Thanksgiving The National Weather Service says Thanksgiving could be one of the coldest on records. The Big Freeze will move in late on Wednesday, followed by Canadian high pressure building in for Thursday. It will be blustery and cold on Thanksgiving, with highs mainly in the lower to mid 20s, with some upper 20s possible in New York City. This is around 20 to 25 degrees below normal. These temperatures, coupled with northwest winds gusting to 25 to 40 mph will have wind chills only from around 5 to 10 degrees above zero by late Thanksgiving afternoon. Gas prices Thanksgiving has always been one of the busiest holidays for road trips, Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman, said in a release. And this year will be no different despite the highest gas prices were paying in four years. The national average for a gallon of self-serve regular is 21 cents higher than last year while in Connecticut average prices are a quarter higher. Despite those increases, average prices on the national and state level have been dropping slowly but steadily. But no matter the cost of fuel, people generally travel on Thanksgiving because its a holiday for family and friends to gather, said Mayko. That desire to spend time with loved ones drives an increase in travel volume. Airports Eight percent of travelers or 4.27 million will fly to a destination; up 5.4 percent compared to last year. Transportation Security Administration checkpoints across the country this Thanksgiving season is expected to be extremely high. From Friday, Nov. 16 through Monday, Nov. 26, more than 25 million travelers, one of TSAs busiest Thanksgivings on record, will be screened at airport checkpoints during the holiday travel period, nearly a 7 percent increase compared to last year. The busiest travel days will be the Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is projected to break into TSAs top 10 busiest days ever. At Westchester County Airport in White Plains, typically 2,200 to 2,500 passengers and crew are screened at the TSA checkpoint daily, but during the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period, more than 3,000 individuals are expected to be screened daily, an increase of more than 20 percent, which is why travelers are encouraged to get to the airport early. Meanwhile, in the immediate New York metropolitan area, John F. Kennedy International Airport will see the largest volume of passengers and crew coming through the airport checkpoints with more than 100,000 passengers per day expected in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. At Newark Liberty International Airport, up to 70,000 individuals will be screened daily during the holiday and at LaGuardia Airport, about 48,000 people will go through TSA checkpoints during the Thanksgiving travel period daily. At Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, 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. He said Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday are expected to have the heaviest volume of passengers. 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. TSA also has tips on how to turkey trot on your way through the airport here Metro-North Buy your tickets in advance. Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year, and if you're leaving New York after the parade, you must have your ticket before boarding your train at Grand Central or Harlem-125th Street Station. On Wednesday,there are 18 getaway trains; On Thursday, there are additional inbound trains for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there are additional shopper trains. For all schedules click here (http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/planning/schedules/index.html) Law enforcement With tens of thousands of travelers driving through Connecticut during the Thanksgiving week, State Police are ramping up their plans to keep highways safe for all during the holiday rush. Beginning on 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and running through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, state police will supplement its normal routine patrol personnel with additional troopers. Across the state, troopers will patrol roads and highways across Connecticut focusing on aggressive drivers, unsafe drivers and drunk drivers. In addition, the state and local police- in cooperation with the State Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - will conduct a seatbelt enforcement wave from through Sunday. Troopers are committed to reducing crashes through preventive enforcement initiatives such as roving DUI patrols, state police said in a release. Troopers will also be looking for violators who cause accidents on state roads and highways. Every effort to reduce accidents will be taken. Connecticut residents are asked to be a part of the public safety solution by obeying traffic laws: dont follow too closely to cars around you, drive the speed limit, stay off your cell phone while driving. If you plan to consume alcohol, please do not drive; designate a driver for everyones safety. Residents should remind all young people, especially college students returning home for the holiday weekend, of the laws regarding alcohol consumption and drinking and driving. Troopers will use traditional and non-traditional patrol cars to observe traffic and issue tickets to reckless and distracted drivers. A reminder to all drivers: anyone who is consuming alcohol should never get behind the wheel. If you see a suspected drunk driver or a reckless driver, please call 911, as this is a true emergency. AAAs top five Thanksging travel destinations 1. Orlando, Florida 2. New York, N.Y. 3. Anaheim, California 4. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 5. Las Vegas, Nevada Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 20) Militant groups took to the streets to express their ire against the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, but a handful of netizens also protested by changing their profile photos to the cute and cuddly Winnie the Pooh. On Facebook, several Filipino users on Tuesday changed their profile photos to the icon of the honey-loving teddy bear. Meanwhile, some users posted not-so-subtle digs against the Chinese leader. You may be thinking: How is Xi, who is considered a strong leader, connected to Pooh Bear? The Chinese government has cracked down on images of Winnie the Pooh after its netizens linked Pooh to Xi, saying there is an uncanny resemblance between the two. Related: Chinese internet censors crack down on ... Winnie the Pooh In 2013, Chinese netizens posted photos of Xi with his then-US counterpart Barack Obama, They noted the resemblance of their photo with the photo of Pooh strolling with his tiger friend Tigger. There was also a picture of a handshake between Xi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe compared to the image of Pooh and his gloomy donkey friend Eeyore. Comedian John Oliver was also scrubbed from Chinese microblogging site Weibo after satirizing Xi on his HBO show, "Last Week Tonight" in June. Oliver criticized Xi on everything from the removal of term limits, allowing him to rule for life, China's economic leverage, and censorship. Related: China censors John Oliver after scathing 20 minute video One of his critiques focused on censorship. He also joked about Xi's alleged "insecurity" about his resemblance to Winnie the Pooh. HARTFORD The Latino community, which worked hard to get Gov.-elect Ned Lamont elected, is also working hard to make sure talented Latinos will help him govern. Rep. Chris Soto, D-New London, said they will be focused on finding and bringing Latino talent into the administration. Its a collaborative effort. The Latino Gubernatorial Appointments Task Force will accept and vet resumes, which they will turn over to the director of the transition team, Ryan Drajewicz, who is taking a leave of absence from his senior management position at Bridgewater Associates, to help Lamont develop his administration. Soto said the task force will be a clearing house for resumes. Some people dont think they have access to people in the state Capitol, but they have access to us, Soto said. Marc Bradley, Lamonts campaign manager, said through the course of the campaign they developed a relationship and a friendship with the Latino community thats going to carry on through the transition to the administration and beyond. I pledge and re-pledge an open door, Bradley said. Currently, under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy there are only two Latino commissioners, Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez and Public Health Commissioner Raul Pino. Soto said they dont have a definition for what a benchmark for Latino inclusion looks like, but they will be vocal if they dont see it. The Latino community played a large part in helping our Gov.-elect and our Lt. Gov.-elect get elected, Soto said. But at the same time as leaders in our community, if the administration does not represent the community theyre gonna ask us. He said they will hold the new administration accountable if they dont see diversity. Lamont was criticized during the Democratic primary for choosing Susan Bysiewicz, a white woman, as his running mate. Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, who is Puerto Rican ran for lieutenant governor against Bysiewicz, and did well for a first-time statewide candidate. She received 40 percent of the delegates at the Democratic convention having only entered the race three days before the vote. Then, in the Democratic primary in August, Zimmerman won New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury. But she also won Windham (Willimantic) and rural Eastford, and pulled over 40 percent in such disparate places as New London, Cornwall, Wethersfield, Sherman, Hartland, and East Hartford. Zimmerman and her sister Hartford City Councilwoman Wildaliz Bermudez are part of the Latino task force helping with the transition. The task force has also asked for help from other groups who have participated in transitions in the past. Roberto Frugone, northeast director at NALEO Education Fund, said they created a similar task force to help New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy fill his cabinet in 2017. Frugone said there are two Latinos in the cabinet, three deputy commissioners, four chiefs of staff, and four deputy chiefs of staff in various agencies. Theres a lot of Latino leaders known throughout the community and elsewhere so its a matter of connecting the two, Frugone said. Jessica Torres, director of the CT Hispanic Bar Association, said they want to help create the most diverse cabinet that the state has ever seen. Lamont has yet to announce any hires to his administration, but he has cast a wide net for talent by naming two executives to head his talent search. This story may have been modified from its original version. See the original at ctnewsjunkie.com. Haiti - Politic : The Government victim of fake news on social networks It does not happen a week without the Government of Haiti being forced to deny fake news (information deliberately false with intent to mislead the public), which have been for several months within the framework of a vast campaign of misinformation for eminently political purposes, aimed at harming the Haitian State and its institutions and stirring public anger against the authorities. Monday, it is the turn of Jean-Marie Reynaldo Brunet the Minister of the Interior to bring "a categorical denial to documents, totally false, including a correspondence of the National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL), reporting mobilized funds from 'National Telecom S.A.'(NATCOM), for the purpose of financing its intelligence services. This act of misinformation on social networks, is part of the obscurantist works of people who have shady interests to destabilize the country. The Minister of the Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT) calls the population to be cautious about this campaign of intoxication and manipulation of opinion, through the dissemination of false information on social networks. In addition, the Ministry specifies that such practices and transactions are not part of national accounts procedures or public finances." The Minister Brunet invites "the intellectual authors of these dishonest actions to get back together without delay" and informs that he asked the competent services to look into this situation, which according to him "aims to feed a tension and fuel a psychosis of fear in the country, as well as to cast stigma on State institutions." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26158-haiti-notice-ministry-s-denial-on-school-closures.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26149-haiti-notice-bmpad-denies-rumors-of-fuel-shortages.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26064-haiti-flash-government-denial-and-appeal-to-civil-servants-to-serenity.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25916-haiti-flash-categorical-denial-of-the-presidency.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25859-haiti-notice-denial-of-the-ministry-of-national-education.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25322-icihaiti-security-the-ministry-of-communication-condemns-and-denies.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24797-haiti-politic-denial-of-the-ministry-of-the-environment.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Justice : New arrest in the case of the seizure of weapons in Saint-Marc Friday, November 16th Sandra Thelusma in charge of the clearance of the cargo of arms seized at the Port of Saint-Marc in 2016 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18569-haiti-flash-worrying-seizure-of-weapons-from-the-usa.html accompanied by his lawyer and after 7 hours of hearing by the examining magistrate Lumerant, Thelusma was charged and arrested. Moreover, Judge Lumeran, in charge of investigating the investigation of the seizure of weapons in Saint-Marc issued a warrant to bring against the former Departmental Director of the West, Andre Jonas Vladimir Paraison, coordinator of the national palace who refused to attend a convocation. Recall that Paraison made a request for the Judge Lumeran's dismissal on the grounds of legitimate suspicion https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26155-haiti-news-zapping.html Recall that in this case Godson Orelus, the former Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) has been arrested and incarcerated on October 26 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25946-haiti-justice-godson-orelus-former-dg-of-the-pnh-arrested-and-imprisoned.html An assignment for complicity in transnational crime, illicit trafficking of firearms, ammunition and criminal conspiracy has been served on former Interior Minister Reginald Delva's office https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26111-haiti-justice-the-former-minister-of-the-interior-reginald-delva-charged-with-complicity.html Recall that two other suspects: Kletex Laguerre and Nomie Saul Bata accused of complicity had already been arrested in 2016 after the closure of more than one month of investigation by the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18964-haiti-justice-weapons-seizure-in-st-marc-closing-of-the-police-investigation.html In addition, the two suppliers of these weapons Junior Joseph, the owner of a gun store in Orlando and his brother Jimy Joseph, were arrested in the United States and accused of illegally shipping weapons to Haiti since the port of Palm Beach via the customs of Saint-Marc https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25491-haiti-usa-case-of-the-cargo-of-weapons-of-st-marc-the-two-suppliers-arrested.html Finally in Haiti, the alleged owner of this shipment of illegal weapons, a certain Joseph Jimmy, the alleged sender of the smuggled goods Charles Durand and a named Thelusma Sandra accused of trading of influence and corruption are still sought after. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26155-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26111-haiti-justice-the-former-minister-of-the-interior-reginald-delva-charged-with-complicity.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25946-haiti-justice-godson-orelus-former-dg-of-the-pnh-arrested-and-imprisoned.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25491-haiti-usa-case-of-the-cargo-of-weapons-of-st-marc-the-two-suppliers-arrested.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18964-haiti-justice-weapons-seizure-in-st-marc-closing-of-the-police-investigation.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18569-haiti-flash-worrying-seizure-of-weapons-from-the-usa.html HL/ HaitiLibre Havre City Judge Virginia Seigel handed in her official letter of resignation Monday to the Havre City Council. "It is with great care and deliberation that I resign my position," Seigel said. Seigel announced her resignation during the non-agenda public comment section at the end of the City Council meeting. Seigel, who has been the city judge for the past five years, said her last day will be Jan. 21 of this year. The council could not formally accept her resignation because it had not been placed on the meeting agenda. Seigel served in the U.S. Army for 14 years, 10 years as a helicopter pilot and four in the military special forces. While serving in the military Seigel flew in the United States, Germany, Iraq and Korea. "I am leaving service to our city to serve our nation," she said in her resignation letter. "I have been honored with an opportunity to serve in the interest of our national security again; this time as a member of the Customs and Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security." "I love Havre," she told the council. "It's hard to leave this job. I actually feel a bit emotionally about it because I've really tried to do this job with my whole heart and so only a call to another service ... can really tempt me away." Seigel, in her resignation, also recommended City Court Clerk Tyson Bliwernitz to serve as the Havre City judge starting Jan. 22, although the Havre mayor said the council could not immediately take action. "Mr. Bliwernitz is fully qualified as a judge," Seigel said in her letter. She added that written confirmation that the council selected Bliwernitz as the city judge will allow him to be accepted by the Montana Supreme Court for judicial training and certification classes that take place Dec. 1. Seigel said that the certification class and judicial training takes place every four years and if the council does not provide its selection in writing Bliwernitz will not be able to attend. She added that if he doesn't attend she will have to attend this training next month regardless of her resignation. Mayor Tim Solomon said the council could not take immediate action because items have to be published in the meeting agenda before the council can vote on them. He added that the next council meeting is not until after the training and classes have concluded. Solomon said the council will have to look into the matter further, due to the circumstances, in order to find the proper actions to take. Havre Daily News/Ryan Berry Mayor Tim Soloman speaks with Judge Virginia Seigel during a city council meeting at town hall Monday, November 19, 2018 in Havre, Mont. With Seigel's impending resignation, Soloman and the council must now find a replacement. Solomon added that there has to be a period in which the position is advertised in addition to a hiring process and giving adequate notice to the public. Bliwernitz introduced himself to the council after Seigel announced her resignation and gave the council his resume. He said he feels very passionately about becoming a judge and believes the position is important and he could do the office justice. He said he is originally from Tucson, Arizona, moving to Montana in 1999. He added that he has "street smarts" in addition to an associate degree in computer programing in Helena and a bachelor degree in liberal studies which he received from Montana State University-Northern in 2005. He said he has experience as a compliance officer which was a job that he needed to remain impartial. With those skills and his education he said he has a deep understanding of being impartial and an understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Lynette Stein-Chandler smiles on the campus of Aaniiih Nakoda College on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Stein-Chandler, whose efforts resulted in increasing the number of speakers of the threatened Aaniiih language before her death in 2017, will receive an honorary doctorate degree from MSU during fall commencement Saturday, Dec. 15. By Carol Schmidt MSU News Service BOZEMAN - Lynette Stein-Chandler, who dedicated her life to pulling the Aaniiih language from the brink of extinction, will posthumously receive an honorary doctorate in letters from Montana State University during fall commencement, university officials announced Friday. MSU's fall commencement ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. MSU officials said Stein-Chandler's legacy and passion for sustaining the culture and language of Native people in Montana is recognized with the degree. Stein-Chandler's degree will be accepted by family members, who have deep roots at MSU. Wayne Stein, MSU professor emeritus of Native American Studies and Stein-Chandler's father, will deliver the acceptance address. "Lynette made a profound impression on everyone she worked with and who met her. We all felt her loss deeply," said MSU President Waded Cruzado. "Her commitment to preserving languages was about preserving the very heart and soul of a culture. It's hard to overstate the immense cultural richness that exists in a people's language. Lynette understood that so well and knew that preserving languages was giving them a home, a history and hope for the future." Although only 41 when she died suddenly in August 2017, Stein-Chandler left her mark on the successful instruction of Native languages in the region. It was a passion that she developed when she was just 13 and learned from her great-grandmother that there were only 23 Aaniiih speakers remaining alive among the White Clay tribe of which she was an enrolled member. She vowed to increase that number and, by the time she had graduated from Butte High School and later MSU with a bachelor's degree in English literature and then became the first student to receive a master's degree in Native American Studies in 2003, the number of Aaniiih speakers had dwindled to about a dozen. By that time Stein-Chandler had met her husband, Sean Chandler, who also received his master's in Native American studies from MSU. In 2001 the couple moved to Fort Belknap to start their school and raise their children surrounded by family and White Clay culture. Although both were members of the tribe, neither had grown up on the reservation. Stein-Chandler was raised in various locations in Pennsylvania, Arizona and North Dakota and Bozeman as her father moved the family for his career. Stein recalled that, even as a child, his daughter had an affinity for picking up all languages, but especially Native languages wherever they lived. "Lynette lived life pedal to the metal," Stein said. "Once she decided to do something, she did it until she was the best." It was that way with teaching language, he said. To help her learn the language, Stein-Chandler first discovered and studied audio tapes of native Aaniiih speakers recorded by anthropologists during the 1950s. Then Stein-Chandler found a mentor for successful techniques of teaching Native language: the late Darren Kipp from the Blackfeet Tribe. In turn, he introduced Stein-Chandler to techniques taught by other First Nations people, including Native Hawaiians and the Maori of New Zealand. The Chandlers invited those teachers to the White Clay Language School, an immersion school housed on the Aaniiih Nakoda College. Stein-Chandler also became a skilled fundraiser and grant writer who found ways to fund the private school. While she was establishing the school, she also earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Montana. Her successful efforts to revive the Aaniiih language earned Stein-Chandler national and, later, international recognition, particularly among indigenous communities wishing to duplicate her success. Also known for her compassion, Stein-Chandler received the Unsung Hero Award in 2011 and the Montana Indian Educator of the Year in 2012, and in 2012 the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council declared a "Dr. Lynette Chandler Day" in her honor. "Lynette had so many interests, activities and accomplishments, she literally never stopped moving until the day she died," Stein said. He said Stein-Chandler passionately believed that education was the way forward for her people, but that it was also vital to embrace the ways of being of her ancestors. "She made it her life's work to do just that," he added. At the time of her death, a new cohort of first-grade students had begun their education at the White Clay Language School, and the number of Aaniiih speakers had grown to about 50, Stein said. Sean Chandler continues to direct the school. For more information about MSU's fall commencement, visit http://www.montana.edu/commencement/. Press release Triangle Telephone Cooperative Association Inc., doing business as Triangle Communications, held its 65th Annual Meeting of Members Saturday, Oct. 13. Voting members plus numerous guests totaled close to 300 in attendance at the meeting held in the Student Union Building on the campus of Montana State University-Northern in Havre. Attending members voted to approve the proposed By-Law changes. A complete listing of these changes appeared in the meeting notice mailed to all members before the meeting. Prize drawings for members and non-members were held including two Grand Prize drawings. One member won a Red Ants Pants getaway complete with tickets and a camping pass and another won a 55" Samsung Smart TV. The member attendance gifts and table centerpieces were all Made in Montana products. Courtesy photo The sun sets behind a windmill in this photo by Whitney Bare of Reed Point that will be on the cover of Triangle Communications' Keeping You Connected magazines. Trustees from two districts were re-elected by members attending the meeting. Richard Pokorny was re-elected to represent District 4, which covers Hingham, Gildford, Kremlin, Big Sandy, Loma, Hopp-Iliad, Winifred, Denton, Stanford, Hobson and Moore. Rich Stuker was re-elected to represent District 5, which covers Chinook, Turner, Whitewater, South Malta and Malta. The officer reorganization meeting held immediately after the annual meeting resulted in Richard Stuker, board president; Tom Bangs, board vice president; and Rick Pokorny, board secretary/treasurer. Members at the meeting voted for the winners of Triangle's Annual Photo Contest. Whitney Bare of Reed Point won the grand prize of $200 with her photo "Sunset behind Windmill" taken north of Reed Point. The winning photos can be viewed on Triangle's Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/TriangleCommunications and will be featured on the covers of the 2019 Keeping You Connected magazines. Other winners included: Second place - Bobbi Carriker of Big Timber Third place - Carmen Salveson of Malta. Fourth place - Lom Nemec of Coffee Creek Fifth place - Laci Keller Christenson of Big Sandy Sixth place - Abby Schladweiler of Rapelje. The benefits of AI, however, dont stop there. AI is making significant advances in its ability to make sense of data, including both structured and unstructured data types. It also plays a key role in transforming data into actionable intelligence to support faster and more effective decision making. For example, the cognitive technology based on AI algorithms can help organisations to effectively support and improve corporate intelligence and risk management processes, by providing effective and real-time insight on strategic initiatives, partners, and any third parties, to know what the competitors are doing and what the market trends are. However, the Pega survey showed that businesses have a long way to go to optimise their use on AI. Less than two-thirds of respondents said that their organisations were using AI in any meaningful way. Only a small percentage of respondents (five per cent) said that AI either connected to or prolonged the life of legacy systems. Theres a real opportunity here, as this could postpone expensive rip and replace projects and keeps your organisation focused on what matters in the near-term providing better and faster customer experience. Australia, in particular, is failing to embrace AI in business as quickly as the other top industrial nations. According to 2017 Infosys report on artificial intelligence, Australian companies are lagging behind other countries such as the United States and China in terms of the level of progress and adoption of AI by business in the various fields like manufacturing, retail, and healthcare. But embarking on a digital transformation journey with AI doesnt have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. The most successful businesses find a way to start small, experiment with the best use cases, and then fine-tune their approach before replicating their successes over different parts of the organisation. Here are some ways to get started with AI implementations if your organisation hasnt started yet: Find one customer journey in dire need of improvement. Tease out a few key customer engagement pain points that AI could alleviate, and hyper-focus on addressing them. Tease out a few key customer engagement pain points that AI could alleviate, and hyper-focus on addressing them. Set manageable goals that can be accomplished in 90 days or less. Dont boil the ocean, as even one customer journey in a large enterprise can become daunting in terms of data and systems involved. Resist the urge to fix it all at once. Use effort versus value trade-offs as your priority guide. Use an agile approach to manage the project, show results quickly, and youll have an example to showcase and build upon. Dont boil the ocean, as even one customer journey in a large enterprise can become daunting in terms of data and systems involved. Resist the urge to fix it all at once. Use effort versus value trade-offs as your priority guide. Use an agile approach to manage the project, show results quickly, and youll have an example to showcase and build upon. Measure your project in terms of business outcomes. Set tangible objectives like increased revenue, customer retention, or employee productivity. The AI technologies you weave in are merely parts in the overall solution. Ultimately, youre only interested in AI only as a means to help you meet or exceed your key objectives. Set tangible objectives like increased revenue, customer retention, or employee productivity. The AI technologies you weave in are merely parts in the overall solution. Ultimately, youre only interested in AI only as a means to help you meet or exceed your key objectives. Look for an experienced AI vendor. The best vendors will demonstrate not only that they understand the AI technologies, but more importantly that they have proven experience building and servicing at-scale AI business solutions. The best vendors will demonstrate not only that they understand the AI technologies, but more importantly that they have proven experience building and servicing at-scale AI business solutions. Research other businesses already using AI and machine learning to determine parallels. AI and machine learning are not yet in the DIY category as it's all still very technical. So, it's worth finding out what other businesses have similar goals, and how they have addressed the issue. AI and machine learning are not yet in the DIY category as it's all still very technical. So, it's worth finding out what other businesses have similar goals, and how they have addressed the issue. Create an implementation plan. Before you can get started; you need to think about a plan which addresses a question like, 'How can AI improve marketing?'. For example, AI could help you make predictions about what happens when customers open an email, based on previous experience. Addressing such questions and coming up with the solution can help in crafting the right plan for AI- deployment into your operations. Practical AI applications can manifest in all sorts of ways for organisations, depending on your needs and the business intelligence (BI) insights derived from the data you collect. AI can be employed for everything from mining social data to driving engagement in customer relationship management (CRM), to optimising logistics and efficiency when it comes to tracking and managing assets. Although its impact is clear, dipping your toes into AI can be a daunting task. Following the above will help organisations take the small leaps towards making a big splash. By Luke McCormack, Managing Director & Vice President, Asia Pacific at Pegasystems Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have collaborated on a clinical trial that identifies indicators for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease a typically asymptomatic disease caused by fat buildup in the liver and the leading cause of liver disease in the United States. Mohammad Siddiqui, M.D., an associate professor in the VCU School of Medicine, and researchers with expertise in cardiology, hepatology, and exercise physiology have been conducting research with a focus on the link between heart and liver damage. Their efforts have resulted in a study in which they draw a connection between patients with aggressive types of fatty liver disease and limitations in exercise capacity. Siddiqui is senior author of the study, Diastolic Dysfunction and Exercise Intolerance are Linked to Severity of Hepatic Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, which the team recently presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions conference in Chicago. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is often missed in primary care, so by the time patients get the appropriate subspecialty referral, they have usually developed advanced stages of the disease, said Siddiqui, a practicing hepatologist who sees patients with suspected liver disease at the VCU Health Department of Digestive Health. We are doing the research that informs eventual guidelines for the best evidence-based care, he said. VCU Health Pauley Heart Center exercise physiologist Justin Canada, Ph.D. presented the study at the Scientific Sessions. Researchers and clinicians from around the world gather at the annual event to hear from thought leaders on the latest advances in cardiovascular science. Limitations in exercise capacity Rather than analyzing people who already had cirrhosis or heart failure, as previous studies have done, the interdisciplinary VCU research team analyzed people who had suspected liver damage and had been referred by their physicians to VCU Health for a liver biopsy. About 35 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease proven at biopsy who did not have a diagnosis of heart failure participated in a clinical study in the Clinical Research Services Unit at VCU Medical Center. Patients received echocardiograms and stress echocardiograms while researchers watched their heart function as they exercised on a treadmill. The study was the first of its kind to include liver biopsies and exercise capacity assessments along with questionnaires in the overall analysis. With the questionnaires, we were able to focus on how the functionality assessments translated into how the patients feel, Siddiqui said. The researchers found that patients who had a more aggressive type of fatty liver disease, called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, were more likely to have limitations in exercise capacity. As patients started to get more scarring in their liver, they were more likely to have further reductions in exercise capacity. They cant do the same level of activity as somebody who doesnt have that type of scarring, Siddiqui said. While more research is needed to inform how to best screen patients and improve clinical outcomes, the VCU-led research sheds light on what is happening in patients who have not yet developed a lot of damage to their heart or liver. It indicates that patients who do not have a diagnosis of heart failure, but have fatty liver disease, might be at risk for developing symptoms that lead to heart failure. Providing more nuanced care Siddiqui credits his ability to conduct the research for the study to the VCU C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, which supports clinical research at VCU and VCU Health. The study that was presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions conference was supported through a $50,000 endowment fund that Siddiqui received through the Wright Center last year. The fund supports clinical and translational research that moves discoveries in the laboratory and preclinical studies toward the development of clinical trials. Siddiqui was named an inaugural Wright Center Translational Science Scholar earlier this year. The newly developed program, which is funded through the university, allows researchers to allocate 40 percent of their time to research for three years. We created the Translational Science Scholar program as a means for supporting a diverse group of faculty who work along the spectrum of translational science, said Patrick Nana-Sinkam, M.D., associate director of the Wright Center. The program is intended to provide research training and mentorship to junior faculty in an effort to enhance their research trajectory, position them to be competitive for extramural research funding and eventually become leaders in clinical and translational research, Nana-Sinkam said. Siddiqui said the money provided by the endowment fund along with the time allocated through the Translational Science Scholar program positioned him for success. The Translational Science Scholar program has provided me with protected time to do research and push the needle on where the field of liver disease treatment is headed, he said. The opportunities provided through the Wright Center have allowed me to mold my practice in such a way that the patients who I am seeing in my clinical practice are people whose conditions align with my research interest, he said. I am able to provide more nuanced care for those patients based on scientific evidence that goes beyond the current guidelines. Woman sent to prison for poisoning boyfriend A woman who served her boyrfriend a poisonous drink that resulted in his slow death was sentenced to 15 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the case, District Attorney Greg Newman announced Brittany Crockett appeared in Polk County Superior Court last week with her attorney, Tony Dalton of Brevard, and entered the guilty plea for her role in the death of Jeffrey Scott Brittain in 2015 last week in Polk County superior Court. Superior Court Judge Tonya Wallace sentenced her to 15 years in prison. Newman and Assistant District Attorney Robert Brackett prosecuted the case. On July 8, 2015, a domestic dispute occurred at the Shady Oak Lane home of Brittain between Ms. Crockett and him. Following the argument, Crockett made Brittain breakfast. She admitted to investigators that she obtained a jug from outside the home that she identified as C-O-2, which she then mixed with a V8 Splash drink and served in a graduation type mug. Upon drinking the mixture, Brittain assaulted Crockett and the Sheriffs department responded and arrested Brittain. At the jail, Brittain began vomiting a bright green colored substance. He then told sheriffs officials that Crockett had poisoned him. Mr. Brittain was taken from the jail to St. Lukes Hospital for treatment. He was released from the hospital and he bonded out of jail pending his case of assault on a female. Following the events of July 8, 2015, Brittains health continued to deteriorate. On July 12, 2015, Polk County EMS was called to Brittains home for complaints of a swollen tongue, sore throat and the inability to eat solid food. He was again taken to St. Lukes Hospital and discharged with a diagnosis of angioedema of the tongue due to heart medication. On July 13, 2015, Brittain complained to a friend that he needed help because he struggled to eat and drink. He told another friend, Rodney Thompson, that he believed he was poisoned. On July 19, 2015, Mr. Thompson took Brittain to the hospital in Rutherford County. Brittain struggled to get out of bed, had difficulty moving and was acting delirious. He was diagnosed with fibrotic lung disease and he stayed in the hospital until his death on August 5, 2015. The medical examiner at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem found the cause of death to be an interstitial lung injury. The autopsy stated that the injuries to Brittains lungs, tongue and esophagus were consistent with paraquat poisoning. Investigators located a bottle matching Ms. Crocketts description with the word Paraquat written underneath a skull and crossbones. This bottle was at a location on Brittains property where Ms. Crockett was known to stay for extended periods of time. The evidence was seized by the Polk County Sheriff and sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, VA where they confirmed that the liquid in the bottle was the banned pesticide, paraquat. This case took a little longer to resolve due to Ms. Crocketts mental health issues, Newman said. On more than one occasion, Ms. Crockett was found to be incapable of proceeding to court and all we can do is to wait until the state hospital advises that her competency has been restored. Also, she was examined by at least three psychologists and found by two of them to be legally insane at the time she was living with Brittain. So her mental capacity was clearly at issue and she has a mental health record from South Carolina as well. The evidence of premeditation and deliberation, which are required for first degree murder convictions, was questionable and left us with a better case for second degree murder." Crockett must serve at least 12 years before she can be considered for parole. The mother of a student who was stabbed in a robbery while waiting for a bus is calling for the isolated Blanchardstown stop to be relocated. Gwen Jackson, the mother of victim Alice Ridsdale-Dooner, said her daughter had been left traumatised by the attack. Alice (20) was waiting at the bus stop, which is on a slip way, on Saturday at about 8pm, for the 105 bus home to Ratoath, when a man jumped from bushes. "She had just been at the cinema with a friend who got the 109 bus home from the same stop moments earlier," Ms Jackson said. Bandana "A young man wearing a grey hoodie and a bandana came out of the bushes, grabbed her and threatened her with what looked like a bread knife. Expand Close Gwen Jackson with her daughter Alice Ridsdale-Dooner / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gwen Jackson with her daughter Alice Ridsdale-Dooner "He said he would stab her if she didn't give him her bag so she did, but he knew somehow that she had her phone in her pocket and demanded that too," she said. "He may have been watching from the bushes and saw her put it away." In the struggle for her phone, the attacker cut Alice's hand and then ran off when two girls arrived to help her. "The bus was coming up the slip way too at the time. The two young girls, also from Ratoath, sat with her on the bus to make sure she was OK and brought her home right to the door," Ms Jackson said. "I'm so glad the girls came along when they did. She's very upset and traumatised by it all. It's an open wound on her hand but it's OK." Ms Jackson called gardai on Saturday evening and officially reported the incident at Blanchardstown on Sunday. She urged people to add to the 2,000 signatures on the petition to move the stop. "It's so dangerous there. The bus stop is so badly lit up and isolated from anywhere," she said. "It's a stop that is used by a lot of students." Andrew Ralph, peace commissioner and chairman of the East Meath and North Dublin Bus Users Association, said passengers were "sitting ducks" for crime at the bus stop, which had no shelter, security, cameras and was dimly lit. "Over the months, a number of women have contacted me to say that men have pulled up at the bus stop and tried to coerce them to get into their cars," he said. "Bus Eireann have to sit up and take note of the dangers." In July, a number of teens were mugged near the stop on their way to catch a bus home. In a statement, Bus Eireann said: "Bus Eireann northbound routes out of Dublin do not service Blanchardstown SC, due to major congestion issues there, and the majority of customers on board 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." The statement said bus stop locations were also overseen by the National Transport Authority, while lighting was provided by local authorities. Gardai were responsible for anti-social behaviour and the company co-operated whenever incidents happened. People caught short in the city centre are to be helped by a new council pilot scheme that will reinstate public toilets. The programme, which will include two new public toilets in the city centre, was allocated 200,000 at last night's Dublin City Council (DCC) budget meeting. A toilet is expected to be installed on both the north and south sides of the city centre. Closures The closure of public toilets in the capital began in the 1990s, with loos at St Stephen's Green, College Green, Burgh Quay and O'Connell Street all closing over the years. The pilot scheme is due to begin in the first half of 2019. The pre-fabricated, modular toilets will be based on the superloo system used in Sandycove by Dun Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council, where users are charged 0.50. It is understood that the new loos will be coin-operated but it is unclear how much DCC will charge to access them. Ciaran Cuffe, the Green Party councillor who campaigned for the new toilets, has welcomed the decision. Mr Cuffe said the loos would provide a much needed amenity for the city centre. He said the first toilet was due to be installed next year and hoped the scheme could be rolled out further if it proved to be a success. Public toilets were becoming the norm in progressive cities and Dublin should follow suit, he added. Dignity "It will give a bit of dignity to homeless people in need of sanitary facilities in the city but also to anyone in need of a toilet at short notice," Mr Cuffe said. Meanwhile, in another pilot scheme, sanitary products for women will be offered at a number of council-run centres. The idea has been championed by Labour councillor Rebecca Moynihan. About 20,000 will be spent on the project, which will initially provide products in four leisure centres - in Donore, Sheriff Street, Bluebell and Darndale - in the coming weeks. Other centres are likely to follow in the new year if the scheme is a success. After her motion was passed by DCC in September, Ms Moynihan said: "Period poverty is a very real problem issue for women in low income households." She told the Herald last night that toilet roll and soap were provided in bathroom facilities everywhere and that the same should go for women's sanitary products. "It should be provided in all bathrooms," Ms Moynihan said. A man has been jailed for 17 years after raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl he manipulated and groomed. Leona O'Callaghan told the Central Criminal Court that Patrick O'Dea (52) "got inside my head and messed it up". "For a long time you had me scared out of my wits. How I wish I could go back and give that paranoid, frightened child a hug," she wrote. Ms O'Callaghan sobbed in court as Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy read excerpts from her victim impact statement before sentencing O'Dea. She told him: "Let me be clear, you did not win." Anonymity O'Dea, also known as Whacker, of Pike Avenue, Limerick, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and rape, on dates in 1994 and 1995, on the second day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court. The victim, who was attacked between the ages of 12 and 14, waived her right to anonymity so O'Dea could be named in reports of the case. O'Dea's 42 previous convictions included a single sexual assault on another girl, under the age of 10. He received a 15-year sentence for multiple rapes and sexual assaults on a girl over a six-year period between 1998 and 2004. He continues to maintain his innocence on those charges. Ms Justice Murphy imposed an 18-and-a-half-year prison sentence yesterday. She suspended the last 18 months in recognition of O'Dea's guilty plea and his willingness to take part in a psychological assessment. The assessment placed O'Dea at an above-average risk of re-offending and stated that he had no real insight into the damage caused by his crimes. O'Dea must engage with the Building Better Lives sex offender treatment programme and will be subject to a three-year supervision order on his release. His other offending post-dated the attacks on Ms O'Callaghan but showed an ongoing pattern of offences against young girls, the judge said. Ms Justice Murphy noted the appalling nature of the damage done to Ms O'Callaghan, who had attempted suicide on three occasions. O'Dea isolated and manipulated her, and his abuse had done enormous damage to her psyche, the judge said. Gda Barry Manton told Garnet Orange, prosecuting, that O'Dea came into contact with Ms O'Callaghan while she was with her older sister and friends in the Garryowen area of Limerick. Ms O'Callaghan told gardai that O'Dea "latched himself on to the group" and started to focus on her, giving her special attention. He sexually assaulted her on waste ground where he touched her breasts after kissing her. He told her he had wanted to "touch them for a long time". O'Dea sexually abused Ms O'Callaghan in a similar way again before he began to worry that they might be seen together and suggested instead that they meet in a local graveyard. Gda Manton said that on Halloween 1994, O'Dea asked Ms O'Callaghan to perform oral sex on him. She didn't want to, but he persuaded her. He then raped her in the graveyard after putting his coat under a tree and telling her to lie down on it. He said he was going to "ride the a**e" off her. She tried to get up but he took hold of her hands as she continued to say she did not want to. On one occasion, her sister became aware that she was meeting O'Dea, so he suggested they meet at a shed at the back of his mother's home. He had sex with her there after laying her down on a mattress. Gda Manton said that in 1996 O'Dea told Ms O'Callaghan he wanted to see what it was like to have sex in a bed. He then had sex with her in his bedroom while his mother was in the sitting room. This was the final incident. Remorse Ms O'Callaghan told a teacher and her parents were contacted. Paddy McGrath, defending, asked Ms Justice Murphy to accept his client's plea of guilty as an indication of his remorse and "an acceptance of his wrongdoing". He said it was O'Dea's opinion that he was neither physically nor emotionally abusive to the victim, but accepted that his behaviour was "wholly inappropriate and exploitative". Mr McGrath said his client grew up in Limerick city and was always small in stature, possibly due to malnourishment. It was believed he had dwarfism, which counsel said "affected the way he dealt with people as he grew up". Roland George was described as a very quiet individual. Photo; Gerry Mooney A clubber glassed another man in a row on the dance floor, leaving him with a lacerated head, a court heard. Roland George (34), a surveyor, struck the victim, a medical professional, over the head with a pint glass in a Dublin city centre club. Judge Michael Walsh adjourned the case at Dublin District Court for an update on the victim's recovery. George, of Galloping Green, Stillorgan Road, south Dublin, admitted assault causing harm. The court heard gardai were called to Dicey's, at the Russell Court Hotel, on September 1. They were told the accused had struck another man on the head with a pint glass. The victim suffered a 2mm cut on the back of his head, some slight swelling and headaches. The wound healed naturally. The victim was a medical professional and said he did not require treatment, Gda William McCarthy said. What happened was "very uncharacteristic" of George, who was apologetic. Alcohol He had too much to drink and it was a "rush of blood to the head". The victim was a "very quiet individual" who rarely went out and was "taken aback" by what happened. However, he did not suffer any serious injury and bore no ill will to the accused, Gda McCarthy said. George had no previous convictions, the court heard. The accused had been dancing when the row broke out, his solicitor Michael French said. Judge Walsh asked if there was a woman involved. Mr French said there was not and alcohol had been the catalyst. The accused worked as a surveyor and had been in Ireland for three years. He had applied for positions in which garda vetting was required, and a conviction would adversely affect his career, Mr French said. The court had previously heard that the injuries were minimal and the victim was "lucky in that regard". Judge Walsh remanded the accused on continuing bail and adjourned the case until December 10. A third man has been charged with the murder of David 'Daithi' Douglas, who was shot dead at a shop in Dublin's south inner city in 2016. When charged yesterday, 24-year-old Gareth Brophy said "sorry for his loss, if that means anything", a court heard. He was remanded in custody, to appear in court again on Friday. Mr Brophy, from the south inner city but of no fixed address, appeared in Dublin District Court yesterday charged with murdering Mr Douglas (55) in Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8, on July 1, 2016. Killing Two other men have previously appeared in court in connection with Mr Douglas's killing. Freddie Thompson was convicted and jailed for life for murder at the Special Criminal Court in August. Nathan Foley (19) has been charged with murder. Detective Garda Niall Godfrey said he arrested Mr Brophy at the Barn House pub, in Dolphin's Barn, at 11.58pm on Sunday and took him to Kevin Street Garda Station. He was charged at 2.54am yesterday and in reply after caution, said: "Sorry for his loss, if that means anything." He was handed a copy of the charge sheet. Det Gda Godfrey said he was in possession of the directions of the DPP, which were for the accused to be sent for trial. Mr Brophy could be sent forward on a signed plea of guilty "should this arise", the garda said. Defence solicitor Jenny McGeever applied for free legal aid, saying she had submitted a statement of the defendant's financial means to the court and did not think there were any garda objections. Det Gda Godfrey confirmed that there were no objections to the application. Judge Dermot Simms remanded the defendant in custody, to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday, for preparation of a book of evidence. No application for bail was made because bail on a murder charge can only be granted in the High Court. Kiss The accused, wearing a grey hooded top and blue jeans, walked into court smiling and greeted family members in the public gallery. He stood with his arms folded at first, then held behind his back, and occasionally spoke to his solicitor. At the end of the brief proceedings, he said "go on love yous", to family members and blew them a kiss. He has not yet indicated how he intends to plead to the charge. EU countries are set to unanimously back the Brexit deal regardless of developments in London this week. All indications from Brussels, where EU foreign ministers met yesterday, are that the EU27 are pleased with the arrangement that provides for a UK-wide customs arrangement. Irish officials had feared some pushback as they had initially insisted that any spec-ial arrangements could only be applied to Northern Ireland. However, as British prime minister Theresa May continues to battle with her ministers, the EU appears to be united. Encouraging The agreement must also be approved by the European Parliament. Manfred Weber, who leads the EU legislature's largest group, the centre-right European People's Party, said its initial assessment of the deal is "very encouraging, very positive". "It must be clear to our British partners that there will be no renegotiation of this text that is now on the table," Mr Weber said in Berlin. Luxembourg's foreign minister Jean Asselborn said the deal "is the best one possible". "There is no better one for this crazy Brexit," Mr Asselborn said as EU foreign ministers met before a leaders' summit this Sunday at which the bloc intends to sign off on the deal. It is understood that Spain is the only country to have expressed reservations, insisting it needs more clarity on how Gibraltar, the British territory at the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, would be dealt with. It comes as EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the EU ministers "have agreed to the principle" of a one-off extension of the post-Brexit transition period if the two sides need more time to finalise a trade deal. Mrs May told business leaders yesterday that she wants a clean break from the EU before the next general election, which is scheduled for 2022. She argues that abandoning the plan ahead of Brexit Day on March 29 could lead to the exit being delayed or abandoned, or to a disorderly and economically damaging "no-deal" Brexit. However, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said his MPs would vote against the current agreement and try to block a "no-deal" exit. Northern Secretary Karen Bradley has also made clear a no-deal Brexit will inevitably mean customs and regulatory checks on the island of Ireland. Merits She was pitching the merits of the draft Brexit deal to business leaders in Belfast yesterday, She suggested UK and EU commitments outlined in last December's joint report on maintaining the common travel area - an agreement that allows free movement for UK and Irish citizens in Britain and Ireland - would also be thrown into doubt in a no-deal scenario. A Dublin woman has vowed that a violent robbery in her home which saw her beaten by a gang of men will not result in her being driven out of the house. Jenny Powell (84) says she was hit over the head with a hammer during the attack and threatened with a saw by the gang, which stormed her basic portable cabin home in Mulhuddart on Friday evening. Rummaging "They attacked me and hurt me, tossing me around as they searched for money," Ms Powell told the Herald. "They were even rummaging under the mattress. All they got was 20." Describing the sequence of events, Ms Powell, who uses a wheelchair because she has mobility issues, said she was watching television when the aggravated burglary happened. "I love animals. I have horses, dogs and cats, and I was watching Supervet when around five men burst in on top of me," she said. "One was a big, tall man with dark skin, and the others were fat white men. They hit me with my own hammer and threatened me with my own saw. "They were asking where the money was and then they started pushing me around. "They were pulling doors off cupboards and wrecking the place. "They were hurting me, and I'll be 85 next month. These people need to be caught. "I've been living here for 20 years, and it's never happened to me before. "I mind my own business and I'm not going to let these people drive me out. "I don't know who they are. I've never seen them before but they are dangerous and I want someone to catch them. "I think they may be going after other people living alone and they need to be stopped." Ms Powell is well known in the Mulhuddart area but was born in England and went to school in Adelaide, Australia. "That's where I learned to ride horses. I loved it there, it was my favourite place to live. I also lived in Canada," she said. Struggle Ms Powell lives in a small, two-room portable cabin, which she has now had for three years. "I used to live in a caravan here before that but this is much better now. I can struggle from the bed to the wheelchair, and from that on to my mobility scooter," she said. She declined hospital treatment after the attack and vowed that despite the violence used against her, she will recover from her injuries. Gardai confirmed they are investigating a report of an aggravated burglary on Powerstown Road, Mulhuddart, at around 8.30pm on Friday. No arrests have been made. Four people displaced by fire in Hagerstown row home, no one hurt Four people escaped unhurt from a fire in their home on South Burhans Boulevard in Hagerstown. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Air India is to receive a budgetary support of Rs 30,231 crore over a 10-year period ending March 2021. Mumbai: Debt-ridden Air India has revived its plans to raise Rs 500 crore in short-term loans (STLs) besides mopping up another Rs 6,100 crore by way of sale and lease back of seven of its wide-body planes, including six Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) aircraft, an airline official said. In early September, the airline had invited bids for raising Rs 500 crore through STL to meet its working capital requirements with September 10 as the deadline for submission of bids. However, the deadline was extended to October 31 after it failed to get any response. At the same time, Air India managed to get Rs 1,000 crore from the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) as loan and subsequently the plan to raise Rs 500 crore was put on hold. "We did not pursue the proposal to garner Rs 500 crore in STL after receiving Rs 1,000 crore from the NSSF. We have now decided to resume the process once again," said a senior Air India official. Sitting on a debt pile of Rs 55,000 crore, which include Rs 35,000 crore towards working capital loans, the carrier has been struggling to raise funds since last year. Meanwhile, it last week came out with invitation of offers for sale and lease back (SLB) of seven planes - six B787-800 and one B77-300 ER - to raise as much as USD 856 million (around Rs 6,100 crore) for repayment of the bridge finance against these planes. Besides 12 B777s, Air India has 27 B787-800s in its fleet. Of these, 21 Dreamliners are already operating under the SLB mode. Under the SLB arrangement, the seller of an asset leases it back from the purchaser for a longterm period and continues to use it without actually owning it. "AI would sell the aircraft to the lessor and immediately lease the same back under operating lease for a period of up to 12 months with an option to extend by three more years at a mutually negotiated price," as per the bid document. The SLB transaction will be supported by the Government of India guarantee in favour of the bank/ institution/lessor, according to the document. The last date for submission of technical and financial bids is December 10, it said. As part of its fleet expansion plan, the national carrier had in 2005 placed orders with Boeing for 68 aircraft 27 Dreamliners, 15 B777300ERs, eight B777200LRs and 18 B737800s. All these aircraft have already been delivered to the carrier. The carrier is staying afloat on a bailout package extended by the government in 2012, as part of a turnaround plan and a financial restructuring plan. Air India is to receive a budgetary support of Rs 30,231 crore over a 10-year period ending March 2021. In June also, Air India borrowed short-term loans worth Rs 1,000 crore to pay staff salaries and meet other obligations, following a failed privatisation attempt. A team from the NIA has already visited the blast site near Amritsar which comprised senior investigators and explosive experts. New Delhi: Home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday chaired a high level security meeting in wake of the grenade attack at a religious gathering near Amritsar in Punjab on Sunday morning in which three persons were killed while 20 others were injured. Senior officials from the ministry as well as multiple security and intelligence agencies attended the meeting where Mr Singh was briefed in detail about the incident as well as the subsequent investigations conducted so far. Intelligence officials, sources said, informed the home minister that the grenade attack was indeed an act of terror and the investigations were also being conducted on similar lines. Home minister directed all concerned agencies to provide all possible assistance to Punjab Government and work in close co-ordination with the state agencies. A team from the National Investigation Agency has already visited the blast site near Amritsar which comprised senior investigators and explosive experts. Initial investigations, sources added, were focusing on the possible involvement of some pro-Khalistan elements operating out of Pakistan with possible backing of the ISI. In the last few days Punjab police had also received some inputs of some subversive elements having entered the State from the Jammu route. ``We are investigating the incident from all possible angles, particularly the possibility that some terror operatives from the Valley like Zakir Musa may also have helped some local module in executing the attack. But it is certain that this is an act of terror and not that of some local mischief. The incident is also in line with ISIs plans to revive militancy in Punjab with a view to create unrest in the sensitive border State, a senior intelligence official said. Sources said he case is likely to be investigated by the Punjab police and it may not be transferred to the NIA though the agency will assist the State police with all possible inputs. The militants uploaded the videos of the teenagers being shot from pointblank range on social media to send a warning. The polices cyber crime cell is simultaneously making an all-out effort to trace the persons who uploaded videos of executions on social media, the sources said. Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police has launched a massive manhunt for the militants who kidnapped two teenage boys and subsequently shot them dead in cold blood in southern Shopian district last week after charging them with tipping off the security forces about the presence of militants in the area. The polices cyber crime cell is simultaneously making an all-out effort to trace the persons who uploaded videos of executions on social media, the sources said. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) S.P. Pani said, The uploading of videos of brutal killings of innocent youth by the terrorists is a crime. Stern actions will be taken against those who will upload these videos on social media. He added, Those involved in such terror crimes of running it in cyber domain at the behest of terrorist organisations are being identified and shall be brought before law, besides the culprits involved in carrying out such brutal killings of innocent persons. Huzaif Ashraf, a 19-year-old youth, was among four civilians abducted by suspected Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants from two villages of Shopian at the weekend. While others were freed unharmed by them, Huzaifs bullet-riddled corpse was found in Hermain village of the district the same evening. Earlier on November 15 evening, an 11th class student Nadeem Manzoor was abducted and subsequently murdered allegedly by the Hizb militants. The duo has been accused in the videos purportedly released by the outfit of leaking information about the presence of its two cadres Idrees Ahmad alias Chota Abrar and Amir Amin alias Abu Shoban to security forces recently leading to a fire fight in which both of them were killed in Shopians Safnagri village earlier this month. The militants uploaded the videos of the teenagers being shot from pointblank range on social media to send a warning. Modi said the KMP and metro rail-link projects will improve connectivity in the region and the skill university will help empower the youth. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a blistering attack on the previous Congress regime over the delayed Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway project, saying it is a case study of how public money is wasted. Without naming the Congress-led UPA dispensation, Mr Modi blamed it for the slow pace of development of infrastructure projects across the country. He inaugurated the 83-km stretch of KMP project, also known as western peripheral expressway, and the Rs 580-crore 3.2-km elevated stretch of the Violet Line of the Delhi Metro through video-conferencing from Sultanpur village in Gurgaon district of Haryana. The metro corridor linking the Kashmere Gate station in New Delhi with Escorts Mujesar in Faridabad was planned for expansion up to Ballabhgarh, an industrial hub. The BJP government in Haryana has blamed the previous Congress dispensation for stalling and causing delays in the KMP project, which led to three-fold cost escalation. Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of the projects, including a proposed skill university in Palwal, Mr Modi said, The way work was done on this (KMP) project, is a case study of how public money is wasted, how injustice is done with people. When this project started, it was estimated that Rs 1,200 crore would be spent on it. After years of delay, the cost escalated more than three-fold. He said the KMP and metro rail-link projects will improve connectivity in the region and the skill university will help empower the youth. Todays occasion is to remember two pictures one of the present time, when a work is taken up with determination and is accomplished, which is reflective of the work culture of the BJP governments. The second picture duly reminds us of how work was done during the previous government. That picture reminds us that the work on this expressway had been going on for 12 years. That picture reminds us that expressway project should have been completed and dedicated to people eight-nine years ago, but it did not happen. The way previous regimes functioned it took 12 years for this expressway to get completed, he said. The Prime Minister said the KMP project was to be used during the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010. But what they (previous regime) did to Commonwealth Games (in an apparent reference to CWG scam), the same story became true for this expressway, he said. Mr Modi said after the NDA government came to power in 2014, the Centre and the Haryana government engaged regularly to ensure the project is completed soon. Sochiye atkane, latkane aur bhatkane waali sanskriti nein Haryana ka, yahan ki janta ka, purey Delhi-NCR ka, kitna bada nuksan kiya hai (Think, how much loss the culture of creating obstacles, delaying and misguiding has caused to Haryana, the people, entire Delhi-NCR, he said. Had the work on this peripheral expressway been completed on time, the traffic situation in Delhi would have been something else, he said. He said that his government has spent more than Rs 3 lakh crore on developing 33,000 km of highways. Constructing highways, metro rail, developing waterways, helps develop a complete ecosystem, which benefits transports, construction, manufacturing and services sector, he said. The first Manesar-Palwal stretch (52 km) of the KMP project was inaugurated in April 2016. The stretch inaugurated on Monday was the last leg of peripheral expressways, with a combined length of 270 km, forming a ring around Delhi. The eastern peripheral expressway, also known as Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal (KGP) expressway, was inaugurated in May this year. Besides reducing travel time, the expressways will decongest Delhi by offering an alternative route to vehicles not destined for Delhi. The issue of over 700,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who are currently in neighbouring Bangladesh is one of the worst humanitarian crises of recent times. A UN fact-finding mission report released in September this year concluded that there was a genocidal intent and called for the Myanmar military commander-in-chief and five generals to be prosecuted. While governments and international organisations have spoken out to condemn the disproportionate and overwhelming use of force by the Myanmar military and or the inaction of the Myanmar civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has largely been silent on the issue. Governments and activists around the world want to see Asean playing an active and constructive role in helping address this humanitarian crisis. Still, many who understand the complexity of Aseans organisational structure which makes it difficult for the body to play such a role. The fundamental principles of Asean require member states to show mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations; recognize the right of every state to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion; and not interfere in the internal affairs of other member countries. These principles have prevented not only individual member states but the organisation as a whole from engaging with the issue since Myanmar has not invited them to do so. That does not mean Asean member states have completely shied away from the issue. For example, the two Muslim-majority countries -- Malaysia and Indonesia -- have spoken out. The Malaysian government, in particular, has been quite vocal on the issue and criticised Myanmar.And as the Rohingya issue continues to overshadow several other important issues of the region, Asean leaders have begun taking a more visible position, especially under the chairmanship of Singapore. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September this year, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that Myanmar should start repatriating Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh and ensure that there is security, peace, justice and better prospects for everyone. The regional groupings frustration was also evident during the 33rd Asean summit in Singapore in November, when, unlike previous Asean summits, the Rohingya issue was discussed in almost every forum . During the summit, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that Thailand, which will chair the regional grouping next year, sees the regional bloc as capable of playing an important role in addressing the situation in Rakhine state in a constructive, tangible and sustainable manner. The key question is whether Myanmar would welcome such diplomatic interventions. There is a possibility that it could construe such moves as an attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. But Myanmar has to understand that it has already internationalised the Rohingya issue following the constitution of the Kofi Annan Commission in 2016, and then the formation of an Advisory Commission for the Implementation Committee of Rakhine State last year with experts from home and abroad. Moreover, in June, Myanmar signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to create conditions conducive for a voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable refugee returns from Bangladesh. Myanmar should welcome Aseans goodwill gesture to help address the protracted Rohingya crisis. An attempt to oppose Aseans intent to engage will only hamper the cohesion and strength of the organisation, and invite criticism from the international community. Besides Asean summits, platforms such as the Asean Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM-Plus should be utilised to explore possible ways for the body to cooperate with the Myanmar military, which not only controls the security matters of the country but also retains significant political power. While it is true that the Asean grouping has not taken any substantive measures on the Rohingya issue in the past, the signs are that we can hope for a more active and engaging role from it, although the results of this will largely depend on the openness and receptiveness of Myanmar, as well as the level of commitment from member states. Nehginpao Kipgen is associate professor and executive director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University. He is the author of three books on Myanmar, including Democratisation of Myanmar The views expressed are personal The creative and cultural industries are fast becoming key components of modern economies. Their impact on development is both economic and non-economic. The prevalence of cultural sites, services and art forms tends to boost tourism, sustain livelihoods, and attract investment. The non-economic benefits of culture include the preservation of history, the generation of knowledge, and the nurturing of creativity. At UNESCO, we believe that the economic opportunities offered by the cultural heritage in India should be further explored. World Heritage Week 2018, which is presently being celebrated across the country by organisations dedicated to preserving and promoting cultural heritage, offers a much needed platform to reflect on the economic potential of heritage. India currently has 37 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a number we are certain will grow in the years ahead. Each of these sites is a potential hub for economic activity. While tourism offers the most obvious source of revenue, every effort must also be made to develop urban infrastructure and revitalise other forms of heritage around these sites in order to build thriving local economies. As Mahesh Sharma, the Indian Minister of State for Culture observed when Mumbais Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in June 2018, international recognition will boost the local economy, give a tremendous fillip to domestic and international tourism, and lead to increased employment generation, creation of world-class infrastructure, and augmentation of the sale of local handicrafts. The promotion of tourism and related economic activity, however, must be sensitively undertaken. Heritage sites and their surroundings should not be damaged by excessive tourist traffic or the effects of local pollution, as is reportedly happening to monuments such as the Taj Mahal. Besides World Heritage Sites, intangible cultural heritage too is a major driver of sustainable development. Uniquely, it can address all three dimensions of the 2030 Agenda: economic, social and environmental. UNESCOs Creative Cities Network helps cities place intangible heritage at the heart of their development plans. In India, thus far Jaipur, Varanasi and Chennai have been designated as Creative Cities by UNESCO because of the central role played by art, crafts and music in local development. Jaipurs centuries-old legacy of crafts and folk art currently employs over 175,000 people, and has generated a vibrant ecosystem of heritage festivals and tourism. In Varanasi and Chennai, historic musical traditions have given birth to flourishing music industries and networks of music festivals and academies. Strategic efforts to promote intangible cultural heritage could directly empower women and other disadvantaged groups. For instance, UNESCOs state-level partnership with the Government of West Bengal and the NGO Banglanatak has had an outstanding impact on the livelihoods of crafts workers, drawing women, youth and underprivileged communities to the sector in unprecedented numbers. The Arts for Life project has established a competitive handicrafts sector in West Bengal by helping develop rural craft hubs, enhancing productivity and building sustainable market linkages. With average monthly incomes of craftspersons in the state almost trebling, and the emergence of a new class of rural entrepreneurs, this is a model of how economic returns from intangible heritage can be optimised. UNESCO will continue to lead global efforts to achieve key targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These include protecting and safeguarding the worlds natural and cultural heritage and promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. On the occasion of World Heritage Week 2018, we reaffirm our commitment to work with the Government of India and other partners to realise the socio-economic opportunities inherent in culture. Eric Falt is director of the UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office and UNESCO representative to Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 20) - Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos' use of the already-recalled No. 8 plate is illegal, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said. Asked on CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday if the former first lady's use of the No. 8 plate is legal, LTO Law Enforcement Service Director Francis Almora said, "It's not." "Obviously, the plate used by Congresswoman Imelda Marcos is issued for the previous Congress. And considering that she won, probably this was not removed from the motor vehicle and they continued using it," Almora said. Marcos has been a congresswoman since 2010. However, he said that no congressman could use the No. 8 protocol plate anymore because all plates which were issued have expired in 2016 and no new plates were issued for members of the lower house in the 17th Congress. Marcos rode a white minibus bearing a No. 8 plate when she finally made her appearance before the Sandiganbayan last Friday in connection with her graft conviction. This was two days after Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered lawmakers to return protocol plates issued to House members during the 16th Congress, following a road rage incident where a vehicle with the No. 8 plate was involved. READ: Pampanga lawmaker denies involvement in viral mauling video While Marcos' use of the plate is illegal, authorities could not simply apprehend her. "That particular instance is already finished. So we don't know if that van is still using that plate," Almora said. He also admitted that law enforcement officers may be intimidated to apprehend a vehicle with a No. 8 plate. "It would not just be easy to flag down a motor vehicle with that plate, No. 8. There's that part ma'am, but we still do our job," Almora said. The second phase of polling was held in 72 seats spread across 19 districts, out of the 90-member Assembly. Of 72 seats, the polling for two constituencies- Amaamora and Modh is being held from 7 am to 3 pm while voting in the remainder of the constituencies will take place from 8 am to 5 pm. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Raipur: The voting for the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections ended on Tuesday. 71.93 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 6 pm on Tuesday. The second phase of polling was held in 72 seats spread across 19 districts, out of the 90-member Assembly. Of 72 seats, the polling for two constituencies- Amaamora and Modh was held from 7 am to 3 pm while voting in the remainder of the constituencies took place from 8 am to 5 pm. Here are updates of the second phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly election: 06:30 pm: 71.93 per cent voter turnout recoreded till 6 pm. 05:32 pm: 64.8 per cent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm. 04:32 pm: 58.47 per cent voting recorded till 4 pm. 03:00 pm: 45.2 per cent voting recorded till 3 pm in the second phase of voting. 01:30 pm: Nearly 25.2 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise till 12.30 pm, an election official told news agency PTI. 01:20 pm: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh cast his vote at a polling booth in Kawardha. (Photo: ANI) (Photo: ANI) 10:40 am: 12.54 per cent voting recorded till 10 am in the second phase of voting 10:30 am: Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) president Ajit Jogi and his son Amit Jogi cast their votes at a polling booth in Pendra. Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) President Ajit Jogi and his son Amit Jogi cast their votes at a polling booth in Pendra. #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/2lZCXfmCBp ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 08:10 am: Visuals from a polling booth in Ambikapur. Voting has begun for the second and final phase of polling on 72 seats. Visuals from a polling booth in Ambikapur #ChhattisgarhElections2018 pic.twitter.com/FybsqIZN17 ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 08:00 am: Voting for the second phase on 72 seats begins. Voting has begun for the second phase of polling on 72 seats in 19 districts of the state. Visuals from Pendra in Bilaspur #ChhattisgarhElections2018 pic.twitter.com/PGIWYJTMys ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 07:20 am: Visuals from a polling station in Bilaspur district's Pendra. Chhattisgarh: Visuals from a polling station in Bilaspur district's Pendra. Voting for the second phase of #ChhattisgarhElections2018 will be conducted today. 72 constituencies will undergo voting at 8 am today. pic.twitter.com/6aiydKuluz ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 06:30 am: Visuals of various polling stations before the voting. Chhattisgarh: Visuals from a polling station in Kabirdham district's Kawardha. Voting for the second phase of #ChhattisgarhElections2018 will be conducted today. 72 constituencies will undergo voting at 8 am today. . pic.twitter.com/qKldzHu858 ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 Chhattisgarh: Visuals from a polling station in Durg district's Patan. Voting for the 72 constituencies in second phase of #ChhattisgarhElections2018 will be conducted today, polling will begin at 8 am. pic.twitter.com/xeuUCsgsfV ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 06:20 am: Ahead of the voting, mock polling was conducted at a polling station in Surguja's Ambikapur. Chhattisgarh: Mock polling being conducted at a polling station in Surguja's Ambikapur. Voting for the second phase of #ChhattisgarhElections2018 will begin at 8 am today. 72 constituencies spread across 19 districts are undergoing polling today. pic.twitter.com/UuBjhXawAx ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were installed at all the polling centres. Security has been tightened in the state with the deployment of over one lakh security personnel in lieu of Naxal attacks. As many as 1,079 candidates, including 72 each from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, are in the fray to test their fortune in the final phase. A total of 19,296 polling booths have been set up for the second phase. The BJP, which is eyeing a fourth consecutive term in the state, has fielded several prominent faces including state Assembly speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal from the Kasdol seat and nine ministers Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur City South), Rajesh Munat (Raipur City West), Amar Agrawal (Bilaspur), Bhaiyyalal Rajwade (Baikunthpur), Ramsevak Paikra (Pratappur), Punnulal Mohile (Mungeli), Prem Prakash Pandey (Bhilai Nagar), Dayaldas Baghel (Nawagarh) and Ajay Chandrakar (Kurud), and state chief Dharamlal Kaushik (Bilha). The Congress, which is seeking to regain power in the state after 15 years, has key candidates like- Congress state chief Bhupesh Baghel (Patan), former Union minister Charandas Mahant (Shakti) and Leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo (Ambikapur). The coalition between the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), former state chief minister Ajit Jogi's new political outfit Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) in the poll-bound state has made the political slugfest even more interesting. Pendra seat is considered as the stronghold of Jogi, a former chief minister of Chhattisgarh. In the final phase, polling is also being held in Kawardha constituency, the home city of incumbent Chief Minister Raman Singh. Singh is a registered voter in Kawardha, but contests polls from Rajnandgaon seat. In the first phase which took place on November 12, polling was held in 18 seats of eight districts, recording a voter turnout of 70 per cent. In the 2013 assembly elections, the BJP had bagged 49 seats, Congress got 39, BSP and Independent got one seat each in the 90-member Assembly. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is facing an unprecedented crisis of credibility. Next week, the Supreme Court will embark on an examination which will have a definitive bearing on that institution and the degree of autonomy it enjoys. To compound the woes of the already beleaguered organisation, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have pre-emptively decided to withdraw the permission given by the state governments to the CBI to investigate offences in their jurisdiction. The central governments shrill response to this move speaks volumes. In addition to the above, an affidavit filed this week by another senior CBI officer makes grave and startling allegations about the extent of corruption and interference prevalent in the highest levels of this government. For Mr Modi, who held himself (and his government) out to be a paragon of probity, these are difficult times. There are three legal and jurisdictional issues that are pending resolution before the Supreme Court. First, can the appointment or functioning of the director, appointed by way of a high-level committee, be interfered with in any manner without the sanction of that committee? Second, can the Central Vigilance Commission investigate a sitting director and issue orders with regard to leave and transfer in the interim? And third, can a sitting prime minister intervene and mediate in an ongoing criminal investigation? This is a legacy defining moment and the government and ruling party are acutely aware that any adverse order will leave a lasting stain. These two events are not isolated developments and, taken in the context of the last four years, provide a damning commentary on the misuse of the CBI and the erosion of its integrity under this government. The behaviour of the CBI itself leads to an inescapable conclusion of political subservience. Its selective mutism on abandoning crucial trials and investigations does not help its cause either. To illustrate. The CBI chose not to file an appeal when Amit Shah was discharged in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case. It was not allowed to file an appeal against BJP leader BS Yedyurappas acquittal by the High Court in a bribery case. It cited technical reasons for its abandonment of investigations in Gali Janardhan Reddys iron-ore export case. Conspicuously, the CBI abandoned highly publicised investigations against former members of the Congress such as Hemanta Biswa Sarma (the Louis Berger case) and Shankersinh Vaghela once the former joined the BJP and the latter left the Congress. A single inference emerges from the above and it is not a flattering one. Furthermore, in his seven-page petition filed before the Supreme Court, the CBI director has made a scathing remark that not all influence that is exerted by the political government would be found explicitly or in writing. More often than not, it is tacit and requires considerable courage to withstand. The CBI director appointed in 2017 is not making this observation in an academic manner. In the above context, the decision taken by the two state governments to debar the CBI from carte blanche investigations makes eminent sense and is legally sound. The statute that governs the establishment and operations for the CBI is the Delhi Special Police Establishments Act 1946. Since law and order is a state subject, section 6 of the law requires the CBI to seek state consent before the exercise of its powers and jurisdiction. Additionally, the Supreme Court and High Courts have inherent powers to direct such investigations. The central government cannot, as a matter of right, demand this consent. That it feels it is entitled to this consent without check or discretion, raises unsettling questions with regard to its intentions and overreach. To further demonstrate this governments zeal in extending the CBIs control without check, we may recall that in January, the CBI approached the Supreme Court (interestingly in an appeal against Congress leader Virbhadra Singh) and used that opportunity to ask for clarifications on this restraint contained in section 6. They contended that it would affect its power to investigate. The matter is currently subjudice before the Supreme Court. This permission, currently in operation in 10 states, was overgenerous to begin with and implied an abdication of the sovereignty of states with regard to criminal investigations of a certain class. Whether other states will follow suit remains to be seen. A licence, howsoever generous, is always revocable, and these two states can decide whether to entrust to the CBI on a case by case basis. Those who claim that this is business as usual are deluding themselves about the sheer and unprecedented extent of manipulation prevalent under the BJP government. This is a false equivalence drawn to exonerate the BJP government and to distract from the abuses currently occurring. In 2012, when the Bhatta Parsaul protests against the Yamuna Expressway took place, there was a demand for a CBI enquiry. The UPA government at the Centre did not as a matter of right or entitlement instruct the CBI to investigate or compel the then BSP government to grant consent. In fact, the High Court at Allahabad turned down petitions asking for a CBI inquiry. The Congress held massive protests but did not use the CBI to further its political agenda. The Supreme Court has drawn back the curtains that had rendered opaque the functioning of this institution from the public. The late great Justice Louis Brandeis of the US Supreme Court is cited often for his remark that sunlight is the best disinfectant. The BJP government, which seems most comfortable in carrying out coups at the CBI office at 2 AM, under the cover of darkness, will likely disagree. Abhishek Singhvi is a Member of Parliament, senior advocate, Supreme Court and national spokesperson, Congress. Muhammad Khan is a Supreme Court advocate The views expressed are personal 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 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. 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 Hitlers 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 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 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 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. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Known as a master of making violence-based movies in Hindi cinema, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap expressed his thoughts on violence staged in Hollywood, saying American movies dont really explore violence. According to Anurag, Hollywood movies focus more on commercialisation. America is always middle of the ground, they always borrow from everywhere and make it more palatable and commercial but they dont really explore violence barring some of the exploitation movies. They know how to commercialize everything, they are the Mcdonalds version of action and violence, he said in a conversation with Anupama Chopra. Be it movie Gangs of Wasseypur or web show Sacred Games, Anurag never leaves a chance to show violence, killing and other brutal scenes in his projects. Sharing his idea of violence, the 46-year-old director revealed that he does not like to see usage of violence in superhero movies as he believes mainstream films and superhero movies celebrate violence rather than showing its depth. I like the whole idea of taking people through that whole motion of whats the worst fear that they might have. I get bothered by seeing celebratory violence that I see in mainstream movies or the superhero movie where the violence makes you feel like wanting to be a hero and getting into a fight. My idea of creating violence is to put the viewer off it, where it disturbs them, Anurag added. Follow @htshowbiz for more Newlyweds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have arrived in Bengaluru to host their first wedding reception for friends and extended family. The star couple was spotted at the Mumbai airport by the paparazzi on Tuesday morning and again in Bengaluru in the afternoon. Ranveer was seen in a white kurta-pyjama with a floral jacket. He wore white juttis and sunglasses to complete his royal look. Deepika also channelled the new bride look with her red bangles and a wispy mangalsutra with a simple but large teardrop diamond at its centre. She wore an off-white anarkali suit and paired it with large chandbalis. Check out pictures from Bengaluru airport: Check out pictures from Mumbai airport: Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are headed for their first wedding reception. (Viral Bhayani) Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone at Mumbai airport. (Viral Bhayani) Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone leave for Bengaluru. (Viral Bhayani) Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone pose for paparazzi. (Viral Bhayani) Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone at Mumbai airport. (Viral Bhayani) The two laughed and smiled for pictures and waved to the paparazzi. They were earlier seen out and about in Mumbai on Monday. They were spotted in their car, reportedly heading for her home at Mumbais Prabhadevi. Ranveer and Deepika tied the knot in Italys Lake Como on November 14 and 15. They first got married as per Konkani rituals on 14th and then again on 15th in an Anand Karaj ceremony. Their wedding planner shared on details of their wedding on Instagram on Monday. They looked unreal, for time stood still. The first glimpse of them was as though they had walked out from the realms of a historical land towards their future together.. Amidst us all, they stole a moment for themselves and when they both looked at each other and smiled , one knew it was as pure as any emotion could be : LOVE, Vandana Mohan of the Wedding Design Company captioned a photo of the two. The Sikh community in Italy has expressed disappointment at their wedding ceremony that involved taking the Guru Granth Sahib out of the gurdwara and to the wedding villa where the wedding was officiated. The couple arrived back in Mumbai on Sunday and was swarmed by paparazzi and fans at the airport. Ranveer and Deepika maintained their calm and posed for pictures outside their homes as well. The two will host a reception in Bangalore on Wednesday for their family and another in Mumbai for their friends from Bollywood on November 28. Follow @htshowbiz for more Actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singhs lavish wedding in Italy, followed by the late arrival of their stunning wedding pictures, have kept fans on their toes. While their well-wishers and fans are waiting to grab every minute detail of their destination wedding, actor Raveena Tandon provided some solace by sharing a secret about the couple on Instagram. Overwhelmed by their wedding pictures that the couple shared on Tuesday, the actor tweeted, Touch wood ! Soo happy! letting you in a secret @RanveerOfficial, on a long chatty flight with @deepikapadukone a couple of years ago,she said Ranveer makes me feel Im home Ill never forget those words,and truly she looks like shes Home. Godbless you both. Touch wood ! Soo happy! letting you in a secret @RanveerOfficial ,on a long chatty flight with @deepikapadukone a couple of years ago,she said "Ranveer makes me feel Im home " Ill never forget those words,and truly she looks like shes Home.Godbless you both https://t.co/ahSLnAmSIR Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) November 20, 2018 While Deepikas happiness is easily visible in the pictures, Ranveers smile also speaks a thousand words about their relationship. The couple dated for six years before tying the knot in a private ceremony in Italy. After a Nandi Puja at Deepikas home in Bengaluru and a haldi ceremony at Ranveers residence in Mumbai, the couple left for Italy a few days before the wedding. The pre-wedding celebrations continued at Lake Como with mehendi and sangeet ceremonies that were followed by a Konkani wedding ceremony on November 14 and Anand Karaj ceremony on November 15. The newlyweds came back home in India on November 17 and received a warm welcome at the airport by their fans. Ranveers residence was decked up in white lights to welcome the new bride and the couple didnt disappoint by posing for the media on their arrival. They were then spotted twinning in white and cream while leaving for their Bengaluru reception which will be held on Wednesday. It will be followed by another reception in Mumbai on November 28 for their friends from Bollywood. Follow @htshowbiz for more Come November, and you know the festive period is slowly making way to welcome a spate of big fat Indian weddings. This year it was Bollywood star couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, who officially kicked off the wedding season, with their gorgeous nuptial celebrations in Lake Como, Italy. If youre a bride-to-be, their happy, glowing wedding photos must be an inspiration for sure. When we talk weddings, a makeover is a must. Brides, consider a mane makeover that will make you look even more stunning on your big day. Bridesmaids, you too have reason to cheer as Garnier Colour Naturals brings you stunning shades of brown that will add to your personality and give you a whole new look. The best part? You dont even have to book a salon appointment, because the Garnier Colour Naturals DIY kit is the easiest creme hair colour available in the market. We understand that your wedding is the most important day of your life. For many brides, it is a moment they have been planning for their whole lives, constantly browsing the internet for inspiration. From what you will wear, to how you will do your makeup everything has to be perfect. In addition, when it comes to your hair there are two things to consider your hairstyle and your hair colour. While brides are getting the perfect hair makeover, bridesmaids also have the chance to have fun at their friends or sisters wedding and look top notch and shine at all the events. Bridesmaids can also go for the same hair colour as the bride to make her feel special and show how strong their bond is. Still wondering if you should take the plunge or not? Let us help you decide. Darkest Brown for the traditional bride The best hair colour codes for your big day! Sometimes, deep-toned colours suit traditional attires the best. Mostly, Indian brides tie their hair back into a bun on their D-Day, and the darkest brown shade from Garnier Colour Naturals accentuates her overall look. If a traditional, red Benarasi sari, or a red lehenga with intricate details is whats on your mind, then this is the best colour by far. Newlywed Alankrita Sharma shares, I was categorically told by my mother and mother-in-law to not go for an outlandish hair colour for the wedding day. They were skeptical if my hair colour would match my pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding function dresses. When I took this shade to them, because I really wanted to colour my hair, they agreed, As a colour, is closest to our natural shade. Caramel Brown for the modern bride The best hair colour codes for your big day! This would be the best hair colour for brides who are interested in experimenting so that they stand out and shine on their big day. This caramel brown hair colour is going to pick your mane game up and how! Imagine the stunning colour with your cocktail gownstunning, isnt it? For bridesmaids, too, caramel brown is a fabulous colour. Caramel will look great if you are planning a day wedding like Anand Karaj - the traditional Sikh marriage ceremony. Think of a baby pink lehenga to go with your caramel brown hair, or even a maroon patiala salwaar kameez with gold thread work for one of your pre-wedding functions. Caramel brown also goes well with semi-traditional outfits such as dhoti pants and crop tops. Light Brown for the elegant bride The best hair colour codes for your big day! This shade is one of the best and safest shades to go for while colouring your hair for your wedding. It is often advised by hair stylists and experts that one should pick two to three shades lighter than the current natural hair colour shade. Well, this is exactly the colour they are talking about. It goes well with all kinds of wedding dresses, especially white wedding gowns. At Christian weddings, your hair does a lot of talking as you wear minimum jewellery, and follow the motto: beauty lies in subtlety. Garnier Colour Naturals light brown will surely make you feel like a princess as you walk down the aisle and grab everyones attention. Brown for the romantic bride The best hair colour codes for your big day! On your wedding day, all eyes will be on youand your hair! To make sure your wedding-day hair colour has a little extra warmth, sparkle, and shine, choose Garnier Colour Naturals brown without a doubt. It will add the perfect depth to your hair and help bring out the best out of you. A bride dressed for her wedding in a gold-border sari will look fabulous in this shade of brown. As far as bridesmaids go, this shade is the closest to the colour of henna that you may apply at your friends mehendi ceremony, and thus a must for weddings. TOP TIP Get your hair coloured a week before the wedding. This will reduce the risk of your original hair colour growing back and showing up at the roots, otherwise known as demarcation. A treatment before the wedding will also help tame any damage to coloured locks and keep your hair glossy, soft, and picture-perfect. Sitting in his glass-walled office in Berlin with an open suit jacket, casually tieless, Christoph Weigler looks every bit the part of a Silicon Valley startup executive. But the Uber general manager for Germany isnt talking about dominance or disruption. Weigler instead prefers discussing rules and regulations: Companies in general need to abide by them. As for Ubers famously brash tactics, he said, It was very obvious that was not the way we could succeed here. As the ride-hailing giant prepares for an initial public offering next year, Uber is gearing up to tell investors that much of its growth will come from food delivery, self-driving cars and scooters. Uber Technologies Inc.s core business of moving passengers in peoples cars has largely plateaued. In most major markets around the world, it has either won or retreated. But thanks to a more diplomatic approach pioneered by Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi, there are a few markets that hold newly tantalizing possibilities. Three countries in particular now appear to make up a kind of final frontier for the companys original business. The first is Germany, where Ubers peer-to-peer service has been banned for three years. By embracing regulated black cars and taxis, Uber has recently begun to thrive in Munich and Berlin, made its way back into Dusseldorf and is planning to add more next year. On Monday, the countrys Transportation Ministry said its considering easing regulations to allow carpooling by 2021. Another untapped market is Japan, where ride-hailing companies have failed to make a dent in the taxi market. And the third is Argentina, currently in the grips of an economic crisis, and where regulations no longer mean as much as they once did. I believe well be able to build a larger presence in Germany, which has the largest GDP in Europe, and Japan, the largest taxi market in the world, Khosrowshahi said in an interview at Ubers headquarters in San Francisco. The strategy, he said, would require certain changes in our business model, he said, as well as a combination of patience and working constructively with authoritiesall muscles the company is still just learning to flex. Only a few years ago, Ubers unlicensed service was blacklisted in Germany. In March 2015, a German court banned the companys unlicensed peer-to-peer service, called UberPop, the equivalent of UberX in the US. The company had pushed regulations in the country to their limit, arguing that it was an exchange matching riders with drivers and therefore wasnt operating an illegal taxi business. But in 2016, Uber lost its fight with regulators in the most definitive way possiblea court order. A German judge said the company would have to pay a fine of $264,825 for every future infraction. It halted its service in the country. It all came at a time when Uber executives were getting arrested in France and police were raiding the companys offices around the world. Uber did not seem much concerned with following the rules. Now, in Germany, the company is striking a very different tone. Its learning to make friendlier political overtures. And its working to improve its reputation by promising electric bikes and electric cars in a country that is eager to cut down on pollution from its diesel-guzzling carsall while it pushes for federal ride-hailing regulation. The result has been slow progress. It is still illegal for regular unlicensed drivers to pick up passengers. But the company now offers a black car service in Munich and Berlinespecially popular among international travelers. And it launched in another major city, Dusseldorf, in October. The company has plans to offer service in several other German cities next year. Thomas Mohnke, managing director of limousine service SafeDriver Group, is one of Ubers biggest partners in the region. He said his black car drivers once chauffeured members of parliament until officials decided to rely on government drivers instead. Mohnke and his fleet were in a lurch until Uber came around. Hundreds of his drivers are now working with the company. German mentality is different, Mohnke said of Ubers early travails in the country. German mentality is we never give you a chance if you dont follow the rules. The reward for breaking into the German market would be big. Goldman Sachs estimates the countrys taxi market is worth $4 billion, according to a 2017 report. But that pales in comparison to Japan, the companys other area of focus, where the taxi business is estimated to be worth $15 billion. Unlike, say, China or Southeast Asia where Uber has been unable to make inroads because of fierce local competitors, Japan effectively shut out the entire ride-hailing industry. Even today, few tech companies have had even the smallest glimmer of success at launching transportation businesses. But lately, Uber has reason to be optimistic about the country. The company launched its food delivery service in Japan in 2016, after years of struggling to enter the Japanese market at all. It quickly became one of the most popular food delivery options in the country. Ride-hailing proved more challenging, but in February the company got its first break. In a meeting with Khosrowshahi, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Uber should consider introducing its service on Awaji Island, a popular tourist destination. Uber leapt at the opportunity and partnered with a local taxi service there. The company then struck another partnership with a taxi service in Nagoya and was able to launch in Japans fourth-most-populous urban area. Japan always stood out to us as the single biggest of the opportunities and one where we just did not have traction like we needed to, said Brooks Entwistle, Ubers head of Asia. Soon, the company hopes, that could change. Said Entwistle: We are going around methodically striking deals. Up next, the company wants to partner with the government for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which could open yet more doors in the country. The regulatory challenges are even thornier in Ubers third country of focus, Argentina. But those challenges became less pressing when the countrys economy began to spiral. As unemployment rose, would-be drivers started flocking to the platform looking for work. Recently, even though the country has no clear ride-hailing rules, Buenos Aires became the fastest-growing city for Uber in terms of trips of anywhere in the world. Uber didnt enter the Argentinian market for years because of restrictive money-transfer laws that would have made it hard to turn a profit. Those laws were repealed in 2015, and Uber debuted in the capital city shortly after. But the company had not expanded in the country outside of Buenos Aires, facing hostile regulations and an entrenched taxi industry. Buenos Aires has the most of what we call driver-first trips, said Mariano Otero, the general manager for Argentina and neighboring countries. That means a lot of drivers are trying out Uber. The company sees this as laying a groundwork for future expansion in Argentina. And thanks to the economic crisis, other cities and states are now jockeying to negotiate with the company to be the site of its next launch. Argentinas Mendoza region gave Uber a license this year, and the company is in negotiations with Cordoba, the second-largest city in the country. Uber released its latest financial report last week, showing slowing growth. The business generated $2.95 billion in revenue, up 38 percent from a year before. But sales growth had been cut in half from just six months before. For years, Ubers growth was fueled in part by widening its geographic footprint. It can still do the same in the countries that have held out, but the process is likely to move slower. Mohnke, the German fleet manager, summed up the new state of play: Rules first, he said. Some people in the world say, America first. We say, Rules first. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.) With polling starting in 72 seats spread across 19 districts of Chhattisgarh, the curtain comes down on the state assembly elections on Tuesday where the ruling BJP and Congress are in a tough fight even as an alliance between Ajit Jogi and Mayawati is expected to disrupt equations. The first phase of polling in 18 seats in the Maoist strongholds on November 12 saw about 76% of the voters exercise their franchise. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing a fourth straight term for chief minister Raman Singh while the Congress is looking for a comeback after 15 years. In the 2013 election, the difference in vote share between the two parties in the state was less than one percentage point (0.75%). The BJP had won 49 seats, Congress got 39 and BSP and an independent bagged one each. Also read | Why todays Chhattisgarh election can shape Mayawatis 2019 game plan The 15 million voters in the second phase on Tuesday will also decide fate of former chief minister Ajit Jogi, whose Janata Congress Chhattisgarh is fighting the election in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Jogi is banking on the Satnami community and scheduled castes who hold influence in 58 of the 72 seats in the plains of Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh assembly elections 2018 Live Updates In all, 1,079 candidates are in the fray on Tuesday, including nine cabinet ministers, leader of opposition TS Singhdeo and state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, apart from Jogi, his wife Renu Jogi and daughter-in-law Richa Jogi. At least 100,000 security personnel including 607 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed. As per the election commission, 46 of the 72 seats are general, nine are SC seats and 17 reserved for ST. In the 2013 elections, the BJP had won 43 seats while Congress had won 27. One seat each was won by BSP and an independent candidate. During the campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed the Gandhi family was out on bail in corruption charges while applauding Raman Singh for bringing developmental change. Also read | In Ajit Jogis big Chhattisgarh gamble, turncoats play a crucial role Congress chief Rahul Gandhi focussed on targeting Raman Singh with charges of corruption. The Congress also promised prohibition, food processing hubs and farm loan waiver within 10 days of coming to power . Of these 19 districts, seven are Maoists affected but the presence of rebels is much less than that in Bastar. Special strategy has been formulated for these districts. We have deployed special task force (STF), companies of district reserve guards (DRG) and CoBRA in these districts, said special director general (anti-naxal operations) DM Awasthi. For more on Chhattisgarh election coverage, click here Chhattisgarh recorded Tuesday 71.91% turnout in the second and final phase of the assembly elections that is seen as crucial not just for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress but a third front alliance led by former chief minister Ajit Jogis ability to emerge as a serious player. In the last assembly election in 2013, 77.13% of polling was reported in these 72 seats, which are seen as decisive in the formation of the government. The highest turnout was reported in Balod (82.12%) while the lowest was recorded in Lormi (59%) of Bilaspur district, said Subrat Sahoo, Chhattisgarh chief electoral officer. He said the overall turnout figure could increase as polling continued late into the evening. The BJP is eyeing a fourth straight term for chief minister Raman Singh while the Congress is looking for a comeback after 15 years. In the 2013 election, the difference of votes between the two rival parties was less than one percentage point (0.75%). The BJP won 49 seats, the Congress got 39 and the Bahujan Samaj Party and an independent bagged one each. Tuesdays polling is also a test for former CM Ajit Jogi, who floated a regional front, Chhattisgarh Janata Congress, and has struck an alliance with the BSP. Jogi is said to have an influence among the Satnami community and scheduled castes who are spread in 58 seats of the 72 seats in the plains of Chhattisgarh. The remaining 14 seats fall in north Chhattisgarhs Sarguja-Jaspur region, where the Congress and the BJP are in direct contest. Sahoo said 359 voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines of EVMs were replaced after complaints of errors. The total number of control units( CU) of EVMs replaced was 89 while 114 balloting units were replaced during polling, added Sahoo. In the afternoon, the Election Commission removed a presiding officer and polling staff in Marwahi of Bilaspur district after complaints. A total of 1,079 candidates, including 119 women, were contesting in 72 constituencies across 19 districts with an electorate of 15,400,596. The first phase of polling was held on November 12 in 18 Maoist-affected seats, where the turnout was about 76%. In the second phase, out of 72 seats, 17 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and nine for Scheduled Castes. A total 19,336 polling booths were been set up, of which 444 were designated as sensitive. The Congress believed there is a wave against the BJP while the ruling party is banking on its so-called development agenda. There was a wave of change against BJP which has converted into votes in Chhattisgarh. We are hoping that we will get more than 60 seats and will form the government in the state, said Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi. BJP spokesperson Sacchinand Upasane said that they were confident of victory. We are forming the government as people have voted for the Raman Singh and Narendra Modi, he said. On Tuesday, Raman Singh, his wife Veena and son Abhishek voted in Kawardha constituency. Other state ministers also exercised their franchise. No incident of Maoists violence was reported in the second phase. We have deployed about one lakh security personnel state to ensure peaceful polling, said DM Awasthi, special director general of police (Anti-naxal operations). Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi is hoping to emerge as the kingmaker in Chhattisgarh state and is banking on the second phase of voting on Tuesday when 72 of the 90 assembly seats go to poll. The tribal state has a history of nail-biting finishes in the elections. In the first phase of elections which took place on November 12, 18 seats were covered. The 72 seats that are voting today in the second phase are spread across Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur and Sarguja division of Chhattisgarh. With Jogi allying with the Bahujan Samaj Party, nearly 20 seats in the state are witnessing a triangular contest. Jogi is hoping to capitalise on the BSPs core support among the Scheduled Caste voters of Bilaspur division, which accounts for 24 assembly seats out of which 12 are with the BJP, 11 with the Congress and 1 with the BSP, to upset poll calculations. Chhattisgarh assembly elections 2018 Live Updates Till date, Chhattisgarh has largely remained a bi-polar fight between the BJP and the Congress with parties such as the BSP ending up winning substantial votes but fewer seats. In the previous election, the BSP had fielded its candidates in all 90 seats and had won more than 5.5 lakh votes with a share of 4.4 per cent, but had one just one seat in the state. Jogi who holds considerable influence in the Satnami voters - mostly the SCs - has borrowed about a dozen sulking leaders from the Congress and BJP and has fielded them on the BSP and his party the Chhattisgarh Janta Congresss symbol Also read | Why todays Chhattisgarh election can shape Mayawatis 2019 game plan He is hurting both the BJP and the Congress, says psephologist Sudip Shrivastava. The BSP had been in talks with the Congress for an alliance, but it broke after the latter turned down Mayawatis demand for about a dozen seats. She is trying to attempt a repeat of Karnataka in Chhattisgarh, hoping to emerge as kingmaker along with Jogi in case both the Congress and the BJP fall short of majority, say experts. The outcome of the second round of voting will also decide whether the uninterrupted run of chief minister Raman Singh - who is BJPs longest serving chief minister - will come to an end or he will get another shot at power. For complete coverage on Chhattisgarh elections, read here. The man, identified as Anil Kumar Sharma, has been taken into custody. The attack took place outside Arvind Kejriwals chamber on the third floor around 2:10 pm when he was leaving for lunch. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) New Delhi: In a major security breach, a man threw chilli powder at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi secretariat on Tuesday. The man, identified as Anil Kumar Sharma, has been taken into custody. The attack took place outside Arvind Kejriwals chamber on the third floor around 2:10 pm when he was leaving for lunch. The attacker hid chilli powder in a cigarette packet while he was waiting in the visitor's area. #WATCH: CCTV from Delhi Secretariat. Delhi Police say 'Anil Kumar came to meet Delhi CM to share his grievances. He handed him a note & touched his feet, & chilli powder fell from his hand. Probe underway whether it was an attack or powder fell unintentionally' pic.twitter.com/UYMhCAb3Hm ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 According to reports, Kejriwal's spectacles broke in the scuffle. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the Delhi police for security lapse as the incident happened in the high-security area. The Tuesdays attack is not the first when the AAP convenor was targeted despite heavy security around him. In October 2016, a leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student body linked to the BJP, threw ink at Arvind Kejriwal in Rajasthan's Bikaner. In January 2016, an AAP rebel had thrown ink at the Chief Minister at a Delhi stadium. As millions of Chhattisgarh voters turn up at polling stations across 72 assembly seats on Tuesday, they will decide Chief Minister Raman Singhs fate who has put up a spirited fight to win a fourth straight term. But the outcome will decide a lot more than who rules the tribal state for the next five years. The outcome will also shape Dalit powerhouse Mayawatis plan for 2019 elections. The Bahujan Samaj Party boss had sprung asurprise on the Congress back in September when she sealed an alliance with Ajit Jogis Janta Congress Chhattisgarh. She also named Jogi as the alliances presumptive chief minister if it wins a majority. A majority, senior leaders in Ajit Jogis party indicate, was indeed a bit of a stretch by their standards too. But they stress the alliance, which is relying on support from the weaker sections such as the scheduled castes, was within striking distance to play the kingmaker in case of a hung assembly, and depending on the number of seats it gets, may be, even the king. Read more: Ajit Jogi draws on SC, ST support in Chhattisgarh to dent Congress, BJP chances They point out how the Congress, the party that had expelled Jogi not so long ago, rushed to support rival Janata Dal (Secular) HD Kumaraswamys government in Karnataka even if it meant ceding the chief ministers post. Live Updates Mayawatis party was also a beneficiary of this deal between the Congress and JD (S). Her lone party legislator did get a ministerial berth by virtue of being part of this alliance. It was the first time that a regional party such as the BSP was being part of the government outside its territory. By some accounts, Jogi is expected to eat into Congresss votes than the Bharatiya Janata Partys; particularly since the 55 of the 90 seats where his party is contesting, saw a better performance by the Congress in 2008 and 2013. Mayawati, many believe, is looking at the repeat of Karnataka-type situation in Chhattisgarh, where government formation is decided by a wafer-thin margin. The vote share difference between the Congress and the BJP was less than one percent in the previous election. Already, the BSP polled 4.4% votes in the 2013 assembly elections and the tie-up with Ajit Jogis party is expected to help increase the chances of converting this support into seats. If the Mayawati-Jogi alliance does pay off in Chhattisgarh, it would considerably boost her ability to negotiate a better deal from her allies back home in Indias most-populous state, Uttar Pradesh, and beyond in 2019. Mayawati is already in talks with Samajwadi Party, once a bitter rival, for the Lok Sabha elections and has made her reluctance to cede seats to the Congress rather well known. Not after the Congress declined to offer her what she would consider a respectable share of seats in the ongoing round of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It would also give her more manoeuvring space to negotiate an alliance with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh and outside. The Congress will be more than compelled to accommodate Mayawati and her demands, which many in the Congress felt were unreasonable in the ongoing round of assembly elections. An improvement in her partys performance over the 2013 elections when the BSP won one seat in Chhattisgarh will, for one, firmly establish her potential to damage the Congress in states where it has a reasonable chance. It would also convince the BSP that the party should go full steam scouting for alliance partners in states and regions beyond Uttar Pradesh. Already, it is a strategy that has driven her to sign off pacts with state parties in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and even Haryana, where she has entered into a pact with Indian National Lok Dal. For complete coverage on Chhattisgarh elections, read here. A week after a 57-year-old ayurveda doctor was found murdered at his home in northwest Delhis Jahangirpuri, police on Monday apprehended a 16-year-old boy, who worked at the doctors clinic. Police said the teenager had plotted the murder to rob his employer. Police have also arrested eight persons, including a married couple, in connection with the murder and for hiding the looted cash and jewellery worth around Rs 12 lakh. Police identified the eight as Rizwan alias Rizu, Vishal Rawat alias Bunty, his parents Sandhya and Raju Rawat, Rizwan alias Nasty, Mohammad Ammar, Riyasat and Afroz. Police said except Buntys parents, who are in their mid-40s, the other six are aged between 18 and 21 years. Police claim that they have recovered about 90% of the looted money and jewellery. Deputy commissioner of police (northwest) Aslam Khan said the murder was committed by Bunty, Rizu and Nasty after a week-long observation of the doctor, Mukim Ahmad Iqbal. After the murder, the accused persons distributed the loot among themselves and were planning to visit Kashmir and Shimla. The teenager was working at the doctors clinic for the last six months. He passed on information related to the arrangements that the doctor had been making for his daughters wedding, which was scheduled for December. The wedding, however, took place last week after her fathers death, Khan said. The DCP said the boy was aware that the doctor had sold a property to arrange the money for the wedding and that he had kept the cash and jewellery at home. The teenager told his friend Ammar about his robbery plan and the fact that the doctors daughter usually left the main gate open for the domestic help while leaving for work every morning. Ammar included Rizu, Nasty and Bunty in the planning, he said. On November 12 around 7.30am, the daughter left for work, leaving the main gate open. Bunty, Nasty and Rizu allegedly entered the house and strangled the doctor in his sleep. They stuffed the cash and jewellery in three bags and fled, police said. Police said a CCTV camera installed at a nearby building captured the three suspects. However, their faces were not clear in the footage. Investigators took the help of informants to identify the suspects. Their cellphone locations were found to be near the doctors house at the time of the crime. Buntys cellphone movement was later tracked to Jharkhands Jamtara. Our team caught him from there. His interrogation led to the arrest of the others, DCP Khan said. Police said Buntys parents hid the cash and jewellery despite knowing that he had obtained it criminally. After issuing an official statement that suggested there was no attack on Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, the Delhi Police changed its statement and acknowledged there was an attempt to attack the chief minister after footage of the incident that was captured by a CCTV camera emerged. When asked about the discrepancy, the police blamed their own poor language skills. It appears someone with poor language skills framed the statement in a hurry, said a senior police officer who asked not to be named. The Delhi Police registered a case under relevant IPC sections, including assault on public servant and criminal intimidation, and arrested Sharma late Tuesday night. Though we did not receive any formal complaint from the CMs secretariat, based on preliminary enquiry, a cognizable offence was made out, said Rajesh Khurana, joint commissioner of police (central range). Police detain Anil Kumar, who allegedly threw chilli powder at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, at Delhi Secretariat in New Delhi, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (PTI) While the alleged attack happened at 2.25 pm, Delhi Police issued their first statement at 4.56 pm. It said that Kejriwals spectacles fell when his security officers were trying to remove Sharma, who was trying to touch his feet. Subsequently, security personnel removed him aside and found him carrying a pouch that tore and apparently contained chilli powder, the statement had said. No sooner had the police circulated the message, the CCTV video emerged. It purportedly showed Sharma trying to lunge at Kejriwal after bowing. Delhi Police then issued a revised statement at 5.23 pm. Keeping with the CCTV footage, it pointed out how the attempt to charge towards the CM was swiftly foiled by security. It maintained Sharma was found carrying a pouch that tore and apparently contained chilli powder. The Delhi Polices remark on chilli powder attack on Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday has triggered a barrage of criticism. Within hours of the incident, a Delhi Police officer said it was investigating if it was an attack or powder fell unintentionally. Anil Kumar came to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the secretariat to share his grievances. He handed a note to the Chief Minister and touched his feet, and chilli powder fell down from his hand. Probe underway whether it was an attack or powder fell unintentionally, the Delhi police spokesperson told news agency ANI. The statement by the Delhi Police seemed to conflict the course of events captured on the CCTV camera in the secretariat hallway. The CCTV footage shows 40-year-old Anil Kumar Sharma bending down to touch Kejriwals feet, getting up and smearing chilli powder on the chief ministers face. Arvind Kejriwal escaped without any serious injury to his eyes due to spectacles, police said. The Delhi Police, however, was roasted on Twitter for their take on the matter by many including former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. How does chilli powder that "falls from his hand" defy gravity & fall upwards in to @ArvindKejriwal jis eyes? https://t.co/lNFN8tqCWU Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 20, 2018 The Aam Aadmi Party hit out at the Delhi Police and alleged that the attack was politically motivated. The BJP is behind the attack and the accused are being aided by the Modi government, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged. The attacker is associated with a BJP neta from Narayana. Details coming soon. Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) November 20, 2018 Amazing that @DelhiPolice is investigating whether it was an attack or powder fell unintentionally when the CCTV footage clearly shows it was an attack! Who is @DelhiPolice trying to protect? https://t.co/Y6bJdNSE9b Atishi (@AtishiAAP) November 20, 2018 Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, however denied any role in the incident and called for a high-level probe. Such incidents cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody and this calls for a high-level probe, Tiwari said. When members of a Hindu outfit decided to burn an effigy of Mughal ruler Babur in east Delhi on Sunday afternoon, the local police took care of the law-and-order situation by putting forward their own clean air agenda. Holding placards, the policemen urged the agitators to refrain from burning the effigy to avoid causing air pollution. The agitators complied. Instead of burning the effigy, they registered their protest by hurling shoes and chappals at Baburs effigy. On Sunday afternoon, the demonstrators members of the United Hindu Front (UHF), an outfit that claims to be an amalgam of several Hindu organisations had hit the streets of Shahdara to demand renaming of all areas named after the Mughal king. There is an assembly constituency, a bus terminal and a colony named after Babur in Delhi. Our demand was to have them renamed, SK Tiwary of UHF said. The protest was to end with the burning of Baburs effigy. But the local police had come prepared. We had a few sheets of white papers and sketch pens from a drawing competition we had organised in a school. When we got to know of their plan to burn the effigy, we quickly prepared some placards, said a senior police officer not authorised to speak to the media. One such placard read, Jan-jan ki bas yahi pukaar, dharti bachao abki baar. Putla na jalaao meri sarkaar, aapka hoga bada upkaar (The people have only one request, save the earth this time. Pease do not light an effigy, we will be very grateful). The placard idea and the slogans were by Subodh Goswami, assistant commissioner of police (Nandnagri). Protesters complied with polices request of not burning effigy as it would have caused pollution. (HT Photo ) The act that thoroughly surprised the demonstrators led them to huddle up and take a decision. The police told us that burning an effigy was not the best way to raise a demand when the city is struggling with pollution. It wouldnt have been right to overlook the polices request. So, we decided to lay the effigy on the ground and thrash it with shoes, said Jai Bhagwan Goyal, UHFs international working president. Soon after, the police were able to seize control of the situation. Once we had rained a few blows on the effigy, the police took it away, saying that Babur was dead and his body was required for postmortem, said Goyal. The agitators responded by shouting slogans in favour of the Delhi Police. According to Atul Kumar Thakur, deputy commissioner of police (north-east), the fresh idea was in line with similar other campaigns such as plantation drives and awareness campaigns organised by the police in schools. It was encouraging to see the protesters agreeing to do their bit for the environment by not burning the effigy, said Thakur. The Maldives and India appear to have struck all the right chords for a much-needed reset of the bilateral relationship as the new government headed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih assumed office in Male over the weekend. Mr Solihs swearing-in was immediately followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the only head of state or government to be invited to the ceremony a clear signal, if any was needed, as to which way the new leadership of the Maldives is leaning. The two countries agreed to focus on the concerns and aspirations of both sides as they work to maintain peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. Mr Solih spoke of the dire economic situation facing the Maldives and Mr Modi assured him that the Indian government was prepared to help the archipelago in every possible way. Even before he assumed office, Mr Solih had spoken of an India first policy, a significant shift away from his predecessor Abdulla Yameens tight embrace of China, both for political support in the face of international condemnation of his repressive policies and for financial backing for massive infrastructure projects. It is the huge Chinese debt associated with these projects with various estimates putting it at $1.5 billion to as much as $3 billion, or almost half the countrys GDP that will be the first challenge Mr Solih will have to face. Then there is the issue of keeping together the multi-party alliance led by the Maldives Democratic Party. Though Mr Solih enjoys the support of former president, Mohamed Nasheed, one cannot forget that Mr Yameen garnered almost 42 % of the votes in Septembers election and still enjoys considerable support. Mr Solihs government will also have to contend with the creeping rise of Islamic radicalisation, with the Maldives recently emerging as a country with one of the highest per capita numbers for foreign fighters operating with groups in Syria and Iraq. Clearly, India will be glad to regain some of the space it had been forced to cede in the Maldives because of Mr Yameens pro-China stance. The two countries will have an opportunity to discuss issues such as the continued presence of two military helicopters and associated personnel, which Mr Yameen had wanted to send back, and the denial of work visas to hundreds of Indians in recent months. India will also have to take the lead in working with the Maldives to strengthen both Mr Solihs government and democratic institutions. The immediate crisis in the Reserve Bank of India has passed. The government has not used the buy-now, infamous Section 7 that allows it to direct the central bank to undertake a particular course of action. The Governor of RBI has not resigned. And both sides have gone out of their way so that the nine-hour long board meeting on November 19 ended on a cordial note. It would be imprudent to believe the crisis is over and all is well, though. For years now, and not just under this government, the RBI and the finance ministry have had opposing views on liquidity, interest- and exchange-rates. That could have been managed indeed, it has been in the past but the finance ministry also believes that the RBI slipped in its handling of the fraud at Punjab National Bank and the mess at IL&FS. The ministry also doesnt approve of the central banks continued insistence that at least half the state-owned banks in the country will remain under the so-called Preventive Corrective Action, which crimps their lending abilities. Then theres the issue of the quantum of reserves the RBI needs. It has around Rs 10 lakh crore and the governments view is that it needs just around half that. None of these issues has really been addressed by Mondays board meeting. Most have been kicked down the road, with committees being formed (or, to be exact, with an intent expressed to form committees) to look into them. There are reports that the most important of these, to address the issue of reserves, will be formed by the end of the week, but it is a committee and, like other committees, will take its time to arrive at a decision. And so, even as it is important to understand that this isnt a political issue it is the kind of thing that could have happened, and, indeed, has happened, under other governments it is imperative to realise that what we have now is an uneasy peace. For its part, the central bank has been obstinate about its reserves, displayed a seeming lack of flexibility, and not communicated well (and some of its communication has been intemperate). For its , the government hasnt trusted RBI to do the right thing by the economy, listened a little too much to market voices and bank managers, and used its officers to respond to some of RBIs utterances in similar vein. Given their respective short-term interests, it is unlikely the RBI and the finance ministry will ever be on the same page (although it would definitely help if they are in the same chapter, even book). Legend has it that the intricate needlework used in embroidery known as Lefkaritiko lace was of such high quality that Leonardo Da Vinci himself bought a tablecloth when he visited this mountainous village in the late 15th century and gifted it to Milans cathedral. Local merchant Demosthenes Rouvis contends that the zig-zag pattern adorning the tablecloth on which Jesus Christ and his disciples dine in Da Vincis masterpiece The Last Supper closely resembles those found on Lefkaritiko embroidery. But this centuries-old tradition is under threat now, falling prey to more modern trends tourists with an eye for a bargain souvenir and local workers looking for ways to make a better living. Its a far cry from the villages heyday in the late 19th and early 20th century, when merchants fanned out around the world to sell the costly cloth. A man walks past shops selling the famous Lefkaritiko lace in Lefkara village, Cyprus. Legend has it that the intricate needlework used in embroidery known as Lefkaritiko lace was of such high quality that Leonardo Da Vinci himself bought a tablecloth when he visited this mountainous village in the late 15th century and gifted it to Milans cathedral. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) The skills involved in hand-stitching the embroidery that uses Irish linen and French thread have been passed down from generation to generation for some 600 years. The art was taught to Lefkara women by Cyprus former Venetian rulers when they vacationed in the village, said veteran embroider Evdokia Stavri. But with a full-sized tablecloth taking up to two years to make and now selling for up to 4,000 euros ($4,500) and tourists increasingly settling for cheaper imitations, embroidery is fast becoming a dying art in this village, says shop owner Louis Papaloizou, whose own grandmother Elizabeth was reputed to be the first woman to journey abroad to sell Lefkaritiko lace. Margarita Charalambous, president of the Lefkara Embroiders Association, agrees, saying fewer and fewer local women are learning the craft because it is no longer lucrative. In an effort to keep the craft alive, embroiderers are updating the traditional look with different coloured threads and using it to adorn fashionable handbags to entice a new clientele. But store owner Papaloizou fears that even attempts to move with the times may not save the craft as young women from the village look elsewhere for work. We produce lace with a great deal of difficulty because the women embroiders are getting old. Theyre into their 80s and no longer want to embroider and the young women dont want to embroider at all, he says. So, were heading toward the end. Ten or 15 years at the most, were finished. Theres no future in this. Charalambous also fears for the future. Im 56 years old, she says. Im the youngest of those women who embroider. In 10-15 years, I dont believe there will be anyone else to carry on creating Lefkaritika. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh tied the knot at the picturesque Villa del Balbianello in Lake Como, Italy on November 14-15. On Tuesday, the Padmaavat actors took to Instagram to share some never-before-seen snaps from their pre-wedding festivities, including two beautiful shots of the radiant bride posing and dancing in an ethereal blush ensemble at the mehendi ceremony. Deepika and Ranveers wedding extravaganza featured a mehendi function, where the glowing bride made wearing an all-over embellished Sabyasachi ensemble look easy and we loved her choice of pastels. While Deepika wore a demure red and gold lehenga and an embroidered saree by the designer for her twin Konkani and Sindhi weddings, the refreshing kurta set at her mehendi was a great fit for the effortless-yet-stunning bride. The ornate floral embroidery and peek-a-boo lace detailings that add extra romance to the pretty and polished design. Deepika topped off the ensemble with lots of bling via a statement multi-strand, multi-layered navratan rani haar set amidst uncut diamonds, ruby, pearls and emerald in 18 karat gold. Talk about jaw-dropping. Deepika also brought winning hair and graceful make-up the festivities. She styled her hair in a bun and wore a glossy peach-coloured lip, slightly glittery eye shadow, lush lashes and a tiny black bindi. To no ones surprise, Deepikas groom, Ranveer, was also dressed by fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Although Deepika stunned with her luscious and sparkly look, we couldnt help but be awestruck with Ranveers mehendi style. His whimsical ethnic Indian look had an iridescent shine that served up festive glamour and elegance. Ranveers flamboyant long-sleeved printed khadi angrakha in a delicate floral pattern perfectly matched Deepikas graceful mehendi look. It was a lesson in subdued glamour, accessorised with a Nehru jacket with clusters of gold beads and sequin. And Ranveers round sunglasses are a definite show-stopper. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are relationship goals and not just because of the way the newlyweds look at one another lovingly. Deepika and Ranveer have been twinning ever since their November 14-15 wedding at Lake Como, Italy. Its incredibly cute to see the beaming twosome get coordinated with their traditional Indian looks from fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. On Tuesday, while leaving for Bengaluru to host their first wedding reception, Deepika-Ranveer once again demonstrated just how connected and in love they are. Ranveer and Deepika were both dressed in Sabyasachi: Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh looked adorable together, showing off their easy camaraderie as they exchanged loving glances and smiled for cameras at Mumbai airport. Ranveers stark white kurta-pyjama set paired with a floral half jacket is simple and perfect for wearing all year long. It actually checks off all groom dressing requirements, without loosing Ranveers unique style sensibilities. Also, dont miss the unique mehendi design on Ranveers right palm: Along with a decorative diya, the Padmaavat actor got Deepikas name written in the Devanagari script. Meanwhile, Deepikas coordinated airport look came in a fresh cream colour palette. The new bride again proved she has impeccable taste in fashion and has a special place in her heart for ethnic Indian ensembles. Deepikas flared knee-length kurta was cinched at the waist and was covered in tone-on-tone embroidery. It was paired with a matching churidaar and an embroidered dupatta. Deepikas ornate gold and diamond mangalsutra and statement chandbali earrings added a glamorous touch to the otherwise day-appropriate kurta set, while her minimal make-up complemented her cream ensemble. Deepika finished off her summer-appropriate look with subtle, kohl-rimmed eyes, a touch of pink gloss on her lips and a flush of blush with her hair pulled back into simple low bun. This isnt the first time the two lovebirds have given us a glimpse of their undeniable couple style. On Sunday, shortly after their lavish twin weddings at the picturesque Villa del Balbianello, Deepika and Ranveer returned to Mumbai wearing matching airport looks in coordinating head-to-toe Sabyasachi ensembles -- bold and colourful prints paired with beige silk separates. Deepika matched her bright red and gold Benarasi dupatta to Ranveers hot pink Nehru jacket with elephant motifs. Notice the couple rocked similar similar footwear too? Even at their wedding ceremony on Thursday, Deepika and Ranveers colour palette was coordinated. Both Deepika and Ranveer wore head-to-toe Sabyasachi to their wedding ceremonies: For the Sindhi wedding on Thursday, Deepika chose a unique red and gold lehenga, while Ranveer too opted for a red gold brocade sherwani. Seriously, though: Could these two be any more in sync with one another? Meanwhile, at the Konkani wedding on Wednesday, Deepika chose an opulent hand-embroidered red, rust and gold saree, and Ranveers Konkani groom avatar -- he wore an ivory and gold veshti, kurta and angvastram -- was a fitting match. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Shah said BJP supports Ayyappa devotees who hold Sabarimala tradition close to heart and won't let LDF 'crush people's faith with impunity'. Amit Shah slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan government's handling of the situation in Sabarimala as 'disappointing' and accused the Kerala government of treating pilgrims as 'Gulag inmates' and making them spend nights next to 'pig droppings'. (Photo: File | AP) New Delhi: BJP President Amit Shah Tuesday slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan government's handling of the situation in Sabarimala as "disappointing" and accused the Kerala government of treating pilgrims as "Gulag inmates" and making them spend nights next to "pig droppings". Asserting that his party stands firmly with every Ayyappa devotee who holds the Sabarimala tradition close to his heart, the BJP President said his party will not let the LDF "crush people's faith with impunity". In a series of tweets, Shah said, "If several reports of flushing resting places for devotees and them having to spend nights next to pig droppings and dustbin are true, then Pinarayi Vijayan must realize that he can't treat Ayyappa devotees like inmates of Gulag. We won't let LDF crush people's faith with impunity." If several reports of flushing resting places for devotees and them having to spend nights next to pig droppings & dustbin are true, then Pinarayi Vijayan must realize that he cant treat Ayyappa devotees like inmates of Gulag. We won't let LDF crush people's faith with impunity. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 20, 2018 Gulag was a system of forced labour camps established during Joseph Stalin's rule in the Soviet Union. Shah's comments underlined his party's support to devotees protesting against the state government's move to implement a Supreme Court order lifting the bar on women of menstruating age from visiting the temple. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has accused the BJP of politicising the court order with the chief minister asserting that it is the job of a government to implement the apex court's order. Shah said the way the way Pinarayi Vijayan's government is handling the sensitive issue of Sabarimala is disappointing as the "Kerala police is treating young girls, mothers and aged inhumanly, forcing them to take the arduous pilgrimage, without even basic facilities like food, water, shelter and clean toilets". The way Pinarayi Vijayans govt is handling the sensitive issue of Sabarimala is disappointing. Kerala police is treating young girls, mothers and aged inhumanly, forcing them to take the arduous pilgrimage, without even basic facilities like food, water, shelter & clean toilets. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 20, 2018 "If Pinarayi Vijayan thinks he can rise against people's movement to preserve Sabarimala by arresting K Surendran, BJP's Thrissur district president and six others, then he is mistaken," Shah said. Thirty-four years after the murder of two men in the anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984, a city court on Tuesday awarded the death penalty to one convict and life imprisonment to another. Yashpal Singh,55, a transporter, and retired postmaster Naresh Sehrawat, in his late 50s, had been convicted on November 14 for murdering their neighbours Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh by setting them on fire in south Delhis Mahipalpur. This is the first death sentence handed down in a case probed by a special investigation team (SIT) after a fresh inquiry into the cases was ordered by the Centre three years ago. Before Singh, another man Kishori was awarded the death penalty in seven cases by a trial court in 1996. The Supreme Court later commuted the sentence to life imprisonment in 1999, according to senior advocate HS Phoolka. Following inputs from intelligence agencies that the two convicts could be attacked on the court premises, additional sessions judge Ajay Pandey on Tuesday held the proceedings inside Tihar jail. Singh was awarded the death penalty. The court sentenced Sehrawat to life imprisonment besides imposing a fine of 34 lakh each on the two convicts. The court said that 20 lakh each would be paid as compensation to the family members of the Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh. For the offence of murder under section 302 Indian Penal Code [IPC], the conduct and unreformed character of convict Yashpal demands rarest of rare penalty.... The conduct and condition of convict Naresh Sehrawat, suggest that his case is not a case where death penalty is the only alternative, the court said. The two men were convicted in one of the eight cases reopened by the Delhi police SIT constituted in 2015. Out of the remaining seven cases, the SIT has filed a charge sheet in four cases, while it is still investigating three cases. In one of the three cases, the accused is senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar. The judge held that the offence as well as the culpability of both the convicts falls within the category of rarest of rare cases. They being the influential neighbours of the victims, without any provocation, caused horrendous crime of murder and looting in order to eliminate all five victims [three were injured] just because of their faith, community or religion, the judge said. Seventy-one year old Santokh Singh, the complainant and brother of Hardev Singh, said, It is a big victory for humanity. We are satisfied with the judgment though we wanted court to award deaths to both the convicts. Appearing for the state, additional public prosecutor Surinder Kain submitted that this was a pre-planned attack and sought death penalty for both convicts. Singh was further involved in leading the mob to the house where the victims had hidden themselves. He was further key in exposing the victims to the rioting mob...., the judge said in the 45-page order, noting that Sehrawat had brought kerosene from the bus to kill the victims. Additional DCP, Kumar Gyanesh, also a member of the SIT, said, This judgment will go a long way in restoring the faith of people in judiciary, police and criminal justice system... The judge said the convicts were the key in creating the common object of mob psychology and to instil the feeling of revenge and fury in the mob. The sentence was welcomed by Punjab CM Amarinder Singh and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the heinous crimes. Hope others involved in the attacks are also soon brought to book... the CM tweeted. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday told the special investigation team (SIT), probing the alleged police firing on anti-sacrilege protesters at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura in October 2015, that he never met Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar outside Punjab. Sukhbir, who appeared before the five-member SIT headed ADGP Prabodh Kumar, termed the probe politically motivated. He was quizzed at the police headquarters here for about an hour by all members of the SIT. Akshays name was mentioned in the Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission report on sacrilege incidents, which was tabled in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in August this year. In its report, the commission gave reference of a letter addressed to it by former MLA Harbans Jalal dated October 9, 2017, saying that a meeting took place between the Dera Sacha Sauda chief and Sukhbir at the Mumbai residence of the actor for the release of dera heads movie MSG-2 The Messenger in Punjab. I categorically told the SIT that I never met the actor outside Punjab. They even asked irrelevant questions based on hearsay, said Sukhbir while addressing a press conference after being questioned by the SIT. It appears that the SIT has not done groundwork in the case. I was questioned about what directions I gave on October 14, 2015. They were not even aware that I was not in the state at that time, said the SAD chief. Sukhbir, who was also holding the home portfolio then, said that during examination, he questioned SIT member Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh if he received any directions from me to clear people from the Beas Bridge in 2015 when he was IG (border range). The IG had no answer to my query. The only motive of this SIT is to make us accused on the directions of the Congress high command. One of the SIT members and IG Arunpal Singh was the Faridkot SSP when I was booked at the behest of the previous Captain Amarinder government in a case of theft of a camera, Sukhbir said. SITs are constituted by the Congress governments either to implicate rivals or give clean chits their own men, he said, adding that the present SIT had withdrawn serious cases against radicals who targeted his vehicle in Sangrur recently. Sukhbir also raised a question over the FIR in connection with which he was summoned by the SIT and alleged it was registered three years after the incident. The SAD chief was accompanied by senior party leaders and MLAs. The SIT has already questioned SAD patriarch and former CM Parkash Singh Badal in the case on November 16 and Akshay has been summoned for November 21. BLAMES CAPT FOR AMRITSAR ATTACK Sukhbir squarely blamed chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh for Sundays grenade attack on Nirankari Bhawan at Rajasansi in Amritsar. Amarinders hands are stained with the blood of innocent people. He is hobnobbing with radicals who are hell-bent on fomenting trouble in the state, he said. The attack is direct fallout of the chief ministers policy to support radicals and use them to marginalise the mainstream moderate Akalis. This was done in the 1980s and 1990s too, Sukhbir said. Now again, Punjab is being pushed into bloodshed, he said, alleging that even the Ranjit panel on sacrilege cases was used to divert attention from the abject failures of the Congress government. Unidentified gunmen killed an office-bearer of Kashmiri separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelanis Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) in South Kashmirs Anantnag district on Tuesday, the same day that four militants and a soldier died in a shootout in Shopian in the backdrop of the abduction of seven civilians and the murder of two of them in the district in a weeks time. TeH district president Hafizullah Mir, in his late 40s, is the third separatist activist to have been killed in the past two and a half months. Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League (J&KML) activist Tariq Ahmad Ganaie, 50, was shot dead in South Kashmirs Shopian district on October 11. J&KML is a constituent of Geelanis faction of the separatist amalgam, Hurriyat Conference. Another Geelani aide, Hakim-ur-Rehman, was killed in North Kashmirs Bomia a month earlier on September 8. Police have blamed militants for the killings while separatists and the militant leadership have held government agencies responsible for them. The Separatist Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), which comprises Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Yasin Malik, called for a shutdown on Thursday and protests on Friday against Mirs killing. A police statement said Mir was killed after unidentified militants barged into his residence at Budooda Achabal in Anantnag and fired indiscriminately. In this incident, Hafizullah (Mir) sustained critical gunshot wounds and was evacuated to a nearby hospital where he succumbed. The statement said Mirs widow was wounded in the attack and was undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Police has registered a case under relevant sections of the law and initiated an investigation in the matter. JRL said Mir had played a pivotal role to sustain the 2016 uprising following Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wanis killing. He was in jail for two years and was released recently. Authorities tried very hard to break his will and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not toe their line. When they failed to bow him down, they decided to eliminate him physically, JRL alleged in a statement. For the last couple of months, he (had been) receiving suspicious phone calls, and even was threatened and harassed, but this brave son of the soil ignored all these threats. Syed Salahuddin, the chief of Kashmirs biggest indigenous militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen, condemned Mirs killing. He blamed Indian agencies and said they had started target killings of pro-freedom leadership, which in itself is the acceptance of Indias failure in Kashmir. Meanwhile, four Hizbul Mujahideen militants and a soldier were killed in an encounter that took place after a joint team of the state police, and the armys 34 Rashtriya Rifles and 23 Para Commandos launched a cordon and search operation in Shopians Nadimarg village in the early hours of Tuesday after receiving specific inputs about militant presence in the area, defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia said. The search team was fired upon by the militants who were in hiding, triggering the gunbattle, police officials said. Police said the slain militants were residents of Kashmir. Senior superintendent of police Shopian Sandeep Choudhary said they were affiliated with the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group. The slain soldier was identified as Para Commando Lance Havaldar Vijay Kumar, a resident of Haryana. Two other security personnel were injured in the encounter, police said. Police said the slain militants were involved in attacks on security establishments. Police said people took to the streets once news of the encounter spread, prompting defence personnel to use tear gas and pellets to disperse the crowd. Four people were injured in the clashes between protesters and defence personnel, police officials said on condition of anonymity. Future of Mizoram will not be decided in Nagpur: Rahul Gandhi Future of Mizoram will not be decided in Nagpur, it will be decided in Mizoram, by Mizo people, said Rahul Gandhi. Merit doesnt matter, if you are a member of RSS: Rahul Gandhi Merit doesnt matter, if you are a member of RSS, you can become a governor.. you only need to agree to what they say, said Rahul Gandhi They have destroyed the RBI, CBI.. trying to destroy the Election Commission, alleged Rahul Gandhi. Absolutely certain RSS is trying to destroy Mizo culture: Rahul Gandhi Absolutely certain that RSS is trying to destroy the Mizo culture, history, said Rahul Gandhi Gandhi said, Im sad to see that MNF is working with BJP and allowing them to come to the state. Congress wants to defend culture, language, religion of Mizoram: Rahul Gandhi Congress wants to defend the culture, the language, the history, the religion of your state, said Rahul Gandhi in Mizoram. Best way to protect India is by protecting its diversity: Rahul Gandhi Ensure that not even a single Congress candidate is elected: PM Ensure that not even a single Congress candidate is elected, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at campaign rally for November 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls. Vote intelligently this time because the state (Madhya Pradesh) has a double-engine as BJP is in power in the state and the Centre, said PM Modi If people work for 10 hours, then I will work for 11 hours: PM Modi If people work for 10 hours, then I will work for 11 hours for the countrys development, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi at poll rally in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh For 10 years, MP govt had to fight with Centre: PM Modi Public has given us 15 years but within that time, 10 years was under Madam, it was a remote-control government. They always thought we wont let Shivraj Singh to be successful as chief minister, said PM Modi For 10 years, MP govt had to fight with the centre... BJP govt only got four and half years to work after BJP came to power at the centre. If we had gotten the full 15 years, MP would have been the state of your dreams, said PM Modi. Want to have relation of trust with people of Mizoram: Rahul Gandhi I want to have a relation of trust with the people of Mizoram. I need you to believe that there is a man in Delhi who is at your service, said Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi targets BJP, RSS We should not let the BJP and RSS destroy this beautiful state, said Rahul Gandhi. MNF is destroying the culture of Mizoram: Rahul Gandhi I am sad to say that Mizo National Front is opening the door to BJP. It is sad that MNF is helping destroy the culture and language of Mizoram, said Rahul Gandhi. Want to make Mizoram the centre of trade for North-East: Rahul Gandhi I look to the day when Mizoram will become a global platform for motor boat racing. I want to make Mizoram the centre of trade for North-East , said Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi lists Congress contribution to Mizoram We have built a Champhai horticulture college, a silkworm rearing and research instt has been established. The Congress has built the first medical and research centre in the state, said Rahul Gandhi Agriculture and horticulture has grown by 45% under Congress rule in Mizoram: Rahul Gandhi Agriculture and horticulture has grown by 45% under Congress rule, said Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Mizoram. Modi cant give Mizoram what the state is owed: Rahul Gandhi Mr Modi can give Anil Ambani Rs 30,000 crore, he cant give Mizoram what the state is owed, said Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi over Rafale deal Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on PM Modi over Rafale deal, alleging PM wanted Anil Ambanis company to be on board for the deal. We will defend every culture across the country: Rahul Gandhi Just like we will defend your culture, your ideas, we will defend every culture across the country, said Rahul Gandhi We eliminated the interview procedure for Class III and IV jobs: PM We have taken measures to curb corruption at every level. We eliminated he interview procedure for Class III and IV jobs. This has significantly reduced corruption: PM I put a stop to the corruption, which the Cong was used to for over 50 years: PM Congress has problems with me because I put a stop the corruption, which they were used to for over 50 years, said PM Modi. Corruption had ruined the nation when Congress was in power: PM Corruption had ruined the nation when Congress was in power. To tackle it, we are constantly making efforts and impact is clearly visible. Through technology, we are bringing transparency in the entire system, said PM Modi In last 10 years, the per capita income of Mizoram has increased: Rahul Gandhi Congress government under Lal Thanhawala has raised the income level of the people. In the last 10 years the per capita income of Mizoram has increased. It makes me proud to say that 20% more than the national average, said Rahul Gandhi. We ensured direct benefit transfer to the bank accounts of the marginalised: PM Modi We ensured direct benefit transfer to the bank accounts of the marginalised. Education for children, income for youth and irrigation for farmers- this is our motto, said PM Modi. Its our endeavour to double the income of farmers by 2022: PM Modi It is our endeavour to double the income of farmers by 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of independence, said PM Modi. MP doesnt deserve a govt which never thinks about its welfare: PM Remember the days, when Congress was in power in Madhya Pradesh, what was the fate of people here? Madhya Pradesh does not deserve a government which never thinks about the states welfare, said PM Modi PM Modi addresses public meeting in Jhabua, MP PM Narendra Modi is addressing a public meeting in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh Madhu Kumari alias Sajista Pravin, a close aide of Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual scandal prime accused Brajesh Thakur, surrendered before a CBI court in Muzaffarpur on Tuesday. CBI officials termed her arrest a big catch as she is supposed to have knowledge of activities at the shelter. Her surrender coincided with the surrender of former social welfare minister Manju Verma in a Begusarai court on the same day. On the basis of Madhus statement, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Dr Ashwani Kumar, who allegedly used to inject the minor girls at the shelter home with drugs. The surrender of Madhu is significant as she had gone underground ever since the horrific sexual exploitation of at least 30 girls at the short stay home came to light. Soon after her surrender, she was produced before the court for Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act cases. Later, the CBI sleuths took her on remand for interrogation. They are likely to question Madhu on her whereabouts during the last two-three months and all information she had about the shelter home activities. CBI officials said Madhus arrest was a big catch in the case. During investigation, the probe agency found that she was involved in teaching the shelter home children how to have sex. Talking to reporters before her surrender, Madhu said she was innocent and her name did not figure even in the FIR. I had no reason to hide. The reason why I have chosen to appear before the CBI now is that recently the investigators visited my residence a number of times and this was causing inconvenience to my family members, she said. Asked about reports that she had been hiding in Nepal, she said she was very much in Bihar and not hiding. Meanwhile, a senior official said her interrogation would be crucial for getting vital clues about the goings on in the horror home, as she was the main conduit in Thakurs racket. Madhu had a checkered childhood, allegedly spent in the red light area of Muzaffarpur. She was later spotted by Thakur, who made her a correspondent of his newspaper, Halaat-e-Bihar, to allegedly win favours from officials. She got married, but that did not last long. Thakur made her the pointsperson for an organisation, Wama Shakti Vahini. Madhu was appointed a member of the Juvenile Justice Board between 2008 and 2012 and given a bodyguard. It was due to Madhus clout that her name was recommended by the district administration to the department of social welfare for a womans award, on the basis of the recommendation of a district-level committee. Sovan Chatterjee, who has held three crucial positions of Kolkata mayor, housing and fire and emergency services minister resigned from his ministerial positions on Tuesday afternoon after he was allegedly pulled up by chief minister Mamata Banerjee for devoting too much time on personal affairs and ignoring official responsibilities. His resignation has been accepted. He had put in his papers in the past too, but I hadnt accepted. He has been asked to resign from the mayors post as well. A new mayor will be appointed in due time, the chief minister told the media. He has shared a close, decades-old personal relationship with Mamata Banerjee, who even refers to Chatterjee by his pet name, Kanan. Over the past one year, Chatterjee has been going through turmoil in his personal life. In November 2017, he filed for divorce from his wife Ratna and moved out of his residence in Behala, on the southern fringes of the city. The media has been agog with speculation about his relationship with a teacher of political science in a girls college in south Kolkata. Chatterjee has detailed his personal torment and even shed tears on television. Sovan is responsible for his downfall. This woman (the teacher) is a big actor. Mamata Banerjee has tried several times to mend his ways, said Chatterjees wife Ratna, on Wednesday. Murmurs have grown loud over this year that Chatterjee was not attending to his work and allowing files to pile up on tables. According to a CPI (M) legislator, Chatterjee today put the number of homeless accommodated in government schemes at 2.5 million, attracting an angry correction from the chief minister that the figure stood at 4 million. Over the past few months, Mamata Banerjee has been gradually clipping his wings. In June this year, Chatterjee was divested of the environment portfolio and his lady friend resigned from the East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority where she had been inducted as an expert during Chatterjees tenure. In October, he was removed as president of the South 24 Parganas district unit president of the ruling party. Counting of votes for the election to 84 urban local bodies, including seven municipal corporations, began on Tuesday in which the fate of 4,978 candidates would be decided. Nearly 69% of the 23,53,923 voters exercised their franchise on November 18. To ensure peaceful counting, nearly 4,000 personnel have been deployed across 44 counting centres and an additional police force of 11,000 has also been posted. Udham Singh Nagar has the highest number of counting tables at 226 and more than 1,000 personnel will count the votes. Dehradun follows with 166 tables and nearly 8.08 lakh voters, highest in the state. The Dehradun Municipal Corporation has 6.28 lakh voters where three-time MLA and former Congress minister Dinesh Agarwal is in a direct fight with chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawats close aide Sunil Uniyal Gama whom the Bharatiya Janata Party entrusted to contest mayoral seat this time. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Rajni Rawat, a transgender, also contested the mayoral election in Dehradun. The State Election Commission has ensured the real-time availability of results and launched an application, which will provide the details of winning candidates and parties. On polling day, voting for the post of the councillor was stopped in ward number 31 of Kashipur Municipal Corporation after the election symbols of two Independent candidates were inter-changed against their name in the ballot papers. Independent candidate Nazmi Ansari was allotted ceiling fan as her election symbol by the SEC. Another Independent candidate from the same ward, Bilal Ahmed was allotted gas cylinder as his election symbol. The district election commissioner took action against the personnel deployed at the centre. Chief minister Rawat is sure of the saffron partys win in the ULB polls while Congress has been claiming that people would choose them over the BJP. Tamil Nadus Cauvery delta districts, still reeling from the onslaught of cyclone Gaja, faced more woes as relief and restoration works were hit by heavy rains which continued to pound the region on Tuesday. Even Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who visited the affected places five days after the storm, had to cut short his programme. The deadly storm, which claimed 45 lives, had damaged over one lakh houses and uprooted lakhs of trees and thousands of electric poles in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai among other districts in the region. With power supply yet to be restored in many affected places and relief and restoration works yet to gain momentum, the heavy rains due to a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal comes as another big blow. The chief minister, who landed in Pudukottai, visited a couple of places and arrived at Tiruvaru, only to cancel his engagements due to the incessant heavy downpour. After distributing solatium and relief material to a few beneficiaries, Palaniswami told the media that an early appointment had been sought to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him of the grave situation prevailing in the cyclone-hit region and seek funds to speed up massive relief and restoration works. We are hopeful of getting an appointment to meet the PM by tomorrow or the day after. We have sought an early appointment, he said while responding to a reporters query at Mappillaiyarkuppam. On declaring the calamity as a national disaster and securing adequate funds from the Union government, he said, It will be taken up with the Centre. We will impress upon the Centre about the vast extent of the calamity and the grave situation prevailing here. Palaniswami also appealed to the people to extend assistance to those affected by the cyclone. He assured that no one who has been affected would be left out. The process of assessment is yet to be completed and it will be a comprehensive one, he added. The delayed visit of the CM and its cancellation midway, has not gone down well with the people in the affected areas. Already, people have started venting their anger at the ruling AIADMK for the poor facilities at the relief camps and the lack of food and medical aid. The past few days witnessed state handloom minister OS Manian being attacked by angry protesters in his native Nagapattinam district, police vehicles getting torched and a deputy superintendent of police attacked by a mob near Pudukottai. Road blockades were also reported from many places. Reacting to the CM cutting short his visit, DMK president MK Stalin said, It has been five days since the cyclone-ravaged the delta districts and the CM is visiting by a helicopter only now. When the people needed the government most, he was cutting ribbons, ignoring the sufferings of the cyclone victims. What is the use of the government announcing Rs 1000 crore for relief works without assessing the extent of the colossal damage. To this, deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam said that the government is waiting for a comprehensive report. Officials have not assessed the full damage till now as the interior parts were remain cut off, he said. Film personalities and others have come forward in donating liberally to the CMs General Relief Fund. Matinee icon Rajinikanth has given Rs.50 lakh, while City Union Bank, Lyca productions, director Shankar, national award-winning lyricist Vairamuthu and actor Vijay have also contributed. Stepping in, Madras High Courts Madurai Bench has directed both the Centre and the state to file a report on the extent of damages caused by the cyclone and the measures taken so far. Meanwhile, the Met office warned that more than 30 cm rain would lash the coastal stretch from Nagapattinam to Chennai with winds up to 70 kmph. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, 66, announced on Tuesday that she will not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections a statement that took many by surprise more for its timing than its content. That Swaraj may not fight a direct election after undergoing a kidney transplant in December 2016 was an open secret within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but she revealed the news at a press conference in Indore in the middle of the assembly election campaign in Madhya Pradesh. It is the party which decides, but I have made up my mind not to contest the next (Lok Sabha) elections, Swaraj said, adding that she had conveyed her decision to the party leadership due to health reasons. Swaraj has mostly stayed away from campaigning, and limited her public interaction and travel since last year. There was no immediate response from the party on her announcement. Only she can explain the decision, and the timing, a BJP office-bearer in New Delhi said. Swaraj , the BJPs most prominent woman leader, is a four-time Lok Sabha MP, and has been member of the Rajya Sabha for three terms. She won from Vidisha for the second time in a row in 2014. That time, she defeated the Congress candidate by a margin of over 400,000 votes. Swaraj entered the Haryana assembly in 1977, and became a minister in the state cabinet at the age of 25. She is a former chief minister of Delhi and has been part of every BJP government at the Centre. Her challenge to Congress president Sonia Gandhi from Bellary in 1999 is one of the most discussed electoral battles of recent times, which Gandhi won by 56,000 votes. Madam [Sushma Swaraj] - Thank you very much for your decision not to contest any more elections. I remember there came a time when even Milkha Singh stopped running, her husband Swaraj Kaushal, a former governor of Mizoram, said in a series of tweets after her announcement. Swarajs announcement to not fight the next elections does not mean an end of her illustrious political career, said a senior BJP leader said who asked not to be named. She has merely announced that she is not going to fight next election. Doors of the Rajya Sabha are always open for her, the leader said. She is an experienced leader, and the party needs her for many crucial jobs that she will handle in future. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Santiuse Kujur will vacate their Rajya Sabha seats from Assam in June next year immediately after the Lok Sabha elections and Swaraj may get one of those seats. The BJP now rules Assam with its ally Asom Gana Parishad and can easily secure one of these two seats. The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry is exploring the idea of having mid-day meals for schools cooked in prisons with the help of inmates, based on a kitchen being run within a jail in Chandigarh for an Aanganwadi scheme, according to a senior official in the ministry who asked not to be named. The ministry is keen on assessing whether a similar or a modified model to the Chandigarh pilot can work for the mid-day meal scheme. It may also help the inmates to earn an honorarium, the official added. There have been discussions about the idea in the ministry on how this concept of using kitchens within jails can serve a dual purpose. Not only can the wide space available in some prison compounds serve as infrastructure for mid-day meal kitchens but the move could also provide a novel channel to utilise the energy of inmates for a noble cause, the official added. The mid-day meal scheme is one of the largest schemes run by the HRD ministry and aims to provide nutritious meals to children in schools. According to ministry data, in 2017-18, at least 94.6 million children benefitted from the food served in 1.13 million schools under the scheme. The ministry has sought to encourage community participation in the mid day meal scheme, the official said. Even among the cook-cum-helpers engaged for the scheme, as many as 2.5 million belong to the weaker sections, this person added. In another bid to boost community participation under the programme, the ministry has also encouraged the practice of local communities cooking food for school children under the scheme. The concept of Tithi Bhojan, a community participation programme was initiated by the Gujarat government. Last month, the HRD ministry provided detailed guidelines for the Tithi bhojan scheme to other states too, the official said. The prison idea is a good one, said a person working for an NGO focused on children. Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on CBI Director Alok Verma's plea November 29. Alok Verma has petitioned the Supreme Court against the governments decision to strip him of his powers and send him on compulsory leave. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday abruptly adjourned a hearing on exiled CBI director Alok Vermas petition, reportedly after the leak of vigilance report on corruption allegations. The documents were submitted in a sealed cover. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi questioned how details were leaked. None of you deserves a hearing, Gogoi said, deferring the case. Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on CBI Director Alok Verma's plea November 29. Alok Verma has petitioned the Supreme Court against the governments decision to strip him of his powers and send him on compulsory leave. Senior advocate Fali S Nariman and lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan, who represent Verma, mentioned the case again before a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and sought hearing during the day itself. The bench agreed to the submission and said it will accord them a hearing after finishing the day's work. On the leak of Verma's confidential reply in the media, the bench, without divulging the name of the news portal, which allegedly carried a story on the CBI director's response, handed over to Nariman, a copy of the news report. "It is only for you Nariman and not as a counsel for Alok Verma. We have given this to you as you are one of the most respected and senior member of the institution. Please help us," the bench also comprising justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, told Nariman. Nariman, after going through the news report, said it was totally "unauthorised" and he was very "disturbed and shocked" with it. The chief justice then told Nariman that Shankaranarayanan, who is also representing Verma, had on Monday mentioned the matter before the court and sought more time to file a reply on behalf of the CBI director. "Nobody had asked him (Shankaranarayanan) to do so. It was totally unauthorised. I was never informed. Nobody asked him to mention the matter. I am very disturbed," Nariman told the bench, adding that he and his junior had worked late in the night to prepare Verma's response. Referring to the media report, Nariman said, "This gives a new twist to the word responsible press and freedom of press", and added that the news portal and its journalists concerned be summoned by the court. "How can this come? It's a leak. I myself is shattered the way it has been done," he said. In the last hearing on Friday, Supreme Court said Verma had not been given a clean chit in a vigilance report on corruption allegations against him. The report is "complimentary on some charges, not-so-complimentary on some charges and very uncomplimentary on some charges," the court had told the CBI chief, asking him to respond to the report in a sealed cover by Monday. On Monday, Verma gave his response, on a day a CBI officer, Manish Kumar Sinha, came out with allegations against the agencys number 2- Rakesh Asthana, who had accused the CBI director of taking bribe. (With PTI inputs) The sessions court in Ahmedabad today framed charges against Patidar OBC quota stir leader Hardik Patel in a sedition case dating back to 2015. Two of his colleagues, Dinesh Bambhaniya and Chirag Patel, were also named in the case. The court framed the charges under Sections 124(A) (sedition) and 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), while reading out an 18-page chargesheet filed by the Ahmedabad crime branch. The trio have also been accused of inciting violence to pressurise the government to accept their demand for reservation for the Patel community. All three pleaded not guilty and are now out on bail. Charges of sedition, war against government, instigating people have been framed against me... as if I am out with weapons to wage war against the BJP... but I have faith in the judiciary. I will fight and will go to higher court if need be, Hardik said coming out of the court. He alleged that he had no faith in the Ahmedabad crime branch, whose chargesheet is the basis of the charges framed today. Its(Crime branch) head JK Bhatt is facing corruption charges. Previously, Abhay Chudasama and DG Vanzara also faced cases. So how can one have trust in this crime branch, Hardik questioned. He also said, The Crime branch said I led an agitation though reservation for Patidars is not possible. Why is it not possible... the crime branch should not mislead the people. Hardik was referring to a Rs 2 crore bribe charge levelled against Bhatt by an absconding ponzi scheme accused and the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case that Chudasama and Vanzara were involved in. Ahead of the court framing the charges against the trio, the Ahmedabad police arrested Bambhaniya on the basis of non-bailable warrants issued against him by the court after he repeatedly failed to appear in court. Hardik appeared for the hearing himself after his lawyers application seeking exemption for him was rejected by the court. The court maintained that defence can ask Hardik to come. Following which Hardik produced himself in the court, said public prosecutor Sudhir Bhrambhatt. Bhrambhatt had earlier demanded that non-bailable warrants be issued against Hardik as well. Hardik arrived in court within 30 minutes after the court asked Hardiks lawyer if he could appear in court so that it could go ahead with framing the charges. This is one of the two sedition cases that the 24-year-old leader has been facing. In this case, he has been accused of instigating the youths to vandalise public property following his arrest and subsequent release after the August 25, 2015, rally. Violent protests continued for the next two days, leaving 13 youths dead and causing damage worth Rs 44 crore to public property across the state. The second sedition case against him has been registered in Surat. He had been jailed for 9 months in October 2015 and was later exiled from the state for another 6 months by the court. India and Russia have signed a $500 million contract to build two stealth frigates in Goa that are expected to be delivered by 2027, two officials familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity. Russias state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport and Indias Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) signed the contract in New Delhi to build the Grigorovich-class Project 1135.6 frigates with technology transfer from Russia, which is Indias top arms supplier. The deal comes just weeks after the two countries inked a nearly $1 billion deal to import two other such warships from Russia. Those ships are being built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad and are expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy by 2022-23. A government official said the warships being built in India will eventually cost a lot more than $500 million, which is only the upfront value of the deal. The $500 million is for the foreign content in the vessels including material, design and specialist assistance. The frigates will cost more factoring in the indigenous content. That cost is being worked out, he said. GSL is expected to deliver the first frigate in 2026 and the second a year later, a second official added. The frigate deal comes a month-and-a-half after India signed a Rs 39,000-crore deal with Russia for the supply of Russian S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems to India, brushing aside Washingtons concerns about the purchase. Both the S-400 and the frigate deal are likely to be affected by the US sanctions legislation if India is unable to secure a waiver. India is in talks with the US to secure a waiver from the Countering Americas Adversaries through Sanctions Act (Caatsa), arguing that its military is heavily dependent on Russian equipment and the two countries share a unique, time-tested relationship. India is simultaneously exploring ways to bypass the US sanctions including an alternative payment route for Russian equipment. The Caatsa legislation passed earlier this year does provide some flexibility for countries such as India that are dependent on Russian equipment, but Washington wants India to diversify its suppliers of military equipment and reduce dependence on Russian military hardware India inked an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with Russia for the four frigates in 2016. The Indian Navy currently operates six such stealth frigates three Talwar class and three Teg class bought from Russia and inducted between 2003 and 2013. The best thing is the navy will now have 10 warships in the same class. Thats rare. These ships have proved to be reliable, have good weapons and sensors and new ones will further sharpen our capabilities, said Admiral Arun Prakash, a former navy chief. The Grigorovich-class frigates will be powered by gas turbine engines supplied by Ukrainian firm Ukroboronproms Gas Turbine Research & Production Complex Zorya-Mashproekt, the officials said. The Maldives is reportedly planning to pull out of a free trade agreement with China as the island nation moves closer to India and the West after Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the presidency in a September election. The trade imbalance between China and the Maldives is so huge that nobody would think of a free trade agreement between such parties, Reuters cited Mohamed Nasheed, a former president and now an adviser to Solih, as saying. He separately told the BBC that the trade deal was very one-sided and that Chinese investments would be reviewed. Former president Abdulla Yameen had signed the free trade agreement with China in Beijing in December last year. Later that month his parliament ratified the treaty despite opposition complaints that he had rushed through the 1,000-page document in less than an hour without debate. Nasheed told Reuters that parliament would not pass legal changes required for the zero tariffs agreement to go into force. More than 99 percent of the $258 million trade between the countries last year consisted of Chinese exports to the Maldives, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Also read | New Maldives President Ibrahim Solih promises to strengthen ties with India Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a Tuesday briefing that the two countries had worked together to reach the mutually beneficial and win-win free trade agreement.An early implementation will benefit both sides. We believe that the Maldives government will make the right choice, he said. Colossal Blow As he took office Saturday, Solih declared that large-scale corruption had drained state coffers and warned that the country had become estranged from the international community. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the inauguration, his first ever visit to the country. The treasury has endured a colossal blow owing to reckless mega development projects undertaken purely for political gain, Solih said, without mentioning China directly. Underlining the shift away from Chinas influence, Solihs office said Monday that the nation -- a tropical tourist destination southwest of India -- would rejoin Britains Commonwealth of Nations. In a veiled reference to restrictions on freedom of speech and the jailing of opposition leaders under Yameen, the statement noted the importance of promoting human rights, freedom of expression and democracy. Read more | New Maldives President Ibrahim Solih promises to strengthen ties with India Eight Indian-American women have been honoured in the US in recognition of their achievements in diverse fields ranging from politics and business to civil rights activism and astrophysics. Immigration lawyer Sheela Murthy, vice chairwoman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Jagruti Panwala and NASA astrophysicist Madhulika Guhathakurta were among the awardees. Other honourees were Maryland Delegate Aruna Miller, Manisha Gaekwad from Florida; Ann Ramakumaran, founder and CEO of a tech company Ampcus, Inc; and Suman Raghunathan, executive director of the racial justice and civil rights group South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT). They were honoured at the inaugural American Bazaar Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders Gala. Tak, a trailblazer for Indian-American women in many fields, was honoured for her contributions in the areas of politics, art and culture. One of the first Indian American women to serve in the United States military, she is also among the first Indian-American women fund-raisers to make a mark nationally. Astrophysicist Guhathakurta, who was born in Kolkata, is one of the most prominent Indian-Americans in NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Dozens of prominent women entrepreneurs from across the country, executives of Fortune 500 companies, political and thought leaders, and leaders from the non-profit world attended the Women Entrepreneurs Forum and Leaders Gala. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, continuing his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said on Tuesday democracy in India was crying as government officials are interfering with the CBI. A crime thriller called Chowkidar Chor Hai is underway in Delhi. The latest episode reveals serious allegations against a minister, National Security Advisor (Doval), Law Secretary and Cabinet Secretary by a DIG of the CBI, Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. Gandhi repeated his jibe (watchman himself is a thief) at PM Modi following a senior Central Bureau of Intelligence officer alleging to the Supreme Court that top government functionaries, including Doval, had interfered in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana. His partner, who has been brought from Gujarat, is raising crores of extortion money. The officers are tired. The trust has been broken. Democracy is crying, added Gandhi in an oblique reference to Asthana, who has been indicted by the CBI for accepting bribes in the case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Gandhis latest attack came in the wake of CBI officer MK Sinha alleging Doval and Central Vigilance Commissioner KV Chaudhary, among others, interfered in the investigation against Asthana, who is facing bribery charges. Deputy Inspector General-rank officer Sinha, who was probing the Asthana case before being suddenly shunted out to Nagpur by the central government, also alleged that a few crore of rupees was paid to Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhari. Opposition leader in Tamil Nadu M K Stalin attacked chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday over his delayed visit to cyclone Gaja-ravaged areas, saying the whole trip, including distribution of relief material to those affected, was a setup. After five days, the CM went to Trichy from where he took a helicopter. Distribution of relief material and pictures were all a setup, Stalin, who is also DMK chief, said. The chief minister and his party AIADMK have come under attack from locals in villages and towns of cyclone affected areas for the governments delay in restoring normal life and extending relief measures, which some said was given to only a few. Palaniswami had cited prior official engagements like the inauguration of a bridge and opening up of new government buildings in his native Salem district and neighbouring Namakkal district as the reason for not visiting the Gaja devastated delta districts. Cyclone Gaja, which crossed the Tamil Nadu coast last Friday, claimed 45 lives and left a trail of destruction, uprooting 1.7 lakh trees and damaging 88,102 hectares of agricultural land in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Tiruvarur districts in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in neighbouring Puducherry. Stalin also targeted the CM for having heavy security during his trip and cancelling his visit to Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts for relief distribution due to heavy rains. He went to 2-3 places in protection of party workers. If weather was bad, he could have waited there for a few days, why cut short visit? Stalin said. State handloom minister OS Manian was attacked by angry protesters in his native Nagapattinam district and police vehicles were torched and a deputy superintendent of police was attacked by a mob near Pudukottai. Road blockades were also reported from many places. Cyclone Gaja also wreaked havoc in Keralas Ernakulam district, where officials said 201 houses two fully and 199 partially were damaged in the cyclone. Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy on Tuesday accused the adamant Left-led government in Kerala of handling the issue at the Sabarimala temple ineptly and said the hilltop shrine to Lord Ayyappa has suffered badly because of the controversy. Chandy, the Congress general secretary, is leading a march of the United Democratic Front (UDF) to the hilltop shrine, which will flout the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc). The Congress leader said the government was treating devotees trekking to the Sabarimala temple as terrorists. All are in a race to make their trekking miserable, he said. How can the government impose section 144 in a place of worship? It is never heard of in the history of any temple, Chandy said. Also read | Police raj in Sabarimala, says BJP Kerala chief PS Sreedharan Pillai Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala sought the immediate withdrawal of the prohibitory orders in place after several incidents of violence was reported from the temple and the base camps following the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages to enter the shrine. The situation at the hilltop shrine was peaceful on Tuesday after Sunday nights incident, two days after the temple had opened on Friday evening for the 62-day annual pilgrimage season as the stand-off continued over the entry of menstrual age women into the shrine following the top courts order on September 28. More than 70 devotees were arrested late on Sunday for flouting prohibitory orders outside the Sabarimala temple. Watch| Sabarimala row: Woman leader Sasikala reaches hilltop shrine The row has also affected the footfall of pilgrims to the temple. Nearly a lakh pilgrims throng the temple at this time but only 7,000 trekked to the hilltop from 3am to 6am. Revenue of the temple has also dwindled drastically, officials said. Officials of the state human rights commission are also visiting the temple to look into the problems the pilgrims are facing. Also read | Lord Ayyappa helped us, Tantri on SC decision to review its Sabarimala order The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Monday moved the Supreme Court asking for more time to implement its order that lifted a decades-old ban on women of menstruating age from entering the Sabarimala temple. The board, a statutory body under the Kerala government that runs the hilltop shrine, cited the inability to provide adequate facilities and infrastructure to women pilgrims and violence that broke out in the state after the local government attempted to follow the verdict as the two main reasons in its petition. It said unprecedented security arrangements by the government, which has said it will implement the SC order despite protests by devotees and political outfits, have not been able to discourage agitators from threatening and stopping women from worshipping at the temple. Also read | Sabarimala situation worse than emergency, says Union minister KJ Alphons Voting for the second phase of the panchayat election in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on Tuesday amid tight security and a call by the separatists for a strike. More than 4,000 candidates are contesting in the second phase of elections, officials said. The National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the two main parties of the state, have boycotted the elections over the lack of clarity surrounding the Centres stand on legal challenges in the Supreme Court to the states special status. Both the parties had also boycotted the urban local body polls in October. Separatists have asked people to observe a day-long strike against the polls. The Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has asked people to observe a strike in areas where the elections are being held on Tuesday. Police took JKLF chairperson Malik into custody on Monday evening. Senior separatist leader Geelani said on Sunday that those supporting Kashmirs struggle would never vote. Several blocks of 14 districts, including two of Anantnag district, will vote in the second phase of polling. The third phase will be held on Saturday. In the first phase held last Saturday, the state recorded 74% polling. In Kashmir, where a mere 4% polling was recorded in recently-concluded urban local body polls, the voting percentage was 64%, prompting Governor Satya Pal Malik to call the election a success of democracy. No untoward incident was reported in the first phase of polling from any place where it was held during the scheduled hours. Officials are hoping the second phase will also remain peaceful. Militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) had in January warned former panchayat members against contesting the elections. The groups operational commander, Riyaz Naikoo, had threatened to pour acid into the eyes of anyone who dared to contest the polls. The militants had also warned people against casting their vote. More than half a dozen panchayat houses were either damaged or set on fire by suspected militants after the dates for the polls were announced in September. Sixteen sarpanchs (panchayat heads) and panchs (panchayat members) have been killed by militants in the last four years, which security officials said was one of the reasons why candidates were not campaigning openly. While security officials conceded it wasnt possible for them to provide personal security for every contestant, they said they were doing their best, including deploying 40,000 additional troops in the Valley, to ensure no untoward incident takes place during the polls. The killing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anil Parihar and his brother by suspected militants in Kishtwar earlier in the month has also put security agencies on an alert. In an attempt to encourage more people to contest in the polls, the State Administrative Council (SAC), headed by Governor Malik, decided in October that elected sarpanchs and panchs will be paid a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500 and Rs 1,000 respectively. A senior Air India pilot, Captain Arvind Kathpalia, who failed an alcohol test early this month, was removed from the airlines Board of Directors and redesignated as an executive director (ED). The decision came after Directorate General of Civil Aviations (DGCA) order on November 13. Kathpalia was holding the post of director (operations). He was found positive in his breathalyser test on November 11 before operating a Delhi-London flight. The result of the test conducted at 1.30pm was positive. A second test, conducted after twenty minutes, was also positive indicating that he was under the influence of alcohol. After this incident, the airline took him off as the director (operations) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the countrys aviation regulator, asked the airline to suspend Kathpalia. A senior Air India official, said, There has not been an internal order stating about the demotion of Kathpalia from the post of director to executive director. However, the decision has been taken after the DGCA wrote to the airline about the suspension orders. However, Air India spokesperson was unavailable for comment. Aviation expert Vipul Saxena, said, The removal of Kathpalia from the airlines board of directors is an administrative action. Punitive action for misconduct while discharging duty should be taken after internal disciplinary enquiry by Air India based on suspension of license by DGCA for three years. Kathpalia was suspended for three months in January when he was tested positive for alcohol consumption during the mandatory pre-flight breathalyser (BA) test. He resumed flying duties after that. India reported almost 3 million fewer malaria cases in 2017, a 24% decrease over the previous year, while cases increased worldwide to 219 million from 217 million, after registering a steady decline since 2010, according to the World Malaria Report 2018. Indias reduction, the sharpest within a year, now means the country accounts for 4% of the worlds total malaria cases, and is no longer among the worlds top three countries in terms of number of cases (around 8.7 million in 2017). Around 70% of the worlds malaria cases are found in India and 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. There were 3.5 million more malaria cases reported in these 10 African countries in 2017 compared to the previous year, while India showed progress in reducing its disease burden, said the report. In 2017, India launched its five-year National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination that shifted focus from malaria control to elimination and provided a road-map with targets to end malaria in 571 districts out of Indias 678 districts by 2022. What seems to have worked for India is the scaling up a diagnostic testing, treatment and surveillance and ensuring an uninterrupted drug and diagnostics supply chain, training community workers to test all fever cases and provide medicines, and distributing medicated bed-nets for prevention, under its test-treat-track in the endemic north-eastern states and Odisha. Odisha is a driver of Indias success against malaria, where innovations, such as improving health care worker skills, expanding access to diagnostics and treatment and strengthening data collection, has led to the state recording a path-breaking decline of over 80% in reported malaria cases and deaths, said Dr Pedro Alonso, Global Malaria Programme Director, WHO. In Odisha, the National Institute of Malaria Research and the Odisha government collaborated with Medicines for Malaria Venture for an operational research programme called the Comprehensive Case Management of Malaria, which provided universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment, and improved the quality of services and surveillance, and distributed 11 million medicated bed-nets. The result is 85% decline in the average monthly malaria cases in the intervention areas, from 2013-15 when universal access to malaria services was reached, to post interventions in 2016-2017, said Dr Neena Valecha, director, National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi. The plan moved away from the one-size-fits-all approach to use interventions tailored to local epidemiology and endemicity, she added. Till September 2018, there has been further improvement in the state, with reported malaria cases falling from 323,800 in 2017 from January to September, to 55,365 in 2018 till September, and deaths dropped to single digits during the same period. The backbone of the programme are the community health workers, who need to be equipped and trained to provide quality services. Along with that, maintaining a supply chain of quality products, introducing innovative reporting methods and continued research for development of new tools will help the country reach its malaria-free target, said Dr Valecha. Since 2000, India has reduced malaria deaths by two-thirds and halved the number of malaria cases. The other countries that showed results were the malaria-endemic countries of China and El Salvador, which reported no local transmission in 2017. Geoff created history in 1972 when he drove down from London to Bangalore in a vintage WW II ambulance picked up in a junkyard. As he memorably puts it, I dont think the swine had really gotten over the War, because he kept kicking at the Union Jack on my ambulance. (Representional Image) Youth is wasted on the young, said Shaw or it may have been Wilde; even Google is unsure. Other than Mick Jagger, I cant think of a single person who can look at the past without a pang of regret formissed opportunity. Oh hang on, what about Geoff Downer who played the Ugly Sister in Cinderella, staged many moons ago by Aditi School?In those days budgets were tight and makeup was expensive, so my educated guess is that they were economizing when casting for the roleIn case you think Im being sarcastic, dont go there: I should know, I played the other Ugly Sister. Geoff created history in 1972 when he drove down from London to Bangalore in a vintage WW II ambulance picked up in a junkyard for the princely sum of $50.00. With his wife Zarine sensibly preferring to fly Air India, Geoff stuck a poster in his local pub and managed to rope in a travelling companion, John, a student bound for Istanbul. They hit it off so well that John was all set to abandon Islamic studies and head for Bangalore when he ran into a funds crunch in Bulgaria over visa problems. He was left with no option but to change his last 20 pound note only to discover that the visa fee was 50 pence and change was dispensed in bulgers or whatever the local currency was at the time. Then why the *% did you make me change so much? he ranted and raved to the authorities only to be told, Zip it, we need the hard currency. After three months of coping with border bandits, gaunt Jesuit missionaries, ragged ruffians and deadly scorpions, Geoff wended his weary way to Kabul where he met Mullah Omar in the bazaar and taught him all three verses of Sweet Caroline. Im kidding: he dreamt of Mullah Omar and woke up to find that his wallet had been stolen while he slept. This being pre-Taliban, there was no ritual amputation for the thief in the market square and the local cops restricted themselves to making sympathetic noises. Fortunately for our hero, he met up with an eccentric German on an 850 cc BMW, who took pity on his plight and agreed to lend him petrol money. Well sort of. As he memorably puts it, I dont think the swine had really gotten over the War, because he kept kicking at the Union Jack on my ambulance. Or maybe he was a deeply suspicious sod who sent his mothers milk to the lab for analysis. You know the bugger never actually gave me money. He would zoom ahead on his bike and wait for me to catch up at the nearest petrol bunk. Then hed make fun of me saying, Vy you cannot move more fastly, ja? To which Id mutter under my breath, Your bike cost 500 quid mate, my Bessie cost 50, so sod off. Anyway hed tell the bunk to fill up the tank before taking off like the clappers on his bloody BMW 10 million cc or whatever. But all said and done, he wasnt a bad soul. On the second day I was really famished and he was slurping at this huge watermelon while I was staring at it hypnotized. Guess what? He actually gave me half and I managed to make that last for 3 daysthe downside is that I cant look at watermelon again. Anyway the petrol and fruit rationing continued until they reached Delhi after which Helmut collected his dues and went on to Rishikesh while Geoff managed to find some sucker in Delhi to buy the ambulance where, who knows, it is still being utilized in its original capacity. At a recent class reunion I mounted my favourite hobby horse giving gyaan to my buddies on how we had allowed ourselves to become boringly predictable and set in our ways. I held forth at length on how travel plans are scrutinized down to the last joyless detail while throwing in a few caustic remarks on group travel with Cooks and Cox: cooks named Maharaj producing dal-roti on the banks of the Seine for desi trophy tourists. Follow the path less trodden like Geoff I urged, who when reports last came in had bought himself a one-way ticket to old Blighty and was doing a bit of ambulance-chasing, of sorts. That night having imbibed too freely of the cup that cheers, I had a dreadful nightmare in which Id allowed myself to ride shotgun in Bessie II with Geoff and I was stranded in Helmand Province with a ferocious looking guy called Hekmatyar asking me if I knew the punishment for stealing watermelons A Pakistan-bound plane made an emergency landing at Jaipur airport on Tuesday after its pilot received an indication of open door. The Karachi-bound SR-20 aircraft, a private plane, was flying with only cockpit crew on board when it made an emergency landing at Jaipur airport. The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Lucknow to Karachi, reported ANI. On Tuesday morning, the plane took off from Lucknow for Karachi. The aircraft pilot then alerted Jaipur airport authorities and requested for priority landing at the airport to check the aircrafts doors for safety after the airplanes door open indication was on. Also read | SpiceJet flight makes emergency landing at Varanasi after Thai nationals heart attack, but in vain After clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC), the plane made a safe landing at Jaipur airport. The State Intelligence Bureau and the aviation securities agency were informed by the airport officials about the incident as per Standard Operating Procedure. The aircraft was given permission to depart for Karachi after inspections were conducted by the airport team and security agencies. Read more | Scare for Indigo passengers after pilot sends distress call just before landing in Chennai Five days after Cyclone Gaja hit the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Tuesday he was hopeful of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the next couple of days to apprise him of the enormity of the catastrophe and seek central funds for relief and rehabilitation. Palaniswami was visiting the cyclone-ravaged districts after Cyclone Gaja, which crossed the Tamil Nadu coast last Friday, claimed 45 lives and left a trail of destruction, uprooting 1.7 lakh trees and damaging 88,102 hectares of agricultural land in the area. It had caused a severe damage in the districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in neighbouring Puducherry. We are hopeful of getting an appointment to meet the PM by tomorrow or the day after. We have sought an early appointment, the chief minister said while responding to a reporters query in Pudukottai district. Also read | DMK MPs, MLAs to contribute one month salary towards cyclone relief On declaring the calamity as a national disaster and secure adequate funds from the Union Government, he said, It will be taken up with the Centre. We will impress upon the Centre about the vast extent of the calamity and the grave situation prevailing here. Palaniswami also appealed to the people to extend assistance to those affected by the cyclone. He assured that no one who has been affected would be left out. The process of assessment is yet to be completed and it will be a comprehensive one, he added. The chief minister, who landed in Pudukottai from Trichy, visited two places badly affected by the cyclone and distributed relief assistance to a few beneficiaries. Palaniswami, who arrived in Tiruvarur, had to cancel his programmed midway following heavy rains that lashed Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts. A heavy security was in place after reports of sporadic protests in many villages and towns to protest the delay by the government in restoring normal life and extending relief measures. The ruling AIADMK has been facing the wrath of the affected people. State handloom minister OS Manian was attacked by angry protesters in his native Nagapattinam district and police vehicles were torched and a deputy superintendent of police was attacked by a mob near Pudukottai. Road blockades were also reported from many places. The delayed visit of the chief minister has also drawn flak from the opposition. He has also been accused of handing out compensation money and relief only to a select few. Palaniswami had cited prior official engagements like the inauguration of a bridge and opening up of new government buildings in his native Salem district and neighbouring Namakkal district as the reason for not visiting the Gaja devastated delta districts. The aftermath of cyclone Gaja is seen in Tamil Nadu, India November 16, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media. (Reuters photo) Cyclone Gaja also wreaked havoc in Keralas Ernakulam district, where officials said 201 houses - two fully and 199 partially - were damaged in the cyclone. The estimated loss was Rs 38 lakh, they said, adding that several trees were uprooted in the cyclone, which also severely damaged power infrastructure. Tamil Nadus opposition party the DMK announced on Monday itss legislators will contribute one months salary towards relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Party president MK Stalin said the DMK trust will separately contribute a sum of Rs 1 crore towards the relief activities. Several leading actors of Tamil film industry, including Suriya, Vijay Sethupathi, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Vishal, have also contributed towards relief funds for those affected by Cyclone Gaja. Also read | AIADMK men who set fire to bus killing three girls freed, Opposition cries foul Shahrukh Ghulam Nabi alias Sheru, who was detained from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday for allegedly threatening the personal assistant of Salman Khan, had also threatened the actors father, Salim, of dire consequences if he didnt let him meet Khan, said police. Nabi, a resident of Shahganj in Prayagraj, has at least six cases of assault and causing grievous injuries registered against him in Uttar Pradesh. According to the Bandra police, Nabi, a fan of Salman Khan, called the personal assistant, Bibash Chaya, on November 11 requesting for a meeting. When he did not get a positive response, he got Salim Khans number. Claiming that he worked for gangster Chhota Shakeel, Nabi threatened Salim Khan of dire consequences if he did not get Salman Khan in touch with him, said Girish Anavkar, senior inspector, Bandra police station. Shahrukh Ghulam Nabi, alias Sheru, a resident of Prayagraj, has at least six cases of assault and causing grievous injuries registered against him in Uttar Pradesh. (HT Photo ) Nabi claimed he got the numbers from a social networking site, but the police suspect he got the numbers from a man in Uttar Pradesh, said sources. He wanted to work in movies and also with the actor. Fearing for his safety, Chaya lodged a first information report with the Bandra police, said an officer from Bandra police station. Tracking Nabis location using his mobile phone, a four-member team from the cyber detection team of the police station left for Prayagraj on Friday. He was traced to Kareli, where a three-hour search operation led the police to Nabi. The team, with Nabi, left for Mumbai on Saturday. The accused was produced in a local court on Monday and was remanded in police custody till November 22. Victims of mass genocide could not be left in the lurch and that their allegations should also be given a fair hearing, a Delhi court observed on Tuesday while sentencing two convicts in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey noted that for 33 years the two men had escaped the process of law and said that it is time for the court to rise upon the cry of the victims and the demand of the society. The court awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men during the riots the first capital punishment in the case. Co-convict Naresh Sehrawat was given life term. Sherawat and Yashpal Singh were accused of killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in Mahipalpur area of south Delhi during the riots that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.On a complaint by the victims brother Santokh Singh, the police lodged a case. But in 1994, the police wanted to close the case citing lack of evidence. The case was reopened by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Judge Pandey said from the testimony of the eyewitnesses, it is clear that Yashpal had come to the spot in the bus on November 1, 1984 and that he was actively involved in the burning of shops of the deceased and the eye witnesses. The court also pointed that there was sufficient material and allegations in the affidavit given by one of the eyewitnesses, Santokh Singh, who is also the complainant. While sentencing Singh to death, the judge said there is no material before it to consider that convict Yashpal had reformed himself. He appears to be playing gimmick with the court and victims till date. He appears to be purposely hiding his income and properties, the court said. The court is of the opinion that if he did not repent for last 34 years and his mentality did not reform when he was at large in society for such a long period. He attempted to mislead the court in order to escape his liability, his chances for reformation now are almost negligible, the judge said in his verdict. While convicting the duo, the court has said that fair trial should not be fair to only the accused persons. It also said that the accused had never been even arrested till the pronouncement of their conviction on November 14. The court recalls the feelings of the victims when the eyewitnesses appeared before the court on November 5 and expressed their grief that the convicts were roaming at large, the judge said. Stressing on the need for justice in such cases, the judge said such incidents break the trust between communities which, once broken, cannot be restored even after decades. Incidents of this kind breaks entire fabric of trust and harmony against communities, thereby severely affecting the knitting and assimilation of different religious and social groups. The inter-community trust is broken. Large scale migration takes place. In fact, the 1984 riots led to large scale migration of the people of the Sikh community, severely prejudicing their lives and livelihood in denial of the constitutional guarantees. Decades may be taken to rebuild the trust again, the court said. The verdict was pronounced in Tihar Jail after the local police moved a petition in the High Court citing security reasons and possibility of attack on the convicts on the premises of the Delhi court, said a senior police officer. The local police treaded a cautious path because they did not want to have a situation like 2016 when the then JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was allegedly attacked in the Patiala House Court. A police officer said the local police had moved a petition on Monday requesting them to not announce the verdict in the court, since they were anticipating a law and order situation. We had anticipated that the convicts might be attacked since an untoward incident had happened last week also. The court accepted our petition and ordered that the verdict be pronounced in Tihar Jail. A large crowd had gathered at the court premises before the verdict and had the verdict been announced in the court, there would have been chances of a confrontation, he said. Supreme Court Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, while hearing ousted CBI director Alok Vermas petition on Tuesday, took exception to media reports on the CBI officer Manish Kumar Sinhas sensational claims in a petition filed yesterday. We want to know what is going on, Chief Justice Gogoi said. This court is not a platform for people to come and express what they want... This is a place where adjudication of legal rights takes place and we intend to set it right, the top judge said after senior lawyer Fali Nariman clarified that the inquiry report against Verma had not leaked as was believed earlier in the day. But Chief Justice Gogoi pointed to the widely-reported details from the petition filed by Manish Kumar Sinha, a CBI officer who was shunted out of the agency. Sinha was one of the officers transferred on October 24, within hours of Centre asking CBI director Alok Verma and Ramesh Asthana to proceed on leave until further orders. The two officers have accused each other of being corrupt Asthana through a complaint to the cabinet secretary in August and Verma through an FIR filed by CBI against Asthana in October. In his petition against his sudden transfer to Nagpur, Sinha had levelled charges against high-ranking government officials, two of his seniors, a minister, even the countrys top vigilance officer. Sinhas lawyer Sunil Fernandes had yesterday attempted to mention the petition before Chief Justice Gogoi to fast track hearing against the transfer and declared that he had shocking revelations to make. Nothing shocks us, the bench shot back. Chief Justice Gogoi recalled that the court had declined the request and said the highest degree of confidentiality should be maintained. And this litigant (referring to Sinha) gives it (copy of petition) to everybody. Our effort is to maintain respect for the institution is not being respected, Chief Justice Gogoi said. This morning when the Supreme Court first took up Alok Verma petition against his removal from the CBI directors post, there was a bit of a misunderstanding. Nariman had given the bench a copy of a media report, which the court apparently believed was based on a leak of the Central Vigilance Commission inquiry report against Alok Verma. None of you deserve a hearing, Chief Justice Gogoi, miffed that the inquiry report had leaked, said and shared a copy with Nariman, a noted jurist who is representing Alok Verma. The case was adjourned to November 29. Nariman later went back to the court to clarify that the media report was not based on the CVC report but his response to the questions raised by the commission during its inquiry. The Supreme Court had last week asked CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma to file his response as quickly as possible on findings of the CVCs preliminary probe report on corruption charges against him and made it clear that it will not adjourn the scheduled hearing on Tuesday. Keralas chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday he will not allow the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to turn the Sabarimala temple into another Ayodhya, referring to the disputed religious site in the Uttar Pradesh town. I will not allow the Sangh Parivar to make Sabarimala into another Ayodhya. There is a concerted bid to defame the state citing Sabarimala, Vijayan said. BJP leaders and ministers are queuing up before Sabarimala to exploit the issue. The government will not allow anyone to fan trouble in Sabarimala, he said. The chief minister justified the action taken by the police on Sunday against protesting devotees, saying their intervention helped ease the situation at the shrine to Lord Ayyappa. The present security arrangements at the hilltop shrine will continue to check troublemakers, he added. Police arrested more than 70 devotees late on Sunday for flouting prohibitory orders outside the Sabarimala temple. The situation at the hilltop shrine was peaceful on Tuesday after Sunday nights incident. The temple in Sabarimala opened on Friday for a 64-day pilgrimage, the third time since the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on the entry of women between the age of 10 and 50. There was a string of protests in Kerala in October when the temple opened for the first time after the Supreme Courts September 28 order. Also Read: Why 15,000 cops? HC raps Kerala government on high-handedness at Sabarimala Traditionalists, who believe the presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is celibate, had opposed the court verdict and last month stopped dozen-odd women who tried to enter the temple. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress attacked the Kerala government after the arrest of the devotees on Sunday. The BJPs state chief PS Sreedharan Pillai said on Monday there was a police raj in Sabarimala and that the pilgrimage to the hilltop shrine to Lord Ayyappa was being affected due to their highhandedness as he demanded a judicial probe into the incident. Also Read: Sabarimala issue is getting out of hand, says Congress leader Chandy The leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly Ramesh Chennithala asked if Kerala was under Nazi ruler Adolf Hitlers rule. The senior Congress leader accused the government of trying to brand Ayyappa devotees as Sangh Parivar activists and thus helping RSS recruit people to its fold. Chennithala and Oommen Chandy, the Congress general secretary, led a march of the United Democratic Front (UDF) on Tuesday to the hilltop shrine, which will flout the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc). They were stopped at the base camp in Nilakkal by police and allowed to proceed to Pambha, second base camp. Pambha is 5.5km away from hilltop. High drama was witnessed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, whose bench was to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case, taking umbrage at two media reports and deferring the hearing to November 29 even as he warned that he would not allow anyone to use the court as a platform for anyone to express whatever they want to. The bench took strong exception to the wide coverage of a petition filed by a senior CBI officer, Manish Sinha, in the Supreme Court on Monday that made sensational claims against a minister, several CBI officers, the National Security Advisor, the countrys top vigilance officer, and the law secretary. It said this coverage went against the courts desire to maintain respect of the institution (CBI) and confidentiality. A copy of Sinhas petition was shared widely by his advocate after mentioning the matter in court as is the general practice. The court declined an early hearing of the petition. Chief Justice Gogoi saw it differently: Yesterday we refused a mentioning [of Sinhas petition] and expressed that highest degree of confidentiality should be maintained. And this litigant gives it to everybody. Our effort to maintain respect for the institution is not respected. The court was also incensed over what it initially thought was a leak of CBI director Alok Vermas affidavit filed in a sealed cover before the bench in response to the Central Vigilance Commissioners (CVCs) enquiry report on the corruption allegations against the agency chief. We want to know what is going on. This court is not a platform for people to come and express what they want. This is a place where adjudication of legal rights takes place. And we intend to set it right, CJI Gogoi remarked. It was subsequently clarified on Vermas behalf that the news report on a website was not this but his response to the CVC queries that were put to him pursuant to the courts October 26 order asking the vigilance commissioner to complete the probe within two weeks. That report expressed Vermas doubts about the integrity of the CVC and also hinted at the involvement of someone from the Prime Ministers Office in the case against him. Sinha had on Monday approached the top court against his transfer to Nagpur, the orders for which were issued on October 24, within hours of the government asking Verma and CBI special director, Rakesh Asthana, to proceed on leave. The two officers were engaged in an internecine power struggle and had also accused each other of corruption. Verma challenged this order, resulting in the courts October 26 order to CVC which filed its report last week. Verma was given till November 19 to file his response to CVCs findings which the bench described as a mixed bag. Upset with the reports, the court refused to even hear Vermas petition questioning his forced leave. He is to retire on January 31. On Tuesday, it was clear all was not well even as CJI walked into the court a few minutes late. He brushed away lawyers waiting to mention urgent cases and handed over a copy of the second news report (the one about Vermas responses to CVC) to senior advocate Fali Nariman, Vermas lawyer. We are not handing over this to you as Vermas counsel. We have given this to you as a senior and respected member of the bar. We want you to respond to this. Take time if you want, CJI Gogoi told him. Nariman read the headlines of the report and admitted that it was disturbing. After this, CJI Gogoi adjourned the case. None of you deserve a hearing, he said. Minutes later, though, Nairman appeared in court again and clarified that the report handed over to him was dated November 17 and contained details of Vermas responses to CVC when he was being questioned by the agency. CJI Gogoi then said there were more such reports and that he had handed over just one. We have not given it to you as a counsel of Verma. There is one more we will give you and regardless of who you are representing we are very confident that it would not come in the way of your helping us, the CJI said.He asked his staff to look for the other report, which they couldnt find. At this, CJI Gogoi grew visibly disturbed. We are unable to help you or help ourselves due to highest efficiency of our staff. You should all quit, he told his staff. CJI declined to hear any other lawyer. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who appeared for CVC, wanted to make a submission against the media reports but was not allowed to. The wedding season is upon us and these days, more and more brides are choosing to record special dance videos. Remember the bride who danced to Sias Cheap Thrills while getting ready for her wedding? Her video won the Internet over and many other brides followed suit and recorded similar videos that also went on to win a lot of love on social media. Adding to all those cool and quirky dance videos is this brides hatt-ke pre-wedding dance video. Instagram is currently hooked on to this video and it may have something to do with the brides request Single Rehne De. The video has been shared by Coolbluez Photography and was shot in HuaHin, Thailand. It shows bride Niti Pancholi dancing to Kangana Ranauts Simran song. Flanked by her friends and family, the bindas bride is seen grooving to the song like a boss. Her insistence on staying single even as shes dressing up for her wedding makes the video a fun watch. Take a look: A post shared by CoolBluez photography (@coolbluezphotography) on Nov 16, 2018 at 3:04am PST The quirky video has won a lot of love on Instagram. Since being shared on November 16, the video has collected over 63,000 views and more than 4,000 likes. Several people have posted comments on the video. Cool bride, says one Instagram user. This video is such a lovely one... pretty bride! says another. Many have even tagged their friends suggesting they try something similar. Anything which is unique is liked by people and we try and create unique and innovative things, Surpreet Kaur and Pawandeep Singh from Coolbluez Photography told Hindustan Times. We are really happy about the positive feedback this video is generating. Click here to watch the longer version of the video. What do you think about the video? The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh is battling dissent in its ranks on a scale that appears much bigger than its rival, the Congress. Among its prominent rebels is former minister and four time BJP member of Parliament, Ramkrishna Kusmaria, (75), who is contesting as an independent from two seats- Pathria and Damoh -- in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region. I gave 40 years of my life to the party and in return they did not had courtesy to tell me that a ticket will be denied to me, he said. claiming to be hurt. Deeraj Pateriya (49), who is the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morchas state president and is contesting as an independent from Jabalpur North, said, There is an attempt to finish me politically. And I want to show my popularity by contesting. Kusmaria and Pateriya have joined other senior leaders, such as former state minister Sartaj Singh, who is contesting on a Congress ticket from Hoshangabad, to have publically expressed their anger at the partys ticket distribution. Over 67 important party leaders who are contesting from other political parties or as independents have been expelled so far, said a senior BJP leader at the party headquarters in Bhopal. The leaders expelled include sitting MLA from Bhind Narendra Singh Kushwah and former mayor of Gwalior Sameeksha Gupta. There are 230 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, which goes to the polls on November 28. The BJP leader quoted above said the party has a list of at least 100 leaders working against the party but no action is being taken due to electoral compulsions. Any action now will send wrong message to our cadre and will provide the Congress an issue to hit at us, the leader said. The leader accepted that it was for the first time in the state that so many BJP workers had been expelled. The number was about 20 in the run-up to 2013 assembly elections, he said. This is the biggest rebellion in the BJP I have ever witnessed, said Kusum Mehadele, a minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet who was also denied ticket. Also Read: In Madhya Pradeshs tribal stronghold Jhabua, anti-incumbency worries all sides The BJP has dropped four ministers and at least 45 sitting MLAs . But officially, the party rejected reports of large-scale rebellion. State BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said, I dont think there is any alarming situation for the party. Every political party faces such a situation at the election time and it would not have any impact on the partys prospects. In the Congress, the scale of the rebellion appears to be smaller. We have expelled less then 20 leaders and workers, a state Congress leader said on condition of anonymity.He said there were not many rebel candidates unlike Rajasthan where the party had faced violent protest by workers for denial of tickets. The only big leader to face action was former Rajya Sabha member Satyavrat Chaturvedi, whose son Nitin Chaturvedi is contesting on a Samajwadi party ticket. He was expelled. The BJP is battling rebellion because the party has not only betrayed the people but also a section of its workers and leaders, said state Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta. Political observer Bhagwandev Israni confirmed the scale of the rebellion was larger in the BJP. This is a reflection of the political scenario. The BJP is facing a bigger problem than the Congress, unlike the previous three elections, as BJP leaders and workers realise which direction the wind is blowing. Click here for complete coverage of Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election An 18-month-old girl allegedly fell to her death from the balcony of her seventh-floor flat in Nalasopara. According to the Tulinj police, the balcony had no upper grilles, but just a loosely placed mosquito net as a protective measure. The police have registered a case of accidental death and are investigating further. According to the police, late last Friday, Priyal Das, while playing, stood on one of the steps of the railing of the balcony when she slipped and fell in front of her mother and grandmother. The neighbours rushed her to Vasai civic hospital where she was declared brought dead. Sudam Das, Priyals father, works in Surat and comes home every weekend. According to Das, all the balconies in the building had no upper grilles and so most residents used mosquito nets. Some of the parents had discussed installing full grilles on the balconies as most flats had only half grilles, but nothing was done,said Das. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tributes to Indias former Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi Ji on her birth anniversary, Modi tweeted. New Delhi: Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Congress president Mr Rahul Gandhi and several other political leaders paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 101st birth anniversary on Monday. Tributes to Indias former Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi Ji on her birth anniversary, Modi tweeted. In a simple, yet powerful tribute to his grandmother, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted a photo of Indira Gandhi and captioned it Forgiveness is a virtue. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, former president Pranab Mukherjee, former vice- president Hamid Ansari and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid tribute to Indira Gandhi at Shakti Sthal. Paying her respects to the former Prime Minister, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that the nation should work together to keep the diversity of the country intact. Homage to Indira Gandhi Ji, former Prime Minister of India, on her birth anniversary. National Integration Week begins today. Lets keep the spirit of unity in diversity alive, the TMC chief tweeted. Three minor girls drowned in a pit at a railway construction site near Panvel railway station on Monday afternoon. According to the police, the deceased were 8, 10 and 13 years old respectively. Prateeksha, Rohita and Reshm Bhonsle were cousins and had come to Panvel with their parents, who are street vendors, from Amravati, on Monday morning. On reaching Panvel, some members of the group [of 20 street vendors] went to Majsid Bunder, said Yogesh More, senior inspector of Khandeshwar police station. The rest, including the three girls, settled down at the construction site outside Panvel station. The site has a water-filled pit, which was dug during the monsoons. These three girls were playing in the water. They started drowning soon after, said More. An alarm was raised immediately and some bystanders were able to fish two of the girls out. We received a call around 1.45 pm and immediately rushed a rescue van and a team of 12 officials to the spot. Our officials found the third girl in the water after some time. All three were unconscious and they were rushed to a hospital. They were declared dead there, said an officer from New Panvel fire station. A post-mortem is being conducted on the bodies and a case of accidental death has been registered. The public relations officer for Central Railway, A.K. Jain said, The work site is a cordoned area with steel sheets. Prima facie, it appears the kids had trespassed into that area. However, a fire department official said the site was open on three sides. There were barricades only on the railway platform side of the pit, he said. The manager of Panvel station, SM Nair, said There might be some gaps between the steel sheets. The Railways and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) have undertaken a Rs 154-crore project to turn Panvel railway station into a terminus. The Maharashtra government on Monday issued a draft notification allowing ownership rights to leased and occupancy class II (conditional ownership) plots by charging a premium. The revenue department has sought suggestions and objections, after which the final notification will be issued in a month. While the state cabinet approved the policy for conversion of leased plots allotted for residential, commercial and agricultural purpose on September 25, the notification details how it will be executed. The policy could impact more than 1.14 lakh leased plots across the state and around 5,000 in Mumbai alone. The state plans to incentivise the scheme for the first three years, after which tenants will have to pay more to get ownership rights of the plots. For instance, if a plot was allotted for a period of 99 years and application for conversion of land comes in the first three years, the lessee will have to pay 50% amount of the ready reckoner value of the plot as premium. In case, the application is made after three years, the lessee will be charged 75% amount of the ready reckoner value, according to the draft notification. Currently, tenants of leasehold plots pay the government rents as low as 2%-5% of one-fourth of the ready reckoner value of the plot. The plot allotted on lease can be used only for activities permitted by the government. The occupancy class II category gives conditional ownership, which means there is no annual rent, but the land can only be used for activities permitted by the government. We want people to apply for ownership rights, said a senior official from the revenue department. The process will start only when the collector finds no violations. In case of breach of conditions, tenants will have to regularise them to become eligible to get ownership rights, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The BJP on Monday nominated cabinet minister Yunus Khan to contest from Tonk against Congress state chief Sachin Pilot, making it one of the most hotly contested seats in the Rajasthan assembly elections. The other keenly watched contest would be between Congress candidate Manvendra Singh and chief minister Vasundhara Raje in Jhalrapatan. Khans name figured in the fifth and final list of eight candidates that was released by the BJP on the last day for filing of nominations. The BJP said holding back Khans name was part of their strategy as they knew Pilot would change his seat. The BJP decided to rework its strategy after Congress fielded Manvendra against Raje. BJP election management committee convener Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called Khans candidature from Tonk a master stroke. Fielding Khan from Tonk is our master stroke. We expected Pilot to change his seat. We knew he would go to his in-laws place to contest because he was scared of losing from his home, Ajmer. Thats why we had been holding back Khans name for so long, Shekhawat told reporters. The Deedwana MLA is the only Muslim face in the list of 200 candidates fielded by the BJP for the December 7 polls. Khans candidature signified a victory for Raje who had been advocating his name in face of opposition by the RSS. BJP leaders familiar with the development said Raje fought till the end to save PWD minister Khan, seen as her trusted confidant. She said dropping Khan would give a negative message among people but that didnt cut much ice with the RSS. Eventually when the Congress fielded Pilot from Tonk, Raje convinced the high command to field Khan who could give a tough fight to Pilot on a Muslim-dominated seat Khan said he wanted to contest from Deedwana but the party leaders felt he could give a tough fight to Pilot from Tonk which is a Muslim-majority constituency. Click here for complete coverage of Rajasthan Assembly Election Khan and Pilot filed their nominations Pilot offered prayers at Moti Dungari temple in Jaipur before leaving for Tonk where he carried out a 5-km-long roadshow to the retuning officers office . People want to get rid of the BJP government for its misrule. On 7th December when the opportunity will come people will vent out their frustration against the Vasundhara Raje government, Pilot told the media. He said the BJP had changed its strategy to not give representation to Muslims at the last moment to play the communal card. BJP deviated from its stand and fielded Yunus Khan at the eleventh hour only to divide Tonk on communal lines, he said. People are mature and will not fall into BJPs trap. Khan reached the ROs office with a few hundred BJP supporters. According to locals, BJP supporters in Tonk were unhappy with cancellation of Ajit Mehtas candidature. Khan said fight in Tonk was between a sewak and a swami. I am a sewak of my party, they decided that I shall fight from here. Pilot who was distributing Congress tickets decided the Tonk seat for himself. He said BJP workers and people of Tonk would fight on his behalf. The people of Tonk will win and they will defeat Pilot. Khan said, Pilots plane (victory) will not land in Tonk as there is no airport in Tonk. He has left the airport behind in Ajmer. The BJP laboured late into the night over names for eight seats. The seats -- Deedwana, Kekri, Kotputli, Karauli, Khinvsar and Behror -- were stuck due to differences of opinion between the state leadership and party high command over the names. Candidates on Tonk and Kherwada were changed. In Kherwada, Shankarlal Kharadi was replaced by sitting MLA Nanalal Ahari who was earlier dropped. The party fielded minister Jaswant Yadavs son Mohit from Behror, Jitendra Singh Jodha from Deedwana, retired IAS officer OP Saini, who took VRS to contest the polls, from Karauli, Rajendra Vinayak from Kekri, Mukesh Goyal from Kotputli and Ramchandra Utta from Khinvsar. From LIC officer to minister Khan hails from Ganedi village in Sikar district where he grew up and did his schooling. He did his postgraduation from Deedwana and then joined LIC as a development officer and moved to Jaipur. He is a Kayamkhani Muslim or those Rajputs who converted to Islam. Khan came in touch with Ramzan Khan, a minister in former chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawats government in the 80s. Shekhawat was at the time looking for Kayamkhani Muslim candidates to be fielded from Deedwana and Ladnu areas which are dominated by Muslims. Ramzan Khan suggested that Yunus be fielded and Shekhawat gave him a chance in the 1998 election which he fought and lost. He then won the 2003 polls from Deedwana and was a junior minister in the Raje government. He also found a mentor in BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain who often came to pray at the Ajmer Dargah. Hussain is also considered close to Raje. Through him, Khan came close to Raje. He lost in 2008 but won again in 2013 and held the portfolios of transport and minister, becoming virtually the number two in the Raje cabinet. Bigg Boss 12 contestant Dipika Kakar recently broke into an ugly fight with Romil Chaudhary and Srishty Rode over a task. While Dipika lambasted both of them for crossing the limit, her husband Shoib Ibrahim shared a detailed post in her support on the social media. Shoaib wrote that all those who think that Dipika made the joke into a big deal should recall that she has been mocked the most in the house but has never objected to it. During a task, hosted by choreographer and filmmaker Farah Khan, Romil had asked his co-player, Whom she would chose Saiyaan or Bhaiya? Srishty, who had worn a mask resembling Dipika had said on her behalf, Saiyaan mere tan man me hain, Bhaiya mere dhan dhan mein hain. (My lover is in my heart and my soul and my brother (Sreesanth) is in my money), hinting that Dipika is using her proximity with Sreesanth to her advantage. This did not go down well with the Sasural Simar Ka actor who bashed the two for involving her husband in their fun task. In his note, Shoaib said that if anyone thinks that Dipika overreacted to the incident then that person is not normal. He asserted one shouldnt compare a husband with a brother especially the one who is not a blood relative. He added that all those who think that she did it for footage should know that she has earned a place for herself with her hard work but they are unable to accept that how can anyone be so nice and emotional. Challenging all to compare their brother with their lover, he said its not a joke and everyone should first reach that position before speaking on the subject. Lastly, he requested Bigg Boss to give a warning to the contestants to not drag anyones family members in the name of a task or a joke so that such an incident is not repeated in the current or upcoming seasons. He ended the note saying, Dipika you are one in a million. Dipika saved Sreesanth from the nominations in the latest task. The two are very close and are considered the strongest contenders in the house due to their fan following. Follow @htshowbiz for more TV actor Chahatt Khanna of Bade Achhe Lagte Hain fame has accused her estranged husband Farhan Mirza of sexual abuse. Married to Farhan (son of Bollywood writer Shahrukh Mirza) since 2013, the actor filed a divorce case over a month ago. The estranged couple has two daughters together, Zohar and Amaira. The actor spoke about her marriage in an interview to Times of India, accusing him of sexual and mental abuse. Sharing her account, Chahatt told the daily that she once experienced pain in her breasts and pleaded her husband to take her to a doctor. While her repeated requests went in vain, she added, Without showing any concern for my health woes, he told me that he wanted to have sex with me and made sure that he did. Thats when I felt that he wouldnt care even if I died. The actor also said, It was not just sexual abuse, I went through financial and mental abuse, too. The atmosphere in the house was driving me crazy. He would accuse me of prostitution and having an affair with a co-actor. He would make surprise visits on the set of my show (Qubool Hai) and create a fuss when I had to hug or even hold hands with my co-actor on screen. Once, he threw a fit after I received an invite for the same co-actors housewarming party; he concluded that I was dating him. The actor has also claimed that her husband doubted that their daughters were his and often manhandled her during their fights. She also shared how she was highly malnourished during her second pregnancy and was asked to leave the house four days after her delivery. She added that since Farhan often threatened to commit suicide, it became very difficult for her to walk out of their marriage. Follow @htshowbiz for more Its been 12 days since Christina Taft started the frantic search for her mother Victoria, who refused to evacuate their Paradise home as flames neared, and six days since she gave authorities a cheek swab to identify remains that are likely her mothers. She still hasnt received confirmation that her mother is dead, and says shes been frustrated by what she feels is a lack of communication from Butte County officials. They said they found remains, they didnt say her remains. They wont confirm it to me the whole time, Taft said Monday. With 79 people killed in the nations deadliest wildfire in at least a century, there are still nearly 700 names on the list of those unaccounted for. While its down from nearly 1,000 the day before, it is inexact, progress has been slow, and the many days of uncertainty are adding to the stress. More than a dozen people are marked as unknowns, without first or last names. In some cases, names are listed twice or more times under different spellings. Others are confirmed dead, and their names simply havent been taken off yet. Also read | Many California wildfire survivors too busy seeking help to watch Donald Trump Survivors and relatives of those caught in the fire in Northern California are using social media to get the word out: In some cases, to post that their loved ones were safe; in others, to plead for help. Aunt Dorothy is still missing. There has been confusion going on at the Sheriffs office regarding her whereabouts because she was taken off the list, a man wrote on Facebook on Monday. I have an uncle and two cousins that I have not been able to make contact with, one woman wrote on Facebook, with their names. Any info would be appreciated. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has said he released the rough and incomplete list in hopes that people would contact authorities to say they are OK. He has called it raw data compiled from phone calls, emails and other reports. We put the list out. It will fluctuate. It will go up. It will go down because this is in a state of flux, Honea said Monday. My view on this has been that I would prefer to get the information out and start working to find who is unaccounted for and who is not. I would put progress over perfection. A home burns as the Camp Fire moves through the area on November 8, 2018 in Paradise, California. (AFP file photo) Officials have also culled reports from the earliest hours of the disaster, when fire knocked out mobile phone communications and thousands fled, some to safe shelter that was hundreds of miles away. Honea said his office was working with the Red Cross to account for people entering and leaving shelters. Evacuees are also helping authorities narrow the list, sometimes by chance. Robert James Miles, who lost his Paradise trailer in the blaze, was staying at a shelter in Chico where people posted names of those they hadnt heard from. Miles said he alerted a Red Cross worker Saturday that he recognized eight names on the board as friends he knew were OK. Two of them were in the shelter, he said with a chuckle. Owen and Phyllis Suihkonen understand the chaos. Their family is scattered after they lost their home to the wildfire, as did their two adult children. Read more | Searchers in California wildfire step up efforts before rain Phyllis Suihkonen, 69, says she spotted the names of two friends on the list of unaccounted people, and doesnt know if they are safe. But her daughter has seen names of friends who are OK and called sheriffs officials to let them know. Im concerned, Phyllis said. But like I said, theres been other friends names on the list that have been accounted for and taken off. Meanwhile, those searching for bodies were in a race against the weather, as rain was forecast for Wednesday. The precipitation could help knock out the flames, but it could also hinder the search by washing away fragmentary remains and turning ash into a thick paste. Jhonathan Clark walks in what was his house, destroyed by Camp fire, in Paradise, California. (AFP file photo) The fire, which burned at least 236 square miles (611 square kilometers) and destroyed nearly 12,000 homes, was 70 percent contained on Monday. Alcatraz Island, San Franciscos cable cars, the Oakland Zoo and other San Francisco Bay Area area attractions were closed Monday because of smoke from the blaze some 140 miles (225 kilometers) away. Several San Francisco museums over the weekend offered free admission to give people something to do indoors. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said it is way too early to estimate the damage done by the wildfire. But for perspective, he said the Northern California fires that gutted 6,800 homes last year resulted in $12.6 billion in insured losses. Its going to be a long and painful process, he said. Also read | Lessons for India from the California forest fires Amid international uproar over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, some members of Saudi Arabias ruling family are agitating to prevent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from becoming king, three sources close to the royal court said. Dozens of princes and cousins from powerful branches of the Al Saud family want to see a change in the line of succession but would not act while King Salman - the crown princes 82-year-old father - is still alive, the sources said. They recognise that the king is unlikely to turn against his favourite son, known in the West as MbS. Rather, they are discussing the possibility with other family members that after the kings death, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 76, a younger full brother of King Salman and uncle of the crown prince, could take the throne, according to the sources. Read more: Journalist Jamal Khashoggi murder: What we know about Saudi suspects Prince Ahmed, King Salmans only surviving full brother, would have the support of family members, the security apparatus and some Western powers, one of the Saudi sources said. Prince Ahmed returned to Riyadh in October after 2-1/2 months abroad. During the trip, he appeared to criticise the Saudi leadership while responding to protesters outside a London residence chanting for the downfall of the Al Saud dynasty. He was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling familys senior members, who opposed MbS becoming crown prince in 2017, two Saudi sources said at the time. Neither Prince Ahmed nor his representatives could be reached for comment. Officials in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests from Reuters for comment on succession issues. The House of Saud is made up of hundreds of princes. Unlike typical European monarchies, there is no automatic succession from father to eldest son. Instead the kingdoms tribal traditions dictate that the king and senior family members from each branch select the heir they consider fittest to lead. Read more: US President Donald Trump says doesnt want to hear suffering Khashoggi tape Senior U.S. officials have indicated to Saudi advisers in recent weeks that they would support Prince Ahmed, who was deputy interior minister for nearly 40 years, as a potential successor, according to Saudi sources with direct knowledge of the consultations. These Saudi sources said they were confident that Prince Ahmed would not change or reverse any of the social or economic reforms enacted by MbS, would honour existing military procurement contracts and would restore the unity of the family. One senior U.S. official said the White House is in no hurry to distance itself from the crown prince despite pressure from lawmakers and the CIAs assessment that MbS ordered Khashoggis murder, though that could change once Trump gets a definitive report on the killing from the intelligence community. The official also said the White House saw it as noteworthy that King Salman seemed to stand by his son in a speech in Riyadh on Monday and made no direct reference to Khashoggis killing, except to praise the Saudi public prosecutor. Read more: Trump says US to report who killed Khashoggi in next two days President Donald Trump on Saturday called the CIA assessment that MbS ordered Khashoggis killing very premature but possible, and said he would receive a complete report on the case on Tuesday. A White House official referred Reuters to those comments and had nothing else to add at this time. The Saudi sources said U.S. officials had cooled on MbS not only because of his suspected role in the murder of Khashoggi. They are also rankled because the crown prince recently urged the Saudi defence ministry to explore alternative weapons supplies from Russia, the sources said. In a letter dated May 15, seen by Reuters, the crown prince requested that the defence ministry focus on purchasing weapon systems and equipment in the most pressing fields and get training on them, including the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. Neither the Russian defence ministry nor officials in Riyadh immediately responded to Reuters requests for comment. US role key The brutal killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the crown prince, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month has drawn global condemnation, including from many politicians and officials in the United States, a key Saudi ally. The CIA believes the crown prince ordered the killing, according to US sources familiar with the assessment. Saudi Arabias public prosecutor has said the crown prince knew nothing of the killing. The international uproar has piled pressure on a royal court already divided over 33-year-old Prince Mohammeds rapid rise to power. Since his ascension, the prince has gained popular support with high-profile social and economic reforms including ending a ban on women driving and opening cinemas in the conservative kingdom. His reforms have been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, a purge of top royals and businessmen on corruption charges, and a costly war in Yemen. He has also marginalized senior members of the royal family and consolidated control over Saudis security and intelligence agencies. Read more: Germany says will bar 18 Saudis over alleged links to Jamal Khashoggis murder He first ousted then-powerful crown prince and interior minister Mohammed bin Nayef (MbN), 59, in June 2017. Then he removed Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, 65, son of the late King Abdullah, as head of the National Guard and detained him as part of an anti-corruption campaign. Some 30 other princes were also arrested, mistreated, humiliated and stripped of their wealth, even as MbS splashed out on palaces, a $500 million yacht, and set a new record in the international art market with the purchase of a painting by Italian Renaissance engineer and painter Leonardo Da Vinci. The entire House of Saud has emerged weakened as a result. According to one well-placed Saudi source, many princes from senior circles in the family believe a change in the line of succession would not provoke any resistance from the security or intelligence bodies he controls because of their loyalty to the wider family. They (the security apparatus) will follow any consensus reached by the family. Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. The United States, a key ally in economic and security terms, is likely to be a determining factor in how matters unfold in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi sources and diplomats say. Trump and his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner have cultivated deep personal relationships with the crown prince. One Saudi insider said MbS feels he still has their support and is willing to roll some heads to appease the U.S. But Trump and top administration officials have said Saudi officials should be held to account for any involvement in Khashoggis death and have imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for their alleged role including one of MbSs closest aides. U.S. lawmakers are meanwhile pushing legislation to punish Riyadh for the killing, and both Republican and Democratic senators have urged Trump to get tough on the crown prince. King Salman, 82, is aware of the consequences of a major clash with the United States and the possibility that Congress could try to freeze Saudi assets. Those who have met the king recently say he appeared to be in denial about the role of MbS in what happened, believing there to be a conspiracy against the kingdom. But they added that he looked burdened and worried. ALLEGIANCE COUNCIL When the king dies or is no longer be able to rule, the 34-member Allegiance Council, a body representing each line of the ruling family to lend legitimacy to succession decisions, would not automatically declare MbS the new king. Even as crown prince, MbS would still need the council to ratify his ascension, one of the three Saudi sources said. While the council accepted King Salmans wish to make MbS crown prince, it would not necessarily accept MbS becoming king when his father dies, especially given that he sought to marginalise council members. Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. The Saudi sources say MbS has destroyed the institutional pillars of nearly a century of Al Saud rule: the family, the clerics, the tribes and the merchant families. They say this is seen inside the family as destabilising. Despite the controversy over Khashoggis killing, MbS is continuing to pursue his agenda. Some insiders believe he built his father a new but remote Red Sea palace in Sharma, at the Neom City development site -- thrown up in a record one year at a cost of $2 billion -- as a gilded cage for his retirement. The site is isolated, the closest city of Tabouk more than 100 km (60 miles) away. Residence there would keep the king out of the loop on most affairs of state, one of the sources close to the royal family said. Officials in Riyadh did not respond to a request for comment. The Australian government has cautioned Indian nationals who want to live permanently in Australia against organised contrived marriage scams targeting South Asians. The warning came after Australian Border Force (ABF) shut down a contrived marriages syndicate operating out of Sydney, with a 32-year-old Indian national facing court over his alleged role as the main facilitator. Four Australian citizens too are facing charges of convincing individuals to fraudulently marry non-citizens seeking to obtain permanent residency, the Australian High Commission here said in a release titled warning about fake marriage scams. It said the long running operation by the ABF also resulted in 164 foreign nationals having their applications for a partner visa refused after they were linked to the syndicate. None of the participants in this scam obtained permanent residency. Some of these clients paid significant amounts of money, for no immigration outcome, it added. While contrived marriages are not unique to any one nationality, this particular syndicate was attempting to illegally facilitate fake marriages with non-citizens in the South Asian community, the High Commission said. Australia is one of the most popular destinations for Indians looking for greener pastures. The High Commission said these types of scams generally target vulnerable young Australian women, many of whom come from disadvantaged and low socio-economic backgrounds. ABF Acting Investigations Commander, Clinton Sims, said the syndicates undermine the integrity of Australias visa programme and exploit desperate individuals Many of the women involved in these scams have suffered a history of substance abuse, family violence and financial hardship, and are lured in with promises of substantial payments, Commander Sims was quoted as saying in the release. Protecting the integrity of the visa system is an operational priority for the ABF and anyone found to be involved in, or facilitating sham marriages should expect to be investigated and face criminal prosecution. Registered agents and marriage celebrants also face losing their registration, Sims added. The High Commission said the department of Home Affairs has a range of measures in place to ensure the integrity of the partner visa programe. A Bahraini royal told Englands High Court on Monday he was astonished at being sued over an alleged deal for access to top Bollywood stars. Sheikh Hamad Isa Ali Al Khalifa is alleged to have struck a contract with Egyptian entrepreneur Ahmed Adel Abdallah Ahmed to pay for meetings with 26 top actors from the Indian film industry. The deal was allegedly worth 35 million ($45 million, 39 million euros) and Ahmed is suing the royal for 16 million he claims he is owed in fees and costs. Sheikh Hamad said he has a lifelong passion for Bollywood cinema and wanted to meet stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh and Aishwarya Rai. In his witness statement, the royal said he paid Ahmed about 2.7 million for meetings with Bollywood idols, but only because he wanted to please him, rather than due to any contractual obligations. When I learned of the claims that Mr Ahmed was making against me in these proceedings, I was astonished, he said. I was grateful to (Mr Ahmed) for helping me to meet four top Bollywood artists. I expressed my gratitude frequently by words and my gestures: in total, he received around 2.7 million from me in relation to these meetings. I considered this sum was comfortably in excess of the amount that he had incurred in costs and expenses, including in fees for the Bollywood artists. I do not think that this gives him licence to demand vast sums of money to which he is not entitled. Ahmed claims that, during a phone conversation when Sheikh Hamad was in London in January 2016, the pair made an oral agreement that he would be paid more than 1 million for each meeting, plus a bonus of more than 350,000 after every third meeting. Sheikh Hamad contends the alleged arrangement is entirely fictitious. The hearings continue at the High Court in London. Pakistan summoned a senior US diplomat here Tuesday and lodged a strong protest over President Donald Trumps baseless allegations on harbouring al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, saying it was a closed chapter of history and could seriously undermine bilateral ties. Trump on Sunday, and in follow up tweets, defended his administrations decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough to curb terrorism and criticised Islamabad for offering a hideout to slain al-Qaeda chief bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad. We give Pakistan $1.3 billion a year... (bin Laden) lived in Pakistan, were supporting Pakistan, 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, the President told Fox News. The Foreign Secretary (Tehmina Janjua) called in the United States charge daffaires Paul Jones to register a strong protest on the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal said. Conveying her Governments disappointment on the recent tweets and comments by the US President, the US charge daffaires was told that such baseless rhetoric about Pakistan was totally unacceptable, he said in a statement. Faisal said Janjua rejected the insinuations about bin Laden and reminded Jones that it was Pakistans intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of the slain al-Qaeda leader. Janjua told Jones that no other country had paid a heavier price than Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, he said. The US leadership had acknowledged on multiple occasions that Pakistans cooperation had helped in decimating the core Al-Qaeda leadership and eradicating the threat of terrorism from the region, the foreign secretary told the US diplomat. She said the US must not forget that scores of top Al Qaeda leaders were killed or captured because of Pakistans active cooperation. Pakistans continued support to the efforts of international community in Afghanistan through Ground/ Air and Sea lines of communication was unquestionably critical to the success of this Mission in Afghanistan, Janjua said. She also said that in the wake of recent US pronouncements to seek political settlement in Afghanistan, Pakistan and America were working in close coordination with other regional stake holders in order to end the prolonged conflict. At this critical juncture, baseless allegations about a closed chapter of history could seriously undermine this vital cooperation, she said. American commandos killed bin Laden in a covert raid in May 2011 in Abbottabad, where he had been living in seclusion in a house near a military academy. The summoning of Jones followed after Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a series of tweets, on Monday lambasted Trumps comments. Record needs to be put straight on Mr Trumps tirade against Pakistan, Khan said in a series of tweets defending his countrys record in the US-led war on terror. He said that Pakistan decided to participate in the US War on Terror although no Pakistani was involved in the 9/11 attacks. Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties in this war and over $123 billion was lost, of which US aid was a miniscule $20 billion, Khan said. Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140,000 Nato troops, plus 250,000 Afghan troops and reportedly $1 trillion spent on the war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before, he suggested. The CM assured that culprits would soon be arrested and denied that the incident had any religious overtones and described it as a terror act. Chandigarh: As NIA sources hinted at possible foreign funding behind the killing of three people in a suspected terror strike in Amritsar, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said the grenade attack at Nirankari Bhavan seems to carry Pakistans signature. He said initial investigations indicate that the grenade used was similar to the ones being manufactured by the Pakistani Army Ordinance factory. Announcing a reward of `50 lakh for anyone providing information on the two masked mobike-borne assailants involved in the blast, the chief minister said, The police had recovered similar HG-84 grenades from a terror module busted last month, indicating a high probability of the involvement of inimical forces from across the border. After visiting the attack site along with his senior ministers, Amritsar MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu and PPCC president Sunil Jakhar, the chief minister said certain leads have been found by investigators who are pursuing them aggressively. The chief minister assured that culprits would soon be arrested and denied that the incident had any religious overtones and described it as a terror act. Congress spokesperson Charan Sapra told a new channel that though the blast case is now with the NIA and the CBI, the state police arrested four people and handed over to the central agencies all the related evidence collected so far. Sources said the NIA suspects role of foreign funding for the ground-level operatives that executed the explosion and has advised neighbouring states to remain alert. Three persons including a preacher were killed and over 20 injured when two-motorcycle borne men threw grenade on a religious congregation on Sunday. The attack took place inside the Nirankari Bhawans prayer hall at Adliwal village near Amritsars Rajasansi, an incident which the police is treating as a terrorist act. Earlier, the chief minister said that the incident appears to be an act of terror by separatist forces organised with the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terrorist groups. Responding to a query, Captain Amarinder said the attack could not be equated with the Nirankari conflict in 1978 as that was a religious matter and the Adliwal incident was purely a case of terrorism. Violence between the Sant Nirankari Mission and traditional Sikhs on April 13, 1978, at Amritsar had left 13 people dead, and sparked the subsequent wave of terrorism in the state. Yesterdays incident had no religious overtones, as per initial investigations, said the chief minister. In response to a question, the Chief Minister said the state was already on high alert, with strict checking going on around landmark buildings and other vital public installations and infrastructure. Ivanka Trump used a private email account while transitioning into government, a spokesman for her lawyer said on Monday night. Peter Mirijanian, a spokesman for Trumps lawyer Abbe Lowell, said in a statement that President Donald Trumps elder daughter -- whose White House staff title is assistant to the president -- used the private email almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family. The statement was released after the Washington Post reported that the White House examined her correspondence as part of its response to a public records court case and learned that she had sent hundreds of emails -- some to government officials -- on the private account. Also read | No place for white supremacy, racism and neo-nazism in US, says Ivanka Trump Sensitivities surrounding the issue stem from the 2016 presidential election, during which Hillary Clintons use of a private email server in her home during her tenure as secretary of state became a key thrust of the Trump campaign. The White House referred requests for comment to Lowell. To address misinformation being peddled about Ms. Trumps personal email, she did not create a private server in her house or office, there was never classified information transmitted, the account was never transferred or housed at Trump Organization, no emails were ever deleted, and the emails have been retained in the official account in conformity with records preservation laws and rules, Mirijanian said in his statement. --With assistance from Justin Sink. US presidents Donald Trumps daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump used a personal email account for official communications for most of 2017, according to a news report, raising the spectre of a controversy that had dogged Hillary Clinton for most of her campaign for president. Ivanka had sent less than 100 messages from this private email account to administration officials, under 1,000 to herself and aides about her plans and schedules and also those of her family, according to a determination made by her lawyer for turning them over to the government for official record keeping. The Washington Post, which first reported these emails, said these private email account messages were discovered in a review of emails last fall of five cabinet departments in connection with a public request for official records. Ivanka switched to the official email account since. But her reported defence, as conveyed through her personal attorney to the news publication, that she did not know the official rules on this, has surprised officials and observers given the ringside view she had of the 2016 campaign during which her father routinely led supporters to chant Lock her up calling for Clinton to be punished for her email troubles. Peter Mirijanian, a spokesperson for Ivankas lawyer, said in a statement that the private account was used almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family. To address misinformation being peddled about Ms. Trumps personal email, she did not create a private server in her house or office, there was never classified information transmitted, the account was never transferred or housed at Trump Organization, no emails were ever deleted, and the emails have been retained in the official account in conformity with records preservation laws and rules, Mirijanian said in his statement. The lawyer was drawing distinction from Clintons use of a private email, as secretary of state in the Obama administration, from 2009 to 2012. Clintons email account was hosted on a private server at the Clinton family home in New York state, it was used for transmitting and receiving some classified material and the emails were deleted when Congress began investigating it. Clintons aides still turned over thousands of emails to the state department that were determined by Clintons lawyers as official. The controversy had dogged Clintons presidential campaign from the start and may have cost her what was once seen as an easy win for her. Though she had been cleared months before by the FBI, the agency had reopened the case of in view of new evidence towards the end stages of the campaign. Though she was cleared once again, the damage had been done, she and her aides have maintained since. Using a private email can be a violation of a law that requires all White House communications be preserved and archived for every administration. Additionally, it can pose a security risk if hacked, and compromise sensitive government information. Ivanka does not have a campaign to worry about, but her private email would be an embarrassment for her father, the president. He had not tweeted or remarked about it till late Tuesday morning. And the White House has directed reporters to Ivankas lawyer, who issued the statement reported above. She and her husband Jared Kushner had set up the account ijkfamily.com, hosted on a Microsoft server, in December 2016 when they were moving to Washington DC for Kushner to join the White House staff as senior adviser to the president. Both of them continued to use it for a while and Ivanka had used it for mailing several members of the cabinet, but that was before she was appointed to join the White House staff in March, and continued to use if even after but with reduced frequency, according to The Washington Post. A gunman shot to death a doctor outside a Chicago hospital on Monday before bursting into the facility and killing a woman and a police officer during an exchange of gunfire and dying in the shooting, officials said. The shooter knew the doctor he shot outside Mercy Hospital, but once inside he fired randomly at people, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at a news conference. The shooting sent doctors and patients streaming out of the facility, some with their hands up as heavily armed police officers sought to secure the facility. The city of Chicago lost a doctor, a pharmaceutical assistant and a police officer, all going about their day, all doing what they love, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told reporters. This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and consequence of evil, Emanuel said. The police officer, Samuel Jimenez, died in an exchange of fire with the gunman after he entered the medical facility, Johnson said. The gunman, whose name has not been released, also died, officials said. But it was not immediately clear if he shot himself or if he was struck by a police officers bullet, Johnson said. Another officer was spared injury when a bullet lodged itself in his holster, Johnson said. In Denver, another shooting left one person dead and three others wounded on Monday. At least one suspect remained at large after the shooting on a downtown street corner A challenge to her leadership looms, but Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday dwelt on the emotive issue of immigration to sell her controversial draft agreement, suggesting software developers from Delhi would be preferred over EU citizens after Brexit. The required number of 48 Conservative MPs to trigger a leadership contest has not yet been reached, but her party lawmakers continued to make their positions known, with hardline Brexiteer Boris Johnson insisting the draft agreement is a 585-page fig leaf (that) does nothing to cover the embarrassment of our total defeat. Indian and British companies continue to monitor the Brexit imbroglio closely. There are already reports of delayed or curtailed investment in the UK and staff-and-office moves to EU cities such as Paris and Frankfurt to enable companies to continue to operate across the European Union. Seamless immigration from within the EU was one of the key reasons for the Leave EU vote in the 2016 referendum. May expounded on the issue in her address to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), noting she had an intense week ahead. Also read | The Brexit mess in the UK just got messier After Brexit, May said, London will regain full control of the UKs borders, enabling it to set its preferred immigration policy. The focus will be on skilled migration, rather than low-skilled, a proposition not entirely welcomed by businesses struggling to find British employees for roles in the restaurant and other industries. May said: It will no longer be the case that EU nationals, regardless of the skills or experience they have to offer, can jump the queue ahead of engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi. Instead of a system based on where a person is from, we will have one that is built around the talents and skills a person has to offer. Not only will this deliver on the verdict of the referendum, it should lead to greater opportunity for young people in this country to access training and skilled employment. A period of prolonged uncertainty looms for businesses, as reflected in comments by Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon and Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable. Sturgeon told business leaders long-term uncertainty is hard wired into the current Brexit deal. Cable added: (For) the foreseeable future theres complete uncertainty about our long-term relationships. It just means that this cloud of uncertainty hangs over British business for the foreseeable future. Pratik Dattani of the Economic Policy Group, reflecting current thinking in Indian companies in the UK, said: Theresa May has said Eastern European will no longer be prioritised over skilled workers from other countries, citing India as the prime example. At the same time, accessing workers of lower skill levels will be difficult for UK businesses, and the visa process will overall get more expensive. Also read | You do the math: Can Theresa May get her Brexit deal through parliament? The current Brexit deal proposed brings more uncertainty as the transition period for agreeing a trade deal will be pushed to 2022. The pound has fallen against the Indian rupee in the last week as a result. In Brussels, the EUs Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the draft deal reached with the UK is fair and balanced, as the bloc haggled with Britain over any extension to the envisaged transition period. Barnier told a news conference after briefing the 27 EU ministers that they generally approved of the draft agreement reached last week, and that a blank in the document on the end date for a possible extension of the status-quo transition period should be resolved for a summit on Sunday. The deal is fair and balanced, Barnier said. We are in fact at a decisive moment in this process; no one should lose sight of the progress that has been achieved in Brussels and in London. In particular, member states support the draft withdrawal agreement. The EU side will still have to decide the internal process for agreeing to extend the transition period. Also read | H-1B uncertainty: Indian techies may soon bypass US for Canadian opportunities A US judge on Monday temporarily blocked an order by President Donald Trump that barred asylum for immigrants who enter the country illegally from Mexico, the latest courtroom defeat for Trump on immigration policy. US District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order against the asylum rules. Tigars order takes effect immediately, applies nationwide, and lasts until at least Dec. 19 when the judge scheduled a hearing to consider a more long-lasting injunction. Representatives for the US Department of Justice could not immediately be reached for comment. Read more: Donald Trump to crack down on US asylum laws, Indian human smugglers should worry Trump cited an overwhelmed immigration system for his recent proclamation that officials will only process asylum claims for migrants who present themselves at an official entry point. Civil rights groups sued, arguing that Trumps Nov. 9 order violated administrative and immigration law. In his ruling, Tigar said Congress clearly mandated that immigrants can apply for asylum regardless of how they entered the country. The judge called the latest rules an extreme departure from prior practice. Whatever the scope of the Presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden, Tigar wrote. Tigar was nominated to the court by President Barack Obama. Previous Trump immigration policies, including measures targeting sanctuary cities, have also been blocked by the courts. Read more: Trump threatens shooting of Central American migrants who throw stones The asylum ruling came as thousands of Central Americans, including a large number of children, are traveling in caravans toward the US border to escape violence and poverty at home. Some have already arrived at Tijuana, a Mexican city on the border with California. IT IS TOO MUCH Rights groups have said immigrants are being forced to wait days or weeks at the border before they can present themselves for asylum, and the administration has been sued for deliberately slowing processing times at official ports. At a hearing earlier on Monday, American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt said the order clearly conflicted with the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows any person present in the United States to seek asylum, regardless of how they entered the country. Gelernt said the ACLU had recently learned Mexican authorities have begun barring unaccompanied minors from applying at US ports of entry. Mexicos migration institute said in a statement to Reuters that there was no basis for the ACLUs claims, noting that there had been no such reports from the United Nations or human rights groups that are monitoring the situation at the border. Uriel Gonzalez, the head of a YMCA shelter for young migrants in Tijuana, said he had not heard of any new measures directed at unaccompanied minors. He noted there were already long lines to get a turn with US authorities. This can take a while because the number of migrants has overwhelmed capacity. It is too much, he said. The judge on Monday wrote that Trumps refugee rule would force people with legitimate asylum claims to choose between violence at the border, violence at home, or giving up a pathway to refugee status. Caravan participants began to arrive last week in Tijuana on the Mexican side of the US border, which has put a strain on shelters where many will wait to seek asylum. Their presence has also strained Tijuanas reputation as a welcoming city, with some residents screaming at the migrants, Get out! Trump sent more than 5,000 soldiers to the 2,000-mile frontier with Mexico to harden the border, although critics dismissed the move as a political stunt ahead of congressional elections on Nov. 6. Prime spot On the 42nd floor of the Metropolitan Tower, it spans 2,200 square feet and has three bedrooms with stunning views of Central Park to the north and the city skyline to the south. > Scroll right for more A-list homes... Douglas Elliman Shah said while addressing an election meeting in district headquarters town of Narasinghpur in MP. Bhopal: BJP national president Amit Shah on Monday tried to make light of criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying that, Rahul Baba utters Modi 44 times in his 22-minute-speech. Now-a-days Rahul Baba is busy addressing meetings. He recites Modi 44 times in his 22-minute-speech. I fail to comprehend if he is campaigning for BJP or for Congress, Mr Shah said while addressing an election meeting in district headquarters town of Narasinghpur in MP. The Congress president is suffering from Modhi phobia. He sees Modi everywhere, he quipped. He said Mr Gandhi should stop dreaming of Congress returning to power in MP as chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been very popular for the good governance he has given during his three-terms in power. Congress had destroyed the state during its ten-year-rule ending 2003. But, the state could make progress only when BJP came to power in 2003, he said. He called Congress as a party of sycophants and said a government under Congress can never ensure development of Madhya Pradesh, since the party leaders knew only one thing, how to keep their leaders in good humours. He took a potshot at MP Congress chief Kamal Nath for seeking account of 15-year-rule of BJP in the state, daring him to give account of development done in the country by four generations of Nehru-Gandhi family. Motorcycle rallies are being held with volunteers waving saffron flags and chanting Jai Shri Ram in all major cities of Uttar Pradesh. The VHP has already announced that its leaders will meet all 543 members of Parliament and seek their support for the ordinance. (Representational image) Lucknow: With an obvious eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other fringe outfits are now trying to generate a Hindutva frenzy on the lines of 1992 on the Ram Mandir issue. The VHP, with the help of saints and seers, has begun replaying its 1992 strategy to stoke Hindu sentiments even if it means blaming the BJP for the delay in bringing an ordinance. The VHP is distributing lakhs of posters and pamphlets, inviting people for the November 25 Dharam Sansad, scheduled to be held simultaneously in Ayodhya, Nagpur and Bengaluru. The VHP has set a target of two lakh participants for the event in Ayodhya. Ayodhya is already abuzz with activity as Hindu leaders have started arriving and camping in the holy city.VHP volunteers are going from house to house, inviting people to attend the Dharam Sansad. Motorcycle rallies are being held with volunteers waving saffron flags and chanting Jai Shri Ram in all major cities of Uttar Pradesh. A senior VHP leader told this newspaper that the idea was to mount so much pressure on the Narendra Modi government and the Opposition parties that an ordinance on the Ram temple is promulgated even before the Winter Session of Parliament. We will also corner the Opposition parties and they will have to say whether they favour the Ram temple or not. This time, political leaders will have to take a stand, and if they dont support the Ram temple, they will be exposed before majority community voters, the VHP leader said. The VHP has already announced that its leaders will meet all 543 members of Parliament and seek their support for the ordinance. The VHP also plans to hold meetings in every Lok Sabha constituency in the country over this issue. BJP leaders, on the other hand, seem confident that the Modi government will bring in legislation in the Winter Session. We are working on all options and something concrete will come out very soon for the Ram temple. Now everyone wants the construction of the Ram temple to begin, said UP deputy chief minister Keshav Maurya. The Hindu movement this time has a new player in Ayodhya the Shiv Sena which has given the slogan: Har Hindu ki yahi pukar, pehle mandir, phir sarkar. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray plans to be in Ayodhya on November 24 to address a rally the following day. The Sena is all set to take up the Ram temple issue as a major priority. Iqbal Ansari, a plaintiff in the Babri Masjid title case, said: The VHP is drumming up a frenzy and that is what is making UP anxious. The matter is sub-judice but the governments are unwilling to stop all this activity, which is a blatant contempt of court. If Muslims are willing to wait for the court verdict, why cant Hindus? It is obvious they are doing it with an eye on the elections. Pipeline 20 November 2018 ONYX Hospitality Group, one of the region's leading hotel management companies, has a management agreement with Laos-based Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole Co,Ltd. (AIDC), to develop a new-build Amari hotel in the city centre of Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. AIDC is an investment and construction joint venture led by Tang Charoen Group, developer of Amari Vang Vieng which opened early this year. Amari Vientiane will occupy a central Mekong Riverside location at the intersection of Quai Fa Ngum and Khun Bu Lom Roads, a short stroll to the city's popular 'night market street' and the Chao Anouvong Park. Vientiane's other top city centre attractions including the Patuxay Victory Monument, Lao National Museum and Wat Si Saket are easily accessible on foot or by tuk tuk or fixed-route shared jumbos. Featuring 250 rooms and suites in a 15-storey building, Amari Vientiane will offer all the key Amari brand signatures including service from Amari Hosts, the street market-style Amaya Food Gallery, Breeze Spa, creative meetings facilities and generous indoor and outdoor space thoughtfully designed for sharing and informal gatherings. Other facilities include a specialty restaurant, an outdoor pool and fully equipped fitness centre. The BJP will also hold special conferences for Dalit and their sub-castes. Lucknow: After organizing motorbike rallies across Uttar Pradesh, the BJP will now embark on a Gaon Gaon, Paon Paon campaign from December 1 to 15. Under this campaign, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, state BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey, all ministers and legislators will walk through villages in every Vidhan Sabha constituency and interact with the local people. In each of the 403 assembly constituencies, the BJP leaders will inform the people about the work done by the Modi and Yogi governments and also take a feedback on the welfare schemes launched by these governments. They will also take note of any discrepancies found in implementation of welfare schemes. Mr Pandey, UP BJP president, said that the Gaon Gaon , Paon Paon programme was a part of Mahatma Gandhis 150th birth anniversary functions. He said that six teams of 25 persons each would walk through villages in each assembly constituency, covering about 150 kilometres in 15 days. On January 26, the state unit of the BJP would light the Kamal Jyoti in three crore homes in the state that have been beneficiaries of government schemes. The BJP will also hold special conferences for Dalit and their sub-castes. This is on the pattern of the OBC Sammelan that the party held in August-September this year. The party will be addressing the issues of various Dalit groups including sub-castes. Leaders of these castes and sub-caste groups will be given an opportunity to air their views, a BJP leader said. The Dalit groups that will have their say during these conferences include Jatav, Kori, Pasi, Khatik, Valmiki, Dhobi, Nishad, Katehria and Baheria , among others. All Dalits leaders in the BJP, including chairmen of various commissions, legislators and ministers will be attending these conferences. The idea is to continue interaction with Dalits and keep the channels of communication open, said a party leader. Interestingly, while the VHP and its fringe organizations are taking care of the Hindutva factor and reviving the Ram temple issue, the BJP , simultaneously, is consolidating its position by addressing caste groups through these conferences. The party, apparently, will use the caste and communal card to return to power in 2019 and Uttar Pradesh is known to be highly responsive to both the factors. Now Open 20 November 2018 IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has opened its first Staybridge Suites in The Netherlands, Staybridge Suites The Hague - Parliament. Located in the heart of The Hague, the hotel is situated opposite the world's oldest parliament building still in use, the Binnenhof, and sits alongside the stunning Court Pond the 'Hofvijver' and the famous Mauritshuis Museum, making it the perfect locations to take pictures of The Hague's historic skyline. Designed to meet the needs of extended stay guests from business travellers to families, Staybridge Suites The Hague - Parliament offers 101 contemporary designed suites that deliver the comforts of home with fully equipped kitchens, comfortable living areas, and flexible working spaces. The unique layout and interior design is inspired by the city's rich history and environment. The hotel itself is comprised of three buildings, two of which are located on the central Lange Vijverberg. The historical design influence can be seen in the hotel's use of panelling, brass finishing and a traditional colour palette of rich deep blue and warm ochre. Connecting all three buildings together is a stunning Parisian style courtyard, adding to the ambience of the hotel. From the moment visitors step into the hotel's bright and beautiful indoor courtyard lobby, guests will be made to feel completely at ease in the relaxing Livingroom. Those staying can take advantage of Staybridge Suites The Hague - Parliament's free Wi-Fi, The Pantry which provides food essentials for guests to purchase 24 hours a day, complimentary breakfast, free laundry facilities and 24/7 fitness room. In addition, Staybridge Suites provides guests with a midweek 'Social' to give those staying a chance to relax with drinks and snacks and meet their neighbours. Staybridge Suites The Hague - Parliament is a two minute walk from some of the city's most popular bars, shops and restaurants, including the iconic Bijenkorf department store. With The Hague Central Train Station just a 10 minute walk from the hotel, guests can easily explore nearby cultural venues and attractions, such as the Peace Palace, and miniature theme park Madurodam, Rotterdam, while the sea is just five kilometres away. Now Open 20 November 2018 Radisson, one of the best-recognized hotel brands, today announced the opening of the newly constructed Radisson Hotel Monterrey San Jeronimo located on Av. Insurgentes #4001 Col. Colinas de San Jeronimo. The hotel is conveniently located in the San Jeronimo neighborhood, just west of downtown Monterrey and within easy reach of local businesses. Whether guests are shopping at the Galeras Monterrey or exploring the Museum of Contemporary Art, the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle for guests traveling within a three-mile radius. Guests are welcome to enjoy the hotel's refreshed design, onsite restaurant and bars, meeting spaces and other fantastic amenities. This hotel offers 98 guest rooms and suites. In addition to the complimentary shuttle services, guests have access to a 24-hour fitness center and business center, free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and complimentary parking. There are two meeting rooms that can be kept separate for smaller gatherings or combined to form a larger space accommodating up to 60 guests. Both meeting spaces are equipped with audio-visual equipment, free Wi-Fi, onsite catering and guidance from an experienced event coordinator. The hotel's on-site dining option, La Huasteca Restaurant, serves Mexican and international dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Room service is also offered daily. In addition to the on-site restaurant, the hotel has two bars that offer a wide selection of national and international beers, wines and liquors. La Huasteca Bar provides a relaxed setting in the lobby, while La Silla is the hotel's rooftop bar featuring incredible views of the city's skyline. Appointment 20 November 2018 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC - Crystal City, owned by Park Hotels & Resorts and managed by Hilton Management Services, has appointed Joseph Cardone as General Manager. Most recently, Carone served as Hotel Manager at Hilton Orlando. In his new role, Cardone will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the 627-room hotel, which includes 34,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. A 28-year hospitality veteran, Cardone began his career in hospitality as a restaurant host at Long Island Marriott. Over the years, he has held positions ranging from Director of Catering Services and Director of Event Operations to Director of Room Operations and Resident Manager at New York Marriott Marquis, Waldorf Astoria New York, Washington Marriott Wardman Park, Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Solana, The Mayflower Hotel and Orlando World Center Marriott. Cardone holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Connecticut University. Located near the Pentagon, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC - Crystal City provides a complement of services and brand amenities, including Skydome, the only revolving rooftop restaurant with stunning views of DC landmarks and monuments, the largest hotel fitness center in the area, and complimentary shuttle to Reagan National Airport, Pentagon City Metro and Fashion Centre Mall. Appointment 20 November 2018 Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti has announced Justin Stevens as Resort Manager. With ten years of African safari experience to his name, Stevens now joins the team at the Lodge in the heart of the Serengeti National Park, where he will oversee all day to day operations at the property. Hailing from Canada, Stevens enjoyed international adventures in the cruise industry before he arrived in Africa more than a decade ago, having since worked across a number of safari camps and lodges in Tanzania, Botswana and Rwanda. With a choice of luxury accommodations - all with private balconies and uninterrupted views of the Serengeti Plains, Four Seasons Safari Lodge caters to both couples and families, where leisure amenities include an educational Discovery Centre for learning about the wildlife and nature of the Serengeti, a six suite Spa, a choice of three restaurants, a dedicated Kids' Club and one of the most acclaimed infinity pools in the world that overlooks an active animal watering hole. Press Release 20 November 2018 Nov 20, 2018 London UK/Spokane WA Advertisements At Magnuson Worldwide, America's fastest growing hotel brand, we are proud to announce the addition of The Stardust Motel Wallace to the new By Magnuson Worldwide Collection. The Stardust Motel Wallace combines the scenic Northwest's mountains with the amenities of an upscale economy motel. The Stardust Motel is located off I-90, approximately 11 miles from Silver Mountain Ski Resort and Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area, the Route of Hiawatha mountain biking and hiking trail, and the Silver Country 1000 Mile Trail System. It also provides easy access to snowmobiling, ATV's and thrilling mountain biking trails. Guests of the pet friendly Stardust Motel Wallace can enjoy clean, well-maintained accommodations along with genuine service and mountain hospitality second to none. Small pets are allowed with an extra fee of $20 per pet, per day. Thomas Magnuson, co-owner of the Stardust Motel says: "We are delighted to be incorporating our own property into the By Magnuson Worldwide brand." About Magnuson Worldwide: Since its launch fifteen years ago, Magnuson Worldwide has become America's fastest growing hotel brand and a top 15 global chain, marketing over 1,000 hotels across six countries and three continents. Magnuson Worldwide's newly formed distribution partnership with Chinese operator Jin Jiang Hotels and Europe's Louvre Hotels is the world's largest hotel alliance, forming a consortium of over 8,000 hotels and 800,000 rooms worldwide, equal to the size of a top 2 global hotel chain. For more information: i[email protected] US 509.747.8713 UK (+44) 020 3051 2724. Supplier News 19 November 2018 Markham, Ontario - Maestro PMS just made advanced payment processes safer and more convenient for independent operators and their guests. Maestro adds to its full array of mobile and online solutions with the launch of its Payment Portal module that engages guests online by connecting them with a property to quickly make payments against their upcoming reservations. The new system also saves the property time and reduces collection fees by automatically emailing deposit reminders. Maestro PMS is the preferred cloud and on-premise property software solution. Maestro offers web browser and windows access in either deployment for independent hotels, luxury resorts, conference centers and multi-property groups. "Maestro's new Payment Portal is ideal for guests who want the flexibility to self-serve their advance deposit payments. It is a perfect way for properties to engage with guests and meet the mobile needs of today's travelers," said Warren Dehan, Maestro PMS President. "Our Payment Portal module lets guests make payments anytime from any device without giving their credit card number over the phone. The system uses a secure website that is fully integrated in Maestro property software so advance deposits are posted real time." The module lets a hotel automatically email payment reminders with a link to the Payment Portal at predetermined intervals to free the accounting staff for other duties. Maestro's Payment Portal website is branded with the property software's look and feel and is fully secure for credit card payments. "The module is flexible to adapt to any property's billing policies for single or multiple advance deposit payments," said Dehan. "In the future the Payment Portal will be available for use by condo properties, club member payments and corporate contract groups." The Maestro Property Management System delivers flexible and scalable deployment options with an identical full-featured web browser or windows solution available in the cloud or on premise. Maestro's revenue-generating hotel management software tools and services increase profitability, drive direct bookings, centralize operations and provide personalized and mobile guest service tools to enhance the guest experience. Click here for more information on how to engage and socialize with Maestro PMS. About Maestro PMS Maestro is the preferred cloud and on-premises PMS solution for independent hotels, luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups. Maestro's PCI certified and EMV ready enterprise system offers 20+ integrated modules on a single database including web and mobile apps to increase profitability, drive direct bookings, centralize operations, and enable operators to engage guests with a personalized experience. For over 40 years Maestro's Diamond Plus Service has provided unparalleled 24/7 North American based support and education services to keep hospitality groups operational and productive. Click here for more information on Maestro. Supplier News 20 November 2018 The pioneer of boutique hotel design in Mexico, Grupo Habita, has partnered with the global hotel industry's leading guest acquisition platform, SiteMinder, to capitalize on the rise of international tourists in the country. Grupo Habita, which launched at a time when Mexico City struggled to appeal to international leisure travelers, has brought leisure tourism into less-travelled destinations for almost two decades. The hotel group has amassed 12 lifestyle properties across Mexico, as well as two in the United States, and today says technology will allow it to continue innovating and tapping into new source markets. "Mexico is witnessing tourism demand increase every year, however, we see that the local hotel sector is largely not yet equipped with new technologies to benefit from that trend, especially small hotel businesses. Fortunately, we are seeing more and more hotels incorporate technology into their strategies, to access more markets and revenue streams, and Grupo Habita wanted to take that step in order to innovate. Our hotel staff now use SiteMinder's platform constantly and are delighted with the possibilities it offers," says Ernesto Solis, Corporate Director of E-Commerce and Revenue Management at Grupo Habita. Mexico ranked as the sixth most visited country in the world in 2017, with 39.3 million international visitors. It is expected to achieve a new record in 2018, having attracted more than 30.5 million international visitors during the first nine months, which is up 6.8% based on year-on-year figures. SiteMinder's director of communications - Latin America, Rocio Herraiz, says, "SiteMinder exists so every hotel has the opportunity to acquire more guests and we are proud to support Grupo Habita in this regard. We know each of their properties will also give the highest priority to personalizing the stay of their guests and, thanks to the automation offered by SiteMinder, they can focus on really enhancing that experience for today's traveler who seeks comfort and detail." Already, Grupo Habita is working on future must-see destinations, including the remodeling of a mansion in Puebla, Mexico, and new properties in both Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. About SiteMinder In an age of rising choice and accessibility for curious travelers, SiteMinder is the name synonymous with the belief that technology can empower any hotel to win in a consumer-led world and unleash their potential. SiteMinder is the global hotel industry's leading guest acquisition platform, ranked among technology pioneers for its smart and simple solutions that put hotels everywhere their guests are, at every stage of their journey. It's this central role that has earned SiteMinder the trust of more than 30,000 hotels, across 160 countries, to generate in excess of 80 million reservations worth over US$35 billion in revenue for hotels each year. For more information, visit www.siteminder.com. About Grupo Habita Grupo Habita has a total of 14 hotels; 12 are distributed across nine destinations in Mexico and two are in the United States. In Mexico City, they are: Hotel Habita, Condesa DF, Downtown Mexico, Downtown Beds and Capital District. Across other parts of Mexico, they are: La Purificadora in Puebla, designed by Legorreta + Legorreta; Hotel Boca Chica in Acapulco; Habita MTY in Nuevo Leon; Casa Fayette in Guadalajara; Hotel Escondido in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca; and Maison Couturier and Azucar in Veracruz. In the United States, they are: Hotel Americano in Chelsea, New York, and The Robey in Chicago. Although comparatively small, what Grupo Habita has achieved in 18 years is significant. It is currently the only hotel company in Mexico funded 100% domestically and successfully operates two hotels in United States. For more information, visit www.grupohabita.mx. Press Release 20 November 2018 HSMAI South Florida continued the awarding of its Dr. Peter Ricci Scholarship at the 2018 Annual GALA held at the Margaritaville Resort in Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Peter Ricci, Director of the Hospitality Management Program at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) presented two checks to students Sabrina Schmid and Flavia Adorno Pedra. Flavia is pursuing a Master of Science (MS) degree at Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality Management. Sabrina is pursuing an Executive MBA degree with specialization in hospitality & tourism management at Florida Atlantic University. Each student received a $2500 contribution to their educational pursuits. Advertisements This scholarship fund, created by HSMAI South Florida former president Carmen Ackerman, was designed to provide educational funds for students pursuing degrees at either undergraduate or graduate levels in hospitality, tourism, or culinary across South Florida's various institutions of higher learning. HSMAI South Florida covers the wide swath of geography from Jupiter down through Miami/Ft. Lauderdale to Key West and across to Naples, Ft. Myers and up to Sarasota. Students can apply and receive funding based upon the merit of their application, their personal achievements, and their career goals. The career interests must align with HSMAI in the areas of hospitality sales, marketing, or revenue management including ancillary areas of eCommerce, digital marketing, travel product/service distribution and related nice segments. South Florida is has one of the most diverse student populations in the country. Dr. Ricci was singled out for the naming of this scholarship honor based on his years of service to HSMAI, his passion for education, and his 20+ years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has held leadership roles in meetings & events, destination management, and hotel management with roles such as director and general manager. His vision for empowering students to achieve excellence includes strong encouragement for students to affiliate with HSMAI and other hospitality trade associations early on in their career pathways so they can begin to network, grow, and attain a mentor. As a living role mode to hospitality students, he personally demonstrates the "live by example" model with his own current memberships in HSMAI, MPI, SGMP, FRLA, AHLA, CMAA, and others. The HSMAI South Florida Chapter will soon accept scholarship applications from students pursuing careers in hospitality sales, marketing, or revenue management for the 2019 cycle. Scholarships are awarded based on merit and other factors. Complete eligibility criteria and requirements are outlined on the HSMAI South Florida website: http://connect.hsmai.org/SouthFlorida/Home/ Applications must be submitted by June 30 and winners are announced each year in early August prior to the Annual GALA which takes place each fall. For further information, please contact the HSMAI South Florida Chapter Manager at [email protected] JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser The pioneer of boutique hotel design in Mexico, Grupo Habita, has partnered with the global hotel industrys leading guest acquisition platform, SiteMinder, to capitalize on the rise of international tourists in the country. The pioneer of boutique hotel design in Mexico, Grupo Habita, has partnered with the global hotel industrys leading guest acquisition platform, SiteMinder, to capitalize on the rise of international tourists in the country. Grupo Habita, which launched at a time when Mexico City struggled to appeal to international leisure travelers, has brought leisure tourism into less-travelled destinations for almost two decades. The hotel group has amassed 12 lifestyle properties across Mexico, as well as two in the United States, and today says technology will allow it to continue innovating and tapping into new source markets. Mexico is witnessing tourism demand increase every year, however, we see that the local hotel sector is largely not yet equipped with new technologies to benefit from that trend, especially small hotel businesses. Fortunately, we are seeing more and more hotels incorporate technology into their strategies, to access more markets and revenue streams, and Grupo Habita wanted to take that step in order to innovate. Our hotel staff now use SiteMinders platform constantly and are delighted with the possibilities it offers, says Ernesto Solis, Corporate Director of E-Commerce and Revenue Management at Grupo Habita. Mexico ranked as the sixth most visited country in the world in 2017, with 39.3 million international visitors. It is expected to achieve a new record in 2018, having attracted more than 30.5 million international visitors during the first nine months, which is up 6.8% based on year-on-year figures. SiteMinders director of communications Latin America, Rocio Herraiz, says, SiteMinder exists so every hotel has the opportunity to acquire more guests and we are proud to support Grupo Habita in this regard. We know each of their properties will also give the highest priority to personalizing the stay of their guests and, thanks to the automation offered by SiteMinder, they can focus on really enhancing that experience for todays traveler who seeks comfort and detail. Already, Grupo Habita is working on future must-see destinations, including the remodeling of a mansion in Puebla, Mexico, and new properties in both Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. Media contact Maria Cricchiola +61 410 233 735 media@siteminder.com About SiteMinder In an age of rising choice and accessibility for curious travelers, SiteMinder is the name synonymous with the belief that technology can empower any hotel to win in a consumer-led world and unleash their potential. SiteMinder is the global hotel industrys leading guest acquisition platform, ranked among technology pioneers for its smart and simple solutions that put hotels everywhere their guests are, at every stage of their journey. Its this central role that has earned SiteMinder the trust of more than 30,000 hotels, across 160 countries, to generate in excess of 80 million reservations worth over US$35 billion in revenue for hotels each year. For more information, visit www.siteminder.com. About Grupo Habita Grupo Habita has a total of 14 hotels; 12 are distributed across nine destinations in Mexico and two are in the United States. In Mexico City, they are: Hotel Habita, Condesa DF, Downtown Mexico, Downtown Beds and Capital District. Across other parts of Mexico, they are: La Purificadora in Puebla, designed by Legorreta + Legorreta; Hotel Boca Chica in Acapulco; Habita MTY in Nuevo Leon; Casa Fayette in Guadalajara; Hotel Escondido in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca; and Maison Couturier and Azucar in Veracruz. In the United States, they are: Hotel Americano in Chelsea, New York, and The Robey in Chicago. Although comparatively small, what Grupo Habita has achieved in 18 years is significant. It is currently the only hotel company in Mexico funded 100% domestically and successfully operates two hotels in United States. For more information, visit www.grupohabita.mx. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. Justice Mukta Gupta gave relief to flight attendant Anissia Batra's parents-in-law subject to their furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000. Anissia had jumped to death from the terrace of her house in south Delhi's Panchsheel Park. (Facebook | Screengrab | Anissia Batra) New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Tuesday granted bail to the in-laws of a flight attendant who allegedly committed suicide in July this year. Justice Mukta Gupta gave the relief to flight attendant Anissia Batra's parents-in-law R S Singhvi and Sushma Singhvi subject to their furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000. "Bail is allowed," the court said. Details of the order would be available once it is uploaded on the high court site. The Singhvis moved the high court after their plea for bail was rejected by the trial court. They surrendered before the police on November 1. Anissia (39), who was married to Mayank Singhvi for two years, worked with a German airline. She allegedly jumped from the terrace of her house in Panchsheel Park in south Delhi on July 13. Mayank rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead. He was arrested on July 16. Anissia's family alleged that her husband physically abused her and often demanded money. The family claimed before the trial court that her death was not suicide but murder. Mayank's parents were earlier denied anticipatory bail by the high court. Before jumping off the terrace, Anissia sent a message to her husband that she would kill herself, police said earlier. Mayank, a software engineer in Gurgaon, told the police that they had regular fights due to "compatibility issues". They had an argument on the day of the incident as well following which she jumped from the terrace, police said. The victim's family had also given a complaint to police on June 27, saying Mayank would be responsible if anything happens to their daughter, police said. Set in the heart of Whitefield, the IT hub of Bengaluru, Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Whitefield ITPL is strategically located in close proximity to the major IT corporates, shopping malls and city hospitals InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) today announced the opening of Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Whitefield ITPL. The property is the second Holiday Inn Express hotel to open its doors from the IHG - SAMHI partnership. Set in the heart of Whitefield, the IT hub of Bengaluru, Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Whitefield ITPL is strategically located in close proximity to the major IT corporates, shopping malls and city hospitals. A 40-minute drive from the Bengaluru International Airport, the hotel also offers convenient access to the Karnataka Trade Promotion Organization. Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Whitefield ITPL offers free high-speed Internet in all rooms for seamless connectivity, quality breakfast included in the rate or a Grab & Go option, on-site self-laundry facility, and a gymnasium for the guests to stay energized and in shape. Elevating the guest experience further, the hotel features the brand's signature 'Great Room', to socialize and entertain and 2 meeting rooms for business requirements. Commenting on the announcement, Vivek Bhalla, Regional Vice President, SWA, IHG said: "After a successful launch of Holiday Inn Express Gurgaon Sector 50, we are delighted to announce the opening of the second Holiday Inn Express hotel from our partnership with SAMHI. Bengaluru is one of the fastest growing metropolis in India with a booming IT industry and a host to many conferences and seminars, attracting visitors from around the world. The city is also a starting point for excursions to tourists' attractions in South India and attracts leisure travelers in big numbers. With addition of Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Whitefield ITPL to our portfolio in Bengaluru, we are confident of offering great hotel experiences to business as well as leisure travellers visiting the city." Ashish Jakhanwala, MD & CEO, SAMHI added: "After the opening of our first hotel with IHG in September, we are excited to start welcoming guests at Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Whitefield ITPL. We are very proud of the hotel we are opening today and are confident that a design led, enhanced product and a great service culture will be received extremely well by our guests." IHG and SAMHI entered a partnership in 2017 to rebrand 14 hotels (approximately 2000 rooms, operating and under construction) to Holiday Inn Express hotels. The first hotel under the portfolio Holiday Inn Express Gurgaon Sector 50 opened in September 2018, followed by the opening of Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Whitefield ITPL today. Creating a pan India presence, the other 12 hotels will be located across key cities in India such as Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. The hotels under the portfolio are being renovated and upgraded with the latest design directives, to ensure the portfolio is fully representative of the Holiday Inn Express brand globally. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource Represents brand's entry into the country IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has opened its first Staybridge Suites in The Netherlands, Staybridge Suites The Hague Parliament. Located in the heart of The Hague, the hotel is situated opposite the world's oldest parliament building still in use, the Binnenhof, and sits alongside the stunning Court Pond the 'Hofvijver' and the famous Mauritshuis Museum, making it the perfect locations to take pictures of The Hague's historic skyline. Designed to meet the needs of extended stay guests from business travellers to families, Staybridge Suites The Hague Parliament offers 101 contemporary designed suites that deliver the comforts of home with fully equipped kitchens, comfortable living areas, and flexible working spaces. The unique layout and interior design is inspired by the city's rich history and environment. The hotel itself is comprised of three buildings, two of which are located on the central Lange Vijverberg. The historical design influence can be seen in the hotel's use of panelling, brass finishing and a traditional colour palette of rich deep blue and warm ochre. Connecting all three buildings together is a stunning Parisian style courtyard, adding to the ambience of the hotel. From the moment visitors step into the hotel's bright and beautiful indoor courtyard lobby, guests will be made to feel completely at ease in the relaxing Livingroom. Those staying can take advantage of Staybridge Suites The Hague Parliament's free Wi-Fi, The Pantry which provides food essentials for guests to purchase 24 hours a day, complimentary breakfast, free laundry facilities and 24/7 fitness room. In addition, Staybridge Suites provides guests with a midweek 'Social' to give those staying a chance to relax with drinks and snacks and meet their neighbours. Staybridge Suites The Hague Parliament is a two minute walk from some of the city's most popular bars, shops and restaurants, including the iconic Bijenkorf department store. With The Hague Central Train Station just a 10 minute walk from the hotel, guests can easily explore nearby cultural venues and attractions, such as the Peace Palace, and miniature theme park Madurodam, Rotterdam, while the sea is just five kilometres away. Floor Hilhorst, General Manager for Staybridge Suites The Hague Parliament commented: "We are delighted to be bringing the Staybridge Suites brand to The Netherlands. Staybridge Suites The Hague Parliament is a hotel where guests can live, rather than stay and is perfect for families and business travellers looking for an extended stay option in one of Europe's most historic cities. Staybridge Suites has among the highest guest satisfaction rates of any of IHG's brands and we're delighted with the brand's Dutch debut in such a central and convenient location." Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource M&R Hotel Management today announced the appointment of Robert Arigo, a 29-year hospitality veteran, as vice president of operations, responsible for overseeing the companys 15 managed hotels in the New York metropolitan area. M&R Hotel Management today announced the appointment of Robert Arigo, a 29-year hospitality veteran, as vice president of operations, responsible for overseeing the companys 15 managed hotels in the New York metropolitan area. He previously was senior director of operations for the New York properties of Hersha Hospitality Management, a division of Philadelphia-based Hersha Hospitality Trust. From 2010 to 2012, he was chief operating officer and asset manager for New York-based Widewaters Hotels LLC. He served as general manager of hotels in New York, Florida and Virginia from 2007 to 2010. Arigos asset management experience includes senior positions from 2005 to 2007 with Capital Hotel Management and Highgate Hotels, where he had oversight of Goldman Sachs significant lodging portfolio. Robert Arigos expertise will facilitate achievement of our performance and service goals systemwide, said Brian McSherry, M&R chief operating officer. His mandate is to ensure each of our managed hotels meets, if not exceeds, the high service standards set by M&R and our affiliated brands. In addition, he will oversee M&Rs select portfolio of asset-managed properties, ensuring that onsite managers deliver on the owners expected return on investment. Arigo earned a bachelor of science degree in finance at Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts. He has been recognized with multiple Hotel of the Year and Award of Excellence citations by Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide and Hersha Hospitality Management. M&R Hotel Management, based in Great Neck, New York, operates six hotels in Manhattan; seven in Queens, including five near John F. Kennedy International Airport; one each in Nassau County and Orange County, New York; three in Illinois; three in Missouri; and two in Indiana. M&Rs portfolio includes the brands of Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, InterContinental Hotels Group, Choice Hotels International, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Best Western Hotels & Resorts. M&Rs business plan calls for expansion of its portfolio in the New York metropolitan area and beyond through third-party management contracts. M&R also provides consulting services in hotel site and contractor selection, feasibility analysis, permitting, financing, human resources support, sales and marketing, revenue management, food & beverage management, account and risk management audits, e-commerce, design, procurement, accounting and engineering. Click HERE to download a high-resolution image of Robert Arigo CONTACT: Rich Roberts RDR PR LLC 717-685-4142 rich@rdrpr.com Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource On Monday, the first international meeting of hotel representatives and city officials will be held in New York to discuss ways to regulate Airbnb and other platforms. Excerpt from BuzzFeed On Monday, the first international meeting of hotel representatives and city officials will be held in New York to discuss ways to regulate Airbnb and other platforms. Airbnb and its peers have left a deep enough scar on hotels around the world and created enough of a headache for officials in areas with housing crunches that also draw large volumes of tourists that representatives for cities and hotels around the world are joining forces to combat the short-term rental company. On Monday, a group of hotel industry representatives from the US, Canada, France, Spain, the UK, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Japan, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Australia will attend a conference with presentations by several city officials, hotel groups, and academics to discuss strategies for regulating Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms, which have become home to a growing number of commercial agents who manage large volumes of listings. New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson told BuzzFeed News, "Twenty-first-century problems require complex solutions, and global issues require global dialogue. Lots of cities around the world are trying to figure out how to deal with short-term rentals, and I think it's important to have an international exchange of ideas as we try to deal with this issue thoughtfully." In response to the meeting, Airbnb is planning a protest of hosts outside of the conference. It also posted an online video criticizing Big Hotel's efforts to crack down on short-term rentals, with hosts holding signs that read, "The system is rigged." Regulatory uncertainty has complicated any potential plans Airbnb may have to have its IPO in the near future. American cities including New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, have rolled out restrictions on short-term rentals and increased their enforcement. London limits hosts to 90 days of home sharing per year. Berlin put strict rules and a massive fine on home sharing in 2016 with some success, although it has softened those restrictions. Barcelona commissioned a large team of inspectors to sniff out illegal rentals. Click here to read complete article at BuzzFeed. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource Rotana has signed a hotel management agreement with Grandview Hotels and Resorts Limited to manage a new five-star hotel in the Republic of Zambia that is scheduled to be opened by 2021. Rotana has signed a hotel management agreement with Grandview Hotels and Resorts Limited to manage a new five-star hotel in the Republic of Zambia that is scheduled to be opened by 2021. Set to be situated in the heart of the south-central African country's capital city Lusaka, the upcoming hotel will be the first-ever property to be operated under the Rotana Hotels and Resorts brand in Zambia. The hotel will be the addition to the company's three operating properties in the African continent, including Al Salam Rotana, Khartoum, Sudan; Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana, Kinshasa, DR Congo; and Grand Rotana Resort & Spa, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Commenting on the agreement, Selim El Zyr, Vice Chairman, Rotana, said: "We are delighted to sign the agreement for a new hotel in Zambia which underpins Rotana's growing presence in Africa. As reflected in our strong portfolio and our solid development pipeline, the continent is a key focus market for us. We will continue to seek new opportunities to add our hotels to new destinations, thereby providing value to our partners and guests and strengthening our global footprint even further. On behalf of Rotana, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the owner of Grandview Hotels and Resorts Limited for placing its trust and confidence in our abilities to manage the upcoming hotel." On his part, Bokani Soko, Chairman, Grandview Hotels and Resorts Limited, Zambia, said: "Grandview's vision is to be one of the leading property development and investment companies in Zambia that started five years ago and has far exceeded its vision of growth from developing residential and commercial properties, to expanding into integrated developments. The need for five-star hotels in the Republic of Zambia is evident in the hospitality sector, and therefore, Grandview's foray into the sector is a natural progression for the Group. When we first started looking for a hotel operator, we knew we would engage with a brand that is not only well-positioned in the market but also one that exudes class and quality and, above all, personal service. We found all of these factors, and more, in the Rotana brand. We are confident that Rotana will add value not only to our development but also to the Republic of Zambia". Located in the newly expanded Central Business District of Lusaka, the hotel will be a stone's throw away from major landmarks in the city, including the East Park Mall and several multinational corporate offices, Embassies, and Ministries, making it the ideal choice for both business and leisure travellers. The exquisitely designed five-star hotel will feature 150 rooms and 50 hotel apartments that will provide guests with all the comforts and the luxury for a pleasant and memorable long stay experience. Making it appealing to business and leisure travellers, the hotel will also feature key exclusive hospitality offerings, including three signature dining restaurants, executive lounge, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, and generous indoor and outdoor space thoughtfully designed for formal and informal gatherings. Other amenities will include pool and terraces, as well as a fully equipped fitness & wellness club. When opened, the new hotel will bring Rotana's total inventory in Africa to 1,060. With the objective of capitalizing on the potential of the burgeoning market for the hospitality sector, Rotana has planned new hotels in Angola, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Tanzania that will be opening by 2022. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource Joaquin El Chapo Guzman's trial has begun with witness testimonies, one of which is Jesus El Rey Zambada who was associated with the defendant's Sinaloa cartel. The man explained to the court how a turf battle between Sinaloa and Juarez enterprises was initiated by a handshake, or rather, the lack of one. According to the witness, the drug lord attended a meeting with Rodolfo Carrillo Fuentes in 2004. Fuentes' brother, Vicente Carrillo, Fuentes was in charge of the Juarez cartel at the time. "When [Rodolfo] left, Chapo gave him his hand and said, See you later, friend, and Rodolfo just left him standing there with his hand extended." An infuriated Guzman is said to have expressed his ill will stemming from this experience to his right-hand man, Ismael El Mayo Zambada, who happens to be the witness' brother. Jesus Zambada recalled his sibling alerting him of the situation: "Mi compa Chapo is very upset. He said Chapo said he is going to kill him because he couldnt take Rodolfo anymore." Fuentes was killed later that year, prompting a major fallout between the Juarez and Sinaloa cartels. The two groups had previously formed an alliance. Guzman's younger brother, Arturo Guzman Loera, was killed that same year as commanded by Vicente Carillo. A full-on war between the two cartels was initiated from then. Yesterday, some shocking news caused the hip-hop community to lose their minds as Tekashi 6ix9ine was arrested on racketeering charges. He currently faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, which would certainly mean the end of his music career as we know it. Many have shown support to the 22-year-old as things have gotten as bad as ever in his legal troubles. Federal charges are no joke. He's almost guaranteed to serve time - the length of his sentence is yet to be determined but it's being reported that he was denied bail a few hours ago. One of his contemporaries that is wishing him well is Lil Pump, who had his fans chant "Free 6ix9ine" at a recent concert. https://www.instagram.com/p/BqYzkqCg0ZS Pump has been spending time in the United Kingdom on some European tour dates. When his concert was teargassed a few days ago, he made headlines by moving the show outdoors and performing on top of his tour bus. Now, he's supporting one of his peers by getting fans to chant for his freedom. As you certainly know by now, 6ix9ine is facing some serious charges and could be locked up for life. With an album out later this week, many are hoping he can wiggle his way out of yet another bad situation. The "Gucci Gang" artist emphatically threw his mic up in the air after egging on the audience, leaving concertgoers with Tekashi's "GUMMO" as he let out a final 'ESSKEETIT." Michael B Jordan is one of the most praised physical specimens in Hollywood. For those of you who remember the scrawny young Jordan in The Wire, his transformation into Killmonger and Adonis Creed is fascinating. From a purely physical perspective, Jordan is built like a real-life athlete, even if he's just an actor. All that training has Jordan feeling like a true boxer though, and he told TMZ that he could take Roy Jones Jr. in a fight. To be completely honest, Jordan was speaking in a joking manner. He stated that Jones Jr. would knock him out easily in his prime, but now since the veteran boxer is old, Jordan thinks he can hold his own. Unfortunately, Jones Jr. doesn't feel the same. TMZ also caught up with the massive boxer, who doesn't think his age would stop him from laying the hurt down on Jordan. Obviously, Jones Jr. has decades of experience in the ring, something Jordan lacks. "If Michael B wants this real, contact Roy Jones Jr. and we'll make it happen," brags the boxer after explaining how he's never ducked a fight in his life. "I know he can't beat me still," Jones Jr. continued. "Because... I know he's probably in better condition because he's younger ... but I'm a vet. I'm an old school vet." Tay-K associate, PimpyZ, is set to serve a long sentence in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery in the home invasion. These crimes led to a shooting that caused Ethan Walker's death and Zachary Beloate's injury. PimpZ, whose real name is Jalen Bell, took a plea deal accepting to spend 30 years behind bars, according to Star-Telegram. When the sentence was read aloud in court, Bell remained emotionless while his mother broke out in wails. Walker's mother, Roberta Walker, addressed the guilty young man, telling him she wished he would show remorse for his part in the murder: "You had the power to stop it at any time. You could have cut it off at the path." The 19-year old, along with Tay-K, are among 5 other defendants in the robbery/murder case. Legal authorities believe Walker, a weed dealer of not grand status, was set up to be robbed by the crew and was ultimately shot and killed. The man who is said to have pulled the trigger, Latharian Merritt, was found guilty of capital murder by a jury in May and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Tay-K still awaits his trial for his role in the murder. He is also facing legal issues for his alleged robbery and killing of a San Antonio man while on the run. Gilbane Building Co., a large general contractor in Houston, recently had a client with a $65 million construction project go back to the drawing board after discovering the project would actually cost about $80 million. A primary cause for the increase: labor costs, said Daniel Gilbane, head of the companys Houston office. Labor costs are definitely going up, he said. Ultimately, thats bad for making projects financially viable. As wages rise and workers grow harder to come by, companies such as Gilbane have no choice but to pay them more. That has implications for the local economic expansion, which could decelerate as the low 3.8 percent local unemployment rate makes qualified workers harder to hire. Plus, with wages climbing, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas is concerned that increased costs will hurt growth. With the local economy in growth mode, metropolitan Houston is a haven for job seekers. More than 100,000 jobs have been created this year alone. In all, the area offers more job opportunities than 35 states, according to the Greater Houston Partnership, the regions business advocate. But the Dallas Fed reported in its recently released Beige Book that although widespread job growth continues in Texas, labor markets remained very tight, with most contacts reporting difficulty hiring and several saying the lack of qualified candidates was impeding growth. The closely watched report, released in October, found that labor shortages spanned most sectors and all skill levels, with the the greatest prevalence in mid-skilled positions such as blue-collar workers in manufacturing, construction and energy, as well as truck drivers. Its obvious the job market has tightened up, said Steve Haraway, owner of a PrideStaff recruiting agency franchise that supplies light industrial and clerical administration workers to companies in southeast Houston. Haraway said finding qualified workers for skilled positions is a challenge. Or, youll have a candidate that you place, and a few weeks later, they take a new job because its more money, Haraway said. Manufacturing activity in October in the Houston region expanded for the 13th consecutive month, according to a report released last week by the Institute for Supply Management. Wages for manufacturing jobs have been climbing steadily for several years. Since January 2016, average hourly manufacturing wages locally have increased to $22.40 from $19.17, almost 17 percent, according to the Greater Houston Partnership. The petrochemical manufacturing sector estimates it will need to hire at least 4,500 workers over the next four years to operate and maintain the petrochemical manufacturing plants in the region, according to the partnership. Getting creative Construction companies in Texas are especially feeling the pinch. Seventy-eight percent are having trouble finding qualified craft workers as local construction employment reached record levels, according to a survey this year by Associated General Contractors. Its a shrinking workforce, when the industry is growing, said Jessica Adame, the workforce acquisition manager for McCarthy Building Companies. The company is fighting to fill about 200 skilled labor positions locally. McCarthy is feeling pressure to keep up with rising wages, which Adame said have increased 10 percent over the year. Carpenters can get anywhere from $17 to $24 per hour at companies like McCarthy, and overtime pay is almost a guarantee. A few years ago, McCarthy would simply post jobs online, or positions would be filled by word of mouth. Today, the company is using radio ads, billboards and school job fairs. It has changed immensely, especially in the last couple of years, Adame said. While the company used to have plenty of qualified trade workers to choose from, McCarthy will now consider hiring someone if that person has the right attitude and desire. McCarthy is providing its own training program to new construction workers, teaching them everything from safety to tool use. The company will even consider paying for gasoline to help those with longer commutes. So far, Adame said, McCarthy is not turning away projects because of lack of qualified workers, but I feel like if it continues over the next six months, it could. Sharing the wealth Houston Walker, chief financial officer of J.H. Walker Trucking Co. in Houston, has been feeling the effects for more than a year as a shortage of drivers is keeping his company from capturing more market share. Were currently running at 150 percent capacity, and we could easily add another 50 percent more drivers, Walker said. We probably have 75 positions we could hire. To help entice qualified workers, Walker now pays its drivers a percentage of revenues, earning them 10 percent to 30 percent extra. In turn, like its rivals, Walker has had to increase the rates it charges to customers. The companys drivers typically make $45,000 to $60,000 per year. Some in the oil patch are making $100,000, Walker said. Also, the average age of drivers is in their mid-50s, as many approach retirement age, Walker said. Thirty years ago, trucking was glamorous, and a lot of people were getting into trucking, he said. Today, the fracking boom requires drivers to be available 24-7. They have to be able to make a delivery to a well site when theyre ready for the delivery, and that can come at midnight on a Saturday, so it can be difficult on people who have families, Walker said. Thousands of openings Competition for hiring and retaining employees at the Texas Medical Center, the worlds largest medical complex, is fierce. There are about 10,000 open positions at Texas Medical Center, and half of those jobs require less than a bachelors degree, according to the Greater Houston Partnership. The Medical Center is notorious for job-hopping as a higher salary can be just steps away. For years, hospitals have struggled to find enough nurses, but now technical positions such as lab technicians and even information technology workers are getting harder to fill. We are seeing quite a bit more pressure in the technical roles, said Lori Knowles, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Memorial Hermann Health System. Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston has expanded a tuition reimbursement program it developed initially to recruit nurses and is now using it to fill technical positions, such as lab technician and information technology openings. Knowles said that 95 percent of employees who take advantage of the tuition reimbursement program stay at Memorial Hermann. Meantime, health care pay continues to rise. What were seeing is for the last few years, wages have increased 2 to 3 percent, but nurses are going 4 percent to 6 percent per year higher, Knowles said. Memorial Hermann has about 1,850 job openings. Were certainly seeing increases in wages, Knowles said. Were watching the market very closely and making sure were competitive. john.roper@chron.com twitter.com@jcroper The Afghan imbroglio draws Pakistan into a growing dissonance, if not confrontation, with the United States. The grenade attack on the Nirankari Bhavan in Punjabs Adliwal village in Amritsar district has unleashed war of words between all political parties. The Akali Dal, beleaguered after its leaderships indictment by the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission over the 2015 desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, has lashed out at the so-called failure of the chief minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh, to maintain the peace. Aam Aadmi Party leader H.S. Phoolka has lunged at Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat and then retracted his remarks. The Punjab police was quick to see a Pakistani hand as the grenade in question was of Pakistani origin. Leaks from New Delhi claimed that there was the hand of a Burhani Wani clone called Zakir Musa, a former student of engineering at Mohali in Punjab and a rising force in the Kashmir militant hierarchy. A car hijacked in Punjab, a reminder of similar hijackings by Pakistani jihadis before the Pathankot airbase attack, raised similar concerns. The evolving geopolitics of the region and beyond needs a closer look to understand the issue better. Several commentators have correctly pointed out that comparing this to the 1978 Amritsar clash between the Nirankaris and the protesting Sikhs, which Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale used to seize the militants leadership and capture Sikh minds, would be incorrect. But it would not be wrong to surmise that the Pakistan Army has been attempting for some time to stir militancy in Punjab when the Kashmir Valley remains sullen and disturbed, as they did in the 1980s. The only difference is that the Punjab card was then played first as they wanted to ensure that India did not utilise the Pakistani preoccupation with the Afghan jihad together with the (then) Soviet Union. No India-Pakistan war could be fought with Punjab in turmoil and it also tied down the security forces, thus leaving Kashmir open to Pakistani exploitation. The common feature is that as in the late 1980s, particularly after the rigged 1987 Kashmir elections when surplus fighters returning victorious from Afghanistan after the Soviet troop withdrawal needed work, and Pakistan again has to keep its Punjabi jihadi elements preoccupied with Kashmir while it sorts out the endgame in Afghanistan. The Afghan imbroglio draws Pakistan into a growing dissonance, if not confrontation, with the United States. Its latest manifestation are the tweets by US President Donald Trump, and strong counter-tweets by Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan. Starting with the delay in capturing Osama bin Laden, for which predictably Mr Trump blames President Bill Clinton, he asserts that the US will no longer pay Pakistan the $Billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another. He concludes, in capital letters, Thats ENDING. Imran Khan, not one to duck pace bowling, tried to set the record straight in a strong rebuttal. No Pakistani, he declared, had been involved in the 9/11 attack on America, but still Pakistan had participated in the US war on terror. He forgets that in fact $100,000 was wired from Pakistan for the operation by none other than Omar Sheikh, released by India at Kandahar after the Indian Airlines plane hijacking, clearly aided, if not abetted, by Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence. Imran Khan then reverts to the usual Islamabad reasoning that Pakistanis are the victims of terror, suffering 75,000 casualties, with the countrys economy taking a $123 billion hit. Again, this is less fact and more fiction. Pakistan, including the nations top military brass, hugely benefited from the trillion-dollar expenditure by the US Army on its Afghan operations. Pakistan got American equipment, billions in compensation for their coalition support operations and uncounted indirect money ploughed into their economy by the US utilising the transit route via Karachi. Imran Khan then bemoans, correctly, that their tribal areas were devastated and millions of ppl (people) uprooted from their homes. But again, he dodges Pakistans own responsibility in a part of the Taliban, rechristened Tehrike Taliban Pakistan (TTP), turning against them due to their collaboration with the US in taking selective action against only those Pashtun groups not fully aligned with them. Finally, Imran Khan argues: Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140,000 Nato troops plus 250,000 Afghan troops & reportedly $1 trillion spent on the war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before. Interestingly the Urdu version, instead of scapegoat, uses the more colourful sprinkling salt on wounds. Punjab is caught in the middle of this churn, as it was in the 1980s. Bhindranwales rise owed to the Sikh alienation from the Centre and the collapse of the traditional clergys influence as indeed the weakening of the Akali Dal. What the Narendra Modi government has not realised over the last four years is that the Akali Dal has now been reduced to merely the Badal Family Dal, and used to perpetuate power, being far removed from traditional Akali politics. Additionally, the Badals have established their complete dominance over the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), putting pliable individuals in positions of clerical influence. The Bargari agitation is a manifestation of this malaise. The correct parallel with the 1978 incident would be the Bargari police firing on protesting Sikhs, and not the latest attack. By retaining its political links with the Akali Dal, and keeping Mr Parkash Singh Badals daughter-in-law in the Union council of ministers, the BJP is now making the same mistake that Indira Gandhi did by persisting with Darbara Singh as Punjab chief minister. George Santayanas advice that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it sounds ominous for Punjab today. The external environment is as challenging as in the 1980s, Pakistan as cornered and India, by not talking to it, appears as cussed as Indira Gandhi appeared to Pakistan after her return to power in 1980. It is high time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi rose above political opportunism to seek mature advice and handle Punjab with wisdom. Citing numerous delays, runaway costs and alleged acts of extortion, the Canadian pipeline company TransCanada has halted construction along the routes of two natural gas pipeline projects in Central Mexico that are worth more than $1 billion combined. TransCanada stopped construction in the state of Hidalgo on the Tuxpan-Tula Pipeline and the Tula-Villa de Reyes Pipeline, the company's Mexican subsidiary said in an open letter published in several Mexican newspapers. "The social and legal uncertainty that prevails in this state makes the continuity of our investments impossible," the company wrote in the statement. "On multiple occasions, social groups have made irrational requests that border on extortion and have performed acts outside the law." HELPING OUT: Permian shale companies pledge $100M to West Texas, New Mexico TransCanada won contracts with Mexico's state-owned power company to build the two pipelines as part of that nation's historic energy reforms. The company received a $500 million contract in Nov. 2015 to build the 163-mile Tuxpan-Tula Pipeline to move natural gas from the coastal state of Veracruz to power plants in Hidalgo. Several months later, the company received an April 2016 contract worth $550 million to build a pipeline to move natural gas from Tula to the State of San Luis Potosi. As part of larger network to move natural gas from South Texas into the Mexican interior, the two pipelines were originally planned to be in service this year, moving up to 886 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. But with routes going through rugged mountain terrain, the projects have encountered strong opposition and legal challenges from farmers and indigenous people citing landowner rights issues as well as environmental and safety concerns. TransCanada's situation in Hidalgo follows opposition to pipeline projects raised by indigenous groups in the United States, Canada and elsewhere in Mexico. Last year, members of the Yaqui tribe in Mexican border state of Sonora dug up a small section of a natural gas pipeline being built San Diego-based Sempra Energy on their land. RELATED: Cimarex buying Resolute for nearly $1B as Permian consolidates TransCanada faces other challenges in Hidalgo beyond landowner opposition. The company reported that is also facing legal uncertainty and higher than expected costs in obtaining permits from various municipalities. Exact figures were not disclosed but the company reported in its statement that it has experienced "significant delays" and "multimillion losses" in the state of Hidalgo. In statement, TransCanada's Mexico City office reported that the company is continuing work on both pipeline projects in other regions while evaluating its pipeline routes with the state of Hidalgo. Meanwhile, the construction delays are not expected to affect TransCanada financially. RELATED: Magellan, Navigator exploring Cushing to Houston oil pipeline During a Nov. 1 investors call, TransCanada executive Karl Johannson reported that a 56-mile section of the Tuxpan-Tula Pipeline remains to be built. And with that remaining section running through various indigenous communities, Johannson told investors that it is the Mexican government's responsibility to resolve those landowner issues. Using a clause in its contracts, Johannson said TransCanada is collecting revenue on the pipeline projects from Mexico's federal government. "We have contracts that say if the delays are not from TransCanada's doing, that we can collect our revenues on them," Johannson told investors. Of all the dangers that lurk in our kitchens, avocados might be the most quietly sinister. The green-fleshed fruit of Instagram-perfect avocado toast and party platters of guacamole has caused so many injuries that it even has an ailment named after it: Avocado hand. That's what happens when you try to dig out an avocado pit with a sharp knife and end up slicing your palm instead. But the British grocery chain Tesco is trying to combat this epidemic. The brand has introduced an easy-peel avocado, with "a thicker and corkier consistency to its skin," which the company says should help with "one of the messiest and potentially dangerous kitchen chores," according to a news release. UPPING THE SCALE: From unicorns to avocado toast, hipster fads jack up food prices The EasyAvo, as it's called, is a naturally developed hybrid grown in South Africa. It costs the equivalent of $2.50, more than double a conventional avocado at the chain. It went on sale this fall. Westfalia Fruit, the company that grows it, said the product is not yet available in the United States. You might laugh at avocado hand - especially because avocados have become a sort of catchall scapegoat for millennial and upper-middle-class derision - but it really is a problem. According to the Chicago Tribune, avocado consumption has increased by 250 percent since 2002. There aren't reliable statistics on how many Americans have been injured cutting an avocado, but emergency rooms report that it is becoming more frequent. In New Zealand, an average of 100 people a year who have cut themselves while handling an avocado request compensation from a government fund for injuries. The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons called for safety labels on the fruit. One London doctor said he was treating four patients a week for avocado-related injuries. "I see it fairly frequently," Scott Dresden of Northwestern University's Department of Emergency Medicine told the Tribune. "Patients try to stab the pit, the knife slips off the pit and they stab the hand. Or patients do a sort of hacking motion with the long blade of the knife into the pit, and hack into the webbing between the thumb and the forefinger instead." But that's the problem with these new avocados: It's not the skin that's causing injuries, it's the pit. It's unclear how an easier-to-peel skin would prevent injuries - it could possibly make the avocado even more slippery, leading to more lacerations. Tesco is not the only company that has tried to address the growing scourge of avocado hand. Dozens of kitchen goods companies make avocado slicers, but they've been met with derision from Bon Appetit and chefs. A group of British schoolchildren invented a device called the "Avogo," a hooked blade that extracts the pit. And NPR reports that Marks & Spencer, another British company, has introduced the cocktail avocado, a small avocado grown with no pit. It tastes just like a regular avocado; even the peel is edible, but that part reportedly doesn't taste very good. The only problem is that they are grown only in Spain and available only in December. If you're scared of avocado hand, remember: Always cut against a flat surface, not with the fruit in your palm. Want a tutorial on how to do it the safe way? Look here. A federal judge in San Francisco has blocked Trump administration rules that disqualified thousands of immigrants crossing the Mexican border from seeking asylum in the United States. The administration's action "irreconcilably conflicts with (federal law) and the expressed intent of Congress," U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar said Monday night. "Whatever the scope of the Presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden." The rules, announced Nov. 9 after a proclamation by President Trump, allow undocumented immigrants at the southern border to seek asylum only if they enter the U.S. at designated ports of entry. Those are a limited number of official sites where immigrants currently face waits of a month or more before applying for asylum. Tigar issued a nationwide restraining order blocking the restrictions for at least a month, when he said he will consider a preliminary injunction that would remain in effect indefinitely. Restraining orders generally cannot be appealed, but the Justice Department said Tuesday it would continue to defend the executive branch's legitimate and well-reasoned exercise of its authority to address the crisis at the border. Our asylum system is broken, and it is being abused by tens of thousands of meritless claims every year. the department said in a statement. Citing the Supreme Court's ruling in June that upheld Trumps ban on U.S. entry from a group of predominantly Muslim nations, the department said, Congress has given the president broad authority to limit or even stop the entry of aliens into this country. The statement also said it was absurd that a set of advocacy groups can be found to have standing to sue to stop the entire federal government from acting so that illegal aliens can receive a government benefit to which they are not entitled. Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, which sued on behalf of asylum support groups, said after the ruling, This ban is illegal, will put peoples lives in danger and raises the alarm about President Trumps disregard for separation of powers. There is no justifiable reason to flatly deny people the right to apply for asylum, and we cannot send them back to danger based on the manner of their entry. The lawsuit cited a federal law that says any foreigner who is physically present in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of entry) ... may apply for asylum. The Justice Department countered that the law only allows immigrants to apply for asylum and doesnt actually make them eligible to receive it, an argument that drew a skeptical response from Judge Tigar at Mondays hearing. I dont know that the argument is supported by the statute, Tigar said during an 80-minute hearing in his San Francisco courtroom. If this (administration) rule is valid, whats left of that expression of congressional intent in the law? Justice Department attorney Scott Stewart said asylum is discretionary and that the government could impose restrictions on eligibility to cope with what he described as a major crisis at the border. But Tigar compared the edict to a hypothetical announcement by court officials that, although the law allows people to drive to court in any type of vehicle, if you come here on a bicycle, youre not getting in, thwarting the laws intent. Asylum allows immigrants to remain in the country if they can show a well-founded fear of persecution in their homeland for reasons such as race, religion, political views, or, under recent rulings, sexual orientation. Earlier Monday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., heard arguments in another ACLU suit challenging a decision in June by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to largely eliminate asylum for people fleeing domestic violence or gang violence. In his Nov. 9 announcement of new limits on asylum, Trump said he was responding to a mass migration of aliens with no basis for admission into the United States through our southern border. He said his administration was pressing the Mexican government to provide a safe haven for them. Trump has also sent more than 5,000 soldiers to the border to keep the caravan out. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt told Tigar that border-crossing away from designated ports of entry has actually dropped substantially, from about 1 million per year between 2000 and 2008 to fewer than 400,000 this year. Caravans have been coming for years, Gelernt said. He said the real humanitarian crisis was taking place near ports of entry, where would-be immigrants are being pushed back by both U.S. Border Patrol agents and the Mexican government, and Mexico is barring unaccompanied children from even entering the ports. The Justice Department argued that the rules would not harm immigrants who could prove they face persecution or torture if deported, because they could still invoke U.S. laws to avoid deportation. The new restriction will not return people to their torturers, Stewart told Tigar. But Tigar noted that those laws set a more demanding standard to avoid deportation than the asylum laws, which require only a well-founded fear of persecution. Under the administrations standards, the judge said, there might be some persons who are subject to torture who are nevertheless deported. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko A judge on Monday tentatively set a March deadline to decide on the reburial of 95 human remains discovered at a Fort Bend ISD construction site putting the district's plans in limbo. It had sought to move the remains to nearby Old Imperial Farm Cemetery. "I'm not going to give that permission until I'm convinced we've given a good try for all who are concerned to achieve the goals they'd like to see achieved," said Fort Bend District Judge James H. Shoemake during a court hearing Monday morning in Richmond. Shoemake said that he would like to see more community input before coming to a conclusion on whether the human remains should be moved. He said an agreement could be reached tentatively by March about the reburial of the African-American remains believed to be a part of the state's convict-leasing system set up after the Civil War. In the system, prisoners were contracted out to perform cheap labor across the state of Texas. The school district announced the discovery in April. "I think we can work together and get to something that's helpful and meaningful to everybody that's involved," said Shoemake. The judge's action is the latest wrinkle to the ongoing saga of the human remains. The issue first drew national attention after the discovery of the remains was publicized in April by the Houston Chronicle and the other news outlets. 'A HARD LIFE': New details emerge about remains found at Fort Bend ISD construction site Shoemake's ruling comes after a task force was formed by the city of Sugar Land to make decisions about the reburial. A majority of that panel voted last month against moving the remains and keeping the 95 bodies at the school district site. But the school district petitioned court to move the human remains. Some task force members have said that keeping the remains at the school district property would be more respectful than moving them. "I find it difficult to go through these processes when it comes to our ancestors," said Swatara Olushola, who was a task force member. "It seems like we always have to wind up begging and asking permission, especially from people who aren't even descendants. I do acknowledge the great step that was taken here today and I am grateful for having a judge who was willing to listen objectively." Veronica Sopher, chief communications officer for FBISD, said the ruling may affect the ongoing construction timeline of the James Reese Career and Technical Center. The center, which would offer junior and senior high school level courses in a variety of career fields for students, is set to open next fall. "We will have to revisit the construction timeline, but our sole focus is to educate students and educate the community," said Sopher after the hearing. "So, this is going to be another learning opportunity for all of us." At HoustonChronicle.com: Fort Bend ISD finds historic cemetery near construction site Sugar Land city council members disagreed with the task force vote and also recommended last month the human remains be buried at the city's Old Imperial Farm Cemetery. After the city council meeting last month, the city announced it was dismantling the task force created in August and moving control of the remains to Fort Bend ISD, which in turn has created an advisory committee. That committee is scheduled hold its first meeting next month. "With the interment work resolved and the remainder of the work focusing on education and memorialization, it made the most sense for the school district to take the lead on that effort," said Doug Adolph, city of Sugar Land spokesman. After the hearing, Kofi Taharka of the National Black United Front said he was happy with the the judge's decision. "The judge today listened to reason," said Taharka. "He invited the community up to give their input. If it was just left to the lawyers, a rushed decision would've been made." The school district has cited concern over whether it can legally turn the construction site into a perpetual care cemetery, which is why they recommended the remains be reburied at Old Imperial Farm Cemetery. Jason Burdine, Fort Bend ISD board president, reiterated that message when he spoke during the October city council meeting. He also noted the historical connection to Old Imperial Farm Cemetery, which is believed to hold other bodies from the convict-leasing system. "Respect comes in many forms and we understand that some of the members of the task force prefer to re-inter the bodies at the James Reese Center on the Fort Bend ISD site," said Burdine. "However, as a public school district we are charged with educating children and the feasibility of becoming a perpetual care organization is beyond our expertise and our means." Reginald Moore, a community activist who has advocated tirelessly for the 95 remains, said after the hearing he was pleased with the judge's decision. "We got hope. We got progress. I believe the bodies will at the end of the day be interred properly and left at the Ford Bend site," said Moore after the court hearing. NATIVE TEXAN: At Battle of Medina, hundreds died but we don't know where Tom Steyer, the California billionaire best known for his campaign to impeach President Donald Trump, is making a move toward a potential 2020 White House bid, launching town halls in key primary states on the platform of "five rights." Steyer announced the move Tuesday on his website and with a full-page ad in newspapers across the country. His "five rights" focus on education, the environment, voting rights, the economy and health care. "These rights are fundamental to our shared belief in the promise of America, a promise of the freedom and power to pursue our dreams and earn a fair share of this country's vast wealth," Steyer said in a statement announcing the tour. "A hostile takeover of our democracy by large corporations and their enablers in politics has eroded that promise, and we must act to reclaim that power and put it back in the hands of the American people." The tour begins Dec. 4 with an event in Charleston, South Carolina, and moves on to Fresno, California. There will also be stops in the key presidential primary and caucus states of Nevada, New Hampshire and Iowa, according to Steyer spokeswoman Aleigha Cavalier. Tuesday's launch also includes a six-figure Web ad buy on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, Cavalier said. Steyer, a philanthropist and former hedge fund manager, founded the advocacy group NextGen America in 2012 and has spent more than $100 million on political campaigns since 2016. But he took a pass on running for office in 2018, instead launching a nationwide TV ad campaign urging lawmakers to impeach Trump. In an interview with The Washington Post in his San Francisco office in September, Steyer demurred when asked if he plans to run for president. But he did suggest the next president need not be a current or former senator or governor. "I think that the most important thing is going to be to have somebody who [has] thought really deeply on these issues in terms of understanding both how the process works and how that policy works," he said. "That's a real hurdle for everybody. . . . Watching Mr. Trump, what you see is he hasn't really thought about the policy implications of a lot of what he's doing." Trump is the first person to win the presidency with no experience in public office or the military. Were he to win, Steyer would be the second. The potential 2020 Democratic field includes dozens of would-be contenders, such as former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. One advantage Steyer would bring to the race, according to his team, is a network of more than 6 million grass-roots supporters built through his Need to Impeach effort. The day after Election Day, Steyer was in Washington. During remarks to reporters at a news conference organized by environmental groups, it was clear future elections were on his mind. On climate change, Steyer said "it is completely unclear to me that there are Republicans who are willing to compromise." "Flipping the House was a big step forward," he added. "But we have to realize that's just a step." NEW YORK The stories of dead bodies piled up high Monday as jurors at the trial of Joaquin Guzman Loera heard gruesome testimony about six brutal drug war murders. One of the victims nearly had his head cut off by a fusillade of gunfire. Another was killed on his doorstep after being lured from home by false news that his son had just been run down by a car. A third made a small, but fatal, error: He refused one day to shake Guzmans hand. Last week, the federal prosecutors trying Guzman, the Mexican drug kingpin known as El Chapo, offered evidence about the gothic bloodshed his cartel routinely committed. But as the proceeding entered its second week, the government began to tie that violence directly to Guzman. Instead of these gory tales, the courtroom audience had expected a prosecution witness, Jesus Zambada Garcia, to confess to a bombshell act of corruption. Last week, in a private sidebar conversation, Guzmans lawyers said Zambada would testify to having paid at least $6 million to the incumbent president of Mexico. That testimony never came Monday, but it may Tuesday when Zambada returns to the stand. But no less than a half-dozen times, Zambada, said Monday that Guzman, his former boss in the Sinaloa drug cartel, had arranged for people to be killed for seemingly minor reasons. In what was Zambadas third day as a witness, Guzman emerged as a kind of gun-loving hothead who owned a diamond-encrusted pistol with his initials on the handle and who once relaxed by taking target practice with a bazooka. From the start of the trial, which is being held in Federal District Court in Brooklyn, prosecutors have accused Guzman not only of earning $14 billion by routinely shipping ton-sized batches of drugs into the United States, but also of taking part in more than 30 murders. Zambada began Monday to describe some of those killings, starting with the slaying of Rodolfo Carrillo Fuentes, a former member of the Sinaloa cartel. In 2004, he said, Guzman and Carrillo Fuentes were rivals as part of a larger war between the Sinaloa traffickers and a vicious gang, the Zetas, with whom Carrillo Fuentes had allied himself. At a meeting to restore the peace, Guzmans longtime partner, Ismael Zambada Garcia, tried to broker a truce. But when Guzman put his hand out, Carrillo Fuentes did not take it. Not long after, Zambada said, armed assassins lay in wait for Carrillo Fuentes and his unsuspecting wife, gunning both down as they exited a movie theater in Culiacan. Chapo said he was going to kill him, Zambada told the jury. The following year, a similar fate befell Julio Beltran-Leyva, another of Guzmans former allies. According to Zambada, Beltran-Leyva had disobeyed an order not to send a shipment of cocaine from Acapulco. At Guzmans behest, Zambada testified, a team of assassins attacked Beltran-Leyva, firing so many rifle rounds at him that his head was left dangling from his neck. It was clear from Mondays testimony that drug trafficking, especially in Guzmans orbit, was not an occupation that promoted health or longevity. People around him seemed to die with alarming frequency. There was, for instance, his younger brother, Arturito Guzman, who was murdered in prison on New Years Eve in 2004. There was also a police officer who usually stayed at home out of fear, but walked outside into a spray of bullets after one of Guzmans killers knocked on his door and shouted falsely that his child had just been hit by a car. Even those who endured the violence surrounding Guzman required a level of machismo to survive. One gunman, caught in the crossfire of Beltran-Leyvas murder, was knocked unconscious for five or 10 minutes with a head wound, Zambada said. When he finally awoke, the gunman dismissed the wound as a scratch. William Purpura, one of Guzmans lawyers, asked Zambada a few questions Monday afternoon, largely pointing out that in prior statements he had never mentioned Guzman in connection with some of the murders the government accused him of committing. Purpura also suggested that Zambada was a liar who could say whatever he wanted since most of the people who could corroborate or refute his account were dead. Purpura noted that Juan Jose Esparragoza, Guzmans mentor, who knew him better than anyone, was dead and so was Guzmans brother, Arturito. Guzmans former ally, Amado Carrillo Fuentes a brother of Rodolfo was also dead, Purpura said, having bled to death in 1997 while undergoing plastic surgery. All of them are dead, Purpura told the witness. So theres really no one but you, correct? Zambada readily agreed. Fortunately, he said, Im alive. This article originally appeared in The New York Times SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge grilled the Justice Department on Monday over President Donald Trump's new asylum ban but did not immediately rule on an urgent request from advocacy groups to halt it. The lawsuit targets Trump's declaration this month that only people who cross at legal checkpoints on the southern border may request asylum. Those who cross elsewhere, the government said, can seek a temporary form of protection that is much harder to qualify for and does not lead to U.S. citizenship. The Trump administration issued the new rule as a large caravan of Central American migrants was headed to the border and the president continued to fume about the thousands of families crossing into the United States each month. The migrants say they are fleeing violence and poverty at home. But Justice Department lawyer Scott Stewart told U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar there is a "crushing strain" of migrants attempting to cross the border illegally and asking for asylum as a way to stay indefinitely. He said most asylum claims are "ultimately meritless." Tigar questioned the administration's account, noting that border apprehensions are near historic lows and that federal law says anyone on U.S. soil can apply for asylum - regardless of how they got there. "What's left of that expression of congressional intent?" the judge asked. Lee Gelernt, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, said the administration is overstepping its authority. He called the dispute "a classic separation-of-powers case." "Every day we are learning about individuals who are in serious danger, individuals who have very strong asylum claims who are not being allowed to apply for asylum," said Gelernt, one of the attorneys representing advocacy groups in the lawsuit. Federal officials have said the president has broad powers to protect the borders and national security. When he announced the asylum rules this month, Trump invoked the same authority that ultimately allowed him to impose a travel ban on migrants from mostly Muslim-majority nations. After earlier versions were blocked in court, the Supreme Court upheld a modified version of the ban by a 5-to-4 vote in June. In court filings, the plaintiffs said the U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 1.25 million fewer people at the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal 2018 than it did in fiscal 2000. But the ACLU acknowledged in court that a fairly small fraction of the thousands of asylum claims filed in recent years have actually been granted. To Stewart, these numbers illustrate that large number of immigrants are abusing the asylum system and that the new rule is needed to discourage people from crossing unlawfully. "It's true that the rule will discourage people from entering the country to make asylum claims," Tigar said to Stewart. "But how does that make it more likely that the claims that are presented will be meritorious?" "The rule encourages people with strong claims to follow the process," Stewart said. Tigar also asked whether legal ports of entry had adequate staffing. "Are ports of entry capable of processing additional asylum seekers, or are they backed up?" Stewart answered that resources could be shifted, "and presumably the process could be faster." He sought to reassure the judge that those who cross the border illegally could still seek protection, just not the permanent refuge and U.S. citizenship that asylum provides. "A theme in the ACLU's briefing is that this returns people to persecutors and torturers," Stewart said. "It does no such thing." Tigar asked whether the effect of the new rule "might be some persons who are subject to torture . . . won't get relief?" The ACLU and others say in the lawsuit that the administration violated the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Administrative Procedure Act by swiftly pushing through the new rules. "If this rule stays in effect, people are going to die," Melissa Crow, senior supervising attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center, said after the hearing. "There are going to be people who fall through the cracks in our system." In the lawsuit, advocates say migrants "cannot reasonably" go to a legal checkpoint because many do not know they even exist or how to find them along the 2,000-mile border. Even at legal checkpoints, advocates allege, border officials are increasingly turning migrants away or forcing them to wait in long lines. The nation's biggest border crossing - in California at San Ysidro, across from Tijuana - was closed Monday for several hours. Department of Homeland Security officials said 6,000 people in Tijuana are waiting to enter the United States, with another 1,600 more than 100 miles east in the border city of Mexicali. In all, 8,500 to 10,500 people are at the border or en route. In a separate legal action Monday, ACLU lawyers asked a federal judge in Washington to block the government from enforcing a June opinion by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions that said foreigners generally will not be eligible for asylum based on domestic abuse or gang violence. The lawsuit also asks the judge to allow migrants to return to the United States if they were deported because of the new rules. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan did not say how or when he would rule, taking the issue under advisement. Sullivan in August temporarily blocked the deportation of 12 immigrants represented by the ACLU in the case. On Monday, he signaled that he was open to a wider, more permanent ban. At a hearing this summer, Sullivan ordered the U.S. government to "turn that plane around" when he learned that it was deporting a mother and her daughter even as her lawyers were arguing in court in her behalf. Trump administration officials say the rising number of families crossing the border is a smuggling tactic that migrants use to gain entry into the United States because of legal limits on how long the federal government can detain children. Despite Trump's pledge to halt illegal immigration, his administration has been forced to release thousands of families to await deportation hearings, which can take months or years in the backlogged immigration courts. - - - The Washington Post's Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report. After months with little public discussion about whether to temporarily surrender control over four long-struggling schools, Houston ISD officials are expected to start ramping up talks about any such plans as state-mandated deadlines quickly approach. HISD administrators and trustees said they will meet after the Thanksgiving holiday to consider how they will approach the possibility of giving up control of the four campuses, which would stave off major state sanctions tied to chronically low academic performance at the schools. The politically fraught option drew backlash from some community members in the spring, when trustees did not vote on Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathans recommendation to give control of 10 campuses to a local charter school network, but district leaders say they remain open to employing the option before an early February 2019 deadline. To date, administrators and trustees have not had extensive public conversations about if and how the district would approach surrendering control of the four campuses even though the two sides have known since mid-August that HISD potentially faces sanctions if those schools remain under district authority. If HISD does not hand over control of the four schools to an outside organization, and if any one of the four fails to meet state academic standards in August 2019, the Texas Education Agency must close campuses or replace the districts school board. I wish that we could have started these earlier, but I still think its better late than never, said HISD Trustee Anne Sung, who is helping to coordinate the post-Thanksgiving public meeting. I think were starting to make some progress on having a timeline and plan for these conversations. The four campuses Highland Heights Elementary School, Henry Middle School, and Kashmere and Wheatley high schools have failed to meet state academic standards for at least four consecutive years, putting them at risk of triggering a 2015 state law that mandates sanctions for districts with campuses that repeatedly fall short. TEA officials have hinted that they prefer to not close schools, while HISD trustees and many civic leaders, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, have said they want HISD to remain under local control. Law allows partners Under a separate state law known as SB 1882, HISD could allow an outside organization a nonprofit, higher education institution, charter school network or governmental entity to take control of academics, governance and staffing at all four schools in exchange for a two-year reprieve on sanctions. The partner would take control ahead of the 2019-20 school year. Supporters of employing an outside partnership have argued it could improve student outcomes and stave off punishment, while opponents have said it represents inappropriate privatization of public schools. HISD originally considered private partnerships during the 2017-18 school year, when 10 campuses were in danger of triggering state sanctions. Following months of debate and community meetings, Lathan recommended that HISD allow Energized For STEM Academy Inc., a nonprofit that operated four in-district HISD charter schools, to run all 10 schools. A vocal contingent of parents and community members, however, opposed the recommendation over several weeks. The backlash culminated at a raucous school board meeting in late April, when Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones ordered the audience to temporarily leave the meeting room following repeated interruptions, and two people were arrested on misdemeanor charges during an ensuing scuffle with HISD police. The charges were dropped the next day, and HISD trustees never voted on Lathans recommendation. Ashton Woods, lead organizer for Black Lives Matter Houston and a critic of HISDs plans earlier this year, said he expects renewed opposition to any private partnership recommendations for 2019-20. HISD may be in a position with certain schools that have it backed into a corner, but whats right is right and whats wrong is wrong, Woods said. They should be able to reallocate funds and reallocate teachers, take those things so that students will have what they need to not be (improvement required). Little public info HISD administrators have provided little information to date about any district plans for private partnerships next year. Lathan said in August that HISD was considering whether to issue a request for proposals, but one has not been issued. By contrast, Beaumont ISD officials have solicited partnership proposals and received 28 applications to serve three of its schools in danger of triggering state sanctions, the Beaumont Enterprise reported last week. No potential partners have come forward to announce interest in running the four HISD schools, though a civic coalition involving Turners administration still is investigating whether to form a nonprofit capable of taking control of the campuses. At a late October board meeting, Lathan suggested that HISD trustees should offer more guidance on how to navigate the partnership process. Some trustees, however, have said Lathans administration bears the responsibility of crafting private partnership proposals. We can go out and engage, but I would need the board to make a decision as it relates to chartering those four campuses, and then we go out and engage the community about that, Lathan said. What weve heard from the community, and I dont believe its changed since last March, is they do not want us to enter into a charter school agreement for those four campuses. HISD administrators did not grant an interview request for this story, saying they did not want to speak about the topic before the post-Thanksgiving public meeting. Trustee Elizabeth Santos, who generally has opposed private partnerships, said HISD administrators and board members should have more transparent discussions after remaining relatively quiet over the past few months. My biggest concern is that I dont want a repeat of April 24, and that seems to be whats happening, Santos said. Were going to be pushed into a corner where we limit our options. This has been staring us in the face since last year. jacob.carpenter@chron.com twitter.com/ChronJacob We wont blame the voters for this one. Thousands who supported Prop B were simply doing what trusted heroes in bunker gear instructed them to do in campaign signs and billboards: Support Houston Firefighters. Voters may have succumbed to the charm of firefighters who engaged them in long lines, right up to the legal limits, at polling places. Some parents were surely persuaded by adorable mailers featuring kids donning firefighter garb inviting them to a career day of sorts that just happened to coincide with Election Day. Come by and shake hands! one flier beckoned. BRING THE KIDS! It worked. Houston voters said yes to Prop B, decisively passing a parity measure that forces the city to bring firefighter salaries in line with those paid to police. Voters said no to Mayor Sylvester Turner and others who pleaded with them to consider the unsustainable cost: an estimated $100 million for the first year alone, a bill guaranteed to force deep cuts in services and nearly 1,000 layoffs of firefighters and police. Youd think the firefighters union, which dismissed Turners warnings as fear-mongering, would be celebrating the elections outcome. Instead, they are backtracking - claiming ballot language they wrote themselves is unclear and trying to pressure the mayor back to the negotiating table. The mayor, who argues hes bound to follow the will of voters, is moving forward with plans for a hiring freeze and layoffs. Proposed shift changes could eliminate more than 850 positions. Meanwhile, a credit rating agency has validated Turners dire financial warnings. Fitch Ratings last week downgraded the citys credit outlook from stable to negative, saying Prop Bs expected cost will hamper the city spending and could cause a downgrade in its AA bond ratings - meaning higher borrowing costs. Wed say the firefighters should have been careful what they asked for. But they knew what they were asking for: a bargaining chip. After years of obstinacy in negotiations - refusing the kind of give-and-take with the city that helped police achieve raises - firefighters turned to the ballot box. They tried to circumvent the collective bargaining process with a popularity contest. Now the bill is due. Legal experts disagree on whether the mayor can negotiate with the firefighter union in ways that would stave off immediate fiscal impact of Prop B. We say the time for negotiation is past. And the trust such a process requires has long since been broken. Voters have spoken on what the city shall do. Firefighter union officials fought to win, knowing the city, the fire department and public safety would surely lose. Now we must suffer the consequences. Most of us are proud we voted, yet most of us abdicated our voting power when it came to electing judges. Our trial and appellate judges oversee our Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Amendment rights daily, but most Harris County voters simply hit a straight-party ballot and let someone else decide in judicial races. Yes, the parties provide some good judicial candidates. But in trying to fill out the long ballot of judges, they have offered some real losers over the years, too. The ballot always contains some mediocre lawyers who like the looks of a county pension and some who will make actively bad judges. By not paying attention, Harris County voters have, at times, elected family law judges who refuse to show up in court, irreparably harming couples and children. Theyve elected criminal court judges who treat people of color differently. Theyve elected juvenile court judges who do harm to the most vulnerable of us, and theyve elected appellate judges who simply are not up to the task. It is heartbreaking for those who know which judges are good, or even great, only to see them swept out of office by blind party voting. We lost many great jurists this election. Maybe their replacements will be great, too, but at least some of them wont. Thanks to recent legislation, straight-party voting wont be available when our judges are up for election in two years. But if we keep judges on a partisan ballot, people are still likely to use party as a voting crutch when they would likely do less harm by abstaining. Scholars who have studied judicial elections note that party affiliation is the primary factor in most peoples choices, followed by choosing a familiar sounding name. One Dallas judge believes he got a boost at the ballot box because his name sounds like a popular whiskey. Friends say they voted straight party to send a message to the president or someone else in high office. But for years, straight-ticket voters have been sending powerful and uncaring messages to the unlucky litigants who wind up in front of one of the judges who is ill-equipped for the bench. The blue wave in Harris County this election swept out some terrific judges, just like the red waves and blue waves of the past have done. Sane voices have called for nonpartisan election of judges or some type of appointment system. Former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips and his predecessor John Hill have called for such obviously needed reform. But the party in power is usually the beneficiary in the election and wont budge. The Republican Party is still in power at the Legislature. But it was the loser, rather than the beneficiary, in many important county and intermediate appellate court elections. Its time to take another look at depoliticizing our benches. The simplest way would be to make judicial elections nonpartisan like our city elections. The Texas Code of Judicial Conduct calls for impartiality, which does not square with making judges pick a side politically. The judges hate running as partisans. Its nonsensical and harmful. Party affiliation tells you nothing about how someone will perform on the bench. It does not say whether they will keep up with changing law, be kind and fair, or be smart enough. As a newspaper reporter, I covered our local courts for several decades. Judges get respect and deference from attorneys and parties before them. Many deserve that. But some elected judges disrespect their office. Ive seen judges refuse to schedule cases they didnt want to try. Ive seen them take out personal vendettas from the bench. Ive seen them give preference to lawyers who contribute to their campaigns. That is part of the folly of this whole thing: Judges think that people are voting for them and that their campaigns matter. But theyve just been elected by party, and it is the rarest of rare judicial campaign that makes any difference. Its time to at least consider nonpartisan elections. And how to vote without the party crutch? Read the candidates websites, look at the Houston Bar Association poll (which often has a GOP and big law firm bias but still has value), look at the candidate interviews and check out their endorsements. And if you dont want to do that, maybe skip voting in those races. We would all benefit from a nonpartisan judiciary, not just the unlucky folks who wind up in court. Flood is a Houston lawyer, a consultant to lawyers on dealing with the media and a former legal reporter for several newspapers including the Houston Chronicle and the Wall Street Journal. Xiaomis fastest-growing markets are India, where it has had success with its budget Redmi phone series. Xiaomi also said operating profit sank 38.4 percent to 3.59 billion yuan in the third quarter. Revenue rose 49.1 percent to 50.85 billion yuan. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Inc said on Monday it swung to a net profit in the third quarter, beating analyst estimates, driven by robust sales in India and Europe. Profit for the three months through September reached 2.48 billion yuan (USD 357.23 million), versus an 11 billion yuan loss in the same period a year earlier. That compared with a 1.92 billion yuan average of five analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv Eikon. Xiaomi also said operating profit sank 38.4 per cent to 3.59 billion yuan in the third quarter. Revenue rose 49.1 per cent to 50.85 billion yuan. The mixed results come amid a slowdown in smartphone purchases both in China, where Xiaomi once was the top-selling handset brand and overseas. Nevertheless, Xiaomi, along with fellow low-cost handset makers Oppo and Vivo, accounted for around a quarter of the global smartphone market in the first half of 2018, showed data from researcher IDC. Xiaomis fastest-growing markets are India, where it has had success with its budget Redmi phone series, and Europe, where it entered in 2017 with launches in Russia and Spain. Earlier this month it released its flagship Mi 8 Pro device in Britain. But to weather the global market slowdown, analysts said Xiaomi needs to expand to new markets and also sell more higher-priced devices with wider profit margins. The firm has been adding new brands to its smartphone portfolio to target niche consumers. Concurrent with todays earnings, it announced a partnership with Meitu Inc, a maker of a photo app popular with young women, to sell phones under its brand. Earlier this year it launched Black Shark, a phone targeted at gamers, and Poco, a value-for-money device aimed at India. Mo Jia, who tracks Chinas smartphone makers at research firm Canalys, said attempts to sell more expensive devices requires changing its brand perception. Its still very hard for Xiaomi to change its perception of being a low-end device manufacturer as the majority of its smartphone shipments are the Redmi series. Xiaomi also aims to transform itself from a smartphone firm into a software company. As the firm prepared for its IPO, founder Lei Jun touted internet services - namely advertisements placed on the firms in-house apps - as its future and a key differentiator from other handset brands. In the third quarter, Xiaomis smartphone division grew revenue by 36.1 per cent while its internet service division grew 85.5 per cent. But phones made up 64.6 per cent of total sales, while internet services made up 9.3 per cent. The results are the second set released by Xiaomi since the smartphone maker raised USD 4.72 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) in June, valuing the firm at about USD 54 billion - around half of some earlier industry estimates of USD 100 billion. Its shares have fallen roughly 20 per cent since they started trading in July amid a broader Chinese stock market sell-off and concern about a slowdown in Chinas tech industry. (Source) From April next year, all victims of domestic violence will be able to get support from their employers without worrying about losing their jobs. Indeed, companies have an important role to play in supporting women experiencing violence at home, according to Marcela Slepica, clinical director of AccessEAP. Slepica added that work can often be a sanctuary away from abuse and all businesses have a duty to help assist these women by employing an action plan that makes them feel secure and supported. Its likely that victims will be hesitant in coming forward, so workplaces need to start by knowing how to recognise the signs of abuse. In the lead up to White Ribbon Day (23rd November), a global movement to eradicate mens violence against women, AccessEAP has developed a three-step guide to help businesses support those experiencing domestic violence or abuse. iciHaiti - Insecurity : A CIMO agent shot dead Monday, November 19, at street Dessalines (Pont rouge block), a police officers of the Intervention and Maintenance Corps (CIMO) Durosier Jurond (Agent 2) from the 22nd promotion of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) was coldly shot by unidentified individuals as he was traveling in a motorcycle taxi. The killers seized his service weapon and then set fire to the body of the victim, according to testimony. The PNH informs that an investigation has been opened to find these criminals for justice to be rendered. The police institution salutes the memory of the police officers Durosier Jurond and sends his sincere condolences to his family, his friends and his brothers in arms of CIMO. TB/ iciHaiti Despite her release after being cleared of all blasphemy charges, she cannot leave Pakistan because of protests by radicals. The British Association of Pakistani Christians wants her to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, noting the silence of prominent Muslims, like Malala. Islamabad (AsiaNews) After an appeal last week by three well-known British imams, British Sikhs have called on the British government to grant asylum to Asia Bibi. The Christian woman was acquitted in late October of blasphemy in Pakistan but is still unable to leave the country. In a message posted on the website of the Network of Sikh Organisations, community leaders have questioned the action of Home Affairs Minister Sajid Javid, who refuses to grant protection to the Christian mother and her family, out of fear of possible attacks in Britain and against British embassies. The message read: "We are disappointed in the governments decision not to grant Asia Bibi asylum. In the spirit of justice, religious freedom and defending those persecuted by extremists, Britain has a moral obligation to show the world we respect and uphold human rights and will give sanctuary to those oppressed overseas. All over the world, many prominent individuals have expressed their support for Asia Bibis release and right to leave. Conversely, the Muslim community seems to be "deaf and dumb" in the face of the womans sad story. Arrested in 2009, she was sentenced to death in 2010. Among the few Muslims who spoke out in her favour, three are imams Qari Asim, Mamadou Bocoum and Usama Hasanper who wrote a letter to Minister Javid. However, expressing solidarity and closeness to the Pakistani woman has led to persecution, threats and murder by radicals. One victim of threats is Asia Bibi's lawyer who sought shelter in the Netherlands. Among the murdered we have Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, a Muslim, and Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic. Still, despite threats from radicals, many activists and ordinary people have not stopped their action and support for Bibi. One of the latest initiatives comes from the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), which has launched an appeal to all the former Nobel Peace Prize laureates to put pressure on the Oslo Foundation to award the Pakistani woman the prize. The aim is not to leave Asia alone. The BPCA also noted that some high-profile individuals connected to Pakistan, including the Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, have been silent. BPCA President Wilson Chowdhry bemoans the unexplained silence of some diaspora leaders and the vacuum in the Pakistani community that reduces morale of those who are disenfranchised." Among Pakistani Christians, "There is great disappointment [. . .] that the clear calls for violence and hate speech are not being called out as unacceptable by these prominent members of their ethnic community who have a high level of influence." by Sumon Corraya Dhaka (AsiaNews) - A total of eight Christian candidates, including seven Catholics and one Protestant, will run in the next general election on December 30, 2018 to grab one of the 300 seats available in Parliament. This is the highest number ever recorded in Bangladesh, demonstrating a renewed interest in political issues by the religious minority. First scheduled for the Advent period, the parliamentary and government renewal political elections were postponed until December 30, at the request of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which wanted more time for its candidates. As usual, the two major political parties will challenge each other: the BNP of Khaleda Zia [who cannot run because serving a sentence of 10 years for corruption, ed] and the Awami League (Al) of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the current legislature, only one politician represents the Christian minority of Bangladesh. Aware of the importance of the active participation of the faithful, the Catholic Church is encouraging its members to present themselves. Theophil Nokrek, secretary of the Bishopsian Bishops' Conference Commission, told AsiaNews that "in the past few Christians were active in politics. Now things are changing and many people are getting involved ". Then he adds: "Christians play a fundamental role in education, in the health sector and in the socio-economic field. If we do not enter politics, as Christians we can not represent our work and our values among other communities ". Christians are publicly announcing their involvement in politics. Among the eight to present themselves, the Catholic politician from Khulna [in the south of the country] Gloria Sarker, will run for the Al. "I am at the service of all people of every religion -she says - They are the ones who have encouraged me to become involved. I hope I can obtain the necessary votes to continue to serve our people ". John Gomes instead presents himself with the BNP. "I hope to get the final nomination," he reports. The goal set in the meeting between Rouhani and Salih is to move from the current 12 billion to a total volume of 20 billion. Iraq is Iran's second largest trading partner after China. The new president of Iraq launches the idea of a "new regional system". Teheran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Iran and Iraq intend to strengthen "bilateral trade" significantly, despite US sanctions against the Islamic Republic which, among other things, aim at eliminating the export of oil. According to the restrictive measures imposed by the White House, nations that do business with Tehran without Washington's consent risk sanctions. However, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani launched the challenge by promising that the overall volume of business with Baghdad will increase from the current 12 to 20 billion dollars. The affirmations of Rouhani arrive at the end of the meeting, which was held in recent days in Tehran, with the Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih. Since 2003, following the US invasion that led to the expulsion of the former rais Saddam Hussein, the Islamic Republic has "considerably" strengthened its influence in Baghdad. Moreover, Iraq is the second most important market after China for Iranian products: not just oil but food, agricultural products, electrical supplies and natural gas. "Thanks to bilateral efforts - said Rouhani - we can increase [trade] estimates to reach 20 billion in the near future". In May, the US pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, had signed. In its stead, the US leader imposed the toughest sanctions in history against Iran. The decision has had a major impact on the Iranian economy, confirmed by reports published by the International Monetary Fund, leading to a drastic decline in oil sales, which was the goal of the second batch of sanctions that came into force on 5 November. Commenting on the meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, the Iranian president explained that the goal is to increase the data on electricity supplies, the production and export of oil (the main target of US sanctions) and the creation of a free trade area along the border. There is also a project to improve transport and land connections between the two countries. Salih - who also met the great ayatollah Ali Khamenei - suggested the creation of a "new regional system" that includes the two nations, based on "political integrity, national interests and cooperation between nations and government". Imperial Valley News Center U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Chicago. Illinois - American Heart Association President Ivor Benjamin, M.D. FAHA, issued the following comments on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans released at the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions. The American Heart Association has long recognized the importance of physical activity in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, stroke and other noncommunicable diseases. Were committed to developing programs and advocating for public policy that make it easier to get more physical activity, regardless of where you live. These latest guidelines reinforce the importance of moving more and sitting less. The American Heart Association stands committed to addressing chronic disease prevention through programs and policies supporting increased physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior to help people live longer, healthier lives for themselves, their families and their communities. Only 26 percent of men, 19 percent of women and 20 percent of adolescents report enough activity to meet the physical activity recommendations. But changing sedentary time to active time in any way even in small amounts can have health benefits, according to a key finding in the guidelines. With a focus on being a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, the American Heart Association advocates for policies supporting physical education and physical activity in schools and early care and education, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, safe routes to school and Complete Streets that integrate all modes of transportation, accounting for the needs of people and place in an equitable way. We support physical activity assessment and prescription in the clinical environment and workplaces. We create programs and opportunities to encourage people of all ages to get moving and provide tools and tips along the way. The American Heart Association will adopt the guidelines as the Associations official recommendations and leverage these new guideless to amplify our efforts to develop programs and advocate for policies that make it easier for everyone to get more physically active regardless of where they live. We urge other health groups and interested parties across the country to adopt the guidelines and join us in committing to help ensure more people get moving. A Perspectives Article by the lead writers of the guidelines published on Monday, November 12 at 9 a.m. in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiology Quality and Outcomes. In addition, the American Heart Associations Centers for Health Metrics and Evaluation is hosting a guest blog by Alison Vaux-Bjerke, M.P.H., and Katrina L. Piercy, Ph.D., R.D., ACSM-CEP, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Imperial Valley News Center President Trumps Administration is Advancing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific Washington, DC - A Steadfast and Enduring Commitment: Vice President Pence visited Japan, Singapore, Australia, and Papua New Guinea this week to reaffirm President Trumps commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific in which all nations are sovereign, strong, and prosperous. For two centuries, American security and prosperity have depended upon free and open access to the Indo-Pacific region, allowing for two-way investment and trade that today support millions of American jobs numbers that will grow as the Administration counteracts state-sponsored theft of intellectual property and other market distortions that fuel trade imbalances. The Indo-Pacific encompasses more than half the Earths surface, half the human family, and two-thirds of global trade. Its economic and strategic significance to Americans grows by the day. Enhancing Shared Prosperity: America has made foreign direct investments of $1.4 trillion in the Indo-Pacific regionmore than Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean investments combined. President Trumps America First economic agenda including deregulation, tax cuts and tax reform also mean America is attracting more investment from the Indo-Pacific than ever before. Vice President Pence announced new initiatives that will advance fair and reciprocal trade and mobilize even greater private investment. The BUILD Act, which President Trump signed in October, doubles U.S. development finance capacity to $60 billion. This week the U.S., Japan and Australia signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding on development finance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Having updated the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, the Trump Administration intends to negotiate a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. Through the Japan-U.S. Strategic Energy Partnership, Japan will align its $10 billion regional energy investment target with the Trump Administrations Asia EDGE initiative. The new U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership will help municipal governments advance the digital transformation of urban systems. The U.S.-SEGA program will build capacity in APEC economies to adopt high-standard, comprehensive trade and investment policies. Ensuring a Peaceful and Secure Regional Order: Vice President Pence deepened cooperation with allies and partners on North Korean denuclearization, freedom of navigation in the East and South China Seas, and combatting terrorism and violent extremism. The United States and Japan announced delivery of ten F-35As, valued at $1.38 billion, under our Foreign Military Sales program, with six more to be delivered in 2019. The United States is providing more than half a billion dollars in security assistance to Indo-Pacific nations this year more than double the previous year. The United States is expanding maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region and the Pacific Islands. Championing Good Governance and Civil Society: Vice President Pence announced the Indo-Pacific Transparency Initiative to help countries attract greater private investment, combat corruption, and secure nations autonomy from foreign coercion. Imperial Valley News Center Presidential Proclamation on Thanksgiving Day, 2018 Washington, DC - On Thanksgiving Day, we recall the courageous and inspiring journey of the Pilgrims who, nearly four centuries ago, ventured across the vast ocean to flee religious persecution and establish a home in the New World. They faced illness, harsh conditions, and uncertainty, as they trusted in God for a brighter future. The more than 100 Pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on the Mayflower, instilled in our Nation a strong faith in God that continues to be a beacon of hope to all Americans. Thanksgiving Day is a time to pause and to reflect, with family and friends, on our heritage and the sacrifices of our forbearers who secured the blessings of liberty for an independent, free, and united country. After surviving a frigid winter and achieving their first successful harvest in 1621, the Pilgrims set aside 3 days to feast and give thanks for Gods abundant mercy and blessings. Members of the Wampanoag tribe who had taught the Pilgrims how to farm in New England and helped them adjust and thrive in that new land shared in the bounty and celebration. In recognition of that historic event, President George Washington, in 1789, issued a proclamation declaring the first national day of thanksgiving. He called upon the people of the United States to unite in rendering unto God our sincere and humble gratitude for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country and the favorable interpositions of his Providence. President Abraham Lincoln revived this tradition as our fractured Nation endured the horrors of the Civil War. Ever since, we have set aside this day to give special thanks to God for the many blessings, gifts, and love he has bestowed on us and our country. This Thanksgiving, as we gather in places of worship and around tables surrounded by loved ones, in humble gratitude for the bountiful gifts we have received, let us keep in close memory our fellow Americans who have faced hardship and tragedy this year. In the spirit of generosity and compassion, let us joyfully reach out in word and deed, and share our time and resources throughout our communities. Let us also find ways to give to the less fortunate whether it be in the form of sharing a hearty meal, extending a helping hand, or providing words of encouragement. We are especially reminded on Thanksgiving of how the virtue of gratitude enables us to recognize, even in adverse situations, the love of God in every person, every creature, and throughout nature. Let us be mindful of the reasons we are grateful for our lives, for those around us, and for our communities. We also commit to treating all with charity and mutual respect, spreading the spirit of Thanksgiving throughout our country and across the world. Today, we particularly acknowledge the sacrifices of our service members, law enforcement personnel, and first responders who selflessly serve and protect our Nation. This Thanksgiving, more than 200,000 brave American patriots will spend the holiday overseas, away from their loved ones. Because of the men and women in uniform who volunteer to defend our liberty, we are able to enjoy the splendor of the American life. We pray for their safety, and for the families who await their return. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 22, 2018, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather, in homes and places of worship, to offer a prayer of thanks to God for our many blessings. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third. DONALD J. TRUMP Imperial Valley News Center Birth of Endangered Siamang Provides Early Holiday Surprise for the San Diego Zoo San Diego, California - San Diego Zoo staff and volunteers received an unexpected delivery on Monday, November 12th. A 37-year-old siamang named Eloisewho was on birth controlgave birth on exhibit, as volunteers and guests looked on, providing the Zoo with its first siamang infant in more than 12 years. Siamangs, like many of the animals at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, take part in the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a breeding program designed to ensure healthy, genetically diverse populations of threatened and endangered species through a network of accredited zoos. As part of the program, Eloise and 35-year-old male Unkie had already been successful parents, producing six offspring over the years. Because their genes are already well represented in the zoo siamang population, the pairs breeding had been restricted for a number of years by chemical contraception. For that reason, the arrival of their newest youngster this week was a welcome surprise for animal care staff. It was amazing to see Eloise give birth this week, because she showed no outward signs of being pregnant, said Jill Andrews, animal care manager at the San Diego Zoo. Were not certain why birth control didnt work in this case, but as with humans, it is not uncommon for contraceptive failure to happen from time to time. Still, we are overjoyedbecause any birth of an endangered species is a reason to celebrate. Siamang are a species of gibbon found in the tropical forests of Malaysia and Indonesia. As with all gibbon species, they are listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Conservationists cite habitat loss, due to logging and agriculture, as the main reason for their population decline. Additionally, many siamang adults are killed so their young can be sold into the illegal pet trade, even though siamangs are a protected species. San Diego Zoo Global supports the conservation initiatives of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Ape Taxon Advisory Group, which works to develop recommendations for population management and conservation, based upon the needs of individual species. Animal care staff plan to perform a full exam on the infant in the months ahead, and will be able to determine its gender at that time. Currently, Eloise, Unkie, and their newest addition are doing well, and Zoo guests can visit the trio in their habitat along Orangutan Trail, inside the Zoos Lost Forest. Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is made accessible to children through the San Diego Zoo Kids network, reaching out through the internet and in childrens hospitals nationwide. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible by the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and is supported in part by the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global. President Trump at Incident Command Post Briefing Chico, California Chico, California - Remarks by President Trump at Incident Command Post Briefing Chico, California: GOVERNOR BROWN: Ill just say a few words. We all know of how tragic this has been, and I find it very hard to find just the right way to put it. People are really working hard. People have suffered. And so many people from so many different places and backgrounds and services have pulled together. And I can say: Thanks to the firefighters and first responders, and thanks to the federal government. FEMA has been terrific. And I really appreciate the President himself being here and putting the focus and the spotlight on probably the worst tragedy that California has ever faced, at least from a fire situation. President Trump. THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, Jerry. And I just want to also thank FEMA; law enforcement you folks have been incredible; first responders; the firefighters. Theyre out there now. They want to be you know, got a lot of territory to cover. Still going very heavily. Theres a big area of very intense flame right now thats next to a very explosive area, wouldnt you say? I mean, its a very its a very big problem out there going. And theyre fighting and theyre fighting like hell. Weve never seen anything like this. In California, weve never seen anything like this, Jerry. Its like total devastation. But again, I want to thank everybody. And Brock is going to give you a little presentation as to where were going, what were doing, and how were doing it. But again, the men and women that are fighting this fire are incredible. You know that more than 70 people are lost, are gone. And were looking for hundreds of people right now. There are literally hundreds that theyre looking for. And hopefully thats going to be a good conclusion instead of a bad conclusion. Maybe they left and maybe theyre with their loved ones somewhere else and we just dont know about it. But theyre looking for hundreds of people. And well know the answer to that over the next 48 hours, I think for the most part. Brock, perhaps you could give a little bit of a presentation as to how were going to stop the rest of this monster. ADMINISTRATOR LONG: Yes, sir. So, Mr. President, as weve discussed, this is probably the worst disaster that Ive seen in my career. And its going to take a partnership at all levels of government not only, you know, helping the governor achieve his response and recovery goals, but also its the time for neighbor helping neighbor. Thats whats most important. FEMA is on the ground. Ive been here since Tuesday making sure that we have full situational awareness on how to help the state achieve what needs to be done when it comes to the firefighting, but also the you know, the taking care of people part, the mass-care issues. So we have set up disaster recovery centers. Were also asking people to call 1-800-621-FEMA or to go DisasterAssistance.gov to register. To this point, as of this morning, I think weve had over 12,000 people already registered into our assistance system. And weve handed out close to $3 million directly to those who have qualified for assistance. Obviously, the firefighting is the main priority and taking care of people and making sure that we can get people transitioning out of shelters into longer-term homes. And then were also working with Mark Ghilarducci in the state of California, who has done a tremendous job making sure that we help him understand how were going to do debris removal and get the infrastructure back up so that we can start to help communities like Concow and Paradise strive for a new normal. So with that, I think its time for us to turn it over to the incident commander. So hes fighting the fire. MR. RUSSELL: Mr. President, if I could turn you to this. So this is a progression map of the fire. The blue was the very first day, when we experienced the most significant damage. Obviously it went almost 55,000 acres within the first 12 hours and then almost 8,000 structures were burned in that time. So (inaudible) Concow to Paradise (inaudible) were all part of that. There are still significant challenges (inaudible) river drainage and the weather were receiving there, the winds, and the red-flag warning that is still coming this weekend along THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible.) MR. RUSSELL: Absolutely. This whole area, especially in the river drainage. And theres still communities (inaudible) Creek and other areas outside the burn areas that we are concerned about. THE PRESIDENT: Well, good luck. MR. RUSSELL: Thank you very much, sir. THE PRESIDENT: Youre welcome. (Inaudible.) Thank you. Thank you everyone. Thank you. Q Mr. President, do you see any role of climate change in the in these fires that weve seen in California recently? THE PRESIDENT: Say it. Q The role of climate change in these fires in California? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think you have a lot of factors. We have the management factor that I know Jerry has really been up on and very well. And Gavin is going to were going to be looking at it together. And right now that seems to be a very big problem. And were going to get that problem solved. In the farm bill, were putting quite a bit of money about $500 million in the farm bill for management and maintenance of the forests beyond this area. But really, management $500 million. That will be in the farm bill. We just put it in. The farm bill is moving along pretty rapidly for our great farmers. But we have a new category and thats management and maintenance of the forests. Its very important. I want to thank you folks over there. Right there. Law enforcement. Great. Great job. (Applause.) Q Does seeing this devastation, though, change your opinion at all on climate change, Mr. President? THE PRESIDENT: No. No. I have a strong opinion. I want great climate. Were going to have that. And were going to have forests that are very safe because we cant go through this every year. We go through this and were going to have safe forests. And thats happening as we speak as we speak. Q You said the fire you said there needs to be changes with fire management. Should the state and local officials have done (inaudible)? THE PRESIDENT: No, were going to work together with the federal government. No state, local, and federal government. Federal government is going to work with the state and local, and were going to help them with funding. And were going to take its going to take a lot of funding, I will tell you that. Q Should they have done things differently before this point? THE PRESIDENT: A lot of things have been learned. A lot of things have been learned. And theyve been working very hard and I think youre going to see something very spectacular over the next number of years. GOVERNOR BROWN: I think if you really look at the facts, through a very open point of view, there are a lot of elements to be considered. And the President came, he saw, and Im looking forward over the next months and even beyond to really understand this threat of fire, the whole matter of drought, and all the rest of it. And its not one thing; its a lot of things. I think if we just open our minds and look at things, well get more stuff done. THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Hands-Only CPR training kiosks are as effective as classroom setting Dallas, Texas - People who learn Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Hands-Only CPR) using a five-minute, kiosk-based program performed CPR as well as those who attended a 30-minute, facilitator-led training session, according to new research by the American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives, published today in Annals of Emergency Medicine. The study financially supported by Anthem Foundation compared CPR performance skills of people who used the kiosk and facilitator-led methods as well as a one-minute training video to learn Hands-Only CPR, a simpler CPR technique that does not require a combination of chest compressions with mouth-to-mouth breaths. The study is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of kiosk-based training for Hands-Only CPR compared to other Hands-Only CPR training methods. Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital. Almost 90 percent of people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die. Survival rates can triple when bystanders perform CPR. Less than half of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive CPR from a bystander, which is a grim statistic that we need to improve, said John Meiners, the Associations Chief of Mission Aligned Businesses and Healthcare Solutions. The study provides insights on Hands-Only CPR education methods that deepen our understanding of how people can continue to be trained more efficiently and effectively, so theyll feel empowered and confident to take action. The study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine examined three methods of teaching Hands-Only CPR: facilitator-led classroom training, which typically lasts 30 minutes and enables participants to practice CPR with the assistance of an instructor; kiosk-based learning, a five-minute, one-on-one training program that uses high-fidelity manikins that provide feedback on the quality of compressions; and a one-minute, public service announcement video. The researchers found that people who watched the one-minute training video scored lower than the classroom group in total score, but there were no significant differences in total score between classroom and kiosk participants. The video-only group performed lower on compression depth than the classroom group, while the kiosk group outperformed the classroom group on hand position score but scored lower on compression depth. Participants in the kiosk session performed as well as those in the classroom session in total score and compression rate. The kiosk users had poorer performance on compression depth, which suggests that this could be an area for improvement in the kiosks instruction and feedback. Because CPR is a psychomotor skill, one that combines mental processes with physical action, the more a person practices, the more they improve, said study co-author Lana M. Gent, Ph.D., Director of Product and Research Innovation at the Association. Based on the study results, kiosk-based CPR training, which is free for participants and located in high-traffic areas such as airports and shopping malls, is a good option for anyone who wishes to learn or reinforce Hands-Only CPR skills, she said. We have heard stories from people who have saved a persons life after learning Hands-Only CPR at a kiosk, as well as stories from healthcare providers who use a kiosk to refresh their skills between flights at an airport, Gent said. Based on the findings from this study, we hope to have more kiosks placed in high-traffic locations. Anthem Foundation is working to provide communities across our country with greater access to education, tools and resources that can help them live healthier lives. Were proud to support the American Heart Associations innovative use of the Hands-Only CPR kiosks that are helping to remove barriers to learning CPR, said Stephen Friedhoff, MD, chief clinical officer at Anthem. Our investment in this education helps people acquire a level of comfort and confidence to perform CPR in an emergency, and the study findings further demonstrate the potential that the kiosks can have on increasing both bystander CPR rates and survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. With founding support from Anthem Foundation, the Association rolled out the kiosk program in spring 2016. In addition to the Foundations continued financial support, the program has expanded with kiosks sponsored by local organizations installed in various cities. To date, the Association has placed 30 Hands-Only CPR training kiosks across the U.S. primarily in airports. President Donald J. Trump on Standing with Saudi Arabia Washington, DC - President Donald J. Trump on Standing with Saudi Arabia: America First! The world is a very dangerous place! The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraqs fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, Death to America! and Death to Israel! Iran is considered the worlds leading sponsor of terror. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism. After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States! The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body. Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an enemy of the state and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world! I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America. After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels so important for the world. As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First! The murder of the Saudi journalist re-ignited the power struggle for King Salmans succession. Dozens of Al Saud family members support the return of the kings brother, Prince Ahmed. For now, the White House backs MbS, but Trump is waiting for the intelligence report. Riyadh (AsiaNews) - The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on 2 October in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has triggered a war inside the Wahhabi kingdom. Despite official denials, Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) is believed to have ordered the assassination. For this reason, some members of the royal family and top government officials want to prevent the 33-year-old crown prince (now the country's strongman) from ascending the throne when the current monarch, King Salman, dies. According to anonymous Saudi sources cited by Reuters, dozens of princes and cousins from powerful branches of the Al Saud family want to see a change in the line of succession. However, they wont do by going against King Salman, 82, who designated MbS as his heir, a choice that must be ratified by a 34-member Allegiance Council after the kings death. Diplomats and experts think it is highly unlikely that King Salman would turn against his son and deny him the throne. For this reason, other family members have started a behind-the-scenes operation, without clashes or violent blows, to ensure that 76-year-old Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, King Salmans younger brother and uncle of the crown prince, comes to throne when he dies. Prince Ahmed, the kings only surviving brother, can count on the support of many members of the royal family who are tired of MbSs plots. He can also benefit from the help of the domestic security services and some Western powers. It should also be noted that he was the only one to oppose MbS becoming crown prince in 2017. The kingdoms strong man can count on a privileged relationship with Donald Trumps White House, after years of tensions with the previous Obama administration. But something is happening in Washington and Saudi government sources indicate possible US support for a change at the top in Riyadh. For more than 40 years, Prince Ahmed held the Defence portfolio and is well-connected internationally. He has already said that he would honour contracts to purchase US weapons systems (the real priority for the White House) and would not stop the crown princes economic and social reforms. He would also work to restore "unity" within the royal family. In the past year, MbS has tried to show the world and international investors the countrys reformist face, with an "innovative" economic and social agenda in the context of his Vision 2030 programme. Reforms include some minimal change in human rights, such as the right of women to drive. However, the arrest of senior officials and businessmen, the crackdown on activists and critical voices, the bloody war in Yemen with its civilian victims and the Khashoggi affair have cast a broad shadow on MbS. At present, the White House does not show particular in a hurry to distance itself from the crown prince (rejecting CIA allegation that he is behind the Khashoggi murder), but it cannot be excluded that Trump may change his mind in the (near) future. In this sense, the final intelligence report on the death of the Saudi journalist will be crucial. Well-informed sources say that cooling relations between the US president and Riyadh's number two could also be linked to Saudi Arabias decision to consider buying the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. Worlds Giraffe Population Continues to Drop, Several Subspecies Are Now Listed as Critically Endangered San Diego, California - Conservation experts made a startling announcement yesterday (Nov. 14, 2018) regarding the declining state of giraffe populations worldwide, confirming that several giraffe subspecies are in greater trouble than previously believed. A new assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group has prompted IUCN to change the status of Kordofan and Nubian giraffes to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In addition, the reticulated giraffe has now been listed as Endangered, Thornicrofts and West African giraffes are listed as Vulnerable and the Rothschilds giraffe is listed as Near Threatened. Only the Angolan giraffe population with habitats in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe seem to be holding steady and are listed as Least Concern. The new assessments cite human population growth as contributing to several major threats to giraffes in Africaincluding habitat loss and changes through expanding agriculture and mining activities, illegal hunting, increasing human-wildlife conflict and civil unrest. This weeks update comes nearly two years after IUCN declared the overall giraffe species to be Vulnerable, due to their decreasing numbers. This time, however, scientists delved deeper by focusing on seven of the nine recognized giraffe subspeciesfive of which are being assessed for the first time. Through thorough giraffe tracking and data analysis, researchers concluded the Kordofan, Nubian, West African and reticulated giraffe subspecies are among the most threatened large mammals in the world, with fewer than 21,000 individuals remaining in their native habitats. Overall, the worlds total population of giraffes also continues to decrease, with little more than 95,000 individuals left. That is a 40 percent drop over the last 30 years, sparking concern that if the trend continues at its current pace, these iconic animals could become extinct in the wild within a generation. As scientists around the globe absorb this sobering news, they are also applauding conservation programs that offer hope for the giraffe. Two subspecies that were previously listed as EndangeredWest African and Rothschilds giraffehave since improved their conservation status. Were seeing increased numbers with a couple of subspecies, and this is providing us confirmation that conservation initiatives are working, said Dr. Julian Fennessy, co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group, and director of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Through the combined works of multiple African governmental agencies, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, as well as other valuable conservation organizations, Im confident we can provide a unifying Africa-wide giraffe conservation framework that can be applied to other giraffe populations. Scientists are also analyzing how giraffes change of status will impact the findings of a groundbreaking 2016 study that found a genetic basis to divide giraffes into four distinct species. The study, initially published in the scientific journal Current Biology, but will continue with further analysis this year, identified four giraffe species: the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), southern giraffe (G. giraffa), reticulated giraffe (G. reticulata) and Masai giraffe (G. tippelskirchi)with some of the current subspecies, such as Rothschilds, genetically included in these new full species designations. If widely accepted, combined with giraffes new Red List status, this study will have major impacts on conservation organizations across the globeincluding San Diego Zoo Globalas well as research and conservation priorities for efforts across the African continent. San Diego Zoo Global has partnered with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the Northern Rangelands Trust, the Kenya Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy, as well as other conservation organizations, to help reverse giraffe population declines in East Africa. Recently, the multiorganizational team created the Twiga Walinzi (Giraffe Guards), a community-led conservation effort made up of a team of local Kenyan pastoralists that will work to study and protect reticulated giraffe, while improving the lives of people co-existing with the species. For more information on the fight against giraffe extinction, visit endextinction.org/wildlife/giraffe Another way for anyone with a computer or smartphone to help in giraffe conservation is to visit San Diego Zoo Globals citizen science program website at wildwatchkenya.org. Volunteers are asked to identify what is pictured in trail photosnormally only seen by researchersby choosing from an animal list or indicating that no animal is pictured. So far, over 13,000 volunteers have joined the website and identified and retired more than 550,000 individual images from motion-activated trail cameras in Kenyacompleting almost five years worth of giraffe conservation work. This huge achievement is providing researchers with enough data to begin analyzing giraffe habitat and migration patterns for the first time since the organization started the reticulated giraffe conservation and research program. Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is inspiring children through the San Diego Zoo Kids network, reaching out through the internet and in childrens hospitals nationwide. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible by the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and is supported in part by the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global. The Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership Washington, DC - Papua New Guinea has invited Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States to work together to support its enhanced connectivity and the goal of connecting 70% of its population to electricity by 2030. Currently only about 13% of Papua New Guineas population have reliable access to electricity. Access to electricity is key to Papua New Guineas economic growth. Electricity lifts the living standards of communities in cities, towns and remote villages. It allows schools and hospitals to deliver essential services. It is also an essential precursor for the growth of the private sector and industry, including small and medium enterprises. Progress towards Papua New Guineas ambitious objectives will require large scale investment by both the public and private sectors. This includes investment in new generation capacity as well as transmission and distribution lines to connect households, service providers and businesses to the grid. Continued efforts to improve institutional and regulatory frameworks are also required in order to unlock private investment. Papua New Guinea, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States intend to join together in a Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership in support of Papua New Guineas objectives for electrification. This high level partnership forms part of the enduring economic and security partnership between [our countries]. This initiative will also be open to other partners that support principles and values which help maintain and promote a free, open, prosperous and rules based region. The Papua New Guinea Electrification 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. It is intended to adopt a strong focus on investments that provide employment and training opportunities for local contractors and communities. It is also intended to focus not only on delivering high impact investments but ensuring improved coordination and governance within the energy sector. Importantly, this initiative represents a true partnership between Papua New Guinea and its key partners to drive growth and development for communities throughout Papua New Guinea. The partnership is intended to be delivered in alignment with Papua New Guineas own plans and priorities and implemented in close conjunction with PNG Power Limited. The Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea (ONeill), Australia (Morrison), Japan (Abe), New Zealand (Ardern), and the Vice President of the United States Mike Pence hereby sign this Joint Statement to mark the announcement of this new multi-country initiative at APEC House on 18 November 2018. The announcement signals a strong commitment from these countries to supporting growth enabling investment in key economic infrastructure in Papua New Guinea. Even Mark Cuban gets out-sharked from time to time. On Sunday's episode of Shark Tank, Cuban was preparing an offer for entrepreneur Kate Field, whose at-home kombucha brewing kit has generated $3.2 million in lifetime sales, but before Cuban could speak up, Field accepted an investment from two other sharks. Barbara Corcoran and guest shark and Spanx founder Sara Blakely offered Field $350,000 in exchange for 10 percent of The Kombucha Shop, which Field instantly accepted. The $350,000 will be split between $200,000 of equity and a $150,000 line of credit. "Normally people at least give me a shot," Cuban said when asked why he waited to make Field an offer. The Kombucha Shop's at-home brewing kit sells for $45 and includes a reusable glass jar and all the ingredients necessary to make one-gallon batches of the fermented tea drink. Most kombucha beverages typically sell for between $3 and $5 per 16-ounce bottle. Field expects to generate between $1.6 million to $1.7 million in sales in 2018, selling primarily on her website and Amazon.com, as well as through a handful of brick and mortar stores. When the Sharks asked why she wanted an investment and partner, Field said she wanted to expand into retail--specifically, Whole Foods. "I've brought this company as far as I can on my own," said Field, adding that she founded her Madison, Wisconsin-based company with just an $800 initial investment. "I've been a one-woman show this whole time...What I have learned is that I don't know what I don't know." The new investment brings the company to a valuation of $3.5 million. Cuban literally applauded Field throughout her presentation, commending her for never having spent money on advertising, for not turning to crowdfunding sites to raise money, and for not making any claims about the health benefits of kombucha. While Blakely was also impressed, she hesitated to make an offer at first. "You're doing so great in direct marketing so I'm struggling with why you wouldn't just continue to do this by yourself," Blakely said. "I'm not going to buy 10 percent of your company so I can make a phone call for you to Whole Foods." Right when Blakely was about to opt-out, however, Corcoran proposed a partnership. "Why don't I make a deal and if you'd like to join me you're more than welcome," Corcoran said. Blakely agreed, and before Cuban could say a word, Field had accepted their offer. "I have admired Sara and Barbara for so long, but honestly I would have done a deal with Mark," Field said after leaving the Tank. "I'm a little sad he didn't get to get an offer in." A few years ago, it wasn't uncommon for managers to bring people in for multiple interviews over multiple daplaceholderys. It was also common for managers to drag out the hiring process. It made candidates' lives stressful--never quite knowing if this interview was the final one or not. And even after going through all of this, you might well get ghosted--that is, neither the recruiter nor hiring manager would ever get back to you to tell you that you weren't hired. And so, it amused me greatly when companies started complaining that candidates were ghosting them. It's a candidate's job market right now, and if you snooze you lose. And to beat that, The Wall Street Journal reports that some companies are hiring sight unseen--after you fill out an application and have a phone interview, they make the decision on the spot. You can start a job without having ever met with a human face-to-face--or even Skype-to-Skype. While most of the jobs profiled by the WSJ are retail or other entry-level jobs, some are skilled and professional jobs. And this all makes sense to me--I've worked for Inc.com as a freelancer for almost six years and I've never once met a single person who works there. I've talked on the phone and Skyped but I've never been to their offices and no one seems willing to fly to Switzerland to meet me. You should probably consider speeding up your hiring process, even if it doesn't mean skipping the face-to-face interview. Here's why: You stink at interviewing. The Wall Street Journal quotes Peter Capelli, a professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania, as saying that most companies are "so bad at interviewing, and the interviews are so full of bias, that it's not crazy to just ignore them altogether." He's right. From managers that ask crazy questions to our unconscious bias peeking through and influencing our decisions, our interview skills are not great. You can be a great manager and a great person and still be terrible at interviewing because it's a skill that you don't use often. You don't have a lot to lose. We sometimes take hiring decisions more seriously than we should. Almost all employment in the United States is at will. You can fire someone who doesn't work out. This is not to say that you should just fire people right and left, but it means you aren't stuck with a bad choice forever. Candidates, on the other hand, have a lot more to lose than you do. Most likely, they are leaving their current job for you or are turning down other offers. A job that only lasts a few months looks far worse on their resume than it does on your Glassdoor review. They are the person taking the greater risk. Interviewing rarely relates to the actual job skill. This job requires that I sit at a computer, analyze information, and write about it in a coherent and entertaining fashion (hopefully with as few typos as possible). An accountant's job is to make sure that all laws are followed and all numbers balance out. A computer coder's job is to write clear, clean code. None of these jobs require great interview skills on a daily basis. Someone who is great at interviewing may not be all that great at doing the actual job, and vice versa. We place tons of emphasis on the interview when there are other ways to test actual skills. Looking at portfolios, short assignments, and actual tests can all help indicate if this person has what it takes to do the work--in many cases, far better than asking the candidate to share her strengths and weaknesses with you. Should you hire sight unseen? Portland, Oregon is more than just a West Coast hipster haven. It's also one of the hottest cities for women-led startups. Thanks to a diverse economy, loyal-to-local consumers, and a range of entrepreneurial training programs offered by local colleges and universities, Portland has everything you need to get your business off the ground. Here are 10 companies that know that intrinsically. 10. Sock It to Me 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 4917 Three-year growth 60% 2017 revenue $11.9M Sock It to Me, true to its name, makes socks (and underwear). But not just any socks! This Portland-based outfitter prides itself on its funky designs and outlandish colors. Numbering more than 40, the team is led by CEO Michelle Walker. And yes, they sell unicorn-patterned socks. 9. Opus Interactive 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 3883 Three-year growth 92% 2017 revenue $5.4M The three founding members of Opus Interactive met in the IT department of a creative agency in 1996. Since then, CEO Shannon Hulbert has led the 16-person team (as of 2017) to new frontiers in the world of enterprise IT. Opus offers everything from cloud computing to disaster recovery, Web hosting, and custom IT solutions. 8. ebs Associates 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 3526 Three-year growth 107% 2017 revenue $3.5M Headed up by CEO Denise Loter-Koch, ebs Associates provides small business accounting services and QuickBook consulting to the greater Portland area. With only 22 employees in 2014, the team has nearly doubled in size in the past three years. This is the company's second year on the list, moving up 239 spots from 2017's rankings. 7. Skin by Lovely 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 2956 Three-year growth 138% 2017 revenue $8.0M Skin by Lovely provides FDA-approved wrinkle relaxers, dermal fillers, and other skin rejuvenation treatments to the greater Portland area as well as Santa Monica, California. CEO Lovely Laban has grown the team to 20 in 2017, up from just four in 2014, and Skin by Lovely has climbed 759 spots from its 2017 Inc. 5000 ranking. 6. Ruby Receptionists 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 2844 Three-year growth 145% 2017 revenue $37.6M This seven-time Inc. 5000 honoree provides virtual receptionist services for a variety of industries in North America. Founder and CEO Jill Nelson oversees a team of 443 employees as of 2017, up from 195 in 2014. Ruby Receptionists makes a point of investing in its employees, with 50 percent of the company's technology jobs and 80 percent of its management positions held by former receptionists. 5. Zapproved 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 2230 Three-year growth 198% 2017 revenue $12.4M Three-time Inc. 5000 honoree Zapproved develops e-discovery software for corporate legal teams. Led by CEO Monica Enand, Zapproved has grown to 110 employees in 2017, from 40 in 2014. The company is also ranked the 22nd fastest-growing company in the Portland metro area, and the 24th fastest-growing company in Oregon. 4. Propeller 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 2084 Three-year growth 213% 2017 revenue $12.6M Co-led by Amy Weeden, Propeller provides a range of consulting services to help businesses improve their technology, strategies, and customer experience. In addition to being a fast-growth business--indeed, it ranks 21st on the list for all of Oregon--its employees own 12 percent of Propeller's stock. This year marks Propeller's second time on the Inc. 5000 list. 3. Parking Boxx 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 1621 Three-year growth 286% 2017 revenue $3.6M Parking Boxx provides equipment and software that automates revenue collection and access control for parking facilities. In other words, they make gates that let cars in and out of parking garages. Led by Renee Smith, Parking Boxx has expanded from 20 to 58 employees in the three years since 2014, is the 15th fastest growing company in Portland, and the 13th fastest growing company in Oregon. This is its second time on the Inc. 5000 list. 2. Tender Loving Empire 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 751 Three-year growth 669% 2017 revenue $3.1M Tender Loving Empire started selling handmade goods from local Portland creators in 2007. Since then, it has expanded to include fair-trade handmade goods from all over the United States and a few other countries. And in true "empire" fashion, the company led by Brianne and Jared Mees also has a record label. Tender Loving Empire is the 4th fastest-growing company in Portland and the 6th fastest-growing company in Oregon. 1. Brazi Bites 2018 Inc. 5000 rank No. 219 Three-year growth 2,138% 2017 revenue $12.9M Brazi Bites is one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States, not to mention Portland. Founder and CEO Junea Rocha immigrated to the U.S. from Brazil and worked as a construction manager until 2010, when she and her husband, Cameron MacMullin, decided to launch a business selling one of her favorite Brazilian snacks, a savory cheese bread called pao de queijo. Brazi Bites was featured on Shark Tank, discovered by Whole Foods, and is now sold in 4,500 stores nationwide. This is the company's second time on the list. EXPLORE MORE Inc. 5000 COMPANIES Jude Law has spoken out in favour of Woody Allen's A Rainy Day in New York, which has been shelved amid accusations of sexual assault against the director. The English actor, who is part of the romantic comedy's cast, told the New York Times he thinks it's a "terrible shame" the movie has been taken off the calendar. A Rainy Day in New York, which stars Timothee Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Elle Fanning, and Rebecca Hall, was originally slated to come out in 2018 but Amazon Studios, the film's distributor, has now shelved it indefinitely. Recommended Fantastic Beasts 2 marks new low for Potter films at US box office Dylan Farrow, Allen's 33-year-old daughter with Mia Farrow, has for years said her father assaulted her when she was seven years old. Allen has denied the accusations. Farrow's voice was amplified by the Me Too movement, which took off around the same time production wrapped up on Allen's project. Some among the cast distanced themselves from the movie. Chalamet pledged to donate his earnings to three charities: Time's Up, the LGBT Center in New York, and RAINN, an anti-sexual-assault organisation. Hall also gave her money to Time's Up. Law, however, is still rooting for the film to be released. "Id love to see it. People worked really hard and put a lot in, obviously himself included," he told the New York Times. The actor said he preferred to stay silent regarding the accusations against Allen. Dylan Farrow accuses Woody Allen of sexual assault for the first time on television "I didnt really want to get involved, to be honest. I just dont feel like it was my place to comment, and its too delicate a situation," he said. "I feel like enough has been said about it. Its a private affair." Law didn't discard the possibility of working with Allen again in the future, saying he would have to "consider carefully" before making a decision. Dir: Otto Bathurst; Starring: Taron Egerton, Ben Mendelsohn, Jamie Dornan, Paul Anderson, Jamie Foxx, Eve Hewson. Cert 12A, 116 mins There isnt any obvious pressing need for yet another film about Robin Hood. From Errol Flynn in Hollywoods golden age to Kevin Costner and Russell Crowe more recently, not to mention Richard Greene and Jason Connery on TV, Disney animated versions and Mel Brooks satires about men in tights, audiences have been very well served with tales from Sherwood Forest. However, this rip-roaring version, directed by Otto Bathurst (best known for his work on TVs Peaky Blinders) is a Robin Hood for the superhero era. As reimagined here, Robin of Loxley seems partly like a medieval version of Bruce Wayne with a bow and arrow and partly like a delinquent teen gang member in a hoodie. The new film (produced by Leonardo DiCaprio) tells only a fraction of the full story. It is clearly intended as the first in a franchise. After a clumsy beginning, the story quickly builds up momentum. It has a likeably self-deprecating performance from Taron Egerton as Robin and a wonderfully sneering and malevolent one from Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham. At first, Robin is just another lord of the manor, a carefree and spoilt jack-the lad, looking for romance and adventure. In most other versions, he takes a small eternity to meet and court Maid Marian. Here, he encounters her right at the start, when she tries to steal one of his horses. The moment he sees her face, he is instantly besotted. Marian (played by Eve Hewson, rock star Bonos daughter) is earthier and more political and class conscious than the demure figure seen in the other movies. She and Robin enjoy an idyllic love affair but then he is conscripted to go off and fight against the infidels. The years pass. In his depiction of the crusades, director Bathurst deliberately reminds us of the misadventures of western armies in contemporary wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The crusaders cant cope with the guerilla-style tactics of the locals. The fight scenes are brutal. There are atrocities on both sides but the English are especially ruthless, torturing and killing prisoners. Robin is disgusted by his own sides behaviour and not sure what cause he is fighting for. When he first encounters the ferocious Muslim noble Yahya/Little John (Jamie Foxx), the two nearly hack each to pieces. Of course, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Back in England, all is going to ruin. With Robin missing, presumed dead, the Sheriff has seized his property. A war tax bill allows him to fleece all the citizens while he lives in luxury. Mendelsohn dresses like a 14th century version of Joseph Goebbels. His long coat alone is enough to tell us he is not to be trusted. He has a vulpine quality. He delivers his lines with mellow sarcasm, viciousness and self-pity. (He was abused as a kid and has a longstanding grudge against the world.) He is just the villain that any self-respecting new Robin Hood movie needs. You bastards, I am the Sheriff of Nottingham! he yells with demented fury at one stage. Taron Egerton is nicely self-deprecating in the lead role (Lionsgate) Aspects of the film are confusing. The love triangle between Robin, Marian and Will Scarlet (played by Jamie Dornan, fresh from Fifty Shades) stretches credibility. One moment she is telling Robin she will wait for him; the next she is happily together with Will. He is a fiery Red Clydeside union-leader type, always speaking up on behalf of the oppressed Nottingham tax payers. Some of lines in Ben Chandler and David James Kellys screenplay are strangely anachronistic. Robin is encouraged to follow the money, as if he is Woodward and Bernstein in pursuit of Richard Nixon. Robins transformation from battle-scarred and traumatised veteran of the crusades into action hero takes place very quickly. Jamie Foxx gives him a few tutorials on how to fight up close using street weapons and, in no time at all, he is leaping from ramparts like a cross between Batman and a martial arts warrior from a Zhang Yimou film. His hood becomes his symbol. At the same time he is sabotaging the Sheriffs affairs, he is busy buttering him up. He pays more money into the Sheriffs coffers than anyone else, even if he promptly steals it back again, and he flatters the sheriff incessantly. Recommended How Stan Lee became a hero for fans across the superhero universe Egertons Robin is a relentlessly cheerful type who doesnt let anything (the loss of his lands, his girlfriend taking up with another man) get him down for too long. He doesnt bring much introspection or darkness to the role but he leaps hither and thither with unending enthusiasm. The bleakest moments here tend to involve Jamie Foxxs character who endures bereavement and suffers torture but he is too hardboiled ever to be cowed or to lose his knack for sardonic one-liners. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up F Murray Abraham lends some gravitas as a very sinister Cardinal, even more powerful and ruthless than the Sheriff. The light relief comes from Tim Minchin as a strangely under-nourished seeming but always droll Friar Tuck. Some of the elements from earlier Robin Hood movies are present and correct. Others are ignored or distorted. The filmmakers take a long time to cover not a great deal in plot terms. A large part of the film is devoted to en elaborate heist which plays like something from a Michael Mann movie, but with knives and axes instead of pistols and machine guns and get away horses and carts instead of cars. Robin spends hardly any time at all in Sherwood Forest. The tempo, though, never flags. This is such an energetic affair that it hardly seems to matter when its aim is less than true. Bryan Cranston may not be in the Breaking Bad film, but thats not stopped the actor from stating what hed like to see happen in it. Last month, a follow-up film based on the hit AMC series was seemingly confirmed, with events said to focus on Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) in the aftermath of the finale which aired in 2010. The film, expected to debut on television as part of Vince Gilligans Sony deal, will last for two hours and will follow Jesses quest for freedom after escaping his captors. Walter White actor Cranston has now waded in, expressing what hed like from the film. I would like to see and again I have no idea if this is what [Vince is] thinking about I would like to see [Jesse] struggle to break that mould and eventually break out and find his own real true calling, he told IndieWire. Something that empowered him as a human being, that is on the straight and narrow, that allows him to be able to open up, to let another human being into his life. And be happy. Because I dont sense that he was really ever happy. Production on Greenbriar has reportedly begun and will last until February 2019. The 65 best movie insults of all time Show all 65 1 /65 The 65 best movie insults of all time The 65 best movie insults of all time Avengers Assemble (2012) "This is my bargain, you mewling quim." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) "Hey, where'd you get those clothes, the toilet store?" DreamWorks Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) "How could you sleep with Fat Bastard? No, I mean, literally, how could you do it? He's so fat, the sheer mechanics of it are mind-boggling." New Line Cinema The 65 best movie insults of all time Bad Moms (2016) "Well, you look like a bag of d***s" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Bad Santa (2003) Youre an emotional f***ing cripple. Your soul is dogs***. Every single f***ing thing about you is ugly. REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Blade: Trinity (2004) "You c*ck-juggling thunderc***!" New Line Cinema The 65 best movie insults of all time The Breakfast Club (1985) "Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?" Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) "If staying here means working within 10 yards of you, frankly, I'd rather have a job wiping Saddam Hussein's arse." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Bull Durham (1988) "From what I hear, you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a f***ing boat." Orion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Burn After Reading (2008) "I have a drinking problem? F*** you, Peck. Compared to you we all have a drinking problem." Macall Polay The 65 best movie insults of all time The Campaign (2012) "You know what the difference between your momma and a washing machine is? When I dump a load in a machine, the machine doesn't follow me around for three weeks." Warner Bros Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Casino (1995) "You horse manure smelling motherf***er, you." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time The Cat in the Hat (2003) "Do you know how hard it is telling people were related?" DreamWorks Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Closer (2004) "Go f*** yourself, you WRITER!" Columbia Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Clueless (1995) "Youre a virgin and you cant drive." Paramount Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Con Air (1997) "You're somewhere between a cockroach and that white stuff that accumulates at the corner of your mouth when you're really thirsty." Buena Vista Pictures Distribution The 65 best movie insults of all time The Death of Stalin (2017) "You smell like rendered horse, you burning a**hole." eOne Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Donnie Darko (2001) "You can go suck a f***." Pandora Cinema The 65 best movie insults of all time Duck Soup (1933) "He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don't let that fool you he really is an idiot." Paramount Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Easy A (2010) "Don't you think it's a little strange that your boyfriend is 22-years-old and still in high school?" Screen Gems The 65 best movie insults of all time Erin Brockovich (2000) "That's all you got, lady - two wrong feet and f***ing ugly shoes." Columbia Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Escape Plan (2013) "You hit like a vegetarian" The 65 best movie insults of all time The Favourite (2018) "You look like a badger." Fox Searchlight Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time A Fish Called Wanda (1988) "To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people." The 65 best movie insults of all time Full Metal Jacket (1987) "You climb like old people f***, Private Pile." ColumbiaCannonWarner The 65 best movie insults of all time Gangs of New York (2002) I dont give a tuppeny f*** about your moral conundrum, you meat-headed s*** sack. Miramax Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) "You're in more dire need of a blowjob than any white man in history" Buena Vista Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time The Hangover (2009) "You are literally too stupid to insult." Warner Bros. Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time His Girl Friday (1940) "Listen, you insignificant, square-toed, pimple-headed spy!" Columbia Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Home Alone (1990) "You're what the French call: 'les incompetents'." DON SMETZER/20TH CENTURY FOX/The Kobal Collection/WireImage.com The 65 best movie insults of all time In Bruges (2008) "YOU'RE AN INANIMATE F***ING OBJECT!" Universal Studios/Focus Features The 65 best movie insults of all time In the Loop (2009) "Allow me to pop a jaunty little bonnet on your purview and ram it up your a*** with a lubricated horse c***." IFC Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) "I should have had you wear double condoms. Well, we shouldn't have done it in the first place, but if you ever do it again, which as a favour to women everywhere, you should not, but if you do, you should be wearing condom on condom, and then wrap it in electrical tape. You should just walk around always inside a great big condom because you are s***!" CBS Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) Perry: "Look up 'idiot' in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?" : "Look up 'idiot' in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?" Harry: "A picture of me?" Perry: "No! The definition of the word idiot, which you f***ing are." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Knocked Up "Your face looks like Robin Williams' knuckles. The 65 best movie insults of all time The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) "Were you always this stupid or did you take lessons?" The 65 best movie insults of all time The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) "My great aunt Jennifer ate a whole box of candy every day of her life. She lived to be 102 and when she'd been dead three days, she looked better than you do now." Warner Bros. The 65 best movie insults of all time Matilda (1996) "Your mummy is a TWIT." TriStar Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time The Mist (2007) Ill tell you what. The day I need a friend like you, Ill just have myself a little squat and s*** one out. REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries." EMI Films The 65 best movie insults of all time National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d***less, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey s*** he is." The 65 best movie insults of all time Parenthood (1989) "I wouldn't live with you if the world were flooded with piss and you lived in a tree." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Phantom Thread (2018) "Are you a special agent sent here to ruin my evening and possibly my entire life?" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Point Break (1991) "You're a real blue flame special, aren't you, son? Young, dumb and full of cum. What I don't know is how you got assigned here. Guess we must just have ourselves an asshole shortage, huh?" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time The Princess Bride (1987) "I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon." Vestron Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Roxanne (1987) "Is that your nose or did a bus park on your face?" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Say Anything (1989) "I got a question: if you guys know so much about women, how come you're here on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?" The 65 best movie insults of all time Scarface (1983) "Even if I were blind, desperate, starved and begging for it on a desert island, you'd be the last thing I'd ever f***." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time School of Rock (2004) "You're tacky and I hate you" The 65 best movie insults of all time Sexy Beast (2000) "You're the f***ing problem you f***ing Dr White honkin' jam-rag f***ing spunk-bubble!" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time She's All That (1999) "To everyone here who matters, you're spam. You're vapour. A waste of perfectly good yearbook space." Miramax Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Short Circuit (1986) "Hey laser-lips, your mother was a snowblower." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Shrek (2000) "You dense, irritating, miniature beast of a burden." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time The Silence of the Lambs (1991) You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube. A well scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste. Good nutrition has given you some length of bone, but youre not more than one generation from poor white trash, are you, Agent Starling?" Orion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) "Why, you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder." 20th Century Fox The 65 best movie insults of all time Step Brothers (2008) "You're not a doctor. You're a big fat curly headed f***." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time There Will Be Blood (2007) "You're just the afterbirth, Eli, slithered out on your mother's filth. They should have put you in glass jar on a mantelpiece." Paramount Vantage/Miramax Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Three Amigos (1986) "You dirt-eating piece of slime. You scum-sucking pig. You son of a motherless goat." Orion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Toy Story (1995) "You are a sad strange little man, and you have my pity." Buena Vista Pictures Distribution The 65 best movie insults of all time Wayne's World (1992) "Benjamin is nobody's friend. If Benjamin were an ice cream flavour, he'd be pralines and d***." Paramount Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Whiplash (2014) "You are a worthless, friendless, piece of shit whose mommy left daddy when she figured out he wasn't Eugene O'Neill, and who is now weeping and slobbering all over my drum set like a f***ing nine-year old girl." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time The Witches of Eastwick (1987) "In the short time we've been together, you have demonstrated every loathsome characteristic of the male personality and even discovered a few new ones. You are physically repulsive, intellectually retarded, you're morally reprehensible, vulgar, insensitive, selfish, stupid, you have no taste, a lousy sense of humour and you smell. You're not even interesting enough to make me sick." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Withnail & I (1987) "Monty, you terrible c***." HandMade Films The 65 best movie insults of all time The Wizard of Oz (1939) "You clinking, clanking, clattering collection of caliginous junk!" Loew's, Inc. The 65 best movie insults of all time The Women (1939) "You wanna see a bad facelift? Helen Danvers, two o'clock. She looks like she's re-entering the Earth's atmosphere." REX Breaking Bad, which follows a chemistry teacher who turns to a life of crime after being diagnosed with lung cancer, began in 2008. Prequel series Better Call Saul recently wrapped its fourth season, with Gilligan stating the fifth could be its last. Another TV series getting the film treatment is HBOs Deadwood that finally began production this month with 12 original cast members including Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant and Breaking Bads very own Anna Gunn set to return. It was also recently revealed that Andrew Lincoln would star in a trilogy of films dedicated to his Walking Dead character Rick Grimes having left the series in its ninth season. Few books have captured the zeitgeist with such imagination as Elena Ferrantes Neapolitan novels. The four novel saga is an exploration of the lives of everyday people living through turbulent decades of Italian history, following the lives of Elena and Lila, whose friendship spans from the postwar period to the present day, set against the scenic backdrop of Naples. Ferrante explores the complexities of female relationships, and the struggles of the working class. Her scope is sweeping, and her pages overflow with so many characters that at the start of each book she provides a dramatis personae. The new HBO adaptation, airing on Sky Atlantic on the UK, has done justice to her magnum opus, with a faithful, cinematic treatment of the boisterous society she portrays. It is a fitting tribute to Ferrante, who in the past decade has grown from little known, word-of-mouth Italian novelist, to international literary phenomenon. This is partly down to her writing. But intrigue has also built around her anonymity. Ferrantes aversion to publicity and any public appearances means her very identity is almost entirely unknown. Now, fans and newcomers alike have been graced with this adaptation, diligently directed by Saverio Costanzo. The opening scene shows a modern day, aged Elena learning that Lila has gone missing, and so she begins to write the story of their friendship from the beginning. With an authentic on-location setting, brilliant cinematography and the actors speaking the local dialect, My Brilliant Friend brings to life the vibrancy, poverty, grime and outright violence of Naples in the 1950s. This first episode "The Dolls" is concerned with Elena and Lilas unlikely merger as a pair. Elena is quiet and scholarly, but cannot resist the attraction of her more boisterous classmate whose innate genius is first presented alongside her confrontational relationships with boys. The episode does a lot of scene setting, and may appear at face value to be thin on plot, but rather it is laying the ground for the relationship dynamics, symbolism that will come to grow across the series. The dolls of the episodes title will go on to be pivotal throughout the entire story, and have resonance with its ultimate conclusion. In Ferrantes novels, Mount Vesuvius looms large, casting an ever present threat over the people and their lives. It does not make an appearance here, but we do immediately meet some of the themes dominating their lives: the desire for education and the reliance on religion, the gossip and intrigue of local neighbourhoods and the balance of gender dynamics, plus the constant fear of being beaten up, or killed. The young actresses cast as the girls truly capture the essence of Ferrantes characters particularly Ludovica Nasti as Lila. With her jet black hair and piercing eyes, she draws us in much the same way her feisty attitude does on the page. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Costanzo does a good job of introducing the girls, despite their relative silence and lack of communication in the early days of their friendship. They treat each other in an odd, suspicious manner, and we see the birth of a competitiveness which will come to dominate their childhood. As a novel, My Brilliant Friend can be a difficult beginning, as its largely based around the girls as children, and their lives have not yet ventured outside of the confines of the unnamed neighbourhood. But as a narrator, Ferrante gives Elena the hindsight of her old age with which to look back at her early years, and this narration is evident in the adaptation too. So much of how Ferrante writes is through inner monologue, deep thoughts from the imagination of Elena, who is supposed to be a novelist herself. There are hints of how this will manifest itself on screen. In one scene, Elena wonders what it is that makes the adults in her life so angry. She imagines tiny insects creeping out at night and covering the neighbourhood completely. On screen, we see it play out for real in a moment of magic realism, which will surely be a recurring theme as the show continues. My Brilliant Friend is a treat to watch, with all the quality of a Hollywood production, and in the era of Netflix domination, a sure fire catch for HBO. Those familiar with the books will find a faithful retelling, with everything presented exactly as they imagined. For the uninitiated in the world of Ferrante, this is a perfect way to start. Following in the footsteps of Boxing Day, the January sales are now upon us, and there are many deals to be had. While some people use this month to recover from overindulging, for others, its an opportunity to grab a bargain. Whether youre after a new television, a laptop or the best Amazon bargain, we have created dedicated guides for a range of products and retailers so you can get your hands on the best deals as the holiday season draws to a close. As well as finding the best deals, weve also created the ultimate guide on which retailers are taking part below, with insight on their latest deals, what else they are expected to offer, and when. You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent. Januray Sale Quick Links Top picks Whatever youre looking for this January, youre sure to find it. Here are our top picks of the current deals: Smart speaker deals Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Smart speaker with Alexa was 49.99, now 29.99 Buy now from Amazon Apple HomePod was 319, now 279 Buy now from Currys Sony LF-S50G Wireless Smart Sound Speaker was 149.99, now 99 Buy now from Currys Sonos One Voice Controlled Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa was 199, now 179 Buy now from Amazon TV deals Laptop deals Asus 15.6 Gaming Laptop, Intel Core i5, GeForce GTX 1050 Graphics, 8GB RAM was 849.99, now 649.99 Buy now from Very Apple MacBook Air 13.3 Intel i5 8GB RAM , 256 GB SSD (2017) was 1,049, now 949 Buy now from Currys Asus 12.5 360 Degrees Rotatable Full HD Touchscreen Chromebook, Intel Core M3-6Y30 Processor, 4 GB RAM was 499, now 499 Buy now from Amazon Apple MacBook Pro 13 Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (2017) was 1,799, now 1,599 Buy now from John Lewis & Partners Game console deals Kitchen appliance deals Tablet deals Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 Tablet 32 GB was 229.99, now 159 Buy now from Currys All-New Fire HD 8 Tablet with Alexa, 8 HD Display, 16 GB was 79.99, now 59.99 Buy now from Amazon Apple 9.7 iPad 32 GB, Space Grey (2018) was 299, now 289 Buy now from Currys Furniture deals Which stores are taking part? Heres our roundup of some of the retailers to watch out for and quick links to their pages: Amazon The online giant was one of the biggest retailers taking part in discounts for Boxing Day and for January it continues to offer major reductions on everything from electronics to this years must-have toys, games, fashion, jewellery and beauty products. You can find the latest Amazon deals here. AO You can expect this online electrical retailer to offer a wide range of deals on its products, from appliances and TVs to smart home products. You can find the latest AO deals here. Argos You can expect to see deals appearing online across technology, home and toys. You can find the latest Argos deals here. Apple The tech giant Apple has traditionally resisted partaking in sales but we predict that there will be great savings on iPhones, iPads, Macbooks and accessories. Currys PC World This January, we expect Currys to offer exciting deals across top brands including Hoover, Dyson, Samsung and HP. You can find the latest Currys PC World deals here. Habitat Homeware company Habitat traditionally launched its winter sale just ahead of the Christmas holidays and continues to offer discounts on upholstery, occasional furniture, storage and rugs. You can find the latest Habitat deals here. John Lewis This year, John Lewis clearance sale began online on Christmas Eve. The retailer is expected to price match rivals on popular tech, home and fashion lines thanks to its Never Knowingly Undersold tag line. You can find the best John Lewis deals here. Very With discounts on fashion, home, tech and gifts, Very should be on your list this January. Find the latest Very deals here. How can you get the best deals? When it comes to making the most of the January sales, preparation is key and, with many of us now shopping online, thats where you can expect to find the very best deals. But, whether youre shopping in-store or bargain hunting from the comfort of your sofa, its important to shop around and research items you want to buy well in advance rather than splashing out on a whim. We suggest sticking to a shopping list of items that you know you actually want, setting yourself a budget and watching out for additional discount codes online. Its also a good idea to check retailers returns policies before buying and to check terms and conditions for sites youve not used before. IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing. by Stefano Caprio An exceptional exhibition of paintings opens in the Vatican, 54 of the most famous works of Russian art. Another step forward - after the meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill - towards a new friendship between the two Churches. Rome (AsiaNews) - An exceptional exhibition of Russian paintings (Pilgrimage of Russian Art from the Dionysius to Malevich) opened today November 20 at the Vatican, in the Braccio di Carlo Magno of the Vatican Museums, which directly accesses St Peters Square. There are 54 works among the most famous of Russian art, which will remain available to visitors until February 16, 2019. The exhibition is the Russian response to the 2016 initiative, when the Vatican Museums brought paintings of extraordinary value to Moscow 42 (Rome Aeterna: the masterpieces of the Vatican Pinacoteca Bellini, Raffaello, Caravaggio). The Moscow exhibition had an overwhelming success with the public, and the exhibition of the paintings of the Tretjakov Gallery in Rome deserves as much attention. The artistic and cultural meaning is absolutely evident: in addition to a selection of ancient icons, you can admire some of the most famous paintings of Russian culture of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, by authors such as Kramskoj, Perov, Ge, Nesterov, Vrubel ', Petrov-Vodkin, Kandinskij, ending with the famous Black Square by Malevich, the work that in 1915 inaugurated the entire abstract current of contemporary art. Nor can one elude the historical and diplomatic significance of the exhibition itself, which is part of a long series of initiatives in recent years. The Vatican exhibition in Moscow, in the fall of 2016, was the first sign of the "thaw" between Rome and Moscow, after the historic February embrace of the same year between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill at the airport of Havana and the previous one visit of Putin to the Vatican. The second major event, the following year, was the pilgrimage of the relic of St. Nicholas of Bari, which gathered huge crowds of Russian pilgrims in a rediscovery of common Christian roots. Since then, meetings, conferences, exhibitions and cultural exchanges have been taking place at all levels: academic, devotional, ecclesiastical and popular, especially humanitarian and charitable, to indicate the possible path of Christian unity and unity of peoples. The Patriarchate of Moscow, in particular, intends to affirm the principle that the ecumenism of the third millennium should not seek dogmatic understandings or formal unions between the local Churches, but recognize the dignity and importance of each of them through the rediscovery of history and culture. This criterion was enthusiastically accepted by the Holy See, which puts its best forces into action in the many initiatives. On the contrary, the friendship of spirit and art has been blatantly contradicted in recent weeks by the total crisis that has led to the division between Moscow and Constantinople on the question of the autonomy of the Church in Kiev. The neighbors seem to no longer understand each other, just as the distant ones are drawing closer: the geography of universal Christianity is profoundly changing, and to date the Church closest to the Russian Orthodox seems to be the Roman Catholic. In fact the exhibition in the Charlemagne wing can provide some explanations to this strange phenomenon, highlighting the very special cultural roots of Russian spirituality. It is in fact a combination of the Byzantine style of the ancient icons, to which the Russians know how to give an expressive force unknown to the Greeks, and the all-Western genius of modern Russian painters, who find their spiritual roots in new forms of the "oriental" heritage. The curators of the exhibition, among the most authoritative art historians of Russia, have made particularly significant choices, flanking the "Trinity" of Paisij and the "Trojka" of Perov, the icons of Baptism and of the Transfiguration with the apparitions of "Christ to the people "of Ivanov (the painting, painted in Rome, was called by Tsar Nicholas I the" manifesto of the Russian soul "), the" Red Horse "of Petrov-Vodkin with the horse of St. George the martyr and other ideas, the most striking is the combination of a great icon of the Last Judgment and the "Black Square" of Malevich, where the disappearance of all form suggests the unattainable depth of the divine. Russia is a union of East and West, and causes both worlds to rediscover their true identity: beyond the conflicts and contradictions of history, in the genius of artists we can see the path of a new beginning of the Christian world, a new hope for all humanity. Bitcoin's recent run of stability came to a dramatic end in November, when a cryptocurrency market crash saw billions of dollars wiped from its value in the space of just a few days. The collapse is the latest in a year of falling prices for the world's most valuable cryptocurrency, having traded close to $20,000 in December 2017. Ethereum, ripple and bitcoin cash have all been hit by the latest price falls, as the notoriously volatile cryptocurrency market continues to fall to new 2018 lows. All the latest news, analysis and predictions will be updated regularly here. Please allow a moment for the live blog to load... Cryptocurrency markets have lost more than $60 billion in value in less than a week, following a price crash that has caused bitcoin, ethereum and ripple to hit their lowest levels since 2017. The price falls appear even more dramatic given the remarkable period of stability that preceded them, which had prompted some analysts to warn that the lack of any major market movement since early September would likely be the "calm before the storm." Speculation around why the cryptocurrency collapse has happened focusses not on bitcoin but its spin-off, bitcoin cash. Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images On 15 November, the rival cryptocurrency experienced something called a hard fork, whereby a brand new cryptocurrency was created. This led to uncertainty in the market and a major sell-off of bitcoin cash. With a market cap of around $4 billion, bitcoin cash is the world's fourth most valuable cryptocurrency, however more than half of its value has been wiped off since last week's split. Recommended Scandal and infighting fuels the battle over bitcoin It is not clear if or when the crypto market will level out, with many of the price predictions from earlier this year now looking improbably optimistic. In April, Rodrigo Marques, CEO of investment platform Atlas Quantum, told The Independent that similar gains could be expected that saw the price of bitcoin rise close to $20,000 at the end of 2017. Several renowned figures in the space also gave extremely hopeful price predictions for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies over the coming months and years. Investor and self-described bitcoin evangelist Alistair Milne, said bitcoin would reach between $35,000 and $60,000 by 2020, while celebrated investor Tim Draper said bitcoin would soar to $250,000 by 2022. Bitcoin has suffered two major price falls in less than a week, following months of market stability (CoinMarketCap) Some analysts were able to put a positive spin on the downturn in the market, suggesting that the low prices mean it is now a buyers' market. "Just a few weeks ago crypto traders were airing concerns about the lack of volatility in the crypto market. Now volatility is back and many savvy investors will be using this as a major buying opportunity, perhaps the last one of 2018," said Nigel Green, founder and chief executive of deVere Group financial consultancy firm. "Digital currencies are the future of money and, as such, they will be capitalising on the lower prices in order to build their portfolios and shore-up their positions. "Financial traditionalists view cryptocurrencies the way traditional stores used to view online retailers. But with their hands in the sand they are failing to see that cryptocurrencies have already changed forever the way the world handles money, makes transactions, does business, and manages assets." North Korea has announced plans to hold an international blockchain and cryptocurrency conference, marking the first time industry experts have been publicly invited to the reclusive state. The Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference will take place in the nation's capital in April 2019 and attendees will be treated to a seven-day tour of the country. For 3,300 (2,900), conference delegates will be receive an all-inclusive stay in North Korea, together with activities like skating, bowling, shooting and shopping. The seventh day of the cryptocurrency conference schedule also includes a trip to the Daedonggang Beer Factory. Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images "International experts in the blockchain and crypto industry will gather for the first time in Pyongyang to share their knowledge and vision, establish connections and discuss business opportunities," a website promoting the event states. The conference is not open to citizens of Israel, Japan or South Korea, while journalists are also not allowed to attend. A note on the website also warns: "Any mass printed propaganda or digital/printed material against the dignity of the Republic is not allowed." In a FAQ section of the website, organisers address any safety concerns potential attendees may have. "The DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) can be considered the safest country in the world," it states. "As long as you have a basic common-sense and respect for the culture and belief of other nations, you'll be always welcome and enjoy like thousands of friends we've been hosting for the past 28 years and engaged in cultural, sports, science or business relations." Listed as one of the event's organisers is Chris Emms, a cryptocurrency expert who has previously advised businesses on blockchain technology and regulatory requirements in the space. His LinkedIn profile also mentions that he is serving as an expert witness for the UK's All Party Parliamentary Group on Blockchain. A promotional picture for the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference, set to take place in April 2019 (DPRK) North Korea's interest in cryptocurrency has been rumoured for several years, with two Washington-based experts claiming earlier this year that the regime is looking to the decentralised technology in order to bypass crippling sanctions imposed by the US. Pyongyang University of Science and Technology has reportedly invited cryptocurrency experts to lecture students in the past. Our teaching is intended to assist the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] by building capacity that enables effective development and benefits for the people of the DPRK, a spokesperson for the university told US-based North Korean news site NK News in 2017. We are acutely aware of sanctions issues and the risks of misuse or misappropriation of resources and know-how and take care to avoid any sensitive or proscribed areas. The debate about the volume of homework that children are being given has been bouncing around the opinion pages of broadsheets and red tops in recent weeks after Gary Lineker tweeted that it was a waste of time. As names are called and sides are taken in the debate, there are much bigger issues at stake than either side is admitting. As children are given ever more homework we must concede that cramming a childs day with indoor activities is rolling the dice with their long-term health. As adults, we now spend more time indoors than we have ever done throughout the history of our species. While our indoor habits have implications for our own health, there is more at stake when we encourage this behaviour in our children. Already, most children are schooled indoors. At the end of their day, there is perhaps an after-school club, tuition or homework to do. When all those are complete, gaming, streaming and social media beckon. As a result, nearly three-quarters of children in the UK spend less time outdoors than prison inmates. A 2016 report concluded that 12 per cent of children in the UK had not been to a park or natural environment at all in the preceding year. Short-sighted Outdoor time is essential for children because it helps their eyes, bones and immune systems develop correctly. Evidence is also mounting that it may prevent the onset of food, nut and other allergies. Babies are born longsighted, with a short eyeball that grows as their bodies do. A healthy eye stops growing when it reaches its optimum shape, but it struggles to do this without access to good quality light which is only available outdoors. Our eyes are very good at tricking us into believing that our indoor environments are well lit but even a brightly lit room cannot match the levels of outdoor light, even a cloudy day outside. The worst jobs for your health Show all 10 1 /10 The worst jobs for your health The worst jobs for your health 10. Surgical and medical assistants, technologists, and technicians Overall unhealthiness score: 57.3 What they do: Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel and perform medical laboratory tests. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 69 The worst jobs for your health 9. Stationary engineers and boiler operators Overall unhealthiness score: 57.7 What they do: Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 99 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 89 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 84 The worst jobs for your health 8. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators Overall unhealthiness score: 58.2 What they do: Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 97 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 80 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 74 The worst jobs for your health 7. Histotechnologists and histologic technicians Overall unhealthiness score: 59.0 What they do: Prepare histologic slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 76 3. Exposure to disease and infections: 75 The worst jobs for your health 6. Immigration and customs inspectors Overall unhealthiness score: 59.3 What they do: Investigate and inspect people, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the US or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 78 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 63 3. Exposure to radiation: 62 The worst jobs for your health 5. Podiatrists Overall unhealthiness score: 60.2 What they do: Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 87 2. Exposure to radiation: 69 3. Exposure to contaminants: 67 The worst jobs for your health 4. Veterinarians, veterinary assistants, and laboratory animal caretakers and veterinary technologists and technicians What they do: Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals and perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 81 2. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 75 3. Exposure to contaminants: 74 The worst jobs for your health 3. Anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and anesthesiologist assistants Overall unhealthiness score: 62.3 What they do: Administer anesthetics or sedatives during medical procedures, and help patients in recovering from anesthesia. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 94 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to radiation: 74 The worst jobs for your health 2. Flight attendants What they do: Provide personal services to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, explain use of safety equipment, and serve food or beverages. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 88 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 77 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 69 The worst jobs for your health 1. Dentists, dental surgeons, and dental assistants Overall unhealthiness score: 65.4 What they do: Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 84 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 75 3. Time spent sitting: 67 Without the correct daylight cues, the eyeball can grow too long, making the child shortsighted; at which point, they will need lenses or surgery to correct their vision. And its not just a matter of wearing glasses or paying for some laser surgery. Severe myopia about a fifth of cases can lead to blindness in older age. Even though laser surgery can restore vision, the damage done to the eye during development remains, as do the risks. Several countries in southeast Asia are well ahead of the UK in driving these indoor lifestyles. Most people in Singapore (85 per cent) are shortsighted. Throughout the region, rates are highest among the young. A staggering 96.5 per cent of 19-year-old men in South Koreas capital, Seoul, are myopic. And while there are a couple of hundred genes at play in the outcome of myopia, the numbers we are seeing are being driven by lifestyle (because its believed that genes play only a small to moderate role in the diseases architecture). Shortsightedness among the young in the UK has more than doubled in the past 50 years. It is predicted that if nothing is done to curb its spread, half the worlds population will be myopic by 2050. The sunshine vitamin Shady living is also in the frame for the return of a disease that was thought to have been eradicated after the Second World War. Sunlight is essential for our body to make vitamin D. Without it, we cannot absorb calcium and phosphate, which we need for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. Endless indoor hours are contributing to the return of rickets among children in the UK. Rickets causes pain, poor growth and soft or weak bones that bend under the weight of the torso. Vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with the rise of food and nut allergies, where scientists have noticed that the prevalence increases the further you get from the equator. A lack of outdoor time and lack of exposure to natural environments have also been linked to the huge upturn in allergies more broadly, such as hay fever and asthma, as well as type 1 diabetes. In the case of the latter, it has been suggested that rapid environmental changes and modern lifestyles are probably behind the increase. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events All of these diseases are telling us that, while urban life offers us many comforts and advantages, it is a lifestyle that is confusing to the modern human body. I know from having researched a book on the way our environment is changing us that we carry DNA that expects us to be performing a wide array of outdoor activities, and not to be spending all our time reading, streaming or playing Fortnite. Making small changes, such as giving your children more access to daylight, even when its cloudy, and encouraging regular physical activity, will set them up for a much healthier future. Getting your children to go out and play is not some hippy notion; it is an essential component of their long-term health. Vybarr Cregan-Reid is a reader in environmental humanities at the University of Kent. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com) The organisation that refused to approve Iceland's Christmas advert for TV has received a storm of abuse, its managing director has said. Clearcast, which offers guidance on clearing adverts for UK TV and radio, has been forced to close its Facebook page, shut down its switchboard and remove staff pictures from its website after people began circulating them on social media. Chris Mundy, managing director of Clearcast, said the reaction to their decision not to clear the 90-second animated commercial, which highlighted the retailers decision to remove palm oil from products, had caused staff to feel threatened. The companys decision caused an uproar with almost one million people, including celebrities like James Corden and Bill Bailey, signing a petition calling for the advert to be aired. Clearcast said it received more than 3,500 emails, 3,000 tweets and hundreds of phone calls, adding that it was unprepared for the deluge of contact. Unfortunately, this included a substantial amount of abuse and resulted in the team feeling threatened, Mundy wrote in a blog post. We had to close our switchboard and subsequently took pictures of our team off the website (they had been circulating on Twitter). He added that the organisations initial response to the furore, which claimed the ad was too political wasnt as clear as it could have been. John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 Show all 37 1 /37 John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 The Boy & The Piano John Lewis & Partners/PA John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 Behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas advert John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 Behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas advert John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 Behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas advert John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 Behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas advert John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 Behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas advert John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 Behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas advert John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 Behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas advert John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 Behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas advert John Lewis & Partners John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space In John Lewis's most experiential Christmas campaign to date, customers shopping on Oxford Street are invited to step into the set of the ad and experience if for themselves Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space John Lewiss flagship shop is hosting a 2,000 sq ft experiential space on the 3rd floor where customers can explore the dressing room, recording studio and living room sets from the ad, and interact with props, listen to recordings from Elton Johns 17-11-70 album and have photos taken at the piano Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space The set is just one of a range of ad experiences in the shop that will have customers stepping into Christmas on every floor Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space The shop, along with 14 further shops across the UK, will also have a Yamaha piano for customers to play Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space In a first for the UK high street, customers will also be able to enjoy a musical light show, being projected from the shops Oxford Street windows every 30 minutes from 4pm Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space Performing Elton Johns Christmas classic, Step Into Christmas, the shops window displays will fill Britains busiest shopping street with music and display a one minute light show to entertain passers by Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space Paul Grover John Lewis Christmas Advert 2018 John Lewis Oxford Street experiential space Paul Grover The inaccurate statement that the ad was itself political dominated the headlines, causing confusion and anger, Mundy explained. On the following Monday, we started responding clearly and openly. This didnt necessarily swing the opinions of those who didnt believe our explanation, or thought that we should ignore the rules; however, it did begin to clarify the position for others. Instead, Clearcast says that the reason for not approving the advert was due to its relationship with Greenpeace, not its content. Recommended Waitrose Christmas advert mocks John Lewis over Sir Elton John film As the broadcasters had decided they could not run the ad under the law, Clearcast had in practice no power to reverse the decision at all, Mundy said. Greenpeaces involvement in the project meant that Icelands ad contravened the UK Code of Broadcast Advertisings BCAP Code because it is a collaboration with an environmental activist group. The law states: An advertisement contravenes the prohibition on political advertising if it is: An advertisement which is inserted by or on behalf of a body whose objects are wholly or mainly of a political nature. It is intended to shield consumers from being exposed to political messages that are not clearly demarcated as such, which, in the opinion of Clearcast, is the case with Iceland's Christmas advert. Mundy concluded the blog post by saying that his team had become collateral damage in getting the message out but that the reaction meant the winner has been the environmental message that has been widely shared. On the eve of Thanksgiving, Donald Trump took a moment off protesting the result of US election to participate in one of the countrys more bizarre presidential traditions: the turkey pardon. Each November, the sitting president bestows a pardon on a turkey to a crowd at the White House, sparing it from the dinner table and the fate that befalls millions of turkeys during Thanksgiving celebrations. How did the tradition begin? Turkeys have been sent as gifts to American Presidents from as early as the 1870s as part of annual thanksgiving traditions and the official turkey presentation to the president began in 1947. The sparing of the turkey began during Ronald Reagans administration, with the president deciding to send the presentation bird to a petting zoo or farm rather than off for the chop. However, the ceremony formally cemented itself under George H W Bush, as he officially pardoned the bird in response to animal rights activists picketing nearby. Since then, it has become a time-honoured White House tradition for the president to offer clemency to a turkey, or two. The path to pardoning The lucky turkeys take convoluted and extravagant route to freedom, as explained by the White House in 2018. The presidential flock of contenders is prepared for potential stardom at the White House from an early age and the birds are acclimated to crowds, lights and standing comfortably on a table. The two prize poultry are now bestowed names and battle for the title of the official turkey title via an online poll before the winner is granted the coveted pardon. Ahead of the ceremony the birds rest in the luxurious Willard Hotel. This year's birds, Corn and Cob, were pictured reclining in their fancy hotel room ahead of the final competition for freedom. Corn and Cob, a pair of turkeys that will be pardoned by US President Donald Trump, walk inside their hotel room at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington (AFP via Getty Images) What happens to the turkey after its been pardoned? After a heated vote, Corn was declared this years winner, but fortunately the second bird is also always spared from the chop as runner-up and first alternate. The White House says that following the ceremony the birds are retired for some much-deserved rest and relaxation and neither bird makes an appearance on the White House thanksgiving dining table. Both birds from this years pardoning ceremony will retire to a new home on the campus of Iowa State University. The turkeys are said to spend the rest of their days in comfort with fresh bedding, a heater, food and water, and an indoor pavilion. Birds in previous years have been sent to a variety of locations including Virginia Techs Gobblers Rest exhibit in Blacksburg to a farm named Frying Pan Farm Park in Virginia. Some birds during the Barack Obama and George W Bush administrations were even sent to Disneyland to greet crowds in the theme park and be paraded down Main Street. Sadly the spared turkeys do not tend to live very long after their pardoning. As the animals are farm-raised and bred to be eaten, they grow larger and faster than they would in the wild and do not have a long lifespan. Marks and Spencer has come under fire for its Christmas window display, which sees women posing in fancy little knickers alongside men clad in suits. The windows form part of a wider campaign that present a series of festive must-haves and the contrast between the suggestions for both sexes has sparked outrage. One shopper spotted the display in Nottingham and said she was embarrassed by the retailers tag lines, which suggest that women need fancy little knickers this Christmas while men need outfits to impress, as modelled by David Gandy, who is pictured in an adjacent window display. Sian Steans, who is a member of the Nottingham Feminist Action Network, told HuffPost UK: "As a feminist and a mother to a young daughter I felt embarrassed that I had to yet again explain why women are depicted with so little respect." Steans decided to take action and sent the image to the organisers of FiLia, which is dubbed the largest annual feminist conference in the UK and took place in October. They concurred that the window displays were offensive, writing on Twitter: To be clear: @marksandspencer believe that the 'MUST HAVES' are: For MEN: 'outfits to impress'. For WOMEN: 'fancy little knickers'. Imagine for a moment if those window displays were reversed. Go on M&S .... we are watching. PS Who signed this off? #sexist #marksandspencer. Since it was posted on Sunday, the tweet has garnered more than 1,600 likes and 661 retweets, with many people concurring that the British retailer has missed the mark with the window displays, which form part of its wider Christmas campaign starring Holly Willoughby. So often feel like I've gone back in time at the moment. Men encouraged to be powerful and women encouraged to be sexy. Ever heard of #MeToo, wrote one person. I despair sometimes, added another. I like nice knickers. I even buy them. But to juxtapose the aspirations of men and women in this manner is enraging. Holly Willoughby stars in M&S Christmas Advert 2018 Must-Haves In response to the criticisms, an M&S spokesperson said, M&S sells more underwear, in more shapes, sizes and styles, than any other retailer, especially at Christmas. Weve highlighted one combination in our windows, which are part of a wider campaign that features a large variety of must-have Christmas moments, from David Gandy washing up in an M&S suit through to families snuggling up in our matching PJs. The Bank of England will release its assessment of the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit next week, at the request of MPs on the Treasury Select Committee. The committee asked Threadneedle Street to provide an analysis of how the EU Withdrawal Agreement will affect the Banks ability to deliver its statutory remits for monetary and financial stability, including in a 'no deal, no transition' scenario. The central bank said it had changed the date for publication of the results of its annual stress tests of the UKs major banks - during which it analyses how the countrys biggest lenders would cope with a variety of risks. The Banks Financial Stability Report will be published alongside the results of the stress tests on Wednesday, 28 December. They were previously scheduled to be released on 5 December. The timing has been changed to allow politicians to look over the Banks assessment before any parliamentary votes on Brexit. The Treasury Select Committee has previously asked the Bank to look at the scenario of transition to World Trade Organisation trading terms for the UK , which would be the default in the event of no deal. The Banks governor, Mark Carney, told the TSC on Tuesday: The question has to be: in 20 months would we be ready to have in place all the customs arrangementsthat are necessary for a WTO trading relationship with the European Union? "A transition to WTO could look like no-deal, no transition, or it could look more like a seamless move to WTO. Well just expose all that so you can have a proper assessment of it. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Earlier this month Mr Carney said he did not think the risk of no-deal was high, and when asked whether the chance of a no-deal has now risen he said: Were going to find out relatively soon! Some of you may know already. Weve always operated from the view that this might happen so get the system prepared. Weve been preparing for it since the day after the referendum effectively. Were quietly confident that we have in place all the measures we could have in place. Nissan paid huge sums to buy luxury houses around the world for its boss without any legitimate business reason, it has been alleged. Chair Carlos Ghosn used properties in Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Amsterdam and Beirut, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on Tuesday. Details of the scandal emerged after the superstar boss of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance was arrested in Japan over accusations of underreporting his income by as much as 35m. He also allegedly received compensation that was supposed to be for fellow executives. Recommended Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn arrested for allegedly underreporting salary Frances finance minister Bruno Le Maire said Renault should remove Mr Ghosn from his position. Renault will hold a board meeting on Tuesday to discuss how to deal with Mr Ghosns arrest and planned dismissal from Nissan. Mr Le Maire told broadcaster France Info that Mr Ghosn cannot lead Renault after the accusations. He urged the board to appoint temporary leadership. The minister added that French authorities have examined Mr Ghosns tax affairs in the country and found no wrongdoing. The third alliance member, Mitsubishi, said it would hold a board meeting to decide whether to dismiss Mr Ghosn as chair. Mr Ghosns arrest on Monday marked a precipitous fall for the chair of the worlds biggest car company, who had been hailed for turning round Renaults fortunes in the 1990s. A Nissan investigation revealed that, as well as underreporting his pay, Mr Ghosn had committed numerous other significant acts of misconduct including personal use of company assets, it alleged in a statement on Monday. Nissan alleged that another director, Greg Kelly, had been deeply involved in the misconduct. Shares in the company fell more than 5 per cent on Tuesday. Mr Ghosns ex-wife joined the growing multitude of critics, apparently posting an oblique reference to her former husband on social media. All narcissists are hypocrites, Rita Ghosn wrote. They pretend to have morals and values that they really dont possess. Behind closed doors, they lie, insult, criticise, disrespect and abuse. They can do and say whatever they want, but how dare you say anything back to them or criticise them. They have a whole set of rules for others, but follow none of their own rules, and practice nothing of what they preach. Mr Ghosn has worked at Nissan since 1999, when he joined as chief operating officer, and served as chief executive officer from 2001 until 2017. Before joining Nissan Mr Ghosn earned the nickname Le Cost Killer during his time at Renault due to his ruthless management strategy. Markets were lower on Tuesday as concerns about Brexit, Italy's budget woes and the US-China trade relations weighed on investors. Oil prices fell as concerns grew that there may be too much supply while the pound continued to weaken on political uncertainty. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which has been propping up the Conservatives in Parliament, refused to back the Government in a series of Commons votes on the Budget. The DUP say Mrs May's EU withdrawal agreement reached in Brussels last week breaches a guarantee that Northern Ireland would not be treated differently from the rest of the UK. Elsewhere, Bank of England governor Mark Carney has backed Theresa May's EU withdrawal plans and warned a no-deal Brexit would be the worst outcome. Sterling was down 0.3 per cent against the US dollar at 1.281, but up 0.3 per cent versus the euro to 1.125. Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 index fell 52.97 points, or 0.76 per cent, to close at 6,947.92. David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets, said investment sentiment has been slipping recently as worries about Italy, Brexit and US-China trade relationship have prompted traders to become risk-adverse. Today, we are seeing a wide-range sell-off as global sentiment has taken another turn for the worst. In Europe, the French Cac was down 1.2 per cent while the German Dax dropped 1.6 per cent. In corporate news, lender CYBG swung to a full-year loss after it was forced to take an extra 150 million charge linked to the mis-selling of payment protection insurance. The group, which owns the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks, booked a 164m pre-tax loss in the year to September, compared with a 268 million profit in 2017. EasyJet shrugged off strike woes and surging costs to notch up a 41 per cent jump in annual profits. The budget carrier reported pre-tax profits of 578m for the year to 30 September, up significantly on the 408m seen the previous year. Global catering giant Compass backed Theresa May's Brexit deal as being better than no deal as it revealed plans to begin stockpiling food if the UK looks on course to crash out of the EU. The group, which is the world's biggest catering firm, warned in its full-year results over the risks of a no-deal Brexit to its food supply and workforce. Ei Group, the UK's largest owner and operator of pubs, is preparing for a potential sale of its commercial property portfolio, in a deal which could be worth more than 400m. A barrel of Brent crude was down 0.6 per cent at $63.31 (49.44) following concerns about supply. Mr Madden said: US stockpiles are rising, the global economy is slowing, and there is a perception that future demand will be weak. To add to the mix, production from Libya has soared, and there is talk that production could be ramped up even further. The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Compass Group up 85.50p to 1,673p, Just Eat up 16.60p to 550.40p, Halma up 39p at 1,350p and 3i Group up 23p at 832.6p. The biggest fallers on the blue-chip index were Evraz down 33.20p to 515.2p, EasyJet down 64.50p to 1,110.5p, Ashtead down 89.50p to 1,708.5p and GVC down 33.50p to 746.5p. PA The Philippines, a historical ally of the United States, represents a fundamental front in the struggle between Beijing and Washington. Xi's visit emphasizes the relaxation of relations with Manila, tense during the Aquino administration for a dispute in the South China Sea. Manila hopes to sign agreements and obtain the 24 billion US dollars in investments and loans promised by China two years ago. Manila (AsiaNews / Agencies) - After 13 years since the last trip of a Chinese president to the Philippines, Xi Jinping arrived in Manila this morning for a two-day state visit. According to experts, this could redefine the geopolitical balance in Southeast Asia. The trip underlines the easing in relations between Manila and Beijing, tense during the Aquino administration over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Two years ago, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (CPA) in The Hague ruled that China "has no right" of sovereignty over disputed territories. According to the international organization, Beijing has also violated the sovereign rights of the Philippines by blocking its fishermen and building artificial islands in its Exclusive Economic Zone. Beijing refused to take part in the trial and did not comply with the ruling, which however is not binding. Having risen to power only two weeks before the Hague ruling, Rodrigo Duterte adopted a more conciliatory approach to Beijing, obtaining loans, exchanges and investments. The president often praises the Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and in February he caused a sensation when he jokingly offered him the Philippines as a new province. Analysts point out that the Philippines, the historical ally of the United States, represents a fundamental front in the struggle between Beijing and Washington for supremacy in the Pacific. During the journey of Xi, Manila hopes to sign agreements and obtain the 24 billion US dollars in investments and loans for infrastructure projects promised by Beijing two years ago. However, at the moment only a small part of the sum has entered the coffers of Manila, prompting critics to say that Duterte has been deceived. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Chinese investments in the Philippines have increased more than five times in the first six months of 2018, after a 67% expansion in the previous year. Bilateral trade has increased by more than 10% over the last two years. Chinese investors have poured large sums of money into online games, real estate, services and holdings in existing Filipino companies, but not in large-scale infrastructure or production. MDMA, the active ingredient of ecstasy pills, makes people more inclined to cooperate on tasks and quicker to rebuild trust, according to researchers investigating its use in treating psychological disorders. Scans reveal it increases activity in parts of the brain linked to empathy and social behaviour that helps interpret other peoples beliefs and intentions, researchers from Kings College London said. This could make it a useful addition to psychotherapy sessions and the drug is currently undergoing medical trials to assess its use in supporting treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding the brain activity underlying social behaviour could help identify what goes wrong in psychiatric conditions, said Professor Mitul Mehta from the Kings Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Given the social nature of psychotherapy, understanding how MDMA affects social interaction sheds light on why the drug could become a valuable tool in treating patients. While it is possible that making users more helpful and collaborative could lead to them being exploited, Professor Mehta and his team found the drug did not make users gullible. 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 After taking part in a series of challenges where the participants were able to cooperate or cheat each other, subjects on MDMA were just as likely to rate down untrustworthy as participants given a placebo. Importantly, MDMA did not cause participants to cooperate with untrustworthy players any more than normal. In other words, MDMA did not make participants naively trusting of others, Professor Mehta added. To understand how MDMA affects our brains and behaviour the team recruited 20 healthy adult men, and gave them either MDMA or a placebo while they completed a series of tasks in an MRI scanner. One of the tasks was a version of the economics puzzle, the prisoners dilemma. The task assumes two accomplices have been arrested and are being interviewed separately by the police. Each is offered a chance to turn on their partner and be released for giving evidence on a more serious crime, or stay silent and both serving a short sentence. If both partners turn on each other, then they both get a longer sentence. During the study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience on Monday, participants on MDMA were less likely to cheat their partners than those on the placebo. Where they had previously been cheated and knew their partner was untrustworthy subjects on MDMA were as likely to act selfishly as those on a placebo, however they were quicker to trust these partners again after a run of cooperation. This was backed up with patterns of brain activity, which showed MDMA lit up the superior temporal cortex and mid-cingulate cortex, regions which are known to be key in understanding and interpreting other peoples intentions and beliefs. Meanwhile the right anterior insula, a key decision-making region of the brain engaged in appraising risk and uncertainty, showed increased activity on MDMA but this decreased when working with less trustworthy partners. Using MRI scans, we were also able to see that MDMA had an impact on brain activity when processing the behaviour of others, rather than altering the decision-making process itself, said Dr Anthony Gabay, the first author of the study. As I wrote this, two events of wildly differing importance yet which share a connection were occurring. The first was that Brexit ministers were beginning to fall like dominoes, beginning with Dominic Raab and continuing on an almost hourly basis throughout the morning. The second which, admittedly, was on a much more personal level is that my latest novel has been officially published. One necessarily swamped the other, of course, in terms of relevance to the population at large. But the two things are inextricably linked, in that my latest book The Growing Pains of Jennifer Ebert is essentially about Brexit, and more specifically the generational divide the EU referendum brought into sharp relief. A man has been attacked on a bus in South Wales in what police believe is an antisemitic attack. The 38-year-old and his mother were travelling from Barry to Cardiff on Monday afternoon when another man and woman approached them and asked if they were Welsh, police said. The victims mother replied that she was born in Israel and the woman then punched the man in the eye, South Wales Police said. He was also grabbed by the mouth in an attack that left him requiring hospital treatment. The bus driver stopped the vehicle and the attackers escaped, police added. Recommended Royal Mint reject Roald Dahl commemorative coin over antisemitic views The victim was treated in hospital for facial injuries following the assault. The vehicle was near the Ty Verlon Industrial Estate at the time. Hate crime has no place in society and has always been a priority for South Wales Police, a spokesperson said. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Incidents of antisemitism have been on the rise across the UK this year, with the Community Security Trust (CST) charity, which works with police forces, recording 727 incidents across the UK in the first six months of 2018. Anyone with information about the attack is urged to call the police on 101 quoting reference 1800440009, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. A Jamaican woman who has been in the UK since she was a child is facing removal from the country after losing a court battle to secure her immigration status. Shankea Stewart, whose grandfather was a member of the Windrush generation, said she felt her life had been robbed. A judge ruled that she should go back to Jamaica despite the fact her sick father and most other family members live in Britain. The 29-year-old, who arrived in the country when she was 12 to join her father, was unable to attend her mothers funeral in the Caribbean last year due to delays in the Home Office processing her application for leave to remain. A judge ruled that Shankea Stewart should leave despite the fact her family lives in Britain (Aaron Fenton Hewitt) Her application was ultimately rejected earlier this year, at which point she was instructed to either appeal or leave the country immediately. A court recently ruled that she could return to live in Jamaica because she would be able to maintain family ties via Skype and social media. Ms Stewart, who lives in Peterborough, said her father had tried to secure her status when she arrived in 2002, but their solicitors had applied too late marking the start of many years of fighting to secure her right to remain in the UK. I came here as a child. Its not like I went to the travel agent and booked my ticket. I wasnt privy to how things worked. I wasnt responsible for myself. The UK is all I know, she told The Independent. My dad is here, my cousins are here, everyones here. But theyre saying that I can maintain contact with them through technology. My dad is a very sick man. He sleeps with an oxygen tent and he doesnt like flying. Ms Stewart first discovered there were issues with her status when she successfully applied to go to university after sitting A-levels in sociology, English literature and critical thinking, but was told she could not attend due to her immigration status. In the years that followed, she has been unable to work and has instead volunteered as a youth worker mentoring young women, living on just 50 a month and relying on support from her local church and family members. It was when I applied to uni that I realised the ramifications of it. I got into all five of my universities but I couldnt go because of these immigration issues. I wasnt able to do anything. It feels like my teenage and my twenties were robbed from me, said Ms Stewart. I have never claimed benefits and I wouldnt want to be on benefits. I want to get my degree. I want to work. But Ive not worked in my adult life. Ive never worked or had the chance to pay taxes. Britain educated me why not benefit from what youve poured into somebody? A self-proclaimed fiercely independent woman, Ms Stewart said she puts off going to the doctors when she is unwell because she is afraid people will think she is scrounging, or in the worst case, she will be refused treatment. I know the NHS is under strain, so I think, should I even go to the doctors? Or should I self-medicate? Being in this situation puts you in that mindset. One of my legs is in pain and Im wondering if Ive fractured it or something, but Im scared Id have to go to the hospital and have an operation, she said. So Im walking around with this pain and Im really scared. I dont want to have to go to the hospital. Im scared I might not even be able to get treatment at that level. Describing her reaction to the courts decision, Ms Stewart said through tears: I was quite confident. We had so much evidence. Im not a criminal. Im squeaky clean. Why am I in this situation? It feels like they dont take anything into consideration. Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Show all 15 1 /15 Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947 PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I cant face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice." PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948. Getty My life has been robbed in every aspect: financially, emotionally, personally. They robbed me from getting closure about my mums death, from living a normal life, from forming relationships. To think my grandad came to the UK in 1967 as a Windrush migrant, and then my dad came here in the Nineties and got his status. I have grand aunts and uncles who came in 1963 who were welcome here but Ive been left in limbo. People say youre not legal, go home. But I came here as a child. This is all I know. A Home Office spokesperson said: All cases are considered on their individuals merits in line with the immigration rules. The decision to refuse Ms Stewarts application has been upheld by a tribunal. Jacob Rees-Mogg has admitted the Brexiteer attempt to oust Theresa May has run into trouble after failing to trigger a Tory no-confidence ballot over her Brexit blueprint. The European Research Group (ERG) chairman sought to dampen expectations over the prospect of a leadership contest, following days of fevered speculation over whether enough Conservative MPs had submitted no-confidence letters in the prime minister. Mr Rees-Mogg insisted "patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace" when pressed on whether the necessary 48 letters had been sent to force a confidence vote at an event in Westminster. However he warned his colleagues that a confidence vote now might be their only chance to remove Ms May the next general election. Tory rebel organiser Steve Baker said it was "now or never" to oust Ms May and characterised the move as an "insurrection by a group of determined democrats" against the "might of the state". It comes after Mr Rees-Mogg issued a rallying call to other Tory MPs to topple the prime minister last week, when he joined around 26 Conservative backbenchers in publicly submitting no-confidence letters to Sir Graham Brady, of the 1922 committee. Asked why the threshold had not been met, he said: "Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace. We will see what letters come in due time. "Do 47 want to come with me or not? I may find that they don't or they don't do it today but when we get the meaningful vote. That's a decision for them." The North East Somerset MP admitted it had been "quite difficult" to get the number and warned that time was running out for rebels to act. Asked if they would struggle to secure the votes, he told reporters: "I would wait and see about that. You speak to Tory MPs and find Tory MPs who say they are really keen that Theresa May should lead us into the next general election. "Basically, if there is a vote of confidence it is not just for a year. Getting the 48 letters has shown to be quite difficult, so the idea that in a year you just repeat the process and then she would go at that point I don't think that is realistic. "I think it is now or the prime minister will lead the Conservatives into the next election. "You find MPs privately who will say to you they think that is a really good idea in any number and I would be quite surprised." He also told ConservativeHome earlier, that some people don't want a leadership vote but "would like it when the meaningful vote comes up and think that is the time to put in letters." Mr Baker, a former Brexit minister, said it was a grave decision to trigger a leadership bid and he had considerable sympathy with wavering MPs. He added: Lets not forget we are up against the full might of the state and the Tory Party. The state and the Tory Party are not timid or incompetent organisations when it comes to political organisation. A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A Peoples Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at Londons march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA This is an insurrection by a small group of determined democrats to deliver a Brexit worth having and we are fighting enormously powerful and well-organised forces who are not stupid, and occasionally they will have a small victory. The remarks came at an ERG event to launch a "myth-busting" dossier on post-Brexit customs rules, which said most of the problems ascribed to leaving the customs unions are imaginary or exaggerated. Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to work with MPs from all political parties, including Conservative rebels, to build a Commons "coalition" against Theresa May's Brexit deal. Speaking after meeting Jeremy Corbyn and other opposition party leaders in Westminster, the Scottish first minister said there was a "unity of purpose" and an agreement that "the PM's deal was a bad deal". She said that, while all options remain on the table, she hoped to convince the Labour leader to join with other parties in pushing for a fresh Brexit referendum. Despite admitting she was "frustrated" at what she called Mr Corbyn's "lack of leadership" on Brexit, Ms Sturgeon insisted she wanted to put party differences aside to build a parliamentary majority to vote down the prime minister's plans. She vowed to also work with pro-EU Tories to push for a fresh referendum on Brexit. Speaking to reporters in Westminster, Ms Sturgeon said of Mr Corbyn: "I don't think his position on Brexit has shown a lot of leadership, even until very recent days, but we've got to look ahead now. "[Labour] are not yet in a position where we can coalesce around a particular option, but rather than wringing my hands and talking about how frustrated I am about that, I'd rather see if we can build on the positive meeting we had today and get us there. It might not work but I'm going to have a go." In a further sign of the increasing willingness of opposition leaders to work across party lines to oppose Ms May's Brexit deal, she added: "I'm not sure it's going to help the job we've got to do if I spend a lot of time talking about, in very personal terms, what I think of Jeremy Corbyn. "I'm not sitting here and telling you I can guarantee that I will get to a position where the SNP and Labour, me and Jeremy Corbyn, are on the same page on this, but I feel a responsibility to have a go at that." The SNP leader also said she was willing to co-operate with Conservative MPs to build a Commons "coalition" against Ms May's proposed withdrawal agreement. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" She said: "Logic would tell you that in the interest of building a coalition against, or an alternative to, the prime minister [it makes sense to include] the more Remain-leaning Tory MPs. "I think that will inevitably happen...in terms of the softer Remain element of the Conservatives. I think they have a role to play in putting that majority together." Ms Sturgeon also met with Ms May on Thursday and re-iterated her opposition to the government's deal. Despite differences between her party and Labour on the need for a fresh Brexit referendum, the SNP leader insisted her own MPs were "on the same page" on the matter. She said: "There is a certain scepticism that a People's Vote is the salvation for Scotland given we voted Remain the first time round and there's no guarantees that in a second vote you wouldn't have the same outcome, but I still think that if we've got the opportunity UK-wide to stop Brexit, given the shambles that has been made of the negotiations, then that's something the SNP should support and that's the view of the group." No-deal Brexit will mean 'lost jobs, lower wages and higher inflation' warns Bank of England governor Mark Carney The first minister also hit out at David Mundell, the Scottish secretary, who was reported to have considered resigning in protest at Ms May's Brexit deal and what it would mean for Scotland, but remains in the Cabinet. Asked about his accusation that she secretly wanted a no-deal outcome in order to further the cause of Scottish independence, Ms Sturgeon said "you cannot take anything David Mundell says very seriously" and suggested the cabinet minister "has not got a lot of credibility left". She added: "Consistency and credibility are not David Mundell's strong suits". ID cards should be introduced in the UK as part of a new effort to control immigration without the need for Brexit, a new report has said. Tightening current rules and forcing everyone living in the UK to have an electronic identity card would address many voters concerns about immigration without the need for Brexit, the Global Future think tank said. The report was backed by Labour peer and former cabinet minister Andrew Adonis, who said Remain supporters needed to show they were responding to the issues that led people to vote for Brexit. It suggested the UK should do more within existing EU rules to tighten controls on immigration, pointing out that Britain is the only country in the bloc not to have a national ID system. Recommended Britain could stay tied to EU rules until after next general election A system of electronic ID cards that controlled peoples right to live, work, claim benefits and use public services should be coupled with a tougher approach to integration that would force immigrants to learn English, the report said. At the same time, it said, the government should plough money into strengthening communities and enforcing workers rights. Global Future said interviews with European politicians revealed widespread surprise that the UK had not made use of its current powers to manage free movement, as other EU countries have done. The report accused Theresa May of interpreting the Brexit vote to mean freedom of movement must end whatever the cost - a move it called a mistake. It suggested that British voters are not opposed to immigration in principle but want tougher action against criminals and those seen to be taking advantage of the rules. Concerns centre on four areas, the authors said: ensuring criminals are kept out, relieving pressure on public services, ensuring access to good jobs, and promoting integration. Lord Adonis said: The choice between EU membership and controlling migration is a false one. Electronic ID cards would mean we know exactly who is here and give us real control over access to out public services and entitlements. A new Strengthening Communities Fund could pump 2bn a year into the public services and infrastructure facing new demand, and we could have tougher minimum wage enforcement and new rules to ensure British workers have the first chance to apply for new jobs when they need it. These policies are practical, actionable solutions to immigration that are already being deployed across Europe. I believe strongly that they will help to persuade voters that the best way to take back control is to stay in the EU and get serious about immigration and welfare enforcement - so lets do that instead of trashing our economy on the basis of a false choice. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" Calls to resurrect proposals for introducing ID cards in the UK are likely to be condemned by civil rights campaigners. The Blair government put forward plans for a similar system but they were dropped by the Coalition following heavy opposition. Global Future said anyone planning to stay in the UK for more than 90 days should be required to have an electronic ID card that would be needed to access employment, public services, benefits and housing. Cards should be free and would cut bureaucracy by ending the need for people to have numerous official documents, such as driving licenses and national insurance cards, the authors said. The report said the system would also allow the government to keep track of where immigrants were living and working. This data could be used to inject fresh funding into public services in areas where immigration has surged. At the same time, Global Future said, the government should strengthen workers rights and set up enforcement squads to crack down on unscrupulous employers, including those that do not pay the minimum wage. And a new multi-billion pound "Strengthening Communities Fund" should be set up to help teach migrants English and encourage them to integrate within their communities, the think thank said. This would replace the existing Controlling Migration Fund. Theresa May says the declaration will end free movement 'once and for all' The investment should partly be used to reverse swingeing cuts to English language classes since 2010, it added. Peter Starkings, director of Global Future, said: Free movement has been good for Britain its boosted our economy, created jobs and helped millions of Brits live, work and study across Europe. Throwing it all away is a terrible mistake that will damage Britain and deepen the very burning injustices the prime minister has promised to address. This report sets out a better way: control free movement so that it works for Britain. At its heart is new E-ID cards controlling the right to live, work, claim benefits and use public services in Britain. This is a blueprint for free movement that works for Britain, would address public concerns and would allow Britain to maintain the close trading relationship with Europe that people want. The report said European politicians believe the UK could and should do more to restrict freedom of movement without current EU rules. Italy's former Europe minister, Sandro Gozi, told Global Future: "It is really odd that the UK hasnt introduced compulsory registration for EU citizens/ID cards, or enforced the three-month rule, as we do in Italy and other countries. They help us to keep control of free movement within the rules. David Davis has been ridiculed for suggesting the UK could enter a post-Brexit transition period after leaving the EU with no deal. The Conservative MP, who was Brexit secretary for two years before resigning in July, was branded deluded over an opinion piece which appeared to show he did not understand fundamental aspects of the withdrawal negotiations. In an article for the Conservative Home website, he wrote: If we need to leave with no deal and negotiate a free trade agreement during the transition period, so be it. Lets be clear and honest and tell the EU thats what we are prepared to do. Britain will only enter into a transition phase if the government reaches a withdrawal agreement with the EU. Mr Davis was Brexit secretary when UK and EU negotiators agreed the terms of the transition period, due to run until the end of 2020. Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, of the pro-EU group Best for Britain, said: "These comments by David Davis are completely unbelievable. He is frankly just deluded or just plain stupid. It seems like the man who was in charge of delivering Brexit doesnt understand the process. You cant have a transition without a deal and everyone knows that. The truth is that there are two genuine options available to the parliament and to the country: firstly the governments deal that loses us decision making power and would leave us worse off, and second, our current deal that would keep our prosperity, keep our say over EU laws and trade agreements and deliver what the majority of people in the UK now want. Jon Worth, visiting professor in EU policy at Brugess College of Europe, tweeted: How the sodding hell has Britain had a Brexit Minister (Davis) who does not even understand the basic scheduling of the process? Or is so mendacious or lazy he doesnt want to understand? Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Daviss opinion piece which he began by quoting a Spice Girls lyric was published as Tory Brexiteers struggled to gather support for a leadership challenge on Theresa May. What we need now is leadership and the courage and confidence to deliver for the UK, he wrote, claiming MPs, Party members and the British public are rightly dismayed with the prime ministers proposed EU deal. It is not the first time Mr Davis has been accused of failing to fully understand the Brexit negotiations. Former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, speaking about the implications for the Irish border, said in January: I continue to have my doubts does he understand this stuff? Mr Davis was also widely ridiculed for suggesting three weeks after the EU referendum that Britain would have completed most of its global trade deals within between 12 and 24 months. The Independent has contacted Mr Daviss office for comment. The Democratic Unionist Party has warned Theresa May to keep her side of the bargain on Brexit if she wants to save the deal that props her up in power. The prime ministers partner in government stepped up its threats after refusing to support her in key Budget votes in a direct breach of the terms of the confidence and supply agreement. The move triggered Labour claims that we no longer have a functioning government and that her grubby deal with the DUP has come back to bite her. John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said: If a party in government cannot command a majority in parliament, it should stand aside and allow the opposition party the opportunity to seek to form a government. There was no official comment early today from Downing Street on whether the agreement with the DUP struck last year, after Ms Mays botched election campaign had been fatally undermined. But Sammy Wilson, the DUPs Brexit spokesman, said its message was: Weve got an agreement with you, but youve got to keep your side of the bargain otherwise we dont feel obliged to keep ours. The DUP refused to vote alongside the Conservatives on four parts of the Finance Bill, which enacts the Budget and, without which, a government cannot function. It abstained on three measures and voted with Labour on a fourth, to review the impact of the increases to the personal tax allowance on child poverty. The government escaped defeat because Labour was blindsided by the revolt and failed to muster enough MPs, losing by five votes. Jeremy Corbyn was among those who were absent. The confidence and supply agreement commits the DUP to back the government on all motions of confidence; and on the Queen's Speech; the budget; finance bills. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" Explaining its decision, Mr Wilson said the prime minister had seriously broken its commitment that Northern Ireland would not be treated differently from the rest of the UK in the Brexit agreement. Since the government has not honoured its side of the bargain we tonight tried to spell out some of the consequences of that, Mr Wilson said. The East Antrim MP denied the confidence and supply agreement was dead already, arguing that none of Monday night's votes were intended to damage the government fiscally. But he stressed the political message, adding: The prime minister has undermined her own authority with her own party and with our party by blatantly breaking promises about what she would deliver in the Brexit deal with the European Union. Under the fixed term parliament act, the government will not collapse unless the DUP sides with opposition parties to defeat it in a formal vote of no confidence in the Commons, which remains highly unlikely. It is expected to continue, but in danger of failing to secure a Commons majority if the 10 DUP MPs vote against as they have vowed to do on the Brexit agreement, next month. Significantly, only about 430m of the 1bn set aside for Northern Ireland has been delivered so far, with the rest not due to come until the 2019-20 financial year. Jon Trickett, Labour's shadow cabinet office minister, said: We no longer have a functioning government. With Brexit only a few months away something has got to give. And David Lammy, a Labour supporter of the anti-Brexit Best for Britain group, said: The prime ministers grubby deal with the DUP has come back to bite her. Theresa May has lost the confidence and supply of the DUP because of her dreadful Brexit deal. A Liberal Democrat MP is facing calls to have the party whip removed over he vowed to vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal. Stephen Lloyd provoked fury among party members he would break from the rest of his party in order to back the agreement when it is MPs are given a "meaningful vote" on the deal next month. The Eastbourne MP said during last week's election campaign that he would support the deal Ms May brought back from Brussels and last week insisted he would keep his promise. His constituency voted in favour of Brexit by 57 per cent to 43 per cent. Recommended Government to publish analysis comparing Brexit deal to staying in EU But more than 70 Lib Dem activists, including councillors and parliamentary candidates, said he should be booted out the party if he follows through on his pledge. In an open letter, seen by Politics Home, they wrote: The prime minister's deal offers nothing that could be construed as a liberal, or Liberal Democrat, policy position when it comes to our future relationship with the European Union. It strips the EU citizenship that was the birthright of millions of our citizens in a vast raid on individuals' rights, and shuts off the four freedoms, endangering people's livelihoods across Britain. Nobody has been able to put this damaging deal to the people either at an election or through a people's vote, and nobody therefore has a direct mandate to support it. They added: This is the most important issue of this political generation: we do not believe that those who actively vote for an illiberal deal at the end of an isolationist process can be seen as acting in any way within the wide spectrum of beliefs that our party seeks to contain. It is with sadness but resolve that we therefore call upon the parliamentary party to suspend the whip from Stephen Lloyd. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" Mr Lloyd insisted he would not be swayed. He said: I campaigned and publicly debated for Remain during the 2016 referendum, and still believe that remaining within the European Union is in the best interests of our nation. I also made a promise during the campaign that I would not support calls for a second referendum, and would support the final negotiated deal the prime minister brings back to the Commons. And as my constituency Eastbourne knows, when I give my word to the town I keep it. Another of the party's MPs, Norman Lamb, has also refused to say how he will vote on the deal. His constituency, North Norfolk, voted 59 per cent to 41 per cent in favour of Leave Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) On October 18, Pat Bringas received a decision from the the Civil Registry Office in Manila to grant the petition which officially changes her legal name on her birth certificate. Her birth-assigned legal name was Patrick. "Hindi ko alam na posible pala siya [I didn't think it was possible]," Bringas said. Bringas, a trans woman who works in the media industry, said she had her petition posted for four months on the wall in her office cubicle. Her parents even expressed support for the move. "Medyo sila din 'yung nagpu-push sa akin. Kasi sila din pag tinatawag ako sa bangko, o sa hospital, Patrick. (Sasabihin nila), 'Papalitan mo na nga 'yan. Hindi naman bagay,'" she said. [Translation: They were also the ones who pushed me to do it, because they see that when I'm called in the bank or the hospital, it's Patrick. They would say, 'Have your name changed. It doesn't suit you.'] Bringas' feminine gender identity is in conflict with her previous masculine name -- a name which appeared on all of her legal documents. An annotation on the side of Pat Bringas' birth certificates shows that her previous name Patrick has been officially changed to its shorter derivation, Pat. Under Articles 407 and 408 of the Civil Code, substantial changes may be made to the entries at the civil registry through a petition. Entries that can be changed include births, marriages, deaths, legal separations, annulments, adoptions, loss or recovery of citizenship, and the name change. Her transgender identity has since been accepted by her parents, after she identified herself as a woman upon joining a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group in college. She admitted her family struggled at first, due to a lack of awareness of the concepts of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE). "When I was young, ang tawag ni Daddy sa'kin 'Boy'. Yun ang palayaw niya sa akin. And, lately lang niya nasabi sakin kung bakit. It's because noong bata daw ako, parang nakalimutan ko daw na boy ako, so he had to remind me," she said. [Translation: When I was young, Daddy called me 'Boy.' And it was only until late that he explained why. It's because when I was still a kid, he thought I forgot how to be a boy, so he had to remind me.] While Bringas has identified as a woman, the law, however, does not. Her birth certificate identifies her as a male, which corresponds to her sex. "I wasn't able to change my name because I'm trans. I was able to change my name because of legal loopholes that I had to take advantage of," she said. She, however, pays it no mind for now. "I have to make do with just changing my name. Kasi feeling ko naman, less na na-notice 'yung [Cause I feel we notice less the] gender marker than the first name," she explained. This was not always the case. Before, some transgender women could change their gender markers under Republic Act 9048, or the Clerical Error Law of 2001. The local Office of Civil Registry may approve the change provided there was proof that the petitioner has not undergone a sex reassignment surgery (SRS)--the medical procedure involving the change of genitalia, a 2018 United Nations report showed. The UN report explained that since local civil registry offices are in charge of correcting these clerical errors, modifications to gender markers somehow passed through. But all these changed with the 2007 Supreme Court ruling against Mely Silverio, a trans woman, who went under sex reassignment surgery. The high court affirmed the ruling of the Court of Appeals, which implemented the Clerical Errors Law's provisions on strictly not granting changes in gender markers. However, the SC said it ruled against Silverio on the grounds that there was no law which dealt with the change of first name following sex reassignment surgeries. Transgenderism, which contains a spectrum of dissociations between sex (physical anatomy) and gender (social and personal role), is just one of the many SOGIEs. And as these identities and sexualities continue to get mixed up in understanding, as well as defy heterosexual standards, members of the LGBT community are subject to discrimination, and worse, hate crimes. One of the most prominent cases was that of Jennifer Laude, who was strangled to death by then 19-year-old U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton. The U.S. soldier reportedly choked her after finding out that Jennifer was born male. READ: Revisiting the Jennifer Laude case READ: Jennifer Laude documentary "Call Her Ganda" is required viewing On the other hand, the country has also celebrated its first transgender woman in the 17th Congress. The election of Bataan First District Representative Geraldine Roman was then followed by the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill at the House of Representatives. Trans woman Geraldine Roman is one of the authors of the Anti-Discrimination Bill, a bill which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (SOGIE). But the pioneer lawmaker said she is frustrated, since the passage of laws which cater to the rights of transgender people is still being hindered by misunderstandings surrounding SOGIE. "I remember during my privilege speech to launch the Anti-Discrimination Bill, they kept on asking me to explain the differences," Roman told CNN Philippines. "Cause I think we have already gone forward with that. Also, you know exposure, aside from their direct experience with me, they have also been exposed to media, and also to some television programs and series that fortunately have been produced in the past few years which explains the differences between these two concepts." Roman had her gender marker changed 24 years ago after going under the knife for SRS. The daughter of former Bataan representatives, Roman petitioned before the Regional Trial Court in Balanga, Bataan right after. She got a favorable ruling, and she was not questioned by the Office of the Solicitor General, unlike Silverio. But the lawmaker said Silverio's case opens a window for a law to recognize transgender individuals. She then added that she has since drafted a gender recognition bill yet to be released, which allows the change in the markers in birth certificates and other government documents. However, her draft bill only covers those transgender individuals who have gone through the surgery -- and she argued that this was the only way lawmakers at the House will support it. "You have people who actually think that if you have a vagina, you're a female. If you have a penis, you're a male. This is the type of people I have to work with. So I cannot introduce very advanced concepts," Roman said. Not all transgender people have to go under the knife, as not all of them report gender dysphoria -- or an internal conflict between sex and gender. Some are happy with their genitalia, and are content with how they express their gender. This is the case of Slac Cayamanda, a 32-year-old trans man, who despite being born female, is content with his vagina. "I'm very happy. When people tell me, 'What kind of a guy are you, of a male are you?' I tell them, 'I'm a man without a d*ck. Get over it,'" he said. Slac Cayamanda, a home-based employee, said he avoids working in office spaces due to discrimination against members of the LGBT community. Cayamanda, however, would want to modify other parts of his body to match what he feels inside. "Actually, I've settled with not taking hormonal replacement therapy. But I am going to have a top surgery. Maybe in two or three years time, depending on the budget," he said. The top surgery or the removal of the breasts may cost as high as 100,000 pesos depending on the size. Meanwhile, Bringas is not happy with her sexual organs. "Ayaw ko munang magpa-opera, kasi ang hirap ng recovery," she said. "Hindi ko rin pine-pressure sarili ko." [Translation: I don't want to go through an operation yet, because recovery is difficult. I'm not pressuring myself either.] Bringas said the cost to have a vaginoplasty will cost as high as half-a-million pesos. And this is why for transgender activist Naomi Fontanos of Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas, Roman's proposal to make surgery a requirement for changing gender markers is unacceptable. "Trans people don't have to change their bodies to change their legal documents. Some trans people may have diseases that would endanger them if they undergo these very sensitive medical procedures, and of course, most importantly, it's a trans person's choice," Fontanos said. The trans activist also said the procedure can be very expensive and inaccessible for those who cannot afford it. "She has to consult the people who will be affected by that law directly," she added. Transgender advocate Naomi Fontanos is a feminist and a trans activist. Fontanos said lawmakers such as Roman should instead concentrate on an enabling environment for trans people -- including catering to trans-specific medical needs, and addressing the vulnerability of the group to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS) epidemic in the Philippines. But for Roman, the matter of passing a gender recognition is law is just as political as it is public service. "There are concepts that will never," she laughed. "Never be understood by the people I have to work with here in Congress. So I have to introduce something palatable to them. Many will bash me. But believe me, this is the only strategic and feasible option." While remaining an ally and representative of the LGBT sector in the House, Roman explained that the community must not have too many battlefronts. She then said, "I cannot behave like an activist in the House. I cannot. This is not how we get my colleague's signatures. This is not how we get their support for our legislative measures." Roman then explained her focus now is getting the Anti-Discrimination Bill passed. The bill was unanimously approved in the lower House, but has been pending for already 18 months at the Senate. "Because we're talking about the right to work," she said. "The right to study, the right to receive services from the government. The right to enter and access public places and facilities. The right not to be insulted. These are basic. I mean, you won't die if you don't get married, right? But if you're not able to work, or study at that? I mean, it's so hard to be LGBT? Can you imagine being LGBT and poor, and unemployed? That's double marginalization, triple marginalization." But for Bringas -- and other people like her -- the possibility of their genders being legally acknowledged by the state remains looming in the horizon. As a gender recognition law remains in the pipeline, so do their rights. "It is necessary. Pero it's just that hindi pa siya possible dito, so ayaw ko lang umasa. So tina-target ko lang 'yung mga possible, in my situation," Bringas said. [Translation: It is necessary. But it's just that it's not yet possible here, so I don't want to get my hopes up. I'm just targetting what's possible in my situation.] You've probably seen this photo on my IG page. Yes, I brought with me my newest Anello bag from the Holiday 2018 Collection. When you see my other travel posts, I usually bring my Anello backpack with me, but since I am traveling with Kyle this time, I need everything right in front of me (literally). Wet wipes? Handkerchief? Tissue? Alcohol? Camera? Everything's easy-to-reach with my Anello Boston Bag! But, this Japanese brand has more than just backpacks and shoulder bags, for this year's Holiday Collection, it gets more exciting with PLAIDS! The Autumn/Winter 2018 trend has a new selection of bags with 1990's inspired patterns, designs, colors and materials. You can be rebellious, grunge or fashion forward with these plaids, tartans and checks. While this particular one screams "Cher" of Clueless! This naman is like the pattern of Kilts! Aside from plaids, they also launched neutrals.. adding to the wide range of colors they launched 3 new shades. Gray, black and navy were highlighted in the SM MOA branch and there are medley of straps and patches. For a small fee, customers can have their initials embossed onto the signature Anello patch. Tip: Also a great gift idea as you can have the recipient's initials embossed too! My mom would LOVE this! This is also a nice kind of green. This won! All pieces from the new collection are available at all 36 Anello Stores nationwide. For more information visit Anello Philippines Official on Facebook and follow them on Instagram P.S. Want to own an Anello back? Visit my Instagram page and I am giving away 1 for my reader! Which particular bag from the collection caught your attention? Keep smilin' Stay happy! You can choose the color combination that speaks YOU. This plaid reminds me so much of highschool life.A closer look, it took me awhile to finally pick the right shade I want for this Holiday!And if you are into colors, I was able to catch this one - not part of the Holiday Collection but new to my eyes!So far, I am grateful with my Boston Bag, it is very functional, easy-to-use and it works with any outfit! Theresa May will travel to Brussels on Wednesday for a critical meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker ahead of this weekends Brexit summit. Downing Street confirmed the trip would see Ms May push for progress on outlining future relations between the UK and the EU after Brexit. The meeting will follow a cabinet on Tuesday at which the prime minister is expected to come under pressure to reopen parts of the withdrawal agreement already settled between negotiators. It comes after her Northern Irish DUP allies in government warned Ms May she could not count on their support if she sticks to her course, signalling their anger by refusing to back an element of her Finance Bill. Since Brexit negotiators reached an agreement on the withdrawal section of the deal, intense negotiations have been continuing in Brussels to nail down the political declaration on the future relation with the two elements together forming the overall agreement that will be approved at a summit on Sunday. The 25 November summit will see leaders of the remaining 27 EU states asked to put their stamp on the overall deal before ratification with a vote expected in London in early December before one in the European Parliament. A group of cabinet ministers will make the case on Tuesday morning for trying to gain additional measures in the withdrawal agreement relating to the current solution for what happens to the Irish border if no future trade deal is reached by the end of 2020. On the continent, Spain has also threatened to reject the withdrawal agreement unless last-minute changes are introduced on the treatment of Gibraltar in relation to future trade deals. Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell: Spain will not back Brexit deal over issue of Gibraltar Both Ms May and senior figures in the EU have indicated the withdrawal agreement cannot be reopened, but the prime minister has suggested there will be further positives for the UK in the future relations document still being outlined. Ms May started her Tuesday by insisting that her draft deal puts Northern Ireland in a fantastic position for the future. In an opinion piece published in the Belfast Telegraph, the Prime Minister claimed the regions constitutional status within the UK had been guaranteed in the agreement. The challenge of Brexit has always been to continue our deep trading links and security co-operation with the EU in our new relationship, whilst freeing us to take advantage of the opportunities, such as an independent trade policy, she wrote. This deal strikes that balance, and puts Northern Ireland in a fantastic position for the future. A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A Peoples Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at Londons march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA It appeared to be an attempt to address concerns being expressed by her DUP allies, who are propping up her government in the house of commons. With the divide between the DUP and Conservatives growing, the Northern Irish party joined with Labour to cut the governments majority to just five in vote on the Budget on Monday. They also abstained on a series of other amendments to the Finance Bill in a move intended to send a political message to prime minister. Their actions appeared to call into question the future of the confidence and supply arrangement they sealed with Ms May after the 2017 election Under the terms of the deal, the Northern Ireland party is supposed to back the government on Budget matters and on confidence votes, but DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said Ms Mays deal with Brussels breached a fundamental assurance that Northern Ireland would not be separated constitutionally or economically from the rest of the UK. The UK will be frozen out of EU decisions on no fewer than 182 new rules in the months after Brexit, a new analysis says, including over budget spending, road signs and drinking water. The full scale of fresh regulations in the pipeline during Theresa Mays planned 21-month transition period exposes the blunder of making Britain a rule-taker, not a rule-maker, it warns. During that transition, the UK will be bound by Brussels decisions but without any ministers in the EU council, or MEPs in the European parliament, to influence them. Now the campaign for a Peoples Vote on the Brexit outcome has examined the decisions expected before 2020, which also include alcohol-taxing and rules for UK investment funds. This analysis sets out for the first time the full scale of the UKs capitulation under this so-called deal, said Chris Bryant, a Labour supporter of Peoples Vote. The prime ministers deal would weaken our ability to have a say in over 180 crucial decisions that are going to be made in Europe while the UK is in transition meaning we have to abide by their rulings but have no say and no ability to protect Britains interests. This dodgy deal will leave Britain frozen out of decision making and forced to pay billions of Euros for the privilege. The argument goes to the heart of criticism by both pro and anti-Brexit MPs that the UK will be a vassal state during the transition phase. A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A Peoples Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at Londons march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA Because the EU has insisted meaningful trade talks cannot begin until after the UK leaves next March, they are expected to take far longer than the 21 months set aside. For that reason, Ms May has floated the idea of extending the transition and left open the possibility it will stretch until December 2022, as Brussels has suggested. The analysis of the work programme through to 2020 shows the European Commissions planned decisions for the transition period include: Allocation of the EUs budget for the years after 2020, which will leave the UK without a say on how our own money is spent if the transition is extended New rules for excise duties for different strength alcohols imported or exported in the EU over which the UK will lose an exemption New rules for road markings and road signs throughout the EU New rules for how joint investment funds can be distributed across the bloc New rules for what defines suitable drinking water across the EU Also in the pipeline are regulations on road infrastructure and tunnel safety, whistleblower protection, safeguarding competition in air transport and returning illegal migrants. The study follows the defence secretary Gavin Williamsons attack on absolutely crazy plans for an EU army despite criticism that Brexit will remove the UKs veto. Mr Bryant added: MPs must block this deal and then hand the final say on this crucial decision back to the public because only the people can sort this out. Downing Street has been asked to respond to the criticism. Theresa May's ability to maintain her governing majority has been thrown into doubt after DUP MPs, whose votes she relies on, pulled their support during a dramatic evening in the House of Commons. Arlene Foster's party abstained on a series of key budget votes in protest at Ms May's proposed Brexit deal, which it has vowed to vote against. The move appears to violate the terms of the DUP's confidence and supply agreement with the Conservatives and raises fresh questions over the ability of Ms May government to pass crucial legislation. Under the terms of the deal, the DUP agreed "to support the government on all motions of confidence, and on the Queen's Speech, the Budget, finance bills, money bills, supply and appropriation legislation and Estimates". Downing Street has previously insisted the pact remains in place, despite the DUP's staunch opposition to the government's Brexit plans. The Northern Irish party has said it will not be able to support Ms May's deal unless she ditches the proposed backstop, which would see increased regulatory checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The DUP's decision to withdraw its support during votes on the Finance Bill on Monday night casts further doubt over the future of its agreement with the Tories. All eight of the party's MPs present in the Commons abstained on three votes, and even joined forces with Labour to support one amendment relating to child poverty. Sources suggested the move was a warning shot to Ms May over her Brexit plan. It will come as a further blow to the beleaguered prime minister as she attempts to build support for her Brexit deal while staving off a backbench rebellion and the threat of a no confidence vote against her. Jon Trickett, Labours shadow minister for the cabinet office, said: "We no longer have a functioning government. With Brexit only a few months away something has got to give." Ms May was forced to strike the "confidence and supply" arrangement with the DUP, secured with almost 2bn of additional funding for Northern Ireland, after she lost her majority at the snap general election in June 2017. She is almost certain to need the party's support if she is to have any hope of getting her Brexit deal through Parliament. However, Ms Foster has dismissed claims that the prime minister's plan is the only alternative to a no-deal Brexit as a "false choice" and insisted a legal backstop is not needed to maintain an open border in Northern Ireland. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" Responding to Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying he was "not contemplating" a hard border in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the DUP leader claimed the row over the managing of the border was "only ever a negotiating tactic by the European Union". She said: "The Taoiseach's comments that the Irish government is not contemplating a hard border in the event the withdrawal agreement is rejected by Parliament underlines why a focus on the backstop was only ever a negotiating tactic by the European Union. "We have been told that the backstop is only necessary to prevent such a hard border, but these comments make it clear that the EU's insistence on a backstop was not aimed at this. The European Union's focus on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic has only ever been a negotiating tactic to secure its own aims in the negotiations." She added: "The comments also further underscore how the inclusion of a border down the Irish Sea within the current withdrawal agreement is not only unacceptable, but is also unnecessary. "The withdrawal agreement was based on the false choice that an internal UK border was the only way to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic." The latest blow for Ms May came as ministers were forced to back down and agree to publish economic analysis comparing the consequences of the prime minister's deal with the option of remaining in the EU. Facing the prospect of a humiliating Commons defeat after a backbench rebellion, the government said it would release the assessments before MPs vote on the proposed withdrawal agreement. The analysis is expected to show that staying in the EU would be better for the economy than Ms May's planned deal. Theresa May has been accused of fuelling hate crime after she appeared to suggest that EU citizens living in the UK benefited from being able to jump the queue. The prime minister said changes after Brexit mean EU citizens will no longer be given an advantage over people coming from the rest of the world. Her comments, made in a speech at the CBI conference, were attacked by Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon. Calling the remark offensive and disgraceful, the SNP leader said: "That the case for Brexit has been reduced to such a miserable and self-defeating bottom line is depressing in the extreme. Let's lift our sights higher than this. "Actually, the more I think about it, the more offensive 'jump the queue' is as a description of a reciprocal right of free movement. Really disgraceful." And writing for HuffPo, Tanja Bueltmann, pro vice-chancellor and a history professor at Northumbria University, said: "Mays words today are not only insulting, but also directly harmful. They continue to invoke the lies that EU citizens here have not contributed. "It is in such rhetoric that we can find the roots of hate against us. This hate can manifest in verbal abuse from telling us to f*** off back to the s***hole we came from to labelling us enemy aliens but it is not its only form. "Home Office figures clearly show a rise in hate crimes against EU citizens, and police already predict another rise as Brexit day comes closer. The EU referendum, and everything May and her government have done since then, directly enabled this." Accusing Ms May of "pinning people against people, casting one group as better than another", she added: "That is despicable. And it is one of the hallmarks of xenophobia. As a result, there can now be no doubt that EU citizens need to brace themselves for yet more hate over the coming months." Downing Street said the prime minister recognised the important contribution made by EU migrants in the UK.Ms Sturgeon will meet Ms May on Wednesday evening to discuss Brexit. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" The government has put forward proposals for a new immigration system that will come into effect once the Brexit transition period ends. It will prioritise granting visas to workers with skills the UK needs, and will treat EU citizens the same as people from non-EU countries. Ms May also faced criticism from Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliaments Brexit co-ordinator. He said: "EU citizens living, working, contributing to UK communities, didn't 'jump the queue' and neither did UK nationals in Europe. "They were exercising rights which provided freedom and opportunities. We will fight to ensure these continue in the future, especially after any transition." The 3.5 million EU citizens living in the UK will have to apply for leave to remain in the country after Brexit, although the government has said it wants them to stay. However, after the transition period, EU nationals will not be able to move freely to the UK, and will instead have to apply for a visa along with everyone else. Of the plan, Ms May told the CBI: "It will no longer be the case that EU nationals, regardless of the skills or experience they have to offer, can jump the queue ahead of engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi. "Instead of a system based on where a person is from, we will have one that is built around the talents and skills a person has to offer." No-deal Brexit will mean 'lost jobs, lower wages and higher inflation' warns Bank of England governor Mark Carney Groups representing EU citizens in the UK condemned the prime ministers comments. Writing in the Evening Standard, Maike Bohn of The 3 Million said: Theresa May's comment at the CBI conference that her Brexit deal will stop EU citizens 'jumping the queue' is wrong on every level - morally factually and economically. Mrs May paints a picture of faceless EU citizens preventing highly skilled fellow Commonwealth citizens from, say, India and Australia working in the UK but the rigid regulations created by Mrs May herself make it hard for Commonwealth citizens to work in the UK. The government is cranking up the anti-EU citizens rhetoric yet again to sell its Brexit deal. I appeal to the British public not to buy it." Asked about the backlash, Ms Mays official spokesman said: "We have always been clear of the important contribution which EU citizens make to our economy and to public services. "The point the prime minister is making is that we wish to have a global system where people's skills are the basis on which they are able to work in the UK. He added: "At the moment, we have two systems in place - one for people coming to the UK from outside the EU and one for people coming under the rules of free movement. "It's a fact that people coming under the system of free movement don't need a visa and those from outside the EU do." Theresa May heads to Brussels on Wednesday to meet Jean-Claude Juncker in a bid to hammer out the final details of the Brexit deal with the EU. The prime ministers visit comes days ahead of a European summit to sign off the agreement, but amid a heated row in her own party over whether it should be backed. Ms Mays Northern Irish DUP partners in government, Labour, Conservative rebels and even a number of Tories in the partys moderate centre have all said openly they will oppose the plan when it comes to a vote in the Commons. The prime minister did appear to be making a little progress in her attempts to overcome some Tory objections to the withdrawal agreement part of the deal. She has also avoided a vote of no confidence in her leadership for the time being. Ms May will see European Commission president Mr Juncker in the late afternoon on Wednesday with talks focussing on details of the outline future relationship. On Thursday Ms May will also hold discussions with the chancellor of Austria, who holds the rotating presidency of the European Council. A Downing Street spokesperson said the meetings should be seen as part of the negotiations on the outline future framework the part of the Brexit deal broadly setting out the shape of post-Brexit relations with the EU. But it is the withdrawal agreement part of the Brexit deal containing the controversial Irish backstop that continues to cause No 10 problems at home. No-deal Brexit will mean 'lost jobs, lower wages and higher inflation' warns Bank of England governor Mark Carney DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds renewed his call for Ms May to ditch her proposed version, saying: With the rejection of the prime ministers withdrawal agreement on all sides of the House and across all parties, it is increasingly clear this deal does not have support necessary to pass the meaningful vote in parliament. In a sign that the Tories relationship with the DUP is crumbling, the Northern Irish party withheld their votes during parts of the Finance Bill on Monday. It emerged that former foreign secretary Boris Johnson Ms Mays leadership rival will attend the DUPs conference in Belfast this weekend, as well as chancellor Philip Hammond representing the government. A large amount of opposition to Ms Mays deal is around what happens to keep the Irish border open if no new trading relationship has been fully agreed by the end of the transition period in December 2020. Until now the prime minister has said that the current withdrawal agreement includes two options, an extension to the transition period or the backstop, a form of customs union hated by Brexiteers because to leave it the UK needs the mutual consent of the EU. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" In a bid to assuage Brexiteers, Downing Street said the current agreed text could also allow for a third option whereby alternative arrangements are found, possibly including a technological solution that would avoid checks at the border, but mean the UK can still leave the customs union. While many believe the technology needed for such a solution is not yet advanced enough, Brexiteers including former cabinet minister David Davis have argued that it could be the key. But while some may be persuaded by the move, others like chair of the European Research Group (ERG) Jacob Rees-Mogg are unlikely to be convinced. An attempt by the ERG to raise the needed 48 letters from Tory MPs to trigger a vote of no confidence appeared to finally peter out on Tuesday, but Mr Rees-Mogg signalled that the danger was not over yet. He said: I think it is now or the prime minister will lead the Conservatives into the next election. You find MPs privately who will say to you they think that is a really good idea in any number and I would be quite surprised. Politicians in Ohio are considering passing a bill that could allow abortions to be punishable with life sentences in prison and even the death penalty. The proposed law, House Bill 565, would extend the definition of a person in Ohio's criminal code to include the "unborn human". This would mean that a foetus, from conception to birth, would be considered a person, leaving people who perform or undergo abortions vulnerable to severe criminal penalties. House Bill 565 makes no exception for pregnancies arising from rape or incest or which risk the life of the mother. The Ohio legislature is controlled by the local Republican party. The bill would not only criminalise abortion but also defines the process as "causing the death of an unborn human, by any method, including, but not limited to, chemical methods, medical methods, and surgical methods." World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Although the document does not include miscarriages, it is unclear how an unintended termination would be proven by a woman or doctor under scrutiny. The bill was proposed in March and is awaiting consideration by the legislature's health committee. House Bill 565 is only the latest bill to be introduced in the Ohio legislature that seeks to severely limit abortion rights. The so-called 'heartbeat bill', which would criminalise performing abortions at the point a foetal heartbeat is detected, was passed by the Ohio House of Representatives on 15 November. Most women are unaware of their pregnancy at this point. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Doctors who perform an abortion on a foetus with a heartbeat could be punished with up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine, according to The New York Times. The 'heartbeat bill' will now pass to the Ohio state Senate. Governor John Kasich has threatened to veto the controversial bill if it reaches his desk, according to local newspaper The Columbus Dispatch. A 3/5 majority vote in both the Ohio House of Representatives and state Senate would be needed to override the Republican governor's veto. The deadly California wildfires were exacerbated by radical environmental groups who have sought to reduce forest thinning, US Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke has said. The Cabinet official in part blamed organisations who filed lawsuits in recent years to prevent certain forest management practices for the state's deadliest ever blaze. Mr Zinke said the historic fires were the result of radical environmental groups that would rather burn down the entire forest than cut a single tree or thin the forest. Recommended California communities begin recovery amid massive wildfires Yes, I do lay it on the feet, of environmentalists, he added. Remains of 79 victims have so far been recovered since the Camp Fire erupted earlier this month and largely obliterated the town of Paradise, a community of nearly 27,000 people. Fires in southern California have killed another three people. Mr Zinke did not name specific groups, saying he did not want to finger point. He said other variables, such as hotter temperatures, historic drought conditions, and plenty of dead and dying trees also were also to blame. His comments Tuesday echoed an interview he gave to right-wing website Breitbart this week in which he supported Donald Trumps theory - refuted by state officials and experts - that the wildfires were worsened by poor forest management practices. The president is absolutely right. This is as much about mismanagement over time, he said. I will lay this on the foot of those environmental radicals that have prevented us from managing the forests for years and, you know what, this is on them. 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 Meanwhile, California firefighters are still attempting to gain control of several fires raging across the state, with heavy rains raising the risk of mudslides throughout the region. State officials warned people to be alert to the risk of sudden flows of debris down the scorched, denuded slopes of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Smoke from the fires and poor air quality has lead to school closures, while flights in and out of San Francisco have experienced major delays and cancellations just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Although wildfire damage can be immeasurable, the danger is not over after the flames are put out, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said in a statement on Tuesday. The remains of 79 victims have been recovered since the Camp Fire erupted on 8 November and largely obliterated the town of Paradise, a community of nearly 27,000 people about 175 miles (280 kilometres) north of San Francisco. The Butte County Sheriffs Office has tentatively identified 64 of the victims, while the missing persons list kept by the sheriffs office still had 699 names on it as of Monday night. That number has fluctuated dramatically in the past week, however, as additional people were reported missing and as others initially listed as unaccounted for either turned up alive or were identified among the dead. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events As of early Tuesday, the fire had torched more than 151,000 acres of parched scrub and trees and incinerated about 12,000 homes, Cal Fire said. Efforts to suppress the flames were likely to benefit from a storm expected to dump as much as 4 inches of rain north of San Francisco between late Tuesday and Friday. Reuters contributed to this report Donald Trumps administration has been blocked from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the US-Mexico border illegally, after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order. The order had been requested by two US civil rights groups, which launch legal action after the president announced restrictions intended to stop caravans of Central Americans from entering the country. His ban, proposed to remain in place for three months, would potentially make it harder for thousands of people who enter the US to avoid deportation. It was blocked by district judge Jon Tigar, who issued a temporary restraining order at a court in San Fransciso after hearing objections from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR). Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry, said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the CCR. It couldnt be clearer. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says about 70,000 people a year apply for asylum after surrendering to immigration agents, often in the Arizona desert or on the north bank of the Rio Grande river in Texas. The government has said asylum-seekers at the southern border must present themselves at official border crossing. But many crossings already have lengthy waiting times, with migrants often forced to linger in shelters or outdoor camps in Mexico for weeks. Around 3,000 Central American migrants in the first of the caravans arrived last week in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. US authorities said they expected another 7,000 to follow. Many are refugees who have travelled for weeks to reach the US-Mexico frontier after fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Show all 30 1 /30 Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Members of the caravan of Central American migrants climb the border wall in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico EPA Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border US Border Patrol agents seen through the concertina wire where the border meets the Pacific Ocean AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Central American migrants pray at a temporary shelter in Tijuana AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Darwin, a 12 year old migrant boy from Honduras, looks out from under a tarp while taking refuge at a shelter in Tijuana Reuters Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Central American migrants line up for a meal at a shelter in Tijuana AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Angel, a 13-year-old migrant from Honduras looks towards the United States past the border fence in Tijuana Reuters Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Members of the LGBTQ community -who split from a caravan of Central American migrants heading to the US- arrive at the Diversidad Migrante (Migrant Diversity) NGO headquarters, which they will use as shelter, in Tijuana AFP/Getty Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border US military personell install barbed wire fences to stop the passage of Central American migrants EPA Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Young Honduran migrant Daniel Gamez waits with his family in a line for a meal after arriving with the Central America migrant caravan in Tijuana AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Two women, one carrying a child, walk north after crossing illegally into the United States as a Border Patrol agent moves in to detain them AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border EPA Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border A child looks out the window of a bus upon its arrival at a temporary shelter in Tijuana AFP/Getty Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Migrants from Honduras dry their clothes in the sand after washing off in the Pacific Ocean AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Central American migrants at a temporary shelter near the US-Mexico border AFP/Getty Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border US police agents stand guard near the US-Mexico border fence AFP/Getty Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border A migrant, who claimed not to be part of the Central American migrant caravan walks on the US-Mexico border fence AFP/Getty Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Eldin, a migrant man from Honduras, awakes next to his seven year old son Jose while taking refuge at a shelter in Tijuana Reuters Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Migrants line up for food at a shelter AFP/Getty Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border A man installs concertina wire on top of the border structure on the US side AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Central American migrants sit on an overlook in Tijuana AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border A migrant, who is part of a caravan traveling en route to the United States, shouts as he waits to receive food in a shelter in Tijuana REUTERS Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border A man tries to get over a border structure topped with concertina wire AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border People who are part of the Central American migrants caravan arrive at a shelter EPA Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border AFP/Getty Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border EPA Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Migrants pray at a temporary shelter in Tijuana AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border Migrants shower outside a temporary migrant shelter next to the Us-Mexico border fence Getty Images Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border US Border Patrol agents, left, speak with two Central American migrants as they sit atop the border structure AP Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border A Central American migrant looks on through the US-Mexico border fence AFP/Getty Images Migrant caravan reaches Tijuana on US border A migrant stands next to the border fence REUTERS US border inspectors at the main crossing in San Diego only process about 100 asylum claims a day, meaning some of the migrants face waiting months in Tijuana if they apply at official crossings. About 6,000 US troops have been deployed to the border, where the American government has erected concrete barriers and razor-wire fences to keep people out. Mr Trump has depicted the caravans as a threat to national security and attempted to capitalise on fear of immigration during the run-up to the midterm elections. The presidents asylum restrictions invoked the same emergency powers used early last year in his travel ban, which mostly targeted Muslims. According to DHS, which oversees customs and border protections, 107 people had been detained after seeking asylum away from official crossings since the order took effect on 9 November. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because theyre in real danger, either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. We dont condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum, he said. The civil rights groups argued the new restrictions violated administrative and immigration law. In his ruling, Mr Tigar said Congress had clearly mandated that immigrants can apply for asylum regardless of how they entered the country. He called the latest rules an extreme departure from prior practice. Whatever the scope of the presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden, wrote the judge, who was nominated to the court by Barack Obama. The restraining order takes effect immediately and applies nationwide until 19 December, when the judge scheduled a hearing to consider a more long-lasting injunction. Previous Trump immigration policies, including measures targeting sanctuary cities, have also been blocked by the courts. A dead whale washed up on a beach in eastern Indonesia had more than 1,000 pieces of plastic waste in its stomach, including drinking cups and flip-flops, officials have said. Rescuers at the Wakatobi National Park found the rotting carcass of the 9.5m sperm whale on Monday night near the park in Southeast Sulawesi province. They had received a report from environmentalists that villagers had surrounded the whale and were beginning to butcher the rotting carcass, park chief Heri Santoso said. Researchers from wildlife conservation group WWF and the parks conservation academy found about 5.9kg of plastic waste in the animals stomach. Among the debris was 115 plastic cups, four plastic bottles, 25 plastic bags, two flip-flops, a nylon sack and more than 1,000 other pieces of plastic, Mr Santoso said. Researchers remove plastic from the stomach of the beached whale (AP) (Muhammad Irpan Sejati Tassakka, AKKP Wakatobi via AP) Although we have not been able to deduce the cause of death, the facts that we see are truly awful, said Dwi Suprapti, a marine species conservation coordinator at WWF Indonesia. She said it was not possible to determine if the plastic had caused the whales death because of the animals advanced state of decay. The animal had 5.9kg of plastic waste in its stomach (Reuters) (KARTIKA SUMOLANG/via REUTERS) Indonesia is the worlds second-largest plastic polluter behind China, according to a study in the journal Science published in January. The archipelago of 260 million people produces 3.2 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste a year, of which 1.29 million tons ends up in the ocean, the study said. The lump of plastic contained 115 plastic cups and two flip-flops (Reuters) (KARTIKA SUMOLANG/via REUTERS) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesias coordinating minister of maritime affairs, said the whales discovery should raise public awareness about the need to reduce plastic use, and had spurred the government to take tougher measures to protect the ocean. Im so sad to hear this, said Mr Pandjaitan, who has for less use of plastic. It is possible that many other marine animals are also contaminated with plastic waste and this is very dangerous for our lives. Where not to visit if you love animals Show all 9 1 /9 Where not to visit if you love animals Where not to visit if you love animals Monkey shows Chimpanzees are forced to perform demeaning tricks on leashes and are often subject to cruel training techniques. Animals who are confined to small, barren enclosures and forced to perform unsurprisingly show symptoms of stress and depression. Chimpanzees have been documented rocking back and forth, sucking their lips, salivating and swaying against enclosure perimeters in distress. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Marine parks Some parks confine orcas to concrete tanks and force them to perform meaningless tricks for food - many die in captivity. Orcas are highly intelligent and social mammals who may suffer immensely, both physically and mentally, when they're held in captivity. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Tiger shows Tigers are forced to live in an unnatural and barren environment and have to endure interactions with a constant stream of tourists. Since tigers never lose their wild instincts, across the world they are reportedly drugged, mutilated and restrained in order to make them safe for the public. However, every year, incidents of tiger maulings are reported at this type of tourist attraction. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Donkey rides Sunning on the beach is great for humans we can take a quick dip or catch a bite to eat when we get too hot or hungry. But it's pure hell for donkeys who are confined to the beach and forced to cart children around on the hot sand. Some donkey-ride operators at beach resorts in the UK even keep the animals chained together at all times. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Swimming with dolphins Some marine parks use bottlenose dolphins in performances and offer visitors the opportunity to swim with dolphins. Unfortunately, people are often unaware that these animals are captured in the wild and torn from their families or traded between different parks around the world. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Canned hunting Lions are confined to fenced areas so that they can easily be cornered, with no chance of escape. Most of them will have been bred in captivity and then taken from their mothers to be hand-reared by the cub-petting industry. When they get too big, they may be drugged before they are released into a "hunting" enclosure. Because these animals are usually kept in fenced enclosures (ranging in size from just a few square yards to thousands of acres), they never stand a chance of surviving. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Running of the Bulls Every year, tourists travel to Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls. The bulls who are forced to slip and slide down the town's narrow cobblestone streets are chased straight into the bullring. They are then taunted, stabbed repeatedly and finally killed by the matador in front of a jeering crowd. The majority of Spaniards reject bullfighting, but tourists are keeping the cruel industry on its last legs. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Horse-drawn carriages City streets are no place for horses. The animals toil in all weather extremes, suffering from respiratory distress from breathing in exhaust fumes as well as numerous hoof, leg and back problems from walking on pavement all day long. As easily spooked prey animals, horses subjected to the loud noises and unexpected sounds of city streets are likely to be involved in accidents, even deadly ones. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Zoos The zoo community regards the animals it keeps as commodities, and animals are regularly bought, sold, borrowed and traded without any regard for established relationships. Zoos breed animals because the presence of babies draws visitors and boosts revenue, yet often, there's nowhere to put the offspring as they grow, and they are killed, as we saw with Marius the giraffe in Denmark. Some zoos have introduced evening events with loud music and alcohol which disrupt the incarcerated animals even further. EPA He said the government was making efforts to reduce the use of plastic, including urging shops not to provide plastic bags for customers and teaching about the problem in schools to meet a government target of reducing plastic use by 70 per cent by 2025. This big ambition can be achieved if people learn to understand that plastic waste is a common enemy, he added. Around 100 off-duty members of Papua New Guineas police and armed forces smashed through parliament security and stormed the building in a dispute over pay for working at an international summit hosted by the country at the weekend. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit was attended by Chinas president Xi Jinping, Japans Shinzo Abe and the US vice president Mike Pence, and concluded on Sunday. Yet less than 48 hours later, disgruntled police officers, prison guards and military personnel who had helped provide additional security for the summit said they had not been paid their promised allowances, and marched to parliament in protest. Recommended Xi vows to open up China to trade and makes veiled criticism of Trump Paul Kramer, an opposition politician, posted images and videos to Facebook showing the damage caused to the security checkpoint at the front entrance, as well as to a seemingly random selection of pictures, potted plants, windows and furniture throughout the building. He said the main confrontation had taken place when the protesters entered parliament, and parliamentary security officers tried and failed to stop them. It erupted into a scuffle, several staff were assaulted as they made their way into Parliament, Mr Kramer said. He added that he did not believe anyone was seriously injured. They entered the parliament and just smashed everything up, opposition parliamentarian Allan Bird told the Reuters news agency. It was the armed forces, police and correctional workers. They were yelling: 'Corrupt government, bloody government' and so on. They were taking their frustration out on the furniture," he said. "They dispersed eventually but we are hearing more are mobilising. The protesters had met earlier with the police minister and police commissioner, Mr Kramer said. When that meeting concluded, presumably unsuccessfully, they then convoyed to and stormed Parliament House. While we were in our opposition meeting, they started to destroy property throughout parliament, he said. The situation is quite tense. The attack lasted for around 30 minutes, after which the protesters moved outside the building, demanding to speak to the government. They eventually left the area. Working police eventually restored order at parliament and escorted politicians safely from the premises. But during the incident, there were reports of looting elsewhere in the capital, Port Moresby, as thieves took advantage of the chaos. Papua New Guineas hosting of the Apec summit raised a number of concerns, not least due to the fragile security situation. Port Moresby is described by the World Bank as one of the most violent cities in the world, due to high unemployment and brazen criminal gangs known as "raskols". There was also criticism of the public expenditure required to host such a gathering of world leaders. Preparations included the 15m construction of a new VIP terminal for the capitals airport, and the purchase of 40 Maserati cars to transport leaders around the island. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events "I think the money should have been used to fix our backyard instead of decorating the front porch. We have health, education and infrastructure deficiencies that need to be addressed," activist and writer Martyn Namorong told the Associated Press before the summit. A lot of people are [staying] indoors, said Santee Margis, a unionist who represents electricity workers living just outside the city centre, and described offices locking down and shops shutting. Many people are mad about Apec, even though the government had made assurances, that it's not been of benefit to the little people. In a statement, Apec chief executive Chris Hawkins said it was typical for security personnel to receive payment a week after a major event. The meeting ended two days ago and the security operation is now winding down, he said, according to Australias ABC. The payment of individual allowances has already commenced and individual security force members should check with their banks as payments are made. The United Kingdom will split apart because of the pressures of Brexit, Spains foreign minister has warned. In an interview on Tuesday Josep Borrell said he believed there was an underlying weakness to the union underpinning the United Kingdom. Contrasting British separatist movements in Scotland and Ireland with Spains own in Catalonia, Mr Borrell told the Politico news website: I am very much more worried about the unity of the United Kingdom than the unity of the Kingdom of Spain. I think the UK will split apart sooner than the kingdom of Spain. Asked to elaborate, the social democrat politician added: It is a clear sign of UK weakness. Brexit has raised both hopes and fears of a united Ireland and independent Scotland. In Ireland, the border issue that has dominated negotiations for months has raised questions about the viability of the Good Friday Agreement and the status of Northern Ireland. Various Conservatives had claimed EU customs proposals amount to an "annexation" of Northern Ireland. Meanwhile in Scotland, nationalists have sought to draw a dividing line with the rest of the UK by emphasising Scotlands vote to remain in the EU compared to the rest of the UK. In the same interview Mr Borrell also hinted that Spain would have no problem with an independent Scotland, and would not seek to block it from joining the EU, as long as it left the UK through legal means. Which countries supported Scottish independence? Show all 10 1 /10 Which countries supported Scottish independence? Which countries supported Scottish independence? USA - No Earlier this summer President Barack Obama called on Britain to remain "a strong, robust, united and effective partner" Reuters Which countries supported Scottish independence? Texas - Yes With the largest secessionist movement in the US, some Texan political groups are backing Scotland to choose independence. Getty Images Which countries supported Scottish independence? China No Chinas Premier Li Keqiang has voiced support for a "strong, prosperous and united United kingdom." The state press has said a Yes vote would leave the UK a "second-rate country" Getty Which countries supported Scottish independence? Russia Yes Putin has stayed neutral on the matter, but some of his Parliament is vocally advocating for Scottish independence. Russian MP Konstantin Rykov now calls himself McRykov on Twitter, and has tweeted: "Scotland will be free" Twitter Which countries supported Scottish independence? India No Although she later backtracked, Indias foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said: "Break-up of the United Kingdom? I dont think there is any possibility of that. God forbid!" Youtube Which countries supported Scottish independence? North Korea Yes The North Korean press believes independence "would be a very positive thing for Scotland." Kim Jong-un said he would look to trade with an independent Scotland. AFP/KCNA Which countries supported Scottish independence? Australia No PM Tony Abbott said last month: "Its hard to see how the world would be helped by an independent Scotland" Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Which countries supported Scottish independence? Kurdistan Yes As the largest stateless nation in the world, Kurds across the Middle East are encouraged by the legitimate independence movement being enacted in the UK. AFP/Getty Which countries supported Scottish independence? Spain No Perhaps in response the growing Catalonialism triggered by the Scottish referendum, Spains PM Mariano Rajoy said that an independent Scotland should only apply to join the EU from outside the organisation as a new state to deter other "solo adventures" Reuters Which countries supported Scottish independence? Catalonia Yes The largest independence movement in Europe is cheering for a Yes vote, and hopes a referendum is something they too will be afforded. Barcelona Mayor Xavier Trias said: "Our wishes in Catalonia must be respected, just as the UK government has respected those of Scotland" AP If they leave Britain in accordance with their internal regulation, if Westminster agrees, we are not going to be more papist than the pope! If Westminster agrees why would we be against it, he told the website. But he also ruled out a legally binding independence referendum in Catalonia, suggesting the province should instead expect a renewed devolution settlement and additional powers. Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell: Spain will not back Brexit deal over issue of Gibraltar Mr Borrell also said a second referendum for the British public on whether to leave the EU would not be "very democratic" unless there was "a really big demand" noting that the EU has a "record" in Ireland and the Netherlands of asking people to vote again in key issues "until you say what you should say". He appeared to take a different stance to his prime minister Pedro Sanchez, who last month suggested a second vote would be a good idea. The comments by the foreign minister come a day after Spain threw a spanner in the works of Brexit talks, warning that it would reject the negotiated withdrawal agreement if it was not given concessions on Gibraltar. Italian authorities have upped the ante in their war against ships rescuing migrants drowning in the Mediterranean by ordering the seizure of one of the vessels on spurious health grounds. Italys government, fronted by far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini, has waged a campaign against ships like the Aquarius, closing ports to the rescue boats and frustrating charities efforts. On Tuesday regional prosecutors baselessly claimed that the ship could bring infectious diseases such as HIV, meningitis and tuberculosis into the country on the clothing of migrants. A total of 24 people associated with the Aquarius, including the ships captain, have been put under investigation for trafficking and illegal management of waste based on the technicality that the clothing was labelled as special waste rather than toxic waste by the ships crew. The orders come despite international health authorities rejecting the idea that any of those diseases can be transmitted through clothing. The US Centres for Disease Control says that it takes close or lengthy contact such as kissing to spread meningitis bacteria, while tuberculosis is transmitted through the air, not by surface contact and you cannot get TB from someones clothes. The idea that HIV can be spread through clothing is also a myth. Deborah Gold, chief executive of the National Aids Trust, told The Independent: Clothing categorically is not, and has never been, an HIV transmission risk. Clothing categorically is not, and has never been, an HIV transmission risk. Deborah Gold, National Aids Trust This would have stood out as ridiculous even amongst the misinformation of the 1980s, never mind in 2018. Migrants and people seeking asylum have historically been attacked using myths about HIV and infectious conditions, and we condemn this both for its stigmatising of people living with HIV and of migrants fleeing hardship. Its a bitter irony that we are still seeing this as we approach the 30th World Aids Day. This is shocking to hear and we would urge the authorities involved to withdraw these orders, allow MSF to continue its lifesaving work, and issue an apology for spreading this dangerous nonsense, which damages on-going international efforts to raise awareness. But reacting to the news of the court order, Mr Salvini, the interior minister and the most high-profile face in the countrys government, said: It seems I did well to close the Italian ports to the NGOs. Migrants on board the MV Aquarius rescue ship (Reuters) Since coming to power Mr Salvini has also launched a census of Italys Roma minority with a view to deportations, and suggested ethnic shops should have restrictions placed on their opening hours. The Aquarius is currently in port in the French city of Marseilles and beyond the reach of the Italian authorities. But prosecutors from the city of Catania in eastern Sicily said: If Aquarius would disembark to Italy, it will be immediately put under seizure. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. In September the vessels flag was revoked by Panama after pressure from the Italian government. Karline Kleijer, head of emergencies at MSF, which jointly operates the vessel, said: After two years of defamatory and unfounded allegations of collusion with human traffickers against our humanitarian work, we are now accused of organised crime aimed at illicit waste trafficking. This latest attempt by the Italian authorities to stop humanitarian lifesaving search and rescue capacity at any cost is sinister. Frederic Penard, SOS Mediterranees head of operations, said: This is another strike in the series of attacks criminalising humanitarian aid at sea. The tragic current situation is leading to an absence of humanitarian search and rescue vessels operating in the central Mediterranean, while the mortality rate is on the rise. If only I knew where Sergei was running to, Id have done anything to stop him, says Tamara Kemskaya, sobbing. She had called her son at 8am on the morning of his death. She remembers hearing the sound of him panting, and the whistles of what she now understands were bullets. For some reason, she decided he was busy, so signed off cheerily and said she would call back later. She did not know there were already perhaps 20 protesters shot dead by that point. She could not imagine that her Sergei would join them less than an hour and a half later. Five years on, the YouTube clips that flicker from screens in the corner of a Kiev courtroom are all that remains of Sergei Kemsky and his Maidan revolution. Hours and hours of footage show the lead-up to that last battle of 20 February 2014. They show the lines of riot police, the bonfires of tyres, the street clashes, the burning buildings, the petrol bombs, the bodies falling and the desperate operations to save them. They show Sergei collapsing under sniper fire on Instytutska Street, then frantically trying to drag himself away before receiving a second, fatal round. Across from the video screens, and three presiding judges, are the five Berkut (riot police) officers who are on trial for their part in the killings. Most of their unit fled to Russia; these men stayed behind. They stand on the other side of a glass cage, largely motionless and emotionless, save for when they chat to their wives and girlfriends through gaps in the cage. Recommended Ukraine bids farewell to activist killed in acid attack Kemskaya tells The Independent she can barely contain her rage when she looks at the five well fed, well clothed, happy men. I understand these guys were carrying out an order, she says. But for me, they are inhuman. They saw the people in their crosshairs. They saw their faces. But they shot them dead. Why couldnt they have just aimed at their legs instead? The legal process has been an exhausting one for Kemskaya and her family. Originally from Crimea, she now now lives with her husband in a small flat in the Black Sea port city of Mykolaiv they moved there to be nearer their surviving child, a daughter, and the grandchildren. Mykolaiv is a seven hour drive from Kiev but Kemskaya tries to make it to the courtroom whenever she can. Its already too late for many of the other parents, she says. A dozen have died from stress-related illness. For all its failures, the Berkut trial is actually somewhat of a model process. The vast majority of the other investigations initiated by Ukrainian prosecutors are static, gathering dust on shelves. Of the thousand or so cases that have been initiated from ten separate episodes, only 12 have actually reached trial. An additional 50 cases have been transferred to the court system but have yet to be processed. Ukraine: Clashes erupt in Kiev as decentralisation bill protest escalates Prosecuting lawyer Yevgeniya Zakrevskaya, who cuts a heroic figure in the treacle of Ukrainian justice, says a number of factors have contributed to the delays. On the one hand, Maidan cases are difficult with real-life consequences, often dangerous, so courts find it easier just to sit on them. On the other hand, she says, corrupt decision-making is never far away. Those who stand trial are the ones to benefit from delays, and some, no doubt, hope they can put it off indefinitely, she says. The lawyer worked on Independence Square from the very first days, collecting video material and testimonies as the revolution moved through its various stages. Those who stand trial are the ones to benefit from delays, and some, no doubt, hope they can put it off indefinitely Yevgeniya Zakrevskaya, lawyer At the start, Madian was a marginal protest, attended by committed political activists who wanted Viktor Yanukovych's administration to sign an association agreement with the European Union. The protest became a mass movement when riot police incomprehensibly turned their truncheons on the small camp of mostly students (30 November1 December). The movement became one of resistance when protesters fought back riot police (16 December). Resistance became radicalised when Yanukovych pushed through dictatorship laws (16 January) and when the first Molotov cocktails appeared on the Square (19 January). Maidan became a militarised camp after the first death (25 January). And it ended as a killing field and makeshift cemetery (February 18-21). Roman Ratushnyy was one of the first to answer journalist Mustafa Nayems call to take to the streets back on 21 November 2013. Seventeen at the time, Ratushnyy had to juggle the protest with college, but teachers took a sympathetic view and allowed him to sleep through lectures. At night time, he was invariably with his friends on Independence Square, propping up what he thought was a flagging protest. The Maidan protests began as a method to encourage the president to sign an agreement with the EU (Amakuha/CC BY-SA 4.0) (Amakuha (CC BY-SA 4.0)) It looked hopeless, and there were only about three dozen of us on the square on that first week, he says. But then, right as we were sleeping, the police attacked us, and the rest is history. With bruised and broken limbs, the group of students somehow scrambled their way up the hill from Independence Square to find refuge at St Michaels Monastery. The next day, hundreds of thousands turned out to protest Yanukovychs violent turn. This was the moment Maidan ceased being a protest about the EU, says Ratushnyy, and became a rearguard action to stop Ukraine turning into a Belarusian dictatorship. As the stakes and threats of violence increased, the revolution transformed the lives of those who took part. It broke some, with mental heath a huge issue during and after the revolution, and it made others. It looked hopeless, and there were only about three dozen of us on the square on that first week Roman Ratushnyy, protester One of the breakthrough personalities of the revolution was a young journalist called Nataliya Gumenyuk. By coincidence, she was part of a group of independent hacks who had planned to launch a new public TV broadcaster the very week protests broke out. At the start, the team harboured vague aspirations about becoming a Ukrainian BBC, but as the protests progressed there ceased to be any question as to their purpose. The journalists of the new Hromadske Telebachennya ["Public TV"] became chroniclers of the revolution, bravely working under the constant threat of violence. Gumenyuk was the channels most recognisable face, a charismatic anchor and occasional field reporter, her tiny body and outstretched microphone darting between the black tyres and tarpaulin tents of the Square. Hromadske brought forward its planned soft launch to carry rolling coverage from the second day of protests. Gumenyuk, meanwhile, flew to the Vilnius summit to cover the failed negotiations with the EU later that week. She remembers a surreal sense of trepidation as she boarded the plane back to Kiev. The aircraft was packed with the familiar faces of journalists, activists and politicians, she says, but there was a horrible atmosphere on board. News of the violence against students had already filtered through. People understood a Rubicon had been crossed, but they had little idea of what would come next, and there was certainly no leader to pick up the baton. For a large part of the Maidan revolution, professional politicians were two or three steps behind the people, says Gumenyuk. I remember a briefing held by [then opposition leader, future Prime Minister Arseniy] Yatsenyuk in Vilnuis, who said it was time to end the protests and wait for elections to dispose of Yanukovych. We tried to tell him it wasnt in his power to tell the people to leave. Demonstraters dismantle fencing around 'illegal construction project' on Odessa seafront The protest ultimately chose its own, revolutionary path, and not every step along the way was beautiful. As Maidan moved to its more militaristic phase, the democratic ideals that motivated the original EU flag-waving activists to the streets often seemed far away. The flags, for a start, changed. In place of the yellow stars of Europe came the black and red of the Second World War anti-Soviet partisans, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. While the nationalist militias that flew these flags may never have represented the majority of protesters, they were certainly its loudest and strongest. In the last weeks they were a key cog of the resistance. When, for example, protesters detained titushki, the Yanukovych-hired thugs who intimidated Kiev for weeks on end, the task of administering "justice" was often handed to the right-wing radicals. Its true that the nationalists went further than they needed to, and not only with the titushki but with anyone they didnt take a fancy to, says Ratushnyy. No decent person would have felt comfortable in the midst of their headquarters in the Kiev municipal building. Tributes to the victims of the 2014 clashes at Maidan (Getty) (Getty Images) In the months that followed, as a shell-shocked nation came to terms with its revolution, these nationalist groups claimed a chunk of the political vacuum. To this day, they continue to occupy key positions in and around government, and without clear popular legitimacy. The interior ministrys links with the far right continue to be one of Maidans most troubling legacies. Five years on, it is sometimes difficult to see progress on many of the issues that galvanised protesters. The Ukrainian economy is still largely under control of a handful of oligarchs, even if the most powerful have lost some influence. The prosecutors office is still used as a political weapon, not least against independent journalists. And the forthcoming undoubtedly dirty election cycle may well bring one of Ukraines old guard, Yulia Tymoshenko, to the presidency. Tamara Kemskaya says the lack of real change has been painful. The blood has flown, my sons blood, but the change we were fighting for hasnt quite yet come, she says. We have the same corruption, and practically no one has been punished for their crimes. Then there is the matter of what followed the revolution. Within a few months, the traumatised country would see one of its regions annexed, and a divisive war starting in another. That war has cost more than 10,000 lives and has little end in sight. For journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk, however, it is wrong to judge Maidan exclusively by the events that followed. That chain was not determined either by the protest movement or by Ukraine, she says, but by a combination of Russian counter-revolution and western inaction. Ukraine protests: Kiev police fall back after failed attempts to storm occupied City Hall and Independence Square Show all 2 1 /2 Ukraine protests: Kiev police fall back after failed attempts to storm occupied City Hall and Independence Square Ukraine protests: Kiev police fall back after failed attempts to storm occupied City Hall and Independence Square ukraine-kiev-protests-hall.jpg EPA Ukraine protests: Kiev police fall back after failed attempts to storm occupied City Hall and Independence Square Ukraine-AP.jpg AP The west always did too little too late, and had to be begged to do anything, she says. Yes, the Ukrainian government carried responsibility for failing to engage with populations in the east, but the west also failed them too by failing to establish a cost for Russian aggression. They were always worried about the cost of sanctions. For all the pain, Gumenyuk believes the Maidan revolution will eventually be seen as a victory for Ukraine. What it did, she says, was to pull Ukraine away from a post-Soviet course and propel new faces into the Ukrainian government. Had nothing happened, wed be on the same vector as Kazakhstan or Azerbaijan: old, authoritarian, post-Soviet, she says. Five years on, you really can say Maidan was worth it. The tragedy was the war. Among those targeted are Syrian national Mohammad Amer Alchwiki and his Russia-based company, Global Vision Group, the Treasury Department said. Other targets include: Syrian national Hajji Abd Al-Nasir, Lebanon national Muhammad Qasim Al-Bazzal and Russian national Andrey Dogaev as well as Iranian nationals Rasoul Sajjad and Hossein Yaghoubi Miab. State-owned Russian company Promsyrioimport, a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Energy, was also sanctioned along with Mir Business Bank and Iran-based Tadbir Kish Medical and Pharmaceutical Company. The Treasury's designation of the individuals and entities effectively cuts them off from the global financial system by blocking any of their assets under US jurisdiction and in effect warning non-US institutions against dealing with them. The Iranian regime continues to prioritise spending money on fomenting terror over supporting its own people, Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelker said. This is yet another example of the regime using the proceeds of millions of barrels of its oil to fund terrorists and the murderous Assad regime to the detriment of its own people. The US reimposed sanctions on Iran earlier this month after the Trump administration previously announced would pull out of the Iran nuclear accord. President Donald Trump had repeatedly called that deal one of the worst in history, and said that he wanted to see tighter restrictions on Iran if the deal would survive. Pushback from international allies was not enough to keep Mr Trump from tearing up the deal, however. In response to those sanctions, Iran foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that his country would continue selling oil, and would resort to selling their goods on the black market if necessary. Support free-thinking journalism and subscribe to Independent Minds We have always had various ways of selling our oil and we will continue to have ways of selling our oil, Mr Zarif said. If we cannot openly trade our commodities, if we cannot get what we want to get from open, transparent international transactions, we will not lie down and wait to die. We will do it. We will do it through whatever means that is necessary, he continued. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the Iranian government did not immediately respond to the newest sanctions against Iran. A detailed account of a recording of Jamal Khashoggis last hours has emerged in which a Saudi officer is heard telling the journalist: Traitor! You will be brought to account! Moments after the 59-year-old entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul seven weeks ago, members of a kill team dispatched from Riyadh grabbed him and dragged him away. Release my arm! What do you think you are doing? Khashoggi says, according to a report of a recording from inside the consulate by Turkish news outlet Haberturk. Traitor! You will be brought to account! an intelligence officer is heard saying moments later. Maher Mutreb, the officer, has been identified as a close associate of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. Next Khashoggi is subdued, and the sounds of beating and torture are heard before the victim is taken to another section of the consulate and murdered, according to the report. Image from surveillance footage shows Saudi officer Maher Mutreb, leader of the kill team, entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul (Haberturk) Haberturks account of what it says is an 11-minute recording is among the biggest pieces of evidence to emerge so far. The report comes amid a flood of leaks by Turkish authorities about Khashoggis murder at the hand of Saudi operatives with close ties to the court of prince Muhammad. The columnist behind the piece, Cetiner Cetin, is well connected to authorities in Ankara. He does not disclose whether he heard the recording, read a transcript, or was briefed. The leak comes as President Donald Trump is scheduled to be briefed by US intelligence agencies on their conclusions about culpability in the killing. The Washington Post, New York Times and others have cited US spies pointing to the crown prince having directed the killing. But Mr Trump, who sees the prince as a cornerstone for weapons sales, as well as to his plans to confront Iran and forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace, insisted in an interview with Fox News over the weekend that Prince Muhammad has proclaimed his innocence to him maybe five times at different points. He said he was inclined to take the 33-year-olds word over the assessment of US intelligence professionals. Will anybody really know? he said, regarding culpability in the killing. Recommended Hundreds hold a burial ceremony for Jamal Khashoggi without body Saudi authorities announced last week they were seeking the death penalty for five suspects in Khashoggis murder but absolved the prince of culpability, a move that satisfied the White House. However, US lawmakers have vowed to hold the crown prince responsible. On Monday, Germany announced it was expanding a ban on weapons exports to Saudi Arabia due to the Khashoggi killing and Riyadhs conduct in the Yemen conflict. France is also considering sanctions against individuals involved. But it remains unclear how freezing the bank accounts and barring travel for low and mid-ranking enforcers already destined for the gallows or prison will curtail the increasingly reckless behaviour of one of the worlds largest weapons importers and oil exporters. Turkeys foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday. Mr Guterres has been under pressure to launch an independent investigation of the Washington Post columnists murder. Mr Cavusoglu is scheduled to meet his US counterpart Mike Pompeo later on the same day. Hundreds of mourners gather in Istanbul last Friday for a traditional Muslim burial ceremony for Jamal Khashoggi, but without his body (Tara Todras-Whitehill) In the recording of Khashoggis last hours, Turks captured seven voices from the consulate. They matched some to names using recordings taken during passport control at Istanbuls Ataturk airport, the Haberturk report said. Among those heard was Saudi consul general Mohammed al-Otaibi, who flew back to Riyadh last month and has not been heard from since. Bugging a diplomatic mission is a violation of international law, and Turkish defence minister Hulusi Akar on Monday denied that the state had obtained the recordings through espionage but declined to reveal the source. The Haberturk report alleges that Mr Mutreb could be heard in 19 phone calls made from the consulate to Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide of Prince Muhammad who is now being investigated for the murder. It says his voice can be heard 13 minutes after Khashoggi entered the consulate. It is creepy to wear the clothes of a man whom we killed 20 minutes ago Mustafa al-Madani, member of Saudi kill team After Khashoggis manhandling, he was moved upstairs, and the report describes 110 minutes of silence during which Turks suspect the Saudis deployed frequency jammers. During one moment, the recordings capture several men rushing downstairs and destroying security camera footage. Khashoggis remains have yet to be located. Turkish officials have concluded he was dismembered and dissolved in acid. The recording recounted by Haberturk reveals how 57-year-old Saudi engineer Mustafa al-Madani, who donned Khashoggis clothes and wandered the city in an attempt to fool surveillance cameras, complains that the journalists shoes are too small. Hes allowed to wear his own sneakers instead. Before he leaves the consulate, he adds: It is creepy to wear the clothes of a man whom we killed 20 minutes ago. In the last decade, visitor numbers to Iceland have grown by 500 per cent as appearances on Game of Thrones have spread news of the wonders of this isolated island nation, which is home to otherworldly landscapes, steaming hot springs and waterfalls around every turn. That boom in visitors has also led to a boom in hotels, with plenty of comfortable, stylish options at a variety of price points. Here are the top hotels in Reykjavik. The Independent's hotel reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and book, but we never allow this to affect our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing. Best for a social scene: Kex Hostel Neighbourhood: Mioborg The bar area at the sociable Kex Hostel (Kex Hostel) Kex is branded as a hostel, but this renovated biscuit factory offers a range of stylish accommodation options, including private doubles with en-suite bathrooms and ocean views. Ample communal space a guest kitchen, gym, barber shop and heated outdoor patio that fills up when the weathers nice creates a buzzy atmosphere that encourages mingling; and the gastropub Saemundur attracts as many travellers as it does working locals who come for wifi, coffee and craft beer. Doubles from KR24,600 (151) kexhostel.is Best for luxury: Hotel Borg Neighbourhood: Mioborg The art deco Hotel Borg dates back to 1930 (Hotel Borg) Located in the heart of downtown, the 99-room art deco Hotel Borg has set the standard for Reykjavik luxury hotels since it opened in 1930. Its since been renovated, though many original fixtures, vintage accents and black and white photos of Reykjavik remain. Rooms feature lacquered tables, heated bathroom floors, high ceilings and stylish Bang & Olufsen TVs. Theres an onsite Jamies Italian and a spa with a steam bath, sauna and hot tub. Doubles from KR31,290 (197) keahotels.is/en/hotels/hotel-borg Best for a clean conscience: Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel Neighbourhood: Hlemmur Sleep easy in the knowledge that the Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel is committed to environmental sustainability (Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel) Set a few steps off Laugavegur, the citys main shopping street, is the 65-room Eyja. It's part of Guldsmeden Hotels, a Danish group with a focus on sustainability. Its also the only Icelandic hotel to be Green Globe certified. Rooms feel earthy and organic, with rough-hewn-wood four-poster beds, sheepskin throws and natural fabrics like cotton, wool and leather throughout. Eyja uses at least 90 per cent organic produce in the food it serves and employs a 360-degree sustainability management system with an emphasis on environmental responsibility. Doubles from KR27,300 (172) hoteleyja.is Best for dining: Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina Neighbourhood: Harbour One of the suites at the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina (Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina) The nautical-themed Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina is set on the edge of the downtown harbourfront, and is home to the chic bar and restaurant Slippbarinn, a perennial favourite among locals. Serving breakfast, brunch and an all-day menu of modern Icelandic fare, such as langoustine flatbread and soup with the days catch, its a popular spot any time; but especially during happy hour when its creative cocktails, like the bourbon-based Whiskey Sour Par Excellence, are half price. Doubles from KR18,500 (117) icelandairhotels.com/en/hotels/marina/about-reykjavik-marina Best for Icelandic culture: Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre Neighbourhood: Mioborg Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre used to house a furniture factory (Hilton Hotels) Composed of six interconnected houses that were part of a furniture factory from 1937-1963, the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre has been fully renovated, but still nods to its past and Icelands unique natural setting. Rooms are decked out in muted versions of the countrys natural colours: slate grey reminiscent of volcanic rock, pale blue the colour of the sea and pastel green like the moss-covered countryside. Local artwork lines the walls, the snack shop sells Icelandic artisanal chocolate and the library is stocked with books from Icelandic authors. Doubles from KR25,175 (159) canopy3.hilton.com Best for a view: Hlemmur Square Neighbourhood: Hlemmur Spectacular views of the city greet guests on the fifth floor of Hlemmur Square (Hlemmur Square) Most of Icelands buildings are only a few storeys tall, which means you dont have to climb high for a great view. The King Terrace and Deluxe King Terrace rooms at Hlemmur Square are only on the fifth floor but offer spectacular views of the city, bay and mountains from private balconies and expansive windows. All rooms have king-sized beds with Lissadell linens, flat-screen TVs and fully stocked minibars. There are upscale dorm-style rooms on the third and fourth floors and a craft beer and cocktail bar in the lobby. Doubles from KR23,000 (145) hlemmursquare.com/hotel Best for business: Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel Neighbourhood: Mioborg The Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel is ideal for business travellers (Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel) The 88-room Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel is set in a century-old building in the heart of downtown, within easy walking distance to visitor attractions like the Harpa concert hall and Reykjavik Art Museum, as well as the city hall, parliament and the prime ministers office. Rooms offer all the modern trappings, and theres a fitness centre, three meeting rooms and the 1919 Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Doubles from KR21,500 (135) radissonblu.com/en/1919hotel-reykjavik Best for history: Sand Hotel Neighbourhood: Mioborg History buffs will appreciate the heritage of the Sand Hotel (Sand Hotel) The 67-room art deco-style Sand Hotel is built around three historic buildings on Laugavegur Street. Sandholt Bakery and Gudsteinn Eyjolfsson mens clothing shop, which have been serving Reykjavik for more than a century, are on the ground floor; the former provides the hotels continental breakfast, while the latter offers in-room shopping with delivery to the hotel. Out front, a small plaque commemorates the most important historical aspect: behind the hotel sits the small house where Nobel Prize-winning author Halldor Laxness was born in 1902. Doubles from KR25,500 (160) sandhotel.is Best for a home away from home: Reykjavik Marina Residence Neighbourhood: Harbour The snowy exterior of the Reykjavik Marina Residence (Reykjavik Marina Residence) Located next to the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina hotel, the Residence offers a homely environment with all the conveniences of a hotel. Set in a 20th century townhouse, it includes one two-storey suite and six one-room Residence Suites, each with balcony, minibar, Soley Organics Icelandic toiletries and Lin Design linens. Breakfast is included and all suites share access to the Residence Lounge where complimentary refreshments are offered every evening. Doubles from KR62,050 (391) reykjavikmarinaresidence.is Best for budget travellers: Loft Neighbourhood: Mioborg Reykjavik isnt cheap, but the colourful rooms at the Loft are a good budget option (Loft Hostel) Another genre-crosser, Loft offers both hostel and hotel accommodations. The Double Deluxe Rooms are basic but cosy, with large windows overlooking Laugavegur, soft beds and small-but-functional tiled bathrooms. Guests also have access to the top-floor balcony cafe for breakfast and light bites, and a self-catering kitchen to save even more on the high cost of dining in Reykjavik. Doubles from KR17,750 (111) lofthostel.is Air Frances budget subsidiary, Joon, has copied Air New Zealand by adding a couch option to some seats on its Airbus A340 aircraft. Cosy Joon is offered on the central block of four seats in four rows towards the back of the ageing four-engined jets. The idea is that the cushions can be detached from head rests and attached instead to extend the length of the seat, creating a bed or play area of sorts, measuring 41x30 inches. A mattress pad is also supplied. The airline says: Cosy Joon makes it possible for kids to sleep horizontally in a comfy bed and have play space! In an instant, the cabin crew can transform your childs seat into a comfortable area for him or her to play and sleep. And suddenly, the entire space between rows is all yours! The option is available only to families with two young children, accompanied by one or two adults. It is not possible for parents to book themselves into business class and leave the children in economy. Joon warns passengers: An adult must be seated beside his or her children. A special seat belt is provided for children. The cost is 20 (18) per family member (adults as well as children), although frequent flyers with silver status or better are entitled to the facility free of charge, so long as they are travelling with children. Other passengers can pay 30 (27) to select seats a long way from the special rows, 33 to 36. Joon has been established as a brand for millennials, promising a flying experience thats both stylish and relaxed. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The offshoot of the French airline flies from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Cairo, Cape Town, Fortaleza, Mumbai and the Seychelles. Links to the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, and the Caribbean island of St-Martin are due to start in 2019. The concept of extending the seat area to provide a bed was pioneered by Air New Zealand in 2010 with the Economy Skycouch. Cuddle Class, as it was dubbed, involves moving the footrests up to seat-cushion level, creating a surface the size of a slim single bed: 61x29 inches. It is available to adults as well as children. Some Ryanair customers faced airport check-in fees of 55 on Monday 19 November after the airlines website and app crashed, leaving passengers unable to check-in online. The site was down for several hours last night, and by 10.20pm was still not up and running. Europes largest airline charges 55 per person per flight for checking in at the airport often this means it costs more than the ticket itself. Furious passengers vented their frustration online. Twitter user TotallydubbedHD wrote: Was charged 55/pp (on a Ryanair flight that cost 46/pp return). Customer service, both online and on the phone, refused to acknowledge the website being down and/or having the ability to check in online. Think thats called scamming people for having a shoddy website Ryanair. Musician Emile Bernard responded: Cant believe they have the guts to make you pay extra! Im having the same problem, flight in a few hours and I cant log in! Ryanair sort it out! Ryanair has said TotallydubbedHD's issue had nothing to do with the website outage, as he tweeted before the site crashed. The exact times the website was down, however, remain unclear. Other customers said they would simply refuse to pay the fee should they be charged. Ryan Rolph-Tryka tweeted: Ryanair great work, 55 fee for not checking in online... website crashes, app down and no way to check-in... safe to say I WILL NOT be paying upon check-in tomorrow if you try and charge me for it!! Others were concerned that, due to the website issues, they had been charged multiple times for flights without any booking confirmation to show for it. Whats going on? wrote Zoe Dean. I tried booking online via app last night as website down for maintenance. After two failures on app website OK so booked. This morning I have three pending payments, different amounts, no email, one booking ref! My seats are still on sale! Ryanair launched its early Black Friday sale on 19 November, which could have contributed to servers being overloaded by bargain hunters. Flight prices were slashed by 30, with plenty of routes available for under 5. However, many customers noted that the website problems meant they could not book tickets at the promised prices and when ryanair.com was back up and running, the cost had gone up. Chris Lovell tweeted: So Ryanair will you be honouring the prices on your website and app before they both crashed? Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Borja Martinez Vazquez added: Ryanair the user experience on your website is a nightmare. I have tried to buy flights even with two different cards and your payment gateway is not working. After several attempts the price has been increased 40... Of course, after that, I wont buy it at all. Ryanair has downplayed the crash; a spokesperson told The Independent: The website is working normally. There was a brief server issue earlier yesterday evening which was quickly resolved. With almost each day the Brexit crisis seems to grow more acute, interrupted only by occasional bouts of nervous exhaustion within the governing party. The prime minister appears to have survived a cabinet meeting without suffering any further resignations and, for now, has avoided a vote of no confidence. This is what passes for success for Theresa May these days. She has, on the other hand, to cope with the vague threat of a veto from the Spanish for her draft UK-EU withdrawal agreement. Recommended European Court to decide whether Article 50 can be reversed And, by the same token, with almost each day the case for a Final Say on the terms of Brexit, now they are known, grows in strength. The weakest of the objections practicality raised against having another referendum has no substance. There will be time for a Final Say. For one important obstacle to such a national verdict has been removed by the Supreme Court (formerly known as enemies of the people in some quarters), which has ruled that the government has no business trying to prevent a judicial review of the UKs, and the EUs, Article 50 legislation. Obscure as the initiative that was taken some months ago via a Scottish court may seem, the fact that the question will now go to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for adjudication is encouraging for anyone who feels democracy has not yet run its course on Brexit. The substantive issue is a simple one: can the UK unilaterally withdraw Article 50? The relevant European Union treaty is silent on the point, as it is on most things to do with secession, because it was hardly envisaged that anyone would wish to quit the most successful multinational trading bloc in the history of the world. If, as seems reasonable, the ECJ rules in an expedited manner that the UK can indeed do so, then that closes off one of the arguments used by Brexiteers against a Final Say. Time will now be needed for a second referendum, and the UK, we may safely assume, will be allowed the possibility to have a vote. The other side of the equation the acquiescence of the European Commission, parliament and other member state governments may also be assumed. All the indications are that while the EU would refuse any extension of the Article 50 timetable to facilitate yet more fatuous negotiations over the withdrawal agreement, set to be ratified by the European Council, there would be flexibility if it was to allow the British people to reflect on the actual Brexit they have before them. It may or may not constitute the Brexit we voted for, as it is sometimes said, but it is The Deal the only deal available now. It is interesting that the prime minister nowadays makes reference to the three options facing parliament: her Brexit; hard Brexit or no Brexit at all. In other words, the government explicitly allows for the possibility that, on their terms, Brexit can be frustrated. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events This is going too far. All those who want a Final Say are asking for precisely just that. As they learn more about the withdrawal agreement, in its final treaty form, and they weigh up the political declaration on the future relationship between the UK and the EU, they will be able to sift the arguments for the first time in an informed manner. No doubt some, on either side, will be ideologically committed to leave or remain that is their right. Others will want to judge the balance of advantage of each option, for sovereignty, for jobs or for peace and security. Each voter will have their own agenda; which is why there never was some monolithic Brexit that everyone voted for. Many will not have changed their minds since 2016; others will have done so; still more will wish to vote in a referendum they missed last time, or will be coming onto the electoral rolls for the first time. So it is hardly undemocratic to wish to have a further vote. The Supreme Court, not for the first time, has proven itself the friend of democracy, and the friend of the people. Last week Jacob Rees-Mogg summoned the Westminster media to the grand St Stephens Entrance of the Houses of Parliament to announce, entirely needlessly, that he, Jacob Rees-Mogg, had formally sent in his letter of no confidence in the prime minister. To his right stood Steve Baker, the self-appointed unofficial whip of the Tory rebels. On their way out to face the cameras, Baker had paused, exhaled, and was overheard muttering self-motivational maxims to himself. Do not be in any doubt. This was meant to be the great, historic moment that Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the European Research Group, set in motion a chain of letter writing that would topple the prime minister. And now that he has so singularly failed to achieve his aim, and both men have so humiliated themselves and their party in the process, Jacob Rees-Mogg doesnt want to talk about it. On Tuesday morning, the press were summoned again, this time to the launch of the European Research Groups latest bit of research, on why leaving the customs union and single market would be absolutely fine (the document is beyond risible, but well come to that later). Unsurprisingly, one or two members of the media wished to know what happens next after Mr Rees-Moggs attempted coup. Its not a coup, he said. Its not a coup, pointing out, not for the first time, that his attempts to remove the prime minister at a time of acute national crisis were in accordance with the democratic procedures of the Conservative Party. And, more to the point, he added: This type of language, this over-egged language, is rather damaging to political debate. At this point, on the subject of over-egged language, it does not seem inappropriate to refer back to Mr Rees-Moggs comments of last week, in which he said of Theresa Mays Brexit agreement that it would turn Britain into not so much a vassal state as a slave state. Never mind that the only really accepted usage of the term slave state is a US state that maintained the legality of slavery in the years preceding the American Civil War; theres also the fact that Norway, a country that struggles on under conditions all but identical to the ones Rees-Mogg describes as slavehood, recently topped an international poll on countries with the highest quality of life. And as we are at such risk of over-egged political language damaging debate, perhaps its worth at this juncture referring back to Mr Rees-Moggs words at the most recent ERG briefing before this one? Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Show all 13 1 /13 Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Esther McVey Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey arrives to attend the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London. - Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the cabinet over draft Brexit deal AFP/Getty Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Dominic Raab British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab give a press conference at the end of the final round of talks in Brexit negotiations at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium EPA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Rehman Chrishti Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party Rehman Chrishti tendered his resignation letter this afternoon PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Anne-Marie Trevelyan Parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Education Anne-Marie Trevelyan resigned stating that she cannot support the deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Sam Gyimah Universities minister Sam Gyimah resigned on November 30, claiming the government's decision to pull out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system as a deciding factor PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Shailesh Vara Shailesh Vara who has quit as Minister of State for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Theresa May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation" PA Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Suella Braverman Brexit minister Suella Braverman has resigned, stating It is not what the British people, or my constituents, voted for in 2016. Cabinet ministers resign over Brexit deal Ranil Jayawardena Parliamentary private secretary to the ministry of justice Ranil Jayawardena resigned as he could not back the deal "in good conscience" What is the best way to achieve a deal? Is it to be snivelling and fearful and timorous and give the impression to the EU that we will do whatever they say? he said then. That we will kowtow, we will go down on bended knee, we will offer to serve homage to the great power that is in the European Union? How many eggs would we say are served in that exactly? Its also worth pointing out that, while it is technically true he is only following the procedures of the Conservative Party, he knows he is utterly abusing the spirit of them. The whole point of the now widely ridiculed system of privately sending a letter of no confidence to the chairman of an obscure backbench committee, and said chairman keeping tally of how many he has, is that it allows the Conservative Party to move to elect a new leader in a discreet and dignified way. It is a secretive process because it is meant to remain a secret. They are procedures that are not meant to be reimagined as a rolling circus for the 24-hour media age. The moment you summon the television cameras to announce you have sent your letter in, for no great reason beyond your own crushing vanity, is the moment you stop following the spirit of those procedures. All of which explains why, two questions later, Mr Rees-Mogg refused to take questions on the subject entirely, and restricted questions only to the report. Press conferences, its worth remembering, are not called by the press. They are called by people who want the presss attention. Conventionally, whoever has called them is not, in such circumstances, meant to then tell the press what they can and cant ask about. You have summoned them there after all. Some years ago, I recall David Cameron standing behind a lectern in 10 Downing Street, next to the International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, who was in town for the final inspections before the London games. As Rogge looked on utterly bemused, Cameron took six questions in a row on when he had last eaten a Cornish pasty. He knows it comes with the territory. The only other occasion before this one when I can recall a mainstream British politician telling the media what they can and cant ask about was when Jeremy Corbyn gave a speech on the NHS and refused to answer any questions on whether or not he had or hadnt actually been offered a seat on a supposedly ram-packed Virgin train. Mr Rees-Mogg became a media darling some years ago not merely because of his eccentricity and obvious telegenic demeanour. It was because he never, ever, dodged a question and gave a full, eminently quotable answer to anything he was asked. That he has descended to the level of Jeremy Corbyn in his least articulate days (he is since much improved) should surprise no one. His basic dignity, like that of Boris Johnson, David Davis, Steve Baker and so many more before him, is just the latest sacrifice upon the altar of Brexit. As for the report itself, well, it seeks to make clear, yet again, that some kind of Canada-plus style deal is preferable, while leaving the EU with no deal is no problem. The hard border with Ireland that both these options necessitate can all be worked out later, using technology that is yet to be invented. And the other problem, that the EU would reject out of hand any deal that threatens a return to a hard border, can also apparently be wished away for now. More to the point, the only reason Mr Rees-Mogg has risen to any kind of prominence in this hour of national crisis is because the parliamentary arithmetic is such that his band of merry wreckers have the power to derail anything Theresa May has to offer. We do not want to change the leader, we want to change the policy, they have said, several times, before changing their mind. Should they achieve their objective, how they then pass their deal, which is significantly less popular in the House of Commons than Theresa Mays one, is a problem a new leader categorically does not solve, and thus is also a problem for another day. Perhaps this is why Mr Rees-Mogg is so unkeen on the word coup. It may not, strictly, be an abuse of Conservative procedure, but it might just be the least conservative moment in the Conservative Partys history. The idea of a Conservative, by the way, comes first from the writings of Edmund Burke, who in 1789, had this to say on the behaviour of the revolutionaries in France: We are taught to look with horror on those children of their country, who are prompt rashly to hack their aged parent in pieces, and put him into the kettle of magicians, in hopes that by their poisonous weeds, and wild incantations, they may regenerate the paternal constitution, and renovate their fathers life. Conservatives do not take wild actions with no concern for the consequences. Rees-Moggs revolution is failing, though it is certainly being televised. Thus far, it makes Bush and Blairs adventures in Iraq seem a paragon of statecraft. By Andrew Spence Their wooden homes are stuck together with pee and have stood longer than the pyramids. Once abundant across semi-arid regions of southern Australia, the Greater Stick-Nest Rat, Leporillus conditor, was pushed to the brink of extinction in the 20th Century by competition for food from livestock and rabbits and the introduction of predatory foxes and feral cats. Now the furry little Australian mammal with a blunt snout and large rounded ears is making a comeback. The rats earn their Greater tag not from their size, they only grow to 26cm and weigh less than 450 grams, but from their large nests. According to Nathan Beerkens, an expert Arid Recovery Field Ecologist and Community Co-ordinator, the nests can be up to six cubic metres in size and are built from sticks glued together with the rats sticky, odourless urine. People have gone out to carbon date them and some of the nests you can still find out in the Outback are over 10,000 years old so they are very good builders, Beerkens said. Up to 20 stickies live in a nest, which they sometimes decorate with flowers and leaves during breeding season. They are nocturnal and spend their days in these huge stick houses that they build. The women are the boss of these houses and they pass them down to their daughters, Beerkens said. After generations and generations they [the nests] can get huge. Sometimes if there are too many [rats living in the nest] they will build their own little granny flat nearby. A Greater Stick-Nest Rat nest on Reevesby Island. Picture: Nathan Beerkens. He said the recovery of the Stick-Nest Rat from the brink of extinction 30 years ago had been amazing. The only surviving natural population of about 1000 Greater Stick-Nest Rats lives on the Franklin Islands off the far West Coast of South Australia. But a captive breeding program and relocation to several feral free islands in South Australia and Western Australia and within fenced sanctuaries on the mainland is helping the furry little critters thrive again. The first of 101 of these relocated rats were released on the 400ha Reevesby Island, the largest in the Sir Joseph Banks group of islands in Spencer Gulf, once sheep and feral cats were removed from the island in 1990. Greater Stick-Nest Rats from the breeding program were also used to populate St Peters Island, near the Franklin Islands, and Salutation Island in Western Australia. The Reevesby population thrived and 100 of the rats were relocated to the Arid Recovery fenced reserve in Outback South Australia in 1998 and 1999. A further 100 were relocated to the fenced Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary in western New South Wales in 2006. Almost 30 years later, a team of Arid Recovery ecologists including Stick-Nest Rat experts Peter Copley and Nathan Beerkens visited Reevesby Island in search of the rodents in September. We went there with the expectation that there might be none, Beerkens said. We put out Elliott traps and we also went spotlighting and we were fortunate enough to catch 19 of them in a small area but there was evidence of them over the entire island. A Greater Stick-Nest Rat being released on Reevesby Island. Picture: Kath Tuft. Its hard to say how many animals there are there but it would be in the hundreds and they are going really, really well. The fact that weve been able to reintroduce this species from just two islands connected by a sandbar is a real success story as far as Australian conservation goes Now that theyve been spread around so much it really reduces their risk of extinction its a major revival. The end goal of all this is to get them living outside of fences on mainland Australia again but that would take a lot of feral control and ecosystem restoration but that is the long-term goal. Action: Ruth Coppinger holds up a thong in the Dail chamber as she urges Government to stop rape myths being used in court Judges should be required to instruct rape case juries to disregard all evidence they hear from defence lawyers proposing an alleged victims clothing suggests consent, the director of the Rape Crisis Centre has said. It comes after Mr Flanagan said he hoped protocols could be introduced for lawyers surrounding the introduction of clothing evidence in such trials. Without a doubt it is a normal part of any sexual assault case to introduce a range of issues such as the victims clothing, suggesting it as evidence of consent, Noeline Blackwell said. That does need to be challenged. Ms Blackwell, director of the centre and a lawyer, preferred the introduction of practice directions for judges. This would require a judge to say at the end of the trial when charging the jury to come up with a verdict you have heard evidence about clothing, you are to disregard this evidence because it is not relevant to the charge. This way, lawyers would eventually stop trying to introduce the issue of clothing as evidence of consent. Practice directions are rules judges must follow in presiding over a case and if they are broken, could leave any verdict open to challenge on the basis a jury was incorrectly instructed. Ms Blackwell said this would still allow defence barristers to raise the issue in a court and not leave it open to accusations of an unfair trial. Its important to remember that the victim in such cases, because they are not represented, require special protection from the judge, she said. Ms Blackwell said there was a similar requirement in the UK, within the Crown Court Compendium, which judges there follow. Speaking on RTEs Claire Byrne Live, Mr Flanagan responded to controversy which has raged since a senior counsel told a Cork Circuit Court jury they had to consider an alleged rape victims underwear. The justice minister said he didnt feel there were any circumstances where reference on the part of the defence counsel to the style, or clothing, that a woman at any time wears is acceptable. What we see in a criminal court case is often times a full-blooded defence, where under our criminal law code a person is innocent until proven guilty, and often times the defence counsel will use whatever means are available and I dont think thats acceptable. And I do believe this will form part of the review thats being undertaken and I would hope that we could introduce protocols for lawyers and indeed for everybody involved in the courts system, he said. Executive Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Liam Herrick, also backed the ministers comments. He said one of most important aspects of victims of crime law is that courts may give directions about evidence concerning a victim's private life in order to prevent re-traumatising the victim of sexual offences where the admission of that evidence is not required by the principles of justice." The use of certain types of clothing as persuasive evidence of consent is extremely problematic and feeds into a wider context of pervasive rape myths and stereotypes, which extend not only to the clothing a victim was wearing but their sexual history and their drug or alcohol consumption, he said. Fighting on: Theresa May at the CBI annual conference in London yesterday. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire EU countries are set to unanimously back the Brexit deal regardless of developments in London this week. All indications from Brussels, where EU foreign ministers met yesterday, are that the EU27 is pleased with the arrangement that provides for a UK-wide customs arrangement. Irish officials had feared some push-back as they had initially insisted any special arrangements could be applied only to Northern Ireland. However, as British Prime Theresa May continues to battle with her own ministers, the EU appears united. The agreement also must be approved by the European Parliament. Manfred Weber, who leads the EU legislature's largest group, the centre-right European People's Party, said its initial assessment of the deal was "very encouraging, very positive". "It must be clear to our British partners that there will be no renegotiation of this text that is now on the table," Mr Weber said in Berlin. Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said the deal "is the best one possible". "There is no better one for this crazy Brexit," Mr Asselborn said as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels before a leaders' summit on Sunday at which the bloc intends to sign off on the deal. It is understood Spain is the only country to have expressed reservations, insisting it needed more clarity on how Gibraltar, the British territory at the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, would be dealt with. It comes as EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the EU ministers "have agreed to the principle" of a one-off extension of the post-Brexit transition period if the two sides need more time to finalise a trade deal. Expand Close Warning shot: Karen Bradley said a no-deal will be bad for businesses. Photo: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Warning shot: Karen Bradley said a no-deal will be bad for businesses. Photo: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire Under the divorce agreement, Britain agrees to be bound by EU rules during the transition. It is due to end in December 2020 but can be extended by mutual agreement if the two sides need more time. Mrs May told business leaders yesterday she wanted a clean break from the EU before the next general election, which is scheduled for 2022. She argues that abandoning the plan ahead of 'Brexit Day' on March 29, could lead to the exit being delayed or abandoned, or to a disorderly and economically damaging "no-deal" Brexit. But Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said his MPs would vote against the current agreement and also try to block a "no-deal" exit. He said "Labour will not countenance a no-deal Brexit" which could cause upheaval for businesses and people. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley has made clear a no-deal Brexit will mean customs and regulatory checks on the island of Ireland. She stressed that, while the UK government is committed to working to avoid a hard Border, World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules are "very clear" and checks would need to be carried out on consignments passing between two customs territories on a contemporaneous basis. The Conservative MP also suggested UK and EU commitments outlined in last December's joint report on maintaining the common travel area - an agreement which allows free movement for UK and Irish citizens in Britain and Ireland - would also be thrown into doubt in a no-deal scenario. Ms Bradley, who pitched the merits of the draft Brexit deal to business leaders in Belfast yesterday, said the report's undertakings to protect the Single Electricity Market (SEM) and ensure certain citizens' rights are upheld post-Brexit would also fall by the wayside if the UK crashes out. "They are agreed as part of the withdrawal agreement, that is not something that is agreed in a no-deal situation," she said. During the business briefing, Ms Bradley was asked to react to comments from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that a Border would be hard to avoid in a no-deal scenario. The secretary of state was challenged on the apparent contrast between Mr Varadkar's statement and the UK government's oft-stated pos-ition that it is committed to ensuring no hard Border post-Brexit. In response, she urged the audience to familiarise themselves with WTO rules on the need for checks to happen. The Brexit transition period could be extended by two years under proposals suggested by the European Union's chief negotiator, it has been reported. Michel Barnier is said to have proposed the extension in order to give more time for Britain to strike a full trade deal with the EU. The move would also give diplomats more time to find a means of avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland and avoid the use of the backstop. Under the draft Withdrawal Agreement published last week, the transition period would begin when the UK leaves the EU on March 29 and run until December 31 2020. During the transition, EU law will continue to apply in the UK and Britain will continue to participate in the customs union and the single market. There is a one-off option for the UK to seek an extension of the transition if negotiations on the future relationship are still continuing. According to the Financial Times, Mr Barnier told EU ambassadors in a diplomatic note that the transition period could be extended until as late as December 2022. During the extended period, the UK could have to continue to allow the free movement of people from the EU and keep making large payments to Brussels. In October, Theresa May confirmed she was ready to consider a delay of "a matter of months" in Britain's final departure from the EU in order to avoid a hard border in Ireland. The Prime Minister previously said she did not expect any extension of the transition period to be needed, because she hoped to conclude a deal on the UK's future trade and security relationship with the EU by its scheduled end-date of December 2020. In his reported communique, Mr Barnier is said to have noted that the political situation in Westminster is "volatile". Any extension to the transition period would be mutually agreed between the UK and the EU. Meanwhile, Business Secretary Greg Clark has also not ruled out asking for a longer Brexit transition period if needed. Asked on BBC radio about an extension to the transition period, Clark said: "It would be at our request." "It would be our discretion, it would be purely for us if we wanted to and there are reasons we may not want to take that up, it would be available to us," he said. He did not rule out a suggestion that it could last until 2022. "If we were six weeks away from concluding a future economic partnership and agreeing that then it may make sense to extend the transition period," Clark said. In Westminster, Brexiteers could view extending the period as a concession to Brussels. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister could also face criticism of failing to overcome the final barriers to sealing a full trade deal with the EU. (PA & Reuters) There will not be an emergency budget next year, even if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe insists. Even though a number of ministers have warned that a no-deal Brexit would be catastrophic for Ireland, Mr Donohoe insists the Budget announced last month catered for all scenarios. It included tax cuts worth around 5 a week to the average worker and an extra 5 on all social welfare payments. There was also an extra 1bn for the embattled Department of Health. Asked by the Irish Independent whether this would all still be affordable if the country is facing a worst-case-scenario Brexit, Mr Donohoe said: "I'm confident. We put together a Budget that looks to deal with making sure our economy is Brexit-proofed. "[I believe] that this is an economy and a Budget that can withstand many of the different Brexit scenarios." Ireland will be the country worst affected by Brexit outside of the UK itself. British Chancellor Philip Hammond said he expected to be forced to prepare an alternative budget to the one he revealed in recent weeks if there was no deal. He said the UK government would "prepare and plan for all eventualities as any prudent government would - if we were to find ourselves in that situation then we would need to take a different approach to the future of Britain's economy. "Frankly, we'd need to have a new budget that set out a different strategy for the future." Mr Donohoe said this showed why it was "so important" that the UK and EU sign off on an orderly transition period. "We are going into next year's Budget with books that are fully balanced, while setting up a rainy day fund and that will give us the resilience to deal with many of the different challenges we could have," the minister said, adding: "I believe this Budget will hold." Mr Donohoe is just one of a string of ministers who are attending meetings with counterparts in Europe this week before prime ministers gather on Sunday to approve the Withdrawal Agreement. The impact Brexit will have on EU economies is likely to form a major part of the debate ahead of the special summit. For the moment, Ireland's economy is holding up strongly, although shares have suffered at the growing expectation that British Prime Minister Theresa May will not get the deal through parliament. Recruitment consultants Morgan McKinley will today report the number of professionals seeking work is the highest that it has been all year. It puts this partly down to a 'Brexit boost' as Ireland experiences a big inflow of talent from the UK and EU. IRISH government bond yield spreads over Germany were near their widest level since May as worries over the impact of a messy Brexit hurt demand for the country's debt. British Prime Minister Theresa May last week disclosed a draft agreement on leaving the EU which met with strong opposition within her party and could spark a confidence vote and increases the chances of a no-deal Brexit. "A no-deal Brexit could have an adverse impact on Ireland's economic picture, which would impact risk assets and have some effect on government bonds as well," said a Commerzbank rates strategist. "It could affect the country in general, it could impact the budget position, the deficit position, and generally weigh on risk assets as well." While government bonds are generally not considered risky assets, eurozone government debt - especially lower-rated debt - often tends to perform differently, since individual countries don't have control over printing money. While UK gilt yields dropped on the reaction to the Brexit proposal, Irish yields increased, with 10-year yields hitting 104.5pc on Friday. Yesterday, Irish yields were more or less unchanged and the spread between Irish and German 10-year bond yields was at 63 basis points, close to a five-and-a-half-month high of 65.5 basis points hit on Friday. German bonds have been the subject of flight-to-safety demand, increasing a lot of spreads across the eurozone. Reuters A rejection of the draft Brexit divorce agreement by Britain's parliament will lead to a disorderly and potentially very chaotic departure from the European Union, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley said on Monday. "If parliament chooses to reject that deal, there is no other option on the table. That would mean leaving without a deal," Karen Bradley told a conference where she described the vote as probably the most important of her lifetime as she sought to garner support from local businesses. "Be under no illusions, not accepting this deal is not an easy choice. It is a disorderly, potentially very chaotic exit from the European Union for the UK and I certainly believe very strongly that politicians from the whole of the United Kingdom should put that national interest first." More to follow... A packet of Eat Grub smoky BBQ crunchy roasted crickets, which are now on the menu at Sainsbury's. Photo: Sainsbury's/PA Wire Sainsburys has become the first British supermarket chain to stock edible insects in a bid to boost sustainable food sources that produce fewer greenhouse gases. Insect snacks should no longer be seen as a gimmick or something for a dare, said Rachel Eyre, head of future brands at Sainsburys. Its clear that consumers are increasingly keen to explore this new sustainable protein source, Eyre said in a statement. Nutritionists and scientists have long touted insect consumption for humans as a sustainable and cheap source of protein - though snacking on bugs is a stomach-churning prospect for many. Insects can be a rich source of fat, protein, vitamins, fibre and minerals, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Global population growth and an expanding middle class have raised per-capita meat consumption by 50 percent over the past four decades, but critics say the trend is environmentally unsustainable. There are also worries about the environmental impact of intensive crop farming and commercial fishing. As the population increases, we urgently need to look at alternative protein sources to make the most of land available for food production, said Duncan Williamson, a global food system expert at environmental group WWF UK. Insects are incredibly sustainable and can help to reduce our carbon footprint, he said in a statement. Globally, at least 2 billion people eat insects - which require far less land and water than cattle - and more than 1,900 species have been used for food, according to the FAO. Edible insect company Eat Grub, whose Netherlands-farmed crickets will be stocked in 250 Sainsburys stores, said nearly 10 percent of British people had tried eating insects. But it wants more consumers to include the critters in their diet - be it eating roasted crickets as a snack or using cricket flour in baking. Were on a mission to show the West that as well as having very strong sustainability and environmental credentials, they are also seriously tasty, said Eat Grub co-founder Shami Radia. Livestock farmers say they are now totally dependent on their direct payments for an income. Angry beef farmers have thrown down the gauntlet to the IFA to deliver stronger leadership on prices, and warned that the sector was on the brink of collapse. Amid angry exchanges at a meeting of Limerick IFA last week, livestock farmers claimed they were now totally dependent on their direct payments for an income which averaged 210-250/week - "equivalent to the dole" as one contributor maintained. A leading IFA man in the county said the association should admit to farmers that there was no hope for the suckler sector and advise members to sell up the cows and "get a job". The angry comments in Limerick mirrored sentiments expressed at a recent IFA meeting in Kerry, and at meetings of the Beef Plan Group in Roscommon and Claremorris. "I can see the sector totally collapsing," Donal O'Brien, a former member of the IFA livestock committee, told the Limerick meeting. Mr O'Brien called on the IFA to "for God's sake engage more expertise if necessary", to deliver better representation for beef farmers. "I have three sons, and a good farm of land, but they have no interest in it and I don't blame them. I have 72 suckler cows, I'm cutting back to 30 and I will be gone out next year. If the IFA can't come up with a plan to save the suckler sector they should tell farmers to get out and get a job," he said. "It is time for action by the IFA to take on the processors head-on but we need a new group to do that because I have no faith in IFA to deliver. Would you like to work for 12,000 a year? That's what we are getting. All I want is to get paid for my product," beef farmer Tom O'Donnell said. Eddie Scanlan, of the IFA's livestock committee, said suckler farmers were expected to live on an income that is just over the dole payment. "What future is there? None. The sooner we tell farmers that it is over the better. It will be over after the present generation is gone, because there is no future," Mr Scanlan claimed. Responding to the criticism of the Limerick farmers, the IFA's livestock director, Kevin Kinsella, accepted that there were "major income challenges in the livestock sector". He said farmers were justified in demanding a strong lift in factory prices given "the 200 price gap with the UK, our main export market". Mr Kinsella said that supply year-to-date is up more than 50,000hd and likely to finish the year around 53,000hd higher than 2017. While British beef prices have eased over the past five weeks, they are at the equivalent of 4.45 for steers, a differential of 59c/kg over the Irish price. This equates to 210 on a 350kg carcass. Mr Kinsella said prices in the EU were beginning to increase, while live exports were up 54,700hd on 2017. Eamon Corley of the 6,000-member strong Beef Plan Group said the group aimed to increase to 40,000 members in order to campaign for cost of production plus a margin. Mr Corley said beef prices are "always a concern and are always way below what they should be". He told the Roscommon meeting this was causing many farmers to get out of suckler farming altogether. Farmers should plan to carry a two-month reserve of silage (0.7t dry matter per livestock unit) in excess of that required for a normal winter. Stock Image Farmers have been told they should carry two months of extra silage in future to protect against extreme weather events that have become more common in recent years. It came at the meeting of an inter-agency fodder committee set up by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed in response to the fodder crisis. Farmers endured a tough year with freezing conditions persisting into late spring before the summer drought. A fodder survey at the end of October showed that one-third of farmers are still 15pc short of fodder. This is equivalent to a deficit of three weeks' feeding, based on a 145-day winter. Farmers should plan to carry a two-month reserve of silage (0.7t dry matter per livestock unit) in excess of that required for a normal winter. This should be carried as a rolling feed reserve. The committee conceded that there will be cost involved but said it will greatly reduce the impact of future weather events. It also recommended a national census of stocks of winter fodder harvested should be conducted in July and November every year, and that all farmers need to do fodder budgets for their own farms at these dates. The committee concluded considerable scope exists on most farms to increase grass and silage production through improving soil fertility. However, it also warned that expanding farmers should match stocking rate to average grass growing capacity. It comes as Met Eireann's Evelyn Cusack warned recently Ireland can expect more heavy snow during the winter, with climate change having an effect. Despite saying adverse weather conditions take place irrespective of climate change, Met Eireann's head of forecasting said that heavier snow could be anticipated in the coming years. Snow "There is a chance of more snow even though the climate is warming up and that's because there's more moisture in the atmosphere," Ms Cusack said. "There's more evaporation because of the higher sea temperatures and then in winter, instead of rain, it turns to snow. So, in fact, snow events could be heavier." Ms Cusack said because of the different weather conditions experienced in the past 12 months, she expects the public to take real notice this year. "The message is prepare yourself for all eventualities and listen out for the warnings and the local forecasts as well," she said. The fodder committee said that farmers had shown tremendous resilience in the face of difficult weather conditions. The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has hit back at criticism over its support of the draft agreement reached on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. Responding to criticism from TUV leader Jim Allister, UFU president Ivor Ferguson said: "As with any large industry, there are wide ranging views within our membership. "During the EU referendum, the UFU didnt take an official position but following the result we got down to the business trying to secure the best Brexit deal for agriculture. As always, our focus is securing the best future possible for our family-run farms in Northern Ireland. "We are a democratic organisation and we represent around 11,500 family farms. It is unrealistic to expect that all our members will agree 100 per cent on everything, all of the time. "The UFU has argued that a no deal Brexit would have a devastating impact on farmers in Northern Ireland. This has been supported by a number of independent reports from AFBI, LMC, and more. "No deal has been considered extensively within the UFUs internal committee structure and has consistently been found to be the worst of all possible options. The position was confirmed again at our Executive meeting in October." Also, we have always called for a solution that allowed NI farmers unfettered access to the GB market, while at the same time allowing the long-standing trading relationship between NI and ROI to continue." TUV leader Jim Allister has said he is "greatly disappointed" at the UFU's backing of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. The UFU, which represents farmers across Northern Ireland, earlier warned that a no-deal Brexit would be "absolutely disastrous" for local farming and agri-food sector. The Confederation of British Industry NI, Federation of Small Businesses NI, Institute of Directors NI and NI Chamber of Commerce have all backed the deal. However, TUV leader Jim Allister has expressed amazement in particular at the UFU's support for the agreement. He said: Id like to put down the anti-Brexit euphoria for Mrs Mays deal from business interests as naivety, but when you see the usual suspects headed up by the CBI line up as government supplicants you soon recognise the lackey syndrome. How the UFU in particular could join this chorus of embracing the break-up of the UK single market on which they depend is beyond rationalisation. "Urging MPs to vote for an Irish Sea regulatory border is madness, as well as accepting NI as part of the EUs custom territory. Have they forgotten the business supply chain is a two way process and, therefore, rushing to impede GB/NI trade is as dangerous as it is absurd. Im greatly disappointed that the UFU has abandoned the settled will of most farmers that they wish to leave the EU in all its parts." Unionists have expressed anger that the deal would 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. Mr Allister added: "Now is a time for anyone who values the prosperity which the UK Union has brought us to recognise that at this seminal moment to endorse Mrs Mays plan is to endorse the break-up of the UK. "I do not believe such accords with the desires of Ulster farmers. Pity it seems to be the vision of their union. AwazToday.pk Privacy Policy: We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our Website. 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The European Commission's move to reduce the anti-dumping duty on ammonium nitrate from 47/Mt to 32/Mt has been criticised by one industry body. Fertilizers Europe said it is concerned that despite recognising Russian ammonium nitrate industry as a considerable injurious threat for EU nitrogen industry, the Commission decided to reduce the anti-dumping duty on ammonium nitrate from 47/Mt to 32/Mt. While it welcomes the European Commissions central finding in the interim dumping review that there are no changed circumstances on the Russian gas market where state fixed pricing dominates gas price formation. It says that the European mineral fertilizer industry is very concerned that the Commission, having recognised this profound structural problem which results in structural dumping, does not apply a consistent logic that there is thereby persistent structural injury in the interim injury review made by EU based farming organisations. Jacob Hansen, Director General of Fertilizers Europe commented: As an industry, we are very concerned with the Commissions decision to reduce by one third the anti-dumping duty on ammonium nitrate originating from Russia despite recognising structural dumping, as it sets a very dangerous precedent which puts at risk high-skilled jobs and competitiveness of European fertilizer industry as a whole. The Russian ammonium nitrate industry still represents a considerable injurious threat as it maintains a spare export capability of over 1.2m tonnes per annum, he said. "Moreover, the Russian industry remains a powerful export industry with exports reaching over 3.5m tonnes per annum in 2017. In comparison, the EU ammonium nitrate market is estimated between 6.47.5m tonnes annually." No amount of EU industry re-structuring or improved efficiencies can compensate for the massive gas gap between Russias typical state fixed price of US$2.5 MMBTU against the EUs wholesale gas price of nearly US$10.00 MMBTU, he said. "The EU industry will be closely monitoring and assessing both the immediate and long-term impact of the EUs reduction of the anti-dumping duty on ammonium nitrate from 47/Mt to 32/Mt. "It cannot be ruled out that the EU industry will ask for an interim review to make for an increased anti-dumping duty." Urgent clarification of a number of issues around the operation of the Clean Livestock Policy (CLP) for sheep has been sought by the ICSA. The calls follow what both ICSA and IFA have described as significant problems at factory level, over a "severe interpretation" of CLP rules being enforced at some plants. John Brooks of the ICSA has called for the Department of Agriculture and Meat Industry Ireland (MII) to outline their positions on a range of matters arising out of the adoption of CLP. These include: * What is the policy on visually assessing sheep as they arrive at factories, either on the part of the Department of Agriculture or individual meat plants? *What is the procedure, or legal framework, regarding lambs being removed from site and transported to an alternative location for clipping? * What happens to lambs that arrive from Northern Ireland or from Britain for slaughter? Are they subject to CLP? If so, is it safe to allow these lambs to be moved out for clipping, given the possible disease risk? How is the disease risk monitored in these cases? * What happens to lambs that are presented for slaughter on a Friday that the plant deem as requiring clipping? What procedures are in place for accommodating clipped lambs awaiting slaughter over the weekend period to avoid animal welfare issues? * What is the maximum cost that can be imposed for clipping procedures? ICSA has received reports of farmers being overcharged for dressing procedures, with charges reaching 2/animal. IFA sheep chairman Sean Dennehy said CLP was causing significant problems at factory level, with an interpretation of the policy that is considered "far too severe in some areas". Practical He said IFA recently met the Department and made it very clear that a more practical and fairer approach must be adopted. However, MII pointed out that the biggest threat faced by the industry is avoiding pathogen contamination from the fleece during the carcass dressing process. "Fleece-to-carcass cross-contamination is a crucial meat safety issue, and the industry invests significant resources in ensuring hygienic carcass dressing. "It is an area that requires continuous attention by both farmers and the meat industry," Cormac Healy of MII said. "It should be noted that at this time of year, due to the weather conditions, the CLP challenge for both farmers and processors increases and there is a heightened focus on the area by the Department of Agriculture as part of its official controls in processing plants. "The net result is increased numbers of sheep needing to be clipped or shorn to ensure hygienic dressing. "Food safety is an absolute. The reputational and economic cost of a serious food safety incident could have massive negative implications for the entire sector." Reorganisation costs totalling more than 510,000 at the family-owned Kilkenny Group, convulsed by a bitter family row last year, contributed to pre-tax profits declining by 25pc. New accounts filed by the luxury goods retailer show the business recorded pre-tax profits of 912,920 in the 12 months to the end of January 2018 - down on the 1.2m pre-tax profits in the previous 12 months. The drop in pre-tax profit came as revenues dipped by 2pc from 30.44m to 29.9m. No detail is provided on the background to the 're-organisational costs' of 512,185 in the accounts but the costs coincided with an expensive row between chief executive Marian O'Gorman and her son, the group's former marketing director Greg O'Gorman, that ended up before the High Court. The row was triggered by Ms O'Gorman sacking her son in 2016 and the High Court was told this summer the case was "resolved to the satisfaction of all parties". In the settlement, the four children of Ms O'Gorman are to get shares in the business. Operating profits at the group last year increased by 31.5pc from 1.095m to 1.44m and it was the 512,185 're-organisation costs' that resulted in the drop in pre-tax profit. In the 2017 accounts for Clydaville Investments Ltd, the directors state "in light of the continuing competitive climate of retail, the directors are very satisfied with the operating results which show an increase in sales and net funds". The directors state they will try to maintain and increase the group's sales and look for future profitable growth opportunities while also reducing costs. The business operates 15 stores around Ireland with its HQ in Killarney, Co Kerry. The group's flagship store is on Nassau Street in Dublin. Numbers employed at the group last year reduced from 270 to 256, with staff costs increasing from 7.27m to 7.65m. Ms O'Gorman and finance director Conor Lynch are listed as directors of the business - directors' pay last year increased from 342,021 to 376,255. Shareholder funds at the group totalled 12.19m while the group's cash pile reduced from 3.6m to 2.78m. Dublin-headquartered Inflazome has completed a 40m Series B funding round. Inflazome is developing drugs that block harmful inflammation. According to the company, scientific data indicates that the NLRP3 inflammasome is overactive in a broad range of serious medical conditions driven by harmful inflammation. These diseases include neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular diseases. The funds raised will be used to advance the company's NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors into multiple clinical trials in 2019. Financing was led by Forbion, with Longitude Capital and founding investors Novartis Venture Fund and Fountain Healthcare Partners also participating. "Recognising the important role of the inflammasome in many major diseases, we intensively screened the universe of companies active in this space," Dr Marco Boorsma, general partner at Forbion Capital Partners, said. "We decided to back Inflazome because of their leading position, deep understanding of inflammasome biology, foundational IP position and advanced and diversified pipeline of NLRP3 modulators." Meanwhile, Mainstay Medical has reported mixed results its ReActiv8-B trial. ReActiv8 is a treatment aimed at stopping chronic lower back pain. The study, which took place over 120 days, did not show statistical significance between treatment and control groups, and so the primary endpoint was not achieved. However, according to Davy analyst Andrew Young, the positive one-year efficacy data, combined with the good safety profile of ReActiv8, should support the case for approval from the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. "The positive data could also be used to support commercialisation efforts of ReActiv8 in Europe," Mr Young added. The High Court has approved payments of more than 20m out of the Insurance Compensation Fund (ICF) to meet a 35pc shortfall in awards concerning motorists insured by the collapsed Maltese based insurer, Setanta Insurance. The payment orders were sought by the State Claims Agency (SCA) and were granted on Monday by the president of the High Court, Mr Justice Peter Kelly. They relate to 1,268 eligible claims and will involve total payments of 20,647,966, representing an additional 35pc of monies due. The application arose from the collapse in 2014 of Setanta which, at the date of liquidation, had about 75,000 policy holders. In court documents, Ciaran Breen, director of the SCA, said eligible claims by Setanta policy holders can be divided into claims caused as a result of an accident, known as first party claims, and claims by third parties against Setanta's policies. This was the fourth High Court application since 2016 for approvals of payments out of the Fund concerning Setanta, he said. The court had previously sanctioned payment out of the ICF of 65pc due under Setanta policies. Mr Breen said the Insurance Acts had previously capped payments out of the fund at 65pc of the sum claimed, or 825,000, whichever is less, but the Insurance Amendment Act 2018 had modified the statutory cap in some respects. While limitations still applied to first party claims, the limitations which previously applied to third party claims and third party legal costs do not apply, he outlined. Various audits of Setanta's claims files had been carried out and reports prepared and the liquidator of Setanta had said it was likely he will be in a position to meet less than 22pc of the insurance claims, he said. This application was seeking court approval for the payment out of the ICF of sums representing 35pc of the eligible claims approved, he said. The claims included claims against Setanta policy holders or legal fees associated with such claims, he said. Certain own damage claims are still subject to the statutory cap of 65pc, he said. This application also incorporated some 133,084 due to the Department of Special Protection in respect of recoverable benefits. The judge made orders approving separate payments out of the Fund some 3.5m; 4.13m and 13.05m. On foot of those orders, the SCA will make the payments due to the affected persons or their solicitors. The ICF liability arose following a Supreme Court ruling last year in which it was found the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland, which compensates victims of uninsured driving, would not be liable for 100pc of the Setanta awards. In seeking the orders on Monday, counsel for the SCA, said the application was under the Insurance Act 2018 in circumstances where the SCA is operating the Fund on behalf of the Central Bank. Tens of thousands more workers are in the firing line for a sudden 'tax grab' that will hit the incomes of some of the lowest paid. CIE workers, teachers, hotel, bar and construction staff may be next to see tax relief on their expenses axed. The Revenue Commissioners stands accused of an "attack on workers" after it already moved to strip 80,000 people of these annual tax allowances from January 1. Shop assistants, actors and journalists are among those who have already been hit with no warning. Now the Irish Independent has learned that a raft of other sectors is under scrutiny, as the Revenue further reviews the scheme. Hotel workers, bar staff, construction workers, and rail and bus staff are all in the firing line, it is understood. However, unions claimed that tax officials were reluctant to cut allowances to staff who pay fees to professional bodies, including hospital consultants. The flat-rate scheme is meant to cover the cost of workers who have to pay for uniforms and tools. It reduces the portion of a worker's income they have to pay tax on. The exact reduction depends on a person's profession - but more than half-a-million PAYE workers currently avail of it. Ending the allowance will likely wipe out any gains from the recent Budget. There was no warning about the impending change, and it comes despite Fine Gael promising more tax cuts for workers. General Secretary of the Mandate trade union John Douglas said teachers were among those discussed at meetings with Revenue. They get a tax relief worth more than 500 that could be slashed to just 60. He said a 93 allowance for bar staff, reliefs worth between 103 and 175 for construction workers, and a 160 allowance for rail and bus staff could be targeted. President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Patricia King has written to Revenue, accusing it of an attack on workers. She expressed surprise it is cutting down on flat-rate expenses that can be claimed by PAYE workers, rather than reforming capital taxes or looking at corporation tax losses. Ms King said the average flat-rate claim was 155 and it boosts low-paid families. The loss will be as high as 300 for freelance actors on the 40pc tax rate. Shop assistants will lose 24, assuming they are on the 20pc tax rate. "You will be aware many of these reliefs go to some of the lowest-paid workers in the country, including in the wholesale and retail and the accommodation and food sectors." She wrote that the 85m that the flat-rate expenses regime cost in 2017 is a tiny fraction of the 231bn in corporation tax losses and capital allowances available to be carried forward at the end of last year. "We would argue that moves to abolish this regime will be perceived as an attack on workers at a time when other sections of society are continuing to receive entirely unfair and wholly disproportionate benefits from other tax expenditures that are not being reconsidered." Brian Keegan, director of public policy and taxation at Chartered Accountants Ireland, said changes to the scheme coming into effect next year affecting around 80,000 people were "ill-timed and difficult for employers and employees alike". Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the expenses regime had grown piecemeal over the years and had to be reviewed. A spokesperson at the Revenue Commissioners said allowances paid to all categories of staff who can claim the tax relief will be examined as a review continues. GirlCrew is partnering with Dell EMC for the tech firm's third Supper Club in support of ambitious female entrepreneurs. Businesswomen, from early startups and established enterprises, meet through the club to share advices, ideas and strategies. Vice-president and general manager of Dell EMC Ireland Aisling Keegan said that the aim of the series is to "nurture todays start-up female entrepreneurs to become tomorrows scale-up success stories". Ms Keegan herself scooped the Women Mean Business 2018 Businesswoman of the Year award and was runner up in the CEO category at this week's Image Businesswoman Awards Some twenty female entrepreneurs gather together around a table for each supper club, the latest marking Dublin Start-Up Week 2018. Speakers at the event, which takes place on Wednesday, November 21, include Sophie Feruch, Co-Founder of AnyGym and Nuala Murphy, CEO of Moment Health, interviewed by Ci Moulton from GirlCrew. Pamela Newenham, Co-Founder, GirlCrew said that the supper clubs perfectly complement what her firm does. Co-founded by Elva Carri, Newenham and Aine Mulloy, GirlCrew allows women to access a secure network in a social and professional capacity, to seek advice and share knowledge. Entrepreneurs looking to take part can find our more through the Dell EMC social channels as well as through GirlCrew. Communications Minister Richard Bruton has stalled the publication of a crucial review of the National Broadband Plan after receiving legal advice from the Attorney General. Ministers were given no insight into the report by Peter Smyth when they met for Cabinet today. Instead they were told that people named in the document will have to provided with a copy before it is made public. Mr Smyth was asked to carry out an audit of the bidding process to see if it was compromised by private meetings between ex-minister Denis Naughten and businessman David McCourt. Mr McCourt is the head of the the only group left in the running for the valuable contract to rollout broadband across rural Ireland. The minister resigned after it emerged that he attended a July 2018 dinner in New York hosted by Mr McCourt as well as another dinner in his home last year among other meetings. Read More The former minister has insisted the broadband procurement process has not been compromised but was forced to resign after losing the confidence of the Taoiseach. Fianna Fail has claimed the process has been compromised. Following todays Cabinet meeting, a spokesperson for the Mr Bruton said: On the advice of the Attorney General, those people who are mentioned in the report must be consulted on the content of the report. The Minister will publish the report in the coming days. In recent weeks Granahan McCourt submitted their final proposals and costings for the project. Even before details of Mr Naughtens meetings emerged, their consortium are the only remaining bidder after other companies, including Eir, dropped out earlier in the process. Nissan shares fell nearly 6pc on Tuesday as chairman Carlos Ghosn's arrest a day earlier sent shockwaves through the business world and threw into doubt the future of Japan's No.2 automaker and its global alliance. Nissan said on Monday an internal investigation triggered by a tip-off from a whistleblower had revealed that Ghosn engaged in wrongdoing including personal use of company money and under-reporting for years how much he was earning. He was arrested and would be fired from Nissan's board this week, it said. Ghosn is also chairman and chief executive of Nissan's French partner, Renault, and chairman of Japan's Mitsubishi Motors, the third partner in the alliance. Ousting Ghosn will pose questions about an alliance that he personally shaped and had pledged to consolidate with a deeper tie-up, before eventually stepping back from its operational leadership. It also brings into focus the future of Nissan - the biggest partner in the alliance - at a time it is seeing falling profits due to weak US sales and is facing heightened competition from rivals who are investing heavily in new growth areas like internet connected cars and self-driving vehicles. Ghosn's alleged improprieties also raise questions over governance at the alliance in which the three partners' boards are all chaired by a single executive. One Nissan headquartered manager told Reuters he was concerned decision making at the alliance, which vies with Volkswagen and Toyota for the ranking of the world's biggest automaker, could slow due to the lack of a unifying figure. The manager, who declined to be identified as he was not permitted to speak to the media, said he was also worried Ghosn's departure could hit sales as fans of the charismatic leader abandon the company and corporate customers bound by compliance rules put orders on hold due to the scandal. Speaking at a late-night news conference on Monday, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said that too much power had been concentrated on Ghosn, and that the implications of his stewardship of both Renault and Nissan had gone unquestioned since 2005. Prosecutors said in a statement that Ghosn and Representative Director Greg Kelly conspired to understate Ghosn's compensation over five years starting in fiscal 2010 as being about half of the actual 9.998 billion yen (77.6m). Ghosn joined Nissan in 1999 and became its CEO in 2001. He remained in that post until last year and had received 9.2m in pay for the final year as CEO. "By under-reporting his corporate salary, he basically deprived Nissan's shareholders of opportunities to judge if the amount of his salary was appropriate," Toru Ibayashi, executive director of Wealth Management at UBS Securities Japan, said of Nissan's allegations. CEO Saikawa, a top ranking executive since 2011, emphasised that Nissan was a victim of Ghosn's alleged misdeeds but declined to say whether others besides Kelly at the automaker were involved in the wrongdoing. Nissan has been slow to strengthen its governance, with outside directors linked to the alliance or lacking business experience, said Zuhair Khan, head of Japan research at Jefferies. "Even in poor governance Japan, Nissan under Carlos Ghosn stood out for bad governance structure," he said. LUXURY LIVING? Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported Nissan paid billions of yen for the purchase and renovation of homes for Ghosn in Rio de Janeiro, Beirut, Paris and Amsterdam, citing unnamed sources. The properties had no business purpose and were not listed as benefits in filings to the Tokyo bourse, NHK said. Saikawa declined on Monday to discuss specifics on Ghosn's personal use of company money. Nissan spent two billion yen on homes for Ghosn in Rio and Beirut via a Dutch subsidiary, with Kelly overseeing the transaction, the Nikkei newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources. There has been no comment from Ghosn or Kelly on the allegations and Reuters could not contact them for comment. In a sign of the broader political fallout, Hitoshi Kawaguchi, Nissan senior vice president handling government relations, met with Japan's top government spokesman on Tuesday, telling media he had requested good relations between Japan and France be maintained. The Asahi newspaper cited unnamed sources as saying a company employee gave prosecutors information on Ghosn in return for lighter treatment, the second instance of a plea deal in Japan - a system introduced in June. Nissan shares fell to a two-year low of 940 yen before closing down 5.5pc at 950 yen. A record 140 million Nissan shares were traded on Tuesday, accounting for almost 6pc of all trading on the Tokyo exchange's main board. Shares of Mitsubishi, which also said on Monday it would remove Ghosn as its chairman, ended down nearly 7pc. Renault shares lost 8.4pc on Monday. Downfall: Carlos Ghosn, chairman of Nissan and chairman and chief executive of Renault, has reportedly been arrested Nissan said it was ousting chairman Carlos Ghosn for alleged financial misconduct and Japanese media reported he been arrested, a shocking fate for a leader hailed for rescuing the company from close to bankruptcy. The Japanese carmaker said Mr Ghosn's alleged misconduct included personal use of company money and under-reporting how much he had been paid. Mr Ghosn is also chairman and chief executive of Nissan's French partner Renault and one of the best-known figures in the global car industry, and his departure raises questions over the alliance's future. Nissan said it launched a months-long investigation after a whistleblower tipped it off to wrongdoing by Mr Ghosn and representative director Greg Kelly. "The investigation showed that over many years both Ghosn and Kelly have been reporting compensation amounts in the Tokyo Stock Exchange securities report that were less than the actual amount, in order to reduce the disclosed amount of Carlos Ghosn's compensation," Nissan said in a statement. It said CEO Hiroto Saikawa would propose the board remove Mr Ghosn and Mr Kelly. Renault shares tumbled 11pc. French President Emmanuel Macron said the government, the firm's top shareholder, will be vigilant about Renault and its alliance with Nissan. Brazilian-born, of Lebanese descent and a French citizen, Mr Ghosn began his career at Michelin in France, moving to Renault. He joined Nissan in 1999 after Renault bought a controlling stake and became CEO in 2001. He was in that post till last year. In June, Renault shareholders approved Mr Ghosn's 7.4m pay for 2017. In addition, he received 9.2m in his final year as Nissan chief executive. Reuters Speaking out: Howard Wilkinson, a former employee of the Estonian unit of Danske Bank, gestures as he talks to reporters at a parliamentary hearing in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Bloomberg Danske Bank has been caught up in one of the largest-ever money-laundering scandals. Howard Wilkinson, the whistleblower who first alerted Denmark's biggest bank to the problem, testified before the Danish parliament yesterday. HOW BIG A SCANDAL IS THIS? Some 200bn in payments flowed through the non-resident portfolio of Danske Bank's tiny Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015. The bank eventually commissioned a report which concluded in September that many of these payments were suspicious. WHERE WAS THIS MONEY FROM? Most of the payments came from Estonia, Russia, Latvia, Cyprus and Britain, the report said. Shell companies were used to disguise the identities of those involved, former chairman Ole Andersen told Reuters. AND WHERE WAS IT GOING? Payments went to Estonia, Latvia, China, Switzerland, Turkey, Britain and more than 150 other countries, the report said. WHO BLEW THE WHISTLE? Howard Wilkinson, the head of the bank's trading unit in the Baltics from 2007 to 2014, was the whistleblower who had warned the executive board in Copenhagen in 2013 and 2014 about suspicious activities at the Estonian branch, Danish newspaper 'Berlingske' reported in September. WHY DIDN'T AUTHORITIES ACT SOONER? Denmark's financial watchdog faces an inquiry by the European Union's banking supervisor, and the Danish business minister has criticised the regulator for not being critical enough toward the bank and for trusting it too much. HAS ANYONE BEEN FOUND RESPONSIBLE? Not yet. The case is under criminal investigation in Denmark, Estonia and the United States. The Danish state prosecutor's investigation includes whether top management can be held personally liable. Britain's National Crime Agency has said it is investigating the use of UK-registered companies. CONSEQUENCES FOR DANSKE BANK? Denmark's financial regulator has said the bank's compliance and reputational risks have risen and increased its capital requirements by 10 billion Danish crowns (1.31bn). In May the regulator, which is still looking at the case, imposed eight orders for reforms and eight reprimands. HAS ANYONE TAKEN THE BLAME? Danske Bank's former chief executive, Thomas Borgen, stepped down, saying that although he was "personally cleared from a legal point of view" he held "the ultimate responsibility". The Maersk family, which controls about 21pc of the bank's shares, ousted chairman Ole Andersen and nominated Karsten Dybvad, who heads the Confederation of Danish Industry, to take over. WHAT ABOUT DANSKE'S SHARES? Danske Bank's shares are now trading 40pc below their level at the end of February, even following an uptick when its November 1 earnings report showed lending increased in the third quarter despite the scandal. WHAT NEXT FOR DANSKE BANK? The US investigation is worrying for Danske Bank shareholders as US fines tend to be much larger than those in Denmark, Estonia, and Europe in general. For many, the worst-case scenario is if the bank suffers the same fate as Latvian bank ABLV, which lost access to dollar funding when US authorities accused it in February of covering up money laundering, forcing its closure. Danske Bank has said the two cases cannot be compared as it closed the part of the Estonian business under suspicion. The US authorities also alleged that ABLV violated sanctions imposed on North Korea. Danske Bank has said that it has not found any breaches of sanctions. ARE THERE WIDER CONSEQUENCES FOR DENMARK? Danske Bank is an integral part of Danish business and the scandal comes as a government tax scandal and a fraud case in the ministry for social affairs have undermined confidence in institutions on which its welfare society is built. The case is also a risk for Denmark's entire financial sector, the Systemic Risk Council said in September, prompting the government to increase the cash cushion financial firms must hold to protect against economic shocks. WHAT DOES THE BANK SAY IN ITS DEFENCE? Danske Bank has acknowledged its money-laundering controls in Estonia have been insufficient. But in its September report it said the board had not breached its legal obligations. The bank has since boosted compliance efforts, with around 1,000 of its 20,000 staff working on this. IS IT ONLY DANSKE BANK? Danske might only be the "tip of the iceberg" and investigators should examine major Western banks, Wilkinson's lawyer told Reuters. HOW TO PREVENT A REPEAT? Denmark plans to strengthen its financial regulator, while a broad majority in the Danish parliament has agreed to tighten the country's anti-money-laundering laws, including increasing penalties by up to 700pc. European Union states are still divided over an overhaul of rules for the supervision of banks against money laundering, two EU sources said. Reuters Classic: Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (1950) which explores the themes of forgotten stars in Hollywood. Two Academy Awards for best picture are going up for sale in a rare auction of Oscars. Auction house Profiles In History has announced on Monday that an Oscar awarded to Mutiny On The Bounty in 1936 and another given to Gentlemans Agreement in 1948 will go up for auction in Los Angeles starting on December 11. The Mutiny On The Bounty best-picture statuette is expected to go for between 200,000 and 300,000 US dollars. Our December 11-14 Blockbuster Hollywood Auction online catalog is now LIVE! Flip through 2000+ wonderful items at https://t.co/yuAhNDtpoI Profiles In History (@pihauctions) November 9, 2018 Frank Capra presented the award to Irving Thalberg at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles when the Academy Awards were less than 10 years old. The award is being put up for sale for the first time by the family of Mr Thalberg, an essential figure in the early history of Hollywood. The best-picture Oscar for Gentlemans Agreement, the 1947 film starring Gregory Peck that took on anti-Semitism and won three Academy Awards, is expected to fetch between 150,000 and 200,000 dollars. The seller wants to remain anonymous. Expand Close Charles Laughton in Mutiny On The Bounty (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Charles Laughton in Mutiny On The Bounty (PA) Hans Dreiers art-direction Oscar for 1950s Sunset Boulevard and Gloria Swansons Golden Globe for best actress in a drama for the film are also on offer in the December auction along with other historic movie awards. Video of the Day Auctions of Oscar statuettes are very uncommon because winners from 1951 onward have had to agree that they or their heirs must offer to sell it back to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for one dollar before selling it to anyone else. The Academy has said it firmly believes Oscars should be won, not sold. Expand Close An Oscar won by James Cagney did not appeal to investors (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An Oscar won by James Cagney did not appeal to investors (PA) Still, occasionally Oscars beyond the reach of the rules go up for sale and sell for large sums of money. The late Michael Jackson acquired David O. Selznicks Gone With The Wind Oscar for a record 1.5 million dollars in 1999. Orson Welles Citizen Kane statuette sold for 861,542 dollars in 2011. And in 2014, James Cagneys best-actor Oscar for 1942s Yankee Doodle Dandy failed to sell when no one would meet the minimum bid demand of 800,000 dollars. Hollywood star Mark Hamill has teamed up with a British bionics company to send a positive message to children and adults with limb differences around the world. The actor, whose Star Wars character Luke Skywalker lost a hand in an epic lightsabre battle with nemesis Darth Vader, shared the message on social media on Monday where it has been viewed thousands of times. Hamill says in the video: Now kids, be yourself. You can do anything. There are no barriers you cant break, no challenges you cant overcome. Remember, Luke lost his hand to Vader, but that didnt stop him from defeating the Empire. So have courage, be determined, and always remember that your limb difference is your very own superpower. And may The Force be with you all. The message has been viewed thousands of times on Twitter and YouTube. One Twitter user wrote: What a fantastic message and from a brilliant influential figure, who was dealing with a character with a prosthetic limb before it was even technically possible! Such a positive force! Another said: This proves that Mr. @HamillHimself is just as much of a hero offscreen as he is on! Thanks for this sweet message to the super Younglings that get to be like the one and only #LukeSkywalker. Video of the Day One YouTube user wrote: I am a 37 year old man and I have a 6 year old daughter with a limb difference. Thank you Mark. Open Bionics makes custom-built prosthetic limbs, or hero arms, for children and adults which are controlled by the users muscles. Its been a promising month for Irish drama. Between them, RTEs Taken Down and Virgin Medias Blood represent a significant improvement on anything weve seen from domestic broadcasters in recent times. **Spoilers for episode 3 of Taken Down ahead** While neither is without its flaws (and what drama series isnt?), at least they partially erase the memory of drivel like Striking Out and the dreary, mediocre Acceptable Risk although, apparently, thats getting a second season, God help us all. Whats more, in the case of Jo Spain and Stuart Carolans crime drama, Sundays third episode was a big step up from the previous weeks instalment. Expand Close Lynn Rafferty and Aissa Maiga star in Taken Down / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lynn Rafferty and Aissa Maiga star in Taken Down The six-parter centred on the brutal murder of a young Nigerian migrant called Esme (Marlene Madenge), whose body was found dumped near the direct provision centre where she lived got off to a strong start a fortnight ago. But it stalled badly in episode two. The murder-investigation element of the plot slowed to a crawl and was more or less sidelined. DI Jen Mooney (Lynn Rafferty) wasnt fleshed out in the slightest, while her subordinates, particularly the seemingly racist Fitzer (Sean Fox) and the downright buffoonish Mackin (Gavin OConnor), remained nothing more than roughly sketched stereotypes. Expand Close Tough competition: Orla Fitzgerald as Niamh and Lynn Rafferty as Jen in Taken Down. Photo by Bernard Walsh / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tough competition: Orla Fitzgerald as Niamh and Lynn Rafferty as Jen in Taken Down. Photo by Bernard Walsh The episode was more interested in showing us the degrading reality for asylum seekers living in direct provision centres. Fair enough; its the kind of hot button issue that contemporary television drama should be addressing. But since the series had already done this very effectively the week before, there was a feeling we were being repeatedly hammered over the head with the same righteous message. For a series thats supposedly a thriller, the effect was to drain any trace of tension or suspense from the situation. Luckily, Sundays instalment picked up serious momentum and was extremely gripping. Mooney was suddenly roused into action after an emotional meeting with Flora (Florence Adebambo), the teenager from the centre whod been forced into sex slavery and burned with cigarettes by her captors. Video of the Day Even the hitherto useless Fitzer and Mackin were putting their shoulders to the wheel and trawling through hours of potentially incriminating CCTV footage, which has been tampered with by the centres shifty supervisor Wayne (the ever-watchable Brian Gleeson). What really raised the bar, however, was the introduction of a pair of genuinely loathsome villains. Jimmy Smallhorne is sleaziness personified as Gar, a gangster landlord and co-owner of a brothel who, having brought in three beer-swilling thugs to eject a Muslim family from one of his properties, then squeezed a dozen migrants into its cramped bedroom. But Gar is in the hapenny place compared to his partner in the brothel and sex-trafficking operation, the monstrous Benjamin. As played by Enoch Frost, a British actor of Ghanaian heritage, Benjamin is a properly terrifying creation. Its a performance of extraordinary, blood-chilling power. The scene where he terrorised Flora, who was frightened into returning to the brothel and raped by Gar, was deeply unsettling. Read More It was also revealed that Abeni (Aissa Maiga) works as a cleaner at the brothel and was aware of what happened to Flora all along. Her horror when she realised the red stain she was scrubbing off a sticky carpet was Esmes blood was brilliantly conveyed. Taken Down has definitely come alive; its just a pity it didnt happen a little sooner. Can Spain and Carolan satisfactorily tie up all the loose ends when weve already reached the halfway point, or will the story be allowed to spill over into another season? Far too many series end up padding out the plot. Carolans Love/Hate, which would have benefited from losing its meandering fourth season, was one of them. It would be shame if the same thing were to happen to Taken Down, especially now that its really got us hooked. The government is opposing a change to the law that would see children born in Ireland to foreign parents made eligible for citizenship if theyve been resident here for three years. The Labour Party has said their proposed law is needed to deal with the injustice of a small number of children facing deportation, despite having never lived in any other country. Expand Close Eric Zhi Ying Mei Xue / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Eric Zhi Ying Mei Xue Such cases were highlighted in recent weeks when Eric Zhi Ying Xue (9) who was born in Ireland - faced deportation to China. There is a review of his case and the Bray schoolboy faces no imminent threat of deportation. Justice minister Charlie Flanagan this evening said the government will not be accepting the Opposition party's Bill which is to be debated in the Seanad tomorrow. He claimed there are issues in the Bill that amount to "bad law" and that it's "something of a knee-jerk reaction to a particular problem". Mr Flanagan said he will be initiating a consultation process on some of the issues raised in the Bill. He said Ireland needs to continue to comply with European Union best practice. Mr Flanagan also said there are issues relating to the Common Travel Area (CTA) with Britain and that he's not in a position at this stage to accept the Labour Bill. Launching the proposed law earlier today Labour Senator Ivana Bacik said there is widespread concern over cases of children who were born in Ireland facing deportation. The Bill - if passed by the Oireachtas - would amend existing laws to allow children who have been born in Ireland - and lived here for three years - to be considered for citizenship as an independent applicant irrespective of the status of their parents. She said that such children know no other home but Ireland and that they are effectively stateless if we do not give them permission to remain here. A 2004 referendum on citizenship took away the automatic right to Irish citizenship for children born in Ireland. Ms Bacik said that Labours proposed legislation would not overturn the change in the law brought about by the referendum. She said: It would simply adjust the situation in Irish citizenship law to deal with the position of a small number of children who we say are currently being done an injustice because they face deportation. Ms Bacik said that theres a problem with Irelands immigration system where it takes many years to process applications made by parents seeking asylum. She said: We have a situation where we have a small number of children whove been born here, whove lived here all through their childhood, and whose parental status has still not been determined. Its a small number of hard cases and we should legislate for those. In those cases we should be able to grant the children citizenship rights based on residence and birth-right as well, irrespective of the status of the parents. Ms Bacik said that under the proposals it would be up to the minister for justice to determine the residency status of the parents if the child is granted citizenship. Children born in Ireland to foreign parents would be eligible for citizenship if theyve been resident here for three years under a proposed new law. A man convicted of the rape and manslaughter of a young beautician when he was just a teenager was jailed for robbing an off licence armed with a knife. Ian Horgan (34) was jailed for four years after he pleaded guilty before Cork Circuit Criminal Court to charges arising from a robbery last year. Horgan of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, Limerick but who is originally from Ballincollig, Co Cork admitted stealing 1,395 in cash from a Mallow off-license and with threatening a female staff member during the robbery with a knife. Judge Sean O Donnabhain was told the robbery was carried out on September 18 2017 at the Carry Out off licence in Ballydahin, Mallow, Co Cork. Expand Close Rachel Kiely / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rachel Kiely Det Garda Patrick OConnell said a female staff member found herself confronted with a knife-wielding man who entered the off licence shortly after 8pm that evening and demanded cash. A lone male brandishing a large knife came into the off-licence premises and put the knife against the staff members chest," he said. He (Horgan) then fled from the scene with 1,395." Det Garda O'Connell said the female staff member was not injured in the incident but was left deeply shocked her ordeal. The woman was so upset she did not return to her employment for a number of months. She feels she cannot work in the off-licence anymore and is now employed in the delicatessen section of a neighbouring store, he said. Judge O Donnabhain was told the defendant had a number of previous convictions, several of which were very serious. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the rape and manslaughter of young beautician Rachel Kiely (22) in the People's Park in Ballincollig in October 2000. She was walking near her home when she was attacked, raped and killed. The manslaughter was committed while Horgan was just a teen. Horgan was released from serving that sentence in 2013 but was convicted of robbery in Limerick in 2013 and received a four-year sentence. A further four year sentence was imposed for a robbery in Cork. Horgan also received a prison sentence for heroin dealing. Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard last June that Horgan was now battling a very serious heroin addiction. Defence counsel, Donal O'Sullivan BL, said his client was attempting to address his addiction issues. He said the robbery was conducted at a time when Horgan was in the throes of heroin addiction and was desperate for money. "He now realises that drugs are taking him down," Mr O'Sullivan said. Counsel asked the court to support Horgan in his attempts to deal with his addiction problems. Judge O Donnabhain said it was a very serious matter which required a custodial sentence. However, he noted the defendant's early plea and the attempts he was making to tackle his chronic drug problems. He (Horgan) threatened this lady with a knife at her place of work. Undoubtedly it was a very traumatic experience for her," he said. Judge O Donnabhain imposed a six year prison term but agreed to suspend the final two years. The public should be banned from attending rape trials in Northern Ireland, a retired appeal court judge has recommended. But John Gillen, who also proposed legislation to curb the "inappropriate" use of social media during trials, ruled out giving anonymity to defendants. The draft recommendations are among 220 proposals in Mr Gillen's review ordered by the Criminal Justice Board into how serious sexual offence cases are dealt with. It comes in the wake of the high-profile trial of former Ulster Rugby stars Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding. The pair were acquitted of rape after a nine-week hearing earlier this year. Mr Gillen said one of his reasons for recommending that the public should be barred from rape trials was that many complainants found the prospect of giving their innermost details in court humiliating, in "the cruel gaze of the public". He also proposes legislation to "manage the dangers created by the inappropriate use of social media". Mr Gillen said that social media publishers should be made liable for "legally objectionable" material. "You cannot have a situation where juries are exposed to not only inaccuracies, but absolute lies at times during the course of a trial - with pictures of the complainant circulating that aren't even the complainant," he said. He called for the introduction of a new offence with prison sentences for jurors who breached judges' directions not to look at social media material. He also rejected calls for the press to be excluded from rape trials, saying the concept of open justice was an important principle. Meanwhile, on the matter of a victim's clothing, Mr Gillen said he had no idea what the phrase "provocative clothing" meant. Brave: Leona OCallaghan speaks to the media outside court after Patrick ODea was sentenced to 17 years. Photo: Laura Hutton/Collins Photo Agency Leona O'Callaghan bravely waived her right to anonymity and chose to confront the man who raped her as a 13-year-old. The Limerick woman addressed her rapist in court, saying he "forever messed with my mind" and his "warped version of love equals pain" stayed with her all her life. "You were the first man in my life that told me you loved me. As a young child, you manipulated my mind into believing that the disgusting things you did to me you did out of love," she said. Sex offender Patrick O'Dea (52) was yesterday jailed for 17 years for rapes and repeated sexual assaults of the teenage girl, who he manipulated and groomed. The now 37-year-old Ms O'Callaghan told him: "After using my small, innocent body to satisfy your own needs, you sent me home bleeding, sore, confused, ashamed, traumatised and sworn to secrecy." She told the Central Criminal Court that O'Dea "got inside my head and messed it up". "For a long time, you had me scared out of my wits. How I wish I could go back and give that paranoid, frightened child a hug," she added. "I soon learnt to go along with it, to do what you ask, to zone out, close my eyes and pray that it's over soon and I get to stop feeling the pain and disgust. "Now, 20 years later, I still don't get to fully escape. I don't get a choice about remembering because my mind takes me there when I'm alone." She also told O'Dea that "although rape is a physical assault, the worst damage that you did was not to my body but to my mind". "You began your manipulation long before you put a hand on me. In order to get me to a place where I would keep your dirty secrets, you isolated me from the people I loved and got inside my mind in a way I still don't fully understand," she said. She also said that she had suffered from depression and had tried to take her own life. However, Ms O'Callaghan spoke of her pride that, despite the trauma inflicted upon her, she got 515 points in her Leaving Cert and had worked hard to set up her own business. She told O'Dea: "So in a nutshell, despite standing here with my heart on my sleeve and admitting the effect you have had on me, let me be clear, you did not win." And she added: "I stand here today and put my faith in the court to hold you to account for what you did. I pray it will be a very long time before you are left walk the same streets as me, open to repeat your acts on any other vulnerable child. "I wouldn't wish the damage you have caused me on my worst enemy." She sobbed in court as Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy read excerpts from the victim impact statement before sentencing O'Dea. O'Dea, also known as 'Whacker', of Pike Avenue, Limerick, pleaded guilty on the second day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court to charges of sexual assault and rape on dates in 1994 and 1995. O'Dea's 42 previous convictions include a single sexual assault on another girl aged under 10. He received a 15-year sentence for multiple rape and sexual assaults of a girl over a six-year period between 1998 and 2004. He continues to maintain his innocence of these charges. Speaking to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan on RTE's 'Claire Byrne Live' last night, Ms O'Callaghan said rapists who were given concurrent sentences for raping more than one victim were essentially getting away with a "free rape". "When two separate people are raped and two crimes have occurred, it feels as though one of those rapes is kind of a free one when the concurrent thing comes up," she said. "So, for example, the 15 years that he got for another girl will run the same time as [mine] and I'm just wondering which one of us was the free rape?" In response, Mr Flanagan said he was open to reviewing the system, but added: "It is open to the court when you have a consecutive sentence or a concurrent sentence having regard to the circumstances of the case. "I don't as minister interfere with the independence of the judge as far as the imposition of a sentence is concerned." The court heard that O'Dea came into contact with Ms O'Callaghan while she was hanging out with her older sister and friends in the Garryowen area of Limerick. Ms O'Callaghan later told gardai that O'Dea "latched himself onto the group" and started to focus on her, giving her special attention. He first sexually assaulted her at a local waste ground. Garda Manton said that, at Halloween in 1994, he asked her to perform a sex act on him. He then raped her in the graveyard after putting his coat under a tree and telling her to lie down on it. She tried to get back up, but he got hold of her hands and she continued to say she didn't want to. Later he suggested they meet at a shed at the back of his mother's home. He raped her on a mattress. Gda Manton said in 1996 O'Dea told Ms O'Callaghan he wanted to see what it was like to have sex in a bed. He then raped her in his bedroom while his mother was in the sitting room. This was the final incident. Gda Manton said Ms O'Callaghan told a teacher what was going on and her parents were contacted. Yesterday, Ms Justice Murphy imposed a sentence of 18-and-a-half years on O'Dea. She suspended the last 18 months in recognition of his plea of guilty and his willingness to take part in a psychological assessment. A coroner has returned a verdict of misadventure in the death of a woman who attended hospital twice in the week before her death complaining of back pain but was sent home with painkillers. Anne Marie O'Brien (48), a mother of four, from Windsor, Castlebar, Co Mayo, died at Mayo University Hospital (MUH) in October 2016 after being treated for severe back pain. An inquest heard she attended MUH on two separate occasions in the week before she died complaining of back pain. She was not admitted on either occasion and was sent home with painkillers. She had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other conditions including ischaemic disease. Damian Tansey, solicitor for the O'Brien family, said the hospital knew the deceased had been "screaming with pain" but it decided to discharge her. After being admitted to hospital by ambulance on October 2, 2016, Ms O'Brien suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. Ms O'Brien's sister, Margaret Whelan, said she was "in agony" when admitted to the hospital on September 29. Laura O'Brien told the inquest the way her mother was treated at the hospital was "appalling". "The only way I can describe my mother is that she was in bits. "The last few days that I had with my mother will stay with me for the rest of my life," she said. Dr Omotunde Sanni, locum registrar in emergency medicine at MUH, told the inquest his feeling was that painkillers were the appropriate treatment for Ms O'Brien's back pain. Counsel for the HSE, Sasha Louise Gayer, said the Saolta Hospital Group unreservedly apologised to the family. Two years after Patrick O'Dea raped Leona O'Callaghan for the final time, he targeted another young girl. The Central Criminal Court yesterday heard that O'Dea is serving a 15-year sentence for the multiple rape and sexual assaults of the young girl over a six-year period between 1998 and 2004. And among his 42 previous convictions is a single sexual assault of a third girl, who was under the age of 10. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy was told O'Dea submitted to a psychological assessment before sentencing. This assessment places O'Dea at an above-average risk of sexual re-offending and states that he has no real insight into the damage caused by his crimes, the court was told. Ms Justice Murphy said that O'Dea's other offending post-dates the attacks on Ms O'Callaghan, and they showed an ongoing pattern of offences against young girls. In her victim impact statement, Ms O'Callaghan said O'Dea manipulated her, isolating her from family and friends. He first sexually assaulted her at a local waste ground. The abuse continued at various locations. "As a young child, you manipulated my mind into believing that the disgusting things you did to me you did out of love," Ms O'Callaghan said. "You slowly but surely turned me against everyone that loved me and made me paranoid about their motives until the only person that I felt genuinely cared about me and the only person I could trust was you. "It is only in the past two years that I have learned that ending the pain is possible without ending my life." A serial sex offender who attacked three women he met on Tinder boasted to gardai he had met up with "hundreds of women" on the dating app. Patrick Nevin (37) told one of his victims she was a "mickey tease" while he said to a second that he "found her attractive and had got carried away". Yesterday, Nevin apologised to the women and expressed his remorse for his actions. The defendant had pleaded guilty in June to the rape of a woman at Bellewstown, Co Meath, on July 12, 2014. He further admitted to sexually assaulting a second woman at an unknown place in Co Meath on July 16, 2014. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing on these two attacks until December 17. Nevin is also due to be sentenced on Friday for the sexual assault of a Brazilian woman at UCD on July 23, 2014. The defendant met all the women through Tinder and the three attacks took place within 11 days. The Central Criminal Court was told Nevin was an active participant on Tinder in July 2014. Sergeant Mark Buckley told Alex Owens SC, prosecuting, that on July 12, Nevin got in touch with a woman on Tinder and they later exchanged messages on WhatsApp. Sgt Buckley said the victim made it clear to Nevin that she was not interested in "hooking up" or having a one-night stand. He said Nevin collected the woman and drove towards Julianstown, later stopping at Kilsharvan cemetery. There was some consensual sexual activity but Nevin then raped her. Afterwards, he handed her tissues to clean up. Sgt Buckley said Nevin then drove the woman home. She asked him why he'd done what he did, and he told her he "got carried way" because he "found her attractive". Sgt Buckley said Nevin was interviewed in relation to the rape in September 2014. He claimed the sex was consensual and told gardai he had "thousands of matches" on Tinder and had met up with "hundreds of women". The second incident followed a similar pattern. Sergeant Selina Proudfoot said Nevin picked the woman up from her home and drove into Co Meath. He stopped the car near a graveyard where they kissed consensually. He then repeatedly sexually assaulted her over a prolonged period of time. Sgt Proudfoot said the victim repeatedly told Nevin "no" and "stop". She said Nevin became angry, calling the woman a "c***" and a "mickey tease". He told her that if she wasn't going to have sex with him she could "get out and walk". Sgt Proudfoot said the woman got out of the car and started walking. Nevin followed her and stopped the car. His mood had changed, he was really nice, so she got back into the car because she did not know where she was. He then assaulted her a second time. Nevin recorded their conversation and Sgt Proudfoot read a transcript to the court. He repeatedly called the woman names and accused her of being a tease. Defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC said Nevin, with a most recent address at Meadowlands Court in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, had a difficult upbringing. He had no contact with his mother but had the support of his father. Rape victim Leona O'Callaghan who has set up Survivors Support Anonomous to help people who have suffered abuse. Photograph Liam Burke Press 22 A Limerick woman who addressed her rapist in court has said he forever messed with my mind and his warped version of love equals pain stayed with her all her life. Leona O'Callaghan (37) waived her right to anonymity so Patrick O'Dea (51), also known as Whacker, could be named. O'Dea, of Pike Avenue, Limerick, pleaded guilty on the second day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court to charges of sexual assault and rape on dates in 1994 and 1995. Ms O'Callaghan was 13 years old at the time. He has 42 previous convictions including a 15 year sentence for multiple rape and sexual assaults of two complainants over a six year period between 1998 and 2004. Speaking to the Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan on RTE's Claire Byrne programme, Ms O'Callaghan said rapists who are given concurrent sentences for raping more than one victim are essentially getting away with a "free rape". "When two separate people are raped and two crimes have occurred, it feels as though one of those rapes is kind of a free one when the concurrent thing comes up. Expand Close Photo of Patrick 'Whacker' ODea from Limerick Photograph Press 22 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Photo of Patrick 'Whacker' ODea from Limerick Photograph Press 22 "So for example, the 15 years that he got for another girl will run the same time as [mine] and I'm just wondering which one of us was the free rape?" In response, Mr Flanagan said he was open to reviewing the system but "it is open to the court when you have a consecutive sentence or a concurrent sentence having regard to the circumstances of the case". "I don't as minister interfere with the independence of the judge's as far as the imposition of a sentence is concerned," he added. Ms O'Callaghan also told of the emotional turmoil she experienced in the past four years since first giving her victim impact statement up to Mr O'Dea's sentencing today. Expand Close Leona O'Callaghan (37) speaks to the media outside the Central Criminal Court in Dublin Photo: Laura Hutton/Collins Photo Agency / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leona O'Callaghan (37) speaks to the media outside the Central Criminal Court in Dublin Photo: Laura Hutton/Collins Photo Agency "I am barely able to turn around after four years since I've given my statement, where I had to put it away in a box, take it back out, look at the horrible disgusting detail. "That's four long years of my life that I won't get back - where my kids didn't have a stable mum, where I was in and out of hospital, where there were a number of suicide attempts, where I wasn't well and that process is so difficult." O'Dea isolated her from her friends over time and continued a relationship with her, having first raped her in a local graveyard. The court heard that following the first incident of rape, Ms O'Callaghan sat on a basin of ice in her bedroom to help stop the bleeding and swelling. O'Dea met with her a few days later and pulled her away from her friends. He complained that she had gotten blood on his jacket and that he had to get it dry cleaned. Ms O'Callaghan recalled to gardai that he told her she had bled because she was a virgin and he promised it would not hurt as much the next time. He told her her virginity was a wall and that the bleeding had been breaking down the wall. Today Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced O'Dea to 18 and half years in prison. She suspended the final 18 months of the term on condition O'Dea engage with the Building Better Lives sex offender treatment programme. She imposed a three year post-release supervision order on O'Dea. The judge said that O'Dea isolated and manipulated the woman. She said his abuse of her had done enormous damage to her psyche. Ms O'Callaghan said O'Dea was the first man who told her he loved her and said that he manipulated her into believing the disgusting things you did to me, you did out of love. This forever messed with my mind and your warped version of love equals pain remained in my life long after you left it, Ms O'Callaghan said. Speaking of the first time he forced sex on her, Ms O'Callaghan said after using my small innocent body to satisfy your own needs you sent me home bleeding, sore, confused, ashamed, traumatised and sworn to secrecy. She spoke of sitting in a basin of ice to help with the swelling and immense pain I was in. The memory of silently sitting in that basin of bloodstained ice wondering if the bleeding would ever stop was one of the hardest memories you gave me, Ms O'Callaghan said. She described repeatedly attempting suicide and self -harming. You were there in my mind every time I took a blade to my body to hurt and cut myself hundreds of times to punish myself for the horrible person I became. You were there in my mind on the three occasions I slit my wrists and took tablet after tablet to try to die and finally let all this be over. One of those times was in the graveyard where you raped me for the first time. I wanted all the pain to end where the pain began. My sister found me eight hours later overdosed with slit wrists still in that graveyard praying for God to just take me and take the pain I was in. You were there in my thoughts a year later when I jumped into the river, my body being torn by undercurrents and over currents as I tried to drown myself along with the memories you had embedded in my brain. I wrote you a letter that day just before I jumped to say you win and I give up. She said the worst damage O'Dea did to her was not to her body but to her mind. In order to get me to a place where I would keep your dirty secrets, you isolated me from the people I loved and got inside my mind in a way I still don't full understand. You alienated me from my friends telling me that they were all saying nasty things about me when my back was turned. Today I peel off that mask of a life only me and you know about. My voice may tremble but I stand here revealing our secrets that you had me carry and that I hated myself for. When it comes to self hatred this is where most of the damage you did to me hurt me. You weren't just there in a dark scary graveyard invading my body, you were also there in the mirror when I looked at myself. I hated myself and the dirty person that you made me feel I was, that nobody cared about, Ms O'Callaghan said. Ms O'Callaghan also spoke of how the abuse caused her problems in her later relationships with her partners and her children. You were there in my mind when I thought saying no to anything sexual wasn't even an option whether I wanted it or not. You were there between the sheets when my skin often crawled when my husband tried to touch me, be intimate or make love to me. When I did manage to overcome this and try to be a normal woman and be intimate you were there the following day when I felt like a dirty slut and felt unjustified anger against my husband. I often wonder what kind of mother I would be and what kind of childhood my kids would have had if you had not raped, molested and manipulated me. My kids would have had a better life if you hadn't messed my mind up. If it wasn't for you I would have been a better mum, a better wife, a better daughter, sister and friend. Instead, I am often the messed up broken person that you made me and there are still more days than not that I hate who I am. Ms O'Callaghan spoke of how she feels now she can move on. The real me is warm and caring but you made me a fighter, you gave me anger and hatred and sadness and fear and isolation and shame and guilt and loneliness. Today I give this back as it belongs with you. It is only in the past two years that I have learned that ending the pain is possible without ending my life. That there is possibly a way of putting all this behind me. A way of handing you back the guilt, the shame, the secrets, the self hatred and distrust that should never have been mine to carry. Finally Ms O'Callaghan turned to O'Dea while reading the last few paragraphs of her victim impact statement. Whacker, I stand here today and reluctantly give you your last bit of power by admitting that yes you did manage to tear me down and impact my life more than any other person I've ever known. However I do not just stand here as a victim, I stand as a survivor who is strong, kind and trying their very best to begin a life you held back from me for many years. I have three amazing kids that I see every day. I'm proud that despite you I survived the childhood trauma at your hand. I got 515 points in my leaving cert, worked hard, set up my own businesses and I remain an honest, loving person with integrity. I'm becoming the mother my kids deserve to have and my future is looking brighter. So in a nutshell, despite standing here with my heart on my sleeve and admitting the affect you have had on me, let me be clear, you did not win. Evidence Earlier, the court heard how Patrick O'Dea (51), also known as 'Whacker', of Pike Avenue, Limerick, pleaded guilty on the second day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court to charges of sexual assault and rape on dates in 1994 and 1995. Leona O'Callaghan waived her right to anonymity so O'Dea could be named in reporting the case. The court heard that following the first incident of rape, Ms O'Callaghan sat on a basin of ice in her bedroom to help stop the bleeding and swelling. O'Dea met with her a few days later and pulled her away from her friends. He complained that she had gotten blood on his jacket and he said he had to get it dry cleaned. Ms O'Callaghan later recalled that he told her she had bled because she was a virgin and he promised it would not hurt as much the next time. He told her her "virginity was a wall" and that the bleeding had been "breaking down the wall". O'Dea has 42 previous convictions including a 15 year sentence for multiple rape and sexual assaults of one girl over a six year period between 1998 and 2004. Today, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy imposed a sentence of 18 and a half years on O'Dea. She suspended the last 18 months in recognition of his the plea of guilty and his willingness to take part in a psychological assessment. This assessment places O'Dea at an above average risk of sexual reoffending and states that he has no real insight into the damage caused by his above crimes. Ms Justice Murphy suspended the 18 months on condition O'Dea engage with the "Building Better Lives" sex offender treatment programme. She imposed a post release supervision order on O'Dea of three years. The judge said that O'Dea isolated and manipulated the victim. She said his abuse of her has done enormous damage to her psyche. Garda Barry Manton told Garnet Orange SC, prosecuting that O'Dea came into contact with Ms O'Callaghan while she was hanging out with her older sister and that girl's friends in the Garryowen area of Limerick. Ms O'Callaghan later told gardai that O'Dea "latched himself onto the group" and started to focus on her, giving her special attention. He first sexually assaulted her at a local waste ground where he touched her breasts after kissing her. He told her he had wanted to "touch them for a long time". O'Dea sexually abused Ms O'Callaghan in a similar way again before he began to worry that they may be seen together and suggested instead they meet in a local graveyard. Gda Manton said in Halloween 1994 he asked her to perform oral sex on him. She tried to do it but she stopped and refused to do it again. O'Dea stormed off. He then raped her in the graveyard, after putting his coat under a tree and telling her to lie down on it. She tried to get back up but he got hold of her hands and she continued to say she didn't want to. She was frightened when she saw the bleeding, which was when he got the basin of ice. O'Dea had sex with her again. On one occasion her sister became aware they were meeting so he suggested they meet at a shed at the back of his mother's home. He had sex with her there after laying her down on a mattress. Gda Manton said in 1996 O'Dea told Ms O'Callaghan he wanted to see what it was like to have sex in a bed. He then had sex with her in his bedroom while his mother was in the sitting room. This was the final incident. Gda Manton said Ms O'Callaghan told a teacher what was going on and her parents were contacted. Paddy McGrath SC, defending, asked Ms Justice Murphy to accept his client's plea of guilty as an indication of his remorse, "an acceptance of his wrong doing". He said it is O'Dea's opinion that he was neither physically or emotionally abusive to the victim but accepts that his behaviour was "wholly inappropriate and exploitative". Mr McGrath said his client grew up in Limerick city and was always small in stature possibly due to malnourishment. Ms O'Callaghan addressed O'Dea as she read her victim impact statement in court. She turned to O'Dea while reading the last few paragraphs of her victim impact statement. Whacker' I stand here today and reluctantly give you your last bit of power by admitting that yes you did manage to tear me down and impact my life more than any other person I've ever known. However I do not just stand here as a victim, I stand as a survivor who is strong, kind and trying their very best to begin a life you held back from me for many years. I have three amazing kids that I see every day I'm proud that despite you I survived the childhood trauma at your hand. I got 515 points in my leaving cert, worked hard, set up my own businesses and I remain an honest, loving person with integrity. I'm becoming the mother my kids deserve to have and my future is looking brighter. "So in a nut shell, despite standing here with my heart on my sleeve and admitting the affect you have had on me, let me be clear, you did not win. My baby son used to wake at 2am sharp, and I would pace the floor with him, singing every song I knew, from Frere Jacques to Me and Bobby McGee. Stock Image From late next year, both parents will have access to two weeks each (non-transferable) of this new parental benefit. It will be paid at the same rate as maternity and paternity benefit, which is 245 per week. The Government has now promised to incrementally increase the time away from work up to seven weeks by 2021. It has budgeted for up to 65,000 individual parents to benefit from the scheme in its first full year of operation, which will be 2020. According to the Department of Social Protection, the scheme is designed to be family friendly and flexible. Parents will be able to take the new paid leave any time - and at the same time if they so wish - during their child's first year. The department said the basis for the new leave is that the first 12 months of life "are incredibly formative for a child and the benefit of allowing parents greater time with a new baby will be beneficial to individual children, families and society as a whole". Prior to the introduction of the scheme, the Government will need to enact the necessary legislation and introduce the appropriate technical systems. The Department of Justice and Equality will also need to introduce additional complementary legislation. Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty said she was "particularly pleased that this measure recognises the need to incentivise fathers to take more time off work to care for their children than has been the case up to now". THE brother and sister of Celine Cawley, the woman bludgeoned to death by her husband Eamonn Lillis, will speak at a conference on domestic killings. Chris Cawley and Susanna Cawley have been included on the panel of speakers for the launch of Womens Aid Femicide Watch 2018. It will take place on Friday at the Rotunda Hospital, in Dublin, and will hear calls for reviews into domestic killing. Celine Cawley (46) died at her family home in Howth, on 15 December, 2008. Expand Close Eamon Lillis had more than 1m in assets when he was released from prison for the killing of Celine Cawley / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Eamon Lillis had more than 1m in assets when he was released from prison for the killing of Celine Cawley The high-profile businesswoman, who ran a successful TV production company, was killed by blows to the head with a brick. Lillis (61) was jailed for six years in 2010, having been convicted of manslaughter after killing Ms Cawley following a row at their home, but was released in 2015. Chris Cawley previously said the battle with Lillis over the estate once valued at 4m was distress upon distress. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, Employment Affairs Minister Regina Doherty and international expert on domestic homicide Dr Jane Monckton Smith are among the others who will attend the Womens Aid seminar. The event will be chaired by Norah Casey. Pre-school facilities reported 11 children going "missing" last year. The shocking statistic was revealed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in its annual report into the sector. More than half of complaints made about creches and other pre-school centres last year involved a serious injury to a child. Tusla's Early Years Inspectorate Annual Report for 2017 said only slightly more than half of services for young children, including pre-schools, play groups, nurseries, creches and day-care, were compliant regarding safeguarding health, safety and welfare. Incidents reported to Tusla included a case of a child who fell from a high chair. In another case, a child headbutted another who had a seizure later in the day. Another child choked on a piece of marshmallow and staff could not dislodge it. A child tripped over a shoelace, hit his head on the leg of the table and ended up getting a stitch. Some 276 complaints were investigated by the inspectorate and the most common area of complaint referred to the health, welfare, and development of a child. There were 204 incidents notified to Tusla. Of this number, 64pc, or 131 cases, related to a serious injury to a pre-school child that required immediate medical treatment. Full-day care services were most likely to have been assessed as being non-compliant with regulations, compared to childminders. Inspectors carried out 2,033 inspections in 2017, which resulted in improvements in key areas such as health, welfare and development, safety of services, registration, governance, and facilities, said Tusla. An analysis of 500 randomly selected inspection reports with non-compliances in 2017 found more than eight out of 10 services took actions, based on the findings of the inspector's report to improve their services, prior to publication. It was noted that improvements to a further 10pc of services would be verified at the next inspection. Brian Lee, director of quality assurance at Tusla, said: "Tusla's Early Years Inspectorate promotes the highest possible standards of care for the youngest members of society in childcare service providers nationwide. "It is essential that such standards are monitored and maintained so that infants, toddlers and children have optimum opportunities to learn and develop in high-quality professional early years settings." Almost 4,500 early years services were registered nationally at the end of 2017. The mother of a Scottish teenage rape victim who took her own life after being forced to hold up her underwear in court has said she is "appalled" by the recent case in this country that has prompted widespread protests. Women in Ireland and across the world have shared images of their underwear on Twitter, with the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent, following a case in Cork in which a senior defence counsel used an alleged rape victim's choice of underwear - in this case a thong - to argue that she consented to sex. The case has some parallels with a trial in Scotland in 2002, when a 15-year-old boy was found guilty of raping Lindsay Armstrong (17). Lindsay took her own life two weeks after the trial ended. During the trial, the 17-year-old was asked to hold up her thong, and read the slogan on the front which said 'Little Devil'. Her mother - Linda Armstrong - said she assumed the experience her late daughter endured in relation to her underwear was something that no longer happened. "I am shocked this kind of thing is still being used as evidence. "I learned about the case when a friend sent the story to me. It brought all the bad memories back. "I just thought I can't believe they are still bringing this up," Ms Armstrong said. Lindsay Armstrong was raped in a park near her home in September 2001, when her attacker was aged 14. He was jailed for four years after a trial the following year. Lindsay's mother, who is from Ayrshire, said she appreciates the complainant in the Cork trial did not have to hold up her underwear unlike her daughter. However, the linking of underwear to consent was similar. "Lindsay was made to hold up her underwear three times," she said. "She had said that he had ripped her underwear off, not literally meaning ripped. She just meant he had pulled it off her. "They said she had to hold up her thong to prove that her underwear wasn't ripped, to make out she was a liar. "But when Lindsay picked them up she said she hardly recognised them because they were covered in cuts from where DNA samples had been taken. So it wasn't really to prove they weren't ripped, because they were damaged. "She was so embarrassed and she was crying and she put them down. She was then told to hold them up again. "After that he [the defence lawyer] told her to pick them up again and read out what was written on the front. That was nothing to do with whether they were ripped or not." Ms Armstrong spoke to the 'Daily Telegraph' newspaper as protests about the case in Cork gained momentum across the world. Yesterday in Dublin, Stacie Ellen Murphy, standing in her underwear, staged her own protest outside the Courts of Criminal Justice complex. Notes written on her skin included 'This is not consent', 'no consent' and 'I'm not asking for it'. She was warmly embraced by rape survivor Leona O'Callaghan as she emerged from court, after delivering a powerful victim impact statement, telling her rapist "You did not win". Fox News, the 'New York Times', 'Time' magazine, Sky News, CNN, and the BBC are among the international news agencies to have reported on protests in the wake of the rape trial in Cork earlier this month. 'Lawyer in Rape Trial Links Thong With Consent, and Ireland Erupts' was the headline on one piece in the 'New York Times'. Last week, TD Ruth Coppinger held up a thong in the Dail while discussing the case, and the clip went viral. If you have been affected by this issue, you can contact the Samaritans on 116123 Over 40pc of women experience some level of trauma during childbirth, according to research. Stock Image A printing firm boss contacted a female employee 12 days after the premature birth of her baby boy and pressured her to work from home during maternity leave, she claimed. The woman said that four months prior to giving birth, when she told her boss that she was pregnant with her second child, he told her that he hoped "her two men will help you handle your two kids". The woman - who worked in the firm's quality assurance department - said her boss's comment was a reference to the fact her two children would have different fathers. She said her boss was not happy she was pregnant. Now the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has ordered the employer to pay the woman 20,000 after finding she was discriminated against on the grounds of gender and constructively dismissed. In the ruling, WRC adjudication officer David Mullis ordered the employer to pay the woman 10,000 after upholding the mother's claim she was penalised for proposing to exercise her parental leave rights. She was discriminated against on the grounds of gender when her employer failed to consider her for promotion while on maternity leave. In the second part of the ruling, Mr Mullis also ordered the firm pay 10,000 over the mother's claim she was constructively dismissed under the Unfair Dismissals Acts. The woman gave birth to her second baby 29 weeks into her pregnancy after being rushed from work to hospital in August 2016. She said that 12 days after the birth, her boss contacted her and pressured her to work from home due to there being no one on site to manage audits. She said that this requirement to work from home meant working four hours a day for periods across the entire length of her maternity leave. The woman told the WRC that the work "placed an incredible volume of upset, exhaustion and distress on her as she was required to perform this role while providing intensive levels of care for her significantly premature baby, requiring incubation, as well as caring for her three-year-old son". However, the company's boss provided a conflicting account. He said the female employee asked in May 2016 to work during her maternity leave and that she was given the work because she said that she needed money, was bored hanging around to check that the baby was in an incubator and that she was alone. The woman resigned in June 2017 after stating that her employer's actions had destroyed her trust in them. A motorcyclist is in a serious condition after a collision in west Cork. The accident happened on Monday night at Lauragh, outside Bandon, and involved a motorcycle and a van. The motorcyclist, understood to be a man in his late 50s, suffered serious injuries and was treated at the scene before being rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH). He underwent emergency surgery overnight. The driver of the van, a man in his 40s, was uninjured in the accident but was treated at the scene for shock. Gardai have appealed for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them. The road involved was partially closed from around 10pm to allow accident scene investigators examine the scene. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a van driver escaped serious injury in a collision on the Cork Road outside Fermoy yesterday afternoon. The accident, which occurred shortly before 4pm, resulted in one lane of the road being closed to allow emergency services assist remove the van driver from the damaged vehicle. The question of whether or not an accused rapist should have anonymity during trials is being considered in a review of how sex offence cases are conducted, justice minister Charlie Flanagan has said. Legal expert Tom OMalley was asked by the government to chair a working group to examine how such trials are carried out in the wake of the Belfast Rape case. He is to deliver a report within weeks. Mr Flanagan said the issue of anonymity for defendants prior to conviction forms part and parcel of Mr OMalleys study, while saying he did not want to pre-empt the outcome of this work. It comes after a legal review of the case in Belfast recommended that defendants in the North should continue to be named after they have been charged. Defendants accused of rape in the South keep their anonymity until they are convicted, unless naming them would identify the victim. The Belfast trial ended in the acquittal of all four defendants including Ireland rugby player Paddy Jackson who was found not guilty of rape. The subsequent review by retired judge Sir John Gillen recommended that defendanta in rape cases should continue to be named. In his preliminary report he said that publishing names in rape cases can lead to other complainants coming forward, giving the example of institutional abuse or serial offenders. The report also said it is difficult to justify anonymity in serious sexual offences while not allowing it in other heinous offences like murder. Mr Gillens review says that the Republic of Ireland is the only common law country that allows anonymity in rape cases. Mr Flanagan was asked by reporters if he envisaged that situation being changed as part of Mr OMalleys review of how rape cases here are conducted. He was also asked if complainants would have greater access to their own legal representation. He replied: These issues are the subject matter of Tom OMalleys report. Mr Flanagan said Mr OMalley, a lecturer in law at NUI Galway, has been in close contact with stakeholders like the Gardai, DPP and Courts Service. He said that from what hes read of the review in Northern Ireland, it will assist us in terms of formulating best practice within our own jurisdiction notwithstanding a difference of emphasis in many of the legal practices and procedures. Asked again if Mr OMalleys review will consider the issue of anonymity, Mr Flanagan replied: This is an issue that again will form part and parcel of his review. But he added that he didnt want to pre-empt the outcome. He said: Im not going to speculate as to what may of may not be in the report. What Im very keen to do is receive the content of the report at the earliest opportunity and then bring proposals to government to act. Mr Flanagan was speaking as he announced details of how a second study on Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland (SAVI) will be carried out. The last one was published in 2002 and Mr Flanagan confirmed the next survey, to be carried out by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) will take the bulk of five years to conclude. That means it will be finished in 2023 at the earliest, more than two decades after the last report. Mr Flanagan said the goal in future will be to carry out such a report at least every ten years. Specialist expertise and training will be required for the survey involving sensitive questions being asked of 5,000 people to be carried out. Funding of 150,000 has been made available to the CSO in 2019 for research the survey will be smoothly implemented to get robust and reliable data. A pilot survey is to take place following two years of preparation and the Department of Justice said the project will take place between 2019 and 2023. Mr Flanagan said Im concerned at perceived under-reporting of instances of sexual violence across society. Im very keen that we have hard data. He said the new survey will be different to the last one, taking into account the changes in society since 2002. Mr Flanagan said he is convinced that the new research will provide the State with information that will inform us in terms of legislative change and in terms of social policy well into the future. He also said: This is a major body of work SAVI II. I expect that it will take the bulk of five years to conclude. He said support groups for those affected by sexual violence will continue to be funded by government to acknowledge the work that they do on a daily basis, on a 24/7 basis for vulnerable witnesses in court cases and for victims often of horrific instances of sexual crime and abuse. Meanwhile, judges should be required to instruct rape case juries to disregard all evidence they hear from defence lawyers proposing an alleged victims clothing suggests consent, the director of the Rape Crisis Centre has said. It comes after Mr Flanagan said he hoped protocols could be introduced for lawyers surrounding the introduction of clothing evidence in such trials. Without a doubt it is a normal part of any sexual assault case to introduce a range of issues such as the victims clothing, suggesting it as evidence of consent, Noeline Blackwell said. That does need to be challenged. Ms Blackwell, director of the centre and a lawyer, preferred the introduction of practice directions for judges. This would require a judge to say at the end of the trial when charging the jury to come up with a verdict you have heard evidence about clothing, you are to disregard this evidence because it is not relevant to the charge. This way, lawyers would eventually stop trying to introduce the issue of clothing as evidence of consent. Practice directions are rules judges must follow in presiding over a case and if they are broken, could leave any verdict open to challenge on the basis a jury was incorrectly instructed. Ms Blackwell said this would still allow defence barristers to raise the issue in a court and not leave it open to accusations of an unfair trial. Its important to remember that the victim in such cases, because they are not represented, require special protection from the judge, she said. Ms Blackwell said there was a similar requirement in the UK, within the Crown Court Compendium, which judges there follow. Speaking on RTEs Claire Byrne Live, Mr Flanagan responded to controversy which has raged since a senior counsel told a Cork Circuit Court jury they had to consider an alleged rape victims underwear. The justice minister said he didnt feel there were any circumstances where reference on the part of the defence counsel to the style, or clothing, that a woman at any time wears is acceptable. What we see in a criminal court case is often times a full-blooded defence, where under our criminal law code a person is innocent until proven guilty, and often times the defence counsel will use whatever means are available and I dont think thats acceptable. And I do believe this will form part of the review thats being undertaken and I would hope that we could introduce protocols for lawyers and indeed for everybody involved in the courts system, he said. Executive Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Liam Herrick, also backed the ministers comments. He said one of most important aspects of victims of crime law is that courts may give directions about evidence concerning a victim's private life in order to prevent re-traumatising the victim of sexual offences where the admission of that evidence is not required by the principles of justice." The use of certain types of clothing as persuasive evidence of consent is extremely problematic and feeds into a wider context of pervasive rape myths and stereotypes, which extend not only to the clothing a victim was wearing but their sexual history and their drug or alcohol consumption, he said. A young man has become the 12th motorcyclist to be killed on Irish roads this year after a crash in Co Wicklow. He was last night named locally as John Byrne (23), a mechanic from the Carnew area of the county. The single-vehicle crash happened shortly after 2pm yesterday at Hillbrook, near Carnew. It is understood Mr Byrne was travelling towards Tinahely and may have been returning to work after his lunch break. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was later removed to Naas Hospital where a post mortem will take place. Local councillor Pat Doran described Mr Byrne as a "terribly nice guy". "He was an honest guy and came from a good, honest family," he said. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said shop assistants would lose 120 per year allowed for things like uniforms and equipment Changes to the tax breaks which will hit thousands of ordinary workers have been deferred by a year. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has confirmed that a review of tax relief on expenses will be carried out by the Revenue Commissioners next year. But he said there will be no attempt to stop the entitlements availed of by at least 80,000 workers until 2020. Expenses that are wholly, exclusively and necessarily included for the purposes of work will continue to be claimable under the Tax Consolidation Act. That is not changing, Mr Donohoe said. But what will be happening next year is that the matter will be reviewed. They [Revenue] have informed me that there wont be any change in terms of how they implement this policy until January 1, 2020. This was added to Taoiseach Leo Varadkars office which said the review of concessionary flat rate expenses was needed to ensure that the expenses granted remain justified and appropriate to modern day employments and work practices. Earlier, Mr Varadkar faced accusations of giving tax cuts with one hand while clobbering workers with the other. Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald, said Mr Varadkar pledged at his party Ard Fheis on Saturday that he would make major tax cuts over the coming five years. But she said the Revenue Commissioners are in fact moving to cut a special small tax allowance to low-paid workers. Ms McDonald said people like the 75,000 shop assistants would lose 120 per year allowed for things like uniforms and equipment. She said the planned change would net just 9m per year for national coffers while the super-rich claimed 93m under various allowances last year. Its hardly a massive outlay but nonetheless the loss of it for low earners will be felt, the Sinn Fein leader said. She added that changes to banks tax allowances could net 175m while an extra 750m could be taken from multinational companies. But the Taoiseach hit back and accused Ms McDonald of hypocrisy. He said that on November 11, all the Irish party leaders honoured the dead of World War I, and later attended the inauguration of President Michael D Higgins for his second term. But Mr Varadkar said that on that day Ms McDonald was in New York attending a $400 per-plate fundraising lunch to raise funds for Sinn Fein. Do you not see the hypocrisy in that? the Taoiseach asked. Read More You were in New York drinking champagne and having 400 per-plate lunches, Mr Varadkar later added. Ms McDonald said she had later attended a World War I commemoration in Sligo on November 14. She said the planned tax changes would hit the lowest paid workers. The Taoiseach again accused Sinn Fein of falsely claiming they only take the average industrial wage out of their Dail salaries. He said there would be no change in workers tax allowances until 2020 if at all but he also argued that the Revenue Commissioners were independent in such matters and workers would still be able to claim other expenses. Tens of thousands more workers are in the firing line for a sudden 'tax grab' that will hit the incomes of some of the lowest paid. CIE workers, teachers, hotel, bar and construction staff may be next to see tax relief on their expenses axed. The Revenue Commissioners stands accused of an "attack on workers" after it already moved to strip 80,000 people of these annual tax allowances. Shop assistants, actors and journalists are among those who have already been hit with no warning. Now the Irish Independent has learned that a raft of other sectors is under scrutiny, as the Revenue further reviews the scheme. Hotel workers, bar staff, construction workers, and rail and bus staff are all in the firing line, it is understood. However, unions claimed that tax officials were reluctant to cut allowances to staff who pay fees to professional bodies, including hospital consultants. The flat-rate scheme is meant to cover the cost of workers who have to pay for uniforms and tools. It reduces the portion of a worker's income they have to pay tax on. The exact reduction depends on a person's profession - but more than half-a-million PAYE workers currently avail of it. Ending the allowance will likely wipe out any gains from the recent Budget. There was no warning about the impending change, and it comes despite Fine Gael promising more tax cuts for workers. A review of the bidding process for the National Broadband Plan is expected to be presented to the Cabinet today. The report, which is being anxiously awaited in Government circles, will outline whether private meetings that former minister Denis Naughten had with businessman David McCourt compromised the process. Mr McCourt is the head of the only group that is left in the running for the valuable contract that will see the rollout of broadband across rural Ireland. The former minister has insisted that the process has not been compromised by the meetings. But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has ordered Peter Smyth to carry out an independent audit. The Irish Independent understands that his report was last night being studied by the Attorney General with a view to it being presented to ministers this morning. Mr Smyth was tasked with deciding what, if any, implications the ex-minister's meetings have for the procurement process. Fianna Fail has claimed that the process has been "compromised". The next steps in bringing broadband to one million people, in 540,000 homes and businesses, will be significantly affected by Mr Smyth's report. Recovering: Attack victim Jenny Powell in her home in Mulhuddart in west Dublin. Photo: Kyran OBrien An elderly woman who was beaten with a hammer during a violent robbery says she will not be driven from her home. Jenny Powell (84) said she was hit over the head with a hammer during the attack, and threatened with a saw by a gang of men who broke into her Portakabin home in west Dublin. The incident occurred on Friday in Mulhuddart. Ms Powell - who uses a wheelchair and has mobility issues - said the gang "tossed" her around as they looked for money. "They were even rummaging under the mattress. All they got was 20," she said. "They were hurting me, and I'll be 85 next month. These people need to be caught. "I've been living here for 20 years, and it's never happened to me before. "I mind my own business and I'm not going to let these people drive me out," she said. "I don't know who they are. I've never seen them before but they are dangerous and I want someone to catch them. "I think they may be going after other people living alone and they need to be stopped." Ms Powell is well-known in the Mulhuddart area, and has been living in a two-room Portakabin for the past three years. "I used to live in a caravan here before that but this is much better now. I can struggle from the bed to the wheelchair, and from that on to my mobility scooter," she said. She declined hospital treatment after the attack and vowed that despite the violence used against her, she will recover from her injuries. Gardai confirmed they were investigating a report of an aggravated burglary on Powerstown Road, Mulhuddart, about 8.30pm on Friday. No arrests have been made. Parents should set rules to stop their teenagers from drinking alcohol until they are at least 18, a psychiatrist has advised. Dr Gerry McCarney, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, said: "Trying to chat about 'big' things like alcohol or drugs with your teenager can feel very difficult. "It is tough to find ways to stay close to your child at a time when it may feel like they're pushing you away, but feeling loved and connected makes a huge difference to them." Teenagers need their parents to steer them in the right direction, which means having conversations about these topics, he said. Research shows teens who get permission to drink from their parents experience more alcohol-related harm, because they tend to give themselves greater permission to drink more than their peers. Dr McCarney was speaking at the launch of the HSE's new guidebook, 'Alcohol and Drugs: A Parent's Guide'. "This guide will help you to decide what's OK and what's not OK in your family, and how to let your child know. "Teenagers can put up a good argument, but you still have the right to set the rules and say that you don't want them to drink until at least 18." The guide can be downloaded or ordered at www.ask aboutalcohol.ie/parents/ Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone holding Cara Molloy, aged 4 months from Leitrim with her mum, Eimear Carron at the launch of First 5, Ireland's first ever 10 year strategy to support babies, and children up to the ages of 5 and their families. Photo: Damien Eagers/INM Parents will be able to look after their newborn at home for the first year under plans to extend parental benefit. The Government has promised to give mothers and fathers seven weeks of paid leave each by 2021. When combined with existing maternity and paternity entitlements and normal annual leave, it means couples will have enough time off for one of them to be at home at all times for the year. In last month's Budget, it was announced paid parental leave will be rolled out from late 2019 with both parents entitled to two weeks off. It has now been confirmed that this will be extended to seven weeks each by 2021. The State will pay an allowance of 245 per week. At least 65,000 individual parents are expected to benefit from the scheme in a year. Children's Minister Katherine Zappone said the move was just one step in a "ground-breaking" strategy called 'First 5'. It aims to give parents a wider range of care options for their children up to the age of five. A dedicated child health workforce is also be to hired, while a 'baby box' with clothes and books will be supplied to new parents in hospital. Currently, mothers are able to take 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and up to 16 weeks unpaid. Fathers get just two weeks of paid leave. A Fianna Fail bill, which would have allowed mothers to share their maternity leave with their partners, was roundly rejected by the Government just last week. Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty, whose department will oversee the implementation of the new parental benefit scheme, said the Government is particularly conscious that fathers need more time with their children. "The evidence shows that when fathers take a more significant and meaningful share in the parenting of their children, the individual family benefits, and so does wider society," she said. Having more parents stay at home for longer will also help the Government alleviate the looming crisis in childcare. As part of the 'First 5' programme, Ms Zappone has also committed to setting up a group of experts to develop a new public funding model for childcare and early years learning. She said it will ensure that when the State increases subsidises to families, they will be assured that childcare operators will only be able to enact modest price hikes. The minister also said that childcare workers will be "paid according to their qualifications". In the area of healthcare, Health Minister Simon Harris has committed to resourcing the implementation, expansion and enhancement of the National Healthy Childhood Programme through the development of a dedicated child health workforce. Public health nurses play a crucial role in this work. The Children's Rights Alliance welcomed the strategy as a move "in the right direction", but said it was "not enough to ensure that children get the best start possible by being with their parents round the clock at this age". Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Alliance, described the overall plan as "ambitious" but said the Government would have to prove it was capable of delivering all the key objectives. Apple a day: Personal trainer Karl Henry meets Siena Bowie Stokes (9), a pupil at St Catherines National School in Donore, Dublin, at the launch of Healthy Ireland at Your Library. Photo: Damien Eagers Libraries across the country have become a little healthier. An expansion of the Government-backed Healthy Ireland at Your Library programme has seen 80 new books added to all the public libraries across the country. Trainer and fitness expert Karl Henry said yesterday he was "very honoured" that his book 'Karl Henry's Healthy Living Handbook', was among the titles chosen. He gave some health tips to those gathered at Kevin Street Library in Dublin for the launch of the expanded programme, encouraging people to stand more. "Standing is one of the key components of improving your health," he said. Standing for just one hour a day can help burn 20,000 calories in a year, he said, which is the equivalent of around 100 chocolate bars or 143 cans of fizzy drink. Imagine spending the best part of 17 hours stuck in a tiny room with somebody you really dislike, with no opportunity to escape, while being required to constantly interact. This is what happens when two pilots who dont get on are rostered on the same flight route. Pilots may all sound the same over the tannoy, but they are real people with real feelings - and in the same way that you might think your colleague is a wazzock, so might they. And as it is particularly important that the flight deck - basically a pilots office - hosts a calm, considerate and communicative environment, airlines have developed a system to stop two people who hate each other getting stuck in there together. Called Do Not Pair, the system works thus: each captain, first and second officer has an electronic list which feeds into the carriers scheduling system, to which they can add the names of anyone they do not want to be sat beside for hours on end. The rota then prohibits those two names ending up in the same cockpit. It is a lesser-known element of a pilots nine-to-five, but a quick scour of the Internet finds a number of incidents that have led pilots to add a name to their Do Not Pair list. One relays the story of a first officer whose captain wanted him to be his wing man for meeting members of the fairer sex on a layover. To cut a long story short, the first officer ended up adding the other pilot to his list. In 2008, an American Airlines captain caused a stir after filing a complaint about the pilot of another aircraft for taxiing too slowly landing them with a 15-day unpaid suspension. We would imagine his Do Not Pair list is growing by the minute, a Dallas News commentator quipped. In an article for the LA Times last year, a flight attendant wrote about the lists. Elliot Hester explained how he witnessed a pilot have a violent falling out with a third officer only minutes before a flight was due to take off from Rio de Janeiro for Miami. The service would have been cancelled were it not for a 10-minute emergency meeting where differences were resolved, or at least shelved. After landing in Miami, however, Hester said the third officer pulled out his laptop, logged onto the employee website, entered the captains name and clicked: Do Not Pair. Author and pilot Patrick Smith doesnt mention the list by name in his book Cockpit Confidential, which answers dozens of burning questions about air travel, but he does reference how noting which colleagues you want to avoid is part of normal schedule planning. Every 30 days, around the middle of the month, we bid our preferences for the following month: where wed like to fly, which days wed like off, and which insufferable colleagues we hope to avoid, he writes. What we actually end up with hinges on seniority. Senior pilots get the choicest pickings; juniors get whatever is left over. One small saving grace for those pilots who dont really get on is a regulation called the Sterile Cockpit Rule, which forbids pilots from talking about anything other than essential flight-related things when the aircraft is below 10,000 feet, to ensure maximum concentration on the flight deck. So at least their inane chatter is limited to cruising altitude. Read more: Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] At a time when rent prices are making headlines almost every day, you either have to lower your expectations, accept you'll have to settle for the fringes of Dublin or consider leaving Ireland altogether. It now costs an average of 30pc more to rent in Ireland than it did at the peak of the Celtic Tiger and it's clear that the Government's rental cap regime isn't working out. The average national rent is now more than 1,300 - an increase of 11.3pc this year, according to daft.ie's latest report. The 1,334 average is now 304 per month higher than the 2008 peak and more than 590 higher than the low in late 2011. In Dublin that average advertised rent is up 96pc from its lowest point in 2011. The report makes for scary reading if you're a renter and also shows the Government's rental cap regime across "rent pressure zones" has failed spectacularly. Simon Coveney introduced these rent pressure zones to manage increases in rents back in 2016. Dublin, parts of Meath, Wicklow, Cork, Kildare and Galway were all included. But there were loopholes. Landlords could get around the rental cap by simply doing up a bathroom. Clearly, lots of them are doing just that and getting away with it. Young people have long given up on buying houses of our own. The message being pushed for the past few years by the Government appears to have been along these lines: give up your dreams of home-owning, ever. Accept your fate of throwing most of your salary away on rent. Live in the moment like they do in Germany and Greece. But it isn't possible to live in the moment when even a shoebox-sized room in a shabby, shared house sets you back more than half of your monthly wage. Throw in commuting, bills and food and you're not really living at all. The problem with sky rocketing rents isn't just the financial cost. The housing crisis is equally taking a huge social and emotional toll on us all. We live in permanent anxiety about spiralling living costs. Our passage to adulthood is hampered by living at home with our parents and maybe commuting for too many hours every day. It's damaging our mental health. It's wrecking lives. There's now a real risk if house rents keep rising, then nobody doing an ordinary job will be able to afford to rent or live in Dublin, and those on lower incomes will be pushed out of Dublin, forced to emigrate or pushed into homelessness. No wonder we feel like we exist in a work-to-live world. Most of our money really is being handed straight over to a landlord. But what can we do? Housing isn't a luxury - it's a basic necessity. I'm beyond tired of working all hours to rent rooms that will never be home. Lots of people are and the idea of leaving is starting to sound appealing. And if we do leave, what will that mean for Dublin? The Government really needs to ask what will happen when we all get priced out of the rental market. Dublin needs to be a city where people from all different backgrounds, working in all different types of jobs, are able to live and raise a family. That's what a city is. But we now have a capital that is too expensive for ordinary people to live in. The political will to act seems to be finally - if belatedly - there, although that still leaves the far from small matter of finding the ideas and money to do something serious about it. But maybe more importantly, since there is an election coming and voters will clearly want to punish them if they don't, we might see some action. The Government knows that it has had its last warning. It won't be forgiven for continuing to do nothing. Happy couple: The official wedding photograph of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in the White Drawing Room, Windsor Castle, with (left to right) Back row: Thomas Brooksbank; Nicola Brooksbank; George Brooksbank; Princess Beatrice of York; Sarah, Duchess of York; The Duke of York. Middle row: Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge; The Queen; The Duke of Edinburgh; Maud Windsor; Louis De Givenchy; Front row: Theodora Williams; Mia Tindall; Isla Phillips and Savannah Phillips. Photo: Alex Bramall/PA Wire Princess Eugenie of York (L) and Princess Beatrice of York attend the annual summer party in partnership with Chanel at The Serpentine Pavilion on June 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Serpentine Galleries) Princess Beatrice of York and her mother Sarah Ferguson (R) arrive in their car to the Royal wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Mr. Jack Brooksbank at St. George's Chapel on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (L-R) Princess Eugenie Ferguson, Sarah Ferguson,the Duchess of York, and Princess Beatrice Ferguson attend the premiere of "Young Victoria" at the Roy Thompson Hall as part of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 19, 2009 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Jim Ross/Getty Images) Princess Beatrice of York arrives ahead of the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York to Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images) Princess Beatrice of York attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for New York Magazine) She seemed to cut a rather lonely figure at her younger sisters wedding last month, when she dutifully accompanied her mother (said to have been a bag of nerves on the big day), into St Georges Chapel, Windsor. Poor old Princess Beatrice. Watching your little sister walk down the aisle in the same year that your ex boyfriend of a decade also tied the knot? That must have smarted a bit. Well, as it turns out, Bea has had the last laugh. Little did we know that, all along, she was harbouring a secret new romance, which by the time of the October nuptials was already blossoming into something very special indeed. The elder York sister has historically been unlucky in love (she has been single since splitting up with Dave Clarke in 2016, after 10 years together), but it seems her luck could be about to change with a new beau on the scene in the form of Italo-English multi-millionaire Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi. Expand Close Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson arrive at Windsor Castle for the royal wedding of Britain's Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in Windsor, Britain October 12, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson arrive at Windsor Castle for the royal wedding of Britain's Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in Windsor, Britain October 12, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville Until recently Edoardo or Edo, as his friends call him would have been high on any list of eligible Euro totty. Sure, he has a past (he is a divorced father-of-one), but once you hit 30, as Beatrice did in August, doesnt everyone have a little baggage? The small matter of an adorable two-year-old son (called Wolfie) aside, Edo is a real catch. In a speech shortly before Eugenies wedding, Beatrice urged a room full of young people to find someone in your life you can confide in, and she has seemingly found that in Edo, who has made his Instagram account - he has 10.7k followers - private since news of their relationship leaked out. In 2007, he founded the successful property consultancy Banda, which specialises in discreetly finding and developing multi-million pound homes for wealthy clients. In any case, Banda, which means big shed in Swahili (naturally), has made the 34-year-old a great deal of money. Read More His pedigree is certainly blue-blooded. His father is former British Olympic Alpine skier Count Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi; his cousin Edward Ankarcrona, who married Lady Lucinda Savile (daughter of the Earl and Countess of Mexborough). In fact, Edo is technically a count himself, but as he is a British citizen he cant use the title in this country foreign styles and titles having been confined to those who received a Royal Warrant from King George V in 1932. His beloved stepfather, whom his mother Nicola remarried when he was young, was Christopher Shale, who tragically died at Glastonbury Festival in 2011 and was a close friend of David Camerons. At the time, Edo spoke publicly on behalf of the family, saying: He was a father to me, the only father I have ever known, and a father to all three of us the best father we could ever have. Princess Beatrice was among the 700 mourners at Shales funeral. Video of the Day One close friend tells me that the new couple seem very happy together: It hasnt been long at all, in fact its very early days, but its just such happy news, especially given everything with Christopher a few years ago. But though the romance is new, the friendship is not. Beatrice and Edos families have been good pals for years. Though reports suggest Beatrice recently introduced Edo to her parents as her boyfriend, it wasnt really an introduction at all, as they have always moved in similar social circles. One source suggests that the Duchess of York might even have been behind the set up: Fergie is really good at that kind of thing. She is such good fun. And Edos family are the loveliest people in the whole world. It is so often the way with the Eu-rah lot. They spend their teenage years getting raucously drunk at the same parties, only to get hitched later down the line once the realisation sets in that they really ought to settle down. And Beatrice and Edo move in this cliquey, very particular set, made up of European royals, heirs and heiresses. Heres your guide... Whos who The guestlist at the last two royal weddings should serve as a good measure of the eclectic circle the young royals move in. They all meet, Im told, at European debutantes balls known as Rallyes les soirees tres selects, as Le Figaro puts it when they are in their early 20s, and before long are partying in each others massive pads all over the world. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have always been known for having a wide-ranging and well connected group, from models like Karlie Kloss and Cara Delevingne, to Italian heiresses Lydia and Irene Forte, daughters of hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, and the von Bismarck family (Kate Mosss photographer ex-boyfriend Nikolai is a great friend of Beatrices in fact she chose him to take her official 18th birthday photograph). Then there are the usual suspects among the European royals you know, your Casiraghis and Greeces. Theres Princess Theodora, a London-based actress and the youngest daughter of King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie; Andrea, Pierre and Charlotte Casiraghi, the beautiful young Monegasque royal family. And, of course, theres now a younger cohort coming up, including 22-year-old Princess Olympia, Prince Charless goddaughter, who has modelled for Dolce and Gabbana. Not to mention Princess Talita Von Furstenberg, daughter of Diane Von Furstenberg and Prince Egon von Furstenberg, who recently graduated from Georgetown. Where they hang out Where other than the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, home to royal residences and more foreign embassies than you can shake a stick at. Carlo Carellos Alberts, a nightclub in South Kensington run by the former owner of Boujis (Prince William and Harrys erstwhile favourite), is apparently the current boite of choice. A members-only affair for the over-25s, where you can feast on all manner of hearty fare like steak tartare, white Alba truffles and veal milanese, before the restaurant is turned into a dancefloor and the ice buckets come out. NB: a glass of wine there costs 25. The Euro lot all tend to end up at Alberts, says one source. They love it there. Its either that or long brunches at the Ivy in Chelsea. Holiday homes Verbier in the winter, St Barts in the summer - though for the younger members of the set, Mykonos is the choix du moment. Its all very multigenerational, says a source. And Fergie will be there partying with them as much as any of the younger ones - she did know all their parents back in her heyday, after all. Indeed, names like former Findus tycoon Geir Frantzen, and Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal are often among the older members of the set. Beatrice is said to have unveiled Edo as her boyfriend at an exclusive London party recently thrown by Mittal. But make no mistake, there are plenty of youngsters to bolster their ranks - for them, summer 2018 was seemingly one long holiday, with Instagram awash with snaps of Olympia, Talita and Lady Amelia Windsor frolicking around Europe, hopping from festivals to private yachts. As they are already learning, its a full-time job being a member of the Eu-rah set. All the better, then, if you can find a partner to share it all with you. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Indonesian President Joko Widodo said yesterday that a teacher sentenced to jail for spreading an "immoral" audio tape documenting alleged sexual harassment by the school principal should seek a judicial review. In a case that has shocked many Indonesians, the Supreme Court announced last week that Baiq Nuril Maknun (37) would be jailed for six months for recording and spreading "information violating decency". She was also fined 500 million rupiah (30,000). Mr Widowo said he could not intervene in the case, but said Maknun should request a judicial review. "If later she does not find justice through a judicial review she can request clemency to the president, that's the procedure," he said in a statement. "When the clemency request has been submitted, then it will be on my turf." Indonesia's #MeToo movement has gained some traction on social media with women sharing their experiences of sexual harassment but in a mainly conservative society it has yet to trigger the type of impact it has had in the West. According to media reports, Maknun was harassed by the head of a school where she worked as a contract teacher on the island of Lombok, including through sexually explicit and abusive comments on her cell phone. She made a recording of one of the calls and it was later obtained by a co-worker in 2014 and subsequently spread on social media. In 2015, the school principal reported Maknun to police. More than 111,000 signatures have been submitted on an online petition demanding clemency for Maknun. Infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman relied on rampant bloodshed and bribery to protect his multibillion-dollar drug-smuggling operation and his hold on power, a former lieutenant for his cartel has told a court. During his third day giving evidence as a government witness, Jesus Zambada told the jury the gun play and cash payoffs were key components of the Sinaloa cartels business model. The jurors were shown a photo of a diamond-encrusted pistol decorated with Guzmans initials as the witness described the brutal way the cartel dealt with violent threats and personal slights. Mr Zambada said he was told by his older brother, Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael El Mayo Zambada, that a 2004 meeting between Guzman and a competitor named Rodolfo Fuentes ended poorly when Fuentes did not shake his hand. Expand Close Jesus Zambada (US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jesus Zambada (US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York/AP) The brother claimed afterwards that Guzman made it clear he wanted Fuentes dead, and ended up ordering his killing. Also assassinated were a corrupt police commander in 2008 for telling people that he was going to finish off my brother and Chapo, and another drug dealer who was struck down by a hail of bullets from an AK-47 that nearly took off his head, the witness said. Mr Zambada described being told by one of his paid informants within law enforcement that authorities were close to capturing Guzman. It was suggested that the cartel should give a 250,000-dollar bribe to a ranking officer, after which, he said, the operation was aborted. There was no problem. The defence has argued that co-operators like Mr Zambada are framing Guzman to win favour from the court in their own criminal cases. Expand Close Joaquin Guzman in custody (US law enforcement/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joaquin Guzman in custody (US law enforcement/AP) On cross-examination, the defence sought to suggest Mr Zambada was minimising his own role in the cartel and exaggerating that of Guzman as a mythical kingpin known for escaping Mexican prisons, when really, they said, he was in hiding most of his life of crime and not calling the shots. Defence lawyer William Purpura asked Mr Zambada how it was possible Guzman outranked him when there was evidence Guzman needed to go through him to get his supplies of cocaine. For emphasis, the lawyer pulled down Mr Zambadas mugshot from a lower portion of a cartel organisational chart on display in the courtroom and held it above one of Guzman. How does that look? the lawyer asked. Fine, the witness said with a smirk before quickly qualifying the answer by adding: Im below him. Guzman, who was extradited to New York City early last year, has pleaded not guilty to drug-trafficking charges. If convicted, he would face a possible life term. A fraudster who claimed more than 100,000 meant for Grenfell Tower victims told authorities he suffered "constant nightmares" after lying that his uncle and cousins had died in the blaze. Sharife Elouahabi falsely said he was staying with relatives at a flat on the 21st floor of the block, where a family of five are known to have died. The 38-year-old claimed he had been out breaking his fast for Ramadan on the night of the blaze, returning to find his uncle and cousins dead and all his possessions destroyed. Faouzia and Abdulaziz El-Wahabi, 42 and 52, died alongside their children, Yasin, 20, Huda, 16, and Mehdi, eight. Details including their names, flat number and floor were soon reported in the media. Prosecutor Alexandra Felix said Elouahabi came forward soon after and took advantage of the bureaucratic chaos to gain benefits. Mr El-Wahabi's sister Hanan told the court her surname was common in Morocco and Elouahabi had attempted to use his similar-sounding name to pretend he was part of the family and get financial assistance and accommodation. She said in a statement: "I lost my brother, his wife and their three children. I lost my home. "He has tried to take advantage of our pain, I've found this very difficult to deal with. It impacts my daily life." Seventy-two people died in the fire that engulfed the Grenfell Tower block in west London on June 14 last year. So far, 13 people have been convicted in separate cases, with a total of more than 630,000 in bogus claims for accommodation and financial assistance meant for those whose lives had been devastated. Ms Felix said: "The offence was sophisticated. We submit that this was a manipulative story, plainly false, designed to generate sympathy. "He claimed to be depressed as a result of what happened. He maintained he suffered from anxiety, had trouble sleeping at night because he had constant nightmares." Elouahabi's ultimate goal appeared to be gaining permanent housing outside the borough, Ms Felix said, adding that he told support workers being in Kensington "brings everything back". After hearing speeches at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, judge Robin Johnson said he would pass sentence on Wednesday morning, adding: "It's not my practice to make snap judgments." Elouahabi, who appeared by videolink from Wandsworth prison, has 28 previous convictions for 54 offences including burglary and common assault, the court heard. The court has heard he made fraudulent claims for around 103,000 of financial assistance and accommodation between June 23 last year and June 25 this year before his deception unravelled. Elouahabi, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to fraud at Isleworth Crown Court on November 5 on the first day of his trial. He admitted making a false representation to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, namely that he had been living in Grenfell Tower and was therefore entitled to housing and financial assistance. France's "yellow vest" protesters blocked oil depots and roads across the country for a third day in a revolt against fuel price rises that has seen motorists subjected to racist and homophobic attacks and hundreds injured. President Emmanuel Macron showed no sign that he planned to back down over diesel and petrol price rises due in January, which are part of his government's plans to try and wean the French off fossil fuels. A handful of skirmishes were reported on Sunday, including in Calais where a British and an Australian truck driver were detained after trying to force their way through barricades. Both were reported to have been released a few hours after the incident, which left three people with minor injuries. Around 13,000 people were manning more than 300 barricades on motorways and roundabouts and other sites yesterday, according to police. That was far fewer than the 280,000 who turned out on Saturday for the first day of the protests, which are named after the hi-vis vests that French motorists are legally obliged to carry in their vehicles. But it was still enough to rattle the government, and Edouard Philippe, the prime minster, said that his administration would maintain its plans but acknowledged the "suffering" expressed by protesters. "A government that always changes its stance, zigzagging through difficulties... would not lead France in the right direction," he told France 2. "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," he said. A call by a member of the right-wing Debout La France party told protesters to descend on Paris and "block" the city has been viewed over 165,000 times on Facebook. The grassroots movement emerged on social media last month over fuel rises and snowballed into a broader protest over stagnant spending power under Mr Macron, who is seen by many as the "president of the rich" who neglects rural and small-town French. The "yellow vest" protests had left more than 400 people injured by Sunday evening, official figures said, with numerous incidents of protesters being hit by panicked drivers at blockades - one woman was killed in such an incident - and a handful of police and firefighters injured. There were reports of more injuries across the country yesterday. Reports also emerged from many different parts of the country of protesters making racist, homophobic or Islamophobic insults to motorists. A local elected official in the eastern town of Bourg-en-Bresse and his partner were assaulted and had their car smashed up in a homophobic attack. "I heard some of the protesters say 'I recognise him, he's a queer'," Raphael Duret told a local newspaper, adding that he and his partner were punched and kicked and pulled out of their car. Angela Merkel's enthusiastic endorsement of France's call for a European army last week has left Germany wondering if her decision to name a date for her departure has freed the notoriously cautious chancellor to speak her mind. Ms Merkel has spent the past year remorselessly deadbatting all Emmanuel Macron's proposals for European Union reform - to the extent that the French president, who had hoped to put the Franco-German alliance back at the heart of the EU, is said to be deeply frustrated. But yesterday she backed Mr Macron's call for a European army in a speech to the European parliament even as Donald Trump laid into the French president over it on Twitter. "The time when we could rely on others is past," she told MEPs. "We have to look at the vision of one day creating a real, true European army." She appeared rejuvenated at the European parliament, telling MEPs who booed her: "This is great. I'm annoying some people." Later the same day, she gave an outspoken defence of multilateralism in a speech to German business leaders in Berlin. "At a time when voices who remember the horrors of World War II are dying out, I am worried that the discourse we hear around the world is France first, America first, or Germany first," she said. "It is only by working together that we were able to leave the horrors of World War II behind us. When we work together we have shown that we can all benefit." Although she did not mention Mr Trump by name, the target of her remarks was clear. Ms Merkel told Barack Obama she only decided to run for a fourth term as chancellor to counter Mr Trump, according to a book published in the summer. But since suffering heavy losses in last year's election and scraping back into power, she has been too busy fighting for survival to act as much of a counterweight to the US president on the world stage. A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. US District Judge Jon S Tigar issued a temporary restraining order after hearing arguments in San Francisco. The request was made by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Centre for Constitutional Rights, which quickly sued after President Donald Trump issued the ban this month in response to the caravans of migrants that have started to arrive at the US-Mexico border. Mr Trump issued a proclamation on November 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border would be ineligible for asylum. Expand Close Cars line up to cross into the United States from Tijuana, Mexico (Gregory Bull/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cars line up to cross into the United States from Tijuana, Mexico (Gregory Bull/AP) The regulations, which will remain in place for three months absent a court order, could potentially make it harder for thousands of people who enter the US to avoid deportation. Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry, said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Centre for Constitutional Rights. It couldnt be clearer. In recent years, tens of thousands of immigrants each year have shown up in the Arizona desert or on the north bank of the Rio Grande in Texas, surrendered to immigration agents and requested asylum. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. Mr Trump has argued that the recent caravans are a threat to national security. Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entryBaher Azmy, a lawyer for the Centre for Constitutional Rights Around 3,000 people from the first of the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. US Customs and Border Protection said on Monday that it closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the San Ysidro crossing. It has also installed movable, wire-topped barriers, apparently to stop a potential mass rush of people. Expand Close Newly placed barbed wire hangs at the US border fence in San Ysidro (Marco Ugarte/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Newly placed barbed wire hangs at the US border fence in San Ysidro (Marco Ugarte/AP) As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Mr Trumps order went into effect, according to DHS, which oversees Customs and Border Protection. Officials didnt say whether those peoples cases were still progressing through other avenues left to them after the proclamation. DHS has said it wants asylum seekers at the southern border to appear at an official border crossing. But many border crossings such as San Ysidro already have long wait times. People are often forced to wait in shelters or outdoor camps on the Mexican side, sometimes for weeks. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because theyre in real danger, either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. We dont condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum, he said. Saudi Arabia's King Salman has urged the international community to halt Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, and reiterated the kingdom's support for UN efforts to end the war in Yemen. The king's annual remarks to the Shura Council, a top governmental advisory body, were his first public comments since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the country's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2, which sparked a global outcry. King Salman, who did not mention the Khashoggi affair, condemned the actions of Iran, its arch-rival, for influence in the region, including in the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. "The Iranian regime has created chaos and devastation in many countries in the region," the 82-year-old monarch said. "The international community has to work to put an end to the Iranian nuclear programme and stop its activities that threaten stability." The king said Riyadh supported UN efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-backed coalition has been battling Iran-aligned Houthi rebels for nearly four years to restore the internationally recognised government. "Our standing by Yemen was not an option but a duty to support the people in confronting the aggression of Iranian-backed militias," he said. The Houthis said yesterday they were halting drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their Yemeni allies, and indicated readiness for a broader ceasefire if the Saudi-led coalition "wants peace". Riyadh has come under growing international criticism for its conduct in the Yemen war, which has brought the country to the brink of famine and killed many civilians in air strikes. The reputation of Saudi Arabia has been further battered by the Khashoggi murder. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition crisis eased yesterday when a coalition partner backed off a demand to be given the defence ministry, making an early election less likely. Education Minister Naftali Bennett's U-turn surprised many pundits, who had predicted the leader of the far-right Jewish Home party would opt to quit in protest. He said the party was withdrawing all its political demands and would stand by the prime minister. "You win some, you lose some," Mr Bennett said, shrugging off Mr Netanyahu's rejection of his bid. Mr Netanyahu, head of the right-wing Likud party, has been making last-ditch efforts to prevent the collapse of the government, which has had a majority of just one seat in parliament since Avigdor Lieberman resigned as defence chief last week. Had Mr Bennett withdrawn his party from the weakened coalition, Mr Netanyahu - who has assumed the defence post himself - would have been left with a minority government, making a snap election likely. In a speech late on Sunday night, Mr Netanyahu urged coalition partners not to bring down the government, citing security challenges ahead that are "beyond politics". Donald Trump has ruled out the US punishing Saudi Arabia any further over the killing of a journalist (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) President Donald Trump has said the US will not punish Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the time being nor cut arms sales to Saudi Arabia for the killing of US-based columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Mr Trump called the killing of Mr Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, a horrible crime that the US does not condone, but said Saudi Arabia is a great ally and cancelling billions in arms sales would only benefit China and Russia, which would be glad to step in and make the sales. His decision, announced in a statement released just before he left for the long Thanksgiving weekend in Florida, will disappoint and anger critics who have called for a much firmer rebuke to the kingdom and especially Mr bin Salman. US intelligence officials have concluded that Mr bin Salman, the kingdoms de factor leader, ordered the October 2 killing, according to a US official familiar with the assessment. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didn't!Donald Trump Others familiar with the case caution that while it is likely that the crown prince had a role in the death, there continue to be questions about the degree to which he was involved. The US earlier sanctioned 17 Saudi officials suspected of being responsible for or complicit in the killing, but members of Congress have called for harsher actions. Mr Trump said in his statement on Tuesday that the king of Saudi Arabia and the crown prince vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! Trump said. That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. Expand Close Writer Jamal Khashoggi was killed last month in the Saudi Arabia consulate, in Istanbul (Emrah Gurel/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Writer Jamal Khashoggi was killed last month in the Saudi Arabia consulate, in Istanbul (Emrah Gurel/AP) He said the US intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of the country. America First! he wrote. The president said oil prices would skyrocket if the US made a terrible mistake to break with Saudi Arabia. Mr Trump said he was not going to destroy the worlds economy by being foolish with Saudi Arabia, adding that the US needs Riyadh as a counterbalance to Iran. Mr Trump said he knows some members of Congress will disagree with his decision. He said he would listen to their ideas, but only if they are focused on US national security. Late last week, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that calls for suspending weapons sales to Saudi Arabia; sanctions on people who block humanitarian access in Yemen or support the Houthi rebels, and mandatory sanctions on those responsible for Mr Khashoggis death. Some foreign policy experts have not only recommended tougher punitive measures against Saudi Arabia, but have advocated for a complete reset on relations with Riyadh. The Washington Post denounced Mr Trumps decision to refrain from further punishing Saudi Arabia for the death of Mr Khashoggi, who wrote columns for the newspaper critical of the royal family. In a statement published on Twitter, Post publisher Fred Ryan accused Mr Trump of putting personal relationships and commercial interests above American values of respect for human rights to continue to do business as usual with the Saudi crown prince. Mr Ryan further stated that the CIA had concluded with high confidence that the crown prince directed the October 2 killing. He added that if there is reason to doubt these findings, Mr Trump should immediately make that evidence public. Lockdown: Police at the Mercy Hospital in Chicago after reports of a shooting and multiple fatalities. Photo: Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune A gunman opened fire outside Mercy Hospital in Chicago's South Side, reportedly targeting a woman in scrubs and shooting a police officer before being shot himself. Chicago police department said there were "multiple victims" following the shooting at 3.30pm local time. Anthony Guglielmi, spokesman for Chicago police department, said there were "reports of multiple victims", and added that officers were going throughout the hospital, searching for the gunman. He added that at least one "possible offender is shot", but there were no further detaila last night. He said that the shot officer was "in critical condition but receiving excellent care". At least 10 ambulances were on the scene, and Rahm Emanuel, the mayor of the city, was meeting with Eddie Johnson, superintendent of Chicago police, to assess the situation. Mr Guglielmi tweeted yesterday: "Avoid area. Heavy police presence incoming." Chicago has in recent years earned an unwelcome distinction for its violence. From 2015 to 2017 the city registered nearly 1,900 murders - a period during which the next-closest city, Baltimore, registered around 1,000. However, the city is not in the top 10 for murders nationwide, per capita. St Louis in Missouri has had the nation's highest murder rate since 2014, with 66.1 murders per 100,000 people in 2017, according to the FBI. Ivanka Trump speaks during an event for American workers in the State Dining Room of the White House on October 31, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, White House Senior Advisers, disembark from from Air Force One as they travel with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump upon arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 30, 2018, following the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while flanked by White House Senior Advisor Ivanka Trump during the annual meeting of President's Interagency Task Force (PITF) to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on October 11, 2018 in Washington, DC White House Senior Advisor Ivanka Trump walks into the annual meeting of President's Interagency Task Force (PITF) to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on October 11, 2018 in Washington, DC White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump welcomes her father, U.S. President Donald Trump, during the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons annual meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 11, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, White House Senior Advisers, walk to Air Force One prior to departure with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, October 30, 2018, as they travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Ivanka Trump speaks at a rally at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana (Mike Moore/The Journal-Gazette via AP) Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and a top White House adviser, sent hundreds of emails about government business from a personal email account last year, The Washington Post has reported. The emails were sent to White House aides, Cabinet members and Ivanka Trump's assistants, many in violation of public records rules, the paper said. President Donald Trump mercilessly criticised his 2016 Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, for using a private email server during her time as secretary of state, labelling her "Crooked Hillary" and saying she belonged in jail. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the email use, but a spokesman for Ivanka Trump's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, did not dispute the report. Expand Close White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump welcomes her father, U.S. President Donald Trump, during the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons annual meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 11, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump welcomes her father, U.S. President Donald Trump, during the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons annual meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 11, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst "While transitioning into government... Ms Trump sometimes used her private account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family," said the spokesman, Peter Mirijanian. Mr Mirijanian stressed that no classified information was transmitted in the messages, that no emails were deleted and that the emails have since been "retained" in conformity with records laws. "When concerns were raised in the press 14 months ago, Ms Trump reviewed and verified her email use with White House Counsel and explained the issue to congressional leaders," he said. The discovery was prompted by public records requests from the liberal watchdog group American Oversight. The group's executive director, Austin Evers, said in a statement that "The president's family is not above the law", and he called on Congress to investigate. "For more than two years, President Trump and senior leaders in Congress have made it very clear that they view the use of personal email servers for government business to be a serious offence that demands investigation and even prosecution, and we expect the same standard will be applied in this case," he said. Expand Close Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, White House Senior Advisers, disembark from from Air Force One as they travel with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump upon arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 30, 2018, following the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, White House Senior Advisers, disembark from from Air Force One as they travel with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump upon arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 30, 2018, following the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images The emails the group uncovered include correspondence between Ivanka Trump and Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Kanye West has donated 150,000 dollars (117,000) to the family of a security guard shot and killed by police in the US. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Kanye West has donated $150,000 (130,000) to the family of a security guard shot and killed by US police. The rapper paid the money through a GoFundMe page set up to cover the burial costs for Jemel Roberson (26), who died on November 11. Mr Roberson, a black man, was working as a security guard at a bar near Chicago when a gunman opened fire inside. He pinned the shooter down but was shot and killed by a white police officer arriving at the scene. Mr Roberson leaves behind a nine-month-old son with his partner, who is pregnant with their second child. The United States closed its busiest border crossing with Mexico for several hours yesterday, following a day of protests in the city of Tijuana against the arrival of the migrant "caravan". Queues at the Tijuana crossing stretched back for several miles as traffic into the US was blocked while new security barriers were installed, causing anger among the 110,000 people who enter the US every day. An estimated 3,000 migrants have arrived in recent days in Tijuana, which sprawls into San Diego in southern California. On Sunday several hundred Tijuana residents took to the streets to protest against the caravan, which set out from Honduras on October 13. While many in Tijuana are sympathetic to the migrants' plight and trying to assist, with a local priest handing out donated clothes at the weekend, some locals have shouted insults, hurled rocks and even thrown punches at them. Carlos Padilla (57), a migrant from Progreso, Honduras, told 'The San Diego Union Tribune' that a Tijuana resident shouted "migrants are pigs" as he passed on the street recently. "We didn't come here to cause problems, we came here with love and with the intention to ask for asylum," he said. "But they treat us like animals here." The cold reception contrasts sharply with the warmth that accompanied the migrants in southern Mexico, where residents of small towns greeted them with hot food, campsites and even live music. "Out! Out!" they chanted, demanding that the caravan be diverted and worried about the impact of many hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers stuck in their city for months. US border inspectors are currently processing only about 100 asylum claims a day at Tijuana's main crossing to San Diego, and Juan Manuel Gastelum, mayor of Tijuana, said he estimates the migrants will remain in his city for at least six months as claims are processed. He has called the migrants' arrival an "avalanche" that the city is ill-prepared to handle, and has appealed to the federal government - which has already flown in food and blankets - for more assistance to cope with the influx. "Some of them are a bunch of bums, smoking marijuana in the street, and attacking our families in Playas de Tijuana," the mayor said last week, on Mexican television. "Who is leading them?" Tijuana officials have converted a municipal gymnasium to hold 3,000 migrants, and the city's privately run shelters have a maximum capacity of 700. Alden Rivera, the Honduran ambassador to Mexico, visited the shelters at the weekend and appealed once again for the migrants to return to Honduras. He said 1,800 have been convinced so far to return to his country. A further 2,697 Central American migrants have requested asylum in Mexico, the Mexican interior ministry said, under a programme that the country launched in haste on October 26 to speed the issuing of credentials needed to live, work and study in southern Mexico. US President Donald Trump voiced his support for the mayor of Tijuana on Sunday. He wrote on Twitter that, like Tijuana, "the US is ill-prepared for this invasion, and will not stand for it. They are causing crime and big problems in Mexico. Go home!" Security personnel on the back of a lorry wait to be paid at Rita Flynn Netball Centre in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (Jam Morales/AP) Disgruntled police, military and prison guards have stormed Papua New Guineas Parliament in a violent pay dispute stemming from an international summit hosted by the impoverished South Pacific island nation over the weekend, a politician said. Images posted by opposition politician Bryan Kramer on social media showed broken windows, smashed furniture, pictures torn from walls and plants tipped over. Parliaments security check point including a metal detector was trashed and doors were destroyed along with their fingerprint-reading locking systems, Mr Kramer said. He said the protesters had not been paid their promised allowances for their security work at the Pacific Rim leaders summit held in Port Moresby, a city described by the World Bank as among the worlds most violent due to high unemployment and brazen criminal gangs known as raskols. Expand Close US Vice President Mike Pence speaks during an informal press conference at Apec Haus in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp US Vice President Mike Pence speaks during an informal press conference at Apec Haus in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting was attended by US Vice President Mike Pence, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and others. When the protesters tried to enter Parliament, there was a confrontation between Parliament security and members of the security forces, Mr Kramer said. It erupted into a scuffle, several staff were assaulted as they made their way into Parliament. Mr Kramer said he did not see anyone use a weapon in the conflict and he was not aware of any serious injuries, although there were spots of blood throughout the building. Expand Close Police and soldiers guard the outside of the Parliament (Bryan Kramer/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police and soldiers guard the outside of the Parliament (Bryan Kramer/AP) Mr Kramer and his opposition colleagues remained in a meeting room within the Parliament building throughout the 30-minute attack. Following the rampage, more than 100 police, military personnel and prison guards waited outside Parliament demanding to be addressed by the government about their allowances, Mr Kramer said. But they eventually left the area. Every nation gathered here at APEC has a place in @POTUS vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Our vision excludes no one. We only ask that nations respect their neighbors sovereignty, embrace free, fair, and reciprocal trade, and uphold individual rights. #APEC2018 pic.twitter.com/5R4AETEmi5 Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) November 18, 2018 Working police later provided security for parliamentary staff in the building and patrolled surrounding streets. The violence at Parliament coincided with reports of looting of surrounding businesses, as criminals apparently took advantage of the breakdown in law and order. Expand Close US Vice President Mike Pence, left, and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at the summit (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp US Vice President Mike Pence, left, and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at the summit (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) The annual Apec summit brought together representatives of 21 nations that account for 60% of the world economy. What has been called Papua New Guineas global coming-out party has caused both pride and discord and underlined the yawning gulf between a small well-educated minority and the poor, who include the 85% of people living in the highlands and other remote areas. Ahead of the Apec summit, the government was criticised for acquiring a fleet of 40 expensive Maserati cars to ferry the world leaders to meeting sites, but it assured citizens that the vehicles would be sold afterwards. A VIP terminal costing about 19 million US dollars was added to the citys airport. Construction of a building called Apec Haus for the summit was paid for by oil and gas company Oil Search, which operates all of Papua New Guineas oil fields, in exchange for tax credits. I think the money should have been used to fix our backyard instead of decorating the front porch. We have health, education and infrastructure deficiencies that need to be addressed, activist and writer Martyn Namorong said before the summit. Japanese prosecutors were considering whether to file formal charges against Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn amid a probe into allegations he misused company assets and under-reported millions of dollars of income. The arrest of Mr Ghosn after a whistleblower disclosed the alleged misconduct left many in Japan stunned by the downfall of a relentless cost cutter who appears to have spent lavishly on himself. Prosecutors said they were holding Mr Ghosn, 64, for allegedly collaborating to falsify securities statements and under-report 44.6 million dollars in income from 2011 to 2015. A second Nissan executive, Greg Kelly, was also suspected of collaborating with him. Expand Close Nissan cars at the Nissan Factory in Sunderland (OWen Humphreys/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nissan cars at the Nissan Factory in Sunderland (OWen Humphreys/PA) Its extremely regrettable, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. We will watch developments closely. There was no word from Mr Ghosn himself. Prosecutors have refused to say where he was being held. Mr Ghosn officially still leads the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance as CEO and chairman, with the board of directors of French carmaker Renault saying he will remain as chairman and CEO after a meeting on Tuesday evening. The board tapped the carmakers number two, Thierry Bollore, to fill in for Mr Ghosn while he is temporarily incapacitated. A statement issued after the three-hour meeting said the board was unable to comment on the evidence seemingly gathered against Mr Ghosn. It said Mr Bollore, Renaults chief operating officer, will lead on a temporary basis. Expand Close French President Emmanuel Macron on a visit to a Renault factory with Carlos Ghosn earlier this month (Francois Mori/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp French President Emmanuel Macron on a visit to a Renault factory with Carlos Ghosn earlier this month (Francois Mori/AP) The prosecutors, who reportedly arrested Mr Ghosn after questioning him upon his arrival by private jet at Tokyos Haneda airport, have 48 hours from the time of Ghosns arrest on Monday to decide whether to press charges. They can hold a suspect for up to 20 more days per charge if they decide they need more time. Nissans board was due to meet on Thursday to consider dismissing Ghosn and Kelly. Earlier this year, Mr Ghosn signed a contract that would have run through 2022. Of French, Brazilian and Lebanese background, Mr Ghosn also is a towering corporate figure in France, where Renault is one of the heavyweight industrial survivors. He has met repeatedly with the past four French presidents; no major economic event in France was held without Mr Ghosn. Expand Close The logo of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance (Thibault Camus/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The logo of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance (Thibault Camus/AP) But French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told broadcaster Franc-Info on Tuesday that Renault should name temporary leadership as Mr Ghosn is not in a position to head the group. Mr Le Maire said French authorities have found no wrongdoing in Mr Ghosns tax situation in France. Mr Ghosns Lebanese heritage is a source of pride in Lebanon, and in Beirut the foreign minister, Gibran Bassil, issued a statement saying the Lebanese ambassador to Tokyo was told to look out for the model of Lebanese success abroad. He said the Lebanese foreign ministry would stand by Mr Ghosn to ensure he gets a fair trial. In Japan, where foreign executives are scarce and even the biggest corporate bigwigs tend to keep a low profile, Mr Ghosns status is more ambiguous. Expand Close Nissan Motor Co global headquarters in Yokohama, near Tokyo (Kenzaburo Fukuhara/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nissan Motor Co global headquarters in Yokohama, near Tokyo (Kenzaburo Fukuhara/AP) He is admired for driving a turnaround at Nissan when it was near bankruptcy and for his foresight in pushing to bring electric and autonomous cars to the masses. But in a 90-minute news conference late on Monday night, Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa said Mr Ghosn had too much power and the company was overdue for some change. The scandal was a negative outcome of the long regime of Mr Ghosn, he said. With few new developments, Japanese media were avidly detailing allegations against Mr Ghosn. Public broadcaster NHK said Mr Ghosn was in charge of allocating pay among Nissans top executives and is suspected of siphoning off some of that remuneration. Expand Close Nissan Motor Co president and CEO Hiroto Saikawa speaks during a press conference (Shuji Kajiyama/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nissan Motor Co president and CEO Hiroto Saikawa speaks during a press conference (Shuji Kajiyama/AP) He also is suspected of underpaying his share of the rent and misusing company funds on his company-issued housing in Lebanon, Paris, Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro, where his apartment is on the wealthy Copacabana beach strip. Mr Ghosns compensation from Nissan, generous by Japanese standards, was only part of his overall income since he also was paid salaries by the carmakers alliance partners Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motor Corp. Repeatedly questioned over how the company could have let financial misconduct persist for so long, Mr Saikawa said systems inside Nissan limited transparency. The allegations are a serious blow at a time when Nissan and Mitsubishi are still recovering from scandals over altered results of emissions and fuel economy tests on vehicles sold in Japan. The Rock of Gibraltar viewed from the departure lounge of Gibraltar Airport (Yui Mok/PA) Spains prime minister has said his country will vote against the divorce agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom if Gibraltars future is not considered a bilateral issue between Madrid and London. The UK and the EU reached a 585-page draft withdrawal agreement and are fleshing out a far less detailed seven-page declaration on their future relations. Both need to be approved by European leaders at a weekend summit. Expand Close The Royal Navys new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it makes its way to Gibraltar (Dave Jenkins/MoD/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Royal Navys new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it makes its way to Gibraltar (Dave Jenkins/MoD/PA) If the documents do not change before Sunday, Spain will vote no, Pedro Sanchez has warned on Tuesday during a business forum organised by The Economist in Madrid. Spain is the only among 27 countries that has voiced opposition to the deal because it deems unclear the wording of how Gibraltar, the British territory at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, would be dealt with. Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. We, as Indians, have always been eager to see the new bride. After all, Muh Dikhayi ceremony is a part of our post-wedding rituals, where ladies unveil the face of the bride and present her with gifts. So, when a star like Deepika Padukone has got married to the love of her life Ranveer Singh, the excitement level of fans to just catch a glimpse of the couple is soaring with every passing day. One public appearance they make, and fans go gaga swooning over them. They are quite evidently happy in love. Viral Bhayani So, after Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh landed in India, waved and thanked fans and paps who congratulated them, they are now off to Bengaluru, Deepikas home-town where their wedding reception is scheduled to take place. They were spotted at the airport wearing pristine white outfits. While Ranveer wore a kurta-pyjama with a floral jacket, Deepika donned a anarkali suit. What caught our attention was her sparkling smile, chooda and mangalsutra. #1 #2 Viral Bhayani #3 Viral Bhayani #4 Viral Bhayani #5 Viral Bhayani #6 Viral Bhayani #7 Viral Bhayani Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singhs Bengaluru reception on Nov 21 will be attended by friends and extended family members. They will host another reception party in Mumbai for their friends from the industry. Bollywood megastar Big B has a heart of gold. Whether it's helping the farmers in Maharashtra or sending appreciation to Bollywood A-listers who do some phenomenal work, Amitabh Bahcchan is rooted and loves to help and show care. After Maharashtra, the actor has reportedly paid off loans of farmers in Uttar Pradesh and will personally meet some of them to give them their bank letters. He has arranged for 70 farmers to travel to Mumbai and receive their bank letters, his spokesperson has said. The superstar will be taking care of 1,398 farmer loans from Uttar Pradesh amounting to over Rs 4.05 crore. ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan Requests Amitabh Bachchan To Visit AbRam On Saturdays Because He Thinks Hes His Grandfather AFP Amitabh has done an 'OTS: One Time Settlement with Bank Of India' and cleared the farmer's loans with the bank. He has also invited 70 farmers to Mumbai by blocking an entire train compartment for their travel, to personally give them their bank letters on November 26. The farmers will receive their bank letters from Big B at his office. ALSO READ: AbRam Is Convinced That Amitabh Bachchan Is His Grandfather, Keeps Wondering Why He Doesn't Live With Him When approached, his official spokesperson confirmed: "Yes, Mr. Bachchan has cleared the loans of 1398 farmers from Uttar Pradesh. He had earlier paid off the loans of Maharashtra's farmers. And now he has done so for the debted farmers of UP. Around 70 farmers have been chosen to personally travel and receive the bank letters directly from Mr. Bachchan in Mumbai, clearing their outstanding dues." AFP Earlier this year, the "Paa" star, who is in Baroda to accept Sayaji Ratna Award, helped over 350 farmers by paying off their debts and also helped the families of around 44 martyrs of Maharashtra. Amitabh and his wife Jaya handed over the amount to the farmers and army martyrs families privately in Mumbai a few months ago. ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan Gets Trolled By Fans For Bursting Crackers During Diwali You don't have to be a fan or believer of true love to love and gush over Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone's wedding and after-wedding pictures. Even if you are someone who is cynical about love, your heart will melt at the love and affection that reeks from their photographs. Viral Bhayani Not that we haven't seen them together before but the 'after-wedding' glow and happiness of starting their journey together is well evident. The couple has started making their public appearance in India after returning from Italy and people can't help but gush and adore all these pictures. From Ranveer being a protective 'boyfriend turned husband' to Deepika Padukone laughing when paps address them as 'Baba and Bhabhiji', looks like their love will make them rule on the internet for weeks. Apart from the pictures from their private wedding that found its way on the internet, the ones where their teams have posted with them remain the sweetest ones. Everyone had great things to share about the couple and the wedding. (Also read: All Set For Their Wedding Reception, Ranveer-Deepika Beam With Joy As They Leave For Bengaluru) Considering how the couple made sure that they have all these special people around them is a fact that their love and respect for people who work for them is uncompromising. Another group photo that was shared two days ago was by DeepVeer's wedding planning team. The head of the company, Vandana took to her Instagram to share the unadulterated feeling of joy and ecstasy that she felt while handling this project and then seeing the couple exchange vows and tie the knot. In another post from Italy, Vandana wrote, "They looked unreal, for time stood still. The first glimpse of them was as though they had walked out from the realms of a historical land towards their future together... Amidst us all, they stole a moment for themselves and when they both looked at each other and smiled, one knew it was as pure as any emotion could be : LOVE " After making their public appearance at the Mumbai airport and Ranveer's home in Bandra, the couple has landed in Bengaluru today, where they are all set to host their first wedding reception. (Also read: As If We Didn't Have Enough Reasons Already, Ranveer Makes Us Swoon With His 'Deepika' Mehendi) Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are leaving the world mesmerized with their joyful appearance after marriage. The couple, who were back in town on November 18 after their marriage in Italy at Lake Como, has now yet again left for their reception in Bengaluru. Indiatimes The paparazzi went crazy to catch a glimpse of them at the airport. The couple, too, happily posed for the shutterbugs till they got their good pictures. But something unusual happened which left Deepika blushing. Also read: All Set For Their Wedding Reception, Ranveer-Deepika Beam With Joy As They Leave For Bengaluru Viral Bhayani Well, she was called Bhabhiji by the photographers at the airport, which left Deepika laughing and blushing. In fact, the moment she was called Bhabhiji by the papz, Ranveer too happily called her Bhabhiji. Ranveers pride of being the one and only one for Deepika was clearly seen on his face, while Deepika too looked happy being called Bhabhiji. After all, she is Babas bae'. Watch the video of the adorable couple leaving for their reception together. Talking about their reception in Bengaluru (November 21), it will again be a private family affair, where Deepikas parents have invited all the close friends and family members to shower their blessings to the newlyweds. Indiatimes Hopefully, unlike wedding pictures, we would be able to get our hands on their reception snaps. Ask someone who does ecstasy regularly and theyll almost always describe the high as something that puts in a state of happiness or a trance. The main ingredient in ecstasy, MDMA, now has more effects than what was previously known about it. MDMA, the main ingredient in ecstasy, makes humans more likely to cooperatebut only with trustworthy peoplesaid the researchers. It is the first study into how the drug impacts our willingness to help others. Imgur Despite its status in Britain as a Class A drug, MDMA is widely consumed due to the heightened sense of energy, empathy and pleasure it arouses in users. It contains neurotransmitterschemical messengers for the brainthat are known to be linked to behaviour and mood, but scientists currently understand very little about how these affect social interactions. Reuters The research team found that participants on recreational MDMA were more willing to cooperate. "We thought MDMA might make you think that other people are more trustworthy. And we were wrong," Mitul Mehta, from King's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, told AFP. "Actually it didn't change one bit what you thought of the other person, but it did change your behaviour towards them. "It's not that MDMA is giving you rose-tinted glasses and therefore you're behaving differently, it's actually keeping your glasses clear and you still think an untrustworthy person is untrustworthy." rundschau-online.de The research team found that MDMA increased activity in the superior temporal cortex and mid-cingulate cortex, two areas of the brain known to be important for empathising with the thoughts and intentions of others. They also observed noticeable differences in activity in the right anterior insulaa section of brain important in appraising risk and uncertaintywhen participants on MDMA processed the behaviour of trustworthy and untrustworthy players. "In other words, MDMA did not make participants naively trusting of others," said Mehta. "For the first time ever we are showing that MDMA isn't having a global effect on brain behaviour, it's actually having quite a specific effect and that's really useful." theconversation.com The team stated that their findings could help treat psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD, as stated in The Journal of Neuroscience. "Patients with psychiatric disorders have a lot of difficulties with social interactive behaviour. We now can ask the question about what specifically you have trouble with in social behavioris it your behaviour, or how you evaluate others?" said Mehta. Despite being legally classified in Britain as a schedulemeaning it is deemed to have no medical useMDMA has been given Breakthrough Therapy designation by the US Food and Drug Administration. pourquoidocteur.fr "It's about access to treatment that is so promising that it seems unethical not to give people access," said Mehta. "There's a renewed interest in MDMA, how it works and how it affects the brain. realclobber It's currently undergoing phase 3 clinical trials for treating PTSD and Mehta said the drug should be more widely available for medical research. A man with many names Tipu Sultan, also referred to as Tipu Sahib or the Tiger of Mysore, is renowned for his bravery in the wars against the British East India Company. Loved by many, hated by others, Tipu Sultan is certainly the emperor remembered for various reasons including his extraordinary tales of bravery and courage. Twitter The eldest son of Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore, Sultan Fateh Ali Khan Shahab was born on 20 November 1750. After assisting his father in the battle of 1766 at the delicate age of 17, the Sultan was unstoppable. A believer in innovation, Tipu introduced coinage, a new Mauludi lunisolar calendar, and a new land revenue system that led to the growth of the Mysore silk industry. But, that is not all. During the time when the British left no stone unturned in taking over power in every field possible, the fearless Tipu got gun makers, engineers, clock makers and other experts from France to Mysore. He then set up his own manufacturer of bronze cannons, ammunition and muskets. Twitter To assert his power, Tipu used Tiger images on his golden throne, textiles, coins, swords, and his soldier's uniforms. And that's how, Tiger came to be associated with him. There's one more legend according to which one day, while hunting in a forest, Tipu Sultan was faced with a tiger. He wanted to shoot the animal but his gun didn't work and at the same time, just as the tiger attacked him, Tipu Sultan's dagger also fell on the ground. But the quick-wit and brave Sultan quickly picked up the dagger and killed the tiger. From then on, he came to be known as "The Tiger Of Mysore." In the era where rulers were fighting against each other, wanting to capture as much land as possible, Tipu was the only Indian ruler who identified the British as the real threat to India. BhindiBazaar The first advancement against the Britishers that Tipu Sultan made was when he encountered Colonel Baillie and then defeated. The foremost victory for Tipu sultan came when he defeated Colonel Braithwaite near Tanjore and then seized Chittoor from the British. Tipu Sultan assumed power on December 22, 1782. Twitter The third Anglo Mysore war saw Tipu Sultan attack the Raja of Travancore in order to capture two forts in Cochin but was met with stiff resistance from the Tranvancore troops. The British, seeing this as an opportunity, came to the Travancore's rescue. However, later, British East India Company were prevented by Tipu Sultan From advancing further after they seized Coimbatore. Tipu became a real threat to the Brits. 1791 was the year when Britishers took Bangalore and tried to capture Srirangapatnam, Tipus kingdom. The son of the soil, Tipu, destroyed the local resources due to which British now no longer had access to supplies this way. However, a year later Britishers were successful and seized Tipus territory. Twitter Tipu was forced to enter into a humiliating treaty ceding half of his territory and two of his sons as hostages. Tipu Sultans sultanate got over in 1799 in the forth Anglo Mysore war when British again attacked Srirangapatnam, aided by the Hyderabad Nawab. He was killed and buried next to his father. Wikipedia Thirty four years after two young Sikh men were killed by a mob in Mahipalpur village in south Delhi, a Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced one convit to death while another to life imprisonment in the case. The two convicted men, Naresh Sehrawat has been handed down the death penalty while Yashpal Singh will spend the rest of his life behind the bars. PTI They were accused of murder of two Sikh men on November 1, 1984, Hardev Singh, who was then 24 years old, and Avtar Singh, 26. According to an eyewitness account which helped to nail them, a Congress leader and one of the accused, Sehrawat, were leading the mob, exhorting it to attack and kill Sikhs. The testimony was given by Sangat Singh, the brother of one of the victims, Hardev. BCCL/ FILE He claimed that when the mob moved towards them, he and Hardev ran to take refuge in the room of one Surjeet Singh, who too was a witness in the case. While running, they looked back and saw their shops being looted and burnt. The Congress leader and Sehrawat are said to have followed the two, smashing the window, to attack the three brothers Hardev, Sangat and Kuldeep as well as Surjeet and others. They, in fact, attacked Hardev with his own kripan (dagger) and set the room on fire. BCCL/FILE Last week, the court has found the two men guilty for the murders, marking the first convictions secured by the special investigating team constituted by the home ministry in 2015 for probing 1984 riot cases. BCCL Delhis pollution levels have hit so high that the life expectancy of the resident is getting reduced with each passing year. This year too, living in Delhi during peak air pollution hours was equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes a day. Read more Here's more top news of the day: 1) 34 Years After 1984 Anti- Sikh Riots, One Person Awarded Death Penalty, Another Sent To Life Imprisonment PTI Thirty four years after two young Sikh men were killed by a mob in Mahipalpur village in south Delhi, a Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced one convit to death while another to life imprisonment in the case. Read more 2) Veteran BJP Leader & Current External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Will Not Contest 2019 Polls PTI Union External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, arguably one of the most popular ministers in the Narendra Modi cabinet has ruled herself out from contention in the General Elections in 2019. Read more 3) 'Hope Machines' Will Soon End Misery Of Manual Scavengers Cleaning Sewers & Septic Tanks BCCL Thousands of manual scavengers die each year while cleaning sewers in India. The practice was banned 25 years ago with the passing of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993, but continues unhinged. Read more 4) IIT-Delhi Students Have Designed A Device To Help Women Stand And Pee & It Costs Only Rs 10 Twitter Students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, have designed a stand and pee device for women to avoid dirty public toilets. The device, "Sanfe (Sanitation for female)", was launched on World Toilet Day. Read more 5) Gas Chamber: Average Life Expectancy Of Indians Has Reduced By 4.3 Years Due To Fatal Air Pollution Delhi has recorded most deadly air quality in 2016 in the past two decades, reducing the life expectancy of a resident by more than 10 years. A new study asserted that the national capital was the second among 50 most polluted areas of the country. Read more Delhis pollution levels have hit so high that the life expectancy of the resident is getting reduced with each passing year. This year too, living in Delhi during peak air pollution hours was equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes a day. Now, that the national capitals air pollution has consistently stayed very poor, the government is planning to induce artificial rain to wash away pollutants. Cloud seeding for artificial rain would be done once the meteorological conditions are stable, a senior official said. He said plans are to induce rainfall this week, but if the meteorological conditions are not found suitable then it would be done next week. ap Cloud seeding is the process of combining different kinds of chemical agents, including silver iodide, dry ice and even common table salt, with existing clouds to thicken them and increase the chance of rainfall. Also Read: 90% Indians Are Aware Of Air Pollution, But Don't Know Causes And Hazards, Finds Study The weathermen are monitoring conditions to become favourable for creating artificial rain, which can be induced in 24 hours, the official said. Also Read: Almost 35% Of People In Delhi-NCR Want To Permanently Leave The City Due To Toxic Air Pollution Delhis air quality was recorded in the very poor category on Tuesday due to humidity and slow wind speed. newsheads.in The overall air quality index was recorded at 352, which falls in the very poor category, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. In 2016, the government tried to explore the possibility of cloud seeding for artificial rain but the plan never worked out. Last year, the government had proposed the possibility of reducing dust by watering Delhi from a helicopter to Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan. The grenade used to target the Nirankari congregation at Adliwal village near Amritsar was similar to the ones manufactured by the Pakistani army ordnance factory, the initial probe into the blast has suggested. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said the attack had Pakistans signature. AFP Prima facie, this appears to be an act of terror by separatist forces, organised with the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terrorist groups, Singh said. He also revealed that the Punjab police had recovered a similar HG-84 grenade from another terror module busted last month, suggesting that the blast on Sunday could be part of a larger plot. PTI Amid fears of the attack triggering tensions between different sects in the state, the chief minister said it was wrong to link the grenade attack with the Nirankari-Sikh clash on Baisakhi in 1978 that left 13 Sikhs dead and sparked a wave of terrorism in Punjab in the 1980s. The 1978 Nirankari clash was a religious issue while this is a clear incident of terrorism and no one should see the attack in the context of the 1978 issue, he said. BCCL The attack took place on Sunday when two men on a motorcycle barged into a prayer hall and threw a grenade at a religious gathering, killing three people including a preacher and injuring at least 20. PTI The blast which happened close to a recent statement by the Army Chief Bipin Rawat warning about the possible terror attack in Punjab had taken a political turn after AAP MLA HS Phoolka suggested that the Army Chief could have orchestrated the attack to prove his statement right. After it triggered a massive political controversy, Phoolka issued an apology on Monday. AFP Punjab has 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. Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japans main islands, is known for its chilly and windy climate. So it does not come as a surprise that the island hosts many wind farms in the area. As the average wind speeds in the region reach up to 10 kmph around this time of the year, the wind farms are able to produce a considerable amount of renewable energy. However, the fluctuations in the energy produced act as a spoiler. Therefore, North Hokkaido Wind Energy Transmission Corporation is looking to set up transmission facilities and high-capacity energy-storage systems, capable of catering to large-scale wind turbines of over 500 MW. Once set up, the pilot project would provide a stable supply to the grid in the area. Reuters As per Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, the arm assigned with the task of monitoring and controlling the battery and power conditioners in the project, believes that the project will be the worlds largest energy-storage system. In figures, it will have a 240-MW output and 720-MWh rated capacity. To put this into context, know that the Hornsdale Power Reserve battery plant set up by Elon Musks Tesla around this time last year, to date boasts of being the largest energy storage project. And to think, it has a capacity of 129-MWh. As can be imagined, the upcoming project will surely dwarf the existing pinnacle of energy storage. However, the project is not expected to commence operation until March, 2023. And by the time, several other energy projects would have been set up which proclaim an equally impressive capacity. EWE Gasspeichers Project brine4power (720-MWh) and VFB batteries for the Dalian peninsula in China (800-MWh), UET and Rongke Powers joint collaboration, are a few mention-able ones. Reuters Such energy storage projects are crucial to boost the use of renewable energy formats as the mainstream power supply. Since the fluctuations in the production of renewable energy are negated with such facilities, countries are now investing heavily on such set ups for meeting their energy requirements. Teslas largest battery pack in South Australia can alone power 30,000 homes for an hour when fully charged. Whats more, the $90.6 million project has also been hailed to make back a third of its cost within a year of its operations. With such returns in addition to their environmental benefits, energy storage systems are poised to be the global solution for energy requirements across the globe. Amazon has been riding a wave of success this past month. It's retail and cloud computing business is booming, their stock is at an all time high, and just this past week they announced their new HQ2 locations. Yet, CEO Jeff Bezos had a dire warning for employees. Images courtesy: Reuters According to CNBC, at a recent company all-hands meet in Seattle, Bezos predicted that Amazon would one day go bankrupt. Also Read: One In Five Products Sold Online In India Is Fake, As Per Shopping Experience Of 30,000 People "Amazon is not too big to fail," he said, according to audio from the meeting the publication reviewed. "In fact, I predict one day Amazon will fail. Amazon will go bankrupt. If you look at large companies, their lifespans tend to be 30-plus years, not a hundred-plus years." It's a strange admission to make, especially since Amazon just announced that its prestigious HQ2 would be split between New York's Long Island City, and the suburbs of Washington, D.C. The expansion, they claim, will bring 25,000 new jobs in each location. Read More: Ulhasnagar Traders Are Making Fake Order On Amazon, To Invite Ban & Force People To Buy Local The tech giant has for months been having cities across the US bid for to be the location for the new headquarters. Because of the jobs and money expected to come in thanks to an Amazon expansion, these cities have been throwing subsidies at Amazon as incentive to pick them. At the moment, life couldn't be better for the e-commerce monolith. But all that success is exactly why Bezos is determined to look at the company's distant future, and not just the here and now. He believes that their vigilance will be the only thing to prolong the company's lifespan. "If we start to focus on ourselves, instead of focusing on our customers, that will be the beginning of the end," he said. "We have to try and delay that day for as long as possible." Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has been on a tour of India this past week, interacting with policymakers, politicians, actors, and more. Unfortunately he's also managed to land himself in some hot soup because he (or his PR team) didn't pay enough attention. Reuters A photo of Dorsey has been doing the rounds on Twitter for the past two days, from a round table discussion he attended. Alongside prominent women journalists, writers, activists, and others, they were discussing the safety of women online, and on Twitter especially. The problem? He was pictured like this on the social media platform. During Twitter CEO @jack's visit here, he & Twitter's Legal head @vijaya took part in a round table with some of us women journalists, activists, writers & @TwitterIndia's @amritat to discuss the Twitter experience in India. A very insightful, no-words-minced conversation pic.twitter.com/LqtJQEABgV Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) November 18, 2018 That's a picture of the Twitter CEO standing with the women from the meetup, holding a poster that says, "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy." As you can expect, the right-leaners on Twitter were not pleased. They accused Dorsey of everything from bigotry, to racism, to promoting hate speech. Shame on you for maligning an Indian community and being part of this Hate campaign of #brahminphobia with a foreigner! Your hatred comes out openly! How can you malign a peaceful community like this?@annavetticad @jsaideepak @pGurus1 https://t.co/xT5aom0JRw Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) November 19, 2018 Do you realise that this picture has potential of causing communal riots at a time when several States are going to Assembly Elections in India. Even now an apology is not offered. Actually its a fit case for registration of a criminal case for attempt to destablise the nation. Sandeep Mittal, I.P.S. (@smittal_ips) November 20, 2018 Doesn't concerted vilification of #Brahmins qualify as REVERSE CASTIESM? We must firmly reject casteism in all forms -- whether it's practised by 'high castes' against 'low castes' or by FAKE PROGRESSIVES. Let's not be blind, or condone, casteism by - and among - 'Dalits'. Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) November 20, 2018 Had @jack held a poster that screamed 'SMASH MUSLIM PATRIARCHY', gifted to him by a victim of sanctioned domestic violence, FGM, or triple talaq, one among that gaggle would have snatched it off his hands and cried: "Stop this selective outrage. It's an internal matter for them." Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) November 20, 2018 Now, many of you may have hoped Twitter would stand behind the photo, perhaps simply clarifying that the poster was a gift pertaining to the event. Well they did the latter, but sadly not the former. Twitter's legal head was quick to deliver an unofficial apology, before the company's India team also issued one of its own. I'm very sorry for this. It's not relective of our views. We took a private photo with a gift just given to us - we should have been more thoughtful. Twitter strives to be an impartial platform for all. We failed to do that here & we must do better to serve our customers in India Vijaya Gadde (@vijaya) November 19, 2018 It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world. Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) November 19, 2018 "It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO," Twitter said, "but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world." Twitter representatives later reached out to us with a statement saying, "The sentiments expressed on the poster do not reflect the views of Twitter as a company or Jack as the CEO, and we regret that this picture has detracted from an otherwise insightful trip to India." "We are proud of the fact that Twitter is a platform where marginalised voices can be seen and heard, but we also have a public commitment to being apolitical. We realise that this photo may not accurately represent that commitment." Now, whether or not I agree with Twitter's stance on the matter, there is one fact here that transcends all religious and racial boundaries. Someone at Twitter fell asleep on the job. The poster wasn't pictured in a "private photo" as Vijaya Gadde seems to indicate. It was presented to Dorsey by a Dalit activist at the event, speaking out about the vitriolic social media experience people from her community experience every day. More importantly though, that photo was clicked by a Twitter India representative and forwarded to the participants to post if they wanted to. So Twitter, unwilling to take an actual stance on the issue, decided it was still cool to have their CEO pose in a context that clearly comes down on one side of the debate. Yet they still sent out the photo that damned them the most? I mean, the entire event was off the record, so that photo might have never seen the light of day if they hadn't sent it out. Yeah, so someone at Twitter India might be getting fired. Either they're satisfied after having been able to push their agenda, or they're really regretting not paying more attention. Though dams are commonly used for electricity generation, they're not the only source of hydroelectric power. Tidal turbines have existed for a while, though they're not widely used. But now, a UK-based firm has unveiled plans to build the most powerful one ever. Images courtesy: Orbital Marine Power Orbital Marine Power made the announcement of Friday, claiming their tidal turbine system will be the "most powerful tidal generating platform in the world". They said they plan to deploy the Orbital O2 2MW turbine at the European Marine Energy Centre, in Orkney, in 2020. The Orbital O2 is a massive construction. It will use a 73-meter-long "floating superstructure" to support two 1 megawatt (MW) turbines on each side and will have rotor diameters of 20 meters. It's expected to be able to produce up to 2MW of power at current tidal speeds of 2.5 meters per second. For those of you that don't know, that's about 48,000 kWh (kilowatt-hour) of usable energy produced per day operating at full capacity. "The Orbital O2 is a low-cost solution for future commercial projects," Orbital Marine Power CEO Andrew Scott said in a statement. "This optimized turbine will unlock tidal markets around the world at a competitive price point and provide regulators and investors with a new, predictable renewable energy option." Tidal energy has traditionally been tougher and more expensive to capture, given the fewer locations where tidal forces are strong enough, and that they're out in open waters. However, thanks to modern technology upgrades, it might become the new renewable energy source of choice. After all, solar panels depend on clear skies, dams depend on water flowing in, and wind energy is fairly unpredictable too. However, tides are constant and unfailing, meaning it becomes a more reliable source, when effectively and economically captured. In fact, the European Commission say ocean energy from these tides could one day contribute around 10 percent of the European Union's power demand by 2050, according to the Commission. Parking and traffic rules in India are one big mess. The implementation of the rules and regulations also becomes a problem when the top brass of our lawmakers dont bother to follow rules. But Hyderabad Traffic Police has set an example for the rest of the country to follow. On November 15, 2018, a Hyderabad traffic police officer fined the Additional Commissioner of Police for parking his vehicle in a no-parking zone. A journalist tweeted about this and informed Hyderabad Police about the same: Hyderabad Traffic Police replied to his tweet with a photo of the challan issued under the name of Anil Kumar, Additional Commissioner of Police. Giving a statement, Anil Kumar said: I was on a visit to Makankali Traffic Police Station in the afternoon of November 15. And it was not in my notice that my driver has parked my vehicle in the no-parking zone. As soon as it came to my notice after a person tweeted the picture of my vehicle parked at No Parking. Immediately I informed my officials to issue a fine on my vehicle and I asked my driver to pay for it. A fine of Rs 235 was imposed for wrong parking and was immediately paid. (Facebook Image only for representational purposes) In a heartwarming gesture, Pradeep Krishnan, who was captaining an Indigo aircraft made sure he took his mother and grandmother's blessings before his maiden flight. In a video that's now going viral, Krishnan is seen making his way through the plane before finally reaching his family. In the Singapore-bound flight, Krishnan touches their feet and takes their blessing before making his way back to the cockpit. Also Read: Man Tries To Break Into Cockpit To Charge Phone, Gets Thrown Out By Indigo Crew In a Facebook post, Pradeep Krishnan's friend Nagarjun Dwarakanath wrote, 'Dreams come true, my roommate Pradeep Krishnan after getting a job at Indigo, flew his mother, grandmother and sister for the first time'. 'Have come a long way from 2007 when we first started to fly. 11 years since we first flew as student pilots.' An NDTV report states that Krishnan's mother and grandmother had vowed that they would not board a flight until he flies it. Also Read: In A Hurry To Take Off From Hyderabad, IndiGo Leaves Behind CAT Boss Who Was Following Protocol Sometimes, luck plays out in the strangest ways - it stands by you when you least expect it to and doesn't when you need it the most. For this guy in the US, luck favoured in an unusual yet life-saving way. An innocent Texas man would have faced 99 years in prison for a crime that he never committed. On the morning of September 22, 2017, Cristopher Precopia was at work in Georgetown, U.S.A. When the police showed up at his lumberyard to arrest him for burglary with the intent to commit other crimes. Precopia was shell-shocked. He had no idea about the allegations and was to face the punishment either way. "I had no idea why everything was happening, and I was lost," he said. But, it was his mother's selfie that saved him. According to US Today report, on the night of the alleged attack, Precopia was with his mother, Erin, at a Northwest Austin hotel about 65 miles from the accuser's home. Also Read: 9 Of The Most Dangerous Prison Inmates & Their Stories Will Give You Nightmares! Several people who were with him that evening posted photos on Facebook with the location and this proved his innocence. His lawyer, Flores said, He was very fortunate that she chose a date and time that he just happened to have a rock-solid alibi for. He and I have talked many times about how lucky he is, whether you believe in a higher power or good old-fashioned luck. The charge against Precopia was dropped on June 21, this year after Flores took the evidence to Bell County District Attorneys Office. The ex-girlfriend has not been charged with any crime but told the police that she and Precopia did have a troubled relationship when they used to date in high school, which she claimed was the motive behind the assault. It would have been beyond horrible if the guy had been forced to do time in prison despite not having done anything wrong. While figuring out who is right and who is wrong in such a situation can be a tricky thing, we need strong laws that are not skewed in favour of any particular group of individuals. Airports can at most times mundane and infuriating, especially when flights are delayed or cancelled. While some people deal with frustration in silence, there are others who resort to some extreme measures. Like this Pakistani man who set his own luggage on fire after his flight got cancelled. PTI Also Read:PIA To Resume Its Second Flight Service To New Delhi By October End, Due To Increased Demand According to reports, the man was supposed to be on a 7 am Pakistan International Airlines flight from Islamabad International Airport to Gilgit, Pakistan. The flight was delayed for technical reasons and was subsequently cancelled due to bad weather. The fire was eventually put out by Civil Aviation Authority firefighters. The protestors were moved to hotels for the night and were assured that a special flight will be operated for them on Friday. Also Read: Honest Pakistani Labourer Returns Gold Earrings To The Family Who Lost Them 3 Years Ago There are some incidents that prove the fact the human beings are absolute beasts. In a heartbreaking incident, a cruel hunter was filmed laughing and taunting an injured baboon as it gasped for air. YouTube Screenshot Also Read: 10-YO Boy From Jalandhar Clicks This Stunning Photo To Win 2018 Wildlife Photographer Award Take a look at the horrifying video below (VIEWERS DISCRETION ADVISED) People like these make the world a terrible place. It's absolutely blood-boiling to see how the man uses the wounded animal as a prop! According to reports, the African man reportedly said 'does it hurt?' with the male baboon suffering from what appears to be a head injury. National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) today accused the man of 'tormenting the poor victim and prolonging his suffering', reports Mail Online. "The NSPCA fully intends to charge him with animal cruelty under the Animals Protection Act as this behaviour is beyond cruel. We ask all our supporters to share this post far and wide." The NSPCA is now offering Rs 50,000 to nab the man behind this atrocious act. Also Read: 10-YO Boy From Jalandhar Clicks This Stunning Photo To Win 2018 Wildlife Photographer Award How much more inhuman can humans get? On Oct. 28, Pastor John Lindell delivered a sermon titled, Haunted: Pursuing the Paranormal, at the James River Church in Ozark, Missouri, in which he urged Christians to stop practicing yoga. (screengrab from the video) Firefighters battle a blaze as smoke billows from the historic Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai Nov. 27, 2008, one of the sites of a terror attack on Mumbai. Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the attack, Britain and India shared their assessments of the global terror threat during the 12th Meeting of the India-U.K. Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images) In 1993/1994, a severe epidemic of canine distemper virus (CDV) swept through the Serengeti National Park in north-western Tanzania and decimated the lion population by about a third. It also hit the spotted hyena, a keystone social predator of the African Savannah. Many young hyenas showed clinical symptoms of the disease and died. CDV was probably introduced to Africa in the early 20th century. The epidemic in lions and hyenas in the early 90s was caused by a novel strain that was highly contagious for these two carnivore species. The lion population in the park recovered relatively quickly, reaching its pre-epidemic size within a period of a few years. In contrast, the projected recovery of the hyena population required more than a decade, as the current study reveals. The main reason for its slow recovery lies probably in the relatively slow rate of reproduction of the species, the researchers say. Spotted hyenas invest much more energy in raising their cubs than lions says Sarah Benhaiem, a scientist at Leibniz-IZW. Females give birth to only one or two cubs per litter and then feed them with highly nutritious milk for almost up to two years, which is exceptionally long for a carnivore. Species with low reproductive rates are likely to be particularly at risk from human-made threats such as the introduction of exotic diseases, which CDV is in Africa. The study shows that such threats apply even to animal populations in one of Africa's largest National Parks adds Marion L. East (Leibniz-IZW). The mathematical model (matrix model) included data from 625 individually known female spotted hyenas, collected as part of a long-term research project between 1990 and 2010. An extensive and diverse data base on all these females was compiled, which included information on social interactions, clinical signs of disease, molecular and immunological evidence of infection and deaths. This allowed the researchers to build a complex model with three relevant layers of information: disease data were combined with information on the social status of the female hyenas and data on their age and reproductive state. To our knowledge, this level of sophistication was not reached by previous matrix models developed for wildlife diseases, comment Heribert Hofer (Leibniz-IZW) and Jean-Dominique Lebreton (Center for Functional Ecology and Evolution (CEFE) in Montpellier, France). The current study builds on a previous work conducted by the same team, and published in the journal Functional Ecology in March 2018. In their previous work, the authors investigated how the CDV epidemic affected the mortality of individuals, and discovered that cubs of high-ranking females had a higher chance to survive the disease than those of low-ranking females. High-ranking females have preferential access to hunted prey, which means that they are able to nurse their cubs more often. As a result, their cubs are stronger and grow faster says Lucile Marescot (formerly at Leibniz-IZW, now at CEFE). This likely explains why the current study found that high-ranking females are essential to the recovery of the population. The new model made it possible to determine for the first time the basic reproduction number (R0) of the disease in spotted hyenas. This is a useful measure in epidemiology because it tells us if and how quickly an infectious disease will spread in a population explains Olivier Gimenez (CEFE). During the epidemic, this number was almost six, indicating that an infected hyena could transmit the virus to six other healthy hyenas. This is a fairly high value, similar to that of measles in humans, which also explains why the epidemic spread so rapidly in the 1990s, says Stephanie Kramer-Schadt (Leibniz-IZW). What is true for measles in humans also applies to CDV in hyenas: if young survive the infection they develop antibodies and gain immunity for the rest of their life. The study highlights the importance of age and social status in the spread of a childhood illness. Sarah Benhaiem Department for Ecological Dynamics Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. Alfred-Kowalke-Strae 17 10315 Berlin Phone: +49 (0)30 5168 466 E-Mail: benhaiem@izw-berlin.de Lucile Marescot Campus du CNRS 1919, route de Mende 34293 Montpellier 5 Phone: +33 04 67 61 33 20 E-Mail: lucile.marescot@cefe.cnrs.fr Benhaiem S, Marescot L, East ML, Kramer-Schadt S, Gimenez O, Lebreton JD, Hofer H (2018): Slow recovery from a disease epidemic in the spotted hyena, a keystone social carnivore. Communications Biology. Switch the Market flag Open the menu and switch the Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice. for targeted data from your country of choice. Now as co-founder of insurtech Blue Zebra, Fagen is on the other side; and will be at the 2019 Insurtech Summit to share some of his insights on how investing in insurtech projects can be an opportunity for incumbents to transform, expand product offerings and attract new customers. He will discuss how to capitalise on incumbents strengths to create a successful and profitable partnership; looking beyond personal lines insurance; and understanding the market and business challenges. Fagen is part of a line-up that features heads of brokerages, major insurers and insurtechs, who will delve into how insurtechs can take brokerages into the future. Find out more and book now to secure your seat at the best available rate. Readers are encouraged to book in by Friday, November 23, to save; and because the 2018 Summit sold out well before the event. The Insurtech Summit will be held at the Westin Sydney on Thursday, February 28. This summit is accredited for 5 CPD points by the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA). Banks and insurers have refunded millions of dollars for junk insurance sold to Australians, but we suspect this is just scraping the surface, Katherine Temple, Consumer Actions director of policy and campaigns, told The Australian Financial Review. We estimate that mis-selling of add-on insurance is likely to have cost Australians more than $1 billion over the last 10 years. Banks and insurers have known about problems with junk insurance for years. Add-on insurance is a known rip-off but financial institutions kept selling it because it was so profitable, despite clear warning signals from overseas and at home. Temple noted that widespread mis-selling of similar products in the UK, known as payment-protection insurance (PPI), resulted in banks paying up to 40 billion ($71 billion) in refunds. The warning comes after CBA CEO Matt Comyn told the Hayne royal commission that his organisation was repaying $45 million to some 150,000 customers who were mis-sold credit card and loan-protection insurance. Comyn said an independent review by EY found that a further 374,000 customers may be owed remediation, AFR reported. Fraser Shipyards has settled lawsuits involving dozens of workers who were exposed to lead while working on an old freighter in Superior, Wisconsin, the company said. Fraser has agreed to pay $7.5 million to more than 60 workers who were exposed to lead paint. The workers were involved in a 2016 engine repowering project for the freighter Herbert C. Jackson at Frasers Superior yards. They were converting the freighters old boiler and steam power system to diesel when they were exposed to the lead, according to Fraser spokesman Rob Karwath. The first of the three federal lawsuits had been scheduled for trial in December. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Fraser for numerous 2016 work violations and fined it $1.4 million. OSHA later reduced that penalty to $700,000 as part of a settlement in which Fraser adopted a new safety plan. We believe that this settlement, which resolves all outstanding claims, is in the best interests of all parties, said James Farkas, president and chief operating officer of Fraser Industries, the parent company of Fraser Shipyards. This agreement, and earlier settlement agreements with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reached with input from unions representing our workers, ensures that we can move forward with a strong commitment to employee protection and business viability, in partnership with OSHA and everyone who earns a living at our 126-year-old family-owned company in Superior, Farkas said in a statement. Fraser Shipyards is the last major independent shipyard on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Claims Wisconsin Evidence is mounting that the plot to oust U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is faltering. To trigger a vote of no confidence in her leadership, a total of 48 Conservative lawmakers need to submit letters, texts or emails calling for one. Late last week, as the backlash against Mays Brexit deal gathered pace, there was speculation that the threshold could be reached at any moment. But by Monday, the Brexiteers appeared distinctly less ebullient as they had failed to reach their target, according to a person familiar with the situation. That doesnt mean everything is going Mays way. On Monday evening Northern Irelands Democratic Unionist Party, which has a formal agreement to vote with the Conservatives on budget matters, abstained and voted against the government on amendments to the Treasurys Finance Bill. DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson told the BBC the votes were designed to send a political message about their unhappiness with her Brexit deal. The loss of the DUPs support makes the already challenging arithmetic of getting that deal through Parliament look even more difficult. Justice Secretary David Gauke urged the DUP and his Conservative colleagues to look at the deal again. Given the options in front of us as a country, this deal is the best option, he told the BBC. Gone Awry But on the question of the immediate threat to May, the insurrection has not gone to plan. One rebel leader vented in private that more than 50 Tories had claimed they would submit letters but they hadnt all followed through. A veteran Brexiteer said the ringleaders had used the wrong tactics. Another hinted that now might not be the best time to strike. My expectation is that the number will be reached and there will be a vote at some point, Crispin Blunt said in an interview in his House of Commons office under a full-size union flag. One could argue that it would be better that that vote comes after the vote on the deal. If one were to sequence this properly: one would wait until we had the vote on the deal and then have the vote on the prime ministers position as leader of the Conservative Party. Not everyone thought a challenge would be bad for the prime minister. One Cabinet ally said privately last week that she needed the confidence vote to happen, because she would win it, and then be safe from challenge under Tory rules for a year. Close Secret As for whether a leadership challenge will materialize or not, the only person who will know for sure is Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of rank-and-file Tory MPs. Tall and polite, the 51-year-old appeared calm earlier on Monday as he enjoyed a leisurely coffee in Parliament. So far, more than 20 Tory lawmakers have publicly declared they want May to go. Newspapers have been claiming for weeks the number is well over 40. The Sun, a pro-Brexit tabloid, put the number as high as 42 on Monday. The required number represents 15 percent of the Conservative members of Parliament. Arch Brexiteer Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader who was himself deposed via this arcane process, led a group into Mays office in 10 Downing Street Monday afternoon to ask for changes to the premiers deal. Asked by reporters afterward how the meeting had gone, Duncan Smith only replied that it had been good and constructive. Brexit backers like himself object to Mays deal because it risks tying the U.K. to EU rules indefinitely. One Tory lawmaker said that despite claiming to have up to 80 supporters, ERG members wont vote as a bloc when it comes to toppling May. Certainly, the past few days point to the group being divided as to the best strategy. Even so, some havent given up hope of deposing her, anxious that a change of leadership is the only way to alter the direction of Brexit. One Tory lawmaker compared the process to the movie Jaws. Like a shark circling under the water, the number of letters could be growing, could reach 48 and surface to bite her at any time. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Legislation Europe Uk Commonwealth Bank of Australia Chief Executive Officer Matt Comyn has pinned the blame on predecessor Ian Narev for failing to stop selling credit card insurance that some customers couldnt claim on. Narev told Comyn to temper your sense of justice when he suggested at a meeting in May 2015 that the bank scrap the product, the CEO said Tuesday during his second day of testimony at an inquiry into misconduct in the financial system. At the time of the meeting, Comyn was in charge of retail banking. It was later revealed the insurance had been wrongly sold to 64,000 customers who were ineligible to make claims, because they didnt meet the employment criteria of the policy. The Sydney-based lender set aside A$16 million ($11.7 million) to compensate customers just before Comyn replaced Narev in April. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Australia Last week Theresa May unveiled her draft agreement with the European Union on the terms of Britains exit. The reaction was exactly as expected. Remainers despaired because the deal is so much worse than staying in the union which is true, of course. Leavers despaired because the deal is Brexit in name only which is also true. But that was bound to happen, right? Whatever variant of the earlier much-derided Chequers plan May had brought the EU to accept, the response from both sides would have been exactly the same. Yes it would yet this knee-jerk reaction obscures a vital point. This deal, despite its resemblance to the Chequers plan, fundamentally subverts that earlier approach. This is no longer a flawed but defensible compromise. Its a capitulation. Remember that serious negotiations on the U.K.s longer-term economic relationship with Europe havent actually started. Despite its inordinate length, the draft agreement is almost exclusively concerned with the terms of Britains departure: what it owes, what arrangements will apply during a 21-month transition period before Brexit comes into effect, the rights of EU citizens living in Britain and vice versa, and what steps will be taken during the transition and beyond to ensure that no hard border will be needed between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. A short section will be appended on the shape of the future economic partnership, but unlike the rest of the deal this will be non-binding and amount to little more than a statement of intent. The so-called backstop arrangement for Northern Ireland has played a pivotal role throughout. One of Britains biggest mistakes from the beginning thats a high bar, heaven knows was to let this issue assume such importance. By its nature, the backstop had to extend beyond the transition and connect the exit terms to the yet-to-be-determined future relationship. But the question was, how far would it shape and constrain that eventual outcome? The new feature is that the backstop not only envisages an arrangement much to the U.K.s disadvantage, but also in effect commits the U.K. to endure it indefinitely, until the EU decides otherwise. In this new text, theres no time limit on the backstop, and no exit clause. The terms are that, unless the EU says different, Britain would remain in a relationship that suits the EU pretty well as part of a stripped-down customs union (preventing the U.K. from cutting its own trade deals), bound by various level playing-field restrictions (making it impossible for Britain to make its own policy on an array of economic questions), with a border of sorts between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., and subject to rulings of the European Court of Justice across an expansive range of issues. Britain would be a disenfranchised EU rule-taker, with no voice on policy, and no option to quit. Once Britain has acceded to this, what reason is there for the EU to agree to any other kind of deal? Why look for other solutions to the Northern Ireland issue for instance, to a comprehensive free-trade agreement plus technological solutions to keep the border open? Europe will be empowered to prolong any such discussion indefinitely, and will probably choose to do just that. Why agree to a long-term trade partnership more to Britains liking and less to Europes, once Britain has allowed itself to be chained to this in perpetuity? At this stage of the negotiations, both sides should have merely declared that they would avoid the reimposition of a hard border on the island of Ireland, and leave it at that. How tough a problem the border question proves to be is uncertain until the terms of the long-term relationship are clear. There was no reason to suspect the U.K. of resiling from that commitment, because its interest in avoiding a hard border and any inflaming of sectarian anger in the North is greater than Irelands and vastly greater than the EUs. If it was necessary to say more than that, the backstop needed a time limit and/or an exit clause, and it needed to be equally objectionable to both sides as a permanent dispensation an outcome both would see as a last resort and strive to avoid. The text provides for none of this. As a result, under the terms May has accepted, the backstop isnt a backstop at all its the whole deal, the best long-term arrangement Britain can now expect, as good as settled before negotiations on that future economic relationship have even started. All parties in this epic of incompetence have failed. Thats a given in Britains case, of course. But Irelands government and the EUs puffed-up negotiators have failed, too. Either the U.K. parliament rejects this deal or May somehow succeeds in shackling her country to it. Neither result would stabilize the EU-U.K. relationship in a way that advances Europes interests. If Britains parliament rejects the deal, as seems likely and as it certainly should, the EU will suffer serious collateral damage from the pain inflicted on Britain. For one thing, it will find itself telling Ireland to install a new border with the North, making a mockery of its insistence that no compromise on that question could be contemplated. If, on the other hand, Europe wins and the deal goes through, its victory will turn to ashes in short order. The EU will have converted a potential friend and partner (the worlds fifth biggest economy and a valuable military and intelligence-gathering ally) into a humiliated subordinate, primed for vengeance. That situation is certain to end badly for both sides. Clive Crook is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and writes editorials on economics, finance and politics. He was chief Washington commentator for the Financial Times, a correspondent and editor for the Economist and a senior editor at the Atlantic. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Europe Uk Brexit Finnish software maker Basware confirmed the unsolicited takeover approach it received was from payment-technology startup Tradeshift Holdings Inc. The indicative proposal came from San Francisco-based Tradeshift, Basware said in a statement Tuesday in response to a Bloomberg News report. The bid is backed by a group of U.S. investors and Ping An Insurance Group Co., the Chinese insurance giant thats been building out its own financial technology platforms, people with knowledge of the matter said. Basware rose 4.4 percent at 10:16 a.m. on Tuesday in Helsinki, headed for the highest close since Sept. 28, giving the company a market value of 511 million euros ($586 million). Tradeshift made the offer last month, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Espoo-based Basware hasnt received any confirmation that bid financing has been secured, and theres no certainty a transaction will be made at a certain price, it said in the statement. The suitor may offer a premium to Baswares average share price over the last 12 months, which is about 38 euros a share, the people said, declining to disclose the exact offer price. The average premium on software deals this year is about 34 percent and was 23 percent in 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Representatives for Tradeshift and Ping An declined to comment. A deal could help Tradeshift better compete with software giants such as SAP SE and Oracle Corp. Basware, which is backed by hedge fund Arrowgrass Capital Partners, makes software that helps businesses manage expenses, run analytics on sales and expenses, issue invoices and procure supplies. Tradeshift this year raised $250 million from investors including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Public Sector Pension Investment Board, valuing the company at $1.1 billion. The company was founded by Danish entrepreneurs Christian Lanng, Mikkel Hippe Brun and Gert Sylvest, who had previously created e-invoicing technology EasyTrade. Envisioned as an open business platform, the firms technology helps companies connect with suppliers and make and receive payments faster, according to Tradeshifts website. It also offers blockchain-based payments where businesses can use the technology to sell unpaid invoices to investors. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Mergers Tech The Bank of England turned up the pressure on the European Union to deliver legislation within weeks to avert a breakdown of access to Londons crucial financial infrastructure in a no-deal Brexit. By early to mid-December, there would have to be enough certainty about the form of the legal instrument the EU will use to ensure U.K. clearinghouses can continue serving clients in the bloc in the event of a disorderly divorce with no transition period, BOE Deputy Governor Jon Cunliffe told lawmakers in London. U.K. regulators have been warning for more than a year that a no-deal Brexit could threaten trillions of dollars of derivatives contracts and millions of insurance policies. The European Commission, the EUs executive arm, has promised a solution based on so-called equivalence rules for clearing and securities settlement. Clearinghouses such as LCH Ltd., a unit of London Stock Exchange Group Plc, stand between the two sides of derivatives trades and hold collateral from both in case a member defaults. LCHs dominance of euro-derivatives clearing turned the issue into a flashpoint in the Brexit talks, as EU politicians said more of that activity should take place within the single market. While the U.K. and EU agree on the risks for cleared derivatives, they still dont see eye to eye on non-cleared contracts, where the BOE sees a material threat, Governor Mark Carney said in a hearing at Parliament on Tuesday. The European Commission has said that no contingency measures will be needed for non-cleared over-the-counter derivatives or insurance policies. On the BOEs own efforts to get the U.K. financial system ready for a possible no-deal Brexit, Carney said the necessary steps had been taken. Weve been preparing for it since the day after the referendum effectively, Carney said. Were quietly confident that we have in place all the measures we could have in place. The BOE on Nov. 29 will provide Parliament with an analysis of how the draft withdrawal agreement will affect the central banks ability to deliver on its mandates for monetary policy and financial stability. The BOE brought forward the publication of the 2018 stress-test results by a week to Nov. 28, because its Brexit analysis draws on these results. Carney said these reports will provide as much information as is needed to make judgments about the capital-liquidity position of the core of the banking system. With assistance from Catherine Bosley and Linly Lin. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Europe London Uk Brexit Barclays Plc is not liable to investors who bought its U.S.-listed stock a few months before the 2008 financial crisis and accused the British bank of hiding its risky debt exposure and a capital shortfall, a U.S. court ruled on Monday. In a 3-0 decision, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld the dismissal of claims against Barclays and underwriters led by Citigroup Inc over the British banks April 2008 sale of $2.5 billion of American depositary shares. Barclays share price had fallen 80 percent by the following March. The 9-1/2-year-old case is among the last ones accusing big banks of having inflated their share prices by hiding or failing to fix soured credits on their balance sheets before the crisis. Barclays was accused of concealing 21.6 billion pounds (then about US$42 billion) of mortgage-backed securities and other risky assets insured by monoline insurers, and a March 2008 directive by the U.K. Financial Services Authority requiring it to raise more equity capital. Barclays might have had a duty to disclose its monoline exposure, but resoundingly showed that its omission had little or no impact on its share price, the appeals court said. A regulators expressions of concerns about a banks financial status and vigorous requests even if expressed urgently to be kept apprised of the banks contingency plans did not qualify as a directive, the court ruled. Joseph Daley, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Barclays spokesman Andrew Smith declined to comment. The decision on Monday affirmed a September 2017 ruling by U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty in Manhattan. Crotty said the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., the bailout of insurer American International Group Inc., and capital raisings by other British banks might also have contributed to Barclays falling share price. The case is In re: Barclays Bank Plc Securities Litigation, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 17-3293. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) Topics USA Claims A New Braunfels, Texas, woman must perform community service and pay more than $7,000 in restitution after being sentenced on workers compensation fraud charges. Texas Mutual Insurance Co. reported that Carolina Villanueva was sentenced in a Travis County district court to a Class A misdemeanor with two years deferred adjudication and 160 community service hours. She was ordered to pay $7,025 in restitution to the workers comp insurer. According to Texas Mutual, Villanueva reported a job-related injury while working as a home health aide for Hill Country Community MHMR Center in Kerrville, Texas, and claimed she was unable to work because of her injury. Texas Mutual began paying income benefits to her, but then discovered Villanueva was working as a community service aide for another company. Investigators call this type of scam double-dipping because the claimant collects benefits for being too injured to work when he or she is, in fact, gainfully employed. The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers Compensation prosecutor in Travis County presented the case for indictment. Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Co. Topics Texas Workers' Compensation The Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX) plans to launch SMART, its new online filing system in 2019. SLTX unveiled the new online system in a video presentation at the Texas Surplus Lines Association 2018 Annual Meeting in Austin on Nov. 12. The stamping office said the SMART system will be more user-friendly and will include additional features. Broker dashboards will also allow users to more easily view their data through the system. SLTX will provide more information about the new system as the mid to late 2019 release date approaches. Source: SLTX Topics Texas Excess Surplus It has been just over a month since Hurricane Michael slammed the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds reaching just shy of Category 5 status. The devastation from the storm that killed at least 35 people in Florida is still impacting residents and insured losses continue to climb as recovery efforts are in full effect and will be for some time. Michael saw our worst fears realized, of rapid intensification just before landfall on a part of a coastline that has never experienced a Category 4 hurricane, University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said after the storm hit, as reported by The Associated Press. The massive storm made landfall in Mexico Beach, Fla., on Oct. 10 with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, according to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide. The minimum central pressure at landfall a key measure of hurricane strength was 919 mb, the third lowest on record for a U.S. hurricane, AIR said. Michael is the most powerful hurricane to have come ashore in the Florida Panhandle since the first records were kept in 1851, said Dr. Peter Sousounis, vice president and director of meteorology, AIR Worldwide. Fueled by unseasonably high 84-degree sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and unhindered by any prior landfall, Hurricane Michael rapidly intensified shortly before making landfall at close to Category 5 intensity, Sousounis said. Mexico Beach was virtually obliterated AIR said, as it was in the right eyewall of Michael where storm surge is typically the highest. In addition, the high wind speeds leveled buildings in the area, as well as took down power lines and countless trees. Wills Res Hurricane Damage Survey report noted catastrophic wind damage impacted residential properties in Panama City, Lynn Haven and Mexico Beach, Fla. Catastrophic storm surge damaged buildings along the coast of Mexico Beach and tree-fall caused significant damage to properties. Florida Panhandle building codes do not require buildings in the area to sustain such high wind speeds, Willis Re noted, compared to similar buildings located in other hurricane-prone areas of Florida such as Miami or the Florida Keys, hence the majority of homes in the area were not designed to resist the storms impact. It should not be a surprise that many buildings failed to resist Michaels brutal hurricane force wind, the Willis Re report said. Losses Insured losses were just shy of $3 billion as of Nov. 9, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, with about 45.9 percent of claims closed so far. OIR reported that the number of claims had reached 119,160 across the sectors of residential property, commercial property, private flood, business interruption and other lines of business. Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier said Hurricane Michael was a very different storm compared to Hurricane Irma that impacted most of the state last year. Irmas wind field and flooding impacts were felt over the majority of the state and in multiple major cities, resulting in nearly 1 million claims and $10.4 billion in losses with 28 counties topping 5,000 claims. Michael targeted a specific region of the state but is noted to be the strongest storm to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Andrew, OIR said. So far, five counties have topped 5,000 claims but Bay County accounts for roughly 71,000 of the 119,000 claims that have been filed. Hurricanes Irma and Michael were two very different storms in terms of landfall and projected path, but both carried a significant impact, Altmaier said. Catastrophe modeling firms have estimated the total cost of Hurricane Michael claims will range from $4.5 billion to $10 billion. Those numbers include losses in Florida, as well as several other states that were impacted by the storm. OIR also noted insurance companies preparation efforts are paying off from a solvency standpoint as there has not been any indication that companies will have an issue responding to claims. Barry Gilway, CEO of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., said Hurricane Irmas total impact on Citizens insurance surplus statewide was about 2 percent. The losses from Michael shouldnt reach Citizens first reinsurance layer, meaning they believe that they should be able to pay Hurricane Michael claims with their existing policyholder surplus. Insurance industry experts and rating agencies have also noted that while Michaels losses will be significant to the industry, they wont be enough to cause any major market changes. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam said Nov. 9 that damages to the states agriculture industries would be nearly $1.5 billion, with the timber industry bearing the brunt of the devastation at $1.3 billion in economic losses. Recovery The amount of devastation to the Florida Panhandle means the rebuilding efforts will go on for some time. Power was just fully restored to the Panhandle as of Nov. 6, AP reported. The insurance industry will play an integral part in the recovery process and got to work as soon as Michael left the area. Insurance villages were held in several of the communities affected by Hurricane Michael, including the state capitol of Tallahassee, Marianna and Panama City with up to 44 insurance companies and FEMA participating at various points to assist residents, according to a statement from Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis. Insurance Commissioner Altmaier said the insurance industrys response to the storm has been strong so far, with robust participation in the insurance villages and overall efforts to mobilize resources to impacted communities executed swiftly. Michaels historic landfall as a Category 4 storm disrupted the lives of many Floridians, especially those on the Panhandle. It has been remarkable to see our state, industry and communities unify throughout the recovery of this catastrophic event, Altmaier said. Agents in the area said they were very pleased with the insurance industrys response in the immediate aftermath of the storm, with a lot of carriers and their top executives physically on the ground at the claims villages. But there are still some areas that the industry can improve on. There have been instances where there is a lack of communication [and] adjusters with incomplete and wrong information in some cases, Trey Hutt, president of Hutt Insurance Agency, which has locations in Panama City and Lynn Haven, Fla., though the Lynn Haven office was destroyed by Hurricane Michael. Hutt said with some carriers, policyholders have received initial estimates from insurers that are far below what a contractor tells them the damage will cost, which creates a sense distress for those customers. I hope that with future storms we can improve that piece of the communication, Hutt said. Hutt noted there is currently a lull in the recovery process, which is common after a catastrophe event, where people have submitted their claim and had their initial visit from an adjuster and are now waiting to hear from a desk adjuster, which can take up to 10 business days in some cases. People are very nervous when there is silence at the other end of the phone, Hutt said. A J.D. Power survey of policyholders affected by Hurricane Michael found 87 percent of policyholders said their insurer had met or exceeded expectations, in their response efforts. Altmaier emphasized that as claims remain open, OIR is continuing to communicate with the industry to ensure any unmet needs that may hinder a companys ability to provide a seamless claims-filing process are addressed, including assignment of benefits abuse. Regulators and the insurance industry have been concerned a large-scale disaster such as Hurricane Michael could exacerbate the problem and have devoted significant resources to educating consumers about AOB abuse and the dangers of signing an AOB agreement. The Florida Department of Financial Services has also deployed post-disaster fraud strike teams to the Florida Panhandle region and is searching for anyone trying to prey on residents, DFS said in a statement last month. Florida Insurance Commissioner Altmaier and CFO Patronis have urged the industry to respond to policyholders as quickly as possible to help policyholders avoid being taken advantage of. A tremendous effort to ensure claims are being handled expeditiously has been made an effort that will continue throughout the entirety of this recovery, Altmaier said. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Florida Claims Agribusiness Hurricane Market Mexico USG Holdings Inc. has named Ali Gray a producer/broker in the Irvine, Calif. branch. Gray will continue to build his book of business and assist with the expansion of USGs West Coast footprint. He has 9 years of experience in the insurance industry, most recently as a commercial insurance agent at Insurance Inc. USG has 5 divisions: USG Insurance Services Inc., a national wholesale/MGA operation; Brokers Financial Services, a premium finance company; BFS Inspections, an inspection company; Allied American Underwriters, a program manager and specialty division; and Into Innovations, a marketing, advertising, and technology provider. Topics California Roughly one-in-10 insurers have exposures to PG&E bonds, which could potentially used to payout on losses from the California wildfires, according to ratings agency A.M. Best. It was recently determined that a second power line of PG&E Corp. failed the morning Northern Californias Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive in state history, broke out. The Camp Fire has burned 151,373 acres and is 70 percent contained. It has destroyed 12,637 residences, 483 commercial structures and 3,718 other buildings, according to CalFire. The fire has also reportedly killed 79 people. Theres an ongoing conversation over whether utilities should continue to be held liable for damages caused by wildfires linked to their power lines even if the companies did nothing wrong. PG&E has filed two incident reports since the fire began and has seen about half its market value, roughly $12 billion, vanish in little more than a week, according to A.M. Best. A bill that would help PG&E Corp. absorb liabilities from the wildfires is being drafted at the request of Assemblyman Chris Holden for possible introduction as early as Dec. 3. Californias Public Utilities Commission President Michael Picker said last week its not good policy to allow the company to go broke. However, a PG&E bankruptcy could come down to a fight between bondholders and property owners whose homes were destroyed by wildfires, A.M. Best stated in its briefing. The utility company has $18 billion of unsecured bonds, so in the event of a bankruptcy, the payment priority of these bonds would be equal to that of the roughly $30 billion in potential liabilities that analysts have estimated from the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, according to A.M. Best. Whats more, rules governing the existing bond issues state that the unsecured notes would also become secured if PG&E were to take on at least $5 billion of new debt secured by its assetswhich could result in current bondholders wanting the company to issue more secured debt if doing so could put them ahead of wildfire claims, A.M. Best stated. The insurance industry holds between roughly one-fifth to one-quarter of the companys debt, which amounts to $4.1 billion, according to A.M. Best. Roughly one-in-10 insurers have exposure to PG&E bonds, with the life/annuity segment holding 88 percent of the entire industrys holdings and the property/casualty segment holding 10 percent. Insured losses from the Camp Fire and the Woolsey Fires in Southern California will be between $9 billion and $13 billion, according to the latest estimates from catastrophe modeler RMS. RMS estimates show $7.5 billion to $10 billion for the Camp Fire alone. PG&E Corp.s $1.4 billion in wildfire insurance may not be enough to cover all its potential liabilities, which could reach $15 billion, according to Citigroup Inc. Effect on Home Insurance Jason Hopper, associate director with A.M. Best, said losses from the ongoing wildfires in California will put pressure on homeowners insurers. Hopper said while insurance companies would like to secure rate increases commensurate with the growing risk, they may face uncertainty from regulators and ultimately may choose to reduce their risk tolerance. Regulators do try to take a balance between consumers and insurers, Hopper said. We believe there are insurance companies that are choosing to limit their risk to these types of high-risk areas, which at the same time is creating opportunities for non-admitted insurers such as Lloyds. David Blades, a senior research analyst with A.M. Best, added: Given the greater propensity of wildfire outbreaks, theres no question theres going to be a definite need for reconsideration in terms of underwriting and pricing strategies when youre looking at climate change and population trends that have changed the paradigm. Related: Topics Carriers California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Trends Wildfire Market AM Best Homeowners Ren Zhengfei, a former officer of the People's Liberation Army, founded Huawei (pronounced Wah-Way) in 1987. Since then, the Shenzhen, China-based company has become one of the world's largest smartphone makers next to Apple (AAPL) and Samsung. The company also makes other consumer electronics and builds communication equipment and infrastructure. It has become a multinational giant with more than $126 billion in revenues in 2019. On Nov. 12, 2020, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order forbidding U.S. investors from investing in companies that he designated "Communist Chinese military companies." The ban takes effect at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2021 and currently includes 31 companies listed here. Despite impressive growth, Huawei remains a private entity fully owned by company employees. That means the company is not traded on any public market and that people other than current employees cannot invest in it. Despite the inability to invest in Huawei, investors may still want to keep an eye on one of the world's largest smartphone producers. Where Does Huawei Do Business? Beyond making smartphones, Huawei builds telecommunications networks and services and provides solutions to enterprise customers. As of 2019, Huawei had more than 190,000 employees in more than 170 countries. It conducts the majority of its business in China and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region). Key Takeaways Huawei is a multinational company that makes consumer electronics and communication equipment. Despite impressive growth, the company is 100% owned by employees and has never had a public offering. Huawei has been the subject of much controversy as U.S. officials suspect that the Chinese government is actively involved in the business. With the exception of the America's, Huawei continues to see rapid sales growth across all regions. There are no signs that the company plans an initial public offering or to list shares in the U.S. While it's helpful to know where Huawei does business, it's far more telling to know where it doesn't. Global skepticism about Huawei has grown in recent years, following a 2012 congressional report that highlighted the security risks of using the company's equipment. In addition, while the company claims that it is 100% owned by employees, U.S. officials are skeptical that the Chinese government and the Communist Party might be calling the shots at Huawei. A Chinese law requiring Chinese companies to assist in national intelligence networks passed in 2017 added to those concerns. Many companies have already ceased using Huawei products. In Jan. 2018, large U.S. mobile companies like AT&T and Verizon stopped using Huawei's products in their networks; in August, Australia decided not to use the company's technology as it builds out its country-wide 5G mobile networks; and in November, New Zealand prevented Spark, one of the country's biggest telecom companies, from using Huawei products in its 5G network. Despite these governmental roadblocks, Huawei can still conduct business with private companies in each of these countries. In December 2018, Canadian officials arrested Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei and the daughter of the company's founder, on the request of the U.S. government. On Jan. 28, 2019, the U.S. government officially filed a formal request for her extradition, alleging that she violated U.S. sanctions against Iran. The U.S. also banned Huawei from doing business with U.S. companies due to the sanctions violations. In June 2019, Trump lifted the restrictions on Huawei as part of ongoing U.S.-China trade war negotiations. Nevertheless, Huawei announced plans to cut 600 jobs in Santa Clara, Calif. and, by Dec. 2019, had made the decision to move the center to Canada. How Does Huawei Make Money? Huawei operates in the carrier, enterprise, and consumer segments of the market. Because the company is not public, it is not traded on any stock market and is not required to submit filings to the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). The company still reports its numbers on a regular basis, however. In its 2018 annual report, the company said that total revenue was $107 billion, up 19.5% from a year earlier. Profits jumped 25%. The company said it sold more than 200 million smartphones in 2018, which represents an impressive increase from the 3 million sold in 2010. Huawei reported that business in Chinaby far its largest marketrose 19% in 2018. Business in the Asia Pacific region grew 15%, it rose 24.2% in EMEA, while its business in the Americasthe smallest marketfell 7% and showed a decline for a second consecutive year. Why Can't You Invest in Huawei? Huawei is privately held by the company's China-based employees only, but anyone working for the company outside of China cannot buy into the company. The company's shareholders admit, however, that they dont understand the company's structure, are not provided updated information on their holdings, and have no voting power. Thirty-three union members elect nine candidates to attend the annual shareholder meeting. Shareholders receive dividend payments, and they have the potential to earn bonuses based on performance. Their salaries also are reviewed on an annual basis. In 2014, upper management at Huawei was asked if it would consider a stock market listing, but the idea was rejected. Huawei's debut on the public market can't be completely ruled out in the future, though, especially if the company is in need of additional capital in the future. Its not likely that Huawei could list in the United States, partly because of its poor relationship with the country and the company's growing reputation for using technology to spy on users. As far as investing in Huawei goes, right now there's only one potential solutionbut its far-fetched. In order to received dividends, you would have to become an employee of the company in Shenzhen, China, and you would have to make management believe you aren't a spy. Good luck. Dividend record and payable dates are important to monitor since they relate to when dividends are paid out to investors from an investment. The record date of an investment dividend refers to the date that the corporation's board of directors sets as the deadline for investors to be counted on the company's books. The payable date is also called the dividend payment date. However, there are other dates that are important to monitor to ensure investors get paid their dividends. Key Takeaways When a company decides to pay dividends to its shareholders, there are a few key dates investors should keep in mind. On the declaration date, the Board of Directors announces the dividend, the size of the dividend, the record date, and the payment date. The record date is the day by which you must be on the companys books as a shareholder to receive the declared dividend. Own the stock before the ex-dividend date and you get the dividend; buy it on or after the ex-date, and you don't - the seller of the stock gets it. The payable, or payment date is when the company pays the declared dividend only to shareholders who own the stock before the ex-date. Image by Julie Bang Investopedia 2019 Record Date The record date is the date that the company reviews its records to see which shareholders qualified for the next dividend payment. However, investors who buy shares on the record date will be too late to be eligible for the next dividend. The record date is merely a date for the companies that pay dividends to get their records in order. Ex-Dividend Date The ex-dividend date is the date for new shareholders that disqualifies them for earning a dividend in the next period. In other words, investors who buy shares on or after the ex-dividend date will not earn a dividend in the next payment. Investors must buy before the ex-dividend date to qualify for the next dividend. The record date, on the other hand, is typically one-to-two days after the ex-dividend date. Payable Date The payable date refers to the date that any declared stock dividends are due to be paid out to shareholders of record as of the ex-date. Investors who purchased their stock before the ex-dividend date are eligible to receive dividends on the payable date. It's important to note that if the stock is sold on or after the ex-dividend date, the investor will still get paid the next scheduled dividend. Although it's important to be aware of all the deadlines pertaining to a dividend dispersal, knowing the ex-dividend date is crucial to understanding whether or not investors are entitled to receive a dividend payout on the payable date. Example of Record and Payable Dates Below is the dividend information for 3M Company (MMM), which is a large company involved in the industrial, healthcare, and consumer segments. A perennial dividend payer, 3M has an over 50-year track record of paying dividends. Below is a table from their investor relations page outlining the important dividend dates for 2019. We can see that the ex-dividend date is on Aug. 15one day before the record date of Aug. 16. The payable date falls on Sept. 12, 2019. In other words, all investors who bought or owned shares before the ex-dividend date of Aug. 15 will get paid a dividend on Sept. 12. Morningstar, Inc. (MORN) is a leading provider of financial information via Internet, software, and print-based products to individual, professional, and institutional investors. Its largest competitors in the financial information sector are Bloomberg, L.P., MarketWatch, Inc., and Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI). Morningstar provides detailed financial data on more than 621,000 stocks, mutual funds, and other investment products for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, retirement plan providers, and sponsors. It also delivers market data on more than 15 million indexes, equities, options, and commodities. In delivering financial information to investors, Morningstar does business in the media, asset management, and publishing sectors. It is a respected and reliable source of investment analysis; it produces approximately 5,100 manager research analyst reports that are widely used by investors to determine the investment quality of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. More detailed information is available through a subscription service, which is available at many public libraries. Morningstars revenue in 2019 was $1.18 billion, a year-over-year increase of 15.6%. Key Takeaways Morningstar publishes financial data for investors covering approximately 621,000 stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment products. Three of Morningstar's key competitors are Bloomberg, L.P., MarketWatch, Inc., and Thomson Reuters Corp. Bloomberg is famous for its "Bloomberg Terminal," a computer interface and software system that helps large institutional investors track stock market activity and generate detailed reports. MarketWatch (which is owned by the same company that owns Barron's and The Wall Street Journal) caters to the individual investor with its wide array of portfolio building and tracking tools. Thomson Reuters' key strength is its ability to provide timely financial information and services to businesses and individual investors around the globe. Bloomberg, L.P. Bloomberg is a leader in the market for business media. In addition to its own syndicated news service and magazine, Bloomberg offers real-time financial news, market data, and analysis via Bloomberg Television, radio, and the Internet. In its analysis, the company targets certain areas of interest, namely the tech sector, politics, sustainability, and luxury. It's estimated the company generated more than $10 billion in revenue in 2019. The Bloomberg Terminal, a platform that streams and integrates price data, financial information, and news to more than 325,000 customers worldwide as of 2020, accounts for a substantial contribution to Bloombergs revenue. With a service price upwards of $20,000, the typical customers for a Bloomberg Terminal are large institutional investors. MarketWatch, Inc. MarketWatch is a financial information site headquartered in New York City and is owned by Dow Jones & Company, which in turn is a property of News Corp. Dow Jones & Company also owns two well-known and respected financial publications, Barron's and The Wall Street Journal. The MarketWatch website attracts more than 20 million visitors per month, making it among the most popular business website. In addition to business news, the site publishes original personal finance content. This includes stories, interviews, podcasts, videos, and market briefs. The site offers free investment data and portfolio management tools which allow investors to create online portfolios and track their favorite stocks. The tool includes an asset allocation chart and helps investors track performance on both a percentage and dollar basis. They also offer paid subscription products targeting retirement investing and ETF trading. Thomson Reuters Corp. In terms of market share, Thomson Reuters is one of Morningstars largest competitors. It is a market leader in the financial data sector, with a 2019 revenue of $5.9 billion. The companys core strength is in providing financial information and services to businesses and individual investors across the world. Subscription sales numbering in the hundreds of thousands to its online financial services account for most of the companys revenue. The company came into being in 2008 when Canadian information provider The Thomson Corporation acquired Reuters, a financial information company founded in London in 1851. TAMPA, Fla. - November 20, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Military veterans seeking new careers will find inspirational stories, guidance and advice from retired military service people who have succeeded in transitioning to civilian life and embarking on new careers, at the 2019 Synapse Summit: Innovation Lives Here, on January 23 and 24, 2019, at the Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa. The Synapse Summit will feature mainstage presentations, breakout sessions, and exhibitors showcasing successful military retirees, veteran-owned companies, and organizations founded by veterans to support military career transitions. These include: Synapse Summit mainstage speaker Kent Paro, a retired Navy SEAL commander who is now VP of Enterprise Risk Management at Grow Financial Credit Union in Tampa, Fla. STAR Operator Program for guiding retired Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel, in their military transitions. http://star-tpa.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html SOFWERX, a partnership between Doolittle Institute and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), that brings people together in Tampa to solve challenging, real-world problems. https://www.sofwerx.org/ Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Accelerate at Florida State University's Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, Tallahassee. https://jmi.fsu.edu/programs/entrepreneurship-bootcamp-veterans-accelerate To serve military families in the area, Synapse Summit mainstage speaker Vincent Jackson, co-founder of CTV Capital and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver, founded the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation to provide support to children, focusing on education, emotional and physical health. http://www.jacksoninaction83.org/ Joining Synapse as a member of the Board of Directors is retired Major General David Scott who owns the Bad Monkey Ybor, a multi-venue, military-inspired bar dedicated to those who serve their country and/or community; Bark & Purr pet boutique; and Home Port gallery and custom picture framing. Mr. Scott also serves on the board of two cyber security startups and several military-related boards, including the DEFENSEWERX Institute (DoD innovation and tech transfer initiatives); the S.S. American Victory, a Tampa-based WWII ship & mariners museum; Stay-in-Step, a spinal cord injury rehabilitation center; and the Brian Bill Foundation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain therapy. Florida Ranks as Best State for Military Retirees According to recent research released by WalletHub, a personal finance website, Florida ranks as the number one best state in the country for military retirees, followed by Virginia and New Hampshire. The study included 27 key metrics including veterans per capita, employment opportunities, and tax friendliness. wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-military-retirees/3915/ Additionally, in a 2015 USAA survey of the best places for military veterans to live and find career opportunities, four of Florida's major cities placed in the top ten spots: #2 Sarasota, #3 West Palm Beach, #8 Fort Lauderdale, and #10 Ft. Walton Beach. https://www.hiringourheroes.org/the-best-places-for-veterans-to-work-learn-and-start-a-business/ In 2018, it is forecasted that 2.1 million military personnel will retire with many starting new careers. A 2017 Department of Defense report shows that approximately 198,000 military retirees live in Florida. http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/florida-among-top-states-competing-military-retirees Synapse is proud to engage with many of the speakers and exhibitors who are successful entrepreneurs and founders of thriving businesses in Florida after retiring from military service, says Lauren Prager, Synapse Partner and VP of Communications & Programming. We believe that the Synapse Summit will showcase innovation on a variety of fronts, providing connections and opportunities for entrepreneurs, inventors, investors, startups, and employers seeking talent within Florida's thriving innovation communities. About the Synapse Summit The two-day Synapse Summit, January 23 and 24, the anchor event of Florida's Synapse Innovation Week, January 21-25, in Tampa, anticipates more than 5,000 people, 300 exhibitors, and 250 speakers. Participants include members of the innovation communities throughout Florida, including entrepreneurs, inventors, investors, corporations, educational institutions, students, entrepreneur support organizations, innovation enablers, and government. Synapse Florida, the nonprofit organization leading the Summit, believes that making connections is the key to thriving innovation communities throughout Floridabringing people together regionally, nationally and internationally across a broad spectrum of industries and technologies. For more information about the 2019 Synapse Summit: Innovation Lives Here, visit www.synapsesummit.com. About Synapse Florida Synapse Florida is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that connects people, companies, and organizations to accelerate success in Florida's thriving innovation communities. Based in Tampa, Fla., Synapse unites the innovation communities in three ways: Synapse Summit - a live two-day celebration of innovation where visionaries, doers and success-makers connect with the latest transformational innovations across all industries. Synapse Connect - an online platform that allows innovators to easily and quickly connect with the resources they need to accelerate success. Synapse Challenges - a crowdsourcing solution for organizations to solve real-world problems and create new opportunities for forward-thinking businesses and people. For more information about Synapse, please visit www.synapsefl.com. Caption for Attached Photo SOFWERX, located in Tampa's Ybor City, collaborates with military, government, and industry to solve complex, challenging problems using a variety of technologies including virtual/augmented/mixed reality, robotics, next-generation information and identification, and neuro technologies. Media Contacts: Cesar R. Hernandez E: ch@omnipublic.global P: (813) 277-6540 W: www.Omnipublic.global Bri Wagner E: brianna@schifinolee.com P: 813.258.5858 x. 226 W: www.schifinolee.com More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp As a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information November 20, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) "This is a spectacular day for all British Columbians, again not one that happened today, not one that happened yesterday but one that has happened over the past few decades. I can't tell you how proud and pleased I am to have the opportunity to lead the government to work with all levels of government to make life better for British Columbians. I can't stop smiling." That was John Horgan, the Premier of British Columbia, declaring his support for, what, a plan to tackle unaffordable housing? Ending the fentanyl crisis? A major infrastructure project that will lower the frustration of Lower Mainland commuters? No, what Premier Horgan was smiling about on October 2nd, was the signing of a final investment decision by LNG Canada. Flanked by industry leaders and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Horgan said that despite belching out 3.45 megatonnes of carbon emissions a year, BC would meet its climate change goals of cutting greenhouses gases by 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. The Pembina Institute estimates that between LNG Canada and Woodfibre LNG, the other, so far, approved BC liquefied natural gas project, the plants will increase annual carbon pollution by 9.1 megatonnes by 2030 and 10.2MG by 2050. But the targets will be met, somehow. Trust us. To actually meet the province's climate change goal, massive carbon cuts would have to be made elsewhere. The government says it's currently rolling out a new climate plan. We're not expecting any dramatic revelations. China, Russia and Canada's current climate policies would drive the world above a catastrophic 5C of warming by the end of the century, according to a study that ranks the climate goals of different countries. Of course, it was the lure of the buck that made Horgan and his Cabinet become sudden converts to LNG, despite opposing it while in Opposition to the Christy Clark Liberals (Horgan said at the time that LNG was giving up too much revenue to attract foreign investment - ironic now, considering the NDP gave LNG Canada a $5.3B tax break), who came up with the idea with much fanfare - even promising to pay off the provincial debt with the windfall of LNG cash. The NDP says the LNG Canada project will bring in $22 billion over 40 years. That sounds pretty good, but it assumes there are no costs associated with building a new LNG industry in BC. A fossil-fuel-intensive industry that goes against the prevailing mood (excluding the Trump Administration) of weaning ourselves off carbon through the use of cleaner technology like nuclear energy and renewables. But there are costs. And they could be huge. Much greater than $22 billion. Why? Because the BC LNG industry is being built at exactly the wrong time. We know that climate change is upon us. Yes, even in beautiful British Columbia. The evidence is everywhere, and we have written on it extensively. (Read our five-part series) Rising ocean levels and temperatures, frequent and more intense storms, droughts, forest fires, retreating glaciers, calving ice sheets, mudslides, newly active volcanoes, melting permafrost in the Arctic leaving bubbling cauldrons of methane - a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Plus the negative effects of the natural gas industry that continue to be seen in the form of methane escapes into the water and atmosphere, benzene poisoning among the people of northeastern BC who live near fracking wells, polluted lakes, more CO2 and other toxins that are emitted permanently into the atmosphere when natural gas is burnt to produce energy. In 2017, global economic losses from natural disasters and man-made catastrophes were the highest ever amounting to US$337 billion. This article will take a closer look at those costs, and poses the question: How are we going to address climate change by encouraging the development of a fossil-fuel driven LNG industry in British Columbia? Forest fires and climate change It doesn't take a scientist to notice that forest fires and droughts (the two being inter-related) have been getting worse over the years. BC entered its third consecutive year of serious wildfires. This summer was the worst fire season on record and anecdotally, there was a lot more smoke than in 2017. So much that there was a run on HEPA air filters in the Lower Mainland, usually immune from the smoke "up north" or "in the Interior". People were checking daily air quality warnings like we were living in China. In fact Kelowna hit a record one day as having worse air quality than Beijing. Close to 13,000 square kilometers were burnt, breaking the previous record set in 2017; that year, the government spent $568 million on fire suppression. This year is estimated to come in at over $300 million. While the forest fire season is over in Canada, state-side they continue to rage. In California this week, over 100 people, many of them seniors, are missing as firefighters battle the Camp Fire, the largest in the state's history. Fifty people have perished in two major fires burning in California. According to CNN the Camp Fire and Woolsey Fire - one in northern and the other in southern California - have so far destroyed 8,083 homes or structures and scorched 232,620 acres. So what to make of these fires? Are they caused by climate change? That seems to be the narrative in the press, although the problem is more complicated than that. Prescribed burns, as forest companies used to do, are no longer government policy in the United States or Canada, leaving hundreds of hectares/acres of dangerously dry tinder, easily ignited by a match or a lightning strike. Prescribed burns are bad for tourism. Residents don't care much for them either. But warming temperatures and an extended drought in the western United States are certainly major factors. The Guardian reports that of the 20 largest wildfires in California's history, 15 of them have been since 2000, during which time forests have become warmer and drier. Since 1970 the temperature increase in the west is about double the global average. "Given strong relationships between climate and fire, even when modified by land use and management such as fuel treatments, projected climate changes suggest that western forests in the United States will be increasingly affected by large and intense fires that occur more frequently," a government report states. The Union of Concerned Scientists notes that higher temperatures in the summer and spring are causing soils to be drier for longer, increasing the likelihood of droughts and a longer wildfire season. In the US southwest, it's predicted that the fire season will soon be all year long rather than just seven months. A NASA study states that droughts caused by climate change are getting worse and could become more frequent in the western US. See below for a current drought map. Almost everything west of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico now ranges from abnormally dry to exceptional drought. In the summer over half of the United States fit this description. In BC, similar conditions prevailed this year. Two weeks of hot weather in July drove up the fire danger rating, followed by widespread lightning in early August. Not only do wildfires chew through forests/ agricultural land, drive people from their homes, destroy property and sometimes kill people, they also cause flash floods, in areas where all the vegetation has been burnt, leaving nowhere for water to be absorbed; and drive a climate change feedback loop. The loop happens when forest fires burn the carbon stored in trees, emitting a toxic brew of carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing further warming, drier forests, and more fires. An independent report released by the BC government states that in 2017, wildfires emitted 190 million tonnes of carbon into the environment - six times the total from other sources and almost triple BC's annual carbon footprint. Another effect of global warming is the increasing intensity of forest fires. This past summer some fires in BC were so hot, they couldn't be put out with water alone. CBC quotes Mike Flannigan, a professor of wildland fire at the University of Alberta, saying that many large fires are spreading in BC, year after year, due to a ridge of high pressure that is stuck over the province for much of the summer. The ridge forms along the West Coast due to melting Arctic sea ice, and the air beneath it is warm and dry, creating the perfect conditions for a "raging inferno" according to Flannigan. Governments backing LNG Apparently though, Premier Horgan didn't make the connection between the fires, and the onslaught of greenhouse gases that LNG is set to unleash on British Columbians in coming years, as he sat grinning in a room with Trudeau in October. Why is LNG Canada going ahead while the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is tied up in more consultation? An Alberta Cabinet minister says the LNG project will have a greater environmental impact than TMX. We agree. "It's going to result in about 177-per-cent increase in tanker traffic compared to TMX which will result in a 14 per cent increase," Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous told reporters at the Alberta legislature, via CBC. A Globe and Mail article put the two projects side by side to examine the impacts - both economic and environmental. In terms of CO2 emissions, the Globe analysis assigns a much heavier footprint to LNG Canada - 3.45 million tonnes annually - versus just 0.4 million tonnes from TMX. Maybe the politicians don't realize it, but developing an LNG industry in BC requires widespread fracking. Of all the natural gas reserves left in BC, only 22% are conventional, with the rest found in unconventional formations, known as "tight gas". At Ahead of the Herd we have done extensive research into fracking, and recently reviewed the history of the practice in BC. We revealed a number of disturbing occurrences. Among them: earthquakes; rules to protect caribou were broken and unenforced by the Oil and Gas Commission; unsustainable (and possibly illegal) draw-downs of water; and the most disturbing of all, heightened levels of benzene, a dangerous carcinogen, found in pregnant native women. For more read our LNG: Another environmental disaster coming to BC We also found evidence of a BC Liberal government cover-up of the risk fracking presents to dam safety: "Senior BC Hydro officials have quietly feared for years that earthquakes triggered by natural gas industry fracking operations could damage its Peace River dams, putting hundreds if not thousands of people at risk should the dams fail. Yet the Crown corporation has said nothing publicly about its concerns, opting instead to negotiate behind the scenes with the provincial energy industry regulator, the BC Oil and Gas Commission." In spite of all this, Premier Horgan says he's okay with fracking. "We've been fracking in B.C. for decades and we do it fairly well. I've been to a number of frack sites, and I'm comfortable with the technology," Horgan said in 2012, when asked whether the NDP supports fracking. Although the current BC government denies it, it seems pretty clear that Horgan's NDP was thinking of LNG when it agreed to let the controversial Site C dam project go ahead last year - despite railing against it in Opposition. That's because Site C will be needed to power LNG Canada and future LNG plants that are in the works. Add in the cancellation of Kinder Morgan, the fact there are only so many pipeline routes through mountainous BC, and a $5.3 billion tax break given to LNG Canada, and the evidence only points in one direction: the BC NDP. The proof? A year ago it was reported that BC Hydro expects at least three LNG projects will need power from Site C. It's also interesting to note that the nascent LNG industry in BC is being encouraged by the federal Liberals. In 2017 Trudeau's Liberals passed Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which stops crude oil tanker traffic on the northern coast of BC - thus formalizing a "voluntary" Tanker Exclusion Zone that's existed since 2015. Excluded from the bill, though, are gasoline, naphtha, jet fuel, propane and liquefied natural gas (LNG) - allowing the unfettered expansion of a new LNG industry in BC. Recall back in 2016, the federal government made a questionable bargain with the oil industry and Canadians - approving the $36 billion Pacific NorthWest LNG project near Prince Rupert, while at the same time assuring Canadians that the massive increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the project (later cancelled by Petronas), would be part of a national climate plan. As we now know, that plan includes a carbon tax that all provinces must buy into. So it seems that the feds have been on board with LNG since 2016, or perhaps earlier, obviously without much knowledge of the science or maybe our Provincial and Federal politicians just don't care? Once the gas is fracked and put in a pipeline, it arrives at the terminal - however in a form unsuitable for tanker transport. To turn it into a liquid, it must be cooled to 163 degrees below zero. To do that requires a great deal of power, with massive compression units running 24/7. It's estimated that if LNG Canada were to use only hydro-electric power to convert NG to LNG, would require 40% of the capacity of the Site C dam currently being built. The more likely scenario is that LNG Canada will use a combination of hydro electricity and natural gas to power the plant - the same fracked gas that came via pipeline to the terminal. And it makes sense to do that, since NG is a lot cheaper than hydro. The bottom line? LNG is not clean energy, it's dirty energy - pumped up from the ground with the help of chemicals that leach into the water supply. When burned for electricity, natural gas gives off emissions that are in the atmosphere forever, contributing to the greenhouse effect of global warming. "Today's announcement is a new form of climate denial: The idea that we can build new fossil fuel projects that will cause millions of tonnes of additional emissions while reducing our emissions at the same time," said Sierra Club B.C.'s climate campaigner, Jens Wieting, the day of the LNG Canada announcement. "By sweetening the pot for fracked gas export, the government is laying out a red carpet for investors to help destroy our climate." The real costs of LNG $22 billion seems like a lot of revenue to glean from one LNG project. Imagine if two more projects of similar size could be built. That would wipe out BC's current debt of around $67 billion. But this is just the "gross revenue". To find the net, we have to calculate the costs of LNG, to our health, our environment, and natural disasters that could easily occur as a result of an industry that is really a ticking time bomb. Then subtract them from the gross. Let's give it a try. Health The best way to measure the health effects of LNG is to look at the natural gas industry in the United States, where fracking has been done with gusto for nearly a decade - using the same techniques that will be done in BC. It's been found that people who live near areas where hydraulic fracturing is taking place, are more likely to be hospitalized for heart conditions, neurological illness and cancer. That's according to a study done in 2015 by the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, where researchers looked at hospitalization rates in Pennsylvania in areas with fracking versus those without. "The technology to recover natural gas depends on undisclosed types and amounts of toxic chemicals. A list of 944 products containing 632 chemicals used during natural gas operations was compiled. Literature searches were conducted to determine potential health effects of the 353 chemicals identified by Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) numbers. More than 75% of the chemicals could affect the skin, eyes, and other sensory organs, and the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Approximately 40-50% could affect the brain/nervous system, immune and cardiovascular systems, and the kidneys; 37% could affect the endocrine system; and 25% could cause cancer and mutations. These results indicate that many chemicals used during the fracturing and drilling stages of gas operations may have long-term health effects that are not immediately expressed. In addition, an example was provided of waste evaporation pit residuals that contained numerous chemicals on the CERCLA and EPCRA lists of hazardous substances." Natural Gas Operations From A Public Health Perspective, wv4mom.org A 2017 study at the University of Montreal found that fracking releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene into the environment: The researchers tested urine samples of 29 pregnant women in Chetwynd and Dawson Creek, two small communities near heavily-fracked shale gas fields in BC's Peace River Valley. They measured two "biomarkers" that our bodies produce when we're exposed to benzene, a carcinogen that's been linked to low birth weights and some defects. Environmental Fracking defenders say the process is perfectly safe and contained. The reality is that pollutants are released throughout the process - into the air and water. Tens of thousands of wells will be drilled, then a concoction of chemicals, water and frac sand will be pumped in at high pressure to break apart the shale rock in order to create fissures that release the natural gas. The fracking fluid and natural gas will then be pumped back up and "burped" for several weeks, while the gas is separated from the fluids. Sour gas is burned, releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide into the environment. Thirty to 40% of the fracking fluid is left in the well. The "flowback liquid" that is left after the gas is extracted contains water and a number of contaminants, including radioactive material (like radium, which can cause leukemia), heavy metals, hydrocarbons, bromide and other toxins. This wastewater is then stored in pits, injected deep underground, or treated off-site. The wastewater pumped underground goes into oil and gas waste wells or saline aquifers. There are serious concerns about the ability of these caverns and aquifers to handle the increased pressure and the evidence is showing that deep-well injecting is linked to the occurrence of earthquakes. Benzene, a cancer-causing carcinogen mentioned above in the study on pregnant women, can seep into the groundwater, helped along by further cracks in the Earth if the procedure results in tremors. Wastewater stored on surface is no better. The toxic ponds continue to off-gas for years and poisons may leach into the water supply. In the Netherlands, methane was found in the drinking water supply of the nearby aquifer, 50 years after a blow-out occurred in an underground natural gas reservoir. Methane in water is explosive and can cause asphyxiate people if it's not detected. Methane concentrations are 17 times higher in drinking-water wells near fracturing sites than in normal wells. Then there's the extreme water use. Each well uses between 1.5 million and 15 million gallons (American Geosciences Institute) of locally-sourced fresh water (an estimated 28,000 wells have been drilled so far in Northeastern BC, that number could easily double), which will be permanently contaminated by toxic chemicals contained in the fracking fluid, in ground contaminants and the mixing of the two to create new toxic substances. This is water that could be used for drinking, by animals or humans, or for irrigating crops and pastures. Billions of gallons of fresh water will be destroyed. A recent study from Duke University found a huge increase in water use for fracking operations over the past five years. The paper published in Science Advances revealed that water use per well increased by up to 770% between 2011 and 2016. Wastewater volumes rose by 1,440% in two Texas shale formations. Keep in mind, this water is being taken by oil and gas companies for free. Pretty galling considering most of us have to pay for our water. Imagine how much it would cost if they had to pay for it? Billions. In BC we pay an average $37.50 a month for water. In drought-stricken areas, it's a lot higher. Water rates in California have been going up. Multiply $37.50/mo times 2.4 million (the 4.8 million population of British Columbia conservatively divided by two to account for multiple-person households) and you get $2.167 billion a year. When it comes to air pollution, natural gas is, prima facie, better for the environment than coal. NG plants emit about half of the carbon dioxide compared to coal-fired plants, and a natural gas-powered vehicle will release 15 to 20% less pollutants than one powered by gasoline. But there will still be emissions, lots of them, plus, the really negative effects of natural gas occur at the drilling, extraction and transportation phases. This is because the industry can't stop the escape of methane, the main component of natural gas. Methane is terrible for the atmosphere, and a large contributor to global warming, because it is much more efficient than CO2 at trapping heat. Scientists estimate methane contributes about 25% to global warming. Fugitive methane emissions run from 1% to 9% of total natural gas life cycle emissions. In order for natural gas power plants to be cleaner than coal, methane emissions over the plant's life cycle must be kept below 3.2%, according to one study. Most methane leaks come from flaring excess NG instead of putting it into a pipeline. Think methane emissions are no big deal, just a cost of doing business? The journal Nature earlier this year published a study saying that the US oil and gas industry emits 13 million tonnes of methane a year, which is 60% higher than the EPA's estimate. The biggest methane leak in US history occurred in California in 2015. It took SoCal Gas nearly four months to plug the leak at the Alison Canyon gas field - during which an estimated 109,000 tonnes of methane was released into the atmosphere. While that sounds bad, the methane emissions from one natural gas field - the sprawling San Juan Basin in the US southwest - emitted 291,162 tonnes of methane in 2014, according to the EPA. The Front Range tight gas formation in Colorado reportedly leaks 19.3 tons of methane an hour. In some areas where fracking occurs, there have been increases in other hazardous pollutants besides methane - namely particulate matter and ozone. Living under half a mile from an unconventional gas well puts you at greater risk of respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to one study quoted by the Union of Concerned Scientists. On top of the methane gas escapes and other toxic emissions, methane in the water, ruined fresh water that could be put to productive and healthy uses, dangerous health risks including benzene poisoning leading to cancer and birth defects, earthquakes, the risk to dams and other large structures, we added two more detrimental effects of fracking in a recent article: danger to killer whales from much higher LNG tanker traffic, and the exacerbation of global warming witnessed by retreating glaciers and a newly active volcano right here in BC. Mount Meager just north of Vancouver is a ticking time bomb, with glacial retreat exposing "fumaroles" or vents spewing hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and steam. Of course we can't attribute fracking to venting and retreating glaciers on Mount Meager, the site of a massive mudslide in 2010 - the second largest in Canadian history. But if fracking goes ahead in northeastern BC, as it undoubtedly will with two LNG projects on the runway and 12 more proposed according to Natural Resources Canada, there will be more carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases released, increasing the likelihood of another disaster at Mount Meager, and other BC volcanoes coming to life. Conclusion Climate change is real. We don't know whether it's human-caused or a function of natural cycles, or maybe a combination of both. Actually we don't care. We only know that it's here, and we need to plan for it. Most of the population is happy to go on with their lives, knowing that the Earth is warming, but without much concern it will affect them. This includes politicians who are the gate-keepers of our natural resources, our air and our water. With the acceleration of an LNG industry in BC, these gate-keepers have given the keys to large, foreign multi-nationals who don't care about BC. They only want to buy our gas and ship it overseas, supposedly to get Asia off of coal and onto cleaner natural gas. But as we have shown, NG is anything but clean. When burned, it emits noxious pollutants. These emissions are part of the problem of climate change, not the solution. Methane release makes the problem many times worse. The more methane in the atmosphere, the warmer the planet will get. It's just science. The only way to get the liquid natural gas is to frack it, which comes with a whole host of problems, presenting huge risks to human and animal health, and the environment. Is it worth it? Is 20 billion dollars over the 40-year life of one project worth the risk of what we're going to do to northeastern BC? Not from the economic sideThe financial cost to us BC residents is massively lopsided. BC politicians are giving them, the LNG multinationals, none of which are Canadian Companies, a $5.3 billion tax break and $86.68 billion in free water over the 40 period they supposedly give us $20 billion. The Feds are giving them another $250m. Hmmmmm. And what price will BC residents pay for failing to reach our stated carbon footprint reduction goals? We at Ahead of the Herd believe that the costs to human health of fracking natural gas, pipelining and burning it to get LNG, in terms of increased hospitalizations, and drains on the Medical Services Plan, plus the many negative effects on the environment contributing to global warming causing earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes erupting, the extinction of BC's Killer Whales etc - to name a few will cost a great deal more than $20 billion, over the next 40 years. What is the net benefit to BC of just one LNG project, let alone two or three more and a massive pipeline system that would have to be built to move all that gas around? I strongly suggest there is none. Richard (Rick) Mills aheadoftheherd.com Ahead of the Herd is on Twitter Ahead of the Herd is now on FaceBook Ahead of the Herd is now on YouTube Legal Notice / Disclaimer This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. Richard Mills has based this document on information obtained from sources he believes to be reliable but which has not been independently verified. Richard Mills makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Expressions of opinion are those of Richard Mills only and are subject to change without notice. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp RedMane Technology is a Chicago-based software solutions and systems integration services company. The company was awarded a contract to provide and implement its mCase platform for the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). This department of social services in Virginia has a Comprehensive Permanency Assessment and Safety System (COMPASS) program. The technology organizations work is in support of the Commonwealths Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) Enterprise Mobile Software Solution project. This project is the first component in the COMPASS program. The program follows Virginia Governor Ralph Northams executive order, which directs the use of cloud technologies in the Commonwealths information technology services. Virginia is committed to improving the lives of the families and children we serve through our child welfare programs, said Carl E. Ayers, director, the Division of Family Services, VDSS. Equipping our workforce with industry leading tools is a major step in fulfilling that mission. Through our partnership with RedMane, the Commonwealth will take advantage of technological improvements that ensure staff have the needed information at their fingertips when working with those in need. RedMane Technologys cloud-based platform is designed to enable child welfare caseworkers to access data when they need it, either when they are in the office or the field. With mCase platform, caseworkers can put more focus on the needs and positive outcomes of their clients. Caseworkers will be able to meet with a family, assess the situation utilizing existing assessment tools, develop an appropriate plan, and have it agreed upon, printed, and signed in a single visit. We will implement mCase and be responsible for all the systems integration work associated with this critical project, said Tony Lakier, president, RedMane. Our professional services staff will work closely with VDSS to tailor the solution to Virginias needs, integrate it into the existing environment, and roll it out throughout the Commonwealth. The companys mCase platform will assist the state of Virginia to protect and serve its children and families. Assisting organizations with problem-solving and helping people as a result is what RedMane is all about, said Lakier. In fact, other jurisdictions such as Milwaukee County, Wisconsin; the province of Alberta, Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands are using our mCase platform in aiding and assisting their residents for everything from eligibility and benefits processing to child welfare and ongoing case management. Edited by Ken Briodagh Itron, working to innovate the way utilities and cities manage energy and water, reportedly has signed a contract with Conelectricas R.L. in Costa Rica, in partnership with iTECNA, Itrons certified partner in that country. Conelectricas R.L. is a group comprised of four electricity cooperatives, targeting operations improvement where they operate. The cooperatives will deploy Itrons OpenWay Riva IoT solution, including nearly 250,000 smart meters, over the next five years. Harnessing Itrons OpenWay Riva solution and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering, Conelectricas will use back-office and edge analytics software applications to improve electricity delivery to its 980,000 associates. Combining this platform with Itrons smart electric meters, the cooperatives expect to reduce the cost of operations while improving service to customers. With the ability to remotely connect and disconnect devices, Conelectricas R.L. will be able to improve processes, avoid truck rolls and enhance quality of service for electricity customers. With a customer portal that grants access to valuable consumption information, consumers can better manage their energy consumption, reduce usage and save money. The cooperatives will also be able to add applications in the future, such as distribution automation, electric vehicle charging and smart water metering. Itrons open communications platform and smart meters will help us uncover operational savings and lay the foundation for smart city and IoT initiatives, said Erick Rojas Salazar, GM, Conelectricas R.L. With this solution, Conelectricas R.L. will be able to meet regulation requirements and uncover new revenue streams, such as EV stations, streetlight management, network services, energy and water usage management etc., in the smart city and IoT space. Because our OpenWay Riva solution is standards-based and open, Conelectricas R.L. will be able to implement numerous smart city devices and applications with our platform as the foundation, said Emerson Souza, VP, sales, Commercial and Customer Enablement for Latin America, Itron. Showcasing the potential of smart meters on a robust network, this contract is an excellent example for other countries in the region. Edited by Ken Briodagh The biggest stocks across technology and the internet, including Apple and Facebook, resumed their descent as investors continue to fret that the one-time market darlings suddenly face a darker outlook for world growth. The so-called Faanng stocks were among the biggest decliners of the day. Facebook fell as much as 5.4% to the lowest since February 2017, while Netflix shed 5.2% and Amazon was off as much as 4.6%. Apple fell 3.6% at one stage on a Wall Street Journal report that Apple recently cut production orders for all three of the iPhone models that were unveiled in September. Meanwhile, sterling was little changed against the euro, at 89.06p, as last weeks political drama in Westminster over UK prime minister Theresa Mays future and that of the Brexit transition agreement calmed somewhat. Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index, said traders will continue to focus on Westminster even though the hearing with Bank of England governor Mark Carney at a parliamentary committee later today will be a welcomed distraction. Views on the UK economy are expected along with a grilling over the central banks plans for a no deal Brexit, she said. Of the Faang stocks, many remain strong performers for 2018 Netflix is up more than 40% year-to-date while Amazon has gained 30%. However, they have seen pronounced weakness in recent weeks, with selling spurred by some disappointing quarterly results and growth forecasts. You need to recalibrate your growth expectations, said Frank Davis, director of sales and trading at Lek Securities. Investors had been looking past those issues before if you werent in these names then you were missing out but that pile-on mentality is gone, and the move out is brisk because the sentiment has changed so much, he said. Apple, the largest stock in the market, was on track for its sixth decline in eight sessions. It has dropped 20% from an early October record, on mounting concern for future iPhone demand. Chip maker Nvidia tumbled again to shed almost half its value since early October. Other so-called momentum names seeing sharp moves included Square Inc and Salesforce. Dropbox fell to a record low and Spotify dropped as much as 5.2%. Bloomberg and Irish Examiner Nissan will remove Carlos Ghosn as chairman after he was arrested in Tokyo for violations of financial law, throwing the car industrys largest global alliance into turmoil. Mr Ghosn, a towering figure who saved Nissan from collapse and brought it together with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, was detained over the suspected breach of Japanese financial laws, Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa told reporters. Mr Ghosn and director Greg Kelly, an American, have been under investigation at Nissan for several months, and the board is set to meet on Thursday to remove them both. Mr Ghosn and Mr Kelly were reporting pay and compensation to securities regulators in Tokyo that was less than the actual amount, Nissan said, adding that they did this to reduce Mr Ghosns disclosed compensation. Regarding Mr Ghosn, numerous other significant acts of misconduct have been uncovered such as personal use of company assets and Kellys deep involvement has also been confirmed, the carmaker said in a statement. Mr Saikawa said the company cant disclose further details of the suspected wrongdoing. Too much power being concentrated to one individual allowed for the misconduct, and Nissan failed to detect it because its structure wasnt transparent enough, he said. Mr Ghosn is suspected of understating his income by 5bn yen (38.5m) over five years, Kyodo News reported. The bombshell allegations threaten to bring down one of the car industrys most powerful executives, who turned Nissan and Renault into a challenger to companies Volkswagen and Toyota. They also cast doubt over the future of the alliance, a three-way pact that has sought to go deeper under the steady hand of Mr Ghosn. While no longer Nissans CEO, hes been laying the groundwork as chairman to make the alliance permanent after his departure including the possibility of a merger. Investors need to be reassured, as Mr Ghosn is a key driver of the collaboration, Jose Asumendi, an analyst with JPMorgan, said in a research note. Co-operation with Nissan is critical to Renaults strategy. The news rattled the European equity market, with shares of Renault falling up to 15% in Paris, while Nissans global depository receipts sank more than 11%. The crisis at Nissan is taking place amid a tectonic shift in the car landscape. The move toward electric and self-driving cars has forced traditional carmakers to invest billions, while new competitors like Uber Technologies and Tesla invade their turf. Mr Ghosn would be the second major car-industry figure to leave unexpectedly before seeing through the transition. Sergio Marchionne, who led Fiat back from the brink and engineered its merger with Chrysler, died in July, leaving former Jeep chief Mike Manley at the helm. Nissan said it has been providing information to Japanese prosecutors and is co-operating fully with their investigation. Mr Ghosn said in September he will continue to pare back his role at the three firms he brought together while continuing to head their alliance. A spokesman for Frances finance ministry declined to comment on the news. The country owns about 15% of Renault and supported Mr Ghosns renewal at the helm of the French carmaker. Bloomberg A lack of awareness internationally about Cork is proving to be one of the major challenges for firms in attracting talent, businesses in the region have said. Cork Chambers economic trends survey for the third quarter found that low international awareness of Cork, housing, and income tax rates, were the biggest barriers to talent retention. When it came to threats to business growth, Brexit and skills availability remain the biggest concerns, the chamber said. The organisation said it had asked its members who resoundingly said increasing the regions international profile was vital in order to attract the best talent from abroad, if Corks growth was to be maximised. Skills availability, attraction and retention are key to driving the sustainability of this growth and to maximising the opportunity. To match Corks ambition, international marketing campaigns such as WeAreCork are aimed at furthering Cork on the international map to business and talent. Attracting and retaining the right skills and experience are part and parcel of all growth stories, and Cork is no different, the chamber said. Business confidence in the region was at 96% in the quarter, Cork Chamber said. The body also called for a national cluster policy to link rural SMEs and increase innovation. The IDA said Cork continues to be an attractive and compelling location which is evidenced by the increased level of investment and job creation by IDA client companies in the city and wider southwest region in recent years. There are over 35,000 people employed by foreign direct investment companies in Cork, with more than 9,000 since 2012, the agency said. Cork Chamber hit out at the Employment Bill that aims to effectively ban most zero-hour contracts and introduce banded contract hours. Ahead of a Seanad debate on the issue today, Cork Chamber chief executive Conor Healy said: It is incredible to think that an additional layer of administration could be added to the mix. "Forcing banded-hour contracts will invariably lead to more cautious allocation of hours, and remove the flexibility that many small businesses require. Up to 200 jobs in Cork could be lost if An Post closes its Mail Centre in Little Island, the Dail heard today. An Post has four such centres for sorting mail in Athlone, Cork, Dublin, and Portlaoise. However the company will close one of the four next year to cut costs, and while An Post says it has yet to decide which centre is to shut, Cork East Labour TD Sean Sherlock told the Dail that he has been informed that the Little Island centre has been earmarked for closure. He asked Communications Minister Richard Bruton if this is the case, and warned that the closure of the Cork Mail Centre would have a devastating effect on postal services in the southern region. Mr Sherlock further warned that the closure of the Cork Mail Centre could lead to the loss of 200 jobs. Mr Bruton said An Post will seek to ensure the very best delivery of service to its customers in a way that is consistent with being commercially viable. It has a strong record of communication with its workforce, which it will continue to respect, but it has to develop plans that allow it to continue to be able to deliver on its mandate. That is what it does as an independent body, he said. Mr Bruton said he has no problem following up on the matter with Mr Sherlock. However, he added that "it must be borne in mind that this is a public company that has a commercial responsibility. It has to develop its proposals in a way that is financially viable, he said. Mr Sherlock this evening called on An Post to maintain the Mail Centre in Cork. "The loss of up to 200 jobs in An Post in Cork would be devastating for this region, Mr Sherlock told the Irish Examiner. There is no justification for this decision. It would leave the entire southern region of the country without a Mail Centre. This is just unconscionable and An Post management must reverse gears on this course," he said. A spokesperson for An Post, however, said the company has not yet decided which of the centres it will close. "An Post has already announced that a Mails Centre will close in 2019," the spokesperson said. While a lot of detailed work has been done to ensure we have the right infrastructure for the rapidly changing mails and parcels business, no decision has been made as to which centre will close. Our focus is on the busy pre-Christmas and New Year period for mails and parcels. Once a decision is made, well consult with our staff, our unions and all stakeholders," the spokesperson said. The Irish Examiner understands that the decision is expected early in the New Year, and that plans are that the centre chosen for closure will cease operations in the third quarter of 2019. Pensioner Desmond Duffy walked free from court this evening after being found not guilty of murdering his "abusive" and "violent" partner, 59-year-old Desmond 'Dessie' Sullivan. Mr Duffy (70) cried quietly and whispered "thank you" as the jury left the courtroom having spent seven hours and eleven minutes considering their verdict following a nine-day trial. Mr Duffy said from the outset that he was acting in self-defence after his partner of 36 years attacked him in the kitchen of their home. At 4.46pm the jury returned with their verdict. Justice Paul McDermott thanked them and exempted them from further jury duty for 10 years. He then turned to Mr Duffy and told him he was discharged. Mr Duffy turned to his legal counsel and asked: "Can I go?" Outside court his supporters hugged him as he prepared to return home. 'Trouble' The trial heard that Mr Duffy called Garda Maurice Ward, who is married to a niece of the deceased, shortly after 10pm on May 23, 2016 to say there was "trouble" and could he come over urgently. Gda Ward arrived about 30 minutes later and found the already deceased body of Desmond Sullivan in the kitchen. He called emergency services but knew there was no point in trying resuscitation. The accused took to the stand in his own defence during the trial, telling defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC he was not there to blacken Mr Sullivan's name. "You don't spend 36 years of your life with somebody you don't love. We had our problems but Dessie also had his good sides," Mr Duffy said. He told Ms Biggs that he was defending himself from an attack by his "abusive" and "violent" partner. He added: "I feel so sorry for his family, especially his mother who I was very close to, his sister and others but I'm still grieving, devastated and heart-broken by what happened. I have lost my partner of 36 years and I will never ever get over that." He further told his trial: "It was never my intention to hurt him or injure him." Mr Duffy said he stayed with Mr Sullivan despite the abuse and told Ms Biggs that we know of women who stay in abusive and violent relationships and male sexuality is no different. "I covered it up and I denied it," he said. At the end of the day I did love the man. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy said Mr Sullivan died from compression of the neck causing a lack of oxygen to the brain. Mr Sullivan had hypertensive heart disease and a combination of alcohol and Diazepam in his bloodstream which may have contributed to his death, making him vulnerable to arrhythmia of the heart. She found evidence of tiny haemhorrhages around the eyes which she said are common in cases involving asphyxiation. She said the haemhorrages showed that the airway was blocked for "some seconds". Bruising around the Adam's apple were consistent with Mr Duffy's explanation that he used a pincer-like grip of the fingers and thumb of his right hand when he reached out to defend himself. The trial heard from multiple witnesses that Mr Duffy had been the victim of domestic abuse for about three decades. Anne Quinlan said she got a lift home from a wedding in Killiney in the mid-1980s with the two men and as Mr Duffy drove Mr Sullivan started punching him in the face, head and upper body and screaming at him. Carmel Savage, a close friend of both men, said Mr Sullivan could be nasty and wouldn't let Mr Duffy speak. Melissa Farrell recalled seeing Sullivan dancing at the crematorium on the morning of Mr Duffy's brother's funeral. Later that day Mr Sullivan dumped a basket of sausages and chips on Mr Duffy's head. There were multiple other incidents and Mr Duffy said in evidence that he would sometimes stay in a local hotel to avoid the abuse or, if he didn't have enough money, he would wander the streets. On the night Mr Sullivan died both men had been drinking in Grace's Pub in Rathmines and returned home shortly after 9pm. Neighbours heard raised voices with Katie Daffy, who knew both men, saying this occasion was different because Mr Duffy seemed to be arguing back. It sounded like he had "snapped", she said. Describing the argument Mr Duffy said that when they got home Mr Sullivan started punching him and pulling his hair. Mr Duffy went to bed, hoping to defuse the situation, but Mr Sullivan followed him, took the bedclothes off the bed and took Mr Duffy's credit card from his shirt pocket. He taunted him, telling him: "Fuck off, go stay in your fucking hotel now." Mr Duffy went downstairs, to get his jacket, but his jacket was gone and Mr Sullivan told him he had hidden it. The row continued with Mr Sullivan punching Mr Duffy and Mr Duffy said he raised his arm, to defend himself, and pushed Mr Sullivan towards an alcove in the kitchen. He said Mr Sullivan was pushing against him but then slid down the wall and fell on his side. Mr Duffy called Gda Maurice Ward and when Gda Ward arrived he found the body and called gardai and emergency services. The prosecution argued that Mr Duffy was angry and had decided he wasn't going to take the abuse any more when he squeezed Mr Sullivan's neck. Defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC said that her client acted in self-defence and that Mr Sullivan's heart disease combined with alcohol and drug use made him vulnerable. Justice Paul McDermott told the jury that to find Mr Duffy guilty of murder the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that he intended to kill or cause serious injury to Mr Sullivan and that he was not acting in self defence. If he was acting in self defence but used more force than was reasonably necessary he would be guilty of manslaughter, he said. If he was acting in self defence and used no more force than a reasonable person would consider necessary, he told the jury to acquit. An immigration officer at Dublin Airport was entitled to look at a man's mobile phone text messages which led the officer to believe he was here to enter into a marriage of convenience, the High Court has ruled The Pakistani man arrived in October 2017 at the airport with a travel visa and was interviewed by the immigration officer who then examined his phone. He claimed he was coming to visit his brother. However, the officer concluded, through a perusal of his text messages, the man was in fact coming here to enter a "marriage of convenience." He was refused permission to land and taken to Cloverhill Prison in Dublin. Four days later, he was removed from Ireland. He then brought proceedings against the Minister for Justice and the gardai seeking to quash the decision to refuse him permission to enter the State and a declaration that the search of his phone breached his European Convention rights. He also complained about his detention and the conditions under which he was held at Cloverhill. Mr Justice Max Barrett refused to grant the reliefs he sought. The judge said the notion that the immigration officer took an irrelevant consideration into account when making his decision to refuse landing came from a reference in the officer's notebook to "Brother's sham marriage". The judge found the notebook contained "but a record" of the immigration officer's conversation with the man as well as thoughts arising. He did not see any irrelevant consideration was taken into account. The notebook and a contemporaneous computer log in relation to border management suggested that all and only relevant details were taken into account, he said. Section 7 of the 2004 Immigration Act provides, an immigration officer or garda may search a non-national's luggage and any documents they carry may be examined, the judge said. Those documents include "any information in non-legible form that is capable of being converted into legible form." That included any electronic device and did come within the Act, he said. The judge also found the refusal to land notice was adequate to inform the man of why he was being refused permission to land. In relation to conditions at Cloverhill Prison, the judge said not a lot was made during the court hearing about this complaint. However, while prison "doubtless is not pleasant", there was no evidence to suggest the conditions breached his human rights. A detective garda, whose face was slashed in a razor blade attack on an aeroplane as he accompanied a deported Nigerian man to Lagos, has been awarded 25,000 damages at a garda compensation hearing in the High Court. Barrister Breffni Gordon told Mr Justice Michael Twomey that Detective Garda Eamon Moran, of the Garda National Immigration Bureau, was escorting the Nigerian national on a plane flying between Madrid and Lagos when the deportee succeeded in arming himself with a razor blade and launched an attack on him. Mr Gordon, who appeared with Murray Flynn Maguire Solicitors for the injured garda, said Garda Moran had been lacerated across his right ear, the right side of his face and on his upper back before his attacker had been restrained. Detective Garda Moran, 44, told the court he was 38 at the time of the attack in March 2012 and was fortunate there had been a doctor on board who administered first aid and applied dressings to stop the bleeding. On his return to Madrid, he had attended hospital where 29 stitches had been inserted in his wounds and where he remained overnight before returning to Ireland where he saw his GP for further treatment and advice. Detective Moran, of Templeogue, Dublin, told Mr Gordon he had been treated with anti-inflammatory analgesic medication which he had continued to take as required. The scars on his wounds continued to heal although they remained visible. He had sustained a significant laceration to his right face and right ear and experienced numbness in the scarring areas. He said that more than three years after the incident he had been told by a medical expert that while his wounds had fully healed the scarring would be permanent and will remain with me for the rest of my life. Judge Twomey heard that Detective Moran suffered from stress, anxiety and sleep disturbance following the attack and had undergone almost a dozen counselling sessions. In 2015 his medical expert had recorded that he did not suffer from any residual post-traumatic stress syndrome. Detective Garda Moran told the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reforms legal team led by barrister Esther Earley, that there had been a very short turnaround at Lagos airport and he had not been hospitalised until his return to Madrid. Initially, people had been concerned for him and he had to tell the story of the attack over and over and he had found this distressing but was better able to talk about it now. He told the court he had been off work for about four months but had been keen to get back to his full duties. Eight months after the incident while flying with a prisoner to Chicago he had experienced slight apprehension but had successfully dealt with it. Judge Twomey awarded Detective Garda Moran 25,000 damages together with just over 3,000 special expenses. Gardai say they are adopting a very balanced approach to enforcement of the controversial new time-regulated bus lanes on Corks St Patricks Street. Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin said motorists caught driving in the bus lanes during the 3pm-6.30pm ban on private cars are being dealt with by way of caution in the first instance but he warned that persistent offenders will face fines. We are working closely with Cork City Council to address the various problems, he said. He was responding to questions from Senator Jerry Buttimer at a meeting of the Cork City Joint Policing Committee this week. After a week of intense public debate over the impact of the afternoon car ban, reintroduced on August 9, Mr Buttimer asked gardai to comment on the policing issues which have arisen from this controversial element of the City Centre Movement Strategy (CCMS). Chief Supt McPolin said he does not have statistics for how many motorists have been fined for driving in the bus lanes since Aug 9, but said gardai are monitoring the situation and are adopting a balanced approach to enforcement. Mr Buttimer welcomed the comments: Its good to see that its not just a garda standing on the street with a notebook. It demonstrates that the city is open for business." JPC chairman, Cllr Chris OLeary, said the CORE partnership group met last Friday to discuss a range of strategic initiatives for the next 12-months. Council chief executive, Ann Doherty, said while the CCMS has exercised and energised lots of opinion in recent weeks, it is important to remind people why its happening. She said the CCMS is designed to make the city a better place ahead of the delivery of thousands of city centre-based jobs at various large office building projects: That's why we are doing it. And its important to remember that two-thirds of the traffic passing through St Patricks St never had a city destination in the first place. It's about taking that unnecessary traffic out." Meanwhile, the Councils new free late-night parking initiative will kick in at the citys public multi-storey car parks tomorrow night. Parking will be free in Paul St and North Main St car parks after 5pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Jan 12. Several traders have blamed the afternoon car ban for a reduction in trade. But others say trade is up. In a statement to the Irish Examiner at the weekend, Opera Lane said according to many of its traders, the introduction of the new traffic regulations and bus priority lanes has not affected sales overall: In fact, several stores traded ahead of the same period 2017 in September and October." Gardai have deployed additional resources to target suspected organised begging in Cork city following a visible increase in the activity on the streets in recent days. Supt John Quilter, who is responsible for policing in the city, said gardai have made 144 arrests for begging in the city since the start of the year, compared to 100 arrests for the same offence in the same period last year. He said the increase in the number of arrests demonstrates the increased Garda focus on this activity. However, he said the activity, which has re-emerged in recent weeks, appears to involve individuals who have been living locally for some time, rather than an influx of people from abroad, as was the case this time last year. He made his comments yesterday during a meeting of the Cork City Joint Policing Committee in response to questions from independent councillor Paudie Dineen. Mr Dineen said he has seen a significant increase in the number of people involved in what appears to be organised begging on city centre streets. Blankets and cardboard sheets have been placed in various shop doorways, particularly on St Patricks St from early morning to guarantee prime begging locations. Mr Dineen asked gardai to outline how they planned to crack down on this activity in the run-up to Christmas. Supt Quilter said gardai are very conscious of the activity and are managing it. We are working with Cork City Council and the Cork Business Association on this and we are taking a balanced approach, he said. But the evidence seems to suggest that those involved are more indigenous, and not an influx of people from outside the jurisdiction. The people who are begging are from the area. We are monitoring it, we are managing it, and we have additional resources dedicated to manage it. Last year, gardai arrested 15 people for begging in Cork during a weekend-long operation in November targeting suspected organised begging. Most of those who were detained at the time were from eastern Europe. Last week, gardai in Dublin arrested dozens of people following a three-day operation targeting organised begging. Both uniform and plain clothes garda personnel were involved in the operation which focused on Temple Bar and Grafton St. Across the operation, 46 people were arrested under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2011 (Begging). It is expected that they will all appear in the Courts of Criminal Justice early next month. The Health Service Executive today offered its sincerest apologies to the family of a woman who died after her jugular vein was torn during a routine surgical procedure two years ago. Teresa Lyons daughter Geraldine OBrien told her inquest that on the day her mother died, her family were forced to leave her alone in a hugely overcrowded Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick. The family were told by staff to leave seriously ill Teresa, aged 76, alone in the ED as there was only room for patients, Ms OBrien said. A verdict of medical misadventure was returned at the inquest, held at Limerick Coroners Court. Teresa Lyons, of Granville Park, Limerick, who had a history of diabetes, presented at the hospital on December 29, 2016, vomiting, and suffering with diarrhoea. She died eight hours later during a routine surgical procedure after her condition worsened, her inquest heard. Reading from the familys victim impact statement, Ms OBrien, said she and her siblings feel guilty because they never got a chance to say goodbye to their mother. Staff, while coping, were struggling in packed (conditions)...we were asked to leave to make room for even more patients. While we were very reluctant to leave mam alone, we were given no choice, Ms OBrien said. Over the next hour (my sister) Valerie tried to go back to mams bedside but was repeatedly denied entry due to the overcrowding. Family members remained in the waiting room at the hospital throughout the day. However they were not informed Ms Lyons had been moved out of the ED to Intensive Care, nor were they told she was due to undergo a surgery procedure or any risks associated with it, Ms OBrien said. At 5.55pm, Valerie again tried to get back in to see mam only to be advised she was still there and she was doing fine, but she had been moved to ICU at this stage, added Ms OBrien. She said the family felt stonewalled and dismissed by the HSE whenever they attempted to get information relating to their mothers medical treatment. Ms OBrien said they were invited to a meeting with hospital management in March 2017 and management agreed this was unfortunate and should not have happened. In their own words, they said they failed the family. Another comment was made that they would learn from it, so no other family would suffer the same way. Ms OBrien said the family received its first official information provided in correspondence from management on 30 July, 2018, 19 months after her mothers death. We feel this cold, clinical, cruel lack of engagement has left us feeling hurt and betrayed by the management of UL hospital. Ms Lyons died during a renal replacement therapy procedure after her kidneys had failed. The inquest heard it was a routine procedure with a very low risk to the patient. Dr Andras Mikor, a senior registrar at UHL at the time, who carried out the procedure said he called for assistance because he could not remove a surgical wire guide that had been inserted in Ms Lyonss neck to deliver fluids and medication. When the wire was eventually removed it was found to have a kink in it, which it was accepted had probably snagged on Ms Lyonss right internal jugular vein causing it to tear the vein. Ms Lyons was pronounced dead a short while later, after attempts by medical staff to drain fluids and perform CPR had failed. Since the fatal incident a new type of wire has been in use at UHL, the inquest heard. Having obtained their mothers full medical files under Freedom of Information legislation, Ms Lyons family were caused further upset by language used on a computerised hospital form relating to their mothers death which recorded that surgery was performed on the wrong body part. Senior UHL clinician, Dr Catherine Motherway, who was brought in to assist in Ms Lyonss surgery, said the procedure was carried out properly. This internal hospital administration system was no longer being used, the inquest heard. A post mortem concluded death was due to hypovolemic shock as a result of a tear to the right internal jugular vein. That was where the damage was done, stated Limerick Coroner John McNamara. He said a verdict of medical misadventure does not carry any implications for the clinicians involved in Ms Lyonss treatment who told the inquest they had their best to fix her. A solicitor for the HSE offered her sincerest apologies and sincerest condolences to the Lyons family. Speaking afterwards, Ms Lyons daughter Valerie Stewart said: Im just delighted its over and done with. Weve been through two years of absolute mental torture. My mother was taken away and we were left with (no answers)...the treatment we got from management is absolutely disgraceful, she said. But they have apologised and they have said they have now changed the policies and they have changed the wire that mam died from, she said, breaking down. An expert group examining the scale and causes of delayed discharges from hospital has been unable to produce any meaningful recommendations to tackle the problem this winter because of the poor quality of data available to it. The lack of robust data means the independent expert review of delayed discharges is also unable to produce a costed implementation plan. Minister for Older People Jim Daly said he accepts that the data is not reliable enough. The review said the current weekly national delayed discharge report is not fit for purpose. Mr Daly said he favours a daily delayed discharge count, mirroring the trolley count, to shine a light on delayed discharges which he said are arguably, a bigger problem than people on trolleys. Asked who would do the counting, he said it could be hospital management. In the absence of complete data, the working group applied a Dutch measurement model which identified almost eight times the number of delayed discharges in Irish hospitals in 2017 than the number actually recorded 67,149 compared to 8,817. Graham Knowles, who chaired the review, said the absence of a clear national policy and consistent approach regarding delayed discharges has resulted in significant under-reporting, inhibiting implementation of measures to manage the deficit. The review said there is a disincentive for public hospitals to classify private patients as delayed discharges because private insurers often cease paying when this happens. Mr Knowles, the chairman of the University of Limerick Hospital Group, said the cost of delayed discharge is not borne by the patient alone but also impacts on patient flow, such as the time spent in emergency departments. He also noted that while there is a definition of a delayed discharge a patient who remains in hospital after a senior doctor has documented that they can be discharged interpretation varies widely. The review recommends a national policy be developed to provide an unambiguous definition and guide to categorising delayed discharges. It also recommends an assessment of supports available to patients and families regarding Fair Deal, the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), which figures in the top four reasons why discharges are delayed. Other reasons include financial issues, waiting on rehabilitation, and delays in the home care package application process. The review said many families face significant challenges completing the Fair Deal processes particularly where there may be legal or financial complexities. It said submissions made to the review suggest that some families do not cooperate with the NHSS process. The review recommends the Department of Health ensure the development of a policy, with national HSE responsible for ensuring its consistent implementation, and subject to external audit. An exodus of British people and businesses leaving the UK after Brexit risks further inflating house prices and deepening the homelessness crisis, Government officials will warn today. The Department of Housing will outline concerns at a cross-party Dail committee this morning as the Brexit crisis reaches its latest crunch week. Principal officer Damian Allens opening statement by the Oireachtas housing committee, seen by the Irish Examiner, will advise that, despite the Governments preparations, Brexit is a genuine homelessness crisis concern. Noting the likely surge of people escaping the Brexit fallout in the coming months and years, the departments Mr Allen will say the issue could see affordable house prices increase dramatically due to demand. In relation to homelessness, it is the strong view that significant increases in net migration would present a concern in relation to increased numbers of households having difficulty in accessing affordable accommodation, he will warn. This highlights the critical importance of a number of the departments programmes relating to increased delivery of all types of homes, social, affordable and private; strengthened regulation of the private rental market; and the delivery of additional emergency accommodation. Naturally, it is the departments ambition that increased housing output will be sufficient to meet demand, but we are also cognizant of the potential risk in this area and will be monitoring the situation very closely. The concern is likely to be latched upon by opposition parties which have repeatedly raised fears over the damaging impact Brexit could have on Irelands rapidly-worsening housing crisis. Sinn Feins housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin, during a similar housing committee meeting with the ESRI and the Nevin Institute last week, claimed the Governments Rebuilding Ireland housing programme had failed to be Brexit-proofed and was now out of date. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have repeatedly said plans are in place to help the housing market cope with the Brexit fallout. However, there are legitimate concerns that already inflated house prices could surge further due to the UKs decision to leave the EU especially as rents here have already topped Celtic Tiger figures at their peak. Irish Water is investigating who is responsible for pumping excess fluids into a Cork town's sewerage treatment system. County engineer Kevin Morey told councillors that Irish Water's special investigations department was trying to track the culprit or culprits who were overloading the treatment plant in Mitchelstown. He said it was a "significant issue" and having an impact on the treatment plant's capacity. Mr Morey said he had been told that when the issue was dealt with it would "make a significant impact on the capacity the plant could handle." "There are a lot of unknowns coming into the system," Mr Morey added. Cllr June Murphy asked if councillors would be able to see the results of the investigation. She asked if they could expect court proceedings if the culprit or culprits were identified. Mr Morey said there was a potential for Irish Water to take legal action, but added he wasn't aware of it doing so in the past. The county engineer said he had heard of cases in other towns where businesses were given licences to discharge waste into sewerage systems but in some cases they didn't comply with the licence restrictions by either discharging more than the permitted level or by discharging waste which wasn't allowed. A number of councillors said that this needed to be addressed quickly as further development in the Mitchelstown area was being held up because there wasn't enough capacity at the sewerage treatment plant. Cllr Deirdre O'Brien said there were a number of "shovel ready" developments waiting to go which were being held up. Cllr Kay Dawson pointed out that the town badly needed a new and larger treatment plant to cope with future demand. The council is planning to build one. Mr Morey said Irish Water officials were conscious of new developments in the pipeline. Council engineers said the Mitchelstown project had been "bundled in" with treatment plant and network upgrades in Ballycotton, Castletownbere, Castletownsend, Whitegate/Aghada and Inchigeelagh. They said a contractor appointed to the Mitchelstown project had completed most of the site investigation works for the new treatment plant and some land would have to be acquired through Compulsory Purchase Orders for it. They said detailed design for the project was still ongoing. Meanwhile, engineers revealed they intend to carry out a major project in Mallow separating storm drains from the town's sewerage system. It is hoped to start construction next winter and complete in two years. A man who spent 58,000 accidentally lodged in his bank account claimed he did not set out to defraud anybody but the sentencing judge said the accused needed to make a phone call to reality. Judge Sean O Donnabhain said the accused only succeeded in digging a bigger hole for himself by going into the witness box at Cork Circuit Criminal Court today. I got it off my chest anyway, your honour, Keith OConnor, 50, said. The judge said, I am glad it was of good use. Judge O Donnabhain said, I would say, make a phone call and call reality. And when reality rings you, reality will tell you cop yourself on. Pay as much compensation as you can or you will go to jail. So far, the accused has repaid 20,000. The judge said more needed to be raised. OConnor said: I have had nothing but trouble since that money landed in my account. I have been caught by banks before. I have had my house broken into by people looking for the money. I have been threatened, your honour. I did not need that money. I did not ask for that money. It is they put the money in. I did not go out to defraud anyone. Judge O Donnabhain wondered if the sentencing hearing was actually an application by the accused to change his plea of guilty to one of not guilty. I dont know why he was called (to give evidence). He seems to be digging a bigger hole for himself, the judge said. OConnor then said: I went to a garda station to say my house was robbed and I was thrown out of the garda station. Judge O Donnabhain said: I did not throw you out. I gave you as much time I was going to say rope. I will adjourn it to May 22, 2019. What I suggest you do is look at this thing realistically, it is not going to go away, or else you are going to go way. Put your best foot forward. Detective Garda Malcolm Walsh said that on March 29, 2016, 58,000 was lodged in the defendants account in error. He had previously purchased shares through a firm of stockbrokers and at that time there was no money in his account. The money which should have transferred to another client of the stockbrokers went through to the defendants account instead. Following discovery of the error he admitted receiving money but failed to engage with them. He withdrew the money almost immediately and made no efforts to find out the cause of the error. When he was notified of the error he made no effort to pay it back," Detective Garda Walsh said. Defence barrister, Niamh Stewart, previously said OConnor said that his son died and he used 22,000 of it to pay for the funeral. Keith OConnor, 49, of 15 Kilnap Green, Farranree, Cork, pleaded guilty to a theft charge which states that on March 2, 2016, the defendant dishonestly appropriated 58,000 at AIB bank, Blackpool Retail Park, Cork. By Niall Murray, Education Correspondent More than two in five postgraduate research students have seriously considered dropping out of their degree, mainly because of financial or personal issues, a major national survey reveals. The study of nearly 3,000 masters, PhD, or other students on postgrad research programmes found that more than 61% are fully or partly funded by a scholarship, but the figure drops to 57% if non-Irish students are excluded. The first pilot national survey of these students captured the views of just under a third of those doing research postgraduate studies. Just 18% of them were funding their own studies, with 17% receiving grant support and 9% getting funding support from work. Only around a quarter of students have specialist training, or travel to other labs or institutions, covered by their funding source. The findings are published today along with the fifth annual Irish Survey of Student Engagement (ISSE), which received 38,371 responses from undergraduate and taught postgrad courses at 27 publicly-funded colleges. The larger survey shows broadly similar or slightly improved scores under a range of headings since 2016, with the only significant increase being in the quality of interactions with other students, academics, support and administration staff. The research students in the pilot study were asked if they have ever seriously considered withdrawing from their research degree, and 59% had not, although this figure is slightly lower among those pursuing a level nine (masters or equivalent) qualification. But one in five level nine students have considered dropping out for financial reasons, as have more than one in six (17%) PhD students. Students were allowed to provide more than one reason for giving consideration to dropping out of a course, and one in six of all those who responded have done so for family or personal reasons. Other reasons given for thinking seriously about withdrawing were health or employment (both cited by 8% of research students), and 5% have considered transferring to a different college. Other findings in the studies published today include: One in six PhD students reported inadequate computing facilities and one in seven do not have suitable working spaces Taught postgraduate students of arts and humanities report lowest levels of workplace readiness, the highest levels being among education or health and welfare students Arts and humanities taught postgrads are most likely to report interaction with academic staff, but the lowest interaction levels are found among those studying ICT In both surveys, overall satisfaction with course provision and supports is high under most headings. Students on taught programmes, including non- research postgraduate degrees, scored higher-order learning at universities better than at institutes of technology, but the opposite is true for learning in collaboration with other students. Across taught programmes, the lowest indicator scores remain those around interaction with academic staff. Half of first-year students and nearly a third on taught postgrad degrees have never discussed course topics, ideas, or concepts with academic staff outside of class, while 18% of all students have often discussed their performance. Plans to build a new reservoir to supply a drought-stricken village have been delayed by up to 18 months because of a colony of bats. The delay has prompted one county councillor to suggest shooting the bats to solve the problem. People living in the North Cork village of Kildorrery have suffered from water outages on numerous occasions during the last couple of years. Families have regularly had to travel several miles to take showers in relative's homes; businesses have had to bring in churns of water and farmers have had to tanker in supplies for their cattle. Plans to fix the problem have already faced significant delays in recent years as the County Council awaited approval from Irish Water. The problem was two-fold. Ageing water mains were constantly breaking and the old reservoir didn't have the capacity required to supply the area. However, significant replacement work has been carried out on the mains and plans are in place to build a new reservoir. County Councillors finally thought the end was in sight until they got some shocking news from their county engineer. A meeting of the council's Northern Division in Mallow heard county engineer, Kevin Morey, state that planning permission has been acquired to demolish the old reservoir and build a new one on the same site. However, Mr Morey added that part of the planning condition is that bats roosting at the reservoir can't be disturbed during their breeding season. He said the condition states that demolition works could only be carried out on the site in the off-breeding season, which was from September to February. Because the council wouldn't be able to complete the work this year, Mr Morey said it will be either winter of next year or spring of 2020 that construction work could get underway. Cllrs Noel McCarthy and Frank O'Flynn said the delay is totally unacceptable. Division chairman, Cllr Bernard Moynihan added: "So bats are holding up the whole thing. Bats are now more important than the people." Cllr Timmy Collins was also angered by the news: "We should shoot all the bats and get rid of them." Cllr Timmy Collins Cllr O'Flynn said in all his years as a public representative he has never heard of bats roosting in the area. Mr Morey said the Council has no choice in the matter as it is a condition in the planning permission that bats are not disturbed during their breeding season. Both Cllrs McCarthy and O'Flynn said the people of Kildorrery have suffered too long and this news will really upset them. Council engineers maintain that the water supply system to the village has improved since they replaced several kilometres of mains. While councillors accepted this they said it won't be 'up to scratch' until the new reservoir is built. Meanwhile, Cllr Collins described another water scheme in North Cork as " a disaster." He said that while he appreciates there was a significant drought during the summer, supply problems are still an issue even in recent weeks in Freemount. Engineers said they have carried out some remedial works in the village, but groundwater supplies have fallen perilously low. A Status Yellow rainfall warning is due to take effect after Met Eireann warned of persistent showers for counties Dublin, Louth, Wicklow and Meath. The forecaster has issued the 24-hour warning beginning today at 12pm and ending tomorrow at the same time, with between 25 and 35mm of rain expected to fall. Six children have been in out-of-state care placements for at least five years, including one young person who has spent 10 years overseas. Details provided by Tusla under freedom of information also shows Tuslas bill to maintain the current 21 out-of-state placements is almost 30,000 weekly. It comes as the Child and Family Agency gave an assurance that Brexit should not disrupt current placements in UK facilities. The issue was highlighted last week by Mr Justice Peter Kelly. FoI material, relating to foster, residential and secure care, shows five new out-of-state placements began this year, bringing the overall total to 21. Children placed in out-of-state placements are regulated under special care and the Child Care Act, but the practice has been criticised, including by the Government-appointed special rapporteur Geoffrey Shannon. One child has been overseas since 2008, understood to be foster care, another since 2010 and two have been in out-of-state placements since 2011. Three others are in placements since 2012, 2013 and 2014,. Four placements, costing between 3,386 and 7,000 a week, date from 2012 to 2015 and are understood to be secure care placements. Fifteen of the out-of-state placements are in the UK, with four in Finland and one in Spain. Last week Mr Justice Kelly raised concerns, referencing the HSE, as to what arrangements are in place after the UK leaves the EU. In a statement, the Child and Family Agency said: Tusla does not foresee any unsolvable issues relating to continuing with out-of-state placements as a result of a possible British exit at this time. Weekly costs per placement range from 350 up to 7,000. There are a small number of children who require specialised care as a result of their life experiences. On rare occasions, the level of specialised intervention required is not available in Ireland, said Tusla. All children in out-of-state placements remain in the care of Tusla and, to ensure their safety and wellbeing, we receive regular, detailed reports on the child. The children have regular visits from their allocated social worker, an up-to-date written care plan, access to their families and/or carers where this is in their best interests and aftercare planning with an allocated aftercare worker. They also generally have a court-appointed guardian ad litem to represent their wishes and interests in court proceedings. Tuslas ultimate goal is to see all children in such placements recover sufficiently to be safely discharged and return home to Ireland. Cervical cancer campaigner, Vicky Phelan, has been included in an international list of women of the year chosen in recognition of their outstanding contributions to society. The women come from all over the world and work in many varied fields, both voluntarily and professionally, but all have made a profound difference to others through their endeavours. The BBC, which has compiled the list, described them as leaders, trailblazers and everyday heroes and said all are inspiring and influential. Ms Phelan, 44, who has terminal cancer, was chosen for exposing the CervicalCheck screening scandal after discovering that she had been given incorrect smear results. She refused to be silenced by an attempted gagging order after she took her case to court and her actions led to the revelations that hundreds of other women had similarly been denied the truth. She continues to campaign on the issue and in recent weeks set up the patients support group, 221+, with fellow campaigners Stephen Teap and Lorraine Walsh. The list, compiled annually, runs to 100 women ranging in age from just 15 to 94, from 60 countries. Ms Phelan is the only representative from Ireland. In-depth interviews with the women will be broadcast on BBC World News television, with a selection also airing on BBC World Service radio as part of the broadcasters 100 Women season. The idea began in 2013 after a fatal rape in India that captured global headlines, not only because of the suffering of the victim but what it revealed about the place of women in Indian society. It was designed to address the under-representation of women in the media while raising pressing issues at the heart of their work. This years list includes high-ranking public officials, such as United Nations deputy general secretary Amina Mohammed from Nigeria, and ordinary citizens such as Sima Sarkar, a 44-year-old mother from Bangladesh whose image went around the world as she carried her 18-year-old disabled son on her back to his exams, kickstarting a discussion about the lack of support for people with disabilities in her country. Among the younger women is 19-year-old refugee and student, Nujeen Mustafa, who had to travel thousands of miles in her wheelchair after fleeing Syria and now campaigns for refugees with disabilities in her adopted home in Germany. The trailblazers and everyday heroes on this year's #100Women list Find out more about these inspirational women here: https://t.co/cCFDSXrGAc pic.twitter.com/SEvvbbjlKQ BBC 100 Women (@BBC100women) November 19, 2018 The most senior is 94-year-old Helen Taylor Thompson who was a coder during the Second World War and went on to set up Europes first Aids hospice. Inclusion in the list is the latest in a series of public gestures recognising Ms Phelans courage. Last week-end the mother of two, who lives in Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, returned to her native Limerick to switch on the citys Christmas lights in front of a crowd of 20,000 people. During the summer she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Limerick and earlier this month she was conferred with an honorary fellowship from Waterford Institute of Technology where she works as head of the Literacy Development Centre. I doubt you need me to tell you that Black Friday is taking place at the end of this week. The US tradition of major sales the day after Thanksgiving has been enthusiastically embraced by retailers here in recent years, so much so that it is now less a single day and more a catch-all name for sales and offers for much of November. When it comes to special offers, particularly at a time when shoppers are under pressure to buy, it is vital to remember two key rules. A bargain is only a bargain if you wanted or needed it anyway and if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. While there are good deals to be had, Aine Carroll of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission tells me they see a spike in problems each year around this time. Online shopping has many benefits, particularly around events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Ms Carroll said. However, at this time of year, the commission sees a significant increase in contacts from consumers who are having issues with purchases they have made online. This indicates that consumers face challenges in this area. She wants customers to be aware that they have specific rights, particular when buying within the EU, which they may not be aware of when it comes to online shopping. When you buy online from an EU-based website, you have a cooling-off period of 14 days, starting from the date you receive your item, to cancel the order and get a refund, Ms Carroll said. You dont have to give a reason to cancel, but you may have to pay for the cost of returning the item. You must return the item within 14 days of telling the business you want to cancel the order. If you buy something online that turns out to be faulty, you have the same rights as if you bought it in a shop. You should contact the business by email immediately and ask for a refund or replacement. If the item you bought online was faulty, or not what you ordered, you do not have to pay for the cost of returning it. If you look for a refund, you are also entitled to any delivery costs you paid. Remember you dont have the same protections if you buy from a website outside the EU, check the businesss geographic address on the website. If you are buying from a business based outside the EU, make sure you read and understand that sites returns policy beforehand. Big and established sellers from further afield will normally treat customers fairly but be extremely suspicious of newly set-up or unknown sites. Setting up a copycat website to sell fake goods only takes a few minutes and these sites come and go very quickly. This is why it is important to check for site reviews in advance of making a purchase, said Ms Carroll. If you are a bargain hunter who prefers to hit the shops, the first piece of advice is to get there early. Shops will usually have a limited number of their biggest offers available so on Black Friday, the early bird has the best chance of getting the worm. If you have your eye on a particular item, have your research done beforehand and know what it normally costs. Use a price comparison websites like Pricespy to check what the current price is with other retailers before taking the plunge. Ideally, dont go out without a shopping list of items. You are far more likely to persuade yourself that what looks like a great deal will be a perfect gift for someone in the heat and excitement of a busy shop. If you buy something in a store and simply change your mind, you are not automatically entitled to return it for a refund or exchange. Some shops will give you a refund or exchange but this is shop policy and not consumer law. Shops may change or shorten their change-of-mind returns policy if an item is on sale. If you are overcome with an urge to splurge, take a five-minute break for a coffee or a stroll and mull over whether it really is 1, a bargain and 2, if its a gift, will the recipient really appreciate it. A few minutes cooling off before committing to a major purchase could prevent buyers remorse down the line. Deal of the week Black Friday deals are not limited to retailers other businesses are also getting in on the act. Corks Trigon Hotels, made up of The Metropole Hotel, Cork International Hotel, and Cork Airport Hotel, are offering a week-long Black Friday booking. From November 23 to 30, customers can book a stay for a reduced rate in any of the three hotels. The Metropole Hotel offer is 109 bed & breakfast per room per night, the Cork Airport Hotel is 79 room only per room per night, and the Cork International Hotel is 99 bed & breakfast per room and they also add in tea/coffee and scones on arrival. Although the booking has to be made before the end of November, the stay can be made up until the end of February 2019, so ideal for anyone planning a post-Christmas trip to Cork. The offer is subject to promotional availability, book at the individual hotel websites corkinternationalairporthotel.com, themetropolehotel.ie, and corkairporthotel.com. If there are any consumer issues that youd like Grainne to address or if you have problems that Grainne could help with, she can be contacted at makingcents@examiner.ie By Dan MacCarthy Nowadays, the sounds that predominate on Hop Island, Cork, are horses hooves but in the mid-18th century it was more likely to have been the sounds of Bach or Mozart. Today Hop Island has an equestrian centre with indoor and outdoor arenas. Riders can train in the finer points of horse riding, showjumping, trekking, cross country and dressage. In addition to the equine centre, there are five privately owned houses on the island. Whether Hop Island still deserves that geographic description is a moot point. A tarmaced causeway connects it to the shore at Rochestown, but part of its character derives from the time when water swirled around its shores. Eventually, like for many of the other islands in Cork Harbour, huge amounts of silt built up to create a link to the mainland, aided here and there by manmade efforts to link the islands. Hop Island is effectively a heap of boulder clay emerging from the surrounds of Lough Mahon, part of Corks inner harbour. The wonderful resource that is the Cork Archaeological and Historical Society has made available its archive online. And a cursory search for Hop Island reveals a glut of information from a 1909 article by anonymous. The island derived its name from a nickname ascribed by sailors to one Laurence De la Main, or Delamain, who was a French Huguenot who built a house on Hop Island in the middle of the 18th century. The protestant Huguenots fled religious persecution in France and about 5,000 initially settled in Ireland before a second group arrived later. Some were interred in the Huguenot cemetery on the appropriately named Frenchchurch St, Cork. Some of these immigrants became active in local governance and several became lords mayor. Others were very successful in the commercial trade of the city. Some of the Huguenot names are still in use: Lavit, Perrier, Godsell, Hardy, Malet, and Delacour. The sailors, passing up and down the River Lee, and aware of the musical reputation of its new resident, Monsieur De la Main, referred to it at as Hop Island presumably referring to hop as in dance. The article in turn quotes a piece f in the Gentlemans Magazine from 1855 written by a Dr Caulfield to bolster its claims. Mr De la Main, a French Huguenot, arrived at Cork possessing a small sum of money, the remains of an ample fortune, having left behind considerable estates in France. He followed for some time the profession of dancing master, and from the high respect in which he was held by the citizens of Cork he soon obtained a sufficient competency. Having purchased this little island, known previously as Ratland from the enormous swarms of Norway rats with which it was infested, Mr De la Main built on it a handsome residence and highlycultivated the adjacent grounds. From the profession of its respectable proprietor the sailors and boatmen used jokingly to call it Hop Island, a name it has retained De la Main instructed the citizenry of Cork in dancing, perhaps waltzes and quadrilles, in Bolands Lane in the city centre. This was a lane off Brunswick St but appears to have been built over when the Augustinian Church was built. His son Henry was a composer in his own right and at the beginning of the 19th century was the organist at (now Triskel) Christchurch and later St Fin Barres Cathedral. Later, a Rev Saunders and Osborne Edwards lived on Hop Island. The latter leased a property valued at 16 from the Chatterton family who were baronets. Whether Ratland is a misinterpretation of the previous name for Hop Island (Red Island) is not clear but judging by the murine reference it is probably correct and Red Island was then a version of this. Hop Island is the starting point for a beautiful walk or cycle to Passage west along the old disused railway line. The other islands in Cork Harbour have nearly all been either joined to the mainland or linked by bridges: Great, Little, Spike, Fota, Haulbowline, Corkbeg, Rocky, Hare, Harpers, Weir, Brick, and Brown. Kevin Barry and Olivia Smith have produced another edition of their Winter Papers literary journal, writes Marjorie Brennan. In its four years of existence, the annual Winter Papers anthology has become known for its eclectic sweep of the arts and literature in Ireland. Author Kevin Barry, co-editor of the volume with his wife Olivia Smith, says they dont really believe in having a theme but that sometimes one will organically emerge from their contributors. Every year, we find the same kind of thing is cropping up in different writers work, a lot of people are homing on the same areas. This year, God, of all people started showing up all over the shop, he laughs. We have a piece from Jan Carson about growing up in a Presbyterian household in the North, Aiden OReilly has an essay about being an atheist altar boy growing up in Dublin, while Wendy Erskine has another story that also has a Northern Presbyterian background. To try and tie these threads together, Barry and Smith decided to feature a particular religious icon they had encountered in their perambulations around their home in Sligo. We often pass this phone box down in south Co Roscommon with a Child of Prague in it, and we decided to commission some photographs of it, says Barry. Smith interjects to ask if I know what the Child of Prague is for [its placement outside is said to guarantee good weather for a wedding.] Its amazing the number of people who dont know what it is for, she says. Adds Barry: We had a launch in Belfast the other night and we were asking people did they know what the Child of Prague was for and they had no idea. God help us, theyre kept in the dark up there, he laughs. Its great though when themes naturally emerge without forcing them in a false way. And definitely with Limerick winning the All-Ireland, miracles are in the air this year, he says. Barrys native county has a strong presence in Winter Papers this year, including an interview with Limerick-based John Lillis aka Mynameisjohn, of the hip-hop trio Rusangano Family. The cover of the 2018 Winter Papers It is interesting that cities with lower rents seem to have a lot going on creatively and Limerick and Belfast are really buzzy at the moment, says Barry. A large part of it is the fact that young writers and artists arent having to work five jobs to pay the rent. "Limerick has a kind of creative cultural confidence now that it didnt have when I was living there in the 90s. Winter Papers has also become known for showcasing the talents of emerging writers. The first anthology featured Sally Rooney, who has since gone on to achieve huge success with her novels Conversations with Friends and Normal People. In truth, it wouldnt have taken two geniuses to figure out that Sally had ability, shes such a natural writer. It was her first published fiction; its great when you have someone who takes off so quickly, says Barry. Winter Papers 4 features fiction from writers such as Mike McCormack, whose Solar Bones conquered all before it last year, and rising stars Danny Denton and Ian Maleney. There is also a strong selection of non-fiction, a genre which has been gaining strength in Ireland in recent years. The Child of Prague in a phonebox in Co Roscommon. Pic: Anna Leask I think the essay is going through a bit of a boom period, says Smith. We have great exponents of it. "People are utilising the space provided within journals and magazines to develop essay-writing skills, using it as a springboard to publishing collections. Adds Barry: For years, essays were something you studied for your Leaving Cert and then wouldnt see again. Over the last few years, there seems to be a lot of writers who almost have an impatience with fiction, with making it up. There is something more direct about the essay, it can really cut to the quick of things. Barry has no such impatience with fiction and his latest novel has just been dispatched to his publishers Canongate. Called A Night Boat to Tangier, it will be on the shelves next July. The publishers describe it as drenched in sex and death and narcotics. I finished it two weeks ago, says Barry. Youll be delighted to hear there are Cork people in it, though it is set in Spain. "Im not saying much about it yet. Im very excited about it. I cant believe it will be four years since the last one, Beatlebone. Meanwhile, Winter Papers has become the Christmas stocking filler of choice for Irish bibliophiles. People get in touch to say they love it and that is a great encouragement to keep going year after year. If you were just putting it out into a void, it would be hard to keep going, says Smith. Adds Barry: Were up on the horse now and well keep it going for sure. I think it is still opening up in terms of possibilities of what we can do with it. Winter Papers, Edited by Kevin Barry and Olivia Smith, Curlew Editions, 40 www.winterpapers.com By Bernard ONeill The two women who battled each other for the Irish Elite lightweight title at Dublins National Stadium last February will be leading Irelands charge for at medals at the World Womens Elites in New Delhi, India today. Dundalk southpaw Amy Canelo Broadhurst meets Indias Simranjit Kaur in the light welterweight quarter-final and Dublin lightweight Kellie Harrington faces Canadas Caroline Veyre in the last eight. Paris-born Veyre is determined to overturn her loss to Harrington in the 2017 Celtic Box Cup final in Dungarvan. Broadhurst, who lost Februarys final to Harrington and has since moved up a weight, impressed en route to a unanimous decision over Ani Hovsepyan yesterday. The durable Armenian soaked up a lot of punches in rounds one and two but did pose a threat going down the final stretch. However, Broadhurst had more than enough in the bank after finding the target with a regular supply of head and body shots in the opening frames. Kaur expects a real dust-up with the Irishwoman. Shes (Broadhurst) a good southpaw, said the Indian. India has a lot of noisy support at the Indira Gandhi Stadium and that will go up a notch today with medals up for grabs, but Broadhurst is used to butterflies. Im always nervous, regardless of the country. This will only make me want to do better, said Broadhurst. Meanwhile, Belfast featherweight Michaela Walsh, who was being tipped to medal in New Delhi, dropped a 4-1 split decision to Italys defending World champion Alessia Mesiano yesterday. Welsh middleweight Lauren Price advanced to the last eight at the expense Aoife ORourke. The Commonwealth Games champion earned a unanimous decision over the Roscommon middleweight. Ceire Smith lost on a 3-2 split decision to Japans Namiki Tukimi following a majority draw. The Cavan flyweight countered well for most of the three rounder with the Asian receiving a public warning for hitting the Irish champion in the back of the head in the third. The scores read 28-28, 28-28,28-28 and 29-27,29-27 to Smith in a majority draw after the final bell, but when it went back to the judges, they sided 3-2 with Tukimi. I was sure I actually had done enough. Gutted, to be honest... Bigger things to come I hope...back to the drawing board, said Smith. Harrington and Broadhurst will be in the ring this morning and early afternoon Irish time. Brazils far-right president has made bleak pledges to open the rainforest to further mining and to withdraw from world accords on the environment, writes Paulo Artaxo. Last month, a deeply divided Brazil voted to elect its next president. Faced with a choice between Fernando Haddad of the leftist Workers Party and the right-wing extremist Jair Bolsonaro, Brazilians chose the extremist an outcome that will have far-reaching consequences for the environment, among other things. With solid backing from the wealthiest 5% of Brazilians and rural land-owners, Bolsonaro secured broader popular support by playing on peoples prejudices and fears. In his campaign, he targeted vulnerable groups and pledged to reduce or eliminate protections for minorities, women, and the poor. He intends to loosen Brazils restrictive gun laws, claiming that allowing average citizens to arm themselves will stem rising crime. As for the environment, Bolsonaros plans can be summed up in one word: Exploitation. For starters, he wants to reduce or eliminate environmental protections in the Amazon, the worlds largest tropical rainforest. And he intends to reduce substantially the protection of indigenous lands belonging to the descendants of the Amazons original inhabitants. He will ease environmental restrictions on the use of pesticides and on licensing for infrastructure development. Where there is indigenous land, Bolsonaro once said, there is wealth underneath it. With that in mind, he has declared that no more indigenous reserves will be demarcated, and existing reserves will be opened up to mining. Jair Bolsonaro Bolsonaros agenda will hasten environmental degradation dramatically. Imazon, a Brazilian NGO, reported 444 sq km of clearing this past September, an 84% increase over September 2017. The 12-month total amounts to 4,859 sq km, the highest level since July 2008. Brazils national space research agency, INPE, also reports an uptick in deforestation about 50% year on year in September. As it stands, many of the farmers or loggers who exploit the Amazon do so illegally, risking fines or sanctions. The expectation that the new government will not enforce laws prohibiting such activities is probably already emboldening them to intensify their activities. Once those laws are weakened or abolished, deforestation will accelerate considerably. The governments apparent inclination to boost activities such as gold mining in the Amazon will only make matters worse. There is little reason to believe Bolsonaro will not be able to follow through on his destructive environmental agenda. After all, far-right representatives, allied with powerful business lobbies, dominate Brazils new congress. To make destroying the environment even easier, Bolsonaro has pledged to merge the environment and agriculture ministries, though he has since backtracked on this issue. He is now looking for an environment minister who is allied with the ruralistas, or large landowners, and has appointed a minister of agriculture who wants to lift restrictions on the use of dangerous chemical products in agriculture. Bolsonaro also promised during the election campaign to withdraw Brazil from the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Though he has since backed away from that pledge, he has just appointed a climate-change-denying, anti-science diplomat as foreign minister. That will present certain difficulties for Brazils bid to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25) next year. Beyond increasing the vulnerability of Brazils natural resources to commercial exploitation, the inevitable cuts to the environmental budget under Bolsonaros leadership will undermine the countrys ability to respond to disasters such as forest fires. Brazil has already seen an increase in such fires and fire-related destruction owing to the expansion of agriculture, weaker oversight and surveillance, and the dismantling of the fire brigades. Bolsonaros plans will exacerbate the problem. And this is not the only problem that Bolsonaros agenda will worsen. Socioeconomic inequality will increase. As the government hands more power over the rainforest to large business owners, ordinary citizens including smallholder farmers and poor urban dwellers are bound to suffer. Brazils ecosystems matter for more than just that country it is the guardian of the planets largest tropical rainforest, a repository of ecological services for the entire world, where most of the Earths biodiversity is concentrated. The Amazon is home to more species of plants and animals than any other terrestrial ecosystem on the planet, and its rainfall and rivers feed much of South America. Moreover, its hundreds of billions of trees store massive amounts of carbon. Over the past 100 years, Brazil has reduced the Atlantic Forest by more than 90%, and cleared 50% of the Cerrado and almost 20% of the Amazon. At a time when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is warning that we need to make urgent progress in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, Bolsonaros plans will achieve just the opposite. Unfortunately for Brazil and the rest of the world, there is no reason to believe that he cannot or will not implement them. Paulo Artaxo is professor of environmental physics and head of Department of Applied Physics at University of Sao Paulo. He is an expert on the climatic effects of aerosols, particularly in Amazonia. Copyright: Project Syndicate Stop us if youve heard this one before, but... this week is make or break time for Brexit. Again. After just about clambering over the first hurdle by dragging the backstop agreement through a five-hour British cabinet meeting last week, Theresa May might be hoping for a quieter few days, as might Leo Varadkar. However, with a potential House of Commons no-confidence motion, five British cabinet members saying they want to rewrite the deal, and a crunch EU summit looming on Sunday, they may have to settle for a week of sleepless nights instead. Today: D-day for Ms May. When the British prime minister steps into Westminster today she could be marching to her own death sentence, amid claims more than 48 Brexiteers have formally asked for her to be removed triggering a no-confidence motion. The potential move could derail the backstop deal entirely, and may even plunge Britain into a snap election. A similar scenario will surround Ms Mays cabinet meeting where five ministers are standing by her, for now, on condition the deal is renegotiated. However, even if 48 Brexiteers do put their money where their considerable mouths are, there is a question mark over whether they will clearly win a no-confidence motion. That, in itself, could silence the ministerial plotting. A steely resolve has come over Ms May, so dont be surprised if she somehow survives and pushes onwards to a December Westminster backstop vote. The deal depends on it. Tomorrow: Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will hope to take centre-stage during a planned four-hour Dail debate and vote on the deal. Given the fact the backstop deal is between the EU and Britain, it may seem irrelevant. But to think that is to miss the political sleight of hand taking place. Mr Varadkars official reason for tabling the Brexit debate and vote is to publicly show Europe, and perhaps the world, universal Irish political backing for the deal. However, his real focus is just as much on home turf, as receiving the official backing of all parties will remove a key obstacle to any snap general election here, side-stepping Fianna Fails call for no election while Brexit is still undecided. Sunday: D-day. Again. If the deal, and the PM, are still intact by the weekend, EU leaders will hold an emergency summit to discuss and sign off on the backstop agreement. It will mark the formal agreement by the remaining 27 member states to support the deal before the 585-page document is sent for an EU parliament vote early next year. The we stand together choreography and photo opportunities will dominate, with the political glad-handing essential to protecting Ireland from the Brexit fallout, just when the support is needed most. Almost half of female journalists report having experienced work-related sexual harassment, writes Hannah Storm. Journalism classrooms may be dominated by women, but global media are still ruled by men who occupy the majority of management positions, report more news stories and are more frequently presented as expert voices. This imbalance is reflected in the content newsrooms produce, with fewer written words and broadcast seconds dedicated to telling womens stories. It is also reflected in the industrys culture, which leaves women more vulnerable to sexual harassment and abuse. Given the importance of relationship-building in media, not to mention the desire for connection among journalists who cover extreme or harrowing events in difficult environments, intimate ties can easily form among colleagues and associates. The problem arises when these relationships turn sour or, worse, when they are non-consensual or based on coercion, such as when a more senior colleague pursues a sexual relationship with a subordinate. Of course, across countries, there can be significant differences in what is considered predatory or inappropriate behaviour. But, globally, almost half of women journalists report having experienced work-related sexual harassment, according to a 2014 study by the International News Safety Institute (INSI) and the International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF). Two-thirds reported that they had faced intimidation, threats, or abuse, mostly by bosses, supervisors, or co-workers. For perpetrators, impunity remains the norm. Almost three-fifths of respondents in the INSI/IWMF study who had experienced harassment said they had reported incidents to their employers. In most cases, however, it was the women who experienced the abuse who suffered adverse consequences: Damaged reputations and career prospects, not to mention the impact on their psychological and emotional wellbeing. So while men with histories of predatory behaviour continue to occupy senior positions in the global news industry, female journalists are pushed to the point they consider leaving it. In a recent survey by the IWMF and TrollBusters, one-third of respondents said they had considered abandoning journalism; those at earlier stages in their careers were twice as likely to say they were considering work in other fields because of the threats and attacks they received, in person or online. Despite the obstacles they face, more women appear to be rising in the ranks of the global media industry, even though progress is relatively slow. In digital newsrooms, which often have fewer of the inherent inequities of legacy media, the number of women in leadership positions appears to be growing faster. However, the bro culture in certain newer newsrooms carries its own sexual harassment risks for women. Meanwhile, in the US, several high-profile male journalists have lost their jobs in the last year over allegations of inappropriate behaviour toward their female colleagues part of the broader #MeToo movement. Overall, newsrooms continue to fail to take seriously the threats female journalists face on the job, both in their own workplaces and in the field. While newsrooms conduct risk assessment and deployment discussions regarding journalists in the field where women can be particularly vulnerable to unwelcome advances from male colleagues, contacts, or strangers they rarely account for the specific threats women face, at least not in a sufficiently nuanced way. This may be partly because, for major news organisations, these assessments are often handled in consultation with safety advisers usually former military men, who may not fully appreciate the particular risks women face. Sometimes, the safety advisers turn out to be perpetrators of sexual harassment. Female foreign correspondents who are assaulted in the field often find themselves at the centre of debates about whether women should be deployed on certain stories at all. Male correspondents are never the subjects of such debates. This macho myopia reinforces the damaging imbalance in perspectives shaping the media. It also carries significant economic costs. As the Harvard Business Review puts it, we all pay the price when sexual harassment continues or is covered up. By impeding women from advancing within the industry or compelling them to change jobs, harassment diminishes their earning potential and deprives society of the best use of their talents. The fact is that journalists of various genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds experience different environments differently, in terms of both the risks they face and the rewards they can reap. Any assessment of a story needs to account for that nuance, with managers choosing the best journalist for the job and providing the support needed to keep all journalists safe. To change the organisational culture that has enabled harassment and other forms of abuse against women a moral obligation, as well as a legal and economic imperative newsroom managers must lead from the top. Change will not happen overnight, nor will it be driven by a single actor. Leaders should listen to the women in their ranks, and invite diverse perspectives to help effect change. The goal is not to pit young against old or women against men. It is to rectify the media industrys failure to protect its most vulnerable workers. We all pay when that failure prevents women journalists from achieving their full potential. Hannah Storm is director of the International News Safety Institute. Copyright: Project Syndicate Brexit will, unfortunately but inevitably, suck all the oxygen out of public debate on these islands again this week and for many, many weeks to come. How else could it be? It is a deeply divisive, retrograde process with an imagined but utterly uncertain destination. The debate has done many things. In an Irish context it has created great uncertainty, but most significantly it has exposed unhealed wounds. On this small island, it has stirred the embers of ancient animosity in a distressing, very unwelcome way. It has exposed fault lines that the vast majority of people of all traditions had hoped were consigned to history. Extremists, uncompromising and indifferent to predictable consequences, have done the only thing extremists can do they have hardened their position, irrespective of how different the majority view might be. Zealotry has replaced any rational understanding of the universal, eternal truth that we stand or fall by how we serve, even in the most general terms, a mutually-beneficial common purpose. It has been a sadly revealing process too. Attitudes built on loathing and maybe fear have resurfaced. In one of the most startling DUP leader Arlene Foster, speaking last spring, said that in the event of a united Ireland she would consider emigration. This suggests she would imagine herself a political refugee. A refugee from what? It would be comforting to imagine that Ms Foster was unaware of the deep offence that remark caused but, unfortunately, that convenient fiction is not plausible. Like many of her colleagues, Brexit, and the passing leverage it affords, has encouraged the DUP to revert to type. In victory veritas, as it were no matter how temporary that victory. Sinn Fein plays its unchanging part in this tragedy. By pretending it was elected to stymie democracy, rather than make it work, the party, if that is what it is, persists with abstentionism. This posturing underlines a core truth about Sinn Fein: Without contrived chaos it is irrelevant. Once upon a time, this polarisation, this cyclical drum beating provoked legacy responses. One community lined up behind its banners, the other did the same. Righteous indignation left no room for compromise or progress. Thankfully, the goalposts have been moved in a definitive way. This change was exemplified in Dublin on Saturday. Rory Best, a farmer from Craigavon, led the Irish team that beat the All Blacks. Jacob Stockdale, a clergymans son from Newtownstewart, scored the winning try. The whole island, the whole moderate, reasonable and realistic island achieved something a divided, fractured island could not. As Brexits magical mystery tour trundles along it is important to remember that no matter the outcome, we, on this island, will still be neighbours, mostly trying to be good neighbours. That wont happen by accident. Its time the dog wagged the tail again and extremists of all hues were isolated. That, as the All Blacks will confirm, would create a great, all powerful sense of optimism and possibility. The extremists must not have the last word. Asia Sri Lanka's New PM May Lose Budget Even as he Clings to Power Sri Lanka's newly appointed Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, makes a joke toward opposition parties seats at the Parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Monday. / Reuter COLOMBO Sri Lankas newly appointed Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who lost two motions of no confidence last week, may lose his governments budget even as he clings to power. Lawmakers opposed to Rajapaksa said they intend to remove funding for staff salaries and other costs in a vote on Nov. 29. The opposition, which regards his administration as illegitimate, will also seek approval to slash the governments overall budget, they said. It was the latest of several new twists on Monday in the political chaos that has embroiled Sri Lanka for the past few weeks. Leaders of political parties backing Rajapaksa and President Maithripala Sirisena refused to allow a third motion of no confidence to be held through name call or electronic voting on Monday. The previous two motions passed through a voice vote but Sirisena said they hadnt followed the proper procedures. Sirisena appointed Rajapaksa last month after firing Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, setting off the political turmoil on the island off Indias southeast coast. Rajapaksa is seen as a close ally of China, though Beijing has denied accusations that it was instrumental in getting him appointed. Dinesh Gunawardene, a Rajapaksa loyalist, said Wickremesinghes coalition had handed a motion to suspend all government expenses to the speaker and the Parliament secretary. According to the previous no confidence motions, both Rajapaksa and his government are out. There is no government, but there are MPs, M.A. Sumanthiran, a lawmaker who had voted for the no confidence motion, told Reuters. The finance of the country is under the control of the Parliament. Now we have proposed a motion to stop government finances for the prime ministers office, he said. Ananda Kumarasiri, the deputy speaker of the Parliament, established a select committee to carry on parliamentary business before adjourning the House to Nov. 23. Unlike last Thursday and Friday there were no physical altercations on the floor of Parliament on Monday. On Friday, lawmakers supporting Rajapaksa threw books, chili paste and water bottles at the speaker to try to disrupt the second vote. Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya said in a statement that investigations have begun into Fridays events, including damage that was done to public property in the melee. The political crisis has hit the economy. On Monday the rupee fell to a record low of 177.20 per dollar. Foreign investors have pulled out more than 30 billion rupees ($169.5 million) since the crisis unfolded on Oct. 26. Wickremesinghe loyalists allege that Rajapaksas party is trying to buy lawmakers for as much as $3 million each. Rajapaksa loyalists have rejected the allegation. Both Sirisena and many Rajapaksa loyalists have said they have the majority in Parliament. However, the no confidence motion against Rajapaksa and his government was passed twice by 122 votes in the 225-member Parliament. Most foreign countries, including Western nations, have yet to recognize Rajapaksa as the prime minister. Last week, eight Western countries stayed away from a meeting with the government to register their protest against Sirisenas decision to dissolve Parliament. Burma $80M Loan from France Denounced as Unnecessary in Parliament People wade through flood waters in downtown Yangon during a summer downpour in April 2018. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy YANGONLawmakers have criticized the governments 70-million ($80-million) loan from a French agency to be used to develop waterways and urban heritage in Yangon, claiming that the government was majoring on the minors while neglecting pressing issues. Last week, the deputy minister for planning and finance gave details about the Transport, Waterways and Urban Heritage Project in the Union Parliament. He said the government would take the loan from the French Development Agency in order to carry out the five-year project from 2019 to 2023 including for the dredging of Pazundaung Creek (also known as Nga Moe Yeik Creek), to develop a corridor along the waterway for public use, for the development of some waterfront areas along Yangon River and to upgrade a market. Originating in the Bago Plateau north of Yangon, the creek runs through the city before it empties into Yangon River south of the city. According to the deputy minister, the whole project would cost more than 84.7 million in total with additional contributions from the EU (5.9 million) and the Myanmar government (5.2 million). He said the citys municipal body, Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), will implement the project with collaboration from the Ministry of Transport and Communications. But his explanations didnt impress the Union Parliament lawmakers. On Monday, lawmaker U Khin Maung Maung of the ruling National League for Democracy asked the parliament why the proposed project should be prioritized. The government should stress more important things rather than focusing on the trivial, he said. The Yangon Region lawmaker complained that his city doesnt even have enough street lights and that roads are potholed and become flooded when the rains come due to a failing drainage system. The YCDC still hasnt been able to fix those problems yet. Now they are eyeing another project, he said. He recalled a World Bank $104-million loan accepted in 2017 for solving flooding issues in the citys downtown areas. But now, one year on, the areas still face inundations when the rains come. U Khin Maung Maung said the creek focused on in the project was not a major transport waterway in the citya project not worth carrying out under an international loan. So are the others like [the plan for] upgrading a market and developing the waterfront. Do we really need a foreign loan for them? We will have to pay it back, he warned. Another lawmaker Daw Yin Min Hlaing pointed out that Yangon should spend international loans where it is really required for the benefit of people. She pointed out that until March this year the YCDC had spent more than $500 million on only three projects. With the money for the new project, it would be nearly $700 million of YCDC spending, she said. Relevant authorities will respond to the lawmakers discussions on Monday and the Parliament will decide if the loan should be granted or not. Burma Jade Miner Shot Dead in Hpakant Clash One of the buildings that caught fire during a clash between jade miners and security personnel of Jade Leaf Mining Company in which one man was shot dead in Hpakant, Kachin State on November 19, 2018. / Zaw Moe Htet / Facebook MANDALAY Clashes between freelance jade prospectors and security personnel of a jade mining company resulted in the death of one on Monday in the jade mining area of Hpakant in Kachin State. According to witnesses, security personnel from Jade Leaf Mining Company, located near the village of Namt Hmaw in the Seik Mu area, opened fire into a crowd of prospectors who had gathered outside the site entrance waiting to enter the mine and search for jade residue. The prospectors apparently tried to enter the company premises before the permitted time and had a confrontation with security there who then opened fire and killed one, said U La Nan, a local miner who was present at the site of the incident. Hpakant police confirmed the death of Ko Aye Than, 25, a prospector from Pauk Taw Township of Rakhine State, during the clash on Monday. Ko Aye Than was shot on his right chest and died on the spot. A Mitsubishi Pajero, a car garage and a two-story building were burned down. We are still investigating the cause and the cost of the burnt property. We will take legal action against those who incited the clash, said the duty officer of Hpakant Police Station. In Hpakants jade mining region, deadly clashes between security officers from mining companies and prospectors are very common. Clashes usually break out when the two parties argue about entry to the jade mining company premises which prospectors often seek before the permitted time, sometimes resulting in injury, or even the death, of the jade prospectors. At the end of October this year, at least six prospectors were injured when mine security personnel opened fire into a crowd gathered near Sun World jade mining company in Saijabom Village in Hpakant. On Nov. 14, two prospectors died while trying to enter the mine site of jade mining company Jewelry Star, located in the Waikhar area of Hpakant, without permission and were shot by security. If there are strict laws for both the prospectors and the jade mining companies, and if all of them follow the rules, there will be no such sad incidents. The security persons also need to find another way to stop the prospectors rather than opening fire easily, said U La Nan, the local miner. Our jade mining region has experienced many sad incidents. We want rule of law in our region desperately, he added. They were brought to court and faced charges for theft, murder and being accomplices to these crimes. Aung Thu Hein, Min Khant Kyaw and Min Chit Aung were arrested hours after the incident. When the two friends asked the robbers to return the phone, they were beaten up and U Nay Min Htet was stabbed to death. Ko Nay Min Htet, 19, was in his final year at Kyaukse Government Technical Institute when he was playing a game on his cell phone while traveling with a friend in August 2018. Three men approached the pair and grabbed Ko Nay Min Htets phone. The court should sentence all three people to the death penalty to set an example. However, we are satisfied with the severity of the penalty as is, said U Toe Wai Phyo, the uncle of Ko Nay Min Htet. Aung Thu Hein, who stabbed Ko Nay Min Htet to death, received the death penalty. Min Khant Kyaw received 21 years imprisonment and Min Chit Aung received 20 years imprisonment for involvement in the fight that led to the killing of Ko Nay Min Htet. MANDALAY The Kyaukse Township court sentenced three men involved in the killing of a student from the Kyaukse Government Technical Institute on Monday. One man received the death penalty and two others received lengthy sentences. The three suspects appeared at the Kyaukse Township court last week. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy The three suspects appeared at the Kyaukse Township court last week. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy Rohingya Repatriation to Myanmar Will Not Begin on Thursday: Sources US Returns 'Bells of Balangiga' to Philippines a Century After Clash Two Badly Burned as Fireworks Fall on Crowd at Balloon Festival Govt to Name Finalists For Yangon Elevated Expressway Project This Month Pence Says South China Sea Doesn't Belong to Any One Nation New Zealand to Support Suu Kyi in Finding Resolutions to Rakhine Issues Stunning Landscapes from Across the Globe Now Exhibiting at The Secretariat Rohingya Repatriation, Relocation Plans Set to Be Pushed Back to 2019: Govt Official Two Years After Philippines Pivot, Duterte Still Waiting on China Dividend Cambodian PM Says Won't Allow Any Foreign Military Base in His Country Ten Things to do in Yangon This Week Sri Lanka's New PM May Lose Budget Even as he Clings to Power We do not encourage viewing this site in this width. Please increase the size of your window. Burma Work on Muse-Ruili Economic Cooperation Zone to Begin Soon The China-Myanmar border gate in Shan States Muse / Myat Pyae Phyo / The Irrawaddy By Myo Pa Pa San 20 November 2018 YANGONThe first of three projected economic zones along the Myanmar-China border will be implemented soon between Shan States Muse and Chinas Ruili, Deputy Commerce Minister U Aung Htoo said. Under an agreement between Naypyitaw and Beijing, three economic cooperation zones will be established in Kachin and Shan states along the border as part of Beijings ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The two others will be built in Kanpiketi town, in Kachin States Special Region 1, which is under the control of the New Democratic Army-Kachin militia; and Chinshwehaw in Shan States Laukkai Township, part of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone. The two governments have already started discussions on implementation of the economic zones, said U Aung Htoo. We will implement the zone between Muse and Ruili first, and China has also begun fencing off [a location in] Jiegao in Chinas Yunnan Province, the deputy minister said at a press conference on Monday. Government officials and businessmen of the two countries are set to hold further talks at a border trade expo to be held in December in Muse. Well discuss what type of industry will be established there. Private companies that are recognized by the government will be allowed to participate. Well invite expressions of interest from private companies soon and examine whether they are capable or not [of developing the zones], U Aung Htoo said. While economic zones will boost border trade, they will also provide job opportunities for locals and more business opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, while increasing foreign investment, he said. Dr. Maung Maung Lay, vice president of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, was more optimistic about the zones. They will enable Myanmar migrant workers to come back and work in their country. And we can also import technologies, he said. He was hopeful that Myanmar would be able to make use of Chinese technologies to produce value-added exports to address the countrys trade deficit. The government is cutting red tape and reviewing taxation regulations regarding trade, Dr. Maung Maung Lay said. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in May last year following State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyis visit to China in August 2016. The joint committee for implementation of economic cooperation zones was established in April. Burma Yangon Circular Railway Line Upgrades to Finish in 2023: Deputy Minister A man walks by a train at the Yangon Central Railway Station. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy YANGON Upgrades to the Yangon Circular railway line aimed at easing the commercial capitals traffic congestion are expected to be completed in 2023, Deputy Transport and Communications Minister U Kyaw Myo said on Tuesday. Speaking to lawmakers in the Yangon Parliament, he said work could not begin in 2017 as planned because negotiations with the contractors took longer than expected and commenced only this year. The delay has also pushed the expected date of completion back a year. The upgrades, planned since 2014, are part of the Japan International Cooperation Agencys Strategic Urban Development Plan for Greater Yangon. The work includes modernizing the lines stations, tracks, trains and management. U Kyaw Myo said the upgrades were needed to replace decades-old tracks, deteriorating facilities and equipment and outdated practices. He told lawmakers that the ministry carried out a feasibility study with Japans help in 2014 and that environmental and social impact assessment reports were submitted to the Environment and Conservation Ministry, which approved the project in June. Public consultations were held four times over two years, the deputy minister added. The Yangon Circular, managed and operated by Myanma Railways, is 46 kilometers long with 38 stations and runs 221 times a day. Some 73,000 commuters ride the line daily. To upgrade the system, the Transport and Communications Ministry divided the line into halves the western half from Phayarlan Station to Danyingone Station, and the eastern half from Danyingone Station to Pazundaung Station. The ministry awarded each half to a different consortium. U Kyaw Myo said both consortiums started work in early 2018. The project is being funded by a $207.8 million loan from Japan and 54.5 billion kyats ($34.3 million) from the nation budget, the deputy minister said. Once finished, he added, the upgrades are expected to cut the time of a round trip from 170 minutes to 105 minutes. News Ethnic Dawei Party Wants Language Ban Lifted A welcome sign to Dawei Town. / The Irrawaddy Mon State The Dawei Nationalities Party (DNP) has asked Dawei Township authorities in Tenasserim Region to lift a new ban on using their language to fashion signs for this weeks full moon festival. In a statement on Monday, the DNP said it was a tradition during the religious festival for ethnic Dawei to prepare signs bearing the name of their township quarter in the Dawei language. The signs are placed on carts each quarter prepares and uses to wheel a Buddha statue around the town. The statement came in reacting to a latter Dawei Township authorities sent the quarters and their villages last month instructing them to use Burmese only. For Dawei people this action is similar to banning our literature and culture; it is intended to oppress all ethnic Dawei, the statement said. It also accused the National League for Democracy of breaking the promises it made during the 2015 election campaign to protect and promote the rights of ethnic minorities. The name of our quarter written in our [Dawei] language is different from its name in Burmese. Our people are very happy when they see their language in writing, said DNP Chairman U Aye Min. But they dont let us write it this year. He said the Dawei had more freedom to use their language under military dictatorship and that it was disappointing to see a mostly democratically elected government rolling their rights back, raising fears that it was trying to wipe out their culture and literate altogether. This should not happen when the country is using democracy, said Hein Htet, an ethnic Dawei and joint secretary of the Myanmar Youth Affairs Committee. We were oppressed for many years. We feel we are being oppressed again, he said. On Tuesday, however, local news outlet Dawei Watch reported that Tenasserim Region Government Director U Moe Zaw Latt said the language ban was imposed so that all visitors could understand the signs, apologized for the order, and said it would be reversed. They are free to write in their language. Our government will issue one more statement soon to abolish the first order, he was quoted as saying at a press conference on Tuesday. The Irrawaddy could not reach local authorities for confirmation or comment. News National Security Adviser Appointed Minister of New Investment Ministry National Security Adviser U Thaung Tun spoke about the situation in troubled Rakhine State at a press conference at the National Peace and Reconciliation Center in Yangon in July 2017. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy YANGON Myanmar President U Win Myint has appointed the countrys national security adviser U Thaung Tun as the head of a newly formed ministry that aims to boost local and international investment and to make that investment socially and environmentally responsible. Prior to the appointment, apart from the security adviser position, U Thaung Tun was also the government office minister. The announcement, following the Union Parliaments approval of the formation of the new ministry on Monday morning, said he has been transferred from government office minister to his new position of minister for the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations. President U Win Myint last week proposed the formation of the new Union-level ministry to Parliament for approval. Myanmar Attorney General Tun Tun Oo told Parliament on Monday that the new ministry will be a merger between the Foreign Economic Relations Department and the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration both of which are currently under the Ministry of Planning and Finance. He assured that the formation of the new ministry would provide swifter investment-related information to local and international investors, real-time collaboration with relevant departments and dispute resolution among investors. The plan comes at a time when Myanmars economy is slowing and many international investors are turning away because of the Rohingya crisis. Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to neighboring Bangladesh since a military crackdown in northern Rakhine State late last year. The government, led by Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has come under heavy international criticism for remaining largely silent on the issue. In his message to Parliament last week regarding the formation of the ministry, President U Win Myint said the government needed the new ministry to make use of outside assistance from the United Nations and other international organizations in accordance with the countrys policies and to effectively collaborate with the UN and others international organizations. U Thaung Tun has served as ambassador to the Philippines, Belgium, the Netherlands and the EU and was director-general for political affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the former military regime. During that time, he was widely criticized by the opposition for warning Daw Aung San Suu Kyi then under house arrest that she must not rock the boat after she said she would boycott the military regimes controversial constitutional convention at a 2006 press conference in Manila. In 2016, he worked as a government relations adviser for Shell Myanmar Energy PTE. He was appointed national security adviser in January 2017 and government office minister that November. The appointments were criticized by former lawmaker U Soe Thane, who was the presidents office minister under former President U Thein Sein. U Soe Thane reportedly said that U Thaung Tun had failed to disclose his previous work for the George Soros Foundation as a consultant and said that making him national security adviser could hurt Myanmars relations with China. The former lawmaker also reportedly said that George Soros approached him to secure a ministerial appointment for U Thaung Tun, but U Thein Sein rejected the idea because George Soros was American. Australian-listed call recording platform provider Dubber has secured a deal to provide its call recording and analytics suite to Vodafone New Zealand for fixed and mobile services. Under the deal Dubber (ASX:DUB) will provide its call recording platform for both fixed and mobile solutions as part of Vodafones Fixed Mobile Convergence strategy. The recording service also forms part of Vodafones "Ready Government" program. Steve McGovern, chief executive of Dubber, said Vodafones strategy has been at the forefront of innovation in the Unified Communications sector. The Fixed Mobile Convergence model provides a substantial opportunity for Dubber via expanded user cases, particularly for mobile users, a sector where Vodafone has substantial market share. Glenn Johnstone, chief executive, Vodafone Next Generation Services, said the telco had adopted Dubbers platform because it uniquely meets the requirements of the telecommunications sector. The Vodafone recording service brings new functionality for our customers, such as the ability to record a mobile call on demand, a capability which has widespread opportunities across many of our market sectors. It demonstrates Vodafones commitment to providing easy to use, world class solutions for our customers. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation has formally launched the nandin Deep Technology Incubator, a full-service innovation hub, aimed at enabling the best and the brightest minds to come together to foster innovation and change. The opening of nandin is the first realisation of much broader plans for the ANSTO Innovation Precinct which will foster close engagement between Australian scientists and both local and international businesses. Nandin is a deep technology incubator for entrepreneurs, start-ups and small and medium businesses to embrace challenge-based innovation, design solutions and take science and technology-based products and services to market. ANSTO chief executive Dr Adi Paterson said he was excited to see what nandin could contribute to the domestic and international science community. I am proud to today officially open nandin the first of its kind facility in Australia, enabling great minds to collaborate, innovate and move closer to overcoming the challenges we currently face," he said. Nandin will create linkages between a variety of organisations, academics and scientists, to utilise all the possibilities of nuclear sciences. The name nandin comes from the Dharawal language and means to look ahead, and the hub is located on land believed to have been used as a meeting place for Aboriginal groups. Dr Paterson was joined at the launch by Dr Markus Nordberg, head of Development and Innovation from CERN an organisation established in 1954 with a mission to perform world-class research and unite people from all over the world to push the frontiers of science and technology, for the benefit of all. It has been a privilege to have Dr Nordberg here today to share his insights on IdeaSquare, a space that brings people together to generate new ideas, the concept from which nandin was born, said Dr Paterson. International partnerships with organisations like CERN provide invaluable global connections that will help us to find innovative ideas and solutions to solve problems sooner and with more efficiency. The ANSTO Innovation Precinct will deliver research solutions for industry to enhance innovation, focused on the areas of health, advanced manufacturing, industry, agriculture, food and nutrition. It will position Southern Sydney at the heart of innovation in Australia, and as nandin is so closely connected to our local community providing invaluable access to world class researchers and technology. Global freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace Freelancer.com has acquired enterprise freight marketplace Channel 40, in a move expected to pave the way for the launch of a new freight, shipping and transportation marketplace, Freightlancer.com. The Australian-listed Freelancer (ASK:FLN) says Freightlancer.com will span from complex enterprise haulage to consumer metro deliveries, powered by the worlds largest human labour cloud of more than 30 million freelancers in 247 countries, regions and territories. Channel 40 was started in 2016 by mining executive Tom Cavanagh, who also founded, and is chief executive of, EMS Group, one of Australias largest underground mining and tunnelling service providers. Channel 40 primarily services the construction, mining, tunnelling, rail and oil and gas industries, with more than 6000 freight operators in its marketplace. The company says that in the last 12 months, it has shipped more than $4.5 million of freight within Asia Pacific, as well as to the US and Europe. Today we are excited to announce both the acquisition of Channel 40 and the launch of Freightlancer, our global marketplace for freight, shipping and transportation, said Freelancer.com chief executive Matt Barrie. Freightlancer is powered by the worlds largest human labour cloud of over 30 million freelancers, our rapidly growing Enterprise division and our global payments business Escrow.com. The acquisition of Channel 40 and the launch of Freightlancer.com represent the first productised vertical for Freelancer.com, specialising in end-to-end solutions within a single job area. This builds on our local jobs offering and taps into the Freelancer.com API, delivering a global pool of liquidity for the freight logistics industry, around the world. We are thrilled to be joining Freightlancer, said Channel 40 chief executive Josh Mullens. Our business and global domain expertise in transportation, shipping and logistics, combined with the global scale of the Freelancer.com and Escrow.com businesses is a phenomenal combination. The Australian Labor Party has expressed concern over the state of the fixed-wireless service offered by the NBN Co and identified in the second report of the Joint Standing Committee on the NBN as likely to be due to congestion. A statement issued jointly by Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Stephen Jones, and the deputy chair of the panel, Josh Wilson, said the congestion had come about due to the decision by NBN Co to reduce its fixed-line footprint and over-subscribe the fixed-wireless network. The report, issued on Monday and focusing on rural and regional Australia, also recommended a change to the proposed broadband levy. Jones and Wilson said, with a view to maintaining the universal service obligations in future, the panel had recommended that the capacity of the Sky Muster satellites were better utilised, using the layer three capabilities to provide more data. "a rethink of how NBN fixed-wireless products are structured to improve experience, recognising consumers may be better served by a structure that reflects the characteristics of wireless technology and moves away from replicating fixed line product structures; and "renewed focus on infrastructure sharing in regional Australia to support improved quality of NBN services." Two other recommendations cited were: Jones and Wilson also mentioned the recommendation about the broadband levy, claiming this was "a clear policy rebuke" to Communications Minister Mitch Fifield. They said the panel had also recognised the raw deal that regional Australia had received with respect to the rollout of fibre-to-the-kerb - what NBN Co calls fibre-to-the-curb - with too few regional areas being served this technology. The FttK option means a much shorter copper lead-in, with fibre being laid up to the nature strip in the front of a property. The Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition said it welcomed the recommendations of the panel. The Coalition has long been calling for Sky Muster satellite services that are fit for purpose, said ACCAN director of Policy, Una Lawrence. These recommendations, along with the new NBN product announcements are a considerable step in the right direction and we look forward to their arrival early next year. NSW Farmers President James Jackson acknowledged the recommendations aimed at alleviating congestion on fixed wireless towers were a step in the right direction. Regional customers have been impacted by fixed wireless congestion due to a higher than anticipated migration to this product," he said. "While this is positive, it now requires NBN Co to take requisite measures to balance this inequality on fixed wireless and ensure an effective and reliable broadband service. BlackBerry, which has rebranded as a security company as its mobile handset business fades, purchased Cylance, the machine-learning based anti-malware company, for $1.4 billion dollars last week. The move is in line with BlackBerry's public strategy to secure endpoint devices such as cars, medical devices, and critical infrastructure, but it raises eyebrows in the security community, given the company's history with encryption backdoors. The company plans to integrate Cylance's anti-malware solution into the BlackBerry Spark platform, "which is at the center of our strategy to ensure data flowing between endpoints (in a car, business, or smart city) is secured, private, and trusted," BlackBerry wrote in a statement. Deploying Cylance's well-respected anti-malware service on IoT devices is potentially a big win for IoT security, but CEO John Chen's stance on lawful access has put him and BlackBerry at odds with much of the security community. As early as 2010, at the height of BlackBerry's popularity as a handset manufacturer, the company is thought to have shared its global decryption key for consumer BlackBerry devices with the Canadian federal police, the RCMP. (Chen was not working at BlackBerry at this time.) During the Apple v. FBI spat a couple years ago, when the FBI was clamoring for backdoored encryption, Chen was a vocal critic of Apple, and called for tech companies to cooperate with law enforcement. In October 2017, Chen said in an interview that he would be willing to find a way to circumvent BlackBerrys security at the request of law enforcement. In a blog post dated November 20, however, Chen said that "BlackBerrys products do not have backdoors," while reiterating his stance that tech companies should "comply with reasonable lawful access requests." An internet of vulnerable things Court documents make clear that at least as early as 2010 the Canadian federal police had a copy of BlackBerry's global decryption key, installed in every consumer device at the factory. Whoever possessed a copy of that key was able to decrypt text messages sent between BlackBerry's consumer handsets. According to the company, none of BlackBerrys current enterprise software products have a global decryption key. But the security community has a long memory, and Chens recent public statements have raised concerns. In a call on November 16 announcing the Cylance acquisition, CSO asked Chen whether he would continue BlackBerry's support for "lawful access" encryption backdoors as the new head of Cylance. Chen said, "We do support legal access. I believe every company should," adding that "we all have a social responsibility to protect the safety of the government and the people." It's too early to tell the downstream effect that stated position might have on Cylance technology, but any method that provides access to encrypted information without the users consent weakens security for everyone. Not only can law enforcement gain access, but as the world's leading cryptographers have concluded for years, the risk that a golden key will be stolen by bad actors from criminals to state-sponsored hackers is high. A similar system deployed for the types of IoT devices that Cylance supports could have disastrous consequences. There is no evidence that Cylance has ever put backdoors in its malware detection solution, or whitelisted government malware. But with John Chen now in control of Cylance, some in the security community see trouble ahead. "Anyone that whitelists malware of any type runs the risk of weakening critical infrastructure for everyone, including governments and citizens. No malware should ever be whitelisted," Harry Halpin, a security researcher at Inria, the French national institute for research in computer science and automation, and MIT, tells CSO. BlackBerry's acquisition of Cylance worries Halpin, who adds, "A track record of cooperation by anyone points to possible future cooperation." The problem with lawful access Any deliberately created vulnerability, even those created for use by law enforcement, will inevitably be hacked. Backdoored encryption has far more serious consequences in the IoT space. "In a world where cryptographic keys protect cars, cardiac devices, trains, and smart meters, losing those keys has grave implications," Eireann Leverett, founder and CEO of Concinnity Risks, tells CSO. "Our safety literally depends on those keys." The difficulty of knowing whether someone has stolen a copy of an encryption backdoor, combined with the difficulty of updating hard-coded backdoors, makes "lawful access" measures unworkable. "If we have to reset our passwords every time our bank gets hacked," Leverett asks, "how can companies still allow these hard-coded backdoors, that they can't reset?" Backdoors dont have to be hardwired into a device. They can be any method that provides access to encrypted information without the users consent. "Backdoors can be a public safety issue when present in remotely accessible, safety-critical systems," Beau Woods, a Cyber Safety Innovation Fellow with the Atlantic Council in Washington, tells CSO. "Technical capabilities are policy agnostic they can't distinguish between what is permitted and forbidden by law." Backdoors in machine learning A backdoor in machine learning technology of the type developed by Cylance would look very different from the encryption backdoor BlackBerry deployed in its consumer handsets. Researchers have demonstrated that machine learning can be backdoored, and how such backdoors might work. "It's possible they [BlackBerry] could add machine learning-specific backdoors of the style we proposed last year that makes it ignore their own state-sponsored malware," Brendan Dolan-Gavitt, an assistant professor in the computer science and engineering department at New York University, tells CSO. "We showed that when you're training something like a deep learning system you can teach it to recognize specific triggers and then misclassify any inputs that have that trigger," Dolan-Gavitt adds. "We haven't looked at anti-malware systems specifically, but I think it would work." The FBI has been demanding tech companies create backdoors for 20 years to make it easier for law enforcement to do its job. Asking BlackBerry to whitelist law enforcement malware to gain access to a suspect's IoT devices would yield an enormous amount of intimate information about that person. But that kind of "wiretapping" permits more than just eavesdropping it enables attacks on data integrity and availability as well, attacks that malicious actors will inevitably engage in. Backdoors in BlackBerry/Cylance products are by no means a foregone conclusion. No known evidence contradicts Chens claim that BlackBerrys current products are free of backdoors. Given the sensitive nature of IoT, however, Chens statements regarding lawful access raise legitimate questions. Predictions are tough, but even moreso in the chaotic world of cyber security. The threat landscape is huge, offensive and defensive technologies are evolving rapidly, and nation-state attacks are increasing in terms of scope and sophistication. This cyber fog of war makes it hard to see or assess every trend. Last year, for example, CSOs predictions for 2018 did not anticipate the rapid rise of cryptomining. In hindsight, this relatively easy to execute, lower risk way for cyber criminals to monetize their efforts should have been an obvious choice. Still, we got a few things right: more automation of threat-detection processes, significant rise in attacks using compromised IoT devices, and the decline of trust in the face of rising cyber crime, to name a few. This year, we asked CSO staff and contributors to tell us the biggest events or trends they anticipate for the next 12 months. Here are their top 9. 1. Ransomware tapers off, but still wreaks havoc Ransomware will taper off as criminals shift to other ways to generate revenue. While ransomware will still be a problem, it will be more of a focused, targeted attack, says Steve Ragan, CSOs senior staff writer. He cites the declining number of ransomware attacks. According to Kaspersky, the number of users who encountered ransomware in 2017 and 2018 fell by nearly 30 percent over the 2016 to 2017 time period. The randoms went down, and the targeted ones were big news, says Ragan. For example, the ransomware group responsible for SamSam is now focusing primarily on a relatively few U.S. companies, mainly municipal and healthcare organizations, according to Symantec. The reason for the decline is that criminals are finding cryptojacking and other schemes are more effective money-makers. The number and quality of ready-made cryptomining tools means that criminals dont need to be technically skilled. Thats reflected in the 44.5 percent rise in number of users that have experienced a cryptomining attack in the past year, according to Kaspersky. Hidden coinminers continue to proliferate in 2019, and malware authors are taking advantage of them to disrupt your business, says CSO contributor David Strom. Cryptomining will continue to be a threat as long as attackers can make quick cash from the infections. 2. Regulation and public sentiment on privacy will drive data protection policies Last year, CSO predicted that the European Union (EU) would quickly punish a few companies in violation of its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to make an example of them. That didnt happen. The threat of penalties over compromised personal information will still have a huge effect on security operations in 2019 nonetheless. Those penalties are likely coming. The EU will break some fingers with the GDPR, says CSO Senior Writer J.M. Porup. Enforcement is going to be harsh beginning in the first half of 2019. Companies engaged in surveillance capitalism, like Google and Facebook, are in for a rough few years. Hundreds of complaints have been filed, including some against Google and Facebook. In 2019, well see how the EU will react to those complaints. That will provide some much-needed clarity regarding the risk that GDPR and other privacy regulations present. If the GDPR doesnt react, then thats telling, too. It sends the message not to take the regulation seriously. Rising concern over how companies use and protect personal information will encourage many Americans to hold those companies more accountable. The reaction by consumers to constant security breaches and other unethical information disclosures (e.g., Facebook) leads U.S. consumers to demand more default privacy and control over their own information, says CSO contributor Roger Grimes. Grimes expects to see an effort to enact privacy laws similar to GDPR nationally in 2019. The California Consumer Privacy Act has already passed into law and goes into effect in 2020. On November 1, Sen. Ron Wyden introduced a bill titled the Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA), which has stiff penalties, including jail time, for privacy violations. Given the federal governments current state of effectiveness, that bill is unlikely to gain much traction. In the meantime, most organizations that handle consumer data in the U.S. will look to other regulations such as the GDPR and CCPA for guidance. California and New York will continue to drive the conversation around consumer data privacy, while Washington drags its heels, says Porup. Companies will start seriously thinking about a privacy-first approach to data, especially as these laws expand to more jurisdictions, and to narrowly targeted verticals, such as banking, medical and payments, says CSO contributor Maria Korolov. That will require some major changes in how companies collect, use, and share data. 3. Expect more nation-state attacks on and surveillance of individuals State-conducted or sponsored targeted cyberattacks on journalists, dissidents and politicians will continue to grow. Like-minded governments will turn a blind eye to such attacks on their own soil. The worst possible outcome of a nation surveilling its own citizens played out in the case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Israeli newspaper The Haaretz reported that the Saudi government used Israeli cyberweapons to track Khashoggi while he was in Canada. The Israeli government appears to be a major exporter of technology that other governments can use to spy on its citizens. Another Haaretz story reports that multiple countries are using Israeli software to target dissidents and homosexuals. 4. Microsoft will move Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) to all its mainstream products Windows 10 Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) is a service that allows anyone with an E5 license to see under the hood and review what an attacker did to a system. It relies on telemetry that is enabled when the computer is linked to the ATP service. The software giant will move to fortify its continuing efforts to build a security-focused brand image by making ATP standard with all Windows versions. This will be a key selling point in choosing Windows products over IBM's Red Hat in the coming year, says CSO contributor and Windows expert Susan Bradley. 5. We will determine that voter fraud occurred in the mid-term elections The confirmation of voter fraud will spur calls to better protect and enroll people in online voter processes. The conflict between those who want to make voting as accessible as possible and those who want to protect the integrity of the process will remain, however. We have a need to ensure that everyone can register and vote online, but we will need to take major steps to ensure we can do so safely and properly, says Bradley. 6. Multi-factor authentication will become the standard for all online transactions Though far from a perfect solution, most websites and online services will abandon password-only access and offer additional required or optional authentication methods. For a while, the different forms of multi-factor authentication will likely confuse and frustrate users. Only using a password to authenticate is increasingly leaving us open to phishing and other attacks, says Bradley. But the fact that all the vendors are implementing different systems to authenticate means I'm being driven slightly crazy with all of the two-factor authentications I'm having to manage. It won't be better until a more standardized process is settled on. Those standards, at least on the vendor side, are on the way. With FIDO2 browser enhancements and the Duo/Cisco acquisition, it could tip the scales. Expect to see more innovation here in the coming year that makes it easier and more compelling to use MFA than not to, says Strom. 7. Spear phishing becomes even more targeted Attackers know that the more information they have about you, the better they can craft a successful phishing campaign against you. Some are using tactics that are a bit creepy. One of the trending changes in spear phishing are phishing campaigns where the hacker breaks into an email system, lurks and learns, says Grimes. Then they use the information they have learned, as well as taking advantage of the relationships and trust built between people who regularly communicate with each other. One area where Grimes sees this happening more is mortgage wire fraud, where home buyers are tricked into wiring closing fees to a rogue party by an email arriving from a trusted mortgage agent. The hacker breaks into the mortgage lenders (or title agents) computer and takes note of all the upcoming pending deals and their closing dates, he says. Then the day before the mortgage agent would normally send out an email telling the client where to send the closing money, the phisher uses the mortgage agents computer to beat them to the punch. The unsuspecting client wires the money, which is rarely recovered, and ends up losing the house (unless they can come up with another substantial closing payment, which most cant do). 8. Nations will make an effort to establish cyberwarfare rules Even in physical warfare, most nations have agreed upon a basic set of rules, such as no torture, no poison gasses, or no slaughtering of civilians. The rules set boundaries that could align much of the world against nations that cross them. No such rules exist for cyberwarfare, and some nations seem to believe they can do almost anything with near impunity. North Korea hacks Sony Pictures. Russia hacks industrial critical control systems and tries to influence the elections of other nations. China steals intellectual property. And the U.S. and Israel use malware to destroy nuclear equipment, says Grimes. Digital boundaries are being tested, and some nation states are starting to push back. Expect there to be a Geneva Convention for digital warfare coming soon. Rules or no rules, some nations will continue to push boundaries when it comes to cyber warfare. Cyber attackers will continue to have a safe haven in Russia and China and North Korea, says Korolov. They will have more resources at their disposal than ever, either from their government backers or from the financial windfalls of this year's ransomware and cryptojacking attacks. They will use these resources to find new attack vectors and to improve the resilience and adaptability of their malware. The situation will continue to get worse until something very major changes in global geopolitics, which won't be until the next U.S. presidential election, at the earliest. 9. More organizations will require masters degrees in cybersecurity for CSOs/CISOs Cybersecurity training will continue to mature, and certificates alone will no longer be enough to take the next step in a security professional's career, Porup predicts. The hodge-podge system of security certifications has failed to provide the right kind of education and training, says Porup. "Cybersecurity training will continue to mature, and certificates alone will no longer be enough to take the next step in a security professional's career," Porup continues. "Masters degrees in cybersecurity are popping up all over the place, including at prestigious universities like UC Berkeley and NYU, and more and more companies will be looking to hire CSOs/CISOs with the cross-disciplinary skills acquired from a masters degree." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 20) Two senators filed a resolution seeking the release of the government's draft joint exploration deal with China on the West Philippine Sea, just in time for Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit. Senators Antonio Trillanes and Kiko Pangilinan filed Senate Resolution 943 Sunday urging to see the draft of the oil and gas exploration agreement with China before it is signed. "We are demanding transparency. Ano ba pipirmahan baka masusubo tayo dyan. We're calling them out, walang consultation na nangyari with the legislature," Trillanes said. [Translation: We are demanding transparency. What are they signing? We'll probably be in trouble for that. We're calling them out, there are no consultation happening with the legislature.] The senators argued there are allegations that China produced a draft entitled "Framework Agreement on Joint Maritime Oil and Gas Exploration between China and the Philippines". Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo argued that whether the author of the draft is China or the Philippines is irrelevant since the agreement still has to be reviewed by the Philippine government. "It doesn't matter who drafted it. As far as we are concerned, you give us the draft, then we'll go over it. We have to see whether this is legal or not, whether it is beneficial to us or not. Even if China drafts it, it has to go over us. We have to review that. In the same manner that if we draft it, it will have to pass over them too," Panelo told the press Tuesday. The senators said the draft states that exploration, development, and utilization of the resources will be jointly decided by Chinese and Filipino nationals. This is a violation of the Constitution, they argued, because it promotes a "co-ownership with China of the West Philippine Sea." The Senate resolution cited Article XII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution which states that "exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the state." In July 12, 2016 the Philippines was awarded the South China Sea Arbitration which ruled that the West Philippine Sea, or areas of the South China Sea that lie within the country's 200-mile exclusive economic zone, is exclusively owned by the Philippines. "Thus, any agreement which diminishes or undermines the Philippines' 'full control and supervision' of its natural resources including oil and gas violates the constitution," the resolution stated. However, Malacanang disputed the release of documents on the matter as "premature" given that the officials have yet to sign the agreement. He assured that any agreement signed by the government would serve the country's interests. "We assure that any agreement that we will enter into with a foreign government or entity would stand the judicial scrutiny of both countries and its constitutionality, if challenged, would be upheld," Panelo said. President Xi arrived in the country on Tuesday to discuss joint exploration plans with the Philippines in a two-day state visit. Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 77F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Lithium Grades up to 1.24% Li 2 O TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plateau Energy Metals Inc. (Plateau PLU or the "Company")(TSX VENTURE:PLU)(FRANKFURT:QG1)(OTCQB:PLUUF) is pleased to announce new drill results from Falchani West drilling. Falchani West Highlights Link to: Figure 1 Falchani Project Drill Plan Location Map 23 m of 4,412 ppm Li (0.95% Li 2 O) from 306 to 329 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) in lower breccia unit within longest intersection of lithium mineralization drilled to date of 338 m of 2,895 ppm Li (0.62% Li 2 O) from 7 to 345 m downhole (277 m true thickness); Li contents up to 5,739 ppm (1.24% Li 2 O) (PLAT14-W) from 306 to 329 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) in lower breccia unit within longest intersection of lithium mineralization drilled to date of from 7 to 345 m downhole (277 m true thickness); Li contents up to 5,739 ppm (1.24% Li O) (PLAT14-W) 90 m of 3,025 ppm Li (0.65% Li 2 O) from 84 to 174 m (EOH) downhole (73 m true thickness) in Li-rich tuff unit within a broader 115 m interval of 2,611 ppm Li (0.56% Li 2 O) that includes upper breccia unit and tuffs (94 m true thickness) (PLAT13-W) from 84 to 174 m (EOH) downhole (73 m true thickness) in Li-rich tuff unit within a broader that includes upper breccia unit and tuffs (94 m true thickness) (PLAT13-W) Falchani West now has been drill tested 475 m N-S along section within the Falchani West target area and up to approximately 450 m E-W based on drill hole traces projected to surface and the eastern valley edge Falchani West has highly anomalous lithium values covering a mapped and sampled footprint of >1.5 km E-W by approximately 1.7km N-S towards Tres Hermanas As observed at Falchani East, Lithium mineralization thins to the south due to the presence of a lithium-bearing sub-volcanic felsic intrusion affecting the overlying tuff and breccia units Northward towards Platform 14, the lithium mineralization becomes increasingly thick away from the southern intrusion, and is essentially at surface due to its lower elevation and erosion of the barren rhyolite cover rocks Three rigs continue to drill at Falchani West towards the West (platforms 32, 33 and 36) and plan to move North through to the end of 2018 Our continued success at Falchani West is encouraging, in particular the presence of a significantly thicker lower breccia unit, as we continue West and North to grow our resource base, commented Alex Holmes, CEO. Our project team will continue drilling through to the end of December as we look to incorporate these results into a late Q1 2019 resource update. Falchani Interpretation Falchani West appears to represent a similar, but potentially larger side of a 6 km by 5 km collapsed caldera with faulting due to the presence of a sub-volcanic felsic intrusion creating an interpreted resurgent dome centred along the N-S faulted valley separating Falchani West area from the Falchani East resource. In the southern drilled extents of both Falchani East and West, lithium mineralization thins to the south due to the presence of this lithium-bearing, sub-volcanic felsic intrusion representing the southern edge of the caldera. The intrusion affects the formation, orientation and preservation of the overlying tuff and breccia units. In the northern drill platforms (example PLAT-14), the lithium-rich tuff unit and to a greater extent, the mineralized lower breccia unit become extremely thick to the north and west from the interpreted resurgent dome intrusion. The lower breccia contains large intersections of Li-rich tuff interpreted as large blocks within the host breccia. The highest grade lithium mineralization encountered to date is located proximal to the base of the thick lower breccia, immediately above the lithium-bearing sub-volcanic intrusion. It is interpreted that this sub-volcanic intrusion was a source of heat and lithium-bearing fluids that locally enhanced the lithium contents of the volcano-sedimentary rocks within the collapsed caldera lake. Based on the available data, the Companys technical team believes the collapsed caldera setting may have trapped the lithium-rich mineralization millions of years ago, during the latest extrusive episode of one of the youngest member of the Macusani rhyolites. The Companys technical team is working together with its technical advisors to understand more fully this unique volcanic lithium deposit model setting, and research is being considered to unravel the geology and evolution of Falchani. It appears that we have a very large-scale depositional environment for our lithium project at Falchani. Within a deep and wide caldera lake, several generations of volcanic ash layers were trapped and transformed into the hardened tuff units that we see today, stated Dr. Laurence Stefan, President & COO. To date our metallurgical work completed at several laboratories all over the world has determined that the geochemistry of several trace and major elements is mostly similar to a high-grade brine, with geotechnical similarities to a hard rock project. Drill Results Details Link to: Figure 2 Falchani Project E-W Cross Section through PLAT14, and Figure 3 Falchani West Project N-S Cross Section with PLAT12-PLAT13 & PLAT14 Platform 14W inclined hole drilled to 270Azimuth at -55 inclination PLAT14-W 400.5 m total length High-grade lithium-rich mineralization in upper breccia, tuff and a thick intersection of lower breccia intersected 338 m of 2,895 ppm Li (0.62% Li 2 O) from 7 to 345 m downhole (277 m true thickness) - Includes lithium tuff-only interval of 78 m of 2,328 ppm Li (0.50% Li 2 O) from 12-90 m downhole (64 m true thickness) - Includes a higher-grade interval with 23 m of 4,412 ppm Li (0.95% Li 2 O) from 306-329 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) in lower breccia Thickest interval of lower breccia drilled to date (255 m downhole; 209 m true thickness) with Li values up to 5,739 ppm (1.24% Li 2 O) O) The drill hole ended in sub-volcanic felsic intrusion from 345-400.5 m averaging 859 ppm Li No surface uranium mineralization intersected as hole started in 7 m of barren rhyolite Platform 13 W inclined hole drilled to 270Azimuth at -55 inclination PLAT13-W 174 m total length 90 m of Lithium-rich tuff unit intersected 3,025 ppm Li (0.65% Li 2 O) from 84 to 174 m (EOH) downhole (73 m true thickness) O) from 84 to 174 m (EOH) downhole (73 m true thickness) 115 m of 2,611 ppm Li (0.56% Li 2 O) in broader interval from 59 to 174 m (EOH), that includes 25 m of Li-rich upper breccia (94 m true thickness) O) in broader interval from 59 to 174 m (EOH), that includes 25 m of Li-rich upper breccia (94 m true thickness) No surface uranium mineralization intersected as hole started in barren rhyolite Platform 12 V Vertical drill hole PLAT12-V Vertical Hole 174.5 m total length 42 m of Lithium-rich tuff unit intersected 2,415 ppm Li (0.52% Li 2 O) from 25 to 73 m O) from 25 to 73 m 47 m of 2,311 ppm Li (0.50% Li 2 O) in broader interval from 23 to 77 m, that includes thin intersections of Li-rich breccias located above and below the tuff unit O) in broader interval from 23 to 77 m, that includes thin intersections of Li-rich breccias located above and below the tuff unit 91.5 m of sub-volcanic felsic intrusive was intersected from 83 to 174.5 m (EOH) that averaged 1,403 ppm Li (0.30% Li 2 O) O) The top 23 m comprised unconsolidated colluvium gravels The hole was stopped at a depth of 174.5 m due to technical reasons. Platform 12 W inclined hole drilled to 270Azimuth at -55 inclination PLAT12-W 148 m total length 23 m of Lithium-rich tuff unit intersected 2,305 ppm Li (0.50% Li 2 O) from 25 to 48 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) O) from 25 to 48 m downhole (18.8 m true thickness) 38 m of 2,082 ppm Li (0.45% Li 2 O) in broader interval from 21 to 59 m downhole (31 m true thickness), that includes Li-rich breccias located above and below the tuff unit O) in broader interval from 21 to 59 m downhole (31 m true thickness), that includes Li-rich breccias located above and below the tuff unit 85 m of sub-volcanic felsic intrusive was intersected from 59 to 144 m downhole (69.6 m true thickness) with 1181 ppm Li (0.25% Li 2 O) O) The hole ended in 4 m of lithium-rich tuff underlying the intrusive rocks from 144 to 148 m (EOH) that averaged 2,112 ppm Li (0.45% Li 2 O) (3.3 m true thickness) O) (3.3 m true thickness) The occurrence of Li-rich tuffs at depth below the Li-rich sub-volcanic intrusion demonstrates that separated layers and blocks of the tuff unit may exist in other parts of the caldera due to the complex post-sedimentary evolution of the tuff . The top 21 m comprised unconsolidated colluvium gravels Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Data Verification Drill core samples are cut longitudinally with a diamond saw with one-half of the core placed in sealed bags and shipped to Certimins sample analytical laboratory in Lima for sample preparation, processing and ICP-MS/OES multi-element analysis. Certimin is an ISO 9000 certified assay laboratory. The Companys Qualified Person for the drill programme, Mr. Ted OConnor, has verified the data disclosed, including drill core, sampling and analytical data in the field and lab. The program is designed to include a comprehensive analytical quality assurance and control routine comprising the systematic use of Company inserted standards, blanks and field duplicate samples, internal laboratory standards and has also included check analyses at other accredited laboratories. Qualified Persons Mr. Ted OConnor, P.Geo., a Director of Plateau Energy Metals, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. For further information, please contact: Plateau Energy Metals Inc. Website: www.plateauenergymetals.com Alex Holmes, CEO & Director Facebook: www.facebook.com/pluenergy/ +1-416-628-9600 Twitter: www.twitter.com/pluenergy/ Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. About Plateau Energy Metals Plateau Energy Metals Inc. is a Canadian lithium and uranium exploration and development company focused on its properties on the Macusani Plateau in southeastern Peru. The Company controls all reported uranium resources known in Peru, significant and growing lithium resources and mineral concessions covering over 93,000 hectares (930 km2) situated near significant infrastructure. Plateau Energy Metals is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'PLU', quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol PLUUF and the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol 'QG1'. The Company has 76,892,314 shares issued and outstanding. Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning drill results and the interpretation of drill results, the Companys plans regarding further drilling and exploration, a resource update, and the timing and expected results related to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", believe, "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", projected, appears, potential, interpreted and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that any future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with our expectations; mining and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes (including work stoppages and strikes) or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; risks related to commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to foreign operations; the cyclical nature of the industry in which we operate; risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or delays in obtaining governmental approvals; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the certainty of title to our properties; risks related to the uncertain global economic environment; and other risks and uncertainties related to our prospects, properties and business strategy, as described in more detail in Plateau Energy Metals recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and Plateau cautions against placing undue reliance thereon. Neither Plateau nor its management assume any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / Canarc Resource Corp. (the "Company" or "Canarc") (TSX: CCM, OTC-BB: CRCUF, Frankfurt: CAN) is pleased to announce that it has acquired a new gold exploration project in northwestern Nevada through the staking of 92 mining claims covering 742 hectares. Canarc owns the project 100% with no underlying royalties. The new project, called Corral Canyon, contains significant, volcanic-hosted, epithermal, disseminated and vein gold mineralization evidenced by previous drilling. The project lies along a regionally productive gold trend that includes the past producing high-grade Sleeper gold mine (3.1 million oz gold past production), located 72 km south of Corral Canyon. Mr. Scott Eldridge, Canarc's CEO, stated: "The addition of the Corral Canyon project to our Nevada portfolio at very low cost demonstrates Canarcs new strategy to acquire and explore gold exploration projects that have potential for high impact discoveries. We are encouraged by the presence of high grades at Corral Canyon in the same type of gold system that has yielded significant discoveries elsewhere within the Great Basin. Our immediate goal will be mapping and sampling, so we can re-interpret previous exploration results and identify high priority drill targets as quickly as possible." Location and Description Corral Canyon lies 35 km west of the town of McDermitt in Humboldt County along the western flank of the McDermitt caldera complex, an area of volcanic rocks that hosts significant lithium and uranium mineralization in addition to gold. The project also lies along a regional, north-trending structural zone, informally termed the western Nevada rift, which localizes a series of significant gold deposits to the south, including Sleeper (Paramount Gold, NYSE: PZG), Sandman (Newmont Mining, NYSE: NEM) and Goldbanks (Premier Gold Mines, TSX: PG). These deposits contain high-grade veins as well as disseminated mineralization within volcanic rocks similar to those at Corral Canyon. Geologically, Corral Canyon is part of a productive class of gold deposits, termed low-sulfidation epithermal, that formed during middle Miocene (14-17 Ma) time in the northwestern Great Basin and includes the Sleeper (Paramount Gold, NYSE: PZG), Midas (Hecla Mining, NYSE: HL) and Fire Creek mines (Hecla Mining, NYSE: HL). Characteristics of Corral Canyon consistent with this deposit class include finely-banded, colloform-textured gold-bearing quartz veins; a middle Miocene bimodal (basalt-rhyolite) host volcanic package; high Au-Ag ratio with very low base-metal contents; and localization along a regional structure. Historic Exploration Highlights and Next Steps Historic exploration data covering the property includes drilling, geophysics, geology and surface rock-chip and soil sampling. The property has been dormant since 2011. Historic drilling intersected gold mineralization at shallow depths that remains open at depth and along strike within a mineral system at least 2.5 km long. Selected historic drill results are shown in Table 1. Thick intervals of low-grade mineralization (e.g., 0.36 g/t over 43 m) commonly contain higher-grade internal zones reaching up to 15.2 g/t over 1.5 m. Canarc plans to evaluate the historical data and conduct its own field work in order to identify new high priority exploration targets to expand the known mineralization and, in particular, focus on identifying structures which could host high-grade mineralization. The Company has secured access to drill core from the 2008-2011 drilling programs, and examination of the core will be an important part of the evaluation program. Table 1. Selected Historic Drilling Composites* Hole Au g/t Interval m From m To m 1981-14 6.200 6.1 201.2 207.3 2008-4 (core) 1.936 10.7 103.6 114.3 including 12.530 1.5 103.6 105.2 0.429 4.6 140.2 144.8 0.554 4.6 153.9 157.0 including 1.030 1.5 155.4 157.0 1.940 7.6 170.7 178.3 0.532 4.6 179.8 184.4 0.322 4.6 189.0 193.5 0.261 4.6 202.7 207.3 0.239 8.5 209.1 217.6 2009-6 (core) 2.637 10.7 108.2 118.9 including 15.198 1.5 111.3 112.8 0.383 25.9 147.8 173.7 2009-8 (core) 0.327 4.6 91.4 96.0 0.327 4.6 137.2 141.7 2009-9 (core) 0.264 4.6 266.7 271.3 0.297 18.6 292.6 311.2 2009-10(core) 0.361 42.7 278.9 321.6 including 0.541 16.8 304.8 321.6 2009-12 (core) 0.411 13.7 157.0 170.7 including 1.346 1.8 167.3 169.2 2009-13 (core) 0.990 3.0 68.6 71.6 1.018 1.5 88.4 89.9 0.378 18.3 283.5 301.8 0.399 13.7 310.9 324.6 0.326 13.7 352.0 365.8 1.083 6.1 413.0 419.1 2009-14(core) 2.686 1.5 118.9 120.4 0.373 10.7 260.6 271.3 * Composites were calculated using a nominal 0.200 g/t Au cutoff with internal high-grade intervals mostly using a 1.000 g/t cutoff; composite intervals are not necessarily true width; 2008 and 2009 drilling by Western Uranium Corporation, Mr. John Rice was the Qualified Person, assays by American Assay Laboratories; 1981 drilling by Chevron Resources Company, reported by Western Uranium Corporation; drill hole 2008-14 was within 5 m and a twin of hole 1981-14. Canarc considers these results to be historical, it has not yet completed sufficient work to independently verify these historic results, and therefore they should not be relied upon. Qualified Person Dr. Jacob Margolis is a qualified person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has approved the technical information in this news release. Dr. Margolis is engaged as a consultant to Canarc Resource Corp as Vice President of Exploration. "Scott Eldridge" ____________________ Scott Eldridge, Chief Executive Officer CANARC RESOURCE CORP. About Canarc - Canarc Resource Corp. is a growth-oriented gold exploration company focused on generating superior shareholder returns by discovering, exploring and developing strategic gold deposits in North America. The Company is currently advancing two core assets, each with substantial gold resources, and has initiated a high impact exploration strategy to acquire and explore new properties that have district-scale gold discovery potential. Canarc shares trade on the TSX: CCM and the OTCQX: CRCUF. For More Information - Please contact: Scott Eldridge, CEO Toll Free: 1-877-684-9700 Tel: (604) 685-9700 Cell: (604) 722-5381 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.canarc.net Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Statements contained in this news release that are not historic facts are forward-looking information that involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future performance of Canarc, and the Company's plans and exploration programs for its mineral properties, including the timing of such plans and programs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "has proven", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "potential", "appears", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "at least", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the Companys ongoing due diligence review in relation to the Acquisition, risks related to the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; commodity prices; changes in general economic conditions; market sentiment; currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's ability to raise funds through equity financings; risks inherent in mineral exploration; risks related to operations in foreign countries; future prices of metals; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - International Battery Metals Ltd. (CSE: IBAT) ("IBAT" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into its second licensing agreement (the "Licensing Agreement") with Ensorica Metals Corporation ("Ensorcia") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ensorcia Argentina LLC ("EAL"), whereby IBAT will license its lithium extraction technology to EAL for use in the extraction of lithium chloride from lithium bearing brine sources in the country of Argentina (the "Territory"). The resulting lithium chloride will be converted to lithium carbonate and or lithium hydroxide. It may also be exported as a feed stock. In addition, the Licensing Agreement appoints IBAT as the exclusive provider to EAL and its Affiliates of technology, systems and equipment for the extraction of lithium salts from brine within the Territory as well as all design, installation, operation and maintenance services within the Territory with respect to systems and equipment for the extraction of lithium salts from brine. The economic viability and technical feasibility regarding any of the Argentinian projects has not been established at this time. As consideration for entering into the Licensing Agreement IBAT will receive a six percent royalty (6%) on the netback sales price of all products produced and sold using the Licensed technology and has also been granted a ten percent (10%) common membership interest in EAL. Upon signing the second agreement with Ensorcia in less than a month. Dr John Burba, CEO of IBAT, stated, "We are very excited to be extending our alliance with Ensorcia to include Argentina. Argentina and Chile have some of the world's richest lithium bearing salars and with EAL's and Sorcia (see Nov 8/18 NR) ability to access those resources it's a step closer in achieving our goal as a disruptive technology for Lithium extraction. One of IBAT's goals is to produce commercially viable technology with the smallest environmental footprint possible. Our technology is designed to extract lithium without the use of traditional evaporation ponds and our process does not add anything to the source brine, so it can be returned to the salar aquifer after the extraction of the lithium. The extraction units are also projected to recycle greater than 95% of their process water. We believe this feature is essential for operations in arid salar environments. Additionally, high internal water recycle also means very low waste water discharge. As a result, we expect to have minimal impact on salar ecology and local indigenous people. Lastly, our novel approach to lithium extraction will utilize portable extraction units designed to be deployed faster and cheaper. Our novel design also allows us to have one of the lowest operating costs for lithium extraction with far fewer environmental impacts than more traditional techniques for lithium production." For the full terms of the Licensing Agreement, please refer to the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Greg Mehos, Ph.D., P.E., an independent Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed, approved and verified that the scientific and technical information contained in the release is accurate About IBAT IBAT is an advanced disruptive technology company focused on lithium brine extraction. The company is in the process of creating and applying intellectual property related to lithium extraction from brines. Whether its Petro lithium brine in North America or salars in South America our goal is to help change the way Lithium is being extracted and produced. The securities described in this press release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered and sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. person absent such registration under the Securities Act or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements and in accordance with any applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction, including the United States. About: Ensorcia Metals Corporation Ensorcia Metals Corporation (www.ensorciametals.com) is an integrated producer and distributor of lithium and other metals formed to acquire, license and develop the most advanced proprietary technologies and facilities available in the metals industry today. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD John L. Burba, PhD. President, CEO, and Director Phone: (778) 939-4228 Forward-looking statements This news release of International Battery Metals Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (the "company") includes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing' and similar expressions, and within this news release include any statements (express or implied) respecting future royalties payable under the Licensing Agreement and the future issuance of warrants thereunder, beliefs as to features of the Company's technology being essential in order to sustain delicate salar environments, expectations as to the Company's technology having minimal impact on salar ecology and local indigenous people and the future utilization of portable extraction units. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of regulation and legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's Annual Report and the company's other filings with the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) available at the CSE's Internet site (www.thecse.com) and on SEDAR. CALGARY, Nov. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Lithium Chile Inc. ("Lithium Chile" or the "Company") is pleased to provide shareholders with an operational update. SALAR DE COIPASA: While Lithium Chile has successfully negotiated terms for surface access to the salar de Coipasa with the community executive, the Company is currently waiting for final approval by the community council. Once that occurs, a reconnaissance drilling program will commence immediately. At 129 km2 (as shown on the map below) Coipasa is Lithium Chile's second largest lithium prospect upon which a very large and highly conductive target, covering 65% of the property, was identified during the geophysical survey completed in the first quarter of 2018. Coipasa Geophysics SALAR DE HELADOS: Lithium Chile is pleased to announce that it has acquired an additional 2000 hectares on the Salar Laguna Blanca which is a NW extension to Lithium Chile's landholdings in the Helados basin. A recent reconnaissance sampling program conducted at surface and 1.3m depth returned lithium concentrations of 220 -780 mg/l with Mg:Li ratios of 5.7 6.0 which are on par with the Company's main property complex to the SE. SALAR DE TURI: Lithium Chile is also pleased to announce that the executive committee of the local indigenous community at Salar de Turi has recently reached out to the Company to discuss possible exploration of their lands. At a recently held meeting, community executives expressed their willingness to support an extension of the TEM geophysical survey on Turi. Subject to the successful completion of that TEM program, community executives also expressed their willingness to support a follow up drilling program. This is significant for two reasons. First and most importantly, this is the first time a local community has initiated discussions with the Company regarding surface access for an exploration program on a prospect controlled by the local community. Management views this willingness to work with the Company as encouraging and reflects the professionalism the Company has exhibited in its community relations work to date. Secondly, Lithium Chile controls 100% of the 7600 hectare Salar de Turi. As with its other properties, Lithium Chile owns its interests outright with no additional option payments, no overriding royalties nor any other such encumbrances. With two hydrothermal springs located on the property having surface brine sample grades exceeding 580/l mg, the Company has made Turi one of its 6 priority properties. Steve Cochrane President and CEO of Lithium Chile commented "We are very encouraged by the traction we are gaining with the local communities to further our exploration efforts. We are pleased and grateful for their ongoing support." Qualified Person Mr. Terence Walker, M.Sc., P.Geo, qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the contents of this news release. About Lithium Chile Lithium Chile is advancing a lithium property portfolio consisting of 159,700 hectares covering sections of 15 salars and 1 laguna complex in Chile. Lithium Chile's common shares are listed on the TSX-V under the symbol "LITH" and on the OTC-QB under the symbol "LTMCF". On Behalf of the Board of Directors, LITHIUM CHILE INC. Steven Cochrane President & CEO NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Forward Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "believes", "aims to", "plans to" or "intends to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. You are cautioned that the following list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Specific material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the general stability of the economic and political environment in which the Company operates; the timely receipt of required regulatory approvals; the ability of the Company to obtain future financing on acceptable terms; currency, exchange and interest rates; operating costs; the success the Company will have in exploring its prospects and the results from such prospects. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - Precipitate Gold Corp. (TSXV: PRG) (the "Company" or "Precipitate") is pleased to announce it has appointed Mr. Mejico Angeles-Lithgow as an advisor and consultant to the Company. Mr. Angeles-Lithgow is a Dominican national who, until March 2018 held the position of President and Executive Director of the Barrick-Pueblo Viejo mining operation in the Dominican Republic, a joint venture company between Barrick (60%) and Goldcorp (40%) which is the single largest investment in the country's economic history. Mr. Angeles-Lithgow worked at Barrick-Pueblo Viejo for nearly 11 years, having held the position of Director of Government Affairs before being promoted to President and Executive Director. As President and Executive Director of Barrick-Pueblo Viejo, Mr. Angeles-Lithgow was responsible for co-managing one of the largest gold mining operations in the world and one of the Dominican Republic's most important economic drivers, with an initial infrastructure investment of approximately US$4.3 billion and a recent 2017 production rate of approximately 1.0 million ounces gold per year at an all-in-sustaining cost per ounce of US$525*. The Company currently reports existing mining resources of 13.4 million ounces ("Moz") gold, 74.4 Moz silver, and 298.5 million pounds copper (measured and indicated mineral resource from 169.5 million tons grading 2.46 g/t gold, 13.66 g/t silver and 0.08% copper) and an additional 3.6 Moz gold, 16.0 Moz silver, and 87.2 million pounds copper in the inferred category**. (*March 2018, NI 43-101 report. **Reported annual 2017 production, Barrick website). Jeffrey Wilson, Precipitate President & CEO, stated, "We are pleased to welcome Mr. Angeles-Lithgow to the Company as an advisor and consultant. In light of our recent announcement to acquire ground adjacent to Barrick's Pueblo Viejo mining operation, Mr. Angeles-Lithgow will provide critical local and in-country expertise to augment the geological and business acumen of the Company's management team and Board of Directors. Mr. Angeles-Lithgow's track record for establishing mutually beneficial relationships between the mining sector and local communities, business leaders and government officials at all levels, will provide invaluable insight to Precipitate as it commences activities at its Pueblo Grande Project. In his prior capacities at Pueblo Viejo, Mr. Angeles-Lithgow established himself as an important leader in the country's mining sector, while making unique contributions to an admirable precedent for successful and responsible mining in the Dominican Republic." Prior to working at Barrick, Mr. Angeles-Lithgow was the Director of Commercial and Regulatory Affairs at Empresa Generadora de Electricidad Haina, S.A. (E.G.E. Haina), one of the two power generation companies formed as a result of the capitalization of the former state-owned power utility in the Dominican Republic and the reform of the power sector. He worked in the power sector for over 8 years. Prior to his experience in the power sector, Mr. Angeles-Lithgow held various positions in the private sector in the Dominican Republic from which his involvement in marketing, sales, economic development, investment promotion, and community development, add to his broad-based management experience. Mr. Angeles-Lithgow received a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santo Domingo, followed by a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Lancaster, England and a Master's Degree in Power Sector Economic Regulation from the Pontifical University of Comillas of Madrid, Spain (program delivered in Santo Domingo). He also completed a Master Degree in Security and Defense Studies from the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Defense's Graduate School of Strategic Studies and holds a graduate degree as Geopolitics Specialist from the same academic institution. The Company also wishes to announce it has granted a total of 3,025,000 incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval and acceptance. Each option is exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company until November 20, 2023 at a price of C$0.08 per common share in accordance with the terms of the Company's stock option plan. About Precipitate Gold: Precipitate Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring and advancing its mineral property interests in the Tireo Gold Trend and Pueblo Viejo Camp of the Dominican Republic. The Company also maintains assets in southeast Yukon Territory, specifically the Company's Reef property located immediately adjacent to Golden Predator's 3 Aces Project in the Upper Hyland River area. The Company has entered into an Option to Purchase Agreement with Golden Predator whereby Golden Predator can earn a 100% interest in the Reef claims by making certain staged payments in cash and shares and warrants. Precipitate is also actively evaluating additional high-impact property acquisitions with the potential to expand the Company's portfolio and increase shareholder value. Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.precipitategold.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp., "Jeffrey Wilson" President & CEO For further information, please contact: Tel: 604-558-0335 Toll Free: 855-558-0335 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Precipitate Gold Corp.'s ("Precipitate" or the "Company") current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Company and on assumptions it believes are reasonable. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Precipitate to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the exploration concessions may not be granted on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the concessions acquired by the Company may not have attributes similar to those of surrounding properties; delay or failure to receive governmental or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation affecting mining; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Precipitate has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Precipitate does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silver Bull Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: SVBL, TSX: SVB) (Silver Bull) is pleased to announce it has completed a 5,297 line kilometer helicopter-borne Versatile Time Domain Electro Magnetic (VTEM) and Magnetic Geophysical Survey over the Sierra Mojada Project in Coahuila, Mexico. The survey provides complete geophysical coverage over 4 main regional prospects in the licence area, including over the main deposit at Sierra Mojada. It targets over 50 kilometers of the San Marcos fault which is believed to be the main control of mineralization in the district. Successful track record: VTEM surveys are recognized as a successful exploration tool in other CRD systems in Mexico and around the globe. The VTEM survey was conducted as part of the work program under a Joint Venture option with South32 Limited (ASX/JSE/LSE: S32) ("South32"). The survey will aid in refining the design of an upcoming drill program expected to commence in the first quarter of 2019. South32 Joint Venture Option: In June 2018 Silver Bull signed an agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of South32 whereby Silver Bull has granted South32 an option to form a 70/30 joint venture with respect to the Sierra Mojada Project. To maintain the option in good standing, South32 must contribute minimum exploration funding of US$10 million ("Initial Funding") during a 4 year option period with minimum aggregate exploration funding of US$3 million, US$6 million and US$8 million to be made by the end of years 1, 2 and 3 of the option period respectively. South32 may exercise its option to subscribe for 70% of the shares of Minera Metalin S.A. De C.V. ("Metalin"), the wholly owned subsidiary of Silver Bull which holds the claims in respect of the Sierra Mojada Project, by contributing US$100 million to Metalin for Project funding, less the amount of the Initial Funding contributed by South32 during the option period. About Silver Bull: Silver Bull is a well-financed mineral exploration company whose shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade on the OTCQB in the United States, and is based out of Vancouver, Canada. The Sierra Mojada Project is located 150 kilometers north of the city of Torreon in Coahuila, Mexico, and is highly prospective for silver and zinc. About the Sierra Mojada deposit: Sierra Mojada is an open pittable oxide deposit with a NI43-101 compliant measured and indicated "global" resource of 70.4 million tonnes grading 3.4% zinc and 38.6g/t silver at a $13.50 NSR cutoff giving 5.35 billion pounds of zinc and 87.4 million ounces of silver. Included within the "global" resource is a measured and indicated "high grade zinc zone" of 13.5 million tonnes with an average grade of 11.2% zinc at a 6% cutoff, giving 3.336 billion pounds of zinc, and a measured and indicated "high grade silver zone" of 15.2 million tonnes with an average grade of 114.9g/t silver at a 50g/t cutoff giving 56.3 million ounces of silver. Mineralization remains open in the east, west, and northerly directions. Approximately 60% of the current 3.2 kilometer mineralized body is at or near surface before dipping at around 6 degrees to the east. The technical information of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Tim Barry, a Chartered Professional Geologist (CPAusIMM), and a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, CPAusIMM Chief Executive Officer, President and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms "measured resources", "indicated resources", and "inferred resources" which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. We advise U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Silver Bull's future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding mineral resource estimates and timing of expected drilling. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Silver Bull's exploration projects, the industry in which Silver Bull operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Silver Bull's management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including such factors as the results of exploration activities and whether the results continue to support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the interim period ended April 30, 2018, as amended, and our other periodic and current reports filed with the SEC and available on www.sec.gov and with the Canadian securities commissions available on www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which lead a military coalition against the Huthi rebels in Yemen, announced Tuesday $500 million in aid to the country on the brink of famine. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will each give $250 million in response to the food crisis to support more than 10 million people, said Abdullah Rabeeah, general supervisor at King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre. He added that donations will go through the United Nations as well as other international and local aid groups. Rabeeah spoke at a joint news conference in Riyadh with UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimy. The latest aid package comes after the two countries and Kuwait offered $1.25 billion to the UNs humanitarian response plan in Yemen for 2018, according to Rabeeah. Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in the Yemen war in 2015 to bolster Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis took over the capital Sanaa. Both the military coalition backing the government and the Huthi rebels stand accused of acts that could amount to war crimes. The World Health Organization says nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen since the coalition intervention in March 2015, but rights groups believe the toll may be five times higher. The war in Yemen already one of the worlds most impoverished countries has left the nation on the edge of mass starvation in what the UN calls the worst humanitarian crisis. The UN is already providing food aid to some eight million Yemenis but that number could reach 14 million next year, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned last week. UN envoy Martin Griffiths was preparing Tuesday to head to war-torn Yemen to lay the groundwork for peace talks in Sweden, after fresh fighting shook the flashpoint city of Hodeida. Griffiths whose efforts at kickstarting peace talks failed in September is again trying to get the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government to the negotiating table by the end of the year. He is expected to meet with Huthi officials in the capital Sanaa on Wednesday. Both sides have in the past week expressed their support for the envoy and his mission to hold talks in Stockholm, but fierce clashes erupted in the Red Sea city of Hodeida late Monday after a lull. Military officials said that the battles were the worst since loyalists halted an offensive last week, and were concentrated in the eastern part of the city where rebels fired artillery. Pro-government forces struck back, supported by warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition which launched a dozen raids, the sources said. According to Huthi-run media, clashes lasted up to four hours and resulted in fatalities. The city was relatively calm on Tuesday morning, according to an AFP correspondent who spoke to residents by telephone from Khokha about 100 kilometres (62 miles) away. Call for truce On Monday, Britain presented to the UN Security Council a draft resolution urging an immediate truce in Hodeida city, whose port serves as an entry point to nearly all imports and humanitarian aid to the impoverished country. The draft, circulated by Britain to the 14 other council members and seen by AFP, sets a two-week deadline for the warring sides to remove all barriers to humanitarian aid. The proposed resolution would significantly ratchet up pressure on the Saudi-led coalition and the Huthis to seek a negotiated settlement in Yemen, where millions are on the brink of starvation. It also calls for a large injection of foreign currency into the economy to support Yemens collapsing currency and for salaries of civil servants, teachers, and health workers to be paid within a month. Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, head of the Huthi rebels Higher Revolutionary Committee and an influential political figure, tweeted on Monday that he wanted his group to announce readiness to suspend and halt all military operations and stop firing missiles on Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia also lent its support to new talks. Saudi King Salman told the Shura Council, his countrys top advisory body, that Riyadh also backed a political solution and a comprehensive national dialogue in Yemen. Multiple past attempts to hold negotiations between the government alliance and Huthis have failed. Griffiths said on Monday he hoped the rivals would meet in Sweden within the next few weeks. No date has yet been set. Stop selling weapons The Huthis have controlled Yemens capital Sanaa since capturing it in late 2014, when they also took control of Hodeida and its port. A year later, Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the war to bolster Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. Both parties in the Yemen conflict stand accused of acts that could amount to war crimes. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on France to address laws-of-war violations with the UAE a key member of the Saudi-led coalition during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyans visit to Paris on November 21. If President (Emmanuel) Macron is truly concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, he should tell the crown prince that France will stop selling weapons to the UAE if theres a real risk of their unlawful use, Benedicte Jeannerod, France director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. Although western governments have condemned civilian deaths in Yemen, they remain political and military backers of Saudi Arabia, which is a regional ally and spends billions of dollars on arms from the United States, Britain and France. The World Health Organization says nearly 10,000 people mostly civilians have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi intervention in March 2015, but rights groups believe the toll may be five times higher. The war in Yemen already one of the worlds most impoverished countries has left the nation on the edge of mass starvation. We ask those handling this case not to delay it again, both sides need justice and it should be soon, otherwise it does not serve the purpose for the people who suffered during the Lords Resistance Army war. This is what Josephat Okello, a victim of the LRA war, told JusticeInfo as the trial of former LRA rebel commander Thomas Kwoyelo opened on November 12. Okello has not been heard. On the second day of the trial, it was adjourned until February 2019 by the International Crimes Division of Ugandas High Court, sitting in the regional capital of Gulu, the epicenter of the conflict that saw thousands killed, maimed, raped, abducted and displaced. Kwoyelo only had time to deny all the 93 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity brought against him by the states prosecutor. His bail application was also pushed to January 18, 2019. The news angered both the victims and the former rebel commander. Recommended reading LRAs victims: We ask those handling this case not to delay it again Our people died but those people are not bothered I am not happy with this. Its too much, Kwoyelo said in the local Acholi language while touching his chest in apparent anger. So they want me to die in prison? he asked in a raised tone. Kwoyelos wife Grace Auma wept as the prison guards led him into the holding cells. Just as Kwoyelo is fighting hard to regain freedom, the victims of the LRA armed conflict are seeking justice and postponements of his trial is rubbing them the wrong way. For how long will this go on, Anna Maria Akello, 46, a victim of the LRA war said as she exited the courtroom. Our people [relatives] died, our property was looted, we are now paupers, surviving on handouts but those people are not bothered. They keep postponing. Why? she asked. With a kid strapped on her back, Akello, said she lost her two sisters and an uncle in one of the LRA attacks on a village in Guruguru, Amuru district, in Northern Uganda in 2005. We have been patient but patience has a limit, Akello added. For George Wilson Otema, a resident of Nwoya, a district neighboring Gulu, the trial of Kwoyelo is a litmus test on how Uganda can handle a case of this magnitude. These adjournments show how unprepared we are in handling such a sensitive case, Otema said. It is almost 10 years since this case begun [and] we are yet to move. We want an end to this [delay]. If the government is not ready to deliver [justice], let them declare and release him [Kwoyelo], he added. We lost all we had and our people died, we are yet to recover from this experience, Otema said showing a scar on his stomach that he said was sustained when the rebels attacked his village in Kilak, Amuru district, in 2003, though he declined to disclose his villages name and have his photograph taken for fear of being identified. The blame game William Byansi, the lead counsel for the prosecution blamed the Defense for the adjournment. This is very disappointing. The Defense is playing delaying tactics. Every time we adjourn, that is an additional cost to the government which has spent a lot of money in this case, he said. Our hope is there should be no further adjournments. The world out there is watching and demanding justice, he added. 120 prosecution witnesses are lined up to testify against Kwoyelo when the trial resumes. Presiding Judge Persis Jane Kiggundu stated that the reason for the adjournment was that the Defense had presented the intended sureties documents late to prosecution. Hence, prosecution prayed to be given time to scrutinize the documents. The second reason, she said, was that the counsels for the victims needed to be granted some time to consult with the listed victims who should have attended the trial proceedings. Henry Komakech Kilama, the lawyer representing victims in the trial said: The victims want an expeditious trial but they have to be consulted on every step in this matter. We are now going to consult them. He however declined to discuss how many victims are expected to appear in court to testify against Kwoyelo. Meanwhile, the victims and the accused wait. One of the victims who asked her name not to be disclosed for security reasons said: I lost my mother, father, two brothers and a relative who had come to visit us when Otti [Vincent, former LRA Deputy Commander] attacked our village in Atiak. We are looking for an opportunity to tell our story on what happened because some of the people that killed our people, we know them. She declined to say if she suspected Kwoyelo to be among the attackers. We want them to be arrested and sentenced or they hang them, she added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 20) Eighty-four percent of Filipinos oppose the Duterte administration's inaction in the face of China's intrusion in the West Philippine Sea, reflecting an increase from a previous survey, an independent pollster reported. The Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted a non-commissioned survey from September 15 to 23 through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adult. They were asked several questions on China's presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The survey result was released on Tuesday, the start of the two-day state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. A vast majority of surveyed Filipinos said the government is making the wrong decision to leave China's infrastructures and military presence in Philippines' territory in WPS. That's 3 percent up from the survey result in June. Eighty seven percent of respondents said it is important that the Philippines regains control of the islands occupied by China in the West Philippine Sea. Seventy-two percent, from 69 percent in June, said it is "very important" for the Philippines to regain full control of the islands occupied by China in the WPS. Fifteen percent said it is "somewhat important." From 80 percent in June, 86 percent of those surveyed believe the government must strengthen the country's military capability to protect its waters from China. Filipinos' awareness of the West Philippine Sea conflict also rose to 89 percent, from 81 percent in June. President Rodrigo Duterte has openly expressed fondness for the Chinese President Xi Jinping. He has been criticized for pursuing friendly ties with China amid the long-standing dispute on the South China Sea. China has refused to recognize the July 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The ruling also recognized the Philippines' rights within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Duterte promised to bring the matter up with China during his term. On the sidelines of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations-U.S. Summit in Singapore on November 15, Duterte urged countries to stop provoking China with military activities. He said the United States and other countries should accept the "reality" that Beijing "is already in possession" of some disputed areas in the South China Sea to avoid tension in the region. Higher distrust in China Those who were aware of the harassment incident between Filipino and Chinese fishermen in WPS noted higher distrust in China. China was rated "poor" in the September survey with -16. Its net trust in June was rated "bad" with -35. "Net trust in China has been positive in only 9 out of 47 surveys since SWS first surveyed it in August 1994," the polling firm said. In mid 2018, members of the Chinese Coast Guard took the catch of Filipino fishermen around the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Slanted survey? Palace slammed the timing of the release of survey results, questioning why it was issued on the day of Xi's arrival. "This adds credence to the commonly-held belief that polling firms could be wittingly or unwittingly used for partisan purposes... We, therefore, view the results with skepticism as the reliability of the data is in question," Presidential spokesperson Sal Panelo said in a statement. He added that the questions were phrased to arrive at a negative stance against China. "We consider the question skewed as it misleads the public to believe and suggests that the current government has not acted on China's activities on the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. This is far from the truth," he said. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson says the four dead in the shooting at Mercy Hospital include two hospital employees, a Chicago police officer and the suspected gunman. Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the two hospital employees were a doctor and a pharmacy assistant. Johnson says the shooting began outside the hospital with a "verbal altercation" in the parking lot between people who knew each other. A friend tried to intervene and the suspected gunman pulled up his shirt and showed a weapon. Gunfire erupted and the shooter ran inside the hospital, where police confronted him. He says that one of the women killed was in a domestic relationship with the gunman. Student art exhibit celebrates beauty of diversity A Ken-Ton student art exhibit exploring the beauty of diversity, inspired by a Brazilian photographer, was recently unveiled and will be on display until the end of December. The student... N. Tonawanda resident to sing in Buffalo Opera Unlimited North Tonawanda resident Tyler Huk will sing the role of the smuggler Remendado in the upcoming production of Carmen by French composer Georges Bizet, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3... Breakfast with Ken-Ton School Board The Ken-Ton School District will hold its first Breakfast with the Board community forum at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. All members of the Ken-Ton School District community are invited... Colvin Cleaners seeks coat donations for its 26th annual drive Colvin Cleaners, the official dry cleaner and tailor of the Buffalo Bills, first launched their Coats 4 Kids Drive 26 years ago for adults and children across Western New York... Tops Markets supports childrens hospital with gingerbread house kits This holiday season, Tops Friendly Markets is selling gingerbread house kits and a portion of the proceeds benefit Oishei Childrens Hospital. Available at the Tops bakery department for $12.99, these... 70 Shares Share I just read of a a jury award in excess of $25 million against an insurance company who denied a recommended cancer treatment to a patient who ultimately died. I do not wish to review here the particulars of this case, and admit that my knowledge is limited by one news report that I read. While I will not invoke the ubiquitous phrase fake news, I always bring some measure of skepticism to various news sources, even those who enjoy excellent reputations. But this jury case raises an issue that physicians and patients wrestle with regularly. The physician prescribes a medication or recommends a treatment. The insurance company denies coverage for the recommendation. Sometimes, the reason for the denial is entirely reasonable. For example, if an insurance policy restricts a patient to a network of physicians, the company will deny coverage if the patient wants to seek care out of the network. It would not be reasonable for a patient who had access to network cardiologists to expect that a visit with an out-of-network cardiologist would be covered. Sometimes, the reason for a denial is absurd. A physician prescribes a medication. The insurance company denies coverage insisting that the medicine would be covered only if different medicines were tried first and were not effective. The term for this is step therapy requirement and doctors despise it. So, this is not a categorical denial, like with the cardiologist example above, but is a qualified denial. The medicine is covered if the physician complies with insurance company edicts. Heres what the physician might tell his patient: I prescribed a medication to you that my training and experience informs me is the best choice for you. Instead, lets spend the next few months giving you some different medicines, just for fun. I dont think this medicine really makes sense in your case; thats why I didnt prescribe it. Your insurance company, who always has your health and welfare as its highest priority, want us to wander off course for a while. Who knows? Miracles happen. Maybe the stuff might work by accident. No need to fret too much. Eventually, they will give in and you will ultimately get the right stuff covered. And think of all the quality time the two of us will enjoy on our journey together! Here are some of the effects of the qualified insurance company denial. It wastes money. It exposes patients to risks of side-effects from unnecessary medications. Physicians and their staffs get to fill out lots of fun forms filled with ridiculous documentation requirements. This is a welcome distraction for our staffs from the stress of their typical office responsibilities. Some patients and physicians simply give up. Do you think this might be one of the unstated goals of Big Insurance? It delays the right medical treatment. It pisses off patients. It pisses off doctors. It reinforces the narrative that insurance companies are self-serving corporate entities whose overriding mi$$ion is profit. There are also many occasions when a denial is neither clearly reasonable nor unreasonable. It can be difficult to determine if a recommended treatment is standard or experimental, especially if experts disagree on this point. This is not a major issue if one is considering a treatment for acne. But, what if an oncologist recommends a bone marrow transplant (BMT) for a desperately ill person, which some experts and institutions regard as experimental? Does it matter if the FDA has not approved the treatment? What if other countries have decided that a BMT in the same circumstance is standard treatment? These scenarios can be agonizing and vexing for patients, family members, physicians, insurance company personnel, the public, and juries to sort out. I have no easy formula to offer readers. Just because a doctor recommends a treatment, doesnt mean it is established care. And, just because an insurance company denies a treatment, doesnt mean the company is evil. Michael Kirsch is a gastroenterologist who blogs at MD Whistleblower. Image credit: Shutterstock.com EUGENE, Ore. -- Wildfires raging though northern and southern California are raising concerns all across the west, including in Eugene. The South Hills area of Eugene has a similar topography to Paradise, California which was ravaged by the Camp Fire earlier this month. Scott Lilley, owner of Lox, Stocks and Bagels in the South Hills, said evacuating is his biggest concern if a massive wildfire like the Camp Fire in northern California were to break out locally. He said he hopes there would be at least some warning before a massive wildfire were to break out. Eugene Springfield Fire Chief Chris Paskett said wildfires can spark wherever, whenever. "My best advice or the best case scenario would be for folks just to -- if they live in these areas with high vegetation, large trees, evergreen trees -- to just have a heightened sense of awareness," Paskett said. He said even though winter is coming, grass and vegetation fires can happen anytime. He's hoping the rainy season ahead will alleviate some concerns. He also agrees with Lilley that traffic would be a major problem. That's why he's asking everyone to pre-plan evacuation routes. "We have seen from the Camp Fire that there's a lot of congestion in certain areas. And especially if everyone feels like one route is going to be the quickest or the easiest for them, it could be congested very quickly, so we invite people to think through that before an incident occurs," he said. South Hills resident Tim Mckeon said the thought is never far from his mind. "We're at risk all the time," Mckeon said. "I don't think we realize how at risk we are." Paskett said the department is prepared for a fire of this magnitude with resources from the city, county and the state. "The idea is we would respond into the neighborhood with the resources as soon as possible," Paskett said. He said this would be done through a community response network to alert residents of evacuations. EUGENE, Ore. -- Once you reach retirement age, there are many ways to approach health insurance. KEZI 9 News spoke to Oregon Pacific Bank President and CEO Ron Green to learn more. How should we approach health insurance after we retire? First off, you might be of retirement age and eligible for Medicare. The current age threshold for Medicare is 65. The question is whether to purchase supplemental insurance on top of that. For the best advice on that, Green recommends aligning yourself with a great insurance agent or a local brokerage that could help. There are tremendous professionals in all the communities that Oregon Pacific Bank serves. Generally speaking, Greens advice is to keep yourself healthy. Are you eating well? Do you sleep well? Are you exercising? Your overall physical condition is going to drive the kind of insurance you can get and perhaps the cost. Green also recommends considering whether youre willing to compromise on a high deductible or high out-of-pocket maximum for a lower premium. All of those things will factor into your monthly cost. If you have a banking or finance question for Ron Green, click here. COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. -- After over a week in Paradise, California, the Lane County Strike Team has made the seven hour trip back home. The men are tired and worn out from their journey to California, but they said they're glad they were able to do what they could down in Paradise. RELATED: OREGON FIREFIGHTERS ON THE FRONT LINES IN CALIFORNIA "To see it up close, it ... it sets you back," said McKenzie Fire & Rescue Chief Darren Bucich. Bucich said after seeing the destruction caused by the Camp Fire, he hopes no one ever has to go through that again. "You know, they say it's one of the worst ever, and I hope it is the worst ever in that we don't ever have to see that again, really," Bucich said. Despite the devastation that ripped through the town of Paradise, Bucich said the town is already showing promise of moving forward. "They're trying to focus on getting the town -- what's left of it -- back open again," Bucich said. "So, power companies are working day and night. All new power lines, power poles. It's like building a whole new city again. There are some houses that are still standing. They're trying to get those people back in their houses." Bucich said it's promising to see the town of Paradise already working to get back onto its' feet, but he admits they still have a long way to go. SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon has joined a coalition of states intent on changing how they invest money in the firearms industry to push gun safety reforms. The Statesman Journal reports the move by the Oregon State Treasury -- which manages the multi-billion-dollar Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund -- reflects an increased level of scrutiny for gun-related manufacturers not just from the halls of Congress, but from low-profile corners of state government that seek to influence how the industry does business. The coalition's investing principles support universal background checks, safer technology for firearms and training for gun retail employees. The principles aren't a set of rules that forbid any investment in the industry. Instead, they are a broader framework for investors doing business with companies. Oregon joins California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine and Maryland in the coalition. In their entirety, member states manage more than $4.8 trillion, much of it for government retirees. EUGENE, Ore. -- The alleged victims of a violent stabbing in Eugene are calling it a hate crime, saying they were attacked because they are Hispanic. Police told KEZI 9 News the stabbing happened near 99 W. Broadway Saturday night just after midnight. One of the alleged victims, who wished to remain anonymous, said she and three others went downtown for a girls night out and asked her husband and brother-in-law to pick them up at a nearby parking lot. That's when two white men and a white woman started verbally harassing them, using racial slurs. She said they tried to ignore them and got into their car but said one the attackers slashed a tire on their car and a fight broke out. "The next thing I know the guy pulls out a knife and stabs my husband, stabs my brother-in-law," the alleged victim said. "My brother-in-law falls on the floor, and he is just profusely bleeding, he is just bleeding out." Police said a third man was also stabbed -- a bystander who tried to stop the fight. Police said all the injuries were serious but not life-threatening. Travis Holiday of nearby Pizza My Cart said he's surprised something like this would happen and hopes the man who tried to stop it makes a full recovery. "I think it's courageous of him to want to help in that situation," Holiday said. "It's very odd that it happened on a busy night, Saturday night." The alleged victim who spoke to KEZI 9 News said she was also punched in the face. She is calling it a hate crime. "When you put two and two together, why are you chasing us down the street calling us dirty Mexicans and then slashing our tire?" the alleged victim said, addressing the attackers. "And you didn't just stab one, you didn't stab two, you stabbed three people." At last check, no arrests have been made. A spokesperson for the Eugene Police Department said they are still investigating the case. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A lawyer for a self-published romance writer accused of killing her chef husband is asking a judge to seal the woman's jail visitor log. A spokesman for the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office says a judge is hearing the defense motion Monday afternoon. Nancy Crampton Brophy is charged with shooting and killing her husband of 27 years, Daniel Brophy, at the Oregon Culinary Institute. Daniel Brophy was a well-liked instructor there. The 63-year-old was alone in a kitchen early on June 2 when he was killed, and there were no obvious suspects. Crampton Brophy once penned an essay titled "How to Murder Your Husband." She pleaded not guilty when arraigned in September. The judge has sealed other documents in the high-profile case. It was a great shock to his family, friends and neighbours when the unexpected death of Tom Coyne, Larchfield, Kilkenny, became known. Tom had been in his beloved Home Rule Club enjoying a pint a couple of hours prior to his passing and was in his usual good form. The deceased was recognised by all he came in contact with as a most inoffensive and quiet man and always described as a thorough gentleman. An avid supporter of the Kilkenny hurling team at all levels, his preferred conversation was Gaelic games and in particular hurling. Toms parish hurling team James Stephens was also close to Toms heart and he always relished a win by the Village, especially if they crossed swords with city hurling teams such as Dicksboro or OLoughlins. The late Tom began work as a projectionist in the then Savoy Cinema and later worked for a while in England. On returning to Ireland he took up employment in the now defunct Fit Remoulds. Tom became a foreman with Fit Remoulds/Goodyear and held that position until the firm closed. After this firm closed Tom trained as a cobbler in Co. Kildare and subsequently opened his own shoe repair business. Up to his retirement Tom was one of the most popular and skillful cobblers in the city. As a younger man he loved to travel extensively and with his late wife Marie holidayed in places such as the US (twice), Portugal, Spain, Lanzarote, France and all over the Continent. In later years he loved to visit seaside places for weekends such as Cullenstown Strand in Wexford and Tramore in Waterford. His pride and joy were his family and he loved to recount their achievements in life. His son Brendan and daughter Fiona were never far from his thoughts and he always spoke with great pride of his grandchildren. As a dedicated member of the Home Rule Club on Johns Quay in the city, Tom patronised his club on two nights every week. Surrounded by close friends he enjoyed a pint of Guinness sitting at the big open fire and his usual conversation almost always turned to the fortunes of the Kilkenny hurling team. It is a fact that the late Tom had not an enemy in the world, he was a great favourite with everyone and will be sorely missed. He is survived by his son Brendan, daughter Fiona, brother Billy, sisters Rosie, Ursula and Ann; son-in-law Conor; daughter-in-law Maria, grandchildren Shane, Conor, Lorna, Katie and Aisling, brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, family, neighbours and friends. Toms Requiem Mass was in St Patricks parish church on Tuesday, November 13, followed by interment in St Kierans cemetery, where he rests beside his beloved wife Marie. May the green sod lie softly on Toms grave. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis. SK The world-acclaimed Kilkenny violinist, Patrick Rafter, returns to perform at St Canices Cathedral in his native city this Sunday at 4pm. He will be joined by one of Irelands greatest pianists, Michael McHale. Tickets are available on the door at 5/10/15 or can be reserved at 086 1777 017. He will perform as part of the Music in Kilkenny Series. Celebrated and considered one of Irelands brightest musical stars, Patrick has achieved roaring success. A protege of the worlds greatest violinist, Maxim Vengerov, Patrick has gone on to win competitions across the world and has been hailed as the next greatest violinist (Alexander Bailie) by some of the most eminent musicians of today. A career that is already stratospheric, recent highlights include debuts with Prague Philharmonia and Mannheim Chamber Orchestra, performances at Menuhin Festival Gstaad and even sharing the stage with artists such as Avishai Cohen and Jermaine Jackson. This season will include debuts with London Mozart Players, returns as soloist in March 2019 to RTE Symphony Orchestra alongside Vengerov and solo performances across some 20 countries. Born and raised in Kilkenny, son of Maura and Paddy Rafter, Patrick went on to graduate with top honours from one of the most prestigious schools of music, the Royal Academy of Music, London Michael McHale Michael McHale is considered as one of Irelands greatest pianists and has an international concert career as one of the supreme stars in piano. A myriad of recordings and rave reviews, Michael performs with some of the most esteemed orchestras of today including Moscow Symphony, London Sinfonia, Halle Orchestra and has regular solo performances with Irelands RTE and Chamber Orchestras. Born in Belfast, his stellar career has taken him from Wigmore Hall London to Tokyo and as far as the Lincoln Centre. He has regular collaborations with Sir James Galway and Dame Felicity Lott. The programme for the night will include Bach, Mozart, Franck and Ravel. This exceptional duo first performed together in 2009 as winners of the International Clandeboye Young Musician of the Year. They have major performances planned in Ireland, the UK and further afield in 2019. A breathtaking night of world class music is in store. Witness two of Ireland's International stars in Kilkenny city. A forensic scientist has told a murder trial that significant blood-staining marks suggested there was more to a woman's death than just landing at the bottom of a staircase and in his opinion an assault had taken place. The Central Criminal Court jury also heard today that there was an attempt to wipe out blood-stained patterns on the walls next to the stairs where the woman died. Renars Veigulis (32) of Old Bridge Street in Freshford, Co Kilkenny has pleaded not guilty to murdering Rita Apine (29) at their home on or about May 14, 2017. Mr Veigulis told ambulance staff that his partner fell down the stairs, while prosecuting lawyers have told the jury they will hear evidence that her injuries were inconsistent with a fall. Opening the trial last week, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Vincent Heneghan SC, said the accused and the deceased were from both Latvia. Mr Veigulus came to Ireland about five years ago, followed six months later by Ms Apine, and in 2016 they moved to Freshford, about 20 miles from Kilkenny City. Dr Stephen Doak, from Forensic Science Ireland, gave evidence today (Tuesday) that he assists gardai with blood-staining pattern analysis and attended the scene on May 14 and 17. Dr Doak testified that there are different types of blood patterns including contact-staining, blood splatter, airborne blood, swipe patterns and cast-off blood. The witness said he observed all of these at the scene and had detailed them in his report. He told Mr Heneghan that he observed a large area of blood-staining on the wall beside the first step of the stairs and there was contact blood-staining on top of the baby-gate. Dr Doak said he also found hair swipe blood patterns on the wall of the stairs. There was more to the event than someone just landing at the bottom of the stairs. These blood-staining marks are significant and I felt there was a forceful event that occurred at the time, he remarked. Dr Doak stated he observed a large area of wet blood-staining on the floor that had been wiped up as well as splatter blood-staining on the skirting board inside the front door. The witness said he formed the opinion that a combination of different types of blood-staining suggested to him that an assault had taken place at the house as opposed to a body falling down the stairs. Dr Doak said he returned to the house at Old Bridge Street on May 17 and used a chemical based substance known as luminol which lights up blood in a darkened room as he had previously formed the opinion that something was not quite right, namely that there were missing areas of blood. He said he sprayed the chemical onto the wall of the stairs and believed there had been a washing up incident of the blood-staining. The person who wiped this wall had a blood-stained sponge or cloth and left this marking which was not visible to the naked eye but was visible to the chemical eye, said Dr Doak. In conclusion, Dr Doak said that after he had used luminol he was of the opinion that there had been an active attempt to wipe out blood-stained patterns on the interior walls behind the front door. He agreed under cross-examination from Michael Bowman SC, for the defence, that his view was that the blood-staining had occurred because an energetic event had taken place which was more consistent with an assault than one falling down the stairs. The witness further agreed that there may be an alternative explanation for the energetic event such as Mr Veigulus running up the stairs or Ms Apines body being moved. Dr Doak commented that he would have expected to find more blood splatter on the area above the wall. Mr Bowman asked the witness was he aware that the accused had attempted to resuscitate his partner for up to ten minutes and he had been described by witnesses as heavily blood-stained. Dr Doak said he did not get involved in evidential witness statements. The witness remarked that there was "definitely someone" who wanted to clean-up an area which they did not want people to see. The trial continues tomorrow (Wednesday) before a jury of seven men and five women with Ms Justice Tara Burns presiding. The jury has heard evidence that the accused told gardai at the scene that he had been playing with his daughter in the living room when he heard a boom, boom, boom and Ms Apine crying. Mr Veigulis told the first garda to have arrived at the scene that he went into the hallway where he found Ms Apine at the end of the stairs. FOREST CITY, Iowa A trial is set in a Winnebago County burglary where the accused burglar was chased off. Ryan Sergei Marek, 27 of Forest City, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 2nd degree burglary. Authorities say he entered a home in the 200 block of N. Clark Street in Forest City on October 18 and was chased out by a person inside. His trial is scheduled to begin on January 16, 2019. CRESCO, Iowa A former employee accused of stealing from the Subway in Cresco is pleading not guilty. Jess James Wirkler, 31, is charged with 3rd degree burglary and possession of burglars tools. Authorities say in late September Wirkler stole $350 from the Subway where he used to work, then blamed it on his girlfriend. He entered a not guilty plea Monday and his trial is scheduled to begin on January 9, 2019. CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - A Clear Lake woman was rescued Saturday afternoon after falling into an icy pond. Around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the Clear Lake Fire Department was called to the Fieldstone Pond in the 1600 block of N. 24th Street. Officials say 28 year-old Kesley Boehnke had gone out onto the pond after her dog had wandered out on it, but fell through the ice and was pulled from the water by Clear Lake police officers who arrived first on the scene. When firefighters arrived, they got Boehnke into an ambulance and taken to Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa with signs of hypothermia. As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, Boehnke was listed in fair condition. Clear Lake Fire Chief Doug Meyers says that the ice is not yet thick enough to venture out on, but even when it is thicker, Meyers says there are precautions you should take to keep yourself safe, including letting someone know. "Anytime people are on the ice, they should be wearing some sort of personal flotation device, and have some type of tool with them that if they do fall through, they can grab a hold of the ice with picks or awes or something to help pull themselves out." If an animal or someone you know does get trapped or falls through, it's best to call 911. "With the right equipment, we can go out and help people with that function as well. We've done that in the past... it works. That's what we're here for is to help people in various situations." In a given year, the Department responds to around 5-6 calls after someone is trapped on or falls through the ice. When called to respond to these type of incidents, crews are equipped with suits to keep them warm in the water, offering thermal protection and buoyancy, which also contains an outer waterproof shell. In addition, Meyers adds that ice is not guaranteed to be fully safe, but adds that ice should be at least 2 in. thick before it's safe to walk on, and must be clear and not contain any cracks or have water on top of the ice. In order to test for this, Meyers suggests taking a tool that you can tap the ice with. ST. CHARLES, Minn. Law enforcement says it continues to investigate an armed home invasion and assault that happened Sunday. The St. Charles Police Department and the Winona County Sheriffs Office says they are seeking a white male suspect described as somewhere in his 30s, six feet tall with an average build. Investigators say they believe he targeted the St. Charles home and are following up on several leads. The public is being reminded to lock their doors and windows and report any suspicious or unusual activities. MASON CITY, Iowa A man accused of angrily damaging hospital property has entered a guilty plea. Jordan Kenneth Hendrickson, 29 of Mason City, is pleading guilty to trespass resulting in more than $200 damage. Authorities say he entered Mercy Medical Center North Iowa on April 24 and damaged shelving, roll-up security cabinets, and door glass. Hendrickson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10. ROCHESTER, Minn. - Community members are invited to the Rochester Public Library on Tuesday evening to remember transgender people who died because of who they are. Mallory Heath is a member of the transgender community in Rochester and said this event is important since today's climate still is not safe for transgender people. "It's important to have this event...because it's still happening...because transgender people are still being murdered for who they are," she said. "Hearing the names, seeing the faces, it makes it real, that this is a real thing that is still happening." According to the Human Rights Campaign, only 16 states and the District of Columbia have laws that address hate or bias against transgender people. The community continues to face uphill battles in legislation. The latest from this past October when President Trump proposed changing the language in federal documents to have a binary understanding of sex. President Trump also proposed banning transgender people from participating in the military in March. "Minority groups get to not be minority groups when the majority groups start standing for them," Heath said. The candlelight vigil is at the Rochester Public Library starting at 6:30pm. KIMT NEWS 3 Its a big deal when we see a teachers name in headlines. Educators of our youth are often scrutinized, and rightfully so. KIMT spoke with the Albert Lea School District Monday, and learned its not so much the hiring process thats the hard part but what comes after. Over the weekend, three women were arrested on drug charges in Northwood. Sara Fenske is the family and consumer science teacher in the Northwood-Kensett Community School District. Superintendent Michael Crozier tells KIMT hes aware of the charges Fenske is facing, and she is on administrative leave as the district reviews the case. Fenske is the second teacher in our area to be arrested on drug charges in the last few months. In October, the Albert Lea School Board held a special meeting and voted unanimously to fire early childhood special education teacher Erin Bennett. The district said Bennett was terminated following multiple incidents involving drugs. You send your kids there to school and you hope you can trust who they're with, Michelle Hrubetz, of Albert Lea, said. With three kids in the Albert Lea School District, Hrubetz often thinks about whos teaching her kids. Coincidentally, she moved to Albert Lea from Northwood. You're not with them so you have to hope that you know they're in good hands, Hrubetz said, And how can you teach about not taking drugs if the people teaching them are dealing with drugs ya know? The Albert Lea District Office tells KIMT theyre heavily involved in the hiring process of new teachers, and said the application process is extensive. To be a teacher in the Albert Lea, you need to do two things: get a teaching license through the Minnesota Department of Education, and pass a background check through the district. Jim Quiram is the executive director of administrative services. He said the district is often made aware of situations not during the hiring process, but after. One of the ways quite honestly that we are often notified is by parents, Quiram said. Parents are either aware of it, have heard about it, saw it on social media, read it in the paper, that type of thing and they'll bring it forward. Because of this, he adds the process is a lot more transparent that past years. There's police logs in the paper, there's social media, Quiram said, So some of these things that in the past may not have popped up after hire, now you hear about when they become your employee if something comes up. Quiram noted the district does not do a background check after a teacher is already hired. Parents, like Hrubetz, might think things like that need to change. More extensive background checks, I don't know, looking into references? Whatever they're not doing, do it a little bit more, Hrubetz said. Something that makes a difference in this story is the teacher shortage. The candidate pool can seem thin in small school districts. Quiram said something thats harder than hiring good teachers, is getting them to stay. NORTHWOOD, Iowa A Minnesota man caught with drugs in Worth County is pleading guilty. Trenton Alan Anderson, 40 of Detroit Lakes, MN, has entered a guilty plea to possession of methamphetamine 1st offense. He was arrested on October 20 after a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 105 and Nettle Avenue. A Worth County Sheriffs Deputy says he saw a drug pipe on the floor of the vehicle and a search found about three grams of meth next to Andersons wallet. Anderson has been ordered to serve two days in jail, with credit for time served, and pay a $315 fine. NORTHWOOD, IA- I still cant believe in our little community were dealing with a problem like this, said Robert Weselmann of Northwood. Weselmann is in shock after learning the Northwood Kensett school districts new Family Consumer Science teacher, Sara Fenske, is facing her second charge of possession of an illegal substance. I dont comprehend how we could have a situation like this exist, he said. When you go to Iowa Courts Online you can see a number of different charges including an OWI charge from 2014 that was later dismissed. Thats the same year the Iowa Board of Education Examiners said she obtained her teaching license. But there is no sign of the first drug charge. According to the Worth County Sheriffs Office, thats because it was a deferred judgement meaning once Fenske finished her probation it was wiped from her record. That would also mean future employers, like Northwood-Kensett Schools wouldnt see the first charge when they conduct a background check. I feel for the administrators that hired her and the kids that were in classroom, said Weselmann. We dont know the effect that had in our community. The superintendent of schools declined to go on camera but because the charges were wiped from Fenskes background she could have been hired at any school searching for a new teacher like the Clear Lake School District which is hiring for a new agriculture teacher. Anytime you dont know something its always scary, said Clear Lake Schools Superintendent Doug Gee. Gee said they do try and take some extra steps when hiring a new candidate to prevent something like this from happening. I advise my administrators to check social media; you can pick up a lot of things from friends or something like that, he said. Obviously do a good background check and call their references. We even call people who may have worked with them who are not a reference. But Weselmann said the idea that a charge like this being hidden from schools looking to hire is unimaginable. As a teacher you have a higher calling, an obligation, to make sure that kids dont get exposed to stuff like this, he said. Those with the Northwood-Kensett School district said Fenske has been placed on administrative leave. CRESCO, Iowa A man arrested after a chase that hit speeds of over 140 miles an hour is pleading not guilty. Alexander Douglas Blaess, 29 of Cresco, is charged with eluding and driving while barred. Hes accused of leading law enforcement on a chase from Winneshiek County into Howard County on September 28. An Iowa State Patrol trooper reported Blaess going over 140 miles per hour and a passenger in Blaess vehicle reportedly said they went faster than 150 miles per hour. Blaess pleaded not guilty Monday and is scheduled to stand trial on January 9, 2019, in Howard County District Court. ROCKFORD, Iowa - The Rockford Historical Society is trying to preserve a piece of history. The former Iowa Northern Railroad Depot is currently leased on a year to year basis, and now the society wants to purchase the building outright. However, the railroad will only allow the purchase if the depot is moved. Including repairs and foundation work, the Society estimates it would cost around $250,000 to move the Depot. Vice President Harry White wants to see the building saved. "You'd hate to see stuff go. We've lost a lot of main street already over the years with things that... no maintenance being done on buildings and have to taking them out." If it is moved, White says that the depot will be refurbished to restore its former glory. "Try to recreate it as a depot from the time when it would've been in use. The upstairs was like an apartment for the depot agent, and the downstairs was where the general office was, as well as the telegraph." The Society is hoting a community input meeting in January to discuss what should be done with the depot. ROCHESTER, Minn. This season more than 700 families will receive help from the Rochester Salvation Army. But first, they will need to fill out an application, which can be a complicated process. Thats why from now until mid-December, the Salvation Army needs volunteers willing to sit with these families in need and help them complete their Christmas assistance applications. Rebecca Snapp from the Salvation Army calls them the unsung heroes of the holiday season but says its been difficult to fill open shifts for this lesser-known volunteer opportunity. "Were very grateful for the time that people give, I don't mean in any way mean to sound ungrateful, but lots of people want to come in to serve a meal on Thanksgiving Day but not everybody necessarily wants to take some time in the morning or afternoon to work with these families that could really use the extra help," she says. There are two shifts per day they need to fill everyday until December 14th. The morning shift is 9:00 a.m. Noon and the afternoon shift is 1:00 4:00 p.m. All training and support will be provided as long as volunteers come 15 minutes before the start of their first shift. For more information and to take a look at the open shifts check out the Rochester Salvation Army website. Some gave all and all gave some Wealth creation and attaining your desired lifestyle are cornerstones of the American dream. While wealth brings clear luxuries, the harsh reality is that with greater wealth comes greater risk. New challenges emerge with affluence, and these obstacles often threaten the stability that youve worked hard to achieve. As your wealth grows, it is critical to install and periodically update your asset protection strategy. Both external and internal threats exist, and they cannot be ignored. Without proper preparation, your wealth can disappear faster than the time it took to accumulate it. In this three-part series, we are exploring the main threats to your wealth, categorized as the three Rs: relationships, rules and revenues. In the first article, we examined the mismanagement of relationships. This article will dive into rules and how complete awareness of legislation can safeguard you from potential threats. Rules and regulations are a foundational component to modern society. However, these rules and standards can cost you if you find yourself on the wrong side of them. The wealthier you grow; the more important understanding legislation becomes. Fortunes have been lost and wealth has been squandered simply due to a lack of awareness and disregard for the law. 'The Doorstep to the Temple of Wisdom is a Knowledge of Our Own Ignorance' One of the most manageable but costly risks is a simple misunderstanding or disregard of the tax system. Im not suggesting that everyone needs to be a registered tax attorney to grow and maintain their wealth: Employing one, on the other hand, might be something to consider! For example, having a clear understanding how your income is changing from year to year can help to ensure you are making accurate estimated tax payments. We often see people making misguided assumptions about their tax liabilities, resulting in excessive payments that put pressure on your cash flow as well as missed earnings potential. Simply put, by being proactive and regularly scheduling your tax-strategy meetings well in advance of deadlines, any life changes, legislation changes or years end, you give yourself an opportunity to maximize your after-tax returns. These tax-strategy meetings can occur as often as quarterly. Savvy stewards of wealth develop and maintain nimble balance sheets that carefully consider where their returns originate from and the tax treatment of those returns. If something can work more efficiently, changes can be made without deviating from your long-term goal. Also, in regard to taxes, keep in mind that audit risk is prevalent among the wealthy. According to Time magazine, the most likely candidates for IRS audits are individuals who report more than $10 million in income, who file estate tax returns for assets worth more than $5 million and who file international returns. Additionally, in 2015, earners who brought a home valued at $1 million or more faced a 9.55% chance of an IRS audit, compared to a 7.5% chance in 2014. If you find yourself in this income bracket, it is advisable to work with a tax professional or business manager to maintain strict records of cash flows. Should an audit take place, maneuvering through the process should, in theory, be painless. IRS is a trigger word for some, and most people are either fearful of the agency and tend to overpay or are too aggressive and find themselves with unpaid taxes. Ignorance is not excused by the IRS, but proactivity and preparation can help prevent manageable issues from becoming larger problems. Dilemmas and Disputes With 80% of the lawyers in the world living in the United States, it comes as no surprise that the U.S. has the highest rate of lawsuits. Individuals and families that have amassed large pools of capital have become increasing targets for lawsuits over time. Many people are not aware of the different protections (or lack thereof) that exist for key assets in different states. Although all 50 states are governed by the same executive legislature, governance at the state level could be the difference between assets and liabilities on a balance sheet. For example, if you and your family own a primary home worth $1 million with no mortgage, and you were sued in California, only $75,000 of equity is protected by the state. The remaining $925,000 is at risk of being used to fulfill a court ruling. However, if you own this same primary home in Texas instead of California, 100% of the home is protected by the state, and $0 of equity could be used in a court judgment. This type of awareness is a concept that will serve to protect your wealth in all forms, and decisions like where you live should not be arbitrary. Asset Protection and Minimizing the Risk of Doing Business Self-made individuals often take abnormal risk when generating their wealth. However, after a certain point, they must start carefully considering how they make investment decisions moving forward. As such, asset-protection strategies have become a common tool. For example, it can be advisable to hold assets in the name of a separate entity, such as an LLC. Most commonly we see this with rental properties. It is important to note, affluent households are often viewed as businesses, in that they need to be thoughtful of how they are holding their assets. The process of asset protection involves assessing the risks of your current situation, identifying future goals, and designing a risk management strategy to most effectively accomplish these goals. Two questions to ask yourself before making a sizable investment are 1) what is the purpose of the investment, and 2) what are the associated risks? In keeping with the rental property example, the purpose of the investment is to generate passive income to supplement portfolio returns. The risks associated with the investment in this case are typically manageable, in the form of lawsuits that arise from property use. In order to protect your personal assets, holding the property in an LLC can protect you, in case of litigation. Dont Stay in the Dark Awareness of rules and regulations is pivotal to the preservation of your wealth. Preparation prior to making a financial decision is a foundational principle of creating and preserving wealth. By employing responsible fiduciaries on your advisory team, thoughtful planning and consideration can be the difference between well-guarded financial success or litigation. If you've been following my analysis of the S&P 500 through the years, you know that we have called the stock market rather well. In fact, we called for the rally to 2100 in 2015, and then expected a pullback from 2100 to the 1800 region as we came into 2016. However, unlike most others at the time, we expected that pullback would set us up for a 40%+ rally in the overall index before we saw a 20-30% correction. In fact, we were calling for a global melt-up at the time. And, for those that remember back to November of 2016, when everyone and their mother was certain the market was going to crash if Trump won the election, we staunchly stuck to our guns and noted that we expected the market to rally strongly no matter who was elected to office. And that is exactly what we got, despite the common expectation of a market crash if Trump was elected. The news cycle has thrown one bomb at the market after another during the last three years. But the market has not cared about any of these issues, as it has continued to rally unwaveringly towards our long-term targets. So, lets be honest: no one who has been investing or trading based upon geopolitics has been on the correct side of this market for years. Yet, the analysts focusing on geopolitics have certainly provided some entertaining reading about all the risks that have kept many investors on the sidelines during this major market rally. Amazingly, many still remain hyper-focused on geopolitics even though the market has resoundingly stated that it matters not. And, if you think that any of these negative news events mattered even one iota to the market, then you have not been paying attention for the last three years. You may simply want to don your blinders, in which case you can stop reading right now. Now, after all these years of bad news not causing even a dent in the market rally, consider that when the good news was announced that we signed a trade deal with Canada, the market topped and then proceeded to drop 10%. Even Jeff Miller, whose work I highly suggest you read in order to get a wonderful overall picture of the current state of the market, noted: Financial news continues to be very good, and financial markets are ugly in the terms of many veterans. The news has everyone worried, especially since there is no satisfying explanation. In fact, consider that the last 9% rally to the 2940SPX region was accomplished in the face of the expanding trade war with China. Yet, the market topped as soon as the trade deal with Canada was announced. How do you explain that? As I have highlighted in the past, Professor Hernan Cortes Douglas, former Luksic Scholar at Harvard University, former Deputy Research Administrator at the World Bank, and former Senior Economist at the IMF sheds some light on an explanation: ...financial markets never collapse when things look bad. In fact, quite the contrary is true. Before contractions begin, macroeconomic flows always look fine. That is why the vast majority of economists always proclaim the economy to be in excellent health just before it swoons. Despite these failures, indeed despite repeating almost precisely those failures, economists have continued to pore over the same macroeconomic fundamentals for clues to the future. If the conventional macroeconomic approach is useless even in retrospect, if it cannot explain or understand an outcome when we know what it is, has it a prayer of doing so when the goal is assessing the future? While you ponder what is really driving the market, I now come to a point of conjecture, which I want to address before it may occur. Again, if you have been following me closely, you will know that I am expecting a 30% correction and for the S&P 500 to revisit the 2200SPX region. And, yes, this applies regardless of whether the market can still move over 3000 in early 2019. The only question in my mind at this time is not whether we get that correction, but what the media pundits will blame that correction upon. As I have said so many times before, I am an analyst, and not a prophet. So, I am unable to tell you what the news of the day will be at the time. But, I can assure you there will be some news cycle to which the pundits will certainly point to explain the market decline. You see, there is always going to be some news to point towards whether the market goes up or down. And when the market moves in the opposite direction from what most would have expected based upon the substance of a major news event, the pundits will simply look for another news event to explain why the market moved in the opposite direction of what the major news event would indicate. Or they simply claim the market sold the news, or that it is not trading based upon fundamentals at this time. Does any of this sound familiar with regard to the intellectual dishonesty that is ever present in most pundit reports? This brings me to my point of conjecture. I wonder if a Trump impeachment proceeding is in our future in the House of Representatives. Before I go down this rabbit hole, I want to strongly note that my point is not to say the president deserves to be impeached. Personally, I do not see anything he has done as rising even close to the level of an impeachable offense. Rather, I simply understand that this is a political process and truth is not always the driver of political processes. Yet, if an impeachment proceeding is initiated, I am quite certain that the pundits will quickly and confidently point to this as the reason for the 30% market correction I am expecting as we look towards 2019. And, if they do, allow me to explain why they are full of hot air. The narrative will certainly play out as follows: The market likes certainty and stability within our government. (Please ignore that this was the same reason many claimed that the market was going to crash if Trump was elected.) However, an impeachment proceeding places us in a very uncertain and unstable situation within our government. Therefore, the market will react negatively to that uncertainty. It sounds reasonable, right? It makes sense, right? It sounds logical, right? There is only one problem with such reason, sense, and logic: Why did the market rally 10% during the Clinton impeachment debacle? Does impeachment not cause uncertainty or instability when it is a Democrat being impeached, whereas it will cause uncertainty or instability when a Republican is impeached? Yes, this is a rhetorical question. So to those of you that want to make this a partisan issue or to make it an issue specific to Trump, please spare us the commentary that we can all go to the Yahoo boards to read. I am simply pointing out the foolishness and inconsistency within this line of thinking. While I clearly am unable to know in advance what the news cycle will be once we drop to our targets for a 30% correction, I do know that some news will likely be blamed. But, if an impeachment hearing is to be blamed, there will be many questions that market pundits will have to answer. While a decline based upon impeachment may sound like a nice narrative, it does not provide an intellectually honest reason for a market decline based upon market history. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mexico expects Washington to begin lifting steel and aluminum tariffs against it later this month, when Canada, Mexico and the United States are slated to sign a revamped trade deal, the Mexican ambassador to the United States told McClatchy on Monday. Its the expectation that by the time of the signing either a solution or a very clear track that gives enough certainty that a solution is coming, Geronimo Gutierrez said in an interview with the news agency. It was not immediately clear whether tariffs against Canada would also be lifted. A representative for the U.S. Trade Representatives office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Trump administration imposed tariffs on metal imports from Canada and Mexico in June, citing national security reasons. Canada and Mexico retaliated with their own tariffs on numerous U.S. goods. After more than a year of negotiations to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement, the three countries are expected to sign the deal on Nov. 30 at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina. Legislators from the three countries still need to approve the pact before the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement goes into effect. Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Eric Beech and Peter Cooney BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombias main mining industry group said on Monday it was optimistic a new tax bill that includes a cut to corporate taxes will help attract more foreign investment, allowing companies to boost exploration and output in the coming years. The bill, known as the financing law, proposes a gradual reduction in taxes on businesses to 30 percent by 2022 from the current 35 percent, as well as a new sales tax refund of 19 percent for capital goods such as machinery. This law, which was a campaign promise, helps guarantee the competitiveness of the industry that competes in the region with countries like Peru and Chile for attracting investments, Santiago Angel, head of the Colombian Mining Association, told reporters in Bogota. President Ivan Duques plan to reduce taxes on businesses, while increasing them on the middle class and adding duties to basic foodstuffs has provoked strong criticism by opposition lawmakers and may get diluted as it goes through Colombias Congress. High taxes, legal insecurity and social protests have for years been an impediment for expansion in the mining sector, which is responsible for 33 percent of the value of countrys total exports. Colombia produces coal, nickel, gold and copper. FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank must complete a clean-up of the euro zones banking sector if it is to survive the next financial crisis, the ECBs incoming top watchdog Andrea Enria said on Tuesday. Enria is set to head the ECBs Single Supervisory Mechanism, which oversees the euro zones 118 top lenders, many of which are still reeling from the last recession and facing new challenges from hacking to fintech. The 57-year old Italian, who has chaired the rule-making European Banking Authority since 2011, touched some raw nerves for struggling lenders in his native country in his confirmatory hearing before European parliamentarians. He said ridding banks of unpaid loans inherited from the last recession would remain the SSMs priority under his stewardship in the next five years, and warned about lenders excessively large holdings of domestic sovereign bonds. The first (priority) is completing the cleaning of bank balance sheets, he told the European Parliaments committee on economic affairs in Brussels. Im convinced that the banking union would not survive if the next crisis catches us still dealing with the legacy of bad assets from the previous one, or with the market fragmented along national lines. His remarks were likely to ruffle feathers in Italy, where the burden of unpaid loans is large and banks own some 378 billion euros ($430.62 billion) of battered bonds issued by their national government, according to ECB data. Enria also said banks should mark their holdings of sovereign debt to reflect market prices - an expensive practice at a time when concerns over Romes economic policy has caused heavy selling on the debt market. If these holdings have to work as liquid buffers under stress, banks need to be able to liquidate them on the market promptly, which means...they should be marked to market, Enria said. As widely predicted, the parliamentary committee endorsed his appointment, which now awaits formal approval of the full European Parliament and relevant ministers. He is due to take over from Daniele Nouy at the start of next year when her five-year term runs out. Enria also pledged to raise the bar for supervisors when it comes to fighting money laundering to stem a raft of scandals that have hit euro zone banks from Malta to Latvia. The temporary fixes...are clear anti-money laundering (AML) reviews of national supervisors to ensure the standards are of a sufficient quality throughout the single market, he said. Speaking shortly before Enria, Nouy said the SSM would create a network of watchdogs sharing information on money laundering. It was the first concrete response by the SSM to cases involving Denmarks Danske Bank (DANSKE.CO), Maltas Pilatus and Latvias ABLV among others in recent months. The AML Office will set up and chair an AML Network among Joint Supervisory Teams in charge of the banks whose business model leads to a high level of money-laundering risks, Nouy told EU parliamentarians. Monthly data from the Swiss Federal Customs Administration show that gold demand in key Asian buying nations was weak during October, says Commerzbank. The report shows that Switzerland exported only 11.3 tonnes of gold to India last month, the least in at least five years. This was probably due to sharp rises in local gold prices, as gold in Indian rupees increased by over 10% in price between mid-August and mid-October, Commerzbank says. The high Hindu festivals of Dhanteras and Diwali in early November, when a lot of gold is normally given as gifts, were unable to redress the balance. Also, Swiss gold exports to China and Hong Kong totaled only 34.3 tonnes last month, Commerzbank points out. Only in July was somewhat less gold shipped from Switzerland to China and its neighboring former British crown colony, Commerzbank says. Gold in [the] Chinese yuan had increased by a good 6% in price between mid-August and the end of October. However, Commerzbank adds that since World Gold Council figures showed that Chinese demand was robust in the first three quarters of the year, China may well have recently imported more gold from other countries. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com BMO: Central Banks Accelerate Gold Purchases Central banks accelerated gold purchases during October, says BMO Capital Markets. Analysts offered their insight in the wake of monthly data from the International Monetary Fund. Taking advantage of weaker gold prices compared to the first half of the year and as equity markets continue to sell off, IMF data indicates that central banks have accelerated physical gold purchases throughout October, contrasting the first half of the year where central-bank buying remained subdued, BMO says. They note that Kazakhstans central bank added some 200,000 ounces in October, bringing total holdings to 10.97 million, while Turkeys reserves increased after six months of outflows, with gold holdings totaling 15.16 million ounces. BMO notes that Russia added 960,000 ounces over the same period, taking holdings to 66.43 million. Malaysia recorded a net inflow for the first time since January 2017, taking its total to 1.25 million ounces, the most since 1999. Meanwhile, China maintained gold reserves at 59.24 million ounces. Earlier this month, several analysts told Kitco News that central banks collectively are on a pace to increase annual gold purchases for the first time since 2014. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com MKS: Golds Safe-Haven Status Intact Gold is continuing to draw safe-haven buying interest, says MKS (Switzerland) S.A. As of 8:38 a.m. EST, spot metal was $3.60 higher to $1,227.50 an ounce. Trade tensions remain heightened between the U.S. and China, global equities are under pressure, while Brexit negotiations continue to create uncertainty across markets, keeping golds safe-haven status intact, MKS says in an overnight research note. Interest around $1,215-$1,220 remains supportive to the yellow metal, while $1,225-$1,230 remains a pivot for a test through to $1,235. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com TDS: Gold Break Below $1,213 Could Trigger More CTA Selling Commodity Trading Advisers could accelerate their selling of gold if the metal should fall below $1,213 an ounce, says TD Securities. As of 8:38 a.m. EST, spot metal had gained $3.60 to $1,227.50 an ounce. With ongoing political uncertainty in Europe and what some perceive as a soft floor in equities, gold has held its ground in the middle of our $1,180-$1,240/oz range, TDS says. That being said, any additional weakness is likely to be met with CTA selling, as systematic trend followers add to their shorts below the $1,213/oz range. (Kitco News) - Average daily gold turnover was $36.9 billion and 30.2 million ounces in the London over-the-counter market during the last week, the London Bullion Market Association reported Tuesday upon releasing a new report aimed at increasing transparency in the market. Average daily silver volume during this period was $5.2 billion and 359.3 million ounces, the report said. Some analysts pointed out that the data show that for one week anyway, the New York-based Comex gold market was slightly larger than the London market, but both far exceeded the size of the worlds third-largest market in Shanghai. London is one of the worlds major gold-trading centers, but transactions tend to be over the counter (OTC) between banks, brokers and traders. There has been a call for greater transparency in recent years, particularly amid charges of market manipulation. So beginning this week, the LBMA is releasing data on the size of the gold market for the previous week on Tuesdays. The LBMA said it will move to daily reports in three months. This is an exciting moment for transparency in the global OTC market, with the next chapter to include publication of data for platinum and palladium, said Ruth Crowell, chief executive officer of the LBMA. The new data represent all LBMA market makers and some full members share of the loco London and loco Zurich OTC markets, the gold organization reported. The significance of the new data should not be understated, said Matthew Turner, associate director for commodities and economics strategy with Macquarie Capital Europe Ltd. His written analysis accompanied the LBMA report. For the first time in the long history of the London gold market, its size is not guesswork but a reliable measurement, a notable achievement given the variety of participants and products that it encompasses, Turner said. But this is just the beginning. After all, a snapshot can only tell us so much. The real benefit of data sees how it moves over time, especially once we have daily publication in 1Q 2019 and data on the platinum and palladium markets. The report showed that for the week, members traded 95 million ounces of gold in spot contracts, 46.5 million ounces in swaps and forward contracts, 4.1 million ounces in options and 5.4 million ounces in leases, loans and deposits. Trading in silver totaled 1.1 billion ounces in spot contracts, 651.2 million ounces in swaps and forwards, 36.7 million ounces in options and 43.7 million ounces in leases, loans and deposits. How big is the LBMA members London OTC trading compared to other gold markets? Pretty big, said Turner. Still, CME Groups U.S.-based Comex futures and options market was 13% bigger at around 34 million gold ounces a day, Turner pointed out. However, he cautioned that the figures will vary and it will take some time to make clear where the most volume occurs. A certain amount of volatility occurs in both markets. Still, Turner pointed out that both markets are far larger than the next biggest one -- Chinas Shanghai Futures Exchange, which averaged around 2.6 million ounces per day over the same time. In the case of silver, Comex daily trading volume was 552 million ounces, compared to LBMA members volume of 359.3 million, Turner pointed out. The Shanghai exchange was third at around 62 million ounces. Turner provided data to show a comparison of the size of the LBMA market to other outside markets. The $36.9 billion-per-day gold market over the last week was in the same ballpark as 2017 average daily trading volume of $44 billion in U.K. government bonds, known as gilts. The $36.9 billion gold market exceeded the $22 billion daily average for London Metal Exchange copper in 2017, although it was short of the $50 billion daily average for the so-called big five LME base metals (copper, aluminum, nickel and tin). FX [foreign-exchange] trading volumes are in a league of their own, Turner added. The BISs [Bank of International Settlements] triennial survey shows the daily turnover of USD/EUR, for instance, is some $1,172bn/day. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia despite saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month. Defying pressure from U.S. lawmakers to impose tougher sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Trump also said he would not cancel military contracts with the kingdom, saying such a foolish move would only benefit Russia and China. Trump said U.S. intelligence agencies were still studying the evidence around Khashoggis murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and who planned it. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! Trump said in a statement issued by the White House, U.S. intelligence sources say the CIAs assessment is that Khashoggis death was ordered by the crown prince, who is Saudi Arabias de facto ruler and is widely known by his initials MbS. Democratic and Republican lawmakers have urged Trump to drop his support for MbS, but the president has been reluctant. He said on Tuesday that both Saudi Arabias King Salman and MbS vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder, and that the truth may never be known. He also stressed that Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, is an important business partner and a great ally in the fight against Iranian power in the Middle East. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region, Trump said. Reporting by David Alexander; editing by Mohammad Zargham and Jonathan Oatis The Herald reports: Fiji has re-elected Frank Bainimarama as Prime Minister for four more years following an election interrupted by foul weather and facing Opposition claims of a lack of transparency. According to the Fijian Electoral Commission, Bainimaramas FijiFirst party won 50.2 percent of the vote to claim 27 of the 51 seats in Fijian Parliament. The Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa), led by rival coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka, won 39.9 per cent of the vote, enough for 21 seats. A good analysis of Trump by a responder on Quora. The question was where did Trumps rage against Obama come from, and the answer is there is no rage it has all been tactics. His analysis is as follows: Trump floats running for President in 1988 on Oprah Winfrey show He was then a New York liberal secular, pro-choice and wants to renegotiate all trade deals In 1999 set up an exploratory committee for the Reform Party nomination. Ran as a centre-left populist who wanted to renegotiate all trade deals and set up universal health care. Suggested Oprah as his running mate. Trump in early 2000s was critical of George W Bush He never attacked or criticised Obama until late 2011 Was at this stage a close mate of Bill Clinton they attended the weddings of each others daughter Worked out in 2011 that Obama was likely to win re-election in 2012 and Clinton would be presumptive nominee for Democrats in 2016. Hence if he wants to become President, he needed to become a Republican To stand out from other Republicans he needed to become an Obama hating Republican and become a hero of the populist right In 2013 he cited his attack on Obamas birth certificate as making him very popular Didnt actually care about the birth certificate was all a ploy to build up a support base Would have stood for the Democrats if there had been a path for victory through them, but there wasnt as Clinton had it locked up. Filed a trademark on Make American Great Again the week after Obama was re-elected His tactics paid off he has got to be President so he can achieved the one thing he has consistently advocated renegotiating all US trade deals. Everything else he says and does is posturing to appeal to the base he has built up. I thought it was quite a good analysis. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr (CNN) The slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi wrote passionately about ending the brutal war in Yemen. In one column for the Washington Post he called on Saudi Arabia to "use its clout and leverage within Western circles" to resolve the conflict. Never could he have imagined that he himself would become the leverage in attempts to end the war. U.S. President Donald Trump seems reluctant to connect Mohammed bin Salman to the journalist's death, appearing to take little note of what sources say is a CIA assessment that the powerful Saudi Crown Prince ordered Khashoggi's killing. Trump has distanced himself from the case as much as he can, refusing to listen to audio evidence shedding light on how Khashoggi was killed last month at a Saudi consulate in Turkey. Saudi officials now admit a premeditated murder happened on its diplomatic premises, though it denies the Crown Prince was involved. Despite the CIA assessment, Trump has repeatedly explained the Saudi-U.S. relationship is simply too important to risk. But Trump isn't the only world leader who wants to avoid a direct clash with bin Salman and rock a strategic relationship that comes with the perks of intelligence sharing, lucrative arms deals and a stable supply of oil. And it wouldn't be the first time the world has turned a blind eye to human rights violations by the kingdom to preserve these creature comforts in a restive region. Instead, Western nations are responding to Saudi aggression by addressing the war in Yemen, ratcheting up pressure on the Crown Prince to enter a ceasefire agreement that will put an end to the three-year conflict. The war in Yemen, between the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-backed Houthis, has created the world's worst man-made humanitarian disaster, according to the UN. Much of the damage has come from Saudi coalition air power, and UN experts say its bombing of civilians are potential war crimes. The Saudis, who have denied allegations of war crimes, have the greatest power to end the conflict, above any other actor in the war. There are plenty of members of Congress in the U.S. who don't agree with Trump's lax response to the Khashoggi killing. A bipartisan group of Senators has introduced draft legislation to impose tougher sanctions on Saudi Arabia that target arms sales to the kingdom and bans the U.S. practice of refueling of Saudi planes in the Yemen war. "This legislation is an important way to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for various acts in Yemen as well as the death of Jamal Khashoggi," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said last week. On Sunday, Republican Senator Jeff Flake accused the Trump administration of dragging its feet on the Khashoggi case in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union." In the same breath, he brought up the Saudi role in Yemen as another example of how the kingdom's and U.S.' values do not align. "It looks more and more like the truth is that the Crown Prince was involved, that he likely ordered it," Flake said of the Khashoggi killing. "So, to just deflect and say it's a spectacular ally, when, in fact, some of the bloom has been coming off that rose for a while, particularly given the war in Yemen. So, there are things that we're going to have to confront here soon. And I hope we do it based on the truth, not in something that we simply want to see because we have a lot invested in the relationship with the Crown Prince now." Joost Hiltermann, the Middle East and North Africa program director at the International Crisis Group, said that Khashoggi's murder coincided with a growing willingness to address the Yemen war, particularly as hunger worsens in the country and ahead of a possible announcement at the end of the month that Yemen is officially in famine. "There was growing unease and pressure from governments, civil society groups and others to do more to end this conflict. Everybody realized that the responsibility of a famine would shift to them too," Hiltermann said. "But people are always looking for opportunities, there's always an opportunity in a crisis. Even when someone gets murdered in a horrific way, there's political capital to be made." Yemen resolution picks up steam Western nations have pounced on Riyadh's rare moment of vulnerability to push for progress on Yemen, an easier cause to sell politically at home than tussling with the powerful Crown Prince. The UK was expected to table a long-awaited draft UN resolution on Yemen during a meeting of the Security Council in New York on Monday. A week ago, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt visited Riyadh, where he met with bin Salman and presented him with the draft text that sources said provoked anger. Two sources told CNN the Crown Prince "threw a fit" over the resolution. Two other sources described his reaction less dramatically, but didn't deny he was at the very least annoyed. Another source told CNN that Hunt went to bin Salman and essentially said: "This is what Western powers think, and this is what you need to do. What is your plan to stop this?" Hunt's trip followed discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, suggesting the Western allies are on the same page on the resolution. And it seems the plan has already had some success; the Saudis have now agreed to facilitate Houthi negotiators' travel to Sweden for talks. In a small first gesture, the U.S. earlier this month halted its practice of refueling Saudi coalition jets operating in Yemen. Around the same time, Pompeo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis also called on participants in the conflict to agree to a ceasefire. But the concern is that the renewed vigor for action on Yemen however desperately welcomed it may be has come at the cost of disclosing the full truth on Khashoggi. The response to Khashoggi's killing has been soft, or has at least avoided direct targets at the Crown Prince, in what has become a particularly dark and dangerous time for journalists in many parts of the world. The Trump administration announced sanctions against 17 Saudi government officials on Thursday last week the Crown Prince obviously not among them on the same day Saudi prosecutors formally charged 11 people over Khashoggi's killing, five of whom will face the death penalty. Both sides had apparently hoped their responses would be the end of the Khashoggi affair. Germany says it plans to ban 18 Saudis from entering the country, while Canada is also mulling sanctions. Turkey has been the most aggressive player against the Saudis, drip-feeding intelligence that has forced Riyadh to address at least some aspects of Khashoggi's killing. But even Ankara has been careful about explicitly naming names, and as a country that cracks down on journalists so aggressively, it's difficult to believe it has the cleanest of motives. When asked if he thought bin Salman had ordered Khashoggi's killing, Trump said, "Well, will anybody really know?" in an interview with "Fox News Sunday." He might be right, and if the truth of what happened to Khashoggi is never fully disclosed, there is only hope that his death did something for the people of war-torn Yemen. This story was first published on CNN.com "Jamal Khashoggi's murder could be a game-changer for the Yemen war" Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load A five-member North Korean delegation left South Korea on Saturday to return home after wrapping up their four-day visit to attend an international peace forum. The North's delegates, led by Ri Jong-hyok, vice chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, left Seoul earlier in the day, and arrived in Beijing. Sources said it seems they will stay in China for two days before returning home, though it is not known whether they plan to hold any meetings with Chinese officials. After arriving here late Wednesday, they visited the Second Techno Valley in the Pangyo district of the city of Seongnam, just south of Seoul, the following day, and held a meeting with South Korean officials, including Gyeonggi governor Lee Jae-myung, to discuss various issues, such as pushing for joint business projects. On Friday they attended the 2018 International Convention for Peace and Prosperity in the Asia Pacific, which took place in Goyang, north of Seoul, during which Ri delivered an address in which he assessed North Korea's recent peace efforts along with South Korea and the United States. Officials said the delegation's visit boosted chances of governor Lee visiting North Korea. During their talks, Ri expressed his will to invite the South Korean governor to the North, and Lee replied he is "ready" and would like to make the visit after preparing detailed plans. "If realized, Lee's trip to North Korea is expected to lay the groundwork for the local governments-level cooperation with the North," a Gyeonggi Province official said. (Yonhap) By Kim Yoo-chul President Moon Jae-in will attend the G20 summit in Buenos Aires later this month, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. President Moon will fly to Czech Republic, Nov. 27 (KST), for a summit with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis. He will then move on to Buenos Aires to attend this year's G20 summit. After that, Moon will make a three-day state visit to New Zealand from Dec. 2 and return home on Dec. 4, according to presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom. Several in-person meetings with the heads of states have been planned on the sidelines of Moon's participation in the G20 summit, according to the presidential spokesman. "Further specifics of planned high-profile meetings between President Moon and his counterparts will follow soon," Kim told reporters. Moon plans to support South Korea's bid to win a contract to build a nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic. This is seen as the government wanting to keep domestic nuclear reactor technology competitive internationally, officials said Thursday. At the summit with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Moon is expected to ask for the Czech government's support to help the state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) land a deal to build a nuclear reactor in the Central European country, another Cheong Wa Dae official said. The Czech Republic was evaluating "lots of options" to phase out coal-burning plants and reduce carbon emissions. KHNP hopes for assistance from Cheong Wa Dae, which the presidential office has acknowledged. Cheong Wa Dae declined to comment on whether Moon has plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump during the summit session. During his visit to New Zealand, the presidential office said Moon will hold a summit with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and a meeting with Governor-General Patsy Reddy. Kenya's Huddah Cosmetics is the first social commerce merchant, powered by Mula, to launch product discovery through try-on experiences on Facebook Messenger with augmented reality. Pan-African Payments company, Celulant, has built this first AR experience in partnership with Facebook. Experience We will be able to connect one of Africas growing base of micro-merchants gig economy aka hustle-preneurs to their ever mobile and digital customers. Innovative Online hustle Huddah Cosmetics hopes to leverage off Facebook to provide a unique product discovery shopping experience for their customers.Cellulant has recently extended product offerings on its Mula payment platform to include Mula Shops - a simple and convenient online shopping experience for the rising number of micro-merchants (or Hustle-preneurs) on social networking sites.Mula Shops integrates augmented reality into the Facebook Messenger where customers are able to discover and try products before they purchase. Brands that leverage social media as platforms for ecommerce can now give their customers a world class one-stop shop service from trial, to payment and delivery, all within Facebook and Instagram. This is a departure from the current disjoined social commerce experience.Trying out a product in social commerce has previously been impossible. Augmented reality presents an opportunity for African brands and companies to build trust with consumers where touch and feel is often a pre-requisite before purchase.For Huddah lipsticks, for example, the AR technology switches on the camera on your cellphone and engages the buyer to try different shades before making a choice and concluding the purchase through Mula seamlessly. Augmented reality presents an opportunity to push brand lift, deliver world class customer experience, brand interactions, improving conversion, and real-time purchase fulfillment.According to Cellulants chief product officer, Faizal Mirza, No matter how you look at the future of innovation in Africa - the future is in providing a seamless experience in a space that is currently fragmented. This partnership with Facebook allows us to do so for a segment that is often neglected when considering the economies of scale in Africa.This is the beginning of our journey to offering seamless, smart and connected digital payment experience to our customers across Africa. Fundamentally, we will be able to connect one of Africas growing base of micro-merchants gig economy aka hustle-preneurs to their ever mobile and digital customers, explained Mirza.The success of Huddah Cosmetics, a beauty company, is credited to its founder, Kenyan model and entrepreneur, Alhuda Njoroge, better known as Huddah Monroe. Born and raised in Nairobi, Huddah has captured the attention of the Kenyan masses and enjoys a huge following on social media.Launched in 2016, Huddah Cosmetics provides a solution to long lasting day-to-day makeup needs for African women. I started my company out of pure passion and vision to offer every woman a product that celebrate the diversity of African beauty. Huddah Cosmetics is for every woman who is strong-willed, outspoken and stands for what they believe regardless of what the society thinks, said Njoroge.I am excited to be the first hustle-preneur to work with Cellulant and Facebook as they launch Mula shops using Augmented Reality on Facebook Messenger. This is an opportunity for my company to give a unique online shopping experience of our beauty products to our customers in a way that has never happened before.A GeoPoll survey published in February this year found that a significant number of online shoppers utilise Facebook groups. At 32%, Facebook is the second leading online retailer in the main ecommerce regions. More and more, informal entrepreneurs are using this leading social media channel to sell through their groups or similar interest groups. With mobile phones having such huge penetration on the continent, e-commerce is an opportunity for online retailers to reach the youthful African consumer population, the survey reports.Proud Dzambukira, the Facebook product partnership lead, Middle East and Africa, commented: Were thrilled to be partnering with Cellulant and Huddah Cosmetics in a first for the continent, Augmented Reality (AR) in Messenger, a powerful and innovative tool to aid her customers discover, try and buy her range of cosmetics through Facebook and Instagram. With nearly one in two SMBs on Facebook building their business on Facebook, our platform can play a powerful role in enabling social commerce. We want to help drive innovation by supporting Africas entrepreneurship ecosystem, and this is just one of the many ways.This partnership with Huddah Cosmetics is in line with one of Cellulants objective to empower youth and transform their online hustle into a viable and scalable business by creating platforms that help grow their bottom-line.As a payment platform, the company is investing in advancing Africas economic footprint by building payments infrastructure that gives the customer the choice on how they manage and use their money. Ultimately, the payments infrastructure will power the success of millions of businesses by providing a simple and easy way to receive money from their customers.Kenya is the first country to launch this new online experience with Nigeria, Tanzania and Rwanda to follow. The campaign aims to bring South Africans together in a celebration of Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika, which was named best national anthem in the world by the Economist in December 2017 because of its inclusivity and ability to heal a nation through song.The Anthem Project is calling on South Africans to creatively share their full rendition of the anthem in a way that embraces national pride. The competition is open to individuals as well as schools, organisations, teams and families. Entrants will upload their videos, sharing them across social media with the hashtag, encouraging their communities to vote for their entry.Says Adriaan Basson, editor in chief News24, At a time when South Africans are yearning for hope, this is the perfect tonic to lift our collective spirit. Press the red button and sing your lungs out!Peter Cronje, OUTsurance chief marketing officer, says, Were very excited to help make the Anthem Project possible. Just like our clients, were proudly South African and were constantly looking at how we can help our communities, driven by our brand promise that absolutely everyone gets something out.Adds Myles Brown, head of BrandStudio.24: We are extremely excited about this campaign. As South Africas leading digital news brand, we have a responsibility and opportunity to embrace and promote goodwill in our country, and what better way to do this than through our beautiful anthem.At the end of the project, three winners will each win a share of R1m in prizes for the charity of their choice. The prizes are a combination of cash, as well as media exposure on the 24.com network for the charities. Entries close on 19 April 2019 and the winners will be announced on 17 May 2019.The videos will be judged on how they show national pride; whether they display a sense of the Ubuntu Spirit and caring for fellow South Africans; show creativity and enthusiasm; inspire the nation and if they enjoy public support.For more information go to: https://anthemproject.news24.com/Videos/how-to-upload-your-own-anthem-20180928 Ipsos South Africa has released the results of its inaugural survey measuring the influence that brands have on South Africans at an event held at Melrose Arch on Friday, 16 November. Pick n Pay Shoprite / Checkers Coca-Cola Colgate Vaseline Spar Sunlight Whatsapp Woolworths Koo The Most Influential Brands study unveils and ranks the most influential brands in South Africa, and offers a case study perspective on the dimensions that drive each brands influence. These dimensions, which differ slightly from country to country include a brands perceived Leading Edge, Respect, Presence, Trustworthiness and Engagement.Far from being a popularity contest amongst brands, this study speaks to the actual influence that a brand has on South African consumers everyday lives, says Ray Kong who chaired the event on Friday morning.Some interesting themes that have arisen amongst the South African brands includeOut of the Top 10 Brands, 4 are retail names, probably as a result of retail outlets becoming a one stop household management destination, by offering banking services, payments on utility bills and licences, as well as becoming distribution points for social grants and allowing people to send money to each other quickly and effectively.Many local brands sit at the top of the list, and this is in contrast with many other markets around the world. Localisation speaks to the fundamental needs of a community and these brands have excelled at making consumers feel understood .The essence of most of these brands is that they are inclusive, relatable and warm which speaks to the principle of UBUNTU that is ingrained in South African culture and way of life.South Africa really is unique in the brands that have come out tops when comparing it to the top-10 list in other markets, which has been dominated by digital and tech brands. WhatsApp is the only digital brand to make the South African Top 10 and has taken off in a big way in South Africa because of the simplicity and affordability in using this service.The brands that have emerged at the top of the influence scale are those who are rooted in South Africa, retain and uphold the traditional uses and values of the brand, yet continue to move forward to address what their customers need with line extensions and upgrades when needed.The presentation of results was followed by a lively panel discussion including Woolworths and MTN as well as many comments from the audience about building contextual and local relevance and influence in the South African market.Fieldwork for this study was conducted from 20 April to 7 June 2018. A total of 3,619 ADULT South Africans, 18 years and older, were interviewed. They were randomly selected and interviewed face-to-face in their homes and home languages. Interviews were conducted all over the country, from metropolitan areas to deep rural areas. This methodology ensured that the results are representative of the views of the universe and that findings can be weighted and projected to the universe i.e. South Africans 18 years and older. 120 brands across various categories were included in the study.Please contact Ipsos if you require more information moc.sospi@sirraH.iraM Exponential South Africa recently hosted their annual Exponential Amazing Race media challenge - an event aimed at raising money for children's hospice The Iris House. The Exponential SA team were accompanied by agency staff from Amnet, iProspect, and PHD in a race around Stellenbosch for the chance to be crowned winner of the Exponential Annual Amazing Race 2018. Despite an early rise everyone was in high spirits because they knew exactly what they were racing for, The Iris House Childrens Hospice.The day started off with some ice breakers, which helped all racers get to know each other before and help strategise within their teams. Teams raced against each other and points were added or subtracted on certain tasks that had to be completed along the way. There was also the chance to earn some bonus points! The race challenge saw the teams walking almost 10 kilometers in total, whilst getting to know the picturesque town of Stellenbosch inside out.The final task of the day really separated the winners from the losers. To claim an additional 5 points, racers had to down 1 shot of raw egg and 1 shot of chili, thankfully this was also the lunch spot.The winning team for the day were Amnet who took home the trophy and finished in record time!However, the real winners of the day were the children and families of The Iris House Hospice.Janette Hardman, Exponentials Sales Director South Africa, said, It always astounds me how eager our clients are to get involved with charity drives. Our annual Amazing Race is a true reflection of that, not only was it a day filled with laughter and fun but also one that allows us to give back to our community. Washington, Nov 20 (PTI) Charging Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime with funding Iran's proxy terrorist groups, the Trump administration on Tuesday announced that action would be taken against a deceptive international network in which the Iranian regime, together with Russian companies, sends oil to Syria. The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated nine targets in an international network through which the Iranian regime, working with Russian companies, provides millions of barrels of oil to the Syrian government. The Assad regime, in turn, facilitates the movement of hundreds of millions of dollars to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) for onward transfer to Hamas and Hezbollah, it alleged. US sanctions prohibit material support to the Government of Syria, including shipments of oil to Syrian government-controlled ports, as well as material support to designated terrorist groups. The designations include Syrian national Mohammad Amer Alchwiki (Alchwiki) and his Russia-based company, Global Vision Group. Alchwiki and his company are central to the delivery of oil from Iran to Syria, and the transfer of funds to the IRGC-QF's lethal proxies, the Treasury said, adding that the designations also highlight the important role that officials of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) play in facilitating this scheme. "The Iranian regime continues to prioritise spending money on fomenting terror over supporting its own people," Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Sigal Mandelker said. "This is yet another example of the regime using the proceeds of millions of barrels of its oil to fund terrorists and the murderous Assad regime to the detriment of its own people," he said. Mandelker said the US will aggressively seek to impose sanctions against any party involved in shipping oil to Syria, or seeking to evade its sanctions on Iranian oil. "Shipping companies, insurers, vessel owners, managers, and operators should all be aware of the grave consequences of engaging in sanctionable conduct involving Iranian oil shipments. "As we identify in this action, the Assad regime in turn funds Iran's proxy terrorist groups. Specifically in this illicit network, the Iranian regime worked with Russian companies to provide millions of barrels of oil to the Syrian government," a senior administration official told reporters during a conference call. The Treasury also issued an Advisory to the maritime community regarding the sanctions risks of shipping oil to the Government of Syria, including a non-exhaustive list of vessels that have delivered oil to Syria since 2016. "To assist Syria in paying Russia for this oil, Iran sends funds to Russia through Alchwiki and Global Vision Group. To conceal its involvement in these transactions, the CBI makes these payments to Mir Business Bank using Iran-based Tadbir Kish Medical and Pharmaceutical Company (Tadbir Kish), the Treasury alleged. During the call, the senior Trump administration official alleged that the Assad regime, moved hundreds of millions of US dollars to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force for Iranian-backed terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah. "At the centre of this network is a Syrian national Mohammad Amer Alchwiki, an international businessman, and his Russia-based company, Global Vision Group. Alchwiki and Global Vision Group assist with the delivery of oil from Iran to the Syrian regime, and also the funding of hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars to Quds Force proxies, the official said. Specifically, Alchwiki and Global Vision Group work with state-owned Russian company Promsyrioimport, which is a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Energy, to facilitate shipments of oil from the National Iranian Oil Company -- or NIAC -- to Syria, the official added. The oil is delivered to Syria through a number of vessels. These vessels routinely switch off their tracking devices to mask the fact that they are delivering illicit oil to Syria, the official noted. "The Iranian regime assists Syria in paying Russia for the oil. And to conceal its involvement in these transactions, the Central Bank of Iran makes payments for the oil using an Iran-based company called Tadbir Kish Medical and Pharmaceutical Company. This is done through Mir Business Bank, an Iranian bank in Russia that we designated two weeks ago, said the official. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu, Nov 20 (PTI) A 27-year-old Nepali citizen who had fled to India after allegedly raping a minor a week ago has been arrested from Gurgaon near India's capital New Delhi, police said Tuesday. Rajan Bika, a resident of Bharatpur Municipality in central Nepal's Chitawan district, allegedly took a 12-year-old girl to an isolated place in the evening of November 10 and raped her, they said, adding a case was filed by the victim the next day. Following which, police managed to track Bika's mobile location in Bardaghat and Butwal, and deployed teams to arrest him. According to police, the accused, along with his wife, managed to escape to India via Sunauli border and reached New Delhi. A team, under Inspector Ganesh Poudel, was also sent to India to arrest the accused. "The police team, in plainclothes, visited New Delhi along with the victim's family members and arrested the accused a week after committing the crime from Gurgaon, near New Delhi, on Sunday, " said a senior police officer at Chitawan District Police Office. He was produced at the Chitawan district court which remanded him to 10 day police custody for further investigation into the case, the official said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hanoi [Vietnam], Nov 20 (ANI): President Ramnath Kovind, who is on a three-day trip to Vietnam, will address the National Assembly here on Tuesday. On the last day of his Vietnam trip, President Kovind is scheduled to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of National Heroes and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. He will also attend the Welcoming Ceremony at President Palace. President Kovind will meet his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong and hold delegation level talks followed by a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Office of Government. He will also attend the State Banquet at International Convention Center in the evening. President Kovind who arrived in Vietnam on Sunday interacted with leaders of Da Nang People's Committee led by Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang. The President along with First lady Savita Kovind visited the Museum of Cham sculpture in the city of Da Nang on the second day of his three-day visit to Vietnam. During the course of his trip to the Asian country, President Kovind travelled to the city of Hanoi and addressed the Vietnam-India Business Forum. He also addressed the Indian diaspora in Vietnam at an event which was organised as part of his state visit to the country. After completing his Vietnam trip, President Kovind will embark on a four-day visit to Australia on Wednesday. The President is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora and unveil the statue of Mahatma Gandhi marking his 150th Birth anniversary in Australia. The President is also scheduled to meet Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and address the students at Melbourne University where many Indian students go for higher studies. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington D.C. [USA], Nov 20 (ANI): The United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in coordination with the United Nations Security Council's Libya Sanctions Committee on Monday imposed financial sanctions on Libyan militia leader Salah Badi. "In accordance with the UN listing, which the United States, United Kingdom, and France co-sponsored, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Badi pursuant to Executive Order 13726. Consequently, all of Badi's assets within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with him," read the press release from the US Department of Treasury. The sanctions require all the UN members to freeze Badi's assets as well as impose a travel ban. The comes after Badi ordered action against rival militias aligned with the Government of National Accord, exacerbating instability in Tripoli in August 2014. Since 2014, Badi has played a critical role in undermining Libyan peace, security, and stability. In addition, forces under Badi's command have used Grad rockets in highly populated areas, causing indiscriminate destruction and casualties, including emergency responders and ambulance workers. The US also stated that the sanctions are a concrete and forceful action in response to those who undermine Libya's peace, security, or stability. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, November 19: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee asserted on Monday that all parties opposing the BJP would chalk out a strategy to intensify the momentum "to protect the nation". Naidu, who met Banerjee here days after their governments withdrew the 'general consent' to the CBI to conduct probe and raids in their states, told reporters that the November 22 conclave of opposition parties which was to be held in Delhi has been postponed due to ongoing assembly elections and a fresh date for the meeting will be announced soon. Naidu justified the decision, saying, "It is our discretion and that is our state right and we have taken it." On Union minister Arun Jaitley's attack on him and Banerjee that those who had a lot to hide would fear the central agency, he said, "I want to answer all these at an appropriate time. As it is in the Supreme Court I do not want to answer it." The two leaders, were, however evasive on who will be the face of the proposed anti-BJP front, with Naidu quipping that "compared to Narendra Modi ji, we all are seniors", while Banerjee said "all are the face of the coalition". Pranab Mukherjee to be Face of United Opposition For 2019 Lok Sabha Elections? Flanked by Banerjee, Naidu attacked the NDA government at the Centre, alleging institutions like the CBI, ED, Income Tax, RBI and CAG are under "severe pressure". " We have the responsibility to save the nation, save the democracy, protect institutions... Democracy is in danger," he said. "We wanted to meet on November 22 earlier (but) because of the elections... We wanted to make it before the Parliament (winter) session. "Those who are opposing the BJP will join and discuss. We will chalk out a programme to move forward, take this momentum further on the agenda to protect the nation," the Telugu Desam Party chief said after emerging from an hour-long meeting with Banerjee. The Winter Session of Parliament would be held from December 11 to January 8. The fresh date for the non-BJP parties conclave will be announced very soon, Naidu told reporters He described demonetisation as "a big farce" and alleged there was "intolerance towards minorities". "Demonetisation has become a big farce. Regular growth has been stagnant and price of petrol and diesel is also increasing," he alleged. Naidu alleged even the politicians were "under threat" and being victimised. "Because of all these things we have to protect this great nation," he said. Naidu, whose party TDP had quit the NDA over the issue of special category status to Andhra Pradesh, confirmed that he would attend a mega meeting organised by the TMC with opposition parties meeting on January 19. "We are in touch with Mayawati ji and also with everybody. Those who are opposing the BJP, those who want to save the nation we will work together. That's our mission," Naidu said referring to the Bahuhjan Samaj Party (BSP) chief. The TMC chief said, "This is not for the first time that we have discussed the country's interests. Earlier also, we talked about many things. when with Arvind Kejriwal there was a problem, (we) had gone and discussed in detail about our future (course of) action. "We are totally together, we are working together, we are speaking together. We all are together against the BJP government to save the nation," she said. Mumbai, November 20: A blast was reported in the early hours of Tuesday at the Indian Army's ammunition depot in Wardha. At least six were killed and 18 left injured in the explosion. The victims were rushed to the nearest civic hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. According to an official, the blast took place during the process of destroying explosives. "While carrying out demolition of old explosives by the staff of Ordnance factory Khamaria, Jabalpur at the demolition land in Pulgaon, there was an accident. In the incident 3 labourers and 1 staff of ordnance lost their lives," said Defence PRO B B Pande. Indian Army Has Upgraded to Fiber Bunkers to Sustain Extreme Temperatures. The ammunition depot where the explosion was reported is based in Pulgaon, located in Maharashtra's Wardha district. According to a senior official, a probe will be conducted to ascertain the reason behind the fatal incident. Action is likely to be taken against staff members found responsible. Two killed, several injured in an explosion in Pulgaon Army depot in Wardha. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/ZJywxHe3h1 ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 #BreakingNews | Maharashtra: Blast in Army depo in Wardha; 3 killed. According to info, blast took place while destroying explosives India TV (@indiatvnews) November 20, 2018 In 2016, a major fire was reported at the Pulgaon Army depot, leading to the death of 16 people. The blaze had then engulfed over 19,325 defective anti-tank mines, which went up in flames due to leakage of explosives from some of the mines. The Ministry of Defence had recently lambasted the Ordnance Factory Board over its failure to crackdown on the negligent officers responsible for the fatal mishap. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 09:21 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Delhi, November 20: A 25-year-old groom on Monday night was allegedly shot by two unidentified people when his baraat was heading towards the wedding venue in south Delhis Madangir. The survivor identified as Badal, sustained bullet injuries on his right shoulder after which he was rushed to the nearby hospital for the treatment. After the three hours of treatment, he returned to the wedding venue and completed all the rituals. South Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vijay Kumar while speaking to Hindustan Times said that Badal was again admitted to the hospital for treatment after the wedding ceremonies were completed. He also stated that bullet was stuck in the shoulder bones and doctors are planning to consider the surgery. Lucknow Grooms Head Tonsured After He Refuses to Marry Bride And Demands Dowry. The incident took place Monday night at 10 pm when Badal was on his way to the wedding venue. Badal in his statement to police told that two unidentified assailants approached towards the wedding procession and later climbed on the carriage and fired at him on the right shoulder. Police have registered the case against the unidentified people under the relevant sections of IPC and investigating the matter. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 06:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Jammu, November 20: An Army jawan was martyred in an encounter that broke out between militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian on Tuesday. Reports inform that nearly four terrorists have been gunned down by security forces in the gunfight. According to a tweet by ANI, the encounter broke out in Shopian's Nadigam village. The operation in currently underway. In another separate incident, ceasefire violation by Pakistan was reported in Poonch sector. According to a tweet by ANI, three shells landed near Poonch brigade headquarters. In the wake of the ceasefire violation, all schools have been closed in Degwar, Malti and other adjoining areas of Poonch sector. Jammu And Kashmir: Army Foils Infiltration Bid Along LoC in Akhnoor, Pakistani Intruder Gunned Down. On Monday, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed in a blast at a border outpost (BOP) along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district. "A blast has taken place at a BOP in Samba sector. One BSF person has died and few others (were) injured", a BSF officer told PTI. #JammuAndKashmir: An encounter has started between security forces and terrorists at Nadigam village in Shopian district. 2 to 3 terrorists are believed to be trapped. More details awaited. ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 Earlier this week, two terrorists were gunned down in an encounter in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. As per reports, one of the terrorists was identified as Mukhtar A Khan. In another separate incident, two terrorists were gunned down by security forces in the last week. According to a tweet by ANI, the terrorists were killed while attempting to infiltrate in Keren sector of Kupwara district. In the last week, the Jammu & Kashmir police and security forces had apprehended a terrorist of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen at Lassipora-Achan Axis in Pulwama district. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 08:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mumbai, November 20: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday informed the state assembly that more than 26,000 girls and women went missing from Mumbai in last four years. Fadavis also said of those who went missing, 2,264 are yet to be traced. The chief minister was replying to a question raised by BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha and others. "Between 2013 to 2017, a total of 26,708 women, including 5,056 minor girls, had gone missing, out of which 24,444 were found. However, 2,264 of them are yet to be traced," Fadnavis said. Of 5,056 minor girls who were kidnapped or went missing from Mumbai, 4,758 were found, while 298 are yet to be traced, according to the chief minister's reply. Potholes in Mumbai Can't Be Blamed For Accidents, 5 Lakh Commuters Travel Safely: Maharashtra PWD Minister's Bizarre Defence. Similarly, a total of 21,652 adult females had gone missing of whom 19,686 have been traced and 1,966 women are still missing. Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, reiterated that all missing complaints regarding minors should be registered as kidnapping and not missing as per the Supreme Court directive given in 2013. All police stations in Maharashtra have been asked to follow a standard operating procedure (SOP) prepared to trace missing persons. Three different websites www.trackthemissingchild.gov.in, www.mumbaipolice.gov.in, www.shodh.gov.in and toll-free helpline 1098 have also been activated. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 10:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Amethi, November 19: Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani on Monday attacked the Congress accusing it of being a party dedicated to one family and loath to work for the development of the country. "The Congress is a party dedicated to one family... how can it work for the development of the country or Amethi," said Irani after inaugurating and dedicating to the people various schemes worth Rs 77 crores in Congress president Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency. In a dig at Gandhi's initiative on the distribution of banana saplings among Amethi farmers, Irani said, "Rahul Gandhi criticises the RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi all over the country but he is treading the RSS path of planting banana trees." Battle For Amethi: Rahul Gandhi Counters Smriti Irani's Campaign Blitz With Banana Plants From Israel. "I came to know that Rahul Gandhi is getting bananas seeds of foreign origin planted here, he could not get even banana plants in the country... he should know that poverty cannot be eradicated by planting a couple of banana saplings," she stressed. Reiterating her allegation that the Gandhi family has done nothing for Amethi, she said what they failed to do in 60 years, the BJP government managed to do in just over four years. "Rahul has been an MP for the past 15 years and no 'rozgar mela' was organised... it was done during the Modi government's tenure and over 7,500 unemployed youths are likely to get jobs due to it," she said. Maintaining that today's programme has been organised to mark the fulfilment of the promises made by Prime Minister Modi in 2014, she said by the 2022, every household in Amethi will have electricity and all the poor here will have their houses. Speaking on the occasion, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said the state government will leave no stone unturned for development of Amethi. He termed Rahul Gandhi as "dynastic" president of his party. To a question on building Ram temple in Ayodhya, Maurya told reporters on the sidelines of the function that the temple will be built at the same place in Ayodhya but he evaded another question on the deadline of its construction. In his annual address to Saudi Arabias shura council in Riyadh, King Salman promised justice but did not take murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggis name. The annual speech which was highly anticipated as the world has trained its eyes on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the 82-year-old Saudi monarch praised his country's judiciary and public prosecution for "carrying out their duty in the service of justice." "The kingdom was founded on Islamic principles of justice and equality, and we are proud of the efforts of the judiciary and the public prosecution," the Saudi monarch said in Monday's address to the Shura Council. "We ensure that this country will never deviate from implementing God's law and... serving justice," he added. But he did not directly refer to the case in which his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has been implicated by Turkey and USs CIA. The CIA has reportedly concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was the one who ordered the Washington Post columnists killing, but US President Donald Trump is yet to endorse that assessment. However, Riyadh has till date maintained that Khashoggi was killed as the result of a rogue operation led by an intelligence officer. Elsewhere in the short speech, King Salman said he has directed his son MBS to "focus on developing human capabilities and preparing the new generation for future jobs". It seems as if King Salman is closing ranks to protect his son but not everyone is ready to forget that a journalist was brutally murdered in Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul. His only crime was writing criticisms of the political scenario in Saudi Arabia. Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced that Berlin has banned 18 Saudi nationals from entering Europe's border-free Schengen zone because of their alleged connection to Khashoggi's killing. Maas told reporters in Brussels on Monday that Germany issued the ban for the 26-nation zone in close coordination with France, which is part of the Schengen area, and Britain, which is not. Germanys action comes days after US imposed sanctions on 18 Saudi nationals for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. But, there are many in US Congress who want much stronger action, " We need to punish who ordered this. Who's in charge and really the only thing they understand over there is strength," said Republican Senator Rand Paul. Senator Lindsey Graham who is known to have the ear of President Donald Trump used much stronger words, I am going to do whatever I can to place blame where I believe it lies: I am going to put it at the feet of the crown prince who has been a destructive force in the Mideast [Middle East]. "If he is going to be the face of Saudi Arabia going forward, I think the kingdom will have a hard time on the world stage." (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 07:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Amid a renewed push by UN envoy Martin Griffiths to get Yemen's warring parties to start talks, Houthi rebels and Yemens government have said they will halt fighting to come to the negotiating table. Houthi rebels also announced their decision to halt drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabias forces which are supported by troops from United Arab Emirates and their Yemeni allies. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi Higher Revolutionary Committee, announced the group's "readiness to suspend and halt all military operations" - provided that the Saudi-UAE alliance battling his movement is prepared to do the same. Al-Houthi also called on his fellow rebels to stop attacks against the Saudi alliance to show goodwill and not give the alliance any justification for further attacks against Houthi forces. Yemen government said it has informed the UN envoy of its decision to send "a government delegation to the talks with the aim of reaching a political solution", according to the countrys public Saba news agency. While the date has not been set, Martin Griffiths said it would be "soon" and that he plans to travel to rebel-held capital city of Sanaa later this week to discuss arrangements. The UN Security Council envoy said that he planned to bring the warring parties together in Sweden. "We must seize this positive international momentum on Yemen," Griffiths told the council. "This is an opportunity at a crucial moment to pursue a comprehensive and inclusive political settlement to the conflict." He also said the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government were about to conclude an agreement on exchanging prisoners and detainees. Special Envoy for #Yemen Martin Griffiths today briefed Council on efforts to bring warring parties to negotiating table: "With increased international attention has come a renewed commitment from the Yemeni parties to work on a political solution." https://t.co/y0fwu09ji5 pic.twitter.com/qoLageP03V UN Political Affairs (@UN_DPA) November 17, 2018 This renewed effort to bring the fighting parties to talks comes after weeks of fresh attacks between Saudi-coalition forces and Houthi rebels around the port city of Hodeidah. Previous attempts to organize peace talks between the Yemini government and Houthi rebels broke down in September. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 07:12 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). - The All Progressives Congress expresses grief as it loses six of its members in Kwara state to road accident - The victims of the accident were said to be travelling to Oro area of the state for a post-election celebration - The party sends a condolence message to those who died as well as the injured The Kwara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, November 19, confirmed the death of some of its members in a ghastly road accident along on Omu-Aran-Oro road on Sunday, November 18. The party condoled with the families of its members who died in a road crash The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC chairman in the state, Bashir Bolarinwa, in the condolence, expressed shock at the news of the death of the members and injuries suffered by others in the car crash. Reports say six persons lost their lives in the accident. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda It was learnt that the APC members and some party executives of Irepodun local government area of the state were on their way to Oro for a rally to celebrate the partys victory at the House of Representatives by-election last Saturday, November 17. The report quoted Bolarinwa as praying that God will grant the families of the deceased the strength to bear their losses and also grant repose to the souls of the departed. We urge all our members and supporters across the state to remember keep the families of our deceased members and those who were injured in the accident in prayers, Bolarinwa said. The report said an APC chieftain in Kwara, Rex Olawuyi, also expressed shock at the accident, saying: it is unfortunate to lose these members at this time of struggle in Kwara. He noted that the four party members died in the course of liberation of Kwara from the hands of oligarchy that has been subjugating the people for long. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app They are heroes of the struggle and will forever be remembered in the annals of Kwara State. We sympathise with the families of the deceased and pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Olawuyi added. Legit.ng earlier reported that the candidate of the APC, Raheem Olawuyi, was 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, Professor Abimbola Adesoji, while declaring the result at the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Omu-Aran, said Olawuyi polled 21, 236 to emerge winner. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng News - The Adamawa chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) says it has adopted Atiku Abubakar as its candidate in 2019 - Atiku's adoption follows the election of the executive members of IPAC, a body made up of 38 political parties - Usman Bakawu, the publicity secretary of IPAC, says the body would begin mobilisation ahead of the 2019 election The Adamawa chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), an umbrella body for 38 political parties in Nigeria, has reportedly adopted Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of 2019. Sahara Reporters states that the decision was reached after IPAC elected its new officials in the state on Monday, November 19. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The report quoted Usman Bakawu, the publicity secretary of IPAC, as saying that the group was synergising to mobilise support for Atiku Abubakar. Yesterday the former vice president received us in audience and gave us useful advice on how we can synergise to move our dear state forward. And I can also confirm to you that IPAC, Adamawa state chapter, has identified with Atiku and in the coming days, we'll be working towards mobilising our various supporters for the Waziri Adamawa, he said. Legit.ng understands that Tahir Shehu, who is the chairman of the PDP in Adamawa and an Atiku campaigner, was elected the head of IPAC in the state. It was learnt that the election was keenly contested and that the PDP chairman polled 20 votes to defeat John K Muva of the Social DemocratIc (SDP) who scored 18 votes. Legit.ng earlier reported that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar launched his policy plan on Monday, November 19, via a Facebook live video. However, John Gbor, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)'s presidential candidate, called on Nigerians to look for an alternative away from the APC and the PDP in the 2019 presidential election. The APGA presidential candidate argued that both PDP and APC had failed Nigeria, adding that if the country must rise again as the giant of Africa, it must vote him as the next president. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Gbor expressed disappointment in the government the country has had so far, adding that "Buhari, APC and PDP have failed Nigerians. Thats why Nigerians are suffering. They cannot even govern well." Gbor, who said the race for the 2019 is open, also described Atiku and Buhari as a failure. He said that if Nigerians really wanted a change, they should vote him to power. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit - The police command in Ekiti has confirmed a deadly armed robbery attack at a bank in the state by some thieves - The robbers killed 4 persons in the attack, two policemen, a security guard and a passerby - The police reported that the suspects used dynamite to blow off the entrance door of the bank and made away with a huge sum of money not yet specified The police command in Ekiti state on Monday, November 19, confirmed casualties as four persons were reportedly killed during a violent robbery attack on a bank in Ijero-Ekiti in Ijero local government area. A source told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the robbers invaded the town around 6 pm after workers had closed. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda They were said to have first driven to the police station in the town where they wrecked havoc before heading straight to the first generation bank in an ambulance containing a casket loaded with guns. At the police station, the gunmen were said to have killed two policemen on duty. Others killed, according to the source, were a security guard at the bank, shot around the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) stand and an aged man who was passing by at the time of the attack. The robbers were said to have entered Ijero Ekiti through Aramoko Ekiti road. They were said to have announced their arrival with gunshots which sent residents scampering for safety. The bandits reportedly blew the banks security door with dynamite to gain access into the banking hall and made away with unspecified amount of money in the raid which lasted for about an hour. NAN reports that the heavy shooting by the robbers paralysed transportation, economic and social activities in the town. Confirming the incident, police public relations officer in the state, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said that he had visited the town to gather information, adding that the robbers arrived the town about 5.30 pm. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! There was indeed casualty; the robbers arrived the town few minutes after 5.30 p.m. They succeeded by using dynamite to gain access into the banking hall. There was, however, no casualty on the side of the bank but there was one or two on the side of police, he said. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that some daredevil robbers had invaded the Ido Ekiti divisional police station in Ido/Osi local government area of Ekiti state. The robbers numbering about 40 stormed the station on Friday night, October 14, emptied the armoury of the police station and killed a police inspector on duty. The gunmen also blew off the roof of the police station with the aid of dynamite. A detective attached to the station, who craved anonymity, revealed that the suspected robbers invaded the police station around 7:20 pm. Robbers Return Firearms to Nigerian Police (Crime News in Nigeria) | Legit TV Source: Legit - The Union of Nigerian students hold a peaceful protest over the reported failure the federal government to attend to the demands of striking tertiary institutions in the country - Azeez Adeyemi, the spokesman for the union, says students will continue to carry out protests until the federal government implements the demands of the tertiary institution - Adeyemi claims the quality of education in tertiary institutions across the country have dropped because of low funding from the federal government The National Association of Nigerian Students (NAN) has threatened not to support the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general election if the president does agree to the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU). Azeez Adeyemi, the spokesman for the union issued the threat on Monday, November 19, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abeokuta, Ogun state, after a peaceful protest held over the reported failure of the federal government to attend to the demands of ASUU, Daily Trust reports. READ ALSO: Breaking: EFCC Abuja office on fire He said Nigerian students will continue to carry out protests until the federal government implements the demands of the striking union. Mr. President, NANS is giving you this for free that, come 2019, we are going to show you the road, through our votes, to Daura if after todays nationwide protest, you still did not respect the voice of over 50 million Nigerian students. We hereby call on the federal government to implement the demands of ASUU and COEASU, because, we have resolved not to go back on this struggle, he said. The spokesperson said the quality of education in tertiary institutions across the country had dropped because of low funding from the federal government. Our Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education laboratories are no more updated, no research apparatus; our lecture rooms are dilapidated,Adeyemi stated. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Education that our mates got for free, food that you got from our cafeteria for free during study is what you want to sell for us, we will resist it. Quality education and not just education is our property, we wont buy it, and you cannot sell it to us," he said. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday, November 17, said the federal government is considering setting up an education bond to finance infrastructure in public universities. Vanguard reports that the president made the disclosure at the University of Ibadan on the occasion of the institution's 2018 convocation and 70th Foundation Day Ceremony. Legit.ng gathers that the senior special assistant on media and publicity to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, said President Buhari was represented by the vice president. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better. Parents advice government over ASUU strike | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - The Oyo state government has explained why he chose to rebuild the music studio of Yinka Ayefele after demolishing it earlier this year - The government said the decision to rebuild was informed by the personal appeal by Ayefele to Governor Abiola Ajimobi The Oyo state government has revealed its decision to rebuild the music studio of musician, Yinka Ayefele, which was demolished earlier this year. The government said the decision to help Ayefele rebuild his studio was informed by the musician appeal to the state government as well as his admittance of breach of procedures in the construction of the building. The state government said this in a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Bolaji Tunji. READ ALSO: How Kwara people will retire Saraki from politics in 2019 - Oshiomhole The statement read in part: There is also the recession of the current facade on the frontage of the building by 2.9m. The new fence will be grill fence to ensure visibility, while a staircase will be built at the basement to access the studio. The structural elements in the building will also be strengthened, while the two projections at both ends (stair halls) of the current frontage will be retained. Following Mr Ayefeles admittance of breach of procedures in the construction of the building and his subsequent apologies, as well as intervention of well-meaning members of the public, the governor agreed to temper justice with mercy. The governors approval on the reconciliation of the issue was communicated to Ayefele on October 19, 2018, where he also approved the assistance on the reconciliation agreed upon on compassionate grounds, as he earlier promised publicly. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app It is necessary to put it on records that the governor or the state government was not out to witch-hunt the popular musician or anybody, but had acted to safeguard members of the public who daily ply the roads contiguous to the Music House. Legit.ng earlier reported that Otunba Alao Akala, an ex-former governor of Oyo, blamed the demolition of part of Fresh FM structure, owned by Yinka Ayefele in Ibadan on a breach in communication between staff members of the media outfit and officials of the Oyo state government. This was Akala's stance during his response to questions from newsmen after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Tuesday, September 11. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Please, don't destroy our houses - Nigerians cry out - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria - A forum of southeast governors has been scheduled to meet President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, November 21 - Among top issues to be discussed in the meeting are the construction of the second Niger bridge and the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu - The governors will also deal with issues bordering on the non-representation of the region in the country's security apparatus Southeast governors zone have agreed to hold a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday, November 21. Issues such as the second Niger bridge, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the non-representation of the region in Nigeria's security apparatus are top items in the agenda of the said meeting, Vanguard reports. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda According to the governors, 50% of the contract sum should be released while the remaining 50 per cent should be secured in a bond to ensure that the above-mentioned projects will be completed. The director general of the south east governors forum, Professor Simon Ortuanya revealed this to journalist in his briefing on Monday. Ortuanya disclosed that the meeting came as result of the governors initial interaction on the pressing needs of the geopolitical zone which entailed the second Niger bridge. He said: We are happy with the Federal Government which has finally awarded the second Niger bridge as we earlier said. The main contract was signed in August 2018 for N206 billion. The commencement for work on the bridge was with effect from September 2018. This is the first time the actual work on the second Niger bridge would commence. The Federal Government has released about N7 billion for this work, which for us does not represent up to 10 per cent of the total sum. "So, we want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to increase the money that they have released to the contractor. Fortunately, the contractor is Julius Berger and its a reputable company but we are urging the government to release at least 50 per cent of the contract sum so that we can have significant work on the second Nigeria bridge. We also feel that the contract period of 42 months is too long and we are urging the Federal Government to review the contract period so that they can bring it down to two years. There are several reasons for this. We are also asking that the balance of the 50 per cent should be secured by the Federal Government bond. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Another major item on the agenda is the Akanu Ibiam International airport and we want to ask the federal government to use this opportunity of meeting with our governors and bring back the contractors that have abandoned work because we still know that the tarmac is still bumpy, the building that has damaged has not been repaired and we urged the federal government to please do the needful urgently. The contractor that abandoned the tarmac should come back and resume work to ensure that the cargo section of the airport is made functional because we know that the cargo section is still not functional. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders of thought from the southeast on Friday, October 13, met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Those who attended the meeting with the president included state governors from the zone, ministers as well as the leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Governors in attendance include those of Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi states. Imo state was represented by the deputy governor. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Governors visit Buhari, Google to train Nigerians, Nigeria no longer corrupt | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng News - Bismarck Rewane, the chief executive of Financial Derivative, has spoken about Atiku Abubakar's policy document ahead of 2019 presidential election - Abubakar, presidential candidate of PDP, was said to have noted that he was seeking partial privatisation of the NNPC - Rewane, however, said the party presidential candidate should tell Nigerians who he is planning to sell the petroleum corporation to The chief executive officer of Financial Derivatives, Bismarck Rewane has spoken about Atiku Abubakar's plan to sell Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) if elected as Nigerian next president in 2019 election. A policy document released by Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, was said to have noted that he was seeking partial privatisation of the NNPC, regarded as Nigerias cash cow. Reacting to the specific idea of privatising the NNPC, the financial analyst, said the idea is a noble one, but Atiku must tell Nigerians who he plans to sell to, else he may plunge the country into chronic capitalism, The Cable reports. READ ALSO: Governors insist they lack funds to sustain payment of N30,000 minimum wage He said: I agree that he (Atiku) should privatise, but selling to who? You must not just say you are going to sell, you must tell us how, and to who? If you are going to have a voucher system like they have in India, where everybody in the public will have a voucher, then you can sell it. It becomes rather than government owned, it becomes Nigerian privately-owned, and part of it you want to internationalise like what Saudi Arabia is doing. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app But you see, it is a noble idea, but it stops short of the specifics, tell us who and who, and how you are going to ensure that it is not sold to your own cronies. One of the big risks of privatisation is the Russian model, where you have chronic capitalism. If you have businessmen, who are in government like Donald Trump, you want to make sure that both the government and the people are protected from conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the policy of presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, reportedly caused misunderstanding among the party members ahead of 2019 general elections. Most party leaders from the southeast and southwest were worried on the tenure framework in the document tagged Peoples Policy. It learnt that the policy will not give a ray of hope that power will shift from the north to the south in 2023 if Atiku is elected as the nations president in 2019. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Atiku versus Buhari: Who will win? - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Nigeria has emerged the leader of ECOWAS group at United Nations' meeting in New York - The new cap of responsibility came months after President Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the leader of the regional group in July 2018 - Reacting to the new development, the permanent representative of Nigeria to UN, Tijjani Bande, said Nigeria took over from Togo because of its inestimable commitment for unity in Africa It was another mantle of responsibility added for Nigeria as it emerged the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) group at the United Nations. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria replaced Togo as chairman of the 15-nation sub-regional group. Legit.ng gathers that the permanent representative of Nigeria to the UN, Tijjani Bande, took over from his Togolese counterpart, FrancK Kpayedo at the sub-regional groups meeting in New York. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Bande said Nigeria had always worked with other member-states of the group as brothers, including agreements on candidatures at the UN without conflicts. Nigerian permanent ambassador, Tijjani Bande, taking over from his Togolese counterpart as the chairman of ECOWAS group at United States. Photo credit: NAN Source: UGC He noted that on Saturday, July 28, at Lome, President Muhammadu Buhari was elected chairman of ECOWAS, adding that Buhari was very thankful to his colleagues who urged him to take the lead for this year. Bande said: Nigeria wants to make sure that we continue to work for the stability and general well-being of the sub-region and the region, and as much as possible, we should speak with one voice. We should also speak with one voice outside the continent because west Africa works collaboratively with all other sub-regions on the continent. Nigeria will do the best it can to strengthen the bonds of friendship within the region and do the work we are here to do at this very important platform in a better way and with more assured results for the benefit of all. " Bande also pledged that Nigeria would continue to do all it could to help coordinate the groups work, adding that throughout its tenure, the country would provide leadership on all issues. The Nigerian envoy said it was a standard practice that ambassadors at the UN would chair the group just as their heads of state. According to him, since Buhari is chairing the ECOWAS heads of state, it follows that Nigeria at the UN should chair the group also. The basic issue is simply to consult with our colleagues from the sub-region to see how the agenda of ECOWAS can be brought and made alive at the UN. Our issues are peace and security, development, technology, agriculture, and speaking also in line with African region because ECOWAS coordinates what we do but we also work very well with the African Group here." PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Mustapha El Khalfi, the spokesman for the Moroccan government and parliament, said the countrys interest in joining ECOWAS was as a result of its desire to build a strong partnership. Khalfi disclosed this on Thursday, October 18, when he was briefing participants of the maiden news directors forum of the Atlantic federation of African press agencies in Rabat. PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com (naija.ng) upgrades to Legit.ng to serve its readers better Street Gist: Will Nigeria be a better place with Trump as president? | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Comrade Ayuba Wabba declares that the organised labour will not go back on its decision to have the minimum wage at N30,000 - Wabba reveals that during negotiations, some state governors even revealed their readiness to pay higher than N30,000 - The NLC president says the committee handling the issue has submitted its report and nothing else can be done Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has declared there is no going back on the issue of the N30,000 minimum wage adding as he revealed how the amount was arrived at by the workers unions. Wabba, according to a report by the Nigerian Tribune, said the committee handling the national minimum wage issue had completed its task and submitted same to President Muhammadu Buhari. Comrade Wabba recalled that the committee was fully represented and included the governors, before the figure was arrived at and agreed upon. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda According to Wabba, the new national minimum wage of N30,000 was a product of intense and robust negotiations at the committee stage that lasted for one year between November 2017 to November 2018. It is on record that 21 States responded by sending memoranda with figures. Subsequently, public hearings were conducted in each of the geo-political zones in the country. The state governments were all represented at the zonal hearings and made their input to discussions towards a new national minimum wage. The demand of organized labour was N66,500. From the memoranda submitted to the national minimum wage tripartite negotiation committee by state governments, there were proposals by some states to even pay higher than the negotiated national minimum wage of N30,000. After extended and extensive negotiations by the tripartite committee, a final compromise figure of N30,000 was agreed by all the partners - government, organized labour and employers in the private sector. This agreement took on board prevailing economic indices and factors especially as outlined in convention 131 and recommendation 95 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention on criteria and procedure for collective bargaining especially towards arriving at a national minimum wage for any country. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app It was on the basis of this agreement that the national minimum wage tripartite negotiation committee concluded its work and submitted its report to president on the 6th of November, 2018. This ended the process of negotiations for a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers," Wabba said. Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state recently dashed the hopes of workers longing for the proposed new minimum wage; saying governors are not miracle workers. Amosun made the comment on Thursday, October 25, during a town hall meeting held on the 2019 budget at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Minimum Wage: Is N30,000 Too Much for FG to Pay Workers? - Nigeria Street Gist | Legit TV Source: Legit Nigeria Emerging reports have claimed that unknown gunmen on Monday, November 20, invaded Shendam local government area of Plateau state and whisked away the traditional ruler of Long Dorok Chiefdom. The Punch reports that former councillor in Dorok community, Leo Densak made the abduction news of the second class monarch known. Densak said the gunmen numbering over ten stormed his house at about 8pm and whisked him away to an unknown destination while shooting sporadically to scare villagers away as they made their escape. READ ALSO: Governors insist they lack funds to sustain payment of N30,000 minimum wage Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that there was a pandemonium in Suleja local government area of Niger state on Thursday, October 4, as unknown gunmen reportedly whisked away Alhaji Abdullahi Maje. Maje, the Suleja local government chairman, was kidnapped on his way home shortly after leaving his office. The gunmen stopped his official car and forced him into another vehicle before driving him to unknown destination. It was learnt that the incident occurred a few hours to the House of Representatives primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the area. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The report also has it that some aggrieved youths, however, obstructed vehicular movement by blocking the Minna-Suleja highway to protest alleged abduction of their council chairman by unknown gunmen and demanded his release. In a related development, unidentified gunmen allegedly kidnapped 31 people on two separate occasions between Tuesday, May 22 and Wednesday, May 23. The first incident occurred on Tuesday, around 7pm, when a Sharon bus was stopped by the bandits at a town known as Ladi, close to Buruku. Nine passengers and a driver were reportedly abducted from the vehicle, and led into the bush by the bandits. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better. Nigerians speak angrily about alleged kidnappers caught in Lagos - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - Jonathan launched his new book 'My Transition Hours' on Tuesday, November 20 - The ex-Nigerian leader claims in his book that former US president Obama meddled in the 2015 election that ousted him - Jonathan described the alleged actions of Obama as humiliating to him as a leader at the time Former president Goodluck Jonathan has again accused ex-United States president Barack Obama of interfering in the 2015 election. The Cable reports that Jonathan made the fresh accusation in his new book 'My Transition Hours which was launched on Tuesday, November 20. According to the report, in excerpts of the book, Jonathan claimed Obama sent his secretary of state John Kerry, and made a video broadcast to Nigerians in ways designed to influence the outcome of the election against him. READ ALSO: Southeast governors to meet Buhari on 2nd Niger bridge, Enugu airport An action, Jonathan described as humiliating. He wrote: I can recall that President Obama sent his Secretary of State to Nigeria, a sovereign nation, to protest the rescheduling of the election. John Kerry arrived in Nigeria on Sunday January 25, 2015 and said its imperative that these elections happen on time as scheduled. How can the US Secretary of State know what is more important for Nigeria than Nigerias own government? How could they have expected us to conduct elections when Boko Haram controlled part of the North East and were killing and maiming Nigerians? Not even the assurance of the sanctity of the May 29, 2015 handover date could calm them down. In Nigeria, the constitution is very clear. No President can extend his tenure by one day. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda He continued: On March 23, 2015, President Obama himself took the unusual step of releasing a video message directly to Nigerians all but telling them how to vote. In that video, Obama urged Nigerians to open the next chapter by their votes. Those who understood subliminal language deciphered that he was prodding the electorate to vote for the opposition to form a new government. The message was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them. In his message, he said all Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear, yet his government was vehemently and publicly against the postponement of the elections to enable our military defeat Boko Haram and prevent them from intimidating voters. This was the height of hypocrisy! PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng reported earlier that former president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan arrived the venue of his book presentation to a loud ovation from those gathered at the entrance of the venue. He arrived at exactly 11.45 am in company with his wife, Patience. Legit.ng gathered that security operatives had a hectic time keeping the crowd away from the former president as he went inside the hall to greet his guests. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng upgrades to serve you better (edited) Obasanjo and Jonathan are good -on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng There has always been a debate between Nigerians leaving in Lagos mainland and those leaving in Lagos island. Lagosians leaving on the mainland argue that despite the fact that they don't have the best hangout spots things are cheaper on the mainland, while island folks argue about easy going lifestyle they leave on the island. It has been argued that island folks enjoy better amenities such as power supply, fun hangout spots and good roads, than those who leave on the mainland. However, mainland people top the argument by saying that the island gets flooded during rainy seasons. A Nigerian man might have confirmed the argument about things being more expensive on the island after he shared the story of how he bought a pencil for 1500 naira in Ikoyi area of Lagos state. READ ALSO: Duke of Shomolu proposes to DJ Cuppy in a newspaper Now, if the young man story is a fact, that means the price of pencil on the island is equal to the price of two wraps on shawarma in some spots on the mainland. The man who was shocked by the price, noted that he had to buy the pencil due to the fact that he was in a hurry and he had to take a test. Read his tweet below: PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Nigerians reacted to the price of the pencil in tweets with jokes about how much a pen would cost on the island. Read tweets below: PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Would you rather have money or be poor and have a good family? - on Legit TV Source: Legit - The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed visited the families of the Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) members who died in a road crash - The minister was accompanied by Kwara APC Chairman, House of Representatives Member-elect Tunji Olawuyi, Kwara South Senatorial candidate Lola Ashiru and other state party officials - The minister also visited the two hospitals in Omu-Aran, where those injured in the accident are being treated, to wish them a speedy recovery The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who died on Sunday, November 18, paid the supreme price for the emancipation of the state. The minister stated this when he visited the families of the five deceased members in Arandun, Agbonda, Omu-Aran, Oko and Odo Owa, all in the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC won a landmark victory at the Saturday bye-election where the deceased hailed from. READ ALSO: 2019: UK advises National Assembly leadership, members against neglecting duties A statement issued on the condolence visit was made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the minister. The minister, according to the statement promised that the APC would not abandon the dependants of the partymen who died in a road accident between Omu-Aran and Oro in the state. At Agbonda, the minister and his entourage attended the funeral service for one of the five deceased members, Chief Ayobami Adekeye, an official of the party in Ajase Ward 2. He also visited the two hospitals in Omu-Aran, where those injured in the accident were being treated to personally wish them peedy recovery. The minister was accompanied by Kwara APC Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa, House of Representatives Member-elect Tunji Olawuyi, Kwara South Senatorial candidate Lola Ashiru and other state party officials. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng previously reported that the Kwara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, November 19, confirmed the death of some of its members in a ghastly road accident along on Omu-Aran-Oro road on Sunday, November 18. The party condoled with the families of its members who died in a road crash The APC chairman in the state, Bashir Bolarinwa, in the condolence, expressed shock at the news of the death of the members and injuries suffered by others in the car crash. Reports say six persons lost their lives in the accident. 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 -Former Nigerian leader has revealed his government pardoned ex-Bayelsa governor Alamieyeseigha who was imprisoned for corruption because of Yar'Adua - Jonathan wrote in his new book that his predecessor ex-president Yar'Adua reached the decision to release the Ijaw leader as part of a Niger Delta peace deal - Yar'Adua however, died before making the pronouncement and the burden to carry out the decision fell on him Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has revealed the real reason he chose to pardon former Bayelsa state governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha even though the action got massive criticism for his administration. Quoting excerpts from Jonathan's news book 'My Transition Hours', Premium Times reports that the former Nigerian leader said it was his predecessor Umar Musa Yar'Adua who had reached decision but died before the pronouncement. Legit.ng recalls that Jonathan, on March 12, 2013, pardoned Alamieyeseigha who was his former boss when he was Bayelsa state deputy governor. He was heavily criticized for the move. READ ALSO: Jonathan accuses Obama of interfering with 2015 election in new book Jonathan wrote: Let me say that after we came to office on May 29, 2007, two major issues that we had to grapple with were the peace process in the Niger Delta and growing menace of terrorism, driven largely by the radical Islamic terror group Jamaat Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Dawah wal-Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram. First, our oil production figures were ebbing due to militant activities in the Niger Delta. The federation distributable accrual was dwindling drastically when we took over due to the crisis in the region and president YarAdua in seeking urgent solution to increase the revenues of the federation offered amnesty to the militant. One of their demands was that Alamieyeseigha be released from detention and pardoned by President YarAdua. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda He accepted their term mandated me to ensure that my former boss accepted a plea bargain and call the militant to order. President YarAdua promised to grant Alamieyeseigha state pardon if all parties were brought on board to the negotiation table to restore peace in the region. I immediately carried out his instruction. Unfortunately, he passed on before completely fulfilling his promise. When I became president, I granted late Alamieyeseigha a state pardon, in fulfilment of late President YarAduas earlier commitment. Unfortunately, this was frowned upon by some of my strongest critics and some went berserk and haul all manners of insults at me, including accusing me of being clannish for granting state pardon to the former governor because he was from Bayelsa State. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Alamieyeseighas pardon like every other goodwill gesture I had made, soon become a tool to be used against me by the opposition. Legit.ng reported earlier that Jonathan arrived the venue of his book presentation to a loud ovation from those gathered at the entrance of the venue. He arrived at exactly 11.45 am in company with his wife, Patience. Legit.ng gathered that security operatives had a hectic time keeping the crowd away from the former president as he went inside the hall to greet his guests. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Obasanjo and Jonathan are good -on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Three PDP members have charged Senator Adeleke to court over the recently concluded Osun guber election - The PDP members accused Adeleke of contesting the partys primary election with a fake certificate - Among other things, they are asking the court to replace Adeleke's name with Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, the first runner-up in the primary election - However, in their reaction, Adelekes campaign organization described the latest move as an attempt to distract Adelekes attention from the ongoing tribunal Three members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state have reportedly dragged the party and its governorship candidate in the September 22 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to court for allegedly contesting PDP governorship primary election with a fake certificate. The Punch reports that the plaintiffs sought Adelekes disqualification from the governorship election claiming that he submitted fake certificates to secure clearance for the PDP primary. Recall that two PDP members, Rasheed Olabayo and Idowu Oluwaseun, before the governorship election, dragged Senator Adeleke before Justice David Oladimeji of an Osogbo High Court seeking his disqualification from the governorship election, claiming that the lawmaker did not have minimum educational requirement to contest for the office of governor. READ ALSO: Jonathan accuses Obama of interfering with 2015 election in new book However, Justice Oladimeji, in his judgement, relying on the Supreme Court judgment on a similar case between Terver Kakih v. PDP, 2014 and Sections 318 (d) and 177 ( d), said the PDP candidate was qualified to contest the September 22 governorship election. Nevertheless, joined in the fresh suit instituted by Awoosiyan Olalekan, Ojejade Thomas and Awodire Sina, filed before Federal High Court, Osogbo, are Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party. The plaintiffs, in an originating summon dated October 30th, 2018, filed before a Federal High court in Osogbo, through their counsel, Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, said that the participation of Adeleke at, and his return as the winner of the governorship primary conducted by the PDP on the 21st of July, 2018 for the purpose of him being the candidate of the party and his subsequent participation in the governorship election of the 22nd of September, 2018 as the partys candidate, was null and void because he presented false information to the electoral commission. They also reportedly told the court that all votes allocated to the Adeleke at, and his return as the winner of the primary election, which led to his nomination and the subsequent participation of Adeleke in the governorship election as the PDP candidate should be voided on account of ineligibility, false information and submission of false documents. They urged the court to determine whether Adeleke should not have been disqualified from flying the flag of PDP on account of ineligibility, false information and submission of false documents he allegedly presented to INEC. Other prayers of the plaintiffs are: An order of court directing the 3rd Defendant (INEC) to strike out and/or delete the name of the 1st Defendant (Adeleke) as the candidate presented to the 3rd Defendant having not met the constitutional requirement for his qualification and eligibility to contest or participate as a Governorship candidate in the Osun State Governorship Election held on the 22nd of September, 2018. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant (Adeleke) from parading himself or holding himself out in any manner or guise whatsoever as the nominated governorship candidate of the 2nd Defendant for the Osun State Governorship Election held on the 22nd of September, 2018. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd Defendant (INEC) from dealing with or continuing to deal with or otherwise recognize the 1st Defendant as the validly nominated candidate of the 2nd Defendant (PDP) for the Osun State Governorship Election, 2018. An order replacing the name of the 1st Defendant (Adeleke) with the name of Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, the 1st runner-up at the said primary election conducted by the 2nd Defendant on the 21st of July, 2018, as the winner of the said primary election and thereby the candidate of the 2nd Defendant for the purpose of the Osun State Governorship election held on the 22nd of September, 2018 in compliance with the Constitution of the 2nd Defendant (PDP)) and its electoral guideline. An order declaring the 1st runner-up, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi at the said primary election conducted by the 2nd Defendant (PDP) on the 21st of July, 2018, as the winner of the said primary election, thereby the candidate of the 2nd Defendant (PDP) for the purpose of the Osun State Governorship election held on the 22nd of September, 2018 having won the highest of lawful votes cast by delegates at the said primary election and in compliance with the Constitution of the 2nd Defendant and its electoral guideline. The respondents have 21 days to respond to the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs. Reacting, the head of legal, Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Niyi Owolade said his client has been served. Those behind the case are being used and it is a challenge for the party. How can serious party members be talking about that now that we are going to tribunal? We dont have any issue. All we are concerned about now is our petition before the tribunal. We consider this fresh matter as part of plot to distract us, Owolade said. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Patrick Egbede, the south-south zonal auditor of the PDP resigned from the party and declared his support for a political aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Egbede, in a resignation letter dated October 25, 2018, and addressed to the zonal national vice chairman of the party, said he was leaving the party for some unnamed personal reasons. I wish to inform you of my decision to formally resign from the Peoples Democratic Party, part of the letter from the Cross River state politician read. I had joined the party and remained with the party since inception in 1998. The former PDP chieftain said that his resignation was partly because of his support of the political ambition of the immediate past state security adviser to the governor of Cross River state, Jude Ngaji, who reportedly intends to contest for the National Assembly on the platform of APC. Ekiti 2018: Residents reveal who will win the governorship election | Legit TV Source: Legit - Former governor of Ogun state has revealed how he and colleagues caged former president Olusegun Obasanjo when they were governors - He said they stopped Obasanjo from doing many unconstitutional things - Osoba made the revelation on Tuesday, in Akwa Ibom, at the 80th birthday anniversary of the former governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah Segun Osoba, former governor of Ogun state has said that governors who served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo were able to cage him and stop him from doing a lot of unconstitutional things because of their maturity and unity among them irrespective of political affiliations. Nigerian Tribune reports that Osoba spoke on Tuesday, November 20, at the 80th birthday celebration of former Akwa Ibom state governor, Obong Victor Attah, just as the minister of budget and national planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, revealed how Obasanjo threatened to prosecute the Akwa Ibom Governor for inciting his people against the president and the federal republic of Nigeria. Legit.ng gathered that the former Ogun state governor who spoke on behalf of other former governors present at the event including former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun and his successor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said the governors spoke with one voice and stood against the antics of the former president and dragged him to court on a number of occasion and won. READ ALSO: Why Buhari will defeat Atiku in 2019 - Senator Ndume He said: Today we are happy to celebrate a man of honour. In our time, we do not know the differences in the party you belong to and Obasanjo then dare not play with any of us governors. I am happy to say that Obong Attah was from the PDP, I was from the AD. The AD group made up of the late Lam Adesina, and Bisi Akande. When we speak, to our surprise, Obong who is of the PDP will take it up from there contributing intelligently to the issues we raised. It is on the ground of his style of leadership that we were seriously able to cage former president Obasanjo. I used the word seriously because first of all, Abdulsalam Abubakar left a huge sum of money that was to be distributed to the governors. The first thing Obasanjo did was to seize the money and use it to buy vehicles for local government councils. We kicked, went to court and we won. On the fiscal responsibility Act, he (Obasanjo) said he will not implement section 8 where all revenues were to go into an account from where it will be distributed according to the constitution. When it became almost impossible, we went to court and we won. In all of these, it was not resource control. Obong Attah was in the fore front of all these struggle. Osoba who recounted how governors in those days rallied behind Attah and his other Niger Delta counterparts to agitate for resource control, expressed reservations on the quality and character of those aspiring to become governors these days. He said: I want to appeal to all us. We should go back to the characters that formed government in 1992 and 1999. 26 years ago, most of us who were governors have had exposures. "John Odigie Oyegun was a former permanent secretary, I was former managing director of Daily Times, I can go on to give you backgrounds of all those who became governors in 1999. None of us were people you will say where you are coming from. We need to go back to that this days of governors of any kind should stop. Speaking earlier, minister of budget and national planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said: Throughout his eight years as governor, I was the senator representing Akwa Ibom south senatorial district and also served as the leader of the Akwa Ibom legislators forum having been unanimously elected by my colleagues. "During our time in the National Assembly, there was no Abuja front working against the home front. Under Victor Attahs leadership, we were a strong united team and having worked with him, I can say something about his character. He is somebody you can go into battle with because he is fearless and once he gives you his words, he does not turn back, no matter how fierce the battle. The battle to remove the onshore/offshore dichotomy was indeed a fierce one. At one point, the three of us, myself, Obong Attah and Senator Ibok Essien were summoned to Abuja and made to appear before the president, minister of Defence and all the service chiefs and were threatened with prosecution for inciting our people against the President and the federal government. But under his leadership, we refused to allow ourselves to be cowed or intimidated. We believed in our course and we did not stop the fight till we succeeded. As the senator who led the fight in Abuja, it really helped us as we staked our political career to ensure the passage of law abrogating the onshore/offshore dichotomy into law. It was good for us to know that we had a fearless governor back home who was watching our back. I will like to join others in celebrating a man of immense character, a dogged fighter foe the rights of his people. A man of vision and action and yet with an artistic temperament. He is not just a politician, but a professional who is highly regarded as by his colleagues. Responding to the accolades poured on him, the former governor said: Listening to All the things that have been said, I ask myself, did I actually say all those things? Where did I get the courage to say all those things? But I want to assure you that the fight was not just for a better Niger Delta, but I believed firmly that it will translate into a better Nigeria. So, the fight always and the purpose was for a better Nigeria. But because we spoke specifically about a particular fight which is the onshore/off shore, when we were being threatened, somebody said in pidgin English your governor no dey know how to end? Senator Ibok Essien said, the axe does not rest until the tree has fallen. Those are the types of battles we had to fight for some of the things that are happening today to happen. But as I have said, in all honesty, I believed that our founding fathers who agreed on a federal system for this country, a system whereby the regions had and control whatever they had and contributed to the running of the country at the Centre remain the best and will continue to be the best for Nigeria. I believe strongly that any struggle towards achieving that is worth fighting for. He said further: I tell people, I enjoyed being governor and sometimes they wonder I say that. It is because of this kind of comradeship.it is just fantastic working together with people with whom you can argue, reason and at the come to a solution. "With fond reminiscences of what happened then during his election as chairman of the Governors Forum, Attah said his emergence came as a coup and that his colleagues referred to him as headmaster. PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Those who attended the event which also heralded the public presentation of his book, it is well with my soul, include former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, minister of a labour and employment, Senator Chris Ngige, former national security adviser, Genaral Aliyu Gusau, former deputy Senate president, Ibrahim Mantu, publisher of Vanguard newspaper, Sam Amuka, managing director of NDDC, Nsima Ekere, former Senate leader, Ndoma Egba, Governor Udom Emmanuel and his deputy, former EFCC chairman, Farida Waziri, executive secretary of pension transitional arrangement directorate, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, former Governors Achike Udenwa and Bukar Abba Ibrahim among others cutting across all political parties. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said that Nigeria can only progress when all its citizens have a sense of security, unity and belonging. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better. Consider rest - Obasanjo to Buhari | - on Legit TV Source: Legit - A 28-year-old man identified as Fidelis Michael has been reportedly arrested for kissing a king's daughter in public - The young man is said to have committed a sacrilege after getting cozy with the royal blood in a public place - His arrest was allegedly ordered by the king who's anger was that the man had the guts to fondle with his daughter A 28-year-old man identified as Fidelis Michael has reportedly landed in police nest after allegedly kissing a king's daughter in a public place. According to reports, Michael was caught and charged before a court for assault and remanded in prison custody for pecking the princess in the public. Reports reveal that Michael and Princess Dolapo met at a market in Ejigbo area of Lagos and decided to get cozy. When their public display of affection fell unto the ears of the king, he immediately ordered his aides to pick up the culprit and hand him over to police at Ejigbo Division for prosecution. P.M express reveals that Fidelis was then arraigned before the Ejigbo Magistrates court for allegedly assaulting the princess. the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect the bail condition. READ ALSO: My friend used to date his friend - Davido's bae Chioma reveals how she met him Michael was caught and charged before a court for assault and remanded in prison custody for pecking the princess in the public. (Picture/UGC) Source: UGC The matter was adjourned till December 3, 2018. Meanwhile, 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. Did you know? NAIJ.com (naija.ng) is now-> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app My father is a king - Marvis declares on Legit TV: Source: Legit.ng A man wanted in a burglary case was arraigned hours after Forks Township police asked for the public's help in locating him. Township police released a photo of Arafa Islam, 41, no address listed, on Monday. Islam was arraigned Monday night and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail. Police said the burglary happened overnight between Oct. 21 and 22 at a property in the 1300 block of Ridge Trail in the township. The victim reported that someone entered his garage and took a binder that has his debit card inside. The card was later used to make purchases at several businesses. Court records say the victim suspected Islam, a former coworker, was responsible. A witness contacted the victim and reportedly told him Islam stole the binder and a cellphone, and made purchases with the card. Police reviewed surveillance video from the businesses where the card was used for transactions. Records say they were able to positively identify Islam in those videos. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A felony arrest warrant has been issued in connection to a burglary last month in Forks Township, and the suspect is on the lam. Arafa Islam, 41, no known address, is wanted on charges of burglary and related offenses. Police are asking for the public's help in locating Islam. They put out a photo and description of him on Monday afternoon. The burglary happened overnight between Oct. 21 and 22 at a property in the 1300 block of Ridge Trail in the township. The victim reported that someone entered his garage and took items including an ATM card from a vehicle parked in the garage. The card was later used to make purchases at several businesses. Court records say the victim suspected Islam, a former coworker, was responsible. Records say police reviewed surveillance video from the businesses where the card was used for transactions. Records say they were able to positively identify Islam in those videos. Islam is described as a Native American/Alaskan American male with hazel eyes. He stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds. If anyone has information about Islam, they are asked to contact Forks police Detective Philomena Kelly at 610-252-0377 extension 136. Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A new Easton shop will offer food and furnishings in one spot. Promising a space to "shop, eat and explore," Greene Marketplace, owned by Williams Township interior designer Cindy Greene, is planning to open on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 200 Northampton St., the former location of paint-and-sip spot Paint The City. UPDATE: Greene Marketplace will has postponed its opening to a to-be-determined date. A BYOB bistro seating about 30 people will claim the front space at Greene Marketplace, while new and vintage furniture, decor and other merchandise will fill a backroom. "To me, when I go out to dinner, I'm bored to death just sitting and eating," Greene said. She said she was inspired by high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus, where shoppers might find a cafe alongside retail offerings. While she expects some customers to come in specifically for the decor side, she also envisions that diners will browse the space before or after meals, or even as they wait for their food to arrive at the table. "They might be coming in for dinner, but then they'll see a great piece," she said. The restaurant, whose kitchen will be run by head chef Thomas Giardina, will serve a menu of both small and large plates. Some expected offerings include charcuterie and a cheese board along with dishes featuring red wine meatballs, shrimp and smoked salmon. Greene said she wants the bistro to have the high-end atmosphere of other Downtown Easton spots like Oak Steakhouse and Ocean, but at a more affordable price-point. As a BYOB, the restaurant will provide cocktail mixers for diners who bring spirits to drinks. She also plans to grow fresh herbs in the shop's windows that would be incorporated into dishes. In fact, those huge windows drew her to the space in the first place. "When I saw them, I said 'oh my god, what I could do with these windows,'" Greene said. On the retail side, Greene plans for a blend of new and antique offerings that could range from $5 to $5,000. "When you mix old and contemporary, that's character," Greene said. With the holiday season approaching, the shop will offer pre-wrapped gifts like candles and soaps. Greene's eye for design fills the space: Guests will immediately notice a towering moss wall, which might be familiar to those who have visited the Silk Mill's Easton Wine Project, where Greene previously offered both decor and catering. Though most of her interior design clients are in New Jersey and New York, Greene said she was encouraged to set up shop in Easton after the announcement that Hearst Magazines would start running some editorial operations at Heritage Lanes. "Easton's really popping," she said. Starting on Nov. 24, Greene Marketplace plans be open for food service Wednesday through Sunday at 4 p.m., while the retail side will open at 10 a.m. Andrew Doerfler may be reached at adoerfler@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @adoerfler or on Facebook. A 35-year-old Allentown area man was charged federally on Monday in a scheme to drive electronics stolen from Target over state lines for sale, the U.S. Department of Justice reports. Elijah Aiken, 35, of the Allentown area, faces federal charges in a Target theft scheme, authorities say. (VINELink photo) Elijah Aiken faces one count of conspiring to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce and two counts of interstate transport of stolen goods, the U.S. attorney's Office for Massachusetts said in a news release. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and FBI Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw. Aiken was jailed after a court appearance in Worcester, the U.S. attorney's office said. He previously served time behind bars for the burglary of a Target in Connecticut, records show. The conspiracy involved the transport of hundreds of thousands of dollars of goods taken from Target stores in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut and driving them for sale in New York, the U.S. attorney's office said. The stores were hit in the early mornings between December 2014 and February 2015, the U.S. attorney's office said. Usually, blow torches were used to cut through metal loading dock doors at the rear of the stores, the U.S. attorney's office said. Electronic items such as cellular phones and tablets were taken, the U.S. attorney's office said. If convicted, Aiken faces up to 10 years in jail on the first count and five years each for the second and third, the U.S. attorney's office said. Each charge brings a fine of up to $250,000. Restitution could be required as well, the U.S. attorney's office said. Aiken was arrested in February 2015 along with two other men following a break-in Feb. 4, 2015, at a Southington, Connecticut, Target, a published report says. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in prison on a burglary charge; he was released Nov. 13 on 30 months of parole, records show. Denzel Holmes, who the Southington Observer said was from Allentown, was also arrested in that case and was sentenced on charges of burglary and conspiracy to 731 days in prison followed by 35 months of parole. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Nazareth police are warning residents not to leave any valuables in their cars after a series of car burglaries that could be the work of a nationwide theft ring known as the Felony Lane Gang. Nazareth police said the series of vehicle break-ins were reported last week. The gang is known to target purses or wallets in plain view in vehicles parked at gyms, preschools, youth sporting events and parks. Members, who work in groups, steal the items, and "managers" recruit prostitutes and drug addicts to conduct fraudulent financial transactions using the stolen material, according to the Baltimore Sun. The felony lane refers to the drive-thru bank lane furthest away from the bank teller, where criminals can easily use stolen identification to cash checks or make withdrawals. The group originated in Florida, according to the FBI. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports the crime ring has been reported active in 34 states over the past five years, including New Jersey, and has netted several million dollars. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. For 412 days, the family of Joseph Mullner has waited and waited for his killer to face justice. "Four hundred and 12 days. That's how long I've waited for this moment. Four hundred and 12 days since you took our Joe away," Bianca Mullner, who is married to Mullner's son, said to John Hann on Tuesday. "Johnny, not only did you kill Joe, you destroyed all our lives." Hann was in court Tuesday to be sentenced for killing Joseph Mullner and trying to kill his wife, Melinda, on Oct. 4, 2017 at the couple's Lehigh Township home. Hann was convicted last month by Judge Craig Dally of first-degree murder, attempted murder and cruelty to animals. Hann, of Bushkill Township, already faced a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for murder. Dally added 20 1/2 years to 41 years. Melinda Mullner was seriously injured in the shooting, but survived. She was in court on Tuesday, but didn't speak, telling prosecutors she "wouldn't be able to make it through" the hearing. Bianca Mullner described the aftermath of that horror-filled day. She and her husband were expecting their first child. Unfortunately, the baby, a boy, was stillborn a week after the shooting. Bianca Mullner broke down as she showed Hann a picture of the couple holding their son. "You also murdered our son," Michael Mullner said to Hann. "Since that day I have been broken. Every day has been hard ... there is no forgiveness. Enjoy life in hell." On Oct. 4, 2017, Hann took two guns and went to the Mullner home, he claimed, to talk to the couple. Bianca Mullner countered, "It was calculated. It was planed. It was heartless." Prosecutors said Hann shot Joseph Mullner 18 times, pursuing him through the house and then outside, where Hann shot him again. He shot Melinda Mullner, and she previously testified she played dead so Hann wouldn't keep shooting her and kill her. Hann claimed he was worried the family would take away his sister, who has Down Syndrome. Hann took her to the Mullner's home that day, and the sister witnessed the shootings, police said. First Deputy District Attorney Terry Houck said she had blood spatter on her sweatshirt from the shooting, and the incident was over anything but Hann's love for his sister. Hann brought her to the Mullners' home, then brought her when he fled to his late parents' home in Bethlehem Township, police said. Police pulled him over the next morning while a three-hour standoff ensued, during which Hann threatened to kill himself while he was with his sister in his truck, police said. Now, Hann's sister is going through life on her own and the Mullner family is coping with the "destruction that took place as the result of this horror." Defense attorney Gary Asteak called Hann a good man overcome by his demons, who was paranoid and delusional and didn't intend on killing Mullner that day. Hann "exploded" that day, Asteak said as he appealed for mercy. Hann, wearing a red prison jumpsuit said he was sorry, "I have always been sorry." "Every single day I wish that day would never have happened," he said in court. "I'm sorry for your pain and hurt. I cant expect your forgiveness, but know that I am truly sorry." Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A Lehigh Township man turned himself in to police, claiming he held up a convenience store 11 months ago in the township, according to police. Steven Poliquin (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Steven Poliquin, 29, contacted police about surrendering in the armed robbery last Dec. 17 at the 4205 Lehigh Drive Turkey Hill in Cherryville, township police Chief Scott Fogel said in a news release Tuesday. Poliquin provided details about the robbery and was arrested, Fogel said. The robber in the incident about 10 p.m. entered the store wearing a mask and brandishing a firearm, and demanded cash from the clerk, police said at the time. Court records show Poliquin was arrested Nov. 17 and arraigned before District Judge Richard Yetter III on a single felony count of robbery. Poliquin was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $45,000 bail and faces a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled Nov. 27 before District Judge Robert Hawke. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. UPDATE DEC. 5, 2018: After an investigation, the bus driver was cited with failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and will receive a summons from municipal court, police Lt. John Kaufmann said. INITIAL POST: A girl was hit by a bus Tuesday morning in Washington, Washington Township police report. The first call was at 6:48 a.m. at Route 57 and Route 31, Lt. John Kaufmann said. The girl, whose age wasn't immediately released, was crossing Route 57 when she was struck, Kaufmann said. A medical helicopter landing zone was requested for the borough park, but the helicopter couldn't fly due to the weather, dispatches said. The Warren County Transportation shuttle bus remained at 7:15 a.m. on Route 57. The driver -- Larry Reed, 61, of Easton -- was the only person on the bus, Kaufmann said. The busy road was shut down near the bus. The girl was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, Kaufmann said. She was alert and conscious before she was transported, Kaufmann said. A borough ambulance was seen just after 7:30 a.m. with a police escort heading west on Route 22 in Palmer Township. Firefighters from the borough and the township, the borough emergency squad, Hunterdon Medical Center paramedics and New Jersey State Police assisted at the scene, Kaufmann said. The investigation is continuing, the lieutenant said. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A Laois county councillor, who is also a general election hopeful, is not on Fianna Fail's Portlaoise area ticket for the next local elections. Cllr Pauline Madigan failed in her bid to be selected by the Jame McIntosh Portlaoise Cumann less than six months after being co-opted onto Laois County Council in place of the late Jerry Lodge. Members have selected three candidates to contest the 2019 election at the Portlaoise area selection convention on Monday night, November 19. Fianna Fail's leading vote winner in Laois was returned unopposed for the area outside Portlaoise. Cllr John Joe Fennelly is based in the rural part of the Portlaoise Municipal District which extends south of the town to Abbeyleix and on to Ballinakill near the Kilkenny border. Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald topped the voting among members in the urban area where there were five candidates for two spaces on the ticket. She was joined by newcomer Donal Kelly who won a tight contest with John O'Neill. Cllr Madigan and Dom Dunne were the other two hopefuls. Back from left: Donal Kelly, Cllr John Joe Fennelly, Dom Dunne and John O'Neill. Front from left: Cllr Pauline Madigan, Catherine Fitzgerald, Senator Aidan Davitt Tony Flanagan, Cumann chairman, thanked the members for putting their names forward. He congratulated those who were chosen. He added that he was 'surprised' that Cllr Madigan had not been selected but believed she could not be ruled out of contesting the next general election as a Fianna Fail candidate in the next general election. "Never say never," he said. Mr Flanagan said that the final say on the Laois Offaly team would rest with party headquarters in Dublin. Portlaoise Municipal District has seven councillors - three Fianna Fail, two Fine Gael, one Sinn Fein and one Labour Party. Fianna Fail's was strongest outside the urban area at the 2014 elections which saw the Portlaoise Town Council scrapped and Laois County Council downsized to 19 councillors. Fianna Fail has yet to confirm its ticket for the other two municipal districts in Laois - Portarlington/Graiguecullen and Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick. The annual prayer service for missing Naas man Trevor Deely will take place this year on Friday December 7, in Ballycane Church at 8.15 pm. Trevors sister Pamela told the Leader the family still need help in finding out what happened to Trevor 18 years ago this December 8. We still need the people of Naas, Kildare and beyond to know that we will never give up looking and trying to find Trevor. He would have been 40 in August so it would have been a great celebration. We have had no new leads since August of last year and his case is still open. We will follow up on any lead or any clue given. The Crimestoppers reward of 100,000 to find Trevor is still open. In the early hours of December 8, 2000, Trevor (22) disappeared on his way home, after attending his office Christmas party. An employee of Bank of Ireland Asset Management, he had spent the early part of the previous evening with his colleagues. It was a wet and windy night and there was taxi strike so Trevor was on foot when he stopped off at his BOI office to get an umbrella. This was the last sighting of Trevor, caught on CCTV leaving the office around 4.14 am. Moments later, the same camera also captures a man walking along in the same direction. A cold-case review was begun by gardai in December 2015, which included swathes of evidence being gathered and witnesses re-interviewed. A fresh appeal was issued in April 2017, with gardai releasing digitally enhanced VHS footage taken on the night of Trevors disappearance. Gardai then began the search of a three acre woodland in Chapelizod in Dulbin on 12 August 2017 as a result of new information they obtained. A large area of the woodland was cleared with a team of gardai searching the area but nothing was found to link to Trevors disappearance. SEE ALSO: Search for Trevor very difficult for family Pamela thanked the people of Naas, Trevors friends and former colleagues who have never forgotten him since he was last seen on December 8, 2000. She said that time has stood still for her parents Michael and Ann since that first phone call to say Trevor had gone missing. She added that all Trevors siblings are parents now, herself a mum to three boys and can understand how hard it has been for them from that perspective. It just never leaves their minds, she said. All Trevors friends have been amazing. I am still in touch with a lot of them and they will never forget Trevor -none of us will. The people of Naas have been brilliant and Trevors former colleagues still come to the prayer service every year. No one has given up on Trevor and no one ever will." Members of the public can call Crimestoppers on 1800 25 00 25 and all calls are completely anonymous. Mayor of Newbridge, Murty Aspell has urged homeowners to be vigilant in the run up to Christmas after his house was broken into and ransacked last week. Read also: Bus Eireann reverses decision to close late night Naas service He told the Leinster Leader; "it's coming into a time where more break-ins occur in the run up to Christmas. It's important to stay vigilant. The guards are doing their best with the resources they have. It's not their fault. How many people have been broken into since Murty Aspell was broken into last Thursday (November 15)?" The local councillor tried to raise awareness on his Facebook page. He wrote; "Warning Folks: Some low lifers around College Park last night. I arrived home to find my house had been broken into. They did needless damage, turned my bedroom, kitchen and hot press upside down and scattered my personal belongings all over. "Please make sure you keep safe and keep your property secure. I kept my dad's glasses when he passed away 3 years ago. The most heartbreaking of it all was to see them lying on the floor. "These people have no conscience and deserve to be locked up decent people are living in fear of their lives because of these scumbags but we can't let them win we need to look out for each other so if you have elderly neighbours keep an eye on them and make sure they're okay be careful and make sure your house is secured when you go out." Cllr Murty Aspell's house was ransacked Since the incident was reported, Murty says some of his neighbours have found CCTV which may have captured the perpetrators watching houses in the neighbourhood. He said this will be forwarded on to the gardai. "I think I may have disturbed them. When they saw me coming in in my car, I think they ran out the back door and out the back gate. I think they had some stuff piled up ready to be taken, but left it there when I arrived," he said. He advised anyone who interrupts burglars not to engage with them in case their own personal safety is compromised. Cllr Aspell's late father's glasses were thrown to the ground during the break-in Gerry Finneran from Glenfarne is one of the featured contributors in the brand new National Treasures Book, which is the latest installment of the National Treasures project that captured the nations imagination when it aired on RTE1 earlier this year. Gerry who brought along his Philips Tape Recorder to a Roadshow in Galway is one of a select few individuals to be featured in the publication which is sure to be a top seller around the country this Christmas. Gerry Finneran, Glenfarne Gerry bought himself the recorder in 1959 and he now keeps it in a small museum of items which he has collected and archived in the Glenfarne Ballroom of Romance. Gerrys presence in the National Treasures Book follows the appearance of the Ballroom of Romance in the RTE programme where it featured as a National Treasure in April of this year. The National Treasures project was a campaign to collect objects cherished by people and families that explore the history of the island of Ireland over the past 100 years. The aim was to gather objects, passed down through generations or relatively recently acquired, which revealed an aspect of Irelands history, culture and experience. Since then, the project has transformed from a website to nationwide roadshow events, a TV series, an exhibition and now a book containing some of the amazing objects and stories uncovered. With a foreword by RTEs John Creedon, this fascinating book reveals a selection of 200 diverse and fascinating objects that were unearthed by the project and presents them alongside the owners and the personal stories attached. From a pair of Sonia OSullivans Olympic running shoes to a War of Independence grenade, the stories contained within are profound, entertaining, heart-warming and tragic. The book is available in all good book shops and online at www.nationaltreasures.ie/shop Leitrim Development Company under PEACE IV project supporting Ethnic Minorities in Leitrim recently concluded 7-day workshop over a period of six months on Intercultural Awareness, Community Development Skills, Peace Building and Conflict resolution at Bee Park Resource Centre, Manorhamilton. This involved a visit to a similar project in Donegal hosted by Donegal Intercultural Forum and a tour to the City of Derry. The capacity building workshops was organised to increase knowledge, build confidence, skills and create an environment where communities can live, learn and be free from prejudice, hate and intolerance. Also, the workshop addressed root causes of violence, hate, racism, discrimination and prejudice in communities with focus on techniques of conflict resolution and management. Participants were introduced to community development and strategic planning with the aim to provide effective methods and approaches to community involvement, strengthen civic participation and engagement especially in community decision making, effective group meetings , accessing and processing funding applications. The workshop was facilitated by International Centre for Business Development, Dublin. Participants were presented with certificates for successfully completing and participating at the workshop. This project has been supported by the EUs PEACE IV Programme, managed by the special EU Programmes Body. For more information about the project and upcoming events, please contact Osa in the Leitrim Development Company Office - (071) 9631715 or email osa@ldco.ie Read Also: Leitrim connection to documentary on domestic abuse MARY Queen of Ireland students put together an impressive number of Christmas shoe boxes this year, which will now be sent to less fortunate children in other countries. The Christmas shoeboxes have opened up conversations in our classes about helping others, donating to charity and caring for children in the world who are less fortunate than ourselves, Ciara Dorman from the Limerick primary school said. Some 154 shoeboxes were filled and donated to the Team Hope charity, Ms Dorman added. This number far surpassed the number they expected and they are truly grateful to the families who supported this very worthy cause. The Caherdavin pupils were also delighted to welcome local hero Sigi Murrihy to their school. Ms Murrihy, a German native who sends hundreds of Christmas shoeboxes abroad each year with the Team Hope charity, spoke to Mary Queen of Ireland students about her own childhood experiences in war-time Germany. Ms Murrihys daughter Esther is an SNA in the school, Ms Dorman added. Sigi really knows what hardship is so she decided to reach out and help other children in similar situations, Ms Dorman said. She is a truly amazing lady with an extremely kind heart. The girls were in awe of her generosity. She is an example to us all. THE chief executive of Shannon Group said the firms win at the Limerick Chamber Regional Awards is just reward for all his staffs hard work. Matthew Thomas was thrilled the semi-state firm, which has four separate entities, was named the Company of the Year at the annual business awards, which took place on Friday night in the Strand Hotel. Shannon Group also took the award for best contribution to the region. at the event, attended by over 400 business leaders. The Mid-West is our region, so to be recognised in this way is just fantastic, he said. The bit that is most satisfying for me as CEO is that all parts of the group are really firing. We talk a lot about the airport and the challenges it faces. But our passengers are up 33% since separation. No other airport outside Dublin is anywhere near it Cork is still flat. We give ourselves a hard time as we want to get to the top of the mountain. But we are doing okay. Shannon Group employs 650 people across its four different entities the airport, Shannon Commercial Properties, Shannon Heritage and the International Aviation Services Centre. As well as the Shannon Groups two awards, there were prizes for Plasseys Electricity Exchange, which won best emerging business. The best SME business was Rathkeale energy company Design Pro. Optel Group from Raheen won the award for best corporate social responsibility, while Masterchefs took the title for best retail and hospitality business. The best not-for-profit award went to Novas Ireland, for its sterling work on dealing with homelessness. And the high-profile award for best employer went to telecommunications giant Three Ireland. In addition to the other seven business awards given out, a special President's award was presented by Dr Mary Shire to Dr Kieran Curran, of GenCell biosystems (now acquired by BD), for his services to the science and business community over the years. Speaking at the awards, new Limerick Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan praised the standard of entries received - and also praised the judges panel, chaired by Anne Heraty of CPL Recruitment. The quality has been really high. The amount of work and time which has gone in from judges has been great to see. The judges would have spent ten hours on this process. It was a really thorough process. Its a big event, and there is a lot of work put into it. We hope people have enjoyed the night, she added. In her presidential address, Dr Shire warned Limericks new confidence should not be taken for granted. We should not underestimate the importance of confidence in creating a success orientated culture. I know what its like to lack confidence in Limerick. When I was younger, I recall being asked where I was from and rather sheepishly, I would respond Im from Limerick but always added the caveat Limerick County as I felt it was the lesser of two evils, she said. It takes less than two weeks for half of the planet's annual precipitation to fall. That is, 50 percent of Earth's rain, snow and ice each year falls in the 12 wettest days, according to a new study. The deluges are likely to become even more concentrated by the end of the century, researchers reported Oct. 19 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Researchers already know that climate change will likely lead to an overall increase in precipitation, study leader Angeline Pendergrass, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, said in a statement. The new study suggests that this extra rain will fall in the least helpful way possible. "What we found is that the expected increases happen when it's already the wettest the rainiest days get rainier," Pendergrass said. [The 10 Driest Places on Earth] Increasing extremes Climate scientists have long been concerned that the increase in global average temperatures will cause weather events that are more extreme. Warmer air can hold more moisture, and a different study, published Nov. 14, found that today's hurricanes are already wetter due to climate change. Quantifying the expected increase is harder, Pendergrass and her colleagues wrote in their new paper. It's particularly hard, they added, to describe the changes in an accessible, intuitive way. That's why the team decided to couch their findings in the number of days it takes to account for half of the world's annual precipitation. [Hurricane Sandy: Photos of a Frankenstorm] The team used data from a series of weather stations in the Global Climate Observing System Surface Network; these stations are placed worldwide (though most are in North America, Eurasia and Australia, with Africa and South America less well-represented). These stations collect precipitation totals at particular spots. To expand the data regionally, the researchers also used satellite data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. These sources gave the investigators overlapping data between 1999 and 2014. Drought and floods Already, the researchers found, most of the water that falls from the sky does so in a mind-bogglingly short period of time. It takes just 12 days to account for half the world's yearly annual precipitation, the researchers reported. "I would have guessed the number would be larger perhaps a month," Pendergrass said. The scientists found, instead, that a whopping 75 percent of the world's precipitation falls in approximately a month's time (the wettest 30 days, spread across the year). Twelve and a half percent of annual precipitation falls in just two days. And the wettest single day of the year accounts for 8.3 percent of the year's total. Regionally, this tendency for a lot of wetness in only a short period of time is most obvious in dry, desert environments, the researchers found. China and southeastern Russia are right in the middle, and "wet" places like the northeastern United States show the most even distribution of precipitation. Globally, the wettest day of summer accounts for 5.2 percent of the year's precipitation, while the wettest day of winter is a little drier, at 3.4 percent of the annual precipitation budget. The researchers also modeled how this precipitation distribution will likely change as the globe warms. In a "business-as-usual" climate scenario, in which there is no attempt to reign in carbon emissions, half of the additional predicted precipitation would fall in the six wettest days of the year by 2100. And 50 percent of all precipitation would be crammed into 11 days, the researchers estimated. Precipitation would remain uneven in a "best-case" scenario, in which emissions begin to decline after 2020, the researchers found, but the difference from current conditions would not be not so extreme. One key question, the researchers wrote, is when during the year these extreme precipitation events are likely to occur. The answer will have major implications for the impact of the changes, the scientists added: A deluge right before the growing season might be fine for plants and crops. A drought during the growing season followed by a downpour would spell nothing but trouble. Flooding could also become a more serious threat, Pendergrass added. "We need to take this into account," she said, "when we think about how to prepare for the future." Originally published on Live Science. Some looters operating near the city of Ramallah in the West Bank have turned to spirit possession in hopes of finding gold treasure, research shows. As "antique" gold coins from the Middle East pour into the United States, some looters are turning to spirits called "jinn" in their hunt for gold treasure. A few gold seekers even go so far as to try to get the jinn to possess them in hopes that the spirits will guide them to that hidden jackpot. However, research by archaeologists and an investigation conducted by Live Science suggest that rarely, if ever, does using the jinn help looters find gold artifacts. Rather, metal detectors and mass excavation of archaeological sites seem to be the most effective ways of looting treasure. [7 Stunning Archaeological Sites in Syria] Gold fever Throughout the Middle East, looters have raided numerous archaeological sites over the past two decades. This theft is driven by multiple factors, including war, poverty and demand for artifacts, archaeologists have said. U.S. government documents obtained by Live Science reveal that shipments of gold coins, which the records describe as being over 100 years old, shipped from the Middle East to the United States, have increased dramatically over the last 25 years. In fact, between 2011 and 2017, nearly 452 lbs. (205,000 grams) of these gold coins were shipped to the U.S. from the Middle East, compared with just 10.8 lbs. (4,900 grams) between 1992 and 2000. That weight, 452 lbs., is the equivalent of more than 36,000 modern-day U.S. quarters, according to the U.S. Mint. It's not clear how many of the gold coins were looted. [30 of the World's Most Valuable Treasures That Are Still Missing] Archaeologists working in the Middle East told Live Science that looters, as well as people not involved in looting, strongly believe that gold treasure be it coins or otherwise waits to be found in the region. Many looters think that the Ottoman Empire (which existed between 1299 and 1922) left behind gold as it retreated from parts of the Middle East. "There's this big lore about Ottoman gold being left behind when the Ottomans left the area," said Morag Kersel, an anthropology professor at DePaul University in Chicago, who investigates the antiquities trade as part of her research. Kersel has talked to looters who operate in Israel, Palestine and Jordan. "They're always on the hunt for that." Spirit possession Kersel and Salah Al-Houdalieh, an archaeology professor at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, have both noted that looters are particularly interested in jinn. This type of spirit, according to legends told in the Middle East, guards "protected treasure," usually consisting of gold. "According to my interviews with sheikhs [individuals with religious knowledge] and antiquities looters, yes, of course, [they believe] most of the protected treasures are made of gold and the majority of the gold is coins," Al-Houdalieh told Live Science. The sheikhs Al-Houdalieh interviewed said that "usually protection [for a treasure] is sought by the original owner who makes the request to a sorcerer ('saher') experienced in such matters. The sorcerer, in turn, summons his contact from the jinn world, usually the prince or princess of one of the jinn tribes [according to legend tribes consisting entirely of jinn exist]" wrote Al-Houdalieh in a paper published in 2012 in the Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology. If the owner dies, the jinn continue guarding the treasure, the sheikhs and looters told Al-Houdalieh. In some instances, looters will try to get jinn to possess them, or someone with them, in hopes that the jinn will take the gold seekers to protected treasure, Al-Houdalieh's research found. The looter will hire a sheikh who will perform a ceremony that supposedly results in jinn possession. "For the sheikhs, it is business. Either they receive money in advance, which is very rare, or they receive money after selling the hunted objects. They receive a share of 20 percent or more, depending on the deal they made," Al-Houdalieh told Live Science. During the spirit-possession ceremony, the sheikhs "read special verses of the Holy Quran," said Al-Houdalieh, adding that he has seen no evidence that hypnosis or drugs are used. The looters who undergo spirit possession claim that they experience memory loss. From what the looters say, "there is a temporary loss of memory, but repeated possession by jinn may cause permanent negative impact on the behavior of the possessed person," Al-Houdalieh said. He's careful to note that in all instances he has seen, the supposedly possessed person fails to find gold treasure. Looters believe they can interact with the jinn in other ways, too, Al-Houdalieh and Kersel said. In some cases, looters will search for signs in the landscape that the jinn has hidden treasure nearby. In other cases, looters claim that they are attacked by jinn when they enter an area that has treasure the jinn are protecting. Some of the looters that Al-Houdalieh has interviewed claim that the jinn can take both animal and human form and attack people when they get close to a protected treasure with the spirits dressing in white clothes when they appear in human form. In some stories, the jinn communicate through a young child or a sign that the jinn supposedly leave on a stone. "I have heard from folks that the jinn themselves haven't come to them but [instead] through a 5-year-old boy, or through someone else, or through a sign that's left on the stone [so that] they know that the jinn are telling them to dig here," Kersel said. Al-Houdalieh noted a case in which a sheikh supposedly had a jinn possess a child, who then allegedly gave the location of treasure before the sheikh told the jinn to leave the child's body. Six looters used the information the child had given, but they never found that treasure. Live Science investigation Curious to learn more about this connection between looters and the jinn, I launched my own investigation. I joined an online social media group in which people who try to use the jinn to find treasure often congregate, and then I monitored the group for two months. I found that many of the people who use the jinn to look for treasure are based in Israel, Palestine or Jordan. The people I encountered were particularly interested in what they claimed to be "signals" from the jinn. The users often posted photos and videos of features they encountered in caves or hillsides that they believed, if analyzed correctly, would lead to hidden treasure. These features often show fractures or holes on a rock surface. Those who posted the photos often asked for "expert analysis" from people in the group. On a few occasions, people found rock art or stone structures that are actual archaeological remains, but the users believed the sites to be "signals" from the jinn. Some people posted about looting issues other than those involving the jinn, such as how to buy a metal detector in Jordan or how to recruit an expert who is knowledgeable about archaeological remains. One post discussed safety issues when trying to loot a site, such as how to tell when oxygen is running out in a cave (a candle going out is a supposedly a good indication) and how to crawl through tunnels without getting stuck. Members of the group rarely discussed spirit possession. People sometimes posted pictures of artifacts, such as pottery, that they claimed to have found, with the help of the jinn or otherwise. But I found no evidence that anyone in the group had succeeded in uncovering gold artifacts while seeking the jinn's help. Al-Houdalieh found similar failures with the jinn. How do looters really find gold coins? Regardless of the jinn, gold artifacts are rarely found at archaeological sites, noted Kersel in an article published this summer in News & Notes, a magazine published by The Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. Given how hard it is to find actual ancient gold coins, people sometimes create forgeries. In Egypt, modern-day gold is sometimes molded into coins that are made to look ancient. "A lot of local jewelers fake gold coins and sell them as antiquities," Monica Hanna, an Egyptologist working with Egypt's Heritage Task Force, told Live Science in 2016. When looters in the Middle East do find gold coins, the treasure hunters seem to have used metal detectors rather than the jinn. In a paper published last year in the Journal of Field Archaeology, researchers Neil Brodie and Isber Sabrine interviewed six people living in Syria who either are involved in looting or have extensive knowledge of looting activities. Those interviewed said that metal detectors or massive work gangs that could dig up vast areas of an archaeological site quickly were used to look for coins and sometimes gold coins were discovered. The researchers granted the six people they interviewed anonymity to protect their identity and to allow them to speak freely. One of the people the researchers interviewed claimed that a hoard of Roman gold coins found at the archaeological site of Tell Hamamiat was sold, along with some figurines, for $150,000 in the town of Al Madiq [also called Qalaat al-Madiq] in Syria. [Photos: Damage to Syrian Ruins Seen from Space] "What stands out now from these interview texts is the use of metal detectors and the commercial importance of coins," wrote Brodie, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, and Sabrine, a Ph.D. researcher at the University of Girona in Spain, in their journal article. Coins are "very easy to loot, very easy to move and very easy to hide" Sabrine told Live Science. Sabrine said that while he hasn't heard stories of people in Syria using the jinn to find gold treasures, it is possible. Regardless of which method looters use to find artifacts, Sabrine said that some of the most interesting looted artifacts from Syria may not appear on the antiquities market until years after the civil war in Syria ends. The war has been raging since 2011 and has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions of Syrians to flee their homes. Originally published on Live Science. Ice-cold substances hitting the back of the throat can cause blood vessels to expand and contract rapidly, resulting in a temporary but very painful headache. You probably don't think of ice cream as a pain-inducing substance, but enjoying those first few spoonfuls of the frozen treat too quickly might bring on a sudden, stabbing pain in the forehead known as "brain freeze." The pain of brain freeze can begin within seconds of being exposed to cold temperatures, and the intensity of the pain peaks very quickly, often within seconds, said Dr. Stephanie Goldberg, a neurologist and headache specialist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Why do you get it? Brain freeze, also called an "ice-cream headache," is known in medical terms as a "cold-stimulus headache," Goldberg said. It's a common phenomenon that affects people of all ages, but doctors aren't quite sure why it happens. [Ouch: 10 Odd Causes of Headaches] For this type of headache, the main trigger is any kind of exposure to a significantly cold temperature, Goldberg said. It's not only caused by an internal trigger, like eating frozen treats too quickly; it can also be caused by an external trigger, such as going outside without a hat on a frigid day or diving into a very cold lake. Brain freeze may start when a very cold substance food or air, for example hits the roof of the mouth or the back of the throat and stimulates blood vessels and nerves in these temperature-sensitive areas. A small study presented in 2012 found that the sudden increase in blood flow and resulting increase in size of the anterior cerebral artery, a blood vessel located in the middle of the brain behind the eyes, may be responsible for brain freeze pain. The study found that when patients' brain freeze ended, the artery constricted and reduced blood flow, which is likely what caused the pain to disappear. The researchers said they suspect that an increase in pressure within the skull, brought on by increased blood flow to the head, is what causes the pain. Another possible explanation for brain freeze is that a cold sensation activates an important nerve in the head and face, known as the trigeminal nerve. Once the trigeminal nerve is triggered, blood vessels inside the head momentarily tighten and constrict and then rapidly dilate or widen, resulting in a sudden feeling of pain, Goldberg told Live Science. When the cold stimulus is removed, the blood vessels go back to their normal size and the pain tends to go away, Goldberg said.Despite being called "brain freeze," this brief episode of head pain doesn't cause permanent damage and isn't life-threatening. Symptoms Quick onset of head pain, peaking within 30 to 60 seconds of cold exposure, according to an article published in The British Medical Journal. Intense, stabbing pain in the forehead and temples. Pain that resolves within a few seconds to a few minutes after it begins. The pain of a cold-stimulus headache tends to come on fast. It occurs within seconds of cold temperatures striking nerves in the palate of the mouth and the back of the throat, Goldberg said. Cold exposure through the mouth or nose activates the trigeminal nerve system and relays this information to the entire head. That's why the pain is felt in the head and not in the mouth or nose, where the cold sensation originated, she said. Typically, the pain of brain freeze is most intense in the forehead and then may spread to the temples and the back of the head, Goldberg said. Some people may describe the discomfort as a stabbing or aching type of pain, while individuals who have migraines may perceive it as a throbbing or pulsating pain. Studies have shown that people who have migraines might be more prone to brain freeze. This is because the trigeminal nerve in those who have migraines is already sensitive and a cold stimulus can activate this nerve pathway even more, Goldberg said. How to prevent it The pain of brain freeze is so fleeting that there's no need to treat it, but it can be tricky to avoid, Goldberg said. Of course, people could forgo frozen treats and beverages altogether, but what fun is that? If you're prone to this harmless headache, the best way to prevent it is to slow down when consuming ice-cold foods and drinks and keep the cold substances away from your upper palate. Some people say that drinking warm water slowly once the pain begins may help short-circuit the symptoms of brain freeze. Others recommend curling the underside of the tongue against the roof of the mouth, which can bring warmth to this sensitive spot. Additional resources: The fall of the Roman Empire may have been a partial result of the decade of famine and plague that began in A.D. 536, the authors of a new study say. In A.D. 536, Europe had a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad year. It started when a mysterious fog swept over the continent, veiling the sun in a blue haze and casting Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia into darkness 24 hours a day, for 18 months. Falling temperatures ushered in the coldest decade of the past 2,000 years, crops failed from Ireland to China, and famine ran rampant. Those who endured the long, cold night faced even harsher times in the years to come; in A.D. 541, an outbreak of bubonic plague known as Justinian's Plague scythed through the Mediterranean, killing up to 100 million people. This series of events was, to put it in scientific terms, a total bummer. Michael McCormick, a medieval historian and archaeologist, recently told Science magazine that the year 536 was "the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year." But despite all that is known about the devastation that began then, scientists still aren't sure exactly what caused the mystery cloud of doom to descend over Europe in the first place. [End of the World? Top 10 Doomsday Threats] Now, McCormick and his colleagues from the U.S., the U.K. and Germany believe they've finally uncovered the answer. In a new study published this week (Nov. 14) in the journal Antiquity, the team analyzed an ancient ice core pulled from the Swiss Alps containing more than 2,000 years' worth of microscopic history lessons. Particles of dust, metal and airborne elements frozen at various levels of the 235-foot-long (72 meters) core hint at how the atmosphere over Europe changed throughout the past two millennia a Saharan dust storm here, a silver-mining boom there and, according to the new study, reveal that a massive volcanic eruption in Iceland directly preceded the beginning of Europe's darkest days. The new study picks up on previous research by several of the paper's co-authors, who in 2015 used a laser to cut ultra-thin slices of the Alpine ice core for chemical analysis. Using this method, the scientists took tens of thousands of core samples, each one representing just a few days or weeks of snowfall throughout history and analyzed the specific atmospheric elements that had been trapped there. When looking at samples dated to the spring of 536, the team found two microscopic shards of volcanic glass, which were later traced to volcanic rocks from Iceland. According to the researchers, these well-traveled shards are evidence of a massive volcanic eruption that spewed a monstrous plume of ash into the air over the Northern Hemisphere, riding the winds south to Europe and engulfing the sky for more than a year. While previous research has suggested that a volcanic eruption in what is now the Western United States may have been the cause of Europe's dark days, study co-author Christopher Loveluck, an archaeologist at the University of Nottingham in the U.K., said the Iceland hypothesis is more consistent with the devastation described in historical records. [10 Biggest Historical Mysteries That Will Probably Never Be Solved] "Iceland is a lot closer to Britain and Northwest Europe than California, which means that the impact of this eruption at the time on climate in these areas would have been much greater than previously thought," Loveluck said in a statement. "It would have made places very cold very quickly and would have been most felt in Britain and places in Northwestern Europe. The consequences for these areas would have been immediate, with an increased likelihood of famine and ill health due to poor crop yields." The team also found evidence of two subsequent eruption events in the years 540 and 547. According to the researchers, the combined pollution from this volcanic triple-whammy did more than just block the sun and cool Earth it may well have set Europe up for a period of death and decline that lasted 100 years. Luckily, Europe's string of terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad days eventually passed. By the year 640, samples from the Alpine ice core showed signs of a new kind of airborne pollution: lead, released into the sky during a silver-smelting boom. According to Loveluck, a renewed demand for silver represented an economy rebounding in the darkness of starving, disease-stricken Europe, and the emergence of a new merchant class ready to trade in precious metals. Originally published on Live Science. "Peas" and "Carrots," the National Thanksgiving Turkey and his alternate, meet members of the media during a news conference held by the National Turkey Federation on Nov. 19, 2018, at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. Today (Nov. 20), two tubby turkeys named Peas and Carrots appeared before the president of the United States. With their pink- and blue-skinned heads perched proudly over rotund, white-feathered bodies, the pair had traveled all the way from a farm in Huron, South Dakota, to receive a precious gift denied to most Thanksgiving birds a stay of execution. Peas and Carrots were selected from the so-called Presidential Flock of 50 turkey chicks that hatched on June 28, White House representatives said in a statement . Peas weighs 39 lbs. (18 kilograms) and stands 30 inches tall (76 centimeters), while his larger brother Carrots weighs 41 lbs. (19 kg) and is 32 inches tall (81 cm), according to the White House. Peas the official National Thanksgiving Turkey was presented on a table to President Donald Trump at the White House (Carrots, as the alternate bird, waited nearby). President Trump extended his arm over the waiting turkey, saying, "Peas, I hereby grant you a full pardon."[ 10 Terrific Turkey Facts ] Prior to the pardon, President Trump joked about the "fair and open election" that selected the two turkeys, and warned that that even though they were about to be pardoned, "House democrats are likely to issue them both subpoenas." Every year during Thanksgiving week, the sitting U.S. president comes face-to-beak with turkeys seeking a fate more hopeful than that of their fellow fowl . The birds typically receive a public presidential "pardon," and are granted a life of leisure 2018 marks the third year that the pardoned poultry will retire to Gobbler's Rest, a facility maintained by the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences at Virginia Tech (VT). "Virginia Tech has deep roots in the turkey industry," said Rami Dalloul, a professor of poultry immunology and health at VT.Dalloul's research group sequenced the turkey genome for the first time in 2010. Much of the work performed by his team focuses on the turkey transcriptome which genes are expressed under certain conditions. This helps scientists to better understand how turkeys respond to health challenges, Dalloul told Live Science. Once pardoned, Peas and Carrots will take up residence at Virginia Tech's "Gobbler's Rest." (Image credit: Virginia Tech) At their new home, the "celebrity birds" inhabit a pen in a large pavilion used for educational programs, Dalloul said. Peas and Carrots will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors Tater and Tot, pardoned by President Barack Obama in 2016; and Drumstick and Wishbone, pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2017 and live out the remainder of their natural lives at the university as poultry ambassadors, VT representatives said in a statement. "They're very social, very docile birds," Dalloul said. "They see people and they start showing off. They ruffle their feathers, they strut, they come up and they rub against people they're pretty funny." But how and why did this holiday tradition of pardoning turkeys begin? "Let's keep him going" The first president to grant clemency to an American turkey may have been Abraham Lincoln, according to the White House Historical Association (WHHA). According to a dispatch filed by White House reporter Noah Brooks in 1865, a live turkey intended for the Lincoln family's Christmas dinner was spared after Lincoln's son Tad "interceded in behalf of its life." Since the 1870s, individual poultry dealers and organizations such as the American Legion and the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. have presented presidents with gifts of live turkeys , the WHHA says. Sometimes these turkeys arrived "in elaborate crates and costumes," White House officials said in the statement. In 1947, Harry S. Truman became the first president to receive turkeys from the Poultry and Egg National Board and the National Turkey Federation, who offered the birds to promote the poultry industry . Though by all accounts it appears that those turkeys received no mercy from President Truman, and were likely eaten for Christmas dinner, the WHHA said. President Harry S. Truman receives a Thanksgiving turkey from members of the Poultry and Egg National Board and other representatives of the turkey industry, outside the White House on Nov. 16, 1949. (Image credit: Abbie Rowe, U.S. National Park Service) It wasn't until 1963 that President John F. Kennedy offered a glimmer of hope to a donated Thanksgiving bird , saying, "Let's keep him going," which The Washington Post reported using the words "reprieve" and "pardon," according to the WHHA. During the 1970s, two turkeys were shown mercy by a first lady and spared the knife; Patricia Nixon sent the White House's bird to a petting zoo in 1973, and Rosalynn Carter did the same in 1978. President Ronald Reagan formalized the practice of "retiring" donated Thanksgiving turkeys to a farm, in 1981. Officially pardoning the turkey became part of the tradition in 1989; as animal rights activists protested nearby, President George H.W. Bush told reporters that the "fine tom turkey" would not end up on anyone's table, according to the WHHA. "He's granted a presidential pardon as of right now," Bush said. Peas and Carrots, selected for their appearance and temperament, may have escaped the oven this year, but approximately 46 million of their less-lucky fellow turkeys will end up as Thanksgiving dinners across the country, according to the National Turkey Federation . Originally published on Live Science. PARADISE, Butte County A handful of residents returned to their homes in the burn zone Monday, among the first allowed back since the Camp Fire tore through town Nov. 8, some walking up to unscathed houses while friends and neighbors stood in disbelief in front of piles of ash and twisted metal. The area off Neal Road, which once had beautiful, sprawling views of the hills and the rest of Paradise, was reduced to blackened grass, dead trees and a few standing homes after the flames pushed through. Officials lifted the evacuation order Monday for the area at the edge of the burn zone, although much of Paradise and neighboring communities were still off limits. The search for human remains is ongoing in the area 79 have been found so far and six have been identified publicly, a challenging process that involves collecting DNA from relatives and crews continue to remove downed power lines and damaged trees. Bob Smalley returned to his business, Smalley General Contracting, on Monday and it was unscathed. Even a pile of wood in front of his building was untouched. We got really lucky, Smalley said. Few residences in the area survived, but there was a randomness about which ones it took and those it left unscathed. Most of Smalleys employees lost their homes, he said, so hes hoping to bring RVs onto the property to house them. Smalley also lost his home in nearby Magalia. Down the road, the Wiggins family returned to their 6-acre property on Goa Way Monday afternoon to find a pile of charred, unrecognizable debris. They stared at the rubble for over an hour, remembering all of the time and money they spent on the three-bedroom, two-bath home, which theyd finished painting a pale yellow this month. They had just rebuilt the house after losing its predecessor in a 2008 fire that also devastated the region. It was a very pretty home, very pretty with my plants, my back porch, the front porch, Catherine Wiggins said, her voice trailing off. But thats OK. Well have another pretty home. The mood was surprisingly light as Catherine, John and their 17-year-old son, Dominic, joked and teased each other in front of the remains of their house. They had been through this before, John said, and what else could they do? It was a lot of money and work, John said, laughing. That sucks. Higher up the hill toward the center of Paradise, the area was still closed to residents as search-and-recovery teams stepped up efforts to locate bodies in the rubble before a storm that was forecast to hit the region starting late Tuesday. While the wet weather will help douse the still-burning flames, it could make it harder to find additional remains in an ashy sludge. The impending rain also prompted the National Weather Service to issue flash flood watches late Monday for the Camp Fire zone and other recently burned areas in the state. More than 300 searchers were going house to house with cadaver dogs Monday throughout Paradise, including a group who picked through the rubble on Newland Road as the sun poked through charred trees. The neighborhood was gone, reduced to rubble. The searchers raked through debris as cadaver dogs sniffed for signs of human remains. Nearly 700 people were still considered missing Monday evening, although officials were whittling down the number as they checked back with family and friends to confirm whether those initially unaccounted for had been found. But local authorities expected the number of dead to continue to rise past the current total. Butte County officials have tentatively identified 64 of the victims, but because the bodies were burned so badly, they have launched an unprecedented effort to name the victims through their DNA. With victims burned beyond recognition, other means of identifying a body such as through fingerprints or dental records are not possible. Roman Digby knows his 78-year-old father died in his Paradise mobile home. Recovery teams found a body there, and his father lived alone. But without DNA, the coroner cant officially identify the body. At least knowing that he passed away is better than the uncertainty, Digby said of his father, John Digby. Ive never had to finalize someones affairs before, so Im starting to do that, but I cant move forward without a death certificate. Im just waiting for that. Digby, who lives in Owatonna, Minn., had to go to his local police department to submit his cheek-swabbed DNA through the mail. To help make a match, Butte County officials have enlisted the help of ANDE, one of the few companies in the country that can develop a DNA profile in less than two hours with a fully automated process and little expertise from the user. But collecting DNA from blood relatives of the victims is challenging, officials said. Paradise had a large number of seniors living alone or in retirement communities, with family members scattered around the country. Weve had a tremendous response getting DNA from the remains, and theyre in the database, said ANDE spokeswoman Annette Mattern. But we need blood relatives to contribute their DNA. Were working for a way to do that for people out of the area. Meanwhile, the search continued for victims among the 11,713 homes destroyed. Officials said its unclear whether Wednesdays rain will help or hinder the effort to find bodies. It depends on the intensity of the weather system that could either uncover bodies and bones or cover them up with an ashy sludge, said Lt. Paul Liskey, emergency manager for the Alameda County Sheriffs Office, who is aiding Butte Countys search-and-rescue efforts. We definitely want to do as much as we can before the rains come in, Liskey said. We cant stop the rains. Well have to adapt and overcome. Precipitation will undoubtedly help douse the fire, provide air quality relief and clear up the dust, but an outright downpour could also stall the recovery operation, Liskey said, although the rains may prove beneficial for the canine members of the search teams. For cadaver dogs, the scent is the scent, with or without rain, he said. It might even help them because it will spread the scent or maybe embed it into the soil. Even before the rain appeared on the horizon, the deadly and destructive path of the worst wildfire in California history had slowed considerably despite a red flag warning Sunday, which included 40 mph gusts and low humidity the kind of weather that generally fuels infernos. By Monday morning, the Camp Fire had burned just 1,000 additional acres to grow to 151,000 acres total, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Officials reported the blaze at 70 percent containment and 151,272 acres Monday night. The Camp Fire is now the fourth-deadliest natural disaster in Californias recorded history, behind the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, in which more 3,000 people died; a 1933 earthquake in Long Beach; and a 1938 flood in Los Angeles. San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Megan Cassidy and Ashley McBride contributed to this story. Trisha Thadani, Evan Sernoffsky and Jill Tucker are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com, esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com, jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @trishathadani @evansernoffsky @jilltucker A two-vehicle wreck brought southbound traffic on the Southwest Freeway to a halt Monday evening during the rush hour commute, police said. An 18-wheeler and pickup truck collided around 5:30 p.m. near Interstate 610, blocking all lanes of traffic for at least an hour, according to authorities. The male-chauvinist group Proud Boys have been described by federal authorities as an "extremist group with ties to white nationalism" - and have been the subject of warnings to local police agencies by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to a report issued by a Washington state sheriff's office. The report, from the office of Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins in southwestern Washington, was issued as the office analyzed the dismissal of a deputy who was fired after her affiliation with a female offshoot of the group, Proud Boys' Girls, came to light. "The FBI categorizes the Proud Boys as an extremist group with ties to White Nationalism," noted the report, which was acquired and published by Property of the People, a government-transparency-focused nonprofit. "The FBI has warned local law enforcement that the Proud Boys are actively recruiting in the Pacific Northwest and that some in the group have contributed to the escalation of violence at political rallies held on college campuses." The Proud Boys are one of many predominantly male, right-wing groups to come to the fore since Donald Trump's election as president. They describe themselves as a "Western chauvinist" fraternal group that believes in ending welfare, closing the borders and traditional gender roles. But critics point to other statements and behavior to argue these aims are a subterfuge for racist and hateful beliefs. "Their disavowals of bigotry are belied by their actions: rank-and-file Proud Boys and leaders regularly spout white nationalist memes and maintain affiliations with known extremists," the Southern Poverty Law Center, which considers the Proud Boys a hate group, wrote in a report. "They are known for anti-Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric." The group captured national media attention for its involvement in a fight that broke out on the streets of New York after it was invited to a Republican club in town. Police sought to charge nine people who were affiliated with the group after the incident. The Proud Boys, who did not respond to a request for comment sent to their New York chapter, have pushed back on assertions made by those like the Southern Poverty Law Center. Founder Gavin McInnes, who was also a co-founder of Vice, has argued that his ideology is not motivated by racism. "When pestered about their pedagoguery, the politically correct left insists they need to police our language because 'words are powerful' and 'words have meaning,' " he wrote in a 2011 essay. "It is not racist for white people to be unashamed of their race. Few people mind hearing 'Navajo Power,' but there's this implication that for whites to show any kind of pride means they want to extinguish other races. That's as absurd as saying a Dallas Cowboys fan wants all the other teams to die. To say black people are totally responsible for their lot in life now that it's 2011 is not racist." The FBI's field office in Seattle referred inquiries about its designation to its headquarters in Washington. In a statement distributed by spokeswoman Kelsey Pietranton, the FBI said that it did not regulate political ideology or any other rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. "Our focus is not on membership in particular groups but on individuals who commit violence and criminal activity that constitutes a federal crime or poses a threat to national security," the statement said. "When it comes to domestic terrorism, our investigations focus solely on criminal activity of individuals - regardless of group membership - which appears to be intended to intimidate or coerce the civilian population or influence the policy of the government by intimidation or coercion. The FBI does not and will not police ideology." As is its practice, the bureau declined to deny or confirm whether the group was the subject of an investigation. The author of the Clark County Sheriff's report, Commander Michael McCabe, told the Guardian, which first reported on the documents, that the FBI's classification was revealed in an FBI briefing in August. As the Guardian reported: McCabe's report found that Willey's participation with the Proud Boys and the Proud Boys Girls violated two of the office's policies, around off-duty conduct and nondiscrimination and harassment, as well as her oath of office. CHICAGO -- A man showed up to Mercy Hospital Monday afternoon and opened fire on a woman believed to be his former fiancee before turning the gun on others, killing four people, including a police officer and the gunman himself. Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez died in the line of duty, Anthony Guglielmi, chief communications officer for Chicago police, confirmed on Twitter. Chicago fire officials told ABC7 that two women were shot between 3 and 3:30 p.m. CT, and one of them - who was hit in the parking lot - was a doctor at Mercy. Her former fiance was the shooter, a source told ABC7. Both of the women were taken to other hospitals nearby. The identities of the shooter and the victims were not immediately available. A SWAT team responded to the 292-bed hospital near Interstate 55. Nearby buildings, including the National Teachers Academy, were locked during the attack. Mercy Hospital tweeted later that the incident was over and that all patients were safe. Lenice Donaldson, a pharmacy technician at Mercy, said she was in the back to get a drink and had just returned as she heard the gunshots. She and the other technicians locked themselves up until police got them out, she said. "It's just unbelievable. We came out with our hands up, and there was blood all over the floor in the lobby," Donaldson said. "It's a shame." Tracy Lyons, a cancer survivor, said she goes to Mercy for regular radiation treatments. She described listening to the gun battle between police and the shooter until a SWAT team freed her and some technicians from a lab. "It was just nothing but pow-pow-pow," she said. "We thought we would never get out of there." According to the Associated Press, James Gray told ABC7 that he saw multiple people shot: "It looked like he was turning and shooting people at random." In an interview with CBS Chicago, a witness who was in the hospital said she saw blood by an entrance. Another witness said he saw a gunman shoot someone multiple times in a parking lot. He added that officers responded quickly and exchanged gunfire with the shooter. Sen Dick Durbin, D-Ill., wrote in a Monday evening tweet that he was praying for the victims of the shooting and their families. Also on Monday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, police in suburban St. Louis were searching for a gunman who went into a religious supply store, sexually assaulted at least one woman and shot a woman in the head, leaving her in critical condition at a hospital. The shooting happened about 3:15 p.m. at a Catholic Supply store in western St. Louis County, near the town of Ballwin. Police were searching for the gunman and said he should be considered armed and dangerous. In Philadelphia, two men and two women were 'executed' in a home, according to ABC. And in Denver's Lower Downtown neighborhood, one person was killed, and at least three others were sent to a hospital after a shooting, according to the Denver Post. --- The Washington Post's Keith McMillan contributed to this report. YUBA CITY, Ca. -- The main exhibit hall at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds here has become the home of last resort for 68 people who fled the fires that swept through a broad swath of forest and hill towns nearby. And some days, an ambulance shows up. A team of paramedics, wearing protective masks and disposable yellow plastic aprons, wheeled a sick man out of the exhibit hall Monday on a stretcher, another victim of the bitter repercussions of mass displacement that the Camp Fire has created. The outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea has carried on for days. "On average, about one a day goes to the hospital," said Bob Christensen, 77, smoking a cigarette outside the exhibit hall and watching a cleanup crew with mops and buckets begin wiping down the metal door handles with a powerful chemical disinfectant. Ethia Carter, who arrived with the Red Cross from southern Florida, is on her second day running the facility after her predecessor got sick. "We have four in isolation," she said, indicating an infirmary set up behind blue curtains on one side of the yawning hall, stacked with bottles of fresh water and other supplies. The most devastating fire in California history began in the Sierra foothills in the morning hours of Nov. 8, prompting a hectic evacuation that has left at least 52,000 people in hotels, relatives' homes, parking lots and makeshift shelters such as this one in Yuba City. More than 10 days later, those temporary accommodations are being overwhelmed by overcrowding and disease. As heavy rain moves into the area for the first time since the fire began, those living in tents face the threat of flooding, too. More than 120 people have been taken to hospitals in recent days with stomach ailments that resemble the symptoms of the norovirus, a highly contagious infection. The symptoms include severe vomiting and diarrhea and, like many such infections, fall hardest on children. Casey Hatcher, a Butte County, California, spokeswoman, said state and local authorities are trying to respond to the scale of the displacement. "People keep using the word unprecedented, and I keep looking for a different word, but I can't find one because it works so well," Hatcher said. "We have an entire community that is displaced." Emergency officials say 77 people are confirmed dead, and just under 1,000 are listed as unaccounted for, though that list might include duplicate names and people who have since been found by relatives. Four of the six emergency evacuation shelters are full, as those who have been camping outside in subfreezing nights begin to look for indoor shelter with rain in the forecast. Church and superstore parking lots have become tent cities, with portable toilets, hand-washing stations and Salvation Army food trucks helping to sustain them. "Now, the goal is to get people off the streets and out of their cars while we identify where they are going to live," Hatcher said. The Walmart parking lot in Chico, California, where scores of families have been living in tents, has begun to clear out amid forecasts of rain and rumors that services the retailer has been providing to evacuees - including toilets and hand-washing stations - will be pulled soon. Walmart spokeswoman Tiffany Wilson said the company will continue to provide services but added, "We realize our parking lots are not viable alternatives to longer-term temporary housing." The lot is a flood zone, said store manager DeMarcus Montgomery, ensuring the neighboring field will turn into a swamp in coming days. Local resident Rain Scher is working with a group of volunteers to bring in pallets to elevate tents and cots in light of the coming rain. She said she believes the tent city is more sanitary than the shelters. "We intend to support the needs of the people," said Scher, who added that those in crisis should have "agency and self-determination." The centers and camps are used primarily by those without the resources - or home insurance plans - to cover extended hotel stays. But those accommodations would be hard to come by anyway with most hotels filled across a 175-mile span from Redding to Sacramento, California. "They were booked as soon as the fire broke out," said Carolyn Denero, executive director of Explore Butte County, which promotes tourism in the region. "We'll have properties where a room will suddenly come open for a night, but even those are taken right away. And this really extends at least until the end of November." The options are limited for those living in the makeshift shelters and will be for some time. No one has been allowed back into their devastated towns, so they have little sense of what awaits them there and how plausible returning and rebuilding really is. Nearly 12,000 homes have been destroyed. The result is that tens of thousands of Californians are facing months, if not longer, without permanent housing options in a region that borders some of the most expensive in the nation. Chris and Tanya Kennedy are on their second temporary home since the fire drove their family from their house in Paradise, California. They first fled with their 6- and 4-year-old children to a shelter in Oroville. But when the fire also threatened that facility, they moved to the fairgrounds, where they're now threatened by illness. "We are washing our hands and everything," Tanya Kennedy said. The buildings where Chris and Tanya worked - as a manger of a storage facility and as a housekeeper - burned down. But they want to remain close by. Their top priority, they say, is to provide some continuity for the children, and they are hoping their school will reopen a temporary campus in either Chico or Oroville. "It's just a lot of waiting," Tanya said. Martha Pichotta, 65, who has been in this shelter with her son and caregiver since the day of the fire, hoped to leave Monday for a motel in Quincey, a town northeast of here, that was arranged by FEMA. The cots have been small and cramped, especially for her son. She is hoping to get at least $6,000 for the trailer she owned in Paradise to supplement her $900 monthly income from social security. Her son, she says, will have to get a part-time job to make ends meet. "We've made so many friends here," Pichotta said. "We're all in it together." As of Sunday night, FEMA had determined that 1,315 families are eligible for some form of assistance. But David Passey, a FEMA spokesman, said the availability of hotel rooms will remain slim, even after firefighters leave the area. The fire is 60 percent contained. Passey said FEMA will be working with those who are underinsured or uninsured to find short-term and midterm housing options, including the possible use of hotels and motels. But within 50 miles of Paradise, there are just nine hotels that have registered to participate in FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, and as Passey noted, "participation does not equal availability." "One of the challenges we will have in northern California, and it was the same challenge we had in northwest Florida after Hurricane Michael, is the limited supply of rooms," Passey said. "We are eager for more to join, but that is really each hotel's choice." Nicole Wharton, 41, lived on the outskirts of Paradise, making the family's escape from their subsidized housing relatively easy, even with a gas tank on empty. Once safe, the single mother of four realized the family would have to split up. Nicole slept several nights in a car until she set up camp in a field by the Walmart in Chico. Jessica, 17, took 3-year-old Alexa to stay with her boyfriend's family. And Jacquelyn, Jessica's twin, went to stay with a half brother and then her high school English teacher. "I just want my family back together," Nicole said, blinking back tears. Now living in a tent, Nicole was trying to make a medical appointment for Jacquelyn, with the doctor's office in ashes. She is trying to locate Alexa's car seat. She is trying to figure out, above all else, where the family will be able to live together. "I'm looking for a house," she said. "I don't want to live in some crevice. The girls are grown women. They won't want that." She hopes her teenage daughters will go Thursday to an uncle's house for what she believes could be their great-grandmother's last Thanksgiving. But more immediately, she wants to shop for Alexa, still dressed in pajamas as she clutched her mother's hand during a visit before heading back with Jessica. "I want to buy her an outfit, walk in the store. . . . I don't know, perhaps go to the park," she said. "I'm her mother. Just being with her is what I want." --- Craig and Wilson reported from Washington, D.C. A man with a history of child sex crimes was recently bonded out of jail by his mother who had just won the $15.24 million Lotto Texas jackpot, according to the Dallas Morning News. The man, Jason Wayne Carlile, 47, previously has been convicted of exposing himself to a 2-year-old boy and accused of paying a woman $3,000 in exchange for her 15-year-old daughter, the Morning News reported. RELATED: Online child sex-crime investigation nets 60 arrests U.S. Marshals arrested him in December 2017 on a new charge of raping a child under 14 in 2006, the Morning News reported. His mother, Joann Ames, bailed him out days after winning the lotto jackpot on Oct. 31. During a recent hearing in Wichita County, Ames testified that she paid about $10,000 from her personal savings account to a local bondsman, according to the Wichita Falls Times Record News. She said she and her husband hadn't picked up the winnings, but she estimated that they would collect about $7 million in the last week of November, the Records News said. RELATED: Liberty firefighter arrested for alleged child sexual abuse Despite the expected winnings, a judge upheld Carlile's indigence, making him eligible for a public defender. The judge also urged the mother and stepfather to help him pay for a private attorney with their expected winnings, the Record News reported. Carlile was released on his $100,000 bond with modified bail conditions, which includes wearing a GPS monitor and living with his mother. He is scheduled for a trial on Dec. 10. Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message The Texas Legislative Conference has named retiring Rep. Lamar Smith its Texan of the Year, the organization announced Monday. Smith, a Republican congressman for three decades in Congressional District 21, will receive the award in a ceremony on March 22 at the New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center. A third fire station in Schertz will reduce response time by 50-560 percent to residents in the continually growing southern end of the city. City officials and invited dignitaries broke ground Thursday for that new facility on Lowe Seguin Road, across from the Crossvine subdivision. This is a very important moment for our department and our community. Weve all waited a long time for this day to come, said Kade Long, Schertz fire chief since August 2017. Its important to thank the citizens of our community for passing the bond that made this station possible. Schertz residents in 2015 approved $4 million in bonds to build a new permanent fire station in the citys fast-growing southern reaches. Property at Lower Seguin Road and Hollering Vine was purchased in December for the station, a 2-bay, 12,000-square-foot facility that will be home to the departments No. 3 engine, brush truck 3 and a reserve engine. Space for an ambulance and EMT has been built in as well. The station is expected to be completed by late summer 2019. Our firefighters live here for 24 hours at a time, so this is definitely a second home for them, Long said. The station will feature seven bedrooms and be home for the 12 firefighters, with four firefighters assigned every day while working 24-hour on, 48-hour off shifts. Long thanked former fire Chief David Covington, who retired in August 2017 after 10 years at the helm, for his commitment to get this project started and moving forward. Mayor Michael Carpenter spoke of the long-standing tradition of firefighting in Schertz. The tradition of the Schertz Fire Department is a long one. Its an amazing story of success in public safety, from a small group of volunteers early on, the mayor said. We still had a portion of the fire department that was volunteer in the 1990s. It did not go fully full-time, non-volunteer, until late in the 90s. So this is a long-standing tradition of taking care of all the residents of the city of Schertz. Carpenter related a story of how the Schertz Fire Department responded to a fire in the kitchen of his home. I didnt speed back from San Antonio, I didnt break any laws coming back, the mayor said. I had every confidence that, just a few minutes after my wife dialed 9-1-1, this team would be there. And sure enough, they were there. Long said the station was designed to give firefighters quick access to their equipment when called upon to respond to an emergency. The main thing is distance to the bays, thats a big thing thats calculated now, Long said. Between all portions of the station, we want it to be the shortest distance possible to get out to the engines, so all that is calculated and worked into the design of the building. Project architects for the station are Brown Reynolds Watford Architect Inc. The project contractor is Byrne Construction. It takes a very large team to pull off a project like a new fire station, and Im very proud of how this team has worked together and look forward to continuing the work as we move forward into the construction phase, Long added. jflinn@express-news.net The sixth Lockheed Martin-built Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) satellite launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on March 26. AEHF-6 successfully separated from its United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket approximately five hours and 45 minutes after launch and is now responding to commands from ground control. The first national security launch for the U.S. Space Force and the final satellite to build out the protected communications constellation is now connected. Now a critical element of U.S. national security, military satellite communications delivers vital connectivity to armed forces around the globe, making warfighters safer and more effective. The Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) system provides vastly improved global, survivable, protected communications capabilities for strategic command and tactical warfighters operating on ground, sea and air platforms. The jam-resistant system also serves international partners including Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. AEHF is a case study in cost-reduction. Through a continuing focus on affordability via fixed pricing, streamlined engineering teams, improved manufacturing and economies of scale, we lowered satellite cost by more than 35 percent in AEHFs most recent block buy. In 2014, the Department of Defense honored the U.S. Air Force AEHF Program with the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award for saving $1.6 billion from initial government estimates. A single AEHF satellite provides greater total capacity than the entire legacy five-satellite Milstar constellation. Individual user data rates will be increased five-fold, permitting transmission of tactical military communications, such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data. In addition to its tactical mission, AEHF assures the critical protected communications links for national leaders, such as the President and Joint Chiefs of Staff, in all levels of conflict. Lockheed Martin is currently under contract to deliver six AEHF satellites and the Mission Control Segment. The program has begun production of the fifth and sixth AEHF satellites, and initial operational capability of the system was July 28, 2015. The AEHF team includes the U.S. Air Force Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the AEHF prime contractor, space and ground segments provider as well as system integrator, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., as the payload provider. Cllr Joe Flaherty has met with representatives from the Brothers of Charity in Roscommon who are spearheading a regional campaign to encourage local authorities and business owners to support the Changing Places initiative. The group visited Longford over the weekend and briefed Cllr Flaherty on the national campaign. Backed by Inclusion Ireland the Changing Places initiative seeks to secure fully accessible toilet and changing facilities for people with disabilities and who may need extra support to use these facilities. At the moment there are only seven such facilities in Ireland with six in Dublin and one in Limerick, said Cllr Flaherty as he welcomed the news that Center Parcs will be only the second centre outside of Dublin to host one of the facilities. Changing Places facilities include additional equipment which offer extra support to people with a range of disabilities so that they can avail of changing facilities with great dignity and respect. Without Changing Places, people with disabilities have to be changed on cold, wet or dirty floors or they avoid going out altogether. The Longford councillor said he was delighted to meet the group and praised them for their enthusiasm. They now plan to meet representatives from Westmeath and Roscommon Co Councils. Obviously the group has links with St Christopher's here in Longford and I do believe that the local authority needs to take the lead on this and with plans for the new library building in Edgeworthstown evolving I will be proposing that this project includes a Changing Places facility, he continued, before pointing out that the group briefed him on the challenges that people with disabilities face in their day to day activities. They also explained to me that any plans for outings or events have to take account of access to changing rooms and accessible bathrooms. We need to be reducing any impediments for the disabled when it comes to participation and I will be encouraging any developers locally to consider incorporating a Changing Places facility from the outset as it will be much cheaper than retrofitting it at a later date. That is a very exciting project and it would be a huge plus if the developers were to consider a Changing Places facility. Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: November 20 2018 Robert Gardiner Foundation Awards Navy SEAL Museum $300k Grant. Suffolk County, NY - November 20, 2018 - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Legislator Bill Lindsay today announced a $300,000 grant from the Robert Gardiner Foundation as part of a groundbreaking ceremony for the LT. Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum and Sea Cadet Training Facility, the first U.S. Navy SEAL Museum in the Northeast. The ceremony featured a presentation by the Gardiner Foundation, who announced that the museum has been awarded a $300,000 grant and presented the museum trustees with a check. This funding comes on the heels of a Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) grant from Governor Cuomo originally secured by Senator Tom Croci for $400,000. Maureen Murphy, Gold Star mother of the Navy Seal Museums namesake Michael P. Murphy, boarded an excavator to dig the ceremonial first bucket of dirt for the foundation of the museum. LT Michael Murphy represents so much about who we are as a county, as a country, and who we aspire to be as a people, said County Executive Bellone. He symbolizes service, honor, and sacrifice. This museum will sit not only as a monument to LT Murphy, but act as a roadmap both of where the US Navy SEALs came from, but in the training facility for Sea Cadets, as a roadmap to lead the pathway for future Michael Murphys. Suffolk County Legislator William Lindsay III said, It has been amazing to see the progress and support for the construction of this historic museum, said Legislator William J. Lindsay III. The Murphy family along with the board members have worked tirelessly to bring this dream to reality. When this museum is complete, I believe it will serve as a proud reminder of the sacrifices LT Michael P. Murphy made, as well as so many other men and women that have served our Country. I look forward to watching the building rise, starting today. Dan Murphy, Gold Star parent of LT Michael P. Murphy, said, This museum is not only important to me. This has been a community effort and thats what touches my heart. The people who helped make this museum possible are the people who recognized Michaels service and sacrifice. Tom Ronayne, Director of Suffolk County Veterans Services, said, Our veterans serve as the backbone of Suffolk County. LT. Michael P. Murphy truly exemplifies the service and sacrifice that marks who they are. I couldnt be more proud that Suffolk County will be the home of the first US Navy SEAL museum in the Northeast. Vincent Calvosa, Director of Construction for the Michael P. Murphy US Navy SEAL Museum, said, Being involved in this has been the most honorable thing I could think of that could happen in a persons career. A Navy SEAL Museum being built right here in West Sayville, NY is amazing. Failure was not option. The proposed state-of-the-art facility will be constructed on the property of Charles P. Dominy Park in West Sayville . The museum will be built, and utilized in honor, and memory of LT Michael P. Murphy, a graduate of Patchogue Medford High School (Class of 94), and Pennsylvania State University (Class of 98). After completion of his college degree, he worked diligently to become a Navy SEAL; after years of hard work and dedication he was bestowed the honor of United States Navy SEAL Lieutenant. LT Murphy lost his life on June 28, 2005, while serving in Afghanistan. For his actions, bravery, and valor, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, as well as the Medal of Honor, which quite notably made him the first member of the Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War. The Museum is due to open November 2019. Local News, Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: November 20 2018 Luis Garcia of Commack, 36, was convicted by a jury of Burglary and Robbery, Sini says. DA Sini announced the sentencing of Luis Garcia of Commack, 36, in connection with an armed robbery. Riverhead, NY - November 20, 2018 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the sentencing of a fifth co-defendant in connection with the armed robbery of an occupied Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the sentencing of a fifth co-defendant in connection with the armed robbery of an occupied Farmingville home in 2016. Thanks to the hard work of ADAs Ferron Lien and Kimberly Shalvey, another dangerous individual has been taken off the streets of Suffolk County, DA Sini said. This alleged gang member is being held accountable for his role in a violent armed robbery that victimized an entire family. Today, justice has been served. Let this sentence serve as a message to other gang members: were coming for you. If you commit violent acts in our communities, you are going to prison for a very, very long time. Luis Garcia, 36, of Commack , was sentenced to 25 years in prison plus 5 years post-release supervision by Judge Timothy Mazzei for his role in an armed robbery in Farmingville in 2016. Garcia was convicted in September of Burglary in the First Degree, a B felony, and Robbery in the First Degree, a B felony. The defendants mistakenly targeted the residence believing it to be the home of a drug dealer. A woman who was present in the residence entered the kitchen after hearing a noise and was confronted by two of the defendants, who proceeded to drag her down the hallway of the home by her hair to the master bedroom. The defendants then demanded drugs and money from the victim and threatened to kill her family and their two dogs. The defendants stole a number of items from the home, including jewelry, purses and electronics. Garcia was located and arrested by the Suffolk County Police Department within an hour after the incident. Montello and Torres were convicted by a jury on November 17, 2017, of two counts of Burglary in the First Degree; three counts of Burglary in the Second Degree; two counts of Robbery in the First Degree; and two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree. Montello was sentenced on April 16, 2018, to 25 years to life in prison. Torres was sentenced on April 10, 2018, to 24 years to life in prison. Capuano pleaded guilty on July 14, 2017, to 35 criminal charges in connection with the Farmingville home invasion, a second unrelated home invasion, and an unrelated robbery. He was sentenced on January 24, 2018, to 14 years in prison. Pena pleaded guilty on May 8, 2018, to two counts of Burglary in the First Degree; three counts of Burglary in the Second Degree; two counts of Robbery in the First Degree; two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree; and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree. He will be sentenced at a later date. Post-midterm election, President Donald Trumps tenure seems rockier than ever. Consider: His much-criticized deployment of troops to handle the nonexistent border crisis proved to be as unnecessary and politically motivated as critics claimed. With the election behind him, Trump is now drawing down the troops. His relationship with the military hasnt been helped by his conduct in France, or his weird decision to pick a fight with a national hero retired Adm. William H. McRaven. His defense of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been roundly criticized, and will be challenged by a bipartisan coalition in Congress. His attack on the press was thwarted by CNN and other media companies; the White House retreated and reissued Jim Acostas permanent press pass. Ivanka Trump seems to have her own email scandal. The Washington Post reports: Ivanka Trump sent hundreds of emails last year to White House aides, Cabinet officials and her assistants using a personal account, many of them in violation of federal records rules, according to people familiar with a White House examination of her correspondence. . . .The discovery alarmed some advisers to President Trump, who feared that his daughters practices bore similarities to the personal email use of Hillary Clinton, an issue he made a focus of his 2016 campaign. Trumps appointment of acting attorney general Matthew G. Whitaker has drawn bipartisan criticism and a lawsuit. All this occurs before the Democrats take control of the House and before they can start issuing subpoenas or holding hearings. When that happens, things will get really dicey for Trump as his personal finances come under scrutiny. All of this should surprise no one. A president entirely unfit for his office (temperamentally, intellectually, and in every other imaginable way) who has cycled through advisers and banished independent voices gets worse with time. The facade of functionality at the White House started crumbling some time ago: Mistakes and bad hires (including his daughter and son-in-law) have caught up with him over time; the quality of each new addition to the administration is nearly certain to be worse than the person being replaced, while qualified and ethical public servants want no part of this train wreck. Moreover, weve yet to see the results of special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation, which very likely will lay out the elements of an obstruction of justice charge. James A. Baker, a former general counsel of the FBI, and Lawfare author Sarah Grant take us through the recently released Watergate roadmap, with obvious parallels to the current administration: As a result, the road maps references to President [Richard M.] Nixons interactions with [then assistant attorney general Henry E.] Petersen the person who was heading the investigation take on a different and more nefarious meaning. Those interactions must be understood within the larger context of the presidents knowledge of the facts regarding Watergate at the time that he was in contact with Petersen. In other words, when the president sought information from Petersen, provided his views to Petersen on the various matters that they discussed, and discussed Petersens future, he was not merely exercising his powers under Article II of the Constitution to supervise the executive branch and trying to get the facts necessary to do so; the president of the United States was also acting as a criminal co-conspirator trying to obstruct lawful investigative activities of the Justice Department. Nixon was forced to leave office to escape impeachment, and was later pardoned. But the episode now serves as a roadmap to legal and political disaster for Trump. In sum, Trumps presidency is in a downward spiral. He is likely to react more irrationally and unpredictably as the crises pile up. In other words, the first two years likely will be looked upon as the glory days of the Trump presidency. Earlier today it was reported that Tekashi 6ix9ine and his former manager has been taken into police custody after being arrested on racketeering charges. The arrests were the result of a combined investigation that involved the ATF, Homeland Security and the NYC Police Department. Several details surrounding the proposed charges have now been released and holy treway it doesn't look good for the 22 year old New York native. According to TMZ, the 17-page indictment details that the "Billy" rapper is facing up to six counts, the most serious being the discharging of a firearm while committing a crime. The punishment for that charge would have a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison, and could potentially carry a life sentence. He and his crew have also been accused of conspiring to commit crimes that include armed robbery, drug dealing, and shootings. 6ix9ine's ex-manager, Shottie, is in equally hot water as he also faces the same six counts as his former client. SPRINGFIELD -- Slime might be ooey, gooey fun, but that jar of the pre-made variety on a toy store shelf might have toxic levels of boron in the form of borax. And kids who ingest borax can end up with nausea or vomiting and can even experience long-term negative effects to their reproductive health, said Sarah Vonck, a campus organizer with MASSPIRG, a consumer advocacy and lobbying organization, at a press conference Tuesday at New Beginnings Early Education & Care Center on State Street. MASSPIRG added boron-laden slime this year to a list of hazards parents, grandparents and anyone else who buys toys needs to keep in mind. Other dangers include excessive noise, choking hazards and -- in a category added for the first time in 2017 -- internet-connected toys that can spy on kids' conversations and gather data they'll pass on to advertisers. For example, Vonck demonstrated the "Wonder Workshops -- Robots" toy. This cute little guy connects to phones, and thus to the wider internet. MASSPIRG posts its list on its website Trouble in Toyland, an updated version of which launched Tuesday at the beginning of the holiday shopping season. The report includes safety tips and lists of toys that have been recalled by manufacturers for safety violations but might still be found on store shelves. "Obviously, manufacturers are shifting responsibility for safety to parents and to reasonable adults," said state Rep. Jose Tosado, D-Springfield. "Get educated." Tosado, a grandfather, joined MASSPIRG at the press conference along with state Sen. James Welch, D-West Springfield. Tosado said everyone needs a reminder of what might be obvious: "How do kids explore the world? By putting things in their mouth, or, for some reason, in their ears," he said. Vonck said the United States places no limit on how much boron can be in children's toys. But the European Union, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan all do have limits. MASSPIRG is lobbying for limits here as well. Choking remains a major hazard, and Vonck warned of toys with small parts that can be lodged in a child's throat. Balloons are a common choking hazard, representing 40 percent of all toy-related choking deaths, according to the report. But Vonck claimed 87 percent of the balloons sold on Amazon lacked an online choking hazard warning for shoppers. Jazz vocalist Jane Monheit will perform at the Infinity Hall in Hartford on January 26 at 8 p.m. Monheit is touring in support of her most recent release "Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald" a tribuite to the jazz pioneer. Tickets for the show are available through the venue website at infinityhall.com. 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. Two people died and another person was injured after a night of violence in a Jamaica Plain apartment in Boston. Boston Police told reporters that one man was found dead with gunshot wounds in an apartment at 60 Bickford Street shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday. A woman was also shot in the apartment. She was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later succumbed to her injuries, according to WCVB. A second man was stabbed and sent to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The three were reportedly found inside the apartment building, and Boston Police believe the victims knew one another. The shootings and stabbing are under investigation by Boston Police. Prior to the violence in Jamaica Plain Monday afternoon, Boston Public Schools students held a "die-in" protest in which they laid down on the floor in front of Mayor Marty Walsh's office to spotlight the rising number of gun deaths on city streets. Boston Police shared statistics Monday which showed there are five more fatal shooting victims in the city -- a total of 42 -- compared to the same time last year. This is part of an ongoing series from the MassLive Unsolved Case Files, a look at families of victims and the investigators who continue to dig for answers. _________________ The Middlesex District Attorney used genealogy websites, including Ancestry.com, to track down the brother of the man who killed 23-year-old Jane Britton, closing a nearly 50-year-old case. Britton, who was described as a smart and funny Harvard graduate student, was found murdered in her bed in her Cambridge apartment in January 1969. Though the public clamored for answers following her death - which became a national news story - police never identified a suspect or made an arrest. At a press conference Tuesday that changed. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan for the first time identified Michael Sumpter, a serial rapist who died of cancer in 2001 as the killer. The mystery is over, Ryan declared. In 2017 Ryan's office received several requests for Britton's file to be made public. "Although prosecutors continued to hold out hope that there might be a DNA match to the partial profile taken from the scene that might identify the person who had killed Jane Britton, the case seemed to have hit a dead end," Ryan's office wrote in a news release. A team of "experienced investigators" began to review the file and tried to find any additional leads that could be followed, particularly with advances in forensic DNA technology, Ryan's office said. Investigators decided to perform additional DNA tests on the remaining evidence samples. In October 2017 the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab found a male profile that matched the DNA samples on file. In July 2018, the State Police told investigators there was a match between the evidence sample and Michael Sumpter's file. Sumpter, who is dead, has been tied to five sexual assaults, including three that ended in murder. He had been convicted of raping a woman in her Boston apartment in 1975. In 2010, his DNA matched samples connected to the 1972 murder and rape of 23-year-old Ellen Rutchick in her Beacon Street apartment in Boston. In 2012, he was tied to the 1973 rape and murder of Mary Lee McClain in her Mount Vernon Street apartment, also in Boston. Ryan said Sumpter did not know his victims, including Britton. Using genealogy websites, including Ancestry.com, Massachusetts Police Sgt. Peter Sennott found Sumpter's brother. He went to his home and collected a fresh DNA sample. "Testing on this sample excluded 99.92% of the male population as a contributor of the DNA and confirmed that Michael Sumpter's profile matched both the original soft hit and the Y-STR profile," Ryan's office said. The use of genealogy sites in police work became mainstream in April when investigators in California arrested the so-called Golden State Killer. Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested and accused of committing more than 50 rapes and 12 murders over decades, according to report from the New York Times. The emergence of DNA testing websites - like 23andMe and others - that gather genetic profiles from saliva sent to the company by customers through the mail have expanded the available genetic data for police. One service, GEDmatch, said in a statement in April that law enforcement used its database to find DeAngelo. Officers found distant relatives of his, and traced their DNA to his front door, according to the Times. GEDmatch said in the statement that it warned users their genetic information could be used for other purposes. "If you are concerned about non-geneatological uses of your DNA, you should not upload your DNA to the database and/or you should remove DNA that has already been uploaded," the statement said, according to the Times. This is part of an ongoing series from the MassLive Unsolved Case Files, a look at families of victims and the investigators who continue to dig for answers. _________________ After nearly 50 years, a suspect has been named in the violent death of Jane Britton. The Middlesex County District Attorney's office held a press conference Tuesday identifying a man accused of killing the young college student who was bludgeoned to death in her fourth-floor apartment in 1969. "I am today confident that we are able to say that the mystery of who killed Jane Britton has finally been solved," Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan told reporters gathered Tuesday. Michael Sumpter, a serial rapist who lived and attended school in the Cambridge area, was linked to the case by DNA evidence. Ryan said Sumpter entered Britton's Cambridge home through a window and attacked her. The case is one of five sexual assaults he was connected to through DNA evidence, three of which ended with the victim dead. Sumpter died of cancer in 2001 while serving time for the rape of a 21-year-old woman several years after Britton's death. The announcement also cleared several suspects who have been living "under a cloud of suspicion" since Britton was murdered, Ryan said. Jane Britton, of Needham, was found dead in her apartment at 6 University Road in Cambridge on January 7, 1969. She was 23 and a graduate student at Harvard studying anthropology. Her father was an administrator at Radcliffe College, according to news reports at the time. On the night she died, Britton went to dinner at the Acropolis Restaurant in Cambridge with friends and then stopped home to change before going ice skating on the Cambridge Common with her boyfriend. She visited neighbors who were watching her cat and enjoyed a glass of sherry before walking back to her apartment at about 12:30 a.m. Investigators found that while her blood alcohol level was negative, she had .08 percent alcohol in her stomach, which meant she was killed shortly after she arrived home. Neighbors told police they heard someone on the fire escape that connected to Britton's apartment earlier on the night of the murder. Ryan said her office believes Sumpter entered Britton's apartment through a window. "He assaulted her, and murdered her in her bed and then fled her apartment," Ryan said. Authorities believe Sumpter and Britton did not know each other. Britton lived alone and her body was discovered by her boyfriend James Humphries, who stopped by to check on her after she missed an exam. He and neighbors entered the apartment and found Britton in bed naked from the waist down. Humphries thought that she was sick, but when he moved her nightgown saw she was covered in blood. Cambridge Police Detective Lt. Leo Davenport told reporters at the time that he thought someone had taken a "hatchet or a cleaver" to Britton's head. "Described by friends as 'attractive and extremely talented,' Miss Britton was studying Near Eastern archaeology and had done fieldwork in France and Iran," the Harvard Crimson reported. "Her generals would have been her last exams before she would write a doctoral thesis. She planned to leave her apartment in a few months." Britton's mysterious death drew national attention with reporters swarming the college city of Cambridge. Police devoted time and resources to trying to find the killer, according to Ryan's office. Detectives searched through her phone book and diary for names of people to interview and asked her boyfriend and neighbors to take a lie detector test, according to the Boston Globe. Police never identified a suspect. In 2017, the case resurfaced as part of a public records battle. Ryan's office rejected at least five records requests for the case records sent by researchers and the Globe, the newspaper reports. Ryan's office said the case is still active and releasing the files could jeopardize any potential prosecution, according to the Globe. Becky Cooper, a former New Yorker staffer, has been working on a book about the case, scheduled to be published by Grand Central Publishing in late 2019 or early 2020, according to the Boston Globe. Makers of the shows "Yukon Men" and "Kindred Spirits" are also working on a documentary series about the case, according to the Globe's reporting. One of the people interested in the case was Former United Press International reporter Michael Widmer, who covered Britton's murder as one of his first assignments. At the press conference Tuesday, Widmer thanked Ryan's office but seemed genuinely confused by the connection to Sumpter. He's thought about and researched the case for nearly 50 years, but the name never came up, he said. "It's been weighing on me for five decades," he told reporters. Most of Britton's family is dead, but her brother Boyd Britton lives in California. He thanked friends and journalists for keeping the case alive in an email message to the Boston Globe. "A half-century of mystery and speculation has clouded the brutal crime that shattered Jane's promising young life and our family. The DNA evidence 'match' may be all we ever have as a conclusion," The Rev. Boyd R. Britton wrote in a message to the Globe. "Learning to understand and forgive remains a challenge." Monica Cannon-Grant, a community organizer, paused during a protest Monday and asked a question: "How many of you guys have lost somebody to violence on city of Boston streets?" Nearly every child sitting outside Mayor Marty Walsh's office as part of a "die-in" raised a hand. About 50 Boston Public Schools students walked out of class on Monday to protest gun violence and proposed school closures. They held signs reading "Am I next?" and huddled on the ground outside Walsh's office. Cannon-Grant read the names of 43 men and women who have been shot and killed in Boston this year off a list she wrote by hand. "I'm sorry," she said, choking up as someone passed her a box of tissues. "There's just a lot of names. A lot of people we lost." The children repeated the names back to her and consoled one another. Some burst into tears, shaking at the mention of a relative or friend's name. "I'm tired of hearings. I get up there and talk and nothing happens," Cannon-Grant, who founded Violence in Boston, told City Hall staff ahead of the protest. "I want solutions." Specifically, Cannon-Grant and the students are calling for a meeting with Walsh to discuss a violence prevention plan that is community inclusive and youth-led, adding funding to the budget so students can find employment year round, and improving trauma services for "young people as well as communities of color who are forced to witness shootings on their way to get their education." They also want to block the proposed closings of West Roxbury Academy and Urban Science Academy and John W. McCormack Middle School in Dorchester. Cannon-Grant submitted these requests to Walsh's office and said she awaits a response by Monday, Nov. 26. Walsh issued a statement Monday night. "To the students who expressed their concerns today, I value your advocacy on behalf of our community, and I want to make clear there is nothing more important to me than making sure our residents are safe, and our students receive a high-quality education that will open doors of opportunity for their future. Together with our community partners, we're working tirelessly every day to make Boston a better place for all," he wrote. Ebony Smith, 16, and her sister Essence Smith, 17, both walked out of the Excel Academy Charter High School Monday afternoon. They felt personally tied to the cause because they lost a cousin and their sister's boyfriend to gun violence. "We thought it was really important that we spoke up because we have a really privileged education coming from Excel and we never want to take that for granted," Ebony Smith, a junior said. Essence Smith, a senior, added: "We represent the 43 homicide victims who couldn't be here to represent themselves." Students signed a pair of sneakers and left them at the front desk outside Walsh's office. This was so Walsh can "walk in our shoes," Cannon-Grant said. The group left the office after about 40 minutes chanting "this is not normal," the words echoing through City Hall. A 28-year-old Weymouth woman has been arrested on a murder charge in connection with the death of her 11-month-old niece Tuesday morning. Shu Hsu, who was arrested by detectives from the Quincy Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and Norfolk District Attorney's office with a murder warrant Tuesday, was already facing assault charges related to the February death of her niece Chloe Chen. New information from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's office shared with law enforcement Monday "relative to injuries to Chloe Chen," led to Hsu's Tuesday arrest, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey. Prosecutors say Hsu called 911 at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 15, and reported her 11-month-old niece had gone limp. Chloe suffered multiple seizures as an ambulance rushed to Boston Medical Center, according to the Patriot Ledger. Chloe died on Feb. 17, 2018. Hsu lived at the home at 34 Sewall St. in Quincy with the child, the child's parents, and other family members, prosecutors said. Hsu was arrested in March and charged with assault and battery on a child causing serious bodily injury. At her March 22 arraignment, she was held on $200,000 bail. Hsu is expected to be arraigned on the new murder charge Tuesday. A judge in Nevada has temporarily blocked the planned release of a Massachusetts Gaming Commission report about allegations of sexual misconduct against former casino mogul Steve Wynn, a court official said Monday. Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez told attorneys she will hear arguments about whether the report contains confidential information and documents that Wynn attorneys say are protected by attorney-client privilege, court clerk Dan Kutinac said. Attorneys for Wynn, the gambling commission and its investigator, Karen Wells, did not immediately respond to messages. A hearing date has yet to be scheduled. Wynn sued Nov. 7 in Nevada state court to block the planned release next month of the gambling commission report about whether he engaged in sexual misconduct with female employees while he headed Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts. His lawyers argue that materials provided to Wells represent a "grave breach" of Wynn's privacy rights. His civil lawsuit alleges breach of contract and violation of fiduciary duty among several other claims. It seeks a permanent ban on the release of the report. Wynn resigned as chief executive and chairman in February, weeks after sexual misconduct claims were made against him. He denies the allegations. Gambling regulators in Massachusetts began their probe to determine whether his company is suitable to hold a gambling license for a $2 billion casino and hotel due to open near Boston next year. Wynn's name has been removed from the project. It is now called Encore Boston Harbor. Attorneys for the commonwealth and the commission argue that a Nevada judge lacks jurisdiction to decide if regulators in Massachusetts are properly exercising oversight. Protracted legal arguments, they said in a court filing last Friday, "will almost certainly result in a delay in opening the gaming establishment, in turn delaying 4,500 full-time job opportunities, and depriving (Massachusetts) of millions of dollars in tax revenue every month." A new business model by ride-hailing company Uber means quicker pick-up times for passengers in wheelchairs around Boston and five other U.S. cities. Uber's Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi announced on Tuesday that customers in the Greater Boston area can now access wheelchair-accessible vehicles through Uber with an average pick-up wait time of 15 minutes or less. The announcement comes months after Uber partnered with MV Transportation, a Texas-based company and one of the largest privately-owned passenger transportation firms in the country. The partnership gave Uber access to MV's fleets of drivers and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Uber has historically relied on its driver workforce to supply their own cars, which have meant there are few cars that can accommodate wheelchairs. "There simply aren't enough people who personally own WAVs who also choose to drive with Uber," Khosrowshahi said in a statement. He added that in many cities, paratransit options require booking far in advance and long wait-times as passengers are picked up and dropped off in various locations. Uber hopes to change that model by allowing wheelchair-users to get around as quickly as all passengers. The company says it is investing millions in these services because accessible transportation is a priority. "We'll likely invest tens of millions of dollars into this partnership in the first year," said Uber spokeswoman Alix Anfang. The faster ride-share service is still offered through the paratransit program between Uber and MBTA's The Ride service, which allows disabled passengers with "Ride" IDs to access uberPOOL trips for $1 or uberX trips for $2 while the MBTA subsidizes up to $40 of each fare. For those who do not use "The Ride," the cost to book a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is comparable to a regular uberX ride. The improved service by Uber is available in Greater Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago and Toronto. The company hopes to implement improved wheelchair access in San Francisco and Los Angeles this year. The eight cities combined make up for half of all Uber trips in North America, according to Khosrowshahi. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists for parents "14 Disease You Almost Forgot About (Thanks to Vaccines)," but a real-time scenario this week may be a better reminder or introduction. Three dozen chickenpox cases have been diagnosed at a private school in North Carolina where religious exemptions from mandated vaccinations are said to be high. The CDC has long reiterated the country's vaccines are the safest in world and the best prevention against diseases that once killed millions, but an anti-science skepticism rooted in a long-debunk association with autism continues to motivate some parents not to have their children vaccinated. Massachusetts law requires children be immunized in accordance with current Department of Public Health recommended schedules against vaccine preventable diseases. These means students in kindergarten through 12th grade are required to be immunized with diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTaP/Tdap), polio, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), hepatitis B and varicella vaccines. Children who are not immunized in Massachusetts may be admitted to school on the basis of either a medical or religious exemption and religious exemptions in a state where philosophical or personal exemptions are not allowed have been on the increase in recent years. How a school district enforces excluding students not vaccinated is up to each district in Massachusetts. The importance of herd immunity - rates of vaccination between 90 to 95 percent - is highlighted by the recent reported 36 cases of chickenpox at North Carolina's Asheville Waldorf School where many families of the nursery-school to sixth-grade students are said to claim religious exemptions from school immunization requirements. Individuals infected with such a preventable disease as chickenpox not only infect others not vaccinated but put at risk individuals who may not be able to be vaccinated because of a compromised immune system that makes them especially vulnerable to any disease in the first place. While Massachusetts has a 1.3 percent average exemption rate for vaccines, one of the lowest in the country, the percentage rates of students with one or more exemptions are uneven across the state. Medical exemptions come from a student's doctor and document a contraindication to getting immunized. Religious exemptions come from the parent/guardian and state in writing that a vaccine conflicts with his/her sincerely held religious belief. Children not immunized may be excluded from school during outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases. Franklin County continues to have the highest percentage of medical and religious exemptions of kindergarten students with a medical or religious exemption to one or more vaccines at 5.3 percent, according to state data for 2017. Hampshire County is second at 3.7 percent, Cape Cod's Barnstable County, second at 3.1 percent and Berkshire County, third at 3.0 percent. The remaining counties in the state are under 2 percent, including Hampden County at 1.8 percent and Worcester County, at 1.2 percent, with Boston and Suffolk County, 0.3 percent. Franklin County also has the highest percentage at 3.2 percent of kindergarten students in 2017 with an exemption and no documented vaccines on file. The state average for the rate of kindergarten students with an exemption and no vaccines is 0.6 percent. According to the state, students who are "completely unimmunized pose a greater risk to the community as they are unprotected from multiple infectious diseases." Berkshire County has the highest rate of kindergarten students - some 5.3 percent - who began the 2017 school year not meeting school requirements, something that can change as, for example, homeless children not vaccinated are allowed in school where officials are mandated to help them get up-to-date on immunizations. Franklin County was second for the rate of kindergarten students beginning the 2017 school year not meeting vaccination requirements at 4.9 percent, followed by Hampden County at 4.3 percent. The state average for kindergartens entering school without meeting school vaccination requirements in 2017 was 4.1 percent. According to the Massachusetts Childcare/Preschool Immunization Survey Results for the 2016-2017 school year, two of the schools with the highest percentages for vaccine exemptions were in Western Massachusetts counties. These were the Hartsbrook School, a Waldorf school in the Hampshire County town of Hadley, with a 34 percent exemption rate and Sanderson Academy, a public school, in the Franklin County town of Ashfield with a 22 percent exemption rate. There have been three recent measles cases in the commonwealth. Two in the Lowell area of Middlesex County and one in the Boston area. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there has been a total of 15 outbreaks - defined as 3 or more linked cases - of measles so far in the country in 2018. It says the outbreaks in countries to which Americans often travel - a number of European countries have had an increase in measles cases related to a drop in immunization rates - can directly contribute to an increase in measles cases in the U.S. and has warned travelers to be up-to-date on their vaccinations. All 50 states have legislation requiring specified vaccines for students and all school immunization laws grant exemptions to children for medical reasons. Forty-seven states permit vaccine exemptions on religious grounds, and 18 states allow exemptions on personal or philosophical grounds. The two-dose varicella vaccine for chickenpox is made from a live but weakened virus and has helped eliminate the disease, which can be deadly, in the U.S. during the last 20 years. North Carolina itself has a high rate of vaccination for the second dose of the vaccine. Prior to the development of vaccines, the CDC notes: As Easthampton prepares for the influx of legal, adult-use cannabis, one city councilor is proposing rules to discourage public consumption. At Monday night's City Council meeting, at-large councilor Owen Zaret introduced a local bylaw that would fine a person $100 for smoking, "combusting," or openly displaying or using cannabis in public, and impose fines up to $300 for imbibing near a school or daycare center. The matter was promptly referred to the ordinance subcommittee for further discussion. After the meeting, Zaret said he supports the cannabis industry, and is happy with the city's adult-use cannabis zoning bylaw, but wants to make sure that people don't smoke marijuana in places where youth and children congregate. "Our argument always has been that the presence of these businesses themselves do no harm -- but the exposure to someone using the products can be harmful to children," Zaret said. "And so what can we do as legislators to prevent that? We can make rules around it." The city's adult-use cannabis zoning ordinance, adopted in March after seven months of public debate, prohibits new establishments within 350 feet of an existing elementary, middle, or high school, but does not create a buffer zone around daycare centers for children. Zaret said he is fine with that, and does not believe that the mere presence of a cannabis establishment near a daycare center presents a problem. "I don't believe that the presence of a retail or a cultivation facility will increase the exposure to youth," Zaret said. "But, but people using around youth creates exposure." Zaret introduced his proposal days after Karen Pilgrim, owner of All About Children on Industrial Drive, spoke to The Republican about her unease with a proposal by the Herbology Group to open a cultivation and retail shop at the former Cook Builders Supply on Rt. 10. The daycare center and the cannabis center would abut each other. Pilgrim was highly critical of the city's cannabis zoning ordinance, but admitted that she did not participate in any of the well-attended public hearings on the matter. She said that public officials had recently told her the Herbology Group proposal could not be stopped. She added that she had not been satisfied after speaking with Zaret and Mayor Nicole LaChapelle. Zaret on Monday emphasized that the City Council has no power to block the Herbology Group project. The project is compliant with local zoning, which allows adult-use cannabis establishments in the Highway Business zone. The Herbology Group will need a special permit from the Planning Board. The City Council has no jurisdiction over that process. Even if the city's zoning rules were suddenly changed to require a 350-foot buffer zone around daycare centers, it wouldn't affect the Herbology Group proposal, Zaret noted. "There's nothing the City Council can do to stop it," he said. "They submitted their application under the current zoning, and you can't retroactively change that." Zaret said that he had spoken at length with Pilgrim about her concerns. Zaret's legislation would also change alcohol "open container" fines and rules to be in line with the proposed fines and rules for public cannabis consumption. He said he consulted with Police Chief Robert Alberti and Sergeant Dennis Scribner in crafting his proposed legislation. "It is my intent to address the very real concerns around public consumption of cannabis within our city, as it not only creates a nuisance, but unreasonably exposes everyone in our city to cannabis products against their will," Zaret wrote in his Nov. 15 letter to the City Council. Easthampton has welcomed the cannabis industry, while capping the total number of retailers at six. INSA, an up-and-running medical marijuana facility at 122 Pleasant St., in August gained its special permit for adult-use retail sales from the Planning Board, and is waiting for final state approval. The Herbology Group at 195 Northampton Rd. is part of a second wave of cannabis applicants in the city, including Holistic Industries at 155 Northampton Rd.; The Verb is Herb at 74 Cottage Street; and Green Life Medical Marijuana Cultivation and Dispensary at 19 Wmelco Way. The discussion comes on the eve of adult use cannabis sales in Massachusetts. At NETA in Northampton, Mayor David Narkewicz, an Air Force veteran, has said he will be the first in line when the recreational side of the co-located venue opens its doors at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Easthampton Cannabis Open Container Proposal by Mary Serreze on Scribd EASTHAMPTON -- The average single-family tax bill in the city will increase 3.6 percent in 2019, from $3,830 to $3,968, according to new figures from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. However, the city's tax rate will go down, from $16 to $15.46 per thousand dollars of assessed value, according to numbers calculated by Easthampton Assessor Lori Stewart and certified by the DOR. In a press release last week, the office of Mayor Nicole LaChapelle touted the lower rate, while mentioning that "the average taxpayer will pay an additional $139 in property taxes for FY2019." The higher taxes stem in part from higher assessed values citywide. The average single family home is now valued at $256,678, as opposed to $239,362 for 2018, according to the DOR. That's a jump of 7.2 percent. Under state law, a municipality's total tax levy may grow only 2.5 percent per year, exclusive of new growth, and excluding any voter-approved override or debt exclusion. Easthampton's tax levy will grow from $23,868,643 to $24,744,516 in fiscal 2019 -- a jump of $875,873, or nearly 3.7 percent. Without new growth, the tax increase would be limited to $596,716. The 2019 levy includes debt service on the $39 million Easthampton High School, which is due to be paid off in 2032. It does not yet include debt service on the yet-to-be-built $109 million elementary and middle school approved by voters in May. The average residential tax bill in Easthampton continues to rise, even though the tax rate will be slightly lower in fiscal 2019 than fiscal 2018. The city's hot real estate market continues, and the new assessor's figures mirror that trend. Last year, the average sale price of a single-family home in Easthampton rose by $14,500 -- $268,450 to $272,500 -- a bump of 5.6 percent, according to Trulia.com. On the city side, for the first time in history, Easthampton's total assessment for single family homes exceeded $1 billion, the DOR data shows. Assessed values are tied, via a formula, to prior-year sales data as recorded in the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, said Stewart. The city visits properties on a nine-year cycle to see if there have been any modifications, such as a new detached garage, that would affect the assessment. Commercial and industrial property taxation will also rise in Easthampton this year, but the proportion of taxes paid by commercial and industrial property owners will stay about the same, at just under 13 percent. Easthampton maintains a single tax rate pertaining to all classes of property. When LaChapelle prepared her fiscal 2019 municipal budget, she estimated $24,487,095 in property tax revenues. Non-tax revenues were slated at nearly $17 million for a $41.5 million operating budget. Easthampton in fiscal 2019 saw a 1.4 percent drop in total state aid, LaChapelle conveyed in her budget message. "Undoubtedly, this budget year was challenging for my administration," the mayor wrote. When it comes to property taxes, Easthampton is still relatively affordable compared to other Massachusetts communities. The city in 2018 ranked 256th of the state's 351 municipalities in that metric, according to the state data. Those looking for a deeper dive into municipal property tax trends, including those in Easthampton, will find a trove of public data within the Massachusetts Department of Revenues's Municipal Databank. De Beers, the leading rough diamond producer this week reiterated that synthetic diamonds are not a threat to natural diamonds, despite fears they may affect the formers sales in future. The diamond group itself has already launched the man-made diamonds. Nonetheless, the De Beers top executive, Bruce Cleaver has been quick to point out that, lab diamonds can never replace natural diamonds in the sense that, customers treat manufactured diamonds as fashion items as opposed to natural diamonds which last forever. Theyre not to celebrate lifes greatest moments, but theyre for fun and fashion, said Cleaver after the company announced they will enter the manufactured diamonds sector in May. According to available data, global synthetic diamond market was valued at USD 16.83 billion in 2016 and is expected to reach USD 23.8 billion by 2021, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.14 percent during the forecast period, 2016-2021. The De Beers CEO said to understand why they consider themselves natural diamonds business, one has to look at the investment they have made in the two diamonds business (natural and man-made). De Beers will spend just over P90 million in the next four years to sustain the synthetic diamonds business. The amount is just a small fraction of what the part-owners of Debswana will continue to spend on mining natural diamonds. We will always be a natural diamonds business. This explains why we spend between $10 and $11 billion on our core business (diamond mining), he said on Tuesday during the annual De Beers Diamond Conference in Gaborone. De Beers, together with its Debswana partner, Botswana Government is currently expanding Jwaneng and Orapa mines under Cut 9 and Cut 3 projects respectively. The above projects, which are yet to kick off, are expected to extend the lifespans of the two mines beyond 2030. SPRINGFIELD - A Georgia man is facing federal fraud charges after he reportedly falsified employment documents,his work history, and references in order to be hired as a cardiac surgical technologist at Baystate Medical Center. Fabrizio I. Pluchino, 55, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested Monday after a federal grand jury indicted him on single counts of using a false social security number and wire fraud. He was arraigned on the charges Monday in U.S. District Court in Springfield. He denied each charge. According to the indictment that was unsealed Monday, Pluchino between 1988 and 2000 false obtained three Social Security numbers, and between 2000 and 2018, he used them on a variety of documents. The indictment charges that in November 2013 while applying for work at Baystate, he used one of the fraudulent numbers on two official documents: the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-9, and the Department of Treasury Form W-4. He also provided the hospital with two false references, as well as a resume that falsely represented his work history. The wire fraud charge apparently has to do with Pluchino transmitting at least one false reference to the hospital via email. Pluchino would be hired by Baystate and would work there for an unknown period of time, during which he was paid a total of $190,000. A surgical technologist is responsible for preparing an operating room and then assisting the surgeon during a procedure. Baystate spokesman Keith O'Connor said Monday that he could not speak about when Pluchino was hired or his work history. He said he could confirm that Pluchino is no longer employed at Baystate. If convicted of using a false Social Security number, he could be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison. Conviction of wire fraud could result in a sentence of up to 20 years. NORTHAMPTON -- Northampton Mayor David J. Narkewicz handed over $24 this morning and made history. By buying a candy bar he plans not to even eat. Arrangements made Narkewicz the first one to buy marijuana for recreational use on the East Coast at New England Treatment Access (NETA) at 118 Conz St. The mayor paid $20 plus $4 in tax for a 50 mg D-Line candy bar made of dark Belgian chocolate infused with marijuana "It's just a historic moment for the commonwealth and for the city. I'm glad to be a part of it," Narkewicz said. He plans to preserve the rectangular-shaped candy bar with the Frank Lloyd Wright-like label design in his office, he said. Surrounded by high-fiving and selfie-taking NETA staffers, and as media members snapped photos and recorded video, Narkewicz made the buy after NETA spokesman Peter Brown shouted a "10, 9, 8, 7 ..." countdown. The place erupted in whoops and hollers. Meanwhile, a line of hundreds of people shuffled along for hours waiting to enter NETA and buy pot legally. The first guy in line, Daquaan Hamilton, said he got there to wait at 12:30 a.m. The line snaked outside in the rainy snow down the side of NETA to Pleasant Street looped back onto Conz Street and stretched down Wright Avenue. Narkewicz walked into NETA at 7:27 a.m. Brown made sure the first purchase didn't take place until the clock had ticked to the legal opening mark of 8 a.m. "I kind of felt bad walking past that line," Narkewicz said. By 8 a.m., marijuana -- the oldest recorded use dates back to 2727 B.C. China -- finally was legal for anyone over 21 to buy, albeit still in the face of "it's a drug and drugs are bad" stigma. "I really wanted to be first in line," Hamilton said. "I knew that this was going to be a benchmark, historical moment. I really wanted to be there." He bought a vape pen and edibles, he said. Part of the significance of marijuana being available legally is that despite its widespread use for so long, many people have suffered for having pot paraphernalia or small amounts of marijuana, he said. "It's pretty great," Hamilton said. Was it worth the wait? "Absolutely, 100 percent," he said. "Honestly, I'm just excited to get home, get out of the cold and use legally," he said. Eric Leidberg, 56, of Montague was the second non-mayor to make a recreational marijuana purchase. He bought five joints for $86, he said. "Of course it's too expensive but how many people spend money on expensive Scotch or bourbon or cigars?" Leidberg said. Worth the wait? "Yeah, I had a good time, met some cool folks, kind of a festival atmosphere. I got here at 4:15 a.m., but that's not because, I'm always up at that time, so it was no big deal." "Well it's expensive but I'm not going to blow through one joint in one sitting, I guarantee you that, so this will last me quite a while," Hamilton said. "The only problem I'm going to have is when I give the receipt to my wife and she goes, 'What?', so anyway." Medical marijuana has been legal in Massachusetts since 2012. NETA has been offering marijuana for medicinal uses since October 2012. Voters in Massachusetts passed a ballot question to make pot legal for recreational use, as well, in 2016. Gov. Charlie Baker signed the measure into law July 28, 2017. Complaints arose that the state was going to slow in actually finalizing approval to get such pot shops up and running. On Friday, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission said the agency had granted the final approvals for NETA here and Cultivate Holdings LLC in the Worcester County town of Leicester to open the state's first recreational marijuana shops, both today. NORTHAMPTON -- History-makers were reporting wait times of 1.5 to 3 hours to buy marijuana and marijuana products today at New England Treatment Access on the first day of legal pot sales in Massachusetts. "We waited a long time for it to be legal and now that we're able to buy it legally, you've got to do it," said Lee White, 26, of Pittsfield. White spoke at about 11 a.m. as the line shuffled along toward the New England Treatment Access (NETA) entrance at 118 Conz St. He arrived at 8:25 a.m., he said. NETA staff distributed free coffee, muffins and fruit to those lined up in the cold. They also gave out green ponchos like the one Anna Gow was wearing to help customers lined up outside deal with the rainy snow. Gow, 32, of Holyoke, had been waiting since 8:20 a.m., she said. "I've just been a smoker my whole life," Gow said. "I figured it would be a long wait. I was prepared." Northampton Mayor David J. Narkewicz was the ceremonial first to make a recreational marijuana purchase inside NETA, with a swarm of media recording the transaction, at 8 a.m. After the mayor made history, Daquaan Hamilton, of Northampton, was the first "civilian" in line. He said he began waiting at 12:30 a.m. NETA and Cultivate Holdings LLC in the Worcester County town of Leicester were granted approval to open today. They're the first recreational pot retailers on the East Coast in approvals issued Friday by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. The closest state to Massachusetts that sells marijuana legally is Colorado, about 2,000 miles away. The first pot sales for non-medicinal purposes came two years after Massachusetts voters passed a ballot question to legalize marijuana for recreational use. NETA began offering marijuana for medicinal use in October 2012. Company representatives assured such patients that they would be spared the wait times of those lined up to buy pot recreationally. Service stations in the shop were reserved for medical marijuana patients' to get in and out. "Things are going incredibly smoothly, exactly as we planned," said Amanda Rositano, NETA director of operational compliance. NETA staffers were admitting recreational marijuana customers seven at a time. Admission involved showing a photo identification card such as a driver's license and having the card scanned to ensure it was authentic. The legal age to buy pot is 21. No time limit was being imposed on recreational pot shoppers to browse NETA products and discussed them with staff once inside, Rositano said. "We want to make sure that people have enough time that they need to do this responsibly," she said. The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was a "terrible" and "horrible" crime, but the United States "intends to remain a steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump said in a statement Tuesday. The statement drew a rebuke from the publisher of the Washington Post, who called the president's statement a "surrender to this state-ordered murder" and a "failure of leadership." Before his death, Khashoggi found a home for his writings in the Post. According to the Associated Press, US intelligence officials have said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing. Trump, who declined to listen to an audio tape of Khashoggi's killing provided by Turkey, said a statement that US officials have already sanctioned the 17 Saudis "known to have been involved in the murder" and disposal of Khashoggi's body. The Saudi crown prince is not one of them. Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Trump's statement said King Salman and the crown prince have denied any involvement. "That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi," the president's statement continued. "In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the statement said. "They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region." Trump's statement noted US defense contractors are planning to sell military equipment to Saudi Arabia. "If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries - and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business," his statement said. "It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!" Fred Ryan, the publisher of the Washington Post, called Trump's response a "betrayal of long-established American values of respect for human rights and the expectation of trust and honesty in our strategic relationships." Ryan continued: "He is placing relationships and commercial interests above American interests in his desire to continue to do business as usual with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia." Ryan called on Congress to "stand up for America's true values and lasting interests." If you were hoping to swing by the first Massachusetts retail marijuana stores after the crowds dissipate, you may be in for a wait. Just after 10 a.m. on a soggy Tuesday, a police officer told people heading into Cultivate in Leicester that the wait-time had hit three hours. Hours later in Boston, the state's top marijuana regulator was reluctant to say when he expects the long lines to subside. "I don't know that I want to forecast the behavior of my fellow citizens," Steve Hoffman, chairman of the state Cannabis Control Commission, said with a chuckle. "Personally, standing out in line, in the rain for a couple of hours is not something I would do," he added. "But you know I'm not going forecast that one. I think there are going to be lines for a while." Hoffman spoke with reporters after a commission meeting wrapped up on the first day of legal marijuana sales. Two stores opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday -- New England Treatment Access (NETA) in Northampton and Cultivate in Leicester -- making Massachusetts the first state east of the Mississippi to sell recreational marijuana. Asked about crowd numbers, Hoffman didn't have details but said, "They're big, and cold and wet." Hoffman said from what he's heard, the crowds are well-managed and medical marijuana patients have not had to wait in line for access to their dispensaries, which are located in the same buildings as the retail pot shops. Hoffman said the commission worked with the two marijuana retail stores, whose executives have told him they have adequate supplies. "I hope they're right," he said. "There's going to be a lot of demand, no question about it. But I have confidence in the two licensees." He expects in the coming weeks a "steady flow" of additional licenses for stores and cultivation and manufacturing facilities from the five-member Cannabis Control Commission. The day's one hiccup was unrelated to retail sales, according to Hoffman. The online "gateway" for medical marijuana patients went down earlier in the day, but the commission doesn't have any responsibility overseeing that, he said. The state Department of Public Health oversees the medical marijuana program. The Cannabis Control Commission is slated to take over the program before the end of the year. MassLive reporter Melissa Hanson contributed to this report. LYNN - A man who is suspected of cutting off his court-assigned ankle bracelet several days before robbing a bank in Gloucester, was arrested after police stopped the bus he was riding. Michael Robinson, 40, of Gloucester, was taken into custody by Massachusetts State Police troopers Monday after Lynn Police stopped the bus. He faces charges in connection of the unarmed robbery that occurred Monday at the Institution for Savings bank on Parker Street, state police officials said. State Police from the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section were searching for Robinson because they suspected of having cut off his monitoring bracelet several days earlier. Officers investigating the armed robbery then identified Robinson as a suspect in the robbery, police said. Troopers from the Apprehension Section then learned Robinson may be on a bus heading to Lynn, police said. Robinson was required to wear the bracelet as a condition of his probation. He had already served a prison sentence after being convicted of kidnapping. Police did not say when Robinson would be officially charged or did not reveal they connected him to the robbery. Incessant rain did not stop Monte Belmonte and his supporters from marching from Springfield to Northampton on Monday to raise awareness about hunger in Western Massachusetts and it won't stop him today as he makes his way from Northampton to Greenfield. By tonight Belmonte, of WRSI 93.9 FM The River, will have pushed a shopping cart 43 miles in two days to raise funds for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. "This is probably the worst weather we've had," he said as he made his way down State Street in Springfield on Monday morning, a large umbrella covering his radio equipment. Every year Belmonte broadcasts live during his march, encouraging his listeners to donate. "We are poised to break the $1 million mark after nine years of doing this walk and I hope it will help towards ending hunger in all of the four counties of Western Massachusetts," he said. Belmonte is joined every year by anti-hunger advocates as well as Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester. "This is a good cause and whatever discomfort we feel in this freezing rain or snow is nothing compared to what millions of families have to deal with on a daily basis who struggle with hunger," he said. Morehouse said that money will help the Food Bank serve 3 million meals. "While that might sound like a lot that only represents a third of the food we distribute every year. The challenge is great and in order for us to feed people today, tomorrow and when they need it most we need to raise awareness across all four counties so that people know that it's their neighbors, elders, children, people with disabilities, veterans and working families who struggle to put food on the table." To participate in the walk or to donate, visit . NORTHAMPTON -- Fulton Avenue between Pleasant and Conz streets will temporarily be one-way from east to west to accommodate expected crowds at Tuesday's opening of a shop selling marijuana for recreational use. "So we're certainly anticipating that we're going to see an increase in vehicles as well as folks who are walking around the area...Our biggest concern is the safety of everyone in the area and we know we're going to have, we're anticipating a large crowd," Police Chief Jody Kasper said Monday. Kasper was among officials who spoke at a pre-opening press conference detailing steps to deal with traffic and crowds at New England Treatment Access (NETA) at 118 Conz St. -- one of only two on the East Coast selling recreational pot. Despite the Conz Street address, NETA actually fronts on Fulton Ave., so police officers will be stationed to direct traffic to the east, at Fulton Avenue and Pleasant Street, and to west, at Fulton and Conz, Kasper said. "And then over time we'll just have to take a look and see how traffic is, if it's impacting other areas and make adjustments from there. So we feel confident that it's going to be a busy day and we're ready for the busy-ness." The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission said Friday the agency had granted the final approvals for NETA here and Cultivate Holdings LLC in the Worcester County town of Leicester to open the state's first recreational marijuana shops, both on Tuesday. Over 100 staffers have been added at NETA and service stations for customers have increased to about 25 from the normal 15, said Amanda Rositano, NETA director of operational compliance. "I am so honored and excited as NETA Northampton gets ready to launch a new era when we open our doors to adults over 21 to answer the call of the Massachusetts voters to provide access to safe, legal, regulated cannabis here in Massachusetts," Rositano said. NETA began operating as a medical marijuana dispensary in October 2015. Medical marijuana patients will continue to receive priority access at the facility regardless of the crowds seeking recreational marijuana purchases, officials said. "While we are honored and very excited to welcome everyone tomorrow, we want to make sure that our patients are aware that they remain our top priority and can count on having the same quality of products and services that they have come to expect," said Kim Napoli, NETA director of diversity programs. Other points made at the press conference include: SPRINGFIELD - The City Council took the first step to pass an ordinance that would help protect immigrants - especially those without documentation - after more than a 100 people flooded the meeting and spoke in support of the proposal. A high school teacher talked about her students who are worried they will be separated from their parents, an immigrant talked about being taken advantage of by landlords who rent unsafe apartments and many more said the adoption would make Springfield safer for all residents. "Everyone has the right to be accountable to its citizens," said Bruce Miller, who teaches constitutional law at Western New England College. "Secondly it is the humane and right thing to do." The Welcoming Trust Ordinance bans city employees from inquiring about a resident's immigration status unless required by federal or state law and bans them from serving as an immigration officer. It also stops city employees from targeting any medical, educational or faith institution from providing refugee to immigrants and their families. The ordinance was spearheaded by Councilor Adam Gomez and co-sponsored by four other councilors. All 12 councilors who attended the meeting voted for the proposal in a first step. It will now go to ordinance committee and then the Council will take final votes on it soon. "We have the ability to stand up against persecution," Lederman said. "The Springfield City Council says this ends now." Before the vote, Councilor E. Henry Twiggs urged the council to pass the ordinance as soon as possible. "It reminds me of the days when I was in the south marching for equal rights and the right to vote. Those were some difficult days," he said. "We have an opportunity to do something tonight that will enhance the lives of some of our citizens." Councilor Marcus Williams was the only one to critique the ordinance, and that was just to ask to add non-profit agencies to the list of groups that would be protected if they assisted immigrants. He said worked for the YWCA as a grant writer and often would see victims of domestic violence in the agency and does not want to see people avoid getting help from non-profit agencies. The remaining councilors voted in favor of the change to the applause of the audience. When councilors explained that was not the final vote, one woman yelled: "We like the amendment." The ordinance was supported by multiple outside groups including the Pioneer Valley Project, The Resistance Center for Peace and Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union. "I'm asking you to support this because our families need it," said Adan Abi, of Springfield. "This will make all of us feel more welcome. We have to help each other." The ordinance means people will not have to feel afraid to ask a teacher for help for their child, to report a landlord has not turned on the heat in December and to report they had witnessed a crime, he said. Shanique Spaulding, who has received multiple awards for her community service and activism said she is the daughter of two formerly undocumented immigrants from Jamaica. She said her father, a mason, and her mother, a store manager, were successful because people were willing to take a chance to help them. "Undocumented immigrant people are people and when given a chance we will thrive," she said. City Councilors occasionally referred to Gisella Collazo, an immigrant from Peru, who sought sanctuary in the South Congregational Church for three months after facing deportation and being split from her husband and two American-born children. Collazo attended the meeting and spoke in favor of the ordinance through a translator. "We live in houses in poor conditions but we do not feel we can report it because there are repercussions," she said. She added there are people who do not report they are victims of a crime because they are afraid to be deported. High School of Commerce teacher Suri Ramos said students who are American born but have undocumented parents, feel so much anxiety it interferes with their education. They are often vulnerable to bullies and it prevents parents from getting involved in their schools. "Students refuse to go to the hospital because parents are afraid to go with them," she said. "This will offer them the same sense of security as their peers, nothing more, nothing less." Not all people who spoke for the ordinance were recent immigrants. Several talked about their grandparents from Ireland and other countries taking in, helping and protecting families generations ago, similar to those who have come to the city today looking for a better life. "All people are created equal and every life is precious," said Cheryl Moynahan, adding the city has an obligation to ensure all residents are safe. Attorneys for the president said that they turned over his answers to a series of questions from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about Donald Trump's knowledge of the Russian government's efforts to assist his 2016 White House bid. The inquiries address only a portion of the questions that Mueller has sought to pose to Trump for nearly a year, when he first requested an interview with president. Botswana and De Beers, the two shareholders of Debswana Diamond Company are just about to begin negotiations for the diamond production and sales agreement, two years before the current one expires. This came into the open this week during the annual diamond conference in Gaborone. However, Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Minister, Eric Molale and De Beers Chief Executive, Bruce Cleaver were this week not ready to give more specific details on imminent meetings which happen behind closed doors, often in luxurious and secluded locations in Gaborone, Johannesburg and London. The current ten year diamond sales and mining agreement was signed in September 2011 and will end in 2021.Botswana government will be represented by members of the Minerals Policy Committee (MPC) which comprises Finance and Economic Development Permanent Secretary, Solomon Sekwakwa, his peer at the Minerals Ministry, Cornelius Dekop, Bank of Botswana Governor, Moses Pelaelo, and Attorney General Advocate Abraham Keetshabe. The team will be led by Molale himself. It will be for the third time Molale becomes part of the arduous, but equally important negotiations with outcomes that are as important to the country as the diamonds themselves. Without letting off much, Molale told the press that, at this point they are crafting heads of agreement which will form the agenda for the upcoming meetings. We dont want to work under pressure (hence they have started early), said Molale. In addition, Botswana Government often involves high end corporate lawyers to back their team. Cleaver, who was also involved in the previous negotiations, told the media the partnership between De Beers and Botswana will continue. We all want a win-win situation, he said. Earlier when giving the keynote address, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi likened the partnership to a marriage. He added the negotiations are just like renewal of vows. Through our partnership with De Beers, there has been over the years, increased participation in the diamond pipeline from prospecting through to cutting and polishing, said the President before leaving for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the African Union meetings. Commentators in the diamond sector have hailed the current sales agreement. Under the deal, Botswana negotiators succeeded in having De Beers relocate its diamond sales and distribution function from London to Gaborone. As things stand, all diamonds produced from De Beers mines in Botswana, South Africa, Canada and Namibia are aggregated locally before being sold into the international market. Botswana Guardian also understands Team Botswana also pushed for the establishment of an independent pricing method away from the one which is currently being used by De Beers. This led to the establishment of Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), a Botswana-owned rough diamonds seller. The company led by Marcus Ter Haar, sells about 10 percent of Debswana produced diamonds. Meanwhile, Masisi has told the conference that, there is need to move up the pipeline to jewelry manufacturing and retail. Participation at these up market levels, however small, will go a long way in promoting the development of Gaborone as a diamond city, said Masisi. This week, De Beers jewellery unit, Forevermark opened its first shop at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. Cleaver was upbeat the luxury shop will be successful. The latest round of diamond mining negotiations between the two long term partners come at a time when more has changed in the landscape and there are important decisions to make. Synthetic diamonds are threatening natural diamonds market, although Cleaver dismisses the fear. There is no new diamond deposit the size of Jwaneng discovered by the parties in recent times, and surely not in the two decade or so. There are more capital intensive projects coming their way such as Jwaneng, Orapa and Venetia expansion. All these projects will force shareholders to dig deeper into their pockets to fund them amidst volatile diamond sales. Federal lawmakers this week condemned pharmaceutical company kaleo, Inc. after a U.S. Senate investigation found it "exploited the opioid crisis" by substantially raising the cost of its overdose reversal drug -- leading to millions in charges to taxpayers. The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released a report Sunday looking at how the drug manufacturer raised the price for its naloxone drug, EVZIO, from an initial per unit price of $575 to $4,100 -- a more than 600 percent increase. The report further suggests that kaleo launched a distribution model that planned to "capitalize on the opportunity" of opioid overdoses being at "epidemic levels," and had its sales force focused on ensuring doctors' offices signed paperwork indicating EVZIO was medically necessary so it'd be covered by government programs. Noting that an estimated 72,000 Americans died last year from an opioid overdose, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, said it's important that lifesaving drugs, like naloxone, "be made more attainable and affordable to the general public." "We cannot let companies profiteer during this drug addiction crisis, deny people access to medication and have the taxpayer pick up the bill. These tactics are becoming too much of a financial drain on our public health system," he said in a statement. Neal, who is expected to become the new House Ways and Means Committee chairman, added that he intends to work with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle "to make this issue and the subject of rising out-of-pockets costs a priority in the next Congress." U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, agreed that Congress "must do more to hold drug companies like kaleo accountable for price gouging life-saving drugs." The senator noted that she and U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, have "introduced legislation to create a federal Naloxone distribution program, so that overdose-reversal products are always available to first responders, public health departments and the public." U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, meanwhile, has called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create a "stockpile" of naloxone so the drug can be rapidly deployed when needed. The senator, in a May letter, further raised concerns that "the higher naloxone prices and the increase in overdoses, particularly from synthetic opioids, are preventing many communities and their first-responders from procuring naloxone in the quantities necessary to respond to this public health emergency." U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations chairman, said "the fact that one company dramatically raised the price of its naloxone drug and cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in increased drug costs, all during a national opioid crisis ... is simply outrageous." He added that the sub-panel will continue to fight to protect taxpayers "from drug manufacturers that are exploiting loopholes in the Medicare and Medicaid system in order to profit from a national opioid crisis." The report alleges that kaleo, facing lagging sales of its EVZIO drug at its initial $575 list price, implemented a new distribution model that increased the drug's price to $3,750 and later to $4,100 by 2016. Consultant Todd Smith, who reportedly proposed the model, installed similar plans at Horizon and Novum pharmaceuticals, according to the report. It also found that company documents suggested the new model was designed to "capitalize on the opportunity (of) opioid overdose at epidemic levels," and that the sales force focused on having doctors' offices sign paperwork indicating EVZIO was medically necessary so it'd be covered by Medicare and Medicaid. The report suggests that "kaleo's new distribution model worked" with EVZIO fill rates jumping from 39 percent to 81 percent. The majority of its initial revenues, it further noted, came from Medicare and Medicaid, resulting in more than $142 million in costs to taxpayers in the last four years alone -- even though less costly versions of naloxone exist. The company paid Smith's consulting firm more than $10.2 million for about two years of work -- a rate based on revenue generated by the distribution model, the report contends. The subcommittee further noted that the price increases came despite kaleo stating that the cost for EVZIO is roughly $174 and industry experts advising the company to price the drug between $250 and $300. The report recommends a series of legislative changes, including that: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services review its policies governing physician use of medical necessity formulary exceptions for Medicare Part D to prevent inappropriately influenced prescribing; Congress require CMS to improve transparency regarding the total amount spent for drugs purchased by government health care programs; and Congress allocate funding for research to develop innovative, more potent opioid overdose reversal drugs and non-opioid pain relief drugs. Kaleo, in response to the U.S. Senate's report, said it's "disappointed with the way in which some of the facts are being presented and believe there is much more to this very complex story." "First, we have received voluntary reports from recipients of donated product that EVZIO has saved more than 5,500 lives since we launched the product in 2014. Second, we have never turned an annual profit on the sale of EVZIO. Patients, not profits, have driven our actions," it said in a statement. "We believe patients and physicians should have meaningful choices. There is no doubt, the complexity of our health care system has had unintended negative implications for everyone involved, but most importantly, for patients. To this end, we explored viable paths within the current health care system to make EVZIO available to patients in a responsible, meaningful and affordable way." The company added that it agrees "changes need to be made" and believes all patients should have access to products at reasonable prices. "We are actively working with stakeholders in the health care system, including insurers, policymakers and government officials, to provide EVZIO at a lower cost while ensuring patients and their loved ones have access to this life-saving drug," it continued. "This issue is personal to all of us at kaleo." SPRINGFIELD -- A three-member committee appointed by City Council President Orlando Ramos is recommending a $20,000 annual pay raise for the mayor and a $5,500 raise for city councilors. As proposed by the new Compensation Advisory Committee, the mayor's salary would rise from $135,000 to $155,000, effective Jan. 1. The 13 city councilors, who are each paid $19,500, would see their salaries rise to $25,000, also effective Jan. 1. The council president is paid $500 more. The advisory committee is also recommending a raise for the School Committee from the current $12,500 to $16,000. The council will also consider a proposal by some councilors to raise the salaries even higher for the mayor and council. Under a proposal forwarded by some councilors led by E. Henry Twiggs and Kateri Walsh, the mayor's salary would rise by $25,000 to $160,000 and the council salary would rise by $10,000 to $29,500. The proposal does not include a raise for the School Committee. Ramos said both proposals -- from the advisory committee and individual councilors -- could be discussed. The Compensation Review Committee said the raises proposed by its three members take into account that the mayor and council have not had a salary increase since Jan. 1, 2014. The proposed mayor's raise amounts to approximately a 3 percent raise per year and the proposed council's raise amounts to approximately a 5 percent raise per year, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015, the committee said. Any raises for the council or mayor need council approval, Ramos said. The advisory committee consisted of Judith Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield; Vanessa Otero, deputy director of Partners for Community of Springfield; and David Cruise, president and CEO of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. Ramos, in recently announcing the creation of the compensation advisory committee, said the discussion of raises for elected officials is "never an easy conversation, but it is a conversation that is warranted." The committee said it also considered factors such as the needs of and the time spent by local officials in the performance of their duties. It also evaluated the pay scales for elected officials in several other communities in Massachusetts, including Worcester and Lowell, in considering pay raises in Springfield, the committee said. It took into account factors such as population and city budgets, it said. AMHERST -- As Massachusetts residents lined up Tuesday to purchase legal recreational marijuana for the first time, two members of the state's congressional delegation said they're optimistic Capitol Hill lawmakers will soon address federal laws barring such sales. U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, and Joe Kennedy III, D-Newton, told The Republican that recent Trump administration changes and Democrats' winning control of the U.S. House set the stage for Congress to finally take action on marijuana legalization. McGovern, who is expected to takeover as the new House Rules Committee chairman when the next Congress convenes in January, argued that he, unlike the panel's current leader, has no intention of blocking marijuana-related measures from being debated on the chamber's floor. "We're going to have votes on marijuana reform. I'm not going to block marijuana amendments like my predecessor has done," he said in an interview. "There are things that are just ridiculous: For example, even in states where marijuana is legal, if a veteran goes to the (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) he can't get medical marijuana -- we ought to fix that." McGovern said he hopes to bring measures addressing medical marijuana and other legalization-related issues to the floor for consideration and a possible vote. "As chairman of the Rules Committee, I'm not going to block marijuana amendments. People ought to bring them to the floor, they should be debated and people ought to vote the way they feel appropriate," he said. Kennedy, who joined McGovern as part of "Monte's March" in Amherst, said he also expects the new Democrat-led House to take up marijuana legalization, particularly as states have not backed down on this issue. "We've seen, of course, over the past several years that the sentiment of the American public and Congress has shifted on this. It's not uniquely a Democratic position ... and so I expect it will be something that a Democratic House will act on," he said in an interview. "The details of which though, I can't speak to. But, I certainly think that's something you can expect." Kennedy added that although former Attorney General Jeff Sessions had been hostile to states' legalization efforts, "he didn't stop them." "One would imagine -- at least from my perspective at the federal level -- if those efforts wouldn't halt it under a Jeff Sessions Department of Justice, the Trump administration and Republican unified control of government, then they're probably not going to," he offered. "So, I think it becomes incumbent on the federal government to try to update their policies to make sure that as states make these decisions that they're doing so with the proper consumer protections and everything." In January, Sessions announced he was rescinding Obama-era rules that largely left states alone on marijuana legalization issues. He, however, told reporters in July that "states have a right to set their own laws and will do so," adding that the Department of Justice will "will follow the federal law." President Donald Trump has also hinted at possible changes to marijuana laws, saying in June that he may endorse a bipartisan effort to shield states that have legalized marijuana for recreational and medical purposes from federal crackdowns. U.S. Rep. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-California, meanwhile, told FoxBusiness in October that Trump has committed to establishing marijuana reform after the November midterms. AMHERST -- With Democrats poised to take control of the U.S. House when the new Congress convenes in January, at least two Massachusetts lawmakers said Tuesday that they hope funding for anti-hunger and other safety net programs is a top priority. U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern and Joe Kennedy III, who walked in "Monte's March" as the 43-mile anti-hunger fundraiser made its way through Amherst, offered that they're confident Democratic leaders will push to protect and fund efforts that help Americans facing poverty and food insecurity. McGovern, a Worcester Democrat who is expected to take over as the next House Rules Committee chairman, said he's "sure (Democrats) are going to fight for more money for these programs." "Look, hunger is a political condition: We know how to end it, we have the money, we have the infrastructure, we have everything but the political will," he said in an interview. "I think with a Democratic House we're going to start building that political will." Noting than an estimated 40 million Americans struggle with hunger, McGovern argued that "there is not a congressional district in America that is hunger free." "We should all be ashamed of that fact and we ought to fix it," he said. "That's what (Monte's March) is about, it's about raising money for the food bank, as well as raising awareness and hopefully encouraging more activism around this issue." The congressman, who has been an outspoken anti-hunger advocate, added that he intends to use his expected chairmanship to "do even more" on this front. Only @RepMcGovern walks 50 miles through rain and snow on his birthday to march against hunger. Thrilled to join him and @MonteBelmonte along the way. #MontesMarch pic.twitter.com/Q3VCpM4NxJ Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) November 20, 2018 Kennedy, D-Newton, also said he thinks Democrats will push for safety net program funding and protections in the new legislative session. Specifically, the congressman said he expects Democratic House leaders to end Republicans' efforts to attach work requirements to food stamps -- something which he argued would result in "unnecessary administrative hurdles that do nothing to try to make people less hungry." Kennedy added that lawmakers need to acknowledge the fact that while the economy is generating extraordinary wealth for some, it's not doing that for everyone. "The best way we can try to address those circumstances is to try to make sure that some of those structures of our economy are shifted to make sure that everybody benefits -- at the moment, everybody's not," he said. "So, I expect that will be a big priority as well." Monte's March, a two-day walk from Springfield to Greenfield seeks to raise more than $1 million for the The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, as well as awareness about hunger-related issues. Participants began the second leg of the walk Tuesday morning at McGovern's Northampton office. The Red Sox announced a slew of roster moves ahead of Tuesday's deadline to protect players from being eligible for next month's Rule 5 draft. Infielder Michael Chavis and pitchers Travis Lakins, Darwinzon Hernandez, Josh Taylor and Denyi Reyes were added to the 40-man roster along with righty Colten Brewer, who was acquired from the Padres in a trade that sent infielder Esteban Quiroz to San Diego. Boston also removed two pitchers off the roster, outrighting Austin Maddox to Pawtucket and releasing William Cuevas to allow him to sign with the KT Wiz in Korea. Chavis, the team's top prospect, was a lock to be added to the roster along with Hernandez (No. 7 prospect, per MLB.com), Lakins (No. 15) and Brewer (who faced a roster crunch in San Diego). Reyes (No. 30) and Taylor (unranked) were mildly surprising picks over Josh Ockimey, who was left unprotected after hitting 20 homers and reaching Triple-A last year. Chavis and Lakins are candidates to reach the majors in 2019, while Hernandez, Taylor and Reyes are a bit farther away. Reyes, a 22-year-old reliever, owned a 1.97 ERA in 155.2 innings at Single-A and High-A, striking out 145 while walking just 19 in his fourth pro season. Maddox pitched well enough to make the postseason roster in 2017 but dealt with shoulder issues throughout the 2018 campaign and will miss all of 2019 after undergoing rotator cuff surgery. Cuevas posted a 7.41 ERA in 17 innings in the majors in 2018 and was unlikely to crack Boston's bullpen next year. Ockimey, who was Boston's fifth-round pick in 2014, is a candidate to be selected in the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 13. The 23-year-old is considered Boston's No. 10 prospect by MLB.com. Avascular Necrosis Market Overview Avascular necrosis (AVN) occurs when bone tissue begins to die due to a lack of sufficient supply of blood. The condition is often caused by joint or bone trauma, long-term steroid use or alcohol abuse. Market Research Future has released a report on the global avascular necrosis market which reveals that the global market is expected to grow at a CAGR 6.58% during the forecast period from 2018 to 2024. The disease has been observed to commonly affect men between the ages of 30 to 50 years and has been particularly high in occurrence in emerging economies. Surgery is an inevitable part of avascular necrosis, and medication is required to treat the condition, thus driving the global avascular necrosis market. Moreover, this factor is also driving the demand for minimally invasive treatment options. Notably, avascular necrosis or osteonecrosis is a challenging condition to diagnose and can often be overlooked until it has approached a later stage, and no known cure exists. This factor has driven R&D activities on the part of market players with a focus on drug discovery. Request Sample copy at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6131 Medical implants are restricted by stringent regulations which are aimed at improvement of quality, this has adversely affected the cost of surgery and restrains the global avascular necrosis market. Moreover, there is a shortage of skilled orthopedic surgeons which further challenges the market. However, due to the high demand for non-surgical treatment, drug development activities are expected to reveal opportunities in the coming years. Competitive Dashboard: Market players that have significantly impacted the global avascular necrosis market have been recorded in the report and include Integra LifeSciences Corporation, Bayer AG, Eli Lilly and Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Medtronic Plc, Merck KGaA, Sanofi, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Pfizer Inc, Boehringer Ingelheim. Regional Analysis: The Americas is the leading regional segment for avascular necrosis primarily due to the concentration of market players in the region. The affinity toward adoption of technically advanced medical treatments and practices have propelled the regional market into a leadership position with the U.S and Canada being key country-level markets. The Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing prevalence of the disease in the emerging economies present in the region. Manufacturing of medical devices is increasingly shifting to countries such as China and India due to cheap labor costs and the low investments necessary toward the set-up of infrastructure. Market Segmentation: MRFRs detailed report includes segmentation of the global avascular necrosis market on the basis of type, site, diagnosis, treatment, end-user, and region. Types of avascular necrosis recorded in the report include trauma-related avascular necrosis and non-trauma related avascular necrosis. Between these, non-trauma related AVN accounts for a larger share of the market due to increasing cases of alcoholism and illegal steroid use. Avascular necrosis can occur largely in the hip bone, knee, shoulder, and others. Hip bones have been observed to have the largest share of the market. By diagnosis, the market is divided between imaging and biopsy; the former is a more preferred form of diagnosis as it is minimally invasive, and is vital is early diagnoses of the disease. Treatment of avascular necrosis includes electrical stimulation, medication, gene therapy, and surgery. Surgery accounts for the leading segment as it is the only method of treatment which provides long-term relief. However, gene therapy is an up and coming treatment option which is expected to witness rapid growth. By end-users, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and diagnostic centers. Major TOC of Avascular Necrosis Market Research Report Forecast to 2024: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Introduction 3 Research Methodology 4 Market Dynamics 5 Market Factor Analysis 6 Global Avascular Necrosis Market, by Type 7 Global Avascular Necrosis Market, by Site 8 Global Avascular Necrosis Market, by Diagnosis 9 Global Avascular Necrosis Market, by Treatment 10 Global Avascular Necrosis Market, by End-User 11 Global Avascular Necrosis Market, by Region 12 Competitive Landscape 13 Company Profiles 14 Conclusion 15 Appendix Browse Complete 539 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 300+ Respective Tables and Figures at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/avascular-necrosis-market-6131 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Cystic Fibrosis Market Scenario According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future analysts, the global cystic fibrosis market is growing at a double digit CAGR. The major growth in the cystic fibrosis market was observed with the introduction of Kalydeco drug by Vertex pharmaceutical in 2012. There has been constant development of new drugs and therapies for treating cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis foundation (CFF) has always been in support of the companies involved in the research and development of the cystic fibrosis drugs. The financial support from CFF is influential in the growth of the cystic fibrosis market worldwide. It is estimated that cystic fibrosis market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.5% during the forecast period 2016-2022. That being said, there are few hurdles as well in growth of this market. Currently there are approximately 1900 identified CFTR mutations that are responsible for the development of the disease condition. Many are yet to be identified. Request Sample copy at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1825 At present, treatments are available for nearly half the mutations. CF being the rare disease, and due to the limited information available, the extensive research is required. The research and development cost for the cystic fibrosis is very high leading to the massive prices of the end products. High cost of the drugs and treatments is one of the factors that hinder the growth of the cystic fibrosis market. Global Cystic Fibrosis Market Competitive Analysis: The global market for cystic fibrosis is dominated by American pharmaceutical company Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. With two FDA approved CFTR modulator drugs Kalydeco & Orkambi, Vertex Pharmaceuticals secured a top spot with the market share of 46% in the global cystic fibrosis market. Kalydeco and Orkambi are the drugs that affect the disease at a genetic level where as all the other drugs from different companies deal with the disease symptoms and associated problems. Currently there is no competition for the Kalydeco and Orkambi. Moreover the Vertex is on the verge of developing their next and better drug triple combo which is expected to cover 90% of the total identified CFTR mutations. This development is the strong reason for Vertex pharmaceutical to be on top of the table in the near future as well. Apart from the Vertex, there are some companies which are manufacturing different drugs for the treatment for the cystic fibrosis. These companies have drug products such as Roche- Pulmozyme, Abbvie- Creon, Gilead- Cayston, Novartis- TOBI Podhaler, Allergan- Zenpep, Chiesi- Pertzye, and few others. As these products help patients in managing the cystic fibrosis symptoms and are consumed daily, these companies have fair amount of share in the market. Additionally, there are other companies which such as Pharmaxis, PTC therapeutics, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc which are involved in the development of the treatments for the symptoms of cystic fibrosis. Segmentation: The global cystic fibrosis market is segmented on the basis of treatment method. Treatment method is further segmented into medication, devices, and other treatments. Global Cystic Fibrosis Market Regional Analysis; Cystic fibrosis can occur in both genders as well as in all ethnic groups and races. However the incidences of cystic fibrosis varies across the globe. Cystic fibrosis is more common among the Caucasians. Hence the disease is more prevalent in North America, Europe, and Australia. However cystic fibrosis can also affect Latinos, American Indians, African, and Middle Eastern population. North America is one of the majorly affected region by the deadly disease cystic fibrosis. The United States is among the countries with highest incidence rates of cystic fibrosis. According to cystic fibrosis foundation, more than 30,000 patients are living with cystic fibrosis in the United States. Nearly, 1000 new cystic fibrosis cases are diagnosed each year. According to CFFs national patient registry, the median age of the person with cystic fibrosis is currently 33.4 years. The average life expectancy of the CF patients has increased significantly as compared to the patients 30 years back. European region is also largely affected by cystic fibrosis. According to European Cystic Fibrosis Society (ECFS), considering the 26 major countries in Europe, more than 35,500 people were suffering from cystic fibrosis in 2014. Among the CF patients in Europe, 51.8% were adults with age 18 years or more and 48.2% were less than 18 years old. Countries like United Kingdom, Ireland, Romania, and Bulgaria have the high birth prevalence of CF. The prevalence of cystic fibrosis is seen to be very low in the Asian region. There is limited information available about CF in Asia, it is likely that the disease is highly underdiagnosed in this region including the Indian subcontinent. It is due to medical communitys lack of knowledge about CF and poor access to the medical and healthcare facilities for cystic fibrosis patients. The incidence of cystic fibrosis in Middle East varies according to the ethnic background. However, the CF prevalence in Middle East is low as compared to the North American and European region. There are no accurate CF prevalence number for the Northern African countries, but it is expected to be low due to the racial factor and no European genetic mixture. Major TOC of Cystic Fibrosis Market Research Report- Global Forecast till 2022 1 INTRODUCTION 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 MARKET DYNAMICS 4 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS 5 GLOBAL CYSTIC FIBROSIS MARKET, BY DIAGNOSTIC TEST TOC CONTINUED Browse Complete 85 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 10+ Respective Tables and Figures at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cystic-fibrosis-market-1825 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com by Steven Rosenbaum , Featured Contributor, November 19, 2018 Karem pictured above, left The thing is, no one was ever happy when Mike Wallace showed up with a crew from 60 Minutes. Or when Woodward and Bernstein kept poking at people and facts to expose Watergate. Or in 1906, when Upton Sinclair exposed the conditions in Chicagos meatpacking plants. Or when Seymour Hersh exposed the My Lai Massacre in 1969 in Vietnam. Lets just be clear: Journalists are a pain in the ass. The really good ones are a HUGE pain in the ass. They ask impertinent questions, they go places theyre not invited, they poke and prod at the halls of power. Sometimes they save lives and provoke justice. Other times, they bring down the rich and powerful, toppling individuals and institutions hiding in darkness. Journalists are paid to provoke. Its their job. But its also who they are as individuals. The ones who do their job best can be irksome, tiresome, relentless individuals. advertisement advertisement Which is why I love Brian Karem. He worked for me back when I was the executive producer of Broadcast News Network, a regional news operation in New York. And back then he was provoking presidents. Before I met him, in 1992, he was covering an international drug summit in San Antonio, Texas, when he asked President Bush to comment on claims the summit was a joke." President Bush countered that the press should ask questions of the other presidents and not him. Karem persisted until Bush allowed Karem to ask his question to Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. Karem lost his job at KMOL over his aggressive style of questioning. Now hes covering the White House for Playboy, and writing about it for Sentinel Newspapers, where he's executive editor. Which is why when Karem writes about the CNN/Jim Acosta battle, its worth paying attention. Karem says Trumps war with the press is just heating up. "The temporary victory for the Free Press therefore is going to be short-lived if the president has his way writes Karem. United States District Court Judge Timothy Kelly said the process is still so shrouded in mystery that the government could not tell me, who made the decision to toss Acosta, Karem reports. But Acostas return is temporary, and the Judge said that due process must be upheld. And so the White House has set out to write rules to ban journalists, and those rules are forthcoming. People have to behave, Trump later said in the Oval Office. If they dont listen to the rules and regulations, well end up back in court and we will win. Later, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: "There must be decorum at the White House. So, why does this matter? Says Karem: "In the past the people have held its politicians accountable to them. What Trump wants is to make the people accountable to the politicians contrary to the very founding of our government." And, reading some of the comments on CNN, at least some Trump loyalists agree that the press should be put on a short leash: Judy Dostal wrote: "Bad behavior by the press is unacceptable. Helen Torres wrote: "Leave our President alone and let him do his job, that Acosta guy was disrespectful to our President he should be fired. Karen Pounds Gersna wrote: "He should have been removed. You can ask a question, but not be an ass. Was asked to sit down and wouldn't hand over the mike. Sorry he acted like a big ASS." John Massey Show wrote: Whow [sic] me where in the constitution it states the press get an all access unresticted [sic] pass to the white house, and press passes are an right. They are not, their[sic] a privilege." Cindy Stevens wrote: "The press has been attacking him for a long time. President trumps turn to let them have it back. Give em hell president trump!!!!" Juan Johnny Cruz wrote: "If the press is disrespectful of the President, they should be removed and banned forever" So this war on journalists is far from over. Trump will continue to use the label fake news to disparage any reporter or news organization that he doesnt perceive as loyal and respectful. Its worth pointing out that even Fox News sided with CNN on the Acosta matter, filing an amicus brief with the court. So heres what comes next. The administration will draft administrative rules on what standards of decorum are, and how reporters can have their credentials removed. This has never happened before. Its a new and disturbing step toward controlling the media. Karem writes: "The president will draft a set of rules and will arbitrarily decide what is or is not rude. Using the nebulous definition of decorum, these rules may or may not limit the number of questions reporters are allowed to ask, how they may address the president and his minions, who may or may not have access to press passes, who can or cannot cover the West Wing, as well as what is appropriate manner of dress, speech, conduct and other attitudes the president deems inappropriate." And reporters, being human beings with families, mortgages, and bosses who need copy filed every day from the White House, will be under incredible pressure to dial it back. Point Trump. Then someone will cross the line and ask a question deemed rude. Id put my money on Karem, because he knows uncomfortable questions are the ones that matter. But Trump could ban the New York Times, CNN, or MSNBC, or the Associated Press or Reuters. He could ban reporter or a news organization hes writing the rules, so theres no telling where hell draw the line. Karem doesnt mince words here, noting that whats coming is profoundly dangerous. We could also end up with a ruling [by the court on new White House rules] that backs the executive branch of government on both the First and Fifth Amendments and that, my friends, would sound the end of our Democracy." You can follow Brian on Twitter here: @BrianKarem by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, November 19, 2018 Rivian, which bills itself as the worlds first electric adventure vehicle, enlisted Droga5 to complete a just-released teaser video. The agency is also working on other creative for the new automaker. The vehicles wont be available for sale until 2020, although the public is getting the first look at the revolutionary products at the Los Angeles auto show next week. Besides Droga5, the company is working with Instagram photographer and influencer Ben Moon on a series showing the vehicle in beautiful outdoor locations. The 57-second video can be seen on the companys social media pages. The Electric Adventure Begins depicts a person trapped inside the noise and pressure of modern-day urban life. His surroundings intensify until he is able to break free into nature behind the wheel of a Rivian, leaving behind it a trail of dust as the driver, now enjoying the silence of electric drive, heads into the sunset. The video closes on Rivians unique front light signature. Accompanying the video is a still image depicting an aerial view of the R1T full-size pickup truck. The company shared the video on its Instagram page with the caption: Catch the first glimpse of our all-electric R1T truck and join us as we launch into space. By space, we mean the world around us, not beyond us. Theres more out there and our vehicles are designed to bring you back down to Earth and lead you further into nature than ever before. Media were invited to the companys headquarters in Plymouth, Mich. (about 25 miles west of Detroit, not far from Ann Arbor) last week for a sneak peek. I cant reveal details about the vehicles until an embargo lifts next week, but I think its fair to say this will be something never seen before in the auto industry. The vehicles are like Tesla meets Jeep. The company doesnt really consider Tesla a competitor and is going after a completely different segment of the market, one occupied by Land Rover. But unlike Land Rover, the vehicles are all-electric. The companys first models the pickup truck and an SUV called the R1S are made to get dirty, to go to remote places. The company envisions having branded charging stations at places like Joshua Tree National Park and Lake Tahoe. Theres a joke among the automotive press about customers who supposedly have active lifestyles. But the folks who drive a Rivian really will. One of its Instagram photos shows a closeup of the Rivian nameplate on a vehicle covered with mud and water splatters. The yellow that encases the vehicle name and its logo is a vibrant shade (Pantone 7549 C) the company calls gold fusion, which resembles a color found in early dawn, says Jiten Behl, Rivians chief strategy officer. The name Rivian is derived from Indian River, the estuary that ran through founder RJ Scaringes childhood backyard in Florida. The companys logo is an interpretation of a compass, suggesting the North, South, East, and West of adventure. We are all born adventurers, Scaringe says. We are all born looking to explore, to see new things, to learn new things. And thats really what we are building Rivian as a brand for, to help enable those new experiences. The automaker is promising impressive on- and off-road performance figures and class-leading specifications including range, power, torque and off-road articulation. These vehicles are set to demonstrate that electric vehicle technology is now able to deliver durable, long-range on- and off-road capability to consumers, Scaringe says. Scaringe, an MIT engineering Ph.D. graduate, is extraordinarily articulate and passionate about his company, which he founded in 2009 when he was just 26 years old. He also seems down-to-earth. These are good qualities to have in a leader. And he understands the language of marketing. The brand position, and how that lines up with the technology, how that lines up with positioning our product, in many ways thats the most important thing, Scaringe says. Its the reason were here, its why we exist. This took a lot of effort, to really reach how we position the company and how we position the product. He laid out the companys brand positioning in an interesting way. Imagine a horizontal line with commodity at one end and aspirational at the other end. All vehicles, really all products, fall somewhere on that continuum, mostly in the middle. Now imagine a vertical line dissecting that first line with invitational at the top and presentational at the bottom. Invitational implies they are designed to be used and to be functional, vs. presentationa,l where the emphasis is more on aesthetics. There are very few auto brands that have sharp positions, so Scaringe uses examples of clothing brands in the four quadrants of the chart, where the differences in positions are much clearer. If you look at four major clothing brands, you could place Hanes in the top left box and Patagonia in the top right box. Mens Wearhouse would be in the lower left box under Hanes while Armani would be in the lower right box under Patagonia. Which is to say that while Hanes and Mens Wearhouse are both on the commodity side of the spectrum, they are used for different purposes. Hanes is more of a practical basic while Mens Wearhouse sells suits, and therefore is geared more toward making an impression, toward image. But its at the other end of the spectrum from the flashy aspirational quality of the Armani suit. Patagonia, like Hanes, is action-oriented, but it has more panache and is more aspirational than the basic brand. Rivian, as a brand, is in the box with Patagonia, along with Land Rover, while Tesla would be beneath it in the Armani box, along with other upscale auto brands like Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Audi. Weve taken the view, that to start a brand thats going to carry a lot of new technology, thats going to get people excited about it, we want to focus on the aspirational side, Scaringe says. We want to build something that people desire, that people get excited about. But Rivian is different from Tesla and other aspirational vehicles. It has another dimension that differentiates it from most of the other luxury brands. Tesla has done an exceptional job of redefining what we think of as the traditional luxury segment, Scaringe says. But unlike Tesla, Rivian will offer the type of vehicle that you want to take your family to the beach in, and will have a functional interior that can handle all of that sand. Its a product that challenges expectations of what an electric vehicle can do, he says. Can it go off-road? Can it get wet? We have to dispel the untruths that a vehicle like this cant do that. It has to be usable on an everyday basis, it has to be efficient. Besides being practical, Rivian vehicles also will be ethical, strategy officer Behl says. It will feel much more satisfying to have an outdoor adventure knowing you arent doing it in a gas-guzzling, natural-resource-depleting vehicle, he says. Its hard to argue with that logic. Theres definitely more news to come out of Rivian, so stay tuned. by Tanya Gazdik , November 20, 2018 Former Cadillac executive Melody Lee is heading to a new marketing position with Shiseidos family of brands. Starting Nov. 26, she is vice president, brand development, working across the companys brands, including NARS, Laura Mercier, Bare Essentials and Cle de Peau. Her first major project in the New York-based position will be focused on China. The jobs are similar in that I will remain in luxury/prestige brand management, and working to strengthen brands globally but the Shiseido job is broader and more focused on overall brand growth and business strategy, Lee tells Marketing Daily. "I'm grateful to Shiseido for giving me this opportunity. The beauty industry is incredibly innovative and competitive, and I look forward to being a part of Shiseido's leap to the forefront of it. advertisement advertisement Beauty and fashion brands are under increased scrutiny by discerning customers, with the trend toward consumers requiring brands to really know them, fit them, and take a clear social position, she says. Lee, who was global director of Book by Cadillac, left the company Aug. 17 after six years. She joined General Motors as director, brand marketing, Cadillac in 2012. While at the automaker, her purview had been to develop Cadillac brand strategy and consistency, to explore and nurture partnerships and experiential marketing, and to head up the global marketing planning team that ensures the Cadillac brand is consistent around the world. Lee, 37, was brought to Cadillac as one of General Motors youngest-ever executives, tasked with a plan to re-invent the then-110-year-old brand. She immediately led the complete overhaul of Cadillacs brand positioning and identity. In her second year at the company she was part of the decision to move Cadillac from Detroit to New York. GM announced in late September it was moving Cadillac back to the Detroit area. The moves follow the arrival of Global CMO Deborah Wahl, who joined the company in late March from McDonalds, and new President Steve Carlisle, who took over that position in April. Sean Thornton has assumed the role of global director of Book by Cadillac. Thornton joined the automaker in August 2012 as national advertising manager. He served in that position for 2 1/2 years before becoming chief of staff of then-Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. In May 2017 he became senior manager, international operations for the brand and was the U.S.-based lead contact for Cadillac operations in the Middle East, Korea, Israel and Japan. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 20, 2018 A federal judge has dismissed a class-action complaint accusing data broker and marketer NaviStone and mortgage lender Quicken Loans of violating people's privacy by using "de-anonymization" technology that allegedly identified otherwise unknown web users. But the ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas in New Jersey, allows Michael Allen to reformulate a claim for intrusion upon seclusion and bring it again. Allen's lawsuit against Quicken Loans and NaviStone stemmed from a report last year that retailers were embedding code from NaviStone on their sites. That code allegedly captured a host of information from visitors to online commerce sites -- including their keystrokes, IP addresses, and other data -- and then determined the identities of at least some visitors. For instance, if web users typed in their email or snail mail addresses, the technology's keystroke-logging capabilities would record the addresses, even if the users never hit the "enter" button, Gizmodo reported last year. advertisement advertisement Allen alleged in a lawsuit filed last December that NaviStone's technology amounts to wiretaps that enable it to immediately, automatically, and secretly observe the keystrokes, mouseclicks and other electronic communications of visitors regardless of whether the visitor ultimately procures financial services from Quicken. He claimed that NaviStone and Quicken Loans violated federal wiretapping laws and also a New Jersey privacy principle that prohibits intrusion upon seclusion -- the term for a violation of privacy that's highly offensive to a reasonable person. She dismissed that claim, but without prejudice -- meaning that Allen can bring it again. She says in the opinion that Allen's allegations regarding that claim were too conclusory and that he didn't spell out whether the damages on a class-wide basis would amount to at least $5 million -- the minimum required for Allen to proceed with the potential class-action in federal court. She also dismissed claims relating to alleged violations of the federal wiretap law. Those dismissals were with prejudice, meaning that Allen can't amend those claims and bring them again. Quicken Loans isn't the only company sued for allegedly working with NaviStone. Consumers also brought complaints in federal court in New York against mattress company Casper, men's outdoor apparel company Moosejaw and clothing retailer Tyrwhitt. In July, U.S. District Court Judge William Pauley in the Southern District of New York dismissed all claims against Casper, Moosejaw, Tyrwhitt and NaviStone. In the last four weeks, two different California residents have brought new class-action privacy complaints against Casper, New Moosejaw and NaviStone in federal court in California. Those complaints -- which contain similar allegations to the previous ones -- are in the initial stages of litigation. A sperm analysis involves checking a sample of semen for overall sperm health. The process can help doctors to determine the underlying cause of a persons inability to conceive, or it may confirm the outcome of a vasectomy. A sperm analysis tests for several markers of sperm health, including: the number of sperm in 1 milliliter (ml) of semen the size and shape of the sperm the ability of the sperm to move correctly In this article, we describe the purpose and procedure involved in sperm analysis, and we explain what the results may mean. Why is sperm analysis done? Share on Pinterest A sperm analysis can help a doctor diagnose fertility problems. People may require a sperm analysis for different reasons. Some individuals or couples will request a sperm analysis if they are having difficulty conceiving. In couples that have been unable to conceive, some estimates suggest that there is a male factor present in 40 to 50 percent of cases. Up to 2 percent of men demonstrate issues with their sperm, resulting from one or a combination of: low sperm count in a sample of semen poor sperm movement, known as motility abnormal sperm size and shape, known as morphology People may also have a sperm analysis to check if a vasectomy was successful. A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that doctors carry out for permanent male sterilization. Following a vasectomy, doctors typically recommend regular sperm analyses for several months to ensure there are no sperm remaining in the semen. How to obtain a sperm sample Usually, a doctor will require a person to provide a semen sample while in the doctors office. The most common way to collect a sample is for a person to masturbate and ejaculate into a sterile cup. The doctor provides a private room for a person to do this. In some cases, a person can collect the semen sample at home. A doctor can provide a special condom that allows a person to collect a semen sample during sexual activity. Otherwise, a doctor may recommend that the person ejaculates into a collection cup while at home. When collecting a sample at home, people must remember to keep it at room temperature and bring it to the laboratory within a short timescale after collection. To make sure that the sample is usable, the doctor may require that a person: abstains from sex or masturbation for several days before the test does not avoid ejaculation for more than 14 days before the test avoids alcohol, caffeine, and marijuana before the sperm analysis does not use lubricants when collecting the sample informs the doctor of any medications or herbal remedies they are taking, before giving a sample avoids providing a sample when unwell or stressed The American Association for Clinical Chemistry recommends that medical professionals carry out 2 or more separate sperm analyses within 2- to 3-week intervals. As sperm profiles can vary from day-to-day, an average of these results may give the most accurate picture of sperm health. What do the results mean? The results of a sperm analysis should be ready within a few days. A sperm analysis looks at several factors when considering the health of the sperm. We discuss these factors and their results below. Sperm count or concentration Share on Pinterest A sperm analysis can help identify issues with sperm count, motility, or shape. Sperm count refers to the number of sperm that are present in 1 ml of semen. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines suggest that a normal sperm count is at least 15 million per ml or no fewer than 39 million sperm per sample. Having less than this indicates a low sperm count. Some research suggests that up to 90 percent of male infertility issues result from abnormal sperm counts. Home sperm analysis kits usually only test for sperm count. As this is just one aspect of male fertility, it is important that people see their doctor and get comprehensive sperm analysis to check for other factors affecting their sperm. Sperm motility Sperm motility is the ability of the sperm to move efficiently. Low motility can reduce the sperms capacity to move through the female reproductive system to fertilize the egg. In a typical sample, at least 50 percent of the sperm will demonstrate normal motility. Sperm morphology Morphology refers to the size and the shape of the individual sperm. Normal sperm have a long tail and oval-shaped head. Abnormally sized or shaped sperm can have difficulty reaching, penetrating, and fertilizing the egg. Normal semen contains a minimum of 4 percent sperm with standard form. Other factors Although sperm count, motility, and morphology are three of the main factors that medical professionals will check when assessing male fertility, they are not the only factors. Other factors that doctors consider when doing a sperm analysis include: Volume of semen sample . This means the amount of semen a person provides in their sample. Typically, a sample is at least half a teaspoon. Less than this can suggest that there may be a blockage in the vessels through which sperm travels. . This means the amount of semen a person provides in their sample. Typically, a sample is at least half a teaspoon. Less than this can suggest that there may be a blockage in the vessels through which sperm travels. Liquefaction . Semen normally leaves the body in a thickened state. Liquefaction time assesses how long it takes for the semen to become liquid. Failure to liquefy, or liquefying slowly, may indicate a problem. . Semen normally leaves the body in a thickened state. Liquefaction time assesses how long it takes for the semen to become liquid. Failure to liquefy, or liquefying slowly, may indicate a problem. PH level . Having a pH that is too high (alkaline) or too low (acidic) may affect the health of the sperm and their ability to move through the female reproductive tract. . Having a pH that is too high (alkaline) or too low (acidic) may affect the health of the sperm and their ability to move through the female reproductive tract. Seminal fructose levels. Semen samples that do not contain sperm may demonstrate low levels of fructose. This suggests a problem with the function of the seminal glands. What do abnormal results mean? Share on Pinterest A doctor may recommend further tests to identify the cause of abnormal results. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise that a slightly abnormal sperm analysis does not mean that a person is permanently infertile. Instead, doctors can use the results as a tool to help identify what factors are causing fertility issues. People who receive abnormal results from a semen analysis typically undergo further testing to help identify the exact issue. In many cases, a persons fertility issues resolve with the right treatment. Semen analysis after a vasectomy Following a vasectomy, doctors will check a persons semen for the presence of sperm. If the semen sample does not contain any sperm, people may be able to stop using condoms and other forms of birth control, as pregnancy is unlikely. However, if sperm is still present, people should continue using contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies. They may need further sperm analysis tests until their semen no longer shows the presence of sperm. We've been hearing news about the next PlayStation all of 2018 and news of Sony skipping E3 2019 points to a new rumour. A Redditor by the name RuthenicCookie correctly revealed that Sony will skip E3 next year has now come with more rumours to speculate about. Pexels According to the Redditor, PlayStation 5 will be unveiled sometime in the middle of 2019 followed by a full reveal through a PlayStation Experience event. The new console by Sony is expected to be released sometime in March 2020 or November 2020. This will mark seven years since the release of the PlayStation 4. Pexels Developers are already tinkering and developing games for the next-gen console and these kits have been described as a monster. It has a Ryzen 8 core and is expected to cost $500. The user revealed that Sony is skipping E3 next year because the company is working hard for the PlayStation 5 reveal. As for games, RuthenicCookie says that games towards the end of PlayStation 4's cycle such as The Last Of Us Part II, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima will launch alongside PS5. As of now, there is no word on backward compatibility on the PlayStation 5; however, it would be disappointing if the company decides to exclude the much-demanded feature. Sony's decision to pull out of E3 and not hold a PSX event in 2018 could point to evidence that the company is focusing all their efforts to launch the next console. *Main image for representation purposes only Google pays Apple more than $9 billion a year to be the default search engine on the iPhone. Apple CEO Tim Cook defended Apple's position for accepting billions of dollars from Google saying, it is the best search engine for iOS users Youtube Google has been accused of a number of privacy issues such as storing location data even when users opted out. Google also shut down Google+ last month as over 500,000 accounts were breached. When asked about it, Cook told HBO, "I think their search engine is the best. Look at what we've done with the controls we've built in. We have private web browsing. We have an intelligent tracker prevention. What we've tried to do is come up with ways to help our users through their course of the day. It's not a perfect thing. I'd be the very first person to say that. But it goes a long way to helping. According to Goldman Sachs analyst Rod Hall, the payment for Google to remain the default search engine on iOS devices could be increased to $12 billion in 2019. Cook has previously commented negatively on companies like Facebook and Google that make most of their money from advertising based on user data. Apple We shouldn't sugarcoat the consequences. This is surveillance. And these stockpiles of personal data serve only to enrich the companies that collect them," Cook said in his October 24 speech. "This should make us very uncomfortable. It should unsettle us. However, Apple has not stopped working with Google regardless of its strong stand about user privacy. Apple has added controls to Safari that keep Google from tracking user data. "Look at what we've done with the controls we've built in," Cook said. "We have private web browsing. We have an intelligent tracker prevention. What we've tried to do is come up with ways to help our users through their course of the day. Source: CNBC Nickel futures on the London Metal Exchange continue to trade at their lowest level since December 2017 while supply disruptions from Indonesia are helping boost tin prices back toward $20,000 per tonne. Read more here in our live futures report Here is how prices looked at the close of trading:Unwavering demand for refined copper following Chinas ban of category 7 copper scrap imports and tighter refined copper cathodes supply from overseas may lead to higher spot copper premiums cif Shanghai in the first half of 2019, Awin Resources deputy general manager Danny Ju told Fastmarkets in a recent interview.Antofagasta will target record copper output in 2019 while expecting the market to head into a small deficit next year, boosting copper prices, chief executive officer Ivan Arriagada said in an interview with Fastmarkets.Commonwealth of Independent States export slab prices continued to decline in the week ended November 19, spurred by the weakening in the finished flat steel sectors both in the CIS and in the global markets, Southeast Asia in particular. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Bolaris visited Venice on 13 November, on the occasion of the arrival of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (14-17 November) at the seat of the Holy Metropolis of Italy and Malta, in order to attend the celebrations for the name day of the His Eminence Metropolitan Gennadios, departing on the morning of 15 November. On the first day, he visited St. Marks Basilica, where he was given a formal tour by a representative of the local Catholic Church. In the afternoon, he met with His Eminence the Metropolitan of Italy and Malta Gennadios, as well as with the President of the Greek Community of Venice, Mr. Dimitri Zafeiropoulos. Subsequently, he travelled to the Hellenic Institute for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice and spoke with the President of the Supervisory Committee, Professor Christos Arampatzis, as well as with the Director of the Institute, Professor Georgios Ploumidis. The Deputy Minister provided guidelines for the new Organisation document of the Foundation being drafted, which have been set through the new law (4505/2017). The following day, 14 November, Mr Bolaris welcomed His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Venice Airport Marco Polo, whom he accompanied to the Hellenic Institute of Venice, where a reception was held for his All Holiness. Apart from the Deputy Minister, Greece's Ambassador to Italy Tasia Athanasiou, the President of the Supervisory Committee and the Director of the Hellenic Institute were also present. Subsequently, Mr. Bolaris attended the dinner which was held by the Hellenic Institute in honour of His All Holiness. JOURNALIST: Let me start with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Many claim that the Prespes Agreement, which aims to solve the name issue with FYROM, is affecting the stability of the Greek Government. Recently, the coalition party ANEL has stated that the term Macedonia is Greek and its leader and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos are opposing the Agreement. Do you think that the Greek Parliament will approve the Prespes Agreement? Or will it create further tension and polarization within the society as well as the Government leading to early elections? G. KATROUGALOS: Greece wants to be a factor of stability, in the Balkans and the whole area of the Eastern Mediterranean and we have tried to act in this way in order to resolve a dispute of many decades with our neighbors in the north. We consider the Prespes agreement as mutually beneficial for the two countries, one that will help also create a momentum for resolving other disputes in the area. So, we are confident that, being such a good agreement, we are not going to have problems to pass it with a good majority, over-passing also the number of seats we have in Parliament. It is true that our minor partner in the government has a different standing on that, but despite this fact I dont have any doubt that we are going to have the necessary majority in Parliament. JOURNALIST: Mr. Foreign Minister, lets remain in Balkans. Lets now briefly talk about the recent tensions between Albania and Greece over the death of the 35-year-old ethnic Greek man who was shot by police in southern Albania. Over the years, the problems between Tirana and Athens are mostly revolved around the fact that Tirana neither protects nor safeguards properly the rights of the Greek ethnic minority in Albania. Would you, as the Government of Greece, consider using the Albanian accession process to the EU as a way to safeguard the rights of the Greek minority in Albania? Or in other words, would you ask for the implementation of the sanctions to Tirana if they do not comply with the Copenhagen criteria in respect with the Greek minority? G. KATROUGALOS: We are for the European perspectives of all the Balkan countries, Albania of course included. We have started this process in the Salonika Summit some years ago and we remain strategically focused on that. But, of course, in order for any country to be admitted to the European Union, it must respect the European aquis, especially regarding human rights, especially rights of minorities and the Copenhagen criteria. So, Albania is not a different case regarding that. We insist, of course, for the respect of the rights of the Greek minority there, as an issue that concerns Greek compatriots of ours, but also some other principles which concern the perspectives of Albania, as any other Balkan or any other State that wants to be admitted to the European Union. I consider that the last very sad incident is not going to be a factor that would affect, in the long run, our bilateral relations provided, of course, that Albania would continue the common efforts with us to improve these relations and protect the rights of our minority there. JOURNALIST: Mr. Foreign Minister, at the end of October there was a new spat with Turkey over the Greek territorial waters in Aegean Sea after the former Greek Foreign minister announced plans for their expansion. Erdogan administration responded that an expansion of the Greek territorial waters will be a cause of war. Prime Minister Tsipras replied that Greece neither threatens nor accepts threats and last week Prime Minister Tsipras said that he accepted the invitation from President Erdogan to visit Turkey and discuss this very sensitive matter. Are you hopeful about the meeting? Do you think that there will be a peaceful way to resolve this problem? G. KATROUGALOS: The foundation of our foreign policy is the respect of international law and, regarding the issue of territorial waters, we have an international treaty which -it is true- Turkey has not yet ratified, but it binds it because it has become customary law most of its provisions. Anyway, we look forward to the meeting of our Prime Minister with President Erdogan, not because we want to discuss rights that are related to our sovereignty, which of course are not put into negotiations -such as the extension of our territorial waters- but exactly because we want to explore the possibility of having a peaceful understanding and a peaceful solution to bilateral problems. I am optimistic that the two leaders are going to have a very positive dialogue and promote this issue. JOURNALIST: Mr. Foreign Minister, relatedly, apart from all the other incoming refugees there are many Turkish asylum seekers in your country as well. Majority of these individuals allegedly fled Turkey due to the recent political situation. According to several field work conducted in Greece, many of these asylum seekers are neither allowed to be employed nor establish work although the say they are thankful to the hospitality of Greek people and Greek authorities. What are you going to do with these people who really do not like to stay in Greece, but would like to move forward to a number of countries in Western and/or Northern Europe where they have friends and relatives? G. KATROUGALOS: As I said before, the foundation of our policy at all levels is the respect of international law, and the international law deriving from the Geneva treaties commits us to obligations regarding refugees. Also humanitarian law, common decency obliges to treat all, not just the asylum applicants but all migrants, in a humane way. Of course we cannot equate asylum seekers with economic migrants, but they all deserve a decent examination of their case. We have tried -although we in Greece have been in a perfect storm, a combination of economic and refugees crises- to be open to these people that are seeking a better future in our land. But you are absolutely right, the big majority of them does not want to stay in Greece, exactly because we are still having economic problems. We are recovering but we are still not at the level of prosperous countries like Germany or the Nordic countries. We think that for this reason, migration must be treated as a European issue, not a national one. We seek a solution to this problem that would not put the burden of the admission of immigrants solely onto the first-entry countries like Italy, Spain or Greece. A holistic solution to the problem that comprises also a change in the Dublin treaty, which regulates how asylum seekers are treated in the European Union, but also protection of borders and, even more importantly, how we are going to help people in neighbouring countries of the European Union, to keep their citizens there. Precisely this external dimension of migration may become the most important in the future. JOURNALIST: Last but not least. On 5th of November, the USA re-imposed sanctions against Iran. However, Washington gave a waiver to eight countries in order to allow them to import oil from Tehran. Apparently, Greece is one of the eight countries. Also, Athens has suspended the purchase in the recent weeks, but according to some reliable sources that we reached, your Government is evaluating prospects for resuming some imports. My question to you, is your Government considering resuming trade with Iran? In that regard, do you think that the European Union should reinstate the sanctions against Teheran? G. KATROUGALOS: As I mentioned, we respect international law, we respect also multilateralism and international treaties. Moreover, we are a member of the European Union and we are going to follow the options of the European Union regarding all these issues you have mentioned. So, I can tell you that we are against trade war, we are for open commerce, we are for the respect of all treaties, especially the treaties that the European Union has contributed in their drafting. We are not going to differentiate ourselves from the European consensus in all these fields. Today at the Council, we broached many issues, beginning with the ratification of the agreement for Brexit, which is a fair compromise that takes into account the interests of the European Union, all the 27 states, as well as those of the UK. We stated our support and solidarity to Spain, which has a special issue with Gibraltar. All the other subjects we discussed at the Council are centred on a significant requirement: For European foreign policy and defence to be solid, and as independent as possible. This is what we supported during the course of this meeting, both as regards Ukraine, regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina - where we also supported the significance of the European perspective of the Western Balkans as a hope for their future - and naturally for Yemen which is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. I had the opportunity to meet with the Ministers of Foreign of Affairs of France, Mr. Le Drian, and of Cyprus, Mr. Christodoulides, in the context of the same issues, for the common European defence, and especially of course with Nikos Christodoulides on the national issues of mutual interest. We are coordinating our action with Cyprus to also deal with current issues, such as Cyprus inalienable sovereign right to proceed with exploiting its wealth-producing resources, and for our overall coordination regarding all the other national issues. And we will continue to work closely, guided by the respect for International Law, fending off any clamor that challenges rights that are based on the Law of the Sea, on international agreements that our countries have concluded. Thank you very much. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba shakes hands with Singapore Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Lew Chuen Hong during Silver Jubilee Commemoration Ceremony to mark 25th edition of Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) held onboard INS Sahyadri in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, in Visakhapatnam, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. A PTI Photo. VISAKHAPATNAM, AP (PTI): Bilateral naval exercises by India and Singapore have further strengthened the good maritime cooperation between the two nations over the years, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba has said. Addressing the media on Monday onboard "INS Sahyadri" at the navy dockyard here on the occasion of the silver jubilee of SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise) 2018, he said both the countries had accorded highest priority for maritime security in the Asian region. "India and Singapore are like-minded countries and the cooperation between the two over the last 25 years has further strengthened the ties," he said. Noting that the bilateral exercises had started in 1994 with only one anti-submarine ship, he said it had grown every year from then and in the ongoing event 14 ships were taking part indicating the good ties between the two nations. The bilateral exercises and professorial interactions had given a chance to exchange views and wide range of information between the naval personnel of the two nations, the Admiral said. Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy Rear Admiral Lew Chuen Hong, who also spoke, said acknowledged India's support to Singapore and said the friendship between the two countries helped in the area of maritime security in the region. The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Singapore in June this year enhanced the special defence relations, he said. Noting that both the countries had signed an agreement for continuous bilateral exercises, he said SIMBEX was the largest exercise in the Bay of Bengal. Later, both the naval chiefs unveiled the SIMBEX logo and presented SIMBEX caps. In addition, they released the SIMBEX India postal cover and Singapore stamps during the commemoration ceremony. Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern naval Command Vice-Admiral Karambir Singh and other officials were among those present. A total of 14 ships were participating in the 12-day exercise, which began on November 10 as part of efforts by the two countries to further solidify maritime security cooperation. Started in 1994, the SIMBEX has graduated into a complex maritime combat drills featuring missile and torpedo firings as well as shore-based intensive professional exchanges. An industry veteran with 46 years experience in the builders merchant sector has joined Pavestone. Tom Parker is the paving suppliers new Non-Executive Director. He began his career aged 17 working for MP Harris at the Bexhill-on-Sea branch. In 1984 he formed Parker Building Supplies, and went on to make it the 18th largest builders merchant in the UK. In March this year Parker sold the business to Cairngorm Capital. Parker served eight years on the board of UNIMER, and continued as a Non-Executive Chairman with the NMBS board after the two companies merged until this year. He was also instrumental in the formation of the National Buying Group in 2003, where he served on the board and as Chairman for a period. Pavestones Managing Director Kevin Fowler said: I am delighted to welcome Tom to the Board. With his extensive experience in the builders merchant industry and the particular interest Tom has always had in hard landscaping, he will be a valuable addition to the Company's board level resources and will broaden the capabilities and experience of our board of directors. Parker added: I have been a customer of Pavestone since its formation in 2003 and have admired not only the considerable growth that the company has achieved over the 15 years but also how the trading ethos and relationships with customers has been maintained during that growth. I'm delighted to have been asked to serve on the board where I look forward to contributing to their continued success and growth strategy." UBLY Students from FFA chapters across Michigan attended the 212 and 360 Leadership Conferences. These conferences are an activity of the National FFA Organization made possible by title sponsor Syngenta. Alex Foote, Sabrina Schumacher, Joshua Russell, Makaila Cantrell, Maze Gusa, Alex Susalla, and Alexis Schmidt, members of the Ubly FFA Chapter, attended the event Nov. 8 and 9 in Lansing. 212 the temperature at which water boils focuses on taking students to the boiling point of leadership. Water is extremely hot at 212 degrees, but just one more degree gets us to the next level. The two-day 212 Leadership Conference is focused on student development and helps FFA members become aware of personal growth. FFA members attended sessions on making positive decisions, setting SMART goals and taking steps towards self-improvement. 360 takes students full circle in terms of chapter leadership. The two-day 360 conference is focused on the importance of influence and how to become an influential leader. Students spent their time in sessions understanding the importance of influence, conducting a chapter needs assessment, crafting an influence plan for their local FFA chapter and developing a strategy to make an influence. Russell Roof Tiles has won its largest single project in five years, delivering 1 million worth of pitched roof tiles and accessories for a 250 million Ministry of Defence development in Wiltshire. The development is the largest MoD housing scheme currently underway in the UK and will see 917 modern homes built near Salisbury. With an estimated completion date of Spring 2020, the large-scale development is part of the Army Basing Programme, which includes around 4,000 British troops returning from Germany and relocating within the UK in 2019. The development will comprise of three- and four-bedroomed houses and a small number of bungalows, adapted for families with special requirements. The development is the largest ever contracting scheme for project contractor Lovell Partnerships, which appointed Russell Roof Tiles as the sole roofing supplier. The manufacturer created a specific delivery schedule for all three sites that provided Lovell with the assurance and commitment it needed when working on such a large-scale project. Over the next 18 months, Russell Roof Tiles will supply tiles in two different profiles from its Commercial Range - Grampian in Slate Grey and Double Roman in Terracotta. The Double Roman tile is a standard profiled roof tile with a small round roll, lending itself to both traditional and contemporary roof styles. The Grampian tile is a standard flat interlocking roof tile laid half broken bonded, which combines the traditional appearance of slate tiles with the security of an interlocking design and the economic benefits of concrete. Russell Roof Tiles also supplied its full range of roofing accessories, ensuring compliance. James Pendleton, Regional Sales Director at Russell Roof Tiles, said: This is a large-scale and significant project and we are proud to be involved in the project, delivering our market-leading and sustainable products and systems. The Russell Roof Tiles team will utilise its incredible expertise and knowledge of previously working with Ministry of Defence and Lovell Partnerships to deliver an efficient and high level of service. We look forward to working closely with the team over the next 18 months. Russell Roof Tiles has previously worked with Lovell Partnerships to deliver 346 homes for the MoDefence in Stafford in 2014 and 2015, as part of the 50 million Project BORONA redevelopment that also saw new barracks accommodation as well as new offices, workshops, shops and leisure facilities. It supplied 350,000 Grampian tiles on a schedule that had to run with military precision to achieve the strict delivery and programme deadlines. Rob Worboys, Procurement and Sustainability Manager for Lovell Partnerships, said: Lovell were attracted to Russell Roof Tiles for a number of reasons, not least of which being their commitment to producing quality products within a sustainable and innovative manufacturing environment, demonstrated by their silver membership of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, an organisation Lovell is pleased to support. Russell Roof Tiles track record of successful delivery on our premier housing schemes across a number of years was also a major factor and the team have worked closely with our operations team in planning deliveries to meet our ambitious programme, a great example of partnership working to achieve mutual goals. Small-business owners throughout southwestern Connecticut are looking for an uptick in foot traffic this weekend as officials and organizations are pushing for residents to shop local. Its an opportunity to get them some exposure, said Dan Onofrio, president and CEO of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, speaking of Small Business Saturday. Its an opportunity for us to really get behind small-business owners and encourage people to shop locally as we start thinking about the holiday. The event has grown from what was originally a corporate-backed alternative to Black Friday shopping into something local business have come to embrace. The BRBC this year teamed up with officials in area municipalities to drum up business for local entrepreneurs, supporting local campaigns like Shop Small Stratford. Its the second year that Stratford-based vacation-style gift shop Mellow Monkey has spearheaded its local initiative, working off the national campaign supported by American Express. With more than 55 local businesses on board, owner Howard Aspinwall said this years event already surpasses 2017. Stratfords version of Small Business Saturday comes with an array of discounts and deals among the participating locations, which can all be found on the Shop Small Stratford website. The event really is small businesses way of showcasing what they offer in Stratford, Aspinwall said. I think there are a lot of businesses participating this year that probably a lot of businesses in Stratford didnt even know about, and its also a good opportunity for the small businesses to give back something to the customers. Similar efforts have popped up throughout the region. Stamfords business improvement organization, Downtown Stamford, has also started its own shop-small campaign for the holiday season, promoting dozens of independent businesses in the citys commercial hub. Its very important, said the groups leader, Sandy Goldstein. These businesses and these small mom and pops have one heck of a job competing against the Banana Republic types, and weve got to do whatever we can not only to help them, but to nurture them because they are the heart and soul of this downtown business area, so we do whatever we can. That includes providing participating businesses with a stipend to decorate their storefront for the holidays. The organization has gone as far as halting road construction in downtown Stamford from Nov. 15 to the Jan. 1. to alleviate traffic while people shop. To make it easier for residents to travel to stores along Main Street in Danbury, CityCenter Danbury is partnering with the Danbury Parking Authority to offer complimentary parking along the corridor from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Greenwichs stock of independent businesses is also taking part. We always pick out a certain area of a shopping district in Greenwich that we focus on, said Marcia O'Kane, president and CEO of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. Because of the multitude of businesses that we are fortunate enough to have in Greenwich we cannot possibly service all the small businesses, so we choose anywhere between three to 10 every year for a certain area. This year the chamber is focusing on helping businesses in the Greenwich Design District, which is made up of around 20 local businesses geared toward home design including Putnam & Mason, Togas and more. Contributed photo / PORTLAND Celebrate with Music will be performed by the Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2 p.m. at Portland High School, 95 High St. The group will perform classical, traditional and spiritual Christmas and Hanukkah favorites. Musical Director, Gina Fredericks and Asst Musical Director Jeanne Samolik along with accompanist John Lomartra will present 85 members and 6 orchestra members from 21 towns in Connecticut. As wildfires raged across California, mobile phones went silent as towers and lines succumbed to the flames. "We had to drive through neighborhoods with sirens and public address systems to alert residents and visitors," said David Katz, a spokesman for the Malibu Search and Rescue Team. "In some cases, we had to go house to house on foot." Those experiences during the widespread fires that claimed more than 70 lives -- as well as during and after hurricanes earlier this year -- reveal a downside to the wireless communications upon which Americans are increasingly dependent: Mobile service falls short of old-fashioned landlines when it comes to surviving catastrophic events. That can leave citizens unable to receive automated warnings or call 911 for help. "The current technology gives us ubiquity, but not great resiliency," said Jamie Barnett, a partner at the Venable law firm and former chief of the Federal Communications Commission's public safety bureau. More than half of U.S. households -- and more than 70 percent of adults renting their homes -- rely on mobile phones, according to survey results from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The devices are convenient, but can fail when a storm knocks down a cell tower, when batteries run down, and when the lines that carry phone calls from towers to the network are cut during recovery efforts. There is no requirement for cell sites to have backup power. The industry has resisted efforts to make that mandatory, arguing that it would be overly burdensome in part because it can be expensive to rent space for equipment and hard to get permits to store fuel in some places. Widespread service failures after Hurricane Michael in Florida last month brought criticism from the FCC, which is now reviewing phone companies' performance. President Donald Trump visited ravaged areas of California on Saturday and viewed the charred remains of burned-out homes during a visit accompanied by Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. The president stressed common ground on how to approach the forest-fire problem, marking a change of tone from his previous criticism of the state's Democratic leaders. The largest mobile providers said they were working hard to restore service as soon as crews are able to access damaged areas. "Overall, our network continues to perform well and is currently operating at more than 99 percent of normal in affected areas in Northern and Southern California," said Jim Greer, an AT&T spokesman. "Our wireless network has performed amazingly well throughout the devastating fire," said Howie Waterman, a Verizon spokesman. In decades past, telephones at the end of copper lines could offer service, even during widespread electricity failures, if a nearby hub managed to have power, perhaps from a generator. That's not to say that arrangement is indestructible. For weeks after Hurricane Maria bombarded Puerto Rico last year, landline service was "generally non-existent," according to an FCC report. Cell phone service, too, was badly damaged but recovered faster, pointing to an advantage of mobile service: phone companies keep portable cell towers that they move into trouble zones when needed. In California, the City of Malibu tweeted on Nov. 13 that AT&T and Verizon Communications were installing temporary towers. AT&T said it deployed eight truck-borne cell sites, including four in Malibu and three in Paradise. Nevertheless, vulnerability increases as dependence on wireless phones grows. The number of wireless service outages reported to the FCC jumped to 1,079 in 2016 from 189 seven years earlier, according to the Government Accountability Office. Accidents such as damage to cables during construction work made up about three-fourths of the total, with almost all the remainder due to storms and fires, the agency said. The GAO said network resiliency would be improved if there was a requirement for power backups at cell towers. It also listed possible disadvantages of such an approach: some cell sites, such as rooftops, might not be able to accommodate heavy backup gear, and power interruptions could outlast an emergency battery, or a generator's fuel supply. After Hurricane Michael swept through Florida last month, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai criticized what he called "slow progress" in restoring wireless service. Five days after the storm struck, 65 percent of cell sites in hard-hit Bay County weren't working, according to agency figures. Pai ordered an investigation, which is continuing. Carriers defended their restoration efforts and offered free mobile service to some customers. More recently, AT&T offered waivers of fees for some services for landline customers affected by three California fires. And some wireless providers have handed out free phones. The vast majority of service interruptions in California were caused by underground fiber lines being burned, according to a Verizon spokeswoman. If fiber is carried on poles that burn down, then there will also be service interruption. FCC commissioners who monitored efforts in Florida reported a sometimes-chaotic scene, with crews sent in to restore power lines and other utilities at times cutting fiber lines that support phone networks. "Cuts during recovery and restoration are something that we see through every storm," FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said at a Nov. 15 news conference. "We have to do a better job of that, in addition to the broader questions of making sure the network itself survives the storm." After Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of the Gulf Coast in 2005, the FCC passed requirements for backup power for mobile phone sites. The wireless industry opposed the regulations in court and the FCC withdrew them. After Superstorm Sandy pummeled the Northeast in 2012, the agency proposed issuing public data showing which carriers maintained post-storm service, and which didn't. The industry objected and the FCC eventually withdrew the proposal, said David Turetsky, who backed the idea while serving as the agency' public safety bureau. The FCC agreed to voluntary steps proposed by the carriers in 2016 that calls for them to help each other, and to consult with localities. After disasters strike, the agency publishes data that shows what portion of a county's cell sites are working, without specifying performance company-by-company. "Providers take significant steps to maintain and restore service before, during and after disasters," Scott Bergmann, senior vice president of regulatory affairs at CTIA, a telephone industry trade group, said in an email. "We continue to work closely with emergency response partners, including the FCC, on improvements to ensure consumers have wireless service when they need it most." | BY Ricki Green | Blis, the global pioneer in advanced location data technology, has today announced the appointment of Ben Phillips as VP of strategic accounts. Phillips will bring direct agency experience to the senior leadership team. He will be working with clients, continuing to evangelise the strengths that mobile can bring to the marketing mix. Phillips joins Blis at a moment when the company is broadening its technical offerings, including a cutting-edge blockchain pilot platform in partnership with IBM. This platform will take on brands challenges around verification and transparency in digital advertising. Blis has also recently expanded its executive team with Diane Perlman (formerly CMO at Unruly) stepping in as CMO, in addition to CTO Aaron McKee, who joined Blis from Job Today. Phillips is a seasoned mobile expert, with 15 years experience. He joins Blis after having spent five years as global head of mobile at MediaCom, working with brands to maximise their media investment by tapping into mobiles potential. His achievements include growing brands mobile spend by over 117%. Says Greg Isbister, founder and CEO of Blis: Bens track record in driving mobile sales and strategy at MediaCom is impressive. Attracting this caliber of talent into Blis is further testament to our growth and momentum. Ben is a exceptional strategic thinker and operational leader who will partner with major global advertisers and their agency partners. Were excited to welcome Ben into the team. Says Phillips: It feels like the ideal time for me to return to the service provider side I started in 15 years ago. I live and breathe innovation in digital marketing, and joining the Blis team is an ideal fit for me. As market leaders, Blis is the perfect next step for me, especially given their reputation and positive momentum. I will be tapping into my experiences from the agency and brand worlds to supplement Blis incredible work with agency partners such as MediaCom, helping to enhance Blis compelling campaigns. WASHINGTON Connecticuts congressional delegation is at odds with the Malloy administration over its failure to apply for an expansion of the HUSKY program that would give low-income residents access to new telemedicine services, especially for psychiatric care and substance abuse treatment. The Malloy administration, however, says the process for applying for permission to add these services to the HUSKY program may not achieve the desired results, is lengthy, and is not currently a priority. Connecticut is the only state in the nation that has not requested a waiver from the Department of Health and Human Services to incorporate telemedicine into its Medicaid program, known as HUSKY, the lawmakers say. Led by Rep. Joe Courtney, the five Democrats representing Connecticut in the U.S. House of Representatives are pressing the Malloy administration to apply for the waiver, which would allow Connecticuts doctors and hospitals to receive Medicaid reimbursements for their services when they treat HUSKY patients through telemedicine. In a September letter to state Department of Social Services Commissioner Roderick Bremby, the lawmakers which, besides Courtney, included Reps. John Larson, D-1st District, Rosa DeLauro, D-2nd District, Jim Himes, D-4th District and Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District said more needs to be done to fight the opioid epidemic in Connecticut and reaching patients through telemedicine, especially in hard-to-serve rural areas, would help. We hope the Department of Social Services will see the benefits of this effective treatment modality and implement a telemental health waiver as a means to better serve the states underserved populations, the lawmakers said. A report by Epstein Baker Green, a law firm that specializes in health issues said telemental health has gone mainstream. It is so popular that it is known by different names, the law firm said, including ecounseling, e-therapy, online therapy, cybercounseling, and online counseling. In a nutshell, telemental health services provide remote care, using videoconferencing, computer programs and mobile devices, through a variety of mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists. Hospitals are also using the technology to establish telepsychiatric assessment programs in their emergency departments and to set up virtual networks of mental health professionals providing services to underserved geographic areas. Those services are needed in Connecticut, Courtney said. The tyranny of distance is really out here, he said, especially in rural parts Connecticut. HUSKYs low-income population is very vulnerable to the opioid epidemic that has gripped the nation. But, according to the Connecticuts Medicaid formula, the state would have to pay for half of the cost of the expansion of the HUSKY program to cover telemental health. Bremby replied to the lawmakers earlier this month, saying the state is considering adding limited telemedicine coverage in its HUSKY program, but views applying for a waiver for mental health and substance abuse disorder services a longer- term approach. The Department of Social Services could not immediately say what types of services it would try to add to the HUSKY program, which, like the waiver, would also require approval from the DHHs Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Courtney said what the Malloy administration proposes is not enough. It should apply for a full waiver, he said. In his letter to the lawmakers, Bremby also said that states that have waivers to treat mental illness and addiction through telemedicine tend to be states that started with very little Medicaid-covered access to behavioral health services in general and to substance use disorder in particular. In contrast, Connecticut has long offered these services, Bremby said. Further, the waiver approval process is often a quite protracted one. He also said his department reached out to other states that have applied for the waiver and discovered the telemedicine services offered in many states are extremely limited. The lawmakers, however, argue theres a great need for telemedicine services because the opioid epidemic requires the use of all available and medically appropriate tools to ensure that more Connecticut residents with substance use disorders can get care. As we know, with appropriate medical attention and behavioral health care, people living with addiction can recover, the lawmakers said. However, 87.5 percent of people with substance abuse disorders in our state report needing, but not receiving treatment. Courtney said he was made aware that Connecticuts hospitals and doctors could not be reimbursed for telemedicine services through the HUSKY program when an official from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMSA, spoke about telemedicine at a conference at Eastern Connecticut State University this summer. Afterwards, (health care) providers came up to me and said this is nice, this is really good, but we dont get reimbursed for the service, Courtney said. He and the other lawmakers also say the U.S. Department of Agriculture makes grant money available to doctors and hospitals to set up telemedicine technology and is actively promoting those grants, in amounts up to $500,000. Courtney said a USDA official introduced himself at a conference on rural health in the state this summer by saying Im from the USDA and Im here to give Connecticut money. But doctors and hospitals arent likely to pursue those grants to establish the technology if they are not paid for telemedicine services through HUSKY, Courtney said. The Epstein Baker Green report said there are many reasons for the boom in telemental health services. One is that mental health providers rarely have to lay hands on patients, so telehealth is a good fit. Other reasons telemental services are popular is that they are convenient for those who dont have a hospital or mental health professional nearby or those who are trying to reduce the stigma that sometimes is associated with a patient physically visiting a mental health provider. Espstein Baker Green also said patients surveyed regarding their use of telemental health services have consistently stated that they believe telemental health is a credible and effective practice of medicinestudies have found little or no difference in patient satisfaction as compared with face-to-face mental health interactions. HARTFORD Governor-elect Ned Lamont hasnt hired anyone to his administration, but on Monday he announced two more members of his transition team, who will be responsible for vetting the people he hires. Lamont announced that Kevin Myatt, senior vice president of human resources for Yale-New Haven Hospital, and John Denson, a senior client partner at Korn Ferry in Stamford, will be going over the resumes submitted through LamontTransition.org. Lamont said he knows how important hiring the right people was in his private life. I was a sociology major and I was building telecommunication systems, Lamont said. I had to have really good people who complimented my skills. Lamont founded Lamont Digital Systems back in 1980. He sold the company before announcing his run for governor. Lamont said hes looking for Myatt and Denson to vet the resumes they receive, but also to recruit talent. Lamont is responsible for hiring commissioners and deputy commissioners in some cases, which means he will directly be hiring a over 100 people before January. Lieutenant Governor-elect Susan Bysiewicz said she didnt know exactly how many hires they will need to make, but expect one person to lead each commission. I want the best and the brightest to be our commissioners, Lamont said. Thats for darn sure. He said hes going to set an example by not taking a salary or benefits, but he cant ask his commissioners to do the same. I dont think the salaries will be an issue for getting top talent, Bysiewicz said. She said theyve already heard from people who love the state and want to serve. Lamont said they have meetings with all the commissioners and plan to get an update from them on their priorities for their state agencies, but I am looking for a fresh start. He said hes likely going to keep some agency heads. Department of Children and Families Commissioner Joette Katz, Department of Corrections Commissioner Scott Semple, and Emergency Management and Public Safety Commissioner Dora Schriro have already announced their departure from state service. Policy Progress? Lamont said hes facing a $75 billion structural budget deficit that hes going to have to work through. He declined to offer many details about how he plans to charge his transition team when it comes to creating budget police. He said he feels like he was clear on the campaign trail when he talked about the big buckets of the state budget where we need to make changes. I spent a lot of time talking about health care and what we can do there, Lamont said. Lamonts health care proposals related to the budget were vague on the campaign trail. He talked about regional purchasing of pharmaceuticals, but was vague about his plans for the Medicaid population. And he offered no promises of universal coverage or a state-based individual mandate. Lamont also cited stretching out our pension payments for a period of time so we dont have any cliffs, as a solution to the budget pressures. Those pressures he learned are more acute in Connecticut than in western states. Just back from his first National Governors Association meeting in Colorado Springs, Lamont said at the end of the day he couldnt tell who the Democrats were and who the Republicans were. He said he didnt even hear Presidents Trump name come up over the 72 hour period. Its a very different world when you start moving into governance, Lamont said. What he quickly learned was the states who receive revenue from oil and gas have it better than Connecticut where the largest source of state revenue is the personal income tax. He joked that one governor was complaining that his $20 billion sovereign wealth fund was only going to pay for 65 percent of his budget, instead of 70 percent, due to reductions in oil and gas prices. He said another governor was talking about improving transportation structure with an excise tax on fracking. Connecticuts special transportation fund was on the verge of insolvency earlier this year, which is why Lamont has proposed a toll on out-of-state truckers. Lamonts agenda today including a briefing on emergency management and a meeting with the Department of Economic and Community Development. On Tuesday, Lamont will be meeting with the Office of State Ethics to make sure they are in compliance. Some of the thousands of active-duty troops deployed to the border in Texas and Arizona are likely to shift to California to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deal with an expected crush of migrant asylum-seekers coming from Tijuana, U.S. Army North said Tuesday. "We may shift some forces to engineering support missions in California and other areas," Army North said in a brief statement, which gave no timeline for when the shift might occur. The projected end date for the deployment remains Dec. 15. On Monday, Army Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, also said that sending additional troops to California is under consideration. Currently, there are about 5,800 active-duty troops deployed to the border -- 2,800 in Texas, 1,500 in Arizona and 1,500 in California, in addition to 2,100 National Guard troops who have been deployed along the border since last spring, Manning said. When the deployments began last month, Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, head of U.S. Northern Command, said at a news conference that active-duty troops also were likely to go to the New Mexico border, but that has not happened thus far. It was not immediately clear how the shift to California might affect the tentative end date for the mission. The deployment initially was dubbed "Operation Faithful Patriot," but the name was dropped earlier this month and the Pentagon is now calling it only "border support." On Monday, Manning said, "We'll continue to support CBP's request for support up until Dec. 15, unless we're directed otherwise." Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, commander of U.S. Army North, said troops could begin pulling out as early as this week. In an interview with Politico, Buchanan said, "our end date right now is 15 December, and I've got no indications from anybody that we'll go beyond that." However, the planned pullout could be complicated by a court ruling late Monday that temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's order to deny the right to seek political asylum to migrants who don't come to designated ports of entry and instead cross the border illegally. In U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Judge Jon S. Tigar issued a nationwide temporary restraining order against the Trump administration's attempt to restrict the right to seek political asylum, saying the president had violated a "clear command" from Congress. "Whatever the scope of the president's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," Tigar, who was nominated to the bench by former President Barack Obama, wrote in his ruling. "Failure to comply with entry requirements such as arriving at a designated port of entry should bear little, if any, weight in the asylum process," Tigar said. His ruling came in a suit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups. Trump has called the "caravan" of migrants, mostly from Central America, an "invasion," and suggested that their ranks could include MS-13 gang members and "Middle Easterners." Advocates for the migrants have said that they are seeking asylum to escape persecution and death threats in Honduras and Guatemala. An estimated 3,000 of the migrants have gathered in Tijuana, amid protests against their presence by local residents, and are expected to seek asylum at the San Ysidro port of entry, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. China's Sub Force Is Growing More Powerful. This Is What the US Navy Needs to Do to Stay Ahead Literal tons of turkey, ham and pie are en route to the southwest border so that active-duty service members dispatched there can enjoy a festive Thanksgiving meal. But two Democratic senators are calling on Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to do one better and send the troops back to their homes and families for the holiday. In a letter sent to Mattis on Monday, Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Brian Schatz of Hawaii argued that the thousands of troops deployed to border states had completed their main job of laying down concertina wire and providing logistical support to Customs and Border Protection officials. They called the controversial decision to send active-duty troops to the border ahead of a "caravan" of migrants seeking entry into the U.S. "politically motivated" and "an inappropriate use of the military." "Our military personnel have real, essential duties to perform that are vital to our national security. Taking advantage of their loyalty and commitment to service for political gain belittles their sacrifices," the senators wrote. "... We urge you to allow these service members to return to their homes in time to spend Thanksgiving with their families." Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters last week that the active-duty troop presence fanned across border states had likely peaked at around 5,900 deployed troops. An existing request from the Department of Homeland Security would keep the troops in place until Dec. 15, but there have been rumors of an earlier departure for some. In an interview with Politico's Wesley Morgan on Monday, Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, commander of U.S. Army North, suggested some troops may start returning home in the next few days as the mission winds down. But officials with U.S. Northern Command appeared to walk back those remarks Tuesday, telling Politico that no definite timeline had been sent for redeployment. In their letter, Murray and Schatz cited NORTHCOM assessments that only about 1,400 members of the original group of 7,000 migrants would reach the border, and active-duty troops were in any case prevented from interacting directly with members of the caravan under the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits use of the military for domestic law enforcement. "If these active duty servicemembers have completed their primary tasks of laying concertina wire, welding, and providing logistical support to Customs and Border Protection, there is no need for them to remain separated from their families," the senators wrote. They added that they believe an appropriate response to the wave of refugees would involve "basic assistance and empathy" in the form of humanitarian aid, medical assistance and help with asylum claims, rather than a show of force. For the troops engaged in this unconventional deployment within the U.S. border, current Thanksgiving plans that have been announced by the military involve a massive shipment of holiday food, similar to that dispatched to forward-deployed locations around the globe, including the Middle East and Africa. Among other items, the Defense Logistics Agency is shipping 9,738 turkeys, 21,758 pounds of ham, 16,284 pounds of sweet potatoes, 81,360 pies, 19,284 cakes and 7,836 gallons of eggnog to the border and other deployed locations, according to a DLA news release. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. The U.S. Air Force has not paused flights for its T-38 Talon trainer fleet despite a series of crashes in the last 12 months, two of which were fatal, officials told Military.com on Monday. "The T-38 fleet is not grounded," Air Education and Training Command spokeswoman Jennifer Gonzalez said in an email. She did not say whether additional action is planned for the fleet in coming days or weeks in light of the recent crashes. Last week, an Air Force T-38 Talon went down at 7:40 p.m. local time at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. Related content: Capt. John F. Graziano, 28, an instructor pilot with the 87th Flying Training Squadron, was killed in the crash. Capt. Mark S. Palyok, also an instructor pilot with the unit, was injured in the crash. Palyok was transported to Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Texas, where he was treated for his injuries and later released. The Nov. 13 crash follows four previous crashes involving T-38s in the last year, including another deadly mishap: When asked if AETC had observed any similarities between the accidents, Gonzalez said each case was unique. "AETC is committed to using the lessons learned from the results of any investigation to prevent similar accidents from happening again across the 19th Air Force fleet," she said. "Aviation is inherently risky and, unfortunately, accidents will occur. The T-38C is a reliable aircraft, and 19th Air Force prioritizes aircrew training and maintenance to keep the T-38C fleet operational." The 19th Air Force, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, is responsible for the training of aircrews, remotely piloted aircraft crews, air battle managers, and other aviation and combat specialists in the service. It's not uncommon for the Air Force to look at each case independently before exploring possible links between incidents, a former general told Military.com during an interview in August. "I think every aviation accident is independent and has to be looked upon [at] face value," said retired Gen. Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, an F-15 Eagle pilot who led Air Combat Command between 2014 and 2017. In May, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein directed wing commanders to hold a one-day pause to conduct a safety review with airmen, assessing trends and risk factors that may have led to a recent bout of crashes. The pause followed an in-depth report from the Military Times in April, which showed that military aviation accidents across the services had increased between fiscal years 2013 and 2017. While rates for lower-grade mishaps had risen for the Air Force, service data at the time showed that Class-A mishaps -- defined as involving fatalities, severe damage totaling $2 million or more, or a complete loss of the aircraft -- had declined in recent years. Officials including Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, then-head of Air Force Materiel Command who retired in September, said while she didn't believe the Air Force was in the midst of an aviation crisis, the spike in accidents since January had gotten the service's attention. "We don't consider it a crisis, but we have elevated interest in making sure that we aren't missing anything," she said in May. "Safety is always first." The latest Talon trainer crash comes as the Air Force prepares to receive new trainer jets to replace its current Northrop Grumman-made T-38s. In September, the service awarded Boeing Co. a $9.2 billion contract to build its next aircraft for training future pilots, known as the T-X program. The first T-X aircraft and simulators are scheduled to arrive at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in 2023. Until then, "the T-38C will continue to be utilized in service until well into the 2030s," Gonzalez said Monday. "The T-38C is a workhorse that first entered service in 1961 and has trained more than 71,000 U.S. and allied pilots," she added. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. If the Defense Department sticks with a bare-minimum option to create a Space Force, it's possible it could keep new spending between $1.5 billion to $2.7 billion over the next five years -- a relatively economical $300 million to $550 million per year. But that's a big if. A new report from the Center for Strategic & International Studies laid out by its author Todd Harrison finds that if the Pentagon sticks to a streamlined plan of transferring money already allocated for space operations and personnel into a new military service, the costs could be relatively conservative in DoD spending terms. "Most of this is just a simple matter of reorganization and whether or not you think that is worth it," said Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS. Related content: Harrison unveiled his proposal at CSIS in Washington, D.C., on Monday. "The added cost is a handful of F-35s," he said referencing the 5th-generation Joint Strike Fighter, the cost of which recently fell below $90 million per jet. Harrison's report largely disputes the U.S. Air Force's original proposal that the Pentagon will need roughly $12.9 billion over five years to resource the personnel and infrastructure behind the Trump administration's proposed Space Force. "A lot of the numbers that have been out there are a five-year estimate of the additional cost of creating a new military service for space," Harrison said. But Harrison noted he did not include the intelligence agencies, nor their budgets, and also left out a huge component of what for months has been said to be a foundational aspect of the separate service: a unified U.S. Space Command designed to operate like a combatant command for space; and the Space Development Agency for overseeing the contracting process and procurement of new satellites, among other space capabilities. "These are separate decisions," he argued. These estimates do not include new procurement, only existing space capabilities on which the Pentagon already spends money. Harrison offered up three approaches the Pentagon could take: returning to a "Space Corps" idea originally proposed by Congress; a "Space Force-lite" idea, which builds on a Space Corps; and a Space Force-heavy option. All three options would use 96 percent of space funding the services already include in their annual budgets. The three options would work as follows: A Space Corps to be kept within the Air Force, composed of 27,300 military and civilian personnel at mostly Air Force space bases at a cost of $11.3 billion a year, with $300 million in new funding. "Space Force Lite," which includes most of the Air Force Space Corps infrastructure but adds a few Army and Navy units and personnel that would amount to 35,800 military and civilian personnel at a cost of $13.4 billion annually. New spending would be roughly $400 million per year. "Space Force Heavy," which adds more Army and Navy units, including elements of the Missile Defense Agency. The total workforce would be approximately 48,500 people at $21.5 billion with $500 million in new funding a year. A mix of these options, or what Harrison called a hybrid, is also possible, he said. He pointed out that any of these options would leverage a "more than 50 percent" civilian workforce. "It would be a more civilian-heavy service than any of the others," echoing what he previously told Military.com. Harrison still criticized the Air Force's "larger scope" estimate, which would require thousands more people and a headquarters for what he described as arbitrary reasons. "The Air Force was either adding new activities, things that aren't being done today, which is a separate question from creating a new service," Harrison said of Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson's 14-page Space Force memo dated Sept. 14. Wilson's estimate called for 13,000 additional personnel. Harrison said those bodies already exist in commands such as U.S. Strategic Command. "Why not move them over?" he said. Harrison's numbers are roughly in line with Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan's recent estimate that the creation of a Space Force will cost in "the single-digit billions," $5 billion or less. Yet there are many unknowns with Shanahan's assessment, given that he did not offer last week a time period for the force's creation nor what the cost estimate included. Like Harrison's assessment, intelligence agencies, such as the National Reconnaissance Office, may be left out of the mix. "One of the golden rules in budget analysis is, never rely on budget data that is presented orally," Harrison said Monday. "That could be anywhere from $1 to $9 billion -- a pretty broad range." He added, "Until [Shanahan has] written it down, we don't really know for sure what he meant." Another unknown is whether Congress will approve any of the proposals that have surfaced since President Donald Trump announced his administration's intent to create an entirely separate service for space in March. "I would say at this point it may be a coin toss whether or not this makes it through," Harrison said. It's going to take the right legislative language to persuade the Democratic-led House to get on board with whatever budget is proposed, he said. "And another political factor, quite frankly, is this is seen as being 'Trump's Space Force'? Or is this something that the military is getting on board with? That's going to make a big difference," Harrison said. Editor's note: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story misstated Todd Harrison's original Space Force cost estimate. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. The Army plans to begin issuing its newly announced Army Greens to new soldiers beginning in summer 2020, the service's senior enlisted leader said Monday. Army Secretary Mark Esper approved the Nov. 11 adoption of the much-discussed Army Greens, which all soldiers must wear by 2028. The new uniform, recently renamed by service brass, is a version of the iconic pinks-and-greens uniform Army officers wore during World War II. "This uniform is still in the minds of many Americans. This nation came together during World War II and fought and won a great war," Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel Dailey said in a briefing with reporters at the Pentagon. "That's what the secretary and [Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark Milley] wanted to do, is capitalize on the greatest generation because there is another great generation that is serving today, and that is the soldiers serving in the United States Army." Soldiers currently serving in the active duty, National Guard and Reserves will be able to purchase the new uniform in summer 2020, but they do not have to buy it until 2028, Army officials have said. The current blue Army Service Uniform (ASU) will become the service's optional dress uniform. "I know it seems like a long time," Dailey said, explaining that the extended phase-in period is designed to give enlisted soldiers time to save up their annual clothing allowance to pay for the new uniform. "We've got to give the soldier ample time to be paid for those uniform items prior to it being required for them to wear it." He said it would be "premature" to release the estimated cost of the new uniform. "We have an estimated cost," he said. "We are not done with any contracting at this point, so it would be premature to give you any of those costs. What we do know is that, because of the measures we are taking, it is going to be cost neutral to the taxpayer and the soldier in the long run." Dailey justified the cost of the new, more-expensive Army Greens uniform by saying it will last longer than the current-issue ASU. "The estimated cost of the new [Army] Greens uniform is higher than that of the current service blue uniform ... because it is a higher-quality uniform," he said. "We could easily make it the same cost, but that's not the intent here. The intent here is to increase the quality of the uniform, and that is why we extended the life of the uniform." The new Greens jacket will be made of a 55-percent/45-percent "poly-wool elastique." The pants will feature a gabardine weave made of a 55/45 poly-wool combination as well. The shirt will be made of a 75-percent/25-percent cotton-poly blend, said Army officials, explaining that service life of the Army Greens is six years compared to the ASU's four years. "We went for a higher-quality fabric. The uniform costs more as a result ... but we intended to do that because one of the chief of staff of the Army's directives to us was build a higher-quality uniform, which inherently costs more," Dailey said. "And the way you offset that is you capitalize on the life of that uniform based upon its higher quality." Despite the recent adoption announcement, the Army Greens design is not yet finalized. "There were some design changes all the way up until the week before the secretary made the decision," Dailey said. The uniform prototype Dailey wore recently at the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting in October featured a jacket belt with a gold buckle, he said, adding that the final design will be more subdued. "The chief of staff has made a slight change on the length of the collar on the male jacket," Dailey said. "From a design perspective, it's the right decision the chief made." The jacket buttons will also feature an antique finish instead of a brass color, Army officials said. "The next set of photographs we want to get out to the media, we want them to be accurate" to show the final design, Dailey said. Before the Army starts issuing the redesigned uniform to the force, the service intends to field 200 sets of Army Greens for a final evaluation. "We are in the process of being able to produce about 200 uniforms that we want to issue out to designated forward-facing units ... and when I say 'forward-facing units,' I'm really talking recruiters," said Col. Stephen Thomas, head of Project Manager Soldier Protection & Individual Equipment. "Then, what we will do is get feedback from those soldiers on how to better refine the uniform so that when we go to final production ... we have a comprehensive uniform design that soldiers like." Officials from Program Executive Office Soldier said the process should be complete by next summer. "This is a great day to be a solder," Dailey said. "As I go around and have talked to soldiers in the last few days ... they are very excited about it, and the overwhelming majority are just truly excited about the new uniform." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. | BY Ricki Green | Surf Life Saving Queensland and Romeo Digital are introducing a world-first in beach safety technology with the launch of Life-Fi. Digital innovation Life-Fi is set to save lives this summer by breaking down the communication barriers between surf lifesavers and international tourists. The new technology provides access to unlimited free wi-fi between the flags and enables beachgoers of different nationalities to receive live surf patrol instructions in their own language, without requiring app download. Says Oscar Nicholson, head of innovation, Romeo Digital: Life-Fi connects peoples mobiles to an interface that detects their language settings and automatically serves them culturally specific information. In the past 10 years there have been 75 drownings recorded on Queensland beaches and, of these, 31 fatalities (41%) were international tourists or recent migrants. Says Marco Eychenne, creative director, Romeo Digital: Life-Fi has a powerful purpose. To communicate briefly and effectively to different cultures, we designed prevention messages with a universal visual approach. In a matter of seconds, people are informed of what to do to stay safe. Backed by Queenslands Department of Innovation and Tourism Industry Development, the first stage of Life-Fi roll out will be across ten tourism hotspots, in time for the school holidays. Says John Brennan, CEO, SLSQ For us, the benefits are two-fold; its a great way to encourage all swimmers to stay between the flags and, importantly, with the steep increase in overseas visitation, Life-Fi is going to help us save more lives. Life-Fi is the first application of Romeos breakthrough Actify Live technology, which enables a direct dialogue between a brand and a person, without having to download an app. Romeo is the digital sibling of Rumble Creative and part of the Rumbletown group of agencies. Client: Surf Life Saving Queensland Kym Richardson: Media & Public Affairs Manager Kelsie Boucher: State Marketing Manager Agency: Romeo Digital Head of Innovation: Oscar Nicholson Managing Director: Amanda Schultz Creative Director: Marco Eychenne Art Director: Marco Eychenne Lead Designer: Jade Stephens Illustrator: Madeleine Perrin Copywriter: Mike Kennedy Head of Strategy: Scott Esdaile Technical Director: Joel Garvey Developer: Jonny Lu Developer: Michael Schmidt Developer: Chris Nowlan Account Manager: Caitlin Lilley ACTIFY LIVE: This article was corrected Nov. 27 to reflect updated information from the Air Force. An airman from the 821st Contingency Response Support Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California, can now wear a beard in keeping with his Muslim faith, thanks to a recently granted religious accommodation waiver, service officials said. Travis Air Force Base officials had previously said Staff Sgt. Abdul Rahman Gaitan was the first Muslim airman to receive such a waiver. But Capt. Carrie Volpe, an Air Force spokeswoman, told Military.com Nov. 27 that Gaitan was the sixth airman to receive such a waiver. One additional waiver has been granted since Gaitan was given the OK, and an eighth waiver is currently being processed, Volpe said. According to a news release about Gaitan, the airman was raised Catholic but developed an interest in Islam during a 2011 deployment to Izmir, Turkey, where the Air Force maintains an air station. He continued his pursuit of the faith as he moved on to his next duty station in Hawaii, and ultimately decided to convert. Getting authorization to grow a beard in keeping with his new faith, however, would require nearly four more years of effort, according to the release. In 2014, the Pentagon released a new policy outlining how religious service members might apply for a waiver to wear otherwise-prohibited items -- such as a turban, headscarf or beard -- as a way of expressing "sincerely held beliefs." The policy made clear that such accommodations would be granted on a case-by-case basis and could be denied if the request was seen to interfere with wearing a uniform or helmet, impede work or pose a health or safety hazard. Since Gaitan was granted his own waiver, he said he has received some negative backlash, but also support from his chain of command, according to the service release. "A month after I started growing my beard, someone shooed me away with their hand saying very negative things because I was a Muslim. A week later, another person from a different squadron felt comfortable enough to ask me if I had joined ISIS," Gaitan said in a statement. "These two incidents weren't the only ones. Earlier someone openly questioned if I was a terrorist." However, he said, he was defended by his peers on the spot, and the matter was quickly elevated to senior officials, who reassured him he had their support. "The incident shot straight to the commander, like a lightning bolt, and the following morning I was called into his office with the chief and first sergeant waiting for me," Gaitan said in the release. "In my entire career, I've never had a commander look me in the eyes like he did ... his look, tone, words and posture were shouting at me, 'Don't worry, we have your back.' " The Army has led the services in granting allowances for religious troops. In 2017, the service streamlined the process for Muslims and Sikhs to obtain a waiver to wear beards and turbans and other religious headgear. While these troops are still required to receive case-by-case permission at the brigade level, the waivers, once approved, are now permanent throughout the soldier's career. The Army made headlines again earlier this year when it granted the first beard exemption to a self-professed Norse Pagan soldier. Ahead of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein's confirmation hearing in 2016, he answered a number of questions from Congress on service policy regarding religious exemptions for troops. His answers gave no indication of any plans to broaden policies currently in place for observant airmen. "The Air Force has granted dress and grooming religious accommodation requests in the past," he said in written responses. "Such requests will continue to be carefully evaluated and accommodations granted unless doing so adversely impacts military readiness." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Army Adopts 'Greens' Uniform The United States Army has announced that it is adopting the 'Army Greens' as its new service uniform. This uniform was worn by America's 'Greatest Generation' in World War II. The current Army Blues Uniform will return to being a formal dress uniform, while the Army Greens will become the everyday business wear uniform for all Soldiers. The Army Combat Uniform will remain the Army's duty/field uniform. Enlisted soldiers will be able to purchase the new uniform with their annual clothing allowance. The Army Greens will be fielded to Soldiers reporting to their first units as early as the summer of 2020. The mandatory wear date for all Soldiers will be 2028. For more details, see this Military.com article. Federal Employment Assistance Program The Federal Occupational Healths Employment Assistance Program (EAP) is a free service available to Federal civilian employees and their family members 24 hours a day at 800-222-0364; TTY: 888-262-7848 or visit the Federal Occupational Health website. Call any time to speak with a consultant. For more mental health and wellness resources, visit Military.com's Mental Health and Wellness section. New Diabetes Guidelines for Veterans For the millions of veterans with diabetes, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) are implementing new guidelines calling for the patient, their family, and their health care team to share information and decisions. A Shared Decision Making (SDM) encounter occurs when the patient, his loved ones and the health care team discuss together what treatment options best address the patient's goals. In 2017, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense recognized the important role SDM plays in managing diabetes when they updated their Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Care. For more information, visit the VA VAntage Point Blog. For more on veteran healthcare benefits, visit the Military.com Benefits section. With our 2018 veteran gift guide, you can give friends and family amazing holiday gifts by supporting veteran businesses. Like the generations who served before, modern vets have started innovative businesses that draw on their military experience. Not only have they created great products, many of them have pledged some of their proceeds to organizations that aim to help their fellow service members. Check out some of our favorites and choose great gifts for your Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa needs. Flags of Valor Flags of Valor founder Brian Steorts hires combat veterans to make beautiful, handcrafted wooden United States flags here in America. Most of those veterans are service-disabled, so your purchase goes to support and provide opportunity for men and women who often need it most. In addition to the flags, the company offers hats and T-shirts on its website. Combat Flip Flops Combat Flip Flops was founded by special ops veterans to make sure their service had a long-term positive effect in the conflict zones where they served. They have grand ambitions: They want to grow entrepreneurs in conflict areas, help build communities and use profits to fund women's education. The company started with incredibly well-made flip flops and has expanded into shoes, clothing, jewelry and gym bags. The company supports several charities, including The Station Foundation for special operations veterans, the Mines Advisory Group and Aid Afghanistan for Education. Black Rifle Coffee Company Black Rifle Coffee Company doesn't just want to sell you a cup of joe, it wants you to fully embrace the badass lifestyle that its roasting and marketing skills represent. It's an attitude that has won it a lot of fans -- and an attitude that scares off the faint of heart. In addition to a wide range of beans (sold by the bag or as part of a Coffee Club delivery service), it sells mugs, tumblers and a whole lot of complicated coffee-making gear. Rumi Spice Rumi Spice is a true luxury brand, a company started by veterans to source top-quality, sustainably farmed saffron from farmers in Afghanistan. The company employs 1,900 women in Herat to do the complicated labor of extracting the spice by removing the stigma from the delicate flowers. Saffron is by far the most expensive spice, but the tiniest bit gets the job done. Rumi sells it in very small quantities, which should be enough for anyone who wants to learn how to cook with it. It also has a line of other spice blends and teas that should appeal to anyone who's spent time in that part of the world. 'Man of War' by Sean Parnell Army veteran Sean Parnell's best-selling memoir was an outstanding read and a fascinating account of his time in service. His new book "Man of War" is an action thriller, featuring special operator Eric Steele. Parnell's got talent as a novelist, and his publisher is already subtitling this one "Eric Steele Book 1." Anyone who loves military thrillers should go crazy for "Man of War." You can read an excerpt here. GORUCK Green Beret Jason McCarthy took what he learned in combat and used that intel to design a go-ruck that met his needs and standards. Other people liked what they saw and asked if he could make one for them, and GORUCK was born. The website proudly describes the products as "overbuilt," and GORUCK has developed a fervent fan base who think the goods are most definitely worth the price. The company is currently expanding into footwear, with a modernized version of the jungle boots that special forces wore in Vietnam. Ranger Up Ranger Up is known for its funny and/or obnoxious T-shirts, full of memes that will entertain other folks who understand military culture. It also sells hats, hoodies, drinkware, posters, wall hangings, candles and stickers, plus a limited selection of Black Rifle Coffee and Combat Flip Flops. Imagine a military version of Spencer Gifts. Elvis Presley - '68 Comeback Special 50th Anniversary Box Set Most people remember Elvis Presley for the cheeseball movies he made and rhinestone jumpsuits he wore after he completed his Army service, but he got his mojo back for a couple of years in the late 1960s, starting with an NBC special that aired in December 1968. Now, fans can get the entire story with the '68 Comeback Special 50th Anniversary box set. The 2 Blu-ray, 5 CD set includes the show as broadcast, a ton of additional video footage and all the rehearsals for the show. That includes the legendary acoustic performances with his original Sun Records bandmates, music that may just be the best he ever recorded. Rags of Honor Rags of Honor is a Chicago-based screen printing company that hires homeless veterans, pays them a living wage and aims to help them acquire the skills that will help them succeed in civilian life. It offers a full line of T-shirts and hats, and you can hire the company for custom screen-printing jobs as well. When World War I broke out in 1914, European armies rushed to war with the armies they had, not the armies they wanted to have. Some soldiers, lucky enough to serve in forces that had recently seen combat, were well equipped for an industrial war with camouflaged uniforms and modern weaponry. Others shipped out wearing parade gear. Historian Dan Snow made a video with the BBC that shows the common kit of British, French, and German forces at the start of the war. These are the items most of the forces wore during the chaotic first days of the war, from the Battle of Liege to the Taxis of the Marne to the first diggings of the trenches that would characterize World War I. Germany, which had fought six wars of varying sizes from 1899 to 1914, was well served with modern weapons and uniforms, though Snow points out that their pointed helmets provided easy targets for enemy marksmen. Britain, similarly, had fought in the Boxer Rebellion and the Venezuelan Crisis, and their troops were wearing brown uniforms and modern kit. The British even carried multiple bandages into battle, allowing them to quickly provide first aid for themselves and others on the battlefield. Historian Dan Snow models a German army uniform from World War I in a BBC segment. (YouTube/BBC) France, though, had been involved in only the Boxer Rebellion in the years leading up to the war, and their troops started the conflict in bright red pants and deep blue jackets, colors which likely added to the stunning number of French dead in the Battle of the Frontiers. France's bloodiest day came during that battle as 27,000 soldiers died on August 22. They were still wearing those uniforms when Germany nearly captured Paris and the French command was forced to commandeer taxis to ferry troops to the fighting during the Battle of the Marne. The French troops likely looked dashing riding the taxis to the fighting, but they still would've been better served with colors that provided camouflage. Historian Dan Snow models a French army uniform from early World War I in a BBC segment. (YouTube/BBC) As the war progressed, the uniforms changed. France was the first to add helmets, and they adopted a uniform cloth that would incorporate red, white, and blue threads. A lack of red dye it was manufactured in Germany made the resulting fabric light blue instead of purplish-brown. Britain followed suit on helmets, using them to replace the cloth caps used at the start of the war. Germany began the wear with leather helmets, but the leather was typically imported from South America, and the British blockade forced the military to turn to other materials. In 1916, steel was adopted, a better material for stopping the shrapnel from exploding artillery and mortar shells. A model stands in a replica World War I U.S. Army "Doughboy" uniform. (YouTube/LionHeart FilmWorks) When the U.S. joined the war, it changed the color and simplified the cuts of its uniforms, allowing them to be produced more quickly and without the olive-drab dye which had been purchased from Germany until 1917. It also adopted British steel helmets as producing them in America ran into manufacturing slowdowns. World War I was also when the U.S. adopted division shoulder-sleeve insignias, the unit patches nearly all soldiers wear today. Only three divisions the 81st, 5th, and 26th divisions made wide use of them during the war. Most other units only adopted them for general use after the armistice. MORE POSTS FROM WE ARE THE MIGHTY: 9 interesting reasons behind US military uniforms This is what happened when a newspaper called John Wayne a 'fraud' Why the 'Good Cookie' isn't a guaranteed medal We Are The Mighty (WATM) celebrates service with stories that inspire. WATM is made in Hollywood by veterans. It's military life presented like never before. Check it out at We Are the Mighty. 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 While the 2020 Kia Telluride has already made a public appearance, the automaker says its largest SUV will make its official debut at January's North American International Auto Show. Kia says its all-new Telluride is its "largest and most refined" SUV to date, and will be built at its Kia Motors Manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia. The eight-passenger SUV was influenced by fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, and made its first appearance during New York Fashion Week back in September. The Telluride will come with a V6 option and comes in "several inches longer and wider" than the automaker's seven-seater Sorento midsize SUV. Maxwell's touch as a fashion designer and native Texan come into play with a natural wood interior trim and "saddle-inspired" leather adornments on the dashboard, panels and fixtures. "Telluride summits Kia's SUV lineup and forged a surprising new path with its runway debut at New York Fashion Week, Saad Chehab, vice president of marketing communications at Kia, said in a news release. "Only a brand as forward-thinking as Kia could collaborate with Brandon Maxwell to launch the Telluride ahead of its official debut at the North American International Auto Show in January." The 2019 Detroit auto show is scheduled to run between Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 and Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The economic impact of the 2018 show was $480 million, a $30-million increase from the previous year, according to the show's spokesperson. It's important to remember that 2019 will represent the last time the auto show takes place in the brutally cold month of January in Michigan as it moves to June in 2020. | BY Lynchy | In a nod to the agencys long-standing reputation as a creative leader in the industry, Ogilvy Greater China wins Network of the Year, and bagged a total of 9 awards Friday night, including Best in Show at top international advertising festival organized by The One Club for Creativity. The One Show Greater China places particular emphasis on creativity and looks at the convergence of international standards with local culture and consumer insights to select the most representative works. Reed Collins, Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy North Asia, who delivered a speech the day before on creativity across continents, commented on the results, To have three offices contributing work for three of our most important brands across the region is truly wonderful. It makes this achievement so much more impressive. Ogilvys Shanghai office was recognized for work with cosmetics brand, Chando, receiving two bronze pencils. Ogilvys Hong Kong office came away with one gold, a silver and a bronze for work with KFC, and the Ogilvy Beijing office ended the night with two bronze pencils and one gold, as well as Best of Show all for their work with Wanda Group. Ogilvys work with Wanda Group for the campaign 52 Mayors of Danzhai is story of hope, innovation and progress. Inviting a total of 52 influencers to the village of Danzhai to serve as mayor for one week each. Each influencer brought their own unique passions, talents and followers to the village, sharing the beauty of Danzhai to the world through the power of great content communication. The campaign received over 950 million media impressions and Danzhai saw a 400% increase in tourism, lifting the isolated village out of poverty. Selina Teng, President of Ogilvy Beijing commented on the awards, saying, First and foremost, we are grateful for being given the opportunity and trust from Wanda Group to carry out this campaign. The recognition we received from One Show is a testament to our people who have come together, under the One Ogilvy strategy, to seamlessly deliver creative solutions that answer the clients needs and continue to make brands matter across increasingly fragmented markets. In addition, the One Show also recognized Ogilvys commitment to fostering young talent. The Shanghai office winning the Youth Award for Agency of the Year is emblematic of Ogilvys culture as a teaching hospital, nurturing future talents of the industry. A federal judge in Detroit on Tuesday ordered the release of more than 100 Iraqis who've remained jailed since immigration sweeps took place across the U.S. in 2017. U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith also wrote in his ruling that he intends to sanction Immigration and Customs Enforcement for using lies to support its arguments for continued detentions, and failure to obey court orders to disclose certain records and information. Goldsmith wrote that the government "acted ignobly" and regularly made excuses for not providing or attempting to delay the release of requested documents. The court battle stems from a class-action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against ICE Director Rebecca Adducci on behalf of nearly 1,400 Iraqis -- including about 300 from Metro Detroit -- targeted for deportation during mass immigration sweeps that took place across the nation last year. The majority of those detainees were released on bond, while more than 100 have spent more than a year behind bars due to a reluctance of Iraq to repatriate citizens who do not want to willingly relocate there. Goldsmith ordered the release of any detainee over the next month who has been behind bars for more than six months. Those released will be monitored and required to appear for deportation hearings at a later date. According to Goldsmith, ICE and its attorneys attempted to mislead the court on Iraq's willingness to receive deportees who don't want to return to their native country. Prior rulings have established that ICE may not detain immigrants for a prolonged length of time if "there is no significant likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future," the judge's opinion says. The ACLU says Iraq will receive detainees who willingly return, and argues the government used long-term jailing in attempts to coerce detainees into signing waivers stating they wish to return to their native home. The majority of detainees are Christian Chaldeans who grew up in or have spent the majority of their lives in the U.S. after migrating with their families from Iraq, a Muslim majority country that has been rife with sectarian violence in recent decades. Many detainees were convicted of a wide variety of crimes and ordered removed to Iraq years or decades ago, the judge writes. They served their sentences and "lived peaceably in their respective communities" since that time, Goldsmith found. "Petitioners' only crime is being caught between the United States and Iraq's diplomatic tug-o-war over repatriation," Goldsmith wrote. "Nonetheless, more than half of the detainees are being held in penal institutions under the same conditions as those convicted of crimes. "The public interest overwhelmingly favors freedom over mass detention in these circumstances." ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls said the agency is considering a possible appeal of Goldsmith's ruling. "Today's decision is about accountability," ACLU senior staff attorney Miriam Aukerman said. "ICE thought it could get away with lying to a federal judge. ICE thought it could get away with using indefinite detention to coerce Iraqis to accept deportation despite the dangers they face in Iraq. Today, Judge Goldsmith made it clear that ICE is not above the law." Judge's full ruling: (This story has been updated to include more up-to-date information about bottled water donations.) FLINT, MI -- Nestle Waters North America says it's working on a new bottled water commitment for Flint even as it's criticized for promoting what it's done to date. A Nestle spokesman said Monday, Nov. 19, that the company remains "committed to helping the people of Flint, and we are actively working with the help centers to determine their needs in 2019." The announcement comes as Nestle is hearing criticism for new radio and television ads that began airing last week in Flint and other markets across the state. The commercial shows cases of Ice Mountain water delivered to the city and unloaded while a narrator says, "Some people have forgotten about Flint, but Nestle Waters never did." From May through Labor Day, Nestle has provided weekly water donations -- 1.6 million individual bottles of water -- to three help centers operated in the city by the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. By the end of the year, the number is expected to rise to 3.2 million bottles. It started providing water donations to Flint in October 2015 and it was part of a coalition that has provided the equivalent of 6.5 million bottles of water to Flint Community Schools. While the ad highlights the company's commitment in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis, it also stoked memories that it received a permit to increase its water withdrawal rate in Osceola County, northwest of Evart, from 250 to 400 gallons-per-minute earlier this year. Nestle pays just $200 per facility each year to withdrawal millions of gallons of Michigan water. Water activists with the group Flint Rising posted on Facebook, in part, "it's funny Nestle puts this commercial out now when they're stopping their 1 bottle per resident per week December 17. REAL NICE, NESTLE." Although Nestle said Monday it's working toward continuing water deliveries next year, Nayyirah Shariff of Flint Rising said the new ad portraying it as a benevolent corporation doesn't line up with reality. "They haven't been supporting the needs of Flint residents ... Flint is being exploited for profit," Shariff said of the company's track record. Nestle released a statement to MLive-The Flint Journal Monday that said that it expects its Flint ad to run for the next month, including on digital channels starting this week. "This is the first of three ads; the others will illustrate our commitments beyond Flint," the statement says. "We engaged a number of community members and stakeholders in the process of creating the ads, and we're proud of the work that we do every day to support many communities across the state." "We understand water is an emotional issue, and we appreciate the passion people everywhere have about it," the statement says. "We are just as passionate, particularly when it comes to ensuring long-term sustainability of Michigan's resources. The ads we are airing are our way of showing the many ways we support Michigan communities, including Flint." GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- It's time to "rethink" West Michigan. That's the message that will be delivered Wednesday at several events aimed at getting former West Michigan residents who are in town for Thanksgiving to consider moving back to the region. The events - taking place in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Hastings, Ludington and Saugatuck - are known as ReThink West Michigan. It's sponsored by The Right Place, an economic development organization, Hello West Michigan, and other groups. The events will provide a "casual, professional environment to network and discover many of the great career possibilities and growing companies in the region," according to a news release. Forty-three companies, all of which are hiring, will be represented at the events, event organizers say. Here's the details on the events, all of which run from 5:30-8 p.m. Grand Rapids: Eve at the B.O.B. Hastings: Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro Muskegon: The Block, located above Unruly Brewing Saugatuck: Saugatuck Brewing Company Ludington: Ludington Bay Brewing Fremont: Lakes 23 Restaurant and Pub To register for the events, click here. PLAINFIELD TWP., MI -- After nearly a month without running water, a north Kent County family will likely have it again just in time for Thanksgiving. The Hulas initially planned to host a family dinner on Thanksgiving at their House Street home for the 27th consecutive year until their well broke Oct. 27. As of Tuesday, Nov. 20, they haven't had running water for 25 days. "Things are moving forward and that really makes me happy," said Terry Hula. "I'm still hopeful that it will be by Thanksgiving. Until this started to move forward, I had no idea what to expect. Emotionally, I was completely spent." County health officials denied them a permit to dig a new well because the neighborhood aquifer is contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances called PFAS -- pollution from Wolverine World Wide's nearby, decades-old House Street tannery waste dump site. The state and Kent County both have regulations that forbid putting water-drinking wells in areas of known contamination. State regulators said on Monday they hope to connect the family to a 1,500-gallon water tank by Thanksgiving. Until then the Hula family, like days past, is without running water. As the family waited for a fix, the 63-year-old family patriarch, Tom Hula, hauled a 55-gallon plastic drum of water home daily so his family could shower, clean their dishes, brush their teeth, flush their waste. Each day the Hula family was told Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Kent County Health Department staff were working on a solution. Finally, 18 days after officials were notified, Terry Hula got a call saying they were "expediting" a solution. The call came two days after MLive/The Grand Rapids Press published a story about the Hula family's situation. "I got a call Friday that they were expediting, or pushing through, their plan to bring in the big tank," Terry Hula said. "That was the best phone call I've had in three weeks. I've got a yard full of heroes making things happen." Construction began Monday, Nov. 19, on a heated storage shed for a 1,500-gallon water tank that would hook up to the Hula family water lines. DEQ spokesperson Scott Dean said he expects the Hula family to have running water on Wednesday. "The target is to get it done before Thanksgiving," Dean said. What's the first thing Terry Hula is going to do once the faucets turn on? Have her grandchildren sleepover at grandma's again. "I haven't been able to have them over in three weeks," she said. Over the past week neighbors aware of the Hula family's troubles offered them everything from finished basements to stay in to spare keys to their homes, Terry Hula said. "Once the story came out, we just had such an outpouring from friends, family and people we didn't even know," she said. "We've got some pretty amazing neighbors. It's a little emotional, when you realize, for a long time we felt like we were here alone." It's not clear why it took almost a month for state regulators and county health officials to get a fix in place. Dean said he couldn't "speak to" that and referred those questions to the Kent County Health Department. Kent County Health Department spokesperson Steve Kelso directed questions to DEQ, as it is the "lead agency." He added he was "unaware of a 'holdup'" in getting the Hula family running water and said he would seek those answers and return comment later. According to a timeline provided by Dean, DEQ was told about the well failure on Oct. 30. Kent County asked Wolverine the following day to "contract with a licensed water hauler to supply potable water to the residence." A week later, DEQ gave Wolverine a deadline to "commit to providing the water tank and water hauling for the Hulas," Dean said. Wolverine declined to commit the following day, Nov. 9, he said. Wolverine recently committed to "pay for the first tanker of hauled water," according to a statement from the global shoe manufacturer. The Wolverine statement denied that the company hasn't been working toward a solution. "Wolverine committed to financially contributing towards a solution well over a week ago, and confirmed some of the details of that participation with DEQ," according to the company's statement. "Efforts to date include calling more than a dozen vendors to find a hauled water solution, providing bottled water and consistently offering to contribute financially towards any solution, and these efforts are ongoing." Dean wouldn't say who is paying for the solution, saying "that's not our focus right now." Before it broke down, the Hula family well drew water polluted with PFAS from Wolverine Worldwide's neighboring, decades-old House Street tannery waste dump site in Plainfield Township. Wolverine dumped its Rockford tannery waste in unlined pits around Belmont in northern Kent County in the late 50s and into the 70s. The chemicals seeped into the groundwater and eventually polluted nearby residential water wells. Local drinking water contamination was discovered last year. Exposure to PFAS has been linked in human studies to some cancers, thyroid disorders, elevated cholesterol and other diseases. PFAS compounds are called "forever chemicals" because they accumulate in the body and do not breakdown in the environment. The Hula family and other residents were given filters, paid for by Wolverine, to allow them to drink their well water free, or mostly free, of PFAS. Wolverine also provided homes affected by their contamination plume with Culligan drinking water. The Hulas are part of the large number of Varnum Law clients suing Wolverine as individual plaintiffs in Kent County Circuit Court for lost property value and health issues caused by the contamination. Part of the frustration of the wait is that it appeared there was no plan in place, Tom Hula previously said. It's unclear if the Hula family's situation is a first in the state, but with other aging wells in the area it's expected to not be the last. "They didn't have a plan in place for this," Tom Hula previously said. "By telling us that we can not put a well in, they had no alternate solution. We're not going to be the only people to have this happen. We're only the first they're dealing with it. This is going to happen to many more people." Dean said "each situation is unique" and pointed to examples of responses at Robinson Elementary School in Ottawa County and Parchment, where drinking water tested far above the federal health advisory for PFAS. Unlike the Hula family's situation, residents and school children had running water as they awaited a long-term solution. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Michigan Talent Investment Agency has awarded West Michigan adult education programs $418,955 to help more people over age 23 get their high school diploma and enter a career training program. The agency announced Thursday, Nov. 19, that it awarded four grants totaling $1.5 million to those assisting adults. Officials with Sparta Adult Education received the one-year grant on behalf on nine adult education programs in the region, including the Kent ISD and Zeeland-Holland. "This was an opportunity to collaborate and to work together to identify populations that are unserved or underserved, so that more people can obtain a diploma, get career training, and get on with their life," said Heather Holland, director of the Sparta Adult Education Program and the grant writer. Holland said Kent ISD programs in Grand Rapids and Wyoming and the Ottawa County program are among those in the region that do not offer diploma programs, rather GED and/or English as a Second Language. She said Sparta, which has eight locations throughout the county, offers both a diploma and GED services for free. Holland said individuals in the region could always access diploma programs outside their community but the additional funding will make the process easier to widen participation and access. The other adult education programs participating are: Rockford, Belding, Portland, Plainwell, Orchard View, White Lake and Fruitport. Like Sparta, Rockford and Belding have both diploma and GED programs. The grant funding is set up as a pay-for-performance model, where the providers will be paid up to the grant funding amount, depending upon the number of students served and the success rate, according to the Talent Investment Agency. "Earning a high school diploma, or an equivalent degree, along with technical skills related to an in-demand occupation, greatly increases the employability and earning potential of Michigan's citizens," said Stephanie Beckhorn, director of the Talent Investment Agency's Workforce Development Agency. "Providing more opportunities to gain in-demand skills through the state's adult education programs is an important investment in Michigan residents and the future of our great state. It allows us to better prepare our residents for jobs and career advancements and affords new hope for economic independence, ultimately improving the quality of life for all Michigan families." Holland said the programs still have some logistical things to work out and are still getting additional feedback from the Talent investment Agency. Last year, Graduation Alliance, a private firm based in Salt Lake City that provides multiple pathways to individuals seeking to earn a high school credential, received the $1.5 million to serve Michigan students. Oogie Lamar, director of Kent ISD's adult education program, said the Kent ISD and other school leaders lobbied state lawmakers for the opportunity to apply this year for the funding to support work being done in region. Graduation Alliance is among those sharing in this year's total grant, receiving the largest portion at $772,267. The other recipients include: The Cyber Education Center partnered with The City School of Detroit/The International School is a diploma-granting institution - $242,620. GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP, MI -- A 19-year-old Ottawa County man is accused of causing "cranial cerebral trauma" in his girlfriend's 8-month-old daughter that led to her death. Ottawa County sheriff's investigators said Scarlett Rae-Marie Burroughs of Grand Haven Township died last weekend after she was rushed to a Grand Rapids hospital on Nov. 15 for a seizure Police and rescuers responded to an address in the 14500 block of Dogwood Court about 2:15 p.m. Nov. 15 on a medical call and were told that an 8-month-old was in seizure. The boyfriend of the girl's mother was watching the child at the time. The mother was at work. The child was rushed to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. Deputies noted "concerning factors" while at the residence and an autopsy on Tuesday, Nov. 20 showed the cause of death as cranial cerebral trauma. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide. The 19-year-old man was arrested Tuesday and is awaiting arraignment on an open murder charge, police said. A lawsuit certified as a class action case this month claims the Michigan Civil Service Commission has used exams that discriminate against black applicants seeking work as state police or conservation officers. The suit, initially filed in March 2017, claims law enforcement exams administered by the state since 2014 discriminate against black applicants and violate the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act on grounds that a higher proportion of black applicants failed the test than white applicants. The suit also claims the state discriminated against black people "through its failure to monitor the adverse impact of its hiring policies." "Defendants have discriminated against African Americans through the development and use of tests, which have a disproportionately disparate impact on African Americans compared with Caucasians, despite the fact that these tests cannot be shown to be required by the needs of the State Agencies or predictive of successful job performance," the complaint reads. Wayne County Judge David Groner certified the case as a class action on Nov. 7, according to court documents. The suit claims African Americans make up 6.2 percent of the total Michigan State Police force as of August 2015, down from 12.5 percent in the 1993, when a federal consent order to increase minority hiring following a 1975 lawsuit was lifted. The Detroit Free Press reports the Attorney General's office opposed the certification on grounds that the exam is merely a screening tool, not a job offer, and that each state agency is in charge of its own hiring. Michigan State Police spokeswoman Shanon Banner told the Free Press the agency "is confident that neither the civil service exam nor our hiring practice favor or discriminate." Michigan has earned the three-peat. Nikon, one of the world's leading digital imaging and photography companies, has named Michigan the winner of its annual nationwide search for the "Top Spot for Fall Foliage." This is the third-straight year that Michigan has won the competition, which saw participants from all 50 states. Nikon also honored Michigan in 2016 and 2017. Michigan narrowly claimed this year's title, according to a news release. "Now in its fourth year, this campaign continues to provide a platform for people to show their state pride through photography that displays the natural beauty of our country, while also highlighting the uniqueness of autumn in each individual state," said Lisa Baxt, Associate General Manager of Communications, Nikon Inc. Michigan residents submitted a plethora of stunning images that displayed the state's knockout combination of vibrant foliage and numerous lakes. New York and Colorado finished in second and third, respectively. Using the hashtag #NikonFallMI, photos were accepted on Nikon's Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter. Images submitted by photographers of all skill levels demonstrated the stunning variety of autumnal landscapes from coast to coast, and displayed this year's gorgeous array of vivid forests, gleaming lakes, and spectacular foliage, according to a news release. To view of all the submissions on Instagram and Twitter, search the hashtag #NikonFallMI. You can also view the submissions on Facebook. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Multiple efforts for neighborhoods, streets and parks across the city of Kalamazoo are coming to fruition. All of Kalamazoo's neighborhoods are working on individual plans meant to guide zoning, investment in infrastructure and development during the next several years. Monday, the City Commission took steps to implement the Northside neighborhood's spin on Kalamazoo's broader master plan. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, the intent is to give each neighborhood a say in how it changes. Neighborhood associations are partnered with city staff to develop the plans. The Northside neighborhood became the first to get its plan approved this summer. Draft plans are available for the Eastside Neighborhood, Edison Neighborhood, Oakwood Neighborhood and Vine neighborhood. City staff are simultaneously taking feedback on draft versions of a parks and recreation master plan and a complete streets policy. Monday, the City Commission acted on recommendations from the Northside neighborhood. An ordinance was added to create new zoning classifications immediately applied to rezone more than 350 properties. READ ALL OF KALAMAZOO'S NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS HERE "With all of the rezoning going on in the community it's important we keep our eyes open to opportunities," said Commissioner Eric Cunningham. "If there is an idea or a thought behind something as a potential investment, please bring it to our attention." The city released the first draft of a parks and recreation master plan and an accessible transportation policy this month. Public comment is being collected on both before they are presented for adoption by the City Commission. Northside neighborhood plan There are 721 vacant parcels and 219 vacant structures in the Northside neighborhood, according to a city presentation. City Planner Christina Anderson said one of the main goals of the overall master plan effort is to remove barriers to redevelopment. The city is trying to fill in lots that have sat vacant long after blighted buildings were demolished. The Northside neighborhood plan emphasizes supporting resident-owned businesses and revitalizing the cultural identity of the area. It seeks to increase the number of resident-owned businesses, encourage enjoyment of the arts and open space and strengthen workforce development, safety and youth programming. It also seeks to preserve existing housing while promoting new affordable housing for residents. In November, the City Commission created a Corridor Improvement Authority recommended by the neighborhood plan. It creates a tax increment financing district so tax dollars can be reinvested in the neighborhood. Northside Association for Community Development Director Mattie Jordan-Woods said the neighborhood was negatively affected by growth in the Central Business District in downtown Kalamazoo. Expensive housing projects and new developments were "wiping out the traditional community," she said. "We needed to have an area that really stood out," Jordan-Woods said. "We wanted to make sure it remained, not just for people who lived here for 30-40 years but for people who wanted to come and have a sense of pride." Three new zoning districts were created Monday -- Node, Live-Work 1, and Live-Work 2. Anderson said they will finally meet a desire for walkable urban space dating back to a 2009 neighborhood plan. "This is not new, this has been talked about for a long time," Anderson said. The new zoning districts include standards that consider how a building's shape relates to other structures on the block as well as what the building can be used for. Node districts are meant to create pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use commercial areas on the corner of prominent intersections. These were created at the intersections of Burdick and Patterson streets, Westnedge Avenue and Patterson Street; and Ransom, Park and Church streets. The Live-Work 1 and Live-Work 2 districts promote residential and commercial uses within the same building. Properties along Westnedge Avenue and North Street were rezoned to Live-Work 1, which places more emphasis on clear front entrances and storefront windows. Properties along Ransom, Rose, Pitcher, Edwards and Porter streets were rezoned to Live-Work 2, which allows for craftsman maker spaces. "One of the possibly most dense and potentially boring things a city can do is create zoning ordinances," said Commissioner David Anderson. "I want to give some credit to neighborhood folks and city staff who are infusing some energy and aspiration and hope in this new version of zoning. (They are) attempting to do more than the perfunctory things a city does, .... but to look for creativity and some consistency all at the same time." A handful of properties were rezoned to existing multi-family residential zoning districts to promote redevelopment. Their previous zoning designation did not allow new residential structures and presented barriers to rehabilitation. Jordan-Woods said property owners recently learned their homes were nonconforming uses under the previous rezoning. Changing the districts ensures homeowners can repair their properties if damaged in a fire. Jordan-Woods has been seeking cultural business district for years. When the NACD opened a pocket park last October, Jordan-Woods envisioned beautifying neighborhood corridors with similar historic displays. Property will be identified to install murals and cultural and historic artwork throughout the Northside neighborhood. Other space will be identified for programming and events. There are more than 5,250 residents who live in the neighborhood, according to 2016 U.S. Census figures. More than three-quarters of residents are African-American, while 8 percent are white and two percent are Hispanic. The median household income is just under $27,000, according to census figures. Parks and recreation master plan A 145-page draft master plan for parks and recreation was released by the city Monday. It will guide improvement projects and programming for the next 5-10 years. It also identifies land that should be considered for future parks and park space that is unused or not needed. The plan is expected to be presented to the City Commission for approval in early 2019. Community members are encouraged to review the plan online at kzooparks.org and kalamazoocity.org and provide feedback through Dec. 19. Comments may be submitted online, via email to fletchers@kalamazoocity.org, or by calling the Kzoo Parks office at (269) 337-8191. Community input has been gathered for the plan during the last six months. Four public meetings were convened in parks throughout the city this year. "Our parks and recreation programs have such a huge impact on our city and we know that it's important that our plans reflect what our community wants," said Parks and Recreation Director Sean Fletcher. "Our hope is that by listening and working with community members, this Parks and Recreation Plan will help achieve the broader goals of Imagine Kalamazoo 2025." The process was last completed in 2013 and included improvements to Woods Lake Park, Hays Park, and several extensions of the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail, which have since been completed. Other business Monday, the City Commission created an advisory council for its water system, complying with a Dec. 11 deadline set by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Public systems serving a population of at least 50,000 people are required to create a seven-member council. Members will consult with the city on replacing lead service lines, public awareness about lead in drinking water and respond to contamination. Candidates will be nominated by Public Services Director James Baker and presented for confirmation by the City Commission on Dec. 3. Members will serve staggered three-year terms. The city is also seeking applicants to serve on its Community Development Act Advisory Committee. The group's primary responsibility is to review applications from community organizations for Community Development Block Grant funds and to make recommendations to the City Commission for who receives them. CDAAC meets monthly on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Committee members serve three-year terms and are limited to two consecutive terms, though members can serve again after a single-term break. Interested residents can apply online or visit the City Clerk's Office at City Hall. For more information about CDAAC, contact Dorla Bonner at bonnerd@kalamazoocity.org. Health officials in the United States and Canada are telling consumers to avoid romaine lettuce because of a new new E. coli outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Nov. 20 that it is working with Canadian officials to investigate the outbreak, which has sickened 32 people in 11 states including Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois. An additional 18 people have been infected in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Illnesses were reported from Oct. 8 to Oct. 30 in people ages 7 to 84 years old. Sixty-six percent of ill people are female. No deaths have been reported. Restaurants and retailers have also been told not to serve or sell any of the lettuce, according to the FDA. The strain identified is different than the one linked to romaine earlier in 2018, but it appears similar to one linked to leafy greens last year. Sarah Sorscher, deputy director of regulatory affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told the Associated Press that tracing the source of contaminated lettuce can be difficult because it's often repackaged by middlemen. That means the entire industry becomes implicated in outbreaks, even if not all products are contaminated. Washing lettuce won't ensure that contaminated lettuce is safe, Sorscher added. Those infected by E. coli bacteria will show a variety of symptoms including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. ANN ARBOR -- The Washington Nationals announced on Monday they have added former University of Michigan pitcher James Bourque to the 40-man roster. Bourque, 25, went to the University of Michigan from 2011-14 before he was drafted by the Nationals organization in the 14th round of the 2014 draft. The Ann Arbor native has spent the past four years in the same minor league organization without being added to the major league roster, which couple with other stipulations, would have made him eligible for the Rule-5 draft in December. To protect from the potential risk of losing him, the Nationals added the Ann Arbor Huron graduate to their 40-man roster. Bourque, the 17th ranked prospect in the Nationals organization by MLB scouts, was drafted and used as a starting pitcher through the 2017 campaign. The former Wolverine missed the 2015 season due to injury, but had an ERA of 4.00 or above in 2014, 2016 and 2017. The Nationals switched Bourque to the bullpen in 2018 and he was lights out in his first year as a reliever. Since moving to a relief role, Bourque led all Nationals' minor leaguers (min. 50.0 IP) in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (12.91), hits allowed per 9.0 innings (5.09) and ranked third in the system in ERA (1.70). He had a 2.16 ERA for 33.1 innings in High-A ball for the Potomac Nationals in 2018, posting a 3-2 record before he was called up to Double-A Harrisburg. There he went 1-0 in 19.2 innings, posting a 1.27 whip with 24 strikeouts for the Senators. Bourque went 8-9 in his career at the University of Michigan, was named to the academic All-Big Ten team in 2014 and had a no-hitter through seven innings against Notre Dame in April of 2013. Monday, November 19, 2018 at 4:32PM Embed from Getty Images Microsofts troubles continue with some Microsoft Office 365 and Azure users being locked out of their accounts for most of the day on November 19. A multi-factor authentication (MFA) issue hit users worldwide, even affecting their ability to do self-service password resets. An Office 365 status page on the issue described the problem of users werent receiving prompts on their mobile devices (SMS, call, or push) and Microsoft is investigating the issue. The company hasnt released yet what caused the problem. Meanwhile, those on Azure may have problems accessing resources like Azure Active Directory when MFA is required. Azure engineers have deployed a hotfix but this took some time to take effect, particularly for Europe and Asia Pacific users. It did help reduce the number of authentication errors and it tipped off the engineers that some of its customers were not getting the SMS, call, or push notifications for MFA. Microsoft claims some users are now authenticating successfully but they are still addressing the delays experienced by other users. Source: ZDNet + TechCrunch On November 19, Tokyo prosecutors arrested one of the auto industry's leading figures, Carlos Ghosn over allegations of understating his compensation and swindling money from Nissan for personal use. At the time of his arrest, Ghosn was serving as chief executive of Renault, chairman of Nissan and chairman of the board at Mitsubishi. Ghosn along with representative director Greg Kelly was taken into custody for failing to declare around $44 million on Nissan's security reports submitted over five years starting 2011. Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that Nissan had established a Dutch venture capital investment subsidiary, which at Kelly's direction, purchased luxury residential properties in Ghosn's hometowns- Rio de Janeiro and Beirut. Carlos was allowed to use these properties at no cost. The high-profile arrest of Ghosn, whose list of feats include reviving Renault, saving Nissan and re-energising the auto industry, tumbled the shares of Nissan by 6.5 percent in Tokyo, resulting in the biggest intraday decline for the Japanese automaker since November 2016. Shares of Mitsubishi Motors Corp. too plummeted, falling the most since its emission scandal came to light in 2016. Japanese media also reported that the authorities have made a plea bargain deal with an unidentified person at Nissan. The deal, which reduces or gives immunity for those cooperating with investigations, would only be the second under the system after it was introduced in the country in June earlier this year. In a statement, Nissan said that it will cooperate with Japanese prosecutors and their investigation into Ghosn after a whistle-blower tipped that the executive was misrepresenting his salary and using company assets for personal purposes. In a late-night press conference in Yokohama, on the fringes of Tokyo, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa stated that he would recommend Nissan board, which will meet on Thursday, to oust Ghosn, Needless to say, this is an act which cannot be tolerated by the company, he said. Speaking at the 90-minute conference, Saikawa described both Kelly and Ghosn as masterminds of a long-running scheme to mislead financial authorities. He declined to give further details on the expected charges against the duo. Renault, in a statement on November 19, stated that its board of directors would meet as soon as possible to reach a conclusion on Ghosn. Mitsubishi echoed a similar sentiment stating that it would look to remove Ghosn. While the whereabouts of Ghosn remains unknown, he can be held in custody for up to 23 days without being charged under Japanese law. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More "Whats the use of developing life-saving medicines if you cant make them affordable to the patient?" famously quipped Dr YK Hamied, Chairman of Cipla, referring to high cost of HIV/AIDS treatment. Hamied backed his words with action. In 2001, Cipla introduced the worlds first ever three-in-one fixed-dose combination of Stavudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine to fight AIDS. The triple combination tablet was offered to global non-governmental organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) for distribution at $350 per patient per year (or less than one dollar a day), compared to $12,000 per patient per year prevailing individual drugs cost in those days sold by MNCs. Now the same treatment is offered as low as $75 per patient per year. Ciplas move lifted the death sentence of millions across the developing world, especially in Africa, making AIDS treatment affordable and accessible. In the process, Cipla not just won laurels globally but secured multi-million dollar contracts to supply antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to low and middle-income countries. But Cipla isnt kicked about this business anymore. Cipla generated $400 million or 17 percent of its revenues in FY18 from tenders in FY2018, more than half of which were in ARV tenders. A little over one-third of those tender revenues came from South Africa alone, the rest from sub-Saharan Africa and Cipla Global Access. Ciplas management in its recent investor call indicated that the global tender business sales could be lower by $100-120 million in FY19 led by funding crunch and competition. Most of the low and middle-income countries depend on generous funding support from multilateral agencies like Global Fund, Untaid, and Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) of US government to buy ARVs, Tuberculosis and Malaria drugs. These countries do it either individually or through group purchasing that offers them affordable prices due to high-volume orders and multiple competing suppliers. But that funding is slowly drying up, as donors tighten their purse strings. For instance, early this year, the largest donor the US, had proposed $1 billion in funding cuts. For instance, 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. 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. Even PEPFAR, which was started under the regime of former US President George W Bush in 2003, will get $800 million less. Under PEPFAR the US 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. The donor countries argue that 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. Lower tender offtake With lesser funds at disposal, countries were floating tenders for smaller volumes, even as the competition is fierce, impacting the margins. The ARV segment has become crowded with drug makers such as Mylan, Hetero, Aurobindo Pharma, Lupin, Sun Pharma and Strides are competing aggressively, Chinese drug makers too have jumped into the fray. The rising prices of key starting materials for ARV drugs supplied by Chinese producers are pushing the costs. The South African tender that constitutes about 35-40 percent of our business, this is the first year we have seen that being impacted and again that is a funded tender by the government. So, what happens is I think when there is a liquidity issue or the funding environment changes, those tenders get impacted, told Umang Vohra, Global Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Cipla to analysts. Cipla estimates about 50 percent cut in South Africa tenders from FY2019. We have an internal threshold for margins, anything below the threshold we may not participate, said Kedar Upadhye, Ciplas Global Chief Financial Officer in an interview to Moneycontrol early this month, referring to low margins that these tenders are offering. Upadhye said to compensate for the loss of tender business, the company will be focusing on private market segments in India, South Africa and emerging markets. India may see a decline in its rice exports in 2018-19, the first time in three years, due to a 13 percent hike in minimum support price (MSP) for paddy and a low demand in various major markets including Bangladesh. The decline is in volume terms but trade sources told The Financial Express that there may be a flat growth in exports. Exports for basmati rice, varieties of which account for 60 percent of overall rice exports, fell 18 percent in October. Price of non-basmati rice dropped in key export markets and so, traders decreased shipments. Last fiscal, exports were booming. They touched a record 1.271 crore tonne in 2017-18, up from 10.76 million tonne in the year before. In the April-September period this year, Indias exports were only 5.8 million tonne. Bangladesh was an important market for India in the previous fiscal for non-basmati rice, BV Krishna Rao, President of Rice Exporters Association, told the paper. "Production this year is higher there, so the country may not import much whenever it opens the import window," he added. A higher MSP can dampen the competitiveness of Indian exports in the global markets. Non-basmati shipments dropped 13 percent in April-September this year to 37.23 lakh tonne, while basmati rice exports fell 2.4 percent to 20.82 lakh tonne. However, basmati exports were higher in value by 6 percent while the non-basmati rice was down 12 percent in value terms. Exporters delayed the signing of contracts for non-basmati rice for four months till October to get higher prices when the revised MSP kicked in, the report said. Basmati export contracts were down to 2.05 lakh tonne in October from last year's 2.51 lakh tonne. In July, the Centre hiked the MSP for paddy to Rs 1,750 per quintal, the biggest hike in six years. This was done to get farmers at least 50 percent profit over the cost of crops for which MSPs are fixed. There is hope for recovery in the second half of the fiscal if China buys in significant quantities in December, according to sources. "The exports of basmati may recover during the second half. Iran has not yet started issuing import permits. Once the process is resumed, we can have an idea of how much it requires. India has the rupee arrangement with Iran and that is going to help them to buy from us," Vijay Setia, president of the All-India Rice Exporters' Association, was quoted as saying in the report. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More What a way to start the truncated week. The Nifty50 not just climbed 10,700 levels but also closed above its crucial long-term moving average i.e. 200-DMA placed at 10,752. Strong global cues, fall in crude oil prices, as well as stable rupee, helped Ithe ndian market climbed crucial resistance levels. The final tally on D-Street the S&P BSE Sensex climbed 300 points to close at 35,774 while for Nifty50 we saw a rally of 81 points. The index closed at 10,763. Sectorally, the S&P BSE Realty index rose 1.4 percent, followed by the BSE FMCG which gained 1.2 percent, and the S&P BSE Metal index was up 1.1 percent. On the losing front, PSU, and oil & gas index saw some bit of profit booking. The big news from the technical front is that the index climbed above 200-DMA. If you remember, the index slipped below this crucial level on October 4, 2018. The Nifty registered a breakout above 10710 levels but will still remain vulnerable to sudden bouts of volatility as it trading inside the bearish gap zone of 10754 10840 levels registered on October 4. Once the index close above 10840 levels then this pull back can get extended towards 11069 levels. Not to forget that second phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections to be held in 72 seats of 19 districts on Tuesday amid tight security. The fate of nine ministers, assembly speaker and some other prominent leaders of the ruling BJP as well as of the Congress will be decide in the polls. In the first phase, polling was held in 18 seats of eight Maoist-affected districts on November 12. Technical View: The Nifty50 formed a bullish candle on the daily charts Three levels to watch out are 10440, 10774, 10840 For the time being traders can look for stock specific opportunities in the broader markets as broad based momentum can pick up only on a close above 10840 levels. Max Call OI: 10800, 11000 Max Put OI: 10000, 10200 Stocks in news: Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management manager of CPSE ETF will raise Rs 8,000 crore through the fourth tranche of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) which is likely to be launched at the end of this month. Yes Bank, currently looking for a successor to its long-term CEO Rana Kapoor, is looking to overhaul its leadership structure, sources told Moneycontrol. The bank's Nomination & Remuneration Committee is reviewing the performance of board members. National Aviators Guild, the union of Jet Airways pilots, will meet the airline's senior management on November 20 to discuss payment of pending salaries. Technical Recommendations: We spoke to HDFC Securities and heres what they have to recommend: ITC: Buy| Target Rs. 302 | Stop-Loss: Rs 274| Return 6% GSFC: Buy| Target Rs. 119 | Stop-Loss: Rs 100 | Return 10% Canara Bank: Buy| Target: Rs.287 | Stop-Loss: Rs 248 | Return 10% : The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Ashish Chaturmohta Voltas has been in decline mode after an all-time high of Rs 675 in December last year. It touched low of Rs 472 last month, retracing 50 percent of the major rise from low of Rs 287 to high of Rs 675. The stock after consolidating for few weeks at lower levels has seen a bounceback to current levels. It has been forming higher tops and higher bottoms from the low on daily chart. MACD line has moved above the equilibrium of zero on the daily chart. Thus, the stock can be bought at the current level and on dips to Rs 550 with a stop loss below Rs 535 for a target of Rs 650. : The author is Head of Technical and Derivatives at Sanctum Wealth Management. The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Benchmark indices fell on November 20 after surging for three trading sessions after the RBI's board ended its 10-hour long meet with the decision of easing capital norms. The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 300 points or 0.84 percent to 35,474 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 107 points or 1 percent to 10,656. All sectoral indices traded in the red with IT, Metal and Pharma indices falling the most, down 2-3 percent. The broader indices, Nifty Midcap and Smallcap declined over a percent each. Experts expect the volatility to continue in the market amid states elections. The market is expected to move in either direction once this elections results announced, according to experts. "Counting of votes will be held for five states on December 11, 2018. This might lend some volatility to the markets and keep wider trends at bay," Abhijeet Dey, Senior Fund ManagerEquities, BNP Paribas Mutual Fund said. The second phase of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh ends on Tuesday. Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram will be held on November 28. Polling in Rajasthan and Telangana will be held on December 7. Here are five factors that dented market sentiment: RBI's decision to ease capital norms In its first meeting after the deep rift between the central bank and the government became public, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday its board would support small businesses and has extended the timeline for banks to set aside an additional 0.625 percent as capital conservation buffer by one year to March 31, 2020 to help them to lend more. It has also decided to form an expert committee to look into whether RBI reserves are adequate. But the outcome of the central bank board's meet to boost lending failed to impress investors as the implementation of the proposed measures will take time. The Narendra Modi-led government is concerned that low crop prices and difficulties which small businesses face in borrowing may dent its prospects in numerous state elections over coming weeks, and the general election due next year. RBI's decision seems credit negative for banks The Reserve Bank of India's decision to allow lenders more time to adhere to additional capital buffer norms under Basel 3 is credit negative for the countrys state-run banks, Moodys Investors Service said in a release. The common equity Tier 1 ratio or core capital over the next 12 months would be lower than what we currently expect for some banks, the rating agency added. Moody's also raised concerns over the central bank considering to give banks a leeway in classifying stressed assets of small borrowers which will ease the credit flow to this sector. The track record of such dispensations on asset classification, when seen over the last few years in India, has shown that they have largely been unsuccessful in addressing the underlying stress, the rating agency added. Global sell-off Asian markets ended sharply lower with Japan's Nikkei falling a percent after Japanese automaker Nissan's chairman, Carlos Ghosn, was arrested a day earlier over allegations of financial misconduct. China's Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 2 percent each. European stocks were also trading lower. France's CAC, Germany's DAX and Britain's FTSE were down 0.5-1 percent at the time of writing this article. IT stocks lead decline Technology stocks corrected after further recovery in rupee against the US dollar. The Nifty IT index declined over 2 percent as Wipro, Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies, NIIT Technologies, Mindtree, Infosys and TCS slipped 1-3.5 percent. Software companies get major revenue in dollar terms against their services to global clients. Hence, any depreciation in the rupee is always positive for these exporters, which we saw last month when the rupee hit the lowest level of 74.38 a dollar (closing). Technical Outlook The Nifty50 fell below its 200-day moving average placed around 10,700 which also increased selling pressure in the market. The index has a strong support around 10,600, which if breached could lead it to below 10,500, experts said. "Although a breakout is registered above 10,710 levels Nifty will still remain vulnerable to sudden bouts of volatility as it trading inside the bearish gap zone of 10,75410,840 registered on October 4," Mazhar Mohammad, Chief Strategist Technical Research & Trading Advisory, Chartviewindia.in told Moneycontrol. He said if it closes below 10,688, it will once again drag down the counter into the sideways zone with a negative bias. (With inputs from agencies) Eleven weak public sector banks were put under RBI's prompt corrective action that restricted then from expanding unless they cleaned up their balance sheets. However, the government, which had earlier supported the framework, changed its views and called for relaxation. (Image: Reuters) The outcome of the board meeting of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suggests that a direct confrontation has been avoided and the more contentious issues have been deferred to committees, said a report authored by Sonal Varma and Aurodeep Nandi of Nomura India. The decisions suggest efforts have been made to preserve the RBIs operational autonomy. The risk of high profile exits from the RBI has proven to be overblown, and this should provide a near-term respite, it said. RBI and the government in a crucial board meeting on Monday discussed numerous policy flashpoints on capital adequacy, the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework, the RBIs surplus capital and liquidity support, among others. The following key decisions were taken at the board meeting: 1. Basel regulatory capital framework: To retain the capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) at 9 percent, but to extend the transition period for implementing the last tranche of 0.625 percent under the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB), by one year (up to 31 March 2020). 2. Restructuring scheme for stressed Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): The Board advised the RBI that it should consider a scheme for restructuring stressed standard assets of MSME borrowers with aggregate credit facilities of up to Rs 250mn. 3. PCA framework: For banks under the PCA, the matter will be examined by the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of the RBI. 4. Economic Capital Framework (ECF) of the RBI: The Board will appoint an expert committee to examine the ECF, the membership and terms of reference, which will be jointly determined by the government and the RBI. According to Nomura, enabling more public sector banks to come out of the PCA framework will require more upfront capital injections (recap) from the government which we would expect over the next two months. This along with initiatives on the loan restructuring of MSMEs (if implemented) may partly help contain the fallout from the shadow bank liquidity crisis, though a near-term growth slowdown is still inevitable, it said. The issue of excess RBI capital being transferred to the government is still to be decided. According to news reports, the next board meeting scheduled on 14 December will likely discuss liquidity and governance issues. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Here are stocks that are in the news today: Fortis Malar Hospitals: Vijayasarathy Desikan, Chief Financial Officer, has resigned from his position. Escorts: CRISIL assigned the A1+ in respect of commercial paper programme of Rs 100 crore of the company. Electrosteel Casting: CARE has reaffirmed rating for long term bank facilities of the company at BBB+; Stable. Future Enterprises: Company acquired 100 percent equity share capital of Ritvika Trading Private Limited (RTPL). Mandhana Retail Ventures: Hemant Gupta has resigned from the post of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Jet Airways - National Aviators Guild, the union of Jet Airways pilots, will meet the airline's senior management on November 20 to discuss payment of pending salaries. BLS International Services: Company commenced operation of premium services in United Kingdom's new UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre for applicants applying to extend their residence in the UK. Kridhan Infra: Kridhan Infra's Singapore Subsidiary Swee Hong Limited (SHL) has successfully won an order for construction of Link Sewers for the DTSS Phase 2 project from the Public Utilities Board, Singapore worth Rs 195 crore. PSP Projects: Company has bagged new institutional & industrial projects worth Rs 372.47 crore from various clients including two projects of Rs 208.49 crore in which the company has been ranked the L1 bidder (Lowest Bidder) by regulatory authority. Oil India: Board approves issue of debt securities for aggregate principal amount up to Rs 4,000 crore or equivalent amount in foreign currency, to meet on December 3 regarding share buyback. Yes Bank: R Chandrasekhar likely to have resigned from the board of the bank. He would be the third member to resign from the board - CNBC-TV18 Sources. Jumbo Finance: Board approves increase in borrowing limits of company up to Rs 30 crore. NMDC: Production at Donimalai mine suspended. Suspension of production at the mine is temporary - CNBC-TV18. IL&FS: The company was unable to service obligations w.r.t. principal & interest to Mudra on November 17 - CNBC-TV18 Usha Martin: Company clarified saying not aware of talks on Basant-Prashant Jhawar to sell majority stake. South Indian Bank: Bank raises 1 year MCLR to 9.45 percent from 9.35 percent with effect from November 20. ONGC: Venezuela pays $35 million dividend dues to ONGC Videsh which has 2 projects in Venezuela - CNBC-TV18. Kamdhenu: CARE assigned A-/Stable for company's long term bank facilities worth Rs 130 crore and A2+ for short term bank facilities worth Rs 20 crore. Sumeru Industries: Company is proposed to enter into LLP agreement in the capacity of 25 percent of investment and profit sharing ratio. The proposed "Aalps Infraspace LLP" will operate in the field of construction and redevelopment. Bulk Deals Bohra Industries: Aditi Speciality Packaging Private Limited sold 1 lakh equity shares of the company at Rs 24.14 per share on the NSE. Talwalkar Fitness: Birla Mutual Fund sold 3,90,845 shares of the company at Rs 45.22 per share on the NSE. Venus Remedies: P Eswaramoorthy sold 83,000 equity shares of the company at Rs 57.69 per share on the NSE. (For more bulk deals, click here) Analyst or Board Meet/Briefings Shriram City Union Finance: Company's officials will be meeting Dolat Capital Market Private Limited on November 20 and E&R Advisors on November 22. Aarey Drugs & Pharmaceuticals: Board meeting is to be held on November 30 to consider and recommend payment of interim dividend. Skipper: Company's executives are scheduled to attend Annual Investor Conference organised by IDFC Securities, namely 'The Stock Called India' on November 20 at Mumbai. Welspun Enterprises: Company's executives are scheduled to attend Annual Investor Conference organised by IDFC Securities, namely 'The Stock Called India' on November 20 at Mumbai. Astral Poly Technik: Company's executives are scheduled to attend Annual Investor Conference organised by IDFC Securities, namely 'The Stock Called India' on November 20 at Mumbai. Reliance Capital: Board meeting is scheduled to be held on November 27 to announce unaudited financial results for the quarter and half-year ended September 2018. HEG: Board meeting is scheduled to be held on November 26 to consider the proposal for buyback of the equity shares of the company. Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company: Company's officials will be meeting The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on November 21 and Axis Bank on November 22. Welspun Corp: Company will be attending a conference organised by Kotak Securities on November 21 at Mumbai. Future Supply Chain Solutions: Company's officials will be meeting analysts/investors on November 20. Blue Star: Company's executives are scheduled to attend Annual Investor Conference organised by IDFC Securities, namely 'The Stock Called India' on November 20 at Mumbai, will also meet Dalal & Broacha Stock Broking and Angel Broking on November 21. Bodal Chemicals: Company's Executive Director, Ankit S Patel and Chief Financial Officer, Mayur B Padhya will be attending IDFC Annual Investor Conference under the event theme 'The Stock Called India' organized by IDFC Securities on November 21. Som Distilleries & Breweries: Company's executives are scheduled to attend Annual Investor Conference organised by IDFC Securities, namely 'The Stock Called India' on November 21 at Mumbai, and also analysts/investors on November 20 at their office. GHCL: Sunil Gupta, General Manager (Finance) and Abhishek Chaturvedi, Manager (Finance) of the company will participate in the Annual Investors'' conference 2018 hosted by Kotak Securities to be held in Mumbai on November 21. Motherson Sumi Systems: Company's executives are scheduled to attend Annual Investor Conference organised by IDFC Securities, namely 'The Stock Called India' on November 21 at Mumbai. Kridhan Infra: Company's officials will be meeting analysts/investors on November 20. NHPC: Company will hold a conference call on November 20 to discuss company's results for the 2nd quarter of FY 2018-19 and interact with analysts & investors. Pfizer: Company's officials will be meeting Pari Washington Company Advisors Private Limited on November 20 at Mumbai. Maharashtra Seamless: Company's executives are scheduled to attend Annual Investor Conference organised by IDFC Securities, namely 'The Stock Called India' on November 20 and November 21 at Mumbai. Tamil Nadu Newsprint & Papers: Company's officials will be meeting analysts/investors on November 20, 21, 22 and 23. MIC Electronics: Prabhakar Nandiraju, Resolution Professional (RP), on November 29, will consider the audited financial results of the company for the 2nd quarter and half year ended September 2018. Vanta Bioscience: Board meeting is scheduled on November 28 to consider the allotment of equity shares to promoters and non promoters on preferential basis. Vikas EcoTech: Company will be meeting a group of analysts on November 20. KPR Mill: Company's executives are scheduled to attend Annual Investor Conference organised by IDFC Securities, namely 'The Stock Called India' during November 19-21 at Mumbai. Graphite India: Management of the company is scheduled to meet investors on November 20 and 21 organised by Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Tokyo, Japan. Everest Industries: Company's executives are scheduled to attend Annual Investor Conference organised by IDFC Securities, namely 'The Stock Called India' on November 20 at Mumbai. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Mauritius-based SBM Bank has appointed Sidharth Rath, a former Axis Bank senior executive, to head its India operations. Sidharth Rath has taken over as the MD & CEO of SBM Bank (India) Limited pursuant to the approval received from the Reserve Bank of India. SBM Bank became the first foreign bank to be granted license from the RBI under the wholly-owned subsidiary scheme to provide universal banking service with a focus on wholesale banking, trade finance, capital market and retail banking, the bank said in a statement. The licence was granted to start business operations in India as a scheduled commercial bank under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 with effect from December 1, 2018. Rath has spent 17 years with Indias third-largest private sector lender across various roles and verticals and more than 26 years of industry experience. Before Axis Bank, Rath spent close to a decade at IFCI , formerly known as Industrial Finance Corporation of India. Rath has a bachelors degree in commerce and a masters in business from Xavier Institute of Management, and last served Axis Bank as the head of corporate and transaction before resigning in March this year. About SBM Bank At present, SBM Bank has a total of four branches across Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ramachandrapuram. It caters to clients from India and East Africa, besides having a base in Mauritius. SBM offers products and services such as deposits, advances, NRI (non-resident Indian) services, treasury products and trade finance. The bank aims to revamp its customer base and offerings in line with its growth strategy. Its branch network under SBM will migrate to SBM Bank India from December. SBM Holdings Ltd is the third-largest entity by market capitalisation in Mauritius. The holding company has a presence in Mauritius, Kenya, India and Madagascar. In May 2017, SBM had agreed to acquire Fidelity Commercial Bank to enter the Kenya market and concluded the acquisition in August this year. On November 19, ukprogressive.co.uk, an independent portal reported how ultra nationalist Jair Bolsonaro's rise to the highest seat of power in Brazil, the most biodiverse nation on Earth has cast a shadow over the first global environment conference. This underlined once again, the link between politics, ecologically irresponsible businesses and the impact the two can cumulatively have on human destiny. Fears have been expressed that and we quote, "the former army captain will disrupt international efforts to prevent the collapse of natural life support systems in the same way that Donald Trump is undermining cooperation to stabilise the climate." But much before the battles between corporate lobbies and protectors and consumers of natural resources became full-blown headlines all over the world, Chetan Anand's 1946 film Neecha Nagar, written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and Hayatullah Ansari, laid the foundation of not just social realism in Hindi cinema, but critiqued how in a society obsessed with profiteering, even drinking water at times becomes undrinkable for the lesser privileged. Remember what happened when in 2014, the drinking water source for the city of Flint, Michigan was changed from Lake Huron and the Detroit River to the cheaper Flint River? Due to insufficient water treatment facilities, lead leached from water pipes into drinking water, exposing over 100,000 residents. Remember Erin Brockovich, the activist and the film that told the story of the contamination of drinking water with hexavalent chromium in the southern California town of Hinkley? The point we are trying to make is that cinema when it tells us the stories of conglomerates and ambition, cannot often move away from the human cost of profiteering. This is Seetal and in this Moneycontrol Deep Dive, we will try and present an overview of how Hindi cinema has told similar stories starting with of course the path-breaking Neecha Nagar which became the first Indian film to gain recognition at Cannes after it shared the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film (Best Film) award at the first Cannes Film Festival in 1946. It's the only Indian film to be ever awarded a Palme d'Or. A socialist mindset Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, the writer of this film, in particular, was a visionary who in post-independence India, foresaw a yawning gap between the rich and the poor, ambition and innocence. He also wrote Raj Kapoor's Shri 420 where a simpleton gets sucked into the morass of an unethical business in Mumbai and becomes a pawn in a Ponzi scheme that devastates the poor by promising them permanent homes at just Rs. 100. Guru Dutt's 1957 classic Pyasa written by Abrar Alvi critiques the commercial impulses of the publishing industry where a living poet is pronounced dead and his work appropriated by a greedy publisher. A similar theme was explored in Ek Doctor Ki Maut by Tapan Sinha in 1990 where a doctor who discovers a vaccine for leprosy finds himself being targetted only because there are now many powerful people after the appropriation of his work. Paigham, a 1959 film produced and directed by S. S. Vasan, anticipated tensions between industrialists and workers. The same theme was also explored in BR Chopra's 1957 hit Naya Daur where writers Akhtar Mirza and Kamil Rashid told the story of a community of tonga drivers affected by rapid mechanisation. BR Chopra, whose studio emblem included two labourers, produced another film on the same theme, Mazdoor in 1993 as did Yash Chopra whose Kala Patthar advocated the nationalisation of mismanaged coal mines that exploited workers without any regards for their well-being or safety. Even earlier came 1969's Aadmi Aur Insaan, a film produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by Yash Chopra that told the story of corruption in the construction lobby and the death of a judge investigating the rot. Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Satyakam in 1969 heartbreakingly narrated how an idealistic engineer is unable to conform to the corruption in the system and in the end dies penniless, with only his ideals intact. His 1973 film Namak Haram also dwelled upon the cold-blooded tactics of an industrialist to break up the unity of the workers union. The politics between the unions was also touched upon in Govind Nihalani's 1983 film Aaghat. Kundan Shah's 1983 cult classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro was a scathing comment on the unscrupulousness in politics and the business of media and real estate. Amid all this, was a beam of light and hope. A film as unique as Manthan in 1976, where Shyam Benegal, inspired by the pioneering milk cooperative movement of Verghese Kurien, engaged Vijay Tendulkar to write a stirring take on the White Revolution of India. The film was entirely crowdfunded by 500,000 farmers who donated Rs. 2 each to the project. When business got personal For most part though, Hindi cinema has used business as a narrative tool to tell stories of vendetta and personal rivalries. Yash Chopra created dramatic tension in 1979's Trishul by pitting an established builder against his upstart, illegitimate son who breaks every rule in the book to run his father's business to the ground. Possibly the best film of this genre was Kalyug, Shyam Benegal's 1981 retelling of the epic Mahabharat which depicted an archetypal conflict between rival business houses. 1983's family weepie Avtaar uses the entrepreneurial success of a retired technician to avenge the humiliation he suffers at the hands of his self-absorbed children. Madhur Bhandarkar's Corporate was as subtle as a sledgehammer as it told the story of how brands are built sometimes at the expense of those who helped build them. Inspirational stories Films like Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year in 2009, Band Baaja Baraat in 2010, and Basu Chatterjee's forgotten seventies' gem Manzil have celebrated the ambitious but cash-strapped, starry-eyed Indian middle class while Ashutosh Gowariker 2004 film Swades, explored how development has passed by rural India and how a little bit of initiative can transform lives at the grassroots. Mani Ratnam's Guru was, of course, an unapologetic tribute to capitalist ambition. In 2009, the Marathi biopic Harishchandrachi Factory told the story of pioneer Dadasaheb Phalke who put everything he had in the making of India's first feature film, 'Raja Harishchandra'. Films like Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and Yes Boss have revisited themes earlier explored by Raj Kapoor and Khwaja Ahmed Abbas about how far an individual should go to achieve success while Prakash Jha's Rajneeti and Aarakshan have tried to address the irony of corrupt practices in politics and education, the two sectors that must remain above reproach for the existence of a progressive and open-minded nation. 1959's Satta Bazaar and the recent Bazaar starring Saif Ali Khan have played around with the vagaries of the stock market to tell gripping stories. And of course, numerous films have dealt with the nexus between business, politics and the underworld including Yash Chopra's Deewar and Ram Gopal Varma's Company. Corporate team building lessons It goes without saying that not every film needs to be about business to give corporate wisdom and so key dialogues, scenes and life lessons from films like Iqbal, Chak De India, 3 -Idiots and Lagaan have been used in boardrooms for team building exercises. Indian films have by and large not told hardcore business-centric stories but we are getting there. What we have done though is that in every decade, we have reflected through cinema, the mood of the nation. And the storytelling continues though the storytellers have changed. Source: Facebook Page. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More KKR-backed Radiant Life Care is in talks with the trustees of Jaslok Hospital to take over its operations and management, reports Mint. "Radiant is leading talks for an operations and management alliance with Jaslok Hospital on the lines of its existing arrangement with Delhi's BLK Super Speciality Hospital and Mumbai's Nanavati hospital," a source told the paper. Mumbai-based Jaslok Hospital is said to be the oldest tertiary care hospital in the country. Set-up in 1973, it has 364 beds, including 75 beds in intensive care units. As per the report, Hinduja Group and Malaysias IHH Healthcare are also in the fray to acquire Jaslok's operations and management. "The talks are progressing well although there are other suitors such as Hinduja Group and Malaysias IHH Healthcare," a source told the paper, adding that the trustees are keen on getting a professional operator to run the hospital. Moneycontrol couldn't independently verify the report. Radiant had previously made an unsuccessful bid for Fortis Healthcare. The KKR-backed firm, which develops, manages and operates healthcare facilities, already has an operations and management alliance with BLK Super Speciality Hospital and Mumbai's Dr Balabhai Nanavati Hospital. In 2017, KKR has acquired 49 percent stake in Radiant for $200 million. Radiant, set-up in 2000, forayed into the healthcare sector with the redevelopment of New Delhi's BLK Super Specialty Hospital for Rs 350 crore. It has also partnered with B&B Hospital in Nepal to help set-up surgical and medical oncology programmes, the report said. Radiant, which tied up with Nanavati Hospital in 2014 in a profit-sharing arrangement, is responsible to develop Nanavati Hospital into a super speciality hospital and add 250 beds to its current 360-bed capacity. "This subject is entirely in the realm of speculation," Abhay Soi, Chairman and Managing Director at Radiant, told the paper. IHH recently acquired a 31 percent stake in Fortis Healthcare and infused Rs 4,000 crore into the firm. The Malaysian-based entity, which runs nine hospitals in the country, has been looking to expand operations in India. In the six months ended June 30, the healthcare sector in India saw 23 private equity and venture capital deals worth $679 million as against 20 deals worth $402 million for the corresponding period a year ago, according to an EY report. These deals include a $200-million investment by True North in Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) and a $50-million investment in Asia Healthcare Holdings by Singapore state investor Temasek-owned Sheares Healthcare. The West Bengal Assembly on November 19 unanimously passed a Bill to give land rights to enclave dwellers in north Bengal, ending an era of uncertain future for the people residing in those enclaves. Bangladesh and India had exchanged a total of 162 enclaves on August 1, 2015, ending one of the world's most-complex border disputes that had lingered for seven decades since Independence. Moved by Minister of State for Land and Land Reforms Chandrima Bhattacharya, the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2018, was passed in the House unopposed. Speaking in support of the Bill, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said this "historic Bill" would help the enclave dwellers to get full-fledged status as citizens of India, along with all civic amenities and citizenship rights. The Bill will help in the distribution of land-right documents to the people of the enclaves in the border district of Cooch Behar, the chief minister said, adding that the state government was working hard to give beneficiaries their due. In Cooch Behar, 111 Indian enclaves, spread across 17,160 acres, became a part of Bangladesh territory and 51 Bangladesh enclaves, comprising 7,110 acres, joined India. The enclave residents were allowed to either reside at their present location or move to the other country. Around 37,334 people residing in the enclaves in the Indian side refused to go to Bangladesh, whereas 922 enclave dwellers, who were in the Bangladesh side, preferred to be in India, Banerjee said. With the exchange of enclaves, following an agreement between the two countries with the consent of West Bengal, the enclave dwellers deserve their rights as the citizens of India, she said. The state government had already spent over Rs 100 crore for the housing of the enclave dwellers, Banerjee said, adding that the government, which have received Rs 579 crore from the Centre, still had a due of Rs 426 crore. However, the state government needs to spent more from its own exchequer. The process will result in creation of 13 new 'mouzas' (administrative district), while the rest of the area would be amalgamated with the existing 31 'mouzas', the bill said. Plot-to-plot verification has already been undertaken to ascertain the ownership status of the land to the dwellers, who now reside on khas land. Describing how her government helped settle the long-pending issue, Banerjee criticised the way genuine citizens were being harassed in Assam. Those, who have come to India till March 1971, are all Indian citizens, "but a particular political party" was playing politics on the issue, forcing the genuine citizens even to commit suicide, she said. The update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a massive exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals living in Assam, excluded over 40 lakh people from the draft list published on July 30, creating a huge political controversy. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the 83.3-km-long section of the Western Peripheral Expressway or the KMP Expressway from Kundli to Manesar, the entire Ring Expressway panning over 200 km around Delhi is now ready. Real estate experts are of the view that this infra loop is a game changer and is expected to give a fillip to the realty market along the belt as the new infrastructure would lead to enhanced demand for industrial, warehousing lands and setting up of data centres. Industrial development in NCR attracts several support facilities like warehouses, transshipment hubs and logistic hubs. The demand for the warehouses and other allied activities is poised to grow with the KMP Expressway now operational, say experts. It must be noted here that the Haryana government has already announced that it has plans to develop five new cities spread over an area of 25,000 hectares along both sides of the 185-km KMP and 50-km KGP. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said on October 26 that these cities of 5,000 hectares each will be developed as industrial, economic and commercial corridors. Residential development would also be part of the plan, he had said. "The draft plan for the five new cities to be developed along 185 km Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) and the 50 km area along Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal (KGP) that falls in Haryana is ready. A massive industrial, commercial and residential corridor along two km on either side is planned. As many as 25,000 hectares are expected to come up for development. The area would be bigger than Delhi," he had said in October. Provide a fillip to the realty sector "Now Sonepat-Kundli is well connected to Manesar and Gurgaon industrial belt. Even the airport is an easy drive away. We expect an immediate fillip to the real estate market in Sonepat-Kundli. A lot of people will find it easy to live here and commute to Gurgaon. There is a huge increase demand for industrial and warehousing lands as well. We expect the prices to rise by 15-20 percent in the short term and more importantly rise in actual inhabitation in this belt, says Pankaj Bajaj, president, CREDAI-NCR. According to Gaurav Jain, Vice President, NAREDCO, the increased accessibility to the expressway will have a positive impact on the Kundli-Sonepat region. There will be increased warehousing and industrial activity along the belt with Palwal and Kundli at an advantage in term of land values. Investors would be scouting for big parcels of land that are over 100 acres for setting up warehousing facilities. This will be a game changer for this area, he adds. With KMP Expressway, apart from industrial and economic development there would be surplus investment opportunities in the region, says Kamal Taneja, MD, TDI Infracorp. Land parcels close to Haryana and Delhi to see industrial growth Sector experts are of the view that land parcels facing Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana will see industrial growth. Under the industrial segment, activities that will see a rise include warehousing open, regular and storage and data centers on the IT side of the business. Several foreign investors have already started showing interest in this location, so have private equity funds. Investors would typically want to invest in a market which is relatively slow. Having said that, there would be some fence sitters who would negotiate terms and wait until elections before transacting, says an industry expert. Overall there is immense scope for growth along this belt. It may take another two years for financial closure. As far as industrial buildings are concerned, it does not take more than five months to build, he says. As for companies that have already established a base here, Embassy Industrial Parks is a front runner. Embassy Industrial Parks had acquired a 108-acre land parcel in Haryanas Farrukhnagar town near Gurgaon. Embassy Industrial Parks has signed an MOU worth Rs 1,910 crore with the government of Haryana to develop a 3 lakh sq ft industrial park in the area. Proximity to the large consumption centres of IMT Manesar and Gurugram along with ease of connectivity to the Delhi-Jaipur highway make Farrukhnagar an ideal location. The area houses leading companies from various sectors such as e-commerce, automotive, logistics, retail and FMCG. Anshul Singhal, CEO, Embassy Industrial Parks, told Moneycontrol that already 1.5 million sq ft of space has been leased out. A highway project such as the KMP impacts the entire logistical support of the country as vendors and suppliers would use it as a route to ship and receive goods from the region. As a whole, it would increase operational efficiency. Along with GST, it will increase the ease of doing business, he says. He does not see prices along the stretch to increase any further as they have already been factored in at the time of construction. Areas close to Delhi and Gurugram will witness faster growth with data centres, schools, hospitals, hotels, residential developments, warehousing etc coming up along the area. The entire stretch will not develop overnight. Growth will happen gradually in the next five to 10 years. Its almost as big as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and growth will take time, he says. The company is also scouting for more land in the region. Our focus would be on buying land that is closely accessible to the KMP. We have not identified any parcels yet but we are currently under discussion, he adds. The Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway or the Western Peripheral Expressway has been opened to the public after over almost a decade. The 83-km stretch has been built at a cost of Rs 9,000 crore. The first phase of the highway between Manesar and Palwal was made operational in 2016. The KMP Expressway meets the 135-km Eastern Peripheral Expressway also called the Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal Expressway at Kundli at one end and Palwal at the other. The KGP was inaugurated in May this year. Together the two highways encircle the Capital in a loop. Both the expressways are expected to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in the national capital region as over 50,000 vehicles would be diverted from Delhi. vandana.ramnani@nw18.com Moneycontrol News MakeMyTrip Ltd on Tuesday announced the appointment of Vipul Prakash as chief operating officer for MakeMyTrip and Goibibo. In this role, Vipul will be responsible for developing and executing strategic direction and priorities of the company. He joins MakeMyTrip from PepsiCo where he was last serving as Senior Vice President, beverage category for PepsiCo India region. He was associated with PepsiCo for 20 years. He had joined PepsiCo in 1998 and held various positions in marketing and franchise at sector and global levels. In 2007, he relocated to the US, where he spent three years. Prakash holds a post-graduate diploma in management from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a mechanical engineering degree from IIT Delhi. Last week hospitality firm Oyo also announced the appointment of Aditya Ghosh as CEO of its India and South Asia operations. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Prabhudas Lilladher's research report on Motherson Sumi Systems IPCA's sales, adj. EBITDA and PAT beat estimates by 6%, 17%, and 30% on the back of strong recovery of generic sales in non-US markets. The exports non-US generics grew by 33% YoY and additional sales are mainly contributed by EU sales and Australia/New Zealand. Its UK sales remain tepid as its partner's (Bristol Lab) resolution with UK MHRA is expected to be achieved in H1FY20E. Depreciation Rouble continued to impact branded business in Russia as IPCA billed the export in the country in USD denomination. IPCA expects 10% growth export branded formulations in FY19E as lower oil price to improve realisation in H2FY19E. India business grew 10% YoY and guided to be 16-17% in FY19E. The additional data filing on the three plants to be completed in December CY18 and expects USFDA visit in by June CY19. Tender business to be Rs1.8-1.9bn in FY19E, implies 14% YoY growth in the absence of business from the Global Fund. Management expects new approvals of DT and Injectable to boost its anti-malaria tender business (without contribution from the Global Fund) in FY20E. Outlook We expect key fundamentals to improve gradually and set-off for bigger momentum once FDA issues resolves. IPCA trades at PER of 27x (FY19E) and 19x (FY20E). We maintain 'Buy' and retain TP at Rs829. For all recommendations report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More A Jet Airways passenger plane takes off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Tatas plan to acquire cash-strapped Jet Airways is facing challenges as the group's top brass have red-flagged 'reputational issues' of Naresh Goyal-led airlines, including its funding sources, Business Standard reported. Jet Airways high debt and regulatory issues such as inquiries by several ministries and government agencies over the years have weighed in, sources told the paper. The airline has a debt of Rs 8,400 crore as of September-end, including Rs 1,800 crore of aircraft-related debt. This may have an adverse impact on the company's plan to seal the Tata-Jet deal. During the company's board meeting on November 16, Tata Sons said 'any such discussions have been preliminary and no proposal has been made'. Tata Group has, however, set-up an internal panel to carry out due diligence on the financial aspects and funding of Jet Airways. The Tatas will take a decision to acquire Jet Airways based on the findings of the committee, sources told the paper. Read: As Tatas talk to Jet Airways, Etihad looks to drive a hard bargain It may set some more conditions for the transaction with Jet Airways to fructify, the report said. The group may insist that Goyal sell his entire 51 percent stake in the airline and relinquish the board positions held by him and his family. Naresh and wife Anita Goyal own 51 percent in Jet Airways. UAE-based Etihad Airways holds 24 percent stake. Tata Sons may also seek a strict non-compete agreement with Goyal, sources told the paper. Under a non-compete agreement, one party agrees not to enter into or start a similar profession or trade in competition against another party. This would mean that Goyal may have to step away from the business. "The Tatas are likely to insist on heavy non-complete clause with no travel-related business participation. This will be insisted along with a no-board presence of Goyal or his family members. Goyal may not agree to some of the clauses," a source told the paper. Tata Trusts Chairman Ratan Tata's views on the deal may also decide the direction in which the deal may progress, the report said. Read: Jet Airways stake sale: Investors keen, but talks stuck over Naresh Goyal's role At the board meeting, Tata Sons discussed whether the proposed acquisition would be in line with the group's aviation plans. Media reports said Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran is keen to work out the deal as it would strengthen the groups position in the aviation business and give it much-needed heft. Jet Airways has a considerable presence on the ground with its 124 aircraft that operate nearly 700 flights a day. The airline flies to and from 66 destinations and has a market share of 15.8 percent Read: In Jet Airways, N Chandrasekaran sees his vision for Tata's aviation business taking flight As of now, Tatas run two joint airlines in India: Vistara in partnership with Singapore Airlines and AirAsia India with Malaysias AirAsia. In Vistara, Tata Sons holds 51 percent stake and 49 percent of AirAsia India. Analysts told the paper that Tatas may not rush into an acquisition and the company may drive down the purchase price by prolonging the transaction. Chennai: Oil spills in the Bay of Bengal due to a rupture in the hose connected to an oil tanker ship 'MT Coral Stars', at the Ennore Port in Chennai, Sunday, Nov 18, 2018. (PTI Photo) (PTI11_19_2018_000097B) The Coast Guard Monday said it has issued notice to the master of a cargo ship to clean up the oil spill off the coast here caused by a rupture in a hose of the vessel, failing which action will be taken as per law. Spillage of Fuel Furnace Oil occurred on early Sunday when 'MT Coral Stars,' an oil tanker vessel was offloading it through a 'flexible hose' in Kamarajar port, at Ennore near here. The notice, issued Sunday, tasked the ship master and the vessel's charterer -Atlantic Shipping Pvt Ltd- to clean up the spilled oil, undertake containment measures and recover the leaked oil that threatened the coastal area. "Take all other necessary action to keep the environment clean as it was prevailing before the incident....take action to prevent further spillage of oil into the sea," the notice said. Also, the Coast Guard asked the charterer and the ship master to take action to remove oil from the damaged tanks by transfer. Non-compliance of the instructions will entail Coast Guard to take action, the notice made available to the media by the Defence Public Relations office here said. The Coast Guard said it was empowered under the provisions of the Indian Merchant Shipping Act 1958 to issue notice and take action for non-compliance. It said initial assessment revealed that the port had taken a few measures to contain the oil spill. However, the "ship and her agents have not yet taken suitable measures to remove the spill of approximately one tonne of fuel furnace oil." The oil spill occurred when hose from the berth side got ruptured and Coast Guard had deployed two of its vessels to assess the damage. Preliminary estimates of the port had pegged the spillage as less than two tonne, and the authorities had said that the recovery of the spilled oil was on with the use of skimmers and absorbent pads. This is the second oil spill off Chennai since last year. An oil spill had 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. Supporters of Congress party are framed by the party's symbols installed at the venue where Rahul Gandhi is addressing a rally at Bardoli Congress leader Lakshman Singh, who has often ruffled the feathers of senior party leaders in Madhya Pradesh with what he calls his "witty" remarks, has said he respects them and is now a "dedicated soldier" of his party to ensure its victory in the assembly polls. The five-time MP and two-time MLA from the state said all issues have also been resolved with his elder brother and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh and they are "one" now. The 63-year-old leader, who is pitted against BJP's sitting MLA Mamta Meena in the assembly election for this seat, also said he apologises to Kamal Nath, about whom he had said that making the former union minister the party's state unit chief was like "playing HMV record in the age of bluetooth technology". He supported the party's decision not to project a chief ministerial candidate for the November 28 elections for 230 assembly seats of the state and said what matters the most was that people want to end the BJP's 15-year rule. The Congress leader said the party MLAs will meet after results to decide on the chief minister and he was sure that the party high-command would listen to the elected legislators. "I don't think they will thrust someone from Delhi. They will let the MLAs decide and the decision will be done in 1-2 hours. We will decide very well, very fast" Singh told PTI in an interview during his campaign tour of the area. Singh has been on both sides of the political spectrum in the state and apart from his numerous assembly and parliamentary victories, he has also been in news for his statements, sometimes very candid and at times controversial. "I apologise for that (tweet on Kamal Nath). I was just a witty remark. I like wit and I appreciate wit and I try to be witty but not to hurt anybody. I am not the one to hurt anybody's sentiments. I respect Kamalnath ji and he is like a family member. I respect Scindia ji (Jyotiraditya Scindia) and he is also like a family member," Singh said. "But, wit is a part of life and it will continue to be part of life," Singh said. Lakshman, who had left the party in 2003 after the Congress lost the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, had joined the BJP and won the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from the Rajgarh seat, but lost in 2009. He was later expelled by the BJP for anti-party activities after he criticised the then party president Nitin Gadkari for some alleged remarks against his family. His joining the BJP did not go down well at that time with his elder brother who is addressed affectionately in the state as 'Diggy Raja'. Asked if all was well between him and his brother now, Singh replied in affirmative. "Everything is perfectly fine and we are all together. Bygone is bygone. He campaigned for me and will continue to do so. Much water has flown under the bridge. We are all one, one, one and we will win, win, win," he said. Singh said the Congress is upbeat that it will end the 15-year-long rule of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in the state. "When public is against the government or against the party, when the public opinion or sentiment is against it, then no strategy works. Anti-incumbency is a big reason and secondly Congress has done very good homework in distributing tickets. "That is why Congress is looking upbeat and my reading is that the first list that was issued for 155 candidates by the party will form the government. (meaning all these candidates will win). The other lists will be added on," he said exuding confidence. Singh, addressed as 'chottey saab' in in the family bastion of Raghogarh, said the Congress' strategy of not projecting a chief ministerial face will pay off as people have decided to support "anybody but Shivraj." "This strategy will pay off. Chouhan (Shivraj Singh) is not popular any more. He is having problems in his own vidhan sabha constituency (Budhani) and the result will show," he said. "The 'janta' (public) is not saying he or she should be the CM when it comes to Congress. They are saying BJP and Shivraj should be removed and anybody from Congress can be the CM. We will decide on the chief ministership after we get majority," he added. Singh said he is hopeful of winning his own seat with a good margin and accused his opponent of unleashing "rampant corruption" in the area. Talking to PTI, BJP candidate Mamta Meena, however, rejected the allegation and said she has been "very active" in her area during last five years and the assembly seat has benefitted from schemes of the state and central governments. Meena, wife of an IPS officer, had won by a margin of over 34,000 votes in 2013. The Chachauda seat, on the MP-Rajasthan border, is next to the Singh family pocketborough Raghogarh and it has mostly elected Congress candidates barring a few exceptions. Aadhaar Card Visitors, including children, are required to carry Aadhaar card to enter a playground in Charkop area of Kandivali West, Mumbai. The ground, located in Charkops Sector 8, has been given on lease by Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to Vidya Shikshak Prasarak Mandal Trust, which runs Akshara High School (ICSE) in front of it. The trust is run by Ranjeet Deshmukh, former Maharashtra Agriculture Minister and former President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, and his son Ashish Deshmukh, a BJP MLA from Katol. According to a Mumbai Mirror report, the lease agreement and a Bombay High Court order stated that the ground is open to the general public from 5.30 am to 7.30 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm every day. Even though the order does not ask one to produce identity proof, the school authority is insisting visitors carry an identity cardparticularly their Aadhaar cardor a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the police to gain entry to the ground, said the report, citing Charkop residents. The 30,000 sq ft ground has been barring entry of the general public since 2013. After intervention of a local activist, Lokayukta and the Bombay High Court, it was decided that the playground will be open for children of the Charkop locality before and after school hours. The court fixed the timings and warned that preventing children from accessing the ground will attract legal actions. MHADAs lease agreement too warns that barring entry during these timings can attract prosecution as per the law. It has even put up a board outside the plot stating this. Asked about the issue of barring entry of local people, Khyati Mistry, administrative head of Akshara High School, refused it. Mistry told the paper they were not stopping anyone from accessing the ground only seeking identity proof for 'security purposes', as they do not want outsiders from Malvani or other areas to use this ground. Bilaspur division with 24 Assembly seats, the highest among the five divisions in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, is expected to play a crucial role in deciding the winner. Bilaspur division, located in the centre of the state, comprises five districts -- Bilaspur, Mungeli, Korba, Janjgir-Champa and Raigarh. While the first phase of polls in Chhattisgarh for 18 seats took place on November 12, the second phase for the remaining 72 constituencies will be held on November 20. In the 2013 polls, the 24 seats in the five districts of Bilaspur division saw a neck-to-neck contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning 12, the Congress 11 and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) winning one. The BSP, which won Jaijaipur seat in the division, however, managed to come second in two constituencies and third in seven. With the BSP tying up with former chief minister Ajit Jogi's Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J), a three-way fight between the BJP, Congress and the Jogi-led alliance is very much on the cards. While the BSP is contesting 10 of the 24 seats in Bilaspur division, the JCC(J) has fielded candidates on the rest. "People are fed up with the politics of the BJP and the Congress in the state and this time they are considering our alliance as an option to bring change," BSP's state chief Omprakash Batchpayi said. "The alliance is in a good position in Bilaspur division and will win more than 12 segments there," he said confidently. The Mayawati-led party had got 4.27 percent of votes in the 2013 Assembly polls, a decrease from the 6.11 percent it garnered in the 2008 polls. On the other hand, Jogi's new outfit is seeking political space in the state, and Bilaspur region, with a sizable presence of people from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, is expected to help the new party. Of the 24 seats, five are reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category and four for the Scheduled Caste (SC). Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP supremo Mayawati have campaigned in the region, a reflection of its significance. The opposition Congress, which was trying to forge an alliance with the BSP, believes the Jogi-led alliance will not affect its chances. State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel said, "Jogi is going to lose the election from Marwahi. There is no question of the alliance affecting the prospects of the Congress. We are confident of improving our tally and win more seats in this division." Ajit Jogi is contesting from Marwahi segment where the BJP and the Congress have fielded new faces Archana Porte and Gulab Singh respectively. The Congress has fielded 10 new faces in this division this time. Marwahi, Kota, Akaltara, Jaijaipur, Pamgarh, Lormi, Bilha, Chandrapur, Sarangarh and Shakti constituencies are among keenly watched seats from Bilaspur division during the second phase of voting on November 20. The Kota seat will see a three-cornered contest between incumbent MLA Renu Jogi (JCC-J), Vibhor Singh of the Congress and BJP's Kashi Sahu. Similary, in Akaltara seat, Jogi's daughter-in-law Richa Jogi (BSP) is likely to give a tough fight to Saurabh Singh (BJP) and incumbent MLA Chunnilal Sahu (Congress). In Lormi Seat, former MLA Dharmjeet Singh (JCC-C) has been pitted against incumbent MLA and BJP candidate Tokhan Sahu and Congress's Shatrughan Chandrakar. The lone BSP MLA Keshav Chandra, who has been renominated from Jaijaipur, is pitted against BJP's Kailash Sahu and Congress' Anil Chandra. Bilaspur is a prominent seat where a close contest is expected between state minister Amar Agrawal of BJP and Congress' Shailesh Pandey. Eyeing a fourth consecutive term, the ruling BJP believes the Mayawati-Jogi alliance would impact the Congress' prospects in the election. "Jogi's party would affect Congress votes, not that of the BJP in this election. We have set a target of winning 65 seats in Chhattisgarh, of which, more than 15 will be from Bilaspur division," BJP state spokesperson Sanjay Shrivastav . Veerappa Moily: (1992-94: 2 years, 22 days): During the days of the sealed envelope coming from the High Command, Moily pipped the more popular SM Krishna to the post, thanks to his mentor K Karunakaran. After Moilys term ended, Congress hit its nadir in Karnataka winning only 39 seats. But, thanks to the benevolent party, he later not only became an MP, but a Union minister in UPA government. Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily on November 19 said his party would return to power in Chhattisgarh after a gap of 15 years, riding on a "strong anti-incumbency" wave. He also claimed that the Congress would increase its tally from 12 to 15 of the 18 seats in the Naxal-hit areas of the state. "We are definitely returning to power in Chhattisgarh after a gap of 15 years, because there is a very strong anti-incumbency wave against the Raman Singh and Narendra Modi governments in the state and at the Centre," the former Union minister told PTI here. The Congress would win 50 to 55 of the 90 Assembly seats in Chhattisgarh, he said, adding, "I will not be surprised if we win even more (seats)." In the 2013 Chhattisgarh polls, the Congress had won 12 seats in the Naxal-hit areas, Moily said. "The problems of unemployment, law and order and security of jobs have contributed to a strong anti-incumbency wave against the Raman Singh government (in Chhattisgarh)," he added. As many as 37,000 women in Chhattisgarh were reported missing, which reflected the worst law-and-order situation in the state, the former Karnataka chief minister alleged. He claimed that most government jobs in the state were outsourced and that Chhattisgarh was next only to Tripura in terms of unemployment in the country. Contrary to Chief Minister Raman Singh's claim of Chhattisgarh being the first state to provide 150 days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), in reality, Moily said, the state government gave work for only 47 days. During the Congress rule, the poverty ratio was 37 per cent in the state and now, it had shot up to 47 per cent during the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) rule, Moily, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, claimed. He alleged that adding to Singh's "misrule", the people of Chhattisgarh were also unhappy with the BJP-led central government for giving false assurances, the latest being giving Rs one crore loans in 59 minutes to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). "I attended a bankers' meeting recently, where I asked the bankers whether they had received any circular on Rs one crore MSME loans. They said, no. This is only an election stunt," Moily said. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had also failed to fulfil the promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every citizen in the fight against black money, the Congress leader said. November 28, 2018 / 04:06 PM IST As voting in the 40 assembly constituencies of Mizoram closed at 4 pm, here are the five key features: 1. Bru voters came out to vote in large numbers. The place of voting for 11,232 Bru voters, who are residing in neighboring Tripura, was the bone of contention, leading to the replacement of the then chief electoral officer, SB Shashank, less than two weeks ahead of the polls. 2. The Election Commission had set up pink polling booths in every constituency to woo women voters. These booths are locally known as Dingdi in Mizoram. Named after a wild flower commonly available in the state, Dingdi is used by poets to depict beautiful women. 3. Even though women voters outnumber men in the state, only 15 out of the 209 candidates were women. BJP fielded the highest number of women candidates at six. 4. The Election Commission also ensured that the disabled and the elderly get to exercise their franchise without any hurdles by arranging special provisions for them. A number of elderly voters turned out to vote, including a few centenarians. 5. All booths in the state were covered via wireless communication for the first time in Mizoram's polling history. This was done to ensure timely reporting of every development and progress of polling. Carlos Ghosn is one of automotive worlds most known personalities who shot to fame with the successful turnaround of Nissan Motor Company, a Japanese firm that was on the edge of bankruptcy. A deputy of Renaults legendary president Louis Schweitzer who in 1999 had asked the Lebanese-Brazilian to move to Tokyo to resurrect Nissan, Ghosn subsequently earned the title of Le Cost Killer after he introduced a series of cost cutting measures at Nissan. That's why his arrest and talk of ouster from Nissan has shocked the auto industry world over. Ghosn has been accused of "significant acts of misconduct". Why oh why? Id like to give Carlos the benefit of the doubt until the enquiry is complete. So hard to believe that an iconic talent like him would risk his reputation & legacy for this... https://t.co/InW6WmEBIL anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) November 19, 2018 In India, Mahindra & Mahindra Chairman Anand Mahindra took to Twitter to air his despair. Turnaround specialist Ghosn had earned the title of a turnaround specialist even before he moved to Japan. Following Renaults failed merger with Volvo, the French company had decided to shut some European factories to cut costs in the late 90s with ambitions of a 20 billion Franc cost reduction plan. Renaults financial health improved dramatically in 1999 just as it bought a 43 percent stake in debt-laden Nissan. The non-Japanese, non-French Ghosn demolished the age-old management structure at Nissan which he believed led to communication gaps leading to delays. He replaced that structure with cross-functional teams. Both Renault and Nissan closed last year with record profits. Two years ago, Ghosn widened the alliance bringing on board one more sick Japanese company Mitsubishi. Nissan bought a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi which got embroiled in a controversy involving manipulation of fuel economy data. India Ghosn was one of the earliest of modern day entrepreneurs to consider investing in India. Ghosn forged several partnerships with local Indian automotive companies for developing new class of vehicles ranging from a Tata Nano rival to a mini truck. Renault entered India after partnering Mahindra & Mahindra in 2005 to make the Dacia Logan (rebadged as Renault Logan). A few years later Renault and Nissan joined hands with Bajaj Auto to develop a low cost car that would rival the Nano. Ghosn did not stop there. He even managed to bring on board Ashok Leyland to develop a mini truck called Dost. Ghosn even managed to get the heavy truck maker to enter the passenger van segment despite having zero experience in this segment. Ghosn famously coined the term frugal engineering after he was impressed by Ratan Tatas resolve to deliver the low-cost car Nano at the price point the Tata Group patriarch promised. Missteps One-by-one all three of Renaults ventures in India failed miserably. Each of its partnerships had to be dissolved following either poor demand for its products or difference of opinion with the promoters of local companies. Ashok Leyland even dragged Nissan to court over violation of local licensing conditions and breach of partnership agreement Ghosn was also responsible for bringing brand Datsun back from the dead. He believed in the theory of fighting with Datsuns pocket friendly models against leader Maruti Suzuki while keeping brand Nissan in the premium space to deal with Honda and Toyota. The plan has back fired though with Indian buyers outrightly rejecting Datsun despite its range priced lower than competition. The combined monthly sales of all of Datsuns three models (Redi-Go, Go and Go+) is less than the sales of lowest-selling model of Maruti Suzuki (S-Cross). Nissan too has had no success in India with its present sales count being lower than that of Datsun. Limited retail reach, no locally developed products, dealer service issues hit Nissan dearly in India. Renault has remained the most successful of the three brands in India though the French company has failed to keep the momentum going. The Renault Duster became the highest selling SUV in India a few years ago but today does not even feature in the top five list. Renaults other best-seller Kwid met with a similar fate. After the initial surge Kwid volumes fizzled out subsequently despite low competition. NISSAN KICKS | To be launched in January 2019, Nissan Kicks will compete against the segment best-seller Hyundai Creta, Mahindra Scorpio and Renault Captur. While official details are yet to be out, the Kicks is expected to get 1.5 litre diesel and 1.5 petrol engine developing 110bhp and 106 bhp of peak power. Expect starting price to be at just below Rs 10 lakh. (Image Source: Nissan) TATA HARRIER | The Harrier will signal Tata Motors revival in the SUV space after a gap of several years. The premium SUV will be launch in January. It is based on the Land Rover platform and tweaked to India conditions. It will be powered a Fiat-developed 2.0 litre diesel engine. Expect starting price to between Rs 13-15 lakh. (Image source: Tata Motors) HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC | Hyundai will kick-start its electric campaign with the launch of Kona in the second half of next year. The stylish SUV will be fully imported at first. With a driving range of 482 kms and a maximum speed of 167km/hr the Kona Electric will take nine hours to charge fully. Expect prices to be around Rs 25 lakh. (Image Source: Hyundai) MAHINDRA KUV 100 | SUV-specialist Mahindra & Mahindra will launch its third battery-powered passenger vehicle in the middle of next year. This will be the electric version of the KUV 100. While specific details are awaited the vehicle is expected to have a range of 150-180 kms and would take around 3-4 hours of charging time. Expect prices to be under Rs 10 lakh. (Image Source: Mahindra) KIA SP Concept | Kia Motors, the sister concern of Hyundai Motor Company, will make its debut in India with an SUV based on the SP Concept. Kia has showcased the concept vehicle in global auto shows. This SUV will be positioned as a premium vehicle and is expected to be priced at around Rs 15 lakh. (Image Source: Kia) MG MOTORS SUV | SAIC-backed British car brand MG Motor will also make its debut next year with an SUV that is currently under development. This C-segment SUV will be based on one of the existing platforms SAIC vehicles and will sport the same Fiat developed 2.0 litre engine. Expect prices to start at Rs 15 lakh. (Image Source: SAIC) TIVOLI-BASED SUV | Mahindra will launch the compact SUV codenamed S201 in the final quarter of FY19. The model will rival the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Tata Nezon. A 1.5 litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine producing 123 bhp and a 1.2 litre petrol engine will power the SUV. Expect it to sell starting Rs 7.5 lakh. (Image source: Ssangyong) Hyundai Carlino; QXI | Hyundais most potent launch since the last few years will be the all-new compact SUV codenamed QXI. This new SUV will sit below the Creta and compete against the Brezza and Mahindra S201. The car is undergoing tests in Korea. Its launch is scheduled for April 2019. Prices are expected to start at Rs 7 lakh. (Image source: Hyundai) NEW RENAULT DUSTER | Renault is in no mood to keep quiet after having a forgettable year so far. Besides a new people-carrier, the French carmaker will debut an updated Duster which will boast of redone exterior styling and added interior features. Powertrains are expected to remain the same. Expect prices at be around Rs 8-9 lakh. (Image source: Renault) DATSUN CROSS | Nissan-owned low-cost brand Datsun will take the covers off the Cross SUV (which is essentially a cross between a hatchback and SUV). The SUV will be a sub-four meter compact SUV and will be powered by a 1 litre petrol engine. Datsun will likely position the SUV with an aggressive price tag and would compete against the Mahindra KUV100. Expect prices to start below Rs 6 lakh. (Image source: Datsun) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More HCL Technologies recently completed ten years in the Nordics, a term commonly used to refer to a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic. The Nordics is now HCL's largest market in Europe, the company has said earlier. The region continues to be a focus area for the company, said Pankaj Tagra, EVP Nordic and DACH Head, HCL Technologies. He also spoke about GDPR and the focus areas for the IT services firm in the region going forward. Edited excerpts: Q: What is the biggest change that you have seen in the last decade of HCL Technologies in the Nordic region? A: I think when we had started in 2008, there was a big turnaround happening in the economy. Lehman Brothers had just collapsed and most of our customers were looking at how they can save cost and how they can keep the lights on without any increase in cost. So that time, I think discussion was more towards centralisation, consolidation, cost efficiency. Over a period, now we are talking of a digital transformation. Today when we are interacting with customers, IT is the reason why they are getting revenue for their organisation. We established one centre in 2009, today we have 12 centres in Nordics. Q: Could you elaborate on the cultural differences you see in the region compared to India? A: There are similarities and differences in Indian and Nordic cultures. For example, Nordic culture is a lot about people. It is a very trust-based society, similar to India. There are differences as well. For example, planning. In India, the way our education system is, we really plan at the last moment and then we are very good in managing new things which come up uncertainty. Whereas in Nordics, there was food security historically. For nine months, the ground is covered with snow, so people plan, they also already know, where they are going to spend their next Christmas, so they really plan ahead. So when we do projects with them, it means that we have to plan in advance, and when we set up online delivery centres here, almost 70 percent of my workforce here is a local workers, you know which is hired locally. I have 1,600 employees in these 12 delivery centres, we have 31 nationalities. Through delivery centres in India, we are able to act as a bridge, we understand what customer needs here and that is the big competitive advantage. Q: With GDPR (general data protection regulation) coming in, do you see the outsourcing model the way you know it, having an impact on the larger issue of data protection? A: I don't think GDPR is any way creating a hurdle in doing outsourcing. It is just sharing what are the new regulations which we need to follow to make sure that we can maintain data sanity as per the regulation. It has a short term and medium-term impact. Short term impact is that organisations will need to tweak their processes, which means we need to tweak their software, which means business for us. So, I feel GDPR is not impacting outsourcing negatively. But we need to follow the regulations, we need to put our systems in place which are GDPR compliant. We were very well prepared about how we are going to give GDPR solution to our customers. There are lot of customers for whom we are implementing these projects and I see it as just another set of regulations which we need to follow. Q: Are there enough skilled people or do you face the same kind of problems as in US? A: I don't think that there are enough skilled people because in all these four markets- Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland - their economies are doing exceptionally well. Since their economy is doing well, their unemployment rates are very low. In Stockholm, where I live, it has a startup like environment and so, finding people with required skills is a challenge. But we are fortunate that all these governments have comfortable work permit policies. Besides (within four to six weeks of applying for a visa/work permit) we can get the right employee from across the world. Q: So, what are the business areas that you are focused on in Nordics in coming year? A: We are dominant in three or four areas in infrastructure services and application transformation services. The other ares where we see traction are digital transformation, robotics and artificial intelligence and the acceptability of cloud. I think these are the three of four areas where we see lot of traction coming in and our focus is there. Q: Are you seeing any more deals on the lines of the Volvo deal? A: I think we signed Volvo deal around two-and-half-years ago. It is very well settled and integrated and after that we have signed many deals. The largest one which we signed was with Nokia in June. We replaced 14 vendors both in the infrastructure and applications space and we are now going into a digital transformation, that is under implementation. We also signed a deal with the state energy company of Norway and also with Falck emergency services in Denmark. So, we have signed few deals and I feel that there is a momentum. Taking forward trade dispute with America in the World Trade Organization (WTO), India has asked the Geneva-based multilateral body to set up a panel against the US for imposing high import duties on certain steel and aluminium products, an official said. India took this decision after both the countries failed to resolve the issue in a bilateral consultation process under the dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO. Consultation is the first step of the dispute settlement process in the organisation. If the two countries are not able to reach a mutually agreed solution through consultation, a country can request for a WTO dispute settlement panel to review the matter. "So, now, India has asked the WTO for establishment of the dispute panel on the matter," the official said. Imposition of high import duties on these items by the US has impacted exports of these products by Indian businesses. The US move is also not in compliance with global trade norms. Besides India, Russia, Norway, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, and European Union have dragged the US in the WTO on America's move to impose 25 percent and 10 percent import duties on certain steel and aluminium products, respectively, which has triggered global trade tensions. "We have discussed the matter with all these countries. A common dispute panel could be formed on the matter," the official added. India has a significant export interest to the US on the steel and aluminium sector. As per estimates, India exports steel and aluminium goods worth about $1.6 billion a year to America. The US had imposed these duties on grounds of national security. Biswajit Dhar, professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the US decision would not only impact India's export of these goods but would also affect global trade. "The entire basis of the US action is based on its own perception of security threat issue. This cannot be a ground to impose these duties," Dhar said. Some experts, however, said that dragging the US in the dispute over the issue is not in favour of India, as New Delhi has a trade surplus with America. India's exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at about $48 billion, while imports were $26.7 billion. Both the countries are also involved in several other disputes in the WTO. Those disputes are in the areas of poultry, export incentives, solar and steel. In retaliation to the imposition of duties by the US, India has decided to increase customs duty on 29 American products such as almond, walnut, pulses and iron and steel items. The duties would come into effect from December 17. The second phase of polling for 72 seats in Chhattisgarh began at 8 am and will go on till 5 pm today. (Image: CEO Chhattisgarh/Twitter) Of the total number of voters, 77,53,337 are men, 76,46,382 women while 877 are from the third gender. (Image: CEO Chhattisgarh/Twitter) Of the 19,336 polling booths, web casting facility has been provided in 2,112 booths through which Election Commission of India can monitor those stations. (Image: CEO Chhattisgarh/Twitter) Out of the 72 seats going to polls today, 46 are for the general category, while nine are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 17 for Scheduled Tribes candidates. (Image: CEO Chhattisgarh/Twitter) Pervez Musharraf It would be "good" for Pervez Musharraf if he returns to Pakistan to face the high treason trial, the Islamabad High Court has observed as it directed his lawyer to submit the former military dictator's travel itinerary at the next hearing. General Musharraf, 75, who has been living in Dubai since 2016, is facing the treason case for suspending the Constitution in 2007. The former military ruler left for Dubai in March 2016 for medical treatment and has not returned since. The former Army chief has been declared an absconder due to his persistent failure to appear before a special trial court set up to try him in the case. A two-judge division bench heard the petition filed by Musharraf against the constitution of a judicial commission by the special court for recording his statement. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) division bench, which resumed hearing of the case on Monday, told the counsel to visit Musharraf in Dubai and convince him to face the trial and bring the former leader back if possible, Dawn newspaper reported "It would be good for Gen Musharraf if he comes back and faces trial," the bench said. It directed the counsel to consult Musharraf and submit his travel itinerary at the next hearing, the report said. The bench also assured Musharraf's lawyer Salman Safdar that foolproof security would be provided to the former president if he returned. The court adjourned further hearing till the second week of December. Pakistan's Supreme Court in September assured Musharraf that high-level security will be provided to him if he returns to the country to face the trial in the treason case. The former president was indicted in March 2014 on treason charges for suspending the Constitution and imposing emergency which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges. A conviction for high-profile treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. Irked by Musharraf's failure to come back to Pakistan and face ongoing cases against him, Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar early last month warned that if the "courageous commando" did not appear soon, he may be forced to return in a disgraceful manner. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in the Philippines on November 20 for his first state visit to the country, a traditional US ally that is a key prize as Beijing and Washington jostle for supremacy in the Pacific. China won a windfall partner with the 2016 election of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has rattled the Philippines' century-old bond with the US while courting trade and investment from the rising American rival. Manila has said it hopes the two-day stopover, the first from a Chinese president in 13 years, will finally net signed deals for investment in major infrastructure projects promised by Beijing when Duterte visited two years ago. China has dispersed tens of billions of dollars in loans since 2013 as it expands its political influence globally, countering the American hegemony that characterised the post-World War II order, especially in Asia. However, even before Xi's expected arrival Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of protesters descended on the Chinese embassy to voice opposition to closer ties with Beijing. "Philippines is not for sale," the marchers chanted, as some brandished signs saying "China out of Philippine waters" in reference to a long-running dispute over the South China Sea. Duterte has enthusiastically embraced Xi, even setting aside a key 2016 ruling from an international tribunal that declared as without basis Beijing's expansive claim over the waterway. At the same time, the mercurial leader has declared an end to what he characterised as the Philippines' submissive relationship with the US, even calling then-US president Barack Obama a "son of a whore". But relations have been warmer since Donald Trump became US president and dropped American criticism of Duterte's anti-drug crackdown that has killed thousands. The dispute over the resource-rich South China Sea, a key transit route for billions in trade, led to a freeze in Manila-Beijing relations, which thawed with Duterte's pivot. China subsequently pledged USD 24 billion in loans and investments, but just a tiny portion has come through, prompting critics to say Duterte was tricked. Meanwhile, others have warned of a "debt trap" citing China's lending record with the rest of the developing world. Filipino analyst Richard Heydarian said China's pledges induced Manila to "soft-pedal" on the South China Sea issue, but Beijing failed to hold up its end of the bargain. "We know there was a geopolitical calculation," he told AFP. "What is the incentive to rush if Duterte has been giving them whatever they want?" Filipino Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno conceded last week the delays were partly due to China's unfamiliarity with the Philippine bidding process on big infrastructure projects, but didn't hide his wish for things to accelerate. "The visit of the head of state of China will put pressure on the team (in Beijing)," Diokno added. Gregory Wyatt, director for business intelligence at PSA Philippines Consultancy, said big projects face many barriers in the Philippines, like right of way issues, regulatory approvals and political dissent. "The foreign investment has come, the infrastructure loans have not," he added. Chinese investments in the Philippines surged more than five-fold in the first six months of the year after a 67 percent expansion last year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a Manila visit last month. Two-way trade also topped 10 per cent over both periods, he added. Chinese investors poured money into online gaming, real estate, service providers and stakes in existing Filipino firms, but not into large-scale infrastructure or manufacturing, Wyatt said. While there was support in government for the latter, "that doesn't mean that every bureaucrat, local politician, and the general public enthusiastically jumps on board", Wyatt said. Binny Bansal, one of the poster-boys of new age entrepreneurship in India, has stepped down as group chief executive (CEO) of Flipkart over allegation of serious personal misconduct. In a letter to Flipkart employees, Binny, however, had strongly refuted charges of personal misconduct but admitted lapses in judgement while responding to the situation. In a statement, Walmart , which owns 77% stake in Flipkart said, "His decision follows an independent investigation done on behalf of Flipkart and Walmart into an allegation of serious personal misconduct. He strongly denies the allegation. Nevertheless, we had a responsibility to ensure the investigation was deliberate and thorough. While the investigation did not find evidence to corroborate the complainants assertions against Binny, it did reveal other lapses in judgement, particularly a lack of transparency, related to how Binny responded to the situation. Because of this, we have accepted his decision to resign." "The allegations left me stunned and I strongly deny them, says Binny. The investigation, however, did bring to light lapses in judgment, particularly a lack of transparency, related to how I responded to the situation. These have been challenging times for my family and me. I am concerned that this may become a distraction for the company and the team. In light of these circumstances, I feel it is best to step away as Chairman and Group CEO." Both Walmart and Binny admitted about working on a transition plan post the acquisition. Walmart said, "Binny has been contemplating a transition for some time and we have been working together on a succession plan, which has now been accelerated." Agreeing with this, Binny said his plan was to continue in his current role for a few more quarters to continue the transition after closing the deal with Walmart. "However, my decision to step down has been accelerated by certain personal events that have taken place in the recent past. These events relate to a claim of serious personal misconduct made against me, which was uncorroborated after a thorough investigation completed by an independent law firm," he added Flipkart was founded in 2007 as an online bookseller by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi friends Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal. Earlier in May, American retail giant Walmart picked up a 77% stake in Flipkart for $16 billion or about Rs1.16 lakh crore. Post the acquisition, Sachin sold his estimated 5.5% stake and moved away from Flipkart. Binny, however, decided to stay. Even after his resignation as group CEO, Binny will retain his estimated 5% stake in Flipkart and remain on the companys board. Walmart said Kalyan Krishnamurthy would remain CEO of Flipkart, which will not include Myntra and Jabong, the separate platforms within the online business. Myntra and Jabong's CEO Ananth Narayanan will report to Kalyan. Sameer Nigam will remain CEO of PhohePe and report to Kalyan, Walmart added. The largest-ever merger and acquisition deal in the online retail industry had valued Flipkart at about $21 billion. With SoftBank, the major investor, selling its entire stake, Walmart is now the single-largest shareholder of Flipkart. Almost 19% of the top 100 listed companies do not have a women as independent director on their board while 20% of these companies do not have a proper mechanism for whistleblowers, reveals an annual report that tracks corporate disclosure practices. According to the India Disclosure Index 2018, launched by FTI Consulting Inc, while independent directors make up at least half of the boards for 82% of the top 100 listed companies, only 16% of companies provide specific information about their directors specialist expertise. While Infosys has scored 10 out of 10, MRF Ltd could manage to score only 0.8 out of 10 in the Index. The India Disclosure Index 2018 is a report of corporate voluntary disclosure by Indias leading companies, by market capitalisation, as assessed on 12 publicly available information disclosure parameters. The India Disclosure Index 2018 reveals an average composite voluntary disclosure score of 6.3 out of a maximum of 10, an average board quality score of 2.1 out of a maximum of 4 and an average Risk Disclosure score of 3.3 out of a maximum of 5 for all 100 companies. The 12 disclosure parameters are split and weighted in three groups, to indicate performance disclosure (two parameters), board quality (five parameters) and quality of risk disclosures (five parameters). The parameters are weighted to calculate the Composite Disclosure score for each company and then aggregated for all 100 companies. Here are the highlights of the India Disclosure Index 2018 from FTI Consulting The top 100 listed Indian companies together score an average of 6.3/10 on voluntary disclosure. Split by its constituents, the same group of companies score 2.1/4 for board quality and 3.3/5 for risk disclosure. Nine companies have a voluntary disclosure about 9 out of 10, and only one (Infosys) has a perfect 10/ 10 voluntary disclosure score. Taken together as a group, the top 100 Indian companies score lower than their peers in the ASEAN region on voluntary disclosure. Companies in the ASEAN region scored 7.8/10 on voluntary disclosure. The average board quality score at 3/4 is distinctly higher than the score for Indian companies, while risk disclosure is only marginally higher at 3.5/5. Taken together as a group, within specific board quality parameters, the India Disclosure Index 2018 report notes the following for the top 100 listed Indian companies: Indian companies perform well on the board duality parameter with 76% of companies having separate roles for chairman and chief executive (CEO) or managing director (MD), as well as on the board composition parameter with 82% of company boards having at least half the board comprising of independent directors. This is well ahead of the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (SEBI) mandated 2020 timeline. Only 10% of the top 100 Indian listed companies provide board evaluation with the involvement of a third-party expert, though most do provide self-evaluation assessment. Indian companies score poorly compared to ASEAN companies, where 27% provide similar board evaluation with third-party involvement. On board diversity, 19% do not have any women independent directors on their board of directors. Indian companies score significantly higher than their ASEAN peers, where approximately 25% of companies do not have any women directors on their board of directors. Within specific Risk Disclosure parameters, the India Disclosure Index 2018 report notes that: 20% of the top 100 listed Indian companies do not provide a convenient whistleblowing mechanism (phone number or email) that is mentioned on company websites or in annual reports. This is a marked improvement from 2016 where 37% of companies did not provide a convenient whistleblowing mechanism. This is also significantly higher than companies in the ASEAN region where 45% do not provide a convenient whistleblowing mechanism. 21% of the top 100 listed Indian companies do not provide analyst transcripts or details of analyst engagement. Indian companies score better than ASEAN companies where 37% do not provide analyst transcripts or details of analyst engagement. 56% of the top 100 listed Indian companies do not provide any information regarding cybersecurity or data-security risk mitigation in their annual reports. Almost half of the companies i.e. 49% provide sustainability reports without recognising international benchmarks such as global reporting initiative (GRI) standards. Indian companies score poorly on this compared to the ASEAN region where 74% prepare sustainability reports as per a globally recognised standard. Commenting on the India Disclosure Index 2018 findings, Amrit Singh Deo, managing director in the strategic communications segment at FTI Consulting, said, Corporate disclosure quality is a good proxy for corporate governance in emerging markets. Greater transparency and better corporate governance can set Indian companies apart from emerging-market peers, which is imperative when companies are competing for global investments and capital. Former Bihar Minister Manju Verma, who was absconding for nearly three months in an arms case related to the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror, surrendered at a court on Tuesday. Manju Verma surrendered in the Begusarai District Court after a lower court and the Patna High Court rejected her interim bail petition. The Supreme Court had slammed Bihar Police for its failure to arrest her. According to police, Manju Verma covered her face while reaching the court. Police in Bihar on Saturday started attaching the properties of Manju Verma after a court order in an arms case connected to the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror. Verma faces arrest under the Arms Act following the recovery of 50 live cartridges from her residences in Patna and Begusarai during a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid. Last month, a court in Begusarai issed a warrant against here. Last month, her husband Chandrasekhar Verma, who had been absconding for a month, surrendered before a court after which he was sent to 14 days judicial custody in connection with the shelter home case. Manju Verma resigned on August 8 following allegations that Brajesh Thakur, the main accused in the Muzaffarpur case, had links with her husband. Thankur is now in the Muzaffarpur jail. Of the 42 girls lodged at the short-stay home run by Thakur's NGO, 34 were found to have been sexually assaulted. The crime came to light after a social audit by the Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai. The board of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to form an expert committee to examine the economic capital framework (ECF) of the central bank, which will decide the amount of reserves it can maintain, handing over the balance to the government. "The Board decided to constitute an expert committee to examine the ECF, the membership and terms of reference of which will be jointly determined by the Government of India and the RBI," the central bank said in a release. The board also considered other issues related to the liquidity crunch in the economy and relaxation, prompt corrective action (PCA) norms to clean up balance sheet of banks burdened with bad loans will be looked into by RBI's Board for Financial Supervision (BFS). Eleven of the 21 state-run banks are under the PCA framework. The non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans, accumulated in the Indian banking system have touched a staggering Rs10 lakh crore. The RBI had been at loggerheads with the government over three demands: transfer a higher portion of its reserves to the Centre to keep the fiscal deficit in control; inject more liquidity into the system to stave off a possible blowout among housing and finance companies; and relax the norms for PCA and income recognition of banks. The differences between the government and the central bank came out in the open after RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya spoke about the consequences of messing around with the central bank's independence while delivering the AD Shroff Memorial lecture in Mumbai on 26th October. Dr Acharya had said, Governments that do not respect central bank independence will sooner or later incur the wrath of the financial markets, ignite economic fire, and come to rue the day they undermined an important regulatory institution. Since then, the government has been openly critical about the RBI and was apparently prepared to use its powers under Section 7 of the RBI Act to issue directives to the central bank. However, during the board meeting, members have decided to refer this to the expert committee. According to CARE Ratings, the issue is important, as there has been a strong case made to transfer the surplus reserves of the RBI to the government as the present level is higher than global standards. "These reserves would presumably be used by the government for the welfare of the people. The argument on the other side is that these reserves are notional and required for contingencies. The committee will have to decide on how much of such reserves would have to be maintained and the purposes for which they should be used. Also the effect on forex reserves and money in circulation will have to be worked out when such a decision is taken," it says. These decisions were taken following a crucial board meeting in Mumbai that lasted over nine hours to discuss the liquidity crisis that initially triggered a tiff between the government and the central bank last month. "The Reserve Bank of India's Central Board met today in Mumbai and discussed the Basel regulatory capital framework, a restructuring scheme for stressed MSMEs (micro small and medium enterprises), bank health under the PCA framework and the Economic Capital Framework (ECF) of RBI," a central bank statement said. The government has been wanting the RBI to transfer more money to it from its reserves. However, the RBI feels it needs to have a stronger balance sheet to deal with any potential crisis and external shocks. The meeting had been called amid growing tensions between the Centre and the RBI after the Finance Ministry recently sought discussions under the never-used-before Section 7 of the RBI Act, which empowers the government to issue directions to the RBI Governor. "The Board also advised that the RBI should consider a scheme for restructuring of stressed standard assets of MSME borrowers with aggregate credit facilities of up to Rs250 million (Rs25 crore), subject to such conditions as are necessary for ensuring financial stability," it added. This, CARE Ratings feel will be a positive for the SME sector which is facing various challenges. It says, "The RBI will have to work out the guidelines and ensure that banks go about this process in a prudent manner. The restructuring exercise for large loans in the past had led to the creation of the NPA pile which is still to be resolved. Therefore this exercise should be undertaken with the necessary safeguards." Though, the board decided to retain commercial banks' capital adequacy ratio at 9%, it agreed to extend the period for implementing the last tranche by one year. "The Board, while deciding to retain the capital to risk weighted assets ratio (CRAR) at 9%, agreed to extend the transition period for implementing the last tranche of 0.625% under the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB), by one year, that is, up to 31 March 2020," RBI said. On the CRAR issue, the government maintains that the capital norm for Indian banks at 9% are much higher than that prevailing for banks overseas. "The approach taken to these banks will be interesting as presently the framework does put restraints on the operations of these banks. It can be conjectured that any relaxation will be linked to performance so that the banks are able to come out of this framework in a seamless manner. It would also be necessary for the government to follow up and provide capital to these banks as their net worth is low and under pressure from higher provisioning for NPAs," the ratings agency says. The RBI's central board currently has 18 members, including Governor Urjit Patel and his four deputies as full-time official directors, while the rest have been nominated by the government, including the secretaries from the economic affairs and financial services department. class-action complaint filed Monday in Manhattan federal court accuses President Trump, three of his adult children and The Trump Corporation of misleading consumers through their endorsements of two MLMs ACN Opportunity, LLC and the now-defunct Trump Network and The Trump Institute, which ran real estate seminars until 2009. The bulk of the 160-page lawsuit centers on Trumps endorsements of telecommunications marketing company and Direct Selling Association member ACN before turning to The Trump Network and The Trump Institute. And it ends by claiming defendants violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), conspired to violate RICO, and engaged in false advertising, unfair competition, unfair and deceptive trade practices, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation. The allegations in the complaint can be summed up as follows: For at least 10 years, beginning in 2005, Trump secretly received millions of dollars in payments while deceptively marketing ACN to distributors by falsely telling them that they had a great opportunity to make money without risk, that he had personally done a lot of research into ACN and personally experienced the opportunity, and that his endorsement was not for any money. Trump even praised ACN on his reality TV show, The Celebrity Apprentice, posing with the companys founders. ACN distributors paid a $499 registration fee to join. The four plaintiffs, each of which uses a pseudonym in the complaint, allege they made little to no money after their initial investment in ACN. From 2009 to 2011, Trump was secretly paid to endorse another MLM The Trump Network and he made deceptive claims about the demand for the product, in this case, vitamins, and the business opportunity, among other things. In 2005, Trump licensed his name to another company known as The Trump Institute. That venture purported to sell Trumps real estate secrets of success through high-priced training seminars but despite Trumps endorsements of the company he was not involved with it and his secrets were not disclosed in the seminars. Instead, consumers received plagiarized materials. In a statement to The Washington Post, the Trump Organization, to which the White House referred comment, called the allegations completely meritless and the timing of the complaint politically motivated. This is not the first time Trump has faced class-action litigation over his endorsements of a business opportunity. In 2016, while admitting no wrongdoing, then-president-elect Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle class-action allegations of fraud against his defunct for-profit institute Trump University. As with The Trump Institute, that enterprise also promised consumers that they would learn Trumps real estate secrets. November 20, 2018 U.S. Busts APEC Summit With Tariff Demands - New York Times Blames China A New York Times report about last weekend's summit in Asia demonstrates how U.S. media misinform their readers about international events. The recent summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Papua New Guinea failed to come up with a joint statement. Prime Minister Peter ONeill of Papua New Guinea, who hosted the summit, promised to issue a "chair's statement" instead. None can be found so far on the APEC website. This was the first time since 1989 that no joined 'Leaders' Declaration' was issued. The reason was a spat between the U.S. and China about a clause the U.S. tried to insert into the joint declaration. But as the Times tells the story, the failure of the summit was solely China's fault: At a major international gathering in Papua New Guinea over the weekend, the United States wanted to end with a group statement emphasizing free trade. China objected. But instead of working out the disagreement through dialogue, Chinese officials barged uninvited into the office of the host countrys foreign minister demanding changes in the official communique. ... China doesnt care if it looks like a boor. If you are a tough guy, you dont care what others think, said Hugh White, a former military strategist for the Australian government and author of The China Choice. Such behavior was only surprising because it had been more than 30 years since the world had witnessed such edginess, Mr. White said. The Chinese deny that the APEC incident happened at all. Mr. White seems to have missed the 2009 Copenhagen climate talks during which the U.S. president and his secretary of state boorishly busted a meeting, held by China, Brazil, India and others, they were not invited to join: Once they found the makeshift conference room where the meeting was being held, Obama, Clinton, and their aides approached a "commotion" as she describes it foreign aides and security guards outside the door. According to Clinton, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs confronted a Chinese guard. "In the commotion the president slipped through the door and yelled, 'Mr Premier!' really loudly, which got everyone's attention. The Chinese guards put their arms up against the door again, but I ducked under and made it through," Clinton wrote. Back the NYT's APEC piece: The American official said the Chinese had taken issue with two portions of the draft communique that Washington supported and other members embraced. One paragraph said the APEC member economies agreed to fight against unfair trade practices. Another paragraph said that members of the group would work together to improve the negotiating, monitoring and dispute settlement functions of the World Trade Organization. The NYT report does not say what the U.S. promoted paragraphs actually said. Nor does it quote any Chinese source. What are "unfair trade agreements"? What WTO changes were asked for? Why are these "improvements". Why is that supposed to be an APEC issue? The AFP's has a way more informative take of the talks: "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. ... 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 U.S. obviously pressed others to agree to WTO changes. When China joined the WTO in 2001 its GDP per capita was less than $2,000. It was classified as a "developing country" which gave it some justified privileges. Eighteen years later China's GDP per capita is approaching $8,000. The U.S. GDP per capita is $53,000, while the EU's is about $37,000. China has certainly become more wealthy but it is still not a fully developed country. While the issue is not urgent it will have to be discussed and China is willing to do that. But the issue that the U.S. pressed for was even more controversial. AFP continues: "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. What the U.S. actually tries to achieve is not only to break certain privileges China holds. It wants to justify its punitive tariffs against China and other countries which are illegal under WTO rules. Trump's original plan was going even further. He considered a bill that would allow him to raise tariffs at will without congressional consent: Nations are prohibited from setting different tariff rates for different countries outside of free trade agreements and the established tariff ceiling that WTO members have agreed to. "It would be the equivalent of walking away from the WTO and our commitments there without us actually notifying our withdrawal," a source familiar with the bill told the outlet but added that Congress would never agree to the bill, describing it as insane. ... Axios had reported that Trump had asked aides about pulling the U.S. out of the WTO, and said the world had used the organization to screw the United States. The NYT is pointing in the wrong direction when it blames China of the failure of the APEC summit. It was the U.S. that tried to abuse the summit's joint statement by inserting clauses that a. to not belong within the frame of APEC and b. are an attempt to subvert internationally agreed trade rules. It is certainly not only China that rejects the Trump administrations attempts to change the rule book for international trade that all WTO members have agreed to. The chair of the meeting agreed with the Chinese side in this. Any reference of WTO reform with the aim to change tariff rules is not an APEC issue and should have no place in its joint statement. The NYT readers though, will never learn this. What the NYT defends as "emphasizing free trade" and as a "fight against unfair trade practices" is the exact opposite. The Trump administration tries to change trade rules so they would allow it to introduce tariffs as it wishes. The Trump administration does not want to "improve" the WTO, it wants to abolish it. Its measures would destroy free trade. The Trump administration will not be unhappy about the failed APEC summit. It is actively trying to thwart inner-Asian cooperation. It hopes to induce Asian countries to join its anti-China front. The NYT, it seems, is fully supportive of these moves. Posted by b on November 20, 2018 at 16:57 UTC | Permalink Comments Houston-based master limited partnership Natural Resource Partners LP has entered into a $205 million deal to sell its construction aggregates business to a Florida-based investment firm. Natural Resource Partners, which trades under New York Stock Exchange symbol NRP, announced on Monday that it has agreed to sell VantaCore Partners LLC to Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sun Capital Partners Inc. The $205 million deal is expected to close by the end of the year and marks the departure of Natural Resource Partners from the construction aggregates business, which includes the mining, processing and sale of sand, gravel, crushed stone and other construction materials. Founded in 2006, VantaCore has acquired seven companies over the past 12 years that supply construction materials to customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. "The sale of our construction aggregates business segment will enable NRP to substantially accelerate the delevering and deisking of our capital structure and represents an exit from this business," NRP Chief Operating Office Craig Nunez. Credit Suisse Securities is acting as financial advisor to NRP while Vinson & Elkins LLP is acting as legal advisor. Natural Resource Partners owns interests in coal, aggregates and industrial minerals across the United States. A large percentage of the company's revenues are generated from royalties and other passive income. The company also owns an equity investment in Ciner Wyoming, a trona/soda ash operation. The Houston-based company reported making $28.5 million of net income on $95 million of revenue during the third quarter. The traditional season of giving both thanks and gifts is upon us. What better time to look back on a summer scholarship surprise that opened doors for 40 young women interested in engineering careers? For more than 40 years, Michigan Tech Summer Youth Programs (SYP) has been offering experiences that stretch the boundaries of more traditional camps and put STEM education into action through team projects, on-campus activities and field trips. One of the most popular programs is Junior Women in Engineering (JWIE). JWIE is one of several highly competitive scholarship-funded programs that covers tuition, room and board. In 2018, 60 middle-school students applied to JWIE, which historically accepts 20 students. When ITC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jon Jipping heard about the overwhelming interest and demand in the program, he proposed a solution: ITC Holdings Corp., an electricity transmission company based in Novi, Michigan, volunteered to cover the $40,000 cost for the remaining 40 young women to attend JWIE and other SYP engineering programs (there are several experiences to choose from). "Mr. Jipping didn't want the first message these girls received in pursuing engineering to be a 'no,'" said Amanda Jackson, assistant director at Michigan Tech's Center for Educational Outreach, which operates the SYP explorations and other college access programs that bring science, technology, engineering and math to K-12 students around the country and the world. "ITC has long recognized the need for more young women to enter the engineering profession. It's programs like this that quench the thirst for knowledge and help place students on the path to academic and professional success." Jon Jipping, ITC Holdings Ashley Simpson has been a part of Summer Youth Programs in three roles now: camper, counselor and mentor. (Michigan Tech Center for Educational Outreach) The company also sent an ambassador 2009 Michigan Tech graduate Ashley Simpson, a human performance specialist with ITC, returned to Houghton to chat with SYP campers and share what it's like to work for the largest independent electricity transmission company in the country. "As an alum of Summer Youth Programs, I know what a difference it can make in the lives of young women," said Simpson, who attended SYP as a high school students and returned as a counselor during her studies at Michigan Tech. "My hope is that programs like this continue to provide opportunities for young women to grow and succeed while at school, as well as after graduation." Ashley Simpson, '09 Young Women in Engineering Write Thank You Notes Gratitude and giving go hand-in-hand. The 2018 scholarship recipients expressed their appreciation in letters that SYP forwarded to the company: "I always thought college was a place for strict learning and it is, but not the way I thought," wrote Brigid R., from Kalamazoo, Michigan. "This is a place not only for educational growth, but growth as people, too, where adults and children can learn, discover and understand new things together, and that is remarkable." "It was exciting to experience all the different types of engineering. My favorite type of engineering was electrical engineering. We had the chance to build a circuit board that lit up like a Christmas tree!" wrote Silvia D. from Birmingham, Michigan. "Before this camp I didn't realize how many different types of jobs engineers can do! I really want to help the environment and make a difference in the world, but I wasn't really sure how to do that. Then I learned about what environmental engineers do and it gave me the right direction," wrote Ava Y., of Marquette, Michigan. Learning what both university students and engineers do helps young people formulate their own plans for the future. (Michigan Tech Center for Educational Outreach) "I would have never found biomedical engineering if it wasn't for JWIE. I look forward to spending more time researching the different applications of biomedical engineering and the fields surrounding it. I'm very thankful I was able to attend and I only wish I could have stayed longer." Adah P., Fairfax, Virginia "I spent the week exploring different types of engineering and participating in experiments to give us a sense of what those engineers did. I absolutely loved learning about the different fields of mechanical engineering and getting to design and test simple prosthetic legs. This program really helped open my eyes to how many options I have for careers," wrote Samantha K., from Luxemburg, Wisconsin More Opportunities for More Young Women ITC has committed to being the 2019 JWIE program sponsor as well, Jipping said. "Michigan Tech's Junior Women in Engineering program is an exciting, educational way for academically talented young women to explore a variety of engineering disciplines." Cody Kangas, director for Michigan Tech's Center for Educational Outreach, also expresses gratitude for the generosity of Jipping and ITC for partnering to provide a platform for young women to become immersed in engineering education. "Delivering profound opportunities for youth to explore and discover with enthusiasm is at the core of Michigan Tech's Summer Youth Programs," Kangas said. "Together with strategic industry partners, we spark affinity for STEM, catalyzing authentic experiences for students during their formative years." Not Your Ordinary Summer Camp There are plenty of Huskies with a Summer Youth Programs experience they'll always be grateful for. In fact, many of the young people inspired by explorations are like alumna Ashley Simpsonthey transition from campers to become SYP counselors who inspire the next generation of scientists, inventors, engineers and original thinkers. But no matter what path these young people take in pursuit of their dreams, the SYP experience is designed to arm them with useful and empowering information on what it's like to study and work in computing, engineering, business or the arts, along with a feel for what it's like to live and study on a college campus. Learn about SYP competitive scholarship programs for the young people in your life, and browse the Summer Youth Programs course catalog for 2019. Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the University offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. The doorway behind the front counter of Cafe 66 conjured images from black-and-white movies of a speakeasy during Prohibition in the United States when alcohol was banned by constitutional amendment. Before another amendment had to be adopted overturning the ban, gangsters hefting submachine guns shot it out with J. Edgar Hoovers G-men FBI agents trying to stop truckloads of booze coming in from Canada. Please knock before entering, said the sign scrawled above the door. Rapping gently, tentatively pushing the panels open, I was greeted by displays bearing images of sticks of marijuana with exotic names like Mango Pie, Thin Mint GSC, Duke Nukem, Yukon Gold and Green Lantern, to name a few. Notes helpfully suggested differences in flavor and strength mellow was a recurrent theme. In fact, I might have copied down more names but for a wary young man behind the counter. What are you writing, he asked. Not impressed when I told him I didnt want to forget those colorful names, he asked me to please stop. When I identified myself as a journalist, he said he had nothing to say. Right, its now legal for those 19 and above to smoke, whiff, chew or grow cannabis anywhere in Canada. The catch is, here in Toronto and the rest of Ontario Province, home to one-third of Canadas 37 million people, you have to order it online through the official Ontario Cannabis Store. While the rules vary from province to province, its technically illegal to buy it over the counter in all Ontario. How then could this tiny shop, known for selling marijuana long before it was formally legalized last month, sell it so openly? By the grace of God, the young man responded as customers were lining up. Dont worry. When I paused at the display of cannabis-laced cakes and cookies, he begged, Please hurry. Reluctantly, I took the hint. So enthusiastic are Canadians about their newly won freedom to smoke pot that the online service for Ontario has just about run out. Orders go unfilled for weeks, packets arrive way late, and dealers, legal and illegal, thrive regardless of whether they are within the letter of the varying laws of Canadas 10 provinces and three territories. So erratic and inconsistent are the policies from province to province that its likely to take years for the folks who govern the country from the capital of Ottawa to synchronize all the rules and regs. At Cafe 66, I purchased one joint for $12 total $14 after the guy tacked on $2 for the plastic envelope in which it was wrapped. Taking no chances, a note in small letters on the front stated it was for medicinal purposes only. Right. Not everyone is so willing to wink at the law. Another place that came recommended had the appropriate name, Best Buds. I was sure they too would be stocked with cannabis, but the place was tight shut. Through wide plate glass windows, I saw only empty shelves. While I was knocking to be sure no one was lurking inside, willing to sell buds surreptitiously, three or four people joined me, all prospective customers. Arent they open, one asked plaintively, hurrying up with high expectations. Whats going on? A day or two earlier, I had gotten a whiff of the sensitivities as I waited at the Niagara Falls entry while a Canadian immigration official asked a lot of questions about why I was visiting his country. He wanted to know about my relationship with my host old friend from Vietnam War days how long I would stay, how often Id been in the country. When I told him I was a journalist, he asked what Id be writing about. Im not sure I had to answer all those questions, but Id read in the paper in Buffalo, the nearest big U.S. city to this particular crossing, about people arrested with a stash in their car the first Id known about the legalization of marijuana in Canada. For sure, when my friend invited me to his great place for an exchange of old war stories, I hadnt been thinking of reporting on marijuana. Just to keep the immigration guy happy, I said I might write about the trade dispute between Canadas prime minister, Justin Trudeau, and President Donald Trump surely a safe topic. Will the Canadian experience set a precedent for the United States and other countries where pot remains illegal? U.S. attitudes toward marijuana vary widely even if its OK in some places for medicinal purposes. Canadians seem to have rather mixed feelings. Yes, any adult can get it, online or over-the-counter. No, dont get high while driving the penalties there are if anything more stringent than for drinking while drunk on alcohol. As for the joint that I had purchased at Cafe 66, I didnt light up. Having heard and written a lot about drugs among U.S. troops in Vietnam all those years ago, I dont touch the stuff. Before bidding a fond farewell, I gave the joint to my friend, who let me know Id been overcharged. Seems the going price on the open black market, pre-legalization, was $6. Donald Kirk has been a columnist for Korea Times, South China Morning Post many other newspaper and magazines. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Monday, Nov. 12 Plainview police responded to a call about an individual driving while intoxicated at the 600 block of N. Interstate 27 just before 1 a.m. Monday. It was the 52-year-old man's second offense. A car crash resulting in private property damage was reported Monday at the 1700 block of Industrial just before 8 a.m. A 37-year-old man was arrested Monday after police received a calla bout criminal trespassing at the 1500 block of Yonkers Monday around 4:45 p.m. The man was charged with possession of marijuana, possession/delivery of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespassing. Police were called to the 2300 block of Yonkers Monday around 7:45 p.m. in reference to an abandoned or endangered child. Incident reports don't indicate whether or not there was an arrest. Tuesday, Nov. 13 An assault with bodily injury was reported Wednesday at the 1600 block of Portland just before 9 a.m. A car crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported Tuesday at the 3700 block of Olton Road just after 3 a.m. A car crash with vehicle damage was reported Tuesday at the 800 block of Travis St. around 12:30 p.m. An assault was reported at the 1400 block of Houston St. Tuesday around 3:15 p.m. An accident with injury was reported Tuesday at the 1400 block of W. Fifth St. just before 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 Police arrested a 25-year-old man for a warrant Wednesday at the 700 block of W. 28th St. just before 1 a.m. Police responded to the 500 block of N. Date St. in reference to a warrant but the incident reports show no arrest was made. The call was reported at 2 a.m. Wednesday. Plainview police arrested 32-year-old J. Jose Maria Pizarro Wednesday for unauthorized use of a vehicle, which is a state jail felony. Pizarro was caught at the 2400 block of Houston St. around 1:30 p.m. Fraud was reported Wednesday at the 100 block of W. Ninth St. just after 2 p.m. A case of fraud was reported Wednesday at the 100 block of W. Ninth St. around 3:20 p.m. A traffic stop at the 900 block of N. Interstate 27 resulted in the arrest of a 25-year-old woman for driving with an invalid license. The stop was made around 4:15 p.m. A theft was reported at the 2800 block of Lexington St. Wednesday around 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15 Officers were called to the 100 block of W. Ninth St. in reference to a forgery of checks around 12:45 p.m. A burglary was reported Thursday at the 1300 block of N. Date St. around 2:40 p.m. An assault was reported Thursday at the 800 block of Houston St. just before 8 p.m. Pornography was reported to Plainview police Thursday at the 1400 block of W. 34th St. around 9:15 a.m. It's the time of year for red kettles and bells and The Salvation Army needs your help. The organization kicked off the campaign Friday at Amigos. The grocery store donated a $1,000 sponsorship check to The Salvation Army. This is the organization's biggest fundraiser. Michelle Rutherford, the branch's executive director, said there are volunteers signed up to ring bells through this weekend but there is no one else signed up until Dec. 1. The tradition of the red kettles dates back to December of 1891, according to The Salvation Army's website. It was started as a way to provide Christmas dinner for 1,000 poor people and came up with the idea to utilize a large pot for charitable donations after seeing one as a sailor in England. So he set one out and collected enough to bring alive his vision to feed the poor. That mission of the nonprofit has since expanded, Rutherford said. The Salvation Army now offers numerous services to help the poor with food, clothes, shelter and bills. In Plainview, the organization offers hot meals every day, showers and a food pantry for those who need the services. Since it's a nonprofit, it relies heavily on donations, she said. Those donations not only fund these services but they cover overhead costs and payments to its few employees. Hiring bell ringers poses a problem for The Salvation Army because if there are no volunteers to ring bells, the organization has to hire individuals, which takes away from its budget, Rutherford said. Those interested in participating can ring for just one hour or a full day, Rutherford said. "One hour of ringing provides 13 meals," she said. Kettle locations are at Walmart, United Supermarkets, Amigo's, the intersection of Interstate 27 and Olton Road and the intersection of Fifth St. and Quincy St. Bells and kettles are typically out from about 10 a.m. until about 7 p.m. The times vary by location. To participate in the fundraiser, contact The Salvation Army at (806) 296-6375. Alanna Kelly UPDATE: 5:20 p.m. Families coming and going from a Kelowna Sikh temple were forced to look at racist graffiti on the side of the temple Monday. Vice President of Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society says they think the black spray paint was done on Sunday at about 7 p.m. We are really shocked, this is a first to happen here, said Jadvinder Singh Nijjer. We love everyone, our Religion is that somebody hates us but we love him too. A priest who was the first arrived at the temple on Monday morning noticed the vandalism. Nijjer said the front gate is locked every night at 8 p.m. so he believes someone spray painted the graffiti before the gate was closed. Coun. Mohini Singh said when she saw the vandalism she was sad. I am very, very disappointed and you know it doesnt even make any sense to tell you the truth, said Singh. Everyone is shaken up and sad, according to Nijjer. It is ignorant, it is stupidity, there is no room for something like that in Kelowna, said Singh. Police have opened an investigation into the vandalism and security footage from the building will be reviewed tonight in hopes of identifying the culprits. We'd like to give a message to that person to not do anything wrong in the community and go peaceful, said Nijjer. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them. ORIGINAL: 1:45 p.m. Racist graffiti has been sprayed on a Sikh temple in Kelowna. The president of the Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society said Monday he is saddened that such racist hate exists in this city. We are sad to see this in this city we love, said Tarsem Goraya. Derogatory words were spray painted on the side of the building some time over the weekend, and remained there on Monday. Coun. Mohini Singh said the incident is disappointing and sad. "There is no room for this in Kelowna," she said. Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society has been in Kelowna for more than 40 years, and Goraya says they respect everyone. With the holiday season already in full swing, theres no shortage of merriment and fun to be had, from visits with Santa to caroling down the River Walk to eating as many tamales as humanly possible. Click through the slideshow to see how you can celebrate San Antonio-style. Taste the flavors of Spain without a passport thanks to a new food truck thats soon to hit the streets of San Antonio. Partners Fernando R. Ortega and Jorge Garcia, both orginally from Spain, debutedtheir La Plaza food trailer Sunday at a private event. They are currently scouting locations and hiring staff to be an everyday mobile restaurant in coming weeks. The La Plaza menu will be based on the street foods of Spain, but it also will provide an assortment of paellas, freshly baked bread, a rotating lineup of tapas and imported Spanish jamon shaved off the leg to order for sandwiches. On ExpressNews.com: Review: A Spanish bullseye at Toro Kitchen in Stone Oak Our goal is to offer four or five daily meal specials everyday, but the jamon and some form of paella will be regular offerings, Ortega said. Extra virgin olive oil imported from Spain is the backbone of the food. Ortega is the president and founder of Iloveaceite, an olive oil that he has marketed and distributed for the past three years. We use it for everything, and that is probably the truest flavor of Spain, Ortega said. Another unique twist to La Plaza will be the treatment of a fresh gazpacho as its consumed in Spain: as a drink instead of as a soup in a bowl. Ortega and Garcia hope to establish a template that can expand into other markets as a franchise. But for now, the focus is purely on San Antonio. Ortega said that La Plaza will start posting service dates and locations on Facebook and Instagram (@LaPlazaSA) after the Thanksgiving holiday. La Plaza, mobile food trailer (check Facebook for locations), 210-988-4411. Facebook: LaPlazaSA Chuck Blount is a food writer and columnist covering all things grilled and smoked in the San Antonio area. Find his Chuck's Food Shack columns on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com, or read his other coverage on our free site, mySA.com. | cblount@express-news.net | Twitter: @chuck_blount | Instagram: @bbqdiver Houston: love it or leave it. Looking for a reason either way? This list can help you decide. What are some of the pros and cons to moving to Houston? While the city is home to one the largest life sciences destinations in the world and a culturally diverse population, there's also the weather (from the heat and humidity to hurricanes) and public transportation system to consider, according to World According To Briggs. Reality TV star and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner and her significant other Travis Scott hit Houston over the weekend for Scott's Astroworld Festival. While the couple was in Houston, they made time in their busy schedules for more than just the Fest. Photo: LPC Stephen Fuhr says he came out of this past weekend's big Liberal convention in Kelowna "recharged." Back in Ottawa on Monday, the Kelowna-Lake Country MP said he was excited to see a turnout of about 400 people to the three-day event at the Delta Grand Hotel. "It was really cool to see as many young people there," said Fuhr. "These are the people who will inherit our policy decisions of today, so it's good to see them getting involved." Six cabinet ministers attended the convention, which included sessions on the economy, environment, tourism, legal cannabis and more. Fuhr led a panel on investing in British Columbia and was a panel member during a Pacific caucus town hall meeting. He also attended a roundtable meeting with Tourism Minister Melanie Joly at Quails Gate Winery. "From my perspective, it went really well," said Fuhr. He said such events are a good way to get government eyes on the Okanagan, "let them see what we have and advocate for what we need. They become emotionally attached ... The more I can get them to come, the better the success on getting things for our region." Fuhr said the atmosphere was "very positive." "This job isn't always easy ... everybody has an opinion, and when crafting social and economic policy, it's important to listen to them face to face. "We promised a lot in the 2015 campaign. We've delivered a lot, but there is still a lot to be done." He said the overwhelming message was to "not take the foot off the pedal" on policies that are more inclusive, economically and socially, protect the environment and come from a "progressive perspective rather than populist." A strong economy, coupled with an energy industry that has rebounded from a downturn, might have many shoppers in the Katy area hitting their local mall this holiday season. Lance LaCour, President and CEO of the Katy Area Economic Development Council, said the current state of our economy, particularly in the Houston region and the Katy area, is strong which should translate to strong spending during the holiday season. With no more than four full weeks of shopping between Thanksgiving and Christmas, consumers have picked up their spending, he said, adding that specifically, the energy industry has rebounded from the downturn which has positively impacted the spending power of many in the Katy area. More than one year ago, many Katy area residents were deeply impacted by Hurricane Harvey, which left many in the greater Houston struggling to rebuild their homes. With the diligent work of numerous organizations and our community members, the Katy area, for the most part, has recovered, LaCour said. However, there is certainly work to be done. The Katy EDC continues to advocate for flood mitigation infrastructure improvements throughout the Katy area, he said. We must not forget the impacts of Harvey, and it is important our community does everything possible to prevent such an event from occurring again while continuing to assist those who may still be feeling the impacts, LaCour said. According to a recent Associated Press article, many retailers are looking at creative ways to hire more permanent workers instead of seasonal help. The November jobs report by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the U.S. added 250,000 jobs in October, while unemployment rate stayed at 3.7 percent - the lowest its been since 1969. But LaCour said businesses in Katy are unaffected. Katy area businesses regularly hire seasonal help, he said. This year is no different and there is a great deal of opportunity for those looking for seasonal work. Consumers can find many places in the Katy area to spend their money, LaCour said. Our area is home to a variety of retailers ranging from local small businesses in downtown Katy to our mixed-use shopping destinations such as Katy Mills Mall and LaCenterra, he said. We encourage our community to patronize our local businesses for all of your holiday needs! Traffic jams and crowded parking lots at Deerbrook Mall are a welcome sight for Mark Mitchell this holiday season. While just two years ago, they would have been a burden. After Hurricane Harvey devastated last years holiday shopping season, Mitchell, president of the Lake Houston Economic Development Partnership, is relieved to see the community getting back to normal. It looks like theres going to be a good recovery, Mitchell, 56, said. Thousands of businesses were damaged in the Lake Houston area, including many within the trendy mixed-use developments that have popped up in the last decade, such as H-E-B-anchored Main Street Kingwood, Kingwood Town Center and Townsen Boulevard, which features a Costco and Main Event in Humble. Most of the businesses and restaurants in Kings Harbor, a mixed-use development along Lake Houston in Kingwood, received more than 5 feet of water. Some of the popular local restaurants just reopened this last month. However, holiday sales could indicate whether retail in the Lake Houston area has truly bounced back. GIFT GIVING GUIDE: These are the hottest toys this holiday season After the hurricane, Humble City Manager Jason Stuebe said he was expecting to see a 25 to 35 percent decline in sales tax revenue. But the area still thrived, and 2017 was only $400,000 behind 2016s $13.6 million in earnings. Stuebe said he believes the reason why the area stayed afloat is because its a main retail hub in Northeast Harris County and, as people were rebuilding their homes, they went shopping at big box stores for things like wood, appliances and furniture. Is this a bubble, so to speak? he said. Why is it that we didnt take it as hard as what we were expecting? This years sales tax revenue is expected to hit $14 million. Stuebe, 35, said he will consider business is back to normal if this years holiday shopping returns to historical numbers. Im kind of bullish on the local economy and future right now, he said. Other factors that helped keep sales up were that the mall, which never flooded, stayed open, and only seven out of the 64 Humble companies that were flooded by the hurricane shuttered their doors. Consumers got the message, he said. Were right here in your backyard, and were open for business, Stuebe said. Mitchell said local businesses, especially some in the retail sector had a hard time regaining their footing with limited assistance options for business owners. TAKE IT TO GO: Houston restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day 2018 The Small Business Administrations Disaster Recovery Loan Program helped some companies, but not all. About 90 percent of the money from the SBA went to residential homes. Small businesses like Kingwood boutique Pretty Little Things depended on savings and grant money to reopen. Nikole Christian, owner of the boutique, was getting ready to open a second store when Hurricane Harvey hit. She should have been picking out new items and decor. Instead, Christian spent all the money in her savings account to restock and remodel her store, which sells womens apparel and accessories. It was good timing, if there ever is good timing, Christian, 29, said. But for the past year, Christian said her stores sales have been up. While she believes some people are still being reserved with their spending, it hasnt affected her numbers. I think our sales are a good testament that the community is still shopping, she said. For the upcoming holiday shopping season, Christian has pushed her social media marketing, even posting a special holiday photo shoot with special items, to help replenish the funds that were lost to Harvey. Her plans to expand the store are on schedule again, and a second Pretty Little Things is planned to open near the Beltway. Its a time to fully get us back on our feet, she said. HOLIDAY DEALS: Best stores for Black Friday The Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce also put out a huge marketing push earlier this year to let the public know that local stores were ready for customers. The Back 2 Business campaign shared local business news on their social media and email blasts and gave stores special signs to celebrate being back in business, Mitchell said. The chamber reached out to more than 300 businesses and helped with relocation, tax incentives and grants to try to fill the gaps that businesses could not. Many of them drained their bank accounts so they could remain open, Mitchell said. While sales revenue is a major concern, Mitchell, however, said the most important economic issue for the community is still flood prevention. Make no mistake, the priority for us is that we dredge effectively and that we make sure long-term we get additional gates on Lake Houston so we can get the water out of here quicker than we were able to during Hurricane Harvey, he said. ana.goni-lessan@chron.com Courtesy photo Four Scouts will be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at the Court of Honor ceremony held Nov. 28 for Troop 642 sponsored by Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. The new Eagle Scouts are: Amid headlines about marijuana legalization getting approved by voters this fall in the Midwest and unlikely places like Utah, a question remains: Whatever happened to marijuana in Maine? If efficiency and effectiveness are the standard for grading how governments implement the will of the people, Maine would get an F. Two years after state voters approved the sale of adult-use cannabis in the state, you still cant buy it anywhere in Maine. By contrast, voters in Nevada and California approved legal recreational marijuana the same day as voters in Maine but have been able to buy marijuana for a long time. Both businesses and the governments are enjoying the cannabis profits. Whats more, there remains confusion about where things stand In Maine. There's a lot unknown and that's the problem right now," a medical marijuana dispensary owner told CBS 13 in Portland. "Nobody really knows anything." Related: Pro-Marijuana Candidates Were Big Midterm Winners but Now They Need to be Prodded A brief history of marijuana in Maine. Maine has a history of being on the forefront of the marijuana movement -- until lately. Back in 1976 it became just the third state to decriminalize marijuana possession. It's been more than 40 years and still just 22 states and the District of Columbia have done that, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 1999, Maine voters legalized medical marijuana. They were only the fifth state to do so. Then came 2016. A ballot proposition approving the sale of adult-use marijuana passed, but so narrowly that opponents requested a recount. However, after the recount started and it became apparent the result would not change, they withdrew their recount petition. The pathway was clear for the state to set up a regulated marijuana sales system. Enter Governoer Paul LePage The state legislature had nine months to hammer out a system governing marijuana sales. They accomplished that goal, but then ran into Gov. Paul LePage. He vetoed the measure in November 2017. The Republican governor he cited guidance from then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions as part of the reason for his veto, disregarding -- or, at least, not mentioning -- the fact that other states had moved ahead with marijuana sales. LePage wrote in his veto message that "until I clearly understand how the federal government intends to treat states that seek to legalize marijuana, I cannot in good conscience support any scheme in state law to implement expansion of legal marijuana in Maine. Related: Pesticide Contamination Is a Growing Cannabis Safety Concern Round 2 In 2018, the state Legislature crafted a bipartisan compromise bill that would allow legal cannabis sales -- which, after all, is the will of the people. The new measure is more conservative than the first one. For example, it prohibits cannabis social clubs. It also put in specific measures that gave more power for controlling cannabis sales in the hands of local governments. LePage vetoed it again. This time, the Legislature overrode his veto, moving forward with plans to create the system. They finalized those plans in June, handing responsibility for writing the rules for a regulated marijuana system to the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services. Outside Help As it turned out, the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services didnt know how to craft rules to create a legal, regulated adult-use marijuana market. Instead, they solicited bids from consultants. Five applied but the process just closed in November 2018. And thats where things stand. Comments in media reports vary, but the consensus seems to be that a consultant should be hired by January, and then it might take another nine months to get the regulations written. That would put the start of sales, realistically, in the fall of 2019. Tammie Snow, an attorney who represents those in the marijuana industry, told CBS 13, A lot of my clients are frustrated. Obviously, they're frustrated because it has been two years." Now, it looks like it will be three. Follow dispensaries.com on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest cannabis news. Related: State Regulators Consider Better Ways to Determine Who Controls Cannabis Business Marijuana in Maine: Slow Motion Crawl Toward Adult-Use Sales Adults In Massachusetts Can Legally Buy Marijuana Starting Today Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved After flyers were found in a University of Texas at San Antonio restroom demonstrating opposition to "rampant sexual assault, and abuse on campus and in the world," school President Taylor Eighmy said UTSA would soon begin a campus-wide discussion on how to rid itself of sexual misconduct. In an email sent to students, faculty and staff and posted to the university's website, Eighmy encouraged victims to report assaults and reaffirmed the school's zero tolerance policy on sexual misconduct. "I applaud these women for their desires to raise awareness of an important issue," Eighmy said in his email. "Sexual misconduct of any kind is unacceptable, and UTSA must be an institution of zero tolerance. My position on this issue is straightforward and unyielding." RELATED: UTSA student says she exchanged apologies with prof who ousted her It wasn't the first time this year Eighmy had addressed the campus population about the issue. In February, amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations on university campuses including at Michigan State University, Eighmy addressed the school's commitment to eliminating sexual misconduct on campus. "We cannot allow such a broken culture to develop here at UTSA," he wrote, noting that UTSA's Department of Title IX Services had opened just days before and would provide preventative initiatives and victim support. Then in August, Eighmy sent another message to students, restating the school's zero tolerance policy and encouraging faculty and staff to report suspected harassment, stalking, violence, or unwanted sexual conduct. RELATED: Missing Texas State University student found dead in Blanco River earlier this month Victims can report instances of sexual assault or misconduct to: The anonymous UTSA Compliance Hotline. Callers do not need to provide their names to make a report. The Office of Equal Opportunity Services, which handles complaints regarding any type of discrimination. The Student Ombudsperson and University Ombudsperson, who will provide "welcoming and safe environments" to all students, faculty and staff. The UTSA Police Department. Victims looking for long-term help have access to: UTSA Counseling Services, which are free and confidential. The Office of Student Advocacy, Violence Prevention and Empowerment which provides resources and advocacy. The San Antonio Rape Crisis Center, a local center for those affected by sexual violence. "We must prioritize culture change to achieve a zero-tolerance environment," Eighmy wrote. "Doing so is an urgent matter to ensure the health and well-being of our campus community." S. M. Chavey is a breaking news and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | sarah.chavey@express-news.net | @smchavey Dehumidifiers whir inside the sealed room housing one of John Biggers murals in Third Ward. Fine Japanese tissue paper dots the mural where paint had begun to pop off, and damage is still evident in the ceiling above. Though the historic artwork underwent treatment for damage suffered as a result of Hurricane Harvey, a full professional restoration job cannot be completed until enough funds are secured to first repair the roof of the building that houses the Biggers masterpiece. Were praying again that some company will be able to help us, said Charlotte Kelly Bryant, the founding president of the Blue Triangle Multi-Cultural Association, which owns the building housing the mural. The Houston Endowment has provided an initial $258,000 to repair the buildings roof, but at least $200,000 more is needed to complete the restoration on the 1953, Contribution of Negro Women to American Life and Education, which is painted onto a wall inside the nonprofits headquarters. In the aftermath of Harvey, rainwater seeped into a wall of the Blue Triangle Community Center, causing it to swell and in the process pop off the murals paint. Moisture collected in the murals room causing black mold to grow on the painting. Staff from the Houston Museum of Fine Arts worked to stabilize the mural, partially covering the roof overhead, using dehumidifiers, and adding the Japanese tissue paper into the gaps formed by the popping off paint, said David Bomford, chairman of conservation at the museum. Though no further damage is expected, Bomford said a full restoration plan is needed to preserve what he and other experts call one of Biggers largest masterpieces. It is one of the most important artworks in Houston, Bomford said. It kind of transcends monetary value. Some funding has been earmarked for the murals restoration. The National Endowment for the Humanities and the Texas Historical Commission each provided $30,000 toward its permanent repair. The Kinder Foundation has given $100,000 for the murals restoration as well as the upkeep of the murals immediate environment. Biggers, the prolific artist from North Carolina who started the art program at Texas Southern University in 1949, back when it was known as the Texas State University for Negroes, painted the mural one year after the founding of the Blue Triangle building, known then as the first branch of Houstons YWCA. Ten women of color purchased the lots city block in 1948 for $1,000, Bryant said. They built the community center that stands today through a capital campaign with the city. The mural, which served as Biggers doctoral dissertation and features images of abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth and poet Phillis Wheatley, was an opportunity to recognize these womens work. He told me that he wanted to give [it] as a tribute to the Negro women, Bryant said. To Robert Proctor, co-director and chief painting conservator for Whitten & Proctor Fine Art Conservation in Houston, the mural exemplifies Biggers compositional ability to work across large space. Proctor, who has restored other Biggers paintings, noted that the artists unique brushstrokes and his attention to work surfaces make them some of the most difficult pieces of art to restore. Biggers often kept a matte texture to his arts surfaces to avoid creating a glare, Proctor said. He also tended to apply a sort of fresco technique, using lean paint that gave off a pastel quality. These details, incorporated in the Blue Triangle mural, would likely mean restoration will take several months. Proctor added that much of Biggers signature, larger pieces can be found in public spaces with no protective covering as Biggers intended, making the art more accessible yet at greater risk to the elements. The artists intent of the painting is always something that guides us, Proctor said. His greatest intent was that his paintings were for the people. Biggers died in Houston in 2001 at age 76. At Blue Triangle, Bryant would often show the mural to visiting children, hoping to inspire them by teaching them their past and pushing them to create a future for themselves. While repairs are still underway, the community center remains open, though many of the activities for younger children have been postponed, Bryant said. Bryant hopes to one day convert the mural room into an arts and education center. For now, all she can do is hope more groups contribute to repairing the historically designated building so that work on the mural can fully begin. Its going to happen, Bryant said. Photo: Contributed The families of two B.C. police officers being held in Cuba say the men might have to stay in the country longer because the prosecutor plans to appeal a unanimous verdict that acquitted them of assault charges. A statement issued on behalf of the families of Mark Simms and Jordan Long says the news is a "painful realization that the nightmare is not yet over." The statement says they have no idea when Simms, 29, a constable with the Vancouver police, and Long, 31, a constable in nearby Port Moody, will be allowed to return to Canada. Rollie Woods, the deputy police complaint commissioner in B.C., said in April that the men were in Varadero when they were arrested in mid-March following allegations that an Ontario teenager was assaulted while vacationing in the same area. Woods said the Vancouver officer was being held for assault, while the Port Moody officer was detained as a witness. A 17-year-old Canadian female alleged to Cuban authorities she was assaulted by Simms, and officials held Long as a material witness in the case, Woods said. The Canadian Press contacted the Directorate of International Relations in Cuba and was asked on Friday to send an email, but a reply has not been received. Global Affairs Canada said consular services are being provided, but because of the Privacy Act no other information can be disclosed. Vancouver police confirmed in an email that Simms is a constable in the department but it had no update on the situation. The Port Moody Police Department did not respond to a request for comment. The statement from the families does not specify what the two officers were originally charged with. "We are so grateful that the Cuban judiciary recognized that the case against Jordan and Mark was based on a lie that had no evidence to support it, but in fact only had evidence to refute it," the statement says. In Cuba, unlike in Canada, people accused of crimes are considered guilty until proven innocent, it says. The statement says a panel of five judges issued the unanimous acquittal last week and the families expect the very highest levels of the Canadian government to work with Cuban authorities to bring the pair home. "Mark and Jordan and our families and friends have endured tremendous suffering in every area of our lives for the last eight months; emotional, physical, psychological, financial, spiritual and social," the statement says. "We have been overjoyed at the thought that this ongoing nightmare would soon be over and that the long journey towards healing could finally begin." There was a time when the U.S. approximated other wealthy countries in drug spending. But in the late 1990s, U.S. spending took off. It tripled between 1997 and 2007, according to a study in Health Affairs. Then a slowdown lasted until about 2013, before spending shot up again. What explains these trends? By 2015, U.S. annual spending on prescription drugs reached about $1,000 per person and 16.7 percent of overall personal health care spending. The Commonwealth Fund compared that level with that of nine other wealthy nations: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain. Among those, Switzerland, second to the U.S., was at only $783. Sweden was lowest, at $351. (It should be noted that relative to total health spending, U.S. spending on drugs is consistent with that of other countries, reflecting the fact that we spend a lot more on other care, too.) Eliminating some suspects Several factors could be at play in the U.S. spending surge. One is the total amount of prescription drugs used. But Americans do not take a lot more drugs than patients in other countries, as studies document. In fact, when it comes to drugs that primary care doctors typically prescribe including medications for hypertension, high cholesterol, depression, gastrointestinal conditions and pain Americans use prescription drugs for 12 percent fewer days per year than their counterparts in other wealthy countries, a recent study in the journal Health Policy found. Another potential explanation is that Americans take more expensive brand-name drugs than cheaper generics relative to their overseas counterparts. This doesnt hold up either. We use a greater proportion of generic drugs here than most other countries 84 percent of prescriptions are generic. Though Americans take a lower proportion of brand-name drugs, the prices of those drugs are a lot higher than in other countries. For many drugs, U.S. prices are twice those found in Canada, for example. Prices are a lot higher for brand-name drugs in the U.S. because we lack the widespread policies to limit drug prices that many other countries have. Other countries decline to pay for a drug when the price is too high, said Rachel Sachs, who studies drug pricing and regulation as an associate professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis. The United States has been unwilling to do this. For example, except in rare cases, Britain will pay for new drugs only when their effectiveness is high relative to their prices. German regulators may decline to reimburse a new drug at rates higher than those paid for older therapies if they find that it offers no additional benefit. Some other nations base their prices on those charged in Britain, Germany or other countries, Sachs added. That, by and large, explains why we spend so much more on drugs in the U.S. than elsewhere. But what drove the change in the 1990s? One part of the explanation is that a record number of new drugs emerged in that decade. Huge sales for new and expensive drugs In particular, sales of costly new hypertension and cancer drugs took off in the 1990s. The number of drugs with sales that topped $1 billion increased to 52 in 2006 from six in 1997. The combination of few price controls and rapid growth of brand-name drugs increased U.S. per capita pharmaceutical spending. More rapid Food and Drug Administration approvals, fueled by new fees collected from pharmaceutical manufacturers that began in 1992, also helped push new drugs to market. In addition, in the 1990s and through the mid-2000s, coverage for drugs (as well as for other health care) expanded through public programs. Expansions of Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program also coincided with increased drug spending. And Medicare adopted a universal prescription drug benefit in 2006. Studies have found that when the potential market for drugs grows, more drugs enter it. In 2007, U.S. drug spending growth was the slowest since 1974. The slowdown in the mid-2000s can be explained by fewer FDA approvals of blockbuster drugs. Annual FDA approvals of new drugs fell from about 35 in the late 1990s and early 2000s to about 20 per year in 2005-07. In addition, the patents of many top-selling drugs (such as Lipitor) expired, and as U.S. prescription drug use tipped back toward generics, per capita spending leveled off. The spike starting in 2014 mirrors that of the 1990s. The arrival of expensive specialty drugs for hepatitis C, cystic fibrosis and other conditions fueled spending growth. Many of the new drugs are based on relatively recent advances in science, such as the completion of the human genome project. Many of the new agents are biologics, said Peter Bach, director of the Center for Health Policy and Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. These drugs have no meaningful competition, and therefore command very high prices. In the future If the principal driver of higher U.S. drug spending is higher pricing on new, blockbuster drugs, what does that bode for the future? I suspect things will get worse before they get better, Sachs said. The push for precision medicine drugs made for smaller populations, including matching to specific genetic characteristics may make drugs more effective, therefore harder to live without. Thats a recipe for higher prices. Democratic politicians have tended to be the ones advocating governmental policies to limit drug prices. But recently the Trump administration announced a Medicare drug pricing plan that seems to reflect growing comfort with how drug prices are established overseas, and theres new optimism the two sides could work together after the midterm elections. Although the effectiveness of the plan remains unclear, it is clearly a response to public concern about drug prices and spending. Also, CVS recently announced that it would devise employer drug plans that dont include drugs with prices out of line with their effectiveness something more common in other countries but unheard-of in the U.S. Even if these efforts dont take off rapidly, they are early signs that attitudes might be changing. Saturday was a bittersweet time for Yvonne Vann. The Bexar County Sheriffs Office celebrated the opening of its $8 million state-of-the-art facility that will serve as home for hundreds of deputies and measurably reduce response times. It also stirred emotions within Vann, whose husband, Bexar County Sheriffs Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann Sr., was shot and killed while on duty in 2011. The new facility, occupying 13,400-square feet and serving as the centerpiece of a new 51-acre development tract in Converse adjoining Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, was dedicated as the Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann Memorial Law Enforcement Building in front of an appreciative crowd of Bexar County dignitaries, guests and area residents. According to news reports, Vann was ambushed in the early hours of May 28, 2011, while sitting at a red light on Rigsby Road in an unprovoked act by a murderer who today sits on death row. Vann was struck 26 times by bullets from an AR-15 rifle by the assailant, who was arrested a week later and sentenced in 2015 to death by lethal injection. Yvonne Vann, a former Bexar County sheriffs deputy who served 25 years before retiring in 2015, spoke to the overflow crowd at the grand opening ceremony before helping Sheriff Javier Salazar christen the building by smashing entry columns with two bottles of champagne. I just want to say two words: Proud and pride, Vann said from behind a podium under a large tent erected in the far parking lot of the new facility. When I first joined the sheriffs office, I was so proud. I had my badge, my family had a lot of pride, I went out there, worked the streets, worked the jail, did my job. I was always, always very proud of my sheriffs office. To see this, and have it named after Kenneth, she said, with a slight tremor in her voice, I cannot tell you the pride that I have for that. To see this, and see all the hard work, I see all the pride in all these officers and all the staff. After cutting a ribbon and smashing the champagne bottles at its entrance, Salazar stood in the foyer shaking hands and greeting all who turned out to tour the facility. He admitted having a hard time containing his enthusiasm for the buildings opening and the comfort and vastly improved working environment for the hundreds of deputies who will serve the northeast quadrant of the county from within its walls. This is a facility thats been in the works since about 2010, and has been through a couple of sheriff administrations, Salazar said. This is the first-ever purpose-built, from-the-ground-up, dedicated substation in the history of the sheriffs office, I cant say that enough. I cant keep the smile off my face every time I say that. Officers can come here and do their work in the most efficient manner possible. They can feel at home and be comfortable doing their work. They can also make sure that they are responding to calls for service in this area in a more efficient manner and a more timely fashion, he added. Bexar County Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert opened the ceremony by introducing the crowd to Salazar, his staff and to the building behind them. He spoke of the conditions of the substation on the far South Side that previously served as home to the staff that took its first roll call at 6 a.m. the day prior to the opening. The new substation will help reduce gas costs, usually the second or third highest cost on a sheriffs expense list, Calvert said, as deputies formerly had to drive from a substation on the deep South Side to serve the area. It will save on maintenance costs, with units being used almost exclusively in the area where they serve, and will reduce response times immeasurably with resources being strategically located. This day represents an attitudinal change in relationship with our sheriffs department, Calvert said. This is a new chapter where were working better and closer together. And thats important for the morale of the men and women of this department give every single day that you be respected with dignity for the work that you do. Converse Mayor Al Suarez welcomed the Bexar County Sheriffs Office to Converse. With the explosive growth of this area, the timing of the Northeast substation is paramount to the safety of all the residents of the community. The close partnerships of working together and sharing resources will greatly benefit everyone and we will be able to accomplish more, with less, Suarez said. This is what happens when municipal, county and federal governmental entities work together for a common goal, for the safety of the community, Suarez said. This was built in close coordination with the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Joint Land Use Study that was formulated together in 2015 to protect the flying missions here at Randolph Air Force Base on the other side of that fence line. Vanns attempts to tour the facility at Salazars side were continually interrupted by friends and family, many in uniform, who stopped for hugs and handshakes, expressing their joy and gratitude to her over the honor of having her husbands name attached to a building that will long serve Bexar County and its men and women in blue, as she stated. My husband made the ultimate sacrifice and my family made the ultimate sacrifice, its not just me, she said. I took a double whammy; I not only lost my spouse but I also lost a friend in blue, my best friend in blue. For me, today was two-pronged. To see this and to see how much everybody has worked through the loss of Kenneth, we learned a lot about how to police, and how to protect ourselves so this doesnt happen again to anyone. But I have a sense of pride and joy today. I believe in a heaven above, she said, and I believe that hes watching over us and hes making sure everybody is safe and protected, and that they find justice and that they can come here to the sheriffs office and find that. jflinn@express-news.net Cortez Branch Library is collecting canned and nonperishable foods for the San Antonio Food Bank. Pet food, newspapers and towels also are being collected for Animal Care Services. Donations may be dropped off during regular business hours at the library, 2803 Hunter Blvd., through Nov. 28. A list of most needed items is available at the library. Contact: 210-207-9103. American Legion Hall is available for rentals if you need a Southeast location for family or class reunions, baby showers or other celebrations. American Legion Post 375 is at 9608 S. Presa. Air and heat, kitchen, ample parking in back of building. For information, contact Richard Holloway, post commander, 210-260-7317. Mixed martial arts classes 6-8 p.m. Mondays, St. Michael Catholic Church hall, 418 Indiana St. Taught by Mike Ortiz, a mixed martial arts champion. Contact: 210-264-5291. Masonic Anchor Lodge 424 meets 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 700 Hot Wells Blvd. Bilingual Baby Time/La Hora del bebe bilingue 10:15-10:45 a.m. Wednesdays, Cortez Branch Library, 2803 Hunter Blvd. Rhythm, rhyme and repetition of songs and stories. El ritmo, la rima y la repeticion de las canciones y los cuentos. For babies up to 18 months with their caregivers. Para bebes recien nacido hasta 18 meses con sus cuidadores. 12-step recovery group for compulsive overeaters Noon-1 p.m. Thursdays, Cresholme Presbyterian Church, 1602 Goliad Road (inside small building behind church). Free. Contact: 210-977-8379. City Base Cancer Support Group 7 p.m. Thursdays, Brookhill Baptist Church, 631 Utopia Lane. Contact: Brenda Fox, 210-415-2830. Cortez Chess Club 3:30-5:30 p.m. Fridays, Cortez Branch Library, 2803 Hunter Blvd. For beginners and experts. Chess sets provided or bring your own. Free. Contact: 210-207-9130. Celebrate Recovery Fridays, Mayfield Park Church, 700 W. Hutchins Place. Free 12-step program for people struggling with hurts, hang-ups and habits. Meetings with meal 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Large group time 7:15 p.m.; smaller groups 8:15 p.m. Child care available. Contact: 210-923-2241. Monthly Adult Computer Classes 6-7 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays of month, Cortez Branch Library, 2803 Hunter Blvd. Classes cover computer and internet basics. Contact: Contact: 210-207-9130. Free clothes closet 9 a.m.-noon first Saturday of month, Brookhill Baptist Church, 631 Utopia Lane. Free clothing distributed. Contact: 210-333-4947. Trunk of Treasures 9 a.m.-2 p.m. first Saturday of month, St. Benedict Catholic Church, 4535 Lord Road. Cars with trunks open to sell garage-sale-type items line parking lot. $10 for parking slot to sell items; free admission to shop. Contact: 210-648-0123. Wednesday, Nov. 21 The C.I.O.C. Support Group asks that those interested in attending its annual Thanksgiving Dinner call 210-574-4401 today. The event for cancer patients, cancer survivors and their caregivers, is at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at St. Leo Catholic Church community center, 4502 Flores St. RSVP is required. Thursday, Nov. 22 All branches of the San Antonio Public Library will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. All branches will remain closed through Friday, Nov. 23, and resume regular business hours on Saturday, Nov. 24. Tuesday, Nov. 27 Fathers In Action 6 p.m. Pickett Family Center, 1931 E. Houston St. SAISD invites fathers and male guardians to become more engaged in their childrens education. This event provides brotherhood and mentoring to support men as they work hard to become better fathers and members of the community. Upcoming Rummage sale hosted by Knights of Columbus Council No. 7808 Dec. 1 at 6 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Leonards Church parking lot, 8510 S. Zarzamora. $10 per space; bring your own tables and chairs. Tacos, coffee and sodas will be sold. Contact: 210-924-6000. St. Leonards Altar Society Christmas Arts & Crafts Dec. 2 at 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 8510 S. Zarzamora St. Tables available to display items; $15 donation. Call 210-386-2075 for more information. Danza Matachines Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Hundreds of indigenous dancers converge on Mission Concepcion to pay tribute to the Virgin Mary in advance of two important feast days marking the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8 and Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. Procession at 2 p.m. moves from the mission grounds to Concepcion Park and the San Antonio River, then back to the church, where each group will dance before two portraits of Marian figures. Bring lawn chairs. Harlandale High School Class of 1969 plans its 50th reunion on Oct. 19, 2019, at Embassy Suites, Brooks City Base. Organizers are updating their address books. Contact: Frank Garza, figarza@satx.rr.com, or Ann Franz (Fisher), cdcfranz@yahoo.com with your information. Burbank High School Class of 1969 is planning its 50th class reunion for Oct. 19, 2019. Contact: Pearl (Reyes) Montez, 210-422-0761 (cell) or Helen (Martinez) Aguirre, 210-885-7302 (cell). Harlandale High School class of 1970 plans its 50th class reunion for October 2020. Details being finalized. Organizers seek classmates. Contact: Robert Ramirez, 210-496-7687; Jesus C. Vega (or Yolanda Vasquez-Vega), 210-383-0613. Compiled by Melissa Renteria Send details and a phone number to mrenteria@express-news.net. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday before publication. In hopes of gaining new leads, San Antonio police released two new images of a vehicle that was believed to be used by a gunman who shot five people, including a 6-year-old boy, at a Texas Roadhouse in February. The assailant, with a cloth covering his head, opened fire at a group of people waiting outside the restaurant at 2893 Cinema Ridge on Feb. 18, striking five of them. Photo: Contributed A different kind of Remembrance Day for dead and injured, and the multitude of others impacted, is almost upon us. The deaths and injuries can be brutal, and more Canadian lives have been taken than in both world wars combined. The goal is not to prevent another mass slaughter. The carnage is an ongoing and increasing one. Our best hope is to start stemming the tide. A World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was initiated by an organization called RoadPeace in 1993. Initiators conceived of a lofty goal: A day of respect by and toward all road users; a day on which exceptional care is taken by motorists; a day of courtesy at the wheel and a day when all road laws are respected so that a world day without any crashes resulting in injury or death will become a reality. The World Health Organization added its support in 2003. And in 2005, the United Nations provided international endorsement, encouraging governments around the world to commemorate the day. Canada stepped up in 2008, designating a National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims. In Kelowna, a Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims has been proclaimed annually since 2012. The seventh annual commemorative event will be held Wednesday, Nov.21, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Orchard Park mall parking lot, corner of Highway 97 and Dilworth Avenue. It will be cold and dark, but unless an emergency takes them away, we will have Kelowna firefighters providing the flood light support of Engine No. 1. And we will do our best to keep you warm with a shelter, propane fire, hot chocolate, coffee and Timbits. I have been arranging the annual event as part of my One Crash is Too Many road safety campaign. I agree that there is value in taking the time to reflect and remember the horrible personal toll that continues to be taken on our roadways. If we grasp the magnitude of the ongoing carnage, our minds will inevitably turn to how we might make things better. Because not one of us is immune. Each and every one of us, and those close to us, are in the line of fire every time we occupy our roadways. And that is not melodramatic. An average of 960 crashes occurred every single day in British Columbia in 2017. And the numbers are increasing. The more vulnerable we feel, the more motivated we will become to push our political leadership into action. Not politically expedient action that makes things worse instead of better, but bold steps to attack the root of our road safety disaster: Inattention. Crash numbers would plummet if drivers simply paid focused attention on the task at hand. But our political leaders are completely missing the boat on implementing obvious solutions. And when the road safety epidemic finally became a political issue, with soaring ICBC insurance premiums, the politically expedient answer was to strip away, instead of bolster, driver accountability by reducing the expense of crashes through stripping away the rights of crash victims. Many of us have been touched, some much harder than others, by a permanent crash injury or the loss of a loved one. Hideki Mimura is travelling from his home in Japan again this year to attend in memory of his daughter. Please consider joining us for the brief event on Wednesday evening. Please follow the link below to see our promotional video for this commemorative event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrrj77lPGZw&feature=share MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader Happymore Chidziva says President Emmerson Mnangagwas government will be making the biggest mistake by arresting party leader Nelson Chamisa over post-election violence in which the army allegedly shot and killed seven people. Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga told the commission of inquiry into the August 1 shootings on Tuesday last week that Chamisa was responsible for fanning the violence. Matanga added that police planned to arrest Chamisa soon because the evidence is there, the documents are there.he will be arrested. Military officials who testified before the commission, which is chaired by former South African President, Kgalema Motlanthe, sought to lay the blame for the shootings on the MDC Alliance. We hear that some State security officers are planning to arrest Chamisa. That is the biggest mistake they can ever make. Let me just warn the people with such a plan. The Constitution allows us to demonstrate against any wrong doing. Accordingly, we will exercise that right to ensure that we shut down Zimbabwe with peaceful protests in all the parts of the country, Chidziva said while addressing hundreds of youths at MDC party offices in Gweru, over the weekend. He said the Mnangagwa administration has treated Chamisa unfairly since the July 30 elections, and the partys youths were ready to defend their leader against further harassment. President Mnangagwa stole the election from Chamisa. After that, his State security agents lately have been trailing him with an aim to abduct. Then after that they say they now want to arrest him. No, that will not be allowed to happen. If they arrest Chamisa, he will not walk three steps handcuffed before the country is plunged into unrest, he said. The youth leader also announced that his membership has begun mobilising in preparation for protests against Mnangagwas illegitimacy and mismanagement of the economy. This year, there will be no Christmas. The Constitution allows us to have streets as our second home. That is where we will stay soon, protesting against Mnangagwa. This is now time to show our anger against this regime through peaceful demonstrations. Now is the time, Chidziva said. NewsDay Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News A female Police officer based in Chivhu has been dragged to court on allegations of adultery and she has been slapped with a $10 000 lawsuit. Kirsty Mushoriwa is accusing Nyasha Gweshe of having an affair with her husband Tinashe Mushoriwa for five years now. Mushoriwa works for the Ministry of Lands Agriculture and Rural Resettlement in Nyamapanda. Both women are being represented by lawyers and the matter which came to court on Friday is before Chivhu Magistrate Michelle Panavanhu. Kirsty who is represented by Ruvarashe Rusemwa of Nsingo and Associates says that Gweshe engaged in a sexual relationship with Mushoriwa when she was fully aware that he was still married to her and the marriage Chapter 5:11 between them was still valid. Kirsty said she talked to Gweshes superiors to intervene in the adulterous relationship but to no avail. The only thing that happened is that Gweshe was transferred from Nyamapanda to Chivhu. Gweshe, through her attorney, Albert Mhaka of Mhaka Attorneys dismissed the claims arguing that she discovered that Tinashe was married four months after she was pregnant with his child. She said that she was customarily married to Mushoriwa who paid bride price for her. She said that there was no longer a love relationship between Mushoriwa and Kirsty since the former had filed an application of divorce at the High Court although the matter had not yet been finalised. Gweshe also argued that Kirsty had filed the damage claim out of malice after a Murambinda magistrate recently granted a downward variation of spousal maintenance she was getting from Mushoriwa. I first met Kirsty in court some four months after I had got married to Tinashe when she had filed a peace order application against me. She however had never confronted me about her husband earlier because she knew very well that there was no longer affection between them, said Gweshe. Rusemwa however insisted that the customary marriage between Gweshe and Mushoriwa could not override the dictates of the Chapter 5:11 marriage between her client and Tinashe. You should have left the man you are having an adulterous affair with as soon as you discovered that he was married to the applicant. My client has lost trust, love and companionship because of the extra marital affair he is having with you, said Rusemwa. Gweshe confirmed that she had a child in the alleged adulterous relationship. The matter was postponed to November 15 2018 Mirror Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Industry and Commerce minister Mangaliso Ndlovu yesterday met with manufacturers and retailers in a heated closed door meeting, with the minister emphasising the need to bring sanity to the pricing regime. The tense meeting that lasted nearly three hours did not yield much positive results, with stakeholders reportedly clashing in angry scenes. Manufacturers vowed that as long as government does not address fundamentals that include the availability of foreign currency and distorted exchange rates, the pricing situation will not change. Ndlovu indicated in the presence of the media that government was concerned over the price increases, which he claimed were unjustified. It is important to note that government is cognisant of the upward pressure on prices. It is therefore important that we look into the issue holistically so that we bring sanity in our pricing. We are not going to allow this to continue; we need to be responsible. We need to ensure that our consumers are not left worse off, he said. Ndlovu said the prices of most goods were now beyond the reach of many, and alleged some retailers, especially pharmacies, have seen this as an opportunity to charge in US dollars. He said government will continue to support the productive sector with foreign currency allocations to ensure adequate stocks for the festive season and further. Reporters were then asked to leave. In an interview with the Daily News after the closed door meeting, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director Rosemary Siyachitema, said: Its very difficult to talk about why prices are high if fundamentals are not corrected. The issue of RTGS distortions; availability of foreign currency, how much of it is available in the pocket and who is getting it, all need to be addressed. Siyachitema said government price controls will not work at this stage. Busisa Moyo, the chief executive officer at United Refineries Limited said: If there is no certainty, people will do a lot of rent-seeking and we will have a viral of problems. The situation we have is not new, for example, cooking oil production has been operating at 30 to 40 percent since January. An industrialist who chose anonymity told the Daily News that some members of the business community had used the introduction of new economic reforms by the Finance minister Mthuli Ncube as an opportunity to increase prices. These price increases have not come overnight; the three-tire pricing is not new, it has been there since 2016 and the increases have been systematic. There was pressure already by the manufacturers to increases prices; they saw the reforms as an opportunity to increase prices, he said. DailuNews Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News In Brazil, termites have built a sprawling megacity the size of Britain SCMP Lightning striking the Grand Canyon and a magical dive into an abyss: The stunning winners of the panoramic photography awards revealed Daily Mail. Some stunning shots. Quebec literary prize on hold after Amazon sponsorship controversy Montreal Gazette Its World Toilet Day, and there is a new standard defining what a toilet should do. Treehugger. Posting this a day late. Will shrinking aeroplane toilets stop fat people flying? Guardian Researchers hope a robo-nose could give K-9 officers a break Phys.org California Burning Is a New Toxic Danger Threatening California? Capital & Main Syraqistan American Politics Could Use More Conflict Jacobin. Absolutely! Must read. How Congress Can Take Back Foreign Policy Foreign Affairs. From the Council on Foreign Relations house organ. Making American Foreign Policy Unexceptional American Conservative Brexit 2018 Post Mortem Legal Blue Wave? New Democratic AGs Could Change the Face of Climate Fight Climate Liability News. Dont underestimate the power of state AGs they brought us the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. Big Brother IS Watching You Watch Facial Recognitions Growing Adoption Spurs Privacy Concerns WSJ India Japan Democrats in Disarray Sixteen dissident Democrats vow to oppose Pelosi as next speaker WaPo Set Up to Fail? How High Schools Arent Preparing Kids for College Governing Hungry to Learn Chronicle of Higher Education. More on the struggles many college students face. Class Warfare Facebook Fracas Zuckerberg blamed Sandberg for Cambridge Analytica fallout: report The Hill. I link to this account for those readers without access to the WSJ. For those that do, heres the original WSJ story.With Facebook at War, Zuckerberg Adopts More Aggressive Style. Health Care Our Famously Free Press White House correspondents ditch comedians, ask biographer to speak at annual dinner Politico Does this spell curtains for the nerd prom? Trump Transition Antidote du Jour: See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed unprecedented levels of cooperation between the EU and NATO ahead of a meeting with the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Tuesday (20 November 2018). The Secretary General noted that stronger European defence can contribute to fairer burden-sharing within NATO, but stressed the need for complementarity between NATO and EU efforts. NATO remains the bedrock for European security, he said. Mr. Stoltenberg added that he will also discuss the INF Treaty with EU ministers. We should all call on Russia to ensure full and transparent compliance with the INF Treaty because we dont want a new arms race and the INF Treaty has been important for our security for decades, he underlined. Read NATO Secretary General's doorstep statement here. Photo: Thinkstock.com FortisBC has agreed to fully fund a Community Energy Specialist with the City of Kelowna for the next two years. The commitment was made following the success of a similar one-year pilot project between the utility and the city. "During the pilot, the community energy specialist we had researched, developed and engaged on the Energy Step Code, proposed the development of Kelowna's Community Climate Action Plan, co-ordinated with staff and FortisBC on electric vehicle charging infrastructure grants for three locations, and also promoted conservation and energy efficient programs," said sustainability co-ordinator Tracy Guidi. Guidi told council Monday the opportunity afforded the city is unique in that Fortis typically only funds such positions up to 50 per cent of the salary to a maximum of $50,000 annually. She says the city must sign a contract with Fortis and have the position filled by the end of the year to take advantage of the offer. "Over the next two years, we will work with Fortis to develop a workplan for the position, and it will focus on a variety of activities to help reduce energy consumption, and consequently greenhouse gas emissions in our community." Guidi said the workplan will include reducing energy use in city-owned buildings, continuing the work on an Energy Step Code, developing a community retrofit strategy and reducing energy use in transportation. Coun. Gail Given says the city is fortunate Fortis is offering to fully fund the position. "It's quite exceptional, and really does speak to the relationship building that's gone on between Fortis and city staff, and the work that's been done on climate action. We are all going in the same direction," said Given. "Zero hit to taxpayers and yet all the benefits to taxpayers. You can't not like that." On Wednesday 21 November 2018, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, H.E. Ms. Karin Kneissl at NATO Headquarters. There will be no media opportunity. Photos of the meeting will be available on the NATO website after the event. Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg) (As delivered) Good morning, Im really looking forward to meet the EU Defence Ministers, and in a few weeks, in the beginning of December, High Representative Federica Mogherini will attend the NATO Foreign Ministerial meeting, and I think this just reflects the unprecedented level of close cooperation between NATO and the EU. We work together in areas such as cyber, hybrid and maritime, and also exercises. Just now we are exercising side by side, so I really welcome that NATO and EU are able to work more closely together than we have done ever before. When I meet the EU Defence Ministers now, I expect us also to discuss the issue of European defence. I have welcomed EU efforts on defence many times, because I believe that projects such as military mobility, European Defence Fund, PESCO, all of that can contribute to fairer burden-sharing within NATO. It can complement NATO and it can also help to develop new NATO capabilities and also address the fragmentation of the European defence market. So this is something I have welcomed many many times. But I have been equally clear about the fact that EU efforts must not compete with NATO, must not duplicate NATO, because NATO remains the bedrock for European security. We have to remember that after Brexit 80% of NATOs defence expenditure will come from non-EU NATO Allies. And 3 of the four battlegroups we have deployed in the eastern part of the Alliance, in the Baltics countries and Poland will be led by non-EU Allies. And also geography matters. Norway in the North, and Turkey in the South, and Canada, USA and UK in the West are important for European security. So geography and money, these are facts which we cannot ignore. I will also raise with the EU ministers one challenge we all face and that is the new Russian missiles which are putting the INF Treaty in jeopardy. Russia has developed, tested and also fielded new missiles, SSC-8, for years. These missiles are mobile, hard to detect, nuclear capable and they are putting the INF Treaty in jeopardy. The US is in full compliance with the INF Treaty, there are no new US missiles in Europe, but there are new Russian missiles in Europe, and therefore we should all call on Russia to ensure full and transparent compliance with the INF Treaty because we dont want a new arms race and the INF Treaty has been important for our security for decades. Q: (ZDF) - Does Europe really need a European Army? NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: What Europe needs is more investment in defence, stronger capabilities, and we also need fairer burden sharing within the Alliance. And therefore I welcome EU efforts on defence, as for instance the European Defence Fund, military mobility or PESCO. Because I believe that can improve burden-sharing within NATO, it can provide new European capabilities. But this should never compete with NATO, it should complement NATO and thereby strengthen NATO by strengthening the European contributions to our shared security and collective defence. (Natural News) A New Jersey couple that started a GoFundMe page to raise money for an alleged homeless man is facing criminal charges as is the homeless man after it was revealed that the entire thing was fake, and completely made-up to steal peoples hard-earned cash. Mark DAmico and Kate McClure, the couple in question, as well as fake homeless man Johnny Bobbitt, are all being charged with conspiracy and theft by deception, among other charges, for misleading members of the public into contributing upwards of $400,000 to help Bobbitt get off the streets. DAmico and McClure both turned themselves in to local authorities after prosecutors said that they intentionally prevented people who donated to their GoFundMe page from accessing relevant information that would affect their judgment about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort. According to reports, the couple claimed last year that Bobbitt gave his last $20 to McClure to help her buy fuel after she allegedly ran out on Interstate 95 near Philadelphia. They then started a GoFundMe page to supposedly raise money for Bobbitt, which quickly garnered plenty of attention from the public. But the nearly half-a-million dollars that was raised through the page quickly disappeared, and questionable purchases were made, including a BMW vehicle that was recently seized from DAmico and McClures home. McClure and DAmico gave him (Bobbitt) around $75,000 as well as the vehicle and the camper, but [we] have since learned that the rest of the money is gone, stated Bobbitts lawyer. In rebuttal, McClure and DAmicos lawyer stated that the couple spent around $200,000 on behalf of Bobbitt, buying him a used vehicle and a trailer and giving him thousands in cash, which the couple says he quickly spent on drugs and gave away to family members. For more news like this, check out Faked.news. GoFundMe awards portion of remaining funds to Bobbitt after theft by DAmico and McClure So its basically been an ongoing, back-and-forth fight within this group of fraudsters, even as the public has been made fully aware of the nature of this highly-deceptive scheme, which was meant to play at the heartstrings of compassionate people who probably never imagined that their donations would be going to thieves. As youre probably well-aware, the homeless schtick is nothing new and neither is the use and abuse of actual homeless people as pawns by crooks. As you may recall, criminal gangs in Japan actually recruited homeless people to work in dangerous radiation zones, preying on them as cheap and easy labor. In this case, a man apparently pretended to be homeless, and so did his friends, to raise loads of easy cash for themselves so they could live the high life. And now its coming back to bite them in a major way. We saw the pattern that was developing, DAmico tried to argue in his own defense, claiming that Bobbitt is a drug addict who misused the funds that he and his partner raised through GoFundMe. Meanwhile, GoFundMe is attempting to do the right thing by apportioning out an appropriate amount of the money that remains to Bobbitt in order to ensure that he receives an amount equal to the balance of the funds he did not get from the online fund-raiser set up for him in November. As for what will become of Bobbitt as this case unfolds, local news reports stated that they could not confirm whether or not Bobbitt turned himself in as well. For more news about criminals betraying the trust of good-hearted people, be sure to check out Twisted.news. You can also find more similar news at Hoax.news. Sources for this article include: DailyWire.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Anxiety is one of the symptoms of crack cocaine withdrawal. One effective way to reduce this symptom is through inhaling the aroma of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) essential oil. A study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine revealed that bitter orange can help reduce anxiety in patients suffering from crack cocaine withdrawal. In the study, researchers from the Federal University of Paraiba in Paraiba, Brazil aimed to assess whether the essential oil of bitter orange can reduce the anxiety of patients experiencing crack withdrawal. For this study, they recruited 51 participants, who were then divided into three groups according to the treatment. One group consisted of non-cocaine users who served as the control group; another group was composed of non-cocaine users who received the placebo treatment; while the last group consisted of patients suffering from crack cocaine withdrawal and received the bitter orange treatment. The essential oil of bitter orange was administered through nebulization. The researchers induced the participants anxiety through simulated public speaking. Then, they measured the anxiety levels of the participants at specific phases during the experiment. The results revealed that crack cocaine withdrawal can cause high anxiety levels, but the administration of bitter orange essential oil effectively managed the anxiety of these patients. In addition, participants who used the essential oil of bitter orange retained levels of discomfort and cognitive impairment during the simulated public speaking task. From the findings, the researchers concluded that the essential oil of bitter orange can be used to reduce or manage the anxiety of patients suffering from crack cocaine withdrawal. More on crack withdrawal A person addicted to crack cocaine has developed a physical dependence on it. Once a cocaine addict suddenly quits using this drug, inevitable withdrawal symptoms will occur. Withdrawal from crack cocaine, a more concentrated form of powder cocaine, can result in more intense withdrawal symptoms. Using crack cocaine causes changes in the brain and nervous system. A crack cocaine addict who stops using it will go through an adjustment period, in which his body needs to relearn how to function without crack cocaine in their system. (Related: 5 Common Effects of Drug Addiction.) Crack withdrawal affects both the physical and psychological well-being of the former user. During withdrawal, the former user will frequently experience many symptoms. The physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal will vary depending on various individual factors, such as the users tolerance, metabolism, and length of addiction. There are two phases of withdrawal: acute withdrawal and protracted withdrawal or post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS). Acute withdrawal refers to the immediate symptoms, while PAWS refers to the extended psychological symptoms that may only manifest weeks or months after quitting crack cocaine use. Common acute withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, exhaustion, unpleasant dreams, problems concentrating, irritability, and mood changes. On the other hand, PAWS may include depression, anxiety, agitation or shaking, cravings, sleep problems, lack of motivation, inability to feel pleasure, and anger or emotional outbursts. So how long does crack cocaine withdrawal symptoms last? It depends on every user and various factors, such as the users body chemistry, tolerance, and the severity and duration of the addiction. Withdrawal can start anytime from an hour to 72 hours after the last crack cocaine dose. Physical symptoms of crack withdrawal can typically last from one to three months, while some can last for as long as six months. Still, there is no exact timeframe for how long symptoms will last. In the first week of crack cocaine withdrawal, the former user has generally recovered from the serious physical symptoms. Some may feel as if they have been cured and unintentionally let their guard down, which makes them more susceptible to relapse. This is why it is important to have a support system and be in a rehabilitation center to prevent future cravings and relapse during the withdrawal process. Read more news stories and studies on cocaine addiction by going to Addiction.news. Sources include: Science.news AddictionCenter.com (Natural News) After two years of lab science research, investment and training, Im thrilled to report that we have achieved validated glyphosate testing in our in-house lab, and we are now in the process of certifying all Health Ranger brand products as Glyphosate Tested with glyphosate residues achieving non-detected status. We are able to determine this using complex chemistry and a triple quad mass spec instrument (LC-MS-MS) that required an investment of about half a million dollars and two years of studying analytical chemistry and instrumentation operations. Soon, everything you buy at the Health Ranger Store thats an in-house brand will be certified glyphosate tested. This is in addition to the heavy metals testing, microbiology testing and other tests we routinely conduct to achieve our reputation as providers of the cleanest foods, superfoods and supplements in the world. Shop at HealthRangerStore.com to take advantage of our lab-tested products, now featuring over 700 different solutions for health, green living, personal care, superfoods, pet care and more. Look for the Glyphosate Tested logo to start appearing on Health Ranger products: See the full video announcement here: Brighteon.com/5969477880001 Watch the full video announcement for a full explanation of the lab science behind glyphosate testing In case youre curious how lab testing works, Ive posted two videos here that provide a detailed tour of our lab instruments and testing process. One of the videos below has already been derided as a geek fest of pure geekdom, so prepare for some technical jargon. But I wanted to communicate what were doing to both consumers and scientists alike. What we have achieved in glyphosate quantitation is considered extraordinary by nearly all analytical scientists. The clean chromatography we produce is almost unheard of for glyphosate, which is widely considered to be the single most challenging chemical compound in all of agriculture. Normally, glyphosate produces extreme tailing while bleeding off the column spanning several minutes. Weve managed to reduce the peak width to about 0.6 minutes, which is still wide compared to other compounds, but its fantastic for glyphosate. See a screen shot of a typical peak were producing from glyphosate standards. This peak shows the area response for a concentration of 80 ng/mL: If youre curious about the sensitivity of our detection, we have determined that our Limit of Detection (LoD) is below 1 ppb. Its actually closer to 500 parts per trillion, or 0.5 pg/ml. We may be able to get even more sensitivity with further tweaking of our chemistry. Our Limit of Quantitation (LoQ) is currently between 1 ppb and 2 ppb (1 ng/ml and 2 ng/ml). This means we can accurately quantitate glyphosate contamination in food samples at 1-2 ppb. With further refining of our method, we expect to get this even lower, to around 0.5 ppb, or 0.5 ng/ml. All Health Ranger Store raw materials and finished products are in the process of being tested for glyphosate right now We have already completed glyphosate testing for over two dozen popular products offered through HealthRangerStore.com, and we have confirmed zero detectable glyphosate in all of those products. This shouldnt be surprising, since we purchase almost exclusively organic, non-GMO raw materials, yet its comforting to know that glyphosate is being independently tested and confirmed to be non-detectable, even at around 1 ppb sensitivity. Over the next several weeks, youll see us rolling out Glyphosate Tested icons across the Health Ranger Store, indicating which products have completed glyphosate testing. In time, this testing will be expanded to nearly every product under our brand, with a few exceptions that dont require glyphosate testing such as Himalayan Salt, for example. Note that many non-GMO agricultural products are routinely sprayed with glyphosate, including wheat, oats, barley, rye and all sorts of grains. Glyphosate has become the No. 1 most common pollutant in the food supply, and a California court case recently ruled that glyphosate causes deadly cancer. Monsanto (now Bayer) is currently facing over 8,000 lawsuits that claim its glyphosate product Roundup caused cancer, yet there are very few labs that have mastered the quantitation of glyphosate due to the extreme complexity of the molecule (and the bizarre chemistry required to analyze it). I have been told by numerous scientists that glyphosate is the single most difficult pesticide chemical to try to analyze. (Scientists often refer to herbicides, pesticides and fungicides as belonging to the same general group: pesticides.) Health Ranger Store is the worlds first online retailer with an in-house lab that tests everything for glyphosate With this announcement and supported by your ongoing trust in our clean foods product line and lab testing the Health Ranger Store becomes the first online retailer in the world to test its own brand for glyphosate using in-house laboratory testing. Its yet another first in the realm of clean food, and it underscores our commitment to bringing you the cleanest, most intensely scrutinized food and superfood products in the world. As you shop at the Health Ranger Store, youll come to appreciate the fact that we test nearly everything for heavy metals, microbiology, glyphosate and soon an increasing list of pesticides as well. Nobody in the world subjects their products to this level of scrutiny, and no one has the strict cleanliness requirements that we impose on ourselves. Heres the full video where I explain how mass spectrometry works. Put on your thinking cap for this one, because its a rigorous scientific explanation of how analytical labs operate: Brighteon.com/5969242937001 (Natural News) Caring for the environment and being good stewards of our many natural blessings is much different than worshiping the environment and demanding, under threat of force, that everyone adopt strict, and often totalitarian, environmentalist doctrines. The former is how we conserve and preserve our world for both ourselves and future generations, while the latter embodies something that Adolph Hitler actually perpetuated as part of his Nazi agenda for the world. In his book, The Green Swastika: Environmentalism in the Third Reich, author William Kay offers a detailed historical account of the German environmentalist movement under Hitler, comparing it to the far-left environmentalist movements of today. Believe it or not, many of todays so-called anti-fascists are actually embracing the very same dogma as the worlds most well-known fascist and they dont even realize it. Hitler hated free-market capitalism and other conservative ideas In five short chapters, Kay outlines how the fanatical activism of todays green movement mirrors that perpetuated by Hitler in Nazi Germany. Not only that, but many people misunderstand what Hitler was even trying to do with Naziism as a whole, erroneously claiming that he was simply out to get Jews and restore nationalism, which couldnt be further from the truth, according to Kay. Anti-Semitism was neither Hitlers foundation nor principal intent, he writes. His driving passions were anti-Marxism; Social Darwinism; and most fundamentally, anti-liberalism. Jews were scapegoats. The real enemy was free-market capitalism. Hitler was opposed to true, or classical, liberalism, which in todays terminology would be most closely aligned with conservatism. In other words, Hitler was a modern-day liberal who sought to silence those who promoted ideas like free-market capitalism and free speech which means he would have been welcomed with open arms by Antifa and other radicalized leftist groups in todays world. There were plenty of German capitalists and German liberals, but rather than confront these people head-on, Hitler racialized his anti-liberalism. The epicentre of his animosity was modern civilization, adds Kay. He attacked modernity through the Jews. Hitlers Judeo-Bolshevik myth is well-acknowledged, but his Judeo-liberal myth is avoided. Hitler privately bashed Christianity, praised godless Darwinism Hitlers environmentalist leanings were largely inspired by a pseudoscientist known as Ernst Haeckel, considered to be the founder of ecology. Though he publicly cited biblical principles that would seem to contradict those propagated by Haeckel, a Darwinist, Hitler quietly embraced them as well, which was the impetus behind what would become his radical environmentalist leanings. Both Haeckel and Hitler defined science as the unwrapping of Natures laws. Both sacralized Nature, Kay explains in his book. Neither acknowledged a gap between organic and inorganic realms. Both elevated evolution to a religion. Both bemoaned Mans violation of Natural Law and considered Christianity to be the chief culprit. Speaking of Christianity, this is another common misnomer in how people view Hitler. While it would seem that his doctrines included those also embodied by Christians, Kay says Hitler was a private atheist who, when he wasnt speaking publicly, would bash true Christianity and the people who claimed it as typifying their faith. Like Haeckel, Hitler believed that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier. He also believe that the Churchs preaching against Haeckels Natural Law doctrines were responsible for the destruction both of Imperial Rome, and the downfall of Germany that prompted Hitlers rise to power. Hitler actually referred to Christianity as the invention of sick brains, and mocked the idea that anyone would believe in a trinity, or Godhead, embodying the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit three in one. Being a militant vegetarian, Hitler also despised Christianity for not sharing his same convictions about animal rights sound familiar? Be sure to check out the contents of William Kays book, The Green Swastika: Environmentalism in the Third Reich, and purchase it for yourself and your loved ones this Christmas at this link. To learn more about how Hitlers environmentalist extremism is still being propagated by leftists in todays world, check out Agenda21.news. Also read RealHistory.news for the real history that isnt being taught by the propaganda news networks. Sources for this article include: Principia-Scientific.org NaturalNews.com Model and author Chrissy Teigen is no stranger to odd cosmetic procedures, but she has really surprised followers with an eyebrow... The next time you ride a bus in the East Bay, you might notice a few subtle yet significant changes. AC Transit is currently testing out protective shields and surveillance monitors as part of a new campaign to help keep drivers and passengers safe. The new safety measures follow an NBC Bay Area investigation that found a rise in the number of assaults reported by bus operators. NEW AC TRANSIT SAFETY MEASURES Investigate every assault incident to identify triggers that prompt assaults and provide a summary report Review incident heat charts to find lines with problems Test plexiglass shields on buses for certain routes Train drivers to de-escalate confrontations with customers Test video monitors that show passengers they are being recorded Ad campaign on all buses promoting safety Re-assign law enforcement staffing to increase patrols on high-crime routes. LONG OVERDUE Veteran driver Eric Braziel told NBC Bay Area that he welcomes the safety upgrades, but questions why it took so long for AC Transit to address the problem. A former shop steward with 24 years of experience behind the wheel, Braziel said he took countless reports from colleagues who suffered attacks on the job. [Ive seen] people getting slapped, hit, nose broken, all different types of things, and I believe that up until now, management should have been more in touch with us as humans first instead of professional drivers, Braziel said. You had wives, mothers, grandmothers, whose children didnt want them to come back to work because they were fearing for their lives. DRIVER ASSAULTS PUT EVERYONE IN DANGER Operator assaults create a safety problem not only for bus drivers, but passengers and motorists as well. Earlier this month, police in Chongqing, China, released surveillance video showing a driver lose control of his bus after a passenger started beating him with her cellphone. The bus plummeted off a bridge, killing all 15 people on board. TRACKING ASSAULTS AGAINST DRIVERS Earlier this year, the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit reviewed hours of surveillance footage and found a rise in the number of assaults reported by AC Transit bus operators. NBC Bay Areas findings seemed to contradict claims from district management that assaults against operators were on the decline. In July, Executive Director of Safety Steve Keller acknowledged NBC Bay Areas findings at a monthly board meeting and announced plans to improve security. Theres been an increase in operator complaints of physical altercations and assault while performing the duties of bus operator, Keller said. Staff reviewed every reported incident and identified the routes that represent a need for mitigation. But its a slow ride to safety. District spokesman Robert Lyles told NBC Bay Area there are two buses currently outfitted with test shields, and the district is in the process of surveying their effectiveness. ASSAULT AND ARREST In the meantime, AC Transit is now working with Alameda County Sheriffs deputies to increase patrols on routes with the most complaints to improve their ability to respond and arrest anyone who assaults a driver. If we know ahead of time the areas, the times and locations that a lot of these type of crimes occur, we try to keep people in those very populated areas, Alameda County Sheriffs Captain Mark Flores told NBC Bay Area. Capt. Flores handles the security contract for AC Transit. Records provided by his agency show that between 2014 and June 2018, deputies received 274 reports of assaults from AC Transit drivers, ranging from drivers being spat on, all the way to battery that resulted in serious injuries. Deputies made arrests in 24 percent of the cases (67 arrests). I wish they were 100 percent, Flores said. He explained the reasons for the low arrest rate, citing the challenges of tracking down attackers on a mobile bus route who often disappear before police arrive. Flores said sometimes drivers dont want to press charges. A battery is a misdemeanor. If it's not committed in the presence of a deputy sheriff, which a lot of times these aren't, it's incumbent upon the person being assaulted to file that complaint and say, 'Yes I want to press charges,' and then we would submit that to the district attorney. Sometimes bus operators or the people don't want to go through that, and they just want to move on and they don't file a complaint, they don't move forward, Flores said. While many of the changes have yet to be fully implemented, Braziel believes AC Transit is on the right road. I honestly believe that they're making an honest effort after knowing. Sometimes the hardest thing is to know, Braziel said. If you have a tip for Vicky Nguyen about this or any other story, you can email her directly at vicky@nbcbayarea.com or you can email theunit@nbcbayarea.com or call 888-996-TIPS. Follow Vicky Nguyen on Twitter www.twitter.com/VickyNguyenTV and Facebookwww.facebook.com/VickyNguyenTV Click here to submit tips online Thought the skies in New York City seemed puzzlingly hazy Monday afternoon? That was all the smoke blowing east from the California wildfires. New Jersey-based Gary Szatkowski pointed out the smoke descending on the East Coast Monday, tweeting a map from NOAA showing the direction of the plumes traveling 3,000 miles across the U.S. So if you thought it was just a bit hazy this afternoon, we have a California fire smoke plume moving through. pic.twitter.com/PsYNlAWrgA Gary Szatkowski (@GarySzatkowski) November 19, 2018 The smoke isn't expected to cause any health problems for people in this area. Senior meteorologist Tom Kines told the Journal News last week, "The smoke is so high up in the atmosphere. It's kind of diluted anyway as it heads eastward." The smoke could also make sunsets here more pronounced, he said. Wow. I knew tonights sunset over New York City seemed different, and I shouldve realized! Wildfire smoke is in the air, all the way from California. Observation and map via @GarySzatkowski + my photo along the Hudson River. #NYwx pic.twitter.com/8OHxx6QNsw Kathryn Prociv (@KathrynProciv) November 19, 2018 The northern California wildfire has killed at least 77 people in the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century, and destroyed more than 10,500 homes. About 1,000 names remain on a list of people unaccounted for more than a week after the fire began in Butte County, about 140 miles north of San Francisco. [NATL-LA GALLERY UPDATED 10/28] Smoke and Fire From Space: Wildfire Images From NASA Satellites What to Know The Camp Fire in Butte County has scorched 151,373 acres and is 70 percent contained as of Tuesday morning The death toll rose to 79 Monday, while around 700 people remain unaccounted for Nearly 13,000 homes have been destroyed by the blaze It's been 12 days since Christina Taft started the frantic search for her mother Victoria, who refused to evacuate their Paradise home as flames neared, and six days since she gave authorities a cheek swab to identify remains that are likely her mother's. She still hasn't received confirmation that her mother is dead, and says she's been frustrated by what she feels is a lack of communication from Butte County officials. "They said they found remains, they didn't say her remains. They won't confirm it to me the whole time," Taft said Monday. With 81 people killed in the nation's deadliest wildfire in at least a century, there are still over 800 names on the list of those unaccounted for. While it's down from nearly 1,000 the day before, it is inexact, progress has been slow, and the many days of uncertainty are adding to the stress. CLICK HERE TO FIND THE MISSING PERSONS LIST More than a dozen people are marked as "unknowns," without first or last names. In some cases, names are listed twice or more times under different spellings. Others are confirmed dead, and their names simply haven't been taken off yet. Survivors and relatives of those caught in the fire in Northern California are using social media to get the word out: In some cases, to post that their loved ones were safe; in others, to plead for help. "Aunt Dorothy is still missing. There has been confusion going on at the Sheriffs office regarding her whereabouts because she was taken off the list," a man wrote on Facebook on Monday. "I have an uncle and two cousins that I have not been able to make contact with," one woman wrote on Facebook, with their names. "Any info would be appreciated." Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has said he released the rough and incomplete list in hopes that people would contact authorities to say they are OK. He has called it "raw data" compiled from phone calls, emails and other reports. "We put the list out. It will fluctuate. It will go up. It will go down because this is in a state of flux," Honea said Monday. "My view on this has been that I would prefer to get the information out and start working to find who is unaccounted for and who is not. I would put progress over perfection." Officials have also culled reports from the earliest hours of the disaster, when fire knocked out mobile phone communications and thousands fled, some to safe shelter that was hundreds of miles away. Honea said his office was working with the Red Cross to account for people entering and leaving shelters. Evacuees are also helping authorities narrow the list, sometimes by chance. Robert James Miles, who lost his Paradise trailer in the blaze, was staying at a shelter in Chico where people posted names of those they hadn't heard from. Miles said he alerted a Red Cross worker Saturday that he recognized eight names on the board as friends he knew were OK. "Two of them were in the shelter," he said with a chuckle. Owen and Phyllis Suihkonen understand the chaos. Their family is scattered after they lost their home to the wildfire, as did their two adult children. Phyllis Suihkonen, 69, says she spotted the names of two friends on the list of unaccounted people, and doesn't know if they are safe. But her daughter has seen names of friends who are OK and called sheriff's officials to let them know. "I'm concerned," Phyllis said. "But like I said, there's been other friends' names on the list that have been accounted for and taken off." Meanwhile, those searching for bodies were in a race against the weather, as rain was forecast for Wednesday. The precipitation could help knock out the flames, but it could also hinder the search by washing away fragmentary remains and turning ash into a thick paste. The fire, which burned at least 236 square miles and destroyed nearly 12,000 homes, was 75 percent contained on Tuesday. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco's cable cars, the Oakland Zoo and other San Francisco Bay Area area attractions were closed Monday because of smoke from the blaze some 140 miles away. Several San Francisco museums over the weekend offered free admission to give people something to do indoors. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said it is "way too early" to estimate the damage done by the wildfire. But for perspective, he said the Northern California fires that gutted 6,800 homes last year resulted in $12.6 billion in insured losses. "It's going to be a long and painful process," he said. Har reported from San Francisco. Associated Press journalists Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California, and Paul Elias and Jocelyn Gecker in San Francisco also contributed to this report. CLICK HERE TO FIND THE MISSING PERSONS LIST A gas leak has prompted mandatory evacuations Monday afternoon in Novato, police say. Updates to come. Here's the Nixle alert police released: We are asking residents of Somerset Drive, Somerset Place and Hampshire Way to evacuate your residence and exit your street via the 7th Street Fire Road. This area is expected to be closed for at least 2-3 hours while crews work to contain the gas leak. PG&E and Novato Fire are at the site working to contain the leak. If you need assistance with evacuating your residence, please call 911. This evacuation is a precautionary measure due to the proximity of the homes to the leak. We will provide updates as available. The roadway of San Marin Drive from Redwood Blvd. to Simmons Lane remains closed. Novato Fire personnel will be staged at 1703 Grant Avenue to provide more information for evacuated residents. The San Jose Sharks and the Sharks Foundation on Monday announced plans to help victims of the Camp Fire in Butte County. The Sharks Foundation will dedicate proceeds from its 50/50 Raffle during games on Dec. 5 and Dec. 10, according to a news release. Those funds will go directly to the Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross to aid local community members affected by the fire. The Sharks Foundation also will accept cash donations at its booth outside Section 118 on the SAP Center concourse through December, the team said. Fans may also make credit card donations via PayPal at www.sjsharks.com/donations. The Sharks also will donate $2 from each admission to public skating sessions at all three of the organization's public ice facilities: Solar4America Ice locations in San Jose and Fremont and Oakland Ice Center in Oakland. Those funds will go directly to the California Fire Foundation, which provides assistance to victims of natural disaster, including firefighters, year-round, the team said. Funds from the ice facilities have been collected since Nov. 15 and will continue through Nov. 21. One of Miami's infamous "cocaine cowboys" has been deported from the United States following his release from prison last year, authorities said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials confirmed Monday that Augusto "Willie" Falcon was removed from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic on Nov. 6. "He was notorious," said Chief Nelson Andreu, a former homicide detective with the city of Miami who investigated a series of murders involving the "cocaine cowboys." Andreu said he was surprised Falcon ended up in the Dominican Republic instead of his native Cuba. "Never in my wildest dreams would I think that hed be deported to the Dominican Republic," he said. "Its a vacation place. People go there, I've been there on vacation. And I suspect, I dont know, but I suspect that there are still assets that he has squandered away somewhere." Falcon took a plea deal in 2003 and was sentenced to 20 years behind bars but was released from federal prison last year and immediately taken into ICE custody. "I think it is a chapter closed. Is the book finished? I dont know, because who knows what could develop, and something may develop out of this in the DR with Willies return," Andreu said. Willie Falcon, his brother Gustavo, Salvador "Sal" Magluta and others were originally charged in a 1991 indictment that claimed they were involved in a major cocaine smuggling operation in the 1980s. The gang purportedly smuggled at least 75 tons of cocaine into the U.S., earning some $2 billion during the hyper-violent "Miami Vice" era. Gustavo Falcon vanished after the indictment and spent some 26 years on the lam before he was arrested by U.S. marshals in April 2017 near Orlando, where he lived under the fake name Luis Reiss with his wife. Investigators tracked down Falcon after the false name surfaced in a 2013 car accident near Kissimmee, Florida, and was linked to a house in Hialeah, Florida, once owned by Falcon. Gustavo Falcon was sentenced to 11 years in prison last year. Augusto Falcon and Magluta were acquitted at a 1996 trial, but it turned out that the pair had bought off witnesses and at least one member of the jury, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison after admitting taking a $400,000 bribe. Magluta was tried a second time and convicted of drug-related money laundering in 2002, receiving a 205-year prison sentence later cut down to 195 years. Health officials in the U.S. and Canada told people on Tuesday to stop eating romaine lettuce because of a new E. coli outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it is working with officials in Canada on the outbreak, which has sickened 32 people in 11 states and 18 people in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The strain identified is different than the one linked to romaine earlier this year but appears similar to last year's outbreak linked to leafy greens. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency doesn't have enough information to ask suppliers for a recall, but he suggested that supermarkets and restaurants should withdraw romaine until the source of the contamination can be identified. People are also being advised to throw out any romaine they have at home. The contaminated lettuce is likely still on the market, Gottlieb told The Associated Press in a phone interview. He said FDA wanted to issue a warning before people gathered for Thanksgiving meals, where the potential for exposure could increase. "We did feel some pressure to draw conclusions as quickly as we could," he said. In Canada, officials issued similar warnings to the two provinces where people were sickened. They said there was no evidence to suggest people in other parts of the country had been affected. Most romaine sold this time of year is grown in California, Gottlieb said. The romaine lettuce linked to the E. coli outbreak earlier this year was from Yuma, Arizona. Tainted irrigation water appeared to be the source of that outbreak, which sickened about 200 people and killed five. The FDA's blanket warning in the current outbreak is broader and more direct than the ones issued in the earlier outbreak, said Robert Whitaker, chief science officer for the Produce Marketing Association. In the earlier outbreak, the warnings about romaine from Yuma might have been confusing, he said. Whitaker said the industry group told members they should cooperate with the FDA and stop supplying romaine lettuce, especially since people have been told to stop buying and eating it. No deaths have been reported in the current outbreak, but 13 people in the U.S. and six in Canada have been hospitalized. The last reported U.S. illness was on Oct. 31, while and the most recent illness in Canada was early this month. Tracing the source of contaminated lettuce can be difficult because it's often repackaged by middlemen, said Sarah Sorscher, deputy director of regulatory affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. That can mean the entire industry becomes implicated in outbreaks, even if not all products are contaminated. "One of the problems with produce is that it can be very hard to trace back," she said. She said washing contaminated lettuce won't ensure that harmful germs are killed. Infections from E. coli can cause symptoms including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe. Health officials have also been reminding people to properly handle and cook their Thanksgiving birds amid a widespread salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey. Last week, Hormel recalled some packages of Jennie-O ground turkey that regulators were able to tie to an illness. But unlike with romaine lettuce, regulators are not warning people to avoid turkey. Salmonella is not prohibited in raw meat and poultry, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which overseas raw meat, said cooking should kill any salmonella. Correction: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized the extent of the CDC warning. It extends to all romaine lettuce. As afficianados and first-timers begin to gather and plan to line up ahead of Massachusetts' opening recreational marijuana sales, the first two customers - both veterans - have been announced. Iraq veteran Stephen Mandile, who was injured in combat, will be the first recreational marijuana customer at Cultivate in Leicester on Tuesday at 8 a.m. Mandile, who credits cannabis with helping him battle PTSD and anxiety, plans on buying about a quarter of an ounce of legal weed and some edibles, according to The Boston Globe. Meanwhile, New England Treatment Access in Northampton announced Monday that the city's mayor, David Narkewicz, will be its first recreational customer. Narkewicz, who served in the Air Force, says he wants to support new businesses in the community, which is why he's making the first purchase of adult-use recreational marijuana in the city on Tuesday. He also hopes he's sending an important message about ending the stigma around cannabis use. "There's obviously been a lot of stigma around marijuana in this country," Narkewicz said. "Massachusetts has moved forward on it, in terms of first voting on it to decriminalize, then voting to legalize medical and now recreational." The Northampton mayor also plans on buying an edible, according to The Boston Globe. Both Cultivate and NETA's Northampton location won the first two recreational sale licenses granted by the state's Cannabis Control Commission. Voters approved of legal recreational marijuana in 2016. Its been two years since Massachusetts residents voted "yes" to recreational marijuana and now, they're able to buy it. With sales officially starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, the two legal pot shops so far, Leicester-based Cultivate and Northampton-based New England Treatment Access, expected long lines as they become the first two recreational marijuana dispensaries to open in the eastern U.S. "This has been a positive impact on the community overall," said Cultivate President Sam Barber. "This product really does help people. There's such an immense amount of tax revenue thats going to be created for the state from a market thats always been here. Now, we get to make sure that product is regulated." Cultivate expected thousands of people to show up and had a full staff and extra security patrol for the occasion. Forty people will be allowed in the shop at any time and patrons are advised to take cash in the morning since debit will not be accepted until noon. "I'm not surprised that everything here is the way I believe it should be because we have inspected thoroughly and repeatedly," said Steve Hoffman, chair of the Cannabis Control Commission, after he toured NETA. "There were no surprises here today." Stephen Mandile, an Iraq war veteran who was injured in combat, was Cultivate's first customer, while Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz was the first person to buy a recreational product at NETA. Mandile, who has credited cannabis with helping him battle PTSD and anxiety, said it was an honor to be be chosen as Cultivate's first person to buy recreational marijuana. "I probably dreamed about it back in high school that this day would happen sometime, but to be actually able to do it today is amazing," he said. "To have veterans be recognized, not just myself, but to bring other veterans with me and to have it focused around that, it's super special to me." Tuesday night, NETA estimated serving approximately 2,000 customers on their first day. The Cannabis Control Commission said Wednesday that both stores combined for more than $440,000 in gross sales, selling 10,784 items. Adults over the age of 21 can purchase products from the two shops if they have a valid ID. Customers can purchase one ounce of marijuana from licensed stores but no more than five grams of pot in concentrated form could be sold. Massachusetts voters chose to legalize recreational use of marijuana in 2016, but it has taken officials more than two years to determine where the first stores could open. Originally, retail sales were expected to begin July 1. A third store in Wareham near Cape Cod could open soon after it was issued a final license. Recreational marijuana sales are currently legal in six states, and Maine is expected to start legal sales in 2019. Adults can use marijuana in Vermont and Washington, D.C., but there are currently no legal sales in either place. It took nearly 50 years, but the 1969 cold case murder of a Harvard University student has finally been solved thanks to forensic technology advances, a Massachusetts district attorney announced Tuesday afternoon. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced that the DNA of serial rapist Michael Sumpter was linked to remaining evidence samples in the brutal sexual assault and murder of 23-year-old Jane Britton, who was found dead in her Cambridge apartment on Jan. 7, 1969. "The mystery has finally been solved," Ryan said. Britton's slaying is the third killing that Sumpter has been linked to since his death from cancer in 2001 at the age of 54. This is Michael Sumpter. The Middlesex DA says hes been positively identified as the killer of Jane Britton back in 1969. Authorities say he entered her apartment through a window then assaulted and killed her. He died of cancer at age 54. @NBC10Boston @necn pic.twitter.com/Wu4mwNO57I Abbey Niezgoda NBC10 Boston (@AbbeyNBCBoston) November 20, 2018 Britton's brother, The Rev. Boyd R. Britton, released a statement after the announcement: "A half-century of mystery and speculation has clouded the brutal crime that shattered Jane's promising young life and our family. The DNA evidence match may be all we ever have as a conclusion. Learning to understand and forgive remains a challenge," said Britton. Britton's boyfriend went to check on her after she failed to show up for an exam. Officials said she was found sexually assaulted on her blood-stained mattress, suffering from multiple blunt force injuries to her head. The night before her body was found, Britton had gone to dinner with classmates and went ice skating with her boyfriend in Cambridge. Britton was studying anthropology at Harvard, and her father was at the time a vice president at Radcliffe College, a women's school in Cambridge that later merged with Harvard. There's no indication that Sumpter and Britton knew each other, according to authorities; however, Sumpter said he was working on a street near her Harvard Square apartment at the time of her death. Authorities said over the years, the case posed many challenges. "Over time as peoples memories faded and witnesses died it became even more difficult to follow up on new investigatory leads," Ryan said. Today we are able to provide closure to Janes family, friends and those who knew her." "Never give up on a case," she added. "No matter what the passage of time may be." In October 2012, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office identified Sumpter as the assailant in the Dec. 12, 1973 homicide and sexual assault of 24-year-old Mary Lee McClain at her Beacon Hill apartment in Boston. At that time, McClain's death had been the second attributed to Sumpter through DNA testing. Two years earlier, authorities linked him to the 1972 rape and murder of 23-year-old Ellen Rutchick at her Beacon Street resident in West Roxbury. Prosecutors say they don't believe Sumpter knew any of his victims. Relatives of Sumpter couldn't immediately be found through public records. Photo: The Canadian Press Martha Stewart attends the Time 100 Gala celebrating the 100 most influential people in the world in New York. Martha Stewart's first Uber ride was not a good thing. Stewart ordered the "most expensive version" Monday outside Tiffany's flagship store in New York City. As Stewart explained on Instagram , she wanted to be picked up on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. Stewart wrote the first car did not show up and the second parked "halfway down" the street where she "could not see the license plate." That car was pointed in the wrong direction, delaying her journey as the car snaked through midtown Manhattan traffic. But the worst part was the car "was a mess inside and out!!!!!!!!" She posted a picture that showed debris on the floor and two water bottles. Uber says it was disappointed to hear about Stewart's first experience and has reached out to her and her team. Two people are dead and one is injured after a shooting and a stabbing Monday in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Police responded to a building on Bickford Street, where a shooting was reported around 5:50 p.m. A female victim was shot multiple times. A man was found with a gunshot wound and pronounced dead, according to Boston Police Commissioner William Gross. The female victim was taken to a hospital, where she later died, police said shortly before 10:30 p.m. A second male was also stabbed. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries. All three people were found in the hallway of the building. Police believe all those involved were known to each other. They are all believed to be in their 30s. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-494-TIPS or 617-343-4470. Over 200 students and community members filled the hall near Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's office, sitting and holding signs. Their protest lasted 43 minutes, each minute commemorating the life of a city gun homicide victim. According to Monica Cannon-Grant, who organized the protest, there were 180 people shot in Boston over the past year, including 43 who were killed by gunfire. "We are calling out the names of homicide victims. They need to be heard and they need to be acknowledged. All 43 from this past year. This isn't normal, it isn't normal at all," said Cannon-Grant, who founded the activist group Violence in Boston Inc. and ran for state representative in 2016. Cannon-Grant organized the protest and school walkout with no clear way to gauge how many students would turn out. Outside City Hall on Monday, she gasped as a crowd of teenagers flowed out of the Government Center MBTA station. "Are they here for us? My God, they are," she whispered to her friend and fellow activist James Mackey. Halfway through the protest, which was dubbed a "die-in," a group of additional students gathered outside to show their support. For Excel High School senior Fatima Eddahbi, the protest was part of a much larger process. "This protest is a small piece of the puzzle," Eddahbi said. "Small steps always lead to larger ones, and this here today is crucial to getting our message across." Violence in Boston Inc. provided a list of demands to Walsh's office following the protest, calling for "...fully funded public education, a stop to school closures, a violence prevention plan, an allocation of budget funding to ensure youth employment year round and trauma services for BPS young people and communities of color." Before the protest, Cannon-Grant was joined by City Councilor Kim Janey, who represents Boston's Seventh District. "We need to stand up and say this is not okay when our young people are dying in the street," Janey told State House News Service. "I also think the school closures are problematic as well. We need to communicate to our children that they have value, and make sure that we look at the challenges those schools are facing and what our options are." The protest specifically addressed the potential closures of West Roxbury High School and the McCormick Middle School in Dorchester. The closures were announced as part of the city's BuildBPS plan, developed in 2015 when Tommy Chang served as superintendent of schools. According to city officials, the West Roxbury High School building requires extensive repairs, while the McCormack school is being closed as part of the department's plan to shut down all six of its remaining middle schools in order to switch the city fully into a K-6, 7-12 grade configuration. Current interim Superintendent Laura Perille has publicly acknowledged the difficulty of the proposed school closings. In a statement, Perille said that "there are some difficult choices, and in some cases unavoidable decisions, along the way." While the BuildBPS plan will close both schools, the department says that the plan places an emphasis on neighborhood schools, and proposes constructing new elementary schools in areas of the city with the greatest number of students and the fewest number of seats. When asked about the protest, the mayor's office provided no comment. Students from more than eight area schools gathered at City Hall. As the names of victims were called, students hugged and cried. In October, there were eight killings in Boston over the span of 11 days. The last to die was Alicia Restrepo, a 24-year-old mom. Her name was among the last called, spurring a series of cries from the sitting crowd. "It pains me to hear these names," said Mackey, who stood by Cannon-Grant as she read them off. "But you know who needs to hear them? They do," he said as he pointed to the mayor's office door. Students also passed around a pair of white sneakers to leave the mayor, each of them signing one with a marker. "We want Mayor Walsh to take a walk in our shoes," Cannon-Grant said. "We want him to feel the pain we feel. So we are leaving these here for him today." What to Know A Chicago police officer and two hospital employees died in a shooting Monday at Mercy Hospital. The suspected shooter also was killed. The incident began with an altercation in the hospital parking lot, police said, where the suspect fatally shot a doctor he knew. The gunman ran into the hospital. A pharmacist was shot in an elevator, and the officer was struck in the exchange of gunfire. The emergency room at Chicago's Mercy Hospital and Medical Center reopened Tuesday afternoon, hours after a shooting there claimed the lives of a Chicago police officer, a doctor and a pharmacist. "Today we mourn the loss of our colleagues and friends," said Michael Davenport, chief medical officer at the hospital. As the doors to the emergency room prepared to open, Davenport said the hospital was already functioning at near-capacity. Some portions of the first floor, particularly the area where the shooting took place, remained closed Tuesday due to "issues with the presence of the environment and how people would react to it." Less than 24 hours earlier, a gunman opened fire at the hospital, killing a doctor in the parking lot before entering the building and fatally shooting a pharmacist and Chicago police officer. "It's with profound sadness that we share the death of PO Samuel Jimenez from tonight's senseless active shooter incident," police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Monday. "Please pray for his family, his fellow officers & the entire #ChicagoPolice Department." The doctor killed was identified as Dr. Tamara O'Neal, 38, remembered by loved ones as a dedicated emergency room physician who "loved helping people" and "had a heart of gold." Authorities identified the pharmacist who was killed as 24-year-old Dr. Dayna Less, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. "She loved helping others. She was good at her job because it helped others. She was forged in her own adversity which made her the strongest person I will ever know," her family said in a statement. Both O'Neal and Less graduated from Purdue University. "We are proud of Tamara and Dayna for the lives of service they chose to pursue. We are deeply grateful and admiring of officer Jimenez for his sacrificial bravery that spared other innocent lives," Purdue President Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. said in a statement. Chicago police Supt. Eddie Johnson said the shooting - in which the gunman was also killed - began at around 3:28 p.m. in the parking lot, then continued inside the hospital lobby. The shooter has been identified as 32-year-old Juan Lopez, according to police, who said he was in a domestic relationship with O'Neal. O'Neal was leaving after her shift, according to the hospital, when Johnson said she and Lopez got into a verbal altercation in the parking lot. A friend tried to intervene in the argument, Johnson said, and Lopez lifted his shirt and displayed a handgun. The friend fled into the hospital, and witnesses said they saw Lopez shoot O'Neal at least six times in the parking lot. As police arrived at the scene, Johnson said Lopez shot at officers before they exited their cars, and then ran into the hospital, where he and police engaged in an exchange of gunfire. During the exchange, Less was exiting an elevator when she was fatally shot, Johnson said. Jimenez, 28, was also shot in the exchange and taken in critical condition to the University of Chicago Hospital. He later died from his wounds. "This tears at the soul of our city," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. "It is the face and the consequence of evil." Detectives worked overnight to process the scene, with bullet holes and shell casings visible, surrounding one Chicago police SUV. Mercy Hospital officials said it held its first active shooter drill one month prior, and praised the staff's response. "We work in trained circumstances, we deal with death and family deaths on a daily basis. Theres no way we can prepare for this, theres no way we can adjust for it, but we step up to the plate when it happens," said Patrick Connor, chairman and emergency department manager. "We take care of our patients, we take care of our staff. This is just a tragedy." The incident remained under investigation Tuesday. The hospital said it plans to evaluate its security protocol once the investigation is complete. "Our employees did a magnificent job," Davenport said. "Were very proud of what they did." Hartford Police have arrested ten people after a drug bust at a restaurant on Monday. Detectives conducted a plain clothes narcotics operation at the Bean Pot Restaurant on Park Street. As a result of the operation, ten adults were arrested for narcotics-related or trespassing-related charges, officers said. According to detectives, officers found numerous packages of fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine and marijuana. Several suspects were also found to have active warrants, which were served during the booking process. Peter Boccacio, 50, of East Hartford, is facing possession of narcotics and criminal trespass charges. Carl Jones, 37, of East Hartford, is facing multiple charges including possession of narcotics, sale of narcotics and criminal trespass. John Gray, 37, of New Hartford, is facing possession of narcotics charges. Alberto Rodriguez, 20, of Hartford, is facing operating a suspended license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and misuse of registration charges. Luis Galindez, 49, of Hartford, is facing possession of narcotics and possession of a controlled substance charges. Christopher Ayala, 28, of Hartford, had two warrants for charges including criminal trespass, interfering with police, possession of a controlled substance, operating a suspended license, failure to register registration and failure to appear. Kirk Marshall, 31, of Bristol, is facing possession of narcotics and criminal trespass. He also had two warrants for charges including identity theft, larceny, forgery and failure to appear. Rosemary Soto, 49, of Unionville, is facing possession of narcotics and criminal trespass charges. David Castellano, 43, of Hartford, is facing charges including operating a suspended license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, misuse of registration, no insurance and trespass. Luis Ramos, 48, of Hartford is facing possession of narcotics and criminal trespass charges. The operation was conducted in an effort to address the ongoing open air narcotics complaints that plague the area, reported by business owners, according to police. Beginning Tuesday, when an adult 21 years-old or older crosses the state line into Massachusetts, he or she can legally purchase recreational marijuana, but there will be repercussions for bringing it back to Connecticut. "Just because something is legalized in Massachusetts doesnt mean that its legalized in Connecticut," says Enfield police chief Alaric Fox. "The possession of something in Connecticut that remains illegal in Connecticut is, in fact, an offense." Enfield police, who neighbor the state line, are giving this clear message to all residents, visitors, and drivers of the state. Whats not clear is if drivers will listen to this warning, sneaking it over. It probably will come across the state line, says Valarie Dumais of East Windsor, who worries about impaired driving while under the influence. I think [police are] going to have to come up with some plan because if its going to be legal in Massachusetts, not in Connecticut, theyre going to have to come up with something to track that. Chief Fox says theres no specialized enforcement or check points starting Tuesday, but the department expects to utilize their Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) even more. A Drug Recognition Expert undergoes extensive training to be able to evaluate if someone is high. The Enfield Police Department has one DRE. All officers, however, are trained to recognize behaviors of driving under the influence. While there is no breathalyzer to measure marijuana intake, Chief Fox says theres other options. "In those cases, we would switch to a different test after arrest, says Fox. For example, urine as opposed to a breath test, which detects the presence of narcotics in an individuals body." Connecticut law has decriminalized marijuana. Possessing a small amount results in a fine. The more marijuana a person possesses, the bigger the fine, and its coupled with jail time. Farmington Police have arrested a teenager who is accused of staying in a store at Westfarms after hours and stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry on Friday morning. Officers responded to a burglar alarm at the JC Penney store in Westfarms at 2:16 a.m. When officers arrived, they found the exterior doors and the store was secure. A second alarm was activated at 2:46 a.m. and the alarm company contacted a store employee to come to the store. While officers waited for the employee to arrive so they could check the inside of the store, police said a maintenance worker performing snow removal in the parking lots noticed a suspicious man wearing dark clothes squatting near a snow bank. Officers said the man ran off, but left a partially buried backpack in a snow bank at the edge of the parking lot. After the maintenance worker alerted police at the scene, officers learned the backpack was full of jewelry and watches with JC Penney store tags still attached. Detectives were called to the scene to assist with the investigation. While they viewed the store's surveillance video, an officer who was guarding shoe impressions in the snow said they noticed a man wearing dark clothing pacing near the snow bank where the backpack full of stolen items was found. The officer said the man's sneakers appeared to be the same type of shoe that left the impression in the snow. Officers detained the man and detectives said they immediately recognized him as the burglary suspect from the store's surveillance video. Police said 18-year-old Tarik Ousha Mathis was arrested and charged with burglary. Mathis told officers he was walking around JC Penney before the store closed on Thursday night. He said he hid in a dark storage room in the shoe department until he knew the store had closed. Surveillance video showed him entering the storage room at 7:28 p.m. on Thursday and leaving at 2:09 a.m. on Friday. Surveillance video showed Mathis stealing a backpack and then filling it with assorted watches and jewelry, worth approximately $9,900. Police said the video also showed him hiding deeper into the store when officers responded to the first alarm and then shows him leaving the store when police left. According to police, Mathis came back to look for the backpack when officers were at the scene because he thought his state identification and social security card were inside. Detectives said his identification cards were not inside. Mathis was held on a $50,000 bond and was in court on Monday. PHOTOS: Here's What the 1st Day of Legal Marijuana Sales in Massachusetts Looked Like 25 photos 1/25 NBC10 Boston 2/25 Getty Images 3/25 NBC10 Boston 4/25 nbc 5/25 Getty Images 6/25 Getty Images 7/25 Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation 8/25 NBC 9/25 Getty Images 10/25 NBC10 Boston 11/25 Getty Images 12/25 NBC10 Boston 13/25 Getty Images 14/25 Getty Images 15/25 NBC10 Boston 16/25 NBC10 Boston 17/25 NBC10 Boston 18/25 NBC10 Boston 19/25 NBC 5 News 20/25 NBC10 Boston 21/25 NBC10 Boston 22/25 NBC 5 News 23/25 NBC10 Boston 24/25 NBC10 Boston 25/25 Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz, File More Photo Galleries Governor-Elect Ned Lamont is staying true to one of his key campaign promises. Hes partnering with the private sector where he can to help him make policy and hiring decisions. He announced he would receive help filling positions within his administration from a pair of professionals who work far from the state government space. Kevin Myatt, the vice president of Human Resources for Yale-New Haven Hospital and Josh Denson from Stamford who has worked for Korn Ferry in executive search roles. Lamont says resumes have already started flowing into his transition team. "We want to look at the people who want to serve this state and we have hundreds of people who want to serve this state and believe in this state but Id say something else, you also want to find the people who maybe arent necessarily thinking about their service in state government," said Lamont. The new governor is also beginning to take positions on key issues. Tuesday will mark the start of the sale of marijuana for recreational use in Massachusetts. Lamont, as he did on the campaign trail, is advocating for Connecticut to pursue similar legislation, as a new form of revenue. "Its something I would support and I dont want the black market controlling marijuana distribution in our state," Lamont said. I think thats a lousy way to go. Outgoing Gov. Dannel Malloy, however, urges caution on the issue. Even though he thinks Massachusetts has taken a measured approach in its legalization, he says the issue requires further study, and has heard anecdotes from other states which he says should serve as a warning. "This is an experiment that the United States is undergoing. A good friend of mine is the governor of Colorado. I think he wishes he knew six years ago what he knows today," Malloy said. Finally, on tolls, Malloy says because voters approved a lockbox for transportation funds on November 6, that could broaden the discussion about new revenue for transportation projects. He says the issue of better roads, bridges, and mass transit amounts to one of competitiveness. "The public now knows that theres a lack of revenue to do the things that they want to see done. There may be some disagreement on how to the raise that revenue but now at least you can have that discussion about revenue understanding that some future legislators and some future governors arent going to put their fingers in the piggy bank," Malloy said."If we want to compete with New Jersey and New York and Massachusetts, were going to have to have a system that is more than about one type of vehicle and one location." A study released by the Connecticut Department of Transportation detailed an 82-gantry toll scenario that could bring in $1 billion for transportation annually, with nearly half coming from out of state drivers. Lamont would not rule out an expansion of his campaign proposal to exclusively toll out of state trucks, but said trucks are his priority for now. "My focus on electronic tolling is very clear. Were going to focus on those big tractor-trailer trucks and that will raise us something like $250 million. Thats something I think I can get through this legislature on short order and I want to get going on that." Stop using foam cups and containers. That's the demand of more than 50,000 people who signed a Whataburger petition on the Environment Texas website. Environmental advocates delivered the petition to the fast food burger chain's corporate headquarters in San Antonio Monday. Copies of the petition were also delivered to a restaurant in Corpus Christi and on Guadalupe Street in Austin. The groups says the foam ends up in rivers, lakes and oceans where it can kill wildlife who eat it. Whataburger says it is investigating alternatives to the polystyrene cups and containers. A 2-year-old girl is dead after a caregiver hit her with a belt and burned her buttocks for discipline, police say. Arlington police were called to an apartment early Saturday because a child wasn't breathing. The girl, Aniyah Darnell, was pronounced dead at a hospital. An autopsy will determine her cause of death. An affidavit said Shamonica Page admitted she repeatedly struck the girl and that she didn't seek medical help for the burn. She told police she had been caring for Aniyah since August for the girl's mother. Her precise relationship to Aniyah is unclear. When police arrived at the scene, they also arrested Derick Roberson for outstanding misdemeanor warrants out of Fort Worth. Roberson and Page are both charged with injury to a child. Page was booked into Tarrant County Jail as Shamonica Jackson, a name under which she was previously arrested. Two other children in the home have been placed in the custody of Child Protective Services. Photo: CTV Afghan officials say a suicide bomber has targeted a gathering of Muslim religious scholars in Kabul, killing at least 40 people. Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh says another 60 people were wounded in the attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish says hundreds of scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the occasion in a large wedding hall in the capital. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but both the Taliban and a local Islamic State affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past. What to Know A migrant caravan traveling toward the U.S. through Mexico has been denied requests for buses to carry them northward They are still roughly 900 miles away from U.S. soil The Pentagon has announced it is sending 5,200 troops to the Southwest border Thousands of Central American migrants resumed their slow trek through southern Mexico on Thursday, and activists aiding the group said they were shifting their route toward the Gulf coast, a path closer to the Texas border. The migrants set out before dawn after taking a day's break in the Oaxaca state city of Juchitan. The activists said they would try to reach the town of Matias Romero, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) ahead. They had tried to arrange bus transport from Juchitan, but failed, leaving them once again on foot, hitch-hiking and looking for rides where they can find them. The migrants have not said what route they intend to take northward or where on the U.S. border they planned to reach, and Juchitan, still about 900 miles from U.S. soil, was something of a crossroads. While Matias Romero would carry them toward the Gulf coast city of Veracruz and a route toward the Texas border, another large caravan early this year passed through Veracruz and then veered back toward Mexico City and eventually tried to head to Tijuana in the far northwest. Few made it. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday praised Mexico for stopping the migrants from getting rides. "Mexico has stepped up in an unprecedented way," Sanders told Fox News. "They have helped stop a lot of the transportation means of these individuals in these caravans, forcing them walking. They have helped us in new ways to slow this down, to break this up and keep it from moving as aggressively toward the United States." But U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his pre-election focus on the caravan and others behind it, talking of creating a U.S. military force on the border that would outnumber the migrants, many of them women and children. "As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out," Trump said. "We have about 5,800. We'll go up to anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 military personnel on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border." Later Wednesday, Trump told ABC News, "We have to have a wall of people." He is expected to give remarks on immigration from the White House Thursday afternoon, two White House officials told NBC News. A second, smaller group of 1,000 or so migrants is more than 200 miles behind the first caravan. A third band of about 500 from El Salvador made it to Guatemala, and a fourth group of about 700 set out from the Salvadoran capital Wednesday. Altogether, the four caravans represent just a few days' worth of the average flow of migrants to the United States in recent years. Similar caravans have occurred regularly over the years and passed largely unnoticed, but Trump has focused on the latest marchers seeking to make border security a hot-button issue in next week's midterm elections. Worn down by days of long walks, many migrants have dropped out and returned home or applied for protected status in Mexico. The initial caravan has shrunk significantly from its estimated peak of more than 7,000 migrants. A caravan last the spring ultimately fizzled to just about 200 people who reached the U.S. border at San Diego. Mexican Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete Prida said about 2,300 migrants have applied to stay in Mexico under a government plan, and hundreds more have accepted assisted repatriation. Also Wednesday, a Guatemalan woman gave birth to the first known caravan baby at a hospital in Juchitan. Mexico's governmental National Human Rights Commission said it had arranged for medical attention for the woman, who was 28 weeks pregnant, and the girl was healthy. Associated Press writer Peter Orsi contributed to this report. A 52-year-old Corona man was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison Monday for his part in a scam to sell bogus identification out of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Jose Cruz, who pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to produce illegal ID documents and identity theft, was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Kole. He will be placed on three years of supervised release when he is out of prison. Co-defendant Tracey Lynette Jones, 35, of Long Beach, who worked as a field representative in the agency's El Monte office, pleaded guilty last month to illegally producing ID documents. From July 2012 through August 2013, Jones helped produce phony driver's licenses by entering bogus information into the DMV system, according to her plea agreement. Jones altered records to make sure several applicants passed written, vision or driving tests they either failed or didn't take, according to her plea deal. She did so eight times, according to the plea. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 11. Cruz acknowledged that he and other conspirators obtained genuine Social Security numbers of Puerto Rican residents to be sold to people wishing to obtain state identification cards and driver's licenses, according to his plea deal. Cruz and another co-defendant met with an undercover agent in July 2012 who was posing as a customer who wanted to buy a fake ID. Cruz said he would take the agent to a DMV office in Riverside. Later, the agent met with Cruz and another co-defendant who provided the customer with a Puerto Rican birth certificate and Social Security number and then told to see a DMV clerk who was in on the scam, according to the plea. The undercover agent paid $3,100. Cruz also met with another undercover agent in August 2012 in Riverside when he said he had "connections" with the DMV in Riverside and Fullerton, according to the plea agreement. "As part of this scheme and common course of conduct, at least seven fraudulent California ID cards or driver's licenses were obtained in the names of actual people other than the applicant, which actual people had been born in Puerto Rico," according to the agreement. Three other defendants are awaiting trial in May and one defendant is a fugitive, said Thom Mrozek, the public information officer for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen toured the U.S.-Mexico border Tuesday, speaking about the Trump administration's efforts to fortify the crossing amid what she called the migrant caravan "crisis." Nielsen said there are currently 6,200 individuals with the migrant caravan camped out in Tijuana, Mexico, and another 3,000 in Mexicali. She said this would ultimately result in 8,000 to 10,000 migrants amassing at our southern border. The crisis is real and it is just on the other side of this wall, Nielsen told reporters at Border Field State Park, the seaside park that sits at the southwest corner of the United States, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and Mexico's Playa de Tijuana to the south. Following Nielsen's comments, the office of the mayor of Tijuana said there were 2,965 members of the caravan in the city. That figure, according to the mayor's office, includes 1,696 men, 637 women, 255 boys and377 girls. For nearly two weeks, thousands of migrants have made their way by foot and bus from the southern border of Mexico to Tijuana, where many are living in overcrowded shelters until they can seek asylum from the United States. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen toured the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego Tuesday and spoke to media about the "hardening" of the crossing amid the migrant caravan attempting to reach the U.S. "The crisis is real and it is just on the other side of this wall," Nielsen said. In response to the caravan of migrants, the Department of Defense sent about 5,800 active duty, reserve and National Guard forces, including 1,100 Camp Pendleton-based Marines, to span the southern border to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the reinforcing of the border. This has included adding concertina wiring to the U.S.-Mexico border fence to keep migrants from climbing over the fence and into the U.S. This is a border wall with row upon row of concertina wire, said Nielsen. Make no mistake we are very serious. You will not get into our country illegally. [NATL-SD] In Photos: Troops Secure Border for Migrant Caravan's Arrival The DHS secretary said the migrant caravan is not only comprised of women and children but rather of many grown men and teenage boys, some of whom have been violent in their efforts to reach the border. She said at least 500 criminals including gang members, have been identified among the caravan. Nielsen said many of the migrants are attempting to travel into the U.S. to reunite with family members or seek jobs neither of which warrant asylum under U.S. law. The caravan does not give one a special right to enter this country, Nielsen said, adding that migrants with the caravan will have to get in line when it comes to the asylum-seeking process. The DHS secretary said President Donald Trumps administration was upset by a judges recent ruling ordering the U.S. government not to enforce a ban on asylum for people who cross the southern border illegally. Efforts to secure the border come as thousands of migrants from a caravan from Central America make their way to Tijuana. NBC 7's Liberty Zabala reports. This is a dangerous ruling and will undoubtedly be overturned, she added. Nielsen said border security remains a top priority for the Trump administration and DHS will continue its efforts to stop the caravan from illegally entering the country. You will be detained, prosecuted and repatriated, she said. Just before Nielsen arrived a man swam around the border fence that extends a few hundred feet into the Pacific Ocean and was met by Border Patrol agents at the beach on the U.S. side. Nielsen said he was arrested for entering the country illegally. Nielsen said she spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis Tuesday and the Department of Defense will continue to partner with the DHS until the caravan is stopped. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen spoke in San Diego about the future of the military presence at the border. NBC 7's Bridget Naso has more. She said any asylum claims will be treated with respect to the law. On Monday, U.S. Marine Lt. Dustin Pavlick said his platoon of about 45 Marines was working on "construction and reinforcing this obstacle to support the mission of Customs and Border Protection." "Our priority right now is to get a half a mile of wire on this wall," he said while giving NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 a look into their efforts near the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Also on Monday, CBP temporarily shut down all northbound lanes into the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry so troops could position moveable barriers due to a report that a group of Central American migrants was trying to rush the border, according to CBP. Northbound lanes at the San Ysidro POE have been shut down as Customs and Border Protection crews continue their "port hardening mission." NBC 7's Liberty Zabala reports. Though no activity materialized, the agency said the closure at the nation's busiest border crossing was needed. Nielsen praised the efforts on Twitter saying, "@CBP and @DeptofDefense appropriately responded by blocking the lanes, deploying additional personnel and seeking assistance from other law enforcement and federal assets." .@CBP and @DeptofDefense appropriately responded by blocking the lanes, deploying additional personnel and seeking assistance from other law enforcement and federal assets. #CBP has reopened lanes for legitimate trade and travel. I want to thank them for their swift actions. pic.twitter.com/eJVVuAs0w6 Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) November 19, 2018 The tweet was accompanied by a photo showing a line of helmeted border patrol agents carrying shields. San Ysidro is the borders busiest crossing, with about 110,000 people entering the U.S. every day. That traffic includes some 40,000 vehicles, 34,000 pedestrians and 150 to 200 buses. President Donald Trump tweeted a photo Monday of the border fence at Border Field State Park covered in concertina wire with the message, "No climbers anymore under our Administration!" The Fake News is showing old footage of people climbing over our Ocean Area Fence. This is what it really looks like - no climbers anymore under our Administration! pic.twitter.com/CD4ltRePML Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2018 Images captured last week showed migrants, in celebration that they reached the U.S. border, scale that same fence and walk or sit atop it. About a dozen migrants stood on the sand on the U.S. side of the fence before eventually returning to the Mexico side. No arrests were made. NBC 7's Liberty Zabala took a closer look at the infrastructure Marines are using to secure the parts of our southern border. Border Field State Park has a long history and involves government entities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico Border. The Border Infrastructure Project is a fenced corridor between an older fence once constructed along the border and a new fence built in 2008 2009. It is owned by the federal Department of Homeland Security. The DoD said the troops would not interact with migrants but would complete "border-hardening" tasks, like using pieces of barbed wire, concrete roadblocks and rebar to create movable barriers that can be used to block lanes at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry. Army Military Police are there to protect the Marines who are not armed and are prohibited from enforcing the law. NBC 7's Melissa Adan spoke to a business owner who said they lost a substantial chuck of business because some of their customers couldn't travel from Mexico. Analysts and the Pentagon estimate that the entire deployment operation could cost $200 million. Meanwhile, tensions on the Mexican side of the border have built as nearly 3,000 migrants from the caravan poured into Tijuana in recent days, The Associated Press reported. And with U.S. border inspectors processing only about 100 asylum claims a day at Tijuana's main crossing to San Diego, they will likely be there for months while they seek asylum in the U.S. Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum has called the migrants' arrival an "avalanche" that the city is ill-prepared to handle, calculating that they will be in Tijuana for at least six months as they wait to file asylum claims. Gastelum has appealed to the federal government for more assistance to cope with the influx. Video captured at the border shows U.S. Marines installing razor wire and barriers. Some Tijuana residents supported the migrants, but others accused the migrants of being messy, ungrateful and a danger to Tijuana. On Sunday, about 400 Tijuana residents took to the streets in protest, waving Mexican flags and chanting "Out! Out!" They also complained about how the caravan forced its way into Mexico, calling it an "invasion." And they voiced worries that their taxes might be spent to care for the group. "We don't want them in Tijuana," protesters shouted. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Footage shows towering flames in San Francisco as crews battle a fire caused by a gas explosion. A Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department deputy who worked as a sex crimes investigator has been arrested on suspicion of rape by force involving a teen girl. Neil Kimball, 45, was arrested Friday and was being held on $2 million bail, according to booking records. He was also accused of witness tampering. Both allegations are felonies, authorities said. The LA County Sheriffs Department said in a statement the tip that led to the arrest came from a member of the public. The accused deputy was placed on paid leave. The criminal investigation began in October, law enforcement officials familiar with the case told NBC4. At the time Kimball was already off-duty for medical reasons. The officials said the criminal case involves a girl who was 14 years old at the time of the incident in the fall of 2017. Kimball was also facing an unrelated internal affairs investigation. The officials said a female deputy recently accused him of making unwanted sexual advances. In 2009 the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to file charges after a woman accused Kimball of sexual battery, according to a charge evaluation document. The woman said Kimball had stopped her and some of her friends at a hotel in August, 2008. The DA's document said Kimball told the woman and her friends to get into a hot tub. Later, the woman said she found Kimball exposing himself and said the deputy groped her. The DA's office said no other witnesses could corroborate the woman's story, so a prosecutor declined to file a sexual battery charge. The Sheriff's Department said Monday it opened an investigation into the current matter as soon as it became aware of the alleged misconduct. "The alleged conduct occurred during the scope of the employees assignment with the department's Special Victims Bureau. ICIB investigators determined that the alleged crime occurred in the County of Ventura and reached out to the Ventura County District Attorneys Office to assist them with the case." It was not immediately clear whether Kimball has an attorney. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office said it could not comment on the case until charges were filed, and said Kimball was not expected to make an initial appearance in court until next week. More Malibu residents forced to flee the Woolsey Fire were back home Monday, in time to face a rain forecast for Wednesday that raises fears of possible mudslides as the estimated date for full containment of the fire was moved back to Thursday. Officials say if mudslides become destructive and residents are told to evacuate, homeowners will be contacted through the reverse 911 system. If you'd like to get alerted through the county, visit this website to get alerts on your phone for your area. Since erupting Nov. 8 in Ventura County and quickly spreading into Los Angeles County, the fire has charred 96,949 acres and was 98 percent contained by Tuesday evening, up from 91 percent early Monday. Full containment had been projected to occur Sunday, but that estimate was initially pushed back to Monday and then to Thursday. The number of structures destroyed across the two counties has been raised to 1,500, with 341 damaged. About 95 percent of the burn area assessment has been completed. Nearly 1,100 firefighters remained in the battle, including nine hand crews, patrolling the burned area in search of hot spots to put out, fire officials said. Seven helicopters and eight bulldozers were in use. The death toll stands at three civilians, and three firefighters have been injured. The current weather conditions of reduced winds and moderate to good humidity have helped firefighters. However, officials in Los Angeles and Ventura counties warned that rain is likely to hit Southern California on Wednesday, raising potential for mud and rock slides, especially along Highway 1 and the canyon roads. Officials have gradually allowed residents to go home as utilities are restored and areas deemed safe. Much of Malibu, however, was without power until 8 p.m. Monday -- a planned outage to allow utility crews to replace destroyed and damaged power poles and string new electrical lines. Residents of the Broad Beach area of the Malibu Colony Cove neighborhood returned Sunday in an area bounded by the ocean on the south, Malibu city limit on the north, Guernsey Avenue on the east and the Ventura County line on the west. Evacuation orders were also lifted in the Malibu Colony Cove neighborhood from the ocean on the south, the Malibu city limit on the north, Puerco Canyon Road on the east and Paradise Cove Road on the west; and for the Las Virgenes Road/Malibu Canyon Road areas from the Malibu city limit on the south to Mulholland Highway on the north, with Mulholland Highway still closed westbound from Malibu Canyon Road. Latigo Canyon, Corral Canyon, Ramirez Canyon and Puerco Canyon roads remained closed north of Pacific Coast Highway. Evacuation orders were lifted in the Topanga area from Pacific Coast Highway to Mulholland Drive on Friday. Evacuation orders also were lifted in Malibu Lakes, and the following areas: -- Mulholland Highway on the north, Bulldog Mountain Way on the south, Lake Shore Drive on the east and Shadow Creek Drive on the west. Mulholland Highway will remain closed eastbound at Cornell Road and westbound at Troutdale Road due to bridge damage. -- Pacific Ocean on the south, the Malibu city limit on the north, Paradise Cove on the east and Guernsey Avenue on the west. Latigo Canyon and Corral Canyon roads will be open from Pacific Coast Highway to the Malibu City limit but areas north of those locations will remain closed. Evacuation orders also were pulled for the Seminole Springs neighborhood between Kanan Road on the north, Cadenhorn Drive on the south, Trousdale Drive on the east and Seminole Drive on the west. Westbound Mulholland Highway west of Seminole Drive and southbound Kanan Road south of Triunfo Canyon Road will stay closed. The Los Angeles County Emergency Operations Center issued a safety statement for people returning to their homes after the Woolsey Fire. Fire officials warned people using Malibu Canyon Road to be aware of falling debris, including rocks that may be dislodged by unstable soil. Post-fire areas adjacent to mountains and hills are known for their ability to produce rock and debris flows, which can form quickly. Additionally, areas not prone to flooding may now be at larger risk because of higher than normal flows from streams and rivers. In preparation for rain -- anticipated Wednesday night into Thursday -- officials in Los Angeles and Ventura counties have transitioned into emergency response mode, with an emphasis on debris, flood fighting and support activities. Those activities include the monitoring of all flood facilities and equipment, the operation of debris dams and providing logistics support, field operations and responses to emergencies. Sandbags and sand were being made available to all residents at Los Angeles County and Ventura County fire stations. Disaster Assistance Centers were opened to help residents affected by the blaze. Customers were reminded to bring proper photo ID to obtain their mail at the USPS Facility at 7101 S. Central Ave. between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. through Friday. They will be closed Thanksgiving but reopen Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They are located at the former Malibu Courthouse at 23525 Civic Center Way, and the Conrad L. Hilton Foundation, 30440 Agoura Road, in Agoura Hills. Malibu schools were expected to remain closed at least through the Thanksgiving weekend. Officials of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District said a certified staff of specialists will begin cleaning the schools so they are ready to reopen after the holiday. The Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 29 in Malibu and Las Virgenes Municipal Water District determined their tap water is safe to drink and no longer has to be boiled for drinking or cooking, officials said. Residents were urged not to try to restore their gas service but to contact SoCal Gas to do it. They also were cautioned to watch out for workers restoring services. Additional fire information for Los Angeles County can be found at www.lacounty.gov/woolseyfire. Malibu also has a website with updated fire information at www.malibucity.org/woolsey. What to Know Residents and business owners can search the database of unclaimed assets and submit a claim at the state's website. In October, the controller's office processed claims for about 56,000 people, totaling $32.6 million. Unclaimed property can include uncashed checks, wages, stocks, safe deposit boxes and insurance benefits. Controller Betty Yee announced Monday that the state government is holding more than 48 million unclaimed properties totalling $9.3 billion, and urged Californians, including residents of Orange and Los Angeles counties, to check an online database to see if they should submit a claim for long-lost money or valuables. Businesses like banks and insurance companies are required by law to transfer property to the state controller's office if it goes unclaimed for a certain period of time, generally three years. Unclaimed property can include uncashed checks, wages, stocks, safe deposit boxes and insurance benefits, among other things. There is no time limit or fee for filing a claim. Properties valued above the eClaim threshold of $5,000, or those with complexities such as multiple heirs, can occasionally take a few months to process. In October, the controller's office processed claims for about 56,000 people, totaling $32.6 million, including 250 claims valued at $87,806 for Torrance residents. "Some of the simpler online claims can be paid in as quickly as two weeks, perhaps even in time for your holiday shopping," Yee said. Residents and business owners can search the database of unclaimed assets and submit a claim at the state's website, claimit.ca.gov, or by calling (800) 992-4647. What to Know Tuesday is here, South Florida and NBC 6 has the top stories you need to know for November 20th. Tuesday is here, South Florida and NBC 6 has the top stories you need to know for November 20th. Weather wise, a humid day is in the forecast with afternoon showers and high temperatures in the mid-80s. No. 1 - Floridas election results are being certified today. Governor Rick Scott will officially be declared the winner of the U.S. Senate race as well as winners being declared for Governor and Agriculture Commissioner. No. 2 - Florida health officials have confirmed a locally acquired case of mosquito-borne dengue fever in Miami-Dade County. State officials and the county's mosquito control division are continuing surveillance and mosquito prevention efforts. No. 3 - Today marks the 19th observance of International Transgender Remembrance Day, honoring all those in the transgender community who have been murdered because of their identity. Memorials are planned across the country including right here in South Florida and in more than 20 countries around the world. No. 4 Today, the nonprofit Fallen Heroes United will serve a Thanksgiving meal to veterans in our community experiencing homelessness. It's happening at 1492 West Flager Street in Miami - come by and thank a vet and keep your eyes open for local celebs too. No. 5 - Former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning is teaming up with several business and organizations to provide thanksgiving meals to more than 400 families in need. 10 pre-selected families will also receive a special visit from the Hall of Famer. The meals will be prepared at 9 a.m. at the Publix located on the 2200 of 27th Street and they will be given away to families at 4 p.m. at the Overtown Youth Center No. 6 Peas and Carrots - those are the names of the two turkeys vying to be pardoned by President Trump today. The White House took votes on the winner through a Twitter poll Monday. Only one turkey can claim the title of Thanksgiving turkey, but both will be sent to veterinarians at Virginia Tech Two children of a 52-year-old Alabama woman who died on a cruise from Florida to Aruba say she was nervous about taking the trip. Timothy Tenorio told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday that his mother, Almarosa Tenorio, told him when she said goodbye that it might be the last time she hugged him. His sister Andrea Smith said their mother "did not want to go" on the Princess Cruises trip with her husband, Leo Tenorio. They said Leo Tenorio told them the couple were going to work on their relationship during the trip. Local authorities in Aruba said Leo Tenorio was questioned but is not a suspect. He thanked authorities for investigating in a statement to ABC News and said that "her death will haunt me forever." The Santa Clarita, California-based cruise line said in a statement Monday that the case remains an active investigation by the FBI. Almarosa Tenorio died on Nov. 13. What to Know 21-year-old Nicholas Sardo told Marion County Sheriffs deputies he had sex with the horse named Jackie G. after witnesses called police. A Florida man is behind bars after admitting to police that he had sex with a miniature horse several times in the course of a week. NBC affiliate WESH-TV reported that 21-year-old Nicholas Sardo told Marion County Sheriffs deputies he had sex with the horse named Jackie G. after witnesses say they saw the events last month outside of Ocala and called police. Sardo, who was charged with four counts of sexual contact with an animal, is being held at the Marion County Jail. He told investigators that he wore a condom during each of the four encounters because he didnt want to get a disease from the horse according to officials. A South Florida man was caught using a device to hide his license plate as he drove through a toll in Miami-Dade, authorities said. Robert Craig Davis, 70, was arrested Saturday on charges including organized fraud, cheating and petty theft, according to a Florida Highway Patrol arrest report. The report said an off-duty FHP lieutenant spotted a minivan using the device as it drove through the Bird Road toll plaza on the Florida's Turnpike in Miami-Dade. "The minivan had an apparatus affixed on the license plate which lowered a black cloth curtain in order to completely conceal the license plate as the vehicle passed through the toll plaza," the report noted. When Davis' minivan was searched, troopers found a remote control that was used to raise and lower the curtain, the report said. They also found a Sunpass transponder that was in a static shield bag in the glovebox. "The actions of the defendant showed an ongoing course of conduct with intent to defraud the Sunpass toll system," the report said. Davis, of Key Largo, was booked into jail and later released. Attorney information wasn't available. Photo: The Canadian Press Disgruntled police, military and prison guards stormed Papua New Guinea's Parliament on Tuesday in a violent pay dispute stemming from an international summit hosted by the impoverished South Pacific island nation over the weekend, a lawmaker said. Images posted by opposition lawmaker Bryan Kramer on social media showed broken windows, smashed furniture, pictures torn from walls and plants tipped over. Parliament's security check point including a metal detector was trashed and doors were destroyed along with their fingerprint-reading locking systems, Kramer said. He said the protesters had not been paid their promised allowances for their security work at the Pacific Rim leaders' summit held in Port Moresby, a city described by the World Bank as among the world's most violent due to high unemployment and brazen criminal gangs known as "raskols." The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting was attended by U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and others. When the protesters tried to enter Parliament, "there was a confrontation between Parliament security and members of the security forces," Kramer said. "It erupted into a scuffle, several staff were assaulted as they made their way into Parliament." Kramer said he did not see anyone use a weapon in the conflict and he was not aware of any serious injuries, although there were spots of blood throughout the building. Kramer and his opposition colleagues remained in a meeting room within the Parliament building throughout the 30-minute attack. Following the rampage, more than 100 police, military personnel and prison guards waited outside Parliament demanding to be addressed by the government about their allowances, Kramer said. But they eventually left the area. Working police later provided security for parliamentary staff in the building and patrolled surrounding streets. The violence at Parliament coincided with reports of looting of surrounding businesses, as criminals apparently took advantage of the breakdown in law and order. Neither Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's office nor police chief Superintendent Dominic Kakas immediately responded to requests for comment. Acting Correctional Services Commissioner Stephen Pokanis confirmed to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the protesters went to Parliament to demand the immediate payment of APEC allowances. Papua New Guinea APEC Coordination Authority chief executive Chris Hawkins said allowance payments to security personnel after a major event would normally take a week. "The meeting ended two days ago and the security operation is now winding down," Hawkins said in a statement. "The payment of individual allowances has already commenced and individual security force members should check with their banks as payments are made." What to Know Florida again was under scrutiny, especially as elections officials in Palm Beach and Broward counties struggled to count the vote. Trump-allied Republican Ron DeSantis was formally elected governor of Florida and outgoing Gov. Rick Scott elected U.S. senator on Tuesday when the state certified election results two weeks after tight margins prompted tumultuous recounts. The Elections Canvassing Commission met at the Florida Capitol to certify the results of the Nov. 6 election after two weeks of contention and finger-pointing. The meeting lasted a mere five minutes. The results: former U.S. Rep. DeSantis was elected by 32,463 votes out of more than 8 million cast, defeating Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. Scott defeated incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson by 10,033 votes. In yet a third recount and the closest of any of the statewide races, Democrat Nikki Fried defeated Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell by 6,753 votes for the Cabinet position of agriculture commissioner. DeSantis was able to come from behind and decisively win the Republican primary with the help of President Donald Trump, who tweeted his support for DeSantis and campaigned with him in Florida. Trump returned to Florida two more times in the final six days before the election to help boost turnout for DeSantis and Scott. DeSantis campaigned on continuing on the path Scott set for Florida and he's largely expected to govern in a similar fashion by attempting to cut government spending and regulations and trying to make the state more business friendly. He'll also find working with the Republican-led Legislature less frustrating than Washington's gridlock. Incoming Republican Senate President Bill Galvano said he's met with DeSantis a few times and is anticipating a good relationship. "If the level of communication that we have presently is an indicator of his willingness to work with the (House) speaker designate and myself and our members, I'm feeling pretty good about it," Galvano said. "There's a big difference between what we do here in Tallahassee versus what they do in Washington and for the most part it's a good difference on our side of the equation." Results were presented to the commission by Secretary of State Ken Detzner in a short ceremony void of fanfare. By law, the commission is made up of the governor and two of the three Cabinet members. But Scott said during the middle of the recount with Nelson that he wouldn't participate in the certification. Instead, Republican Sen. Rob Bradley, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who lost the Republican primary for governor to DeSantis, served as the commission. Bondi and Putnam participated by phone. "The voters can be assured that the results that we just certified reflect the intent of the voters in this election. Everyone who we certified as winners were the winners," Bradley said. "Now it's time to turn the page and move forward with governing. The election season's over." In 2014, Scott and all three Cabinet members declined to serve because each was on the ballot. The recounts were reminiscent of the 2000 presidential election, when Florida took more than five weeks to declare George W. Bush the victor over Vice President Al Gore by 537 votes. Florida became the laughingstock of the world during the chaotic recount that decided the presidency. Florida was under scrutiny this year as elections officials in Palm Beach and Broward counties struggled to count the vote. Scott and President Trump suggested there was fraud in the largely Democratic counties, and several lawsuits were filed during the process. Lawmakers have said they will look at election laws during the 2019 legislative session to avoid future problems. What to Know Baby Hope was the name given to a child found dumped in a cooler in the woods in upper Manhattan in 1991 Prosecutors say she had been suffocated and molested; her killing remained unsolved for more than two decades Restaurant worker Conrado Juarez had been awaiting trial for the last five years in the case A restaurant worker accused of killing a toddler known as Baby Hope, whose body was found in 1991 in a cooler in Manhattan, has died in custody. Conrado Juarez died Sunday at Montefiore Nyack Hospital following complications related to pancreatic cancer, an official told The New York Times. State Correction Commission spokeswoman Janine Kava also confirmed his death. The 57-year-old was awaiting trial for the last five years, charged in the murder of 4-year-old Angelica Castillo. The girl's naked body was found in a cooler that had been left in a wooded area in upper Manhattan. Prosecutors say she had been suffocated and molested. Her killing remained unsolved for more than two decades. Detectives named her Baby Hope. Juarez's lawyer, Michael J. Croce, declined to comment. What to Know The Bronx Zoo said it euthanized an Asian elephant name Maxine after it had fallen progressively ill The 48-year-old elephant came to the zoo in 1978 and after exhausting all options and determining she was could longer eat she was put down The New York City zoo has two remaining elephants, 47-year-old Happy and 48-year-old Patty The Bronx Zoo says it has euthanized a 48-year-old Asian elephant that had fallen progressively ill. The zoo said it decided to euthanize Maxine on Monday after exhausting all options and determining she was no longer able to eat. It said she had neurologic deterioration and generalized muscle weakness. Bronx Zoo Director Jim Breheny said Maxine, who came to the zoo in 1973, "died a peaceful death, surrounded by the keepers, curators and veterinarians who had cared for her throughout her life." The zoo has two remaining elephants, 47-year-old Happy and 48-year-old Patty. Breheny said the zoo will assess its elephant program following Maxine's death. Last month, an animal welfare group brought legal against the zoo, claiming Happy has similar rights to a human being and is being unlawfully imprisoned. In a legal petition filed in Orleans County, the Nonhuman Rights Project claimed Happy lived mostly alone since her mate was fatally injured in 2002 and should be relocated from the zoo to a larger private sanctuary. Zoo officials say Happy is content, not isolated and might suffer from a transfer. Breheny said the lawsuit is based on "ludicrous legal arguments and lies." What to Know Amazon plans to build a headquarters for 25,000 workers on the Long Island City waterfront Governor Andrew Cuomo says the deal will cost the state "nothing" The total value of the New York incentive package to Amazon could top $2.8 billion New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says a deal to bring Amazon's second headquarters to Queens will cost the state "nothing" - even though taxpayers will be on the hook for $325 million in direct grants to the company. Cuomo, a Democrat, went on New York City public radio Monday to defend the agreement, which also envisions $1.2 billion in state tax credits and more than $1 billion in additional incentives from New York City. Cuomo said despite the large investment, the city and state will come out ahead when billions of dollars in new tax revenues and economic activity from the company and its employees are factored in. "These people who come to New York ... they are going to be net positives, not net negatives," Cuomo said on WNYC radio. "They're going to bring wealth. They're going to be earning wealth. And that's going to be a stimulus, not a detraction." Critics of the deal say the state is giving away far too much to lure one of the world's biggest companies to the nation's largest city and financial center. As part of its expansion, Amazon is also planning a campus in Washington D.C.'s Virginia suburbs. The total value of the New York incentive package to Amazon could top $2.8 billion. In addition to nearly $1.53 billion in tax credits and grants offered by the state, Amazon would also qualify for two big tax breaks from the city. If the company follows through on a promise to create 25,000 high-paying jobs in Queens, it would qualify for a city income tax credit of nearly $900 million over 12 years. And on top of that, it would get a 15-year property-tax abatement worth an estimated $386 million. Last week, Cuomo claimed the deal would end up costing the state nothing when the incentives are offset by the benefits. According to his administration, the tax credits as well as the direct grants will be given to the company only when it hits certain benchmarks. Officials also note that the incentives are part of pre-existing economic development programs that have been used to lure other companies to the state. "This is a big moneymaker for us," he said. "It costs us nothing - nada, niente, goose egg. We make money doing this." The governor's optimism hasn't stopped some lawmakers from criticizing the incentives as overly generous. They've also blasted the secretive process by which the terms of the incentives were negotiated between Cuomo's administration and Amazon. Democratic state Sen. Michael Gianaris said Monday he will introduce legislation that would prohibit non-disclosure agreements between the state and private corporations seeking incentives. Gianaris said the idea is to ensure the taxpayers know exactly how much they could be paying before the deal is inked. State officials have defended the secrecy. "Corporate interests should not have the power to dictate to our governments when they should withhold important information from the public they serve," Gianaris said in a statement. "The secretive process surrounding the Amazon deal sets a dangerous precedent that must be prohibited so that our government answers to the people, not wealthy corporations." What to Know The mayor of North Bergen, who for years also served as a leading school administrator, has ten relatives working for the education system Insiders claim nepotism even corruption - are problems inside the North Bergen Board of Education A spokesman for the mayor says family members often follow relatives into stable public service jobs in any city or town The mayor of North Bergen, who for years also served as a leading school administrator, has 10 relatives working for the education system, an affiliated public technology school, and the town, according to public records. Our redesigned local news and weather app is live! Download it for iOS or Android and sign up for alerts. A close associate of Democratic Mayor Nicholas Sacco at the Board of Education has 11 of her relatives in local tax-payer funded jobs, most with the North Bergen school system. Some political allies of the mayor also have numerous relatives working jobs inside North Bergens Board of Education and with the town. Insiders claim nepotism even corruption - are problems inside the North Bergen Board of Education. An I-Team search of public records found Saccos 10 relatives earn $800,000 in taxpayer dollars each year, not including benefits. For example, Saccos son and daughter-in-law are both employed by the school system, earning $210,000 annually. Sacco has been mayor in North Bergen for nearly 30 years. He had also worked as a school administrator for three decades earning a top salary of about $260,000 in addition to his work as a state senator. Kathy Somick worked alongside Sacco at the Board of Education. Records show nine of her relatives have jobs at the schools. Somicks son Edward is a vice principal. His wife and his ex-wife also have jobs. Somicks two other sons Steven and James also are employed inside the school system, records show. A fourth son, Walter, has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges he falsified time sheets in his job at the North Bergen parks department. "When you see it laid out that way, it shows pretty clearly that there is favor and nepotism being given to family of people who are political allies of Nick Sacco," said one insider who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearful of retaliation by the mayor or his allies. "The way that he wields power is through patronage, the use of favors, job placement and the brokering of loyalty," the worker said. Dozens of taxpayer-funded jobs in North Bergen and Hudson County are held by relatives of Sacco as well as his associates' relatives. Numerous of those jobs have been publicly disclosed with the New Jersey Department of Education. Based on official public records and social media accounts, the I-Team has created this interactive political network that highlights Saccos ties inside the towns schools and Hudson County. You can choose to view it full screen and navigate through the presentation. Use the right arrow for a pre-programmed navigation (left arrow takes you back one step). On a mobile device, the right side of the screen acts as the right arrow. Sacco associate Hugo Cabrera is the North Bergen Parks Commissioner. Cabrera earns $14,500 with the town and another $173,000 as a secretary for the Board of Education. He also sits on the board of the Hudson County Schools of Technology. Cabreras wife, son, daughter, sister and brother work for the North Bergen Board of Education. Their salaries add up to more than $500,000 a year, the review of public records found. Saccos Public Works Commissioner Frank Gargiulo makes $14,500 from the town. Gargiulo is recently retired from the Schools of Technology where some buildings carry his name. He had been earning $270,000 per year in that post. Records show Gargiulos two daughters work for North Bergens education system. He also has a niece working at the Schools of Technology. And Gargiulo has a son-in-law who had jobs at both the board of education and the town. "There is a pattern here that I think cries out for investigation," said former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg who is also and NBC News legal analyst. "It is possible the mayors relatives and friends are superbly well qualified for these jobs. And it is also possible they are not, and that they are there for another reason," Rosenberg said. Rosenberg added he believes that the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney along with state investigators should likely want to review how these dozens of jobs were awarded. Others speaking on condition of anonymity tell the I-Team that pressure exists to show loyalty to the mayor. Multiple current and former educators and law enforcement officials in Hudson County claim their employment in North Bergen is contingent on making campaign contributions, helping get the vote out on Election Day, and personally attending the mayors fundraisers, including his annual ball. Mayor Sacco declined repeated requests for an interview. In a statement, his spokesman Phil Swibinski said the News 4 I-Team is "either fundamentally biased and part of a political smear (by Sacco opponents), or incompetent." Swibinski added in a follow-up letter that no one is forced "to engage in political activity of any kind." He added family members often follow relatives into stable public service jobs in any city or town. To read the full statement from a spokesman for the mayor, click here. Last month, at the mayors annual fundraising ball, some teachers voiced support for Sacco. "We have to support our town. We have to support our officials. And we are happy to do it. And we do it every year." Another added. "This is our tenure year so its important to be surrounded by all the members of the board. Its important for us." But others who didn't want to go on camera pointed to other examples of concern. John Belluardo is chair of the North Bergen Democratic Municipal Committee, a political fundraising group with close ties to Sacco. Records show Belluardo earns $193,000 at the board of education and has another job working as a housing inspector in North Bergen. He has three relatives with positions tied to the schools. "Political patronage is not new in our country," former prosecutor Rosenberg said. "The important question here is whether the mayor is getting some improper benefit from placing people in these jobs." The mayors spokesman wrote a letter to News 4 New York management complaining the I-Team likely used a convicted felon and a lead political opponent as sources for this report. That claim is not true, as neither were among the current and former employees contacted for this report. Emails and calls to each person named in this report either declined comment or pointed us to the mayors spokesman for comment. What to Know Karina Vetrano's 2016 strangulation death shocked the city; her body was found by her father and police hours after she went missing Chanel Lewis, of East New York, is charged with murder and sexual abuse in her strangulation death; he has pleaded not guilty Lewis was connected to the case via DNA evidence that was obtained from underneath Vetrano's fingernails The jury has been charged in the trial of a 22-year-old man accused of brutally snatching and murdering a young woman when she went out for a run in her Queens neighborhood two years ago. The jury, comprised of 11 women and five men, started deliberating briefly Monday evening before going home for the day. They'll return Tuesday morning to continue. Earlier, the defense for Chanel Lewis claimed in closing arguments that a confession was obtained under duress and the evidence in the case was weak. They said the entire case was based on a rush to judgment and that prosecutors lacked the burden of proof. Lewis was 20 when he allegedly sexually assaulted and strangled Karina Vetrano; he has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and sexual abuse in her death. Prosecutors said he was connected to the case via DNA evidence obtained from underneath Vetrano's fingernails. The medical examiner had said she fought for her life. But the defense said the DNA found on the Vetrano's body was miniscule, and that police were eager to make an arrest six months after her body was found. "This is a rush to judgment," one of Lewis' lawyers said. The defense also claimed there was sloppy police work, starting with the crime scene. Vetrano's father, Phil Vetrano, was among the group that found her body in Howard Beach's Spring Creek Park hours after she was reported missing. In his own testimony, described how he lifted up and hugged her lifeless body. He broke down on the stand as he testified about the horror last week. I let out this sound that I that I never made before or since. It was I dont know. It was like a wail, he recalled. And then I screamed, My baby, my baby. The defense said because of that, "The crime scene became corrupted for the first time. You can't blame Mr. Vetrano for what he did. He did what any dad would do." Vetrano, 30, went out for her usual run on Aug. 2, 2016. She never came home. Chanel Lewis, 22, was arrested in the killing about six months after Vetrano's death. In a confession tape played during the trial last week, Lewis was heard saying he was angry about the loud music his neighbor had been playing when he encountered Vetrano jogging on the park trail. While you were in the park, did something happen? Assistant District Attorney Peter McCormack asks Lewis on the tape, which is dated Feb. 5, 2017. Yes, Lewis replied. Lewis then admits that he got angry and started hitting [Vetrano] in the face and mouth, video shows. At some point during the attack, Vetranos tooth broke, he says, adding that Vetranos face ended up in a pool of water. Lewis also admits to putting his hands around Vetranos neck and hitting her for about five minutes, before dragging her somewhere off the pathway. Her clothing was pulled off, but Lewis denies sexually assaulting her. Prosecutors are expected to make their closing arguments later Monday before the case goes to the jury. Lewis faces up to life in prison if he is convicted. What's more New York than almost sitting on a partially-nude man painted to camouflage into a classic subway cart? That exact sight materialized on a G train last week thanks to painter Kori Moore, who spent four hours painting model Hardy Brooklyn to blend into an orange subway seat and a map of the NYC subway system last Thursday. The painting was rather convincing, apparently. "A lot of people, in true NYC fashion didn't give a s*** and payed us no mind," Moore said. "But the best compliment was when someone stepped in and almost sat on him." Man Painted to Look Like Subway Car and Map Goes Viral Moore, originally from Ohio but now based in Philadelphia, teamed up with the wildly popular Instagram account Subway Creatures for the living art piece. Photos of the spectacle were taken by photographer Dre Verrios of the Instagram account MrNYCSubway and a video was shot for Subway Creatures. That video is now going viral on the Subway Creatures page, with more than 380,000 views. Moore says Subway Creatures asked them to collaborate after their first foray into body art -- painting a male model into a flower -- ended up on the account. Moore pitched the idea of camouflaging the model into a subway seat to celebrate the iconic New York City subway and its people. [NATL-NY] New Yorkers' Dogged Determination to Get Pets on Trains "A lot of the comments on the Subway Creatures' Instagram post were about how well he blended in. Which is great for a city where everyone wants to stand out," Moore said. "Also someone said [real New York] camouflage would have been black pants, jacket, sunglasses and ear buds with a phone to the face. This is a fun juxtaposition to that comment." See more of Moore's work here. MTA Conductors Spill 10 Secrets of the NYC Subway System What to Know Fired DOI commissioner Mark Peters released a letter to the City Council blasting Mayor Bill de Blasio De Blasio had announced Friday that he was firing Peters, saying he had abused the powers of his office Peters said the mayor was punishing him for past work, including reports on child welfare services and lead paint in public housing The commissioner of an agency that investigates waste and malfeasance in New York City government said Monday that he was pressured to not release critical reports by Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration and then fired under false pretexts. Department of Investigations Commissioner Mark Peters released a letter to the City Council blasting de Blasio, saying his interactions with the DOI "must cast doubt upon the mayor's true motives." The mayor, a Democrat, had announced Friday that he was firing Peters, saying he had abused the powers of his office. In the letter, Peters, who is still on the job until at least Wednesday, pushed back. He suggested that the mayor was punishing him for past work, including reports on child welfare services and lead paint in public housing. Peters said that on one occasion, in early 2017, de Blasio phoned him personally to ask him to release a report criticizing the Administration for Children's Services following the death of a child under agency supervision. "When I informed the mayor that DOI was obligated to make its findings public he yelled at me, accused me of trying to bring his administration 'down' and then informed me he was 'going to hang up now before I say something I shouldn't.'" He said in November of 2017, before DOI released a report that the New York City Housing Authority had failed for years to conduct proper lead inspections and tried to conceal it, he was asked by a de Blasio administration official to not release the report. A de Blasio spokesman denied Peters' suggestion. "The suggestion that anyone at City Hall including the Mayor tried to stop any DOI review is entirely false," said Eric Phillips. Peters' letter came out as de Blasio faced yet more questions over how the city has dealt with lead paint concerns following a report from The New York Times saying that for at least 20 years, NYCHA challenged almost all findings of lead paint in its apartments and orders from the city's Health Department to remediate them, and often were able to get that department to back down. That followed other media reports, like one saying more than 800 children in public housing had been found with elevated lead levels in their bloodstream between 2012 and 2016. At an event Monday to announce improvements to NYCHA housing through an unrelated program, de Blasio insisted that his administration came in not knowing the scope of the problem and had taken steps to deal with problems around lead paint as officials became aware of them, and that the city no longer challenged remediation orders from the Health Department. "Once it started to be clear that there was something fundamentally wrong, piece by piece we have tried to address the lead issue," de Blasio said. Lead is only one of the issues facing the city's massive and beleaguered public housing system. Last week, a judge rejected a $2 billion deal aimed at settling lawsuits over unhealthy conditions for its residents, saying more can be done in buildings that are "literally falling apart." A public hearing in September attracted dozens of residents to complain about rats, roaches and mold in buildings run by the agency. The judge said authorities may have to consider public-private housing partnerships or replacing management of NYCHA. De Blasio pushed back against that idea Monday, saying he thought the structure in place now was the best way to move forward, and that the city would be working with federal officials to try to find a way forward. The housing agency's annual operating budget is $2.3 billion for public housing where nearly 400,000 low- and moderate-income residents live. Tenants pay an average of $522 a month in rent, with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development subsidizing the rest. What to Know The Brooklyn rapper known as Tekashi 69 or 6ix9ine is in custody on federal charges Tekashi is facing racketeering and firearms charges for his role in a violent street gang, prosecutors say Born Daniel Hernandez, he was just sentenced to probation last month in a sex crimes case Photos of a large automatic weapon and a backpack marked 'Scum' found at rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine's apartment have been been revealed in a court filing. The images of the pistol and the backpack -- which prosecutors say link the rapper to an April 3 robbery near Times Square -- were published in a letter to a New York judge Monday requesting that Tekashi69 be locked up pending trial. The prosecutor said he feared Tekashi69 could easily flee because he was rich -- he was often seen wearing expensive jewels and regularly withdraws as much as $100,000 at a time, he said. 6ix9ine was deemed a likely danger to the community and denied bail Monday. The prosecutor also said there was evidence that he directed or participated in multiple acts of violence as part of a deadly gang. U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman concluded an hourlong hearing by citing "troubling" corroborating evidence offered by a prosecutor to show that 6ix9ine directed or participated in multiple acts of violence over the last eight months. The Brooklyn native, born Daniel Hernandez, and his associates were part of the Nine Trey gang, who "wreaked havoc on New York City, engaging in brazen acts of violence," federal prosecutors said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Longyear said the 'Scum' backpack stolen during a gunpoint robbery in April was found during a raid at 6ix9ine's Brooklyn residence, along with an automatic pistol. "The defendant is quite violent," the prosecutor said of a man whose debut album, Day 69, was among the most downloaded records on iTunes. Longyear said 6ix9ine was captured on surveillance video as he sat in a car and filmed the scene in Times Square when his co-defendants carried out a violent robbery against a rival gang member. The prosecutor said he was also part of a video boasting about shots recently fired by a co-defendant in Brooklyn's Barclays Center. Longyear also said the rapper was a threat to flee because of his worldwide connections, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and the knowledge that a conviction would bring a mandatory minimum sentence of 32 years in prison and as much as life. Pitman ordered 6ix9ine held until a Tuesday bail hearing, saying he was concerned about the danger to the community, particularly because the rapper could direct others to carry out acts of violence. 6ix9ine was among five people charged in an indictment containing racketeering and firearms charges. The indictment alleged that he participated in the July shooting of a bystander in Brooklyn and the gunpoint robbery of one of his gang's rivals last spring. His lawyer, Lance Lazzaro, said 6ix9nine posed no threat and denies directing or playing any other role in violence. Lazzaro said his client had fired some of his co-defendants as part of his management and security team last week and was offered protection by federal agents on Saturday after some of them were overheard on wiretaps threatening his life. After the rapper refused protection, he was arrested on Sunday. 6ix9ine has been one of the most ascendant and controversial names in hip-hop in recent months. His album Day69: Graduation Day was among the top records on iTunes following its February release. He is also known for the multiplatinum hit "Fefe" with Nicki Minaj, which peaked at No. 3 on the pop charts, and "Stoopid," featuring the incarcerated rapper Bobby Shmurda. But 6ix9ine also has had a series of run-ins with law enforcement and has publicly identified himself as a member of a violent New York gang, 9 Trey Bloods, which was mentioned throughout the indictment. Prosecutors said the gang carried out acts of murder, robbery and narcotics trafficking in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn since at least 2013. The indictment said each gang member was required to participate in at least two acts of racketeering conspiracy. Those acts could include murder, robbery, extortion and drug distribution, the court papers said. The gang members "showed an unprecedented level of violence this year," added Homeland Security special agent in charge Angel M. Melendez in a press release. They retaliated against rival gangs, committing robberies and pushing highly addictive drugs like heroin, fentanyl and MDMA in New York City streets, authorities said. The 22-year-old Hernandez recently pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in Brooklyn Criminal Court in connection with a May traffic stop. In a 2015 case in New York, 6ix9ine was sentenced to probation for his involvement in a sexually explicit video of a 13-year-old girl. The video, posted on social media, showed the girl performing a sex act on another man while 6ix9ine "stands behind the child making a thrusting motion with his pelvis and smacking her on her buttocks," according to court documents. The mother of a U.S. diplomat who fell ill after suspected "health attacks" in China is speaking out, sharing her family's harrowing story with NBC News in hopes of raising awareness about the potential danger facing American diplomats and other workers around the world. Laura Hughes, an Air Force veteran, says her daughter Catherine Werner is struggling with the effects of traumatic brain injury after experiencing strange sounds and sensations at her apartment in Guangzhou, where Werner was a foreign trade officer until being medevac'd out earlier this year. She's calling on the State Department to do more to solve the mystery that has eluded investigators since U.S. diplomats and spies starting getting sick in Cuba in late 2016. "I do not believe that our military, our diplomats around the world or here at home are safe," Hughes told NBC News. "Because this weapon system is creating havoc." The Cuban and Chinese embassies in Washington did not respond to NBC News inquiries about the Werner case. Photo: CTV UPDATE: 1:50 p.m. Police are appealing to members of the Hells Angels to come forward with information about a gang member's death. Cpl. Frank Jang of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said members of the Hells Angels may have "intimate knowledge" of what happened, and he urged them to speak to officers, regardless of their current involvement in criminal activity. "We will go to wherever you are, we will sit down and speak with you and we will treat you with the utmost respect. We want to solve your friend's your associate's murder as much as you do," Jang told a news conference in Surrey. The cause of Wilson's death has not been released, but is believed to be targeted. The Canadian Press ORIGINAL: 9:55 a.m. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has confirmed a man found dead under the Golden Ears Bridge in Maple Ridge is Hells Angels member Chad Wilson. Wilson was publicly identified on social media, Monday, after a bloodied body was found under the bridge on Sunday. IHIT says Wilson, 43, of Maple Ridge, was a victim of homicide and is seeking public assistance in the investigation. IHIT is working with Ridge Meadows RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and the B.C. Coroners Service to gather evidence. "Mr. Wilson was a well-established member of an organized crime group, and it is believed that his homicide was not random. IHIT will be engaging with numerous gang enforcement units throughout the Lower Mainland region that will be working to mitigate any ongoing violence," IHIT said in a press release Tuesday morning. While the motive for Mr. Wilsons murder has not been confirmed, this is yet another reminder of the significant dangers posed to ones life by being part of a criminal organization, said Cpl. Frank Jang. Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448), email [email protected] or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). What to Know Among cities with highest homicide rates, Philadelphia is the only one where police rush gunshot and stab wound victims to trauma centers. Last year, police drove 408 gunshot victims to Philadelphia trauma centers, according to the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. Beyond its life-saving potential, some say scoop and run could enhance public safety in communities with broad distrust of police. EDITOR'S NOTE: Elizabeth Van Brocklin is a staff reporter at The Trace. This story was published through a partnership between The Trace and NBC Philadelphia. Ian Hirst-Hermans lay on the ground bleeding from a gunshot wound to his chest. He had been shot after leaving a house party just after 2 a.m. Within seconds, as he remembers, a police car came racing down the one-way North Philadelphia street in the wrong direction. Two cops jumped out and, with the help of his friend, lifted Hirst-Hermans into the back. Blood pooled beneath the 20-year-old on the hard plastic backseat. He was sure he was going to die. Then from the front of the car came a calming voice. One of the officers was asking him questions about his college classes, telling him he was going to make it. Hirst-Hermans last memory of the drive was the siren of an ambulance blaring past and one of the officers saying, There goes your ride. Had he been shot in another city, Hirst-Hermans might have died. The bullet hit a major artery in his chest, and hed lost a lot of blood. A surgeon later told him that hed made it to the hospital with less than a minute to spare. Among cities with the highest rates of homicide, Philadelphia is the only one where police routinely rush gunshot and stab wound victims to the nearest trauma center instead of waiting for an ambulance. The practice known as scoop and run or scoop and go is deeply entrenched among the citys law enforcement officers, who focus their patrol in areas with the highest instances of violent crime and, as a result, frequently beat EMS to crime scenes. The sense has always been, get that person to the hospital quick, says John Stanford, a captain and 16-year veteran of the Police Department. Its just something you do. Last year, a third of Philadelphias 1,223 shooting victims were delivered to a city trauma center in the back of a police cruiser or wagon. At Temple University Hospital, the busiest hospital for gunshot patients in the state, about 70 percent of victims of penetrating trauma arrive by police vehicle or private vehicle, or simply walk in. Scoop and Runs on Philadelphia Streets Six out of every 100 trauma victims in the city of Philadelphia in the first half of 2018 arrived at the hospital by police vehicle. Here are some of the "scoops" seen via SEPTA police body cameras. (The victims in these videos have been blurred to protect their identity.) Though Philadelphia police receive basic training on treating gunshot wounds, including how to apply a tourniquet, most of the victims they transport receive little or no medical care until theyre through the hospital doors. The practice challenges how most people think victims should be cared for. Yet trauma doctors in the city are effusive about scoop and run, and believe it saves lives. Patients often survive the initial gunshot, but unfortunately a large number of them bleed out fairly quickly, within seconds and minutes, says Marcin Jankowski, the head of trauma and surgical critical care at Hahnemann University Hospital, one of the citys eight trauma centers. Doctors say the faster these patients can get to a trauma center, the better their chances at survival. Philadelphia is unique. The police have definitely taken ownership of getting patients to us as quickly as possible, he adds. Beyond its life-saving potential, some say scoop and run could enhance public safety in communities with broad distrust of police. When officers lift victims into the backseats of their cars, they become true first responders, shifting roles from enforcer to guardian, from soldier to protector. Philadelphia police give the NBC10 Investigators an exclusive look at how scoop and run is saving lives. And George Spencer looks into why police are transporting more and more shooting victims to the hospital. As intuitive as scoop and run is among Philadelphia cops, police departments in other cities have little appetite for the practice. They argue that cops have other important responsibilities, like solving crimes; they lack the advanced medical training required of EMTs and paramedics; and there could be liability issues when victims dont survive. In certain circumstances, police in other cities already embrace scoop and run. Reports from the scenes of mass shootings include numerous examples of officers rushing victims to the hospital. And departments surveyed by The Trace and NBC Philadelphia pointed to another exception: Cops sometimes rush their wounded colleagues to the hospital. Research suggests cities should consider innovative transport methods for all shooting victims. A recent national study found that the rate of gunshot victims who died en route to the hospital quadrupled between 2007 and 2014. Their injuries are so severe that by the time they come to us, its very difficult to save their life, says Joseph Sakran, the studys author and a trauma surgeon at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. After the two Philadelphia cops delivered Ian Hirst-Hermans to Temples trauma center that night eight years ago, surgeons got to work, removing an artery from his thigh to replace the destroyed one in his chest. He awoke the next day shaken. But his mood brightened when the two officers who scooped him came to visit. One joked that Hirst-Hermans needed to hurry up and get well so he could clean the blood out of their car. Hirst-Hermans texts the officers every holiday season to thank them for getting him to the hospital. A few years ago, he had their last names tattooed in thick black cursive beneath his clavicle. Theyre my heroes, he says. Im eternally grateful to those guys." Ian Hirst-Hermans remembers the party. He remembers the shooting and the blood. He remembers the two cops who saved his life when they threw him in their backseat and raced him to a hospital. Hes one of the hundreds of gunshot victims that the Philadelphia Police Department have rushed to hospitals instead of waiting for an ambulance. Heres his story... In Philadelphia, scoop and run is such a long-held tradition that many officers cant imagine their jobs without it. It was just something that was understood, that getting the person to the hospital was part of your duties, says Kevin Bethel, a retired former deputy police commissioner who joined the department in the mid-eighties. Steven Davidson, a retired emergency physician and former EMS medical director for Philadelphia, remembers being a medical student in 1973 at Temple. He recalls how police would put the victim of violence on a stretcher, throw em on the floor of the police van, and drive like crazy to the hospital. Last year, police drove 408 gunshot victims to Philadelphia trauma centers, according to the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, the states accrediting agency for trauma centers. In the past decade, police scoop and runs of gunshot victims have nearly doubled, even as shootings have remained fairly level. The practice has become so common, one Level I trauma center recently designated a drop-off lane for cop cars. Officials say that even when a Philadelphia police officer shoots a civilian, another officer will scoop them. Davidson helped lead one of the first systematic evaluations of scoop and run, a 1995 study that compared mortality rates of assault victims transported by police to those driven by medics. The researchers found no significant differences in survival. A year later, the Philadelphia Police Department formalized its policy, which instructs officers to transport gunshot and stabbing victims and not wait for EMS. In the years since, research on the citys practice has reached similar conclusions. The studies are far from perfect they did not control for transport times or medical interventions in the field but many clinicians interpret the findings to mean police transport is safe for patients, and in some cases advantageous. One citywide study included a subset of people severely injured by gunshots. Compared to those transported by EMS, patients ferried by police had higher rates of surviving their wounds. Philly police interviewed by The Trace and NBC Philadelphia consider scoop and run a natural part of their role. The only protective gear they carry are medical gloves; they expect to get bloody. We dont join the Police Department to watch people die, says Stephen Clark, a captain for the 24th District, which has seen some of the highest numbers of shootings in the city. To residents on the other end of a scoop and run, its logic may be less obvious. Rather than being tended to by trained EMTs and paramedics with a range of medical supplies and equipment, they are hoisted into the back of police cars, where they may not even receive direct pressure to their wounds, not to mention a buckled seat belt. You hitting bumps, you bleeding, your bodys going all over the place, says Terry Starks, who was transported by a cop after being shot five times in 2002. Philadelphia officials say that, to the best of their knowledge, neither the Police Department nor the city have been sued over police transport of victims. The Trace identified two civil lawsuits brought against the city by individual families who alleged the actions of police including transporting and not applying pressure contributed to their sons deaths. Neither went to trial. According to some trauma doctors, the lack of medical intervention that victims receive during the typical scoop and run is part of what makes the practice beneficial. Advanced procedures like breathing tubes and IV fluids, while helpful for certain kinds of patients, may actually do more harm than good for shooting and stabbing victims in urban areas. Id love to debunk the myth that you need a person on the scene who has all this advanced medical training and that is going to make the difference for this specific kind of injury, says Elliott Haut, a Johns Hopkins trauma surgeon. For a presentation he gives at conferences, he shows a slide that asks whats the best fluid to give victims of penetrating trauma. Then he clicks to the next slide, which reads diesel fuel. Haut says, Yes, youre going to get less medical care on the street and in the back of the car, but Im OK with that because the shorter time is going to make a difference. Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel, who oversees the citys EMTs and paramedics, says his ranks share a mutual understanding with the police when it comes to gunshot patients. Based on the medical evidence, the goal of our entire public safety enterprise is to get those penetrating trauma patients to the nearest trauma center, he says regardless of whether thats in an ambulance or a cruiser. And with the hundreds of thousands of medical and fire calls his department responds to each year, everything helps. NBC10 To understand how other cities regard scoop and run, The Trace and NBC Philadelphia surveyed police departments in more than a dozen cities with the highest homicide rates in the country. While several police departments have policies permitting their officers to conduct transports including Chicago, Detroit, and Stockton, California none reported transporting victims on a regular basis. Culture eats policy for lunch, says Rick Myers, executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which represents the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada. The culture of the organization, the this-is-how-we-do-stuff-around-here, is a far more powerful factor in behavior than whats stuck up on the wall. In Cleveland, a directive gives officers the option to transport a victim after assessing the totality of the circumstances (e.g., location of incident, proximity of a hospital, proximity of EMS, nature of injury). Officers found themselves weighing those factors last winter when they discovered a gunshot victim in Euclid, a suburb just beyond Clevelands city limits. Hed been shot 16 times. In footage captured by a responding officers body cam, the victim lies on a snowbank, his face blurred out. Lights from police vehicles strobe as officers ask him questions and count his wounds. He groans and begs to be taken to a hospital. A minute passes, then another. No sign of EMS. At one point Euclid patrolmen use the victims belt to make a tourniquet for his leg. A third minute goes by still nothing. What are we waiting for? asks one cop, her voice pitched with incredulity. This kid needs a f------ hospital, says another. After four minutes, the officers decide to take the victim themselves. One drives and another sits in back, putting pressure on the victims wounds. They arrive in less than two minutes. The man survived, and a local columnist hailed scoop-and-run as a life-saving procedure for which police fail to get nearly enough credit. But in a subsequent op-ed, a representative of the citys paramedic and EMT union attributed the incident to dispatch confusion between the two cities, and argued that Cleveland residents would not benefit from a Philadelphia-style police transport program. Among his reasons, he pointed out that Philadelphia has five adult Level I trauma centers all within close proximity, while Cleveland has just two on opposite sides of town. Police departments in Memphis and Cincinnati cited other reasons for not regularly practicing scoop and run, arguing that EMS units are better trained to handle severely injured patients. The New Orleans Police Department says its first priority is to secure the scene hard to do if theyre speeding to the hospital. Philadelphia cops would dispute that; they see a public safety benefit to scoop and run.Part of our transporting people helps decrease civil unrest, said Verdell Johnson, a Philadelphia police inspector, at a recent trauma conference. When we get out there and we have a shooting victim, if hes shot by another person, its really chaotic, so we get them out of there. Police officers in the City of Brotherly Love often race shooting victims to the hospital rather than wait for paramedics. Experts in trauma and policing say more cities should consider it. Myers, the chiefs association director, questioned the wisdom of devoting resources to training police to scoop, especially at a time when were trying to train our officers to be better at de-escalation, reducing the use of force, be better communicators, get out of their cars and develop a relationship with community members to develop more trust. Neighborhoods with disproportionately high gun violence are often the same places where residents fear and distrust the police. The tension can make both law enforcement and residents skeptical of scoop and run. In Sacramento, where the killing of an unarmed 22-year-old by officers in March became yet another public symbol of police brutality against young black men, a spokesperson for the department said scoop and run could be a big challenge because of the scrutiny right now. Evin Johnson Sr., a gunshot survivor who works with other victims in the city, echoed the sentiment. I dont think the community would receive that well, he said. [Cops] dont care if you die, they just want the information for who shot you. Philadelphia experiences the same dynamics in April, two black men waiting for a friend in Starbucks were arrested for trespassing. I can tell you about times where theres a victim in the back of my car and every other word is an expletive to us. F you, Im not snitching, punk-ass cop, says Stanford, the Philadelphia captain. And Im still driving like a bat out of hell to get this guy to the hospital to save his life. Some scoop and run proponents hypothesize that having an officer spirit you or a loved one to the hospital at a life-or-death moment might have an unexplored power to help mend trust between police and residents of high-crime neighborhoods. Being able to say to the community, here are instances when police have saved the lives of these frequently young victims of gun violence, I think is another justification for doing this, says Jim Bueermann, president of the National Police Foundation, a policing innovation nonprofit. Bueermann speaks about scoop and run in existential terms. On this issue, he says, the Philadelphia Police Department is directly connected to the spirituality of policing the point of police work, to protect and serve. The things cops see day in and day out are frequently negative, he adds. Having an opportunity to save a life in the performance of their duties gives officers a tremendous emotional boost. Still, he thinks that more widespread adoption of scoop and run will require buy-in not just from police chiefs, but also city managers, city attorneys, mayors, and other local leaders. Doesnt mean youre going to mandate it, but you have to allow in your policy, practice, training, messaging, and culture that if the officers do this, theyre not going to get in trouble. A few weeks ago in Philadelphia, Penn Medicine hosted a conference at which clinicians held a debate and panel on police transport for trauma victims. Dan Holena, a trauma surgeon at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, conceded that scoop and run would probably not work in certain places, like cities with a lower concentration of trauma centers. I can think of a half a dozen major U.S. cities where this could work and really should work, and the only reason that its not are things like local policies, culture, and legal concerns that really dont have to do with care of the patient. Officials in Camden, New Jersey, decided to take a chance on scoop and run a few years ago. The chief of police, Scott Thomson, had gotten the idea from the citys neighbor, Philadelphia, and hoped it would help build cops credibility among residents. At first, some officers were wary. Anytime, you implement something new and fundamentally different, theres hesitation and some folks resist, Thomson says. But he says they came around, and now his officers scoop about one in every five of Camdens gunshot and stab wound victims. In a few cases, officers even transported victims who were shooting directly at them. The streets are always watching, Thomson says. And they see your behavior, and actions speak far louder than words. Heroes behind the healing. Police officers are saving lives through scoop and runs, rushing trauma victims to the hospital themselves. The NBC10 Investigators take a look at its impact. Lidl, a global discount supermarket chain, just announced a store opening in Folsom. The new location, at 420 MacDade Blvd., is Lidls first store in the state. Itll join a network of more than 50 American Lidl stores in Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, North and South Carolina and Virginia. Doors will open to the public on Dec. 5 at 8 a.m. after a ribbon-cutting ceremony. New customers will be met by samples, games, prizes, giveaways and free reusable Lidl bags while supplies last. As a Philly native, store manager Ken Abernathy said hes happy to introduce shoppers in the area to Lidl. My team and I are looking forward to serving the community, Abernathy said. A German-based grocery brand, Lidl operates more than 10,000 stores in 29 countries. Aldi, one of its prime competitors, already runs multiple stores in the Philadelphia area. Southern California air-quality regulators issued a smoke advisory Monday due to the deadly Camp Fire burning in Northern California. According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, smoke from the Northern California fire has begun to move into parts of Southern California, contributing to air quality that can be potentially unhealthy. The AQMD issued a smoke advisory that will last through at least Tuesday afternoon for areas including most of Los Angeles County, including the San Fernando Valley, western and southern San Gabriel Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley and northwestern and southwestern coastal areas. The advisory also includes northern and central Orange County, along with the Capistrano Valley and coastal areas. Residents of areas affected by smoke were urged to limit physical exertion and avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure. People with sensitive conditions such as heart disease, asthma and other chronic respiratory problems were urged to remain indoors as much as possible. California Senator Kamala Harris said the deployment of military forces to the U.S.-Mexico border is a political stunt orchestrated by President Donald Trump for TV cameras. Senator Harris, a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, toured San Diegos Camp Pendleton on Monday and met with Marines of 1 Marine Expeditionary Force. Harris was briefed on 1 MEFs operations and its role in national defense and intelligence, but said she visited the base to meet with military families and thank them for their service and sacrifice. She also criticized the deployment of more than 1,100 Marines, and thousands more troops from other branches, to assist Customs and Border Patrol in what it is calling Operation Secure Line, a "border hardening" mission meant to prepare the areas infrastructure for the arrival of thousands of migrants hoping to seek asylum in the United States. Harris said she believes the administrations decision to deploy troops to the border was based on a political agenda and said it was an inappropriate use of the countrys limited resources. These [service members] who are deployed are going to leave their families, they will not be home, it looks like, for Thanksgiving, all because there needed to be some demonstration for the TV cameras based on a political agenda instead of what is a national security threat, the Senator said. Great to be at Camp Pendleton before Thanksgiving to thank our Marines and their families for all they sacrifice. What I saw today are incredibly dedicated Americans who are serving our country, doing extraordinary work. pic.twitter.com/WgqFgCHwQP Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) November 20, 2018 The Department of Defense insisted last week that the troops were sent there to help CBP and nothing else. Analysts and the Pentagon estimate that the entire deployment operation could cost $200 million. Harris also spoke about Marines and other service members involvement in the fight against devastating wildfires burning across the state, and used it as an example of how military members affect people and communities in their country whom theyll never meet or visit. Part of the importance of moments like this is remembering that there are real men and women behind the seal of the United State of America who are dedicating their lives in service and we cannot ever thank them enough for all that they do, Harris said. Harris also said she spent time with spouses of deployed and active-duty Marines who are concerned about their safety and livelihood in military housing, and said it was important that troops be given the dignity they are due. Homes on Camp Pendleton and other military bases across the country were found to have mice infestations and mold problems, according to a Reuters report. A letter signed by Harris and fellow California Senator Diane Feinstein asked Department of Defense Secretary James Mattis and the Pentagon to conduct a fact-finding mission into the problems. Harris said humidity and mold were among the concerns of Marine families she spoke with Monday. A spokesperson for the Government Accountability Office told NBC 7 a review of military housing conditions was ordered by the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Harris was also critical of the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as Acting Attorney General, saying the Attorney General should be someone who is constitutionally appointed and someone who will be very clear that they will protect Bob Muellers investigation. The senator tweeted earlier in the day that she supports a lawsuit challenging the appointment filed by senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). What to Know The U.S. has lost more than 2,400 soldiers in its longest war and spent more than $900 billion trying to stabilize the country When U.S. forces and their Afghan allies rode into Kabul in November 2001 they were greeted as liberators After 17 years of war, the Taliban have retaken half the country, and security is worse than its ever been The U.S. and Afghan governments have made "little clear progress" recently in compelling the Taliban to negotiate a peace deal, according to a new U.S. assessment Monday that said military and political signs point toward continued stalemate. "Progress toward peace remains elusive," Glenn A. Fine, the acting Pentagon inspector general, wrote in an introduction to a comprehensive review of military, political and humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan during the July-September period. These were the final three months of the 17th year of a war that began in October 2001. The report offered little support for the Trump administration's assertions that its revised war strategy, announced in August 2017, is bringing the Afghan government and the Taliban insurgency closer to peace and reconciliation. When he visited Kabul in July, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the strategy "is indeed working." In the three months following Pompeo's visit, the Taliban demonstrated their resilience even as the U.S. military continued its focus on training and advising the Afghan army and police while helping develop an Afghan air force. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Saturday that efforts to draw the Taliban into peace talks are being made "below the surface." But he indicated that progress is insufficient. "We're a long way from where we could say that we're on the right path," Dunford said at the Halifax International Security Forum, referring to effectively combining military, political and social pressure on the Taliban. Noting that U.S. officials as recently as a year ago called the war a stalemate, Dunford said, "it hasn't changed much" since. Pulling the Taliban into peace negotiations has been the central feature of the Trump administration's Afghanistan strategy, with little result so far. The effort has intensified since Zalmay Khalilzad, a former U.S. ambassador to Kabul, was appointed a special U.S. envoy to Afghanistan in September. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that Khalilzad held three days of talks with the Taliban in the Gulf state of Qatar. Without referring explicitly to the talks in Qatar, Khalilzad told a news conference Sunday in 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." Monday's report, which was a combined assessment by inspectors general of the Pentagon, the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, said available measures of security in Afghanistan showed little change in the July-September quarter. Progress toward reconciliation with the Taliban also as scant. "Despite continued efforts and activities, there was little clear progress toward reconciliation during the quarter," the report said, adding that Afghan security force casualties are rising and humanitarian needs are growing as the conflict drags on. The U.S. military does not publicly report the number of casualties among Afghan security forces, saying it is forbidden by the Afghan government. However, just last week Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said during a visit to Washington that 28,529 Afghan forces have been killed in the past four years, compared to 58 Americans in the same period. The U.S. has about 14,000 troops in Afghanistan. Interpol is facing a pivotal some say possibly fatal moment in its history as members decide whether to hand its presidency to a man who represents Vladimir Putin's Russia. Kremlin critics fear they could soon face arrest wherever they go. Western governments worry that Russia could use the post to undermine the rule of law. Interpol, which elects a new president Wednesday , has weathered many challenges in its 95 years. While Hollywood has portrayed it as a hive of swashbuckling agents, in reality it's an organization sometimes tangled in red tape and clashing geopolitical interests. Nazis took it over in the 1930s, and authoritarian governments have long tried to use it to hunt down fugitive dissenters. But the latest storm of criticism comes at an exceptional time just as Russia is trying to expand its global clout and as some powerful countries are questioning whether they need multilateral organizations like Interpol at all. Interpol's general assembly is choosing the agency's new president at a meeting in Dubai where the front-runner is Alexander Prokopchuk, a general in Russia's Interior Ministry who is currently an Interpol vice president. Interpol's interim president, South Korea's Kim Jong Yang, is also seeking the post. Two prominent Kremlin critics warned Tuesday that electing a high-placed Russian would undermine the international law enforcement agency and politicize police cooperation across borders. Bill Browder, who runs an investment fund that had once operated in Moscow, and oligarch-turned-dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky told reporters in London that Putin has tried to use Interpol to hunt down critics such as themselves. Having a Russian lead the agency could intensify such efforts to silence dissent, they said. Activists argue that the organization needs to increase recent efforts at muscular reform, and this won't happen if Prokopchuk becomes president, because of his ties to Putin. "It was his government that organized a terrorist attack in the U.K. using chemical weapons in Salisbury. It was his government that shot down MH17, killing 298 innocent individuals. It was his government that cheated and hacked in elections in the United States and Europe," Browder said of Putin. "To put his representative in charge of the most important international crime-fighting organization is like putting the mafia in charge." To Moscow, the complaints are all part of a Western-led campaign to weaken a resurgent Russia. Russia denies accusations of foreign interference and announced new charges against Browder this week in a long-running legal battle against him. Russian Interior Ministry spokesman Irina Volk accused critics Tuesday of running a "campaign to discredit" Prokopchuk, calling him a respected professional. Browder has pressed for sanctions against Russian officials charged with human rights abuses after his former lawyer died in custody. Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon, spent a decade in prison after exhibiting political ambitions. Both said their places in the public eye would make them poor targets for abuse, adding that they were motivated to speak out because many other campaigners who are less well-known would be silenced if governments are allowed to export repression. The White House came out Tuesday against the election of Prokopchuk, with National Security Council spokesman Garrett Marquis saying that "the Russian government abuses Interpol's processes to harass its political opponents." He said the U.S. "strongly endorses" Kim. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added: "We encourage all nations and organizations that are part of Interpol and that respect the rule of law to choose a leader with credibility and integrity that reflects one of the world's most critical law enforcement bodies. We believe Mr. Kim will be just that." Interpol's general assembly is made up of its 192 member states, each of which has an equal vote. Based in the French city of Lyon, Interpol is best known for issuing "red notices" that identify a suspect pursued by another country, effectively putting them on the world's "most-wanted" list. Critics argue that countries like Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Iran and China have used the system to try to round up political opponents, journalists or activists. The watchdog group Fair Trials International detailed in a report last month the strides Interpol has made in reducing political abuse of red notices. The group's chief, Jago Russell, said a Russian official as Interpol president could stall or reverse those reforms. "We're at a pivotal moment for Interpol," he told The Associated Press. "Either countries back away from it and find other ways to cooperate, or Interpol fixes its system so that it can be trusted. ... Already there are noises about pulling out of Interpol" and creating a separate agency just for democratic countries, he said. The U.S. seems committed to Interpol for now, but has pulled out of UNESCO and international accords under President Donald Trump. Britain is pulling out of the European Union and has expressed concern about management of international bodies funded by taxpayers. Interpol itself won't comment on the upcoming vote. The Interpol presidency is more of an oversight position, compared with the hands-on leadership role of the secretary-general. Interpol's charter explicitly proclaims its neutrality, and two years ago it introduced 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. But the possibility of a Putin loyalist in such a prominent role has prompted concern among those critical of the Russian president's leadership. Four U.S. senators, including Marco Rubio, have urged the Trump administration to oppose the Prokopchuk candidacy. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who on Monday stated that Russia was "rooting for the Russian candidate," said that amounted to meddling in the vote. Fair Trials International warned that a Russian president of Interpol could try to limit the money spent on staff needed to vet red notices, for example, or get rid of a recent measure to protect refugees from unfair arrest. This is far from the first time that Interpol's votes are causing controversy. Human rights groups raised the alarm two years ago when Interpol's general assembly approved Meng Hongwei, a longtime senior Chinese security official, as president. Amnesty International criticized "China's longstanding practice of trying to use Interpol to arrest dissidents and refugees abroad." Meng is now under arrest in China as part of a possible domestic political purge hence Wednesday's emergency vote to replace him. Interpol's general assembly also votes on membership, like they did on Tuesday when they rejected admitting Kosovo . Interpol members voted last year to admit Palestine as a member, creating an uproar in Israel. At least six local women have had their teaching licenses canceled or revoked since January 2017 for sexual misconduct or inappropriate texting with their students, yet none was revealed to parents or communities by school districts, according to a News4 I-Team. None of the six cases led to police arrests or prosecution. In at least three cases, the women were investigated for sending sexual or racy messages, including naked pictures, to male students. In one case, the teacher admitted having sexual intercourse with an underage student nine years earlier. Police reports and prosecutors said an arrest was not made because the student later married the teacher. The former student revealed the abuse during an employment polygraph last year after marrying the teacher. The cases are detailed in state education records obtained by the I-Team from the Maryland State Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Education. Though criminal cases were not filed, the state education agencies found sufficient cause to order the revocation or cancellation of the womens teaching licenses. Though known to state education officials, the cases were not publicly known in the local school districts in which the women worked, including Fairfax County and Stafford County. All major local school districts told the I-Team they do not notify community members about teachers from whom licenses are stripped for sexual misconduct, if no police arrest is made or criminal charges filed. The stereotype is that every boy wants to have sex when hes a teenager, said Virginia Commonwealth University researcher Charol Shakeshaft, who has studied the impact and pervasiveness of teacher sex misconduct. Shakeshaft said male victims of female teacher sex misconduct are frequently disinclined to report the incidents to police or school authorities amid concern the complaints will not being believed or responsibly handled. Many people dont take it seriously. Thats one of the reasons (victims) dont talk about it or tell people about it, she said. But its an adult woman exploiting that male teen, using that male teen. Nearly 80,000 teachers nationwide have been stripped of their licenses for various reasons, according to an I-Team review of state education records and a survey of operators of a national database of teacher license revocations. Shakeshaft estimates nearly one in three cases of teacher sex misconduct were committed by women. Teacher Marries Alleged Victim The Virginia Department of Education canceled the teaching license of Amy Zelaya in May 2017. Zelaya taught at Thomas Edison High School in Fairfax County in 2008 and at Hayfield Secondary School in Fairfax County from 2009-2016. According to the state records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, Zelaya was investigated in 2017 by police for having a sexual relationship with a student she taught at Edison High in November 2008, when she was 26 years old and the victim was 15 years old. The state records include a police report by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The police report said its investigators discovered the sexual relationship with Zelaya, when the victim revealed details while undergoing a pre-employment polygraph with the agency. The Texas police report said Zelaya acknowledged to officers she had sex with the 15-year-old boy on school grounds, in a public park and at various locations in Alexandria, Virginia. The report also specified Zelaya married the student in 2016, one year before the allegations first surfaced in the polygraph exam. A Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman told the I-Team the agency referred Zelayas case to Fairfax County police. Fairfax County police Lt. Josh Laitinen told the I-Team, A detective from our Major Crimes Bureau received the referral and investigated the case. He consulted with a Commonwealths Attorney; however, they declined to prosecute because the victim did not wish to cooperate with a prosecution. The Fairfax County commonwealths attorneys office confirmed the reason prosecutors declined to file charges in the case to the I-Team. Neither Zelaya, nor her husband, responded to a series of messages left by the I-Team. Zelayas employment in Fairfax County Public Schools ended in 2016, according to the school district, one year before the police investigation in Texas. She gave up her teaching license after the state started revocation procedures. The I-Team found Zelaya successfully applied for a teaching license in Missouri in 2017. A Missouri Department of Education spokesman told the I-Team Zelaya was licensed in Missouri before Virginia took action against her Virginia licensure. The spokesman said Zelaya records indicate Zelaya has not been hired by a Missouri school district. Stafford County: Investigation Hit a 'Brick Wall' The Stafford County Sheriffs Office investigated a former literacy instructor at Stafford High School in summer 2018, according to state records. The teacher was accused of sending naked photos to at least one male student, according to the records. The Virginia Department of Education canceled the teachers license in October. She had resigned her job four months earlier, according to Stafford County Public Schools. The Virginia Department of Education investigative report said evidence uncovered in the police investigation showed the teacher sent a male student a photo of her cleavage while dressed in lingerie using a social media application. In addition, (the) teacher previously had sent the male student a nude photo of herself. Notes from a sheriffs office detective, released by the state under the Freedom of Information Act said the teacher gave suspicious responses when he questioned her about social media messages to students. The notes also said one student questioned by the sheriffs office refused to talk to investigators. Another student acknowledged receiving a cleavage photo of his teacher, according to the police notes. The detective wrote Stafford Investigated, hit a brick wall. In a statement to the I-Team, the Stafford County Sheriffs Office said: The case was closed in June. There was insufficient probable cause to pursue charges. We reached out to the former teacher, but did not hear back. Shakeshaft said school administrators should consider changing policies or regulations to allow principals to notify parents and communities whenever a teacher is stripped of a license, even if police opt not to arrest the teacher or file criminal charges. She said doing so would help alert other possible victims to come forward. You want to know if this has happened," she said. "You want to be able to ask your children: Did you have any experiences with this teacher?" The Black Lace Thong A judge gave Fairfax County police authorization to search the emails of a former Robert E. Lee High School math teacher in March 2017. The police affidavit said the woman was suspected of having an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old student. The affidavit said the teacher was suspected of sending the student a picture of herself wearing a black lace thong. According to state education department records, school officials also conducted a forensic audit of the teachers Fairfax County Public Schools computer. The state records said the review found correspondences between the teacher and former male students who had since entered college and/or become legal age adults. According to the records, the teacher wrote to one former student, You are one of the hottest guys on campus I knew you cheated on one of my tests (you may not remember but I am 100% sure you cheated). But because I liked you so much, I didnt do anything about it. According to the state records, she wrote another former student, You are now finally a real man no longer a 17-year-old boy. Youre probably ripped with muscles popping out everywhere. It continues, Five years ago, I had many thoughts of (sic) concerning you. The records said she wrote a third former student, So before I met you, I have never thought of my students in a way that was inappropriate. But after a week, I became weirdly attracted to you. According to the Virginia Department of Education report on her case, the teacher acknowledged texting with the student and made visits to the boys home at least three or four times. Prosecutors said they did not have sufficient cause to file criminal charges in the case. Virginia state education officials canceled her license in June citing conduct with direct and detrimental effect on the health, welfare, discipline or morale of students. The teacher did not return messages requesting comment. Former students from the same school said rumors about the teacher had long circulated. They said they were troubled the school district did not notify parents and students about the investigation into the teacher. Lee High school graduate Alex Cornbrooks said he does not know which students complained in the case. But Cornbrooks told the I-Team his parents would have appreciated a note from the school about the case. I dont doubt it," he said. "I believe they really would appreciate seeing (a letter). Its important, especially for the parents of the students who had her," former Lee High School student Beverly Tran said. "They must be interested in why the teacher left midyear. Schools Notify Communities After Arrests A News4 I-Team survey of nearly a dozen major Washington, D.C.-area school districts revealed schools opt not to notify communities when the state cancels or revokes teacher licenses, if criminal charges are not filed in the case. Multiple school districts, including Fairfax County Public Schools, said state code prohibits the disclosure employee personnel records without permission of the employee. The school districts said police typically issue press releases when school employees are charged with crimes, including those involving minors. The school districts said they will often share the police press release with parents at the schools involved. In the six most recent cases in which states revoked or cancelled the teaching licenses of female teachers, none resulted in police arrest. None was made public to communities, according to the I-Team review. Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones. When tech giants like Amazon expand, other companies don't just worry about losing business. They also fret about hanging on to their employees. Some of the industries that have defined New York City and the Washington, D.C., area will face increased competition for talent when Amazon sets up shop in their territory, with plans to hire 50,000 new workers amid the tightest job market in decades. The expansion comes at time of fierce demand for computer programmers, mobile app developers, data scientists and cybersecurity experts. Salaries keep rising as companies from banks to retailers seek new technology professionals to expand their online presence and automate operations. Particularly in demand are software developers, with many switching jobs each year. Even some banks have eased up on their dress codes to project a hipper image. "It's a very competitive market in New York," said William Lynch, president of the New York-based fitness tech company Peloton. "It really requires you to be smart about how you are reaching the new hiring pipeline." Tech employment in the U.S. has grown by an average of 200,000 new jobs each year since 2010, a trend that is expected to continue for at least the next decade, according to an industry report from Computing Technology Industry Association, or CompTIA, which analyzes data from the Labor Department and other sources. The figure includes all people employed by tech companies, as well as tech professionals in other industries. In New York, big banks are among the biggest employers of computer technology professionals. J.P. Morgan Chase employs 50,000 people in technology and hired its first artificial intelligence research chief in May. Goldman Sachs has said one-quarter of its employees work in engineering-related roles. Amazon's traditional retail rivals are striving to expand their online business and develop new technologies to improve operational efficiency. But young professionals are flocking to tech companies, lured by the idea of changing the way people do everything from buying homes to exercising. "In the past, the traditional career path has been to go into financial services, investment banking and consulting. What we see now is a surge of interest in tech companies," said Dan Wang, a professor of Business and Sociology at Columbia University. Amazon will begin recruiting in a few months for its two new headquarters in New York's Long Island City and the Washington suburb of Arlington, seeking talent to support an empire that has expanded to include cloud computing services, advertising and, video streaming and TV production. The company expects to hire about 25,000 people over several years for each location. The average salary will be about $150,000 a year. Amazon's move is only the most dramatic example of technology companies expanding their presence in the East Coast. Instagram opened a new office in New York over the summer and plans to hire hundreds of engineers. Google is reportedly looking to add 12,000 more employees in New York City. Amazon, now 24 years old, will have to contend with New York's thriving startup scene, where companies flush with venture capital offer young people big roles and the chance to upend new industries. That's the kind of pitch prospective employees hear from Peloton, which announced plans Monday to move into bigger headquarters in midtown Manhattan in 2020. The fitness tech company, which received $550 million in new investment in August, will be hiring thousands of people across locations in the next years, especially in technology, marketing and sales, said Lynch, the company president. It currently has nearly 100 positions open in New York City. "We are aware of Amazon and it's amazing for New York City. But Google has been here. We've been recruiting against Google for a long time," Lynch said. The scramble for talent goes beyond tech workers. Technology companies employ more than 3.7 million people in supporting roles like marketing and financing, according to CompTIA. That panorama is top of mind for people like Dimple Bansal, a business graduate student at Columbia University who is focusing her studies on technology strategy. Last spring, she took an internship at Airbnb and over the summer she interned at Google. "Tech is a growing landscape. I think it's exciting to bridge the divide between pure technology skills, and to bring the business mindset to these companies that are touching so many lives," said Bansal, 27. Financial institutions have stepped up their recruiting strategies, trying to present their companies as innovation hubs for products from mobile apps to AI solutions for fraud reduction. J.P. Morgan announced plans earlier this year to open a financial technology campus in California's Bay Area. Goldman holds online coding challenges as part of its recruitment efforts and launched an in-house incubator to allow employees to develop ideas. Wang, the Columbia professor, said startup fashion brands could benefit from partnerships if Amazon leverages its New York location to venture into the luxury market. But Wang said that could mean a competition for workers from rivals like Walmart-owned Jet.com, which currently has job openings for dozens of engineers in its New Jersey headquarters, across the Hudson River from New York. "If I were working at Jet.com, I would be very tempted by Amazon," Wang said. As technology firms spread out, young professionals can be choosy about where they live, another incentive for companies like Amazon to set up shop in in trendy urban centers. Based on an analysis of the revisions in job listings made on its online professional network, LinkedIn calculated 13 percent of the workers specializing in software leave their employers for another job each year. Mathew Calkins, a 25-year-old machine learning engineer who works in Washington, D.C., for the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, is moving to New York to work at Google later this year. He saw New York City as a thriving technical hub with more diversity than many of its West Coast counterparts. "I didn't want to move to San Francisco and have everyone I hang out with be other engineers making six figures,'' Calkins said. Calkins said recruiters who reach out to him nearly every day on LinkedIn rarely focus on "what's important to me and a growing number of folks in the tech market" - the chance to make an impact. Instead, employers tout compensation and perks. "They all sound the same,'' Calkins said. Even if they can retain their employees, some of the smaller companies might struggle attract new talent needed to expand, said Carrie Duarte, a Partner and Workforce of the Future Leader at PwC. Their best bet is to tout the chance to be a big fish in a small pond, she said. Kestrel Linder, CEO of the Washington, D.C., startup GiveCampus, said has learned that he can lure prospective employees to his online educational fundraiser by offering comparable salaries and more autonomy. "Working at a startup while it is still growing is a perishable opportunity,'' Linder said. "The giant companies aren't going anywhere." Photo: City of Kelowna After months of back and forth and legal manoeuvring, buildings on the former Ponderosa Motel site are finally being torn down. Heavy machinery showed up on the site Monday, and knocked down two dilapidated buildings on the side of the site. As of late Monday, the building at the back of the property remained standing. Late last month, a construction fence went up around the site on Harvey Avenue, next to Parkinson Rec Centre, warning people of an asbestos hazard. At that time, bylaw manager David Gazley said the owner had painted over graffiti on the buildings, but appeared unwilling to demolish them, despite an order from the city to do so. At the time, the matter was in the hands of the city's lawyers. The order from the city gave 30 days to raze the buildings and clean up overgrown vegetation or the city would do it and bill the owner. The Ponderosa closed in 2011. Since then, it has become a haven for squatters. Police and the fire department have been called to the site numerous times for various complaints, including four fires. Dozens of people say a businessman took thousands of dollars from people seeking medical equipment like stairlifts and wheelchair ramps but never delivered them. NBC4 Responds first reported on Access Mobility in 2017. Customers reporting missed deadlines got their money back, but complaints against owner Jim Clore have continued. Kathy Symborski said she hired Clore to install a ramp for her 97-year-old father. He asked for $2,500 upfront, she said. She said after she paid him in April, she never saw him again. He reassured me he would be out the next week, she said. Well he never came. And he never refunded her money. Her father died five months later. Suk Gill said she and her husband paid $8,000 for a stairlift from Access Mobility. She said Clore promised it would be installed Sept. 6 or 7 but sent text messages with excuses instead. She had to carry her husband up and down the stairs for weeks until he died a month later. Bayne Rector paid Clore $4,400 for a stairlift in September. He did get a refund, but his emails with Clore revealed a different company name 2911 Mobility. That business was created in July, and Access Mobility closed. News4 scoured through court records in Virginia and discovered 48 civil cases filed against Clore some dating back 10 years. Many of those cases were dismissed some because Clore eventually paid the debt, others because he didn't have the money to pay and a few where he couldn't be found to be served. How many people have gone to court and just because he can't be served papers they just blow it off? said Molly Harned, who said shes owed $7,625 for a walk-in tub. The attorney general's offices Consumer Protection Division has received 11 complaints against Access Mobility. Clore worked with them to resolve seven of those cases. One was unresolved, and three are still open. A warning on the Better Business Bureau's website alerts consumers to a "pattern of serious complaints" against Access Mobility. We're trying to tell the consumer here, 'Hey, we've received 30 complaints against this company, all very similar in nature, all very serious,' said Kelsey Coleman of BBB. BBB said they reached out to Clore before issuing the alert, hoping to resolve the issues. To this day, he has stopped communicating, Coleman said. Clores now facing four felony charges in Stafford County, accused of taking money under false pretenses and failing to deliver products. He's due in court next month. Clore said he is filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy and plans to refund all of his customers. We just want it stopped, Harned said. I don't expect to get a dime back. It appears that Clore's 2911 Mobility website has been taken down. Virginia state officials confirmed Clore does not have a contractor's license as required by law. The attorney general's office would not comment on whether it is investigating further. President Donald Trump pardoned a turkey at the White House Tuesday, but not without joking about partisan politics in Washington and around the country. A turkey called Peas won the right to be named the official National Thanksgiving Turkey, beating out another 40-pound South Dakota turkey called Carrots. (In the end, both get the coveted presidential pardon and avoid ending up as Thanksgiving dinner at the White House.) The public was allowed to select this year's turkey through an online vote. Trump said it was "a fair election" but, "unfortunately, Carrots refused to concede and demanded a recount." The joke brought a laugh from the crowd in the Rose Garden. Florida and Georgia recently went through tightly contested recounts. Trump also made a wisecrack about the investigations he faces when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January, saying of Peas and Carrots, "I have warned them that House Democrats are likely to issue them both subpoenas." Trump also took a jab at the San Francisco 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which blocked Trumps decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), prompting lawsuits across the U.S. Unfortunately, I cant guarantee that your pardon wont be enjoined by the 9th Circuit. Always happens, the president said. Putting the jokes aside, Trump concluded his remarks by saying that the Thanksgiving period is for unity, love and joy among all Americans. He then pardoned Peas. Peas and Carrots were chosen from a flock of 50 candidates raised on a farm north of Huron, near Sioux Falls. The pair of fowl arrived in the nation's capital Sunday and checked-in to a five-star hotel, the Willard InterContinental Hotel, where they stayed until the pardoning ceremony. Both turkeys will live out their lives at Virginia Techs "Gobblers Rest" exhibit in Blacksburg, Virginia. Students and veterinarians within Virginia Techs Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will care for the turkeys. White House archives show that Americans have sent presidents holiday turkeys at least since President Ulysses S. Grant in 1873. But the National Thanksgiving Turkey dates from 1947, when the National Turkey Federation became the official supplier and presented a 47-pound gobbler to President Harry Truman. In those days, the turkeys were destined for dinner. Formal pardons began with President George H.W. Bush in 1989, though stories of spared turkeys date back to President Abraham Lincoln. President John F. Kennedy sent his 1963 turkey back to its farm. Sometime around the Nixon era the White House began sending them to petting zoos after the ceremonies, though without formal pardons. Some members of the Saudi royal family are pushing to prevent the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, from becoming king, three sources close to the royal court told Reuters. The dozens of royals who want to see a change in the line of succession recognize that King Salman, 82, is unlikely to turn against his favorite son. But amid international uproar over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, they are discussing the possibility of Salman's younger brother, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, taking the throne after Salman's death. Prince Ahmed would have the support of members of the family, security forces and some Western powers, one source said. Prince Ahmed could not be reached for comment, and officials in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The New Hampshire chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is calling for an investigation after three of four people recently arrested outside of a Manchester, New Hampshire bar claim that police used excessive force. Manchester police said an officer was flagged down by a Bonfire Country Bar employee Sunday night who said a woman was kicked out of the bar but wouldn't leave. When police arrived to investigate, the situation escalated. Cell phone video captured the moments after police say Brandon Bakios, 35, of Lowell, Massachusetts, tried to interfere in the investigation and then became combative. Authorities say in the video, Bakios is on the ground resisting arrest, which is why one officer deployed his taser. Bakio's girlfriend says he was just trying to hide his face from the punches. "He tells me, 'You know, Katie, I wasnt resisting, I was trying to protect myself,'" said Katie Lavertue. The 31-year-old from Lowell, was also handcuffed and charged for trying to interfere in Bakios' arrest. Later in the video Bakios' friend, Daniel Ferrigno, 34, of Haverhill, can be seen. "I was approaching Brandon who had just been beaten, I could see blood pouring off of him," Ferrigno said. Police tell him to back up and he does, but not far enough. In a press release, Manchester Police say Ferrigno refused to leave the area and needed to tase him into compliance. "I've backed up and I am standing there," Ferrigno said Tuesday while watching the video. Ferrigno also said he thinks the stun from the taser came after his hands were behind his back. "We weren't under arrest for anything, we hadn't committed a crime. The crime was when the officers grabbed us, the crime was assault and battery, they were assaulting us," Ferrigno said. The incident happened on a busy stretch of Elm Street with a lot of businesses and security cameras. There is likely more videos that show different angles and might paint a different picture. While the ACLU has called for local and state authorities to investigate, Manchester Police say they are looking into whether all of their officers followed protocol. Bakios, Lavertue, Ferrigno, and a Bonfire Country Bar employee are expected to appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on Dec. 21. Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts faced his constituents Monday after a letter he signed called for a change to Democratic leadership in the House. "I think the party and the country deserve new leadership," said Moulton. He held a meeting at Amesbury Town Hall for more than an hour Monday night. The letter, dated Monday, calls for a leadership shakeup, including ousting current Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The Congresswoman from California has been the top House Democrat since 2002. Sixteen current and soon-to-be members of Congress signed it two weeks after they took control of the House. The letter thanks Pelosi for her service, then reads, "We recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran and won on a message of change ... We promised to change the status quo and we intend to deliver on that promise." Moulton told reporters the idea has been mulled for the last few months and said he did not write the letter. "I'm not going to run for anything," said Moulton. "I want people to know that this is me doing what I think is right for the party and the country. It's not about me." Protesters held signs in the standing room only room that read, "I stand with Nancy." "I think Nancy Pelosi is one of those things that can help us get through the next two years," said Bambi Snodgrass of Freedom North Shore. The idea to replace Pelosi before she becomes House speaker has two weeks to build momentum. There's an anonymous caucus vote at the end of November for Democratic leadership. "I am actively supporting, encouraging, other people to run supporting other folks who are running for different positions," said Moulton. "I'm excited about some of the amazing leaders in our party, including amazingly talented women." According to Moulton, there are other members of Congress who support the letter, but did not sign it. He said they did not want to face a contentious town hall as he did. With recreational marijuana sales beginning in neighboring Massachusetts, Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo "remains open" to exploring options for Rhode Island. Press secretary Josh Block says the governor is closely watching what's happening in neighboring states. The first commercial pot shops in Massachusetts opened Tuesday in Leicester and Northampton. The stores are the first to operate on the East Coast of the U.S. In Connecticut, Democratic Gov.-elect Ned Lamont said he expects recreational marijuana legalization will be a priority for the new legislative session. Block didn't say whether Raimondo would propose legalizing recreational marijuana sales when Rhode Island's legislative session begins in January. Last year, Raimondo proposed expanding the number of licenses for medical pot shops, to generate more revenue. Instead, the legislature increased the fee medical marijuana dispensaries pay. Photo: The Canadian Press An RCAF CF-18 takes off from CFB Bagotville, Que. Auditor general Michael Ferguson fired a bullet at the Trudeau government's plan to buy second-hand Australian fighter jets on Tuesday, revealing the air force doesn't have enough people to fly the planes it already has. Ferguson said military commanders first alerted the government to the personnel shortage in 2016, when the Liberals were planning to spend billions of dollars on 18 new Super Hornet jets to supplement Canada's aging CF-18 fleet. But the government brushed aside those concerns and pressed ahead with the purchase while providing only minimal increases to training and other measures to make sure the Canadian Forces had the pilots and technicians to use the new planes, Ferguson said. The Liberals eventually scuttled the Super Hornet plan due to a trade dispute between Super Hornet-maker Boeing and Montreal rival Bombardier, and are now planning to buy 25 used Australian jets for $500 million. But the auditor general's report said the military's firm assessment - and his own - is that the result will be the same: planes we can't use. "The (Defence) Department stated that it needed more qualified technicians and pilots, not more fighter aircraft," the report reads: "In our opinion without more technicians and pilots, the effect on fighter-force operations will be small." Ferguson, whose previous report on fighter jets in 2012 helped blow up the Harper government's plan to buy a fleet of F-35 jets without a competition, backed up his most recent assessment with some stark numbers. For example, in the last fiscal year, 28 per cent of fighter pilots flew fewer than the minimum number of hours needed to keep their skills and 22 per cent of technician positions in CF-18 squadrons were empty or filled by inexperienced staff. And between April 2016 and March 2018, the air force lost 40 trained fighter pilots and produced only 30 new ones. Since then, another 17 have left or said that they planned to leave. The auditor general's findings are likely to add fuel to the fire that has been smoldering around the Liberals when it comes to fighter jets, with opposition parties and defence analysts criticizing how the government has handled the file. Many have been calling for years for the Liberals to launch an immediate competition to replace Canada's CF-18s, which are already 35 years old, but the government has insisted on taking its time. The government is expected to formally launch a $19-billion competition for 88 new fighter jets next spring, but a winner won't be picked until 2021 or 2022. The first new fighter jet won't arrive until 2025. In the meantime, despite plans to spend upwards of $3 billion over the next decade to keep them in the air, Ferguson warned the CF-18s and used Australian fighter jets will become increasingly obsolete. The $3 billion does not include any actual upgrades to the planes' combat systems, which have not had significant overhauls since 2008. "Without combat upgrades, the CF-18 will be less effective against adversaries in domestic and international operations," the auditor general's report reads. "Flying the CF-18 until 2032 without a plan to upgrade combat capability will result in less important roles for the fighter force and will pose a risk to Canada's ability to contribute to NORAD and NATO operations." A financial adviser in Maine has been accused of spending over $200,000 of an investor's money on real estate deals and a cannabis business. The New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation recently issued an order for Sean Grady, and his firm, Grady & Associates, in Portland, to stop doing business. The bureau said it investigated a complaint into an elderly client's loss of funds. The complaint said Grady came to her home in Charlestown, New Hampshire, last year and talked her into transferring her money from a firm that terminated him. Authorities moved to freeze Grady's Maine bank accounts in September. The bureau fined him and ordered him to pay restitution. Grady has 30 days to request a hearing. It wasn't immediately known if he had a lawyer and phone numbers weren't working. The mother of a woman who died in one of Maine's deadliest fires is petitioning the city to build a memorial to the victims. The Portland Press Herald reports Lisa Mazziotti says she wants the memorial to serve as closure and healing for family and friends of the victims. Her daughter, Nicole "Nikki" Finlay, was one of six who died in the Noyes Street fire in 2014. The landlord of the apartment building was acquitted on manslaughter charges but served 70 days in jail over a code violation. He has since sold the property to a couple who wants to build a duplex on the site. City Councilor Brian Batson says he is interested in Mazziotti's proposal, and he plans to discuss the memorial with the city Parks Department. The seaside town where the Pilgrims came ashore in 1620 is gearing up for a 400th birthday bash, and everyone's invited especially the native people whose ancestors wound up losing their land and their lives. Plymouth, Massachusetts, whose European settlers have come to symbolize American liberty and grit, marks its quadricentennial in 2020 with a trans-Atlantic commemoration that will put Native Americans' unvarnished side of the story on full display. "It's history. It happened," said Michele Pecoraro, executive director of Plymouth 400, Inc., a nonprofit group organizing yearlong events. "We're not going to solve every problem and make everyone feel better. We just need to move the needle." Organizers are understandably cautious this time around. When the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrim landing was observed in 1970, state officials disinvited a leader of the Wampanoag Nation the Native American tribe that helped the haggard newcomers survive their first bitter winter after learning his speech would bemoan the disease, racism and oppression that followed the Pilgrims. That triggered angry demonstrations from tribal members who staged a National Day of Mourning, a somber remembrance that indigenous New Englanders have observed on every Thanksgiving Day since. This time, there's pressure to get it right, said Jim Peters, a Wampanoag who directs the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs. "We'll be able to tell some stories of what happened to us to delve back into our history and talk about it,'' Peters said. "Hopefully it will give us a chance to re-educate people and have a national discussion about how we should be treating each other." The commemoration known as Plymouth 400 will feature events throughout 2020, including a maritime salute in Plymouth Harbor in June, an embarkation festival in September, and a week of ceremonies around Thanksgiving. The Mayflower II, a replica of the ship that carried the settlers from Europe to the New World four centuries ago, will sail to Boston in the spring. That autumn, it will head to Provincetown, at the outermost tip of Cape Cod, where the Pilgrims initially landed before continuing on to Plymouth. Events also are planned in Britain and in the Netherlands, where the Pilgrims spent 11 years in exile before making their perilous sea crossing. But the emphasis is on highlighting the often-ignored history of the Wampanoag and poking holes in the false narrative that Pilgrims and Indians coexisted in peace and harmony. An interactive exhibit now making the rounds describes how the Wampanoag were cheated and enslaved, and in August 2020 tribal members will guide visitors on a walk through Plymouth to point out and consecrate spots where their ancestors once trod. There are also plans to invite relatives of the late Wampanoag elder Wamsutta "Frank" James to publicly read that speech he wasn't allowed to deliver in 1970 _ an address that includes this passage: "We, the Wampanoag, welcomed you, the white man, with open arms, little knowing that it was the beginning of the end." "The Pilgrims had hardly explored the shores of Cape Cod for four days before they had robbed the graves of my ancestors and stolen their corn and beans," the speech reads. Dusty Rhodes, who chairs a separate state commission working to ensure the commemoration has a global profile, said she hopes it all helps make amends for centuries of "mishandled and misrepresented" history. "The Pilgrims were the first immigrants," said Plymouth 400's Pecoraro. "We're in a place in this country where we need solidarity. We need to come together. We need to be talking about immigration and indigenous people." Plymouth, nicknamed "America's Hometown," is sure to draw a crush of 2020 presidential candidates who will use its monuments as campaign backdrops. With President Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth II and other heads of state on the invitation list, state and federal authorities already are busy mapping out security plans. Wampanoag tribal leader and activist Linda Coombs, who's helped plan the commemoration, is skeptical that anything meaningful will change for her people. "It's a world stage, so we'll have more visibility than we've had in the past," she said. "We'll see if it's enough. It'll be a measuring stick for all that has to come afterward." In Waterville, Maine, what's not in the bag are the results of a referendum question to ban plastic bags in retailers larger than 10,000 square feet. The fate of the municipal ballot question could soon be in the hands of the state Supreme Court the first time Maine's highest court has weighed in on a city referendum question. "I don't think this is settled yet, by any means," said Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap. On Election Day, the ballot question narrowly passed. Mayor Nick Isgro, who is opposed to the bag ban, requested a recount. More than 150 ballots cast by Colby College students were called into question, after it was found they listed a PO Box instead of a residential address on their voter registration. Without those 150 ballots in the final count, the bag question failed. "As it stands now, the ban has been overturned, but these ballots will go to the Maine Supreme Court and they will give us a final decision over whether those ballots should be counted or not," said Isgro. Waterville's Clerk has scheduled hearings for the people with challenged ballots to update address information, starting the first week in December. If those students can provide a valid address, the court will decide if their ballots can be added back into the election tally potentially overturning the bag ban again. "There are some who are indicating they believe they should be able to retroactively change their voter registrations, and O think that is the crux of the legal question," said Isgro. "Can someone come in a month after the election has taken place and retroactively establish residency in order to have those ballots counted?" While some on social media have accused Isgro of attempting voter suppression, he maintains that he is following election law. "This is about protecting the integrity of our election," he said. Dunlap said he does not view the situation as either voter suppression or voter fraud, but a case of a misunderstanding. "This is a situation where I think people did not realize the physical address and mailing address [on campus] were not the same thing," said Dunlap. Isgro expects the Maine Supreme Court to take up on the case in about a month. Attempts to reach the Colby College Democrats, the chair of the Waterville Democrats and a spokesperson for Colby College were not successful. President Ramnath Kovind, who is on a three-day trip to Vietnam, will address the National Assembly here on Tuesday. On the last day of his Vietnam trip, President Kovind is scheduled to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of National Heroes and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. He will also attend the Welcoming Ceremony at President Palace. President Kovind will meet his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong and hold delegation level talks followed by a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Office of Government. He will also attend the State Banquet at International Convention Center in the evening. President Kovind who arrived in Vietnam on Sunday interacted with leaders of Da Nang People's Committee led by Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang. The President along with First lady Savita Kovind visited the Museum of Cham sculpture in the city of Da Nang on the second day of his three-day visit to Vietnam. During the course of his trip to the Asian country, President Kovind travelled to the city of Hanoi and addressed the Vietnam-India Business Forum. He also addressed the Indian diaspora in Vietnam at an event which was organised as part of his state visit to the country. After completing his Vietnam trip, President Kovind will embark on a four-day visit to Australia on Wednesday. The President is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora and unveil the statue of Mahatma Gandhi marking his 150th Birth anniversary in Australia. The President is also scheduled to meet Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and address the students at Melbourne University where many Indian students go for higher studies. -ANI A deadly attack at the religious gathering place in Amritsar which took the life of 3 people and several lefts injured has shown the new angle after the investigation. However, investigators remain silent to give any statement on the group behind the attack at Nirankari Bhawan. On Monday, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has spoken about the attack and said that the grenade which was used to do the blast was containing the mark of Pakistani Army Ordnance factory. Also, the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS)- which works with the Sikh community also claimed that it was an attempt made by Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence to create the disturbances in the state. However, the team of National Investigation Agency have already reached to the spot on Monday for investigation. According to the agency official, the case is yet to be handed over to the NIA, said HT reports. The new LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center at the University of Copenhagen will pave the way to a better understanding, prevention and treatment of skin diseases that plague a quarter of the world's population. Based on a grant of more than EUR 50 million over 10 years, the center will bring together leading Danish and international researchers in skin immunology and skin diseases to provide new knowledge to enable better diagnoses and more effective treatments of a wide range of skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema. The LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center will conduct top-level international research into the skin's immune system and its diseases. The center will be headquartered on the 12th floor of the Maersk Tower at the University of Copenhagen, where researchers will be interacting closely with already existing top Danish and international research environments and hospitals. "It is a great privilege for Danish research that we shall soon be able to open the doors to our new center," says Dean Ulla Wewer, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH: "Our strong research environment in Greater Copenhagen, one of the world's leading research regions, give us a unique possibility to firmly establish Danish research into skin, skin disease and immunology on the world map. Skin disease is a significant day-to-day problem for many people which is why we wish to contribute our accumulated knowledge and efforts to these diseases." New therapeutic and diagnostic methods form the basis for personalized medicine Put simply, the skin acts as our shield and as an extension of the immune system. The skin is the largest human organ and ensures our survival by protecting us against the bacteria, viruses and chemical substances that constantly attack our bodies. The LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center will generate new knowledge of the skin and the development of diseases and their treatments. This can be used to strengthen the immune system's fight against many of the more than 3,000 known skin diseases. "Sometimes the immune system fails and attacks our own organism. This can result in autoimmune disease. In order to improve our understanding of disease and create better forms of treatments it is absolutely critical that we learn more about the complex functions of the skin and its cellular and molecular composition. Now, we will be able to speed up our research at the new center and we hope that in time, it will prove highly significant for many people worldwide," says Prof Niels dum, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH, who will be leading the center during the first period. Denmark as the international epicenter for skin disease research The center's researchers will be working closely with leading international researchers at universities and hospitals to provide valuable, effective knowledge-sharing across this major field of research. They will join forces with clinical experts at hospitals and our excellent research teams at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Interdisciplinary collaboration will also be making use of Big Data and advanced proteomics to identify and characterize the proteins in the skin. This will give us new insights into the mechanisms of skin disease and form the basis for developing new diagnostic approaches and possibly new medicines. The center will also be providing the best possible framework for education, training and talent development for students and will create generations of specialists in the field. Massive boost for a so-far under-appreciated area of disease Compared with other areas of research, skin disease research has traditionally taken a lower priority within the health sciences. "At any given time, one in four of us will suffer from a skin disease and at present we are unable to treat many of these diseases in an adequate way. This is why we want to raise the bar in dermatological research. The LEO Foundation supports the best international research in skin diseases and the new center will provide unique opportunities to a better understanding of the skin and its diseases", says Jesper Mailind, CEO, LEO Foundation. According to the Danish Psoriasis Association, it is now time for research to get a significant boost since skin diseases have major consequences for individuals and society. 'For a lot of people, visible skin disorder leads to stigmatization. People with skin disorders often suffer from extremely reduced quality of life. I am therefore happy that we are getting a center at the top international level focusing specifically on understanding skin disorders like psoriasis in depth and getting closer to developing precision medicine. And it will be located right here in our backyard - in Denmark. The establishment of the new research center is a huge step forward for the dream and hope of developing an actual cure for psoriasis, as seen within cancer research for example. We are very grateful for the new center', says Lars Werner, Director of the Danish Psoriasis Association. Inauguration of the 'LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center' The inauguration of the center will be celebrated on Monday, 25 February 2019 at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, in the presence of the Minister for Higher Education and Science, Tommy Ahlers. Researchers at University of Utah Health identified four gene changes that occur more frequently in people who died by suicide that may point to increased risk in vulnerable individuals. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 44,000 people in the country every year, similar to the number of deaths caused by the opioid epidemic. Previous studies show that suicide tracks in families independent of the effects from a shared environment. Researchers at the University of Utah Health are using resources unique to the state to identify underlying genetic factors that may increase the risk for suicide. The results are available online in the journal "Past studies of families and twins informed us that there is significant genetic risk associated with suicide," said Douglas Gray, M.D., professor of Psychiatry at U of U Health and senior author on the paper. "Genes are like blueprints. The first step is to find the genes that increase risk. Identifying specific genes may lead to new treatments for those who suffer." Through this approach, the team was able to identify variants in four genes (SP110, AGBL2, SUCLA2 and APH1B) that could increase the risk for death by suicide. "We are using high-risk very extended families like a magnifying glass to get us to the right genes that increase the risk for this tragic outcome," said Hilary Coon, Ph.D., professor in Psychiatry at U of U Health and first author on the paper. Focusing on distantly-related suicides in 43 high-risk families provides a more genetically homogenous group that amplifies the genetic risks of suicide while minimizing shared environmental effects, such as stresses due to divorce or unemployment, or easy access to lethal means. The families' genealogical information extends back nine generations. "In this study, we began by looking for the low hanging fruit, the genomic changes that could affect the structure or function of a gene," Coon said. "We think these results are just the tip of the iceberg. We will continue to search for additional gene changes that lead to risk." The researchers looked for genetic variation in more than 1,300 DNA samples obtained from the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner from individuals who died by suicide in the state. These samples represent a subset of a much larger resource of more than 6,000 suicide cases with DNA. The team linked the DNA results to the Utah Population database, which contains the genealogical and recent medical records from more than eight million people, as well as death certificates dating back to 1904. DNA from suicide cases as well as family genealogical structure were de-identified before being released to Coon and her team for analysis. Through this study, they identified specific changes in four genes, but also 207 genes that warrant further analysis to understand their potential role in people who die by suicide. Eighteen of these genes have been previously associated with suicide risk. Fifteen of the previously identified genes have also been associated with inflammatory conditions, supporting growing evidence for a relationship between inflammation and mental health. The study does have limitations. The majority of suicide cases were from Northern European ancestry. Not every individual with a DNA sample in the analysis had available medical record data to clarify presence or absence of a mental health diagnosis. Missing data does not mean an absence of a diagnosis due to care outside the state, lack of insurance, cultural factors or stigma. Coon cautions that suicide is like any complex human condition. There may be a variety of genetic changes that make one more prone to risk, she said. But many factors in the environment will also modify that risk. "Clearly genetics is only one part of risk when it comes to suicide," Coon said. "But we are hoping these discoveries will lead us to highly susceptible individuals so we can develop better interventions to help them circumvent this risk." The Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) at the University of Pennsylvania announced today that it is joining the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) as its 28th member institution. The ACC joins top academic cancer centers from across the United States in creating the most frequently updated cancer care guidelines worldwide. The ACC's membership includes the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "The Abramson Cancer Center is leading the charge of the immunorevolution, with research that has led to four new FDA-approved cancer drugs this year alone," said Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, director of the Abramson Cancer Center. "We're energized to share our expertise with the NCCN, as well as for the chance to collaborate with other Member Institutions to ensure patients across the country are receiving the best possible care." Clinicians and scientists from the ACC will join more than 1,300 experts from current NCCN Member Institutions to work together across 53 panels to review the latest innovations and approvals in cancer care in order to update the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). There are currently 73 different NCCN Guidelines, which apply to 97 percent of cancers affecting patients in the United States, plus recommendations for related conditions like nausea, fatigue, distress, or immunotherapy-related toxicities. The ACC's expertise is especially highlighted by its role as global pioneers in new approaches to cancer treatment, particularly in personalized cellular therapies and proton beam radiation. Penn developed the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy, which has since been approved for a second indication and in multiple countries. The approach has successfully eradicated blood cancer in hundreds of patients around the world. Studies show it leads to overall remission rates of 80 percent among acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients whose cancer could not be contained by the standard chemotherapies doctors have relied on for decades. "The Abramson Cancer Center is a perfect fit and wonderful addition to the group of leading cancer centers that comprise NCCN," said Robert W. Carlson, MD, the chief executive officer of the NCCN. "Penn Medicine is one of the pioneers for immunotherapy and is also at the forefront for innovative treatment approaches involving stem cell transplantation, genetics, palliative care, pediatric cancer care, pediatrics, and other areas. Penn Medicine also shares NCCN's commitment to improving care for underserved populations in the United States and abroad. We look forward to working together to make sure people with cancer everywhere receive the very best evidence-based care possible." "Our experience bringing cancer treatment to patients all over the world has given us a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities involved, and our experts are looking forward to collaborating on these issues with fellow experts from other NCCN Member Institutions," said Lawrence Shulman, MD, the deputy director for Clinical Services at the ACC. Shulman also serves as chair of the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer. NCCN will soon begin the process of incorporating experts from the ACC onto current and future NCCN Guidelines Panels. The group was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. "Our Member Institutions represent some of the best care available across the country. The addition of the Abramson Cancer Center serves to further strengthen our network," said Gary J. Weyhmuller, MBA, SPHR, the executive vice president and chief operating officer at NCCN. Cytocybernetics, a University at Buffalo spinoff, has received a $250,000 Small Business Innovation Research award from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to move into a new market: neuronal drug development. The startup, founded by UB medical researchers, developed and sells the Cybercyte, a futuristic device that integrates electronics with individual cells to test how new medicines affect the cell's electrical activity. So far, Cytocybernetics' focus has been on the heart: By linking the Cybercyte to heart muscle cells, scientists can test all kinds of pharmaceuticals, from allergy medications to antidepressants, for potentially fatal side effects such as heart attacks. The new SBIR funding will enable Cytocybernetics to expand beyond cardiac applications and develop the Cybercyte for use with brain cells, called neurons. If successful, this advancement will allow researchers to use the Cybercyte to study how drugs being developed for neurological disorders, such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease, affect electrical activity within individual brain cells. "This will enable neuroscientists to determine specific details of how drugs interact with neurons and affect their electrical behavior," says Cytocybernetics CEO Glenna Bett, PhD, a faculty member in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB. "Whereas our work with heart cells is focused on drug safety screening, our work with neurons will target an earlier but equally important step in the drug development pipeline: studying how a drug works, and enabling scientists to more fully characterize early-stage candidate drugs with potential in neuroscience." Bett, vice chair for research in the UB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, co-founded Cytocybernetics with Randall Rasmusson, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics in the Jacobs School. Bett says the new award from NIMH, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will result in two new jobs at Cytocybernetics, adding to the firm's current total of seven full-time employees, not including Bett and Rasmusson. "This award strengthens the notion of Western New York being an important region for early phase drug development," she says. "Dr. Mark Nowak, who joined Cytocybernetics as our lead scientist in 2015, will be overseeing our research on neuronal applications for the Cybercyte. He graduated from UB in 1992 with his PhD, went to Caltech, then worked in drug discovery in California before coming back to Buffalo to be part of the burgeoning health tech innovation culture here." In recent years, UB and partners have worked to expand the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem, devoting new resources to promoting the growth of startups. Cytocybernetics exemplifies how these investments -- ranging from increased mentoring for faculty entrepreneurs to new sources of funding for research, development and commercialization -- are paying off for Western New York. Cytocybernetics is a past $500,000 winner in the 43North startup competition, and has also received funding through the SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF). The Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships team at UB helped Cytocybernetics secure critical, early-stage R&D funding through the Center for Advanced Technology in Big Data and Health Sciences (UB CAT) and coordinated acceptance to the START-UP NY program, allowing the company to operate for 10 years without paying various state taxes. This early support from UB, SUNY and the State of New York helped the company develop the Cybercyte, leading to a $1.5 million award Small Business Technology Transfer award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, also part of the NIH, last year. Merck, the vibrant science and technology company, recognized three graduate students who have demonstrated innovation in life science at an awards ceremony at the companys global headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany recently. Twelve finalists from across the globe (four in each of three awards categories: bioseparations, food & beverage safety, and tumor biology) presented their research to an audience of Merck scientists, and guests as part of the 2018 Life Science Awards. Yu Cai, Yanqi Qu and Jun Ho Lee were each named winners of the $10,000 grand prize in their respective categories. This years Life Science Award winners generated new insights into areas of deep interest to the applied sciences. Each winner is not only a good scientist, they are curiously solving the toughest problems in life science. Udit Batra, member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. The grand prize winners and their research topics: Yu Cai, University of Colorado, Real-time observations of nanoparticles in filtration membranes, bioseparations winner. Yanqi Qu, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Safety and quality analysis of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages using surface-enhanced Raman scattering, food and beverage safety winner. Jun Ho Lee, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, TonEBP promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development, therapeutic resistance and recurrence via inflammation and liver cancer stem cells, tumor biology winner. Finalists receiving $2,000 prizes were: Bioseparations Daniel Burgstaller, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Flocculation assisted primary separation and product capture by precipitation How do we get it continuous? Ashton Lavoie, North Carolina State University, Mixed-mode peptide ligands for improved clearance of CHO host cell proteins. Ujwal Patil, University of Houston, Real-time monitoring of antibody in column breakthrough. Food & Beverage Safety Imanuel Yuce, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Development of in situ and in silico tools as well as improvement of classical techniques for structure elucidation in planar chromatography. Anna Sophia Harrand, Cornell University, Effects of strain diversity and growth conditions on subsequent bacterial growth. Shaoakang Zhang, University of Georgia, Whole genome sequencing, a one-stop platform for foodborne pathogen subtyping, characterization and detection. Tumor Biology Jan Lumibao, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, Functional capacity of CHCHD2 in glioblastoma cells expressing EGFRvIII. Christina Mertens, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Role of lipocalin-2 from tumor-associated macrophages as alternative iron transporter during tumor growth. Silvia Duarte Sanmiguel, Ohio State University, Nanotechnology-based approaches towards elucidating and modulating the immunology of the tumor niche. Source: https://www.merckgroup.com/ Henry Ford Hospital researchers may have unknowingly happened on a new predictor of type 2 diabetes as part of a new ultrasound shoulder study. The predictor may be an ultrasound of the deltoid muscle, which researchers found appears much brighter on diabetic patients than on obese nondiabetic patients. Researchers theorize the brighter appearance is due to low levels of glycogen in the muscle caused by patients' insulin resistance. The study is being presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America Nov. 25 - 30 in Chicago. Imaging the deltoid muscle by ultrasound may be an "opportunistic tool" for predicting prediabetes and diabetes and diagnosing patients who may be unaware they have the disease, says Steven Soliman, D.O., a Henry Ford musculoskeletal radiologist and the study's lead author. "Our study shows that diabetic patients are having changes within their deltoid muscles, demonstrated by a bright appearance on ultrasound, indicating that maybe earlier treatment is warranted," Dr. Soliman says. "And patients who may be undiagnosed and missed, such as prediabetics or diabetics who haven't been diagnosed yet, may be able to be diagnosed earlier." The study is believed to be the first in the United States to demonstrate a link between type 2 diabetes and this bright appearance of the deltoid muscle in diabetic patients. Researchers found that this bright appearance had an 89 percent predictive value of "definite diabetes." For prediabetes patients, the bright appearance was a predictor of either "definite diabetes" or "suspected diabetes." Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association. In 2015, of the more than 30 million Americans who had diabetes, more than 7 million people were undiagnosed. In 2017, diabetes accounted for $237 billion in direct medical costs. The use of musculoskeletal ultrasound, especially shoulder ultrasound, has increased sharply in the past 20 years across the country. At Henry Ford, diabetic patients typically undergo shoulder ultrasound because they are more prone to rotator cuff injuries. The Henry Ford study was borne from an emerging trend observed for at least 10 years by Dr. Soliman and his musculoskeletal radiology colleagues. They found that the number of ultrasound scans with the brighter, or hyperechoic, appearance of the deltoid muscle in diabetics was "out of proportion" to those seen in obese nondiabetic patients, even though the hyperechoic appearance is commonly seen in obese patients. In healthy patients, the deltoid muscle appears darker on the ultrasound when compared to the underlying rotator cuff tendon. For diabetic patients, the gradient is just the opposite, Dr. Soliman says. For their retrospective study, researchers sought to evaluate whether the bright appearance of the deltoid muscle was associated with diabetes or obesity. Of the 186 patients involved, 137 had type 2 diabetes and 49 were obese and nondiabetic. Researchers evaluated the results by assigning one of three diagnoses: definite diabetes, suspected diabetes or normal. Dr. Soliman says the findings have immediate implications for clinicians. "We believe you could use shoulder ultrasound as a supplemental screening option to evaluate for the appearance of a hyperechoic deltoid muscle," Dr. Soliman says. "This could be used to evaluate for the multitude of patients who do not know they have diabetes." Community Health Systems, Inc. announced today that subsidiaries of the Company have signed a definitive agreement to sell four South Carolina hospitals - 82-bed Chester Regional Medical Center in Chester, 225-bed Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, 396-bed Carolinas Hospital System in Florence, and 124-bed Carolinas Hospital System - Marion in Mullins - along with related businesses, including physician clinic operations and outpatient services, to the Medical University Hospital Authority in Charleston, S.C. As part of the transaction, Medical University Hospital Authority will assume the long-term lease and operations of Chester Regional Medical Center. The transfer of the lease is subject to the consent of the Chester County Hospital Board of Chester County, South Carolina. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The four hospitals are among the additional planned divestitures discussed on the Company's third quarter 2018 earnings call. Kaufman, Hall & Associates, LLC is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to the Medical University Hospital Authority on this transaction. It wasnt until 2008 that the World Health Organization (WHO) defined AES as the acute onset of fever and change in mental status leading to symptoms varying from confusion to impaired speech or seizures. In other words, it is not a single disease and AES including JE is the grouping of clinically similar neurological manifestations. In India, viruses have primarily been attributed as the cause, but recent research indicates varied sources. Between 2007 and 2016, nearly 75,000 cases were reported from 22 states and union territories in India with a fatality ratio of 15 per cent to 44 per cent of them from Uttar Pradesh, mostly in Gorakhpur. It was almost exactly 40 years ago that Gorakhpur saw these symptoms for the first time. High fever, convulsions, confusion, rigid limbs, nausea and finally death. The first patient was an eight-year-old boy, who went into a coma soon after being admitted and died the next day. Dr RN Singh was a 28-year-old paediatrician at the hospital then. We just didnt know what he died off, he said. No one had seen anything like it, and then that is all we saw. Over 3,500 cases were reported that year and 1,100 died, as per records. I dont even remember crying. All I wanted was to understand why, to understand if I could have done anything to help my son. I had never even heard of this disease, she said. Since October last year, the hospital has been shrouded in secrecy. The daily bulletin of cases, along the lines of what agencies in Delhi and Kerala release routinely, for vector-borne diseases was discontinued. Administrators were told explicitly to not speak of the cases or deaths while healthcare activists and a section of doctors alleged that numbers were being manipulated and, perhaps most damningly, mothers like Shayra Begum still have no idea about how to protect their children. It has been over a year since 71 children had died at Gorakhpurs Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College in 10 days. Between 2007 and 2016, nearly 75,000 cases were reported from 22 states and union territories in India with a fatality ratio of 15 per cent to 44 per cent of them from Uttar Pradesh, mostly in Gorakhpur. (Photos: PTI) It has been over a year since 71 children had died at Gorakhpurs Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College in 10 days. Between 2007 and 2016, nearly 75,000 cases were reported from 22 states and union territories in India with a fatality ratio of 15 per cent to 44 per cent of them from Uttar Pradesh, mostly in Gorakhpur. (Photos: PTI) The Action Plan 2018 was rolled out and in August the government claimed that deaths had dipped. But when News18.com visited Gorakhpur, doctors, patients, experts and grieving families painted a different picture. That was eight months after 71 children had died at Gorakhpurs Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College in 10 days. The, then, six-month old Uttar Pradesh government with five-time MP from the district, Yogi Adityanath, at its helm found itself on the back foot. The inevitable rigmarole of probes, arrests and deflection followed and, in January, the chief minister announced his intention to eradicate AES and Japanese Encephalitis (JE), responsible for the death of 25,000 children since 1978. The death certificate summarises the final 49 hours and 48 minutes of Mohammad Kaifs life, concluding that his heart stopped beating due to Acute Encephalitis Shock (AES). For the remaining hours and minutes, she has only her memories. She remembers her six-year-old sons body stiffening in her arms. She remembers the practised ease with which his death certificate was filled out. But 25-year-old Shayra Begum doesnt remember if she cried that afternoon. The deaths have persisted and while data from private hospitals isnt available, two children, on average, died every day from 2016 to 2017. The past year, the government claimed, has seen unprecedented results through its efforts a vaccination drive, an awareness and sanitation campaign and upgrading the infrastructure at BRD Medical College has yielded success. But that is where things get murky. These claims are based on a written response to the UP assembly in August, claiming 111 deaths and 1,427 cases due to AESand JE at the hospital. While this doesnt take into account the fact that cases, annually, soar after the monsoons, it also is at odds with data released by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). Until the end of July, the central government agency reported that the total number of deaths in Uttar Pradesh due to AES and JE was 124, with AES accounting for 118 deaths. But the data released in September pegged the total deaths so far in the state at 113, of which 110 were due to AES and 3 due to JE. Data released in November, till October 31, pegged a total of 130 deaths, with AES accounting for 123 deaths. In other words, without cases from November, Uttar Pradesh still accounted for 32% of all AES cases in India, compared to 34% of all cases in 2017. NVBDCP director Dr PK Sen didnt respond to queries from News18.com. Rajesh Mani, whose non-profit Manav Seva Sansthan has been working for the prevention of AES in Gorakhpur for decades, said, This in itself proves the way in which the numbers are being fudged. What pressure is there, that has promoted them to now say that there are 110 casesthis numbers game has always been thereBut the bigger truth is that even these numbers dont account for the cases in private hospitals; so there is just no point going by the data. Anant Bhan, researcher, global health, policy and bioethics, explained that data had multiple use, ranging from learning trends and outcomes and argued that transparency was the best policy. Especially for institutes, where there had been past controversy, he said. III While laying down the foundation stone for the hospital in 1969, former chief minister and Congress leader CB Gupta had promised that the tertiary centre would be key in improving healthcare in Gorakhpur. Last month, Adityanath made identical promises as he laid down foundation stones for, not one, but 36 schemes. Gorakhpur has changed, and so has the hospital. A new multiplex, a high-rise apartment next to the sprawling hospital campus where work is underway for eighty new speciality wards, and an upcoming All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). But with the state still spending Rs 655 per person on healthcare roughly the price of eight litres of petrol, around half the nations average daily scenes at the hospital havent changed much. Patients negotiate serpentine queues, families wait gloomily for loved ones, and overworked doctors do what they can. Away from the hospital, at his office, Dr Ganesh Kumar, the principal and dean of the institute, said he isnt authorised to speak regarding AES and JE cases and denied allegations of data manipulation. Underscoring that the hospital was a tertiary centre he explained that preventive measures were the purview of other departments, ranging from education to irrigation. As a tertiary centre, when the patients come to us, they are usually at a serious stage. We have to give them better treatment and ensure that maximum patients survive, he said. Bhan concurred. The data needs to be contextualised. In a tertiary centre, extreme cases come and mortality is usually higher. But if the data isnt transparent, then people will stop trusting the institute and not come to the hospital at all, he added. Despite repeated attempts, Prashant Trivedi, principal secretary (health) of the Uttar Pradesh government, couldnt be contacted for comment. Outside the AES ward at the hospital, families wait with an air of knowing finality. Many camp through the night, mosquito nets and paltry blankets providing little protection from the elements. Some cradle prescriptions, others hold on to each other. There is little comfort in either. A security guard scans constantly, quick to stop anyone behaving like an outsider. Sources at the ward maintained that from January till October 1, there have been a total of 218 deaths due to AES and JE, while 766 patients were admitted. Gorakhpur and Deoria accounted for more than half of the cases, while Gorakhpur has seen, at least, 36 deaths. A doctor, who didnt wish to be named, said, What is most worrying is that the mortality rate is very high at over 28 per cent. Last year, where there were a lot more deaths, this hovered at around 21 per cent. The reason, a doctor claimed, was partly diagnosis. This year, a lot of patients are being entered into the governments records as suffering from Acute Febrile Illness (AFI), which, simply put, is high fever. So even if the patient dies of what is later found to be AES, the records dont show that they had AES. This is a factor in the skewed numbers. An infant lying on the floor at Rheana Khatum's house. She lost her infant daughter (1-year-old) Roshni to AES. (Photo: Aniruddha Ghosal) Though the hospital denied officially commenting on the allegations, a former doctor from BRD Medical College added, AFI is not a disease. It is the medical term used to describe a sudden increase in temperature. So in the case of AES, it happens when the body is trying to fight off the pathogen. But when you enter a patients records as suffering from AES, you dont have to enter it into your records. The numbers look fine. In this murky picture of healthcare at Gorakhpur, there is one incontestable fact: of every five children that die in the world, one dies in India, and Uttar Pradesh, according to a 2017 study mapping neonatal health in India by Manipal University, accounts for over half of these. Gorakhpur is among the worst districts. The numbers at the BRD Medical College are grim. As of September 1, the combined death toll of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) was 1,637, with deaths at NICU accounting for 1,006 of these, said sources. Last year, for the same time period, this was at 1,812, with deaths at the NICU accounting for 1,101, said sources. In other words, the situation has improved from roughly 22 children dying every three days to 20 children dying every three days. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Sorry! This content is not available in your region Dear Newsie Readers, Newsie has now permanently ceased it's services as of Friday 20th December 2019. Newsie has been an owner-funded operation since day one. Coming up to three years old, while we still firmly believe Newsie has a place in the New Zealand media landscape, the cost in both time and money has become too burdensome for the owners to continue alongside other ventures. With the current government looking to restructure public broadcasting, and seemingly supporting NZME buying a ring-fenced Stuff, the time seems right to call it a day. Should it happen, the combination of NZME and Stuff will ensure New Zealands national media will die a death by a thousand opinion-based articles. Newsie has always tried to stick to balanced news, to inform readers of the facts of a situation, amid being largely ignored by government. Hopefully, one day someone else will take up the challenge to fight the good fight. The good news, however, is that there were no job losses as a result of Newsie closing. Thanks to careful structuring, everyone involved in Newsie will retain their current positions. We hope you all have a happy Christmas and new year. Stay safe, and stay out of the news. The team at Newsie Obesity is in every way bad: It causes damage to the joints, increases the risk of developing Diabetes and could even lead to cancer. Why the latter is so, it was a long time in the dark. scientists have now found an explanation as to why obese people suffer more likely to get cancer. The "BBC" reported. It could be a kind of cell that the body needs to destroy cancer tissue. The cell is clogged but with fat, not to their original function. The a Team from Trinity College in Dublin. One of the 20 cancer cases will be caused, therefore, by being Overweight. Although Smoking is (according to Cancer Research UK in the UK) is still the largest preventable cause of Cancer, right then obesity follows. In the UK, 22,800 fewer people develop cancer annually as a result of obesity. Worldwide, there are around 500,000 people each year are diagnosed with cancer. pediatrician warns Thickened heart muscle, broken joints: the thickness of the children have Overweight similar ailments such as older adults, DPA, and cancer: the connection for years, Youwin not documented The connection between Obesity and cancer, many people know, he is a diseases, according to Rudolf Kaaks, head of the Department of epidemiology of cancer at the German cancer research center, and for years occupied. According to conservative estimates, at least five to six percent of all cancer cases could be brought back. "The list of types of cancer, in the development of probably Obesity plays a role, is getting longer and longer," says Kaaks. Only obesity is not considered as a risk factor even slim people with a lot of abdominal fat have an increased risk. Too much sugar!: These ten Snacks you should never eat for Breakfast Fullscreen pancakes with maple syrup? No! Maple syrup is pure sugar. If pancakes, with a bit of natural yogurt to eat. Who is already obese, you should lose weight, advise researchers. This reduces the risk of developing cancer. The study was published in "Nature Immunology Journal". The scientists describe how the cancer cells of the body fight to be clogged with fat. You hope that you will find drug treatments that can restore the natural killer cells. "Although we know that obesity increases the risk of 13 different cancers that we understand the mechanisms that underlie the connection, not quite," said Leo Carlin from the Beatson Institute of Cancer Research UK, the "BBC". "This study shows how fat molecules prevent immune cells to position their tumor-killing machinery properly, and offers new possibilities to investigate treatment." Updated Date: 20 November 2018, 08:02 dsw New Delhi : For the first time in the history, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hinted at a post-poll alliance with its traditional arch-rival the Congress in the Mizoram Assembly elections. The ruling Congress and main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) are the two major parties in the hill state of Mizoram. While the BJP is in power in all the other north-eastern state, it has never won an Assembly election in Mizoram. During his recent visit to the poll-bound state, BJP chief Amit Shah had said that the BJP will win the Assembly elections and the Christian majority state will celebrate this years Christmas under the saffron partys rule. Also Read | 4 killed,11 injured in blast at Pulgaon Army depot in Maharashtra's Wardha However, BJP in charge for elections in Mizoram and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hinted at a probable alliance with Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla. Terming the chief minister a friend, Sarma said that the MNF isnt the only option for the post-poll alliance. "It is not like that MNF is the only option for the post-poll alliance," NDTV quoted Sarma as saying. "I say this because in Mizoram, Congress has a separate constitution. It has a unique history. As a party, its constitution different the rest of the country. Lal Thanhawla takes independent decisions. We are friendly with the chief minister as an individual," he said. Sarma said that while the Congress and MNF remain the rivals, the BJP is not criticising Chief Minister Thanhawla and Zoramthanga - MNF leader and former Chief Minister of Mizoram from December 1998 to December 2008. "We are open to friendship with both Lal Thanhawla and Zoramthanga. At the party-level, we are focusing on strengthening our base and targeting our rivals, but we aren't criticizing the two Mizo leaders at an individual level. We are neutral to both and treating them as our friends," Sarma said. Also Read | NSA Ajit Doval interfered in probe against Rakesh Asthana, alleges CBI officer While the BJP is making all-out efforts to open its account in the state, the Congress party, which has been ruling the state since 2008, is eying third consecutive term. Mizoram is also important for the Congress as its the last north-eastern state the party is in power. Elections for the 40-member Mizoram Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held on November 28. The results will be declared on December 11. New Delhi: US food company Cargill on Tuesday announced the appointment of Piyush Patnaik as the new managing director (MD) of its edible oil businesses in India. Cargill India sells edible oils under various brands, including NatureFresh and Gemini. It markets olive oil under Leonardo brand. Patnaik will be taking over from Deoki Muchhal who has left the organisation after 15 years, the company said in a statement. Before joining Cargill in 2006, Patnaik worked with large consumer companies, including Coca-Cola and Dabur, it said. Also Read | Vipul Prakash appointed MakeMyTrips new chief operating officer Prior to his appointment as MD, Patnaik served as the strategy and business development head for Cargills oils business in India, the company said. Cargills oil business in India has thrived under many inspiring leaders and it is a privilege for me to now lead this winning team. I look forward to building upon our accomplishments and help better serve our consumers and stakeholder, Patnaik said. During his 12 years of a stint with the US major food company, Patnaik has held key positions in various functions including procurement, sales, business development, M&A and supply chain management, the company said. Patnaik will now be leading the Cargills India chapter with more than 3,500 employees working across offices, warehouses, and plants. Read More | Senior PDP leader Muzaffar Baig hints at joining third front if it emerges in J-K In India, Cargills operations started in 1987. It has businesses in refined oils, food ingredients, grain and oilseeds. Ever since its inception in 1865, the Minneapolis-based Cargill company, founded by William Wallace Cargill, has grown from a grain storage facility into an international producer and distributor of agricultural products such as sugar, refined oil, chocolate and turkey, the company said. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: MakeMyTrip on Tuesday announced the appointment of Vipul Prakash as the new chief operating officer (COO) of the online travelling company and of Goibibo. Before joining MakeMyTrip, Prakash worked with PepsiCo where he served as the senior vice president (beverage category for PepsiCo-India), the company said in a statement. We are excited to welcome Vipul to our leadership team. His rich experience of two decades at PepsiCo spanning geographies, deep understanding of consumer market and expertise in industry-leading operational practices are truly invaluable. We are confident that his proven track record and extensive experience will extend MakeMyTrips upward trajectory, said MakeMyTrip co-founder and CEO India Rajesh Magow. Also Read | Ola continues to expand across the UK, now services in England In MakeMyTrip, Prakash will be responsible for developing and executing strategic direction and priorities of the company, Magow said. Speaking about his new role, Prakash said: MakeMyTrip is an iconic brand that has played a defining role in shaping the online travel space in India. I have been truly impressed with the companys institutional expertise and relentless focus on serving customers better. I look forward to driving the next phase of innovation and growth through operational excellence. We are confident that his proven track record and extensive experience will extend MakeMyTrips upward trajectory, said Magow. Read More | Salary can't be withheld for not linking bank account with Aadhaar: Bombay High Court Prakash joined PepsiCo in 1998 and held various positions in marketing and franchise, both at sector and global levels during his two decades association with the American multinational food, snack, and beverage company, it said. Vipuls rich experience of two decades at PepsiCo spanning geographies, deep understanding of consumer market and expertise in the industry, leading operational practices are truly invaluable, Magow said. He was associated with PepsiCo for 20 years. He holds a post-graduate diploma in management from IIM Ahmedabad and a mechanical engineering degree from IIT Delhi, Magow added. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Madhya Pradesh and is addressing a rally in Jhabua. He is scheduled to address another rally at the SAF ground at Rewa in the poll-bound state on Tuesday. Both the Assembly constituencies, Rewa and Jhabua are currently held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Voting is scheduled to take place for all 230 Madhya Pradesh constituencies on November 28 with results to be declared on December 11. 12:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Our mantra: Education for children, employement for youths, irrigation for farmers and medicines for the elderly: PM Modi 12:25 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We are determined to ensure that no poor is without a house in this country. A house with water, electricity and gas connection and a toilet: PM Modi 12:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The work that the Congress government has not been able to accomplish in 50 years, Shivraj Singh Ji has done in 15 years: PM Modi New Delhi: Indian-American, Sruthi Palaniappan, 20, has recently been elected as the president of the prestigious Harvard student body. The parents of the young Harvardian is said to have migrated from Chennai to the United States in 1992. Sruthi's is one of the many Indian families to have immigrated to the United States for a better life. As with many Indian immigrants, it is uncommon for them to hold a prestigious spot in the educational or administration rung they inhabit and young Sruthi is proving to be one stand-out Indian-immigrant. In fact, India is the top source of international migrants, with one-in-twenty migrants worldwide born in India. As one of the oldest, the most prestigious and the toughest to get enrolled into --- Harvard University --- Sruthi Palaniappan has knocked off other Harvardian combatants to be elected as the president of the Harvard University Undergraduate Council. Julia Huesa, another 20-year-old who is also Sruthis running mate, was elected as the vice-president after coming to an overall agreement by the Undergraduate Council Election Commission. Also Read | Bahrain royal sued over 16 million pounds to meet Bollywood stars Palaniappan, the now-elected president of the Harvard Student body had said that the duo had been firm on improving the Council's communication with the student body since their initial days in office. "I think from the onset, better structuring the way we communicate with students is something that we need to already set the tone and plan for," she said. "I think we're going to work on it before we even leave for break and just get off the ground running," she told Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper of the varsity. Among the many delegates, Palaniappan was the youngest delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in . According to reports, Palaniappan and Huesa garnered nearly 41.5 per cent of the votes as against their nearest opponent Nadine M Khoury and Arnav Agrawal, who received 26.6 per cent of the votes. Also Read | Imran Khan hits back at Donald Trump over 'damn thing' comment They ran their campaign under the slogan "make Harvard home". The duo, who have been elected as president and vice-president have been a long-time member of the Undergraduate Council and are scheduled to take over from the outgoing president Catherine L Zhang '19 and vice president Nicholas D Boucher '19. Palaniappan is currently the council's education committee chair. New Delhi: Shah Rukh Khans fan, a Bahrain royal who had a lifelong dream to meet the King of Romance and other Bollywood celebrities alike didnt go well as planned. Sheikh Hamad Isa Ali Al Khalifa Bahrain, a royal of Bahrain said that he had struck a contract with an Egyptian entrepreneur Ahmed Adel Abdallah Ahmed where the royal was to pay for meeting 26 Bollywood celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Ranveer Singh, among many others. His dream, however, turned to a chaos when he came to find out that he was sued for trying to have an unofficial meeting with the Indian stars. Sheikh Hamad Isa Ali Al Khalifa Bahrain told England's High Court on he was "astonished" when he got the news that he was being sued over an alleged deal for access to top Bollywood stars. Also Read | Man held for threatening Salman Khan, says wanted break in Bollywood The entrepreneur Ahmed claims that the duo had set up an agreement over the phone when Sheikh Hamad was in London in and had then told Ahmad that he would be paid more than 1 million pounds for each meeting, plus a bonus of more than 350,000 pounds after every third meeting. The deal to meet the Bollywood luminaries was allegedly worth 35 million pounds and Ahmed is now suing the royal for 16 million pounds he claims he owed in fees and costs. Sheikh Hamad went on to elaborate that he had a "lifelong passion" for Bollywood cinema and wanted to meet stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh and Aishwarya Rai. In his witness statement, the royal said he paid Ahmed about 2.7 million pound for meetings with Bollywood idols, but only because he "wanted to please him", rather than due to any contractual obligations. "When I learned of the claims that Ahmed was making against me in these proceedings, I was astonished," he said. "I was grateful to (Ahmed) for helping me to meet four top Bollywood artists. "I expressed my gratitude frequently by words and my gestures: in total, he received around 2.7 million pounds from me in relation to these meetings. "I considered this sum was comfortably in excess of the amount that he had incurred in costs and expenses, including in fees for the Bollywood artists. Also Read | Miss World Manushi Chillar was scared of fame initially "I do not think that this gives him licence to demand vast sums of money to which he is not entitled." Sheikh Hamad has now contended that the alleged arrangement is "entirely fictitious". The hearings continue at the High Court in London. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Tuesday registered a case against a man, identified as Anil Sharma, who threw chilli powder at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outside his office at the Secretariat. Sources said Sharma managed to gain entry in the Delhi Secretariat after being issued a pass to go to PGMS unit of the government. The 40-year-old attacker had gone to the Secretariat allegedly seeking help for an ailing relative, they said. The AAP leaders alleged that the man threw red chilli powder at the chief minister, a claim denied by the Delhi Police. Sharma had reached the reception of the Delhi Secretariat where he was issued a pass after a call was received from the PGMS, sources said. A purported CCTV footage of the incident showed Kejriwal accompanied by his staff outside his office at third floor of the Delhi Secretariat. The accused could be seen approaching him without any check and handing him over some papers that Kejriwal gave to his staff. The accused could be seen in the video bending down to touch Kejriwal's feet and suddenly lunging at him with his hand brushing past the chief minister's face. #WATCH: CCTV from Delhi Secretariat. Delhi Police say 'Anil Kumar came to meet Delhi CM to share his grievances. He handed him a note & touched his feet, & chilli powder fell from his hand. Probe underway whether it was an attack or powder fell unintentionally' pic.twitter.com/UYMhCAb3Hm ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 "He was seeking help for an ailing relative. The pass was issued to him after a call was received from PGMS located in the secretariat," they said. Public entry at the Delhi Secretariat is allowed from its gate number 6 where Delhi Police personnel do separate frisking of men and women going inside the premises. The AAP leaders termed it as a security lapse that the attacker managed to carry red chilli powder with him inside the secretariat. It's extremely shocking that the Delhi Police is lying on record about premeditated attack on Delhi CM inside Secretariat today. Security of the Delhi Secretariat is responsibility of the Delhi Police and there have been numerous incidents of security breaches in the recent past, said the Delhi government. Instead of owning up its serious lapses, the Delhi Police is spreading lies under political pressure. Will they answer-Can anyone enter the Secretariat with a packet of chilli powder and matchbox unchecked? Is there any checking done of people entering the Secretariat? asked the Delhi government. The incident took place around 2:10 pm when the chief minister was leaving for lunch. The man has been taken into custody. The man was targeting the bespectacled chief minister's eyes, officials said. Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of 'khaini', or chewing tobacco. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted. The attack took place outside the chief minister's chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch. The Aam Aadmi Party tweeted saying: "Dangerous attack on Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal. Serious security lapses from Delhi Police. Even the Chief Minister is not safe in Delhi." "Even the Chief Minister is not safe in Delhi. The man crossed all security barriers and even scanners but the chilli powder was not detected," AAP said in a statement. "Rogue elements who are attacking the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are backed by the BJP. They wanted to attack the Chief Minister even on the inauguration of Signature," said AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj at a press conference. "The attackers are being provided full impunity by the Delhi Police, the police has no intention to take firm action against the attack on the CM, said AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that the BJP, in collusion with Delhi Police, is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister.Sisodia said the party and its members are not going to be cowed by the BJP's "petty" tactics. The Aam Aadmi Party has described the incident as "politically motivated". "The attack surprisingly took place at a high security area. Recently, BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of signature bridge. BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister," Sisodia told reporters. "We are not going to be cowed by the BJP'S petty tactics," he added. The Delhi BJP chief said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody". "This calls for a high-level probe," Tiwari said. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : At least six people were killed and 10 others sustained serious injuries in a blast at Pulgaon Army depot in Maharashtra's Wardha on Tuesday morning. The blast took place at demolition ground while the explosives were being unloaded for disposal, defence officials said. Wardha's Additional Superintendent of Police Nikhil Pingle said that the incident occurred at around 7 am in the morning. Around 10 to 15 contract labourers were at the site when one of the ammunition boxes exploded. "The blast occurred in one of the ammunition boxes while unloading the ammunition. The incident took place in an open land," news agency PTI quoted Pingle as saying. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Army jawan, 4 terrorists killed in encounter in Shopian Soon after receiving the information, police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot to carry out the rescue operation. the injured were taken to a hospital in the nearby Savangi village. While four people were killed on the spot, two others succumbed to injuries in hospital. The deceased included an ammunition factory employee and labourers, Inspector General of Police (Nagpur Range) KM Prasanna was quoted by the agency. This is not the first time such an incident has taken place at the Wardha Army depot. In 2016, a massive fire in the depot had killed 16 Army personnel, including two officers. Also Read | NSA Ajit Doval interfered in probe against Rakesh Asthana, alleges CBI officer One of Asia's biggest ammunition depot, Pulgaon Army depot houses Indias largest stockpile of explosives and weapons in the country. Arms and ammunition, including bombs, grenades, shells, assorted rifles, missiles, and other explosives first reach Wardha Army depot and then distributed to Army stations across the country. #SpotVisuals: Two killed, several injured in an explosion in Pulgaon Army depot in Wardha. Further details awaited. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/9hHbsBXLbO ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Delhi police on Tuesday sounded high alert after two Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists have allegedly sneaked into the national capital. The police have also released pictures of the two suspected terrorists standing next to a milestone on which its written Delhi 360 km Firozpur 9km in Urdu. According to reports, the police are searching hotels, guesthouses and vehicles in the city. Pictures of the two suspected terrorists have been posted across the city and shared on social media. Punjabs Firozpur is 133 km from Amritsar where two motorcycle-borne youths threw a grenade at a religious congregation on Sunday, killing three persons were killed and leaving 20 injured. The incident came just a few days after an intelligence report claimed that at least six to seven terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad had sneaked into Punjab and were believed to be hiding in Firzopur area. The report added that the suspected terrorists might be planning to move towards Delhi. "According to an input, a group of 6-7 JeM terrorists are reportedly in Punjab, India (possibly Firozpur area) and are planning to move towards Delhi from Punjab side," the report said. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police have found striking similarities between the modus operandi of the perpetrators of the grenade attack at a Nirankari congregation in Amritsar and the one allegedly planned by an ISI-backed terror module busted in Patiala early this month. The Punjab Police had nabbed on November 1 Shabnamdeep Singh alias Maninder Lahoria, who "confessed" to the police that he was asked by his Pakistani handlers to target police posts and crowded places during festivals. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had Monday described the grenade attack as a suspected handiwork of the ISI-backed terror modules. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Absconding former Bihar minister Manju Verma on Tuesday surrendered in a Begusarai Court. The former Bihar minister was on the run after registration of an FIR against her and her husband Chandrasekhar Verma under the Arms Act case. The surrender of former social welfare minister came days after Bihar Police attached her property in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home case. In August, Verma had to step down from her post following reports that her husband had close connections with Brajesh Thakur a close aide of key accused in Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. Also Read | Muzaffarpur shelter home case: Manju Verma declared 'absconder'; order to attach property During the raids at her Begusarai residence in connection with the shelter home rape case, the police had found live cartridges and registered a case under Arms Act against the minister and her husband. After the registration of the case, the minister disappeared in winds even as the Patna High Court rejected her bail application, where she pleaded that she was not evading arrest, but "seeking relief as per law". On Friday, a magistrate court had pronounced Verma absconder and ordered attachment of her properties. Vermas husband had surrendered before the court on October 29. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had rapped the Bihar Police for its failure to arrest Verma and directed the DGP to appear before it in person on November 27 if the ex-minister was not arrested. Also Read | Separatist Hafizullah Mir shot at in South Kashmir's Achabal Over 34 girls, aged 7 to 14 years, were allegedly drugged, scalded with boiling water, raped and forced to sleep naked at a state-funded shelter home run by Brajesh Thakur. The shocking case of sexual exploitation of the minor girls on such a large scale was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences to the state's social welfare department. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheeted on Tuesday Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azahar and 13 others under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Indian Arms Act among others for the 2016 terrorist attack on the Army camp in Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir. On November 29, 2016, seven Army personnel, including two officers, were killed and three others injured. The Army had neutralised three Pakistani terrorists in retaliatory action. Details are awaited... For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Arvind Kathpalia, who was recently sacked from the post of operations director in Air India after he failed to clear the pre-flight alcohol test twice, has been reverted to the post of executive director (ED), an airline source said on Tuesday. However, the senior pilot has not been assigned to any department to handle, the source added. The national carrier spokesperson couldnt be reached for his comments, news agency PTI reported. Captain Kathpalia, who has been serving the national carrier since late 1980s, was promoted to the post of director in March 2017 from the position of ED, just about two months after his flying licence was suspended for three months for skipping a breath analyser (BA) or alcohol test. Also Read | Pakistan-bound aircraft makes priority landing at Jaipur airport The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had approved his appointment as director for operations, which is a board-level position, for a period of five years. Air India spokesperson was not available for comments. Following the positive findings in the alcohol test on November 11, the airline took him off flying duties while aviation regulator DGCA suspended his flying licence for three years. Later, the Civil Aviation ministry relieved him from his position. Read More | Bahrain royal sued over 16 million pounds to meet Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Taking (into consideration) serious nature of the transgression and failure to course correct even after earlier suspension of flying licence for three months, the Minister of Civil Aviation has accorded approval for relieving Capt Arvind Kathpalia from the charge of director of operations of Air India Ltd with immediate effect, the ministry said in its November 13 order. In 2017, Kathpalia was suspended for three months when he had allegedly refused to undergo the alcohol test before and after his flight, which he operated on the Bengaluru and New Delhi and back in January that year. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: At least 40 people were killed and 80 injured after a suicide bomber triggered an explosion at a gathering of top clerics inside a large wedding hall in Kabul on Tuesday, according to initial reports. The incident too place around 6.15 pm (local time) during a large gathering of people who were marking Prophet Mohammads birthday, according to Tolo News. Basir Mujahid, spokesman of the Kabul police, told News agency Reuters that more than 60 other people were injured in the blast. I have confirmed reports that 40 people have been killed, Mujahid said. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the blast. "Initial information suggests it was caused by a suicide bomber," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. He said the number of dead and wounded was "more than 50" so far. A manager of Uranus Wedding Palace, which also hosts political and religious functions, told news agency AFP that a suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of the gathering. "There are a lot of casualties -- I myself have counted 30 casualties," he said on the condition of anonymity. Details are awaited... For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Venezuelan ambassador to Cuba and a former foreign minister Ali Rodriguez has passed away in Havana, said family sources. Rodriguez, who served as an ambassador to Cuba since 2014, breathed his last at the age of 81 on Monday, they said. Following the news of Rodriguezs demised, condolences were poured in from across sectors, including President Nicolas Maduro and Vice-president Delcy Rodriguez. Also Read | Architect of Arunachal Pradeshs capital Itanagar dies at 84 His experience and honesty were a school for all of us, Maduro said on Twitter, calling Rodriguez, a tireless fighter who was indispensable to the revolution. I have received the very sad news of the passing of Ali Rodriguez Araque A tireless fighter, one of those who are essential in the Revolution. I convey my sympathies to all his family. His experience and honesty were a lesson for all of uspic.twitter.com/IzW1GuIX7f Nicolas Maduro (@maduro_en) November 20, 2018 He (Ali) has in our history, a place of honour and decorum in popular struggles! Ambassador of excellence and dignity! Long live Ali forever!, Delcy tweeted. We express our condolences to the relatives of our beloved Ali! He has in our history, a place of honor and decorum in popular struggles! Ambassador of excellence and dignity! Long live Ali forever! pic.twitter.com/8bN9cYlWBa Delcy Rodriguez (@DRodriguez_en) November 20, 2018 Read More | Imran Khan hits back at Donald Trump over Pakistan doesn't do 'damn thing' comment Rodriguez, an icon of Venezuela's socialist revolution who went on to serve as a diplomat in top government posts, used the position to defend Venezuelas anti-American foreign policy amid two decades of socialist rule, said the sources. Rodriguez served as president of PDVSA until November 2004, when late President Hugo Chavez made him foreign ambassador to Cuba, it said. Born in 1937 in Venezuelas central state of Lara, Rodriguez joined guerrilla fighters as a young man inspired by the Fidel Castro-led revolution in Cuba. He earned a reputation as an expert in explosives and was given the nickname of Comandante Fausto. The revolutionary fervour in Venezuela, however, never captured mass appeal, and in the 1970s most rebel groups surrendered, said the sources. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. In 2016, California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a wildfire mitigation bill that could have prevented the fires As President Donald Trump joins firefighters and other emergency responders in California to assess the unprecedented damage caused by the latest bout of wildfires to ravage the Golden State, many are asking why Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a wildfire management bill passed by the legislature back in 2016 that would have prevented them from occurring in the first place. According to reports, the more than 221,000 acres that were burned, resulting in at least 44 deaths, all could have been saved, had Governor Brown signed off on bipartisan legislation to mitigate all fire risks from utility equipment including the power lines that are believed to have sparked the worst of the most recent fires. He has done nothing to harden those assets, stated state Senator John Moorlach, a Republican, during a recent interview with The Daily Caller. Senate Bill 1463, which Sen. Moorlach sponsored, would have afforded local governments a much larger role in developing fire risk maps with both the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and CAL FIRE, the states official firefighting agency. The bill would have mandated that CPUC work directly with utilities to help mitigate various wildfire risks, including by putting electric utility lines underground if need be to avoid a fire risk. However, Governor Brown resisted, stating that state officials have been doing just that through the existing proceeding on re-threat maps and re-safety regulations, hes quoted as saying. This clearly hasnt been the case, however. According to Sen. Moorlach, very little has been done either by state agencies or local utilities to mitigate fire risks throughout the state even in the highest-risk areas proving once again that Governor Brown is completely out of touch with the needs of California. Well, theyve been working on it for like eight years, and they havent gotten it done, Sen. Moorlach told reporters. Utilities are just sort of hanging onto the money. Gov. Brown blames global warming for California wildfires Others, including journalist Katy Grimes, have offered similar criticisms. She tweeted recently that Gov. Brown had many chances to address CAs increasing wildfires since his election in 2011, but instead chose to play politics. But Gov. Browns spokesman, Evan Westrup, has denied these and other claims. Hes accusing Gov. Browns critics of exploiting tragedy and peddling bunk to score cheap political points, insinuating that Californias wildfires have nothing to do with the forest management bill that his boss vetoed. Senate Bill 1463 would have prolonged the safety work already going on at the CPUC by requiring the participation of certain entities, which was unnecessary because CAL FIRE was already a party to the proceeding, and local governments and fire departments could also participate, hes quoted as saying. Gov. Brown himself is going the denial route as well, insisting that global warming is to blame for these fires. He even went a step further to blame those who deny global warming, saying that they are the ones responsible for these horrible wildfires. But Sen. Moorlach says this is nonsense, especially since SB 1463 would have addressed many of the problems that Gov. Brown insists are factors associated with global warming, regardless of the fact that its very existence is questionable in terms of sound science. Not addressing wildfires has reversed all the work weve done to reduce greenhouse gases, Sen. Moorlach told the media, adding that Gov. Browns approach to the issue has been inconsistent. Its sort of become his religion, he added about Gov. Browns constant blaming of everything that goes wrong in California not on his own poor decisions, but on global warming and other leftist fiction. For more news about leftists like Governor Jerry Brown who are constantly playing the blame game when it comes to deflecting the errors of their ways, be sure to check out Libtards.news Sources for this article include: DailyCaller.com NaturalNews.com Pamela Ribon was so anxious about her idea, she had to pause to ask herself: If I write this, will it get me fired? As a storyteller, Ribon knows her way around a modern Disney princess, having worked for about two years on the hit "Moana." And she says her gift for crafting dialogue of strong, funny female characters had helped her become a writer on Disney's "Ralph Breaks the Internet" (opening Wednesday), the sequel to Rich Moore's Oscar-nominated 2012 smash "Wreck-It Ralph." So it was with a taste for the satiric that Ribon began to muse: What if, at one point in the film, I surrounded Vanellope Von Schweetz, the "Ralph" franchise's endearingly daring video-game racer (voiced by Sarah Silverman), with enough Disney princesses that it resembled a sorority reunion - and then teasingly lampooned their tropes? Ribon approached the concept's first draft with the joyful abandon of someone who believed her studio bosses would never actually permit such a comedic palace coup. And so she dragooned the young, well-tressed Disney women, representing eight decades of animated studio history, to quiz the new kid by asking her whether she meets any of the criteria of a stock Disney princess, such as being the victim of a poisoning or doomed parentage. But then came the true twist: Vanellope's story detour not only got a green light, but the princesses' meta-meetup also became one of the film's best scenes. Despite the long history of Disney-princess parodies, memes and YouTube spoofage by outsider comedians at the gate, the Magic Kingdom itself has just topped 'em all. As Cinder-satire goes, it's game over - winner, Team "Ralph." All because Ribon, the writer and comedian with the peripatetic upbringing - her many childhood homes included a stint in Germantown, Maryland - adored the internet-hopping Vanellope enough that she believed the big-hearted girl was worthy of being coronated as Disney royalty. Early on in the making of "Moana," Ribon tells The Washington Post, the writers were wondering about their island heroine: "Will she be a princess? What does that mean?" That conversation carried over to the early story stages of the "Ralph" sequel. "I thought: 'Gosh, why isn't Vanellope canon?' " Ribon says. "To me, she's my kind of princess - in a hoodie." "At first we were joking about Vanellope photobombing the (seven) dwarfs," Ribon says. That brainstorming evolved into having Vanellope - who goes AWOL from her Sugar Rush game - come upon the Oh My Disney area of the Internet. "What if they're trying to determine whether or not she's canon - whatever that thing (is) that they decide at Disneyland that allows some of them to get their coronation," Ribon says of having the princesses grill Vanellope on her potentially royal resume. "And so I took it from there." But while executing her idea, Ribon says, she began to have a "true panic attack," so she contacted a friend - a walking Wikipedia of Disney facts - and told her: "I have all these tropes and I just want to make sure I have the right princesses. Which ones were kidnapped? Which ones have daddy issues? "She was like: 'What are you doing?' " What Ribon was doing was steering into a type of scene she has long gravitated toward. Nearly two decades ago, she put together a stage show based on actress Anne Heche's soul-baring 2001 memoir - as more than a dozen different performers read from parts of the book. "I realize what a direct line there is from the Anne Heche monologue show to the princess scene," says Ribon, who studied drama at the University of Texas at Austin. "I did that show because I wanted my female friends to have a showcase, and when I read (her) book, I kept hearing their voices in my head and I thought: 'I think these are monologues for you guys to audition with.' And then that became the stage show." For "Ralph's" princess-lounge hangout, Ribon began to hear the voices of many of the actresses who originated the roles. So the film brought in many of them to reprise their roles, including Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel from "Frozen," Mandy Moore from "Rapunzel" and Kelly Macdonald from "Brave." Finally, without almost no expectations, she ran the idea past the directors, Rich Moore and Phil Johnston ("Zootopia"), and producers, all the while thinking: "They're not going to let me do this Ariel joke." Instead came Moore's encouraging response. "The idea of satirizing Disney," he tells The Post, "is the greatest gift we have been given." Plus, Johnston says, they reasoned that because the film's setting is "the internet, you can do anything - you can go anywhere. So why can't Vanellope show up at a website where there are the Disney princesses?" As the princess encounter evolved, the writers played off the fact that not only do Disney princesses often get kidnapped, but that they are forever gazing into "important waters." (In their attention to detail, one princess fan at the studio noted to Ribon that Mulan does not look into a puddle, but rather a horse trough. Robin's enthusiastic response: "Even better!") The scene also skewers the reliance on a lumbering hunk to solve a damsel's thorny problem. Ribon recorded all the princess scratch tracks (the placeholder recordings of voices used during development) so the filmmakers could hear how the full scene would play out. The producers secured other past princess vocal actors, including Irene Bedard ("Pocahontas"), Jodi Benson ("Little Mermaid"), Auli'i Cravalho ("Moana"), Paige O'Hara ("Beauty and the Beast"), Linda Larkin ("Aladdin"), Anika Noni Rose ("The Princess and the Frog") and Ming-Na Wen ("Mulan") - and Ribon remained as the voice of Snow White. (Adriana Caselotti, who voiced the title princess in 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," died in 1997.) And all the actresses, Ribon says, clearly relished lampooning their characters with affectionate respect, the filmmakers say - including how the princesses let their hair down and speak with heightened awareness about their lives. "It's like when I make fun of my dad," Johnston says. "Yes, I can do that - I love my dad and I love his foibles. We are coming at this from a place of love." Not that Ribon isn't still on guard about poking fun at the princesses who populate the Kingdom. "I'm glad people have really liked it," she says, "but I don't think I've truly exhaled yet."' BETHEL The first selectman has received an 8.9 percent raise, bringing his annual earnings to $95,000. The Board of Finance voted unanimously last week to increase the first selectmans salary from $87,259, an amount members said was low compared to similar towns. Im very appreciative of the Board of Finances actions, First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said. But, as a citizen of town and a taxpayer, whether it benefits me personally or not, I believe strongly the position should be compensated appropriately. Bob Manfreda, chair of the Board of Finance, said the increase would encourage residents to run for the position. As people are considering whether to run in the next cycle, there is a need to do something now, he said at last weeks meeting. Knickerbocker was elected first selectman in 2009 and has overseen various water improvement projects, the building of the new police station and the approval of the renovations to Rockwell and Johnson elementary schools. He also earned a raise last year, when his salary went from $84,718 to $87,259. The board examined towns of similar size to Bethel and found the first selectman earned less than others in the same position. Its at the extreme low-end of the range, Manfreda said. For example, in Madison the first selectman earned $100,000 and the East Lyme first selectman earned about $99,450 in the 2017-18 year, according to data compiled by Bethels human resources administrator. Both towns are slightly smaller than Bethel. In Guilford, where the population is larger by roughly 3,000 people, the first selectman received $111,000. The Monroe first selectman earned almost $91,000, while the Southbury first selectman received $101,000. Both towns have about the same population as Bethel. Meanwhile, the first selectman in Brookfield, which has a slightly smaller population, earned $85,000 in the 2017-18 year, according to the data. Wendy Smith, a board member, said the raise was overdue. Our responsibility is to fund the position properly, said Smith, who worked for at least 20 years in the first selectmans office. Board members noted the responsibilities of the first selectman, such as attending events and meetings and heading the Public Utilities Commission. If we were to figure how much Matt spends a month doing town duties and divide that by his monthly salary, we all might be surprised by how little he makes per hour, said Dalene Foster, board member. The finance board sets the salaries for elected officials, including the selectmen, town treasurer, town clerk and registrars. The board also raised the stipends for the selectmen from $5,000 to $5,500, but did not yet discuss salaries for the other elected officials. BROOKFIELD The Candlewoood Lake Authority is looking for a new marine patrol chief after the current chief decided he wont be returning for health reasons. Chief Doug Vane resigned and is expected to be replaced during the off-season, according to the Candlewood Lake Authority. The authority plans to approve the appointment of the chief and assistant chief at its December meeting, Chairwoman Phyllis Schaer said. Joe Wodarski, a New Milford delegate, said this means other officers will be moved up to the ranked positions. The authority plans to honor Vanes years of service with a plaque. The announcement about the chief came as part of the marine patrols end of season report at an authority meeting last week, which was presented by Assistant Chief Ron Barnard. There were three fatalities this year on the lake, the report noted. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is still investigating the two boating incidents, said DEEP spokesman Chris Collibee. A Waterbury woman was killed when she was struck by a boats propeller while swimming in June, and an East Hartford man drowned when the boat he was on capsized. There were also two fires and two accidents, according to the marine patrols report. When called to assist, the CLAMP officers were complimented on their assistance and professionalism, Barnard said, according to meeting minutes. The patrol had 599 interactions with people on the water this season. Those resulted in 69 infractions, 27 written warnings and 365 verbal warnings. Of those, the most common violations concerned personal flotation devices, registration decals, not being a safe distance from shore, lights and riding on a boats bow. It was a busy season with 1,712 man-hours on the water, Barnard said. The authority commended the patrol members for their work. The Patrol did a spectacular job this season, Brookfield delegate Jerry Murphy said. Cynthia Esparza, For the Express-News / For the San Antonio Express-News DANBURY For Marilyn Davis, the Daily Bread Food Pantry is a blessing. She goes once a month to the pantry at St. James Episcopal Church and was among the 470 clients who picked up food Monday for Thanksgiving. It means a lot, she said as she passed through the line. The people are nice. They treat you with love. It helps a lot on the budget for food. On Thanksgiving, an estimated 2,000 people are expected to eat the food given out at the pantrys annual holiday distribution. Davis will have Thanksgiving dinner at her mothers house with about seven others this year. Without the pantry, she said she does not know what her family would do. We would be lost, she said. Daily Bread Food Pantry serves food year round on Monday and Friday mornings out of St. James Episcopal Church. Households are permitted to come once a month, and 60 to 70 families get food each time. But the pre-Thanksgiving distribution is the biggest day of the year. Clients sign up the month before to pick up food and often come early to get one of the first spots in line. Most of them wouldnt have a Thanksgiving without this, said Rose Ann Benvenga, a board member. The beauty is, they are so appreciative. A half hour after the pantry opened, clients were lined up in the churchs back parking lot and down Terrace Place. Many had carts to push their food, but the estimated 60 volunteers from local churches, schools, banks and other business offered to help clients carry their bags to their car or nearby homes. The pantry saw a rise this year in the number of households getting food. Debbie Landzberg, another board member, attributes the increase to the high cost of living in Danbury and the growing challenge for residents to receive federal aid. Its just increasingly hard to cover costs, she said. She said some of their clients are single parents, some struggle with medical costs, while others work two jobs, but still cant make ends meet. Between paying for rent, utilities and other emergencies, they might only have a couple dollars left for food, Landzberg said. She said she has seen clients run up the hill as the pantry is closing to get food. When asked if they have food at home, the answer is no, Landzberg said. They really rely on the food pantry, she said. Among the clients is Mercedes Cabrera, of Danbury, who not only took home food Monday, but volunteered to pass out potatoes to others. She has been volunteering with the pantry since last year. I like to help, she said. Cabrera plans to celebrate Thanksgiving at her house with her husband, three kids and five grandchildren. Each client received a turkey, as well as stuffing, gravy, potatoes, squash, onions, apples, pie and more. About half of the items came from the Connecticut Food Bank, but the rest was given by local grocery stores and businesses. A drive pushed on social media garnered stuffing from around the country. But Landzberg said it is challenging to get food and monetary donations after the holidays and urged the community to donate on the organizations website. If you come back in May, or even a couple months from now, were struggling to fill our fridges and shelves with food, she said. WASHINGTON - Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., is clear on what a Democratic majority in the House next year will mean for the federal workforce: "First of all, I think the hostility to federal employees and their . . . unions will end." Connolly is in position to do something about that. He's prepped to be chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on government operations, after serving as its ranking Democrat. In addition to the workforce, the subcommittee's jurisdiction includes federal contractors, the U.S. Postal Service, federal IT management, Metro and more. While that could change, Connolly will continue to have a strong hand in issues affecting federal employees. His suburban Northern Virginia district has many, and lots of contractors, too. We spoke with Connolly about the House Democratic takeover in the 116th Congress and his priorities as the subcommittee-chairman-in-waiting. His comment about hostility toward federal workers and their unions was right on time. Three federal unions last week sued the Department of Veterans Affairs over its "Notice of Repudiation." The day after Election Day, VA unilaterally repudiated parts of collective bargaining agreements that allowed medical professionals to use "official time," claiming it "negatively impacts direct patient care." Federal law allows individuals to participate in defined workplace activities in their capacity as union leaders while being paid by the government. They are prohibited from internal union business while on official time and must represent the entire bargaining unit, not just union members. Republicans have long sought to cut official time, which is a target of President Trump's aggression toward federal labor organizations. But Connolly has reminded him that "this administration cannot eviscerate United States law by fiat." As chairman of the subcommittee, he would have more authority to ensure that doesn't happen. "We believe strongly that federal employees need to be respected and their rights in the workplace upheld and strengthened," Connolly said. "So, we'll take a very different approach than that which has characterized the Republican leadership . . . I think you'll see a reversal on a lot of fronts," including GOP hits on federal workplace rights and compensation. "I think that will have practical consequences that are good for federal employees. I think that's a big change." VA's action attempts to skirt Trump's May 25 executive orders seeking to eviscerate union influence. The directives have largely been blocked by a federal court order, which the administration is appealing. "Legislation to overturn President Trump's three executive orders aimed at making it impossible for federal unions to represent their members, and essentially rendering the federal government an at-will employer" is at the top of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers federal workforce agenda. When the orders were issued, the administration said they made it "easier for agencies to remove poor-performing employees and ensure that taxpayer dollars are more efficiently used." Connolly is wary of the administration's goal and doubtful about its method. "I think the Congress can certainly assert itself" and oppose Trump's workforce actions, Connolly said. "We're not at all convinced that all of this can be done by executive order. And I think we're prepared to challenge that, including in court if we have to." He also challenges the administration's right to reorganize federal agencies, including the suggested privatization of the Postal Service, without congressional approval. "If you want to reorganize the federal government. You come to Congress with a proposal for its consideration," he said. "That is the regular order of things." His focus on civil service protections, compensation and labor organizations is supported by union leaders. "We expect the House to demonstrate its respect for the apolitical civil service and the union rights of federal employees," said American Federation of Government Employees President J. David Cox Sr. "We are also counting on the House and the Senate to resist the administration's efforts to undermine federal pay, retirement, and health insurance benefits." Among other issues, Connolly expects the committee to probe the administration's decision to add a citizenship question on the next census. "Oh, absolutely," there will be hearings on that, he said with emphasis. "And I would expect subpoenas to flow" to determine how that decision was made, he added. On the civil service reform front, Teresa Gerton, president and chief executive of the National Academy of Public Administration, wants Congress to fund training and encourage agencies to be more flexible in the use of personnel management tools "so that they can manage their workforce in a way that supports their mission while still upholding merit principles." Democrats, Connolly said, are "certainly willing to consider meaningful reforms that make government more efficient and make it take the hiring process a little easier." But they won't support efforts that are "simply designed to shrink the federal workforce and further constrain the rights of federal employees in the workplace. If that's the agenda under the guise of reform, we're not going to cooperate, we're going to resist." "We've seen nothing but attempts to rein in the rights of the workers . . ." he added, "and that makes us obviously quite suspicious as to motives." When President Donald Trump talks about the U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia, he rarely mentions any Saudi role in achieving his stated objectives in the Middle East - bringing Iran to heel, forging an Israeli-Palestinian peace, and vanquishing Islamist terrorism. Instead, he mostly talks about how much money the Saudis are spending here. "They give us a lot of jobs. They give us a lot of business," Trump said Saturday when asked about the CIA's conclusion that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi leader, had ordered the killing of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "They have truly been a spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," he said, referring primarily to Saudi arms purchases. "You know, I'm president; I have to take a lot of things into consideration." Trump may not be focused on counterterrorism cooperation and support for U.S. strategic aims in the region - the basis of the U.S.-Saudi relationship under his two immediate predecessors - but others in his administration are clearly concerned. While the administration intends to "hold accountable" those responsible for Khashoggi's death, it also needs to protect "the enormously important strategic interests the United States maintains" with Riyadh, including the crucial Saudi role in changing the behavior of Iran, "the world's largest state sponsor of terror," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this month. Even as a growing bipartisan coalition in Congress has blamed Mohammed for Khashoggi's death and demanded harsh punishment, some current and former U.S. officials, along with experts in the region, say that shared interests and deep roots will ensure key bonds survive. If the administration took "serious action" against the Saudis, Riyadh would "feel a need to somehow respond, but they'd want to do it in a way that would not escalate," said a former senior U.S. intelligence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive matter. "Maybe they would not be as supportive in the oil market, or they might do a big arms purchase from the Russians or the Chinese. . . . We could live with that." Intelligence ties, the former official said, also would withstand the pressure. "What happens in almost every case I can think of, where a political relationship goes into a rocky time, is the intelligence relationship remains untouched . . . it's too important to both countries." Others say that even if a serious breach occurred, there would be little to lose because both the Saudi money and the strategic cooperation are less substantive than they may appear. "On the peace process, the administration wants the Saudis to deliver the Palestinians, through moral suasion or paying them off, or some combination," said Anne Patterson, former President Barack Obama's assistant secretary of state for the Middle East and a career diplomat with long experience in the region. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, White House adviser and point man on the peace plan, has cultivated a personal relationship with Mohammed in hopes that he will lead the Arab world toward a new rapprochement with Israel, at the possible expense of a viable Palestinian state. Trump has already made moves in that direction with his recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and withdrawal of U.S. aid to the Palestinians. But other Arab leaders have long considered those hopes naive, and they warn that any backing away from support for the Palestinians risks public outrage. While Mohammed's father, King Salman, may be content to allow his son to lead on most issues, he has repeatedly made his views on the peace process clear. "The Palestinian cause is our main concern and will remain so until our brothers, the Palestinian people, gain all their legitimate rights, especially the establishment of their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital," Salman said Monday in his annual address to Saudi Arabia's Shura Council. Some Saudi actions have arguably undermined U.S. objectives in the region. The administration objected last year when Mohammed, seeking to undermine the strength of Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, summoned Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to the kingdom, then held him captive and forced him to issue a public statement resigning his office. After Hariri was released and reinstated under international pressure, Hezbollah emerged stronger than ever. On Iran, which both the U.S. administration and the rulers in Riyadh consider the region's biggest threat, the Saudis "want to hold our coat while we fight," Patterson said. The United States protects sea lanes in the region, through which Saudi oil is exported. U.S. air and seaborne forces fighting to defeat the Islamic State and weaken the rule of Bashar Assad in Syria operate from American bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. A significant U.S. military presence in Saudi Arabia ended in 2003, when the Saudis asked the Americans to leave. Administration plans to further challenge Iran by bringing the Persian Gulf states of Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman together in a new political and security alliance have so far foundered on Saudi and Emirati refusal to reestablish relations with Qatar. Along with Egypt and Bahrain, they broke relations with Qatar in May 2017, just days after Trump visited Riyadh. A summit that the administration hopes to convene among them to join hands with Washington against Tehran has been repeatedly scheduled and postponed. Saudi Arabia's conduct of its ongoing war in Yemen, in which Saudi airstrikes are blamed for causing thousands of civilian casualties and leading to a massive humanitarian disaster, have distracted attention from Iran's aid to Yemeni Houthi rebels on the other side of the conflict. U.S. logistical and intelligence assistance to the Saudi effort - directed by Mohammed, who also serves as defense minister - has inflamed public and congressional outrage in the United States, a fire to which the Khashoggi killing has only added fuel. Reports of recent progress in United Nations attempts to negotiate an end to the war have led some to believe that increased U.S. pressure would give Mohammed an excuse he may be looking for to end the conflict. "I think the Saudis would get out tomorrow if the Iranians did," the former senior intelligence official said. "I actually think the Saudis want the U.S. pressure to get out of Yemen, so that they can kind of blame it on somebody else, that they walked away." As for the money, a new report by William Hartung of the Center for International Policy, scheduled for release Tuesday, argues that the economic boost from arms sales that Trump has touted is a chimera. Although the president claimed to have signed deals for $110 billion worth of Saudi arms purchases during his visit to the kingdom last year, much of it was negotiated under the Obama administration, and many of the claimed deals were merely speculative. Final sales implemented during the Trump administration so far have totaled $14.5 billion. At the same time, "Saudi arms sales support at most tens of thousands of jobs in the United States," not the hundreds of thousands, or even a million, that Trump has variously claimed, reported Hartung, a researcher who has specialized in tracking the weapons trade. Many jobs created by Saudi purchases of U.S. weaponry will ultimately be located in the kingdom itself rather than in this country, he wrote. Under Mohammed's Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, all contracts must include 50 percent co-production clauses, with companies such as Raytheon and Boeing setting up manufacturing facilities in Saudi Arabia. WASHINGTON - Sixteen Democrats said Monday that they will oppose Rep. Nancy Pelosi's bid for House speaker, an act of defiance that puts the dissidents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as the party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi, delivered in a letter to Democratic colleagues, comes as the California congresswoman has marshaled a legion of supporters to make her case. She is courting members in one-on-one conversations while securing the backing of allies on and off Capitol Hill. On Monday, the International Association of Fire Fighters; UnidosUS, a leading Latino civil rights organization; and nine military veterans serving in the House. The insurrection against Pelosi stands as the only official obstacle to unity in the top leadership ranks, after Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., on Monday withdrew her challenge for the No. 3 job held by Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., and Pelosi endorsed her leadership team. But the renegades' threat is considerable. "We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus," her opponents wrote. "However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change." Pelosi, 78, has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speaker's gavel in January - eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Pelosi is the only speaker candidate who has declared ahead of a party nominating vote on Nov. 28, with a vote of the full House on Jan. 3. But her opponents believe that an alternative will emerge if it becomes clear Pelosi does not have the 218 votes needed to win in January. Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesman, said Monday that she "remains confident in her support among members and members-elect" and noted that more than 90 percent of the incoming Democratic caucus declined to sign the letter. Two Democratic aides said Pelosi inquired with at least one incoming member about whether they would be willing to vote present - a move that would lower the threshold for becoming speaker while also allowing Pelosi's critics to keep their word in opposing her. Hammill declined to comment on whether Pelosi is exploring that possibility. The signers of the letter might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves, but there is at least a handful of Democrats who plan to oppose her but did not sign the letter. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with four races still undecided. If the current leads hold in those uncalled races, Democrats would have won 234 seats - a 17-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 16 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker Jan. 3. Two of the 16 signers, Anthony Brindisi of New York and Ben McAdams of Utah, have yet to be declared winners. Also signing the letter were Reps. Jim Cooper of Tennessee, Bill Foster of Illinois, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Brian Higgins of New York, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, Kathleen Rice of New York, Tim Ryan of Ohio, Linda Sanchez of California, Kurt Schrader of Oregon, Filemon Vela of Texas, and newly elected members Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, Max Rose of New York and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey. Not signing the letter was Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, who has publicly opposed Pelosi and is mulling a run against her. A spokesman for Fudge said Monday that she was unavailable for an interview and spending time in her congressional district in the Cleveland area, adding that her final decision on the speaker race is not expected until after the Thanksgiving holiday. A Fudge associate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, said it was unclear why Fudge did not sign the letter but that the lawmaker was deliberately keeping a low profile this week as she continues to think through her possible candidacy, with the travel and fundraising of the job weighing on her and potentially pushing her away from running. Moulton, one of the leaders of the insurrection, stayed in close touch with fellow Pelosi critics on Monday, including a call with Fudge, who has been his mentor in the House, according to a person familiar with the conversation. Moulton continues to encourage her to run, the person said. Five other Democrats - Rep. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania and Reps.-elect Jason Crow of Colorado, Jared Golden of Maine, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia - have made firm statements saying they would not vote for Pelosi but did not sign the letter. Representatives for Crow, Lamb and Spanberger each said Monday that their positions on Pelosi had not changed and that they intend to vote against her in the January floor vote. Golden said the same in an interview, saying, "It's your vote, not signing a piece of paper, that counts." "We need to pass the torch to new leaders in the Democatic Party, and I stand by that, and I'm going to vote that way in caucus and on the House floor," he said. In her conversations with individual members, Pelosi has started inquiring about their policy priorities and committee assignment preferences. The Democratic Caucus gives its top leader wide leeway to make those decisions, crucial to a lawmaker's legislative career. She has also met with key subgroups within the caucus, including hearing out the left-leaning Congressional Progressive Caucus and the more centrist New Democrat Coalition. Both groups expect to have scores of Democrats in their ranks next year. The Progressive Caucus issued a statement last week supportive of Pelosi, citing her pledge to help appoint caucus members to coveted committees such as Appropriations, Financial Services, and Ways and Means. The New Democrats are pressing Pelosi for rules changes to ensure lawmakers have time to read bills and that operations in the House are more transparent, and Pelosi attended a meeting of the group Friday during which she was pressed on the need to shield centrist members from politically perilous votes. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the chairman of the coalition, cited the cap-and-trade climate bill that House Democrats passed in 2009, only to see it languish in the Senate. Many Republican challengers used the bill in their campaign to oust Democratic incumbents the next year. "The culture of our caucus is very progressive, as it should be. But we need to make sure that we don't do things which damage the electoral prospects of the people who gave us the majority," he said. "I think she heard us loud and clear." DeGette had challenged Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in House leadership, for the majority whip post. But facing a backlash from members of the Congressional Black Caucus, DeGette dropped her bid - ensuring, for now, that Clyburn will remain in the top ranks. Any major shake-up in the Democratic leadership now depends on whether the dissidents can muster the votes to keep Pelosi from seizing the House speaker's gavel in January. If that bid is successful, it could kick off a wholesale scramble that could also threaten Clyburn, the current assistant Democratic leader, and Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who is seeking to move from whip to majority leader. DeGette, who has long served as chief deputy whip, launched her campaign after the Nov. 6 election by touting her experience in rounding up support for dificult pieces of legislation - implicitly making the case that Clyburn, 78, was not up to or interested in the task. But the challenge upset backers of Clyburn, a former Congressional Black Caucus chairman and a revered figure among the caucus's roughly 50 African Americans - who bristled at the notion that the caucus's top tier could be all white. "Out of the three of the leadership positions, he is the only one with announced opposition," Rep. Cedric Richmond, the current Congressional Black Caucus chair, said last week. "I just think it is offensive and insulting." A recent bit of high-visibility branding by National Security Adviser John Bolton created quite a reaction in Latin America. In a forceful speech delivered to South Florida anti-Castro true believers, he called Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela a "troika of tyranny." Then he called them a "triangle of terror." I'm neither a speechwriter nor a marketing guru, but I'm pretty sure sticking to one nickname would have done the job. In any case, all three of these nations are tyrannies and all three dabble in terrorist activities. But the differences vastly outweigh the similarities, and we need a different approach to each as we work to improve a part of the world that matters deeply to the U.S. Most important: Instead of over-focusing on the troika of tyranny, our energies should go into working with our three amigos in South America: Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. Bolton's statement, of course, is reminiscent of the "axis of evil," a phrase coined by President George W. Bush at his 2002 State of the Union address to describe Iran, North Korea and Iraq. He pledged to end their dangerous behavior. Unfortunately, despite a great deal of effort by the U.S. and its allies, two members of the axis of evil seem to be motoring along on their path to destabilize the globe in pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. Much as with the troika of tyranny, the axis of evil charter members are very different in their culture, history and level of bad behavior. Broadly speaking, in dealing with them the U.S. took three different approaches. We invaded Iraq and changed the regime - at a staggering cost in blood and treasure. Washington harshly sanctioned Iran and finally pushed it to agree to a halt in its nuclear program, but watched it simply continue with supporting terrorists and improving its missile systems. And the U.S. first made threats against North Korea, then shifted its approach toward negotiations, although of late that is looking less hopeful as Kim Jong Un characteristically shifts positions at whim. Just as a single approach hasn't worked for all three original axis members, we need very different strategies for Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. In the case of Nicaragua, there really isn't much the U.S. needs to do. The rotten government of Daniel Ortega is falling apart as the people of this tiny, pastoral Central American nation mount larger and larger protests. After robbing his nation for a decade, the clock is ticking for Ortega. There is plenty of international opprobrium being heaped on him and his cronies, and the likelihood is that he will either be forced out of office or restructure the government's approach in the months ahead. The best U.S. position is simply to let events take their course and be supportive generally of the opposition without becoming a lightning rod. The Organization of American States will continue to press for a nonviolent resolution, and Washington should support that effort strongly. Venezuela is a vastly more complicated and dangerous case. With the help of Cuba, Nicolas Maduro continues to tighten his grip on the population. His military and intelligence agencies - backed by militias created by his predecessor, Hugo Chavez - managed to crack the will of the highly decentralized opposition during the last round of serious protests roughly a year ago. Unfortunately, his critics now show little sign of coming together to present a united front, which is the sine qua non to booting Maduro. The U.S. must avoid becoming a rallying cry for the Maduro administration - there is nothing he would treasure more than a U.S. target to shoot at as he rallies his base. Rather, the Trump administration should increase sanctions on individuals, gather intelligence, work quietly with the OAS, prepare contingency plans for helping with refugees, and do what it can to push the opposition together without appearing to collude overtly. With more than 2 million refugees out of the country already and a full-blown economic crisis in progress, the outlook for Venezuela is poor. We need to be ready to help the region deal with an even more dramatic explosion either internally or a mass exodus. The U.S. needs to be militarily prepared for humanitarian and peacekeeping work, but clearly within the context of a mission authorized and sponsored by the OAS. Cuba, of course, has been the epicenter of U.S. challenges in the region since the corrupt Castro regime took power six decades ago. The Obama administration's approach in opening up Cuba to outside engagement is having a slow but effective trajectory. And despite rhetoric to the contrary, the Trump administration has not significantly shifted things: allowing more but still-controlled economic engagement, placing sanctions on corrupt officials and narcotics traffickers, increasing intelligence-gathering, using Guantanamo Bay not only as a detention center but as a base for humanitarian operations, and waiting for demographics and the opening of society to take effect. While this isn't bringing about radical or sudden changes, the best bet in Cuba is steady pressure and continued injections of outside connectivity: an approach centered on economic and public diplomacy. Which brings us to the three amigos. Recent elections in Colombia, Brazil and Argentina have brought to power right-of-center regimes with whom Washington can work far more prosperously than many of their predecessors. Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, Ivan Duque of Colombia and Mauricio Macri of Argentina aren't carbon copies, but they have much in common politically - and collectively their GDP is the dominant economic force in South America. We have several smaller partners on the continent as well, particularly Chile. The U.S. needs to lead a collective conversation with those countries and create a distinct strategy for dealing with each of the problem nations that John Bolton correctly identifies. Just as each threat requires a different prescription, each of our partner nations can bring various tools to bear, and in aggregate the three amigos alongside the U.S. are capable of a regional approach that can be codified through the OAS. The U.S. does not want to come across in Latin America and the Caribbean as a regional policeman trying to clean up "our backyard." There are old ghosts in that approach. We need to understand the nuances of each nation in the region, both friend and foe, if we are going to help bring democracy, prosperity and stability to all. - Stavridis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former military commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also an operating executive consultant at the Carlyle Group and chairs the board of counselors at McLarty Associates. The US Navy does not want to use ships to patrol and protect cities. They want all cities to have their own onshore Aegis systems. Above An Aegis Ashore command centers are an Aegis warships bridge transplanted to land. The US Navy wants Aegis cruisers and destroyers loaded with Tomahawk cruise missiles or LRASM anti-ship missiles instead of a preponderance of defensive SM-3 anti-ballistic missile interceptors. Japan issued a $2 billion request for two ground-based Aegis Ashore radar missile tracking stations built by Lockheed Martin. The anti-missile protection will be completed around 2025. Romania and Poland are the only other countries to have built the ground-based system. The US Navy has repeatedly called for growing the fleet from 286 ships today to a 355-ship fleet. China has loaded up its man-made islands in the South China Sea with surface to air missiles and anti-ship missiles. By the end of 2018, electric cars and buses will displace 279,000 barrels a day. At the end of 2018, there are about 5 million electric cars. Germany had a drop in diesel demand of 9% so far in 2018. China is calling for the production of 2 million electric vehicles (EVs) a year by 2020, and 7 million a year by 2025. By 2025, electric vehicles would be 20% of total new car production for China. China adding London Bus Fleet in electric buses every 5 weeks Every five weeks, 9,500 brand new electric buses are added in China. This is th entire London bus fleet, says a new report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The world has around 3 million buses. Most run on diesel and compressed natural gas. The global fleet of electric buses now totals around 385,000 vehicles and 99% of those are in China. Half of the worlds buses could be electric by 2025. If the electric bus rollout sped up then almost all of the worlds buses could be electric by 2025. Having all electric buses and a large number of short-haul electric trucks could offset 2.5 million barrels per day of oil by 2025 to 2030. We do not know any details about the radical change to the SpaceX Spaceship Super Heavy (aka BFS/BFR) design. However, if the design enables SpaceX to hit the $2 billion lower-end development cost then SpaceX has the money to develop Starship Super Heavy and the Starlink satellite network. It would only cost about $3 billion if everything works out. Every strategic and design decision from SpaceX is to speed up getting to a fully integrated and complete BFR/BFS. The recent mini-BFR is for low-cost testing on the Falcon 9. Stopping any second stage reuse tests for the Falcon 9 is not needed for the full Super Heavy. Funds for Starship Super Heavy and Starlink SpaceX has the following funds: * Estimated $500-800 million from the Japanese billionaire (for the trip, co-promotion and some part of the company) * $750 million from the loan. * Some amount of profit from 40 $60 million launches. $2.4 billion in revenue. I think maybe 30-40% operating margin. $800 million per year from launches. Note there are not forty Falcon 9 launches but any NASA, military or Heavy launches count as multiple based upon the higher price. Two years of profits would mean about $3.05 billion available. SpaceX might be able to get lucky with shoestring development costs to get to 1600 Starlink satellites and a working Starship Super Heavy. A working Starship Super Heavy (aka BFR) means full reusability and even without a huge increase in the number of launch customers boosts operating margin up over 90%. Four Spaceship Super Heavy at $350 million each would be a total cost of $1.4 billion. Four Spaceship Super Heavies could handle up to 200 launches per year by launching every week. 60 of the launches can be used for Starlink launches. The rest of the commercial satellite market would take time to scale up. First 1600 Starlink Satellites for about $60 million in launches The first 1600 satellites would be able to provide profitable premium data connections between New York, London, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai and other financial centers. Light travels 45% faster in vacuum versus fiber optic cable. Lasers for Starlink satellites will enable fast low latency connections. The top ten financial cities could spend $2 billion each per year for premium low latency connections. The next ten could spend $1 billion each per year. The connections would be two each of the other major financial centers. From 2013-2018 over $500 million was spent over five years on microwave connections to reduce latency between New York and Chicago. A 3-millisecond decrease in one-way communication time between the Chicago and New York areas was worth about $100 million per year. Chicago is the 17th ranked financial center. It would take 60 launches of SpaceX Starship Super Heavy (aka BFS/ BFR) to launch about 12000 Starlink Satellites. Each Starship launch would deploy 240 Starlink satellites. If it costs $10 million to launch the SpaceX Starship, then it would cost $600 million to launch all the Starlink Satellite network. It would cost about $40 million for each partially reusable Falcon 9 launch for 20 Starlink Satellites per launch. This would mean 600 Falcon 9 launches at a cost of $24 billion. Completing the Starship Super Heavy would make deploying the Starlink Network 40 times cheaper. It would only take seven launches of the Starship Super Heavy to deploy the first 1600 Starlink satellites. This would be about $70 million in launch cost. $350 million for one Starship Super Heavy would be enough for the seven launches for 1600 initial Starlink network. The cost is less than the $3.2 billion to launch the first 1600 satellites using Falcon 9. $2 billion in development cost plus $350 million for one rocket and $70 million for seven launches. There are some estimates that mass production of small low earth orbit internet satellites could drop to $100,000 each. This would mean $160 million for all of the first satellites. Even at $400,000 each, the cost would be $640 million. $3 billion could get SpaceX the working Space Ship and the commercial viable phase 1 of the Starlink network. The Commercially viable Starlink Network then starts generating $2 to 10 billion per year from premium low latency connections for the financial centers of the world. Starship Super Heavy going to orbit should unlock more money from NASA and military and private investors. It should finally kill the SLS (Boeing Space Launch System) and hopefully free up $4 billion per year. It is clear why the Starship Super Heavy is the key to enabling massive profit margins and low-cost launch of the Starlink Network. CLINTON Connecticut Water Service plans to spend $85.7 million on capital projects next year, officials with the Clinton-based utility announced Monday. The 2019 capital spending plan, which was approved by the companys board of directors, represents a $19.5 million increase, or 29.5 percent, over the 2018 plan. Nearly 60 percent of the money, or about $50.3 million, will go toward treatment system upgrades and other types of system improvements. The remaining $35.4 million, or a little more than 41 percent of the capital spending plan, will be used for pipeline replacement and other projects eligible through Connecticuts Water Infrastructure and Conservation Adjustment and Maines Water Infrastructure Charge programs. The programs involve interim rate adjustments that cover the costs of replacing existing water system infrastructure. The small, semi-annual adjustments are designed to improve service to customers and lessen the impact made on customers rates. David Benoit, president and chief executive officer of Connecticut Water Service, said the capital spending represents a commitment to investing in the infrastructure needed to serve families and communities. Our investment, from source to tap, enhances service reliability and water quality, maintains robust water flows to fire hydrants, reduces operating expenses through lower repair costs, and reduces water lost to underground leaks and the power wasted to pump lost water, Benoit said in a statement. Highlights of the 2019 capital spending program include : $11.5 million to link together several smaller water systems that are part of Connecticut Waters service territory. $4.5 million to make well and reservoir improvements, including work to be done on the utilitys Pinewood Well in Guilford. $6.6 million to make improvements to the utilitys water treatment plants, including MacKenzie Water Treatment in Clinton, which is Connecticut Waters third-largest. The bulk of the capital spending, $70 million, will be done by the utilitys Connecticut subsidiaries. The remaining amount from the overall capital spending plan will go to work be done by the companys Maine Water subsidiary. Some Connecticut Water customers who wont benefit from the 2019 capital expenditures are customers in select neighborhoods in Madison and Old Lyme who want the utility to extend its main to serve their homes. Dan Meaney, a Connecticut Water spokesman, said because of the way state utility regulations are structured, customers who want the company to extend its water mains not only have to pay for the cost of the project themselves, but also must cover the cost of the line running from their homes to the street. The average cost of extending a water main is between $100 and $150 per linear foot, Meaney said. That has kept some customers of the former Sound View Water System in Old Lyme, which the utility acquired in 1995, and residents of Mulberry Point, Tuttles Point and Long Cove in Madison waiting more than 20 years to connect to Connecticut Waters distribution network, he said. Connecticut Water Service is a publicly traded holding company that is the corporate parent of The Connecticut Water Co., The Maine Water Co., The Avon Water Co. and The Heritage Village Water Co. The subsidiaries provide water service to more than 450,000 people in Connecticut and Maine, and wastewater service to more than 10,000 people in this state. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com Eversource Energy has completed the second phase of a multiyear upgrade of the system it uses to communicate with customers about power outages. The Hartford-based utility has rolled out a new, state-of-the-art outage map that provides more detailed information regarding customer outages. The new outage map allows customers to find out the time and cause of an outage, as well as the location of the problem and an estimated time of restoration. Eversources previous outage map used color coding to show a range of outage levels. To find out how many customers had lost power within a given community, users had to go to an accompanying table. Penni Conner, senior vice president and chief customer officer at Eversource, said the upgrades came out of customer engagement efforts by the company. The enhancements to our outage map are in direct response to requests for more detailed information during a power outage, Conner said in a statement. These upgrades highlight the many ways we are always working to serve our customers better. Mitch Gross, an Eversource spokesman, said company officials arent saying how much the utility spent on the upgrades. Eversource launched the first phase of the outage communication system upgrade in December 2016, with the enhanced customer notification system. The upgrades added in that phase allowed customers to get outage information and updates via a method of their choosing: text message, email or phone. Its a lot of work to roll these improvements out, so we determined it made sense to introduce them in phases, Gross said. The improvement to the outage communication system are across Eversources entire service territory, which includes western and Massachusetts as well as New Hampshire. Eversource delivers electricity to 1.2 million customers in 149 cities and towns in Connecticut. The company also provides natural gas to 232,000 customers in 73 Connecticut communities and supplies water to approximately 197,000 customers in 51 communities. Connecticuts other large electric utility, The United Illuminating Co., introduced an upgraded outage map in 2012. Ed Crowder, a UI spokesman, said the upgraded version lets customers zoom in, with individual outage events represented by pins a user can click to show the affected area, estimated restoration time, status and other information. It replaced a static map that simply showed the number of outages per town, he said. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com Three years ago, Arlington, Virginia, was pitching itself as the next Silicon Valley. Victor Hoskins, the county's director of economic development, tried to lure entrepreneurs with cash prizes, free housing, office space and other incentives. Few showed up. Last week[ck Nov. 13], after a courtship lasting more than a year, Arlington landed the opposite of a startup: half of a second headquarters for Amazon.com Inc. Amazon's arrival looks like a panacea for Arlington's economy, which has been hurt by the flight of defense industry jobs. Amazon says it will hire more than 25,000 people and spend about $2.5 billion in the area. Hoskins also helped negotiate a bargain compared with Amazon's other pick. New York City agreed to pay almost double in tax incentives and infrastructure improvements per job. Amazon's target for the workforce in Arlington is an average wage of more than $150,000. "It's transforming how businesses think about the county," Hoskins says. What happens next is a matter of debate. Proponents of the deal say it will raise Arlington's profile, making it a more attractive place to start a tech company, and that Amazon will recruit people who will someday leave to start their own businesses in the area. The counterargument is that Amazon will hire up all the people who might otherwise start their own businesses. Either way, Amazon is a big deal for Virginia. The last time the state was a major player in consumer tech, people were dialing up with AOL. The internet pioneer, rooted in Fairfax County, decamped for New York at the height of the dot-com bubble in one of the most disastrous mergers in corporate history. Amazon will bring more tech mojo back to the area, says Todd Stottlemyer, who serves on the board of the Northern Virginia Tech Council. "They don't just see Washington as this government-type town," he says. "People want to come to a region because there's a cool factor." When Hoskins joined as director of Arlington Economic Development in 2015, the area was in a rough spot. The 26-square-mile county across the Potomac River from Washington was once a military center but has suffered in recent years from a move to consolidate the work elsewhere in the country. That led to thousands of federal employees and contractors leaving town. "It had a devastating effect," says Tim Helmig, managing partner of Monday Properties, a real estate firm with multiple buildings throughout Arlington. At the time, Arlington's office vacancy rate was 21 percent, double Washington's. Hoskins, a 61-year-old former deputy mayor of Washington, came in with a plan to turn things around. He pledged to reduce the vacancy rate to 10 percent over nine years. Doing so would require help from businesses of all sizes, he said. A favorite saying of Hoskins's: "It's not impossible; it's improbable." One of his first improbable goals: turning Arlington into a tech startup hub. First, he needed more startup-friendly office space. Hoskins convinced Andrew Chang, a local who runs an independent co-working space in Arlington's Crystal City community, to open a second location four miles upriver in the Rosslyn neighborhood. Before talking to Hoskins, Chang had thought about going to Alexandria, Virginia, or Washington. "Two years ago, no one was considering Rosslyn," Chang says. "He knows how to get companies to go to areas that need to improve." The tax breaks didn't hurt, either. A former Silicon Valley venture capitalist named Paul Singh also set up a co-working project in Crystal City. He ran the space, part of Disruption Corp., alongside a $50 million Crystal Tech Fund to invest in local startups. The entity underperformed, and Singh, whose LinkedIn profile lists his title as Chief Hustler, sold it in 2015. Meanwhile, the entrepreneurial community was mourning the decline of perhaps Arlington's most promising startup, Opower. In the two years after a 2014 initial public offering, the energy management software company had lost more than two-thirds of its market value before selling to Oracle Corp. To build excitement around startups, Hoskins's department came up with the Virginia equivalent of Shark Tank. The economic team organized a contest called Startup Arlington, where entrepreneurs could compete for living and office spaces, mentorship and cash prizes, in exchange for relocating to Arlington. So far, they have struck out. The winner of the first contest, Oppleo Security, is already out of business. The founder, Roderick Flores, says he couldn't afford to keep the company going. He moved to Portland, Oregon, and plans to take a software-security job at Nike Inc. Last year's competition was sponsored by Kiddar Capital, an asset management firm in neighboring Fairfax County, with an award of as much as $25,000. GreenSight Agronomics, a drone company based in Boston, won. It took an investment from Kiddar Capital and relocated to Arlington. The move was only temporary. Co-founder James Peverill says the stint there was helpful for developing relationships with regulators and government officials, but the founders decided to return to Boston where their strong personal networks made hiring easier. Last month, Kiddar Capital Chief Executive Officer Todd Hitt was arrested and criminally charged with securities fraud, unrelated to the contest or the drone startup. He hasn't been indicted or entered a plea. His lawyer didn't respond to a request for comment. There were no cash rewards for this year's Startup Arlington. The deadline for submissions was this month. There were 64 entrants, the fewest in the program's three-year history. Christina Winn, Arlington's director of business development, says the contest has value, even if the startups don't stick around. It promotes the county to entrepreneurs across the nation and provides her office with a list of businesses open to relocating, she says. Notably, growth in venture funding going to Arlington startups outpaces the national average, according to data from PitchBook. At the same time Hoskins was going after startups, he was also hunting bigger companies. He helped persuade Nestle SA to move its U.S. headquarters last year to Rosslyn from Glendale, California, along with 750 jobs. The deal was celebrated in the local press. Nestle got an incentive package totaling $12 million and a promise from Hoskins that the city would relocate two bus stops crowding the entrance to the company's new building. It took some convincing of the local transportation department. "Victor is very smart at pulling together partners and being creative in getting deals done," says Mary-Claire Burick, president of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District. For Amazon, Hoskins says he sold his locale as a neighbor to the nation's capital and some of the country's top universities in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. There were lots of skeptics. "Everyone said no, because-think about it-Arlington is just a little county," Hoskins says. "Stop thinking about it that way. We're part of a region." As Hoskins toiled away on the Amazon proposal, he had a key advantage over other cities: Reagan National Airport, which sits in Arlington county. The airport, with a soaring terminal designed by architect Cesar Pelli and a nearby Metro rail system, compares favorably with LaGuardia, the closest one to Amazon's other new campus in Queens, New York. In the waning months of summer, Arlington's office vacancy rate had slid to 18 percent. Winn invited Hoskins to a team lunch, where she handed out paper plates to members of her staff labeled with each one's accomplishment. She surprised Hoskins with his own plate celebrating the vacancy rate achievement, emblazoned with the words "Mission Impossible." Hoskins, who still has the plate in his office, says Amazon should be good for another four percentage points. Ancillary businesses that come along because of Amazon will shave off another two. That includes startups, he says, and Hoskins believes he'll hit his goal of 10 percent. Now he can make a new pitch to startups: Arlington is the spot Amazon picked after a 14-month search. Each November, as Thanksgiving looms closer, America begins to pay more attention to an issue that is prevalent around the country year-round: hunger. Between the years of 2016-18, an average of 12.4 percent of Connecticut households were food insecure, according to most recent data from the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A little over four percent of those households were considered to be "very low food secure households." These numbers have declined slightly since the period of 2013-15 when 13.1 percent of Connecticut households were food insecure, but a more troubling statistic is the increasing number of people who experience actual hunger in Connecticut. Despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has shown that there has been a drop in food insecurity across the country, the drop in Connecticut has been smaller, Paul Shipman, spokesperson for the Connecticut Food Bank, told Hearst in 2018. Feeding America, which helps support the Connecticut Food Bank, as well as over 200 food banks across the country, releases an annual Food Insecurity Report breaking down hunger amongst the 50 states. The most recent report shows thatthe food insecurity rate in Connecticut in 2017 was 11.3. According to the 2017 Feeding America report, Litchfield County experienced the least food insecurity with a rate of 9.3 percent, followed by Fairfield County at 9.4 percent, Tolland County at 9.6 percent and Middlesex County at 9.7 percent. More News Stats: Hunger and poverty in Connecticut New Haven County is in worse shape with a 12.1 percent food insecurity rate. The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven supports local food banks and organizations battling hunger in the Greater New Haven area, which extends beyond just New Haven County to include parts of the Valley. In 2016, the foundation published The Community Progress Report, which found that "14 percent of Greater New Haven, and nearly one in four New Haven residents, did not have enough money for food," Matthew Higbee, the Research and Communications Officer, Grantmaking and Strategy, told Hearst in 2017. One issue that the Connecticut Food Bank has seen is the number of individuals who working more than one job, yet cannot afford to put food on the table. "What has become more apparent is that the people who visit us are working. They are working one or more jobs but they still struggle to make ends meet," said Shipman in 2018. Shipman attributed this to the rising cost of living in Connecticut. "Hunger impacts every community," said Shipman. "People would be shocked to know that they may have neighbors who are struggling because of a sudden loss of a job or a health emergency." ORANGE Amid heavy security, some 400 people packed Or Shalom synagogue Sunday to honor the late Josiah DuBois Jr., an attorney for the U.S. Treasury Department whose actions are estimated to have saved the lives of about 120,000 Hungarian Jews. DuBois son, Robert DuBois, accepted a U.S. Senate citation in his fathers honor from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Robert DuBois said he had no idea about his fathers place in history until around high school, and then learned more details on occasions when his father was honored in later years. Robert DuBois said his dad would have said the award Sunday wasnt necessary, as he was just doing what anyone should do. Josiah DuBois got the spotlight as part of Or Shaloms 12th program to commemorate Kristallnacht, which translates to Night of Broken Glass considered the start of the Holocaust. Kristallnacht occurred Nov. 9-10, 1938, and refers to nights of destruction and violence against Jews, synagogues, Jewish-owned businesses and everything Jewish in Germany and Austria. Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus, who considers the annual event a labor of love, said the community was still reeling from the shooting of 11 at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and was aghast at the recent revelation of anti-Semitic happenings at Amity High School in Woodbridge. Wainhaus said he applauds the students who spoke up about the hate. There was tighter-than-usual security for the event Sunday morning, with a few security guards and a police officer present; purses and bags were searched at the door. Wainhaus said the Kristallnacht event is about celebrating the courage of everyday people like DuBois, who were upstanders rather than bystanders. While working for the Treasury, attorney DuBois slipped into State Department files with a friend and fellow government official and made a startling discovery that would confirm the U.S. government knew about the genocide but kept it under wraps so the public wouldnt find out. U.S. leaders were trying to stem immigration of Jews. On Christmas Day, after spending a brief time with family, DuBois wrote a report to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that couldnt be ignored. He called it The Acquiescence of This Government in the Murder of the Jews. DuBois approached his boss, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, and said: Tell the president that if he doesnt act on this Im going to resign and release it to the press. DuBois urgent report and possibly the threat to go to the press prompted Roosevelt to take personal responsibility for reaching out to the living victims of Nazi persecution by creating a special task force, The War Refugee Board, whose mission included taking all measures to rescue the victims of enemy oppression who are in imminent danger of death, Wainhaus said. DuBois was also assigned to the board. DuBois received death threats over exerting pressure nobody knows where they originated and risked his job to save lives, Wainhaus said. Riveting details of the DuBois story were given Sunday by Rebecca Erbelding , a historian and curator at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and author of the book Rescue Board. The details include all kinds of interesting political twists and the perspective of the American public, who were horrified by Kristallnacht in front page headlines here for three weeks but in polling signaling they didnt want refugees brought here, the author said. Erbelding told the synagogue crowd that 94 percent of Americans polled about Kristallnacht disapproved of what happened but 71 percent said they didnt want Jews relocated here. Special guests at the event also included a teacher, Christy Marrella, and two students, Sam Bitman and Shayna Herzfeld from New Jersey, who made an award-winning 10-minute documentary about Josiah DuBois after seeing a street named after him. Josiah DuBois uncovered a telegram being kept under wraps in a State Department file from the World Jewish Congress reporting that 6,000 Jews were being killed daily, the student video reports. Herzfeld said their hope is that people will spread the story of Josiah Dubois heroism and courage. As he does every year, Blumenthal retold the story of how his father came to United States alone in 1935 at age 17. This country gave him a chance to succeed, Blumenthal said. He said one of the great mysteries is why this great country turned a blind eye to the Holocaust. It took people of courage, perseverance and strength to take a stand, Blumenthal said. He said DuBois spoke truth to power, a phrase often talked about today in politics. Once DuBois got Roosevelt to establish the board, Swedish architect and businessman Raoul Wallenberg , who was commissioned by the War Refugee Board, managed to rescue tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from the Nazi regime by setting up safe houses. A shelter was also created in New York for those who escaped the Holocaust and wound up on American soil. As a surprise in the program Sunday, Wainhaus found and brought in a family saved by Wallenberg that wouldnt have survived if not for DuBois actions. The family matriarch, Judith Saley, 97, who knew Wallenberg , told the audience that shes grateful Wallenberg and DuBois exisited and that she could express her gratitude and love for them. Erbelding said the actions of the men can serve as a reminder today that we do have the power to stand up and make a difference. NEW HAVEN Members of the public organized under the moniker NHPS Advocates have been asking questions of the Board of Education and school staff for a year, and some of that groups leaders believe theyre not getting anywhere. Theres a lot of moving parts and we dont understand, said parent Sarah Miller. The group emailed the school board questions about several contracts, including a contractor at Creed High School helping students to navigate the college application process who does not list a bachelors degree on his resume; and the classification of some vendors as sole source providers. Ordinarily, NHPS Advocates volunteer Jill Kelly will pose several crowd-sourced questions to the school board during public comment. She has told the board that, even if they do not answer, she will keep asking. Four people with the group at Mondays Finance Committee meeting expressed discontent with how the meeting turned out. Miller said she felt she hadnt gained any information related to the groups questions. Superintendent of Schools Carol Birks ended the meeting with an explanation that she said says she is trying to disseminate to the public, that many people misunderstand how grant funds are used. Grants are restrictive in nature, she said, and the money has to be used on specific things much of the time. Miller said she believed Birks answer was a generic defense to the questions posed about grant fund spending, but Birks said it played into a larger information campaign. When Miller attempted to ask committee chairman Jamell Cotto for clarification on the questions after the meeting, he said he had received the emailed questions, but did not feel it was worth engaging. He accused Miller of being aggressive when she approached him for answers. As school system Chief Operating Officer Will Clark began breaking down recording equipment in the Board of Education headquarters on Meadow Street where the meeting happened, the NHPS Advocates parents asked him for help in deciphering why some contractors are listed as sole source providers, and why a contract of more than $100,000 wouldnt require aldermanic approval. A sole source provider, he explained, does not necessarily mean it is the only vendor that could provide a service, but might mean it is the only provider that can give a specific fix for instance, the Blackboard software program the district uses is the only provider that can provide specific additions to that software, although other companies might offer similar software platforms. Miller exhaled and thanked him for providing an explanation. Commissioners Network funding Also at Mondays meeting, Cotto passed a $750,000 grant benefiting Wexler-Grant Community School with Commissioners Network funds state funds designated to give low-performing schools a turnaround to the full board. Last Monday, Cotto asked for a clarification as to why a tutoring program funded by Commissioners Network funds at Lincoln-Bassett School did not have any bilingual tutors for English learner students. Although Cotto was adamant that 24 percent of the school is Latino, Birks said only 2 percent of the schools students are English learners, and the school would do everything it could to accomodate students with bilingual needs receiving afters-chool tutoring. I am troubled we wrote a grant that we ignored the 24 percent of students who speak Spanish, Cotto said, conflating the schools Latino population with its English learner population. Although Cotto passed the Wexler-Grant contract to the full board without a recommendation and without asking questions, he said he has a lot of questions yet to ask. Wexler-Grants English learner population is more than 4 percent of the school. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com HARTFORD New Haven is one of three cities that will share nearly $22 million awarded to support the development of affordable housing, officials said in a release Tuesday. The money is part of the latest round of funding under the states Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties program, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein said in a release. New Havens share is just over $7.8 million, which will go to 45 units at Farnam Courts, 30 Units at Hill-to-Downtown on Prince Street and 201 units at Ruoppolo Manor and Fairmont Heights, according to the release. Waterbury and Hartford were also awarded funding. The awards will create, rehabilitate, or preserve 702 units of housing and greatly expand access to mixed-income, multifamily units across the state while building on the states efforts to prevent and end homelessness, officials said in the release. Investing in creating new housing opportunities in all of our towns and cities has been a key part of my administrations overall economic development strategy, Malloy said in the release. For nearly three decades, Connecticut made almost no attempt to encourage the development of affordable and multifamily housing in our state. These new awards represent our administrations ongoing commitment to improving Connecticuts housing infrastructure and will play an important role in attracting new talent to our workforce, incentivizing our young people to stay in Connecticut, and encouraging business growth. CHAMP, administered by DOH, provides developers and owners of multifamily affordable housing the necessary gap financing to create more affordable units in their developments. These financial rounds are designed to incentivize developers to create more opportunities for housing in diverse communities, while fostering inclusivity and expanding the states much-needed affordable and multifamily housing stock, according to the release. During the past eight years, weve made historic investments in the development of mixed-use and affordable housing, Klein said in the release. One thing is certain - people want to develop housing in Connecticut, and under the Malloy administration were doing just that. After funding nearly 25,000 units, were continuing to make real progress. A strong pipeline of housing options will help to grow our economy and Im proud to announce these new awards today. Since 2011, DOH and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority have created, rehabilitated, or committed funding for nearly 25,000 units of housing - approximately 22,000 of which are affordable to low and moderate income individuals and families. This represents a state investment of nearly $1.5 billion, which has been matched by $2.5 billion from other financial sources, including the private sector, according to the release. The recipients for the 12th round of financing under the CHAMP program include: - Farnam Courts Phase 2A ($3,835,002) - DOH will provide a loan up to $3,835,002 to the Glendower Group, a subsidiary of the New Haven Housing Authority, to assist in the new construction of four buildings on a currently vacant site, containing 45 residential units, with 36 affordable and 9 market-rate units. The affordable units will serve low-income households with incomes not exceeding 25 percent, 50 percent, and 60 percent of the area-median income and will provide two, three, and four bedroom units. This project is part of a four-phased redevelopment of Farnam Courts public housing in New Haven. The first two phases have been completed. - Hill-to-Downtown: 49 Prince Street ($2,751,000) - DOH will provide a loan of approximately $2,751,000 to RMS Downtown South-Hill North Development Company to assist in the adaptive reuse of the former Welch Annex School into 30 affordable units. The development will serve households with incomes at 25 percent, 50 percent, and 60 percent of the area-median income and will include studio, one bedroom, and two-bedroom units. The development is located within walking distance of Yale-New Haven Hospital and other commercial and retail businesses. The project is part of the Hill-to-Downtown Planning Initiative, a long-term action plan to encourage development in the area between Union Station and Yale-New Haven Hospital. - Ruoppolo Manor and Fairmont Heights ($3,724,000) - DOH will provide a loan of approximately $3,724,000 to the Glendower Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Housing Authority of New Haven to assist in the rehabilitation of three buildings comprising 201 affordable units. The development is 100 percent affordable and will serve senior and disabled resident households with incomes at 30 percent, 50 percent, and 80 percent of area-median income. It is located within easy walking distance to transportation, shopping, and recreation. This project is part of the multi-phase redevelopment of HANHs public housing properties that are being funded with financial assistance from HUD under its Rental Assistance Demonstration program. NEW HAVEN There were projects underway without building permits, plenty of front and backyard trash issues and low hanging wires that looped way below the 18-foot clearance requirement. Livable City Initiative, economic development, building, parking, public works, fire and police department representatives recently descended on a section of Hill South on a bitter cold morning in the fourth and final clean and safe neighborhood walk-around for 2018. Building Official Jim Turcio would call in an address to the main office to check whether there was a permit for work that was clearly in progress, with the violation then written up at the scene. LCI issued 18 infractions, while the Building Department cited four homes for violations. The point is to get on top of some of the obvious blight and more serious issues that affect the safety and quality of life for homeowners and renters in this part of the city. A contingent of LCI inspectors led the way through an area bordered by Morris, Spring and Cedar streets beginning at Lamberton Street and Greenwich Avenue. They were met at Lamberton and Hurlburt streets by Mayor Toni Harp, who explained why she was out inspecting homes with her department heads. She said New Haven, as part of community-based policing, follows the broken-window syndrome, which holds that crime goes up in neighborhoods that are neglected. A lot of disorganization can happen. she said. Harp joined the department heads as they walked down Hurlburt where an LCI worker pointed out structural problems at one house where a porch pillar needed to be shored up. They walked across the street from the heavy wires that dipped low over the end of a sidewalk on Hurlburt. The LCI worker said they were cable and telephone wires, more than likely put up under contract with outside personnel. Whoever the cable company is, they dont have enough in-house people to do the work. They hire subcontractors and they blast through. It is called a drop wire. They get as many done as they can because they they want to get paid. They are not doing it to code and no one is doing quality control, the worker said. The code requires that they be raised 18 feet over a roadway. Shorter than that, and trucks tend to pull them down. The worker also made a point of removing sneakers hanging from the wires, which he said is still a way of marking territory for the drug trade. Starting in fall 2017, the group toured Newhallville; Fair Haven in the spring; and in July went to the Annex. Hill North was covered in September. Harp said they brought out all the department heads so they can find the necessary resources to correct deficiencies . It helps address those things on the streets where we have had the most problems, Harp said. Prior to the joining the walk, Harp held an impromptu news conference. She spoke about meeting recently with Gov.-eect Ned Lamont, along with the mayors of Bridgeport, Hartford, Waterbury and Stamford. The mayors agreed on two agenda items changes in school funding and fast rail travel. The Education Cost Sharing grant has remained stagnant for the past 10 years, Harp said, which has pushed more and more of the cost of education onto the cities. She said train service to New York in one hour is critical for New Haven, as is faster service from Hartford. Getting people into New York City is really important for the entire state, she said. The mayor said the group bemoaned the fact rail service is slower now than it was in 1954. She said more frequent rail travel from the interior, such as Waterbury, is crucial. What we heard from the governor-elect is that he is very interested in ensuring that our major cities get the things that they need because he understood that they are the economic drivers of the state, Harp said. The mayor said they also touched on payments in lieu of taxes for municipalities that have diminished grand lists because of the high quantity of tax-exempt property within their borders, such as colleges and hospitals. mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577 NEW HAVEN Yet more housing is coming downtown, whether it fills empty lots or is converted from office space. Approvals for those projects took place this week at the same time the state came through with major housing loans for developments already in the pipeline. Under the states Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties, or CHAMP, the Glendower Group Inc., a subsidiary of the New Haven Housing Authority, got $3.8 million toward construction of four buildings on a vacant site for 45 residential units: 36 affordable and nine market-rate. Separately, the City Plan Commission this week approved conversion of three floors of office space to 29 apartments at 742-750 and 754 Chapel St. at the corner of State Street by East River Partners. East River Partners is a New York real estate investor; Joseph Cohen, a New Haven native, is a co-founder. The project includes a 24,137-square-foot, four-story building and a 5,633-square-foot, 31/2-story building. The first floors of the buildings are occupied by commercial uses, while the second through fourth floors now have vacant office space. A total of 20,443 square feet of office space will be converted into the apartments. East River Partners previously had received approval for a six-story, 60-unit apartment building at 294 State St., which for decades has been a parking lot. The new building is around the corner from the 742-750 and 754 Chapel St. buildings bought by the developer. The new construction will consist of 15 studio apartments; 20 one-bedroom units; 15 two-bedroom; and 10 three-bedroom units. The City Plan Commission also approved construction of 15 new apartments in a BD zone at 67 Whitney Ave. The proposal is to construct three additional stories to the one-story building currently housing Great Wall restaurant. The new apartments will consist of efficiency and one-bedroom units. The state loans are part of $22 million in awards announced Tuesday by the state Department of Housing for affordable housing in Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. Those funds will create, rehab and preserve 702 units of housing. In New Haven, this is the latest phase in the replacement of Farnam Courts public housing, where new units have already been constructed at the original site fronting on Grand Avenue, as well as in Fair Haven and Fair Haven Heights. These additional units will be located at the rear of the original site. Glendower also got a loan of $3.7 million to help with the rehabilitation of three buildings with 201 affordable units for Ruoppolo Manor and Fairmont Heights. It is 100 percent affordable and will serve senior and disabled resident households. The Hill-to-Downtown development, long planned by Serena Neal-Sanjurjo of the Liveable City Initiative and the Economic Development Administration, got $2.75 million for the development project at 49 Prince St. planned by RMS Downtown South-Hill North Development Co. LLC. The long-shuttered former Welch Annex School will be converted into 30 affordable units that will serve households with incomes at 25 percent, 50 percent and 60 percent of the area-median income. They will include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. Hill-to-Downtown includes other developments planned for the area around Union Station and the replacement of Church Street South. Since 2011, the department and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority have created, rehabilitated or committed funding for nearly 25,000 units of housing approximately 22,000 of which are affordable to low- and moderate-income individuals and families. It is part of a state investment of nearly $1.5 billion, which has been matched by $2.5 billion from other financial sources, including the private sector, the department said. mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577 GUILFORD Ethan Song, the 15-year-old who died of a gunshot wound at his friends house on Jan. 31, accidentally shot himself in the head, the Waterbury states attorneys office reported Tuesday. Waterbury States Attorney Maureen Platt did not bring charges against Daniel Markle, owner of the gun Ethan used to shoot himself. Ethan Song was the son of Michael and Kristin Song of Guilford. Mr. Songs death was a tragic event in that he accidentally shot himself in the head with a .357 magnum handgun which was stored in a master bedroom closet at the location where he was shot, Platts report states. Platt reported that the boys regularly had played with three guns kept in a closet in Songs neighbors house. While the death of Ethan Song was a horrific and preventable tragedy, the owner of the gun is not being charged with a crime, Platt wrote. According to the report, Daniel Markle, owner of the house at 104 Seaside Ave., where Ethan was shot, kept three weapons in a cardboard box inside a large Tupperware container in the master bedroom closet. Each gun was secured with a gun lock, the report said. There is no evidence that the gun used was loaded at the time it was stored within the closet, Platt wrote. However, ammunition for the gun was located within the same small cardboard box next to the weapon used, inside of the Tupperware container. It appears that this small cardboard box was hidden under some clothing in the larger Tupperware container. Subsequent investigation has established that the keys to the gunlocks on the three weapons were hidden in the same Tupperware container in a separate area hidden under other clothing. Platt wrote that Ethan Song and Shane Markle had played with the guns before but that they kept Daniel Markle unaware that they had taken out the guns . There is no evidence that Mr. Song knew that the gun responsible for his death was loaded or that he had any role in loading it, the report states. Platt did not charge Markle with a crime because, under state law, criminally negligent storage of a firearm only applies if the gun is loaded. Connecticut law, unlike at least three other states, clearly requires that in order to prosecute the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the weapon was loaded when stored, Platt wrote. She did not charge him with risk of injury to a minor for the same reason. According to state law a person is guilty of risk of injury to a minor if he wilfully or unlawfully causes or permits any child under the age of sixteen years to be placed in such a situation that the life or limb of such child is endangered, [or] the health of such child is likely to be injured, according to Platts report. A charge of second-degree reckless endangerment would be made if he recklessly engages in conduct which causes a risk of physical injury to another person, according to the report. A person acts recklessly when he is aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such result will occur, according to the statute. In this case, there is no evidence that the gun owner knew that the juvenile had actual knowledge of where the guns were stored, Platt wrote. However, even if this is not true, and he was aware that the juvenile knew where and how the guns were stored, this again could not support a prosecution since merely showing that a juvenile could gain such access is insufficient. Mike Song posted a video on the Ethan Song Acts of Kindness Page on Facebook in which he said, To say the least, were very disappointed in the judgment and the law that wraps around this case. We think its time for a change. Announcing a press conference to be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Congregational Church, Song said, Wed also like to let you know were going to unveil, discuss for the first time a bold initiative that has high-level buy-in from our state government here in Connecticut, law enforcement, people on both sides of the political fence. Its time that when someone is reckless, negligent, when someone endangers children, that they be held accountable. A vigil was held on the Guilford Green on Feb. 2, at which Michael Song spoke. For us, if you were to name the one greatest tragedy, this would be the tragedy that we would name, he told the crowd. Its is as dark an hour for us as we could be. We are overwhelmed, and we have been on our knees for 48 hours. Song also thanked residents for their support. Thousands of people have tapped into us through social media or through a text, he said. You might wonder, What impact does that have on someone thats lost a child? and I will tell you, it does make a difference. It is a moment where you stop the grieving for one second and go, Oh, that person cares about us. He also sang John Lennons Imagine at Guilfords March for Our Lives rally on March 24, one of hundreds held across the country to push for gun control. Kristin and Michael Song have sued Markle and his business, Markle Investigations, claiming that Markle had failed to properly store, keep and/or secure a gun on the premises when he knew or should have known that minors might gain access to the gun and that he permitted unaccompanied minors on the premises, according to the Songs complaint. On Sept. 10, Arch Insurance Co. of New Jersey filed a federal lawsuit against the Songs, Markle and Markle Investigations, claiming that it should not be held liable for any judgments in the Songs lawsuit because the shooting was not related to Markles business, which is located at 142 State St., North Haven. In a Hartford Courant story about Arch Insurances lawsuit, Daniel Markle was identified as the son of Arnold Markle, the late New Haven states attorney who prosecuted Black Panther Bobby Seale in a 1971 murder case. Arnold Markle died in 1987. Ethans aunt, Elena Song, posted on her Facebook page that two episodes of the Disney Channel TV show, Andi Mack, focusing on gun safety and peer pressure, were in honor of Ethan. Elena Song is listed as a writer on Andi Mack on her imdb.com page and wrote the second episode, which will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Nov. 30. The first episode aired Friday. A memorial page set up on GoFundMe had raised $118,462 from 1,672 donors as of Tuesday evening. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382 WEST HAVEN Santa and Mrs. Claus and a whole lot of other fun will arrive on the Green on Saturday for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. The fun will begin at 4 p.m. when West Haven High School sophomore Nora E. Mullins sings the national anthem on a stage along Main Street, followed by holiday carols sung by the St. Lawrence School chorus. The ceremony will continue with performances by the West Haven High dance team and the Top Hat Dance Academy, and Christmas classics sung by the Church of the Holy Spirit choir and the Bailey Middle School chorus. Mayor Nancy Rossi will greet the crowd at 6 p.m. The West Haven High School and Seahawks cheerleading teams, dressed as elves, will escort Santa and Mrs. Claus to the stage, where they will join Rossi and her special guests city schoolchildren who have achieved various academic honors to light the Christmas tree. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in a 1916 Ford pump firetruck from the West Haven Fire Department. The citys official Christmas tree is encircled by five smaller evergreen trees decorated with fluorescent-colored lights. Afterward, Santa and Mrs. Claus will meet visitors and pose for photos in their workshop until 8:30 p.m. Organizers will offer the photos with Santa as a free digital download online. Starting Nov. 27, people can view and download their photos on the citys Flickr page at https://goo.gl/EkLxZz. (The internet address is case-sensitive.) Children can drop off their wish lists at St. Nicks official U.S. Postal Service mailbox, located on the Green near Santas Workshop. The event is sponsored by Baybrook Remodelers Inc., Anthony Cordone, First Congregational Church of West Haven, Komar Construction Co., the McCarthy family, New Life Church, The Rock House School of Music, RVP Studios, Studio G Music Instruction, USAlliance Federal Credit Union, West Haven Chamber of Commerce and West Haven United. Huge electric snowflakes will decorate the John C. Ireland Bandstand, and Victorian-era streetlamps adorned with angels blowing on trumpets will illuminate the walkways. Along with hayrides, children will be able to ride on a firetruck. Youngsters also will be able to enjoy a variety of craft stations on the Green, where they will be able to make ornaments, write letters to Santa and make cards for U.S. troops overseas, as well as for those at the Veterans Affairs medical center on Campbell Avenue. The activities are free, but people are asked to bring nonperishable items for the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force, which provides food for residents in need. West Haven United, an organization aimed at bringing together the citys volunteer groups , will announce the winners of its ornament-making and merchant window-decorating contests. Volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce will hand out hot chocolate, and vendors will sell food and novelties. The vendors will include the Cappettas Italian Imports & Pizza truck, Casa Bianca Pizza, Rileys Mobile Kitchen and Sweet Cupcasions. Also, volunteers from West Haven United will sell hot apple cider and snacks. After the lighting, the sounds of the holiday season will fill the air with live music on the bandstand from Rock House, RVP Studios and Studio G. Rain date for the event is Nov. 26. WEST HAVEN Still wondering what youre going to do for Thanksgiving Thursday? If you live in West Haven, this year you have your choice of not one but two big, community-based Thanksgiving dinners. First Congregational Church of West Haven, 1 Church St. on the Green, will serve dinner from noon to 1:30 p.m.; and West Haven Elks Lodge 1537 at 265 Main St., will be serving from noon to 3 p.m.. In both cases, everyone is welcome. That applies whether you are hungry, financially challenged, lonely, away from your family or just looking to spend some time with others from the community. The Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the church is a 20-plus-year tradition that the First Congregational Church is taking the lead in organizing for the seventh year. A team of up to 50 volunteers is gearing up to feed about 150 people a buffet-style dinner. Another 100 meals will be delivered to peoples homes, said organizer Bill Ewry. The entrance to the church Fellowship Hall is at 464 Campbell Ave. Meanwhile, at the Elks Lodge, about 20 volunteers are getting ready to feed 150-200 people a buffet-style Thanksgiving dinner organized by the West Haven PTA Council and Sodexo, which runs the West Haven Public Schools cafeterias, said Sodexo Manager Meg Kingston. We cooked 20 turkeys yesterday, Kingston said. Anybodys welcome to come the more, the merrier. In both cases, all of the food has been donated and both organizations have plenty of help. The dinner at the church had Savin Rock Roasting Co. step up this year to roast 130 pounds of turkeys donated to it, and University of New Haven Dining Services is providing the mashed potatoes, said Ewry. The PTA Council effort had all of its food donated from various sources, just people in the community, Kingston said. The PTA Council was banging on doors. Were going to try to make it fancy, so its not so institutionalized, she said. The church-led effort had help cooking all the side dishes stuffing, gravy, corn, green beans and pies from both church members and members of the community, and Ewry said he thinks they should have enough food. We never worry people just drop them by, Ewry said. We always have enough. Its a community dinner, Ewry said. Its not a church dinner this is a dinner by the community, for the community. The PTA Council and volunteers working with it brought in enough monetary donations to be able to go out and buy hats and mittens to give to the children who come with their families, said Kingston. National Seafood Month highlights that any day is the perfect time to head out to your favorite restaurant and order up a sizable helping of fish and chips, pasta with clam sauce, or of course copious amounts of sushi. For me, personally, it was also an opportunity to celebrate my familys long history of serving delicious seafood to residents of and visitors to New Haven alike. In 1982, my mother started what would become New Haven Countys first sushi bar in a tiny apartment kitchen on Prospect Street. Thus, Miyas Sushi, named for her baby daughter, was born. After more than 30 years in the business, Mama is still as passionate about Miyas as she was the day she first opened its doors. She also has a passion for nature, a trait she passed on to me. When I was very young, she taught me to forage for food and be accountable for my impact on the planet. Using different plants and all parts of the fish even the bones my mother was a pioneer in sustainable cooking before there was a term for it. Fortunately, policymakers caught up to her ways. One of the main reasons we are able to serve the variety of delicious, innovative sushi dishes we offer today is because the United States has some of the best-managed fisheries in the world. Not so long ago, our fisheries, like those throughout much of the rest of the world, were in terrible shape. Fortunately, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which governs fishing in U.S. waters, helped turn that around by requiring us to manage our fisheries in a responsible way. The results are clear. Since 2000, the Magnuson-Stevens Act has helped rebuild more than 40 species and brought overfishing to near historic lows. This success has enabled restaurants across the country including Miyas to offer a wider variety of domestic sustainable seafood. This includes the giant sea scallops. Now Congress is considering legislation to modernize the Magnuson-Stevens Act. These short-sighted proposals including H.R. 200 and S. 1520 threaten the conservation and economic gains weve made by weakening federal laws holding all fishermen accountable for what they catch. This would create the potential for more overfishing and reverse the progress weve made in recent decades toward fully sustainable U.S. fisheries. And thats a problem for anyone who likes to catch fish or eat fresh seafood as well as chefs who strive to feature domestic sustainable seafood in our signature dishes. Besides weakening science-based standards, the bills would limit how regional leaders manage fisheries, mandate burdensome bureaucracy, and exacerbate tensions between fishermen without allowing the flexibility to increase fishing opportunities. This could cause a variety of popular seafood items to disappear from menus and markets throughout the country. Fortunately, leaders like our own U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal are helping us protect this important law. It is a great time to hit reset and reject current attempts to weaken U.S. fisheries laws. In the meantime, Ill be working with my family to pass Mamas passion for combining good food and sustainability down to future generations. Bun Lai is the chef at Miyas Sushi, his family restaurant in New Haven. Julia Montminy is waiting at one of those chain restaurants near The Shoppes at Buckland Hills. In the dim light, the server greets Montminy and another woman with Welcome, ladies, then does a double-take, and apologizes. Welcome, sir and maam. My mistake. Montminy, a slight woman in leopard-print jeans, follows the server to her table and says nothing. If someone doesnt know her preferred pronoun, she says, not everything requires a fight. But without her wanting it, the battle lines are being drawn by a presidential administration that seems intent on erasing the transgender community, which numbers roughly 1 million according to a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. (That same study says the number is growing.) These are the times we live in: Every step of Montminys transition from male to female has been accompanied by a rollback of laws and policies that protect her community. In February, Montminy, of Vernon, was a senior at Southern New Hampshire University. On a goof, she dressed up for a campus drag show. She was floored by how she felt in her body suit and fishnet stockings, and the evening led her to admit that signs of her gender dysphoriawhen the gender a person is assigned at birth does not match the gender with which that person identifieshad been there for years. The month of the drag show, the federal Department of Education announced it would no longer hear complaints or take action when a transgender student requests the right to use the restroom that matched their gender identity. A recent leaked memo said the administration intends to push for a narrower definition of gender. The Department of Health and Human Services is, according to the New York Times, spearheading an effort to establish a legal definition of gender and change Obama-era policy so that the landmark legislation Title IX prohibits discrimination based on gender, not gender identification. The Obama administration had ruled the exact opposite. A month after that announcement, in March 2018 , the federal government announced new restrictions on transgender members of the military. The hits just keep on coming, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality. In August, the federal Department of Labor issued a directive that said federal contractors and subcontractors should take into account their religious beliefs when dealing with employees. This could mean that if someones religious beliefs do not accept gender dysphoria, a transgender employee could be fired. The administration rolled back protection for transgender prisoners in May. In all, its an astounding series of rollbacks that leaves Montminy and other members of the transgender community vulnerable. States and municipalities have been fighting back. In February 2017, after the Trump administration began to roll back protections for transgender students, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed an executive order to protect transgender students in the state. In 2011, Malloy signed a law that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression. According to the ACLU, 18 states and the District of Columbia have some kind of anti-discrimination laws that protect transgender people. Nearly 200 cities ban gender identity discrimination, and governors in five states have signed executive orders that protect state employees who are transgender. But the attitude from D.C. is scary, said Montminy, a substitute teacher in Manchester with an eye on grad school. Since shes started the transition, she has yet to use a public bathroom for fear of a confrontationor worse. One day, she hopes to overcome that fear. One day, she hopes to have gender reassignment surgery. One day, she hopes that being a member of the transgender community wont be that big of a deal. Susan Campbell is a distinguished lecturer at the University of New Haven. She can be reached at slcampbell417@gmail.com . This column was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting. (c-hit.org) On Good Morning America Monday, an attorney for Kate McClure, the woman charged with conspiring on a fraudulent GoFundMe scheme with her then-boyfriend and a Philadelphia homeless man, said she was set up to take the fall for everything. Her ex, Mark D'Amico was "calling the shots," McClure's attorney told the national television audience. But Mark Davis, the Hamilton attorney representing D'Amico, said he guesses a lot of people are having a hard time picturing McClure as the innocent victim. "I join most of the world in saying it's laughable," Davis said. "She seems to be on a crusade to save her ass at the moment, I assume because her name is on everything." That includes the GoFundMe campaign that claimed to be raising money for Johnny Bobbitt, the homeless veteran who supposedly spent his last $20 to get her gas when she was stranded -- which the Burlington County prosecutor alleges was a complete fiction that successfully bilked donors out of over $400,000. The case has captured the nation's attention. At first, in November of 2017, because it seemed like a too-good-to-be-true story of altruism. Then this summer, when news broke that Bobbitt was homeless again and accusing the couple of spending all of the money meant for him. And now, as the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office has filed charges accusing all three of plotting from the beginning to swindle good-hearted donors to make a buck. They were charged Thursday with theft by deception and conspiracy. Bobbitt remains held in a Philadelphia jail awaiting extradition. McClure and D'Amico turned themselves in and were released. However, D'Amico failed to appear in Florence Township Municipal Court Monday on a trespassing charge from October, and a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest. Prosecutor Scott Coffina has painted all three as co-conspirators, but court documents used to support the charges detailed backstabbing and suspicion as it became clear as early as March that all of the money had been spent on travel, luxury handbags, a BMW, and more. The couple also said Bobbitt blew some of the money on drugs. But McClure's attorney, James Gerrow, released recordings to 6ABC Monday he claims show that McClure knew she was being set up. In the recordings, McClure is heard saying, "I had no part in any of this and I'm the one (expletive) taking the fall." But Davis said the only thing the recording proves is that McClure is trying to avoid responsibility for what went down. "It's the most self-serving record I've ever heard," he said. "You don't go in prepared to record unless you're going to stage something." In fact, prosecutors described part of the recording -- one of many they obtained when they seized her phone in September -- in their probable cause statement. It included D'Amico's response to McClure claiming she wasn't involved. An excerpt from the affidavit of probable cause filed against D'Amico, McClure and Bobbitt. Davis said other evidence in the prosecutor's probable cause statement that points to McClure's role in the GoFundMe campaign is her text to a friend that included, "I had to make something up to make people feel bad." Davis said that he believes the state will have a tough time proving their case against D'Amico because they would have to prove he created the fake GoFundMe with the intention to enrich himself. He said D'Amico and McClure initially intended for the GoFundMe campaign to help only Bobbitt -- even if the story wasn't true. "They wanted to help him get back on his feet," he said. It wasn't until after the campaign exceeded its $10,000 goal that the three made a deal to share the money, he said. "Any money spent by Katelyn or Mark D'Amico was by agreement of the parties," he said. Davis said his client, since being charged, has been "handling this perfectly fine." "He understands he never had any intent to hurt or harm or defraud anyone. He was only involved with it because Kate McClure came to him with it and he believed Johnny Bobbitt was someone to be helped," he said. Davis was unaware about the trespassing charge against D'Amico. Florence Municipal Court records show the it was a citizen complaint filed Nov. 7 relating to an alleged incident Oct. 1 of this year. D'Amico has other outstanding municipal court offenses from traffic violations to destruction of property in other towns as well. When he failed to appear in court Monday, Florence Judge Corey E. Ahart said he was issuing a new bench warrant, but there was already an active warrant regarding a traffic offense. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips A Vineland woman was arrested after she stabbed another woman twice in the neck during a fight at a Bennigan's restaurant in South Jersey early Saturday, police said. Yolanda Dasilva Yolanda Dasilva, 27, was charged with aggravated assault and two weapons offenses following the brawl at the West Landis Avenue location, Vineland police said in a statement. The victim was taken to Inspira Medical Center in Vineland and then flown to Cooper University Health Care in Camden, officials said. She is in stable condition. No one else was injured during the ruckus, which broke out around midnight. Dasilva was sent to the Cumberland County jail. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Chris Fixler at 856-691-4111 or send an email here. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. While most kids probably don't spend much time thinking about how the judicial system works, some children don't really have a choice. If they're caught in the middle of a custody dispute between feuding parents, they may find themselves in front of a judge who is trying to make the best decision possible for all involved. Teaching school children about the courts is the goal of a new effort in South Jersey that may soon expand across the state. Dubbed "Classroom to Courtroom," judges and attorneys in Vicinage 15 -- which includes Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester counties -- have visited about 45 schools in the last year as part of this effort. "Our goal is to allow students to learn about the law, the legal process, the judicial system and demonstrate how judges can serve as positive role models," Vicinage 15 Assignment Judge Benjamin C. Telsey explained. Judges and attorneys tailor their approach to these visits depending on the age of the students. "Some of our judges are reading books to the younger students, some of the judges are, with the older students, talking legalese, what it's all about," Telsey said. After the classroom sessions, students visit the courts. Paulsboro High School students visited Superior Court Judge Mary Beth Kramer in her Gloucester County courtroom. (Submitted photo) "We are bringing them to the courthouse and we're letting them see the staff in action," Telsey said. These visits include tours, meeting staff and taking part in mock trials. In some cases, older students get the chance to sit in on an actual case. Part of the mission is to challenge the notion that judges are aloof and out of touch. "My primary goal of all of this is to take the stigma away from the average person thinking that judges don't know what's going on out there ... they're just sitting on their pedestal and just telling everyone what to do. We want to try to break that down a little bit, because our judges are such hardworking people and they do understand these issues," Telsey said. Judges talk about the importance of an independent judiciary and about the difficult decisions they must make, whether ruling in a custody dispute or determining the sentence for someone convicted of murder. In high school, Telsey demonstrates these difficulties by using a hypothetical case of a young man convicted of murder in the death of a young woman. This scenario tends to get students' attention, he said. When it comes to sentencing, a judge gets pressure from the victim's family to hand down the maximum penalty of life in prison. The killer's actions have devastated the victim's family and, in order for her life to have meant something, only the maximum sentence will suffice, they said. While the law dictates that a judge can sentence this defendant to a term of 30 years to life, "everyone's asking me to sentence them to life," Telsey said. "Then I'll ask the students, how many of you guys would sentence the person to life." Many students raise their hands, he said. Then Telsey talks about the defendant and what his family is feeling. In this scenario, the killer has never been in trouble with the law before, is supporting his family and plans to attend college. The defendant is no longer a faceless monster, but a real person. Telsey again asks how many students would sentence him to life and fewer hands are raised. "They begin to understand a little bit about the difficult situations that judges are in and the decisions that they have to make on a daily basis," Telsey said. "As judges, we have to do what's right. If we start doing what's publicly popular, it defeats what the independence of the judiciary is." Students and school officials have expressed appreciation for the Classroom to Courtroom program, Telsey said "The responses that we've gotten from schools has really been tremendous," he said. "For the kids to see the judges talk about real, everyday things, we think has really broken down some of the barriers." He described one example of a student who met a judge during one of these programs, then came before that same judge during a custody dispute. Telsey was told the youth had an easier time, since he had already met the judge through the outreach program. "That was very satisfying," he said. When Family Court Judge Sandra Lopez met with Bridgeton school students, she spoke with them in English and Spanish. Telsey received a letter from school officials expressing appreciation for the visit and noting that this extra bilingual effort helped put kids and their parents at ease. Given concerns over immigration issues, some parents may not be too comfortable dealing with the court system or its representatives, Telsey acknowledged. "To break down that barrier a little bit meant a whole lot to these students," he said, "just to see the judge as a real person." This outreach effort first launched in Atlantic County and is expected to grow following its successful first year in Vicinage 15, where it reached more than 2,600 students. "I think you're going to see this spread statewide pretty soon," Telsey said. The goal of this outreach isn't just to explain how the courts work, he noted, but also to teach them about future career opportunities in the judiciary. "People think about the courts as judges and lawyers. Judges and lawyers are just a small part of the court staff." The three-county vicinage employs about 575 people, making it one of the largest court vicinages -- in terms of employment -- in the state. The vicinage usually has 20 or 30 job openings, Telsey estimated. "One of the things that we spend a lot of time doing is recruiting," he said. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. JERSEY CITY -- Attorney Louis Zayas, who made a career of successfully butting heads with Hudson County municipalities and government agencies, died Sunday at the age of 52. Zayas "was one of the top lawyers in the area and a warrior in the courtroom," Hudson County Clerk E. Junior Maldonado said Monday of the man he referred to as a "buddy." The former Hudson County freeholder said Zayas, who was born in Cuba, "fought to help the people, protect victims and bring justice to the abused." Zayas, whose office was in North Bergen, had been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma for the past six months. Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Chairman Carlos A. Medina said Zayas began chemotherapy treatments immediately after being diagnosed. He said when chemotherapy stopped working, Zayas underwent a different treatment, but it went "terribly bad." As a youngster, Zayas "was a great athlete and always passionate and driven," said Medina, who attended St. Joseph's High School in West New York with Zayas. If there was a case of a police officer suing over an alleged mistreatment, it was more than likely Zayas was the attorney handling the case. But he made newspaper headlines for other cases, too. In September, Zayas filed a lawsuit against McDonald's on behalf of a Hudson County man who said the Hoboken restaurant discriminated against him because he is black. He also represented the family of a 6-year-old North Bergen girl who died of the flu in February. In many cases, Zayas earned six-figure settlements for his clients, who included a former Hoboken public safety director, a former Hoboken Housing Authority director and a Weehawken tax collector. Zayas also represented 15 people in West New York who received a combined $1.2 million. Medina said when he became chairman on the HSCCNJ, the organization was in financial trouble and Zayas was able to buy time for it to get back on its feet. "I give a lot of credit to him for that," said Medina, who last saw Zayas at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Manhattan. "He was a great person. If you had him as a friend, you had a loyal ally." Medina said Zayas lived in Upper Saddle River and funeral arrangements are expected to be made at a funeral home in Bergen County. JERSEY CITY A Hudson County Superior Court judge on Friday threw another wrench into the proceedings surrounding the controversial Katyn monument in Jersey City when he nullified the City Council's June 13 ordinance that authorized moving the statue. Judge Peter Bariso's Nov. 16 decision ends a lawsuit filed last month by an administration critic who alleged the ordinance was void because the city made improper changes to it before the council voted to adopt it. Bariso's decision came after the city made the unusual decision not to oppose plaintiff Maria Scariati's allegations. City attorneys authored the order Bariso signed that declared the ordinance void. The council had been scheduled to vote on Tuesday to reverse the June 13 ordinance, a reversal the administration sought in an effort to end the monthslong Katyn controversy. But city attorneys told council members at their Monday caucus that Bariso's decision means "there's nothing to vote on." "It's as if it never happened," City Clerk Robert Byrne explained. Councilman Michael Yun, who has supported efforts to keep the statue at Exchange Place, said he wants to introduce a new measure that would call for keeping the monument at its current home forever. City attorneys said they would review his plan. The fight over the Katyn statue erupted in April when Mayor Steve Fulop acknowledged his administration planned to move the monument, which commemorates the 1940 massacre of over 20,000 Polish people by the Soviet Union. The plan to move the statue to York Street angered the Polish community around the region. The council introduced an ordinance on May 23 authorizing the relocation then adopted the measure on June 13. Scariati in her lawsuit notes that in between those two votes, the city changed the ordinance in material ways, including by adding language that the statue would reside in its York Street location for at least 99 years. Substantive changes are not permitted between the introduction and adoption of ordinances. Scariati appeared at the council's raucous June 13 meeting to voice her objections to the statue relocation. During her comments, Council President Lavarro ordered police officers to remove her from the council chambers after he declared her out of order, an order Lavarro later called off. A committee of voters formed to reverse the council's June 13 action, collecting enough signatures to force a referendum on the matter. That referendum was scheduled for a Dec. 11 special election. Bariso's decision means there will be no referendum, city attorneys told council members on Monday. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- The charges and counter-charges in the case of an on-duty Jersey City police officer in a marked car crashing into a vehicle in Hoboken and leaving the scene were dismissed Monday morning. Carmen Compres, the Hoboken woman who brought the initial charges, said she has been worn down by the numerous court proceedings and just wants to put the incident behind her. The officer, Pedro Clavero, had filed counter charges, alleging Compres failed to yield to an emergency vehicle. Clavero was cited for leaving the scene by Hoboken police after his police vehicle's license plate was found where it had struck the Subaru Forester driven by Compres, 62, on Jackson Street at Paterson Avenue on June 14. Jersey City police and Clavero's attorney declined to say why Clavero was on-duty Hoboken that day. Because Compres is a Hoboken crossing guard, the case was moved to Union City Municipal Court. The matter was to go to trial today at 11 a.m. but when the case was called, Compres and Clavero stood before the judge and said they were prepared to dismiss the charges against each other. It was the fifth court hearing in the matter. "I'm just tired of coming to court and nothing is happening," Compres said after the matter was disposed of. She said she has been getting physical therapy since the crash, still needs to get her vehicle fixed and absolutely intends to go through with a civil lawsuit seeking damages. Compres said that on the day of the crash she heard the siren of an emergency vehicle, but did not see one, according to the crash report. She previously told The Jersey Journal that she saw no flashing lights and continued through the intersection. That's when Clavero's Ford Explorer slammed into the front driver side of the Subaru, according to the crash report. Compres said she made eye contact with the driver in the police SUV, but he did not get out. She said the Ford backed up and drove away. Her vehicle suffered an estimated $1,500 in damage, she said. A 23-year-old man was shot in the area of Grant Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard on Saturday in connection to a domestic dispute, authorities said. Police respond to the scene just before 11 p.m., where the victim had suffered injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening, city spokeswoman Ashley Manz said. "It appears the shots were fired in relation to an ongoing domestic dispute," she said. The victim was transported to a local hospital and was in stable condition as of Sunday. The investigation, meanwhile, remains ongoing, Manz said. Less than five hours later, police responded to the area of 451 Communipaw Ave. -- outside the Factory Restaurant and Bar -- on a report of shots fired, Manz said. Details of the incident were sparse. Manz told The Jersey Journal that no injuries were reported and the investigation remains ongoing. Freelance photographer Joe Shine was at the scene and photographed police examining bullet casings on the ground. Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. Attorney Louis Zayas, who made a career of successfully butting heads with Hudson County municipalities and government agencies, died Sunday at the age of 52. Zayas "was one of the top lawyers in the area and a warrior in the courtroom," Hudson County Clerk E. Junior Maldonado said yesterday of the man he referred to as a "buddy." The former Hudson County freeholder said Zayas, who was born in Cuba, "fought to help the people, protect victims and bring justice to the abused." Zayas, whose office was in North Bergen, had been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma for the past six months. Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Chairman Carlos A. Medina said Zayas began chemotherapy treatments immediately after being diagnosed. He said when chemotherapy stopped working, Zayas underwent a different treatment, but it went "terribly bad." As a youngster, Zayas "was a great athlete and always passionate and driven," said Medina, who attended St. Joseph's High School in West New York with Zayas. If there was a case of a police officer suing over an alleged mistreatment, it was more than likely Zayas was the attorney handling the case. But he made newspaper headlines for other cases, too. In September, Zayas filed a lawsuit against McDonald's on behalf of a Hudson County man who said the Hoboken restaurant discriminated against him because he is black. He also represented the family of a 6-year-old North Bergen girl who died of the flu in February. In many cases, Zayas earned six-figure settlements for his clients, who included a former Hoboken public safety director, a former Hoboken Housing Authority director and a Weehawken tax collector. Zayas also represented 15 people in West New York who received a combined $1.2 million. Medina said when he became chairman on the HSCCNJ, the organization was in financial trouble and Zayas was able to buy time for it to get back on its feet. "I give a lot of credit to him for that," Medina said. "He was a great person. If you had him as a friend, you had a loyal ally." EDITOR'S NOTE: Interested in the marijuana business industry? NJ Cannabis Insider is a new premium intelligence briefing that features exclusive weekly content geared toward entrepreneurs, lawyers and realtors. View a sample issue. After months of delay and backroom disputes, state lawmakers are expected to finally begin voting next week on legalizing marijuana for adults over age 21 in New Jersey. And it's getting the fast-track treatment, even though legislative leaders and Gov. Phil Murphy remain at odds over details of the legislation. Separate state Assembly and Senate committees will meet together for a hearing of debate and are expected to vote on the legalization bill on Monday, Nov. 26 at 10 a.m., according to sources familiar with the plan. The negotiations over the legalization bill (S2703) have stalled in recent months between state Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Murphy, who have disagreed over the tax rate and whether a new commission should exercise control over the new industry. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said he and the Democratic governor have not agreed on the bill. But he said he didn't want to wait any longer. "We have been talking, and it's time to move forward," Sweeney told NJ Advance Media Monday night. "Hopefully, we can get to agreement with the governor." Sweeney said he favors imposing a 12 percent tax rate, plus 2 percent for municipalities that are willing to host cannabis-related businesses. He doesn't want to go higher because he fears that it will allow the illegal market to thrive. Michigan just passed a 10 percent tax rate, Sweeney noted. Michigan's marijuana tax rate is comprised of a 10 percent excise tax and a six percent sales tax, according to published reports. Murphy -- as well as legislators who supported earlier versions of the legislation -- have sought a 25 percent tax rate. Murphy has declined to say publicly how much he is willing to budge. A source familiar with Murphy's side of the negotiations said Murphy and the Legislature are at "an impasse." "They haven't entertained our proposals or sought to meet us in the middle," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. A spokeswoman for state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, could not be reached for comment Monday night. On his call-in radio program Monday night, Murphy said he awaits a final version of the bill from lawmakers. "I'm ready to go," the governor said. "The legislators haven't gotten it to us." But, Murphy added, he doesn't want to "needlessly take shots" at lawmakers. The legislative committees are also expected to act on legislation (S10) that would expand the medicinal marijuana program, according to the most recent legislative calendar. The number of patients registered with the medicinal marijuana program, 35,700, has more than doubled in the past year. But the program is still cost-prohibitive for many because New Jersey's cannabis is among the most expensive in the nation, and patients are required to see their doctor every three months to review their qualifications. The legislation (S2426) aims to expand the program will allow people to see their doctor once a year to maintain their eligibility. All legislation must be voted on by the full 80-member Assembly and 40-member Senate before it goes to the governor's desk. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. A 19-year-old New Jersey man serving in the United States Navy was killed in a single-vehicle cash Friday night in Virginia. David A. Suescun (Facebook) David A. Suescun, of Hackensack, was driving an Acura west on Route 218 in King George County when he lost control of the vehicle, went off the road and struck a tree, Virginia State Police said in a news release. Suescun was pronounced dead at the scene. A front-seat passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries, according to Sgt. Keeli L. Hill. Speed was a factor in the crash, which took place just before 8 p.m. near the intersection of Eagles Nest Road, police said. Suescun made the rank of Fire Controlman in March and was stationed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia, a Navy spokeswoman said. He enlisted in the Navy in January and went through recruit training in Great Lakes, Illinois. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Just in time for Thanksgiving, the federal government has issued a warning that romaine lettuce may not be safe to eat. In a food safety alert on Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it is investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli. linked to romaine lettuce. "CDC is advising that U.S. consumers not eat any romaine lettuce, and retailers and restaurants not serve or sell any, until we learn more about the outbreak," the alert read. "This investigation is ongoing and the advice will be updated as more information is available." As of Monday, 32 cases of people being infected with E. coli have been reported in 11 states, including three cases in New Jersey. Officials have not said where the lettuce was purchased or where it was grown Of those cases, 13 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The reported infections started on dates ranging from Oct. 8 to Oct. 31. Besides the three cases in New Jersey, the following states have also reported E. coli cases linked to the new outbreak: California, 10 cases Michigan, seven cases Illinois, two cases Massachusetts, two cases New Hampshire, two cases New York, two cases Connecticut, one case Maryland, one case Ohio, one case Wisconsin, one case The outbreak appears to affect Canada as well. The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified 18 cases of infection from the same bacteria as the American cases. The Canadian cases are in two provinces, Ontario and Quebec. According to the CDC, this new outbreak appears to be unrelated to the romaine lettuce-linked E. coli outbreak that infected 210 people, killing five, in 36 states this summer. The E. coli strain at the heart of the new outbreak is E. coli O157:H7. The bacteria produces the Shiga toxin. People infected by the bacteria may get a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MSolDub. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A woman employed as a sales manager and bookkeeper for New Jersey moving companies took part in a low-balling scheme that defrauded customers out of $2 million over nearly five years, authorities said. Farah Al-Ibrahim, a 38-year-old resident of Essex County with multiple aliases, was charged Monday with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and later released on $100,000 bond, the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey said in a statement. From 2013 to 2015, the moving companies handled approximately 1,514 moves, with 88 percent ending with costs that were above the permissible 10 percent increase of the estimates. In one instance, the company jacked up the cost almost 400 percent, authorities said. The movers allegedly swindled customers from May 2010 until about February 2015. The names of the moving companies were not disclosed in court documents. The moving companies gave customers non-binding estimates to transport their goods and then on the day of the move significantly increased the cost after the items were loaded onto trucks, court papers say. The rationale for the sharp price increase is that the customer had more items than originally stated. If customers refused demands for more money, they'd be told the contents of the truck would be held in storage, sometimes with fees, until the fee was paid - "essentially holding the household goods hostage," according to the criminal complaint. On other occasions, the movers would lower the price marginally after customers argued and the sides would eventually agree on a fee still much higher than the estimate. When customers began to catch onto the scheme, the movers simply changed the name of their company and moved to a different office, federal officials said. Offices were located in Clifton and later Moonachie. The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Three years after the State Commission of Investigation issued a scathing report detailing deceitful and sometimes fraudulent behavior at multi-dealer used-car malls, the business practice remains plagued by "unscrupulous activity," the commission said in a new report Tuesday. Dealers at auto malls throughout the state have continued to engage in activity ranging from selling dangerously unroadworthy salvaged vehicles to "renting" dealer license credentials on the black market, according to the commission's follow-up report. Investigators say the behavior has been bolstered by an environment in which family members obtain dealer licenses on behalf of relatives ineligible to receive them, and salvage vehicles are rubber-stamped with "phantom" inspections in Pennsylvania before being resold in New Jersey. Many of the vehicles are sold without clean titles, leaving buyers waiting months before they're able to legally register their purchases, the report says. The 2015 report had focused primarily on the New Jersey Dealers Auto Mall, a Bridgeton-based business the SCI said leased space to absentee car dealers to allow them to meet New Jersey's dealer licensing requirements. In the wake of the report, which highlighted the mall owners' employment of a former Division of Motor Vehicles director to lobby the state Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), the state's election watchdog agency mandated electronic filing of quarterly disclosure reports by government lobbyists. The new report offers more sharp criticism of the MVC, which the SCI says undermined some of its own regulatory improvements -- which included hiring more licensing investigators -- by allowing tenant businesses at multi-dealer lots to circumvent certain rules. "The agency also lacks written guidelines for handling disciplinary action against used-car dealers who violate rules and regulations, relying instead on informal judgment calls by staff," the report says. The criticisms are far from new. In their 2015 report, state investigators described the MVC as "an enabler of some very troubling business as usual." Among other reforms, the SCI's new report recommends the Legislature pass stronger consumer protections for buyers of "as-is" used vehicles and that the MVC begin requiring in-state inspection of salvage vehicles before issuing titles. Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Over the past year, New Jersey law enforcement agencies have seen a dramatic rise in hoax threats of violence against community groups and institutions, officials told reporters Thursday. The FBI and the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) have a clear message to would-be threat makers: Knock it off, or we will find you. "It's not a joke," FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Christopher Stangl said of the threats, which he described as "highly disruptive" and capable of creating dangerous situations for first responders. While Stangle and NJOHSP Director Jared Maples declined to specify the number of hoax threats agencies in New Jersey have investigated in recent months, Maples said the state has seen an "exponential" increase in threats overall since 17 people were fatally shot at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in February. State officials in September said threats against New Jersey's schools alone doubled during the 2017-2018 academic year. Those threats have ranged in form from messages scrawled on bathroom doors to specific threats of shootings and other violence over social media, officials said Of those threats, many turn out to be bluster without actual intent to harm. But those hoaxes aren't merely disruptive, officials said -- they're also criminal acts, punishable by state and often federal law. Despite the rise in baseless threats, investigators have to run down every lead, Stangl said, as troubled individuals often "leak" their violent intentions well before they act on them. Authorities pointed to the case of Gregory Lepsky, a 20-year-old Point Pleasant Borough Resident who in March pleaded guilty to planning a bombing in New York. Lepsky, whom investigators said had become obsessed with the Islamic State, was arrested after a family member called police, saying Lepsky had threatened to kill the household's dog. But well before the threats reached a boiling point, the FBI subsequently discovered, Lepsky had made numerous alarming remarks to family members -- referring to explosive devices and acts of violence -- which were never reported. "These conversations have to happen," Maples said of family members' responsibilities. Officials said members of the public can report any threat-related information by calling 1-866-4-SAFENJ, or by emailing tips@njohsp.gov. Despite the rise in hoaxes, Maples said, "we want all those leads and threats coming in." Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Smoke from deadly wildfires burning in California reached New Jersey on Monday. A light haze was visible in areas from Philadelphia to New York City. Gary Szatkowski, former head of the National Weather Service Mount Holly office, tweeted a map showing the smoke spreading to the east coast. So if you thought it was just a bit hazy this afternoon, we have a California fire smoke plume moving through. pic.twitter.com/PsYNlAWrgA Gary Szatkowski (@GarySzatkowski) November 19, 2018 In parts of South Jersey and the Philadelphia-area, the air quality was reported as "moderate," according to AirNow, a federal government-run website that reports air conditions. "Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion," the site's report said. Wow. I knew tonights sunset over New York City seemed different, and I shouldve realized! Wildfire smoke is in the air, all the way from California. Observation and map via @GarySzatkowski + my photo along the Hudson River. #NYwx pic.twitter.com/8OHxx6QNsw Kathryn Prociv (@KathrynProciv) November 19, 2018 A similar haze from the devastating fires was reported across the country from Texas to Utah. There were no warnings of any serious health concerns from the smoky conditions outside of California. The Camp Fire, raging in Northern California's Butte County, has burned 151,000 acres and killed at least 77 people, according to state officials. In Southern California, the Woolsey Fire killed three people and burned 96,949 acres. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A man who should have been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is charged with a triple murder, and ICE blames the whole thing on Middlesex County. Here we go again. Most people across the political spectrum agree: Criminals should be our first priority for deportation. This job falls to the federal agency whose stated goal is "to find and remove illegal aliens who are criminals." That is ICE. Yet for months, the federal government has been trying to pin its own incompetence on Middlesex County, slandering it as a "sanctuary" when in reality, the cases it cites only make ICE look bad. A 'sanctuary' county didn't let this sex offender out. ICE did | Editorial The latest is 23-year-old Luis Perez, arrested for a killing spree in Missouri. ICE is again slandering Middlesex, saying it lets criminals like him loose on the street. Here's what actually happened. Perez, a Mexican here illegally, did time in Middlesex jail last year on domestic violence charges. He was arrested Dec. 13, 2017, and ICE immediately asked the jail to hold him for up to 48 hours extra, as its agents decided whether they wanted to take him into custody. The jail promptly notified ICE that its request was denied, because it doesn't fit county guidelines. Middlesex only holds people past the final date of their sentences when they've been convicted of the most serious crimes. Perez didn't rise to that level, because his wasn't a 1st or 2nd degree offense, and he had no prior convictions. But he was clearly a danger, and ICE could have gotten an order from a federal judge to keep him in jail until it could pick him up. Instead, for the next 51 days, until he was sentenced to time served and released Feb. 1st, ICE took no further action. It never responded to the jail's notification, never took him into custody. ICE slams N.J. county jail over Missouri triple murder suspect Then Perez ended up in Missouri, where he allegedly gunned down his ex-roommates and another woman earlier this month. How is Middlesex County to blame, when ICE dropped the ball on this? Their dispute boils down to the detainer request, which courts have repeatedly found violates the due process rights of defendants. Had Middlesex obeyed it, local taxpayers might have been on the hook for big settlements. This is a risk Middlesex has agreed to take, when it comes to the most serious convicts. But ICE isn't doing its fair share by getting a federal court order to authorize the added time in detention. Instead, it simply puts out news releases that slam counties like Middlesex as "reckless," and blames them. ICE spokespeople argue criminals need to be held to account before they are deported. We agree. ICE could have gotten a federal order that required Perez to remain in custody as his criminal and immigration cases were heard. Instead, he was allowed to travel to Missouri, and arrested only after going on a killing spree, by an off-duty officer who spotted him walking into Walmart. New Jersey should cooperate with ICE when it comes to deporting criminals. Middlesex could be more flexible about informing ICE when it has a dangerous person who pleads to a lesser crime. But in this case, as in the others ICE cites - like sex offenders from Mexico and Honduras - the feds knew the guy was in jail and failed to pick him up. ICE didn't do its job, and that's why a violent man walked free. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. By Wesley K. Clark Of all the roles of the presidency, commander in chief was perhaps the one that candidate Donald Trump most relished. His take-charge style, his hat and slogan, his command presence on the stage, his early experience at New York Military Academy and his boasting that "I know more about ISIS than the generals do" demonstrated his inclinations. And many Americans, including service members and veterans, believed that he would be a strong and effective commander in chief. Yet as president, Trump's actions and behavior have led service members and veterans to question whether he really understands who a commander in chief is, or what he does. I served under eight presidents. I applied for West Point as President John F. Kennedy confronted the Soviets in Berlin, went to Vietnam under President Richard Nixon and came home on a stretcher, worked in the White House under President Gerald Ford, and eventually retired as NATO supreme allied commander under President Bill Clinton. I ran for the presidency myself out of deep concern as the ill-considered Iraq War unfolded under President George W. Bush. My heart is with the men and women in uniform, as well as our veterans. It is that affinity that brings me to these observations. President Trump believes he honors and respects the military. He praises our men and women constantly. "I don't think anybody's been more with the military than I have, as a president," he told Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." He has appointed numerous generals to serve in his administration ("I have generals that are great generals") and gained pay raises and hikes in defense spending. He fired the VA chief. He has a snappy salute and appreciates a good military parade, like the one he saw in France last year. He wants to be loved, respected and admired, no doubt. But there is more to being commander in chief. He commands us, but he also represents us. The military is mission-oriented and values-based. The mission is protecting the United States, securing our freedoms, advancing our interests. The commander in chief sets the directions, makes the big decisions and inspires us to carry out the mission. And in his person and character, he represents the men and women who serve, as well as the veterans. He is actually our chief recruiter, too. We are loyal, regardless of which party is in power or who is in the Oval Office. We can't be bought. We believe in selfless service, telling truth to power, choosing the harder right over the easier wrong. We honor noble sacrifice. For Trump, trouble began on several of these fronts before he was even in office. He dismissed the service and sacrifice of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and, by implication, all those who had suffered as prisoners of war. "He's not a war hero," Trump said while campaigning in Iowa. "I like people who weren't captured." He engaged in a back-and-forth with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, Gold Star parents whose son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, died in combat. After Khizr Khan pointed out in an emotional speech at the Democratic National Convention that Trump had "sacrificed nothing, and no one," Trump suggested that "Hillary's script writers" were responsible for the speech and said that Khan had "viciously attacked" him. And there were the references to what "his" generals would do and be. "I see my generals, generals that are going to keep us so safe," he said on Inauguration Day. Didn't he understand that good leaders are big-hearted, that they don't bully and quarrel with those they outrank? And doesn't he respect that generals are loyal to the Constitution and chain of command -- you can't "own" them? In the first military operation of his tenure, which Trump personally authorized, Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens was killed. Trump seemed to slough off the blame onto his predecessor, and his own secretary of defense, retired Gen. Jim Mattis. "Well, this was a mission that started before I got here," the president said on "Fox & Friends," referring to the Obama administration before turning on his own team: "They explained what they wanted to do, the generals," he said. "My generals are the most respected that we've had in many decades," he added, "and they lost Ryan." Good leaders accept responsibility, especially when things go wrong. Commanders in chief do that. He apparently didn't know how to console the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, killed in an ambush in Niger, and ended up in a partisan spat with a congresswoman who had heard Trump tell Myeshia Johnson "something to the effect that 'he knew what he was getting into when he signed up, but I guess it hurts anyway.' " Commanders in chief don't do that. Posturing and electioneering were evident in the call for a parade in Washington, since canceled, and the rush to deploy active-duty forces to the border to stem "an invasion" from the south. We don't want to be used that way. The president hasn't yet visited our men and women in a combat zone -- not Afghanistan, Iraq or even along the DMZ in Korea. And last week, when he failed to visit the U.S. cemetery at Belleau Wood in France, where so many Americans gave their lives -- it was raining, and a long drive from Paris -- the criticisms exploded. Did he not understand that the troops and veterans want the president to see them where they work, to share in their hardships a little, and appreciate their sacrifices and risks? "I've had an unbelievable busy schedule, and I will be doing it," Trump said in the Fox interview on Sunday. I was in the ops center with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, when President Nixon braved the rocket zone north of Saigon to see the troops. Yes, even Nixon. But if Trump struggles with his role's rites and rituals, there are deeper issues with his command. His blustering and combative diplomacy on Korea, cozying up with a potential adversary who has consistently worked to undermine the United States, and his pattern of insulting friends and disrupting allies are all deeply unsettling to the middle-grade and senior officers who plan and execute U.S. policy. They need steady, consistent, reliable leadership. The bobbing and weaving may work in a small family office, but he is now leading one of the largest, most structured organizations in the world -- and certainly the most powerful. It needs a steady hand, not just at secretary of defense, but also at the very top. What actually drives Trump's policies and actions as commander in chief? On what basis does he make the decisions that could separate us from our families, and send us to war? By all reports he doesn't like to read, doesn't suffer long briefings, doesn't want to study, doesn't seem to want much of the experience of the generals closest to him. We honor the chain of command, so we trust him with the most central issues of our time -- war, peace, the nuclear button. But Russia is still bullying, North Korea is still polishing up its nuclear force, China is strengthening its position in the South China Sea, and Iran and the Islamic State are still there in the Middle East, while our oldest allies are cringing and disheartened. In his campaign, Trump promised that only he knew how to lead America. In the field of national security the jury is still out. Wesley K. Clark is a former NATO supreme allied commander. The retired general is a Centennial Fellow at Georgetown and a senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is going back to New Hampshire next month. The New Jersey Democrat, a potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, will headline the state Democratic Party's victory party Dec. 8. Booker's trip will take place after the midterm elections and before he decides whether to run for president and/or another term in the Senate in 2020. New Hampshire is the site of the first presidential primary a little over two years from now. "My focus right now is running for re-election," Booker told NJ Advance Media, "but I will take some time during this holiday season to sit with family and close friends and advisers to give it a really good consideration." Booker spent Oct. 28 in the Granite State, making three stops to urge enthusiastic crowds to vote and volunteer in what he called "the moral moment" to "put the 'united' into the United States of America." He appeared with Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., and Chris Pappas, the Democratic nominee for the state's open U.S. House seat. Both won their races. Democrats also won majorities in both houses of the state legislature. "For months, New Hampshire Democrats worked tirelessly to turn out the vote," state Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley said. "Senator Booker has been incredibly supportive in these efforts, and we are grateful he will be returning to New Hampshire to join our celebration." After Booker spoke at the University of New Hampshire, 200 people signed up to make calls or canvass on behalf of Democratic candidates, Buckley said. "Television ads and mail are fine but it's really about the human interaction," Buckley said. "That one event at that one campus could be the tipping point." Booker on Monday traveled to Mississippi to campaign for Mike Espy, the Democratic Senate nominee in a runoff election with Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who spoke of public hangings in a state where blacks were lynched and talked about making it "just a little more difficult" for college students to vote. Her comments have raised Democratic hopes of an upset along the lines of Doug Jones in Alabama, for whom Booker campaigned as well. Today Im excited to be in Mississippi campaigning for @espyforsenate who faces a runoff election a week from tomorrow. Mississippi, if you want a senator who will fight to protect those with pre-existing conditions, Medicare & Social Securityvote for Mike Espy on November 27th. pic.twitter.com/fFJOdRwKVs Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) November 19, 2018 Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made his first move on Monday, trading for Seattle Mariners left-hander James Paxton. While Cashman continues to shop the free agent market for at least one more pitcher (Patrick Corbin? J.A. Happ?), the rumor mill still connects the Yankees to the two best hitters up for grabs: Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. If the Yankees pursue Harper, they will face the question of what position he would play. New York is set in the outfield with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner. The idea of moving Harper to first base has been floated, with his agent Scott Boras, making a case for why the position change could work. According to MLB.com's Jon Morosi, the Yankees are keeping an open mind: The Yankees also remain involved in the marketplace for high-end position players, although sources say the addition of Manny Machado or Bryce Harper is less of a priority than augmenting the rotation. The Yankees have had internal discussions since the offseason began about the possibility of signing Harper to play first base, but one source described that scenario as "unrealistic" -- at least, for now. The Yankees believe Machado is a better fit for their roster, given the absence of starting shortstop Didi Gregorius while he recovers from Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow. Boras has also gone on the record as saying the idea of moving Harper to first base has nothing to do with the Yankees pursuing him in free agency this winter: "Bryce and I had the discussion on working at first base two years ago," Boras said. "He was a catcher for years prior to signing with the Nationals, so first base is very comfortable for him as he can make the infield skill throws. "This was done years in advance of free agency and had nothing to do with the Yankees' outfield situation. The versatility of Bryce is value-added to any team. He has a history of playing all three outfield positions and has caught (if an emergency catcher is needed)." Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Gas prices in New Orleans and across the nation are falling just as roughly 49 million Americans get ready to hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday. The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the New Orleans area was $2.28 on Tuesday (Nov. 20), down 30 cents from a month ago, according to AAA, which tracks gas prices nationwide. Gas prices have fallen 8 cents from just a week ago. Thats a boon for Thanksgiving holiday travel, which is expected to surge this week to its highest volume in 13 years. AAA predicts 54.3 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving, the highest number since 2005. About 48.5 million people will be driving to get to a turkey dinner elsewhere, the majority of which will be leaving late Tuesday and Wednesday. Another 4.27 million people will be flying, according to AAAs holiday travel outlook. On Tuesday, gas prices in the New Orleans area fell to as low as $1.89 a gallon at a handful of stations, including Costco in New Orleans, Sams Club on Airline Drive in Metairie, and Empire Xpress on Louisa Drive in New Orleans East, according to GasBuddy, which tracks station-by-station prices nationwide. Why are gas prices so low? The supply of crude oil is climbing thanks to growing production in the United States and worldwide, and demand for gasoline isnt as high as many though it might be headed into the final quarter of the year. Its also the tail end of maintenance season for refineries across the country, which means many facilities will be returning to full production in coming weeks. That is likely to put additional pressure on prices. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Prices in New Orleans and Louisiana were about where they were this time a year ago. The average price of gas was $2.32 a gallon statewide, compared with $2.33 during the same time last year, according to AAA. Prices in the New Orleans metro averaged $2.30 a gallon on Nov. 20, 2017. Nationwide, Iowa saw the largest drop in prices (down 41 cents from last month), followed by Nebraska (37 cents), Oklahoma (36 cents), and Missouri (34 cents), according to AAA. However, Louisiana remains one of the cheapest places in the U.S. to buy gas. Read AAAs full report on gas prices. Jennifer Larino covers residential real estate, retail and consumer news, travel and cruises, weather and other aspects of life in New Orleans for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Reach her at jlarino@nola.com or 504-239-1424. Follow her on Twitter @jenlarino. Louisiana government has spent a total of $183,706 on former Secretary of State Tom Schedlers sexual harassment lawsuit, according to information released by the Louisiana Division of Administration Monday (Nov. 18) in response to a public records request. The state paid the employee who accused Schedler of sexual harassment $149,075 earlier this fall to drop her lawsuit and a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. But the Louisiana government also spent $34,631 on private attorneys who handled the case for the government, based on new information released Monday. Schedler also gave $18,425 to the alleged victim personally as part of the settlement that was reached between the state, Schedler and the woman in August. Tom Schedler sexual harassment settlement requires silence from parties The sexual harassment lawsuit pushed Schedler to resign last May after a decade as the states elections chief. Schedler at first said the interaction between him and the employee was consensual, but later was fuzzy about the nature of the relationship. The attorney for his accuser, Jill Craft, said the sexual attention Schedler gave her client was unwanted. NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune does not typically name alleged victims of sexual misconduct in articles. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The details of suggestive cards, emails and other material Schedler had sent to the woman became public a few weeks after her lawsuit was filed -- essentially leading him to step down. His resignation also prompted a special election for Secretary of State between Schedlers deputy, Republican Kyle Ardoin, and Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup that will be held Dec. 8. Though they have paid the alleged victim, Schedler and the state have not admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement that was reached. That agreement also prohibits the parties from talking about the case with the media. Tom Schedler's sexual harassment case settled for $167,000 In her lawsuit, the woman accused Schedler of propositioning her multiple times when she worked with him. She said the harassment began in 2007, when Schedler was first assistant to then-Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, and escalated over a period of years. The woman said she was transferred five times to jobs she described as undesirable because she rejected Schedlers advances. The woman also said in the lawsuit that Schedler used state resources to pursue her. He took her on a work trip to Arizona, which she initially thought was to look at voting machines but later appeared to be more about spending time together for Schedler, according to the accuser. She also alleged he used a state security detail to track her and someone she was dating. Schelder also moved into the womans townhouse complex, she said. A New Orleans pastor was found guilty Monday (Nov. 19) of cheating a Hurricane Katrina victim out of Road Home grant money. Elijah Mealancon was found guilty of one count of unauthorized use of a moveable after a one-day bench trial before Criminal District Judge Franz Zibilich, District Attorney Leon Cannizzaros office said. Additional, similar charges are still pending against Mealancon, and prosecutors said they plan to move forward with those cases. Mealancon, 58, was accused of taking $33,000 from the victim, and never completed renovating her home as promised. Mealancon was the lead pastor at the mobile Elijah Christian Ministries. He got several people to sign their Road Home grant checks over to him after Katrina, convincing them their restoration money could go further if pooled together, Cannizzaros office said. Mealancon offered to purchase supplies and organize teams of volunteers to perform refurbishing labor. Hurricane victims later complained the home repairs were not completed, their restoration funding was never returned, and said Mealancon could not be contacted for an explanation, according to Cannizzaros office. Zibilich ordered Mealancon remanded into custody of the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office after the verdict was announced. He will be sentenced Dec. 17. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Mealancon has been out of jail on bond since he was arrested in November 2013, court records show. At the same trial Monday, Zibilich found Mealancon not guilty of an additional charge of exploitation of the infirmed. Cannizzaro said his office plans to prosecute three additional cases with the same charges against Mealancon in the coming months. This was another despicable example of someone -- supposedly a man of God -- taking advantage of trusting individuals when they were at their most traumatized and vulnerable, he said. Assistant District Attorney Nick Bergeron prosecuted the case. The Orleans Public Defenders represented Mealancon. A man stole a bracelet valued at $13,000 from a Gentilly pawn shop in one of five robberies reported within seven hours Monday (Nov. 19), according to initial reports from New Orleans police. The man entered Cash America Pawn at 3051 Gentilly Boulevard around 5:15 p.m. and requested to see the pricey bracelet. The store clerk said he would need to provide identification before viewing an item of that value. The man handed her an ID, then snatched the bracelet and fled, according to police. He left behind the card, which identified him as 40-year-old Carlo Beard. Police also reported four other robberies throughout New Orleans from about 5 p.m. to midnight: The Coast Guard is coming down hard on the owners of a broken oil platform that has been allowed to leak off southeast Louisiana for more than 14 years. New federal estimates put the leak rate at the Taylor Energy Co. well at 10,500 gallons to 29,000 gallons of oil per day. Thats five to 13 times larger than governments estimate from just a year ago, and would rank the Taylor Energy leak as one of the largest and longest-running oil spills in North America. Last week, the Coast Guard directed Taylor Energy to decide on a new containment plan and a contractor to do the work. The new method of containment must eliminate the surface sheen and avoid the deficiencies associated with prior containment systems, the Coast Guard wrote in an administrative order. The company will be fined up to $40,000 per day for failing to comply. Full containment of the leak could cost upwards of $1 billion, according to Taylor Energy. The company disputes the new leak estimates and the cause of the chronic sheens that often stretch for miles from the well site. According to scientists employed by Taylor Energy, the sheens are caused by oil and gas bubbling up from the oil-saturated seafloor, and not from leaky wells. Taylor Energys platform, known as MC-20 Saratoga, was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan on Sept. 15, 2004. The storm triggered an underwater mudslide that snapped the 550-foot-tall platforms legs and buried a cluster of wells. Taylor plugged some of the 28 wells and added three containment domes. Several environmental groups have for years disputed Taylors claim that its multimillion-dollar containment effort had limited pollution to just a trickle. In 2013, Skytruth, an environmental group based in Shepherdstown, W. Va., that specializes in remote sensing and digital mapping, measured the sheen at more than 20 miles long. The Gulf Monitoring Consortium, made up of Skytruth and other groups, estimated a daily release rate of between 100 and 400 gallons. It wasnt until 2016 that federal regulators began investigating how oil and gas was still leaking from the site. That same year, Taylor Energy sued the federal government over the remaining $432 million from a $666 million trust, which the company was required to create to pay for the leak response. Taylor Energy argued that its response worked and that the remaining funds should be returned. 12 years after Gulf oil platform destroyed, feds start investigating environmental damage In a 2017 legal filing, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement estimated the leaks range at 42 to 2,300 gallons per day. But this year, the government cited the vastly larger daily estimate of up to 29,000 gallons. The Coast Guard noted the new rate in its recent order for additional containment work. The worst-case estimate of the daily volume of release far exceeds previous estimates and is in the order of hundreds of barrels per day, the Coast Guard told Taylor Energy in a letter. The Coast Guards order is long overdue, said Dustin Renaud, communications director for the Gulf Restoration Network. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The time to clean this up was 14 years ago, he said. Taylor Energy has shown nothing but negligence all this time. Taylor Energy says the government wont reveal how it arrived at the much larger estimate. The Coast Guard declined to share details on the estimate with NOLA.com | Times-Picayune until it can determine whether the information is publicly releasable. Will Pecue, Taylor Energy president, said the new estimates are ridiculous and based on erroneous science. He believes the larger estimates are aimed at bolstering the governments case for retaining the trusts remaining $432 million. There is intent to dismiss the past record, he said. The wells at the Taylor Energy site were relatively low in pressure. The former platforms production of 1,100 barrels, or about 46,000 gallons, of oil per day, the company required pressurized gas injections. Its unlikely the platform site could leak at the new estimated rates without pressurization, said Christopher Reddy, a marine scientist hired by Taylor Energy to assess the site. A more likely source of the sheen is the sediment, which Reddy described as heavily contaminated with oil. Recent sediment sampling showed traces of drilling fluid, likely used during the work to plug and decommission wells after Hurricane Ivan. The sheen on the waters surface was also found to have drilling fluid. The fluids presence indicates the sheen is coming from the sediment and not subsurface wells, which would be pure crude oil and contain no drilling fluid, Reddy said. Large sheens on the waters surface often correspond with disturbances on the seafloor, such as when a remote observation vehicle or divers collect samples. When you touch the bottom, you create a sheen, he said. Buried oil from Deepwater Horizon disaster still harming wetlands Reddy cautioned that any restoration or cleanup work at the site could release a large quantity of oil. Based on the high end of the new leak estimates, the site may have released 150 million gallons of oil over the past 14 years. That would make the total release on par with the estimated 168 million gallons spilled during the BP oil disaster in 2010. But, as Taylor Energys representatives note, the sheen has never been documented reaching the shore, nor has it caused large-scale damage to fisheries or wildlife. It doesnt take a BP-level disaster to harm the Gulf of Mexico, said Renaud of the Gulf Restoration Network. While the BP spills impact was heavily studied, the environmental damage from the Taylor Energy leak has largely been ignored. When you have 10,000 to 30,000 gallons of oil (per day) leaking into the Gulf there cant help but be environmental impacts, he said. We just dont know what they are yet, and we need to change that. Louisiana will receive $161.4 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to continue its reconstruction of barrier islands and shorelines in the Terrebonne Basin, with the money coming from settlements of criminal charges with BP and Transocean for their roles in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster and oil spill. Louisianas money was part of $280 million in awards by the foundation on Monday (Nov. 19) for new projects, including 20 in Alabama, Florida and Texas. Swipe the photos and see Louisiana barrier islands before and after restoration The money will be used to rebuild the shorelines of the Belle Pass Headland, a peninsula of land in Lafourche Parish that stretches west from Port Fourchon, and Timbalier and Trinity islands in Terrebonne Parish, all of which have been subject to rapid erosion by hurricanes and winter storms, and are facing threats from sea level rise. Sand for the restoration will come from the Ship Shoal and South Pelto underwater sand deposits, about 8 miles to 24 miles away from the beaches in the Gulf of Mexico. The two shoals are controlled by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. This is another significant project to help restore damages incurred by the BP oil spill," said Gov. John Bel Edwards in a news release. Investing in Louisianas critical barrier island chain will also help protect citizens living in the vicinity of Terrebonne and Timbalier Bays. The states coastal master plan focuses on rebuilding the islands and adjacent headlands to both act as speed bumps for hurricane storm surges, and to cut off the flow of tidal water within bays that also help cause erosion of interior wetlands. One of the primary goals of the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund is to provide lasting and future benefits to types of natural resources impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF in a statement. The Trinity project involves restoring a 1,000-foot-wide beach on the west end of Trinitys East Island, which is fronted by existing dune habitat. Breach-prone areas in the center of the island -- where historic canals were located -- will be filled in. The project will add material to increase the height of some areas to between 2 and 5 feet above sea level. Intertidal marsh habitat on the island will be elevated to between zero and 2 feet. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The project will require the use of about 2 million cubic yards of sand , with ranging from 1,000 feet along the western component and between 55 feet and 995 feet on the eastern component. The Timbalier Island project will focus on the eastern part of the island, including construction of beach, dune and marsh components, with the dunes being elevated to 5 feet, the supratidal or splash zone -- the area right along the front of the beach -- will be elevated to 2 to 5 feet. The marsh will be raised to between zero and 2 feet. The Timbalier project is about 9,000 feet long and will require about 4.2 million cubic yards of sand. The West Belle Pass project will use the existing sand spit of an earlier beach renourishment project as a platform to restore about 10,500 feet of sand beach, dune and marsh. The project is expected to need about 800,000 cubic yards of sand for beach and dunes, which will be built to an initial elevation of about 7 1/2 feet. The new projects were selected after NFWF officials consulted with CPRA, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. More information on the projects are available on the NFWF web site. Mondays announced projects were included in the sixth round of awards from the benefit fund. The fund has so far awarded $1.3 billion, or more than half, of the money provided it as part of a settlement of federal criminal charges against BP and Transocean in 2013. Louisiana has so far received $625 million for 13 projects. Under the terms of the settlement, $1.272 billion of $2.544 billion in penalty money was reserved for barrier island and sediment diversion projects in Louisiana. Other Gulf Coast states impacted by the spill split the remaining money. The foundation announced Monday that it is awarding $19.1 million for five new projects in Texas, $53 million for seven new projects in Florida and $48.7 million for eight new projects in Alabama. Amazon founder Jeff Bezoss Day 1 Families Fund will provide a $5 million grant to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans to help the homeless in south Louisiana. Catholic Charities is one of 24 nonprofits to receive a portion of the $97.5 million being doled out across the county by Day 1 Families Fund. The grants, announced Tuesday (Nov. 20), are the first of what will be an annual distribution of funds by the Bezos charity to support families in need, officials said. The goal of the Day 1 Families Fund awards is to shine a light and support the organizations that are doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter for young families in communities across the country, Bezos said in announcing the recipients. Sister Marjorie Hebert, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, said her organization is grateful to be selected as a recipient. The need is great, Hebert said. There are hundreds of people in New Orleans who do not have a place to live, and Catholic Charities is committed to serving those in need. This grant will be critical in helping us continue to provide a comprehensive network of social services that connects our clients to resources and acts as a springboard to self-sufficiency. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The individual grants announced Tuesday range from $2.5 million to $5 million. The recipients include non-profits from 16 states and the District of Columbia, according to Bezoss charity. The 24 organizations that will receive funds are working on a number of initiatives that support families in need from emergency shelter and safe short-term shelter for families to get on their feet, to access and support for permanent housing and support services that help families move forward together, Bezos said in the announcement. We hope these grants provide the additional resources these leaders and their organizations need to expand the scope and impact of their efforts. In September, Bezos and his wife MacKenzie Bezos launched the $2 billion Day One Fund. That fund consists of two programs: The Day 1 Families Fund that provides grants to non-profits fighting homelessness, and the Day 1 Academies Fund, geared toward creating a network of new, non-profit, tier-one preschools in low-income communities. Jeff Bezos is the founder and CEO of Amazon, founder of the Blue Origin rocket company and owner of The Washington Post. Earlier this year, Forbes declared him the wealthiest person in the world with a current net worth of about $150 billion. See complete list of grant recipients here. A task force searching for ways to fund courts with tax money instead of fines and fees wants to draft some hard recommendations by the end of the month, though it has only a fraction of the information it has requested. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce is wading into the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility fiasco, according to an email obtained by the Aiken Standard. The department will hold "rapid reemployment" information sessions at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 at Aiken Technical College, according to the email, which was written and sent by Mark Hendrick, the department's director of governmental affairs. The reemployment sessions coincide with a MOX worker job fair hosted by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the Savannah River Site management and operations contractor. That job fair not open to the public and featuring several SRS contractors will be held Dec. 5, 4-8 p.m., at the USC Aiken Convocation Center. On Oct. 10, the National Nuclear Security Administration terminated the MOX contract in full, sinking the incomplete project. MOX, located at SRS, was designed to turn weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for nuclear reactors. The facility is more than a decade in the making. Since the termination issuance, more than 600 MOX workers have been served layoff notifications. Hendrick's email acknowledges the mass layoffs. "We are still in communication with MOX to find avenues to serve these individuals," Hendrick wrote. A newsletter published by state Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken, on Tuesday, Nov. 20 mentions the rapid reemployment effort. Young leads the Aiken County Legislative Delegation. The MOX project employs about 1,700 people in total. The first round of layoff notices at the MOX project was issued Nov. 8. The second round of layoffs is scheduled for the week of Dec. 3, and the third and final round is scheduled for the week of Jan. 28, according to an internal project memo obtained by the Aiken Standard. Whit Gibbons is an ecologist and environmental educator with the University of Georgias Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Send environmental questions to ecoviews@gmail.com. I also found that the citys dull colors and straight lines underscored the violence that appears over and over in the two episodes, each aggressive act taking place on a new stage. What did you think of the violence? Did you find it too heavy-handed? BARONE The violence did feel heavy-handed. I reread the portions of the book that correspond to these first episodes, and Ferrante mentions beatings, however severe, only in passing. In the first episode, the attack outside church against Signor Peluso is prolonged and graphic; on the page, it doesnt take up more than a couple of haunting sentences. STANFORD I think the graphic violence really worked. There was something almost ethereal about that scene where hes thrown against the wall and the girls run out of the church to see. The swelling Max Richter score, the camerawork emphasizing how little the girls are, their desire to watch this really shocking violence, it all combined to create a moment that was even more powerful dare I say it than in the book. I do also think the explicitness might be a symptom of how the show has to set a precedent of normalized violence quite quickly. SAFRONOVA What I found striking and this is very true to the books too is how flagrant the female anger is. You see Lenus mom berate her father for not knowing how to beat his daughter. You see the pleased expression on Imma Solaras face as she stands outside her familys bar after Don Achille is murdered. And, of course, you see Melina firing off expletives at Lidia, and later throwing her pots, pans and plants out her window while wailing. BARONE Ah yes, firing off expletives into the piazza. Its an Italian cliche, but for a reason: The story in my immigrant family is that my great-grandmother, who stayed behind in her tiny Italian town, lived well into her 100s but died only because she fell after yelling out her kitchen window. I appreciate how often Costanzo shows people doing this; you get the impression that the background noise of vocalizing matriarchs is as constant as bird song. Its one of the many details, like the distinct use of local dialect and not more commonly spoken Italian, that make me optimistic for how the series will build out the worlds of Lenu and Lila as they get older. STANFORD I couldnt get over how striking-looking the two girls are. It seems like they were both cast, in part, for their staring ability: Ludovica Nasti (who plays Lila) has these eyes like glowing orbs and Elisa del Genio (Lenu) has such long eyelashes. There are lots of lingering glances as the girls try to figure out the world around them, and the actresses were so adept at conveying complicated emotions without a word, they rendered the narration a little redundant. Jim Acosta has his press pass back. The Trump administration stood down on Monday from its nearly two-week-long dispute with CNN over the White House credentials of Mr. Acosta, informing the correspondent that his badge was formally restored. CNN in turn dropped its lawsuit on the matter, which had ballooned into a test of press freedoms in the Trump era. But while it yielded to Mr. Acosta whose testy questions had touched off Mr. Trumps ire the administration used the occasion to lay down a set of formal rules governing reporters behavior at future White House news conferences, a highly unusual step. Among the guidelines was a restriction of one question per reporter, with follow-ups allowed at the discretion of the president or the White House official at the lectern. Failure to abide, the administration warned, may result in suspension or revocation of the journalists hard pass. The White House sought to blame Mr. Acosta for behaving disrespectfully, although Mr. Trump often lobs insults at journalists and encourages a free-for-all format when taking questions from reporters. Vaccines are among the most ingenious of inventions, and among the most maddening. Some global killers, like smallpox and polio, have been totally or nearly eradicated by products made with methods dating back to Louis Pasteur. Others, like malaria and H.I.V., utterly frustrate scientists to this day, despite astonishing new weapons like gene-editing. We have a vaccine for Ebola that protects nearly 100 percent of its recipients, but we are lucky to get a routine flu shot that works half that well. We have childrens vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, chickenpox, polio, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, pneumococcus, haemophilus influenzae and meningococcal disease. They have changed our expectations of mortality and of parenthood. In 17th century England, one-third of all children died before age 15. Today, thanks largely to those vaccines, less than 1 percent of English children do. [What you need to know to start your day: Get New York Today in your inbox] A kitchen worker from Mexico who was accused of committing one of New York Citys most chilling child murders the 1991 killing of Baby Hope died in custody on Sunday, officials said. The man, Conrado Juarez, was scheduled to go on trial in March for the murder of 4-year-old Anjelica Castillo, whose small naked body was found stuffed in a picnic cooler that had been left in a wooded area off the Henry Hudson Parkway in Upper Manhattan in 1991. Mr. Juarez had been awaiting trial for five years. In 2015, he was transferred from Rikers Island to Rockland County Correctional Facility for his own safety. He died early Sunday morning at Montefiore Nyack Hospital following complications related to pancreatic cancer, an official and a second person familiar with the matter said. Janine Kava, a spokeswoman for the State Commission of Correction, confirmed Mr. Juarez had died. She said the commission was investigating the death. Instead of these gory tales, the courtroom audience had expected a prosecution witness, Jesus Zambada Garcia, to confess to a bombshell act of corruption. Last week, in a private sidebar conversation, Mr. Guzmans lawyers said that Mr. Zambada would testify to having paid at least $6 million to the incumbent president of Mexico. That testimony never came on Monday, but it may on Tuesday when Mr. Zambada returns to the stand. Image The prosecutions star witness in the current trial of El Chapo, Jesus Zambada Garcia, was first presented to the Mexican press in 2008 shortly after his arrest. Credit... Alexandre Meneghini/Associated Press But no less than a half-dozen times on Monday, Mr. Zambada, said that Mr. Guzman, his former boss in the Sinaloa drug cartel, had arranged for people to be killed for seemingly minor reasons. In what was Mr. Zambadas third day as a witness, Mr. Guzman emerged as a kind of gun-loving hothead who owned a diamond-encrusted pistol with his initials on the handle and who once relaxed by taking target practice with a bazooka. From the start of the trial, which is being held in Federal District Court in Brooklyn, prosecutors have accused Mr. Guzman not only of earning $14 billion by routinely shipping ton-size batches of drugs into the United States, but also of taking part in more than 30 murders. Mr. Zambada began on Monday to describe some of those killings, starting with the slaying of Rodolfo Carrillo Fuentes, a former member of the Sinaloa cartel. In 2004, he said, Mr. Guzman and Mr. Carrillo Fuentes were rivals as part of a larger war between the Sinaloa traffickers and a vicious gang, the Zetas, with whom Mr. Carrillo Fuentes had allied himself. At a meeting to restore the peace, Mr. Guzmans longtime partner, Ismael Zambada Garcia, tried to broker a truce. But when Mr. Guzman put his hand out Mr. Carrillo Fuentes did not take it. Not long after, Mr. Zambada said, armed assassins lay in wait for Mr. Carrillo Fuentes and his unsuspecting wife, gunning both down as they exited a movie theater in Culiacan. Chapo said he was going to kill him, Mr. Zambada told the jury. Wherever I go I seem to meet people who are either dealing with trauma or helping others dealing with trauma. In some places I meet veterans trying to recover from the psychic wounds they suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan. Sometimes it is women struggling with the aftershocks of sexual assault. Sometimes it is teachers trying to help students overcome the traumas theyve suffered from some adults abuse or abandonment. Wherever Americans gather and try to help each other on any deep level, they confront levels of trauma that their training has often not prepared them for. Our society has tried to medicalize trauma. We call it PTSD and regard it as an individual illness that can be treated with medications. But its increasingly clear that trauma is a moral and spiritual issue as much as a psychological or chemical one. Wherever there is trauma, there has been betrayal, an abuse of authority, a moral injury. Medication can rebalance chemicals in the brain, but it cant heal the inner self. People who have suffered a trauma whether its a sexual assault at work or repeated beatings at home find that their identity formation has been interrupted and fragmented. Time doesnt flow from one day to the next but circles backward to the bad event. The Senate has proved its ability to reach bipartisan solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our nation, Senator Mitch McConnell wrote last week not on the satirical news site The Onion, but for Fox News. After years of rhetoric, the irony-free op-ed said of Mr. McConnells Democratic adversaries, its hardly news that some are more interested in fanning the flames of division than reaching across the aisle. At a news conference the day after the midterm elections, the Senate majority leader warned that it would be presidential harassment if the newly elected Democratic majority in the House used its constitutional prerogative to act as a check on a president who has pushed ethics, decency and the rule of law to the brink. It was as if Mr. McConnells obstructionism in the Obama years had never happened. But after two years of pushing for extreme legislation and appointments that succeeded or failed on party-line votes, Mr. McConnell is now putting the brakes on what is likely one of the only true examples of bipartisanship of the Trump era so far: a criminal justice reform bill that has brought together the American Civil Liberties Union and the Fraternal Order of Police, Republican conservatives like Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa and Democratic liberals like Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois. Trumps fluke election was such an astonishment that it lent him an almost magical aura, making him seem less an idiot than an idiot savant, a man who could transcend the usual rules of politics. But Democratic victories in the midterms, in addition to providing a crucial check on Trump, have highlighted what a naked emperor he really is. It turns out you cant desecrate democratic traditions and insult most of the country with impunity. Trumps mystique is irrevocably tarnished. Its not just that Democrats flipped more seats than they had in any election since Watergate, or virtually wiped out the Republican Party in Orange County, Calif., a birthplace of modern conservatism. While some Trump sycophants like incoming Florida governor Ron DeSantis won, in several cases the presidents interventions led directly to Democratic victories. Kyrsten Sinema became the first Arizona Democrat to win a Senate election in 30 years after Trump drove her Republican predecessor, Jeff Flake, not to run for re-election. Trump encouraged a successful primary challenge against the (very conservative) Representative Mark Sanford of South Carolina. The Republican victor then lost in an upset to Democrat Joe Cunningham. In the Kansas gubernatorial primary, Trump backed far-right Kris Kobach, known for his voter suppression schemes. Kobach won that race but lost the general; Kansass new governor will be a Democratic woman. The spectacle of Trumps political failure unfolded as his policy failures are starting to harm more voters lives. Trumps first two years in office have been rife with debacles, including the botched response to Hurricane Maria and the sadistic policy of snatching undocumented children from their parents. Trump let himself be manipulated by North Koreas Kim Jong-un. He made the United States a literal laughingstock before the world. So far, the people most directly affected by this record of misrule havent been able to vote in national elections. It was only a matter of time, however, before Americans started feeling the material consequences of Trumps incompetence. When hackers went after the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority last month, it was the second cyberattack on a North Carolina utility within a year. The hackers, who timed this attack for the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, caused a catastrophic loss by encrypting databases and locking out employees. Rather than pay a ransom to the hackers, the utility is rebuilding its information technology systems from scratch. We need water for everything from cooking to manufacturing. Technological advances that make our water supply smarter automating chemical treatment, for example, or enabling electronic billing also make it more vulnerable to cyberattacks. According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 150,000 systems deliver clean water to Americans and dispose of wastewater. Drinking water is delivered by more than a million miles of pipes four times the length of the national highway system. The New York City government controls Americas largest single-source water supply a reservoir system supplying 1.2 billion gallons of water a day and the citys Department of Environmental Protection employs nearly 200 officers to protect the system. Each water system is operated by its own industrial control system, which in most cases evolved over decades with a hodgepodge of functions and technologies layered on top of older infrastructure. For example, water can travel up to 125 miles within New York Citys system before it reaches a faucet. Along the way, its disinfected with chlorine and then slowed down to pass through 56 containers holding ultraviolet lights in quartz tubes. The water gets fluoride to protect teeth and phosphoric acid to protect the distribution pipes. Throughout the process, a centralized computer system gathers data and creates detailed projections. It is 2018, and the director of the National Science Foundation, France Cordova, is tired of learning that male scientists whose research she supports with public funds have sexually harassed their female students, staff and colleagues. At 71, she still remembers an unwanted sexual remark from a graduate-school professor she had sought out for advice on her astrophysics research. And over the last few years, she has listened to stories so many stories shared by younger scientists at conferences for geologists and astronomers. So last month, Dr. Cordova enacted the kind of structural change experts say is a prerequisite to increasing the ranks of women scientists, who hold only about 30 percent of senior faculty positions in colleges in the United States. Institutions that accept an N.S.F grant must now notify the agency of any finding related to harassment by the leading scientists working on it and face the possibility of losing the coveted funds. Individuals may also report harassment directly to the agency, which may then conduct its own investigation. That, too, may result in the suspension of funding. When Science Times debuted 40 years ago, scientists knew far less about how our ancestors branched off from other apes and evolved into new species, known as hominins. Back then, the oldest known hominin fossil was a diminutive, small-brained female unearthed in Ethiopia named Lucy. Her species, now known as Australopithecus afarensis, existed from about 3.85 million years ago to about 2.95 million years ago. Lucy and her kin still had apelike features, like long arms and curved hands. They could walk on the ground, but inefficiently. Running was out of the question. [Like the Science Times page on Facebook. | Sign up for the Science Times newsletter.] Hominin evolution appeared to have taken a relatively direct path from her to modern humans. The earliest known members of our genus, Homo, were taller and had long legs for walking and running, as well as much larger brains. Eventually, early Homo gave rise to our own exceptional species, Homo sapiens. Now, its clear that Lucys species wasnt the beginning of our evolution; it was a branch that sprouted midway along the trunk of our family tree. Researchers have found fossils of hominins dating back over six million years. Those vestiges a leg bone here, a crushed skull there hint at even more apelike ancestors. [Sign up to get reminders for space and astronomy events on your calendar.] More than 3.5 billion years ago, scientists believe, Marss climate was warmer and wetter and possibly suited for life. After considering 64 proposed landing sites in all, scientists recommended Jezero as the most promising place to explore. Lakes on Earth are both very habitable and inevitably inhabited, said Kenneth Farley, the missions project scientist, during a telephone news conference on Monday. So thats the first attraction. The second attraction is that a delta is extremely good at preserving biosignatures, any evidence of life that might have existed, he added. Dr. Farley emphasized that the rover is not carrying tools to look for any living microbes, and said that the Martian surface today is too dry, too cold and too bombarded by radiation for microbes to survive. Nonetheless, the section was an inspiration to science journalism as a whole. By 1989, more than 90 newspapers in the United States had weekly science sections, supported in part by ads from the growing home-computer industry. Science journalism became a subject of research in its own right. In 2006 the journal Science Communication published a research paper with the title A Longitudinal Study of The New York Times Science Times Section, which noted that the section had established itself as an important, reliable, and influential guide to the world of science, medicine, and technology. By 2013 the number of weekly science sections had fallen to just 19, as newsprint-ads evaporated, the newspaper industry shrank, and the conversations shifted online. And there, it seems, the world of science is being discussed more vigorously than ever, on dozens of science news websites Aeon, Ars Technica, Gizmodo, Live Science, Nautilus, Quanta, Stat, Undark, Vox and a social-media landscape humming with the voices of engaging scientists and deeply informed writers. Image The first Science Times cover, published on November 14, 1978. Credit... Yet, increasingly, we are besieged by alternative truths. Climate change is a myth a notion espoused by President Trump, despite all evidence to the contrary. The mass shootings in Parkland and Las Vegas were elaborately staged hoaxes, much like the moon landing, according to countless YouTube videos. The recent wildfires in California were started with lasers, by people scheming to reduce the population. These and other nuggets of misinformation are shared and amplified by cynics, the credulous and bots, thriving on the air of false equivalence. And, online, they live forever. Andrew Wakefields research purporting to link vaccines to autism was discredited two decades ago, but it continues to circulate and infect, frightening parents into not vaccinating their children, and fueling the resurgence of measles. Over the weekend, several hundred people gathered in Denver for a two-day conference to celebrate and share their very sincere belief that Earth is flat. For example, Alpha Centauri, the nearest neighboring star system, is 4.4 light-years away. Put a starship in a warp bubble. Shrink the distance in front of the starship to a couple of inches, expand the space behind it to 4.4 light-years and then pop the starship out of the bubble. Voila! The starship arrives at Alpha Centauri, in less than the 4.4 years it would take a beam of light to travel that distance. Dr. Alcubierre likened the concept to a moving walkway in an airport. You just stand there and you move, he said. You dont have to walk. It just pushes you along. The key is that relativity does not impose a speed limit on the expansion of space. Space ca n expand at any speed it wants, Dr. Alcubierre said. [Sign up to get reminders for space and astronomy events on your calendar.] The biggest missing piece is that distorting space-time as described by Dr. Alcubierre requires something not known to exist : matter with an energy density less than zero. All known matter stars, rocks, hot dogs, people and everything else has a positive energy density, a consequence of E=mc . Normal gravity contracts space. Negative energy has the effect of antigravity, pushing space apart, which you would need for the aspect of the warp drive that expands space. Physics does not rule out the possibility that negative energy density can exist. Some have proposed that the Casimir effect a strange but demonstrated phenomenon of quantum mechanics in which an empty vacuum can generate electromagnetic forces to pull objects toward one another could be employed to generate a negative energy density. Many of the creatures that share this planet with us may not be around much longer. Since 1970, populations of thousands of animal species around the world have declined 60 percent on average, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Habitat destruction, climate change and pollution are all driving those losses. But so is the global illegal trade in wildlife. For species like tigers and rhinos, poaching is a primary threat to survival. Very few ecosystems are not affected by wildlife trade, said Vincent Nijman, an anthropologist at Oxford Brookes University in Britain. It directly impacts a very large number of species, and has a knock-on effect on many more species still. But, as Dr. Nijman pointed out, any solutions for tackling illegal wildlife trade are unlikely to work without the involvement of one major player: China. Just what is it that makes everybody fall in love with Hilary, the irresistible young academic at the center of Tom Stoppards The Hard Problem, the ontological gabfest that opened on Monday in a Lincoln Center Theater production? Yes, she has the usual desirable traits of being smart and good-looking and friendly. But what really makes Hilary such a magnet is something more elusive, a quality that has normally hard-minded people giving her a coveted job shes probably not qualified for and violating all sorts of professional ethics on her behalf. Not that Hilary encourages such behavior. Because what gives Hilary that extra It factor is her desire to be Good not as in good at work, or good in bed, but Good in its most capital-G, philosophically celebrated sense. A woman prone to antic behavior like praying in the middle of a one-night stand and putting a wastebasket over her head when she cries, Hilary is the Moral Pixie Dream Girl for an age of cynicism. Played by a likable Adelaide Clemens in Jack OBriens production at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, Hilary arrives in New York with excellent timing. When this noble character first appeared in London in 2015, in the premiere of The Hard Problem, Mr. Stoppards first full-length play in nine years, the Western world felt like a slightly more hopeful place. An anger spittoon. The phrase crackles with both a deep visceral charge and an elegant precision. These words are only three among many used by the playwright Aleshea Harris to characterize her truly sui generis, truly remarkable new work, What to Send Up When It Goes Down, which opened on Monday at A.R.T./New York Theaters. In writing about this Movement Theater Company production, which has been created to honor the black lives lost to racialized violence, Ms. Harris has also described it as a ritual, a dance party and, above all, a space in the theater that is unrepentantly for and about black people. But it is anger spittoon that best captures the paradoxical plainness and poetry, utility and sophistication of what Ms. Harris has created here. If What to Send Up is a receptacle for the rage that is part and parcel of life for many African-Americans, a piece that encourages its audience to respond with cathartic yells and tears, it is also shaped by a rarefied theatrical intelligence. You may not be entirely aware of its artistry until after its over, or realize that the show youve seen is also a very good play. Then on Thursday, Dr. Snipess office failed by two minutes to meet the states deadline to submit results of a machine recount and blamed unfamiliarity with the states website for the error. That wasnt all: The bungled machine recount was more than 2,000 votes short. The canvassing board was forced to choose which results to use, while Dr. Snipes said the ballots that werent included in the recount had probably been misfiled with another stack of ballots. If she had to do it again, Dr. Snipes said, she would find a larger facility in which to conduct the recount, because the close confines where they operated probably led to the mishap. People arent talking about the things that went well, she said: 22 early voting sites that ran 12 hours a day for two weeks. More than 300,000 people who were accommodated for voting early, and another 200,000 by mail. She said her office also conducted supervised voting at nursing homes. Im not going to say that I made major mistakes; Im not going to say that, she said. A lot of things that we planned went exactly as planned. Still, she has been in the cross hairs of critics since almost the moment the polls closed. In the first days after the election, an unruly crowd gathered in the parking lot of the elections office to protest, marching with signs featuring pictures of Dr. Snipes and chanting, Lock her up. The message was clear: Many Republicans were convinced that Dr. Snipes was subverting the ballot count to swing the election for Democrats in a county in which they hold a strong edge in voter registration. The Facts This is misleading. President Trumps tweet on Monday continued his weekend verbal assaults on Pakistan and William H. McRaven, a retired Navy admiral who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. Mr. McRaven had in 2017 described the presidents attacks on the news media as the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime. This weekend, when asked about the comment during an interview on Fox News Sunday, Mr. Trump called Mr. McRaven a Hillary Clinton backer. He also lamented that the former Special Operations commander did not take down Bin Laden sooner, adding that everybody in Pakistan knew he was there. Hours later, Mr. McRaven said he did not back Mrs. Clinton or anyone else in the 2016 election and reiterated his earlier comment about Mr. Trumps attacks on the press. And on Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan described Mr. Trumps remarks as an inaccurate tirade and noted Pakistans participation in the war on terrorism and the economic and human losses it had incurred. Mr. Trumps claim that he delivered a prescient warning about Bin Laden is hyperbolic. His book, The America We Deserve, which was published in January 2000, contains one reference to Bin Laden in 304 pages: One day were all assured that Iraq is under control, the U.N. inspectors have done their work, everythings fine, not to worry. The next day the bombing begins. One day were told that a shadowy figure with no fixed address named Osama bin Laden is public enemy number one, and U.S. jet fighters lay waste to his camp in Afghanistan. He escapes back under some rock, and a few news cycles later its on to a new enemy and new crisis. Mr. Trump continued: Dealing with many different countries at once may require many different strategies. But there isnt any excuse for the haphazard nature of our foreign policy. We dont have to reinvent the wheel for every new conflict. This fleeting mention of Bin Laden was not exactly ahead of its time. The Qaeda leader had for years been linked to numerous terrorist plots and was regarded as one of the most wanted terrorists in the world; as Mr. Trump noted in his tweet and his book, Bin Laden was the target of an unsuccessful missile strike in 1998. CNN reported in 1999 that American officials feared Bin Laden would plan an attack against the United States ; he was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the bombing of the American destroyer Cole in Yemen that killed 17 American troops a year later. To address misinformation being peddled about Ms. Trumps personal email, she did not create a private server in her house or office, there was never classified information transmitted, the account was never transferred or housed at Trump Organization, no emails were ever deleted and the emails have been retained in the official account in conformity with records preservation laws and rules, the spokesman, Peter Mirijanian, said in a statement. When concerns were raised in the press 14 months ago, Ms. Trump reviewed and verified her email use with White House counsel and explained the issue to congressional leaders. Ms. Trump had told people in the White House that she was unaware of the rules when she was using her personal account. But her repeated use of her personal email on a private address, ijkfamily.com, which was set up by Mr. Kushner and Ms. Trump during the transition, was a cause for concern within the White House counsels office, according to two people familiar with what took place. The liberal watchdog group American Oversight said on its website that its freedom of information requests had led to the discovery of the volume of Ms. Trumps email use. The emails obtained by American Oversight showed exchanges with the commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, and other top personnel at agencies. The presidents family is not above the law, and there are serious questions that Congress should immediately investigate, Austin Evers, the groups executive director, said in a statement on the website. After Ms. Trumps personal email use was discovered, Mr. Lowell helped sort out what emails qualified as official records that needed to be kept for posterity, The Post reported. That was similar to the approach Mrs. Clinton used when she was sorting through tens of thousands of emails. The little things in life matter. If you cant do the little things right, youll never be able to do the big things right. So if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. Thats retired Admiral William McRaven giving a commencement speech in 2014 that went viral. He served 37 years as a Navy SEAL, and once led the countrys entire Special Operations forces, including the mission to go after Osama bin Laden. At some point in time, the president said, Well, can you do this? And I was candid with him. I said, Mr. President, I dont know if we can do this until I have an opportunity to bring the SEALs in this case, And the helicopter pilots from the 160th and rehearse it. But more recently, the war hero became a target of President Trump. Bill McRaven. Retired Admiral. Navy SEAL, 37 years. Former head of US Special Operations. Hillary Clinton fan Special Operations Excuse me. Hillary Clinton fan. The bad blood apparently started with a speech at the University of Texas at Austin, where McRaven got his undergraduate degree in journalism. And after leaving the Navy, he became a chancellor of the U.T. system in January 2015. On February 17th, the president said the news media is the enemy of the American people. This sentiment may be the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime. Fast forward to August 2018. McRaven wrote an op Ed in the Washington Post supporting former C.I.A. director and Trump critic John Brennan, who had a security clearance revoked. McRaven wrote: I would consider it an honor if youd revoke my security clearance as well. So I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency. Trump shot back. I dont know McRaven. I know that Ive gotten tremendous response from having done that, because security clearance is very important to me. And Trump, who got five draft deferments during the Vietnam War is now causing a bigger stir, with his latest critique of McRavens military prowess. Hes a Hillary Clinton backer and an Obama backer and frankly He was a Navy SEAL for 36 Wouldnt it have been nice if we got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner than that? Wouldnt it have been nice? Youre not even going to give them credit for taking down that Bin Laden? McRaven told CNN he didnt support Hillary Clinton or anyone else in the 2016 election. He also added: I stand by my comment that the presidents attack on the media is the greatest threat to our democracy in my lifetime. WASHINGTON A rebellious group of 16 Democrats went public on Monday with their opposition to electing Representative Nancy Pelosi speaker when the new Congress convenes in January, taking the first formal step in a bid to force a leadership shake-up that could change the face of their party. It is also exposing significant divisions just as Democrats take the majority. In a letter to Democratic colleagues, 11 lawmakers and four newly elected members of the House declared that the time has come for new leadership, and said they would vote accordingly both when their party meets next week for an internal round of secret balloting to choose leaders and in a floor vote in January. (Another signatory, Ben McAdams of Utah, remains locked in a tight race against Representative Mia Love.) The letter made official what had until Monday been little more than a Democratic whisper campaign aimed at demonstrating that Ms. Pelosi, 78, would not have the votes to become speaker. Its organizers have hoped that threat would compel her to step aside or broker a compromise aimed at bringing fresher faces to the helm of their newly ascendant party. [Read the letter here.] But so far Ms. Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker, has shown no willingness to do either, expressing supreme confidence that she will reclaim her old post. 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. BANGKOK As President Xi Jinping of China begins a state visit to Manila on Tuesday, he can count on few counterparts more eager than President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. I simply love Xi Jinping, Mr. Duterte said in April. He understands my problem and is willing to help, so I would say, Thank you, China. On Monday, Mr. Xi returned the affection, describing how bilateral relations have rebounded since a low point in 2016 when the Philippines successfully challenged Chinas territorial ambitions in the South China Sea before an international tribunal. Our relations have now seen a rainbow after the rain, Mr. Xi wrote in an article disseminated by Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency. SYDNEY, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia has proposed imposing stricter limits on immigration to control overcrowding in the countrys major cities, a plan that experts called a politically motivated gambit that could legitimize resentment against immigrants. Population growth has played a major role in the countrys economic success, but people in Australias biggest cities are concerned about an influx of immigrants, Mr. Morrison said in a speech Monday night. They are saying: enough, enough, enough, he told influential figures in Sydneys business, media and urban planning sectors. The roads are clogged, the buses and trains are full. The schools are taking no more enrollments. I hear what you are saying. I hear you loud and clear. On Monday, Peter Dutton, the home affairs minister, said he supported the proposal as one way to confront worsening congestion in Sydney and Melbourne, Australias most populous cities. We want people out of cars and spending more time with their families, more time doing the things they want, he said at a news conference. Its going to work! Duncan Lyle, an American Ballet Theater dancer, was encouraging two colleagues who were finding their way around a tricky partnering passage of his design. It required precise timing for the woman, Courtney Shealy, to look spontaneous while not tipping off point or smashing into her partner, Carlos Gonzalez. After a few tries, it was starting to look organic. It was a gray November afternoon in the second week of ABT Incubator, a new choreographic workshop. The rehearsal felt amicable, open, with no sense of hierarchy among the three dancers. In the studio were so often created on, David Hallberg, the American Ballet Theater principal who dreamed up the workshop, said recently. I really wanted to give the dancers a chance to have a more inclusive part in the creative process. Mr. Hallberg first introduced the idea of a choreographic workshop in 2010, but after a few tries it didnt stick and he was too busy with his international career (and a major injury) to help keep it going. Now, hes determined to make the Incubator a yearly fixture at Ballet Theater. What would you like to see here? Email us at popculture@nytimes.com. Hello! Welcome to your daily roundup of whats going on in pop culture. The site Gossip Cop claims to be a corrective to the wild claims of the tabloid press, a media watchdog, if you like. But how much do facts really matter when were talking about the sugary high of celebrity gossip? And can you really trust that one anonymous source is more reliable than another? This deep dive by J. K. Trotter asks more questions than it answers, but theyre questions Ive been thinking about all day. 1. Even Swedish pastors are cool Amsterdam Throughout World War II, the Dutch art dealers Benjamin and Nathan Katz sold art they owned, including works by Rembrandt and Jan Steen, to Nazi officials, in one case in exchange for exit visas that enabled 25 Jewish relatives to escape the German-occupied Netherlands. Some critics have called the Katzes collaborators because they also helped top Nazi officials buy art from other collections they did not control. But three generations of the Katz family have argued that their actions were made under duress and have fought for decades to regain possession of scores of works transferred during the war. They say more than 140 of the works are held by the Dutch government to whom the Allies returned them after seizing them back from the Nazis. [In a Netherlands Museum Director, the Nazis Found an Ally] A Dutch government-appointed panel that decides restitution requests has denied the Katz claim, arguing that the works, now in the hands of private and public museums there, were sold fair and square under circumstances that could not be considered involuntary. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. If youre interested in hearing from The Times regularly about great TV, sign up for our Watching newsletter and get recommendations straight to your inbox. McMuffin and Milkshake Jimmy Fallon on Monday previewed the turkey-pardoning ceremony set to take place Tuesday afternoon at the White House. He informed viewers that they could vote on which turkey ought to be spared, then threw some jabs at President Trump and at Florida, where two big midterm elections were recently called after over a week of recounts and disputes. The Clinton Affair, A&Es six-part mini-series on the scandals of Bill Clintons presidency, lacks a point of view. It is straightforward in style and evenhanded in tone. Strangely, this recommends it. The events it covers have been so sensationalized and so politicized for so long that seeing them presented neutrally and in roughly chronological order is revelatory, particularly regarding the stories of three women: Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey and Juanita Broaddrick. These are the women who, in the 1990s, publicly accused the president of the United States of sexual harassment and assault. Its been a year for reconsidering Bill Clintons presidency and its players; December is the 20th anniversary of his impeachment. Ken Starr returned to defend his investigation in a memoir, Contempt. Linda Tripp reappeared on Capitol Hill, where she styled herself as a brave truth teller who faced a high-tech lynching for blowing the whistle. And Bill and Hillary are setting off on an arena tour billed as An Evening With the Clintons. Much of the buzz around the A&E series has focused on the participation of Monica Lewinsky. Though the filmmakers the director Blair Foster and the producer Alex Gibney interviewed more than 50 subjects, including James Carville and David Brock, the one boldfaced name in the networks news release is hers. This prime-time appearance caps her comeback. After spending a decade and a half out of the public eye, she has returned with a perch at Vanity Fair, a TED Talk and an anti-bullying cause. She has called herself patient zero of online shaming. She has emerged from years of media torture as an unexpected darling of the press. According to Walt, the dominant narrative after the conclusion of the Cold War was that history was on Americas side, even, as Francis Fukuyama put it in a famous 1989 essay in The National Interest, that so-called history had ended and all that remained was economic materialism. Globalization would lead to what Karl Marx had called in the Communist Manifesto a universal interdependence among nations; warfare would become a thing of the past. Americas mission was to push other states to protect human rights and to help them transition to democracy. Image In Walts view, despite minor differences, both liberal and neoconservative proponents of liberal hegemony assumed that the United States could pursue this ambitious global strategy without triggering serious opposition. But the very steps that America took to enhance its security, Walt suggests, ended up undermining it. He reminds us, for instance, that George F. Kennan warned in 1999 that NATO expansion eastward was a tragic mistake that would, sooner or later, ignite Russian nationalism. Under Vladimir Putins leadership, Russia became a revanchist power that launched cyber attacks on the Baltic States, seized Crimea, invaded Ukraine and interfered in the 2016 American presidential election. In Walts telling, the energetic pursuit of liberal hegemony was mostly a failure. By 2017, in fact, democracy was in retreat in many places and under considerable strain in the United States itself. Walt reserves his greatest ire for what Barack Obamas adviser Ben Rhodes dismissively referred to as the Blob, or Washingtons foreign policy elite. Some of his vexation is personal. He reports that the advertisement he signed attacking the invasion of Iraq has disappeared into the foreign policy memory hole: In the 16-plus years since the ad was printed, Walt observes, none of its signatories have been asked to serve in government or advise a presidential campaign. Walts own zest for intellectual combat, though, can lead him into rhetorical overkill. Instead of being a disciplined body of professionals constrained by a well-informed public and forced by necessity to set priorities and hold themselves accountable, Walt writes, todays foreign policy elite is a dysfunctional caste of privileged insiders who are frequently disdainful of alternative perspectives and insulated both professionally and personally from the consequences of the policies they promote. Walt points to the Council on Foreign Relations, the Atlantic Council and the Center for New American Security, among others, as constituting a kind of interlocking directorate that fosters groupthink and consists of mandarins intolerant of dissenting views. But Walts depiction of these organizations misses the mark. Theres plenty of debate in Washington; whether it amounts to much is another question. He also focuses excessively on several rather obscure academic projects that he believes epitomize the sterile moribundity of American strategic thought. It would have been more illuminating had he zeroed in on those few organizations that really do exercise outsize influence in Trumps Washington, like the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which is helping to shape Iran policy. Walt persuasively contends that Washingtons bungled interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya helped propel Trump, who has consistently derided foreign policy experts, to the presidency. But so pervasive is the influence of the foreign policy elite, Walt argues, that it has managed to capture Trump himself. In Afghanistan, Trump ditched his campaign vows and bolstered American force levels, claiming that they would engage in counterterrorism rather than nation-building. Trump has presided over an approach toward Russia and China that is driving them into each others arms, precisely as realist doctrine would predict. Walt also drubs Trump for his embrace of foreign autocrats, which amounts to a pursuit of illiberal hegemony: The United States still sought primacy and its global military role was undiminished, but it was no longer strongly committed to promoting liberal values. With foreign policy hawks like the national security adviser John Bolton and the secretary of state Mike Pompeo on the White House team, Walt perceptively observes that, far from being an isolationist, Trump has enabled a return to the confrontational unilateralism of Dick Cheney. Prideaux ends her book deploring the Nazification of Nietzsches legacy, but without ever asking whether Nietzsche bears any responsibility for this misappropriation. Why did he write in a way that permitted such misuse? Dangerous thinkers should expect to attract dangerous followers. What else to expect from a philosopher who describes himself as dynamite? Nietzsche would no doubt have despised populist demagogues like Mussolini and Hitler, but then one who promises that one day there will be associated with my name the recollection of something frightful should not be surprised when something frightful comes along. As the author of previous biographies of Edvard Munch and August Strindberg, Prideaux clearly knows her way around the world of European high modernism. She is strong on Nietzsches life, but much less so on his ideas. In fact, apart from Nietzsches ideas, his life is of relatively little import. She does little to explain what makes Nietzsche an enduring philosopher who continues to exercise great influence. Nor does she attempt to put Nietzsche in the context of his great fin de siecle contemporaries and admirers including William James, Freud, Gide and Shaw, among many others. John Kaags book, Hiking With Nietzsche, is a semi-autobiography that follows the author as a 19-year-old, hiking to Sils-Maria in the Swiss Alps in search of Nietzsches house, then recounts him making the same trip 18 years later as a professor of philosophy with his wife and baby daughter in tow. It is often said that you can understand someone only when standing in their shoes; Kaag believes that wisdom comes only when hiking on their trails. This book is less a scholarly study of Nietzsche than a meditation on the relation between hiking and philosophy. For Kaag, walking is not about the destination but the adventure itself. Almost all of the great philosophers Socrates, Aristotle, the Stoics, Rousseau, Kant, Thoreau were walkers whose ideas germinated only in motion. He takes Nietzsches challenge to become who you are! as a call to schlep his young family around the Alps to achieve his own goal of self-discovery. His wife must have the patience of a saint. Image Kaag is a lively storyteller who brings Nietzsches life into continual contact with his own. This is both the strength and the weakness of the book. He succeeds quite well in maintaining a balance between Nietzsches life and thought and makes some nice connections to Emerson, Hesse, Mann and Adorno. I imagine he is an excellent teacher. At other times, a cloying style gets the better of him as we learn a little too much about the authors parenting skills. Like Prideauxs, Kaags Nietzsche is a largely apolitical existentialist who challenges his readers to be what they might become. What he doesnt tell us is how to become what we might be. Nietzsche is presented as the great apostle of the free spirit, the nonconformist and the rugged individualist living in the age of the philistine and the last man. Kaag doesnt exactly ignore Nietzsches rough edges his fascination with eugenics, his flirtations with anti-Semitism, his hatred of democracy in all its forms but he sees them as not fatal to Nietzsches project of individual self-overcoming. Its a known risk, and people just hope it wont happen to them, Ms. Hill said. What is California doing about it? To protect homeowners from unnecessary rate increases, California requires insurers to justify increases with reams of data showing that their cost of paying claims is rising. And after a catastrophic year, insurers are not allowed to raise rates right away, but must phase in the increase over 20 years. After last years fires, United Policyholders, an advocacy group, heard from homeowners who had received letters from their insurers, stating that their coverage would end in 45 days. The group set to work with regulators and lawmakers on a legislative package that would have required insurers to seek state approval before pulling out of high-risk areas, mandated discounts to policyholders who fireproofed their homes and given regulators the power to make sure that insurers wildfire models were sound. The only provision that became law was a two-year moratorium barring insurers from dropping policyholders for two years after a covered disaster, said Amy Bach, the groups executive director. Insurers are also stepping up home inspections, she said, sometimes disqualifying houses with risks they hadnt cared about before. When that happens, the owner must try to find coverage elsewhere, possibly from a non-admitted insurer, one that does not meet the states regulatory standards. That can be risky. If all else fails, they can get insurance from Californias property insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan. How does that work? The FAIR Plan was set up in 1968, after riots prompted property insurers to pull out of the Watts section of Los Angeles. It has since evolved to also provide coverage for people shut out of the market because of wildfire risk. She recommends that people who have been victimized by domestic violence get orders of protection and provide security guards at their workplace with a photograph of the individual. But it is also incumbent on bystanders to raise the issue if they are aware a co-worker is having domestic problems, which can manifest not only as physical abuse but also emotional or financial abuse, she said. Get the DealBook newsletter to make sense of major business and policy headlines and the power-brokers who shape them. __________ The start-up Coupang has set its sights on conquering South Koreas fast-growing e-commerce market. Doing that just got easier, with the announcement on Tuesday that the company had raised $2 billion in new capital from Softbanks Vision Fund. Since its inception in 2016, the Vision Fund has had a singular goal: use its roughly $100 billion to take big stakes in companies it believes will redefine the future. It now holds investments in companies like WeWork, the owner of so-called co-working offices, and the vertical farming start-up Plenty. Coupang, one of South Koreas most popular e-commerce platforms, is the latest to benefit from the Vision Funds largess. The company compares itself to Amazon, but unlike the American retail behemoth, it has the infrastructure necessary to deliver nearly all purchases to customers within a day, if not sooner. PARIS The French carmaker Renault appointed a temporary leadership team on Tuesday to fill the gap left by the arrest of Carlos Ghosn, its chief executive, who is facing questions of alleged financial misconduct, as a management crisis deepened inside the worlds biggest auto alliance. Prosecutors in Japan are investigating claims that Mr. Ghosn, who is also chairman of Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, underreported his taxable income by half for several years. Following an emergency meeting of the Renault board on Tuesday, the company said Mr. Ghosn would remain chairman and chief executive, but described him as temporarily incapacitated. The chief operating officer, Thierry Bollore, will assume Mr. Ghosns day-to-day responsibilities until the situation is resolved, and the boards lead independent director, Philippe Lagayette, will temporarily take over as chairman. One of the auto industrys most prominent executives, Mr. Ghosn was arrested on Monday in Japan and held for questioning, but has not yet been charged. The prosecutors office in Tokyo said it could hold him for 72 hours but, with a courts approval, could extend the detention an additional 20 days before it decided whether to indict him. The stock markets gains for 2018 were erased on Tuesday, as a sell-off led by giant technology stocks continued. The renewed declines in the United States came after drops in Asia and Europe. The tumble of more than 1.8 percent in the S&P 500 followed a sell-off in high-flying technology stocks like Google, Apple and Amazon in the United States on Monday, as investors weighed the prospects for increased regulation, trade tension and threats to the profit outlook for the large technology companies that exert a large influence on major market indexes. [Read how the stock markets slide is flashing warning signs about the economy.] The pain persisted for such companies on Tuesday with Apple and Amazon falling by more than 4 percent in early trading. But a new area of concern also flared after the retailer Target reported third-quarter sales and profit that missed Wall Street expectations. The softness in retail shares reflects growing investor concern that the strong American economy which has so far shrugged off Federal Reserve interest rate increases and signs of weakness in China and Europe is likely to face increasing challenges in 2019, as the impact of federal tax cuts and spending increases diminishes. For decades, the University of Maryland has had a tense relationship with the residents and elected officials of College Park, a small city near Washington that the university calls home. But that has begun to turn around, said Ken Ulman, a former local politician who is leading a university redevelopment effort aimed at attracting start-ups, government agencies and people looking for a walkable, affordable community on the doorstep of the nations capital. Having the university focused on its role and academic mission, and having its future tied to the surrounding community, is a watershed moment, Mr. Ulman said. We are looking for a positive impact that supports the university mission, strengthens its commitment to its students and its research mission. Many colleges and universities are taking a leading role in revitalizing local communities, recognizing that development not only can enhance the often fraught town-and-gown relationship but also make their institutions more attractive to students and faculty. Want climate news in your inbox? Sign up here for Climate Fwd:, our email newsletter. There were too many trips to Paris. And it wasnt helping to save the environment. That was among the conclusions of an internal audit that resulted in the resignation Tuesday of Erik Solheim, a veteran Norwegian diplomat, from his post as head of the United Nations Environment Program. The investigation, conducted by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services, criticized the environment agency for a culture of scant regard for internal controls and existing rules on the use of public funds. Mr. Solheim said in a statement he had decided with a heavy heart to step down after receiving the final audit results on Saturday. He admitted no wrongdoing and, in a statement, said that he remained committed to doing what I believe to be in the best interest of U.N. Environment and the mission we are here to achieve. The United Nations secretary general, Antonio Guterres, without mentioning the audit, said Tuesday he had accepted Mr. Solheims resignation. In a statement later in the day, Mr. Guterres described Mr. Solheim as a leading voice in drawing the worlds attention to critical environmental challenges. The scrutiny of Mr. Solheim and his travel expenses came at a time of shrinking resources at the world body, so much so that some donors to the environment program decided to withhold funds pending the final audit results. Something has been missing from New Yorks current Indian restaurant scene, but I wasnt sure what it was until I ate the kaleji masala at Adda Indian Canteen in Long Island City, Queens. Modernization is the theme unifying many of the Indian restaurants that have taken root around the city over the past few years. At the rarefied end of the spectrum, we have Indian Accent bringing the cuisine into line with the intricate techniques and plating that can land restaurants on the itineraries of list-clutching gastrotourists. At the populist end, weve seen Indian cooking gastro-pubbed by Babu Ji and other new places that try to make non-desis feel at home with house-party vibes, beer in a self-service fridge, and dishes like naan pizzas and samosa burgers. New York hasnt seen nearly as many recently opened restaurants devoted to the pure, original stuff that is getting modernized. The snacks pitched together in a blur by hawkers at folding tables and rolling carts by the side of the road; the gravy-soaked stews and sauceless dry curries patiently made from 25 or so vegetables and seasonings, all of them chopped, ground, fried and simmered at home by those keepers of the culinary flame known collectively as the aunties weve seen interpretations of this food, squeezed from eyedroppers and prepared for their photo shoots with edible flowers. But new places cooking the genuine article have been scarce. There is a problem of missing context here; twists on tradition dont really resonate when tradition is hard to find in its untwisted form. And for anyone who truly loves Indian cooking, there is a more pressing problem of missing flavor. Five dots of tandoori-spice oil just wont land on the taste buds with the impact of a full plate of charred and steaming tandoori chicken, no matter how evenly spaced those dots are. Headliner Hill Country Food Park Marc Glosserman, who brought his Texas roots to New York and founded the various Hill Country restaurants, has turned what was his barbecue place in Brooklyn into a spacious food hall with an outdoor vibe. I want it to be like a gathering of food trucks, he said. Here, there arent trucks, but rough-hewed stalls to provide sustenance from morning (coffee and Dus Donuts) until night (Van Leeuwen ice cream and cocktails). Fried chicken, including some new sandwiches, will be on offer, along with baby back ribs and other barbecue. And theres Austinos, for square pizza Texas-style; Bluebonnets, serving vegetable-forward sandwiches and salads; and Nickies Tex-Mex specialties, including tamales, nachos and burgers with salsa. Libations are soft, hard and in-between . On the second floor, a sprawling new version of Hanks Saloon, a venerable dive bar that is closing in Boerum Hill, will be installed by early next year. (Opens Monday) 345 Adams Street (Fulton Street), Downtown Brooklyn, 718-885-4601, hcfoodpark.com. Opening Taladwat This new place from David and Vanida Bank, the owners of Land on the Upper West Side and Pure Thai Cookhouse in Hells Kitchen, is their largest venture to date. They have taken on Brian Ghaw, the owner of Feast in the East Village, as a partner. The new restaurant is not your typical trip to Bangkok: Theres no green papaya salad, larb or pad Thai. The dishes are more unconventional, the Banks family recipes, Mr. Ghaw said. They reflect Thai countryside cooking with an assortment of midsize plates like stir-fried kabocha squash, Asian broccoli and tofu, curried pork belly with water spinach, fried whole butterfish and sour curry shrimp, all meant for sharing: 714 Ninth Avenue (49th Street), 646-823-9815, taladwat.com. Brigitte Bistro Moderne What functioned as Brigitte for about six months a year ago but closed after the death of a partner has now reopened with a slightly tweaked name and a new team working with Anthony Coppers, an original owner. It still pays homage to Brigitte Bardot. The chef is now Kamran Naseem, formerly of Junoon, whose take on French bistro fare is rather inventive. Bay scallop crudo is served with chive broth, endive and house-made Pernod pop rocks; sauteed foie gras comes with Chartreuse tapioca; grapefruit, chiles and creme fraiche season brussels sprouts ; and dessert beignets are filled with sour cherries and foie gras. The restaurant, on a corner, has an expanse of windows and is done with white marble, blue velvet and brass. A lower level is home to Manina, a Brazilian and Bardot-inspired lounge. 37 Canal Street (Ludlow Street), brigitterestaurant.com. Fish on the Fly A fish shack that defies geography with New England chowder, lobster rolls, poke, guacamole and poboys is now tucked into a compact storefront next to the new seafood restaurant the Flying Fisherman. 269 Columbus Avenue (72nd Street), 646-870-0810, theflyingfishermannyc.com. Their jewelry was often grand in scale, a profusion of gold worked to the finest gauge possible, creating great volumes in hollow forms and surprisingly light weights. A prime example, the slinky necklace of gold hoops by Mr. Pavan stretches to more than 6 feet 6 inches; doubled, it still fills the length of a display case yet its links of razor-thin sheet metal are practically weightless. It is also intricately jointed to articulate neatly in four directions, so the necklace will follow the wearers body. In the mens work, gold is no longer linked to preciousness, but to the technical malleability and elasticity that first made it precious to goldsmiths, Mr. Bazzini said. Gemstones were nearly eliminated in their designs, replaced with progressively more experimental touches of color: black niello, a mix of metals; ebony; resin; plexiglass; pigment; even broken glass. Mr. Pinton died in 2008, but Mr. Pavan and Mr. Babetto continue to create their sharp-angled architectural constructions, and to teach now in Florence their unorthodox vision to a new generation of jewelry artists. Big, brilliant stones. Vintage pieces. New designers. Here are six accounts that have the jewelry industry talking. THE FACE Ms. Perez, born in Russia and now based in London, is a trained gemologist and cut her jewelry teeth on the retail floor at Asprey, Tiffany and Chaumet. Image THE STATS More than 222,000 followers. Founded 2013. THE BLING As a former sales manager and supervisor, Ms. Perez has said unabashedly that she wants to increase the desirability of high jewelry. Her account focuses solely on the top-end category and precious gemstones, with most posts featuring her draped in dazzling haute couture creations. In the past you wouldnt see high jewelry so much and, when you did, youd perceive it as a museum or collectors item too expensive and too showy, she said. I show the jewelry worn because it helps people understand the volume and to envision themselves wearing high jewelry. On a spring night in 1980, Otto Jakob woke from a vivid dream filled with wild images and jewels. In a haze, he reached for a notebook and began to describe it: Head. Eye. Hand holds something. Blossom. The page became what he now calls his manifesto. Nearly four decades later, that manifesto and the jewelry it inspired are the subject of Ripe Fruit, a monograph published in October by the German publisher Hatje Cantz. With 309 photographs and a text by the jewelry historian Vivienne Becker, the book is a comprehensive archive of the self-taught German goldsmiths artistry. Adi al-Fardan loves pearls. Its a family passion, he said, that began two generations ago with his grandfather Ibrahim, an Emirati pearl merchant from Dubai who was known far and wide as the pearl doctor. Pearls were a common trade in the Persian Gulf region for hundreds of years. By the early 19th century, according to the website of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the gulf was the major global supplier of natural pearls. And the men who financed pearl diving expeditions would sell their hauls to merchants like Mr. Fardans grandfather, who began working in the late 19th century. Removing a pearl from an oyster requires deftness and a keen eye, both of which Mr. Fardans grandfather was reputed to have in abundance. People, Mr. Fardan said, would bring pearls to him and ask him, Hajji Fardan, can you please help us? He had an eye into the pearl. At least three dozen students have come down with chickenpox at a private school in North Carolina nearly one-quarter of the student body in what health officials call the largest outbreak in the state since the chickenpox vaccine became available more than two decades ago. The students, who range in age from 4 to 11 years old, attend the Asheville Waldorf School in Asheville, N.C., about 120 miles west of Charlotte. They began falling ill in mid-September, said Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, the medical director for Buncombe County Health & Human Services. The school has 152 children in nursery school through sixth grade, and one of the states highest rates of religious exemptions for vaccination. The size of this outbreak and the fact that this school continues to have a large number of unvaccinated students makes it very likely there will be continued spread of chickenpox within the school, Dr. Mullendore said. This also poses a risk of spread to the surrounding community. Youve had a residency as a jazz pianist at the Los Angeles club Rockwell for years, but you just released your first official album with your group, Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Ive been out and about in different places around Hollywood, just for fun. Thirty years ago, Peter Weller and I had this opportunity to go out and play with real musicians. I really loved piano as a kid. I had a couple of cocktail-lounge jobs in Pittsburgh, and then Ive put it in movies a couple of times. It doesnt even feel like a performance of any kind. Im not really trying to impress anybody. What were your early musical influences? I played classical music in my early training, but I was a bad, undisciplined student, so I would dread my teacher coming over. He gave me Alley Cat, which had syncopation with it, and finally I was like, Im going to sit here and play until I know how to do that. He gave me a couple of other things, Deep Purple, by Peter De Rose, and Stairway to the Stars, by Matty Malneck and Frank Signorelli, and those chords did something to me. I think your acting style has always been very jazzy. You have a way of reading lines that makes them feel loose. Well, Sandy Meisner, my first teacher in New York, said dont copy anybody, so Ive tried to find my so-called voice. I like playing characters. I feel like my improvisation has gotten better and more fully used recently on Portlandia and Thor: Ragnarok. Ive tried to find an authentic and clear path that allows me to contribute something that is of myself, something that I think I can do. Nisma Mansoor, a 24-year-old engineering student and activist from Aden, remembers a time when there were no concrete walls, and children could run freely in the quiet streets. This hide your women thing happened only after unification, she said. Now you can barely see a woman that is not covering her face. Everyone is more conservative, asking, Why are you going out? Why are you working? Why do you have male friends? Even the girls themselves have started to adopt this mentality. Mansoor is working with the Peace Track Initiative, an organization of womens activists, to petition the international community to include women in peace talks between the Houthis and Yemens internationally recognized government when they eventually take place. (On Monday, Yemens government agreed to participate in United Nations-sponsored peace negotiations in Sweden after the Houthis agreed to halt rocket and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia and its allies.) She believes that Yemen will never achieve stability or security if women are not included. As an engineer, Mansoor also wants the reconstruction of Yemen to include gender-sensitive projects, like building wells closer to remote villages so women do not have to walk as far and risk their safety to collect water and complete their daily tasks. The Southern Transitional Council, a United Arab Emirates-backed organization of provincial leaders advocating the souths secession, had scheduled a rally for Oct. 14 to commemorate the start of a revolt in 1963 against British colonial rule in South Yemen. The council canceled it last minute, saying they wanted to put the funds toward humanitarian projects instead. The growing secessionist movement fueled factional clashes among the Saudi-backed coalition earlier this year and has complicated the prospects of a peaceful resolution in Yemen. While the international committee has acknowledged the councils demands, they are not a part of the upcoming peace talks in Sweden, according to United Nations officials. [Sign up for the weekly At War newsletter to receive stories about duty, conflict and consequence.] Despite the events being called off, hundreds turned out in the square. The atmosphere was celebratory but tense. Marching bands wove through crowds of men chewing mouthfuls of qat, a plant that induces a mild high. Pickup trucks with machine guns mounted on the back slowly drove down the street as young, armed men jumped on and off with excitement. On the main stage, political leaders, both men and women, were giving impassioned speeches to a steadily growing crowd. The womens section made up half the stage. Female activists, wearing niqabs and abayas, draped their black-clad bodies with banners boldly displaying the flag of the southern separatist movement. They carried pink purses with messages of female empowerment written on the front, passionately chanting at the crowd. They could have us burned alive or burn our children right before our eyes, one activist said the day before. We are willing to die here. Were demanding some human rights here. After about 30 minutes, a scuffle broke out between two people in the crowd, causing people gathered below the stage to panic. Hundreds of people dispersed within seconds, leaving the square almost empty. The activists moved to a quiet street behind the stage, all while shaking their heads and chuckling. One of them had her young son with her. He, too, was smiling. Dont worry, everything is O.K., the mother told me. Youre safe. The documentary Las Sandinistas! compiles the reminiscences of women who fought with the Sandinistas, the revolutionary group in Nicaragua that toppled the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza Debayle in 1979 and then ruled that country until 1990. In focusing on the testimonies of women, this film by Jenny Murray aims to memorialize what one participant, the poet Daisy Zamora, calls the revolution inside the revolution. It argues that, despite chauvinism and sexual harassment from the movements male leaders, the Sandinistas were as groundbreaking for feminism as they were for ostensibly socialist governance. By the end of the documentary The World Before Your Feet, the films subject, Matt Green, has not yet completed his goal of walking every block in New York City, along with many bridges, beaches, parks and cemeteries. But hes in no hurry. As of Sunday, his blog marked the 2,515th day of the project, meaning that hes been at it for nearly seven years. The walk which Green began having already completed a foot trek from Rockaway Beach, Queens, to Rockaway Beach, Ore., in 2010 has no ultimate financial motive, he insists. He simply loves living for the moment and discovering aspects of the city he might not otherwise see. He sustains himself as an urban Thoreauvian by not keeping an apartment; he crashes with friends and generous strangers. He has a side racket in cat-sitting. His itinerant status, which effectively passes his costs on to others, also makes it possible for him to claim, in the film, that hes subsisting on around $15 a day, for food and transit. The director, Jeremy Workman, never answers some obvious questions. Whos paying Greens cellphone bill? How are his clothes so neat? Does this guy even sweat? [What you need to know to start your day: Get New York Today in your inbox] When Andy Byford, the New York City subway leader, met with Amazon executives during the summer, Mr. Byford boasted that Long Island City in Queens was a transit wonderland ready to serve their army of workers. The reality is far less rosy. Long Island City does have half a dozen subway lines, the Long Island Rail Road, buses and ferry boats. But the picture Mr. Byford painted glosses over the enormous challenges facing the citys transportation network, which regularly struggles to get millions of New Yorkers where they are going. The subway is still maddeningly unreliable more than a year after it was declared to be in a state of emergency. Last week, a relatively modest snowstorm paralyzed traffic across the region. That same day, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the subway and buses, announced it was facing a budget crisis and might have to drastically raise fares or cut service. Still, Mr. Byford was optimistic about the systems ability to handle a potential influx of 25,000 workers in Long Island City, the site Amazon picked for one of two new locations, along with a suburb in Virginia. VANCOUVER, British Columbia When Canada fully legalized recreational cannabis on Oct. 17, the internet giddily reimagined the CN Tower in Toronto peeking out from a thick haze and swapped the flags red maple leaf for its jagged-edged green cousin. Outsiders might titter about an entire populace turning into potheads, but legalization means some of the countrys brightest can now turn their minds to pot. As the first G-7 nation to slacken cannabis laws, Canada has bolted to the front lines of the plants methodical scrutiny and investigation. No longer at risk of censure or lacking access to specimens, researchers can transcend the narrow parameters of scientific study once considered acceptable, namely, clinical research, to explore social, biological, genetic and agricultural questions. From botanists to phytochemists, microbiologists to epidemiologists, scientists of all sorts are free to openly pursue a greater quantity and quality of cannabis science than ever before. Ninety-five years of prohibition has made for a rather brief encyclopedia entry, meaning what we do know mainly comes from anecdotal observation and short-term studies. But Canadian laboratories arent starting from scratch. It was Canada, in 2001, that became the first country to sanction the medical use of marijuana. It was a Canadian team, in 2011, that published the first sequence of the cannabis genome. Yet these landmark contributions, and the array of peer-reviewed studies that were spurred, rarely strayed past lines of inquiry that ran parallel with social norms. [The Opinion section is now on Instagram. Follow us at @nytopinion.] Research lurched forward with the early legal steps, offering sick and suffering Canadians a new option to manage chronic pain, treat symptoms of PTSD and boost their overall quality of life. It dwindled under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a Conservative who slashed health and drug policy budgets and slammed cannabis as infinitely worse than tobacco (experts say its the other way around). Research multiplied again in 2014, when commercial growers got clearance to supply mail-order medical marijuana to Canadian patients, commodification that simultaneously energized corporate interests. This article is part of the Opinion Today newsletter. You can sign up here to receive the newsletter each weekday. Is Nancy Pelosi in trouble or not? From reading the news coverage, its hard to know, because reporters themselves arent sure how much danger she is in of losing her role as the House Democratic leader. Heres what we do know: As many as 22 Democrats who will be in the House come January have signaled some level of opposition to Pelosi, which would be enough to keep her from becoming speaker of the House. Of those 22: 16 signed a letter released yesterday explaining their opposition, including one (Ben McAdams of Utah) whose race remains undecided; five more have publicly announced opposition without signing the letter; and one (Marcia Fudge of Ohio) has also signaled opposition and might run for the speaker post herself. Democrats will have somewhere between 232 and 235 seats in the House next year, depending on the outcome of three close races. Pelosi would need 218 votes to ensure herself a House majority and victory. With apologies for introducing arithmetic to your morning, 232 (or 235) minus 22 clearly equals fewer than 218. But Pelosi doesnt necessarily need to win them all over. If some of her critics vote present rather than against her, they wont be counted in the final tally, on either side and the number she will need for a House majority would drop below 218. Her critics have also left themselves just a bit of wiggle room. Yesterdays letter calls for new leadership, not a new speaker, as Julie Hirschfeld Davis of The Times points out, which means they could ultimately accept other changes to the partys House structure. Pelosi, for example, could make changes to party rules that would grant more power to rank-and-file members, as Matt Glassman, a Georgetown political scientist, has said . She could also woo members with offers specific to them: committee assignments, fund-raising help or promises to push particular issues. The biggest reason to think she may yet survive is the lack of a credible challenger for the job, at least so far. [Listen to The Argument podcast every Thursday morning with Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt.] My own view, as Ive told you before, is that Pelosi is still the Democrats best option. She has been the most effective speaker, from either party, in decades, as Paul Krugman has noted. She pushed through major legislation during the Obama presidency, including Obamacare (which some people fairly call Pelosicare), and she has been effective during the Trump presidency as well. Even with Republicans in the majority and Trump in the White House, she has been notching wins for the Democrats, including favorable spending bills, as Time Magazines Molly Ball said on yesterdays episode of Ezra Kleins Vox podcast. Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Tory Gavito and Adam Jentleson write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics." write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics." Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Ross Douthat writes that the outcome of the Virginia gubernatorial race shows Democrats need a new way to talk about progressive ideology and education. Trump himself may realize that Pelosi is his most effective House adversary, which would explain why he praised her last weekend, perhaps in an effort to undermine her with Democrats. $12 MILLION 26 Vandam Street (between Varick Street and Avenue of the Americas) Manhattan A private investor has bought this 12,349-square-foot building in the Hudson Square area to satisfy a 1031 exchange, which allows the investor to defer capital gains from the sale of another property in Upper Manhattan. The five-story building has 19 apartments: eight one-bedrooms, nine two-bedrooms, one four-bedroom and one five-bedroom. Five apartments are rent stabilized with rents averaging $1,074 a month, two are rent controlled with rents averaging $124 a month, and 12 are market rate with rents averaging $4,928 a month. All market-rate apartments have been renovated and feature granite countertops, hardwood floors and exposed brick walls. The building sold for about 15.4 times the rent roll, with a cap rate of 4.33 percent. [Like the Science Times page on Facebook. | Sign up for the Science Times newsletter.] Stephen J. Martin noticed large mounds, some 10 feet tall, 30 feet wide, along the side of the road as he drove through a remote part of northeast Brazil. After 20 minutes, we were still driving through these, and I started saying, Well, what are they? said Dr. Martin, an entomologist at the University of Salford in England who was in Brazil for research on the worldwide decline of honeybees . He thought they might be piles of dirt displaced from the construction of the road. Instead, his companions told him, Oh, theyre just termite mounds. Dr. Martin recalled his incredulous reply: And I went, Youre really sure about that? And theyre like, Well, I dont know. I think so. Ellen Jovin was settling in at a collapsible table shed set up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan last month when two little boys of around 4 and 5 approached her. Whats a gerund? one of them asked. Charmed, Ms. Jovin explained that a gerund is a verb that has become a noun after an -ing has been added to it. Run is a verb but running is a gerund, she told them. Are you related? she then asked them. One boy said yes. The other said no. Then they started fighting. No choking your brother at the Grammar Table! Ms. Jovin shouted. Oh, and choking is a gerund. Ms. Jovin is a new member of a city subway ecosystem known for its string-instrument musicians, break-dancers and religion preachers. About four times a week, she schleps a foldable table and a chair to locations such as a triangular sidewalk plaza outside a subway entrance off 72nd Street or inside the underground expanses of Grand Central Station or Times Square and sets up the Grammar Table. Its laminated sign reads: Vent! Comma crisis? Semicolonphobia? Conjunctive adverb addiction! Ask a question! Any language! David Shin, a 30-year-old collector who was waiting in a three-hour-long line for an 18-inch Astro Boy figurine from Bait, agreed. Im a simple guy, he said. I just wear plain black T-shirts, some sweats. I think Thanksgiving is all about family and being thankful for everything we have. What about Michael DeSanti, a confident shopper from New York City who celebrates the holiday in central Pennsylvania? No, he said, because my grandmother wouldnt know what Supreme was. Theres no point. Complexcon which earlier this month was in its third go-round as a mecca for streetwear fanatics is a two-day event through which Complex, the fashion and culture magazine founded by Marc Ecko in 2002, furthers its influence. Every attendee interviewed at the conference knew what his or her Thanksgiving plans were, and nearly all of them nixed the idea that they might dress for their families the way they had for the convention. A meeting place for streetwear fanatics and hip-hop fans with disposable income and the patience to stand in line for hours is a valuable opportunity to see and be seen; going home for the holidays is not. The artist Takashi Murakami, who was, in many ways, the spiritual center of the convention thanks to his manga-inspired work and collaborations with Kanye West, was openly bemused by Complexcons attendees. I dont think, fundamentally, I really understand what sneakerheads desire, he said in an interview below the convention floor as, one story up, fans stormed booths, forcing security to cancel at least one exclusive drop. Venture capitalists are pouring money into American start-ups that are offering basic banking services known as neo-banks or challenger banks. In 2018 so far, American neo-banks have gotten four times as much funding as they did last year, and 10 times as much funding as they did in 2015, according to data from CB Insights. Big players from outside the consumer banking industry, like Square and Goldman Sachs, are also moving in. In consumer banking, you have what is one of the largest industries in the United States, in terms of profits, and at the same time one of the least disrupted industries, and the most unpopular with consumers, said Andrei Cherny, the founder of Aspiration, a neo-bank that has attracted nearly a million customers. Those three things create a perfect storm for disruption. The persistent unpopularity of big banks has been a boon to the newcomers. And they are helped by a new attitude among financial regulators who have grown more comfortable with online banking and young customers who have no hesitation about cashing a check or sending money on a phone. That doesnt mean that building a profitable business will be easy, as the first neo-banks, like Simple and Moven, discovered. Establishment banks have big budgets to fend off challengers. And the services that many neo-banks are starting with, like checking and savings, are not very profitable. Chime and its ilk all want to eventually move into lending and other businesses. Ms. Stines, 53, of Dallas, begins her day by scrolling through Snap, a program that allows her to interact with customers on Twitter. Snap displays users bios, their number of followers, and the history of their conversation with American Airlines. The social care team fields 4,500 tweets per day and a clock on her screen indicated the average response time. On this morning, it was 15 minutes below the 30-minute response time goal the team has set for itself. No turbulence so far. After scrolling for a few minutes, Ms. Stines saw a tweet from someone who she suspected had a lot of chimers, or followers who like to chime in on conversations. Chimers tend to follow those with big social media presences: TV stars and professional video game players and Instagram celebrities, she explained. She likes to take care of users with potential chimers quickly, she said, to avoid future problems. When it comes to customer service, travelers are increasingly skipping calls to the airlines and are instead taking their requests to Twitter and Facebook. Airlines are responding by expanding their social media staff and empowering them with the resources they need to aid travelers. For customers who are finding it more and more difficult to get a person on the phone, social media frequently offers real-time answers to pressing travel questions. For the airlines, social care, is about efficiency. In the span of a few minutes, a representative working on Twitter can check on a traveling child, locate a lost bag, hear out a venting customer, and upgrade a seat all practically at the same time . (On TripAdvisor recently, one traveler noted that when his Delta flight was canceled and he tried to rebook on the phone, a recording informed him there was a two-hour wait before his call would be answered. Going to Twitter instead, and direct-messaging Delta, eventually resolved the situation, with a new flight soon rebooked.) 3. Be clear about what you want Venting at an airline or a passive-aggressive jab may feel good, but it wont get you to the front of the customer service line. We still see several customers a day tweet something general and vague, said Laurie Meacham, the head of JetBlues social media support team. We almost always have to ask follow up questions to get to what they actually need. And have your information ready. That includes having your booking or reservation number, your flight number, and any personal information that representatives will need to look up your trip, including your frequent flier number, if you have one 4. Grow your social presence Social media team members are trained to spot influencers and those with large followings. Its important that they help these individuals quickly to prevent future headaches. Of course, you dont need a large following to get good service, but a social presence helps. Remember, we can also pop over and look at a users history, Ms. Meacham said. She said they can easily spot the one off profiles or the brand-new profiles that were created just to try to get in touch with airlines or brands. A developed profile, with a photo, a bio and a history of tweeting, goes a long way. And having a verified account probably wouldnt hurt either 5. Use the airlines app If youre not on Twitter or Facebook, you can try getting in touch with customer service on the airlines mobile app, said Shashank Nigam, the chief executive officer of SimplyFling, an airline marketing firm. The better ones have internal messaging services that are staffed by social care teams. Its also a great way to stay abreast of any flight notifications on the day of travel, he said. SALINAS, Calif. As a boy, Abel Montoya remembers his father arriving home from the lettuce fields each evening, the picture of exhaustion, mud caked knee-high on his trousers. Dad wanted me to stay away from manual labor. He was keen for me to stick to the books, Mr. Montoya said. So he did, and went to college. Yet Mr. Montoya, a 28-year-old immigrants son, recently took a job at a lettuce-packing facility, where it is wet, loud, freezing and much of the work is physically taxing, even mind-numbing. Now, though, he can delegate some of the worst work to robots. Mr. Montoya is among a new generation of farmworkers here at Taylor Farms, one of the worlds largest producers and sellers of fresh-cut vegetables, which recently unveiled a fleet of robots designed to replace humans one of the agriculture industrys latest answers to a diminishing supply of immigrant labor. The smart machines can assemble 60 to 80 salad bags a minute, double the output of a worker. Enlisting robots made sound economic sense, Taylor Farms officials said, for a company seeking to capitalize on Americans insatiable appetite for healthy fare at a time when it cannot recruit enough people to work in the fields or the factory. Administration officials signaled that they would continue to defend the policy as it moved through the courts. Our asylum system is broken, and it is being abused by tens of thousands of meritless claims every year, Katie Waldman, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, and Steve Stafford, the Justice Department spokesman, said in a statement. They said the president has broad authority to stop the entry of migrants into the country. It is absurd that a set of advocacy groups can be found to have standing to sue to stop the entire federal government from acting so that illegal aliens can receive a government benefit to which they are not entitled, they said. We look forward to continuing to defend the executive branchs legitimate and well-reasoned exercise of its authority to address the crisis at our southern border. Presidents indeed have broad discretion on immigration matters. But the courts ruling shows that such discretion has limits, said Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration scholar at Cornell Law School. The ruling is a significant blow to the administrations efforts to unilaterally change asylum law. Ultimately this may have to go to the Supreme Court for a final ruling, said Mr. Yale-Loehr. The advocacy groups accused the government of violating Congresss clear command that manner of entry cannot constitute a categorical asylum bar in their complaint. They also said the administration had violated federal guidelines by not allowing public comment on the rule. But Trump administration officials defended the regulatory change, arguing that the president was responding to a surge in migrants seeking asylum based on frivolous claims, which ultimately lead their cases to be denied by an immigration judge. The migrants then ignore any orders to leave, and remain unlawfully in the country. Lou Anna K. Simon, the former president of Michigan State University, was charged on Tuesday with two felonies, accused of lying to the police about her knowledge of sexual abuse committed by Dr. Lawrence G. Nassar. The charges were the latest blow against Michigan State, which employed Dr. Nassar for years as he preyed on young women, and a warning to other institutions about the consequences they could face for failing to stop abuse. As the scope of Dr. Nassars crimes has become clear, Michigan State leaders have been accused of ignoring warning signs, disrespecting victims, and covering up misconduct, and the university has been rocked by resignations, protests and a $500 million settlement. John Manly, a lawyer for more than 100 women who were abused by Dr. Nassar, said the charges against the universitys highest-ranking official had brought his clients a level of vindication thats hard to describe. Mr. Manly said the prosecution sent a signal to leaders of other organizations where abuse has taken place. I think Id be looking over my shoulder if I were them, he said. And if you really want to stop this sort of abuse, youve got to send people the message that, Youre going to go to jail. Dr. Simon, who resigned in January under pressure, was accused in court documents of falsely telling investigators that she did not know the nature of a Title IX complaint against Dr. Nassar in 2014. CHICAGO A police officer, a doctor and a pharmacy resident died on Monday after gunfire broke out in the parking lot of a hospital and then moved inside. The chaos, the authorities said, began as an argument between the gunman and the doctor, Dr. Tamara ONeal, with whom he had a relationship. Patients and hospital workers fled the emergency room or hid in rooms as the situation escalated. By Tuesday, bunting was hung at Chicago Police Headquarters in memory of Officer Samuel Jimenez. And colleagues were mourning Dayna Less, the pharmacy resident, who recently joined the hospital staff and who was not involved in the initial dispute. The episode raised hard questions about the links between domestic disputes and shootings, as well as other concerns around gun violence. Heres a look at some of the issues: Guns make domestic disputes deadlier Domestic violence has long been known as a major risk factor for homicides of women. Researchers have found that women are killed by intimate partners, such as spouses or boyfriends, more often than any other kind of perpetrator. And the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that a woman will be killed. For the winter holiday season, there is nothing better than a weighty, rich white wine like chardonnay from Burgundy to curl up with. Every time I taste one, it takes me back to my first time tasting Burgundy as a curious young server working at a French bistro in Chelsea, New York City, named Montmartre. The wine director, Keri Levens, took an amazing approach to staff education. Once, we had a Meursault by the glass, Domaine Michelots 2012 vintage, and all the servers were hooked. It reminded me of the first time I bit into a Jordan almond during a family wedding celebration when I was a child. Jordan almonds symbolize the combination of sweetness and bitterness found in life, and I am reminded of that feeling with any joy or struggle that I face. There are some fantastic values found in Bourgogne blanc from producers located in Meursault, or one of the Montrachets that use the juice produced from their young vines. Unfortunately, the Michelot does not come to Chicago, but one of my favorites is the 2014 Domaine Morey-Coffinet Bourgogne Blanc, which I picked up from my favorite local wine shop, Independent Spirits in Edgewater. Among those missing is Terry Poliquin, whose family has not heard from him since the fire came through Magalia, where he lived alone in a mobile home. Like many living on the margins in Magalia, Mr. Poliquin, 62, did not have a car and his health was not great, according to his daughter, Alysha Martin. Ms. Martin reported him missing on Nov. 12, four days after the fire, but she still has no information about him even after speaking to sheriffs detectives on three occasions. As they wait for official news from county investigators, she and her siblings have done everything they can think of to find him on their own; they checked the Red Cross website, shelters, hospitals. They also reached out to friends on his Facebook profile, hoping someone had seen him. They are losing hope that he is alive, she said. He would have contacted us, she said. At least he would have tried. Its just not like him. I just want answers, and if he did pass away at least that would let me know what happened to him. The official list of the missing was gleaned from thousands of emails and the anguished recordings of family members who called 911 during the confused hours when Paradise and neighboring towns were engulfed by fire. Sheriff Honea said the list includes every person declared missing; he stressed it was a raw, preliminary accounting that was being worked through methodically. With every opportunity he has repeated that he needs the publics cooperation to help whittle down the list, removing those who are safe. We are looking in our own record system to see if we have other contacts for them, he said. We are looking on their social media pages to try and see if theyve checked in somewhere; and we are actually going out to locations to see if there is some indication of whether they made it out. Jori Green, 68 of Magalia. Norman Grimsey, 79, and Toni Grimsey, 75, of Paradise. Donald Hardin, 81, of Magalia. WASHINGTON In the past three years, Senator Charles E. Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, blocked a Democratic Supreme Court nominee for more than a year, pushed through an army of conservative judges and helped cement a conservative Supreme Court by securing confirmation of the most controversial high court nominee in a generation. All of that has come at great personal cost, so the 85-year-old Iowan had some chits to call in when on Monday morning, he joined a private phone call with Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, to discuss a bipartisan breakthrough to overhaul the criminal justice system and the nations sentencing rules. I have been there for you, Mr. Grassley told Mr. McConnell, the man standing in the way of a quick vote on the measure. And I would hope this is something that you would help me make happen, he said, according to three people familiar with the call who were not authorized to publicly discuss the conversation. The direct lobbying by Mr. Grassley was just part of a pressure campaign aimed squarely at Mr. McConnell this week as an unusual coalition of senators, conservative advocacy groups and White House officials press to change the nations sentencing and prison laws. With President Trump supportive of the effort and Speaker Paul D. Ryan pledging to move it through the House, they increasingly view the Senate majority leader as the lone obstacle to unwinding some of the federal tough-on-crime policies of the 1980s and 1990s. Republicans have won every Senate race in Mississippi for the last three decades. Voters in Mississippi will head back to the polls Nov. 27 for a runoff. But this years special election has some in the G.O.P. worried, after this controversial comment made by Republican candidate Cindy Hyde-Smith was caught on video. The remark was particularly tone deaf in Mississippi, where more than 600 people were killed in lynchings from 1877 to 1950 more than any other state. Hyde-Smith, the states former agricultural and commerce commissioner, is in a runoff with Democrat Mike Espy after no one received more than 50 percent of the vote on Election Day. Espy was the agriculture secretary in the Clinton administration. And, if elected, would be the first black senator from the state since Reconstruction. He was running an underdog campaign in conservative Mississippi. But Hyde-Smiths comments put the trajectory of the race in doubt. Facing an uproar over her remarks, she retreated from the campaign and dodged reporters questions. We put out a statement yesterday and we stand by that statement. We put out the statement yesterday and its available. And we stand by that statement. I put out a statement yesterday. I put out a statement yesterday. We did address it yesterday. And thats all Im going to say about it. But after her poll numbers dropped and companies began withdrawing contributions, she was forced to address them at a debate. For anyone that was offended for my by my comments, I certainly apologize. There was no ill will, no intent whatsoever in my statements. I also recognize that this comment was twisted and it was turned into a weapon to be used against me. Espy responded this way: Well, no one twisted your comments because your comments were live, you know, it came out of your mouth. And I dont know whats in your heart, but we all know what came out of your mouth. The controversy appears to have emboldened Democrats. Espy picked up an endorsement from former Vide President Joe Biden, and Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris have stumped for him in Mississippi. I think that people are fed up with and really just tired of supposed leaders who lead by trying to sow hate and division among us. But Hyde-Smith still has some big advantages over her opponent. Shes been endorsed by President Trump, who won Mississippi by nearly 18 points in 2016. And a vote for Cindy is a vote for me. Trumps support could help Hyde-Smith shore up conservative white voters, which may be enough to secure victory in solidly red Mississippi. WASHINGTON President Trump told the White House counsel in the spring that he wanted to order the Justice Department to prosecute two of his political adversaries: his 2016 challenger, Hillary Clinton, and the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey, according to two people familiar with the conversation. The lawyer, Donald F. McGahn II, rebuffed the president, saying that he had no authority to order a prosecution. Mr. McGahn said that while he could request an investigation, that too could prompt accusations of abuse of power. To underscore his point, Mr. McGahn had White House lawyers write a memo for Mr. Trump warning that if he asked law enforcement to investigate his rivals, he could face a range of consequences, including possible impeachment. The encounter was one of the most blatant examples yet of how Mr. Trump views the typically independent Justice Department as a tool to be wielded against his political enemies. It took on additional significance in recent weeks when Mr. McGahn left the White House and Mr. Trump appointed a relatively inexperienced political loyalist, Matthew G. Whitaker, as the acting attorney general. It is unclear whether Mr. Trump read Mr. McGahns memo or whether he pursued the prosecutions further. But the president has continued to privately discuss the matter, including the possible appointment of a second special counsel to investigate both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Comey, according to two people who have spoken to Mr. Trump about the issue. He has also repeatedly expressed disappointment in the F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, for failing to more aggressively investigate Mrs. Clinton, calling him weak, one of the people said. WASHINGTON President Trump laid out for the special counsel his defense in the investigation into possible ties between his associates and Russias election interference, the presidents lawyers said in a statement on Tuesday. The details of Mr. Trumps responses were not immediately clear, but his lawyers said that now that he had handed over answers to questions from the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, the time had come to end the investigation. The special counsel has been provided with more than 30 witnesses, 1.4 million pages of material, and now the presidents written responses to questions, said one of the lawyers, Rudolph W. Giuliani, who issued a statement with another of the presidents personal lawyers, Jay A. Sekulow. It is time to bring this inquiry to a conclusion. After months of negotiations about a possible presidential interview, Mr. Mueller allowed Mr. Trump to respond in writing to questions about whether any of his associates conspired with Moscows campaign of disruption. Mr. Mueller has declined to rule out trying to compel Mr. Trump to sit for an interview after reviewing his written answers. One participant, Amanda Ripley, a freelance journalist, said she learned that it is important not to oversimplify the issue, and to acknowledge that there is no single right or wrong answer. Her conversation at the lab involved talking about the limits of free speech on campus with a Columbia graduate student. Ms. Ripley feels strongly that students should not be shielded from trigger words that they may find offensive, while her conversation partner believes that there need to be limits on offensive speech. Before their dialogue, they both read a nuanced article presenting several different perspectives on a potentially divisive issue, rather than treating it in a binary black and white way. The researchers wanted to see if exposure to a complex argument before the session made the participants more thoughtful and open to considering other perspectives. Ms. Ripley said that was the case in her interaction. If you give people something complicated to read before a conversation, it tends to go better. People are more open to information that doesnt fit into their pre-existing narratives, she observed. Although she felt that exposure to complex arguments raised the bar, Dr. Coleman said that such conversations rarely change peoples minds. If youre set on convincing that opinionated uncle of the error of his ways, its not likely that will lead anywhere good, he said. Thanksgiving is not the place where you are going to change anyones opinion. On the other hand, if you are genuinely curious about where the other person is coming from and are willing to suspend judgment and listen respectfully, then theres a greater chance that things will go well. But you should only proceed if what Dr. Coleman calls your emotional bank account is in good shape. You need to ask yourself do you have enough trust and positivity and rapport with this person to have a constructive conversation? he explained. One of the most hopeful if counterintuitive findings from conflict resolution research is that most conflicts do eventually get amicably resolved. In his book The Five Percent, Dr. Coleman cites a study by the peace researchers Paul Diehl and Gary Goertz that shows that 95 percent of over a thousand international rivalries that they looked at since 1816 were successfully worked out through a process of compromise and negotiation. However, roughly 5 percent like the Arab-Israeli conflict stubbornly resist solution. As these pressing issues are discussed, Mrs. Wever-Croes and Mrs. Ruiz-Maduro look across the boardroom table and, more often than not, see other women. Tourism accounts for up to 92 percent of Arubas GDP. The two organizations responsible for destination management and representation of travel industry interests (Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association) have women chief executive officers. The countrys director of Economic Development is a woman, as are the five sector heads reporting directly to her. The Central Bank of Aruba has been under the leadership and direction of the economist Jane Figaroa-Semeleer since 2008. Then there is the countrys first chief innovation officer, the minister plenipotentiary for Aruba (representing the governments interests in the United States) as well as the countrys appointee to the state council in the Netherlands. The council is an advisory body in the Netherlands composed of members of the royal family and other members appointed by the crown once again, roles occupied by women. The state council has significant legislative oversight and judicial authority. Mrs. Wever-Croess path to career prominence is mirrored in those of her female peers. These are women who, immediately upon graduating from high school in the 1980s, went to university before entering the work force. They proceeded to work hard, have children and get promoted. Not working did not appeal as an option for any of these women. I wouldnt know what to do with my life if I wasnt working, said Maria Diijkhoff-Pita, director of the Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce and Industry. How have they achieved uninterrupted career progression, a goal that has eluded so many women? Part of the answer lies with the countrys former oil refinery. From its opening in 1928 until it closed in 1985, it was the countrys major private employer. Automation of the refinerys operations in 1956 ushered in a first wave of dislocation and reinvention for Aruba. Men left to work in other Caribbean countries, while the women stayed home. Many started home-based businesses to supplement family incomes, while others took positions in government or stepped into roles in the nascent tourism industry. RIO DE JANEIRO The United States and Brazil have been uneasy allies during the best of times. But Brazilian voters may have put an end to that dynamic by electing as their next president Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right lawmaker who is unabashedly pro-American and strikingly similar to President Trump in temperament, tactics and style. We might be on the verge of a golden era of relations, said Fernando Cutz, a former senior White House official who worked on Latin America policy in the Obama and Trump administrations. Trump and Bolsonaro will really hit it off. Their personalities are almost identical and their policy views are very similar. Mr. Bolsonaros enthusiasm for closer ties with the United States is among the starkest signs that Brazils foreign policy is about to undergo profound changes. As a candidate, the incoming president denounced the alliances and foreign policy of the leftist Workers Party, which governed Brazil from 2003 to 2016. During that period, Brazil fostered close commercial ties with China, championed Cubas authoritarian government and was a pillar of multilateral alliances that excluded the United States. It was 40 minutes before ambulances arrived to evacuate many of the wounded, he said. Ambulances were seen still coming and going from the wedding palace an hour after the blast, which took place about 6:15 p.m. We are still trying to figure how many were killed and how many were wounded, Mr. Majrooh said. Muhammad Hashim, 36, a survivor, said the blast occurred as verses from the Quran were being recited to begin the commemoration. A lot of people were trampled as others were trying to flee, he said. There are a lot more than 40 dead in there. Nek Amal, 18, was among many who gathered outside the hall seeking news of friends and family members inside. My brother is inside and Ive been trying to reach him but he is not answering the phone, Mr. Amal said. He is there with many friends of his and theyre not answering their phones either. Wedding halls, mosques and religious gatherings have been particular targets of the Islamic State in Afghanistan, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility for this attack. It was the first major bombing in the capital since an Islamic State suicide bomber struck a wrestling gym in September, killing as many as 30 wrestlers during a training session. After a period of frequent, gruesome attacks against soft targets in the capital over the summer, Afghan security forces have made it a priority to disrupt Islamic State cells in Kabul, with assistance ordered by the new commander of American and NATO troops in the country, Gen. Austin Scott Miller. Dozens of suspects were arrested in the capital in September on the eve of Ashura, a Shiite annual commemoration that has frequently been targeted. Officials believe those raids significantly lowered the number of attacks. The Taliban, still responsible for most of the escalating violence throughout the country, have disavowed attacks on civilian targets. There has been speculation that Taliban insurgents, at least, have been refraining from suicide attacks in the capital as they explore preliminary peace talks with the American government. Disgruntled police officers and other workers stormed the Parliament building in Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, breaking glass and overturning furniture as they demanded to be paid for their work during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting. Harry Momos, a spokesman for Parliament, said about 300 people forced their way into the building in Port Moresby, the capital. The situation cooled down Tuesday afternoon after the group met with the speaker of Parliament and the government finance minister, he said. We dont expect any further damage or confrontation, Mr. Momos said. Papua New Guinea, the poorest of the 21 member economies in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, known as APEC, had a rare turn in the global spotlight as host of the groups annual summit meeting, which ended Sunday. The Parliament raid on Tuesday was an embarrassing footnote to the event. Mr. Momos said the officers would be paid on Wednesday. A video shared by Bryan Kramer, an opposition lawmaker, showed art ripped off the walls, toppled plants and an overturned X-ray machine and desk. The windows at the front of the building had been shattered. Emily Mortimer vividly recalls her first day on "Shutter Island," which she came into terrified. "There he was, sitting at a table with Leonardo DiCaprio -- I thought I might be sick," she said. Scorsese had presented an award at the Oscars the previous evening, so as an icebreaker, she blurted out that he had looked dashing on TV. "Really?" he said, according to Mortimer's account. "God, that surprises me. I'd come out in hives that morning and smothered myself in hydrocortisone cream to calm it down. Then I got paranoid that the cream would come off on my tuxedo, so I wrapped tape all around my body - over the cream and the hives, under my suit. Hives, then cream, then tape. I didn't feel in the least bit dashing, but I'm so pleased you thought so." A man attacked a police officer with a knife outside a police station in Brussels on Tuesday morning, and another officer shot the assailant, officials said. Both the injured officer and the attacker, whose name was not released, were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening, said Ilse van de Keere, a spokeswoman for the Brussels police. The suspect is not known by our national terrorist watchdog agency and its databases, Belgiums interior minister, Jan Jambon, said in an interview on national radio. According to our information he was detained in a psychiatric institution and recently released. According to local news reports, the man yelled Allahu akbar, Arabic for God is great, raising concerns about another Islamist terrorist attack in a city that has endured several of them. BERLIN Prosecutors have begun an investigation into a leader and three members of the far-right Alternative for Germany Party for accepting dubious donations worth $145,000 from a Swiss company in the heat of last years election campaign, which saw the party surge to the third-strongest in the country. The main target of the investigation is Alice Weidel, who was a leading candidate in last years national election and has since served as its floor leader in Parliament. The investigation could undermine the party, known by its German initials AfD, which has become the main opposition force in Parliament. So far AfD has stood behind Ms. Weidel, who has denied the campaign finance violations, which were first uncovered last week by the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and the public broadcasters NDR and WDR. Prosecutors in the southern city of Konstanz then started the investigation, but had to wait for Ms. Weidels parliamentary immunity to be lifted. Under German law, political parties are banned from accepting donations of more than 1,000 euros, about $1,100, from anyone living in a country that is not a member of the European Union, unless the donor is a German national. The full identity of the individual donor must also be stated, not just the name of an entity like a company or foundation. ROME Italy has ordered the seizure of the Aquarius, the rescue ship at the center of international criticism over its governments hard line against migration, saying the vessel had illegally disposed of potentially infectious waste. Prosecutors in the Sicilian city of Catania announced on Tuesday that they had accused 24 people of having systematically shared, planned and executed an illegal waste-disposal project of an enormous quantity in southern Italian ports between January 2017 and May 2018. They said the waste included contaminated garments, leftover food, and medical supplies and syringes. Those accused included members of Doctors Without Borders, one of the aid groups operating the Aquarius, and officials of a Sicilian company that manages waste disposal. According to a statement by the prosecutors office, the Aquarius and VOS Prudence, another rescue ship operated by Doctors Without Borders, illegally coordinated with the Sicilian company, which failed to declare the presence of dangerous sanitary waste with an infectious risk. Doctors Without Borders denied the accusation in a statement on Tuesday, writing that it strongly condemns the Italian order to seize the Aquarius. It called the measure a disproportionate reaction designed to criminalize humanitarian and medical missions at sea. The group said it would appeal in Italian court. SKOPJE, Macedonia A former Macedonian prime minister who fled the country while facing a prison sentence on corruption charges claimed on Tuesday that he had been granted political asylum in Hungary. The former leader, Nikola Gruevski who ran the country as a strongman for a decade before being forced out of office in 2016 after nationwide protests had been sentenced to two years in prison for abusing the power of his office to purchase a luxury vehicle. He also faces several more serious charges, some stemming from a vast scandal involving hundreds of thousands of secretly recorded conversations in which top government officials were heard discussing crimes like rigging votes and covering up killings. American diplomats and European officials viewed his trial and conviction as a step forward in a region plagued by corruption and ethnic divisions. Macedonia aspires to join the European Union, and his trial was widely seen as sending a clear message that even the most powerful politicians could not act with impunity. The presidency of Interpol is in many ways a ceremonial position with little power to influence the issuance of warrants. Nevertheless, elevating a Russian in the face of such criticism would be a public relations coup for Mr. Putin. It would also be a setback for international lawyers, who have credited Interpol as taking steps in recent years to tighten administrative controls. If you have an organization where part of the job is to keep the chickens safe, and the head of the organization O.K., he doesnt really do much, but hes a fox? It sends a message, said Michelle Estlund, an American defense lawyer who tracks Interpol and its issuance of red notices. They can say, Dont worry, the fox doesnt really guard the hen house. But hes there. The president is selected by the Interpol General Assembly, which is made up of delegates from its member countries. Each country gets one vote, there is no veto, and the winner must carry two-thirds of the vote. Former colleagues say Mr. Prokopchuk, a current vice president, is regarded as well qualified, and members are encouraged to vote for the individual, not the country. Image Aleksandr V. Prokopchuk is the Russian candidate for president of Interpol. Credit... Valery Sharifulin/TASS, via Getty Images Mr. Prokopchuk, a university graduate who speaks six languages, does not fit the image that many foreigners and many Russians have of Russian police officers as boorish brutes. He is well spoken, highly educated and has a long record of pushing for closer cooperation between police services in Russia and the West. American and European diplomats are backing Mr. Prokopchuks chief opponent, Kim Jong-yang of South Korea. American officials said they would not discuss their efforts, saying the vote would be carried out in secret. But the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, addressed the Interpol conference this week and took aim at governments that provided safe havens to cybercriminals while trying to game the international warrant system criticisms that the United States has had of Russia for years. What I did realize right from the start was how difficult life was for women artists. How so? Women artists werent taken seriously. The other day, a friend of mine told me the story of an artist in her 80s who was in a gallery in Rome that was hosting an exhibition of her work back in the 1980s. A male collector walked in, said he liked the works and asked the gallerist who the artist was. As soon as he found out, he said, Oh, but shes a woman Im not buying. And he didnt. We once put on a show focusing on the presence of female artists in Italian collections. And we realized that male collectors in Italy almost never bought work by female artists, whereas female collectors did. The difference in price between a female artist and a male artist is staggering, even today. If you look at the auctions, the situation may have improved, but its still very very tough. Do you think the #MeToo movement is helping change things? The #MeToo movement is absolutely essential. It has raised a great deal of awareness. But a lot remains to be done for ordinary women, because for them, things arent yet changing, and theres a lot of catching up to do. I live in a country where feminicide is a common occurrence. Women endure physical and psychological violence inside the walls of their own home. Husbands come home drunk and beat up their wives. We women have to solve this problem on a political and social level, but I also believe that culture has a role to play. In our foundation, we show lots of works by women on issues to do with violence, which schoolchildren come and see. Its also important for us mothers to educate our sons. LONDON Hard-liners in Britains governing Conservative Party have so dominated debate over withdrawal from the European Union for the past two years that when they called last week for the overthrow of Prime Minister Theresa May, failure did not occur to them as a possibility. But on Tuesday the so-called coup against Mrs. May was halted for now, anyway after the plotters admitted having been misled by their own supporters, who had melted away. The setback for the hard-liners is some rare good news for Mrs. May, who is fighting for her political life, battling to quell a rebellion within her party and her cabinet over draft plans for a withdrawal, or Brexit, that would maintain some close ties to the European Union. Those who want a no-confidence vote in Mrs. May need letters of support from 48 Conservative lawmakers, and their struggle to assemble that number has been portrayed as symptomatic of the incompetence of many hard-line Brexiteer proponents, including those in government, several of whom have quit the cabinet. But in "My Brilliant Friend," catching the eye of one of the Solara brothers is a deadly dangerous business for the girl involved. Marcello (Elvis Esposito) and Michele (Alessio Gallo) prowl the streets of Naples, pulling girls into their sleek car and assaulting and humiliating them. Their behavior is exactly the sort of transgression that a meek Italian immigrant describes in the iconic opening scene of "The Godfather," when he begs Don Corleone (Marlon Brando) to avenge his daughter. The young woman had been beaten and disfigured by her boyfriend, who is "not an Italian," and by the young man's friends. Don Corleone's pledge to mete out justice introduces him to the audience as someone much greater than a common thug. The scene also presents such brutal violations of young women as essentially American behavior; "My Brilliant Friend" is a piercing testament that violent machismo knows no nationality. I saw people of every color taking time out of their day, not only to pay respects to Paul, but to the entire Chicago Police Department, she wrote. They are the men and women who selflessly put their lives on the line each day to protect people they dont even know. They are my new family. Weddings are generally considered personal events reserved for family and friends, but some couples in India are more than happy to have total strangers from all over the world attend their traditional weddings, for a fee. Paying hundreds of dollars to attend the wedding of two total strangers in a foreign country may seem strange to some, but according to JoinMyWedding, a company specializing in wedding tourism, its the ultimate cultural immersion for tourists looking to experience as many elements of Indian culture in the shortest time possible. Clients get to put on traditional Indian clothing, taste exotic food, witness and take part in beautiful wedding customs, and soak up the unique atmosphere. As for the couples getting married, they get to share the happiest day of their lives not just with family and friends, but with the world and make some extra money in the process. Photo: narashimhar1906/Pixabay If you think about it, theres nothing more cultural than a wedding because you have every cultural element present: The local people, local food, customs, the outfit, the music, basically every cultural element is right there, Orsi Parkanyi, the founder of JoinMyWedding, told CNBC. Experiencing all the cultural elements at once, meaningfully connecting with the locals in India, thats a huge motivating factor for the travelers, the Australian entrepreneur added. Its a safe experience. You attend an event with hundreds of people, youre a distinguished guest, people look after you. Tourists interested in attending a traditional Indian wedding through JMW have to pay a fee of $150 for one days attendance, or $250 for two days, which covers the entrance to the wedding plus food and drinks, as well as a a dedicated person to welcome them and explain all the traditional customs. Transportation to the wedding, accommodation and traditional costume rentals are extra. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JoinMyWedding (@joinmywedding) on Oct 12, 2017 at 11:51am PDT While the idea of attending the wedding of strangers takes some getting used, wedding tourism in India is a growing business, and Parkanyi says that demand among tourists all over the world is high. The first time that we got tourists to attend an Indian wedding was two years ago and since then we have helped scores of international travelers around 100 at least attend over 25 weddings in India, she told India Times. The demand is growing. There are hundreds of travelers who we know are keen to attend these weddings. So far feedback from both tourists and Indian couples appears to be very positive: View this post on Instagram A post shared by JoinMyWedding (@joinmywedding) on Nov 29, 2016 at 2:17pm PST The monetary contribution I made was the best and easiest way to thank the couple for their hospitality and this extraordinary experience, one Hungarian tourist said. Couples, on the other hand, are excited to know people from other countries and the extra money doesnt hurt either. Despite the increasing popularity of wedding tourism, entrepreneurs like Orsi Parkanyi are aware that such ticketed weddings are vulnerable to fraud, which is why companies facilitating these arrangements have a validation procedure for both couples and guests. Actually, we talk personally to each couple -sometimes for hours and make sure our travelers need for safety is met. There is a detailed interaction through mails and social media so that everyone is convinced of genuineness, the founder of JoinMyWedding said. So, would you be interested in selling tickets to your wedding to tourists? People with an aversion to the news industry have more difficulty differentiating between actual news and fake news content, according to a recent report from the News Co/Lab at Arizona State Universitys Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austins Center for Media Engagement. The study, which sought to measure local communities news fluency as well as their attitudes toward the press, tested respondents ability to identify phony headlines and compared those findings along shared education, income and age characteristics. It discovered that those who harbor a dislike for the media are often bad at discerning fake news from the real thing, and worse, often dont realize theyre doing so. Respondents were asked for the first word that came to mind when they heard the word news. About 62 percent responded with a negative phrase, fake, lies, "untrustworthy or BS among the responses provided. The remaining 38 percent responded with a positive or neutral phrase such as information or factual. Those who used a negative word in reaction to the news" identified as Republican 74 percent of the time, compared to 26 percent who identified as Democrat. Percent Who Used a Negative Word in Reaction to "News." Participants were then shown a series of headlines or story ledes and were asked to identify whether that item was news, opinion, analysis or advertising content. Those who used a negative phrase to describe the news were less likely to distinguish news from opinion or advertising compared to those who used a positive or neutral phrase (73.8 percent vs. 79.5 percent, respectively). The survey also discovered that education level seems to make a difference in someones ability to parse real news from phony content. Respondents were supplied with three headlines, two real and one fake. While the study found that most overall (62 percent) correctly identified which headline was fake, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of those with a college degree or more were able to successfully spot the fake headline, compared to 57 percent of those with less than a college degree. Income also appeared to be a causal factor. Those earning $150,000 or more a year were statistically more likely to detect false news better than those making less than $30,000 a year (71 percent vs. 54 percent, respectively). The same goes for age: about two-thirds (66 percent) of respondents between the ages of 18 to 64 were able to correctly identify a fake news headline, compared to 56 percent of those ages 65 and older. In another part of the survey, respondents were asked whether they occasionally require help finding the information they need online. Those who used negative phrases to describe the news were less likely to admit they ever needed help (34 percent) compared to those with positive or neutral reactions to the news (42 percent). Those with a high school education or less were also more likely (44 percent) to say they sometimes needed help finding information online compared to those with an associate's degree (38 percent) or those with at least a bachelors degree (34 percent). Partisan identity, on the other hand, didnt appear to be a clear causal factor in determining whether someone is more or less likely to be fooled by a fake headline (two communities polled revealed that Democrats were statistically more likely to spot fake news, but a third found that fewer than 60 percent overall were able to correctly identify a false headline, with no statistically significant differences in partisanship among this group). However, those identifying as Democrats were far less likely to use a negative word when describing the news compared to those identifying as Republicans (26 percent vs. 74 percent, respectively). The News Co/Lab / Center for Media Engagement at UT Austin study surveyed more than 4,800 people in Macon, GA; Fresno, CA; and Kansas City, MO via Facebook between May and June. A separate portion of the survey partnered with local newsrooms in those cities, surveying 88 journalists and 51 news sources via the Qualtrics research platform between July and October. These findings also revealed a disparity between how reporters view themselves and the publics perceptions of them. When asked if their news organization is focused on helping the community, 83 percent of journalists agreed, compared to only nine percent of the public. When asked if their newsroom knows the community well, 85 percent of journalists agreed, while only 29 percent of the public agreed with this statement. And while an overwhelming number of journalists (93 percent) felt their newsroom was concerned with the communitys interests, only 10 percent of the public agreed that this was true. Prince Mohammed bin Salman President Trump today trashed any amount of decency and integrity that he may have had. He accomplished that feat by releasing an extraordinary eight-paragraph statement in which he rejected the Central Intelligence Agency's finding that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave the order to murder dissident and Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi last month. In the mind-numbing statement, the president let the unhinged Prince off the hook for his role in the grisly killing of a resident of the US. Throwing the moral standing of this country under the bus, Trump implied that any action against the Prince would jeopardize that $450B in contracts that he claims to have negotiated during his trip to Saudi Arabia. Dollars before principles. While $450B is a headline number, the American Enterprise Institute says the size of the US economy was $19.2T in 2017. The upshot: the US economy wouldn't skip a beat if the Saudis pull the plug on US deal. But how about adding a dose of reality to TrumpWorld? Nonsensically, Trump's statement reads, "If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiariesand very happy to acquire all of this newfound business," as if those countries could supply the Kingdom with replacement parts and training required for the US-made weapons systems already in place, or sell hardware that matches the level of America's technical sophistication. Trump flat out took the word of King Salman and a 33-year-old Prince, who is in way over his head, that they had nothing to do with the torture, murder and dismemberment of Khashoggi. "Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could be very well be that Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic eventmaybe he did, and maybe he didn't," said the statement. He did, Donald. Sowing seeds of doubt is standard operating procedure for the president, whether it is climate change, Putin meddling in the 2016 election or Middle East terrorists hitching rides in the Central American caravan. The "Statement from President Donald J. Trump on Standing with Saudi Arabia" is a flat-out disgrace and affront to the conscience of the American people. Historians will analyze it as the day that America walked away from global justice and accoutability The statement leads any fair-minded observer to wonder what the Saudis have on Trump, who boasted on the campaign trail that the Saudis shell out $30M to $40M for Trump condos. Trump's statement reinforces the need for the release of his tax returns. The country should thank its lucky stars that the Democrats took control of the House in this month's election. Let the subpoenas fly! Trump began and ended his statement with "America First!" "Saudi Arabia First!" would be been more fitting. Or even better, "Donald J. Trump First!" RTE are looking for 24 men and women to take on the biggest challenge of their lives for a new TV series. Under the command of former special force soldiers, recruits will take part in an 8-day military bootcamp based on one of the worlds toughest military selection courses. This will be the ultimate physical and mental endurance test. Ultimate Hell Week is an incredibly entertaining and successful BBC format that is making its debut in Ireland in 2019. "This is a unique military bootcamp where successful candidates will be pushed beyond their mental and physical limits by battle-hardened veterans from the Irish special forces. The course is based on the training methods used to select the most elite soldiers and will be the ultimate test of fitness and mental resilience," producers said. Do you have what it takes? APPLY NOW: www.rte.ie/hellweek Applicants must be 18 years of age or over. Closing date: Wed 5th December. ONLY THE TOUGHEST WILL SURVIVE. PICTURED ABOVE: Cllr John Leahy, Offaly Co. Co., Cllr. Peter Ormond, Moneygall Dev. Assoc. & Offaly Co. Co., Sean OFarrell, Moneygall Dev. Assoc., Henry Healy, Chair Moneygall Dev. Assoc., Dolores O'Brien-Whyte, Moneygall Dev. Assoc., Marian Ryan, Moneygall Dev. Assoc., Cllr Danny Owens, Chair, Offaly Co. Co., Cllr John Clendennen, Offaly Co. Co., Martin Daly, Community & Culture, Offaly Co. Co. Offaly based community groups were among those honoured at the annual IPB Pride of Place awards held on Cork City Hall on Saturday evening, November 17. Moneygall Development Association were crowned overall winners in the Community Tourism Category. Accepting the award, Chairperson Henry Healy, stated, Moneygall has worked hard to create an exciting tourist destination and this award is recognition of the pride we have in our community. Representing County Offaly with great distinction in the IPB Pride of Place Awards were Clonbullogue Development Association, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland Mount Bolus and Moneygall Development Association. Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Danny Owens congratulated the three participants in this years who Pride of Place, stating: The purpose of this initiative is to acknowledge the commitment and hard work being done by all of you and to celebrate with you your contribution to the enhancement of your community and environment and the creation of civic pride. In all 800 community heroes from across the country attended last Saturdays IPB Pride of Place Awards at Cork City Hall. The annual competition, described as the Oscars of the Community Sector, celebrates the often unsung work of community groups that selflessly work to make local neighbourhoods a better place to live in, work in or visit. Organised by Co-Operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place awards sees the countrys local authorities, on both sides of the border, nominate outstanding projects that contribute to civic pride. A large, drop-shaped natural pearl pendant sold for more than $36 million Wednesday at a rare auction of jewelry that once belonged to French Queen Marie Antoinette, which Sotheby's is calling a record price for a pearl at auction. The "Queen Marie Antoinette's Pearl," a diamond-and-pearl pendant, was among the highlight offerings on the block at the Sotheby's sale of jewelry from the Bourbon-Parma dynasty in Geneva. Sotheby's billed the sale as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to scoop up heirlooms and jewels that have been held in the Bourbon-Parma dynasty for generations. Some of the Marie Antoinette jewelry hadn't been seen in public for 200 years until now. Like many of the 10 former Marie Antoinette pieces up for sale, the pendant obliterated the pre-auction estimate in its case, $1 million to $2 million. It sold for a hammer price of 32 million Swiss francs ($32 million), but with the buyer's premium and fees, the total sale rose to more than $36.1 million. The buyer wanted to remain anonymous, the auction house said. All told, the Marie Antoinette pieces reaped nearly $43 million. The diamond and pearl jewelry of Marie Antoinette that went under the hammer epitomized the aloof, pre-Revolutionary opulence of French royals brought down by the uprising. The wife of King Louis XVI, she was executed in France's revolutionary fervor in 1793. Before falling to the guillotine, she had secretly smuggled abroad some of her most treasured possessions to her relatives amid rising the revolutionary fervor that ultimately marked the beginning of the end of France's centuries-old monarchy. "The Marie Antoinette pendant is simply irreplaceable," Eddie LeVian, CEO of jewelers Le Vian, said before the sale. "This is about far more than the gems themselves: Marie Antoinette's jewelry is inextricably linked to the cause of the French Revolution." The queen's jewelry also included a set of pearl and diamond earrings, a diamond brooch, and a natural pearl and diamond necklace. A monogrammed, diamond-set ring bears a lock of Marie Antoinette's hair. Nearly all of those lots far outstripped the pre-sale estimates, a testament to the difficulty in assessing the value of such rarely available jewels. "It was really the Bourbon-Parma factor, plus certainly the Marie Antoinette factor," said Daniela Mascetti, Sotheby's chairman for jewelry in Europe. "Prices really rocketed. Some items sold for, I think, 20 or 25 times more than the presale estimate." Added Andres White Correns, senior director for jewelry: "We had said when we did the press conference for this sale that this was going to be the sale of this century and I think that the results tonight prove that this is the case." A Chicago police officer, an emergency room doctor and a pharmaceutical resident were killed Nov. 19 in an attack at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center on the Near South Side that sent medical personnel and police scrambling through halls, stairwells and even the nursery in search of victims and the shooter before he was found dead. 'Bitter truth' of sugarcane in Karnataka Bengaluru oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Bengaluru, Nov 20: It is the duty of the state government to provide minimum support price, subsidies and market for the agricultural produce. Besides, Food Corporation of India (FCI), also recommends that governments should support farmers with Minimum Support Price (MSP). However, the government has failed to provide scientific prices for crops. The price fixed for per ton sugarcane is less than the investment in Karnataka. The MSP for per ton sugarcane is Rs 3500 in Maharashtra, Rs 3500 in Punjab and Rs 3,000 in Haryana. The incumbent government is facing the challenges of outstanding payment by sugar factories, farm loan waiver and minimum support price. Siddaramaiah's government had announced Rs 2,500 per ton sugarcane. Now, farmers are demanding Rs 3,000. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said the issue will be resolved before the winter session begins in Belagavi. Smoking allowed only in 'standing rooms': Karnataka Govt to bars, pubs The difference in MSP for sugarcane: The Siddaramaiah government announced a minimum price Rs 2,600 per for sugarcane southern Karnataka and Rs 2500 for farmers in northern Karnataka. Farmers in south Rs 100 more because there are 16 sugar factories in the southern part and the farmers have to bear harvesting and transportation costs. However, in North Karnataka sugar factories pay for the harvesting and transportation costs. Besides, there are 45 sugar factories in the north. In North Karnataka, sugar factories are owned by powerful politicians such as Prakash Hukkeri, MB Patil, Murugesh Nirani, Umesh Katti and Siddi Namagowda. They control government irrespective of the political party in power. Therefore, the government is unable to deliver justice to farmers due to politicians self-interest. The parameter for MSP: In Maharashtra, Agricultural University survey report, agricultural expenses and commission per cent on crop will be taken into account while determining support price. However, crops on rented farmland, natural disasters and agricultural debts are not considered. Rs 2500 is fixed per quintal for rice, corn, ragi and Rs 15,000 to turmeric. Farmers' organizations have also demanded scientific prices for all crops. Outstanding amount not yet paid: Karnataka is the third largest producer of sugarcane in the country. Karnataka contributes 13 per cent of total annual production. In 2012-13, more than 58 factories had procured 33 million tons of sugarcane and produced 3.43 million tons of sugar. Even though the government has declared Rs 2500 MSP per ton, factories in Belgaum and Bagalkot district are paying only Rs 2000. 65 sugar factories in Karnataka: There are 65 sugar factories in the state and 58 are functional. There are 22 factories in the cooperative sector, with only two factories under government control. 34 privately owned, of which 33 factories are owned by political leaders. Belgaum district topped the list in sugar production with 35% of total output, 13 million tonnes of sugarcane. Profit is not in proportion to yield: Belgaum district has 21 factories. There are four factories in Bijapur, nine in Bagalkote, four in Bidar, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Davangere have three each. Last year, Karnataka had produced 2.16 million tonnes of sugarcane, 3.54 million tonnes this year. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have seen a decline in production this year adding up to up from 29.5 million tonnes till September. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 19:26 [IST] 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Convict Yashpal gets death sentence, Naresh given life imprisonment India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P New Delhi, Nov 20: Delhi's Patiala House Court on Tuesday pronounced death sentence for Yashpal Singh convicted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. He was convicted in connection with the killing of two Sikhs in south Delhi's Mahipalpur area during 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Another convict was Naresh Sehrawat was sentenced to life imprisonment. Several police officers and others, including the paramilitary forces and the DCP reserved forces were also present outside the Patiala House Court to avoid any kind of untoward incident. 1984 Anti-Sikh riots case: Witness identifies Sajjan Kumar during statement Both Naresh Sehrawat and Yashpal Singh were facing charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, rioting, weapon possession, attempt to murder and murder etc under section 452/302/307/324/395/436 read with section 149 IPC. In April 2017, The Delhi police had issued fresh summons to Naresh Sehrawat and Yashpal Singh for their alleged involvement with the case three decades after the anti-Sikh riots. Thousands of Sikh men and boys were bludgeoned, slashed and burned to death by mobs in the days after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. Activists have accused the then ruling Congress of having turned a blind eye and say some of its leaders helped orchestrate the violence. Air hostess Anissia Batra death case: Delhi High Court grants bail to in-laws India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Nov 20: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to the in-laws of a flight attendant Anissia Batra, who allegedly committed suicide in Panchsheel Park on July. Anissia's parents had filed a complaint against her husband and in-laws, accusing them of having a role in her death. They claimed that Mayank, a software engineer in Gurgaon, used to physically abuse her. The in-laws had approached the High Court after the trial court denied them anticipatory bail on July 20. On July 23, the High Court had granted them protection from arrest, which was being extended from time to time. 'Anissia Batra wanted to call police moments before she died' Mayank's parents moved the anticipatory bail application, claiming they had no role in the matter, and any dispute between their son and daughter-in-law was their internal matter. On July 17, a court had sent Mayank, who was arrested on July 16, to 14-day judicial remand after police moved an application saying the accused was not required for custodial questioning. Anissia, who worked with a German airline, allegedly jumped off the terrace of her house on July 13, after sending a message to her friend and husband that she was ending her life. Mayank rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead. Her family has alleged that her husband used to physically abuse her. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 11:19 [IST] AAP likely to field Colonel Ajay Kothiyal as CM candidate in Uttarakhand AAP leaders to visit Ram Lalla shrine before Ayodhya yatra, first list of UP candidates soon AAP to contest all seats in UP assembly polls, not in talks for any alliance: Sanjay Singh Chilli powder attack: AAP fumes at cops' version, claims BJP conspiracy India oi-PTI New Delhi, Nov 20: A man threw chilli powder at Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, an attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described as "politically motivated" while asserting that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy in collusion with Delhi Police to attack the chief minister. Delhi Police, however, issued a statement recounting the incident but did not specify whether the man threw chilli powder. The statement mentioned that the man possessed a pouch which apparently contained chilli powder. Even as the man behind the attack - Anil Kumar Sharma - was detained, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his party would not be "cowed" by these "petty tactics" by the BJP. Police said 40-year-old Sharma, a resident of Naraina, has been detained for questioning. While the AAP blamed the BJP for the alleged attack, the Delhi chief of the saffron party Manoj Tiwari said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody" and called for a high-level probe. Officials said Kumar was targeting the bespectacled chief minister's eyes. Kejriwal's spectacles broke but his eyes seemed to have been spared any damage, they added. Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of 'khaini', or chewing tobacco, they said. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted. The incident took place outside the Chief Minister's chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch. AAP's national spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who was behind Kejriwal when the incident took place tweeted, "Was right behind CM @ArvindKejriwal at the Secretariat when he was suddenly attacked, on 3rd floor right outside his office. Shocking lapse of security. Is this Delhi Police's incompetent effort to protect an elected CM? "While today just the CM's glasses fell to the floor and broke, an unacceptable security lapse nonetheless. Imagine if attacker were to be wielding a more dangerous weapon. Who were to have prevented a tragedy from occurring?" Sisodia told reporters that the "attack" surprisingly took place at a high-security area. "Recently BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of signature bridge. BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the Chief Minister," he told reporters. "We are not going to be cowed by BJP'S petty tactics," he added. AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP for the alleged attack. According to Bhardwaj, the attack happened at the chief minister's office, which is a "high-security" zone. He said it was a serious matter and termed the attack "politically motivated". "The BJP is behind the attack and the accused are being aided by the Modi government," he alleged. The Delhi BJP chief said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody". "This calls for a high-level probe," Tiwari said. Officials close to Kejriwal accused the Delhi Police of being lax in providing him security and alleged that this was the third attempt to harm him in less than a month. The AAP alleged that water bottles were thrown at Kejriwal by Tiwari at the inauguration ceremony of Signature Bridge earlier this month. "Around the time of Dussehra, an unidentified man had barged inside Kejriwal's residence and had tried to attack the CM," Bhardwaj added. In a statement issued later, Delhi Police said the incident took place around 2:25 pm on the third floor of Delhi Secretariat. "When the CM was coming out of his chamber, one person later identified as Anil tried to hand over his complaint to the chief minister who in turn passed it on to a staff member," said the statement. Meanwhile, Anil bowed down to touch the feet of Kejriwal. The Chief Minister's security tried to take him away but in the process Kejriwal's spectacles fell, it said. Subsequently the security personnel took him aside and found him carrying a pouch in his hand, which apparently contained chilli powder, it said. "Sharma was visiting the Secretariat with reference of some staff. He has been detained for further questioning," the statement added. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 23:10 [IST] Chicago firefighters wait under a flag near the medical examiner's office at Leavitt and West Harrison streets in Chicago on Nov. 19, 2018. A Chicago police officer was killed at Mercy Hospital earlier in a mass shooting that also left three others dead, including the gunman. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) RBI decision to allow NBFCs apply for Aadhaar-e-KYC Authentication Licence to promote digitisation RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent for 8th time in a row PM Modi launches RBI Retail Direct, Integrated Ombudsman schemes: All you need to know Committee for RBIs capital framework to be formed within a week India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P New Delhi, Nov 20: The committee for Reserve Bank of India's capital framework to be formed within a week. RBI Governor and Finance Minister to together decide the composition of the committee. MSME funding details have been decided. Detailed guidelines to be issued shortly, according to reports. Glad govt acknowledged independence of RBI: Chidambaram The RBI Central Board met in Mumbai on Monday and discussed the Basel regulatory capital framework, a restructuring scheme for stressed MSMEs, bank health under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework and the Economic Capital Framework (ECF) of RBI. The Board decided to constitute an expert committee to examine the ECF, the membership and terms of reference of which will be jointly determined by the Government of India and the RBI. The Board also advised that the RBI should consider a scheme for restructuring of stressed standard assets of MSME borrowers with aggregate credit facilities of up to 250 million, subject to such conditions as are necessary for ensuring financial stability. In Marathon meeting, RBI agrees to ease liquidity, increase credit to MSMEs The Board, while deciding to retain the CRAR at 9%, agreed to extend the transition period for implementing the last tranche of 0.625% under the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB), by one year, i.e., up to March 31, 2020. With regard to banks under PCA, it was decided that the matter will be examined by the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of RBI. N Chandrasekaran Tata Sons Chairman, N Chandrasekaran leaves after a board meeting at the RBI Headquarters, in Mumbai, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. Revathy Iyer RBI board member Revathy Iyer leaves after a board meeting at the RBI Headquarters, in Mumbai, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. Bharat Dosh RBI board Director Bharat Doshi leaves after a board meeting at the RBI Headquarters, in Mumbai, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. Manish Sabharwal RBI board member Manish Sabharwal leaves after a board meeting at the RBI Headquarters, in Mumbai, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. PIC Courtesy: PTI Photos It took 70 years for Yamuna to get this dirty, can't be cleaned in 2 days: CM Kejriwal Mission Punjab: Kejriwal to begin 2-day visit to state from today, will make big announcements in Moga Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal attacked with chilli powder; suspect arrested India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Nov 20: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Tuesday attacked with chilli powder in Delhi Secretariat. The incident took place around 2 pm when the AAP convenor left his chamber to have lunch. According to the reports, the accused identified as Anil Kumar Hindustani has been taken into custody. During the incident, Kejriwal's spectacles got damaged. A sachet of chilli powder was also found outside Kejriwal's chamber in the Delhi Secretariat. Anil Kumar (pic 1) came to meet Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the Secretariat to share his grievances.He handed a note to the CM & touched his feet, and chilli powder fell down from his hand (pic 2).Probe underway whether it was an attack or powder fell unintentionally:Delhi Police pic.twitter.com/IpoM73OtCh ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018 The attacker also threatened to shoot the chief minister, sources said. "After attacking the chief minister, he shouted that he will kill him and that he has already announced the same in a Facebook post," they said. Delhi CM Kejriwal supports Andhra Pradesh decision on CBI In January 2016, a woman threw ink at Kejriwal during a public event that was organised to celebrate the Delhi government's success with the odd-even vehicle traffic rationing initiative. Four months later, a man threw a shoe at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal while he was speaking about the reintroduction of odd-even scheme in the national capital. Both attackers were from the Aam Aadmi Sena, an offshoot formed by alleged disgruntled AAP volunteers. Delhi: Nine held for murdering elderly doctor to fund their holiday trip India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Nov 20: In a bizarre incident, nine friends allegedly killed an Ayurvedic doctor and decamped with cash and jewellery worth Rs 11 lakh in order to fun their holiday trip. The accused in the murder case has been identified as Rizwan alias Rizu, Vishal Rawat alias Bunty, Sandhya Rawat, Raju Rawat, Afroz were residents of Bhalswa Dairy, while Rizwan alias Nasty, Ammar, Riyasat and the juvenile belonged to Jahangirpuri, added the police. Employee and his relatives murder fashion designer, her servant in Delhi's Vasant Kunj Before the nine friends could embark on their much-awaited trip, police were able to nab Vishal Rawat. Based on the information gathered from the accused, the other eight were arrested. Horrific: 'Alcoholic' man smashes heads of three minor daughters with hammer Police said that cash amounting to Rs 5,50,000 and 70 per cent of the jewellery stolen from the doctor's house were recovered. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 11:39 [IST] Delhi on high alert, Cops look for 2 suspected Jaish terrorists India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Nov 20: Delhi Police has released a photograph of two suspected terrorists who are feared to have entered the national capital, and asked the people to keep a lookout for them. The advisory bears a photograph of the two bearded men posing next to a milestone stating 'Delhi 360 km, Ferozepur 9 km' in dark kurtas and religious headgear. Anybody spotting them is requested to call the Paharganj police station on 011-23520787 or 011-2352474. Meanwhile, Punjab Police had also issued a high alert for the national capital after receive information about seven Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists who are feared to have entered the region via Punjab. Following the alert, security officials had tightened the security of important offices, including the Prime Minister's Office and the defence ministry. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 21:42 [IST] Cleaning up the inside rot: The importance of gunning down Kashmirs white collared terrorists Hyderpora encounter: Bodies of two civilians exhumed, to be handed over to families J&K govt accountable for every rupee spent on ground after revoking Article 370: FM Sitharaman J&K: 4 terrorists killed, para commando martyred in Shopian encounter India oi-Madhuri Adnal Shopian, Nov 20: Security forces gunned down four terrorists after an encounter broke out in Nadigam village in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian early Tuesday morning, just minutes before the Panchayat polls. Two to three terrorists engaged security forces in a fierce gunfight at around 0300hrs but were pinned down by counter fire. The gunbattle reportedly lasted well over an hour in which four terrorists were killed. The deceased soldier has been identified as 37-year-old Lance Havaldar from Haryana's Bhiwani district. J&K: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Poonch district "Four terrorists have been killed in the operation in Nadigam area of Shopian," PTI quoted Srinagar-based defence spokesman, Col Rajesh Kalia as saying. However, a police official said an Army man was killed while two others were injured in the encounter. "The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired on the forces, who retaliated," PTI quoted a police official as saying. A search operation for a possible third has been launched in a joint operation between Indian Army, CRPF and J&K police. (with PTI inputs) Death toll in Delhi now at 42, number of injured 250 After the violence, an outreach programme by police Delhi violence: One of five injured men, forced to sing National Anthem, dies J&K: Hurriyat leader Hafizullah Mir shot dead in Achabal area India oi-Madhuri Adnal Srinagar, Nov 20: Hurriyat leader Hafizullah Mir was on Tuesday shot dead in Jammu Kashmir's Achabal area in Anantnag district. The separatist leader was shifted to a hospital in a critical condition after being shot, where he succumbed to his injuries. Reports said that gunmen shot Mir at his home in Akingam area of Achabal. He was immediately rushed to district hospital Anantnag where doctors declared him dead on arrival. According to a Kashmir Life report, his wife was also injured and is currently being treated at the hospital. Mir was released from jail last month after serving two-year detention. Karnataka state womens panel objects to men roaming nude on state beaches India oi-Shubham Ghosh Bengaluru, Nov 20: The Karnataka State Women's Commission is not okay with men roaming around nude on Gokarna beaches and it has sought a vigilance to keep them under check. According to a report in Times of India, chairperson NG Nagalakshmi Bai has written to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to increase vigil on beaches as "there have been instances of men in nude indulging in revelry and posing a threat to women". She also wanted to a dress code on male tourists to be implemented. "Recently, I had been to the Gokarna beach where I saw nonchalant men roaming around in the nude. It is not just embarrassing for women and children but is also a serious security threat," she said, according to ToI. The commission said it had no objection if men wore proper beach shorts during revelry but did not want them to conduct in a way that caused discomfort to others. In many countries, nudity on beaches is allowed. However, in India nudity in public is illegal under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code and attracts imprisonment for a period of three months. In February, Goa Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai courted controversy by saying domestic tourists visiting Goa are "scum of the earth" and did not retract his statement despite facing flak and defended himself saying he was not against North Indians. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 12:54 [IST] Killing of another RSS worker shows how deep rooted Islamic radicalisation is in Kerala Kerala plans aerospace park, to supply components for ISRO projects India oi-Deepika S Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 21: The much awaited space tech park inKerala for which the state government had tied up with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in March this year, would likely to be up and running by June next year. This will be India's first of its kind 'space park' and will incubate and promote startups in the satellite and space technology sector. The space tech park will function primarily as a hub for manufacturing of small satellites and rocket launch equipment. It would allow access to other start-ups in space technology and common facilities offered by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO's rocket science division. According to a Financial Express report the Cabinet of Kerala state government has given the green signal for the space park initiative with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the rocket science arm of the ISRO. The state Cabinet has cleared permission to allow 3.94 acre of land in Technocity, Thiruvananthapuram, on 90-year lease. In the vicinity of the upcoming space park, there's - Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) which is located at Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, and presence of this makes the centre a perfect integrated ecology for space technology. The idea is to create a manufacturing hub for small satellites and rocket launching devices. This nano space park will enable start-ups in the space technology to upgrade themselves with the state-of-the-art common facility centre offered by the VSSC. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, November 21, 2018, 2:41 [IST] Khalistan: Babbar Khalsa, Lashkar share common office outside Nankana Sahib India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Nov 20: The attack at Amritsar has once again triggered the debate on the rise of Khalistan militancy in Punjab. Preliminary investigations into Sunday's attack which claimed three lives revealed that the ISI had stage managed this attack to create a wedge between the Sikhs and the Nirankaris. The link between the ISI and the Khalistan Forces goes a long way back. Post the crackdown on terror in Punjab, several top leaders of the Khalistan groups had fled to Pakistan. They were given shelter, training and also assured that they would be launched into India at an appropriate time. Back in 2007, these groups tested the waters, when they carried out a blast at a cinema hall in Ludhiana in which 6 persons died and 30 others were injured. The police said that this was an act carried out by the pro-Khalistan forces with the help of the ISI. Sowing the seeds of terror: Back in 2005, the Intelligence Bureau had prepared a detailed report on how terrorism in Punjab was being revived. It spoke about a plan that was hatched in 2001 to revive terrorism. The report also spoke about an extensive training programme that lasted a month in Pakistan. At this month long training camp, both terrorists of the Babbar Khalsa International and Lashkar-e-Tayiba trained together. It was also found that they were operating in a common office that has been set up outside the Nankana Sahib, a small town in the sub divisional headquarter of Shekhpura in West Punjab, Pakistan. Amritsar blast is clear case of terrorism, says Amarinder Singh During this period the ISI went out of its way to ensure that these terrorists were provided for aptly and also protected. The ISI had under its shelter outfits such as the Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Zindabad Force, International Sikh Youth Federation, Khalistan Commando Force and Dal Khalsa. When the 9/11 attack took place, the ISI immediately moved all these terrorists to Islamabad, so that they remained protected from the US attack. More importantly, the ISI did not want this nexus exposed. The historic links: Apart from the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, these groups also worked closely with the Jamaat-e-Islami. In 2006, the Indian agencies picked up intercepts about a meeting between the JeM and BKI, which was held at Mansoora. The JeM offered the BKI shelter, arms and ammunition and also training. Amritsar attack: Did ISI try to drive a wedge between Nirankari and mainstream Sikhs The bigger game plan by the ISI was to portray both terrorists from Punjab and Kashmir as natural allies fighting the government of India. The ISI would cite the historic links between the Sikhs and Muslims in a bid to create a common ground between them. The ISI had also gone ahead and set up the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee. The formation of this committee increased the interaction between the pro-Khalistani forces. Pakistan also went a step ahead and liberalised the visas for these persons. In this context, it would also be important to mention that the Sikhs for Justice proposes to sponsor the pilgrimage of several Sikhs to Pakistan next year. The SJF, which is a pro-khalistan organisation which works in Canada, Europe and UK had recently promoted the London Declaration of the Referendum 2020. A wake up call as Punjab comes under attack again The SJF is now planning to fund the visit of nearly a lakh Sikh pilgrims to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak next year. The agencies in India believe that the ISI would try and propagate among the pilgrims the need for a pro-Khalistan movement. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 10:41 [IST] Why the rise of Sikh separatism in the United States needs to be flagged harder Khalistan terror: Top four and the most dangerous of them all India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Nov 20: The revival of militancy in Punjab has become a major issue. While smaller modules in India have been busted, there seems to a constant propaganda out there, which is looking to gain the attention of the youth in a bid to revive militancy in Punjab and further the Khalistan cause. While it has become clear that the ISI has been backing this movement, the Indian agencies point out towards four persons living in Pakistan, who are the backbone of this movement. Here are the top four who are reviving militancy in Punjab: Wadhawan Singh Babbar, Chief of Babbar Khalsa: Singh is a resident of Sadhu Chattha, a village near Kaurthala. He started off as a political life member of Punjab's naxalite movement. The defeat of the movement and the ultra-left ideology made his turn towards the far right. Khalistan: Babbar Khalsa, Lashkar share common office outside Nankana Sahib Later on he got motivated by Tarsem Singh Kalasanghian, a top figure of the Khalistan movement in 1978. Singh went on to join the Akhand Kirtani and went on to fun the Babbar Khalsa International. Currently in Lahore, he largely ran the outfit with the backing of the ISI and his brother Mahal Singh. The BKI is one of the most lethal groups and its chief was the one who ordered the assassination of then Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh. He also has been charged for four other cases of murders in 1981. Ranjith Singh Neeta, chief of Khalistan Zindabad Force: He resides in Lahore currently. Neeta originally hails from Ward 2 in Jammu's Sumbal camp area. He started off as a small time criminal and was actively involved with smugglers in R S Pora. A wake up call as Punjab comes under attack again Closely linked with the ISI, Neeta's KZF had committed that his troops will fight alongside terror groups in Kashmir. This group is particularly close to the Hizbul Mujahideen. Neeta has been accused of a series of crimes that include blasts on trains and buses running between Jammu and Pathankot between the years 1988 and 1999. In October 2001, a case was filed against him for the killing of a DSP, Devinder Sharma. Paramjeet Singh Panjawar, chief of Khalistan Commando force: He is wanted for reviving Sikh insurgency, conspiracy, smuggling and murder. He is also wanted in the murder of former army chief, General A S Vaidya. He hails from the Panjwar village near Tarn Taran. Prior to joining the outfit, he worked at the Central Cooperative Bank in Sohal. He joined the KCF in the 1990s and has been its active member since then. He is accused of indulging in heroin smuggling to raise funds for the outfit. It is back: How ISI's Khalistan force is churning the communal cauldron of terror in Punjab Lakhbhir Singh Rode, chief of ISYF: The nephew of the very feared Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, he joined the movement in 1982 after spending five years in Dubai. He is considered to be a cult figure and is instrumental in overseeing the fund raising that takes place in US, UK and Canada. Watching patients die from things that would 100 percent be treatable in the US is extremely disheartening, Dayna Less wrote. Its been very important for me to focus on the positive things we are doing here because it can be difficult to see how we are making a difference. But, its worth it when you fight for something and it actually happens! Even if its as small as making sure a patient gets their medication, we are doing something that matters. Alcohol gets cheaper in Maharashtra as State cuts excise duty on imported scotch by 50% Maharashtra: 6 killed, 10 injured in explosion in Pulgaon Army depot in Wardha India oi-Madhuri Adnal Mumbai, Nov 20: At least six people have been killed and ten were injured in an explosion inside the Army explosive depot in Maharashtra's Wardha city on Tuesday morning. The blast took place in Pulgaon around 8:00 am when disposal of old explosives was being carried out. The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital. Confirming the incident, the police said that three persons including ammunition factory employee and two labourers have been killed. The blast happened while unloading ammunition of 23mm. It is learnt that the demolition ground at Central Ammunition Depot, Pulgaon was given to Ammunition Factory, Khamaria for their demolition activities. UP: 8 dead, 2 injured after explosion in a firecracker factory in Budaun Speaking on Pulgaon explosion BB Pande, Defence PRO Nagpur said,''While carrying out the demolition of old explosives by the staff of Ordnance Factory Khamaria, Jabalpur at the demolition land in Pulgaon there was an accident. In the incident 3 labourers & 1 staff of ordnance lost lives.'' Maharashtra Government declared a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for those critically injured in the explosion. In May, 2016, at least 16 Defence personnel, including two Army officers, were killed in a massive fire that broke out at one of Asia's biggest ammunition depot in Pulgaon, Wardha. The depot houses the largest stockpile of weapons in the country. Stocks, including bombs, grenades, shells, assorted rifles, missiles and other explosives from various factories, come here first and then distributed to various forward areas. Muzaffarpur shelter home case: Manju Verma sent to 14-days judicial custody India oi-Madhuri Adnal Patna, Nov 20: Former Bihar minister Manju Verma on Tuesday has surrendered before a court in Begusarai in connection with shelter home rape case. She was sent to 14-days judicial custody. It is learnt that Manju Verma was hiding in Bihar. Verma reached the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Prabhat Trivedi in an auto rickshaw. She fainted as soon as she entered the court premises along with a few aides. She regained consciousness after water was sprinkled on her face by bystanders after which she was taken into the court room. Verma had been evading arrest since she was charged with an Arms Act case after illegal arms were found in her house during a CBI raid in connection with the sex scandal. The Supreme Court on Monday (November 12) rapped the two top most officials of Bihar asking why a former minister linked to the probe could not be traced. The top court also summoned the Director General of Bihar Police to appear before it on November 27 if the police fails to arrest Manju Verma by then. Muzaffarpur shelter home case: JDU leader Manju Verma suspended from party The Bihar government on October 31 told the Supreme Court that Manju Verma had gone missing. Chandrashekhar Verma, the husband of Manju Verma, had last month surrendered before the District Court Manjhaul in connection with Muzaffarpur shelter home case. A team of CBI, investigating the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case, had raided the former minister's house in Patna and Begusarai simultaneously on August 17 and recovered a huge cache of ammunition. Manju Verma had resigned as the Social Welfare Minister in the Bihar government in the wake of Muzaffarpur case, where several women at a shelter home were allegedly raped and sexually abused, after it came to light that her husband Chandrashekhar Verma had spoken to prime accused Brajesh Thakur several times between January and June this year. Chandrashekhar Verma was the owner of the home. The alleged sexual exploitation of the girls was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to the state's social welfare department. NIA chargesheets Masood Azhar's brother, 13 others in Nagrota army camp attack India oi-PTI New Delhi, Nov 20: The NIA Tuesday filed a charge sheet against Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, deputy chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group and brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, and 13 others in connection with a case pertaining to the attack on an Army camp in Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir in November 2016, officials said. The spokesman of the NIA said in a statement that the charge sheet was filed under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (substitute of IPC in Jammu and Kashmir), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Foreigners Act against the accused. "Investigation conducted by the NIA revealed that four local Kashmiri JeM members, namely Mohd. Ashiq Baba alias Mohd. Ashaq, Syed Munir-Ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmad Dar and Ashraf Hamid Khandey (all arrested by NIA) had facilitated a group of three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists and transported them from International Border in Samba-Kathua sector to Hotel Jagdamba in Jammu and subsequently to Nagrota in their vehicles for the attack on the November 28, 2016 on Officers' Mess Complex, 166 Medium Regiment of Indian Army in Nagrota Cantonment (near Jammu)," the spokesman said. Terror groups increasingly funding religious activity to set up sleeper cells The three Pakistani JeM terrorists -- Khalid alias Abu Hissam, Numan and Aadil, who were highly trained and equipped with AK-47 rifles and explosives carried out the attack in which seven Army personnel were killed and three were injured. All the three terrorists were killed. The NIA said the probe showed that Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, Deputy Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad and brother of Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was the mastermind of the Nagrota attack. "He worked out the plan of Fidyeen (suicide) attack and provided training to above three Pakistani JeM terrorists. He also directed Mufti Asgar (launch commander of JeM in Kashmir region) to provide training, funds, equipment and mobile and other logistics to local JeM member Mohd. Ashiq Baba. Khalistan terror: Top four and the most dangerous of them all Mohd Ashiq Baba had visited Pakistan many times and met JeM terrorists Waseem (Operational commander of JeM), Abu Talha alias Doctor (deputy commander in Jammu region) and Qari Zarar (launch commander of JeM for Jammu region). He was taken for a meeting with Mufti Asgar at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On reaching there he was received by Abdullah alias Al Hijama and Tariq Mir, both JeM terrorists who are close associates of Mufti Asgar. "During meeting with top leadership of JeM commanders Mufti Asgar chalked out a detailed plan including the modus operandi to be adopted for infiltration of JeM terrorists and he asked Ashiq to activate local JeM network in Jammu and Kashmir for Jehadi cause. Ashiq Baba was given training at Manshera in Pakistan and handed over money for arranging logistics along with a GPS enabled Huawei mobile phone for communication with JeM leaders in Pakistan," the spokesman said. The NIA has collected evidence on the basis of disclosure of the accused, detailed social media analysis, digital evidence through requests under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and analysis of data extracted from the seized digital devices. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 22:33 [IST] Pak-bound aircraft makes priority landing in Jaipur after pilot gets open door indication India oi-Madhuri Adnal Jaipur, Nov 20: A Pakistan-bound Cessna aircraft made a priority landing at the airport here on Tuesday, after the pilot go an "indication of open door". Jaipur Airport official said,''The aircraft had taken off from Lucknow for Karachi in the morning. There were only cockpit crew in the aircraft. State Intelligence bureau informed.'' P&W engine problem: Another IndiGo neo aircraft grounded In August this year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had suspended the flying licence of the commander of a Cessna. The license was suspended after the pilot crashed the aircraft into the boundary wall of Sri Ganganagar airport in Rajasthan while landing. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 12:49 [IST] Political outfits led by Upendra Kushwaha and Sharad Yadav likely to merge to take on NDA? India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Nov 20: Uncertainty prevails over the fact that which way Rashtriya Lok Samata Party led by Union minister of state for Human Resource development Upendra Kushwaha will go. But it is most likely for the Bihar leaders that he will either merge his party with the outfit Loktantrik Janata Dal under the patronage of former Union agriculture minister Sharad Yadav or vice versa. It is almost certain that he will not get what he is demanding in NDA. Sources said that talks in this regard are in the final state and the group will consolidate itself against National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which has Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party. Upendra Kushwaha miffed with BJP, says seat sharing offer for 2019 'not respectable' Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah has already denied audience twice because he has already been given the proposal but he is demanding more which is not acceptable to them. Party general secretary met him and heard him on both the occasions. Moreover, acrimony between Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha is known to all and there is no chance of that issue getting resolved. The NDA wants to go ahead with its plans and in no mood to invest any more time on Bihar alliance. Upendra Kushwaha attacks Nitish Kumar amid reports of RLSP MLA joining JD(U) So Upendra and Sharad Yadav will join hands in Bihar and there is also chances of Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress also join them and if this happens, the NDA will have tough time in Bihar. But the current situation is like this. The recent meeting between Sharad Yadav and Kushwaha was about such arrangements however none of parties could have been reached about for clarification on this issue. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 21:53 [IST] Smoking allowed only in standing rooms: Karnataka Govt to bars, pubs India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Bengaluru, Nov 20: The Karnataka government directed bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels to have only 'standing rooms' for smoking. Karnataka's Urban Development and Housing Minister, UT Khader, warned that any violations will result in cancellation of their licenses under the Karnataka Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Health of Non-Smokers Act 2001. As per the circular, the government said establishments can earmark a smoking zone after taking due permission, but cannot provide furniture, seating arrangements or curtains as per the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COPTA). Also, non-smokers and under 18 individuals should be prohibited from entering these areas. Mysore engineers furious over proposed Cauvery tower, Disneyland This move attempts to protect non-smokers from the dangers of passive smoking. Smoking will be allowed in the designated smoking areas only after obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the civic body concerned that will check whether the eatery has a seating capacity above 30. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 11:53 [IST] Terror groups increasingly funding religious activity to set up sleeper cells India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Nov 20: A recent probe by the National Investigation Agency had found that a Mosque at Palwal in Haryana was built with the funds of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. This came to light when the NIA was probing a module of the Falah-e-Insaniyat, the financial wing of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, that was busted in New Delhi recently. The NIA stated that three men including the Imam of the Mosque were arrested for allegedly receiving funds from the FeF. The report stated that the Imam of the Mosque Mohammad Salman was given Rs 70 lakh to build the Mosque. Further it was stated that Salman had come in contact with members of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba during a trip to Dubai. Was the Haryana Mosque funded by Lashkar? No says panel, NIA digs deeper The NIA now has put under its scanner the three trips to Pakistan made by Salman. The agency is however finding it difficult to ascertain the money trail as most of the payments were made through hawala. NIA officials say that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and other terror groups have for long tried to establish their sleeper cells in India, by funding religious activity. It has been found to be on a very large scale in Kerala. Back in the year 2014, the Intelligence Bureau had sounded an alert that the Wahhabis in a bid to impose their rigid ideology had begun funding some Mosques in Kerala. Back that year, the Wahhabis had generated over Rs 1,000 crore through funds from Saudi Arabia. Terror groups funding Mosques: How Kashmir-Kerala paved the way towards radicalisation The huge inflow of funds was being used in Kerala to nurture the Wahhabi sect. The IB had said that an approximate of Rs 800 crore had been earmarked to set up four Wahhabi universities, 40 Mosques at the cost of Rs 400 crore, Rs 300 crore to set up Madrasas and Rs 100 crore to take over administration of Mosques. A similar incident was also reported in Maharashtra, where the agencies believe that Wahhabis have control of nearly 40 Mosques. In Kerala the number stands at 75. Radical elements, be it in Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra or Kashmir first try to gain control over the Mosques. They feel that once they gain control over the administration over the Mosques, they can easily impose the radical school of thought. Mosques can be a huge influence on many, officers say. Take the case of Kashmir, where the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith began taking over the Mosques. The first state to see the rise of Wahhabism was Kashmir and in the run up, the Wahhabis managed to take control over at least 400 Mosques in the state. Pakistani Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist charged by NIA Till date the loud speakers in several Mosques are used to preach sermons and in recent times instigate stone pelters. The Mosques in the state have also been accused of raising pro-Pakistan slogans and this had reached an all time high following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani. Intelligence Bureau officials say that some Mosques have been earmarked only to flare up tensions. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 16:42 [IST] Twitter CEO slammed for holding 'Smash Brahminical Patriarchy' poster India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P New Delhi, Nov 20: Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey stirred a controversy for holding a political poster during his visit to the country. Dorsey held a closed-door discussion with a group of women journalist hosted by Twitter India. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack that read, "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy" Recently we hosted a closed door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack. https://t.co/96gd3XmFgK Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) November 19, 2018 Notably, Right-leaning, outraged against the CEO, accusing him of attacking an "ethnic group" and questioning why only Left-wing individuals were invited to the meet. Responding to the anti-Brahmin poster, Former Supreme Court Judge, Markandeya Katju, said, " 'Smash Brahminical Patriarchy' is anti-national slogan. It divides India into caste lines and so is part of divide and rule policy of our enemies. We must be united to face huge challenges before the country. There are many enlightened Brahmins who oppose the caste system, Dalits should unite with them." 'Smash Brahminical Patriarchy' is anti-national slogan. It divides India on caste lines&so is part of divide&rule policy of our enemies. We must be united 2face huge challenges before country.Der r many enlightened Brahmins hu oppose caste system&dalits shud unite with dem Markandey Katju (@mkatju) November 20, 2018 @vijaya @jack Before holding "smash brahmanical patriarchy" card did u do some research on Brahmins? It's racist and a hate message. Like in US, European we have our share of issues, but we don't brand a community with hate message. Abinash Padhi (@abinashpadhi) November 20, 2018 You should probably consult a psychiatrist dear @jack Don't try to irritate Hindus by posting images of our Gods in any manner you wish You have got enough on your face due to your anti Brahmin poster This again Are you trying to be Rahul Gandhi? Or took his orders? https://t.co/L0jpwriUE5 Shakuntala Iyer (@shakkuiyer) November 20, 2018 Twitter India further tweeted that the statement is not a representation of the organisation or the CEO, but a perceptible replication of the company's effort to see, hear and perceive the different sides of public conversations that happen on their service across the globe. Jack Dorsey is on a visit to India and has met PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Shah Rukh Khan, and others, participated in a roundtable with women journalists, writers, and activists to converse about the Twitter experience in India. VHP threatens nation-wide protest on Sabarimala if state govt continues right violations India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Nov 20: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) plans to start a nation wide movement in support of agitating people against entry of certain age group of women in Sabarimala temple. The VHP was of the view that if unconstitutional and repressive action of the Kerala government does not stop, the organisation will be forced to take it to the people across the country. VHP has threatened to make Sabarimala temple like Ayodhya if the state government does not mend its ways. "We are waiting for the final court verdict and if no respectable solution is brought about a notion-wide protest and dharna will be organised by 5 crore devotees of Lord Ayappa," said national joint general secretary of VHP Surendra Jain. On being asked if the VHP will go to court on this matter, Jain said that there are already 13 cases in the court and matter is delayed so there is no point filing a fresh case but the support of the VHP is with them. The VHP is supporting the movement in all possible ways. International general secretary of the VHP Milind Parande visited the protesting devotees. VHP accused that the state government is not protecting women's right rather it has unleashed atrocities against the Ayappa devotees. Jain accused that Kerala chief minister is trying to turn Kerala into a Hindu-free state like Kashmir. On Sabarimala issue, his behavior has become like a ruthless dictator. He has been repeatedly torturing Hindus under the pretext of the Supreme Court decision. In the name of preserving the rights of women, he is abusing the women themselves very cruelly. Jain said that because of making the Sabarimala campus a center of cruelty, the Kerala High Court was compelled to make the comment that the Chief Minister of Kerala wants to turn Kerala into a battlefield. The way even the chanting of God's name has become a crime in Kerala, it has started disturbing Hindus quite a lot. The Vijayan Government has made the pilgrim resting/standing and lounging places muddy by pouring water on the sites. Nobody is being allowed to stay after the Yatra After such a long climb, the government should have made proper arrangements for the devotees to rest, but in the name of arrangements, infrastructure and logistics, the communist government is only doing disorder and creating chaos there. Buses carrying passengers are being threatened so that passenger vehicles cannot go there. There is neither potable water available nor adequate lavatory arrangements. Due to this, women devotees are facing more problems. The Nayaa Abhishekam anointment that takes place only early in the morning is the auspicious occasion in which every Ayyappa devotee makes it a point to attend and witness. For this, they have to wait and stay overnight. "The VHP asked why Section 144 is being imposed? Was there any possibility of any kind of riot there? The country wants to know from them as to what kind of threat to law and order was present there? They must clarify this!" he said. The Vishva Hindu Parishad while condemning the abuses of the Kerala Government, cautions that its dictatorial behavior is acceptable neither to the Hindus of Kerala nor to one and all Ayyappa devotees spread across the world. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 19:45 [IST] Ram Nath Kovind assures India's cooperation with Vietnam International oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Hanoi, Nov 20: President Ram Nath Kovind and President Nguyen Phu Trong witnessed signing of memorandum of understanding (MoUs) including MOU in the field of communications and MOU between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Earlier, Ram Nath Kovind in his address to National Assembly in Hanoi recalled historical trade relations between two countries. Kovind said, " Almost 2,000 years ago, Cham kingdom symbolised one of history's great civilisations. From Vietnam, it traded across the ocean. It is believed that ancient Vietnam had flourishing trade links with South India's Pallava and Chola kingdoms." He assured that India is ready to cooperate with Vietnam to expand opportunities for all. "India offers a cooperation model that does not require its friends to make choices but rather expands choices and expands opportunities for all; that opens not one but many roads, " said the President. Ram Nath Kovind visits Da Nang museum, My Son sanctuary in Vietnam Addressing the Vietnam-India Business Forum on Monday, Kovind said India and Vietnam are old civilisations with ancient cultural and spiritual connections. The President hailed Vietnam's "spectacular" economic growth in the last two decades, as he called for Vietnamese collaboration in India's flagship government programmes to boost bilateral trade, technology and investment relations. "But the story of our engagement is much broader. Traders and merchants from India brought goods and commodities to the shores of Vietnam long before the arrival of cultural thought and expression. There was a flourishing maritime connect in the days gone by. And, to our desire, trade continues to be a driving force in our contemporary partnership," he said. President Ram Nath Kovind's addresses President Ram Nath Kovind addresses at National Assembly House of Vietnam, in Hanoi, Tuesday, Nov.20, 2018. Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan is also seen. (RB Photo via PTI) At National Assembly House President Ram Nath Kovind shakes hands with Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan during a meeting, at National Assembly House of Vietnam in Hanoi, Tuesday, Nov.20, 2018. (RB Photo via PTI) Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum President Ram Nath Kovind lays a wreath at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at Hanoi, in Vietnam, Tuesday, Nov.20, 2018. (RB Photo via PTI) Indian Community Reception President Ram Nath Kovind during Indian Community Reception hosted by the Ambassador of India to Vietnam, P Harish, at Hanoi, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. (RB Photo via PTI) He wanted his engagement ring back and they began to argue. ONeal called 911 and Lopez pulled out a gun and fired. She fell and he stood over her and fired again. He then shot Chicago police Officer Samuel Jimenez as he arrived on the scene and pharmacist Dayna Less as she exited an elevator before turning the gun on himself. All four died. The confrontation in the Wentworth police district took place about three hours after an officer from that district and three others, including a gunman, were fatally shot at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, which is about 15 blocks north, or 2 miles away. "He wasnt too far from the pharmacy, she said of the gunman. "At one point, we did think that he was actually trying to enter because our door somebody was trying to get our door ajar and you could hear him. So at that point my boss decided to close his door, and we barricaded ourselves inside. Cop was on top of game: Chicago police Officer Samuel Jimenez, 28, who also was killed, had just completed his probationary period with the Police Department. He was married with three young children. Jimenez had caught the eye of his district commander, who pulled his file with the hopes of adding him to the tactical team when he gained enough experience. Wentworth District Cmdr. Dion Boyd said Jimenez connected with the community he policed and predicted he would have won promotions. He was on top of his game, Sgt. Larry Snelling, who remembered Jimenez as a recruit in the academy, told the Tribune. He was always in control. It takes a special kind of person to go through the rigors of the training without any issues, any problems. He was able to deal and cope with the stress. A 74-year-old woman was killed as she crossed the street Monday night in a crosswalk in Chicagos Southwest Side, and the driver of the pickup truck that hit her was given a traffic citation as the investigation continues, police said. My question is for Susana Mendoza. During her time in the legislature, she was known for being tough on crime. For most of her time there, she was a big proponent of the death penalty and even said at one point she would be happy to flip the switch, Preckwinkle said. So my question is given the disproportionate impact those decisions have had on black and brown people, how can we be confident you will be supportive of criminal justice reform? Schepman said he did not know what led to the shooting, and investigators did not yet have a description of any suspect. He said they do not know whether more than one shooter was involved. Prosecutors argue Nagarwala, the lead defendant, did exactly that when she cut the genitals of two 7-year-old Minnesota girls who were tricked into the procedure in 2017 by their mothers and cried and bled afterward. They said Nagarwala did this with the help of Dr. Fakhuruddin Attar, who is accused of letting Nagarwala use his Livonia clinic after hours to carry out the procedures; and his wife, Farida Attar, who is accused of assisting Nagarwala in the examination room during the procedures and holding the girls' hands. Earlier in the day, officials said there was a fire at a home in Ocean Township about 10 miles from Colts Neck. Public records show that the home is owned by Paul and Susan Caneiro, and that the two men shared at least one address in New York several decades ago. They are also "friends" on Facebook, but it is unclear how they are related. "Members and employees alike should be able to work free from sexual harassment or discrimination of any kind. The American public must also have confidence that we in Congress not only view these issues with the seriousness they demand - but that we are taking action," the committee's letter stated. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 18, 2018. (Zach Gibson/Bloomberg) SiGMA Conference Comes to Malta Next Week Published November 20, 2018 by Florin P SiGMA 2018 is ready to set another important milestone for a conference that brings together iGaming industry leaders and innovators. At the end of the month, the SiGMA 2018 Conference returns to Malta and it will be hosted at the MFCC, Ta. Starting on November 28 and concluding two days later on November 30, the event will bring together more than 12,000 guests, 200 speakers and a combined 400 exhibitors and sponsors. The iGaming Awards mark the beginning of the conference, with the event scheduled for the evening of November 27. The best gaming companies will be celebrated and this event, which will be attended by the President of Malta and tenor Joseph Calleja. On the same night, a poker tournament is scheduled at the luxurious Portomaso Casino to wrap up a great night, in anticipation of the conference starting the next day. SiGMA 2018 Expected to Smash Previous Records The conference is set to shatter the records of 2017, with more speakers, sponsors and exhibitors. A total of six workshops and conferences will be held at the venue, and topics of great interest will be discussed here. Participants will get up to date with the latest gambling regulations in Africa, as well as the legal changes affecting sports gambling in the US. Those interested in learning more about Maltas iGaming Act should attend the Regulatory Conference on November 28. The conference starting next week will also focus on the Blockchain, as an elite group of guest speakers will shed more light on this manner. On the second day of the SiGMA 2018, the most important conferences will be dedicated to payments and affiliates. They will offer a global perspective on the gaming industry and help participants learn more about the licensing regime in key markets. The Summit will conclude with the DGaming Conference and the eSports Conference and throughout the event, participants will have a plethora of networking and entertainment opportunities. Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: BrightSphere Investment Group has announced that Paulson & Co agrees to buy a substantial majority stake in BrightSphere held by Chinese conglomerate HNA Group Co. The multi-boutique asset management company with approximately $238 billion of assets under management said in a statement that Paulson & Co. plans to buy most of the ordinary shares of BrightSphere Investment Group PLC held by HNA Capital (U.S.) Holding LLC, a unit of HNA. The New York-listed asset manager informed that, once completed, Paulson & Co. is expected to own just less than 24.95% of the ordinary shares of BrightSphere, which recently had a market capitalization of about $1.36bn. According to the statement, in connection with the transaction, John Paulson, President of Paulson & Co., and Guang Yang, Managing Member of H Plus Capital, have joined the BrightSphere Board of Directors, replacing Enrico Marini Fichera and Daniel Chen, effective November 16, 2018. The statement quoted James J. Ritchie, BrightSphere's Chairman as saying: "The Board and I welcome John's investment in BrightSphere and his vote of confidence in our Company. The transfer of shares to a respected institutional investor such as John Paulson will bring the clarity of ownership and stability which is positive for all of our constituencies." Steve Belgrad, BrightSphere's President and CEO added, "As we continue to work to generate shareholder value and growth, John's advice as a Board...................... To view our full article Click here Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Crestline Investors, credit-focused institutional alternative asset manager, has closed its latest fund at $600 million. The fund will focus on Crestline's portfolio financing strategy, which is managed by Crestline's Fund Liquidity Solutions team. The fund's investors include public and private pension plans, endowments, wealth management platforms, and other institutional investors. "The Portfolio Finance Fund, and related managed accounts, secured $600m of capital commitments, exceeding the fundraising objective," said a press release from the Texas-based institutional alternative investment management firm. The new fund is the tenth in Crestline's series of opportunistic funds, which started in 2005 and have attracted more than $6bn in client commitments to date across a variety of specialized strategies. The Portfolio Financing Fund offers investors dedicated exposure to the same strategy that has been employed by Crestline since October 2016 in the form of managed accounts and co-investments. To date, the Crestline Fund Liquidity Solutions team, which is co-led by David Philipp and Amit Mahajan, has completed in excess of $580 million of transactions satisfying a range of borrower needs, including: acquisition financing, growth capital, debt refinancing, covenant breach cures, and accelerating distributions to investors. "Our Fund Liquidity Solutions team was purpose-built to execute this strategy, and inc...................... To view our full article Click here Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Industrial companies are now predicted to be most in demand from activist investors according to the findings of global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal's (A&M) latest analysis and predictor of shareholder activism in Europe. The study titled "A&M Activist Alert", or "AAA" revealed that of the 148 European companies predicted to be under threat from public activist targeting, 56 of these are U.K. companies. "This cements the U.K.'s status as the most attractive market in Europe for activists," said the study. Throughout Europe, conglomerates face heightened likelihood of activism. Uneven performance by division increases the likelihood of being targeted by activists seeking to improve the performance of weak business units or force their sale, it said. A key driver of this trend are private equity firms eager to deploy capital on public to private spin-offs. Industrials companies make up the largest number of entries on the target list (45 in total). This sector has the greatest concentration of conglomerates in Europe (while Industrials account for 26% of the companies analyzed by AAA, they make up 37% of European conglomerates analyzed). The Consumer sector also scores highly on the activist radar (43 in total), but these companies are starting to fall out of favor, driven by two opposing forces. Many potential targets - particularly in Retail - have now simply become too weak to draw the interest o...................... To view our full article Click here Mordor Intelligence, LLP. Contributes to the Diabetes Awareness Month by Granting Free Access to Their Real-Time Exhaustive Research on Diabetes Care Drugs Mordor Intelligence https://www.mordorintelligence.com/free-trial/diabetes-care-market www.mordorintelligence.com On the occasion of World Diabetes Awareness Month, Mordor Intelligence reiterated its commitment to helping enterprises in the business of Diabetes Care Drugs by enabling them to make smart strategic decisions. The company has announced that it is offering a full access to its Intelligence Center on the Diabetes Care Drugs for FREE. With the successful launch of this Intelligence Center last month, Mordor is already ensuring that the benefits of this data reaches all possible enterprises in this space.The data put together by Mordor Intelligence greatly strengthens the medical community's continuous research on understanding Diabetes and the drugs used in its treatment. This market intelligence data greatly benefits enterprises in making the right decisions, by helping foster a clear understanding of the various industry trends. The company is allowing enterprises FULL ACCESS to this exhaustive and precise data related to diabetes.This limited time Free access can be set up here:Mordor's Intelligence Center on the Diabetes Care Drugs Market offers extensive and precise data spanning 15 segments under 4 categories, covering 25 countries from 5 regions. This data is additionally backed by the brand share information of 33 brands with an R&D pipeline. A key differentiator of this platform in comparison to similar services is the accuracy and timeliness of the data. This Intelligence Center is updated every quarter with significant changes reflecting real-time information. In addition, the platform is extremely user-friendly and offers a seamless, intuitive experience. In addition to Intelligence on Diabetes Care Drugs, Mordor also offers a comprehensive Intelligence Center on Diabetes Care Devices.The coverage offered is as listed:CATEGORIES & SEGMENTSInsulinBasal InsulinBolus InsulinHuman InsulinHuman Insulin InhaledNon-Insulin InjectablesAmylin AnalogueGLP-1 AgonistOral Antidiabetic DrugsAlpha Glucosidase InhibitorsBiguanidesDopamine - B2 receptor agonistDPP-4 InhibitorsMeglitinideSGLT-2 InhibitorsSulfonylureasCombination DrugsInsulin CombinationOral CombinationREGIONS & COUNTRIESAsia PacificAustraliaChinaIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSouth KoreaThailandVietnamEuropeFranceGermanyItalyRussiaSpainUnited KingdomLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoNorth AmericaCanadaUnited StatesMiddle EastEgyptIranOmanSaudi ArabiaSouth AfricaBRANDSAfrezzaApidraBasaglarBydureonByettaCyclosetFarxiga/ForxigaGalvusGenericHumalogHumulinInsumanInvokanaJanumetJanuviaJardianceLantusLevemirLyxumiaNovolin/Human InsulinNovolog/NovoRapidNovoMixOnglyzaRyzodegSuglatSymlinToujeoTradjentaTresibaTrulicityVictozaVipidia/NesinaXultophyMordor Intelligence, LLP. operates in the business of industry analysis & consulting, helping clients shape their strategic decisions. Founded in 2013, and fully revenue-funded, Mordor is based out of Hyderabad, India. The company offers custom market intelligence and advisory services along with syndicated reports to help customers gain the edge over the competition. Mordor caters to over 500 clients across the globe in various industries. (MEDIA CONTACTName: Sameeksha BansalEmail: sameeksha@mordorintelligence.comPhone: +1-617-765-2493Address- Mordor IntelligenceBrigade Towers,Financial District, Gachibowli,Hyderabad - 500032,India Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market By Top Leading Players Cerner Corporation, Allscripts, Optum, Inc., Crunchbase Inc., SAS Institute Inc., Verisk Analytics, Inc. Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market http://bit.ly/2QXlE7l http://bit.ly/2QV1LxD An exclusive Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market research report created through broad primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, and stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of Global Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market by Type, By Application, By Region - North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the global Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market. Additionally, the report also highlights market entry strategies for various companies across the globe.Get Sample Copy of this Report atThe market of healthcare predictive analytics market is anticipated to grow with a significant rate in the coming years, owing to factors such as, overview of advanced analytics and technologies and rising demand for modified medication, lack of government initiatives. Various technological developments, funding of health and insurance programs in the healthcare industry in Asia Pacific and Europe are expected to offer growth opportunities for the players operating in the market.Leading Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market Players:1 IBM2 McKesson Corporation3 Oracle4 MEDEANALYTICS, INC.5 Cerner Corporation6 Allscripts7 Optum, Inc.8 Crunchbase Inc.9 SAS Institute Inc.10 Verisk Analytics, IncHealthcare can learn valuable lessons from this previous success to jumpstart the utility of predictive analytics for improving patient care, chronic disease management, hospital administration and supply chain efficiencies. Healthcare prediction is most useful when that knowledge can be transferred into action. For predictive analytics to be successful in healthcare, it must have three characteristics that is timely, role-specific and actionable.Worldwide Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Healthcare Predictive Analytics industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Also, key Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Healthcare Predictive Analytics Market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.If You want to Purchase the Report Directly:About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.com Virtual Reality In Gaming Market 2026 Exclusive Global Key Players : Microsoft Corporation, Sony Corporation, Electronic Arts, Nintendo Company Ltd., Linden Labs, Samsung Electronics Co Virtual Reality Vr In Gaming Market https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/virtual-reality-vr-in-gaming-market/request-for-free-sample https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/virtual-reality-vr-in-gaming-market/inquire-before-buying www.polarismarketresearch.com The worldwide Global Virtual Reality (VR) in Gaming market is anticipated to reach USD 48.2 billion by 2026. By Geography, North America region accounted for the largest share for VR gaming in terms of revenue globally in 2017. The growth of North American market is attributed to accessibility of advanced gaming technology as well as acceptance and adoption of VR gaming products including head mounted displays. Further, Europe accounted for the second dominating region in 2017. However, Asia Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period attributed to constantly increasing online gamers in developing countries such as China and India and a strong gamers base in countries such as Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.For More Information Request Sample @Top Companies Player :Microsoft Corporation, Sony Corporation, Electronic Arts, Nintendo Company Ltd., Linden Labs, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Facebook (Oculus), Google, Inc., HTC Corporation, and Tesla Studios among others.The market for VR in gaming is propelled by factors including, increasing disposable income of people worldwide and continuous improvement in existing gaming technologies including, 3D effects, motion tracking, and interactive graphics for drawing users attention. With the increase in spending capacity of people, people are demanding for new sources of entertainment and VR games offers a unique way of entertainment.The hardware component segment of VR in gaming market held more than 50% of the market share in 2016 and is further expected to lead during the forecast period. The high-cost of hardware components is the major factor for the increasing growth. However, with the increasing demand for these products, the prices are expected to decrease in the near future.The hardware segment is expected to grow very rapidly, the software segment is anticipated to experience modest growth. Adoption of the virtual reality technology has raised user expectation for enhanced software solutions, hence increasing challenges for developers than before.The players operating in the market are constantly focusing on development of new products to efficiently compete in the highly aggressive market for VR gaming. For instance, Sony launched Project Morpheus VR heads, a head mounted display device that offers high resolution and efficient tracking accuracy.Else place an Inquire before Purchase Global Virtual Reality Vr In Gaming Market Size, Status and Forecast 2026:About Polaris Market ResearchPolaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.Contact us-Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market ResearchPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.comWeb: You should be extraordinarily impatient about the injustices and nonsense and foolishness you see around you and you should be finding opportunities at every juncture to challenge those things, he said. At the same time, you have to keep in your mind: Societies are these complex, organic things that you dont turn (like) switches. They evolve. They shift. They change. Payments Landscape in Australia Market 2022 by Top Companies - Commonwealth Bank,Westpac,ANZ Bank, National Australia Bank, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Citibank, Tyro, eftpos, Visa, Mastercard Payments Landscape in Australia www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00012265602/sample www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00012265602/buying "Payments Landscape in Australia: Opportunities and Risks to 2022", report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Australian cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cards, cash, direct debit, credit transfers, and cheques during the review-periodTop Companies Player:Commonwealth Bank,Westpac,ANZ Bank, National Australia Bank, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Citibank, Tyro, eftpos, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners ClubGet More Information Download Sample Copy @The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2018e-22f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Australian cards and payments industry, including--Current and forecast values for each market in the Australian cards and payments industry, including debit, credit, and charge cards.-Detailed insights into payment instruments including cards, cash, direct debit, credit transfers, and cheques. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.-E-commerce market analysis and payment methods.-Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Australian cards and payments industry.-Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit, and charge cards.Scope-To offer enhanced convenience and encourage electronic payments for even low-value transactions, in February 2018 the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and its Payments System Board rolled out a new payments infrastructure known as the New Payments Platform (NPP) that allows customers with accounts with different banks to make payments and transfer funds in real-time. It is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Developed by SWIFT in collaboration between 13 members of Australias financial services industry, the platform provides an addressing service known as PayID, which allows users to enter only the recipients mobile phone number or email address to transfer the money.-The advent of digital-only banks is likely to stir competition in the Australian banking sector over the coming years. Volt Bank received a Restricted ADI (RADI) license from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) in May 2018, enabling it to offer a limited number of products and services, before a full banking license is given. Fintech startup Xinja is also seeking a full banking license and hopes to break into mainstream banking. Other challenger banks named 86 400 and Up are to be launched soon.-Growth in the Australian credit card market is likely to slow in the coming years in the wake of several regulatory overhauls by the government. In February 2018 the Australian parliament passed a new bill that aims to crack down on credit card providers unfair practices. As a result, from July 2018 financial services providers are required to analyze the affordability of a credit card based on a consumers capability to repay the limit within a reasonable duration. The bill also calls for additional reforms from January 2019, including a ban on unsolicited invitations from banks to increase credit limits, and simplified interest calculation. In addition, banks will be mandated to offer the option to cancel a card or reduce the credit limit online. Previously, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) banned all businesses, including large and small merchants, from collecting excessive surcharges on credit and debit card payments. The new rule, which is effective from September 1, 2017, is applicable to all businesses based in Australia or that use an Australian bank.Reasons to buy-Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Australian cards and payments industry and each market within it.-Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Australian cards and payments industry.-Assess the competitive dynamics in the Australian cards and payments industry.-Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Australia.-Gain insights into key regulations governing the Australian cards and payments industry.Else Place Inquire before Purchase Payments Landscape in Australia-Opportunities and Risks to 2022 Available @Table of ContentsMarket OverviewExecutive SummaryCard-based PaymentsMerchant AcquiringE-commerce PaymentsMobile Proximity PaymentsAbout us:ReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishersContact us:Phone : +1-646-491-9876E-Mail : sales@reportsweb.com Global Insulin Pump Industry Share, Growth and Market Key Players Analysis (Animus Corporation, Asante, Cellnovo Ltd., Insulet Corporation)| Forecast 2018- 2025 Global Insulin Pump Industry 2018-2025 https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/683788 https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/683788 https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/683788 www.orianresearch.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/13281002/ The Insulin Pump Industry based on geographic classification is studied for industry analysis, size, share, growth, trends, segment, top company analysis, outlook, manufacturing cost structure, capacity, supplier and forecast to 2025. Along with the reports on the global aspect, these reports cater regional aspects as well as global for the organizations.For Sample Copy of this Report Visit @Insulin pumps are used to manage the diabetes. Manufacturer initiatives for product innovation and developments in various types of insulin pumps are driving the market. Moreover, government initiative to spread awareness towards diabetes and insulin delivering devices in developing regions will propel the market during the forecast period.Insulin Pump by Product Type is divided into Traditional insulin pump and Disposable insulin pump. Based on End User the market is divided into Hospital & Clinics, Home Care, and Laboratories. The market is analyzed in six regions namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe will continue dominating the global insulin pump market as a result of higher number of bone diabetes occurrences among population and high healthcare spending capacity.Traditional insulin pump type accounted for the largest market share in 2017 and is expected to grow considerably during the projected period.Some of the key players operating in this market Animus Corporation, Asante, Cellnovo Ltd., Insulet Corporation, and OthersGlobal Insulin Pump Industry is spread across 121 pages, profiling 04 companies and supported with tables and figures.Inquire more or share a question if any before the purchase on this report @Key Benefits of the Report:* Global, Regional, Country, Product Type, and End User Market Size and Forecast from 2014-2025* Detailed market dynamics, industry outlook with market specific PESTLE, Value Chain, Supply Chain, and SWOT Analysis to better understand the market and build strategies* Identification of key companies that can influence this market on a global and regional scale* Expert interviews and their insights on market shift, current and future outlook and factors impacting vendors short term and long term strategies* Detailed insights on emerging regions, Product Type & End User, and competitive landscape with qualitative and quantitative information and factsTarget Audience:* Insulin Pump manufacturers* Traders, Importer and Exporter* Raw material suppliers and distributors* Research and consulting firms* Government and research organizations* Associations and industry bodiesOrder a copy of Global Insulin Pump Market Report 2018 @Research MethodologyThe market is derived through extensive use of secondary, primary, in-house research followed by expert validation and third party perspective like analyst report of investment banks. The secondary research forms the base of our study where we conducted extensive data mining, referring to verified data sources such as white papers government and regulatory published materials, technical journals, trade magazines, and paid data sources.For forecasting, regional demand & supply factor, investment, market dynamics including technical scenario, consumer behavior, and end use industry trends and dynamics , capacity production, spending were taken into consideration.We have assigned weights to these parameters and quantified their market impacts using the weighted average analysis to derive the expected market growth rate.The market estimates and forecasts have been verified through exhaustive primary research with the Key Industry Participants (KIPs) which typically include:* Original Equipment Manufacturer,* Component Supplier,* Distributors,* Government Body & Associations, and* Research InstituteTABLE OF CONTENT1 Executive Summary2 Methodology And Market Scope3 Global Insulin Pump Market Industry Outlook4 Global Insulin Pump Market Product Type Outlook5 Global Insulin Pump Market End User Outlook6 Global Insulin Pump Market Regional Outlook7 Competitive LandscapeEnd of the reportDisclaimerAbout UsOrian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.Contact Us:Ruwin MendezVice President Global Sales & Partner RelationsOrian Research ConsultantsUS +1 (415) 830-3727| UK +44 020 8144-71-27Email: info@orianresearch.comWebsite:Follow Us on LinkedIn: Menstrual Cup Market 2023 Sketch - $1514.01 Million Crossed with Most Prominent Players by Increase in Demand Across the Globe Menstrual Cup Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1407 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1407 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/menstrual-cup-market-1407 The Menstrual Cup Market is predicted to expand at 3.50 % CAGR over the assessment period (2018-2023 due to the growth in women population, asserts Market Research Future (MRFR). An eco-friendly alternative to tampons and sanitary pads, menstrual cup is derived from medical-grade silicone. It is a female sanitary product that comes in the form of a bell-shaped cup and can be inserted into the vagina during menstruation. Such cups prevent leakage of menstrual fluids which makes it highly convenient.Menstrual cup possesses a lifespan ranging from 1-10 years and is one of the most affordable solutions for female hygiene. They are reusable, thus making their demand high. With the growing awareness regarding menstrual cups among the female population, availability of a variety of cups with different sizes, and increasing campaigns conducted by the educational institutes, manufacturers, and the women community are considered some of the major factors propelling the market growth. Government is taking initiatives to educate women about hygiene. Also, the guidelines to use the cup is triggering the product demand in the global market. For example, in 2015, South Africa launched Serithi Campaign which aimed to address the issues faced by young girls the during menstrual cycle.To Get Sample Report visitOn the flip side, conservative societies have a low-level acceptance of such products which is expected to retard the market growth in the coming years. Also, tough competition faced from other menstrual product manufacturers can inhibit the market growth.Industry NewsLoon Labs has created reusable cups which tracks the color and volume of the menstrual fluid. It is the worlds first Bluetooth connected menstrual cup which offers women with analytics and tools to monitor their bodies by using metrics.Key Players for Global Menstrual Cup MarketAs the market continues to propel, it is becoming highly fragmented with the presence of local vendors and established players. The major players operating the global market areDiva International Inc.,Vcup, Anigan,Ruby Life Ltd.,LadyCup,FemCap Inc.,Me Luna,The Keeper Inc.,Irisana S.A., andLunetteSegments for Global Menstrual Cup MarketThe market is segmented on the basis of type, product, and distribution channel.By mode of product, the market is segmented into disposable menstrual cup and reusable menstrual cup. Reusable menstrual cup is presumed to dominate the market during the forecast period. The growth can be attributed to the reusability cycle of these cups which ranges from 1 to 5 years. Moreover, these products are cost-effective and eco-friendly which makes them highly demanding.By mode of type, the market is segmented into pointy, hollow, flat, and round. Among these, the round menstrual cups account for 43 % of the market share due to the flexible design of such products.To Get an Exclusive Discount on Report VisitBy mode of distribution channel, the market is segmented into retail outlets, online stores, and others. Among these, online store channels account for 62 % of the market share due to penetration of e-commerce stores.Regional Analysis for Global Menstrual Cup MarketAmerica is presumed to lead the global menstrual cup market during the assessment period. Programs conducted by the government to create awareness among the consumers is likely to propel the market growth. Also, with the presence of major manufacturers such as LENA Cup and Diva International are likely to propel the market growth.European is predicted to lead the global market owing to the presence of established players. Also, with the increasing health care cost, the demand for menstrual cup is estimated to trigger in this region.Asia Pacific is presumed to be the third largest market and registers a steady growth in the healthcare sector. The major contributors are Japan, India, China, the Republic of Korea, and Australia. The market is likely to expand owing to the several awareness programs conducted by the organizations and the government in this region.Some Brief Table of Contents of ReportChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 RestrainsTOC ContinuedBrowse Complete Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Statistical Report, Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureHadapsar, Pune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Glucose Tolerance Test Market Growth up to 2023 | Major Vendors as Dexcom, Panasonic, Medtronic, F. Hoffman-La Roche, Abbott Laboratories, etc Glucose Tolerance Test Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4921 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/glucose-tolerance-test-market-4921 Market Research Future Introduces the Global Glucose Tolerance Test Market Research Report. Reports Provides the classifications and industry Structure with Top Industry Players, Recent Trends and Industry Dynamics up to 2023.Glucose Tolerance Test Market - OverviewGlobal Glucose Tolerance Test market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% during the forecast period 2017-2023. A glucose tolerance test measures how well a bodys cells is capable to engross glucose, or sugar, after a patient consume a given amount of sugar. Doctors and specialists use fasting blood sugar levels and haemoglobin A1C values to identify type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and pre-diabetes whereas a glucose tolerance test can also be used. Doctors primarily use a glucose tolerance test to diagnose gestational diabetes in patients. TheSpecialists and doctors often diagnose type 1 diabetes swiftly because it frequently develops quickly and includes high blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand regularly develops over years. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and it generally develops during adulthood.Gestational diabetes arises when a pregnant woman who do not have diabetes before pregnancy, thus has high blood sugar levels as a result of the pregnancy. The American Diabetes Association estimates that gestational diabetes occurs in 9.2 percent of pregnancies.Request Sample copy atFactors such as Increasing prevalence and incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM), Rise in technological innovations, Research funding in diabetes diagnosis and treatment, and rising awareness and screening for Diabetes Mellitus are some of the major factors driving the growth of the market. Further Stringent reimbursement and insurance policies in developing nations, High cost associated with diagnosis and treatment of diabetes can hamper the market growth in coming future.Glucose Tolerance Test Market - Regional Analysis:The Americas dominate the diabetes monitors market owing to the presence of patient population, a well-developed technology, high healthcare expenditure, and the presence of the leading players. Due to high prevalence of the condition, companies, private organization, and government associations actively participates to improve diabetes care. For instance, The Merck Foundation provided funding of USD 10,000,000 for the projects designed to improve access to diabetes care and to reduce health disparities for vulnerable populations with type 2 diabetes in the United States.Europe holds the second position in the diabetes monitors market. It is expected that the support provided by the government bodies for research & development, along with a well-developed technology drives the market in European region. According to the German maternity guidelines, every pregnant women can undergo glucose-challenge test for early diagnosis of Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The charges for the test are completely covered by womens health insurance.Companies Mentioned:DexcomPanasonicMedtronicHoffman-La RocheAbbott Laboratories, and others.Global Glucose Tolerance Test Market - Segmentation:The global Glucose Tolerance Test market is segmented on the basis of products, indications, end user.On the basis of the products, it is further segmented into intramedullary Blood glucose testing kit (Lancet, Meters, Test strips and others), Smart sensors and other.On the basis of the indication, the market is segmented into Diabetes, Gestational diabetes, Insulin resistance, Reactive hypoglycemia.On the basis of the end user, the market is segmented into Diagnostic Clinics, Hospitals, Home, and others.Major TOC of Glucose Tolerance Test Market Research Report - Forecast till 2023:1 Report Prologue2 Market Introduction3 Research Methodology4 Market Dynamics5 Market Factor Analysis6 Global Glucose Tolerance Test Market By Products7 Global Glucose Tolerance Test Market By Indication8 Global Glucose Tolerance Test Market By End Users9 Global Glucose Tolerance Test Market By Regions10 Competitive Landscape11 Company Profile12 Conclusion13 Appendix14 List of Tables15 List of FiguresBrowse Complete 105 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 30+ Respective Tables and Figures atAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com 3D Cell Culture Market Analysis and Major Drivers up to 2023 | Topmost Players as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Lonza, Corning Incorporated, Kuraray, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Merck KGaA, etc 3D Cell Culture Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5928 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/3d-cell-culture-market-5928 Market Research Future (MRFR)s Released Global 3D Cell Culture Market Research Report. It contains Company information, geographical Segmentation, in-depth Table of Content, and List of figures, data tables, Various Company Leaders & market synopsis up to 20233D Cell Culture Market Overview3D Cell culture is a technique in which biological cells are permitted to grow or interact with their surroundings in all three dimensions. Besides, the ability of 3D cell culture to provide more physiologically relevant information and more accurate data in vivo tests has led 3D cell culture systems to become acceptable in comparison to 2D Cell culture. The Global 3D Cell Culture Market Is Expected To Grow At A CAGR Of 25.50% During The Forecast Period 20182023.Many factors drive the market of 3D cell culture across the world such as an advanced technique in organ and tissue regeneration, provide drug toxicology screening and many more.The global 3D cell culture market has been identified as one of the fastest growing industries, owing to the varying applications of 3D cell culture in biotech and pharmaceutical industry and rising prevalence of cancer worldwide, rising approval from government bodies, and growing awareness Increasing incidence of cancer and rising demand for organs transplantation due to increasing prevalence of organ failures has majorly influenced the growth of the market.Request Sample copy at3D Cell Culture Market - Segmentation:The global 3D cell culture market has been segmented into the application, end user, product, technique, and lastly region. Based on application, this market has been segmented into cancer research, drug discovery, regenerative medicine, stem cell research, tissue screening & engineering, and others. Drug discovery is the process that helps the researchers to discover new candidate medications. Regenerative medicine is defined as a branch of translational research in molecular biology and tissue engineering. It deals with the process to replace, engineer or regenerate human cells, tissues or organs in order to restore or establish normal function. The process of borrowing cells from developed organs of the body and used for repairing unhealthy organs is called stem cell research. The purpose of tissue engineering is to assemble the functional constructs that heel, maintain and restore the damaged tissues or whole organs.On the basis of end users, the global 3D cell culture market has been segmented into contract research organizations, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, research & academic laboratories and others. Contract research organizations provide support to the biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries in the form of research services outsourced on a contract basis. Based on products, the market has been segmented into consumables and instruments. Consumables include products like vials, cotton buds, cleaning materials, plastic funnels, etc. Instruments include devices that are used for surgeries and activities like removing the tumor. On the basis of technology, the market has been segmented into scaffolds based 3D cell culture and scaffold-free 3D cell culture. To develop the field of tissue engineering in order to regenerate damaged tissues, the cells from the body are combined with highly porous scaffold biomaterials that act as templates for tissue regeneration and guides the growth of new tissue. A technique based on scaffold biomaterials is called scaffolds based on 3D cell culture. Scaffold-free methods include the use of hanging drop plates, low adhesion plates, magnetic 3D bioprinting, magnetic levitation, micropatterned surfaces, and rotating bioreactors.Latest Industry News:ALPCO, a leading producer of research and clinical immunoassays, has announced its partnership with InSphero, AG. This partnership aims to provide customers with a complete solution to assess beta-cell function in islet micro tissue culture models. 24 JUL 2018Collaborating with the University of Strathclyde, Biotechnology giant AMSBIO has set up a new joint venture company called ScreenIn3D, exploiting the latest advances in microfluidics and 3D cell culture, to develop a novel microfluidic screening platform. 6 JUL 2018.3D Cell Culture Market - Key Players:The key players in the global 3D cell culture market include Becton-Dickinson and Company (USA), Charles River Laboratories Inc (USA), Corning Incorporated (USA), The Electrospinning Company (UK), InSphero, AG (Switzerland), Kuraray Co Ltd (Japan), Lonza (Switzerland), Lena Biosciences Inc. (USA), Merck KGaA (Germany), Tecan Trading AG (Switzerland), ReproCELL Europe Ltd (UK), and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (USA).3D Cell Culture Market Regional OverviewThe regional segmentation of the global 3D cell culture market covers The Americas (North America & South America), Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). With many key players based in the United States of America (USA) and due to the availability of advanced technology, North America is a bigger market than South America. In the USA, maximum organ transplant surgeries have taken place since 2016. In Europe, due to reasons same as North America, being more advanced technologically, Western Europe is a bigger market than Eastern Europe.In the Asia Pacific region, some countries like Japan and Singapore are technologically advanced. And in countries like India and China, the technological advancement is taking place at a slow but steady pace. This is primarily due to less expenditure (compared to governments in Western countries) from governments on medical healthcare. Other countries of Asia Pacific that are strong markets for 3D cell culture include Australia and South Korea, followed by rest of Asia Pacific countries. In the MEA countries, the market is small due to lack of technological advancement, less priority from the government to healthcare and lawless environment due to events like Arab Spring. Some countries in this region do have a decent amount of technological advancement and doctors with modern education because of which, they can be suitable markets for 3D cell culture. Such countries are Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE), followed by rest of MEA region.Major TOC of 3D Cell Culture Market Research Report Forecast to 2023:1 Report Prologue2 Market Introduction3 Research Methodology4 Market Dynamics5 Market Factor Analysis6 Global 3D Cell Culture Market, By Technique7 Global 3D Cell Culture Market, By ProductTOC CONTINUEDBrowse Complete 100 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 200+ Respective Tables and Figures atAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Johns Manville Corporation (US), Saint-Gobain S.A. (France), BASF SE (Germany), Kingspan Group plc (Ireland), Knauf Insulation, Inc. (US) are the Renowned Players in Building Thermal Insulation Market - Report by MarketsandMarkets Building Thermal Insulation Market, Building Thermal Insulation https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/building-insulation-materials-market-510.html https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=510 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=510 According to recent research "Building Thermal Insulation Market by Material (Glass Wool, Stone Wool, Polystyrene), Application (Flat Roof, Pitched Roof, External Wall, Internal Wall, Cavity Wall, Floor), Building Type (Residential, Non-residential) - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, The building thermal insulation market size was USD 23.89 Billion in 2016, which is projected to reach USD 29.62 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 3.65% from 2017 to 2022.Browse 134 Market Data Tables and 36 Figures spread through 170 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Building Thermal Insulation Market - Global Forecast to 2022"Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.The building thermal insulation market size is projected to reach USD 29.62 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 3.65%, from 2017 to 2022 in terms of value. Building thermal insulation materials are used to reduce the amount of power required to heat or cool a house. They minimize the amount of heat that escapes during the winter and limit the hot summer air penetrating into the house. Building insulation is the most cost-effective measure in climates that have a wide range of annual average temperatures. The major factors that are driving the building thermal insulation market include the regulations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, growth in green buildings, stringent regulatory environment, and provision of rebates and tax credits.Based on material type, the building thermal insulation market is segmented into glass wool, stone wool, plastic foam, and others. Glass wool is expected to be the fastest-growing segment, in terms of value, from 2017 to 2022. Glass wool usually contains 95% to 96% of inorganic materials and is lightweight, non-combustible, and corrosion-resistant. The demand for glass wool is increasing due to its increasing usage in masonry cavity walls, timber frame walls, roof rafter, flat roofs, loft, and suspended floor insulations. North America dominates the market for glass wool segment. This is due to the higher demand for non-flammable products in the region.Download PDF Brochure@Based on building type, the building thermal insulation market is segmented into residential and non-residential buildings. The non-residential building segment is estimated to witness the highest growth between 2017 and 2022. The increase in industrial activities and robust manufacturing in the US is estimated to drive the demand for building thermal insulation in non-residential building in North America. High business investments, especially in the UK, are estimated to drive the demand for non-residential buildings, which, in turn, will drive the demand for building thermal insulation in Europe. Healthcare facilities are expected to grow due to the aging population in China. This is estimated to drive the demand for building thermal insulation in non-residential buildings in Asia Pacific.The major applications of building thermal insulation are wall insulation, roof insulation, and floor insulation. Roof insulation is expected to be the fastest-growing application segment from 2017 to 2022, in terms of value. About 25% of heat loss from a building is through roofs and insulating a roof is an effective way to reduce energy bills. Thus, the growing demand for energy efficiency drives the demand for insulating the roofs, globally.Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing market for building thermal insulation, in terms of value, from 2017 and 2022. The boom in the construction industries of China and India is estimated to drive the demand for building thermal insulation in the region. In addition, improved lifestyle, increasing income, and growing population help the building thermal insulation market to flourish in the region. The presence of major manufacturers, such as Rockwool International A/S (Germany), Saint-Gobain S.A. (France), and Beijing New Building Material (Group) Co., Ltd. (China) also drives the market for building thermal insulation in the region.Request Sample@Key market players profiled in the report are Johns Manville Corporation (US), Saint-Gobain S.A. (France), BASF SE (Germany), Kingspan Group plc (Ireland), Knauf Insulation, Inc. (US), Owens Corning (US), Huntsman Corporation (US), Rockwool International A/S (Germany), Firestone Building Products Company (US), Cabot Corporation (US), Dow Corning Corporation (US), Covestro AG (Germany), URSA Insulation, S.A. (Spain), Paroc Group Oy (Finland), Atlas Roofing Corporation (US), GAF Materials Corporation (US), Lapolla Industries, Inc. (US), Beijing New Building Material (Group) Co., Ltd. (China), NICHIAS Corporation (Japan), Fletcher Building Limited (New Zealand), ODE Industry and Trade Inc. (Turkey), Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (US), Trocellen GmbH (Germany), Recticel SA (Belgium), and KCC Corporation (South Korea).MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.MarketsandMarketss flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.Mr. Shelly SinghMarketsandMarkets INC.630 Dundee RoadSuite 430Northbrook, IL 60062USA: 1-888-600-6441newsletter@marketsandmarkets.com Steam Autoclaves Market Analysis, Trends, Overview and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/13330 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/toc/13330 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/checkout?rep_id=13330&licType=S The report analyzes and presents an overview on "Steam Autoclaves Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" worldwide.An autoclave is a pressure device that is mainly used in a sterilization process, where medical equipment and supplies are sterilized at elevated temperature and pressure than the ambient air pressure. Steam autoclaves are also used in the process of vulcanization of rubber and in chemical industries. They play an important role in sterilization of healthcare waste in hospitals and organizations. Medical devices get contaminated after usage, and need autoclaving in order to kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. Steam autoclaves provide a physical method for disinfection and sterilization. They work on the basis of steam, pressure and time, and hence, use high pressure and temperature steam for this purpose. Increasing number of medical procedures and in-hospital infection are main driving factors for growth of the global steam autoclave market. Healthcare and environmental waste produced from hospitals, pharmaceuticals, life science amenities, etc. is increasing day by day, due to which the process of sterilization and waste management has become of utmost importance. This will propel growth of the steam autoclaves market globally.Key Drivers, Trends, RestraintsWith increasing demand from dental, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors, the steam autoclaves market is expected to grow at a rapid pace. Implementation of strict government rules and regulations regarding biosafety will boost the global steam autoclave market in coming years. Also, the increasing number of hospitals globally will fuel growth of the steam autoclave market.Request to Get Sample Copy of This Report @Steam autoclaves are also used in dental clinics. Bench top dental steam autoclaves are made of high grade stainless steel, and are used for the purpose of decontamination and sterilization of dental equipment. As the number of incidences in dental disorders, such as cavities, fractured teeth, pulpitis, etc. are increasing, the demand for steam autoclaves is expected to rise. Favorable government rules and regulations and the rising demand for dental services are other key factors spurring growth of the global steam autoclaves market.Industrial steam autoclaves are also used to process industrial parts at high pressure and temperature. These steam autoclaves are used in the aerospace industry, where they requires to perform the same function. Increasing growth in the aerospace industry is expected to fuel growth of the global steam autoclave market.Steam autoclaves are used in the process of vulcanization of rubber. It is also called autoclave curing. This type of vulcanization is relatively fast and economical. With growth in the rubber industry, the global steam autoclaves market is expected to grow substantially.In recent years, the need for hazardous waste management is increasing in the healthcare sector. Maintaining clean, sterilized and disinfected environment in hospitals has become crucial. Also, the growing usage of steam autoclaves and adoption of central sterile services department (CSSD) framework will boost the global steam autoclaves market.In recent years, many new technologies have evolved in the steam autoclaves market; there are autoclaves which are fully automated. Companies have started manufacturing low cost and more efficient steam autoclaves, which is responsible for fueling growth in the global steam autoclaves market.Request to Get Complete Report List Of Tables and Figures @Market SegmentationThe global steam autoclaves market can be segmented on the basis of design, product type, functioning, and application.On the basis of design, the global steam autoclaves market is segmented as:AutomaticSemi-AutomaticPre-VacuumPost-VacuumOn the basis of product type, the global steam autoclaves market is segmented as:Table topVerticalHorizontalFloor StandingHigh PressureOn the basis of functioning, the global steam autoclaves market is segmented as:Downward Displacement AutoclavesPositive Pressure Displacement AutoclavesNegative Pressure Displacement AutoclavesTriple Vacuum AutoclavesOn the basis of application, the global steam autoclaves market is segmented as:AerospaceRubber IndustryMedicalDentalLaboratoryChemical IndustryMarket ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants in the global steam autoclaves market, identified across the value chain include:BelimedBMM Weston Ltd.Getinge GroupLTE Scientific LtdPanasonic Biomedical Sales Europe B.V.Priorclave Ltd.TuttnauerMATACHANA GROUPSTERIS plc.Astell ScientificBiotechnologies Inc.ZIRBUS technology GmbHLIFE STERIWAREAccumax India.Consolidated Sterilizer SystemsThe research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application, and industry.The report covers exhaust analysis on:Market SegmentsMarket DynamicsMarket SizeSupply & DemandCurrent Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedTechnologyValue ChainRegional analysis includes:North America (U.S., Canada)Latin America (Mexico. Brazil)Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)JapanMiddle East and Africa (GCC Countries, S. Africa, Northern Africa)The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.Request to Buy This Report From here @Report Highlights:Detailed overview of parent marketChanging market dynamics in the industryIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and valueRecent industry trends and developmentsCompetitive landscapeStrategies of key players and products offeredPotential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective on market performanceMust-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint.MarketResearchReports.biz is a seller of syndicated market studies, featuring an exhaustive collection of research reports from leading international publishers. Our repositoryis diverse, spanningvirtually every industrial sector and even more every category and sub-category within the industry. We also provide consulting services to enable our clients have adynamicbusiness perspective.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Breast Imaging Equipment Market Key Players : Hologic Inc, GE Healthcare, Gamma Medica, Siemens AG, Dilon Technologies, Toshiba CO. Breast Imaging Equipment Market https://bit.ly/2OSRSPl https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Breast imaging is a technique which is used to obtained high resolution visualization of breast and breast related diseases. Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women. Breast imaging techniques play a major role in early diagnosis of the disease, evaluating the progress of the disease and deciding which treatment is suitable. This imaging technique enables doctors to monitor the efficacy of treatment and how patients would respond to it. The current practice of screening is based on mammography, ultrasound, MRI, nuclear imaging and thermography. Rising incidence of breast cancer, development of healthcare infrastructure and adoption of early screening techniques are factors which drive the breast imaging equipment market.The major market players are Hologic Inc, GE Healthcare, Gamma Medica, Siemens AG, Dilon Technologies, Toshiba CO., and Aurora Imaging Technology Inc.Get Sample PDF Brochure :The breast imaging equipment market is segmented based on its product types; this includes Tomosynthesis, Breast Ultrasound, Breast MRI, Mammography, Nuclear Imaging, Bioelectric Imaging and Breast Thermography. Mammography holds the dominant share in the breast imaging market followed by breast MRI. Mammography segment accounted for $1057.7 million in 2013. Mammography segment holds the largest share due to technological advancement in mammography instruments such as digital and portable instruments. The use of digital mammography equipment reduces the time of examination, enables easy transfer of information and reduces storage space requirements. MRI holds the second largest share in the breast imaging market. MRI provides information about breast tissue density and breast tumor location. North America is the largest market for breast imaging equipments, accounting for 32.5% of global revenue. The growing awareness amongst patients, high tech infrastructure and high healthcare expenditure are factors which supplement the growth of the North America region.KEY BENEFITS An in-depth analysis of various regions would provide a clear understanding of current and future trends so that companies can make region specific plans Comprehensive analysis of the factors that drive and restrict the growth of the Breast imaging equipment market is provided Key regulatory guidelines in various regions which impact the small Breast imaging equipment market are critically examined Quantitative analysis of the current market and estimations through 2013-2020 are provided to showcase the financial caliber of the Breast imaging equipment market Deep dive analysis of various regions provides insights that would enable companies to plan their business moves strategically Value chain analysis in the report gives a clear understanding of the roles of the stakeholders involved in the supply chain of the Breast imaging equipment marketMarket SegmentationThe Breast imaging equipment market is segmented based on its product type and geography.By Product type Tomosynthesis Breast Ultrasound Breast MRI Mammography Nuclear Imaging Bioelectric Imaging Breast ThermographyBy Geography North America Europe Asia-Pacific LAMEAAllied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.David C5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1855550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb: Andalusite Market key players Rhino Minerals Pty Ltd (IMERYS), Samrec Pty ltd (IMERYS) Persistence Market Research (PMR) https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4546 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4546 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Andalusite is an aluminum nesosilicate mineral belonging to the sillimanite family and found in metamorphic rocks. It is a polymorph with two other minerals: kyanite and sillimanite and is named after Andalusia, a province in Spain. Since it is polymorph, it has similar chemical composition but different physical structure as compared to kyanite and sillimanite. Andalusite is commonly used for production of refractory materials and as a precursor for porcelain which is used in spark plugs and other products. Andalusite generally forms under low pressure and high temperature and converts to sillimanite or kyanite at different temperature-pressure regime. It comes in pink, green, yellow, violet and gray colors among others.Request Report Sample@Andalusite is a precursor for production of refractory materials, which is used in linings for incinerators, furnaces, kilns and reactors. It can also be used for the production of crucibles. A refractory material should be physically and chemically stable at high temperatures, resistant to thermal shock and chemically inert. Andalusite has high purity, stable volume, good creep resistance, a high thermal shock resistance, metal penetration resistance and low porosity that make it suitable for production of refractory. The steel, glass, aluminum and cement industry are the key end users of andalusite.The andalusite industry is driven by the growth of refractory industry. The global demand for longer lasting, higher quality and low cost refractories is rising in emerging economies of the Asia Pacific, especially China and India due to rapid economic growth. The refractory industry follows the trend set by the main end user, the steel industry. The steel production makes up the majority of demand for refractories and profitability of the refractories industry is influenced by investment in steel production and steel plants. The continued demand for andalusite by China for its refractive industry will drive the demand of andalusite. Although end users other than the steel industry consume less andalusite, they have a strong impact on the growth of andalusite industry. The ceramic, glass, aluminum and cement industry contribute heavily to the growth of andalusite industry. However, fluctuations of major currency such as Euro and Dollar, rising oil prices and availability of substitutes such as bauxite could hamper the growth of this market.The Asia Pacific is one the biggest consumer of andalusite due to the rapid growth of refractory industry in emerging economies such as China and India. China is the main producer and user of refractories, mainly driven by the steel industry. Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Russia and Turkey are some of the other key markets in this region. The future of the refractories will depend on emerging economies of Asia and Latin America. Brazil remains the most promising end market for andalusite in Latin America. The consumption of refractories will be moderate in the European Union and North America.Visit For TOC@The production of andalusite is concentrated in the hands of few companies who produce majority of andalusite for the global market. Some of the key players in this market are Andalusite Resources, Rhino Minerals Pty Ltd (IMERYS), Samrec Pty ltd (IMERYS), Damrec (IMERYS), Picobello Andalucita and Andalucita S.A. among others. Damrec, subsidiary of IMERYS, is the largest producer of Andalusite and has operations in China, South Africa, France and Peru. Andalusite Resources (Pty) Ltd is a newcomer to the Andalusite Industry and plans to increase its production capacity due to strong growth potential of andalusite market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Bronchoscopes Market 2023 Top Key Players are Ambu Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Cogentix Medical, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Olympus Corporation, Pentax Medicals, and KARL STORZ GmbH and More Bronchoscopes Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4483 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/bronchoscopes-market-4483 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=4483 Market Research Future has added a report titled Bronchoscopes Market Research Report- Global forecast till 2023 to its offering. The report provides an in-depth analysis of regional data and an accurate projection of the market size and share of the Top 10 market players across the globe.Market Scenario:Bronchoscopy has become an essential part of modern medicine. The examination by bronchoscopy has become the most common method to diagnose any kind of abnormality in the normal function of the respiratory system. Bronchoscopes are the instruments used for visualizing the insides of the patients airways. Bronchoscopes are usually inserted through nose or mouth, and occasionally through the trachea. Owing to the recent advances in medicine, a number of bronchoscopes have been introduced. Flexible bronchoscopes have been introduced to diagnose the diseases in trachea and the bronchi. Due to their different advantages, they are widely accepted throughout various countries and regions. The global bronchoscope market is majorly driven by increasing prevalence of respiratory tract diseases for instant, lung cancer and COPD, increasing number of bronchoscopies procedures, and increasing preference for minimally invasive procedures. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), in 2015, 64 million people have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas, over 3 million people died of COPD. Additionally 1.8 million people across the globe were suffering from lung cancer. Increasing number of healthcare organization and patient inflow have boosted the number of bronchoscopy procedures. Moreover, increasing geriatric population, increasing healthcare expenditure, and changing environmental condition have fuelled the growth of the market over the review period. However, high cost of the devices and risk of infection may slow the growth of the market.Get Sample Copy @The Bronchoscopy Market is expected to grow at the CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period and is estimated to reach USD 2,244.4 million by 2023.Key Findings:Flexible bronchoscopes segment accounts for the largest market share in the global bronchoscopes market and is expected to be the fastest growing market with the CAGR of 8.0 % during the forecast period.Diagnosis commanded the largest market share in 2016 and was valued at USD 885.7 million in 2016 and is expected to reach at USD 1,484.2million by 2023.On the basis of end users, Hospitals & clinics segment accounts for the largest market share of 49.1% in the global bronchoscopes market.The Americas bronchoscopes market is expected to reach USD 868.7 million by 2023, at a CAGR of 7.4 % during the forecast period.Key Players for Global Bronchoscopes Market:Ambu Inc. (US), Boston Scientific Corporation (US), Cogentix Medical (US), Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (Japan), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Pentax Medicals (Japan), and KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Schindler Endoskopie Technologie Gmbh (Germany), Scholly Fiberoptic Gmbh (Germany), Vimex Sp. (Poland), Hangzhou EndoTop Medi-Tech Co., Ltd.(China), Guangzhou MeCan Medical Limited (China), and LocaMed (UK).Segmentation:The Global Bronchoscopes Market is segmented on the basis of types, application, and end users.On the basis of types, the market is segmented into rigid bronchoscopes, and flexible bronchoscopes. Flexible bronchoscopes are further sub-segmented into fiber optic bronchoscopes, and video bronchoscopes.On the basis of application, the market is segmented into diagnosis, and surgical procedure. Diagnosis is further segmented into examination, patients airways, bleeding lungs, possibility of lung cancer, chronic cough, and obtain tissue specimen for biopsy. Surgical procedure is further segmented into removal of a foreign object in the airway, laser resection of tumors, lung abscess, stent insertion, percutaneous tracheostomy, and tracheal intubation.On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, diagnostic centers and others.Browse Full Reports @Regional Analysis:Considering the global scenario of the market, America dominates the global bronchoscopes market owing to the presence of huge patient population, high healthcare spending and well developed healthcare sector.North America holds the largest market share in the American bronchoscopes market. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in 2015, U.S. healthcare spending increased 5.8% during last few years. Additionally, increasing government support for research & development have fuelled the market growth of the American bronchoscopes market. Europe has the second largest market for the bronchoscopes which is followed by Asia Pacific. Due to the presence of a well-developed healthcare sector, increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases and high healthcare spending, the bronchoscopes market in Europe is growing at a CAGR of 6.9%. Asia Pacific is also witnessing a rapid growth in this market which is mainly due to rapidly increasing awareness about the availability of the treatment, increasing patient inflow, huge population base, and rising healthcare expenditure. The Middle East & Africa is expected to have limited growth. Middle East is dominating this market by holding major share of the Middle East & Africa market owing to the well developed technology and healthcare sector.TABLE OF CONTENTS1 Report Prologue2 Market Introduction3 Research Methodology4 Market Dynamics5 Market Factor Analysis6 Global Bronchoscopes Market by Type7 Global Bronchoscopes Market by Application8 Global Bronchoscopes Market By End User9 Global Bronchoscopes Market, by Region10 Company Landscape11 Company Profile12 ConclusionContinued!Price: $4450 (Single User)No. of Pages: 153Buy now @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Carl was a selfless pro who made the photographers look good, said Tribune photographer Chris Walker. When I came to the Tribune in 1983, Carl was one of the guys and it was all guys who worked in the darkroom. But he was also one of the guys who embraced the new technology in color processing and digital transmission of photos. I remember Carl loading crates of equipment and shepherding it all to the airport for some away game we were shooting. We still shot film, but then scanned it before sending the data over phone lines. The equipment was large, heavy and complicated, but Carl mastered it. Aircraft Exterior Lighting Market Size is Likely to be Valued at USD 624 Million by 2027 Expanding with a CAGR of 3.7% over the Forecast Period https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/REP-GB-4702 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-4702 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-4702 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights (FMI) has recently published a report titledAircraft Exterior Lighting Market: Global Industry Analysis 20122016 and Opportunity Assessment 20172027. The report states that a progress in the aircraft industry and the growing aviation industry are the core factors impacting the growth of the global aircraft exterior lighting market. According to the analysis, the market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.7% over the course of the forecast period and reach a valuation of around US$ 624 Mn by the end of 2027.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Manufacturers are concentrating on the introduction of new application-specific products in order to better address the requirements of specific aircraft. Furthermore, market players are found to be channelizing efforts towards consolidating their delivery channels while keeping focus centred on direct sales. Companies like Rockwell Collins cater to the demands of both domestic and international customers by maintaining a steady focus on R&D. However, backlog projects remain a threat for several companies. Some of the other leading companies operating in the market are United Technologies Corp., Honeywell International Inc., Zodiac Aerospace S.A., Diehl Aerospace Gmbh, Aveo Engineering Group, s.r.o., Whelen Engineering Co., Inc., Astronics Corporation, and Cobham plc.Expanding Fleet Sizes to Boost Demand for Aircraft Exterior LightingThe number of air passengers has risen extensively in Asia Pacific owing to the liberalisation of markets and development in the wealth and size of the middle class. In current decades, Asia has emerged as a chief region in aviation traffic and is anticipated to remain resilient in the coming decade. The economic and monetary growth in large emerging markets such as China and India has been a primary driver for global GDP growth and further for the aviation industry as well. Over the years, China has contributed significantly to world traffic growth as its passenger growth has increased at a noteworthy rate. Indias emergence as a high-growth economy is expected to give rise to one of the largest commercial aviation markets in the coming decade. As a result, the fleet size of airline owners especially those following a low cost business model is expected to surge significantly leading to a rise in the demand for aircraft components worldwide. Consequently, the demand for aircraft exterior lighting is anticipated to intensify over the coming years.Customized Research Report As per your Requirements @However, stringent regulations are likely to act as a roadblock in the growth of the market in the near future. Regulations concerning pollution produced by aeroplanes will become more stringent in the coming years as most of the countries have agreed to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases. The number of aeroplanes coming to the refurbishing point will significantly decline if aircraft owners choose to retire their aircraft and buy a new fleet instead of opting for refurbishing the old aircraft, to clear regulations listed by authorities. This may negatively impact the aircraft exterior lighting market.Original Equipment Manufacturers to Benefit from a Growing Demand from Single-aisle AircraftThe market penetration of low-cost carriers is expected to remain high in the coming years. There are new growth opportunities via the low-cost and long-haul business mode. Liberalisation in intra-regional traffic and open skies with China would also contribute to market growth. As a result, OEMs will find a plethora of opportunities arising from this sector.Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.CONTACT:Future Market InsightsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb: IVF Services Market Research Analysis on Top Growing End User Industry (Fertility Clinics, Hospitals, Surgical Centers, and Clinical Research Institutes)- Future Opportunity and Industry Forecast, 2018-2025 IVF Services Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/678?utm_source=OPR https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/678?utm_source=OPR https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/press-release/in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-services-market.html www.alliedmarketresearch.com The global IVF services market is anticipated to exhibit significant market growth during the forecast period, owing to rise in infertility rate, increase in trend of delayed pregnancies, surge in IVF success rate, and rise in disposable income worldwide. However, high cost, complications associated with IVF treatment, and low awareness level for IVF in some under developed regions hinder the growth of the IVF services market. Conversely, upsurge in fertility tourism, increase in number of fertility clinics, and growth opportunities in the emerging markets make way for IVF services market development in the future.Depending on end user, the global IVF services market is dominated by the fertility clinics segment and is estimated to continue this trend during the forecast period, due to low cost of treatment and increase in number of fertility clinics.Download PDF Report Sample @Global IVF services market generated $10,587 million in 2017 and is projected to reach $22,467 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 9.8% from 2018 to 2025. In vitro fertilization is an assisted reproductive technology (ART), which involves retrieving eggs from a womans ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm outside the body, in vitro.In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of assisted reproductive technology in which the ovum is artificially fertilized in laboratory settings and then implanted into the uterus. IVF is one of the widely used treatments, which assisted couples with infertility problems, single mothers, and the LGBT community to procreate. Increase in infertility rate, rise in trend of delayed pregnancies, surge in IVF success rate, and growth in disposable income worldwide drive the growth of the IVF services market globally. However, the market growth is restricted by higher cost, complications associated with IVF treatment, and low awareness level for IVF in some under developed regions.The list of key players profiled in this report include Ambroise Par Group, amedes MVZ Cologne GmbH, AMP Center St Roch, AVA Clinic Scanfert, Bangkok IVF center, Bangkok IVF center (Bangkok Hospital), Betamedics, Biofertility Center, Bloom Fertility and Healthcare, Bloom Fertility Center, Bourn Hall Fertility Center, Bourn Hall International, Cardone Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, LLC, Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, CHA Fertility Center, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (Assisted Conception Unit), Cloudnine Fertility, Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado, Cyprus IVF Centre, Dansk Fertilitetsklinik, EUVITRO S.L.U., Fakih IVF Fertility Center, Fertility and Gynecology Center Monterey Bay IVF, Fertility Associates, Fertility Center Berlin, Fertility Center of San Antoni, Fertility First, FIV Marbella, Fivet Centers Prof. Zech, Flinders Reproductive Medicine Pty Ltd, Genea Oxford Fertility Limited, Heidelberg University Hospital, Houston Fertility Center, International Centre for Reproductive Medicine, ICRM, IVF Canada, IVF NAMBA Clinic, IVF Panama Center for Reproduction Punta Pacfica, IVF Spain, IVI Panama, Ivinsemer, KL Fertility & Gynaecology Centre, Lifesure Fertility and Gynaecology centre, LIV Fertility Center, Manipal Fertility, Maria Fertility Hospital, MD Medical Group, Medfem Fertility Clinic, Monash IVF Wesley Hospital Auchenflower, Morpheus Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., New hope fertility center, Oak Medical Group/Oak Clinic, OVA IVF Clinic Zurich, Procrea Fertility, RAPRUI Srl, Repromed, SAFE Fertility Center, Sanno Hospital, Servy Massey Fertility Institute, Shanghai Ji Ai Genetics & IVF Institute, Shanghai United Family Hospital, Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine (SIRM), Southend Fertility and IVF, StorkKlinik (Stork IVF Clinic), The ARC-STER Center, The Bridge Centre, The Cape Fertility Clinic, The Hugh Wynter Fertility Management Unit, The Lister Fertility Clinic, The Montreal Fertility Center, Thomson Medical Pte. Ltd., Trianglen Fertility Clinic, TRIO Fertility, Virtus Health, Vitanova, VivaNeo - Medical Center Kinderwens, and Wunschkinder.Get Customized Report @Table Of ContentChapter: 1: INTRODUCTION1.1. Report Description1.2. Key Benefits for Stakeholders1.3. Key Market Segments1.4. Research Methodology1.4.1. Secondary research1.4.2. Primary research1.4.3. Analyst tools and modelsChapter: 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2.1. Key Findings of the Study2.2. CXO PerspectiveChapter: 3: MARKET OVERVIEW3.1. Market Definition and Scope3.2. IVF Pricing Trends3.3. IVF Cycles, By Country3.4. Global IVF Services Market, By End User3.4.1. Market size and forecast3.4.2. Market volume and forecast3.4.3. Fertility clinics3.4.3.1. Market size and forecast3.4.4. Hospitals3.4.4.1. Market size and forecast3.4.5. Surgical centers3.4.5.1. Market size and forecast3.4.6. Clinical research institutes3.4.6.1. Market size and forecast3.5. Global IVF Services Market, By Cycle Type3.5.1. Market size and forecast3.5.2. Market volume and forecast3.5.3. Fresh IVF cycles (non-donor)3.5.3.1. Market size and forecast3.5.4. Thawed IVF cycles (non-donor)3.5.4.1. Market size and forecast3.5.5. Donor egg IVF cycles3.5.5.1. Market size and forecast3.6. Market Dynamics3.6.1. Drivers3.6.1.1. Delayed pregnancies in women3.6.1.2. Increase in global infertility rates3.6.1.3. Increase in gamete donations3.6.1.4. Increase in disposable income3.6.1.5. Increase in IVF success rates3.6.1.6. Surge in healthcare expenditure worldwide3.6.2. Restraints3.6.2.1. Cost constraints3.6.2.2. Complications associated with IVF treatment3.6.2.3. Low awareness level3.6.3. Opportunities3.6.3.1. Fertility tourism3.6.3.2. Growth opportunities in the emerging markets3.6.3.3. Increase in number of fertility clinics3.6.3.4. Rise in same sex marriage3.6.4. Impact analyses3.7. Key FindingsAccess Full Summery @About usAllied Market Research, a market research and advisory company of Allied Analytics LLP, provides business insights and market research reports to large as well as small & medium enterprises. The company assists its clients to strategize business policies and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.Allied Market Research provides one stop solution from the beginning of data collection to investment advice. The analysts at Allied Market Research dig out factors that help clients to understand the significance and impact of market dynamics. The company amplies clients insight on the factors, such as strategies, future estimations, growth or fall forecasting, opportunity analysis, and consumer surveys among others. As follows, the company offers consistent business intelligent support to aid the clients to turn into prominent business firm.ContactDavid Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1855550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb: True Facts behind global Online Life Insurance Market 2018 size, analysis by new study impressive growth in upcoming years by, ACE, Japan Post Insurance, MetLif. Online Life Insurance https://www.reportconsultant.com/request_sample.php?id=2963 https://www.reportconsultant.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=2963 https://www.reportconsultant.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=2963 www.reportconsultant.com Global Online Life Insurance Market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of +10.76%. The base year considered for the study is 2018 and the forecast period considered is 2018 To 2025.The online insurance market is characterized by a number of opportunities for aggregating websites and insurance companies to capitalize and develop. Insurers have introduced new insurance products specifically for online buyers, and the possibility to explore innovative, easy-to-use, cost-effective, portable and power-independent technologies has driven the industry. As more and more people demand better insurance products with quality insurance, insurance and claims, technological advances and cost-effective products become an urgent need for insurance companies and aggregating websites. The new IRDA compliance provides a comparison between insurance products and unbiased information, and is cost-effective due to increased competition, which has become a major focus for Indian web aggregators. In addition, funding issues and channel conflicts are also major challenges in this market. While India's high Internet penetration rate has helped increase online insurance penetration, health, travel, automotive and scheduled insurance programs have been continually being demanded.For Sample Copy of this report:Key Companies Analyzed in this Report are:Lifenet InsuranceDai-ichi Life InsuranceACEMitsui Life InsuranceManulife FinancialJapan Post InsuranceMetLifAvail discount on this report:The current growth and development patterns of this market have also been encapsulated in this study. After studying key companies, the report focuses on the startups contributing towards the growth of the market. Possible mergers and acquisitions among the startups and key organizations are identified by the report's authors in the study. As leading companies take efforts to maintain their dominance in the global Online Life Insurance market, the right way to do so is by adopting new technologies and strategies. The report highlights major technological developments and changing trends adopted by key companies over a period of time. For a stronger and more stable business outlook, the report on the global market carries key projections that can be practically studied.Market Segment by Type, coversNormalLuxuryMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoKidsAdultsFor more enquiry:A life insurance policy is a contract between an insurance company and an insured. According to the insurance premium received by the insurance company, the insurance company agrees to pay a sum of money according to the insurance conditions. The Indian insurance market is very mature. However, the digitization of insurance is a late development of the country. Insurance policies are broadly divided into traditional insurance and ULIP insurance. Advances in Internet infrastructure and rising insurance policy costs are major factors paving the way for online life insurance. As public entities such as LIC enter the online insurance market, the credibility of online insurance is strengthened. As a result, sales and insurance policy updates have been added through online media.Table of Contents:Global Online Life Insurance Market Research Report 2018-2025Chapter 1: Online Life Insurance Market OverviewChapter 2: Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3: Online Life Insurance Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4: Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5: Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6: Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7: Global Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8: Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11: Online Life Insurance Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12: Global Online Life Insurance Market ForecastReport Consultant - A global leader in analytics, research and advisory that can assist you to renovate your business and modify your approach. With us, you will learn to take decisions intrepidly. We make sense of drawbacks, opportunities, circumstances, estimations and information using our experienced skills and verified methodologies.Our research reports will give you an exceptional experience of innovative solutions and outcomes. We have effectively steered businesses all over the world with our market research reports and are outstandingly positioned to lead digital transformations. Thus, we craft greater value for clients by presenting advanced opportunities in the global market.Rebecca Parker(Report Consultant)Akasaka biz tower,5-3-1 akasaka minato-ku,Tokyo, JapanContact No: +81-368444299sales@reportconsultant.com Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market 2018 Global Analysis By Key Players Alpen Food Group, NZMP, Dana Dairy, Vreugdenhil, Revala Ltd Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3366896-global-skim-milk-powder-smp-market-insights-forecast-to-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3366896-global-skim-milk-powder-smp-market-insights-forecast-to-2025 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com adds Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025 To Its Research Database.Report Details:This report provides in depth study of Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report studies the global market size of Skim Milk Powder(SMP) in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Skim Milk Powder(SMP) in these regions.This research report categorizes the global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) market by players/brands, region, type and application. This report also studies the global market status, competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.In 2017, the global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) market size was million US$ and is forecast to million US in 2025, growing at a CAGR of from 2018. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Skim Milk Powder(SMP) market based on company, product type, application and key regions.The various contributors involved in the value chain of Skim Milk Powder(SMP) include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, intermediaries, and customers.The key manufacturers in the Skim Milk Powder(SMP) includeAlpen Food Group(Netherlands)NZMP(New Zealand)Dana Dairy(Switzerland)Vreugdenhil(Netherlands)Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (Ireland)Revala Ltd(Estonia)TATURA(Australia)Foodexo(Poland)Interfood(Netherlands)Kaskat Dairy(Poland)Dairygold(Ireland)Holland Dairy Foods(Netherlands)Milky Holland(Netherlands)Nestle (Switzerland)Miraka (New Zealand)Fonterra (New Zealand)Lactoland (Germany)Amul (India)Nova Dairy products (India)Synlait milk ltd (New Zealand)Arion Dairy Products(Netherlands)Request a Sample Report @Market Size Split by TypeFat FreeLow FatMarket Size Split by ApplicationDairy ProductsConfectioneryDesserts & BakeryMeat ProductsInfant formulaMarket size split by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeMalaysiaPhilippinesThailandVietnamEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaCentral & South AmericaBrazilRest of Central & South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesTurkeyEgyptSouth AfricaKey StakeholdersSkim Milk Powder(SMP) ManufacturersSkim Milk Powder(SMP) Distributors/Traders/WholesalersSkim Milk Powder(SMP) Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Complete Report Details@Major Key Points in Table of Content:1 Study Coverage1.1 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered1.4 Market by Type1.4.1 Global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market Size Growth Rate by Type1.4.2 Fat Free1.4.3 Low Fat1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market Size Growth Rate by Application1.5.2 Dairy Products1.5.3 Confectionery1.5.4 Desserts & Bakery1.5.5 Meat Products1.5.6 Infant formula1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Executive Summary2.1 Global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market Size2.1.1 Global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Revenue 2016-20252.1.2 Global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Sales 2016-20252.2 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Growth Rate by Regions2.2.1 Global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Sales by Regions2.2.2 Global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Revenue by Regions3 Breakdown Data by Manufacturers3.1 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Sales by Manufacturers3.1.1 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Sales by Manufacturers3.1.2 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Sales Market Share by Manufacturers3.1.3 Global Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)3.2 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Revenue by Manufacturers3.2.1 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Revenue by Manufacturers (2016-2018)3.2.2 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2016-2018)3.3 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Price by Manufacturers3.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Manufacturing Base Distribution, Product Types3.4.1 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Manufacturers Manufacturing Base Distribution, Headquarters3.4.2 Manufacturers Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Category3.4.3 Date of International Manufacturers Enter into Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Market3.5 Manufacturers Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans..11 Company Profiles11.1 Alpen Food Group(Netherlands)11.1.1 Alpen Food Group(Netherlands) Company Details11.1.2 Company Description11.1.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.1.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.1.5 Recent Development11.2 NZMP(New Zealand)11.2.1 NZMP(New Zealand) Company Details11.2.2 Company Description11.2.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.2.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.2.5 Recent Development11.3 Dana Dairy(Switzerland)11.3.1 Dana Dairy(Switzerland) Company Details11.3.2 Company Description11.3.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.3.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.3.5 Recent Development11.4 Vreugdenhil(Netherlands)11.4.1 Vreugdenhil(Netherlands) Company Details11.4.2 Company Description11.4.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.4.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.4.5 Recent Development11.5 Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (Ireland)11.5.1 Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (Ireland) Company Details11.5.2 Company Description11.5.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.5.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.5.5 Recent Development11.6 Revala Ltd(Estonia)11.6.1 Revala Ltd(Estonia) Company Details11.6.2 Company Description11.6.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.6.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.6.5 Recent Development11.7 TATURA(Australia)11.7.1 TATURA(Australia) Company Details11.7.2 Company Description11.7.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.7.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.7.5 Recent Development11.8 Foodexo(Poland)11.8.1 Foodexo(Poland) Company Details11.8.2 Company Description11.8.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.8.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.8.5 Recent Development11.9 Interfood(Netherlands)11.9.1 Interfood(Netherlands) Company Details11.9.2 Company Description11.9.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.9.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.9.5 Recent Development11.10 Kaskat Dairy(Poland)11.10.1 Kaskat Dairy(Poland) Company Details11.10.2 Company Description11.10.3 Sales, Revenue and Gross Margin of Skim Milk Powder(SMP)11.10.4 Skim Milk Powder(SMP) Product Description11.10.5 Recent DevelopmentContinued.Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Sales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRESS:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Cranial Stabilisation Devices Market Market Outlook 2017-2027 by Leading Key Players Micromar Ind. Com. Ltda, Pro Med Instruments, Inc., Integra LifeSciences Corporation, and Changzhou Huida Medical Equipment Co. Ltd. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2537 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-2537 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/cranial-stabilization-devices-market https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Future Market Insights has published a new report titled Cranial Stabilisation Devices Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012 2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017 2027) that studies the overall performance of the global cranial stabilisation devices market for an assessment period of 10 years. The global cranial stabilisation devices market is anticipated to expand at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. Technological advancements in the field of neuroscience across the globe is a favourable factor boosting revenue growth of the global cranial stabilisation devices market. Revenue from the global cranial stabilisation devices market is expected to reach US$ 472.9 Mn by 2017 end and is projected to reach US$ 792.8 Mn by the end of 2027. Sales revenue is anticipated to register a robust CAGR of 5.3% between 2017 and 2027.To know key findings Request Sample Report @:Global Cranial Stabilisation Devices Market: Key TrendsSteady growth in neurosurgical procedures across the globeIncreasing consolidations among key market playersRising preference for branded productsIncreasing awareness regarding regulatory concernsRapidly expanding healthcare facilities across the globeIncreasing spending on healthcare facilities across the worldCranial Stabilization Devices Market: Macro Economic FactorsOver the last few years, government authorities in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa regions are encouraging start-up companies as well as MNCs to boost industrial growth in the healthcare and medical devices industry. Leading players in the medical devices market are capitalising on economies of scale to strengthen their position in the market. This is likely to have a positive impact on the global cranial stabilisation devices market.Increasing incidence of life-threatening diseases due to changing lifestyles of people is creating a rise in demand for neurology procedures worldwide. It is expected that direct and indirect costs of treatment of neurological diseases and disorders will increase over a period of time. This is another factor likely to impact revenue growth of the global cranial stabilisation devices market.Request for Report customization @:Global Cranial Stabilisation Devices Market: Segmental ForecastOn the basis of product type, the global market for cranial stabilisation devices is segmented into Horseshoe Headrest, Skull Clamp System, and Brain Retractor System. Brain retractor system segment dominated the global cranial stabilisation devices market in revenue terms in 2016, and the trend is projected to continue throughout the forecast period. Brain retractor system segment is expected to be the most lucrative among all product types, with an attractiveness index of 1.6.By end use the market is segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centres and specialised centres. Specialized centres segment is expected to be the second largest market for cranial stabilisation devices, with a market share index of 0.7. Ambulatory surgical centres segment remains the third largest market with a market share index of 0.5.Global Cranial Stabilisation Devices Market: Forecast by RegionKey geographies tracked in this report include North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, APEJ, Japan and MEA. The APEJ cranial stabilisation devices market revenue is expected to expand at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. APEJ remains the third largest market due to increasing demand for cranial stabilisation devices such as horseshoe headrests, skull clamp systems and brain retractor systems. North America dominated the global cranial stabilisation devices market in revenue terms in 2016, and the trend is projected to continue throughout the forecast period. The North America cranial stabilisation devices market is expected to be the most lucrative among all regional markets, with an attractiveness index of 2.8.Get access to full summary @:Global Cranial Stabilisation Devices Market: Key PlayersMicromar Ind. Com. Ltda, Pro Med Instruments, Inc., Integra LifeSciences Corporation, and Changzhou Huida Medical Equipment Co. Ltd. are some of the top companies operating in the global cranial stabilisation devices market.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact UsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb: 3D Micro Battery Market Growing Fast during 2018-2023- Estimated By Top Key Players like racell International, Inc., Electric Fuel Battery Corporation,Energizer Holdings, Inc. 3D Micro Battery Market Growing Fast during 2018-2023- Estimated By Top Key Players like racell International, Inc., Electric Fue https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/3004 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/3004 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/3004 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/3004 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/buy/3D-Micro-Battery-Global-Market-Status-and-Trend-Report-2013-2023 www.upmarketresearch.com UpMarketResearch offers a latest published report on Global 3D Micro Battery Market Analysis and Forecast 2018-2023 delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. 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The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the 3D Micro Battery 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.Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This ReportThe report for 3D Micro Battery market analysis & forecast 2018-2023 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Global 3D Micro Battery Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis racell International, Inc. Electric Fuel Battery Corporation Energizer Holdings, Inc. EVionyx, Inc. GP Batteries International Limited ICellTech Corporation VARTA Microbattery GmbH Powerzinc Electric, Inc. Philips UK Renata SA Toshiba Battery Co. Ltd. Spectrum Brands, Inc. DuFor More Information Please Visit3D Micro Battery Consumption by Region North America Asia-Pacific Europe Central & South America Middle East & AfricaMarket Size Split by Type 3D Interlaced MB 3D Concentric MBGet Best Discount @3D Micro Battery Breakdown Data by Application MEMS CMOS Memories Smart Cards Drug Delivery System Medical Implantable DevicesTo Buy This Report and Get It Delivered In Your Inbox Within 24 Hours @The Report covers in-depth analysis as followsChapter 1 Overview of 3D Micro BatteryChapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by RegionsChapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of 3D Micro BatteryChapter 6 3D Micro Battery Market Competition Status by Major ManufacturersChapter 7 3D Micro Battery Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market DataChapter 8 Upstream and Downstream Market Analysis of 3D Micro BatteryChapter 9 Cost and Gross Margin Analysis of 3D Micro BatteryChapter 10 Marketing Status Analysis of 3D Micro BatteryChapter 11 Report ConclusionChapter 12 Research Methodology and ReferenceKey Reasons to Purchase: To gain insightful analyses of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Global 3D Micro Battery Industry Analysis and Forecast 2018-2023 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 3D Micro Battery 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: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 Tobacco Harvester Market to 2023 - Top Companies are Asia Technology, Somaref, Spapperi, Littau Harvester, Moresil, Oxbo International, World Tobacco Tobacco Harvester Market to 2023 - Top Companies are Asia Technology, Somaref, Spapperi, Littau Harvester, Moresil, Oxbo Internati https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/2874 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/2874 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/buy/Tobacco-Harvester-Global-Market-Status-and-Trend-Report-2013-2023 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/2874 www.upmarketresearch.com UpMarketResearch offers a latest published report on Global Tobacco Harvester Market Industry Analysis and Forecast 2018-2023 delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. The report contains 146 pages which highly exhibits on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability. The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Tobacco Harvester global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 2018 - 2023.Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This Report@Tobacco Harvester market 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 Tobacco Harvester global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 2018 - 2025.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 on this report, please visit@The 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 Tobacco Harvester market industry analysis & forecast 2018-2025 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Region-wise Analysis Global Tobacco Harvester Market covers: North America Europe China Japan India Southeast Asia Other regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)The key players covered in this study Asia Technology Somaref Spapperi Littau Harvester Moresil Oxbo International World TobaccoBuy Tobacco Harvester Market analysis & forecast 2018-2025 Report along with complete TOC@Market segment by Type, the product can be split into Self-propelled Walk-behindMarket segment by Application, split into Farm RentThe Report covers in-depth analysis as follows: Chapter 1 Overview of Tobacco Harvester 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 Tobacco Harvester Chapter 6 Tobacco Harvester Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers Chapter 7 Tobacco Harvester Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data Chapter 8 Upstream and Downstream Market Analysis of Tobacco Harvester Chapter 9 Cost and Gross Margin Analysis of Tobacco Harvester Chapter 10 Marketing Status Analysis of Tobacco Harvester Chapter 11 Report Conclusion Chapter 12 Research Methodology and ReferenceGrab Best Discount Price @Global Tobacco Harvester Market Industry Analysis and Forecast 2018-2025 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.You can also ask for region wise market research report, as below Tobacco Harvester-Global Market Status & Trend Report 2013-2023 Top 20 Countries Data Tobacco Harvester-North America Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Tobacco Harvester-South America Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Tobacco Harvester-Europe Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Tobacco Harvester-EMEA Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Tobacco Harvester-Asia Pacific Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Tobacco Harvester-China Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Tobacco Harvester-India Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Tobacco Harvester-United States Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023Key Reasons to Purchase: To gain insightful analyses of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Global Tobacco Harvester Market Industry Analysis and Forecast 2018-2025 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 Tobacco Harvester market industry analysis and forecast 2018-2025.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: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 $ 7,410.2 million Opportunity by 2023 in the Microbiology Testing Market: Key Players - BIO-RAD LABORATORIES Inc., THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC Inc., ABBOTT LABORATORIES, BECTON DICKINSON, ALERE Inc. https://marketprognosis.com/sample-request/16723 https://marketprognosis.com/discount-request/16723 https://marketprognosis.com/enquiry/16723 North America hold the major marketNorth-America held the largest market share in terms of revenue followed by Europe. North America accounts for the highest share among the regions in the global microbiology testing market, due to the presence of a large number of market-focused key players in the region, who are providing wide product portfolios, as well as the demand for high-quality and standardized products and services, which are essential to keep up with the pressure of international standards.Detailed Sample Copy of Updated Analysis @Note: If this link doesnt work in Internet Explorer, kindly try pasting it in other browsers.The healthcare spending is increasing day by day and has been maintaining a growing trend over the decades. Focus is to replace the traditional methods and improve the automated testing by the increasing focus on the technological advances in microbiology testing methods and equipment, a major share of healthcare spending is going to be in this domain. Furthermore, the improving of the healthcare infrastructure across the emerging markets and growing market demand for advanced molecular diagnostic products also provide opportunities for the players in the microbiology market. Growing market demand for advanced molecular diagnostic products as it can detect any disease at initial level.Request Discount on this report @Note: If this link doesnt work in Internet Explorer, kindly try pasting it in other browsers.Market Segments:Microbiology testing market is segmented by:1. APPLICATIONS: PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATION, DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATION, FOOD & BEVERAGE TESTING APPLICATION, ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATION, COSMETIC APPLICATION, OTHERS2. PRODUCT: EQUIPMENT, REAGENT3. Geography: North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & AfricaKey Developments in the Market January, 2017: Abbott completed the acquisition of St. Jude Medical, making the company a leader in in the medical device arena. June, 2017: Bio-Rad launched RT-PCR Assay Kit, for the detection of zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses March, 2017: Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra was launched by Cepheid, for better diagnosis of TB in children and people living with HIV.Enquiry before Buying @Note: If this link doesnt work in Internet Explorer, kindly try 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 today's complex and competitive marketplace through our quantitative & qualitative research methods.We help our clients identify the best market insights and analysis required for their business thus enabling them to take strategic and intelligent decision.We believe in delivering actionable insights for your business growth and success.Contact us:ProgMark Pvt Ltd,Thane - 421501India.Contact No: +1 973 241 5193Email: sales@marketprognosis.com New Research Report on Health Intelligent Virtual Assistant Market| Prominent Players: Kognito, eGain Corporation, Nuance Communications Health Intelligent Virtual Assistant Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/1823 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/1823 Global Health Intelligent Virtual Assistant Market was over USD 180 million in 2016, with expectations to witness more than 31% CAGR from 2017 to 2024. Rising smartphone users worldwide coupled with increasing use of health apps and growing popularity of internet of things is set to drive health intelligent virtual assistant market growth. Mobile healthcare technology has gained immense popularity among populations all over the globe. The increased adoption of heath apps demonstrates the shift in trend in patient care; wherein service over mobile devices is being preferred over visiting the physicians.Request for a sample of this research report @Speech recognition grabbed over 60% of health intelligent virtual assistant market share in 2015, with expectations to witness more than 32% CAGR over the forecast years. Speech recognition technology is becoming increasing popular due to rising penetration of smartphones. Enhanced speech recognition application in EHR allows physicians to be more productive and efficient.Growing need to reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of care will fuel health intelligent virtual assistant market growth. Promising improvements in healthcare infrastructure, patient experience will restructure the healthcare delivery over the coming years. To reduce the medical errors and improve the quality of healthcare has been the first preference of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: Welltok, Inc. True Image Interactive Kognito CodeBaby is now iDAvatars (IDA) MedRespond CSS International Corporation Microsoft Nuance Communications eGain Corporation Next ITPayers should will manifest a robust growth to surpass USD 600 million by 2024. Payers are modernizing the infrastructure, protecting and securing the patients data and improving the interoperability. Payers strive to deliver quality, efficiency, and patient satisfaction in service by using intelligent virtual assistant. Providers held the largest industry revenue share with its value slated to reach USD 820 million by 2024. The use of intelligent virtual assistant devices in the hospitals is driven by improved physician efficiency and patient care.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @U.S. health intelligent virtual assistant market accounted for the largest regional industry share in 2016. Wide spread adoption of healthcare IT, technologies for effective healthcare system and increasing smartphone users in the U.S. will stimulate industry growth. UK held considerable regional health intelligent virtual assistant market share in 2016 owing to adoption of advanced healthcare technologies. Rising penetration of the internet of things coupled with increasing regulation act related to communication and data should drive business growth in coming years.Health Intelligent Virtual Assistant Market by Technology Speech recognition Text-to-Speech Voice recognitionHealth Intelligent Virtual Assistant Market by End User Payer ProviderGlobal Market Insights Inc. is a global market research and management consulting company catering to leading corporations, non-profit organizations, universities and government institutions. Our main goal is to assist and partner organizations to make lasting strategic improvements and realize growth targets. Our industry research reports are designed to provide granular quantitative information, combined with key industry insights, aimed at assisting sustainable organizational development.Global Market Insights, Inc.4 North Main StreetSelbyville, Delaware 19975 USAPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email:sales@gminsights.com Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Market 2018 Analysis by Growth Mettler-Toledo, Ishida, MinebeaMitsumi, OCS Checkweighers, Illinois Tool Works (Loma Systems), https://www.researchreportsinc.com/sample-request?id=238707 https://www.researchreportsinc.com/check-discount?id=238707 https://researchreportsinc.com/checkout/?add-to-cart=238707&&attribute_pa_choose-license=single-user&&quantity=1 Automatic checkweighing machines are high precision measuring equipment which are used for checking the weight of the packaged product. It weighs the product, compares the measured value with the preset value and then rejects or sorts the product based on that value.Download Sample Report of Automatic Checkweighing Machines Market @Leaders Of The Industry :- Mettler-Toledo, Ishida, MinebeaMitsumi, OCS Checkweighers, Illinois Tool Works (Loma Systems), Anritsu, Avery Weigh-Tronix, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bizerba, ALL-FILL, Varpe Control de Peso, Multivac Group, Cardinal Scale, Yamato Scale, Precia Molen, Zhuhai DaHang Intelligent Equipment, Cassel Messtechnik, Brapenta Eletronica, Shenzhen General Measure Technology so on.Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2013, 2016Base year 2017Forecast period 2018 to 2023According to this study, over the next five years the Automatic Checkweighing Machines market will register a xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach US$ xx million by 2023, from US$ xx million in 2017. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in Automatic Checkweighing Machines business, shared in Chapter 3.This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of Automatic Checkweighing Machines market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.This report also splits the market by region:AmericasUnited StatesCanadaMexicoBrazilAPACChinaJapanKoreaSoutheast AsiaIndiaAustraliaEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalyRussiaSpainMiddle East & AfricaEgyptSouth AfricaIsraelTurkeyGCC CountriesGrab Guaranteed Discount:By Category: Automatic Checkweighing Machines Video Content Automatic Checkweighing Machines Digital Text Content Automatic Checkweighing Machines Digital Games Content Automatic Checkweighing Machines Digital Audio ContentBy Device: Automatic Checkweighing Machines Mobile Content Automatic Checkweighing Machines Non-Mobile ContentBy Regions: Automatic Checkweighing Machines North America U.S. Canada Automatic Checkweighing Machines Europe UK Germany Automatic Checkweighing Machines Asia Pacific China India Japan Automatic Checkweighing Machines Latin America Brazil MexicoWe Also Can Offer Customized Report To Fulfill Special Requirements Of Our Clients.Purchase this Premium Report (Flat 20% off Apply Coupon Code DISC20):-Table of Contents2018-2023 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption Market Report1 Scope of the Report1.1 Market Introduction1.2 Research Objectives1.3 Years Considered1.4 Market Research Methodology1.5 Economic Indicators1.6 Currency Considered2 Executive Summary2.1 World Market Overview2.1.1 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption 2013-20232.1.2 Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption CAGR by Region2.2 Automatic Checkweighing Machines Segment by Type2.2.1 In-Motion Checkweighing Machine2.2.2 Intermittent Checkweighing Machine2.3 Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Type2.3.1 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3.3 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Sale Price by Type (2013-2018)2.4 Automatic Checkweighing Machines Segment by Application2.4.1 Food & Beverages2.4.2 Pharmaceuticals2.4.3 Chemicals2.4.4 Others2.5 Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Application2.5.1 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption Market Share by Application (2013-2018)2.5.2 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Value and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)2.5.3 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Sale Price by Application (2013-2018)3 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines by Players3.1 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Sales Market Share by Players3.1.1 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Sales by Players (2016-2018)3.1.2 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Sales Market Share by Players (2016-2018)3.2 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Revenue Market Share by Players3.2.1 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Revenue by Players (2016-2018)3.2.2 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Revenue Market Share by Players (2016-2018)3.3 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Sale Price by Players3.4 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types by Players3.4.1 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Manufacturing Base Distribution and Sales Area by Players3.4.2 Players Automatic Checkweighing Machines Products Offered3.5 Market Concentration Rate Analysis3.5.1 Competition Landscape Analysis3.5.2 Concentration Ratio (CR3, CR5 and CR10) (2016-2018)3.6 New Products and Potential Entrants3.7 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion4 Automatic Checkweighing Machines by Regions4.1 Automatic Checkweighing Machines by Regions4.1.1 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Regions4.1.2 Global Automatic Checkweighing Machines Value by Regions4.2 Americas Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption Growth4.3 APAC Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption Growth4.4 Europe Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption Growth4.5 Middle East & Africa Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption Growth5 Americas5.1 Americas Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Countries5.1.1 Americas Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Countries (2013-2018)5.1.2 Americas Automatic Checkweighing Machines Value by Countries (2013-2018)5.2 Americas Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Type5.3 Americas Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Application5.4 United States5.5 Canada5.6 Mexico5.7 Key Economic Indicators of Few Americas Countries6 APAC6.1 APAC Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Countries6.1.1 APAC Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Countries (2013-2018)6.1.2 APAC Automatic Checkweighing Machines Value by Countries (2013-2018)6.2 APAC Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Type6.3 APAC Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Application6.4 China6.5 Japan6.6 Korea6.7 Southeast Asia6.8 India6.9 Australia6.10 Key Economic Indicators of Few APAC Countries7 Europe7.1 Europe Automatic Checkweighing Machines by Countries7.1.1 Europe Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Countries (2013-2018)7.1.2 Europe Automatic Checkweighing Machines Value by Countries (2013-2018)7.2 Europe Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Type7.3 Europe Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Application7.4 Germany7.5 France7.6 UK7.7 Italy7.8 Russia7.9 Spain7.10 Key Economic Indicators of Few Europe Countries8 Middle East & Africa8.1 Middle East & Africa Automatic Checkweighing Machines by Countries8.1.1 Middle East & Africa Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Countries (2013-2018)8.1.2 Middle East & Africa Automatic Checkweighing Machines Value by Countries (2013-2018)8.2 Middle East & Africa Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Type8.3 Middle East & Africa Automatic Checkweighing Machines Consumption by Application8.4 Egypt8.5 South Africa8.6 Israel8.7 Turkey8.8 GCC Countries9 Market Drivers, Challenges and Trends9.1 Market Drivers and Impact9.1.1 Growing Demand from Key Regions9.1.2 Growing Demand from Key Applications and Potential Industries9.2 Market Challenges and Impact9.3 Market Trends10 Marketing, Distributors and Customer10.1 Sales Channel10.1.1 Direct Marketing10.1.2 Indirect Marketing10.2 Automatic Checkweighing Machines Distributors10.3 Automatic Checkweighing Machines CustomerAbout Us:Research Reports Inc. is one of the leading destinations for market research reports across all industries, companies, and technologies. Our repository features an exhaustive list of market research reports from thousands of publishers worldwideWith our expertise and research offerings, we ensure we deliver on all your requirements, whether youre looking for industry analysis or market trends or anything else, first time and every time!Email us sales@researchreportsinc.comCall: US / Canada Toll Free: +18554192424, UK : +4403308087757 Floridas existing policy falls especially hard on African-Americans. More than one-fifth of the states black citizens have lost their right to vote. Piling that infirmity on top of the other punishments imposed on lawbreakers serves only to perpetuate racial inequities.The majority of people in Florida and elsewhere have come to understand all this. Most states restore voting rights as a matter of course. Two (Maine and Vermont) dont need to restore them because they dont take them away letting inmates cast ballots. Global Organic Milk Powder market research report provides company profile for Organic Valley, SunOpta, Ingredia, Sodiaal Union, Nestle, Arla Food, Fonterra, HiPP, OMSCo, Aurora and Others. This market study includes data about consumer perspective, comprehensive analysis, statistics, market share, company performances (Stocks), historical analysis 2012 to 2017, market forecast 2018 to 2025 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2018 to 2025, etc. The UPDATED Tuesday, Nov. 20: Tanya R. Schmalz, 36, of Battle Ground, Washington, has been indicted on two counts of attempted murder. She tried to kill her ex-husband in 2016 and in November of this year, according to the indictment, which is dated Monday. Schmalz remains in the Washington County Jail, records show. *** Tanya Schmalz A Washington woman was arrested last week on suspicion of trying to kill her ex-husband in Hillsboro and soliciting help from someone to do it. Tanya R. Schmalz, 36, of Battle Ground, Washington, was arrested last Monday and booked into the Washington County Jail on accusations of attempted murder and solicitation to commit murder. No one else was arrested, according to Lt. Henry Reimann, a Hillsboro police spokesman. He said he didn't know any more information about the case. It isn't clear from the criminal complaint filed in the case what the connection is between Tanya Schmalz and the person she is accused of soliciting to kill her former spouse. Tanya Schmalz and ex-husband Jonathan Schmalz, 37, filed for divorce in Washington County in 2012, and it was finalized the next year, Oregon court records show. Jonathan Schmalz filed a motion last Wednesday seeking temporary custody of their two young children and claimed in court documents that his ex-wife has now tried to kill him twice. "Tanya is in custody for trying to poison me," he wrote, "she has tried before to kill me and (she is) unable to care for the children." The father's motion for custody was granted on Thursday. A person who answered a call to a number listed for Jonathan Schmalz in court records declined comment on his behalf Monday. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from denying asylum to migrants who crossed the southern border illegally, saying the president violated a clear command from Congress to allow them to apply. In a ruling late Monday, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of San Francisco issued a nationwide restraining order barring enforcement of the policy President Donald Trump announced Nov. 8, which he billed as an urgent attempt to stop the flow of thousands of asylum-seeking families across the border each month. The government had said it would allow only people who cross at legal checkpoints to request asylum. Those entering elsewhere could seek a temporary form of protection that is harder to win and doesn't yield full citizenship. The changes would amount to a transformation of long-established asylum procedures, codified both at the international level and by Congress. "Whatever the scope of the President's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," wrote the judge, whom President Barack Obama nominated to the federal bench in 2012. Tigar reasoned that the "failure to comply with entry requirements such as arriving at a designated port of entry should bear little, if any, weight in the asylum process." The Trump administration said Tuesday it will continue to press the matter in court. Several thousand migrants are now waiting to cross a legal entry point at San Ysidro in San Diego, across from Tijuana. Many are from a caravan that drew Trump's wrath in the weeks leading up to the midterm election, when he made illegal immigration his closing argument and asserted without evidence that the caravan included "criminals and unknown Middle Easterners." Labeling the movements of Central American migrants a "national emergency," Trump deployed thousands of active-duty troops and coils of concertina wire to the border. Military officials have indicated they are weighing whether to redeploy some of those troops. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said Tuesday that the military was examining whether Tigar's order changes anything for their operations. However, U.S. troops already had been acting only in a support role to the Department of Homeland Security, with only incidental contact with migrants expected. Tigar said the president could not shift asylum policy on his own. The judge's order will remain in effect until Dec. 19, at which point the court will consider arguments for a permanent block of the policy. The Trump administration suggested the defeat could be temporary, alluding to a 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court in June that upheld a revised version of Trump's travel ban, an effort to bar foreigners from certain majority-Muslim nations and other countries from the United States. "As the Supreme Court affirmed this summer, Congress has given the President broad authority to limit or even stop the entry of aliens into this country," the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security said in a joint statement. "We look forward to continuing to defend the Executive Branch's legitimate and well-reasoned exercise of its authority to address the crisis at our southern border." Tigar's 37-page ruling was the latest in a string of court decisions blocking the administration's hard-line immigration policies, including its efforts to crack down on "sanctuary cities" and to rescind deportation protections for about 1 million undocumented immigrants who were either brought to the United States as children or given temporary protected status in this country because of national disasters and unrest in their homelands. The government is appealing those rulings. The challenge to the asylum ban was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups on behalf of East Bay Sanctuary Covenant. The order reflects the judge's view that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits, and would suffer irreparable injury from the executive action. In his proclamation, Trump said the changes were necessary to prepare for the caravan's arrival, arguing that asylum seekers had no "lawful basis for admission into our country." In justifying the policy, the administration relied on the same emergency authority invoked as grounds for the "travel ban." In a hearing Monday, Scott Stewart, a lawyer for the Justice Department, spoke of a "crushing strain" of migrants attempting to cross the border illegally. He alleged that most asylum claims were "ultimately meritless." But the judge seemed skeptical, observing that border apprehensions are near historic lows and that, regardless, federal law says all people on U.S. soil can apply for asylum, no matter how they arrived. Tigar voiced concern for the fate of asylum seekers under the changes. The administration's rule, he observed, would force people "to choose between violence at the border, violence at home, or giving up a pathway to refugee status." And in his decision, he wrote that the government's argument that the manner of entry can be the lone factor rendering a migrant ineligible for asylum "strains credulity." "To say that one may apply for something that one has no right to receive is to render the right to apply a dead letter," he argued. "There simply is no reasonable way to harmonize the two." The judge pointedly denied the claim that the president, by fiat, could give the manner of entry added legal weight as a determinant of asylum. He reasoned that the "interpretive guide" of United Nations compacts on asylum lent extra force to congressional requirements. The intent of Congress, Tigar wrote, was "unambiguous." "And if what Defendants intend to say is that the President by proclamation can override Congress' clearly expressed legislative intent, simply because a statute conflicts with the President's policy goals, the Court rejects that argument also," the judge found. Lee Gelernt, the ACLU attorney who argued the case, welcomed the ruling in a statement. "This ban is illegal, will put people's lives in danger, and raises the alarm about President Trump's disregard for separation of powers," he said. "There is no justifiable reason to flatly deny people the right to apply for asylum, and we cannot send them back to danger based on the manner of their entry. Congress has been clear on this point for decades." As the hearing was underway Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the government had received reports that the migrant caravan was considering rushing the border and closed the travel lanes for a short period. Late last month, some in the caravan kicked and pushed their way through the Guatemala border into Mexico. But a spokesman for the caravan said the Central Americans were waiting peacefully in Mexico and had no intention of forcing their way into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection closed the entire San Ysidro crossing in San Diego for several hours before dawn, installing additional layers of razor wire and concrete barriers, then reopened it with 10 of the port's 26 vehicle lanes closed. Clashing with the U.S. government is a frightening prospect for migrants. In May, a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez, 19, a Guatemalan citizen who had crossed into the United States illegally hoping to reunite with her longtime boyfriend. At the time, the Border Patrol officials said the officer had been attacked with blunt objects. The Washington Post WASHINGTON Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader and 15 other dissident Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi, D-California, both in an internal caucus election Nov. 28 and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday that they are convinced that it is time to select a new leader. "We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus," they wrote. "However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change." Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. "Come on in, the water's fine," she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. A senior Democratic aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss the developments, highlighted the fact that 94 percent of the House Democratic caucus did not sign the letter. "If your strategy relies upon Nancy Pelosi giving up, you will lose every single time," the aide said. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with four races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one. If the current leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. One of the 16 signers, Ben McAdams of Utah, is now trailing Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, and might never cast a speaker vote. Signing the letter were Reps. Jim Cooper of Tennessee, Bill Foster of Illinois, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Brian Higgins of New York, Stephen F. Lynch of Massachusetts, Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, Kathleen Rice of New York, Tim Ryan of Ohio, Linda T. Sanchez of California, Filemon Vela of Texas, and Schrader, as well as newly elected members Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, Max Rose of New York and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey. Also signing the letter were Anthony Brindisi, who leads in an unresolved race in New York, and McAdams. Not signing the letter was Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, who has publicly opposed Pelosi and is mulling a run against her. A spokesman for Fudge said Monday that she was unavailable for an interview and spending time in her congressional district in the Cleveland area, adding that her final decision on the speaker race is not expected until after the Thanksgiving holiday. A Fudge associate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, said it was unclear why Fudge did not sign the letter, but said the lawmaker was deliberately keeping a low profile this week as she continues to think through her possible candidacy, with the travel and fundraising of the job weighing on her and potentially pushing her away from running. Five other Democrats Rep. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania, and Reps.-elect Jason Crow of Colorado, Jared Golden of Maine, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia have made firm statements saying they would not vote for Pelosi but did not sign the letter. Reenie Kuhlman, a spokeswoman for Lamb, said "nothing has changed" in light of his decision not to sign the letter. "Congressman Lamb has said publicly several times since the election that he will not vote for Leader Pelosi for speaker in caucus or on the floor," she said. Representatives for the other four Democrats did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Democratic aides involved in the effort to oust Pelosi but not authorized to comment publicly said they are confident additional lawmakers would oppose Pelosi in a floor vote beyond those who signed the letter. Also Monday, Rep. Diana DeGette announced suddenly that she was abandoning her bid for the No. 3 job in the House Democratic leadership, ending the only official challenge to one of the party's top leaders. DeGette, D-Colorado, had challenged Rep. James Clyburn, D-South Carolina, the highest-ranking African-American in House leadership, for the majority whip post. But facing a backlash from members of the Congressional Black Caucus, DeGette dropped her bid ensuring, for now, that Clyburn will remain in the top ranks. Any major shake-up in the Democratic leadership now depends on whether a small group of incumbents and freshmen can muster the votes to keep Pelosi from seizing the House speaker's gavel in January. If that bid is successful, it could kick off a wholesale scramble that could also threaten Clyburn, the current assistant Democratic leader, and Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who is seeking to move from whip to majority leader when Democrats take control in January. "Since my announcement, I have been heartened by the backing I have received across the caucus," DeGette said in a statement. "Over the last few days, however, many of my supporters have expressed concern about pressure they are receiving to return the three senior leaders to their posts without opposition." DeGette, who has long served as chief deputy whip, launched her campaign after the Nov. 6 election by touting her experience in rounding up support for difficult pieces of legislation - implicitly making the case that Clyburn, 78, was not up to or interested in the task. But the challenge upset backers of Clyburn, a former Congressional Black Caucus chairman and a revered figure among the caucuss roughly 50 African-Americans who bristled at the notion that the caucuss top tier could be all-white. Out of the three of the leadership positions, he is the only one with announced opposition, Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-Louisiana, the current Congressional Black Caucus chair, said last week. I just think it is offensive and insulting. The Washington Post A FedEx driver was found legally justified in punching a man in Northeast Portland, who later died, after the stranger called the worker racial slurs and tried to hit the driver first, the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office announced Monday. Theres no indication Timothy Warren intended to kill Joseph Magnuson when Warrens punch connected above Magnusons left eye near Northeast Hoyt Street and Northeast 29th Avenue on Sept. 26, Senior Deputy District Attorney Adam Gibbs wrote in a memo declining to prosecute Warren. A county medical examiner later determined Magnuson was in extremely poor health beforehand and that his fall to the ground aggravated pre-existing medical conditions and led to his death. Witnesses describe Magnuson as starting the conflict, yelling at Warren as the delivery worker was driving through the area. They said Magnuson repeatedly called Warren the n-word and other aggressive and abusive phrases after the driver stopped his truck and tried to speak with Magnuson about his behavior. Gibbs wrote that Magnuson may still be alive if Warren kept driving, but the decision by Mr. Warren, who is black, to not let the racist vitriol to which he was being subjected go unanswered is not of legal significance. Oregon law contains no duty to retreat and Mr. Warren was within his right to exit his vehicle and verbally challenge the manner in which Mr. Magnuson was addressing him, the memo said. Mr. Magnuson was the initial verbal aggressor; Mr. Warren responded in kind. Mr. Magnuson then escalated and became the initial physical aggressor; Mr. Warren again responded in kind. Monday was the first time authorities publicly announced Magnusons death and that it had been under review by the district attorneys office. It marks at least the fourth homicide in Portland this year legally determined to have occurred in self-defense, and the third to happen while the person defending themselves was working. Robert Porter, 53, was fatally shot by U-Haul employee Tyson Pfau, 27, in January after Porter came into a Southeast Portland business branch with a gun and demanded money, police said. Richard Hanley, 38, was fatally shot a month later by Joseph Vinci, 48, in a strip mall outside Vincis tattoo shop in Southeast Portland. Sophia Adler, 33, fatally shot Gigi Pierce, 28, during a fight between the two in downtown Portland in May where authorities said Pierce was armed with a knife. In this most recent case, witnesses reported Warren driving his FedEx truck slowly after turning east from Northeast 29th Avenue onto Hoyt when Magnuson started yelling very aggressively for Warren to slow down, according to Gibbs memo. The yelling continued after Warren stopped the truck and tried speaking to Magnuson. At some point, both men were yelling at each other and Magnuson threw a drink at Warren. Some witnesses said Magnuson threw a bag of food at the delivery driver as well, but another said Warren knocked the bag knocked out of Magnusons hand, the memo said. Magnuson then threw a punch at Warren, missing him. Warren hit him once, then Magnuson fell to the ground and went unconscious, according to the memo. Warren stayed at the scene as police arrived and cooperated with the investigation, the memo said. Magnusons toxicology results werent available as of Monday, Gibbs wrote, but the findings are not of significance to the legal analysis. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey Oregon legislative leaders must comply with subpoenas for documents and testimony in the sexual harassment investigation at the Capitol, a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge ruled Monday. Judge Christopher Marshall said the subpoenas were reasonable in scope and had been issued lawfully by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. But he also found the Legislatures top officials initially had cause to object, rejecting the agencys request for a contempt order and $1,000-a-day fines. That would have totaled $1 million. He gave lawmakers until Dec. 5 to provide documents and Dec. 18 to provide testimony. Through their attorneys, Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek, both Democrats, had argued that supplying the information would jeopardize the privacy of people who had complained about misconduct to higher-ups at the Legislature. On Monday, labor agency lawyer Nena Cook said the alleged victims information would be kept private under a protective order. The Bureau of Labor and Industries had identified two interns who reported being sexually harassed while working for former Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, in a public court filing, but Cook said she did so with their permission. The former interns stated in court filings that no one from the Legislature contacted them to ask whether they wanted their information withheld from the Bureau of Labor and Industries. I believe that (Bureau of Labor and Industries) is able and willing to protect my privacy and the confidentiality of my personal identifying information, both throughout the investigation and even after it has concluded, Anne Montgomery and Adriana Martin-Wyatt wrote. Both Montgomery and Martin-Wyatt had been quoted anonymously earlier this year, when an investigator hired by the Legislature issued a report on Kruses misconduct. The labor agencys investigation dates back to Aug. 1, when Democratic Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian took the extraordinary step of filing a complaint with his own agency alleging that Courtney and Kotek knew or should have known about complaints about Kruse and the broader sexually hostile environment in the Capitol. Avakians complaint also named seven other individuals including the Legislatures human resources chief and top lawyer, plus the entire Legislature and Department of Administrative Services, which handles human resources for much of the state government. Avakian wrote in his complaint that when women took issue with Kruses behavior, Courtney and Kotek did not take immediate and appropriate action to correct his conduct. Reports that Kruse groped women lawmakers started to surface in media reports more than a year ago; he resigned in February. One of the women Kruse had allegedly harassed for years, Sen. Sara Gelser of Corvallis, was in the courtroom Wednesday. She said the legislative leaders Avakian accused of allowing a hostile workplace are working hard to make improvements, but that bullying and hostility continues to be a problem at the Capitol. Its unclear what results the labor bureaus investigation might yield, beyond additional investigation into sexual harassment and other workplace misconduct allegations. Cook, the lawyer representing the agency, declined to give examples of potential remedies it could achieve. -- Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com |503-294-4034 | @hborrud Richard Parrish A Vancouver man was arrested Monday after authorities say he attacked his girlfriend last week and then set a fire in her Washington County apartment two days later, causing damages to three units and killing her pet parrot. Richard Parrish, 29, is accused of assaulting his girlfriend last Monday and then causing a blaze at the Westridge Meadows apartments in Bethany on Wednesday evening, according to the county sheriff's office. The woman, her mother and dog managed to escape the flames, but the mom and daughter were taken to a hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation, said Det. Mark Povolny, a county sheriff's office spokesman. Both were released later that night. Flames heavily damaged the girlfriend's apartment and water from sprinklers damaged the two other units. Witnesses reported seeing Parrish running from the apartments after the fire, Povolny said. Parrish is accused of first-degree arson and fourth-degree assault. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey By Betsy DeVos Special To The Washington Post America's students deserve to attend school focused on learning, with nothing limiting them from reaching their unique potential and preparing to lead successful lives. No student should have their education unfairly derailed. That's why there must be no tolerance for sexual harassment or assault in America's schools - or anywhere else in the country, for that matter. And there should also be no tolerance for adjudicating these matters in a way that denies to any person access to the core principles that underpin our justice system, such as due process. The federal civil rights law known as Title IX protects every student's right to educational opportunities free from sex-based discrimination. Since assuming my role as secretary of education, I have met with survivors of sexual assault, accused students and school administrators. I have heard consistently that we can and must do better - and that we can and must support survivors and ensure fair grievance processes. Last week, the Education Department released for public comment a proposed regulation regarding Title IX implementation. The rule would require schools to address sexual misconduct by assisting and protecting victims of sexual misconduct, while affording due process protections to those accused. It is well-known that survivors can face emotional and psychological challenges when reporting sexual harassment and assault. We must continue to have in place policies and procedures that encourage survivors to come forward, and we must support those who do. No report can ever be swept under the rug. Our proposed regulation provides a more precise description of supportive measures that schools can offer to enable survivors to heal from trauma and continue their education. These measures include academic course adjustments, counseling, no-contact orders, dorm room reassignments, leaves of absence and class schedule changes. This gives survivors more control over the process by making supportive measures available whether or not there is an investigation. The proposed rule also contains a provision, known as a "rape shield," that protects those bringing complaints from inappropriate questioning about their sexual histories when they do participate in a grievance process. Further, under our proposal, when a person is found responsible for sexual misconduct, the school must provide remedies to the survivor. Appeal rights must be equally available to both parties, not just to the accused. A fair process treats each party with dignity and ensures the integrity of final decisions. Having outcomes overturned and relitigated because of process concerns - which has happened dozens of times in recent years - can be counterproductive to survivors. This is why unbiased decision-makers need to objectively consider the testimony of both parties and other available evidence before reaching conclusions about what happened and what to do about it. Our proposed rule would require schools to apply basic due-process protections for students, such as the presumption of innocence, the right to know of allegations against them, the right to examine and challenge the evidence and the right to an unbiased decision-maker. That includes prohibiting the "single investigator" model, in which determinations are made by the same person who has investigated the case - a situation akin to a prosecutor also serving as a judge. Colleges and universities would also need to hold a live hearing in which cross-examination could be conducted by the parties' advisers, even if that means putting the parties in separate rooms to foreclose the possibility that a survivor could be traumatized by personal confrontation with a perpetrator. Some may mischaracterize our proposals as tilting the scales of justice, but we believe they simply balance them. Our proposed framework supports survivors while safeguarding due process, helping make Title IX protections against sex discrimination a reality for all students. Indeed, it is difficult to understand how people can object to procedures premised on the foundational concept of due process, or how anybody could have confidence in a system that lacks such protections. Remarkably, in an area as important as sexual misconduct, the previous administration sought to implement Title IX through informal guidance letters. These letters, issued without sufficient public input, forced schools to address sexual violence and other misconduct in an opaque environment of uncertainty and ambiguity. By contrast, the Trump administration is taking an important step, through proper and legal procedures, to make sure all schools and colleges clearly understand their legal obligations under Title IX. We welcome feedback on our proposal to ensure that the final rule benefits from those with expertise and those who have a stake in these important issues. Throughout this process, my focus was, is and always will be on students. The stakes are high for the well-being of every student involved in a sexual misconduct incident. Every student on campus deserves to learn in a safe environment, and we must continue to keep our schools and campuses safe for all. Betsy DeVos is U.S. education secretary. By Adam G. Klein, Pace University Facebook. MUST CREDIT: Bloomberg photo by Andrew Harrer.Bloomberg (THE CONVERSATION) When a U.S. senator asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Can you define hate speech? it was arguably the most important question that social networks face: how to identify extremism inside their communities. Hate crimes in the 21st century follow a familiar pattern in which an online tirade escalates into violent actions. Before opening fire in the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the accused gunman had vented over far-right social network Gab about Honduran migrants traveling toward the U.S. border, and the alleged Jewish conspiracy behind it all. Then he declared, "I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." The pattern of extremists unloading their intolerance online has been a disturbing feature of some recent hate crimes. But most online hate isn't that flagrant, or as easy to spot. As I found in my 2017 study on extremism in social networks and political blogs, rather than overt bigotry, most online hate looks a lot like fear. It's not expressed in racial slurs or calls for confrontation, but rather in unfounded allegations of Hispanic invaders pouring into the country, black-on-white crime or Sharia law infiltrating American cities. Hysterical narratives such as these have become the preferred vehicle for today's extremists - and may be more effective at provoking real-world violence than stereotypical hate speech. The ease of spreading fear On Twitter, a popular meme traveling around recently depicts the "Islamic Terrorist Network" spread across a map of the United States, while a Facebook account called "America Under Attack" shares an article with its 17,000 followers about the "Angry Young Men and Gangbangers" marching toward the border. And on Gab, countless profiles talk of Jewish plans to sabotage American culture, sovereignty and the president. While not overtly antagonistic, these notes play well to an audience that has found in social media a place where they can express their intolerance openly, as long as they color within the lines. They can avoid the exposure that traditional hate speech attracts. Whereas the white nationalist gathering in Charlottesville was high-profile and revealing, social networks can be anonymous and discreet, and therefore liberating for the undeclared racist. That presents a stark challenge to platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Fighting hate Of course this is not just a challenge for social media companies. The public at large is facing the complex question of how to respond to inflammatory and prejudiced narratives that are stoking racial fears and subsequent hostility. However, social networks have the unique capacity to turn down the volume on intolerance if they determine that a user has in fact breached their terms of service. For instance, in April 2018, Facebook removed two pages associated with white nationalist Richard Spencer. A few months later, Twitter suspended several accounts associated with the far-right group The Proud Boys for violating its policy "prohibiting violent extremist groups." Still, some critics argue that the networks are not moving fast enough. There is mounting pressure for these websites to police the extremism that has flourished in their spaces, or else become policed themselves. A recent Huffpost/YouGov survey revealed that two-thirds of Americans wanted social networks to prevent users from posting "hate speech or racist content." In response, Facebook has stepped up its anti-extremism efforts, reporting in May that it had removed "2.5 million pieces of hate speech," over a third of which was identified using artificial intelligence, the rest by human monitors or flagged by users. But even as Zuckerberg promised more action in November 2018, the company acknowledged that teaching its technology to identify hate speech is extremely difficult because of all the contexts and nuances that can drastically alter these meanings. Moreover, public consensus about what actually constitutes hate speech is ambiguous at best. The libertarian Cato Institute found broad disagreement among Americans about the kind of speech that should qualify as hate, or offensive speech, or fair criticism. And so, these discrepancies raise the obvious question: How can an algorithm identify hate speech if we humans can barely define it ourselves? Fear lights the fuse The ambiguity of what constitutes hate speech is providing ample cover for modern extremists to infuse cultural anxieties into popular networks. That presents perhaps the clearest danger: Priming people's racial paranoia can also be extremely powerful at spurring hostility. The late communication scholar George Gerbner found that, contrary to popular belief, heavy exposure to media violence did not make people more violent. Rather, it made them more fearful of others doing violence to them, which often leads to corrosive distrust and cultural resentment. That's precisely what today's racists are tapping into, and what social networks must learn to spot. The posts that speak of Jewish plots to destroy America, or black-on-white crime, are not directly calling for violence, but they are amplifying prejudiced views that can inflame followers to act. That's precisely what happened in advance of the deadly assaults at a historic black church in Charleston in 2015, and the Pittsburgh synagogue last month. For social networks, the challenge is two-fold. They must first decide whether to continue hosting non-violent racists like Richard Spencer, who has called for "peaceful ethnic cleansing," and remains active on Twitter. Or for that matter, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who recently compared Jews to termites, and continues to post to his Facebook page. When Twitter and Facebook let these profiles remain active, the companies lend the credibility of their online communities to these provocateurs of racism or anti-Semitism. But they also signal that their definitions of hate may be too narrow. The most dangerous hate speech is apparently no longer broadcast with ethnic slurs or delusional rhetoric about white supremacy. Rather, its all over social media, in plain sight, carrying hashtags like #WhiteGenocide, #BlackCrimes, #MigrantInvasion and #AmericaUnderAttack. They create an illusion of imminent threat that radicals thrive on, and to which the violence-inclined among them have responded. Adam G. Klein, Pace University (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) UPDATED 9 a.m. Tuesday: Man arrested on suspicion of killing 2 in Portland in under 4 hours *** A man is believed to have been shot dead on the Burnside Bridge early Tuesday, marking the area's second fatal shooting in less than 4 hours. Portland police said about 4 a.m. that detectives were still determining if the Burnside Bridge homicide is connected to a prior fatal shooting under the Morrison Bridge. Police don't think there's a public threat in connection with either case. They said there was no suspect information to provide. Police said officers responded shortly after 12:30 a.m. to the report there was an injured person on the Burnside Bridge's south sidewalk at midspan. Authorities showed up and determined that person, a man, was dead. Investigators think he was shot. The bridge was initially closed but has since reopened, police said. Police said they increased patrols downtown as the investigation continued. The shooting under the Morrison Bridge was reported about 9:05 p.m. Monday. The woman who was killed was found on a sidewalk along Southwest First Avenue near Harvey Milk Street, according to police. Neither person who was killed has been publicly identified. Police urge anyone who has information about either case to contact them. This report will be updated. Jim Ryan A postmortem debt of gratitude goes to my father for saying no to handing over $800 (equivalent to $5,000 today) for the Famous Writers School, a correspondence school supposedly staffed by celebrity authors like the late Rod Serling, creator of the original TV series The Twilight Zone. Just 20 years old, I was duped by a school reps flattery, but I was saved by my old man, a salesman himself who knew a fake when he saw it. The schools rapid demise followed exposure and then lawsuits for fraud and false advertising, much as Trump University did in 2016. A romance mystery novelist suspected of gunning down her chef husband may be engaged in ongoing criminal behavior behind bars, prosecutors alleged Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. The accusations came as a lawyer for Nancy Crampton Brophy, 68, asked the court to shield Brophy's jail visitors log, a public record, from all third parties, including media and the District Attorney's Office. Public defender Kathleen Dunn argued that the log could include names of potential outside experts consulted in Brophy's case and could interfere with attorney-client privilege. But Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet said his office had little interest in the suspect's defense strategy or possible expert witness. Rather, the prosecutor said, new evidence discovered during the continuing murder investigation suggests some of Crampton Brophy's visitors might be complicit in other crimes she may be committing while in custody. Overstreet didn't provide additional details in court and declined to comment further afterward. Crampton Brophy faces no new criminal charges at this time. Crampton Brophy, who published the essay "How to Murder Your Husband" in 2011, wore a blue blouse and black sweater and scribbled notes on a piece of yellow legal paper during the hearing. It was her first court appearance since her Sept. 5 arrest where she wasn't wearing a jail jumpsuit. Judge Kenneth Walker said he would issue a ruling later this week. A beloved instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute, Daniel Brophy, 63, was found shot in a kitchen at the school June 2. The baffling early morning killing yielded no immediate suspects. Crampton Brophy, whose self-published novels include "The Wrong Husband" and "Hell on the Heart," was arrested three months later at her home in the 3300 block of Southwest 108th Avenue. Prosecutors claim the Beaverton author used a 9mm pistol to intentionally kill her husband of 27 years. The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office took the rare step of petitioning a judge to seal the probable cause affidavit in the case, citing the ongoing criminal investigation. Those records remain sealed. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh skavanaugh@oregonian.com 503-294-7632 II @shanedkavanaugh Perhaps all seduction involves embellishment after all, isnt makeup or a push-up bra trickery, when the truth might be disappointing? But lies exist on a spectrum, as the law around false advertising already recognizes. You are allowed to boast that a product is the best in the world, whether or not that is accurate in the eye of the buyer, and dating profile claims of being witty or the most amazing cook youll ever meet should be treated similarly. New laws in the dating area should focus on lies that are clearly false, are not easily discoverable before sex takes place, and have a potentially large dignitary or emotional impact. Lies related to physical appearance would thus typically not be punishable, while ones about marital status, fertility circumstances (say, existing children or the ability to have future children) or employment may lead to sanctions. Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman Dave Johnson posted what he calls a meme on Facebook that read Gods Punishment to Liberal California, and Hell on Earth brought to you by the Liberals in California! over an image of burning forests, per Cleveland.com. Johnson posted and deleted the stomach-churning post on Sunday, though he seems more frustrated than apologetic. Speaking to Cleveland.com about the matter, he said: look, thats a meme. And its how I feel about liberals, but did I mean that God is going to punish everyone who lives in California? No. Its a figure of speech, and I probably shouldnt have done it. But I did, and it doesnt change how I feel about whats happened in California. To Johnson, Democrats are directly to blame for the wildfires that have taken 77 lives and burned 10,500 homes across 234 square miles. Thats what he saw as the posts message. As the San Francisco Chronicle points out, though, the federal government owns more than half of Californias forested land. Up until the midterms, Republicans controlled every branch of governmentnot Democrats. Furthermore, fire experts have blamed climate change for the fires severity, an issue the President chooses to ignore. Dismissing offensive comments as humor, or memes in this case, is classic GOP. Johnson himself doesnt think the post is in bad taste. He went on to say now to the extent that that meme would have offended or hurt someone in California, yes, thats not the intent, and I dont think thats what it says. But you know, its in the eyes of the beholder, and so if it offended anyone that had a loss of life, then Im sorry. That was not my intent. By prefacing his apology with the statement that he didnt mean to hurt anyone, he puts the blame on the offended party rather than taking it on himself. Regardless of the intent, the damage is done. Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras recognized that in his response to Johnsons post, as well as the interview. Betras called for Johnson to apologize and resign. He argued that Johnsons ignorance toward the situation proves hes unfit to serve the public. Johnson, the picture of maturity, responded: theyre trying to make an issue out of it because they got their butts kicked in this election cycle. Last month Patently Apple posted a brief report titled "Jony Ive Interviewed by Anna Wintour, Artistic Director of Conde Nast at Wired25 Event." Weeks later we posted a second and deeper report titled "Jony Ive Talks about one of his Latest Creations: The iPad Pro." Today, we're learning of Ives third event in the last month. This time he was was in Cambridge delivering a speech. Here we learn more of Ive's reflection process and how painful it is at times at Apple to take ideas and have them materialize. Today, David Phelen from The Independent covered Jony Ive's intellectually rich speech that he gave at the Cambridge Union Society where he was awarded the Stephen Hawking Fellowship. Charles Connor, President of the Cambridge Union explained that Ive was being awarded this Fellowship because Ive showed a flair in communicating complex ideas in a way to excite the imagination in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Phelen noted in his report that Jony Ive's speech before 400 or more students was intellectually rich but still accessible, dense with ideas and fascinating. Throughout, he was open and humble, repeatedly revealing the curiosity which is a central part of doing his work. Ive's most interesting thoughts concerned creativity and the nature of ideas. "I spend my time at Apple in that intersection of art and technology. I think that, almost by definition, ideas are fragile. If they were resolved, if they were robust, they wouldn't be ideas any more, they would be shipping products, a finished album, a completed building. I'm not really entirely sure why, but I think I've always taken an enormous delight when the most tentative thought, often from the quietest voice, evolves into significant and substantial products. Then there was a project that we came to describe as multi-touch. Some of you may remember the first time you experienced the interface. Perhaps it was on one of the first iPhones or later on an iPad. But multi-touch describes the ability to directly touch and interact with your content to be able to pinch to zoom an image or flick through a list with your fingers. Importantly, it defined an opportunity to create applications with their own unique, very specific interface. So, not being generic but being specific inherently describes the application's function. We came to see that we could make applications purposeful, compelling and intuitive to use. And so, as the potential for a vast range of apps became clear, so did the idea for an app store." But it took time before it could happen: "In reality, the supporting technology, the enabling technology, took years to catch up with the ideas. And I have to say the ideas posed problems and defined challenges, but in the process, we came close to giving up on a number of occasions." Thankfully, they didn't give up. But ideas, he said, were not in response to a defined problems. "Nobody asked us to solve a problem. They were not in response to a technological opportunity. These ideas, they weren't vulnerable or fragile for a couple of weeks or for a couple of months, these ideas were fragile for years." Ive ended his speech with words from his dear friend, the late Steve Jobs, and you could read them here in The Independent's report. As in the ambulance and Mount Sinai cases, some of Mondays witnesses already were familiar with guns and violence. One man said he recognized the shooters weapon as a 9 mm handgun. Another witness, able to estimate the number of rounds in a cartridge, compared Mondays carnage to other incidents. Ive heard shootings, said the man, Hector Avitia. Ive known people that have died in the neighborhood like that. A third witness, Erix Horton, said hospital employees had the presence of mind to recognize that an active shooter situation meant they needed to hide in a locked room. A lot was going through my mind, Horton said. Make it home to see my wife and my kids." Kronos Workforce Ready (which begins at $6 per employee per month) is solid human resources (HR) management software that's good for small to midsize businesses (SMBs). Kronos Workforce Ready is affordable and offers a lot of functionality, but its vast set of features can make it complex for some SMBs to use. Competitor BambooHR offers about the same functionality as Kronos Workforce Ready, but BambooHR's features are easier to use, which garners it our Editors' Choice award in our HR software review roundup. This is no accident as Kronos is not only a long-time HR tech vendor but it also specializes in selling cloud-based people management services to much larger enterprises. The company heavily leaned on that expertise when building its product. While the end result is a highly configurable service, Kronos' own description of "SMB" being a moniker that can apply to companies with up to 2,500 people shows that what it calls a small business, many others might call an enterprise. You Can Trust Our Reviews Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( Read our editorial mission .) Configurability is the keyword here. System administrator-level users can adapt Kronos Workforce Ready's basic workflows and templates to conform to how their company runs the people side of its business. In that respect, it's similar to other highly configurable cloud-based services such as APS OnLine (Visit Site at APS) and SAP SuccessFactors, which also target smaller businesses. The amount of heavy lifting needed to implement and manage Kronos Workforce Ready, however, could make for rough going for small businesses that don't have a dedicated HR manager or staff. Kronos Workforce Ready includes analytics, an applicant tracking (AT) system, core HR, hiring and onboarding, payroll, performance management (PM) and reviews, recordkeeping, scheduling, time and attendance, time-off management, and a companion mobile application. It has distinct user levels for system admins, managers, and employees. All users log onto the same online portal, with their access restricted by job responsibility. Employees see their personnel files, pay stubs, and benefits, and can use the service to review schedules and request time off, change personal information and benefits, and more. Managers can use it to access their own personnel files and to manage team members or direct reports, including for hiring, approving time off, and conducting performance reviews. HR executives or other system admin-level users have access to the service's top-level dashboard, which they can use to set up policies, rules, shortcuts, templates, and workflows. Revamped User Interface The user interface (UI) features a home screen that has a main navigation menu across the top. Clicking a tab opens a list of sub-apps down the left-hand side, many of which link to additional subfunctions. The rest of the home screen is devoted to My Dashboard, a bulletin board-style display that can be set up to show the tabs with which the user interacts most often, a to-do list, and quick links. One thing the dashboard doesn't have is a news feed, a feature that competitors such as Namely and Sage Business Cloud People (Visit Site at APS) have added as a handy communication channel inside the service. Click through to any of Kronos Workforce Ready's main tabs and the pages look like spreadsheets, with tools at the top for sorting or filtering data. Setting up these spreadsheets to execute actions is more challenging than in some other core HR tech; those hide the databases these systems work off of under a more user-friendly design. To its credit, Kronos Workforce Ready has a Search function at the top right-hand side of every page that makes it easy to look up FAQs in case you get lost. The software also includes a unique alternative to a Back function that its rivals don't have. Switch from working in one tab to another (for example, "Current Time Sheets" to "Manage Payroll") and the activity you just left stays open in the bottom half of the screen, highlighted in light grey. Click on any part of the grey and you return to the previous screen. Because Kronos Workforce Ready has a built-in AT system, admins can add a new employee through it or do so manually. Use Recruitment > Applicants to access the AT system to see a list of people who have applied for a position and their status in the hiring process (Applicant Account Created, Interview, etc). Click the Resume icon for a candidate to see additional information about them. If a prospect makes it through the interview process, then admins or managers can use the drop-down menu at the top right-hand side to click on "Hire This Applicant." New employees can also be manually added by using My Employees > Employee Maintenance > Hire to bring up an online template. In this template, you input the new person's name, contact information, base compensation, tax information, and other information. Click "Add Employee" and the new hire is automatically added to the company's personnel database, accessible from My Company > Employee Directory or My Company > Organization Chart. Both the directory and organization chart can be sorted any number of ways and data can be exported to eight file formats including PDF, XML, and XLS. Performance reviews can be configured to match a company's review process, including 360-degree, peer reviews, and self-reviews. The system allows for custom creation of employee evaluation forms and can store such documentation securely online. Kronos Workforce Ready's goal-tracking capabilities are designed to influence the performance management process, but some might find them a bit basic compared to highly customizable platforms, such as Namely. System admin-level users can set up processes and guidelines by going to Company Settings > HR Setup > Performance Review, and then choosing from categories such as Competencies, Core Values, or Goals to create review rules. Come review season, a manager can use My Employees > Employee HR Maintenance > Performance Reviews to add or schedule a review. In the past year, Kronos has added Google G Suite (Visit Site at APS) integration, which lets you incorporate calendars, documents, spreadsheets, and even maps into your HR management. Additionally, the company added a feature called Kronos Workforce Ready Payroll Services, which lets you turn your payroll data into real-time reporting in order to stay up to date. The tool features a self-service option for employees and admins, which lets users submit direct deposits and view pay statements, without needing added permissions. Benefits Administration Kronos includes significant benefits administration (BA) and management features within Kronos Workforce Ready as well as integrations with third-party benefits providers through add-ons in the Kronos Workforce Ready Marketplace app store. In the main desktop UI and in the Kronos mobile apps, benefits admins can track compliance reporting and benefits enrollment across basic health plans and insurance, including dental, disability, life, medical, and vision. The major Kronos UI update back in 2015 also came with usability and reporting enhancements for benefits management through increased automation in benefits program design and configuration, along with expanded benefits reporting. The self-service aspect of the platform is lacking when it comes to the somewhat complicated benefits selection process for employees compared to Editors' Choice Zenefits (Visit Site at APS) . But Kronos Workforce Ready does include compensation management and an offboarding process for terminating benefits. BA functionality in Kronos Workforce Ready doesn't come with a lot of bells and whistles, and it isn't as customizable when it comes to variables rates and custom benefits. But it's also not lacking any core features in the category. Shift Scheduling Kronos Workforce Ready also features a scheduling solution that is available as an add-on or as a standalone app. For $5 per employee per month, your team will gain access to a clean and easy-to-comprehend scheduling dashboard that can be configured according to your company's specific requirements. Whether you're coordinating shifts by location, staff members, or shift type, you'll be able to drag and drop elements into the appropriate places or automate your scheduling by using templates and auto-schedule features. Whenever you're looking at a specific schedule, you'll be able to see employees listed along the left-hand side of the screen, alongside the number of hours for which they're booked. If you don't need that level of employee insight, then you can also adjust this widget to show other data (e.g., budget allocation). What's great about Kronos Workforce Ready's scheduling app is that the "Schedule Settings" feature lets you make wholesale changes to individual calendars without interrupting the rest of the schedules in your software. This means you can have multiple schedules running at once with different rules. You can update things such as cycle length, lunch hour, number of shifts, time zoneall without upending everything else in the system. You'll also notice that Kronos Workforce Ready provides different views for different length events. For example, one-day events don't need to be located on the same calendar as year-long schedules, so this makes data comprehension much easier than it is on tools that lump everything into one overview dashboard. Creating templates is also as easy as pie. You simply build a specific template and set it to "Multiple" for as long as the schedule requires, and then you drag and drop in names where they belong. This is a much easier approach than with other tools that require you to pull in schedule templates from Microsoft Excel. Kronos Workforce Ready is missing a few important elements that come standard on tools such as Editors' Choice scheduling software Deputy (Visit Site at APS) . For example, you can't try out the software for free before making a buying decision in Kronos Workforce Ready. And you won't get free 24/7 support. Also, the tool doesn't offer a news feed or chat functionality that would let employees converse with one another. Mobile App and Analytics Kronos Workforce Ready's Android and iOS apps have some (but not all) functions of the website. For employees, this includes the ability to request time off, check schedules or time-off balances, and read to-do lists or company messages. Manager-level users can use the apps to edit time sheets, approve time-off requests, and look at a limited number of reports. Kronos sells the Kronos Workforce Ready platform directly to companies with 100 to 2,500 employees. Prices begin at $6 per employee per month based on such things as apps used, number of employees, and level of service package. Those prices put it in the middle of the pack of core HR software for SMBs, which is cheaper than BambooHR and SAP SuccessFactors but more expensive than WebHR (Visit Site at APS) and Zenefits Z2. The Kronos Workforce Ready Marketplace app store sells add-on apps for benefits enrollment, background checks, and other HR services. Admin-level users can also find it by using Our Company > Marketplace; any apps they already use will show up in the dashboard. Finally, for companies with more than 2,500 employees, Kronos sells a separate HR management service called "Workforce Central" that's built on different software architecture and, thus, is not part of this review. Through its partnership with analytic.li, Kronos recently beefed up its analytics suite to let you turn this trove of data across all desktop and mobile apps into actionable insights. Users can access financial data, predictive modeling, incentive performance, demographic data broken down on the micro level (by department, by group, etc.), and even recruitiment statistics. This is a nice addition for a software bundle that's already offering a do-it-all approach to HR management. Startups and small businesses without a dedicated HR staff might be overwhelmed by the mountain of options and the amount of configuration needed to get Kronos Workforce Ready up and running. But stick with it and you'll get core HR with an AT system, payroll, and other critical HR apps baked in, at an affordable price. Kronos Workforce Ready 3.5 Check Price Pros Offers enterprise-level functionality like payroll, performance review, and applicant tracking. Price is affordable. Cons Highly configurable but complex to use for some. Smaller companies must buy through third-party partners. The Bottom Line Kronos Workforce Ready is highly configurable, affordable human resources (HR) software that's aimed at small to midsize businesses (SMBS). The functionality it offers makes it robust, but it can also can make the software more complex to use than other HR tools. Good Tuesday Morning, Fellow Seekers. Pocketbook issues, not the migrant caravan slowly making its way to Americas southern border, sent more voters to the polls in Pennsylvanias United States Senate race. And voters were clearly opposed to the Trump White Houses harsh rhetoric on immigration issues during the closing days of the 2018 midterm campaign, according to exit polling data obtained by PennLive. The data, compiled by the pro-immigration advocacy group, Immigration Hub, shows that economic concerns and Republican Senate candidate Lou Barlettas votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act were top of mind issues as they headed into the voting booth. The exit polling, conducted with the polling and public relations firm Global Strategy Group, found that a clear plurality of voters (46 percent) ranked healthcare at the top of their list of concerns on Election Day, suggesting that a Democratic push to make it the No.1 campaign issue had resonated with Keystone State voters. Immigration, which featured at Trump rallies leading up to Election Day, ranked fourth behind jobs and the economy and concerns about Social Security and other safety-net programs. Here is a list of voters' top concerns in the US Senate race Despite backing from the White House, Barletta, of Hazleton, lost to Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. Voters said, 48-37 percent, that they were more concerned about Barlettas embrace of the White Houses tough rhetoric on immigration than they were by Caseys support for open borders which take away American jobs and make us safe. New exit polling data shows what fired up voters in the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Lou Barletta Voters also said they were more concerned (49-42 percent) over Barlettas opposition to the Affordable Care Act and his votes to repeal coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, than they were over Caseys support for so-called sanctuary cities, such as Philadelphia, where local officials limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Exit polling by the pro-immigration group Immigration Hub paints a picture of what was on voters' minds on Election Day. The poll also strongly suggested that Trumps harsh campaign trail rhetoric about the migrant caravan, which he claimed was sheltering MS13 gang members and terrorists, backfired with voters in a state he carried by 44,000 votes in 2016. Voters said concerns about the administrations zero-tolerance policies at the border and rhetoric about the border wall pushed them into the voting booth. Nearly six in 10 (57 percent) said their feelings about the 45th president played a role in their vote. "As a nation of immigrants I dont like the way new immigrant[s] are treated, one voter told an exit pollster. Pa. voters opposed the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policies at the border. The poll of 804 state voters was conducted from Nov. 6 (Election Day) through Nov. 8, with an oversample of voters in metropolitan Pittsburgh. It had a margin of error of 3.5 percent. The rest of the days news starts now. Democratic Pa. Senate candidate Tina Davis has filed a court petition to get hundreds of absentee ballots counted in her 6th District face-off with Republican Sen. Robert Tommy Tomlinson, The Inquirer reports. Unopposed pols in Philly raised plenty of money for their races and spread the cash around to other campaigns, BillyPenn reports. Pas congressional Democrats are split in their support for a Pelosi speakership, The Morning Call reports. And long-serving Northampton County DA John Morganelli, a repeat candidate for higher office, has announced that he wont run for re-election in 2019 after nearly three decades on the job, The Morning Call also reports. The Post-Gazette looks at how U.S. immigration policies are affecting one of Pittsburghs busiest restaurants. Heres a seasonally appropriate #Instagram of the Day. Doctors in Philly have joined the national debate with the NRA over gun safety, WHYY-FM reports. Youll find plenty of women working in Pa. schools, but not many of them in leadership positions, The PA Post reports. Pa. Democratic U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Matt Cartwright are in the running to lead House Democrats' messaging wing, PoliticsPa reports. Politico explains how the Beto Bubble could burst. What Goes On. The Central Pa. Food Bank on 3908 Corey Road, Harrisburg, kicks off its annual Hunters Sharing the Harvest program today at 10 a.m. Heavy Rotation. Heres one from Ani DiFranco to get your Tuesday morning rolling. And now youre up tp date. Once you start them up, they never stop. That definitely appears to be the case with the Rolling Stones. The iconic British rock band announced an extension to their No Filter Tour on Nov. 19. The tour will include 13 stops in the United States, including one in Pennsylvania. The Rolling Stones will be performing at Lincoln Financial Field (1 Lincoln Financial Field Way) South Philadelphia on June 4, 2019. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. on Nov. 30 and can be purchased via rollingstones.com. Dont want to wait until then to get your tickets? Those who sign up on the Rolling Stones website (rollingstones.com) before 9 a.m. on Nov. 27 will be eligible for a special pre-sale. So what can fans expect from the concert? The tours set list includes renditions of the bands greatest hits including Sympathy for the Devil, Miss You and Paint it Black. Those who cant make the Philadelphia show will have to trek out to FedEx Field in Washington D.C. on May 31 or Metlife Stadium East in Rutherford, New Jersey on June 13 for the next closest shows. For a full list of tour dates and more information visit rollingstones.com. The Rolling Stones arent the only legendary act coming to Pennsylvania in 2019. Elton John will be returning to the Keystone State for three stops on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour: Nov. 8-9, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and Nov. 13, 2019 at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Want more news and entertainment about Philadelphia? Click here for all our coverage on the City of Brotherly Love. Officials in Camp Hill have named a new police chief. Borough officials have appointed former Carlisle police chief Steve Margeson to the position, according to the boroughs website. Both Borough Council and the Mayor stated that Margeson inspires confidence and that they are very happy to have him on board, according to the boroughs website. Camp Hill Borough has appointed Steve Margeson as Police Chief. Margeson was formerly Chief of Police of Dickson City... Posted by Camp Hill Borough on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 Margeson retired from Carlisle in March 2016 after spending more than 25 years with the department. Before joining the Carlisle Police Department, Margeson was the chief of police for the Wellsville Village Police Department in Wellsville, New York. Prior to that stint, he was a police officer with the was Alfred Police Department in Alfred, New York. Most recently, Margeson served as chief in Dickson City, Lackawanna County. Sgt. John Kidman served as the interim chief after former chief Douglas Hockenberry submitted his resignation in December, a month after he was charged with DUI after a single-vehicle crash in Perry County. Hockenberry has a chance to avoid a criminal record if he completes Perry Countys one-year Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. A midstate man who was supposed to be the caretaker for a disabled Army veteran pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $316,000 of the ex-soldiers federal benefits. Jason Ehrhart, 48 of Thompsontown, entered his guilty plea to one count of health care fraud, U.S. Attorney David Freed said. That was expected since Ehrhart already had a plea agreement with prosecutors when he was charged along with his ex-wife, Laurie Ehrhart, 48, of Newport, late last month. The veteran who was the victim of the crime had multiple sclerosis. Jason Ehrhart was appointed as his legal custodian in 2006. Investigators claim the Ehrharts diverted Department of Veterans Affairs benefits meant for the veteran to their own bank accounts instead. They also were charged with filing false accountings with the VA. Some of the pilfered VA money was used for vacations to Disney World, investigators said. Meanwhile, they said, the Ehrharts didnt use the VA money to repair the vets broken-down wheelchair van. The couple also allowed the mortgages on the vets home and his mothers home to be lost through foreclosures, court filings state. The veteran died in the Lebanon VA medical center this past July. Freed said the charge to which Jason Ehrhart pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Laurie Erhart is scheduled for trial in January. LOCK HAVEN - The last time Alicia Heckel Talbot talked with her mother 27 years ago she recalls the conversation included that they were having pork chops for dinner. That telephone call Talbot, then 13, had about noon on July 15, 1991, was the last time she spoke with her mother, Katherine Dolan Heckel. Shortly after that telephone call Heckel, 40, left for lunch from the former International Paper Co. mill in Lock Haven and was never to be seen again. Loyd Groves Talbot was among the prosecution witnesses Monday in the first day of the trial of Loyd W. Groves, 69, who is accused of killing Heckel and getting rid of her body in a way it could never be found. Talbot, who was home with her brother that day, said she called her mother that afternoon and it was unusual she did not call back. Heckel's mother, Margaret Dolan, testified she received a phone call from her granddaughter early that evening saying they needed milk and her mother had not come home from work. "It was not like Kathy to do this," Dolan said, noting she had spoken with her daughter the night before. Dolan described her daughter as "down-to-earth person" and an involved parent. Talbot agreed. Under cross-examination she said she had detected a change in demeanor in her daughter like she was depressed. Senior Deputy Attorney General Daniel J. Dye in his opening statement told the jury of six men and six women evidence would prove Heckel is dead and she was murdered by Groves. Witnesses will testify what they observed about the two and statements he made to others, he said. Heckel was having an extramarital affair with Groves, which according to Dye she wanted to end. Her husband, John, was away a lot as a member of the National Guard whose unit was based in Fort Drum, New York. It is the prosecution's theory that Heckel was killed between noon and 3 p.m. on July 15, 1991. Groves' former wife will testify he came home between those hours, changed clothes and returned work at the mill where he was an industrial hygienist, Dye said. Although a body never has been found, evidence will show that DNA of blood found in the back of Groves' van was consistent with that of Heckel's parents, he said. Police found a .25-caliber gun in Groves desk at work with one round missing and when interviewed he could not remember where he had been between noon and 3 p.m. Dye said. Defense attorney David I. Lindsey in his opening accused investigators of focusing on Groves from the outset instead of doing a complete probe. He pointed out Katherine Heckel had rekindled a childhood friendship with Dennis W. Taylor, that it had evolved into a sexual relationship and the two were to have a dinner date the night of her disappearance. READ MORE: Newspaper article is no reason to dismiss charges in 27-year-old murder case: judge He accounted for the blood in the van by claiming she routinely was in it. Lindsey told jurors the evidence will not support the prosecution's theory of what happened. He asked them not to speculate what happened and told them they cannot make a decision on guilt or innocence based on emotions. Groves is charged with first- and third-degree murder and has been in jail without bail since his arrest in January 2015 in Beaver where he was living. His arrest followed a presentment by a statewide grand jury that includes Taylor's testimony on his relationship with Heckel. The report also cites witnesses' observations about Groves' hostile behavior toward Katherine Heckel prior to her disappearance but a lack of dismay or concern after she went missing. Katherine Heckel was declared legally dead in 1998. Her husband, who also testified, has remarried and lives in the Gettysburg area. The trial is expected to take several weeks. If you noticed a haze in the sky Monday, you were actually looking at smoke from wildfires all the way in California. Smoke from wildfires can travel thousands of miles from their original source, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. John Banghoff, a meteorologist with National Weather Service in State College, confirmed the smoke plume reached as far east as Pennsylvania on Monday. Banghoff explained the smoke is able to travel so far once it reaches high up in the atmosphere, and the wind flow carries it across the country. The same thing happened in August when smoke from other wildfires in California reached Pennsylvania. Banghoff said that by Tuesday, the smoke tracked well off to the East Coast. Some people took to social media to report seeing the smoke in other areas. So if you thought it was just a bit hazy this afternoon, we have a California fire smoke plume moving through. pic.twitter.com/PsYNlAWrgA Gary Szatkowski (@GarySzatkowski) November 19, 2018 Wow. I knew tonights sunset over New York City seemed different, and I shouldve realized! Wildfire smoke is in the air, all the way from California. Observation and map via @GarySzatkowski + my photo along the Hudson River. #NYwx pic.twitter.com/8OHxx6QNsw Kathryn Prociv (@KathrynProciv) November 19, 2018 I was in San Jose for the week. Cant say Ive ever seen anything like it. I could smell the smoke when approaching SFO airport this morning. pic.twitter.com/B0Ui2plLkS Kris Steinwender (@photosteiney) November 20, 2018 The second of three men charged with conspiring in a $5.7 million kickback scheme against Rite Aid pleaded guilty before a federal judge Tuesday. Immediately after pleading guilty to a felony wire fraud charge before U.S. Middle District Judge John E. Jones III, 69-year-old Larry Nuckols forfeited nearly $2 million. And Nuckols gave up his interests in a $1.3 million yacht and nine properties in the southern U.S. and Costa Rica. Those forfeitures were set in a plea deal Jones accepted following the 40-minute hearing. Nuckols, co-owner of Atlanta, Ga.-based Nuvision Graphics, also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the probe. Nuckols entered his plea more than a month after one of his co-defendants, former Rite Aid Vice President James W. Pilsner, pleaded guilty to vendor kickback and tax evasion charges. FBI and IRS investigators claim Pilsner, 50, of Harrisburg, was ripping off Rite Aid from 1995 until he was fired from the firm in 2017. An internal company investigation of Pilsner preceded the federal probe, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel said during Tuesdays proceeding. Daniel said Pilsner demanded kickbacks from Nuckols and his also-charged business partner Vance Taylor of Atlanta. Pilsner also arraigned for Nuvision to be paid for bogus invoices sent to West Shore-based Rite Aid, the prosecutor said. Investigators contend Pilsner received more than $5.1 million in kickbacks. He also arranged for a dozen Rite Aid employees to receive bonuses from Nuvision of more than $634,000, Daniel said. He said that, unlike Pilsners kickbacks, the employee payments were reported on their taxes. Daniels said it is questionable whether Rite Aid even needed Nuvisions services, at least in later years. He cited statements from another company official who told investigators the preprint advertising services Nuvision performed were fully computerized and could easily been done in-house by Rite Aid at far less expense. That same official told investigators the attitude of the Nuvision owners toward Rite Aid was dont kill the golden goose, Daniel said. Pilsner would request his monthly or bi-monthly kickbacks, which ranged from $9,000 to $25,000 each, by sending emails to Nuvision, the prosecutor said. He said Pilsner received 292 kickback payments. Nuckols has no set sentencing deal, although his plea agreement calls for him to receive reductions for his guilty plea, acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with investigators. Jones told him the maximum possible penalty for the wire fraud charge is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The judge allowed Nuckols to remain free without bail pending sentencing. CHICAGO A gunman opened fire Monday at a Chicago hospital, wounding at least four people, including a police officer and a hospital employee, authorities said. A police spokesman said the gunman was dead, but it was not immediately clear if he took his own life or was killed by police at Mercy Hospital on the city's South Side. A witness named James Gray told reporters that it looked as if the attacker "was turning and shooting people at random." The shooting apparently began as the suspect was walking with a woman near a parking lot. He turned and repeatedly shot the woman in the chest. He then entered the hospital and continued firing, Gray said. Four people were in critical condition, including an officer. At least one of the four was a hospital employee, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. Law enforcement officials work near Mercy Hospital in Chicago, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. A shooting at the Chicago hospital has wounded multiple people, including a suspect and a police officer, authorities said. Shots were fired Monday, at Mercy Hospital on the city's South Side, and officers were searching the facility. Police issued a statement on Twitter saying there were "reports of multiple victims." (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune via AP)AP Authorities asked people to avoid the area. A message left for hospital officials was not immediately returned. Television footage showed several people, including some wearing white coats, walking through a parking lot with their arms up. Hundreds of police cars, firetrucks and ambulance encircled the hospital. Police blocked off streets in the surrounding neighborhood. Mercy has a rich history as the city's first chartered hospital. It began in 1852, when the Sisters of Mercy religious group converted a rooming house. During the Civil War, the hospital treated both Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners of war, according to its website. ___ Amanda Seitz of the Associated Press wrote this story. For the latest developments in this story: https://apnews.com/b86560bd9fd8414eaf1927f686d03697 Fire officials ruled an overnight fire in Hershey accidental, citing the cause as improper disposal of ash from a fire pit. The Hershey Volunteer Fire Department said they were alerted to the fire around 12:30 a.m. Monday for a structure fire in the 100 block of Muhlenberg Avenue. When crews arrived, fire was showing from the side of the the structure, at the garage, the department said. Firefighters were able to knock down the fire quickly, containing the fire to the garage area, they said. Crews cleared the scene around 2:45 a.m. Two adults and the family pet were displaced by the fire, the department said. There were no injuries reported. The estimated loss is $60,000, according to the department. More than 50 volunteer firefighters were at the scene, the department said, thanks to mutual aid from companies in Dauphin and Lebanon Counties. Telling physicians tasked with saving the people who get blown apart by gunfire in this country to stay in their lane is no different than blaming a hospital or a church or a movie theater for being a gun-free zone. Its no different than the good guy with a gun canard. (Juan Lopez had a concealed-carry permit how do we know when a good guy with a gun will transform into a bad guy with a gun?) Its no different than claiming, falsely, that Chicago has the toughest gun-control laws in the country while ignoring how easy it is to get firearms in neighboring states. A Lebanon County man faces a felony strangulation charge after police said he choked his 16-year-old daughter until she was gasping for air. Palwinderjit Singh, 45, of Newmanstown is accused of choking the girl on Sept. 14, according to charging documents filed Monday by state police. Officers were contacted by the girl, who reported that Singh had been abusive, according to police Police said investigators interviewed the girl, who told them that Singh had hit and kicked her and choked her until she was unable to breathe. The girl reported that Singh entered her room after midnight Sept. 14 and became angry that she was still awake, police said. That anger led to Singh slapping the girl in the face and grabbing her around the throat, police said, adding that both the girl and her brother reported the assault. The girl told police she couldnt breathe and was gasping for air when this happened, according to charging documents. Police said the girl also reported an earlier attack, accusing Singh of slapping her in the face, causing her to fall on the ground. While on the ground, Singh continued his attack, kicking and punching her, police said, recounting the girls report. Police later interviewed Singh about the accusations, and, according to charging documents, he admitted to slapping the girl and grabbing her around the neck. Police said Singh denied accusations that he choked and punched the girl. The girl and her siblings were removed from the home by Lebanon County Children and Youth Services, police said. Online court documents show that Singh faces a felony charge of strangulation, as well as lesser charges of endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault and harassment. Singh is to appear for a preliminary hearing at 8 a.m. Jan. 10 before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Verna. Snowfall, whiteout conditions and plummeting temperatures could affect travel condition on Pennsylvania roadways during Wednesdays holiday commute, according to new forecasts. But according to a National Weather Service meteorologist Harrisburg and the surrounding area arent likely to see much snow. Right now its not even in the forecast, meteorologist John LaCorte said. LaCortes comments came shortly after the National Weather Services State College office warned on Twitter that snow squalls could bring dangerous travel conditions to central Pennsylvania between noon and 6 p.m. Wednesday. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, traffic is often heavy across the state, according to transportation officials. The National Weather Services message also contained warnings about rapid freezing and white out conditions. Snow squalls to bring dangerous travel risk to central PA 12-6PM Wednesday. Sudden whiteout conditions & rapid freezing on roadways may cause significant disruptions on the busiest travel day of the year. Stay alert for rapidly changing conditions especially on I-80 & I-99. #PAwx pic.twitter.com/cV4FWDfT8V NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) November 20, 2018 Stay alert for rapidly changing conditions, especially on I-80 and I-99, it reads. The winter weather is predicted as a cold front moves into Pennsylvania coming down from the Great Lakes, LaCorte said. Bitter cold #Thanksgiving with high & low temperature departures 15 to 30 degrees below average. All-time daily record low-max temps (coldest daytime highs) and record low-mins (lows Thanksgiving & #BlackFriday morning) in jeopardy. #pawx pic.twitter.com/kX4szmwmll NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) November 20, 2018 National Weather Service forecasters were not alone in issuing a warning. State Gov. Tom Wolfs Office sent out a message urging motorists to monitor weather and road conditions and to drive slowly in areas affected by inclement weather. Safety is my priority and with snow squalls potentially affecting much of the state tomorrow afternoon, we advise travelers to check weather forecasts and make travel plans accordingly to try and avoid travel when squalls may occur, Wolf said in a statement. Wolfs message also offered assurances that PennDOT officials are prepared with plows, salt and anti-skid and that they will be working around the clock. At the time that the warning was issued, National Weather Service forecasts for the Harrisburg area on Wednesday made no mention of snow. Instead, they called for partly sunny skies during the day with partly cloudy skies at night. LaCorte said thats because air dries out as it moves further away from the Great Lakes, meaning not much snow should fall as the cold front reaches Harrisburg. By Paul Waldman With only a small portion of the American public now serving in the military, our presidents are no longer expected to have served. This isn't really a problem; while such experience can be valuable in confronting some of the challenges a president faces, we've had both great and terrible presidents who wore the uniform. But we've certainly never had a president who displayed Donald Trump's combination of boastful claims about how devoted he is to the military and regular displays of contempt for those who have served or are still serving. Part of it comes from Trump's refusal to concern himself with the habits and norms that govern politics, which doesn't necessarily have to be unhealthy. But it also comes from the fact that Trump has no evident principles that he holds dearer than servicing the demands of his own ego. In the latest controversy, Trump appeared on "Fox News Sunday," where host Chris Wallace tried to ask him about criticism he received from retired admiral William McRaven over his attacks on the media. Here's how it went: WALLACE: Bill McRaven, Retired Admiral, Navy Seal, 37 years, former head of U.S. Special Operations - TRUMP: Hillary Clinton fan. WALLACE: Special Operation - TRUMP: Excuse me, Hillary Clinton fan. WALLACE: Who led the operations, commanded the operations that took down Saddam Hussein and that killed Osama bin Laden, says that your sentiment is the greatest threat to democracy in his life. TRUMP: OK, he's a Hillary Clinton backer and an Obama backer and frankly - WALLACE: He's a Navy SEAL - TRUMP: Would it have been nicer if we got Osama Bin Laden a lot sooner than that, wouldn't it been nice? Living - think of this, living in Pakistan, beautifully in Pakistan and what I guess in what 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 and year and they don't tell him, they don't tell him - WALLACE: You're not even going to give them credit for taking down Bin Laden? McRaven released a statement noting that in fact he did not support Hillary Clinton in 2016, and expressing his admiration for Barack Obama and George W. Bush, both of whom he served under. But in Trump's eyes, the fact that McRaven has criticized him means the admiral is an enemy, and must be attacked on every front. It's not within Trump's DNA to say "I respect his service, but he's wrong about this." If you criticize Trump, you can't ever have done anything right. FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2014, file photo, Navy Adm. William McRaven addresses the Texas Board of Regents in Austin, Texas. President Donald Trump is drawing heavy criticism for faulting a war hero for not capturing al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden sooner. Trump took shots at retired Adm. William McRaven in a Fox News interview Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in which he also asserted that the former Navy SEAL was a backer of Trumps 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)AP It's for this reason that Trump said about John McCain, "I like people who weren't captured." A normal person can acknowledge McCain's heroic suffering in Vietnam while still disagreeing with him about most things, or even criticizing him vigorously (I certainly did). But not Trump - he has to go after the thing that earned his critic respect in the first place. This is only the latest of many times Trump has attacked war heroes, veterans, Gold Star families, or others associated with the military in unusually personal terms, a direct violation of the bipartisan norm that demands respect for people in uniform. To be clear, you can argue that the boundaries of that norm are sometimes drawn too broadly, as a way of exempting veterans in political life from criticism. For instance, Sarah Huckabee Sanders once responded to a question about false claims Chief of Staff John Kelly had made by saying, "I think that if you want to get into a debate with a four-star Marine general, I think that that's something highly inappropriate," which is of course ludicrous. But there's a simple rule anyone can follow, which is that while it's perfect fine to disagree with anyone, denigrating the military service itself that a veteran performed is probably out of bounds. It's possible that Trump chafes at the idea that retired admirals or generals are accorded a special status when criticizing him, getting attention for their opinions that others might not enjoy. You might even be able to contend that McRaven's views about press freedom are no more inherently valuable than anyone else's. But Trump can't seem to stop himself from taking it that one step further, not just to say "He's wrong," but to attack the thing McRaven is best known for in his military career. (As has been pointed out, the special forces McRaven commanded weren't charged with finding Bin Laden, which was an intelligence matter; they went in and got him once he was located.) This helps explain why Trump's other actions toward the military have shown none of the special concern he claims to have, and which all presidents have shown. He deployed thousands of troops to the border in order to heighten tension over the phantom threat of a caravan of migrants ahead of the midterm election; those troops are still there, cooling their heels and missing Thanksgiving with their families. He orders up an idiotic military parade (thankfully cancelled), wasting their time and money, for no purpose other than his own aggrandizement. He hasn't visited any of the deployed troops in war zones anywhere in the world, and when asked why not, he answers that he opposed the war in Iraq. The proper response to that excuse is of course, "Who the hell cares?" It's not as though the men and women who are there had any say in the matter, and visiting them is a way of demonstrating that you honor their service. Barack Obama opposed the war, and he made multiple visits to the troops in Iraq, and in Afghanistan as well. But for Trump, its all personal. He regularly refers to my military and my generals as though they belong not to the country but to him personally. And if they displease him? Then theyre dead to him, and they go right in with all his other enemies as targets for personal destruction. Paul Waldman writes about national politics for The Washington Post, where this piece first appeared. Starting on Dec. 1, Pennsylvania lawmakers the second-highest paid in the nation will see their paychecks grow with a raise of 1.6 percent, boosting the base salary that most legislators get paid to $88,610. It means rank-and-file lawmakers will get an annual raise of $1,430. Currently, the base pay for lawmakers is $87,180. The presiding officers of the House and Senate and caucus leaders will earn higher salaries, which increase by the same percentage as rank-and-file members. The highest salaries are paid to the House Speaker and President Pro Tempore, who will be elected in January, and their pay rate is set at $138,327. Caucus officers will earn salaries between $101,040 and $128,385. A state law provides automatic cost-of-living adjustments for the members of the Legislature, top executive branch officials and state judges based on the year-over-year percentage change in the U.S. Department of Labor-determined Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers for Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Since a law passed attaching these state officials salaries to the CPI in 1995, the annual adjustments have risen above 3 percent five times. Twice over that 23-year period, no raise was given because the CPI showed no change or a negative change. The most recent year that occurred was in 2016. Several lawmakers in past years have said they would only accept a pay raise in a year they stood for re-election. In the non-election years, they have chosen to return the salary difference to the state Treasury or given it to charitable organizations, often ones in their districts. The pay increase that legislators begin receiving next month and that judges and executive branch officers will start seeing in their paychecks in January is less than the 2.8 percent increase that more than 67 million Americans will see in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 2019. For further context, the base salary that Pennsylvania lawmakers will receive is well more than double the $35,592 average base salary that the 41 states that pay their legislators a salary earned in 2017, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Only California pays its 120 lawmakers more than Pennsylvania and their salary was $107,241 this year. In addition to their salaries, lawmakers receive a generous benefits package, free parking, unvouchered per diem allowances, and a pension. Last week, the House and Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses elected their leaders for the next 12 months. Below is the new salaries attached to those who hold the highest caucus leadership posts. House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa - $128,385 House Majority Whip Kerry Benninghoff, Senate Majority Whip John Gordner, House Minority Whip Jordan Harris, and Senate Minority Leader Tony Williams - $118,796 House Republican Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor, House Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Bradford, Senate Republican Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne, and Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman Vince Hughes - $118,796. 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. Among other changes, the bill would allow judges more discretion to issue shorter sentences for low-level crimes. In sharp contrast to the panic over the crack epidemic and drug gang wars that produced a prison population explosion in the 1980s and 1990s, the proposed legislation exemplifies the cooler heads and more rational arguments that have emerged since violent crime began to decline in the mid-1990s. 1.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Georgias Democratic nominee for governor Stacey Abrams remained defiant on Monday, announcing that she plans to take legal action next week in response to voter suppression in her state. We are going to file a federal lawsuit next week that will allege the gross mismanagement that we have seen and that we have been able to document, the rising Democratic star told MSNBCs Chris Hayes. Abrams also announced that she will be running for office again either in 2020 or beyond. Video: Stacey Abrams says she isnt going anywhere, plans to run for office again. #ctl #p2 pic.twitter.com/JWFIYrqNsa PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) November 20, 2018 Abrams said: We have started an organization called Fair Fight Georgia. We are going to file a federal lawsuit next week that will allege the gross mismanagement that we have seen and that we have been able to document. In fact, we thought we were going to go forward with the case today or this week, but we have gotten so many more so much more information from voters, so many more calls that were continuing to gather affidavits and were going to push it to next week, given the holidays. But Im also going to make certain that we go beyond litigation, that we think about how we pass legislation that improves voting rights in the state of Georgia. And how do we make certain on the county level that communities are getting the resources they need, but also holding their county election boards accountable for the decisions that are made and the resources that are provided to their communities. I am going to take some time off. Ive been running for the last two years, and we do have to deal with making sure that the integrity of our election system is ready for what I hope will be the onslaught of 2020 when presidential candidates come calling in Georgia for the first time in years because they need to know that Georgia is a competitive state. And I will decide if Im going to run in 2020 or beyond, but I am going to run for office again. The future of the Democratic Party is bright While Stacey Abrams will not be Georgias next governor, her candidacy in the once-red state shows that the future of the Democratic Party is bright. Not only can unabashedly progressive candidates compete even when facing off against a secretary of state that is essentially rigging the election in his favor but they can compete in GOP territory. Abrams also showed that Georgia is a state that is quickly moving toward the Democratic column. Voter suppression efforts may have helped Republicans in the short-term, but its a strategy with an expiration date. The Democratic Partys strong bench of diverse candidates like Stacey Abrams combined with quickly shifting demographics in once reliably red states shows that the partys future is bright. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook. 5.8k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard A new bombshell report shows that Donald Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump was caught violating federal records rules by using a personal email account to carry out White House business. According to The Washington Post, Ivanka Trump sent hundreds of emails last year to White House aides, Cabinet officials and her assistants using a personal account, many of them in violation of federal records rules, according to people familiar with a White House examination of her correspondence. Whats worse, according to the report, is that she didnt even know that there were rules about using a personal email account for government affairs. More from the jaw-dropping report from The Washington Post: White House ethics officials learned of Trumps repeated use of personal email when reviewing emails gathered last fall by five Cabinet agencies to respond to a public records lawsuit. That review revealed that throughout much of 2017, she often discussed or relayed official White House business using a private email account with a domain that she shares with her husband, Jared Kushner. The discovery alarmed some advisers to President Trump, who feared that his daughters practices bore similarities to the personal email use of Hillary Clinton, an issue he made a focus of his 2016 campaign. Trump attacked his Democratic challenger as untrustworthy and dubbed her Crooked Hillary for using a personal email account as secretary of state. Some aides were startled by the volume of Ivanka Trumps personal emails and taken aback by her response when questioned about the practice. Trump said she was not familiar with some details of the rules, according to people with knowledge of her reaction. The report adds, citing Ivanka Trumps attorney and ethics counsel, that once the first daughter was informed that she was violating the law, she eventually turned over all government-related emails. Still, its hard to believe that after spending an entire campaign attacking Hillary Clintons email use, the presidents daughter wasnt aware of the rules she was violating. Lock her up? Throughout the campaign, Trump and his supporters repeatedly said Hillary Clinton should be locked up for using a personal email account. Apparently, they dont hold themselves to the same standard. Thats abundantly clear, whether its in this bombshell revelation about Ivanka Trumps email use or the fact that her father knowingly uses a mobile device that Chinese and Russian hackers can listen in on. This is just another example of how the Trump administration and family believe the rules simply dont apply to them. When Democrats take over the U.S. House of Representatives in January, they can add it to their list of matters to investigate. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook. 195 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard To fire up his anti-immigrant base of supporters before the election, President Donald Trump announced he was issuing an extensive executive order requiring asylum-seekers to present themselves at a port of entry. He also said that he would hold the Central American refugees in tent cities while their legal cases are being heard, which could take several months or longer. And true to his word, after the election, on November 9, Trump did issue such an order. But all of Trumps plans are crashing and burning as a federal judge on Monday said his executive order could not be enforced. This means the Trump administration is no longer able to refuse asylum to immigrants crossing the southern border illegally. After hearing arguments from both sides U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Monday in San Francisco. The legal action seeking the TRO was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Constitutional Rights. The organizations sued the federal government after Trump issued his order in response to the highly-publicized caravans of migrants coming to the U.S. from Central America, walking through Mexico. Trumps November 9 proclamation said anyone who crossed the southern border would be ineligible for asylum. This new rule makes it harder to avoid deportation, since those seeking asylum are allowed to remain in the U.S. while their cases are pending. This would affect thousands of people who enter the U.S. seeking asylum. Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry, said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights. It couldnt be clearer. The Trump administration wants asylum seekers to arrive only at an official border crossing. But many border crossings such as San Ysidro already have long wait times and thus many asylum seekers have been avoiding them. The migrants are forced to wait in temporary shelters or outdoor camps on the Mexican side, sometimes for weeks or even months. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people cross between official ports because theyre in real danger and cannot remain in Mexico. We dont condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum, Gelernt said. 514 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard A large majority of Americans believe that Special Counsel Robert Mueller must be allowed to finish his investigation, according to a CBS News poll. Over 70 percent of poll respondents believe President Donald Trump should allow Mueller to do his job without interference, and over 50 percent said they want Congress to pass a law to protect the Mueller investigation. New Poll: Partisan Divide on Protecting the Special Counsel from Being Firedhttps://t.co/YiCEryCTV5 pic.twitter.com/YZH8IxjH9Z CBS News Poll (@CBSNewsPoll) November 20, 2018 Nearly three-fourths of Americans made very clear in their responses in the poll released today that they believe Trump should not take action to hinder Muellers investigation. The responses were fairly consistent through all party affiliations as 76 percent of independents, 81 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of Republicans want the investigation to continue without interference from the President. There is a much bigger difference of opinion between the parties on the question of whether Congress needs to pass a law to protect Mueller. Barely half just 52 percent of respondents in total think such a law is necessary. Just 23 percent of Republicans and 53 percent of independents believe we need legislation designed to protect the special counsel probe from being shut down by the White House. However, 75 percent of Democrats believe a bill to protect Mueller is needed. Such a bill is currently being debated in the Senate, where Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake (R) has told Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he will delay the presidents judicial nominees until the Mueller protection bill gets a vote on the floor of the Senate. Flake can delay judicial nominations since he is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. A very small majority of Americans in total 51 percent believe that Muellers investigation is politically motivated. This compares to 46 percent of poll respondents who said it is justified. Todays CBS poll comes after another poll from CNN last week which found that many more Americans approve of Muellers handling of the Russia probe than approve of Trumps response to the Mueller investigation. In the CNN poll, just 30 percent of Americans approved of the presidents conduct related to the Mueller probe, while fifty percent of respondents approved of Muellers work. 1.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Secretary of State Mike Pompeo personally delivered a roadmap to Saudi King Salman to help his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, protect himself from the investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Pompeo reportedly provided Saudi Arabia with a detailed plan on how to make sure its crown prince was protected from the fallout over Khashoggis murder Pompeo reportedly provided Saudi Arabia with a detailed plan on how to make sure its crown prince was protected from the fallout over Khashoggis murder https://t.co/w8OEHYTrLU The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) November 20, 2018 Pompeo delivered the plan in person during a meeting with Saudi King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), last month in Riyadh, exactly two weeks after Khashoggis brutal murder October 2 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, according to the news website Middle East Eye (MEE). A senior Saudi source told the website the plan includes an option to blame the Washington Post columnists killing on an innocent member of the ruling al-Saud family to shield the crown prince and others at the top. But that person has not yet been chosen, and Saudi leaders are still holding back on much of the plan until the pressure on bin Salman increases. The U.S. State Department denied the Saudi sources claims, saying they were a complete misrepresentation of the secretarys diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia. Weve spoken publicly about our goals: to impress upon Saudi leadership the seriousness to which the United States government attaches to a prompt and complete accounting of the murder of Jamal Kashoggi, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told MEE. But according to confidential Saudi sources, Pompeo presented his plan on October 16, when he traveled to Riyadh to meet with King Salman and MBS. At the time the as international scrutiny on the Khashoggi case was getting extremely intense, and the Trump administration was facing political pressure at home. Just before Pompeo arrived in Riyadh, MEE reported that officials in Turkey had discovered that Khashoggi was killed and dismembered shortly after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. On October 18, we reported that the same day U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Saudi Arabia the U.S. government received a $100 million payment from the Saudi kingdom. Pompeos meeting with MBS in Riyadh was heavily criticized as global human rights groups had been demanding that Trump pressure Saudi Arabia to provide more information about their role in Khashoggis killing. The day after he met with the Saudi rulers, Pompeo told reporters that they didnt want to talk about the Khashoggi case, and neither did he. I dont want to talk about any of the facts, Pompeo said as he traveled to Turkey. They didnt want to either. The Saudi source told MEE that Pompeo went to Riyadh to advise the Saudis on how to handle the fallout in the Khashoggi case. The Trump administration is expected to make a formal statement today about the U.S. findings so far in the investigation. The CIA announced several days ago that it had completed an intelligence assessment which concluded that MBS had ordered Khashoggis murder. President Donald Trump, with no evidence, disputed the CIA findings. 455 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Apparently acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker isnt going anywhere. A confidential source has told Axios that President Trump has shown no great urgency in nominating a replacement for former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and is very pleased with Whitakers supposed courage in defending him. Clearly what he likes about him is hes holding his ground, not running for the tall grass, a White House source told Axios. Trump said in an interview on Sunday that he would not intervene if Whitaker, moved to curtail Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Before he joined the Justice Department (DOJ) as Attorney General Jeff Sessions chief of staff, Whitaker had been involved in several questionable and controversial endeavors. He was especially critical of Muellers investigation. On top of that, Whitaker had discussed different ways a U.S. attorney general could cripple the Mueller probe without having to fire the special counsel. I could see a scenario where Jeff Sessions is replaced with a recess appointment, and that attorney general doesnt fire Bob Mueller but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigations grinds to almost a halt, Whitaker said during a CNN interview last year. A lawsuit filed by three Senate Democrats this week argued that Whitakers appointment to acting attorney general is unconstitutional. The lawsuit claims that because, unlike current Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Whitaker has never been confirmed by the Senate. His position as Sessions chief of staff did not require Senate confirmation. The lawsuit argument is very similar to the reasoning of a New York Times op-ed by George Conway, the husband of White House counsel Kellyanne Conway. Earlier this month Conway said that the Whitaker appointment violated the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The flaw in the appointment of Mr. Whitaker, who was Mr. Sessionss chief of staff at the Justice Department, runs much deeper, Conway wrote. It defies one of the explicit checks and balances set out in the Constitution, a provision designed to protect us all against the centralization of government power. Conway argued that appointing Whitaker as acting attorney general is especially problematic because he has the power to oversee the work of government officials that were confirmed for their positions by the Senate despite the fact that Whitaker has never received Senate confirmation. We cannot tolerate such an evasion of the Constitutions very explicit, textually precise design. Senate confirmation exists for a simple, and good, reason, Conway wrote. Constitutionally, Matthew Whitaker is a nobody. His job as Mr. Sessions chief of staff did not require Senate confirmation For the president to install Mr. Whitaker as our chief law enforcement officer is to betray the entire structure of our charter document. According to Axios, Whitaker may still be in the running for the permanent Attorney General position. Trump likes him but there is internal White House opposition to his appointment because many people believe he would be very difficult to confirm. Several top House Democrats have begun an investigation of fraud charges against Whitaker when he was in the private sector. And reportedly Trump feels no urgency to appoint a permanent replacement for Sessions and is happy with Whitakers current status. If Trump is happy, it is only because he knows Whitaker is a complete yes man and will do whatever he is told. This could very easily lead to a true constitutional crisis if Trump directs Whitaker to interfere with prosecutions and investigations, and Whitaker complies. 2.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump defended Saudi Arabia on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in an official White House statement, and unwittingly unleashed an investigation hell on himself. The official statement from Trump as provided to PoliticusUSA by the White House: The world is a very dangerous place! The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraqs fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, Death to America! and Death to Israel! Iran is considered the worlds leading sponsor of terror. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism. After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States! The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body. Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an enemy of the state and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world! I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America. After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels so important for the world. As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First! Just like Trump Believed Putin, He Believes MSBS Trump is letting Saudi Arabia get away with murder, and no one is sure why, but Democrats and even some Republicans want to find. There is going to be more than an investigation into Trumps decisionmaking on the Khashoggi murder. Congress is going to dive into Trump finances and expose the president his familys financial ties to the Saudi kingdom. Donald Trump has made a ton of mistakes during his presidency, but none may come back to haunt him more than his refusal to do the right thing after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. My wife and I met up and stayed with my fathers Russian-born cousins in Berlin last week. And since their English is marginal and the German I learned in college has rusted into near immobility after almost 40 years of disuse, we communicated mostly through the medium of nearly instantaneous online translation, which allowed for compound questions and sentence-length answers rather than clipped, guidebook phrases. Disinformation Interview Q: Madam President, as you know we at Polygraph.info are investigating and debunking Russian disinformation. We see, that NATO is one of the main targets of such information attacks. Why is that? A: The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is not part of NATO but works very closely with NATO. I know very well that the most important targets for the Kremlin are Western values, the United States, and NATO as well, because the U.S. is a major part of NATO. Russia is using the narrative that NATO is getting close to the Russian borders, that NATO is dangerous, that NATO is bringing war all that is a lie. It was not NATO, which started the militarization of our region I mean the Baltic region; on the contrary, its Russia, the Kremlin, which wages wars, both in their own neighborhood and in faraway places like Syria. NATO is a target to tie to all evil narratives, so that countries like Ukraine and Georgia do not become [NATO] members. Russia also uses the NATO threat narrative for the domestic audience, to distract peoples attention from what is going on inside Russia. I see that NATO is the Kremlins enemy, and is used to help this corrupt [Russian] regime to remain in control. Q: You have mentioned that as a President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly you have visited Ukraine, can you share with us the details and observations of your visit? A: Ukraine in particular is a training ground for Kremlin propaganda and hybrid war. We are not talking only about information warfare: there are other measures being used, the same that the KBG used in the Soviet Union. All these measures are at work today, with the addition of modern technology. In Ukraine, I am proud to say a few days ago I visited the eastern front. For me, the most important thing was to say publicly how we in Lithuania feel, and how some, not yet all, in NATO feel: on this frontline, the freedom of all of Europe is being defended. Not only Ukraines freedom, but the freedom of Europe as a whole. This is an eastern front for all of Europe. We are very grateful to the Ukrainian soldiers for what they do, for defending us. Of course, there is also a lot of information warfare [being used] against Ukraine. Even the use of a term very often seen in the Western media the conflict in Ukraine or the Ukrainian conflict this is exactly the narrative which is being utilized by the Kremlin. There is no conflict in Ukraine: it is Russian aggression against Ukraine. Denying their [the Russians] presence is similar to denying their use of chemical weapons in a NATO member state to poison two people. They deny that the same way. They say, those where pilgrims visiting that town. They are lying. They are always lying and will continue lying because the state, the Kremlin regime, is based on a fundamental lie. Those of us born in the Soviet Union -- I was born in Soviet-occupied Lithuania -- are better able to recognize this lie. Q: The Russian government officials said the elections in Donbass and Luhansk regions were free and fair, calling them democratic - is that true? A: First of all, there were no elections, those were fake elections. Not a single NATO state or a single EU state will recognize those elections; there will not be any implications because these actions are against every international law and regulation. No matter what they announce or say these actions are just part of the hybrid war against Ukraine. Q: You have also visited Georgia, did you see there signs of Russian influence as well? A: In Georgia, there is a visible Russian interest and it is aimed at preventing Georgia from joining NATO. Moscow is doing everything it can to ensure that the government is soft on Russia, or too afraid to take any steps towards NATO membership. Q: We see reports in the Russian media, as well as statements by top Russian officials accusing NATO troops of inappropriate, often criminal behavior. How do the local people react to such information? Does it change their opinion on NATO? A: When there was a NATO battalion with the German soldiers stationed in Lithuania, the Russians, from the very first day, were trying to spread information that German soldiers had raped a local girl. So our media -- not the fake media they [the Russians] use to distribute their information, [but] the real media -- they immediately identified this [as] fake, and reported that nothing of kind had ever happened. Thus, such disinformation works against Putin and against the Kremlin, because fewer and fewer people trust the regime. Q: What measures is NATO taking in response to Russian information attacks? A: In NATO member states -- for example, in Riga [Latvia] -- there is a Center of Excellence, a special center researching information and cyber warfare. I believe such centers exist in every NATO state, and in Lithuania, we have one as well. They provide training for journalists, organize conferences; there are people who volunteer without any financial support, they work on the Internet, on Facebook, debunking these lies. In Helsinki, there is a joint EU-NATO group working in the same field. There is also a department in NATO working [on combating Russian disinformation] -- All because the lie is a weapon. Information warfare is a weapon aimed against peoples minds. The ability to influence human minds is as powerful as killing a person physically, because such [disinformation] kills the values in people and creates chaos in a nation. Q: What are the main challenges in facing Russian disinformation? A: The most important thing to do is to recognize that the Russian [state] media are not the press, and stop calling them journalism. They are not information tools they are tools of mass destruction of brains, and they must be identified as such. Just like chemical weapons, just like bio weapons, these are weapons as well. When we start recognizing it, then it would be much easier to make decisions regarding such outlets as Russia Today, with the full understanding that they need to be dealt with just like any other weapon of mass destruction. Q: Are you proposing to stop considering the Russian state media journalists? In the U.S. when the government requested a FARA registration from RT, many American media and journalists said it was violation of speech freedom. A: There are, of course, opinions connecting this with freedom of speech, with the fight against the press. No, it is not. A lie is not a different opinion. I am for freedom of speech. We have fought for freedom of speech while blocked in the Soviet Union from any free speech. But what the so-called Russian press is doing is exactly the opposite of free speech: they are being used by the Russian regime against freedom of speech, both inside Russia and outside, by spreading lies that discredit free speech. They work against democracy but, regrettably, many people in the democratic world still do not understand this, because they never lived in the Soviet Union. They have no idea what such a lie means that it is the very same lie used by Hitler, he used the same propaganda; the same used by Stalin; and we know how that ended. It all ended very tragically. That is why it is so important now that more people are able to recognize these lies and stop calling them free speech or a different opinion. The situation now, of course, is not the same as during the times of Hitler [and] Stalin, though the trends are very similar. Yet today, we have the internet and there is an alternative [source of information]. Even speaking here at Polygraph.info today gives people an opportunity to recognize that. One question that always bothers me is why people in Russia choose to believe all these lies. They, too, have an internet; they have the ability to check the facts, but they keep believing.This means that the lie is dangerous. People have become victims of such constant, massive attacks of lies that they start believing them. Regrettably, the danger is real and the attacks are effective. Q: Are you satisfied with the level of coordination between the U.S. and EU in response to Russian propaganda? A: The most difficult part in [dealing with Russian propaganda] is that we all live in democratic countries, and the Kremlin is using to its advantage precisely such democratic tools as freedom of speech, freedom of communications, democratic elections, pluralism of opinion, in our countries. Every election in NATO states is becoming a frontline on the fight for freedom. [This is] not only a fight between political groups inside the countries, but, regrettably, there is also a war on democracy being waged from the outside. The main question is how to make more people understand that, including political leaders in those countries. We see how the Kremlin is using internal political struggles in other countries. At this point, I cannot say wholeheartedly that yes, we have reached a consensus that we have won, that we are fighting as a united front and are successful. I dont think that is ever going to happen. But it is significantly better today than it was before 2014 I mean [before] the aggression against Ukraine. Today I see more understanding everywhere. Putin, himself, helps unite the Western nations against such threats. I believe the only weapon against such lies is the truth. There is no other weapon. We cant fight against a lie by creating a different lie; that will not help. We need to work very patiently, and only the truth helps us. Q: Macedonia is on a path to the NATO membership, that is if the country ratifies the agreement with Greece. What if it doesnt? A: First, I do not believe that NATO needs to have a Plan B for Macedonia. Macedonia and Greece, [which] have already done a lot for Macedonia to become a member of NATO and the European Union, need to have a Plan B. Politicians in Macedonia need to work on that. I think mistakes have been made on both sides. Still, there has also been a breakthrough. I will be meeting with the speaker of the Macedonian Parliament, who is coming to Canada for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly session, and we will be asking the same questions that you have just asked me. I wish the best of success to the people of Macedonia and Greece. I hope they understand that the only state-winner here [if the agreement fails] is the Russian Federation and the Kremlin. The Medical University of South Carolina's Board of Trustees approved the purchase of community hospitals in four rural counties Monday night following a discussion in a meeting not open to the public. It is the first time MUSC has acquired other hospitals in its history. No dollar figures were discussed. Financing will still need to be approved by the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. The four hospitals to be bought are each owned by Community Health Systems, which operates about 115 hospitals across 20 states. The ones being sold to MUSC include Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster; Chester Regional Medical Center in Chester; and Carolinas Hospital System outposts in Mullins and Florence. A resolution authorizing the sale states MUSC would also buy clinics and other services attached to the hospitals. Together, the four hospitals in total have 715 beds, according to information from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. By comparison, the downtown MUSC Medical Center has 713 beds. Dr. David Cole, president of MUSC, said in a statement the hospitals are part of the organization's "emerging MUSC Health network." The additions will increase the size and scale of the MUSC Health network, and in todays environment, larger, more efficient health care systems can deliver greater value to patients and have a positive impact on population health, Charles Schulze, chairman of the board, said in a prepared statement. The hospitals lie in Marion, Florence, Chester and Lancaster counties areas where lawmakers and hospital administrators alike have been searching for ways to keep facilities open even as rural hospitals are forced to close their doors. Joshua Baker, director of the S.C. Department of Health and Human Services, told The Post and Courier in August a handful of the state's rural hospitals are on the cusp of consolidation. Hospitals across the nation have been closing at a rate of about 30 per year, according to the American Hospital Association. On Monday night during the specially called meeting, the board members voted to "enter into a proposed asset purchase agreement" to buy "the assets of certain hospitals and other medical facilities" in those counties. MUSC leaders were not immediately available for interview following the meeting. Almost simultaneously to the board's decision, for-profit Community Health Systems released the news that they had officially agreed to sell the four hospitals to the Medical University Hospital Authority. According to their most recent quarterly report, the company has been selling some of their holdings when possible. Financial disclosures show they have divested or agreed to sell at least 14 other hospitals in 2018. Community Health Systems also agreed to sell Mary Black Health System facilities in Spartanburg and Gaffney earlier this year. The hospitals are not "complementary to our business strategy," the company's management wrote to its investors. A motion to approve the purchases passed unanimously. Lauren Sausser is the Health & Science Editor at The Post and Courier. She also writes about health care issues in South Carolina. You are the owner of this article. FILE - This Jan. 24, 2012, file photo shows a Caesar salad with romaine lettuce. Food regulators are urging Americans not to eat any romaine lettuce because of a new food poisoning outbreak. The FDA says it's investigating an E. coli outbreak that has sickened over two dozen people in several states. The FDA says it's working with officials in Canada, where officials are also warning against romaine lettuce. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead, File) Hannah Alani is a reporter at The Post and Courier covering race, immigration and rural life across the Palmetto State. Before graduating from Indiana University and moving to Charleston in 2017, her byline appeared in The New York Times. Fifth district Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson confers with colleagues during a hearing in Richland County Court. Johnson was indicted Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, on more than two dozen charges related to the misspending of public funds on trips to foreign countries including the Netherlands and the Galapagos Islands. One of Johnson's top aides pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday. File/Tracy Glantz/The State via AP Theres enough to think about these next two days will there be enough food, not enough, too much? Will the bird be done too soon, too late, never? Then there are the wines. Many have already taken care of that while others (me) arent sure which direction to go red or white or both, and how many bottles? There are factors to consider, like what will complement the varied tastes and textures of this heroic meal. Luckily there are experts more than willing to guide us. Heres some of what they had to say: Ted Alberts, the wine buyer at Andys Liquor, said their top seller for Thanksgiving is a Gewurztraminer. In fact, that is his top recommendation because it pairs well with most of the side dishes and complements the flavors. Chateau Ste Michelle is a reliable choice and also affordable. However for those attracted to a rose, which he describes as very popular right now, a dry rose like Chloe is a fine choice. Alberts also highly recommends a pinot gris from Couer de Terre vineyard in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. (The owner of this particular vineyard is originally from Cannon Falls.) If its a red youre after, safe choices are a pinot noir, a syrah or zinfandel. You want a lively one, not tannic or oakey. For whites, sauvignon blanc, reisling, the afore-mentioned Gewurztraminer and a Viogner will be good pours. Though he no longer owns Apollo Liquor, Ari Kolashas always been a go-to expert and still is. His suggestions included a reisling, which he adds is slightly sweet and can liven the taste buds. Look for the term "Kabinet" on the label, meaning the wine will be somewhat dryer and not as sweet. Among his favorite red wines for this day is a zinfandel, adding that you dont want a heavy wine and a cabernet could be too tannic and affect your taste buds. French-style roses are also good choices, as they are nice and delicate and not as sweet as a reisling. A sparkling wine like a proseco is a fine way to kick off the day and welcome guests, Kolas said. Bryan Kingand his family are the new owners of all five Apollo stores, so I also wanted to hear what he recommended. It was a reisling. "It is an excellent choice with different levels of sweetness so youll make everyone happy," he said. King also added, as Alberts had, to watch for the term Kabinet on the label as that indicates it will not be as sweet. If ham is on the menu he would choose a pinot noir, the best being from Oregon and Washington state, saying that is the perfect pairing. A French-style rose is nice and delicate, not as sweet as a reisling. Putting wine choices aside, King also pointed out that serving craft beers is becoming very popular with these celebration meals. "There are so many fine beers around and they are excellent," he said. So that could be an option. A spokesman for Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits(they were between managers as of this writing) suggested a Nederburg chenin blanc, saying that is one of the more popular wines this time of year in that store. Once again, a reisling was mentioned, which he described as a classic for the meal. A Starling Castle is on sale there all month. The wine that used to be a regular on Thanksgiving tables is the Beaujolais Nouveau from France. It is fermented just a few weeks before being released for sale on the third Thursday of November. It has somewhat fallen out of favor, but comes with a great tradition. What I liked the best? Its beautiful labels. At the end of the day, pairing wine with food is a matter of personal preference. Serve what you like. It is, however, a good idea to have both reds and whites in case reds give Aunt Ella a headache and Uncle Joe gets heartburn from whites. You should also have more than you think youll need. I was told one bottle for two people, but then that was amended to one bottle per person. Too much is fine, not enough is not. The most important thing, however, is neither the food nor the wines. It is the people around the table. Groups of eight to 12 can take in the views from the River North rooftop while getting cozy inside a heated igloo decorated with string lights, Christmas ornaments and blankets. Booking requires a minimum bill of $500, so come prepared to indulge in a special menu featuring bites like $4 honey ham sliders and $3.50 cranberry and brie crostinis, and cocktails including The Grinch, a blend of rum, peach schnapps, blue curacao, orange juice and Sierra Mist served in a glass resembling an ornament. You can also share a $24 large format cocktail like the Gin & Tidings, made with gin, lemon juice, rosemary, pomegranate, club soda and prosecco, or get creative with the $18 milk and cookies cart, which includes sugar cookies you can decorate with frosting, sprinkles and other toppings plus a shot of Rumchata per person. Despite being post-holiday-season, these deals remain the same, although guests can expect something for Valentines Day (Feb. 14). The heated igloos are expected to be open until St. Patricks Day (March 16). NORRISTOWN A Limerick man is headed to jail for driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs in New Hanover, an incident, police alleged, that marked his second DUI offense. William D. Lafferty, 60, of the 100 block of West Ridge Pike, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 111/2 to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to charges of driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs and driving under suspension DUI related in connection with a June 2018 incident at Romig Road and Swamp Pike in New Hanover. With the charges, prosecutors alleged Laffertys blood alcohol content was 0.242 percent, three times the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent, and that he had traces of the active ingredient of marijuana in his system. New Hanover police also alleged the investigation determined Lafferty had a suspended drivers license, DUI related, at the time of the June 3 incident. Judge Thomas C. Branca also ordered Lafferty to complete three years probation following parole, meaning Lafferty will be under court supervision for about five years. The judge, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, said Lafferty is eligible for the jails work release program during his period of incarceration. An investigation began about 4 p.m. June 3 when New Hanover police received a reckless driver complaint regarding a Dodge Caravan that was traveling into oncoming traffic. Police located the vehicle traveling westbound in the 2200 block of Swamp Pike, according to the criminal complaint filed by New Hanover Police Officer Matthew Dean. Police conducted a traffic stop at Swamp Pike and Romig Road and identified Lafferty as the driver of the suspect vehicle. As soon as I came in close proximity to him I could immediately smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person, Dean wrote in the arrest affidavit, adding Lafferty denied drinking when initially questioned by police. Police alleged Lafferty subsequently failed field sobriety tests and he was transported to a local hospital due to general weakness. Lafferty submitted to a blood test, which determined the elevated blood alcohol limit. POTTSTOWN The Thanksgiving spirit is alive and well in the Pottstown area, with various efforts undertaken to ensure no ones table is empty when the holiday arrives. On Saturday, Bethel Community Church of Pottstown distributed more than 75 Thanksgiving food boxes with turkey or chicken and all the trimmings to residents in Pottstown, the three Pottsgroves, Reading, Norristown and other areas, said Pastor Vernon Ross. Also on Saturday, Bethel served a free Thanksgiving community dinner to more than 100 residents of Pottstown and the surrounding area. The churchs youth, under the direction of Lee Ann Barkasi, provided the music, helped serve the meal and helped to pack up the boxes. The churchs Thanksgiving box and dinner efforts were headed by Lynette Sanders, Ruth Howard, Dorothy Harrison, Jo Price, Edsel Martin and Tyrone Phillips. Additionally, 200 Pottstown-area families will have a full Thanksgiving meal this year, thanks to YWCA Tri-County Area and Exelons Limerick Generating Station. Exelon donated funds to purchase a Thanksgiving meal for families whose children attend YWs Early Education Center. Exelon employees volunteered to deliver the food Friday. Each family receives a turkey, fresh green beans and potatoes, canned corn and cranberry sauce, a box of stuffing mix, and a pie. Exelon also contributed to Operation Warm, which provides warm winter coats to the 160 children enrolled in pre-school and after-school programs at the Pottstown Early Education Center. As everyone knows, wildfires have burned out of control in both northern and southern California. Some have been killed and many more are missing. The fires are a human tragedy, one that seems to have become more common in California in recent years. Liberals, predictably, have blamed global warmingand therefore conservativesfor the fires. California Governor Jerry Brown, for one, has specifically said that global warming skeptics are partly responsible for the loss of life. It is hard to imagine a more contemptible assertion. My first thought, when I saw the headlines about climate change, was, do they think it is extraordinarily hot in California in November? Presumably not. The theory is that climate change, that all-purpose mantra, has caused California to be dryer than in previous decades or centuries. But that isnt true either, as Ken Haapala of the Science and Environmental Policy Project points out: The worst fire has been in the area of Paradise, California, which is in the Sierra Nevada foothills north and east of the Sacramento Valley about 85 miles (137 km) north of Sacramento. The climate is classified as hot-summer Mediterranean and the community is spread out on a wide ridge between deep canyons formed by a branch of the Feather River and Butte Creek. Much of the recent housing is in area have young woodlands at elevations above 1,700 feet (525 m). The rainy season of 20162017 was considered Northern Californias wettest winter in over 100 years. The heavy snow and rain caused significant pressure on nearby Oroville Dam, and the spillway failed. Much of what has been written about the tragic fires has ignored the distinction between the areas of Northern and Southern California and that heavy rains fell in Northern California of 2016-2017. This commentary will focus on the worst fire, near Paradise. It is here that news photographs show strings of burnt vehicles abandoned by those trying to flee the fires. Unfortunately, the governor of California, Jerry Brown, has tried to assign blame for the tragedy to climate change the perfect excuse for politicians. Not only was the prior year very wet in Northern California, a chart by NOAA, reproduced by Icecap, shows California has had no downtrend in annual precipitation since 1895. In fact, no trend at all for 120 years, except for wild changes over short periods of time. The chart shows that precipitation in California has drastically changed frequently, and this change is totally unrelated to changing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Meteorologist Cliff Mass, who is not a climate denier, gives his analysis of what apparently caused the fire power lines downed by high winds. Mass states the conditions were predictable, and that under such circumstances power should be shut-off in vulnerable lines during periods of high winds. This is not an ideal solution, but it is better than what occurred. That is way too practical a suggestion, with little or no political potential. So it will quickly be forgotten. President Trump has suggested that the California wild fires were caused, at least in part, by forest management practices dictated by environmentalists. That may not be the whole story, but it is certainly part of it. For quite a few years, experts in land management have been pointing out that the liberals forest management practices are producing more wild fires. Recognizing this fact, in 2016 a bipartisan California legislature passed a Wildfire Management Bill, but Brown vetoed it. Maybe that is why he wanted to deflect attention to global warming. In November. Much has been written about the misguided forest management practices that have been implemented, at the insistence of environmentalists, not just in California but around the country. This is just one of many such sources, Krystina Skurk at The Federalist: Right now, the most deadly fire in Californias history is racing across northern California. The Camp Fire has already killed at least 56 people, burned down 7,700 homes, and destroyed the entire town of Paradise. A brush fire is also wreaking havoc on southern California. The Woolsey Fire has destroyed 98,362 acres, killed two people, and damaged several Hollywood landmarks such as the set of MASH and the Reagan Ranch. Article after article blames two things for Californias frequent fires: global warming and human action. While dry conditions make fires more likely and people often start them, this misses the big picture. President Trump summed it up on Nov 10. He wrote, There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poorRemedy now, or no more Fed payments! Trump is right. Mismanagement and overregulation deserve most of the blame, but he should keep in mind that the federal government owns 57 percent of California forest land. *** For decades, environmental protection schemes have usurped common sense. For example, most fire ecologists say that the surest way of preventing massive forest fires is to use prescribed burns. The California Environmental Protection Agency states that prescribed burning is the intentional use of fire to reduce wildfire hazards, clear downed trees, control plant diseases, improve rangeland and wildlife habitats, and restore natural ecosystems. *** Despite scientific evidence, the federal government continues spending more money on fire suppression than prescribed burns. There is much more at the link. For now, lets conclude that it is ridiculous to accuse those who point out the logical and mathematical errors of the global warming hysterics of being responsible for wild fires. The House of Representatives has lifted a 181-year-old ban against wearing hats on the floor of the House. The ban was instituted in 1837 as to push back against the British custom of wearing hats in parliament. The change has been made to accommodate newly-elected Ilhan Omar, a Muslim who wears hijab. It will also enable another newly-elected Muslim, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, to do the same. In addition, Democrats say the ban will be lifted to allow others to wear headgear on the floor based on religious or medical considerations. It would, of course, be untenable for the Dems to lift the ban to accommodate Muslims but not, say, Orthodox Jews. I support this change in the rules. Whatever ones view of Ilhan Omar, she should be able to perform her duties as a congresswoman without violating the dress requirements of her religion (assuming no threat to security on the House floor). Accommodating deeply held religious beliefs when doing so imposes no undue hardship is a cherished principle in America, or should be. I do wonder what the response would have been if, at some point during the 181 year history of this rule (or even now), an Orthodox Jew had sought permission to wear a kippah on the House floor. But speculation about this, or even evidence that such requests have been denied in the past, is no basis for opposing the ability of Ilhan Omar to adhere to religious requirements regarding headwear while performing her job. The Muslim congresswoman responded to news of the rule change with this comment: There are those kinds of policies that oftentimes get created because people who have blind spots are in positions of influence and positions of power. I think it will be really exciting to see the stuff that we notice within the rules that dont (sic) work for a modern-day America. Notice what shes doing here. Rather than celebrating the American tradition of religious freedom (does she even believe in it for other religions?), shes using the rule against headwear as a proxy for rules that dont work for a modern-day America and for a generalized attack on those in positions of power in other words as a proxy for the progressive agenda. As Meira Svirsky of the Clarion Project says: [Omar] is wrong to call for a change in rules just because they dont work for modern-day America. In terms of this rule, there is a much more compelling reason to change it: The hat ban literally infringes on the Constitution itself, namely the seminal right laid down in the First Amendment that guarantees the free exercise of religion to all citizens. . . . Omars excitement to abolish rules that dont work for a modern-day America would, by contrast, set a dangerous precedent, making Congress and other governmental institutions subject to the whims of whatever dogma is deemed politically correct at the time and by the ruling party. By contrast, the Constitution gives us absolute values with which to legislate laws and set down rules. But dont expect Omar Ilhan to understand or appreciate this reality. Our friend Glenn Reynolds has an op-ed in USA Today in which he urges antitrust enforcement actions against the dominant tech firms: Donald Trump must bust Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google monopolies like Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt built a strong reputation by going after the trusts, huge combinations that placed control of entire industries in the hands of one or a few men. He broke up John D. Rockefellers Standard Oil, the Google of its day. He shut down J.P. Morgans Northern Securities Co., which would have monopolized rail transportation in much of the United States. And he pursued numerous other cases (45 in all) that broke up monopolies and returned competition to markets. *** Big monopolies arent just an economic threat: Theyre a political threat. Because theyre largely free of market constraints, they dont have to put all their energy into making a better product for less money. Instead, they put a lot of their energy into political manipulation to protect their monopoly. An industry made up of 500 companies might want government protection, but its harder to get them to agree on a lobbying campaign. One made up of three companies, or one, can do so, and be sure that it will reap all the rewards of its effort. Thus, as [Columbia Law professor Tim] Wu notes, the more concentrated the industry, the more corrupt we can expect the political process to be. And as he points out, these fears (and the realities) of huge companies wielding unchecked political power motivated the antitrust crusaders of a century ago every bit as much as concern about prices. Perhaps so. But conventional antitrust theory assumes that the point of being a monopolist is to make more money by raising prices. Nothing in antitrust law, that I know of, contemplates the situation we have today, where companies like Facebook, Google, Twitter and YouTube are willing to make less money if it means they can suppress political views with which they disagree. Today, things look a lot like Teddy Roosevelts era. A few monopolies occupy much of the tech world: Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google FANG, as theyre often abbreviated. They gobble up potential competitors, as Facebook did with WhatsApp and Instagram. *** And these new tech monsters have a one-two punch that Standard Oil lacked: Not only do they control immense wealth and important industries, but their fields of operation which give them enormous control over communications, including communications about politics also give them direct political power that in many ways exceeds that of previous monopolies. I think that is true. The harder question is what to do about it. In his USA Today column Glenn implies what he has stated more directly at InstaPundit, that the Department of Justice should sue to break up the tech monopolies. I have two problems with that approach (apart from the question whether Netflix, for example, would qualify as possessing market power, which seems highly doubtful). The first, as noted earlier, is that there isnt, to my knowledge, a body of antitrust law that addresses the propensity of companies possessing market power to use it to suppress political speech, as opposed to raising prices. I suppose the Supreme Court could create such doctrine if so disposed, but its contours, at this point, are unknown. The second problem, network effects, is more intractable. The network effect applies when the value of a service derives in part from the fact that other people use it, too. Network effects can tend to create natural monopolies. Facebook is a good example, I think. Hypothetically, a trust-busting Attorney General could try to break up Facebook so that there are four or five competing companies in that marketsort of like there used to be at least two, Facebook and MySpace. But Facebook derives its value in large part from the fact that pretty much everyone who wants to participate in this form of social media is on it. You dont have to go to five or six different platforms to find your high school classmates; you only have to go to Facebook. And if you want to get a message out to a targeted social media audience, you dont have to replicate the effort five or six times. Facebook is, perhaps, a natural monopoly on account of the network effect, so that if a trust-buster broke the company up into four or five competing social media firms, they would tend to re-coalesce into one. Twitter is similar. It is convenient to have one platform where anyone who wants to issue or absorb snark in 240 characters or fewer can go. If there were five Twitters, they likely, I think, would collapse into one before long. Search is different. There is no discernible advantage to having a single dominant search engine, and in fact Google has several competitors. If the competitors arent very successful, it presumably is because users generally prefer Googles search services. Is there any reason to think Google has done anything wrongful (even slightly) to preserve its search monopoly? Not that I know of. Where tech giants do not enjoy a natural monopoly, trust-busting may be an effective approach, if it is justified by existing or reasonably extended antitrust law. Where a tech giant does occupy a natural monopoly spacelike, I suspect, Facebook and Twitter, and possibly YouTubea better solution might be to regulate the company as a public utility, much like your local water company or electricity provider. On that scenario, the company would be required to provide its service to all on an equal basis. No one imagines that the water company can cut off service to conservative households, and if the electric utility cut off power to households that support President Trump, it would be a scandal. Further, on the regulation model, the executives of companies like Facebook and Twitter would be paid publicly-determined salaries, comparable to those of school teachers, with no stock options or other opportunities to become wealthy. One thing the trust-busting and regulatory models have in common is that threatening to pursue them may send a tremor of fear through the executives and shareholders of the tech giants. That fear might be enough to cause them to scale back on using their companies to pursue a left-wing political agenda. If so, the threat is a good thing. If the threat isnt enough, we may need to revisit the question of antitrust enforcement. I havent seen the new biopic about Freddie Mercury and Queen, but from the reviews and such it looks pretty good. But in the meantime, some enterprising YouTubers who go by the name of Dustin and Genevieve have produced this Bohemian Rhapsody knockoff for the age of anti-social media, and it hits the target squarely: Todays chaserId call this bottom story of the day, but that would be too cheesy: Warrant: Man accused of bomb threat told NOPD he was referring to bowel movement A man accused of threatening to blow up Willies Chicken Shack Tuesday night (Nov. 13) claimed to police when confronted about the allegation that his words were merely a reference to a bowel movement, the mans warrant states. Arthur Posey, 30, was booked on charges in connection to a bomb threat after his story was not corroborated with the restaurants employees, New Orleans police wrote in the warrant. Shortly after police were made aware of the bomb threat at the Canal Street restaurant, an officer confronted Posey inside a business in the next block, where the officer saw Posey enter. Posey claimed to the officer he told a male employee he was going to blow the bathroom up, in reference to a bowel movement, the warrant states. However, police say a Willies Chicken Shack employee told officers Mr. Posey never told him anything about a bathroom. This week it looks like Florida Man needs to step up his game. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 11:02:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 699 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / Casa Minerals Inc. ("Casa") (TSXV: CASA) (OTC: CASXF) is pleased to announce that it has met the compliance requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") and has initiated price quotation on OTC Link under the ticker symbol "CASXF". In addition to the OTC Markets Platform, shares of Casa also continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange."Today's announcement means current and future shareholders, especially those who live in the U.S., now have greater access and flexibility to trade Casa's common shares" notes Farshad Shirvani, President and CEO of Casa.As announced in Casa's news release from October 16th, 2018, one of this year's most important discoveries is the Golden Dragon vein network with rock chip samples returning values, including but not limited to, 574.42 g/t gold (109 g/t silver plus 0.1% copper, 1.56% lead and 0.23% zinc), as well as 268.86 g/t gold (127 g/t silver plus 0.2% copper, 2.95% lead and 0.04% zinc) and 50.83 g/t gold (28g/t silver, trace copper, 0.21% lead and 0.02 % zinc) .About Casa Minerals Inc.Casa Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CASA, OTC: CASXF) is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties located in Canada. The Company owns a one hundred percent (100%) interest in the polymetallic Pitman and Keaper properties and has an option to acquire a seventy-five percent (75%) interest in the Arsenault VMS Property.The Pitman Property comprises five contiguous mineral tenures covering 4255.6 hectares and is located 20 kilometers north of Terrace, British Columbia. The mineral claims of the Pitman Property include several historic prospects, including the Pitman copper-molybdenum silver prospect, and the Gold Dome and Paddy Mac gold-base metal prospects and the newly discovered Golden Dragon. Casa's field crews have been exploring the Pitman Property at intervals since 2005 and since June of this year have concentrated on prospecting and soil sampling in order to better define the distribution of gold, copper, silver and molybdenum values. Some parts of the property have only recently become accessible as a result of the retreat of glaciers and permanent snowfields. Further work is planned, including an airborne geophysical survey and programs of diamond drilling.The Keaper Property, located 20 kilometers northeast of Terrace, British Columbia, comprises five contiguous mineral tenures covering 3,789.5 hectares. The property features numerous copper occurrences and a possible polymetallic zone with high silver values and related copper, lead and zinc. Field work is continuing and results will be announced when available.Casa's Arsenault VMS Property comprises eight mineral tenures covering approximately 9,672.5 hectares located in the Atlin Mining Division, British Columbia. The Company in recent years has conducted several exploration programs on the Arsenault Property and believes that an attractive volcanogenic massive sulphide exploration target may be located within its limits. Further work is planned, with the objective of proceeding to a drilling program to test several areas identified by geological mapping, prospecting, and geophysical and geochemical surveys.On Behalf of Board of DirectorsFarshad Shirvani, M.Sc. GeologyPresident and CEOFor more information, please contact:Casa Minerals Inc.Farshad Shirvani, President & CEOPhone: (604) 689-9523Email: contact@ casaminerals.com Forward-Looking StatementsInformation set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect managements current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Companys limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.SOURCE:Casa Minerals Inc. The Chicago Bears let a report that Matt Nagy will be fired after Thursday's game sit out in the open all morning. With no one stepping in to clarify the coach's weakening status, Nagy was left to fend for himself as the noise amplifies. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 00:45:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 945 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 COCHRANE, AB / ACCESSWIRE / November 19, 2018 / On Saturday, November 24, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Final Touch Art Studio, Helping Families Handle Cancer will be hosting their first ever Helping Families Art Exhibit to help Cochrane families who are struggling to make ends meet at the Alberta Children's Hospital.It's a night of discovering local artists, in and around the Cochrane and Calgary area. This is a chance to own a unique masterpiece, creations from oil, ink, and acrylic paintings, to beautiful photography, while making a difference in the lives of families in the community. Artwork is sold on a first-come-first-serve basis.There is also a silent auction, featuring local businesses, and the chance to own a "live" painting by Sharon Kulhavy, the owner of Final Touch Art Studio in town. Her painting will unfold from start to finish, during the event.We are excited to kick off our first Art Exhibit in Cochrane, in the town where Carie Stock grew up and calls home. Final Touch Art Studio holds a special place in our heart, as this is where Carie and her Mom, Robyn, have been painting as a hobby for the past 15 years. Many art students who paint at Final Touch have contributed art pieces to the various Art Exhibits over the years as well. Owner, Sharon Kulhavy has been a long time supporter of Helping Families, often painting live at many of the Calgary Art Exhibits.ABOUT OUR ART EXHIBIT'SThis is the first ever Cochrane Art Exhibit, but it's not the first time Helping Families Handle Cancer has run this event. Since 2010, Helping Families has hosted 7 Art Exhibits in Calgary and 2 in Lethbridge Alberta.To date the Calgary Art Exhibit has raised $166,241 through the 7 Art Exhibit's it has held since 2010.Lethbridge has held 2 Art Exhibits starting in 2016 and has raised $30,484.We are looking forward to bringing this event to Cochrane community, and to surpass our total raised over the $200,000 mark.EVENT DETAILSWHENSaturday, Nov. 24, 20187:00 PM to 10:00 PMOpen House Style Event*Attendees can come and go as they pleaseWHEREFinal Touch Art StudioUnit #9, 1181 Avenue West CochraneWHATLocal artist raising money for Cochrane families who have children battling cancer at the Alberta Children's HospitalMEDIA LIAISONCarie StockFounder/Executive Director of Helping Families Handle CancerC 403 850-5477 | carie@ helpingfamilieshandlecancer.com INTERVIEWSKatie Zomar Davis (Age 19)Cochrane Care Program RecipientBattled Leukemia when she was 16C 587 999-5425 | katierzomardavis@ gmail.com Carie StockFounder and Executive DirectorHelping Families Handle CancerC 403 850-5477 | carie@ helpingfamilieshandlecancer.com Sharon KulhavyOwner/Long time supporter of Helping FamiliesFinal Touch Art StudioC 403 613-4907"We are so excited to bring our Art Exhibit to Cochrane," said Carie Stock, Executive Director and Founder of Helping Families Handle Cancer. "We know that the Cochrane community will welcome a local event like this, that brings people together in the spirit of discovering art and supporting this great cause, so we can help even more Cochrane families that have to take their child to Calgary for cancer treatments." ABOUT KATIE ZOMAR DAVISKatie was like any other 16-year-old, but on October 14, 2015 everything changed for her and her family. After being in the hospital for several days, they got the news they least expected, Katie had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells). With two other siblings for her Mom to take care of, things were starting to pile up. Katie started Chemotherapy but had some complications with her health. The family had to move from their home in Cremona and relocate in Cochrane. Katie's Mom, Heather Zomar, was driving back and forth from Cochrane to the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary. After being referred by a Social Worker from the Alberta Children's Hospital, Helping Families Handle Cancer was able to help and alleviate some stress and pressure. We were able to provide monthly parking passes, gift cards for groceries, gas to help with the driving expenses and medical supplies that Katie needed for her time at home. Katie is now cancer free and is looking to help families by telling her story at the upcoming Art Exhibit. Katie is now 19 and wants to make up for lost time. She likes spending time with her horse and is now a respite worker."At the lowest point of my life, Helping Families Handle Cancer was there to help me and my family. They helped by taking such a huge amount of pressure and stress from us. They made a terrible journey a little bit easier. We had a couple less things to worry about when there were such bigger things at hand. They make the difference between being at the hospital with your child or sometimes not a all, and for my family it meant everything to us." Said Katie Zomar Davis.ABOUT HELPING FAMILIES HANDLE CANCERHelping Families Handle Cancer is a not-for-profit organization that strives to alleviate some of the emotional and financial stress of childhood cancer by providing financial support to families in need who are battling cancer.Helping Families Handle Cancer impacts families with financial assistance towards things like hospital parking, groceries, rent and utilities, so parents can direct their energy into caring for their child, instead of struggling to cover basic living expenses.To date, Helping Families Handle Cancer has helped over 700 cancer families through their Care Program, providing financial support to the tune of over $600,000.ACCESSWIRE is pleased to contribute to Helping Families Handle Cancer and other charitable agencies by disseminating associated press releases at no charge to our newswire distribution list.SOURCE: Helping Families Handle Cancer Convenience Foods Market Volume Forecast and Value Chain Analysis 2014 - 2020 PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 14:35:56 Press Information Future Market Insights Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com Sonali Analyst +1 03479183531 email https://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 667 Words Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.comAnalyst+1 03479183531 The convenience foods market is driven by busy lifestyles and ageing population. It includes a range of processed foods that has longer shelf life and are easy to use. The major attributes that consumers look for in convenience foods are ease of use, packaging, nutritional value, safety, variety and product appeal. These are prepared by adding various preservatives at specific conditions and few of them need an efficient supply chain and storage to retain their properties. Convenience foods save time and energy for preparing food at home or hotels. Technology and innovative packaging options have widened the food choices that are available in the market in various categories such as frozen, chilled, packaged foods, etc.The market has been segmented by type as canned foods, frozen foods, ready-to-eat snacks, meals, chilled foods and others. The market can also be segmented on the basis of distribution channels into supermarkets and hypermarkets, departmental stores, mom-and-pop shops, convenience stores and others. Geographically, the market can be segmented into Asia-Pacific, North America (the U.S., Canada and Mexico), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & North Africa and RoW (Rest of the World, including Latin America and South Africa).With more women in the workforce, the demand for convenience foods is rising, primarily in emerging economies. The rapid growth of the food service industry in large number of developing markets is also expected to fuel the demand of packaged ready-to-eat snacks such as potato fries, bakery products and meat products. However, lack of proper storage and logistics is a threat to the frozen and chilled category of convenience foods in developing countries. There are stringent regulations on labelling and manufacturing of convenience foods in both developed and developing nations. One of the major drivers for convenience foods industry growth is widened distribution channels and tendency of consumers to buy off-the-shelf especially in emerging markets of BRICS and MENA.Request Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-96 The U.S. is the largest market for convenience foods in the world and the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America would fuel the future growth of the same. The U.S. will remain a strategic market for convenience food processors in the forecast period due to declining trend towards away-from-home dining and at-home cooking. There is a rising demand for meal solutions/ready-to-eat meals that can be prepared in two-step cooking. For instance, in December 2013, ConAgra Foods launched 23 new varieties of quality meals and desserts in Bertolli and P.F. Changs brands to enhance consumers at-home dining experience with convenience. In addition, consumers are looking for meals with foraged, hyper-local ingredients with different flavours and blends such as mushrooms, nettles, blackberries, rose hips, seaweeds, truffles, etc.The global convenience foods market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR from 20142020. Some of the emerging markets may even experience a double-digit growth rate through the forecast period in significant categories.Large multinational corporations follow multiple strategies to develop and penetrate the market for convenience foods in different regions. However, providing products that match local consumer taste is of utmost importance. Pricing is another important factor for convenience foods, however nowadays, consumers are ready to pay a premium price if they get to buy quality convenience foods with health benefits. Some of the common strategies that companies have adopted in recent times are portion controlled packaging, in-store promotions, mergers & acquisitions and health claims in labels. There is a growing trend towards healthy convenience foods that are rich in proteins, functional fibres, vitamins, probiotics and omega-3 fatty acid. For this, many market leaders are integrating their operations by acquiring ingredient manufacturers to increase their technical know-how. Availability of customized food ingredients has become a boon for convenience food manufacturers as they can provide large varieties in each category.Some of the key companies manufacturing and distributing convenience foods are Amy's Kitchen, Inc., Cargill, Incorporated, ConAgra Foods, Inc., General Mills, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., Mondel?z International, Inc. and Kraft Foods Group Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-19 22:06:04 Dense Air to enable Neutral Host Small Cells for 4G and 5G Dense Air Acquires 2.6 GHz Spectrum Assets in New Zealand Media: Paul Senior (media@denseair.net) Tel: +44 1895 467100 Dense Air today announced it had completed the acquisition of the 2.5 GHz Spectrum Management Rights from Blue Reach and Cayman Wireless in New Zealand. The combined spectrum assets provide 70 MHz spectrum in the 2.5 GHz Band (3GPP Band 7 and Band 41). Dense Air is a new class of wholesale network operator, that enhances and extends the coverage and capacity of existing Mobile Networks and will operate as a Carrier of Carriers operator, typically on a neutral host basis. Dense Air uses a comprehensive portfolio of 4G and 5G small cells to offer services to Mobile Operators in licensed spectrum dedicated to small cells for densification/extension deployments. Dense Air provides operational support and technology platforms that enable targeted mass deployment of 4G and 5G small cells. The acquired spectrum assets in New Zealand enable Dense Air to start its operations almost immediately. Paul Senior, CEO of Dense Air said We are very excited about the opportunity to bring a completely new type of wholesale service to New Zealands network operators. Dense Airs service offering will complement existing 4G investments and planned 5G deployments. By adding neutral host 4G and 5G small cells, running in licensed spectrum to networks at cell edge, either outdoors or indoors we can dramatically improve the service experience to end users. Our solution increases speeds and network capacity. Importantly, Dense Air doesnt and wont compete in any way with existing retail service providers. Our mission is to help MNOs and MVNOs improve their business cases for pervasive 4G and 5G networks by densification. What is Dense Air? An optimised network densification and network extension service. Solution delivered using Indoor and Outdoor Small Cells Service operates in licensed, dedicated spectrum Dense Air Small Cells provide services on a Neutral Host basis We support 4G LTE and soon 5G NR networks Services are offered on a wholesale Carrier of Carriers basis We DO NOT compete with Mobile or Fixed Operators or other Retail Service Providers Our services are delivered in Urban, Suburban or Rural areas The focus is on mobile use cases, including enhanced Mobile Broadband, IoT, Public Safety About DENSE AIR: Dense Air is based in London, UK and has offices in Ireland, Belgium and Portugal; its target launch markets. Dense Air provides unique carrier of carriers neutral host small cell services to deliver cost effective densification to any existing LTE Mobile Carrier or Service Provider. Dense Air is conducting extensive trials and Proof-of-Concepts in 2018 and will offer commercial services in 2019, including in the recently acquired spectrum in New Zealand. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181119005 PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 21:44:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 429 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / (OTCQB: DIGAF) an OTC digital trade desk for institutions and financial technology "Fintech" company today announced the addition of Timothy G. Delaney as a Director. Mr. Delaney will advise management with new business development and provide due diligence on prospective new opportunities within the Financial Technology "Fintech" sector.Additional information will be provided as it materializes.ABOUT DIGATRADE:DIGATRADE is a global digital asset exchange for institutions and financial technology services company located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Company is owned and operated 100% by Digatrade Financial Corp which is publically listed on the OTC.QB under the trading symbol DIGAF. DIGAF is a reporting issuer in the Province of British Columbia, Canada with the British Columbia Securities Commission "BCSC" and in the United States with the Securities Exchange Commission "SEC". Digatrade operates as a registered Money Service Business "MSB" in Canada with FINTAC under Registration Number: M15954395.CORPORATE CONTACT INFORMATION:Digatrade Financial Corp.1500 West Georgia Street, 1300Vancouver, BC V6G-2Z6 CanadaTel: +1(604) 200-0071Fax: +1(604) 200-0072Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains certain "forward-looking information". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or development that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future constitute forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the possibility of unanticipated costs and expenses. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein.SOURCE: Digatrade Financial Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 18:47:23 Press Information CoreApps Tech 428-Jaipur Electronic Market Opp Ridhi Sidhi, Gopalpura Bypass Rd, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302018, India Vivek Jain Vivek Jain +918946955642 email https://www.abhinavrajasthan.com/ # 419 Words 428-Jaipur Electronic Market Opp Ridhi Sidhi, Gopalpura Bypass Rd, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302018, IndiaVivek Jain+918946955642 20th November 2018 - Abhinav Rajasthan provides an overview of the candidature for the Rajasthan election 2018. For all those who are supporting Abhinav Rajasthan for the upcoming elections, you are more than welcome to visit the Abhinav Rajasthan webpage. The website is aimed to make you a clearer image about the best candidature for the Rajasthan elections. If you are ready to explore the new person who can change your state into a better place, then you can definitely consider the many Abhinav Rajasthan advantages.The website of Abhinav Rajasthan is a very welcoming page, containing a lot of information and details related to the particular field of elections. For the purpose of making Rajasthan habitants life even easier, the Abhinav Rajasthan platform provides cool opportunities for you and inform all of them about the past events and opportunities about the elections. How to find out more about the Abhinav Rajasthan opportunities? You can access the Abhinav Rajasthan website and get the necessary details, see the election results or other related details about the Abhinav Rajasthan.Why should you be interested in the Abhinav Rajasthan platform? First of all, the website is surely official and provides just trusted info and details. You can easily consider everything written there, and explore what good stuff Abhinav Rajasthan made for the state. Yet another thing to mention, Abhinav Rajasthan comes with one more nice feature. You can see reports, photos and infos about the previous events and ceremonies, help that Abhinav managed to offer to the state. Last but not least, Abhinav Rajasthan can be the platform that could influence people int heir future choice. If you are ready to start analyzing the genuine information about the elections in Rajasthan, then welcome to the Abhinav Rajasthan page, where the limits are not put.About Abhinav Rajasthan:Abhinav Rajasthan is a platform that pictures all the activity of the candidature for the upcoming Abhinav Rajasthan elections 2018. If you are a Rajasthan citizen, then you could be interested in these services. Do not wait to see what interesting info the Abhinav Rajasthan website provides to you, and start developing your own idea about all the candidatures. You will never regret choosing the trustworthy platform of Abhinav Rajasthan. Get in touch with he latest news with the help of the official website Abhinav Rajasthan.Contact:Company: CoreApps TechContact Name: Vivek JainAddress: 428-Jaipur Electronic Market Opp Ridhi Sidhi, Gopalpura Bypass Rd, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302018, IndiaE-mail: vivek.jain9024@gmail.com Phone: +918946955642Website: https://www.abhinavrajasthan.com/ PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 08:01:01 BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tax authorities could do more to realise the full potential of new technology to reduce the tax compliance burdens on taxpayers, according to the 2019 edition of the annual Paying Taxes report, produced by PwC and The World Bank Group. The report, released today in Beijing, has found that the global average results for the compliance burden for business taxation are almost unchanged across four key measures: time to comply (237 hours); number of payments (23.8); Total Tax and Contribution Rate, or TTCR (40.4%) and Post-Filing index (59.6 out of 100). Paying Taxes 2019 draws upon a comparison of the taxation of business in 190 economies. The report models business taxation in each economy using a medium-sized domestic case study company. Paying Taxes 2019 illustrates how developments in tax software, real time reporting systems and data analytics are transforming the capabilities of tax administration. Some advanced economies have continued to improve their systems to the benefit of both taxpayers and tax authorities, recording significant decreases in the time it takes to prepare, file and pay taxes and in the number of payments indicator. Yet the report notes that the size of the gains in 2017 is relatively small in global terms. The fact that there has been little change to the global average, despite 113 economies introducing tax reforms over the same period, suggests reforms are limited in nature (the report does not include the US tax reforms introduced in 2018 due to data cut-off date for this edition of the Paying Taxes report). It also highlights that implementing new technologies for tax compliance can increase the administrative burden, at least in the short term, and that such implementation requires careful planning and consultation. China, for example, has pursued a sustained series of reforms in recent years including better communication between tax authorities and taxpayers, new online systems for filing and paying taxes, improved training for tax authorities and taxpayers and integration of different tax systems. While many economies have made considerable improvements in their tax systems in recent years, the findings also suggest that some economies are finding it difficult to implement online filing and payment due to the lack of IT infrastructure, cultural barriers and complex legislation. Overall, the findings of Paying Taxes 2019 support trends that have been present since the survey began in 2004: The average time to comply has fallen by 84 hours and the average number of payments by 10.3 since 2004 - both driven by technology In 2017, profit tax TTCR fell in 58 economies and increased in 37, conversely labour tax TTCR fell in 17 economies and increased in 39. This trend of more economies with reductions in the profit tax component of TTCRs and increases in the labour tax component of TTCRs has been seen every year since 2005 On average, a VAT refund takes 19.2 weeks in high income economies but over twice as long in low income ones (44 weeks). The report also explores the impact of differing levels of regulation and skills on the enforcement of tax through tax audits. Audits can vary hugely in their duration and complexity - taxpayers can spend up to 128 hours gathering information for an audit, though for many it takes only a few hours. Improving tax officers skills is vital if a well-functioning tax system is to be sustained. 97% of economies offer training to tax officers, but, only 35% of economies provide regular training. Paying Taxes also notes that governments will need to take account of how new technology affects the nature and patterns of employment and profit generation and the consequent impact on the income streams that are available to be taxed. Rita Ramalho from the World Bank Group said: Technology is transforming the nature of jobs that are available and the skills needed to do them. This in turn is likely to require greater investment in human capital, especially in learning and development. It is therefore vital that governments are able to understand the challenges ahead and how they can build resilience for public finances in the long term. We hope that this report will be of value to all those interested in making tax systems more efficient, whether in government, business, academia or civil society. Andrew Packman, leader for Tax Transparency and Total Tax Contribution at PwC said: This report highlights the extent to which, when implemented strategically, new technology can drive considerable efficiencies for tax authorities and businesses alike. Yet it is also important to remember that improvements to tax systems do not come from technology alone. Simple, coherent, well understood and properly administered tax systems can help to lower the barriers for businesses to move from the informal to the formal sector. This can broaden the tax base and raise revenue without requiring new taxes. To do so, tax professionals and policy-makers need to have access to the correct skills and insight, which technology gains can help to support. Notes to editors: Find the full report: at pwc.com/payingtaxes Follow us on twitter: @PwC About the World Bank Group The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It comprises five closely associated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Each institution plays a distinct role in the mission to fight poverty and improve living standards for people in the developing world. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org. About PwC At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. Were a network of firms in 158 countries with over 250,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services. Find out more and tell us what matters to you by visiting us at www.pwc.com. PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details. 2018 PwC. All rights reserved PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 14:32:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 439 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / StockNewsNow.com , The Official MicroCap News Source, today published an SNNLive Video Interview with Jennifer Bath, Ph.D., CEO and President of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. (TSX-V: IPA) (OTC PINK: IPATF), a full-service, therapeutic antibody discovery company focused on the next generation of antibody discovery, according to the company's website (see here: www.immunoprecise.com) . The video interview was recorded on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at the Smallcap Discoveries Conference 2018 in Vancouver, BC.Click the following link to watch the SNNLive Video Interview on StockNewsNow.com: ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. - Therapeutic Antibody Discovery Company Discusses Target Customer Base and Growth DriversYou can follow Stock News Now on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKEDIN, YOUTUBE, and STOCKTWITSPlease review important disclosures on our website at: http://stocknewsnow.com/legal.php#disclaimer About ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.ImmunoPrecise is a full-service, therapeutic antibody discovery company focused on the next generation of antibody discovery. ImmunoPrecise operates from state-of-the-art laboratory facilities located at the Vancouver Island Technology Park in Victoria, British Columbia, in collaboration with its wholly-owned subsidiary operations at U-Protein Express B.V., in the Life Science Incubator, Utrecht, and ModiQuest Research, Oss, both in the Netherlands. The Company operates globally to offer antibody services from target analysis to pre-clinical studies.The services offered to clients include antibody discovery against a broad spectrum of antigens, including challenging targets. Amongst these services, the Company offers hyridoma production, B-cell services, and a variety of phage display platforms. The Company also provides a broad range of supporting services including immunologically-based assays, recombinant protein manufacturing, humanization, optimization, stable cell line development, and advanced solutions to challenges faced by clients in antibody-related research and development. The antibodies produced by ImmunoPrecise target a wide variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications.For more information about ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd., please visit: www.immunoprecise.com About StockNewsNow.com StockNewsNow.com is a microcap financial news portal that features news and insights from the microcap and emerging growth financial community. StockNewsNow.com is a multimedia destination hub for information about microcap and emerging growth public and private companies, market events, news, bulletins, stock quotes, expert commentary and company profiles that feature SNN-produced video like SNNLive CEO video interviews, as well as their latest news and headlines. Users can engage directly and share the information provided through social media.Follow the companies YOU want to know more about; read and watch content from YOUR favorite microcap, emerging growth financial experts; register to attend financial conferences of YOUR choosing; find microcap and emerging growth financial professionals that YOU may be looking for - all here on StockNewsNow.com info@ stocknewsnow.com SOURCE: StockNewsNow.com PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 15:36:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 937 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 AmeriCann is Poised to Benefit from the Emergence of the Only Adult-Use Market in the Eastern United StatesDENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / AmeriCann, Inc. (OTCQB: ACAN), a cannabis company that is developing cultivation, processing and manufacturing facilities announces the commencement of Adult-Use sales in Massachusetts. Adults over 21 years of age now have a safe, legal market to purchase laboratory tested cannabis and cannabis products in Massachusetts.Industry experts believe that the Massachusetts adult-use market, in conjunction with its existing medical program, will exceed $1 billion annually generating hundreds of millions in taxes for the Commonwealth. Massachusetts has a population of 6.8 million people and over 47 million people live within a 4 hour drive of Boston, MA."AmeriCann identified the potential of Massachusetts and executed a plan to make a major impact in the Commonwealth several years ago," stated Tim Keogh. "The official launch of the Adult-Use program validates our efforts to secure nearly a million square feet of infrastructure to serve this market where demand may outstrip supply for the foreseeable future." AmeriCann has commenced construction on the Massachusetts Medical Cannabis Center (MMCC) on a 52-acre parcel located in Southeastern Massachusetts. The MMCC project is designed and approved for 987,000 sq. ft. of cannabis cultivation and processing infrastructure. The facilities will be developed in phases and will support both the existing medical cannabis and the newly emerging adult-use cannabis market. The Company also announced plans to build and operate an advanced large-scale processing and product manufacturing facility at the MMCC.AmeriCann, through a 100% owned subsidiary AmeriCann Brands, Inc., plans to provide extraction and product manufacturing support to the entire MMCC project, as well as to other licensed cannabis farmers throughout regulated markets. In addition to large-scale extraction of cannabis plant material, AmeriCann Brands plans to produce branded consumer packaged goods including cannabis beverages, vaporizer products, edible products, non-edible products and concentrates at the state-of-the-art facility.AmeriCann plans to replicate the brands, technology and innovations developed at its MMCC project to new markets as a multi-state licensed operator.Massachusetts Voters legalized marijuana by approving election ballot questions. Recreational marijuana was legalized in 2016 and medical marijuana in 2012. As the first approved adult-use cannabis market on the Eastern U.S., Massachusetts has the potential to become the epicenter for cannabis innovation and research.About Massachusetts Medical Cannabis CenterMassachusetts Medical Cannabis Center (MMCC), is a one million square foot sustainable greenhouse facility in Freetown, Mass which is being developed by AmeriCann. The first phase of the facility is scheduled to open and be ready for cannabis cultivation, processing, and infused product production in the spring of 2019. Once fully developed, the MMCC design calls for a research facility, a training center, corporate offices, a quality-assurance laboratory, and a facility for manufacturing cannabis-infused food, nutraceuticals and consumer packaged cannabis goods.AmeriCann, through a 100% owned subsidiary AmeriCann Brands, Inc., plans to provide extraction and product manufacturing support to the entire MMCC project, as well as to other licensed cannabis farmers throughout regulated markets. In addition to large-scale extraction of cannabis plant material, AmeriCann Brands has applied for a license to produce branded consumer packaged goods including cannabis beverages, vaporizer products, edible products, non-edible products and concentrates at the state-of-the-art facility.AmeriCann intends to open similar facilities in states in which cannabis is legal for medical and adult use.About AmeriCannAmeriCann (OTCQB: ACAN) is a publicly traded cannabis company that is developing a new generation of sustainable, state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation and processing properties.AmeriCann uses greenhouse technology which is superior to the current industry standard of growing cannabis in warehouse facilities under artificial lights. According to industry experts, by capturing natural sunlight, greenhouses use 25 percent fewer light bulbs, and utility bills are up to 75 percent less than in typical warehouse cultivation facilities. As such, AmeriCann's Cannopy System enables cannabis to be produced with a greatly reduced carbon footprint, making the final product less expensive. Additionally, greenhouse construction costs are nearly half of warehouse construction costs.The first publicly traded Certified B Corp in the cannabis industry, AmeriCann has proven its commitment to sustainable, clean cultivation of medical cannabis and to social and environmental ethics, transparency and accountability.More information about the Company is available at: www.americann.co , or follow AmeriCann on Twitter @ACANinfo.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act") (which Sections were adopted as part of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "prospects," "outlook," and similar words or expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may," and "could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated results, performance or achievements. The Company disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, a future event, or otherwise. For additional uncertainties that could impact the Company's forward-looking statements, please see the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, which the Company recently filed with the SEC and which may be viewed at www.sec.gov Contact Information:Corporate:AmeriCann, Inc.15 PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 14:08:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 715 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Starlifter Lithium Forklift Batteries Now in Successful Operation at Numerous Leading Corporations Across North AmericaWOODRIDGE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / Navitas Systems LLC ( www.navitassys.com) , a leading provider of lithium energy storage products for commercial, industrial and government customers, announced today that it has seen almost 200% year over year growth in overall company revenues, including having achieved more than US $10 million in bookings for its Starlifter line of lithium-ion forklift batteries so far in 2018.Starlifter deployments are found in some of the top Fortune 500 firms such as at consumer packaged goods leader Proctor & Gamble, and span major industries such as food manufacturing/distribution, third-party logistics (3PL), beverage, government, and automotive industries."We're very pleased to see the increased momentum in Starlifter installations at some of the most well-known corporations in North America," said Alan ElShafei, Chairman and Founder of Navitas Systems. Most recently, the company has received an initial order of 150 Starlifter lithium batteries from one of the world's largest manufacturers of heavy duty vehicles. This order is believed to be the single largest order of lithium forklift batteries in the Western Hemisphere. "These sales results demonstrate our position as the leading battery supplier in the North American lithium battery material handling segment with our UL-Recognized line of Starlifter batteries," ElShafei concluded.There are a variety of recent deployment examples showing the wide breadth of applicability for Starlifter. One example is found at Legacy Supply Chain Services, a major third-Party Logistics ("3PL") company, where Starlifter lithium batteries power almost 30 forklifts in an intensive 24x7 cross-dock application in two of their distribution centers. "The new technology has been an instant hit with our staff. The Starlifter batteries have increased efficiencies, driving true cost out to which we are able to pass along to our customer," said Jeremy Rathjen, Regional Operations Manager for Legacy. "The lifting performance from the beginning of the shift to the end of the shift is stronger and consistent with Starlifter," concluded Rathjen.Another example which illustrates the new trend for deploying Starlifters over lead acid in newly-built facilities is a major consumer appliance manufacturer who decided that they did not want to spend the typical upfront investment for lead acid battery change equipment. They chose an all-lithium fleet of 20 Starlifters to power their clamp lift trucks at their new appliance distribution facility in Northern California. Since Starlifters have a unique ability to charge at the highest rate in the battery industry--500 amps--lift truck operators there enjoy the quick return of capacity when charged during breaks as well as the consistent strong lifting performance powered by Starlifter.And finally, an example of a current transition of a fleet of lift trucks from lead acid to Starlifter lithium is found at a major North American manufacturer of corrugated packaging materials. Close to 100 Starlifters are in place at 52 company locations this year. All told, over 500 trucks are planned to be converted to Starlifter power as the remaining lead acid batteries come off of their lease cycles."Based on recently introducing five new Starlifter product models, and the successful trials and initial deployments at several major corporations, Starlifter is positioned for dramatic scale-up of sales. Customers can be quite confident that we can scale with their demand" said Kevin Hykin, Navitas Systems President and Chief Operating Officer.About Navitas Systems, LLCNavitas Systems is a US leader in integrated design, technology development and manufacturing of innovative, energy-efficient system solutions and energy storage products. Navitas Systems' product portfolio ranges from customer-specific energy storage solutions to integrated energy systems for renewable energy and lithium-ion standard batteries as a replacement for conventional lead-acid batteries. Navitas Systems is headquartered in Woodridge, Illinois. This company acquired a division of the lithium-ion battery manufacturer A123 Systems in 2012, and it has a 50,000 square-feet research, development and manufacturing center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. More information on Navitas Systems is available at www.navitassys.com For more information on how to partner with Navitas Systems please contact Monica Futrell via email at mfutrell@ navitassys.com or call her at 630-755-7925. For more information on Navitas Systems please visit www.navitassys.com . Follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/navitas-systems-llc Contact: Monica Futrell(630) 755-7925mfutrell@ navitassys.com SOURCE: Navitas Systems LLC PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 05:30:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 558 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - In July, 2018 during the TechCrunch TC Sessions hosted in Zug, Switzerland the masterminds behind EthereumVitalik Buterin, Justin Drake and Karl Floersch revealed a new roadmap for their platform, marked with major system improvements and greater technical scalability. Ethereum, which offers the cryptocurrency known as Ether, has been widely regarded as the most significant advancement in blockchain technology since the advent of Bitcoin. PabloSoria de Lachica, an internationally acclaimed trade expert, talks about the forecast impact of planned improvements and how these changes will shape the future of blockchain technologies.Prior to discussing the implications of Ethereum 2.0, PabloSoria de Lachica marks the importance of understanding the previous iteration of the platform as a decentralized system engineered to run smart contractsbespoke applications that operate as programmed without any possibility of downtime, fraud, censorship or third-party interference. It is a purpose-built blockchain underpinned by revolutionary infrastructure, with immense potential to establish a new global economic system and catalyst for collaboration. Since its launch in 2015 Ethereum has enjoyed tremendous market performance, reaching its peak in 2017 when its value token (Ether) grew over 13,000% with a valuation of $131.5 billion, second only to Bitcoin in total value. Despite its spectacular success, a variety of issues related to network scaling and sharding technology have hindered its prospective growth.In an ambitious plan to address scalability challenges, Ethereum is working with a coalition of developers from Prysmatic Labs to support greater volume of on-chain transactions while balancing decentralization and security. The strategy revolves around a sharding client called Ethereum Casper, a long-planned consensus algorithm proof-of-stake. As revealed by Rocket Pool SeniorBlockchain Developer Darren Langleywithin thenew and improved Ethereum 2.0 system, shards will only be responsible for transaction ordering and data storage while an overlaid execution process will interpret transactions, execute code and write back results. It is expected that the platform will unify the Casper and sharding projects to enable the activation of both upgrades simultaneously. If implemented successfully, the new advancements will allow the system to process high-volume smart contract protocols with much greater efficiency and to update the base layer only when transactions are complete. This will mark the start of a new era of faster and more efficient blockchain technologies conceived via a massive open source project and evolved by a sterling community of researchers and developers.Pablo Soria de Lachica is a prominent international trade expert, broker and philanthropist. He graduated from the Universidad Tecnologico de Mexico (UNITEC), receiving a Masters degree in Business Administration and soon after launched his successful career in global trading strategy, tailored investments and market analyses. He is a collaborator at Kartoshkaa pioneer of sales, telemarketing, and customer support technologies worldwide. Soria de Lachica is also an author of instructional textsdelivering guidance and expertise on basic and advanced investment techniques and principles. As a notable philanthropist, he has made generous contributions to various organizations including the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and Bridges for Peace.Pablo Soria de Lachica - Foreign Exchange Specialist: http://PabloSoriaDeLachicaNews.com Pablo Soria de Lachica Discusses Emerging Interest In Ethereum Futures: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pablo-soria-lachica-discusses-emerging-032000128.html Pablo Soria de Lachica Explica la Diferencia Entre Ethereum y Ethereum Classic: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4010565 Contact Information:contact@ pablosoriadelachicanews.com PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 14:09:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 833 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / 92 Resources Corp. (the "Company") (TSX-V: NTY) (OTCQB: RGDCF) (FSE: R9G2) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Silver Sands Vanadium project (the "Project"), located in the Pine Pass area of eastern British Columbia.Adrian Lamoureux, CEO of 92 Resources, stated, "The vanadium spot price is currently nearing its all-time high since 2005 and has been on the steady climb gaining more than 550% since September 2016. The vanadium prices are expected to continue as the long term demand increases due to the commercialization of vanadium-redox flow batteries, we felt it appropriate to evaluate and acquire a high-quality vanadium project. The Silver Sands Vanadium project offers an opportunity to discover black shale hosted vanadium mineralization at a location with excellent access within a mining friendly jurisdiction." The Silver Sands Vanadium Project covers 3735 hectares directly east of the Pine Pass Vanadium Project held by Ethos Gold Corp., which is located about 200 km north of Prince George, British Columbia. The Silver Sands Vanadium project contains the same geological formations prospective for vanadium mineralization that is known within the region. The Project is within close proximity to the well-established infrastructure corridor of Pine Pass, which includes the Highway 97, Canadian National Railway and high-voltage powerlines and natural gas pipelines.(To view the full-size image, please click here)At the Pine Pass Vanadium Property of Ethos Gold Corp. (Nov. 1, 2018 News Release) significant vanadium content of phosphatic black shales of the Toad Formation has been reported, including 0.48% V2O5 across 130 m width. The vanadium horizon has been documented to outcrop semi-continuously for over an approximate 20 km strike length. The relatively thick (stratigraphically) nature of this mineralization, and the long strike length (several kilometres) of the outcropping beds imply good potential for large tonnages.The rock types at the Silver Sands Vanadium Project are interpreted as an adjacent thrust sheet, of analogous or identical lithologies to those at the Pine Pass Vanadium Project. The Project contains regionally mapped early Triassic-aged Spray River Group rocks (containing the Toad River and Grayling Formations), which have been known to host vanadium-bearing horizons associated with phosphatic shales. Specifically, the project is host to the Lemoray phosphate prospect, a phosphatic horizon which has been historically noted in the academic literature, but its relation to vanadium mineralization has not yet been tested.Following the acquisition of the Project, President & CEO Adrian Lamoureux stated, "Acquiring the Silver Sands Vanadium Project is aligned with 92 Resources strategic corporate plan. With a focus on future energy metals such as lithium and frac sand, we have now positioned the company with a key vanadium asset in a mine friendly jurisdiction. We will now evaluate and put together our winter exploration plans that should contain our Phase 1 drill program at the Corvette-FCI lithium project in Quebec. We were recently successful in brokering an option agreement with Osisko Mining to expand the project to over 10,000 hectares and have already evaluated and defined some key areas that warrant diamond drilling as sampling programs returned high-grade lithium spodumene-bearing pegmatites." Pursuant to the agreement, the Company shall acquire a 100% interest in the Project by paying staking costs of $15,000. The vendor shall retain a 2% Net Smelter Return on the Property.About 92 Resources Corp.92 Resources Corp is a modern energy solution company, focused on acquiring and advancing strategic and prospective modern energy related projects. The Company currently holds four principal assets in Canada: the Corvette and Pontax lithium properties in Quebec, the Golden Frac Sand Property, BC, and the Hidden Lake Lithium Property, NWT, currently under option to Far Resources Ltd.Management cautions that past results or discoveries on adjacent properties may not necessarily be indicative to the presence of mineralization on the Companys properties.NI 43-101 DisclosureNeil McCallum, B.Sc., P. Geol., of Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.For further information, please contact Adrian Lamoureux, President & CEO at Tel: 778-945-2950, E-mail: adrian@92 resources.com or visit www.92resources.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors,"ADRIAN LAMOUREUX"Adrian Lamoureux, President & CEONeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.Forward Looking Statements:Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Companys future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.SOURCE: 92 Resources Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 16:02:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 547 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / Taulia has announced that it is expanding its global presence with the appointment of Jamie Whiteway as its Head of APAC, starting on 1st January 2019. Whiteway will be responsible for leading a new team based in Sydney, Australia, as Taulia establishes its first physical office in the region.Jamie WhitewayThe network of this market-leading supply chain and working capital solutions provider already serves a number of customers across APAC, including Telstra and Rio Tinto in Australia. In addition, many of Taulia's global customers already work with Taulia to collaborate with their suppliers across the region, including the likes of Bacardi, Vodafone Group, AstraZeneca and many other Global 2000 companies.''We have taken the decision to begin our planned investment in Asia by establishing a physical footprint in Australia,'' commented Whiteway. ''This is the perfect time for us to be expanding in a new territory and region that is not only growing economically at such a rapid pace but also leading the world in adopting new game-changing fintech technology.'' Whiteway, who is Australian and began his career in the region, joined Taulia as European Sales Director in 2016. In this role, he has overseen excellent growth in the UK&I region for Taulia, including signing the largest deal in Taulia's history in 2018, a 30 million contract with the UK Government to deliver Early Payment Solutions to Government suppliers. Prior to joining Taulia, Whiteway worked in the UK banking sector at HSBC and Barclays after moving to London in 2011. He is a Chartered Accountant and previously worked at McGrathNicol, KPMG, and Westpac in Australia.''I'm looking forward to coming home and sharing what I've learnt in Europe over the past seven years,'' said Whiteway, ''I know there is a renewed push by Australian business leaders to provide capital-starved small businesses better access to finance from new sources, and through utilising cutting-edge technology, including Artificial Intelligence, Taulia is the best in the world at this.'' Taulia already has a global team of over 230 professionals solely dedicated to revolutionising financial supply chains, and Whiteway intends to grow from this base ''I plan to expand the team quickly in 2019 and will look to bring with me both experienced people from Taulia, as well as recruiting local professionals who can bring new knowledge to Taulia, which I'm very excited about.'' Cedric Bru, Taulia's CEO, said: ''Jamie is the ideal person to lead our new APAC team as we build upon our recent success in the region. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, and has extensive experience in helping Taulia's customers optimise their financial processes and working capital.'' Note to editors:Taulia delivers working capital solutions that make it easy for businesses to free up cash, accelerate payments and improve supply chain health.Since its foundation in 2009, Taulia has envisioned a world where every business can thrive by liberating cash using our state of the art platform. Today our team of financial game changers have built a network connecting 1.6 million businesses across 168 countries and has accelerated more than $90 billion in early payments.Taulia is headquartered in San Francisco with locations across the United States, the UK, and Europe.For further details, please contact Juhie Kapoor at juhie.kapoor@taulia.com SOURCE: Taulia PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-20 09:06:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 638 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2018 / Weekend Unlimited Inc. ("Weekend" or the "Company") (CSE: YOLO - FSE: 0OS1) announces that it has entered into an arms-length agreement which provides Weekend the option to acquire 49% of a retail cannabis store located in Nisku, Alberta."Northern Lights Supply is situated in Nisku, Alberta, at the intersection to Canada's largest oilfield industrial park, along Alberta's busiest corridor, Highway 2 and opposite the Edmonton International Airport," explained Mr. Cody Corrubia, President and CEO of Weekend Unlimited.The parties have entered into a convertible secured 6% interest loan facility on November 15, 2018 for up to $1,200,000, of which the Company will initially advance $500,000. At any time during the term ending December 31, 2022, the Company has the option to convert the full amount of its $1,200,000 loan facility into 49% equity of the retail store. The option may only be exercised once Weekend has received approval from the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission after going through required due-diligence.With 6,500 square feet of retail space, it is one of the largest approved retail cannabis stores in Alberta. The store was designed to take advantage of the upcoming edible and infused cannabis products schedule to be legal in the fall of 2019. Opening is planned for early December 2018."We look forward to working with the team at Weekend Unlimited in growing our brand in Alberta. Their experience will be invaluable in recognizing the numerous opportunities in this new and emerging industry." stated Northern Lights Supply President Mr. Derek Shields.For further information, please contact:Mr. Cody Corrubia, President and CEOTelephone: 1 (236) 317-2812 - Toll free 1(888) 556-YOLO (9656)E-mail: IR@ weekendunlimited.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward Looking StatementsCertain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.SOURCE: Weekend Unlimited Inc. The Yobe State Government on Monday said it will remain committed to ensuring the success of routine immunisation in the state. The state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, stated this in a tripartite assessment teleconference between the state government, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Dangote Foundation. He said that the improvement in security had provided opportunity to reach more women and children for coverage in remote areas. I want to assure the Bill and Melinda Gates and Dangote foundations that we will not relent in consolidating the gains recorded, he said. He solicited for expansion of support from the two partners to sustain the coverage of the state, including hard to reach areas where the communities resettled. Bill Gates, co-chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, commended the Yobe government for showing commitment and resilience to making solid progress in immunisation coverage in Nigeria. Mr Gates urged the government to maintain the tempo as the country prepared to go for new round of immunisation. Aliko Dangote, the chairman, Dangote Foundation, who was represented by Zuwaira Yusuf, the managing director of the foundation, expressed delight with the successes recorded by the tripartite agreement, saying that there is success in teamwork. (NAN) The federal government has reiterated its commitment to tackling Noma disease and has given hope to children born with the disease in the country. Noma is a gangrenous and disfiguring infection that eats away the facial tissue leading to pain, discomfort and discrimination. Despite being preventable and treatable, a large number of noma patients die due of low awareness and lack of access to healthcare. The permanent secretary of the ministry of health, Abdulaziz Abdullahi, at the second edition of the National Noma day in Abuja on Monday stressed the governments readiness towards tackling Noma in the country. Mr Abdullahi, while urging state governments to implement new ways of reducing the disease, said the federal government is also intensifying efforts to eradicating Noma disease in rural communities. He said the government is also engaging in more awareness and sensitisation campaign that will educate the citizens. Good nutrition,both in terms of quality and quantity, helps in curtailing the disease. Poor nutrition and bad eating habits are risk factors of the disease. Treatment of bleeding of gums will also curtail the sickness He harped on the need for more synergy in tackling the huge health and social challenge in developing countries. We will collaborate with West Africa Health organisation (WAHO) in ensuring that the risk of developing the disease is reduced drastically. The WHO officer in charge of Nigeria, who was represented by Rex Mpawanzage, noted that the agencys strategy is based on early detection and immediate care and treatment of patients. He noted that without treatment, the patients will die, and the few survival will have facial distortion and absolute stigma. We are creating referral centres for patients after detection, and giving them the necessary support to correct the ailment. We are promoting control programs where the disease is prevalent. The Nigeria Head of Mission Medecins Sans Frontieres-Holland, Phillip Aruna, also reiterated the need to improve on surveillance of the disease at the community level. He said the organisation in collaboration, with the ministry of health, has been running a programme dedicated to the treatment of noma in Sokoto Childrens Hospital. Mr Aruna said the programme focuses on community outreach, active case finding in the region, health promotion, psychosocial and nutritional support (for the patient and their families), health care and physiotherapy. Patients come from all over Nigeria for treatment, with the big majority from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States. Four times per year, MSF sends high-profile plastic and maxillofacial surgeons, nurses and anaesthesiologists to work together with Nigerian specialists on performing reconstructive surgeries on noma patients, he said. Noma is one of the tropical neglected diseases. It mostly affects vulnerable children in the poorest and most remote communities. The development of noma is associated with malnutrition, often in combination with other infections such as measles and malaria, poor sanitation, poor oral health and limited access to health care. Noma is a disease that affects the poor; hence we need collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to reduce the burden. It normally affects children within the age range of two to six years, Mr Aruna said. Bola Alonge, head of dentistry division, federal ministry of health, says the ministry is yet to gather accurate data on Noma disease, with predominance in North-West and North-East. Ms Alonge made this known at the Second Edition of National Noma Day with the theme Tackling Noma: The Way Forward Detect Early and Act Quickly, in Abuja. She said although mapping was already going on, as regards the disease, it would take much time and a lot of money to have the actual statistics because of the large size of Nigeria. We do not have current statistics on Noma but we are working towards that. We only have statistics from the hospitals, like Noma Hospital in Sokoto, who have been seeing quite (a) number of Noma cases. The statistics was done in some few places and we have started reaching out to some communities and we hope to do more, she said. Ms Alonge said Noma was associated with poverty because it was associated with diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, malnutrition and reduced immunity of the child due to inadequate immunisation. She added that it was also associated with poor oral hygiene and nutrition due to inadequate breast feeding. It usually occurs in children below the age of six and it is about 90 per cent fatal. It develops very quickly and kills a victim within two weeks. The hospitals attend to survivors of Noma who have already disfigured faces. Noma eats up the face, the gum of the teeth, nose and sometimes the nose below the eyes. According to her, Noma starts with a legion in a mouth, little ulcer and very fetid foul smell. She urged parents and care givers to take children who present these characteristics to the nearest hospital, saying that the ailment is very easy to prevent with good oral hygiene, flagyl and other antibiotics. She noted that the ailment was virtually everywhere in the country but more predominant in the North-West and North-East of Nigeria. Gloria Uzoigwe, the national Noma desk officer, federal ministry of health, also said there was no data on Noma in the country. She added that government, with the support of partners just did a mapping to ascertain the areas where the ailment was high and the result has not come out. The official said the preliminary result from the consultant engaged by the ministry showed that the ailment was very high in the North-West and North-East regions. According to her, Noma is predominantly high in the North East due to insurgency and lack of good nutrition. She said the ailment was not contagious, but added that other ailments such as hepatitis, malaria and some child killer diseases could aggravate the disease. She said proper oral hygiene and antibiotics could prevent the disease. Ms Uzoigwe said the ministry, in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) has started the National Noma Control Programme aimed at raising awareness on the disease and train health workers on the disease. We are also collaborating with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) who are more into disease surveillance to detect and record new cases of Noma, she said. She noted that the Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders) brings doctors from abroad, visit hinterland in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and other states to search for Noma victims. She added that the organisation (Medicines Sans Frontiers) brought the patients to Noma hospital, operate on them, and counselled them and their relatives free of charge. Adolph Fotso, the medical coordinator, Medicines Sans Frontiers, said the organisation supported the dentistry division of the federal ministry of health to organise the programme towards raising awareness on Noma. We are supporting Noma Children Hospital in Sokoto. Our activities (are) not limited to the hospital but also in the outreach, he said. He said those who are coming to the hospital are at the late stage of Noma, hence the organisation wants to put more efforts on early detection. He said the organisation has been in Sokoto since 2014 and has seen over 200 Noma patients in the state. Health experts have decried the failure of the Nigerian government to release the one per cent of consolidated revenue appropriated in the 2018 Budget for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). The fund is a basic provision under the National Health Act but was only appropriated this year for the first time since the Act was signed in 2014. Senior Technical Advisor for Development Research and Project Center (dRPC)-PAS, Emmanuel Abanida, on Monday said the fund is yet to be released, even as the year draws to a close. Mr Abanida spoke in Abuja at an event organised by DFID Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (DFID-PERL). The event, Strategy Session on Social and Conventional Media Advocacy/Campaign for Implementation of BHCPF of the National Health Act , was held to enlighten Nigerians on the BHCPF and the importance of releasing the fund. The National Assembly provided N55 billion in the 2018 budget for the fund. Mr Abanida said failure to release the money was having a negative effect on health care delivery in the country, especially in the rural areas as it could have been handy in the revitalisation of primary health care centres. The fund is also envisaged to help reduce out of pocket spending on health care through the National Health Insurance Scheme. We are about 45 days to the end of 2018, if we do not get this money, obviously, when they are doing the 2019 budget they will put zero application to 2018, he said. He lamented that because the year is already running to an end, whatever is released now would be mopped up by December otherwise it must be returned to the government treasury. This implies that nothing tangible has been achieved through the budget, he said. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the third THISDAY Health policy Dialogue in August, had said government would start releasing the BHCPF that month. According to THISDAY, Mr Osinbajo said with the funds, Nigerian children would no longer suffer from preventable diseases, maternal mortality would be put under control and parents engaged on effective family planning. The initiative will also help Nigeria achieve universal health coverage and help the country drive institutional process on primary healthcare, THISDAY quoted him as declaring at the event. Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Lanre Tejuosho was also quoted as speaking in the same vein at the event. The one per cent had already been included in the 2018 budget for the sector law makers would push for its full release. The one per cent is crucial to Nigeria than even the capital budget allocation for the health sector, because they capital budget might not be released in totality, but this one per cent, once it is in the budget, must be released just like the two per cent released to the education sector, the senator said. But three months after those remarks, the fund is yet to be released. In 2018 we are talking of about N 55 billion and people have given reasons why it is not forthcoming, like the discordance among the three health agencies to utilise the fund when disbursed,. Mr Abanida said on Monday. If we see health as a topmost priority, then they should start getting their money. We cannot continue running from Geneva to London, London to Paris looking for money whereas we need to tack basic care of our people. I believe that the political will to make sure that it happens is not strong because if it is strong, it will certainly come. Health in Nigeria is not a priority. We prioritise security, power food security but you need to be healthy to be able to provide food. It is when you are healthy that you can solve security problem and the HDI will certainly improve, he said. He tasked the media to create a mass movement that would put pressure on government to release the money. A medical consultant, Dale Ogunbayo, told PREMIUM TIMES that though the fund is just one aspect of the NHA, it is the most important as it is the vehicle that drives the Act. Mr Ogunbayo blamed a battle for supremacy between the federal Ministry of Health and heads of health parastatals for the unavailability of the money. The fund is yet to be released because of the weak political will of the government and the unspoken inter-agency rivalry between the federal ministry of health, NPHCDA, and NHIS. This tussle is denying poor Nigerians the benefit of the implementation of the NHA. That tussle needs to be resolved by strong political hand. There is a need to know who is in charge of the health sector and who the agencies should reported to. Is it the minister or the presidency? At least the release of the financial part of the Act will make Nigerians know that NHA has started functioning fully. Mr Ogunbayo said until President Muhammadu Buhari addresses the issue, problems will continue to arise in the health sector. The agencies to oversee disbursement and utilisation of the BHCPF are the Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, on Tuesday described the 8th Senate as the worst he had seen in terms of attendance at plenary. Speaking as special guest on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, Mr Ndume blamed the situation on bad leadership in the upper legislative chamber. Legislative activities in the National Assembly have been at a low ebb since the different political parties held their primaries in October. This is so, according to political watchers, because many of the lawmakers failed to secure their parties tickets either for re-election or for other public offices. Since resumption from the extended annual recess on October 9, the Senate has adjourned plenary twice: first for two weeks on October 24 to pave way for oversight duties. On November 13, the senators adjourned plenary for one week after failing to form quorum, a situation they blamed on continuation of oversight duties by most of the absentees. The tempo is expected to take a further dip with the commencement of the campaigns ahead of the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections billed for February. However, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, assured Nigerians on Monday that the campaigns would not affect the passage of bills and other legislative duties in the Assembly. In a statement his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, in Abuja, Mr Saraki said the lawmakers were concerned and would through on the key bills. Mr Ndume said although it was normal for attendance to drop during election periods, it had never been that bad since he joined the National Assembly as a House of Representatives member in 2003. The 8th Senate is the worst I have seen in terms of attendance, and it is because of the bad leadership of Saraki. This is the first time we had to adjourn the Senate for lack of quorum. Since I came to the National Assembly, two terms in the House of Representatives, and two terms now in the Senate, it had never been like this. So, I was shocked that day (November 13). I came a bit late, and when I entered the chambers, I was told we had adjourned because there was no quorum, and that only 14 people or thereabout turned up. Its just terrible, lamented the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, who is seeking a third term in the Senate. (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is intimidating its members across its controlled states. The national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, made this known while speaking to journalists at the party secretariat Monday night. This allegation is coming a few hours after the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Monday sacked four more lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC. The affected lawmakers are Nse Ntuen, who represented Essien Udim State Constituency; Otobong Ndem, Mkpat Enin State Constituency; Victor Udofia, Ikono State Constituency; Gabriel Toby, Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency. The national chairman described this development as disturbing. (There is) a very disturbing development in a couple of states where the PDP is misusing the state instrument using the police to undermine the basic democratic rights of APC members in those states where they have governors. A typical example is what has happened today in Akwa Ibom State where the commissioner of police, colluded with the governor to forcefully (remove) APC members out of the state house of assembly. The commissioner went beyond (his line) of duty to aid and abate what is clearly wrong. It is not the business of the police to assist political authorities to effect their own biases with regards to the composure of the house. The chairman believes the police had no part to play in the issue, noting that the judiciary is there for such purposes. I think we do have a judiciary. We have law and order and the responsibility of the police is to obey court order, not to go beyond it. If a governor wants extra legal assistance from the police, the commissioner is not supposed to oblige, but that is what has happened in Akwa Ibom State. Other things he said the party is experiencing is the alleged attack, assassination and intimidation of its members, which he does not see as normal. The state chairman of APC in Enugu State narrowly escaped assassination. In Rivers State, two members of the house of assembly were abducted and one of those APC leaders kidnapped. His dead body had just been found. We do not believe these are normal crimes, although no crime can be said to be normal. We are beginning to wonder, the way (in) which our party leaders, particularly in states (where) we do not have governors the way they come under sustained attacks, violence, bullying and assassination for me, these are very dangerous signals. The chairman therefore noted that the NWC has resolved to appeal to all those who are involved in this political process that they must respect the right of every Nigerian to belong to a party of his choice. Somehow, the opposition party has been the loudest in pointing at what they call crisis within (the) APC and I find it very exciting that the opposition is loudest in saying I should resign as chairman of my party. When armed robbers are demanding the resignation of an Inspector General of Police, then you know you need to keep that commissioner in office but when armed robbers are celebrating the appointment of a commissioner or demanding that he retains his office, you better go and look at who that commissioner is, or IGP, he said. I believe that (the) APC will win the election and all those decampees who decamped because they wanted to be president, they will find out that while they were gunning to (kill) an elephant, their own people didnt think that they deserved an antelope and they will punish them with their PVCs. The party therefore said it expects that the government would investigate it, (the Akwa Ibom National Assembly crisis) and the police commissioner would be brought to justice. Former President Goodluck Jonathan has railed against the conduct of Barack Obama, describing the former U.S. president as overbearing and condescending in his message to Nigerians ahead of the 2015 general elections. Mr Jonathan said Mr Obama displayed an unusual level of bias during the 2015 elections, issuing a video appeal to Nigerians which all but advised them on which candidate to give their mandate. On March 23, 2015, President Obama himself took the unusual step of releasing a video message directly to Nigerians all but telling them how to vote, Mr Jonathan said in his new book, My Transition Hours, which launches Tuesday. In that video, Obama urged Nigerians to open the next chapter by their votes. Those who understood subliminal language deciphered that he was prodding the electorate to vote for the opposition to form a new government. PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the book hours before its unveiling in Abuja on Tuesday. Mr Jonathan had strictly kept the book secret in order to avoid excerpts of it being published ahead of its formal launch. Mr Jonathan lost the 2015 elections to now-President Muhammadu Buhari, marking the first time an incumbent president would lose reelection. He assumed office in 2010 following the death of President Umaru YarAdua, getting his own mandate of four years at the 2011 presidential election. The days leading to the 2015 election were crucial for both Mr Jonathan and his cabinet officials. Only two weeks ahead, the election was postponed to March 28 from its initial date in February. The six-week postponement drew outrage from within and outside the country, and Mr Jonathans opponents accused him of plots to perpetuate himself in office. But the former president said he was not the only one responsible for the polls shift, saying other former leaders were all part of the decision, which was informed by the security exigencies at the time. The message was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them, Mr Jonathan said of the video message. He lampooned Mr Obama, who was American president from 2009 until 2017, for saying all Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear, but was reluctant to allow the Nigerian security forces drive Boko Haram insurgents away from the Nigerian territories they had been occupying in order to free Nigerian citizens there ahead of elections. Mr Jonathan also took a harsh aim at former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, saying the top diplomat was nonchalant in his attitude towards his government, despite all efforts to make him understand that the decision to postpone election was in the overall interest of Nigeria. How can the U.S. Secretary of State know what is more important for Nigeria than Nigerias own government? How could they have expected us to conduct elections when Boko Haram controlled part of the North East and were killing and maiming Nigerians? Not even the assurance of the sanctity of May 29, 2015 handover date could calm them down. In Nigeria, the Constitution is very clear: No President can extend his tenure by one day, Mr Jonathan said. The U.S. Embassy in Abuja could not be reached for comments. It is a public holiday in Nigeria. A humiliating call Mr Jonathan did not say what he did to offend the Western powers, but he painted a dreadful image of their attitude towards him in the waning days of his government. The foreign pressure on the issue of election rescheduling was intense. They maintained the curious posture of one who had been deceived before and therefore had every reason to cede no credence to our position. But there was no reason for such posture. The United States and the United Kingdom were especially agitated. David Cameron, then the U.K. Prime Minister, called to express his concern about the election rescheduling, just as John Kerry came from the United States to express further worry. It was at best unusual and sobering. In fact, John Kerry did not accept our reasons for the rescheduling. It was unbelievable because at the back of our minds we knew why the agitation was beyond what meets the eyes. There were deeper political interests. In attendance at the meeting of the Council of State were the decision to reschedule the election was taken were almost all the living former Heads of State in this country. That should have convinced John Kerry of the good intentions of the government. He cannot claim to love and defend Nigeria more than all our former heads of state present at the meeting. I have stated earlier how Kerrys visit was designed to humiliate a sitting Nigerian president and clearly take sides in the countrys election. Anyhow, the six weeks served us well. We received the military equipment we were expecting within that period and our Armed Forces commendable dealt a deserving blow on the terrorists and repossessed all territorial areas of Nigeria previously occupied by the terrorists. Boko Haram was deflated up to the point I handed over to my successor on May 29, 2015, Mr Jonathan said. The conscientious employee acted quickly, taking the cash to his manager, who then reviewed surveillance footage from the drive-thru donation area to figure out who donated the hatbox. Once that was determined, store officials contacted local police, who assisted by using the license plate information on the donors car to track down the family and reunite them with the money. Rampaging Boko Haram insurgents overran a Nigerian Army battalion in Borno State on Sunday, killing the units commander and dozens of soldiers, military sources have told PREMIUM TIMES. A large cache of arms, ammunition and military equipment were carted away by Boko Haram fighters during the attack on 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, Abadam Local Government Area, at about 6:00 p.m., a setback for government forces trying to push terrorists further out of Nigerias northeastern flank. There were fears for the fate of the troops from the base, which was raided only a month ago, as military sources said the Nigerian Army was making frantic efforts to contain the traumatic effect of the attack on the larger counterinsurgency operation. Bodies of fallen troops were still being recovered and evacuated from the scene as of Tuesday morning, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. But dozens of soldiers from the battalion have already been confirmed killed, amongst them their commander. Military sources were unable to tell the number of Boko Haram casualties. Military sources said the fallen commander was a lieutenant colonel, who had overseen the unit for a long time. He once allegedly refused to mobilise troops for an operation, citing unavailability of serviceable hardware, but faced threats of being court-martialed, sources said. PREMIUM TIMES has decided to withhold the identity of the officer as it was not immediately clear his family had been informed of his death. It was not immediately learnt how many soldiers were manning the base during the attack, which was linked to Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA). The group has long targeted military bases, and has intensified its assaults in recent months on military formations across the volatile northeast. A day before on November 17, Boko Haram terrorists attacked the base of Sector 2 troops in Mainok, Kaga Local Government Area, killing at least one soldier and leaving several others wounded. Military sources believed the Shekau faction of the group was responsible for the attack, which saw insurgents cart away a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Both the Nigerian Army and the Defence Headquarters did not return PREMIUM TIMES requests seeking comments on the attacks Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force also did not return messages seeking comments. It was only on October 8 that Boko Haram militants raided the same base of 157 Battalion in Metele, killing at least 18 soldiers and wounding eight others, PREMIUM TIMES reported. At least 157 soldiers were feared missing during the attack, and their whereabouts had not been conclusively resolved by military brass over a month later, sources said. Military authorities announced the attack, but heavily downplayed its magnitude. President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military leaders have claimed they are winning the war on terror, but analysts say recent attacks are bolstering rather than dampen fears of the insurgency. When you consider the frequency of these attacks since July, it is difficult to say that our military has the upper hand, said security analyst Chris Ngwodo. Mr Ngwodo said a possible failure on the part of the military leaders to appropriately fortify bases might be responsible for the audacious scope of the attacks. These bases are not sufficiently fortified to withstand insurgents attacks, the analyst said. That they are doing this regularly and getting away with it shows there is no adequate security in place even at the bases. Every resource must be made available to fortify where soldiers are manning, even though many of them are forward operating bases, Mr Ngwodo added. Intelligence capabilities must be also be strengthened to anticipate things like this because the huge movement it takes for terrorists to carry out such attacks should have been detected. Hundreds of Nigerian troops have been killed and even more missing since Boko Haram resumed its latest campaign in July, fueling concerns amongst military leaders, and prompting an emergency reshuffling of commanders. Worried about the rising cases of missing soldiers in Boko Haram attack, the chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, issued a warning to troops on the battlefront against fleeing from insurgents in August, threatening errant personnel with a tough prosecution. The Defence Headquarters announced last week it had taken new delivery of military equipment, boasting of a tough time ahead for insurgents. The military has said it recorded tremendous gains in its counterinsurgency operations over the past three years, especially after managing to confine the insurgents to the fringes of Nigerian territories. This was against the previous years when the deadly Boko Haram terrorists held vast Nigerian lands across its North-east stronghold, occasionally spilling into North-west and North-central geopolitical zones. The Senate Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tackle the menace of underage voters in order to ensure the credibility of the general elections in 2019. In a letter dated November 18, addressed to the INEC National Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, Mrs Olujimi also urged that the commission prevent those with sinister motives from truncating the democratic process next year. The senators letter is coming as political parties and their candidates hit the streets with their campaign, following the lifting of campaign embargo by the commission. Mrs Olujimi, who represents Ekiti South in the Senate, expressed concerns over the recent reports of underage registration and the illegal issuance of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) allegedly to non-Nigerians in some parts of the Northern states of Nigeria. INEC is urged to be alive to its statutory responsibility as an unbiased umpire as the 2019 electioneering campaign for various elective positions commence on 18th November 2018, she said. Any form of misconduct by way of hate speech, unethical comments or statements in any form of media especially the social media by any of the contestants or their apparatus should be promptly condemned and sanctioned. The events that led to the June 12, 1993 saga are still very fresh in the minds of the Nigerian citizenry. Therefore, INEC is hereby urged to be more responsive to its responsibility and purge itself from political partisanship by taking the necessary proactive measures. The process of PVC collection and other areas of Voters education and enlightenment should be vigorously pursued to obtain optimal results of increased voters awareness and to ensure no one is disenfranchised. More importantly, the issues of underage registration, irregular and illegal registration of Non- Nigerians as witnessed in previous elections must be properly addressed to exonerate this noble establishment, INEC of several allegations of conspiracy and connivance to rig elections. Mrs Olujimi, who is also the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, added that INEC should make the various political parties to be aware and constantly reminded of their responsibilities and obligations to the voting public in their campaign processes. She said the INEC should not tolerate any form of distortion or misconduct by way of errors of commission or omission in the electioneering process. It is hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, would ensure that it does the needful towards a hitch free elections come 2019, she added. Nigeria has emerged the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Group at the United Nations. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria replaced the Republic of Togo as chairman of the 15-nation sub-regional group. The Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Tijjani Bande, took over from his Togolese counterpart, Frank Kpayedo, at the sub-regional groups meeting in New York. Mr Bande said Nigeria had always worked with other member-states of the group as brothers, including agreements on candidatures at the UN without conflicts. He noted that on July 28 at Lome, President Muhammadu Buhari was elected chairman of ECOWAS, recalling Mr Buhari was very thankful to his colleagues who urged him to take the lead for this year. Nigeria wants to make sure that we continue to work for the stability and general wellbeing of the sub-region and the region, and as much as possible, we should speak with one voice. We should also speak with one voice outside the continent because West Africa works collaboratively with all other sub-regions on the continent. Nigeria will do the best it can to strengthen the bonds of friendship within the region and do the work we are here to do at this very important platform in a better way and with more assured results for the benefit of all. The West African sub-region has seen better coordination than most sub-regions that operate here at the UN. We have dealt, like at the ECOWAS Commission back home, with matters, particularly to do with stability of the region to the satisfaction of all, even for difficult situations. Mr Bande pledged that Nigeria would continue to do all it could to help coordinate the Groups work adding, throughout its tenure, the country would provide leadership on all issues. Speaking with NAN, the Nigerian envoy said it was a standard practice that ambassadors at the UN would chair the Group just as their heads of state. According to him, since Mr Buhari is chairing the ECOWAS heads of state, it follows that Nigeria at the UN should chair the group also. The basic issue is simply to consult with our colleagues from the sub-region to see how the agenda of ECOWAS can be brought and made alive at the UN. Our issues are peace and security, development, technology, agriculture, and speaking also in line with African region because ECOWAS coordinates what we do but we also work very well with the African Group here. President Buharis discussion when he took over in Lome, was the same thing we have been discussing, whether as it relates to Guinea or whatever country. As soon as there is an understanding within ECOWAS, we take it here at the UN as part of what we should also push forward; we have a very strong group of ambassadors here. They (ECOWAS ambassadors) are very clear and they are also very strong within the UNs various platforms, pushing our issues in terms of our priorities; this is what we intend to do as Buhari is also doing at the level of heads of state. The ambassador of Togo, Kpayedo, thanked his colleagues for their support during his one-year tenure, and pledged support to Bande to succeed. The ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the UN, Kone Tanou, congratulated Mr Kpayedo on a successful tenure and commended the ambassadors for their trust in Nigerias envoy to lead the Group. In few years of service in New York, you have shown great interest on multilateral diplomacy by investing yourself in preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and mediation, Mr Tanou said of Mr Bande. Mariame Fofana, Deputy Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the UN, commended Togo for its coordination of the group, and congratulated Nigeria for assuming the Groups head, pledging her countrys support. The representative of the Permanent Mission of Ghana, Solomon Korbieh, said Nigeria is the pre-eminent power house in the sub-region, adding in chairing the Group, Nigeria will make us proud and also carry Africas light forward. (NAN) Oluwatosin Bucknor, a journalist with Inspiration FM, has died aged 37. Tosyn, as she was popularly known, was found dead by her husband, Aurelien Boyer, a French national, when he arrived home from work on Monday night, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. A graduate of law from the University of Lagos, Tosyn was born with sickle cell anaemia which prompted her to start These Genes Project to help people with the condition. In November 2015, Tosyn and Aurelien Boyer had their traditional wedding surrounded by family and friends in Lagos followed by a white wedding in France. The journalist previously hosted the morning show at Top Radio FM. She started her On-air personality duties with Tee-A at Eko FM. She was also an intern at Cool FM where she hosted the Fun Hour Show on Saturdays. Tosyn joined Top Radio after her youth service in 2009 as the only female handling a morning show. In her lifetime, Tosyn Bucknor was nominated for several awards including Future Awards, ELOY Awards, and Best of Nollywood. Following news of her death, fans and colleagues alike have taken to social media to express their shock. @Poojamedia wrote, Goodnight Tosyn Bucknor! You changed the energy level on Radio & made so many people fall in love with the profession. Your energy was infectious. Areeaaaaaaaaa mama. RIP. Pooja Cares! @Busayo_cole tweeted, Aaaaaaaaaarea, guguru morning.This was one woman who made me fall in love with morning talkshows. Ace Journalist and an ardent Manchester United fan. RIP Tosyn Bucknor. Youll be remembered forever. Thank you for the pleasant memories you left behind. @Vjadams said, Ahhhh Im heartbroken.. RIP TosynBuknor @Bahdosky tweeted, To think I still saw Tosyn Bucknor last month. This is not a palatable news for me. May God Almighty grand all her loved ones fortitude to bear this great loss. RIP to an angel. Until her death, the OAP who also doubled as a vlogger, was a staff of Inspiration FM where she hosted her own morning talk show. Tosyns father, Segun Bucknor, who was a popular musician and journalist, died in 2017. (NAN) Wole Soyinka, the leader of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, John Nwodo, and the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, have called for the immediate restructuring the nation. They said this at a programme titled Handshake Across Nigeria in Abuja, The Nation newspaper reports. Mr Soyinka, in his keynote address, explained that as leaders of the country, they have been given a mission of carrying out the will of the people. He stressed the importance of restructuring the country with regards to insecurity and economic meltdown in the country. He also said for a country blessed with abundant natural resources to realise its full potentials, states must be allowed to have maximum control of their resources, to allow them to set their priorities. Mr Soyinka said the effects of playing religious card by the countrys leadership were grievous, adding that this has the potential to do incalculable damage to the unity of the country. When we talk about governance, we are talking about an instrument for the execution of the peoples policy. Insecurity has reached a certain level that even when we bring experts in, they wonder what exactly they have come to do. One way of stopping the bloodbath is to reconfigure the nation. States must be given maximum control over their resources. Those insisting on restructuring do so because they know that there is something wrong with the state of Nigeria. Many times, Nigerians have come together to proffer solutions and the way forward for the country, but after spending so much time and effort, nothing ever comes out of it. The recommendations are left to gather dust. How much longer shall we continue like this? he said. It is time, you cant do it individually; you have to come together and choose a representative. The change has to be authentic and sloganeering. So what we are looking is not a handshake across the nation but a handshake across history, Mr Soyinka said. He challenged the Nigerian youth to collectively transform governance in the country and hold on to what could bring developmental stride. On his part, Mr Nwodo said those campaigning against restructuring in Nigeria have painted an unfortunate and untrue picture that those in support of restructuring are doing so in order to deny the northern states who do not yet have any proven oil reserves of the ability to survive. This is unfortunate. The new model we propose for Nigeria recognizes that revenue in the world today is promoted by two main sources namely, human capital development leveraging on technology to drive the critical sectors of the economy and agriculture. Nigeria beyond oil must contemplate the implementation of legislative independence to the federating units, sovereignty of mineral and oil resources to the federating units, a painstaking resolve to support all electoral processes and candidates that would bring about this change, he explained. Afeniferes leader, Ayo Adebanjo, criticised the president, Muhammadu Buhari, and vice president, Yemi Osibajo, for condemning restructuring. He insisted that restructuring was the best for the country to realise its full potentials, there was nothing confusing about it as being insinuated in some quarters. There have been conflicting reports about restructuring the country. The vice president had in August, said that simple geographical restructuring is not the problem with Nigeria. He said prudent management of national resources and providing for the people properly were better ideas for Nigerias development challenges. However, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, said the Buhari-led administration has demonstrated a lack of appreciation of the core tenets of the concept. The duo are not the only ones with conflicting opinions about restructuring. While the northern leaders have kicked against restructuring, the southern and eastern leaders have insisted on restructuring the country. The National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chekwas Okorie, on Tuesday defended the partys adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate in the 2019 presidential election. He said the decision is to preserve the zoning formula of the party, adding that the re-election of President Buhari will enable power shift to the South in 2023. Mr Okorie stated this in a statement made available to journalists after a press briefing at the partys secretariat in Abuja. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the UPP in August decided the party would not field a presidential candidate in 2019 but back Mr Buhari. After leading a South-east group to a closed door meeting with Mr Buhari on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Mr Okorie announced the partys decision to adopt Mr Buhari as UPP presidential candidate. The unwritten power-sharing agreement known as zoning aims to alternate the presidency between northern and southern parts every eight years. It was consolidated during Nigerias first two democratic transfers of power in 1999 and 2007. It was however truncated in 2011 when former President Goodluck Jonathan, from the South-south, contested and won the general elections. Mr. Jonathan also contested in 2015 against the wish of political blocks who felt the presidency ought to have been zoned to the North for eight years. Although the very desirable rotation of power in Nigeria has not been provided for in the Nigerian constitution, a noticeable convention of rotation of power between the North and South has been operative for a while, the party chairman explained. Since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic rule, this pattern of rotation has assumed the status of a convention rather than the rule. The expectation of shift of power from South to North and North to the South has some soothing effect on the perennial agitation for power shift, especially during each general election. It is therefore our position and for the sake of national stability, cohesion and unity, that four more years of President Muhammadu Buhari is far more reassuring and beneficial to most Nigerians whether from the North or the South than a possible eight years of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar government which will also foist on Nigerians the sad memories of the 16 years of nightmare Nigerians lived under the PDP government in Nigeria. Mr Abubakar, a former vice president, became the main challenger of the incumbent president at next years polls after clinching the presidential ticket of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Outlining how UPP will campaign for Mr Buhari, Mr Okorie also aimed shots at the PDP. As Nigerians we feel the difficult economic times the nation is facing. We are also aware of the enormous challenges of having to rescue Nigeria from imminent collapse as a result of the mindless and unconscionable looting of our common patrimony and treasury by the PDP administration consistently for over 16 years that the party held sway at the Federal and state governments including the outright control of a criminally compliant and conniving National Assembly. There is no discerning Nigerian or patriotic and rational political party that will have an objective assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that will not come to a logical conclusion that President Buhari towers head and shoulder above Mr Abubakar in integrity and all other consideration. As we hit the campaign train we shall from time to time share with Nigerians the many sound and logical reasons why president Buhari shall be returned to complete his second term in office and why it shall be a tragedy of a monumental proportion to return the years of profligacy, unbridled corruption, scandalous leakages and highly compromised judiciary, to power. Mr Okorie said the core values of his party remain unchanged but its main target from now is to aggressively campaign in a very robust, vibrant and civilized manner to ensure the victory of President Buhari in the 2019 polls. Based on the official time table of the electoral commission, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections commenced on Sunday, ahead of the elections on February 14, 2019. The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, John Abang, has reacted to the information being circulated on the social media that he has been transferred out of the state following the violent protest on Monday at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Angry youth, who are supporters of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), stormed the assembly complex, Uyo, Monday morning, protesting the sacking of a lawmaker, Idongesit Ituen. Mr Ituen, who represented the Itu State Constituency, was sacked by a federal high court for defecting from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. The House had its sitting as scheduled on Monday, despite the protest. The Speaker, Onofiok Luke, then declared vacant, the seats of four more lawmakers who had also defected from PDP to APC. The sacked lawmakers, five of them, later held their own sitting where they removed the speaker, Mr Luke, and elected one of them, Nse Ntuen (Essien Udim State Constituency) as the new speaker. Both the PDP and the APC accused the commissioner of police of taking sides in the conflict. When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the police chief, Tuesday afternoon, he acknowledged reading reports on social media about his alleged transfer from Akwa Ibom. I actually read it on the social media, Mr Abang said. I dont take instruction from social media. I am yet to receive signal from the headquarters. If it is true, when I get directive from Abuja, I will let you know. The police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, Odiko MacDon, was yet to respond to calls and text message from PREMIUM TIMES at the time of filing this report. On the allegation he took a side in the crisis at the state assembly, the police commissioner said politicians in the state should let the police do their work. Postings and transfers in the Nigerian police force are routine, I am not privileged to the information they are talking about. What I know is before I came to Akwa Ibom I was somewhere. And where I am going to tomorrow, by Gods grace, I will not remain there, I will still go somewhere, he said. Mr Abang was posted to Akwa Ibom as the 24th commissioner of police in the state about three weeks ago. One of the albatrosses of the Goodluck Jonathan administration was the granting of state pardon to the convicted late governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Mr Jonathan was the deputy to Mr Alamieyeseigha when he was governor of Bayelsa. Mr Alamieyeseigha who died in 2015 was convicted for money laundering related charges. On March 12, 2013, Mr. Jonathan pardoned Mr Alamieyeseigha. The state pardon elicited a barrage of criticism against Mr. Jonathan. But in his new book, My Transition Hours, Mr Jonathan explained that the decision to pardon Mr Alamieyeseigha was reached by his predecessor, Umaru YarAdua, who could not announce it before he died. He explained that in pardoning Mr. Alamieyeseigha he merely honoured an agreement reached by his late boss. Let me say that after we came to office on May 29, 2007, two major issues that we had to grapple with were the peace process in the Niger Delta and growing menace of terrorism, driven largely by the radical Islamic terror group Jamaat Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Dawah wal-Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram. First, our oil production figures were ebbing due to militant activities in the Niger Delta. The federation distributable accrual was dwindling drastically when we took over due to the crisis in the region and president YarAdua in seeking urgent solution to increase the revenues of the federation offered amnesty to the militant. One of their demands was that Alamieyeseigha be released from detention and pardoned by president YarAdua. He accepted their term mandated me to ensure that my former boss accepted a plea bargain and call the militant to order. President YarAdua promised to grant Alamieyeseigha state pardon if all parties were brought on board to the negotiation table to restore peace in the region. I immediately carried out his instruction. Unfortunately, he passed on before completely fulfilling his promise. When I became president, I granted late Alamieyeseigha a state pardon, in fulfilment of late President YarAduas earlier commitment. Unfortunately, this was frowned upon by some of my strongest critics and some went berserk and haul all manners of insults at me, including accusing me of being clannish for granting state pardon to the former governor because he was from Bayelsa State. Alamieyeseighas pardon like every other goodwill gesture I had made, soon become a tool to be used against me by the opposition, Mr. Jonathan wrote. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the national chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, are currently attending a public presentation of a book My Transition Hours written by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Former Vice President Namadi Sambo as well as former presidents of Ghana, Benin and Sierra Leone are also attending. President Muhammadu Buhari is being represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. The event is holding inside the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Other notable persons at the event are the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, former Senate president, David Mark, and PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus. Jonathan guaranteed Nigerian Peace In a brief remark, former military head of state, Abdulasalmi Abubakar, said Nigeria is not at war today because of the decision by Mr Jonathan to concede defeat during the 2015 election. We cannot thank you enough for the peace we are having in the country today; for the peaceful transition we had when you freely and voluntarily conceded defeat, Mr Abubakar said. Mr Abubakar said By your decision, you have shown that you love your country more than you love power. Also speaking, a former president of Ghana, John Mahama, said Mr Jonathan was more of an academic who found himself in politics. He is not your typical politician, he said. Mr Mahama said Mr Jonathan approached leadership with a relaxed approach which was why he succeeded as a leader. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo with other dignitaries at the launch of Goodluck Jonathans book Mr Mahama said he shared similarities with Mr Jonathan and they became close when as vice presidents, they often met at the African Union summits and other meetings representing their principals. He also said they both became president after the passing of their presidents in office. Mr Mahama described Mr Jonathan as not talkative, reasonable and level headed in politics. For him politics was not a matter of life and death. His decision in 2015 was not surprising to me at all, he said. The former Ghanaian leader also recalled that at the height of vote counting after the 2015 election and because of his closeness to Mr Jonathan, he received lots of calls from members of the international community especially from the UK and USA asking me to speak to my friend to accept defeat. They were afraid that like a typical African leader he would try to hold on to power. But I told them there was no need, Jonathan is a good man and he would do the right thing, he said. Mr Mahama also said like Mr Jonathan, he lost his bid for a second term in 2016. I also graciously called my opponent and congratulated him conceding the election. When the history of Nigerian democracy is written, President Jonathans name will be written in gold, Mr Mahama said. Mr Jonathans vice, Namadi Sambo, who also spoke briefly, said Mr Jonathan helped greatly in consolidating Nigerian democracy. He also said Mr Jonathan as president made appointments purely based on merit. Mr Sambo gave an example by saying he was selected as a vice president by Mr Jonathan at a time he was campaigning for someone else to be selected. He also said Mr Jonathan appointed former national chairman of Independent National Electoral commission, Attahiru Jega, whom he never met. Giving an insight into how Mr Jonathan worked as a president, Mr Sambo recalled that when an outbreak of Ebola virus in Nigeria was announced in 2014, the president, who returned from an official trip to the USA by 5a.m. convened an emergency meeting in his office by 7a.m. where measures were taken to tackle the outbreak. After just a few days WHO declared Nigeria Ebola free, he said. Despite an increase in disbursements at the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting since the beginning of 2018, no state in Nigeria can finance its budget without borrowing, a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has shown. The report which detailed analysis of FAAC disbursement for the third quarter of the year is contained in NEITIs quarterly review, an analytical review of topical issues designed to ensure transparent and accountable management of revenues from the extractive sector. The report, made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, showed that there are wide disparities between revenue figures of many of the states across the federation and their budgetary figures. The review showed that the trend of increasing revenues to the federation witnessed since the beginning of the year continued in the third quarter of 2018 as total FAAC disbursements in Q3 rose to N2.278 trillion. The last time total disbursements exceeded this amount was in the second quarter of 2014 (N2.510 trillion), the report said. The amount disbursed in the third quarter of 2018 also made it two consecutive quarters in which disbursements have exceeded N2 trillion since the third quarter of 2014. The amount disbursed in the third quarter of 2018 also made it the fourth consecutive quarter in which FAAC disbursements have increased. Meanwhile, the report also detailed the difference between hypothetical revenue figures and budgets for the various states of the federation. There is virtually none of the states that can adequately finance their budgets from IGR and FAAC disbursements, the report showed. The states will have to resort to different levels of borrowing. According to the report, the gap between the budgets and revenues is below N50 billion in three states of Enugu, Taraba and Yobe; while the difference between the revenues and budgets is between N50 billion and N100 billion in 14 other states. They include Abia, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Zamfara. However, this difference is above N100 billion in majority of the states (Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto). Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States present special cases as the difference in these states is above N200 billion. NEITI added that although IGR is historically high in Lagos and Ogun States, it is very unlikely that the states actual IGR for 2018 will be sufficient to cover the difference between revenue and budgets. The NEITI publication is one of the organisations policy and advocacy tools. The Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says the South-west has more to gain by re-electing President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election. Mr Fashola, who was in Lagos on Tuesday for the inauguration of 5000 campaigners for Mr Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that the South-west already had high stakes and appointments in the current administration. He said the promise of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) slot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not enough for the South-west to lose the positions it is currently occupying. Gbenga Daniel, the Director General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, had said that the position of the SGF would be given to the South-west, if Mr Abubakar emerged as president in 2019. As a South-west indigene, I will vote for the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket, because my people stand to gain more from it, Mr Fashola said. He said the reelection of Mr Buhari would guarantee that power would come to the South-west in 2023. The South-west is presently occupying the position of the vice president. We have three sitting ministers and many different federal appointments from the present administration which we cannot afford to lose, he said. The minister said that although the APC promised change in 2014, the party did not promise to do it in four years. The APC has done more in three years than 16 years of PDP administration, yet they say President Buhari is too slow. President Buhari is taking Nigeria to the next level. We are going to the next level. The 2019 presidential election is a choice between going back and moving forward to the next level and also a choice of whom Nigerians can trust with their money, he said. He noted that the APC-Buhari led administration has done more in three years with less money than the PDP with all the monies that accrued to the nation in 16 years. Buhari has inaugurated a structural infrastructure fund for road construction. N15 billion has been released for the continued construction of Lagos-Ibadan expressway. There is need for the progress to continue. Dubai was built with oil-money, Nigeria can be built with it too. The past administration squandered oil revenue. Federal Government is constructing at least one road in every state in Nigeria. We are also constructing houses in 34 states in Nigeria. We have collected 690 containers for the construction of 90 transmission stations and through our policy of mini grids, our markets now have uninterrupted power supply. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday in Abuja, expressed concern over increased incidences of vote buying in the country, ahead of the 2019 general elections. Mr Jonathan expressed his concern at the public presentation and formal launch of a book My Transition Hours by Jonathan. He said vote buying, which was gradually replacing other forms of electoral malpractices, had become scandalous and placed the country in bad light. He pointed out that voters inducement through engraving of pictures of candidates and political party logos on gift items during elections was another rampant strategy of vote buying. He advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to borrow a leaf from other African countries and create polling centres in public places such as schools where classrooms were used for voting to make it difficult for vote buying. He explained that the book he launched was essentially an account of happenings during the 2015 general elections and the events that made him to place a phone call to President Muhammadu Buhari, which doused tension and ensured peaceful transition from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Party (APC). The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, saluted Jonathan for his statesmanship, sportsmanship and uncommon courage of conceding defeat to Mr Buhari in 2015 when collation was still on. Mr Saraki said the act of accepting defeat by Mr Jonathan helped to stabilise the already charged political atmosphere during the elections. He recalled how Mr Jonathan used to vow that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian and called on political leaders to toe the same path and should not look at elections as declaration of war as the 2019 polls approached. On his part, former President Olusegun Obasanjo who was Chairman of the occasion, also hailed the statesmanship disposition of Mr Jonathan and urged him to remain committed to his residual responsibility of continuous service to his immediate community, Nigeria, Africa and beyond. According to Mr Obasanjo, there is no substitute to democracy as it unifies the people. He said that Nigeria had the responsibility to unify West Africa, Africa and the black race across the world. Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, also thanked Jonathan for conceding defeat in 2015 to save Nigeria from impending war and consolidating democracy not only in the country but the entire African continent. He also applauded Mr Jonathan for his role in fostering unity, peace, progress and strengthening democratic rule in Africa, saying Goodluck Jonathan is a good man and when the history of democracy in Africa is written, his name will be etched in gold. The book launch was graced by hundreds of prominent Nigerians, including the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Dino Melaye, former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State, ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, ex-PDP governors, ministers and many members of the political class, traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps. (NAN) Nigerian doctors and nurses have committed themselves to a better working relationship in the health sector and stoppage of unhealthy rivalry, the President of Nigerian Medical Association, Francis Faduyile, has said. Mr Faduyile said this in a statement Tuesday after a courtesy visit to the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in Abuja. The official said the NMA was prepared for a better relationship with the nurses and is always committed to the restoration of the lost glory of health workers. He said such collaboration would guarantee better working relationship, quality health care service for patients and better working environment. Nigerian doctors and nurses have been on warpath over the years especially because doctors specifically oppose most of the welfare demands of JOHESU (Joint Health Sector Union), a group of other health workers apart from doctors. Nurses are included in JOHESU. It is true that nurses have not had the best of times over the years in the health sector. And that has pushed them to distance themselves from the doctors, Mr Faduyile explained. By this visit, NMA is calling on nurses to return to the lost relationship that has been progressive and beneficial to both of us. It is important we ensure harmony within the health sector and better working environment. Everybody in the medical profession must key into the new spirit of togetherness and Nigerians must know that health workers are united. Also, Abdrafiu Adeniji, the President of NANNM, the association of nurses, was quoted in the statement as commending the NMA president for the visit. He acknowledged the fact that without harmonious and cordial relationship, the health care environment will not develop. We should be able to do it in a way that will not hamper the benefit of our patients. We are committed to team action and quality health care services to the health care consumers that we are employed to serve, he said. We take sincere commitment of each and every one of us, we believe the health sector in Nigeria will be better. Also quoted in the statement, Thomas Shettima, the General Secretary of NANNM, said the objective of close collaboration would ensure that patients receive the best service since both nurses and doctors are patients centered. We have understood that conflict is not taking us anywhere, but if we work together the sky is our limit. According to the statement, the meeting ended with the formation of a technical committee that will fashion out ways to develop policies that will improve the ailing health sector. The Bauchi State Government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on Yelwa community, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis. Governor Mohammed Abubakar announced this in a statement on Tuesday in Bauchi. Mr Abubakar said the restriction of movement was last from 7 p.m to 6 a.m until normalcy returns to the affected area. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a minor disagreement at a birthday party by some youth in the community turned violent. The fracas claimed at least three lives while two houses and a car were burnt early November 19, the state police command has confirmed. The government has decide to impose a curfew from the hours of 7.00pm to 6.00am from today, Tuesday, 20th November 2018, until further notice in the following areas of Yelwan Tsakani, Unguwan Kusu, Unguwan Gas, Lushi and Kagadama, the governor said. He explained that the measure was taken to ensure peace among the communities and to prevent hoodlums in the affected areas from further escalating the disturbance from spreading to other parts of the state. Mr Abubakar regretted that the unfortunate incident had resulted in affecting the relative peace enjoyed in the state since inception of his administration. This had come at a time when federal government is taking necessary measures to restore peace in some parts of the country ravaged by communal conflicts. We must therefore not allow ourselves to be used by disgruntled elements who may want to plant seeds of discord among us, he urged. The governor however appealed to traditional rulers, community and religious leaders to preach tolerance, peace and respect for one another to their followers. (NAN) The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who died on Sunday via an autocrash paid the supreme price for the emancipation of the state. The minister stated this when he visited the families of the five deceased members in Arandun, Agbonda, Omu-Aran, Oko and Odo Owa, all in the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC won a victory at the Saturday bye-election where the deceased hailed from. A statement issued on the condolence visit was made available on Tuesday in Abuja by Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the minister. The minister, according to the statement, promised that the APC would not abandon the dependants of the partymen who died in a road accident between Omu-Aran and Oro in the state. At Agbonda, the minister and his entourage attended the funeral service for one of the five deceased members, Ayobami Adekeye, an official of the party in Ajase Ward 2. He also visited the two hospitals in Omu-Aran, where those injured in the accident were being treated to personally wish them peedy recovery. NAN reports that the minister was accompanied by Kwara APC Chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa, House of Representatives member-elect Tunji Olawuyi, Kwara South Senatorial candidate, Lola Ashiru, and other state party officials. (NAN) Airbnb, Inc.(NEW YORK) -- France is on track to slap serious penalties on hosts and platforms for illegal short-term rentals including Airbnb or HomeAway, the latest salvo between a major city struggling to fight the unregulated industry of renting out private homes. French President Emmanuel Macron is poised to sign the act into law on Friday, which would impose penalties up to 5,000 euros for hosts and 12,500 for companies who operate home rentals without a government-issued license. For rentals that operate illegally for more than 120 days, fines would be 10,000 euros for hosts and 50,000 for companies. Paris is important because it is Airbnb's biggest market with about 60,000 listings. It's unclear whether the new law would affect listings in Paris this holiday season. The new French law was discussed at ReformBnB, the first global conference to take on best practices in regulating the increasing number of home-sharing businesses like Airbnb or Booking.com in New York City on Sunday and Monday. Hotel industry representatives, economists, analysts and public officials from more than 20 countries and 30 cities attended. Airbnb responded by hiring an LED truck that played a video ad and which was parked on the same city block as the conference hotel. The ad, which played on a loop, featured ordinary looking people holding up placards that said: "The big hotel industry made $77 billion last year. While taking over $5 billion in tax subsidies. So ... we subsidize the big hotels record profits. But we can't earn extra money on Airbnb?" It ended with the statement: Paid for by Airbnb. There were also a couple dozen pro-Airbnb protestors who said they were hosts outside the hotel. Their signs echoed the language in the video ad word for word. Some of the hotel-industry executives stepped outside to be photographed with the protestors. "Big hotels writing short-term rental policy is like big tobacco writing health policy -- it's just a bad idea and is ultimately bad for regular people," a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Last week, Airbnb announced it had booked more than $1 billion in revenue in its third quarter as the company is well on its way to being one of the most-watched initial public offerings next year. However, the Silicon Valley-based company is tussling with many of the municipalities in which it operates over increased regulations. It has filed several lawsuits to avoid handing over data about who uses the platform to governments. Opposition to short-term rentals, as the practice is called, has created a network of strange bedfellows, including city officials, hotel owners and operators, and rent-control advocates in cities disrupted by these companies. Critics said that because private home rentals are unregulated, the areas in which these companies operate are robbed of taxes, are more vulnerable to crime and public disturbances, and could house nefarious behavior ranging from noise complaints to drug activity and prostitution or human trafficking. Earlier this year, New York City comptroller Scott Stringer released a report that said Airbnb was responsible for nearly 10 percent of rent increases throughout New York City between 2009 and 2016. Tenants in Murray Hill, Gramercy, Stuyvesant Town, Williamsburg and Greenpoint paid monthly increases of more than $100 due to Airbnb listings in that time period, according to the report. "Their business model had a direct impact on our affordability housing crisis," Stringer told attendees. "Right after we issued our report, the company put the propaganda machine to work. They started on personal attacks. Airbnb spent like $1 million on TV ads blasting me and my office ... in New York City, we do the right thing and stand up to bullies." At the time, the company issued a statement that said: "Our message to Comptroller Stringer and his hotel industry allies is loud and clear: Rather than attacking the nearly 50,000 middle-class families who rely on Airbnb, it's time to work with us to help New Yorkers stay in their homes. We look forward to continually making this point over the next few weeks." New York City, Airbnb's second-biggest market with about 50,000 listings, is a constant battleground for parties fighting encroachment. Next February, a new law requiring platforms to hand over information about every short-term rental in the city is scheduled to go into effect. Airbnb and other sites had sued the city in federal court in Manhattan to prevent the law from taking effect. In the meantime, New York has cracked down on violations -- last month The Atelier, a 46-story luxury apartment building in Manhattan, received 27 notices of violations for illegal hotel operations in a raid, first reported by The Wall Street Journal. In addition to the LED display truck, the organized protestors and the statement, Airbnb's head of Northeast policy Josh Meltzer wrote an op-ed titled "Time for a Truce: A Path Forward for Airbnb, The Hotel Industry & Home Sharing in New York." "We are ready for a hard, honest discussion. Eager, in fact. Because our hosts -- real New York families -- are depending on us to have that discussion, to bring some resolution and security to their own lives and financial future. We want a solution," Meltzer wrote. "We are at our seats at the table, hand extended. And we hope the big hotel industry will join us." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Long Island Medium (Theresa Caputo) works for Satan Shes charming, shes whacky, and shes got funny hair and crazy fingernails- shes also working for the devil. Sound harsh? Good. ... Fr.Longenecker vs Michael Voris Quote: "If the faith is in imminent peril, prelates ought to be accused by their subjects, even in public."-St. Thomas Aquinas ... Catholic Controversy over "Son of God" movie It is seldom that I disagree with Michael Voris from Church Militant TV , but today I do. It seems some of the more traditional leanin... Saint Peter taught me to love Pope Francis Anyone who has been following my blog [along with family and friends] know that I have had serious issues with Pope Francis since Holy We... Banning Children from Gay Pride Parades ** WARNING : Adult homosexual content GRAPHIC GAY PRIDE PARADE PHOTOS ** Should children be banned from gay pride parades? Ye... What's up with Life Teen Catholic Youth Ministry? So I'm on Twitter when I see Ryan Fitz retweet a Creaky tweet about Catholic Life Teen Youth Ministry that caught my eye. Someth... Lonely: I pray for someone I came across two stories on Twitter recently about lonely people. The first was about an elderly woman who sat alone in her house for ye... Fr James Martin says the Virgin Mary opposed Jesus Christ because Jesus was crazy Father James Martin strikes again, taking another shot at the Holy Mother of God on his Facebook page . Martin says... get this.... Unbelievable Mass Abuses Today in my email box I received an email with a link to a Youtube video entitled " The Novus Ordo is not catholic "<--click th... 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. The 2018 Access to Medicine Index, published Tuesday, is an independent ranking of 20 of the leading pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to improve access to medicine in low- and middle-income countries. Takeda rises furthest in 2018, jumping ten places to fifth. GSK retains its position at the top of the Index. Novartis moves into second, ahead of Johnson & Johnson and Merck KGaA, which complete the group of leaders in 2018. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/786928/Overall_Ranking_ATMI_2018.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/786929/RnD_ATMI_2018.jpg ) The four leaders, together with Sanofi (in 6th ), account for 63% of the priority research and development (R&D) being undertaken. "The fact that a handful of companies are carrying the bulk of the priority R&D load shows how fragile the situation is. A retreat by even one of these players would have a significant impact," said Jayasree K. Iyer, Executive Director of the Access to Medicine Foundation. "If more companies joined this group, that would bring much needed resilience." The Index found that the industry's engagement in such R&D is focused on five diseases, with half of all such activity targeting malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. All five diseases are the target of global health initiatives and have international donors behind them. In total, 45 diseases have been identified as a priority for R&D by the WHO and others. The analysis indicates that the majority of the priority R&D projects are being carried out with public sector research organisations. However, some companies are developing priority products without such facilitation. One example is Merck KGaA developing tests and treatments for schistosomiasis, a water-borne parasitic disease that affects around 252 million people. "This is evidence that, when society agrees on the priorities, this clearly works in focusing the industry's efforts," said Danny Edwards, research lead for the Index. "Our analysis found evidence of this not only in R&D but also in the actions companies take to make medicines accessible after they reach the market. In short, where there is a call to action or donor funding, more companies will get involved, particularly in areas with low commercial potential." The concentration in companies and diseases is also seen in other activities important for access to medicine: for example, small groups of companies account for the increases in fairer pricing strategies, and in access planning while products are still in the pipeline. Progress over the last two years The Index measures companies in seven areas of corporate behaviour that are important for increasing access to medicine. Overall, the industry continues to mature in its approach to access to medicine. Three companies have set new or strengthened access strategies since the 2016 Index. Five companies are scaling up commercial models that explicitly view people living in underserved communities as customers. Companies are also more transparent about where they have patents in force, which is valuable information for international medicines procurers. Also, strategies that set different prices for different segments of a country's population continue to become more sensitive to what people can afford. However, performance continues to lag in some areas. For example, while companies are refining their pricing strategies to improve the affordability of more products, they are applying them in few countries, mostly emerging markets. Also, while licensing has enabled the manufacture and distribution of generic versions of all recommended treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS, its use remains confined to that disease and to hepatitis C but could be extended to other diseases. The companies have more projects in the pipeline that target global health priorities than they did two years ago. Since the 2016 Index, at least 66 products have moved through the pipeline to reach the market. They are for 14 diseases that the Index covers, with half of them targeting cancers. Other examples include: Three new pills that each can cure all six major genotypes of hepatitis C. Gilead has voluntary licensing agreements in place with 11 India-based generic pharmaceutical manufacturers which enable the manufacture and distribution of two of these products in 105 developing countries. (Gilead and AbbVie) A child-friendly chewable form of a tablet for roundworm and whipworm, which currently infects an estimated 795 million people. The company has pledged a donation programme of 200 million doses per year until 2020. (Johnson & Johnson) 65% of cancer deaths globally in developing countries Cancer is taking an increasing toll in low- and middle-income countries, where approximately 65% of cancer deaths now occur. The Index examined company efforts to increase access to cancer products for the first time this year, focusing on those that are included on the World Health Organization (WHO) list of medicines it considers essential for all healthcare systems. It identified 72 such products. Novartis markets the largest proportion of these, including half of the cancer products that have an access initiative attached to them. Efforts during the R&D phase to plan access initiatives for cancer products lag far behind those for communicable diseases. Plans are in place for 5% of candidate cancer products by the time they reach the later stages of development, compared with 54% for communicable disease pipeline products. "There have been massive improvements in global health in the past decades, with all major pharmaceutical companies taking action. To close the gaps that remain, a greater diversity of companies must get involved and stay engaged for the long haul." Jayasree K. Iyer, Executive Director. About the Access to Medicine Index: The Access to Medicine Index analyses 20 of the largest research-based pharmaceutical companies with products for high-burden diseases in low- and middle-income countries. It ranks them on their efforts to improve access to medicine in seven areas of corporate behaviour and identifies best practices, highlights where progress is being made and uncovers where critical action is still required. The Index is endorsed by more than 80 investors, collectively managing assets worth more than USD 10 trillion. It is published every two years by the Access to Medicine Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation funded by the UK Government (UK AID), the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Website: www.accesstomedicinefoundation.org SOURCE Access to Medicine Foundation "Family gatherings during the holiday season should be accompanied by nutritious, high-quality foods, and we are delighted to help make that a reality for so many neighbors throughout Northwest Arkansas," said Shane Acosta, general manager of Cargill's Springdale turkey complex. "Our 1,200 employees who work for the turkey business in the region want to help communities thrive by ensuring people have a delicious Thanksgiving turkey." Each food bank has received approximately 40,000 pounds of Honeysuckle White turkey. Combined, these three food banks provide nutritional support, including distribution of food products through agency partners, to residents across Northwest, West Central, Central and Southern Arkansas. According to Feeding America, one in six Arkansans struggles with hunger, compared to the national average of one in eight people. For children, it is one in four facing hunger issues in Arkansas. Cargill's contribution is focused on improving local food security and nutrition. Cargill's Springdale facility was established in 1965. Over the past six years, the facility has donated more than 1.1 million pounds of turkey products, equating to more than 1 million meals throughout the region during the holiday season. Food banks receiving turkeys are members of the Feeding America network. As a global company, Cargill works with partners in numerous countries around the world to address hunger, food waste, food safety and other challenges. This helps achieve the company's purpose to help nourish the world safely, responsibly and sustainably. Cargill's partnership with Feeding America helps advance innovative local food sourcing models, while also increasing access to nutritious food and supporting community health and nutrition programs. About Cargill Cargill's 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. We combine 153 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center. About Cargill Protein Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cargill Protein is an industry leader that produces, distributes and markets beef, turkey, chicken and egg products to retail, foodservice and food ingredient companies throughout North America, and exports meat and by-products around the world. Cargill Protein's 28,000 employees, and more than three dozen protein processing facilities in the U.S. and Canada, are focused on delivering superior, innovative, products and services to help customers grow their businesses by meeting consumer desires. Cargill Protein is a unit of Minneapolis-based Cargill, Incorporated. For more information, visit www.cargill.com and our News Center. SOURCE Cargill Related Links http://www.cargill.com ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Los Angeles, California-based JP Tech Insurance Services, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. JP Tech specializes in providing insurance and risk management coverages and services to life science, technology, financial institution, REIT and hedge fund clients around the world. R. Joseph Plascencia and his associates will be relocating to Gallagher's Glendale, California office under the direction of Scott Firestone, head of Gallagher's Southwest region retail property/casualty brokerage operations. "Historically, JP Tech's talented team has focused exclusively on providing professional liability coverages for their clients. As part of Gallagher, we can explore opportunities to expand their existing relationships while strengthening our capabilities in their highly specialized areas of expertise," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr, Chairman, President and CEO. "I'm very pleased to welcome Joe and his associates to Gallagher." Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 34 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Investors: Ray Iardella Media: Linda J. Collins VP Investor Relations VP Corporate Communications 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-4009/ [email protected] SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Related Links http://www.ajg.com In the wake of a series of major natural disasters across the United States and internationally, support for those impacted by disastersas well as health-related causeswill be priorities for donors. And while results of the midterm elections are not expected to heavily influence giving, recent high-profile events, such as the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, plus awareness of the changing tax laws and potential write-offs, are expected to impact where and how much donors give. This survey was the second part of a two-phased effort to measure end-of-year giving trends against current eventsincluding recent disasters, tragedies, political events, and pop culture moments. The first survey, conducted in September 2018, found that disaster relief was top of mind for charitable donations , and technology has a tremendous effect on charitable giving. The second survey aimed to take a closer look at the country's current landscape to determine if consumer behavior or sentiments changed based on key events. Top findings from the Classy survey include: Donors expect to give more, not less, than last year. After almost a full year since tax code changes went into effect ( expected to cost nonprofits billions of dollars in donations ), nearly half of consumers (49 percent) plan to donate more money to charity than they did in 2017. Only 10 percent say they're planning to give less this year. Furthermore, donors from higher-income households are very likely to increase donations, as 74 percent of households earning $100K to $150K and 85 percent of households earning more than $150K plan to give more to charities this year. However, most households earning under $100K plan to keep their contributions the same as last year. After almost a full year since tax code changes went into effect ( ), nearly half of consumers (49 percent) plan to donate money to charity than they did in 2017. Only 10 percent say they're planning to give less this year. Furthermore, donors from higher-income households are very likely to increase donations, as 74 percent of households earning to and 85 percent of households earning more than plan to give more to charities this year. However, most households earning under plan to keep their contributions the same as last year. The "Election Effect" isn't expected to impact charitable giving this holiday season. In a year of historic voter turnout, the majority of Americans say the outcome of the 2018 midterm elections will not affect their plans to donate money on Giving Tuesday or throughout the giving season. Only one-third of consumers said that the election results will impact their plans to give. However, more Republicans than Democrats (44 percent vs. 32 percent) say that the outcome will affect their charitable giving this year. Voting may be connected to generosity and volunteerism, as Americans who say they voted in the midterm elections are twice as likely to donate money on Giving Tuesday than nonvoters. Those who say they voted are also twice as likely to volunteer this holiday season when compared to nonvoters. In a year of historic voter turnout, the majority of Americans say the outcome of the 2018 midterm elections will not affect their plans to donate money on Giving Tuesday or throughout the giving season. Only one-third of consumers said that the election results will impact their plans to give. However, more Republicans than Democrats (44 percent vs. 32 percent) say that the outcome affect their charitable giving this year. Voting may be connected to generosity and volunteerism, as Americans who say they voted in the midterm elections are twice as likely to donate money on Giving Tuesday than nonvoters. Those who say they voted are also twice as likely to volunteer this holiday season when compared to nonvoters. Disaster relief, health causes, and current events all rank as top reasons to donate to charity in 2018. As devastating fires and hurricanes impact millions of Americans, disaster relief ranks highest among causes consumers are most likely to donate to this year, followed by health-related causes and environment/animal causes. Fifty-four percent of respondents say they have already donated or plan to donate to Hurricane Michael and/or Florence domestic relief efforts, and 49 percent have donated or will donate to international disasters this year. Other recent tragedies and events are top of mind too, with 44 percent of Americans saying that the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting makes them more likely to donate to charity by the end of the year, and 37 percent citing immigration issues as a motivator for them to donate to charity by the end of the year. As devastating fires and hurricanes impact millions of Americans, disaster relief ranks highest among causes consumers are most likely to donate to this year, followed by health-related causes and environment/animal causes. Fifty-four percent of respondents say they have already donated or plan to donate to Hurricane Michael and/or Florence domestic relief efforts, and 49 percent have donated or will donate to international disasters this year. Other recent tragedies and events are top of mind too, with 44 percent of Americans saying that the synagogue shooting makes them more likely to donate to charity by the end of the year, and 37 percent citing immigration issues as a motivator for them to donate to charity by the end of the year. Changes to the tax code will likely not affect giving this year, but awareness of reduced tax benefits could impact donation amounts, especially among certain demographics. Even though only 10 percent of Americans say a tax write-off is their primary reason for giving, 42 percent say that they would definitely or probably donate less if they knew they were getting less of a tax incentive. Among the respondents, Gen X was the most tax break-motivated, with 62 percent saying they'd give less if they knew they'd receive less of a tax break, compared to millennials at 42 percent, Baby Boomers at 10 percent, and the Silent Generation at 6 percent. Also of note, men were more likely than women to say that a lower tax break would result in them donating less to charity (59 percent of men vs. 22 percent of women). Even though only 10 percent of Americans say a tax write-off is their primary reason for giving, 42 percent say that they would definitely or probably donate less if they knew they were getting less of a tax incentive. Among the respondents, Gen X was the most tax break-motivated, with 62 percent saying they'd give less if they knew they'd receive less of a tax break, compared to millennials at 42 percent, Baby Boomers at 10 percent, and the Silent Generation at 6 percent. Also of note, men were more likely than women to say that a lower tax break would result in them donating less to charity (59 percent of men vs. 22 percent of women). Political divisiveness and tax changes aside, more people still have faith that their fellow Americans are becoming more, not less, generous. In a year marked by increasing partisan discord, nearly half of consumers (49 percent) believe Americans are becoming more generous in their support of causes, while 21 percent say less generous. Among these respondents, men are more likely than women to believe Americans are increasingly generous (63 percent vs. 35 percent). "Giving Tuesday is right around the corner, and it's encouraging to see how many Americans plan to increase their charitable contributions this year," said Scot Chisholm, CEO and Co-Founder of Classy. "Last year on Giving Tuesday, donations on the Classy platform were up more than 60 percent from the year before. Given this glimpse into both America's plans and our nonprofit customers' beautiful and moving campaigns, we anticipate that this Giving Tuesday will be the most impactful yet." In addition to this latest consumer survey data, today Classy is releasing a new report, " Why America Gives ," which provides in-depth metrics from the September phase of the survey, such as the top motivators for charitable giving, what deters people from giving, the methods by which people prefer to donate, and more. The full report can be downloaded for free here . To help nonprofits prepare for Giving Tuesday (November 27, 2018), Classy has developed a specialized microsite and resource page to empower organizations to create effective fundraising campaigns specific to the day. On Giving Tuesday, for the second consecutive year, the microsite will become a real-time giving hub showcasing up-to-the-minute fundraising activity for nonprofits using Classy, while inspiring supporters from around the world to discover and donate to deserving organizations whose causes are closest to their hearts. Nonprofits and donors alike can follow along with Giving Tuesday activity at https://www.classy.org/giving-tuesday/ . About the Survey Classy surveyed 1,000 individuals 18 years and older in the U.S. from Nov. 7 to 16, 2018. The survey was fielded using the Qualtrics Insight Platform, and panel was sourced from Fulcrum by Lucid. About Classy Classy is a social enterprise that creates world-class online fundraising software for nonprofits, modernizing the giving experience to accelerate social impact around the world. Based in San Diego, CA, Classy is trusted by organizations of all sizes, from the fastest-growing nonprofits like Team Rubicon and The Trevor Project, to some of the world's largest social organizations, such as The Salvation Army, Robin Hood Foundation, and Shriners Hospitals for Children. Classy also hosts the Collaborative conference and the Classy Awards to spotlight the innovative work nonprofits are implementing around the globe. For more information, visit www.classy.org or follow Classy on Twitter @Classy. CONTACT: Monica Finch [email protected] 619.323.2026 SOURCE Classy Related Links http://classy.org The Astellas Global Health Foundation merges three former philanthropic entities the Astellas USA Foundation (AUSF), the Astellas European Foundation (AEF), and the Astellas Asia-Oceania Foundation (AAOF) into one organization. The goal is to support some of the world's most vulnerable populations in areas with high child mortality rates, low life expectancies, and insufficient access to health. Since 2005, the three foundations have contributed nearly $25 million to charities and partners aligned with each foundation's focus areas. "The World Bank and World Health Organization reported last year that half the world's population lacks access to essential health services," said Moyra Knight, president of the Astellas Global Health Foundation. "The Astellas Global Health Foundation's focus on increasing access to health will contribute toward making a sustainable impact on the health of people around the world." Access to health remains a significant challenge for underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries. A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine calls for urgent, comprehensive efforts to address what it calls the "global quality chasm" in healthcare worldwide. The report finds up to eight million deaths occur annually in low- and middle-income countries due to poor-quality healthcare.i In its first year, the Astellas Global Health Foundation will send a request for proposal to eligible organizations that primarily focus on strengthening health infrastructure and enhancing the availability and accessibility of quality healthcare with a focus on three key areas in low-and middle-income communities: Children's health: The Foundation seeks to address high child mortality rates by supporting programs that, for example, improve access to preventative measures such as medicines, nutrition or vaccines for children in need; The Foundation seeks to address high child mortality rates by supporting programs that, for example, improve access to preventative measures such as medicines, nutrition or vaccines for children in need; Mental health: The Foundation seeks to improve access to mental health diagnosis and treatment, especially in individuals experiencing life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and heart disease; The Foundation seeks to improve access to mental health diagnosis and treatment, especially in individuals experiencing life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and heart disease; Neglected tropical and communicable diseases: The Foundation will support programs that improve access to health for major communicable diseases and neglected tropical diseases in support of the WHO goals for control, elimination and eradication. Grants that were made to organizations prior to the formation of the Astellas Global Health Foundation will be honored through the term of the commitments. About The Astellas Global Health Foundation The Astellas Global Health Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation that awards grants to support charitable purposes with a focus on improving access to health in underserved global communities in order to make a sustainable impact on the health of people around the world. To learn more about the Astellas Global Health Foundation please visit www.astellasglobalhealthfoundation.org. About Astellas Astellas Pharma Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, is a company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en Cautionary Notes In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management's current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas' intellectual property rights by third parties. Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice. i National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. Up to 8 Million Deaths Occur in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Yearly Due to Poor-Quality Health Care, Says New Report; Major Quality Chasm Must Be Fixed in Order to Reap Benefits of Universal Health Coverage. http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=25152&_ga=2.34323233.1893422204.1537240744-1774799898.1537240744. Last accessed Sept. 20, 2018. SOURCE Astellas Pharma Inc. Related Links http://https://www.astellas.com "We've put together an end-to-end solution set in the payment gateway market executing a customer-centric technology strategy across the nation," Duganne said. "With this launch, we are now unifying all of these assets behind a clear, clean revitalized brand." The rebranding can be seen with a top-to-bottom redesign of the company's website, logo, graphics, communications and correspondence. CBOSS, Inc.'s new brand assets include a cohesive color strategy, a simplified logo, along with other visual and print communications that utilize simple imagery to convey complex solutions in an understandable way. For additional information about this release, please contact Kathleen Duganne [email protected] To learn more about CBOSS, Inc. and any future product announcements, visit www.cboss.com ABOUT CBOSS CBOSS, based in Poland, Ohio, delivers solutions to a range of businesses and clients in the United States and Latin America. The expertise of CBOSS' specialists empowers all of its clients to focus on their core business, including industry segments such as services, manufacturing, non-profit sector and education. Solutions include online payment processing, web applications and business process automation. Since 1994 over 700 businesses and government agencies across the United States and Latin America have looked to CBOSS to deliver feature-rich services and solutions that are cost-effective, reliable and secure. CBOSS is a validated PCI Compliant Level 1 Service Provider for the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), which provides the highest levels of security for e-commerce and other e-payment processing services. Additionally, CBOSS is audited annually for both the existence and effectiveness of its controls on financial processing and reporting under the ACIPA SSAE18 SOC 1 for Service Providers and for the effectiveness of its controls protecting both the security and availability of critical systems under the ACIPA SSAE18 SOC 2 for Service Providers. SOURCE CBOSS, Inc. Related Links http://www.cboss.com SHANGHAI, Nov. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Certification & Inspection Group (CCIC), a state-owned certification and inspection organization dedicated to providing inspection, verification, certification and testing services, is marking its successful planning and participation in the landmark China International Import Expo (CIIE), where it showed visitors from all over the world what it means to be a trustworthy guardian of quality and all-round provider of certification and inspection services. CCIC Chairman Xu Zengde was invited to the "Big Import, New Ecosystem" Global Import Leadership Summit, and joined the roundtable about "Ecosystem Prosperity and Inclusive Trade." Participants discussed various topics including imports in the new era, new retail and globalization, technological development and global supply chains, as well as how international trade organizations can help promote cross-border e-commerce. Xu said at the roundtable that "CCIC will support cross-border e-commerce in three ways. Firstly, CCIC will propel the rollout of a national standard for cross-border e-commerce. Secondly, CCIC will improve and innovate its services. The company, which has a business network covering major ports, cities and trade centers around the world, will continuously expand its global reach and improve its service model of offshore pre-inspection and tracing, so as to facilitate cross-border trade in a concrete way. Finally, CCIC will deepen its cooperation with e-commerce platforms. For example, CCIC will expand its services to cover more product categories sold via Alibaba's online shops, with a focus on health products and cosmetics." CCIC President Li Zhongbang participated in CIIE's opening ceremony and the Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum. The forum, with the theme "invigorating global trade and promoting win-win cooperation," was held in parallel, and formed a key component of CIIE. In addition, CCIC held about a dozen signing ceremonies at CIIE, initiating partnership with prestigious companies and institutions both at home and from abroad. Signatories include Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Canadian companies CAC Natural Foods, Arctica Food and Avalon Dairy Inc, as well as Australian firms Conway Country, Blend and Pack, and Australia Post. CCIC also signed cooperation agreements with companies from New Zealand, as well as Chinese firms such as Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and LINGANG Group. At CCIC's joint booth, quality inspection experts from the company showcased the agency's convenient services and solutions including pre-inspection, global quality tracing, and Internet-based platforms. For example, a bottle of milk from New Zealand with a 15-day quality guarantee period can now be placed on shelves of supermarkets in China in as few as three days using CCIC's services, compared with eight days previously. About CCIC China Certification & Inspection Group (CCIC) is a state-owned certification and inspection organization that has been providing inspection, verification, certification and testing services for over 30 years. CCIC has become a comprehensive one-stop service provider for international clients in the fields of quality, safety, health and environmental protection. SOURCE China Certification & Inspection Group RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 20, 2018 / PRNewswire/ -- ChannelAdvisor Corporation (NYSE: ECOM), a leading provider of cloud-based e-commerce solutions, announced today a new strategic partnership with Interpark Holdings Corporation , a premier e-commerce marketplace based in Seoul. Both companies are teaming up to integrate their services, helping brands and retailers create an optimal online shopping experience for their customers while expanding their global presence in South Korea. "As the first e-commerce shopping platform in Korea, Interpark is thrilled to connect our 28 million members with a trusted partner like ChannelAdvisor," says Tae Shin Lee, CSO of Interpark. "We've built a successful online marketplace through our Cross Border Trading program for U.S. sellers, which includes logistics, customer service, and translation. Our platform and business model align perfectly with ChannelAdvisor's ability to manage complex data sets for U.S.-based brands and retailers, helping them to excel in the Korean market. With 30,000 active sellers on our marketplace today, we're looking forward to great opportunities in the upcoming years of our strategic partnership." As e-commerce continues to revolutionize retail, international sellers can benefit from this strong strategic fit that leverages both companies' respective strengths. Through ChannelAdvisor, brands and retailers have access to more than 111 marketplaces as well as a comprehensive suite of analysis and advertising tools to help them build an effective e-commerce strategy. "The strategic partnership with Interpark creates a leading-edge opportunity for brands and retailers with the potential to significantly expand their presence in South Korea," said Paul Colucci, Vice President, Global Business Development, ChannelAdvisor. "It combines ChannelAdvisor's innovative platform with Interpark's robust marketplace, enabling millions of new consumers to connect with sellers eager to accelerate their sales through a seamless shopping experience. We're excited to take this next step in our global expansion with Interpark as a strategic partner." For more details about ChannelAdvisor, visit ChannelAdvisor's blog , follow ChannelAdvisor on Twitter @ChannelAdvisor , like ChannelAdvisor on Facebook and connect with ChannelAdvisor on LinkedIn . For more information on Interpark Holdings Corporation, email [email protected] . About ChannelAdvisor ChannelAdvisor (NYSE: ECOM) is a leading e-commerce cloud platform whose mission is to connect and optimize the world's commerce. For nearly two decades, ChannelAdvisor has helped brands and retailers worldwide improve their online performance by expanding sales channels, connecting with consumers around the world, optimizing their operations for peak performance and providing actionable analytics to improve competitiveness. Thousands of customers depend on ChannelAdvisor to securely power their sales and optimize fulfillment on channels such as Amazon, eBay, Google, Facebook, Walmart and hundreds more. For more information, visit www.channeladvisor.com. Interpark Media Contact: Clifford J. Yang [email protected] ChannelAdvisor Media Contact: Tamara Gibbs [email protected] 919-249-9798 SOURCE ChannelAdvisor Related Links https://www.channeladvisor.com CHICAGO, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative tour company Chicago Detours is offering fun alternatives to the standard Chicago holiday activities in 2018. "Northwest Side Holiday Bar Crawl," Friday, December 7, 6:30-9:00pm Guests on this new, one-off experience will make holiday memories in old-school Chicago bars. As the bus rolls through Chicago's northwest neighborhoods, the tour guide will share neighborhood history and the stories behind each locale they enter: an 80-year-old dive bar, a historic pizza institution, and a neighborhood bar decked out with wintery decorations. Guests will play games, like a visual scavenger hunt and a contest for most ridiculous selfie! This special event will be offered only once, and reservations are required. For tickets, visit Chicago Detours' website. "A Holiday Tour of Drinks, Daleys and Dead Guys," multiple dates, November 16-December 29. This mostly-indoor downtown walking tour explores both classic sites and surprising stories of Chicago holiday history. Guests will walk along the "Great State Street" and see the city's official Christmas tree. They will explore hidden corners of the former Marshall Field's, discover how Mayor Richard J. Daley saved the Christmas Parade, and even ponder commercialism and the "meaning of Christmas." Guests can choose to enjoy a hot Tom and Jerry cocktail at historic and homey Miller's Pub, and later gaze at Macy's holiday tree while sipping their choice of beer or wine. "A Holiday Tour of Drinks, Daleys and Dead Guys" will run on Fridays and Saturdays, November 16 - December 29, and select weekdays. Tickets may be purchased on the Chicago Detours website. This tour is also available as a private tour for family or corporate groups. Gift Cards for Chicago Walking Tours A gift card for a Chicago walking tour is a fun and meaningful gift for history buffs, architecture aficionados and anyone with an adventurous nature. Chicago Detours' gift cards are an excellent inclusion in Holiday Gift Guides. ABOUT CHICAGO DETOURS Since 2010, Chicago Detours has offered guided tours of architecture, history and culture that bring people to explore stories and places locals don't even know. They are a passionate team of educators, historians, and storytellers, and are proud to be rated five stars on Yelp and TripAdvisor. High res photos available upon request. Contact information: Amanda Scotese 312.350.1131 [email protected] SOURCE Chicago Detours Related Links http://www.chicagodetours.com Holiday mailing deadlines are fast approaching, and the Postal Service is ready to deliver. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, the Postal Service expects to deliver more than 900 million packages and nearly 15 billion pieces of mail for a total of nearly 16 billion cheerful deliveries this holiday season. Customers planning to mail cards and packages are encouraged to visit a local Post Office no later than the below dates for expected delivery by Dec. 25 to Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office and domestic addresses:* Dec. 4 APO/FPO/DPO ( ZIP Code 093 only ) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail APO/FPO/DPO ( ) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail Dec. 11 APO/FPO/DPO (all other ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail APO/FPO/DPO (all other ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail Dec. 14 USPS Retail Ground USPS Retail Ground Dec. 18 APO/FPO/DPO ( except ZIP Code 093 ) USPS Priority Mail Express APO/FPO/DPO ( ) USPS Priority Mail Express Dec. 20 First-Class Mail (including greeting cards) First-Class Mail (including greeting cards) Dec. 20 First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces) First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces) Dec. 20 Hawaii to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail Dec. 20 Priority Mail Priority Mail Dec. 20 Alaska to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail Dec. 22 Alaska to mainland Priority Mail Express to mainland Priority Mail Express Dec. 22 Hawaii to mainland Priority Mail Express to mainland Priority Mail Express Dec. 22 Priority Mail Express *Not a guarantee, unless otherwise noted. Dates are for estimated delivery before Dec. 25. Actual delivery date may vary depending on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance date and time and other conditions. Some restrictions apply. For Priority Mail Express shipments mailed Dec. 22 through Dec. 25, the money-back guarantee applies only if the shipment was not delivered, or delivery was not attempted, within two (2) business days. To send packages to loved ones serving in the military or at diplomatic posts abroad, the Postal Service offers a discounted price of $17.40 on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box. The price includes a $1.50 per-box discount for mail sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations worldwide. To handle the surge in volume, the Postal Service is expanding its Sunday delivery operations in select high package volume locations during the holiday season. More than 5 million packages are expected to be delivered each Sunday in December. Mail carriers will also deliver Priority Mail Express packages on Christmas Day for an additional fee in select locations. Busiest Week The notion of a "busiest day" is a thing of the past, thanks to the increase in early and online gift shopping. Customer mailing and shipping traffic is expected to increase beginning Dec. 10, and the Postal Service expects to deliver nearly 200 million packages per week during these two weeks. The week of Dec. 17-23 is predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping and delivery week, when nearly 3 billion pieces of First-Class Mail, including greeting cards, will be processed and delivered. Wrap Up the Holidays from Home Consumers don't even have to leave home to ship their packages, they can simply visit usps.com. The Postal Service anticipates Dec. 17 will be the Postal Service's busiest day online with more than 8 million consumers predicted to visit usps.com for help shipping that special holiday gift. It's predicted that nearly 105 million consumers will visit the website between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. And usps.com is always open. It's estimated nearly 400,000 consumers will use the Click-N-Ship feature and other online services on Dec. 17 to order free Priority Mail boxes, print shipping labels, purchase postage and even request free next-day Package Pickup. Holiday Advertising Campaign The Postal Service's 2018 holiday campaign features direct mail, TV, radio, print, digital and social media promotions highlighting the organization's proud tradition of delivering cheer and value to consumers and businesses. The first of several TV spots began airing Nov. 9 and can be viewed on USPS-TV. A direct mail piece with information customers need to know for the holidays will be mailed to 105 million homes by Thanksgiving. Additional Tips Informed Delivery is the Postal Service's free daily digital preview of what's coming to your mailbox. This holiday season, not only can you manage your packages and sneak a peek at cards headed your way, you can also see some exterior images of magazines and catalogs all from your mobile app, dashboard, tablet or computer. Informed Delivery is one more way the Postal Service is helping you anticipate, communicate and celebrate this holiday season. The Postal Service also offers shipping tips in 10 video "how to" guides. Each video is less than three minutes long and shows customers how to address packages, ship packages and pack a box so items arrive safely. Additional news and information, including all domestic, international and military mailing, and shipping deadlines, can be found at the Postal Service Holiday Newsroom: usps.com/holidaynews. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. Please Note: For U.S. Postal Service media resources, including broadcast quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel, like us on Facebook and enjoy our Postal Posts blog. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com. More USPS holiday news, including shipping deadlines and letters to Santa, can be found at usps.com/holidaynews. For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf. Contact: Kim Frum [email protected] usps.com/news SOURCE U.S. Postal Service Related Links http://www.usps.com PALM BEACH, Florida, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FinancialNewsMedia.com News Commentary Canada's Cannabis industry continues its rapid ascent into the billion dollar valuation as legalization has allowed the market to flourish beyond even the most optimistic projections. Analysts are not projecting the Canadian market could be worth more than $500 billion sooner rather than later. There are a number of companies moving to Canada for operations, aiming to capture shares of the emerging and developing market while the market just to the south in the United States begins to wake up in its own right. As a whole, optimism surrounding legal cannabis will not be hard to come by anytime soon as revenues continue to compound on an annual basis. Active Companies from around the market with current developments include: Body and Mind Inc. (CSE:BAMM) (OTC: BMMJ), Aphria Inc. (NYSE:APHA) (TSX:APHA), Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX-V:ALEF) (OTC:ALEAF), Namaste Technologies Inc. (TSX-V:N) (OTC:NXTTF), Origin House (CSE:OH) (OTC:ORHOF). Body and Mind Inc. (CSE:BAMM.CN) (OTCPK:BMMJ) BREAKING NEWS: Body and Mind is pleased to report record testing results from the most recent harvest in Nevada. The company has received testing results from NVCAN Laboratory detailing THC content of the recently harvested Hardcore OG strain at 30.5 % THC. "Body and Mind has been recognized as a premium quality cultivator since we started growing and producing medical cannabis roughly 4 years ago," stated Robert Hasman, a director at BaM. "Our dried flower strains typically achieve testing in the mid twenty per cent THC range and contains strong terpene profiles. While THC is only one measure of cannabis quality, this achievement has received very positive feedback from dispensaries and customers. This record result is an indication of our deep experience combined and efficiencies from our completed Phase II renovation." The company completed Phase II renovation to improve efficiency and increase cultivation space in early 2018. The first harvest from the increased Phase II space has been completed and will be sold in November. The company has completed the transition to a perpetual harvest system which produces dried flower on a consistent basis and reduces costs throughout the cultivation process. Body and Mind edibles continue to be popular items and the company has increased the product offerings based on feedback from buyers and customers. Infused pretzel bites with caramel and chocolate are one of the more popular edibles and additional options including peppermint and white chocolate will be available shortly. Body and Mind will be relaunching the popular infused beef jerky edibles with flavours with a choice of Teriyaki and Siracha flavors. The company has commenced manufacturing LucidMood pens and is in the process of finalizing the production process. Sales of LucidMood vape pens are anticipated throughout Nevada in early December. Read this and more news for BAMM at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-bamm In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include: Aphria Inc. (NYSE:APHA) (TSX:APHA.TO) recently announced its proposed acquisition of CC Pharma GmbH ("CC Pharma"), a leading distributor of pharmaceutical products to more than 13,000 pharmacies in Germany . The transaction, when closed, will strengthen the Company's end-to-end medical cannabis operations and infrastructure in Germany , a key market in Aphria's international expansion. It is anticipated that the transaction will close in January 2019. "This acquisition strengthens our foothold in Germany , one of the most highly sought-after medical cannabis markets in the world," said Vic Neufeld, CEO of Aphria. "CC Pharma is cash-flow positive and has significant experience with regulatory requirements and international logistics. It will be a strong addition to Aphria's presence in Germany , providing deeper access to the important pharmacist channel and advancing our ambitious global growth strategy." Namaste Technologies Inc. (TSX-V:N.V) (OTCQB:NXTTF) on Monday announced the launch of its Craft Cannabis Program with its preferred regulatory partners, Cannabis Compliance Inc. ("CCI"). The program is intended to provide support for craft cultivators who will apply for a micro-cultivator or micro-processor license under the Cannabis Act ("Micro Cultivators"). Namaste's wholly-owned subsidiary, Cannmart Inc. ("Cannmart") has initiated a program that offers both regulatory and financial support to Micro Cultivators in exchange for a Supply Agreement with the right of first refusal ("ROFR") on 100% of their production. Cannmart will launch a Craft Cannabis section on its website that will offer patients access to a large variety of premium-quality cannabis products sourced from small-batch producers. Each Micro Cultivator will be allowed to grow cannabis up to 200 square meters (2152 square feet) of total canopy space. Each Micro Processor will be allowed to process up to 600kg of cannabis from their facility. By securing Supply Agreements with Micro Cultivators, Cannmart will provide its patients with access to many strains which have not yet been available in the regulated market. Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX-V:ALEF.V) (OTCQX:ALEAF) came to a close up 2.97% on Monday with over 800,000 shares traded. Last week, the company announced it has entered into a global agreement with D2L (Desire2Learn) Corporation ("D2L"), in which Aleafia Health will deploy D2L's Learning Management System (LMS) Brightspace. Brightspace is a cloud-based learning platform employed by major organizations including Walmart, the American Nurses Association and the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario. Under the terms of the global agreement, D2L will produce a series of cannabis education courses on Aleafia Health's behalf. As part of a multi-phase roll-out expected to begin in early 2019, Aleafia Health will launch the series of proprietary, unique cannabis courses. The courses will harness Aleafia Health's cannabis expertise, with content developed by experts including Aleafia's practising physicians. The courses will also use the Company's Intellectual Property containing in excess of 10 million patient data points along with D2L's leadership in cloud-based learning platforms. Origin House (CSE:OH.CN) (OTCQX:ORHOF) ("Origin House" or the "Company"), a leading North American cannabis products and brands company, announced this week that its wholly owned subsidiary, Cannroy Delaware Inc. ("Cannroy Delaware"), had completed the sale of its 2,200,000 common shares (the "Share Purchase") in the capital of Wagner Dimas Inc. ("Wagner Dimas") to Australis Capital Inc. ("Australis"). Origin House is a growing cannabis products and brands company operating across key markets in the U.S. and Canada , with a strategic focus on becoming a preeminent global house of cannabis brands. The Company's foundation is in California , the world's largest regulated cannabis market where it has delivered over 130 branded cannabis products to the majority of licensed dispensaries. Origin House's brand development platform is operated out of five licensed facilities located across California , and provides distribution, manufacturing, cultivation and marketing services for its brand partners. 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Contact Information: Media Contact email: [email protected] +1(561)325-8757 SOURCE FinancialNewsMedia.com RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Energy (NYSE: D) today announced that Adam S. Lee, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Richmond Division since 2014, will join the company as vice president and chief security officer, effective Dec. 1, 2018. In his post which is the company's first Lee will be responsible for physical and cyber security across Dominion Energy's footprint. He will be expected to direct the development and implementation of corporate security policies and procedures that protect physical and cyber assets and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those dealing with privacy. He will liaise with all outside government and law enforcement officials on physical and cyber security matters for the company. "Adam Lee brings unparalleled experience to Dominion Energy as we work to harden our physical and cyber assets and protect them from potential bad actors," said Thomas F. Farrell, II, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "He is well-respected in law enforcement both around Virginia and our nation, and I expect him to do a tremendous job at our company, just as he has done for more than 20 years in the FBI." Lee who has announced his retirement from the FBI after a career spanning 22 years in intelligence, white collar and cyber crimes, honest services fraud, among others was previously chief of the FBI's Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section. In 2017, he was appointed by former FBI Director James Comey to lead a comprehensive study of the FBI's headquarters and organizational model. Lee's experience there also includes leading the Central Virginia Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC) which is composed of selected Fortune 500 companies within Virginia and providing investigative and technical support on complex cyber intrusions and managing the FBI's relationship with government and private sector in Virginia in the areas of organizational risk, insider threat and cyber intrusion detection. Lee earned a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University and a J.D. from John F. Kennedy University's School of Law. He will report to Rodney Blevins, senior vice president and chief information officer. Nearly 6 million customers in 19 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy, headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable, and safe energy and is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy with nearly $80 billion of assets providing electric generation, transmission and distribution, as well as natural gas storage, transmission, distribution, and import/export services. As one of the nation's leading solar operators, the company intends to reduce its carbon intensity 50 percent by 2030. Through its Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy plans to contribute more than $30 million in 2018 to community causes throughout its footprint and beyond. Read about Dominion Energy and visit us on Facebook or Twitter. SOURCE Dominion Energy Related Links http://www.dom.com HOLLAND, Mich., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its new "Share A Legend" storytelling project for Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout, New Holland Brewing Company issued a nationwide call for the best stories told over the top-selling craft brew. Hundreds of legendary tales poured in from across the U.S. over the past few weeks and five unique stories are now in the hands of the public for online voting through November 28, 2018. One winner will net $5,000 cash plus an extra $5,000 from Dragon's Milk to donate to a cause. At its core, the #ShareALegend project is a celebration of storytelling among friends, the same magic that began when Dragon's Milk was first bottled 17 years ago. The purpose of #ShareALegend is to cultivate meaningful moments and foster a community through the art of spoken word. Contest finalists and their stories include: Andrew Garrett of Las Vegas, Nevada offers a beautifully-penned ode to a tumultuous car-ride with his war hero grandfather. offers a beautifully-penned ode to a tumultuous car-ride with his war hero grandfather. David Spillett from Weiser, Idaho divulges a family secret with an unbelievable twist that will leave jaws on the floor. divulges a family secret with an unbelievable twist that will leave jaws on the floor. Donna P. Salo of Springfield, Massachusetts shares about a real-life dragon who has fought one of life's toughest battles while inspiring others along the way. shares about a real-life dragon who has fought one of life's toughest battles while inspiring others along the way. Colt Sebastian Taylor , hailing from Shillington, Penn. recollects a wild night that left him asking if life could truly be this good and true. recollects a wild night that left him asking if life could truly be this good and true. Keen Hudson from Rochester, N.Y. describes an eerie encounter with a creature in the wilderness that shook him to his core. In the spirit of all Dragon's Milk #ShareALegend elements, the finalists' pictures have adopted a half-illustrated design that embodies the true but imaginative and creative nature of legendary tales that are passed down over time. Some finalists shared pictures and writing to depict their legends while others submitted videos. While gathering their fans' stories, New Holland Brewing Company released a digital video series of six real-life legends who fall into the archetypes of Warrior, Huntress, Smith, Poet, Alchemist and Performer. To hear all of the stories and vote, visit www.DragonsMilk.com and @DragonsMilkStout on Instagram. About New Holland Brewing Company For more than 20 years, New Holland Brewing Company has been an integral member of the artisan approach, pursuing playful creativity in its authentic beer, spirits and foodservice. New Holland believes the notion of craft lives in fostering rich experiences for customers, including at its two brewpubs in Grand Rapids and Holland, Michigan. New Holland brews at least 20 beers each year, in addition to their flagship stout, Dragon's Milk, a full line of spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails. To learn more, visit www.NewHollandBrew.com. Contact: Valerie Pesonen Lambert 616-233-0500 or [email protected] SOURCE New Holland Brewing Company Related Links http://newhollandbrew.com Last week approximately 3,500 attendees from 42 countries attended the IDTechEx Show!, which featured 284 exhibiting organizations. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/478371/IDTechEx_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/787560/IDTechEx_Show.jpg ) The event, held in Santa Clara, California, is unique in bringing together eight key technologies - 3D printing; electric vehicles; energy storage; graphene; IoT; printed electronics; sensors and wearables - with the organizations that seek to use them. These co-located events, which in total featured 275 speakers, cover the full value chain allowing, for example, materials companies to understand the needs and challenges of OEMs and global brands so that they can build appropriate solutions; and enabling OEMs and global brands to see the emerging capabilities which allow them to differentiate their products. Over-arching themes addressed at the event include the radically new design freedoms enabled by new form factors of electronics and electrics (such as flexible and even stretchable devices); the increasing ubiquity of electronics and connectivity in the form of IoT, sensors and wearables; and the increasing electrification of vehicles and the opportunities that result. New and improved functional materials were on show including many manufacturing innovations. The following were among some of the key technology highlights covered at this year's event, as presented in the opening presentation by IDTechEx CEO Raghu Das. Printed, Flexible, Organic Electronics: The Highlights Key developments including the commercialization of foldable displays, with Royole Corporation presenting on the first foldable smart phone coming to market in December 2018. JOLED covered the world's first printed OLED display. Many companies presented on their progress in printed electronics as they move from being a component provider to a systems/solution provider, filling that gap in the value chain. Sensors: Key Trends The event covered three key trends with sensors: miniaturization; technology improvements that are driving volume growth in more applications and new form factors. Wearables: Booming and Changing Over the last six years there has been tremendous growth in the wearable technology sector. For example, in 2013 smart watches and fitness trackers were around $1 billion in sales. In 2018, they are over $12 Billion. Electronic skin patches have grown to a $5 Billion industry with many in wearables focusing on mass market healthcare technologies, helped in part by changing regulations. IoT Applications and Connectivity The event featured case studies across many IoT applications, in addition to appraising the different technology options - from Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) to RFID deployment, with the latest IDTechEx numbers shown below. Electric Vehicles: The Drama and Opportunities Due to global government action to move to electric vehicles and automakers responding to that in droves by developing electric vehicles, IDTechEx expects sales of internal combustion engine vehicles to peak around 2022. Additionally, thanks to car autonomy and government push to car sharing, IDTechEx forecast a peak in sales of all cars in 2030. This all creates huge new opportunities: for materials (from thermal interface materials to structural electronics to light weighting); components (including sensors and connectivity); to complete new vehicle types such as electric shared passenger vehicles. Such topics were explored at the event. See the full range of IDTechEx electric vehicle research here. Energy Storage: The Cobalt Rush Winners in electric vehicles will be winners in energy storage, with OEMS vying for IP in energy storage dominance. The event also covered new innovations in energy storage including how new form factors of batteries and supercapacitors are enabling new products. Progress with Enabling Materials Many of the new capabilities highlighted at the event are enabled by advancements in materials. For example, new trends such as 5G is creating new opportunities for materials for EMI shielding due to the higher frequencies used. Stretchable conductive materials and substrates are part of a growing e-textile sector that will create a market worth over $2 billion in 2028. In addition to many materials that were covered, the event explored graphene in detail. There is now good global capacity to make graphene and suppliers are focussed on realistic, short term markets. Prices have fallen and all this is leading to strong commercial interest - IDTechEx expects strong take-off in sales around 2021, creating a market nearing $350 million for the material in 2028. Manufacturing Innovations In addition to materials the event also covered the new manufacturing innovations. 3D Printing is one focus of this event, with the industry growing from $6.5Bn in 2018 to $22.3Bn in 2028. 3D printed materials are a large part of the market value, showing strong growth - such as high temperature thermoplastics which are the fastest growing material type in the 3D printed polymer category at 55% CAGR to 2023. Then there are also other processes enabling 3D electronics - bringing vastly new design freedoms including lightweighting, space saving and other benefits such as ability to customize designs more easily in some cases. These offer radical new opportunities for product designers. 275 speakers from around the world covered these and related trends, with a record number of exhibitors signing up for 2019 based on the huge attendance. If you missed the event, you can purchase the available event presentations at www.idtechex.com/usa. For more information about exhibiting in 2019 as part of your business growth strategy, please email [email protected]. Don't miss the next IDTechEx Show! which will be held in Berlin, Germany on April 10-11. Register by December 14th 2018 for a 35% early bird discount. The next US event will be held on November 20-21 2018 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California. For more information see www.idtechex.com/events. Contact: Annick Garrington Marketing Co-ordinator [email protected] UK: +44(0)122-381-2300 SOURCE IDTechEx ST. LOUIS, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading analytics software firm FICO (NYSE:FICO), is kicking off its new "Score A Better Future" consumer financial education event in St. Louis on November 29, 2018. This free event focuses on helping consumers improve their understanding of their credit and overall financial health. Consumers will learn from credit experts the key ingredients that make up the FICO Score, and the myths and facts about FICO Scores. The FICO Score is used in more than 90 percent of lending decisions (Mercator Advisory Group Analyst Report 2018). Additionally, local credit counselors from the City of St. Louis Treasurer's Office of Financial Empowerment and Justine PETERSEN, a St. Louis-based organization that assists low-income individuals and families to develop, maintain and increase financial assets, will be at the event to provide one-on-one credit counseling and help attendees develop a plan to address their financial goals. To register for the event go to: www.scoreabetterfuture.com/stlouis Who: FICO and credit counselors from City of St. Louis Treasurer's Office of Financial Empowerment and Justine PETERSEN What: "Score A Better Future" is a free community education and financial empowerment program by FICO in partnership with Justine PETERSEN, National Consumers League, St. Louis Regional Unbanked Task Force, City of St. Louis Treasurer's Office of Financial Empowerment, and the St. Louis American. Dinner and childcare will be provided. When: Thursday, November 29, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Where: William L. Clay Sr. Early Childhood Development/Parenting Education Center at Harris-Stowe State University 10 N Compton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103 About FICO FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956 and based in Silicon Valley, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 180 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 100 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time. Learn more at http://www.fico.com. Join the conversation at https://twitter.com/fico, https://www.facebook.com/FICODecisions/ and https://www.instagram.com/FICOscores/. SOURCE FICO Related Links https://www.fico.com/ WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Fish & Richardson has won two jury verdicts in Delaware federal court for client Power Integrations, Inc. in its latest patent infringement battles against Fairchild Semiconductor. On November 9, 2018, a jury found that Fairchild induced infringement and willfully infringed two patents for technology used in power supply controller chips, awarding $24.2 million in damages. The case was a retrial on inducement; in 2012, a different jury found Fairchild liable for direct infringement and inducement, but the Federal Circuit vacated the inducement portion of the verdict in December 2016. In addition to the inducement question, the jury in this trial was focused on the issues of willfulness and damages. On November 15, 2018, in a separate patent trial, another jury found that Fairchild induced infringement of another Power Integrations patent and awarded damages. Fish principal Frank Scherkenbach led the first trial, and Joseph Warden the second, with support from Fish principals Howard Pollack, Michael Headley, Doug McCann, and Neil Warren. Fish has represented Power Integrations against Fairchild and related entities since 2004, securing victories in a series of cases in a number of venues, including obtaining injunctions against over 175 infringing Fairchild products. Over the course of the litigation, courts have repeatedly affirmed the validity of Power Integrations' patents. Other victories include verdicts against Fairchild in 2006, 2014, and 2015 (all "Top 100 Verdicts" of the year), and victories at the ITC and the Federal Circuit. Fish & Richardson, a premier global intellectual property law firm, is sought-after and trusted by the world's most innovative brands and influential technology leaders. Fish offers patent prosecution, counseling and litigation; trademark and copyright prosecution, counseling and litigation; and commercial litigation services. Our deep bench of attorneys with first-chair trial experience in every technology makes us the go-to firm for the most technically complex cases. We have an established reputation as a top-tier firm for patent portfolio planning, strategy and prosecution, as well as post-grant proceedings at the PTAB. Fish was established in 1878, and now has more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists in the U.S. and Europe, with China on the horizon. Our success is rooted in our creative and inclusive culture, which values the diversity of people, experiences and perspectives. For more information, visit fr.com or follow us at @FishRichardson. Contact: Amy Blumenthal or Kelly Largey Blumenthal & Associates Fish & Richardson 617-879-1511 800-818-5070 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Fish & Richardson Related Links http://www.fr.com Since 2010, Jacobs, alongside Pasco County Utilities and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, has provided a full-range of design, permitting and services during construction for the 4G Wetlands , a multifunctional project addressing decades-long concerns regarding groundwater drawdowns in areas affected by public water supply wellfields. "This innovative, reclaimed water project facilitates a more holistic watershed management approach," said Pasco County Project Manager Jeffrey Harris. "The ability to improve an area that has seen severe ecological degradation, coupled with recharging the Upper Floridan aquifer that will provide for a more sustainable water supply for the 2.5 million people of the Tampa Bay region, serves as an example of how to better manage all freshwater resources." The 4G Wetlands consist of a 176-acre groundwater recharge wetland system, the largest human-made system of its kind in the world, constructed on uplands pastures. The system is sized to receive five million gallons of reclaimed water per day to passively recharge the surficial and Upper Floridan aquifers, while protecting water quality. "The wetlands are an important component of the District's mission to provide recharge in an area of hydrologic stress," said Michael Hancock, a project manager for Southwest Florida Water Management District. "In addition, they will provide valuable habitat, and an excellent example of responsible water management." In addition to the benefits to the aquifer and the regional water resources, the project will restore the ecological functions of the historically degraded onsite lakes and wetlands and create 176 acres of new wildlife habitat within the 15 constructed wetland cells. The 4G Wetlands project additionally received five other accolades, including a 2018 National Environmental Achievement Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies National Environmental Achievement Award and the David W. York Water Reuse 2017 Project of the Year Award from the Florida Water Environment Association. "The now six-time award-winning and multifunctional 4G Wetlands are a great example of how organizations can utilize public-private partnerships to maximize the benefits of water reuse and use this valuable resource for its highest purpose ecology and water supply," said Rafael Vazquez-Burney, Jacobs principal technologist and 4G Wetlands project manager. "It's both an honor and a privilege to be recognized by the Water Environment Federation, and to partner with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pasco County on their first project of this caliber." The 4G Wetlands project accepted its award at the 91st Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sept. 29 - Oct. 3, 2018. Four Jacobs operations and maintenance teams in Florida in Key West, Pembroke Pines, West Melbourne and The Villages, also received WEF's 2018 Water Heroes Award at the event for their response work during the 2017 hurricane season. Jacobs leads the global professional services sector delivering solutions for a more connected, sustainable world. With $15 billion in fiscal 2017 revenue when combined with full-year CH2M revenues and a talent force of more than 77,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional and construction- and program-management for business, industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors. For more information, visit www.jacobs.com, and connect with Jacobs on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors which may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements please refer to our Form 10-K for the year ended September 29, 2017, and in particular the discussions contained under Items 1 - Business, 1A - Risk Factors, 3 - Legal Proceedings, and 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made herein. For press/media inquiries: Kerrie Sparks 214.583.8433 Brian Morandi 720.286.0719 SOURCE Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Related Links http://www.jacobs.com (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/787436/Kansai_University_Infographic.jpg ) Hydrogels are highly absorbent materials, and when they incorporate polymer chains that respond to external stimuli (such as pH or temperature) they can display abrupt volume changes when the surrounding conditions change. Such stimuli-responsive hydrogels have a range of potential applications, for example in drug delivery systems, sensors, cell culture and so on. In particular, thermo-responsive hydrogels kept in an aqueous solution undergo a reversible phase transition above a critical temperature that causes a transition from a hydrated to a dehydrated state, which results in a drastic shrinking of the gel. Many studies exist on hydrogels that respond to changes in temperature while in solution, but the behavior of the dried gels in air has not been studied yet. Now, Takashi Miyata at Kansai University and colleagues present in a study published in Nature Communications a temperature-responsive gel that absorbs moisture and, when heated, releases it in the form of water. The gel contains a thermo-responsive polymer and a hydrophilic component (sodium alginate) that boosts water absorption. The transition temperature for this material is close to room temperature, 32 C. When exposed to high relative humidity (80%) at 25C, the gel absorbs 0.6 g of water per gram and swells. The presence of water on the polymer chains causes them to respond to temperature in a similar way as hydrogels immersed in solution, so that the chains, that are initially hydrophilic, change to hydrophobic with raising temperature. When this happens, the water molecules desorb and condense into liquid water. Indeed, as the sample is heated to a temperature of up to 50C, water appears on its surface, and its amount increases sizably for temperatures above 40 C. Thus the gel acts as a dehumidifier but, unlike traditional dehumidifiers that require energy to evaporate the absorbed water to regenerate the material, and then to condense it for collection, the gel can condense water simply in response to a small temperature change (from 25 C to 50 C). Regeneration of the material and collection of the water can thus be achieved using very little energy. Further optimization is still needed, but thermo-responsive gels like the one presented in this paper could find applications as energy-efficient materials for condensing moisture into water. Background Hydrogel A hydrogel is a polymeric network formed by hydrophilic polymer chains; the hydrophilicity of the chains means that when immersed in waters hydrogels can absorb big quantities of water (a hydrogel can contain more than 90% water), which causes the gel to swell, maintaining its 3D structure. Hydrogels are used in many contexts, for example as scaffolds in tissue engineering, for sustained drug delivery or, if they contain additive sensitive to specific molecules, as biosensors. Reference Kazuya Matsumoto, Nobuki Sakikawa and Takashi Miyata, Thermo-responsive gels that absorb moisture and ooze water. Nat Commun. 9, 2315 (2018). Further information Kansai University 3-3-35 Yamate-cho, Suita-shi, Osaka 564-8680 JAPAN EMAIL: [email protected] Website Kansai University http://www.kansai-u.ac.jp/English/ SOURCE Kansai University WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Adviser at the Royal Court and General Supervisor of The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah announced on Tuesday, November 20th, the launch of an initiative called "The Supply Initiative in Response to the Food Crisis in Yemen", or "Imdaad" in Arabic. The initiative seeks to bridge the critical humanitarian needs gap in Yemen by providing additional support in the amount of US $500 million to support 10-12 million affected Yemenis through UN, international, regional and local organizations. During the press conference, held at the center's headquarters in Riyadh, Dr. Al Rabeeah stated that this initiative comes in response to the food crisis in Yemen. Its primary objectives are to help fill the critical gap in food security, alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people, and ensure access to food and nutrition for children in all regions. Consistent with the Kingdom's humanitarian initiatives to date, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, have contributed to the United Nations 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan in the amount of USD 1.250 billion. These contributions are in addition to direct humanitarian aid provided by KSrelief, the Emirates Red Crescent, as well as other coalition states to the Yemeni people. SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaylen R. Hansen, CPA, Harry O. Parsons, CPA, and Susan L. Somers were recently recognized for their leadership and efforts to advance the accounting profession by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), during NASBA's 111th Annual Meeting. Held in Scottsdale, AZ, Oct. 28-31, the meeting attracted representatives from 52 U.S. jurisdictions. Gaylen R. Hansen, CPA, of Denver, CO, received the William H. Van Rensselaer Public Service Award, which recognizes individuals who have contributed to the development of a new program, improvement of a current program for the Boards of Accountancy, or who have influenced passage of rules or statutes to strengthen accountancy regulations. Hansen is a retired partner of EKS&H, and subsequent to its merger with Plante Moran, is now of counsel. He has been a member of the Auditing Standards Board since 2016 and has spoken at conferences, seminars and roundtables across the globe. Hansen also represents NASBA on the advisory committees of the International Audit and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA). He is a former NASBA chair, director-at-large, secretary and Mountain regional director, as well as a former chair of NASBA's Ethics, Nominating and Strategic Initiatives Committees and Past Chair Advisory Council. From 1995-2012, Hansen served as one of NASBA's representatives on the AICPA's Professional Ethics Committee (PEEC). His accolades include receiving the 2014 Colorado Society of CPAs Distinguished Service Award and being named one of Accounting Today's 2013 Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting. Harry O. Parsons, CPA, of Reno, NV, received the NASBA Distinguished Service Award, which honors individuals who have demonstrated an unswerving commitment and dedication to enhancing the mission of NASBA. Parsons is a former NASBA director-at-large, Mountain regional director, chair of the Enforcement Resources and Ethics Committees and was a member of NASBA's Strategic Initiatives, Legislative Support and Communications Committees. Currently, he is the managing shareholder and audit principal for Pangborn & Co., Ltd., serves on the Finance Committee of the First United Methodist Church in Reno and is a chapter advisor for the Reno Chapter of DeMolay. Susan L. Somers, of Topeka, KS, received the Lorraine P. Sachs Standard of Excellence Award, which recognizes a current state board executive or administrator that has shown outstanding service to improving the effectiveness of accounting regulation on local and national fronts. Since 1996, Somers has been the executive director of the Kansas Board of Accountancy and is a member of NASBA's CBT Administration Committee. She is a former member of NASBA's Committee Resource Panel and Ethics, Litigation Response and Assistance and Uniform Accountancy Act Committees. In previous years, Somers has also served on various not-for-profit boards. About NASBA Since 1908, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) has served as a forum for the nation's Boards of Accountancy, which administer the Uniform CPA Examination, license more than 650,000 certified public accountants and regulate the practice of public accountancy in the United States. NASBA's mission is to enhance the effectiveness and advance the common interests of the Boards of Accountancy in meeting their regulatory responsibilities. The Association promotes the exchange of information among accountancy boards, serving the needs of the 55 U.S. jurisdictions. NASBA is headquartered in Nashville, TN, with a satellite office in New York, NY, an International Computer Testing and Call Center in Guam and operations in San Juan, PR. To learn more about NASBA, visit www.nasba.org. Contacts: Cassandra Gray Office: (615) 564-2172 [email protected] Dina Barabash Office: (615) 574-6516 [email protected] SOURCE National Association of State Boards of Accountancy - NASBA Related Links http://www.nasba.org FT. MYERS, Fla., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- National Asset Services (NAS), one of the Country's leading commercial real estate management companies and specialists in providing loan maturity solutions, has successfully delivered a lending source to investors at Market Square, a regional power center located in Ft. Myers, Florida. Built in 2004, and acquired in April 2005 by the TIC co-ownership group, the retail property features Cost Plus, Petco, Michael's and Dollar Tree. Market Square retail stores account for 65,688 square feet of the approximately 1.1 million square-feet of total retail located at the intersection US 41 (Tamiami Trail) and Daniels Parkway. Because options for refinancing the tenant-in-common (TIC) retail property in today's marketplace are limited and disadvantageous, NAS strategically guided ownership, consisting of 13 TIC investors, through an innovative refinancing strategy that involved reorganizing and consolidating the TIC group into a new limited liability company. The formation of the newly created limited liability company enabled ownership to take advantage of an IRS code that enabled the contribution of the property to the new ownership entity without realizing a gain or loss. The new ownership entity then became the borrower under a new loan. NAS worked with Keystone Mortgage Corporation executives, Nick Viscount, Senior Vice President and Tim W. Winton, Senior Vice President, to secure financing for Market Square shopping center. Keystone Mortgage is a California-based company, known for its expertise as a commercial financing advisor and is an example of NAS' network of highly reputable industry resources. "Despite challenging circumstances, we were pleased to forge a pathway on which our clients could continue as investors in the property," commented Karen E. Kennedy, President and Founder of National Asset Services. "We have a strong reputation for closing, which was a key factor in securing a capital source for refinancing the asset." Built in 2004, and acquired in April 2005 by the TIC co-ownership group, the retail property features Cost Plus, Petco, Michael's and Dollar Tree. The retail stores account for 65,688 square feet of the approximately 1.1 million square-feet of total retail located at the intersection US 41 (Tamiami Trail) and Daniels Parkway. The area serves as one the primary shopping destinations for residents of Ft. Myers. National Asset Services will continue serving as the asset manager for Market Square while Saint Louis-based Sansone Group, has assumed property management responsibility for the property. About National Asset Services (NAS) and NAS Investment Solutions NAS is a commercial real estate management company that works with over 90 investment groups in properties of a nationwide portfolio valued at over $2 billion. The company manages a wide range of diverse commercial real estate: Office, medical office, multifamily, retail, student housing, assisted living and industrial flex properties. The company manages solely owned and multi-owner properties. NAS offers a wide-range of asset management capabilities. They include: Real estate strategy analysis; long-range business objectives; monitoring changing market conditions; investor relations; real estate and investor accounting; loan modification and workout solutions; exit and hold strategies; leasing & marketing; tenant retention plans; research studies; site selections; feasibility studies; insurance risk management; capital improvement planning and tracking; property tax appeal services and cost segregation services. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, NAS operates regional offices in Orlando, FL and Austin, Texas. NAS Investment Solutions (NASIS) was established to leverage the company's vast experience in investment property management by identifying, acquiring and enhancing commercial real estate investments across all sectors of the real estate industry. NASIS' most recent investment offering, open to accredited investors, is a Class-A, industrial office property occupied by a single tenant with a A+ credit rating. The tenant is on a triple net lease and the investment offering is structured as a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) and eligible for a 1031 exchange. For more information about NAS and NASIS, visit nasassets.com or nasinvestmentsolutions.com JW Robison 310-795-8985 [email protected] SOURCE National Asset Services Related Links http://nasassets.com ALBANY, New York, November 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As per expert analysis, ophthalmic lasers market had accumulated revenue worth US$0.97 bn in 2015, which is further expected to grow up to US$1.44 bn by 2024. This is decent increase considering the fact that the global ophthalmic lasers market will expand at a steady CAGR of 4.60% during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. From the perspective of end users, this market showcased ophthalmic clinics holding a leading edge over other segments. This is further expected to continue in the next years too. Geography-wise, North America contributes maximum revenue in the market thanks to a strong medical infrastructure as well as rising cases of issues related to eyes in the region. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=20864 Increasing Cases of Eye Issues Increases Demand for Ophthalmic Lasers With increasing pollution and levels of harmful emissions, the number of eye problems is increasing rapidly all over the globe. This is primarily increasing the demand of quality treatment procedures that include the use of ophthalmic lasers, consequently boosting growth in the global ophthalmic lasers market. Moreover, the occurrence of partial and complete blindness has substantially risen in the past couple of years and could rise twice as much by 2020. Rising instances of disorders such as cataract, diabetes, and glaucoma is causing a dramatic increase in eyesight problems, which might lead to partial or complete vision loss. Such scenarios too are responsible for driving growth in the global ophthalmic lasers market. Request a Sample of Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=20864 A rising number of ophthalmologists with a vast experience that can diagnosis and provide quality medical care in the form of laser surgeries to deal with serious eye conditions is a key factor stoking growth in the global ophthalmic lasers market. Moreover, with a rising awareness about the effectiveness of available laser treatment methods is also expected to augment adoption of ophthalmic lasers from a global perspective in the next few years. Expensive Laser Devices Discourage Potential Patients from Opting for Treatments However, high costs of such lasers is expected to discourage potential users with low disposal income from opting for their use in treatments, thereby restraining the global ophthalmic lasers market. Nonetheless, the market is expected to showcase a splendid growth during the forthcoming years thanks to the efforts taken by several manufacturers to produce cost effective ophthalmic laser devices. The restraints affecting the global ophthalmic lasers market are also expected to decrease as companies are focus on improving their geographical expansion in the healthcare industry. Request for Discount on This Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=20864 The global ophthalmic lasers market depicts the presence of a highly fragmented market, says Transparency Market Research on the basis of a recently published report. Such a diverse scenario mainly exists due to the presence of innumerable small, medium, and large-scale players in the market, thereby showcasing a notably distributed scenario. In spite of such a fragmented vendor landscape, the competition is substantially moderate. However, the next few years are expected to depict a burgeoning competition thanks to an increase in the number of new entrants in the market. These companies are also anticipated to help increase the number of advanced product launches. Some of the prime companies operating in the global ophthalmic lasers market are: Alcon, Ellex Medical Laser Ltd., Quantel Group, Lumenis Ltd., and Carl Zeiss. These top five businesses had held a notable share of 35.0% of total revenue generated. Browse Press Release - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/ophthalmic-lasers-market.htm This review is based on the findings of a TMR report, titled, "Ophthalmic Lasers Market (Product - Diode Lasers, Femtosecond Lasers, Excimer Lasers, Nd:YAG Lasers, Argon Lasers, and SLT Lasers; Application - Glaucoma, Cataract, Refractive Error Corrections, Diabetic Retinopathy, and AMD; End User - Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Ophthalmic Clinics) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Volume, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024." Key Takeaways: The next few years are expected to depict a burgeoning competition thanks to an increase in the number of new entrants in the market. A rising number of ophthalmologists with a vast experience that can diagnosis and provide quality medical care in the form of laser surgeries to deal with serious eye conditions is a key factor stoking growth in the global ophthalmic lasers market. Browse More Healthcare Market Research Reports Popular Research Reports by TMR: Glaucoma Therapeutics Market (Drug Class - Prostaglandins, Beta Blockers, Alpha Agonists, Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors, Combination Medications, Cholinergics; End use - Hospitals, Ophthalmic Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/glaucoma-therapeutics-market.html Ophthalmic Ultrasound Systems Market (Product - A-Scan, B-Scan, Pachymeter, Combined Scan, and Ultrasound Bio Microscope (UBM); End User - Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Eye Research Institutes, and Ophthalmic Clinics; Modality - Standalone and Portable): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ophthalmic-ultrasound-systems-market.html Ophthalmology Surgical Devices Market (Product - Cataract Surgery Devices (Intraocular Lenses (IOLs), Ophthalmic Viscoelastic Devices), Glaucoma Surgery Devices, Vitreoretinal Surgery Devices, Refractive Surgery Devices; End use - Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Ophthalmic Clinics): https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ophthalmology-surgical-devices-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr. Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://theglobalhealthnews.com/ SOURCE Transparency Market Research LONDON, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- J P Jenkins (jpjenkins.com) would like to welcome Sama Resources Inc. (TSX.V: SME, hereinafter "Sama"), one of the most exciting Junior Mining Companies in Canada listed on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange to our trading platform in London. Sama is a growth-oriented resource company focused on exploring the Samapleu Nickel - Copper polymetallic project in Ivory Coast which has been evolving into a significant base metals mining district in West Africa. The Company is managed by experienced industry professionals with a strong track record of discovery and operations lead by Executive chairman Benoit La Salle and President and CEO Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet. JPJ's mining specialist Malcolm Burne says: "This company offers a unique opportunity to co-invest in a small mining exploration company along with major resource icons such as HPX (lead by M. Robert Friedland), MMG (China Min Metals), Sprott Global and African Lion a well-respected investment fund." Their collective view or participation recognises the world class potential of Sama's projects that it has been building over the last decade. Sama has commenced a 6,000-meter drilling program at one of their recent discoveries named Yepleu. The drilling program is designed to test high-conductivity targets at depth outlined using the state of the art HPX's proprietary Typhoon electromagnetic geophysical tool. The drilling program is targeting semi-massive and massive polymetallic (Nickel, Copper, Palladium and Cobalt) sulphide targets located between 600 m and 900 m from surface. Capital Drilling Cote d'Ivoire Limited is positioning the drill rig for the first hole. The company also has a substantial shareholding in SRG Graphite Inc., a graphite project it had spun out in a separately publicly listed vehicle. Sama's participation in SRG alone is approximately equal to half of its market cap effectively meaning investors can access this exciting undervalued venture for only circa CAD $65m market cap. Ownership of the shares is very tightly held with little free float which means any real successful assay results from the current drilling program will have a sharp impact on the company's value. For more information please contact: Veronika Oswald, J P Jenkins Director Tel: +44(0)20-7469-0937 E: [email protected] Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet Sama Resources Inc President and CEO Tel: (514)726-4158 E: [email protected] Matt Johnston, Sama Resources Inc. Corporate Development Advisor Tel: +1(604)443-3835 E: [email protected] SOURCE J P Jenkins BEIJING, Nov. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens PLM Software and Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Co., Ltd. have signed a strategic agreement focusing on the digitalization of Feihe Dairy's research and development, simulation and testing, as well as quality monitoring, supply chain management and production execution. With Siemens' leading digital innovation platform and industry expertise, this cooperation can help Feihe Dairy to realize its digitalization strategy and set a benchmark for digital innovation in the Chinese dairy industry. "Siemens PLM Software is a trusted leader in the field of digital manufacturing. In fact, our Kedong factory started cooperating with Siemens PLM Software last year in the deployment of a manufacturing execution system." said Feng Hailong, CIO of Feihe Dairy Group. "Siemens PLM Software has a forward-looking strategy and global experience that best supports our goals and vision, as well as those of the entire Chinese dairy industry. We trust Siemens PLM Software to help us overcome the challenges in the journey to digital transformation." Founded in 1962 with its headquarters in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province, Feihe Dairy is one of the earliest milk powder producers in China. It created milk powder formula more suitable for Chinese consumers, especially for babies and infants. However, with the decades-long growth of the Chinese market and increased global competition in recent years, Feihe Dairy found itself in need of upgrading from a traditional dairy manufacturer to a modern digital enterprise; a consistent issue across the entire Chinese dairy industry. Feihe Dairy faces many challenges in looking to transform their business model, including the areas of new product research and development, quality control, data transparency, production efficiency, and overseas acquisitions management. To address these, Feihe Dairy has achieved the whole process of control from pasture planting, large scale dairy farming, to production and processing, logistics and warehousing, channel management, and even after-sales service. It can further improve the ability of product research and development control, strengthening the construction of enterprise digital capability. After careful consideration, Feihe Dairy has selected Siemens PLM Software for its end-to-end digital innovation strategy, and its ability to integrate multiple aspects and systems to fully support the transformation to digitalization, including enterprise resource planning, product lifecycle management, manufacturing execution systems and automation. In addition, the embedded quality (LIMS) and advanced planning and scheduling (APS) functionality of Siemens' offering were also seen as key differentiators. Siemens' digital innovation platform can create comprehensive and precise digital models of products and production operations as a means to manage the complexity and simulate the performance of smart products and smart production operations, helping manage data and processes within the value chain to maintain a high level of quality. It also helps to streamline and digitalize business processes within the group, which can improve efficiency in production chains. With this integrated solution, the manual process and paper files will be replaced by an automated process and digital files, which can enhance efficiency within Feihe Dairy. Meanwhile, customers can also access the information about products and orders in the process and system so that production information can be truly traceable, which can help drive Feihe Dairy's business model toward make-to-order (MTO) and gain great competitive advantages on the market. Feihe Diary plans to first implement these solutions in its plant in Kedong. "We are honored to be selected by and work with Feihe Dairy in their digital transformation," said Leo Liang, senior vice president and managing director of Siemens PLM Software for Greater China. "Feihe Dairy is a leading brand in the industry and the nation, and the dairy industry is a key aspect of people's wellness. Siemens PLM Software is committed to help not only Feihe Dairy but the whole Chinese dairy industry to upgrade and transform." Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Digital Factory Division, is a leading global provider of software solutions to drive the digital transformation of industry, creating new opportunities for manufacturers to realize innovation. With headquarters in Plano, Texas, and over 140,000 customers worldwide, Siemens PLM Software works with companies of all sizes to transform the way ideas come to life, the way products are realized, and the way products and assets in operation are used and understood. For more information on Siemens PLM Software products and services, visit www.siemens.com/plm. Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/siemens_press Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. With its publicly listed subsidiary Siemens Healthineers AG, the company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2018, which ended on September 30, 2018, Siemens generated revenue of 83.0 billion and net income of 6.1 billion. At the end of September 2018, the company had around 379,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com. Note: Siemens and the Siemens logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Siemens AG. All other trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks belong to their respective holders. SOURCE Siemens PLM Software Related Links http://www.siemens.com BERKELEY, Calif. and BELLVUE, Colo., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sovos Brands ("Sovos") today announced that it has completed its previously announced transaction to merge noosa yoghurt, LLC, a fast-growing premium yoghurt manufacturer, into the Sovos portfolio of brands. "The addition of noosa allows Sovos to play in three large, on-trend food categories frozen, sauces and now yoghurt," said Todd Lachman, President and CEO of Sovos Brands. "Over the past four years, noosa has more than tripled its sales, market share and local production capacity in Colorado. We plan to build on this success and expand noosa into new markets and geographies and extend it into new categories outside of spoonable yoghurt." By joining the Sovos portfolio, noosa will diversify Sovos into a third temperature state, refrigerated, providing capabilities that can be leveraged across Sovos. It will nearly double Sovos' sales, diversify the company's customer base and create a larger infrastructure. Sovos is a Berkeley, California-based food and beverage company led by experienced consumer packaged goods executives and backed by Advent International. noosa is the third addition to the Sovos portfolio in less than two years. Sovos' mission is to acquire premium, on-trend brands with high-quality products that have significant growth opportunities, combining industry expertise with fresh thinking to bring authentic, delicious food into more homes. The company acquired Michael Angelo's Gourmet Foods, a leading producer of premium, authentic frozen Italian entrees, and Rao's Specialty Foods, which produces the leading super premium pasta sauce and other Italian specialty foods, in 2017. noosa was co-founded in 2009 by Koel Thomae, an Australian expat, and Rob Graves, a Colorado dairy farmer, who set out to bring the Aussie-style yoghurt with a creamy texture and sweet-tart flavor profile to the U.S. market. noosa boasts impressive consumer loyalty with premium positioning, and is made with whole milk, a touch of wildflower North American honey and real fruit purees on a family farm in Bellvue, Colorado. Sovos values noosa's commitment to Colorado and plans to continue to manufacture products at the Bellvue facility. Deutsche Bank served as financial advisor to noosa, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acted as noosa's legal counsel. McDermott Will and Emery acted as Sovos' legal counsel. ABOUT SOVOS BRANDS Sovos Brands is a new kind of food and beverage company with a mission to acquire and build one-of-a-kind brands. The brands in its portfolio include Michael Angelo's, a leading producer of premium, authentic frozen Italian entrees; noosa yoghurt, a producer of premium yoghurt made with whole milk and wildflower North American honey; and Rao's Homemade, a producer of super premium pasta sauces and other Italian specialty foods. Sovos has the soul of a startup, the experience of an industry leader and the financial backing of Advent International, one of the world's largest private equity firms. The company has a one-of-a-kind approach to brands, business and peoplein fact, the only thing that's old school about the business is the name, inspired by the old Latin term sovos, which means unique or one of a kind. This one-of-a-kind vision leads the company's focus on people and brands, working to ensure that both can really thrive. Find out more about Sovos at www.sovosbrands.com, Michael Angelo's at www.michaelangelos.com, noosa at www.noosayoghurt.com, and Rao's Homemade at www.raos.com. ABOUT ADVENT INTERNATIONAL Founded in 1984, Advent International is one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors. The firm has invested in over 340 private equity transactions in 41 countries and as of June 30, 2018, had $41 billion in assets under management. With offices on four continents, Advent has established a globally integrated team of over 190 investment professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. The firm focuses on investments in five core sectors, including business and financial services; healthcare; industrial; retail, consumer and leisure; and technology, media and telecom. After more than 30 years dedicated to international investing, Advent remains committed to partnering with management teams to deliver sustained revenue and earnings growth for its portfolio companies. For more information, visit: www.adventinternational.com. Please visit sovosbrands.com for high-res photos of products in the Sovos Brands portfolio. SOURCE Sovos Brands Related Links http://www.sovosbrands.com The depositary for the tender offer has indicated that, as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 19, 2018, 20,036,092 shares of Essendant common stock have been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer (excluding 466,742 shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures), which represent, together with the 4,203,631 shares already owned by Egg Parent, Egg Merger Sub or any of their respective "affiliates" (as defined by Section 251(h)(6) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL")), approximately 64.4% of the outstanding shares. Stockholders who have already tendered their shares into the tender offer do not have to re-tender their shares or take any other action as a result of the extension of the expiration time of the tender offer. Completion of the tender offer remains subject to additional conditions described in the tender offer statement on Schedule TO filed by Egg Merger Sub, Egg Parent and Staples with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on September 24, 2018 (as amended and supplemented, the "Schedule TO"). Such conditions include the expiration or termination of any waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") and the number of shares representing a majority of the shares then outstanding (including shares then owned by Egg Parent, Egg Merger Sub or any of their respective "affiliates" (as defined by Section 251(h)(6) of the DGCL)) being validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the tender offer (including any extensions). The tender offer will continue to be extended until all conditions are satisfied or waived, or until the tender offer is terminated, in either case pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and as described in the Schedule TO. D.F. King & Co., Inc. ("D.F. King") is acting as information agent in the tender offer. Equiniti Trust Company is acting as depositary and paying agent in the tender offer. Requests for documents and questions regarding the tender offer may be directed to D.F. King by telephone at (800) 870-0126 or banks and brokers may call (212) 269-5550. About Essendant Essendant Inc. is a leading national distributor of workplace items, with 2017 net sales of $5.0 billion. The company provides access to a broad assortment of over 170,000 items, including janitorial and breakroom supplies, technology products, traditional office products, industrial supplies, cut sheet paper products, automotive products and office furniture. Essendant serves a diverse group of customers, including independent resellers, national resellers and e-commerce businesses. Essendant's network of distribution centers enables it to ship most products overnight to more than ninety percent of the U.S. About Staples Staples brings technology and people together in innovative ways to consistently deliver products, services and expertise that elevate and delight customers. Staples is in business with businesses and is passionate about helping businesses work better. Headquartered outside of Boston, Mass., Staples, Inc. operates primarily in North America. More information about Staples is available at https://www.staples.com . Notice to Investors This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Essendant's common stock or any other securities. The solicitation and the offer to purchase shares of Essendant's common stock described in this press release will be made only pursuant to the offer to purchase, letter of transmittal and related materials that Staples has filed on Schedule TO with the SEC, in each case, as amended from time to time. In addition, Essendant has filed its recommendation of the tender offer on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC. Additionally, Essendant and Staples will file other relevant materials in connection with the proposed acquisition of Essendant by Staples pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF ESSENDANT ARE ADVISED TO READ THE SCHEDULE TO (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9, AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY PRIOR TO MAKING ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO TENDERING THEIR SHARES IN THE TENDER OFFER BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES THERETO. Investors and stockholders may obtain free copies of the Schedule TO and Schedule 14D9, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and other documents filed by the parties (when available), at the SEC's web site at https://www.sec.gov , and from the information agent named in the tender offer materials. Investors may also obtain, at no charge, any such documents filed with or furnished to the SEC by Essendant under the investor relations section of Essendant's website at https://www.essendant.com/ or by contacting Essendant's Investor Relations Department at (847) 627-2900. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the statements made with respect to the tender offer and related transactions, including the benefits expected from the acquisition and the expected timing of the completion of the transaction. From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements may also be included in other information released to the public. These forward-looking statements are intended to provide management's current expectations or plans for future operating and financial performance, based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as "may," "can," "could," "would," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "will," "is likely to," "scheduled," "positioned to," "continue," "forecast," "aim," "goal," "target," "predicting," "projection," "potential" or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements may include references to goals, plans, strategies, objectives, projected costs or savings, anticipated future performance, results, events or transactions of Essendant or Staples and the expected timing of the tender offer and other statements that are not strictly historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, including the planned completion of the tender offer, and could ultimately prove inaccurate. This means the forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: uncertainties as to the timing of the tender offer and the merger; uncertainties as to how many Essendant stockholders will tender their shares in the offer; the possibility that competing offers will be made; the ability to receive the required consents and regulatory approvals to the tender offer and the merger and to satisfy the other conditions to the closing of the proposed acquisition of Essendant by Staples on a timely basis or at all, including under the HSR Act; the occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of one or both of Essendant and Staples to terminate the Merger Agreement; the risk that, prior to the completion of the transaction, Essendant's business and its relationships with employees, customers, vendors and other business partners could experience significant disruption due to transaction-related uncertainty; the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the tender offer or the merger may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; negative effects of the announcement of the proposed acquisition of Essendant by Staples on the market price of Essendant's common stock and/or on Essendant's or Staples' respective businesses, financial condition, results of operations and financial performance; risks associated with transaction-related litigation; the ability of Essendant to retain and hire key personnel; and the risks and uncertainties pertaining to Essendant's business, including those detailed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Essendant's public periodic filings with the SEC. There can be no assurance that the proposed acquisition of Essendant by Staples or any other transaction described above will in fact be consummated in the manner described or at all. Stockholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these risks and uncertainties in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. It is not possible to anticipate or foresee all risks and uncertainties, and investors should not consider any list of risks and uncertainties to be exhaustive or complete. For additional information on identifying factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from those stated in forward-looking statements, please see the statements and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, Schedule TO and Schedule 14D-9 filed with or furnished to the SEC by Essendant, Staples, Egg Parent or Egg Merger Sub and other written statements made by Essendant and Staples from time to time. The forward-looking information herein is given as of this date only and is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Essendant and Staples undertake no obligation to revise or update it. Contacts For Essendant: Janet Zelenka Senior Vice President and CFO (847) 627-7000 Ryon Wharton Vice President Finance and Investor Relations (847) 627-2900 For Staples: Investors: D.F. King & Co., Inc. Edward McCarthy / Kristian Klein, (212) 269-5550 Media: Gladstone Place Partners Michael Flaherty, (212) 230-5930 SOURCE Staples, Inc.; Essendant Inc. Related Links https://www.essendant.com PORTLAND, Oregon, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Technological advancements in novel urinary incontinence devices, surge in geriatric population suffering from urological disorders, and rise in healthcare expenditure in developing countries are expected to boost the growth of the global urinary incontinence devices market Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Urinary Incontinence Devices Market by Product (Urinary Catheters, Vaginal Slings, Electrical Stimulation Devices, Artificial Urinary Sphincters, and Other Devices), Category (External Urinary Incontinence Devices, and Internal Urinary Incontinence Devices), Incontinence Type (Stress Incontinence, Urge Incontinence, Overflow Incontinence, and Functional Incontinence) and End User (Hospitals, Clinics, and Other): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023". The report offers comprehensive analyses of the industry trends; dynamic factors such as drivers, restraints, challenges, & opportunities; competitive landscape; top investment strategies; and key growth strategies. According to the report, the global urinary incontinence devices market was pegged at $1.80 billion in 2017 and is expected to garner $3.41 billion by 2023, registering a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) Rapid developments in innovative urinary incontinence devices and increase in urological disorders among the geriatric population drive the growth of the global urinary incontinence devices market. However, lack of awareness about the benefits of urinary incontinence devices and post-operative complications associated with such devices hamper the market growth. On the other hand, growing healthcare expenditures in developing countries are expected to create lucrative opportunities in future. Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4550 Vaginal slings segment to portray highest demand through 2023 The vaginal slings segment held the largest share of the market in 2017, contributing about 40% of the total revenue. In addition, the segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 14.4% during the forecast period, owing to the growing preference for vaginal slings for the treatment of urinary incontinence. The other segments analyzed in the report include urinary catheters, electrical stimulation devices, artificial urinary sphincters, and other devices. Stress incontinence segment to lead the market through 2023 The stress incontinence segment held the largest share in 2017, contributing more than half of the total market share, owing to the steep increase in the number of women suffering from urinary incontinence with symptoms of stress incontinence. However, the urge incontinence segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 12.6% during the study period, owing to high prevalence of neurological diseases that leads to urinary tract dysfunction, which eventually leads to urge incontinence. The report analyzes other segments such as overflow incontinence and functional incontinence. For Purchase Enquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/4550 Internal urinary incontinence devices segment to manifest fastest growth by 2023 Internal urinary incontinence devices segment accounted about two-thirds share of the market, and is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 12.3% from 2017 to 2023. In addition, the external urinary incontinence devices segment would manifest a gradual growth during the study period. Major end users in the market The report includes the analysis of the major end users in the global urinary incontinence devices market, such as hospitals, clinics, and others. In 2017, the hospitals segment contributed the largest share, accounting for about half of the total revenue, because majority of the pregnant women suffer from urinary incontinence as well as a large patient pool who are admitted in hospitals suffer from chronic conditions. However, the clinics segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 11.9% during the forecast period. North America to retain largest market share by 2023 North America dominated the global urinary incontinence devices market in 2017, contributing about one-third share of the total revenue. This is attributed to the early adoption of novel urinary incontinence devices along with growing prevalence of stress urinary incontinence among women in this region. However, Asia-Pacific region is expected to register 12.9% CAGR during the forecast period, owing to its high population base, growing disposable incomes, and improvement in patient awareness about advanced urinary incontinence management. The other regions analyzed in the report include Europe and Latin America, Middle East and Africa (LAMEA). Major market players The report analyzes several leading players in the market, including Coloplast, C. R. Bard, Inc., Ethicon, Inc., Cook Medical, Prosurg, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, ConvaTec Group Plc, Caldera Medical Inc, Covidien plc (Medtronic), and Cogentix Medical Inc. 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(*Terms and Conditions apply) Get subscription: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout/732172 Trending Reports of Medical Devices Market: Dental CAD/CAM Materials & Systems Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017 - 2023 Occupational Medicines Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018 - 2025 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com SOURCE Allied Market Research WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to yesterday's shooting at Chicago Mercy Hospital, Vidor Friedman, MD, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians released the following statement: "On behalf of the nation's emergency physicians, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the police officer and Mercy Hospital employees murdered yesterday in an apparent domestic violence incident at the hospital. We are especially saddened by the murder of Dr. Tamara O'Neal, a 38-year-old emergency physician, and one of our colleagues. "One tragedy amongst many tragedies..five shot in Chicago, five shot in Denver, St. Louis How many more throughout the country just yesterday? Through this past Saturday in Chicago alone, 2,656 people have been the victims of firearm violence in 2018. "Everyday many people and families are harmed by firearms and those who wield them. Can we find the will collectively to say 'enough already' and do something other than watch, holding our breath for the next devastating event? "While the shock and grief of this senseless tragedy are still fresh, we are resolved to redouble our efforts at dealing with what has unfortunately become a regular occurrence in our nation. "Since the inception of our specialty, emergency physicians have been on the front lines in the prehospital setting and inside the nation's emergency departments, responding to acts of violence, such as this one. As a specialty, we will continue to lead and to collaborate with partners across the emergency response continuum, in efforts aimed at reducing potentially preventable deaths and disability due to these violent incidents." "To this aim ACEP supports further research, and legislation, regarding the effectiveness and ramifications of extreme risk protection orders (ERPO) and Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVRO). ACEP is convening public health and injury prevention experts to review the current state of research and legislation regarding firearm violence and make recommendations to our board of directors. ACEP also supports the efforts of the American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine (AFFIRM), a non-profit organization founded and led by emergency physicians. AFFIRM and others are working to end the epidemic of gun violence through research, innovation and evidence-based practice." ACEP abhors the current level of intentional and accidental firearm injuries and finds that it poses a threat to the health and safety of the public. In accordance with our policy, ACEP supports legislative, regulatory, and public health efforts that: Encourage the change of societal norms that glorify a culture of violence to one of social civility; Investigate the effect of socioeconomic and other cultural risk factors on firearm injury and provide public and private funding for firearm safety and injury prevention research; Create a confidential national firearm injury research registry while encouraging states to establish a uniform approach to tracking and recording firearm related injuries; Promote access to effective, affordable, and sustainable mental health services; Protect the duty of physicians and encourage health care provider discussions with patients on firearm safety; Promote the development of technology that increases firearm safety; Support universal background checks for firearm transactions; Require the enforcement of existing laws and support new legislation that prevents high risk and prohibited individuals from obtaining firearms by any means; Restrict the sale and ownership of weapons, munitions, and large-capacity magazines that are designed for military or law enforcement use. ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies. SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Related Links http://www.acep.org WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), in response to U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar's temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration from requiring that asylum seekers present themselves lawfully at a port of entry: "Last night, yet another unelected activist judge stopped the president from using the authority granted to him by Congress to protect the integrity of our immigration system and our national sovereignty. As the Supreme Court recently affirmed in Trump v. Hawaii, Congress has given the president broad authority to limit or even stop the entry of aliens. When President Trump took action to ensure that asylum is not a free pass to cross our borders illegally, he was on firm legal footing. However, that doesn't seem to matter anymore, as a single district judge can now violate decades of Supreme Court precedent on executive power and sovereignty to advance the agenda of open borders groups. We urge the administration to seek immediate review of this ruling." Contact: Matthew Tragesser, 202-328-7004 ABOUT FAIR Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 2 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) Related Links http://www.fairus.org LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As winter approaches, nighttime temperatures in Southern California regularly dip into the 40s. Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) will join the LA Kings this Saturday, November 24, to give away three Nest smart thermostats at the team's Fan Fest event outside the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. Fans who stop by SoCalGas' booth can enter to win the smart thermostats and will also have a chance to win prizes, including a signed LA Kings team jersey, fleece blanket, beanie, and rally towel. There is no cost to enter, and thermostat winners will be announced each hour at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. "Smart thermostats are a great way for our customers to conserve energy and save money on natural gas bills, especially during the colder months when people use more gas to heat their homes," said Sharon Tomkins, vice president of customer solutions and strategy at SoCalGas. "We also offer great cost-saving incentives that make the purchase of a smart thermostat an even more worthwhile investment." SoCalGas is partnering with the LA Kings for the 2018 2019 season to share ways Southern Californians can keep their bills affordable and improve energy efficiency, as well as the latest developments in renewable natural gas, and other programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The new partnership includes radio spots and in-stadium marketing, featuring digital ads and video, in addition to Fan Fest sponsorships. For more information about SoCalGas' partnership with the LA Kings, visit socalgas.com/kings. SoCalGas offers rebates on hundreds of home products that help save energy. SoCalGas customers can apply online for rebates in a matter of minutes. Among the most popular products are smart thermostats, which can learn residents' schedule and temperature preferences and adjust the temperature in their home automatically. Using a mobile app or computer, smart thermostats also allow users to adjust home temperatures and even use local weather conditions to help control energy costs. In addition, smart thermostats update software periodically to ensure the devices use the latest algorithms and energy-saving features available. Last winter, customers who participated in a smart thermostat energy efficiency pilot program saved enough natural gas to dry two million loads of laundry. SoCalGas also offers a website called SoCalGas Marketplace, where customers can find and compare cost-savings on various ENERGY STAR certified appliances. Customers can save $75 on select smart thermostats and Energy Star natural gas dryers, $200 on select water heaters, and up to $75 on select washing machines. Customers can also save money on low-flow showerheads. Over their lifetime, energy efficient appliances can save customers hundreds of dollars in energy bills average savings from energy efficiency appliances are approximately $1,500 with a tankless water heater, $550 with a natural gas furnace, $200 with a storage water heater, and $125 with a smart thermostat. SoCalGas is a leader in researching and developing new technologies that improve energy efficiency and protect the environment. Over the past five years, SoCalGas' energy efficiency programs have delivered more than 146 million therms in energy savings enough to power 326,000 households a year and have reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 775,000 metric tons the equivalent of removing nearly 165,000 cars from the road. In addition to purchasing energy efficient appliances, there are many simple steps customers can take to reduce their natural gas use during cold weather to help keep energy costs affordable, including: Setting your thermostat to 68 degrees when you are home and 55 degrees when you are not home. Lowering your thermostat three to five degrees can save up to 10 percent on heating costs. Installing proper caulking and weather-stripping; this can save roughly 10 to 15 percent on heating and cooling costs. Washing clothes in cold water to save up to 10 percent on water heating costs. Cleaning or replace your furnace filters according to manufacturer recommendations. Having your air ducts tested for leaks. Leaky ducts can cost between 10 to 30 percent in heating and cooling costs. Turning down the temperature on your water heater. Taking shorter showers to reduce your natural gas use. Fixing leaky faucets and pipes. Hot water leaks cause increased demand on the water heater, which increases natural gas use. One drop of water per second can waste 500 gallons of hot water per year. Limiting use of non-essential natural gas appliances, such as spas and fireplaces. More tips on home energy saving are available at socalgas.com/homeenergysavings. About SoCalGas Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable natural gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Natural gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californiansabout 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants. SoCalGas is committed to investing in its natural gas system infrastructure, while keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2013 through 2017, the company spent nearly $6 billion to upgrade and modernize its natural gas system to enhance safety and reliability. The company is also committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future, and is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas from dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants and the development of renewable energy storage technologies. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook. SOURCE Southern California Gas Company Related Links http://www.socalgas.com Hangzhou is Bahrain's second friendly cooperation in China, and the new relationship represents a significant step towards stronger business ties between the two countries ahead of next year's 30-year anniversary of diplomatic relations. "We are very excited to work with Zhejiang to create a supportive environment for cross-border business activities, enhancing information exchange and facilitating the growth of SMEs in both countries", said Capital Governor HE Sheikh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa. "Both Bahrain and Zhejiang have highly digitised economies. We believe a partnership with the Zhejiang government and local leading businesses, such as Jollychic, will help both Bahrain and Zhejiang accelerate digital transformation in the 21st century economy". "Hangzhou and Bahrain have had a long history of trade - since the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we believe Hangzhou and Manama will have even greater opportunities for cooperation," said Mr. CHEN Weiqiang, Vice Mayor of Hangzhou. "Hangzhou is a leading city when it comes to China's digital economy, and a number of leaders in the industry make Hangzhou their home, including names such as Alibaba. We look forward to strengthening links with the Kingdom of Bahrain in areas around business and culture." Bahrain already has a history of partnering with China's leading firms to grow and evolve their businesses and provide support in their "going-out" efforts. In 2009, Huawei moved its headquarters to Bahrain and is now creating and accelerating Bahrain's 5G ecosystem, one of the most advanced mobile networks in the world. In 2016, Manama signed an MOU on friendly cooperation with Shenzhen, deepening the ties between the two countries. During the delegation's visit to Hangzhou, Bahrain signed a number of memoranda of understandings ("MOU") including: Capital Governorate signed an MOU on Friendly Cooperation with Hangzhou to enhance cooperation in the areas of logistics, transportation, financial services, tourism and training. Additionally, both cities will work to establish formal dialogues and regular visit exchange of high-tech companies. to enhance cooperation in the areas of logistics, transportation, financial services, tourism and training. Additionally, both cities will work to establish formal dialogues and regular visit exchange of high-tech companies. EDB and the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province signed an MOU to strengthen information exchange, establish a channel for regular investment information exchange and strengthen cooperation in economic and trade activities. signed an MOU to strengthen information exchange, establish a channel for regular investment information exchange and strengthen cooperation in economic and trade activities. Bahrain EDB signed an MOU with Jolly c hic Zhejiang's leading e-commerce platform with a focus on the MENA region to explore the possibility for the company to enlarge their BPO offering in the Kingdom and use Bahrain as a hub for the Middle East hic leading e-commerce platform with a focus on the MENA region to explore the possibility for the company to enlarge their BPO offering in the Kingdom and use as a hub for the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) signed an MOU with the Zhejiang International Investment Promotion Centre to establish cooperation between Bahraini and Zhejiang companies and develop institutional capacity for the inception and growth of the private sector in both countries. HE Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the Bahrain EDB, said, "we strongly believe that through these agreements, we can work together to create a shared future for Bahrain, China, and the Gulf region. Being the region's freest economy, Bahrain can be the ideal hub for Chinese business, SMEs and startups to access the numerous opportunities available in the region. We look forward to further enhancing economic ties with Zhejiang and welcoming Chinese companies to set up in the Kingdom." As one of the most open and liberal countries in the Gulf region, Bahrain is known for its unrivaled market access, world-class regulatory environment, highly competitive taxation system, the lowest operating costs in the region, high quality of life, and a technologically literate population. As China sets out to build the Digital Silk Road to nurture the technology leaders of the future, Bahrain the Gateway to the Gulf is perfectly positioned to be a partner of China, connecting Chinese companies to this high-spending region. The Bahraini delegation visited Shenzhen and attended China High-Tech Fair on November 14, and will head to Shijiazhuang and Beijing as it continues to explore deeper economic ties with China ahead of the 30-year anniversary. About Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) is a dynamic public agency with overall responsibility for attracting investment into the Kingdom and supporting initiatives that enhance the investment climate. The EDB works with the government and both current and prospective investors to ensure that Bahrain's investment climate is attractive, to communicate the key strengths, and to identify where opportunities exist for further economic growth through investment. The EDB focuses on several economic sectors that capitalise on Bahrain's competitive advantages. These sectors include financial services, manufacturing, ICT, tourism, logistics and transport. For more information on the Bahrain EDB visit www.bahrainedb.com; for information about Bahrain visit www.bahrain.com. SOURCE Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) Related Links https://bahrainedb.com/ AVENTURA, Fla., Nov. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Benihana, the nation's leading operator of Japanese-inspired Teppanyaki and Sushi Restaurants, has donated over $70,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as part of their long-standing commitment to helping children in need and their broader initiative to celebrate their Japanese heritage. Children's Day is a Japanese national holiday celebrated annually on May 5. The day was established to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness, and Benihana has supported this holiday through various children's donation programs since 2009. From May 22 through November 12, Benihana restaurants featured a St. Jude Milkshake on their menu, with $2 from every milkshake sold donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Guests could choose from Classic Strawberry, featuring a strawberry pocky stick and whipped cream, or Cookies and Cream with an OREO and whipped cream. "Benihana is proud to be a long-time supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said Benihana Chief Executive Officer Tom Baldwin. "St. Jude is a partner who fully supports our long-term commitment to helping children in need." The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of their founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. For more information, visit www.benihana.com. About Benihana Benihana Inc. is the nation's leading operator of Japanese-inspired Teppanyaki and Sushi restaurants with 104 nationwide Benihana, Haru Sushi, RA Sushi and Samurai restaurants, including 10 franchised Benihana restaurants operating throughout the United States, Caribbean, and Central and South America. To learn more about Benihana Inc. and its four brands, please view the corporate video at www.benihana.com/about/company-video/. To download the Benihana Sticker Pack, please visit http://apple.co/2lml8Dg. SOURCE Benihana Related Links http://www.benihana.com NEW HAVEN, Conn., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. (NYSE: BHVN), a biotechnology company focused on advancing innovative therapies for neurological diseases, today announced that it will host its inaugural Annual Research & Development Day on Monday, November 26, 2018 beginning at 10:30 a.m., Eastern Time in New York City. Members of Biohaven's senior management will be joined by expert key opinion leaders to hold discussions on the topics of Biohaven's three platforms: migraine (compounds BHV-3000 and BHV-3500), glutamate modulation (BHV-4157, BHV-5000), and inflammation/immune modifiers (BHV-3241 and pre-clinical programs). Panel discussions will feature the following experts: MIGRAINE Session moderated by Geoff Meacham, PhD, Managing Director, Senior Equity Analyst, Barclays Richard Lipton, MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine Andrew Blumenfeld, MD, Headache Center of Southern California Jelena Pavlovic, MD, PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine Alexander Mauskop, MD, SUNY Downstate Medical Center and New York Headache Center GLUTAMATE MODULATION Session Moderated by Charles Duncan PhD, Managing Director, Senior Equity Analyst, Cantor Fitzgerald John Krystal, MD, Yale University School of Medicine Jeremy Schmahmann, MD, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Christopher Pittenger, MD, PhD, Yale University School of Medicine Howard Feldman, MD, UCSD School of Medicine and Director of Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Sanjay Mathew, MD, Baylor College of Medicine Michael Thase, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine INFLAMMATION AND IMMUNE SYSTEM Session moderated by Tyler Van Buren, Principal, Senior Equity Analyst, Piper Jaffray Horacio Kaufmann, MD, NYU Langone Health, School of Medicine Michael Lynes, PhD, University of Connecticut, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology David Spiegel, MD, PhD, Yale University School of Medicine and Department of Chemistry Institutional investors and analysts may RSVP to [email protected]. Interested parties may access the live video webcast of this presentation by visiting the Investors & Media section of Biohaven's website at www.biohavenpharma.com. A webcast replay of the presentation will be posted on the Biohaven website approximately two hours after the event. About Biohaven Biohaven is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of innovative, late-stage product candidates targeting neurological diseases, including rare disorders. Biohaven has combined internal development and research with intellectual property licensed from companies and institutions including Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, AstraZeneca AB, Yale University, Catalent, Rutgers, ALS Biopharma LLC and Massachusetts General Hospital. Currently, Biohaven's lead development programs include multiple compounds across its CGRP receptor antagonist, glutamate modulation, and myeloperoxidase inhibitor platforms. Biohaven's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the ticker symbol BHVN. More information about Biohaven is available at www.biohavenpharma.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release, including the Company's expectations for future growth and pipeline development, are forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Important factors to be considered in connection with forward-looking statements are described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2018. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For further information, contact Dr. Vlad Coric, the Chief Executive Officer at [email protected] SOURCE Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. Related Links http://www.biohavenpharma.com SEOUL,South Korea, Nov. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Jeju Air announced the airline is ordering 40 737 MAX 8 airplanes with options for 10 additional jets. The deal, valued at up to $5.9 billion at list prices, is the largest order ever placed by a Korean low cost carrier and reflects rising demand for air travel in South Korea. "With Korea's growing commercial aviation market, we are excited to take the next step in expanding our business with the 737 MAX, a world-class airplane that will allow us to improve our operation and continue to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our passengers," said Seok-Joo Lee, President and CEO of Jeju Air. "The 737 MAX 8 and its superior performance and economics make it an ideal airplane to implement our growth strategy as we look to expand beyond Asia in the coming years." Jeju Air, based in South Korea's Jeju Island, began operation in 2005 as the country's first low-cost carrier. Since that time, the carrier has spearheaded the rapid development of Korea's LCC market and contributed to the expansion of the broader Korean commercial aviation industry. Flying a fleet of nearly 40 Next-Generation 737-800s, Jeju Air has steadily expanded its business and its profits. The airline has achieved 25 percent annual sales growth over the past five years and recorded 17 consecutive quarters of profitability. Jeju Air is looking to build on its success with the enhanced version of the 737 jet. The 737 MAX 8 provides more range and offers 14 percent better fuel efficiency and environmental performance thanks to the latest CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets, and other aerodynamic improvements. "We are extremely proud that Jeju Air has become a leader in the vibrant LCC market by flying the Boeing 737. And we are delighted that the airline has chosen to build their future fleet with this major order for the 737 MAX," said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company. Along with the new airplanes, Boeing Global Services will provide Jeju Air with digital tools to reduce their operating costs. The solutions include the Fuel Dashboard Program, which allows operators to look across their fleet and identify areas where they can optimize their fuel spending. Jeju Air serves 60 domestic and international routes with approximately 200 daily flights. The carrier is a founding member of the Value Alliance, the first pan-regional low-cost carrier alliance formed with eight airlines based in Asia. The 737 MAX is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing history, accumulating about 4,800 orders from more than 100 customers worldwide. This order will be reflected on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website per our standard process. For more information and feature content, visit www.boeing.com/commercial/737max. Contact: Kevin Yoo International Communications Boeing Commercial Airplanes +1 206-249-6372 [email protected] SOURCE Boeing Related Links http://www.boeing.com TAUNTON, Mass., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boeing Company has announced a $3 million, multi-year investment to help support Homes For Our Troops in its mission to build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives. Boeing's contribution to Homes For Our Troops will support build projects for deserving Veterans slated for completion throughout the country over a three-year investment period. Currently, Homes For Our Troops has 81 projects in various phases of development with an additional 100 Veterans in the application process. "This investment from Boeing will significantly enhance our organization's abilities to build homes," says General (Ret.) Richard Cody, Chairman of the Board, Homes For Our Troops. "More importantly, this support will transform lives, making daily living easier and safer for our injured warfighters, their caregivers, and families." Boeing Global Engagement approaches its global community investments and employee engagement activities by supporting three key focus areas that shape and impact the communities where their employees live and work. With a special emphasis on military Veterans and their families, Boeing has contributed nearly $50 million dollars to military and Veteran causes across the country in the past two years alone. "Our people have unique skills and an unwavering passion for making a difference in the world, both through our products and services and the ways we give back to our communities," says Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing chairman, president and chief executive officer. "When that's combined with our professional networks, partnerships and financial resources, we have the potential to drive positive, lasting change across the globe in important areas such as STEM learning and Veterans' support." About Boeing: Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners; defense, space and security systems and service provider of aftermarket support. As America's biggest manufacturing exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 countries. About Homes For Our Troops (HFOT): Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide to severely injured post-9/11 Veterans. Most of these Veterans have sustained life-altering injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar spent has gone directly to our program services supporting Veterans. For more information, visit www.hfotusa.org. SOURCE Homes For Our Troops Related Links http://www.hfotusa.org PETALUMA, Calif., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- If someone is willing to work hard enough to reset their brain, it may be possible for anyone to become an entrepreneur. That's good because there may be more people than ever who feel they must start a business, and many of them may have the dedication and work ethic to make it as entrepreneurs. However, if a person wants to completely redefine themselves, they need to know what the ideal traits of an entrepreneur look like. Brandon Frere, successful entrepreneur and CEO of Ameritech Financial and other ventures, would like to take this day to celebrate the qualities that may be useful for entrepreneurs. Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash "There are technicians, managers and entrepreneurs," said Frere. "If someone doesn't start as an entrepreneur, it takes a complete rewiring of the brain to make it work." While different entrepreneurs vary wildly depending on their business, there are four skills that can help any entrepreneur. The first is communication; entrepreneurs should be able to articulate things quickly and simply, such as communicating what a company does in 90 seconds or less. The second is education; they should constantly be learning any additional skills necessary for good management and good work. The third is research; they must do enough market research to understand all the successful numbers to build up confidence in the business. The fourth is strategy; they should be able to create a significant goal and align everything towards achieving that goal. The bare minimum market research needed may be: The gross margins. The breakeven point. A list of the competitors and the relevant data from their businesses. A prediction of how fast the market is growing. A model for consumer growth and consumer retention. Any other data that is necessary to justify the specific business model for the company. Additionally, there are a variety of traits that are essential to an entrepreneur. The trait that matters most to an entrepreneur is vision; entrepreneurs should be able to predict what will be desirable in the future and to build for that. This can be improved by examining the systems and processes of everything and imagining a better way. Next is confidence; entrepreneurs should have the ability to believe the vision before anyone else, though they should also have the common sense and data to justify this confidence. Next is relentlessness; entrepreneurs need to be able to thrive and endure under pressure while possessing the ability to hear every flaw and adapting to them. The last thing an entrepreneur needs is patience; they should be able to think in the long term and recognize the time it takes for a business to take off and skills to develop. Even if an entrepreneur possesses all these traits in abundance, there will be a lot of bad days. It may sometimes feel like problems are everywhere, but if the numbers are right and it looks like it's possible to confidently believe in the vision, then they should be able to persevere. "No one has confidence in an entrepreneur setting up a new business, and haters will try to take them down when it finally starts working," said Frere. "As an entrepreneur, we'll constantly be putting out fires that appear as emails or texts, and we'll need to let some of them burn. It takes either being born with an entrepreneurial brain or a complete reset of the brain in order to succeed, but for anyone who can stick it out and smell victory, I wish them luck with their hustling." About Brandon Frere Brandon Frere is an entrepreneur and businessman who lives in Sonoma County, California. He has designed and created multiple companies to meet the ever-demanding needs of businesses and consumers alike. His website, www.BrandonFrere.com, is used as a means of communicating many of the lessons, fundamentals and information that he has learned throughout his extensive business and personal endeavors, most recently in advocating on behalf of student loan borrowers nationwide. As experienced during his own student loan repayment, Mr. Frere found out how difficult it can be to work with federally contracted student loan servicers and the repayment programs designed to help borrowers. Through those efforts, he gained an insider's look into the repayment process and the motivations behind the inflating student loan debt bubble. His knowledge of the often confusing landscape of student loan repayment became a vital theme in his future endeavors, and he now uses those experiences to help guide others through the daunting process of applying for available federal repayment and loan forgiveness programs. BrandonFrere.com Related Images entrepreneurs-day.jpg Entrepreneur's Day Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash image2.png Related Links Brandon Frere website SOURCE Brandon Frere Related Links http://www.BrandonFrere.com NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Institute brings together leading figures in the arts, culture, business, philanthropy, and education at its 2018 Blue Cloud Gala on November 28 at The Pierre Hotel ballroom in New York City. Named for the "Qingyun" or "Blue Cloud", our Blue Cloud Award represents the traditional Chinese symbol of high virtue and status. Since 1984, China Institute bestows this honor on people whose exceptional achievements contribute significantly to U.S.-China friendship and understanding. This year, we recognize Howard P. Milstein, Dame Jillian Sackler, John S. Long, and Liu Dan: Howard P. Milstein () is Chairman, President and CEO of New York Private Bank & Trust and its operating bank, Emigrant Bank. Mr. Milstein has made substantial contributions to Chinese medical development to strengthen ties between the U.S. and China and is also a board member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Dame Jillian Sackler (.) is building cultural bridges. As president and CEO of the Dame Jillian & Dr. Arthur M. Sackler Foundation for the Arts, Sciences & Humanities, she founded the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology at Peking University, among other museums and galleries. She is also chairman of the Foreign Policy Association, promoting deeper cross-cultural appreciation. John S. Long () is the Founder and CEO of Highridge Partners. Mr. Long is the Founding Chairman of the UCLA Real Estate Center as well as a member of the UCLA Foundation Board of Governors and the UCLA Anderson School's Board of Advisors. Liu Dan () is among the most original and significant living artists in China. Public collections with his works include The British Museum, London; Musee Guimet, Paris; Andrew Mellon Foundation and The Brooklyn Museum, New York; The Arthur M. Sackler Museum of the Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts and others. Arthur Ch'ien, WNYW Fox 5 contributor and Emmy Award-winning journalist serves as our master of ceremonies. "The Blue Cloud Gala is the most important, and highest-profile, event China Institute holds all year. Our mission to deepen trust between China and the United States is exemplified by our distinguished honorees, and their contributions to enhanced U.S.-China relations are second to none," says CI President James Heimowitz. More: https://www.chinainstitute.org/2018-blue-cloud-gala/ SOURCE China Institute Related Links http://www.chinainstitute.org SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) has announced it will donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross to assist with disaster relief efforts following the devastating fires in California. "Our hearts go out to those who have lost their loved ones, homes and businesses," said Morgan Rector, President, California Market, Comerica Bank. "We understand the overwhelming challenges so many Californians are facing, and we're committed to serving them during this difficult time." Comerica has approximately 1,200 employees in California and 96 banking centers and other offices. "We are keeping in close contact with our teams to stay current on their safety and well-being. Several of our employees have been affected by the fires. All Comerica banking centers are open, and our customers are encouraged to reach out to us to discuss any needs they may have," said Rector. "We appreciate Comerica's support of the American Red Cross," said Gary Strong, Chief Executive Officer of the Gold Country Region of the American Red Cross. "This donation allows us to continue to provide care and comfort to so many people directly impacted by these devastating fires across California." Customers can contact their relationship manager or the Comerica Contact Center, or they can send an email through online banking with any banking needs or questions. Comerica customers wishing to donate to the American Red Cross can do so by visiting www.comerica.com or the American Red Cross web site. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. SOURCE Comerica Incorporated Related Links http://www.comerica.com NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Credit Suisse AG announced today its inaugural Disruptive Technology Recognition (DTR) Program, an annual recognition of top companies who are disruptors of traditional enterprise information technology (IT Infrastructure). The annual program will provide a bilateral discussion framework with Credit Suisse to strategize, network and exchange ideas across the organizations. A joint initiative between the bank's Investment Banking and Capital Markets division and Group Chief Technology Officer function, the DTR Program offers participants the opportunity to work collaboratively to promote innovation at the bank and at the Partner firms. "Credit Suisse views disruptive technology as one way to drive progress in terms of IT innovation. Our DTR Program partners have looked at the current landscape and fundamentally want to alter it, for the better, with their vision. We look forward to learning from each other for years to come," said Laura Barrowman, Group Technology Officer and Group Chief Information Security Officer for Credit Suisse AG. While Credit Suisse works with many partners across the technology space, the 2018 DTR Program looked specifically for game-changing companies that focus on improving IT infrastructure, with broad applicability across industries. In future years, Credit Suisse plans to expand the scope to look at IT companies in additional sectors. This year's DTR Program partners are: Exabeam is a security management company that uses artificial intelligence to monitor user and system behavior to help organizations protect their most valuable information against cybercriminals and insider threats. is a security management company that uses artificial intelligence to monitor user and system behavior to help organizations protect their most valuable information against cybercriminals and insider threats. ExtraHop performs full-content analysis of all network communications in real time and at line rate, allowing security and IT teams to visualize, correlate, and query network activities to detect threats and optimize performance. performs full-content analysis of all network communications in real time and at line rate, allowing security and IT teams to visualize, correlate, and query network activities to detect threats and optimize performance. Slack is a leading global collaboration hub that makes people's working lives simpler, more pleasant and more productive. From global Fortune 100 companies to corner markets, businesses and teams of every kind use Slack to bring the right people together with all the right information . is a leading global collaboration hub that makes people's working lives simpler, more pleasant and more productive. From global Fortune 100 companies to corner markets, businesses and teams of every kind use Slack to bring the right people together with all the right information ThousandEyes provides a unique "active monitoring" approach for understanding application delivery and every underlying network including the Internet, to quickly identify and resolve performance, availability, and service quality issues. provides a unique "active monitoring" approach for understanding application delivery and every underlying network including the Internet, to quickly identify and resolve performance, availability, and service quality issues. Zoom is a modern enterprise video communications platform, encompassing video, voice, chat, and content sharing services across all devices. Zoom helps organizations bring their teams together in a frictionless environment to get more done. Credit Suisse AG Credit Suisse AG is one of the world's leading financial services providers and is part of the Credit Suisse group of companies (referred to here as 'Credit Suisse'). Our strategy builds on Credit Suisse's core strengths: its position as a leading wealth manager, its specialist investment banking capabilities and its strong presence in our home market of Switzerland. We seek to follow a balanced approach to wealth management, aiming to capitalize on both the large pool of wealth within mature markets as well as the significant growth in wealth in Asia Pacific and other emerging markets, while also serving key developed markets with an emphasis on Switzerland. Credit Suisse employs approximately 45,560 people. The registered shares (CSGN) of Credit Suisse AG's parent company, Credit Suisse Group AG, are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com. Important Legal Information This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities or investment products nor does it constitute investment advice, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any securities or investment products or investment advice in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to whom, such an offer, solicitation, sale or advice is unlawful. This press release is not directed at, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of or located in any jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to applicable law or regulation or which would subject Credit Suisse and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates to any registration or licensing requirement within such jurisdiction. This press release has not been approved by any governmental or regulatory authority or self-regulatory organization. Credit Suisse does not represent, warrant or guarantee that this information is suitable for any investment purpose and it should not be used as a basis for investment decisions. The reader should not assume that any investments in companies, securities, sectors, strategies and/or markets identified or described herein were or will be profitable and no representation is made that any investor will or is likely to make any profit or will be able to avoid incurring substantial losses. Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "Forward-Looking Statements" (including observations about markets and industry and regulatory trends as of the original date of this document), which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "target", "project", "estimate", "intend", "continue" or "believe", or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Due to various risks and uncertainties beyond our control, actual events, results or performance may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Credit Suisse has no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this press release. Copyright 2018, CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. SOURCE Credit Suisse Related Links http://www.credit-suisse.com Herbert Sim, Chief Marketing Officer at Cryptology, said: "The Cryptology community has been clear in its desire for margin trading opportunities, which are not commonly offered in the crypto arena. We're responding to that desire by offering our own functionality for experienced and institutional traders. "This is the latest step in our ongoing efforts to help Cryptology users get the most value out of their trades by bringing in a suite of trading options. The ability to buy and sell on margin means that users can capitalise on their positions even in bear market conditions." This new function comes in the wake of an increasingly mature cryptocurrency market. In the past year the industry has seen increased demand for more professional trading features, such as margin trading and P2P funding. Next year could see this demand increasing even further, as experts are predicting a significant institutional money flow in the first half of next year, 2019. As these opportunities become more widespread and users borrow more funds to trade, the market is likely to become more liquid -- lessening volatility and bringing cryptocurrency markets more into line with conventional trading options, such as equities. In turn, this could lead to increased adoption of cryptocurrency trading in the years to come. Sim concludes: "In the cryptocurrency space, the best is yet to come. With this move, we are helping to professionalise cryptocurrency trading -- bringing stability to the market and making it simpler for anybody to trade in future. That's true democratisation of finance." For more information, please visit https://go.cryptology.com/MarginTradeCryptology About Cryptology Headquartered in Singapore, Cryptology Exchange was established in August 2017, with a mission to create an open nancial system and provide a trustworthy, reliable and convenient service for all those looking ahead to the crypto future. Operating in both a web version and mobile app -- available through Google Play and the App Store, Cryptology aims to make fiat and cryptocurrency trading easy, professional and secure, for newbies and experienced traders alike. Most recently, Cryptology also launched its referral programme where communities can directly benefit. Each referral will receive 30% of the trading fee the referee pays, which will be effective for three months starting from the registration of the referred person. Users can deposit fiat on Cryptology and start trading instantly via Mastercard and Visa transfer. This service is currently available for Europe, with plans for global expansion rolling out in the next few months. Website: www.cryptology.com Telegram: https://t.me/cryptology_community SOURCE Cryptology Related Links http://www.cryptology.com HOLLAND, Mich., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesis Innovation Group's cultivate(MD) Capital Fund II, LP, a fund focused on investments in early stage healthcare companies with innovative technologies, announces its investment into Medical Ingenuities, LLC. Medical Ingenuities has developed a novel radial artery occlusion device, PH BandTM, that achieves and confirms patent hemostasis. PH Band's innovative design sets it apart from competitors in its ability to provide real time feedback to medical personnel monitoring radial artery patency to prevent radial artery occlusion. The device aids in reducing nurse workload and occlusion-related complications. Chip Corrigan, CEO of the Wheaton, IL-based Medical Ingenuities said, "We are proud to announce that we just closed an investment from Genesis Innovation Group's cultivate(MD) fund. These funds will allow Medical Ingenuities to continue the regulatory process, required validation and testing to file our FDA submission in early 2019." He added, "We are excited to partner with Genesis Innovation Group as they are experienced medical device business operators with whom we can also partner for the commercialization of the PH Band." R. Sean Churchill, MD, Medical Director, Genesis Innovations Group stated, "This is exciting because we are not aware of any other device on the market that allows physicians the ability to document hemostasis at the insertion site and also verify that the radial artery remains open and freely flowing. The Medical Ingenuities patent hemostasis technology not only reduces surgical site complications, but it allows for reduced patient morbidity, reduction in overall procedure time, and the benefit of documentation of an intact and freely flowing radial artery at the time of discharge. This dramatically improves patient safety, care, and the overall surgical experience. We expect this technology to soon become the gold standard for treatment in radial artery catheterization." Don Running, VP, Research & Development, Genesis Innovation Group added, "At cultivate(MD), we are always seeking technologies with the potential to be disruptive in their segment of medical devices. We believe we have found another one with Medical Ingenuities' innovative approach to the rapidly expanding field of radial artery catheterization. With strong intellectual property protection and experienced leadership in this segment, we look forward to their new Patent Hemostasis (PH) Band becoming the industry standard." About cultivate(MD) Capital Funds As a medical device venture capital fund, cultivate(MD) is dedicated to bringing emerging health care innovations to market, with a special focus on medical device and orthopedic technologies. cultivate(MD) is focused on investing in early stage healthcare companies with innovative technologies that have demonstrated evidence of effectiveness. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any offering of securities. There will not be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offering, sale or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Forwarding-Looking Statements Certain Statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "will," "anticipate," and similar expressions or the negatives thereof are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including the intended actions and performance objectives of fund, its general partner, cultivate(MD) or any cultivate(MD) portfolio company referenced herein, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the general partner, or any cultivate(MD) fund or portfolio company to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. No representation or warranty is made as to future performance or such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. The fund, its general partner and cultivate(MD) expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in its expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based. SOURCE Genesis Innovation Group Related Links https://genesisinnovationgroup.com NEW IBERIA, La., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation announced today that it awarded Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center a $60,000 grant to help improve oral health in Louisiana. Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving the uninsured, underinsured and medically underserved at six health and dental centers in Iberia, Vermilion, St. Martin, Beauregard, Sabine, and Lafayette Parishes. The grant will support treatment services for its dental patients. "We're delighted to collaborate with Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center in improving the oral health of underserved children and adults in Louisiana," said Karen Robinson, vice president of corporate affairs for Delta Dental and executive director of the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. "Our impact is only as strong as our partnerships, and we could not make a difference without the hard work and dedication of the organizations we support." The grant is one of 18 given in Louisiana this year by the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation to help improve the oral health of disadvantaged children and adults by removing barriers to quality dental care. Since its inception in 2011, the Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in grants to organizations throughout Louisiana. About Delta Dental Community Care Foundation The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental Insurance Company and its affiliated companies including Delta Dental of California, Delta Dental of New York, Inc., and Delta Dental of Pennsylvania. Since 2011, the Foundation has awarded nearly $39 million in funding and support to increase access to quality dental care, oral health education, and advance scientific research across the company's 15-state service area and the District of Columbia. Media Contact: Megan Grabos [email protected] 415-808-6946 SOURCE Delta Dental Community Care Foundation DOVU, the unified token, wallet and marketplace for earning and spending mobility related rewards, held a token sale in October 2017 raising $6.2 million. DOVU has this month announced a sale of 5% equity for a crowdfunding sale to commence in Q1 2019. This will allow DOVU users to now have both utility and equity in DOVU, allowing for a more transparent, democratised and accountable relationship for the investors, contributors and business. DOVU has previously received seed funding from Jaguar-Land Rover's investment arm InMotion Ventures and Creative England, supported by the UK Governments 'Public Growth Fund'. "We launched in 2016 and secured equity investment from our partners, this enabled us to build the company and embark on our utility token sale. We have been looking at ways to tokenise all of DOVU, so that our current and future equity holders can participate within this innovative sector. We look forward to a successful STO and welcoming new equity token holders to the DOVU family." Irfon Watkins, Founder and CEO, DOVU TokenMarket will be working within the FCA Sandbox to test, measure and develop issuance of digitalised equity. Having previously partnered with DOVU to carry out the sale of DOV token, TokenMarket now continues to build a closer relationship with the DOVU team. Ransu Salovaara, TokenMarket CEO, said that: "We are thrilled to announce that we will be holding our first tokenised equity crowdfunding campaign out of the UK with DOVU. Having worked with the team for their ICO, we have the utmost confidence in the project's high calibre team and forward thinking vision. With the company displaying such tremendous progress since its ICO, we look forward to taking DOVU and the mobility sector to the next level with the upcoming STO." The DOVU security token sale date is set to be announced in December 2018. To stay up to date with the latest announcements (including STO dates), news and more go to https://dovu.io or sign up to the TokenMarket email listing at https://tokenmarket.net. About DOVU DOVU is shaping the crypto model for the mobility ecosystem with backing from Jaguar-Land Rover's investment arm InMotion Ventures and UK government back fund Creative England. Introducing a transport focused protocol to accelerate the development of mobility related decentralised applications (dApps), the DOV token powers new business models in the transportation sector. The DOVU API Marketplace supports the community by simplifying the development of mobility data globally. For more information regarding DOVU visit http://dovu.io About TokenMarket TokenMarket is a strategic and technology advisory firm with offices in London, Gibraltar and Helsinki. The company, known for its extensive sector expertise, has advised over 30 token sales including Storj, Populous, Monaco, Civic and Dent, raising over $350 million in total. TokenMarket's award winning platform provides end-to-end token issuance including fund collection, compliance and marketing. For more information regarding TokenMarket visit https://tokenmarket.net/ Media Contact: Lawrence Chiu [email protected] SOURCE TokenMarket DALLAS, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Janet Elkin, President and CEO of GHR Healthcare, has been named to the 2018 Global Power 150 and the 2018 Americas 100 lists by Staffing Industry Analysts, recognizing the top female leaders in the staffing industry. This is the fourth year the list has been compiled and her fourth time for being included. Janet Elkin, President & CEO, GHR Healthcare Compiled annually by Staffing Industry Analysts, the staffing industry's leading trade organization, these lists celebrate the top female leadership around the world. As noted by SIA, "we want to celebrate those women who influence a rapidly evolving world of work. These women have not just elevated the industry, but have helped shape a $461 billion global staffing industry by introducing new models of work." "I'm honored to again be included in these two lists. It's an exciting group of women to be part of; dedicated leaders who are taking an active role in shaping the direction and the future of the industry," said Elkin. "I also believe that Staffing Industry Analysts should be congratulated for their on-going efforts to recognize and celebrate the role of women in staffing." The Global Power 150 list was released in the November/December issue of the Staffing Industry Review magazine and in conjunction with the annual Staffing Industry Analysts Healthcare Forum, held earlier this month in Denver, CO, where Elkin was a featured speaker. About GHR Healthcare and Janet Elkin GHR Healthcare is the parent company to a family of operating brands focused on healthcare and community-based staffing: General Healthcare Resources, GHR Travel Nursing, GHR Education, GHR Human Services, GHR Technology and GHR Search. Through these brands they provide a variety of workforce strategies and solutions, including contingent, per diem, long-term contract, travel, MSP, RPO and direct hire services to clients nationwide. As an expert in the healthcare staffing segment, Janet Elkin is a frequent media guest and speaker, providing insights on the recruiting, employment and human resource challenges facing healthcare today. For more information, visit www.GHRHealthcare.com. Media Contact: Mike Dunagan, Chief Marketing Officer www.GHResources.com 404-834-8180 [email protected] SOURCE GHR Healthcare Related Links http://www.GHRHealthcare.com NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Currently valued at $53.3 billion, the global medical aesthetic industry continues to experience prolific growth. One of the fastest growing sectors is the minimally invasive procedures market, estimated to grow at 4.5% over the next five years. The demand for quality training programs to serve future aesthetics professionals has never been higher. FACE Med Spa Training has arisen to meet this need, providing certified training in minimally invasive aesthetics procedures for both the face and body. Botox training for physicians Developed by board-certified physicians and med spa consultants, FACE offers comprehensive aesthetic training programs to serve physicians looking to transition from mainstream medicine into the medical aesthetic market. "Our goal is to provide the best aesthetic training by utilizing a team of expert physicians. In addition, we provide all the resources to build and grow a thriving aesthetic practice," explains one of the co-founders of FACE. At present, FACE offers diverse courses in minimally invasive procedures such as neurotoxins, dermal fillers, thread lifts, aesthetic laser treatments, PRP therapies, and training in obesity medicine. Courses are available at an introductory level, and also at an intermediate level to enable the continued acquisition of skills. FACE also offers additional optional mentoring, providing guidance with marketing, business and financial strategy to equip new aesthetic professionals with the necessary tools to flourish within the industry. One and two-day courses are currently available in New York and L.A., with future locations in the pipeline, with bookings made through the FACE Med Spa Training Center website. About FACE Med Spa Training FACE specializes in certified aesthetics training for physicians interested in practicing within the aesthetics industry. Board-certified physicians and plastic surgeons teach all courses, which are CME accredited. Programs have limited numbers to enable hands-on training for participants and emphasize safe technique. Media Contact Hardik Soni, MD MBA 973-752-2332 [email protected] Related Images expert-botox-training.jpg Expert Botox Training Botox training for physicians cosmetic-procedures-for-ethnic-skin.jpg Cosmetic Procedures for Ethnic Skin men-getting-botox.jpg Men Getting Botox dermal-filler-training.jpg Dermal Filler Training Related Video https://vimeo.com/298275819 SOURCE FACE TRAINING CENTER AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Generation, LLC ("FG") announced today that it has agreed to sell its West Lorain Facility and related assets to Vermillion Power, LLC, an affiliate of Starwood Energy Group Global, LLC ("Starwood"), for a purchase price of $144 million in cash plus customary closing adjustments. The West Lorain Facility is a 545 MW, periodic-start, combustion-turbine generation station located on 500 acres in Lorain, Ohio near Lake Erie. The West Lorain Facility was constructed in 1973 as a combined-cycle electric generating system with two combustion turbines (Units 1A and 1B), two heat recovery steam generators, and a steam turbine generator. In 2001, five additional combustion turbines were installed (Units 26) and placed in operation. The plant currently operates on fuel oil, but is also capable of operating on natural gas. The sale will be accomplished pursuant to a court-supervised bankruptcy auction process in order to maximize the value of the assets being sold. FG has filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court overseeing its chapter 11 cases for approval of auction and bid procedures that will permit other interested parties to submit competitive bids for the West Lorain Facility and related assets. In the event that no higher or better bids are received by FG, Starwood will acquire the business, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions to closing. The sale is subject to receipt of customary approvals, including approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Hart-Scott-Rodino. If approved, the companies expect to close the transaction in the first half of 2019. FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. ("FES"), its subsidiaries (including FG) and FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company on March 31, 2018, filed petitions under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code to facilitate an orderly financial restructuring. The case is proceeding in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, in Akron. Additional information can be found at https://cases.primeclerk.com/FES. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is serving as legal counsel and Lazard is serving as investment banker to FES with respect to this sale and during FES's chapter 11 restructuring. King & Spalding LLP is serving as legal counsel to Starwood. About Starwood Energy Group Global, LLC Starwood Energy Group is a private investment firm based in Greenwich, CT that specializes in energy infrastructure investments. Through its general opportunity funds and other affiliated investment vehicles, Starwood Energy Group has raised equity commitments in excess of $3 billion and has executed transactions totaling more than $7 billion in enterprise value. The Starwood Energy Group team brings extensive development, construction, operations, acquisition and financing expertise to its investments, with a focus on the natural gas and renewable power generation, and transmission sectors. Starwood Energy Group is an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group Global, L.P. Additional information about Starwood Energy Group as well as Starwood Capital Group can be found at www.starwoodenergygroup.com. SOURCE FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FreshWealth , the platform enabling investors to purchase cryptocurrencies in bundles and diversify their holdings safely, easily and transparently has announced the launch of its service. With FreshWealth, investors can now purchase up to 20 different cryptocurrencies individually, or in bundles, in as few as six clicks. The "Top 20" bundle includes the most popular coins as determined by their market capitalization. "Top Five" and "Top 10" bundles are also available at launch. Investors can pay for coins and bundles with credit cards, wire transfers, or ACH (automated clearing house) bank transactions and FreshWealth hopes to add more payment options shortly. At launch, FreshWealth has a minimum investment of $50 and supports the use of U.S. dollars. "People should be able to easily buy a wide range of digital currencies, the same way they can buy a wide range of equities in mutual funds or ETFs." said FreshWealth founder and CEO, Jennifer Nash. "Our goal with FreshWealth is to help anyone who wants to buy digital currenciesdo it as safely, and wisely as possible." All data on FreshWealth.com is protected using industry best practices, including 256-bit AES encryption, multi-level access controls and layered network defenses. Users' coins are encrypted and held in air-gapped cold storagemeaning they are not accessible via the internet. "Our plan for FreshWealth is to be the go-to-player in the bundled crypto investment space," said Nash. "We're launching with bundles of up to twenty coins whereas Coinbase and Circle only offer four and 11 coins respectively. Being able to buy crypto in a way that's diversified just makes sense." In 2013, Nash helped launch BloombergBlack, an exclusive wealth-management service backed by acclaimed Bloomberg brand for long-term investors who wanted a better understanding of their investment portfolio allocations. Three years later she led the overhaul the list of TD Ameritrade's financial services and products. Prior to launching FreshWealth Nash was part of the team helping develop their IBM Watson AI investment platform. Also on the board of directors is Rob Hall, CEO of Momentous, who founded Ottawa's first internet service provider and the Canadian Internet Registry Authority (CIRA), which now manages the .ca Internet domain names. Rob brings over 25 years of digital experience to FreshWealth. To learn more, visit: www.freshwealth.com About FreshWealth FreshWealth is democratizing access to cryptocurrencies with a simple-to-use platform that offers an easy, transparent and safe way to buy the world's most popular digital currencies (aka tokens) in bundles, a format that's similar to an exchange traded fund. With FreshWealth, investors can purchase up to 20 different cryptocurrencies individually or in bundles. With FreshWealth, the average person finally has a chance to participate in the crypto revolution. Momentous, a global company with more than 25 years in the internet and digital-asset space is the lead investor in FreshWealth. SOURCE FreshWealth Related Links http://www.freshwealth.com DALLAS, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Screw Products Inc., to Lawson Products Inc. The acquisition closed October 1, 2018. Screw Products Inc. (SPI) is the leading regional distributor of fasteners, hardware and related products to businesses. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company primarily distributes fasteners directly to manufacturing and original equipment manufacturing (OEM) customers for use in their products. What sets SPI apart from other distributors is its offering of customized fastener and components packaging, sub-assembly and kitting services. Key SPI sales and operations employees will continue in their current roles reporting to SPI President and CEO Bill Marthens, who will oversee the day-to-day operations as Director, Segment Development, for Lawson Products. "We are thrilled to join Lawson Products and are excited about the potential opportunities from leveraging their resources and experience," Marthens said. "Lawson supports our commitment to a high level of customer service and to growing our sales profitably. We look forward to a great future as part of Lawson." Lawson Products is a publicly traded distributor of products and services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government maintenance, repair, and operations marketplace across North America. With a home base in Chicago, Illinois, the company also manufactures and distributes production and specialized component parts, fasteners and fittings to the OEM marketplace. Lawson serves companies in the automotive repair, commercial vehicle maintenance, government, manufacturing, food processing, distribution, construction, oil and gas, mining, wholesale, and service industries. "SPI's deep expertise and successful execution in its markets have yielded strong profitability and sales growth," said Lawson Products President and CEO Michael DeCata. "This transaction further reinforces our commitment to being strategically focused and disciplined in pursuing acquisitions. As a result, Lawson is well-positioned to further penetrate the job shop/manufacturing market segment and to grow sales for both SPI and Lawson." Generational Equity Senior Managing Director Michael Goss's team, led by VP Corey Painter, successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director Joe Van Voorhis established the initial relationship with SPI. "Both seller and buyer have a great deal of respect and admiration for what each has accomplished," said Painter. "This transaction provides additional resources and experience to our client for growth and new opportunities." About Generational Equity Generational Equity, DealForce, Generational Talis Wealth Advisory and Generational Capital Markets, member FINRA/SIPC, are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. With over 250 professionals located throughout North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing merger, acquisition and strategic growth advisory services. Their four-step approach features exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, and M&A transactional services. The M&A Advisor named the company the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Investment Banking Firm of the Year. For more, visit the https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room. For more information: Carl Doerksen 972-232-1125 [email protected] SOURCE Generational Equity Related Links http://www.genequityco.com "Every day, people turn to the American Red Cross for relief and hope in the face of emergencies," said Gail McGovern, president and CEO, American Red Cross. "Between now and the end of the year, you can help disaster victims at home and around the world, patients who need blood, our country's military families and veterans, and children at risk of deadly diseases like measles and rubella. Please support them with a financial donation , a blood donation or by volunteering your time ." GIVING TUESDAY Beginning on Giving TuesdayNovember 27please #GiveWithMeaning at redcross.org/gift to help the Red Cross support people in need. Help disaster victims. Your gift of $250 can deliver hot meals for 25 people who need nourishment after a disaster. A donation of $100 can provide a family of two with a full day's worth of emergency shelter with meals, snacks, blankets, a cot and hygiene supplies. Help provide warmth with a gift of $50 , which can provide blankets for 10 people. Your gift of can deliver hot meals for 25 people who need nourishment after a disaster. A donation of can provide a family of two with a full day's worth of emergency shelter with meals, snacks, blankets, a cot and hygiene supplies. Help provide warmth with a gift of , which can provide blankets for 10 people. Help our veterans. A donation of $125 can help veterans transition back to civilian life by connecting them and their families to critical services such as food, housing, counseling and rehabilitation. A donation of can help veterans transition back to civilian life by connecting them and their families to critical services such as food, housing, counseling and rehabilitation. Help internationally. Your gift of $100 can help provide lifesaving vaccinations for 100 children who face an increased risk of measles and rubella around the world. Give a symbolic gift in honor of the special people in your life. You can give online, by mail or phonedetails are available at redcross.org/gift. Your gift is a tax-deductible donation to the American Red Cross. When you make your donation, you can use free holiday greeting cards with friends and family to share your gift in their honor. DISASTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY Every 8 minutes, someone affected by disaster is helped because of generous donations to the Red Cross. These donations directly help provide people with necessities like shelter, food, relief supplies, emotional support, and other assistance. The need is constantand this year was no different. Right now, the Red Cross continues to aid thousands of people devastated by massive wildfires in California, while helping people on the east coast recover from Hurricanes Florence and Michael. Throughout the year, we've also provided support for families affected by major disasters like the volcano in Hawaii, floods and tornadoes across several states and, sadly, tragic shootings such as the recent incidents in Thousand Oaks, California and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniaall while responding day and night to home fires, which are the nation's most frequent disaster and account for the vast majority of our responses. "The Red Cross carried out wide-ranging relief efforts this year to deliver comfort and hope to people affected by crises," McGovern explained. "We serve every county in the U.S., and your gift to the Red Cross is critical to saving lives because generous donations fund nearly 100 percent of our disaster relief activities." DISASTERS AROUND THE WORLD Internationally, the American Red Cross helps alleviate human suffering alongside local Red Cross and Red Crescent teams. In 2018, we responded to 20 disasters around the globefrom a tsunami in Indonesia to a volcano in Guatemala. We help local Red Cross and Red Crescent teams internationally by sending supplies, disaster responders and financial contributions in the wake of devastating crises. In addition to responding to disasters, on average each year, the Red Cross: Trains and provides information to nearly 5.9 million people in first aid, water safety and other skills that help save lives. Provides nearly 391,000 services to service members, veterans and civilians through our Hero Care Network. Collects nearly 4.9 million units of blood from more than 2.8 million volunteer donors. These donations are then processed into about 6.75 million blood products for transfusion to meet the needs of patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Helps more than 181 million people outside the U.S. each year through disaster management and disease prevention activities. "This holiday season, your support of the Red Cross mission will address the urgent needs of people every day," McGovern said. "Please remember them during this special time of year." About our Corporate Holiday Supporters: During this holiday season, the American Red Cross is grateful for those corporate donors that generously contribute to our Holiday Giving Campaign. They include: AmazonSmile, Circle K and PayPal. Thanks to the generosity of these and other supporters, the Red Cross is able to bring help and hope to people across the country. To learn more about our corporate holiday supporters, visit https://www.redcross.org/donations/ways-to-donate/holiday-gifts/holiday-partners.html. About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. SOURCE American Red Cross Related Links http://www.redcross.org BALTIMORE, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater Baltimore Committee's #bWoman initiative, launched in 2018 to support, advance and retain women in the workplace in the Baltimore region, will host a November 26 panel discussion on leadership, featuring five top women executives. Details: When: November 26, 6:15-7:30 p.m. Where: The Odyssey Theater, 2601 Port Covington Drive, Baltimore, MD 21230 Program Format: Introductory remarks by Donald C. Fry, President and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee followed by panel discussion featuring five top experts: Diane Bell-McKoy , President & CEO, Associated Black Charities , President & CEO, Associated Black Charities Denise Galambos , Vice President of Human Resource, BGE , Vice President of Human Resource, BGE Stephanie C. Hill, Deputy Executive Vice President, Rotary and Missions Systems, Lockheed Martin Deputy Executive Vice President, Rotary and Missions Systems, Lockheed Martin Julia M. Huggins , Vice President of U.S. Markets, and President, CHLIC & CGLIC, Cigna , Vice President of U.S. Markets, and President, CHLIC & CGLIC, Cigna Redonda G. Miller, M.D., M.B.A., President, The Johns Hopkins Hospital Press/Media: Credentialed members of the press and media interested in covering the event must contact Mark Guidera or Elizabeth Lowe of the GBC by noon, November 23 to be placed on the Press List for admission. Access to the location is controlled by a security service. Press that are not on the attendance list will not be granted admission. ABOUT #bWOMEN: The mission of the #bWomen initiative is supporting, advancing and retaining women in the Baltimore market and ensuring Baltimore emerges as a role model for equality in the workplace. It was launched in 2018 by GBC Board of Director members Christine Aspell, Managing Partner for the Baltimore Office of KPMG, and Sabina Kelly, Greater Maryland Market President, Bank of America, after discussions with Donald C. Fry, President and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee. He believed the GBC should become more active in supporting women and their career growth. Aspell and Kelly then formed the Baltimore Women's Advisory Board and the #bWomen effort. The Woman's Advisory Board has 25 members and was established to position Baltimore as a national model for gender equality. Key objectives of #bWomen include: Attracting and retaining female leaders in the market from diverse businesses and institutions. Providing mentorship to cultivate next generation leaders and sponsor their career development. Discussing emerging thought leadership topics. Networking with and supporting each other, personally and professionally. Note: Participation on the Baltimore Women's Advisory Board is by invitation and nomination only. For more information visit: gbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/bWomen-Mission-Statement.pdf ABOUT THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE: The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is a regional organization of business and civic leaders that includes businesses, nonprofit organizations and educational and civic institutions. It is the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region on issues relating to economic growth, job creation, workforce development, transportation, the business climate and quality of life. The GBC's membership is comprised of over 500 member organizations, including large, mid-size and small companies, nonprofits, education and foundations in the Greater Baltimore region. SOURCE Greater Baltimore Committee Related Links http://www.gbc.org AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HMG Creative, a full-service digital agency in Austin, is proud to announce the launch of two newly designed websites for organizations focused on disaster recovery. AshBritt Environmental , a national rapid-response disaster recovery and environmental services contractor, and Texas Disaster Fund , an initiative supporting the economic recovery of Texas communities devastated by disasters, both selected HMG Creative as their creative services partner. Beginning with a thorough discovery process, the agency led each organization through brand strategy, visual development, and the launch of a new web presence. AshBritt Environmental Web Redesign In the wake of recent natural disasters, AshBritt Environmental saw a need for revamping its marketing efforts to position itself as an indispensable resource for disaster recovery and environmental services. "We needed a company to help us improve our online presence and modernize our website," said Andrea Galvan, Executive Assistant at AshBritt Environmental. "We did a lot of research, and HMG Creative had the most comprehensive set of services out of all the agencies we talked to. We love what they've done and the feedback has been very positive." HMG Creative worked with AshBritt to plan, architect, design, develop and support the new website, focusing on the overall structure for a more fluid user experience. AshBritt's new digital presence showcases the brand's quality and expertise as a reliable disaster recovery solution. HMG Creative continues to build upon its partnership with AshBritt, actively supporting all creative service needs. Texas Disaster Fund Brand Identity and Web Design As a new initiative of the State of Texas, Texas Disaster Fund sought the expertise of HMG Creative to develop its brand identity and design an engaging website. The Texas Disaster Fund needed a digital presence that would educate the public on its mission to raise and distribute funds for disaster-inflicted communities while effectively generating donor engagement. HMG Creative provided a powerful digital tool that identifies the brand as a significant resource to help people in their time of greatest need. HMG Creative HMG Creative is an award-winning digital agency that delivers creativity and expertise to empower brands in their next business evolution. With a focus on strategy, design, development, and marketing services, HMG Creative produces memorable and effective communications for clients with unmatched responsiveness and authenticity. For more information, get in touch: hmgcreative.com [email protected] 888.744.0464 SOURCE HMG Creative Related Links http://hmgcreative.com WATSONVILLE, Calif., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A 16-year-old cancer patient is using his 4-H skills to raise $5,000 for Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services, an organization he says was invaluable to him as he battled his disease. "When I was going through treatment, it was a really rough time mentally," said Andrew Perez, explaining why he has chosen to make such a significant gift. "They helped me get out of that dark spot. I can't ever fully repay them - but I'll try my best." Andrew now hopes that the community will rally to turn his $5,000 gift into $50,000 by supporting a special drive for Jacob's Heart starting this #GivingTuesday, November 27. For the past 20 years, Jacobs Heart has focused on addressing the unique struggles faced by children with cancer, working to improve the quality of life for these youngsters and their families. Andrew was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, in his left tibia in April of last year. He required treatment multiple times a week for eight months at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, a 90-minute drive each way from his home in rural Aromas, California. Jacob's Heart helped Andrew and his family with gas and grocery cards plus provided free access to a counselor who was a cancer survivor herself and visited Andrew in his home. "Jacob's Heart was a good place for healing," he said. "They know what you are going through, and they can really empathize, so you can be really honest." After years of saving money for college from selling his 4-H livestock, Andrew decided to raise money for Jacob's Heart and over the course of two county fairs, raised more than $5,000. He has been speaking at events about what it is like to be a teen with cancer and encouraging donors to join him and match his efforts for Jacob's Heart. "Imagine a world where we all lived like Andrew," said Lori Butterworth, Founder and Executive Director of Jacob's Heart. "He is raising the bar on philanthropy through his boundless gratitude and generosity." Contributions to the special drive can be made here . SOURCE Jacob's Heart Related Links https://www.jacobsheart.org FRANKLIN, Tenn. and LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- i2i Population Health, a leader in actionable population health solutions, and ARcare, a rural community coalition serving Medicaid and Medicare populations in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi, released the results of a year-long PHM initiative. "Working with ARcare on this initiative has been incredibly rewarding," said Justin L. Neece, i2i President. "Their results demonstrate you can achieve rapid improvements in care quality for even the most complex populations while increasing revenue they are not mutually exclusive activities. It takes an engaged team with the right vision, the right setting and the right solutions." After recognizing opportunities to improve the quality and financial performance of their population health initiatives, ARcare leaders piloted a performance management program at KentuckyCare, one of its Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Using i2iTracks as the backbone, leaders identified clinical and outcome measures with the most significant impact on their population, then set out to close care gaps, improve outcomes, and generate sustainable revenues, enabling them to further their mission. "Our results have been outstanding," said Lauren Fields, ARcare's Chief Care Coordination Officer. "In just 12 months, we increased diabetes and hypertension control by 29%, depression screenings by 90%, and HbA1c testing by 82%. We also increased revenues $1.3 million. It's really been incredible. With our complex populations, i2iTracks has made population health simpler and has extended our reach into the communities we serve. It's a fantastic tool and we rely on it tremendously." Given the accomplishments in Kentucky, ARcare has expanded the program to all of their health centers and integrated a rhythm of continuous improvement into the company culture. They are on track to demonstrate reduced cost of care for their ACO populations and are sustaining their revenue growth. "ARcare is all about serving 'the least, the last, and the lost'," said Neece. "They are an outstanding example of population health done right and we're incredibly proud to be part of their success." About i2i Population Health i2i is revolutionizing clinical data exchange through its award-winning PHM platform. For almost two decades, i2i has demonstrated clinical outcome improvement with over 2,600 healthcare delivery sites across 36 states, supporting 26+ million lives. In addition, i2i is partnering with health plans across the country, providing bi-directional connectivity that significantly improves quality and lowers costs. i2i has the largest share of Community Health Centers connected to a clinical data integration platform providing transparency to Payers and Providers, bringing claims and EHR data together. About ARcare For more than 30 years, ARcare has endeavored to bring superior healthcare to patients, regardless of their ability to pay. A rural community coalition with its roots in Arkansas, ARcare spans 45 locations across three states and is supported by over 500 employees. With FQHCs in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi, along with a number of pharmacies, wellness centers, cancer care centers, and more, they are committed to serving "the least, the last and the lost." SOURCE i2i Population Health NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jessica Timberlake, PR Manager at Eminence Organic Skin Care was elected by the International SPA Association (ISPA) membership to serve as a member of the ISPA Board of Directors. Timberlake officially began her term on September 26, 2018, at the ISPA Conference & Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. "The International SPA Association would not be where it is today without the leadership from our generous volunteer board of directors," said ISPA President Lynne McNees. "We are grateful for any member willing to dedicate their time and serve the association and spa industry." Timberlake was selected following an extensive nomination and interview process. "To be a member of the International SPA Association Board of Directors has been a personal and professional goal of mine for over 10 years," says Jessica Timberlake. "It's truly an honor to sit among peers and mentors I admire in an organization that I've held with such high regard throughout my career in the industry." Eminence Organic Skin Carean award-winning professional, natural, organic and Biodynamic industry leading skin care brandhas been a proud member of ISPA for over 15 years. ISPA President Lynne McNees is available for interviews; please contact Allison Martin, [email protected] to schedule. About the International SPA Association: ISPA is recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the spa industry. Founded in 1991, ISPA advances the spa industry by providing invaluable educational and networking opportunities, promoting the value of the spa experience and speaking as the authoritative voice to foster professionalism and growth. More details on ISPA are available on experienceispa.com. About Eminence Organic Skin Care An award-winning provider of the most effective, professional skin care products in the natural and organic skin care industry, Eminence Organic Skin Care is sold in leading salons and spas in more than 50 countries around the world. Eminence melds herbal craftsmanship and innovation, skin rejuvenation techniques unique to Hungary and hand-picked fresh ingredients to craft premium natural, organic and Biodynamic skin care that is good for the earth as well as good for the skin. Eminence - a Certified B Corporation - displays its commitment to the environment by harnessing wind and solar power energy to produce products in the laboratory, using recyclable packaging printed with vegetable-based inks and committing to planting a tree for every product sold. Visit www.eminenceorganics.com and https://www.bcorporation.net/community/eminence-organic-skin-care-inc for more information. Instagram: @EminenceOrganics; Twitter: @EminenceOrganic; Facebook: @EminenceOrganicSkinCare MEDIA CONTACT: Kristina Katsoulas Pierce Mattie Communications [email protected] SOURCE Eminence Organic Skin Care Related Links http://www.eminenceorganics.com LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In a major win for homeowners, a Los Angeles jury awarded more than $5 million to a group of Long Beach families who say they were forced to live in slumlike conditions in the Friendly Village mobile home park. The families are represented by a legal team led by Brian S. Kabateck of the Los Angeles firm Kabateck LLP. Today's award of $5,566,156 will be split among 31 families who will receive an average of about $100,000 per person. But that figure is expected to increase as jurors also found the defendants liable for elder abuse and punitive damages. Jurors are expected to begin weighing those additional damages this week. "This verdict will send a message that landlords can't turn a blind eye to the complaints of their tenants just to drive up profits," Kabateck said. "These residents raised concerns for years about the terrible conditions inside the park and they were completely ignored." Friendly Village is built on top of a landfill that was once a trash dump site for the city of Long Beach. Residents say the park is unsafe, unsanitary and unsightly. The buckling ground has cracked the foundations and walls of homes, residents say. The air in the park is filled with noxious gas and rainwater doesn't drain, breeding a cesspool of mold and mildew, according to homeowners. 68-year-old retired teacher Milly Bejarano has lived in Friendly Village for 12 years. During that time, she has spent thousands to re-level her property three times. She says the home had constant electrical problems including blown circuit breakers and faulty wiring. And the water that comes out of her faucet has a foul, sewer-like smell, she said. "All I can say is, 'Hallelujah!" Bejarano exclaimed after the verdict. "This has been a long haul and I'm so happy the jury agreed with us and compensated us for everything we've been through." "It has been really infuriating that they let this place fall apart," she added. "Our community has suffered for so long because of the owners' greed." Bejarano says her rent has increased steadily putting a strain on her because she's on a fixed income. "It's like we are meaningless; they don't care about what happens to people," she said. "It's all about the money." During the nine-week trial, Kabateck told the jury how the landlords failed to clean up the park or make necessary fixes all while raising rent and collecting millions of dollars in profit. "The jury found, as we did, that the defendants clearly took advantage of some of the most vulnerable members of the community," Kabateck said. "These are people on a fixed income, the elderly, the disabled and folks on the brink of poverty." Friendly Village is owned by Michael Scott and Lee Kort. The plaintiffs contended the owners raked in $7.5 million dollars over the past four years from the residents of Friendly Village but spent nothing to make necessary repairs and maintenance. The owners attempted to file bankruptcy during trial. "I'm very happy my clients will be compensated for what they suffered," Kabateck said. "Now I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the jury's verdict that will make these owners pay for years of taking advantage of these good people." Kabateck's team represents more than 120 additional families suing Friendly Village. Those cases will go to trial in the coming months. The plaintiffs' legal team includes Kabateck, Shant Karnikian and Natalie Pang of Kabateck LLP and Gary Fields with FieldsLaw. Kabateck serves as president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, chairman of the board of Loyola Law School and is a past president of Consumer Attorneys of California. Materials: Video of Friendly Village: https://vimeo.com/jurisproductions/review/205987519/cc0753f6f7 Photos of Friendly Village: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bg93t6Pi5qNGVmWGE4ejVRZVk/view?usp=sharing Complaint: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CCcOFD5cPbvgp3kXvsMxIVdDKXS9qS0G/view?usp=sharing Contact: Gina Fernandes Telephone: 626-356-3006 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Kabateck LLP BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, WomenInc. Magazine announced its recognition of Kellogg Company Board members and an executive for their many distinguished professional accomplishments. The 2018 WomenInc.'s Most Influential Corporate Directors listing in the winter 2018 edition of the magazine includes the five women serving on Kellogg's Board of Directors: Stephanie Burns, Mary Laschinger, Cynthia Milligan, LaJune Montgomery Tabron and Carolyn Tastad. Monica McGurk, Chief Revenue and eCommerce Officer, Kellogg Company, is among the leaders spotlighted individually by WomenInc. Magazine. McGurk serves on the Board of Directors of the Mid-America Apartment Communities. "Today, we congratulate these individuals for this well-deserved acknowledgment of their leadership, and their many contributions to our company's success," said Steve Cahillane, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kellogg Company. "At Kellogg, we seek to continue to ensure that our workforce is reflective of the consumers we serve, at all levels of the organization." The Kellogg Company Board of Directors has 42 percent female representation (five of 12 Directors), and its Executive Committee is 30 percent female (four of 13 members). "Kellogg is a company with heart and soul, driven by a diverse and inclusive community of passionate people making a difference," said Kris Bahner, Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs, Kellogg Company. "Our longstanding commitment to gender equity extends throughout our business in the board room, through our support of women farmers and employees around the globe, and in the many women-owned businesses in our supplier base." WomenInc. Magazine is a leading magazine dedicated to comprehensive coverage of women's achievement in business. The WomenInc. Most Influential Corporate Directors lists more than 560 female directors serving on the boards of S&P500/Big-Cap publicly held companies. The directory is the most comprehensive listing of women executives, influencers and achievers who contribute to leadership on corporate boards. "It is essential that we showcase the achievements and success of professional women in the highest regard, and that their stories are told in meaningful ways," said Catrina Young, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of WomenInc. Magazine. "WomenInc. is proud to recognize this distinguished group of women serving on public boards." About Kellogg Company At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), we strive to enrich and delight the world through foods and brands that matter. Our beloved brands include Pringles, Cheez-It, Keebler, Special K, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Eggo, Mini-Wheats, Kashi, RXBAR and more. Net sales in 2017 were approximately $13 billion, comprised principally of snacks and convenience foods like cereal and frozen foods. Kellogg brands are beloved in markets around the world. We are also a company with Heart & Soul, committed to creating three billion Better Days by the end of 2025 through our Breakfasts for Better Days global purpose platform. Visit www.KelloggCompany.com or www.OpenforBreakfast.com. SOURCE Kellogg Company Related Links http://www.kelloggcompany.com KELOWNA, BC, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Liht Cannabis Corp. (CSE: LIHT) (OTCQX: LIHTF) (FSE: 2M0) ("Liht") or (the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its November 7, 2018, news release, the Company has received final approval from the State of Nevada to commence operations in the second 5,000 sq. ft. building in North Las Vegas, immediately. Kurt Keating, Director of Operations and his team have been tirelessly working to develop an impressive variety of genetics. During the past several months they have commenced cultivation in the temporary buildings allowing us to maintain our production schedule and initiate the transfer of plants into building 1 and 2. "We are elated to bring our second building into production. Kurt Keating, Director of Operations, has done an exemplary job in spear-heading the Las Vegas project since 2016. He has embraced every challenge along the way with patience and fortitude. I am proud of the superior environment that Kurt and his team have created for our cultivation." Linda Sampson, President and COO ABOUT LIHT CANNABIS CORP. www.lihtcannabis.com Liht Cannabis Corp. is a publicly traded company investing in the medical and recreational cannabis space, since 2014. Liht has rapidly expanded to include cultivation, production and dispensary locations in the key North American states of Washington, Nevada, and California, and are seeking expansion opportunities worldwide. SOCIAL MEDIA: twitter.com facebook.com STOCK EXCHANGES: Liht trades in Canada, ticker symbol LIHT on the CSE, in the United States, ticker symbol LIHTF on the OTCQX, and in Europe, ticker symbol 2M0 on the FSE. The Company also trades on other recognized platforms in Europe including Stuttgart, Tradegate, L & S, Quotnx, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Berlin. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider, the FSE nor the OTCQX has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. MARIJUANA INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT: Canadian listings (CSE) will remain in good standing as long as they provide the disclosure that is rightly required by regulators and complying with applicable licensing requirements and the regulatory framework enacted by the applicable state in which they operate. Liht owns marijuana licenses in California and Nevada. Marijuana is legal in each state however marijuana remains illegal under US federal law and the approach to enforcement of US federal law against marijuana is subject to change. Shareholders and investors need to be aware that adverse enforcement actions could affect their investments and that Liht's ability to access private and public capital could be affected and or could not be available to support continuing operations. Liht's business is conducted in a manner consistent with state law and is in compliance with licensing requirements. Copies of licenses are posted on Liht's website. Liht has internal compliance procedures in place and has compliance focused attorneys engaged in jurisdictions to monitor changes in laws for compliance with US federal and state law on an ongoing basis. These law firms inform any necessary changes to our policies and procedures for compliance in Canada and the US. FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which includes, the effective trading date for the new name and symbol, the expected outcomes of its business, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. Forward-looking statement are necessarily based upon a number of factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements express or implied by such statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, present and future business strategies, the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events, level of activity, performance or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: that laws and regulations may become more onerous; the ability of the Company to obtain necessary financing; the economy generally; the future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospectus and opportunities; changes in and the effect of government policies; demand for products; competition; anticipated and unanticipated costs; reliance on management; claims and legal proceedings; conflicts of interest; and market price and volatility of the Common Shares. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants, technology failures, failure to obtain a license from Health Canada or from other government agencies, failure to develop new and innovative products, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations and fees charged by service providers. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, litigation, global economic climate, loss of key employees and consultants, additional funding requirements, changes in laws, competition, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, nor approved the contents of this news release. SOURCE Liht Cannabis Corporation Related Links http://www.marapharm.com/ AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Living Security announced that they closed a $1.25 million seed round with lead venture capital firms and area angel investors. Active Capital led the round, which includes investment from Cathexis Ventures and Capital Factory. Living Security is a cyber security training company, working to reduce cyber risk through impactful, human-focused training. Back Row, L to R: Graham Westbrook, DIrector of Threat Intelligence; Erik Book, Customer Success Specialist; Bri Smith, Marketing Coordinator. Front Row, L to R: Kelly Woolridge, Customer Success Assistant; Drew Rose, CSO; Ashley Rose, CEO; Cody Reichenau, Software Engineer. Because of the increasing demand for cyber security awareness, Living Security entered the market to provide engaging and gamified security awareness training. They have successfully done this through their original product the Living Security Escape Room, reaching thousands of people all over the U.S., and the recent launch of their digital training platform Cyber Escape. Living Security is working with over 50 companies, many of which are in the Fortune 500. Living Security will use these funds for continued product growth and go-to-market execution. "We are excited to scale our products and grow the impact of our mission to help organizations combat cyber threats through immersive and impactful security awareness training experiences," said Ashley Rose, CEO of Living Security. Living Security would like to extend special thanks to the advisors and team members that supported them through this round and the launch of Cyber Escape, their immersive security awareness training platform. Living Security's growth wouldn't be possible without the support and partnership of their customers and investors. Lead investor Pat Matthews, founder and CEO of Active Capital, was instrumental throughout the funding process and will join Living Security's board of directors in November. "We are thrilled for the continued support of our investors and the new partnerships that this round brings," said Rose. "Partnering with these investors will allow us to continue growing and scaling our security awareness training program to meet the growing demand worldwide for impactful security awareness training experiences." ABOUT LIVING SECURITY: Living Security's focal point is decreasing human error the greatest cyber security risk enterprises face through immersive and intelligence-driven training solutions. Their science-based approach drives user engagement and reinforces positive security behaviors, integrates threat intelligence to train on the most relevant user-facing threats and delivers metrics that enable companies to measure the effectiveness of the program. For more information or to learn about reducing cyber security risk and training employees, visit livingsecurity.com. Contact: Ashley Rose, Co-Founder and CEO, Living Security [email protected] Related Images living-security-logo.png Living Security Logo living-security-team.jpg Living Security Team Back Row, L to R: Graham Westbrook, Director of Threat Intelligence; Erik Book, Customer Success Specialist; Bri Smith, Marketing Coordinator. Front Row, L to R: Kelly Woolridge, Customer Success Assistant; Drew Rose, CSO; Ashley Rose, CEO; Cody Reichenau, Software Engineer. SOURCE Living Security Related Links http://livingsecurity.com In accepting his award, Mr. Wolfe commented, "The only way we will find better treatments for lupus, and one day a cure, is to work together in one massive and well-managed collaborative effort, investigating every avenue of hope, until we find answers." Honorary Co-chairs who helped make this the world's largest single lupus fundraising event include the Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg, Selena Gomez, and Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga sent the lupus community a warm message on behalf of herself and her dad, Joe Germanotta: "While we would have very much liked to be with you this evening to honor Bill Wolfe and the work of the Lupus Research Alliance, the fires in Southern California which are threatening so many homes preclude us from attending. While we are not with you in person, we are very much with you in spirit.... Working together, we can find that cure." Mr. Germanotta serves on the Lupus Research Alliance Board of Directors to help drive research that can cure the disease that took the life of his sister Joanne. Eleven-year old Miah Andrade, herself an emerging voice in the lupus community, addressed the audience, sharing her own experience with lupus and how meeting Selena Gomez at the 2017 Lupus Research Alliance Gala impacted her life. Celebrated trumpeter Brian Newman opened the program in jazzy style, while Broadway star and Tony Award Nominee Norm Lewis concluded with moving songs about perseverance and friendship. Willie Geist, Host of Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist and Co-Host, Morning Joe, emceed the Gala, delighting guests with his humor and sincerity. Lupus Research Alliance Co-Chairman Richard K. DeScherer, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Bloomberg L.P. hosted the evening. The highly distinguished and hard-working group of 2018 Gala Co-chairs include: Ira Akselrad, President, The Johnson Company; Neil D. Cohen, Chairman, Snapfish.com, CEO, District Photo Inc.; Jay Epstien, Co-Chair, Global Real Estate Practice, DLA Piper LLP; Mark L. Joseph, Chief Commercial Officer, Transdev Group; Bruce Levenson, Co-Founder, United Communications Group; Robert W. Pittman, Chairman and CEO, iHeartMedia, Inc.; Dennis F. Ratner, CEO, Ratner Companies; and Barry Rosenthal, Partner, Rosenthal Advisory LLC. Additional Board members in attendance were: Brenda Blackmon, Jerome Chazen, Jennie DeScherer, Bill Mulvihill, Molly McCabe, Nadeem Meghji, and Carol Weisman. Adding to the excitement of the night, New York's iconic Empire State Building lit up purple and red to help the Lupus Research Alliance raise awareness of the disease and the importance of scientific research. Watch this video to understand why thousands of generous members of the lupus community nationwide support the innovative science funded by the Lupus Research Alliance. About Lupus Lupus is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 90% of people with lupus are women, most of whom are diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 44. Women of color are especially at risk. In lupus, the immune system, which is designed to protect against infection, creates antibodies that attack the body's own tissues and organs -- the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, blood, skin, and joints. About the Lupus Research Alliance The Lupus Research Alliance is transforming the lives of people affected with lupus by financing the most innovative lupus research in the world. The organization's stringent peer review grant process fosters diverse scientific talent who are driving discovery toward better diagnostics, improved treatments and ultimately a cure for lupus. Because the Lupus Research Alliance's Board of Directors fund all administrative and fundraising costs, 100% of all donations goes to support lupus research programs. SOURCE Lupus Research Alliance Related Links http://www.lupusresearch.org "We're extremely proud to partner with Meals on Wheels America to help fight senior hunger this holiday season," said Meghan Baumann, brand manager at Hormel Foods. "Senior hunger impacts one in six seniors across the country and the Hormel Compleats brand is doing its part to make sure we can feed those in need." The matching donation is the latest component of the Hormel Compleats brand's partnership with Meals on Wheels America to support their hunger relief efforts. During September and October, Hormel Foods donated $1 for every Hormel Compleats product sold, resulting in $75,000 being donated to the organization. Hormel Foods also gave all new Meals on Wheels volunteers a coupon for a free Hormel Compleats product during their recruiting drive this summer. "We're honored and delighted to partner again with the Hormel Compleats brand during this holiday season to support vulnerable seniors," said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. "Through this generous matching gift, their support will not only help make an impact in the lives of those who need it most, it will inspire others to do the same. On behalf of the more than 2.4 million seniors served by Meals on Wheels programs nationwide, we are truly grateful." The partnership with Meals on Wheels America builds on the Hormel Foods' longstanding commitment to address hunger. Hormel Foods collaborates with retailers, nonprofit organizations and government agencies to help with hunger relief efforts around the world. Through its programs, disaster relief efforts and other donations, Hormel Foods contributed $7.8 million in cash and product donations to help address hunger in fiscal year 2017. For more information about the Hormel Compleats brand, including nutritional information and where to buy, visit www.Hormel.com/Brands/Compleats . ABOUT HORMEL FOODS - Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenues across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Skippy, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly Guacamole, Hormel Black Label and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the ninth year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. In 2016, the company celebrated its 125th anniversary and announced its new vision for the future - Inspired People. Inspired Food. - focusing on its legacy of innovation. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/. ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America's seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org . Media Contacts: Brian Olson Hormel Foods 507-437-5345 [email protected] Jenny Bertolette Young Meals on Wheels America 571-339-1603 [email protected] SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation Related Links http://www.hormel.com "November is National Healthy Skin Month, which makes it the perfect time to try our skin-care products," Marshalls CEO, Vick Maharaj, said. "Lays Tissue Oil is a comprehensive head-to-toe product. You can use it to massage your scalp, all the way down, to your toe nails." Alice Villasenor, who writes the popular blog "DIY Your Life," recently tried Lays Tissue Oil and said: "The scent is mild like baby powder with a hint of floral and won't clash with perfume. When put to the test, my face looks amazing. I have combination skin and I have the first signs of wrinkles around my eyes. I can't say that the oil has gotten rid of my wrinkles but it has definitely decreased the look of them." Lays Tissue Oil Spray was launched in 2004, filling the gap in the South African market for a beautiful, effective and convenient way to apply tissue oil. At the same time, this pioneering product had to have quality ingredients and Lays Tissue Oil Spray therefore includes grapeseed oil, lavender, jo-joba, lanolin and vitamin E oils. "Lays Tissue Oil is a superior product for skin-care management, which is why it is one of our top sellers. We call it our 'wonder oil' spray," Maharaj said. "You can revitalize your skin with this refreshing, extra light oil spray, and savor its subtle whisper of French perfume." Lays Tissue Oil can be purchased at stackednutrition.com. Other products that Marshalls Traditional Health Care have available for sale online include Lays Hair-Oil with Moroccan Argan Oil and Lays Lanolin & Olive Oil. For more information on Marshalls Traditional Health Care and its Lays Beauty line, visit www.lays-beauty.com and follow on Facebook. Please direct inquiries to: Michelle Bizet, 561-544-0719 [email protected] SOURCE Marshalls Traditional Health Care NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A growing segment of the population plans to vote with their wallet this holiday shopping season, favoring brands with strong corporate values over getting the best deal. First identified by MWWPR in 2017, these CorpSumers base their loyalty and purchasing decisions on companies' reputations rather than just product features and price. On the heels of its second annual CorpSumer study, MWWPR and Wakefield Research conducted a follow up survey about holiday shopping plans to determine if CorpSumer values and behaviors carry over into the traditionally discount and deal-centered holiday shopping season. The results overwhelmingly indicated that brands' shared values and stances on societal issues will be a litmus test for CorpSumers when they select holiday gifts; with more than 3 out of 4 (76%) indicating that they will select holiday gifts based on whether the brand or the retailer have values similar to their own. "The results of this survey indicate a significant shift in the mindset of shoppers as they embark on the busiest shopping season of the year, with values and purpose eclipsing deals as a top priority," said Carreen Winters, MWWPR's Chairman of Reputation and Chief Strategy Officer. "While the general public is highly oriented around bargains during the holidays, CorpSumers, who represent more than one in three Americans, define value based on brand purposenot dollars. CorpSumers have consistently demonstrated a willingness to pay more for brands that share their values, and this study shows that this behavior applies to their gift-giving, not just personal purchases. Whether shopping in stores on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday, or online on Cyber Monday, CorpSumers will reward the brands that have authentically demonstrated their purpose this holiday season." Key findings of the study include: This holiday season, CorpSumers will shop for company core values, not price. Over 3 in 4 (76%) CorpSumers will decide where they spend their money on gifts based on whether the company has similar values to themselves. When shopping for gifts, the majority of CorpSumers (57%) strongly consider whether a company has clear values and takes a stance on important societal issues to be more important than companies offering the best deals. An overwhelming 93% of CorpSumers will likely purchase their holiday gifts from companies that demonstrate their values and take a stance on societal issues. MWWPR's second annual CorpSumer study (October 2018) revealed that CorpSumers place a high premium on employee wellbeing, citing "treatment of employees" as its number one criteria for forming an opinion about a company. Not surprisingly, CorpSumers overwhelmingly indicate that they will reward companies who respect holidays and family as a priority, with 97% of CorpSumers indicating that they would be more interested in shopping with companies who are closed on holidays like Thanksgiving Day over those who open with great deals. SURVEY METHODOLGY The MWWPR CorpSumer Research Study was conducted by Wakefield Research among 500 US CorpSumers ages 18+ between November 13, 2018 and November 15, 2018, using an email invitation and an online survey. The margin of error for US CorpSumers ages 18+ is +/- 4.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. ABOUT CORPSUMERS First identified in 2017 by MWWPR, CorpSumers are defined as consumers who base their loyalty and purchasing decisions on companies' reputations rather than just product features and price. CorpSumers are a growing segment, currently estimated at 35% of the US population, a rise of 2% in just one year. Equal parts advocate and objector, CorpSumers use shared values as their primary criteria for judging companies and brands, and are actively influencing others by sharing their opinions both for and against brands. In MWWPR's 2018 study, CorpSumers indicated a strong preference that brands "take a stand" on matters of societal importance and public policy. 90% of US CorpSumers are more likely to try a company's product and 80% are willing to pay more for a product from companies that take a stand. 43% of CorpSumers prefer a company to take a stand on an issue, even if it does not align with their own point of view. CorpSumers are a larger segment in the US than Moms or Millennials, and cross generations from Baby Boomers to Gen Z. ABOUT MWWPR Thirty-two-years young, MWWPR has gone from one employee in one room with one client to among the world's leading independent, integrated PR agencies with nine offices across the US and the UK. Guided by data and powered by insights, intellect and human instincts, we uniquely deliver on a people-first, client-centric promise that leans heavily into a digitally-led, content-driven approach. Our mission is to get to the heart of the matter: igniting influence and impact to help organizations matter more to those who matter most. Our expertise spans Consumer Lifestyle Marketing, Corporate Communications and Reputation Management, Public Affairs, Crisis and Issues Management, Media, Technology, Fintech and Telecoms. Visit www.mww.com or follow us @MWW_PR to learn more. ABOUT WAKEFIELD RESEARCH Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) is a leading, independent provider of quantitative, qualitative and hybrid market research. Wakefield Research supports the world's most prominent brands and agencies, including 40 of the Fortune 100, in 70 countries. SOURCE MWWPR Related Links http://www.mww.com NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- World-renowned Italian artist, Nello Petrucci, showcased "The Essence of Lightness," the largest collage installation by any artist in history, at 3 World Trade Center 45th Floor. Petrucci was hand-selected by the Silverstein family to share his mural of advertising images, shreds of hidden souls and dreams that look for wings and represents the hope that warms the present and builds the future. Attending the intimate reception was the Honorable Pietro Amitrano, Mayor of Pompeii, who stated, "It was a great honor to be in New York City at 3 World Trade Center to view Petrucci's showpiece. We are incredibly touched that a piece of Pompeii now lives on the 45th floor." Art Installation by Italian Artist, Nello Petrucci The Silverstein family welcomed Petrucci from Italy and his great work for all to see and stated, "A masterpiece in the sky!" "I'm humbled by this experience and incredibly grateful to be part of history in the 3WTC. I gave my heart and vision in this collage and told a story of the past, present, and future for everybody to enjoy," said Petrucci. Gianni Boccia, owner of Contemply and manager of Petrucci, expressed gratitude to Petrucci and his commitment of turning his vision into a reality on the 45th floor. Boccia also stated, "Wow! Just Wow!" ABOUT "THE ESSENCE OF LIGHTNESS" The art of Petrucci has its roots in distant ages, as evidenced by his collection dedicated to "Pompeii and the mysteries of eternal beauty," starting from graffiti, a face, a fresco. All to remember and highlight the great artistic value of those "unknown soldiers" of Pompeian painting, as defined by Petrucci. Through his work you will experience laughter, happiness, awareness of contributing to this farsighted patronage of the walls of the World Trade Center will be in the immediate future, no longer an echo facing down as it is natural, but, the aspiration of the whole project, an echo facing upwards, towards "the eternal blue sky." Petrucci is involved in creating this beauty inside, to transmit automatically with his art, the word, the meaning, the message to walls intended for silence, oblivion, or humiliated by time. The World Trade Center for Petrucci is nothing but an "artistic mirror." https://www.nellopetrucci.com THE NEW WORLD TRADE CENTER When Silverstein Properties thought about rebuilding the World Trade Center, the company's goal was to create a place full of life and creativity that would reflect who we are as New Yorkers. Silverstein worked with some of the world's leading architects and artists. They put art in and around their new buildings and invited artists to work in the buildings as they were leased. What these artists have done is a testament to that vision. It is fun, it's exciting, it's creative and is what Downtown is all about. Silverstein's vision was to create a better version of New York and that vision is now a reality. Today, the new World Trade Center has come alive as a dynamic public space with timeless architecture and home to some of the city's most exciting companies. ABOUT CONTEMPLY Contemply is a management organization that represents artists both domestically and abroad. Giovanni Boccia and Nino Del Pozzo, from Italy and partners of Contemply, show their work internationally including 3 World Trade Center, the home to prestigious artists from all over the world. Contemply recently won the prestigious "Spotlight Award" for the best gallery at the 40th edition of the Art Expo New York 2018. www.contemply.com For media interviews: MJ Pedone, President Indra Public Relations, [email protected] (917) 319-9600 Related Images the-essence-of-lightness.jpg 'The Essence of Lightness' Art Installation by Italian Artist, Nello Petrucci the-essence-of-lightness-guests.jpg 'The Essence of Lightness' Guests Guests attending the installation of Nello Petrucci italian-strong.jpg Italian Strong Nello Petrucci with his manager Gianni Boccia who proudly stands tall next to Honorable Pietro Amitrano. honorable-pietro-amitrano-mayor-of.jpg Honorable Pietro Amitrano, Mayor of Pompeii & Artist, Nello Petrucci SOURCE Nello Petrucci Related Links https://www.nellopetrucci.com SAN DIEGO, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- North Island Credit Union has announced the recipients of its Fall 2018 Teacher Grants assisting educators in funding innovative learning opportunities for their students in San Diego County. Recipients will each receive $500 to use towards their class projects. The Fall 2018 North Island Credit Union San Diego County Teacher Grant recipients include: Adrielle Aldrich , Sherman Elementary School, San Diego , Sherman Elementary School, Michael Claudio , Sweetwater Union High School, Chula Vista , Sweetwater Union High School, Aimee D' Spain , Hoover High School, San Diego , Hoover High School, Jean Dugan , San Diego Cooperative Charter School, San Diego , San Diego Cooperative Charter School, Kellie Gilmore , Los Coches Creek Middle School, El Cajon , Los Coches Creek Middle School, Brian Mendoza , Lakeside Middle School, Lakeside , Lakeside Middle School, Lakeside Elizabeth Perkoski , El Camino High School, Oceanside , El Camino High School, Oceanside Rachel Platz , Valencia Park Elementary School, San Diego , Valencia Park Elementary School, Laura Snow , Pomerado Elementary School, Poway , Pomerado Elementary School, Stephanie Rossi , Washington Elementary School, San Diego "North Island Credit Union is committed to supporting our local education community, and our grant program is one way we are working to help teachers bring new programs into the classroom that impact their students and communities in positive ways," said California Credit Union CEO Steve O'Connell. "We hope these grants encourage our local educators to pursue innovative projects that spark a new passion in their students, which can make a life-long difference." The credit union grants were used to help fund a wide variety of programs illustrating the creativity and commitment teachers bring to their classrooms and communities, including supporting hands-on social messages to help the homeless, community sustainability, peer-based socialization for special education students, development of life skills, plant/animal organic life cycles, and many more. North Island Credit Union encourages local educators to follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @northislandcu for more opportunities for education-focused programs and support initiatives throughout the year. Since the creation of the program in 2012, the credit union has awarded $85,000 in teacher grants to benefit students throughout San Diego and Los Angeles. Up to 20 grants totaling $10,000 are awarded bi-annually in the spring and fall. Any full-time classroom teacher in San Diego County can apply for a grant for a program that has clearly defined learning objectives tied to students' academic needs, displays creativity in education, and targets a significant number of students. Visit northisland.ccu.com for more information. About North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 that serves public or private school employees, community members and businesses across California. With more than 165,000 members and assets of $3 billion, California Credit Union has 24 branches throughout Los Angeles and San Diego counties. The credit union operates in San Diego County as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. California Credit Union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Please visit northisland.ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @northislandcu. SOURCE North Island Credit Union Related Links http://www.northisland.ccu.com Alaska Native Corporation signs partnership agreement with Pebble VANCOUVER, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX: NDM; NYSE American: NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") reports the Pebble Limited Partnership ("Pebble Partnership" or "PLP") has finalized a Right-of-Way Agreement with Alaska Peninsula Corporation ("APC"), securing the right to use defined portions of APC lands for the construction and operation of transportation infrastructure associated with the Pebble Project. The Pebble Partnership is wholly owned by Northern Dynasty and proponent of southwest Alaska's Pebble Project. APC is an Alaska Native village corporation with extensive land holdings proximal to the Pebble site, and more than 900 shareholders many of whom live in the nearby villages of Newhalen and Kokhanok. "Today's agreement not only secures access to the Pebble Project site for construction and operation of the proposed mine," said Northern Dynasty President & CEO Ron Thiessen. "It also represents a significant milestone in the developing relationship between Pebble and the Alaska Native people of the region. "We have always said Pebble must be developed in partnership with the local people and institutions of southwest Alaska. We have more work to do in that regard, but a Right-of-Way Agreement with one of the largest Alaska Native landowners in the region goes a long way to bringing our commitment to life." The APC lands addressed in the Right-of-Way Agreement mirror the transportation corridor identified in PLP's Project Description, as submitted to the US Army Corps of Engineers late last year to initiate the federal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) permitting process. It includes land south of Lake Iliamna to link a port site on Cook Inlet to a ferry landing site west of the APC village of Kohkanok, as well as land north of Lake Iliamna to link a ferry landing site west of the APC village of Newhalen to the site of the proposed Pebble mine. PLP transportation infrastructure is expected to benefit APC, its shareholders and villages through access to lower cost power, equipment and supplies, as well as enhanced economic activity in the region. Spur roads connecting to the villages of Newhalen and Kokhanok will allow local residents to access jobs at the Pebble mine site, port site and ferry landing sites. "Among our leading priorities as an Alaska Native corporation is to manage and develop our lands responsibly, in a manner that creates employment opportunities for our shareholders but also respects our subsistence values and culture," said Brad Angasan, APC Vice President of Corporate Affairs. "That's exactly what this deal represents for APC, as well as securing us an important seat at the table as the Pebble Project advances." To secure its right to use defined portions of APC land for the construction and operation of transportation infrastructure, PLP will make annual toll payments to APC, and pay other fees prior to and during project construction and operation. In addition, APC will be granted 'Preferred Contractor' status at Pebble, which provides a preferential opportunity to bid on Pebble-related contracts located on APC lands. Finally, the two parties have agreed to negotiate a profit sharing agreement that will ensure APC and its shareholders benefit directly from the profits generated by mining activity in the region. "APC has been an important stakeholder and business partner in the Pebble enterprise for some time, and we're pleased to formalize that partnership today," Thiessen said. "We expect to secure additional mutually beneficial partnership agreements with other local and Alaska Native institutions as the project moves forward." About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern Dynasty's principal asset, owned through its wholly-owned Alaska-based US subsidiary Pebble Limited Partnership, is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 2,402 mineral claims in southwest Alaska, including the Pebble deposit. The Pebble Partnership is the proponent of the Pebble Project, an initiative to develop one of the world's most important mineral resources. For further details on Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Project, please visit the Company's website at www.northerndynastyminerals.com or contact Investor services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114. Review Canadian public filings at www.sedar.com and US public filings at www.sec.gov. Ronald W. Thiessen President & CEO Forward Looking Information and other Cautionary Factors This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of the ultimate size, quality or commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project or of the Company's future performance or the outcome of litigation. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: the Pebble Project will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and development of the Pebble Project will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. The likelihood of future mining at the Pebble Project is subject to a large number of risks and will require achievement of a number of technical, economic and legal objectives, including obtaining necessary mining and construction permits, approvals, licenses and title on a timely basis and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, the final outcome of any litigation, completion of pre-feasibility and final feasibility studies, preparation of all necessary engineering for surface or underground mining and processing facilities as well as receipt of significant additional financing to fund these objectives as well as funding mine construction. Such funding may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms or on any terms at all. There is no known ore at the Pebble Project and there is no assurance that the mineralization at the Pebble Project will ever be classified as ore. The need for compliance with extensive environmental and socio-economic rules and practices and the requirement for the Company to obtain government permitting can cause a delay or even abandonment of a mineral project. The Company is also subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business conditions. The NEPA EIS process requires a comprehensive "alternatives assessment" be undertaken to consider a broad range of development alternatives, the final project design and operating parameters for the Pebble Project and associated infrastructure may vary significantly from that currently being advanced. As a result, the Company will continue to consider various development options and no final project design has been selected at this time. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com SOURCE Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Related Links www.northerndynastyminerals.com PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oregon Reproductive Medicine (ORM), a world-class fertility center that is passionately committed to helping people grow their families, officially opened their new clinic in Tigard, Oregon called ORM South this week. The clinic will provide a convenient option for people in and around the Tigard, Tualatin, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, Dundee/Newberg, McMinnville and Wilsonville areas, as well as residents of Salem and Eugene. The new clinic enhances ORM's ability to meet the needs of patients throughout the Portland metropolitan area and beyond. Joining the Ribbon to Celebrate the Official Opening of ORM South ORM South Expands Footprint of World Class Fertility Clinic Oregon Reproductive Medicine Since ORM opened in 1989, the clinic has expanded from one doctor to seven doctors and from one location to six clinics. More clinics are slated to open in 2019. Over 29 years, ORM has helped welcome more than 8,000 babies into the world through its treatments for patients on their journey to parenthood. Dr. Amanda Hurliman will transition her practice to ORM South from the ORM Westside Clinic. Dr. Thomas Fisher will continue to see patients at ORM's Westside Clinic and will be joined by Dr. Shannel Adams in 2019. All of the doctors will continue furthering ORM's mission of providing compassionate and personalized care to help people grow their families. "This is an exciting expansion for ORM," said Dr. Hurliman, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist who joined the practice in 2013. "With the new ORM South clinic, we will be able to help even more patients expand their families." Dr. Hurliman focuses on all aspects of fertility care. She has extensive experience and expertise with in vitro fertilization (IVF), the relationship between genetics and fertility, preimplantation genetic diagnosis and fertility preservation. Her understanding that everyone's reasons for seeking fertility care are unique has earned Dr. Hurliman a reputation for delivering thoughtful and compassionate care that addresses each patient's individual needs. ORM offers individuals and couples a wide variety of treatment options including the most cutting-edge IVF technology available, advanced genetic screenings and safe surrogacy. ORM is committed to achieving the highest success rates while providing a customized, compassionate patient experience. Unrivaled expertise, outstanding results and personalized care make ORM one of the most highly sought-after fertility centers in the world. Located at 12115 SW 70th Avenue, Suite 101, in Tigard, ORM South held a ribbon joining on November 19, 2018 with esteemed members of the Portland business community, the Tigard mayor, and ORM families in attendance. This clinic joins the family of other ORM fertility centers: ORM Downtown Fertility Center - 808 SW 15th Ave., Portland, OR 97205 97205 ORM Westside Fertility Center - 9555 SW Barnes Road, Suite 390, Portland, OR 97225 97225 ORM San Francisco Testing & Monitoring Location - Located at Urogynecology Center of San Francisco at 55 Francisco St., Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94133 at 55 Francisco St., Suite 300, 94133 ORM China in Shanghai ORM Israel in Tel Aviv About Oregon Reproductive Medicine: Oregon Reproductive Medicine (ORM) is a world-class fertility center that is passionately committed to helping people grow their families. Founded in 1989, ORM is accessible to individuals and couples, while offering treatments that are specific to their needs. ORM is committed to achieving the highest success rates and provides a customized, compassionate patient experience. Unrivaled expertise, outstanding results and personalized care make ORM one of the most sought-after fertility centers in the world. https://www.oregonreproductivemedicine.com/ CONTACT Maggie Palmer 503-419-7677 [email protected] SOURCE Oregon Reproductive Medicine Related Links https://www.oregonreproductivemedicine.com Located conveniently across the river from Cincinnati, customers will now be able to access Palmer Trucks' parts inventory without the hassle of Cincinnati traffic. TRP is unique in that the brand carries all-makes truck, bus and trailer parts for almost any application. Cincinnati General Manager Greg Mills comments, "Palmer Trucks is excited to open a TRP truck parts store in Northern Kentucky. This additional distribution footprint will allow us to better serve our customers and the trucking industry." Palmer Trucks has experienced record growth the past several years; now with more than 10 full-service locations, a leasing division, a fabrication shop and a TRP parts store in Indianapolis. Palmer Trucks President Scott Nichols adds, "We are excited about our new location in northern Kentucky. As a family owned business that has been in the area for nearly 40 years, we are excited to grow with the area and our customers." With more than 600 employees serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky, Palmer Trucks is pleased to be investing in both its people and infrastructure to expand the footprint of its family-owned, relationship-oriented operation. About Palmer Trucks, Inc. Palmer Trucks, Inc. is the regional leader in the sale, lease, repair and finance of Kenworth products through a network of 10 dealerships throughout the Midwest and East-South Central United States. Founded in Indianapolis during July of 1965 by Eldon Palmer, the company has since expanded as a third-generation company throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. The Palmer team of more than 600 members is dedicated to the highest levels of service, friendliness and integrity as a dealer of the Kenworth brand - The World's Best medium and heavy-duty trucks. Palmer Trucks is an A+ accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. Media Contact: Cameron Nichols Marketing Manager (317) 247 8421 [email protected] SOURCE Palmer Trucks Related Links http://www.palmertrucks.com/ CHENNAI, India, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), announced the completion of its new cGMP kilo lab suite at its API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) site in Ennore, Chennai, India. The suite will formally open on December 1, 2018. Ennore is a key API site in the PPS integrated site network, with capabilities from early development through commercial manufacturing, with an available capacity of over 300kL. The site supplies Key Starting Materials, Registered Starting Materials, Advanced Intermediates and APIs for both large pharma and biotech firms, in North America, Europe, and RoW markets. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659399/Piramal_Pharma_Solutions_Logo.jpg ) Anchored by a world-class R&D center, the cGMP kilo lab facility at Ennore will bridge the gap between Discovery and early Clinical development, addressing the needs of several discovery customers that want to rapidly advance their programs into the clinic. The facility operates in an ISO-8 certified clean room environment, with single fluid utility systems, supports temperatures ranging from -90C to 200C, and can handle batch sizes of up to 15 kg. Subsequent development and manufacturing of APIs as the programs advance can be carried out at the Piramal sites in Riverview (USA), Aurora (Canada), Digwal (India), in addition to Ennore. Vivek Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Piramal Pharma Solutions, said, "Ennore continues to grow in terms of customer interest. Recently, we have seen an increase in demand for stand-alone early cGMP development projects, further augmented by requests from our discovery customers, to support early clinical development API supply from India. By adding this new cGMP kilo lab, we can now supply Phase I clinical requirements through several Piramal sites: Ennore, Riverview, and Aurora. With this kilo lab addition, we continue to offer choices to our partners, as they seek to advance projects from 'Concept to Commercial', all within the Piramal network." About Piramal Enterprises Limited Piramal Enterprises Limited (PEL) is one of India's large diversified companies, with a presence in Financial Services, Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Insights & Analytics. PEL's consolidated revenues were over US$1.6 billion in FY2018, with ~46% of revenues generated from outside India. In Pharma, through an end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across 13 global facilities and a large global distribution network to over 100 countries, PEL sells a portfolio of niche differentiated pharma products and provides an entire pool of pharma services (including in the areas of injectable, HPAPI etc.). The Company is also strengthening its presence in the Consumer Product segment in India. PEL's Healthcare Insights & Analytics business is the premier provider of healthcare analytics, data & insight products and services to the world's leading pharma, biotech and medical technology companies and enables them to take informed business decisions. In Financial Services, Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Ltd is registered as a housing finance company with National Housing Bank (NHB) and engaged in various financial services businesses. It provides both wholesale and retail funding opportunities across sectors. In real estate, the platform provides housing finance and other financing solutions across the entire capital stack ranging from early stage private equity, structured debt, senior secured debt, construction finance, and flexi lease rental discounting. The wholesale business in non-real estate sector includes separate verticals - Corporate Finance Group (CFG) and Emerging Corporate Lending (ECL). CFG provides customized funding solutions to companies across sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, roads, industrials, auto components etc. while ECL focuses on lending towards Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). PCHFL through its group companies provides customized strategies for institutional and retail investors such as Mumbai Redevelopment Fund and Apartment Fund focused (through Piramal Fund Management) and strategic partnerships with leading global pension funds such as CPPIB, APG and Ivanhoe Cambridge. The division has also launched a Distressed Asset Investing platform with Bain Capital Credit - India Resurgence Fund that will invest in equity and/or debt in assets across sectors (other than real estate) to drive restructuring with active participation in turnaround. PEL also has long term equity investments worth ~US$1 billion in Shriram Group, a leading financial conglomerate in India. PEL is listed on the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited in India. For Investors: Investor Relations Hitesh Dhaddha +91-22-3046-6444 Devanshi Dhruva +91-22-3046 6376 [email protected] For Media: Corporate Communications Dimple Kapur +91-22-3351-4269 [email protected] Niyati Vora +91-22-3351-4124 [email protected] SOURCE Piramal Pharma Solutions TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Polymer Logistics, a global leader in reusable packaging and merchandising systems, announced today that Fred Heptinstall will step down as CEO Polymer Logistics North America, effective December 31 of this year. "Fred joined Polymer Logistics as CEO North America in July 2016 when the Company was launching its new wood-look RPCs," said Gideon Feiner, CEO Polymer Logistics. "Under his leadership, Polymer Logistics North America has grown its customer base, put together a high-performance organization, and delivered innovative solutions to the marketplace." "This is a very exciting time for Polymer Logistics," said Heptinstall. "Together, we have established a top-notch, performance-driven team which has transformed the company and spearheaded exceptional growth. It's with mixed emotions that I announce that my extended contractual commitment to Polymer Logistics is coming to a close. I do so confident in the knowledge that I am leaving them well-positioned for the future, and l am looking forward to continuing projects I put on hold while leading Polymer Logistics through its transformation." "Fred delivered extraordinary top-line growth and is leaving us with an excellent foundation for continued growth," continued Feiner. "As a result, the Company is poised for a bright future with new products in our pipeline and outstanding quality customer service enhanced by digitalization developments which will serve to improve and enhance supply chain efficiencies for our customers. We thank Fred for his leadership and commitment to Polymer Logistics and wish him continued success." "To maximize the developing opportunities and ensure continuity with a seamless transition, I will be personally leading the North America operation over the next several months prior to handing over responsibility to the next Polymer Logistics NA CEO," said Feiner. "I look forward to personally working with our valued customers and our talented team to continue providing our customers with quality solutions." About Polymer Logistics: Polymer Logistics is a global leader in reusable transport packaging and merchandising systems that work together from source to store to door to strengthen total supply chain performance and deliver results. Working closely with manufacturers, suppliers, growers, packers, and retailers alike, Polymer Logistics develops innovative, sustainable, and efficient design and operational solutions that lead to unsurpassed product quality and freshness, enhanced shopper experience and profitable growth for its business partners. The industry innovator, Polymer Logistics pioneered the design and commercialization of wood grain RPCs and display units, which bring an upscale, market-fresh look to stores and drive incremental sales and shopper engagement. The complete range of Polymer Logistics reusable transport, storage, display, and asset management products and services can be found at polymerlogistics.com. Contact Information Dana Embry, Polymer Logistics 813-778-1804 [email protected] Related Images polymer-logistics.jpg Polymer Logistics fred-heptinstall.jpg Fred Heptinstall Related Links Website SOURCE Polymer Logistics Related Links http://polymerlogistics.com RIDGEWOOD, N.Y., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ridgewood Savings Bank (the "Bank") is pleased to formally announce the election of both Brian P. Mooney and Kevin J. Shine to its Board of Trustees effective January 1, 2019. The Bank also formally announces the retirement of Mary A. Ledermann from its Board of Trustees on December 31, 2018. Brian P. Mooney. Kevin J. Shine. Mary A. Ledermann. Mr. Mooney currently serves as the Regional Sales Director at a large, privately-held technology company delivering data infrastructure business solutions, and has over 20 years of experience directing business development and sales teams focused on generating revenue growth in the data services and management industry. Throughout both his personal life and 15 years spent in the energy industry, Mr. Mooney has championed many Economic Development and Business Investment initiatives aimed at strengthening the socio-economic conditions of utility customers throughout New York City and Long Island. Mr. Mooney currently serves on the Development Committee of St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, and has earned the honor of Knight Commander within St. Baldrick's Foundation for his commitment to funding research that discovers and develops cures for pediatric cancers. Mr. Shine currently serves as the Senior Vice President of the Information Technology division of a Fortune 500 technology and communications company, leading their IT datacenter and infrastructure support organization. Mr. Shine has nearly 35 Years of technology industry experience, including leadership roles in engineering, design, deployment and support of IT infrastructure assets, data centers, mainframes, open systems, data storage, and IT networks. Mr. Shine also currently serves on the National Board of Directors of Swim Across America, a non-profit organization funding cancer research and support priorities, as well as the Board of Trustees of MercyFirst, an accredited New York State not-for-profit service provider to families and children in crisis. "We are pleased to be adding Brian Mooney and Kevin Shine to our Board," noted Leonard Stekol, the Bank's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Their significant, yet diverse, experience in the areas of IT development, support and delivery, along with their Fortune 500 company experiences will provide invaluable governance and oversight to the Bank's management." Mr. Stekol continued, "Both individuals will also offer key strategic assistance to the Bank as it strives to deliver innovative digital banking offerings and acquire new customers and households in a rapidly evolving competitive landscape, and their firm dedication to charitable service throughout the local communities should strengthen the Bank's ongoing mission to remain a premier, community-centered, mutual savings bank." Mr. Stekol concluded, "On behalf of both the Bank's Board of Trustees and employees, I want to thank Mary Ledermann for her nineteen years of distinguished service as a Trustee of the Bank. It has been a privilege to have Ms. Ledermann, with her continued connection to our local communities, offer management her personal and professional guidance. During her tenure as a Trustee, the Bank's assets have grown from $2.2 billion to $5.5 billion, deposits have nearly tripled, net worth has doubled, the retail branch network has expanded from sixteen to thirty-five offices, and both a mobile and internet branch have been launched." About Ridgewood Savings Bank Founded in 1921, Ridgewood Savings Bank is the largest mutual savings bank in New York State, with approximately $5.5 billion in assets. With 35 branches in the New York area, Ridgewood Savings Bank continues to serve its community as it did in 1921, with their continued focus always on their customers. Facebook: RidgewoodBank Instagram: @ridgewoodbank LinkedIn: ridgewood-savings-bank YouTube: RidgewoodBank www.ridgewoodbank.com 71-02 Forest Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385 Member FDIC SOURCE Ridgewood Savings Bank Related Links http://www.ridgewoodbank.com CHICAGO and SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutritional supplements consistently rank among the top five categories for China's cross-border online shoppers, and China's health supplements market is set to reach $26.5 billion US by 2020.1 To reach this massive market and cater to this ever-growing interest in health, U.S. online wellness retailer Swanson Health launches its new Chinese e-commerce website with leading China e-commerce expert, Azoya. U.S. online wellness retailer Swanson Health launches its new Chinese e-commerce website with leading China e-commerce expert, Azoya. Swanson's new e-commerce site increases its market reach during upcoming major Chinese e-commerce sales festivals, including Black Friday (November 23), Double Twelve (December 12) and Christmas sales. The site further expands Swanson's current online presence in China where they operate on leading marketplaces like Tmall Global and JD.com Worldwide. These operations combined will continue to build Swanson's popularity among Chinese consumers for high-quality, award-winning wellness products. "We're excited to work with Azoya for accelerated growth in China and other Asian markets," said John Eisel, Chief Operations Officer at Swanson Health. "Their solid technology infrastructure and cutting-edge e-commerce operationsincluding omnichannel marketing, sales and logisticsset Swanson up for success and make Azoya a key strategic partner for expanding the Swanson brand in China." "Connecting a market of 1.4 billion people with U.S. and foreign retail companies by using cross-border e-commerce is our specialty," said Franklin Chu, Managing Director at Azoya USA. "We genuinely want to help consumers, brands and retailers reach each other. By simplifying and streamlining the cross-border customer experience, everyone wins." Cross-border e-commerce exports to China reached over $16 billion US in 2017, with an average annual growth rate of over 110%.2 Chinese shoppers increasingly use cross-border e-commerce to buy American and foreign products for greater variety, quality, brand trust and prestige. According to a recent research report by Frost & Sullivan and Azoya Consulting, cross-border shoppers ranked the U.S. third with 55% of consumers choosing it as their preferred country of origin for foreign products. Azoya's proven expertise in China retail also helps Swanson adapt to Chinese consumers' heightened expectations, including robust omnichannel services, efficient mobile pay, integrated social marketing and social commerce implementation. This collaboration with Azoya enhances Swanson's ability to adapt to retail best practices in the sophisticated and increasingly affluent China market. Swanson Health looks forward to an exciting partnership with Azoya and is proud to be leading the vitamin and supplement industry with award-winning customer service and products. Continue to watch for new launches from Swanson and shop their new e-commerce site at swansonchina.com. Tweet This: @AzoyaGroup is thrilled to expand their business relationship with healthy living innovator, @SwansonHealth Shop @SwansonHealth for all of your health & wellness needs at swanson.com About Azoya Azoya is a leading China e-commerce enabler, which endeavors to help overseas brands and retailers break into China via cross-border e-commerce. The company prides itself as being the e-commerce leader that has signed exclusive agreements with the largest number of overseas retailers in China. With its all-encompassing services and dedicated specialist team, the company has won trust from more than 35 overseas retailers in 12 countries. Their current partners include Swanson, Shoezoo, Feelunique, Woolworths Supermarket, Amcal, and Matsuya Ginza. About Swanson Health Swanson Health was founded in 1969 in the heart of America, with a mission to offer pure and potent health products at a great value. Nearly 50 years later, Swanson continues to innovate science-backed, award-winning vitamins and supplements, plus natural & organic home, pantry, and self-care products, delivering 20,000 wellness solutions worldwide. Learn more and shop online at swanson.com. For Media Inquiries, Azoya U.S.A.: Dan Dyer U.S. Media Relation Azoya USA Phone: 513-478-7818 [email protected] For Media Inquiries, Swanson Health: Lindsey Bristol, MS, RD Senior Marketing Manager Swanson Health [email protected] 1 South China Morning Post 2 iiMedia Research SOURCE Azoya MUMBAI, India, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SWIFT India, a leading provider of secure financial messaging services for the Indian financial community and MonetaGo, a leading provider of financial technology, announced today a partnership and pilot program aimed at benefitting all Indian Banks. Based on MonetaGo's financial services network technology integrated through standardized SWIFT financial messages, the banks will use a shared distributed ledger network designed to meet industry-level governance, security and data privacy requirements to improve the efficiency and security of their financial products and procedures. "SWIFT India is committed to provide significant value to the Indian financial community through digitisation of trade. MonetaGo's expertise in providing fraud mitigation solutions to avoid double-financing and check authenticity of e-way Bill gave us the confidence to partner with them." -- said Mr. Kiran Shetty CEO of SWIFT India. MonetaGo's technology and product suite capitalizes on cutting-edge financial technology to enable critical real-time decision making. Solutions are easily accessible via simple interfaces and ready to deploy in heavily regulated environments. "Given India's focus on a digital infrastructure which is supported by both policy and technological innovation, it makes sense that large institutional players are interested in these products and initiatives," said Jesse Chenard, CEO of MonetaGo. "This work is going to positively impact the information available to the banking industry at large." Earlier in 2018, MonetaGo announced the production deployment of the Fraud Mitigation Network in India which provides a common platform not controlled by any one financial institution to securely and confidentially share information, thus reducing fraud around receivables financing. About MonetaGo MonetaGo provides enterprise solutions for financial operations. The MonetaGo product suite is compliant with existing regulations and designed to improve the efficiency and security of financial products. Built to support multiple technologies and interoperate seamlessly with legacy financial infrastructure, institutions can integrate MonetaGo's products with minimal disruption and cost. For more information, visit www.monetago.com About SWIFT India SWIFT India Domestic Services Pvt Ltd ("SWIFT India") is a joint venture created by SWIFT SCRL (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), the global banking cooperative, and (in alphabetical order) Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Citi, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Punjab National Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, State Bank of India and Union Bank of India, to address domestic market needs of the Indian financial services industry. Based on proven SWIFT technology, the company provides messaging services to domestic market infrastructures, banks and corporates, enabling the financial community to exchange automated, standardised financial information securely and reliably, thereby reducing costs and risks, improving compliance and services to its customers. SWIFT India's mission is to support the community in the next wave of banking industry transformation. SWIFT has been operating in India since 1991. For more information, visit www.swiftindia.org.in Media Queries: Ray George | [email protected] | 650-922-3825 Rachna Baruah | [email protected] | (+91) 99302-90142 Dippy Vankani | [email protected] | (+91) 98332-89400 SOURCE MonetaGo Related Links http://www.monetago.com SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Crystal Geyser Water Company is proud to announce Tejava Origins, the newest release in its Tejava line of unsweetened ready to drink teas. In a rapidly growing category, the company is confident the superior taste of Tejava Origins will attract even the most discerning tea aficionados. The tea is brewed in two delicious varieties: Hojicha Green Tea and Fujian Oolong Tea. Recognizing current consumer demand for transparency of ingredients in their beverage choices, Tejava Origins is unsweetened, certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Kosher. "We are truly excited about this addition to the Tejava family of products," says Yasumasa Iwamoto, President and CEO of the company, "Tejava Origins will set the bar for premium taste and quality for ready to drink roasted green and oolong teas." Tejava Origins tea leaves are sourced from some of the best growing regions in the world. Tejava Origins Hojicha (pronounced Hoh-Jee-Cha) is grown in Kagoshima, Japan, a region noted for its mineral-rich volcanic soils. This green tea has a deeply roasted taste, with just a touch of nutty flavor. Tejava Origins Fujian (pronounced Foo-Jee-In) comes from Guizhou, China, an area with a subtropical climate ideal for oolong cultivation. The proprietary blend of oolong has a subtle floral note with a smooth toasted flavor. Tejava Origins Tea is bottled in the signature Tejava 1-liter glass bottle. It will be available for purchase from www.tejava.com in 3-pack varieties in late November. Customers may choose packs of Hojicha, Oolong, or Tejava original unsweetened black tea or a variety pack. The tea comes beautifully packaged making it a perfect gift for holiday parties. Prices range from $18.99 - $23.99 and all orders over $75 ship free. The company's website will alert consumers when Tejava Origins will be available in retail stores. About Crystal Geyser Water Company Crystal Geyser Water Company was founded in 1977 with a mission to provide the best natural sparkling water in the world. The company's name was chosen to represent the purity and clarity of the water, and its highest priority has been to preserve and maintain the water's refreshing, natural character. Based in California, the company offers sparkling water and Tejava Unsweetened Iced Tea. Tejava is proud to be verified by the Non-GMO Project, and sources its tea exclusively from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Crystal Geyser remains committed to employing sustainable business practices. For more information, visit http://www.crystalgeyser.com and www.tejava.com. SOURCE Crystal Geyser Water Company Related Links http://www.crystalgeyser.com ZHENGZHOU, China, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sensor technology and its system industry is the fundamentality and strategic industry of the Chinese national economy, and is the source of deep integration of informatization and industrialization, playing an important role in promoting transformation and upgrading industries, developing strategic emerging industries, promoting modern national defense construction, and guaranteeing and increasing people's living standard. With the coming of an intelligent society, trillions of sensors will be used to help people live better. From November 12th to 14th, "the First World Sensors Summit in 2018", jointly organized by China Instrument and Control Society, Intelligent Sensor Innovation Alliance, Zhengzhou Municipal People's Government, and Management Committee of Zhengzhou National High-tech Industrial Development Zone, was held at Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition center in China grandly. With the theme of "Sense the World, Win the Future", the summit attracted about 1,500 representatives of related-sensor teaching-research-production institutions from 35 countries and regions. Experts and scholars attending this summit included: Shuji Nakamura (Professor of the University of California, Nobel Prize in Physics 2014), Jin Guofan (Professor of Tsinghua University, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering), You Zheng (Vice President of Tsinghua University, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering) , Jiang Zhuangde (Professor of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering), Zhou Liwei (Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences), Tan Jiubin (Professor of Harbin Institute of Technology, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering), Yao Jianquan (Professor of Tianjin University, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences), Wang Tianran (Researcher of Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Fang Jiaxiong (Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Researcher of Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering), Yang Xiurong (Researcher of Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences) and other well-known experts in the international and domestic sensor industry. Liu Wei, deputy governor of the Henan Provincial People's Government, said: "Henan Province will take intelligent sensors as a strategic emerging industry supported by the province. We will formulate special actions and strengthen the policy support. We will focus on the synergy upgrade of the intelligent sensor industry chain and the industrial ecological improvement. We will pay more attention to promoting the materials, equipment, design, manufacturing, subpackaging and testing of intelligent sensors, the development of the whole industry chain, and promoting the construction of the "One Valley and Two Bases", that is, China's intelligent sensors valley in Zhengzhou High-tech Zone and the Sensing Bases in Luoyang and Xinxiang. We will strive to create an industry highland with an international influence to research, develop and manufacture intelligent sensors through three to five years of hard work. " The summit issued the "Zhengzhou Consensus", establishing that the international sensors summit will be held in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province for three consecutive years from 2018. The summit will jointly build a global communication platform with relevant domestic and foreign institutions, experts and scholars at home and abroad, as well as representatives of entrepreneurs to promote the global production, learning, research, use of sensors and the interaction and amalgamation of the upstream and downstream industry chain, and to promote development and innovation in sensor technology and industry in the world, especially in China. During the summit, nearly 280 domestic and foreign well-known enterprises, including Panasonic, Siemens, E+H, GE, Emerson, and Baidu, showed the latest technologies and products related to intelligent sensors. The summit also held 20 sub-forums in the segmentation field of sensors, involving academics, design, packaging and testing, standards of sensors, and the automotive, rail transit, water supply and drainage applications of sensors. Other summits focused on grain, oil, environmental monitoring, agriculture, chemical, power grid, and aerospace applications. SOURCE China Instrument and Control Society NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (NYSE: SWZ), a non-diversified registered closed-end investment company, announced today the final results of its tender offer (the "Offer") to acquire up to 24,638,918 shares of the Fund's common stock. The acquired stock represents approximately 65% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Fund. The Offer expired at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on November 16, 2018 (the "Expiration Date"). Based on information provided by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the depositary for the Offer, 26,085,768 shares of the Fund's common stock or approximately 68.8% of the Fund's outstanding shares were validly tendered and not withdrawn by the Expiration Date. The Fund has accepted 24,638,918 shares for cash payment at a price equal to $7.86 per share, which represents 98% of the Fund's net asset value per share of $8.02 as of the close of the regular trading session of the New York Stock Exchange on November 19, 2018. As the total number of shares validly tendered exceeded the number of shares the Fund offered to purchase pursuant to the Offer, approximately 94.45% of the Fund's shares tendered by each tendering stockholder were accepted for purchase. Following the purchase of the 24,638,918 shares, the Fund will have 13,267,110 shares outstanding and the pro forma net asset value per share as of November 19, 2018, adjusted to give effect to the purchase of shares pursuant to the Offer, was $8.32. About The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. The Fund (www.swzfund.com) is a non-diversified, closed-end investment company seeking long-term capital appreciation through investment in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies. Its shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "SWZ." The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing generally in Swiss equity and equity-linked securities that are traded on a Swiss stock exchange, traded at the pre-bourse level of one or more Swiss stock exchanges, traded through a market maker or traded over the counter in Switzerland. The Fund also may invest in Swiss equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies that are traded on other major European stock exchanges. Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered. Typically, shares of closed-end funds are sold in the open market through a stock exchange. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The price of the Fund's shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the Fund. Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value. The Fund is managed by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. About Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. and Schroder Investment Management North America Limited, investment advisors registered with the U.S. SEC, are units of Schroders plc (SDR.L), a global asset management company with approximately $590.8 billion under management and administration as of September 30, 2018. Schroder's clients include major financial institutions including banks and insurance companies, as well as local and public authorities, public and private pension funds, endowments and foundations, intermediaries and advisors, as well as high net worth individuals and retail investors. The firm has built one of the largest networks of offices of any dedicated asset management company with more than 500 portfolio managers and analysts covering the world's investment markets, offering a comprehensive range of products and services. Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. provides asset management products and services to clients in the U.S. and Canada. Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Schroders plc, a U.K. public company with shares listed on the London Stock Exchange. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Fund's shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction. Contact: Jennifer Brogadir 212-641-3863 SOURCE The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. Related Links http://www.swzfund.com Women Honored for Their Contributions, Influence in Industry MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE symbol: RHI), the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm, announced today that three of its executives have been named to Staffing Industry Analysts' (SIA) list of Global Power 150 Women in Staffing: Diane Domeyer executive director of The Creative Group, the division of Robert Half specializing in staffing for creative, digital and marketing professionals executive director of The Creative Group, the division of specializing in staffing for creative, digital and marketing professionals Katherine Spencer Lee president of Technology Staffing Services and Robert Half Legal for North America , where she oversees Robert Half Technology, The Creative Group and Robert Half Legal operations president of Technology Staffing Services and Robert Half Legal for , where she oversees Robert Half Technology, The Creative Group and Robert Half Legal operations Rita Steel president of Professional Staffing Services for the West and Southwestern United States , overseeing the company's Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Robert Half Management Resources, and OfficeTeam operations in more than 100 locations The annual list recognizes female leaders and influencers in the global talent marketplace and "shines a spotlight on those whose accomplishments and contributions have not just elevated the industry but have helped to shape, define and influence the rapidly evolving world of work." Paul Gentzkow, president and COO of Robert Half, added, "One of Robert Half's core values is leadership by example, and each of these honorees sets the standard for excellence that others seek to emulate. We are proud of their many accomplishments and congratulate them on this achievement." The list is sponsored by Bullhorn. Read about the 2018 Global Power 150 Women in Staffing online here. About the Honorees Diane Domeyer is executive director of The Creative Group (TCG), a specialized staffing service for creative, digital and marketing professionals. Since joining Robert Half, TCG's parent company, in 1991, Domeyer has held numerous leadership positions responsible for business growth and digital transformation initiatives. In the past year, Domeyer has expanded TCG's consulting practices and provided career guidance to the creative community by speaking at events like Adobe MAX, HOW Design Live and AIGA Women Lead. Domeyer also assembled and led a Robert Half-sponsored team to participate in a CycleNation ride to support the American Heart Association, and together they won recognition as the top fundraiser for the event. Katherine Spencer Lee began her career with Robert Half in 1995 as a technology recruiter in Phoenix. Since then, she has held a wide variety of roles with the company in many sectors and geographies, including president of Professional Staffing Services for the Eastern United States. This year, Lee assumed a new leadership role as president of Technology Staffing Services and Robert Half Legal for North America. She is an advocate for community involvement and encourages her teams to support the communities where they live and work by partnering with nonprofits, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Junior Achievement and Dress for Success. Rita Steel is president of Professional Staffing Services for the West and Southwestern United States, where she oversees operations for the company's Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Robert Half Management Resources, and OfficeTeam divisions. Since joining Robert Half in 1987 as a staffing manager in San Francisco, Steel has assumed roles of increasing responsibility. She has been on SIA's Power 100 list, and she was recently honored by San Diego Magazine as a "Woman of the Year" finalist and "Industry Leader" winner. Steel has been honored by Dress for Success in New York City and San Francisco for her contributions to the organization via Robert Half's annual Suit Drive, an initiative she pioneered in 2002. She also helped achieve record funding for the City Ballet of San Diego. About Robert Half Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm and a recognized leader in professional consulting and staffing services. The company's specialized staffing divisions include Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Robert Half Management Resources for temporary, full-time and senior-level project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance; OfficeTeam for highly skilled administrative support professionals; Robert Half Technology for project and full-time technology professionals; Robert Half Legal for project and full-time staffing of lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel; and The Creative Group for interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Robert Half also is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that provides clients with consulting solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit. Robert Half has staffing and consulting operations in more than 400 locations worldwide and offers job search services on its divisional websites, all of which can be accessed at roberthalf.com. SOURCE Robert Half Related Links http://roberthalf.com DUBLIN, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Beer Market in the US 2018-2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The beer market in the US will register a CAGR of over 2% by 2022. The growing demand for low-alcohol beer is identified as one of the key trends that will gain traction in the market for the next four years. With an increasing focus on healthy food and adoption of healthier lifestyle, the preference for beer styles with low alcohol and calories is increasing in the US. According to the report, one driver influencing this market is the rapidly increasing number of craft breweries. The increasing and rising expansion of the breweries in the US has contributed to an increase in the availability of beer in the market. One trend affecting this market is the introduction of new beer flavors. The growing popularity of flavoured beer in the US is attributable to the increasing volume of consumers in the beer market in the country. Multicultural millennials are driving the market The millennials are open to experimenting with new products and flavors. The increasing demand for different beer styles and flavors among millennials is driving the growth of the craft beer segment in the beer market in the US. Increasing growth of legal recreational cannabis The legalization of recreational cannabis has also contributed to the declining growth of beer market in the US. For the detailed list of factors that will drive and challenge the growth of the beer market in the US during the 2018-2022, view the full report. Competitive Landscape The market appears to be fragmented and with the presence of several companies and the competitive environment is quite intense. Factors such as the growing demand for low-alcohol beer and increasing demand for different beer styles and flavors among millennials, will provide considerable growth opportunities to vendors in the US beer market. Anheuser-Busch InBev, Boston Beer, Constellation Brands, Heineken, and Molson Coors Brewing are some of the major companies covered in this report. Further, the report states that one challenge affecting this market is the growing health awareness among consumers. The increasing health awareness and tendency to adopt healthy lifestyle among the US population has encouraged low alcohol consumption and a move from alcoholic beverages to healthier drinks and other beverages. The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors. Key Topics Covered: PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT PART 03: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY PART 04: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 05: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2017 Market size and forecast 2017-2022 PART 06: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 07: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Segmentation by product Comparison by product Craft beer - Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Non-craft beer - Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Market opportunity by product PART 08: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 09: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL Segmentation by distribution channel Comparison by distribution channel On-Trade channel - Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Off-Trade channel - Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Market opportunity by distribution channel PART 10: KEY LEADING STATES PART 11: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 12: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 13: MARKET TRENDS Introduction of new beer flavors Growing demand for low-alcohol beer Increasing dependency on technology PART 14: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption PART 15: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Anheuser-Busch InBev Boston Beer Constellation Brands Heineken Molson Coors Brewing PART 16: APPENDIX For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/925pkc/united_states?w=5 Did you know that we also offer Custom Research? Visit our Custom Research page to learn more and schedule a meeting with our Custom Research Manager. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Organic Valley, Dr. Bronner's and GrassRoots Alliance are working collectively through Grassroots Aid Partnership to deliver food and aid to those affected and displaced by the Camp Fire in Northern California. This Thanksgiving season, there is an overwhelming need for community support in Northern California. The group is partnering with the North State Food Bank (NSFB) in Oroville, CA, to assist in the distribution of aid from Grassroots Aid Partnership sponsors Organic Valley and Dr. Bronner's to thousands of families affected by the devastation. North State Food Bank has a proven track record of efficient food distribution in Northern California. In 2017 alone, NSFB distributed over 800,000 pounds of food to 52 partner agencies and food pantries locally and distributed over 40,000 emergency food boxes in five counties (Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Plumas and Sierra) covering a 12,000-square-mile radius. Organic Valley is committed to working collectively with relief organizations and local community partners through Grassroots Aid Partnership, to help those impacted by natural disasters like the Northern California Camp Fire. "Organic Valley has been on the front line in responding with in-kind products, equipment, volunteers and financial support through many disasters over the years," says George Siemon, CEO and a founding farmer of Organic Valley. "It has been rewarding to me personally, along with staff and many of our farmers, to serve in these times of disaster. We are humbled to offer support to the many victims and volunteers that are dealing with the vast devastation in California." "Dr. Bronner's is answering the call to action, by providing soap and basic toiletries to those who have lost their homes and been displaced by the Camp Fire," said David Bronner, Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO) of Dr. Bronner's. "We stand in solidarity with our fellow Californians, as we join our community to support and take care of one another during this crisis. As natural disasters of all kinds become more frequent with advancing climate change, we will continue to support Grassroots Aid Partnership for on the ground relief efforts, and work towards nurturing more responsible, regenerative organic farming models that at global scale can sequester atmospheric carbon in soil and mitigate the worst effects of climate change, along with decarbonizing our economy." Organic Valley is collaborating with Dr. Bronner's and other conscious companies to help when disaster strikes. Brands and companies interested in joining forces through Grassroots Aid Partnership should contact [email protected] . All donations are tax deductible. Relief efforts will be ongoing throughout the 2018 holiday season. For individuals and organizations interested in donating in support of current Camp Fire relief efforts, visit www.grassrootsaidpartnership.org . Organic Valley: Independent and Farmer-Owned Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents more than 2,000 farmers in 36 states. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a variety of organic foods, including organic dairy, eggs and produce which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. With its regional model, milk is produced, bottled and distributed to ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support our local economies. For further information visit www.organicvalley.coop . Organic Valley is also on Twitter @OrganicValley and Facebook www.facebook.com/OrganicValley . Media Contact: Sasha Bernstein Skon [email protected] (203)536-4987 SOURCE Organic Valley Related Links http://www.organicvalley.coop To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8451451-vote-favorite-stars-of-science-innovator/ Nour Majbour, Salim Al Kaabi, Sylia Khecheni, and Walid Albanna are the four Season 10 finalists. Neurological researcher Nour has her heart set on winning with her innovation, the 'Parkinson's Early Detection Kit', a diagnostic medical kit that uses novel antibodies taken from blood samples to detect early stages of Parkinson's disease. Engineer and artist Salim has created the 'Safe Frankincense Varnish for Artists,' a machine that produces an organic varnish that prevents artists being exposed to the toxic fumes found in commonly-used varnish, while still safeguarding paintings. Meanwhile, engineer Sylia has invented the 'Home Privacy Drone Blocker,' a household tool that secures families' privacy by blocking hobbyists' drones without damaging them; and neurosurgeon Walid's innovation is a portable 'Neurovascular Retina Analyzer' that monitors patients after a stroke. The smart analyzer provides medical practitioners with vital information that could protect patients from the risk of recurring strokes. In the Grand Finale episode, airing on Saturday, November 24, public voting will be combined with a vote from a panel of expert jurors to produce the results. Online voting will count for 50 percent of an innovator's score, with the jury vote accounting for the remaining 50 percent. The winner will earn $300,000, while the second, third, and fourth-placed contestants will earn $150,000, $100,000, and $50,000 respectively. Online voting is now open and will close on Thursday 22 November, at 9am GMT. To determine who takes home the Stars of Science Best Arab Innovator title for Season 10, visit http://www.starsofscience.com, click on the 'Vote Now' icon, and choose your favorite innovator. If you believe you have what it takes to be successful on Stars of Science, the show is accepting applications for its Season 11 until the 15th of December 2018. Visit http://www.starsofscience.info/applynow/sos.html to register. About Stars of Science Stars of Science, the edutainment TV initiative by Qatar Foundation, is the Arab world's leading innovation show. Established in 2008 to inspire a generation, the show empowers Arab youth to implement creative solutions to regional problems through science, technology, and innovation. Celebrating a decade of Arab innovation, Stars of Science has proven to be a positive catalyst of scientific and technological change in the region beyond its broadcasts and social media presence of 2.5 million followers. Its alumni network spanning 131 people from 18 Arab countries has been going from strength to strength; independently raising over 14 million USD in revenues, grants, and crowdfunding. In addition to winning hundreds of innovation awards, they have also created jobs and businesses, given inspirational talks, built schools, and inspired a generation. Over a 10-week process, an expert panel of jurors assesses and eliminates between nine innovators and their projects in Prototyping and Customer Validation episodes until only four finalists remain to compete for a share of $600,000 in seed funding. The ranking is determined by jury deliberation and online voting from the public. Please visit: Website - http://www.starsofscience.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/StarsofScienceTV Twitter - https://twitter.com/starsofscience YouTube- http://www.youtube.com/user/Starsofsciencetv Instagram- starsofsciencetv Details on regional broadcasting: Al Rayyan TV: (GMT+3) Saturdays: 21:00 pm Re-run: Sundays 17:00 PM Al Araby TV: (GMT) Saturdays 18:00 pm GMT Re-run: Saturdays 22:00 PM, 04:00 AM, and on Mondays 10:00 AM Al Araby+2 Saturdays 18:00 PM Re-run: Saturdays 22:00 PM, Sundays 14:00 PM, and Tuesdays 12:00 PM Alsumaria: (GMT +3) Saturdays 22:30 PM Re-run: Sunday 1PM Roya: (GMT+3) Saturdays 22:30 PM Echorouk TV (GMT +1) Saturdays 19:00 PM Qatar Foundation - Unlocking Human Potential Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, science and research, and community development. QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF's world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation's development. QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all. For a complete list of QF's initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa For more information, please contact: Mariam Diefallah -Weber Shandwick [email protected] +974-6683-6932 (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/787600/Stars_of_Science.jpg ) Video: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8451451-vote-favorite-stars-of-science-innovator/ SOURCE Stars of Science Announced in New York City on November 16, the prestigious Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor female executives, entrepreneurs, employees and the companies they run. More than 1,500 entries were submitted this year for consideration in more than 90 categories from 33 nations and territories. Award winners were selected by more than 200 executives who participated in the judging process worldwide. Caywood was honored for her achievements in transforming Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory into the global legal and compliance market leader that it is today through significant innovation and strategic investment. Under her leadership, Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory has developed innovative and award-winning technology solutions that help professionals improve productivity and performance, mitigate risk and solve complex problems with confidence. Over the past year, Caywood expanded popular global legal software solutions Kleos and effacts; launched a new global center to accelerate digital new product development and innovation; and most recently, spearheaded the successful acquisitions of eVision and Legisway further strengthening the company's position as a global leader in the compliance and legal markets. "This year's Stevie Awards for Women in Business was especially competitive with a record number of nominations received," said Michael Gallagher, Founder and President of the Stevie Awards. "We were especially impressed by Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory's progress under the outstanding leadership of Stacey Caywood and congratulate her on her success." Read more about Stacey Caywood here and find the complete list of 2018 Stevie Awards for Women in Business winners at www.StevieAwards.com/Women. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the health, tax & accounting, finance, risk & compliance, and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2017 annual revenues of 4.4 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. For more information about our solutions and organization, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory is a division of Wolters Kluwer, serving customers around the world with expert information solutions, software, and services in the areas of law, business, and regulatory compliance. MEDIA CONTACT: Leslie Bonacum Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory Communication +1 847-267-7153 [email protected] SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Related Links http://www.wolterskluwer.com CHICAGO, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Women age 75 years and older should continue to get screening mammograms because of the comparatively high incidence of breast cancer found in this age group, according to a new study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Guidelines on what age to stop breast cancer screening have been a source of confusion in recent years. In 2009, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released controversial guidelines stating there was not enough evidence to assess benefits and harms of screening mammography in women age 75 and older. However, other professional groups advise that women may continue to undergo mammography screening as long as they are in good health. "Ongoing debate exists regarding the age to cease screening mammography," said Stamatia V. Destounis, M.D., radiologist at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, LLC, in Rochester, N.Y. "Our findings provide important data demonstrating that there is value in screening women over 75 because there is a considerable incidence of breast cancer." For the study, Dr. Destounis and colleagues analyzed data from 763,256 screening mammography exams at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care between 2007 and 2017. Screening-detected cancer was diagnosed in 3,944 patients. Further analysis was performed to identify the number and type of cancers diagnosed among women 75 years of age and older. There were 76,885 patients (10 percent) age 75 and older included in the study. The average age of the patients was 80.4. A total of 645 malignancies were diagnosed in 616 patients, for a cancer rate of 8.4 detections per 1,000 exams in this age group. "For the relatively small percentage of our screening population that was comprised of women 75 and older, the patients diagnosed in this population made up 16 percent of all patients diagnosed with screening-detected cancers," Dr. Destounis said. Researchers also found that 82 percent of the malignancies diagnosed were invasive cancers, of which 63 percent were grade 2 or 3, which grow and spread more quickly. Ninety-eight percent of the cancers found were able to be treated surgically. Positive lymph nodes were reported at surgical excision in 7 percent of the patients. Seventeen cancers were not surgically treated due to advanced patient age or overall degraded patient health. "Most of the tumors found in this age group were invasive, and almost all of these patients98 percentunderwent surgery," Dr. Destounis said. Mammography plays a critical role in the early detection of breast cancer, because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a woman or her physician can feel them, and early detection leads to better treatment options and improved survival. Dr. Destounis advises women over 75 who are in relatively good health to continue routine screenings. "The benefits of screening yearly after age 75 continue to outweigh any minimal risk of additional diagnostic testing," she said. Co-authors are Andrea L. Arieno, B.S., and Amanda Santacroce, B.A. Note: Copies of RSNA 2018 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press18 beginning Monday, Nov. 26. RSNA is an association of over 54,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists, promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org) For patient-friendly information on mammography, visit RadiologyInfo.org. SOURCE Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Related Links http://www.rsna.org Rome, Nov 20 : Britain's ambassador to Italy, Jill Morris, on Tuesday will brief Italian MPs on the prospects for students, university researchers and Italian cultural organisations ahead of her country's planned withdrawal from the European Union next year, the parliament said in a statement. The address by Morris -- to members of the lower house of parliament's foreign affairs and culture committees -- will be streamed live from the parliament's website, the statement said. Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019. Rabat, Nov 20 : Senior military leaders from Morocco and the UK discussed measures to strengthen bilateral military cooperation, the Moroccan army said on Monday. The discussion between Fathallah El Ouarrak, the Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), and John Lorimer, British Defence senior advisor in charge of the MENA region, focused on improving the two armies' interoperability through sharing experiences and expertise, according to a FAR statement. The military cooperation between the two countries is governed by a Framework Agreement signed in 1993 and a status-of-forces agreement inked in 2013, the statement noted, reports Xinhua news agency. Bilateral activities are scheduled on the basis of an agenda defined by a joint commission held every year alternately in Rabat and London, it said. Washington, Nov 20 : US Treasury on Monday announced that it has imposed sanctions on a South African national for his alleged action of helping Pyongyang "evade US sanctions." The Treasury said in a statement that Vladlen Amtchentsev, a Russian-born South African national, has advised Velmur Management Pte. Ltd. (Velmur), an already blacklisted company by the US on "how to evade US sanctions," reports Xinhua news agency. Washington designated Velmur in August 2017, accusing it of working "to purchase fuel oil and gasoil for North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea)." In Monday's statement, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin claimed that Pyongyang "depends upon the help of criminals and illicit actors to raise and transfer funds." The Treasury's new move was the latest among a series of sanctions imposed by the US on the DPRK-related entities and individuals amid the ongoing talks between the two sides on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Pyongyang has repeatedly criticised the continued sanctions imposed by Washington, calling them actions of "deepening our mistrust." Chicago, Nov 20 : Police said that multiple people were shot on Monday afternoon near Mercy Hospital and Medical Center at south side of Chicago. Multiple victims including a police officer was shot in the active shooter incident. The officer injured was in critical condition, according to Chicago Police Department spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, Xinhua news agency reported. Chicago police said a suspect was shot after they responded to the scene near the hospital. Fire officials called an emergency medical services plan, sending at least 15 ambulances to the scene, because of an "active shooter" situation, a Fire Department spokesman said. United Nations, Nov 20 : The UN on Monday urged all parties to work to maintain the "precarious" restoration of calm reached between Israel and Palestinian authorities in the Gaza Strip after the escalation of violence last week, warning of the potential eruption of a new armed conflict in the region. Over the past few days, UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said in the UN Security Council, the world has witnessed a "dangerous escalation of violence" in Gaza that threatened to spark an armed conflict with "catastrophic" consequences for the two million Palestinians in the area, reports Efe. On November 13, Israel and Gaza Palestinians reached a cease-fire after three days of clashes that began with a failed Israeli special military operation in Gaza two days prior and was followed by the launching of 460 rockets by militants in Gaza and more than 160 Israeli airstrikes in reprisal. Mladenov urged the Islamist Hamas movement and other armed Palestinian groups to stop all provocations and attacks, and he called upon Israel to "significantly" improve movement of goods and services, as well as people, into and out of Gaza as a step toward ending the closure of border crossing points. If one of the parties fails, they all fail, he said, adding that Israel must acknowledge that Gaza is on the verge of exploding and to prevent that the people there must see their lives become normalized. To achieve that, the border closure must be relaxed and ultimately lifted, he said at the monthly Security Council meeting on the Middle East. He also urged the Palestinian factions to take advantage of this opportunity to involve themselves seriously in the efforts headed by Egypt to return Gaza to the control of the legitimate Palestinian government based in the West Bank. Cairo is mediating among the Palestinian factions to reach a permanent reconciliation and also between these groups and Israel, with UN support, to achieve a lasting cease-fire. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley agreed with Mladenov on the need for both sides to commit to the peace process, although she called attention to the alleged destabilizing role played by Iran in the region, as well as in Israel and the Palestinian territories. In addition, Haley especially blamed Hamas, saying that only one party is attacking indiscriminately and targeting civilians, while Israel is focusing on military targets only. Washington, Nov 20 : CNN on Monday ended its lawsuit against US President Donald Trump after the White House returned reporter Jim Acosta's press pass, media reported. The cable news network on Monday tweeted: "Today the White House fully restored Jim Acosta's press pass. As a result, our lawsuit is no longer necessary. We look forward to continuing to cover the White House." reports Efe. In a statement, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the government spoke with Acosta on Monday afternoon and told him that his press pass had been fully restored, a gesture whereby the administration backed off from the threats it had been making prior to that to exclude him from further access to the White House. However, the return of his pass is conditional on Acosta's abiding by a set of new rules at presidential news conferences, including asking just one question at a time. As CNN reported, the White House earlier had warned Acosta that it would suspend his press pass again at the end of this month, when the temporary ruling to restore it issued last week by a judge expires. The magistrate in the case, Timothy Kelly, last Friday ordered the White House to temporarily return Acosta's accreditation for at least 14 days, a period that will lapse at the end of November if the judge does not decide to extend it. The White House suspended Acosta's press credentials on November 7 due to his reluctance to immediately hand over the microphone after posing a question to Trump during a press conference, a move that led CNN to sue the president. Numerous media outlets, including Trump's favourite network -- Fox News -- backed CNN in its suit against the White House, concerned over the impact of the White House's recently unprecedented move on freedom of the press. Yaounde, Nov 20 : Cameroon and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed to lay the groundwork for security ties between both countries, the president of Cameroon said in a statement on Monday. The statement was released after Cameroon's president, Paul Biya, met with Saudi Arabia's Assistant Minister of Defence, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh in the capital Yaounde on Monday to review what the president called "excellent cooperation" ties between the two countries. "We will continue to strengthen the excellent cooperation ties existing between Yaounde and Riyadh" Biya tweeted after a brief audience with Ayesh, reports Xinhua news agency. Al-Ayesh later met with Cameroon's Minister of Defence to discuss on how to cooperate on security. "We are looking forward to cooperating in future regarding the security of both countries and how we will do exchange of visits of the commanders of the two countries. At the same time we are looking to include training with specialized people," Ayesh told reporters after meeting the defence minister. United Nations, Nov 20 : The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution on sexual harassment, the first of its kind at the the world body. The resolution adopted on Monday serves as a normative framework on work against sexual harassment, urging member states to condemn violence against women and girls, including sexual harassment, and pursue a policy of eliminating such violence, Xinhua news agency reported. It reaffirms that states should not invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with regard to the elimination of violence against women and girls. The non-binding resolution urges states to take effective action to prevent and eliminate sexual harassment against women and girls, to address structural and underlying causes and risk factors, and to protect victims of all forms of violence, including sexual harassment. It calls on states to address discrimination that places women and girls at greater risk of exploitation, violence and abuse, and to take appropriate action to empower and protect them. The resolution calls on states to take necessary measures to ensure that employers in all sectors are held accountable when they fail to abide by laws and regulations addressing sexual harassment. It calls on states to encourage digital technology companies, including Internet service providers and digital platforms, to strengthen or adopt positive measures with a view to eliminating violence and sexual harassment in digital contexts. It also urges states to ensure the promotion and protection of the human rights of all women and their sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights. United Nations, Nov 20 : An attack by a rebel group has injured an Indian police peacekeeper serving an UN operation in a Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) area facing the Ebola crisis, an UN official said. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the attack was carried out by "suspected" Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) late on Friday evening in the Boikene area in North Kivu Province. "The member of the Indian police unit stationed there was "lightly wounded," he said. He, however, did not identify the injured person. The outbreak of Ebola disease has intensified the crisis in the DRC that has been in the throes of ongoing battles with marauding rebel forces that have claimed the lives of 154 peacekeepers, 15 of them Indians. The World Health Organisation said it evacuated 16 of its staff dealing with Ebola in the area after their residence was hit on Friday by a shell that, however, did not explode. Last week, one Tanzanian and six Malawaian peacekeepers were killed by the AFD in the Beni territory near Boikene. The latest victims were members of the Force Intervention Brigade made up of South African, Malawian and Tanzanian peacekeepers, which operates jointly with DRC military. The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, told IANS in an interview on Friday that although Indian peacekeepers "are not part of the Force Intervention Brigade," they were active in other areas. "Violence is not limited to North Kivu, even though it is currently one of the most affected," he said. For example, "the Indians played a major role in repelling when the town of Uvira was attacked", he said. Mai-Mai militias attacked Uvira, the second largest town in the South Kivu province, in 2017. There were 276 Indian police personnel serving as peacekeepers in the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC that is better known by its French initials, MONUSCO. In addition, the 2,627 Indian troops serving in the mission make up its second largest contingent. MONUSCO radio gave details of an ADF group attack in the area but it was not clear if the Indian police peacekeeper was injured in that action. The radio said that the ADF raided the Boikene area of Rwenzori in North Kivu's Beni, and attacked a MONUSCO base on Friday evening. The peacekeepers reacted immediately and repulsed the attack after exchanges of fire, the radio said. "The UN Mission and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) have increased security measures in the Beni area, including around hotels occupied by UN personnel and humanitarian workers who are focused on the Ebola response, and they have also expanded their support of police operations in the Beni area," Dujarric said. The Force Intervention Brigade intensified its campaign against the ADF on Tuesday last week "in response to repeated attacks against the civilian population of the Beni region," according to MONUSCO. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) Mumbai, Nov 20 : After Maharashtra, megastar Amitabh Bachchan will pay off loans of farmers in Uttar Pradesh and will personally meet some of them to give them their bank letters. He will arrange for 70 farmers to travel to Mumbai and receive their bank letters, his spokesperson has said. The superstar will be taking care of 1,398 farmer loans from Uttar Pradesh amounting to over Rs 4.05 crore. Amitabh has done an 'OTS: One Time Settlement with Bank Of India' and cleared the farmer's loans with the bank. He has also invited 70 farmers to Mumbai by blocking an entire train compartment for their travel, to personally give them their bank letters on November 26. The farmers will receive their bank letters by Big B at his office here. When approached, his official spokesperson confirmed: "Yes, Mr Bachchan has cleared the loans of 1398 farmers from Uttar Pradesh. He had earlier paid off the loans of Maharashtra's farmers. And now he has done so for the debted farmers of UP. Around 70 farmers have been chosen to personally travel and receive the bank letters directly from Mr Bachchan in Mumbai, clearing their outstanding dues." Earlier this year, the "Paa" star, who is in Baroda to accept Sayaji Ratna Award, helped over 350 farmers by paying off their debts and also helped the families of around 44 martyrs of Maharashtra. Amitabh and his wife Jaya handed over the amount to the farmers and army martyrs families privately in Mumbai a few months ago. Melbourne, Nov 20 : Three men were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of plotting an "Islamic State (IS)-isnpired" terrorist attack in Melbourne, police said. "They were certainly looking at a place of mass gathering, where there would be crowds. They were trying to focus on trying to have a place where they could kill as many people as possible," Graham Ashton, Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, told the media. Ashton said that the suspects, who have not been identified, tried to get .22 caliber semi-automatic rifles but that the exact place in which they sought to attack was unknown, reports CNN. The possible attack "was inspired" by the IS's modus operandi but was not "directed" by this extremist Islamic organisation, the Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner, Ian McCartney, said. The three men, two of them with family ties and who were being watched by the police from March, were arrested during police operations on Tuesday morning in four neighbourhoods in northwest Melbourne. "All three people are Australian nationals of Turkish background," said Ashton, who also said that the passports of the three suspects, ranging in age from 21 to 30, were cancelled this year. The police operation coincides with the funeral of Sisto Malaspina, co-owner of a restaurant in Melbourne, who died on November 9 in the centre of the city in an attack that was also inspired by the IS. Australian authorities raised the terrorist alert in September 2014 and have since passed a series of anti-terrorist laws to prevent attacks. Australia has suffered four attacks recently, and security forces have thwarted more than a dozen plans to carry out attacks and have arrested more than 70 people in various operations. Nagpur, Nov 20 : At least three persons were killed and around 12 others injured in a blast at the Wardha ammunition depot of the army here in Maharashtra on Tuesday, officials said. The explosion occurred at the Pulgaon Central Ammunition Depot around 7 a.m. when some discarded ammunition were being unloaded for destruction at the demolition ground here. The victims are believed to be labourers and ammunition depot employees. Further details were awaited. Top police, army and civil officials have rushed to the site to investigate the matter. Srinagar, Nov 20 : One para commando of the Indian Army and four militants were killed in a gunfight in a Jammu and Kashmir village in Shopian district on Tuesday while four civilians were injured in ensuing clashes, officials said. Three girls sustained gun shot wounds while a youth with pellet injury in the eye were shifted here for treatment, a police officer said. The Rashtriya Rifles, 23 Paras and the special operations group (SOG) of police carried out the joint operation following specific inputs about a militant group hiding in Nadigam village, Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said. Although authorities had immediately suspended mobile Internet services in the district as a precautionary measure, clashes broke out in the vicinity of the gun battle site, immediately as the military operation ended. The identity of the slain militants was yet to be ascertained, the police officer said. Washington, Nov 20 : US President Donald Trump is expected to grant a new authority to American troops on the Southwest border with Mexico to protect border personnel from migrants if they engage in violence, according to defence officials. Currently troops do not have any authorities that would allow them to intervene if the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel came under attack unless they need to act in their own self-defence. The officials told CNN on Monday that the authority would also allow protection of federal property. There are 5,800 to 5,900 troops assigned to the border mission. The mission would be characterised solely as "protection of CBP" personnel, according to the officials. Monday's development comes as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said earlier in the day that they had started to get information from "multiple sources including individuals in the Mexican government" of potential waves or groups of individuals who were discussing an incursion into legal ports of entry in California by attempting to pass through vehicle lanes. The Pentagon has been working for the last several days on options for how troops can protect CBP. More than 2,000 Central American migrants arrived in the border city of Tijuana in recent days, and about 3,000 more migrants were estimated to be in Mexicali, Mexico, another border city about 100 miles away, a UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokeswoman told CNN. New Delhi : Have you ever wondered how independent your child actually is? Will your child be able to look after himself/herself if left alone for a while? Do you think your child is well-equipped with essential life skills to face the world? Think about it! It's absolutely important for children to learn more than just academically. Enrolling them in various activity classes isn't enough either. If children can't look after themselves, they will not develop essential life skills or the important personality traits developed alongside them. Life skill education simply cannot stop with the exposure your child receives in school. To learn its importance, a child needs to be taught at home through experiences and training activities. The maximum brain development occurs in the first five years of a child's life so we need to utilise the early years to provide the foundation to stimulate a child's creative and innovative thinking. Here are five essential life skills every parent must equip their little ones with: Basic self-defence: In today's world especially, safety is of utmost importance and developing self-defence not only makes the child feel more independent but also more confident. Basic self-defence is a must -- be it for your son or your daughter. Most schools these days invest in teaching basic self-defence to children. But if your child's school does not, don't hesitate to send them for classes outside. First-aid and health: You can't expect to always be around whenever your child is hurt, or gets a bite or a rash. So how about empowering them such that they are able to take care in case of an emergency? This is essentially something the child's schooling should cover but as a parent/guardian, one should strongly encourage its reinforcement at home by teaching your child essential first-aid steps. This can be done by familiarising the kids with a first-aid kit and its contents. Another important skill is teaching your child to take care of his or her health. Instead of forcing your child to eat vegetables, talk to them about health risks of eating junk food all the time and explain how healthy food will benefit them in a way that they can apply to themselves. Being socially active or interacting with people: We've all taught children about the danger from strangers but this doesn't make much logical sense considering every person we're close to as adults was a stranger to us at some point. Instead, teach your children to do exactly what adults do. Teach them to differentiate between good strangers and bad strangers. Teach them how to interact with good strangers. Teach them how to make friends, how to be friendly to good adults, and just how they should go about interacting with these people. If we don't teach children this at a young age, they may not develop positive social skills. Creative thinking and innovation skills: Pre-school children should be exposed to a play-based learning environment to enable them to learn, communicate and express themselves from an early age. Learning through the use of audio-visuals, picture books, story-telling and role-playing is helpful to enhance their creative and innovative skills. Social and cross-cultural skills: Toy-sharing among children, including toy libraries, can expose a child to a social life and a variety of toys without parents having to purchase them all. Toddlers should be encouraged to keep exploring different people and cultures so as to stimulate overall development. (Divya Palaniappan is with Flinto R&D Centre; Dr. Pooja Kuray is Senior Medical Officer, Momspresso. The views expressed are personal. They can be contacted at Divya.p@flinto.in & poojakuray1@gmail.com) Sydney, Nov 20 : In a second only to the Big Bang event, astronomers have identified a "nearby" star system with the potential to produce a gamma-ray burst, one of the most energetic events in the universe. According to a research published here on Tuesday, scientists revealed they have located the first of this rare star system in our galaxy, just 8,000 light years from earth, Xinhua news agency reported. A gamma-ray burst from a star like this has the capacity to strip the earth of its Ozone layer, thankfully it was too far away, the scientists said. "We knew immediately that we have found something quite exceptional, the luminosity across the spectrum from the radio to the infrared was off the charts," lead author Joe Callingham from the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy said. The system was nicknamed Apep. Two of Apep's stars are of the Wolf-Rayet variety meaning they are massive and reaching the end of their life. These stars could explode into supernovae at any time, and could result in a cataclysmic gamma-ray event combining with the system's extreme conditions. "The rapid rotation puts Apep into a whole new class," co-author Benjamin Pope from New York University said. "Normal supernovae are already extreme events but adding rotation to the mix can really throw gasoline on the fire," Benjamin said. Mumbai, Nov 20 : Actor Angad Bedi, who has welcomed his first bundle of joy -- a daughter with actress Neha Dhupia, says both his "girls are doing really well". Angad on Tuesday morning tweeted a health update of the mother-daughter duo. "The last two days have been very overwhelming. Neha and me have been blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Thank you all for your wishes and love that is coming our way. Both my girls are doing really well," he wrote. Neha delivered her first born on November 18. According to a statement issued by her publicist, Neha delivered the child in Womens Hospital here. Neha and Angad surprised everyone with their hush-hush wedding in May this year. They confirmed Neha's pregnancy in August, a little over three months after their wedding. Nagpur, Nov 20 : Six persons died in a blast at the Wardha ammunition depot of the army here in Maharashtra on Tuesday, officials said. The toll shot up to six from the earlier three, with another 10 injured, including four seriously. The explosion occurred at the Pulgaon Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) around 7.15 a.m. when discarded ammunition intended for destruction was being unloaded at the sprawling demolition ground. The depot is some 110 km from here. The demolition work was being carried out by the Ordinance Factory (OF), Khamaria, Jabalpur, with the help of an authorised contractor. The personnel were helping dig up pits and place sand bags over the explosives, according to a defence spokesperson here. The fatalities included one Khamaria ordinance factory staffer and three casual workers employed by the contractor, besides two others. The intensity of the blast was so severe that the victims were thrown several metres away and their bodies were badly mangled and burnt. Top police, army, Khamaria OF and civil officials have rushed to the site. The identity of the dead and injured, who were rushed to nearby hospitals, was being ascertained. Srinagar, Nov 20 : A leader of Syed Ali Shah Geelani's Tehreek-e-Hurriyat group was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, police said. Hafizullah Mir, who was the district president of the separatist group and was released in October after two years in detention, was gunned down in Akingam village in Achabal area. Mir succumbed as he reached hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Manila, Nov 20 : Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here on Tuesday for the first official visit of a Chinese President to the Philippines in 13 years, a sign of the close bilateral relations since the Southeast Asian country's leader assumed power. Xi said in a statement before he left for Manila that he would have in-depth discussions with President Rodrigo Duterte on elevating cooperation and to make a plan for progressing their bilateral relationship, reports Efe news. Xi defined the current relationship between the two countries as "a rainbow after the rain" under the administration of Duterte, which began in June 2016. The Chinese leader landed at Manila airport from Brunei, where he made an official visit on Monday after having participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Papua New Guinea. The two leaders will meet on Tuesday at Malacanang Palace, Duterte's official residence and principal workplace, and will attend the signing of several bilateral agreements. In recent months, several members of Duterte's cabinet have said the countries are negotiating a joint exploration deal in the disputed South China Sea, which could be signed on this visit. In 2016, the Philippines won a historic ruling at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague against China's claims to territory in the South China Sea, but Duterte has faced criticism for failing to enforce it. The presidential spokesperson of the Philippines, Salvador Panelo, said that Duterte will also talk with Xi about the $24 billion in investments and loans that Beijing promised to the Philippines two years ago and of which only one small part has been executed. Before Xi leaves Manila on Wednesday, he will also meet the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and with the Chinese-Filipino community in the capital. The authorities of Manila have reinforced security measures during the two-day visit with more than 5,500 police officers in the city. They have also closed the streets through which Xi will be travelling. Los Angeles, Nov 20 : Actor Hugh Jackman took the opportunity at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where he was being honoured, to take a dig at actors John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds. Krasinski and Reynolds, in banter, had ganged up on Jackman on social media over the weekend after a photograph of the "Logan" star cozying up to Krasinski's actress-wife Emily Blunt at Variety's "Actors on Actors" event, reports variety.com. "You gotta stay on your toes, John. That's all I'm saying," Jackman joked. He went on to add that he would have no problem taking on Krasinski in a physical altercation if it came to that. "I'm fine to fight John, but he arrived this morning at my front door with Ryan. I'm like, 'Come on, guys. One at a time. Not together.'" Jackman said that he might have acquired a taste for rabble-rousing. "I'm really creating all these feuds. This mister nice guy image is over." The initial spat occurred when the "Front Runner" star tweeted a photograph of himself with Blunt praising their conversation together for "Actors on Actors." Krasinksi responded with another pic of the pair, in which Jackman was likely talking in Blunt's ear, writing: "Eeeeeeasy HughAnot sure this is what Variety meant with Actors on Actors. Don't make me think I can hurt you." Reynolds then piled on, tweeting: "This is a call to action. This man must be stopped." Jackman and Reynolds, at least, have a history of ribbing each other online. The pair, who both play characters in the Marvel/X-Men universe as Wolverine and Deadpool, have repeatedly engaged in good-natured smearing in an imitation of their on-screen personas. Tokyo, Nov 20 : At least 2,600 guests will attend Prince Naruhito's coronation ceremony as the new Japanese Emperor in October 2019, six months after his father, Akihito, abdicates the throne, the government said on Tuesday. The number of guests for the ceremony slated for October 22, 2019, was 800 less than the invitees at Akihito's coronation in 1990, according to government figures. Crown Prince Naruhito, 59, will ascend to the Chrysanthemum throne on May 1, 2019, a day after the resignation of Emperor Akihito. The official ceremony will be held six months later, reports Efe news. Emperor Akihito's coronation, held on November 12, 1990, had seven banquets spread over four consecutive days that brought together 3,400 guests. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government chose to hold fewer banquets for Naruhito to reduce the workload of the future emperor and the other members of the imperial family, including his wife Masako, who will participate in the events. Hanoi, Nov 20 : A Vietnamese activist will be tried on Thursday for insulting the national flag, which is punishable in the country with up to three years in prison, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday. In a statement, HRW called on Vietnamese authorities to drop the charges against Huynh Thuc Vy, who will be tried in a court in Buon Ho, Dak Lak province, reports Efe news. The day before Vietnam's National Day in September 2017, Huynh splashed the national flag with white paint to protest against the government and posted a photo on Facebook along with a message calling for human rights to be respected. Last August, Buon Ho police interrogated Huynh and two months later sent the case to the Public Prosecutor's Office. "For years, Vietnam has sought any excuse to punish Huynh Thuc Vy for her tireless advocacy of human rights and democracy, and in their desperation, the authorities have now latched on the splattering of a flag with white paint," said Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of HRW Asia. "It is wrong to put protecting a national symbol first over protecting the rights of the nations' people," Robertson added. Huynh, a political blogger and defender of democracy, formed the Vietnamese Women for Human Rights NGO in 2013. Suva, Nov 20 : Incumbent Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was on Tuesday sworn in for a second term after his ruling FijiFirst party won this year's general elections. Bainimarama was sworn in by President Jioji Konrote in the presence of representatives and high officials of the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the government, reports Efe news. According to the November 14 official election results, Bainimarama's party received 50.02 per cent of the total vote, almost 10 per cent less than the 2014 polls, and secured 27 of the 51 seats in the parliament. The opposition is headed by the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), which received 39.85 per cent votes and 21 seats, followed by the National Federation Party, which managed to retain its three seats with 7.38 per cent support. According to reports, the SODELPA was planning to challenge the results in court, with its leader Sitiveni Rabuka alleging that they were neither genuine nor credible. This is Fiji's second general election since a military coup in 2006 and the last elections took place in 2014. New Delhi, Nov 20 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused government officials of interfering with the CBI's working - the latest being allegations that NSA Ajit Doval attempted to meddle in a case. "A crime thriller called 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' is underway in Delhi," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, in an obvious attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The latest episode reveals serious allegations against a Minister, National Security Advisor (Doval), Law Secretary and Cabinet Secretary by a DIG of the CBI," Gandhi said. A senior Central Bureau of Intelligence officer told the Supreme Court that top government functionaries, including Doval, had interfered in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana who is facing bribery charges. "His (Modi's) partner, who has been brought from Gujarat, is raising crores of extortion money. The officers are tired. The trust has been broken. "Democracy is crying," added Gandhi. Gandhi's latest attack came in the wake of CBI officer M.K. Sinha alleging that Doval and Central Vigilance Commissioner K.V. Chaudhary, among others, interfered in the investigation against Asthana. Deputy Inspector General-rank officer Sinha, who was probing the Asthana case before being shunted out to Nagpur, alleged that a "few crore of rupees was paid to Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhari". Patna, Nov 20 : Former Bihar Minister Manju Verma, who was absconding for nearly three months in an arms case related to the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror, surrendered at a court on Tuesday. Manju Verma surrendered in the Begusarai District Court after a lower court and the Patna High Court rejected her interim bail petition. The Supreme Court had slammed Bihar Police for its failure to arrest her. According to police, Manju Verma covered her face while reaching the court. Police in Bihar on Saturday started attaching the properties of Manju Verma after a court order in an arms case connected to the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror. Verma faces arrest under the Arms Act following the recovery of 50 live cartridges from her residences in Patna and Begusarai during a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid. Last month, a court in Begusarai issed a warrant against here. Last month, her husband Chandrasekhar Verma, who had been absconding for a month, surrendered before a court after which he was sent to 14 days judicial custody in connection with the shelter home case. Manju Verma resigned on August 8 following allegations that Brajesh Thakur, the main accused in the Muzaffarpur case, had links with her husband. Thankur is now in the Muzaffarpur jail. Of the 42 girls lodged at the short-stay home run by Thakur's NGO, 34 were found to have been sexually assaulted. The crime came to light after a social audit by the Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai. San Francisco, Nov 20 : A US federal judge has stopped President Donald Trump's administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the country's southern border illegally. US District Judge Jon S. Tigar issued a temporary restraining order after hearing arguments on Monday night in San Francisco, NBC News reported. The request was made by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Centre for Constitutional Rights, which quickly sued the administration after Trump issued the ban earlier this month in response to the caravans of migrants that have started to arrive at the US-Mexico border. In a proclamation on November 9, Trump said that anyone who crossed the southern border would be ineligible for asylum. The regulations, which will remain in place for three months absent a court order, could potentially make it harder for thousands of people who enter the US to avoid deportation. In recent years, tens of thousands of immigrants each year have shown up in the Arizona desert or on the north bank of the Rio Grande in Texas, surrendered to immigration agents and requested asylum, NBC News said. The Department of Homeland Security estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. Trump has argued that the migrant caravans were a threat to national security. Around 3,000 people from the first of the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. US Customs and Border Protection said earlier on Monday that it closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the San Ysidro crossing. It has also installed movable, wire-topped barriers, apparently to stop a potential mass rush of people. As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Trump's order went into effect. Ranchi, Nov 20 : Maoists set two trucks on fire in Jharkhand's Latehar district on Tuesday, police said. The left-wing extremists belonging to the Jharkhand Janmukti Morcha (JJM) set on fire the coal-laden vehicles coming from Kundi colliery at Bukru village, police said. The Maoists stopped the vehicles and thrashed the drivers, who managed to escape from the spot. They then poured kerosene oil on the trucks and set them on fire. In a note left by the Maoists, they said the work being done in the colliery was without their permission. A police source said that denial of levy by the transporter is the reason behind the incident. Allahabad, Nov 20 : Indian Railways will use technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), in a big way to tackle the massive rush of passengers to this holy city during the upcoming Kumbh Mela -- for which it will deploy as many as 800 special trains. IBM Intelligent Video Analytics will be pressed into service, a first for the Railways, for crowd control at stations and its adjoining areas during the Ardh Kumbh Mela. Kumbh Rail Seva, a new mobile App, will soon be launched to disseminate information to train users and others travelling to the world's largest religious event, which is expected to attract over a 100 million people -- a number higher than the populations of most countries on earth. "We have finalised the action plan for this Kumbh Mela taking all possible factors into consideration," North Central Railway General Manager Rajeev Choudhury told IANS. With the 2013 stampede fresh in mind, the national transporter is not leaving anything to chance and is focusing mainly on crowd management at the main junction and its adjoining stations. "We will be using the technology in a significant way to facilitate crowd movement in a smooth way," Choudhury said, adding: "While IBM will provide video analytics service using Artificial Intelligence for crowd control, there will be large number powerful CCTV cameras to monitor the situation and LED screens for displaying information." Besides, social media will be extensively used for keeping the pilgrims updated on a real-time basis. More than 5,000 Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel will be deployed to manage the crowd movement at 10 stations in and around the city, including Allahabad, Prayag, Prayag Ghat, Jhunsi, Naini, Cheoki and Allahabad City. The Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati rivers, will begin from January 15 and conclude March 4, 2019. Considered one of the largest gatherings of people in the world, more than 100 million devotees and Hindu ascetics are expected to attend the almost two-month-long Kumbh Mela to wash away their sins in the sacred Ganga river. According to the state government, 12 million pilgrims are expected on January 15 (Makar Sankranti), 5.5 million on Januray 21 (Paush Purnima), 30 million on February 4 (Mauni Amavasya), 20 million on February 10 (Basant Panchami), 16 million on February 19 (Maghi Purnima), and 6 million on March 4 (Mahashivratri). Acknowledging the size and grandeur of the congregration, Choudhury said: "It is no doubt challenging to manage the rush at stations but we are confident of making it a successful and smooth event." Close coordination with state administration is another step that the Railways is pursuing to make the event a success. Work is underway to make operational a new platform, a foot-over bridge and skywalks, among other infrastructure projects, at the stations to ensure hassle-free movement of passengers. He said the aim is to decongest all possible crowded places so that people coming from different directions can move towards the bathing ghats and return safely. Each station will have its own traffic management plan. The timings of 800 special trains will be published soon. (Arun Kumar Das can be contacted akdas2005@gmail.com) Panaji, Nov 20 : Whether it was "Trapped", "Gali Guleiyan" or now "Pihu", cinema that leaves the audience unsettled, is gradually finding space on the big screen. "Pihu" director Vinod Kapri says it is because Hindi movie viewers have matured and want new storylines. The recently released "Pihu" stars a little girl in the title role. She gets trapped inside her house with no escape. The story intends to comment on the underbelly of urban isolation and domestic distress. "I'm very sure now the Indian audience is quite ready. The Hindi film audience is getting mature day by the day, just the way producers and directors are getting mature," Kapri told IANS over phone from Mumbai. "Pihu" released last week to mixed reviews. While some found merit in the way a story has been spun around just a child actor, Myra Vishwakarma, some found it sadistic. Kapri has a conviction that there's space for such cinema in India now. Recounting the time "Pihu" was screened as the opening film in the feature film category of the Indian Panorama at the International Indian Film Festival (IFFI) last year, Kapri said: "When this film was the opening film of IFFI, there was quite a buzz for it. "But the organisers planned a repeat show, which they do for every opening film, at 10 a.m. I was upset and angry and told them if it's your opening film, at least give it decent timing, after 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.... I wondered who would come at 10 a.m. in Goa. "When I reached there, the hall was jampacked, and 50-60 people were waiting outside. I knew the international audience will like it but I was not very sure of the Indian audience. "But when I saw the way people reacted, I realised the time has come that the Indian audience is mature... People want to watch something different. Everyone is tired of watching the same thing," Kapri said. From a journalist to a National Award-winning documentary filmmaker to making a debut as a feature film director with "Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho", a social satire, Kapri's idea of cinema includes leaving the audience with something to ponder over. With "Pihu", his idea was to give a wake-up call to new-age parents. "There are small misunderstandings between couple, and a very small misunderstanding blows into a huge thing and you never know the repercussions... Sometimes it reaches a point of no return. "'Pihu' is a warning for those people who get coiled up in small ego hassles and spoil their lives... Life is beautiful, and that's a metaphor the film explains," Kapri said, adding that the movie is a reminder of the importance of life and family.. Telling the tale in a conventional way from the parents' point of view, as Kapri said, would have been "boring". "That's when I thought I will make it from the child's point of view." How did the idea of making a movie on a single character -- that too a two-year-old girl dawn upon him? "There's a saying, 'Necessity is the mother of all inventions'. 'Pihu' was my necessity. While I was making my first film, I had a couple of stories in my mind. "I asked the producers about it, and people were not ready to invest Rs 8 crore or Rs 10 crore... That's when I thought why such films so expensive? I realised it's just because of cost of actors... So, I thought what if I make film without stars or even actors." In the pursuit of a "different storyline", Kapri looked up the Internet for something on a little child being trapped. "I got to know different stories nationally and internationally, and that's how I ended up developing the film. Then one fresh incident happened in Delhi and thought I am on the right track." (Radhika Bhirani is in Goa on an invitation by IFFI organisers. She can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in) Beijing, Nov 20 : China on Tuesday said it hoped the Maldives will think before scraping the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with it after an influential leader of the island nation said his country will pull out of it as the deal was blindly pro-Beijing. Beijing also sought to put a brave face in the light of the Maldives' new President Ibrahim Solih's decision to review the Chinese investments made during the presidency of pro-China leader Abdullah Yameen. The Chinese Foreign Ministry evaded a question whether Beijing felt the new Maldivian government was steering the country back towards India after being close to Beijing under Yameen. "China-Maldives FTA is based upon the friendly and equal consultations of the two sides. The early implementation of the agreement will deliver benefits to the two sides at an early date. We believe the Maldives government will make the right choice in this regard," spokesperson Geng Shuang said. Mohamed Nasheed, a top leader of the governing alliance of the country, said that the FTA with China, signed last year under Yameen's rule, was unfortunate and one-sided and Male would pull out of it. The Maldives, under Yameen who was ousted by Solih in elections this year, had signed the FTA with China, becoming the only second nation to strike such a deal after Pakistan. The deal, opposed by Solih's party, had raised eyebrows in India and other countries. It was rushed through without any debate in the Maldivian parliament. Yameen is said to have given away lot of infrastructure projects to the Chinese companies, racking up huge debts. Male drifted towards Beijing under Yameen, who openly showed his backing for China. The new government is reportedly worried over the Chinese debt the country has run up during Yameen's presidency and thinks it's the time for course correction. It says it will review all Chinese projects in the country. Asked about the Solih's decision, Geng said: "I am not aware of the details mentioned by you just now. "According to my information, not long back President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang attended the inauguration of President Solih and he had a meeting with him as well. "In the meeting, President Solih said that the new Maldives government attaches importance to and is committed to deepening relations with China and is willing to deepen practical cooperation and adding a new dimension to the bilateral ties. "President Solih also said that China offers the most economic development assistance to the Maldives. The China-Maldives friendship bridge has been put into operation. This has facilities the travel of commuters and brought benefits to the Maldives. The Maldives welcomes more Chines enterprises to invest in the Maldives. "I think such kind of comments by (President Solih) reflect the current situation and the significance of China-Maldives practical cooperation." Asked if Beijing was worried over Male leaning towards India, Geng said: "As for the former President and the current President or about their foreign policy, you should ask the Maldives government. China is committed to deepening our mutually beneficial cooperation and our will to maintain good relations with the Maldives is firm." Lucknow, Nov 20 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to ensure that the pending Rs 6,830 crore arrears are immediately paid to the cane farmers, an official said on Tuesday. Following a review meeting late on Monday at his residence, Adityanath said the welfare of cane growers and strengthening of the sugar mills was a priority for his government and he would not tolerate the exploitation of farmers. His remarks came after he was told that Rs 28,633 crore of the Rs 35,463 crore payment for the crushing season of 2017-18 has already been made. The Chief Minister said that he has released Rs 1,000 crore as the first instalment of the easy loan scheme worth Rs 4,000 crore. Cane Commissioner Sanjay Bhoosreddy told Adityanath that 64 applications of Rs 3,873 crore from sugar mills have already been received by the banks under the scheme. After evaluation, the banks would give their acceptance letters and seek funds after which the amount would be released for the concerned banks. So far, loan applications worth Rs 994.61 crore have been received, Bhoosreddy said. The Pipraich and Munderwa sugar mills will be operational in February, 2019, the Chief Minister said making it clear that he wanted a transparent process to save farmers from exploitation. New Delhi, Nov 20 : Twitter has extended an apology after its CEO Jack Dorsey, who visited India last week, was seen holding a poster during a round-table with women journalists that read "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy". "I'm very sorry for this. It's not relective of our views. We took a private photo with a gift just given to us -- we should have been more thoughtful," Vijaya Gadde, Global Head of Legal, Policy, Trust and Safety Lead at Twitter, tweeted late Monday. "Twitter strives to be an impartial platform for all. We failed to do that here & we must do better to serve our customers in India," she added. According to the social network, it hosted a closed-door discussion with a group of women journalists and change makers from India to better understand their experience using Twitter. "One of the participants, a Dalit activist, shared her personal experiences and gifted a poster to Jack. "It is not a statement from Twitter or our CEO, but a tangible reflection of our company's efforts to see, hear, and understand all sides of important public conversations that happen on our service around the world," said the micro-blogging platform. Some Twitter users accused Dorsey of "bigotry" and "racism" after the poster went viral. "How can people put such a hate poster and malign a community: @jack How can you as ceo of @twitter be party to this kind of hate," tweeted Mohandas Pai, Chair of Manipal Global Education. New Delhi, Nov 20 : The Rajya Sabha will meet from December 11 to January 8 during the winter session of parliament with President Ram Nath Kovind issuing the formal summons for convening the house. According to an official announcement, the upper house will have 20 sittings during the session. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, had met earlier this month and decided the dates of parliament's winter session. The session commences on the day election results for Assembly polls to five states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram - will be out. The Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha may be adjourned for the day after offering condolences to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who died during the intersession period. New Delhi, Nov 20 : In a first for an Indian academic, Professor S.P. Ganguly, a well-known Hispanist who headed the Centre for Spanish and Latin American Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here, has been awarded the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest civilian honour given to a foreigner by Mexico. Ganguly was decorated with the striking gold-yellow insignia by Mexican Ambassador Melba Pria at a ceremony in the India International Centre (IIC) on Monday evening. The award was in recognition of his "outstanding work in the study and dissemination of the Spanish language and Mexican culture". Describing him as "a pillar of this work", Ambassador Pria said Ganguly belonged to that first generation of a handful of Indian academics who "actually made everybody else interested in Spanish". He has authored, edited and translated over 25 books in an academic career spanning 40 years. "We built an edifice almost from scratch, but it will need more cementing from present and future scholars. I hope this award will pave the way for greater attention to India-Mexico and Indo-Latin American studies," Ganguly said after his conferment. The award ceremony followed a seminar on late Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz, who had constantly endeavoured to create bridges between India and his country. Paz, who was a poet, diplomat and cultural historian, used to say that the India experience had completely transformed him. "His was a sentimental and intellectual engagement of the self with the other," said Ganguly. The two-day seminar, "India Remembers Octavio Paz", was organized by the Mexican Embassy, the Raza Foundation and the Cervantes Institute in India. Forty paintings by Mexican and Indian painters, based on their responses to Paz's poetry, were displayed during the event. Two books on Paz - one brought by the Raza Foundation and the other by Hyderabad University - were also released on the occasion. Islamabad, Nov 20 : Pakistan on Tuesday summoned the American Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad to protest against US President Donald Trump's remarks that Islamabad had helped slain Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to hide in the country. "The Foreign Secretary (Tehmina Janjua) called in the US Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Paul Jones to register a strong protest on the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Rejecting the insinuations about bin Laden, (the) Foreign Secretary reminded the US Charge d'Affaires that it was Pakistan's intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of bin Laden," the statement added. The Al Qaeda leader was killed in a US military operation at his Pakistani hideout in 2011, reports Efe news. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump accused the Pakistani government of hiding Laden in its territory and claimed that despite the US giving $1.3 billion annually to Islamabad, it had done nothing. Janjua told the US envoy that the President's rhetoric about Pakistan was "baseless" and "totally unacceptable". On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan rejected Trump's accusation, saying Islamabad was used as a "scapegoat" by the US for its own failures in Afghanistan. Khan's reaction triggered more Twitter attacks from Trump. "We no longer pay Pakistan the $Billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us. Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another," he tweeted. In January, Washington announced the suspension of a major part of its security aid to Pakistan until Islamabad took "decisive" steps against terrorist groups such as the Taliban, which threaten "regional stability and American interests". Relations between the US and Pakistan, which began to strain in 2011, reached a new low in January when Trump suspended American security assistance to Islamabad over the alleged presence of Afghan militant groups in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Islamabad has rejected the charge as incorrect. The Inter-Services Public Relations has said that the Coalition Support Fund received from the US was reimbursement of money spent for operations in support of the coalition in Afghanistan. New Delhi, Nov 20 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday condemned the chilli powder attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying such acts are not acceptable. "Heard that someone has thrown chilli powder on Kejriwal. I condemn it," Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari told reporters. He said that such acts are "not acceptable" and the person who has been arrested for attacking the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener should be thoroughly interrogated. The BJP Northeast Delhi MP's remarks came soon after Kejriwal was attacked by a middle-aged man with chilly powder inside the Delhi Secretariat. He was attacked as he stepped out of his office. The suspect was identified as Anil Kumar Sharma and caught by the police personnel present on the scene. The AAP has described the incident as a breach of security of the Chief Minister. People needs to go through a two-level security check to reach the Chief Minister's Office. Chennai, Nov 20 : Popular Tamil actors such as superstar Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya and Vijay Sethupathi among others have come forward to donate to the cyclone Gaja relief fund. As cyclone Gaja has wreaked havoc in nearly a dozen districts of Tamil Nadu and rescue operations are underway, members of the Tamil film fraternity have joined hands to do their bit. Actor Suriya was among the first Tamil stars to come forward and lend support. Suriya along with his father Sivakumar, brother Karthi and wife Jyotika have together donated a sum of Rs. 50 lakh as relief fund through various NGOs in the cyclone Gaja affected areas. Via a statement, Suriya said that it was heart-wrenching to see the Delta region being affected severely and added that it's the duty of everyone to extend support to this region. Superstar Rajinikanth, via a statement, on Tuesday announced relief materials worth Rs. 50 lakh towards the relief fund. Basking in the success of his latest Tamil film "Sarkar", Actor Vijay has donated around Rs. 40 lakh to 9 bank accounts of his fan club heads to help those affected by cyclone Gaja. Actor Vijay Sethupathi, last seen in Tamil film "96", has announced a relief fund of Rs. 25 lakh to be spent towards buying rechargeable torch lights and saplings for those whose farms have been destroyed by cyclone Gaja. Actor-producer Sivakarthikeyan donated Rs. 10 lakh to the Tamil Nadu CM relief fund in addition to Rs. 10 lakh worth of relief materials. "2.0" director Shankar has announced donation of Rs. 10 lakh to the Tamil Nadu CM relief fund. Kanpur, Nov 20 : A woman constable in Uttar Pradesh was hacked to death by her husband in Kanpur on Tuesday, police said. The husband suspected her of having an illicit affair. He attacked his wife in the morning with a butcher knife and killed her at their Khadepur Nayi Basti house in Naubasta. The assailant, Virendra, fled the crime scene but was arrested by the police in the afternoon. The weapon has also been recovered from him. The victim, Sharda Bhadauria was rushed to a medical facility by her son Shiv and nephew Kapil but was declared dead on arrival. The assailant confessed his crime and said his wife had a bad character and was having an affair with a neighbour, due to which he killed her. Chandigarh, Nov 20 : A special investigation team (SIT) of the Punjab Police, which is investigating the incidents of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib and the subsequent firing on protesters in 2015, is likely to question Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar here on Wednesday in connection with an alleged deal mediated by the actor between controversial godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. The Punjab Police sources said that Kumar had moved a request that he be allowed to meet the SIT officials in Chandigarh instead of Amritsar, where he had been originally summoned. Kumar will be questioned regarding his alleged role in brokering a deal between the controversial godman, who was later convicted of rape and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment and Sukhbir Badal in Mumbai in 2015 just days before the release of a film of the godman. Kumar has denied that he arranged any such meeting or had any role in brokering the deal. On his part, Badal said on Tuesday that he had never met Akshay Kumar outside Punjab. "I have never met Akshay Kumar outside Punjab," Badal said. Sukhbir Badal was questioned by the SIT here at the Punjab Police headquarters on Monday. He termed the questioning as a sham and alleged that the Congress government in Punjab led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was indulging in political vendetta. Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was on November 16 questioned by the SIT headed by additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Pramod Kumar and Inspector General Kunwar Vijay Pratap. The senior Badal said that he told the SIT that he had not ordered firing on Sikh protesters agitating against the sacrilege incidents in October 2015. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had said earlier that his government had no role in the summoning of the Badals and actor Akshay Kumar by the SIT. The SIT was set up by the Amarinder government in September this year to probe cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and the firing ordered on those protesting against the sacrilege cases in October 2015 when the Akali Dal-BJP alliance government headed by Parkash Singh Badal was in power in the state. Two persons were killed in the police firing in Behbal Kalan village near Kotkapura town in Faridkot district. New Delhi, Nov 20 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday greeted the nation on the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. "On the auspicious occasion of Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet, I extend my good wishes to all fellow citizens, especially to my Muslim brothers and sisters," Kovind said in a statement. New Delhi, Nov 20 : The Centre and the Jharkhand government on Tuesday signed a pact with the World Bank under which the multilateral agency will advance a loan of $310 million to boost the state's power system, mainly transmission infrastructure. "The Jharkhand Power System Improvement Project will help build new power transmission infrastructure as well as put in place systems to improve the technical efficiency and commercial performance of the state power sector utilities," the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. The project, part of the central government's 'Power for All' programme launched in 2014, will help bring in modern technology solutions such as automated sub-stations, network analysis and planning tools to provide reliable power supply, it said. The deal was signed by Additional Secretary in the Union Finance Ministry Sameer Kumar Khare, Jharkhand Energy Department Secretary Vandana Dadel and World Bank India Country Director Junaid Ahmad. Khare said the project would help meet Jharkhand's energy needs for its economic growth as demand for reliable power is expected to almost double in coming years. Ahmad said the project would help the state increase supply of reliable electricity to households, industries and businesses, and contribute to poverty alleviation and inclusive growth. Currently, more than 80 per cent of the state's population has access to electricity and the per capita power consumption in Jharkhand at 552 kWh at the end of financial year 2015-16 is roughly half of the national average, the statement said. However, in recent years, the state has achieved lower supply deficits. Some of the major components of the project include construction of new sub-stations and transmission lines, providing support to the Jharkhand Urja Sancharan Nigam Ltd (JUSNL) and helping integrate renewable energy in the state grid. It will also support smart meters, with two-way communication and backend IT infrastructure, deployed in select urban towns. To begin with, the project will finance smart metering for around 350,000 consumers in the capital city Ranchi, the Ministry said. The $310-million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a 5-year grace period, and a final maturity of 25 years, it added. New York, Nov 20 : More than hackers trying to breach your personal data, hospitals, doctors' offices and even insurance companies could be leaking out your identity, new research shows. Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) and Johns Hopkins University found that more than half of the recent personal health information, or PHI, data breaches were because of internal negligence by medical providers -- not because of hackers or external parties. "This could be an employee taking PHI home or forwarding to a personal account or device, accessing data without authorisation, or even through email mistakes, like sending to the wrong recipients, copying instead of blind copying or sharing unencrypted content," said lead author John (Xuefeng) Jiang, Associate Professor at MSU. "Hospitals, doctors' offices, insurance companies, small physician offices and even pharmacies are making these kinds of errors and putting patients at risk," Jiang said. For the study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the team reviewed nearly 1,150 cases between October 2009 and December 2017 that affected more than 164 million patients in the US. The cases fell into six categories: theft, unauthorised access, hacking or an IT incident, loss, improper disposal or other. More than half of the cases (53 per cent) were triggered by internal negligence, while one quarter were caused by unauthorised access or disclosure -- more than twice the amount that were caused by external hackers, Jiang said. Of the external breaches, theft accounted for 33 per cent with hacking credited for just 12 per cent. While tight software and hardware security can protect from theft and hackers, following procedures such as transitioning from paper to digital medical records, safe storage, moving to non-mobile policies for patient-protected information and implementing encryption can help mitigate this crime, the researchers suggested. Patna, Nov 20 : Former Bihar Minister Manju Verma, who had been absconding for nearly three months in an arms case related to the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror, surrendered at a court on Tuesday. She has been sent to 14 days' judicial custody. Manju Verma surrendered in the Manjhaul sub-division court of Begusarai district after a lower court and the Patna High Court rejected her interim bail petition. The Supreme Court had slammed Bihar Police for its failure to arrest her. According to the police, Manju Verma covered her face while reaching the court and fainted twice in the court room. "After her surrender, the court has sent her to 14 days' judicial custody till December 1. She has been lodged in Begusarai jail," a district police official said. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Police Headquarters, S.K. Singhal said the police are likely to take Manju Verma on police remand to interrogate her. The Bihar Police on Saturday started attaching the properties of Manju Verma after a court order in an arms case connected to the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. Of the 42 girls lodged at the short-stay home run by main accused Brajesh Thakur's NGO, 34 were found to have been sexually assaulted. Thakur had links with the former Minister's husband. The crime came to light following a social audit by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Verma faces arrest under the Arms Act after 50 live cartridges were recovered from her residences in Patna and Begusarai during a Central Bureau of Investigation raid. Last month, a court in Begusarai had issed an arrest warrant against her. Her husband Chandrasekhar Verma, who had been absconding for a month, last month surrendered before a court after which he was sent to judicial custody. Manju Verma resigned on August 8 following allegations of Thakur having links with her husband. Thakur is currently lodged in Muzaffarpur jail. Rewa (Madhya Pradesh) : Rewa (Madhya Pradesh) Nov 20 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told people of this north-earstern town of Madhya Pradesh that Congress means "nepotism" and "corruption", and that it kept people of the state in "darkness" during its 55-year rule. "From wherever Congress is voted out of power, it doesn't come back... Please don't let it come back in Madhya Pradesh. Congress means nepotism, casteism, communalism, and corruption. Congress means people may die if they wish," Modi said in his address. He accused the Congress of obstructing the work of successive Bharatiya Janata Party governments in the state for the last 15 years. "People gave us 15 years, but during 10 years of these, Delhi had a government governed through a remote control, run by madam (Sonia Gandhi), whose ears used to prick at the mention of BJP... 'we won't let him (Chouhan) accomplish anything'. "For 10 years, Madhya Pradesh government had to fight everyday for their rights.... and they (Congress) put road blocks in our every work for 10 years... In true sense, the Madhya Pradesh government only got a chance to work in the last 4 years (coinciding with the BJP rule at the Centre)," he said. The Prime Minister exhorted the people to vote in the election not to seal the fate of any political party but to write the fortune of their children. "This election is not about who wins or who loses. This election is for you to decide what kind of Madhya Pradesh you want to give to your children. This election is not to decide the fate of any political party, but your own," he said. "Government should be for the poor, for the common man, for the needy. We have tried to come good on these counts," Modi said. Bengaluru, Nov 20 : Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday held talks with agitating sugarcane farmers from the state and assured a higher minimum support price for the growers. "I have met with sugarcane farmers from across the state and assured them a higher minimum support price (MSP) for their cane and support in settling dues from sugar mill owners," Kumaraswamy told reporters at the state legislative building after the meeting with farmers and mill representatives. The six-hour long meeting was convened after hundreds of farmers, including their womenfolk, on Sunday staged protests at Belagavi, about 500 km in the state's northwest, against the state government's alleged indifference over ensuring MSP for cane. "The state government will ensure a higher MSP than earlier to cane farmers and make sure they don't face any issues going ahead," Kumaraswamy asserted. The previous Congress government had fixed Rs 2,500 per tonne as MSP of sugarcane last year, while the farmers have been demanding an MSP of Rs 3,000 per tonne in view of the production glut and falling prices. "The farmers claimed that mill owners cumulatively owe them about Rs 450-crore. District officials have been directed to get the details and ensure the dues are cleared by the mills within the next 15 days," the Chief Minister said. A meeting with the southern state's sugar mill owners and representatives will be held on Thursday, he added. "As per farmers' suggestions, the state government will study the models adopted by Maharashtra and Gujarat for sugarcane farmers," Kumaraswamy said. Over farmer complaints about irregularities in the weighing of cane, the Chief Minister said digital weighing scales will be used at all sugar mills to eliminate discrepancies. Stressing that the coalition Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress government was committed to farmer issues, Kumaraswamy said the state will also soon fix a MSP for onion farmers as well. As a protest against Kumarswamy cancelling his visit to Belagavi 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. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit President B.S. Yeddyurappa criticized the coalition government for failing to fix price for cane even after the central government announcing a fair and remunerative price three months back at Rs 2,750 per tonne. "Kumaraswamy has failed to take farmers' issue seriously. The state should soon fix a state advisory price for cane farmers," Yeddyurappa told reporters here. "It is unfortunate that a farmer chief minister had insulted a farmer-woman by telling her that he was not responsible if sugar factory owners had not paid them dues for the last 4-5 years as he (Kumaraswamy) became Chief Minister only five months ago," lamented Yeddyurappa. "By calling farmers 'goondas', Kumaraswamy has indulged in an arrogance of power. BJP will hold state wide agitation if farmer issues aren't resolved soon," added Yeddyurappa, who was the BJP's first Chief Minister in the southern state from May 2008 to July 2011. New Delhi, Nov 20 : Army chief General Bipin Rawat is scheduled to visit Vietnam from Novemebr 22 to 25, an official statement said. The visit is intended to give impetus to the strategic partnership between the two countries and take forward military-to-military cooperation. During the visit, the Indian delegation will meet and interact with senior military officers of Vietnam. Gen Rawat will also visit key military formations and establishments. The Army chief is scheduled to meet and interact with Vietnamese Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich and Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Senior Lt Gen Pham Hong Huong. General Rawat will visit the Headquarters of an Infantry Division near Hanoi and the Headquarters of 7 Military Region at Ho Chi Minh. During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vietnam in 2016, the relationship was upgraded to comprehensive strategic partnership. Defence cooperation has increased exponentially over the last few years amongst all services including exchange programmes, training assistance and cooperation on various service specific issues. New Delhi, Nov 20 : A committee to evaluate the quality of suo-motu disclosures made under the RTI Act ranked 838 public authorities in five grades with 158 of them getting Grade A, a statement said on Tuesday. It ranked 157 public authorities in Grade B, 118 in Grade C, 133 in Grade D and 272 in Grade E. The committee set up by the Central Information Commission (CIC) comprised former Chief Information Commissioner A.N. Tiwari and former Information Commissioner M.M. Ansari. The evaluation of 838 public authorities out of 2,092 registered with the Commission was done entirely based on feedback provided by them, a government statement said. "The committee evolved an evaluation format and requested all public authorities to fill it up. Out of 2,092 public authorities registered with the Commission, the feedback was received from 838. This evaluation has been done entirely based on feedback provided by these public authorities," it added. The statement said the CIC has accepted the report "subject to any observations that may now be received by the Commission from the public authorities". New Delhi, Nov 20 : India and Singapore on Tuesday agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in defence and regional maritime security and renewed the pact to conduct joint military training and exercises in India at the 3rd Defence Ministers Dialogue (DMD). In a joint statement at the conclusion of the dialogue, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Singapore counterpart Ng Eng Hen agreed to step up intelligence and information sharing, particularly in the areas of maritime security and counter terrorism and expand collaboration on submarine safety and rescue. Both Ministers agreed on the importance of international cooperation in tackling transnational security threats and in particular measures to collectively tackle the threat of terrorism. "Ng Eng Hen said Singapore strongly supports India's deep engagement with ASEAN member states participation in patrols along the Straits of Malacca with Singapore and looks forward to an inaugural conduct of the trilateral maritime exercise with Thailand in the Andaman Sea," a Defence Ministry official said. Sitharaman affirmed India's full support and active participation in the regional security architecture of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus and its many initiatives. As an ADMM Plus member, India supports the adoption of the Guidelines for Air Military Encounters, the official added. As littoral countries astride key Sea Lines of Communication, the Ministers underscored the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight consistent with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Sitharaman reaffirmed India's belief that disputes should be resolved through peaceful means, and in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law. Earlier in the day, Ng Eng Hen attended the final sea phase of the 25th edition of the Singapore-India joint military drill, SIMBEX, on board INS Shakti. The multi-dimensional exercise witnessed participation of ships, submarines a well as aircraft from both sides and live firings at sea. The DMD commenced after both countries signed the revised Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in 2015. The next edition of the dialogue is likely to held in Singapore. Chandigarh, Nov 20 : A senior leader of the Amritsar unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Suresh Sharma, was shot at by an unidentified man in Amritsar on Tuesday evening, police said. Sharma, who was the district AAP president in Amritsar till August this year, was rushed to a private hospital where he was being treated. Police said an unidentified assailant came to Sharma's furniture shop around 6.30 pm on Tuesday and shot him thrice from close range. The assailant fled after committing the crime. Sharma is also a known Right to Information (RTI) activist in Amritsar. The AAP condemned the attack on Sharma. Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said law and order situation in Punjab had gone from bad to worse. Kolkata, Nov 20 : In a bid to secure sustainable financing to navigate through current headwinds, Jet Airways is "in active discussions with various investors", an official said on Tuesday in a message to the airline's passengers. "We are in active discussions with various investors to secure sustainable financing to navigate through the current headwinds and create long-term growth. There is interest in our strong brand and confidence in our business turnaround efforts," the airline's Chief Executive Officer Vinay Dube said in the message to its passengers. Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group firms, had said discussions on acquiring a stake in the financially troubled Jet Airways have been at a preliminary stage and that no such proposal has been made so far. Dube said the airline reviewed its network and is "deploying aircraft on more profitable, productive and economically efficient routes". "With the peak season upon us, I am optimistic about our ability to build and accelerate revenue momentum even as we continue to review and improve our network," he said. "Last week we declared our Q2 results for FY 2019. The tough operating environment for the aviation industry continues to impact us, and we reported a net loss of Rs 1,261 crore," he said. "Reflecting on our ongoing efforts to reduce costs across the business, our relentless efforts to optimise costs have yielded over Rs 500 crore of savings in the first half of FY 2019." He also said the airline would take delivery of another six new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft this fiscal and will leverage the same for better cost efficiency. The private airline launched new services such as the Mumbai-Manchester non-stop flight and will soon be inaugurating its first daily, direct service from Pune to Singapore, as well as adding services and frequencies on select routes such as Bangkok, Doha, Dammam, Dubai, Kathmandu and Singapore, he added. New Delhi, Nov 20 : Calling Congress' pitch for "soft Hindutva" in Madhya Pradesh "gimmickry" which would not be able to hoodwink people, the BJP on Tuesday said it is all set to return to power because of his government's development works, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's popularity and its organisational strength. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe also dismissed any unrest among farmers of the state and said for 20 per cent of the farmers who are not paying their loans, every farmer cannot be made a "beggar" seeking loan waivers. "All of a sudden they have woken up. They are talking about 'Ram Van Gaman Path' (route taken by Lord Ram for his 14-year exile), even cow protection and all these things... "This, I believe, speaks of the deep-rooted guilty conscience for having neglected the nature of this country. People can't be hoodwinked by these. People know what exactly are their designs," Sahasrabuddhe, who is also incharge of BJP's affairs in Madhya Pradesh, told reporters. He was reacting to the Congress' promises of building "gaushalas" (cow sheds) in every gram panchayat, ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) "shakhas" and development of Ram Van Gaman Path. "If they are serious about Ram Van Gaman Path, they should know that the story of Lord Ram starts from Ayodhya and they are not supporting the idea of Ram temple in Ayodhya," he said. He said the issues of cow protection, RSS and Ram temple are not being raked up by the BJP but by the opposition party as part of its vote bank politics. "They are talking about all these while we are talking about development and performance. Since they have nothing to talk on these issues, they are talking of a ban on RSS. They have taken the public discourse to the era of 1977. We are making people aware of this design of Congress," Sahasrabuddhe said. Asked about Congress's promise for waiving loans of farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Sahasrabuddhe claimed that 80 per cent of those who had taken farm loans are making the payment and only 20 per cent are not paying it. "So, for those 20 per cent why should we make all farmers a "yaachak" (beggar)...that they go with a bowl and request for loan waiver? This is not necessary. To be honest, the farmers of Madhya Pradesh are very successful, honest and capable also. For those who can't pay, there is a scheme for them. They are not even able to go to markets to sell their products. There is a need for such schemes to help them out," he said. The BJP leader rejected that there is any kind of anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh and claimed that on the contrary, there is a pro-government sentiment in the state as the government has done a lot of development works. "Anti-incumbency is a creation of psephologists. It's not necessary that if a government is there for last 10-15 years, there would be anti-incumbency. If development does not take place and when charges of corruption surface against the leadership, it becomes unpopular...the workers sit in their homes in apathy, then there is a possibility of anti-incumbency. But there is no such situation in Madhya Pradesh," he said. Asked about rebellion in Madhya Pradesh and that too by senior party leaders like Ram Krishna Kusmaria and Sartaj Singh, the senior BJP leader said: "There is nothing like retirement in politics. So, people expect to continue and they demand tickets. "But what we did in the case of Babulal Gaur and Sartaj Singh (is) we conveyed them a message that the party wants them to vacate their seats to open doors for new generation. If they agree, it's okay, otherwise the organisation takes its own call." Asked whether the results of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram will be a referendum on Modi government, he said: "These days it has been a fashion that even if we lose an election of municipal corporation, it is dubbed as the verdict against the government. But actually it does not happen. Referendum, litmus test are the words coined by the media." Sahasrabuddhe claimed that development works of the state government besides Chouhan's popularity and the party's strong organisational machinery since the days of Kushabhau Thackrey, will again bring the party back in power. Gandhinagar, Nov 20 : Alarmed over the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) outbreak that claimed the lives of 23 Asiatic lions in their only abode Gir in Saurashtra, the Gujarat government on Tuesday launched a Rs 351-crore project for the conservation of the wild cat. The project also includes an emergency ambulance van akin to the 108 emergency service. The state government also put on hold approval to 10 mines in the Gir region in view of the environmental issues related to the eco-sensitive zones 10 km around Gir. Wildlife experts and forest officials have been complaining for long that mining and commercial activities around the lion sanctuary have increasingly become a threat to the tranquil existence of the wild beasts. State Environment and Forest Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava said, "The government has allotted Rs 351 crore for Gir lion conservation, which includes a 'state of the art' veterinary hospital to be built at Rs 50 crore in Sasan Gir region." The Minister informed that a special veterinary cadre of 120 personnel will be created for the conservation of lions. "We have also decided to upgrade and modernise eight rescue centres in the region, for which Rs 85 crore would be spent," he added. Vasava said that an emergency ambulance specially dedicated to the wildlife would also be made available in the Gir region, just like the popular 108 services. This is besides setting up 32 rapid response teams. Modern technology would also be used in lion conservation, he said. "The movements of nocturnal animals like the lions and others will be tracked through closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) and camera-mounted drones. We are also planning to bring in a project on the lines of E-eye, which has been successful in the Corbett National Park," Vasava added. The Minister made the announcements after a meeting of the State Board for Wildlife chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. It was also decided to set up five Safari Parks. Accordingly, a lion safari will come up at Gandhinagar, a Tiger Safari at Kevadia near the Statue of Unity and two leopard safari parks will be set up in Mandvi in Surat district and Dangs in South Gujarat. The forest Minister also informed that special breeding centres would be created for near-extinct bird species like the Great Indian Bustard and vultures. New Delhi, Nov 20 : The NIA on Tuesday named Pakistan-based UN-designated terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) deputy chief Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, the brother of outlawed organisation's founder Maulana Masood Azhar, and 13 others in its chargesheet in 2016 Nagrota terror attack case. The NIA chargesheet was filed in Jammu. The National Investigation Agency revealed that four Kashmiri JeM members --Mohd Ashiq Baba, Syed Munir-Ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmad Dar and Ashraf Hamid Khandey -- had facilitated a group of three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists and transported them from International Border in Samba-Kathua sector to Hotel Jagdamba in Jammu. The three were taken to Nagrota by the accused in their vehicles for the attack on the November 28, 2016 on Officers' Mess complex, 166 Medium Regiment of Indian Army in Nagrota Cantonment (near Jammu). All the four Kashmiris were arrested by the NIA later. The anti-terror agency said the three JeM terroists -- identified as Khalid, Numan and Aadil -- were highly trained and equipped with AK-47 rifles and explosives. Seven Army personnel were killed and three suffered injuries in the attack carried out by the terrorists. The terrorists were killed in retaliatory action by the security forces. Investigation conducted by the NIA revealed that Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar was the mastermind of the attack. "Asgar worked out the plan of Fidyeen attack and provided training to the three slain JeM terrorists. He also directed Mufti Asgar, launch commander of JeM in Kashmir region, to provide training, funds, equipment and mobile and other logistics to local JeM member Mohd. Ashiq Baba," said the NIA in its chargesheet. The NIA said that Ashiq Baba had visited Pakistan many times and met JeM terrorists Waseem (operational commander), Abu Talha (a commander in Jammu region) and Qari Zarar (launch commander for Jammu region). He was taken for a meeting with Mufti Asgar at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, said the NIA. "On reaching there, he was received by Abdullah and Tariq Mir, both JeM terrorists who are close associates of Mufti Asgar," the chargesheet said. "During the meeting with top leadership of JeM commanders Mufti Asgar chalked out a detailed plan including the modus operandi to be adopted for infiltration of JeM terrorists and he asked Ashiq to activate local JeM network in Jammu and Kashmir for Jehadi cause." Ashiq Baba was trained by JeM at Manshera in Pakistan and given money for arranging logistics along with a GPS-enabled Huawei mobile phone for communication with JeM leaders in Pakistan, the NIA said. According to the NIA, it has collected evidence on the basis of disclosure of the accused, detailed social media analysis, digital evidence through requests under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and analysis of data extracted from the seized digital devices. The agency said that further investigation is continuing. Kabul, Nov 20 : More than 43 people were killed and 83 others wounded on Tuesday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a large wedding hall in Kabul city centre targeting an event marking the Prophet Mohammad's birthday, officials said. Ministry of Interior spokesperson Najib Danish said over 50 people were killed and wounded in the attack. "A suicide attacker detonated his vest inside the Oranoos wedding hall in Kabul. The attacker targeted Milad-un-nabi gathering," Ariana news reported. An hour after the explosions ambulances were heard rushing to-and-from the scene of the explosion to hospitals in the city center. The presidential palace immediately condemned the bombing and said it was a criminal act. "President Ghani strongly condemns this criminal and un-Islamic act and said that the terrorist attack on Milad-un-Nabi ceremony which conveys the message of peace and blessing is an enmity with the Islamic principles and way of life of the Prophet (peace be upon him)," the presidential palace (ARG) said in a statement. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also deplored the attack. UNAMA says it is outraged by Kabul bombing when communities across Afghanistan are marking a day of special religious significance. Neighbouring Pakistan also condemned the attack saying the "perpetrators are condemnable for this heinous attack by all religious and human standards. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said. Conmdemning the attack, the Indian embassy in Kabul said in a tweet that the "perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters must be held accountable by the international community". US ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass also condemned the attack on the religious gathering in Kabul "Sickened and deeply saddened by tonight's terror attack as the Ulema Council marked the Prophet's Birthday. I extend our condolences to the families and followers of those killed and wounded," Bass tweeted. Dhaka, Nov 20 : A prominent Bangladesh photojournalist accused of criticising his country's government during a television interview was freed from the Dhaka Central Jail on Tuesday, four days after a court granted him bail, authorities told Efe. Shahidul Alam was arrested in August, shortly after an interview with Al Jazeera in which he criticized the Bangladeshi government's deadly clampdown on student-led road safety protests. "Shahidul Alam was released around 8.30 p.m," Iqbal Kabir Chowdhury, a senior superintendent from Dhaka Central Jail, told Efe. "It took us some time to release him today because of an error in his address. He has been released after it was corrected in due process." Lawyers, friends, students and well-wishers received Alam at the jail located on the outskirts of the capital. Alam, 63, was granted bail by Dhaka High Court on November 15, more than three months after he was arrested on charges of spreading anti-government propaganda. The veteran photographer, whose detention sparked outrage in the country and further afield, was accused of defaming the government and spreading rumours on social media regarding the student-led demonstrations. Alam was arrested under the controversial Information and Communication Technology Act, widely criticized by journalists and human rights organisations, who say the government uses the law to target dissidents. On September 19, Bangladesh passed another controversial law, the Digital Security Act, also denounced as a tool for cracking down on freedom of expression. Alam's work has featured in publications like the New York Times and National Geographic. Lucknow, Nov 20 : Amid growing chorus to build Ram temple at Ayodhya by bypassing the Supreme Court and bringing in an ordinance, a Muslim litigant in the matter, Iqbal Ansari, on Tuesday said he had no problem if this was done. Talking to local media in Ayodhya, Ansari said if the Union government brought an ordinance for a Ram temple, he would not oppose it. "If the country would be happy in doing so, I am for it," he said. "Agar isse mulk mein aman our khushhaali aayegi to main iske liye tayyar noon" (if this brings peace and prosperity in the country, so be it, am ready), he said. Iqbal Ansari's father Hashim Ansari was the lone litigant in the matter and despite contesting the case for decades, he often spoke of an amicable settlement of the contentious issue. Ansari was associated with the Ayodhya title suit since 1961 when he, along with six others, was named the main plaintiff in the lawsuit Sunni Central Waqf Board filed in the court of Faizabad civil judge. Hashim Ansari, the lone surviving original litigant in the case, died in 2016 at the age of 96. Iqbal Ansari pointed out that he was doing so as he was a law-abiding citizen of the country. "We want good of this country and if ordinance route is the way, I support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," Ansari said. He, however, voiced his concern over the gathering of activists belonging to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Shiv Sena and other organisations in the temple town ahead of the November 25 'dharma Sabha.' He said he had apprised the district administration of his viewpoint. Sometime back, Ansari had aired his apprehensions at the congregation and said the build-up was like what it was prior to the demolition of Babri mosque in 1992. He had also threatened to migrate from Ayodhya due to "fear and feeling of insecurity". Uttar Pradesh DGP, OP Singh had however allayed his fears and said police would protect all citizens of the state. Security cover has since been given to the litigant. Chandigarh, Nov 20 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday welcomed the first death conviction by a Delhi court in the 1984 riots case. Terming is as "long overdue", Amarinder, in a statement here, said: "Justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the heinous crimes." "It has taken more than 30 years for the court to deliver justice in this case. I hope that the other cases would also soon be settled by the judiciary," he said. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed satisfaction at the award of death sentence and life imprisonment to two convicts in the 1984 Sikh massacre case. In a statement here, the SAD chief said 34 years after the "mass carnage of thousands of Sikhs in Delhi and other parts of the country, the law was finally catching up with the genocide perpetrators with award of punishment to two culprits". The Delhi court awarded Yashpal Singh death sentence and life term to Naresh Sehrawat for the killing of two Sikh men in Mahipal village in South Delhi in 1984. "All this has been possible due to affirmative and decisive action taken by the NDA government which formed a SIT in 2015 to take massacre cases to their logical conclusion," Badal said, adding that these cases had been closed by the Congress government. New Delhi, Nov 20 : A 28-year-old Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist wanted in the murder of CID Intelligence Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was arrested from Indira Gandhi International Airport, police said on Tuesday. "The team of Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested Ansar-Ul-Haqe with the help of local intelligence. We received a tip-off that Haqe will come to Delhi airport from Bengaluru and will go to Srinagar," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Pramod Singh Kushwah. A trap was on Tuesday laid and the team arrested him from Terminal-3 of IGI-Airport", said Kushwah. "During investigation, it came to notice that Haqe was swiftly changing his hideouts and shifted to Mumbai and thereafter to Bengaluru", Kushwah said. "Haqe along with his accomplices had killed Jammu and Kashmir police Sub-inspector Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir on October 30 when he was abducted from his car. He was travelling in his car on his way home in Pulwama", he added. New Delhi, Nov 20 : The Indian Women's Press Corps on Tuesday expressed concern at the growing instances of sexual harassment in the media and said the threat to use defamation law can have the effect of dissuading women from complaining or compel them to withdraw their complaints. It urged the media organisations to send a strong message that there will be zero tolerance for such behaviour by not only setting up the robust mechanisms required under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act but also by reacting proactively as and when such instances are reported. In a statement, IWPC said while it was concerned at the growing instances of sexual harassment in the media, it was equally concerned that narratives and complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace were often threatened by defamation "as in the recent instance involving a senior woman journalist who detailed her harassment in a magazine". The allegations pertained to a news anchor who denied them and sent a defamation notice to the said magazine, woman journalist and the concerned reporter who filed the story. "The IWPC recognises that sexual harassment at the workplace is a pervasive phenomenon and that women still find it difficult to report such instances, whether they have occurred in the present or in the past. The threat to use defamation can have the effect of dissuading women from complaining or compel them to withdraw their complaints," it said. The organisation said it believed there should be constant support and encouragement to women to speak out against the harassment they have faced. "It also believes that proper processes of inquiry be initiated by the appropriate forums in all cases of sexual harassment at the workplace including in instances where the incident may be dated," it said. New Delhi, Nov 21 : Hours after a middle-aged man with chilli powder attacked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi police booked the accused person, who was found to be unstable. "Taking suo moto cognizance, we have booked Anil Sharma, 40, on the charges of Criminal Intimidation, Obstructing public servant, causing hurt to deter public servant and assault or criminal force on public servant under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code," Joint Commissioner of Police Rajesh Khurana told IANS. "We have not received any complaint from Aam Aadmi Party or the Delhi Secretariat in this regard against Sharma. He was interrogated by local police and other security agencies but found unstable", Khurana said. Sharma on Tuesday attempted to attack on Kejriwal with chilli powder when he stepped out of his office after a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat. "When Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was coming out of his chamber, Sharma tried to hand over his complaint to him. Kejriwal later passed his complaint copy to a staff member. In the meantime, Sharma bowed down to touch Kejriwal's feet, he suddenly attempted charging chief minister but it was swiftly foiled by security staff of Delhi Police", the joint Commissioner added. The CCTV footage shows that Sharma tried to touch Kejriwal's feet and tried to attack on his face but Chief Minister security staff caught hold on him. Moscow, Nov 21 : The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Tuesday said that it had detained a suspected participant in the 1995 terrorist attack in the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk, in which 129 people were killed and 415 were injured. Its statement did not provide details of the detention of the suspect identified as Khazvakh Cherkhigov, a Russian citizen born in 1978, reports Xinhua news agency. The Budyonnovsk attack, in which more than 1,500 people were taken hostages, was carried out in June 1995 by a gang led by militant leader Shamil Basayev. The terrorists then seized a local hospital and held hostages for several days, demanding the withdrawal of the Russian military from the rebel region of Chechnya. Basayev managed to successfully negotiate a stop of the advance of Russian troops, and the attackers then returned to Chechnya under the cover of human shields. For this crime, 31 participants have been convicted and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment between 1995 and 2013, while 18 others have been killed, the FSB statement said. Shimla, Nov 21 : The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday decided to recruit 2,277 teachers on contract in the Elementary Education Department, an official said. It decided to implement the Himachal Health Care Scheme in the State. The cashless treatment coverage of Rs 5 lakhs per year per family will be provided on a family floater basis, a government spokesperson told IANS. He said the treatment would be provided on the basis of pre-defined package rates in the empanelled hospitals. The hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat will stand automatically empanelled for this scheme. This will cover all families of the state which are not covered under the central government's Ayushman Bharat scheme. In another major decision by the Cabinet led by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, an approval was given to establish the Himachal Pradesh Gau Sewa Aayog for preservation, conservation and welfare of cows. The aayog would also be helpful in addressing the problems relating to abandoned cows. The Cabinet also approved the lease amount of Patanjali Yog Peeth as per the lease rules. The approval was accorded for the Himachal Pradesh State Urban Solid Waste Management Policy with an objective to provide directions for carrying out the waste management activities in a manner which is not just environmentally, socially and financially sustainable but also economically viable. Ahmedabad, Nov 21 : The Ahmedabad Sessions Court here on Tuesday framed sedition charges against firebrand Patidar agitation spearhead Hardik Patel and two of his former associates in connection with alleged rioting after a massive Patel rally in Ahmedabad on August 25, 2015. Sessions Judge D P Mahida framed the charges under Sections 124 (A) (sedition), 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) and others of the Indian Penal Code against Hardik Patel, 25, and his then close aides Dinesh Bambhaniya and Chirag Patel. All the three were out on bail in the sedition case filed by Ahmedabad crime branch in January, 2016. Chirag Patel later joined the ruling BJP while Dinesh Bambhaniya quit the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, though never joined any political party. The court fixed January 29, 2019, as the next date of hearing when the trial on the sedition charges against the trio would begin. The Gujarat High Court had earlier dropped charges under IPC Section 121 (A) pertaining to "waging war against the state,a which could attract death penalty. The framing of charges got delayed as Hardik Patel was not present in the court and was away to attend a social function. The court rejected his application for absence and threatened to issue an arrest warrant if he failed to turn up, prompting him to immediately reach the court. He was attending an OBC convention. Dinesh was arrested in the morning and presented in the court as he had remained absent from the court several times in the past during hearings. Chirag Patel was duly present. All the three unanimously pleaded not-guilty against the charges framed. According to the chargesheet, Hardik and his aides, who were part of the PAAS then, were allegedly involved in inciting the Patel community youths to resort to violence as part of their conspiracy to put undue pressure on the government to accept their demand of reservation to their community under the OBC category. Going by the allegations, inflammatory messages and rumours were spread by the accused and resulted in large-scale riots across Gujarat, which forced the police to impose curfew in several parts, as people resorted to stone pelting, arson and damaging public property for almost four days, the charge-sheet alleged. The chargesheet claimed that the police was forced to open fire at different places in which 14 Patel youths were killed. The police also attached call detail records, transcripts of calls intercepted, CDs containing video and audio clips, forensic reports of mobile phones of Patel leaders, Hardik's speech at the mega rally and statements of 502 witnesses. Meanwhile, the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Alpesh Kathiriya, a close aide of Hardik Patel, in the Ahmedabad sedition case. Alpesh, who had been in jail for the last eight months, but was not released immediately as the police subsequently detained him in connection with a separate sedition case in case. Kabul, Nov 21 : A suicide bombing on Tuesday at a hall in Kabul where hundreds of religious scholars had gathered to commemorate the Prophet Muhammad's birthday left at least 50 people dead and more than 70 others wounded, officials said. The attack was carried out by a lone insurgent inside the Uranus wedding hall, Kabul police spokesperson Basir Mujahid told Efe. "The explosion took place as hundreds of ulema (Islamic scholars) and people were gathered in the hall to observe Mawlid and recite passages from the Quran," he said, adding that police had not been advised of a need for security beforehand. All of the victims were civilian men, health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Majroh told Efe. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani blamed the "unpardonable crime" on the "enemies of Islam." "Once again, the terrorists have acted against the teachings of the Prophet," he said in a statement. While no group claimed responsibility, the Taliban, Afghanistan's largest insurgency, took the unusual step of denying involvement, reports Efe. "The Islamic Emirate (as the Taliban call themselves) energetically condemns attacks against gatherings of civilians and religious people," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement. Thousands of gatherings were taking place throughout the country to mark the Prophet's birthday on what was a public holiday in Afghanistan. The Uranus wedding hall is located on Airport Road in northern Kabul, where there is a concentration of similar venues which are often booked for events other than weddings. The Afghan capital is frequently rocked by terror attacks, often carried out by the Taliban or Islamic State, but Tuesday's assault was one of the deadliest in recent months. Los Angeles, Nov 21 : After getting separated from socialite and reality TV star Paris Hilton, Chris Zylka wants the $2 million engagement ring back. Zylka proposed to Hilton with the diamond ring in Aspen in January this year, but now as they both have called off their relationship, he wants the ring the back from her possession, reports tmz.com. According to tmz.com, under Californian law, if she calls off the engagement, he gets the ring back. "And he wants it back," said some sources. On Monday, Hilton quoted Marilyn Monroe as she took to Instagram to address her split with her fiance. She wrote: "I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right." Melbourne land prices have continued to moderate, with prices remaining stable in the September quarter, figures from the latest Oliver Hume Quarterly Market Insights (QMI) report showed. Metropolitan Melbourne's median land price is now $325,000. Active projects are only down 0.6 percent to 168, which signifies a drop of just one project, however there has been a total decline of 14.5 percent of total lots released. Total lots released up to September (4232), is down 22 percent year on year. Total lots sold in the September was also inevitably down (25 percent), with just over 3,300 lots sold. The total unsold amount of land lot was up 18 percent from last quarter. Prices in the Melbourne Metro area were unchanged over the quarter, while Geelong, where the median price has soared over 30 percent annually, was down 2.67 percent. Click here to enlarge. The Mitchell Shire north of Melbourne continues to be the most affordable despite recording strong growth over the quarter and the year. The municipality of Melton experienced the largest median price growth for the second consecutive quarter, with the median price of lots now sitting above $300,000 for the first time. Oliver Hume chief operating officer Julian Coppini said the September quarter result reflected a moderating of demand for Melbourne land. Overall, we expect prices to remain relatively stable although some locations may see median prices trend lower, he said. Westport RTM Member Greg Kraut today stated, "I urge all Democrat and Republican Leaders in Connecticut to allow unaffiliated voters to back their candidates. Never has there been such a need to have Open Primaries in Connecticut. Its time to allow the majority, which are the unaffiliated voters, to have a real voice for their candidates." In Connecticut, 42% of voters are unaffiliated and it is the largest voting bloc. To vote in a primary, you must register with a party. "As somebody that is a moderate in a time of social media intolerance and hateful Washington rhetoric, I feel voting must be able to reflect our majority of citizens. Instead of being required to join an organization where people are unsure of the political beliefs of the candidates, we need to be able to exercise our right to vote in an open primary," Kraut stated. "Many voters have expressed to me their dissatisfaction with both major parties and their candidates, either some were too right, or some were too left, and it would be beneficial to finally elect candidates that speak for the real majority," Kraut said. About Greg Kraut Greg Kraut serves on the Westport RTM, representing District 5. As a member of the RTM, he serves on the Finance, Employee Compensation and Planning and Zoning Committees. Greg Kraut is the Managing Partner at KPG, a real estate management firm, where he oversees the strategic direction of the company, development, asset management and leasing. Before joining KPG, Mr. Kraut was the Founding Principal of Avison Young's Tri-State office. During this time, he was named one of Commercial Observer's Power 100 in New York City real estate for three consecutive years. Greg is married to Haley Kraut and has two sons, Charlie and Dillon, who attend Greens Farms Elementary School. Contact: Greg Kraut, 203-557-0995, gregkraut.com https://www.facebook.com/greg.kraut.7 A Marriage Made in Heaven: Maggie Sottero and Centric Software Because Centric SMB is geared toward market speed and visibility, we will have a greater ability to track trends, capture consumer attention and boost sales. Maggie Sottero Designs LLC (Maggie Sottero), the Utah-based premium bridalwear company, has successfully gone live with Centric Softwares Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution for small to medium enterprises, Centric SMB. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury and consumer goods companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals. Established in 1997, Maggie Sottero is a family-owned business with a multi-generational legacy in bridalwear. The company has expanded operations to three distinct labels, with authorized retailers in over 70 countries around the world. Its core line, Maggie Sottero, caters to the modern bride with a romantic and personalized vision for her wedding. The Sottero and Midgley line features couture styles for the fashion-forward bride, while the Rebecca Ingram line offers stylish and high-quality gowns at budget-friendly prices. As operations have grown in recent years, the company has expanded and elevated its production management systems. The bridalwear industry is complex and ever-evolvingfrom keeping an eye on trends to the actual design process and, ultimately, launching a new collection to the public. We need continuous innovation in everything we do from the software we use to how we work with our supply chain in order to keep meeting the demands of todays consumer, says Tom Manning, President of Maggie Sottero. From an IT perspective, we chose Centrics PLM solution because we knew it would improve our design and production processes by generating consistent data, repeatable processes and attention to details that will be used throughout the organization, adds Kary Burke, Vice President, Information Technologies at Maggie Sottero. We also appreciate the cloud- and subscription-based framework. Centric takes care of hosting which saves us effort and investment. Maggie Sottero implemented Centric SMB in an impressive seven weeks, completing the project on time and on budget. The global bridal fashion brand is now looking forward to better visibility, speed to market and communication with Centric SMB in place. Because Centric SMB is geared toward market speed and visibility, we will have a greater ability to track trends, capture consumer attention and boost sales. This is a big-picture win for usthe Centric team has a lot of knowledge and knowledge is power, concludes Manning. We are excited to announce that Maggie Sottero has completed a smooth implementation of Centric SMB PLM in just seven weeks, says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. Centrics flexible and innovative solutions support different business needs, and the subscription-based Centric SMB was a perfect fit for Maggie Sottero. Were looking forward to working with Maggie Sottero in the future as they continue to grow. Maggie Sottero (http://www.maggiesottero.com) Maggie Sottero Designs is the culmination of a multigenerational legacy in fashion and bridalwear. Established in 1997 with the launch of its custom corset closure, Maggie Sottero Designs has continued to provide its incomparable fit and styling at a variety of attainable price points for todays bride. The design house currently oversees three distinct lines: Maggie Sottero for the romantic bride with a personalized wedding vision; Sottero and Midgley for the couture bride; and Rebecca Ingram for the budget-savvy bride with a classic aesthetic. Maggie Sottero Designs is represented in fine bridal salons all over the world. Centric Software (http://www.centricsoftware.com) From its headquarters in Silicon Valley and offices in trend capitals around the world, Centric Software provides a Digital Transformation Platform for the most prestigious names in fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods. Centric Visual Innovation Platform (VIP) is a visual, fully digital collection of boards for touch-based devices like iPad, iPhone and large-scale, touch-screen televisions. Centric VIP transforms decision making and automates execution to truly collapse time to market and distance to trend. Centrics flagship product lifecycle management (PLM) platform, Centric 8, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, business planning, quality, and collection management functionality tailored for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB packages extended PLM including innovative technology and key industry learnings tailored for small businesses. Centric Software has received multiple industry awards, including the Frost & Sullivan Global Product Leadership Award in Retail, Fashion, and Consumer Goods PLM in 2018 and Frost & Sullivans Global Retail, Fashion, and Apparel PLM Product Differentiation Excellence Award in 2016 and 2012. Red Herring named Centric to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015, and 2016. Centric is a registered trademark of Centric Software. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Media Contacts: Centric Software Americas: Jennifer Forsythe, jforsythe(at)centricsoftware.com Europe: Kristen Salaun Batby, ksalaun-batby(at)centricsoftware.com Asia: Lily Dong, lily.dong(at)centricsoftware.com EcoMark Solar Donating to Metro Caring. Commitment to Community Drives the Employees at EcoMark Solar The company pledges to donate one can of food for every kilowatt of rooftop solar panels sold or installed in the months of October and November. They also collect food donations at their regional offices along the Front Range. Employee performance takes on an additional meaning when it is tied to a good cause like this. We meet with thousands of families every year in all areas of the state, in all walks of life and in all sorts of financial situations, Jake DiRe, CEO of EcoMark Solar explains. Hunger in this community is still a real problem and we, as a company have taken on the task of helping to lessen its impact. We never forget that the people we visit with everyday are our neighbors first and foremost. A customer consultation normally consists of meeting the decision makers of the household in their homes and evaluating their electrical needs. In so doing, DiRe explains, our customers show us what they spend their time and energy on - literally. From time to time, a community cause or need comes to our attention and it becomes a rallying call that our employees put effort into. The most consistent and basic need we see is hunger, so we do the Kilowatt Can Drive every year, but as a company, we also contribute time and money to many causes. EcoMark Solars commitment to community begins with remembering why they sell solar in the first place - to help their neighbors own (instead of rent) the equipment that brings electricity into their homes. Owning their power saves every homeowner a substantial amount of money and it helps the environment around us. Lets not forget, we all live here too. We raise our children here and every ton of carbon emissions pollution our solar prevents, helps every single one of us breathe easier. Every kilowatt we sell or install helps one of our neighbors stave off hunger as well. Helping our neighbors in these ways also helps us all breathe easier too. EcoMark Solar is an award-winning solar panel installer that sells High-Altitude Solar Systems all along the Front Range of Colorado. To find out more about them, High-Altitude Solar or which causes we support, visit their website at EcoMarkSolar.com or call them at 720.432.6411. John Proctor, CEO of Martello, accepted two awards at the 2018 Best Ottawa Business Awards (BOBs) Gala on November 16th. We were pleased to celebrate alongside Martello Co-Chair Bruce Linton, who was recognized with the CEO of the Year award, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved honour. We look forward to continuing to execute on Martellos aggressive build and buy growth strategy, and to future success. Martello Technologies Group Inc. (Martello) (TSXV: MTLO), a leading provider of network performance management solutions for real-time communications, accepted two awards from the 2018 Best Ottawa Business Awards (BOBs) for Deals of the Year: Private Equity and Best Business. The awards were presented at the BOBs gala on Friday, November 16th at the Westin Ottawa. Martello made history when it debuted on the TSXV in September 2018 as the first Ottawa tech company to go public since 2015, said John Proctor, CEO of Martello. Our leadership teams vision to make big moves that will grow the business and help it become Ottawas next anchor company are clearly being recognized by the industry, said Mr. Proctor. The BOB awards were given to more than 23 companies in 25 different categories, recognizing a wide range of organizations from diverse industries at the gala amidst VIPs, celebrities, business and community leaders and more than 700 guests. These awards are organized by the Ottawa Board of Trade and the Ottawa Business Journal and supported by dozens of sponsors, including lead sponsor, the University of Ottawa Telfer, School of Management. They recognize Ottawas top businesses as well as the people behind them, and celebrate the history of innovation & entrepreneurship in the National Capital Region. We are honoured to recognize Martello as the recipient for Deals of the Year: Private Equity and Best Business, said Ian Faris, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade. They demonstrate visionary leadership, innovative thinking and play a vital role in making Ottawa the best place to live, work, study, play and invest. We are privileged to have them in Ottawa. Each year, the BOBs present a unique opportunity to celebrate the incredible successes achieved by local companies. These awards capture the business achievements realized across sectors from technology to tourism and disciplines from sales to human resources. Ultimately, the BOBs create a sense of excitement and momentum in Ottawas local economy. Mr. Proctor continued: We were pleased to celebrate alongside Martello Co-Chair Bruce Linton, who was recognized with the CEO of the Year award, and congratulate him on this well-deserved honour. We look forward to continuing to execute on Martellos aggressive build and buy growth strategy, and to future success. Martello maintains a positive track record in acquisition activity. In November, the company announced the completion of its acquisition of Savision, after having acquired Elfiq Networks in December 2017 and Netvitesse in 2014. The Company's listing on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) in September followed the closure of an oversubscribed $7.5 million private placement in June 2018. Additionally, the Company's solutions have continued to be recognized by the technology industry. In November, Martello was awarded the 2018 Outstanding Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Recognition Award from IEEE Ottawa. In September, Martello received a Frost & Sullivan Leadership Award for NPM (Network Performance Management) and ranked as Ottawa's Fastest Growing Company on the Growth 500 list of Canada's Fastest Growing Companies, and in June Martello debuted on the Branham300 listing of Canada's top ICT companies. About Martello Martello Technologies Group Inc. (TSXV: MTLO) delivers confidence in network performance. Our solutions manage and optimize the performance of real-time services on cloud and enterprise networks and include network and IT performance management software as well as SD-WAN technology. Over the top (OTT) service providers and enterprises around the world rely on Martellos technology to deliver better service quality and a reliable user experience. Designed for real-time communications such as voice and video, Martellos solutions detect, identify and address network performance problems BEFORE service quality is impacted. Martello Technologies Group is a public company headquartered in Ottawa, Canada with offices in Montreal, Amsterdam, Paris, Dallas and New York. Learn more at http://www.martellotech.com. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements that address future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which may be beyond the Corporation's control. These factors include: general market and industry conditions, risks related to continuous operations and to commercialization of new technologies and other risks disclosed in the Corporation's filings with Canadian Securities Regulators. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Corporation's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Corporation expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. 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. The firms General Counsel, Martin I. Kaminsky, accepted the award on behalf of his colleagues. Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs pro bono team has been honored for their legal advocacy by the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) at their 2018 NOFAS Celebration of Champions benefit held Nov. 14 in Washington, D.C. The firms General Counsel, Martin I. Kaminsky, accepted the award on behalf of his colleagues. Greenberg Traurigs pro bono team was recognized alongside Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Elizabeth Parra Dang of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as leading advocates for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) prevention and treatment. We are incredibly proud to receive this distinction from NOFAS and to be part of this effort to support people and communities living with and affected by FASDs, said Litigation Shareholder Caroline J. Heller, chair of the firms Pro Bono Program. The Greenberg Traurig team, led by Litigation Shareholder Joel Max Eads and Litigation Associate Beth A. Norrow, worked for 15 months on mitigation and expert discovery and succeeded in securing a court order vacating the life sentence of Florida inmate James Butler. Heller connected Butler to the firm. As a juvenile, Butler, who has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, was sent to an adult prison after his conviction for minor offenses. When he was repeatedly victimized while he was incarcerated, he killed his attacker in self-defense. Due to his disability and earlier inadequate legal defense, Butler was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and served 23 years until Greenberg Traurigs pro bono teams successful intervention. NOFAS is the only international nonprofit public health advocacy organization that works to prevent prenatal exposure to alcohol, drugs, and other substances known to harm fetal development. The organization also works to raise awareness, educate and support women before and during their pregnancy, as well as individuals, families, and communities living with FASD and other preventable intellectual/developmental disabilities. For more information, visit http://www.NOFAS.org. About Greenberg Traurigs Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firms offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing, and homelessness. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2018 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Boston Real Estate Practice represented not-for-profit organization Community Servings in a $21 million expansion project on the site of its Jamaica Plain headquarters. Greenberg Traurig Boston attorneys Edward S. Hershfield and David Hackett provided pro bono legal services throughout the project. Greenberg Traurig became involved during the conceptual stage, identifying needed revisions to existing land use documents and negotiating architectural and construction contracts. The Greenberg Traurig legal team then collaborated with neighboring landowners to restructure easements and reciprocal rights agreements and also worked with multiple lenders to put the financing structure in place, which included New Market Tax Credits. The 31,000-square-foot project, known as the Food Campus, consists of a three-story addition and kitchen expansion in Community Servings existing space, which will enable the organization to increase the production of medically tailored meals, capacity for daily volunteers, and number of food service job training graduates. The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2019. More information about the project is available at http://www.servings.org/foodisthefoundation. Community Servings is a not-for-profit food and nutrition program providing services throughout Massachusetts and in Rhode Island to individuals and families living with critical and chronic illnesses like HIV/AIDS, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, and others. The organizations medically tailored meals are made-from-scratch and home-delivered, sending the message to those in greatest need that someone cares. About Greenberg Traurigs Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firms offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing and homelessness. About Greenberg Traurig's Boston Real Estate Group: Greenberg Traurig's Boston Real Estate Group advises clients in connection with acquisition, financing, development, leasing, operation, and disposition of real estate. Clients include a mixture of regional, national, and international companies. Lawyers in the group have broad experience and knowledge in skills related to complex land use and environmental issues, office, apartment, and retail transactions, and eminent domain disputes, including litigation regarding fair market value, right to take disputes, urban redevelopment issues, and relocation. The Boston team is part of the firms highly regarded, award-winning national practice. In 2017, 2013, and 2010, Greenberg Traurigs Real Estate Practice received the Chambers USA Award for Excellence. About Greenberg Traurigs Boston Office: Established in 1999, Greenberg Traurigs Boston office is home to over 70 attorneys practicing in the areas of bankruptcy, corporate, emerging technology, energy, governmental affairs, intellectual property, labor and employment, life sciences and medical technology, litigation, public finance, and real estate. An important contributor to the firm's international platform, the Boston office includes a team of nationally recognized attorneys with both public and private sector experience. The team offers clients the value of decades of legal experience and hands-on knowledge of the local business community, supported by the firm's vast network of global resources. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2018 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com; Twitter: @GT_Law. FEIs Chicago Chapter congratulates the 2018 award recipients and finalists for outstanding performance in their roles as senior financial executives, said Maggie Martensen, President of FEI Chicago. On November 13, 2018, the Chicago Chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI) announced the recipients of its 8th Annual CFO of the Year Awards at a networking and awards gala held at the Chicago Marriott. The event drew over 800 guests from the Chicago business, academic and non-profit communities. FEI Chicago presents its CFO of the Year Awards to senior financial leaders who have excelled in a business or non-profit in the 7-county Chicagoland region through excellent corporate stewardship. A team of independent judges who represent top leadership in Chicago business and academia select the winners for each award. This committee chose five Financial Executives as 2018 CFO of the Year Award recipients from a field of 24 finalists. The award recipients were: Mid-Size Private Company Mark Janek, CFO, Energy Distribution Partners Large Private Company Jim Japczyk, CFO, D&W Fine Pack, LLC Not-For-Profit Mid-Size Organization Karen Kane, CFO, Marillac St. Vincent Family Services Not-For-Profit Large Organization Jeffrey J. Bethke, CFO, DePaul University Public Company Robert (Bob) F. Probst, CFO, Ventas, Inc. FEIs Chicago Chapter congratulates the 2018 award recipients and finalists for outstanding performance in their roles as senior financial executives, said Maggie Martensen, President of FEI Chicago. "It is an honor to recognize these extraordinary professionals who represent the finest of the financial profession with exceptional talent and leadership. This event is essential because it highlights and recognizes the superior financial talent in the Chicagoland region. FEI Chicago would also like to thank the official sponsors for this event: Aon, Associated Bank, KPMG, Sage Intaact and Tatum. About FEI Chicago FEI's Chicago Chapter is the preeminent association for CFOs and other senior financial executives in the Chicagoland region. In addition to their annual CFO of the Year Awards, the Chapter hosts monthly programs with innovative programming and holds an educational forum at the Kellogg School of Management each May. If you are interested in learning more about FEI or in joining FEI Chicago, please visit us at http://www.financialexecutives.org. Stephen Ufford, CEO and founder of Trulioo "RegTechs most defining trait is its ability to ideate simple and elegant solutions that can solve a wide swathe of problems in a scalable manner. - Stephen Ufford, CEO and founder of Trulioo. Trulioo, the leading global identity verification provider, has been named to the RegTech 100 list for the second consecutive year. Commissioned by specialist research firm, RegTech Analyst, the RegTech 100 is an annual list recognizing the most innovative providers of technology solutions that address the challenges and opportunities associated with regulatory issues within financial services. Trulioo was awarded a place on the RegTech 100 for the second year running, said Mariyan Dimitrov, head of research, RegTech Analyst. The analysts and industry experts on the advisory board commends Trulioo for its innovative use of structured data to enable instant identity verification for customers and businesses globally. Its a company that the compliance and technology leaders of major financial institutions need to know about in 2019. The 100 companies were chosen by a panel of analysts and industry experts who voted from a long list of 824 companies produced by RegTech Analyst, compared to a list of 416 last year. The selected companies were recognized for their innovative use of technology to generate efficiencies and performance enhancements across the compliance function within financial institutions, which spend tens of billions of dollars on the area each year. We are thrilled to be included in the RegTech 100 list, said Stephen Ufford, CEO and founder of Trulioo. Over the years, compliance, as a function, has had to evolve quite significantly to adapt to the rapid pace of regulatory change. RegTechs most defining trait is its ability to ideate simple and elegant solutions that can solve a wide swathe of problems in a scalable manner. It is becoming the mainstay -- not just in younger companies -- but also incumbent organizations that have been traditionally reluctant to embrace new technologies. The RegTech industry has seen huge growth in the last two years, as banks and financial institutions grapple with the unrelenting pace of regulatory change across all jurisdictions. Over $4 billion has been invested in RegTech companies since the beginning of 2016. More detailed information on all companies as well as in-depth industry analysis is available in the Global RegTech Review. About Trulioo Trulioo is a global identity and business verification company that provides secure access to reliable, independent and trusted data sources worldwide to instantly verify consumers and business entities online. Trulioos bank-grade online verification platform, GlobalGateway, helps organizations comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) requirements by automating Know Your Customer(KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) workflows. Trulioo supports over 500 global clients to instantly verify five billion customers and 250 million business entities in over 100 countries - all through a single API integration. Named as a CNBC Disruptor 50 Company, Trulioos mission is to solve global problems associated with verifying identities by powering fraud prevention and compliance systems for customers worldwide in an effort to increase trust and safety online. For more information visit trulioo.com. About RegTech Analyst RegTech Analyst is part of FinTech Global. Their mission is to provide our clients with the most comprehensive data, the most valuable insights and the most powerful analytical tools in the global FinTech industry, to enable them to make superior business decisions. They help their clients cut through the noise, hype, waffle and inaccurate information that permeates the FinTech industry and RegTech subsector. They equip investors, advisers, financial institutions and innovative technology companies with the essential intelligence and analysis they need to outperform their peers. They are also founding members of the International RegTech Association and are keen to support and promote the sector. "Because safety of operations and highly qualified instructors are the key to effective, life-saving Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT), APS has set the standard for instructor training and qualification..." Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) is proud to announce that all its Upset Recovery Training instructors across the United States in Arizona, Texas, and Alabama are now Master Certified Flight Instructors--a record unmatched in the aviation industry. Advanced pilot instructor Emmanuel Manu Remy is the most recent APS instructor to achieve the Master Certificated Flight Instructor designation, with the additional Aerobatic distinction (MCFI-A) , accredited by Master Instructors LLC. This achievement is just one component of the extensive training and experience required of APS advanced instructor pilots who teach fully comprehensive Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT). Manus accreditation makes him the 11th MCFI-A currently providing UPRT at APS. Emmanuel Manu Remy was born and raised in Paris, France. His extensive and interesting aviation background includes time as an instructor pilot specializing in aerobatics and emergency maneuver training and international flying dropping sterile cattle flies for a USDA contract. He also spent over 10 years as an airline pilot and then was hired by the Experimental Aircraft Association to instruct at the headquarters of the worlds biggest airshow, Air Venture, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. More about Manu: apstraining.com/Remy The MCFI achievement is a national, FAA recognized accreditation earned through a rigorous process of continuing professional activity and peer review. The accreditation must be renewed biennially and signifies a true commitment to excellence and safety of flight operations. Master Instructors LLC relates, Simply put, the Master Instructor designation is a means by which to identify those outstanding aviation educators, those 'Teachers of Flight,' who are demonstrating an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community. Because safety of operations and highly qualified instructors are the key to effective, life-saving Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT), APS has set the standard for instructor training and qualification, says Paul BJ Ransbury, president of Aviation Performance Solutions. Along with the achievement of MCFI-A status and extensive background experience, APS instructor pilots receive in-house UPRT-specific training according to industry best practices and proven, standardized techniques. APS instructors are the most qualified in the world to teach UPRT. ABOUT THE MASTER INSTRUCTOR DESIGNATION The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA. Candidates must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community, and must pass a rigorous evaluation by a peer Board of Review. The process parallels the continuing education regimen used by other professionals to enhance their knowledge base while increasing their professionalism. Designees are recognized as outstanding aviation educators for not only their excellence in teaching, but for their engagement in the continuous process of learning both their own, and their students. The designation must be renewed biennially and significantly surpasses the FAA requirements for renewal of the candidates flight instructor certificate. Learn why the Master Certified Flight Instructor program matters to APS. ABOUT AVIATION PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS Aviation Performance Solutions LLC (APS), headquartered at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona, trains thousands of professional pilots and instructors in comprehensive Upset Prevention and Recovery Training skill development. APS provides integrated LOC-I solutions via industry-leading computer-based, on-aircraft (jet and piston), and full-flight simulator Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT). All training is in full compliance with the Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid, FAA Advisory Circular 120-109A on Stall Training, ICAO Manual on Aeroplane Upset Prevention and Recovery Training, IATA Guidance Material and Best Practices for the Implementation of Upset Prevention and Recovery Training, and the FAA Advisory Circular 120-111 on Upset Prevention and Recovery Training. APS is the only Part 141 Flight School certified in the delivery of complete upset prevention & recovery, stall/spin and instrument upset recovery training courses worldwide. With additional training locations in Texas (USA), The Netherlands (Europe), and military division in Alabama (USA), APS provides global access to the highest quality Upset Prevention and Recovery Training available. Please visit our website at: apstraining.com We look forward to providing exceptional care for new and existing PAP patients in Georgia and are happy to add resources to Integrity Medical to help refocus its missions, explained Andrew Amoth, Corporate Development Manager, Aeroflow Healthcare. Aeroflow Healthcare, an Inc. 5000 fastest growing company, today announced the acquisition of Integrity Medicals positive airway pressure resupply line of business to provide more patients with their continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) supplies on a regular basis. Those with sleep apnea - or other conditions requiring the use of a PAP machine - must regularly replace their supplies to maintain effective treatment compliance. Over time, the plastics in CPAP supplies can break down, collect bacteria and other pathogens, and lead to leaks, so new equipment is critical for patient health. Upon acquiring Integrity Medicals PAP line in Augusta, GA, Aeroflow will further its ongoing mission of providing optimal care for even more patients by incorporating Integrity Medical patients into its streamlined resupply program, and by adhering to their customized replacement schedules. Integrity Medical received funds that it will reallocate to grow core areas of its business and support high levels of patient care. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Integrity Medical, as we are always looking for new patients to assist, explained Andrew Amoth, Corporate Development Manager, Aeroflow Healthcare. We look forward to providing exceptional care for new and existing PAP patients in Georgia and are happy to add resources to Integrity Medical to help refocus its missions. Integrity Medical and Aeroflow Healthcare will work closely together in order to provide a smooth transition for Integrity Medicals PAP resupply patients. Necessary equipment will be delivered according to existing replacement schedules. About Aeroflow Healthcare Aeroflow Healthcare was founded Asheville, NC in 2001 as a home oxygen provider, and has since grown to become one of the leading durable medical equipment providers nationwide. For three consecutive years, Aeroflow has been ranked on Inc. Magazines List of 5000 Fastest Growing Companies. In 2017, Aeroflow was also awarded the HME Excellence Award for Best Home Medical Equipment Provider and has been recognized as a business offering top-notch benefits to employees with the Great Place to Work Award. Aeroflow is an accredited Medicare and Medicaid provider and accepts most commercial insurance. To learn more about Aeroflow Healthcare and getting medical equipment through insurance, visit Aeroflowinc.com. "[Orion's] remarkable industry experience and powerful team strengthens both our Property and Casualty practice and our Benefits practice," says Alera CEO Alan Levitz. Alera Group, a leading national employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management firm, has acquired Orion Risk Management Insurance Services. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Orion Risk Management Insurance Services (Orion) is a leading full-service commercial insurance broker and risk management firm. Orion was founded in 2001 and has three locations throughout Southern California. The company takes pride in their client advocacy and unique cost-containment strategies. We are thrilled to welcome Orion to Alera Group, and we look forward to their valuable contributions to our collaborative culture, said Alan Levitz, CEO. Their remarkable industry experience and powerful team strengthens both our Property and Casualty practice and our Benefits practice. As an Alera Group company, we look forward to further elevating the client experience with the national resources that are now available to us, said Clifford Davis, Managing Partner of Orion. Our ultimate goal is to serve our clients with industry-leading tools and service, and as part of Alera Group, we will be able to do that more than ever before. Alera Group was formed in early 2017 and is one of the nations foremost independent insurance agencies. For more information on partnering with Alera Group, visit Partnership Opportunities at http://www.aleragroup.com. About Alera Group Based in Deerfield, IL, Alera Groups over 1,000 employees serve thousands of clients nationally in employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management. Alera Group is the 15th largest independent insurance agency in the country. For more information, visit http://www.aleragroup.com or follow Alera Group on Twitter: @AleraGroupUS. These recognitions are a point of pride, for not only me, but also for my entire team who work hard every day maintaining the quality service and products that AlphaGraphics Kansas City is known for. WBENCs and the City of Kansas City, Missouris standard of certification is a meticulous and in-depth process that includes separate reviews of the business and an on-site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm that the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women. Majority ownership is required, as is being in business for six months and U.S. citizenship; however, a woman must be the true company leader, be active in daily activities and guide the businesss strategic direction. With this certification, AlphaGraphics Kansas City is recognized as a successful wholly woman-owned printing and marketing company in the largely male-dominated printing industry. These recognitions are a point of pride, for not only me, but also for my entire team who work hard every day maintaining the quality service and products that AlphaGraphics Kansas City is known for, says Haley Haar, AlphaGraphics Kansas City President. Though this business has been serving Kansas City for more than 30 years, it has been woman owned and operated since I took the helm in 2009. Now, we are looking forward to the additional opportunities that having WBENC certification brings and continuing to set an example for other women business owners in our local community. WBENCs world-class certification standard is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations making up America's most prestigious brands, in addition to many states, cities and government entities. By including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their suppliers diversity programs. AlphaGraphics Kansas City has been certified as a woman-owned business with the state of Missouri for several years, and we have a Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) certification from Kansas City, says Haar. I was urged to apply for National and Local certification by my clients and peers. The documentation required and time invested in the process for local, state and national certifications like these are immense, but well worth it considering the doors they can open for growing our company. About AlphaGraphics Kansas City Located in the creative Crossroads Arts District, AlphaGraphics Kansas City is a certified Women Owned business that specializes in helping businesses solve marketing problems. The printing companys production specialties are in digital color and large format printing. To enhance services for customers, AlphaGraphics Kansas City added specialty finishes that include square back booklets and soft-touch laminating. About WBENC Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nations leader in womens business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with more than 13,000 certified Womens Business Enterprises, 14 national Regional Partner Organizations, and over 300 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing Americas most prestigious brands as well as many states, cities, and other entities accept WBENC Certification. For more information, visit http://www.wbenc.org. James Pate receiving his Apple iwatch from the Azane team at RETA 2018 Over the three days we attracted hundreds of visitors to our booth, and we were delighted with the levels of interest shown in our low-charge ammonia refrigeration packages As the buzz surrounding packaged low-charge ammonia systems continues to grow, leading manufacturer Azane Inc took the opportunity to showcase its updated product line at the RETA National Conference. The state-of-the-art Azanechiller 2.0 and Azanefreezer 2.0 are more energy efficient than ever before, wowing hundreds of visitors at the event in Dallas, Texas last week. Azanes pre-engineered low charge ammonia chiller and freezer modular packages for chilled and frozen storage, process, HVAC, and other cooling applications, are an efficient alternative to R22 systems with no PSM/RMP requirements. With all eyes on the refrigeration industry to convert to climate friendly technologies, it is important to educate businesses and refrigeration technicians on the benefits of ammonia as it has zero global warming potential. In addition to the industry leading Azanechiller 2.0, delegates were very interested to find out about the brand new Azanefreezer 2.0, featuring the unique reverse cycle defrost system. Azane Inc is currently the only manufacturer to offer this energy-saving technology which is patented by parent company Star Refrigeration. Derek Hamilton, VP Engineering & Services, said, Its always a pleasure to attend the principal annual event in the U.S. focusing on the training of refrigeration engineers. Over the three days we attracted hundreds of visitors to our booth, and we were delighted with the levels of interest shown in our low-charge ammonia refrigeration packages and of course our Apple Watch giveaway. Key topics at the conference were, as always, focused on the safe service and maintenance of industrial ammonia equipment. From that point of view, we always have questions from attendees about our packaged design, and the fact that, since all of our Azanefreezer control valves are contained within the package, our system can operate without the need for valve stations at every evaporator. This is a huge advantage when it comes to maintenance, and can completely remove the need for access to the roof during routine maintenance. This is increasingly attractive to businesses looking to minimize the risk to their employees. As a leading manufacturer in the refrigeration and cooling sector, Azane took the opportunity at the RETA conference to collect important industry data and views on available refrigerants. The company created a short survey about the general awareness of the R22 phase-out, restrictions on the use of HFCs and understanding of low charge ammonia technology. In return for filling out the survey, attendees were entered into a prize draw to win an Apple Watch. Mr Hamilton said, We are pleased to announce that the winner of our RETA Apple Watch giveaway is James Pate from Southeast Frozen Foods. We hope you enjoy your prize! He added, We also want to congratulate all of the RETA Board, and their membership, on their continued commitment to the training of ammonia refrigeration engineers. Their work is essential for the continued success of this great industry. Azanes revolutionary packaged cooling systems, the Azanechiller 2.0 and Azanefreezer 2.0, are suitable for industrial and commercial applications and are designed to improve safety, enhance productivity and reduce operational costs. To find out more about Azane Inc and the companys ammonia refrigeration solutions go to: http://www.azane-inc.com/ To find out more about the 2018 RETA Conference visit: https://reta.com/page/2018confhome Silvana Gaia receiving her award in the 2018 Stevie Awards for Women in Business Belatrix champions women like me women in technology and advocates for our diverse stories and voices to be heard. Silvana Gaia, Vice President of Customer Success for Belatrix Software, a leading software development company, won bronze in the 2018 Women in Business awards, in the technology category. The 15th annual Women In Business Awards was held in New York. The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the worlds premier business awards. More than 1,500 entries were submitted this year for consideration in more than 90 categories. Finalists were determined by the average scores of more than 200 business professionals around the world, working on five juries. Silvana was recognized for driving valuable successes for Belatrix and helping the organization become one of the fastest growing providers of software development services. Under her leadership, Silvana jointly launched the organizations Silicon Valley headquarters, formed Belatrixs Technical Consulting practice and established the Customer Success Management division within the company. She has been active in promoting more women to get involved in technology, and continues to be an outstanding ambassador for Belatrix and the wider technology community. This years Stevie Awards for Women in Business event was complemented by a new one-day educational and networking event called the Women|Future Conference. Silvana was selected as the moderator for the session examining the impact of automation. Being named a Bronze Stevie award winner for Woman of the Year is a remarkable honor. This award validates not only the work that I do, but also the work of my diligent and supportive team. Being a part of the Belatrix family for over 15 years has allowed me to grow tremendously in my professional career and I couldnt be more thankful. Belatrix champions women like me women in technology and advocates for our diverse stories and voices to be heard. I would like to accept this award on behalf of the entire organization and thank the Stevie awards for this outstanding recognition, said Silvana Gaia, Vice President of Customer Success. About Belatrix Software Belatrix Software helps companies thrive in the digital world. Organizations partner with Belatrix to turn ideas into high quality, innovative software based on highly-tuned Agile development processes. Customers use Belatrix's digital transformation services to create best-in-class software products, lower time to market, and gain competitive edge. Belatrix's dedicated labs, focusing on UX, continuous delivery, mobile, DevOps, and QA automation, help organizations become digital leaders. Belatrix's clients include both established Fortune level and emerging, venture backed firms. Some of the firm's clients include Disney, Adobe, AOL, PwC, and Shutterfly. Belatrix is a South American company with offices in Florida, New York, San Francisco, Barcelona, Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Bogota and Lima. For more information, visit https://www.belatrixsf.com. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com CBD/Hemp Oil Businesses Go Cashless In 2018 We have never witnessed an industry explode as quickly as the legal cannabis industry EthosPay, a specialist merchant service provider for high-risk industries, has announced a record number of businesses within the CBD/hemp oil industry seeking merchant processing solutions in 2018. Over the past nine months, the number of vendors selling non-psychoactive forms of marijuana seeking merchant processing solutions with EthosPay has increased by more than 400% in comparison with 2017. The legalization of marijuana, both for recreational and medicinal uses, across many states in America is a major contributing factor to the increase in businesses seeking merchant accounts. To date, 33 states have legalized medicinal marijuana, representing almost a fifth of the US population. It is widely expected that other states will soon follow suit as a poll by Pew Research Center found that 62% of Americans, including 74% of millennials, said that they support the legalization of marijuana. The legalization of marijuana has led to a huge growth in the number of businesses selling legal cannabis and associated products. By the end of 2019, the CBD/hemp oil industry is expected to be worth more than the firearms and ammunition industry. The same report states that if sales continue on their current trajectory, the industry will grow more than 200% between now and 2020. These factors have had a knock-on effect with businesses seeking urgent merchant processing solutions to deal with the demand from their customers. We have never witnessed an industry explode as quickly as the legal cannabis industry, said EthosPay Press Manager, Shea Robinson, 2018 was a significant year for supporters of legal marijuana and it looks as though 2019 will be another banner year. Currently, there are no signs of this rapid growth slowing down. Supporting future projections about the growth of the CBD/hemp oil industry are numerous studies displaying the benefits of using various parts of the plant for medical purposes. Anxiety, depression, heart disease, pain relief, and sleeping disorders are a few of the many benefits cited by various recent studies. These studies help to project the industry as legitimate and are sure to contribute to the huge number of businesses operating within the industry. About EthosPay EthosPay is a dedicated merchant service provider that specializes in working with high-risk businesses. Accepting applications from businesses of any size and in any industry, EthosPay ensures that every merchant finds the perfect fit for their needs with a 99% approval rate. Chargeback mitigation software, high risk payment gateways, and offshore merchant processing solutions are just some of the services offered by EthosPay. City of Zephyrhills Joins the Florida Purchasing Group The City of Zephyrhills invites all potential vendors to register online. Today, the City of Zephyrhills announces it has joined the Florida Purchasing Group, a regional purchasing community by BidNet. Local government agencies throughout Florida utilize the purchasing group for bid and vendor management. The City of Zephyrhills invites all vendors to register online at http://www.BidNetDirect.com/Florida. The City of Zephyrhills joins the Florida Purchasing Group and the community of 25 participating local government agencies located throughout Florida. Along with a variety of bid and vendor management solutions, the City of Zephyrhills gains access to a bid library to help with bid creation, a shared pool of vendors, and association with like-minded purchasing professionals in the area. Vendors interested in doing business with the City of Zephyrhills and other nearby government agencies are encouraged to register at http://www.BidNetDirect.com/Florida. Benefits of joining the Florida Purchasing Group include: Centralized location for bids from all 25 participating agencies Bid alerts customized to the vendors products or services Reliable and timely delivery of notifications, addendums and documents Advanced notice of Term Contract expiration E-Bid and E-Quote Submission The Florida Purchasing Group is one of BidNets regional purchasing groups throughout the country. It provides the City of Zephyrhills a bid and vendor management solution, document and addendum distribution, and tracking of all activity throughout the procurement process. The City of Zephyrhills is excited to become part of the Florida Purchasing Group enabling our City with an expansive amount of resources, tools and past and current solicitations from BidNet. About the City of Zephyrhills: The City's mission is simple: to provide stellar services to our residents at a reasonable cost and in a friendly, efficient manner. In May of 2002, City Council adopted a new mission statement that best represents our objectives as a local governmental entity: "Zephyrhills is a friendly community which respects and embraces its past and heritage, values the diversity of its residents, and encourages economic growth and development while retaining its small town, neighborly charm." About the Florida Purchasing Group: The Florida Purchasing Group is a part of BidNets regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. With years of input from procurement professionals, BidNet specifically developed the bid system to fill the need for a robust bid and supplier management solution for local government agencies. BidNet runs 40 regional purchasing groups used by over 1,300 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit http://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers Columbia Southern University (CSU) was recently ranked among the top 10 most affordable online schools in the nation for 2019 by SR Education Group. CSU made the ranking at 10th overall, seventh for bachelor's degrees and ninth for master's degrees. SR Education Group researches the tuition rates of every accredited college that offers fully online degree programs in order to determine and rank the most affordable options. The rankings include median mid-career salary data, as well as manually researched tuition rates. The data represents online schools across the nation that are committed to providing affordable, economical options for students. As a family-owned university, CSU strives to keep its tuition affordable for our students while delivering superior academics from leading experts in their fields, said Eric McHaney, CSU chief marketing officer. These rankings reflect our sincere efforts and mission to help adult learners reach for their career dreams as they work hard to support their families. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, this news feels especially gratifying to know we are doing well in making our tuition very affordable among the nations online colleges. Based in Orange Beach, Alabama, Columbia Southern University offers online associate, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. SR Education Group is an education research publisher founded in 2004 that creates authoritative online resources for students seeking an education that best suits their budget and career aspirations, and currently provides more than $250,000 in needs-based scholarships to students each year. About Columbia Southern University This year, Columbia Southern University celebrates its 25th anniversary. As a pioneer in online education, CSU was established in 1993 to provide an alternative to the traditional university experience. CSU offers online associate, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees such as business administration, criminal justice, fire administration and occupational safety and health. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu or call (877) 347-6050 to learn more. The true essence of our personality! Elisabete Miranda, President and CEO of CQ fluency, accepted the award for, the Regional Supplier of the Year Class III from the New York and New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, at the 45th Anniversary Partnership Awards Gala at the New York Marriot Marquis. The theme of the evening was Reflections of Excellence in Diversity. CQ fluency is certified as a minority-owned business (MBE) by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and Elisabete serves on the board of New York and New Jersey MSDC and MBEIC Committee. As an MBE, CQ fluency is part of a powerful network directly impacting economic growth in the United States. The supplier of year award recognizes Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American business enterprises for their business growth and development, operational success, support of other minority businesses and active participation in the community. On winning the award, Elisabete said, Words cannot express how happy and excited we are for being nominated as Class III Supplier of the Year. We are very grateful to have been a two-time Class II winner, but it is a dream come true to finally be a Class III. The NYNJ MSDC categorizes Class III as businesses with revenues between $10m-$50m. Elisabete continued, We have been blessed to have the support of many corporations and their amazing Supplier Diversity Managers such as Pauline Gebon from MetLife who nominated us, as well as the support of The Council, she continued, together, with our amazing clients, our invaluable employees and fellow certified MBEs we can have a bigger economic impact in creating a much more inclusive world! The CQ management team celebrated at the Gala where the award was received. About CQ fluency: CQ fluency is a language services company that specializes in culturally relevant translations for life science and healthcare in over 150 languages. We translate meaning and feeling of messages to facilitate real connections and true cultural understanding between people who dont speak the same language. More about CQ fluency can be found on our website at http://www.CQfluency.com. About New York and New Jersey MSDC: The New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (The Council), established in 1973, is a vital link between major corporations and minority business enterprises (MBEs). Each year, member corporations have reported billions of dollars spent with Council- certified Minority Business Enterprises. Serving the New York and New Jersey region, The Council is one of the 23 regional affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. for more information about NYNJ MSDC visit http://www.nynjmsdc.org/. Receive great Black Friday deals at D&E Mitsubishi all month long There are many financial experts that consider Black Friday and the end of the year as a good time to buy or lease a new vehicle. This is particularly because of the various deals and incentives that automotive manufacturers offer during this time. Also, Mitsubishi starting prices on new models are already quite affordable for the average driver. D&E Mitsubishi, a new and used dealership in Wilmington, North Carolina, is also featuring Black Friday offers for the entire month of November. In fact, at D&E Mitsubishi, customers can choose from adding remote start to the vehicle, a 50-inch flat screen television or a $300 gift card with any vehicle purchase. Plus, the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage, Eclipse Cross, Outlander Sport and Outlander are all under $20,000. Each of these models are fuel efficient, versatile and feature many great amenities. Interested drivers are able to learn more about these and other new Mitsubishi models on the dealerships website at http://www.demitsubishi.com. Along with the Black Friday incentives, car shoppers can benefit from the Mitsubishi Flood Assistance rebate which offers up to $750 to those whose vehicles were flooded by Hurricane Florence and are now buying a new Mitsubishi model. Drivers just need to present a valid copy of the insurance claim that states that the damage to the vehicle was from the weather conditions. The Flood Assistance rebate ends on November 30, 2018. There is also the Military Rebate that Mitsubishi and Ally Financial offer to the men and women who are active in or retired from the United States military. The rebate offers $500 to qualifying drivers and the offer ends April 1, 2019. Anyone interested in the Black Friday deals and would like more information are able to contact dealership staff online or by calling 877-891-4781. D&E Mitsubishi is located at 6220 Market Street. FDAnews Chinese Medicine: The Dangers of Deployment The Impact on Pharmaceutical Regulatory and Quality Specialists **An FDAnews Webinar** Nov. 29, 2018 1:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. ET http://www.fdanews.com/chinesemedicine China wants to be the worlds pharmacy. But troubles abound. More than half of all valsartan products on the U.S. market have been recalled due to a probable cancer-causing chemical in the API. The recall shines a spotlight on growing U.S. and global dependence on China for APIs and chemical intermediates. Talk of proposed tariffs on Chinese pharmaceuticals has raised concerns about the impact on the supply and price of drugs. Tariffs could be disruptive to the market since China is the sole global supplier of many APIs and chemical intermediates. Supply chain modification is burdensome and can affect quality and access to an unfettered supply. FDAnews has called on Rosmary Gibson, Senior Advisor at the Hastings Center and author of China Rx: Exposing the Risks of Americas Dependence on China for Medicine, to discuss the real-world impact of Chinese medicine on public health and the scrutiny its undergoing. Attendees will learn the following: Three lessons from the valsartan case Three questions to ask API suppliers to ensure GMP How to determine whether or not Chinese medicine is safe How to develop a model and a strategy for determining whether medicines produced by China are safe and effective The rationale for proposed tariffs on Chinese medical products Details of the industry response to tariffs on Chinese-made APIs and chemical intermediates The importance of Chinas goal to become the worlds pharmacy and the impact on the global supply chain and regulatory oversight Register today to understand the risks and challenges posed by U.S. dependence on Chinese pharmaceuticals. Meet the Presenter: Rosemary Gibson, Senior Advisor, Hastings Center Rosemary Gibson writes and lectures about health care, health care reform, Medicare, and patient safety. She led national health care quality and safety initiatives at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She was chief architect of the foundations decade-long strategy that successfully established palliative care in more than 1,600 hospitals in the United States. She is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Who Will Benefit: Regulatory Affairs Quality Assurance Supply Chain Managers Webinar Details: Chinese Medicine: The Dangers of Deployment The Impact on Pharmaceutical Regulatory and Quality Specialists **An FDAnews Webinar** Nov. 29, 2018 1:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. ET http://www.fdanews.com/chinesemedicine Tuition: $287 per site Easy Ways to Register: Online: http://www.fdanews.com/chinesemedicine By phone: 888-838-5578 or 703-538-7600 About FDAnews: FDAnews is the premier provider of domestic and international regulatory, legislative, and business news and information for executives in industries regulated by the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency. Pharmaceutical and medical device professionals rely on FDAnews' print and electronic newsletters, books and conferences to stay in compliance with international standards and the FDA's complex and ever-changing regulations. During the month of November, Fenton Nissan of Legends in Kansas City will be offering special discounted pricing on select Nissan vehicles with their Big Yes Sales Event. This sales event will feature special discounted pricing on select Nissan models in the Fenton Nissan of Legends inventory. The Big Yes Sales Event runs until the end of November. As a part of the Big Yes Sales Event, customers who qualify will be able to receive zero-percent APR financing and no payments until February of 2019. During the Big Yes Sales Event, customers will be able to receive discounted prices on the 2018 Nissan Titan, the 2018 Nissan Maxima Platinum, the 2018 Nissan Murano and the 2019 Nissan Altima. This sales event will allow customers to receive excellent savings on select models of these four excellent Nissan vehicles. The 2018 Nissan Titan features the largest discount within the Big Yes Sales Event. Customers can save up to $11,432 off select models of the 2018 Titan. The 2018 Titan is currently available at the discounted price of $37,575 through this sales event. The 2018 Nissan Maxima Platinum is also heavily discounted by $7,500 making it available for $36,240. The 2018 Nissan Murano is currently available at a discounted price of $33,110 or a monthly price of $389. Finally, the 2019 Nissan Altima is incredibly affordable at a sales price of $26,254 which is a $2,261 discount off MSRP. Customers who are interested in receiving more information about the Big Yes Sales Event at Fenton Nissan of Legends can contact the dealership directly by phone at 913-800-8487. Interested customers can also contact the dealership online at legendsnissan.com. Fenton Nissan of Legends is located at 1900 North 100th Terrace in Kansas City. Smart Packaging Solutions (SPS) Dominique Charrie, ID Product Manager, SPS says: We are proud to be the first supplier for ID card modules and antennas for the eID cards of five countries among ECOWAS members. Our technology totally fulfills government requirements and is acknowledged as cost-efficient and giving best results. SPS technology selection for these five countries demonstrates the companys products are fully compliant not only with the ECOWAS international standard, but also able to fulfill specific demands from each government. The international ECOWAS biometric ID card project standardizes a new generation of eID documents to facilitate the movements of the 350 million citizens of the 15 countries constituting the ECOWAS zone. The ECOWAS biometric ID card aims at providing the maximum protection against fraud and identity theft while offering interoperability with the existing national systems. The ECOWAS specification includes provisions for the card, data, format, color and manufacturing requirements. Among these characteristics is the ability to have a means of level 2 card authentication thanks to an aluminum watermark visible by transparency. SPS Customized Antenna Image, or CAI, perfectly answers this demand. With SPS unique manufacturing process, based on EBoostID, the antenna is designed on request, which allows including aluminum etched distinctive signs in it. Typically, an antenna distinctive sign can be a national symbol, an acronym, or a second embodiment of the national symbol already part of the marked module or the card surface. This level 2 security feature is highly appreciated by law enforcement officers to perform night control. It can be easily and instantly checked with a smartphone torch by any policeman in the field to make a quick and fast opinion on the identity card authenticity. Complying with ECOWAS and national governments demands, SPS technology also includes its Customized Module Image, or CMI, that consists in having a specific image engraved on the micromodule for each member state. This image typically represents the symbol of the ECOWAS region or, for each state, its coat of arms or another design decided by the government. This level 1 feature has been widely deployed for more than 10 years on various ID documents across Europe, Africa, America and Asia. Working in cooperation with card manufacturers familiar with secure document printing, SPS provides them with full polycarbonate (PC) card inlay subsets, allowing them to have an integrated and efficient manufacturing process while delivering the highest quality cards to the governments. SPS delivers its subsets in two forms: S-Lam where the antenna is totally laminated in polycarbonate or S-Fix where it is prefixed within the PC layer structure. Also, in order to satisfy all manufacturers technical needs, SPS micromodules can be delivered in standard thickness or thin version on request to accommodate various card structures. Dominique Charrie, ID Product Manager at SPS declares: We are very proud to be the first supplier for ID card modules and antennas for the eID cards of five countries among ECOWAS members. This demonstrates our technology totally fulfills government requirements and is acknowledged by card manufacturers as the most cost-efficient and giving the best results. ECOWAS countries include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote dIvoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. IN Groupe and SPS will be exhibiting on booth RIV F 020 at Trustech, a major event for digital trust technologies taking place in Cannes, France, on November 27-29, 2018. About Smart Packaging Solutions Smart Packaging Solutions is specialized in the design, manufacturing and sale of contactless solutions dedicated to ID cards, e-passport and dual interface banking cards. With the SPS brand, IN Groupe opens its secure components technology to all card and document manufacturers. Located in Rousset, France, with a subsidiary in Singapore, Smart Packaging Solutions employs 180 people. Part of the French IN Groupe, the company specializes in contactless and dual-interface products, with a recognized micro packaging expertise. SPS has filed over 120 patents supporting its exclusive technologies. More information at http://www.s-p-s.com. SPS is part of the IN Groupe. About IN Groupe A partner of the French government for close to 500 years, IN Groupe offers identity solutions and secure digital services, at the leading edge of technology and integrating electronics and biometrics. From components to services and from documents to interoperable systems, IN Groupe is a global specialist in identity and secure digital services. The institution plays a daily role in facilitating everyone's life: helping states exercise their sovereignty, citizens protect their identity and businesses preserve their integrity. Whatever the issue, IN Groupe, a company for digital sovereignty, contributes to asserting a fundamental right for everyone: the right to be you. Based in Paris, the IN Groupe has two production centers and employs more than 1000 employees, of which over a third is dedicated to technology development. Though the tech industry has made great strides, there is still a long way to go to see true change, said Adriana Gascoigne, founder and CEO of Girls in Tech. Each of our award winners leads by example in the fight for equality and help show the importance of role models for women in tech. Girls in Tech (http://girlsintech.org/), an organization focused on the education, empowerment, entrepreneurship, and engagement of women in technology, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Girls in Tech Awards. The award recipientsDanielle Feinberg of Pixar Animation Studios, Jessica Herrin of Stella & Dot, Kathy McElligott of McKesson, and Craig Newmark of Craigslist.orgwere honored at Girls in Techs gala in San Francisco on Friday, November 16. This years winners were chosen for their advocacy work in increasing female representation in tech and STEM. Though the tech industry has made great strides, there is still a long way to go to see true change, said Adriana Gascoigne, founder and CEO of Girls in Tech. Each of our award winners leads by example in the fight for equality and helps show the importance of role models for women in tech. Girls in Techs award winners come from a range of backgrounds in the technology world. Innovator of the Year: Kathy McElligott, McKesson CTO McElligott is responsible for the overall technology direction of McKesson, the largest healthcare company in the United States. She is also on the board of ArcBest, a publicly traded $2.8 billion dollar freight transportation and logistics firm. Creator of the Year: Danielle Feinberg, Pixar Animation Studios director of photography Feinberg was ocean unit CG supervisor on Finding Nemo and directed lighting for Wall-E, Brave, and Coco. Her TED talk on the science of light has been viewed more than 500,000 times on YouTube alone. Philanthropist of the Year: Craig Newmark, Craigslist.org founder Newmark is an internet pioneer and leading philanthropist. He serves on the board of directors of nonprofits including Blue Star Families, Center for Public Integrity, Consumers Union/Consumer Reports, Girls Who Code, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and the Poynter Foundation. Entrepreneur of the Year: Jessica Herrin, Stella & Dot CEO and founder Herrin is the co-founder of WeddingChannel.com and CEO and founder of Stella & Dot. In 2016, Herrin released her first book, Find Your Extraordinary: Dream Bigger, Live Happier, and Achieve Success on Your Own Terms. The gala is a special event that celebrates not only champions of the women in tech movement, but a busy year for Girls in Tech. Girls in Techs flagship Catalyst conference expanded threefold to London and Melbourne in 2018, the organizations design thinking and coding bootcamps reached over 230 women in APAC regions in the programs inaugural year, and Hacking for Humanity programs helping give hands-on experience to coders and solve real-world problems locally were held in Romania, Australia, Gibraltar, and across several chapters of the United States. Furthermore, in 2018 Girls in Tech chapters were launched in Palestine, New York, Chicago, and Washington DC. The gala was sponsored by Ellie Mae, DLA Piper, and Rocketspace. About Girls in Tech Girls in Tech (GIT) is a global non-profit that seeks to eradicate gender disparities in high-tech industries and startups by engaging, educating and empowering women who are passionate about technology. From technical courses and leadership bootcamps to hackathons and startup competitions, it is our mission to support women entirely with the access and community they need to succeed in tech. Across the globe, GIT exists for anyone with an interest in technology regardless of age or profession, and we operate with the spirit of the girl within all of usfearless, lively and determined. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Francisco, the Girls in Tech impact has affected more than 100,000 members in 36 countries around the world. Programming in each regional chapter varies to fit the unique needs of their communities. For the latest updates, read GIT's blog or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube. http://girlsintech.org/ This November, Go Auto Express is offering customers in Edmonton special pricing on four quality pre-owned vehicles. These vehicles are available for sale as a part of the dealerships monthly GoExpress Specials. Every month, Go Auto Express offers their customers a few of their vehicles discounted below the local market price. For the month of November, Go Auto Express is currently featuring four pre-owned vehicles as part of their GoExpress Specials. These four vehicles include three pickup trucks and one muscle car. The muscle car available in the November GoExpress Specials is a 2017 Ford Mustang GT Premium. The local market price for this vehicle is currently $42,598. The 2017 Mustang is available at a reduced price of $38,995, which is an upfront saving of $3,603. The three pickup trucks that are also a part of the November GoExpress Specials include a 2013 Ford F-150 FX4, a 2016 Ford F-150 XLT, and a 2017 RAM 1500 ST. The 2013 F-150 is available for $28,998, which is an upfront saving of $999 off the local market price of $29,997. Customers can save $709 off of the local market price for the 2016 Ford F-150, which is currently available for $34,288. The final pickup truck available, the 2017 RAM 1500 ST, is available for $26,975. This price is a $3,022 savings off the local market price. Customers who are interested in finding out more information about the vehicles that make up the November GoExpress Specials can contact the dealership directly. The Go Auto Express staff can be reached via phone at 587-400-2579 or online at goautoexpress.ca. Customers are also able to visit the dealership in person at 9404 34 Avenue in Edmonton. Under Larrys leadership, our data security team is providing our customers with the confidence they need to focus on delivering health care efficiently and safely, while we focus on all aspects of security. Greenway Health, a leading health information technology and services provider, announced today that Larry Whiteside will be leading a companywide focus on data security initiatives as Chief Information Security Officer, making sure customers benefit from state-of-the-art security tools and methodologies designed to fully protect healthcare practices and patient data. A cybersecurity veteran and industry thought leader with more than 25 years of experience, Whiteside has been enhancing Greenways security program for the past year. Prior to that, he worked for large organizations across multiple verticals, including healthcare, financial services and the government. Whiteside is currently responsible for all aspects of physical, system, and information security. His position directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity and availability of all customer-facing systems and patient information hosted by Greenway Health. Data security is one of the most important aspects of healthcare technology today and can be the difference between success and failure for our customers, said Richard Atkin, CEO of Greenway Health. Todays healthcare practices need a partner that protects their data and thats what were doing at Greenway. Under Larrys leadership, our data security team is providing our customers with the confidence they need to focus on delivering health care efficiently and safely, while we focus on all aspects of security. Dedicating most of his career to cybersecurity, Whiteside previously served as an Airforce officer who ran Infosec at the Pentagon. He currently serves as a board member and advisor for multiple cyber technology companies and is routinely a speaker at industry events and conferences, including RSA, Secure World, Gartner and SC World Congress. In recognition of his achievements, Whiteside has been twice nominated for the National Information Security Executive of the Year, and was honored as the Company Grade Officer of the Year in the United States Air Force for his units in 1997 and 2000. As a whole, the healthcare industry has been slower to adopt cybersecurity practices and principles that ensure safety and security and hackers are taking advantage of this delay, Whiteside said. The industry has experienced a significant increase in malware attacks among hospitals and healthcare facilities, and our goal at Greenway is to keep our customers safe. Greenways products and solutions are used by over 75,000 healthcare providers in the U.S. to improve the effectiveness, cost and quality of care for the over 100 million lives impacted by the companys solutions. For more information about Greenway and its solutions, visit http://www.greenwayhealth.com. About Greenway Health Improving health is at the heart of Greenway Healths work. We connect providers to the right information and insights, at the right place and time, so they can make patient-driven care a reality while navigating the ever-changing healthcare system. Greenway delivers exceptional service through a deep team of clinical, financial and technology experts committed to innovations that keep people healthier and happier. We partner with over 10,000 organizations and 75,000 progressive providers across more than 40 specialties, which translates into more than 100 million lives that are touched by our solutions. All of Greenway Healths solutions and services are designed to meet our company-wide goals of serving physicians, connecting the industry, and empowering better care. Whether as a customer, strategic partner or staff member, we invite you to partner with us to create a smarter healthcare system. For more details, visit http://www.greenwayhealth.com, call (866) 242-3805 or follow Greenway on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. On Friday, Nov. 9 Tim Gullicksen of the Gullicksen Group joined Steve DeLaPena of Zephyr Real Estate in a presentation at the REdiscover Business Planning Event focused on life/work balance. Attendees were invited to this informative and inspirational half-day event dedicated to agent success in the rapidly changing real estate market. The headliner was Leslie Appleton Young, the California Association of Realtors' chief economist. Over 100 real estate agents were in the audience to hear Tim speak about his suggestions to have a successful personal and professional life. His talk covered subjects that ranged from discovering and encouraging good daily habits, like keeping your voicemail and email inboxes empty, to seamlessly integrating work and personal responsibilities into everyday life. Rather than imposing a structure on each day, he recommends maintaining a list of tasks according to relative urgency so each day can be developed organically. Tim used the metaphor of a college campus where the grounds were planted entirely in grass the first year. After a year, the foot traffic of students and faculty across the campus paved those naturally occurring pathways. It's another version of "go with the flow." "I get a lot more done, and have a lot less stress, organizing my life in this way," said Gullicksen. "Ultimately if I am happier and satisfied, then I have more emotional bandwidth and energy to attend to my clients." Tim's last words of advice? It's important to both carve time out for vacations throughout the year, and to relax and unwind a little bit each day. Participating in and giving back to the Bay Area professional community is just one of the ways the Gullicksen Group supports the industry, and endeavors to improve it for everyone. About the company: Tim Gullicksen has been a top-producing real estate agent since he first entered into the business, and takes great pride in managing every aspect of each transaction. After graduating from high school in the South Bay, Tim earned a bachelors degree in political science and history from the University of California-Berkeley. He went on to earn his teaching credentials from JFK University in Orinda, and taught kindergarten in the San Jose Unified School District. He brings an educational approach to real estate developed from that background, and sees himself as a facilitator of property transactions. For more information, visit his website at http://www.gullicksengroup.com/. It is not every day that the storyline of a Hollywood movie outshines the actors starring in it, especially if they are of the caliber of DeCaprio. But such was the case with Blood Diamond, a film that made a chunk of the thinking population cringe at the sight of their engagement ring. The issue highlighted in the motion picture that of illegally mined diamonds, farmed at the cost of human life, ethics, and everything one holds moral unfortunately still thrives. Administrations, civil societies, and industry stalwarts the world over have been working in conjunction to reduce the flow of blood diamonds, or, conflict diamonds, as they are also called. However, the consortiums, and the strategies they had to implement to achieve this goal, have time and again failed to live up to their expectations, leaving something to desire. For a technology like blockchain to gain traction at a time like this has been seen by many as an answer to the prayers of people for ethical diamond mining. A game changer in itself, blockchain is a decentralized ledger used widely to record any type of transaction but has utilizations much beyond banking and finance. Automobile industries, pharmaceuticals, climate change councils, medical research almost every sector is sprinting to blockchain to find new age solutions to their age-old problems. The promise of blockchain in regulating the diamond mining industry is immense. From the point of digging up a piece of pressurized carbon till it is encrusted on a platinum ring and sitting on an oligarchs index finger the bracket in which fraud can occur is a wide one. Now imagine a system - backed by highly sophisticated computer encryption, and bereft of any threat of being tampered with - exists to record each step of the process. It follows the tiniest rock across the globe, from its point of discovery to location of cutting, then polishing, embedding, wholesale and retail, and only those with verified permission can add data to on the blockchain database. The transparency it would provide in the entire supply chain would be a massive blow to the operations of rebel factions and militia that survive off the human cost of blood diamonds. Not all heroes wear capes, they say. Stepping up to the occasion are some proactive software development companies working tirelessly to innovate foolproof solutions to get around the problem of human exploitation which has become a scour for the jewelry industry. De Beers and Fura Gems have already taken steps to incorporate advanced technology into their operations. California based software development company, HashCash, has come into the news for collaborating with Diamante to augment and fortify a system to accurately track the movement of every registered gem. This move has been received well by company players concerned by the growing demand for ethically sourced jewelry by customers. Superintendent William Shields, Tom Tully of the IEA, Winner Kathleen Nikides, California Casualtys Kathy Smith, Michelle Couturier IEA, and Stratford Middle School Assistant Principal Allison Moe Thanks to member benefit partners like California Casualty, we feel valued, and that value is very appreciated right now. Kathleen Nikides is recovering from a state of shock after being surprised with a $25,000 check during a school assembly Friday morning. Kathleen, an 8th grade English instructor at Stratford Middle School in Bloomingdale, IL, is the grand prize winner of California Casualtys Wherever Your Journey Takes YouWell be There Sweepstakes. She learned about the contest in an email from the Illinois Education Association (IEA). Im still flying high, I cant believe I won. My husband and I will take some time the next few days to figure out what we will do with the money, she said. Teaching for 35 years, 30 years at Stratford Middle School, Kathleen loves advocating for students and helping them reach their full potential. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and I still love every minute of it. It was great that my students were so excited when they learned that I had won. Kathleen is the co-president of the Carol Stream Education Association, which is an affiliate of the IEA, and is thankful California Casualty supports education associations. With public education under attack these days, its more imperative than ever that we stand together with the IEA and NEA and be united in our effort to protect our profession. Thanks to member benefit partners like California Casualty, we feel valued, and that value is very appreciated right now, she said. California Casualty, provider of the NEA Auto and Home Insurance Program, works with educators across the country. The Journey campaign was created to remind educators about the importance of having the right insurance for every stage of lifes journey. The initiative stressed the necessity of updating and understanding policies to avoid a financial crisis after a disaster, such as a hurricane, violent tornado or intense wildfire. More than 52,000 school administrators, instructors and education support professionals across the country heard the message and entered the sweepstakes. Educators are invited to enter California Casualty's $7,500 School Lounge Makeover contest at http://www.schoolloungemakeover.com. About California Casualty: Headquartered in San Mateo, California, with Service Centers in Arizona, Colorado and Kansas, California Casualty provides auto and home insurance to educators, firefighters, law enforcement and nurses across the country. Founded in 1914, California Casualty has been led by four generations of the Brown family. To learn more about California Casualty, please visit http://www.calcas.com. Impress3 Media Mission Statement Impress3 launched its first local news site in 2018. Known as Up To Boston (UpToBoston.com), the platform reached over 100k users in less than 3 month, with a current social media following totaling in the thousands. Impress3 Media was originally created in 2013 as a content production company focused on creating captivating online industry magazines. From podcasts to videos to in-depth reports on trends and news, the media produced is all software-assisted by the Impress3 automation application which is tasked with aiding in everything from topic selection to editing. In light of recent studies suggesting the imminent fall of local news, the team at Impress3 has turned vowed to repurpose their custom automation tools to breath new life into this struggling industry. As a result, Impress3 is announcing its new mission statement: Revitalize the news industry through software-assisted content creation and distribution. The company will now turn its sights on streamlining the content creation, editorial, distribution processes through their proven software-assisted methods. In fact, Impress3s automation tactics have been recognized as the source of growth for parent entity Impressions Holdings, which was acknowledged by Inc. 5000 as the #20 fastest growing software company of 2017. Impress3 actually launched its first news site earlier in 2018. Known as Up To Boston News, the platform reached over 100k users in less than 3 month, with a current social media following totaling in the thousands. Impress3s software was retooled to accommodate location-based articles, with an emphasis on topics which have a higher-than-average interaction rate on social media, email lists, search engines. The media companys goal is to cover 10 major U.S. cities in the next 1.5 years. Women Around the World Recognized at Event in New York City Tammy Cohen, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of InfoMart, has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie Award in the Maverick of the Year category in the 15th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run - worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world's premier business awards, and the Maverick of the Year recognizes the individual who has affected the most positive change on her organization and/or industry. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for "crowned," the awards were presented to winners last night during a dinner event attended by more than 550 people at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel in New York City. The event was broadcast via Livestream. "The Stevie Awards receive thousands of submissions from all over the world each year and have become a very coveted prize," said Tammy Cohen. "It's an incredible honor to be recognized by them. Leading InfoMart has taught me a great deal about being a maverick - InfoMart has been innovating and changing the background screening industry since the beginning." Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 business professionals around the world, working on six juries. Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of Finalists in all categories are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Women. About InfoMart InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 29 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners, and they have achieved NAPBS accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 40 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit http://www.infomart-usa.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. As terrorism continues to pose a major threat around the world, more people can learn how to protect themselves through an upcoming new-and-improved version of an already-popular blog website by industry expert James Feldkamp. The website, which focuses on world history and world events with an emphasis on terrorism, can be found at http://www.jamesfeldkamp.com/. Since its launch, the site has become extremely popular among users, receiving more traffic and attention than initially anticipated. In fact, it has attained numerous number-one rankings across all of the major search engines. The increased revenue and attention that Feldkamps website has generated has motivated him to release version 2.0 of the site sooner than originally planned. The release date for version 2.0 is now Dec. 1, 2018, instead of early next year. The updated blog website will feature social media integration along with other features that users have specifically requested. Feldkamp will announce these other features as the release date draws closer. James Feldkamp is a retired United States naval commander and a former Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent. On his website, he provides dynamic content aimed at teaching people the history of terrorism and declassified information, as well as how they can survive terrorist attacks. In other words, the information he provides is both educational and practical. His ultimate intent is to give readers the context they need to understand how terrorism came about, as well as what they can do about it going forward. According to Feldkamp, understanding both the history and the future of terrorism is important because the tactics used to carry out terrorist attacks in the past are very different from the strategies used today. In todays world, terrorists are turning to social media to recruit more supporters of their causes, for example. With the help of Feldkamps soon-to-be-updated blog, more individuals in the United States and around the world can feel prepared to handle terrorist situations in the years to come. I Know Who I Am Not: Be Mentally Fit and Physically Healthy; The Structure of Discipline a Christians go-to manual for healthy relationships. I Know Who I Am Not is the creation of published author Jehu Leconte, an educator, mentor, entrepreneur, counselor, and loving husband who was born and raised in Haiti. Leconte writes, In our relationships, we cant turn things upside down and expect that theyd work as they ought to. A woman expects a man to take control in every aspect, more importantly spiritually. Many men have left the spiritual leadership of their families in the hands of their women. Spiritually, they have become like the chaff, which is easily blown away by the wind. They wake up every morning without any goals and ambitions; they dont pray, they dont worship, they dont have any faith, but they go to church every Sunday just to lift their hands up and say, God, bless me. If you are such a man, and you have been wondering why your wife doesnt respect you, let me open your eyes to the bitter truth: Your wife doesnt respect you because there is no foundation. You found yourself married to her and she found herself married to the idea of you. You may have a successful career, but you will always wonder why you are not happy, and why you dont feel fulfilled no matter what you have. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Jehu Lecontes new book is an insightful glimpse into what makes a relationship work, a journey that, of course, begins with the self. As an enthusiastic advocate of an all-round healthy life, Leconte empowers other believers with the tools and mind-set they need to create positive relationships. View a synopsis of I Know Who I Am Not: Be Mentally Fit and Physically Healthy; The Structure of Discipline on YouTube. Consumers can purchase I Know Who I Am Not: Be Mentally Fit and Physically Healthy; The Structure of Discipline at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about I Know Who I Am Not: Be Mentally Fit and Physically Healthy; The Structure of Discipline, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. USGS Map Engravings set from 1892 on display I think the local land surveyors will most understand and fully appreciate these historical treasures and are key to helping to preserve them for the future From civilizations inception, mankind has sought to preserve its most important records via durable engraving. In Exodus, Moses descended Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments engraved onto stone. NASA sent the Spacecraft Voyager on its deep space mission with greetings engraved on a solid gold disc. The United States has its own rich history similarly preserved, hand engraved on large, long forgotten copper plates archived for many decades in government warehouses. In 1879, the US Congress passed a law that established a division under the Department of the Interior to create area maps snapshots in time. Completing the map for each geographical area, referred to as a Quad, was a herculean task that involved extensive field surveys, mapping, and finally, careful etching onto copper plates in a reverse intaglio method. The result: stunning master plates capable of reproducing the area maps via the most advanced technology of the period. Rapidly growing and areas deemed important were a major focus of this project. Each Quad was titled to commemorate a then-prominent feature or place. Some titles are familiar today while others are novel. In 2015-16 with little fanfare, the US Government decided to dispose of these historic treasures. Many plate sets went to governmental agencies or museums for display, while the remainder of the collection went for sale at auction; this is where Ben Benson comes in. Benson believes that when people learn of these unique, historical artifacts, they will find them important, meaningful as well as beautiful. Benson originally planned to bid only on the plates for New England where he was raised and he was not surprised when the Nantucket Island set sold for $17,000 and Marthas Vineyard went for $7,000 stating that People in New England clearly treasure their history. He was, however, surprised when only a few bidders logged on to bid for other States historical plates. Benson asks Can it be that people in other areas around the country have less interest, or is it simply that no one knew of the obscure government auction and that the part of their amazing history was available? If there was no interest on the part of the public, there was a high likelihood that the copper plates would be desired for their scrap copper value and forever lost, Benson could not let that happen; he bid for each and every set that wasnt well-bid auction. Since then he has started a grassroots, get the word out campaign for these historic engravings collection. He felt the best place to begin was with land surveyors, the people who would be most knowledgeable about them and work to preserve geographic history everyday thru their careful painstaking work. To that end he is contacting every surveyor in the areas he has engravings and offering them the first chance at these treasures. In total, Benson acquired 860 sets in coverings areas in 44 states that can be seen online at: USAengarvings.com beginning on Dec 4th. For example, you will see Santa Ana-1894 that covers the coastal areas around contemporary Newport Beach. If you look closely at the zoom photo of the paper map, you see a fledgling Newport Beach with a single railroad track and a few buildings along the shoreline. Benson believes that if the word gets out people will indeed want to preserve these historical treasures. I am not trying to make money at this, I will be happy to break even, my goal is simply to connect these artifacts with those who will appreciate them, Benson states. I am starting with the Registered Professional Surveyors (and Civil Engineers and Foresters) and they will be offered the chance to buy them at a deeply discounted price that reflects my actual cost from the government. The bottom line is that they will be able to buy a set of engravings plates (typically 3 plates in a set) for about $350 after the discount. Think of that, original master engravings that took hundreds of hours of hand and field work to produce for just $350. Some may also chose too purchase them and donate to their local museum or library. MIAMI Realtors Partners with FIABCI-Arabic Countries We are honored to be strengthening our growing connecting with the Middle East, MIAMI Chairman of the Board George Jalil said. The MIAMI Association of REALTORS (MIAMI) recently signed an international collaboration agreement with FIABCI-Arabic Countries during FIABCI World President -Elect and FIABCI-Arabic Countries President Walid Moussas visit to Miami, increasing MIAMIs international partners to 180 (the most of any U.S. Realtor association). The alliance will create business opportunities for MIAMI members, enhance Miamis global position and strengthen the local economy. FIABCI-Arabic Countries includes United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Bahrein, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. We are honored to be strengthening our growing connecting with the Middle East, MIAMI Chairman of the Board George Jalil said. More direct flights from Dubai, Doha and Istanbul have put Miami within reach for more Middle Eastern buyers. As Americas youngest major city, Miami appeals to Middle East buyers because it offers state-of the art amenities, restaurants, cultural offerings and more. 2018 MIAMI Commercial President Brian Sharpe, 2018 MIAMI Residential President Jorge Guerra, 2019 MIAMI Residential President Ines Hegedus-Garcia, and 2019 MIAMI Commercial President Jennifer Wollmann met with FIABCI World President-Elect and President of FIABCI-Arabic Countries Walid Moussa on Monday, Nov. 12 at MIAMI Realtors headquarters to sign the historic agreement. The Middle East boasts a vibrant real estate sector, and there is a lot of potential for interaction and mutual enrichment across the region, Moussa said. In turn, the Arab countries have a lot to gain by joining the worldwide real estate community, as well as a lot to offer. Middle East: A Growing Market for South Florida Real Estate Miamis rise as one of the worlds top international markets, favorable exchange rates and a desire to diversify assets has led many sovereign wealth funds, particularly from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, to invest in Miami real estate. More direct flights from Miami to the Middle East region has played a role in the increase. Miami International Airport (MIA) now offers direct flights to Doha, Qatar (DOH) via Qatar Airways, Istanbul, Turkey (IST) via Turkish Airlines and Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) via El Al Israel Airlines. Emirates offers a daily direct flight to Dubai (DXB). Some examples of Middle Eastern investments in South Florida include: the $65 million sale of the Viceroy Miami hotel to Qatari hotel investment firm Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company in June 2016 and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authoritys acquisition of the Miami Beach EDITION hotel for $230 million in late 2015. FIABCI-Arabic Countries Uniting Middle Eastern real estate professionals FIABCI-Arabic Countries is a chapter of FIABCI, the international real estate federation. Founded in 1951 in Paris, FIABCI is a worldwide business networking organization for all professionals associated with the real estate industry. FIABCI-Arabic Countries is based in Beirut. For more information on the chapter, visit: https://fiabci.org/en/chapter/2 The Power of International Partnerships MIAMI, the largest local Realtor association with 47,000 members, has been signing honorary reciprocal agreements with international real estate associations since 1996. MIAMI has bilateral agreements with real estate associations in more than 50 countries. The organizations are part of MIAMIs International Referral Network, which links South Florida properties with more than 100,000 real estate professionals around the world. MIAMIs International Referral Network provides MIAMI members with a powerful competitive advantage, which benefits buyers, sellers and the communities they serve. Consumers should seek real estate professionals who are members of the MIAMI Association of REALTORS because they have international expertise, professional network and marketing resources to better serve them. For a full list of MIAMI International Partners, visit MiamiRealtors.com/internationalpartners About the MIAMI Association of REALTORS The MIAMI Association of REALTORS was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 98 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of six organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward Council, the Jupiter Tequesta Hobe Sound (JTHS-MIAMI) Council, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Council and the award-winning International Council, it represents 47,000 real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S., and has official partnerships with 180 international organizations worldwide. MIAMIs official website is http://www.MiamiRealtors.com ### For all of these reasons, TD Ameritrade takes a first-place finish among Online Stock Brokers, earning a five-star rating in 2018. TopConsumerReviews.com recently awarded their best-in-class 5 star rating to TD Ameritrade, a world-class leader among Online Stock Brokers. In the US, the stock market is setting record highs, leading more individuals to invest in stocks. While some people feel more comfortable working with professionals to manage their portfolios, others prefer the ability to maintain control over their investments by using online stock brokers. Of course, many of these brokers do offer professional advice for additional feels, but the majority of those who use online services enjoy being able to access their accounts and make decisions at any time of day or night - and for much lower fees than theyd pay if they used a more traditional investment process. For millions of clients, TD Ameritrade is the name to trust, explained Brian Dolezal of TopConsumerReviews.com, LLC. No matter what your level of experience with investing in the stock market, TD Ameritrade has the tools you need. Their three free trading platforms - Web, Thinkorswim, and Mobile - are suited to various approaches to investment, ranging from serious fundamental investors to on-the-go customers. All trades within the first 60 days are free, and investors have access to 24/5 trading no matter which platform they choose. TD Ameritrade is also well known for offering strong educational resources, knowledgeable support, and excellent third-party research for those who want to dive deep during the investment experience. For all of these reasons, TD Ameritrade takes a first-place finish among Online Stock Brokers, earning a five-star rating in 2018. To find out more about TD Ameritrade and other Online Stock Brokers, including reviews and comparison rankings, please visit the Online Stock Brokers category of TopConsumerReviews.com at https://www.topconsumerreviews.com/online-stock-brokers/. About TD Ameritrade Millions of investors and independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) have turned to TD Ameritrades technology, people and education to help make investing and trading easier to understand and do. Online or over the phone. In a branch or with an independent RIA. First-timer or sophisticated trader. TD Ameritrades clients want to take control, so TD Ameritrade helps them decide how - bringing Wall Street to Main Street for more than 40 years. An official sponsor of the 2014 and 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, TD Ameritrade has time and again been recognized as a leader in investment services. About TopConsumerReviews.com TopConsumerReviews.com, LLC is a leading provider of reviews and rankings for thousands of consumer products and services. From Online Stock Brokers to Debt Relief and Mortgage Refinancing, TopConsumerReviews.com delivers in-depth product evaluations in order to make purchasing decisions easier. The Expo inspires students to discover and pursue their passion. - Julie O'Brien, ProJet Aviation GM ProJet Aviation hosted the 13th annual Aviation Education & Career Expo at the Leesburg Executive Airport. More than 700 students, educators, and parents attended the Expo, which is designed to educate young adults (ages 16-22) about exciting careers in aviation and aerospace. The event featured keynote speakers, live demonstrations, and static displays with representatives from over 70 aviation organizations, including the US military, emergency medical airlift, law enforcement, maintenance/avionics repair, government agencies, private aviation, and more. The theme for this years event was - Destiny, said ProJet Aviation's Julie OBrien, Co-founder of the event. We work with our sponsors to provide experiences, mentoring, and scholarships that inspire students to discover and pursue their passion. The Aviation Education and Career Expo is a unique opportunity for students interested in the aviation/aerospace industry to explore numerous career paths and talk one-on-one with industry experts. Students get an "up close and personal look at occupations that are in high demand in the United States and worldwide. Guest speakers and demonstrators included: Michael Rutledge, Former Navy SEAL, Army Special Ops Aviator, and commanding officer at West Point Heidi Kemner, Embry Riddle graduate, and NTSB Accident Investigator The US Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team K-9 Demonstration by Metro Washington Airport Authority Drone Demonstration by V1 Aeronautics National Agricultural Aviation Aerial Demonstration by Allen Chorman & Son 2nd Aviation Detachment Helicopter & Parachute Team, West Point Military Academy 2018 scholarship winners: Elena-Marie Weissenboeck $500 Award from Sugarloaf 99s Madisen Garnes $1,000 Award from Paragon Aviation Group Calle Junker $1,000 Award from Eastern Aviation Fuels Ryan Walker $1,000 Award from JetLinx Charter Company Laura Palmer $1,000 Award from Toth Financial Services Mustafa Ali $1,000 Award from Avemco Insurance Cassandra Rae Hoffman $1,500 Award from Mosaix Software/Avman Simon Kadel $2,000 Award from The Aviation Foundation and Sharp Details Jacob McIntosh $2,250 from Paragon Aviation Detailing Sarah Morgan $3,500 Award from ProJet Aviation, AOPA, Hoxton Agency, and Paramount Business Jets Brady Reisch $5,000 Award from Greater Washington Business Aviation Association Gannon Sudweeks $500 Award from Middle Tennessee State University Dylan Massey $1,000 Award from Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Andrew Reed $1,500 Award from Air Culinaire Worldwide Tucker Benton $2,000 Award from University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Nathan Nardini $2,500 Award from Aviation Institute of Maintenance Rachel Allen $2,500 Award from Aviation Institute of Maintenance Ashton Neff $10,000 Award from Kansas State University Polytechnic/Aerospace Campus Caleb Mindte $10,000 Award from Kansas State University Polytechnic/Aerospace Campus Kayla Coffman $11,500 Award from Western Michigan University Sonia Jethwani $15,000 from Averett University Wyatt Beane $20,000 from Southern Utah University Andrew Maggs $20,000 from Marywood University Brian McGiffin $20,000 from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Alex Tendler $20,000 from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology Richmond Forsen $20,000 from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology Brian Wade $16,980 from Regent University Nate Smith $16,980 from Regent University Eleanor Knudson $16,980 from Regent University Conor McHugh $16,980 from Regent University Kyra Padam $16,980 from Regent University Abigail Ward $16,980 from Regent University Jackson Larimore $16,980 from Regent University Grace Neff $16,980 from Regent University Matthew Cortines $16,980 from Regent University Charlie Giglio $16,980 from Regent University Jessica Twilley $33,960 from Regent University In addition to the monetary and school-specific aviation awards, American Aviation/Helicopters, Aviation Adventures, Av-Ed Flight Training, Bravo Flight Training, Frederick Flight Training/Advanced Helicopter Concepts, and Open Air Flight Training, provided on-the-spot flight training scholarships, and Kim Cortines of Oak Hill High School, was recognized as the 2018 Teacher of the Year. About The Aviation Education & Career Expo The Aviation Education & Career Expo is one of the largest and most successful aviation education events in the United States, awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to high school and college students pursuing careers in the aviation and aerospace industry, since its inception in 2005. Over 700 students will attend this year. The event features keynote presentations by industry leaders, static and live aviation demonstrations, and scholarship awards from universities, small businesses, and corporate sponsors. Cofounded by aviation professionals Julie OBrien and Sarah Thompson, the Expo is committed to helping students explore the many career opportunities available to them through the world of flight. The Aviation Education & Career Expo is hosted by ProJet Aviation at Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO), in Leesburg, VA. About ProJet Aviation ProJet Aviation is the DC metro region's premier aviation hospitality company, dedicated to helping people accomplish extraordinary things through the wonder of flight. The company operates ProJet Center, a Fixed Base Operation (FBO), at Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO), general aviations gateway to Washington DC, Dulles, and Virginia's Horse & Wine Country. Established in 2007 as a partnership between former airline pilot, educator, and entrepreneur Shye Gilad, and noted entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson, Founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, ProJet Aviation combines the operational integrity of the worlds best airlines with the refined service of a world-class resort. ProJets numerous accolades include recognition as a Washington Business Journal Best Place to Work, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Service Business of the Year. ACDI Owner's Award The honor recognizes a strong commitment to solving customer problems with the latest technology paired with extensive industry knowledge and unmatched service. Pacific Office Automation has earned The Owners Award from ACDI this year, distinguishing the company as the most outstanding partner in ACDIs dealer network. The honor recognizes a strong commitment to solving customer problems with the latest technology paired with extensive industry knowledge and unmatched service. A PaperCut Authorized Solution Center, ACDI has worked closely with Pacific Office Automation for many years. POA, a member of ACDIs dealer network, has remained a reliable resource amidst a rapidly evolving industry. The Portland, Ore.-based company has a deep understanding of its customers and responds to their needs with its renowned office solutions. In the coming years, the two companies look forward to expanding their knowledge bases and continuing to make a positive impact on customers through both hardware and software solutions. POA continues to invest in people, technology and systems to improve the quality of life in the office space and as long as we continue to do the same, our mutual goals will be attainable, said Josh Lane, ACDI President. The accelerated growth of POA is opening new and exciting markets to ACDI. I'm most excited to see what innovative solutions come from the collaboration of our two free-spirited, customer-centric companies in the next five years. With recently-opened branches in Southern Idaho and Southern California, Pacific Office Automation continues to deliver reliable office solutions to large and small businesses across the West. Need a workflow boost for your office? Contact the team at POA today. About Pacific Office Automation Pacific Office Automation (https://www.pacificoffice.com) is a leader in managed printing solutions and document management software. Since 1976, POA has grown to become the industrys largest independent dealership with 30 locations throughout Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho and Colorado. The company is also one of the largest independent distributors, carrying brands such as Sharp, Konica Minolta, Ricoh, Lexmark, Xerox, Muratec, Canon and HP copiers, printers, faxes and multifunctional devices. POA believes in providing custom print solutions that are fast, efficient and secure so customers can confidently say, Problem Solved. Matec Elektronik is an authorized distributor of word leading interconnect company for Turkey and the Middle East. I am very proud to announce the signing of Matec as our representative in Turkey, a strategic market for Reflex Photonics. Matec Elektronik is key in our strategy to grow our presence in the region and more specifically the fast-growing Turkish market. Reflex Photonics is proud to announce the signing of an agreement with Matec Elektronik to represent and support its products in Turkey. Founded in 2011 in Istanbul Turkey, Matec Elektronik is an authorized distributor of world leading interconnect company for Turkey and the Middle East. Matec is a dynamic organization with experienced team members selling and supporting high reliability, high-performance electronic components for niche markets including industrial, military, and space. Our commitment to provide local support to our fast-growing clientele in Turkey. Reflex Photonics Director of International Sales, Pierre Cardinal comments: I am very proud to announce the signing of Matec as our representative in Turkey, a strategic market for Reflex Photonics. Matec Elektronik staff has many years of experience selling and supporting high-tech solutions for space, military, avionic, and industrial applications. They are key in our strategy to grow our presence in the region and more specifically the fast-growing Turkish market. Matec will provide key sales and technical support to our existing and growing customers base in the region. Matec Elektroniks President, Mr. Aras Onur Akcay comments: We are very excited about the opportunity to represent Reflex Photonics line of products to our clientele. Reflex Photonics is the leading provider of rugged high-speed optical transceivers and their products are in great demand with our clients specially in the space, avionic, and military sectors. About Matec Founded in 2011 and located in Istanbul Turkey, Matec Elektronik is your solution partner for Military/Aerospace, Industrial and Telecom applications. We give service to our valuable customers with highly experienced field-application engineers and inside customer services. Matec represent the best solutions provider in the electronic industry, including high performance connectors, high-speed optical embedded transmitters, cable, and interconnect companies. About Reflex Photonics Founded in 2002, Reflex Photonics is an advanced developer of rugged high-speed optical transceiver modules and parallel embedded optics products for space, aerospace, defense, avionics, telecom, data centers and industrial applications. The company addresses the growing market demand for high-speed interconnects in high performance embedded computers. Our products enable equipment developers to design smaller, lower cost, and lower powered systems resulting in higher fidelity and faster connectivity. The often-repeated claim that there is nothing that prevents, reverses, or delays Alzheimers disease is being aggressively challenged. In 2014, Dr. Dale Bredesen, Professor at UCLA, published the first examples of the reversal of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimers disease using his personalized RECODE patient protocol. Initial reports were across a small group of 10 patients, followed by another 10 in 2016. Bredesen, along with colleagues from 15 different clinical sites, has just published a paper describing 100 patients with Alzheimers or pre-Alzheimers who had well documented, quantified improvements in cognition. In addition, some patients demonstrated improvements in quantitative EEG, evoked responses, or hippocampal volume, providing further support for the efficacy of the protocol. Some of the improvements were striking, with 12-point jumps in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. The results in these 100 patients were published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease and Parkinsonism, providing further support for a randomized, controlled clinical trial of the protocol and the overall approach. The full report can be read here: https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/reversal-of-cognitive-decline-100-patients-2161-0460-1000450.pdf AHNP Precision Health is a patient engagement company focused on precision health that empowers patients, practitioners, hospitals, universities, and corporations to prevent and reverse behavior-related or exposure-related chronic diseases through advanced medical information, algorithms, and scientifically supported behavior modification. Its RECODE REPORT analyses are based on The Bredesen Protocol; a comprehensive personalized program designed to improve cognition and reverse the cognitive decline of SCI, MCI, and early Alzheimers disease designed by Alzheimers research pioneer and AHNP CSO, Dr. Dale Bredesen. For more information, please visit our website at: http://myrecodereport.com PR Contact: Lance Kelly, lance@ahnphealth.com A4M We are excited to have Dr. Singh make the case for bovine colostrum as a gamechanger for todays practitioner Sovereign Laboratories, a worldwide leader in the bovine colostrum supplement industry, will host a booth (#4033) at the A4M 26th Annual World Congress held December 13-15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, Dr. Marvin Singh, Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego, will moderate a panel and speak to the health benefits of bovine colostrum to the gut microbiome. The American Academy of Antiaging Medicine conferences and exhibitions are a way for medical professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest scientific research and advances in preventing and treating the degenerative effects of aging. The 26th Annual Conference will bring together thousands of clinicians and medical professionals from around the world. It will also feature renowned keynote speakers who are scheduled to highlight the most innovative and cutting-edge protocols in modern integrative healthcare. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with experts and thought leaders, discover innovations that impact patient care, network with peers, and demo the latest technologies. Attendees will return from the conference with new insight and ideas for their practice which will undoubtedly benefit patients. We are excited to have Dr. Singh make the case for bovine colostrum as a gamechanger for todays practitioner, says Doug Wyatt, Founder of Sovereign Laboratories. Because he knows exactly how well our nutritional products work on the body and mind, Dr. Singhs expert perspective reinforces our twenty-five years of research and development. Dr. Singhs talk, titled Bovine Colostrum: Its Role in Gut and Immune Health, will be on Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 2:30pm. It is part of the module Evaluating and Treating Clinical Chain Reactions in the Veronese 2401-2 conference room of the Venetian/Palazzo Resort. Following the module, Dr. Singh will be available to answer questions about Sovereign Laboratories line of colostrum products at booth #4033. Dr. Singh has recently partnered with Sovereign Laboratories and is one of only two Integrative Gastroenterologists in the United States to be Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology as well as a Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Currently, Dr. Singh and his colleagues own and operate a private practice, Coastal Gastroenterology, in San Diego where they help patients optimize their digestive health, overall wellbeing, and longevity. After receiving his education Integrative Medicine Fellowship through the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Singh became a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at UCLA. He has also been an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Associate Director at Johns Hopkins University. As a member of several medical societies, including the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Singh approaches his patients from a multi-faceted viewpoint and offers them treatment plans from a global perspective. About Sovereign Laboratories: Sovereign Laboratories is dedicated to developing natural products that provide the most efficacious solutions for optimal health, vitality, and aesthetics. Company founder Douglas Wyatt is the worlds leading authority on bovine colostrum and is credited with establishing the gold standard in colostrum supplements. Sovereign Laboratories signature product Colostrum-LD is clinically proven to heal the G.I. lining; prevent infection and inflammation of the bowel; and increase bowel surface area for better nutritional absorption. Colostrum-LD is considered the premier foundational supplement for optimal gut and immune health, and it was designed for successful aging no matter where one is on the spectrum of life. Nevro hosted the event to focus on the growth and support of women in neuromodulation. Tampa Pain Relief Centers Olena Zhukova, ARNP joined the largest Women's Neuromodulation Network meeting for interactive discussions on topics including: Optimal Clinical Practice Models Evidence-Based Medicine Trends in SCS Market Complex Case Studies and Managing Complications Contracts and Reimbursement - Including NevroCare HF10 Matters Campaign - Patient Story Successes Powerful Podium Presentations Guest Speaker - Women in Leadership - Power Dynamics - From the Exam Room to the Board Room Nevro held the womens networking event to advance the understanding of HF10 (high frequency spinal cord stimulation) and provide presentations on related topics from clinical and procedural standpoints. Nevro HF10 is a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy that alleviates pain via electrical pulses delivered to small electrodes on leads placed near the spinal cord. The device provides relief by modulating pain signals before they reach the brain, and without producing the buzzing sensations required by previous SCS technologies. It is most commonly recommended for a condition known as Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS). Tampa Pain Relief Centers is proud to support the advancement of such remarkable innovations in the treatment of chronic pain conditions, encouraging PRC provider attendance for greater knowledge and awareness of effective new pain management solutions. ABOUT OLENA ZHUKOVA, ARNP Olena Zhukova received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Petersburg College and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and was a recipient of the Lee and Victor Leavengood Endowed Scholarship in 2012. Olena worked as an RN in multiple settings, including critical care and progressive acute care, before becoming an ARNP in 2013. ABOUT PAIN RELIEF CENTERS At Pain Relief Centers, our pain management specialists focus on providing comprehensive, personalized care for each patient. The highly-skilled providers at PRC take a multidisciplinary approach to advanced pain management, assessing your individual needs to more effectively relieve your chronic pain and restore your quality of life. PRCs board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a comprehensive, multimodal approach to treating your chronic pain. Relieving your pain and ensuring your comfort are top priorities at Pain Relief Centers. If you are tired of living with chronic pain and want more information on options for minimizing or eliminating your suffering, contact Pain Relief Centers today at (800) 215-0029 or visit http://www.YourPainReliefCenters.com to set up a consultation at one of our clinics. We are excited to enter this partnership with BenQ, as this will enable our customers to remotely manage and reduce the downtime of their digital signage and help improve communication and collaboration through interactive flat panels" TeamViewer, a global leader in secure remote connectivity solutions, today announced its cooperation with BenQ, a leading technology and solutions provider, in order to provide better support, control and collaboration on displays and flat panels from BenQs product portfolio. With this partnership, both TeamViewer and Blizz by TeamViewer will become listed as recommended software on BenQs website, and be available pre-installed in BenQ devices through product bundling. In addition, the TeamViewer QuickSupport App can be downloaded onto the devices from the TeamViewer website. Remote access, control and support on digital signage via TeamViewer BenQs line of digital signage will now be pre-installed with TeamViewers QuickSupport agent for Android, enabling the administrator to remotely access the functionality of the displays from his or her workstation anywhere, at any time. Whether the displays are used for advertising messages, menus or signposts in restaurants or hotels, for special offers in retail, or as an information board in a corporate environment with TeamViewer, admins get access to an easy-to-use solution for monitoring, control and support of BenQ displays from afar to swiftly resolve issues on the devices in a time and cost-effective manner, saving them a trip to the physical machine. Conferencing & Collaboration on interactive flat panels with Blizz by TeamViewer In addition, BenQs interactive flat panels will come equipped with TeamViewers Blizz Collaboration Companion, giving users access to Blizz logged and indexed team messaging, face-to-face HD VoIP video and audio calling, instant or scheduled group meetings (for up to 300 people), and screen sharing capabilities essential meeting tools needed to communicate and collaborate better with teams and clients, from anywhere, at any time. (Please note: The use of Blizz audiovisual features requires the use of a special camera with microphone, and a USB cable for connecting to your BenQ interactive flat panel.) We are excited to enter this partnership with BenQ, as this will enable our customers to remotely manage and reduce the downtime of their digital signage and help improve communication and collaboration through interactive flat panels regardless if they are being used in a commercial, corporate or even educational environment, says Oliver Steil, CEO at TeamViewer. Todays evolving presentation and collaboration needs require visual tools that make participation simple and effective, says Conway Lee, president of BenQ Corporation. We are happy to combine our cutting-edge display expertise with TeamViewers remote support and collaboration capabilities in order to provide presentation and collaboration experiences that are fun, reliable and productive right out of the box. About BenQ Corporation Founded on the corporate vision of Bringing Enjoyment N Quality to Life, BenQ Corporation is a world-leading human technology and solutions provider aiming to elevate and enrich every aspect of consumers lives. To realize this vision, the company focuses on the aspects that matter most to people today lifestyle, business, healthcare and education with the hope of providing people with the means to live better, increase efficiency, feel healthier and enhance learning. Such means include a delightful broad portfolio of people-driven products and embedded technologies spanning digital projectors, monitors, interactive large-format displays, audio products, cloud consumer products, mobile communications and lifestyle lighting. Because it matters. About BenQ Group The BenQ Group is a $25+ billion powerhouse comprised of nearly 20 independent companies operating in over 30 countries across numerous industries with a combined workforce of over 100,000 employees. Each Group member is a recognized leader in its own field, contributing to the BenQ Groups vast resources, broad R&D, and distinct strategic strengths. By leveraging each companys vertical specialization to create true scale across horizontal markets, the BenQ Group controls a highly efficient value chain with the unrivaled ability to deliver critical components and world-class solutions in the following industries: TFT-LCD, green energy, fine chemicals and advanced materials, lighting, IC design, precision components, system integration, branded business, and service. The Group is committed to profitable and sustainable businesses that share its long-standing vision of Bringing Enjoyment N Quality to Life. The BenQ Group companies are: BenQ Corporation, AU Optronics Corporation (worlds top manufacturer of large-size TFT-LCD panels), Qisda Corporation, Darfon Electronics Corporation, BenQ ESCO Corp., BenQ Materials Corp., BenQ Guru Corp., BenQ Medical Center, BenQ Medical Technology Corp., BenQ AB DentCare Corp., Daxin Materials Corp., Dazzo Technology Corp., Darwin Precisions Corp., Lextar Electronics Corp., LILY Medical Corp. and Raydium Semiconductor Corp. About TeamViewer A global connectivity powerhouse, TeamViewer empowers users to connect anything, anywhere, anytime. Its market-leading solutions offer secure remote access, support, control and collaboration capabilities for online endpoints of any kind. By innovating with cutting-edge yet easy-to-deploy Augmented Reality (AR) and Internet of Things (IoT) implementations, the company enables businesses of all sizes to tap into their full digital potential. TeamViewer has been activated on more than 1.7 billion devices and serves at least 40 million concurrent connections at any time. Founded in 2005, the company employs more than 700 people in offices across Germany, the United States, Australia, Armenia and Japan. For more information, go to http://www.teamviewer.com. The Agriculture Data Act of 2018 would be an important first step to harness the power of USDA data With the 2014 Farm Bill at a close, the House and Senate return to complete a Farm Bill in Washington. In a recent Letter in Science Magazine, Dr. Joshua Woodard of Cornell University and founder of Ag-Analytics.org, along with 14 others including the former Deputy Secretary of USDA, the former President of the National Corn Growers Association, several leading farmers, and representatives from the AGree Initiative, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Corn Growers Association, Walton Family Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, American Farmland Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and the farmer-led North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance, speak on the importance of the Agricultural Data Act of 2018. The proposed Agriculture Data Act of 2018 introduced by Senators Thune (R-SD) and Klobuchar (D-MN) was included in the Senate-passed Farm Bill. The Ag Data Act would establish the framework for a conservation and farm productivity national data warehouse; the first of its kind in the United States, that would unlock solutions to conserve natural resources and improve farmer success while protecting data privacy. The Agriculture Data Act of 2018 would be an important first step to harness the power of USDA data, providing researchers the ability to conduct big-data oriented research in agriculture, the environment, nutrition, and supply chains, the letter in Science says. Such research would enable the design of policies that inspire changes in agricultural practices, improve producer profitability, and lead to better environmental outcomes. The Agriculture Data Act would establish the framework for a conservation and farm productivity national data warehouse; the first of its kind in the United States, that would unlock solutions to improve farmer success and conserve natural resources while protecting data privacy. Academics, researchers, and developers would also greatly benefit from access to this immense data resource. In a second letter sent to Senate and House Agriculture Committee leaders Tuesday morning, over 60 scholars representing 30 leading U.S. universities reiterated the potential value of the Agriculture Data Act. The signatories -- led by Dr. Joshua Woodard -- include the President of the AAEA, the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University; two members of the National Academy of Sciences; several Department Heads and Center Directors; and several other leading scholars from multiple disciplines. The Power of Agricultural Data can be found in full on Merid.org. The letter sent to Congress can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/y76x86t3 If you are interested in setting up an interview on this topic, please contact Allison Scheetz in the AAEA Business Office. ABOUT AAEA: Established in 1910, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is the leading professional association for agricultural and applied economists, with 2,500 members in more than 60 countries. Members of the AAEA work in academic or government institutions as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of research, teaching, and outreach activities in the areas of agriculture, the environment, food, health, and international development. The AAEA publishes two journals, the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, as well as the online magazine Choices. To learn more, visit http://www.aaea.org. Dr. Colin McAllister There is such a joy in being able to play guitar and were happy to help spread the cheer! The Great Courses has announced the release of Playing Guitar like A Pro: Lead, Solo, and Group Performance18 unique 45-minute lessons which feature lessons, live performances, and storytelling focused on the biggest six-string icons of the last century. Through this course, Dr. Colin McAllister, Music Program Director at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, presents a treasure trove of knowledge for both the guitarist and the music enthusiast. From the origins of bluegrass to the rich sounds of Joni Mitchell, youll explore nearly a century of music from artists spanning the globe, as you unearth the secrets of some of the worlds most influential rockers, including Eric Clapton and David Gilmour. Then, discover the tricks of the trade from jazz pioneers like Django Reinhardt and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Professor McAllister and a live bandmade up partially of his own jazz sextet from Coloradoplay the backing tracks from each of the songs presented through the course so you can rock right along with them. During these music sessions, you may notice the special guitar Professor McAllister uses. Its a PRS Hollowbody II Piezo on loan from Paul Reed Smith Guitars for the taping of this coursea partnership that Professor McAllister truly enjoyed. Ive had a great time working with the team at PRS Guitars. They really helped me find the best guitar for what I wanted to do with this new courseto be able to play a wide variety of repertoire, from jazz to fusion to funk to rock. Their support for teaching guitar extended beyond this course as well. PRS is helping my guitar program at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs by providing our students with amps and guitars to try out, Professor McAllister notes. Were looking forward to being a part of The Great Courses continued efforts to offer quality edutainment where students can find an easy, attainable way of advancing and achieving skills needed to be a better guitar player, explains Jeanne Nooney, the PR and Events representative from PRS Guitars. There is such a joy in being able to play guitar and were happy to help spread the cheer! Whether you are a musician looking to play like the greats or a music fan wanting to enrich your experience of favorite performers and songs, you will treasure the experience of Playing Guitar like a Pro, and youll hear your favorite bands in a whole new light. About Professor McAllister: Dr. Colin McAllister serves as the Music Program Director at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. He attended the University of California, San Diego, where he obtained his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree and Doctor of Musical Arts degree (D.M.A.) while studying with celebrated classical guitarists Celin and Pepe Romero. During his 25-year career as a professional musician and educator, Dr. McAllister has performed across North America and Europe with leading orchestras, chamber music ensembles, jazz groups, and as a soloist. About The Great Courses: The Great Courses is the nations leading developer and marketer of premium-quality media for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. Delivered in engaging, expertly-produced video and audioin convenient online, digital, video-on-demand, and disc formatsthese carefully crafted courses provide access to a world of knowledge from the most accomplished professors and experts. The content-rich, proprietary library spans more than 600 series with more than 14,000 lectures designed to expand horizons, deepen understanding, and foster epiphanies in the arts, science, literature, self-improvement, history, music, philosophy, theology, economics, mathematics, business, professional advancement, and personal development. Creating unique learning experiences since 1990, The Great Courses is the premier brand of The Teaching Company Sales, LLC of Chantilly, Virginia, which is owned by Los Angeles-based Brentwood Associates. More information can be found at http://www.thegreatcourses.com. About PRS Guitars: Paul Reed Smith Guitars is a leading manufacturer of high quality instruments in Stevensville, Maryland and has provided some of the worlds most renowned musicians with instruments since 1985. The PRS team of highly skilled craftspeople design and build a wide variety of musical instruments and gear for worldwide distribution, including electric, acoustic, and bass guitars as well as boutique-style guitar amplifiers. The PRS SE line of products complements the Maryland-made PRS line by offering highly approachable and more affordable electric, acoustic, and bass guitars. Carlos Santana, Neal Schon, John McLaughlin, John Mayer, Jimmy Herring, Linkin Park, Orianthi, Blake Shelton, Mark Tremonti, Zach Myers of Shinedown, Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line, David Grissom, Martin Simpson, Tony McManus, and Derek Trucks are among the artists currently playing PRS instruments and/or amplifiers. The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) announced the continuation of its innovative math outreach program, MoMath 2 Go: the Family Math Initiative, through a partnership with the Long Island Explorium in Port Jefferson, NY. Sponsored by the Heising-Simons Foundation, this first-of-its-kind initiative is designed to help families become more comfortable talking about math with preschool through second-grade children and engage parents in local communities who might not have access to the latest in math education. MoMath designed this program as part of a collaborative study with the University of Chicago Science of Learning Center (SLC), whose previous work determined that fears of math may be formed in children as early as preschool. Led by Susan C. Levine, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology and SLC Director, the SLC team found that structuring conversations about math between parents and children can reduce the math achievement gap between the children of high- and low-math anxious parents and can increase childrens mathematical and spatial fluency. MoMaths partnership with SLC builds on this research. We are pleased to partner with the Long Island Explorium in bringing the MoMath 2 Go program to reach additional communities, said Cindy Lawrence, Executive Director of MoMath and creator of MoMath 2 Go. MoMaths math outreach program was built on the idea that early math fluency is an essential educational cornerstone for children across America. We want to help families build that foundation with their children. MoMath 2 Go: the Family Math Initiative features two popular MoMath exhibitions, Ring of Fire and Miles of Tiles, both currently on display at the Museum in New York, along with specially created MoMath 2 Go tip cards that provide talking points for parents to communicate mathematics to their children more effectively. The two exhibitions demonstrate the ability to stimulate early math fluency among parents and children, who have reported that they had fun and are more likely to continue conversations about math moving forward. Developing a healthy positive attitude towards math through fun, interactive exhibits helps spark interest and sustain engagement in overcoming challenges, said Angeline Judex, Executive Director of the Long Island Explorium. We have made it our mission to partner with like-minded institutions to enhance our innovative and cutting edge programs and resources for families and children. Continuing in this mindset, partnering with MoMath to offer their innovative exhibits extends our efforts to engage young minds and support their parents, caregivers, and educators. We are delighted to highlight MoMaths exhibits. About the National Museum of Mathematics The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) strives to enhance public understanding and perception of mathematics in daily life. Currently celebrating its fifth anniversary, MoMath has reached more than 1.5 million New Yorkers and visitors from around the world. The only math museum in North America, MoMath fills a critical demand around the country and worldwide for hands-on math programming, offering a space where the math-challenged, as well as math enthusiasts of all backgrounds and levels of understanding can enjoy the infinite and beautiful world of mathematics through more than 37 unique, state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits. In addition to MoMaths home in New York City, Museum exhibitions and content are currently featured in Singapore, Brazil, Germany, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. MoMath received the 2016 Communications Award for Public Outreach from the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics. The Museum was awarded the bronze 2013 MUSE Award for Education and Outreach by the American Alliance of Museums. MoMath has been recognized as the Most Fascinating Museum in New York State by the TripAdvisor vacation site and hailed as the Best Museum for Kids by New York Magazine. MoMath, located at 11 East 26th Street on the north side of popular Madison Square Park in Manhattan, is open seven days a week, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. For more information, visit momath.org. About the Long Island Explorium The Long Island Explorium is a childrens museum that features hands-on, science and engineering-based exhibits and activities for families, and educators. Located at 101 East Broadway in Port Jefferson, the Long Island Explorium offers STEM discovery, learning, and innovation to shape the intellect, social values, and principles of future generations. Through cutting edge workshops and activities, the museum inspires children to develop inventive solutions, build confidence, and foster teamwork as families play, create, build, and grow together. The Long Island Explorium is also a New York State certified provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credits and encourages teachers to incorporate STEAM and constructivist approaches into their standards-based lessons to foster engagement of all learners. For more information about the Long Island Explorium, please visit longislandexplorium.org. About the Heising-Simons Foundation The Heising-Simons Foundation is a family foundation based in Los Altos, California. The Foundation works with its many partners to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners, and support human rights for all people. Learn more at http://www.hsfoundation.org. ### CONTACT: Shannon Duer | shannon@gzandassociates.com | 631-487-5883 Jes Siart | jes@gzandassociates.com | 603-289-8707 John M. Shearman, CEO UMS Group Inc. With all the changes impacting the utility industry, there is great value in open dialogue and guided discovery among industry practitioners and strategic thinkers. The Substation Best Practices Collaborative, an electric utility consortium facilitated by UMS Group and focused on identifying and sharing best practices in substation maintenance, construction, and asset management, completed its 6th Annual Substation Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Exelon subsidiary, Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E) hosted the three-day innovation and best practices conference which was attended by 55 Directors, Managers and SMEs from 21 US and Canadian utilities. The presentations and discussion sessions at this years event included Substation Innovation, Asset Risk Management, Contractor Management, Commissioning, Productivity Management, Maintenance Optimization, Safety and Human Performance and Training. Best practices, as identified during the Study portion of the program, were presented in coordination with panels and open discussion, allowing participants to gain a more detailed understanding of how these practices have been implemented and supported. With all the changes impacting the utility industry, there is great value in open dialogue and guided discovery among industry practitioners and strategic thinkers. The sharing that happens at these events can be a real accelerator of learning, an opportunity to stand on the shoulders of others who have tried new approaches, a risk free environment to test and challenge strategies, and a broad source of new ideas for all participants, said Jack Shearman, CEO of UMS Group and Keynote speaker at the event. A special guest presentation was made by Fingrid, the Transmission Owner/Operator of Finland, which has been a global pioneer in developing and implementing the Substation of the Future. Beyond building to full IEC 61850 compliance and full remote control of all assets, its newest substation features a plethora of inexpensive, remote monitoring devices placed throughout to increase visibility into the operation and condition of key apparatus. These small devices, using IOT (Internet of Things) wireless technology, measure a wide variety of operating parameters, including: acoustic signatures, temperature, vibration, speed and momentum, and other equipment characteristics, and can be installed in a matter of minutes at a very low cost. Another innovative presentation concerned the implementation of Battery Energy Storage (BES) projects by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). This utility has commissioned several multi-MW BES in its substations to replace fossil generation, and recently won the right to install four energy storage projects (total of 567.5 MW / 2,270 MWh of storage) to replace retiring gas fired plants, including two batteries that would be the largest in the world. These projects are serving multiple purposes including peak shaving, deferral of system replacement, and backup for customer facilities. New York Power Authority (NYPA) presented on their Transformer Health System, which uses predictive analytics to trend data from real-time transformer monitors, and to detect abnormalities. This data, which includes geomagnetically induced currents, tank vibration, acoustic emissions, RFI, temperatures, IR, as well as DGA, is used to assess asset health and stress, and to predict imminent failure. In addition to focusing on absolute values, the system uses change and rate of change to warn of abnormal conditions. Over the course of the three-day conference, 25 different presentations were made on these and other topics related to getting the most out of both the infrastructure and human assets employed in managing substations. As a follow-up to the substation conference, discussions are underway within the group to define the focus topics for next years program. For more information on this program, please visit our website at http://www.umsgroup.com or email SubstationConference(at)UMSGroup(dot)com This newborn screening system will provide specimen chain of custody, allowing us to be aware of the status of each specimen from every birthing hospital across the state of Utah. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) has contracted with STACS DNA for a Track-Kit system to track all newborn screening (NBS) specimens across the state. The system will be deployed to all birthing hospitals to reduce delays between specimen shipment from hospitals and delivery to the state newborn screening laboratory in Salt Lake City. This supports UDOHs goals of saving lives and improving babies health through the early detection of serious, treatable conditions. We are methodically working to automate timeliness and eliminate gaps in our newborn screening program, and collaborating with STACS DNA will help us to do that, said Andreas Rohrwasser, Director of the Utah Newborn Screening Laboratory and Deputy Director of the Utah Public Health Laboratory. This NBS system will provide specimen chain of custody, allowing us to be aware of the status of each specimen from every birthing hospital across the state of Utah. Track-Kit, a secure, cloud-based system designed specifically for newborn screening, provides a complete audit trail of specimen collection and shipping, as well as lab receipt and storage. Track-Kit will improve Utahs newborn screening program in a variety of ways: Provides real-time status of individual specimensnot just packages Centralizes the tracking of multiple courier companies into one system Alerts both the hospital and the laboratory if specimen delivery is late to expedite locating or recollecting the specimen Provides the lab with a real-time, global view of all incoming specimens and shipments from hospitals across Utah to support accountability and next-day planning Identifies if a specimen has been left in the hospital due to a missed courier pickup Reduces the use of expired cards to increase quality and reduce cost Expedites recollection requests Supports Utah as a two-screen state by tracking lab receipt of first specimens from hospitals as well as second specimens from thousands of physicians Notifies the hospital when a specimen has been delivered to the state lab Documents specimen storage and destruction at the state laboratory Optimizes blood spot card inventory management By making improvements in the way we collect and track screening samples, we have the opportunity to save lives, said Jocelyn Tremblay, President and CEO of STACS DNA. We are excited to work with the State of Utahs highly respected newborn screening program to give them the information they need to provide an even higher level of service to the citizens of Utah. About STACS DNA STACS DNA offers sample tracking software for newborn screening, public health and forensics DNA agencies. Track-Kit tracks samples statewide from collection to storage to prevent delays for thousands of users. STACS sample processing software is the hub of an integrated DNA lab, providing a detailed audit trail to increase productivity, improve quality, reduce errors and maintain conformity. Clients include most of the largest federal and state forensics agencies in North America. Jack ...Rebecca believes he would not have survived much longer had he not received stem cell therapy. Like many large breed dogs, Jack, a Great Pyrenees, began showing symptoms of joint disease very early on. Before he was a year old, his mom, Rebecca, noticed he was slow to get up and knew something was not quite right. She had him examined by her veterinarian and her suspicions were confirmed: Jack had bilateral hip dysplasia, a congenital condition affecting the formation of the hip joints. Left untreated, hip dysplasia will result in arthritis and pain in the joint. Rebecca realized the severity of the situation when, upon entering a pet store, Jacks legs splayed out on the white, slippery floor and he yelped. She knew something had to be done. Jacks veterinarian, Dr. Andrea Hayes of Boone Animal Hospital, gave Rebecca a few options for treatment. One option was total hip replacement, which is an invasive and expensive surgical procedure. As a second option, Dr. Hayes suggested treatment with VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy. After weighing her options, Rebecca decided to move forward with stem cell therapy. Jack received his initial round of stem cell injections back in 2014 when he was around seven months old. Jack underwent a minimally invasive procedure in which fat tissue was collected from beneath the skin around his rib cage. The tissue was aseptically packaged and sent to the VetStem laboratory in Poway, California. VetStem lab technicians processed the fat to concentrate and extract the stem cells and created injectable doses of Jacks own stem and regenerative cells. After quality checks were performed, the doses were shipped back to Dr. Hayes who received and injected them approximately 48 hours after the initial fat collection. Jack received an injection into each hip and intravenously. Approximately nine months after his initial round of injections, Rebecca reported that Jack was getting around much better. According to Rebecca he was a whole new dog. He was able to walk on slippery floors and run and hop around the yard. Though he was still stiff after playing too hard or after lying down for a long while, Rebecca believes he would not have survived much longer had he not received stem cell therapy. Fast forward nearly four years to January of 2018 when Jack received his second round of injections. Rebecca had maintained Jacks stem cell bank over the years so Dr. Hayes was able to request recovery and preparation of Jacks stored stem cells, rather than performing another fat collection procedure on him. This time, he received an injection in his left elbow, left hip, and intravenously. Approximately four months after the injections, Rebecca reported that Jack was doing well. Though occasionally stiff when he gets up, Rebecca said he does his stretches and is good to go. We recently checked in with Rebecca and she reported that Jack is still on the move. Stem cells are regenerative cells that can differentiate into many tissue types, reduce pain and inflammation, help to restore range of motion, and stimulate regeneration of tendon, ligament and joint tissues. In a peer-reviewed study of dogs with chronic osteoarthritis of the hip joint, it was found that stem cells reduced lameness and pain. About Andrea Hayes, VMD, DACVS Dr. Andrea Hayes received her Veterinary Medical Degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed a joint surgical residency at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts and Angell Animal Medical Center in Massachusetts. Dr. Hayes achieved her dream of helping dogs and cats by becoming a Board-Certified Surgeon specializing in orthopedics in 1996. Dr. Hayes has been VetStem Credentialed since 2008. About VetStem Biopharma, Inc. VetStem Biopharma is a veterinarian-lead Company that was formed in 2002 to bring regenerative medicine to the profession. This privately held biopharmaceutical enterprise, based near San Diego, California, currently offers veterinarians an autologous stem cell processing service (from patients own fat tissue) among other regenerative modalities. With a unique expertise acquired over the past 15 years and 17,000 treatments by veterinarians for joint, tendon or ligament issues, VetStem has made regenerative medicine applications a therapeutic reality. The VetStem team is focused on developing new clinically practical and affordable veterinary solutions that leverage the natural restorative abilities present in all living creatures. In addition to its own portfolio of patents, VetStem holds exclusive global veterinary licenses to a large portfolio of issued patents in the field of regenerative medicine. Photograph: On stage Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International, at the opening session of wine2wine 2017 in Veronafieres PalaExpo. Emerging markets for Italian wine in Poland, South Korea, and Switzerland will get dedicated podium-time at wine2wine 2018, as they represent a big chunk of future gains for Italys wines. These sessions have been organized in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency-ICE. The emerging markets for Italian wine in Poland, South Korea, and Switzerland will get dedicated podium-time at wine2wine 2018, as they represent a big chunk of future gains for Italys wines. These sessions have been organized in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency-ICE: each session features a market expert from each country as well as a government commissioner also operating there, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities for Italian wineries in each of those emerging markets. These sessions on emerging markets have been scheduled on Tuesday 27 November during both morning and afternoon. One of the emerging markets for Italian wine is Poland, described as a transitional market. Poland is starting to rapidly embrace wine and the products being chosen are influenced by personal values, according to a study published in Wine Economics and Policy: Consumers who were most likely to engage in exploratory behavior valued creativity, fun, and risk taking and were less concerned about behaving properly. They also had more global outlook as they were more likely to purchase wine in other countries and desired more wines from regions outside Poland. Polands xenophile attitudes in wine consumption are certainly to bear in mind for Italian wineries when targeting consumers. Polish market expert Woijciek Gogolinski and Italian Trade Agency commissioner Antonio Mafodda will discuss this and other issues on Tuesday 27 November at 11:00am. South Korea is another potential success story for the Italian wine market. According to a report released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in 2018, this small country drinks wine for their health, favoring French and Italian wines for import over American produced wines. While South Korean wine market is growing steadily, Chile and Spain have been tough competitors to other markets trying to embed themselves in Koreas unfolding market. Consumer tastes have been evolving in a similar way to China, in that the globalized younger generations seek new wine experiences and demand choice. Unfortunately, the current high distribution costs and tight government regulations has resulted in wine being recognized as a premium product among the general public, and so it is still only consumed by a limited section of the population. A bonus for the Italian market is that Korea produces very little domestic wine and it imports a large amount of it in bulk. Another hurdle in Korea, as the report notes, is the complicated labelling and food safety standards that are constantly changing with very little notice. At wine2wine 2018, local market expert Hyunjin Kim and Italian commissioner Vincenzo Cali will dig deeper into ways of harnessing the potential of the South Korean market for Italian wineries on Tuesday 27th at 12 oclock. Switzerland is another interesting market for Italian wine. Its close vicinity to Italy and France make it a prime candidate for imports. Wine sales in Switzerland has been on a steady upswing over the last few years. According to an article in Swiss newspaper Le News, in 2017 the Swiss consumed 249 million litres of wine, with 87 million litres of the total (35%) being produced in Switzerland. 163 million litres of it was imported mainly from Italy (41%), France (21%), and Spain (17%)overall, 79% of imports come from these three nations. wine2wine will be addressing the Swiss market with Swiss market expert Bruno Bonfanti and Italian Trade Agency commissioner Simona Bernardini on Tuesday at 3.15 pm. The wine2wine 2018 sessions dedicated to other international markets will analyze the U. S. and Chinese wine market and the Canadian markets. wine2wine tickets can be purchased directly on the website. With the ticket, attendees will gain access to the event app which provides information on all the speakers, talks, and sponsors. Special thanks go to wine2wine Premium Sponsors Antares Vision, Apra, Acatena, and Signorvino as well as to Partners, Bottlebook, Italian Wine Podcast, Meininger's Business International, Philp Kotler Marketing forum, Vinepair, Regione Sicilia, Wine Meridian, WineTV, the UK Wine Show. Technical Sponsors Asiago, Nespresso, Monte Veronese, Surgiva, Parmigiano Reggiano have also contributed to the successful organization of the fifth edition of wine2wine. About: The grand Vinitaly 2019 will be held from April 7th to the 10th. Every year, Vinitaly counts more than 4,000 exhibitors on a 100,000+ square meter area and 130,000 visitors from over 140 different countries with more than 30,000 top international buyers. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers, which will be held on the 6th of April, one day prior to Vinitaly will unite international wine professionals in the heart of Verona, offering them the unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 100 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Spectator. Since 1998 Vinitaly International travels to several countries such as Russia, China, USA and Hong Kong thanks to its strategic arm abroad, Vinitaly International. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) with the aim of divulging and broadcasting the excellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. VIA this year launched the seventh edition of its Certification Course and today counts 157 Italian Wine Ambassadors and 13 Italian Wine Experts. 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You can delete all cookies that are already on your computer and you can set most browsers to prevent them from being placed.Most browsers allow you to:If you chose to delete cookies, you should be aware that any preferences will be lost. Also, if you block cookies completely many websites (including ours) will not work properly and webcasts will not work at all. For these reasons, we do not recommend turning cookies off when using our webcasting services. The sixth edition of the China Shanghai International Childrens Book Fair, which concluded its run on November 11, hosted 367 exhibitors (of which 160 came from overseas), 33,796 visitors, and 237 events. Weve gathered a selection of photos highlighting the busy three-day event. All photos by Teri Tan, unless otherwise stated. The U.K. pavilion, which hosted 20 exhibitors, had a prime location in the professional zone. The new edition of Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinskis Maps was officially launched on November 9 at CCBF. Beijing Dandelion Publishing House, which published the Chinese edition, has sold about a million copies of the previous edition. An eye-catching display at Shenzhen Booking Imp & Exp Co., the Chinese supplier for Flying Start Books. Hsin Yi Foundation, which is headquartered in Taipei, had a big presence at CCBF. The foundation established the Feng Zikai Chinese Childrens Picture Book Award, one of Chinas most prestigious awards for the category, back in 2008. Game-based and book-plus titles were a hit with children in the Public Zone. Hans Christian Andersen Award winners Cao Wenxuan (l.) and Eiko Kadono shared their thoughts at the Power of Stories in Moving Children session hosted by Beijing Dandelion Publishing House. Photo: Beijing Dandelion Publishing House. Caroline Muir, international sales director of Walker Books Group (U.K.), in the middle of a meeting with potential publishing partners. Two of the groups picture books won the 2018 Chen Bochui Award in the Best International Picture Book category: Nicola Davies and Rebecca Cobbs The Day War Came (Walker Books), and Mac Barnett and Jon Klassens The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse (Candlewick Press). The last day of this years CCBF fell on November 11, which is known as Singles Day in China (the equivalent of Black Friday), when online shopping binges hit their annual peak. But long queues at booths in the Public Zone, including this Pop-up Elmer store, showcased the enduring love for book fairs, books (and character-based merchandise), and reading in the country. Three kids, engrossed in their books, didnt seem to mind the noisy crowd around them. French author Serge Bloch launching and signing two new series, ZamZam and Zouk, at the booth of Beijing-based Everafter Books. Trustbridge Global Media, the parent company of Everafter, inked a joint venture deal with Bayard Group at the previous CCBF to publish bestselling authors such as Bloch, Herve Tullet, and Xavier Deneux for the Chinese market. Scholastic, one of the global houses with very strong branding in China, is a regular exhibitor at CCBF. Foreign rights manager Claudia Protto was in Shanghai to represent Italian publisher White Star, which entered the Chinese market more than 15 years ago and has sold rights to nearly all of its titles into China. Leo Paper Group, one of the biggest export printers for childrens books and print products in the world, had a booth facade showcasing its vast multi-complex printing facility located in southern China. One local company specializing in Chinese-language learning materials showered its wooden Tree of Knowledge with flashcards. The presence of EdTech companies, especially those merging technology with English-language learning, was noticeable at the recently concluded China Shanghai International Childrens Book Fair (CCBF), held November 911. These companies often seek to offer products optimized for digital platforms alongside print or print-bundled products. PW spoke with two such playersone British, the other Chineseto find out what works or does not work, and their major challenges. For U.K.-based Heckerty Company, this trip to Shanghai was about introducing a 409-year-old green-faced witch with a great sense of humor, a heart of gold, and a loyal companion in the shape of a white-faced black cat to Chinese parents, teachers, and children. But Heckerty the Witch and Zanzibar the Cat do not represent characters that are deemed acceptable to the Chinese society. Chinese folktales and oral traditions invariably typecast the witch as bad, scary, and not the least funny or lovable, and so Chinese children tend to equate the witch with a monster or demon. Black cats, of course, are often regarded as bad luck (and Chinese people are quite superstitious by nature). So how to explain the packed Heckerty booth at the fair? It was as if the witch and the cat had cast their magic all the way from the land of Spellbound to create crowds that were constantly three-deep, waiting to chat with company cofounders Jan Ziff and Allan Davidson. The attraction perhaps lies in the product itself, which has been selected as an Editors Choice by Childrens Technology Review and rated #1 in Education by Amazon. The Chinese market, after all, is one that is known to judge a product by its reviews, awards, and bestseller status. The fact that our characters and storytelling approaches are so different is working well for us, explained Davidson, adding that his booth visitors are looking for positive values such as caring, loyalty, inclusiveness, and integrityand these are found in abundance in the Heckerty apps, books, and videos. There are altogether seven apps to go with seven books, and 40-odd videos for children three to eight years old. The companys first visit to CCBF, Ziff said, was mostly to be visible to the market, check out the opportunities, and build relationships. We want our stories to help Chinese children to learn English, increase their vocabulary, and improve their diction, and this fair offered a great opportunity to chat with teachers and parents to find out what they are looking for in terms of content. We are interested in this market for the longer term, and so we are being very deliberate in choosing the right deal and partner. Over at Chinese e-reading company Ellabook, which was established in 2013, the mission is to provide an interactive digital reading platform for kids ages three to 10. Its platform hosts 1,000-plus licensed childrens books from companies such as Bayard, Highlights for Children, Lexile Framework for Reading, Little Bee Books, Oxford University Press, and Scholastic. It has more than three million registered users while the app is being used by about 6,000 kindergartens throughout China. We enhanced the content with animation, audio, games, videos, and other interactivities to make it attractive to children. We are still the only player in this particular segment, said rights consultant Solene Xie. In China, she explained, most parents only use mobile devices and screen time to keep their children entertained and occupied while eating out in restaurants or commuting. For parents, the Ellabook app works well because it allows children to read the content page by pageas they would a print bookplay with the interactivities, and listen to the audio to learn words and improve their diction. For Chinese parents, what we are offering is an educational tool, not an online game. That distinction is very important. Ellabook is now preparing to launch its own software that will help publishing clients to create interactive pages on their own. For Ellabook CEO and cofounder Ren Hui, the biggest threat to the fast-rising digital reading market for children is digital piracy. High profitability has caused rampant plagiarism while legal fights are becoming expensive and tedious. So, during the Beijing International Book Fair this past August, Ren together with 24 Chinese childrens book publishers launched a digital anti-piracy alliance. Among the major industry players that have the alliance are 21st Century Publishing, Beijing Dandelion, Beijing Yutian Hanfeng, Everafter Books, Tomorrow Publishing House, Xinjiang Juvenile Publishing House, and Zhejiang Juvenile Publishing House. Aside from protecting original works and promoting a healthy e-reading space for children, the alliance is also about regulating the digital content industry, organizing legal assistance, and implementing an information-sharing mechanism within the industry. Ren, who is now the v-p of the new alliance, added: Copyright protection in China is now taking on a new importance and urgency, and this is proven by the many publishers joining the alliance. Anime NYC, an annual Asian pop culture convention devoted to anime and manga, returned to the Javits Center Nov. 16-18, for its second year with an expanded exhibition floor, more publishers and a signficant increase in attendance. Anime NYC founder Peter Tatara said the show attracted 36,000 unique attendees, a big increase over the 15,000 fans that attended the first show last year. The attendance figures represent unique attendees rather than the aggregate turnstile numbers, he said. If we turnstiled, we'd be 50,000 plus, said Tatara. The show occupied the southern third of the main exhibition floor; panels were held on the special events floor on the lower level, with an Artist Alley (that was crammed with fans) located in the River Pavillion on the upper levels of the Javits center. Organized by Leftfield Media, Anime NYC returned for their second year with a significant growth in both vendors and attendees, including companies such as Viz Media, Vertical Comics Kodansha, Yen Press, as well as a Korean web comics (manhwa) publisher, TappyToon. This years show featured about 220 exhibitors and about 240 artists of all kinds. The show offered expanded programming focused on animation, but also offered manga publishing panels on Saturday featuring the newly launched Denpa Books, and panels by Viz, Yen Press, Vertical Inc. Other exhibiting publishers included Gkids, Tokyo Chronos, Udon, Bluefin and Crunchyroll. Yen Press publishing director Kurt Hassler hosted a lively panel that announced a long list of forthcoming titles (both manga and light novels). Udon Publisher Erik Ko brought its 15 title Manga Classics line, a series of manga adaptations of classic literary works such as, Macbeth, The adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Jane Eyre, popular with librarians. Weve sold out of every copy, he said, At the Kodansha/Vertical Comics panel, publishers Ben Applegate and Tomo Tran presented forthcoming titles, such as Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Japan (light novel). They announced a new hardcover reprint of the Cardcaptor Sakura shojo manga series, and their first foray into Boys Love or gay romance manga with such series as 10 Dance and Hitorijime My Hero, and Yuri (girl romance focused manga) series such as Yuri is My Job. Panels such as "Thats Gay! Anime and Manga for the LGBT Audience, focused on the sometimes less than stellar representations in manga and anime of the LGBTQ community, and offered progressive examples. Overall publishers contacted by PW were very happy with sales. Kinokuniya Books, a cosponsor of Anime NYC, had a bookstore set up in the hall, featuring a wide range of art books based on manga and anime. Kinokuniya graphic novel buyer and store manager Terence Irvins said business has been really good, citing in particular art books based on Vizs My Hero Academia, a global bestselling manga series. Anime NYC opened at Javits about a month after the launch of a rival Asian-pop show, Anime Fest @NYCC, organized by ReedPop and Anime Expo and held at the Pier 94 event space at W. 52nd street during New York Comic Con. Next year, Tatara said, Anime NYC will run from Nov. 15-17, 2019. He said the show will expand into Hall 3B, doubling the exhibition floor space from 136,000 square feet to about 294,000 square feet. The increase will give Anime NYC about 75% of the available space on the main floor. "In just two years Anime NYC has emerged as one of the largest anime conventions in the country and an important pillar for the anime industry," Tatara said. "We've become a hub for the business of the business. As we continue to grow. we look forward to fostering more new business as only New York can." Additional reporting by Drucilla Shultz and Gilcy Aquino. The University Press of New England announced that it has reached an agreement with University of Chicago Press and Chicago Distribution Center to distribute UPNEs backlist along with forthcoming titles from eight former UPNE partner presses, as well as Dartmouth College Press, and Brandeis University Press. The deal is one in a string of agreements reached in recent months by UPNE presses, affiliates, and imprints following UPNEs April announcement that it would close at the end of the year, after nearly half a century in operation. The consortium had dwindled to two presses, Dartmouth and Brandeis, and 24 book partners; presses who handled distribution and sales through UPNE. Brandeis University Provost Lisa Lynch said the agreement, will provide visibility to our universitys outstanding publishing program and authors worldwide. Lynch also put to rest questions about the future of the press, saying that the university is currently looking to hire a new director for BUP. The future of BUP was not the only one in question following the Dartmouth Board of Governors decision to close UPNE, citing the financial unsustainability of the operation. The closure left many of the affiliate publishers reeling, and endangered fall sales. Deidre Randall, publisher of Peter E. Randall Publisher, was preparing the fall release of the biggest book ever published by the press, when the news came through in April. Without a clear distribution path for Mary Ann Espositos Ciao Italia: My Lifelong Food Adventures in Italy, Randall turned to bookseller Debra Woodward for help. With Woodwards advice and support, Randall took up the marketing of the book herself, attending the New England Independent Booksellers Association annual conference, and reaching out directly to booksellers. There was a lot of love for us from stores who knew that UPNE was closing, said Randall, who recently signed a deal with Pathway Book Services for distribution, Northeast Publisher Representatives for sales, and Woodward for ongoing consulting. As for the Esposito book, which was published on November 1, Randall said she is on pace to sell out of the 10,000 copy first printing and is going into a second 10,000 copy printing. Ken Keegan of Omnidawn Publishing, another UPNE client, found himself in a similarly difficult position to Randall, but ultimately went with University of Chicago for distribution. While sales have dipped with the lapse in representation, Keegan said the press was buoyed by the selection of Diana Khoi Nguyens Ghost Of as a finalist for the 2018 National Book Awards. While the press suffered some losses, they were in line with what he predicted. Looking ahead, Keegan said, in many ways this is an improvement, and so far I dont see any disadvantages, Two soon-to-be-departing UPNE staffers are also offering up a solution to former UPNE affiliates. Douglas Tifft and Ann Brash are launching Redwing Meadow Book Services, an editorial, design, and production company that has struck agreements with Wesleyan University Press and BUP. In August, Wesleyan also signed a new fulfillment agreement with Hopkins Fulfillment Services. Northeastern University Press followed suit in late October. The ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of the country, in a statement released on Monday November 19, 2018, confirmed the death of the icon. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has since visited the bereaved family and signed a book of condolence which has been opened in honour of the late Aggrey-Orleans. Biography Mr Aggrey-Orleans was Ghanas envoy to the United Kingdom from October 1997 to March 2001 and then an Acting Clerk to Parliament, from 1979 to 1981, and Head of the Parliamentary Service. He also served as Chief of Protocol at the Foreign Affairs Ministry from 1975 to 1979, and as Assistant Director of the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO). During his early age, he attended Mfantsipim Senior High School, and then the University College of Ghana. He earned a degree from the University of London in French language and literature. He later studied French at the University of Bordeaux, and followed up with a four-year post-graduate course of research in politics and diplomacy. This is as a result of a partnership established between the bank and IIA. The bank is also expected to provide other forms of assistance to enhance the development of the enterprise. Although the IIA is a non-profit organisation, its vision is to create a prosperous African economy hence has aided over $1million credit support to SMEs through its 'Access-to-Finance' benefit offering. According to a statement released last Friday, November 17, 2018, IIA Ghana's Country Director, Mr Clarence Nartey, voiced out his glee at the partnership with Barclays and how it will result in more funds being made available to support the growth of SMEs. "The benefits to our SMEs are enormous. These include; access to world-class business advisory services, short-term loans, supply chain financing and project financing at competitive rates. This should enable them grow their businesses and create more jobs in the economy," Mr Nartey said In the statement, Mr Nartey said, the partnership was very strategic because Barclays' Enterprise Supply Development (ESD) programme had similar objectives as IIA's three-prong benefit offerings. Business opportunities valued at $150 million has been provided by the IIA's 'Access-to-Markets' pillar Ghanaian SMEs through its online marketplace platform the called the African Partner Pool (APP). The ceremony themed Empowering the private sector to move Ghana beyond aid which was held in Accra the capital of Ghana last Saturday, November 17, 2018, awarded the businessman for his massive role played in improving the business practices in Ghana. Alongside Mr Daniel were Janet Abobigu, Managing Director of Uni-Jay Limited who was named Business Woman of the Year and Ruth-Maria Assandoh, Managing Director of Akila Craft and Arts, who was named the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The companies of these three business icons, McDan Shipping Company Limited, Uni-Jay Limited and Akila Art and Craft, were named Logistics Company of the Year, Fashion Company of the Year and Arts and Craft Company of the Year respectively. Some other companies in the country were also awarded. They are: President of GNCCI, Nana Appiagyei Dankawoso, explained that the awards seek to celebrate significant businesses and personalities who contributed massively to business practice in the country. He said, the GNCCI believes a deliberate and qualitative change in national life including the structure of the economy, nature of infrastructure, and education of the young people and acquisition of skills, were necessary to propel the achievement of the vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid. The actress earlier when the question was posed was trying to be cunning with her answer stating she really didnt want to disclose it. However, upon a little push by Nana Romeo, she finally made the bold disclosure that her crush is the sensational gospel musician. ece-auto-gen READ ALSO:BBC interview actress He is a musician I dont want to talk about it but my crush is Joe Mettle, I like his songs so much she stated. Maame Serwaa is a very talented young actress, who is popular for the many adult roles she plays in many of the Kumawood movies. She was recently awarded a full learning scholarship and brand ambassador deal with Knutsford University in Accra. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Ofori-Atta said GH1 billion had already been earmarked for disbursement by the end of the year out of the GH1 billion. He added that an additional GH900 million would be paid to contractors in the course of next year. READ ALSO: Govt has needed resources to implement 2019 budget - Ofori-AttaGovt has needed resources to implement 2019 budget - Ofori-Atta The Finance Minister said: The decision to release the funds follows a comprehensive audit undertaken by the Auditor-General after we suspected some anomalies in some of the bills submitted to the government for payment. Earlier the President of the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB), Alhassan Andani, had raised concerns at the 2019 post-budget session under the auspices of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) about how the governments indebtedness to contractors affects the operations of banks in the country. He urged the government to in place measures for the debt settlement. Responding to this Mr Ofori-Atta said the government owes contractors about GH3.4 billion but gave an assurance of the governments commitment to release the funds to pay the contractors. Effect on the economy When the government releases the funds, it will help stimulate the economy for Christmas 2018 and beyond. READ ALSO: Fire detected at KIA terminal 2 It will also help bring down the non-performing loans (NPLs) on the books of commercial banks, which currently hover around GH8.74 billion. This is the first time that the president or vice president has visited Ghanaian troops in Lebanon, although Ghana has supported UNIFIL with troops since the inception of the mission 40 years ago. A statement issued by Mr Frank Agyei-Twum, the Director of Communication at the Office of the Vice President, said the 850 officers and Men of the contingent, GHANBATT 85, have been deployed with UNIFIL for the past five months. It said they had been engaged to promote peace and security in the troubled Middle Eastern country, especially on its southern border with Israel. The key operational tasks of the battalion during the one-year of deployment include monitoring violations of the Blue Line, conducting day and night patrols, maintaining security, escorting humanitarian convoys and protection of civilians. As part of the Civil Military Co-operation activities, UNIFIL GHANBATT 85, during its tour of peacekeeping duties, also assisted civilians in the form of medical aid, educational lectures, basic skills training in first aid and donation of relief items. Vice President Bawumia would use the opportunity to meet the Government and leadership of Lebanon and interact with the Ghanaian community. The Prosecution, led by Mrs Evelyn Keelson, a Senior State Attorney, has so far presented the fourth prosecution witness, who had finished his evidence-in-chief and a cross-examination of him by some defence lawyers in the case. ece-auto-gen Major Mahama, who was an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, was said to have been on his daily jogging routine on Monday, May 29, 2017, when some angry youth of the town attacked him, allegedly on suspicion of being an armed robber. The Police subsequently arrested over 50 suspects who had fled the town to other regions of the country and discharged 36 people, leaving 14 accused. The selection of a seven-member jury panel to hear the case was only completed on April 25. ece-auto-gen She was deployed 10 months ago. Since she was deployed, Mrs Osei has trained and mentored many Somali Police on sexual and gender-based violence issues. She also initiated an adult literacy training for 49 women police officers who could not read nor write English or Somali. READ ALSO: Kaneshie building collapses: one feared trappedKaneshie building collapses: one feared trapped The UN Police Commissioner, Luis Ribeiro Carrilho said "She is a role model to other police officers in the UN." ece-auto-gen The award aims to recognise the efforts of an outstanding police officer and also highlight the contribution of women towards the achievement of sustainable peace. This award brings honour to the Ghana Police Service, since the image of the security agency in the country keeps dwindling. He is of the view that the flagship policy by the NPP should have been segmented. Speaking to Francis Abban on Starr FM, Dr. Aidoo said: "I thought the Free SHS should be for the benefit of those who could not afford to send their children to school, so that the playing field gradually levels". This position has also been reiterated in the past by the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Aryeetey, and the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta. ece-auto-gen The former Ghana Ambassador to The Netherlands said he had wished Free SHS will not inure to the benefit of those who can afford to send their children to secondary school. He said the NDC's scribe is miles above the New Patriotic Party's General Secretary, John Boadu. Though, he agreed that there are some similarities between the two stalwarts, comparing them isn't fair Nketia, who is popularly known as Geeneral Mosquito. Speaking on Accra based Asempa FM, he said: "There is no doubt John Boadu is a brilliant and fantastic gentleman but he can attest to the fact that General Mosquito is far ahead of him." Sammy Gyamfi was elected ahead of Fred Agbenyo as the new Communications Director of the NDC at the National Delegates Congress over the weekend. ece-auto-gen In an interview on Accra-based Starr FM about comments made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo concerning the need to create a database for the various sectors in the country's economy, Tony Aidoo said the informal nature of Ghana's economy has been a major constraint to her development and therefore, needs a data plan. "Data is everything, my friend; it is not only for births and deaths, and not only for electoral register, it is not only for monitoring and evaluation, it is also for planning. ece-auto-gen "You need data to plan; you look at a community: how many toilets do they have? Potable water availability, how much can we spend to provide those items? What about the neighbourhood community? All those are matters of data. You dont plan without data; the so-called 40-year plan that was developed under the Mahama administration was to me, nonsense. How do you plan without data?" he queried. In 2015, Mahama underscored the importance of long-term development plans to the socio-economic prosperity of nations when he launched 40-year national development plan for the country. He added that while short and medium-term development plans are relevant, they are effective only if situated within long-term frameworks. He pointed out that the fine will serve as a punitive measure to address financial anomalies in Nigeria. Falana stated this while faulting the position of the British and American governments for criticising that the fine would scare MTN and other core investors from investing in Nigeria, ThisDay reports. According to the report, John Bray, US Consul General, and Laura Beaufils, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, had explained that foreign investors were discouraged by issues surrounding the fine imposed on the telecoms firm. ece-auto-gen ThisDay quoted both envoys to have dropped the suggestion at the just concluded 2018 International Investment Conference organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce in Lagos. But Falana described the statement as hypocritical and desperation aimed at promoting impunity in the country. He said the UK and US governments would do the same if there was a clear case of infraction. He narrated how UK and US government have over the years imposed penalties on banks and corporate organisations in their respective countries such as UBS, Citi, JPMorgan among others. In August 2018, Nigeria's central bank (CBN) ordered MTN and four other banks to refund a total of $8.134billion moved out of the country" for breaching the country's forex regulations. The central bank also slammed a huge N5.8 billion fine on the banks for allegedly aiding MTN in the illegal capital repatriation. MTN had denied any wrongdoings and sue the Nigerian authority over the matter. Four banks said they are cooperating with the apex bank to find an amicable solution in the matter after many of them were deducted. The stat of reckless driving in Nigeria amidst the documented problems of bad roads is an infamous part of the Nigerian fabric. This time around, four staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission, a Corper and a three-year-old girl have died in an accident on AjaokutaLokoja Road a few days ago. They were returning from Ayingba, Kogi State, where they attended the wedding ceremony of an INEC employee. ALSO READ: 3 days after DELSU student was declared missing, she is found dead with tongue and breast missing According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Corper was working with INEC. Lokoja, Kogi State as his place of primary assignment and the child belonged to one of the INEC staff. The news was confirmed by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Kogi State, Mr. Ahmed Biambo, He said the victims were from the Information and Communication Technology and Account departments of INEC and that their corpses had been deposited at the morgue, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja. This time, a Kogi State indigene, Onuche Daniel, has confessed to sexually assaulting three of his students. He is a teacher with Divinity Care Nursey and Primary School, Makurdi, Benue State. ALSO READ: Pulse Chats with Omoge Dami: The feminist with a purpose According to Instablog9ja, the three children are 8-year-old Peace, whom he admittedly assaulted 3 times, Angbiandoo and Mimidoo. Activist Ukan Kurugh, the first assault took place in the classroom, and the other two took place in the toilet. The former Head of State said this at the launch of a the former Presidents book titled: My Transition Hours. Jonathan lost to the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. According to reports, the former President made a phone call to Buhari and congratulated him on his victory after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the results. Jonathan does not love power Speaking further, Abubakar said that Jonathans actions in 2015, showed that he loves Nigeria more than power. Abubakar also said We congratulate you for putting pen to paper to document your transition. We cannot thank you enough for the peace we have in the country through the peaceful transition when you honourably conceded in 2015. By your action, your excellency, your brought peace to this country and you became an example not to Nigeria but Africa. You have shown that you have shown that you love your country more than you love power congratulations. I wish you well and many happy returns, Daily Post reports. GEJ speaks on Obama Former President Jonathan, in his book revealed that he felt humiliated when the former United States president, Barack Obama sent the then-US Secretary of State, John Kerry, to pressure his government when the 2015 elections were postponed. In 2015, the elections slated to hold on February 14, was moved to March 28 due the concerns that the Boko Haram onslaught in the North-East might disenfranchise many Nigerians living in the region. They were said to have first driven to the police station in the town where they wreaked havoc before heading straight to the first generation bank in an ambulance containing a casket loaded with guns. At the police station, the gunmen were said to have killed two policemen on duty. Others killed, according to the source, were a security guard at the bank, shot around the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) stand and an aged man who was passing by at the time of the attack. The robbers were said to have entered Ijero Ekiti through Aramoko Ekiti road. They were said to have announced their arrival with gun shots which sent residents scampering for safety. The bandits reportedly blew the banks security door with dynamite to gain access into the banking hall and made away with unspecified amount of money in the raid which lasted for about an hour. NAN reports that the heavy shooting by the robbers paralysed transportation, economic and social activities in the town. Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Caleb Ikechuckwu, said that he had visited the town to gather information, adding that the robbers arrived the town at about 5.30 p.m. There was indeed casualty; the robbers arrived the town few minutes after 5.30 p.m. They succeeded by using dynamite to gain access into the banking hall. The Conservative Member of Parliament delivered a severely critical review of the Nigerian president's economic policies in an op-ed she wrote for City A.M. which was published on Monday, November 19, 2018. Patel accused the Nigerian government of seeking international investment while it has continued to flout international law and convention. To illustrate the president's hostile actions towards investors in the country, Patel pointed to Buhari's decision to cancel a deal the previous government had made with Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) while also refusing to honour court decisions over the resulting conflict. She wrote, "However, as with all investments, investors should know of the corrosive effect of corruption, as well as the lack of transparency and associated difficulties of doing business in certain countries. "In Nigeria, the unhappy experience of the firm founded by two Irishmen, Process and Industrial Development (P&ID), is a case in point, and demonstrates the risk that businesses will face in Nigeria. "In 2010, P&ID signed a 20-year contract with the Nigerian government to create a new natural gas development refinery, but the project fell through after the Nigerian government reneged on its contractual commitments. "Upon taking office, President Buhari promptly cancelled a compensation settlement, and has done his level best to pretend Nigeria's obligations to P&ID do not exist. "Since Buhari reneged on this deal, P&ID has undertaken legal efforts to affirm a tribunal award, first decided in London. It also made several attempts in court to force the Nigerian government to respect its obligations. "The most recent court decision at a London tribunal confirmed that the Nigerian government owes P&ID almost $9bn for the initial breach of contract, loss of income, additional costs, and interest accrued after five years of non-payment. "However, the Nigerian government has continued to flout international law and convention, and it refuses to respect the various court decisions." She noted that Nigeria's 145th place on the world's ranking for ease of doing business "demonstrates the risks of investment into Nigeria". ece-auto-gen She further cast doubts over President Buhari's ability to fight corruption, noting that it has gotten worse under his administration according to Transparency International's ranking. She concluded by saying investors should be wary of doing business in Nigeria. She wrote, "President Buhari currently faces serious allegations, which include staging show trials of opponents of a regime that is accused of corruption and graft, while simultaneously shielding his own party members and inner circle. "We should all welcome international efforts to attract international investment into developing economies. However, to do this successfully Nigeria must seriously tackle corruption, rather than use it as a smokescreen. It must honour its obligations to companies like P&ID. "Until then, investors inevitably will be very wary of investing in Nigeria." President Buhari has been accused in several quarters of taking economic decisions that have made conducting business in the country a nightmare. His handling of the economy is a major issue going into the 2019 presidential election as he seeks a second term in the Presidential Villa. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! In the excerpts of his new book, 'My Transition Hours', as reported by TheCable, Jonathan said Obama's decision to send then-US Secretary of State, John Kerry, to press on the government after the elections were postponed by a few weeks was meddlesome. Jonathan's government had postponed the 2015 presidential election from February 14 to March 28 due to security concerns arising from the insurgency of terrorist group, Boko Haram, in the northeast region. The decision was unpopular and many speculated that it was an attempt by the former president to prolong his tenure. In his new book, Jonathan said the speculations were false and that the Obama-led US government interfered to influence the sovereignty of Nigeria. He wrote, "I can recall that President Obama sent his Secretary of State to Nigeria, a sovereign nation, to protest the rescheduling of the election. John Kerry arrived in Nigeria on Sunday January 25, 2015 and said 'it's imperative that these elections happen on time as scheduled'. "How can the US Secretary of State know what is more important for Nigeria than Nigeria's own government? How could they have expected us to conduct elections when Boko Haram controlled part of the North East and were killing and maiming Nigerians? "Not even the assurance of the sanctity of the May 29, 2015 handover date could calm them down. In Nigeria, the constitution is very clear. No President can extend his tenure by one day." Obama rooted for the opposition - Jonathan Jonathan further noted that Obama's 'unusual' video message where he spoke directly to the Nigerian people was a subtle attempt to influence the votes in favour of the opposition at the time to oust him from office. ece-auto-gen He wrote, "On March 23, 2015, President Obama himself took the unusual step of releasing a video message directly to Nigerians all but telling them how to vote. "In that video, Obama urged Nigerians to open the 'next chapter' by their votes. Those who understood subliminal language deciphered that he was prodding the electorate to vote for the opposition to form a new government. "The message was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them. "In his message, he said, 'All Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear,' yet his government was vehemently and publicly against the postponement of the elections to enable our military defeat Boko Haram and prevent them from intimidating voters. This was the height of hypocrisy!" Jonathan said Obama's actions as well as that of other foreign powers like the United Kingdom's then-Prime Minister, David Cameron, were fueled by "deeper political interests". He noted that all of Nigeria's relevant stakeholders were present when the decision to postpone the elections was taken and that the foreign interference was designed to humiliate him. "In attendance at the meeting of the Council of State where the decision to reschedule the election was taken were almost all the living former Heads of State of this country. "That should have convinced John Kerry of the good intentions of the government. He cannot claim to love and defend Nigeria more than all our former heads of state present at the meeting. "I have stated earlier how Kerry's visit was designed to humiliate a sitting Nigerian president and clearly take sides in the countrys election," he wrote. Jonathan ended up losing the election to Buhari by more than 2.5 million votes, the first time an incumbent lost a presidential election to an opposition candidate in Nigeria. Jonathan conceded defeat to Buhari in a phone call before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially announced the former military Head of State the winner of the election. Why I lost in 2015 - Jonathan The former president also wrote in the book that his 2015 defeat owed a lot to the selfish personal ambitions of certain politicians who dumped his People's Democratic Party (PDP) to join the coalition that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC) that eventually produced Buhari. He wrote, "This time around, there were governors who were rounding off their eight years tenure and were blinded by ambition. "Some governors wanted to be Vice President whilst others strived to be the President. If I contested none could realise his ambition. This muffled implosion would fully manifest in the buildup to the 2015, which each ship-jumper calculating how much he or she would take from the PDP or the most opportune moment to cause maximum damage and based on that, plot their exit. "As they jumped ship in preparation for the 2015 elections, only very few of this lots, if any at all, bothered about what the PDP did or did not do in terms of delivering our campaign promises. "Their opposition to my re-election was principally driven by personal ambition. They therefore played up the issue pf where I come from and the faith, I professed to fuel their burning ambition. My performance mattered quite little, if it mattered at all." He also alleged that the desperation by the northern political bloc to wrest power back to the region had led to his administration being unfairly targeted with a barrage of fake news. He said 'a well-oiled media propaganda machine' made up many false accusations about his administration in a bid to soil his reputation and damage his chances of winning the 2015 election. "Throughout my tenure in office as President, there was constant barrage of what Donald Trump has now termed 'fake news' coming from a well-oiled media propaganda machine. "I can say as a matter of fact that were never any snipers in training or already trained. There were no lists of political enemies to be taken out. "There was no missing $49.8 billion and more importantly I can say that even those who made these and other allegations knew that they were false. This probably explains why many of these allegations died a natural death even as the echoes of my retreating footsteps still resounded nationally and globally," he said. Jonathan had been sworn in as Bayelsa governor in 2005 following Alamieyeseigha's impeachment after being charged with money laundering. He was later convicted in 2007 after he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison. Alamieyeseigha, now deceased, was pardoned in 2013 by Jonathan who had gone on to become vice president to Yar-Adua and then president after Yar'Adua's death in 2010. The state pardon was widely-criticised for showing the president's 'clannishness'. ece-auto-gen However, in his new book, titled My Transition Hours, the former president said the decision to pardon his kinsman was not his decision in any way. He disclosed that Yar'Adua had struck the deal in a bid to appease Niger Delta militants but could not announce it before his death. He said his government's decision to announce the pardon was merely to honour the late Yar'Adua's agreement with the militants. He said, "Let me say that after we came to office on May 29, 2007, two major issues that we had to grapple with were the peace process in the Niger Delta and growing menace of terrorism, driven largely by the radical Islamic terror group Jamaat Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram. "First, our oil production figures were ebbing due to militant activities in the Niger Delta. The federation distributable accrual was dwindling drastically when we took over due to the crisis in the region and president Yar'Adua in seeking urgent solution to increase the revenues of the federation offered amnesty to the militant. "One of their demands was that Alamieyeseigha be released from detention and pardoned by president Yar'Adua. "He accepted their term mandated me to ensure that my former boss accepted a plea bargain and call the militant to order. President Yar'Adua promised to grant Alamieyeseigha state pardon if all parties were brought on board to the negotiation table to restore peace in the region. "I immediately carried out his instruction. Unfortunately, he passed on before completely fulfilling his promise. When I became president, I granted late Alamieyeseigha a state pardon, in fulfilment of late President Yar'Adua's earlier commitment. "Unfortunately, this was frowned upon by some of my strongest critics and some went berserk and haul all manners of insults at me, including accusing me of being 'clannish' for granting state pardon to the former governor because he was from Bayelsa State." The former president lamented that his 'goodwill gesture' to pardon Alamieyeseigha was used as a tool by the opposition to unfairly hound his administration. Jonathan launched the book in Abuja on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, an event that was attended by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo; former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; and former military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar. Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this position known in a statement in Abuja on Monday. The presidential aide, who was reacting to a report by one of the national dailies, explained that the service chiefs had wanted to witness the event only to leave before it got underway after discovering the nature of the event. The statement read: the media should have asked what brought the Service Chiefs to the Next Level 2019 event at the State House, only to leave before it got underway. They were mistaken in their assumption that this was a non-political event, to showcase the achievements of the administration, the success of which they are part. Hardly were they seated than did the Minister of Defence, retired Brig-Gen. ask them to leave as this was a political gathering. They quickly left, even before the arrival of the President and for the event to get under way. The fuss over this is therefore absolutely unnecessary. President Buhari had on Sunday inaugurated campaign manual for his re-election in 2019 with a call on politicians to be peaceful and decent in their campaigns and avoid any act capable of setting the nation ablaze. NAN reports that the launch of the Campaign Manual/Next Level Document took place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Im not unmindful that the National Assembly and the Presidential campaign starts today, I will implore candidates to go about the campaigns peacefully and decently. We have no other country, let us not set it ablaze because of politics, President Buhari said at the event, which was witnessed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and wife of the president, Aisha Buhari. Others were Governors Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa; Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state; Yahaya Bello of Kogi; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun; Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Aminu Masari of Katsina State. The Commands spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu that the exercise would commence from 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Arrangements have been concluded for a successful conduct of shooting range exercise organized by the command through Police Mobile Force Squadron 3. The exercise is meant for personnel of Police Mobile Force Squadron 3 drawn from various divisions and formations across the state under the Quick Intervention Unit (QIU) programme as directed by the Inspector-General Police, Mr The shooting range programme, which is part of the training, is aimed at enhancing the shooting ability and skills of personnel who have been on four weeks intensive training at the training ground of the Police Mobile Force Squadron 3. To this end, the command wishes to inform members of the public, especially those residing within the range axis, not to panic or entertain fear during the exercise. The presidential spokesman said this during an interview programme on Arise TV on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. According to Daily Post, Adesina said that the President prefers to lose than rig. He said If anybody would rig election or anything, it will not be President Muhammadu Buhari. He would rather even prefer to lose fair and square. He has even said it before that if the only thing he would leave as a legacy for Nigeria is free and fair election, he would do it. Forget that the election would be rigged, that will not happen. Next Level campaign Speaking on the recently launch Next Level campaign, Adesina said that it is all about consolidating on the achievements of Buharis administration. According to him, The Next Level is about deepening what is happening in the country. Its about consolidating on what has been done and what is been done; its about making progress and advancing on what we are doing now. That is the sum total of it. A lot of Nigerians believe in what this administration is doing, they have faith, they have confidence, they have hope that the administration will take Nigerians to the place it deserves to be. The work in progress will continue and if you look at the documents that were released, youll see additional focal areas. So in the next dispensation and by the goodwill of Nigerians who will re-elect the current administration, these three focal areas (security, economy and infrastructure) will continue to receive attention and there will be additional ones as youve seen in the documents. Timi Frank warns Meanwhile, former spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Timi Frankhas called on Nigerians to reject Buharis Next Level agenda. Frank, who described it as a fraud, said embracing the APCs next level campaign will be detrimental. Jonathan expressed his concern at the public presentation and formal launch of his book - My Transition Hours. He said that vote buying, which was gradually replacing other forms of electoral malpractices, had become scandalous and placed the country in bad light. He pointed out that voters inducement through engraving of pictures of candidates and political party logos on gift items during elections was another rampant strategy of vote buying. He advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to borrow a leaf from other African countries and create polling centres in public places such as schools where classrooms were used for voting to make it difficult for vote buying. He explained that the book he launched was essentially an account of happenings during the 2015 general elections and the events that made him to place a phone call to President Muhammadu Buhari, which doused tension and ensured peaceful transition from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Party (APC). Saraki salutes Jonathan The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, saluted Jonathan for his statesmanship, sportsmanship and uncommon courage of conceding defeat to Buhari in 2015 when collation was still on. Saraki said that the act of accepting defeat by Jonathan helped to stabilise the already charged political atmosphere during the elections. He recalled how Jonathan used to vow that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian and called on political leaders to toe the same path and should not look at elections as declaration of war as the 2019 polls approached. Obasanjo speaks On his part, former President Olusegun Obasanjo who was Chairman of the occasion, also hailed the statesmanship disposition of Jonathan and urged him to remain committed to his residual responsibility of continuous service to his immediate community, Nigeria, Africa and beyond. According to Obasanjo, there is no substitute to democracy as it unifies the people. He said that Nigeria had the responsibility to unify West Africa, Africa and the black race across the world. Gowon thanks Jonathan Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, also thanked Jonathan for conceding defeat in 2015 to save Nigeria from impending war and consolidating democracy not only in the country but the entire African continent. ALSO READ: Abdulsalami thanks Jonathan for conceding defeat in 2015 He also applauded Jonathan for his role in fostering unity, peace, progress and strengthening democratic rule in Africa, saying Goodluck Jonathan is a good man and when the history of democracy in Africa is written, his name will be etched in gold. Fashola, who was in Lagos on Tuesday for the inauguration of 5000 foot soldiers for the campaign of Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that the South West already had high stakes/appointments in the current administration. He said that the promise of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) slot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not enough for the South West to lose the positions it is currently occupying. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Chief Gbenga Daniel, the Director General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, said that the position of the SGF would be given to the South West, if Atiku emerged as president in 2019. As a South West indigene, I will vote for the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket Westerner, because my people stand to gain more from it, Fashola said. He said that the re-election of Buhari would guarantee that power would come to the South West in 2023. The South West is presently occupying the position of the vice president. We have three sitting ministers and many different federal appointments from the present administration which we cannot afford to lose., he said. The Minister explained that although the APC promised change In 2014, the party did not promise to do it in four years. The APC has done more in three years than 16 years of PDP administration, yet they say president Buhari is too slow. President Buhari is taking Nigeria to the next level. We are going to the Next Level. The 2019 presidential election is a choice between going back and moving forward to the next level and also a choice of whom Nigerians can trust with their money, he said. He noted that the APC-Buhari led administration has done more in three years with less money than the PDP with all the monies that accrued to the nation in 16 years. Buhari has inaugurated a structural infrastructure fund for road construction. N15 billion has been released for the continued construction of Lagos-Ibadan expressway. There is need for the progress to continue. Dubai was built with oil-money, Nigeria can be built with it too. The past administration squandered oil revenue. Federal Government is constructing at least one road in every state in Nigeria. We are also constructing houses in 34 States in Nigeria. We have collected 690 containers for the construction of 90 transmission stations and through our policy of mini grids, our markets now have uninterrupted power supply. In the last 3 years we have constructed 40 kilometres of roads per year. In 2015, the total number of roads completed nationwide was 80 kilometres. In 2016 after we took over, we completed , 274 kilometres of road, 478 kilometres in 2017 and 474 kilometers in 2018. Electric generation has moved from 4000 Megawatts that we met to 7000MW. Thats an increase of 3000MW, an average of 1000MW a year. We have started an IPP in 9 universities in Nigeria. We have accelerated the distribution of meters by outsourcing it to distributors, he added. A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Acupuncture-Moxibustion event was held Sunday at the University of Cambridge, Britain, which grabbed lots of local people's attention. Under the theme "'the Belt and Road' TCM Acupuncture-Moxibustion Glamour Tour UK," experts and scholars from numbers of countries exchanged views and discussed a wide range of topics, such as British TCM education, inheritance of the TCM, as well as the TCM Acupuncture-Moxibustion treatment and health care. The event was aimed at enhancing the dialogue and communication between China and western countries in the TCM, and participants were invited to experience TCM diagnosis, treatment and health care on the spot. Oscar Gillestie, councilor of Cambridge City Hall, hailed the high-level academic exchanges conducted at Cambridge University. He said it was the first time for Cambridge to hold such an international Acupuncture-Moxibustion conference, and local people were extremely fascinated by it. Dogara said this at the launch of a book by the former President titled: My Transition Hours on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, in Abuja. The Speaker also thanked Jonathan for conceding defeat in 2015, adding that his decision gave legitimacy to the 2015 elections. GEJ deserves to be celebrated Dogara said that the former President deserves to be celebrated for resisting the temptation of holding on to power, like those he described as African demagogues and narcissists. Your excellency, we celebrate you. Those who chose not to do what you did today are not being celebrated, as a matter of fact if they were to organise an event like this, nobody will even attend and I guess the high point would be the events in Cote divoire involving Laurent Gbagbo and we all know where he is presently, where he has been confined to and that is lesson to anyone who will not want to follow this legacy of honour and dignity that you have established as a standard. We celebrate you today because your executive powers conferred you the authority to take a seat among the demagogues and the narcissists of Africa but you refused. You chose instead to take a seat at the table with all those statesmen of Africa and today, you are celebrated. ALSO READ:Jonathan says Obama humiliated him by interfering in 2015 elections That singular gracious call you put to your opponent was what brought our democracy to maturity and conferred legitimacy to our political process. Nobody ever is going to change that. We celebrate you today because by doing that you have brought honour to yourself and you have brought honour to all those that will identify with you. Abdulsalami Abubakar commends Jonathan Also, a former Head of State, for deciding to concede defeat in 2015. He said that the former Presidents action, showed that he loves Nigeria more than power. He said this on Monday in Abuja, while speaking with newsmen at the end of a meeting of the party's National Working Committee (NWC). Oshiomhole stressed that the way the people of Kwara voted in Saturday`s House of Representatives by-election in the state, was an attestation that they were tired of Saraki mismanaging their political life. I am sure Saraki would be politically retired by the good people of Kwara whom he has mismanaged their economic and political rights over the years. I am very excited about that and we think that this is something worth celebrating and we took time to celebrate it today, Oshiomhole said. He added that the APC was proud of the fact that since the assumption of the party`s current NWC which he headed on June 24, it had not lost any major election. Oshiomhole further added that the party`s victory in Saturday`s by-election in Bauchi, Kastina and Kwara states was proof that the APC was still the preferred party of Nigerians. More outstanding for me and the APC, both the leadership and the membership, is the humiliating defeat that Sen. Bukola Saraki suffered in the hands of Kwara people. What the people of Kwara have done to him is that they are going to politically bury him come February next year and he has seen the first warning, he said. He said that Kwara people, based on the outcome of the election, had dealt Saraki a political blow. ALSO READ: Saraki asks Oshiomhole to resign from politics This, he said, was most humiliating since Saraki was the acclaimed leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara, and had recently led elections in other states. Here is a native doctor who was busy going to other states, now unable to heal his own people in his own state, that defeat in Kwara is most outstanding, the APC national chairman stressed. He said this was particularly so, because the candidate who won the election was not put in place by anybody close to Saraki. While speaking during an interview with Pulse on Monday, November 19, 2018, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the president's aloof leadership style has thrown other arms of government into chaos and negatively affected the nation's fortunes. He said, "Now, you have a president who does not engage anybody, he's aloof, he doesn't have discussions with the National Assembly, nothing. He's an emperor. And that's why even though his party is supposed to be in the majority in the National Assembly, nothing is happening - gridlock, commotion, fights everywhere, defections, jumpology; they jump from APC to PDP back to PDP and back to APC. Did they consult the Nigerians that elected them? No. "The politicians of this country are a disappointing lot and unless the people of Nigeria rise up against them, we'll never be free." The presidential candidate also vowed that he would announce a cabinet after 48 hours of being sworn in as president if he wins at the polls next year. President Buhari didn't announce a cabinet for over four months after he was inaugurated in 2015. Moghalu said, "As president of Nigeria, I'll nominate my cabinet within 48 hours of being sworn in. Not only will I nominate my cabinet in 48 hours, I'll be the first president since 1999 to nominate his cabinet with portfolios attached to them. "You see the importance of this; because if you're assessing somebody in the National Assembly for a ministerial appointment, what are you assessing him against if you don't know what portfolio he'll hold. We'll hit the ground running, no question about it." 2019 presidential election The 2019 presidential election, scheduled for February 16, 2019, is billed to be closely-fought between President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Alongside Moghalu in the chasing pack is Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC). Others are Tope Fasua of the Abundance Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Eunice Atuejide of the National Interest Party (NIP), Adesina Fagbenro-Byron of the Kowa Party (KP), Chike Ukaegbu of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Hamza Al-Mustapha of the People's Party of Nigeria (PPN), Obadiah Mailafia of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and many more. The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), told Pulse during an interview on Monday, November 19, 2018, that the state corporation is currently a 'cesspit of corruption' used to line the pockets of politicians in Nigeria. While faulting President Muhammadu Buhari's handling of the oil sector, Moghalu vowed to sell all of Nigeria's 'decrepit' refineries while also allowing market forces to determine the price of fuel. He said, "Market forces will determine the price of petrol. I will abolish the petroleum subsidy and deregulate downstream petroleum. "Buhari increased the price of petroleum by a whopping 70% after claiming that he would reduce the price. If he had allowed market forces, the price of petrol would have found its natural level. "It could be N100 or it could be N80 because many people would be involved in fuel importation and distribution, so the competitive factor would come in. "By the way, the first thing I'm going to do is to sell all these decrepit refineries that Buhari's government has been promising to repair since 2015. "I'll privatise NNPC. NNPC is a joke. It's a cesspit of corruption. There is nothing that the NNPC is doing for Nigeria. It's the imprest account of every politician in Nigeria. They just share the money there. There's nothing that's going on there and the reason is because the management of it is opaque - there's no transparency. "There must be at least a partial privatisation of the NNPC with the private sector owning not less 51%. That is what will make it a real successful corporation." "I don't care about stepping on toes" - Moghalu ece-auto-gen To actualise his vision for Nigeria, Moghalu said he does not care on whose toes he has to step as long as it helps the country. He clarified that this means he'll be a decisive leader and not necessarily a confrontational one. He said, "The reason why I know that I'll achieve a lot in four years is this. As president of Nigeria, I'm going to govern Nigeria largely with the mechanism of four offices that'll be in the presidency: the office of national strategy, the national office of risk management, the office of performance management and the office of human capital development. "These four offices will drive my presidency and will be measuring our performance against benchmarks that we have set as an overall strategy for four years. We'll run Nigeria like a corporation. "I don't care about stepping on toes, In fact, I'll smash a lot of toes. If your toe is stopping progress in this country, I'm going to be your enemy. "When I talk about smashing toes, I'm not saying that I'll have a confrontational style, I'm just saying I'm going to be a decisive leader." 2019 presidential election The 2019 presidential election, scheduled for February 16, 2019, is billed to be closely-fought between President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Alongside Moghalu in the chasing pack is Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC). Others are Tope Fasua of the Abundance Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Eunice Atuejide of the National Interest Party (NIP), Adesina Fagbenro-Byron of the Kowa Party (KP), Chike Ukaegbu of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Hamza Al-Mustapha of the People's Party of Nigeria (PPN), Obadiah Mailafia of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and many more. Moghalu says BIG distills his vision for the country come 2019. I have painstakingly outlined my vision for Nigeria in my book. I am the first and dare say only presidential candidate to ever do this. It is not a policy document or just a few years plan, its a vision that even my successors can latch onto and continue with. With my book B.I.G, all Nigerians have a real blue print of what to expect from 2019, Moghalu says in a statement made available to Pulse. Moghalu issued the statement in Lagos as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted its ban on presidential campaigns ahead of the 2019 general elections. Bringing innovation and quality ideas to the table Moghalu who released his book about his vision for Nigeria since February, says he understands the solutions to the nations problems like the back of his palm. He says he will be bringing plenty of innovation, quality leadership, nation building through systematic restructuring and real federalism, human capital development, economic growth hinged on philosophical foundation, and creatively managing the nations economy through his fiscal policy, to the table when he becomes president. ece-auto-gen My presidency will successfully move Nigeria away from an oil dependent economy to one that rewards innovation, creative thinking and hard work. For far too long, we have depended on oil to drive this nation because leadership has been lazy. That will change when I become president. The knowledge economy is what drives nations, not its non-renewable resources. My presidency will end this rent economy we have been running and restore hope to a suffering people. Nigerians deserve better than they have been getting from these two political parties who cant fix the nations problems because they simply do not know better or have the capacity to, Moghalu says. Moghalu also made it clear that his campaign will be focused on the issues that affect the everyday Nigerian and nothing more. ece-auto-gen As I kick off my campaign on the platform of the YPP, I want Nigerians not to be carried away by the big political rallies of the establishment candidates and their empty, meaningless promises. I want Nigerians to ignore the concerts these candidates will be assailing them with on the campaign trail. Nigerians should be asking themselves if their lives have been any better under the stewardship of the PDP and APC since 1999. Thats what 2019 is about and not just campaign jingles with no depth to them, Moghalu says in his statement. Why he chose Getso as running mate The YPP presidential candidate also touched on his choice of running mate in his statement. 37-year-old Mrs. Umma Getso was announced as Moghalus running mate on Sunday, November 18, 2018. I chose her because I was told that choosing a lady as running mate would be a mistake. I was advised not to because women wont win you elections on the ballot. But that is exactly my point. We have been running a nation where you are told not to go against the grain. Which is why we havent made progress since the return to civilian governance in 1999. "Women are nation builders. They are our mothers, sisters, aunts, friends, wives, confidantes, you name it. No one understands a nation better than its womenfolk. It has been a mistake not to have carried them along all these years. Getso will complement me pretty well on the stump. We agree on the issues to focus on if Nigeria must get out of this present economic slump, poverty and infrastructural decay. This is what I and Getso represent. A paradigm shift that will deliver good governance to Nigerians when we assume the reins in 2019, Moghalu says. Moghalu wants to sack establishment political parties The presidential candidate added that during the campaign season, Nigerians will be reminded of why they need to ditch the old order and go for him. ece-auto-gen I am the most qualified, competent presidential candidate out there today. I challenge Nigerians to hold my hands as I meet them on the campaign trail, so that together we can rebuild this country that the clueless and incompetent have brought to its knees. And trust me, we can achieve this together, Moghalu says. While speaking during an interview with Pulse on Monday, November 19, 2018, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said leaders need to understand what issues the nation faces and how to solve them. He said this while explaining his idea of restructuring the country which he said has to be a comprehensive process that requires more than his political opponents have been willing to talk about. He said, "Let me tell you one thing about restructuring, there is the 419 version of restructuring whereby people believe that tinkering with a few things, devolving some powers, is restructuring. "If you go and establish state Police and do nothing else in this country, you've not restructured Nigeria. Some people actually equate restructuring with state Police and this is so erroneous. "Devolution of powers can happen in a system that's not a federation. Don't confuse devolution of powers with federalism. The two are not the same. Devolution is part of federalism but, in and of itself, is not necessarily federalism. That's a very important distinction. "This is why it's good to have a president that went to school and has a certificate. I understand the concept and I have the practical experience; it's not just theory. "Nigerians should begin to elect leaders who are intellectually-equipped to solve Nigeria's problems." Moghalu clarifies stand on restructuring With restructuring being a very important issue ahead of the 2019 presidential election, Moghalu believes Nigeria's unitary state should be restructured to create more independence for sub-national units. According to his version of restructuring, the six geo-political zones should be restructured into geo-economic zones, a system that will enable regions control their resources and pay some tax to the Federal Government. He said, "Nigeria should be returned to being a proper constitutional federation which it was before the military intervened in 1966. Ever since then, Nigeria has become a unitary state where most of the powers are vested in the Federal Government and the sub-national units are just holding out hands to receive. "We must return to a constitution that creates a proper federation and that federation, in my vision, should be based on the six geo-political zones, not on states. The reason is that the main benefit of restructuring is economic; it is actually to release the productive potential of the Nigerian economy and the human capitals, the skills in its citizens, can now begin to actually produce economic value instead of the laziness that the oil economy of today creates in everybody. "We must create a new economy that restructures Nigeria on the basis of six geo-political zones. Any restructuring of Nigeria means that we must return to resource control where the regions control their resources and pay some tax to the Federal Government. I propose 40% at most, or maybe 30%. "It's not like what we have today that all the oil reserve is owned by the Federal Government. That is a complete misnomer in a federal system because a federal system means there's a central government and there are subnational units but none of the two is superior to the other. There's just a division of powers. We're not running a federation, Nigeria is just running a command-and-control unitary state in essence." Highlighting further the main components of his idea of restructuring the country, Moghalu said religion must also be fully separated from the affairs of state to avoid conflict. He also said local government areas should not be a constitutional tier of governance but an option that should be decided by each region who he said can also have their own regional constitutions as long as they don't conflict with the central Nigerian constitution. He said, "I've talked about the need to base restructuring on geo-political zones which will now be geo-economic zones; to restore resource control; then, any new restructuring of the country must separate religion from the state. This has become a major source of conflict in this country where you have religions trying to be dominant in government and people of other religious faiths feel discriminated against and begin to agitate. "Local government areas cannot be a constitutional tier of governance in a real federation. There should be central government and there should be regional governments. The regional governments should create local governments and manage them and provinces. It's their decision. "Each of the six regions should have their own regional constitutions so long as there is nothing inconsistent between that and the central Nigerian constitution. There's nothing wrong with it, they're just organising themselves according to their local peculiarities." Restructuring will be completed in 18 months - Moghalu Moghalu said his process of restructuring the country would take 18 months to complete with the full involvement of the National Assembly and the Nigerian people. "When I become president in May, within 18 months, we would have completed the constitutional restructuring by the National Assembly and the State Assemblies. "We, as the executive, we go to them with an executive bill of how we think the country should look and we'll discuss it and the legislature will go to work. "We will go directly to the Nigerian people and open up a debate on restructuring so that we can know what people want and reflect that in whatever the legislature does," he said. 2019 presidential election The 2019 presidential election, scheduled for February 16, 2019, is billed to be closely-fought between President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Alongside Moghalu in the chasing pack is Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC). Others are Tope Fasua of the Abundance Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Eunice Atuejide of the National Interest Party (NIP), Adesina Fagbenro-Byron of the Kowa Party (KP), Chike Ukaegbu of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Hamza Al-Mustapha of the People's Party of Nigeria (PPN), Obadiah Mailafia of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and many more. The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), told Pulse during an interview on Monday, November 19, 2018, that he would not care about vested interests as long as it results in making Nigeria progress as a nation. The presidential candiate said this while speaking on his plans to fix Nigeria's economy and the power sector which he said should be performing better with the right kind of leadership. To fix Nigeria's economy, he said he'll ensure that property rights are respected and that the country's economy will have to become more innovation-driven. He added that his government will also establish a N1 trillion venture capital fund to help Nigerians run their businesses more efficiently and profitably. He called for the abolishment of the Land Use Act and promised to get rid of Nigeria's dependency on oil. He said, "My plan for fixing Nigeria's economy is a very fundamental plan. It is not a plan at the level of economically-illiterate politicians making noise. It's a plan that understands the secrets of creating the wealth of nation. It's a plan that understands the secrets of running a succesful capitalist economy which is that you must have three conditions. "Number one is that property rights must be respected. We don't have full respect for property rights in our economy today because the state owns all the land because of the Land Use Act. That has to be abolished. We must set land free; ownership of land must be set free because land is a major factor in economics. "Property rights include intellectual property - we don't see respect for that in Nigeria. When you go on the street and you find pirated videos and pirated books and all that, it means that people are losing money for the value of their intelligence. They're not getting economic rent on it. "Number two is innovation. I will move Nigeria towards an innovation-driven economy and move it away from oil which I've always called the worship of the god of small things. "What drives economies in the western world and in Asia is innovation; people are producing and inventing new things that are economically useful. Those things are being mass-produced and pipelined into markets. The inventor, middleman, wholesaler and retailer are making money. "Meanwhile, we have a lot of young people in this country who are inventing things. You just see them in the newspaper, everybody will clap for them but they're not making any money from their inventions. Terrible. "Finally, capital. My government will establish a N1 trillion venture capital fund. That venture capital fund will finance new businesses. The fund will co-own the business with you and you just split the profit for some years until they cash out after you've made enough profit. Do you know what that would do for the Nigerian economy? "The capital for this venture capital fund would be N500 billion from my government, as president, and N500 billion from the private sector." How I'll solve power problem - Moghalu Moghalu said restructuring Nigeria will go a long way in solving the nation's years of struggle with power generation. According to him, a decentralisation of grids will prove pivotal to solving the problem. He said, "When you restructure this country, the power generation will become the business of the regions. You're not going to have some central national grid. No, you're going to have a decentralisation of grids and that is very necessary so that it's not all managed in one place and from one place. "Number two, there'll be a lot of captive power that can be set up in various regions. "Three, as president, my proposal would be that we move all the hydro-electric power and gas-powered electricity to support industrial zones like Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Aba and Onitsha. "When those places have 24-hour electricity, the price of goods will come down dramatically in this country because 40% to 50% of the prices of all goods produced in Nigeria is electricity-generation cost. "For the normal people then, we'll open and create a new market for renewable energy - solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy which we have in abundance as a natural resource in this country." "I don't care about stepping on toes" - Moghalu To actualise his vision for Nigeria, Moghalu said he does not care on whose toes he has to step as long as it helps the country. He clarified that this means he'll be a decisive leader and not necessarily a confrontational one. He said, "The reason why I know that I'll achieve a lot in four years is this. As president of Nigeria, I'm going to govern Nigeria largely with the mechanism of four offices that'll be in the presidency: the office of national strategy, the national office of risk management, the office of performance management and the office of human capital development. "These four offices will drive my presidency and will be measuring our performance against benchmarks that we have set as an overall strategy for four years. We'll run Nigeria like a corporation. "I don't care about stepping on toes, In fact, I'll smash a lot of toes. If your toe is stopping progress in this country, I'm going to be your enemy. "When I talk about smashing toes, I'm not saying that I'll have a confrontational style, I'm just saying I'm going to be a decisive leader." 2019 presidential election The 2019 presidential election, scheduled for February 16, 2019, is billed to be closely-fought between President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Alongside Moghalu in the chasing pack is Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC). Others are Tope Fasua of the Abundance Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Eunice Atuejide of the National Interest Party (NIP), Adesina Fagbenro-Byron of the Kowa Party (KP), Chike Ukaegbu of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Hamza Al-Mustapha of the People's Party of Nigeria (PPN), Obadiah Mailafia of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and many more. "We have four deceased individuals: police officer, two female staff employees at the hospital, and the offender," police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told journalists. The shooter killed the first victim -- a woman who was in a "domestic relationship" with him -- during an argument in the parking lot, then fired at police when they got to the hospital, and ran inside, Johnson said. Additional police -- including SWAT officers -- arrived at the scene, and "engaged the offender for several minutes in the hospital, with gunshots being fired by the offender and by the police," he said. During the shootout, the gunman killed a second woman when she got off an elevator, Johnson said. The shooter also fatally wounded, but it was unclear if he killed himself or was killed by police. Mayor Rahm Emanuel identified the two female victims as a doctor and a "pharmaceutical assistant." Patients described being alarmed by the sound of gunshots outside Mercy Hospital and seeing a man apparently walking with a woman in the parking lot before shooting her three times in the chest. "Once she fell to the ground, he stood over her and shot her three more times," bystander James Gray told reporters, adding that the attack played out "like a movie scene." TV footage showed terrified patients and staff filing out of the hospital into a parking lot with their hands in the air after officers flooded the area. 'Scared as hell' Patient Hector Avitia told the local CBS television affiliate he was with his wife waiting for test results when he saw a gunman dressed in black fire on someone on the ground several times in the parking lot. "Then almost immediately, an officer was already coming in an SUV, and (the assailant) exchanged fire at them and then reloaded and shot the person on the ground again," another witness said. "And then he made his way into the hospital and more shots were fired." The shooting followed a series of recent high-profile gun rampages that have fueled calls for reform of firearms regulations in a country plagued by gun violence. Less than two weeks earlier, a gunman killed 12 people in a California music bar packed with college students. That came after the worst anti-Semitic attack in modern US history, when a gunman opened fire on congregants at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh on October 27. Bypassers alerted to the latest incident spoke of hearing between six and nine gunshots that initially sounded like construction noise. "I am scared as hell. I have never been so scared, I hear of shootings going on every day at people's workplaces, but not where I work at," an employee of the hospital's family clinic told the ABC affiliate. Mercy, founded in 1852, has locations throughout Chicago and provides outpatient treatment and acute inpatient care, boasting doctors who are leaders in their field. Another hospital employee quoted by the Chicago Tribune said she was in her office when a notice came over a public address system telling those in the hospital to lock their doors. "I don't know what happened," the unnamed employee told the Tribune. His legacy appeared in danger of total collapse, with his own handpicked successor as Nissan CEO accusing Ghosn of accruing too much power, in what he called the "dark side" of his leadership. The spectacular fall of the Brazil-born executive, which Japan's top government spokesman called "truly regrettable," also raised questions about the future of the sometimes fractious alliance he led of Nissan, Mitsubishi and Renault. Nissan and Mitsubishi have said they will propose his removal as chairman, with Renault's board also meeting to discuss his fate. The automakers and Japanese government officials said they would work to protect the alliance. AFP "Keeping a stable relationship (among the three companies) is important," industry minister Hiroshige Seko told reporters. On Tuesday there were still many unanswered questions about the allegations against a man long credited with an almost magical ability to turn around ailing auto companies. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said a months-long investigation prompted by a whistleblower had uncovered years of financial wrongdoing, including under-reporting of Ghosn's salary and misuse of company assets. Prosecutors said they were holding him as they probed allegations he had under-reported his income by around five billion yen ($44.5 million) over five years. Public broadcaster NHK reported Nissan has provided Ghosn with houses in four countries "without any legitimate business reason," and that Nissan paid "huge sums" for the homes in Rio de Janeiro, Beirut, Paris and Amsterdam. It also reported that some compensation due to other executives ended up going to Ghosn, without specifying how the process had worked. At the close of Tokyo trade, Nissan was down 5.45 percent while Mitsubishi had fallen 6.84 percent. 'It's all about money' The shock of Ghosn's arrest was compounded by the harsh language levelled against him by Saikawa, who in a news conference accused the titan of accruing too much power. "Too much authority was given to one person in terms of governance," he told reporters at Nissan's headquarters in Yokohama on Monday. "I have to say that this is a dark side of the Ghosn era which lasted for a long time." AFP It was an almost unthinkable turn of events for Ghosn, 64, who had earned a virtually unparallelled reputation, particularly in Japan, for his role in resurrecting Nissan. Ghosn has dominated the country's corporate landscape, and is a well-known figure among the Japanese public, who know him as "Mr Fix It", partly through a popular manga comic of his life story. But the tables had turned Tuesday, with the Yomiuri Shimbun describing executives at Nissan slamming Ghosn as "greedy". "He says the right things, but in the end it's all about money," the daily quoted senior employees as saying. It was unclear how long Ghosn could be held, or even when prosecutors would officially announce the charges against him. 'Masterminds' Local media reported prosecutors had negotiated a plea bargain for only the second time since Japanese law changed this year that would allow Nissan officials who are cooperating to receive lesser charges or lighter penalties. Nissan said the ongoing investigation had uncovered years of misconduct by Ghosn and Representative Director Greg Kelly but refused to be drawn on whether other people were involved, saying only: "These two gentlemen are the masterminds, that is definite." The news sparked concern in France, where the state owns a 15 percent stake in Renault. President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would be "extremely vigilant" about the stability of the firm and its three-way tie-up. Despite his international renown and rock-star status, particularly in Japan, where he was a rare foreign-born executive, Ghosn was not without detractors. He earned admiration but also anger for his ruthless restructuring at firms like Nissan, and was nicknamed "Le Cost Cutter" in France. In a post on his Twitter account, Junet, who is the whip of the minority in the National Assembly, claimed that people who murdered Rongo University student Sharon Otieno were also after his life. Threats "Sharon killers are planning to assassinate me and I got your threats ... A Muslim does not fear death," the post read. Several people asked the Suna East lawmaker whether he had reported the issue to the police but failed to respond to the queries. Pulse Live Kenya Former State House operative Dennis Itumbi also queried the MP on whether he had alerted the police, however, Junet did not respond to this either. "Pole sana my friend. Pray that you remain safe. A tweet is good, but an OB Number is better. Just in case you do not know how to get an OB number, walk to the nearest police station and they will record and investigate and hey you can ask the media to accompany you," Itumbi stated. Sharon's Killers Detectives were looking for three suspects they believed were crucial in unravelling the murder of Ms Otieno to both Uganda and Tanzania. Police had charged Ms Otienos boyfriend, Migori governor Okoth Obado, his personal assistant Michael Oyamo, and Migori County clerk Caspal Obiero. ece-auto-gen However, reports claimed that they were yet to arrest some of the suspects believed to have been part of the killer squad that tortured Sharon, who was kidnapped alongside Nation journalist Barrack Oduor. Photographer Zhao Hui's upcoming exhibition in Buenos Aires puts images of Kunqu and tango in pairs, to show both their similarities and differences. [Photo provided to China Daily] A photo exhibition brings together the Chinese opera Kunqu and a South American dance form. After flying across the planet to Argentina twice and visiting Suzhou in East China many times, photographer Zhao Hui has recently completed his project on creating a "dialogue" between China's age-old opera art Kunqu, which originated in Suzhou, and Argentina's popular dance form tango, using images. Altogether 60 of his pictures will be showcased at an exhibition called Kunqu VS Tango, to be held in Buenos Aires from Friday through Dec 10. The exhibition period also covers the G20 summit, which will be held in Buenos Aires on Nov 30 and Dec 1. The photos will be carefully arranged in pairs to compare Kunqu and tango, to show both their similarities and their differences, and a small number of pictures that compare Suzhou and Buenos Aires. According to Zhao, by placing pictures of Kunqu next to those of tango, it is easier to reflect the characteristics of both art forms. Kunqu is graceful and restrained, while tango is passionate and untrammeled-showing the differences in cultures and people's lifestyles. "Both Kunqu and tango are important cultural heritage and have great artistic power. So, I want to show their charm and let people love them by telling stories with my lens," Zhao says. Explore Interactive and HitPoint Studios partner to launch educational augmented reality interactive game set. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue-affiliated Explore Interactive, a startup gamifying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts through an augmented reality mobile platform, is announcing a new development partner, HitPoint Studios, to help move technologies to the public. The new product called Sneak Peek Kit! , on sale now for the holidays, is an early version of the overall application that includes a sample of three early circuit games and a set of Explore Interactive! augmented reality cards. The product was tested by Purdues INSPIRE Research Institute for Pre-College Engineering and chosen to be included in their annual Engineering Gift Guide for the holiday season. The accompanying free app was launched in the app store in October and will continue to grow and improve in content throughout 2018. We want to have all interactions happen on the tabletop as much as possible, so that the kids feel like things are happening in their world, not in their computer, said Amanda Thompson, Explore Interactive CEO and Purdue University alumna. For example, one activity has the kids draw a wire to connect batteries and light bulbs within a basic circuit. Explore Interactive is partnering with HitPoint Studios, based in Massachusetts, which is known for advancing engagement, brand building and technical service through its software development expertise. Augmented reality is such a new space, and the challenges we are tackling are really innovative and difficult, Thompson said. We are focusing on this new interactive element where we have the physical pieces play, join and build with each other. We want a version with smoother mechanics that kids, teachers and parents can just pick up and go. HitPoint CEO Ariella Lehrer said her company is excited about working with Explore Interactive. Their product employs one of the most innovative uses of educational augmented reality that weve seen, Lehrer said. The ability to simulate the design of electrical circuits then iterate, test and build with limitless digital assets is impossible to re-create with traditional electric circuit kits. Explore Interactive also has been named a finalist in the Reimagine Education Awards category for Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. As a finalist, the startup is invited to the 2018 Reimagine Education Conference in order to showcase its business pitch. To date, Explore Interactive has raised $150,000 in venture and competition funding. The startup also receives support and guidance from the Purdue Foundry, a commercialization accelerator in Purdue Universitys Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. The startup aligns with Purdue's "Giant Leaps" celebrating the universitys global advancements made in health, space, artificial intelligence and sustainability highlights as part of Purdues 150th anniversary. Those are the four themes of the yearlong celebrations Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues. The technology is licensed through the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization. About Purdue Foundry The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization accelerator in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. Managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Foundry was co-named a top recipient at the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Designation and Awards Program by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. Writer: Kelsey Henry, 765-588-3342, kehenry@prf.org Purdue Research Foundation Contact: Tom Coyne, 765-558-1044, tjcoyne@prf.org Sources: Amanda Thompson, athompson@exploresupport.com Ariella Lehrer, alehrer@hitpointstudios.com Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust is pulling its support of the Auckland Pride Parade following the banning of uniformed police participating. Gresham Bradley, the Chair of the Trust, said the board had come to a "unanimous" decision and he labelled the Auckland Pride Board's choice to ban police in uniform as appearing to be "driven by a small and vociferous minority in the community". "The Trustees consider Pride's decision to refuse the NZ Police the right to march in uniform to be contrary to the Trust's key purpose," Mr Bradley says. "The decision of the Auckland Pride Board... is contrary to the wishes of the vast majority of the Rainbow Community including those who have for many years fought hard for the rights we hold today in NZ." The Board of Auckland Pride said it would prevent Police from marching in uniform as they "do not currently meet the degree of safety and awareness of intersectionality required by our rainbow communities". New Zealand Police Senior District Liaison Officer Tracy Phillips said police officers were extremely disappointed by the board's decision, telling Newshub at the time if police are not welcome in uniform, then "we're not going to force ourselves on anybody". One of those protesting police officers marching in uniform in the parade is Emilie Rakete, Spokesperson for People Against Prisons Aotearoa and she spoke to Ryan Bridge on RadioLIVE Drive. Listen to the full interview above. Drive with Ryan Bridge , 3pm - 6pm Weekdays and streaming live on 'rova' channel 9 - available on Android and iPhone. RadioLIVE. If you missed The Long Lunch today with Lynda Hallinan, you can listen back here to the interviews from Tuesday, November 20th 2018. Daktory opens in Auckland Photo: Getty. Dakta Green, long-time marijuana law reform campaigner, discusses the 10th anniversary of the opening of the first Daktory in Auckland, the launch of a new club in Wellington, and how far the battle to have cannabis legalised since he opened his first operation a decade ago. Pick your own system being abused Photo: Stock. Managing director Tony Boswell told RadioLIVE that the worst offenders caught ended up paying around $860 for their berries. How to clean your digital self Photo: Getty. Paula Gair from deriskme on how to clean up your digital self. For more details visit deriskme's Long Lunch page here. Pacific must reject China's bullying Photo: Reuters. Monica Miller, chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum on why in the wake of the recent APEC forum in Papua New Guinea the Pacific must reject Chinas bullying and its colonial master displays. Trumps assertion that there's no need to listen to Khashoggi tape Photo: Getty. Hanna Bogorowski, foreign policy reporter at The Daily Caller, weighs in on President Donald Trumps assertion that there is no need for him to listen to the Khashoggi tape, and CNN reporter Jim Acosta. Kiwi director takes on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Photo: Getty. Craig Donnell, Kiwi-born theatre producer on the upcoming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical that will open in Sydney in January. Media Matters Photo: Stock. Bill Ralston looks at what has been happening in the media over the last week. Travel predictions for 2019 Photo: Unsplash. Joshua Nu'u-Steele the booking.com area manager for New Zealand looks at some of the big travel predictions for 2019 and the growing trend of the ethically conscious traveller. Giant peanut loses out to watermelon Photo: Getty. Kristy Broad, economic development officer at the South Burnett Regional Council on Kingaroys quest to build a big peanut in the wake of Queensland neighbours Chinchilla erecting a four tonne watermelon. Baby Boomers Photo: Stock. Bruce Hopkins and Hon. John Carter are today's Baby Boomer panel. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This site uses cookies. Read our policy. OK UK: A project has been launched which aims to combine real-time measurement of water levels, weather forecasting, historical data and smart analysis to prevent the flooding of railway lines. A multilingual term base of key Chinese political expressions was launched at the opening ceremony of a forum on the innovation and development of language services over 40 years of reform and opening up in Beijing on Nov. 19. It is the first national-level term base of key Chinese political expressions unveiled so far in the country. According to the introduction by Huang Youyi, executive vice president of the Translators Association of China (TAC), it covers terminology in nine languages - Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Korean. Users can get free access to over 20,000 items of standardized translation in Chinese politics, economics, technology, culture, ecology, diplomacy, poverty alleviation, and many other fields through both computers and mobile applications. According to an introductory video played during the opening ceremony, after signing up and logging on, users will only have to input key words in Chinese and foreign languages to see not only a translation, but also the definition, examples and other information displayed on the screen. During the opening ceremony, Zhang Ye, director general of the International Liaison Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee said, "China's reform and opening up provides a driving force not only for China's economic and social development, but also to its translation cause. Translation, as a bridge and bond, has facilitated learning from the experiences of other countries, enabling China to achieve an epoch-making development in reform and opening up." China's reform and opening up began in 1978, so that it is marking its 40th anniversary this year. To better popularize Chinese discourse in the future, Zhang suggested strengthening cultural confidence, keeping a global vision in mind, and adapting to changes in the information era. Fang Zhenghui, vice president of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), the guiding organization of the forum, also emphasized the importance of modern information technologies. CIPG would attach great importance to the development and effective application of modern information technologies, he pledged. Fang also said it would aggregate resources to develop mechanisms of foreign translation, translation talent evaluation, services and management of translation industry, and step up efforts in talent team building. He was supported by Zhou Mingwei, president of the TAC and president of Chinese Academy of Translation. "Translation is a bridge to introduce advanced concepts and methods as well as latest achievements in foreign science and technology, culture and arts, and economy and trade to China during the 40 years of reform and opening up, and also a high-speed railway and shipping route for China to communicate the world and for the world to understand China today." Zhou also said that, as China proposed many of its home-grown solutions to the world as it has moved to the center of the international stage, it requires translators to shoulder new responsibilities. Therefore, they should uphold innovation in an era featuring constantly-emerging new things. Kevin Quirk, president of the International Federation of Translators, said: "China's reform and opening up is seen in a wide variety of industries and services in China, including the translation services." High-quality translation and interpreting services played an important role as China continues to pursue its goal and vision for coordinated, green-based and shared development, through the Belt and Road Initiative, etc. In view of the launch of the term base, Hu Anjiang, professor of Sichuan International Studies University, in an interview with China.org.cn, said that the terminology was a concentration of an ongoing Chinese discourse, which would facilitate the international popularization of Chinese culture around the world. He called for translators to create more channels to promote the international popularization of the Chinese culture, and help introduce more outstanding foreign works into China. Besides the term base, the China Language Service Industry Development Report 2018, Requirements for Interpreting Services, and General Specifications for Corpus were also released at the forum. The organizer also presented the "Award of Senior Translator" to over 170 personnel who have been engaged in translation for over 30 years, and the Lifetime Achievement Award in Translation to seven translators who have dedicated themselves to the translation cause throughout a long career. Representatives from government organizations, multinational corporations, universities, research institutes and trade associations from China and the U.S., the U.K., Russia, Germany, Norway, Korea, Japan, Egypt and other countries and regions also attended the conference. zonetv is once again providing its Santa Tracker to pay-TV providers in the US and Canada. The Christmas holiday-themed programming portal includes various content features as well as a way to track Santas path across the globe on Christmas Eve. The tracker is available free of charge in over 72% of TV homes in the US and Canada with kids.In addition to the tracker, it has a collection of winter and holiday read-along storybooks; including A Penguin Story, The Bears We Know and the classic Robert Munsch story 50 Below Zero; film classics available for rent or purchase, including Frozen, Elf, The Polar Express, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story; games; and holiday sing-alongs offering 35-plus songs in karaoke mode, including We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Blue Christmas from Stingray Digital.It also has Naughty or Nice polls, a radio with hours of continuous holiday music from various artists, and a Christmas countdown calendar that unlocks new daily challenges every day leading up to the big event.Santa Tracker has become a cherished part of families holiday traditions every Christmas season, said Jeff Weber, CEO, zonetv , As our distribution continues to increase, more homes across the globe get to enjoy our unique, family-friendly, interactive programming and were excited to bring that joy to our subscribers. We are also thrilled to be able to bring that value to our pay-TV provider partners for the 10th consecutive year.Santa Tracker can be found on Comcast Xfinity X1, AT&T U-verse, Frontier Communications and CenturyLink in the US; and on TELUS, Bell Canada, Bell Atlantic and Bell MTS in Canada. From October 1944 to May 1945, the Soviet Unions Red Army and the German armed forces fought six major battles in the small area of Courland (Kurzeme in Latvian) in modern-day Latvia.[1] Commonly known as the Battle of the Courland Pocket, two Soviet fronts attempted to destroy the German Army Group Courland and seize the vital port of Liep?ja on the Baltic coast. The local Latvian population was caught in the middle of the fighting, and suffered horrifically. Even the end of the Cold War did not bring an end to the divisiveness of this period that was otherwise a footnote in the history of the war. Vincent Hunts Blood in the Forest: The End of the Second World War in the Courland Pocket recounts the struggles of the participants through those cataclysmic days and their aftermath, which echo into the present. The author is no stranger to conflict, having covered the Troubles in Northern Ireland and the Rwandan genocide as a reporter for the BBC, in addition to writing Fire and Ice: The Nazis Scorched Earth Campaign in Norway. Hunt challenges his readers with moral and ethical questions about the nature of armed conflict, the role of civilians in combat, and the nature of occupation. While not intending to serve as a parable for modern events, Blood in the Forest raised many parallels between 1945 and 2018. Blood in the Forest is a book of social memory, an oral history of the end of the war and its aftermath.[2] Hunt uses his travels and encounters throughout Courland to frame the history of the battles in an easy, journalistic tone. His prose wanders across time and place, from village to village, forest to forest, horror to horror. Its twenty-five vignettes are short, most averaging about ten pages, covering different areas, different stories, and different perspectives within the small pocket. Hunt shares the reminiscences of former combatantsmostly members of the Waffen-SS Latvian Legionrefugees, museum curators, and modern explosive-ordnance disposal technicians, each bringing a different perspective to the narrative of the wars end and aftermath. Courland is aptly described by Hunt as located on an ever-shifting crossroads of history [which] comes with a high price.[3] In 1944, Latvia did not have a long history of independence from either Germany or Russia. From 1795 to 1917, Latvia was part of Tsarist Russia. Following the collapse of that Empire, German forces occupied the region. Simultaneously, pro-Soviet forces remained in Latvia, vying for control. The German and Russian forces battled each other and pro-independence Latvian forces in the war of independence, and were only removed in 1920. Thus, an independent Latvian nation had only existed for two decades when the Soviets occupied Latvia in 1940 as agreed in the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. A year later, German forces evicted the Soviets in the early days of Operation Barbarossa. For the next three years, German occupation extracted a heavy toll on Latvias population, especially its Jews.[4] The return of the Red Army in 1944, however, did not bring happier days to Latvia. Bloody fighting, terrible destruction, and forced conscription all left further marks on the nation. The ensuing months saw hundreds of thousands killed, wounded, go missing, or turned into refugees. Latvians fought Latvians in the forests of the Courland, pitting brother against brother. Latvian soldiers either deserted from the Germans to the Soviets or from the Soviets to the Germans in those long months. They went home to see family members or to collect food and clothing. Soviet loudspeakers played Latvian folk songs and entreaties from sisters and fiancees pleading for men to come home. Just like the Greek story about Odysseus.[5] It was as much a local war as it was a global conflict. Then, after months of high-intensity combat, peace came on 10 May 1945. While the Germans laid down their arms, however, the war did not end for either the Germans or the Latvians. For many Germans, Soviet captivity meant death years after the war ended in a far-flung network of prisoner-of-war and work camps. For the majority of Latvians, Soviet victory meant repression, deportations, executions, and forced collectivization. For approximately 14,000 Latvians, the end of the war meant fleeing to the forests to fight on against the Soviets as partisans, slowly being hunted down by the Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs, the dreaded NKVD. For the rest, Latvia once again lost its independence. For contemporary strategists, tacticians, and politicians, the end of the war in the Courland holds a series of illuminating parallels to modern conflicts. First, we must look at how modern wars end and what transpires in their aftermath. Since World War II, few American wars have had the clean ending of a treaty or absolute capitulation as in 1945. The Korean War ended in an armistice and uneasy peace that continues to occupy our foreign policy. Our engagement in Vietnam largely ended with the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, but fighting continued until the fall of South Vietnam in 1975. In this century, the fall of the Taliban and the toppling of Saddam Hussein have been followed by years of lengthy counterinsurgency operations that continue in some form to this day. One of the most applicable questions Hunt raises involves the fate of enemy combatants. The Soviet authorities treated Latvians who fought for the Germans harshly. They were filtered into prison camps and the gulag system, often dying in captivity. Upon their return, finding meaningful employment was difficult for many of the former Latvian Legion members and their families. Similarly, we and our allies wrestle today with the fate of enemy combatants. Questions about our conduct, and that of our allies, must be asked. How should Western governments deal with captured Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria? How should the Iraqi government? How are communities rebuilt after divisive internal conflict or national legitimacy reestablished? Iraq wrestles with many of these issues now. Captured fighters from the Islamic State and those suspected of supporting it face criminal prosecution in the Iraqi justice system. The process, as Human Rights Watch notes, is hampered by an absence of a national strategy for ISIS prosecutions that will ensure the fulsome and credible prosecution of those responsible for the most serious crimes committed by ISIS, with the meaningful participation of victims and the creation of a thorough judicial record of these crimes.[6] The Iraqi trials are far-reaching, sweeping up fighters, suspected supporters, and family members. They were recently described as a judicial assembly line by the New York Times.[7] They are governed as much by rule of law or the semblance of due process as by a need to be loyal to the blood of the victims and to be loyal to the Iraqi people, in the words of Gen. Yahya Rasool, spokesman for the Iraqi joint operations command.[8] Problems within the Iraqi legal system abound, furthering the inability to bring about an organized legal response to the end of the war. Furthermore, a lack of clear Western policies regarding foreign fighters hampers these efforts.[9] Similarly, Soviet retributions at the end of the Second World War swept up thousands of Latvians. Some were killed outright without trial for supporting or being suspected of supporting the Germans. Thousands of others were deported to the gulag. Upon their return, many faced discrimination and further punishments from the Soviet state, impeding the potential for reconciliation for Latvians. Another theme important to the modern strategist is the concept of national reconciliation. The lack thereof in Latvia following the end of the war has echoes today in the United States. How do we commemorate the fallen of either side generations after the war ended? The recent destruction of Silent Sam, the Confederate memorial on the University of North Carolinas campus, is but one example of how Americans are still wrestling with our own civil war and the meaning of memory.[10] In Latvia, Hunt writes: Before I started my journey I asked one friend why there werent more memorials to the terrible things that happened in Latvia during the war. Maybe its easier to forget, she said. The country would be littered with memorials. There wouldnt be time to get on with the things that need doing today.[11] But forgetting is something that cannot happen and is not happening, either in America or in Latvia. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/20/2018 ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. houseguest Christmas Abbott has pleaded not guilty to her criminal mischief charge.According to the Hillsborough County Court, Christmas' attorney entered a plea of not guilty in Florida Court on Monday, Us Weekly reported Christmas, 36, reportedly surrendered herself to authorities for arrest in Tampa, FL on November 6 in connection to an August 18 incident in which Christmas allegedly drove to a gym to confront the new girlfriend, Samantha Morse, of her ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Bunn, who is the father of her newborn son Loyal.The magazine obtained the police report, which says Christmas -- who was eight months pregnant at the time -- "rammed another vehicle multiple times" following a fight with Samantha."[Christmas] came to the gym to confront her child's father's romantic partner. Once there, she threw a coffee cup and caused a scene," the report reads."The suspect entered her Mercedes-Benz SUV and proceeded to ram the victim's vehicle twice. This caused over $5,000 worth of damage to the victim's vehicle."Samantha reportedly told police Christmas called her a "pathetic, home-wrecking little slut" before hitting her car.Christmas welcomed her first child with Benjamin, a CrossFit gym owner, on October 8, but he told Us in October the couple had split in December 2017.Benjamin insisted earlier this month he and the fitness enthusiast are "working to coparent" their son to the best of their abilities."I've caught a lot of heat the past 5 months from friends, family and strangers. Working to coparent with someone that you're not romantically involved with and for that matter barely know is a tough undertaking," he wrote November 12 on Instagram."I've learned a lot about what I prioritize as a person, and what it actually means to not care about the options of others, and how much it means to place value in the options that actually matter. Something I still struggle with."Christmas released a statement on her arrest earlier this month, revealing "there are truth and lies to every story" and she will share her story when she's ready."Until then, I am being proactive with taking care of my responsibilities to have this matter resolved," Christmas wrote in an Instagram story."I'm focused on providing for Loyal & recovering from a very emotionally challenging pregnancy & difficult delivery. Being a single mother is challenging enough without the world having an opinion on a situation they know nothing about."When TMZ first reported Christmas' arrest, the website suggested Benjamin had cheated on her by referring to the other woman involved as his "side chick."Christmas, the first female NASCAR pit crew member, finished 's nineteenth season in third place behind runner-up Paul Abrahamian and the winner Josh Martinez , We're sorry, this article is not currently available China will take solid steps to relieve the tax burdens for private enterprises to support better development of private businesses. The burden of taxes and fees on private enterprises will be further eased, according to a guideline recently released by the State Administration of Taxation (SAT) on supporting the private sector. The guideline outlined 26 detailed measures to facilitate the development of private businesses, including advancing substantial tax cuts, especially the reduction of value-added taxes, working on tax exemptions for micro and small firms as well as technology startups, and promoting the reduction of nominal rates for social security contributions. Measures will also be taken to address the difficulty and high costs of financing for private firms, simplify tax payment procedures and level the playing field for private businesses. "China's taxation authority has always treated private enterprises equal," said Huang Yun, a senior SAT official. Huang said micro and small firms enjoyed 143.7 billion yuan (20.7 billion U.S. dollars) of tax exemptions in the first three quarters, rising 41.3 percent year on year. The private sector plays an important role in the Chinese economy, contributing more than 50 percent of tax revenue, 60 percent of GDP, 70 percent of technological innovation, 80 percent of urban employment and 90 percent of new jobs and new firms. Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! With surplus parts kits drying up all over the place, it is a rarity to see something new hit the market. The Israeli FAL parts kits being imported by DSArms are demilled from the rather uncommon light barrel Israeli-produced rifle with all the unique features that you expect from an Israeli FAL. DSArms says the only parts the builder will need to source is a barrel and upper receiver. If you are after a true clone light barrel FAL, DSArms will also be offering correctly marked receivers in the near future. Unfortunately, you can only sign up for a notification as to when they will be available on their website, pre-order is not available. Pricing for the Israeli FAL parts kits starts at $549.95 for a single kit. Any order with two kits will receive a $24.98 discount on each kit, order three kits and the discount increases to $49.97 per kit. You can find more information or place an order on the DSArms website. More from DSArms: Porterville, CA (93257) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. The University of Georgia's Student Veterans Resource Center is located on the fourth floor of the Tate Student Center. Student veterans can visit the center throughout the week for questions regarding involvement in the university's veteran organizations. (Photo/Kaley Lefevre, kaley.lefevre@gmail.com) When freshmen walk onto the University of Georgias campus for the first time, most of them dont have their next four years or career aspirat There is a dearth of talent in the Indian banking industry. A testimony to this is the two new CEOs in the private sector -- Sandeep Bakhshi in ICICI Bank Ltd and Amitabh Chaudhry in AXIS Bank Ltd -- have come from the insurance sector, says Tamal Bandyopadhyay. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com In the last week of October, Yes Bank Ltd sent a note to stock exchanges saying the search panel looking for a successor to the banks MD and CEO Rana Kapoor --whose term ends on January 31, 2019 -- has finalised the potential candidate profile. Korn Ferry, a management consulting firm which is assisting the selection committee of the banks board in evaluating both internal and external candidates, also shared a representative list of candidate pool, based on initial industry mapping. Who can succeed Kapoor? If you keep the insiders out, the list of probables is very slim -- Gunit Chadha, former Asia Pacific CEO of Deutsche Bank AG; Sanjay Nayar, a former Citibanker and now CEO of KKR India; Pramit Jhaveri, head of Citibank NA in India; and Rajeev Jain, managing director of Bajaj Finance Ltd. (I am not saying anyone of them is in the fray or will be picked up). And, the same names come up as a likely successor of HDFC Bank Ltd boss Aditya Puri and IndusInd Bank Ltds Romesh Sobti, both of whom are set to hang up their boots in 2020 when they turn 70. Puri, who has been at the helm of HDFC Bank since September 1994, is the longest-serving CEO of any bank of this size globally. Of course, both can continue if RBI extends the retirement age of private bank chiefs to 75. For Puris likely successor, CEO of DBS Group Piyush Guptas name also crops up in the cocktail circuit. Incidentally, Gupta is the highest paid banker in Asia. There is a dearth of talent in the Indian banking industry. A testimony to this is the two new CEOs in the private sector -- Sandeep Bakhshi in ICICI Bank Ltd and Amitabh Chaudhry in AXIS Bank Ltd -- have come from the insurance sector. Bakhshi was heading ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co Ltd since August 2010 and Chaudhry, HDFC Standard Life Insurance Co Ltd, from January 2010. Incidentally, the stream of global Indian bankers is also drying up. After the exit of Vikram Pandit and Anshu Jain, there is no Indian heading any big bank globally, except for Gupta at DBS. Pandit, who became the Citigroup head in December 2007, had to call it quits in October 2012, to be replaced by Michael Corbat, previously Citigroups CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa. Corbat was instrumental in driving Pandit out. Jain, who was made co-CEO of Deutsche Bank in July 2011, surprised many when he resigned in June 2015 as he was widely perceived as the likely successor of Josef Ackermann as CEO of Deutsche Bank. Rana Talwars term as group chief executive of Standard Chartered Plc also came to an abrupt end in December 2001 when he was ousted after a bitter board room battle. There are others like Victor J Menezes who retired from Citigroup as senior vice-chairman after a 32-year global career and Aman Mehta, the CEO of Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp Ltd from 1999 to December 2003. Jaspal Bindra moved up to become a Standard Chartered group executive director and the banks chief executive officer for Asia and Chadha as Asia Pacific CEO at Deutsche Bank. Among the current crop of Indian finance professionals who have been doing well at the global stage, Ajit Jain, a cousin of Anshu Jain, is the vice chairman of insurance operations for Berkshire Hathaway and a close confidant of legendary investor Warren Buffet; and Ajay Banga, president and chief executive officer of MasterCard. However, they are not commercial bankers. Why dont we see Indian bankers in the global big league any more? In 1980s and 1990s, smart local bankers were looking forward for overseas postings for money and lifestyle but now the private sector bankers in India earn well; besides, till recently, they could invest in real estates and stocks to grow their money. More importantly, no market can match India when it comes to growth opportunities in the business of banking. Also, globally, most large banks are no longer in a big expansion mode in other geographies; instead, they are consolidating on their home turfs. That is shrinking opportunities for Indian bankers. Finally, many smart finance professionals now prefer the private equity space to banking as there is more money and glamour. So, where do we get the new CEOs for Indian banks? Apart from insurance, corporate treasury could be another pocket. I will also not be surprised if senior executives from the FMCG and IT industries are wooed to head banks. This is because banking is undergoing a dramatic change and traditional bankers may not remain absolutely relevant. Corporate treasury has been a favourite ground for the bankers. Saurabh Agrawal, the group chief financial officer (CFO) of Tata Sons, had worked in Standard Chartered Bank. Similarly, Alok Agarwal, the CFO of Reliance Industries Ltd since 2005, was with Bank of America, and Seshagiri Rao, joint MD, group CFO and executive director at JSW Steel Ltd, was also a banker. In 1994, the first set of new private banks dipped into the talent pool of the State Bank of India (SBI) and the foreign banks for leaders. SBI continues to have a crop of fine bankers even though culturally they are different. Recently, five senior SBI executives have been picked up to lead public sector banks. Not too many foreign and private banks have great bench strength now. So, the headhunters have to work overtime while the investors remain anxious. In the 1990s, the hunt was for leaders who could build new banks but now the banks need leaders who can maintain the momentum for a few and clean up the balance sheets and rebuild others. The biggest bane of the system is there is no succession planning. In public sector, it cant be done as the tenure at the top is only for a few years and the CEO most often comes from a different bank. It can be done in a private bank but we dont see anywhere a succession plan in place. When the CEOs have a long tenure (and there is nothing wrong about it if the person is competent) and a succession plan is not in place, we are bound to see a vacuum. Lets hope that after this round, the banks get wiser and focus on this. Tamal Bandyopadhyay, a consulting editor of Business Standard, is an author and senior adviser to Jana Small Finance Bank Ltd. His portfolio was worth Rs 12,333 crore at the end of June 2018. It was worth Rs 10,633 crore at the end of the September quarter. Smallcaps account for the largest number of his stock-picks. Such a fall has now happened for the third quarter in a row. A smallcap focus may be weighing on Rakesh Jhunjhunwalas portfolio in this downturn. The disclosed value of his portfolio showed a double-digit decline in the three month ending September. This is the biggest fall in at least the past ten quarters. The portfolio was worth Rs 12,333 crore at the end of June 2018. It was worth Rs 10,633 crore at the end of the September quarter. Smallcaps account for the largest number of his stock-picks. Such a fall has now happened for the third quarter in a row. The portfolio recorded a sequential fall in disclosed value of six per cent in the March 2018 quarter. It fell another 5.1 per cent in the June quarter. It was down 13.8 per cent showed September quarter disclosures. Companies only disclose shareholder names if the stake exceeds one per cent. The data is based on holdings that Business Standard located using eight different names. The list included variations of his name, that of his spouse, and various permutations of the same. It would exclude companies where his stake is less than one per cent. The disclosed portion is still Rs 10,633 crore, which is likely to account for a significant part of his portfolio and broadly indicative of his investments quarterly trend in terms of returns. Some of the fall may be attributed to the battering that smaller stocks have taken. The S&P BSE SmallCap index is down 25 per cent since the beginning of the year. The S&P BSE MidCap index is down 16.85 per cent. Both have underperformed the S&P BSE Sensex, composed of largecap stocks, which is up 2.63 per cent. Smallcaps account for 26 out of the 32 companies in his portfolio. Four companies fall in the midcap space. Only two can be classified as largecap companies as per regulatory guidelines. Relatively defensive sectors dominate however. And this has only increased. The weightage of consumer stocks is up from 53 per cent to 57 per cent in the September quarter. Healthcare is up from eight per cent to 10 per cent. Other notable buys in this quarter include Dewan Housing Finance Corporation where his stake rose from 2.76 per cent to 3.2 per cent. Another was Fortis Healthcare where Jhunjhunwala now holds 2.41 per cent. He had no stake disclosed in the June quarter. Both companies have been under a cloud in recent times. Dewan Housing stock plunged over 50 per cent in a single day on account of rumours of liquidity issues plaguing the non-banking financial company (NBFC) sector. Fortis has been in the middle of a takeover even as founders battled allegations of impropriety. He also picked up a stake in beleaguered airline SpiceJet even as airlines have been struggling on account of high fuel prices. Stocks in which he cut stake include his long-term bet on rating agency Crisil. His stake in the company dropped from 5.52 per cent at the end of the June quarter to 3.8 per cent in September. He also dropped his stake in Jaiprakash Associates. Photograph: Vivek Prakash/Reuters China's banking and insurance regulator is proposing more practical measures to further support financing for private companies as a way to continue shoring up the real economy, a senior official said on Monday. The proposal may be submitted to the State Council as early as this week, according to Zhou Liang, vice-chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, who said specific measures will focus on removing obstacles to getting much-needed funds to private enterprises and the real economy as a whole. In the proposal, the commission suggested easing repayment burdens by further lowering enterprises' financing costs and facilitating the program to transfer debt into equities held by banks. Commercial banks should not restrict or cut off lending for private companies that are operating normally but find themselves confronted with temporary financing difficulties, Zhou said. Private firms can take advantage of financial derivatives to ease the risk of share pledging, in which company shares are used as collateral for debt. Asset management companies could provide special products to prevent liquidity constraints facing private companies, Zhou added.. Private companies could obtain financing support when they have temporary liquidity difficulties if they have a reasonable debt level, sound corporate governance and the status of important clients for commercial banks, according to a draft document from the regulatory commission. Analysts said instead of a simple easing of financial regulations, measures may be more targeted, though some policymakers have realized that the earlier deleveraging campaign might have hurt the private sector to some extent. "Banks and insurance companies should not only care about their own profitability, but give more consideration to enterprises' performance in the real economy," Zhou said. He also said banks' old growth model of chasing fast asset expansion needs to change to a "quality-driven" model. Guo Shuqing, chairman of the regulatory commission, said in an earlier interview that banks should face difficulties together with enterprises to avoid dire results by suddenly cutting off loans. It is also a way to reduce losses from debt defaults, he added. Earlier this year, tightened regulations were launched to contain "nonstandard financing activities" such as some forms of credit outside formal bank loans. As a result, regular bank lending has picked up recently, Zhou said. But some such nonstandard loans, which can effectively transmit money into the real economy, could be encouraged, he said. "In recent weeks, authorities started to pump more support into private companies," said Song Yu, an economist with Goldman Sachs. But Song said internal growth momentum "remains weak as financial institutions and real economy companies remain cautious". New renminbi loans stood at 697 billion yuan ($100 billion) in October, down from 1.38 trillion yuan in September, according to the People's Bank of China, the central bank. Bank lending to the private sector accounts for about 25 percent of overall outstanding loans. But private companies contributed more than 60 percent of the country's total GDP. Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia vacates his post on November 30 and Expenditure Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha, the second seniormost bureaucrat in the finance ministry, retires on January 31, the day before Jaitley presents the 2019-20 interim budget. IMAGE: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia. Photograph: PTI The retirement dates of Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia and Expenditure Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha are confirmed. This means that the team that stands alongside Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, when he presents the Budget briefcase for the traditional photo session on February 1, will be quite different from the one that started preparing the Budget. Adhia vacates his post on November 30 and Jha, the second seniormost bureaucrat in the finance ministry, retires on January 31, the day before Jaitley presents the 2019-20 interim budget. Ajay Bhushan Pandey, currently the chief executive officer (CEO) of Unique Identification Authority of India, will be the next revenue secretary. Girish Chandra Murmu, currently the special secretary in the expenditure department, will become the officer on special duty in the expenditure department, and will take over as the expenditure secretary from February 1. When that happens, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg will be the seniormost of the five finance ministry secretaries and is likely to be designated the finance secretary as is the convention. From December 1 to January 31, Jha could be designated as the finance secretary. Jaitley announced Adhias departure through a blog on Saturday. Showering praise on the 1981-batch Gujarat-cadre officer, Jaitley on Saturday said he was a no-nonsense civil servant who performed his job with impeccable integrity. He also said the government wanted to use Adhias capability and experience in some alternate capacity, but that Adhia did not want to continue a day beyond November 30. Jha is a 1982-batch Manipur-cadre officer, Garg is from the 1983 batch Rajasthan cadre, Ajay Pandey is from the 1984 batch Maharashtra cadre, while Murmu is from the 1985-batch Gujarat cadre. The other two finance ministry secretaries are Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar, a 1984-batch Jharkhand cadre officer and DIPAM (Department of Investment and Public Asset Management) Secretary Atanu Chakraborty, a 1985-batch Gujarat-cadre officer. It is an accepted practice for the government to extend the tenure of secretaries in the finance ministry if their last day of service falls close to the Budget. For example, former Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das was supposed to retire in February 2017, but his tenure was extended to May, to oversee the post-Budget process as well, which includes passage of the Finance Bill. It is, thus, rather unusual that Jhas retirement date, and the name of his successor, was announced two and a half months in advance, and that he wont be getting an extension to help with post-Budget work. These changes arent the only expected ones. The office of the Chief Economic Advisor has been vacant since August 27, when Arvind Subramanian cut short his extended tenure and went back to a life in academia in the United States. A search panel, led by former Reserve Bank of India Governor Bimal Jalan, has shortlisted some potential candidates after an extensive round of interviews. There will be more interviews in the coming days to narrow the field even further. The panel will recommend its choice to the government. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will need to give the final stamp of approval for the appointment. The government is keen to have a new CEA in place before the Budget, as the Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament a day before the Budget, is drafted by the CEA and his team. Among other members of the core budget team, the tax chiefs will also stay on. Central Board of Direct Taxes Chairman Sushil Chandra will serve his tenure, which has already been extended by a year, till end-May 2019. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs chairman S. Ramesh will also be part of the budget process. The team also includes Principal Economic Advisor Sanjeev Sanyal. Changing the names of Uttar Pradesh cities has accelerated into a movement ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, notes Ranjita Ganesan. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Who: For Diwali this year, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ajay Singh Bisht aka Yogi Adityanath dressed up two places in his state in new names. He turned Faizabad district into Ayodhya district, just weeks after renaming the city of Allahabad Prayagraj. 'Ayodhya is a symbol of our 'aan, baan aur shaan' (pride and glory)... Nobody can do injustice to Ayodhya,' he said at the recent Deepotsav event where the change was announced. He justified the decision -- to replace labels given by Muslim conquerors with Hindu references -- as a 'restoration' of history. At the time of scrapping the name Allahabad, he stated: 'Some ask 'what's in a name'. So, I said, why didn't their parents name them 'Ravana' and 'Duryodhana' in that case? In this country, the name holds a lot of significance.' That significance may be more political than historical, critics of the chief minister have said, while his supporters viewed it as satisfying a long-standing demand. What: Such retitling appears to have accelerated into a movement ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government had earlier changed the well-known name of the railway station Mughalsarai Junction to 'Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction'. Geographical renaming itself is not new in India, as Western colonial labels have been shed and local ones adopted in the last few decades: Madras became Chennai, and Calcutta became Kolkata. The fresh targeting of Muslim-sounding names has been dubbed a measure by right-wing policymakers to impress Hindu nationalist admirers. On Twitter, as some seemed pleased to bid goodbye to 'Faizabad', others pointed to more urgent issues such as infrastructure, education, malnutrition and women's safety. How: Adityanath's announcement in Ayodhya town included a promise of a new medical college named after King Dasharatha, and an airport named after Rama. In the cases of previous name changes, there has been little data related to the effect they have had on the fortunes of the cities or neighbourhoods in question. It is also difficult to know how successful such nominal transformations truly are, as old names often remain preserved in certain institutions and in local parlance. The costs added by these initiatives are more easily gauged, as highway and railway signage, official documents and government stationery have to be altered to reflect the changes. These shifts are also likely to cause confusion among those who are not locals. Where: The UP chief minister has company in his endeavour. Political players in other states have readied their own white-ink pens, including the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, which is known for its enthusiasm around renaming. The party, having previously imposed the change from Bombay to Mumbai and relabelled several city monuments and institutions after Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji, renewed its demands for Osmanabad to be known as Dharashiv and Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, too, spoke of weighing proposals to give Ahmedabad the name Karnavati. Steps towards this, he said, would be taken before the 2019 election. 'This is not the right way to speak about farmers. How can Kumaraswamy call farmers goondas?' IMAGE: Sugarcane farmers raise slogans against the Karnataka government. They were demanding clearance of pending arrears by sugar factories for the cane supplied and the announcement of purchase price for sugarcane for the current season, Bengaluru, November 19, 2018. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo Thousands of farmers driving trucks laden with sugarcane gate-crashed the legislature premises in Belagavi, Karnataka, to protest against the state government's indifference over ensuring minimum support price for sugarcane and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy cancelling a meeting with them to discuss their problems. Alongside, thousands of farmers poured into Bengaluru to voice their demand of securing a minimum support price for sugarcane. "Out of 67 sugarcane factories (,em>in Karnataka), more than 30 are run by MLAs and MPs. They are running the show and they are not paying the farmers their dues. These politicians are neglecting farmers," Kuruburu Shantha Kumar, president, Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association, tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com. "Before the (assembly) elections Kumaraswamy and his party, the Janata Dal-Secular, had promised to waive the loans of farmers once they came to power. He reiterated this promise to the farmers 24 hours after he became chief minister of Karnataka. It has been more than six months that they have been in power, but they are still not waiving farm loans. No action has been taken on the ground level and neither has any order been passed to take such action to benefit farmers. (Note: The Karnataka government in August passed the Karnataka Debt Relieve Bill 2018 which states that loans of farmers taken from non-institutional sources excluding non-banking finance corporations will be null and void, but according to the farmers no action has been taken on the ground.) "We have been giving the government request letters for the last two months, but no one is taking us seriously. IMAGE: The police try to disperse sugarcane farmers in Bengaluru, November 19, 2018. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo Kumaraswamy at a public meeting on Sunday called us goondas. This is not the right way to speak about farmers. How can Kumaraswamy call farmers goondas? Are farmers goondas? Kumaraswamy must apologise for his statement. We came to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in a peaceful manner. However, we now warn the government that if they don't implement their promises to us and Kumaraswamy doesn't apologise by Tuesday, another 10,000 farmers will join us in Bengaluru. Out of 67 sugarcane factories, more than 30 are run by MLAs and MPs. They are running the show and they are not paying the farmers their dues. These politicians are neglecting farmers. The government of Karnataka is not giving a fair remunerative price to farmers for their produce. We have been demanding the implementation of the M S Swaminathan Committee report and that too is not happening. Eight months ago they (the central government) imported sugar from Pakistan. This added to difficulties of sugarcane growers leading to reducing the price of sugarcane." IMAGE: Police detains Anil Kumar, who allegedly threw chilli powder at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, at Delhi Secretariat in New Delhi, on Tuesday. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo A man threw chilli powder at Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, an attack the Aam Aadmi Party described as 'politically motivated' while asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party is hatching a conspiracy in collusion with Delhi Police to attack the chief minister. Even as the man behind the attack -- Anil Kumar Sharma was detained, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his party would not be 'cowed down' by these 'petty tactics' by the BJP. Police said 40-year-old Sharma, a resident of Naraina has been detained for questioning. While the AAP blamed the BJP for the attack, the Delhi chief of the saffron party Manoj Tiwari said such incidents 'cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody' and called for a high-level probe. Officials said Kumar was targeting the bespectacled chief minister's eyes. Kejriwal's spectacles broke but his eyes seemed to have been spared any damage, they added. Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of khaini, or chewing tobacco, they said. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted. The attack took place outside the chief minister's chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch. WATCH: A man throws chilli powder at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal inside the secretariat AAP's national spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who was behind Kejriwal when the incident took place tweeted, 'Was right behind CM @ArvindKejriwal at the Secretariat when he was suddenly attacked, on 3rd floor right outside his office. Shocking lapse of security. Is this Delhi Police's incompetent effort to protect an elected CM? 'While today just the CM's glasses fell to the floor and broke, an unacceptable security lapse nonetheless. Imagine if attacker were to be wielding a more dangerous weapon. Who were to have prevented a tragedy from occurring?' Sisodia told reporters that the attack surprisingly took place at a high-security area. "Recently BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of signature bridge. BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister," he told reporters. "We are not going to be cowed down by BJP'S petty tactics," he added. AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP for the attack. According to Bhardwaj, the attack happened at the chief minister's office, which is a "high-security" zone. He said it was a serious matter and termed the attack 'politically motivated'. IMAGE: The chilli powder used by Anil Kumar to attack Kejriwal scattered on the floor. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo "The BJP is behind the attack and the accused are being aided by the Modi government," he alleged. The Delhi BJP chief said such incidents 'cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody'. "This calls for a high-level probe," Tiwari said. Officials close to Kejriwal accused the Delhi Police of being lax in providing him security and alleged that this was the third attempt to harm him in less than a month. The AAP alleged that water bottles were thrown at Kejriwal by Tiwari at the inauguration ceremony of Signature Bridge earlier this month. "Around the time of Dussehra, an unidentified man had barged inside Kejriwal's residence and had tried to attack the CM," Bhardwaj added. In a statement issued later, Delhi Police said the incident took place around 2.25 pm on the third floor of Delhi Secretariat. "When CM was coming out of his chamber, one person later identified as Anil tried to hand over his complaint to the chief minister who in turn passed it on to a staff member," said the statement. Meanwhile Anil bowed down to touch the feet of Kejriwal. The chief minister's security tried to take him away but in the process Kejriwal's spectacles fell, it said. "Subsequently security personnel removed him aside and found him carrying a pouch in his hand, which got torn and apparently containing chilly powder. 'Sharma was visiting the Secretariat with reference of some staff. He has been detained for further questioning,' the statement added. All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that the Congress candidate in Nirmal constituency in poll-bound Telangana attempted to offer Rs 25 lakh as 'party fund' to cancel his rally in support of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti in the town, a charge denied by the Congress. Addressing a public meeting organised by his party at Nirmal on Monday night, Owaisi claimed that he had a recorded phone conversation of the Congress candidate A Maheshwar Reddys offer of Rs 25 lakh to a local AIMIM leader 'party fund' for cancelling his meeting. Rejecting the charge, Reddy termed it 'baseless and false' and said he would quit politics if Owaisi proved it. AIMIM, which is on friendly terms with the TRS, has not fielded its candidate in Nirmal assembly seat, and organised the meeting in support of the ruling party candidate though there was no formal electoral tie-up between the two parties for the December 7 assembly elections. The AIMIM is contesting eight seats-- all in Hyderabad -- while the TRS is going it alone in the polls to the 119-member assembly. The Congress heading a 'grand alliance' of TDP, CPI and TJS has announced candidates for 94 segments. "Now when this jalsa (meeting) is happening the Congress people tried to buy Asaduddin Owaisi. Maheshwar (Reddy) phoned a AIMIM leader telling him to stop Owaisi Saheb (from holding the meeting in Nirmal), (and) will give Rs 25 lakh party fund. "I have the recording (of that phone conversation)," Owaisi said at the meeting. "This Congress candidate wants to buy my party for Rs 25 lakh. These people think we do deal for our party, Rs 25 lakh that is the sign of their arrogance," the Hyderabad MP said. Refuting Owaisi's allegations, Reddy dared Owaisi to prove the charge with evidence. "Why should somebody stop someone's rally. Owaisi has already started campaigning for TRS party and now this man says that he is being stopped with an offer of Rs 25 lakh. Why somebody will offer him Rs 25 lakh and why he will stop," he told PTI. "I want to make it very clear if really somebody had called him or met him or if he has any evidence let him show the evidence. "I am ready to take it as a challenge and I am ready to quit politics if it is proved. Is he ready to quit politics, if it is untrue?" he asked. They were talking of something which was 'baseless and false', Reddy added. Reacting to Owaisis remarks, Congress party's star campaigner Khushbu Sundar told a press conference that the AIMIM chief should come out with proof. "He (Owaisi) has to prove it. All I want to say is other than coming out with such an allegation, he should have come out with evidence first and then see if Rahul Gandhi takes action ( issue). "We don't think that the AIMIM is such big group that it is going to threaten the Congress party (party's opportunities). It is a very small group and communal group," she said. She alleged that there was a nexus among BJP, TRS and AMIM parties. Meanwhile, the BJP Tuesday demanded that the Election Commission take cognisance of Owaisi's comments. "What Owaisi has stated constitutes an attempt in electoral corruption," BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao told reporters. "Because, the state is currently undergoing election campaigning, Election Commission must take cognisance of this and must enquire into this and establish as to the culpability of the parties involved," he said. The Congress party's desperation and its old habit of indulging in vote bank politics is once again evident, he claimed. "This also shows some kind of a nexus between the Congress party and AIMIM led by Owaisi," Narasimha Rao said. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said Central Bureua of Investigation deputy inspector general's M K Sinha's allegations of corruption against senior government officials in his affidavit to the Supreme Court are the latest episode of a crime thriller chowkidar hi chor (watchman is thief) playing out in Delhi. "Officers are tired, trust is broken and democracy is crying," the Congress president said, a day after Sinha dragged the names of several officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union minister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC K V Chowdhury, over alleged attempts to interfere in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Asthana has been divested of his duties and sent on leave along with CBI director Alok Verma. While Doval and Chowdhary did not react immediately, the Union minister of state for coal said the allegations were "baseless and malicious". A crime thriller titled Chowkidar hi chor is playing out in Delhi. In the new episode, a CBI DIG has levelled serious charges against a Minister, the NSA, Law Secretary and Cabinet Secretary, the Congress president said on Twitter, On the other hand, his partner from Gujarat is busy collecting crores...," he added. Gandhi has been repeatedly using the "chowkidaar" jibe to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hitting back at the oft-used jibe, Modi said in Madhya Pradesh two days ago that the "naamdaar" (dynast) and his party were hurling all kinds of abuses at him. "The Congress people are hurling abuses at chaiwalas, pakodawalas, chowkidars, surgical strike, Army chief...what has become of their culture? he asked while addressing a rally in Chhindwara. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally ahead of Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, in Rewa, on Tuesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he used the 'bitter medicine' of demonetisation to bring back money into banking system and to give 'proper treatment to deep-rooted corruption system' in the country. He also asked people to vote 'intelligently' in the November 28 assembly poll, asking them to ensure that 'not even a single Congress candidate' is elected. Addressing a poll rally at Jhabua for the November 28 assembly elections, Modi said, "We use poisonous medicine to eradicate termite. Similarly, I used note ban as a 'tez' (bitter) medicine to treat corruption in the country." "People who used to hide their money under beds, in their houses, offices and factories are now paying tax of every single penny and we are using this money for the right schemes for the common man," Modi said. Modi said his government has so far disbursed loans to 14 crore people, 'that too without guarantee', under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. "The amount of work we (Bharatiya Janata Party-led government) have done in four years, Congress would be able to do it in 10 years," Modi said. "Remember the time when Congress was in power here in Madhya Pradesh, what was the condition of people? Madhya Pradesh does not deserve a government which never thinks about the state's welfare," Modi said, targeting the Congress party. On 'housing for all', Modi said, "My dream is to provide 'pucca' houses to everyone in the country by 2022. We have so far given keys of such houses to 1.25 crore people." Attacking Congress, Modi termed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance regime as 'Madam ki sarakar' and 'remote control wali sarkar'. Addressing a poll rally in Rewa, Modi reminded voters that Madhya Pradesh has a 'double-engine' as BJP is in power in the state and the Centre. Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, Modi said, "History proves that no dynasty prevails after its fourth generation rule in Delhi and Congress will also meet the same fate." He asked people to "think for a moment" before voting about what Congress has done for them compared to 15 years of BJP rule in the state. "When a pregnant mother had to be rushed to hospital on a tractor or a cot, there were no roads then from the village to the city. Many times either the mother or the child or both died. Those were the days of Congress rule," he said. Asking people to be active participants in development process, Modi said, "If people work for 10 hours, then I will work for 11 hours for the country's progress". Modi credited Chouhan with developing the state. "He is in power for the last 15 years but effectively got only four-and-a-half years as during rest of the period, the state always fought with the Centre for its rights in the UPA-led regime at the Centre," he said. At least six people were killed and 10 others injured when an explosion took place near an ordnance depot in Maharashtra's Wardha district on Tuesday while ammunition was being unloaded by labourers for disposal, officials said. The blast took place between 7.10 am and 7.15 am at the explosive demolition ground near the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) at Pulgaon town, a Defence official said. The Maharashtra government declared compensation for the kin of those killed and for the injured with state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar stating that a committee would inquire into the incident and submit a report within one month. Around 10 to 15 contract labourers were at the site when the explosion occurred, Wardha Additional Superintendent of Police Nikhil Pingle said. "The blast took place in one of the ammunition boxes while unloading the ammunition. The incident took place in an open land," he said. While four people were killed on the spot, two others succumbed in hospital, Inspector General of Police (Nagpur Range) K M M Prasanna told PTI. The ground near the CAD was given to the Ordnance Factory, Khamaria (in Madhya Pradesh) for demolition activities, the Defence official said. "The demolition was being carried out by staff of the Ordnance Factory, Khamaria, with the help of an authorised contractor. Contractual services are used for digging pit and placing sand bag over the explosive," he said. The deceased included a staff member of the Khamaria-based ordnance factory and labourers. The 10 injured were admitted to a hospital in the nearby Savangi village, Prasanna said. One of them was in a critical condition while three others received serious injuries, he said, six others were out of danger. Officials from the ordnance factories at Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Khamaria rushed to the spot to ascertain the cause of the accident, the Defence official said. Mungantiwar, who is also the guardian minister of Wardha, on Tuesday said Rs 5 lakh will be given to the families of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh to those who were seriously injured and Rs 50,000 to those who suffered minor injuries in the incident. He said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had visited the spot and following discussions with him the decision on compensation was taken. "It has also been directed to constitute a committee and conduct a high-level inquiry of the incident. It should submit its report within a period of one month," Mungantiwar said. He said the government had also ordered a study of the existing security arrangements at all ordinance factories in the state. Mungantiwar said he had discussed the incident with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and requested her to provide Centre's assistance as well. In 2016, 16 people were killed in a blast at the ammunition depot at Pulgaon. Photographs: ANI IMAGE: Police personnel detain the devotees who were staging nama japa protest against the police restrictions at Sannidhanam, in Sabarimala, on Sunday night. Photograph: PTI Photo The Sabarimala shrine on Tuesday witnessed moderate crowd of pilgrims, even as eight people were taken into preventive custody from the temple complex and opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front leaders booked for violating prohibitory orders at the base camps. The police said the eight were taken into preventive custody by police from 'Sannidhanam' on Tuesday night based on intelligence report that they were at the shrine to create trouble. A senior police officer told PTI that they were taken into custody after they had offered prayers. Inflow of pilgrims is yet to pick up five days after the hill shrine was opened on November 16 evening for the over two-month-long pilgrimage season amid tension. As the stand-off continued over entry of menstrual women into the shrine, a political slugfest broke out between chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah. Shah slammed the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front government's handling of the situation in Sabarimala as 'disappointing' and accused the Kerala government of treating pilgrims as 'Gulag inmates' and making them spend nights next to 'pig droppings'. Reacting to Shah's tweet, Vijayan said 'arrangements might have caused inconvenience to the Sangh Parivar elements who are bent on fomenting trouble with ulterior motives'. Shah must have been 'carried away' by the campaigns unleashed by these elements, Vijayan said in a Facebook post. 'Rajnath Singh, the Union home minister, has gone on record that the government does not have any option but to execute the order of the apex court. This itself is a reply to the allegations levelled by Shah,' Vijayan said. Vijayan earlier lashed out at the BJP and right-wing outfits, accusing them of exploiting the Sabarimala issue for their 'political gains' and trying to 'capture' and take control of the Lord Ayyappa shrine. In hard-hitting remarks, he alleged that the Sangh Parivar's agenda was to create trouble by sending kar sevaks' to take control of the temple and make the pilgrims the 'scapegoats'. In a series of tweets, Shah said, 'If several reports of flushing resting places for devotees and them having to spend nights next to pig droppings and dustbin are true, then Pinarayi Vijayan must realize that he can't treat Ayyappa devotees like inmates of Gulag. 'We won't let LDF crush people's faith with impunity.' BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai said it was a 'police raj' in Sabarimala and alleged that the ruling CPI-M was trying to 'crush' the Sangh parivar workers who were staging a 'Gandhian model' of protest. Vijayan said Sabarimala would not be allowed to be transformed into a 'centre of violence' and defended the arrest of 69 people from the temple complex on Sunday night. The chief minister also slammed the Congress for opposing implementation of the Supreme Court order allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers and alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Congress 'have become one' on the Sabarimala issue. Both the main opposition Congress-led UDF and the BJP have decided to intensify their agitation on the Sabarimala issue. Meanwhile, UDF leaders defied prohibitory orders at Nilackal and Pamba base camps and sought withdrawal of Section 144 Code of Criminal Procedure banning assembly of four or more people. Police have booked 100 identifiable persons, including Congress opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former chief minister Oommen Chandy. They later abandoned their plans to visit the shrine, saying they did not want cause difficulties to the pilgrims at the temple complex. Urging the CPI(M)-led LDF government to withdraw the prohibitory orders in Sabarimala, Chennithala alleged it was trying to sabotage the Sabarimala pilgrimage. BJP MPs V Muraleedharan and Nalin Kumar Kattil, who visited the temple complex and the base camp, flayed the government for the 'meagre' factilies at the shrine for the pilgrims. Muraleedharan alleged police officers with criminal background have been posted at the complex. As BJP has decided to line up its central leaders, including ministers and MPs from other states to visit the temple complex in the coming days, Vijayan said 'they are welcome', but if they defy the restrictions, the state government would have to take steps accordingly. The day also saw a minor protest at Erumeli, over 90 km from Sabarimala, as rumours floated that a young couple were on their way to Sabarimala. The couple from Vijaywada were informed by some people over the issues at the hill shrine, following which they changed their plans to visit Sabarimala. They left for Chengannur in Alappuzha district after informing protesters that they came to Kerala to offer prayers in various temples. Vijayan said security would be provided to women, wishing to offer prayers at the shrine, if they reach Nilackal. "It is not possible to give protection to those who want to visit the temple from wherever they want. If they come to Nilackal, they will be provided with security," he said. The Kerala Human Rights Commission, which had observed that there was 'gross violation' of human rights of Sabarimala devotees, on Tuesday visited the temple complex for an on-the-spot assessment of the facilities. State Human Rights Commission chairperson Antony Dominic visited the base camps at Nilackal and Pamba following complaints about the lack of infrastructure facilities including toilets and drinking water shortage. Restrictions have been imposed at the Lord Ayyappa temple following protests by devotees and activists of the BJP and RSS over the state government's decision to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addresses the media, in Indore, on Tuesday. Photograph: PTI Photo External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday announced that she will not contest the next Lok Sabha general elections due to health reasons. The 66-year-old leader, who is serving her fourth term in the House and has long been her party's most prominent woman face, said the Bharatiya Janata Party will take a final call on the issue. Swaraj told reporters at Indore that after her kidney transplant operation in December 2016, doctors had advised her to stay away from dust, which has stopped her from attending programmes in open places. "Although my party has the right to decide my candidature, due to health reasons, I have decided that I will not contest the next Lok Sabha elections," Swaraj said. Swaraj, second term MP from Vidisha Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh, said that despite holding important posts of Leader of Opposition and Minister of External Affairs, she regularly visited all the eight assembly segments in her constituency. "In December 2016, after the kidney transplant, doctors advised me to stay away from dust and that is why I have been unable to take part in poll meetings for the last one year," she said. She said she could not participate in programmes being organised at open places due to health reasons and could only take part in such events in closed-door auditoria. "I have also told my leadership that I have to stay away from dust due to health reasons. I can go to foreign countries, but following the advice of the doctors to stay away from dust I am unable to visit Vidisha as mostly it comprises of rural areas only," she said. "I have toured my constituency maximum number of times as a member of the Lok Sabha among the MPs from Madhya Pradesh. Though I have not visited my seat for the last two years, I fulfilled all the promises I have made to the people of Vidisha sitting in Delhi," she said. Eight districts of Madhya Pradesh including Vidisha were listed among the most backward districts in the country by the NITI Aayog in its report released earlier this year. In April, Swaraj had said her constituency was backward due to the poor monitoring of welfare schemes. Last year, posters showing Swaraj as 'missing' had popped up in the constituency. Gumshuda Saansad Ki Talash (in search of a missing MP), they read. The posters, which also listed problems in her constituency, once represented by late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, went viral in the social media. Swaraj's husband Swaraj Kaushal posted thank you on Twitter and said even Milkha Singh stopped running. A leader who could sway crowds by her oratory in Hindi, Swaraj is among the few top politicians capable of speaking in English with equal ease. She was the youngest cabinet minister at 25 when she joined the Haryana government in 1977 and the first woman chief minister of Delhi. She is also the first woman external affairs minister of India. Indira Gandhi had held the portfolio while she was the prime minister. Swaraj has also served in the Rajya Sabha for three terms and was a member of the Haryana assembly -- the state she comes from -- twice. She started her political life with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs student wing, and later joined the BJP. She was the Information and Broadcasting Minister in the 13-day Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1996 and got the Cabinet portfolio again after he led the BJP to power in 1998. Swaraj's most notable political battle was the one against the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Bellary in 1999 Lok Sabha polls. She was her party's nationalist woman counter to Gandhi, often attacked by the BJP for her Italian origins. Swaraj's intensive campaign, during which she gained proficiency in Kannada, won her innumerable local hearts with her speeches in their language, but Gandhi, who was fighting her first Lok Sabha election in a region then seen as her party's pocket borough, got better of her. Swaraj fell short of victory but grew in stature. Long seen as a protege of veteran BJP leader L K Advani, she also was the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha between 2009-14. Legal experts have called for tougher penalties for passengers who endanger public safety by attacking bus drivers and suggested that bus companies further improve their security arrangements. China has seen a rise in such crimes in recent years. A report issued by the Justice Big Data Institute on Monday said that Chinese courts adjudicated 223 criminal cases of arguments or attacks involving passengers and bus drivers from Jan 1, 2016 to Oct 31. The number last year was about 5 percent over that of 2016. Nearly 70 percent of defendants were passengers, and they argued or attacked the drivers mainly over "trivial things", such as fares or missing stops, it said. About 30 percent of passengers interfered with drivers by pulling on the steering wheel while the bus was moving, bringing deaths or injuries in about 40 percent of the cases, it added. Although more than 80 percent of defendants were given prison terms for endangering public security, intentional injury or disturbing public order, "many of them got sentences with a reprieve", said Lin Wei, vicepresident of the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. During a seminar earlier this month, he suggested that punishments should be heavier. The seminar was organized by the Supreme People's Court to discuss a fatal crash in Chongqing on Oct 28 in which a bus plunged from a bridge into the Yangtze River. Video in the high-profile case showed a female passenger attacking the driver before the crash. Thirteen people died and two others remain missing. "Causing harm to a bus driver is more serious than other dangerous behaviors, particularly if the vehicle is moving," Lin said. "The frequent application of a suspended sentence is not effective in preventing such offenses." The Criminal Law says that people convicted of endangering public security will face at least three years in prison, "but we're prudent in applying the penalty, especially when some attacks between drivers and passengers did not really endanger public safety," said Hu Yang, a judge of the Beijing Fengtai District People's Court. Some drivers, for example, controlled the vehicles better, such as applying brakes in a timely manner as they were being struck by passengers, he said. Lin suggested going further: "We should warn defendants through penalties that their actions were too dangerous, even if an accident did not result. If the punishment is too lenient, few will learn a lesson from it." Yu Haisong, an official at the top court, said a suspended sentence can be applied, "but when to apply it should be further specified in the law". All the specialists suggested that bus drivers should make safety their priority if attacked and take effective measures to prevent a crash, regardless who is at fault. "Also, security facilities should be improved in buses," Yu said. "For example, independent driver's cabins or a button for calling the police in an emergency need to be installed in buses." The IAF faces a 'fighter gap' of 13 squadrons. The IAF would be caught seriously short in a two-front war -- the worst-case planning contingency in which China and Pakistan attack India simultaneously, points out Ajai Shukla. IMAGE: The Su-30MKI flies-past during the 86th Air Force Day Parade at the Hindon air base, October 8, 2018. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo The unfolding controversy over the Rafale fighter throws up a deeply worrying question, quite separate from the Opposition's vocal charge that the National Democratic Alliance government arbitrarily bought too few aircraft, for too high a cost, to benefit a particular industrialist. The question is this: Will the political name-calling, court cases, audits and investigations around the Rafale further clog the defence ministry's already ponderous decision-making and bring fighter aircraft procurements to a complete standstill? Does the Indian Air Force, which already makes do with just 31 fighter squadrons against an assessed requirement of 42, now stare at the prospect of squadron numbers dropping into the twenties, before indigenous Tejas Mark 1A production kicks in to restore some respectability? Just as the Bofors corruption allegations derailed the procurement of badly needed artillery guns for a quarter century, is the Rafale controversy likely to cause defence ministry decision-makers (wags say this is an oxymoron!) to shy away from making decisions on the purchase of all new fighters? A further fall in squadron numbers now seems inevitable. The IAF should already have retired eight squadrons of obsolete MiG-21s and MiG-27s, and this cannot be put off longer than the next couple of years. To replace them, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is building the last two squadrons of Sukhoi-30MKIs at Nashik and two squadrons of Tejas Mark I fighters in Bengaluru. Then there are the two squadrons of Rafale fighters that must be inducted by mid-2022. That adds up to just six incoming squadrons against the outgoing eight, whittling down the IAF's combat strength to 29 fighter squadrons -- of which, three Mirage 2000 squadrons operate fewer fighters than their authorised 18. The IAF, therefore, faces a 'fighter gap' of 13 squadrons -- more than 30 per cent of its authorised strength. If 42 squadrons are the inescapable minimum needed to defend India, the IAF would be caught seriously short in a two-front war -- the worst-case planning contingency in which China and Pakistan attack India simultaneously. Some have argued that India's defence no longer requires 42 squadrons, given that contemporary multi-role fighters carry more weapons and are far more capable than yesterday's aircraft; and those capabilities are further enhanced by force multipliers such as mid-air refuelling aircraft and airborne warning and control systems (AWACS). IMAGE: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the Dassault Aviation plant in Argenteuil, France, where the Rafale jets to be supplied to India are being manufactured, October 13, 2018. On the minister's right is Dassault CEO Eric Trappier. Photograph: ANI The previous NDA defence minister, Manohar Parrikar, had indicated that the IAF could get by with fewer squadrons. In January 2015, he told India Today TV that 'If 35 (fighter) squadrons can be brought to a proper shape, that would give us more time to increase the strength.' And on April 13, 2015, three days after Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi announced in Paris that he had asked then French president Francois Hollande to sell the IAF 36 Rafale fighters, Parrikar stated on Doordarshan: '42 squadrons is the strength approved. We should have at least 37-38 very active squadrons.' Yet, even with these scaled-down numbers, there will be a 'fighter gap' of eight to nine squadrons after 2022. For enemy planners, this provides a predictable window of opportunity. Towards bridging this shortfall the government initiated in April the procurement of 110 new fighter aircraft -- or six new squadrons. Even if these contracts are processed with unprecedented speed, the fighter gap will remain. That is because the 110-fighter proposal envisages the first squadron being delivered, fully built, only after five years, or by end-2024. The next five squadrons, which are to be built in India, will come on stream in 5 to 12 years from the contract signing, that is between 2024 and 2032. And this assumes that the contract is signed by end-2019. Nor is the proposed Tejas Mark 1A likely to enter service fast enough to bridge the fighter gap. IMAGE: The Tejas, a Light Combat Aircraft, seen during the 86th Air Force Day Parade at the Hindon air base, October 8, 2018. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo In December 2017, the defence ministry sanctioned Rs 330 billion for building 83 Tejas Mark 1A -- or four squadrons of fighters -- starting from 2020-2021, with HAL's production line churning out 16 fighters, or almost one squadron, every year. But, typically, the Tejas Mark 1A is already being delayed by mounting IAF demands. Initially, the Tejas Mark 1A was to have four capability enhancements to the current Tejas Mark 1 -- including active electronically scanned array radar, an electronic warfare suite, a self-protection jammer, mid-air refuelling capability and easier repair and maintenance. This year, the IAF additionally demanded 'smart multi-function cockpit displays', a 'combined interrogator and transponder' to differentiate between friendly and hostile aircraft, a digital map generator and an improved radio altimeter. Integrating these systems onto the Tejas Mark 1A requires comprehensively redesigning its mission computer -- a delay of three to four years. Such amateurish planning stems from a worrying inability within the military and the defence ministry to anticipate equipment retirements, and to identify, evaluate, budget for and procure the equipment needed to fill those gaps. Instead of launching a new competitive procurement initiative for 110 fighters on exactly the same lines as the failed procurement of 126 Rafale fighters, there is a need to step back and examine our procurement record. Historically, India has been successful in only three categories of procurement. First, in the purely indigenous development of strategic weapons systems like ballistic missiles, where watertight international sanctions forced Indian technologists to indigenise practically every dimension of these systems. With no option available for import, the Defence Research and Development Organisation conceived the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and translated it into four successful missile systems -- the Agni and Prithvi ballistic missiles, the Akash air defence missile and the Nag anti-tank missile. The second successful procurement model has involved the DRDO working with foreign technology partners and India's private sector, with the latter two compensating for gaps in the DRDO's own capability and capacity. Examples of such successes are the Indo-Russian BrahMos and Indo-Israeli Long Range Surface to Air Missile, the Pinaka rocket launcher, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System and the Arihant-class nuclear submarine. The third successful procurement model has involved government-to-government deals, such as the T-90S tank, C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and a myriad of combat aircraft, such as the Sukhoi-30MKI, Mirage 2000 and numerous MiG-series fighters. In these procurements, the government jettisoned ambitious multi-vendor contests and instead consulted the relevant service to identify suitable weapon equipment. Trials were conducted where necessary and the deal then concluded with the vendor country -- for either an off-the-shelf purchase or for building the equipment in India with transferred technology. With the first model irrelevant and the second model already adopted for the Tejas Mark 1A, an expeditious purchase of 110 fighters could best be executed through the government-to-government model. There is little time for cumbersome technical and trial evaluations of multiple fighters on offer, which, in any case, ignores broader factors such as the simultaneous procurement of 57 naval multi-role combat aircraft for India's aircraft carriers. Bunching these two procurements together would provide a better deal, something that has been ignored so far. Additionally, aspects of strategic and technological partnership must feed into this multi-billion dollar decision. To a government already burned by the Rafale allegations, this may seem fraught with peril. But all it requires is intensive consultations with the military, rather than the political unilateralism that has proved damaging to the government in buying the Rafale. CLINTON Clinton Commons, the Boston Post Road shopping center anchored by a ShopRite supermarket, has been sold for $12.6 million, according to officials with the company that brokered the deal. Owners of North Branford golf course face uncertain future as they seek niche in par 3 market NorthStar Properties sold the nearly 82,000-square-foot shopping complex to The Triple Net Group, a limited liability company based in Cedarhurst, N.Y., according to officials with CBRE, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate service company that brokered the deal. The deal was part of what is known in the commercial real estate industry as a 1031 exchange, which is when a buyer uses funds from another sale to directly purchase another property. Clinton Commons provided the opportunity for a buyer to purchase a stabilized, grocery-anchored center in a desirable and affluent market, said Jeffrey Dunne, who is part of the CBRE team that represented NorthStar Properties. The centers stable rent roll and strong anchor was a perfect fit for the purchasers 1031 exchange. The estimated average household income of residents living within 5 miles of the shopping center is $107,000 according to CBRE officials. More than 22,000 cars pass the shopping center each day. The shopping center is 95 percent leased and its tenants include Jo-Ann Fabrics and Advance Auto Parts. Despite the rapidly changing retail environment, Connecticut shopping centers remain a hot commodity, according to another retail executive. Sean Cahill, principal and managing partner of Avison Youngs Norwalk office, told the trade publication Real Estate Weekly his office is seeing continued demand in the Connecticut market for large institutional grade centers. Avison Young, a New York City-based commercial real estate services firm, is marketing a northern New Haven County shopping center, Townline Square in Meriden, that currently is for sale with a $48.5 million asking price. Townline Square, located on South Broad Street near the Wallingford line, has 314,000 square feet of space and is owned by New Jersey-based Castle Rock Equity Group. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com Bemused by President Donald Trump's comments about Finland preventing wildfires through raking, folks in the Northern European country are posting photos of themselves out in the woods raking up leaves. "Off to perform my civic duty!" Meira Pappi @meirapap tweeted along with a photo of herself holding a giant rake. Trump told reporters Saturday while visiting the ruins of the Northern California town where a fire killed at least 76 people that wildfires weren't a problem in Finland because crews "spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things" to clear forest floors. Finland's president isn't sure where U.S. President Donald Trump got the idea that raking is part of his country's routine for managing its substantial forests. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in an interview published Sunday in the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper that he spoke briefly with Trump about forest management on Nov. 11, when they both were in Paris for Armistice Day events. Niinisto said their conversation focused on the California wildfires and the surveillance system Finland uses to monitor forests for fires. He remembered telling Trump "We take care of our forests," but couldn't recall raking coming up. The U.S. leader's comment generated amusement on social media in Finland, which manages its vast forests with scientific seriousness, and Twitter has been flooded in recent days with memes from Finns mocking Trump's comments. (See examples in the gallery above.) Pyry Luminen of @pyryluminen tweeted a photo of herself vacuuming leaves from a Finnish forest floor and wrote, "Just an ordinary day in the Finnish forest." Forests cover over 70 percent of Finland's 210,000 square miles. The Nordic country with a population of 5.5 million is home to some of the world's biggest paper and pulp companies. The Associated Press contributed to this story. You are here: China China has held 404 officials in 10 provincial regions accountable for environmental damage after inspections by central authorities from Oct. 30 to Nov 6, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. As of Nov 16, a total of 32 people have been detained and 33.25 million yuan (about 4.8 million US dollars) of fines were imposed following the environmental inspections, the ministry said in a statement. The inspected regions were Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Anhui, Shandong, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Shaanxi. Inspectors uncovered a slew of problems, including inadequate implementation of measures to improve environmental protection. The inspections are part of China's campaign to fight pollution and environmental degradation as decades of growth have left the country with smog, polluted water, and contaminated soil. Tackling pollution is one of "the three tough battles" that China aims to win within three years. TORRINGTON Torrington High School Student Theatre has a reputation for both excellence and taking risks. This year is no different, proven by the students fall production: Qui Nguyes She Kills Monsters- Young Adventurers Edition. After receiving 17 HALO nominations for both Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet and Lin Manual Mirandas In the Heights, earlier this year, the students did not shy away from the challenges presented by She Kills Monsters. One of our former students recently posted on Facebook a quote from Bansky, a street artist, political activist and film director: Art should disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. This show definitely does both, said Veronica Gelormino, a teacher at Torrington Middle School and the shows director. While much of the THS Student Theatres work is done by the students, a group of hard-working adults are right by their side the whole time. Victor Leger, art teacher at THS and the shows technical director, consulted with UCONNs Puppet Arts Program to create the shows monsters, including a fearsome 5-headed dragon and the huge, hairy Bug Bears. Torrington resident Rob Richnavsky was hired to choreograph the spectacular fight scenes required by the script. Emily Murphy, THS student theatre producer and an art teacher at the school, worked with student producers Miles Sletner-Sanderson and Abbey Closson. Wraiths and Bugbears, which are neither bugs nor bears for those of you wondering, along with goblins, demons, dark elves, cheerleaders and lovable geeks, present a humorous, adventurous, and moving plot about the love between two sisters, the power of friendship, and the strength of peoples stories. Senior Emily Vasquez and sophomore Caroline Ahlman play the roles of Agnes and Tilly Evans, from Athens, Ohio. On the one-year anniversary of the loss of her little sister in a car accident, Agnes seeks to get to know her sister better by reading her game module a map for a Dungeons and Dragons game. Led by Dungeon Master Chuck Biggs (Aidan Coon) and helped by her friends, Miles (Collin Scanlon) and Vera (Maggie Schnyer) and those of her sister, Lilith (Ashlyn Bernard), Kalliope (Aubrie DellAgnese), and Orcus (Nick Maniccia), Agnes discovers her sisters strengths and fears and learns about herself all while defeating various monsters in show-stopping, exciting, and violent ways. This is not a show for younger children, said Gelormino. But it really is a must-see for middle-school age and older. Teenagers to adults, this show will resonate for all. Aubrie Dell-Agnese, THS senior and winner of the 2018 HALO award for Best Choreographer, is choreographing a dance number for the show. Junior Alyssa Archambault is the assistant to the director. Alyssas ideas, organization, and knowledge of theatre have been invaluable to this production. We share ideas and figure out which work best for the show together, said Gelormino. She and I discuss costume and prop ideas and go over light and sound cues with the crew heads-Tori Dagonini, Nadine Noujaim, Lili Palmer, and Nate Zwart. Kate Hass has been assisting Aubrie with some of the choreography and costumes, and just about everything else. She is amazing, Gelormino said. It really is a student-led production on all levels. Freshman Haley Cogley has designed some of the monster costumes. The THS Thespians the high schools theatre honor society helps select the shows each year when they meet with their advisor, THS Math teacher Sybil Chamberlain. This has been a change from how THS Student Theatre was previously run, but is important that the students understand and be part of the show selection process, Gelormino said. The spring musical, presented the first weekend in May, will be Rogers and Hammersteins classic Oklahoma! Aubrie DellAgnese, who will choreograph the musical, is excited. I am looking forward to tackling the challenge of modernizing a classic, she said. I want to keep true to Agnes deMilles original vision but also want to make it THS Student Theatres vision with some up-dated moves. Audiences can see She Kills Monsters Nov. 29, Nov. 30, and Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. in the THS Little Theatre. Tickets are available at the door. For more information: contact Emily Murphy emmurphy@torrington.org TORRINGTON A head-on collision on Route 4 in Torrington left two people with major injuries, Fire Chief Peter Towey said Tuesday. First responders rushed to the 700 block of Goshen Road Route 4 around 12:35 p.m. for a report of a motor vehicle accident. The first fire unit got to the scene at 12:40 p.m. and reported a two-vehicle crash with extrication needed, Towey said. A Toyota RAV4 was traveling west on Route 4 and an Audi Q4 sport utility vehicle was traveling east prior to the crash. The Toyota reportedly crosses into (the) eastbound lane, said Torrington Police Detective Kevin L. Tieman. The female driver of the Toyota was in critical condition. A total of three patients were involved, two with major injuries, Towey said. One patient required extrication. Helicopters were requested to airlift the victims of the crash, Towey said. But when the helicopters were unable to respond because of the weather, the three were taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The crash is between Lovers Lane and Klug Hill Road, Tieman said. As crews worked to clear the scene and investigate, the area was shut down to all traffic. The roadway is closed until further notice, Towey said initially. Around 2:50 p.m., Tieman said the road was expected to remain closed until around 5 p.m. There was a two-mile detour set up around the crash site. While crews were handling the crash, an additional call came in for a reported natural gas leak. Off-duty Torrington fire personnel were recalled to respond for this car. There were no hazards found, Towey said. WINSTED No one has been charged in the recent two-car crash that nearly demolished the entryway of the Winsted Senior Center. The late-night crash on Nov. 3 involved a car and a van that apparently collided and the bumpers were hooked together, Police Chief William T. Fitzgerald Jr. said at the time. We believe one vehicle struck the rear of the other vehicle and pushed it, he said. The investigation has been delayed, Sgt. Kevin Kinahan said Monday, because the cars driver, Jason Rogers, 41, of Torrington, is still hospitalized at Hartford Hospital. A hospital spokesman said Rogers remains in serious condition. He was driving a Lexus on Holabird Avenue near the intersection of Fruit Street when his car and a Volkswagen van collided, police said at the time. Rogers was airlifted to the hospital with what police said were possible spinal injuries. The van driver, Thomas Kirkwood, 58, of Winchester, was released from the hospital the day after the crash, as were three passengers whose names were not available from the police department Monday. Repairs have not started on the building, said building official Marc Melanson. We made it safe. We took down the (entryway) that collapsed, Melanson said. The cost to repair the damage to the entryway is still being calculated, said senior center Director Jennifer Kelley. Were using the entrance, Kelley said. But, its cold, the (remaining) door is not an exterior door. We hope to soon replace it, its almost winter. Kelley said she was been making calls to vendors to gauge costs for the repairs, which include electrical wiring, heating, flooring, roofing, siding, paving and lettering for the centers exterior sign. I hope to get the amounts early next week, she said. We will have to rebuild the vestibule. The question members of the center have is not when everything will be fixed, Kelley said, but rather, Wow. Why did they hit this building? You are here: China Heavy fog led to the crash of 28 trucks in a chain collision on an expressway in Henan province, killing three people and injuring 13 on Monday morning, according to the local government. The incident occurred about 2 kilometers south of a toll station on the Daqing-Guangzhou expressway in Pingyu county of Zhumadian, the government said. "There was heavy fog when we first arrived at the accident site. More than 15 trucks were involved in the frontrear accidents. Some special vehicles of logistics companies were also seen," the police said. The injured were sent to hospital for treatment. The Henan provincial meteorological observatory issued an orange warning for fog last week. It predicted heavy fog in 10 regions including Zhengzhou, Kaifeng and Shangqiu, with visibility less than 200 meters and in some areas less than 50 meters. Henan also shut down 31 expressways, including the Henan segment of the Daqing-Guangzhou expressway and Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao expressway. The province's high-speed ban extended to buses, the transportation authorities said. You are here: China China sent Shiyan-6 satellite into space on a Long March-2D carrier rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province at 7:40 am on Tuesday, along with four micro satellites. Shiyan-6 will be mainly used for detecting space environment and testing relative technologies. Two Tianping-1 micro satellites will be deployed for accuracy calibration of ground monitoring equipment. Jiading-1 micro satellite is the first one of a low-orbit commercial communication network "Xiangyun" developed by a Shanghai-based company Space OK. Another micro satellite is developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of CAS for carrying experiments on adopting the android system in space and the open source satellite software. The flight is the 292nd launch of Long March series rockets. Good News from Beijing: China has decided to postpone a plan to lift a ban on imports of tiger bones and rhino horns. In a sharp policy reversal on Nov. 12, facing protests from conservation groups, China postponed plans unveiled in October to modify its 1993 ban to allow use for medical research and other special purposes. For the time being, China will continue to strictly ban the import, export, the sale, purchase, transport, and use in medicines of rhinos, tigers and their byproducts. A ban would potentially decrease demand and make poaching more difficult, says John Gruetzner, the managing director of a Toronto-based, Asian-focused investment advisory group. And a ban would certainly make buying the bones and horns more risky and expensive to smuggle and sell, says Gruetzner, who also advises pro bono a number of conservation groups. But a number of experts say that regardless of whether a ban is imposed or lifted, an underground trade in tiger bones and rhino horns is likely to continue. The implementation of a law or a ban in China can often prove difficult, partly due to widespread corruption. This includes bribes paid to government and Party officials, according to Minxin Pei, a China expert at Claremont McKenna College in California. In a book published in 2016 titled Chinas Crony Capitalism, Pei meticulously documented the ways in which Chinese Communist Party officials and their relatives collude with Chinese businessmen to enrich themselves. While President Xi Jin-pings anti-corruption drive has succeeded in sending a large number of high-ranking officials to prison, lower-level corruption is systemic and more difficult to stamp out. The underground trade in both tiger bones and rhino horns has proven to be a profitable illegal business, driven by a high demand from Chinas growing middle class. Some of the wealthiest members of the middle-class regard tiger bone parts and pelts both as status symbols and as useful for their supposed medicinal value. No scientific evidence Tiger bone powder, sometimes made into tiger-bone wine, is believed to help cure everything from liver and kidney diseases to eczema, epilepsy, baldness, toothaches, and joint pain. No scientific evidence has been presented to verify any medical or healing value provided either by tiger bones or rhino horns. But it doesnt seem to matter to avid consumers that leading medical practitioners in China have discouraged the use of powder made from tiger bones or rhino horns for healing purposes. More than 500,000 traditional medical practitioners constitute an influential interest group in China. And they appear to have the support of President Xi Jinping, who has used Chinese traditional medicine as a force to expand Chinas overseas influence, according to The New York Times. A recent issue of The Economist provides an example: From Dakar, Senegal, the magazine reports that Chinese medicine is on the rise in Africa. According to the magazine, in one makeshift clinic located in a house in central Dakar theres something for everyone. Teas for kidney problems, creams for aches, pills for infertility, and four pills claiming to help men with infertility. In the 1950s, Chairman Mao Zedong instigated the killing of Chinese tigers in campaigns to rid the countryside of wide-ranging, cattle-raiding tigers. As the Reuters news agency has reported, thousands of tigers were killed in these campaigns under which bounties were paid to hunters for tiger pelts. Once Mao decided to halt the campaigns, many tigers were reduced to surviving in dismal cages and suffered from inbreeding and lower birthrates, according to Reuters. As the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has reported, in 1986 tigers born in American zoos were shipped to China with the aim of starting a program to conserve the species. The tigers would form the basis for a new captive breeding program. Commerce before conservation They became the founding population of Chinas first government-sanctioned commercial tiger farms. But they also became for-profit organizations designed not so much to protect the tigers as to slaughter many of them to produce bones for the traditional medicine industry. Some of the tigers have also served as tourist attractions, where Chinese tourists can view them living in cramped enclosures. According to the EIA, some 5,000 to 6,000 tigers now live in more than 200 facilities across China. EIA has done extensive investigative work documenting the conditions in some of these tiger farms. Captive tigers are also kept in smaller facilities, from zoos to circuses and backyard facilities. Many are kept in cramped enclosures with little to provide them with mental stimulation, and some exhibit signs of several mental and physical distress, the EIA says. Serious deformities suggest that debilitating inbreeding has occurred. EIA says that cruel restraining techniques allow customers to pose for pictures atop sedated tigers. Under Chinas now postponed plan to lift a ban on imports of tiger bones and rhino horns for purposes of research and healing, tiger farms would be strictly regulated. But some environmentalists are skeptical of this commitment, given the high profits that can be made through the underground trade. Over the years the tiger farms have been used as cover to launder tiger parts for sale to customers willing to pay high prices for them. Gilbert M. Sape, a campaigner with World Animal Protection, an advocacy group based in London, welcomed Chinas decision to postpone lifting the ban on tiger and rhino products. But he said that keeping a ban is the only way we stand a chance of protecting the future survival of these incredible animals that are already in decline. Meanwhile, wild tigers in China have been hunted down to the point where only a few dozen appear to have survived. EIA has reported that a tiny population of tigers in the wild survive near Chinas border with Russia, with estimates of their numbers ranging from seven to 27. Russias President Vladimir Putin admires tigers and has supported programs to protect the estimated 500 Siberian tigers which have survived extinction in his country. Possible long-term solutions One possible solution for China would be a strengthening of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an agreement that has been ratified by more than 180 countries. In 2007, participant countries at a CITES conference agreed on a decision that tigers should not be bred for trade in their parts or in products, such as tiger-bone wine. In 2010, at a Tiger Summit held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, then Chinas then-premier Wen Jiabao spoke of ending the tiger trade. But that pledge was never fulfilled. John Gruetzner of Intercedent suggests that as a holding measure, CITES get upgraded to pledge that no wild animal meat, skin, part, or by-product be allowed to leave any country or be imported by any country. This, he said, should be the diplomatic goal of the European Union, Japan, Canada, Australia and other G-20 nations. But he suggests that getting U.S. President Donald Trump or Chinas President Xi Jinping to sign on to this might prove difficult. When it comes to rhino horn imports, criminal gangs in South Africa profiting from the illegal trade may pose the biggest challenge. While the demand in China for rhino horn is now down from a high point in 2014, this is still a highly profitable trade for African as well as Chinese smugglers. Wealthy Chinese have come to regard rhino horn powder as a remedy for a variety of maladies, ranging from hangovers to cancer. But much as is the case with tiger bone powder, no one over the years has produced scientific evidence to support this belief. In a 15-page report published last year by San Francisco-based WildAid, investigators concluded that while the awareness of the danger of rhino extinction in China has grown, China remains the main source of demand for rhino horn imports. Heavy trafficking of rhino horns takes place through Vietnam into China, the nonprofit organization says. Vietnam has strengthened its wildlife trafficking crime laws, but lacks effective implementation. At the same time, pervasive corruption persists in South Africa along with a failure to prosecute poaching and smuggling kingpins. Leaders of criminal syndicates involved in the wildlife trade are known to the authorities but have largely gone unpunished, WildAid says. WildAid suggests several possible solutions These include among other things: Using existing laws to arrest, prosecute, and punish prominent sellers and end users in China and Vietnam, and not just smugglers. Arresting and punishing organizers and kingpins in South Africa and Mozambique, and not just poachers. Cracking down with an anti-corruption drive in parks and reserves in South Africa. Establishing a wildlife court in South Africa to strengthen judicial effectiveness in dealing with wildlife crime. Improving investigative capacities and speeding up prosecutions. All of this is easier said than done, but it helps to have goals. Dan Southerland is RFA's founding executive editor. The outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia on Tuesday called on the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen to free his countrys opposition chief Kem Sokha and foster political reconciliation in the Southeast Asian nation, following a contentious general election widely dismissed as unfree and unfair. According to a statement posted by the U.S. Embassys to its Facebook account, U.S. Ambassador William Heidt held a farewell meeting with Hun Sen, during which he welcomed efforts by the prime minister in furthering a productive relationship between Washington and Phnom Penh. But Heidt urged Cambodias government to improve ties with the U.S. by rolling back a months-long crackdown on the opposition, NGOs and the independent media that saw Kem Sokha arrested for treason in September last year and his opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) banned two months later, leading Washington to withdraw election aid in the lead up to the July 29 ballot. The Ambassador encouraged the Cambodian government to take further actions to improve bilateral ties, including by promoting national reconciliation, freeing Kem Sokha and other political prisoners, and loosening restrictions on civil society and the media, the U.S. Embassy statement said of the farewell meeting. Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) won the July election by a landslide with no viable challenger, drawing criticism from several Western governments. And while Kem Sokha has been granted bail, he remains under house arrest, is barred from meeting with CNRP officials or foreigners, and cannot speak at or host any rallies or political activities. Heidt has not shied away from challenging Hun Sen during his time as U.S. envoy, including in September last year, when he called allegations that Washington had plotted with Kem Sokha to overthrow Cambodias government inaccurate, misleading and baseless. Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan told RFAs Khmer Service Tuesday that Heidts comments about freeing Kem Sokha were an attempt to interfere with Cambodias judicial system and the rule of law. [The request] is what he wants, but the government cannot do it because we are a nation that follows the rule of law, he said. But analyst Meas Ny told RFA that Heidts comments had nothing to do with interfering in Cambodias internal affairs. He raised his concerns about Cambodias politics, he said, adding that Heidt wants Cambodia to find peace and a political resolution speed up development. In August, U.S. President Donald Trump appointed W. Patrick Murphy as the new U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia in a move Phay Siphan said affirmed that Washington accepted the countrys new CPP-led government and signaled improved relations between the two nations. Heidts comments came days after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn on the margins of the East Asia Summit in Singapore and called on Cambodias government to take tangible actions to promote national reconciliation, including freeing political prisoners, ending the ban on the political opposition, and allowing civil society and media to operate freely, according to a statement by U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. The comments also came a day after Hun Sens eldest son Hun Manet, who is Infantry Commander in Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, told his troops that they must fight back against any foreign interference and foreign collusion to destroy the country. We must implement Samdech Hun Sens words at all cost, Hun Manet said, using his fathers honorific title while speaking at a ceremony in the capital. Cambodia must protect its peace, stability and development We must not succumb to foreigners in exchange for aid or threats. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Anne-Marie Brady, a professor at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, in an undated photo. Chinese experts living in Australia say recent reports that China's state security police hacked and spied on Australian businesses are credible, as a New Zealand academic researching Beijing's overseas influence said her car had been sabotaged in a potentially life-threatening manner. Chinas ministry of state security is overseeing a massive hacking operation of large Australian businesses with the code name Operation Cloud Hopper, which has been detected by the Australian Signals Directorate, a partner in the Five Eyes intelligence grouping, according to a Fairfax Media/Nine News investigation. The report cited a senior Australian government source as saying that the operation was a constant, significant effort to steal our intellectual property by hopping from outsourced cloud storage services into a companys internal computer network. And it quoted police and intelligence officials as saying that Australian companies and universities had failed to heed repeated warnings to improve their information security in the face of advanced persistent threats by state actors. Meanwhile, New Zealand media reported that police investigation into a campaign of harassment against prominent China researcher Anne-Marie Brady has widened to include apparent efforts to sabotage her car. Brady, who researches the overseas influence campaigns of the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work department, has been subjected to a series of mysterious break-ins at her home and campus office in February, the New Zealand Herald reported last Friday. The "burglaries" had targeted Brady's electronic media including phones, computers and USB drives, while her car had failed a recent annual safety check owing to "unusual defects," the paper said. "The vehicular sabotage represents an escalation for the case, coming on the heels of recent vitriolic editorials in local Chinese-language media describing the professor and New Zealand-Chinese democracy activists as 'anti-Chinese sons of bitches,'" it said, citing auto experts as saying that the tampering with the car's tires was almost certainly deliberate and could be life-threatening if the brakes were used suddenly. Brady has been an outspoken critic of Chinese influence overseas, calling on governments to carry out in-depth probes into the Chinese Communist Party's activities, and to devise a strategy to counteract them. Chinas "meddling" in the internal affairs of other nations should be defined as a national security issue and treated accordingly, she has said, suggesting updates to laws governing the funding of elections, protocols around conflicts of interest for serving and retired public servants and politicians, and sales of strategic infrastructure. More and more barbaric Chen Weijian, the New Zealand-based editor-in-chief of the political magazine Beijing Spring, said the targeting of Brady has escalated to the level of a threat to her personal safety. "The Chinese Communist Party has continued to move against Professor Brady, with the 'warnings' now escalating to the level of a threat against her personal safety," Chen told RFA. "The crux of the matter is that the New Zealand government isn't taking the burglaries at her home and office seriously enough," he said. "Why? Because the New Zealand government has been infiltrated to such an extent that the Chinese Communist Party is getting more and more barbaric." Meanwhile, the Australian hacking allegations are the latest in a string of reports of state-sponsored cyberattacks originating in China in recent years, and come after China and Australia signed a cybersecurity agreement last year not to support the theft of each other's intellectual property. John Hu, spokesman for the Australian Values Alliance, which campaigns against the Chinese Communist Partys influence in Australia, said the Fairfax/Nine News report seemed credible. Cyberattacks have been going on for some time now, both by individuals and organizations, Hu said. But regardless of whether they are motivated by commercial interests, if they are carried out under the direction of another state, then they are malicious, without a doubt. For example, a cyberattack on our power supply would be considered an act of war, so if these attacks are really coming from the Chinese government, they are a serious violation of our national sovereignty, he said. Feng Chongyi, an associate professor in China Studies at Sydneys University of Technology, agreed. China is using economic interdependence [between China and Australia] to conduct a very particular aspect of United Front work, Feng said, in a reference to the Chinese Communist Partys United Front Work Department, which is tasked with making allies to further party interests. It already has its agents and its so-called friends of China embedded in the [Australian] government in companies and in educational establishments, Feng said. And that human network is only going to get bigger. He said the commercial information garnered from hacking Australian companies could be highly valuable to state-owned Chinese companies business interests, but also to Chinas strategic national interests. Its not just technology [they want], its their pricing strategy, their negotiating strategies, how they fix their prices, how they negotiate with various different companies, Feng said. By hacking into their networks, [the hackers] can gain a monopoly on all of the information before negotiations take place, and improve their own position, he said. Measures against espionage The report comes after Australia last December tightened rules on foreign lobbying and political donations, while broadening the definition of treason and espionage, while the United States has legislated to make it easier for the government to block certain kinds of investment. Last month, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence accused Beijing of interfering in the political and economic life of the U.S. by "rewarding or coercing American businesses, movie studios, universities, think tanks, scholars, journalists, and local, state and federal officials." Meanwhile, the Five Eyes nations confirmed they have been exchanging classified information on Chinas foreign activities with other like-minded countries since the start of the year, Reuters reported in October. Officials told the agency that the enhanced cooperation amounted to an informal expansion of the Five Eyes group on the specific issue of foreign interference, with expanding Chinese influence as the main focus. China has rejected accusations that it is seeking to influence overseas governments and that its investments are politically driven. Last month, a New Zealand lawmaker accused the opposition National Party leader of corruption, claiming that he sought to hide the source of a donation from a Chinese businessman. Party donor Zhang Yikun, who was awarded an "Order of Merit" by the New Zealand government in June for "services to New Zealand-China relations and the Chinese community," had been clearly linked by independent researchers to the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department. Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Gao Feng for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Huynh Thuc Vy is shown next to a search warrant served by police on Aug. 9, 2018. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for Vietnamese authorities to drop their case against blogger and human rights advocate Huynh Thuc Vy, who is set to stand trial under under article 276 of the 1999 penal code for allegedly disrespecting the national flag. The New York-based NGOs Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said, It is wrong to put protecting a national symbol first over protecting the rights of the nations people. According to a previous RFA Vietnamese Service report, Huynh had been arrested on August 9 after refusing a summons by police. Her charges stem from a 2017 incident where she was pictured with a Vietnamese flag that had been splattered with white paint. Huynh explained on Facebook that the stunt, which occurred one day before Vietnams National Day, was a form of protest against the holidays celebrations. The Nation is bottom-deep in debt! Theres nothing to celebrate for. Formosa; Complete contamination; Cancer; Fake Medicine; Prisoners of Conscience; Human Rights Violations; About to Lose Our Country, she wrote. For years, Vietnam has sought any excuse to punish Huynh Thuc Vy for her tireless advocacy of human rights and democracy, and in their desperation the authorities have now latched on to [this incident], Robertson said, referring to repeated harassment of both Huynh and her family for not only her activism, but theirs as well. Huynh is the oldest child of former political prisoner Huynh Ngoc Tuan, who spent ten years in prison in 1992-2002 for sending a novella and several short stories critical of government abroad. Legacy of Activism HRW said Huynh Thuc Vy began writing articles online in 2008 advocating for freedom and democracy. She and other activists in 2013 started Vietnamese Women for Human Rights. Huynh, through her writing and social media presence, has been a strong supporter of people detained for peaceful activism. In 2017, she was listed by the BBC among five women in Asia who risk their lives for others' rights and spoke to the British network about her familys troubles with the one-party communist government in Hanoi. HRW said Huynh, if convicted, could be imprisoned for up to three years. Her trial is set for November 22 in the Peoples Court of Buon Ho town, Dak Lak province. Sending Huynh Thuc Vy to court and ultimately prison shows just how desperate Vietnam is to shut down activists in order to limit their influence on society and politics, said Robertson. The EU and other foreign donors and trade partners should call out Vietnam and demand it fulfill its promises to improve its abysmal rights record if it wants closer political and economic relations, he said. Russian authorities say they have detained an alleged participant in a deadly hostage-taking attack in the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk in 1995, a turning point in the first of the two post-Soviet separatist wars in nearby Chechnya. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement on November 20 that Khazvakha Cherkhigov, born in 1978, was detained in Moscow a day earlier and transferred to the North Caucasus region. In June, the North Caucasus Regional Military Court in the city of Rostov-on-Don found another man, Badruddi Daudov, guilty of involvement in the hostage-taking and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. Daudov pleaded not guilty. On June 14, 1995, a group of Chechen separatists led by Shamil Basayev attacked a local police station and government buildings in Budyonnovsk and took some 1,500 people hostage, demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya. About 150 people were killed. The surviving hostages were released following a five-day siege after Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin promised a cease-fire in Chechnya and gave Basayev and his backers safe passage back to Chechnya. The deal to resolve the crisis paved the way for an August 1996 agreement that ended the war. A second war erupted in 1999, with then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin playing a prominent role in decision-making, after Basayev led militants in an incursion into neighboring Daghestan. Basayev, who became the most wanted man in Russia, was killed in an explosion in 2006. Based on reporting by Rapsinews and Interfax In a sign of a growing rift between Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov and his predecessor, former President Almazbek Atambaev has publicly called the arrests of his associates "a show" orchestrated by the Central Asian nation's current leadership. In a 95-minute interview aired on Aprel (April) television late on November 19, Atambaev vowed to remain politically active and push for reforms, suggesting that former ally Jeenbekov needs to be reined in and that he will seek to do that. The sharp words from Atambaev indicate that political tension could increase in the former Soviet republic in which two presidents were pushed from power by street protests in 2005 and 2010. Atambaev, who left office a year ago and began criticizing his successor in the spring, said that "remarks and recommendations" he gave Jeenbekov in March "have seemingly been ignored." He said "a frantic campaign of lies and slander against me and members of my family has been unleashed" since a congress of the ruling Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SPDK) -- which he now heads -- in March. Atambaev also dismissed an anticorruption campaign announced by Jeenbekov, calling it "just a slogan with no real results." "In reality it is a show" aimed to create the impression that "a fight against corruption is under way," Atambaev said. "And people buy it because former prime ministers have been locked up, others have been locked up." He warned that Jeenbekov's politics could "throw Kyrgyzstan back to the era of Kurmanbek Bakiev," a president who was toppled by antigovernment protests in April 2010. Atambaev vowed to stay in "big politics" in order "to implement constitutional reforms to turn Kyrgyzstan into a parliamentary republic with limited presidential powers." The former president's first extensive televised interview since he left office in November 2017 came three days after the publication of an interview in which Jeenbeekov accused him of trying to use others to pressure him and manipulate his decisions. Limited to a single six-year term by the constitution, Atambaev tapped his prime minister Jeenbekov as his favored successor in the October 2017 presidential election. Atambaev initially kept a low profile after leaving office. But following his election in March as head of the SDPK, he has publicly criticized Jeenbekov -- who is also a member -- on several occasions. SDPK Deputy Chairwoman Irina Karamushkina, who is a member of parliament, told RFE/RL on November 20 that the party has been split by the tug-of-war between Atambaev and Jeenbekov. In April, Jeenbekov fired several Atambaev allies including Prosecutor-General Indira Joldubaeva and former security chief Abdil Segizbaev, who had been criticized for a crackdown on opposition politicians and independent journalists. Two Atambaev allies who also served as prime minister when he was president, Sapar Isakov and Jantoro Satybaldiev, were arrested in June on corruption charges. In October, former Atambaev adviser Ikramjan Ilmiyanov was detained in Russia, brought to Kyrgyzstan, and arrested on corruption charges. Some politicians and lawmakers have called in recent months for an investigation of some of Atambaev's decisions while in office. In early October, the Supreme Court ruled that the immunity enjoyed by the country's former presidents is unconstitutional. The Macedonian government says it has filed an extradition request for fugitive former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, amid reports Hungarian authorities have already granted him asylum. Macedonia's Justice Ministry announced it had sent the extradition request to Hungary on November 20, after a Hungarian pro-government newspaper, Magyar Idok, reported that Gruevski was granted asylum because the authorities concluded that he would be at risk of political persecution if he returned to his homeland. Gruevski, who escaped to Hungary earlier this month to avoid prison time, wrote on Facebook that Hungary "responded positively" to his request for obtaining political asylum due to what he called his "political persecution" in Macedonia. He also said that if he went to prison in Macedonia, his life would have been in danger as he had heard about a plot to assassinate him. Hungarian officials have not confirmed whether they granted the 48-year-old politician asylum. Gruevski, who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2016, was sentenced in May to two years in prison for unlawfully influencing Interior Ministry officials over the purchase of a luxury vehicle valued at 600,000 euros ($680,000). Facing jail after his appeal was rejected on November 9, Gruevski fled to Hungary, a European Union member, where he sought asylum. On November 19, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry summoned Hungary's ambassador to Skopje to formally demand that the government in Budapest reject Gruevski's asylum application. The Hungarian government was also urged to "act in the spirit of good bilateral relations and European values" to ensure the return of the former leader of the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party. In the past, Gruevski has indicated he was close to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose government has formally denied having actively provided assistance in his escape. In 2017, Orban offered his public backing to Gruevski during his campaign for municipal elections, in which his party lost to the ruling Social Democrats. Gruevski is still facing three other trials, including over a major wiretapping scandal, and could be handed longer sentences than the one already given to him. He claims the cases are politically motivated. Pressure is building on Interpol ahead of a vote to choose a new chief for the international police agency, with Russian opposition activists, U.S. senators, and officials from other countries warning against the possibility that a top Russian Interior Ministry official might become the agency's new head. British media have reported that 56-year-old Major General Aleksandr Prokopchuk will most likely be elected despite allegations that Moscow has used Interpols procedures to pursue political enemies. Police chiefs gathered at a four-day meeting in the Persian Gulf city of Dubai are expected to vote on a new chief on November 21. Interpol's current interim president, South Korea's Kim Jong-yang, is also seeking the post. The agency, headquartered in Lyon, France, acts as a clearinghouse for national police services that want to hunt down suspects outside their borders. The agency does not have the ability to arrest people. Critics of the agency have warned that it is increasingly being used by some countries to pursue politically motivated prosecutions by using so-called "red notices." Those are alerts by Interpol to member states that identify suspects wanted for arrest by another country. Ahead of the vote, the United States said it "strongly" endorsed the South Korean candidate, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling on "all nations and organizations that are part of Interpol and that respect the rule of law to choose a leader with integrity." "We believe Mr. Kim will be just that," Pompeo told reporters on November 20. Meanwhile, Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, tweeted that the Russian government "abuses INTERPOLs processes to harass its political opponents." Earlier, British Foreign Office minister Harriet Baldwin told lawmakers that London would also support South Korea's bid, saying, "We always seek to endorse candidates who have a history of observing standards of international behavior." 'Absurd' Presidency Ukraine's interior minister has vowed to push for suspending his countrys membership if Prokopchuk is elected. "Russia's possible presidency at Interpol is absurd and contradicts the spirit and goals of that organization," Arsen Avakov said in a statement on November 19. Avakov's comments come amid high tensions between Moscow and Kyiv over Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and its backing for separatists in a war in eastern Ukraine. The question of Russia potentially assuming oversight of the agency drew condemnation from a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Republicans Marco Rubio and Roger Wicker, and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons. "Interpol electing...Prokopchuk as its new President is akin to putting a fox in charge of a henhouse," the group said in a letter. "Russia routinely abuses Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists." Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman lashed out at the U.S. senators, saying their letter was a "visible example" of "interference in the electoral process" at Interpol. The statement by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov appeared to be aimed at turning the tables on U.S. officials and lawmakers who accuse Russia of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In June, a cross-party group of British lawmakers wrote a letter to Home Secretary Sajid Javid to urge him to demand the suspension of Moscow's access to the Interpol databases. The letter warned that Russia's participation in Interpol systems has allowed it to repeatedly request the arrest of Bill Browder, a U.S.-born Briton who was once the biggest foreign investor in Russia and has now become a campaigner against Russian human rights abuses. Browder, who was barred from entering Russia in 2005, has been detained several times in various countries -- most recently in Spain in May of this year -- while Interpol sought to verify arrest warrants issued by Russia. "I cannot imagine a more inappropriate person than a person who has been the architect of the abuse doled out to me by Russia at Interpol," Browder said on November 20 at a joint news conference in London with self-exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the founder of Open Russia Foundation and a Kremlin foe. "There is probably no more inappropriate person than this person, and there is no more inappropriate country to have any type of leadership position at Interpol than Russia." Khodorkovsky, who was once Russia's richest man until he ran afoul of the Kremlin in the early 2000s, was imprisoned for more than a decade on charges his supporters said were trumped up. His oil company, Yukos, was dismantled, its largest assets sold off to state oil giant Rosneft. "I seriously fear that if Mr. Prokopchuk is elected president of Interpol, then at the command of the Kremlin he will be ready to perform absolutely any actions, because he doesnt have to worry about his reputation," Khodorkovsky said. Russian anticorruption activist Aleksei Navalny, who has faced a series of detentions and criminal charges that he and his supporters have called politically motivated, said his associates "have suffered abuse" from Interpol officials who were complying with Russian warrants to persecute Kremlin opponents. "I don't think that a president from Russia will help to reduce such violations," he said in a posting to Twitter. Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition activist, said in an opinion article in The Washington Post that Russia was likely to misuse the "red notice" system if Prokopchuk were to take over the agency. "The main purpose of the organization is information-sharing and mutual assistance among national police forces. One can imagine what the Kremlin could do with access to sensitive databases around the world," he wrote. Kosovo Rejected The November 21 vote is to replace Meng Hongwei, who was China's vice minister of public security and who went missing while on a trip to China in September. Beijing later said that he was detained as part of a sweeping purge against allegedly corrupt or disloyal officials under President Xi Jinping's authoritarian administration. Interpol's general assembly voted on November 20 not to approve membership for Kosovo, the result of what the U.S. Embassy in Pristina said was "a campaign, led by Serbia, to pressure countries to oppose Kosovos bid." Accepting Kosovo as a full member would have allowed Pristina to distribute red notices for Serbian officials that Kosovo deems to be war criminals. Two years ago, Interpol introduced new measures aimed at strengthening the legal framework around the red notice system after facing criticism that governments have abused the system to go after political enemies and dissidents. As part of the changes, an international team of lawyers and experts would first check a notice's compliance with Interpol rules and regulations before it is issued. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Financial Times Pakistan has summoned the U.S. charge d'affaires in Islamabad to protest against President Donald Trump's criticism of Pakistan's role in fighting terrorism and the killing of Osama bin Laden. Trump's remarks in the past several days have angered Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who on November 19 retorted by saying on Twitter that few allies have sacrificed or helped Washington as much as Pakistan in its war against terrorism. The tension threatens to further fray relations between the two countries which have repeatedly clashed about the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan's alleged support for militants. "The Foreign Secretary called in the U.S. CdA [charge d'affaires] Ambassador Paul Jones to register a strong protest on the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on November 20 in Islamabad. Over the weekend, Trump said in an interview that Pakistan doesn't "do a damn thing" for the United States despite billions of dollars in U.S. aid, and he alleged that Pakistani officials knew bin Laden's location before his killing by U.S. troops in a raid inside Pakistan in 2011. 'Baseless Rhetoric' "Rejecting the insinuations about OBL [Osama bin Laden], Foreign Secretary reminded the US CdA that it was Pakistan's intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of OBL," the ministry said, adding that "baseless rhetoric about Pakistan was totally unacceptable." As part of Trump's effort to resolve the 17-year war in Afghanistan, Washington has escalated pressure on Pakistan, whose assistance the U.S. believes is needed to compel the Taliban to agree to negotiate with the government in Kabul. In his interview with Fox News television,Trump had said he canceled hundreds of millions of dollars worth of aid to Pakistan. That comment drew an immediate response from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who on November 19 said his country had suffered 75,000 casualties and lost billions of dollars during the U.S.-led war in neighboring Afghanistan. With reporting by AP and AFP Interpol, the international police agency, has rejected Kosovo's membership for a third time, an outcome that the Balkan country said was disappointing and the United States described as a loss for "closing a critical security gap in the Balkans." Kosovo's application was assessed on November 20 at Interpol's four-day general assembly in the the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai, together with applications from other states that wanted to join the 192-member police organization. Interpol, which has its headquarters in the French city of Lyon, acts as a clearinghouse for national police services that want to hunt down suspects outside their borders. The organization's rules stipulate that, in order to become a member, a country must receive two-thirds of votes cast, excluding abstentions. In case the two-thirds majority is not reached, a second round of voting is allowed. In the first round on November 20, Kosovo's application was supported by 76 countries, while 56 voted against and 22 abstained. Since the two-thirds threshold, or 88 votes, was not reached, a second round was held, and this time only 68 countries voted in favor, while 51 voted against and 16 abstained. Kosovo, which fought a war against Serbia in 1998-99, declared independence from Belgrade in 2008. Its independence has been recognized by most Western states, including the United States, but not by Serbia and Russia. Kosovo's government blamed the failure on what it called "Serbia's wild campaign" against its Interpol membership. "Voting against Kosovo's accession in this international organization only serves...criminals and no one should rejoice," it said in a statement. While bashing what it said was "a campaign, led by Serbia, to pressure countries to oppose Kosovos bid," the U.S. Embassy to Pristina praised the "majority of countries" that voted in favor of the move. Kosovo's previous attempts to join Interpol in 2015 and 2016 were also rejected. In 2017, the Balkan country withdrew its application, citing lack of support. The U.S. Embassy statement pointed out that accepting Kosovo as a member of Interpol "was never about recognition of Kosovo's independence, but about strengthening global law enforcement cooperation and closing a critical security gap in the Balkans." It said Kosovo's police force is a "fully integrated and capable institution" that has proven its ability to fight international terrorism, cybercriminals, as well as narcotics, arms, and human smuggling networks. "With this outcome, we all lose," the U.S. statement said. Accepting Kosovo as a full member of Interpol would allow Pristina, among other things, to distribute "red notices" for Serbian officials that Kosovo deems to be war criminals for their actions during the 1998-99 war, which ended when NATO initiated a 78-day bombing campaign of Yugoslavia. Red notices are alerts filed by Interpol to member states that identify suspects wanted for arrest by another country. The United States continues to "strongly support" the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, the U.S. Embassy said in its statement, urging both sides to "avoid provocations and work together on a deal." Serbia, however, hailed the outcome, with President Aleksandar Vucic saying the vote was a "victory" for Serbia. "I am proud of our country's struggle," he said. "I want to believe that this will be a clear, undoubted message to Europe and the world to understand that things cannot be solved with one-sided pressure," Vucic said, without elaborating. During the November 20 session, two other countries -- the Pacific island-states of Kiribati and Vanuatu -- became Interpol members. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Russian teenagers are posting photos of an anti-Putin slogan chalked on school blackboards, after video emerged of an angry teacher saying people would have been shot for such behavior in Soviet times. ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Twenty years after democratic reformer Galina Starovoitova was assassinated, her sister says she does not believe that an infamous alleged crime kingpin who was implicated in the slaying was, in fact, behind it. Speaking to RFE/RL on November 20, the anniversary of a slaying that stunned Russia and sent shock waves abroad, Olga Starovoitova said she hoped that those who ordered her sister's murder will be identified and brought to justice someday. Galina Starovoitova, a prominent reformist politician who was co-chair of the Democratic Russia party, was shot dead in the stairwell of her apartment building in St. Petersburg on November 20, 1998. In 2005, a St. Petersburg court sentenced a former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer and another man to prison terms of 20 and 23 1/2 years after convicting them of involvement in Starovoitova's killing. In August 2015, former lawmaker Mikhail Glushchenko was convicted of "taking part in the organization of the murder" and was sentenced to 17 years in prison. A few months earlier, Glushchenko claimed that Vladimir Barsukov -- an alleged organized-crime boss now in prison for murder and other crimes -- ordered Starovoitova's killing after she blocked him from establishing ties with a number of corrupt city officials. Olga Starovoitova said she believed that Barsukov, who is also known as Kumarin, might have been involved in her sister's killing but that it's unlikely he ordered the hit. She said there could be several layers of people involved in ordering and organizing the killing, adding that she suspects specific people but will not name them because she believes in the presumption of innocence and does not have proof. Russia's security services "have always been chauvinists toward women" and particularly dislike "talkative women," Olga Starovoitova said, referring to women who speak their mind or challenge the authorities. Referring to her sister and Anna Politikovskaya, an investigative journalist who was killed in her Moscow apartment building in 2006, she said that "talkative women" were being "shot down one by one." She also said she had been told that her sister's killing was still under investigation. An investigator "told me that investigation of Galina Starovoitova's murder is the second longest in Russia." "The longest one is the investigation into the murder of [Tsar] Nicholas II" and his family, who were killed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Barsukov, the alleged head of the notorious Tambov organized crime group, is serving a 23-year prison term for murder, attempted murder, extortion, and asset-grabbing in cases that are unrelated to Starovoitova's murder. Barsukov was a powerful figure in St. Petersburg in the 1990s and was vice president of the Petersburg Fuel Company. Vladimir Putin, now president and at the time a deputy mayor of St. Petersburg, awarded the citys lucrative gasoline concession to the company in 1994. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized a retired Navy admiral, as he repeated earlier assertions that U.S. military and political leaders erred by not capturing Osama Bin Laden sooner. Trump on November 19 doubled down on comments he made in a Fox News interview, when he asserted that Admiral William McRaven, a former commander of U.S. Special Operations, was a supporter of Trump's 2016 Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. In a post to Twitter, Trump said that Bin Laden should have been captured much sooner than 2011, when U.S. Navy SEALs killed him at a compound in Pakistan. "Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did," Trump said. "I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Center," he wrote. Trump's criticism of McRaven, and other decisions, prompted angry retorts from administration officials of both presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. In his Fox News interview Trump also said he had canceled hundreds of millions of dollars worth of aid to Pakistan because "they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us." That comment drew a sharp response from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said his country had suffered 75,000 casualties and lost billions during the U.S.-led war in neighboring Afghanistan. As part of Trump's effort to resolve the 17-year war in Afghanistan, Washington has escalated pressure on Islamabad, whose assistance the U.S. believes is needed to compel the Taliban to agree to negotiate with the government in Kabul. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters The top U.S. diplomat in Tajikistan has met with officials from the Prosecutor General's Office and the Foreign Ministry to discuss deadly unrest at a prison in the northern city of Khujand. In a statement shared with RFE/RL, the U.S. Embassy said that Charge d'Affaires Kevin Covert held talks on November 20 "to learn about the steps the Tajik government has taken to investigate alleged violations and to insist that the rule of law be upheld." "The U.S. government appreciates its relationship with the Tajik government, which allows it to have such candid conversations. The embassy will continue to be a voice for human rights in Tajikistan," the statement said. Tajik law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL earlier this month that at least 52 people, including two prison guards, were killed in violence that erupted at the prison late on November 7. On November 19, the U.S. Embassy said that the U.S. and European ambassadors met that day with members of the Committee Against Torture to gather facts about the Khujand prison violence and other matters. In a Facebook post, Covert called that meeting "important and sobering." "It is important for the [Tajik] government to conduct a thorough investigation, follow the rule of law, and protect the human rights of prisoners and their families," Covert wrote. Sughd regional court's sources told RFE/RL on November 20 that the warden of the prison in Khujand, Faizullo Safarzod, was sent to pretrial detention for two months. Tajik law enforcement sources told RFE/RL earlier that Safarzod was detained on November 15 and charged with negligence and abuse of power. According to the sources, Safarzod was accused of failing to inform the Penitentiary Service about the unrest in a timely manner. News of the warden's reported arrest has not been officially confirmed by Tajik authorities. The extremist group Islamic State (IS) claimed the riot broke out after one of its "soldiers" attacked a prison guard. Government sources, also speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL on November 9 that suspected IS supporters convicted of religious extremism and terrorism were behind the unrest. Almost two weeks after the violence, the Tajik government has issued no public statements on the incident. The penitentiary -- high-security prison No. 3/3 -- largely houses inmates convicted on charges related to terrorism, extremism, and other serious crimes. The U.S. Treasury Department has targeted six individuals and three entities that it says are part of an Iranian-Russian network providing millions of barrels of oil to the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and funding the militant groups Hamas and Hizballah. The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control said on November 20 that Russia facilitated the delivery of Iranian oil to Syria, and that a variety of mechanisms were used in an attempt to conceal the shipments and payments. "Today we are acting against a complex scheme Iran and Russia have used to bolster the Assad regime and generate funds for Iranian malign activity," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, called the latest U.S. sanctions "absolutely illegal and unlawful." Russia and Iran have given Assad crucial support throughout the war in Syria, which began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011. The conflict has left more than 400,000 people dead, displaced millions, and devastated many historical sites across the country. Those added to the U.S. list of sanctioned entities and persons include Syrian national Mohammad Amer Alchwiki and his Russia-based company, Global Vision Group, Russia's state-owned company Promsyrioimport, and its deputy director, Andrei Dogayev, who is a Russian citizen, the Treasury said. The other targets are Iran's Tadbir Kish Medical and Pharmaceutical Company, Iranian nationals Rasoul Sajjad and Hossein Yaghoubi Miab, Syrian national Hajji Abd al-Nasir, and Lebanon national Muhammad Qasim al-Bazzal. The move blocks any of their assets under U.S. jurisdiction and warns non-U.S. institutions against conducting transactions with them. With reporting by Reuters and Interfax Pro-European protests in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, started five years ago -- on November 21, 2013. The early peaceful demonstrations turned into three months of confrontation between civilians and special forces. Dozens of people were killed and thousands were injured in a series of clashes in and around the city's central Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square). The rallies became known as the Euromaidan protests. After pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych's abrupt decision to end talks on a Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement, protesters gathered on late November 21 in the main square of Ukraine's capital. In the following days, up to 100,000 Ukrainians joined the demonstrations. The beatings on November 30 marked a turning point of the protests, with at least 79 people injured that day. In the days following the vote in parliament, thousands gathered to protest the legislation restricting demonstrations. Hundreds were reported injured in the unrest. Protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails, set fire to cars and buses, and used the debris to build barricades in the streets. Buildings, tents, and barricades burned on Kyiv's Independence Square after a day and night of clashes that left at least 18 people dead. The violence that erupted on February 18 was the worst since the start of protests in November. Isla Mujeres first to charge new tourist island fee Isla Mujeres, Q.R. As of January 1, Isla Mujeres will become the first port of Quintana Roo to collect a new approved tax from tourists who visit the island. Government Secretary General Francisco Xavier Lopez Mena said that recently, Congress of Quintana Roo authorized the request by the Municipality of Isla Mujeres for the approval of the collection of a right for those who arrive to the island. It is similar to lodging, but this fee is for those who arrive at the docks of Isla Mujeres, he noted. They will begin charging on the first day of the new year since it has just been approved, but added that he did not yet know an exact fee that would be charged. He explained that the new fee will be different from the Lodging Tax (IH), which is twenty peso per night, adding that The first precedent has already been set and that it will probably be replicated by Holbox and Cozumel soon after. He estimated that the islands of Cozumel and Holbox could join the initiative during the first quarter of next year. It was approved by the state Congress, but it must be made very clear that it will be for the tourists not for the residents. Those who show they are Quintana Roo residents will be exempt from payment. In a recent session, XV Legislature of the State Congress approved a finance tax law that will allow the port of Isla Mujeres to collect money from visiting tourists to contribute to the maintenance of public services provided by municipal governments. Negotiations that do not make anyone happy are usually considered the best ones. The reason is, as per classic game theory, if any one side is too happy with the outcome the other side is usually unhappy which makes the outcome unlikely. Relative gains dictate that compromises are to be made and compromises make no one happy. Both sides give up something and there is palpable anger on every single side. The result is that practical people agree on the outcome and the negotiation stays on course. By that logic, Theresa May's Brexit deal is a stunning success it made no one in Britain happy. The Conservative hard Brexiters are unhappy and consider it a sacrifice of sovereignty. The Labour Brexiters consider it a betrayal of the working class. The remainers of both the Labour and Conservative party thinks that it is a disaster. The negotiation, which took two whole years, and finally led to the majority of the European countries agreeing with Britain on the key issues, finally took shape as May unveiled her withdrawal plan. The deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom was stuck over a few key points. The chief among them was the Irish backstop. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, and that complicates factors as drawing up a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, as a border between EU and U.K., would reignite the sectarian conflicts which ceased in the early nineties. It was decided that there will be a backstop, and that the EU and the U.K. would have to jointly agree to come out of it if ever that situation arises. Essentially, it means in reality the Republic of Ireland has a say and veto on U.K.'s sovereign rights. On immigration, EU citizens, and Britons in EU, will be both able to move, work and stay and vice versa until 2020, and those who were in U.K. before Brexit, will be allowed to continue to stay and work with the option to take up residence in U.K. Securing the rights of the citizens and their medical guarantees were also achieved. As for the European court of justice, the U.K. would remain part of the ECJ jurisdiction, and overall, in disputes within the backstop, the ECJ interpretation of laws would prevail over U.K. courts. Nothing would change in trade, and transport, and the U.K. would retain policing and security arrangements with the EU. Science and energy research will continue, and education collaboration would also continue. London would remain the financial capital of Europe. And Europeans will be able to access healthcare in the U.K., as usual, although European students would lose funding for living. One can imagine, why Brexiters are unhappy. Because frankly, this isn't Brexit. Nothing is changing, other than U.K. getting back the control of immigration, post 2020. The overall relationship with the EU will remain exactly the same, and perhaps that is all for good. Order is better than chaos, and a No Deal Brexit would be catastrophic. This is, simply to say, the best of the worst options. The problem now facing May is trying to pass the necessary legislation through the U.K. parliament. The keyword she is trying to focus on is that this is in the national interest of the country. But she has a weak hand as she faces power struggles within her own party, and a Labour party unwilling to support knowing that they have a chance at governing in the future. The chances of the deal passing are still high. Ultimately, however, this is U.K.'s Versailles moment. With relative power one tenth of that of Europe as a whole, the U.K. has been forced to accept the deals which were already decided. The British elite never wanted to leave the European Union anyway, and they got their way as well. The United Kingdom isn't the British Empire, and it is understandable that the EU would have its own way. It also shows a fundamental truth, that the EU is imperial in character, and would impose its will on other powers and that will simply continue to increase. Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Be antibiotics aware: Smart use, best care State and local public health officials are participating in U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week November 12-18, 2018, which is an annual one-week observance to raise awareness of the importance of appropriate antibiotic use to combat the threat of antibiotic resistance. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPPHS) and its partners are encouraging all Montanans to work closely with their healthcare providers to reduce the use of antibiotics. DPHHS is part of a statewide Montana Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative to improve antibiotic use and prescribing throughout the state. Collaborative members include Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, Montana Hospital Association, DPHHS, and the University of Montana - Skaggs School of Pharmacy. According to Erika Baldry, Healthcare Associated Infections Epidemiologist, antibiotics are not always the answer. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, such as those that cause colds, flu, bronchitis, or runny noses, she said. When antibiotics arent needed, or taken as directed, they can cause side effects and lead to antibiotic resistance. Baldry said resistance to antibiotics does not mean your body is becoming resistant; rather, it means that bacteria develop the ability to defeat the antibiotics designed to kill them. Some resistant bacteria may be very difficult to treat and can spread to other people, she said. In the United States, 2 million infections and 23,000 deaths are caused by antimicrobial-resistant organisms each year. This is one of the most pressing public health threats in the US. Public health authorities encourage patients to discuss the need for antibiotics when visiting their healthcare provider for an illness. Baldry said its important for patients to ask for reasons why they were or were not prescribed an antibiotic. If you were not prescribed an antibiotic because you have a viral illness, your provider may have some suggestions to relieve your symptoms, such as using fever reducers, saline sprays, warm compresses, drinking plenty of liquids and getting rest, she said. Everyone has a part to play when it comes to combatting antibiotic resistance. For more information, please visit the DPHHS antimicrobial website at http://www.dphhs.mt.gov Flash China and Portugal on Monday vowed to facilitate their parliamentary exchange and cooperation in Beijing. The pledge came as China's top legislator Li Zhanshu held talks with Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, president of the Portuguese parliament, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. While hailing the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties, Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said high-level political mutual trust between the two countries had become a distinctive feature of the bilateral ties. It has become a good experience in developing China-Portugal relations to expand cooperation in opening-up and seek shared growth in cooperation, Li stressed. "The relations of the two countries are stable and full of vitality, and there are broad prospects for cooperation in diverse fields, " said Li. In the hope of further advancing bilateral ties, he called on the two sides to intensify mutually-beneficial cooperation in fields including the construction of the Belt and Road, and to communicate more and coordinate with each other on international affairs. Li said China has announced a series of opening-up measures since the beginning of the year and stressed Portugal and all countries are welcome to share China's development opportunities for win-win outcomes. "The Chinese NPC is willing to boost more institutionalized exchange and cooperation with the Portuguese Parliament and contribute to the two countries' relations," Li said. The two legislative bodies should work to foster a good policy environment, protect the investors' legal rights and interests, support people-to-people exchange and promote local cooperation, to lay a solid social foundation for the China-Portugal friendship, Li added. For Rodrigues' part, he said Portugal's cooperation with China has boomed in various areas and expressed his willingness to push forward the two countries' parliamentary exchange and cooperation. Its finally November, which, for many, means No Shave November. For 30 days, men are encouraged to forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness. According to the national No Shave November website, http://www.no-shave.org, the goal of the campaign is to grow awareness by embracing our hair something that many cancer patients lose and letting it grow wild and free. Donate the money you typically spend on shaving and grooming to a national or local cancer charity of your choice. The No Shave tradition has been around for years, but the children of Matthew Hill, a Chicago man who passed away from colon cancer in November 2007, took it a step further by using the cause to raise money for charity. The entire aim is to turn each man into a walking billboard for mens health, with their facial hair being the conversation starter. Locally, Sidney Health Center has seen an unprecedented rise in cancer cases over the last few years. Cancer is currently the second leading cause of death in Richland County, following heart disease, according to Dr. Kiehl, Radiation Oncologist at Sidney Health Center. To address this, male employees across all departments at Sidney Health Center are participating in No Shave November, raising money for the SHC Cancer Care fund held by the Foundation for Community Care. Richard St. Germain, SHC Food Services Director says, I have lost a lot a family and friends to this relentless disease called cancer. I want to help and be a part of the effort to support funding and find ways to support our community in the fight against cancer. Men participating in No Shave November are encouraged to abide by just a few rules: - Put down your razor for 30 days. Strict dress code at work? Dont worry about it! Participation of any kind is encouraged; grooming and trimming are perfectly acceptable. - No-Shave November has the main goal of raising mens cancer awareness through embracing hair, which many cancer patients lose, so let it grow wild and free! - If you choose to solicit donations or want to help with a charitable cause, consider donating the money you typically spend on shaving and grooming to a local or national cancer care charity of your choice. Or find sponsors to support you throughout the month. No Shave November started as an easy way for friends and family to raise money and awareness for cancer causes, and has turned into a nationwide celebration. Every November for the past six years, these no-shavers have used the month as a cancer-based fundraising tool, and have raised over $2 million dollars to date. The Foundation for Community Care is always pleased when our community can come together and raise awareness for a great cause. We are fortunate to have such an amazing cancer care team at Sidney Health Center, and anything we can do to support their work is important, states Gina Heckey, Senior Executive for the Foundation for Community Care. For more information, or to participate in No Shave November on a national level, visit http://www.no-shave.org. To support local fundraising efforts for Sidney Health Center Cancer Care, visit the Foundation for Community Care website at http://www.foundationforcommunitycare.org, or call (406) 488-2273. Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh SPOKESMAN NEWS SERVICE: CHANDIGARH, November 20: Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh today urged all the political parties to exercise restraint on the issue of the Amritsar terror attack. He appealed to all the political parties across the board to let the investigation agencies do their job. In an informal interaction with some reporters at his residence here today, the Speaker said, it was a serious matter and any attempt to make political capital out of this situation will not only be unfortunate but disastrous for the state. He expressed his displeasure over the way certain leaders of various political parties were trying to politicize the event. This is reflective of the overall decline and degradation in the political discourse that we have seen over past several years, he said. Advertisement This is a fight we have to fight together against the enemies of the state and the country and there must not be any blame game against anyone, Rana said, while hoping that the political leaders across the board will show their sagacity and realize the gravity of the situation. The Speaker pointed out, Punjab was yet to heal the wounds of the dark era of terrorism of the 1980s and 90s. The scars are still there as we lost about thirty thousand innocent lives to that dark era, he observed, while adding, the disastrous economic situation the state was facing was the result of that era only. He said, although the challenge was serious, yet it was not difficult to defeat the designs of those behind such incident. Their aim is to sabotage the hard-earned peace and we must not do anything that will help our enemies in sabotaging our peace, he said. Advertisement Rana said, Punjab has always been at the forefront to defend the nation against all the enemies and Punjabis have always laid down immense sacrifices for the same. And we are faced with yet another challenge and we will face it successfully for which the need of the hour is unity and restraint, he remarked. Flash China welcomes the United States' commitment to support regional infrastructure and hopes the promise won't fail in practice, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Monday when commenting on U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's recent statement. In a speech during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit held in Papua New Guinea, Pence said the United States would provide 60 billion U.S. dollars for regional infrastructure development, but Washington "does not offer a constricting belt or a one-way road." Some media said the statement was aimed at China. "We have noted the relevant remarks of the U.S. side and will not make unnecessary connections. But since the U.S. side has mentioned 'belt' and 'road,' I might as well respond with a few words," Geng said. The Belt and Road Initiative is an economic cooperation initiative and a public good provided by China to the international community. If it benefits unilaterally, there wouldn't be more than 140 countries and international organizations signing cooperation agreements with China, according to Geng. "The international community generally welcomes and supports the Belt and Road Initiative. There is no shortage of examples," he said. During recent meetings with the Chinese leader, leaders of Pacific island countries that have diplomatic relations with China expressed their hope to deepen practical cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Geng said. They also hoped the participation in the initiative will contribute to economic and social development in their countries, he added. Geng also cited the Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez as saying in an interview Sunday that the Belt and Road Initiative is transparent and provides win-win cooperation, and the Philippine side has joined on a voluntary basis. "For whatever purpose, the United States has committed to providing 60 billion dollars in infrastructure financing to support regional infrastructure development. It is a good thing to help the development of countries in the region. The Chinese side welcomes it," he said. "At the same time, we have noticed some discussions about whether the U.S. can deliver on its promises and whether it will fail in practice," he said. "We hope that such concerns will not become a reality." Flash Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday enlisted British business leaders to back her much-criticized Brexit deal, insisting that she would not make any change to the draft divorce agreement between London and Brussels. Speaking at the annual Conference of British Industry (CBI), the prime minister said: "We have in view a deal that will work for the UK. And let no one be in any doubt. I am determined to deliver it." Business is one of the key fields to be most affected by the British departure from the European Union (EU) as Brexit creates more uncertainties on the economic and financial connections between Britain and continental Europe. May, acknowledging that Brexit is the one paramount issue facing the country at the moment, said "I know it is the number one concern of the CBI." Meanwhile, the prime minister also used her speech at the conference to move her defending campaign into British business world in order to defy Tory rebels as Brexit enters a crucial week. At present, she is fighting to defend her Brexit plan, neutralize the efforts to topple her and finalize the framework of future relations with the EU. She wanted to drive home her message that the terms of the UK departure from the world's largest trading bloc have been "agreed in full" and the only thing left to discuss is the future trade deal. The prime minister made the statement at a time when some Tory members of the parliament continue to press for late changes to the deal. During what she said an intense week of negotiations ahead, May said: "I expect us to hammer out the full and final details of the framework that will underpin our future relationship and I am confident that we can strike a deal at the European Council that I can take back to the House of Commons." The prime minister is expected to travel to Brussels this week to hammer out the final details of the political declaration on Britain's future relationship with the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Junker. By withdrawing their support for the draft deal, two of the British cabinet ministers resigned last week over the proposed deal while some others are believed to be trying to change its wording. Meanwhile, speculation continues over whether the number of Tory members of the parliament submitting letters of no-confidence in May will reach 48 -- required to trigger a confidence vote on her leadership of the Conservative Party. It is May's hope that the whole package, which also includes the withdrawal agreement containing the backstop, can be approved at a special EU summit on Nov. 25. The draft 585-page withdrawal agreement are set to be finalised and signed off at an EU summit this weekend. However, May also tried very hard to make it crystal clear that Brexit means just a divorce from the EU as an organization, but not the continent as a market. "While the world is changing fast, our geography is not," she said. "Europe will always be our most proximate goods market and ensuring we have free-flow borders is crucial." Soot belches out of diesel engines, rises from wood- and dung-burning cookstoves and shoots out of oil refinery stacks. According to recent research, air pollution, including soot, is linked to heart disease, some cancers and, in the United States, as many as 150,000 cases of diabetes every year. Beyond its impact on health, soot, known as black carbon by atmospheric scientists, is a powerful global warming agent. It absorbs sunlight and traps heat in the atmosphere in magnitude second only to the notorious carbon dioxide. Recent commentaries in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences called the absence of consensus on soot's light absorption magnitude "one of the grand challenges in atmospheric climate science." Rajan Chakrabarty, assistant professor in the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis, and William R. Heinson, a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow in Chakrabarty's lab, took on that challenge and discovered something new about soot, or rather, a new law that describes its ability to absorb light: the law of light absorption. With it, scientists will be able to better understand soot's role in climate change. The research has been selected as an "Editors' Suggestion" published online Nov. 19 in the journal Physical Review Letters. Because of its ability to absorb sunlight and directly heat the surrounding air, climate scientists incorporate soot into their models -- computational systems which try to replicate conditions of the real world -- and then predict future warming trends. Scientists use real world observations to program their models. But there hasn't been a consensus on how to incorporate soot's light absorption into these models. They treat it over-simplistically, using a sphere to represent a pure, black carbon aerosol. advertisement "But nature is funny, it has its own ways to add complexity," Chakrabarty said. "By mass, 80 percent of all black carbon you find is always mixed. It's not perfect, like the models treat it." The particles are mixed, or coated, with organic aerosols that are co-emitted with soot from a combustion system. It turns out, black carbon absorbs more light when it is coated with these organic materials, but the magnitude of absorption enhancement varies non-linearly depending on how much coating is present. Chakrabarty and Heinson wanted to figure out a universal relationship between the amount of coating and the ability of soot to absorb light. First, they created simulated particles that looked just like those found in nature, with varying degrees of organic coating. Then, using techniques borrowed from Chakrabarty's work with fractals, the team went through exacting calculations, measuring light absorption in particles bit-by-bit. When they plotted the absorption magnitudes against the percentage of organic coating, the result was what mathematicians and scientists call a "universal power law." This means that, as the amount of coating increases, soot's light absorption goes up by a proportionately relative amount. advertisement (The length and area of a square are related by a universal power law: If you double the length of the sides of a square, the area increases by four. It does not matter what the initial length of the side was, the relationship will always hold.) They then turned to work done by different research groups who measured ambient soot light absorption across the globe, from Houston to London to Beijing. Chakrabarty and Heinson again plotted absorption enhancements against the percentage of coating. The result was a universal power law with the same one-third ratio as was found in their simulated experiments. With so many differing values for light absorption enhancement in soot, Chakrabarty said that the climate modelers are confused. "What on earth do we do? How do we account for the reality in our models? "Now you have order in chaos and a law," he said. "And now you can apply it in a computationally inexpensive manner." Their findings also point to the fact that warming due to black carbon could have been underestimated by climate models. Assuming spherical shape for these particles and not properly accounting for light absorption enhancement could result in significantly lower heating estimates. Rahul Zaveri, senior scientist and developer of the comprehensive aerosol model MOSAIC at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, calls the findings a significant and timely advancement. "I am particularly excited about the mathematical elegance and extreme computational efficiency of the new parameterization," he said, "which can be quite readily implemented in climate models once the companion parameterization for light scattering by coated black carbon particles is developed." Reaction from a pioneer in black carbon research "This paper strengthens the science and affirms the role of black carbon as a significant forcer of climate change," said Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program at Stanford University. "This paper shows, with a combination of data and highly-detailed modeling, that not only are the strong climate effects previously found supported, but also that they may be even underestimated in some of the previous studies because many previous studies did not account for the actual shapes of black carbon particles and the resulting mixtures." Male birds-of-paradise are justly world famous for their wildly extravagant feather ornaments, complex calls, and shape-shifting dance moves -- all evolved to attract a mate. New research published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology suggests for the first time that female preferences drive the evolution of physical and behavioral trait combinations that may also be tied to where the male does his courting: on the ground or up in the trees. There are 40 known species of birds-of-paradise, most found in New Guinea and northern Australia. Study lead author Russell Ligon, a postdoctoral researcher at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, suggests females are evaluating not only how great the male looks but, simultaneously, how well he sings and dances. Female preferences for certain combinations of traits result in what the researchers call a "courtship phenotype" -- bundled traits determined by both genetics and environment. Study authors examined 961 video clips and 176 audio clips in the Cornell Lab's Macaulay Library archive as well as 393 museum specimens from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. They conclude that certain behaviors and traits are correlated: As the number of colors on a male increase so do the number of different sounds he makes. The most elaborate dancers also have a large repertoire of sounds. Males that display in a group (called a lek) have more colors to stand out better visually amid the competition. Because female birds-of-paradise judge male quality based on a combination of characteristics, the study suggests that males may be able to evolve new features while still maintaining their overall attractiveness to females -- there's room to "experiment" in this unique ecological niche where there are few predators to quash exuberant courtship displays. The researchers found that where a bird-of-paradise puts on his courtship display also makes a difference. "Species that display on the ground have more dance moves than those displaying in the treetops or the forest understory," explains Edwin Scholes, study co-author and leader of the Cornell Lab's Bird-of-Paradise Project. On the dark forest floor, males may need to up their game to get female attention." Above the canopy, where there is less interference from trees and shrubs, males sang more complex notes, where they are more likely to be heard. But their dances were less elaborate -- perhaps a nod to the risks of cutting footloose on a wobbly branch. Machine learning -- a field of artificial intelligence that uses statistical techniques to enable computer systems to 'learn' from data -- can be used to analyse electronic health records and predict the risk of emergency hospital admissions, a new study from The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Oxford has found. The research, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, suggests that using these techniques could help health practitioners accurately monitor the risks faced by patients and put in place measures to avoid unplanned admissions, which are a major source of healthcare spending. 'There were over 5.9 million recorded emergency hospital admissions in the UK in 2017, and a large proportion of them were avoidable,' said Fatemeh Rahimian, former data scientist at The George Institute UK, who led the research. 'We wanted to provide a tool that would enable healthcare workers to accurately monitor the risks faced by their patients, and as a result make better decisions around patient screening and proactive care that could help reduce the burden of emergency admissions.' The study, of 4.6 million patients from 1985 to 2015, was conducted using linked electronic health records from the UK's Clinical Practice Research Datalink. A wide range of factors was taken into account, including age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, family history, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, medication and marital status, as well as the time since first diagnosis, last use of the health system and latest laboratory tests. Using more variables combined with information about their timing, machine learning models were found to provide a more robust prediction of the risk of emergency hospital admission than any models used previously. 'Our findings show that with large datasets which contain rich information about individuals, machine learning models outperform one of the best conventional statistical models,' Rahimian said. 'We think this is because machine learning models automatically capture and 'learn' from interactions between the data that we were not previously aware of.' Whether machine learning models can lead to similarly strong improvements in risk prediction in other areas of medicine requires further research. The study by The George Institute UK was funded by the Oxford Martin School's Deep Medicine programme. On November 5, 2018, a U.S. District Court for the Central District of California entered a final judgment on consent against immigration attorney, Steve Qi, and his law firm, Law Offices of Steve Qi & Associates, who were charged with violations in connection with the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The SEC's complaint, filed December 8, 2017, alleged that Qi and his law firm acted as unregistered brokers in connection with sales of EB-5 investments and defrauded their investor clients by not fully disclosing their receipt of transaction-based compensation. After the Court denied Defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint, the parties engaged in Court-ordered mediation that resulted in resolution of the case by consent. The final judgment imposes permanent injunctions against Qi and his firm from violating Section 17(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The final judgment also orders disgorgement of $1,317,248, representing profits gained as a result of the conduct alleged in the Complaint, together with prejudgment interest thereon in the amount of $180,835, and a civil penalty in the amount of $160,000. Separately, Qi agreed to the entry of an order permanently suspending him from appearing and practicing before the SEC as an attorney. The order, dated November 9, 2018 (File No. 34-84563), prohibits Qi from representing clients in SEC matters, including investigations, litigation, or examinations, and from advising clients about SEC filing obligations or content. The litigation was conducted from the SEC's Home Office by Kenneth Guido, Ashley Dolan, Sarah Hall, and Heather Powell. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. On November 19, 2018, Kimberly Kitts, a Cape Cod-area investment adviser, pleaded guilty to criminal charges filed by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Kitts admitted to investment adviser fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with stealing over $3 million from her clients' investment and retirement accounts. Kitts is currently a defendant in a pending SEC enforcement action filed on July 19, 2018. According to the SEC's Complaint, Kitts forged her clients' signatures on withdrawal requests to misappropriate money from their variable annuity and investment accounts. Over the course of six years, Kitts made 82 unauthorized withdrawals from these accounts, using falsified account statements to conceal her theft. Kitts proceeded to use the stolen $3 million of client funds for personal use. The criminal charges, filed on September 18, 2018, arose from the same conduct alleged in the SEC's Complaint. Kitts is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2019. For further information, please see Litigation Release No. 24208 (July 19, 2018). A man found dead near a South Bay marina has been identified as a 49ers fan who disappeared from a game at Levis Stadium on Nov. 12. But the discovery cleared up few questions about his disappearance. Ian Powers, 32, was traveling from his home in Spokane, Wash., to Los Angeles and stopped in Antioch to visit relatives last week, police said. The visit included taking in the 49ers game against the New York Giants at the Santa Clara stadium. Powers disappeared after telling his girlfriend he was going to the restroom, authorities said. Surveillance video showed him walking on a footbridge from the stadium toward the parking lot. His car was later found in the lot. On Saturday, duck hunters found a body in shallow water about a mile north of the Alviso Marina boat ramp. The Santa Clara County coroner identified it Tuesday as Powers. The coroner said Powers died accidentally from salt water drowning. How he ended up in Alviso, an area of north San Jose about 2 miles from the stadium, is a mystery. Powers was a Martinez native who grew up a fan of local teams, said an uncle, Sean Powers. He loved sports, especially his Bay Area teams, and that means all Bay Area teams, he said. Ian Powers was working at HotStart, an engine manufacturing plant in Spokane. Company CEO Tony Judge said he was very friendly, talented, dependable and fun to be around. We will miss him very much. Sean Powers said he and his nephew had dinner at an Italian restaurant in Walnut Creek on Nov. 11. It was the last time he saw him. He told me he was going to finally go to college to be a history teacher, and maybe coach football, Sean Powers said. He said his nephew always made time to visit his family and go to games. Last year, he flew down to the Bay Area so the two of them could attend two pro football games and a college contest. He was a positive influence on everyone he came in contact with, and was like my little brother, Sean Powers said. Honestly, if I ever have a daughter, I hope she marries someone like him. Ashley McBride is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ashleynmcb By Sunday it had been 10 days since the Camp Fire swept through the town of Paradise, and 10 days since Chrissy Mullinax had reported her mother Cheren Mullinax missing to the Butte County Sheriffs Office. But not only was the elder Mullinax missing from her family, her name was absent from every Camp Fire missing persons list that Butte County Sheriffs Office had released to the public. Mullinax tried repeatedly to correct this omission, but her mothers name remained in administrative purgatory: Not found, not confirmed dead, not counted as missing. Starved for answers from her home in Tennessee, the daughter turned to her last option: a desperate Facebook post in a group created for families of the missing. One of the group admins commented and publicized the post, and within hours there was a hit: A reporter had interviewed her mother at a shelter days ago, and better yet, there was photo proof that she was alive. The admins that are running that Camp Fire missing persons group on Facebook theyre the only reason why anybodys getting as far as theyre getting, the daughter said Monday. Theyre doing so much better than the hotline. Amid the chaos of Butte Countys search and recovery efforts, identifying remains and recording the thousands of names reported missing since the fire, families say theyre often left to their own devices to track down loved ones. Its a last resort made necessary by one simple, frustrating factor in the aftermath of the conflagrations devastation: Because of the inevitable chaos involved, the technique of accounting for everyone missing is by definition slow, incomplete and constantly evolving. This means that worried relatives who cant make it to Butte County have become armchair detectives. They blast social media posts, collect clues from news reports, and connect with other families. Those who can make the drive do all of the above and comb the shelters one by one. Tammie Konickis family hasnt heard from her mother, 64-year-old Sheila Santos, since the morning of Nov. 8, when the fire began. Konicki said Santos lived at Holly Hills Mobile Estates with a roommate, and there was one set of remains that was found outside their trailer. Konicki reported her mother missing, and has submitted a DNA sample. But Santos name hasnt turned up on the official list of the missing or dead, leaving her to search for answers alongside the family of her mothers roommate. In a Sunday evening interview, Konicki said she was actually growing more hopeful each day. Through various degrees of separation, Konicki heard that her mother had escaped with a neighbor. We keep getting calls from sheriffs asking for more information about her, Konicki said Sunday evening. And from a couple of sources I have, thats possibly a very good sign. By Monday morning though, that hope was all but dashed. Talked to sheriff they have a tentative body, she wrote in a text. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has repeatedly warned that the list was not to be taken literally, and likely contains people who in fact are alive and should not be presumed dead. Its released as raw data, mined from reports from the missing persons hotline, emails and records generated during 911 calls. It could include repeated names or reports from those who simply didnt know someone moved out of the area. This phenomenon is common in massive fire tragedies, said Lt. Paul Liskey, emergency manager for the Alameda County Sheriffs Office, who is aiding Butte County Sheriffs Office with search and recovery efforts. There were more than 500 reports of missing people after the 2016 Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland, where 36 people died. And there were more than 2,200 missing person reports after last years Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County, which killed 24. Liskey, whose office advised Butte County on how to track the missing, said the overcount is an act of due diligence. Internally though, the names are prioritized by how concrete the reporting is and the probability of the persons last known location. I cant waste resources looking for somebody until were through the high probabilities, he said. Then we go to the lower probabilities. The Sheriffs Office hasnt published a list of people reported missing who are now accounted for, but the number is climbing every day. There were 993 people still unaccounted for as of Sunday evening and 1,318 who were on the list but have since been found. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California Last year amid the Tubbs fire, the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office chose not to publish a missing persons list at all. I think our biggest thing was, we didnt want to freak people out, when theyre just sitting in the shelter, said spokesman Sgt. Spencer Crum. Sonoma County deployed officers from the probation department to search for the missing, Crum said, and put family members in touch with people who were found. Its highly possible that many of the missing are safe at shelters. Butte County Sheriffs spokeswoman Megan McMann said the Red Cross and other organizations running shelters have provided names of people staying with them, but those lists could be incomplete. Evacuees arriving at Red Cross shelters are asked to check yes or no on whether the Red Cross can share their names with law enforcement. About 500 people are at Red Cross six Camp Fire shelters and about 500 are at private shelters, said Red Cross spokeswoman Cynthia Shaw. Those who check no typically do so because of domestic violence fears or because they dont want to be bothered by the agency, Shaw said. For those that say no, we will encourage them either to allow us to share it or to reach out to (law enforcement) directly. Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com A state appeals court has overturned $1.6 million in damages awarded by an Alameda County jury against a pipe supply company last year in a suit by a former construction worker who was stricken with cancer after cutting pipes laden with asbestos. The only evidence that the company supplied the pipes was a foremans testimony that he saw the companys logo on some invoices, the appeals court said. The jury never got to see the invoices because they were destroyed. So that testimony was hearsay a secondhand account of events occurring outside the courtroom and it should not have been allowed in Frank C. Harts trial against Keenan Properties, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco said in a 2-1 ruling, published Monday as a precedent for future cases. Without the foremans statements, the court said, there was no evidence that Keenan supplied the asbestos pipes that Hart worked on in 1976-77. Hart, who worked as a pipelayer and later as a foreman, suffers from mesothelioma, an often fatal cancer most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos. He and his wife, Cynthia, sued companies involved in manufacturing or supplying the pipes he worked on. They settled their claims against some of the companies, but Keenan declined to settle, and their dispute went to trial. Hart had worked as a pipe cutter for his employer, Christeve Corp., installing thousands of feet of asbestos-cement pipe in sewer lines in McKinleyville (Humboldt County) from September 1976 to March 1977. To identify the supplier, he relied on testimony by a foreman, John Glamuzina, who said he recalled seeing Keenans logo, a circled letter K, on invoices he signed when receiving the pipes. A company official said he had no information that Keenan had sold pipes in McKinleyille at the time, and invoices from that period have long since been destroyed. The jury found that Keenan had been one of the companies that harmed Hart, and awarded damages for financial losses and pain and suffering. The appeals court said Glamuzina should not have been allowed to testify because his testimony was based on secondhand information, his recollection of the invoices. 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. He lacked personal knowledge of who the supplier was, Presiding Justice Barbara Jones said in the majority opinion. He did not see the invoices prepared and thus could not properly authenticate them, she said. In dissent, Justice Henry Needham said Glamuzina had personal knowledge of the documents he had seen. And because they were allegedly prepared by Harts opponent in the suit an exception to the usual ban on hearsay evidence the jury was entitled to decide whether the invoices the foreman recalled were authentic, Needham said. Lawyers for the Harts could not be reached for comment. They could appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko The family of a black man who died last month after being tased by San Mateo County sheriffs deputies said video of the incident contradicts law enforcements claims that the man attacked officers and instead shows an unarmed person of color once again being targeted solely for his appearance. On Oct. 3, 36-year-old Chinedu Okobi was on the 1300 block of El Camino Real in Millbrae when a sheriffs deputy approached him and, shortly thereafter, called for more officers, including two deputies, who tased Okobi and caused him to go into cardiac arrest. Okobi was transported to Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. More than six weeks passed before members of the Okobi family and civil rights attorney John Burris gathered in a room Friday at the office of District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe to watch a 30-minute video of the incident, compiled from dashboard cameras, witnesses cell phones and some surveillance footage. The family had been asking to see the videos since the fatal encounter, said Ebele Okobi, the slain mans sister. While authorities have said Chinedu Okobi was running through traffic and acting erratically, his sister told The Chronicle that video shows he was walking on the sidewalk when a deputy approached him for no reason, leading her brother to cross the street before being tased, tackled and beaten with a baton. I want the videos to be released, she told The Chronicle. If people saw what my family saw, they would see what a miscarriage of justice it was. They would see why were so appalled that police officers could do this. In a lengthy Facebook post Sunday, Ebele Okobi, who works as the social media companys public policy director to Africa, said the video she and her family watched refutes statements from the Sheriffs Office. She also criticized Wagstaffe for repeating this version of events, and called on the district attorney to publicly release the video, which the family says will clearly show the father of one was a victim of excessive force. Ebele Okobi and the rest of the family also called for an independent investigation of both the incident and the officers involved. The Sheriffs Office identified the four deputies and one sergeant implicated in the case: John DeMartini, Alyssa Lorenzatti, Joshua Wang, Bryan Watt and David Weidner. All of the officers were put on administrative leave but have since returned to the job, a spokeswoman said. Ebele Okobi said her brother was walking down the sidewalk, not running in and out of traffic, when a deputy approached him. Chinedu Okobi made an inaudible comment, walked to the intersection and crossed the street but did not attack the deputy, she wrote. The county district attorneys office is investigating the incident. Wagstaffe decided to share the video with the family while the investigation is ongoing, he said, the first time hes ever made such a decision. They asked to see the video, and in the normal course of events we would say no, Wagstaffe said. Theyre grieving and I made the decision to let them have a look at it. It was the right thing to do. The district attorneys office is still waiting on Chinedu Okobis autopsy report and a few more interviews with witnesses before making a decision on whether to file criminal charges against the deputies. Wagstaffe expects to release a report, including all videos of the incident, by mid-December, he said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Burris has pursued similar cases against Bay Area law enforcement agencies in the past, and he said he was considering a civil case against the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office, especially after watching the video. He added that he expects to file a claim once the investigation has been completed next month. The incident has garnered international attention in yet another fatal interaction between police and an unarmed black man. This case, however, could be complicated by Chinedu Okobis history of mental illness. Ebele Okobi said her brother had a pathological fear of police. He was a person who never even got speeding tickets, she said. Im sure as this (incident) was happening, it was his worst nightmare. Three people have died just this year in San Mateo County after being tased by law enforcement. Wagstaffe declined to file charges in both of the earlier incidents. Earlier this month, the district attorneys office cleared Redwood City police officers of wrongdoing in an August incident that left 55-year-old Raamzi Saad dead. Police responded to calls that a man was acting erratically and, similarly to Chinedu Okobis case, Saad had a history of mental illness. Saad went into cardiac arrest and later died after officers tased him and physically subdued him. In January, 34-year-old Warren Ragudo, of Daly City, died after an officer tased him while two other officers pressed their weight upon him. Ashley McBride is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ashleynmcb The battle against hunger is no longer confined to traditional realms like food banks and religious organizations. In the Bay Area, more activists and local governments are trying to find new and more ambitious solutions to the quiet epidemic plaguing one of the countrys richest regions. This movement has been sparked by newfound urgency to address food waste, as well as understanding how food banks can best serve their clients. Many organizations are trying to unlock the full potential of tech company cafeterias and college dining halls with innovative ideas, such as designing special food trucks that may be able to more efficiently feed the hungry where they live. Theres this old model for feeding people who are food-insecure, which is the church basement handing people a bag, said Sara Webber, founder of the Berkeley Food Network, a new food hub that brings together 40 different city agencies that work with the poor. I could see that just wasnt an effective model anymore. About 870,000 people in the Bay Area are food-insecure, meaning that there are as many people as the entire population of San Francisco who do not always know the source of their next meal. Most are working families and senior citizens who are struggling to eat in the region due to a variety of factors. These issues are explored in-depth in a special report in Sundays Chronicle Food + Home section. At the same time, mountains of leftover meals are generated at colleges, banquets and, perhaps most prominently, tech companies the same industry that is often blamed for the regions affordability crisis. More and more, local governments and nonprofits are working to harness these untapped resources, and by doing so, trying to get more food to the needy. When researching how to reduce its solid waste to comply with state law, Santa Clara County discovered it had 34 million pounds of edible food going into landfills every year. Thats despite the fact that almost 720,000 people are food-insecure in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, according to Second Harvest Food Bank, which serves the two counties. A lot of the food waste was related to the fact that there werent systems or infrastructures set up to be able to deliver that food, said Roger Ross of Santa Clara Countys Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency. And so we saw right away that we could bridge that supply and make a better use for it than going to compost and get it to people who need it. That was the impetus of the county granting $280,000 to the philanthropic organization Joint Venture Silicon Valley, later matched with $300,000 from the state and $150,000 from the family of Silicon Valley real estate developer John Sobrato, for an initiative called Silicon Valley Food Rescue. Part of that is a new program that transports nutritious meals left over from dining halls to low-income neighborhoods in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle The experiment is in a trial phase with Stanford University dining halls. There, workers put leftover food into family-size meal containers, and then a driver transports the meals in a custom-designed, refrigerated Ford Transit van. Neighbors can walk up to a window and pick up a meal on the day it was prepared. The plan is that the program will eventually pick up excess meals from tech company cafeterias. Its so unique to Silicon Valley to have these huge quantities of prepared food that gets wasted every day, said Robin Franz Martin, executive director of Silicon Valley Food Rescue. There are groups of adults all over the county, at tech companies and universities, that are being fed on a large scale like nowhere else on Earth. Anywhere that guests are fed on a buffet line whether its a corporate cafeteria, university or hotel banquet hall the food staff is generally trained to keep platters full and to provide abundant options. Many tech companies and corporate caterers already have plans in place to deal with what so often gets left over within that system. Zynga, which serves its employees and office tenants in San Francisco about 400 breakfasts and 700 to 800 lunches every day, donates 500 servings of food per week. The nonprofit organization Food Runners picks up its trays of leftovers, like mac-and-cheese and salads only what hasnt yet been put out on the buffet yet and delivers them to shelters and soup kitchens. On a larger scale, Bon Appetit Management Co. runs cafeterias for 40 Bay Area companies, including Airbnb, Uber and Twitter. Its Bay Area kitchens have donated the equivalent of more than 114,000 meals this year through Chefs to End Hunger. That program is run by the restaurant produce wholesaler LA & SF Specialty. Kitchens can arrange to have donated meals picked up at the same time they receive produce orders. The meals then get delivered to Hope to Heart, a nonprofit in Alameda County. These forward-thinking programs are notable because they bypass the main local source of food for the hungry: regional food banks. In the Bay Area, food banks have reached a tipping point. Funded mostly by private and corporate donations with some federal funding, food banks purchase and receive donations of enormous amounts of food that they store in warehouses before theyre distributed to smaller food pantries and agencies that provide the food to their clients. To meet increased need, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank recently opened a new warehouse in Marin, yet the San Francisco warehouse is still at capacity. 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. Local solutions to the hunger problem are also needed because federal programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, do not help everyone in the Bay Area because high minimum wages often disqualify people from SNAP assistance, despite leaving some of them still unable to afford enough food. Because the usual programs including food pantries that serve families with children are strained in San Francisco, the Food Security Task Force in the Department of Public Health makes recommendations for city-funded hunger relief initiatives. Our food safety net infrastructure is really at capacity, said Paula Jones, director of food security in San Francisco, while presenting the findings of a upcoming Food Security Task Force report to the citys Health Commission. Jones noted that both public and private home-delivered food programs that assist seniors and adults with disabilities, such as Meals on Wheels, have waiting lists. Thats even though the city increased funding of such programs from $15 million in the 2015-16 fiscal year to more than $20 million in the 2017-18 fiscal year. Another big challenge is finding ways to increase the efficiency of existing resources. In Berkeley, about 40 agencies individually get food for their clients from the Alameda County Community Food Bank, said Webber of the new Berkeley Food Network. Most have to send staff or volunteers in personal cars to the warehouse near the Oakland airport, and many dont have room in their facilities for storage, she added. Its a system thats inefficient and piecemeal. Thats why the Berkeley Food Network is in negotiations to lease a warehouse in West Berkeley that will store food bank supplies for organizations such as the Berkeley PTA, which runs food pantries at public schools. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle In addition, it will also have kitchen space to receive rescued, prepared food that needs to be portioned into individual servings, because many smaller organizations lack the facilities to do that. The hub will also host a food pantry six days a week for people who cant attend other pantries, Webber said, such as a single mother she met who had a hard time finding a pantry with hours that dont conflict with her work schedule. There are so many people who are hungry who just dont have the time or the ability to get to these places, she said. Seniors who cant carry a bag a long way, or working families who dont have the time. We want to reach people where they need us. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan Oakland officials say the citys lease with developer Phil Tagami to build a marine terminal that would ship coal and other materials overseas will automatically terminate this week after the project repeatedly failed to meet deadlines. With the agreement unraveling, the city wants Tagami and his people to vacate the site, surrender the premises and pay $1.6 million in damages. Lawyers for Tagami, a longtime friend of Gov. Jerry Brown, countered that Oakland has thwarted their every attempt to move the project forward after they refused the citys request to refrain from hauling commodities that recently elected city officials and vocal special interests find politically objectionable. They said the delays are the citys fault. The finger-pointing means the two sides could be headed back to court. A previous legal battle that erupted after Oakland banned the handling and storage of coal in city limits and retroactively applied the prohibition to the terminal project ended in May when a federal judge sided with Tagami. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said the city violated its contract with Tagami and failed to show that coal and petroleum-coke operations posed a substantial danger to residents of Oakland. The city is appealing the decision. But City Attorney Barbara Parker said the lease issue isnt about coal. This is about the developers failure to meet its obligations and perform the work it agreed to do, she said in a statement. The 66-year lease, signed in 2016 between the city and Tagamis Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal company, laid out plans to develop 34 acres known as the West Gateway at the former Oakland Army Base. It was billed as a state-of-the-art, rail-to-ship logistics center with access to a deep-water port that would bring needed jobs to West Oakland. But minimum project milestones are months behind schedule, and the city has yet to receive needed paperwork for construction to begin, city officials told Tagami in a September letter alleging his default on the lease. A week later, Tagami submitted binders with schematic drawings of the terminal and wharf and rail improvements that he had to carry out under the lease. City officials said the plans were incomplete and that he failed to provide detailed information on subtenants and business partners. OBOT had years to move this project forward and has used every excuse in the book to justify its failure to perform, Parker said. This terminal is a critical project that will be an economic engine for West Oakland, our entire city and the region. The city must move this project forward with partners who are able to get the job done. The actions of Oakland officials could cause the fatal demise of the project, according to Tagamis attorneys, who have filed a claim against the city in what could lead to a settlement or another lawsuit. If you take the city attorney at face value, youd think this site is barren, said David Smith, a lawyer for the project. In fact, Smith said, tens of millions of dollars have been spent installing infrastructure and land grading. He said rail materials are stockpiled and ready to go today, but the city hasnt given workers access to the land. Oakland officials have said Tagami misled them about what he intended to ship through the terminal, and many in the city have questioned whether the developers have the financial capital to complete the project. City Councilman Dan Kalb said Tagami told him in 2013 at City Hall that the facility wouldnt be handling coal because of how much Tagami cared about climate change. He was very passionate about it. He explicitly told me and other people that he wouldnt be doing coal, Kalb said. Either he lied or he changed his mind. Smith said his client made no such promise. 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. It never happened, he said. For months, Smith said, the city has denied the development teams repeated requests for meetings, which are standard for projects of this magnitude. We want to get the project back on track, he said. We believe there are people in the city people on the council who will move this project back on track, and they need to be empowered to meet with us. Environmental groups, meanwhile, cheered Oaklands move to terminate the lease. Ted Franklin, a retired attorney and member of the grassroots No Coal in Oakland group, said the claim filed by Tagamis attorneys is an attempt to blame the city for the developers inability to pay for the project. There is no future for this product. Coal is a dying commodity, Franklin said. It has all the appearance of a get-rich-quick scheme thats coming off the wheels. Luis Amezcua of the Sierra Club, which signed on to the appeal of the coal decision and was an intervenor in the litigation, said Tagami should build the facility he promised one that doesnt involve coal. If Tagami hadnt wasted so much time fighting with the city over whether the terminal should handle and store coal, Amezcua said, perhaps he wouldnt be behind schedule in the first place. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov After initially assailing Proposition C as a well-intentioned but ill-conceived way to fund services for the homeless, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has taken a significant step to help ensure the measures success. On Monday, Breed announced that she has introduced an ordinance that would allow City Attorney Dennis Herrera to seek a court order validating the citys use of a simple-majority vote to pass Prop. C. Prop. C, which would bring in as much as $300 million a year through a tax on the citys biggest businesses, is one of three San Francisco ballot measures currently trapped in legal limbo. Since last year, the city has relied on a pivotal memo issued by the city attorneys office to pass ballot measures that would levy taxes for specific or special purposes. The memo interpreted a recent state Supreme Court ruling to mean that special tax measures require only a simple majority to pass, rather than a two-thirds supermajority, when theyre brought by citizen groups and not government officials. The memo represented a sharp turn away from the standard set in the mid-1990s with the passage of the statewide measure Proposition 218, which embedded the two-thirds standard into the state Constitution. No other municipality in the state has come to the same conclusion, according to California municipal finance experts. Back in August, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and a coalition of business groups sued the city over a June proposition also known as Prop. C, which sought to bring in about $146 million a year for child care services and early education by raising taxes on commercial rents. Allowing the measure to pass with a simple majority, they claim, is unconstitutional. The lawsuit has thrown both the homelessness and child care measures and Proposition G, a June measure that would levy a parcel tax to boost teachers salaries, into jeopardy. All were passed with simple-majority thresholds and all were brought to the ballot by citizen initiatives. The taxes levied by each measure will be collected, but the money as much as $500 million a year will not be spent until the legal uncertainties are resolved. Under Breeds ordinance, Herrera would be able to seek a court order asking a judge to sign off on his offices arguments for the simple-majority threshold. We need to do everything we can to deliver on the promise of Prop. C and the will of the voters, and this validation action gives us the best chance to move forward quickly to deliver funding for homelessness, Breed said in a statement. Back in July, Supervisors Jane Kim and Norman Yee introduced similar legislation authorizing Herrera to seek a court order validating Prop. G. Since the fates of all three measures are, to an extent, intertwined, a victory in any one case could provide substantial ammunition in the others and vice versa should Herrera lose. 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. When she came out against the measure during the campaign, Breed said the city ought to do a better job of auditing the money it already spends on homelessness before effectively doubling it. Her critics said she caved to the business interests resisting the measure and the taxes it would impose rather than support an initiative poised to make a measurable difference in the homelessness crisis. Given that Prop. C passed with over 61 percent of the vote, any politician is going to try to figure out how to get on board with that level of support, said Jim Ross, a political consultant who worked on the June child care measure. The politics and the policy line up pretty clearly here. Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness and a chief proponent of Prop. C, said the measures supporters were pleased with the mayors decision. We would have welcomed her support all along, and at any point in this well welcome her support, she said. State officials are investigating a second point where Pacific Gas and Electric Co. equipment failed as the conflagration now known as the Camp Fire broke out Nov. 8, the utility said in a regulatory filing. Shares of PG&E Corp., the utilitys parent company, which had recovered a bit Friday after steep declines earlier in the week, subsequently fell again Monday. The companys stock has lost more than half its value since the fire broke out. The utility told state regulators late Friday afternoon its 12-kilovolt Big Bend 1101 Circuit in Concow (Butte County) had an outage at about 6:45 a.m. Nov. 8, about 15 minutes after authorities say the Camp Fire started burning east of Paradise. It was the second such public report PG&E filed with the California Public Utilities Commission. PG&E previously told the commission another transmission line malfunctioned near the spot that state fire officials first pinned as the fires origin point about 15 minutes before the blaze began. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has since said it is examining a possible second origin point for the Camp Fire. PG&E did not say whether the problem it reported Friday is connected to that investigation, but in its filing with the utilities commission, the company said Cal Fire has collected some of its equipment on the circuit where the second outage occurred. Cal Fire has also secured a location near PG&E facilities on that circuit, the company said. PG&E said it is cooperating with Cal Fire. Lynsey Paulo, a spokeswoman for the utility, declined to comment beyond the regulatory filing. A Cal Fire spokesman said the Camp Fires cause remains under investigation and declined to comment further. PG&Es stock price plummeted last week before rebounding somewhat Friday after Michael Picker, the president of the California Public Utilities Commission, said he didnt want the utility to have to file for bankruptcy, a situation he described as just not good policy. But the stock dipped again Monday, falling as much as 11.7 percent. Shares closed Monday at $23.26, down 4.7 percent. PG&Es stock drop has wiped out billions of dollars of shareholders wealth. Bloomberg Intelligence estimated the companys accumulated wildfire liabilities at $20 billion to $30 billion, while the company itself is now worth just $12 billion. The company also faces mounting legal challenges over its possible connection to the Camp Fire, with lawsuits now filed in both San Francisco and Butte County courts. PG&Es latest report to the utilities commission was of great interest to Tom Tosdal, a Southern California attorney representing several Camp Fire victims who recently sued PG&E in Butte County. What stood out most to Tosdal about the filing was its lack of detail. Its probably the most vague electric safety incident report I have ever seen, Tosdal said. We know very, very little from this incident report, and the fact that its reported eight days later its weird. Its just weird. But Tosdal, who is also involved in the litigation over the 2017 North Bay wildfires, said he is confident of PG&Es connection to the Camp Fires cause. I have very little doubt that this is a utility power line fire case, he said. The evidence is extremely strong so far. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California Much of the closely watched legal battle will likely center around whether PG&E has done enough to manage vegetation around its equipment in such a way to prevent wildfires from sparking, said Mark Farley, a Houston attorney at Katten Muchin Rosenman who is not involved in the litigation. The company could even be exposed to criminal prosecution, said Farley, who leads his firms crisis management and workplace safety practice and has experience representing energy companies after major industrial accidents. The question is ultimately going to be what systems did PG&E have in place to make sure that its equipment was properly maintained? said Farley. As a practical matter, given the extreme drought, maybe it wouldnt have mattered. But I think people are going to be asking those questions, and I think some of those people are going to be criminal investigators or prosecutors. The Camp Fire suits come as the legal fight over PG&Es connection to the October 2017 wildfires that burned through several Northern California counties remains unresolved. Cal Fire has said PG&E equipment sparked 17 of those fires 16 of them in Wine Country but is still investigating the cause of the Tubbs Fire, the most destructive of last years blazes. Days of anguished waiting came to a bitter end last week for Roman Digby, when searchers in Paradise found human remains among the burned debris that was once his fathers mobile home. Hes now going through a struggle that so many families are facing after the Nov. 8 Camp Fire ripped through the town: Standing by for official confirmation of their loved ones death. At least knowing that he passed away is better than the uncertainty, Digby said of his 78-year-old father, John Digby. But I cant move forward without a death certificate. Im just waiting for that. John Digby is one of the 67 victims that have been tentatively identified as the disasters death toll hit 77 this week. But many of the bodies dont have usable fingerprints or dental records, so officials have launched an unprecedented effort to make identifications through a process known as rapid DNA. They have enlisted the help of ANDE, one of only a few companies in the country that can develop a DNA profile in less than two hours with a fully-automated process and little expertise from the user. Once an operator has a DNA sample, he or she puts it into a vial, which is placed in a tissue-box-sized chip that is then inserted into the machine. From there, the equipment goes to work mapping the persons genetic material. ANDE officials said they are donating their time and the use of their equipment as a humanitarian effort. But even as pathologists at a morgue in Sacramento, where the bodies are being held, are having luck establishing genetic profiles of the remains, they still need family members to match them to. The Butte County Sheriffs Office last week set up a facility in downtown Chico, where family members have been giving whats called a buccal swab from the inside of their cheeks. The sheriffs office did not say how many people had given samples so far by Monday. But Paradise had a large number of seniors living alone or in retirement communities, and many of their family members are scattered around the country. Weve had a tremendous response getting DNA from the remains and theyre in the database, said ANDE spokeswoman Annette Mattern. But we need blood relatives to contribute their DNA. Were working for a way to do that for people not in Chico. Roman Digby said he went to his local police department in his home town of Owatonna, Minn., about 75 miles south of Minneapolis, and gave them two cheek swabs. Police placed the samples in an evidence envelop and mailed it off to Butte County late last week. When the samples get to California, officials here can get a DNA profile and compare it to the body found at John Digbys house. As he waits to hear from Butte County officials, Digby is remembering the better times with his father as he gets ready to go back to work. He taught me to be curious about everything, he said. He was an animal lover and had a great sense of humor. Im trying to pass a lot of his best qualities down to my son. Hopefully that will stay in my family. Before the Camp Fire disaster, rapid DNA had been quietly revolutionizing law enforcement through companies like ANDE and Pleasanton-based IntegenX. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California Jurisdictions can use the technology to quickly check whether someone in custody is in a database of dangerous criminal suspects. Law enforcement officials can also develop investigative leads early on in a case, rather than waiting for days, weeks or months for DNA results from a local crime lab. Taking DNA from people who have been arrested, though, has been controversial long before rapid DNA was available. California is one of only 16 states in the country that allow law enforcement to collect a felony suspects DNA, which critics argue can lead to an invasion of a persons privacy. The FBI in June approved ANDEs system for use in its National DNA Index System, clearing the way for more jurisdictions to begin using the companys technology When the Camp Fire struck, and the overwhelming scope of the disaster began to come into focus, ANDE officials realized their equipment could help. This kind of disaster is like a war zone, Mattern said. And this is the first time weve been to a disaster and have done the work were doing. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky Just days after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told Californians that its not time for finger pointing on the cause of the states wildfires, he blamed radical environmental groups for getting in the way of sound forest management and fanning the flames. The Interior secretary joined Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Tuesday in calling for more clearing of the thick, fire-prone vegetation that has helped spread the recent blazes, including the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County. Both Cabinet members minimized the role of other factors like climate change in boosting fire activity and singled out environmentalists for opposing fuel-reduction work. Lets take a look at who is suing. Every time there is a thinning project out, who is suing, Zinke said during a joint media call with Perdue. He claimed radical environmental groups would rather burn down the entire forest than cut a single tree. The two pushed for amendments to the Farm Bill, currently being debated in Congress, to loosen rules on tree removal and herbicide use on federal timber lands. Zinke oversees the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service while Perdue oversees the U.S. Forest Service. Their call with reporters Tuesday continues a steady push by the Trump administration to pin the wildfire problem squarely on forest management, a notion that fire experts say vastly oversimplifies the issue. While environmental groups have used the courts to stop logging projects that might have helped minimize fire risk, the danger in Californias wildlands goes far beyond any lack of forest clearing. The problem, experts say, rests in the warming climate, too much development in fire-prone areas and decades of fire suppression that has helped build up flammable fuels. Moreover, many of Californias recent fires have not even burned in forests, but in grasslands and oak-filled prairie. Sadly, Zinke is using the Camp Fire and the tragic loss of lives for political gain, said Randi Spivak, public lands program director for the Center for Biological Diversity. Hes pushing his agenda (that) environmental regulations are bad, we need more resource extraction, we need more logging. Spivak said her organization, which has sued to stop logging projects, has never tried to limit thinning efforts around fire-affected communities, only large-scale, tree-removal work that threatens wildlife and forest habitat. Federal records compiled by the Center for Biological Diversity show that about 7 percent of the vegetation management projects on Forest Service lands in California and Hawaii between 2009 and 2017 were challenged in court. Last Wednesday, Zinke visited the burned-out town of Paradise, where he met Gov. Jerry Brown for a tour of the fire devastation, and said it wasnt time to cast blame for the recent blazes. The Camp Fire, which ignited Nov. 8 in the hills of Butte County, has burned 152,250 acres and killed at least 81 people. In Southern California, the Woolsey Fire has charred 96,949 acres and killed at least three. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California President Trump also visited burned areas in California over the weekend, not shying away from complaining about a lack of forest management. He even suggested raking forest floors as a solution to the wildfire problem. On Tuesday, Zinke acknowledged that hotter temperatures and a longer fire season were also driving Californias surge in fire, but neither he nor Perdue advocated policies to address the changing climate. The Trump administration has sought to roll back many of the Obama-era regulations designed to limit global warming. Perdue, who plans to visit Butte County on Monday, added that he was not looking for more money to expand forest management. He noted that a budgetary change at the U.S. Forest Service, beginning next year, will increase spending on fuel-reduction efforts by allowing the agency to use federal disaster funds, instead of its own reserve, to fight wildfires. Perdue and Zinke said legislative fixes, starting with the Farm Bill, would allow them to expedite sorely needed work in western forests. Were not talking about clear-cutting, Perdue said. Were talking about good forest management that makes sense. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander The mother of a man shot to death behind the wheel of his car by Danville police has filed a claim against the city that alleges his only crime was being the wrong skin color in Danville. Attorney John Burris made that statement in a claim his office filed Friday with the Danville city attorneys office. The claim, which California requires to be filed and denied before a lawsuit can be filed against a government agency, seeks in excess of $25,000; it was filed on behalf of Jeannie Atienza, the mother of Laudemer Arboleda. Arboleda, 33, of Newark was shot to death Nov. 3 in the affluent East Bay suburb by Danville police officer Andrew Hall, a five-year veteran of the force. Authorities said Hall feared that Arboleda was trying to run him down in an escape attempt. The shooting has raised questions about the controversial practice of police firing on moving vehicles. Such tactics are banned in many cities, including San Francisco. Police said they received a call about 11 a.m. of someone acting suspiciously and walking toward several homes with bags in his hands. When officers approached Arboleda, police said, he fled in his silver Honda sedan. He pulled over twice, authorities said, as if to surrender, before driving away. But at Front Street and Diablo Road, Arboleda allegedly veered toward officers approaching his car on foot. Burris released a statement saying Arboleda had not committed a crime or an infraction, and the attorney said a witness has come forward to contradict the Police Departments account of the incident. Arboleda was trying to drive slowly around a police cruiser and not attempting to strike Hall, Burris said. Hall recklessly decided to deprive Mr. Arboleda of his life when he had no information that he had committed any crime, Burris said. The officer had an option but chose death over life. Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston released a statement slamming Burris for playing the race card and called Arboleda dangerous and reckless. 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. This is a tragic case, yet once again John Burris is reaching for his well-worn race card. This is not about race. This is about a dangerous and reckless person trying to run down and murder a police officer. Once all investigations are completed, we look forward to sharing the full details with the public, Livingston said. Burris said the lack of a ban on shooting at moving cars runs contrary to recommended police practices and Department of Justice guidelines. The claim alleges wrongful death, negligence and negligent hiring and training. It seeks an unspecified amount of money for general damages, including pain, suffering and emotional distress, as well as medical and related expenses. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan Art lover Robert Flynn Johnson calls himself a curator, a distinguished label that means someone likes stuff and likes to differentiate this stuff from that stuff. Hes a guy who gets to the flea market early in the morning, and hes particularly fascinated by old photographs. In addition to scholarly works about individual artists, he has published several books about the photographic treasures hes unearthed. At a postcard show in Concord a few years ago, he bought two photos professionally taken, crisply focused of prostitutes. They were part of a collection, and eventually, Johnson contacted the seller and, and after much back and forth, bought a whole set of the photos. They were taken in 1892 at a brothel in Reading, Penn., by photographer William Goldman. As soon as he realized the size of the collection, said Johnson at the opening of a show of the photos at the Serge Sorokko Gallery (through Dec. 9), I knew somewhere somehow there would be a book. Working Girls: An American Brothel, circa 1892 is newly published by Glitterati Editions. In addition to Johnson describing his acquisition of the photos, and the urban milieu in which they were taken, the book has a foreword by neo-burlesque star Dita Von Teese; a preface by feminist historian Ruth Rosen; and an essay that focuses on Gilded Age lingerie, by Phoenix Art Museum fashion design curator Dennita Sewell. But for all that scholarly power, the pleasure is looking at the pictures, the women seemingly relaxed in front of the camera. With a few exceptions, Goldmans subjects arent playing peekaboo, theyre not flirting behind fans, and no one has ever heard of any body part thats artfully waxed. Theyre just there, comfortable in every size and shape; no ones had a boob job, no ones sucking her stomach in. At the opening of the exhibition, I watched the crowed peering at the photos, complete with imperfections, and it seemed to me that this peep show pleased the sisters even more than the men. HBO has announced plans for an as-yet-untitled documentary on Roy Cohn, the local angle being that conversations between Cohn and journalist Peter Manso, who has lived in these parts, will be featured in the doc. Cohn, Manso and Norman Mailer were at one point roomies in Provincetown, Mass. The director of the documentary is Ivy Meeropol, granddaughter of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were prosecuted successfully by Cohn, convicted and executed. Susan Johnson got an email flyer from San Francisco State about an event Friday, Nov. 15, Corpses of the Holocaust, in which Jean-Marc Dreyfus, reader in Holocaust studies at University of Manchester, discusses his research on human remains of the Holocaust. Reception to follow. Johnson says shell pass on the reception. Not sure Id be up for drinks and canapes. The cost of living in San Francisco is so high, says Patrick McAteer , that even a big spender cant make it without a little side income. On Market Street, he saw a Maserati Uber. Just across the road from Muir Woods, Druid Heights, site of a former commune where Alan Watts wrote The Way of Zen, has just been recognized as a historic site by the Cultural Landscape Foundation in Washington, D.C. The land it sits on is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the recognition is good news to a group called Save Druid Heights, lovers of history and literature who have been worried about the fate of the place as cuts to national park budgets are mandated from Washington. The theme, she said, was appropriation, and artist, performer and MacArthur fellow Carrie Mae Weems wowed the audience by singing a bit (along with a video of Aretha Franklin), dancing and showing other videos in her Bransten Lecture at the de Young Museum on Nov. 9. Setting out afterward from the de Young to the Prospect restaurant for dinner hosted by the museum, she realized, upon approaching the machine to pay for her parking ticket, that shed left her wallet at the Laurel Inn, where shed been staying. There was a line of people waiting to pay behind her, and a man whod been at the museum for its Friday Nights at the de Young party not for the lecture stepped up and paid for her. PUBLIC EAVESDROPPING I have the talent. I just have to monetize it. Woman to friend, overheard over breakfast at Alexis Baking Co. in Napa by Joe Pramuk Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, 415-777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik In the subterranean hallway of a San Jose apartment building, pastor Gerardo Vazquez knocks on a door decorated with a Feliz Navidad sign from a Christmas long ago. Eva Martinez, a small, grandmotherly woman with red dye covering the tips of her white hair, welcomes him into a space no larger than a college dorm room that she shares with her daughter and several grandchildren. The pastor hands Martinez a paper bag full of dried beans, rice, pasta, bread and canned fruit, and she shows him her makeshift kitchen: a slow cooker bubbling with beans on a rolling cart squeezed next to a hand sink and refrigerator. Her young grandson lies on a bunk bed playing a video game. When I see their faces that reminds me of myself, Vazquez says of the children he sees on his rounds. The pastor, 46, leads a food ministry every week with members of San Jose First United Methodist Church. They pack and deliver free groceries to 87 families, or about 400 people, in the area who dont have enough to eat. Many have undocumented family members or are working toward a green card and tell Vazquez they are afraid to go to the food bank or to apply for food stamps. Theyve heard rumors they could be targeted by immigration authorities if they do. Vazquez left everything behind in Mexico to come here and tend to some of the Bay Areas neediest families. Its possible that no one else could perform this role like he does. His own experience of hunger as a child, and later overwhelming loss and sadness, called him and readied him. I have many, many sad stories in my life, says Vazquez, sighing. I know how it feels to be in all these troubles. The San Jose First United Methodist Churchs food ministry started about four years ago when Vazquez, along with outreach programs director Ray Castellon and minister Shinya Goto, canvassed the neighborhoods surrounding the church to see what families needed most. Besides rent, paying for groceries was the biggest issue, they said. The downtown area is saturated with agencies free lunches and breakfasts for the homeless. Thats not our focus, says Castellon. Because these families dont have other resources, we think this is more of a general critical need. Second Harvest Food Bank estimates that 27 percent of Santa Clara and San Mateo county residents, or almost 720,000 people, are food insecure though the food bank only serves 257,000 people per month. And San Jose is among 20 U.S. metro areas with the largest number of undocumented immigrants, based on a 2017 Pew Research Center study. In addition to shunning food banks, Vazquez says, many newly arrived immigrant families dont apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, even if they are eligible. Even though the federal benefit is available to both citizens and certain legal residents, participation in SNAP among immigrant families that have been in the U.S. for fewer than five years declined by 10 percent in the first half of 2018, according to a study from the American Public Health Association. In September, the Trump administration announced proposed changes to immigration law that would deny green cards to those who receive public benefits like SNAP. It took time for Vazquez to establish trust with the community. At first no one wanted to answer the door, not sure if it was Immigration and Customs Enforcement knocking. Vazquez took the time to talk to people, to invite them to weekly church dinners and free English classes. They began welcoming him into their homes, serving him homemade tamales, and telling their neighbors. The ministry grew, even though almost all the participants are Catholic and not sure what to make of the Methodist church. Although many also come to Vazquezs Spanish service on Sundays, most still arent officially church members. The church covers the cost of a van to deliver the groceries and some money for the food, and the rest is donated. This is really fundamental Christianity in the good sense, says the Rev. Renee Marie Rico, Vazquezs supervisor. She cites a Bible verse (Matthew 25:40), where Jesus advises to tend to the least of these to feed those who are hungry and to visit the sick and those in prison. We cant help everybody, but we can help some families and make a difference for them, Rico says. On a delivery day, Vazquez steps out of the churchs white van, grasps the handles of two paper bags heavy with groceries, and begins walking toward a two-story stucco building. A large gold cross pendant inscribed with the Lords Prayer glints from his white polo shirt as he carries the bags up an outside staircase, where a shy woman regards the visitors from the doorway warily, partially blocking the sight of a living room crammed with furniture and neat stacks of clothing. Hola, Lena! says the pastor. The woman smiles, engulfed in the larger mans embrace. He hands her the groceries, one bag for each family sharing the one-bedroom apartment. Its a lot of help, says Elena, who declined to share her last name due to privacy concerns. The free groceries leave more money for her familys share of the $1,700 rent. But when asked if she ever runs out of food, the woman squints and shakes her head no. As Vazquez walks away, he says gently, Shes lying. Shes too proud. If she didnt run out of food, we wouldnt be here. In many ways, Vazquez lives like the people he serves. As a beginning minister, he makes the minimum wage of $13.50 per hour, and after rent and expenses he sends the rest back to Mexico. He cant afford a car, so he walks or takes a bus to work and the Laundromat. He spreads his arms to his sides and waddles comically as if walking while holding two huge bags of dirty clothes. My brother will see me and say, Why do you want to live that way? Vazquez explains it by way of the losses he has faced. There are so many that he laughs ruefully at the absurdity of it all. I lost my father, my mother, my children. I am divorced, he says. I have training in it all. Sitting in his apartment a converted garage he shares with his brother in San Joses Northside neighborhood he takes out photos of his son, also named Gerardo, in front of his first birthday cake, a green party hat clashing with the serious expression in his dark eyes. Theres a snapshot of Vazquezs parents sitting next to each other at an outdoor party in middle age; his mother smiles reservedly in a lace-collared floral dress, his father looks confident and handsome in a cowboy hat. There are no photos of his daughter. In 2003 she was delivered stillborn when his wife was five months pregnant. Little Gerardo died six months later of pneumonia. He was 18 months old. Gerardos marriage ended in 2008. Like the San Jose residents he helps, Vazquez knows poverty and hunger, too. His mother raised him and his five siblings in the village of Atotonilco El Alto, in Jalisco, where they often had no food for three or four days, even a week. We suffered. We were starving, he says. Vazquez felt the calling to become a priest when he was a 7-year-old altar boy. He was always helping people, he says. His mother would yell for him to come home and he wouldnt hear because he was off buying tortillas for an infirm neighbor. at the San Jose First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. at the San Jose First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close San Joses neediest families shun food banks and rely on a churchs Mexican pastor 1 / 10 Back to Gallery But when he turned 18, his father forbade priesthood, beating him and then threatening to beat his mother until he agreed not to pursue his dream. As an adult, he had a string of businesses a restaurant, a clothing store, a grocery store that failed because, he claims, he gave everything away to those who needed what he sold. That didnt help his marriage, he acknowledges. In 2012, Vazquez was visiting his brother in San Jose when a lay minister from the Methodist Church came to the door. They began talking, and the minister invited him to do outreach with the communitys Spanish speakers, which the church was eager to reach. After seeing his ability to connect with community members, the church offered to help Vazquez pursue the training to become a licensed pastor and work toward a work permit. He began by volunteering for months at a time, then went back to Mexico when his tourist visa ran out. It was something he could do only because he had no one left to support, and he finally received a work permit two years ago. He had this passion, says Goto about Vazquez. I knew that if there was any way to help him get a visa that he would do wonderful, wonderful ministry. Every week, Vazquez cooks a dinner for his food ministry participants, what Rico call his Thursday church. He limits his spending, which is covered by the church, to no more than $50 to feed 40 people. Shuffling as he pushes the cart down the Grocery Outlet aisles, he checks which protein has the best price, eventually settling on three trays of 14 fresh drumsticks at $4.86 each. He decides that hell make Mexican rice and papas al ajillo, roasted potatoes with garlic, to stretch out the chicken. Back in the churchs kitchen, he quickly puts on a black apron, pulling the waistband tight between his round back and hips. He pours oil into a large roasting pan and then begins the long process of toasting the rice, stirring with a swift, practiced motion. As he stirs with one hand, he holds his phone in the other, calling to make sure people will come. They sit at a long table in the churchs reception room. Vazquez holds court, joking and draping his arms over the backs of two white folding chairs. When about 15 people have assembled, they hold hands to pray and then sit down to eat. Vazquez dreams of teaching others to start similar food ministries at other churches, and hes begun reaching out to Bay Area tech companies for financial support. When will he know he has helped enough people? One thousand, he says solemnly. I would like to help 1,000 families. How will he get enough food for so many? Little by little, he says. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan - In Facebooks shadow Low-income seniors in East Palo Alto support each other through meals and laughter In Facebooks shadow Low-income seniors in East Palo Alto support each other through meals and laughter Facebooks Menlo Park campus perches like a fortress at the edge of the wide-open salt flats in San Francisco Bay a fortress, that is, equipped with valet parking. At Facebook, the median salary is $240,000 and employees get unlimited free food, from morning granola to taco bars at lunch to matcha fro-yo for a midafternoon snack. Just a five-minute drive down University Avenue, past the Eden low-income housing complex and Low Fee Check Cashing, is a one-story beige building where about 100 seniors receive the majority of their meals. This is the East Palo Alto Senior Center. In East Palo Alto, in the heart of Silicon Valley, the per capita income is $20,336, which means that a large number of the citys estimated 1,800 seniors dont have enough to eat. More would go hungry if it werent for the senior centers executive director, Millicent Grant. Miss Grant, as everyone at the center calls her, navigates a patchwork of sources the local food bank and other nonprofits, corporate funding (including from nearby Facebook), and her own fundraising to supply her clients with a low-cost breakfast every weekday. San Mateo County provides lunches for a requested donation of $2: A recent menu item was teriyaki chicken with rice, green beans and canned mandarin oranges. To take home, there are free boxed dinners and bags of groceries. I wish the city would take care of us like we take care of the seniors, says Grant. Often, she says, the city only sends half as many lunches as they need. (East Palo Alto Community Programs Manager Emily Pharr confirmed that this does happen on occasion, when more guests than expected show up.) When talking about her seniors, Grant doesnt include herself even though she turns 80 in December. Wearing a clear plastic apron, a straw hat and a string of pearls, she pushes a coffee cart through the centers high-end dining room. Its the morning of the big breakfast, a meal she hosts every other Thursday, when the food bank sets up a pantry. It includes scrambled eggs, biscuits, bacon and fresh fruit for a donation of $2.75. A table full of regulars tease each other and barter pancakes and sausages like school kids in the cafeteria. Their friend Shirley Williams walks in just as theyre finishing. Shirley, you having any breakfast? Rosa Raffington, 78, calls to her. Shirley Williams chats with her friends as they eat breakfast at the East Palo Alto Senior Center in East Palo Alto, Calif., on Wednesday, October 31, 2018. Shirley Williams chats with her friends as they eat breakfast at the East Palo Alto Senior Center in East Palo Alto, Calif., on Wednesday, October 31, 2018. Photo: Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Photo: Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Near Facebook, a Silicon Valley senior center struggles to put enough food on the table 1 / 3 Back to Gallery Williams, 79, doesnt have much time to prepare her own meals these days. She is the full-time caretaker of her 42-year-old quadriplegic grandson, who was shot in the neck when he happened to be at the site of a robbery. Her daughter is recovering from cancer and cant lift him, cook or clean. So Williams does it all. It makes you feel better when you know you have somewhere to go and can eat a decent meal and feel comfortable, says Williams, who lives just down the block and has lived in East Palo Alto since 1958. It takes a load off. Trim in stretchy pants and black Golden State Warriors T-shirt, she comes in and out of the center throughout the day, car keys in hand. She used to spend more time at home, but she would get depressed, and her grandson encouraged her to visit with her friends. Its a place we all need, especially at our age, says Williams in a low, gravelly voice, nodding to herself. Thats right, thats right. The center has benefited somewhat from being in the middle of Silicon Valley. A new nonprofit venture called A La Carte, funded by the state and Santa Clara County, delivers surplus meals from Stanford University dining halls. Peninsula Food Runners brings in extra boxed lunches from a few tech companies, though not from Facebook. (Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg was recently on the board of a campaign that raised $9 million for Second Harvest Food Bank, which serves Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.) Grant does not know who will feed the seniors when she finally retires. I dont care where they come from. I dont care what their situation is, Grant says. They need food. This story has been updated to reflect the fact that Facebook has donated money toward the breakfast program at the East Palo Alto Senior Center since 2016. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan Even as the final votes are being tallied in the midterm elections, its clear that Democrats majority in the House next year will be a boon for the Bay Areas congressional delegation. Many of the areas lawmakers all of whom are Democrats are poised to run key committees or are angling to be elected to party leadership. Bay Area lawmakers are poised to play key roles on issues from immigration to the environment, voting rights to health care. Heres an in-depth look at what local representatives will be up to: San Francisco Rep. Nancy Pelosi: OK, this ones a bit obvious. The longtime congresswoman is looking once again to be speaker of the House. That position would give her power to control the chambers agenda, including what legislation comes to the floor, set rules for the legislative process and have a big hand in selecting key positions on committees. Her election is not a lock, but shes campaigning hard. Capitol Hill observers give her the edge and late Tuesday she won a significant victory when a Democrat who had been pondering a challenge, Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge, backed off and endorsed her. Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee: The progressive leader is looking to break into House leadership, running for the Democrats No. 4 spot. That position (caucus chair) was opened when New York Rep. Joe Crowley was defeated in his primary by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Lee is running against New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a fellow Congressional Black Caucus member, potentially splitting that key voting bloc. Lee also has posts on the House Appropriations and Budget committees, where she works on her anti-poverty agenda. San Jose Rep. Zoe Lofgren: The congresswoman hasnt made any formal announcements yet, but is expected to keep panel positions where she has seniority. That would put her in charge of the House Administration Committee, where she would oversee internal House functions as well as legislation that would affect elections. Democrats are looking to pass bills out of the gate next year that they say will strengthen democracy (read: voting access). Lofgren is also expected to keep an influential post running the Judiciary subcommittee that handles immigration. Fremont Rep. Ro Khanna: Khanna sits on the Armed Services Committee and the Budget Committee, but his top priority in Congress has been bringing the benefits of the tech industry, including jobs and investment, to rural and underserved communities around the country. San Mateo Rep. Jackie Speier: Speier serves on the Intelligence Committee, which may well revive its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, and Armed Services, where she is in position to chair the military personnel subcommittee. Palo Alto Rep. Anna Eshoo: The close friend of Pelosi and longtime congresswoman has announced she is running to chair the health subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which would give her a powerful vantage point over any legislation or hearings on health care legislation. Democrats made preserving the Affordable Care Act and its protections on coverage for pre-existing conditions the biggest message in their successful House midterm campaign. The broader committee also plays a key role over the tech industry. St. Helena Rep. Mike Thompson: Thompson is expected to remain chair of the partys Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, which could gain prominence with the influx in the House of several new members who ran pro-gun-control campaigns. He is also in line to chair a subcommittee on the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, possibly its health panel. San Rafael Rep. Jared Huffman: The congressman is in line to chair the water, power and oceans subcommittee on the Natural Resources Committee. That would give him jurisdiction over California-related issues such as commercial fishing, ocean protection and water management. He also serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Dublin Rep. Eric Swalwell: Swalwell is rumored to have presidential ambitions and has been making trips to Iowa, the first state to hold caucus votes in 2020. In the House, he will probably remain on the powerful Judiciary and Intelligence committees, which have given him a forum for sounding off on Russian interference in U.S. elections. He is in line to lead the Intelligence Committees CIA subcommittee, which oversees the spy agencys conduct and budget. Swalwell is also likely to remain co-chair of the partys Steering and Policy Committee, which has sway on policy priorities and party committee assignments. Concord Rep. Mark DeSaulnier: DeSaulnier serves on the Education and Workforce Committee, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. On those committees, hes focused on worker protections and promoting Bay Area infrastructure. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicle Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan Democrats who say they will not back San Francisco Rep. Nancy Pelosi for House speaker released a long-promised letter of opposition Monday, but its unclear whether enough dissidents are committed to voting against her to derail her candidacy. The letter is signed by 15 lawmakers or members-elect and one additional Democrat who is trailing in his uncalled Utah race. One Californian signed the letter, Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez of Whittier (Los Angeles County). Democrats are expected to hold 233 of the 435 seats in the next House, meaning Pelosi has exactly 15 votes to spare if every member votes in the speakers race in January. The letter said the signatories are committed to voting for new leadership, both when the Democratic caucus holds elections Nov. 28 and in the eventual floor vote. Pelosi is considered a foregone conclusion to win in the caucus, which requires only a majority of Democrats to back her. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our country and to our caucus. She is a historic figure whose leadership has been instrumental to some of our partys most important legislative achievements, the letter read. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran and won on a message of change. Our majority came on the backs of candidates who said that they would support new leadership because voters in hard-won districts, and across the country, want to see real change in Washington. We promised to change the status quo, and we intend to deliver on that promise. A handful of additional incoming Democrats have said they will not support Pelosi for speaker, including Rep.-elect Gil Cisneros of Orange County. But none of them signed the letter, which organizers of the anti-Pelosi movement have been circulating and promoting for days. The signatories also do not include Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge, who has said she is considering challenging Pelosi for speaker. An earlier version of the letter reportedly included her signature. An aide said Pelosi was undeterred. Leader Pelosi remains confident in her support among members and members-elect, said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill, noting that 94 percent of Democrats were not signed on to the letter. Pelosi has been waging a forceful campaign to reclaim the speakers gavel, including enlisting powerful surrogates to make phone calls, meeting individually with dozens of lawmakers and members-elect, and deploying the endorsements of more than 30 prominent outside groups. She has also courted coalitions of Democrats by making commitments in small group meetings. Some of her supporters have criticized the effort to oust her as being led mainly by men. Pelosi was the first woman to be speaker before losing the post in the Tea Party wave election in 2010; Democrats reclaimed the House majority this month with a record number of women running for office and a groundswell of support from female voters. The letter released Monday was signed by two women and 14 men. Pelosi has plenty of options between now and the January vote. President Trump has offered her Republican votes, and a group of moderate bipartisan lawmakers has said they will vote for a speaker who agrees to their suite of proposed reforms. Pelosi, however, has ruled out relying on GOP votes to get elected. She could also try to persuade opponents to vote present, lowering the number of votes she would need to win on the floor. I intend to win the speakership with Democratic votes, Pelosi said at a news conference last week. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan PARADISE, Butte County Residents of this foothill town have long known that their community was a tinderbox waiting to blow. A decade-old grand jury report warned of vast amounts of fire fuel on steep terrain. State fire maps assigned the highest level of hazard to the area. And countless stands of dry, dense and sometimes dying trees were a constant reminder of all that could burn. Those living here werent just sitting around waiting for the inevitable. Before the Camp Fire rained terror across this region 90 miles north of Sacramento, many were working to reduce the threat, including one group that had just thinned 11 acres of thick, fire-prone forest at a school outside of Paradise. The campus, the Pine Ridge School in nearby Magalia, survived this months firestorm largely due to the groups precautionary effort. But the loss of more than 11,000 homes and at least 70 lives highlights the challenge that Butte County like much of California is up against: a trend of catastrophic wildfire that is impossible to tame. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Fire experts say hotter, drier conditions fueled by climate change are undermining efforts to prevent and put out unruly flames and limit destruction. From Redding this summer to the Wine Country before that and now Paradise, its become a grim reality that has left no clear path for gaining the upper hand. As debate rages over how to tackle Californias wildfire problem, with even President Trump weighing in last weekend with a call to rake forest floors of debris, the best solution, experts say, lies in a combination of strategies that merely chip away at the risk and soften the blow. The tool box includes hiring more firefighters, undergrounding spark-producing power lines, equipping homes with fire-resistant building materials, clearing overgrown vegetation and more. All of the tactics are pricey, and even pursued in tandem, there are no guarantees. Were not defeated, insisted Calli-Jane DeAnda, executive director of the Butte County Fire Safe Council, which did the forest clearing that helped save Pine Ridge School. We knew we couldnt stop a raging wildfire in its tracks. But we can still see successes. DeAndas Fire Safe Council , in its 20 years, has won about $7 million in grants for roughly a dozen vegetation projects across 600 acres. A chipping program has also helped with tree removal. Like other fire-prevention work, limited funding and delays in getting approval, particularly on private lands, have made it difficult for the group to address thousands of additional acres that need attention, DeAnda explained. It takes a lot of investment to create a safe and healthy forest, she said. On a larger scale, both the state and federal governments have committed to reducing heavy brush and timber in Californias wildlands. This year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that provides $1 billion for fire prevention, including vegetation clearing and proactively burning overgrown forest. The new law also streamlines the permitting process for fuel-reduction work. Trump on Saturday pledged an additional $500 million for forest management in the Farm Bill during his visit to Butte County. Still, the amount of land being cleared or burned for fire prevention in California remains relatively small: about a quarter-million acres this year cumulatively by the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The two agencies manage a combined 50 million acres statewide. Youll never get ahead of the problem without using fire more extensively, said Malcolm North, a research ecologist for the U.S. Forest Service, who advocates for prescribed burns in wooded areas because of their low-cost and wide reach. Removing vegetation with machinery and hand crews, by contrast, is very expensive. While some clearing can be done by logging companies at a profit, the smaller trees and understory that pose the biggest fire risk do not have commercial value. You often have to send people in there with chain saws, and theyre having to pile the wood and remove it, North said. That just doesnt pay its way out of the woods. Prescribed fire, meanwhile, has been a tough sell as critics worry about burns getting out of control or putting up unnecessary smoke. In Butte County, where the current 151,272-acre blaze continues to threaten communities, several hundred acres were burned intentionally this year, said Don Hankins, a professor at Cal State Chico who studies forest restoration. Much of the controlled burning was in the Plumas and Lassen national forests. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle This last year, weve actually seen some prescribed fire put on the ground, but nothing on the scale that would have helped with the Camp Fire, Hankins said. Making matters worse, a decades-old policy of aggressive fire suppression by the state and federal governments has added to the buildup of dangerous vegetation. Californias building codes are another way to protect communities from wildfires, but they, too, only do so much, experts say. Houses constructed after 2008 in fire-prone areas arent allowed to have flammable wood roofs or untreated woods decks. Double-paned windows and ember-proof screens on attic vents are a must. Defensible space around homes is also required, though not always enforced. A fundamental problem with these rules is that many homes were built before the standards took effect, as was the case in Butte County. The newer homes seem to have done a lot better, said Todd Derum, a Cal Fire division chief and the incident commander on the Camp Fire, which in some areas destroyed nine in 10 houses. Building construction is a big deal. State and local governments often provide grants to help owners of older homes fire-proof their property. But the money has never been adequate. Experts say that in some areas of high fire risk, houses just shouldnt be built. The hills below Butte Countys Jarbo Gap, where the Camp Fire started and winds notoriously top 50 mph, may be one such area. The outskirts of Santa Rosa, where last falls Tubbs Fire followed the path of the 1964 Hanley Fire, may be another bad spot. City and county officials appear to be pushing forward with new homes anyway. Bill Stewart, a forestry specialist at UC Berkeley, said that technology has helped fire scientists pinpoint areas where wind, heat, vegetation and other factors conspire to pose the greatest threats. Its just that the risk maps arent being used to guide development. We need more than an academic paper here and there on wind, Stewart said. The number of windy days per year should help determine new zoning policy for planners. Instead, were still just sprawling out. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California Stewart said that if local governments dont limit growth, insurance companies eventually will by refusing to cover high-risk homes. As it stands, the industry probably hasnt had enough losses to justify reductions in coverage, he said. But, he added, that could change with the Camp Fire, which has become the most destructive blaze in California history. Doing more to prevent unplanned ignitions and responding faster to new starts are other ways to reduce wildfire devastation. With Californias firefighting force among the largest and best equipped in the world, however, only so much improvement is possible. Among the soon-to-come additions at Cal Fire is a new fleet of civilian Black Hawk helicopters. Some places, like Sonoma County, are trying to give firefighters an additional boost by installing fire-detection cameras in high-risk areas and using better weather forecasting systems to anticipate problems. A push to underground power lines is also resurfacing as investigators in Butte County look at electrical equipment as a possible cause of the Camp Fire. Many of last years blazes in the North Bay were sparked by downed lines, according to Cal Fire. Like other strategies, though, burying the power grid comes at a high price. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. says it costs about $3 million per mile to move electric distribution underground. The utility oversees tens of thousands of miles of overhead line. Other ways to address the wildfire problem include improving emergency warning systems. Like Sonoma County officials last year, authorities in Butte County are coming under attack for not issuing a widespread emergency message to cell phones, known as a Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA, when the fire broke out. The high death toll of the Camp Fire is in large part due to people failing to learn of the danger and quickly evacuate. Several burned in their cars. No matter how much is done to prepare for and prevent fires, experts say that many of the recent blazes, including the Camp Fire, have been so hot and fast-moving that devastation is inevitable, especially as the climate continues to change. Temperatures in California have increased about 3 degrees over the past century while droughts have become longer and more severe, only ripening the conditions for uncontrollable burns. If the weather gets too extreme, all bets are off, said North, with the U.S. Forest Service. The Butte County Fire Safe Council, which has its office in Paradise but will likely relocate to Chico, isnt letting the bleak outlook deter its work. A box of notices that the group had planned to send to local property owners, informing them of an upcoming forest-clearing project, is believed to have survived in the back of an SUV. Executive Director DeAnda said that once she can get into the burned-out community to retrieve the mailers, the effort will move forward. The project involves reinforcing a 10-mile fuel break around Paradise, which may or may not have slowed the spread of the current fire. DeAnda believed it was only a matter of time before the area would burn. Its been my worst nightmare, she said. But Im not surprised. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander With a swarm of friends and family gathered at Lucasfilms Letterman Digital Arts Center for a screening, Wayfare Tavern chef Tyler Florence (also a Food Network star, author and newly minted film director) had worried that his documentary on last years devastating Wine Country fires, Uncrushable, would be old news. The 72-minute documentary (co-produced by former Chronicle food writer Amanda Gold) features interviews with vintners, first-responders and fire victims. It was shot in just three weeks last October as the Wine Country fires still burned and Florence fixed up buckets of chili. Alas: California, north and south, is again on fire. As of Nov. 19, more than 79 are dead, 699 reported missing and the entire town of Paradise leveled. Once more, Florence lent his skills to first-responders and fire evacuees, this time in Chico, cooking for chef Jose Andres World Central Kitchen charity. Here we are again, just 50 weeks after last years fires, Florence said at the screening. I think its time for a serious conversation about living in California. Florence encouraged guests to organize safety plans with their neighbors and spoke of partnering with the power industry about its plans for protecting lives and property. He also spoke on a panel with Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta, Red Cross Northern California CEO Trevor Riggen, Tiburon firefighter Grant Euless, Santa Rosa resident Linda Lorentzen (who lost her home in last years Wine Country fires) and Salesforce founder-chairman Marc Benioff, who last year organized two Band Together concerts that raised $22 million for Bay Area nonprofit Tipping Points Emergency Relief Fund for fire victims. That smoke were all experiencing connects us to those suffering from and fighting the Camp Fire. It changes our physiology, noted Benioff. We live in a compassionate city, the city of St. Francis. That triggers philanthropy in me. In these kinds of crises, its important everyone does one thing, even as simple as buying a concert ticket. As Uncrushable unspooled with harrowing images of the fire engulfing Santa Rosa neighborhoods, everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats many had been in those fires, evacuating property or experiencing crushing losses. The film culminates with hope during an alfresco benefit dinner (called the Grateful Table and organized by Beteta, Florence and caterer Paula LeDuc) last November held atop a vineyard straddling Napa and Sonoma county lines. Obviously, we cant do anything about Californias dry weather or winds, said Florence. But we can certainly do something about the match. Boss lady: Beneath smoky skies, masked movie fans lined up at the Castro Theatre before the third annual SF Honors award program, which honored and screened On the Basis of Sex, a new drama on 85-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The SFFilm program was founded by trustee-filmmaker Todd Traina, his wife Katie Traina and mom, philanthropist Dede Wilsey. Thinking about this air quality, said SFFilm Executive Director Noah Cowan, I realize how important it is for us to have judges who believe in the veracity of science. More cheers erupted amid the audience, filled with numerous female legal eagles, as Basis screenwriter Daniel Stiepleman updated fans that his aunt, RGB, was back home, working and recovering from her cracked ribs. Hed initially screened Basis in Washington, D.C., for Ginsburg with her family and friends. It was absolutely terrifying, recalled Stiepleman, with a laugh. As soon as credits rolled, Ruth stormed out of the room and our hearts sank. I asked my cousin what happened. She said, Ruth had to go to the bathroom. So let it be known: RGB is merely mortal, ribs and all. Noting this film, starring Felicity Jones (as RGB) and Armie Hammer (as the late Martin Ginsburg) doesnt open until Dec. 25, Traina explained his awards genesis. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Were film lovers, not just a city that loves eccentric, art-house films, he said. At SFFilm, we love big, powerhouse mainstream movies, too. This annual award celebrates films we think are meaningful, innovative and audacious. And thats exactly what Basis is. The Yearling: When I first started at The Chronicle, I assisted late, great society editor Pat Steger, a chronicler of the bold and beautiful. Whenever she referenced former SFFilm director Claude Jarman Jr., shed ID him: Claude The Yearling Jarman. Thats because this former actor starred as a blue-eyed towhead in the 1946 film The Yearling, garnering Jarman a special Academy Award as outstanding child actor. His family encouraged Jarman, 83, to put his Hollywood memories to paper. And that achievement was recently celebrated by his daughter, Vanessa Getty, and her husband, Billy Getty, at his parents Gold Coast manse. My Life and the Final Days of Hollywood (Covenant Books) is a heartfelt recollection of a storied era that no longer exists. Inspired by his wife, Katie Jarman, who created a 75th birthday tribute film, Jarman realized his career, beginning at 5, was unique. In 1965, Jarman joined S.F. Film Festival our nations first. He also produced Fillmore, a music biopic about storied music producer Bill Graham. Telluride Film Festival co-founder Tom Luddy remembers Jarmans deep Hollywood connections (Walt Disney, Elizabeth Taylor, Bing Crosby) imbued the festivals prominence. We created these retrospective star tributes, and it became contagious, concurred Jarman, modestly. Yves Montand loved it. It was a glorious era. Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicles society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelo There is no such thing as mom jeans for model Maggie Rizer Mehran. Overseeing final details at her new M by Maggie Rizer fashion boutique in the sparkly new City Center Bishop Ranch lifestyle complex in San Ramon, Rizer is dressed down in figure-hugging jeans that most mothers of four young children would kill to wear. The 40-year-old fresh freckle-faced beauty rose to prominence in the mid-90s, striding catwalks for fashions most heralded designers and gracing covers of countless magazines. But ironically, she hates many aspects of shopping in stores the hovering salespeople and pressure to buy, only to learn the shoes she covets are not available in her size. I really dislike that entire experience I think thats why so many people buy online, she says. But I love fashion. For years, Ive thought about designing my own line of jeans. And Ive played with the idea of someday opening a store. That needle moved thanks to her husband, Alexander Mehran Jr. He and his father, Alexander Mehran Sr., are principals of Sunset Development a major commercial real estate company founded in Livermore amid the post-WWII housing boom by Mehran Jr.s grandfather, the late Masud Mehran, a storied Bay Area developer. In 1978, Mehran Jr.s grandfather and father purchased a 585-acre pear farm transforming it into Bishop Ranch, the site of 10 million square-feet of office space and home to Fortune 500 companies that employ some 30,000 people. Drew Altizer / Drew Altizer Photography Within that behemoth is now City Center Bishop Ranch, a mere 300,000-square-foot, two-story complex designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano his first-ever foray into retail design. Alex encouraged me this was the perfect time and place to try my idea, says Rizer, who lives about 10 minutes away in Diablo, near Mount Diablo. To have a Piano building here in San Ramon is a draw in itself. Its so beautiful you dont even need to shop you can just admire the space and rotating public artwork. But this center is the cake, and the boutique is my icing. While San Ramon may not come to mind as an obvious fashion destination, Rizer knows her clientele: fellow big-city ladies-turned-moms seeking good schools, warm weather and the relaxed lifestyle of affluent East Bay burbs. My hope is the boutique is more experience than just fashion. I want shoppers to feel like theyre enjoying a glass of Champagne in their own living room, flipping through art books as their children play in our kids corner, she says. Or they can just soak up the sun outside in Renzos modern version of an Italian piazza. The interior of her 2,000-square-foot boutique has a flouncy, femme vibe accented by a Champagne and coffee bar, with Matthew Williamson wallpaper and textiles, that features womens designer apparel, Taschen and Assouline art books along with a 4-foot tall Victorian-era birdcage. Im obsessed with vintage birdcages theyre whimsically beautiful. We found this on 1stdibs, says Rizer, with a laugh. Ive never owned a bird. But Im about to own six finches. My children are choosing their names. So far weve got Feather, King and Cracker. Drew Altizer / Drew Altizer Photography Her boutique is intrinsically personal, like a boudoir stocked with fantastical fashions by some of her favorite designers, including Anna Sui, Temperley London, Rick Owens, jewelry designers Kim Mee Hye and Dean Harris. However you wont find Rizer behind the cash register, mainly because there isnt an obvious one thats stashed in the back. With children who range in age from 1 to 6 years old, shes a behind-the-scenes owner. Retail management firm Maris Collective runs the daily operations. I choose every designer we carry and will update by season, Rizer says. But Maris is a great partner: They execute and I get to art direct. Shes hoping to eventually return to fashion week as a buyer for the boutique. Bishop Ranch visitors can also explore the centers new Slanted Door restaurant by Charles Phan, a 10-screen LOT Theater, West Elm, Equinox Gym, Roam Burgers and the Boba Guys tea outpost. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Drew Altizer Photography/Photo - Drew Altizer Adjoining Rizers store is Trader, a dark-wood, antler chandelier-adorned mens concept dreamed up by her husband, an avid outdoorsman who has spent so many hours researching the finest fishing rod or hiking boot that he decided to jump into the retail fray, too. The store will carry Filson, Belstaff and Fjallraven. Maris also executes Alexs store, Rizer says. But Im much more hands-on, almost a control freak. So Im sure they enjoy working with Alex much more than with me. Rizer plans to host trunk shows and fashion events in her space. Ill be very happy if people appreciate what Im doing. Its also a great place for me to shop, she says. Im driving my staff crazy, wondering when the sequined-Pucci dress Ive ordered will arrive. I think Im definitely going to be one of my own best customers. Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicles society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow The family of a black man who died last month after being tased by San Mateo County sheriffs deputies said video of the incident contradicts law enforcements claims that the man attacked officers and instead shows an unarmed person of color once again being targeted solely for his appearance. On Oct. 3, 36-year-old Chinedu Okobi was on the 1300 block of El Camino Real in Millbrae when a sheriffs deputy approached him and, shortly thereafter, called for more officers, including two deputies, who tased Okobi and caused him to go into cardiac arrest. Okobi was transported to Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. More than six weeks passed before members of the Okobi family and civil rights attorney John Burris gathered in a room Friday at the office of District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe to watch a 30-minute video of the incident, compiled from dashboard cameras, witnesses cell phones and some surveillance footage. The family had been asking to see the videos since the fatal encounter, said Ebele Okobi, the slain mans sister. While authorities have said Chinedu Okobi was running through traffic and acting erratically, his sister told The Chronicle that video shows he was walking on the sidewalk when a deputy approached him for no reason, leading her brother to cross the street before being tased, tackled and beaten with a baton. I want the videos to be released, she told The Chronicle. If people saw what my family saw, they would see what a miscarriage of justice it was. They would see why were so appalled that police officers could do this. In a lengthy Facebook post Sunday, Ebele Okobi, who works as the social media companys public policy director to Africa, said the video she and her family watched refutes statements from the Sheriffs Office. She also criticized Wagstaffe for repeating this version of events, and called on the district attorney to publicly release the video, which the family says will clearly show the father of one was a victim of excessive force. Ebele Okobi and the rest of the family also called for an independent investigation of both the incident and the officers involved. The Sheriffs Office identified the four deputies and one sergeant implicated in the case: John DeMartini, Alyssa Lorenzatti, Joshua Wang, Bryan Watt and David Weidner. All of the officers were put on administrative leave but have since returned to the job, a spokeswoman said. Ebele Okobi said her brother was walking down the sidewalk, not running in and out of traffic, when a deputy approached him. Chinedu Okobi made an inaudible comment, walked to the intersection and crossed the street but did not attack the deputy, she wrote. The county district attorneys office is investigating the incident. Wagstaffe decided to share the video with the family while the investigation is ongoing, he said, the first time hes ever made such a decision. They asked to see the video, and in the normal course of events we would say no, Wagstaffe said. Theyre grieving and I made the decision to let them have a look at it. It was the right thing to do. The district attorneys office is still waiting on Chinedu Okobis autopsy report and a few more interviews with witnesses before making a decision on whether to file criminal charges against the deputies. Wagstaffe expects to release a report, including all videos of the incident, by mid-December, he said. Burris has pursued similar cases against Bay Area law enforcement agencies in the past, and he said he was considering a civil case against the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office, especially after watching the video. He added that he expects to file a claim once the investigation has been completed next month. The incident has garnered international attention in yet another fatal interaction between police and an unarmed black man. This case, however, could be complicated by Chinedu Okobis history of mental illness. Ebele Okobi said her brother had a pathological fear of police. He was a person who never even got speeding tickets, she said. Im sure as this (incident) was happening, it was his worst nightmare. Three people have died just this year in San Mateo County after being tased by law enforcement. Wagstaffe declined to file charges in both of the earlier incidents. Earlier this month, the district attorneys office cleared Redwood City police officers of wrongdoing in an August incident that left 55-year-old Raamzi Saad dead. Police responded to calls that a man was acting erratically and, similarly to Chinedu Okobis case, Saad had a history of mental illness. Saad went into cardiac arrest and later died after officers tased him and physically subdued him. In January, 34-year-old Warren Ragudo, of Daly City, died after an officer tased him while two other officers pressed their weight upon him. Ashley McBride is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ashleynmcb Costco Wholesale, known for its giant warehouses and jumbo-sized bulk goods, announced a major e-commerce expansion on Friday with a new two-day delivery service called CostcoGrocery and a bolstered partnership with same-day delivery service Instacart. But the announcement came with some fine print: Only non-perishables qualify for CostcoGrocery, and prices online are "generally 15 to 17 percent higher than walk-in price," according to the FAQ page. SFGATE visited the lone Costco in San Francisco, at 450 10th St., to compare in-store prices on a sampling of items with their costs on CostcoGrocery. Based on SFGATE's research, products that do not qualify for CostcoGrocery are priced similarly in-store and online. Of the 15 items we sampled, in-store items were 19.7 percent cheaper than the same items on CostcoGrocery. (That number is calculated using the items' full prices, excluding in-store-only discounts.) When making the decision to head to a crowded warehouse or shell out for delivery, there's some additional factors to consider. A $3 delivery fee will be tacked on to orders less than $75, and, just like at the warehouse, a Costco membership is required. For those who prioritize snacking in their shopping experience, you'll also have to say farewell to samples and that affordable food court. As a point of comparison, Instacart does not require a membership and most perishables including the famed rotisserie chickens are eligible for delivery. In San Francisco, Instacart delivers from Costco between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. every day, for orders over $35. A delivery fee, ranging from $5.99 to $11.99, is applied to orders depending on the cost of the order and the time of delivery. Bottom line: With only one Costco warehouse in San Francisco (and in our experience, it gets packed on weekends), delivery could be a good option for those seeking convenience at a cost. Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com. Californias wildfires keep growing bigger, more frequent and more destructive. Of the 20 worst wildfires in state history, four were just last year, giving rise to a record $12.6 billion of insurance claims. It has not gotten any better this year. The Mendocino Complex Fire in August was the biggest in state history and the Camp Fire that wiped out the town of Paradise is the deadliest. It had destroyed nearly 12,000 homes as of Monday morning. This has put pressure on property insurers, some of which have been declining to renew homeowners policies in fire-prone areas. When the houses that burned this year are rebuilt, their owners may find that no one is writing insurance there at least not at affordable prices. Were not in a crisis yet, but all of the trends are in a bad direction, said Dave Jones, who is completing his eighth and final year as Californias insurance commissioner. Were slowly marching toward a world thats uninsurable. Heres what you need to know about Californias slow-motion insurance crisis. Who is being wiped out? Millions of Americans want to live in what experts call the wildland-urban interface quiet, scenic realms where towns and cities end and forests, grasslands or scrublands begin. For decades, the number of people moving to such places has grown, and today about a third of all American housing stands on the wildland-urban interface. But houses close to vegetation pose complex risks including the danger of fires. Of Californias 8 million houses, about 8 million stand on the wildland-urban interface. And of those, 1.7 million are considered highly prone to wildfire. Real estate agents warn homebuyers, but they pay little attention, said Alice Hill, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution who studies climate change and other catastrophic events. She ignored past warnings herself, she said. When she lived outside Los Angeles, she received a notice from the local fire department saying that her property was at extreme hazard and would not be defended in a wildfire. It didnt change our landscaping, she said. We planted trees right next to the house a big no-no in fire country. And when insurance premiums spiral upward, she said, many people try to save money by cutting back on their insurance coverage or dropping it entirely. Its a known risk and people just hope it wont happen to them, Hill said. What is California doing about it? To protect homeowners from unnecessary rate increases, California requires insurers to justify increases with reams of data showing that their cost of paying claims is rising. And after a catastrophic year, insurers are not allowed to raise rates right away, but must phase in the increase over 20 years. After last years fires, United Policyholders, an advocacy group, heard from homeowners who had received letters from their insurers stating that their coverage would end in 45 days. The group set to work with regulators and lawmakers on a legislative package that would have required insurers to seek state approval before pulling out of high-risk areas, mandated discounts to policyholders who fireproofed their homes and given regulators the power to make sure that insurers wildfire models were sound. The only provision that became law was a two-year moratorium barring insurers from dropping policyholders for two years after a covered disaster, said Amy Bach, the groups executive director. Insurers were also stepping up home inspections, she said, sometimes disqualifying houses with risks they had not cared about before. When that happens, the owner must try to find coverage elsewhere, possibly from a nonadmitted insurer, one that does not meet the states regulatory standards. That can be risky. If all else fails, they can get insurance from Californias property insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan. How does that work? The FAIR Plan was set up in 1968, after riots prompted property insurers to pull out of the Watts section of Los Angeles. It has since evolved to also provide coverage for people shut out of the market because of wildfire risk. The FAIR Plan is designed for people who cannot find insurance it cant just be because they dislike the rate, said Mark Sektnan, a vice president of the Property and Casualty Insurers Association of America, who represents the industry in California, Hawaii and Nevada. FAIR Plan is operated by the industry without taxpayer dollars and is required to charge rates that reflect risk, so it is not some kind of bargain. And it only covers fire-related risks; a homeowner is still expected to buy coverage elsewhere for theft, liability, flooding and other perils. The program covered 4,269 homes at extreme risk of wildfire in 2017, up from 3,861 extreme-risk homes in 2014. The numbers, though growing, remain low because the FAIR program screens applicants to be sure they cannot get insurance elsewhere. Because of the new two-year moratorium on nonrenewals, there will be a lag before victims of the current fires start to show up in the FAIR Plans statistics. Has a situation like this happened anywhere else? Florida had its equivalent of the Camp Fire in 1992: Hurricane Andrew. At the time, it was the worst natural disaster in state history, killing 44 people and damaging more than 730,000 homes. The storm also wiped out about a dozen insurance companies, said Don Griffin, the Property and Casualty Insurers Associations vice president for policy research. The states two biggest, State Farm and Allstate, had to borrow money from their auto-insurance affiliates to pay homeowners claims, he said. The big insurers mostly pulled out of the state and in the retrenchment that followed Florida set up its own homeowners insurer, Citizens Property Insurance. At first, it filled the gap in the market. But Citizens was not required to match its rates to its risks and it ended up underpricing the remaining insurers. At its peak, Citizens had a quarter of the homeowners insurance market in Florida, Griffin said. Sektnan said, If they had had a major hurricane then, there are people who would tell you it would have taken the whole state down. Eventually, Citizens came under criticism and sold off many policies to private insurers. Today, Citizens market share is about 5 percent and it functions more as an insurer of last resort. Hill, the Hoover researcher, said she wondered whether the wildfires would force California to expand the FAIR Plan and even subsidize it with state money. But Floridas experience has left the industry wary of a public insurance enterprise. So far, Sektnan said, homeowners were not clamoring to join the FAIR Plan. He thought the states insurance market remained healthy and most people could still buy adequate coverage. Bach, the advocacy group executive director who works with people receiving nonrenewal notices, disagreed. She said many homeowners were simply opting for cheap plans with insufficient coverage. Is there anything else that can be done? It is worth looking at a fire-mitigation program in Colorado. In 1989, Boulder County had what is known locally as the Black Tiger Fire. It was small compared with todays conflagrations 44 houses burned down but it prompted the county to set up a program to harden its roughly 8,000 houses against fire. The county dipped into its own budget, got federal and state grants, and consulted with insurance and real estate specialists to establish a program called Wildfire Partners, said Jim Webster, the program coordinator. After nearly 30 years, Wildfire Partners does not take all comers. Successful applicants receive an inspection from a fire-mitigation specialist like a retired fire chief, who issues a report on what the owner must do to eliminate vulnerabilities which include openings that embers could fly into, combustible trees like junipers and flammable building materials like cedar shingles. It can take a homeowner years to receive a certification and that does not necessarily translate into discounted premiums but it does mean insurers will not refuse to insure the house. About 1,800 homes in the county are certified and seven other counties have introduced the program, Webster said. People support the program, he said, because the certified homes did not burn in later fires even if their neighbors did. We believe in this, he said. It works. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. The last two years have hit firefighters hard. The Wine County fires, a composite of 250 wildfires in Northern California last year brought more than 10,000 firefighters some as far away as Australia and Canada to help manage the destructive infernos. RELATED: Cat rescued by firefighter, now she won't leave him alone This year, the Camp Fire in Butte County has scorched more than 12,794 structures, forced 46,000 people to evacuate, and claimed at least 77 lives. More than 1,000 are still reported missing, and local authorities expect the number of deceased to rise. AND: 'Hundreds' volunteer to brew for Sierra Nevada's fire fundraiser Officials report the Camp Fire was at 66 percent containment Monday. It's now the deadliest fire in the state's history. Firefighters themselves have lost homes. Darren Dow, the Vice President of Cal Fire Local 2881, said 57 firefighters 51 of them from Cal Fire lost their homes in the Camp Fire. A total of 91 agency personnel including CHP, California Conservation Corps, and California Parks employees also lost their homes. If you're looking to help or support firefighters, there's several ways to do so. One way is through the CDF Firefighters Benevolent Foundation, which collects funds for firefighters who have fallen or who were severely injured in the line of duty. Acts of simple kindness go a long way. A genuine "thank you" when you see a firefighters in your neighborhood, a hand-written card, or a home-cooked meal delivered to a fire station (check with your local fire station beforehand) are all excellent ways to show appreciation. More details and other methods of support are in the gallery above. It might feel daunting. There may be many acronyms and unfamiliar words CBD, THC, sativa, indica, vape, dab but there's no real reason to be afraid of a first visit to a cannabis dispensary. The "budtenders," as they're called, are there to help, and they want you to feel welcome. There are things about dispensary visitations that make people nervous, explains Kyle Shaughnessy of the Apothecarium, a popular dispensary in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood (with several other locations). Not long ago, he says, before cannabis was legal in California, people would come in, fearing the place was about to be raided by police. These days, though, the anxiety stems from other things. "People are anxious because they may have had a poor experience in the past with an edible they bought at the park or something they bought 10 or 15 years ago, and it tinged their review of what (cannabis) can be now," he says. "Mainly what the anxiety comes from is you're not sure how it's going to affect you." Don't forget your ID For many, those nerves kick in as soon as they cross the dispensary threshold. For starters, there's the layout. Dispensaries may essentially be stores, but they often look and operate more like pharmacies: A customer walks in, gets checked in with their ID, and proceeds to a line, and then a counter where they describe ailments or talk to the budtender about what they're trying to achieve with their purchase. Barbary Coast Collective, another dispensary in downtown San Francisco, is part store, part lounge, so some first-time visitors might be surprised by the smell of cannabis being exhaled in an adjacent room. "Usually (newcomers) have no idea what the environment is supposed to look or smell like when they walk in," says Lendehl Sahagun, a budtender at Barbary Coast Collective. "They (may) smell puffs and puffs of dank weed. It's very new, it's very foreign to some people ... When they come to a building, especially one that looks like this, which looks like a bar or upscale restaurant, it feels more inviting, like a shop." Think about what you want to achieve It's not necessary that a dispensary novice know exactly what they're looking for Apothecarium has more than 500 different products for sale, explains company CMO Eliot Dobris but budtenders industry-wide do hope new customers consider what their desired effect is. "When people come in I don't expect them to have a lot of knowledge about cannabis, but I want them to think about, 'What's your goal? Is it pain relief or insomnia? Anxiety relief?'" Shaughnessy says. "What's your preferred method? Do you prefer edibles, tinctures or smoking? Maybe you don't know, and that's okay too. It's our job to walk you through the disadvantages, advantages of all those and point you in the right direction." Sahagun would agree, and says people should think about if they're looking for cannabis for a certain reason. Without that guidance, customers may not end up with the right product for them. "(Budtenders) are starting with a blank canvas," Sahagun says. "If we have to choose for you, we're just going to pick the best stuff, which could be what you're looking for but it also could not be." Have an open mind As Dobris says, some newcomers might think they want a certain kind of product be it a vape pen, or edible, or topical product but it may not actually produce the effect they're looking for. "One of the things I hear a lot is people will come in with an idea of what they should buy that maybe is not a great idea," Dobris explains. "Maybe a friend of a friend told them something and they're focused on that. Sometimes we need to educate them." At Barbary Coast, Sahagun likens the process to online shopping. "You can buy a bunch of stuff online that you think is best, but, (like with) for example a pair of pants, you want to try it out and see how it is," he says. "When the budtender starts talking to you, giving you their experience and their knowledge, you might change your decision based on new information." Mostly, staffers want to impress that there's nothing to be afraid of when it comes to dispensaries. The Apothecarium stresses public education about cannabis, and hosts free weekly classes to people who want to learn more about its various uses and benefits. Ask questions Often, that sentiment is directed at people dealing with chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety or intense medical treatments like chemotherapy; those clients are frequent guests at dispensaries, and they are likely to have questions their first time. Dobris says that such newcomers should spend as much time as they need figuring out what will work best for them "because there's a lot of information to take in." "(Going to a dispensary) is something that used to be very anxiety-producing for people, and it still can be and we're very aware of that," Shaughnessy says. "There might be some (things) that confuse people, like how to convert the THC percentage, what dosing is like, what THC is like. We've found people have a really great ground knowledge, they've heard of CBD, they've heard of THC, so our job is to build on top of that." Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira. This article, Facebook used for bidding in child bride auction, originally appeared on CNET.com. Facebook was slammed for allowing a South Sudan child bride auction to take place on its platform. A 16-year-old girl's father reportedly received 500 cows, three cars and $10,000 in exchange for his daughter's hand in marriage, according to children's rights group Plan International. "This barbaric use of technology is reminiscent of latter-day slave markets," said George Otim, Plan International South Sudan's country director in a Nov. 12 post on the organization's website. "That a girl could be sold for marriage on the world's biggest social networking site in this day and age is beyond belief." Five men -- some of whom are reportedly high-ranking government officials -- made bids on the girl from Oct. 25 and she was married on Nov. 3, CNN reported Tuesday. Under South Sudanese law, the teen was considered a child. However, UNICEF noted in November 2017 that 52 percent of girls in the east African nation are married before turning 18. The post was taken down as soon as Facebook became aware of it on Nov. 9, since it violated the social network's policies against human trafficking. "Any form of human trafficking -- whether posts, pages, ads or groups is not allowed on Facebook," a Facebook spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "We removed the post and permanently disabled the account belonging to the person who posted this to Facebook." A 28-year-old man is facing murder and burglary charges for allegedly killing the CEO of his company last week, officials said. Kuk Kim is charged with slaying 52-year-old Bart Kylstra, the CEO of wheelchair mobility company Rio Mobility, over an embezzlement dispute in their Mid-Market office, according to court documents. The city Medical Examiners Office told investigators that there was preliminary evidence that Kylstra had been tased and put in a carotid choke hold. Dressed in an orange jail outfit, Kim appeared in San Francisco Superior Court on Monday to be arraigned, but he did not enter a plea and the hearing was delayed to Wednesday. He is being held in San Francisco County Jail with no bond. Kim faces counts of murder, second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, assault with force likely to commit great bodily injury and receiving stolen property. According to court documents, the killing happened on Wednesday after another employee confronted Kim, saying Kylstra had discovered Kim had embezzled from the company. After that confrontation, Kim who was a financial officer for Rio Mobility went with the other employee to the companys Market Street office to speak with Kylstra. The other employee whose name and gender was not given in the documents left Kim with Kylstra so they could talk, but then reportedly became alarmed after not being able to reach Kylstra or Kim by phone or to get into the company building without an access code. At 11 p.m. Wednesday, Kim finally responded to the employees calls, providing the access code to get into the Rio Mobility office, according to the court records. The employee then went to San Francisco police, who escorted the worker to Rio Mobilitys office and thats when they found Kylstras body, according to the court records. (Kim) has demonstrated that when it comes to facing the consequences of his fraudulent criminal behavior that he is willing to take it even a step further and not only embezzle but follow up with killing an individual when confronted with his misdeeds, Assistant District Attorney Michael Swart wrote in a detention brief. Kim was arrested Thursday outside his home, and police told prosecutors they found him loading his car with bags containing a Taser, blood-stained paper towels, his phone and wallet, and a laptop. Kylstras family sat in a row in the courtroom on Monday, watching silently as Kim answered the judges questions in one-word answers. Swart said the family flew in from as far away as Brussels, Belgium, for the proceedings. On Friday, Kylstras loved ones released a statement about the engineer, saying he was a kind, thoughtful person who never stopped thinking about how he could improve the world. He found fulfillment by applying his passion for engineering to helping people with disabilities lead full and independent lives, the family wrote. To know Bart was to have the extraordinary experience of seeing what we could all strive to become: Kind, loving, forgiving, peaceful, and deeply appreciative of everyone in his life. The family declined further comment on Monday. Gwendolyn Wu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @gwendolynawu WASHINGTON Ivanka Trump repeatedly used a personal email account to conduct government business in 2017, a White House review found, a fact that raises the stakes on congressional oversight hearings the new Democratic House majority will hold. Trumps email use, much of which first came to light last year, included exchanges on her personal account with Cabinet secretaries, as well as forwards of schedules to her assistant, a person familiar with the emails said. Democrats will be in control of at least 232 seats when the new House is sworn in next year, according to the New York Times latest count. And the personal email use of Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who both serve as senior advisers to the president, has been expected to be among the topics the new leaders will address. The subject has particular irony for Democrats, who bitterly point to President Trump highlighting during the 2016 presidential campaign Hillary Clintons use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. At rally after rally, Trump discussed her server, buoyed by chants of Lock her up! from his crowds. The server was discovered amid a congressional inquiry related to Clinton in 2015. The FBI investigated her use of the server which included sending emails that were classified but declined in July 2016 to press charges. The Washington Post first reported on the scope of Ivanka Trumps email use, saying Monday that there were up to 100 related to government business, but hundreds of others related to schedules. The New York Times reported in September 2017 that Trump, the presidents eldest daughter, was one of at least six White House advisers using private emails in the early days of the Trump administration. Newsweek, that same month, reported specifically on Trumps email use, saying that it was mostly before she formally joined the administration, and that she occasionally did so after she was sworn in as a senior adviser. Trump had told people in the White House that she was unaware of the rules when she was using her personal account. But her repeated use of her personal email on a private address, ijkfamily.com, which was set up by Kushner and Trump during the transition, was a cause for concern within the White House Counsels Office, according to two people familiar with what took place. Maggie Haberman is a New York Times writer. HARTFORD, Conn. Thousands of Navy and Marine Corps veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who developed post-traumatic stress disorder but were denied Veterans Affairs health benefits have been given a green light to sue the military, under a ruling by a federal judge in Connecticut. Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Haight in New Haven last week certified a class-action lawsuit against Navy Secretary Richard Spencer by veterans who say they were unfairly given less-than-honorable discharges for minor infractions linked to their untreated mental health problems. The discharge designation prevents them from getting VA benefits including mental health treatment. This decision is a victory for the tens of thousands of military veterans suffering from service-connected PTSD and TBI (traumatic brain injury), said lead plaintiff and veteran Tyson Manker, of Jacksonville, Ill. The fact that the Court has now recognized this class of veterans is further evidence of the Department of Defenses disgraceful violation of the legal rights of the men and women who have served their country. Manker developed PTSD after serving in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and received an other-than-honorable discharge for a single incident of self-medicating himself with an illegal drug, according to the lawsuit. The Naval Discharge Review Board rejected his request for a discharge upgrade. In a court filing, an attorney for the government listed several reasons why a class-action lawsuit should be rejected, including that the plaintiffs could reapply for discharge upgrades under new rules put in place last year that call for more leniency for veterans with mental health problems. Yale Law School students are representing the veterans and have filed a similar lawsuit against the Army. They say nearly a third of the more than 2 million Americans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from PTSD and related mental health conditions and the military is issuing less-than-honorable discharges at historically high rates, often for minor infractions attributable to undiagnosed mental illness. Last year, the discharge review boards for the Army and Air Force granted about 51 percent of discharge upgrade applications involving PTSD, while the Navy board granted only 16 percent. Dave Collins is an Associated Press writer. NEW YORK Health officials in the U.S. and Canada told people on Tuesday to stop eating romaine lettuce because of a new E. coli outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it is working with officials in Canada on the outbreak, which has sickened 32 people in 11 states and 18 people in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The strain identified is different than the one linked to romaine earlier this year but appears similar to last years outbreak linked to leafy greens. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency doesnt have enough information to ask suppliers for a recall, but he suggested that supermarkets and restaurants should withdraw romaine until the source of the contamination can be identified. The contaminated lettuce is probably still on the market, Gottlieb said Tuesday. He said FDA wanted to issue a warning before people gathered for Thanksgiving meals, where the potential for exposure could increase. We did feel some pressure to draw conclusions as quickly as we could, he said. Most romaine sold this time of year is grown in California, Gottlieb said. The romaine lettuce linked to the E. coli outbreak earlier this year was from Yuma, Ariz. That outbreak, which sickened about 200 people and killed five, was blamed on tainted irrigation water. No deaths have been reported in the current outbreak, but 13 people in the U.S. and six in Canada have been hospitalized. The last reported U.S. illness was on Oct. 31, while and the most recent illness in Canada was early this month. Tracing the source of contaminated lettuce can be difficult because its often repackaged by middlemen, said Sarah Sorscher, deputy director of regulatory affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. That can mean the entire industry becomes implicated in outbreaks, even if not all products are contaminated. One of the problems with produce is that it can be very hard to trace back, she said. She said washing contaminated lettuce wont ensure that harmful germs are killed. Infections from E. coli can cause symptoms including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe. Candice Choi is an Associated Press writer. EL YUNQUE, Puerto Rico Biologists are trying to save the last of the endangered Puerto Rican parrots after more than half the population of the bright-green birds with turquoise-tipped wings disappeared when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and destroyed their habitat and food sources. In the tropical forest of El Yunque, only two of the 56 wild birds that once lived there survived the Category 4 storm that pummeled the U.S. territory in September 2017. Meanwhile, only four of 31 wild birds in a forest in the western town of Maricao survived, along with 75 out of 134 wild parrots living in the Rio Abajo forest in the central mountains of Puerto Rico, scientists said. SAN JOSE (BCN) The San Jose City Council will vote in two weeks to sell almost $110 million in property to Google for a proposed "mega-campus" near Diridon Station. Previously undisclosed documents related to the sale, including a Memorandum of Understanding and a community benefits package, were released to the public on Friday after two years of private negotiations between the city and Google. Also last week, two nonprofits filed a public records lawsuit against the city calling for more transparency in the deal, which involved Mayor Sam Liccardo and 17 city officials signing non-disclosure agreements with Google. City councilmembers and the public will now have a little over two weeks to review the materials before the sale goes to a vote on December 4. If it is approved, Google will begin to create a plan and present it to the city. Elizabeth Handler, spokeswoman for the city's economic development office, said the meeting documents were released earlier than usual due to the nature of the large project. "The goal is to get approval because it's in everybody's best interest," Handler said. The next step will be two or more years of planning, design and review before the city finally green-lights the development. Next month's meeting will likely be packed with public comment, as the project has incited protests and polarized opinions over the last few years both in favor and against Google's presence in San Jose. City officials and local business organizations support the plan as an economic boost to enrich the city, but many activist groups believe the plan will take away land from affordable housing projects and further aggravate real estate prices in one of the most expensive markets in the country. The city has negotiated a community benefits plan with Google, which is listed in the MOU. The benefits plan aims to protect affordable housing, residents who could be displaced, and historic, cultural and environmental locations. The document is not legally binding, but is considered a mutual agreement. The city is not providing any subsidies or incentives to Google for the project and the price of the property is equal to or higher than market rate, according to Handler. In a statement, Liccardo said, "Through the Diridon Station Area Process, San Jose and Google have provided a model that stands in stark contrast to the process followed by Amazon and other corporations who have sought large subsidies. We won't use our taxpayers' dollars as bait." City officials have also settled on a mandatory 25 percent affordable housing requirement for the location. 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. SANTA ROSA (BCN) A man pleaded guilty in Sonoma County Superior Court this morning to a stabbing murder on a Santa Rosa street and a non-fatal stabbing in a Santa Rosa movie theater in 2016. Delonte Anthony Hart, who will be 26 Thursday, faces 15 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder of Cirak Mateos Tesfazgi, 22, on Riley Street on June 26, 2016, and 12 years in prison for the attempted murder of Adam Lucero, 23, in the Roxy Stadium 14 theater three days later. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 13. Deputy Public Defender Jeff Mitchell said the sentences will run consecutively. Hart was deemed mentally incompetent in March 2017 to stand trial and he was sent to Napa State Hospital. The hospital later found his competence was restored and a judge agreed. A psychiatrist for the defense argued Hart remained incompetent, but she later changed her opinion and criminal proceedings against Hart resumed this year, Mitchell said. Santa Rosa police said Hart stabbed Tesfazgi more than 50 times outdoors at 418 Riley St. Police found a large chef's knife at the scene and determined a Macy's store in the Santa Rosa Plaza sold the make and model of the knife. Store employees noticed two knives were missing, and they told detectives a suspicious person was seen in the cutlery area on more than one occasion. Macy's security staff also found a chef's knife package discarded on a stairwell outside the store, and police matched the package to the make and model of the murder weapon. Detectives also saw a person in a video taken inside Macy's leaving an exit near the stairwell where the knife packaging was found. Patrol officers recognized him as Hart from several previous encounters and police began looking for him. Police then responded on June 29, 2016, to the theater where Lucero, who recently moved to Sonoma County, was stabbed from behind while watching a movie. Police found a knife identical to the one used against Tesfazgi in a garbage can at the theater, and Hart was arrested nearby. Police said Tesfazgi's blood was found on Hart's clothing and Hart's fingerprints were found on the chef's knife left at the murder scene. Hart is from Baltimore and he spent time in the Bay Area and Southern California, according to police. Tesfazgi's mother Elsa Tekle was in court today when Hart pleaded guilty. "I'm glad he pleaded guilty. I wish I knew why it happened," she said. She said her son had bachelor's degrees in English and political science. 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. PLEASANT HILL (BCN) A man was arrested in Pleasant Hill on Monday after allegedly carjacking and stabbing a man and then attempting to carjack another homeowner in town, according to police. Police said the suspect, whose name wasn't immediately released, entered the victim's car that was stopped in traffic at the intersection of Monument Boulevard and Buskirk Avenue at 1:09 p.m. and demanded that the driver take him home. When the motorist refused, police said the suspect stabbed the victim in the shoulder and then stole his car. Not long after the carjacking was reported, the suspect was seen abandoning the vehicle in a west Pleasant Hill neighborhood, according to police. He allegedly entered the garage of a home and demanded car keys from the homeowner. Police said the homeowner ran back inside their home and the suspect fled, allegedly entering another home near the intersection of Pleasant Hill Road and El Rancho Drive before being spotted by police. A foot pursuit ensued and the suspect was eventually taken into custody. The suspect and an officer suffered minor injuries. The stabbing victim, a 57-year-old Pittsburg man, was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek for treatment of his injuries and then was released. Police said the suspect will be taken to the Martinez Detention Facility once he is released from the hospital to be booked on suspicion of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and residential burglary. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) San Francisco Mayor London Breed will kick off this year's Shop & Dine in the 49 on Tuesday afternoon, according to the mayor's office. The kick-off will begin at noon at The Italian Homemade Company at 1919 Union St. Shop & Dine in the 49 encourages residents and visitors to do their shopping in the 49 square miles of San Francisco. Breed will be joined by other city, public safety and elected officials and community members. 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. PETALUMA (BCN) Petaluma police have identified a driver who struck a Petaluma man who was found lying dead in a road earlier this month, police said. Chester Lyon, 59, of Petaluma, contacted his attorney two days after the collision at about 11:45 p.m. on Nov. 10. The lawyer contacted police and Lyon is cooperating with the investigation, police said. The victim, Charles Ralph Kauffman Jr., 53, of Petaluma, got out of a 2014 Mazda Miata he was driving on North McDowell Boulevard north of Scott Street. The car's engine was still running and the driver's door was open when police found Kauffman in the road about 20 feet away. Tire marks were found on Kauffman's body, according to police. Police impounded Lyon's 2005 Chevrolet Corvette for evidence and are reviewing surveillance videos from businesses in the area. Vehicle parts found in the roadway were from a Chevrolet Corvette, police said. Lyon told police he thought he struck something but did not know what it was. he was driving to a convenience store at the time, police said. Police are trying to determine why Kauffman got out of his Mazda, and the results of his autopsy are pending. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. A: Proposition 10, a ballot measure to expand rent control in California, was rejected by voters on Tuesday. With Proposition 10s failure, a statewide ban on most new forms of rent control will remain in effect. The campaign to expand rent control was brought about to voters as housing has become less affordable throughout the state. Had the initiative passed, local governments would have been free to add new restrictions on rents. Opponents of the measure argued that expanding rent control would increase the states housing shortage, exacerbate overall affordability issues and hurt the investments of single family homeowners. Instead of rent control, some economists contend the primary solution is to build more homes and have the new supply force prices down. But that would be hard to achieve, and other researchers contend that rent control is the only way cities can keep costs down cheaply and immediately. Either way, despite Proposition 10s defeat, rent control is likely to remain in the spotlight. Kathleen Daly, Coldwell Banker, 415-519-6074, kdaly@cbnorcal.com; Lisa Lange, Coldwell Banker, 415-847-7770, Lisalange@coldwellbanker.com. A: The defeat of Proposition 10 by a large margin is a good thing. The long-term impact of lifting rent control on all properties would discourage development and reduce the value of both homes and investment properties. This scenario would lead to less available housing. San Franciscans are owning up to taking responsibility for solving our housing shortage. A NIMBY approach to housing is no longer acceptable. Thanks to the efforts and a $7 million contribution from Salesforces Marc Benioff the voters passed Proposition C 60 percent to 40 percent. Proposition C will charge corporations with revenues of more than $50 million approximately one-half percent in gross receipts tax, raising $250-$300 million for homeless services and housing. Yes, there will be legal challenges. Press on. Passage of these measures to solve the homeless problem are positive, said Michael Gallin of Vanguard Properties, primarily because Mayor London Breed vows to take a good look at the homeless programs to determine what is working and what is not. She aims to make sure that there are no give away programs that do not insure results. Vanguard C.E.O. James Nunemacher, who also donates big time to Home for Home and other projects addressing San Franciscos housing needs, said, I am pleased that the election is behind us. I look forward to robust winter and spring markets. Anne Lawrence, Vanguard Properties, 415-533-6980, annelawrence@vanguardsf.com. A: Tuesdays elections brought many changes. Two proposals that would have had great impact on housing, Propositions 5 and 10 brought mixed results. Proposition 5 was defeated. This initiative would have allowed seniors, disabled and victims of natural disasters to sell their homes and be able to transfer their tax basis. With the defeat of this, many homes that could be offered for sale now will be held as in many cases not only is there disincentive to sell, many owners cant afford to sell and then purchase another home without incurring the current tax rates which prices out many on fixed incomes. Proposition 10, an initiative that would have repealed the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, was defeated. Had this passed, protections homeowners have enjoyed for more than 20 years would be removed and the housing crisis would have been further fueled by making it more expensive and harder for renters to find affordable housing. Mary Fenton, Level 5 Real Estate, 415-205-5218, mary@level5realestate.com. You won't find this gorgeous Spanish Revival home in Los Angeles on many lists of Marilyn Monroe's known residences. However, those who've lived in the neighborhood for decades have tales to tell of America's most glamorous movie star and her second husband, New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio. The celebrity couple were seen in the home before and during their brief marriage in 1954. The scoop comes from listing agent Neal Baddin of Coldwell Banker, who's been selling real estate for decades in the Outpost Estates area, which is known for old Hollywood glamour. According to Baddin, one neighbor says she remembers the star couple living in the home, which is now on the market for $2.7 million. Confirming these stories is an authenticated check, written by Monroe herself, for a $237.82 rental payment on the property. That check was auctioned off for $1,000 in 2015 with the following description: "Marilyn Monroe signed this check in blue ballpoint pen. The check pertained to her lease at 2393 Castilian Drive, a home she shared with Joe DiMaggio. Marilyn moved into the house on December 15, 1952, when she was seeing Joe DiMaggio and he was still married. He became a permanent feature there inviting friends over for meals while Marilyn was beginning to learn to cook, trying to show Joe how she was settling down." Monroe and DiMaggio married in 1954, but rumors of relationship problems plagued them before they finished their honeymoon in Japan. They divorced in October of that same year, just 274 days after tying the knot. The kitchen has been remodeled a number of times since Monroe learned to cook there, but the room's stunning views the couple enjoyed still remain. "You feel like you're living in the Italian Riviera, with vistas of the canyons and hills that are reminiscent of the beautiful Amalfi Coast," says Baddin. Original features include the vaulted wood-beam ceilings, a tile roof, plaster walls with arched doorways, tile floors, and balconies and terraces. All of those elements contribute to the Mediterranean aesthetic, according to the agent. The house measures 3,335 square feet and has four bedrooms and 4.5 baths. It sits on almost an acre of land, which is quite sizable for this historic neighborhood in the hills north of Hollywood Boulevard. Baddin says in the 1970s a grotto-style pool and spa were added out back, positioned to appear wedged into the cliff side , another detail reminiscent of the hills of Italy. "You won't find a better value for a home in this neighborhood," says Baddin. The sellers, who bought the home in July for $2.2 million, were planning a major renovation, but changed their minds. "It's quite an enchanting home," says Baddin, who adds that many of the same features that attracted Monroe and DiMaggio in the '50s can still be appreciated by a buyer today. The post Storied Love Nest of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio Is Listed for $2.7M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. After nearly two weeks of unhealthy air due to the tragic Camp Fire, the Bay Area will finally see some relief due to an incoming cold front that should clear some of the smoke ahead of rain Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Though the rain is a welcome weather event, some Bay Area residents have expressed concern on social media that the rain will be "toxic," given that the air is full of smoke particles. Local meteorologists stress that there is nothing to fear. "Wind from the weather system moving in will push out most of the smoke before the rain starts," said Kristine Roselius, the Communications Manager of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Any fine particulates that remain in the air "will simply fall to the ground and incorporate into the soil," she said. ALSO READ: Storm should boost Bay Area's air quality to 'moderate' The smoke particles composed largely of burnt tree matter are carbonaceous, just like much of the matter already in the soil. It's also unlikely the particulate matter would become incorporated into the rain, even if it's highly concentrated in the air. "The scale of weather system producing rain usually precludes toxic pollution from being trapped within raindrops in California. Winds also dilute and push emission northeastward away from areas where the fires burned," the California Air Resource Board told Snopes recently. Roselius also noted that tomorrow's precipitation is "entirely different" from acid rain, which she says is "composed of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from industrial processes that combine with water in the atmosphere." "Just be thankful the rains are finally coming," said Steve Anderson, a National Weather Service meteorologist, who echoed Roselius' sentiments. "And don't overdo it on the turkey." READ ALSO: 57 firefighters lost homes in the Camp Fire. Here's how to help them. That's not to say the wildfires won't affect some ecosystems, though the rain alone won't be to blame for this. In burn areas, rain threatens to turn debris into a toxic stew that spills into neighborhoods and creeks, experts say. Runoff and erosion could pollute water supplies for both people and wildlife for years, and large storms can trigger landslides. Kurtis Alexander, a Chronicle staff writer, 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. LONDON The United Kingdom and the European Union plowed ahead Monday with plans to finalize their divorce deal within days as British Prime Minister Theresa May waited to see whether rebel lawmakers opposed to the agreement had the numbers to challenge her leadership. The draft agreement reached last week triggered an avalanche of criticism in Britain and left May fighting to keep her job even as British and EU negotiators raced to firm up a final deal before a weekend summit where EU leaders hope to rubber-stamp it. The 585-page withdrawal agreement is as good as complete, but Britain and the EU still need to flesh out a far less detailed seven-page declaration on their future relations. May said an intense week of negotiations lay ahead to finalize the framework. The deal has infuriated pro-Brexit lawmakers in Mays Conservative Party. The Brexiteers want a clean break with the bloc and argue that the close trade ties called for in the agreement would leave Britain a vassal state, bound to EU rules it has no say in making. Two Cabinet ministers, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, resigned in protest, and rebels are trying to gather the signatures of 48 lawmakers needed to trigger a no-confidence vote. One pro-Brexit Conservative lawmaker, Simon Clarke, on Monday urged wavering colleagues to join the rebellion, saying it is quite clear to me that the captain is driving the ship at the rocks. Even if May averts such a challenge, she still has to get the deal approved by Parliament. Her Conservatives dont have a majority, and its not clear whether she can persuade enough lawmakers to back the agreement. May argues that abandoning the plan, with Britains withdrawal just over four months away on March 29, could lead to Brexit being delayed or abandoned, or to a disorderly and economically damaging no deal Brexit. Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said his lawmakers would vote against Mays agreement and also try to block a no-deal exit. He said Labor will not countenance a no-deal Brexit, which could cause upheaval for businesses and people. But it is unclear what would happen if Parliament rejected the deal when it is put to a vote, likely next month. Some Conservative Brexiteers say the prime minister should try to renegotiate the Brexit deal something May and other EU leaders insist is impossible. The agreement also must be approved by the European Parliament. Manfred Weber, who leads the EU legislatures largest group, the center-right European Peoples Party, said its initial assessment of the deal is very encouraging, very positive. Jill Lawless and Raf Casert are Associated Press writers. SANAA, Yemen Yemens Shiite rebels said Monday that they will halt rocket fire into Saudi Arabia for the sake of peace efforts, answering a key Saudi demand in the latest push to stop the civil war in the Arab worlds poorest country. But the rebels also said they had fired a ballistic missile into Saudi Arabia overnight in response to an attempted border incursion and a Saudi air strike and that they reserved the right to respond to attacks. For the past three years, a U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition has been waging war against the Iran-aligned rebels, known as Houthis, to restore Yemens internationally recognized government. The rebels say they have long been excluded from that government and aim to rectify historic grievances. Rebel leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi announced in a statement that the rebels had ordered the cessation of rocket and drone attacks on the Saudis and forces loyal to the United Arab Emirates, a leading coalition member, at the request of U.N. envoy Martin Griffiths. We are ready to freeze and stop military operations on all fronts in order to achieve peace, al-Houthi said. He mentioned the rockets specifically as part of a longer statement in which he blamed the United States for being the main driver behind the aggression against Yemen. The Houthis swept down from northern Yemen in 2014 and captured the capital, Sanaa, with the help of forces loyal to longtime strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had been forced from power by an Arab Spring-inspired popular uprising. Saleh was killed in internal fighting between the Houthis and their allies last year. The government fled Sanaa in early 2015, and Saudi Arabia, citing fears that its nemesis Iran was trying to make inroads on the Arabian Peninsula, began launching air strikes against the rebels in March of that year. Riyadh formed a coalition of Sunni Arab states, including the UAE, Kuwait, Egypt and Sudan, and launched ground assaults on several fronts but failed to take the capital. After major setbacks, including the death of some elite officers, it outsourced the ground fighting to local troops, including a group trained by the UAE in the south. Tens of thousands of people are believed to have been killed in the war, and two-thirds of Yemens 27 million people rely on aid. More than 8 million are at risk of starvation in what has become the worlds worst humanitarian disaster. The latest Saudi-led offensive, which began in the summer, has been focused on capturing the key rebel-held port city of Hodeida, through which almost all of Yemens food and desperately needed humanitarian aid flows. A U.N. draft resolution circulated by Britain on Monday urges the warring parties to relaunch peace talks and take urgent steps to address the humanitarian crisis. It also calls for an immediate cease-fire around Hodeida. Griffiths, the U.N. envoy, announced on Friday that both sides had agreed to attend talks in Sweden soon aimed at ending the conflict. The internationally backed government said Monday that it would attend, but also insisted the Houthis do so unconditionally. Ahmed Al-Haj and Brian Rohan are Associated Press writers. MOSCOW Russian prosecutors on Monday announced a new criminal case against Kremlin critic Bill Browder, raising the pressure on him before European Union discussions about a set of sanctions he is advocating. They also revealed a theory that he could be behind the death of his employee, Sergei Magnitsky, in a Russian prison. Magnitsky, a lawyer who alleged he had uncovered $230 million in tax fraud by Russian officials, died in 2009 following a year in pretrial detention. A Russian presidential commission concluded that he had been beaten and denied medical care. Two prison doctors were charged with negligence leading to his death, but one was acquitted and the other didnt face justice because of a statute of limitations. The U.S.-born Browder, who owned a major investment fund in Russia, has mounted a campaign to bring Magnitskys killers to justice. He pushed through legislation, named after Magnitsky, in the United States imposing travel and financial sanctions on top Russian officials, including prosecutors. Several other countries have since adopted the Magnitsky Act. Russian prosecutors on Monday announced new charges against Browder, accusing him of forming a criminal group to embezzle funds in Russia. They also said they suspect Magnitskys death in prison was a poisoning and said they have a theory that Browder was behind it. Mikhail Alexandrov of the Prosecutor Generals Office told reporters that they opened a criminal case into the poisoning with a military-grade substance of three people they called Browders associates. Browder said the accusations are an attempt to discredit his campaign for justice for Magnitsky. The new charges follow his 2013 conviction in absentia by a Moscow court on tax evasion charges that he also dismissed as a sham. Nataliya Vasilyeva is an Associated Press writer. PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea Disgruntled police, military and prison guards stormed Papua New Guineas Parliament on Tuesday in a violent pay dispute stemming from an international summit hosted by the impoverished South Pacific island nation over the weekend, a lawmaker said. Images posted by opposition lawmaker Bryan Kramer on social media showed broken windows, smashed furniture, pictures torn from walls and plants tipped over. Parliaments security check point including a metal detector was trashed and doors were destroyed along with their fingerprint-reading locking systems, Kramer said. He said the protesters had not been paid their promised allowances for their security work at the Pacific Rim leaders summit held in Port Moresby, a city described by the World Bank as among the worlds most violent due to high unemployment and brazen criminal gangs known as raskols. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting was attended by Vice President Mike Pence, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and others. When the protesters tried to enter Parliament, there was a confrontation between Parliament security and members of the security forces, Kramer said. It erupted into a scuffle, several staff were assaulted as they made their way into Parliament. Kramer said he did not see anyone use a weapon in the conflict and he was not aware of any serious injuries, although there were spots of blood throughout the building. Kramer and his opposition colleagues remained in a meeting room within the Parliament building throughout the 30-minute attack. Following the rampage, more than 100 police, military personnel and prison guards waited outside Parliament demanding to be addressed by the government about their allowances, Kramer said. But they eventually left the area. Working police later provided security for parliamentary staff in the building and patrolled surrounding streets. The violence at Parliament coincided with reports of looting of surrounding businesses, as criminals apparently took advantage of the breakdown in law and order. Neither Prime Minister Peter ONeills office nor police chief Superintendent Dominic Kakas immediately responded to requests for comment. Papua New Guinea is a largely undeveloped Pacific nation of more than 8 million mostly subsistence farmers with widespread poverty, corruption and lawlessness. The annual APEC summit brought together representatives of 21 nations that account for 60 percent of the world economy. Ciaran McQuillan is an Associated Press writer. SRINAGAR, India Assailants on Tuesday killed a prominent separatist leader in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials and residents said, as anti-India protests and clashes followed a gunbattle that killed four rebels and an army commando in the disputed region. Rebel groups and separatist leaders called the killing of Hafizullah Mir an assassination and blamed Indian authorities, while police said it was carried out by militants. Mir was released from jail last month after two years of imprisonment in India. Gunmen sprayed gunfire at Mir, a top leader of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, a group that challenges Indias sovereignty over Kashmir, at his home in the southern Achabal area. He died on the spot while his wife was wounded in the attack, police and residents said. Fighting began early Tuesday in Kashmir after police and soldiers cordoned off a village on a tip that militants were hiding in a house, army spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia said. He said militants ignored calls for surrender and fired at the soldiers, and in the exchange the four rebels were killed. Police said one soldier from Indias special forces unit was also killed. As news of the rebels killing spread, hundreds of villagers seeking an end to Indian rule hit the streets to show solidarity with militants, sparking clashes with government forces. At least four women were injured when troops fired bullets, shotgun pellets and tear gas to confront stone-throwing protesters. Kashmir is divided between rivals India and Pakistan and both claim the territory in its entirety. Most Kashmiris support rebel demands that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. Rebels have been fighting Indian control since 1989. About 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. Anthony Wallace / AFP / Getty Images HONG KONG Hong Kong protest leaders who went on trial Monday for spearheading pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014 said their prosecution threatens the future of civil rights in the territory, where fears have grown of Beijings growing influence. What is on trial is not just the nine of us. What is on trial also is the high degree of autonomy and the rule of law that all Hong Kong people are entitled to, said defendant and University of Hong Kong law Professor Benny Tai at a news conference following the first day of the trial. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia King Salman on Monday gave his first major speech since the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents, expressing support for his son, the crown prince, and making no mention of allegations that the young royal ordered the killing. The annual policy speech by the king instead highlighted Saudi Arabias priorities for the coming year, focusing on issues such as the war in Yemen, security for Palestinians, stability in the oil market, countering rival Iran and job creation for Saudis. A merry-go-round with real horses tied to the metal pillars was spotted at Shuangliu Wanda Plaza in Chengdu City in southern China last Sunday (November 18). The video shows three children with helmets riding on three horses tied to the metal pillars and walking in circles around the rotating circular platform. According to reports, a horse ride for three and a half minutes charges around three to six pounds with staff guiding tourists on site. Some netizens thought it was cruel for the animals, but an employee at the riding club said the horses walked for around three hours on the carousel every day, which is just another way to walk them and they had a break every hour. Some wildlife authorities have said the carousel is legal and the horses are not being mistreated. "There is no law against using animals for amusement rides," said Zhou Ming, head of a wildlife rescue centre in Chengdu. The real horse merry-go-round has stopped running temporarily for safety training for the staff and will be reopened once the training finishes. Page Content Austin's paid-sick-leave ordinance is pre-empted by the Texas Minimum Wage Act, a state appeals court found on Nov. 16 in a lawsuit seeking to stop the city's mandate. The state's minimum wage statute bars cities from setting or regulating private-sector employees' wages, and the appeals court held that the paid-sick-leave ordinance attempted to establish a wage. The law would require businesses to pay employees at their "ordinary rate" when they take accrued sick leave. "The effective result is that employees who take sick leave are paid the same wage for fewer hours worked," the appeals court said. The district court has yet to rule on the merits of the case, but it had denied a temporary injunction to freeze the ordinance during litigation. The appeals court reversed the decision and instructed the lower court to grant the temporary injunction and to proceed in a way that is consistent with its ruling. "The court's decision signals trouble ahead for other Texas cities experimenting with mandatory sick-leave laws," said Adam Sencenbaugh, an attorney with Haynes and Boone in Austin and San Antonio. "In August, San Antonio passed a similar paid sick leave ordinance which will likely face a copycat challenge." SHRM Supports Challenge The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) joined the state attorney general's office, the Texas Association of Business and several other business groups in the lawsuit against the city of Austin. "Creating different rules in different locations makes it very difficult for employers who may have employees in multiple locations," said Nancy Hammer, SHRM's vice president of regulatory affairs and judicial counsel. (SHRM Online) Benefits Based on Employer Size The ordinance was supposed to take effect on Oct. 1, but the appeals court had put the local mandate on hold while it considered arguments in the lawsuit. The city law would have required employers in Austin to provide paid-sick-leave benefits to employees who work for that employer 80 or more hours in Austin in a calendar year. Workers would accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked in the city, and employers could cap annual accruals at either 48 or 64 hours, depending on employer size. (SHRM Online) [SHRM members-only state coverage: Texas Employment Law] Debate Continues Austin is reviewing its options, according to city spokesperson Andy Tate. "Ensuring workers are able to take time off work when they are sick is simply the right and responsible thing to do, as many cities have already acknowledged," Tate said. However, Annie Spilman, the state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, one of the business groups that sued the city, said that the justices "were just doing their job." She noted that the business group will use the court's decision to also fight the San Antonio ordinance. Additionally, state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, introduced a bill that would explicitly prohibit cities from enacting paid-sick-leave mandates. (The Texas Tribune) San Antonio Could See Different Result San Antonio's paid-sick-leave ordinance is slated to take effect in January 2019 and will require employers to provide covered workers with one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. As with Austin's ordinance, businesses will be permitted to cap annual accruals at either 48 or 64 hours, depending on employer size. Although the law may also be challenged under the Texas Minimum Wage Act, the result could be different. "This will go up to the San Antonio Court of Appeals. It has different judges thinking different ways. They may read it differently," said St. Mary's University School of Law professor Wayne Scott. (KSAT 12) State and Local Conflicts More than 20 states have passed laws that prohibit local governments from imposing their own paid-leave mandates. Nonetheless, state and local paid-sick-leave laws continue to proliferate. In some states, such as California, Maryland and Washington, employers must comply with state and local sick-leave laws that have different accrual rates, caps and administrative rules. Employers must generally comply with the most-generous mandate when more than one law applies. While worker advocates say that paid-sick-leave ordinances guarantee that employees will be able to care for themselves and their families, business groups argue that inconsistent paid-sick-leave rules at the state and local levels make compliance difficult for employers. (SHRM Online) [Visit SHRM's resource page on paid time off.] Page Content Complying with multiple paid-sick-leave laws isn't easy for employers, particularly in California, where workers may be covered by state, local and industry-specific rules. State and municipal governments are enacting employment laws where there's an absence of legislation on the federal level, said Lori Armstrong Halber, an attorney with Fisher Phillips in Philadelphia. She was speaking on a panel at the recent American Bar Association's 2018 Labor and Employment Law Conference. Paid sick leave is an area for which employers have to consider layers of different requirements at the state, local and industry levels, noted Diamond Hicks, an attorney with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan in Pasadena, Calif. It's "a little bit daunting even for attorneys." Here's how the patchwork of local laws affect California businesses. Requirements Vary California's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act covers all employees who work in the state for at least 30 days in a 12-month period for the same employer. Full-time, part-time and temporary workers must accrue at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours they work, though employers may limit the use of paid sick leave to 24 hours (or three days) per year. In addition to the statewide law, Berkeley, Emeryville, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Monica each have their own paid-sick-leave ordinances. The leave allowances under these laws are more generous than the statewide law, but each one has slightly different requirements. For example, workers in Berkeley and Emeryville may accrue up to 48 or 72 hours per year, depending on employer size. Small employers in Berkeley are defined as those with fewer than 25 employees, whereas in Emeryville, businesses with 55 or fewer employees are considered small businesses. Employers should also look for any industry-specific rules. For example, hotels in the city of Los Angeles with at least 150 guest rooms must provide additional paid and unpaid time off to full- and part-time workers. Long Beach also has paid-leave requirements for hotel workers. [SHRM members-only how-to guide: How to Comply with California's Paid Sick Leave Requirements] Compliance becomes particularly challenging when employees travel between jurisdictions. "It can get very granular," Hicks said. For instance, some local requirements are triggered when an employee spends at least two hours a week in the city. Unionized employers should note that under certain conditions, paid-sick-leave rules may not apply to employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Tips for Employers Businesses generally must follow whatever requirement is the most generous to the employee, Hicks noted. She recommended that employers consider the following questions when developing policies and procedures: Are there differences for large and small businesses, and how are those businesses defined? Which employees are covered? Is there an accrual cap, and if so, what is it? Can employers limit annual use? Must employees be allowed to carry over a certain amount of accrued time from year to year? What are the reasons for which employees can take leave? What are the notice requirements? Employers should carefully review their policies, Hicks said. "Look at how you're defining vacation or paid time off and whether sick time is included." Employers will also need to evaluate how they discipline employees with attendance issues to ensure their policies don't violate workers' leave rights. Federal Level There are several proposals that may ultimately result in a federal paid-leave law, but whether any of them will come to fruition isn't clear, Hicks said. "It's moving rather slowly." "I think that eventually it will happen," Halber said. "As our legislators get comfortable with [enacting paid-leave laws] in their own locality, it becomes more palatable on the federal level, but I don't think it's going to be immediate." The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) "supports efforts to assist employees in meeting the dual demands of work and personal needs and believes that employers should be encouraged to voluntarily offer paid leave to their employees," according to SHRM's 2018 guide to public policy issues. [Visit SHRM's resource page on paid time off.] STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Housing Dignity Coalition (HDC) says it intends to fight the Bay Street Corridor rezoning plan, which the city designed to spur affordable residential development along a half-mile stretch of Bay Street, including at least 1,800 mixed income apartments. The HDC -- a group of inter-faith leaders, tenant associations and community partners, like Make the Road New York, working to fight for affordable housing on the North Shore -- sent a letter to City Planning, Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore), and the city Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) expressing concerns about the rezoning plan. Our Staten Island church members and allies demand that working-class and low-income residents voices be heard in this process, especially when it comes to the need for deeply affordable housing," said Deacon Mary Bourne of HDC. The current proposal falls far short of the mark and, if implemented, would only fuel displacement and harm to our community," she said. HDC says it has been gathering community input about the Bay Street rezoning process over the past two years. The coalition says it is opposed to the plan for failing to ensure the much-needed affordable housing, tenant protections, and local jobs that they believe must be part of any rezoning of the area. In the letter, HDC said: ...if implemented, [it] will not meet our communitys needs for truly affordable housing, while actually fueling displacement. Nearly one-half of our community district earns below $50,000 per year and one-third of the district earns below $35,000 per year. These are the Staten Islanders with the greatest need, and the highest rent burdens, and we cannot support any plan that ignores their urgent need. These Staten Island residents are members of our congregations. They are our neighbors. Many of them struggle for survival, while contributing immensely to the fabric of our community. They are employed in low-wage jobs at restaurants, in child-care and in retail. They have invested in our community and now it is time to invest in them, added the letter. However, City Planning contends that the purpose of the rezoning is to allow for affordable housing. Developed in partnership with the community, the Bay Street Corridor Neighborhood Plan targets new affordable homes in areas where housing is not currently allowed under zoning. The Bay Street plan will deliver new, critically needed affordable homes to Staten Islands North Shore, where none exists today," said Rachaele Raynoff, a City Planning spokeswoman on behalf of the agency, as well as HPD. Specific affordability levels will be determined as we move through the public review process, but the city is already aiding residents with increased tenant protections and grants for small business, she added. Said Rose: "The draft Environmental Impact Statement is a starting point for a seven-month process of public review. My commitments during this review period include strengthening our infrastructure and ensuring housing opportunities for all, including legal representation to current residents who fear displacement." I have spent three years listening to the rezoning concerns of diverse groups of constituents, and I will continue to meet with stakeholders about the needs of North Shore residents first as we move forward in this ongoing process, she added. CREATION OF SPECIAL DISTRICT Under the plan, the Bay Street Corridor Special District would be created. It sets a maximum building height for most of the corridor between six and eight stories, with limited opportunities for buildings of 12 to 14 stories on select sites, including near rail stations and Tompkinsville Park. Through the citys Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program, at least one-quarter of the new apartments are expected to be permanently affordable, without city subsidy. Public and private investments could create additional and more deeply affordable homes with immediate access to jobs and transit. The zoning changes also require commercial ground floor use along the corridor, creating a pedestrian-friendly experience. Three visual corridors would be established as extensions of Swan Street, Grant Street and Clinton Street, where development would be prohibited in order to protect the views of the Stapleton waterfront and New York Harbor, says the plan. PROPOSED ZONE CHANGE The current zoning along most of the Bay Street Corridor is M1-1, which allows light manufacturing uses, but not residential or commercial. The Canal Street Corridor is currently zoned R3-2 allowing for a variety of housing types, including low-rise attached houses, small multifamily apartment houses, and R4, which permits a slightly higher density than in R3-2 districts. For the Bay and Canal streets corridors, the proposed zoning is a combination of R6B, which are often traditional row house districts, and R6, which allows for medium-density areas like those found in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. In addition, the plan calls for a C2-3 and C2-4 commercial overlay along streets that serve local retail needs. The R6 zone would be concentrated along Bay Street, and R6B along Van Duzer and Canal street. ULURP PROCESSS The proposal must go through the seven-month Uniformed land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), where approvals will be needed from Community Board 1, borough president, City Planning Commission and City Council. A Community Board 1 hearing will be held sometime in early January, according to Joseph Carroll, the boards district manager. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - A mans gruesome discovery of two dead turkeys on the sidewalk near Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze has incited horror and raised suspicions. The concerned Staten Islander, who wanted to remain anonymous, was leaving a doctors office at 378 Seaview Ave. when he was horrified to spot the two dead birds, something he hadnt seen in that area before. When I posted this on Staten Island lost and found pets, I saw a post that on Thursday a turkey was hit by a car,'' he said. Nobody was specific about it though. "... It really struck me hard, said the man, who said he immediately thought of the parrot he has at home. After reaching out to 311 to report the incident, the man was redirected to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which greeted him with an automated voicemail. When asked if he thought the two turkeys fought each other to the death, he said: These birds have been around the hospital for a good 20 years; I never saw them fighting. Islanders in the Facebook group were saddened and notified the NYPD. They are awaiting further answers from various departments. The DEC has yet to respond to a request for comment. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A livery driver was robbed and assaulted near the Goethals Bridge as he was driving three women home from a bar, authorities say. Jamyra Taylor, 23, of New Brighton, was arrested on Nov. 15 in connection with the incident that occurred on Nov. 3 at about 11:30 p.m. on the 2700 block of Goethals Road North, according to police and the criminal complaint. The victim, a 35-year-old man, told police that he was driving a 2018 white Toyota when he picked up three women from a Mariners Harbor bar and started driving toward where Taylor lived on Prospect Avenue. A dispute arose regarding the destination and the driver stopped his car after the women sitting in the passenger and rear seats punched him in the head and body, according to the criminal complaint and police. The suspects allegedly used the drivers own metal water thermos to strike him in the head, according to the complaint. The suspects allegedly stole $350 from the center console. When the victim stepped out of the vehicle and attempted to call the police, the suspects threw the cell phone on the ground so that the phone was damaged and not usable, according to police and the complaint. The suspects allegedly kicked and dented the victims vehicle before fleeing. The other two women have not yet been arrested. The victim, who suffered injuries including a cut on his head, sought treatment at a local hospital, authorities say. Taylors bond has been set at $10,000 and she is due back in Criminal Court on Wednesday, according to public records. The suspect has been charged with robbery, assault, grand larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and harassment. The incident was reported to police early the next morning. 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! We saw that in plain sight on Tuesday when Comyn suggested that current chairperson Catherine Livingstone ran the board in a more open manner. She would be far more inclined to listen to the dissenting views of senior management, according to Comyn. True though this may be, one would hardly expect Comyn to bad-mouth his current chairperson and the person who gave him the top job. "What is the difference between the board at the time [headed by Turner] and the board now?" senior counsel assisting the commission, Rowena Orr QC, asks. "Without wanting to cast aspersions on any former directors, I think the chairman is very different," lobbs Comyns backhander. Once Livingstone reached the witness box, she provided Comyn with harmonies as they sang from the same song sheet. (Before she was appointed chairperson, she spent 10 months as a CBA board member.) Loading Livingstone said during that time she was surprised to find the board asking so few questions of the executive team. "I was quite surprised by the ... the lack of challenge," she said. The third person Comyn threw under a bus was the former head of wealth management, Annabel Spring. She departed the bank as part of an executive spring-cleaning exercise (excuse the pun) at the end of last year shortly before Comyns appointment as chief executive was announced. Spring was in charge of CBA's wealth management operations - the division in the headlines for its inventive profit-generating strategy of charging customers, including dead people, fees for no service. Comyn the customer campaigner disagreed with Spring over what to do about selling insurance on lending products like credit cards. Comyn took the view that these products were deficiently sold, risked having to be remediated, and were marketed to many customers who were ineligible to use them. CBA 'villians' get outed by Comyn. Credit:AAP Spring, whose division manufactured these insurance products, wanted them to be retained, according to Comyn. Unfortunately for Comyn, Narev took a similar view to Spring. Comyn told the royal commission he repeatedly lobbied Narev to cease selling these products but at a meeting between the two was told by Narev to "temper your sense of justice". Loading A rebuked and irritated Comyn was persistent. He outlined other ways in which he attempted to have Narev review these troubled products. Despite assurances by Narev that he would commission another executive, David Cohen, to undertake a review, ultimately nothing happened. Comyn said he wasnt sure whether Cohen even received the instruction from Narev. Later that same year (2016), Comyn tried again. He sent Narev an email with a series of questions that could be put to Spring (and which he would also answer) about how these products served customer needs. Narev didnt respond to the email. Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: On Monday, the commission heard about Comyns attempts to overhaul the mortgage-broking remuneration structure from a commission-based model to a more customer friendly flat-fee model. He investigated the system in the Netherlands that uses fees rather than commissions and discussed the idea with Narev, who seemed less convinced, warning Comyn at one point: "History is littered with banks, even big ones, who try to take on the broker channel and lose." A week before CBA was set to announce the overhaul of mortgage-broker remuneration, the plan was abandoned. There were other snafus that didnt paint Comyn in such a positive light. The Austrac money-laundering debacle was one. Building products group Boral has a new home at Charter Hall's $100 million, 10.3-hectare logistics park in Chullora, Sydney's west, at a time when industrial property is in high demand. Located on the site of a former printing press, previously owned by Fairfax Media, Boral will take out a new purpose-built 10,749-square-metre facility with a lease in excess of eight years. Under the deal, Boral will consolidate two business units in the new facility as part of its efficiency drive for distribution of their products to key markets and customers across Sydney. Boral has leased space at the Charter Hall-owned Chullora Logistics Park in Sydney. The site, which is owned by the Charter Hall-managed $3 billion Prime Industrial Fund (CPIF), is also home to tenants including Lion (Dairy), Australia Post and Rittal. Major office leases are on the cusp of being signed across the Sydney city as companies look to move into new properties as the developments start coming out of the ground. With many lease contracts up for renewal, company directors are taking the opportunity to relocate, albeit at a time when rents are nearing their peaks and vacancy rates are heading to record lows. The need to offer high-quality office space to attract staff and allow the expansion of businesses is also triggering a spate of changes across the tightly held Sydney office market. An artist's impression of AMP's new Quay Quarter Tower at Circular Quay in Sydney. There are also many developments underway with landlords keen to tenants pre-leased during the construction phase. A vacant double-storey shop at 376 Clarendon Street formerly used as a medical premises sold through Gross Waddells Tamara Gross and Andrew Thorburn for $1.31 million. A local investor purchased the property at a land rate of $10,916 per sq m with plans to lease it up. Melbourne Strata office is being hotly contested with a 137 sq m brick offering at Level 1, 43 Little Bourke Street fetching $1.25 million through Colliers Internationals Anthony Kirwan, Chris Ling and Martin Leong. With 12 groups inspecting, the property sold at a per sq m rate of $9124. The trio also sold another strata suite at 620 Bourke Street for $2 million to a first-time entrant into the Australian property market. The 252 sq m office on Level 3 sold on a $7936 per sq m rate. Lynbrook Poplar Constructions has snapped up an industrial site at 22-30 Northey Road for a speculated price about $5 million. The 15,410 sq m block was one of the last remaining development sites in Lynbrooks industrial precinct, Colliers Internationals Gordon Code and James Stott said. Braeside A drive-through ANZ bank at 246 Boundary Road has sold for just over $2.1 million. Leased to ANZ until June 2019 at $106,000 a year net, the deal represents a yield of 5 per cent for the buyer, John Nockles and Ian Angelico from CVA said. The drive-through bank includes a ground and first-floor retail/office/showroom space, 28 on-site car spaces, amenities, staff room, and ATM. Glen Huntly Gorman Commercial and Woodards Carnegie have sold 1136 Glen Huntly Road before auction for $950,000 on a yield of 4.1 per cent. The two-level shop/residence was on a 199 sq m site in Glen Huntly village, David Minton said. LEASES Melbourne Olga de Polga will set up shop in Little Collins Street. Credit:CBRE Fashionistas Olga de Polga will set up shop at 181 Little Collins Street. The retailer, which already has two stores in trendy Prahran and Fitzroy, will pay rent of $2432 per sq m gross. CBREs Tan Thach and Zelman Ainsworth negotiated the four-year lease on behalf of landlord GPT. Notting Hill MBCM Strata Specialists have leased a 220sq m office at Building 29, Level 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road. MBCM signed a six-year lease with the net annual rental undisclosed. Knight Franks Nick Sharkey and James Treloar brokered the deal on behalf of Omnico Group. Prahran Significant renovations at 251 High Street, including converting the first floor to a residential apartment, has resulted in Jethro Canteen taking the 85sq m downstairs shop on a six-year lease at rent of $32,000 per annum net, Mark Smedley from Dixon Kestles & Co said. Jethro will expand from their current location in Richmond. In another deal, Mr Smedley leased 298 Bay Street Port Melbourne to Symmetry Physiotherapy before 171sq m double-fronted shop became vacant. Symmetry will pay net rental of $75,250 on a five-year term. Moorabbin Taubmans Paints has leased a 418sq m showroom at 249 Wickham Road on a 5+5 year lease. Rodney King from Crabtrees Real Estate Taubmans will pay $65,000 a year net. The property is surrounded by similar retailers and was snapped up within days of coming onto the market, he said. South Melbourne Riding hard and fast on City Road, Melbourne Scooters have signed a 3+3 year lease over a brand-new 195 sq m warehouse at No.478. Andrew Thorburn and Michail Shalit from Gross Waddell said motorbike retailer will pay $75,000 a year, equating to $385 per sq m. Melbourne Education and migration provider IEMC has relocated to a larger office at 343 Little Collins Street. Colliers Internationals Brigitte Doupe and Milly Stockdale negotiated a three-year lease for a partially fitted, 98 sq m suite on Level 5 at gross face rent of $515 sq m. Also in the city, Executive Health Solutions secured a new 297 sq m office on Level 10 at 520 Collins Street on a 6-year term, Adam Davy said. Rents in the building are about $550 per sq m. Mulgrave Colliers Internationals Jonathan Mercuri and Richard Wilkinson leased a Mulgrave warehouse off-market with no let-up time. Amare Safety will move to a larger facility in Rowville, while PorterVac moves into 5-6 Rosemary Court on a 3+3 year lease at gross face rent of 119 per sq m. South Yarra Chapel Street is seeing a new wave of boutique operators. Asian fashion house Momo Dress will lease 589 Chapel at $58,000 per annum net in a deal negotiated by Fitzroys James Spencer. Sculpt Australia recently took space at 495 Chapel Street and menswear brand Ciano & Roza has set up in The Colonnade at 542 Chapel Street. MOVERS Tim Homes has joined the CBRE team. With more than 20 years experience in commercial and residential sales and leasing, Mr Homes previously worked with Colliers and Knight Frank and has spent the past five years in the property industry in the UK. Gorman Commercial has appointed Lulu Zhang to a newly created role of associate director of property management as it grow its management portfolio. One of the nations biggest building products companies, Fletcher Building, has blamed a sharp contraction in the Australian property market over the past three months as it slashed its profit outlook and suffered a share-price plunge. With the company warning the worrying trend may have some distance to run yet, Fletcher Buildings Australian-listed shares were pummeled on Tuesday morning after the company downgraded its profit outlook by 10 per cent, partly on the back of what it called emerging challenging Australian trading conditions. Construction and building products group Fletcher is reporting a 'sharp contraction' in Australia's housing market. Credit:James Alcock The recent months have proved challenging, chief executive Ross Taylor told investors. The combination of continuing input price rises and the cooling residential sector have placed pressure on both margins and volumes across our Australian business. Australias housing market, after a decade of booming, is slowing down rapidly, as major banks slam the brakes on new lending and leave developers facing a funding gap estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has recently flagged further tightening from banks in the $1.5 trillion residential mortgage market, which some experts believe is behind a slowdown in the residential real-estate market. Oil prices tumbled more than 7 per cent on Tuesday, with US crude plunging to its lowest in over a year, caught in Wall Street's broader selloff fed by growing concerns about slowing global growth. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down $US4.24, or 7.4 per cent, at $US52.96 per barrel by 1:27 p.m. EST (1827 GMT). The contract fell as much as 7.7 per cent earlier in the session to $US52.77 a barrel, the lowest since October 2017. The price have oil continues to slide. Credit:Bloomberg So far in the session, more than 836,000 front-month WTI contracts had changed hands, exceeding the daily average over the last 10 months. Brent crude futures were $US4.77, or 7.1 per cent, lower at $US62.02 a barrel. The international benchmark fell as much as 7.6 per cent to $US61.71, the lowest since December 2017. The federal government has stepped in to defend the authority of a parliamentary inquiry in the face of a High Court challenge from the former chief executive of ASX-listed Retail Food Group. Long time friends and business associates Tony Alford, who was formerly the CEO of the franchise giant, and Alicia Atkinson, who was a senior executive, have applied to the High Court to avoid appearing before the committee. Tony Alford is the former chief executive of franchise chain Retail Food Group. Credit:Rob Homer Mr Alford and Ms Atkinson are seeking to stop the parliamentary committee requiring them to appear and give evidence at the next hearing of the committee on 26 November. A well placed source told Fairfax Media the pair have been asked to appear before the committee for over five months. The matter will be heard by Justice Michelle Gordon in the High Court in Melbourne tomorrow morning. If you are in financial difficulty and you ask your bank for help, you're more likely to get it from some banks than others. A report by a committee set up by the Australian Banking Association (ABA) has found that while one of the big four banks grants 90 per cent of requests, two smaller banks grant just over 50 per cent of requests. The Banking Code Compliance Monitoring Committee report, Assisting Customers in Financial Difficulty, specifically looks at how the banks deals with customers in financial difficulties. In a sign that many Australians are doing it tough, requests by those in financial difficulty to their banks for assistance have increased by 47 per cent since 2011-12. Most of that increase occurred between 2011-12 and 2014-15 and has remained elevated since. Employment-related issues, such as reduced working hours or unemployment, is the most common reason for seeking assistance, the 24 members of the ABA told the committee. Two Canberra Hospital cleaners have been sacked for falling asleep during an unpaid break at 4am. The workers, Tshering and Sonam, who only wanted to be referred to by their first names, are both from Bhutan and supporting their husbands and children. They are desperate to be reinstated to their jobs which are their only means of survival in Australia. Cleaners at the Canberra hospital, Tshering and Sonam, have lost their jobs for falling to sleep at 4am during a designated unpaid break. Credit:Karleen Minney. They fell asleep in the day surgery waiting area - while all theatres were closed - about 4am during their designated unpaid break, behaviour contractor ISS labelled a "serious breach" of the company's code of conduct. The Canberra Business Chamber says its future is secure despite an independent auditor warning the lobby group might be at risk of financial collapse. RSM Australia Partner's audit, prepared for the chamber's 2017-18 annual report, said there was a "material uncertainty" in the organisation's financial position, which "may cast significant doubt" on its capacity to continue operating. Canberra Business Chamber Glenn Keys chair will step down from the role at Wednesday's annual general meeting. Credit:Melissa Adams The report will be tabled at the business chamber's annual general meeting on Wednesday, when the organisation will also vote on replacements for outgoing board members, including chairman Glenn Keys. The chamber reported a $109,440 surplus last financial year, but posted a deficit of almost $560,000 in 2016-17. The ACT's Chief Planner, Ben Ponton, has given a prominent Canberra developer the green light to remove a protected tree in Manuka to make way for a new hotel, in a move residents say pits the big end of town against the community. The decision to allow the removal of the protected London Plane tree on Franklin Street in Manuka brings developer Sotiria Liangis one step closer to her long-held plans to redevelop the prominent block on Canberra Avenue. Griffith Narrabundah Community Association member Anne Forrest and president Leo Dobes stand in front of a large protected tree in Griffith that developers are trying to have deregistered. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong Mr Ponton's decision to allow it came after senior planner George Cilliers approved Mrs Liangis's development application to knock down the Capitol Cinemas and other buildings on the block to build a seven-storey hotel estimated to cost up to $40 million. But Mrs Liangis, who declined to comment, still faces a final hurdle, as the planning authority's approval was conditional on the Conservator of Flora and Fauna approving removing the tree from the territory's tree protection register. The woman who has accused Australia's most decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, of domestic violence could be killed if her identity became known, a court has been told. Fairfax Media has successfully argued the woman's identity should be suppressed, at least until the judge hearing the matter considers the arguments put to him. Ben Roberts-Smith in front of his portrait at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Credit:Jay Cronan Mr Roberts-Smith is suing Fairfax Media over a series of articles published this year in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times which he says are defamatory because they portray him as a war criminal during his time serving with the Australian special forces in Afghanistan. The articles also allege that on the night of an event in Canberra he punched a woman with whom he was having an affair. A little before 7am next Tuesday, a small metal shell flying six times faster than a bullet will reach the outer edges of Mars thin atmosphere. Inside this metal capsule sits NASAs InSight lander. The probe, with its payload of sensors designed to see deep inside the red planet, has spent the last six months silently whizzing through space. NASA hopes it will be the agencys next lander to hit Mars' surface since the Curiosity rover touched down in 2012. Australia will play a key role in communication with the tiny craft after its landing. A Vaucluse man accused of being the ringleader of a dark web drug importation syndicate had contraband sent to his mother's house, a court has heard. Self-described "elite hacker" Dov Tenenboim is facing the prospect of life behind bars if convicted of masterminding the trafficking of large amounts of illicit drugs from the Netherlands into Australia via the online black market. Dov Tenenboim is facing the prospect of life behind bars if convicted. Credit:Facebook A failed bail application before NSW Supreme Court judge Natalie Adams heard on Tuesday that a syndicate member who had met Mr Tenenboim through the dark web and become involved in the importation of cocaine and MDMA had turned Crown witness. Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions lawyer Karthikeyan Kanagasabapathy told Justice Adams the two most serious charges relating to commercial importation relied "almost solely" on the evidence from the witness's testimony. The parents of a seven-year-old girl who was assaulted at a western Sydney dance studio have been told police are now investigating reports of offensive phone calls made by their daughter's alleged attacker. Emergency services were called to St George Dance Centre in Kogarah just before 8pm on Thursday following reports of an assault and a stabbing at the premises. Police allege the girl was physically and sexually assaulted by a 54-year-old man in a toilet in the dance studio building. Two other men confronted the 54-year-old and detained him. One of the men was allegedly stabbed several times including in the stomach and neck during the struggle. The pressure in Sydney and Melbourne is not our migrant intake. The pressure is from the influx of families from the mining states as the boom died and the work dried up. Morrison has played his card very cleverly. He proposes to lower the permanent migration target that has not been met for years. That doesn't translate to any reduction at all. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will cut the number of migrants. Credit:AAP Yet, the hundreds of thousands of 457s and Student and Working Tourist visas are not mentioned. Do those visa holders not use our infrastructure? Don't be fooled by the rhetoric. Big business will not let this government slow the migrant intake. They need it for profit growth. - Stephen Broderick, Avalon Immigrants do not bring with them their own hospitals, schools, roads, teaching and hospital staff, or any other necessary infrastructure. Those infrastructure facilities have to be provided by the existing population. Proponents of immigration also contend that immigration creates employment. In the short-term only, that may be so but, in the long-term, if immigration creates more employment and, given the massive immigration we have had, there would now be massive over-employment and business would be crying out for more employees. - Noel McCarthy, Mount Colah Our neophyte PM has figured out that Big Australia might just diminish his slim chances of re-election. John Howard more or less doubled migration. He has been backed to the hilt by every PM ever since. Australia is already at the limits of its carrying capacity. Morrison, be as decisive as Howard. Tear up Lucy Turnbull's plan for 8 million in Sydney. Halve migration. - Stephen Saunders, O'Connor (ACT) First the Liberals attacked the refugees, then the Muslims and now immigrants. When will this horrid scapegoating end? Or should I ask; will it end? - Luke Weyland, Strathfield Patients pay the price for keeping hospital costs low The Northern Beaches Hospital has been forced to cancel elective surgery and it has suffered from a lack of basic supplies ("Hiccups undiagnosed as hospital cuts ribbon at opening", November 20). The hospital is a public-private partnership. It is an infrastructure model designed to share the ownership of risk. The weakness here is the selection of Healthscope as the private partner. It has no experience of running a large community hospital. It has been in the hands of private equity, who are notorious for cost cutting. - Michael Kennedy, West Pymble Your editorial on the Northern Beaches Hospital appears to be dismissive of "complaints from those with a vested interest, such as health unions and doctors used to the old ways", while acknowledging concerns about a lack of supplies ("Hospital is a test case for privatisation", November 20). Doctors do not complain for nothing, and are very slow to go public with complaints; and a shortage of doctors is likely to prove more deadly than a shortage of many of the supplies listed. - Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay Whether or not the new hospital becomes organised and efficient or not, it is becoming clear the hospital is intended to be largely private, with primary emphasis on Healthscope's profits. - David Catchlove, Newport When a private entity claims they'll be able to deliver a better service at lower cost than government - while still returning dividends to their shareholders, the first question should surely be "how?". - Christina Mahoney May, West Pymble No Premier, northern beaches residents do not have "a world-class public hospital like no other on our doorstep". The new hospital is owned and operated by Healthscope and has fewer public beds than Manly and Mona Vale had. From where I live, a trip to Frenchs Forrest on a good day can take an hour. This is not "on our doorstep" and the delays will cause negative outcomes for serious patients, including death. That is why so many local residents are alarmed. - Keith Woodward, Avalon Beach The Northern Beaches Hospital is poorly named. It is many kilometres via congested roads from most northern beaches suburbs. Our actual hospitals, Manly and Mona Vale, have been closed. Who cares whether it's privately run. It's simply in the wrong place. - Denis Suttling, Newport Beach Brad Hazzard, trying to minimise the disaster that is the new hospital, referred to "the number of people who have chosen to come to the hospital". Chosen? "Oh, it's a nice day, I think I'll have a heart attack, or perhaps I'll get run over by a bus". - Jonathan Hornibrook, Newtown Mixed vegetable What about the correct use of idioms (Letters, November 20)? Wallabies captain Michael Hooper was hoping for "a carrot at the end of the tunnel". Wouldn't he need a light to find it? - Mustafa Erem, Terrigal The recent discussion about the pronunciation of Parramatta reminded me that an American tutor flew into Sydney airport many years ago and asked a taxi driver to take him to Parameter. He explained to the confused driver it was about 12 miles west of Sydney. - Bob Roobottom, Taree Janet Spence wants a smoother version of the stupid "mansplaining". I use "I already know that". - Rosemary O'Brien, Georges Hall I believe the gender-neutral term for mansplaining is simply "not listening". Mansplaining was coined because men respond better to words with "man" in them, much like dogs respond to hearing their name. - Peter Fyfe, Enmore The word you are looking for is "condescension". - Janet Peters, Leichhardt Answer blows in wind At least the US President didn't suggest using a leaf blower ("Trump ridiculed over advice to rake forest floors", November 20). - John Byrne, Randwick An insult to all gay people The Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne has proposed a solution to the problem of gay teachers. Let them live a long way away and not talk about being gay, not be visible in a same-sex relationship and definitely not "escalate to advocacy" ("Gay teachers okay if they live far away, says archbishop" November 20). This proposal, and others like it, are put forward in the spirit of showing Christian tolerance of those with the "attribute" (the Archbishop's new euphemism for homosexuality, presumably) while apparently maintaining Christian values. It is actually proposing a practice of deceit and dishonesty and is insult to all gay people. The proposal implies there is a taint and a risk of contamination if gay people are encouraged to be open and honest about who they are and how they live. The archbishop is telling teachers, and students, that being gay or sexually different is shameful and it is better to live a lie. This may be the church's value that he is trying to preserve, but there is nothing Christian or tolerant or honest here. It smacks of fear and ignorance, exactly why we need to hear more from gay teachers, not less. - Anne McDonald, Summer Hill Enjoy the gap Thank you Jenna Price for confirming what I have always believed about the gap year ("Students who've had a gap year can deal with the real world", November 20). However, not all students need a gap year after Year 12. My children knew exactly what they wanted to do at university and wanted to get it behind them as soon as possible. Many students leave school not knowing what they want to do. The gap year is an excellent way to discover what the real world is offering. I know of students who have worked in schools overseas and come back keen to become teachers. Another student worked in an aged care facility and realised nursing was her forte. Experience and living life to the fullest is an excellent introduction to tertiary education. Having a little money is also a bonus. - Robyn Lewis, Raglan Profits before people I was stunned to read your headline ("CBA: We put profits ahead of people", November 20). Looking forward to tomorrow's: "Scientists discover that the sun rises in the east". - Matt Petersen, Randwick Reward of hard work Just for the record, Millennials are enjoying the economic security, health facilities and environmental infrastructure that is the result of the industry and aspirational drive Boomers had for their children's futures (Letters, November 20). "Luck" had little to do with the successes achieved in this country by the Boomer generation. Having worked as a professional in a service industry for more than 40 years, doing hours that most Millennials would not consider possible and never having accessed any government support in spite of having immigrated to this country and now enjoying modest self-funded retirement, I object to implications of greed and lack of social conscience by my "lucky" generation. - Rory McCarthy, McMahons Point Johnstone sure got out of bed on the wrong side. Despite claiming her place as one of a group "better educated than any previous generation" she writes the usual tired generational cliches. - Jon Matthews, Elvina Bay Thanks for the humility. Never mind we have worked and paid taxes all our lives. For my part, my first job was selling ice creams at the Tivoli Theatre aged 12 and all school holidays at Mick Simmons from age 15. No gap year and years at university for me. I had five children to feed on one wage. Later it became a necessity to work three jobs. Retirement finally came at 69. My taxes for more than 50 years paid for allowances for the less privileged and probably for the hospitals the Millennials were born in. - Warren Thomas, Merimbula Respect for the past Thank you Peter Mitchell for your informative article ("Bennelong's grave should honour First Australians" , November 20). More significantly, I applaud both your scientific work in identifying the final resting place and your tenacity in knocking on ministerial doors in order to secure funding to buy this significant national site. Undoubtedly one of the more upbeat recent Sydney stories, this narrative has the ability to both pay respect to our collective elders and educate future generations about our rich, often troubled, history of early settlement. It's an impressive imaginary leap that propels an ordinary present Australian to pay homage to extraordinary past Australians. Best of all, the story continues. Look forward to the next instalment. - Cleveland Rose, Dee Why No regard for the future The state Liberals' development at all costs attitude knows no bounds. Inept projects to suit rapacious developers have turned Sydney into one giant construction site ("Government ignored own staff advice on logging", November 19). As if ineptitude was not enough, the Premier and her environment minister now have their sights set on old-growth forests. Enabling the senseless slaughter of trees against even their own environmental officers' advice shows their complete disregard for the future of all species. - Elizabeth Roydhouse, Randwick Online exploiters It has long puzzled me how anyone sees major online companies and IT service providers as anything more than unscrupulous exploiters of everyone from poorly paid call-centre workers to the customers whose needs they claim to meet ("They all wanted Amazon ... except those who got it", November 20). - Norm Neill, Darlinghurst Ink in his veins It will be a sad day when the Fairfax name vanishes from the media world ("Court approval next step for Nine-Fairfax merger", November 20). The Queensland government has sliced almost one-third of the funding it gives to Brisbane City Council for a library program that helps pre-schoolers learn to read. Brisbane City Councillor Peter Matic told Question Time at Tuesday's council meeting that the state government's $4 million funding over four years for the council's First 5 Forever literacy program had been slashed by 30 per cent. First 5 Forever program webpage The $1 million-per-year funding from the Queensland government until 2020 has been reduced by 30 per cent to $711,876 per year by the State Library of Queensland. The reduced funding was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon by the State Library of Queensland, who said the restructured funding would also allow Brisbane City Council to apply for new $50,000 grants for literacy projects in 2019. Brisbane men-only club Tattersall's will hold a postal ballot "as soon as practicable" to decide whether it should admit women as members. The 153-year-old Brisbane CBD club has been canvassing the possibility of allowing women full membership in recent months. The Tattersall's Club will hold a postal ballot to determine whether women should be members. In an email to members, club president Stuart Fraser said the decision to hold a postal ballot of its 4800 members had the unanimous support of the committee. "It is 12 years since members were offered the opportunity to vote on this issue," he wrote. I went to Pellegrinis for lunch with my brother. We had granita, pasta, apple strudel and coffee as weve been doing for the past four decades. We sat in the kitchen at the big wooden table opposite the cast iron stove and warm, welcoming chefs in masterful control of the steaming pots of authentic Italian fare. RIP: Sisto Malaspina at Pellegrini's. The table was full of guests in twos and threes, strangers brought together by their love of this place and of one special man. The stools in the front room were occupied with a rotation of customers, all wanting and needing to be present to pay tribute to a giant of a man, inexorably linked to their memories of this iconic Melbourne cafe. Sisto as many will remember him Credit:Joe Armao Sisto Malaspina was not behind the counter pumping out coffees or slabs of cake, nor was he at his corner of the bar with his long black and newspaper. His absence was palpable, his beaming smile looking down on us from a photo on the wall. The aching chasm left was filled with hugs, care and love. A 21 year old Greenvale man has been arrested on terrorism charges. Credit:Channel Nine A deadly attack plotted by a terror cell and designed to kill as many as possible in Melbourne has been foiled, police say, after raids in the city's north this morning. Three men, including two brothers, were arrested in Dallas, Campbellfield and Greenvale when authorities raided their homes at 3am on Tuesday. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the plot was inspired by Islamic State and although police have been investigating the men since March last year, their communication increased in the past week following the Bourke Street attack and trial of James Gargasoulas. In the last few days, they had tried to obtain at least one .22 semi-automatic rifle, police allege. Lawyers have joined critics lining up to kick the Barr government's proposed changes to compulsory third party insurance, arguing it would more than halve compensation for some people injured in road incidents. Legal firm Slater and Gordon practice group leader Martin Carrick told an inquiry into the reforms that the new scheme would cut payments by more than $100,000 in some cases by stopping victims accessing compensation for damages through the courts. Mr Carrick has previously told MLAs many people with ongoing injury and incapacity for their pre-injury work would be denied entitlements after five years, and many would be financially devastated by their reduced working capacity. Others would be thrown onto welfare payments, he said. At a hearing on Tuesday, Mr Carrick said the planned scheme - subject to a Legislative Assembly inquiry - had the potential to create unfair decisions that harmed people who had been injured. "This system goes such a long way down the track of putting injured people in the hands of insurers," Mr Carrick said. Papua New Guineas Foreign Minister has rejected the United States assessment that Chinese development money is a constricting belt and a one-way road for poor nations following a bruising APEC summit at which the two superpowers stared each other down. Also on Tuesday, PNG police and soldiers reportedly stormed the countrys parliament, smashing windows and furniture as they demanded unpaid APEC bonuses. Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato has told Fairfax Media that PNG, which has signed on to Beijings Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure-building program, will continue to do whatever best solves his peoples problems. PNG's Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato speaks during the APEC ministerial meeting in Port Moresby last week. Credit:AP Infrastructure development is increasingly being seen as a strategic battleground, with the US and Australia concerned about the amount of work China is doing in the Pacific and whether it has a sinister long-term intent. Prime Minister Scott Morrison likely regrets his suggestive comments about model and actor Pamela Anderson, says his Minister for Women, Kelly O'Dwyer. Anderson, a friend and vocal backer of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, has publicly lobbied the government to help the Australian, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for six years. Model, actor and activist Pamela Anderson. Credit:AP Earlier this month, Mr Morrison rejected Anderson's appeal for a change of the government's position, light-heartedly telling Gold Coast radio station Hot Tomato FM: "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." Anderson, who has been featured on the cover of Playboy magazine 14 times, branded Mr Morrison's comments "smutty" and "unnecessary" and accused him of trivialising Mr Assange's plight. Families and skilled workers are being targeted in a hard line on visa approvals that could drive Australias permanent migration intake below 160,000 new residents next year, as the Morrison government prepares a crucial election pitch on population and congestion. Aspiring migrants are being forced to wait longer for decisions on family reunion and other visa programs, in a tougher approach that has kept permanent migration well below the 190,000 cap of previous years. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will tackle concerns about crowding and traffic congestion in Sydney and Melbourne. Credit:Peter Rae Prime Minister Scott Morrison is preparing a significant policy to be unveiled early next year after he meets state and territory leaders on December 12 to discuss ways to cut arrivals in Sydney and Melbourne while encouraging them in other regions. The government will not adjust its official migration cap in the mid-year budget update next month but is facing a potential $1.9 billion cost over four years when it goes ahead with the lower intake in its election plan next year. The City of Mandurah is under fire after publishing a full page newspaper advertisement which "accidentally" promoted a WA Labor election policy. The ad, which did not mention the City but was part of its "Mandurah Matters" campaign, referred to the "McGowan Labor Government" and a $10 million election promise made by WA Labor in 2017 to help pay for a foreshore project. Tensions between the Labor-controlled City of Mandurah and Liberal MPs in the region are at breaking point after the council used rtaepayer funds to promote a Labor election commitment. Credit:Mandurah Mail It also said the commitment would support "local tourism and local jobs". The words used in the ad were identical to those in a media statement released by Premier Mark McGowan and Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan. Denpasar: Bali Nine member Matthew Norman, who is serving a life sentence in Kerobokan prison for drug smuggling, wishes his friend and fellow convicted drug smuggler Renae Lawrence "all the best of luck" on the eve of her release. Norman, at 32 the youngest member of the Bali Nine, spoke to Fairfax Media during a visit inside Kerobokan prison on Tuesday that came less than 24 hours before Lawrence's release from Bangli prison. Matthew Norman in Kerobokan prison. Credit:Amilia Rosa "Whats going on with Renae, thats her story. She was sentenced by the courts to 20 years and she has run her course. She has got her [sentence] remissions, she has done what she needs to do to get out," he said. "I wish her all the best of luck. For me, Im still here with a life sentence and Im still doing all that I can to better myself. I still have hope that my sentence will come down." London: Two of the Kremlin's most prominent critics have joined forces to try to stop a Russian becoming the next president of international police organisation Interpol, saying they feared Moscow would abuse the post to hunt down its detractors. Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, right, and financier William Browder attend a joint press conference in London. Credit:AP Interpol's general assembly is due to elect a new president on Wednesday after incumbent Meng Hongwei of China went missing in September. Beijing later said it had detained him in connection with a bribery probe. The battle to succeed him turned political after Alexander Prokopchuk, a former major general in Russia's Ministry of the Interior, emerged as one of the favourites to get the job, a prospect that alarmed critics of President Vladimir Putin. "I think it was a tremendous mistake, should never have happened," Trump told Wallace. Loading "But this is about the soldiers, sir," Wallace responded. "You're right," Trump said. "I don't think anybody's been more with the military than I have, as a president. In terms of funding, in terms of all of the things I've been able to get them, including the vets." Trump has spoken privately about his fears over risks to his own life, according to a former senior White House official, who has discussed the issue with the President. "He's never been interested in going," the official said of Trump visiting troops in a combat zone, citing conversations with the President. "He's afraid of those situations. He's afraid people want to kill him." Pressure for Trump to make such a visit has been building for months. Eliot Cohen, a former Bush administration official and Trump critic, has raised the issue regularly in public. "The point is American servicemen and women are on the ground in these places," Cohen said in an interview. "They are getting killed. I think any good leader would want to see something for themselves. And they would want to do something for the troops other than using them as props." Since Trump took office, about 60 American service members have died while deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, according to Pentagon statistics, including both "hostile" and "nonhostile" deaths. Plans for a visit by Trump aren't firm, several advisers said, and the President has only begun saying in recent weeks that it may need to happen. A White House spokesman declined to comment on presidential visits, citing security concerns. The President has come under increasing scrutiny for his behaviour toward the military in recent weeks. He attacked the former head of US Special Operations Command, retired admiral William McRaven, who said Trump represented the greatest threat to US democracy. Loading On Sunday, Trump retaliated by calling him a supporter of Hillary Clinton and said McRaven, who was responsible for catching and killing Osama bin Laden, should have caught the al-Qaeda leader sooner in Pakistan. McRaven responded in a statement saying he did not endorse Clinton during the 2016 presidential election. Trump recently skipped a cemetery service marking the end of WWI in France, citing poor weather. He also did not go to Arlington National Cemetery two days later on Veterans Day, later expressing rare regret for missing the occasion. "I should have done that," he said in the Fox interview. Trump has sent thousands of troops to the border with Mexico in anticipation of a Central American migrant caravan in what his critics labelled a preelection stunt designed to shore up anti-immigration sentiment within his base. Mattis has described the mission as good training and necessary support for the Department of Homeland Security. The history of presidents visiting American troops on active deployments dates back decades and gives presidents a sense of what is happening on the ground - while sending a message to troops that the government at home appreciates their personal sacrifices. Loading During the Korean War, Dwight D. Eisenhower's pledge to go to Korea helped propel him into the presidency over Adlai Stevenson. Eisenhower followed through with a visit in 1952. Lyndon B. Johnson met with troops at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam in 1966, telling them he had come only to say how proud he was of what they were doing and the way they were doing it. He also visited forces there the next year. George H.W. Bush spent Thanksgiving with American troops in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield in 1990 and New Year's with troops in Somalia in 1993. His successor, Bill Clinton, visited troops in Bosnia in 1996 and spent Thanksgiving with troops in Kosovo in 1999. George W. Bush made a surprise Thanksgiving visit to troops in Iraq months after the invasion in 2003 and went to the country three additional times after that while president. At the time, the US military footprint in the country was building, ultimately numbering about 170,000 troops in Iraq at the peak of a surge in 2007. Mark Hertling, a retired three-star general, helped organise the surprise visit in 2003. George W. Bush served turkey during a surprise Thanksgiving visit to troops in Iraq in 2003. Credit:AP About six officers knew Bush was coming, he said, recounting how the president flew into the international airport in the wee hours of the morning and stayed hidden until the troops were in a large mess hall. Bush later served turkey and received resounding applause. "The troops in the field need to know their efforts are not being wasted," Hertling said. "It shows [that] the government and the people have their back." The troop presence in Afghanistan grew during the first half of the Obama administration, reaching a peak of about 100,000 in 2011. Obama visited the country four times as president, most recently in 2014, and made one trip to Iraq shortly after his first inauguration, meeting with American forces each time. He had previously visited the combat zones in both countries as a US senator. Then president Barack Obama speaks to US troops during a visit to Bagram in Afghanistan in 2014. Credit:AP Trump's advisers say his lack of a visit does not represent a lack of interest in or disrespect for the military. There are military figures in his administration that he admires, his advisers say: General Mark Milley, the chief of staff of the US Army, and retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, a former White House adviser who now works for Vice President Mike Pence. The President was persuaded to sign a spending bill that he did not like by aides who brought him lists of military equipment the money would buy - even down to the specific planes and ships, current and former White House aides said. Trump frequently touts the strength of the US military at his political rallies, having signed off on a $US716 billion ($988 billion) budget for the Pentagon this year that included the largest base budget in adjusted terms since WWII. Loading Current and former aides said Trump is sombre when making military decisions and has expressed concern about troops dying on his watch. They also note that Trump has visited domestic military bases and visited troops while overseas, such as a stop in Japan last fall, while also bringing military visitors into the Oval Office. "I have never heard him show any sort of disrespect toward the military in private," said one former senior administration official. "Any time you go anywhere with him in the military, he is overwhelmingly popular." According to current and former aides, Trump was shaken after visiting Dover Air Force Base shortly after his inauguration to receive the remains of a Navy SEAL killed in Yemen, his first trip to meet a grieving family. He has not returned since. The President, who attacked a Gold Star family on the campaign trail in 2016, has shown little interest in some of the minutiae of the military and regularly complains about the headaches involved in its entanglements around the world, aides said. Loading For most of Trump's tenure, a trip to Iraq or Afghanistan would have carried real security challenges and political complications, US officials said. Iraq was heading into elections during the President's first year in office, and a visit by Trump around the time of the controversy over Trump's travel ban affecting Muslim-majority countries could have further complicated efforts by the US-backed Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, to secure reelection in May. In Afghanistan, the security situation has deteriorated. In September 2017, Mattis was the target of a failed rocket attack at Kabul airport. A month later, then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made a secret visit to Afghanistan but didn't leave Bagram air base, in part owing to security concerns. New York: US President Donald Trump has signalled his administration will not seek any further sanctions against Saudi Arabia following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month. Trump, instead, said his top priority is preserving America's "steadfast" alliance with the kingdom. US President Donald Trump says it may never be known whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Credit:AP In a written statement filled with exclamation points, Trump said it was unclear whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had advance knowledge of the plan to assassinate Khashoggi. This is despite the CIA reportedly concluding with "high confidence" that bin Salman ordered the murder of the prominent critic of the Saudi regime. Scholarships, covering full tuition costs, available to eligible individuals CUPECOY:---Residents of St. Maarten who are considering a career in medicine may have the chance of a lifetime, a scholarship to medical school covering the full cost of tuition. Today, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) is announcing full scholarships, the AUC St. Maarten Partnership Scholarships, available to eligible St. Maarten residents. Were proud to award deserving individuals a tuition-free opportunity to pursue a career as a physician. AUC students gain a unique experience and an excellent education at an international medical school with a truly global focus, said AUC Executive Dean Heidi Chumley, MD. Our graduates go onto prestigious careers in medicine and we encourage St. Maarten residents to apply to AUC and join our strong tradition of advancing health care. The Ministry congratulates all the scholarship recipients and look forward to their graduation and subsequently their return to serve the community of St. Maarten. We are pleased to have AUC as a strategic partner in the education of our local students in the medical field, said Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport, the Honorable Wycliffe Smith. I encourage those interested in the field of medicine to make use of this unique opportunity and apply to AUC where I have no doubt that they will receive a solid foundation at a top class medical institution. Four current scholarship recipients are set to graduate this academic year: Doran Joseph; Vivian Vu, Kevin R. Simon; and Nilesh Dialani, all of whom are doing their clinical rotations in the United States. Another recipient, Darlene Gumbs, is finishing her 5th semester at AUC. To qualify for the scholarships, individuals must be residents of St. Maarten and accepted to study at AUC. The academic scholarships cover all tuition costs, so long as the recipients maintain satisfactory grades throughout their enrollment at AUC. The university will send scholarship applications to eligible individuals. PHILIPSBURG:---Committee of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (CVSA), will meet on November 20, 2018. The CVSA Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 11.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The agenda point is: Debriefing work visit: Visit the Mental Health Foundation facility (IS/925/2017-2018 dated September 3, 2018) Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.sx and via www.sxmparliament.org. PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for 14.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of General Affairs will be present for this meeting. The agenda points are: 1. Approval composition delegation and provisions Members of Parliament to attend Saba Day Celebration on December 7, 2018 (IS/309/2018-2019 dated November 8, 2018) 2. Ontwerp van Landsverordening tot wijziging van de Pensioenlandsverordening overheidsdienaren, tot wijziging van de Landsverordening leefstijdsgrens ambtenaren, alsmede tot intrekking van de Duurtetoeslagregeling gepensioneerden 1943 (Landsverodrning heriziening pensioen overheidsdienaren) (ZJ 2018-2019-121) (IS/205/2018-2019 d.d. 16 oktober 2018) (National Ordinance amending the National Ordinance on Pension for civil servants, amending the National Ordinance age limit civil servants, and repealing the Long-term allowance Regulation pensioners 1943 (National Ordinance revision pension civil servants) (ZJ 2018-2019-121) (IS / 205 / 2018-2019 dated October 16, 2018) Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.com and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten. Pond Island:---TelEm Group has in store for a lucky winner, a state-of-the-art Smart Home connection as the Grand Door Prize for this Fridays Wacky TelCo Friday fun sale. The Grand Prize of a Home Automation System by Smart Concepts 721, is being offered by company representative, Mr. Michael Jeffrey, who says he is totally into the way TelEm Group customers are warning to the Wacky Friday promotion. Anyone can qualify to win the star prize with any purchase made during the wackiest sale in town, on November 23, TelEm Groups Wacky Telco Friday all day sales. The Smart Home prize heads off a ton of prizes, starting from as early as 6:30 a.m. in the morning, Friday, when the first persons to make any purchase over $50.00, and dressed WACKY, will receive a FREE Samsung J2 Pro cellphone to the value of $185. There will also be a host of FREE accessories for customers who make use of a Red Bin Special. According to TelEm Groups Sales & Marketing team, flyers are being distributed all around the island this week with all the specials on offer and telling customers how these super prizes can be won. One of the funniest and most fun ways to win a prize will be a dip from a box of goodies from which visitors to TelEm Groups main building can pull out any one of 100 prizes but they must be dressed in a wacky outfit for a chance to take a dip. Wacky Telco Friday is TelEm Groups take on the traditional Black Friday sales on St. Maarten. We want to have a sales promotion but we also want to have some fun with our staff and also with our customers, who seem to appreciate the interaction, and also the attention they get when they come into the main building on Pond Island where all the action is, said Manager, Marketing & Sales Mrs.Grisha Heyliger. She said the serious side of the promotion is the huge discounts customers will be receiving on various TelEm Group products and services on the day, including: Huge reductions of cellphones, Specials for Seniors, a Smart Plan Special, a MiFi Special, Sim Card specials, e-billing specials and a $3.00 call credit for any transfer requests on that day. Most popular on the day will be TelEm Groups Door-Buster Deals, featuring Double-Top Ups, Fantastic Data deals, Beat the Clock deals, and a sweet Top-up deal to end the day. There will be something for everyone at this years Wacky Telco Friday event. We have huge reductions on cellphones, also on accessories. There will be very special on-the-spot-offers with unbeatable deals during specific hours, continued the Manager, Marketing and Sales. Grisha is again urging everyone to keep their flyers close to hand and target the time of day that they will be chasing up on their own special deals. The flyers are still available at the TelEm Group main building on Pond Island and at the Simpson Bay Branch, Welfare Road and via Dominos Pizza delivery. We are telling everyone that the deals are only available while supplies last and within the specified times for the offers, said the Manager Marketing & Sales. Nordic Gold Finalizes Additional Funding from Pandion to Complete Path to Production and Closes $725,000 Tranche of Units Posted by Publisher Internet NORDIC GOLD CORP. (TSX-V: NOR)?(\Nordic\ or the \Company\ http://www.commodity-tv.net/c/search_adv/?v=298622 ) is pleased to announce that, further to its press release of October 17, 2018, it has now finalized all documents in relation to PFL Raahe Holdings LP (?PFL?) providing US$7,000,000 in additional funding (the ?Supplemental Tranches?) to enable the Company to reach production at the Laiva Gold Mine. ?PFL is an investment vehicle controlled by Pandion Mine Finance Fund, LP (?Pandion?). The Laiva Gold Mine is a past producer, is fully built and fully permitted. On October 11, 2018 Laiva received written approval for startup and mining started on August 5, 2018. The first gold pour is scheduled for November 30, 2018. In connection with the Supplemental Tranches: PFL provided US$3,000,000 in funding on October 17, 2018 and another US$4,000,000 on November 9, 2018, as partial consideration for the purchase of gold under the Pre-Paid Forward Gold Purchase Agreement dated November 10, 2017 (amended as of October 15, 2018, herein, the ?PPF Agreement?). The Supplemental Tranches are in addition to the US$20,600,000 provided by PFL in December 2017. Nordic will be obligated to deliver to Pandion an additional scheduled monthly quantity of gold at a price equal to the then-current spot price, less a specified discount. Required gold deliveries related to the Supplemental Tranches may be reduced or cancelled entirely by Nordic prior to June 30, 2019 through the payment of the full amount of the Supplemental Tranches. Nordic will use its best efforts to raise US$7,000,000 in a private placement to reduce or cancel the gold deliveries related to the Supplemental Tranches. Executive Chairman, Basil Botha and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Hepworth, have agreed to invest an additional $200,000 through participation in the private placement. A cash sweep has been added to the PPF Agreement, requiring any cash above a balance of US$2,000,000 from the Company?s operations be used, in part, to reduce the delivery obligations. This will be cancelled upon payment by Nordic of the full amount of the Supplemental Tranches by June 30, 2019. The start date of gold deliveries under the PPF Agreement has been extended to January 2020 from May 2019. In connection with the Supplemental Tranches and as press released on September 6, 2018 when it was announced that the Company and PFL had agreed to remove Section 23 of the PPF Agreement (i.e ?the former Contract Quantity Exchange concept). In consideration for same, Nordic has: (i) granted to PFL a 2.5% net smelter return on all gold production from the Laiva Gold Mine; (ii) issued 36.5 million common shares to PFL ? representing 19.90% of the outstanding common shares of the Company following such issuance. Such securities are subject to a four month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws; (iii) agreed to pay US$1,500,000 to PFL on or prior to April 15, 2019; (iv) has agreed to issue to PFL additional common shares of Nordic simultaneously with any subsequent equity raise by the Company (up to $10,000,000) to maintain PFL?s ownership stake at 19.90%. Michael Hepworth, President and Chief Executive Officer said, ?We are pleased to have completed all documents and steps necessary to secure the US$7,000,000 in Supplemental Tranches and thank Pandion for their continued support as we drive to our path to production at the Laiva Gold Mine?. Update re Private Placement Nordic also announces that it has closed a $725,000 tranche of its previously announced private placement of units (each a ?Unit?) at $0.10 per Unit.? Each Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (each a ?Warrant?). Each Warrant forming part of the Units will be exercisable for 24 months at $0.13 per common share and contains an early acceleration clause if the common shares trade above $0.25 for 30 consecutive days.? The securities issued in connection with same are subject to a four month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. In connection with the closing of the $725,000 tranche described above, PFL has been issued an additional 1,658,549 common shares of Nordic as per clause (iv) referred to above. Insiders of the Company participated in the private placement for an aggregate amount of $200,000.? Pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (?MI 61-101?), the private placement constitutes a ?related party transaction? as insiders of the Company subscribed for Units. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101. The private placement was approved by all of the independent directors of the Company. Accredited investors wishing to participate in this private placement may do so online at www.nordic.gold or at http://www.stockhouse.com/b/2DltfZj Nordic has scheduled a first pour of gold at 9.00am EST on 30th November 2018. Interested investors can sign up to watch a live stream of this first pour at www.nordic.gold For further information, please contact: Michael Hepworth President and Chief Executive Officer (416) 419 5192 mhepworth@nordic.gold www.nordic.gold? For up to the minute news, industry analysis and feedback follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch About the Company Nordic Gold Corp. is a junior mining company with a near production gold mine in Finland.?? The Laiva Gold Mine is fully built, fully permitted and financed to production via a gold forward sale agreement. ?Production is scheduled to start in the 4th quarter of 2018. ? A recently released PEA was conducted by John T. Boyd Company?of Denver, Colorado (?Boyd?). Other Highlights include: Pre-production capex $7,115,103. 75,981 ounces of average annual gold production at a cash cost of $863 per ounce and AISC of $974 per ounce. Measured mineral resources of 355,000 tonnes at 1.132 g/t Au and Indicated mineral resources of 3,442,000 tonnes at 1.248 g/t Au. Inferred mineral resources of 9,030,000 tonnes at 1.531 g/t Au. Mill grade of 1.45 grams per tonne with a recovery of 90.4%. Life of Mine production of 456,600 ounces gold over a 6-year mine life. The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that PEA results will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. As previously announced, when Nordic acquired the Laiva Gold Mine, the Company was granted, ?131,716,248 in tax loss provisions which may be used to offset future taxes should taxable income be earned in Finland prior to expiration of the tax loss carry forwards.? The tax loss provisions expire between 2020 and 2028 (see the Company?s audited financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2018 for detailed disclosure of the expiration schedule). The recognition of the tax loss carry-forwards has a material impact on the economic assessment of the Laiva Gold Mine project and are contingent upon the Company achieving taxable net income per Finnish tax laws. Nordic Gold?s management has identified several opportunities outside of the scope of the mine plan studied in the PEA, which could further improve the mine plan and the economics of the project. Most important of these being the three additional 100% owned exploration properties close to the mine. Nordic is currently conducting magnetic surveys on all of the company?s properties. All three properties are fully permitted for exploration. The report also identifies near mine targets for exploration as potentially 3.2 to 5.1 million tonnes grading at 1.25 to 1.45 grams per tonne. This estimate is based on drilling beneath the south and north pits at depths up to 250 m below surface and is open at depth.? Further infill and step-out drilling is required to test these targets.? Grade estimate is based on assuming the same weighted average grade of the measured, indicated and inferred resources reported in the Boyd report.? The report also identifies a target in the eastern extension as potentially 0.85 to 3.2 million tonnes grading 1.25 to 1.45 grams per tonne.? This estimate is based on three to five mineralized zones of 200 m to 300 m length, 50 m to 75 m vertical extent and 10 m width.? Drilling has identified multiple mineralized zones up to 750 m from the north pit that extend to depths of at least 100 m.? Grade estimate is based on intercepts of reconnaissance drilling and the weighted average grade of the measured, indicated and inferred resources reported in the Boyd report. The exploration targets are conceptual in nature as there has been insufficient exploration work to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource.? The economics of the PEA do not include these exploration opportunities.? Mineral Resources: Mineral Resources were prepared by JT Boyd (Nordic Press Release August 21, 2017). The effective date of the estimate is August 9, 2017. The mineral resources presented here were estimated using a block model with a block size of 9 m by 9 m by 9 m sub-blocked to a minimum of 3 m by 3 m by 3 m using ID3 methods for grade estimation. All mineral resources are reported using an open pit gold cut-off of 0.40 g/t Au.?? Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be expected to be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. Other than an economic pit shell no attempt has been made to apply a mining dilution or a mining recovery factor. Mineral resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (?CIM?), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definition and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council. Numbers may not add due to rounding. Disclosure: Companies typically rely on comprehensive feasibility reports on mineral reserve estimates to reduce the risks and uncertainties associated with a production decision.? The Company has not completed a feasibility study on, nor has the Company completed a mineral reserve estimate at the Laiva Gold Mine and as such the financial and technical viability is higher risk than if this work had been completed.? Based on historical engineering and geological reports, historical production data and current engineering work completed or in process by Nordic Gold, the Company intends to move forward with the development of this asset. The Company further cautions that it is not basing any production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, and therefore there is a much greater risk of failure associated with its production decision. In addition, readers are cautioned that inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. Nordic Gold currently has one highly prospective property in British Colombia. The Star Property is currently operated under a Joint Venture agreement between Nordic (49%) and Prosper Gold. (TSX-V: PGX) (51%). Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul Sarjeant, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and a director of the Company. About Pandion Mine Finance, LP Pandion Mine Finance, LP is the general partner of PFL Raahe Holdings LP and is a mining-focused investment firm backed by MKS PAMP Group and Ospraie Management, LLC that provides flexible financing solutions to developing mining companies. 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 Advisory Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. Users of forward-looking statements are cautioned that actual results may vary from forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as ?plans?, ?expects? or ?does not expect?, ?is expected?, ?budget?, ?scheduled?, ?estimates?, ?forecasts?, ?intends?, ?anticipates? or ?does not anticipate?, or ?believes?, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?might? or ?will be taken?, ?occur? or ?be achieved?. While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its expectations about future events as at the date those statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee of the Company?s future performance.? Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot give any assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.? The Company?s forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date of this new release.? Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not intend nor does it undertake any obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent information, events, results or circumstances or otherwise. TerraX Increases Financing to $2.3 Million Posted by Publisher Internet TerraX Minerals Inc. (TSX.V: TXR; Frankfurt: TX0; OTC Pink: TRXXF http://www.commodity-tv.net/c/search_adv/?v=298245) is pleased to announce that, due to significant demand, the Company has increased and closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for $1.50 Million to $2.3 Million.? The placement now consists of 5,887,500 units of the Company (?Units?) at a price of $0.40 per Unit.? Each Unit shall consist of one common share and one transferable common share purchase warrant (a ?Warrant?). Each Warrant shall be exercisable into one additional common share of the Company for a period of three years from closing at an exercise price of $0.60.? All securities issued are subject to a statutory hold period in Canada expiring on March 17, 2019. The net proceeds of this financing are to be used to fund the Company?s general and administrative expenses and to complete targeting for the drill program planned for early 2019.? Certain directors, officers and insiders of TerraX participated in this private placement.? Finders fees in cash were paid on a portion of this placement. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ?U.S. Securities Act?) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About the Yellowknife City Gold Project The Yellowknife City Gold (\YCG\) project encompasses 780 sq km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, TerraX controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 km of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople. The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 km of strike length along the main mineralized break in the Yellowknife gold district, including the southern and northern extensions of the shear system that hosted the high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The project area contains multiple shears that are the recognized hosts for gold deposits in the Yellowknife gold district, with innumerable gold showings and recent high-grade drill results that serve to indicate the project\-\-s potential as a world-class gold district.? For more information on the YCG project, please visit our web site at www.terraxminerals.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the completion of due diligence and the results of exploration activities that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company\-\-s expectations are disclosed in the Company\-\-s documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISEMMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES init innovation in traffic systems SE: Handy Ticketing erobert Deutschland Posted by Publisher Internet More than one million users on cross-regional mobility platforms Roughly 20,000 new users are added every month Around 50 partners from transport association and transport companies connected init group is the market leader in public transport in Germany High double-digit growth rates in mobile ticketing revenues It\-\-s been a long journey but mobile ticketing is now booming in Germany: \HandyTicket Deutschland\, the leading cross-regional mobility platform for German public transport, has now welcomed its millionth user and is gaining roughly 20,000 users every month. \Some 50 partners from transport associations and companies throughout Germany are offering this innovative service to their passengers. We are experiencing double-digit revenue growth rates with the mobile ticketing platform and we anticipate the use of HandyTicket Deutschland to continue to rise further. ,\ comments Dr Jurgen Greschner, Chief Sales Officer of init innovation in traffic systems SE, whose wholly owned subsidiary HanseCom developed the platform. Every public transport user in Germany is familiar with the problem: you have to purchase a specific ticket for each city and each transport association. This makes travelling by bus or train complicated and less attractive. Mobile ticketing can provide a solution. However, it is often the case here too that you have to register specifically with each provider. Passengers that frequently commute between different regions need to have a dozen or so apps with separate passwords on their mobile phones. This is then followed by a billing procedure that is not easy to understand. One stress-free ticketing app HandyTicket Deutschland relieves passengers of this stress. Just one app gives you blanket access to the tickets of around 50 partners from transport associations across Germany. Your billing is also completely transparent and available to you in whatever mode you choose. And if the transport association allows it, with a \best price guarantee\. The sign-up of the millionth registered user highlights the success story of HandyTicket Deutschland as what is now the leading mobility platform. It is continuously extending its coverage. SNG Suhl/Zella-Mehlis, TriRegio in the border triangle, Hofbus in Hof, Hamburger Verkehrsverbund HVV and Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund KVV will be added shortly. The advantages for the HandyTicket Deutschland partners are obvious: You do not have to make any high initial investments, a fair and transparent commission model is in place, you retain sovereignty over all customer data, your offerings provide you with access to one million users at present, you can integrate any number of multi-modal offers such as car or bike sharing as well as combination deals such as parking tickets, refuelling options, concert tickets or leisure cards. \HandyTicket Deutschland is thus the most comprehensive mobility platform for public transport in Germany. Together with our additional system components and experience in ticketing projects in countries as diverse as Finland, the UK, Australia and the US, we can offer our customers and their passengers real added value. We make ticketing smart and are therefore on track to set ourselves apart as a system partner and full-services provider for fares and payment management with transport associations and companies worldwide,\ summarises Jurgen Greschner. HanseCom: HanseCom, a subsidiary of init group, develops software solutions for the public transport sector. The company is an expert in the field of cross-regional, mobile ticketing, urban mobility platforms and customer management systems. With many years of experience in the industry, HanseCom supports more than 60 transport companies and associations in managing their sales processes and the sale of mobile tickets. HanseCom\-\-s product portfolio includes the PT customer management system and the national, mobile ticketing platform HandyTicket Deutschland, which has been successfully established on the market for more than ten years. HanseCom has its headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. Further information is available under:?www.hansecom.com For more than 35 years, init has made public transport faster, more efficient and more attractive. For transport companies and passengers around the world. Today, init is the only provider worldwide that covers the entire need of transport companies in a fully integrated planning, scheduling, telematics and ticketing system. Based on the requirements on site, init finds the targeted solution for 20 vehicles or 2,000, for metropolises or regional traffic. Record order intake at CLOOS Posted by Publisher Internet At 31 October 2018, Carl Cloos Schweisstechnik GmbH successfully completed its business year. The company group with its headquartes in Haiger registered an order intake of more than 160 million Euros. For the coming anniversary year the traditional company which was founded in 1919 believes in a continuing boom. \An increase of the order intake which is considerably higher than industry average ? this is only possible with a well-trained and highly motivated team,\ explains CLOOS Managing Director Sieghard Thomas. \Highly automated and intelligent robot systems are in great demand on our German core market, but also all over the world. In future, we wish to clearly differentiate from our competitors with manual and automated high-tech welding products.\ The welding specialists place their emphasis to digitalisation and connectivity in order to support their customers on the way to Industry 4.0. So the new CLOOS Gateway, for example, offers a complete information and communication tool. Thus, the users can illustrate the performance and the efficiency of their welding systems, localise shortages, avoid errors with preventive measures and increase the production efficiency in total. Because of the positive economic development and the high production utilisation Carl Cloos Schweisstechnik GmbH considerably expands its production capacities. The new production hall in Haiger with a total area of about 3,000 sqm is ready and will be occupied in November. \Thus we create the necessary conditions for future expansion possibilities\, says Thomas. \As a global company with more than 50 sales and service partners worldwide we wish to grow not only in Haiger.\ Therefore, CLOOS will further expand the international locations. CLOOS China moved to a new location with a considerably larger production area in May 2018. \As one of the biggest growing markets for robots worldwide, we also expect a high order intake in China in the next business year,\ adds Thomas. The Czech subsidiary in Prague is also planning to move to a bigger location in 2019. Further expansions, as for example at the production site in Poland, are planned for the short term. Next year, CLOOS will celebrate the 100th anniversary. The engineer Carl Cloos founded the company in 1919 in Siegen. In 1924 they moved to Haiger. From 6 to 11 May 2019 there will be a big celebration week. Robot and welding technology from a single source Since 1919, Carl Cloos Schweisstechnik GmbH is one of the leading companies in welding technology. About 750 employees all over the world 500 in the parent company in Haiger ? realise production solutions in welding and robot technology for industries such as construction machinery, railway vehicles, automotive and agricultural industry. The modern CLOOS welding power sources of the QINEO series are available for a multitude of welding processes. With the QIROX robots, positioners and special purpose machines CLOOS develops and manufactures automated welding systems meeting the specific requirements of the customers. The special strength of CLOOS is the widely spread competence. Because ? from the welding technology, robot mechanics and controller to positioners, software and sensors ? CLOOS supplies everything from a single source. Further information: 100.cloos.de www.cloos.de Feenics Inc., a provider of the access control as a service (ACaaS) Keep by Feenics cloud-hosted platform, continues to expand its reach globally, adding an office and representative in Beirut, Lebanon. Nancy Abou Eid, who holds a Masters Degree in Computer Science and a Bachelors Degree in Software Engineering will lead the new Middle East location in Beirut and target additional growing areas including Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Educating resellers about Keep With the addition of this office, Feenics now has an established presence in North America, Latin America and the Middle EastAbou Eid was one of the first employees of Feenics and an architect of the original Keep by Feenics solution. Her focus will be on educating value-added resellers, consultants and users on the advantages of the scalability, flexibility and advanced security available in the cloud-based ACaaS solution. With the addition of this office, Feenics now has an established presence in North America, Latin America and the Middle East. Im excited to be an integral part of the Feenics team again, Abou Eid said. The Keep solution has progressed dramatically since the companys start up in 2010, as has acceptance of the cloud for safe and secure access control management. Its where the future is going and the Middle East region is receptive and open to the advantages of cloud computing. As the cloud has become a more comfortable environment for North American users and with many of those customers managing global locations, Feenics can now more fully support additional customers in the Middle East. Expanding footprint to support customers Abou Eid will handle sales and regional technical support for Feenics from the Beirut officeWe have many global customers and that requires us to expand our footprint, said Sam Shalaby, Chief Executive Officer of Feenics. Nancy hit the ground running and shes out to make things happen. She was one of our engineers and we had kept the lines of communication open, so when the opportunity presented itself, she was perfect for the role. Being successful is about having the right people so you can expand properly. It was an easy transition and opportunity for us to open an office in the Middle East. The location will be a natural extension of our efforts in our home office. Abou Eid will handle sales and regional technical support for Feenics from the Beirut office, which is also staffed with two technicians and a software engineer. Low cost advanced security solution Keep V3 provides extreme scalability, unprecedented flexibility and advanced security in a cloud-based ACaaS solutionFeenics most recently was recognised with two prestigious security industry awards for innovation: 2017 Security Industry Association New Product of the Year and 2017 Most Valuable Product from Security Sales and Integration magazine, both for the latest Keep by Feenics Enterprise V3. Keep V3 provides extreme scalability, unprecedented flexibility and advanced security in a cloud-based ACaaS solution. It integrates native visitor management and a RESTful API that allows systems installers simple integration of a wide array of complementary systems and open hardware devices, generating new revenue streams while creating a path for customers to lower their total cost of system ownership. Keep by Feenics gives users the choice of on-site servers or offsite cloud deployment, hosted by the public cloud Amazon Web Services. Keep significantly minimises costs through simple, maintenance-free and automatic upgrades, patches, disaster recovery and back up. Located in the middle of the deep forests of Smaland in the south of Sweden, the Strandudden Gated Community has been designed to provide a safe environment for homeowners who wish to enjoy a high quality of life. The first phase of the development has seen the construction of 18 apartments which have stunning lake views. The materials and features of each apartment have been carefully selected to ensure sustainable energy consumption. When the development is completed, over 100 Wisenet cameras manufactured by Hanwha Techwin, will enable security personnel to closely monitor the movements of people and vehicles as they enter and move around the public areas of the gated community. Ensure strict compliance Equally important, the massive processing power of the chipsets of the open platform cameras means that our client is able to run specialist applications" 6 Wisenet cameras were initially installed during the construction of the apartments. These have been used to ensure strict compliance with the sites healthy & safety regulations and to keep a close eye on valuable plant and machinery. We evaluated products from a number of different manufacturers, but the superb quality of the images captured by the Wisenet cameras made it a very easy decision for us to recommend that they should be deployed throughout the Community, said Henrik Carlsson, CCTV Product Manager for Elajo, one of Swedens electrical, mechanical, engineering and energy installation companies who were awarded the contract to manage the project. Equally important, the massive processing power of the chipsets of the open platform cameras means that our client is able to run specialist applications, such as licence plate recognition (ANPR), in order to control vehicle access to the Community. High quality images The Hanwha Techwin Europe pre-sales and technical teams have worked closely with Elajo to ensure the best camera types have been specified for each of the carefully chosen camera locations. 6 different Wisenet models have been selected to ensure high quality images can be captured day or night and that there are no blind spots. Among these is the Wisenet IP network PNP-9200RH 4K PTZ dome which has built-in IR illumination. The PNP-9200RH, which is IP66 and IK10 rated for vandal-resistance and outdoor use in the harshest environments, utilises Progressive Scan technology to provide sharp edges on moving subjects and vehicles. The PNP-9200RHs which have been installed at the entrance to the Community are equipped with the Wisenet Group ANPR solution which provides the opportunity to automatically control the movement of white listed cars through barriers via camera relay outputs. Drag and drop tool Images from all 100 cameras will be displayed in the Communitys control room via Wisenet WAVE video management software (VMS) Developed by Hanwha Techwin in partnership with analytics experts, FF Group, the solution uses camera-to-camera IP communication technology to enable up to 4 Wisenet Group ANPR cameras to work together, with data from each simultaneously transmitted to a single web based display. Images from all 100 cameras will be displayed in the Communitys control room via Wisenet WAVE video management software (VMS). An intuitive drag & drop tool makes it extremely easy for operators to set up a display of live and recorded images on a single screen or video wall, with customisable layouts and sizes. Other key features include a virtual PTZ which, with just simple clicks of a mouse, enables operators to zoom in to see close up detail of any suspicious activity, whilst motion detection and video analytics support can be configured to generate alerts when user defined incidents occur. Auto-discover feature Wisenet WAVE has proved to be extremely easy to use and it is a significant bonus that, with minimal training, operators are able to take maximum advantage of its wide range of innovative features, said Henrik Carlsson. It has also helped reduce installation costs as it has an auto-discover feature which means connected cameras can be addressed and set up within just minutes. In addition to the images being displayed in the Communitys control room, should an incident occur that needs a rapid response, security personnel on patrol will be able to remotely view any activity via a smartphone or tablet with the help of the secure Wisenet Mobile App. Why face recognition as a credential is the ideal choice for access control? In the field of access control, face recognition has come a long way. Once considered too slow to authenticate people's identities and credentials in high traffic conditions, face recognition technology has evolved to become one of the quickest, most effective access control identity authentication solutions across all industries. Advancements in artificial intelligence and advanced neural network (ANN) technology from industry leaders like Intel have improved the accuracy and efficiency of face recognition. However, another reason the technology is gaining traction is due to the swiftly rising demand for touchless access control solutions that can help mitigate the spread of disease in public spaces. Effective for high volumes Face recognition eliminates security risks and is also virtually impossible to counterfeit Modern face recognition technology meets all the criteria for becoming the go-to solution for frictionless access control. It provides an accurate, non-invasive means of authenticating people's identities in high-traffic areas, including multi-tenant office buildings, industrial sites, and factories where multiple shifts per day are common. Typical electronic access control systems rely on people providing physical credentials, such as proximity cards, key fobs, or Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, all of which can be misplaced, lost, or stolen. Face recognition eliminates these security risks and is also virtually impossible to counterfeit. Affordable biometric option Although there are other biometric tools available, face recognition offers significant advantages. Some technologies use hand geometry or iris scans, for example, but these options are generally slower and more expensive. This makes face recognition a natural application for day-to-day access control activities, including chronicling time and attendance for large workforces at construction sites, warehouses, and agricultural and mining operations. In addition to verifying personal credentials, face recognition can also identify whether an individual is wearing a facial covering in compliance with government or corporate mandates regarding health safety protocols. Beyond securing physical locations, face recognition can also be used to manage access to computers, as well as specialised equipment and devices. Overcoming challenges with AI So how did face recognition become so reliable when the technology was once dogged by many challenges, including difficulties with camera angles, certain types of facial expressions, and diverse lighting conditions? Thanks to the emergence of so-called "convolutional" neural network-based algorithms, engineers have been able to overcome these roadblocks. SecurOS FaceX face recognition solution FaceX is powered by neural networks and machine learning which makes it capable of authenticating a wide range of faces One joint effort between New Jersey-based Intelligent Security Systems (ISS) and tech giant Intel has created the SecurOS FaceX face recognition solution. FaceX is powered by neural networks and machine learning which makes it capable of authenticating a wide range of faces and facial expressions, including those captured under changing light, at different resolution levels, and varying distances from the video camera. Secure video management system A common face recognition system deployment begins with IP video cameras that feed footage into a secure video management system connected to a video archive. When the software initially enrolls a persons face, it creates a "digital descriptor" that is stored as a numeric code that will forever be associated with one identity. The system encrypts and stores these numeric codes in a SQL database. For the sake of convenience and cost savings, the video server CPU performs all neural network processes without requiring any special GPU cards. Unique digital identifiers The next step involves correlating faces captured in a video recording with their unique digital descriptors on file. The system can compare newly captured images against large databases of known individuals or faces captured from video streams. Face recognition technology can provide multi-factor authentication, searching watchlists for specific types of features, such as age, hair colour, gender, ethnicity, facial hair, glasses, headwear, and other identifying characteristics including bald spots. Robust encryption SED-compatible drives rely on dedicated chips that encrypt data with AES-128 or AES-256 To support privacy concerns, the entire system features an encrypted and secure login process that prevents unauthorized access to both the database and the archive. An additional layer of encryption is available through the use of Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) that hold video recordings and metadata. SED-compatible drives rely on dedicated chips that encrypt data with AES-128 or AES-256 (short for Advanced Encryption Standard). Anti-spoofing safeguards How do face recognition systems handle people who try to trick the system by wearing a costume mask or holding up a picture to hide their faces? FaceX from ISS, for example, includes anti-spoofing capabilities that essentially check for the "liveliness" of a given face. The algorithm can easily flag the flat, two-dimensional nature of a face mask, printed photo, or image on a mobile phone and issue a "spoof" alarm. Increased speed of entry Incorporating facial recognition into existing access control systems is straightforward and cost-effective Incorporating facial recognition into existing access control systems is straightforward and cost-effective. Systems can operate with off-the-shelf security cameras and computers. Users can also leverage existing infrastructure to maintain building aesthetics. A face recognition system can complete the process of detection and recognition in an instant, opening a door or turnstile in less than 500ms. Such efficiency can eliminate hours associated with security personnel checking and managing credentials manually. A vital tool Modern face recognition solutions are infinitely scalable to accommodate global enterprises. As a result, face recognition as a credential is increasingly being implemented for a wide range of applications that transcend traditional access control and physical security to include health safety and workforce management. All these capabilities make face recognition a natural, frictionless solution for managing access control, both in terms of performance and cost. Shaking hands, exchanging business cards, and making meaningful business connections with exhibitors were 8,420 trade visitors from both government and commercial sectors who roamed across 7,000 sqm of exhibition space at the Bangkok International Convention and Exhibition Center. Smart city was an overarching theme at this 6th edition of the fair, said Ms Regina Tsai, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Limited. This, together with three concurrent events for fire & safety, smart home, and info security, ensured that all of the markets most important needs were covered. Understanding market Exhibitors at this years fair came from 16 different countries and regions and included some of the providers of security technology The feedback from visitors and exhibitors alike on the quality and comprehensiveness of the show has been highly encouraging, and the general consensus is that there is still huge potential for growth in the Thai security industry, particularly in light of the construction taking place across the country. Bidding to tap into the huge potential of the Thai market, exhibitors at this years fair came from 16 different countries and regions and included some of the providers of security technology. Dahua, Full Enterprise, Great Lite, Hikvision, HIP global, JVCKenwood, Konica Minolta and ZKTeco were all in attendance with a selection of the latest video surveillance, access control systems and smart city solutions. Ian Shi, Dahuas overseas business manager for Thailand, spoke about how the companys participation at Secutech Thailand allows them to deepen their understanding of the market: Smart city products Secutech Thailand is the most professional security show in the country. All of the big brands are here and this year we can see customers from many different vertical markets, including the government. For this reason it is a very fruitful exhibition for us to gather market information and understand customer demands. Our surveillance systems can carry out facial and number plate recognition through the use of artificial intelligence. Given that the government is continuing to plan for Thailand 4.0, we see many opportunities in the future for our smart city products. The smart city theme was also featured at two international pavilions from Taiwan and Singapore. NewDVR, a Singaporean company that specialises in cloud based solutions for smart city were participating at the show for the first time this year in order to launch their smart community solution to property developers. Big property developers The market in Thailand at the moment is definitely embracing the smart city concept, and we are positive about the future outlook" The companys Regional Product Manager, Mr Jonathan Chan said that the market for their solutions is primed for growth and that Secutech Thailand is an excellent way for them to reach potential partners: The market in Thailand at the moment is definitely embracing the smart city concept, and we are positive about the future outlook. Secutech Thailand gives us a great platform from which to connect with big property developers and partners such as Sunsiri, Design 103 and many more. With so many different high-tech solutions on display across the fairground, the show was an excellent one stop sourcing platform for trade visitors from across the ASEAN region. Mr Aibert Josha Sainz, a system integrator and IT manager travelled to the show from Laos in order to find the best access control and surveillance systems for his projects. Comprehensive exhibition Im involved in security software integration and Im here at the show to find CCTV and access control systems that can integrate with our software. This is my first time at Secutech Thailand, its a very comprehensive exhibition. Whether you are in the smart city, smart home or smart building sector, whatever you are looking for you can find it here. The excitement surrounding the smart city, smart home and smart building sectors was equally palpable with regards to Thailands fire and safety market. Mr Joji Jose, Marketing Manager of Al Khoory Pumps, a first time exhibitor at the concurrent Fire & Safety Thailand event, recognised the fair as an ideal gateway for international suppliers to enter the market: Gain new contacts Thailand is a country where a lot of construction is taking place and for this reason we see huge potential in the market for our products" Thailand is a country where a lot of construction is taking place and for this reason we see huge potential in the market for our products. We manufacture fire pumps in Dubai and by participating at Secutech Thailand we are able to promote our brand, gain new contacts, find the right distributors and gather valuable market data. Another exhibitor to speak in positive tones about the fire and safety market was Mr Ian Brough, General Manager of Raidrop International: This is the first time weve exhibited at Secutech Thailand. Were a UK manufacturer of fire protection products. The Thai government has enacted some quite strict fire and safety regulations which helps us because our products are all internationally certified. Educational seminars Exhibiting at Secutech Thailand allows us to develop our presence in the market and find distributors. The visitor flow this morning has been very good and we have been able to gain plenty of new contacts. While business contacts were being made in the aisles of the exhibition hall, a series of nine educational seminars and events were also taking place. With the IoT and digitisation as central themes, the events illuminated the development opportunities for Thailands smart cities. Just one of many highlights was the well-received Thailand mayors summit, which involved a panel discussion on the key requirements for smart city development and sustainability. Valuable insights about info security, NB IoT, smart policing, smart building technology and hotel security could also be gained through the fringe programme. Safety certification regulations Mr Apichart Prasitnarit, a speaker at the Realtech: IoT for Smart Buildings seminar and President of the Real Estate and Partnership Trade Association, spoke about how Secutech Thailands fringe events help to spark new business growth: These seminars are so important for spreading ideas and informing stakeholders about new technology in areas such as the IoT and cloud computing" These seminars are so important for spreading ideas and informing stakeholders about new technology in areas such as the IoT and cloud computing. Through the seminars, attendees can pick up new ideas which they can then apply to their own businesses. This in turn can stimulate growth within the security industry. In addition to spotlighting new opportunities, several concurrent events also dealt with the fire and safety challenges that have emerged due to urbanisation. The government has enacted stricter fire and safety certification regulations but there remain large issues with non-compliance. Importance of certification Mr Lothar Sysk, Chief Representative of VdS, a security and fire safety certification provider, spoke about how attending Secutech Thailands fire and safety forums have helped him to spread the word on the importance of certification: The seminar is vital for engaging directly with local stakeholders. Even though we have an Asian representative office in Shanghai, VdS is still not very well known in Thailand, so by speaking at the seminar today, we are not only able to promote our brand, but we can also spread the word about the importance of certification, which is a hot topic now in Thailand. I definitely intend to return again to future Secutech Thailand shows. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Mainly clear skies. Widespread frost likely. Low 29F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Widespread frost likely. Low 29F. Winds light and variable. In the second episode of National Geographic's "Mars" Season 2, airing tonight (Nov. 19), the inhabitants of Olympus Town grapple with personal turmoil as well as the harsh realities of sharing Mars among scientists and a private, profit-driven enterprise. Once again, these hard truths on Mars, which could easily become reality once humans land on the planet, parallel what we experience here on Earth. In the first episode of this season, the docudrama showcased the realistic struggles that might arise when people dedicated to scientific exploration share the Red Planet with private corporations looking to turn a profit. In the wake of the events of "Mars'" tumultuous first season, tempers flared and relationships became strained. Unfortunately, things do not get easier for the residents of Olympus Town in the second episode of Season 2. Life on Mars When Lukrum Industries starts using more water than they had originally agreed to, Cmdr. Hana Seung gets concerned. The corporation continues to refuse to sign the Outer Space Treaty, which remains the real-life basis of international space law, making accountability difficult to demand. [Surviving 'The Martian': How to Stay Alive on Mars (Infographic)] In "Mars," it takes seven months for astronauts to travel from Earth to Mars and vice versa. If a disagreement were to arise that cannot be solved on the ground with the virtual help of those on Earth, concrete support cannot be sent from Earth in real-time. If a serious fight were to break out on Mars, for example, lives could be lost and research and so much more could be jeopardized before help ever arrived. Additionally, while the world of "Mars," like ours, has an Outer Space Treaty, humans have never before inhabited another planet, and so the legalities of life on Mars would likely be extremely complicated. This second episode once again uses oil drilling in the Arctic as an example of the drastically different opinions humans have about using a planet's resources. Just as there are those who drill in the Arctic with a mindset focused solely on profit (or, if they are the miners themselves, perhaps just keeping their jobs), there are activists who fight against it. The episode highlights the efforts of Greenpeace activists who work in the Arctic to draw attention to drilling efforts in an effort to stop such activities. The Outer Space Treaty was signed in the 1960s, before we knew just how possible it was to not only reach Mars but perhaps even mine its resources one day. The ethical and political issues that will undoubtedly arise as we progress toward Mars and establish a human presence there extend far beyond any political agreements currently in effect. Mars belongs to no one. But the same argument could be made for Earth, and the struggle between profiting from the planet's resources versus protecting the planet has raged on for countless years. This struggle will likely continue on Mars. Could Earthlings ever feel truly at home on Mars? Could humans survive on the planet without feeling the need to come home? (Image credit: Dusan Martincek/National Geographic) Commercial and personal trouble Lukrum and Olympus Town didn't get off to the greatest start in Episode 1 of Season 2. But, after Comdr. Seung and Comdr. Kurt Hurrelle of Lukrum discuss the company's overuse of water, tensions began to build once again. Comdr. Hurrelle, who's following a corporate objective to use Martian resources, doesn't care that his actions might jeopardize the research done by scientists in Olympus Town. Currently, in the real world, researchers use rovers and remote instruments to search for signs of life or past life on the Red Planet. In the future, commercial operations could contaminate sites where scientists are searching for life. Sending scientists and their instruments to Mars in the future will certainly be an expensive undertaking. So, it makes sense to think that, if commercial exploits endanger that work, serious conflict will arise. In this episode, aside from the potential contamination of groundbreaking Martian research, the residents of Olympus Town also face grave realities. Life and death will play out in unexpected ways when humans inhabit Mars. This episode takes a stark look at what that might realistically feel and look like. Crewmembers grapple with the reality of living on Mars and struggle with the decision of whether or not to leave for their home on Earth. Will we, as Earthlings, be able to feel at home on an alien planet? Experts predict that future astronauts will contend with potentially severe psychological issues associated with the journey. Especially since, according to current predictions, astronauts leaving for the Red Planet would most likely never return. The episode also takes a candid view of leadership and the added difficulties women face in receiving equal respect from their male counterparts, even on Mars. Far from home, Cmdr. Hurrelle continues to disregard Comdr. Seung's rank and leadership. In this episode, Comdr. Seung handles this while dealing with personal grief and hardship. Follow Chelsea Gohd on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. The crew of Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft took this image of the International Space Station in October 2018. Russian space agency Roscosmos released the photo to celebrate the space station's 20th anniversary. For two minutes, NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao could see nothing but blue-marbled Earth swirling above his head. "Surreal" is how he described the moment. Chiao was in the middle of a lengthy spacewalk to assemble part of the International Space Station, an orbiting laboratory the likes of which had never been seen before. Today (Nov. 20) marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the station's first component, made possible by the contribution of hundreds of engineers, space shuttle astronauts like Chiao, international support and the crews who continue launching up to this day. It has been continuously occupied since Nov. 2, 2000. As we reflect on what the space station has afforded humanity diplomacy, progress in human spaceflight and discoveries in the life sciences we also have to wonder what the space lab's future holds. [Astronauts' Amazing Space Station Views For 20th Anniversary (Gallery)] The International Space Station, or ISS, pushed NASA into "an entirely new way of thinking," Gary Oleson, a station engineer, told Space.com. Oleson worked as a member of NASA's Space Station Program Office from 1988 to 1993; at first doing the cost side of systems engineering, and then as a principal systems engineer liaison, where he focused on the project's logistics and maintenance. "We normally think of a spacecraft as being a spacecraft," Oleson said. "But it turned out that the International Space Station, during the assembly, was not, from an engineering point of view, one spacecraft. It was at one time 19 different spacecraft, because every time you went up and added a new element, you had a different spacecraft. It had a different mass; it had a different reliability." That's just one reason why the team was thrilled that space station construction went so smoothly. "We were kind of surprised when we didn't have bigger technical hiccups during the assembly phase," Chiao told Space.com. "The pieces actually all fit together. Pieces that were built in other countries and using different electric systems and a lot of these pieces weren't even fit-checked." [International Space Station at 20: A Photo Tour] Astronaut Leroy Chiao, Expedition 10 commander and NASA ISS science officer, participates in the first of two extravehicular activities (EVA) performed by the crew of Expedition 10 during their 6-month mission from Oct. 2004 to Apr. 2005. (Image credit: NASA) The ISS includes contributions from 15 nations. The space lab's major partners include NASA, Russian space agency Roscosmos and the European Space Agency; the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency are also partners. Since the space station opened, the ISS has hosted 232 individuals from 18 countries. The space lab flies at an average altitude of 248 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth's surface. It circles the planet every 90 minutes at a speed of about 17,500 mph (28,000 km/h). To put that in perspective, the distance the ISS travels daily is roughly how far it would take to go from Earth to the moon and back. Current plans call for space station operations to continue through 2024. The Trump administration has proposed to no longer directly support the space station after 2025. The International Space Station, as photographed by crewmembers aboard the space shuttle Endeavour in 2010. (Image credit: NASA) "[NASA] intends to be a major customer for whoever operates the station, but it would like to get into the role of being the primary payer for the operation of the station," John Logsdon, Professor Emeritus at the Space Policy Institute in George Washington University, told Space.com. "I think the crucial issue is how long the government pays for the operation of the station and is there some sort of private operator to step in and take over the station. [The International Space Station: Inside and Out (Infographic)] Chiao said he's disappointed in the plan to discontinue the space station after 2024 or 2025. "This whole idea of commercializing it the space station was never designed or intended to be profitable," he said. "Just to pay for that infrastructure, it's unreasonable. And launch costs. How are you going to cover launch costs for research and astronauts to and from the space station commercially? It just doesn't make any sense. If we keep going down this path, the space station will end." (Technologically, of course, the space station must end someday and when the project began it was designed to last only 15 years. But current evaluations suggest that most of what's up there now should be perfectly safe through 2028, if not beyond.) The argument to end the station's public-service career early is that saving on the costs of the space station means funding more human space exploration like a return to the Moon and an extension to Mars. "I think the lunar base makes sense for a lot of reasons," Chiao said. "You want to be able to go, reestablish your environment and make sure it's going to work before you send it off to Mars." But, he added, "saving in one area doesn't mean funds are going to be available for the program you want that's not necessarily true." While the future of the space station remains uncertain, the perspective it affords to anyone looking at images taken from its cupula is most definitely awe-inspiring. "The fact that we do have a vehicle in space the ISS and the fact that we do launch regularly to it, serves as an inspiration to young people," Chiao added. Stories like his breathtaking two minutes gazing at the continents and clouds moving across the blue planet are certainly enough to mesmerize anyone. Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter@salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com. STAMFORD A new health center is opening downtown, but at a ribbon-cutting event on Tuesday, the star of the show was the woman who made it a reality. Adele Gordon was heaped with praise by a large gathering of health practitioners, local officials and friends and family, for her role in bringing the Community Health Center to Stamford and Fairfield County. In the early-2000s, Gordon contacted the Middletown-based CHC about partnering with her practice, the Dental Center of Stamford. At the time, the dental practice had been open for about five years and needed help to sustain its operations. The organizations eventually merged in 2005. Once medical services were added in 2009, the center became known as the Franklin Street Community Health Center, one of 14 CHC locations across the state. Gordon also took on a new role as CHCs site director in Fairfield County, leading efforts to open centers in Norwalk and Danbury. Each center serves low-income residents and offers services based on a sliding scale to allow patients to be billed based on their income. As the centers assistant to the president of strategic development, Gordon was instrumental in creating the latest CHC location, at 22 5th Street in Stamford. Today we are opening a building that will continue the best practices in primary care, backed by a strong and knowledgeable team, Gordon said. The new center is dedicated to Gordon and features a plaque in the main entrance that reads, This center is dedicated to Adele Gordon, who believes that health care is a right and not a privilege. Margaret Flinter, senior vice president and clinical director of CHC, praised Gordon for her work, and said the Stamford resident made an immediate impact when she contacted the organization. We know a force of nature when we see it, Flinter said. We know a force of intellect and compassion when we see it, and Adele, we have never been the same since you showed up on the scene. Andrew McDonald, a Stamford resident and associate justice of the state Supreme Court, has known Gordon for 40 years. You are one of the communitys first responders, he told Gordon. When you see a need, you jump in. Amy Taylor, who was hired as Gordons administrative assistant seven years ago, was described as Gordons successor. I really attribute where I am today to Adele, Taylor said. Youve touched thousands of people, she said, speaking to Gordon. You started in Norwalk, then to Danbury and now we have this beautiful building here. Gordon has worked extensively to increase access to health care locally, but also has served as the president of the Stamford Board of Education, and was awarded the Stamford Citizen of the Year Award in 1998. Community Health Center was founded in 1972 when a group of Wesleyan University students and Middletown community activists joined forces to create a free clinic. The new Stamford center has about 18 exam rooms, and will be the main CHC location in the city, offering primary medical and behavioral health services. The dental program, however, will remain at the Franklin Street location. The organization also runs 30-school based health centers across the county. The new Stamford Community Health Center will officially open early next month. ignacio.laguarda @hearstmediact.com STAMFORD If you want to build a drive-through fast food joint in this city, you no longer have a shot at Bulls Head or any other parcel that isnt zoned for industrial or manufacturing uses. The Zoning Board this week approved sweeping changes to the zoning codes handling of drive-throughs. The edits, crafted by Land Use Bureau Chief Ralph Blessing and Associate Planner Vineeta Mathur, prohibit the traffic-inducing lanes in nearly all city zones and adds a layer of oversight to plans for the lanes in industrial parcels where drive-throughs are allowed. Those are areas where we dont think there will be issues between pedestrians and traffic, Mathur said. This comes after a lengthy spat over plans for a new Chick-fil-A along Cold Spring Road in Bulls Head. The plans were withdrawn after backlash from neighbors, city staffers and even Mayor David Martin. Chick-fil-A representatives, who earlier this year pitched the Zoning Board with dreamy descriptions of hand-spun milkshakes and what the city deemed whimsical views of vanishing traffic, now have an imposing uphill battle if they want to come to the city with chicken thats served by angels with leprechauns on unicorns, as one resident chided in May. We listened, Blessing said. The change carves out an exception for property owners proposing a drive-through for pharmacies or banks. Those businesses would be allowed to propose a drive through in some commercial zones around homes Bulls Heads neighborhood business zone included but calls for another layer of oversight through special exceptions granted by city boards. Our thinking was we wanted to be more restrictive and see where it goes, Blessing said. The new text also calls for approvals from the Transportation Bureau and its chief, Jim Travers, who took the lead in voicing traffic concerns over Chick-fil-A even after the southern chain pushed for a traffic consultant to essentially appeal his stance. The change defines drive-throughs, which was not previously included in the zoning code. For decades, the board leaned on restaurant drive-ins as a stand-in with varying degrees of success. Zoning Board members at their Monday meeting pointed out some poorly planned drive-throughs that had been approved in the past. The board also deleted another zone, the so-called Central City District South, which forbid residential uses for three Tresser Boulevard properties. A new Zoning chairman was also selected on Monday. Democrat David Stein, who has been acting chairman of the Zoning Board since the death of longtime chairman Thomas Mills, was unanimously selected to the role. barry.lytton@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2263; @bglytton 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. The number of youth incarcerated in the states juvenile detention centers for minor offenses dropped significantly between 2015 and 2017, pulling Connecticut from its number two ranking in a national study tracking juvenile confinement. That study, released last month by Pew Charitable Trust, found there were 51 juveniles detained in Connecticut for technical offenses, such as violating probation orders or failing to show up for treatment, on a single day Oct. 28 in 2015. This puts Connecticut second in the nation for juveniles incarcerated for technical offenses, said Dana Shoenberg, senior manager of juvenile justice and public safety performance projects from Pew Charitable Trust. Specifically, Connecticut placed second for the percentage of its overall juvenile population that was detained for technical offenses on Oct. 28, 2015. The state placed 31st in the nation for the percentage of those in detention for status offenses, which includes truancy, underage drinking and running away from home. Fast forward two years, however, and state officials say the picture looks very different. According to the judicial branch, which oversees the states juvenile detention centers, there was a 53.2 percent reduction in juveniles detained for technical violations between 2015 and 2017, with 64 total admissions in 2017 compared with 137 in 2015. Additionally, there was a 36.7 percent overall decrease in the number of juveniles admitted to the detention centers between 2015 and 2017 a decrease officials say was driven in part by the reduction in youth held for minor offenses. The state has made a big change in the law around grounds for detention. Today, public safety and flight risk are the only reasons a child can be locked up on a technical offense, said Gary Roberge, the executive director for the Court Support Services Division (CSSD) of the Judicial Branch. I think if Pew did this again now, we would have a different place on this graph here. The movement to downsize the incarcerated juvenile population came after data collection by CSSD that showed many detention admissions were for probation violations and follow recommendations from the Council for Juvenile Correctional Administrators. I think Connecticut is very much in line with the recommendations in that report for right sizing the systems to remove status offenders from the system, said Bill Carbone, the executive director of Justice Programs and the Tow Youth Justice Institute at the University of New Haven. The whole idea of right-sizing is limiting the contact of kids with the system. While the overall number of detained juveniles has decreased, however, the percentage of kids who are in detention with felony charges pending or adjudicated as a felon already has increased, said Brian Speary, a data specialist for CSSD. Reducing contact with the juvenile justice system is the best way to prevent recidivism among young people. In 2015, the Juvenile Justice Policy Oversight Committee (JJPOC) drafted recommendations for community-based diversion programs in order to limit contact with the system as much as possible. The recommendations turned into legislation in 2017, and put the Youth Services Bureau in charge of coordinating diversion efforts between schools, police, families and the child welfare system. But eliminating detention - at least at this point - for all technical offenses would be almost impossible, according to Roberge. I was speaking with the executive director of residential services and she told me that there were seven kids in detention for a technical violation - absconding, Roberge said. They wont stay where they need to be, so what do we do with them? According to Carbone, JJPOC will begin studying best practices for juveniles with technical violations, but as of yet the committee has not researched this area. This is an area that needs more study, Carbone said. We need to find out if we are truly utilizing the system of graduated responses. Although reducing detention admissions would likely be beneficial for youth, advocates continue to insist that it is important that these changes are thoroughly planned and funding is provided. A kid shouldnt be in jail for a technical violation of probation, but there should be consequences. What does that look like? said Abby Anderson, the executive director of the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance. The closure of the Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS) - an all-male, maximum security facility for youth that was operated by the state Department of Children and Families in Middletown - without thorough planning in July 2018 made Connecticut the first state without a prison for juveniles. However, the closure of CJTS also put those same kids back into detention facilities traditionally meant for pre-adjudicated juveniles only. As of now, CSSD has yet to release a request for proposal (RFP) for secure, residential facilities that could take the place of detention centers for juveniles needing long-term stays. We are currently finalizing [the RFP] here in judicial. It should be completed sometime around the holidays, Roberge said. We will get it out to the public by the beginning of 2019. At about the same time Pew was conducting its study in 2015, legislators and attorneys representing youth involved in the juvenile justice system began raising questions about DCFs oversight of CJTS. These questions accelerated after the number of youth living at CJTS reached a 10-year high as a result of kids being locked up for technical violations. More youth were incarcerated at CJTS for violating their probation than any other offense in 2015. The department was also pushing to open a new locked facility for girls at the time. Several prominent legislators balked and put pressure on the administration to close the juvenile jail and changed laws to limit when youth can be incarcerated. O pen warfare broke out in the worlds biggest car-making alliance on Tuesday over the downfall of titan Carlos Ghosn as Frances Renault offered its full support while Nissan prepared to sack him. Ghosn, 64, leads the three-way tie-up between Renault and Japanese manufacturers Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, which makes one in nine of the worlds cars. He faces prosecution for under-reporting pay and misusing company funds. Ghosn chairs all three firms and is chief executive of Renault. Frances finance minister Bruno Le Maire today urged Renault to replace the former superstar, saying he was not in a position to lead the firm. But Renault chief operating officer Thierry Bollore resisted, despite the French states 15% stake in the business. He said Ghosn had Renaults full support ahead of a board meeting today. Ghosn, who signed a contract this year lasting until 2022, is currently in custody in Tokyo. Nissans board will meet later this week to confirm his dismissal, while prosecutors have 48 hours to decide whether to press charges. His stunning fall from grace reverberated though stock markets as new details emerged of the serious misconduct claims that engulfed him. Fears over the unravelling of the alliance caused shares in Nissan to plunge more than 5% in Tokyo overnight, wiping 1.5 billion off the companys value, while Mitsubishi plunged 7%. In Paris, Renaults shares slid 4% on top of an 8% fall in the previous session. Commerzbanks Demian Flowers said Ghosn was the cement that binds the trio of partners together, and CLSAs Christopher Richter said the scandal could be the beginning of the end of Nissan as an independent company. Japan broadcaster NHK said investigators suspect Ghosn, in charge of allocating pay for Nissans 13 top executives, siphoned off part of the funds. He is also suspected of misusing Nissans funds on company-issued housing for personal use in Lebanon, Paris, Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiros Copacabana beach. Reports allege he was suspected of not paying his full share of the rent. Ghosn is also accused of under-reporting his salary by some 5 billion yen (34.6 million). T he chief executive of easyJet on Tuesday pledged there wont be any disruption at his budget airline once Britain leaves the EU, as he gave an update on its Brexit preparations. Johan Lundgren discussed plans alongside revealing that pre-tax profits soared 41% to 578 million in the year to September 30. He told the Standard: We are prepared for any [Brexit] scenario and are confident that our flights will operate as normal after March 2019. His FTSE 100 firm expects to increase European ownership of the airline from 47% to over 50% before Britain exits the bloc, which will allow it to comply with ownership rules and continue to operate within the EU. George Salmon, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: Brexit remains a concern the group will need to persuade investors over the Channel to join the shareholder register. However, Lundgren said he did not think it would be a problem. easyJet, founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou who owns a 33.73% stake, has also taken a 7 million hit for Brexit-linked costs. That includes registering new planes in Austria. Lundgren said it has been an eventful period for him since joining the carrier last December, taking over from Carolyn McCall. This year has seen the industry grapple with higher fuel costs and waves of air traffic controller strikes. A number of smaller airlines have failed. Despite these headwinds, profits rose at easyJet, which last year swooped to buy part of collapsed Air Berlins operations. It carried a record 88.5 million passengers, which was up 10.2% from the previous year. The company raised its dividend by 43% to 58.6p. B lack Friday is coming up this week. Thanksgiving, which goes back to the first harvest in America by the pilgrims in 1621, is on the fourth Thursday of November, and many take off the Friday too. What do Americans do when they have a holiday? They shop. But not just Americans. Amazon brought Black Friday to the UK in 2010, and since then it has exploded around the world. They have a Black Friday in Nigeria, in Australia, in India, in Hong Kong, in Germany, even in France, in fact, just about everywhere except mainland China, where Singles Day is the great shopping extravaganza. That is on 11 November, and was started by students in Nanjing university in 1993, who, distressed by their single status, decided to give presents to themselves, a sort-of-antidote to Valentines Day, with the 11/11 date a symbol of singlehood. It took the genius of Jack Ma, who founded the online retailer Alibaba, to turn a rather sad student affair into a rival to Black Friday. It may now be bigger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday (thats next Monday) combined. So it is huge. What does that tell us about consumerism? It is easy to see how a long holiday weekend creates an opportunity for retailers to promote their sales. It is more remarkable that the idea of a special day to go out and shop has not just survived the shift to online, but been enhanced by it. You can buy online any time; you dont need a day off to go and buy stuff you just need a mobile phone and a way of paying, and it will be delivered to your door. Established retailers know how to create the theatre of a special shopping occasion to coincide with a holiday period: think of the first day of our Christmas sales. If it was smart of Amazon to take an established shopping day and push it online, it took utter genius at Alibaba to create a virtual shopping event almost out of the blue. But they could not have done so had it not been something that we humans deeply, deeply want. There is lot of evidence that buying stuff makes people happier. Actually, if we buy something as a present for someone else it seems the happiness lasts even longer. So the creation of a special day on which a splurge of spending takes place generates a collective wave of pleasure that more than offsets the increased costs. The logistics of Black Friday are a huge challenge. You have to staff for it, your online ordering capacity has to be robust enough to cope with a sudden burst of orders, and you have to get the products out to the buyers in time. On top of all this you have to offer, or at least appear to offer, cut-price bargains. And what do you do with the lines that dont sell? These additional costs are more than offset by three factors. First, a special spending festival favours scale. The bigger you are, and Amazon is the biggest, the wider the range of stuff you can deliver and the larger the share of the available spending pot for you rather than some struggling high street chain. That is why Amazon and Alibaba pour resources into this. Second, sellers get higher margins. Having a special sales day with eye-catching loss-leaders attracts business you would not otherwise get.Then if people feel they have saved money on one thing, they are more relaxed about spending it on something else. Overall, margins are higher. And third, it skews spending habits towards goods and away from services. Over the past half-century goods have become cheaper relative to services. As a result more and more of our income goes on services: more on posh coffees, less on not-so-posh clothes. Black Friday tilts the balance back towards goods, in that money spent on half-price headphones is money not spent in the pub. The conventional criticism of Black Friday is that it encourages irresponsibility: that it entices people to spend money they cant afford on things they dont need. I dont buy that. How people choose to spend their money is their business, and at least they have something to show for it. There is a legitimate concern that it pushes sales to online giants and further damages the high street, but Black Friday is an example of that trend, not a cause of it. So I think we should stop being prissy, and instead celebrate Black Friday. J apans treatment of Carlos Ghosn smells worse than old sushi. Investigators claim the Nissan chairman understated his pay, which is a technical breach of stock exchange rules. Perhaps so, but in Japan, this is apparently not uncommon, arguably because executives there earn far less than in other parts of the world. Ghosns $9 million (7 million) may sound a lot, but not against the bosses of VW, GM or Ford, who got $10 million, $22 million and $17 million last year. But despite the widespread falsifying of accounts in Japan, there have been few arrests. Until Ghosn. Indeed, as Japan-based organised crime expert Jake Adelstein says, Tokyo prosecutors repeatedly fail to take on the powerful, from Toshibas $1 billion accounting fraudsters to bosses at the Tokyo Electric Power Company behind the 2011 nuclear power plant disaster. The public has lost faith. It would hardly be surprising, then, if those prosecutors viewed Ghosn as an easy way of buffing up their damaged reputation. A foreigner, particularly a well-paid one, makes for an easy target with little cover from Japans all-powerful elites. Theres a national industrial dimension here, too. Ghosn was bringing Renault and Nissan ever closer together. The two car-makers have been in a strategic alliance for years, but Ghosn is thought to have been planning a full-on merger. Given that Renault owns 43% of Nissan, it was likely the French company would have the upper hand. Another reason his demise might be convenient. Perhaps my view of the Ghosn affair is tarnished by camera giant Olympuss treatment of Michael Woodford a few years back. In that case, Woodford a Brit who had newly been made chief executive was fired by the Japanese board on spurious grounds after blowing the whistle on a major fraud. If Nissan and Tokyo want to allay critics including the Renault board suspicions of Ghosns treatment, lets hear the evidence against him, plus his defence, and the reason hes been singled out when so many Japanese before him have not. Scooters invite wheel vandalism Silicon Valley is betting big on shared e-scooter schemes (think Boris bikes for electric scooters). Today, a Swedish outfit called Voi has raised $50 million (40 million) to expand across Europe. My experience recently in Paris suggests investors should ride with caution. Downloading the app was simple. Finding a scooter less so. The app said one was outside our restaurant, but scour the area though we did, the thing was nowhere to be seen until I spotted a disembodied handlebar in the gutter and a forlorn wheelbase wrapped around a nearby tree, wires protruding. Smashed rental bikes and scooters litter the streets and canals of European cities. I ts on, its off, its on again the Macron-Merkel relationship has the affection and froideur of a grand screen romance. The final throes of Brexit agony, deficit-laden Italy busting the eurozones fragile rules and the first date of the German Chancellors farewell tour have combined to reconcile the duo after a chilly spell. But the effulgent displays of mutual affection were timed to follow the Armistice commemorations. A vast tragedy of the past was summoned to broadcast a message for today whatever the chaotic Brits are up to, the Euro-show rolls on regardless. Merkel once told me that she saw Macron as continuing the same mission when she left office. It was the nearest I had seen to her sounding emotionally connected to another politician. Tensions rose over Macrons new vision for the EU. But as Germanys leader prepares to step down she has chosen not to stand for re-election as leader of the CDU next month the two made up over beers at the recent European summit in Brussels, ostracising Theresa May, who was left to return to the ambassadors residency and pour her own whisky. The relaunch of the Franco-German relationship is intended to signify that the single currency, as the anchor of the common European project, is in safe hands, while providing a support group for leaders facing populist challenges and unhappy electorates (Macron returns home to fuel protesters and violence, Merkel to a faltering Grand Coalition and the diminished role of resigning bit by bit). While Britain broods and seethes about how or if to leave the EU, the institution itself is changing before our eyes. The European parliament is set to redistribute representation next spring in its elections, on the understanding that Britain will have triggered Article 50. Weightier affairs than the composition of the EU talking shop will also move on while we try to figure out whether Jacob Rees-Mogg can count to 48 (the number of letters from MPs to force a no-confidence vote in Theresa May) or the second referendum is a next-year-some-time-or-never notion. Anne McElvoy Emotionally, many Europeans fret about Brexit and would like to see it undone. More urgently, their preoccupations are different strong federalists (in the EU sense) would rather we got on with it, the better to double down on a core Europe. I do not think the EU has treated Britain wisely in the run-up to the referendum when it denied David Cameron a solid negotiating position and a multi-tier Europe would have been a better outcome than the present mess. But now that that path is closed off, we are going to have to figure out some way of co-existence that is not the scratchy mood of ire, resentment and reliance on a Brussels bureaucrat as arbitrator. Meanwhile, the Merkel-Macron tendresse has produced a new if modest offspring: a eurozone budget of about 25 billion, downpayment on closer economic alignment, even if it falls far short of the early Macron push for a much larger fund to create a buffer for the eurozone. Team Merkel thinks the money will flow to enhancing convergence and competitiveness (according to a leaked document seen by the Financial Times), while Paris wants the fund to shore up vulnerable economies when crises loom. Given that this relatively small sum is embedded in the wider EU budget (at Berlins insistence), the crises had better be slow in coming. "While Britain broods and seethes about how or if it will leave, the EU is changing before our eyes" Very often, the EU is about proclaiming shared destinations, rather than counting the actual arrivals. For this reason Britain has long been an uncomfortable fit, even before the disruptive Brexit era dawned. So last week Merkel indulged the idea of a common European Army, not with much expectation that such a creation is anywhere close (Donald Trump can calm down on that front) but because it is a language of political and foreign policy integration that Paris wants to revive. Back in real life, they dont agree on how to handle Vladimir Putin, Trump or Saudi Arabia in the wake of the Khashoggi murder. Indeed, in many aspects of foreign policy, Merkel, despite her limited affinity with Britain, has shown herself to be instinctively closer to Londons positions (tougher on the Kremlin, in favour of sending sharper signals to Saudi Arabia on arms sales) than she is to the French Presidents wily justifications for inaction. Facts on the ground in European power relations are often at odds with the pre-cooked communiques. Britain, for all the frustrations, proved good at de-coding this ambiguity and rubbing along with the neighbours well enough. Now we dont, and the one thing we have not heard projected by Jeremy Hunt to date is any idea of how he sees his role as Foreign Secretary towards Europe. Not being Boris is a start but there is a vacuum where diplomacy and generous outreach need to be. And the first moves will have to come from us. The bitter entanglements over the withdrawal deal stand as symbols of something more profound. Europe, for all its flaws, fudges and paradoxes, cannot wait until we finish our lengthy national deliberation to get on with shaping its future. The Merkel era is winding down, the Macron ascendency seeks to prove itself, the headwinds of ultra-populism, far more virulent than the drivers of Brexit, are strong. Where does Britain fit in assuming we still wish to play a role in writing the history of the continent on which we live? Somehow we are at a point when the argument is reduced to a technocratic spats. What sort of relationship (beyond fish, backstops and acronyms) do we seek with the major landmass on our doorstep? So important is this question that, for all the havoc of the past few weeks, I dont recollect any senior politician raising it. T his hung Parliament is less than a third of the way through its maximum theoretical life of five years. Will it last that long? Until now the assumption has been that it will. Precarious as the Conservative position has been since the election, when Theresa May lost them their majority, two things seemed certain. First, no Conservative MP wanted to have another election. Thats because they think they might lose to Labour if the country went to the polls again. Second, the supply and confidence arrangement struck last year with Northern Irelands 10 DUP MPs meant at least the Tory Government could be sure of getting its budgets through (supply) and preventing defeat in any votes of no confidence. Those calculations changed last night. The DUP decided to break the arrangement struck only 17 months ago and refused to support key budget motions in the House of Commons. On one occasion they voted with the Labour Opposition, who would have won the motion they tabled on child poverty if Jeremy Corbyn and at least 27 other Labour MPs had bothered to turn up. In other words, the DUP withheld supply. Does it require such a leap of the imagination to think they may also withdraw confidence? The separation of Northern Ireland from the mainland, and its closer integration with the republic, may be an inevitable consequence of the Brexit that the DUP campaigned for but these are not people with a track record of taking responsibility for their actions. This morning the idea that the DUP might bring down the Government that oversaw the weakening, in their eyes, of the Union no longer seems as implausible as it once did. Factor in the occasional by-election, and add the Tory MPs who cant stomach their partys approach to Brexit, and the long-term future of the Government looks even more in the balance. The average length of a Parliament in Britain since the Second World War has been significantly less than the maximum five years. As the governing majority evaporates just a year and a half into the current one, why should we assume this unhappy Parliament will go the full distance? TODO: define component type apester Worboyss victims win Carrie Symonds today writes of her relief that the black cab rapist John Worboys will not after all be released from prison after serving less than 10 years of his indeterminate sentence for rape, five sexual assaults, one attempted assault and 12 drugging charges, as the Parole Board had recommended. She herself was drugged by Worboys and she was appalled when she learnt that he might be released. The High Court, in overturning the Parole Board decision, considered his potential for causing further harm. That judgment was the right one. The Parole Board was forced to be transparent about the reasons for its decision, a lesson it should take to heart for the future. Support for Nazanin As he said, she has been in prison for more than two years, and no child should be so long without her mother. Mr Hunts robust approach is refreshing: he has warned Tehran that there will be consequences if Iran continues to use dual nationals, as she is, as political tools. Mr Hunt has acknowledged that responsibility, for her fate does not lie with the foreign ministry in Iran so much as with the justice ministry, but his firm and unequivocal stance may work. With sustained pressure, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe could be home by Christmas. Its officially cashmere season, spelling chin nuzzling (where better to hide from modern life than in the peripheries of your favourite rollneck) and an uncontrollable urge to fling yourself at any item of clothing that feels like it might have come within touching distance of inner Mongolia. But before you march, shivering, into your favourite high-street store with the pursuit of affordable cashmere on your mind, it may be time to pause and flex your cerebral nerve. Certainly, in the final stages of a year in which images of oceans populated with more plastic than fish kickstarted a global conversation about plastic usage, and Asos banned fashion containing mohair and cashmere from its site, it may be time we gave the consumption of the worlds most precious wool the same consideration as we do our coffee cups. Cashmere was once considered a luxurious commodity: it takes four goats to produce enough fibre to make a single cashmere sweater and just one sheep to create enough wool to make five (you do the maths), but the industry has undergone significant disruption. These days, with 60 cashmere crewnecks commonplace in supermarkets and the high street churning out beanies at pace, the grasslands of Mongolia are paying the price with overpopulation causing a catastrophic impact. There is also an increasingly concerning social impact with overworked and underpaid farmers and a murky supply chain all providing cause for concern. Recycled cashmere sweater from 290 by Stella McCartney (Stella McCartney ) / Stella McCartney This has an impact on cashmere quality, which in turn drives down the prices of raw material and forces farmers to increase herd sizes to maintain their income. And so a perpetuating cycle is created that degrades cashmere quality. When prices drop, farmers often start to sell cattle for meat instead of fleece. Its a lose-lose. For environmentally engaged companies such as Patagonia and Stella McCartney, the increased demand for cashmere has incited much soul searching. Both brands now work solely with a recycled version of the fibre which involves working with post factory waste with Stella McCartney recently commiting to banning all virgin cashmere from its collection. On its site Stella McCartney states that cashmere is one of the most valuable natural materials in fashion we are helping to protect the future of this incredible material by redefining waste. With one decision, we reduce our environmental impact related to cashmere use by an incredible 92 per cent. Recycled cashmere sweater, 150 from Arket / Arket The Swedish retailer Arket has also gone to lengths to decrease its contribution to the demise of the Gobi. Of course, the end goal is not to obliterate the production of virgin cashmere but to instil the idea that its production must be handled more responsibly. Its with this in mind that traditional knitwear companies and a host of informed luxury labels are working hard to safeguard high-quality cashmere. Among them is Loro Piana, an Italian knitwear supplier that has branched out with its own designs. Aided by research from agricultural bodies and a host of economic development experts, the Loro Piana Method spans a host of practices devised to protect the communities working the land as well as the landscape itself, among them decreased herds and rationalised shearing. Boxy sweater, 130 from Reformation (Reformation ) / Reformation Its UK equivalent is the Scottish cashmere supplier Johnstons of Elgin which, along with Burberry and the retail juggernaut Kering, has partnered with the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA). The SFA works with cashmere farmers in Mongolia to protect quality by maintaining raw material costs as well as working on an education programme around animal welfare and environmental awareness to ensure best-practice farming and build a sustainable supply chain. The aim of the SFA is that it will lead to the creation of a fully accredited cashmere supply chain. B ackstage at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, the nine touring members of Florence + The Machine are huddled together in a corridor. Theyre due onstage in 10 minutes in front of a sold-out Saturday night audience of 13,000. But right now theyre performing for themselves. Florence Welch barefoot, diaphanous Gucci frock, sturdy emerald-green support underwear leads her half-girls, half-boys group in a near-a capella version of June, the opening track on her fourth album, High As Hope. There is twirling, clapping, ululating, hand-holding, some elbow-bumping waltzing, a little bit of acoustic guitar and much intra-band bonding. Ho-o-o-o-ld on to each other, choruses Welch in that remarkable voice, the voice and the emotion warming up the unlovely passageway cluttered with boxes and chairs. This is the bands pre-show singalong, a ritual that has been performed at the start of all their concerts this year, and will continue teeing off nights on a tour that stretches to next summer. It does what alcohol used to help do for the now-sober Welch it puts her in the zone. But it also underlines the aesthetic of the entire High As Hope era, one that also encompasses her first book of (typically revealing) poetry, lyrics and drawings, Useless Magic. Its an emotional record with lots of longing for tenderness and connection, Welch, 32, tells me. Ten days before Glasgow, were meeting in Camberwell, part of the wider south London neighbourhood shes always called home. Its almost a softer record than Ive done before, she says. There is anger in it, and fury, but in a song like June, the cry is just please hold on to each other. Winter music festivals to book now 1 /4 Winter music festivals to book now Rise festival, December 15-22 As well as combining snowsports and music, Rise festival is putting a real focus on wellbeing in December. There are 220km of pistes for skiers and snowboarders to explore throughout the week, before taking part in mindfulness and health-orientated events, such as alpine yoga, and trying out more extreme experiences like paragliding, snowmobiling and mountain husky rides. When it comes to the music, expect an eclectic lineup up of DJ sets from the likes of Annie Mac, Camelphat, David Rodigan, Richy Ahmed and Sonny Fedora. Tomorrowland Winter, March 16-19 Legendary Belgian dance festival Tomorrowland is launching a sister event in the French Alps this March, with Tomorrowland Winter taking place for the first time in the village of Alpe dHuez. As youd expect with the organisers pedigree, some of the worlds biggest DJs are in town, with Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike performing at the festival. It promises to be a huge event, with around 30,000 people attending from around the world. Tickets are already proving very popular those wishing to attend should sign up to the waiting list. Snowboxx, March 23-29 Music fans will be flocking to the French town of Avoriaz to see the likes of Craig David perform at Snowboxx this March. Jax Jones, Wilkinson and Rudimental will also play at the festival, which takes places over one week in the mountains. The organisers really know how to put on a party, with apres ski events taking place in the sites igloos andeMike Skinner hosting a tree house rave. Seven days of accomodation and a festival wristband start at 239. March 23-29 Snowbombing, April 8-13 Ibiza on ice is the experience fans can expect from Snowbombing, which takes place nearly 9,000ft up in the Austrian Alps between April 8 and April 13 in Mayrhofen, Austria. Expect some of the wildest parties to be thrown to celebrate the festivals 20th birthday, as well as some of the most high-profile live performances Stormzy, the Prodigy and Fatboy Slim headline, while expert skiers and novices alike are welcome on the slopes. Packages for festival passes and accommodation begin at 249. Rex Features She explains how this idea fed into the tour production. I wanted to make an environment where people felt embraced. So, lots of organic material (the stage is made of beautiful, soft wood) and a proscenium. There are no sharp edges, and theres fabric hanging from the ceiling. I actually wanted scent-design, because Im a loon! she announces, laughter exploding volcanically from her, like a church smell pumped into the venues. But they were, like, for health reasons you cant do that. What if someone is allergic? And also how expensive do you want to make this tour? she laughs again. Off-stage and in conversation, Welch is still very Florence-y. A jangle of jewellery around neck and wrists and fingers, expressive hand gestures, much flicking of hair, lots of cheerfully out-there emotionality. But theres a relief, too, that High As Hope was received and reviewed so well. Especially as the first single, from its opening line, was especially revealing. At 17 I started to starve myself, I thought that love was a kind of emptiness, she sings on Hunger. In spring I attended an early playback of the album, hosted by Welch in a private members club in Mayfair. Introducing the songs she appeared uncharacteristically trepidatious. Hearing Hunger, and then Grace, her apology to her younger sister for being, basically, an annoying, attention-hogging sibling, I understood why. The admission of a teenage eating disorder was the biggest worry, because it was such a big piece of myself to give to people. And it would have been heartbreaking if it had been received in the wrong way. But people received it with love and kindness. Which was life-changing for me. In what way? There is a pause, a hair-swish, a clank of the three crucifixes round her neck. It was something Id kept secret my whole life, she eventually replies. But Id started talking about it to some people who could help, and other women who had experienced similar things. And that beginning to bring things to the light made me able to write a song about it. And, then, presumably, decide that, hey, anorexia is great material for a comeback pop single? She hoots with laughter and agreement. What the f*** have I done? Its on the f***ing radio! Im insane! If she is, at least shes no longer insane through boozing. A previously enthusiastic partygoer, Welch has been clean of alcohol and drugs since the beginning of the recording of her last album, 2015s How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. Touring sober, she acknowledges, is so much better, but also harder. Its lonelier. I use to be drunk on stage constantly, and I thought that was part of [being a performer], Welch admits. Then I realised how good it was to really connect with an audience and be present. Yeah, I wont be drunk on stage again, even if I decide to start drinking again in a casual way which I really doubt because Ive never done it casually in my life! she laughs hysterically, setting off another jangle of jewellery. One glass of wine? What is that? she scoffs. I was always straight onto the shots. People ask me, dont you miss a glass of wine? No I miss seven vodka shots in a row. In Glasgow a week and a half later, its clear where Welch now gets some of her buzz through contact highs. Towards the end of a never-less-than-impassioned 100-minute set she bounds off stage still barefoot and plunges into the packed audience. Trailed by her security guard, she sings as she goes, clasping hands with fans, climbing onto railings, vaulting over barriers, circumnavigating the arena, before returning to the stage. Then its into main-set closer, What Kind Of Man, which she sings inches away from the fans jammed up to the crush barrier, pressing forehead to foreheads and applying palm to faces as if offering absolution to her male followers. Its quite the performance, a night bookended by hold-on-to-each-other tactility and connection. Lord knows how far shell go at her two south London homecoming shows this week. The quieter my life became offstage, the more ferocious the performances became, Welch had acknowledged in Camberwell. A lot of those self-destructive urges and energies that I used to kick the s**t out of myself with suddenly had a new place where they could live and be free. The beast was finally free, she said with another guffaw, but in a way that was constructive. Review at a glance W ere a long way from Downton Abbey now. Phyllis Logan, beloved of millions as kindly and unflappable housekeeper Mrs Hughes, is almost unrecognisable as the irascible, hard-drinking, chain-smoking novelist Patricia Highsmith, best-known for her series of novels starring charming psychopath Tom Ripley. This laborious two-hander from Joanna Murray-Smith is a would-be psychological thriller, a cat-and-mouse game between Highsmith and her prey, but the audience is likely to smell a rat long before the 90 minutes is up. Or even sooner than that; within ten minutes, the friend I took was sound asleep. The first half of Lucy Baileys flatlining production suffers from rigor mortis of the plot and by means so uninspired that Ripley would hang his head in shame. Were in, yes, Switzerland in 1995, where an ailing Highsmith lives in a remote house with just her pet snails and collection of antique guns for company. Edward Ridgeway (Calum Finlay), a callow young man, arrives from her publishers in New York, who are desperate for her to write one last Ripley book. This is deathly dull stuff. Firstly, the two characters are so unappealing and not in a sparkling, excitement-of-evil way that its perplexing to be asked to spend time with them. They assume their set positions him coaxing, her raging and dont shift from them. There is, of course, a pay-off, a volte-face, but after the torpor it, its an unconvincing flurry of uncertain plot logic. Finlay fails to shape Edward into anything much, in contrast to the unflinching Logan, who spares nothing in making Highsmith as dislikeable as possible, full of anti-Semitic views and nervous of her position in the patriarchal literary pantheon. Disappointing. W e're a nation of pub-lovers, and there's something quintessentially British about complaining about your boss over a pint or two after work. With the festive season coming up, which means champagne-fuelled Christmas parties all around, it can be easy to fall into the trap of having one too many. This Alcohol Awareness Week encourages people to think about how much they're drinking and how they can make a change to lead a healthier lifestyle. In 2016, there were 7,327 alcohol-specific deaths in the UK with men being 55 per cent more likely to die from an alcohol-related disease than women. According to Dr Luke James, Medical Director at Bupa, recent figures from a Bupa health assessment show that over a third of people drink more than the recommended 14 units of alcohol each week. Dr James told the Standard: Its totally okay (and normal) to enjoy a couple of drinks now and again, but you should aim to have a few alcohol-free nights every week." In light of Alcohol Awareness Week, we've decided to take a look at the toll tipple takes on your body: Club Soda guide: London's best alcohol-free nightspots 1 /10 Club Soda guide: London's best alcohol-free nightspots Draft House Various locations, including Chancery Lane - 5/5 Club Soda The Strongroom Shoreditch - 4/5 Club Soda The Windsor Castle Clapton - 4/5 Club Soda Matchbox Shoreditch - 4/5 Club Soda Rudd's Blackfriars - 4/5 Club Soda Zigfrid Von Underbelly Shoreditch - 4/5 Club Soda The Ship Fenchurch Street - 5/5 Club Soda All Bar One Various locations - 5/5 Club Soda The Hydrant Monument - 4/5 Club Soda Electricity Showrooms Shoreditch - 5/5 Club Soda What are the effects of long-term consumption of alcohol on the body? Excessive consumption of alcohol over an extended period of time can cause over 60 different health conditions including mouth, throat, stomach, liver and breast cancer, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver and depression. Dr James explained: Excessive drinking of alcohol over a long period of time can take a toll on many of your bodys organs, including your heart, liver, pancreas and brain. It can also weaken your immune system and bones. This is because within minutes of taking your first sip, alcohol enters your bloodstream through your stomach wall and is circulated to every part of your body. What health conditions can arise from excessive alcohol intake? When Dr Jamess patients are looking to lose a few pounds, the first thing he tells them is to cut down on alcohol. This is because alcohol contains a large number of calories which can lead to weight gain. For example, one glass of wine contains 159 calories the same as half a burger. While weight gain can lead to obesity and subsequently an early death, there are many other serious illnesses associated with excessive alcohol consumption. Dr James added: Your liver detoxifies harmful substances but digesting alcohol can damage liver cells, leading to inflammation and scarring, resulting in conditions such as fatty liver disease, hepatitis and alcohol-induced cirrhosis. Whats more, alcohol makes your heart beat faster, which affects how well it pumps blood around your body. If you regularly drink too much alcohol particularly if you 'binge drink' it can raise your blood pressure too, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease. Can these illnesses be reversed? Dr James advised: Depending on the severity of an untreated drinking problem, and the level of damage already done, some effects can be reversed. But it is important to get medical advice if you feel like you are drinking too much or if you feel unwell. How do you know if you are drinking too much? According to the current guidelines, no one should be drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week. One unit of alcohol equates to a 25ml single measure of whisky, a third of a pint of beer and half a 175ml glass of wine. So if you do like to have a glass of wine or two, you should have no more than seven glasses per week and no more than five pints of beer per week. Dr James reiterated: Its important to stick to that, and its a good idea to have several alcohol-free days a week. What can you do if you are drinking too much? If you have at least one drink every day, the best thing you can do is start to cut down and have several alcohol-free days per week. If you know you are having after-work drinks on a Friday, abstain from alcohol for the week leading up to it but this also doesnt mean you should overdo it once Friday comes. A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with a shooting in Enfield. A 16-year-old boy and two men were injured when a shotgun was fired at the taxi they were sitting in at 6pm on Saturday. None of their injuries are life-threatening, but the two men, both ages 22, are still in hospital - one with serious injuries. Scotland Yard confirmed that a 26-year-old was arrested on Tuesday and remains in custody at an east London police station. A police cordon at the scene of the stabbing in Edmonton / Yui Mok/PA The force was called to reports of a fight in Fraser Road, Edmonton, at about 6pm on Sunday where two vehicles that had been in a collision were found at the scene. It is believed a gang of up to 10 men attacked the four occupants of a car, leaving them all with stab wounds. The four men, all in their 20s, were taken to north London hospitals. Police are investigating whether the Edmonton stabbing was linked to the Enfield shooting / Yui Mok/PA Two of the men have since been discharged from hospital. One man has minor injuries while the fourth man remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition. No arrests have been made in connection with the second attack and police believe both attacks were targeted at specific people. Detective Chief Inspector John Hughes appealed for witnesses to both attacks to come forward. He added: "These two separate incidents in Edmonton over the last two days are being treated as linked. We are taking both incidents very seriously. "The local community can expect to see more police on the streets. Officers will be on hand to listen to their concerns. "Although none of these stabbings or the shooting resulted in death, they could easily have done so. Two men continue to receive treatment in hospital for serious injuries." The incidents occurred as London experiences a grim spate of bloodshed, with the number of homicides recently surpassing that seen in the whole of 2017. The total number in the capital, including the week from October 31 when there were five stab murders, has risen to 120 so far. According to Home Office figures, there were 118 in London in 2017, excluding the 13 victims of the terrorist attacks at Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Finsbury Park. On Monday, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced 13 million of funding to tackle serious youth violence in the capital. P olice are stepping up stop and search in the wake of two possibly linked attacks where four men were stabbed and three people shot while in a minicab. The Metropolitan Police is appealing for witnesses to the two attacks which happened less than a mile from each other in north London on Saturday and Sunday. The force said it will be carrying out more stop and searches as part of its investigation. It has put a Section 60 in place, which means the force can search anyone in a certain area without reasonable grounds. Detective Chief Inspector John Hughes said his team was working through CCTV footage, knocking on doors and speaking to neighbours to build a clearer picture of what took place. A police cordon at the scene of the stabbing in Edmonton / Yui Mok/PA He added: "We are taking both incidents very seriously. Violence like this has no place in our streets. A section 60 remains in place and officers will be carrying out stop and searches. "The local community can expect to see more police on the streets. Officers will be on hand to listen to their concerns. Although none of these stabbings or the shooting resulted in death, they could easily have done." Police were called to reports of a fight in Fraser Road, Edmonton, at about 6pm on Sunday where two vehicles that had been in a collision were found at the scene. It is believed a gang of up to 10 men attacked four men who were in a car, leaving them all with stab wounds. The men, who are all in their 20s, were taken to north London hospitals, with two of them having since been discharged, one has minor injuries and the fourth remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition. The stabbings came around 24 hours after a teenage boy and two men were injured when a shotgun was fired at a minicab they were in. Police believe a 16-year-old boy and two 22-year-old men were in a minicab in Gordon Road when a second vehicle pulled alongside the car while it was stationary. "At least two men got out and approached the victims. One was armed with a shotgun. The shotgun was fired twice into the rear of the vehicle," the Met said. Police said on Monday none of the injuries are life-threatening but two men remain in hospital, one with serious injuries. The minicab's driver was not injured and one person has been arrested. Police said both attacks appear to have been targeted against specific individuals. The incidents occurred as London experiences a grim spate of bloodshed, with the number of homicides recently surpassing that seen in the whole of 2017. The total number in the capital, including the week from October 31 when there were five stab murders, has risen to 120 so far. According to Home Office figures, there were 118 in London in 2017, excluding the 13 victims of the terrorist attacks at Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Finsbury Park. T his is the shocking moment a group of hooded youths allegedly carrying combat knives fought on a high street in east London. Video footage showed the masked thugs brawling outside an off-licence in Shoreditch. One was shoved to the ground as punches rained down on him, before he was able to get up and seek refuge in a neighbouring shop. Witnesses said at least three people involved in the fight were armed with combat knives. A 22-year-old man was found with stab wounds after the attack in Old Street at around 12.40am on Sunday. His injuries were not life-threatening. Ricky Shea Lancaster, who filmed the video, told the Standard: We heard people shouting it started off as a one-on-one, but then more people got involved and they started throwing punches at each other. It went from zero to a hundred. More people ran over wielding big knives. We saw at least three people carrying combat knives. They started slashing and stabbing at each other. The 26-year-old student added: We could hear shouting and profanity. We didnt know what it was about but someone was shouting, Its his, its his area. It was in the middle of a high street. That was quite shocking. When they started whipping out these massive knives in the middle of the street it was intimidating. Detectives are linking the incident to another report of a robbery and a stabbing in Turin Street about 50 minutes earlier when another 22-year-old man was injured. He was not seriously hurt. Scotland Yard said three people one aged 16 and two aged 18 had been arrested and charged with offences in connection with both attacks. Meanwhile, a man in his early thirties was fighting for his life in hospital after being beaten up in a street in east London early this morning. The man was assaulted during a fight in Martha Street, Shadwell, at about 2.54am. Three men have been arrested and were being questioned in custody today. Police said the victim was being treated for a head injury at an east London hospital where his condition was said to be critical. A senior Scotland Yard officer today urged members of the public to intervene in violent confrontations if they can safely do so. Deputy Commissioner Steve House was responding to comments by a police official who said officers could start letting violent suspects go if they are not backed up by the public. Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, spoke out after the Standard yesterday published footage of two officers being attacked as they tried to make an arrest in Wimbledon on Saturday. One officer was dragged into the road and his female colleague was kicked into the path of a bus. Stills taken from appalling footage of attacks on police officers over the weekend. A member of the public wearing a motorcycle helmet helped the male officer in the struggle, but several cars went by without stopping. Mr House said: I am glad to see that so many others are similarly appalled by this incident. It is a reminder that the public will not tolerate seeing police officers treated in such a sickening manner. Officers are on the side of Londoners to keep the city safe and will continue to tackle violent offenders. He said police were trained to deal with violent situations and were issued with personal protective equipment. Ken Marsh on Good Morning Britain: 'What sort of society have we now got that an individual wants to stand there?' / ITV Mr House added: I am mindful that members of the public do not have access to such items and while any officer would be grateful for the public to assist them with a difficult arrest, they should only intervene if they can safely do so. Mr Marsh told ITV's Good Morning Britain on Tuesday: "Im not for one minute asking the public to do our job, Im not asking the public to act as vigilantes. "But what I am asking them to do, instead of standing there videoing and mocking us, either take part or walk away. Its the fact an individual wants to stand there and film my colleagues. Asked if the video was good evidence for the police, Mr Marsh said: Its not our evidence, we have body-worn cameras." He continued: The point Im trying to get across is, what sort of society have we now got that an individual wants to stand there? They are being part of the incident. How have we come to this point where that is acceptable, that members of the public when my female colleague was knocked to the floor drove past and walked past? We are seeing this consistently and people are more interested in making it salacious in filming it and putting out mocking. Where are we going? The male officer in Saturdays incident suffered cuts and the female officer was left with head injuries. Both were treated in hospital and released. T hugs attacked police and taxis with fireworks on a west London estate. A shocking video shows more than 20 rockets flying at a police van as it travels through the Lisson Grove Estate, with some ricocheting off blocks of flats and parked cars. The attack on Guy Fawkes night triggered a warning from the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association that members should avoid accepting fares to the area near Marylebone station. One driver, Robbie McKnight, claimed to have been targeted by a mob of up to 20 youths on November 5. The 53-year-old said his car was pelted with large objects causing 5,000 worth of damage before the gang tried to block him in with a steel bin. I just ducked down and put the pedal to the floor I thought theyre not trapping me here. If I had stopped, I might not be here now. It was like a war zone, Mr McKnight told the Taxi trade newspaper. Another driver, Ross Livingstone, said he was one of four targeted on the night. They threw a heavy traffic cone at my cab, he said. The guy in front of me had the window of his [taxi] smashed and was very shaken up. Its horrendous. Someone is going to get killed if something isnt done. The LTDA warned its drivers to keep doors locked and not accept fares ending near the estate. It added that it had become notorious for taxi drivers with a series of attacks by robbers who hail them before stealing their valuables. The Met said officers were able to disperse the gang in Lisson Grove shortly before 7pm on November 5. Chief Inspector Andy Brittain, of Westminster borough, said: Officers were called to Lisson Grove to reports of a large group of teenagers throwing fireworks at vehicles, throwing rubbish bins and damaging parked cars. The responding officers also had fireworks thrown at them before they dispersed the group. One of the responding officers sustained an injury to his hand. We are currently in the process of reviewing CCTV and body-worn video footage to identify those involved. While we believe this is an isolated incident, patrols in the area have been increased to provide reassurance to local communities. P olice are hunting an Uber customer who caused 1,500 of damage to the car after a row with the driver. Police said two women were travelling in a white Toyota Prius in the early hours of the morning of June 22 when an argument broke out between them and the driver. The women had cancelled their trip between Peters Street, in Soho, to St Paul Street, in Islington and then refused to get out of the car, according to police. The women then tore up the minicab by banging on it and pulling off the front and back window wipers in Pentonville Road. Both ran away after the Uber driver called the police at around 4am. A 39-year-old woman was interviewed under caution by appointment on September 9, but Scotland Yard are still searching for a second woman, believed to have caused most of the damage. A police spokesman described the suspect as a white female, aged between 20 and 30 years old, with blonde, shoulder-length hair and an Australian accent. She wore a dark leather jacket during the incident on June 22. A murder probe has been launched following the death of a man by blunt force trauma at a home in Richmond-upon-Thames, police said. The Metropolitan Police were called by London Ambulance Service shortly after 4.30pm on Saturday to reports of a body found at a house in Cromwell Road, Teddington. Officers and paramedics attended and a man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. His next of kin have been informed. Formal identification has not taken place, however police are confident that the victim is 58-year-old Carl Whitehead from Teddington. A special post-mortem examination was carried out at Kingston-upon-Thames Mortuary on Monday, which gave the cause of death as consistent with blunt force trauma. A 37-year-old man and a 52-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday, 19 November. Both remain in custody at a west London police station. In a statement, Scotland Yard said: "Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command have launched an investigation into the death of a man in Richmond-upon-Thames. "Police were called by London Ambulance Service at 16:33hrs on Saturday, 17 November, to reports of a body found at a residential address in Cromwell Road, Teddington. "Officers and LAS attended and a man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed. "Although formal identification has not taken place, police are confident the victim is 58-year-old Carl Whitehead from Teddington. "Detectives from the South West Command Unit conducted the initial investigation into the unexplained death in close liaison with homicide detectives." It added: "The inquiry has now been passed to homicide detectives. Enquiries continue." Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command on 020 8358 0200 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Quote CAD 5338/17NOV. A pensioner who has spent eight years in hospital because of blunders in his care while recovering from a spinal injury has received a 475,000 compensation payout. The 70-year-old man was taken to The Royal London Hospital by ambulance after his fall in October 2010, and was unable to feel anything below his chest. As well as spinal damage, he had fractures in his left leg, hip, and ribs, and his left lung had collapsed. Within 10 days of being hospitalised he developed pressure sores over his body due to his very limited ability to move independently. The sores had not properly healed when he was moved in March 2011 to a spinal care unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and he then developed more pressure ulcers. Lawyers Bolt Burdon Kemp launched a compensation claim in 2015 against the two hospitals, alleging that failures in his care allowed the sores to develop and never fully heal, and hinder his rehabilitation. Raquel Siganporia, who leads the spinal injury team at the law firm, described the case as beyond appalling, saying that without complications the man should have spent only three months in a hospital bed. Instead he remains under NHS care. This case is one of the most severe I have seen in relation to pressure sores, she said. It is shocking how a seemingly innocuous sore can have such devastating consequences on someone with a spinal cord injury when left without proper treatment and care. My client ended up remaining in hospital for eight years as a direct result of the escalation in his condition, which was solely down to the pressure sores. Both hospitals have now admitted negligence in failing to offer proper pressure sore care management, and a High Court judge approved 475,000 in compensation for the mans future care. "It is shocking how a seemingly innocuous pressure sore can have such devastating consequences" The claim stated that The Royal London failed to properly assess the pensioners needs after his accident, or recognise he was at high risk of pressure sores. He was not given proper pressure relief, skin inspections, hygiene care, or dressings while in hospital, and was not referred to a consultant plastic surgeon when the need was obvious on his transfer to Stoke Mandeville. The court was told the man had to undergo several surgical procedures and now needs specialist equipment to help him breathe. Adapting to a spinal cord injury is already a life-changing event, without the addition of negligent treatment leading to a far worse set of conditions to contend with conditions which my client ought never have had to face, said Ms Siganporia. Hospitals which treat spinal-injured patients need to improve the training they have about why pressure sores should be prevented, how to aid prevention, and the need for close monitoring and extreme vigilance. That two hospitals failed my client so badly is beyond appalling and I hope to see improvements in this field immediately. The case was concluded last month. A joint statement from Barts Health NHS trust and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS trust, which run the two hospitals, said: We sincerely apologise that our treatment fell below the standard our patients rightly expect and we recognise the significant effect this has had on this particular patient. A combat medic whose life fell apart after he contracted a devastating disease from a tick bite in Afghanistan has battled back to land a job at a top Mayfair restaurant. Ben Graveson, 39, felt like a failure when he was discharged from the Army but a food apprenticeship scheme changed his life. He contracted Q Fever also known as Helmand Fever in 2008. In extreme cases it causes irreparable damage to vital organs. The illness put a stop to his Army career as he was physically ill for six years, which had a huge impact on his mental health. He was discharged in 2014 after 18 years of service. Mr Graveson told the Standard: My whole life was essentially over, or at least how I knew it. It was an awful time. After his discharge he was sectioned and spent several months in the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust hospital for mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment. During that time, he heard about the Beyond Food Foundation which helps people at risk of homelessness or who are already on the streets to gain meaningful employment in hospitality. Mr Graveson signed up for an apprenticeship scheme with the foundation and took a City and Guilds diploma in Professional Cookery for a year. In January, he will start full-time at the private Conduit Club in Mayfair where the restaurant is run by a Michelin-starred Merlin Labron-Johnson as executive chef. Mr Graveson said: [The course] has been pretty tough but I just wanted to make myself better. I wanted to become someone new. I wanted to put my medic career to bed and then move on. And I have, I am Ben the chef now. Beyond Food was established in 2004 by chef Simon Boyle. For almost a decade it has been running Brigade Bar & Kitchen, a social enterprise restaurant in a Grade II listed fire station at London Bridge. A number of the schemes trainee chefs, including Mr Graveson, have learned their trade there. C hilling footage played to the Grenfell fire inquiry today showed the moment a small kitchen fire leapt from a fourth-floor flat on to the outside of Grenfell Tower, where it grew to a blaze that killed 72 people. The video footage, filmed by onlookers at street level, was played as an expert said the blaze took just 10 minutes to spread to the exterior of the building after it breached the uPVC window fittings and ignited the external cladding. Professor Jose Torero said this then compromised the building's so-called "stay put" safety policy, and residents should have been told to evacuate. In a report prepared for a public inquiry into last year's June 14 disaster, he said this probably happened before 1.05am - about 11 minutes after the start of the fire and before firefighters had entered flat 16 to tackle it. Grenfell disaster: the Mayor set aside 6m for firefighting (Jeremy Selwyn ) / Jeremy Selwyn A video compilation played at the hearing in central London showed the flames then spread up the east side of the building. The footage shows the flames ignite the side of the building, rapidly moving up to the top floor of the tower. "Analysis indicates that a relatively minor, localised fire, compromised the uPVC window fittings and ignited one of the flammable components of the cladding by direct flame/plume impingement," Prof Torero wrote. "From this point forward, the stay-put strategy was compromised and evacuation of occupants was an option to consider." The fire safety expert said such a kitchen fire was an "inevitable and perfectly foreseeable event" in a high-rise residential building such as Grenfell, but should have been contained. 72 people were killed in the fire last year / Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images "Fires are common events, but fires that create significant damage are rare events," he said, explaining how buildings are designed with layers of safety. "The building is required to respond and deliver... so that a fire of this nature does not progress beyond a kitchen." Summarising his evidence, counsel for the inquiry Kate Grange QC said: "In the event of any fire starting near a window at Grenfell Tower, there was disproportionately high probability of fire spread to the cladding system?" "Absolutely," said Prof Torero, who is John L. Bryan chair at the Department of Fire Protection Engineering and the director of the Centre for Disaster Resilience at the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Maryland, in the US. He said there was evidence the building's compartmentation system had failed by 1.05am, "clearly failed" by 1.08am, and that by 1.11am it would have been obvious to firefighters that something was burning on the outside of the building. Once compartmentation is breached, this "invalidates the stay-put policy", Prof Torero explained. "Would you agree that once compartmentation is breached, evacuation is necessary to secure the fire safety of those in the building?" "Yes," said Prof Torero. Ms Grange continued: "And is it the only viable option at that point?" The witness said: "Yes." However, the London Fire Brigade did not implement a change in its stay-put advice until 2.47am. Prof Torero said that "fire spread up the facade was inevitable once the fire was established on the outside of the facade system" and that vertical fire spread from the fourth floor to the roof within 12 to 15 minutes from the establishment of flames on the facade. A lifeboat crew came to the rescue of a tiny Chihuahua and its owner stranded by the rising tide on the Thames foreshore. Katie McDonald climbed down on to the muddy bank after her dog plunged 15ft to the riverside during a walk in Hammersmith. The pair then became stuck as water levels reached their highest point in the day. Unable to climb to safety, Ms McDonald called the RNLI shortly after 10.15am to rescue her along with her pet from the foreshore about half a mile from Hammersmith Bridge. A lifeboat team was scrambled from the RNLIs Chiswick base, and within minutes the crew had found Ms McDonald and the dog, who were very muddy but unhurt. This was the eighth dog our crew has helped this year, said Chiswick RNLI helmsman Glen Monroe, after the rescue on November 11. The woman was rescued, clutching her chihuahua / RNLI/David Clarke It was fortunate that the Chihuahua fell into soft mud and wasnt injured. As in many other incidents, evacuating casualties into the lifeboat was the only safe option. With a launch target of 90 seconds and the speed of the E-class lifeboat we can reach any incident in a few minutes. A policeman was caught on camera knocking on the door of No10 so that the cat could be let inside. Viewers reacted with delight asking whether there was 'anything more British' after the adorable moment unfolded in the background of a Sky News broadcast on Brexit. The segment included a presenter standing at 10 Downing Street discussing the recent attempt to unseat Theresa May with a confidence vote. As the reporter described the "immediate threat that appeared to be looming at the back end of last week", feline-in-residence Larry sat waiting on the doorstep. As the broadcast continued, Larry twitched his ears in apparent impatience. Fortunately, his bid for attention did not go unnoticed. A policeman wearing body armour and a helmet nipped in to knock on the door, which was then opened to let Larry in. The clip offered relief for political observers at a time when turbulent discussions are ongoing over how Brexit will proceed. "I was distracted by the cat for the entire segment," said one viewer. T he Museum of London is considering purchasing parts of Boris Johnsons water cannon after they were sold to a scrapyard at a loss of over 300,000. The three riot control vehicles were purchased from the German federal police. However in 2015, they were banned from being used by then home secretary Theresa May, consigning them to a storage yard in Gravesend. The museum is looking to purchase some objects from the scrapyard as part of a collection which would aim to tell the story of modern policing in the capital. It would be located at the museums new Smithfields site. A Museum of London spokesperson told the Standard: Many of our most interesting objects come from scrap heaps, indeed almost all archaeological finds are human waste of some sort. The water cannon have been dismantled and sold as scrap metal Whether its possible to salvage a part of the water cannon from the scrap yard has yet to be determined, but even a section of it could help to tell a complex story about policing in the capital , which forms an important part of our collection. The water cannon were bought for 85,022 by the Mayors Office for Policing and Crime, on the advice of police chiefs, in the wake of the 2011 London riots. But in 2015, Theresa May refused to licence their use on the UK mainland, saying they could cause primary, secondary and tertiary injuries such as spinal fracture, concussion, eye injury and blunt trauma and risked inflaming community tensions. After taking office in 2016, Mr Khan vowed to sell the cannon as he revealed that a further 237,812 had been spent bringing them up to scratch. This included 3,100 on sirens, 4,500 on Battenberg police vehicle markings and 970 on radio and CD players. A victim of the black cab rapist today declared we won after it was ruled he must stay in prison as Justice Secretary David Gauke said he hoped new measures would prevent a repeat of the controversy. Carrie Symonds, 30, spoke of her relief after a Parole Board decision to free John Worboys was reversed, saying: His victims have finally been vindicated. She praised readers of the Standard who helped raise 70,000 to challenge the original ruling, saying: The justice system and the parole board let us down very badly. "We knew he remained a danger to women and we knew we had to do all we could to prevent anyone else being drugged, assaulted and raped. And now finally weve been listened to and proven right. He had been jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, after being convicted of 19 offences against 12 victims. Following his conviction, police said 100 women could have been attacked in London. John Worboys: it has been ruled that the notorious rapist must stay in prison / PA In March, the Parole Boards release direction was quashed by the High Court after a legal challenge by two of his victims. As a result Worboys, 61, was kept behind bars until the case was reassessed by a new panel. Yesterday, the review decided that Worboys should remain in prison because of his sense of sexual entitlement, a need to control women and his belief that rape was acceptable. The new three-member panel reversed the original decision with a damning assessment that he was still a danger to the public. Mr Gauke today said a new mechanism would give victims the right to challenge decisions of the Parole Board without the need for a judicial review. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We are changing the system so there is now a reconsideration mechanism. So, rather than having to go to a judicial review, what will be available to victims and, indeed, the Justice Secretary, will be an ability to get a decision reconsidered if there is something wrong with it, and that wasnt the case before. "So we are, I hope, drawing a line under that, so we dont see a repeat of what happened with Worboys. Mr Gauke insisted that he had acted properly in the matter and defended his decision not to order a judicial review into the boards original ruling. Asked if Worboys should stay in jail for the rest of his life, Mr Gauke said: That is a decision for the Parole Board. He has clearly committed very serious crimes and if theres evidence that he is a continued risk, as appears to be the case here, then clearly he is someone who should not be freed. Worboys will be eligible for a further review within two years. Ms Symonds, who has waived her anonymity to speak about her ordeal, was only 19 when she was targeted. The former student was picked up at a bus stop in Fulham and drugged by Worboys in the back of his taxi. She says she cannot remember what happened next and only contacted police after reading in the Evening Standard about a taxi driver being arrested for spiking passengers with champagne. C ampaigners who have launched an industrial tribunal against the National Gallery are taking their case to Parliament. The National Gallery 27, a group of lecturers who used to give public talks at the gallery, are meeting Labour MPs Stella Creasy (far right), Neil Coyle and Helen Hayes (right) on Wednesday afternoon. The group complain that although they had performed their talks at the gallery for decades one for an impressive 45 years they were regarded as self-employed. When the Gallery moved staff from temporary to permanent contracts the majority were dismissed with little or no notice. Initially we were invited to a meeting where the gallery said they were having to restructure, which we all understood, one of the claimants tells us. But out of the 27 people now going to tribunal only eight people were given contracts. The campaigners have had to crowdfund their legal representation and are still 20,000 short of their 90,000 target having been unable to reach terms with the gallery. They hope that the intervention of the MPs will see questions asked in Parliament over what could be a landmark case for people on temporary contracts. The National Gallery is part-funded by the taxpayer and sits under the remit of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Their legal bills for the tribunal next week will be met by the public purse. We didnt want to go down the legal route, the claimant explained to the Londoner. We dont want to incur costs against the gallery as we all worked for a collection we loved. The National Gallery contends that it has done its best for staff. Jobs were offered to all of our existing freelance service providers last year. We have taken a deliberate choice to move towards a model that offers people secure employment, with additional pension and worker benefits. Jacquis blue-light dash to London Jacqui Smith, the former Home Secretary, says she learned to be scrupulous about concealing briefing notes nearly a decade after PC Bob Quick had to resign for inadvertently revealing top-secret documents about an imminent terror raid in 2009. I knew that it was all going to kick off, Smith says of the incident. Id literally just got to Brighton [on holiday] and my phone went. At the same time protection officers started walking towards me. We had to blue light it all the way back from Brighton to London. --- David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, attempted to sum up Brexit on the magazines latest podcast: It sounds to me like its a ... giant bollocks, he said. A silence followed, before his English guest offered: No one in England would use that idiom, David, although it is, indeed, as you say, a giant bollocks. --- Remnicks view is echoed by Stewart Jackson, aide to David Davis, who on the subject of the withdrawal deal growls: Theres nothing so depressing in modern politics as reams of Tory MPs posting sycophantic tweets about how everyone was cheering Mrs May to the rafters at the Little Snoring WI coffee morning. Spoiler: its invariably utter confected bollocks. Potter star Jason and Cressida sprinkle some magic at the Walpole awards Cressida Bonas and Johnny Coca (Photo Dave Benett/Getty Images) / Dave Benett/Getty Images for Wal Walpole hosted its annual Luxury Awards at the Dorchester last night, compered by actor Jason Isaacs. The Harry Potter star he played Malfoys deeply sinister father was fresh from his recent outbust on Twitter where he wrote of Donald Trumps showing in the US midterm elections: This gangster needs to end up in a boiler suit to match his jaundice. Americans, call your reps and demand answers. Europeans, er, do some retweeting and worry. Luckily for guests, Isaacs appeared on mellower form, dapper in his black tie and leading the presentations as a host of British design talent won awards. Actor Cressida Bonas handed over the Luxury Maker of the Year to Mulberrys creative director, Johnny Coca. Cressie was joined by fellow presenters Yasmin Le Bon, Lady Kitty Spencer and June Sarpong. SW1A Tony Blair, on the day he departed No 10, stood on a footstool, made a handsome little speech and then all his staff drank champagne recalls his former aide Theo Bertram. Hours later Gordon Brown (below) arrived, heralding a new era of no champagne, only coffee. Bertram continues: Unlike Tony, from the very first moment he arrived, Gordon seemed to find it hard to enjoy being Prime Minister. --- Bertram, writing in The Jackal, also reveals that No 10 is falling apart not just metaphorically. Its Pillared Room has had to be reinforced with steel columns, disguised as marble pillars. These give the effect of being in a sumptuously decorated multi-storey car park. But there are thrills, including an old sword from the Emir of Kuwait [which] sits in its sheath on a side table and a bookcase on one wall, where, from the spine of her autobiography, Margaret Thatcher fixes you with a cold stare. Quote of the day 'This is a process not a moment Steve Baker MP, who claimed last week there were enough letters of no confidence to force a vote on Theresa Mays leadership, now says coups take time Alls well if and when it ends well T he Government is to publish economic forecasts comparing Theresa May's Brexit deal with the UK remaining in the EU following pressure from MPs. Eleven Conservatives, including former minister Jo Johnson who quit over Brexit and Anna Soubry, were among 70 MPs to sign an amendment to a Budget Bill in the House of Commons on Monday. Leading Labour Remain campaigner Chuka Umunna put forward the amendment that sought to force the government to publish economic forecasts on the Prime Minister's EU withdrawal agreement, a no-deal Brexit and remaining in the UK. Treasury Minister Robert Jenrick conceded that the government would release a comparative analysis of the three scenarios. Previously, the government had only pledged to publish an assessment of the impact of leaving the EU with a deal compared to leaving with no deal. TODO: define component type apester Labour MP Mr Umunna, a leading supporter of the People's Vote campaign who tabled the motion, said it showed the growing support for a second EU referendum. He said: "This was the first test of strength facing the People's Vote campaign in Parliament since the government published their draft deal, and it is one that we in the campaign have won after gaining support from all sides of the House. Chuka Umunna tabled the motion / Steve Parsons/PA The economic forecasts will be published before MPs vote on Mrs May's withdrawal bill in Parliament. The latest development comes as Prime Minister Mrs Mays DUP coalition allies accused her of breaking fundamental promises on Brexit. Under pressure: Theresa May / Getty Images And the party made its unhappiness clear when it cut the governments majority to just five on a vote on the Budget in the Commons on Monday. Under the terms of the DUP deal, agreed after Mrs May lost her parliamentary majority after her disastrous general election, the Northern Irish party is supposed to prop up the Conservatives in Commons votes. But DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said Mrs May's deal with Brussels breached a "fundamental" assurance that Northern Ireland would not be separated constitutionally or economically from the rest of the UK. "We had to do something to show our displeasure," he told BBC2's Newsnight. T heresa May's DUP allies have delivered warning shots to the Prime Minister after accusing her of breaking fundamental promises on Brexit. The party joined with Labour to cut the Government's majority to just five in a Commons vote on the Budget. They also abstained on a series of other amendments to the Finance Bill on Monday night in a move intended to send a "political message" to Mrs May. Their actions appeared to call into question the future of the "confidence and supply" arrangement by which the DUP props up Mrs May's minority Conservative Government. DUP leader Arlene Foster (right) and deputy leader Nigel Dodds speaking to the media in the Great Hall at Stormont, Belfast / PA Wire/PA Images Under the terms of the deal, agreed after Mrs May lost her Commons majority in last year's general election, the Northern Ireland party is supposed to back the Government on Budget matters and on confidence votes. But DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said Mrs May's deal with Brussels breached a "fundamental" assurance that Northern Ireland would not be separated constitutionally or economically from the rest of the UK. "We had to do something to show our displeasure," he told BBC's Newsnight. "All of them were designed to send a message to the Government: 'Look, we have got an agreement with you but you have got to keep your side of the bargain otherwise we don't feel obliged to keep ours'. "She has broken all of those promises - to the people of the United Kingdom, to her own party and to the people of Northern Ireland." Under pressure: Theresa May / EPA For Labour, shadow cabinet office minister Jon Trickett said the DUP's withdrawal of support on a Budget measure raised questions as to how long the Government could carry on in the face of widespread opposition to her Brexit deal. "We no longer have a functioning government. With Brexit only a few months away something has got to give," he said. The DUP warning adds to the pressure on the Prime Minister just as a move to unseat her by Tory Brexiteers appeared to have stalled. Members of the Conservative European Research Group were last week confidently predicting they would get the 48 letters of no confidence needed to trigger a vote in her leadership. Mary Lou McDonald on Brexit: Arlene Foster should 'wake up and smell the coffee' However, there has been no announcement from the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, they have reached that tally while the number of MPs who have publicly declared they submitted letters remains in the twenties. There were also reports that the so-called "pizza club" group of Cabinet Brexiteers was backing away from a plan to go to the Prime Minister to demand she re-opens negotiations with Brussels on a key element of the agreement. Michael Gove - who last week turned down the job of Brexit Secretary following the resignation of Dominic Raab - Andrea Leadsom, Penny Mordaunt, Liam Fox and Chris Grayling were all reported to be unhappy with the terms over the Northern Ireland border. However there was little sign that they were preparing to force a fresh showdown at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street on Tuesday. Worth it? Pro and anti-Brexit protestors in Westminster / Bloomberg via Getty Images Ahead of the meeting, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt delivered a renewed warning against any attempt to oust the Prime Minister. "Seeking to remove her risks the most appalling chaos that could be immensely damaging to our national reputation, but also destabilising and potentially stopping us getting through to the other side of Brexit," he told The Guardian during an official visit to Tehran. Meanwhile, in a further sign of the Government's weakness, ministers were forced to offer fresh concessions to stave off a damaging defeat over the publication of the Government's assessment of the economic impact of Brexit. Treasury Minister Robert Jenrick told MPs they would now release a comparative analysis of the economic impact if Britain was to remain in the EU rather than leave in March 2019. Jeremy Corbyn: Brexit can be 'catalyst' for UK economy Previously, the Government had only undertaken to publish its assessment of the impact of leaving with a deal compared to a no-deal Brexit. However, it was left facing the prospect of a defeat after a cross-party group of MPs - including Tory Remain supporters Jo Johnson and Anna Soubry - backed a motion calling for a comparison with the status quo. Labour MP Chuka Umunna, a supporter of the People's Vote campaign who tabled the motion, said it showed the growing support for a second EU referendum. "This was the first test of strength facing the People's Vote campaign in Parliament since the Government published their draft deal, and it is one that we in the campaign have won after gaining support from all sides of the House," he said. TODO: define component type apester T he Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to support Theresa Mays Brexit deal for the second day in a row. The partys deputy leader Nigel Dodds made clear the DUP was ready to continue voting against the Government. He called for the Prime Minister to ditch her draft EU divorce proposals and work for a better deal. It comes after the party yesterday delivered warning shots over Brexit, accusing Mrs May of breaking fundamental promises. DUP leader Arlene Foster (right) and deputy leader Nigel Dodds / PA Wire/PA Images It appeared to call into question the future of the "confidence and supply" arrangement by which the DUP props up Mrs May's minority Conservative Government. Under the terms of the deal, agreed after Mrs May lost her Commons majority in last year's general election, the Northern Ireland party is supposed to back the Government on Budget matters and on confidence votes. The move piles further pressure on Mrs May as she prepares to meet EU leaders for a final crunch meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. Mary Lou McDonald on Brexit: Arlene Foster should 'wake up and smell the coffee' The Prime Minister will hold talks with EU President Jean-Claude Juncker as she scrambles to close her Brexit divorce deal. Mr Dodds said that the agreement with Conservatives committed the DUP to pursue the shared objectives of strengthening the Union and seeking a Brexit that benefits all parts of the UK. While the DUP had "kept to our word" on the agreement, the resignation of several Conservative ministers showed that Mrs May's deal "does not represent those shared objectives", he said. Smiles: Theresa May greets DUP leader Arlene Foster at No 10 in June last year / PA He added: "The Government will require DUP support to deliver its domestic agenda. We will continue to use our influence for the good of everyone across the United Kingdom. "If the Government can look beyond a Withdrawal Agreement, which is uniting people from across the political spectrum against it, and instead work towards a better deal, then an outcome can be delivered that truly works to benefit all parts of the United Kingdom." Jacob Rees-Mogg warned earlier that the Conservatives will be stuck with Mrs May as leader for the next general election unless they move to get rid of her now. Amid signs the attempt by Brexiteers to force a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister has stalled, Mr Rees-Mogg acknowledged they were struggling to get the support they needed. Under pressure: Theresa May / EPA However, the leader of the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) insisted there was little enthusiasm among Tory MPs for Mrs May to take them into the next election, due in 2022. "I think it is now or the Prime Minister will lead the Conservatives into the next election," he told reporters at a Westminster news conference. "You find MPs privately who will say to you they think that is a really good idea in any number and I would be quite surprised." Mrs Mays meeting in Brussels comes ahead of a special EU Brexit summit on Sunday. Mr Rees-Mogg arrives to chair an pro-Brexit ERG event in central London / AFP/Getty Images In a move likely to be welcomed by Brexiters, Number 10 confirmed that the Government would look at potential technological solutions to keep the Irish border open when Mrs May meets leaders for talks. Mrs May's official spokesman confirmed that references in last week's draft agreement to "alternative arrangements" for the border could involve technical measures of the kind previously promoted as the "maximum facilitation" solution, or Max Fac. Last week, senior ERG figures were confidently predicting they would get the 48 letters of no confidence from MPs needed to trigger a vote in Mrs May's leadership But with Brexiteers apparently divided over whether it was the right time to mount a challenge, the prospect of them achieving their target appeared to be dwindling. However, Mr Rees-Mogg warned that they needed to consider whether they really wanted to carry on with her at the helm. M Ps have rejected Theresa May's Brexit plans in a historic vote which has thrown the future of her administration and the nature of the UK's EU withdrawal into doubt. It came after the Prime Minister made a last-ditch appeal for MPs to back the Withdrawal Agreement which she sealed with Brussels in November after almost two years of negotiation. The 230-vote margin was by far the worst suffered by any Government in a meaningful division since at least the First World War and in normal circumstances would be enough to force a Prime Minister from office. But Mrs May made clear she intends to stay on, setting out plans for talks with senior parliamentarians from parties across the Commons in the hope of finding "genuinely negotiable" solutions which she can take to Brussels. Jeremy Corbyn said the "catastrophic" defeat represented an "absolutely decisive" verdict by MPs on Mrs May's handling of Brexit and her deal. Here, the Standard outlines the crucial key points made in the draft proposal: EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier holds the draft withdrawal agreement / AP The Irish border The most contentious issue is the Northern Irish 'backstop', which is essentially an insurance policy to avoid a return to border checks between Britain and EU-member Ireland that could threaten the 1998 peace accord, which ended 30 years of violence. The draft deal envisages a July 2020 decision on what would have to be done to make sure the border stays open after the post-Brexit transition runs its course. Thats if a new trade deal is not in place by then. Either Britain would need to extend the transition period once beyond December 2020, or go into a customs arrangement that would cover all of the United Kingdom. Under those arrangements, Northern Ireland would be aligned more closely with the EU's customs rules and production standards. Any changes to or termination of those arrangements, after the end of the transition, would have to be agreed between London and Brussels. Theresa May delivers her Brexit statement at Downing Street / Getty Images Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose desire to avoid a hard border was central for Brussels, said the deal satisfied all Dublin's key priorities. But it remained unclear if the arrangement will pass muster in parliament as many pro-Brexit lawmakers demanded Britain must be able to unilaterally withdraw from the backstop to avoid being chained to the EU in perpetuity. "I cannot support the proposed agreement in parliament and would hope that Conservative MPs would do likewise," Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of an influential group of pro-Brexit Conservative lawmakers, wrote in a letter to his party colleagues. Fisheries The EU has said repeatedly that it would not allow British seafood exporters quota and tariff-free access to EU markets unless it is in exchange for a reciprocal agreement that EU fishing fleets are able to continue operating in British waters. But the withdrawal agreement essentially goes only as far as to say that the EU would apply tariffs on fish until a separate deal was struck on access to EU fishing in Britains waters. Citizens rights Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator gave a press briefing after Theresa May's cabinet backed a draft EU-UK agreement. / EPA Ending freedom of movement was a key demand for many who voted Leave, and will happen at the end of the transition period. Future immigration rules were not included in the negotiation process. This means Britain has flexibility to set its own. The existing rights of the millions of EU citizens living in the UK and the Britons living in elsewhere in the bloc had already been guaranteed. Transition period Britain will leave the EU on March 29 but remain inside the bloc's single market and bound by its rules until the end of December 2020, while the two sides work out a new trade relationship. The transition period can be extended by joint agreement before July 1, 2020 if both parties decide more time is needed. Divorce bill Britain agrees to cover contributions to staff pensions and commitments to EU programmes the UK made while a member for the funding period that runs to 2020. The bill has previously been estimated at about 39 billion ($50 billion). Difficult road ahead The ultimate outcome for the UK remains uncertain after Mrs May's deal was rejected. Scenarios range from a calm divorce to another referendum. As it stands, the UK is set to leave on March 29 but one of the outcomes could see Article 50 extended, meaning Britain would leave at a later date. Barnier: Brexit draft deal is a decisive step Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a motion of no confidence against Mrs May after her deal was voted down, meaning a General Election could take place. Mrs May, an initial opponent of Brexit who won the top job in the turmoil following the referendum, has staked her future on a deal that she hopes will solve the Brexit riddle: leaving the EU while preserving the closest possible ties. Opponents of Brexit say Britain will lose more than it can possibly gain from quitting such a big single market and political alliance. Some want another referendum. L abour shadow treasury minister Clive Lewis is facing backlash online after he pretended to shoot himself in the mouth during a Commons debate. The MP for Norwich South was seen reacting to comments from a Conservative MP during a debate on the Finance Bill on Tuesday. He could then be seen chuckling to himself after making the gesture. Many people took to social media to criticise Mr Lewis with some some claiming he "mocked suicide". Cameron Bradbury said: Just Clive Lewis being inappropriate in the Chamber whilst debating the Finance Bill. Just a touch childish, dont you think. While India Rees said: Mocking suicide is wrong on so many levels.suicide is never a joke., especially not as a front bench MP, and v disrespectful to his fellow MP Anneliese Dodds. Paul Church wrote: 6,213 people died of suicide in the UK last year. Its no laughing matter & this behaviour is ill-befitting of any MP, never mind a frontbencher. Clive Lewis should be ashamed of himself. However Julia Hartley-Brewer, Talk Radio's breakfast presenter, came to the MPs defence. She said: Right, Clive Lewis is NOT mocking suicide, he is making a figurative joke about wanting to kill himself rather than listen to any more nonsense. This is not mocking anyone, its a joke. Everyone, calm down. Can we please stop pretending to be offended by *everything*? Mr Lewis has been contacted by the Standard for comment. F oreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt today made an emotional plea to Iran for the release of jailed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, saying: No child should have to go this long without their mother. He made the impassioned call as he departed the country after apparently having a request to meet the 39-year-old charity worker from Hampstead rejected. Her family welcomed Mr Hunts plea which signals a marked escalation in tone from the UK Government. Tehran is facing cooling international relations, following the US decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal and renew oil sanctions. Mr Hunt met Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes parents, brother and her four-year-old daughter Gabriella, a British citizen who was separated from her mother when she was arrested in April 2016. Exchange of gifts: Jeremy Hunt meets Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffes daughter Gabriella, four Today her husband Richard told the Evening Standard: Mr Hunt bought presents for Gabriella and a little stuffed elephant, and his daughter who is also four made her a postcard with stickers on. Gabriella had drawn him a picture too. Nazanin had made two dolls, one for Gabriella and one for his daughter. A family photo of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe reunited with her daughter, Gabriella, during Nazanin's recent temporary release from jail / Reuters She wanted to thank him for coming to Iran and for the effort he is putting in. I think Nazanins family were moved that he came and is paying such close attention to this. Personally, I was really pleased how clear and straightforward he was with his comments. Mr Hunt tweeted: No child should have to go this long without their mother. #FreeNazanin. Given the swirling vulnerabilities with Iranian and British politics, being clear and consistent on where the UK stands is important. If you say its not acceptable [to have jailed Nazanin], then everybody can understand each other. Mr Hunt tweeted: No child should have to go this long without their mother. #FreeNazanin. During his first visit to the country as Foreign Secretary, he met foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to request Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes release and also discuss Donald Trumps decision to re-impose sanctions and withdraw from an international accord over the Iranian nuclear programme. There were hopes that Mr Hunt would be allowed to meet officials from the judiciary and Revolutionary Guard, who have the most control over the case, but this is not thought to have gone ahead. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was seized at Tehran airport as she tried to fly back home to London after a family holiday to introduce Gabriella, then 22 months old, to her parents. She is serving a five-year sentence after being convicted of plotting to overthrow Irans Islamic clerical establishment, a charge denied by her family and the Foundation. She has been imprisoned in a wing for political prisoners in Evin jail. Mr Hunt is the third senior government figure to fly to Iran to press the case for her release. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson visited last year and Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt has also met Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes family in Tehran. Theresa May made a direct appeal to President Hassan Rouhani of Iran when they met at the fringes of a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. Mr Ratcliffe said that there had been a clear shift from the Foreign Office in their approach and a hardening of their stance on Irans jailing of dual nationals. He added: I spoke to Nazanin this morning. She said her stomach was like a dishwasher and she was stressed, but there is a little bit of hope. Mr Johnson sparked outrage this year when he suggested Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been teaching journalists in the country before her arrest, which the family deny. This is believed to have led to increased tensions over the affair. A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Muslim religious scholars in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least 43 people, officials have said. Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said another 83 people were wounded in the Kabul attack, which took place as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. He added that more than 20 people are in a critical condition and that the toll could rise. The suicide bomber was able to sneak into a wedding hall in Kabul where hundreds of religious scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the occasion, Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. No one immediately claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and a local Islamic State affiliate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past. An Afghan police officer keeps watch at the site of a suicide bomb attack / REUTERS "The victims of the attack unfortunately are all religious scholars who gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad," said Basir Mujahid, spokesman for the Kabul police chief. He said police had not been asked to provide security for the event, and that the bomber had easily slipped into the hall. Most wedding halls have private security. Armed police at the scene of the attack / REUTERS Mohammad Muzamil, a waiter at the wedding hall, said he had gone into the back to fetch water for the guests when he heard the explosion. "Everything was covered with smoke and dust," he said. "There were dead bodies all around on the chairs, in large numbers." Police sealed off roads leading to the scene of the attack and ambulances could still be seen going in. Hundreds of family members and relatives gathered at local hospitals, looking at lists of those killed and wounded that were posted outside. Relatives of blast victims gather outside a hospital following the blast / AFP/Getty Images IS claimed a suicide bombing in June that targeted a meeting of the country's top clerics in the capital. That attack killed at least seven people and wounded 20. The body of religious leaders targeted in June, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, had issued a decree against suicide attacks and called for peace talks. IS said it had targeted "tyrant clerics" who were siding with the US-backed government. The Taliban denied involvement in the June attack but they also denounced the gathering. Both militant groups want to overthrow the US-backed government and impose a harsh form of Islamic rule, but they are bitterly divided over leadership and ideology, and they have clashed on a number of occasions. A police officer who was fired upon during a shooting at a Chicago hospital was saved after a bullet hit his gun. The officer had confronted the gunman, who killed three people including a fellow cop, at Mercy Hospital during the horrific incident on Monday afternoon. Images show his damaged holster and a bullet lodged into the side of the gun. The officer was remarkably uninjured. His colleague, 28-year-old Samuel Jimenez, died in the shooting which started with an argument in the car park of the hospital. The former partner of an emergency room doctor is said to have pulled a gun from his waistband and opened fire. Chicago shooting 1 /35 Chicago shooting Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez drives past AP Plain clothes Chicago police officer salute the arrival of the body of officer Samuel Jimenez EPA Chicago police officers and firefighters form an honor guard as the body of Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez AP Chicago firemen and police officers wait for the arrival of the body of police officer Samuel Jimenez EPA Chicago firemen and police officers wait for the arrival of the body of police officer Samuel Jimenez EPA A Chicago fire department ambulance passes under an American flag EPA Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, left, comforts Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson AP A Chicago fire department ambulance delivers the body of Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez to the Cook County Medical Examiners office EPA Chicago police officers wait for the arrival of the body of police officer Samuel Jimenez EPA Chicago police officers stand outside the University of Chicago Hospital Getty Images University of Chicago Hospital Getty Images Chicago police officers salute the ambulance bearing the body of Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez Getty Images Chicago police officers stand outside the University of Chicago Hospital Getty Images Chicago police officers stand outside the University of Chicago Hospital Getty Images A Chicago police officer carries a blue and white flag as he and other officers and firefighters file into the the Cook County Medical Examiners office after the arrival of the body of police officer Samuel Jimenez EPA A police officer (R) escorts Mercy Hospital workers to the main entrance Getty Images People are seen inside the main entrance of Mercy Hospital Getty Images People are escorted outside Mercy Hospital Getty Images Chicago police officer walks with his police dog outside Mercy Hospital Getty Images People are seen inside Mercy Hospital Getty Images A nurse exits Mercy Hospital Getty Images A woman is escorted outside Mercy Hospital Getty Images Police and firefighters follow the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez as it arrives at the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Chicago firefighters and police officers line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Chicago firefighters and police officers line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying the body of Police officer Samuel Jimenez arrive at the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Chicago police officers and firefighters line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez drives past Getty Images Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez drives past Getty Images Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez drives past AFP/Getty Images Chicago firefighters and police officers line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Police and firefighters follow the ambulance carrying the body of Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez AFP/Getty Images Police and firefighters follow the ambulance carrying the body of Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez Getty Images Police and firefighters salute as an ambulance arrives at the medical examiner's office carrying the body of Chicago Police Department Officer Samuel Jimenez AP Chicago Police officers monitor the area outside of the Chicago Mercy Hospital AFP/Getty Images Doctor Tamara O'Neal, 38, was shot dead in the car park, while bystander Dayna Less, 25, a first year pharmacy resident, died when she came out of a lift in the building. A friend of Ms O'Neal had tried to intervene in the argument when "the offender lifted up his shirt and displayed a handgun," Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson said. Tamara O'Neal died in the shooting at Mercy Hospital / Franciscan Health The friend then ran into the hospital to get help, and gunfire began seconds later. After Ms O'Neal was shot she fell to the ground. The gunman "stood over her and shot her three more times," a witness named James Gray told reporters. Chicago shooting: Two hospital employees and police officer among four dead Officers then arrived and the suspect fired at their squad car and ran inside the hospital. The police gave chase. Inside the hospital, the gunman exchanged fire with officers and "shot a poor woman who just came off the elevator", Supt Johnson said, referring to pharmaceutical assistant Ms Less. Samuel Jimenez was among the victims of the shooting "We just don't know how much damage he was prepared to do," he said, adding that Ms Less "had nothing to do with nothing." Mr Jimenez was also shot inside the hospital. He was later pronounced dead. T ributes have been paid to a police officer, a doctor and a pharmaceutical assistant who all died in Americas latest mass shooting at a hospital in Chicago. Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez, 28, was the first of the victims to be named following the shooting at Mercy Hospital on Monday afternoon. The hospital said two staff members who died were Tamara O'Neal, 38, an emergency room physician who never worked on Sunday because of her religious faith, and Dayna Less, 25, a first year pharmacy resident who had recently graduated from university. Police confirmed that Dr ONeal had been in a relationship with the gunman, who also died in the incident. He has been named locally as Juan Lopez. Chicago shooting 1 /35 Chicago shooting Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez drives past AP Plain clothes Chicago police officer salute the arrival of the body of officer Samuel Jimenez EPA Chicago police officers and firefighters form an honor guard as the body of Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez AP Chicago firemen and police officers wait for the arrival of the body of police officer Samuel Jimenez EPA Chicago firemen and police officers wait for the arrival of the body of police officer Samuel Jimenez EPA A Chicago fire department ambulance passes under an American flag EPA Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, left, comforts Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson AP A Chicago fire department ambulance delivers the body of Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez to the Cook County Medical Examiners office EPA Chicago police officers wait for the arrival of the body of police officer Samuel Jimenez EPA Chicago police officers stand outside the University of Chicago Hospital Getty Images University of Chicago Hospital Getty Images Chicago police officers salute the ambulance bearing the body of Chicago police officer Samuel Jimenez Getty Images Chicago police officers stand outside the University of Chicago Hospital Getty Images Chicago police officers stand outside the University of Chicago Hospital Getty Images A Chicago police officer carries a blue and white flag as he and other officers and firefighters file into the the Cook County Medical Examiners office after the arrival of the body of police officer Samuel Jimenez EPA A police officer (R) escorts Mercy Hospital workers to the main entrance Getty Images People are seen inside the main entrance of Mercy Hospital Getty Images People are escorted outside Mercy Hospital Getty Images Chicago police officer walks with his police dog outside Mercy Hospital Getty Images People are seen inside Mercy Hospital Getty Images A nurse exits Mercy Hospital Getty Images A woman is escorted outside Mercy Hospital Getty Images Police and firefighters follow the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez as it arrives at the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Chicago firefighters and police officers line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Chicago firefighters and police officers line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying the body of Police officer Samuel Jimenez arrive at the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Chicago police officers and firefighters line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez drives past Getty Images Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez drives past Getty Images Firefighters and police officers salute as the ambulance carrying Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez drives past AFP/Getty Images Chicago firefighters and police officers line up outside of the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Getty Images Police and firefighters follow the ambulance carrying the body of Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez AFP/Getty Images Police and firefighters follow the ambulance carrying the body of Chicago Police officer Samuel Jimenez Getty Images Police and firefighters salute as an ambulance arrives at the medical examiner's office carrying the body of Chicago Police Department Officer Samuel Jimenez AP Chicago Police officers monitor the area outside of the Chicago Mercy Hospital AFP/Getty Images Dr O'Neal's colleague John Purakal described her as "beautiful, resilient, passionate". Tamara O'Neal died in the shooting at Mercy Hospital / Franciscan Health He tweeted: "I knew her, trained with her, saved lives with her and tonight, tried to save her life. Samuel Jimenez was among the victims of the shooting "Tonight, I broke down in front of my coworkers when we lost her, and tonight I held hands with her mother in prayer. Tonight, we lost a beautiful, resilient, passionate doc. Keep singing, TO." Another co-worker, Shannon McNamara wrote: "My sorrow knows no bounds. Sorrow at the unimaginable loss of life. Sorrow that this preventable death persists. Sorrow that one of our own, Dr. Tamara ONeal, was killed on her way to work in the Emergency Department today." Sharereh Drury said: "The ER doctor killed today in Chicago... helped mentor my husband. And so many others. "When he got home today, I hugged him so tight. Hed worked at Mercy, we prayed anyone he knew there was okay. "And we thought so, until we just read her name moments ago. Doctor Tamara ONeal." Police officer Mr Jimenez rushed towards danger to confront the gunman after he had opened fire outside before running into the hospital. Police said the father of three young children joined the department in February last year and had recently completed his probationary period. He is believed to have married his wife at the end of last year. Anthony Guglielmi, the chief communications officer at Chicago Police, wrote on Twitter: It's with profound sadness that we share the death of PO Samuel Jimenez from tonight's senseless active shooter incident. Please pray for his family, his fellow officers & the entire Chicago Police Department. Jimenez has arrived at the Cook County Medical surrounded by Chicago-area law enforcement and public safety community. Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson described Mr Jimenez and his fellow responding officers as heroes. Those officers that responded today saved a lot of lives because this guy was just shooting, he said. Pharmaceutical worker Dayna Less was among those killed Friends have also paid tribute to Dana Less, who was engaged to be married. She is understood to have only been working at the hospital since July. Nina Starcevich, who says she was a close friend of hers, wrote on Twitter: "Please pray for her mother, father, and fiance during this horrific time." Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also paid tribute to the victims during a press conference on Monday night. The city of Chicago lost a doctor, a pharmaceutical assistant, and a police officer, he said. All going about their day, all doing what they love. This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and the consequence of evil. A dead whale has washed ashore with a lump of rubbish in its stomach containing more than 1,000 plastic pieces. Rescuers found the rotting carcass of the 31-foot sperm whale in the Sulawesi province of Indonesia. The piles of trash in its stomach, weighing 13 pounds, included 115 plastic drinking cups, two flip-flops, four plastic bottles, 25 plastic bags, a nylon sack and more than 1,000 further plastic pieces. As the carcass was buried on Tuesday, environmental campaigners condemned throwaway culture which led to its suffering. Greenpeace said the discovery of the whale was a 'distress signal' on plastic rubbish / AP Louise Edge, senior oceans campaigner of London charity Greenpeace UK, said: If nature had a distress signal to warn us that it can't take any more of our plastic rubbish, it would look like this: a dead whale with 1,000 pieces of plastic in its stomach. Our throwaway culture has turned whales' guts into dustbins for our plastic waste. And the global plastic contamination doesn't end there. This material is already in the food we eat, the water we drink, and inevitably in our bodies too. It's clear that we can't go on like this. Plastic items obtained from the whale's belly / Alfi Kusuma Admaja/Akkp Wakatobi/Reuters She added: If we want to stop this slow-motion environmental disaster unfolding before our eyes, we need to immediately start cutting the amount of throwaway plastic we produce. The UK's Less Plastic campaign said: "We produce TOO MUCH plastic - thats why it ends up in a sperm whale's stomach, or inside a fish destined for your plate." The whale was buried on Tuesday after being found on Monday / AP Indonesia is the world's second-largest plastic polluter after China, according to a study by the Science journal. It produces 3.2 million tonnes of plastic waste a year, of which 1.29 million ends up in the ocean. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, a maritime affairs minister in the country, said the whale's discovery should raise public awareness about the need to reduce plastic use. He said: "I'm so sad to hear this. It is possible that many other marine animals are also contaminated with plastic waste and this is very dangerous for our lives." A US judge has blocked an order by President Donald Trump which denied asylum for immigrants who enter the country illegally from Mexico. In the latest courtroom blow to Trump's hardline immigration policy, District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco passed a temporary restraining order against the asylum rules. Mr Trump had declared that immigration officers would now only process asylum claims for migrants who present themselves at an official entry point, saying the system was currently overwhelmed. But civil rights groups hit back with legal action, saying the US president's November 9 order contravened immigration law. Rights groups say immigrants from the migrant caravan, like the ones pictured here, are being forced to wait weeks to present themselves for asylum / AFP/Getty Images In his ruling, Judge Tigar called the latest rules an "extreme departure" from practice set by Congress, which allows for immigrants to apply for asylum no matter how they entered the US. "Whatever the scope of the President's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," wrote the judge, who was nominated to the court by President Barack Obama. Courts have also blocked several of Trump's previous immigration policies, including measures targeting sanctuary cities. Immigrants reach for food handouts at a temporary migrant shelter set up near the US-Mexico border / Getty Images The asylum ruling came as thousands of Central Americans, including a large number of children, are travelling in caravans towards the US border to escape violence and poverty at home. Some have already arrived at Tijuana, a Mexican city on the border with California. But rights groups have said immigrants are being forced to wait days or weeks at the border before they can present themselves for asylum, and the administration has been sued for deliberately slowing processing times at official ports. Mr Trump sent more than 5,000 soldiers to the 2,000-mile frontier with Mexico to harden the border, although critics dismissed the move as a political stunt ahead of congressional elections on November 6. A pair of Good Samaritans found a lost bag stuffed with $25,000 (19,500) in cash - and returned it to the owner without taking a single penny. Convenience shop owner Gautambhai Patel, from Georgia, US, was driving with the sack of cash in his car when he received a phone call and pulled over. He finished the call and drove off home - only to realise he'd left the bag on his car, and it had fallen off. In a frantic search for the money, Mr Patel called Rincon Police, who sprang into action. "Our office began investigating but hoped that whoever would find the bag would do the right thing and turn it in," officers from Rincon said in a Facebook post. Within a few hours, Mr Patel was amazed to receive a call from the department saying two residents named Jeff and Mechelle Green had returned the bag untouched. Officers praised the Greens as "amazing people", writing: "They recovered the bag and made sure it was returned to the rightful owner. "We always encourage citizens to do the right thing both morally and legally! Thank you to the Greens!" Meanwhile Mr Patel praised the pair, telling ABC News: "The family is a good family. They have a good culture. People responded with delight on Facebook. "There is still good in the world!! Mr & Mrs Green are proof," wrote one person. The world is a very dangerous place! The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraqs fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. Iran states openly, and with great force, Death to America! and Death to Israel! Iran is considered the worlds leading sponsor of terror. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism. After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States. Of the $450 billion, $110 billion will be spent on the purchase of military equipment from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and many other great U.S. defense contractors. If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States! The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body. Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an enemy of the state and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world! I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction and they are free to do so. I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America. After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world. They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels so important for the world. As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First! T urkish media has released what it says are excerpts from the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. According to news outlet Haberturk, the 59-year-old journalist can be heard telling four officials who grabbed him when he entered the building: "Release my arm! What do you think you are doing?" The newspaper reports that his words are followed by "a verbal quarrel, noises of a physical fight and then beating and torture" evidenced by a seven-minute recording. During the killing, Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, the alleged leader of a 15-man "execution squad" sent to kill Mr Khashoggi, is said to have told him: "Traitor! You will be brought to account." Hatice Cengiz, Turkish finance of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, listens during an event organized to mark the 40th day of the death of the Saudi writer, in Istanbul / AP Shortly afterwards, one of the killing team complains of having to wear the Washington Post contributing columnist's clothes and act as a decoy, Haberturk reports. "It is spooky to wear the clothes of a man whom we killed 20 minutes ago," the man allegedly said. The authenticity of the tape excerpts is not confirmed and Saudi and Turkish officials have not yet commented. However media is tightly controlled in Turkey, and Haberturk is a staunchly pro-government title. Turkey has long maintained that it was in possession of a recording of the killing and said it had been shared with officials from Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, the US and UK. Donald Trump recently said he doesn't want to listen to the tape since he was told it was very violent and terrible, but that he has been told what it contains. He said: We have the tape, I dont want to hear the tape. Theres no reason for me to hear the tape. The brutal killing of Mr Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman, has drawn global condemnation including from many politicians and officials in the US, a key Saudi ally. The CIA has said Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi / Amir Levy/Reuters The CIA believes the crown prince ordered the killing, according to US sources familiar with the assessment. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Tuesday that claims of MBS's involvement in the killing were false, according to an Arabic-language newspaper interview. "We in the kingdom know that such allegations about the crown prince have no basis in truth and we categorically reject them, whether through leaks or not," Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was quoted as saying in Saudi-owned Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper. It was the first Saudi official comment on the CIA report. A "mommy blogger" has faced a fierce backlash after she complained that one of her children was not as popular on Instagram as the others. Katie Bower, who runs a well-read blog about her five children and has more than 52,000 followers on Instagram, posted a picture of one of her sons on his sixth birthday. At first the writer, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, described all the best things about the boy, writing on Instagram: "My [son] was just the best baby....cuddly and easy...a hard toddler...always on the move and slow to talk which led to lots of crying....and one of the most helpful and sweet hearted little boys." But she went on to say: "I am gonna be perfectly honest...Instagram never liked my Munchkin and it killed me inside. "His photos never got as many likes. Never got comments. From a statistical point of view, he wasnt as popular with everyone out there." She added: "Maybe part of that was the pictures just never hit the algorithm right. Part might be because he was 'the baby' for a very short amount of time... And people like babies. "I say all that because I want to believe that it wasnt him... that it was on me." She went on to ask followers to "like" the post for his birthday. She also added below: "PS: I wanted to clarify that I revealed this feeling because I know one day he will see the numbers and have to learn that his value is not in online approval." The post immediately provoked backlash, with readers upset that a child was being judged on their popularity as part of a social media "influencer" trend. One critic said: "I do hope she think before she write. What she put out there, is out there. I hope her son never sees her Instagram post on there or on internet. It broke my heart." Another person wrote on Twitter: "Someone needs to show her the social media episode of #BlackMirror stat. It is literally the world she imagines herself in today." One man said he gets "really annoyed" with parent bloggers. "Parents shouldn't be able to put their kids' faces on social media without giving them right of deletion on their 18th birthday," he wrote on Twitter. "All they're doing is trying to seek validation through people not old enough to give consent for photos." One of Ms Bower's readers, Lindy Johnson, wrote on Twitter: "In Katie Bower's defense (I have followed her for several years), she had five children in very quick succession and I suspect she is overwhelmed with the responsibility of the five kids and maintaining a popular and informative blog on 'home/diy/marketing themselves' articles." Ms Bower later deleted the post, writing that the "drama was out of hand" but insisted she had shared it to help people understand that social media is not the most important thing. "Kids are smart, y'all," she said. "Kids know there's likes on photos and it's very human nature to compare. So for me, my personal growth journey is teaching my kids it doesn't matter." Concern about the privacy of children in social media posts is not new. In 2012, writer Liza Long provoked ire by publishing an article in which she compared her 13-year-old son with mental health difficulties to Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old who carried out the Sandy Hook massacre. T eenage German Formula Three driver Sophia Floersch has told fans she survived a spine operation well with no fear of paralysis after a horror crash at the Macau Grand Prix. The 17-year-old suffered a spinal fracture at the street circuit on Sunday when her car catapulted off the track and into a photographers bunker while travelling at more than 171 mph. After a successful 11-hour operation, Sophia Floersch posted on social media today to thank well-wishers for giving her courage and motivation and vowed to make a comeback. She wrote: I survived the operation which took 11 hours well. Hope from now on it only gets better. I have to stay a few more days in Macau until Im transportable." German driver Sophia Floersch during the 65th Macau Grand Prix / EPA Before promising she is "going to come back", she added: I want to thank all of my fans for every single get-well wishes, which I now start reading. This really motivates me and gives me courage. My thoughts are also with everyone who was involved in the accident. I hope everybody is healthy. At the accident were really nice people, which I still have in my mind. Thank you for all the encouraging, calming words in these tough minutes in my car. Also a special thanks to Dr Riccardo Ceccarelli and my Team Van Amersfoort Racing, Facu and Ferdinand, who all suffer with me - you are phenomenal." German racer Sophia Floersch's car flying off the track at the Formula Three Macau Grand Prix in Macau / AFP/Getty Images Team boss Frits Van Amersfoort told the BBC everything is working and everything is in order with Ms Floersch. He said: Paralysis was the main fear. Thats why the operation had to be done quite quickly because there was a danger it [the spinal cord] could be damaged. We are extremely happy that she is now recovering and that everything went extremely well. "Theres no fear of paralysis whatsoever. Ms Floersch was conscious when she was taken to hospital in the former Portuguese colony, assuring her followers on Twitter at the time that she was fine. Shocking footage shows the Formula Three crash / Lucas Lam Jean Todt, president of the governing International Automobile Federation, later promised a full investigation into the horror crash. "After the serious incident today in Macau the FIA is mobilised to help those involved and analyse what happened," he said. "We will monitor the situation and make the necessary conclusions." Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi, who Ms Floersch hit before flying through the catch fencing, was also taken to hospital complaining of back pain. He has now been discharged. Chief Medical Officer of the Macau Grand Prix, Chan Wai Sin, said two photographers and one track marshal were also injured in the crash and taken to hospital for treatment. Crashes are frequent at the Macau Grand Prix which this year, in its 65th edition, hosted six car and motorcycle races on the 6.2-km Guia Circuit around the streets of the island. Last year, British motorcyclist Daniel Hegarty died after hitting the safety barrier during a race, the eighth rider to have lost his life on the circuit since 1973. Three motorcyclists were taken to hospital after crashes at the circuit this week with Britain Andrew Dudgeon requiring a metal rod to be inserted in his spine after a crash in practice. S oundCloud rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has been refused bail following his arrest on racketeering and firearms charges. The 22-year-old star, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, was arrested and taken into federal custody on Sunday. This was along with four others in an indictment alleging that he participated in the July shooting of a bystander in Brooklyn and the gunpoint robbery of one of his gang's rivals last spring. On Monday, US Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman concluded an hour-long hearing by citing "troubling" corroborating evidence 6ix9ine directed or participated in multiple acts of violence over the last eight months. Prosecutor assistant US Attorney Michael Longyear said a backpack stolen during a gunpoint robbery in April was found during a raid at 6ix9ine's Brooklyn residence, along with an automatic pistol. "The defendant is quite violent," the prosecutor said of a man whose debut album, Day 69, was among the most downloaded records on iTunes. He said 6ix9ine was captured on surveillance video as he sat in a car and filmed his co-defendants carry out a violent robbery against a rival gang member, in Times Square. He also accused the rapper, who has charted in the Billboard 100, of being part of a video boasting about shots recently fired by a co-defendant in Brooklyn's Barclays Center. In addition he said the rapper was a threat to flee because of his worldwide connections, access to money and the knowledge that a conviction would bring a mandatory minimum sentence of 32 years in prison and as much as life. Following this, Judge Pitman ordered 6ix9ine be held until a Tuesday bail hearing, and said he was concerned about the danger to the community. The rappers lawyer, Lance Lazzaro, said 6ix9nine did not pose a threat and denies directing or playing any other role in violence. In recent months 6ix9ines prestige in the rap scene has continued to grow, with his album Day69: Graduation Day among the top records on iTunes following its February release. However, he has had a series of run-ins with the law and publicly identified himself as a member of a violent New York gang, 9 Trey Bloods, which was mentioned throughout the indictment. Prosecutors said the gang carried out acts of murder, robbery and narcotics trafficking. The indictment said each gang member was required to participate in at least two acts of racketeering conspiracy, including acts such as murder, court documents said. 6ix9ine recently pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in Brooklyn Criminal Court in connection with a May traffic stop and in a 2015 case in New York, 6ix9ine was sentenced to probation for his involvement in a sexually explicit video of a 13-year-old girl. T hree men appeared in a Melbourne court today charged with planning to carry out a major terrorist attack in Australias second biggest city. It would have been the second terror attack in Melbourne this month. Hanifi Halis, 21, and brothers Ertunc Eriklioglu, 30, and Samed Eriklioglu, 26, were arrested in a series of pre-dawn raids by more than 200 anti-terrorism officers in the northern suburbs. Police allege they were plotting a mass shooting in a crowded public place and had been inspired by Islamic State. Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said the men, who were Australian nationals with a Turkish background, had recently attempted to obtain a .22 semi-automatic rifle. Police believe those arrested had not decided where to strike, but they feared the attack was imminent. They were trying to focus on trying to have a place where they could kill as many people as possible, he said. Were getting to a busy time of the year with a lot of mass gatherings and Christmas parties. While there appeared to be no direct link with the Bourke Street attack in the city earlier this month, in which three people were stabbed, one fatally, the commissioner said the three might have accelerated their plans. Theres certainly been a lot of publicity and talk about terrorism and certainly public place activity, Mr Ashton said. I dont know whether thats played a role or not, but certainly over the past week theyve become energised about doing something more quickly. The court was told that the case would rely on 17,000 intercepted telephone calls and thousands of text messages. Investigations into the groups activities had been going on for several months and their passports were cancelled earlier this year. They were remanded in custody until next April. D onald Trump and his wife Melania have taken the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. The president and first lady both took part in the annual event, which is watched around the globe, on Monday. This years tree stands at 19ft and is expected to be unveiled after the family returns from Thanksgiving in Florida. The Fraser fir, cut from a farm in Newland, North Carolina, was delivered to the front door of the White House via horse and carriage as is tradition. A horse and carriage pulls in to deliver this year's Christmas tree to the White House / AP Holding hands, the Trumps walked around the wagon and inspecting the tree, with the president appearing to nod in approval. The fir will go up in the Blue Room, where every year it becomes the festive centrepiece of the building. Melania and Donald Trump receive the tree at the front of the White House / REUTERS A massive chandelier hanging in the oval-shaped room is removed to accommodate the tree, which is trimmed slightly and anchored to the ceiling for stability. The tree's arrival ushers in a month of holiday festivities at the White House. On Tuesday, Mr Trump plans to participate in another seasonal rite: pardoning the National Thanksgiving Turkey. A pair of birds named Peas and Carrots are the candidates for this year's act of presidential mercy. The president is also expected to help light the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse later this month. After the pardons, the first family will head to Florida to keep their tradition of spending Thanksgiving at Mr Trump's estate in Palm Beach. T he White House may grant US troops on the border with Mexico the authority to defend customs and border personnel if necessary, an official has said. The official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said a public announcement could come by the end of Tuesday but that the finer details are still being worked on. There are around 5,900 active-duty troops on the border with Mexico after President Donald Trump sent reinforcements to tighten security before caravans of Central American migrants arrive. The move came right before US congressional elections, leading critics to claim it was aimed at shoring up the Republican vote. Migrants such as these Hondurans are moving towards the US border in hope of a better life / AFP/Getty Images In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would not comment on whether powers given to the troops would change. But it said it would not allow its officials to be harmed. "We will do everything we can to protect those who defend our nation's sovereignty and secure our border. "We appreciate the Department of Defense stepping in to assist the Department of Homeland Security as needed," Katie Waldman, a DHS spokeswoman, said. The news was first reported by CNN. About 6,000 Central Americans have reached the border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali, according to local officials. More groups of migrants are making their way toward Tijuana, with around 10,000 expected. D eadly shooting at Chicago hospital Four people are dead after a gunman opened fire at a hospital in Chicago. Two members of staff and the shooter himself were among those confirmed dead after the violence unfolded yesterday evening. Officials said the gunman appeared to target a woman he was in a relationship with. Of the deadly shooting, Chicagos mayor said: "This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and the consequence of evil. DUPs Brexit warning to PM Theresa Mays DUP allies have warned her to keep her side of the bargain on Brexit. The warning came as the partys MPs withheld support on votes for the Prime Ministers budget measures. The move sent a political message to Mrs May, Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said. It called into question the future of the "confidence" arrangement by which the DUP props up Mrs May's minority Government. Panic as Ryanair website crashes Ryanair customers trying to check in online were left frustrated last night when the budget airlines website crashed. Those trying to log in were met with a page that informed them the site was down for maintenance. The airline confirmed that there was a server issue however the website is now back up and running normally. White House backs down in press pass row The White House has backed down from its battle with CNN and its correspondent Jim Acosta by restoring the journalists press pass. This comes just days after the US administration was ordered to reinstate the senior reporters pass with immediate effect. The decision also reverses a letter by the White House on Friday that said Mr Acosta's press pass could be revoked again. It comes after Mr Acosta clashed with President Trump in a furious showdown during a press conference after the midterm elections. Meghan dazzles at first Royal Variety outing Pregnant Meghan Markle dazzled her fans as she arrived for her first ever outing at the Royal Variety Performance last night. She joined Prince Harry as they braved miserable weather to speak with well-wishers outside London's Palladium theatre. Expectant mother Meghan also met veteran boyband Take That and Britains Got Talent winner Lost Voice Guy at the star-studded event. On this day 1906: Charles Rolls and Henry Royce collaborated to form the car company Rolls-Royce Ltd. 1944: After five years of blackout, the lights were switched on again in Londons Piccadilly, Strand and Fleet Street. 1947: Princess Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten. It was the most glamorous royal occasion since before the war and the BBC covered it in 42 different languages. 1951: Snowdonia in Wales was designated a National Park. 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Under this agreement, which is subject to Final Investment Decision, ENGIE will purchase gas from the Ana and Doina gas reservoirs over a minimum period of 10 years in compliance with Romanian law. Expected contractual volumes at project completion represent 0.5 billion cubic metres per year. The gas will be delivered at the Vadu entry point into Romania's National Natural Gas Transmission System. The MGD Project consists of 5 production wells (1 subsea well at the 'Doina' field and 4 platform wells at the 'Ana' field), a subsea gas production system over the Doina well which will be connected through an 18 km pipeline with a new unmanned production platform located over Ana field. A 126 km gas pipeline will link the Ana platform to the new on-shore gas treatment plant. Black Sea Oil & Gas SRL, owned by Carlyle International Energy Partners and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is a Romanian based independent oil and gas company, targeting offshore exploration and development of conventional oil and gas resources. The company's current portfolio is made up of one licence comprised of the XV Midia shallow block in the Romanian Black Sea and the XIII Pelican block where it is the operator and holds a 65 pct interest. BSOG operates the blocks on behalf of its partners Petro Ventures Resources SRL (20 pct interest) and Gas Plus International BV (15 pct interest). Romania has to follow the recommendations of the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova said in Bucharest on Tuesday when asked about the report on Romania's progress under CVM referencing the removal of AG Lazar. She met Justice Minister Tudorel Toader at the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday. She said that she came to Romania because he had to prepare Romania's presidency of the EU Council. She said she was very productive and proposed many legislative projects, and she needs Romania to finalise the projects. On justice minister's steps to remove from office Attorney General Augustin Lazar, Jourova said that this is Romania's business. Asked to comment on the CVM report recommending that the removal should be halted, Jourova said she expects Romania to follow the recommendation, adding that her concern is with the European Prosecutor's Office, which should become operational in 2020, as she would like Romania to be represented there. My interests lies there, she said, adding that she will have a conversation with the Justice Minister. Jourova in Romania is scheduled to meet Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, Chief of the Supreme Court Cristina Tarcea, as well as President Klaus Iohannis. On Tuesday she was to meet Marius Pirvu, the chairman of the National Consumer Protection Authority to discuss key files in the field, and Ancuta Gianina Opre, chair of the National Authority for Personal Data Surveillance. On Monday she met Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici. According to the Representation of the European Commission in Bucharest, the purpose of the visit is to discuss the priorities in the justice area with the forthcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union and the latest developments in Romania's judiciary system. AGERPRES . Romania will take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union at an important and special moment, when it is a must to negotiate the multiannual financial framework and organize the European Parliament elections campaign, so things already look exciting, on Monday asserted the French Ambassador to Romania, Michele Ramis, in a specialist conference. 'Your country has a huge economic potential and a very strong potential for developing bilateral relations. The year 2019 will be intense. Things already look exciting along with the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Romania will take over the presidency in an important and special moment. Romania has to complete legislative projects, has to endorse 210 pieces of legislation on the legislative agenda. It will be a short mandate that will intervene exactly before the European Parliament elections. Romania will have to negotiate the multiannual financial framework and organize the campaign for the European Parliament, too. Romania's presidency will enjoy the entire support of France. I had a meeting with Mr. President Iohannis, in Sibiu, on 9 May so as to map the lines for Romania's presidency at the helm of Europe and I believe that exactly in these moments of doubt we must tighten the bilateral relations and place more the emphasis on what unites us rather than on what divides us. We will also have the 'French-Romanian Season' to be opened on 27 November 2018, a multi-disciplinary season, with economic, cultural activities a.s.o.. France and Romania do make an important team. We are drafting a lot of projects we are to unveil at the opportune moment,' Ramis said. The French diplomat also pointed out that Romania has recorded significant progress since its joining the European Union, in 2007, and yet the confidence of the business milieu is sometimes shaken by the sudden legislative changes that are affecting the stability climate. The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania (CCIFER) organized on Monday the annual conference with the theme 'Romania's economic outlook', an event that seeks to sum up the sectoral, regional, macroeconomic trends and the companies' morale regarding the current and future economic context, as well as the trends on the labour market. The General Council of 'Unitatea' - Metro Free Trade Union (USLM) decided on Tuesday to postpone the launch of the general strike until after a first meeting with the new Transport Minister, informs USLM. "Given that when we sent yesterday's press release [Monday, ed.n] I did not have the confirmation of the change of the Ministry of Transport's leadership, the General Council of USLM gathered today, 20 November 2018, in an extraordinary meeting, has decided to postpone the strike until after the new Transport Minister had taken office and the first meeting with the latter as the mediator of the present collective labor dispute, at a date we will announce," USLM points out. The Bucharest Tribunal ruled the warning strike triggered by the 'Unitatea' - Metro Free Trade Union on 15.11.2018 is illegal for breaking the Social Dialogue Law, metro operator Metrorex said on Monday. Metrorex employees were supposed to go on general strike for an indefinite period beginning Wednesday, November 21 between 4:00 - 16:00 hrs. The economic environment is deteriorating in Romania, and the perceptions are worsening because there is no predictability for investments, Francois Coste, President of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIFER) told a specialist conference. "CCIFER carries out two surveys each year, one barometer in June and another one in November. Your answers [of the French companies in Romania - ed.n.] are related to the nine criteria. We have four external criteria regarding the perception you have of the economic, political, social, and attractiveness for your companies. We also have other internal criteria - what the prospects for the development of the turnover, profitability, staff and investment are. Finally, we have a summary note and the average of the previous criteria. On the scale the responses range from 1 - very negative to 5 - very good impression. Thus, on the criterion of the economic environment in Romania, we have a rate of 2.91 on a scale from 1 to 5 in 2018, as compared to 3.12 in 2016. Although the GDP has grown, the perception of the economic environment in your country is worsening, as there is not enough public investment, which leads to an economic environment that is not sustainable, durable. We now have an exchange rate of 4.66 lei for one euro, the highest one so far," Coste said. According to the CCIFER representative, the political criterion analyzed by those surveyed in the new Barometer is "earthward". "The political criterion is earthward: as compared to 3.31 in 2015, we have 1.80 at present. What we see is a feeling of lack of predictability and instability stemming from the increased number of changes in Romanian legislation introduced through emergency ordinances. The social criterion drops from 3.71 to 2.76 this year, and this indicates the difficulty of retaining and finding quality collaborators, while social dialogue risks departing from the specific reality of each society. As for external factors, we lose a point of the rate and, compared to 3.44, we reach 2.98. Here Romania's attractiveness as a privileged area of competitiveness is affected by the increase in the cost of the human factor due to the shortage of the workforce. Labour force represents a long-term challenge. For turnover we have a rate of 3.43 and we are reasonably optimistic in terms of the economic growth. The well-being of French companies depends heavily on the health of the economic environment in South East Europe. As far as tax changes are concerned, the rate is decreasing from 3.61 in 2013 to 3.16 in 2018, a decrease that stands for the difficulties of our companies to hire and maintain our employees in the long term," Francois Coste maintained. The president of CCIFER also pointed out that "given these results of the Economic Barometer, the economic environment is deteriorating in Romania, but the strategic strengths of the country can represent a long-term competitiveness element." The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIFER) organized on Monday the annual conference on "Economic Perspectives of Romania". The event aims to capture the sectoral, regional, macroeconomic trends and the company morale on the current and future economic context, as well as the labour market trends. Strengthening the EU mechanism for efficiently and economically managing and using the European funds for the benefit of citizens was the main topic discussed on Monday evening by Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and Klaus-Heiner Lehne, the President of the European Court of Auditors, welcomed at Victoria Palace, informs a press release of the Government sent to AGERPRES. The premier reiterated the availability of cooperation with the auditing European forum, at this level, in view of maximising the absorption rate and ensuring an efficient management of the European funds, especially in domains of interest for Romania, such as infrastructure. At the same time, Prime minister Viorica Dancila appreciated the visit "as proof of the consolidation of the dialogue and collaboration" between the institutions in Romania and those in the EU, highlighting that the gov't "has been and is an institution open to dialogue on any theme that tackles the future of the European Union in its entirety and of Romania in particular." In the context of Romania's taking over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, premier Dancila conveyed that at present, "Romania is fully prepared to complete such a mission, being a country profoundly anchored in the European values, capable to assume a more active role in the decision-making process with an impact on all European citizens," the release further reads. The takeover by Romania of the presidency of the Council of the European Union, the cohesion policy, the Brexit and the Danube Strategy were the topics addressed on Tuesday by the President of the Senate, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, at a meeting he had with the delegation of the EU Auditors Court, headed by President Klaus-Heiner Lehne, a release by the Senate sent to AGERPRES informs. The Senate's head stressed that a "modern audit is a solid basis for quality public policies and for relevant legislative projects with an impact on the quality of the citizens' lives. Hence, Romania has to develop new collaboration leverages for the benefit of the population." Popescu-Tariceanu also said that an active dialogue with the EU Court of Accounts is useful, as well as the use of the latter's expertise in the improvement of the law-making process," the source adds. The meeting was also attended by Mihai Busuioc, President of the Court of Accounts, and George Pufan, member of the European Court of Accounts. The US government has constructed at tremendous cost to its taxpayers some of the most impressive structures both architectural and organizational of all time. Yet somehow it has failed to build a viable wall on the Mexican border. In 1931, during the Great Depression, the US government began construction of the Hoover Dam, one of the most ambitious civil engineering projects ever attempted. Employing thousands of US laborers, some 100 of whom reportedly lost their lives in the course of the project, the dam is mind-boggling due its sheer size, rivaling that of the pyramids. At 726 feet tall, the wedge-shaped structure is 660 ft (200 m) thick at its base, narrowing to 45 ft (14 m) at the top, which provides enough room to accommodate a highway connecting Nevada and Arizona. The project required millions of cubic feet of concrete said to be enough to pave a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York and tens of millions of pounds of steel. Many decades later, the US government undertook another extensive project known as the US Embassy in Baghdad. Although rarely discussed in the US media, this 104-acre slice of American property in a foreign country is so immense that it rivals Vatican City in terms of size [the Vatican is an independent city-state, complete with its own euro-based currency and security detail, located inside of Rome]. Officially opened in 2009, the $750 million embassy, which is situated in Baghdads so-called Green Zone, is by far the most expansive and expensive embassy in the world. Why does a foreign nation need a footprint the size of a small country to house a few thousand diplomats and private contractors? That is a very good question, but one that was never really pursued by legislators when Congress approved plans in 2005 for the mega structure under the Bush administration. To this day, much of the complex remains under heavy wraps due to security concerns. Yet this behemoth cash cow continues to suck money dry from government coffers; in 2012, just several years after its construction was finished, the Obama administration requested and got more than $100 million for a "massive" upgrade to the compound. Speaking of Iraq, which suffered military conquest at the hands of US-led forces starting in 2003, the United States also managed to find ways to construct some 900+ military bases around the world. Needless to say, this is no cheap venture, and helps to explain why the US military budget is approaching $1 trillion dollars annually more than China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, France, United Kingdom, and Japan combined. In light of these monumental projects, it goes without saying that the United States certainly possesses the technical prowess and the financial wherewithal to perform the simple task of building a wall, and more specifically, a wall on the Mexican border. Yet thus far, and despite the fact that Donald Trump pledged on the campaign trail that would be his first task in office, the wall remains a bit like Barack Obamas past promise to shut down Guantanamo Bay detention center a pipe dream. How did we Americans arrive at a place where such a fundamental element of nationhood that is, the ability to control our borders from any and all outside illegal intruders is considered a radical concept? Since when did the universally accepted idea of a strong national border become an issue for debate and contention among our legislators? Since when have weak, porous borders become a desired state of affairs for a global superpower, and especially one that has a habit of attacking sovereign states? Part of the answer seems to lie within the present atmosphere of political correctness and identity politics that has conflated the need for a strong border with racism and even white supremacist ideology. More on that in a moment. Just this week, part of the South American caravan that the US mainstream media had called a myth has turned up on Americas doorstep in the Mexican town of Tijuana. Images show dozens of young men straddling the top of the border fence with none of the US troops that Trump activated in sight. Now, if the US Democrats had their way, these thousands of illegal aliens would be awarded amnesty and shepherded into sanctuary cities where these individuals would slip undetected into the fabric of American society. And for those including the US president who voice opposition to this invasion, they are casually branded as racist or a white supremacist. However, the real motivation for the Democrats behind such ad hominem attacks is raw political opportunism. The Democrats are actually building part of their platform on awarding asylum to illegals, and despite the fact that many of these people are not suffering political repression back home. In fact, most of these people just want to improve their financial well-being. In other words, the great majority of these new arrivals as was established by on-the-ground interviews are economic migrants. And who can blame anyone for wanting a better life? After all, it was the incentive of economic opportunity that first brought millions of migrants to America in the first place. However, the difference between the migrants from past generations and many of those arriving today is that the former went through a lengthy legal process for entering the country. Today, it's even worse than just a matter of legality; it's a matter of criminality on multiple fronts. What the US mainstream media fails to inform the American public is that the overwhelming majority of people from this so-called caravan are young, male and oftentimes dangerous. This much was confirmed by Chris Farrell of Judicial Watch, one of the only Western journalists to actually travel to South America and report on the march of migrants firsthand. In addition to reporting that, in his estimation, some 98 percent of the migrants were young and male, he added that some of them bore tattoos that identified them as members of the notorious MS13 international crime gang. To get a better understanding of this caravan and the true makeup of its participants I would encourage the reader to watch Farrells interview in its entirety. Now this leads us to the question of constructing a wall on the US-Mexico border. To date, those efforts have gone fizzled. In March, Congress passed its trillion-dollar spending bill; glaringly missing from the numerous pages was funding for construction of Trumps wall. Instead, $1.6 billion was put aside for border security, as well as replacing parts of the existing fence. In other words, nothing that will prevent illegals from entering the United States. Republican Rep. Jim Jordan said this week that the Trump White House has one last chance with a lame duck Republican Congress still in place to secure funding for the US-Mexican border wall. We should be focused on that one main thing over the next several weeks as we still have a few weeks left while Republicans control all of government, Jordan said in an interview. Time is ticking like a bomb for the American people to restore control over its southern border, and there is no good excuse for not completing this monumental project. Americans should not be cowered by accusations of racism, when the country itself has been founded on the blood, sweat and tears of migrants throughout history. Much of the so-called racism that exists in America is a figment of the media's hyperactive imagination. Nor should the expense of the project considering the price tag for so many other US adventures and misadventures, up to and including wars abroad be a reason for preventing it. The overall cost of failing to protect Americas border will far excel the total price of a wall if action is not taken now. It's time for America to act like a real nation a superpower with a backbone and protect its border. When European leaders meet this weekend, they are expected to back the Brexit withdrawal package put forward by Britains Prime Minister Theresa May. For one thing, the other 27 EU members no doubt want to get shot of the debilitating debacle over Britains exit from the bloc, which has been grinding on for nearly two and half years since the country voted in a historic referendum to leave the union. The next move will then be May putting the Brexit package to the British parliament for a vote, probably early next month. Despite the hullabaloo last week from within her own Conservative party and the various opposition parties panning the proposed Brexit roadmap, the prime minister is betting on eventually getting enough lawmakers to vote for it. She will have to rely on opposition lawmakers, primarily from the Labour party, joining with Conservatives to endorse her proposed Brexit. Thats because it is expected that around 50 MPs among her Conservative back benches who are for a hard Brexit will likely vote against her withdrawal plan. They view the proposal as a sellout of Brexit because it envisages a transition period of up to two years during which Britain will effectively be still part of the EU in terms of single-market membership. The hard Brexiteers dream of Britain once again becoming a buccaneering free-trading nation, just as they imagine it was during the heyday of the British Empire more than a century ago. Such nostalgia seems delusional and fatal. In a heated three-hour House of Commons debate last week during which May was lambasted by lawmaker after lawmaker, it is evident that she is going to have a tough sell to get her Brexit proposal through a parliamentary vote. But what she is relying on is that the alternative would be so catastrophic that, in the end, parliamentarians will vote in support. If Mays Brexit package is not voted through, then the alternative is Britain crashing out of the EU on the March 29 deadline next year four months away with no trade arrangement in place with the bloc. Apart from a minority of hard Brexiteers, most Britons dread such a cliff plunge. The mayhem for the economy and society would be tumultuous. Nearly 50 per cent of Britains exports and imports are with the EU. If the country crashed out from the bloc abruptly there would be chaos from the imposition of border controls overnight. Londons financial center of Europe would be unceremoniously unplugged. So what May appears to be counting on is the fear factor. Its the equivalent of dangling someone over a precipice and asking them do they want to be pulled back. A majority of lawmakers may not like Mays Brexit proposal, but the alternative crashing-out scenario would be too much to bear. So they will vote to pass it, so she is betting. European leaders have said that there is no possibility of further negotiations. In effect, they are saying that Mays package is the only one on the table. For their part, its either back her deal or face a cliff plunge. You can understand the EUs frustration. The British Brexit has consumed much of the blocs political energy and recklessly rocked the Brussels boat. For the EU, they want to get this British debacle wrapped up as soon as possible. If May doesnt get the British parliament to back her plan, then the Brexiteers within her party will likely trigger their plot to topple her. Already she has been roiled with resignations by several ministers from her cabinet. Hard Brexiteers like former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson are sharpening their knives. Johnson condemned Mays Brexit proposal last week as turning Britain into a colony of the EU. The mutiny within the Conservative party against May seems to have subsided this week at least for now. An anticipated vote of confidence in her leadership has not materialized. Her party enemies are probably waiting and hoping for a parliamentary defeat of the draft Brexit plan in the next few weeks when they will spring their offensive to oust May from 10 Downing Street. Boris Johnson the bungling but popular figure is being tipped as a successor prime minister. But that is no solution to British political problems. The Brexiteers may rejoice if Johnson gets the keys to 10 Downing Street, but the rest of the country would be in uproar given his gung-ho approach. At this stage, it seems that what May is offering is probably the most pragmatic way to advance the Brexit. Somebody like Johnson taking over would be back to the cliff-crash option. And while the British public and many lawmakers do not support Mays offer, they realize that its the least damaging option. Of course, there is theoretically another option. That is, Britain reversing its Brexit decision and staying in the EU. European Council President Donald Tusk last week reiterated the invitation to Britain to change its mind over divorce and to re-embrace membership. Advocates in Britain for a second referendum say that if the people had foreseen the chaos of Brexit when they voted back in June 2016, they would have opted to remain in the EU. However, Theresa May has repeatedly said that Brexit means Brexit and that there will no second referendum on the question of leaving the EU. Admittedly, calling such a repeat ballot would be politically explosive. Proponents of Brexit would denounce it as a violation of popular democratic mandate. There may even be the danger of civil violence breaking out, such is the extreme political polarization within Britain over Brexit. There seems to be no good options for Britain. It has got itself into a deadlock over Brexit. More than two years after the historic referendum to quit the bloc after 43 years of membership the political crisis in Britain seems to be growing, not diminishing. The impasse over Brexit is set to continue for years to come, which will take an increasing toll on Britains economy from the swirling uncertainty. Britain is on a cliff edge. But the other direction is not much better either. Stepping back from the plunge, the country is facing a quagmire of political infighting and self-defeating inertia. Asia plays host to a large number of international forums, such as the EAS, ASEAN, ASEM, APEC, and SCO, which address critical issues, but there is no continent-wide organization focused on regional security, such as the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Organization of American States (OAS) in America, or the African Union (AU). Speaking at the IV meeting of the Astana Club on Nov. 13, Kazakhstans president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, proposed to create an Asian organization for security and cooperation. He claims that the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) could be used as a platform to launch the process. His idea includes the creation of a security zone throughout all of Eurasia and the introduction of a dialog between the CICA and the OSCE. A CICA-OSCE summit could take place in Astana in 2020 to mark the 45th anniversary of the Helsinki Act. Kazakhstan hosted the OSCE summit in 2010. The fourth CICA summit, held in Shanghai in 2014, demonstrated that the group had the potential to become something much more than just a platform for dialog. It could generate new global initiatives. It was then that the term the Organization of Security and Development in Asia (OSDA) was used for the first time. The recent EU-Asia meeting in May demonstrated this momentum, as the need to jointly tackle security issues is growing stronger. In theory, ASEAN could join the effort to expand the shared security zone. The new organization in Asia could become a kind of competitor for the OSCE, which has failed at a number of its missions, including the management of the conflict in Ukraine. Relevant bilateral military alliances would become more transparent and be incorporated into this new regional security system. The idea proposed by Kazakhstan to create the OSDA, or the Asian OSCE, has been floating around for some time. The Asian continent is facing a myriad of security challenges. Chapter VIII of the UN Charter encourages the creation of regional arrangements or agencies, as appropriate initial actors seek to defuse tensions and resolve conflicts prior to the intervention of the Security Council. Article 52(2) of the UN Charter states that regional arrangements or agencies should make every effort to achieve pacific settlement of local disputes through such regional arrangements or such regional agencies before referring them to the Security Council. In recent years, Russia has been working to advance a multilateral dialog on the prospects for creating an Asian security architecture. Consultations on the issue initiated by Russia were launched in 2013 as part of the East Asia summits. It has actively supported the CICA in its institution-building efforts. Moscow has participated in the ASEAN-led security dialogs and cooperation mechanisms. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Singapore to take part in the Nov. 13-14 Russia-ASEAN summit. Speaking at the fifth Meeting on interaction and measures of trust in Asia (MIMTA), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that the Asian continent needed its own platform to address international problems. Addressing the Russia-ASEAN summit held in Sochi in May 2016, President Putin made a pitch for launching the Greater Eurasia project (the Greater Eurasian Partnership), aimed at creating a shared zone in Asia that would include security cooperation and eventually encompass the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the countries involved in the integration of the Chinas One Belt One Road initiative. According to him, the SCO could cement this construction. The implementation of the initiatives mentioned above could also be a practical step toward creating the unified trade and security zone from Lisbon to Vladivostok that Russia has proposed. Events in Afghanistan and North Korea, the tensions between India and Pakistan and between India and China, the situation in the South China Sea, the emerging arms race, and the militarization of the region could all be placed on the agenda of the new organization, were it to be set up. The US cannot be shut out, but it should not become a dominant actor bringing its weight to bear on others. No US exceptionalism should be allowed to play a part or to influence the proceedings under the auspices of this new Asian security organization. 2018 is the year the OSCE marked its 45th anniversary and its experience should be taken into account. The Helsinki Act has played a very positive role, but the organization has failed to become a truly effective mechanism for ensuring security in Europe. The treaties concluded within the OSCE framework, such as the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), are either dead, or about to go belly up like the Open Skies Treaty. The NATO expansion has not added to the enhancement of European security. The organization has failed to prevent the tensions that are running high in Europe at present. Double standards are permitted, attempts to produce color revolutions are staged, and sanctions battles have not been prevented. The use of sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy has not been countered, or even condemned, by the OSCE, which flies in the face of the provisions and spirit of the Helsinki Act. The sad lessons of the OSCE should be kept in mind when the architecture of this new Asian security organization is discussed. It should be an alliance based on equality and transparency that is able to effectively handle problems in a multipolar world while keeping the so-called Western influence at bay. Pakistani violence on the Indian border, mainly the one that separates Indian and Pakistani Kashmir, continues to escalate. Pakistan has been using snipers more often, many of them equipped with night vision sights. Pakistani attacks are up 63 percent over 2017 and 2018 isnt over yet. From 2016 to 2017 attacks were up 96 percent so one might be able to take some solace from the fact that the rate of annual increase has diminished. Since 2016 about 120 have died on the Indian side of the border with more than five times as many wounded. Most of the casualties are civilians but the increasing use of snipers targets troops. The mortar shells often land deeper inside India and harm civilians who live and work close to the border. The Chinese border has been much less active, and not very violent at all. India reports that so far this year border violations by Chinese troops are down 20 percent compared to 2017. But that still means there were 137 illegal border incursions by Chinese troops so far in 2018. In September China agreed to establish multiple hotlines along their mutual border and also between the defense ministries of both nations. This revives previous efforts to establish a hotline. In 2016 China and India have worked out and agreed to details of a hotline for commanders on both sides of the LAC (Line of Actual Control). Also known as the MacCartney-MacDonald Line the LAC is the unofficial border between India and China. The LAC is 4,057 kilometers long and is found in the Indian States of Ladakh, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal, and Arunachal. On the Chinese side, it is mostly Tibet. China claims much territory that is now considered part of India. There have been hundreds of armed confrontations over the last few years as one side or the other accuses foreign troops of crossing the LAC. The agreement fell apart when India went ahead, despite Chinese protests, and expanded its military ties with the United States. Afghanistan The United States is exploring the possibility of working out a peace deal with the Taliban. The major problem with that is getting Pakistan to cooperate. Then there is the larger problem of such a deal turning control of Afghanistan over to drug gangs, Pakistan, Iran and Islamic conservatives (who ban education for women and generally unpopular lifestyle restrictions). The Afghan Taliban are actually a minor decision maker when it comes to peace in Afghanistan. That has always been the case, especially before the Taliban lost control of Afghanistan in 2001. Back then the Taliban provided sanctuary for Islamic terrorists, especially al Qaeda. This was seen as a minor problem by Pakistan but it turned out to be a major problem. The Taliban is still on good terms with al Qaeda, although Pakistan is not. But as long as the Afghan Taliban cooperates in keeping al Qaeda out of Pakistan all is well. The Afghan Taliban is also seen by the majority of Afghans as the creation of Pakistan and a largely Pushtun organization financed by Pakistan supported drug gangs. The Pushtun are 40 percent of the Afghan population and the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. The Pushtun dominate the opium and heroin business which is also opposed by most Afghans, if only because it has created so many addicts. The Taliban are also not a unified organization. The Afghan Taliban has sanctuaries in Pakistan which keep their senior leadership safe and are also the site of border crossings where most of the chemicals for refining opium into heroin get into Afghanistan along with the fertilizer and other chemicals used to make bombs. Despite all that Russia sponsored Afghan peace talks in Russia on November 9th featured a Taliban delegation. Meanwhile, Iranian ally Qatar hosts a Taliban headquarters where the Afghan Taliban can, in effect, meet with anyone to discuss anything. The Russian peace talks attracted delegations from Russia, India, Iran, China, Pakistan and five former Soviet republics in Central Asia as well as non-government groups from Afghanistan and some Americans as observers. Technically the Afghan Taliban cannot be in Russia because Russia recognizes the international designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organization. Nevertheless, the Afghan Taliban insisted they would make peace only if all foreign troops left and there were international guarantees to keep the Americans from returning or aiding Afghans fighting the Taliban. These negotiations are opposed by the Afghan government (which sees the Russians as Taliban supporters) although the Americans have had contact with the Taliban office in Qatar. What the Taliban have always wanted is all foreign troops out of Afghanistan. When making these demands in Russia the Taliban referred to themselves as the Emirate of Afghanistan and making it clear where they see all this going. Once the Taliban have all foreign troops out of the country they will negotiate with the Afghan government, which will probably lead to a resumption of the civil war that was interrupted by the American invasion in late 2001. The Northern Alliance (the 2001 opposition consisting of the other minorities who were a majority of Afghans) would be cut off from any outside support while the Taliban still have Pakistan and, to a lesser extent, Iran. In 2001 the Northern Alliance had some help from Russia, Turkey, Iran and India. The Taliban had Pakistan, al Qaeda and Saudi Arabia. This time around the Taliban has broken into factions. There is the Afghan Taliban, backed by Pakistan, financed by drug gangs and divided over the issue of Pakistani control and dependence on drug money. Worse there is a new (since 2001) branch of the Taliban in Pakistan (where there are twice as many Pushtuns as in Afghanistan). The Pakistani Taliban are not financed by the drug gangs but rather from support among Pushtuns eager to overthrow the Pakistani government and establish an Islamic government. The Pakistani military declared war on the Pakistani Taliban in 2014, killed most of them and drove the survivors into eastern Afghanistan, where they survive as a much smaller organization. Another new group is ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), which survives in Afghanistan by attracting the most radical members of all Taliban factions as well as al Qaeda. Pakistan has been sustaining the chaos Afghanistan has endured since the late 1970s (when Russian backed Afghan communists tried to start a revolution). The communists were followed by a Russian invasion, drug gangs, an Islamic revolution, civil war and Pakistan seeking to take control in the 1990s with their Taliban movement. Pakistan did serve as a base for millions of Afghan refugees and thousands of Afghan rebels during the 1980s but that led to Pakistan believing it could continue to support Islamic terrorist violence in Afghanistan if it was deemed to be serving Pakistani interests. Pakistan created and supported Taliban gained control of Afghanistan (or at least most of it) from the late 1990s until 2001. That led to the American invasion and Pakistan continuing to support the drug gangs and Taliban while assisting the U.S. in its war on terror. Many Americans want to just leave. The problem is just getting out leaves Afghanistan at the mercy of Pakistan, Iran and Russia, as well as all the drug gangs, Islamic terror groups and numerous Afghans who oppose the drugs and all the outside interference. The drugs and Islamic terrorism will still be major exports. The West can leave Afghanistan but the ills of Afghanistan wont leave the West and that is just fine with Pakistan. A growing number of Afghan Taliban leaders want peace and an end to being manipulated by the Pakistanis. That is not the peace deal the Afghan Taliban are offering (a religious dictatorship controlled by the Taliban) The U.S. continues to accuse Pakistan of doing nothing about the Pakistan sanctuary for the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network and several other Islamic terror groups that do the bidding of the Pakistani military. Communist Threat Contained Indian security officials recently saw further proof that the Maoist (leftist rebels in eastern India) problem will be largely gone in three years or so. In other words, by the early 2020s. Another indicator that this assessment is accurate occurred recently when the Maoists tried to discourage voting during a major (Chhattisgarh state) election in eastern India. The turnout was larger than usual, which was a clear popular response to the usually effective (in the past) Maoist threats. Maoist leaders see the same trend but are scrambling to find ways to halt the decline. Maoist rebels in eastern India continue to lose ground, personnel and purpose. There are a growing number of senior leaders who are either tired of decades of violence and no progress or because of disagreements over strategy. Maoist leaders have tried to keep these internal crises secret but that proved impossible. There were similar problems all the way down, through middle management to most Maoist fighters who had been at it for a few years. November 18, 2018: In southwest Pakistan (Baluchistan), a roadside bomb was used against military patrol vehicle outside Quetta (the provincial capital) killing three soldiers and wounding four. November 17, 2018: The Indian prime minister visited the Maldive Islands just south of India to attend the swearing in of Ibrahim Solih, the newly elected (in September) president of the Maldives. His predecessor was more of a dictator and pro-China fellow who made himself very unpopular with his police state ways and willingness to accept large construction loans from China. Solih was known to be pro-India and pro-West and has requested help from India and the United States to deal with the large Chinese debts his predecessor had incurred. China saw this coming and earlier this year failed to halt the decline in their influence. During the first few months of 2017, China and India were threatening each other over who should do what in the Maldives. This conflict heated up at the end of 2017 when China and the Maldives signed an agreement that allowed China to build and operate a Joint Ocean Observation Station. This monitoring station would be built on an atoll that is the closest part of the Maldives to India. Opposition politicians in the Maldives claim China has already taken possession of sixteen small islands and that China has been investing heavily in the Maldives economy and influential politicians. This agreement was apparently obtained by Chinese bribes and assurances that there would be more Chinese investments. Meanwhile, the Maldives government was in chaos over elected officials and the Supreme Court judges disagreeing about who should actually be in charge. The tiny (248 square kilometers spread over 1,192 coral atolls spread over 90,000 square kilometers of water off the southern coast of India) nation has a mostly Moslem (98 percent) population of 430,000 plus 100,000 foreign workers (a third of them illegals). Most of the population is concentrated on about 15 percent of the islands. The per capita income is about $10,000 and most of it is based on tourism followed by fishing. Many young men have been attracted to Islamic terrorism but there is not much religious violence in the Maldives. While a democracy the religious parties and military have kept the government in turmoil by asserting decidedly non-democratic powers. Over the last decade, India has become alarmed at growing Chinese investment in neighboring countries (like Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh). Chinese firms are more experienced and effective at arranging these foreign investments and Indias smaller neighbors feel more comfortable with investment from distant China rather than neighbor (and sometimes big bully) India. The Chinese economic investments often have military implications, like China building satellite ground stations in Sri Lanka, a major port in Pakistan and now an Ocean Observation Station in the Maldives. China had earlier persuaded the Maldives to join its OBOR (One Belt, One Road) project. The Maldives would be part of the maritime road going from Chia, through the newly annexed South China Sea and into the Indian Ocean and sea routes to the Persian Gulf the Suez Canal and East Africa and beyond. That was not a wise move because the Maldives government has always been unstable and Islamic radicalism is still an issue there. Islamic terrorists were never able to establish themselves in the Maldives, although they tried. In 2007 three men were sentenced to 15 years in prison for carrying out a terror bombing attack three months earlier that wounded a dozen tourists. The Islamic radicals were intent on destroying the tourist industry, which is the main source of income in the Maldives because they saw it as un-Islamic. Most people on the Maldives did not agree with that, and justice was swift. However, ten Islamic radicals responsible for planning the bombings fled the country the day before the attack and fled to Pakistan. To emphasize the Indian fears in February and March at least eleven China Navy ships entered the Indian Ocean in the vicinity of the Maldives. This included a large amphibious ship carrying marines. China is expanding its marine force from three to seven brigades and building additional amphibious ships to carry and land the marines a long distance from China. The Chinese marines are not, in a Western sense, a "marine corps" but the Chinese marines have come to be considered elite troops and for that reason, Chinese army brigades consider it an honor to be converted to marine units. This first occurred in 1980, with a second conversion in 1998 and the third in 2017. This expansion for the marines as well as the number of amphibious ships indicates that China is preparing to expand and defend overseas territory. This is already underway in the South China Sea and India fears there are islands in the Indian Ocean that may be next. The impact this had in the Maldives was made clear during the September presidential election. For the moment China is unwelcome in the Maldives and isnt doing much better in Sri Lanka. November 16, 2018: Iran threatened to send troops across the border to find and destroy Iranian Jaish al Adl Baluchi rebel camps in Pakistan if the Pakistani security forces did not take action. This is an old problem for both countries. There are Baluchi tribes on both sides of the border. The religious dictatorship in Iran is hostile to Sunnis and the Iranian Baluchis do not like that at all. The Iranian Baluchi rebels have become bolder and more successful in their attacks on Iranian security forces. Iran has responded by executing more captured Baluchi rebels and that resulted in even more Baluchi violence. There was a similar situation in 2014 and Pakistan went after the Baluchi rebel camps. But that was only a temporary fix because the ethnic and religious tensions tend to persist. Bangladesh has cancelled its latest effort to get Burmese Moslem refugees to return home. Bangladesh had planned to send 2,260 Rohingya refugees (485 families) back to Burma starting on November 15th. Burma said they were ready to receive 150 refugees a day and get them resettled. This effort was cancelled at the last moment when it was discovered that voluntary return was most definitely not working. Most of the Rohingya selected for return refused to go and some fled their refugee camp accommodations because of fears they would be forced back into Burma. The UN and most foreign aid organizations also opposed the Bangladesh repatriation plan. Bangladeshi officials later found that none of the 2,260 Rohingya selected wanted to return. The reluctance to return is based on the fact that there was no assurance that they had anything to return to other than the threat of renewed violence. Many of the refugees knew their homes had been destroyed or taken over and no one (Burmese or otherwise) had done anything to reverse that situation. Thus refugees saw returning as going from one refugee camp to another with the added penalty of more personal risk in Burma. November 15, 2018: Afghanistan returned to Pakistan the body of a Pakistani policeman who had been kidnapped by ISIL in the Pakistani capital and taken to eastern Afghanistan (Nangarhar province). That is where his body was recently found, in a remote area near the Afghan border. There was a note from ISIL claiming responsibility. This caused an uproar in Pakistan because ISIL had kidnapped the policeman in the capital and then secretly transported him to eastern Afghanistan. November 14, 2018: Pakistan rescued five of the twelve Iranian police kidnapped from Iran last month and believe they will rescue the other seven as well. On October 17th, in southwest Pakistan (Baluchistan) Iranian Jaish al Adl Baluchi rebels from Pakistan (where these rebels often establish bases) crossed the border into Iran and kidnapped twelve Iranian police manning a border post. Apparently, those at the border post were unconscious after eating a meal containing drugged food. Jaish al Adl took credit for the operation and said it was in retaliation for Iranian attacks on Iranian Baluchis (who are Sunni Moslems). There was also the recent (late September) border clash in which a Jaish al Adl leader was killed. Iran demanded that Pakistan quickly retrieve the missing Iranian border guards as they are believed to be in a Jaish al Adl facility in Pakistan. Jaish al Adl has been around since 2012 and is the successor to Jundallah and perpetuates Iranian Sunni Baluchi resistance to Iranian Shia rule. The Iranian and Pakistani Baluchis have family, tribal and ideological links and that makes it easier for an Iranian Baluchi Islamic terror group to establish and sustain bases in Pakistan. This is a constant source of friction between Iran and Pakistan because the Iranians could shut down groups like Jaish al Adl were it not for the Pakistani sanctuaries. Pakistan is unable to suppress its own Baluchi Islamic terrorist and separatist groups. In response to this kidnapping Iran moved several thousand more troops to the 900 kilometer long Pakistan border. November 13, 2018: In northwest Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), a large group of Islamic terrorists crossed the Afghan border into Nuristan Province where they encountered Afghan troops. Most of the armed Pakistanis fled back into Pakistan but eleven were killed and left behind, making it easy for the Afghans to determine what the Pakistanis were doing there (planting landmines). November 12, 2018: Pakistan released two more imprisoned Afghan Taliban leaders, for a total of four in the last month. Was done to encourage the Afghan Taliban to attend peace talks. Pakistan has done this before and these releases have never helped. In northwest Pakistan (North Waziristan), gunmen (Islamic terrorists or angry tribesmen) fired on a military convoy, killing three soldiers and wounding another. The attackers then fled. November 11, 2018: In southwest Pakistan (Baluchistan), seven Pakistanis in a pickup truck were caught by Iranian border guards as the vehicle sought to sneak into Iran. When the vehicle refused to stop the Iranians opened fire, killing two of the Pakistanis and wounding four others. The vehicle stopped. November 7, 2018: The U.S. confirmed that the renewed American sanctions on Iran will not interfere with the new trade route from Afghanistan, via Iran to the Indian Ocean port of Chabahar. The Americans make exceptions for these sanctions and in this case, Pakistan is seen as a larger threat to Afghanistan than Iran. Most of the truck traffic that used to go through Pakistan to the port of Karachi is now using the new route via Iran to Chabahar (built by India and Iran mainly for traffic to Afghanistan and Central Asia). At least $5 billion worth of trade to and from Afghanistan will use Chabahar each year. Pakistan is the big loser here, especially since they had recently increased higher traffic on Afghan goods moving through Karachi. In addition, since mid-January Pakistan has closed the main border crossings to Afghan traffic entering Pakistan. Yet Pakistani goods are allowed into Afghanistan and now the Afghans are considering blocking that and depending on trade links via Iran and Central Asia. This is an undeclared trade war by Pakistan. The main reason is growing trade with India and switching from Karachi to Chabahar for Afghan imports and exports. The United States, India, Afghanistan and the UN are increasing pressure on Pakistan over Pakistani support for terrorism. November 6, 2018: In northwestern Bangladesh, police caught up with the much sought after leader (Khorshed Alam) of Islamic terrorist group JMB (Jamaat ul Mujahideen Bangladesh). The police were acting on a tip and other JMB members there with Alam got away. It appears Alam was wounded in the initial exchange of fire and stayed behind to delay the police so the others could get away. Two police were wounded as well. Most of the current Islamic terrorist violence in Bangladesh can be traced back to JMB, which has been around since 1998 and wants to turn Bangladesh into a religious dictatorship. To that end, JMB did establish an alliance with ISIL and is now considered a local ISIL affiliate. November 5, 2018: India reported that its first, and only SSBN (ballistic missile carrying sub) had successfully completed its first patrol while armed with functional SLBMs (Sea Launched Ballistic Missiles.) It wasnt much of a patrol since it was only in mid-August that the 5,000 ton SSBN INS Arihant conducted the first test launches for three K-15 SLBMs. These are short range (700 kilometer) single stage missiles. Arihant can carry 12 of them, or four of the larger (two-stage) K-4 SLBMs that have a range of 3,500 kilometers and were test fired successfully from Arihant in 2016. With the successful firing of the K-15s the Arihant will finally complete its sea trials and was expected to enter service before the end of 2018. That apparently took place quietly as Arihant went to sea for about a month, carrying some functional SLBMs. These SLBM patrols are normally longer. America, Russia, France and Britain send their SSBNs out for 3-6 months. China has had SSBNs for over a decade but as not, as far as anyone can tell, actually sent them out on patrol with working SLBMs. India has big plans for its nuclear sub force In 2015 India announced ambitious plans to build six nuclear attack submarines (SSNs) but admits development and building will probably take at least fifteen years. In 2009 India launched Arihant, after eleven years of planning and construction. By 2015 Arihant was undergoing sea trials and was supposed to enter service before the end of 2015. That was delayed and a major accident in 2017 put Arihant back in the shipyard for repairs. The apparent success of Arihant led to the SSN program, which received some development money but is otherwise stalled. One locally made nuclear sub doesn't change the balance of naval power much for India, which is already dominant in the region but it does show that India can build nuclear subs and six SSNs will make a difference. A shortage of cash and competent procurement personnel has put those plans on hold. Recently India made a deal with Russia to obtain technical assistance in designing and building more nuclear subs. In northwest Pakistan, just across the Afghan border in Nangarhar province Afghan and Pakistani Taliban fought over territorial control and money disputes. There were about a dozen casualties before leaders from both sides arranged a ceasefire. November 2, 2018: In northern Pakistan (Rawalpindi a military town next to the national capital), an assassin used a knife to kill Maulana Sami ul Haq a cleric who ran a religious school that trained many of the original Afghan Taliban in the 1980s and 90s. It is unclear who carried out the operation but the ISI (military intelligence) is a suspect because Rawalpindi is the headquarters of the military and the ISI can do pretty much whatever they want there. Many Pakistan backed Islamic terrorist leaders live here because it is a safe place, especially if American UAVs are looking for you. November 1, 2018: China has agreed to provide the $6 billion loan to Pakistan to help avert an economic crisis there. Poor Pakistani fiscal policy made it difficult for Pakistan to obtain a bailout from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and China was the only alternative. Even so, China had conditions attached and Pakistan still needs another $7 billion which only the IMF is willing to provide and only if Pakistan does something about the corruption and deficit spending that is causing the cash shortage. The IMF also wants Pakistan to sell (privatize) the money-losing national steel company and the national airline. Both are politically important because they provide lots of jobs for government supporters and are a source of cash for corrupt deals. Another corrupt practice is tolerating the wealthiest people to avoid paying taxes. This is especially true for military leaders who receive a lot of tainted (from corrupt deals) money. The military spending will increase because the Americans have halted all military aid. The IMF also notes that some of the major loan deals with China have terms that were never made public and even the IMF is unable to find out what is going on there. While Pakistan may seem like a lot of trouble for China it is a useful client state. The other major client state of China, North Korea, is much more difficult to work with. Pakistan and North Korea have many of the same problems; corruption, obsessive aggression against a more powerful neighbor (India) and a military-dominated government. Pakistan has shown itself as much more capable of taking advice and not causing China a lot of international problems. Even so, for China, Pakistan is still a work-in-progress and there is still a lot of work to be done. October 31, 2018: The Pakistani Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman of blasphemy. She was accused in 2009, sentenced to death in 2010 and been appealing ever since. The woman is trying to find a country that would give her and her family asylum because it is common for those accused of blasphemy to be murdered by Islamic radicals. Britain turned down the asylum request because of fears British Moslems would become violent over the issue. Pakistan still has severe blasphemy laws that are mostly used by Moslems against innocent Christians or other non-Moslems. Efforts to repeal these laws, or at least limit their misuse, are violently resisted by Islamic political parties. The Pakistani blasphemy laws are usually only used by Moslems against non-Moslems and when they are used against Moslems it is usually for revenge or political reasons. The laws are unpopular with the majority of Pakistanis. But the minority who do support the laws, are willing to use lethal force to keep the laws on the books. These blasphemy laws were enacted in the 1970s at the behest of the military. The opposition to repealing these laws is violent and fearless. In 2011 the Punjab province governor Salman Taseer was shot dead by one of his own bodyguards because Taseer had openly opposed the blasphemy laws and especially their use against Asia Bibi. While no one had ever been executed because of these laws, many are accused and jailed each year, and often condemned to death (and later reprieved). But over 30 of those accused have been murdered by Islamic fanatics, who are a large, and violent, minority of the population. The Islamic radical political parties called on followers to kill Asia Bibi (who remains jailed for her own safety) and anyone who supports her (including the Supreme Court judges). The army ordered mass media to ignore all the street violence and report that there was no reaction of the court ruling. Internet media told another story with dozens of photos and videos showing the escalating violence and death tool. Prime Minister Kahn went along with the army decision to try and make this a media non-event. The protesters were told by the government that Asia Bibi would not be allowed to leave the country until another legal move was made to get the Supreme Court decision reversed. Kahn then left on a trip to China as if nothing was happening in Pakistan. In southwest Pakistan, local rebels killed five Chinese who were building a housing complex for more Chinese workers. A week later a local Baluchi separatist group took credit for the killing. Pakistan said it would catch the killers. Last August Pakistan also agreed to build a walled and restricted residential area near the port of Gwadar to house half a million Chinese working in Pakistan. The Chinese construction work on the new Pakistani Gwadar port facilities are visible to anyone on the ground or flying by and in 2017 it was noticed that some features of the new port and airport facilities are clearly intended for military use. India has long accused China (despite denials) was planning to use Gwadar as a base for Chinese warships and naval aircraft. Pakistan never had a problem with Chinese military using Gwadar as it helps keep local troublemakers out. Pakistan has assured China that there would be no terrorist violence against Chinese working on upgrading the port of Gwadar and land links north to China. Pakistan is willing to pay a high price to get CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) done because it means Pakistan has an ally against Iran and even Western powers that might have some violent disagreement with Pakistan. Best of all China is picking up most of the $55 billion cost. In early 2017 China and Pakistan finally signed the agreement that granted China a 40 year lease on new facilities China is building in the southwestern port of Gwadar. The lease grants China most (over 80 percent) of the revenue brought in by port and free trade zone operations. China usually imports its own workers from China to do most of the work on projects like this. By 2022 China expects to have about half a million Chinese in Pakistan, some of them with their families. The easiest way to provide protection is to have most of them live in a heavily guarded and restricted access area. Gwadar is a key part of CPEC and it has the misfortune of being in a province (Baluchistan) that does not want to be part of Pakistan. China and the Pakistanis try to ignore this by not reporting on non-Islamic terror attacks on CPEC construction projects. The government has long been accused of suppressing news of tribal separatists in Baluchistan attacking government targets and especially those related to CPEC. The separatists claim they regularly carry out attacks on CPEC construction projects, but most of their attacks are still directed at Pakistani security forces and government facilities. October 26, 2018: India and Burma have agreed to cooperate in dealing with rebel groups operating in either side of the borders as well as growing problems with smugglers (especially those moving rare animals, drugs and gold). The two nations are also going to refurbish their border markers. October 23, 2018: In northwest Pakistan (North Waziristan), three employees of a Pakistan oil and gas firm and their armed escort, were kidnapped near the Afghan border and later found shot to death. This often happens when kidnappers believe they cannot make their getaway with their captives and kill them so the kidnappers can escape. Bay of Plenty We are looking for STMS' for permanent full-time roles. To be chosen as one of the successful candidates, you will have... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz In todays weather forecast we are expecting a fine start, but showers from the late morning, possibly heavy and thundery. Also northerlies. Its a three-clothing layer day today with a high of 16 and an overnight low of 9 degrees. Humidity is 95 per cent. Low tide is at 12noon and high tide at 6.10pm (Tay St). Theres a sea swell of 0.7m and sea temperature is 19 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 8.06pm. If youre going fishing the next best fish bite time is between 10am and 12noon. On this day in NZ history in 1863 the British captured Rangiriri. More British soldiers were killed at Bloody Rangiriri than in any other battle of the New Zealand Wars, but their victory opened the Waikato basin to the imperial forces. In world history on this day in 1783 Jean de Rozier and the Marquis dArlandes made the first free-flight ascent in a balloon to over 500 feet in Paris. In 1904 motorized omnibuses replaced horse-drawn cars in Paris. In 1911 suffragettes stormed Parliament in London. All were arrested and all chose prison terms. In 1917 German ace Rudolf von Eschwege was killed over Macedonia when he attacked a booby-trapped observation balloon packed with explosives. In 1918 the last German troops left Alsace-Lorraine, France. In 1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the air quality act, allotting $428 million for the fight against pollution. Today is the birthday of Voltaire (Francois-Marie Arouet), French philosopher, historian, poet, dramatist and novelist. Born in 1694, he once said "Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers." To get involved in activities around the Bay of Plenty, please check out our Whats on page. Have a great day! Maybe, but only for those who wernt vaccinated because it wasnt in our city WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (AP) -- The Western New York supermarket chain Tops Markets says it has emerged from bankruptcy. The company says in a statement Monday that it has reorganized with the support of its creditors and reduced its debt by about $445 million. A court approved the restructuring plan earlier this month. Headquartered in the Buffalo suburb of Williamsville, Tops announced in February that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As part of its reorganization, it closed 10 stores and resolved a pension dispute with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represents most of its workers. Tops now has 159 supermarkets in Upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and Vermont. It employs 14,000 people. FAIRMOUNT, N.Y. -- A fatal fire Sunday morning in Fairmount is not considered suspicious, Camillus Police Chief Thomas Winn said Monday. Donald J. Insel, 55, died in the fire at his home, at 318 Myron Road, police have said. Firefighters found Insel on the main floor of the home shortly after the fire was reported around 8:13 a.m. When firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames. Man dies in Camillus house fire. Police detectives and fire investigators are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, Winn said. Dozens of firefighters from across Central New York, as well as National Grid and the American Red Cross responded to the fire. Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man accused of murdering an adversary before helping conceal the corpse has repeatedly tried to fire his second assigned lawyer. Today, Vladimir Brown 36, offered a laundry list of complaints, ranging from events that took place before Ben Coffin became his attorney to perceived offenses committed while prepping together for trial. It's the second time Brown has spoken in his own defense in court. A month ago, he surprised his lawyer by pulling a note out of his sock. "This case has been spiraling out of control," Brown said, his voice raised with emotion. Brown is facing 25 years to life if convicted of murdering Charles Nichols in May. He could face up to an additional 15 years if convicted of possessing an illegal gun, plus another 1 1/3 to 4 if years if convicted of concealing a corpse. A co-defendant, Nicholas Costello, has pleaded guilty to covering up the murder, but has refused to testify against Brown. Today, Brown repeatedly said that he had wished to testify at a preliminary hearing -- which determines whether police had enough evidence for an arrest -- and also at grand jury -- when it's decided whether there's enough proof for an indictment. "This (case) could have already been resolved in one of those venues," Brown said today, without elaborating. Those events took place under Brown's previous counsel. Preliminary hearings are routinely waived if the case is already headed to grand jury. And lawyers often warn clients against testifying in grand juries, because their words can be used against them at trial. Despite Brown's demands, he has repeatedly refused -- despite a court's admonition -- to meet with a psychiatrist hired by his defense lawyer. Brown said he didn't talk to the first doctor because the doctor didn't have proper identification. He did not say why he refused in subsequent visits. As he continued reading from a prepared statement today, Miller interrupted him: "Mr. Brown, how many pages is that?" Brown assured the judge he only had one page left. He then continued to rail against his assigned lawyer, Coffin, a longtime attorney who once served as law clerk to a since-retired judge. "I am a family man with six children," Brown continued. "I cannot tolerate racism, false accusations and assumptions." Coffin declined to speak in his own defense as his assigned client kept talking, but clearly objected to his client's accusations. "I can't afford to hire my own lawyer," Brown said. "I ask the court to allow me to pick my own counsel." County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller did not respond to that request and did not respond to Brown's allegations. He noted that this was Brown's second assigned counsel. Instead, the judge offered to have Brown and Coffin, along with co-counsel Kerry Buske, to come back to court next week to give the lawyers a chance to object to Brown's accusations. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man in his 20s was stabbed in the chest Monday night on the Syracuse's North Side, city police said. Syracuse police were called to the 900 block of Park Street at 10:54 p.m. for a report of a stabbing, Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Richard Helterline said in a news release. When officers arrived, they found a man in his 20s suffering from a stab wound to his chest, the release said. American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance took the man to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. The man's injury does not appear to be life threatening, Helerline said in the release. Syracuse police say there's no information about a possible suspect, but they are continuing to investigate the stabbing. Detectives ask anyone with information to call the Syracuse Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (315) 442-5222. Tips also can be submitted using the "SPD Tips" app or through the Syracusepolice.org website. PULASKI, N.Y. -- Dozens of volunteer firefighters spent Sunday night and early Monday battling a house fire that left one person homeless in the town of Richland, Oswego County 911 dispatchers said. Someone called 911 at 11:12 p.m. Sunday to say a stove was on fire at 7377 state Route 3, dispatchers said. When a fire chief arrived a short time later, he told dispatchers the house was "fully involved" as flames shot from the home. Ringgold Fire Co., Sandy Creek, Mexico, Richland, Lacona and New Haven volunteer firefighters, as well as the Oswego County Fire Coordinator's Office responded. The fire was on state Route 3 near state Route 13 in the hamlet of Port Ontario. Firefighters left the scene at 1:59 p.m., but were called back at 2:49 a.m. after the fire rekindled, according to 911. Part of Route 3 was closed for several hours early Monday while firefighters battled the blaze. No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross is helping one person who was displaced from the fire, dispatchers said. SANDY CREEK, N.Y. -- State police arrested an Oswego County man they say choked a woman and threatened her with a knife and gun. Eric C. Plumpton, 45, of 120 Sand Road, Sandy Creek, was charged with second-degree menacing, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal mischief and third-degree menacing, all misdemeanors. Plumpton is accused of "choking a 34-year-old female acquaintance during a domestic incident," state police said in a news release. He also is accused of threatening her with a knife and a gun, and preventing the victim from making a 911 call with her cell phone, the release said. Plumpton was arraigned in Sandy Creek Town Court and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to court at 7 p.m. Nov. 29. SOLVAY, N.Y. -- A week after three Solvay homes were struck by bullets, a parolee has been charged with attempted murder. Michael Starkey was arrested Tuesday by the Solvay Police Department. The 28-year-old Salina man was charged with attempted murder and firing a gun on a residential street. Gunshots were fired from a car shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 13 in the 200 block of Caroline Avenue, witnesses told police. Three houses were hit by bullets, police said. No one was injured. Police executed a search warrant at Starkey's home early Tuesday morning. Starkey -- who is currently on parole for illegally possessing a weapon -- was arrested. Starkey has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, attempted first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of third-degree criminal mischief. Police said additional charges are pending. Solvay police were assisted by the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office and state parole officers. The investigation remains open. Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call (315) 468-2510. Starkey was arrested by the Syracuse Police Department in 2010 after he dropped a loaded handgun during a foot chase, according to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard's archives. He was convicted of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in 2011 and sentenced to serve four years in prison, state prison records show. After an initial release, Starkey returned to prison in May 2016. He was released from prison onto parole in August 2017, according to state prison records. Starkey is scheduled to be arraigned late Tuesday morning, police said. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A former Cornell University student was sentenced to 20 years in prison today for buying a gun that was used to kill his father. A federal judge in Syracuse sentenced Charlie Tan in court Monday, noting a "disconnect" between the evidence and the young man whose friends rallied to his support after the 2015 killing, according to a report by The Democrat & Chronicle. Tan, now 23, avoided a murder conviction in 2015 after a jury deadlocked. A judge then threw out the case, saying prosecutors couldn't put the murder weapon that killed Liang "Jim" Tan in his son's hands. After the dismissal, federal officials charged Tan with illegally purchasing a gun at a Walmart in Cortland. Prosecutors said Tan had someone else buy a Remington shotgun that he intended to use to kill his father shortly before the Feb. 9 murder in the family's Pittsford home, outside of Rochester. Monroe County prosecutor William Gargan said Tan told investigators that he "had to do it" because his father was "going to kill my mother." Tan pleaded guilty in June to three federal weapons charges. He has not confessed to the homicide. "To this day you have refused to explain what happened that night," U.S. District Court Judge Frederick Scullin said, according to the D&C report. Attorneys for Tan said told reporters after the court hearing today that they planned to appeal the sentence. Syracuse, NY -- An Onondaga County Court judge today expressed dismay at a 19-year-old who recklessly shot his pregnant girlfriend in the head, then fled the apartment, leaving her with a fatal injury. Jheezzmearr Thompson, now 20, apologized in court for the first time to the family of Jamia Singleton, 20, who suffered a fatal wound in the Oct. 29, 2017 shooting in the 100 block of Glenwood Avenue. She died a month later at Upstate University Hospital. Singleton, who was 4 months pregnant with Thompson's child, was also survived by two children. The fetus could not be saved. "That's your girlfriend, who was carrying your baby," County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller told Thompson at sentencing today. "She's the mother of the child of yours...that bothers me." Miller then sentenced Thompson to 10 years in prison for illegal weapon possession and manslaughter. That's the maximum sentence Miller could have imposed under a plea agreement struck in September. There is no additional crime in New York state for killing a pregnant woman. "We will never really know what happened in that bedroom," prosecutor Melinda McGunnigle said in court. "Only Jamia and the defendant know." A letter from Singleton's mother described the heartache of losing a daughter and the responsibility now of raising her two young children. The mother said she couldn't believe her daughter was shot by a man she had a relationship with. That night, Thompson chose to bring a loaded, illegal handgun to that apartment, the prosecutor noted. He was with Singleton in the bedroom when the gun went off. McGunnigle and the judge agreed the shooting was probably accidental. Thompson was convicted of causing a reckless death, not an intentional one. His stiffer punishment comes from possessing an illegal gun. After Singleton was shot in the head, Thompson fled the apartment. "After the shooting, he picked up gun and left without calling for help," McGunnigle said. "He left Jamiah lying on floor, with a bullet hole to her head." Days later, Thompson lied to police about what happened, claiming he was riding around with friends when Singleton was shot, the judge noted. "That bothers me," the judge said again. For his part, Thompson wrote a letter of apology read in court and turned to apologize again to both Singleton's family and his own. "I apologize to her family and mine for making a poor decision," he said. Miller noted that Thompson was raised in a stable family -- not the typical upbringing for many who appear in court. Families of both Thompson and Singleton have shown up in force throughout the court proceedings and handled themselves well, considering the emotional circumstances, the judge noted. Miller repeatedly noted how routine deaths like Singleton's have become in Syracuse. He noted only Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard covered today's sentencing among the city's media. "It's one more episode, sir, of someone bringing a gun around where they don't belong," the judge said. "Apparently, it isn't all that newsworthy anymore." To the Editor: Dr. Danielle Laraque-Arena has led SUNY Upstate Medical University with integrity, focusing on tightening of internal controls, continuous improvement, and adherence to policy, procedures and ethics. She has grounded her work in the application of the highest scientific standards to address the leading causes of illness and death for the population of Central New York, as well as expansion of primary care and a focus on wellness. This has necessarily focused on an inclusive and diverse workforce and student body to address the needs of a diverse population. She has spoken loudly for the university to be accountable to all communities and nations in the improvement of health access and outcomes. She has partnered with community leaders to obtain data and resources to address the most troubling health crises and trauma. Her integrity is beyond reproach. This community stands beside her and thanks her for her amazing contributions over the past three years. In the wake of her announcement that she will step down at the end of December, we are committed to seeing that her vision for Central New York and Upstate Medical University is carried forth. Her leadership in co-chairing the Regional Economic Development Council is notable and REDC's strong focus on inclusion as represented by the Alliance for Economic Inclusion is essential to moving Syracuse and Central New York forward and alleviating the crushing poverty and violence through sustainable community development and economic equity. We wholly believe in the vision Laraque-Arena set forth, especially bringing the SUNY Upstate vision to community in a more collaborative spirit! Her work with local organizations and agencies was to directly impact health issues affecting black and brown patients, visitors and potential employees. Aimed at changing the Upstate experience, her leadership focused on diversity and inclusion, employment issues, trauma in our community and the treatment of families after a critical incident. Laraque-Arena was beginning to establish a clear pathway for Upstate to partner with community nonprofits in a way that has never been achieved by any other SUNY Upstate president in the black and brown community. Under her leadership, our community began to "trust" that our issues had been heard and we felt confident that our issues would be addressed. It is admirable for anyone or any institution to take on black and brown community health issues and to address the chronic health issues affecting the community. It is also forward-thinking to work with youth to increase career pathways in medicine for black and brown youth. Laraque-Arena has been consistent with ensuring greater access for residents in 13202, 13204 and 13205 ZIP codes to gain access to community health workers, to engage them in free hospital programs and to work with our elderly and our youth in growing fresh vegetables. Laraque-Arena's leadership had us on our way to re-establishing a "trusting" relationship with SUNY Upstate, especially after the gentrification of the Kennedy Square. Some of those elders are still experiencing a hardship due to the lack of resources put forth to ensure they would be able to return to the neighborhood. We still remember the empty promise that Upstate made leading the community to believe the redevelopment of mixed use housing on portions of the Kennedy Square would occur. We support Laraque-Arena for her bold insight and for her leadership. We stand beside her and thank her for her contributions to our community and the entire county over the past three years. C. Twiggy Billue National Action Network Syracuse Chapter Syracuse Walter Dixie Alliance Network Syracuse WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sixteen Democrats who've opposed Nancy Pelosi's quest to become speaker released a letter Monday saying they will vote for "new leadership" when the House picks its leaders in January, underscoring a significant threat to her effort to lead her party's House majority in the next Congress. Among those signing the letter was Anthony Brindisi, Democratic candidate in the 22nd Congressional District. Ballots are still being counted in the race, but Brindisi has a lead over incumbent Rep. Claudia Tenney and appears to be close to a victory. During the campaign, Brindisi stated that he would not support Pelosi's bid for speaker of the House. "It's something that I decided early on by talking to voters in the district," Brindisi said in May. "I believe it's time for new leadership on both sides of the aisle." Buffalo-area Rep. Brian Higgins also signed the letter. The letter's release suggests that rather than spending the next six weeks focusing on a fresh agenda to present to Americans, House Democrats could be consumed with a bitter and attention-grabbing internal leadership fight. The battle pits the party's largely liberal and diverse membership backing Pelosi, D-Calif., against a small group of mostly moderate male lawmakers. Of the 16 Democrats who signed the letter -- which stops short of explicitly saying they will vote for an opposing candidate for speaker -- all but two are men: Reps. Kathleen Rice of New York and California's Linda Sanchez. "We promised to change the status quo, and we intend to deliver on that promise," the authors wrote, referring to campaign pledges to back new House leaders made by a number of Democratic candidates. "Therefore, we are committed to voting for new leadership in both our Caucus meeting and on the House Floor." Pelosi has activated an aggressive campaign for the job involving House colleagues, prominent outside Democrats and party-aligned interest groups. She is known as a precise vote counter with a keen sense of her caucus' leanings and is aided by the lack of a declared opponent and many weeks during which she can dangle choice committee assignments, rules changes and other goodies to help attract support. "Leader Pelosi remains confident in her support among Members and Members-elect," spokesman Drew Hammill said in a written statement. He said 94 percent of House Democrats declined to sign the letter, though Pelosi opponents said they expect others who didn't sign to vote against her. Though the mavericks' numbers represent a handful of the 232 House Democrats elected -- with a handful of races still undecided -- they could still garner enough opposition to thwart her. Pelosi seems certain to have enough support to become her party's nominee for speaker when House Democrats hold a secret ballot election on Nov. 28. She will need only a majority of Democrats in that contest. But when the full House elects its new leaders Jan. 3, the speaker will need a majority 218 votes, assuming that no one votes "present" or misses the vote and Republicans oppose her en masse, as seems likely. At 232 seats, Pelosi could afford to lose just 14 Democrats and still become speaker. The rebels' letter to their Democratic colleagues praises Pelosi, 78, for her long career and calls her "a historic figure" who helped the party win major victories. Pelosi was speaker from 2007 through 2010 when Democrats briefly held the majority and has been the party's leader since 2003. "We also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran and won on a message of change," they wrote. "Our majority came on the backs of candidates who said that they would support new leadership because voters in hard-won districts, and across the country, want to see real change in Washington." Pelosi's critics say the party's long-serving top leaders must make room for younger members. They say years of Republican ads portraying her as an out-of-touch liberal have made it hard for moderate Democrats to win elections in swing districts. Pelosi allies counter that despite that, the party just won House control with their biggest gain of seats since the 1974 post-Watergate election. Many bristle at dumping her at a time when President Donald Trump and the #MeToo movement have helped attract female candidates and voters to the party. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland has been No. 2 House Democrat since 2003 and South Carolina's Jim Clyburn has been No. 3 since 2007. Both are in their late 70s and are running, unopposed so far, for those posts once again. Of the letter's signees, five are incoming House freshmen or hope to be. Two of them -- Ben McAdams of Utah and Brindisi -- are in races in which The Associated Press has yet to call a winner. Pelosi critics assert there are several more Democrats who've not signed the letter who are prepared to vote for a candidate opposing Pelosi. That includes Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, who has said she is considering running for speaker. Trump has tweeted his respect and support for Pelosi and even offered to round up GOP votes to help elect her speaker. Pelosi's office has said she will win with Democratic votes, and it seems a stretch to expect Republicans to help elect her speaker -- a vote that could open them up to primary challenges in 2020. Others signing the letter were incumbents Jim Cooper of Tennessee; Bill Foster of Illinois; Stephen Lynch and Seth Moulton of Massachusetts; Ed Perlmutter of Colorado; Tim Ryan of Ohio; Kurt Schrader of Oregon; Filemon Vela of Texas; and Higgins. Incoming freshmen were Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, Max Rose from New York and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey. The political battle between the Trump administration and California over blame for the the devastating wildfires that have killed scores and left nearly 1,000 missing continued Monday. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke blamed the state's fires on "radical environmentalists" who he said have prevented forest management. His comments come days after he and President Trump toured the devastation from Paradise to Malibu, with both vowing to help California recover from the disaster. In an interview with Breitbart News, Zinke said he agrees with Trump's comments about the fires being a result of poor forest management, and repeatedly said radical environmentalists were responsible for the destruction caused by the fires. "It's not time for finger-pointing," Zinke said. "We know the problem. It's been years of neglect, and in many cases it's been these radical environmentalists that want nature to take its course....You know what? This is on them." He said the damage he saw during his visit to California was unlike anything he had seen before. Trump had threatened to withdraw federal funding from California, erroneously blaming poor forest management for the fires. 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 lightning fires in 2008 and were later logged. It was not fueled by heavy timber. "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," Jonathan Pangburn, a fire behavior analyst for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said in an interview last week, "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." The Woolsey fire, which burned suburban areas from Oak Park to Malibu, was not near any forests. It destroyed 1,500 structures and left three people dead. Over the weekend during his California tour, Trump took a more conciliatory tone. The president walked alongside Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom during his tour of areas affected by the fires, despite loudly criticizing Brown on climate change and environmental regulations. "I've known Jerry for a long time, but I think we've gotten closer today than we've got over the last 20 years," Trump said during his visit. "We both want to come to the right conclusion. And the right conclusion is we have to get these forest fires to stop." The president also cited Finland as an example of a country with good forest management, saying it focuses "on raking and cleaning. They don't have any problem." Experts were quick to note that Finland fires are much different from California fires. A heat wave this summer caused huge forest fires across Europe, including Finland. Fires scorched forested areas in Lapland, a remote northern province near Finland's 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, Lapland's capital: 15.76 inches. Finland and California also differ greatly in their winds, said meteorologist Geoff Fox in Irvine. California's Santa Ana winds are dry, desiccating vegetation as they whip through canyons and passes. They don't exist in Finland's relatively flat country, Fox said. Zinke said in his interview Sunday that Trump was right. "You look at Finland. I had an opportunity to live in Germany. Their forests are healthy. They don't have catastrophic burns because they manage the forest," he said. Zinke went on to say that federal officials will need to work together with California's leaders on recovery and prevention efforts. -- By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer called on the federal government Monday to restart the lead paint poisoning prevention program it pulled five years ago from the city of Syracuse. Schumer called lead paint a "major threat to public health in the city of Syracuse." Schumer was responding to a Syracuse.com report that said at least 600 Syracuse children were newly poisoned by lead paint last year. Eleven percent of toddlers tested had elevated levels of lead in their blood. They join the generations of older children who have been exposed to peeling and flaking lead paint in deteriorating Syracuse homes. In 2012, the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development denied a $3 million grant application from Syracuse, saying the city was not following proper testing guidelines for homes renovated with federal money. The city had helped 2,500 homes over 20 years. Since then, Onondaga County has used some of its annual HUD funding to fill the gap. "That's not good enough," Schumer said. "We need both, it's such an overwhelming problem." Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said the city has a new application pending - this time for $4.1 million. "I am asking and will be calling HUD and saying Syracuse should get some of that money," Schumer said to a round of applause from doctors and community advocates who gathered at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, said he successfully pushed his colleagues over the last two years to increase funding for HUD's lead prevention programs by $35 million in the 2017 fiscal year and $85 million this year. Schumer promised to push for even higher HUD funding in next year's budget. The federal government banned the use of lead in paint in 1978. But it still layers homes built before that time. Children ingest paint flakes and dust, especially around doors, windows and porches. Also in the news: After the press conference, Schumer declined to answer a reporter's questions about a New York Times report that said he gave favorable treatment to Facebook while the company employs his daughter and while he accepted campaign donations from Facebook employees. Schumer directed a reporter to a statement his spokesman made to CNN that said the senator has worked aggressively to push Facebook to do more to purge fake accounts and bots used by the right wing and Russians to perpetuate a disinformation campaign and interfere with elections. When asked what a national privacy policy would look like to him, Schumer said it's complicated, but the U.S. could look to Europe for guidance. "We need some kind of national privacy law," he said. "We have to explore what it would be, but people should have the right to their own privacy." Contact Michelle Breidenbach anytime: | | 315-470-3186. HOUSTON (AP) -- A federal judge barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Nov. 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border between official ports of entry would be ineligible for asylum. As the first of several caravans of migrants have started arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump said an asylum ban was necessary to stop what he's attacked as a national security threat. But in his ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar agreed with legal groups that immediately sued, arguing that U.S. immigration law clearly allows someone to seek asylum even if they enter the country between official ports of entry. "Whatever the scope of the President's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," said Tigar, a nominee of former President Barack Obama. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on the ruling, which will remain in effect for one month barring an appeal. In issuing the ban, Trump used the same powers he used last year to impose a travel ban that was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court. If enforced, the ban would potentially make it harder for thousands of people to avoid deportation. DHS estimates around 70,000 people a year claim asylum between official ports of entry. But Tigar's ruling notes that federal law says someone may seek asylum if they have arrived in the United States, "whether or not at a designated port of arrival." "Individuals are entitled to asylum if they cross between ports of entry," said Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights, which sued the government alongside the American Civil Liberties Union. "It couldn't be clearer." Around 3,000 people from the first of the caravans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that it closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the San Ysidro crossing. It has also installed movable, wire-topped barriers, apparently to stop a potential mass rush of people. As of Monday, 107 people detained between official crossings have sought asylum since Trump's order went into effect, according to DHS, which oversees Customs and Border Protection. Officials didn't say whether those people's cases were still progressing through other, more difficult avenues left to them after the proclamation. DHS has said it wants asylum seekers at the southern border to appear at an official border crossing. But many border crossings such as San Ysidro already have long wait times. People are often forced to wait in shelters or outdoor camps on the Mexican side, sometimes for weeks. ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because "they're in real danger," either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. "We don't condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum," he said. President Donald Trump says the U.S. will not levy additional punitive measures at this time against Saudi Arabia over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Trump said in a statement Tuesday that the U.S. does not condone the killing of the U.S-based Saudi columnist, but that "foolishly" canceling $110 billion in arms sales -- as some in Congress have suggested -- would only mean that Saudi Arabia would go to other countries to acquire them. "The world is a very dangerous place!" Trump exclaimed. "We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi," Trump continued. "In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran." Trump says the king and crown prince of Saudi Arabia "vigorously deny" any knowledge of the planning and execution of the Oct. 2 murder of The Washington Post columnist at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. He says "it could well be that the crown prince had knowledge." Trump says "maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Pres Trump on Saudi Arabia and murder of Jamal Khashoggi: "The world is a very dangerous place! ... The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region." pic.twitter.com/Ppa7zXx3ls Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) November 20, 2018 From earlier: President Donald Trump is facing pressure to take tougher measures against Saudi Arabia over the slaying of writer Jamal Khashoggi. The president has resisted calls so far for a stronger response to the Oct. 2 killing of the U.S.-based writer by agents of the Saudi government inside their consulate in Istanbul. Trump says that Saudi Arabia is a "spectacular ally" and that he's not convinced that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was directly responsible for Khashoggi's death. The administration has imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis accused of participating in the killing. But lawmakers in Congress want tougher measures. European allies are stepping up their punitive measures against the kingdom, too. SYRACUSE, NY -- The forecast for Thursday, Nov. 22 -- Thanksgiving Day -- calls for temperatures to struggle to reach 20 across much of Upstate New York. If that holds, it could set new cold temperature records for both the date and for Thanksgiving, going back to 1902. "It's going to be close," said Joanne LaBounty, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Binghamton. The good news: Thanksgiving may be cold but also clear, with no snow in the forecast. In Syracuse, according to today's look ahead from Accuweather, the forecast for Thursday is a high of 20 and a low of just 4. Here's the Thanksgiving outlook for Upstate New York as posted about 3:30 p.m. today by the NWS Binghamton office: Planning on running that turkey trot or doing last-minute prep Thursday morning? Bundle up! Chilly temperatures are forecasts to invade the northeast this Thanksgiving. Add in a bit of a breeze and it'll be downright frigid! pic.twitter.com/BfkAFikccR NWS (@NWS) November 19, 2018 LaBounty tabulated the all-time cold records in Syracuse for both Nov. 22 and for Thanksgiving, which falls on the fourth Thursday of November, and therefore comes on different dates. In Syracuse, for Nov. 22, the record low is 11, in 2008. That year also had the lowest high temperature for the date, at 24. For a Syracuse Thanksgiving Day, the record low was 9 on Nov. 24, 1938. The record for the lowest high temperature was 18, on Nov. 26, 1903. The National Weather Service's Buffalo office offered this look at the Thanksgiving records for Buffalo and Rochester, indicating this year's Turkey Day will at least fall into the top 10 coldest on record: Theres never been a better time to buy a TV. Yes, we said the same a couple of years ago, but that doesnt make it any less true The industry has worked nearly all of the bugs out of LCD and OLED TVs, and todays prices are lower than ever. Or they were until this recent chip shortage took hold. Regardless, high-end 4K models cost about half of what they did a few years ago, and excellent mid-range models (55- and 65-inch class) are available for much less than $1,000. Well give you our top picks, plus an in-depth guide to the specs and features youll encounter when you shop. A different language The first hurdle to understanding todays TV market is an alphabet soup of acronyms and phraseology: LED, mini-LED, micro-LED, LCD, HDR, OLED, quantum dots, and more. Manufacturers also like to thicken that literary broth with their own trademarked, mostly nonsensical nomenclature: Contrast EliteMax, Q Style Elite, X-tended Dynamic Range PRO? Give me a break. The good news? You can ignore all that ad-speak and focus on just three things: color, contrast (including the quality of blacks), and brightness. Technology changes, but your eyes dont. Here are our top recommendations in three categories. If you want a deeper understanding as to why we picked them, theres an in-depth buyers guide further down that youll find invaluable when you go shopping. Click here if youd like to jump straight to a list of our most recent reviews. Updated October 19, 2021 to add our TCL 6-series (2021) 8K UHD TV review. Samsung and Sony should be looking over their shoulders at TCL, because this 8K TV costs considerably less than either company's 8K offerings, and its quality and performance are off the hook for price. Best LCD TV Samsung combines a micro-LED backlight with quantum-dot technology to deliver the best LED-backlit LCD TV you can buy. OLED TVs still deliver better blacks, but while this TV isnt cheap, its price tag is nowhere near what youd pay for a high-end OLED set. We have a few nits to pick in our review, but this TV is easy to recommend. Runner-up No manufacturer does LCD image processing better than Sony. If moire, shimmering in detailed pans, jagged text, and backlighting blockiness drive you up a wall, this is the TV to buy. Best OLED TV LG no longer makes our favorite OLED TV, Sony has stolen its crown with its Bravia XR Master Series A90J. This smart TV produces an absolutely luscious picture, and it features Sonys audacious audio system in which the driver units are mounted to the OLED panel itself, turning the entire display into a speaker. The Google TV operating system makes finding great entertainment a snap, and its universal remote is backlit and easy to use, even in the dark. This one will be tough to beat. Best bang-for-the-buck TV TCL is rapidly gainingand deservinga reputation for building affordable smart TVs that deliver incredible value. Its 55-inch 6-series is certainly no exception, combining quantum-dot color with mini-LED backlight technology to build a set with great color, brightness, and the Roku TV operating system. We like it a lot. Best value in 8K TVs You can spend a lot of money for an 8K TV, or you can spend a lot of money on an 8K TV. TCL's 8K offering is an incredible value for the quality and performance that's delivered for the price. If you don't need to have the absolute best in the 8K category, the TCL 65R648 is a fantastic deal. The state of TV technology CRT TVs were around for more 50 years and were still being improved when they fell out of favor. LCD TVs arent nearly that mature, and youll still find the occasional entry-level models with color and contrast issues. Color and contrast have nonetheless improved drastically in the last few years, and the improvements have trickled down almost to the lowest rung on the ladder. OLED remains at the pinnacle, but remains expensive to manufacture. Ill talk more about LED versus OLED in a bit. Theres also a resolution race in progress, though it seems to have stalled for the nonce at 8K UHD. Buying a TV with resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels remains a pricey proposition, and theres almost no content to take advantage of it. Apart from 4K Blu-ray, most video content is still delivered in 1080p resolution, even though 4K UHD TVs with resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels rule the roost in terms of sales. The best news, to expand on my previous point, is that top-end technology (quantum dots, mini-LED) has filtered down to the mid-range (defined as $750 to $1,250 for a 65-inch-class set). We havent seen one that quite puts it all together yet, but TCLs 6-series come darn close. Too close, certainly, for the big three (LG, Samsung, and Sony) to remain comfortable. Even better, nearly all the high-end 4k UHD 65-inch-class TVs that cost $600 to $10,000 or more a few years ago have dropped to below $3,000. Even Samsungs 8K UHD QN800A-series can be hand for $3,500 (65-inch class). LGs 8K UHD OLEDthe 88-inch-class model OLED88Z9PUAis something to behold, but it costs $30,000. Ouch. Then again, if your entertainment center is big enough to require an 88- to 120-inch-class television, that price tag might worth the experience. What to look for (and what to watch out for) Resolution: While most content remains 1080p or lower resolution, the vast majority of TVs being sold now are 2160p (4K UHD, or 3840 x 2160 pixels). Unless youre buying something for the workshop or tool shed, go 2160p. 4K streaming is now a thing. Its heavily compressed, and it may run you over your data cap in short order, but its still a consideration. Good 2160p content looks spectacular, and most 2160p TVs will upscale lower-resolution content quite nicely. Just dont believe any hokum about making 1080p content look like genuine 4K UHD. That said, weve been incredibly impressed with just how much better both 1080p and 2160p material looks on the latest 8K UHD (7680 x 4320) TVs. More pixels, more processing power. FAUX K: LG makes spectacular OLEDs, and it seems the company has finally ceased manufacturing the 2.88K LED-backlit LCD TVs it marketed as 4K; specifically, the 6300 and 6500 series. So this is just an FYI in case you see a used or refurbished on for sale: You can avoid it, or you can use that information to haggle for a better price. You can read more about the subject in this article. Theyre not bad TVs, they just arent 4K UHD. Screen size: 65-inch TVs are the hot commodity these days, but only you know which size TV fits best in your living space. Personally, I prefer 43-inchers. Go figure. You can save a lot of money$600 to $900 on a top-of-the-line setby downsizing to perhaps 55-inches and sitting a bit closer. How close? 1.5 times the stated size of the TV is the recommended distance. Note that the number of backlighting zones and other technologies arent always exactly the same across all sizes. Read the fine print carefully (if it even exists), as a 55-inch unit might not offer quite the performance of the 65-inch sets companies like to send to reviewers. HDR: The acronym stands for high dynamic range, and it has become the norm in better TVs. HDR simply means a larger difference in luminance between the darkest area of an image and the brightest area. It doesnt sound like much, but a lack of contrast (a comparative washed-out appearance) in LED TVs has long been an issue, especially at the entry level. With HDR, which is created largely by significantly increasing peak brightness, light sabers and flames, highlights in hair, water, and other details really stand out. Trust me. You want it. Dolby Dolby Vision HDR versus standard dynamic range. All HDR will be similar, but only Dolby Vision and HDR10+ adjust the TV in real time over the course of the movie. So far, the TV industry has been scrupulously honest about labeling their TVs for HDR: HDR-compatible in the fine print means the set understands at least some of the HDR formats (HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, etc.), but likely doesnt have enough brightness to do anything with it. If it just says HDR, that means it can do something with it. How much it can do depends on the TV. You need at least 700 nits peak brightness at a minimum to achieve decent HDR pop (e.g., light sabers and flames that stand out), while 1,000 nits does the trick quite nicely. Vendors dont really list nits or brightness in meaningful ways, so youll need to read reviews in which its measured. Non-HDR TVs generally max out in the area of 300 to 400 nits. HDR format support: One of true ironies in the TV industry is that arguably the top player, Samsung, doesnt support Dolby Vision. Nearly nearly all the other vendors do (although not on every model). All HDR TVs support HDR10 as a baseline, but HDR10 only sends adjustment info to the TV once, at the beginning of a movie. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ relay it continuously throughout the movie, so each scene (each frame, if necessary) can be adjusted independently. HDR10 looks good. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ look better. HDR10+ is Samsungs baby and its latest TVs support it. Alas, while many streaming services deliver HDR in HDR10+ (HDR requires very little extra data), it hasnt caught on with most of the companys competitors. On the other hand, many sets support the HLG standard that is common in Europe. Contrast: Contrast is the distance in terms of luminance between the darkest and brightest points in an image. Part of HDR is also increasing contrast. A high-contrast TV is an HDR TV, although weve never heard of one called that. It just doesnt sound sexy, I suppose. Anyway, he higher the contrast, the more subtle detail the TV can deliver. Color: Weve noticed a definite uptick in color acuity (realism), even in the middle of the market, with TVs from Hisense, TCL and Vizio showing much truer reds and greens (just about any TV will do blue well). This is largely due to the widespread adoption of quantum dots, but even those without them (Sonys TVs, in particular) have increased the color acuity of their offeringss. LED-backlit LCD versus OLED: Theres a luxuriousness to the image that OLED TVs produce that appeals to many, including myself. Because each sub-pixel is its own light source, when a pixel is switched off, you get near perfect black. LED-backlit LCD TVs bleed light around and through the LCDs, which are not perfect shutters. Even the best LED/LCD TVs cant match the blacks of OLED. (Mini-LED gets closersee below). On the other hand, they can generate much higher peak brightness, which compensates with most material and really makes HDR pop. The main drawbacks of OLED as a technology are a relatively limited lifespan, and burn-in; i.e. ghosts of previous images remaining on screen. LG claims 100,000 hours to half brightness for its TVs: Thats where 500 nits becomes 250 nits, and that number of hours is calculated based on the TV displaying standard dynamic range material. HDR content will shorten an OLEDs lifespan. With normal use (two hours a day), those drawbacks will never bite you. Or for at least not for a very long time. Using OLEDs for signage, all-day long viewing, or for rendering static images, on the other hand, is not recommended. Micro-LED (not to be confused with mini-LED backlighting) is a non-organic self-emitter technology that doesnt suffer any of these issues, but its still so expensive as to excuse itself from this conversation. Caveats and economics aside, OLED remains most users choice when simply using their eyes. Puppies on velvet! Note: OLED uses an extra white subpixel, but its RGBW is is not the subtractive scheme that LGs 6300- and 6500-series LED-backlit LCD TVs use. Hence, their stated resolution is accurate. Click here for more definitions, plus links to our most recent smart TV reviews. Why it matters: As more data centers are built and global energy consumption continues to rise, powering all these servers reliably is going to require building more resilient energy grids. Downtime is not only an expensive event for a data center, but an inexcusable one, and this is only going to be amplified as cloud computing becomes more critical to daily life. Across the globe data centers are consuming in excess of 416 terawatt hours of electricity annually. This is estimated equates to around two percent of the world's energy produced. Even at wholesale pricing for electricity, data centers are still demanding tens of billions of dollars worth of energy. Aside from the sheer scale of data centers, their power consumption shows just how reliant we have become on these modern pieces of infrastructure. In-house server rooms are slowly losing any competitive advantages compared with cloud computing due to economies of scale. Looking ahead to 2021, cloud computing will account for 95 percent of data center traffic, with cloud computing handling more than 94 percent of high performance compute workloads. Generation of mass amounts of data has also given reason for hyperscale data centers to grow exponentially. In 2016, there was an estimated 286 exabytes of data globally. In 2021, we will surpass 1.3 zettabytes of stored data. For those playing along at home, that's 13 followed by 20 zeros worth of bytes. Going forward, many new data centers will be outfitted with massive power capabilities. Silent Partner Group of Companies is looking to dwarf Google's existing data centers by building more efficient and scalable facilities. Google's Hamina, Finland location is capable of 100MW of power, whereas SPGC is looking to build six 250MW data centers across Europe. Now that Amazon Web Services data center locations have been made public, competitors have had the doors opened to analysis and will be able to replicate or improve upon some aspects that Amazon already does well. Your personal identity may fall at the mercy of sophisticated hackers on many websites, but when it comes to health data breaches, hospitals, doctors' offices, and even insurance companies are oftentimes the culprits. New research from Michigan State University and Johns Hopkins University found that more than half of the recent personal health information, or PHI, data breaches were because of internal issues with medical providers not because of hackers or external parties. "There's no perfect way to store information, but more than half of the cases we reviewed were not triggered by external factors but rather by internal negligence," said John (Xuefeng) Jiang, lead author and associate professor of accounting and information systems at MSU's Eli Broad College of Business. The research, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, follows the 2017 joint study that showed the magnitude of hospital data breaches in the United States. The research revealed nearly 1,800 occurrences of large data breaches in patient information over seven years, with 33 hospitals experiencing more than one substantial breach. For this paper, Jiang and co-author Ge Bai, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, dove deeper to identify triggers of the PHI data breaches. They reviewed nearly 1,150 cases between October 2009 and December 2017 that affected more than 164 million patients. "Every time a hospital has some sort of a data breach, they need to report it to the Department of Health and Human Services and classify what they believe is the cause," Jiang, the Plante Moran Faculty Fellow, said. "These causes fell into six categories: theft, unauthorized access, hacking or an IT incident, loss, improper disposal or 'other.'" After reviewing detailed reports, assessing notes, and reclassifying cases with specific benchmarks, Jiang and Bai found that 53 percent were the result of internal factors in healthcare entities. "One quarter of all the cases were caused by unauthorized access or disclosure more than twice the amount that were caused by external hackers," Jiang said. "This could be an employee taking PHI home or forwarding to a personal account or device, accessing data without authorization, or even through email mistakes, like sending to the wrong recipients, copying instead of blind copying or sharing unencrypted content." While some of the errors seem to be common sense, Jiang said that big mistakes can lead to even bigger accidents and that seemingly innocuous errors can compromise patients' personal data. "Hospitals, doctors offices, insurance companies, small physician offices and even pharmacies are making these kinds of errors and putting patients at risk," Jiang said. Of the external breaches, theft accounted for 33 percent with hacking credited for just 12 percent. While some data breaches might result in minor consequences, such as obtaining the phone numbers of patients, others can have much more invasive effects. For example, when Anthem, Inc. suffered a data breach in 2015, 37.5 million records were compromised. Many of the victims were not notified immediately and weren't aware of the situation until they went to file their taxes, only to discover that a third-party fraudulently filed them with the data they obtained from Anthem. While tight software and hardware security can protect from theft and hackers, Jiang and Bai suggest health care providers adopt internal policies and procedures that can tighten processes and prevent internal parties from leaking PHI by following a set of simple protocols. The procedures to mitigate PHI breaches related to storage include transitioning from paper to digital medical records, safe storage, moving to non-mobile policies for patient-protected information, and implementing encryption. Procedures related to PHI communication include mandatory verification of mailing recipients, following a "copy vs. blind copy" protocol (bcc vs. cc) as well as encryption of content. "Not putting on the whole armor opened health care entities to enemy's attacks," Bai said. "The good news is that the armor is not hard to put on if simple protocols are followed." Next, Jiang and Bai plan to look even more closely at the kind of data that is hacked from external sources to learn what exactly digital thieves hope to steal from patient data. Source: Press Release NASA's still unnamed Mars 2020 rover will land in Jezero Crater where, scientists believe, a river delta was once located. The Mars 2020 rover mission will be looking signs of past microbial life and collect samples of rocks that will be retrieved by future explorers. Mars 2020 Landing Site "The landing site in Jezero Crater offers geologically rich terrain, with landforms reaching as far back as 3.6 billion years old, that could potentially answer important questions in planetary evolution and astrobiology," revealed Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, in a statement. "Getting samples from this unique area will revolutionize how we think about Mars and its ability to harbor life." The Jezero Crater can be found on the western edge of Isidis Planitia, an impact basin north of the equator. Scientists believe that water flowed in the 28-mile wide crater billions of years ago. The spot was chosen by a panel made up of experts from the scientific communities. More than 60 other options were considered, including Columbia Hills, Midway, and NE Syrtis. NASA revealed that there has always been an interest to explore Jezero Crater. Scientists have considered landing previous rovers on the site, but its landscape was not ideal. Along with the ancient river delta, the site is also surrounded with small impact craters, boulders and rocks, cliffs, and depressions filled with aeolian bedforms that can trap a rover. Since then, however, landing technology has improved. NASA assured that mission engineers have reduced the landing zone of Mars 2020 to 50 percent smaller than Curiosity's in 2012 at Gale Crater. This allowed the space agency to consider more challenging sites such as Jezero Crater. Mars 2020 Mission The Mars 2020 rover is part of the Mars Exploration Program, NASA's long-term robotic exploration of the red planet. Aside from looking for ancient microbial life, the mission's goal is to investigate for signs of habitable conditions in Earth's neighbor in preparation for the arrival of humans. The still unnamed rover is equipped with a drill to collect core samples of rocks and soils. From the Jezero Crater, NASA hopes to obtain samples of at least five different kinds of rocks, including clays and carbonates that can preserve signatures of life. NASA's Mars 2020 mission is scheduled to launch by July or August 2020 and land in Jezero Crater by February 2021. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After years of operating out of the back of the nearby La-Z-Boy, the Stoma family has reopened Sofas & Chairs at 4601 Ambassador Caffery Parkway. While the Stoma family has been owning Sofas & Chairs here in Lafayette since the late 1980s, owner Liz Stoma, who opened the original store with her late husband, Phil Stoma Sr., sees this new location as the culmination of over 30 years of work. "We're so thankful that we've been able to do this for so many years, and I think this is just the culmination of everything," she said. "Lafayette has been a great market for us. The people and the surrounding areas have been wonderful to us. We've made good friends over the years." The Stoma family opened their first local furniture store in 1976. After a fire in 1986, they reopened the following year as Sofas & Chairs in 1987 and in 1990 opened Stoma's Furniture and Interiors and a La-Z-Boy. However, six years ago, the family was forced to move the Sofas & Chairs into the La-Z-Boy until they opened the new store just down the street. "We've gone from operating in 4,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet, so we've been able to show more merchandise and pick up some new brands," Stoma said. "The response from our customers has been absolutely wonderful. It's been way more than we've expected. We're very pleased and thankful." The plug has been pulled on the body camera committee the city-parish created to help determine how to best deploy the devices within the Baton Rouge Police Department and to establish policies for their use. But opinions differ on whether it's the right time to end the panel. The Metro Council voted at its last meeting to disband the body camera committee once Police Chief Murphy Paul seats the members of his advisory council, which will have a broader mission to help his department in its interactions with the community. Councilwoman Barbara Freiberg had been pushing to disband the body cam committee, saying there is no longer a need for it. "I don't understand why in this city we don't keep better track of our commissions and councils to make sure they're still doing what they're supposed to be doing," she said. "The group that has been meeting on this, their charge has been fulfilled." Disband police body cam committee? Baton Rouge council member's call getting little support Now that every Baton Rouge police officer has a body camera, the question has turned to whether the city still needs a body camera committee t But state Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, who has served as the committee's leader since its creation, said the decision to disband the committee is a "political move" against her and a step back for the city-parish, given recent controversies regarding the Baton Rouge Police Department's use, or lack thereof, of the mini-surveillance devices. "This is a bad precedent we're setting," said Marcelle, who spearheaded the committees creation three years ago when she was a council member. "This advisory committee the chief is putting together is totally different; it's not specific to body cams." During the discussion that prefaced Metro Council's vote, Freiberg and others argued the committee had served its purpose, which was to study and launch the pilot program that led to the city-parish's April 2017 decision to outfit BRPD officers with body cameras. Councilwoman Donna Collins-Lewis said any committee the council creates has a shelf life. And if this committee were to continue, she said before the vote, it would need to be revamped with a new purpose. In a letter Marcelle sent last month to the mayor and Metro Council, the state representative urged city-parish leaders to expand the scope of the committee and proposed that it continue working on oversight and policy implementation related to body cameras. Marcelle said neither the mayor's office nor any of the council members responded to her. "I don't think they ever liked me being over the committee," she said. "Councilwoman Donna Collins-Lewis originally voted against body cams for officers and then said she wasn't against them, just that she didn't know who would pay for it." Marcelle continued: "Neither Donna or Barbara saw fit to come and explain what their concerns were. If they wanted me to step down, they could have just asked and not dismantled the committee." Collins-Lewis declined to respond to Marcelle's claims, saying she stands by the previous statements she has made on body cams and the committee. Freiberg said Marcelle is wrong that the decision was a political attack against her. 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 "I credit Denise for doing a great job with the committee; had it not been for the group, we may not have them," Freiberg said. "I think what people really want is a police oversight committee. If the chief's new (advisory council) doesn't solve that purpose, then we need to look at forming a commission with that charge." Both councilwomen said they felt policy recommendations and input from the community regarding body cams is something that could be tackled by the police chief's advisory council going forward. But Cleve Dunn Jr., who serves on the body cam committee, disagreed. The committee's pursuit of transparency and more oversight is still vital, he told Freiberg, because minorities locally and across the nation are still having too many deadly interactions with law enforcement. Last month, BRPD fired a police officer who shot at a 21-year-old during a traffic stop and who initially claimed he was returning fire from the man. But an internal investigation later revealed there was no evidence to support the cop's story only one shot was fired. But, that determination came weeks later because the officer failed to turn on both his body and dash cameras during the incident, despite being outfitted with working cameras. +4 Probe into fired BRPD officer finds body, car cams should've recorded shooting; more questions raised The internal investigation into the fired Baton Rouge police officer who shot at a fleeing motorist found that the former cop's body and in-ca "I think we still need transparency and oversight," Dunn said following the council's decision. "The previous committee was formed organically and included representatives from the community, elected officials and law enforcement." "This (chief's advisory council) will be people handpicked by him," Dunn said. Marcelle agreed: "If he gets to pick who he wants to pick, I don't see that as being transparent." Paul indicated to council members last week he had sent out letters to various community groups and organizations, inviting representatives to sit on his advisory council. The police chief said he doesn't want any elected officials to serve on the council and that he is open to having one of the members from the body cam committee be a member. Dunn was asked at the council meeting if he wanted to serve, but said no. Paul said he expects to seat the members of that advisory committee sometime before the end of the year. GONZALES Two political action committees on different sides of a proposed hotel-motel tax for Gonzales are planning to get their messages out this week in time for early voting. The proposed 2 percent, hotel-motel occupancy tax, is expected to raise $500,000 a year in perpetuity and would go toward a conference center near La. 30. The proposal is on the Dec. 8 ballot; early voting is Saturday through Dec. 1, excluding Sunday. In favor of the proposal is the PACE Group of Gonzales, with resident Marie Broussard as chair and Gonzales City Councilman Neal Bourque as treasurer. The PACE Group, with a budget of about $4,000, and about $2,000 of that spent through October, according to the Louisiana Ethics Board, is mailing flyers and has put some signs up in Gonzales, Mayor Barney Arceneaux said. "It's not going to cost citizens a dime," the mayor said of the proposed tax. An existing 2-percent hotel-motel tax in the parish provides revenue to the Ascension Parish Tourism Commission. Gonzales City Council takes next step to get hotel-motel tax on ballot GONZALES The Gonzales City Council took the next step this week in getting a 2 percent hotel-motel tax that would finance, build, maintain a Against the proposed tax is Ascension Lodging, formed last month by 17 local hotel properties and the Houmas House Plantation in Darrow, said Ash Patel, chairman of the committee. With a budget of approximately $11,000, Patel said, the committee has hired a marketing firm, Gagliano Group in Hammond, to launch a campaign against the tax through social media, newspaper ads and direct mail. "We want to educate the community," said Patel, president of the Tower Investment Group, which has hotels in Gonzales and other locations in Ascension Parish. The mayor, Patel said, "didn't really speak to any of the hoteliers about it." 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 "It will not help the hotels and will lose commercial business at the end," Patel said. Gonzales hotels stay largely occupied on weekdays by employees of industrial plants and other businesses in the area that book rooms long-term and shop closely for favorable hotel rates, he said. "We're going to end up giving the guests a discount to make costs the same and that won't help business," said Jigar Patel, treasurer of the Ascension Lodging political action committee. Jigar Patel, no relation to Ash Patel, is president of Alliance Hospitality, which has a hotel property in Gonzales. The two men point out there are convention centers in either direction of Gonzales, in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas, and that many of the hotels in Gonzales can already accommodate meetings and conferences. "We don't want empty buildings at the end of this," Ash Patel said. City Councilman Neal M. Bourque, with the pro-tax PACE Group, said a convention center would be a "big plus for us," bringing in visitors and benefiting hotels, restaurants and stores. Marie Broussard, PACE Group's chair, said the center would be a venue for large meetings and small conventions and "can be an economic engine for the City of Gonzales." "I think overall it's a great opportunity but ultimately it will be the citizens of the city of Gonzales who decide and should decide," she said. Ash Patel said, "All we want to do is educate the community. If they vote yes or no, that's the community (will). We just want our side of the story heard." The sentencing of a Baton Rouge man in the 2016 "play fighting" death of his 4-year-old son has been pushed back to February. Kristopher Darius Carter, 27, pleaded no contest in August to negligent homicide of a victim under the age of 10. Carter was scheduled to be sentenced Monday, but a presentence investigation report ordered by state District Judge Trudy White was only recently completed. So the judge set a new sentencing date of Feb. 7. Carter faces a prison term of two to five years, but a suspended sentence followed by probation is allowed under the law. Baton Rouge police said Carter was seen "play fighting" with his son, Marcel Tennie, prior to the 4-year-old's death on Nov. 30, 2016. A witness told police Carter was punching Marcel with a closed fist the afternoon before he died and urging the boy to punch him back, an arrest reports states. Marcel's mother, who does not live with Carter, told police she repeatedly told Carter not to "play fight" with their son because he at times hit the child too hard, the police report says. 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 But Carter told police Marcel was acting strange when he picked him up from school the afternoon of Nov. 29, 2016, according to the report. When they arrived at his Wales Street residence, his son defecated and vomited on himself, then refused food and slept the rest of the day, Carter told police. The boy's condition worsened throughout the night to the point that he became unresponsive and appeared to stop breathing, Carter told police, so he attempted CPR unsuccessfully before taking him to the hospital. Carter told police he did not seek medical treatment earlier because his son didn't want to go to the hospital. He was declared dead soon after their arrival at the hospital early on Nov. 30, 2016. The boy's autopsy showed he died from blunt-force trauma to the abdomen, where doctors found a lacerated small bowel. Hospital staff also discovered bruising on and around his abdomen. Carter also was arrested in July 2017 and accused in the beating of Marcel's mother, but second-degree battery and other charges were dismissed the same day he pleaded no contest to negligent homicide. A no contest plea carries the same weight as a guilty plea in criminal court but cannot be used against a defendant in civil court. Authorities are searching for a Baton Rouge man accused of stabbing his wife to death and injuring two other relatives Sunday evening in a violent rampage that has left the mourning family questioning how more than a decade of marriage could come to this gruesome end. Michael Vallery, 49, fled the scene after fatally stabbing Stefanie Vallery, 51, around 8 p.m. in the 13000 block of Honey Drive, said East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks. The couple was separated at the time of the attack. Two other female relatives were found in the home suffering from apparent stab wounds, authorities said in a news release Monday morning. One was transported to the hospital and is in serious but stable condition. The other was treated on the scene. Baton Rouge man wanted for killing wife and injuring two others in stabbing Sunday night Authorities are searching for a Baton Rouge man accused of killing his wife and injuring two of her relatives in a stabbing at the family's ho Stefanie Vallery's daughter Danielle Scott, 25, identified herself Monday as the victim with minor injuries. She told The Advocate about what she witnessed the night before less than 24 hours after her desperate attempt to save her mother's life. "My momma died in my hands," she said. "I don't even know where to start right now. We are lost." Scott said her mom and stepfather were in the process of getting a divorce when he showed up at her house Sunday evening and an argument ensued. The two had been separated for several months, but he hadn't completely finished moving out of their home on Honey Drive in part because he spent most of his time working offshore. Public records show that Michael and Stefanie Vallery were married in 2004. Scott said she and her sister went over to their mom's house after a friend called and told them about the ongoing argument. Their aunt, Stefanie Vallery's sister, was also there and was later hospitalized with injuries. "He was in a rage. Things escalated a little more. He left out the house and then (about three minutes later) came back through a window," Scott said. "He started stabbing her and we were pulling him off of her and fighting for the knife." 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 Michael Vallery left the house for a second time after inflicting his wife with critical injuries. "We were trying to put pressure on the wounds, but she had already passed," Scott said. "Then he kicked down the door and came back again. I turned to him and said: 'You killed my momma.' He just didn't care he ran up and stabbed (her) some more and ran out." First responders arrived minutes later. Stefanie Vallery was pronounced dead on the scene and her sister was transported to the hospital for treatment. Scott said her aunt is scheduled for surgery but expected to recover. The stabbing occurred in a quiet residential subdivision off Perkins Road near its intersection with Siegen Lane. Baton Rouge activist Arthur "Silky Slim" Reed who has spoken publicly about the need for criminal justice reform in the aftermath of the 2016 fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling was present at the scene Monday afternoon. He said he is Scott's father and described Stefanie Vallery as "just about the best person that I know." Scott said her mom had five children and five grandchildren. She had lived in Baton Rouge since childhood and had focused her life around family and faith. Scott said Michael Vallery hadn't shown signs of being violent toward her mother or anyone else in the family before Sunday's rampage. "He had been acting strangely in the sense that he was realizing his marriage was over, but I never thought in a million years that he would kill my momma. I hope the police find him soon," she said. "But he took the best of me already." Detectives are asking anyone with information about Michael Vallery's whereabouts to call the Sheriff's Office at (225) 389-5000 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-STOP. Authorities warned people to avoid approaching the suspect and instead call 911. Chris John, the face of big oil in Louisiana for the past decade, announced Tuesday he would leave the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association at the end of the year. John had been president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association since August 2007. LMOGAs board of directors reads like a whos who of the seven sisters oil companies with executives representing the largest energy producers and refiners. He was a constant presence around the State Capitol pushing for laws and tax rules that favored the energy industry, one of the states largest employers. The oil and gas industry is very exciting, challenging and critical to Americas energy security. For the past 11 years, Ive had the privilege to work alongside some wonderful people through both good and bad times. Im incredibly proud of all we have accomplished, John said in a press statement. John said it was time for him to move on to our next adventure. As a state legislator, congressman and president of LMOGA, Chris has been passionate in always advocating the best interests of Louisianas people and its cornerstone industry, LMOGA Chairman Frederick B. Palmer said in a news release. Palmer is the State Government Relations Manager for Shell Oil Company. LMOGA is forming a search committee to find Johns replacement. LMOGA General Counsel Tyler Gray will serve as acting president. John is the last of the lions of special interest lobbyists at the State Capitol. Preceding his departure was Dan Borne, who retired from the Louisiana Chemical Association that represented petro-chemical manufacturers, and Don Briggs, whose Louisiana Oil and Gas Association represented smaller oilfield producers. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up John had taken a less confrontational role and preferred to work with Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, which sometimes put him at odds with other oil men and businessmen, many of whom favor Republican politicians and philosophies. John had been congressman of Acadianas 7th Congressional District from 1997 to 2005. Before running for Congress, Johns was a state representative for Crowley from 1987 to 1995, holding the seat his father had held for years. The 7th was disbanded and merged with 3rd District after the 2010 census. He vacated the seat to run for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in an especially mean-spirited campaign against then U.S. Rep. David Vitter, a Metairie Republican. John N. Kennedy ran to Johns left and split the Democratic vote. Kennedy then switched to the Republican Party and replaced Vitter in the Senate last year. After losing the Senate race, John became the chief lobbyist for the U.S. Oil & Gas Association in Washington, D.C. He remained on the groups executive committee after returning to Louisiana to take the helm of LMOGA. John will be 59 on Jan. 5. His father-in-law is state Sen. John Smith, R-Leesville. A federal judge has blocked Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban that served as the basis for a similar law in Louisiana. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves in the order handed down Tuesday called Mississippi's strict abortion law "is a facially unconstitutional ban on abortions prior to viability." He granted a permanent injunction that bars the state from enforcing the law, which Reeves called "unequivocally" unconstitutional. Mississippi is expected to challenge the ruling and continue arguing for the ban through the appeals process. Louisiana lawmakers earlier this year passed a similar 15-week ban but made it so that it would only take effect if a federal court upholds the Mississippi law. The contingency was added because of concerns over the cost of defending it in court. Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who supports abortion restrictions, signed the Louisiana bill into law in May and openly supported voiced support for the concept of banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Louisiana, which tends to be among states with the tightest restrictions on abortion access, currently prohibits abortion after 20 weeks. If Louisiana's law were to go into effect, anyone who performed an abortion after the 15-week period could face up to two years in prison and a $1,000 fine. It contains no penalties for women who seek abortions. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Reproductive health advocates in Louisiana had slammed the proposed 15-week ban as a violation of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that recognized abortion as a legal right. In an often blistering order, Reeves took Mississippi lawmakers to task for passing the 15-week ban through. "The State chose to pass a law it knew was unconstitutional to endorse a decades-long campaign, fueled by national interest groups, to ask the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade," Reeves wrote. "This Court follows the commands of the Supreme Court and the dictates of the United States Constitution, rather than the disingenuous calculations of the Mississippi Legislature." He also lamented the state of male lawmakers deciding abortion laws. "The fact that men, myself included, are determining how women may choose to manage their reproductive health is a sad irony not lost on the Court," he wrote. "As a man, who cannot get pregnant or seek an abortion, I can only imagine the anxiety and turmoil a woman might experience when she decides whether to terminate her pregnancy through an abortion." Reeves took note of a "trigger law" that Mississippi has in place that would make abortion illegal in all cases if the Supreme Court overturns the Roe decision. Louisiana has the same trigger law. He also referred to the costs that taxpayers incur to defend laws that have been found unconstitutional already in the past an issue Louisiana legislators tried to address through its contingency language. "The State, of course, has the right to pass legislation that represents the interests of its citizens," he wrote. "The Courts frustration, in part, is that other states have already unsuccessfully litigated the same sort of ban that is before this Court and the State is aware that this type of litigation costs the taxpayers a tremendous amount of money." Calvin Duncan poses for a photo with two stacks of legal paperwork in his Central Business District office in New Orleans, La., Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. Although much of America will get a modest reprieve from campaign season in 2019, with the midterms now history and the presidential race not Members of the New Orleans City Council and leaders of the Downtown Development District are at odds over whether more of the agency's money should be seized to pay for city priorities. Meanwhile, a lawsuit churns on in the courts alleging the city improperly withheld funds from the DDD to pay for its pension obligations. During the agency's budget presentation last week, City Councilman Joe Giarrusso suggested that some of the district's operating expenses are unnecessary and that its property tax revenue shouldnt be used to fund its lawsuit against City Hall. The DDD will receive $8 million in annual operating revenue in 2019 and has about $3 million in reserves. "You are asking the city of New Orleans to fund a lawsuit against the city of New Orleans," Giarrusso told agency head Kurt Weigle. City Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer joined in, saying the district's work to secure and maintain parts of the French Quarter has been shoddy. "I was out there cleaning up graffiti," she said. "The DDD wasnt there. I was there. And I cleaned up a lot of graffiti." Most of the French Quarter is outside the DDD's boundaries. Only the 100 block, between Iberville and Canal streets, is under its jurisdiction. Weigle shot back that his organization's lawsuit to stop the city from withholding its funds to pay pension costs was necessary. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "Keep in mind, the revenue of the DDD comes from taxpayers downtown," he said. "I think there is a responsibility on behalf of the organization to stand up for its taxpayers and to ensure that DDD funds are spent downtown." The organization levies a special property tax to pay for enhanced government services, capital projects and economic development efforts in the area bounded by Claiborne Avenue, Iberville, the river and the Pontchartrain Expressway. Weigle said his organization needs things like an economic development department to help attract retail and other businesses to the Central Business District. And he denied that trash and graffiti abatement is lackluster in areas the DDD maintains. Over the years, the organization has also built up a surplus to fund projects like the city's "low-barrier" homeless shelter, which opened this year, and upgrades to Duncan Plaza adjacent to City Hall. But in this year's budget cycle, Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration and the council are backing a slew of new initiatives, such as a 10 percent pay raise for 2,700 city workers, a new city "sobering center" for recovering drug and alcohol abusers, and new offices focused on youth and families, transportation and utilities. At the same time, Cantrell will lose about $4 million in revenue under her plans to curtail the city's traffic camera program, heightening the pressure to find new revenue elsewhere. The Downtown Development District was created by the state Legislature in 1974 as the nations first assessment-based business improvement district. It is charged with providing enhanced services to the downtown area in the areas of economic development, sanitation and safety. The agency is governed by an 11-member board that is appointed by local elected officials. A New Orleans man who recently blew up his second chance to avoid a life sentence is now suspected of trying to have drugs smuggled into the city's jail through the courthouse, authorities said. Investigators are probing whether Kyron Theophile, 32, attempted to receive an unusual form of contraband during a court hearing last week: documents soaked in either synthetic marijuana or, in a more far-fetched possibility, roach spray. On Nov. 13, Sheriffs Office deputies detained a relative of Theophiles outside Criminal District Court on suspicion he was trying to deliver drugs to Theophile. Deputies believe the relative may have aimed to give Theophile documents soaked in synthetic marijuana or roach spray, said Blake Arcuri, general counsel for the Sheriffs Office. The documents are being tested. No arrests have been made. Because of the alleged attempt at an illicit hand-off during last week's hearing, an unusually large contingent of four deputies watched Theophiles every move Monday as he appeared in Criminal District Court in shackles. The appearance is the latest in what has become a convoluted tale of missed opportunities for Theophile as he tried to avoid spending the rest of his life in prison because of two cases, one for choking his girlfriend and another for a fatal shooting. Last month, Theophile pleaded guilty to choking his girlfriend under a deal that would have allowed him to receive a 25-year sentence in that case as well as in a separate, fatal shooting. Yet after pleading guilty to the attack on his girlfriend, which she survived, he refused to follow through by accepting a manslaughter plea in the deadly shooting. Ad hoc Judge Dennis Waldron said Monday that because Theophile failed to live up to his side of the deal, prosecutors now were free to follow their original plan of using the habitual-offender law to charge Theophile as a four-time felon in the domestic violence case. Ive never come to this court saying, I hope I can sentence someone to life imprisonment, Waldron said. The only shoulders this all rests upon are Mr. Theophiles. Because he has so many previous convictions, under Louisiana law, Theophile can receive a life sentence in the choking case without prosecutors having to bring him to trial on the separate second-degree murder charge. Waldron vacated the 25-year sentence he had already imposed in the domestic violence case and set a Tuesday hearing to sentence Theophile as a habitual offender. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Monday's decision came despite protestations from Theophile's defense attorney, Leon Roche, of the Orleans Public Defenders, that prosecutors were trying to make an end run on going to trial in the shooting case. In July 2016, Theophile had reached a deal to avoid being treated as a habitual offender in the choking case. But when Criminal District Court Judge Byron C. Williams let Theophile out on bail to attend the birth of a child, he never returned for his sentencing date. While out of jail and at-large after failing to attend the sentencing, Theophile allegedly shot Gerald Avant, 54, on the front porch of a home on Forest Glen Road on Dec. 2, 2016. He was arrested later that month. "Had he come back timely, he would have received three years," Waldron said Monday, referring to the choking case. "Had he come back timely, perhaps key word is perhaps maybe someone wouldnt have been killed." Last month, Theophile's attorney secured a second plea agreement for a 25-year sentence in both cases. Theophile agreed to the deal in front of Waldron at the time. But when he appeared before Judge Robin Pittman in the shooting case, he would not follow through with the deal, and prosecutors moved forward with a push for life imprisonment. The alleged attempt to smuggle drugs added a new twist to Theophile's encounters with the legal system. Authorities in Indianapolis and Polk County, Florida, have raised fears about the recreational use of insecticide sprays. In September, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said he believed inmates in his jail were either eating or smoking legal papers infused with bug spray to get high. However, Judd did not announce any arrests that were directly related to such a spray. Meanwhile, the company that makes Raid bug spray, SC Johnson, dismissed reports about its recreational use to attain a catatonic state as completely inaccurate in a statement to Forbes. According to our scientific experts, exposure to the active ingredients in these products would not cause the reported effects, a spokesperson said. New Orleans prosecutors said Tuesday they are dropping their case against John Floyd, the onetime Angola lifer who had his murder conviction thrown out last year after a federal judge concluded police had withheld key evidence at his trial more than three decades ago. District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro said he was abandoning a retrial of Floyd because of missing witnesses and the loss of crucial evidence not because he thinks Floyd is innocent of the 1980 stabbing death of a Times-Picayune proofreader in the French Quarter. Cannizzaro's announcement came the day after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request from prosecutors to review lower court decisions tossing out Floyd's conviction. Floyd learned the news as he visited relatives in Mississippi for Thanksgiving, said one of his attorneys with the Innocence Project New Orleans. He just said, Thank God, lawyer Richard Davis said. I think (he) was overwhelmed and just wanted to be with his family. Floyds holiday has been a long time coming. The 69-year-old spent 36 years behind bars in connection with William Hines death, most of them in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. John Floyd wins another round in fight with Orleans DA over dismissed murder conviction A federal appeals court panel has denied a bid by the Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office to challenge an April ruling that found ample Police initially accused Floyd in the slashing death of Hines and another, strikingly similar killing in a two-day period. At a trial in 1982, now-retired Criminal District Court Judge Jerome Winsberg acquitted Floyd of the bloody slaying of Rodney Robinson at the Fairmont Hotel but found him guilty of stabbing Hines in his apartment on Gov. Nicholls Street. Both victims were gay, and the killings raised alarms in the French Quarters gay community. After Floyd was shipped off to Angola, he emerged as a model inmate who won the trust of longtime Warden Burl Cain. Meanwhile, his lawyers with the Innocence Project New Orleans said they managed to uncover convincing evidence that he wasnt a killer. Although police believed the two killings were linked, U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance said DNA evidence from the hotel solidified Floyds claim that he didnt kill Robinson. Moreover, his lawyers said, the police never disclosed fingerprints from someone else that were found on a whiskey glass in Hines house. That detail was crucial because police theorized that Hines had invited his killer into his home for drinks, the lawyers said. Defense lawyers claimed that Floyd, who has an IQ of 59, was coerced into confessing to both killings by a detective who bought him beer and later beat him. Detective John Dillmann denied that accusation. The lawyers also pointed to a statement from one of Hines friends who said the proofreader preferred black men, despite Dillmanns testimony to the contrary. Floyd is white. In a May 2017 order, Vance gave prosecutors 120 days to release or retry Floyd. Both sides agreed to put that order on pause in June 2017, when Floyd won the right to supervised release from prison. Since then he has lived on a farm in Carencro, near Lafayette. Floyd was visiting his family in Mississippi this week with the judges permission, Davis said. Although prosecutors conceded that the aging Floyd was no danger to the public, they continued their bid to reinstate his conviction, which would have put him back in prison. They were rebuffed in April by a panel of judges at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, who said the evidence of Floyds innocence outweighed their usual reluctance to wade into issues of state criminal law. James Gill: Cannizzaro fighting to uphold murder conviction that has acquittal written all over it New Orleans DA Leon Cannizzaro clearly doesn't mind being called a hard-ass, so that was never going to stop him doing his darnedest to keep J Davis said the U.S. Supreme Courts decision not to review the 5th Circuit ruling was the end of the line for prosecutors. Theyve always kicked the can down the road, because theyve hoped to maintain or reinstate the original conviction, he said. I think they were doing the wrong thing for all these years, he said. From our perspective, it looked a lot like they were defending the conviction for the sake of defending the conviction. Cannizzaro rejected that interpretation. We had a duty and obligation to defend this conviction, he said. That was the least we could do for the victim of this murder, who has been all but forgotten in these years of legal machinations. The district attorney added that he still thinks Floyd is guilty. While we remain convinced that the guilty verdict rendered by Judge Jerome Winsberg was the correct decision, based upon the evidence and testimony at the time, we have exhausted our efforts to defend his ruling before the federal courts, he said. Our hope is that Mr. Floyd takes stock of his criminal past, appreciates his freedom in this season of Thanksgiving, and conducts himself in the years ahead as a law-abiding and productive member of society. Photos and video taken at a beach condo in Florida that prosecutors say show a lustful disposition by a St. John the Baptist Parish judge toward teenage girls will be admissible in his upcoming trial on sexual misconduct charges in Louisiana, another judge ruled Monday. Judge Jeff Perilloux of the 40th Judicial District has been suspended from the bench since late June, when he was indicted on three felony counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and a misdemeanor sexual battery charge for allegedly putting his hands under the clothes of his daughters female friends and touching their breasts. The Louisiana charges against Perilloux cover encounters with the girls at his house in LaPlace from May to December of 2017, with the three felony counts stemming from incidents in May and June. On those occasions, prosecutors said, Perilloux gave two girls ages 14 and 15 massages that wound up with him touching the girls breasts. In one instance, he allegedly stroked the 15-year-olds breasts for 30 seconds. That same 15-year-old also reported similar acts of inappropriate touching by Perilloux when she went on a trip to Destin, Florida, with the 50-year-old judge, two of his daughters and two more teenage female friends. In a court filing requesting to admit the additional evidence, prosecutors said Perilloux stuck his fingers into the girls bikini bottom at one point while she was in his room to ask if she and her friends could stay out past their curfew. Perilloux denies this claim, admitting he might have touched the girl, but only in an effort to reach his cell phone while sitting on the bed. But, according to the prosecutions filing, the girl backed away and said no, with Perilloux then sitting up in his bed, where he begged the girl for him to be able to do her top. Later in the trip, Perilloux allegedly asked the girl, Hey, are we cool about what happened the other day? before putting up his hand as if to give a high five. The girl put her head down and said yeah, the filing states. But Perillouxs advances didnt stop there, prosecutors said. The judge allegedly messaged the girl, showing a photo of his naked legs from the thighs down and sent the girl a photo of herself wearing loose-fitting short shorts from underneath. Prosecutors said that message was followed with three large red heart emojis. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In his 16-page, handwritten ruling Monday, ad hoc judge Dennis Waldron allowed for these and other additional allegations to be shown to the jury at Perillouxs trial, which has been set to begin March 11 in Edgard. A video showing Perilloux and the 15-year-old girl will also be admissible. It allegedly shows the girl wearing short shorts with Perilloux resting his head on her upper thighs and asking, Are you recording me? Another allegation that can be admitted is that Perilloux gave another 15-year-old girl $100 and offered to take her out to dinner. Patting on butts of the girls and an incident with yet another girl where Perilloux allegedly applied vapor rub on her breast will also be admissible, Waldron ruled. Although prosecutors and Perillouxs attorneys argued for more than seven hours over two days behind closed doors whether the allegations would be admissible, Waldron ultimately granted the prosecution everything it requested. In his ruling, he said the additional allegations shouldnt be judged as any sort of substantive evidence, but rather allowed for showing a lustful disposition toward young females in general, with that lustful disposition key for the prosecution's argument that Perillouxs actions were intentional. Whether a jury will see it as such or not, Waldron did say in his ruling that the evidence brought by the prosecution shows a most unusual relationship between Perilloux and his daughters female friends. Assistant state Attorney General Matt Derbes called the decision a big win for the state, saying afterward, Were extremely happy that were going to get an opportunity to present our entire case to the jury and let the jury have the benefit of all of the evidence." Perilloux said no comment when asked for his reaction afterward. His attorney David Courcelle also declined to comment. The next step in the case will be a pre-trial conference set for Feb. 5 in LaPlace. The state Supreme Court appointed Waldron, a retired Orleans Parish Criminal District Court judge, to oversee the case through its conclusion. Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn says he was told to "temper your sense of justice" when he urged his former boss, Ian Narev, to stop the bank from selling insurance policies that were of little or no value to customers. Appearing before the royal commission in Sydney, Mr Comyn said he repeatedly lobbied Mr Narev in 2015 and 2016 over consumer credit insurance, which was sold to tens of thousands of people who were ineligible to make a claim. Mr Comyn said he did not take the "extraordinary" step of going above Mr Narev's head to the CBA board, because he believed it would have deferred to Mr Narev's judgment. Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn. Credit:Brook Mitchell Mr Comyn told the hearing that in one meeting in May 2015 - when he was running the retail bank - he argued for the insurance sales to be stopped and was told by Mr Narev to "temper your sense of justice." Apple chief executive Tim Cook argued in an interview with Axios that aired on HBO Sunday that the tech industry's approach to privacy reflects a failure of the free market, and that government regulation is "inevitable" in the face of missteps by platforms such as Google and Facebook. Cook said that he was no fan of regulation, and that he prefers markets to operate unimpeded. But Silicon Valley needs to get with the program, he said. Apple chief executive Tim Cook is expecting more stringent regulation of the technology industry. Credit:AP "We have to admit when the free market is not working," Cook said, "and it hasn't worked here. I think it's inevitable that there will be some level of regulation. I think Congress and the administration at some point will pass something." The interview marks the latest attempt by Cook to distance his company from other tech giants as they increasingly come under scrutiny for their role in spreading misinformation and hate speech and losing control over customer data. The newest member of the Ramsay Centre board, former union boss Michael Easson, believes the study of western civilisation should be about critical "interrogation" rather than "worshipping the great books". Dr Easson worked for the labour movement until the mid-1990s, when he moved into business and academia. He replaces former Labor leader Kim Beazley, who resigned after being appointed governor of Western Australia in April. Michael Easson. Credit:Jessica Hromas The centre intends its board to be bipartisan and Mr Easson joins another unionist, Joe de Bruyn, as well as two sitting Liberal MPs, Tony Abbott and Julian Lesser. The chairman is former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard. "I don't see myself as a representative of the labour movement on the board in any formal way and I can't speak for the labour movement but I think the board members wanted to have another person who would respect Labor values," Dr Easson said. Malcolm Morgan, Brunswick Discrimination takes many forms in Catholic schools Archbishop Peter Comensoli would prefer gay teachers to remain hidden. What about a female teacher in a de facto relationship or a same-sex marriage who becomes pregnant? It would be hard to hide that. Would she be sacked, Archbishop? As was a teacher I knew from a Catholic college in the late 1980s. Kath McKay, Upwey The importance of authenticity and integrity Thank you, Mark Spencer, the executive officer at Christian Schools Australia, for your comment at the Senate inquiry: "We are looking for staff to actually have that consistency across the whole of their life around what they believe, what they say they believe and how they act and behave". You understand the mission of a Christian/Catholic school evangelism through education. You know that staff cannot deliver, with any authenticity, what they do not have. Archbishop Comensoli was asked if a gay teacher could get married without being fired. He could have replied: "Could the teacher deliver the mission with any authenticity or integrity?' and "Would it be prudent to continue to ask someone to do a job that was at odds with what they believed and how they acted?' Tim Davis, Coffs Harbour A poor example of acceptance in modern Australia Archbishop Comensoli gives the example of a gay teacher who "lives in one part of Melbourne up in the north, and they might be a maths teacher in a southern part of Melbourne", and adds "there's no connection in terms of relationships or location and so on". Apparently this is acceptable to him. However, if this comment were attributed to a Muslim cleric, many people would be screaming for his deportation and the burning of the Koran. Keep in mind that the Archbishop worships images of a man nailed to a cross, as well as various ghostly apparitions. What is more, his church has a tax-free status so it is a non-contributing "business" to our gross domestic product. Overall, it sets a poor example of acceptance in modern Australia. Pieter van Wessem, Balwyn Not so long ago, the church protected paedophiles Catholic Archbishop Peter Comensoli says he would prefer gay teachers to live far away from the schools they teach in. Protected paedophiles used to be allowed to live on the school grounds. Shaun Brown, Docklands THE FORUM Gay marriage is legal Surely it behoves the Catholic Church to clarify the part of its teachings that is at odds with the behaviour of a gay teacher. Is it that the church continues to teach that marriage can only be between a man and a woman? If so, this would be in conflict with Australian law, and I presume would render the church liable to a charge of misrepresentation. It would certainly disqualify the organisation from tax-exempt status. Maurie Trewhella, Hoppers Crossing Restoring hope in life Loneliness affects a quarter of our population, according to research by the Australian Psychological Society and Swinburne University (Editorial, 19/11). Our increasing disconnection from the community, and over-reliance on media technology and consumerism, is to blame. Mental and physical illness is on the rise. Much of this begins early, with children experiencing a sense of disconnection from stressed or depressed parents who are struggling to make ends meet. I have seen this first-hand in my 15years of teaching experience. Our society is heavily dependent on education centres and counsellors to help restore relationships, hope and meaning to people's lives. But the government does not see the link between education, community, real relationships and mental health. Evidence of this is the taking away of teacher-librarians who can offer children guidance and meaning with literature. Emma Willis, Horsham A dangerous message In her address to the National Press Club, Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer encouraged women to "move on" after experiencing "bad behaviour" at work by being more like males. She said, "If something happens for a bloke, it's done and he's moved on from it probably within five minutes". While the argument may have merit, it perpetuates the myth that men are not deeply affected by harassment. Organisations such as beyondblue have worked to change attitudes that men should "bottle up" their emotions. Ms Dwyer's remarks are ill-informed and counterproductive. Gabriel Dabscheck, Elsternwick Not impressed with PM Well done to actor Pamela Anderson for publicly calling out Scott Morrison on his smutty and sexist innuendo when he replied to her serious political appeal about Julian Assange. Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights Keeping families safe So Jacqui Watt from No to Violence does not believe mandatory sentencing for perpetrators of domestic violence/terrorism will keep women and children "safer" (Comment, 19/11). Oh please, of course it would. Abusers would not have access to be able to inflict violence on their family. Watt needs to talk to families whose members were seriously injured or murdered in a domestic violence 'incident". Pat McLaren, Warrnambool Premier's double standard Last week, in response to the United Firefighters Union's call for Labor supporters to put upper house candidate Jane Garrett last, Daniel Andrews said, "It's bullying, it's wrong and it should stop", and that she was "an outstanding member of my team". So where was his support for her in 2015? What a hypocrite. David Heywood, Bendigo Suddenly Manus matters How ironic. Suddenly Manus Island is important to Scott Morrison and Mike Pence in the United States' struggle with China for regional dominance (The Age, 20/11). Only months ago, the Turnbull government lost interest in the Manus detention centre and the refugees there. Is a naval base more important than Australia's shameful betrayal of hundreds of broken men? Neil Tolliday, Werribee Towards better health With tuberculosis, malaria, leprosy and child malnutrition occurring at alarming levels in Papua New Guinea, is it such a safe place for refugees? Closing the detention centres there would save money, which could be spent on aid for health. Rosita Vila, Aireys Inlet Harsh reality of life I never thought I would compliment Jenna Price on one of her epistles "Heading to uni? Take a gap year first" (Comment, 20/11). Real life is full of failure, and one needs to become skilled at dealing with that. Manipulative tears or cranky responses to marks that are inconsistent with students' delusions about themselves are well known to teachers and academics. Gap years toughen up princesses and myopic youths. They serve to counteract prior dissembling waffle directed at parents who are told that a student needs to apply himself better and display more respect for his surrounds. What should have been said is that he is a lazy sod who needs a good ticking off. Patrick Jones, Griffith, ACT Meeting individual needs Hopefully Jenna Price's article will reduce parents' anxiety that their children will be social outcasts, and destined to poverty, if they do not start, and complete, a degree yesterday. That pathway can lead to premature burnout, expensive "course hopping" and choosing the wrong vocation. Based on my positive experience of a gap period, I encouraged my children to do the same. My son did, gained invaluable "trial and error" life experiences and has taken up a degree that matches his self-discovered vocation during that period. My daughter started a degree immediately after VCE. The difference was her passion for a particular career since a young age, and she was ready for university. Paul Miller, Box Hill South Don't insult the voters I am bewildered. Are the Liberal Party's television advertisements seriously intimating that Daniel Andrews is responsible for abhorrent crime, or that no murders were committed during the Coalition's time in government? And can Mathew Guy guarantee that no homicides will occur if he wins on Saturday? We are entitled to expect constructive advice rather than negative, implausible statements that insult voters' intelligence. Carl Areskog, Tarneit Keeping pollies honest Matthew Guy and John Pesutto, why stop at publishing quarterly metrics for the judiciary (The Age, 19/11)? I propose that MPs (and eventually all those on the public purse) be reported on using a similar approach. Items to be measured by an independent panel include: the number of promises made and met; the number of untruths uttered; the number of questions put by journalists not answered; the hours spent in Parliament; and the number of speeches uttered and questions asked. Also, the public money spent in each electorate with the MPs' direct involvement and on what, the allowances claimed and the travel undertaken (particularly overseas study tours). Victoria could lead the way on this, federally and for other states. Richard Caven, Melbourne Protecting green wedges Would sending Matthew Guy ("Mr Skyscraper") to boot camp be a more effective option than "tagging" (Letters, 19/11) to rid him of his penchant for re-zoning fiascos like Ventnor and Fishermans Bend green wedge areas that, respectively, have cost Victorian taxpayers millions of dollars and produced windfall profits, in the millions, for some Liberal Party members, donors and land developers? James Robinson, Hawthorn Clamp down on early votes Voting is compulsory. By implication, it is a civic duty that should be carried out conscientiously. I do not see how someone can make a fully informed vote if they cast their ballot two weeks before the end of the campaign. There seem to be no criteria for early voting, apart from convenience. The practice should be limited to those who have medical exemption or can prove they are out of the country on polling day. Chris Lloyd, Melbourne Think of Andre's fans Last Saturday we attended Andre Rieu's concert at Rod Laver Arena. The turnstiles opened at 6.30pm but it was a nightmare once you were inside as the auditorium was closed. The seating (while waiting) was minimal and people became very distressed. Didn't the arena's management realise the majority of people who attend Andre's concerts are very senior in years? They should make appropriate arrangements regarding seating while people wait to get into the auditorium. The only consolation was the concert itself, it was magnificent. Carol Wilson, Wantirna South Banks followed the 'law' Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn, please don't apologise (The Age, 20/11). Corporations law obliges companies to maximise returns to shareholders. Regrettably but realistically, it does not quantify ethical content. Change the law or apply competition policy that regulates shareholders' return. Simple. Martin Baggott, Camberwell We are the intruders In this age of advanced technology and electronics, could someone please invent a shark-deterrent device. This could be bought or hired, and then worn, by anyone who is engaged in water sports, thus ensuring their safety from predators. Drum lines and similar items are not the answer. The sea creatures were there first and deserve safety in their own environment. Patricia Lloyd, Grovedale Straight from the source The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission deputy chairman Mick Keogh says that, based on expert advice, it found that none of the available methods to test honey are reliable enough to stand up in court (The Age, 17/11). Surely the ultimate test is to use your own taste buds. If you have not tried honey straight from the beekeeper, and instead relied on the supermarkets' products, then you have been well and truly stung. Greg Ross, Kyabram AND ANOTHER THING Life matters There's no secret to banks' misconduct. Big profits for shareholders and big bonuses for executives. Marie Nash, Balwyn How much waste does The Age create from wrapping newspaper in plastic? Dale Wise, Ashwood I agree (Editorial, 19/11). A "simple smile" can make a difference in our emotional roller coaster. Shiva Neupane, Rosanna Victorian election Re Dutton's and Guy's claims of violent gangs. Will voters dare leave their homes on Saturday? Max Nankervis, Middle Park The Andrews government is half-cocked, half the time. A Guy government would be a fully loaded disaster all the time. William Hageman, Burwood East Haven't the Greens heard of due diligence re preselecting candidates? Julie Conquest, Brighton I'll vote for the party which appoints John Sylvester to head a crime-prevention advisory board. Ken Reither, Gisborne Wonderful timing: two lanes open on the Chandler Highway, just before the election. Kevin Laws, Thornbury Perhaps, Mr Guy, we should release the names of jurors who failed to convict a criminal we all thought was guilty. Simon McInnes, Boolarra The Liberals's slogan, "Get back in control", is similar to the Brexiteers' slogan. Taking control hasn't worked well for Britain. Kay Viola, Montmorency Politics The PM was juvenile at best with his comment about Pamela Anderson. Michael Carver, Hawthorn East Is he now known as Sco-mutty? Stephen Baldwin, Frankston Jarryd Hayne must report to police three times a week, refrain from entering the Newcastle area and post $20,000 surety to meet strict bail conditions imposed by police, after he was charged with aggravated sexual assault against a 26-year-old woman. The embattled rugby league star spent more than nine hours at Ryde local police station on Monday evening, when he handed himself into police over the alleged sexual assault that took place at a home in the Hunter region on the NRL grand final night in September. Hayne finally emerged from the police station in the early hours of Tuesday morning, accompanied by his manager Wayne Beavis, having been charged with aggravated sexual assault by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad. With a grey jumper slung around his shoulders, Hayne made no comment to a waiting media pack as he was picked up by a dark silver vehicle. The construction of an airport rail link in Melbourne is a step closer after the federal government backed the proposed route supported by the state government. The Sunshine route, preferred by the Andrews government, would run fast trains from Southern Cross station to Tullamarine through the western suburbs with the potential to link Geelong, Ballarat and even Bendigo into the network. The government said last month a tunnel between the city and Sunshine could also be built as part of the Andrews government's plan for an airport rail link. It's understood federal Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge wrote to the state government weeks ago to confirm he was supportive of the Sunshine route. Staff at some of Perth's busiest hospitals have taken time off work in recent weeks and months due to a spike in violent assaults at the hands of aggressive patients. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital staff have borne the brunt of some of the worst assaults with at least seven staff confirmed to have been seriously assaulted in September and October. Perth hospital staff have been on the receiving end of some serious assaults in recent weeks. Credit:Peter Braig Dr Robyn Lawrence, recently appointed chief executive of the North Metropolitan Health Service which runs SCGH, said she was "horrified" by the latest spate of assaults. She said the "severity of workplace violence and aggression incidents at SCGH" had recently increased. A senior WA policeman accused of knocking down an 18-year-old man with his work car has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving. The officer appeared in court on Tuesday. Credit:File photo/Justin Rake The man suffered minor injuries from the collision in Thornlie on the afternoon of May 6, which was caught on video. Richard Stephen Moore, a 55-year-old senior sergeant, was stood down from operational duties four days later. At the time, police said officers had responded to a call about suspicious activity when they spotted the man and a scuffle ensued. A teenager has been injured after he fell from a notorious fishing spot in WA's South West on Tuesday afternoon. The 18-year-old was at Torpedo Rocks on Yallingup Beach Road just after 3pm when he fell about two metres. The teenager was assisted by rescue workers. Credit:WA Police "The man was with several friends on rocks near Yallingup when he fell, landing at the base," WA police spokeswoman Susan Usher said. St John Ambulance and WA Police attended the scene, and the young man was rescued on a stretcher. Wow. And you thought the punters had no political power. Scott Morrisons change of tune on population growth following on the heels of NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will please a lot of ordinary voters and enrage big business. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit: Be clear on this: almost to a man or woman, the nations business people, economists, Coalition politicians and Labor politicians have long believed in high rates of immigration, going back to the days of populate or perish. They still do. Theyll have one dismissive, contemptuous word for the Liberal Partys seeming backflip populism. By contrast, the public has long had reservations about immigration, going back to Chinese joining the gold rush and, as the movie Ladies in Black reminds us, to post-war resentment of reffos (not to mention dagoes and wogs). Its quite possible Gladys had a word in the ear of Scott, but I have no doubt both are reacting to results from their partys private polling and focus groups. (If so, Labor politicians would be getting a similar message.) The boss of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has launched a strong defence of the agency and his management of it, in a hearing where more details of the agency's move to Armidale were revealed. The authority is set to complete its move to Armidale next year, under a policy introduced by former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce, but the move has faced resistance from staff, leading many to leave the organisation. Despite original plans to move all staff to the NSW regional centre, in July it was announced about 40 staff would stay in a "satellite office" in Canberra. Interim Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority chief executive Chris Parker Credit:The Land "At all times Ive been very clear, I think my actions in maintaining an office in Canberra and providing that advice to the minister make it, I think quite obvious, that I am managing the government policy to the best of my ability and including ensuring that we maintain both the independence and performance of the APVMA," chief executive Chris Parker told the committee. Staff who didn't move to Armidale would be able to seek redundancies at the beginning of next year, the inquiry heard. The nation needs "well managed population growth" to help offset an ageing workforce, Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott says, joining fellow business leaders in warning against Scott Morrison's plan to slash immigration. "We know that our cities are under pressure, but thats exactly why we should double-down on getting the skills mix right, on planning for regional development to encourage new arrivals out of our cities," Ms Westacott said. "Were ready to work with governments at all levels to seriously consider how we can manage growth more effectively, particularly by focussing on development in our regions to create new jobs." BCA chief Jennifer Westacott says "well managed" population growth is needed to offset Australia's aeging population. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The comments followed Prime Minister Scott Morrison's revelation this week that he expected to reduce the 190,000 cap on new migrants under Australia's permanent migration program by almost 16 per cent or 30,000 people, after the number of visas approved in the past financial year fell short of the cap. The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union "super union" could be forced to unwind if a legal challenge by the peak body for Australia's resource industry is successful. The Australian Mines and Metals Association has taken its fight against the merger - which joined the militant CFMEU with the Maritime Union of Australia in March - to the Federal Court of Australia, where the matter is listed for a hearing on Wednesday. CFMEU national secretary Michael O'Connor and MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin are fighting a judicial review of their merger. Credit:Nick Moir The mining lobby group, which had opposed the creation of the $150 million "mega-union" at the Fair Work Commission, is seeking a judicial review of the merger approval and will argue that the deal should not have been approved because the CFMEU and MUA were the subject of "quasi-criminal" penalty proceedings at the time. "It has long been [our] position that the potential merger of these two unions, given their history of recidivist law breaking, and other legal considerations should be fully considered by a court of law," a spokesman from the mining group said. A future Shorten government would seek to bypass Parliament as part of its bid to drag Australias electricity sector away from fossil fuels, suggesting hopes of a bipartisan approach to climate policy are dead. Energy efficiency measures to reduce demand and help homes and businesses struggling with high electricity prices are also expected to form part of the package, alongside a plan to help coal workers and their communities adjust following plant closures. Labor has set a target of 50 per cent renewables in the electricity mix by 2030. Credit:Chris Ratcliffe As Fairfax Media revealed on Sunday, Labor is poised to reveal its long-awaited energy policy ahead of a federal election campaign where climate change and power prices are shaping as frontline issues. Labor believes it is within reach of winning back the seat of Melbourne from Greens MP Ellen Sandell in Saturday's election and is pushing more resources into the local campaign. The news comes as the Greens defended themselves on Tuesday against Labors attacks on the minor partys culture and treatment of women, with Greens leader Samantha Ratnam invoking the #MeToo movement to defend her organisation. ALP planners say their research shows the contest in Melbourne, won by Ms Sandell in 2014 after being held by Labor for more than a century, is close enough to justify extra spending with a realistic chance of winning back the seat, held by a margin of 2.4 per cent Melbourne MP Ellen Sandell, centre, with Northcote MP Lidia Thorpe and Federal Greens leader Richard Di Natale. Credit:Eddie Jim If accurate, the Labor research shows a huge improvement in Labor's performance from 2014 when it was trounced on primary votes by Ms Sandell and relied on preference flows from the Liberals, who will not direct preferences in the current election, to get into a competitive position. The Liberal Party will fight a legal order to dump batches of statewide how-to-vote cards after Victorias civil tribunal ruled they should be deregistered. The Victorian Labor Party challenged distribution of the how-to-vote cards after the Liberal candidate for Yan Yean, Meralyn Klein, quit the party over her appearance in an anti-Muslim video. Ex-Liberal candidate Meralyn Klein in the video. On Tuesday the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled that registration should be refused for four Liberal how-to-vote cards that ask voters to put Ms Klein first. The Liberal Party is preparing to appeal the decision. It has until midday Wednesday to lodge the appeal. An Australian surrogacy organisation has drawn fire from Christian groups for bringing international speakers associated with commercial surrogacy to Perth; a practice illegal in WA. The state's surrogacy laws, which have been in place for a few weeks short of a decade, restrict surrogacy to altruistic agreements aimed at helping women who cannot conceive or carry a child for medical reasons. WA's surrogacy laws turn a decade old in a few weeks, and there is still controversy. Credit:Michelle Mossop But on Friday night, non-profit Families Through Surrogacy held an educational seminar headlined by a Russian fertility specialist and representatives from US and Canadian clinics. Families Through Surrogacy director Sam Everingham said it was no surprise WA couples were heading overseas to find surrogates to carry babies on their behalf, because the laws in the state were so restrictive. He said the timing of the diversion was unlikely to have been coincidental and may have coincided with a major project the firm was undertaking for a client in Australia. A senior Australian official said intelligence agencies were aware of the issue but could not say with certainty if it was malicious or the result of genuine routing errors. The official said the activity was being conducted on the edge of the cyber frontier, potentially involving new hacking techniques that experts were still seeking to understand. Clandestine data capture and assessment, often on a staggering scale, has been practised by Western intelligence agencies, as revealed by the Edward Snowden leaks. But while this data harvesting raised serious legal and privacy concerns, western nations have insisted it was never used to steal commercial secrets. Alex Henthorn-Iwane, a vice president at internet monitoring firm ThousandEyes in San Francisco, said the ease of re-routing internet traffic meant it could be used to gather intelligence, especially when the country involved was known for pursuing economic espionage on a large scale. "Internet routing is run on the honour system, which makes it vulnerable to dishonest actors," he said. Loading China Telecom said its routing strategy fully complied with global standards and denied it had "hijacked" traffic going through its network. "China Telecom insists on [a] compliance operation in strict accordance with local laws, not only in mainland China, but also everywhere in the world," it said in a statement. Responding to an earlier story that the Chinese Ministery of State Security was behind a surge in hacking of commercial secrets, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday that "related reports and accusations are sheer fabrication" and came out of "thin air". "Cyber security is a global issue and cyber hacking is a common challenge faced by every country in the world," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. On November 12, some Google services were affected by unusual traffic flows which routed data through Russia's TransTelecom and China Telecom. While analysts at Thousand Eyes would not say that the re-routing was malicious, they viewed it as suspicious and said it had placed traffic "in the hands of Internet Service Providers in countries with a long history of internet surveillance". While the potential to hijack so-called "Border Gateway Protocols (BGP)" has been known for much of the past decade, the issue has gained some prominence across the cyber security community in recent months with the publication of Professor Shavitt's research in conjunction with Chris Demchak from the US Naval War College. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is concerned by the hacking revelations. Credit:Justin McManus "The prevalence of and demonstrated ease with which one can simply redirect and copy data by controlling key transit nodes buried in a nation's infrastructure requires an urgent policy response," they wrote in a paper published in the Journal of the Military Cyber Professionals Association. The data diversions were possible as China Telecom has 10 Points of Presence (PoPs) in North America. Foreign carries have no comparable infrastructure across mainland China. China Telecom has long been regarded as a passive service provider, despite being state-owned, and therefore has attracted none of the suspicion of Chinese telecommunications providers like Huawei or ZTE. After being contacted by Fairfax Media, Professor Shavitt provided data on traffic flows into Australia, which has not previously been made public. The data shows traffic came out of Strasbourg travelling to the east coast of the US, but rather than continuing on to Sydney, it was diverted to mainland China before being re-routed via South Korea and Hong Kong before eventually arriving in Australia. This happened repeatedly over a six-day period with the packets of data taking up to six times longer to arrive than is usual, a warning sign for researchers looking into suspicious activity. In another example, data from Montreal went to the US east coast and was then diverted to mainland China before either going through South Korea or Hong Kong and then arriving in Sydney. This data took around three times longer to reach its destination than would have ordinarily been the case. "There is always a chance this was some ingenious error but to my mind it happened too often to be a mistake," Professor Shavitt said. He contacted the affected company and warned the data diversion posed a "severe security risk" and that its "sensitive data" was exposed to a so called "man in the middle attack". This is where malicious software is inserted into emails and other traffic which can then be used to steal data and other confidential information. "The diversion is only the beginning of an attack it can then be used to break into a network," Professor Shavitt said. Michael Sentonas, a vice-president at cyber-security firm CrowdStrike, said BGP was an insecure protocol which left open the potential for traffic to be pushed through a listening post, where even encrypted data could potentially be accessed. "I don't think it's insignificant when traffic destined for Australia or the US goes via China. You have to ask why?" he said. "This needs to be raised as an issue and questions asked." In the research paper published by Professor Shavitt and Ms Demchak, three other examples over the past two years are highlighted, including traffic from Scandinavia to the Japanese office of a major US media outlet being diverted via China. The pair assert the diversions from China Telecom were part of Beijing's efforts to "technically" adhere to a cyber agreement signed between the US and China in 2015, while still continuing to steal commercial secrets. Moscow: Russian prosecutors on Monday accused Bill Browder, a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin, of ordering the murder of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and several other business associates. It marks the latest in a string of efforts to discredit one of the most vocal advocates of sanctions against the regime. Bill Browder at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington in July 2017. Credit:Bloomberg Magnitsky, a lawyer who worked for Browder, a financier, was arrested in 2008 after uncovering evidence of large-scale tax fraud among Russian officials. He died a year later in a Moscow prison, where he complained of abuse and was reportedly denied medical treatment. San Francisco: A US judge on Monday temporarily blocked an order by President Donald Trump that barred asylum for immigrants who enter the country illegally from Mexico, the latest courtroom defeat for Trump on immigration policy. US District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order against the asylum rules. Tigar's order takes effect immediately, applies nationwide, and lasts until at least December 19 when the judge scheduled a hearing to consider a more long-lasting injunction. Central American migrants, as part of the Central American caravan trying to reach the United States, wait to receive donated dinner downtown in Mexicali, Mexico. Credit:AP Representatives for the US Department of Justice could not immediately be reached for comment. Trump cited an overwhelmed immigration system for his recent proclamation that officials will only process asylum claims for migrants who present themselves at an official entry point. Civil rights groups sued, arguing that Trump's November 9 order violated administrative and immigration law. Washington: The male-chauvinist group Proud Boys, whose founder who plans to visit Australia, have been described by US federal authorities as an "extremist group with ties to white nationalism", according to a report issued by a Washington state sheriff's office. The group have been the subject of warnings to local police agencies by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well. Last month Shadow Immigration Minister Shayne Neumann asked the Immigration Minister David Coleman to block the group's leader, Gavin McInnes, from a planned visit to Australia, according to the ABC. The US report, from the office of Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins in southwestern Washington, was issued as the office analysed the dismissal of a deputy who was fired after her affiliation with a female offshoot of the group, Proud Boys' Girls, came to light. Chris Watts in court. Photo: Joshua Polson/AP In August, Shanann Watts, 34, and her two daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, were reported missing from their Frederick, Colorado, home. The following day, Shananns husband Chris Watts gave an interview on the porch of his familys home in which he begged for his pregnant wife and daughters safe return. If youre out there, just come back. If somebody has her, just please bring her back. I need to see everybody. I need to see everybody again. This house is not complete without anybody here. Then, Chris was arrested and charged with murdering them. He ultimately plead guilty to felony charges relating to their murders, and was sentenced to life in prison. Nearly 24 hours before Chris Watts was arrested in the disappearance of his pregnant wife and young daughters in Colorado, he stood outside his porch and pleaded for their safe return https://t.co/Puz1o2A4Od pic.twitter.com/DvqCYB8l61 CNN (@CNN) August 17, 2018 Heres a timeline of this horrific case. Monday, August 13: Shananns friend reports her missing Nickole Atkinson, one of Shananns close friends, told ABC News that she contacted the police on Monday, August 13, at around noon. Atkinson had dropped Shanann off at her house several hours earlier, at 2 a.m., after the two returned from a business trip together. Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant, didnt respond to any of Atkinsons calls or texts later that morning. Her friend said she also missed a doctors appointment to hear her fetuss heartbeat. Atkinson became concerned, and went over to her house. No one answered the door, but Atkinson saw Shananns car was still in the garage. Atkinson called Shananns husband, Chris, who told her not to worry about it, and that his wife had taken the girls to a playdate. He just kept saying that he didnt know where she was and that she was on a playdate. But he couldnt give us the name of the friend, Atkinson said. She told Chris she was calling the police for a welfare check, and he joined her at the house. Inside, police found Shananns purse and keys, but she and the girls were nowhere to be found. Tuesday, August 14: Chris pleads for his familys return While police and canine units swept the property for clues about where Shanann and her girls may have gone, Chris spoke with a TV crew from Denver7. He confirmed that Shanann had gotten back from a business trip at 2 a.m. on Monday, and said that he went to work around 5:15 a.m., and hadnt seen her since. He added that he and his wife had an emotional conversation before she disappeared, but didnt elaborate. Thursday, August 16: Chris is arrested on three counts of murder; Shanann, Bella, and Celestes bodies are found A Frederick Police Department official told Denver7 that law enforcement arrested Chris just after midnight on Thursday. He was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, and three counts of tampering with evidence. At a press conference later that day, police said they found the body of a woman they believe to be Shanann on the property of Wattss former employer, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. The girls bodies were reportedly recovered later that day. According to CNN, a court filing from the prosecutor says that Shanann Wattss body was recovered from a shallow grave near an oil tank, and that law enforcement recovered the bodies of defendants two daughters from inside oil tanks located near the grave of their mother. An affidavit obtained by CNN later revealed police found Shananns body when they used a drone to survey the fields, and saw a bedsheet near the oil tanks. The sheet matched the pattern of several pillowcases and a top sheet recovered from a kitchen trash can from [Wattss] residence early that day, the document said. Monday, August 20: Police release Chriss arrest affidavit, in which he admits to killing Shanann, and claims she strangled their daughters; Chris is formally charged In his arrest affidavit, released on Monday by police, Chris claimed that he went into a rage and strangled Shanann after he saw her strangling one of their daughters on a baby monitor. Chris told police that after she got back from her business trip at 2 a.m., he told Shanann he had been having an affair with a co-worker, and that he wanted to separate. (Though he had denied having an affair in previous police interviews, authorities said they carried out a two-day investigation that confirmed he was actively involved in an affair with a co-worker before the murders.) He said he then saw Shanann on the baby monitor, strangling their 3-year-old daughter Celeste, and that when he ran into the girls room, he saw Bella, 4, already sprawled out on the bed, and blue. Thats when he says he strangled his wife to death before loading all three bodies onto the back seat of his work truck. #breaking Chris Watts confessed to murder of his wife but not of daughters Bella and Celeste. In fact he blames their murders on Shanann Watts, saying she's the one who strangled them after he said he wanted to separate. He admitted he'd been having an affair w/co-worker #kdvr pic.twitter.com/vU4lNlrHK6 Rob Low (@RobLowTV) August 20, 2018 CNN reports that Chris was also charged with a total of nine criminal counts on Monday: three counts of first-degree murder, two separate counts of first-degree murder for killing a child under the age of 12, three counts of tampering with a body, and one count of first-degree unlawful termination of a pregnancy. The couple was reportedly struggling financially According to court documents, Chris and Shanann filed for bankruptcy in 2015, and were about $70,000 in debt. CNN also reports that a civil suit says they owed $1,533.80 to their homeowners association. People in their lives were shocked The Weld County district attorney Michael Rourke is not releasing many details of the case against Watts, and has said it is too early to know whether the state will press for the death penalty. Shananns friend, Nickole Atkinson, told ABC she wasnt shocked when Chris was arrested. Anyone in their right mind will start piecing things together and think something had happened, but you dont want to go there. You want to believe the best in people. Its really sad. Its beyond belief, really, another friend, Kris Landon, told People. And it makes you wonder about other people you know. If this couple who seemed so perfect was like this, what are the other couples like? November 19: Chris is sentenced to life in prison The Associated Press reports that Watts was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences on November 19, two weeks after pleading guilty to the murders of his two daughters and pregnant wife, and months after his arrest. According to USA Today, Watts plead guilty to nine felony charges relating to the murders. At the sentencing hearing, Shanann Wattss father said to Watts: I trusted you to take care of them, not kill them. Prison is too good for you. Chris Watts was officially sentenced to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing his pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters. Today, we remember Shanann, Bella and Celeste as well as the family, friends who have been impacted by their deaths. pic.twitter.com/tPlt1IqU9U NBC Charlotte (@wcnc) November 19, 2018 This is perhaps the most inhumane and vicious crime that I have handled out of the thousands of cases I have seen, presiding judge Marcelo Kopcow of Colorados 19th Judicial District Court reportedly said. Nothing less than a maximum sentence would be appropriate. March 7, 2019: Chris admits to killing two daughters In a prison interview from on February 18, which was made public on March 7, Watts finally admitted to Colorado Bureau of Investigations agents that he smothered his two daughters with a blanket after he forced them into the truck with their mothers body. Louis Vuitton long pleated dress, $10,900, and Infinivy 3 Maillons earrings, $585, both available at louisvuitton.com. Photo: Micaiah Carter When Micaiah Carter moved to New York City at the age of 18 from the High Desert of California, he didnt know a soul. With a scholarship at the New School, though, and a longtime dream of making it as a fashion photographer, he was forced to make friends and fast. Dylan Ali, a DJ who goes by Dylan the Gypsy on Instagram, was one of them. She was studying at NYU at the time, and they first met through Carters roommate. Theyve have remained close friends and collaborators since, which is why he chose to cast her as his muse for the Cuts latest Out of the Box series. I really like her because shes a black female DJ, Carter told the Cut. Shes not a model; shes a fixture of New Yorks nightlife scene, hosting parties under the name Pink Honey. Shes really good at it, and really serious about what she does, Carter continued. I like to see intention when I work with other artists. Recently, we sent Carter and Ali a box of clothes from Louis Vuittons resort collection, and asked them to play around. Ali has a strong personal style, so Carter was confident in letting her dress herself. He also asked his muse to share her own inspirations, and Donna Summer immediately came to mind, hence Alis voluminous curly hair and colorful makeup. The resulting images combine Carters influences Carrie Mae Weems, Viviane Sassen, Jamel Shabazz with Alis musical spirit. All under the roof of a Brooklyn brownstone. She plays her music during the shoot from Soundcloud, Carter says of his times on set with Ali. It creates these magic moments of us being vulnerable, which you can only get from people whove known each other. Louis Vuitton jacket w/ cover flap, price upon request, and baggy tapered oversized pant, price upon request, both available at select Louis Vuitton stores. 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Louis Vuitton printed fine pleats dress with knot detail, $5,750, and Infinivy earrings, $585, both available at printed fine pleats dress with knot detail, $5,750, and Infinivy earrings, $585, both available at louisvuitton.com Louis Vuitton jacket w/ cover flap, price upon request, and baggy tapered oversized pant, price upon request, both available at select Louis Vuitton stores. An Australian woman is planning to pay for her 'dream wedding' by collecting more than 800,000 recyclable bottles and cans. Leonie Starr, 28, from the Sunshine Coast told the Daily Mail that her wedding in Vanuatu to fiance, Matthew Porter was expected to cost about $81,000. The quote includes six-nights' accommodation for 35 guests, all meals and the wedding itself. Ms Starr thought of collecting bottles to fund for her wedding after a container refund scheme was introduced in Queensland on November 1. The scheme encourages people to drop off their bottles in exchange for 10 cents per bottle. In a Facebook post, Ms Starr said that her goal was to collect 810,000 bottles to cover all wedding costs. 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Baja California, Miles From Border A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck near the U.S.-Mexico border in Baja California, Mexico, and it was felt in San Diego and other parts of Southern California. Fox5 in Southern California reported that a number of people in San Diego, located 180 miles to the west-northwest of the epicenter, felt the quake. The tremor was located near Alberto Oviedo Mota at 12:18 p.m. local time, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said on Nov. 19. Alberto Oviedo Mota is located about 35 miles from the border near Mexicali, Mexico. A 3.3 aftershock in the same area was felt just minutes later, 10News reported. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Earthquake-Prone Baja California, a peninsula in Mexico, is very prone to earthquakes. In 2010, a 7.2 magnitude quake known as the 2010 Baja California earthquake or the 2010 Easter earthquake struck near the same place as the Nov. 19 quake. The tremor lasted for more than a minute and was felt throughout the West Coast and in some southern states. Researchers in 2010 said at the time that the large quake could disturb nearby faults. Any quake of this size seems to pass some kind of threshold where its large enough to disturb or trigger other faults, said Pat Abbott, a professor emeritus of geology at San Diego State University, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. In cases like this, that often means increasing stress on other faults, which makes them more prone to movement. The energy seems to be moving northward toward the San Andreas Fault. I dont want to anthropomorphize, but its like this quake was goading the San Andreas. The 7.2 quake was preceded by a handful of smaller quakes known as foreshocks. Earthquakes dont pay attention to international borders, which complicates our work, USGS scientist Nancy King told the paper. Most of the seismic activity appears to be originating south of the border, which means its harder to get good quake locations quickly. People are going to have to study the data. There will be field trips to the area, though that will probably take a day or two to coordinate. Abbot noted the quake was the same size as the devastating January 2010 Haiti earthquake that left between 100,000 and 160,000 people dead. The country is still recovering from the event years later. The big quake was double the size of the Haiti quake, but it doesnt seem like there was a lot of damage caused, particularly in Mexico, he said at the time. That suggests that people are building better, or at least that past quakes have already knocked down the bad stuff. Meanwhile, Baja California and the rest of the West Coast are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the worlds most seismically active region. Some 90 percent of all earthquakes hit the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire isnt quite a circular ring. It is shaped more like a 40,000-kilometer (25,000-mile) horseshoe. A string of 452 volcanoes stretches from the southern tip of South America, up along the coast of North America, across the Bering Strait, down through Japan, and into New Zealand. Several active and dormant volcanoes in Antarctica, however, close the ring, according to National Geographic. According to the USGS, The next most seismic region (5-6% of earthquakes) is the Alpide belt (extends from Mediterranean region, eastward through Turkey, Iran, and northern India.) 4 Confirmed Dead After Shooting at Chicagos Mercy Hospital, Police Officer Samuel Jimenez Among Deceased Four people are dead after a gunman started shooting randomly at victims at a Chicago hospital on Nov. 19. Four people were critically wounded in the attack. Three of these victims have since been confirmed dead, including police officer Samuel Jimenez who was one of the first to respond to the incident, a police spokesman said on Twitter. An emergency room doctor was also killed. Police told ABC7 that shots were fired both inside and outside Mercy hospital in Chicagos South Side around 3:15 p.m. Sources have identified the gunman as Juan Lopez. Lopez was later shot dead by a SWAT team officer, according to CBS Chicago. People exit Mercy Hospital with their hands up after shots were fired on the hospital campus. Family members are being asked to meet at East 27th Street and King Drive, where a warming center has been set up. https://t.co/LrxdbXyhHp pic.twitter.com/MZbe2JmLgd CBS Chicago (@cbschicago) November 19, 2018 Policeman and Doctor Shot The gunman first opened fire in the parking lot outside the hospital before bursting into the lobby of the hospital and opening fire again, according to reports. A witness named James Gray told reporters that it looked as if the attacker was turning and shooting people at random. The shooting apparently began as the suspect was walking with a woman near a parking lot. He turned and repeatedly shot the woman in the chest. The two had been talking to each other in what Gray said did not appear to be a heated exchange. Then once she fell to the ground, he stood over her and shot her three more times, he said. The woman has been identified as Dr Tamara ONeal, an E.R. doctor at the hospital. She was also the gunmans ex-fiancee, according to CBS2 reporter Brad Edwards. A friend of mine worked with and respected the doctor who was the target of todays shooting at Mercy Hospital. Heres how she describes her pic.twitter.com/XCDY7ai7th Ben Bradley (@BenBradleyTV) November 20, 2018 Police have not commented on a possible motive. The gunman shot at police officers when they arrived at the parking lot and then he entered the hospital, witnesses told CBS Chicago. Once the gunman was inside, he shot another woman, who has since passed away. She has not been identified. Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Chicago Police Department (CPD) officer Samuel Jimenez was shot and taken to University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition. Guglielmi later announced that Officer Jimenez had died just after 7:30 p.m. This is Samuel Jimenez. A husband. A father. The brave @Chicago_Police Officer who confronted an armed suspect at Mercy Hospital. Tragically, he has died from his injuries. But his valor, his heroism will live on forever. Rest In Peace Sir. pic.twitter.com/RQzZk9cCiI LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) November 20, 2018 A second officer had also been shot at, but he escaped uninjured because the bullet struck his holster and embedded itself in his gun. A second Chicago cop was shot but not injured during todays Mercy Hospital shooting. Looks closely, youll see where bullet hit the officers holster and gun. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/N33xYnMeTB Ben Bradley (@BenBradleyTV) November 20, 2018 Hospital in Chaos Employees told ABC7 that the shooting had taken place in an outpatient area of the hospital that is relatively open. The scene was reportedly chaotic. It was chaos, mass chaos, Gray told ABC7. He described the shooting as surreal like a movie scene. Employees from the hospitals pharmacy, which is just inside the hospital lobby, said that the gunman was trying to get into the pharmacy and was arguing with some people. The pharmacy employees told ABC7 that they followed the hospitals active shooter training. They closed their shutters, barricaded the door, and hid. We hid for a little while in one of the rooms and barricaded the door. Witnesses describe scene after gunman reportedly opened fire on the campus of Mercy Hospital in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/5eqdn3ybZf CBS Chicago (@cbschicago) November 19, 2018 Police cars and ambulances swarmed the hospital after the shooting as officers searched the medical facility. As of 4:40 p.m., police had secured the hospital, and all patients were safe, hospital officials told CBS Chicago. A shooting took place at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center this afternoon. The shooting at Mercy Hospital is over. Chicago Police Department have secured the hospital and patients are safe. Mercy Chicago (@MercyChicago) November 19, 2018 Sue Jimenez, the manager of Kozys Cyclery bike shop near the hospital, said she heard multiple gunshots separated by pauses. At one point, she heard five shots in quick succession, she said, but the shooting stopped after police arrived. ATF Chicago said they plan to assist in the investigation. ATF Chicago Field Division is responding to the active shooting incident at Mercy Hospital in Chicago and assisting our local and state partners. @ATF_Chicago @Chicago_Police ATF Chicago (@ATF_Chicago) November 19, 2018 A Family Assistance Center has been set up at Dunbar High School at 3000 South Martin Luther King Boulevard for those affected by the shooting, The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications told ABC7. Reuters and AP contributed to this report. Watch Next: The Threats Facing the World and a Vision to Achieve a Brighter Future We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism. Keon Gray, 29, was arrested in Baltimore, Maryland, for the murder of Taylor Hayes, 7, on Aug. 17, 2018. (Baltimore Police Department) 5-Year-Old Girl Shot in Baltimore Is Younger Sister of Murder Victim Taylor Hayes A 5-year-old girl who was shot in Baltimore, Maryland, on Nov. 19 is the younger sister of Taylor Hayes, a 7-year-old who was shot dead while sitting in the back of a car on July 5. The 5-year-old was shot in west Baltimore in the groin area late Monday and rushed to the hospital. Police officials told WJZ that she was expected to survive after undergoing surgery, and the broadcaster identified the girl as the younger sister of Hayes. A citizen looked outside and saw the child laying on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound, Baltimore police told Fox 45, which said the girls name is Amy. The shooting was likely a shootout between suspects in a vehicle and suspects on foot, officers said. Happening Now: BPD at shooting scene at Mosher St. & McKean. Neighbors are telling us little girl was shot. There is a baby doll lying face down in the street(in picture). No word on childs condition. @FOXBaltimore pic.twitter.com/2XKunDZden Keith Daniels Fox45 (@KeithDFox45) November 20, 2018 A neighbor who noticed the little girl was shot drove her to the hospital. Neighbor Doretha Carpenter said she ducked for cover in her home when she heard the gunshots. When she went outside later, she learned the girl, her godchild, had been shot, and saw her baby doll in the street. Carpenter told the Baltimore Sun that the girl had been walking to the corner store when she was shot. I hope my baby is OK, she said. Brandon Scott, a Baltimore councilman, spoke out about the people who shot the girl. Only a pure coward would shoot a baby and leave her in the street! Somebody needs to buck up and tell us who shot this baby, he said via Twitter. Hayes Shot to Death Taylor Hayes was shot while sitting in the back of a vehicle in July and a bullet struck her in the back. Keon Gray, 29, was arrested in August. Court documents obtained by WBFF showed Gray had been arrested and convicted of three crimes. Those were: a drug charge in 2007, a drug charge in 2008, and a first-degree assault charge in 2012. Keon Gray is prohibited from possessing a handgun because he was previously convicted on the following cases, read the statement of charges. Gray was charged with first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and gun charges, reported WBAL. I lost my daughter. They still got their kids. I dont have my 7-year-old daughter anymore, said Shanika Robinson, Taylors mother, told the broadcaster after the charges were filed. It wont bring Taylor back, but at least well get some type of justice and we just want to thank everybody, added Ebony Ward, Taylors aunt. It was just outstanding work. We gratefully appreciate it from the bottom of our heart, every tip, everything that led to the person who did this. Other Charges Gray was denied bail at a hearing in late August, reported the Baltimore Sun. Grays girlfriend Daneka McDonald, 33, was charged with accessory after the fact and obstruction. Shortly after the death, Darnell Holmes, 33, who was driving in the vehicle Hayes was riding in, was charged for drug and gun-related crimes; and her boyfriend Mallik Edison, 20, was charged with similar crimes. He was riding in the passenger seat. The charges came after officers found a loaded gun, heroin, and a digital scale in their vehicle. From NTD News A view of the Sapphire Princess cruise ship docked at the Marina bay cruise centre in Singapore on November 27, 2014. (Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images) Alabama Woman Who Died on Cruise Ship Didnt Want to Go on Trip, Children Say The children of an Alabama woman who died on a cruise ship said she didnt want to go, reports say. Almarosa Tenorios son, Timothy, told Good Morning America that his mother told him it might be the last time she hugged him before she departed. The night before they left my mom hugged me for a good five minutes and I was kind of curious as to why was it so long and I asked her and she said, Well, it might be the last hug you get from me, he explained to Good Morning America. The 52-year-old American woman who plunged to her death last week from an upper deck of a Princess Cruises ship has been identified as Almarosa Tenorio of Alabama https://t.co/qY9aynGbwZ pic.twitter.com/B1s7SCS0wK Hamilton Spectator (@TheSpec) November 20, 2018 I cant focus. Its like my rock is gone and its just very painful for me. Im trying to do the best I can, Tenorio said of his 52-year-old mothers death. Her daughter, Andrea Smith, said she didnt want to go on the Princess Cruises ship with her husband Leo Tenorio. My mom did not want to go on this cruise. She did not. She knew something was going to happen, she also told Good Morning America. Smith said she and Leo were going on the Florida-to-Aruba cruise to work on their relationship. Leo Tenorio was questioned by police in the case but is not a suspect. No other suspects were named. The woman died after falling from the ships 16th floor onto a lifeboat, and it happened on the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 13. Leo told Fox10 that he was upset with reports suggesting she was murdered. Passengers reported seeing an unidentified man struggling with Tenorio. He was allegedly choking her before she fell, the Fox10 report said. Timothy Tenorio, meanwhile, said Leo was someone who always wanted the best for his mother, as reported by Good Morning America, adding that he was a supportive husband. Almarosa was a very loving daughter, sister, mom and grandmother with a good heart, Tony Rodriguez, Tenorios brother wrote in a statement, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Her passion was teaching and working with children. She had a vivacious personality with a smile that would light up a room. We are sad that she was taken from us at such a young age. She will be missed by all that knew her. Princess Cruises also issued a statement, reported ABC Action News. Princess Cruises can confirm that a 52-year-old, American, female guest passed away early Tuesday morning aboard Royal Princess as the ship was enroute to Aruba. The incident was reported to the FBI and local authorities and the local authorities met and boarded the ship upon arrival in Aruba, it said. It added: We are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities, including the FBI. An official cause of death has not been announced. We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincere condolences to the family and those affected. Royal Princess is sailing a 7-day roundtrip Southern Caribbean cruise that departed Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale) on Nov. 9 and will return on Nov. 17. Last week, in a separate incident, a 70-year-old passenger fell into her water during a Holland America cruise in the South Pacific Ocean, USA Today reported. We are saddened by this event, and our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones, Holland America said in the statement. The cause of the fall is unknown, the report said. Australia Police Arrest 3 Men Over Mass Attack Plan SYDNEYPolice said on Nov. 20 they had arrested three men who were allegedly preparing to attack the public in Melbourne. Australian federal and state police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, and other agencies that form part of the Joint Counter Terrorism Team carried out the arrests on Tuesday morning, Nov. 20. Police said three men, aged 30, 26 and 21, from Dallas, Campbellfield, and Greenvale respectively, were taken into custody after they allegedly sought to acquire a semi-automatic gun to carry out an attack. Two of the men were brothers, police said during a press conference on Nov. 19. All were Australian citizens and their passports had been cancelled earlier this year. We now have sufficient evidence to act in relation to preventing a terrorist attack, Graham Ashton, Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, told reporters. Police said the suspects had yet to decide on the site of their planned attack but they believed the act was imminent. They were certainly looking at a place of mass gathering where there would be crowds, Ashton said. They were trying to focus on trying to have a place where they could kill as many people as possible. Police said they believed the arrests had nullified any threat from the group. Australia has been on heightened alert since 2014 for attacks by home-grown extremists returning from fighting in the Middle East or their supporters. Police said the three men were known to authorities and their passports were cancelled because of concerns they would travel to a conflict zone overseas. The arrests come less than two weeks after a man set fire to a pickup truck laden with gas cylinders in the center of Melbourne and stabbed three people, killing one, before he was shot by police in what police said was an act of terrorism. Police said that the attack planned by the arrested three men, similar to the Melbourne stabbing, had been inspired by ISIS rather than being directed by the terrorist group. Additional reporting by Epoch Times staff Australian Media Reveals Companies Under Chinese Spy Agency Attack Australia is the latest country to link a series of cyberattacks against local companies and their trade secrets to Chinese hackers working for Beijing. A recent investigation by Sydney-based Fairfax Media and television broadcaster Channel Nine revealed that over the past year, Australian companies have been under attack by hackers within Chinas Ministry of State Security (MSS), the chief agency responsible for the countrys counterintelligence and foreign intelligence, using a technique called Cloud Hopper, according to a Nov. 20 article by the Sydney Morning Herald. Cyber experts noticed a string of attacks around the world that had a common pattern: hackers would infiltrate the cloud storage services firm used by a target company, then hop into the targets information technology (IT) system. Cyber experts dubbed the hacker group APT10 and have largely linked it to China. The latest investigation confirms that they have also targeted Australian firms. The investigation found that APT10 hackers were able to attack Australian companies through their outsourced IT service providers, including cloud storage companies and help desk firms in North America and Asia, which were breached first. The wave of attacks in Australia has been detected by the Australian government and its intelligence partners in the Five Eyes alliance: the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. An unnamed senior Australian government source told the investigation team that Chinas cyberattacks were a constant, significant effort to steal our intellectual property. In April 2017, former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull inked a cybersecurity pact with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang; both countries promised not to conduct or support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, or confidential business information, according to Reuters. The fact that China has breached the pact was not a surprise to an unnamed former Australian government official, who said, The way these things usually go with the Chinese is they behave themselves for a while before they go back to being bad, according to Sydney Morning Herald. Mike Sentonas, a vice president at U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, stated: We noticed a significant increase in attacks in the first six months of this year. The activity is mainly from China and its targeting all sectors. Crowdstrike and the Intrusion Truth blog, claimed to be run by independent analysts, have both previously linked the APT10 hackers to Chinas MSS. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a warning against the APT10 cloud hoppers back in early October due to increased attacks targeting U.S. firms in multiple sectors, including information technology, energy, healthcare, communication, and manufacturing. Much like Australia, in September 2015, former U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese leader Xi Jinping signed an agreement with the goal of curbing cyber-enabled economic theft. Both nations initially saw a decrease in the number of Chinese cyber attacks following their respective signing of deals with China. But now, the number of Chinese cyberattacks are increasing. In the United States and Western Europe, weve seen a huge pickup in [Chinese] activity over the past year and a half. Nowadays they are the most predominant threat actors, said Dmitri Alperovitch, chief technology officer of CrowdStrike, at a security conference in Washington on Oct. 2, according to Reuters. A report issued in April 2017 by PriceWaterhouseCoopers found that IT services companies in several countries were targeted by Chinas Cloud Hopper campaign, including Canada, the UK, South Korea, India, Thailand, and Japan. Chinese hackers have also used other hacking techniques. In late October, two Chinese intelligence officers who worked for the Jiangsu Province branch of the Ministry of State Security were charged by U.S. prosecutors for stealing trade secrets from a French aerospace manufacturer and an U.S.-based aerospace company related to manufacturing commercial turbofan aircraft engines. The scheme involved Chinese employees at the French companys office in China, as well as hackers who worked under the direction of MSSall of whom were also indictedusing phishing emails, malware, and other tactics to gain access. In Australia, sensitive information about its F-35 stealth fighter jets and P-8 Poseidon surveillance plane were stolen in a cyberattack that occurred in July 2016. According to British broadcaster Sky News, the alleged hackers used a tool known as China Choppera script that can be uploaded to a web server to enable remote control of a computer. This method is commonly used by Chinese hackers to gain access to a contractors systems and steal information. Anti-Brexit demonstrators protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Nov. 19, 2018. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters) Brexit Reversal Case Will Be Heard by Europes Top Court, Judges Rule LONDONThe UKs Supreme Court has rejected a bid by the British government to stop the top court in Europe from hearing a case on whether the UK can reverse the Brexit process. Politicians who are against Britain leaving the European Union would like the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to rule on whether the country can withdraw its notification to leave without permission from the other EU members. The ECJs ruling would clarify whether the outcome of a second referendum, if it happens, would mean the UK could remain within the bloc. The ECJ is due to hear the case on Nov. 27, but the British government appealed to the Supreme Court to block that from happening. However, on Nov. 20, three of the UKs top judges rejected the governments application. The governments position was that lawmakers had no intention of reversing the decision to leave the EU, so it would make no difference if the ECJ ruled on it or not. The anti-Brexit politicians are hoping the ECJ will decide that Britain can unilaterally decide to remain in the EU, even after Brexit negotiations are over. It is unknown when the ECJ might make its ruling. Negotiations and Resignations The notice to leave the EU was given under Article 50 of the EU treaty and was triggered March 29, 2017, by the UK following a very close-run referendum on June 23, 2016. Britons voted 52 percent to 48 percent in favor of leaving the 27-member trading bloc in 2016, and have since negotiated to agree on the terms of separation before the UK leaves on March 29, 2019. Last week, Britains Prime Minister Theresa May announced a withdrawal agreement had been reached with the EU, but many lawmakers have been unhappy with the terms of the deal. Several lawmakers resigned, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab who oversaw the negotiations. He wrote in his resignation letter that the terms of the deal amounted to a hybrid of the EU customs union and single market. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement, he said. Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. May has since aggressively defended the deal, saying that the UK has three options: backing her deal; leaving the EU in a disorderly no deal Brexit, which would be very disruptive for businesses and citizens; or reversing Brexit. Im confident that this takes us significantly closer to delivering on what the British people voted for in the referendum, May said when the deal was first announced. We will take back control of our borders, our laws, and our money, leave the Common Fisheries Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy, while protecting jobs, security, and the integrity of the United Kingdom. May has promised British lawmakers a vote on the deal, most likely in December. But with a wafer-thin majority in lawmaking chambers, and around 40 of her own party ready to vote against her, she may have to rely on rebel votes from the opposition Labour party, which is also split over Brexit. If Mays deal is defeated, it could open the possibility of Britain leaving without a deal, or even of Brexit being postponed or not happening at all. Epoch Times reporter Simon Veazey and Reuters contributed to this report. Chicago Mercy Hospital Shooting: What We Know About the Victims A Chicago police officer, emergency room doctor, and pharmacy technician were killed on Nov. 19 when a gunman opened fire at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center. Chicago lost a doctor, pharmaceutical assistant, and a police officer, all going about their day, all doing what they loved, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said at a press conference Tuesday, fighting back tears. This just tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and a consequence of evil. The attacker, 32-year-old Juan Lopez, also died Monday but it was not clear if he took his own life or was killed by police. Chicagos Superintendent of Police Eddie Johnson told a press conference Monday, There is no doubt in my mind that all those officers that responded were heroes. There is no doubt in my mind that all those officers that responded were heroes, said Chicagos Superintendent of Police after the citys Mercy Hospital shooting today, which claimed the lives of 4 people. https://t.co/xYv7p32IWZ pic.twitter.com/erZPQOtmik CBS News (@CBSNews) November 20, 2018 Those officers that responded today saved a lot of lives, said Johnson. They were heroes because we just dont know how much damage (the shooter) was prepared to do. This s what is known about the victims: Dr. Tamara ONeal Dr. Tamara ONeal was shot and killed inside the hospital where she worked. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/KpCLjEtFyA Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) November 20, 2018 Dr. Tamara ONeal, 38, was the first person shot and killed in Mondays deadly rampage. She was a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, and a two-year resident atMercy Hospital & Medical Center. Authorities said the shooting began as a domestic dispute between the gunman and ONeal in the hospital parking lot. Superintendent Jackson said that ONeal, an emergency room doctor, had broken off an engagement with the suspect several months ago. The Chicago Tribune reported hospital officials as saying that ONeal was deeply religious and regularly attended church, where she headed up the choir. That was her one thing she wanted to be able to go to church on Sunday, Emergency Department director Patrick Connor said at a news conference. Some of the victims work colleagues paid tribute to her on Twitter. I knew her, trained with her, saved lives with her and tonight, tried to save her life, Dr. John Purakal wrote. Tonight, I broke down in front of my coworkers when we lost her, and tonight I held hands with her mother in prayer. Tonight, we lost a beautiful, resilient, passionate doc. Keep singing, TO. I knew her, trained with her, saved lives with her and tonight, tried to save her life. Tonight, I broke down in front of my coworkers when we lost her, and tonight I held hands with her mother in prayer. Tonight, we lost a beautiful, resilient, passionate doc. Keep singing, TO. pic.twitter.com/NLQpX1rZIn John Purakal, MD (@JohnPurakal) November 20, 2018 The Chicago Tribune reported police sources and witnesses as saying that the gunman hit ONeal with multiple rounds, standing over her as he fired the last shots. Officer Samuel Jimenez Today, we mourn Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez. His heroic actions saved countless lives. He ran toward danger. He ran toward those shots. He ran into fire. Selflessly. Samuel Jimenez: altruism personified. #OfficerDown #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/7IDW4sJr6v Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) November 20, 2018 Today, we mourn Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez, the Chicago Police wrote in a tribute posted on Twitter. His heroic actions saved countless lives. He ran towards danger. He ran toward those shots. He ran into fire. Selflessly. Officer Jimenez was a married father of three. He had been with the force less than two years. Sgt. Larry Snelling, who works at the Chicago police academy, recalled Jimenez as a stellar recruit who was on top of his game, according to the Chicago Tribune. He was one of the guys we didnt have to worry about at all, Snelling said. Just a great kid. Superintendent Johnson said Jimenez was not obliged to respond to the call because it was outside his district, and that by confronting the gunman the young officer acted courageously and selflessly. When they pulled up, they heard the gunshots, and they did what heroic officers always do they ran toward that gunfire, Johnson said, according to the Chicago Tribune. So they werent assigned to that particular call, but they went because thats what we do. He was the real police. He wasnt in it just for the paycheck, an officer who worked with him told the Chicago Sun-Times. The procession for Ofc. Jimenez has begun. CPD and our federal and state partners pay our final respects to a hero. pic.twitter.com/f28V2x8l9G Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) November 20, 2018 Dayna Less Dayna Less, 25, was shot and killed during Mondays tragic shooting as she exited an elevator at Mercy Hospital, according to the Chicago Tribune. This is Dayna Less. She lost her life at the hands of a crazed madman at Mercy Hospital. Such a sad day in the city. pic.twitter.com/OM45N1HTCK Mark in Chicago (@Smackoff25Champ) November 20, 2018 The first-year pharmacy resident, who graduated from Purdue University earlier this year, had been working at the hospital since July, the newspaper reported. A Twitter user who said she was a close friend of Less, posted a tribute. I was a close friend of Dayna Less. One of her and her familys favorite things together was celebrating their love for the Cubbies. Please pray for her Mother, Father, and Fiance during this horrific time. pic.twitter.com/4bvreD32gS Nina Starcevich (@nina_starcevich) November 20, 2018 I was a close friend of Dayna Less, she wrote. One of her and her familys favorite things together was celebrating their love for the Cubbies. Please pray for her Mother, Father, and Fiance during this horrific time. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Chilling Words Published From the Recording of Khashoggis Killing Turkish media outlets have published portions of the purported audio recording of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggis murder. Killers of the 59-year-old Washington Post columnist are allegedly heard on the recording, which was published on Nov. 20 by the Hurriyet Daily News, telling Khashoggi that he will be held to account and calling him a traitor. The audio is said to contain conversations between members of the so-called hit squad, talking about one of them wearing the slain journalists clothing to act as a decoy after his murder. Footage of Khashoggi entering the Saudi Arabian Consulate building in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 2 to obtain paperwork for his upcoming marriage to his Turkish fiancee is the last known visual record of the journalist alive. Turkish officials have said that the audio recording is evidence that Khashoggi was strangled to death and dismembered inside the consulate. The recording reportedly reveals that the journalist resisted his attackers. Release my arm! What do you think you are doing?, Khashoggi said shortly after entering the building, according to Hurriyet Daily News. This is reportedly followed by a verbal quarrel, noises of a physical fight, and then beating and torture. A male voice can allegedly be heard later saying, It is spooky to wear the clothes of a man whom we killed 20 minutes ago. The Saudi Account Saudi Arabia has offered varying accounts of what happened. Initially, Saudi officials said Khashoggi left the consulate, and later claimed that he was killed when an argument degenerated into a fistfight. Most recently, the kingdoms top prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb said a 15-member team went to Istanbul to coerce Khashoggi into returning to Saudi Arabia, but instead killed him in a rogue operation. The spokesman for al-Mojebs office, Shalan al-Shalan, told a rare press conference in Riyadh on Thursday, Nov. 15, that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate and his body was dismembered and handed over to an unidentified local collaborator for disposal. The body has not been found. According to al-Shalan, Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 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 has since been fired. 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. Without identifying them, al-Shalan 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 the 21 suspects have been indicted and will be referred to court, while investigations of the remaining suspects will continue. The US Response Hours after Riyadhs announcement, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced sanctions against 17 Saudi officials allegedly involved in the killing. 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. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 17 that his administration will get a report in the next two days about Khashoggis death. 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. Publication of the report is expected on Nov. 20. Trump said that when it came to allegations that Prince Mohammad 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 president also said that Prince Mohammed has denied to him perhaps five times any role in Khashoggis killing, and the investigators may never know whether he was involved in the murder. Well, will anybody really know? All right, will anybody really know? Trump responded when Fox News anchor Chris Wallace asked during a Fox News Sunday interview that was taped Nov. 16 whether the princes denials might be lies. 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. U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said earlier 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. Reuters, The Associated Press Epoch Times reporter Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report. Chinas New Tax Strategy: Collect More From the Rich, Reduce Corporate Burden News Analysis The Chinese regime, struggling with economic malaise and trillions in insolvent debts, has restructured its tax system to boost revenues. Per the reforms, which come into effect on Jan. 1, new measures will be introduced to tax wealthy individuals and crack down on tax evasion. Meanwhile, corporate taxes will be reduced so as to aid struggling firms and encourage innovation. However, the reform is unlikely to address Chinas heavy indirect taxes and fees, which run at some of the highest rates in the world. A recent news story caught the attention of many people in China: A shop owner who purchases imported clothing and sells through the online shopping website Taobao was accused of tax evasion. The owner, Yu Yan, was fined 5.5 million yuan and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Critics saw the penalty as harsh and unfair, compared to the fine imposed on Chinese actress Fan Bingbing for tax evasion. But most people are unaware of new tax regulations that took effect in the past two months. Tax Reduction for Enterprises In mid-September, Chinas State Council issued an upgraded version of its Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation guidelines. The full text is nearly 10,000 words and lists six major goals and eight major measures for corporate tax reduction. The most significant item is the reduced tax rate for all enterprises and the reduction of the social security tax rate to ease the burden on enterprises. The rest of the article encourages venture-capital firms to boost R&D expenses toward the development of new technologies. The corporate tax-reduction plan benefits enterprises, especially small and medium-sized tech companies. But with an understanding of Chinas taxation system and its lack of an institutional environment for promoting innovation, the plan looks good on paper only. Tax Rate of Death A few years ago, professor Li Weiguang of the College of Management and Economics in Tianjin University said the proportion of tax burden on private enterprises in China was risingin 2015, it reached 51.43 percent, which was the tax rate of deathand would cause big problems for the economy. Although Li was silenced by the Chinese regime, its a fact that corporate tax burdens make it difficult for enterprises to survive. The corporate tax must be reduced but the government needs to find a new source of taxation. A study conducted by Haitong Securities analysis team in 2017 shows the direction of the governments tax plan. This study makes three arguments: 1. The tax burden of Chinese enterprises is high compared to developed countries and emerging economies. The tax burden in the Chinese corporate sector accounts for 30 percent of GDP and 90 percent of the total macro-tax burden. And most of Chinas non-tax government revenue is borne by the corporate sector. The corporate tax burden in China accounts for 68 percent of commercial profits, and ranks 12th among more than 190 economies worldwide. This ratio is not only much higher than that of developed countries such as the United States (44%), the United Kingdom (31%), and Singapore (19%), but also higher than emerging economies such as India (61%), Mexico (52%), Russia (47%), and Indonesia, (31%). 2. Chinas tax structure: indirect taxes dominate, and enterprises pay more. Among Chinas tax revenues in 2016, indirect taxes accounted for 60 percent and direct taxes accounted for the remainder. Indirect taxes are applied to the manufacture or sale of goods and servicessales taxes. Direct taxes are levied on the income of individuals or organizationsincome or corporate taxes. The direct tax proportion of developed countries is generally 50 to 60 percent; the United States and Canada exceed 70 percent. 3. The ratio of Chinese enterprises contribution to tax revenue is more than 85 percent, while the direct contribution of individuals is only 11.5 percent. The solution provided by the study is to impose more taxes on the richsuch as property and inheritance taxesto fill this fiscal gap. There are also other studies that support this idea. This is the focus of this years tax-collection strategy: reduce the corporate tax burden by imposing more taxes on wealthy individuals. Taxation of Personal Assets Overseas On Aug. 31, Chinas Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress passed amendments to the Individual Income Tax Lawit was the seventh revision to the tax law since its creation in 1980 and seven years since the last modification. The tax law has made two major adjustments. First, the adjustment of the personal income tax threshold from 3,500 yuan to 5,000 yuan ($504 to $720) per month, which may reduce the tax burden for low- and middle-income people. Second, the scope of taxation has been expanded to include residents who have a residence in China or who do not have a residence but have lived in China for more than 183 days in the tax year as resident individuals who have to pay personal income tax. The resident individuals income earned within and outside China is subject to personal income tax in accordance with this regulation. The amendments will go into full effect on Jan. 1, 2019. For individuals who have a residence in China, it refers to individuals who habitually reside in China due to household registration, family, and economic interests. For details, please refer to the Rules for the Recognition of Chinas Tax Residents published by the State Administration of Taxation. Once a person is qualified, he or she will be taxed on all income, earned in China or abroad. Those who reside in China for 183 days out of the year, but live in another country for the rest of the tax year, are considered to be the upper class, who can afford such a lifestyle. The upper class include wealthy business owners and their relatives, and are referred to as high net-worth individuals. Therefore, this act of taxation is called taxing the rich. The rich may think that Chinas tax authorities wont discover assets hidden in other parts of the world. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), introduced by the United States in 2013, makes it possible to track financial assets overseas and crack down on tax evaders. More than 100 countries and regions around the world, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland, have joined this initiative, while some countries or regions such as Taiwan have created their own version of FATCA. Since 2014, FATCA has been in effect globally, and participating countries submit customer data to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) every other year. On Sept. 1, China officially joined the Common Reporting Standard (CRS)an information standard for the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) regarding bank accounts on a global level between tax authoritiesto stem tax evasion. China confirmed that 83 countries would agree to share information about financial accounts. By deciding to operate under the CRS, Beijing will come into greater cooperation with countries that wealthy Chinese often use to conceal their riches. If a resident individual of China has an offshore bank account in a participating country, that individuals financial information is transmitted to Chinas tax authorities through the automatic exchange mechanism of the CRS. By sharing more tax information with other countries, the Chinese regime will be able to collect more income tax from more people and investigate various types of foreign investment. The Chinese regime is always hungry for moneyit must maintain a large bureaucracy, a large military and police force to maintain the stability of the countryand its taxation model is based on taking money from the people and using it for the government. Enterprises are heavily taxed but this cant be sustained in the long-run. The regime is unable to extract much in the way of taxes from the low- and middle-income classes, so it must target the rich and famous. Beijing is likely to impose property-holding taxes. Local governments have relied on selling land to developers as their primary source of revenue (in China, the state owns all property). But now that much of the land in urban areas has been developed, they need a new source of income: taxes. It isnt a question of whether to levy the tax, but when to impose it. He Qinglian is a prominent Chinese author and economist. Currently based in the United States, she authored Chinas Pitfalls, which focuses on corruption in Chinas economic reform of the 1990s, and The Fog of Censorship: Media Control in China, which addresses the manipulation and restriction of the press. She regularly writes on contemporary Chinese social and economic issues. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Visiting Chinese leader Xi Jinping with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte troop the line before their one-on-one meeting at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila on Nov. 20, 2018. (Erik De Castro/Reuters) Chinas Xi Visits Philippines as Duterte Pressed to Take Tougher Line MANILA Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited the Philippines on Nov. 20 to further strategic gains made under President Rodrigo Duterte, who hailed a new impetus behind a relationship that his massive infrastructure ambitions could depend on. Xis visit comes two years after the maverick Duterte declared he was reorienting his foreign policy away from longtime ally the United States and toward China, despite decades of mistrust and bitter maritime disputes with Beijing. Duterte is facing criticism from opponents for making too many political concessions to China in return for billions of dollars of pledged Chinese loans and investments that have yet to materialize, or be committed to formally. The two leaders on Tuesday oversaw 29 agreements of sorts, many of them broad or vague, from cooperating in education, culture and industrial park development to jointly promoting infrastructure, agriculture cooperatives and establishing sanitation protocols for shipping coconuts. Duterte and Xi had discussed increasing trade and investment, and Chinas involvement in his signature $180 billion Build, Build, Build infrastructure program. However, of the 38 Philippine projects earmarked for Chinese involvement two years ago, only four were among the commitments made on Tuesday. One was approval for a Chinese loan for building a $232.5 million dam, and the other was the hiring of a consultancy for a rail plan. The other two were to start feasibility studies on an inter-island bridge, and a highway in Dutertes home province. Xi said he and Duterte would elevate their relationship to one of comprehensive strategic cooperation, adding that they had many common interests in the South China Sea, and would continue to manage contentious issues. Submissive Strategy Dutertes management of those issues has frustrated nationalists, who say he has been submissive in refusing to criticize Chinas military buildup, or asking for its compliance with a 2016 arbitration award that invalidated its claim to almost the entire waterway. Though public opinion is largely supportive of Dutertes presidency, surveys consistently show reservations about his China policy and his personal dislike of the United States. A Social Weather Stations poll of 1,200 Filipinos released on the eve of Xis visit showed 84 percent felt it was wrong not to oppose Chinas militarization of its manmade islands in the South China Sea. It also showed trust in the United States remained very good, but China was considered poor. Asked about that survey, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Dutertes strategy was to avoid a conflict while reaping the rewards of improved business. They are not aware of the real geopolitics in the region. The president is a very cautious diplomat, Panelo told news channel ANC. In comments prior to the two leaders meeting, Panelo accepted the slow pace of of the Chinese regime in delivering on its investment pledges, but said he expected Duterte to be brave enough to exert pressure on Xi. Knowing the man, hell do that, hes that kind of person, Panelo said. Duterte has heaped praise on Xi for his economic support, but some analysts say he is being exploited by the Chinese regime. Other Philippine experts say delays in securing Chinese credit could be a blessing given the potential debt burden, echoing a warning delivered by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. By Martin Petty & Neil Jerome Morales Taiwanese director Yue Fu (R) poses backstage after winning Best Documentary for her movie "Our Youth in Taiwan" at the 55th Golden Horse Awards in Taipei, Taiwan on November 17, 2018. (REUTERS/Tyrone Siu) Chinese Oscars Award Show Becomes Center of Debate About Taiwans Independence In Taipei, a recent film festival and awards show ended with discussions beyond the celebrities who walked away with an award. The 55th annual Golden Horse Awards, Asias most prestigious film event that is often dubbed the Chinese Oscars, took place in Taiwans capital Taipei on Nov. 17. The film festival was first organized in Taiwan in 1962 as an occasion to celebrate Chinese-language films. Celebrities throughout the Chinese diaspora in Asia take part in the event. It was a remark made by Fu Yue, director of the film awarded best documentary, Our Youth in Taiwan, that generated heated discussion in both China and Taiwan. I hope one day our country would be recognized and treated as a real independent entity. This is my greatest hope as a Taiwanese, Fu Yue said during her acceptance speech, according to Taiwanese media. Our Youth in Taiwan is about the Sunflower Movement in 2014, a two-month long student-driven protest objecting to a trade pact with China negotiated by the then-ruling Kuomintang party. Many feared that the pact would hurt Taiwans economy and leave it vulnerable to political pressure from Beijing. The issue of Taiwans status quo is a sensitive issue not only in China and Taiwan, but also for many governments around the world. Taiwan is a de facto independent, democratic country, with its own constitution, elected officials, and military. However, China, an authoritarian state under one-party rule, considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be united with the mainland, through military force if necessary. In recent months, Beijing has stepped up pressure forcing international governments to conform to its sovereign claims and recognize Taiwan as part of China. Historically, Beijing has made different moves to diminish Taiwans global presence, such as refusing to allow Taiwan to become a member of the World Health Organization (WHO). Fus remark about Taiwans independence set off a war of words on her Facebook page, with Taiwanese netizens applauding her courage for expressing her views despite Beijings ire, while mainland Chinese netizens dished out scathing remarks against her. Chinas hawkish state-run daily the Global Times also lashed out at Fu in an editorial published on Nov. 18, calling her remarks disrespectful to the Golden Horse Awards and a self-hype move to draw attention to herself. It is likely that, even if Fu had not spoken about Taiwans independence, Beijing would still be unpleased by the fact that her film won an award, given the subject of her film. Fus words were not the only remarks that caused a stir. Tu Men, a mainland Chinese actor who won best actor at the Golden Horse Awards last year, took the stage this year to present an award. The first thing he said was, I am honored to have come to China, Taiwan to be an award presenter. By saying China, Taiwan, Tu indirectly implied that he had come to visit a province of China, which angered many in Taiwan. Taiwanese locals consider China, Taiwan or Chinese Taipei as a derogatory phrase to diminish Taiwans status. The exchange of words at the festival propelled some Taiwanese officials to voice their opinions. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, writing on her official Facebook page on Nov. 18, described the differences between China and Taiwan. I am proud of the Golden Horse Awards yesterday, for it highlights how different Taiwan is from China, which is our freedom and diversity, Tsai wrote, adding that In [Taiwan], nobody is going to be silenced or made to disappear because of different opinions, and there is no sensitive internet terms which might be censored. Beijings online censorship apparatus monitors netizen posts, screening for any content containing blacklisted keywords, or sensitive terms. Political dissidents or any citizen who fail to toe the Party line often run the risk of being silenced by Chinese authorities. One recent example involves Yang Kaili, a blogger with more than 44 million followers, who was detained for five days in Shanghai after local police deemed a video of her singing the national anthem light-heartedly disrespectful. After Fus remarks blew up the internet, Beijing moved quickly to censor online coverage of the film festival. According to Hong Kong media Apple Daily, Chinas State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television; Propaganda Department; and Cyberspace Administration jointly issued an emergency notice to major Chinese media and news sites, asking them to censor all coverage about the film festival, because there were Taiwan-independence remarks. A couple found a bag full of money and immediately turned it in to police in Rincon, Ga., on Nov. 16, 2018. (Rincon Police Department) Couple Finds $25,000 and Immediately Gives It to Police A couple recently proved the existence of good Samaritans and inspired the residents of their small town at the same time. Jeff and Michelle Green from Georgia came across a deposit bag with almost $25,000 inside on Nov. 16. Knowing that someone musts be desperately looking for the money, they turned it over to police so it would find its way back to its rightful owner. Sure enough, police had received a call that same day from local business owner Gautambhai Patel, who said he had lost that same amount of money. How about some GOOD news?!? wrote the Rincon Police Department in a post on Facebook. Today, local business owner Gautambhai Patel reported having lost a deposit bag with nearly $25,000! Our office began investigating but hoped that whoever would find the bag would do the right thing and turn it in. Local residents Jeff and Mechelle Green are those amazing people! How about some GOOD news?!?Today, local business owner Gautambhai Patel reported having lost a deposit bag with nearly Rincon Police Department They recovered the bag and made sure it was returned to the rightful owner. We always encourage citizens to do the right thing both morally and legally! Thank you to the Greens! stated the post. The post received more than 120 comments from Facebook users who were very glad to hear the happy news. Way to go Mr. & Mrs. Green! You will be blessed one day!! wrote Melinda Roberson Jarrell under the post. Great people! God bless this Family! wrote Cheryl Lipscomb. Mr G and family are very nice people [and] will give you the shirt off his back, wrote Lucille Griffin Green. What Happens When People Find Valuables When people find cash lying around, they might wonder what to do with it. These questions have important ethical and legal implications, according to the Criminal Defense Lawyer online information site. Even though cash is not marked with the owners identitylike a check or savings bondit is a piece of property that originally belonged to someone other than the finder. So technically, cash you find is not automatically yours, states the website. Many places have ordinances or laws in place that require a person to turn in money over a certain amount that they find to the police. The legal value may be an amount such as over $100, for example. If no one comes forward to claim the money after a designated amount of time, it might be returned to the finder. However, other places might have different laws on this issue or even no laws at all. In the U.S., traditional ethical guidelines about finding money are quite similaryou should try to find the owner and only keep the money if you made a reasonable effort and couldnt locate the owner, reports the website. If people make no effort to return any money they find or even go spend it, they could be charged with a crime. They should first check their local laws, call an attorney, or contact the police. In the case of a wallet or other personal item found, people can also look inside for an address or something that might identify who lost it. They can even get creative and enlist the media. Wedding rings lost and found! A local woman found these rings in Raleigh Walmart parking lot & she wants to get them back to the rightful owner. Do you know anyone whos lost their rings? pic.twitter.com/KehTITX9AR Stephanie Lopez (@LopezABC11) March 20, 2018 In March, Esther Daniel picked up a pair of diamond-studded rings in a Walmart parking lot in Raleigh, North Carolina. She tried posting them on social media, but no one claimed them. The she called the local news media. When I was a little girl my mama taught me on honesty and just this week we were talking with my son about integrity, Daniel said to ABC11. That integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching. Thats the only reason why I persistently did the right thing and Im hoping that it gets to the right person. Fortunately, the owner of the lost engagement and wedding ring saw the news segment and was reunited with her lost property. Walmart even rewarded Daniel with a $500 gift card for choosing to do the right thing. Claudia, wife of Armin Capaul the horned cow initiative founder, cleans a cow ahead of a national vote on Nov. 25, at the Valengiron farm in Perrefitte, Switzerland, on Nov. 15, 2018. (Reuters/Denis Balibouse) Cows With or Without Horns? Swiss Put It to the Vote PERREFITTE, SwitzerlandSwitzerland votes this Sunday on an issue of national importance that has divided the Alpine countrywhether to subsidize farmers who let their cows and goats horns grow naturally. The referendum on preserving the dignity of livestock was initiated by farmer Armin Capaul, 66, a self-described rebel. He says that listening to his cows inspired his nine-year campaign for cash to fund the extra grazing space horned animals need and which he hopes will reduce dehorning. We must respect cows as they are. Leave them their horns. When you look at them they always hold their head high and are proud. When you remove the horns, they are sad, he told Reuters on his small farm in northwestern Switzerland. Three-quarters of Swiss cows, who are a national symbol and tourist attraction, are dehorned or genetically hornless. Capaul, who says horns help cows communicate and regulate their body temperature, wants a 190 Swiss franc ($191.65) annual subsidy per horned animal for farmers. When political lobbying failed, he collected over 100,000 signatures to trigger a national vote. The latest poll says the vote is too close to call. His campaign is likely to garner support from those who oppose dehorningburning a sedated calfs horn buds with a red-hot iron. Critics say it is painful and unnatural but supporters liken it to castrating cats or dogs and argue it is a safety issue. In Switzerland, cows have never been talked about as much as now, said Capaul, a distinctive figure with a long gray beard and hand-knitted red hat, whose alternative approach has made him a media star and a household name. His campaign is opposed by the government, which says it would drain up to 30 million francs ($30.14 million) from its 3 billion franc ($3.14 billion) annual agricultural budget, and is a burden on the constitution. In Switzerland its usual for issues to be brought to the people for a voteevery important question or less important question, Swiss Economy Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann said. Some farmers are opposed. Our current system in the stable has advantages, the cows get along better with each other. If cows have horns, the danger of injuries to the animals and humans is greater, said Stefan Gilgen, whose 48 cows provide 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of milk daily to Swiss dairy Emmi AG. Each farm should decide for itself. We have other problems in agriculture. In Canton of Vaud, Reuters watched veterinarian Jean-Marie Surer dehorn three calves, anesthetizing each one before the procedure that causes smoke and a burning odor. Using a very hot iron for seven seconds, I burned the skin and blood vessels which irrigate the horn bud, so it wont grow, Surer said as he applied disinfectant. Surer said the initiative is about cows dignity. When you castrate a male cat or dog, you also take away its dignity So we can compare the two things, the only difference being that when you castrate a cat or a dog, it is through a surgical operation. By Stephanie Nebehay Dan Crenshaw Pushes Back Against Accusations of Trump Undermining Democracy Dan Crenshaw, the newly elected Republican congressman mocked on SNL for the eye-patch he wears due to losing his eye in an IED blast while serving in Afghanistan, set Democrat panelists on edge as he challenged allegations that President Donald Trump is undermining democracy. Crenshaw tweeted a post-discussion shout-out to his co-panelists on the CBS episode of Face the Nation, which aired on Nov. 18, featuring incoming House of Representatives members Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.), Deb Haaland, (D-N.M.), Joe Neguse, (D-Colo.), as well as Crenshaw himself (R-Tx.). Great hanging out with three of my future Democratic colleagues on @FacetheNation. We disagreed respectfully on some things, and found plenty more to work together on in the future. https://t.co/qBtRS4vHgE Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) November 18, 2018 Great hanging out with three of my future Democratic colleagues on @FacetheNation, Crenshaw wrote, We disagreed respectfully on some things, and found plenty more to work together on in the future. Neguse said on the episode that the incoming House majority should focus on oversight of the Trump administration to save our democracy. I think that right now its important for this majority in the House to engage in some really critical oversight of an administration that is undermining a lot of critical freedoms for folks in our country. When I say save our democracy, I mean precisely that, Neguse said on Sunday as he sat alongside the three other newly elected House representatives. I think some of our democratic freedoms and the principles that we live by have been under attack for the better part of the last two years. Anchor Margaret Brennan turned to Crenshaw to ask if he wanted to respond to Neguses assertion, adding since the president is the leader of your party. Crenshaw replied I always ask the question: Like what? he said. Like what is he undermining exactly? What democratic freedoms have been undermined? We just had an election where we switched power in the House. Democracy is at work. People are voting in record numbers. I always ask for examples. And then we can hit those examples one by one, and if its worth criticizing, its worth criticizing. But this broad brush criticism that the president is somehow undermining our democracy, I always wonder like, what exactly are we talking about? Id be happy to add all of the things, said Houlahan, and both she and Neguse accused Trump of undermining the free press. Houlahan also listed the CIA, FBI, the voting process. Well, how has he done that? Crenshaw then asked. He pointed out that former President Barack Obamas Justice Department investigated members of the press. Obama hadmany press members under investigation. Trump has not, Crenshaw said. So what is the difference here? Neguse then brought up CNNs lawsuit against the Trump administration over the revocation of reporter Jim Acostas White Hous press pass. One reporter. Not the whole news organization, Crenshaw responded, and added that Acostas pass was revoked for disruptive behavior. Houlahan then said that Trump himself has been disruptive in press briefings. Crenshaw asked how that was an attack on the press, and Houlahan replied Because its literally an attack on the press. Crenshaw, a war veteran with three tours of duty under his belt, then cautioned his fellow panelists to avoid hyperbole. Oh, Ive literally been attacked, so lets choose our words carefully. Video of a portion of the discussion was posted by Face the Nation. "This broad brush criticism that the president is somehow undermining our democracy, I always wonder like, what exactly are we talking about?" @DanCrenshawTX tells @margbrennan @FaceTheNation https://t.co/ac7ve4LCfw pic.twitter.com/u9QPUmwMMl Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 18, 2018 Later in the discussion, Crenshaw said why he thinks members of Congress should avoid exaggerated statements and personal attacks. I want to caution us, because those are very bold words. If we have policy disagreements, lets focus on those policy disagreements and Ill be happy to discuss those at any point, Crenshaw said. But this is what Ive been getting at kind of all week, which is we tend to go right at the jugular, right? We say, Youre undermining democracy, youre a bad person fundamentally. Thats not always true. We have policy disagreements on a lot of these things. Civility in Public Discourse Crenshaw also made an appearance on State of the Union with Jake Tapper Sunday, discussing civility in public discourse. A lot of people [are] talking about civility, Tapper said. But things here in Washington and the nation really seem nastier than ever, and Im wondering if you think your class will try to usher in an era of cooperation, bipartisanship, and civility? Congresswoman-elect Deb Haaland (D-NM), who also took part in the discussion, responded said, I feel like some peoples definition of attacked is different than ours and what weve seen this week. We have all worked together extremely hard. I feel like weve all been very cooperative and actually quite civil to each other. I echo that sentiment of what [does] it really mean to be attacked?' Crenshaw said. My whole message last week was, was I really attacked? Was I really offended? That doesnt mean that what was said wasnt highly insulting and should be addressed, but I dont need to feel attacked. And I think that was the message we [were] trying to send. And the other message were trying to send also is just, dont insult people, you know? We can attack each others ideas, but not each other as people. That should be the goal moving forward. Dont insult people. We can attack each others ideas, but not each other as people. That should be the goal moving forward, Republican Rep.-elect Dan Crenshaw says about promoting bipartisanship and civility in the new Congress. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/9wAxafGFu6 CNN (@CNN) November 18, 2018 Several days prior to Crenshaw winning his race in the 2nd Congressional District of Texas, Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson came under fire for mocking the veterans appearance. On NBC's Saturday Night Live, Pete Davidson mocks GOP Congressional candidate Dan Crenshaw for losing his eye in war: You may be surprised to hear hes a Congressional candidate from Texas and not a hitman in a porno movie. Im sorry, I know he lost his eye in war, or whatever. pic.twitter.com/krQwesqLAV Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 4, 2018 Davidson later apologized and Crenshaw went on Saturday Night Live on Nov. 10, to accept the apology. Crenshaw called for unity and forgiveness. But seriously, theres a lot of lessons to learn here, he said. Not just that the left and the right can still agree on some things, but also this: Americans can forgive one another. We can remember what brings us together as a country and still see the good in each other. Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party, speaks at a press conference in the case of Dr. Elena Musikhina in Ottawa, on Oct. 30, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Deportation Averted for Vocal Putin Critic Who Feared Return to Russia OTTAWASupporters of a Russian scientist who fears political retribution from the Putin government if she is deported back to her native country say shell be allowed to stay in Canada, at least for now. Elena Musikhina, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, has been granted a two-year visitors permit, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said late on Nov. 19. It means Musikhina and her husband, who faced removal from Canada early next month, will now have time to apply for permanent residency, May said in a statement. May, who advocated on the familys behalf, thanked Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen for his timely intervention, saying the couple would have faced jailor worseif sent back to Russia. Oxana Genina, a friend of the family, said Musikhina is very happy and relieved, but realizes she has more work to do in order to remain in Canada permanently. Musikhina believes her family fell into disfavour with Russian authorities for condemning Moscows military incursions in Ukraine and for saying Russia illegally annexed Crimea. She also says her research work uncovered information about serious environmental hazards and pollution from military activity around the large freshwater Lake Baikal in Siberia. Her supporters say a half-dozen other researchers and officials who were aware of the data died in mysterious and violent circumstances. Musikhinas pet dog was shot and she herself had warning shots fired over her head. The Russian FSB, an internal security service and successor of the Soviet-era KGB, began to visit her. Musikhina and her husband Mikhail fled in 2015 to join their daughter, a permanent resident of Canada, in Gatineau, Que. The couple unsuccessfully applied for refugee protection and subsequent appeals had failed. The Canada Border Services Agency had set Dec. 3 as a deportation date. Human-rights activist and former Alberta MP David Kilgour, who has also championed Musikhinas case, told a recent news conference she faces genuine danger if returned to Russia, given the knowledge she has gained through her research. Father Says 10-Year-Old Girl Accused of Killing Baby Is a Criminal A Wisconsin father has issued a statement after his 6-month-old son was allegedly killed by a 10-year-old girl, describing her as a criminal who should be in shackles. Nate Liedls infant son, Jaxon, was killed after the girl allegedly stomped on him at a home daycare in Chippewa County on Oct. 30. The boy succumbed to his injuries several days later, and the girl was charged. Nate Liedl speaks out about seeing his infant son Jaxon's accused 10-year-old killer | https://t.co/J3HTWbBAEH https://t.co/wS9Am2cdwe Jeanne Lookabill (@atasteofcreole) November 20, 2018 As opposed to seeing it as a 10-year-old girl, I saw it as the person who killed my son. And she, in my opinion, deserved to be in shackles or handcuffs. Shes a criminal, Liedl told 6ABC. He saw the girl after he appeared in an adult court to watch a judge set the girls bond at $50,000, Fox reported. First responders came to the daycare and found Jaxon unresponsive and bleeding, and the boy was rushed to the hospital before he was airlifted to another facility. I had sent a couple messages out to family to let them know that Jaxons not going to make it. I remember, I broke down out there pretty bad. Yeah, it really hit hard, Liedl told 6ABC. Chippewa County Sheriff James Kowalczyk said a doctor who tended to the childs injuries said he doesnt believe it was an accident. The girl later confessed to her involvement in the situation, Kowalczyk said, Fox reported. The girl first said she dropped Jaxon and his head hit a stool, making him cry. The girl then said she panicked and stomped on the boy, Kowalczyk said. Liedl said his son was happy and had smiles all the time, the station reported. Before his death, Liedl was embroiled in a custody battle with the childs mother. Missing out on those first three months was hard enough. And then, to be granted only eight hours after that, I feel like they essentially robbed me of time with Jaxon, he explained. Now Im not going to be able to get any of it back. If it helps one father get more time with their child, then thats good. Liedl said he doesnt blame the daycare for what happened. District Attorney Wade Newell said the girl was in foster care at the daycare and home in Tilden, WEAU reported. The daycare was shut down as the state investigates the matter. She stated she was holding the child and thats when she dropped the child, Wade said. The child hit its head on the footstool and then the child started crying and she panicked and didnt know what to do and didnt want to get into trouble and then she proceeded to stomp on the 6-month-olds head. Kowalczyk said it was a sad day for Chippewa County, a sad day for the residence for Chippewa County. My heart goes out to everyone involved. The girl, who was not identified is slated to appear in court on Dec. 11. Shes currently being tried in adult court, according to Wisconsin state law, but the court might later change it to juvenile court. Employees of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) mark gas lines in the aftermath of the Camp Fire. (Reuters/Terray Sylvester) Firefighter Rescues Cat From California Wildfire; Now She Wont Leave Him Alone A firefighter in California who rescued a cat from the devastating Camp Fire says the animal now wont leave him alone. Ryan Coleman with the Fairview Valley Fire encountered the gray cat, taking photos of the animal when it wouldnt leave his side, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Coleman was surveying the debris in Paradise, California after the fire ravaged the small city. Kitty rescue, he said on Facebook. She just chilled on my neck and shoulders as Id walk around. A video shows the cat, which has not been named, on his shoulders. Lets go for a walk. Where are we going? Were walking around, he says in the video. Kitty rescue. She just chilled on my neck and shoulders as Id walk around. Ryan Coleman A few days before, he wrote about the devastation left by the fire. On scene of the Camp Fire, and starting shift #1. My heart and prayers go out to the more than 2,000 families that lost their homes and all the people that lost loved ones, he wrote. Hoping for the safety of my crew and fellow firefighters. Im excited to be here helping out, and Im ready to get started doing what we do, he said. Bay Area firefighters battling the Camp Fire rescue burned cat https://t.co/snuegsVHEz pic.twitter.com/a9PHwCSNtp SFGate (@SFGate) November 15, 2018 The Camp Fire, which mainly affected Butte County, killed at least 77 people. More than 151,000 acres of land were scorched and more than 11,000 homes were destroyed, CNN reported. Rain is expected to hit the area, which has raised concerns about potential mudslides. Theyre having to fight this fire right now in the mountainous areas the ravines, the canyons, very steep, rugged terrain, said Scott McLean, deputy chief for Cal Fire. Theyre back there on dirt roads, dirt trails, trying to fight this fire. Now its going to turn into mud, which will be another hazard for them to contend with. The wet systems are expected to help suppress the #Campfire & improve air quality. Recently burned areas could see ash flow, though, and even have the potential for debris flow if rain intensity is high enough., said the National Weather Services Sacramento office. Fire officials told the network that the Camp Fire might not stop burning until Nov. 30. Nearly 1,300 names are on a list of people unaccounted for more than a week after the fire began in Butte County, authorities said late Saturday. They stressed that the long roster does not mean they believe all those on the list are missing, according to The Associated Press. 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 dont know if thats possible, he said, AP reported. Honea said it was within the realm of possibility that officials would never know the exact death toll from the blaze. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A hooded man holding a gun stands guard in the entrance of the Castanas neighborhood, in the southern outskirts of Guatemala City to prevent an attack by a local gang in this file photo. The residents of Castanas have been threatened and extorted by gang members organized their own armed gang in self defense. Contrary to the intended purpose, U.S. aid is helping gangs and hurting honest citizens in Guatemala. (JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images) Foreign Aid Serves the Deep State, Not Trump Obama policy helps gang members in Guatemala, leads to waves of illegal immigration A little-known fact about foreign aid stops it from serving U.S. interests. Distributed through the State Department and USAID, taxpayer funds mostly go to enemies of American ideals and the rule of law. President Donald Trump, as he opposes the organized wave of illegal migrants from Central America, should be aware that U.S. funds contribute to the problem. This breach of public trust means that Trump is right to begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them. A rejected application to USAID, the State Departments foreign-assistance arm, illustrates the problem with the $16.8 billion allocated specifically to aid programs (out of the $39.3 billion State Department budget). Those at the helm have a politically correct, central-planning mentality, with no understanding of free enterprise, bottom-up order, and personal responsibility. Opportunity Lost for Economic Development Although the applicants cant speak publicly without risking future business deals, one project met the criteria of providing an opportunity to poor people and supporting them to thrive in their own nation. A Guatemalan and a prominent international company created the project to organize farmers into cooperatives and grow an agricultural product. The project would have involved about 4,000 growers in the countrys poorest areas, including along the Mexican border. However, the application was never approved. The venture would have given the growers financial and technical assistance and a guaranteed buyer at a transparent market price, less a commission. The partners would assure a minimum price profitable to the growers. The mission was to create a sustainable, vertically integrated supply chain from micro-producers to final consumers. The companies could have grown the product themselves or arranged to buy it from several larger farms. Small farmers could be the most cost-effective, with the proper organization and assistance. This process, however, entails risk and a time-consuming setuphence the request for a USAID grant. USAID criteria include financial, technical, and organizational assistance to poor people, as well as an emphasis on women and environmental friendliness. Without a doubt, the joint venture met all the stated conditions. Independence Takes Backseat to Progressivism There is an unwritten USAID criterion, however, that the companies couldnt satisfy. They wanted to empower individuals; the State Department favors organizations that promote progressive social goals, which lead to dependence and centralized control. In contrast, cooperatives are voluntary associations in which each member receives the result of his production, minus expenses for member-accountable management. The areas in which the project would operate have hardly any state presence and are dominated by armed groups descended from the guerrillas from Guatemalas internal armed conflict (19601996)a strong disincentive for private investment. The State Department had a central role in creating these conditions and chose not to back economic development. Obama Policy Still Haunts Guatemala The Obama administration systematically pressured various Guatemalan administrations to place guerrilla-successor allies in key government positions. Former Vice President Joe Biden, for example, traveled to Guatemala three times in 12 months to pressure the government. His motive was an extended mandate for the UN anti-impunity commission (CICIG), which had already become what it was created to eliminate. The resulting U.S.-created nefarious alliance of the coopted judiciary, Justice Ministry, CICIG, and State Department protected armed gangs in rural areas and persecuted legitimate authority, especially along the borders. The gangs force locals to attack and close factories, invade private property, and deny authorities access to residential areas. Naturally, the ensuing increase in violence and lack of opportunity creates migration and guarantees an open channel for smugglers of people and materials. Numerous NGOs participate in this violence and lawlessness. The Guatemalan equivalents of Antifa and Black Lives Matter formalized themselves after the 1996 peace accords. These organizations continue to seize political power in Guatemala for themselves and other radical collectivists. Judicial Watch identified more than a dozen entities funded by the U.S. government [that] are furthering the Soros agenda in Guatemala and get money from the leftist billionaire. Judicial Watch reports that the Soros groups seek to destabilize legitimate governments, erase national borders and orchestrate refugee crises for political gain Guatemala, in particular, has been subjected to an aggressive, insidious campaign of subversion that threatens the sovereignty [of an] ally of the United States. Cutting assistance to Guatemala would lessen the strength of entities subverting the country, a plus for Guatemala and U.S. taxpayers. Guatemala is the key country in the only land route from Central and South America to the United States. If the Guatemalan government were to apply the law properly, especially in border areas, it would liberate inhabitants from their oppressors and promote business development. A grateful population would cooperate with security forces to identify suspicious activity, leading to a significant reduction in the flow of illegal migrants and narcotics. To achieve this, Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo must change the Obama policy and fire State Department globalists. That includes Obama henchman, former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala Todd Robinson, whos now a senior advisor for Central America. U.S. aid could then go to increased security and projects that empower individuals and create broad capital ownershipthe best policy for development and defense against collectivism. Steve Hecht is editor at large of the Impunity Observer and writes from Guatemala, where he has resided for more than four decades. Fergus Hodgson contributed to this article. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Former Shanghai People's Procuratorate chief Chen Xu, who was sentenced to life imprisonment on corruption charges in October 2018. (Screenshot via People's Daily) Former Top Shanghai Prosecutors Corruption Case May Implicate 100 Other Officials, Hong Kong Newspaper Says Shanghais most powerful prosecutor, Chen Xu was practically untouchable, as political and elite circles had to have known about his misdeeds. But his web of well-heeled connections and his knowledge of the ins-and-outs of Chinas legal system allowed him to cover his tracks. After years of eluding anti-corruption authorities, Chen was finally ensnared, found guilty of corruption in May 2017, and expelled from the Chinese Communist Party. In late October, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of abuse of power and taking bribes worth more than 74 million yuan ($10.6 million). His case implicated dozens of other corrupt officials in Shanghais legal apparatus who colluded with him. At the time of his purge, many saw his downfall as a sign that the Shanghai ganga posse of officials who rose to power through the political patronage of former Party leader Jiang Zeminwas falling apart. In the wake of Chens arrest and conviction, about 100 officials said to be linked to Chen are under scrutiny, the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post reported Nov. 12, citing a source familiar with the case. Most of those under investigation are members or associates of an opposition faction loyal to Jiang. Jiang Faction Chen is the second high-ranking official from Shanghai to be purged since current Chinese leader Xi Jinping began a sweeping anti-corruption campaign after he came to power in 2012 . The most powerful Shanghai official to meet his downfall is former deputy mayor Ai Baojun, who was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment in April 2017. As a Shanghai gang member, Chen also had close connections with Jiang and his family. While serving as deputy secretary of the Shanghai Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC), he was the right-hand man to the PLAC secretaryJiangs nephew Wu Zhiming. The PLAC was once a Party organ that practically controlled all of Chinas security apparatusdominated by Jiang faction officials. Since Xi came to power, he has whittled down the PLACs authority and purged many key Jiang faction officials within the system. According to Epoch Times interviews with Shanghai human-rights lawyer Zheng Enchongwho has directly faced legal battles with Chen and his entourage, while Chen was head of the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate Peoples Court in 2002, Chen ensured that Zhou Zhengyi, a corrupt Chinese businessman with close ties to the Jiang family, received light punishment and got away with committing serious financial crimes. A June report by Chinese business magazine Caixin exposed how Chens dominance in Shanghais legal system allowed him and his associates to skirt the law while benefiting themselves. Several of Chens former colleagues have since been purged, including deputy director of the Shanghai arbitration committee and a close friend of Chens, Wang Kangwu, who was sentenced to six and a half years imprisonment for graft; former head prosecutor Ye Qing, sacked in June 2018; and Pan Furen, former head of the No. 1 Intermediate Peoples Court, who was dismissed in July 2017. A bee is seen on saffron flowers in a field in the town of Krokos, Greece, on Oct. 27, 2018. (Reuters/Alkis Konstantinidis) Greeces Red Gold: Saffron Trade Blooms in Wilted Economy Every autumn, Zisis Kyrou is more often found plucking flowers in northern Greeces purple saffron fields than in his office as a civil engineer. Saffron, the spice so expensive its called red gold, has brought jobs and money to a region better known for coal mines and unemployment. A year ago, its producers began exporting to the United States. Now theyre looking to China. Most are young Greeks who were shut out of the job market during Greeces nine-year economic downturn. They returned to the countryside to make a living off the land. It was hard to find work in your field during the crisis, particularly in civil engineering, because there was no construction, said Kyrou, 34, as he harvested with pollen-stained hands. In 2012, he returned to Greece from London with two university degrees. He eventually opened an engineering office in his village of Krokos, but most of his income comes from his four acres of land, which he hopes to increase. I didnt imagine Id return, he said. But it was a decision I dont regret. Greeks have been cultivating saffron for three centuries in the countryside surrounding Krokos, which takes its name from Crocus, the saffron flower. Alexander the Great is said to have used it to heal battle wounds. But until 2000, production was limited to 66 pounds a year for domestic consumption, said Nikos Patsiouras, who heads Greeces Cooperative of Saffron. That changed in 2008, when the crisis hit. Greece now produces about 8800 pounds a year, 70 percent of which goes abroad. The Cooperative has doubled its members from 494 to 1,000. It also has increased its land from 592 acres in 2008 to 1,349 acres. A lot of young people found work in the fieldsscientists, Patsiouras said. I believe more will join. Signs of the crisis are visible across Krokos, where shuttered shops line the streets. Unemployment in northwestern Greece is 23.5 percent, three points higher than the national average. But the fields are abuzz. We have God on our side, who gave us such a unique product, Patsiouras said. We hold onto it like the apple of our eye. Saffron grows only in this region of Greece. Marketed as Krokos Kozanis, one gram costs about four euros ($4.50) in Greek shops. It takes 150,000 flowers to make 2.2 pounds of the spice, which sells for about 1,500 euros ($1688). Flowers are handpicked, and at the cooperative women in blue overalls weigh and package it. They are forbidden to wear makeup and perfume, to protect its flavor. Iran is by far the worlds biggest saffron producer, but demand for the Greek variety is rising, Patsiouras said. Greece is in talks with China for exports in 2019. In the Patsiouras household, three generations have gathered after a day of harvesting to remove the saffron strands from the flowers and dry them. If we dont transfer this tradition to the next generation, we will fail, said his daughter-in-law, Maria Patsioura. By Karolina Tagaris James Woods Uses Twitter to Help Veteran Who Said Hes Contemplating Suicide Actor and conservative personality James Woods used his Twitter account help to a distressed veteran who was considering taking his own life. The 71-year-old actor contacted the Orlando Police Department on Monday, Nov. 19, with a request to intervene as former Marine Andrew MacMasters appeared on the verge of suicide. Hello @OrlandoPolice, Woods began his tweet, before explaining, A man named Andrew MacMasters just said on @Twitter that he is sitting in a parking lot and is going to kill himself. Woods, who has nearly 2 million followers on Twitter, continued Hes sitting with his dog, a black lab, possibly in a WalMart parking lot. Can you do a #WelfareCheck? He is a Marine Vet. The actor included a screenshot from MacMasterss Twitter account, which has since been deleted. Ive Lost Everything Im on Twitter every day, I retweet all the time but this is the first tweet Ive ever written, user @macmasters_a tweeted Thursday. Im (a) good guy, Im a veteran, I love America. Im gonna kill myself tonight. Ive lost everything I have nobody, nobody cares. Hello, @OrlandoPolice. A man named Andrew MacMasters just said on @Twitter that he is sitting in a parking lot and is going to kill himself. Hes sitting with his dog, a black lab, possibly in a WalMart parking lot. Can you do a #WelfareCheck? He is a Marine Vet. His tweet: pic.twitter.com/8DwqWVVkhC James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 20, 2018 Woods responded with a series of tweets to MacMasterss desperate plight. We can talk. I dont care what anybody thinks. Do you? Lets have a conversation. Just you and I, Woods said in one tweet to MacMasters. He wrote in another, Im following you now, so you can DM me. We can talk privately. Or we can talk openly right here. Lot of people worried about you right now. Not giving up, Woods kept reaching out to the distressed man, tweeting Someone said youre Andrew. In Orlando? Im not trying to trap you. Lets just talk. So think about this. A lot of vets, I understand, have come to where you are tonight. If you could just push this decision off tonight, at least, maybe you would also inspire another vet to seek help. You could save another man, too. By waiting to do this. https://t.co/L5NiEbQv5j James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 20, 2018 So think about this. A lot of vets, I understand, have come to where you are tonight, Woods continued. If you could just push this decision off tonight, at least, maybe you would also inspire another vet to seek help. You could save another man, too. By waiting to do this. Andrew, dont feel embarrassed that you reached out in the darkness. Nobody thinks youre foolish for that. You know every one of us reaching out to you right now has some depression, too. Ill say it. I do, Woods wrote. Im driving cross country. Sitting in a motel room. I have all night. I know that sounds dorky, but here I am! I would love to talk. Just talk. I wont push you into anything, he said. So Im see that Andrews tweet has been deleted. Andrew, dont feel embarrassed that you reached out in the darkness. Nobody thinks youre foolish for that. You know every one of us reaching out to you right now has some depression, too. Ill say it. I do. James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 20, 2018 Woods continued to try to reach out to MacMasters even after his account was deleted. The actor turned to social media users for help to locate the veteran. The actor finally contacted Maitland police in Florida after receiving information that MacMasters lived in the city. Okay. Just talked to Maitland Police. The dispatch supervisor there was terrific. Hes confident they will find him. I gave Billy, the dispatcher, Andrews home address and the info a reliable source DMed me. They are all over this, Woods tweeted. Andrew wasnt at his home address. @PoliceMaitland is getting assistance from neighboring agencies. They are really on this. Maitland police reached the veteran by phone Tuesday morning, according to the Orlando Sentinel. He advised he was OK but did not wish to have contact with law enforcement, police spokesman Lt. Louis Grindle said in an email. Our officers are still working to try and physically locate him to determine his well-being. If only Andrew could see the THOUSANDS of fellow Americans who are pulling for him. Its like hes lost behind enemy lines and we are cheering him home, willing him to survive, Woods tweeted. Andrew, do this for the other 21 vets a day who dont make it home from the darkness. Stay alive! If only Andrew could see the THOUSANDS of fellow Americans who are pulling for him. Its like hes lost behind enemy lines and we are cheering him home, willing him to survive. Andrew, do this for the other 21 vets a day who dont make it home from the darkness. Stay alive! James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 20, 2018 Woods uses his Twitter profile to comment on ongoing issues. He recently used the wide reach of the platform to help link people together with family members following the California wildfires. The Department of Veterans Affairs said on its website that the suicide rate for veterans is 1.5 times greater than for Americans who never served in the military. Alexander Prokopchuk, Russian candidate to head international police organization Interpol, during a ceremony to open a monument to police in Bangkok, Thailand in Dec. 2015. (Russian Interior Ministry/Handout via Reuters) Kremlin Critics Unite to Try to Stop Russian Becoming Interpol Head LONDON/MOSCOWTwo of the Kremlins most prominent critics joined forces on Nov. 20 to try to stop a Russian becoming the next president of international police organization Interpol, saying they feared Moscow would abuse the post to hunt down its detractors. Interpols general assembly is due to elect a new president on Nov. 21 after incumbent Meng Hongwei of China went missing in September. Beijing later said it had detained him in connection with a bribery probe. The battle to succeed him turned political after Alexander Prokopchuk, a former major general in Russias Ministry of the Interior, emerged as one of the favorites to get the job, a prospect that alarmed critics of President Vladimir Putin. Russian dissident and former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky gave a news conference in London alongside U.S.-born Kremlin critic Bill Browder on Nov. 20 at which both warned against Prokopchuks election, saying it would make it easier for the Kremlin to manipulate Interpol. Moscow has rejected such claims. Appointing such a person to the head of the international policing organization would not only damage the reputation of all Interpol member states, but would carry a grave threat to those who may be considered potential victims of political persecution, said Khodorkovsky. Putin freed Khodorkovsky in 2013 after he had spent a decade in jail for fraud, a charge Khodorkovsky said was fabricated to punish him for funding political opposition to Putin. The president has said he regards the businessman as a common thief. Browder, the head of investment fund Hermitage Capital Management, has led a campaign to expose corruption and punish Russian officials he blames for the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009 in a Moscow prison. If a Russian is president of this organization the Russian will be acting on the instructions of Vladimir Putin, said Browder, who used to support the president before becoming one of his most implacable international critics. To put his representative in charge of the most important international crime fighting organization is like putting the mafia in charge, said Browder. Russian prosecutors said on Nov. 19 they suspected Browder of ordering a string of murders, including of Magnitsky, in a twist the financier dismissed as ludicrous. Smear Campaign On Nov. 19, four U.S. senators jointly urged President Donald Trump to oppose Prokopchuks candidacy and accused Russia of abusing Interpol to settle scores and harass dissidents by issuing warrants, known as red notices, for their arrest. Browder was briefly detained by Spanish police in May on a Russian Interpol red notice that was then deemed invalid. Politicians in Lithuania and Ukraine have urged their governments to quit Interpol if Prokopchuk is elected, while Britain has said it is backing his South Korean rival Kim Jong Yang, currently the organizations senior vice-president. The Kremlin said on Nov. 20 that opposition to Prokopchuks candidacy by U.S. senators amounted to election meddling. This is probably a certain kind of interference in the electoral process of an international organization, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Russias Ministry of the Interior defended Prokopchuk. We see a campaign aimed at discrediting the Russian candidate, it said in a statement, complaining about what it called the unacceptable politicization of Interpol. Alexander Prokopchuk has many years of experience working in the law enforcement sphere and is currently Interpols vice-president which confirms the trust and high esteem in which his work in this international organization is held. If elected, he would carry out his duties solely in Interpols own interests, the ministry said. Interpols 194 member states each have a vote in the election in Dubai, it said on its website. The winner will serve the last two years of Meng Hongweis original four-year mandate. By Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (R) shakes hands with Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong during a meeting at the Presidential Palace on the sidelines of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Singapore on Nov. 12, 2018. (FELINE LIM/AFP/Getty Images) Malaysia and Singapore Vow to Strengthen Ties Amid Water Agreement Dispute Malaysias Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, vowed to strengthen ties with the nations twin as he officially called for a review of water sold to the republic at the 33rd ASEAN summit in Singapore. In the veteran leaders first official visit to Singapore since he returned to power in May, Mahathir said he would work more closely with his Singaporean counterpart, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, to solve controversial issues such as the 1962 Water Agreement. Under the longstanding agreement, which expires in 2061, Singapore is entitled to draw up to 250 million gallons of water daily from the Johor River, paying 3 sen ($0.0072) per 1,000 gallons. Singapore then treats the water and sells a portion back to Malaysia at 50 sen ($0.12) per 1,000 gallons. The 93-year-old has routinely hit out at the agreement as being too costly, ridiculous, and unfair, saying it no longer matched living standard costs in Malaysia. I think it is manifestly ridiculous that we should sell water at 3 sen per thousand gallons. That was okay way back in the 1990s or 1930s. But now what can you buy with 3 sen? Nothing, he told Channel NewsAsia in June. But during his first bilateral talks with Lee, Mahathir was quick to highlight the close ties between Malaysia and Singapore, adding that they must work on improving relations despite their differences and competition. During a lunch held to welcome the Malaysian leader to Singapore on Nov. 12, Mahathir remarked: Malaysia and Singapore are twins, in a way. Except that perhaps the elder twin is a little bit bigger than the younger twin and a little bit older. Mahathir added that the two countries are mutually dependent on each other in many ways, such as trade and investment. Malaysias second largest trading partner after China is Singapore, with trade between the pair representing 12.4 percent of its global trade last year. Singapore must regard Malaysia as its hinterland. On the other hand, for a very long time, Malaysia had to depend on Singapore for its exports and imports. There is much at stake in this relationship between Singapore and Malaysia, and Im glad to make this visit and help in discussions with Mr Lee on our relations and how to improve the relations, he continued. Singapore has depended on Malaysia for almost half of its water needs through a series of agreements which go as far back as 1927. Renegotiation of 1962 Deal Last month, Malaysias deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya said Malaysia could review provisions of the agreement after 25 years and was entitled by law to review the cost of water. But Singapore has always been firm in its view that Malaysias right to renegotiate the cost of raw water supplied under the agreement was lost in 1987 when Malaysia turned down the opportunity of a price review. Under the current arrangement, Singapore provides Johor, Malaysia, a subsidy of RM1.90 ($0.45) per 1,000 gallons of treated water, The Star reported. Following the bilateral talks between the two leaders at the ASEAN summit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for Singapore said it is willing to further discuss Singapores position on the agreement with Malaysia. Both sides expressed their differing views on the right to review the price of water under the 1962 Water Agreement, a spokesman for Singapores MFA said in a statement on Nov. 12. Mahathir later said officials from Malaysia and Singapore will soon meet to discuss the issue. Senior director of the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute, Dr. Praba Koran, said renegotiating the water deal is possible and is just one of Mahathirs strategies to bring in more revenue after the previous governments mismanagement. In August, Mahathirs scandal-ridden predecessor, Najib Razak, was charged with three counts of money-laundering breaches linked to state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Malaysias national debt currently stands at approximately $175 billion. It is likely that Singapore will negotiate as it is in the interest of having a good relationship with Malaysia. Singapore is hesitant, but they may agree to pay a slightly higher rate. But Singapore could come back with an alternative deal, which may not be as high as what Mahathir wants, Dr. Koran told The Epoch Times. Malaysia-Singapore Relations Mahathirs call for a review of the agreement comes amid a string of bumps in projects formerly agreed to under Najibs leadership. In September, Mahathir announced the suspension of a long-awaited multibillion-dollar high-speed rail project that was to connect Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. The project, which was proposed to open to the public in 2026, has been pushed back to 2031. Dr. Choong Chee Keong, a professor at the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Faculty of Business & Finance, believes Singapore wont immediately accept a change to the agreement on Malaysias terms and that Mahathirs push to renegotiate could have a short-term adverse effect on Malaysia-Singapore relations. I dont think Singapore will just accept the deal. If the leaders of these two countries dont manage the water deal well, Im sure it will have a negative impact on their diplomatic relations, he said in an interview with The Epoch Times. But in the long term, it shouldnt have too much of a negative impact because Singapore is one of Malaysias biggest trading partners and in terms of mobility, a lot of Malaysians are working in Singapore. Meanwhile, Dr. Koran believes Mahathirs cooperative dialogue with Singapore during the summitwhich he says is usually criticalis a sign Malaysias attempts to renegotiate will not damage relations. Malaysia is in a deep hole, our finances are not very healthy. Investors are not coming and what Mahathir has to do is create a better business environment, and Singapore is key to that. Mahathir knows he needs them. 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 (TBI) Mother Charged in 16-Month-Old Sons Assault After Most Wanted Suspect Captured The mother of a boy who was assaulted by a Tennessee man was also charged in connection with the case. Danielle Bowen, 22, was charged in connection to the assault. Simon Dean Porter, 33, was arrested on Nov. 18, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said. Potter, the childs biological father, was arrested in Scottsboro, Alabama after he was added to the TBIs Top 10 Most Wanted list. NewsChannel5 reported hes back in a Lawrence County Jail in an isolation cell for his own safety, and hes being held on $1 million bond. The caregiver of the boy found out about the incident and took the boy to the hospital. Porter confessed to the charges, the report said. Neither he or Bowen had custody of the child, and the case is under investigation. NEW PICTURES: Here are some additional images of Simon Porter, with a variety of looks from over the past two years. Call 1-800-TBI-FIND if you spot him! We're hoping to spread this throughout Tennessee and the surrounding states, so thanks for the RTs! pic.twitter.com/ke9AWkf780 TBI (@TBInvestigation) November 16, 2018 Previously, a judge issued a court order to protect the child, the report stated. The mother was also placed in isolation and is being held on $100,000 bond. Bowen was charged with aggravated child neglect for failing to take the child in for medical treatment. WHNT reported Porter has a criminal history, including domestic assault. Capture 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. According to KSDK, he lived in Lawrenceburg and had connections in Giles County and White House, Tennessee, as well as in north Alabama. 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. The U.S. military patrols the U.S.-Mexico border fence at Friendship Park in San Ysidro, Calif., on Nov. 15, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) National Guard Soldier Arrested, Charged With Smuggling Illegal Aliens Into United States A National Guardsman was arrested and charged with the human trafficking of illegal aliens into the United States after he was caught near San Diego with three Mexican nationals. Edward Jair Acosta-Avila was charged in federal court with attempting to smuggle the three Mexicans into the United States after being caught on Nov. 10. Acosta-Avila is a private in the California Army National Guard and was pending discharge for being absent without leave, or AWOL, at the time of his arrest. Acosta-Avila was not part of the surge of troops sent to the border nor was he assigned to border duty, Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Keegan told USA Today. The private was driving about 2 miles north of the border when he was stopped by a Border Patrol agent. Three men were in the back seat and tried to hide under a blanket. Acosta-Avila told authorities that another man had asked him to drive to an area near the border to pick some people up. Acosta-Avilas friend told authorities that he planned to split $400 with him for smuggling the three men into America, while the three men said that they made smuggling arrangements and agreed to pay between $6,000 and $7,000 each to smuggled into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Ralph Desio told Fox 5 that Acosta-Avila and a man in the front seat were U.S. citizens but the three men in the back seat were illegal immigrants. The aliens are being held as witnesses in the case and will later face deportation proceedings. Troops at Border The arrest and charge came as thousands of troops rushed to the border to harden it by placing concertina wire and other obstacles around critical entry points in an effort to prevent the migrant caravans from bursting through. Some 5,900 troops are currently deployed across California, Arizona, and Texas to provide support for Border Patrol agents, placing the wire, driving agents around, and conducting other duties. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 17 that the troops would stay at the border as long as necessary The fence is fully manned, nobody gets through, he said. When theyre caught, theyre not released. Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan said on Nov. 19 that the troops should be home by Christmas. Our end date right now is 15 December, and Ive got no indications from anybody that well go beyond that, he told Politico. Engineers and logistics troops, who make up the bulk of the deployment, will begin returning home soon, he added. His announcement came as the San Ysidro port of entry was temporarily closed on Monday, as troops and Border Patrol agents hardened the area after hearing of a possible border rush from migrants in the area. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen later said that officials were notified that a large number of migrants from the caravan were planning to rush the border in an attempt to gain illegal access to the U.S. Unfortunately, some members of the caravan are purposely causing disruptions at our border ports of entry. There is a legal and illegal way to enter the US. We have deployed additional forces to protect our border. We will enforce all our laws, she added. From NTD News Nissans Ghosn to Be Ousted Over Financial Misconduct Allegations TOKYONissan Motor Co Ltd said it was ousting Chairman Carlos Ghosn for alleged financial misconduct and Japanese media reported he been arrested, a shocking fate for a leader hailed for rescuing the company from close to bankruptcy. The Japanese automaker said Ghosns alleged misconduct included personal use of company money and under-reporting how much he had been paid. Ghosn is also chairman and chief executive of Nissans French partner Renault and one of the best-known figures in the global car industry, and his departure would raise questions about the future of the alliance. Nissan said it launched a months-long investigation after a whistleblower tipped it off to wrongdoing by Ghosn and Representative Director Greg Kelly. The investigation showed that over many years both Ghosn and Kelly have been reporting compensation amounts in the Tokyo Stock Exchange securities report that were less than the actual amount, in order to reduce the disclosed amount of Carlos Ghosns compensation, Nissan said in a statement. It said CEO Hiroto Saikawa would propose that the Nissan board remove Ghosn and Kelly. Neither Ghosn nor Kelly could be reached for comment. Renault shares tumbled 11 percent in Paris to be among the worst performing stocks in Europe. Nissans German-listed securities plunged 10 percent. French President Emmanuel Macron said the government, the French carmakers top shareholder, will be vigilant about Renault and its alliance with Nissan. Cutting Costs Known as Le Cost Killer, Ghosn is credited for reviving the Japanese automaker and has remained popular despite the massive job cuts that he brought and the recent controversy over his lucrative pay package. Japanese media reported that Ghosn had reported around 10 billion yen worth of compensation as around 5 billion yen. The company said it would brief reporters on Monday night at 10 p.m. Tokyo time. Ousting Ghosn, 64, is bound to raise questions about an alliance that he personally shaped and had pledged to consolidate with a deeper tie-up, before eventually stepping back from its operational leadership. The initial share price reaction shows how pivotal he is, Citi analyst Raghav Gupta-Chaudhary said on Monday. The current alliance structure has long undervalued Nissan shares held indirectly by Renault investors, he added. Ghosn is viewed as critical for value unlock. Renault owns 43.4 percent of Nissan, while Nissan owns 15 percent of Renault, with no voting rights in a partnership that began in 1999. Since 2016, Nissan has held a 34 percent controlling stake in its smaller Japanese rival, Mitsubishi. Governance in Question Although Nissan said it was fully cooperating with investigators, the news is likely to raise questions about Nissans accountability at a time when Japan has been pushing companies for better governance. The Asahi newspaper reported on its website that prosecutors had begun searching the offices of Nissans headquarters and other locations on Monday evening. Spokesmen for Renault and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Motors alliance did not immediately return calls and messages seeking comment on the arrest reports. Brazilian-born, of Lebanese descent and a French citizen, Ghosn began his career at Michelin in France, moving on to Renault. He joined Nissan in 1999 after Renault bought a controlling stake and became its CEO in 2001. Ghosn remained in that post till last year. In June, Renault shareholders approved Ghosns 7.4 million euro ($8.45 million) compensation for 2017. In addition to this, he received 9.2 million euros in his final year as Nissan chief executive. By Elaine Lies and Ritsuko Ando President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un during a summit at the Capella Hotel on the resort island of Sentosa, Singapore, June 12, 2018. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo) North Korea Negotiations at Impasse, as US Hardens China Policy WASHINGTONThe situation for U.S. foreign policy in East Asia is mixed: North Koreas Kim Jong Un has survived Americas maximum pressure and is now looking at expanded options, while U.S. allies in Asia welcome a more aggressive U.S. policy toward China. These were the conclusions of two Asia experts, Su Mi Terry, senior fellow and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Evan Madeiros, Penner Family chair in Asian Studies at Georgetown University, at the Defense One Summit in Washington on Nov. 15. Terry summarized the events leading to negotiations on North Koreas nuclear program, observing that the Trump administration had initially been successful in 2017 in imposing maximum pressure on North Korea through sanctions, most importantly with Chinese cooperation. However, she explained that after several rounds of meetings and summitry among Chinese leader Xi Jinping of China, and President Moon Jae-In of South Korea and President Donald Trump of the United States, North Korea had succeeded in easing sanctions pressure. She stated that laborers were going back to China, weve seen more border activities, trade has picked up due to Chinas easing of sanctions. Under these circumstances, Terry found prospects for achieving complete denuclearization by North Korea unrealistic. Aside from the joint aspirational statement of Trump and Kim in June, she said that negotiations had reached an impasse. Despite its periodic threats to resume missile and other nuclear-program testing, Terry believes that North Korea thinks that it can get a best possible deal with President Trump, and therefore wont relinquish its program, but also wont resume testing or other provocative activities. Madeiros said there had been quite a bit of welcoming of this sort of harder line by the Trump Administration [toward China] by U.S. allies in the region. At the same time, the toughening U.S. policy raises questions, which Madeiros framed in the context of a China policy speech by Vice President Mike Pence on Oct. 4. He said the speech presented two questions for U.S. allies in Asia: what are you going to ask us to do about it? and are you asking us to follow youinto a [sic] ideological competition with China? Madeiros sees a persistent U.S. military presence in the South China Sea as crucial, saying that its profoundly in Americas interests both [in terms of] freedom of navigation, as well as the credibility of our alliance commitments to ensure that the South China Sea remains contested and keep the Chinese guessing, and there are plenty of strategies to do so. Terry and Madeiros shared similar perspectives on the current state of Chinese involvement in U.S.North Korea denuclearization negotiations. Both credit the Trump administration with securing Chinese tightening of sanctions on North Korea in 2017, where the Obama administration had failed in similar efforts. However, they both viewed the summit between Trump and Kim in Singapore in June and subsequent negotiations as leading China to relent on sanctions and pursue its own summits and meetings with North Korea. Madeiros said the U.S. maximum pressure campaign through sanctions that culminated in the Trump-Kim summit revealed Chinas strategic preferences: What they really dont want is a North Korea that doesnt have nuclear weapons, but leans toward the United States. China would tolerate a nuclear-armed North Korea that was at least neutral in its diplomatic stance toward the United States and China rather than have it in the U.S. orbit. Post-summit, North Korea has the United States, China, South Korea, and Russia chasing after it the economic pressure is off, theyve got a lot of different options. Baby walkers are used to help infants walk before they can walk on their own. (Adam Jones/CC BY-SA 2.0). Over 2000 Infants Still Injured by Baby Walkers Every Year; Call for Ban A team of researchers is calling for a ban on baby walkers in the United States to stop harming infants. According to the 2018 study Infant Walker-Related Injuries in the United States, baby-walker injuries dropped after mandatory manufacturing standards for baby-walkers took effect in 2010. The study attributes the drop to the Consumer Product Safety Commissions (CPSCs) implementation of the standard, and a variety of factors. The study supports the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) earlier call to ban baby walkers in the United States that are blamed for injuring more than 2,000 children each year. Its been a risk-reduction approach, not a risk-elimination approach, said report co-author Gary A. Smith, who also directs the Centre for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Baby walkers, infant walkers, or mobile walkers are used to help infants walk before they are able to fully walk on their own. The infant is placed in a suspended seat that is attached to a base with wheels. Supported by the walker, the infant can then walk around. In the past, this led to significant injuries. An infant can move up to 4 feet per second while in a walker, according to Smith. The most common type of injury historically has been falling down stairs. Legislation Reduces Injury Two changes to legislation have already reduced the number of baby walker injuries significantly. In 1997, ASTM International set voluntary manufacturing standards for baby walkers. One requirement was for baby walkers to be made too large to fit through standard doorways. Another involved installing a braking mechanism to stop the walker, if one wheel drops over the top step of a stairway. In 2010, the CPSC set mandatory manufacturing standards based on the voluntary standards. While the CPSC has the authority to regulate baby walkers, it is the manufacturers responsibility to ensure products meet regulations, CPSC spokesperson Karla Crosswhite said in a written statement. These two pieces of legislation have led to dramatic drops in the number of walker-related injuries, said Smith. Its rare to see that type of success in public health in general, he said. Its like a vaccine, really. And we almost never see it in injury. Shift in the Type of Injuries While incidents of falling down stairs have dropped, the study shows that from 2010 onwards, other types of injuries became a greater cause for concern. Proximity injuries are caused by an infants ability to reach objects, and things that it normally would not be able to reach if it werent in a baby walker. Were going to start to see the injuries plateau, said Smith, and those proximity injuries arent going to be solved by the current strategy. Some of these cases are recorded by the National Electric Surveillance System (NEISS), which gathers injury data from the emergency departments of approximately 100 hospitals across the United States. In one case recorded by NEISS in October 2017, a 13-month-old girl sitting in a walker pulled the cord of a rice cooker, causing the cooker to fall. Hot rice landed on her, and she arrived at the hospital emergency room with severe burns on her abdomen, thighs, hands, and wrist. In another case, an 8-month-old girl fell 11 steps in her walker during May 2017 while a 10-month-old boy fell 12 steps n August the same year. Both children fractured their skulls. When you talk to parents, they blame themselves, Smith said. They dont blame the walker. They just bought the myth that these things are safe if used correctly, but theyre not. Theyre inherently dangerous. As an alternative to baby walkers Smith suggests using stationary activity centers, which resemble baby walkers without wheels. Image Group LA/ABC Coldplay fans not satisfied with the band's A Head Full of Dreams documentary, live album and concert film can do one better. On December 7, the same day that Coldplay's live album and concert film are released, Chris Martin and company are also dropping the deluxe Butterfly Package, featuring the documentary, the concert film Live in Sao Paolo and the album, Live in Buenos Aires. The Butterfly bundle comes either as 2 CDs/2 DVDs, or in a triple vinyl/double DVD set. Both options are cloaked in some cool-looking gold packaging, though truthfully, vinyl come out ahead in the "slick" department. Live in Buenos Aires, was recorded in the Argentine capital on November 15, 2017, the final date on Coldplay's extensive world tour behind their most recent studio effort, 2015's A Head Full of Dreams. Live in Sao Paulo, was shot a week earlier. The Live in Buenos Aires recording of "Viva La Vida" is available now for digital download, while you can watch the Live in Sao Paulo performance of that 2008 hit now on YouTube. A Head Full of Dreams is now available to stream from Amazon prime video. Also, to hold you over, Coldplay has just tweeted a special animated clip of "Adventure of a Lifetime." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Former Peruvian president Alan Garcia talks to the media as he arrives at the National Prosecution office in Lima, Peru, on March 27, 2018. (Guadalupe Pardo/Reuters) Peru Ex-President Garcia Asks for Asylum in Uruguay LIMAFormer 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 Nov. 18. Garcia entered the embassy and home of the Uruguayan ambassador in a residential Lima neighborhood on the night of Nov. 18, 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. Garcias 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 judges 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 Perus 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. By Marco Aquino Poland to Snub UN Migration Pact, Slovakia Has Reservations WARSAW/BRATISLAVAPolands government said on Nov. 20, it would join a growing list of mainly ex-Communist European countries planning to snub a U.N. pact on regulating migration, as Slovakias leader said he also had reservations. Approved in July by all 193 U.N. member nations except the United States, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration addresses issues such as how to protect people who migrate, integrate them into new countries, or safely return them home. Drafted following the biggest influx of migrants into Europe since World War Two, most fleeing war or poverty in the Middle East and Africa, the non-binding pact is due to be adopted next month by heads of government at a meeting in Morocco. Poland said it would not be endorsing the document. (It) doesnt meet Polish demands regarding strong guarantees for countries to have the right to independently decide (who) they choose to accept, the government in Warsaw said in a statement. Polands ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) has maintained strong anti-migrant rhetoric since it took office in 2015, and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki indicated earlier this month he was likely to reject the pact. An estimated one million Ukrainian migrants live and work in Poland. Hungary, Czech Republic, and Bulgaria have already rejected the pact, and Austria has said it does not plan to adopt it either. In Bratislava, Slovakias Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini said he was concerned his country might be required to take in more migrants than it wanted to. Our red lines are obligations that would limit our sovereignty to decide about accepting migrants, he told reporters after a government meeting. His foreign minister, who oversaw the drafting of the pact last year while serving as President of the U.N. General Assembly, threatened to quit the government if Slovakia rejected it. Conrado Juarez waits to be arraigned at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on Oct. 12, 2013. Juarez died in custody on Nov. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) Reported Illegal Immigrant Who Allegedly Killed Baby Hope Dies in Prison After being hunted by police for 22 years, a man accused in the slaying of a toddler known as Baby Hope died in a New York jail, according to reports. Conrado Juarez, who faced trial in Manhattan Supreme Court for the murder of 4-year-old Anjelica Castillo, died at the Rockland County Jail, the New York Daily News reported on Nov. 19. His death is being investigated by officials, New York State Commission of Correction spokeswoman Janine Kava told the Daily News. Juarez died at Montefiore Nyack Hospital from pancreatic cancer, the New York Times reported. The New York Post in 2013 reported that Juarez, a Mexican national, was in the United States illegally. Meanwhile, the New York Times previously reported that at one point, he smuggled himself back into the United States from Mexico. #BREAKING: Conrado Juarez, the man who confessed he molested & suffocated Baby Hope22 years after the 4 year olds body was found in a coolerhas died in a Rockland County jail. He was 58. The little girls nameAnjelica Castillowas revealed in 2013. pic.twitter.com/OvKqLwvlN7 Mary Murphy (@MurphyPIX) November 20, 2018 Juarez admitted to police that he smothered the girl nearly 30 years ago, the Daily News noted. In 2013, he made the confession, saying he disposed of the body with his sisters help. When the girl was discovered in July 1991, there were signs of abuse. Detectives called her Baby Hope because they wanted to know her identity and find her killer. On her headstone at Raymonds Cemetery in the Bronx, which NYPD investigators paid for, it reads, Because we care. Its very painful. I have no joy right now, Laurencita Ramirez, the girls sister, told the New York Post many years later. She is now an adult. I think about [Anjelica Castillo] all the time, and I wish I would have gotten the chance to meet her. Shes the sister I never met. The New York Times reported that Juarez had been held at Rikers Island until 2015, when he was transferred to Rockland County jail for his own safety. Rockland County jail officials could not immediately be reached for comment, according to The Associated Press. Juarez was due in court in Manhattan in January. He faced a felony charge of second-degree murder, which he had pleaded not guilty to. Anjelicas identity was unknown for more than two decades, and her parents never reported her missing. In 2013, though, a tipster led police to the girls sister, and DNA helped authorities identify Anjelicas mother. Raymond Kelly, New York Citys police commissioner at the time, said in October 2013 that Juarez was questioned and admitted abusing and killing Anjelica. Juarez and told police his sister helped him dump the girls body. I had looked forward to taking him to trial and gaining justice through the courts, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Joseph Resnick told PIX11 on Nov. 19. The confession was obtained legally, Resnick added. He did it. In 2013, Juarez claimed that he was coerced into confessing and recanted his statement, the New York Times reported. I told the police that I put a pillow over her face and killed her, he said. But it wasnt like that. He that at one point in 1995 he returned back to Mexico after his sister died and later smuggled himself back into the United States, paying a smuggler $800, according to the New York Times. There were questions as to why the girl was never reported missing by her family. CBS News reported its because her family, who were likely illegal aliens were reluctant to report the crime for fear they would be deported The Associated Press contributed to this report. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his China's counterpart Xi Jinping during a signing ceremony following the Russian-Chinese talks on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Sept. 11, 2018. (SERGEI CHIRIKOV/AFP/Getty Images) Russian Media: China Is a False Friend Mounting editorial criticism points to tenuous MoscowBeijing relationship In the past few decades, China and Russia have been working together to counter the United States, protect North Korea, and develop mutual economic ties. But Russian media outlets are expressing increasing scrutiny of SinoRussian relations, according to a commentary by Japans Sankei Shimbun. The Sankei article, published Nov. 15, notes that Russian dissatisfaction with China is on the rise due to perceptions that Chinese engagement with its northern neighbor has contributed little to the local economy and does not benefit Russia much. Vedomosti, a Russian-language business daily published in Moscow, reported on Oct. 24 that Chinese banks have recently suspended their Russia operations. Russian companies and individuals have proven averse to opening accounts in Chinese banks, such as the Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications, Ping An Bank, Bank of Dalian, or the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. Russian companies and individuals affected by international sanctions cannot open accounts, either. China has blocked the transactions of all Russian enterprises without identifying whether the enterprise is the object of sanctions, Vedomosti noted. Vedomosti cited Kommersant, a nationally distributed daily newspaper published in Russia that reports primarily on politics and businesses. According to Kommersant, representatives of three Russian and two Chinese banks with branches in both countries say the main problems appeared in 2014. Despite the issues being more or less solved by the end of 2015, the situation worsened starting this January and February and have not improved since, according to people and companies contacted by Kommersant. Novaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper known for its critical investigative coverage of Russian political and social affairs, reported on Oct. 26 that China acts like a friend of Russia, but in fact, it only considers its own interests. It cautioned that as Chinas economic growth slows, it may embark on an aggressive foreign policy to deflect public dissatisfaction and to secure their legitimacy such as by occupying Siberia and the Far East region. Enterprises and workers in Northeast China, which borders the Russian Far East, are migrating there for development, the paper said, while the Russian population of the Far East is expected to decline. The newspaper expressed concerns that the Far East region will one day be under Chinese control. Nezavisimaya Gazeta, a Russian daily paper, named China as a threat in an Oct. 29 report concerning the Chinese regimes One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. OBOR, first announced by Beijing in 2013, seeks to build China-centered land and maritime trade networks by financing infrastructure projects throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The Nezavisimaya Gazeta noted that none of the OBOR proposals concerning Russia had been implemented. Meanwhile, China and Russia are in an intense competition for influence in Central Asia, where OBOR projects are well underway. The report says that while Russia and China appear to be friends, cooperation between them is largely nonexistent. China has been increasingly called out for its predatory actions against Russia, such as theft of technology. According to Russian online newspaper Vzglyad, the CR929 passenger jet, a Sino-Russian joint venture unveiled on Nov. 7 at the Zhuhai Airshow in southern China, became the object of plagiarism complaints by Russian design company OKB Atom. Russias United Aircraft Corp. and the Chinese state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. had established a Chinese venture for the CR929 project, but OKB Atom claimed that the ventures design were blueprints stolen from its own plans, which in 2016 had been submitted for another Chinese passenger aircraft project. Maxim Kuzin, the general manager and chief engineer of OKB, said that while he was shocked by the brazen behavior, his company would not take legal measures because it would be futile. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland arrives to speak to the media in Hamilton, Ont., on Nov. 8, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette) Sophisticated Phishing Scams Putting Secrets at Risk, Foreign Affairs Says OTTAWACanadas Global Affairs Department says too many of its employees are being deceived by digital scamsa serious problem that could see sensitive information end up in the wrong hands. The increasingly sophisticated phishing campaignswhich fool users into revealing passwords and other closely guarded dataare targeting email, texting, and social media accounts, the department says. Global Affairs plans to hire a company to test employees with phoney phishing messages to raise awareness and stamp out the electronic scourge. In a tender call on Nov. 19, the department said workers who click on tempting but bogus links would be directed to educational resources to help them identify telltale traits of such messages and report them to officials. The move comes as organizations of all kinds become more conscious of threats from cyber criminals and state-sponsored hackers out to make a quick buck or steal valuable secrets. Global Affairs warns a successful attack could lead to everything from a malware infection or loss of information to a complete shutdown of a government network that would disrupt operations. Even worse, sensitive information in the wrong hands could potentially put our staff or partners in physical danger, the bid solicitation says. It is important for staff members to understand that they must do their part to prevent successful phishing attacks. The department has more than 10,000 employees spread across Canada and 178 missions in more than 100 countries, providing consular assistance to Canadians and administering international programs. It wants the chosen company to run three tests per fiscal year and provide statistical summaries of the results. The reports would include aggregate numbers on those who took the clickbaitexcluding individual resultsby region, branch, and directorate, the bid documents say. The data collected will produce statistics that will allow us to evaluate our state of readiness against real attacks. Four years ago, hackers used emails, malware, and password theft to worm their way into National Research Council computers in pursuit of valuable scientific and trade secrets. Government officials took the unusual step of openly blaming the intrusion on a highly sophisticated, Chinese state-sponsored player. Beijing denied involvement, accusing Canada of making irresponsible charges. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has since warned China and Russia routinely target Canadas classified information and advanced technology as well as its government officials and systems. Federal officials are also wary of foreign attempts to interfere with Canadas democratic institutions and electoral processes. Last year, Elections Canada put out a call for a company to run a simulated phishing program to create awareness among staff. Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, performs during the Philipp Plein fashion show in Milan, Italy, on Sept. 21, 2018. (Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images) Tekashi 6ix9ine Faces 32 Years to Life in Prison on Multiple Charges Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, has been accused of involvement in multiple acts of violence as part of a deadly gang, and if convicted faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 32 years in prison. Judge Henry B. Pitman denied bail to Hernandez at a hearing on Monday, Nov. 19, after a prosecutor cited evidence purporting to show the rappers involvement in a number of violent incidents. The rappers arraignment took place at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to NBC. Attorney Michael Longyear said a backpack stolen during a gunpoint robbery in April was found during a raid at the rappers Brooklyn residence, along with an automatic pistol. The defendant is quite violent, the prosecutor said of a man whose debut album, Day 69, was among the most downloaded records on iTunes. Recording artist and performer Tekashi 6ix 9ine and five other members and associates of violent New York City gang charged in Manhattan federal court with racketeering and firearms offenses https://t.co/cFWiiBeoIq US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) November 19, 2018 Longyear said Hernandez was captured on surveillance video as he sat in a car and filmed the scene in Times Square when his co-defendants carried out a violent robbery against a rival gang member. The prosecutor said he was also part of a video boasting about shots recently fired by a co-defendant in Brooklyns Barclays Center. Longyear also said the rapper was a threat to flee because of his worldwide connections, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, and the knowledge that a conviction would bring a mandatory minimum sentence of 32 years in prison and as much as life. Hernandez was arrested on Sunday night and faces a range of federal charges for which he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The accused is facing six counts, according to a 17-page indictment, with the most serious of those being the discharging of a firearm while committing a crime. Federal charges against him include racketeering allegations stemming from Hernandezs involvement with an alleged criminal organization, as well as a previously unreported armed robbery. Rolling Stone reported that four of Hernandezs associatesex-manager Kifano Shottie Jordan, Faheem Crippy Walter, Jensel Ish Butler, and Jamel Mel Murda Joneswere also arrested by the ATF on Sunday night and Monday morning. The rapper has publicly identified himself as a member of a violent New York gang, 9 Trey Bloods, which was mentioned throughout the indictment. [Hernandez] is a member of a violent sect of the Bloods, said Longyear at the arraignment. This defendant participated in multiple acts of violence. Prosecutors said the gang carried out acts of murder, robbery, and narcotics trafficking in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn since at least 2013. Members and associates of the Enterprise promoted and celebrated the criminal conduct of the Enterprise, namely narcotics distribution, acts involving violence, and the use of firearms, in music and on social media, prosecutors said, according to Rolling Stone. The purposes of the Enterprise included preserving and protecting the power, territory, and profits of the Enterprise through acts involving murder and threats of violence. Feds Warned 6ix9ine According to the Daily Beast, two days before Hernandez was indicted, federal agents visited him to warn that his life was in danger. Investigators have revealed that several of the rappers associates were overheard on a wiretap saying they wanted to super-violate him. Hernandez had recently fired the associates and disparaged them on a radio show, according to the report. Agents reportedly brought the rapper to Homeland Securitys New York headquarters, and after disclosing details of the threats made against him, and offered to put him up in a hotel. Hernandez declined and returned home, where authorities kept him under 24-hour surveillance. At Mondays hearing, the judge ordered Hernandez be held until a Nov. 20 bail hearing, saying he was concerned about the danger to the community, particularly because the rapper could direct others to carry out acts of violence. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Janet Woodcock, Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at FDA, speaks during the Reuters Health Summit in New York, May 9, 2011. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Trial Spotlights US Drug Safety Concerns at Compounding Pharmacies BOSTONA top U.S. Food and Drug Administration official testified on Nov. 19 that the agency has concerns about drugs made by compounding pharmacies and still sees problems with them six years after a fungal meningitis outbreak tied to a Massachusetts pharmacy killed 76 people. Janet Woodcock, who heads the FDAs pharmaceuticals division, testified in Boston federal court that she had never seen an outbreak like the one New England Compounding Centers mold-tainted steroids caused in 2012. Compounding pharmacies make tailor-made drugs for patients whose needs cannot be met by FDA-approved medications. Woodcocks testimony came during the sixth week of a trial of six former NECC employees or executives indicted after the outbreak. Prosecutors say the defendants misled hospitals about the quality of NECCs drugs and regulators about how it operated. The six are Gregory Conigliaro, a co-owner; Sharon Carter, NECCs former director of operations; and pharmacists Gene Svirskiy, Christopher Leary, Joseph Evanosky, and Alla Stepanets. They have pleaded not guilty. Woodcock said that while the outbreak involving the now-defunct NECC was the worst she had ever seen involving drugs made by compounding pharmacies, there are still problems with such drugs. We still are seeing patient harm related to that now, Woodcock testified. The comment highlighted what authorities say are continuing lapses they have identified at compounding pharmacies. According to the FDA, during more than 500 inspections of compounding pharmacies since the outbreak, it has often discovered unsanitary conditions featuring, among other things, dead insects and microbial growth. According to the public interest non-profit Pew Charitable Trusts, 1,416 people from 2011 to 2017 suffered adverse events after taking compounded drugs that had potential or actual problems, such as contamination or over-potency. Of those, 115 died. I think weve come long way since NECC, but I think theres a lot more that needs to be done to improve the quality of compounded drugs, Julie Dohm, the FDAs senior science advisor for compounding, told Reuters in October. Traditionally, compounded medications were formulated by pharmacies to address an individual patients needs, like an allergy to an ingredient in an FDA-approved drug. But by the time of the outbreak, some compounding pharmacies, traditionally state-regulated, had become large enterprises that shipped significant volumes of drugs for hospitals to keep in stock. Those firms included NECC, whose owners and employees cut corners and made drugs in filthy conditions, prosecutors say. Fourteen people tied to NECC were later indicted, including the six now on trial. NECC co-founder Barry Cadden and ex-supervisory pharmacist Glenn Chin were convicted of racketeering and fraud in two earlier trials and are serving nine and eight years in prison, respectively. Testifying on Nov. 19, Woodcock said the NECC was a drug manufacturer masquerading as a state-regulated pharmacy that filled prescriptions meant for specific patients. Following the 2012 outbreak, Congress in 2013 passed a law that established outsourcing facilities, which can sell compounded products in bulk but must register with the FDA and follow federal manufacturing standards. But today, while thousands of compounding pharmacies exist, the FDA lists only about 70 registered outsourcing facilities, below what Dohm said it expected. The FDA is now seeking to make it easier for compounders to become outsourcing facilities. Mohammad Amer Alchwiki poses in Moscow in an undated photo release by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Alchwiki was sanctioned for participating in an illicit Iran-Russia-Syria oil shipping network. (U.S. Department of the Treasury) US Sanctions IranRussiaSyria Oil Network That Funded Terror Groups The United States sanctioned on Nov. 20 an illicit network that used a Russian shipping company to deliver millions of barrels of Iranian oil to the Assad regime in Syria, according to the Treasury. In return, Syria funded the Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist groups. The participants used a complex scheme to evade existing U.S. sanctions, including the use of a pharmaceutical company to conceal the nature of payments sent from Iran to Russia. Iran and Russia used the scheme to prop up the Assad regime and fund the Iranian regimes malign activity in Syria, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Central Bank of Iran officials continue to exploit the international financial system, and in this case even used a company whose name suggests a trade in humanitarian goods as a tool to facilitate financial transfers supporting this oil scheme, Mnuchin said in a statement. The United States is committed to imposing a financial toll on Iran, Russia, and others for their efforts to solidify Assads authoritarian rule, as well as disrupt the Iranian regimes funding of terrorist organizations. The Treasury identified Mohammad Amer Alchwiki, a Syrian national, as the central player in the scheme. Alchwiki used his Russia-based company, Global Vision Group, to ship Iranian oil to Syria and facilitated money transfers to Irans proxies in Syria, including the Hezbollah and Hamas radical Islamic terrorist groups. The sanctions also target two officials at Irans central bank, as well as a Russian shipping company and its deputy director. Irans central bank funneled money to the Russian shipping company through the Tadbir Kish Medical and Pharmaceutical Company. Despite its humanitarian sounding name, Tadbir Kish was used to illegally send money to Russia on multiple occasions, according to the Treasury. As a result, the network was able to use Tadbir Kish as a conduit for illicit money transfers to Russia. The U.S. sanctions on Iran do not affect food and medicine. The Treasury released photos of Alchwiki posing with stacks of cash and images of him in Russia. In Syria, Alchwiki facilitated the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars to Iranian proxies in Syria, including U.S.-designated terror groups. A senior administration official said that Alchwikis days as an international businessman are over as a result of the sanctions. In addition to supporting terror groups, Iran bolstered the Assad regime as it committed atrocities against its own people throughout the Syrian Civil War, according to the Treasury. The sanctions are meant to suppress Irans campaign of malign influence and send a warning to shipping companies, insurers, and vessel owners, that shipping Iranian oil will be punished with crippling sanctions, a senior administration official told reporters during a background call on Nov. 20. The Iranian regime continues to prioritize spending money on fomenting terror over supporting its own people, said Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelker. This is yet another example of the regime using the proceeds of millions of barrels of its oil to fund terrorists and the murderous Assad regime to the detriment of its own people. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that Iran backs the Assad regime with the goal of boosting its own influence in the Middle East. Pompeo has also said that the presence of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force in Syria is unacceptable. President Donald Trump has blamed Iran for funding destabilizing activity around the world. Trump withdrew the United States from the multinational Iran nuclear deal on May 8. As part of the withdrawal, Washington reimposed all of the pre-deal sanctions on Iran. The United States reimposed the final wave of Iran-deal sanctions two weeks prior to the measures against the IranRussiaSyria oil network. Early in his administration, Trump singled out Iran as the chief supporter of radical Islamic terrorism. The president forged an alliance with Saudi Arabia to counter Iran and, in a speech during a visit to Riyadh, called on nations throughout the Middle East to choose a side. The country of Iran is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilize Iraqs fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more, Trump said in a Nov. 20 statement. Likewise, the Iranians have killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East. 26 students and one adult fell ill at Cardinal Gibbons High School, seen in a file photo, on Nov. 19, 2018. (Google Maps) We Dont Know: 27 Hospitalized With Mysterious Symptoms at Florida High School Twenty-seven people were hospitalized in Florida on Nov. 19, with mysterious symptoms in a situation that has left local officials perplexed. We dont know. Weve searched back and forth. Weve done three different samplings. Weve used our monitors and have come up with nothing, Fort Lauderdale Battalion Chief Stephen Collan told CBS. Its quite the mystery, added Mary Ross Agosta, spokeswoman for the Miami Archdiocese, to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. We dont know. Nobody has an answer. The 26 students and one adult were rushed to three different hospitals in the area, Broward General Medical Center, Broward North, and Holy Cross Hospital, around 11:30 a.m. on Monday. These students were having various states. Some were having syncopal episodes, were passing out. Some had nosebleeds, some were having shortness of breath, Collan said. They had just left a Thanksgiving prayer service in the gymnasium at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale and became sick in different parts of the school, including various classrooms. They were like passing out and stuff like that. Some people started having nosebleeds. Some of the people were having ear pain, said student Gustavo Hernandez. Whole Body Was Hot Jason Fry was one of the students who fell ill. My whole body was really hot, and then I started to get dizzy when I stood up, he told WSVN. I saw two kids faint. It started with one girl passing out, and she fell and had to hang on to the staircase, said another student, Daden Louis-Williams. Then, as we went to our classroom, more people were passing out, and then went to our next class, and more people were passing out, added student Adreanna Pierre. Hazmat crews responded to the scene but were unable to pinpoint a cause. The crews tested for 5,000 different chemicals. Theres too many students, and its too widespread, said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan. Its not grouped to one specific social group of students. Fry said all the tests he underwent at the hospital came back negative. They werent really sure what had happened, he said. I dont know if Ill ever know. A statement from Principal Paul Ott, regarding the campus lockdown this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/80BeK9Sp9c Cardinal Gibbons FL (@CGHSFL) November 19, 2018 Lock Down The Fort Lauderdale Police Department said in a statement that the area of concern has been isolated and that the school was briefly locked down. There was no further threat, it added. Students who didnt feel sick were upset during the lockdown, one wrote on Twitter. We are all freaking out. One kid in our class doesnt look good. I and a few others feel loopy. They need to let us out, the student wrote. Another added, My school is currently under lockdown because many students got sick bc of an unusual substance and we arent allowed to evacuate until its an all clear. please keep us in your thoughts bc this is very very scary. Principal Paul Ott said that all the students were released from the hospitals by 5 p.m. and classes were scheduled as normal for Tuesday. Classes were previously scheduled as off for Wednesday and Thursday for Thanksgiving break. We are trying to connect the dots. Anything we can do to make sure this doesnt happen again. I think its just some sick kids, Ott told WLPG. Its a mystery I dont know if its the bug or flu season. There was nothing found on the school premises. From NTD News Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer Hiroto Saikawa arrives to attend a news conference after Japanese media reported that Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn will be arrested on suspicion of under-reporting his salary, at the company headquarters in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan on Nov. 19, 2018. (Issei Kato/Reuters) What Misconduct Is Nissans Ghosn Accused Of, and How Did It Come to Light? TOKYOJapan was shocked by the news that Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who was widely respected for rescuing the car maker from near bankruptcy, was arrested on Nov. 19 for alleged financial misconduct. Nissan said that Ghosn, who is also chairman and CEO of Renault and chairman of Mitsubishi Motors, would be fired from his post as Nissan chairman on Nov. 22. What is Ghosn Accused Of? Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa told a packed press conference late on Nov. 19 that the company had found that Ghosn had been using corporate money for personal purposes and under-reporting his income for years in official company filings to the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Another board member, Greg Kelly, was also deeply involved in the misconduct, Nissan said. Saikawa said he couldnt elaborate as the cases are being investigated by prosecutors, who have declined to comment. Prosecutors said that Ghosn and Kelly conspired to understate Ghosns compensation over five years starting in fiscal 2010 as being about half of the actual 9.998 billion yen ($88.9 million). Public broadcaster NHK said Nissan paid billions of yen to buy and renovate homes for Ghosn in Rio, Beirut, Paris, and Amsterdam, citing unnamed sources. The properties had no business purpose and were not listed as benefits in TSE filings, NHK said. Ghosn, 64, has not been formally charged. The Asahi newspaper reported that he and Kelly had submitted to prosecutors questions after getting off a plane on Nov. 19 at Tokyos Haneda Airport. Saikawa confirmed they had been arrested. Ghosn and Kelly have not been seen since and their exact whereabouts are not known. Suspects are typically taken to the Tokyo Detention Center, which is linked to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office. How Did This Come to Light? Nissans Saikawa said Ghosns alleged improprieties came to light through a whistleblower, after which the company began an internal investigation and informed prosecutors. Japanese media reports say the informant is a member of Nissans legal department. The Asahi reported, without citing sources, that the informant gave the prosecutors information in a plea bargain, implying the person may have provided evidence in exchange for a lighter sentence. How Much Control Did Ghosn Have? After becoming CEO of a struggling Nissan in 2001, Ghosn was hailed as the automakers savior by implementing an aggressive cost-cutting plan. Known for his flair and confidence, Ghosn won respect for his business acumen and for shaking up Nissans traditional corporate culture, which may have made it difficult to hold him accountable. Ghosn became CEO of Nissan partner Renault in 2005, chairman of Nissan of 2008 and chairman of Renault in 2009, giving him considerable sway over both companies. On Nov. 19, Saikawa acknowledged that too much power had been concentrated in Ghosn. Looking back, after 2005 when he became CEO of both Renault and Nissan, we did not really discuss the implications, he said. Frances finance minister Bruno Le Maire said on Nov. 20 Ghosn should not remain in charge of Renault after his arrest in Japan. How Could He Pull Off This Alleged Deception? This is the big question. If the misconduct continued for years, as Saikawa said, analysts question how this could have passed undetected for so long, unless internal auditors and senior management turned a blind eye. Whats Next For Ghosn? Under Japanese law, a suspect can be detained by prosecutors for up to 20 days before being charged or released. Tsutomu Nakamura, a former prosecutor at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors office, predicted that Ghosn will be indicted on Friday, Dec. 7, the last working day before that maximum period. Ghosn is allowed access to a lawyer during his time in detention. If bail is granted, it would be exorbitant, in hundreds of millions of yen, or millions of dollars, Nakamura said. But in major cases like this, often no bail is granted until after the arraignment at the first court session. Falsifying corporate annual reports, which Ghosn and Kelly are accused of, carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to 10 million yen, under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta returns to the White House after Federal judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered the White House to reinstate his press pass in Washington on Nov. 16, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) White House Sets Rules for Media as Press Credentials Restored for CNNs Acosta The White House fully restored the press credentials for CNN correspondent Jim Acosta on Nov. 19 and issued a set of rules guiding the conduct of journalists at press conferences, according to a statement from press secretary Sarah Sanders. We have created these rules with a degree of regret. For years, members of the White House press corps have attended countless press events with the president and other officials without engaging in the behavior Mr. Acosta displayed at the November 7, 2018, press conference, Sanders said. The new rules include: limiting questions to one per reporter; if a reporter has a follow-up question, the official taking the question would have the discretion about whether to grant the follow-up query; and after which, the reporter is expected to yield the floor, which includes surrendering the microphone to White House staff. Failure to abide by any of the three rules may result in suspension or revocation of a reporters hard pass. We would have greatly preferred to continue hosting White House press conferences in reliance on a set of understood professional norms, and we believe the overwhelming majority of journalists covering the White House share that preference. But, given the position taken by CNN, we now feel obligated to replace previously shared practices with explicit rules, Sanders said. The White House revoked Acostas hard pass on Nov. 7 after he physically refused to yield the floor to his colleagues and made physical contact with an intern who attempted to retrieve the White House microphone. CNN filed a lawsuit Nov. 13 and a judge ordered three days later that Acostas credentials should be temporarily restored while the lawsuit is pending. Over the weekend, the White House appeared to double-down on its efforts to strip Acostas press pass, serving the correspondent with a letter that informed him a preliminary decision has been made to withdraw his credentials. But the White House changed course before the 3 p.m. deadline on Nov. 19, and announced that Acosta will retain his hard pass. Thanks to everybody for their support. As I said last Friday lets get back to work, Acosta wrote on Twitter. According to a Nov. 19 court filing (pdf), CNN and the White House Correspondents Association attempted to resolve the dispute with the White House by working cooperatively on a set of protocols for White House press conferences. The White House may create additional rules guiding the conduct of journalists in other spaces at the White House and on Air Force One, according to Sanders. For the time being, the Trump administration isnt setting the additional rules in stone, but Sanders warned that inappropriate conduct or additional requirements from the court may necessitate it. President Trump believes strongly in the First Amendment, and a free press and is the most accessible president in modern history, Sanders said. It would be a great loss for all if, instead of relying on the professionalism of White House journalists, we were compelled to devise a lengthy and detailed code of conduct for White House events. Shortly after the White Houses announcement, CNNs communications office said that the company intends to drop its lawsuit against the president. We look forward to continuing to cover the White House, the network posted on Twitter. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly only ruled on the violation of Acostas due process rights; he did not issue a ruling on the claim that the revocation of his credential constituted a violation of the right to free speech. The New York Times and Fox News both sided with CNN in the lawsuit. One America News Network sided with the White House. A group of students pose for photographs at a university in Beijing on June 8, 2015. Despite a boom in student numbers in recent years, many graduates from second and third-tier institutions face considerable employment uncertainty in an economy largely fuelled by a blue-collar workforce. AFP PHOTO / WANG ZHAO (Photo credit should read WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images) Woman Studying in the US Threatened for Criticizing Beijing-Linked Association Chinese 20-year-old at Carnegie Mellon summoned for meeting, warned not to 'make trouble' A 20-year-old female Chinese international student at Carnegie Mellon has said she received threats after she voiced criticism of the universitys Chinese Student Association (CSA) for its insensitive promotion of a violent video game in the wake of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. The Carnegie Mellon CSA and equivalent Chinese student groups in foreign universities referred to collectively as Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSAs) are controlled by the Chinese communist regimes consular organizations. In the morning of Oct. 27, shooter Robert Bowers yelled anti-Semitic epithets and shot multiple people at the Squirrel Hill Synagogue, which is located close to Carnegie Mellon University and the 20-year-olds apartment. Eleven people were murdered in the shooting. The cognitive science major, who responded to questions via Facebook under the alias of Sparklegoose, said she was shocked by the event, as were her instructors, who cut classes short in mourning on Oct. 29. Sparklegoose expressed her sympathy for the local Jewish community in social media posts and emails to her peers. Seeing the [instructors] I respect and revere in such deep mourning was a big blow for me, she wrote in one of her posts. That afternoon, however, the universitys Chinese Student Association (CSA) ran a social media promotion for a video game called Werewolf Killing, which struck Sparklegoose as particularly insensitive, given the bloodbath that had just taken place. She immediately posted a response in her WeChat friends circle. Im really disgusted by the CSA. At a time like this, its so stupid [that they chose to promote a killing game]. Soon after that, in the evening, she drafted another post, in which she wrote: [Its like] someone dies right on your doorstep, and you pretend not to see and just walk over the body. You could have at least paid your respects or given flowers. Before publishing the post to WeChats public forum, she hesitated, then decided to post it in her friends circle instead. You Cant Talk This Way in Your Friends Circle The day after Sparklegoose made her post, a friend asked to talk face-to-face about her very interesting opinion. The two arranged to meet on Nov. 1. When they met, the friend revealed himself to be a member of the CSA and said there were two other people who wanted to speak with her. As they walked, the friend told Sparklegoose, I just hope you wont make any trouble. The talk was moved to a meeting room, rather than a casual venue. The two others present at the meeting were the CSA chairman at Carnegie Mellon and a senior CSA member studying as a fifth-year-student in the schools Department of Architecture. For the next hour, the three CSA members admonished the young woman for her online behavior and demanded her apology. This is really improper, they told her. You cant talk this way in your friends circle. During the meeting, the three also slandered the concept of freedom of speech. Sparklegooses experience has highlighted the extent of ideological control over Chinese overseas students. Apart from receiving threats or being invited to drink teaa euphemism to describe being put on notice for ones politically sensitive expressions or activitiesbeing a matter of course in mainland China, having ones basic rights of expression curtailed while living in the United States is a less common but ever-present possibility for Chinese international students. On May 21, 2017, Chinese student Yang Shuping praised the American freedoms of speech and democracy in her commencement speech at the University of Maryland. She was then criticized by Chinese media, as well as the CSSA. Her parents, living in China, were condemned in public, compelling Yang to make an open apology. The Chinese Communist Partys coercive influence on Chinese international students is being increasingly recognized. In an Oct. 4 speech given at the Hudson Institute in Washington, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said: There are more than 150 (CSSA) branches across Americas campuses. These groups help organize social events for some of the more than 430,000 Chinese nationals studying in the United States. They also alert Chinese consulates and embassies when Chinese students, and American schools, stray from the Communist Party line. Sparklegoose said the meeting with the CSA members changed her, but she would continue to stand up for herself and her opinions. A Houthi militant sits guard on the roof of a building overlooking fellow Houthis rallying to denounce the rapid devaluation of the Yemeni Rial in Sanaa, Yemen Oct. 5, 2018. (Reuters/Khaled Abdullah) Yemeni Houthis Halt Missile Attacks on Saudi Coalition, Raising Peace Prospects DUBAIHouthi rebels in Yemen said on Nov. 19 they were halting drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and their Yemeni allies, responding to a demand from the United Nations. The Iranian-aligned group, which has been battling the Saudi-backed government for nearly four years, also said it was ready for a broader ceasefire if the Saudi-led coalition wants peace. The Houthis decision to halt missile attacks could be a turning point in peace efforts as it ends a direct threat to Saudi Arabia. It is by far the biggest concession from the movement since it left the southern port city of Aden in 2015. International pressure has mounted on Yemens warring parties to end the war that has killed more than 10,000 people and pushed the country to the verge of starvation. The move from the Houthi group came after the coalition ordered a halt in its offensive against Yemens main port city Hodeidah, which has become the focus of the war. We announce our initiative to halt missile and drone strikes on the countries of aggression, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the head of the Houthis Supreme Revolutionary Committee, said in a statement. The decision was based on discussions with U.N. special envoy Martin Griffiths to show good faith and support peace efforts, he said. Griffiths welcomed the Houthi announcement and urged all parties to continue to show restraint to create a conducive environment for convening the consultations. The envoy is trying to salvage peace talks after a round in September collapsed when the Houthis did not show up. He hopes to convene talks in Sweden before the end of the year to agree on a framework for peace under a transitional government. Yemens parties have given firm assurances they are committed to attending peace talks, Griffiths told the U.N. Security Council on Nov. 16. On Nov. 19, the Security Council began considering a British-drafted resolution that aims to improve the humanitarian situation. It calls for a halt to fighting in Hodeidah, a stop to attacks on populated areas across Yemen and an end to attacks on countries in the region. The draft, seen by Reuters, also calls for an unhindered flow of commercial and humanitarian goods across the country, including lifting of any bureaucratic impediments within two weeks, a large, fast injection of foreign currency into the economy through the Central Bank of Yemen and more aid funding. It was not immediately clear when the text could be put to a vote. To pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, or France. Tired of War Saudi Arabias King Salman on Nov. 19 reiterated the kingdoms support for U.N. peace efforts. The Riyadh-backed government also announced its willingness to take part in the next round of consultations. Yemenis cautiously welcomed the announcement on Nov. 19. We pray that this will be the real beginning of peace in Yemen, we are all tired of this war, said Mona Ibrahim, a teacher in the capital Sanaa, which has been under Houthi control since September 2014. We just want to live like other humans, Mohammed al-Ahdal, a resident of Hodeidah said. The Houthi defense ministry said it would respond to any hostilities from the coalition. Graham Griffiths, a senior analyst at Control Risks Middle East, said the announcement was potentially important as it comes in response to the coalitions pausing of Hodeidah operations. Efforts to resume the peace process remain fragile given the mutual distrust between the warring parties. Nevertheless, given the renewed pressure from the international community, there is a real chance to begin to move the conflict toward a durable de-escalation, he said. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported on Nov. 19 that Houthi forces fired a ballistic missile on Saudi-backed forces in the desert of Midi, bordering Saudi Arabia. It was not immediately clear when the attack happened. An air strike by the Saudi-led coalition targeted the Sahar district of the northwestern city of Saada on Nov. 19, injuring several people, residents and Al Masirah TV said. The Houthis say their missile attacks on Saudi Arabia are in retaliation for air raids by the alliance, which entered Yemens war in 2015 to try to restore the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The coalition has carried out thousands of air strikes in the impoverished country that have hit schools, markets, and hospitals, killing hundreds of peoplethough it says it does not target civilians. Western allies including the United States have called for a ceasefire ahead of the renewed U.N. efforts. Western countries have provided arms and intelligence to the Arab states in the alliance, but have shown increasing reservations about the conflict since the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadhs consulate in Istanbul last month. By Aziz El Yaakoubi As bike and scooter sharing programs continue to pop up in cities nationwide, the University of Bridgeport has brought the commuting trend to the Park City. The university has unveiled 75 new e-scooters on campus to expand its on- and off-campus commuting options for students and the city. Todays students have technology as a reflex, said George Estrada, vice president for facilities. Its no longer something that is a challenge. UB has in past years offered its students different means of transportation, including bus passes, and the college is now moving into ride-sharing apps. The university is also a Zipcar site, which allows students to borrow a docked car through an app. Much like its Zipcar program, students can access the e-scooters through the Bird app. They only need to have a valid license and a credit or debit card to sign up. Scooters are available to go wherever the riders want within its given energy level, which lasts roughly 15 miles. Available scooters can be located at any of the campus 15 docks, or nests, through the in-app map. Riders need only scan the device and get moving. The cost to activate the Bird is $1, and the fee per minute is 20 cents. Now the Bird dovetails into that as the third leg to that stool and gives a whole new dimension to commuting, Estrada said. I think that this fits in well with the universitys commuter community. The scooters arent exclusive to UB students residents in the community can also access the Bird scooters at the school. It becomes a pretty good alternative for doing a commute, Estrada said. Its also the freedom. Youre riding on a scooter similar to being on a bike just being out in the fresh air enjoying a ride. Its something I think will continue to grow with the campus community and beyond. UB is the first site in Connecticut to feature the Bird scooters, though Estrada said the Los Angles-based company has been in discussion with other universities and cities to add more sites. In a relatively brief time, Bird Ride has skyrocketed in the bustling ride sharing market, reportedly reaching a $2 billion valuation in a matter of months. It joined companies like Lime Bike, which has a presence in New Haven and is being considered by officials throughout Fairfield County, including Bridgeport and Norwalk. Though Stamford doesnt have a public bike-sharing program, buildings at the Harbor Point development have one of their own. Jordan.grice@hearstmediact.com DANBURY Dozens of heavily armed police officers and even several federal agents swarmed the Visual and Performing Arts Center at Western Connecticut State University for what they believed to be an active shooter on Tuesday afternoon. They found no gunman, no shots were ever fired and no one was injured. But the swift and severe response is an unfortunate sign of the times, officials and students agreed in the aftermath of the frightening afternoon. Thankfully no one was injured, but you just cant be too proactive in these situations, Mayor Mark Boughton said. Thats why we tell people, If you see something, say something. The response does speak volumes, he continued. Youve read, heard about or saw on TV horrible incident after horrible incident. We certainly take every single incident and claim seriously, so well bring every resource we have available to bear. Its certainly a reflection o how on edge people are these days. Officers responded to the WCSU westside campus just before 2 p.m. Tuesday for reports of active shooter with a long gun in the performing arts building. The first set of officers were on the scene within just a few minutes and entered the building but found no signs of a shooting or even an armed person, Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour said. They evacuated students from the building and the campus immediately issued a shelter in place to students and staff as more officers poured into the campus. Less than 20 minutes later, the scene was overrun with dozens of armed officers from neighboring municipalities, state police troopers and even several agents from the area field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. SWAT teams arrived a few minutes later and moved in on the building, clearing it room-by-room over the next three hours. Freshman Chris Elhers was one of two witnesses who believed they saw a man with a weapon outside their classroom. He and his classmate, a young woman not named by police, rushed everyone else to the front of the room. If it wasnt a gun, it looked a lot like a gun, Elhers said. I didnt second guess it, I just ran to the front of the classroom to hide. Elhers told police and a reporter at the scene that he believed he saw a man with a large duffle bag. Both he and his classmate were visibly shaken. Im hoping Im wrong and that it wasnt actually a gun, Elhers said. But Im just a little freaked out. WCSU police will continue to investigate the incident and will review all available surveillance video to try to track down what happened, officials said. The westside campus lockdown was lifted at about 5 p.m. and WCSU canceled the remainder of classes Tuesday to send students home a half-day early for the Thanksgiving break. Other nearby public schools were locked down, including the Western CT Academy for International Studies located at the back of the WCSU westside campus. WCSUs Midtown campus was locked down this summer after a report that a man was on campus with a gun, but that turned to be a man carrying a microphone stand. Elhers classmate broke down into tears talking to investigators while police cleared the building. She was distraught that her report had caused such a significant response, Boughton said. The young lady who reported this to police was upset she caused such a commotion, he said. But we assured her thats not at all the case. Id rather call all my officers and pay hundreds of thousands in overtime and mobilize all that equipment than to have that one concern raised and we dont take it seriously and the unthinkable happens. In today's workplace, the nature of communication is undergoing a profound shift. While we often assume that ubiquity of technology is driving us apart, LinkedIn's 2018 Workforce Learning Report suggests that interpersonal communication is the most in-demand soft skill today. And in an era where workers must collaborate with at least 10 people every day to get things done, it should be no surprise that communications is a leading factor in a company's success. Related: How Machine Learning Can Create a More Meritocratic, Less Biased Job Market Historically, measuring and improving the way people communicate within organizations has presented executives with a Gordian knot of complexity. But, as corporate learning and leadership development move online, organizations can follow the digital breadcrumbs left behind peer-to-peer interactions spot untapped leadership potential, or gauge employee sentiment with respect to the launch of new initiatives. The process is rooted in the advent of natural language processing technology, also referred to as "discourse analysis," which is the study of relationships between naturally occurring connected sentences, spoken or written. Companies that utilize digital tools to activate strategies or facilitate structured dialogue as part of leadership development efforts can, for example, mine the data produced by natural language processing to better understand leadership dynamics, influence and culture. This isn't about listening in on private conversations or identifying individuals by name, but over time, patterns emerge, helping executives to spot unintended consequence, and make more informed decisions. It can help executives to unearth sentiment that shows how their communications are perceived by cohorts (e.g., segmented anonymously by role or geography) within their company. And with over 84 percent of companies embracing the importance of "people analytics," it's more important than ever to understand natural language processing and how it works. Here's why: It fosters transparency. A recent study showed that a majority of workers (66 percent) believe that digital technologies and AI can give rise to a more transparent workplace. Transparency means more accountability and less office politics, which can, in turn, make employees more productive. With the help of natural language processing, leaders and talent management can establish clear career paths and expectations with a precise system to assess performance. This kind of transparent feedback loop is great because it doesn't put employees -- for example, introverts, who are often overlooked in the promotion process -- at a disadvantage. Related: Artificial Intelligence Can Help Leaders Make Better Decisions Faster It's non-intrusive and effortless to deploy. One of the reasons why natural language processing algorithms are impossible to manipulate is because they run quietly in the background while employees go about their daily work. Unlike traditional training programs that take employees outside their daily routine, analytical platforms don't rob employees of precious time; instead, it observes workplace behaviors, serves gentle reminders on key skills like collaboration and can be implemented in less than a day to boot. It eliminates bias. Communications within and across organizations often reflect implicit and structural bias, resulting in processes that are more subjective than they are meritocratic. Leaders often pick who they want to promote based on unconscious biases. By implementing tools that derive insight from the interactions of employees using natural language processing, leaders can generate a blind view of who is contributing the most creative ideas, who casts the largest net of network influence and who has the ability to inspire their teams. The insights gleaned can help them engage and retain the best employees, regardless of gender, race or culture, to avoid lousy morale and expensive turnover. Amid a hyperconnected workforce, the flood of new workplace communications apps provide a familiarity with the sort of communications that enable back end natural language processing, implemented strategically, will continue to demonstrate value. Related: This Technology Can Help Leaders Better Understand Their Employees How Entrepreneurs Can Capitalize on 3 Industries Primed for Disruption How Machine Learning Can Create a More Meritocratic, Less Biased Job Market Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NORWALK The Norwalk Green Association and others concerned about pedestrian safety may get their flashing-signal crosswalk across East Avenue to the Norwalk Green. But it likely wont happen anytime soon. It wouldnt be until at least, probably fall of next year, said Michael Yeosock, assistant principal engineer in the Norwalk Department of Public Works. The funding wouldnt be in place until at least July. On Monday afternoon, Yeosock updated the Norwalk Traffic Authority on the departments work with the Norwalk Green Association and others to get a safe pedestrian crosswalk across East Avenue to the Green. While the authority earlier approved two painted crosswalks across Park Street on the west side of the Green, a pedestrian-activated crosswalk signal with flashing lights is deemed necessary for pedestrians to cross much busier East Avenue. Proposed is a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) beacon system as in downtown Stamford. At a cost of about $150,000 in city capital money, a crosswalk about be painted mid-block along East Avenue, in the area of the gazebo, and mastheads would be built from each side of the roadway to carry the flashing lights. Its a light that goes over the road, Yeosock told Hearst Connecticut Media. Its a HAWK signal on an arm, from each side, and you push the button and it lights up. It flashes yellow and then it flashes red. And that has posed problems. Yeosock said the state wont allow such a device at an intersection, as requested by the Norwalk Green Association at St. Pauls Place. And the First Taxing District, which owns and operates the Green, has issues with the aesthetics of such a device being place midblock above East Avenue near the Greens gazebo, according to Yeosock. Brad Craighead, founder of the Norwalk Green Association, said he understands the taxing districts concerns. Its aesthetic that theyre concerned about, maintaining the historic character, which I think everyone in the area supports, Craighead told the authority. And if you look at the HAWK pedestrian beacon at first glance, Oh my God, I think is the reaction. But actually they blend in. Safety or aesthetics? Is that really a debate? he added. Earlier, Craighead reiterated the reasons why the Norwalk Green Association, St. Pauls on the Green church and others want crosswalks to the Green. He said about one thousand people now living within a five-minute walking distance of the Green. Yeosock said the city will work with the taxing district to resolve the issues as it works to get state approval to place the crosswalk midblock. While prohibited at intersections, such devices still require state approval when placed elsewhere, he said. Traffic Authority Commissioner Fran Collier-Clemmons, who chaired the meeting at the Norwalk Police Department headquarters, concurred about the need for the crosswalks. Weve got more people now, weve got more cars now, weve got safety issues now, weve got speeding issues now, Collier-Clemmons said. And the primary thing, I think, is to keep our citizens safe. Dominick M. DiGangi, First Taxing District general manager, was not at the meeting but later clarified the district commissions position on pedestrian-activated crosswalk signals near the Green gazebo. He said the district commission did not feel such devices would be appropriate across Park Street. They proposed one of those flashing crosswalks where you press the button and the strobe light goes off on Park Street, DiGangi said. I brought it to the board and the commissioners did not believe that it was appropriate for the Green. Even though they were in favor of the crosswalk, they didnt think the signal was appropriate. DiGangi said he received the citys proposal for the crosswalk signal on East Avenue only two days ago and will forward it to district commissioners to consider at their Dec. 14 meeting. I dont know what the reaction of the board will be I dont want to put words in their mouth, DiGangi said. But its right next to the gazebo. Thats been the issue all the long heres this light with flashing strobe lights. The commissioners were saying its not appropriate for the (Park Street) location. On Monday, Pope Francis led a conference in the Vatican, defending traditional marriage. 30 religious leaders from different countries, backgrounds, and faiths gathered at the Vatican for the Complementarity of Man and Woman conference. "To reflect upon 'complementarity' is nothing less than to ponder the dynamic harmonies at the heart of all Creation. This is a big word, harmony. All complementarities were made by our Creator, so the Author of harmony achieves this harmony," began Pope Francis. The three-day conference supports the values of traditional marriage. Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church, and Russell Moore, President of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, both spoke at the conference. Complementarity (between men and women) is the basis of marriage and the family, which is the first school where we learn to appreciate our gifts and those of others and where we learn the art of living together Children have the right to grow up in a family, with a mother and a father who can create a suitable environment for their development, said Pope Francis at Mondays conference. Despite recent trends of the legalization of same-sex marriage, the religious leaders expressed their firm beliefs in the distinct union between man and woman. We now live in a culture of the temporary, in which more and more people are simply giving up on marriage as a public commitment. This revolution in manners and morals has often flown the flag of freedom, but in fact it has brought spiritual and material devastation to countless human beings, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, said Pope Francis. Moore, a prominent figure in the Southern Baptist community, is considered strongly conservative and shared his thoughts on the current status of Western culture at the conference. Western culture now celebrates casual sexuality, cohabitation, no-fault divorce, family redefinition, and abortion rights as parts of a sexual revolution that can tear down old patriarchal systems, said Moore. We see the wreckage of sexuality as self-expression all around us, and we will see more yet. And the stakes are not merely social or cultural but profoundly spiritual, he said. In the evangelical Christian perspective, this is because there is no such thing as a casual sexual encounter at all, when we are speaking in spiritual terms. Warren added to the conference with an explanation of steps the church needs to make in defending the Christian definition of marriage. The church cannot be salt and light in a crumbling culture if it caves in to the sexual revolution and fails to provide a counter-culture witness. It is a myth that we must give up Biblical truth on sexuality and marriage in order to evangelize, he said. The pastor continued to define marriage through the Apostle Pauls message. In this same way, husbands must love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds it, and cares for it, just as Christ does his church for we are members of Christ's body! It is for this reason that man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery but I am talking about Christ and his church! So, each of you must also love your wife as your love himself, and you wife must respect your husband, Eph. 5:23-33. Warren stressed the importance of defending this definition of marriage. COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Harlem Renaissance kicked off after a summer of bloody race-related riots in 1919. It flourished in the 1920s and '30s, a mere half-century after the abolition of slavery, amid a nationwide revival of the Ku Klux Klan. The context suggests immediately how absurd it would be to divorce the Harlem Renaissance from questions of sociology and - most obviously - race. And yet it's worth insisting that what makes the Harlem Renaissance special - what makes it such a shining moment in American history - is its legacy of literary, artistic and musical brilliance. That's why it matters that "I, Too, Sing America: The Harlem Renaissance at 100," a wonderful show at the Columbus Museum of Art, is named for a poem by Langston Hughes. ("Besides," the poem concludes, "they'll see how beautiful I am/ And be ashamed,-/ I, too, am America.") That's why it matters that the first works in the show are portraits of artists and writers such as Zora Neale Hurston, Aaron Douglas and W.E.B. Du Bois: They were among the bold, creative spirits who made the Harlem Renaissance happen. And that's why it matters that, displayed throughout the exhibition, are dozens of original editions of the magazines and books they created. Among them: "Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro," the March 1925 issue of Survey Graphic magazine compiled by Alaine Locke; and "The New Negro," the expanded anthology it spawned later that year. No publications did more to shape what became known as the Harlem Renaissance. "I, Too, Sing America" was put together by Wil Haygood, who, at 64, is a first-time curator. He's been busy at other things: The author of seven nonfiction books (including biographies of several figures linked to the Harlem Renaissance), he was born and raised in Columbus in the historically African-American district of King-Lincoln Bronzeville, adjacent to the Columbus Museum of Art. Haygood has worked for both the Boston Globe and The Washington Post (his 2008 Post story about Eugene Allen, an African-American who worked in the White House under eight presidents, was made into the film "The Butler," starring Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker and Cuba Gooding Jr.) His journalistic background shows: The catalogue, focused on facts, personalities, and events, is a pleasure to read. What's more, he and his fellow curators, all from the Columbus Museum of Art, avoid the pitfalls the Metropolitan Museum of Art fell into in 1969 when it mounted "Harlem on my Mind." That show, intended as a progressive-minded celebration of the black community, was a fiasco for reasons hard to sum up in a sentence. (Susan E. Cahan offers a riveting account in "Mounting Frustration: The Art Museum in the Age of Black Power.") Suffice it to say that it was a show about the culture of Harlem that failed to include original art by African-American artists; that it was organized by a well-meaning but overly controlling white curator, Allon Schoener, who tried to deploy respected African-Americans for window-dressing; and that the catalogue's introduction, by a 17-year-old high school student, contained an extraordinary claim linking African-Americans with anti-Semitism. The Met show broke attendance records. Many people loved it. But in terms of PR, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Artists picketed the show. Art critics condemned the Met's move away from art toward leftist sociology. The American Jewish Congress took out a full-page ad in the New York Times condemning the Met. In Columbus, things have been done differently. The artists and writers of the Harlem Renaissance are front and center. Their achievements are not celebrated just in the abstract; they are on the walls and on pages bound between beautiful book covers. We see in the first galleries, for instance, Edwin Augustus Harleston's 1930 portrait of Aaron Douglas, palette and brushes in hand. "I create," it calmly announces. Nearby, offered as proof, are Douglas' stylized images in gouache of Harlem jazz clubs; his woodblock prints illustrating a Eugene O'Neill play; his dusk jacket illustration for James Weldon Johnson's "God's Trombones"; and his cover designs both for FIRE!!, a single-issue magazine of lasting impact; and the May 1928 issue of The Crisis, the most widely read and distributed magazine of the Harlem Renaissance. The Crisis was (and still is) put out by the NAACP. In operation since 1910, it was edited until 1933 by Du Bois, whose 1925 portrait, by the German artist Winold Reiss, we see in the second gallery. Reiss was a big influence on Douglas. The German's pastel portraits were commissioned by Locke for "Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro." Among them was a double portrait of two young public school teachers that is as freshly beautiful today as it was confronting to racist mind-sets then. (At a reception for Reiss, one man declared that the two teachers would have scared him had he encountered them on the street. Galleries wouldn't show them, Anastasia Kinigopoulo writes in the catalogue, "out of fear they would attract black clientele.") Reiss also made a study, in three-quarter profile, called simply "Harlem Girl," with affinities to a nearby face, "Mask of a Girl," sculpted by Sargent Claude Johnson. Made from hammered copper and enhanced with gilding on the girl's braided hair, Johnson's small piece came out of an impulse he articulated 10 years later: He wanted, he said, to show "the natural beauty and dignity in that characteristic lip and that characteristic hair, bearing, and manner; and I wish to show that beauty not so much to the white man as to the Negro himself." Some might be embarrassed by such sentiments today, taking their premise for granted. But, at the time, few people could. "It is fair to say," wrote Arnold Rampersad, a biographer of both Hughes and Ralph Ellison, in his introduction to a 1992 edition of Locke's "The New Negro," "that, in the face of racial 'science,' most of the (black) contributors to the volume accepted the notion of black racial and cultural inferiority compared to the highest standards of European civilization." Yet these writers and artists also believed passionately that things were changing. They believed they were part of a transformation that would lead to political agency and a broad-based cultural flourishing. And so it did. The Harlem Renaissance began soon after 200,000 black soldiers returned from Europe at the end of World War I. The U.S. Army was still segregated. Most black soldiers had served as support troops. But some African-American regiments - most notably the 369th Infantry Regiment, the so-called "Harlem Hellfighters" - fought and were recognized for their bravery. In France, they had been treated with a level of respect they were rarely afforded at home. Now, returning victorious, they demanded equality with renewed urgency. Meanwhile, during the four years of the war in Europe, half a million blacks had left the American South for northern cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, Cleveland and New York, where they settled in Harlem. Racial tensions were inflamed both in the South, whose white farm owners resented the departure of cheap black labor, and in the North, where whites felt uneasy about the changing face of their cities. Lynchings remained common in the South, but attempts to pass an anti-lynching bill in Congress were repeatedly frustrated. White racial supremacy, widely accepted, was reinforced by influential books and movies, including D.W. Griffith's landmark film, "Birth of a Nation," based on "The Clansman," by Thomas Dixon Jr., a close friend of President Woodrow Wilson. Labor disputes increased in frequency. And in summer 1919 - known as the Red Summer - bloody confrontations between blacks and whites broke out across the nation. How did a so-called "renaissance" - what one of its leading figures, Arna Bontemps compared to "a foretaste of paradise" - emerge from so much strife? Sociology explains only so much. It cannot plumb the deeper reasons for creative flourishing, which might have less to do with statistics and social movements than with friendships, rivalries, love affairs and the strange sparks sent off by souls in turmoil. "A blue haze descended at night," Bontemps wrote, "and with it strings of fairy lights on the broad avenues." "I, Too, Sing America" tells the story of the central figures in the Harlem Renaissance. But it also takes a wider look at the movement's legacy. It shows great art made in the '40s and '50s, for instance, by Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden and Norman Lewis. All three were stars of the next generation, but they were taught by the sculptor Augusta Savage, a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance. The show takes us beyond Harlem, too. Allan Rohan Crite painted black life in Boston, but very much under the influence of Harlem Renaissance figures. Several of his pictures are here, along with sculptures by Meta Fuller, who studied with Rodin in Paris and was close to Du Bois and Savage but who never lived in Harlem. Accusations of intellectual snobbery have long hovered around the Harlem Renaissance. Locke was the first black Rhodes scholar, a graduate of Harvard and Oxford, and a philosopher who had studied in Paris and Berlin. Du Bois, despite his misguided impatience with art that was not overtly propagandistic, could seem cautious compared with Garvey, whose more radical, Pan-African rhetoric and entrepreneurial energies were also part of the story of Harlem in the 1920s. Locke may have papered over some sociopolitical realities in favor of vaguer conjectures in the realm of culture. But what his energies helped make possible should not be underestimated: a truthful, respectful and authentic depiction of black humanity and recognition for burgeoning black creative brilliance. The message - essentially, that black culture matters - should never have been required; but it was as important then as it remains today. --- "I, Too, Sing America: The Harlem Renaissance at 100," through Jan. 20, at the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio. columbusmuseum.org. ALTON With the winter season approaching, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Godfrey, is highlighting the Illinois Department of Transportations (IDOT) Snowbird program, and is encouraging local jobseekers to consider applying. With winter quickly coming up, the threat of snowy or icy conditions on our roads is very real, much like the weather that we just saw last week, said Bristow. Snowbirds are in demand, and as a part of IDOT they work to keep our highways and roads clear and safe for drivers. With wintry weather arriving early this year, the Illinois Poison Center is urging people to use carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide, often referred to as the silent killer because it cant be seen or smelled, can result from faulty or malfunctioning heaters and furnaces. NORMAL (AP) This year, Veterans Day was not only a time to salute those who have served our country in the military, its also the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. The last surviving U.S. veteran of that war to end all wars died in 2011 at the age of 110. But the stories of many of those veterans with ties to Illinois State University, as well as civilians who served in various capacities, are carefully preserved in the University Archives along with posters and other artifacts. You can get a feeling about what life was like back then by looking through the collection. Posters more than a century old call on people to Fight or Buy Bonds, share books with soldiers because Knowledge Wins and bake victory bread. Posters were the social media of the day, said Angela Bonnell, head of government documents at ISUs Milner Library. And, in an era long before email and social media, people wrote letters in remarkable penmanship. Many of those letters also are preserved in the University Archives. They include a letter from Ellen Babbitt, a former Illinois State Normal University student with the American Red Cross, who wrote about watching what she hoped was the end of the war outside her window in France where she was helping people from war-ravaged areas learn how to take care of their families. Then there was another former ISNU student, 2nd Lt. John Feek, who wrote, I really believe the one single thing that prompted me to be active enlisting was the publication in the Pantagraph of the Roll of Honor of ISNU. The posters, letters and other extensive details about ISNUs contribution to the war effort may have been lost or never even existed if not for the universitys librarian at the time, Ange Milner. She was part of the War Service Committee created at the start of the war by then ISNU President David Felmley. Milner corresponded with people involved in the war who had connections to ISNU. She sent them copies of the campus newspaper, The Vidette, as well as The Pantagraph. She also sent surveys asking such details as what they did during the war, what battles they fought in, what medals they received, where did they disembark and return and on what ship. In doing so, she created more than 800 individual folders about people, of which more than 600 remain in the University Archives Collection. Its one of the rare collections where you dont just know a name, you get to know them as a person. You get to know what they did, said University Archivist April Anderson-Zorn. Both Bonnell and Anderson-Zorn said Milner was ahead of her time in recognizing the value of preserving such artifacts and information. She was smart enough to save these posters, said Bonnell. They were meant to be ephemeral and tossed away. Now, they give a glimpse into history, serving as a resource for students in classes ranging from history and communications to art and graphic design. Likewise, the files she kept on the those who served provide important information. She wanted to make sure the service and sacrifice by ISNU affiliates . wasnt lost after the fact, said Bonnell. Although World War I was long ago, its impact is still being felt, said Ross Kennedy, professor and chair of history at ISU. Most historians consider World War I to be the most consequential event of the 20th century, said Kennedy. Without World War I, it makes it pretty hard to imagine World War II or the Cold War. World War I brought the United States to prominence on the world stage; it led to creation of the Soviet Union and sowed the seeds of continuing disputes in the Middle East with the way borders were redrawn, he said. An archivist isnt supposed to have favorites, just like a parent isnt supposed to have a favorite child, said Anderson-Zorn. But, she admitted, when it comes to ISUs World War I collection, This might be one of my favorite collections. Theres so much great stuff. Youre getting to meet that person. EDWARDSVILLE The Madison County Sheriffs Department is investigating a complaint from a poll watcher who claims he was improperly told to leave the County Administration Building during early voting on Nov. 5. Brad VanHoose, a Republican poll watcher from Belleville, said he was told by a Madison County Sheriffs deputy assigned to Administration Building security that he needed to leave the building at the end of the day on Nov. 5. The deputy then escorted VanHoose out. In an email to the Sheriffs Department dated Nov. 15, VanHoose outlined what he called serious omissions in a report being prepared by the Sheriffs Department about the incident. According to the email, the officer said he had been ordered to remove VanHoose, but declined to say who had ordered it. VanHoose also stated that he considered the officers behavior to be rude and aloof, and at times, even belligerent during the 10-day period I was present as a poll watcher. County Clerk Debra Ming-Mendoza confirmed Monday that VanHoose was a registered poll watcher, and had the right to remain in the building after normal closing hours while clerks were conducting election business. He was waiting for a report, she said. It was my understanding that the deputy did not know that a poll watcher is allowed to stay. I am aware of the situation, and poll watchers are absolutely allowed to stay, she said, referring further questions to the Sheriffs Department. VanHoose asked that the Sheriffs Department and Madison County States Attorneys Office investigate the incident, which he claimed was a violation of election law. According to the letter, he had also filed a Freedom of Information request and has sought assistance with the Illinois Attorney General Offices Public Access Counselor to preserve video surveillance footage of the incident. However, that could not be independently confirmed on Monday. Chief Deputy Sheriff Maj. Jeff Connor said the incident was under investigation and declined further comments until the investigation is complete. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-2 Woman charged after shot is reported fired A Jacksonville woman was arrested Sunday on charges of obstructing justice after police say she tampered with evidence at a potential crime scene. Police were called to 602 Jordan St. just after 4 a.m. Sunday to a report of a gunshot from behind the High School Apartments. Michelle L. Prather, 35, of 750 E. Chambers Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 5:43 a.m. on a charge of obstructing justice. According to police, Prather tried to pick up and hide evidence that a crime was committed. Police found evidence of one gunshot in the foyer of the building. Morgan County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Shannon E. Grogan, 22, of 1503 Wallace Road, Winchester, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 3:06 a.m. Sunday on a driving under the influence charge. Jacksonville Police ACCIDENTS A vehicle driven by Nichole A. Jarrett, 41, of Chandlerville struck a vehicle driven by Roger L. McKinney, 72, of Jacksonville at 4:24 p.m. Monday in the 900 block of East Independence Avenue. Jarrett was cited for driving an uninsured motor vehicle. No injuries were reported. ARRESTS, CITATIONS Austin D. Sims, 41, of 602 Jordan St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 11:47 p.m. Saturday on a domestic battery charge. Ramon G. Colon Melendez, 29, of 726 N. Main St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:07 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of cannabis. Blake W. Schnitker, 27, of 2205 Mound Road was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:26 a.m. Sunday on a retail theft charge. A 14-year-old girl was arrested at 4:52 p.m. Sunday on charges of battery and criminal damage to property for incidents that took place on June 5. BURGLARIES, THEFTS Sometime between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, someone removed a bag of tools from the back of a truck at Buffalo Wild Wings on 1235 W. Morton Ave. ACCIDENTS Adriana A. Manes, 19, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of improper backing after police say she backed out of a driveway in the 800 block of North Diamond Street at 12:52 a.m. Sunday and her vehicle hit a parked vehicle. South Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Richard B. Jackson, 29, of 726 N. Main St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 12:17 a.m. Sunday on a charge of resisting a peace officer. Vonnice F. Hart, 41, of 1007 Hackett St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 11:28 a.m. Sunday on a disorderly conduct charge. Compiled by Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree and Nick Draper EDWARDSVILLE The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineerings (SOE) Solar Car Team has donated one of its cars to Berea College (BC) in Kentucky. The American Solar Challenge has a rule that you can use the main chassis of the solar car three times, which means competing in three different annual events, said Andy Lozowski, PhD, professor and chair of the SOE Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Then the team has to build another car. Our present car chassis was already in competition three times. So, now we have to build another one. But we still have the most recent car, and we use it for public relations and to train new student team members. As a result, SIUE donated its oldest car from 2015 to BCs Wei Wu, PhD, assistant professor in BCs Technology and Applied Design Department. Wu is an alumnae of the cooperative engineering PhD program that SIUE shares with SIU Carbondale. As a student, Wu worked on SIUEs 2015 solar car. She now teaches electrical and mechanical engineering at BC. Wei wants to start another solar car team at Berea, and we thought the gift would be a good training tool for their team, Lozowski said. She is a highly capable engineer, and we know that she will use this gift to great benefit. Lozowski noted that the SIUE team benefited from just such a gift in 2004 as it received an old car from Lincoln Land Community College. With that, we were able to build our very first car that we competed within 2005, Lozowski said. Now, it is gratifying for us to pay it forward, too. The SIUE School of Engineering offers one of the most comprehensive and affordable engineering programs in the St. Louis region with eight undergraduate degrees, five masters degrees and a cooperative doctoral program. Students learn from expert faculty, perform cutting-edge research, and participate in intercollegiate design competitions. Companies in the metropolitan St. Louis area provide students challenging internships and co-op opportunities, which often turn into permanent employment. Students gain hands-on experience in the Schools state-of-the-art facilities, including the new Student Design Center. EDWARDSVILLE The holidays can be stressful and depressing for some. It can be a time when we miss our loved ones who are no longer with us. We can sometimes struggle to meet the expectations others put on us to have the perfect Christmas. Even so, one church looks to bring hope to those during the holiday season. St. Johns United Methodist Church will host a Blue Christmas Service on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at 7 p.m. at 7372 Marine Road in Edwardsville, Illinois. Everyone is invited to join us as we celebrate hope during this Christmas season. EDWARDSVILLE St. Johns United Methodist Church will host a Christmas Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 7372 Marine Road in Edwardsville, Illinois. The free event is open to the public and will include a craft market featuring local vendors and a Cookie Walk with cookies and fudge for $7 per pound. All-you-can-eat breakfast featuring pancakes, sausage, eggs, and biscuits and gravy is available for $7 per adult and $3 per children 3 years and older. All children are invited to meet Santa and have their photo taken with him from 9 a.m. until noon. New toy donations will be collected and donated to the GlenEd Pantry. For details call (618) 656-1853 or visit thenewstjohns.com. 11 hours ago Is Cracker Barrel A High-Yield Trap? Inflation Weighs On Cracker Barrel Results Cracker Barrel (NASDAQ: CBRL) has been, to us, an attractive dividend growth stock over the years but my how the times have changed. While the 3.6% dividend yield looks safe enough, for now, the payout is still below the pre-COVID levels and were not holding our breaths for any large increases any time soon. Read Article Stacey Abrams, the defeated Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia, got quizzed on Sunday CNNs State of the Union about her comments regarding the election. Its worth quoting at length to see how she addressed election results tainted by irregularities. Jake Tapper: Take a listen to what Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown said about your race just a few days ago. (Begin video clip) Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio: If Stacey Abrams doesnt win in Georgia, they stole it. Its clear. Its clear. Now, I would say I say that publicly. (End video clip) Tapper: So, Sherrod Brown says the election was stolen. Do you agree that it was stolen? And do you think that Brian Kemp is not the legitimate governor-elect of Georgia? Abrams: The law, as it stands, says that he received an adequate number of votes to become the governor of Georgia. And I acknowledge the law as it stands. I am a lawyer by training. And I am someone whos taken a constitutional oath to uphold the law. But we know, sometimes, the law does not do what it should and that something being legal does not make it right. This is someone who has compromised our systems. Hes compromised our democratic systems. And that is not appropriate. . . . Tapper: Is he the legitimate governor-elect of Georgia? Abrams: He is the person who won an adequate number of votes to become the governor. . . Tapper: Youre not using the word legitimate. Is he the legitimate governor-elect of Georgia? Abrams: He is the legal governor of Georgia. And heres the thing, Jake. I want to be very clear. Words have meaning. And I have spent my lifetime not only as an attorney, but as a writer. And Im very careful with the words I choose. And, yes, when he takes the oath of office, he will be the legal governor of the state of Georgia. He is the legal victor. But what you are looking for me to say is that there was no compromise of our democracy, and that there should be some political compromise in the language I use. And thats not right. Whats not right is saying that something was done properly, when it was not. I will never deny the legal the legal imprimatur that says that he is in this position. And I pray for his success. 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. . . . Tapper: Are you are you at all concerned that your words this morning and in your speech Friday will undermine faith in the democratic process? Abrams: Not at all, because the words I use are very specific. We have had systematic disenfranchisement of voters. We have seen gross mismanagement of our elections. And we have seen an erosion of faith in our democracy in our state. Those are all true facts. But these are all solvable problems. And thats why Im proud to be an American. Thats why Im proud to be a Georgian. And its why Im taking up Fair Fight Georgia, because faith is not enough. We have to have action married to that faith. And I dont believe that you are trying to cast aspersions or cause me to say anything, but what I am being clear about is that Im choosing my words very carefully because words have meaning. . . . Tapper: I want to just give you an opportunity to answer this, because this is going to be the big question coming out of this interview. President Trump, based on no evidence, cast all sorts of aspersions on the election in Florida, and what was going on with the recounts and what was going on with the counts. He alleged fraud. He alleged theft. And he was criticized widely by Democrats and Republicans for doing so. How is what youre doing any different from what he did? Abrams: My accusations are based entirely on evidence. We had four different federal judges in the course of a week say that what we witnessed was wrong and forced better behavior. We had four different federal judges in the course of a week say that what we witnessed was wrong and forced better behavior. And what Im simply asking for is another court to force even stronger behaviors, legal reforms that will guarantee that no one has to question the legitimacy of our election. Dan Gasaway is a Republican who lost a Republican primary because they failed to adequately provide ballots that were accurate. That was under Brian Kemps watch. And so this is not something that simply affected Democrats. This is not partisan. The head of the tea party in Georgia, Debbie Dooley, pointed out the gross mismanagement of how we administer absentee ballots. This conversation provides some guidance for how we talk about election results. First, unless there is direct evidence of voter fraud, we should not use words like stolen in connection with elections. Brown was wrong to do it; saying the Republicans do it more often, as he did in his Meet the Press interview, is simply another form of whataboutism. As voting guru Rick Hasen argues, such language only feeds a growing cycle of mistrust and delegitimization of the election process, an attack pushed by President Trump and other Republicans that might lead Trump in 2020 to refuse to concede the 2020 presidential election if he is ahead in the count on election night and then ballot counts inevitably shift toward Democrats as the counting continues. Second, you better have facts and specifics (as Abrams did and Trump did not) when questioning election practices. Moreover, Abrams raised legitimate issues before the votes were counted, bolstering her argument that her concerns were about efforts to disenfranchise voters, not about who was winning. Third, the distinction between legal and legitimate is a tricky one, but here is the difference: There is legal legitimacy (what Abrams said amounted to getting more votes), and then there is moral legitimacy. If you take active measures to disenfranchise voters you think will vote against you (without a shred of evidence of voter fraud to justify your actions), youre not in a good position to argue you have the latter. Moral legitimacy in a democracy comes from free and fair elections. American elections are distinguishable from phony elections that dictators run because, among other things, the outcome in American elections is not determined in advance and the popular will is respected. To the extent the Brian Kemps (or the Russians) put their fingers on the scale, the winner does risk a loss of moral legitimacy. You cannot systematically disenfranchise thousands of voters and claim your win is without taint. Finally, its a disgrace that we make it so hard to vote and do not have a method for quickly and transparently tabulating results. We need to repair the preclearance measures under the Voting Rights Act that were struck down in 2013, institute voting by mail and automatic registration and, finally, strive for a system in which long lines for voting become a thing of the past. A candidate cannot have authority over elections in which he or she is a candidate. By focusing on the voter suppression Abrams points us in the right direction. As Hasen says, the right question is why the state gets to put stumbling blocks in front of voters-such as onerous voter registration requirements and easy voter-purge rules-without offering a good reason for doing so. . . . By focusing on the dignity and respect to be afforded to each voter, we can push to maximize the number of eligible voters who are enfranchised and able to cast a ballot that will count, regardless of election outcomes. If one party is opposed to those measures to expand voting access, you really have to question if its candidates and officials support free and fair elections. When a party cannot win in which every legal voter gets to vote (as Kemp acknowledged), it needs to rethink the message and get new messengers. GoAir to launch Phuket-Bangalore direct flights PHUKET: GoAir, which last month launched the first direct flights between India and Phuket, will further expand its network with the launch of direct flights between Phuket and Bengaluru (Bangalore) next month. tourismtransporteconomics By The Phuket News Tuesday 20 November 2018, 10:13AM GoAir will operate three direct flight services between Phuket and Bengaluru (Bangalore) each week Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays. Photo: GoAir GoAir will operate three direct flight services between Phuket and Bengaluru each week Monday, Thursday and Sunday at all-inclusive return fares of B8,999. The inaugural flight from Phuket to Bengaluru will be on Dec 9. The new direct flights are being introduced in response to the growing demand from leisure travellers from Phuket and Bengaluru, Indias Silicon Valley, said a release issued this week. Bengaluru (also called Bangalore) is the capital of India's southern Karnataka state. The centre of India's high-tech industry, the city is also known for its parks and nightlife. Commenting on the occasion, GoAir CEO Cornelis Vrieswijk said, Phuket is an integral part of GoAirs route network and is a key market in India that has a significant base for tourism in the region. We are happy to give our passengers the choice to fly with Indias most preferred airline at the most exciting fares and look forward to extending our hospitality to our passengers in this new phase of growth. At the landing of the first-ever direct flight into Phuket from New Delhi on Oct 11, Arjun Dasgupta, Vice President - International, GoAir said, As Phuket is a popular destination, we are delighted to be responding to the growing demand for tourist and business travel with the first addition to the international route network. On the other hand, India has a significant base for business and tourism and we look forward to extending our hospitality to our passengers in this new phase of growth. The GoAir direct flights between Phuket and Delhi operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the direct flights between Phuket and Mumbai operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. (See story here.) Following the launch of the Phuket direct flights, GoAirs Managing Director Jeh Wadialate last month revealed that in pursuing its expansion plans, the airline has placed an order for 164 planes and have so far taken delivery of 41. By the end of next year we will increase this to 10 cities flying direct to Phuket, he said. (See story here.) Owned by Waida Group, one of Indias oldest conglomerates established in 1736, GoAir is a leading LCC in India and was recently reported to be the fastest growing airline in the world by Routes Online. We will also soon be flying into Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. Thailand is a big part of our international expansion, it is a destination popular with Indian travellers and Phuket is at the heart of that, Mr Wadia explained on Oct 23. Ninety percent of our fleet are new and within six months this will be 100%. We placed an order for 164 planes and have taken delivery so far of 41. Our plans for Phuket and the region are big, he said. Man who stabbed Phuket ex to death arrested in Ratchaburi PHUKET: The man now arrested for stabbing to death his 55-year-old ex-partner in the street in Tha Chatchai in a fit of jealousy earlier this month was taken into custody in Ratchaburi province, police have revealed. violencemurderdeathpolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Tuesday 20 November 2018, 03:10PM Somboon Saelao, 69, shows police where he threw away his blood-soaked shirt after the crime. Photo: Tha Chatchai Police Somboon Saelao, 69, shows police where he threw the murder weapon under Sarasin Bridge. Photo: Tha Chatchai Police The news follows Lt Col Watcharin Jiratikanwiwat, Deputy Chief of Investigation of the Tha Chaichai Police, confirming to The Phuket News yesterday (Nov 19) that Somboon Saelao, 69, had been arrested for the murder of Orathai Fornghoi. However, Col Watcharin declined to reveal any further details, including when or where Somboon was arrested. (See story here.) Col Prawit Suttiruangarun, Chief of the Tha Chatchai Police, has now revealed more details, namely that Soomboon was arrested in Damnoen Saduak District of Ratchaburi province last Saturday (Nov 17). Police have brought Soomboon back to Phuket to face the murder charge against him, Col Prawit said. He has confessed to killing Ms Orathai, and led officers to the scene where he stabbed Orathai and showed us where he dumped his shirt that was stained with Ms Orathais blood under a tamarind tree near Wat Tha Chatchai. He also showed us where he threw the weapon used under Sarasin Bridge then fled Phuket, before he was finally arrested by police in Ratchaburi, Col Prawit explained. Col Watcharin also confirmed to The Phuket News today that Somboon did not use a knife to stab Ms Orathai to death. Instead, he used one piece of a pair of broken scissors. Col Watcharin also confirmed that Somboon confessed that he killed Ms Orathai in a fit of jealous rage. Witnesses told police on Nov 7 that Ms Orathai had been living together with Somboon for three months, but the couple had separated about a week earlier. The breakup left Somboon bitter and angry, police were told. (See story here.) Additional reporting by Tavee Adam Massive speed haul seized in weekend crackdown LAMPANG: Authorities in Lampang arrested five people and confiscated 900,000 speed pills and almost 250 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine worth about 500 million baht in two separate cases over the weekend. crimedrugspolicetechnology By Bangkok Post Tuesday 20 November 2018, 12:21PM Drug traffickers hollowed out their cars gas cylinder to hold 300,000 speed pills, but didnt fool the police who stopped and searched the vehicle. Photo: Tawatchai Kemgumnerd LAMPANG: Authorities in Lampang arrested five people and confiscated 900,000 speed pills (ya bah) and almost 250 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice) worth about B500 million in two separate cases over the weekend. The seizure, one of the biggest reported in the province, was the result of a joint crackdown by local police, officers from Police Region 5 Bureau, and troops from Surasakmontri military camp. In the first case, 900,000 ya bah pills and 199kg of ya ice were seized from three suspects, police said yesterday (Nov 19). The suspects were identified as Weerapol Worachanpensri, 19, Jue sae Lao, 22, and his younger brother Kang sae Lao, 19. Jue used a car to transport the drugs while the other two used motorcycles to scout for police checkpoints. Police became suspicious when Weerapols phone kept ringing during a search at a checkpoint, and spotted a car and another motorcycle not far from the checkpoint. The car drove away when police approached them. Kang, who was on the other motorcycle, was detained for questioning while police radioed colleagues and stopped Jue's car shortly after. After intensive questioning, Jue took police to the spot where he dumped the drug. The ya bah pills and ya ice were found in 12 sacks dumped near a creek. The suspects claimed they were hired for B450,000 by an unnamed Hmong villager to deliver the drugs from Chiang Rai to Ayutthaya. They were paid B30,000 to cover transport-related expenses. In another case, authorities confiscated 50kg of ya ice from a pick-up truck at a checkpoint and arrested Wichet Nanglae, 24 for questioning. Wichet said he was transporting manure from Chiang Mai to Nakhon Sawan, but an X-ray examination revealed 50kg of ya ice was hidden among the fertiliser. Also yesterday, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau announced the arrest of eight people and seizure of 300,000 ya bah pills and 857kg of marijuana in two other cases. In the first case, ya ice was found in a car driven by 50-year-old Somporn sae Lim which was hidden in a modified liquid petroleum gas tank, police said. The other case involved the seizure of 857 bars of marijuana. The five suspects involved were arrested in three separate locations in Bangkok and Phetchaburi. Three vehicles, eight mobile phones and B27,000 in cash were also seized, authorities said. Read original story here. Rawai beach speedboat refueller arrested, but refuelling continues incognito PHUKET: One person has being arrested for illegally refuelling tour speedboats directly from the Rawai beach road, The Phuket News was told today (Nov 20). tourismtransportSafetymarine By Tavee Adam Tuesday 20 November 2018, 07:51PM Despite one man already arrested, operators are now using a traditional Phuket songtaew bus to haul drums of fuel to Rawai Beach to continue refuelling speedboats at the popular tourist beachfront. Photo: Supplied Despite one man already arrested, operators are now using a traditional Phuket songtaew bus to haul drums of fuel to Rawai Beach to continue refuelling speedboats at the popular tourist beachfront. Photo: Supplied However, the news comes as operators turn to using a traditional Phuket songtaew bus to haul drums of fuel to the tourist beachfront to continue the practice. Phuket Energy Ministry office Chief Wirot Damkong confirmed to The Phuket News this afternoon that one person has been arrested for illegally refuelling on the Rawai beachfront earlier this month. (See story here.) That arrest followed the same truck being caught on camera refuelling speedboats on the public beachfront in May this year. (See story here.) Mr Wirot confirmed by phone today that the driver of the fuel truck photographed carrying out the refuelling on Nov 6 has been arrested by police. However, he added, I am not ready to give information out on this right now as I am away (off Phuket) at a conference. I will release the details properly when I get back. Regarding the latest refuelling from drums in the back of a songtaew, caught on camera both yesterday morning and this morning, Mr Wirot said, I will have to look into this again after I came back. Soi Dog Foundation responds to official plan to impound Bangkok street dogs Phuket-based Soi Dog Foundation has publicly responded to an official plan to impound Bangkok street dogs. The response, issued today (Nov 20), is as follows: Community By Soi Dog Foundation Tuesday 20 November 2018, 08:09PM Phuket-based Soi Dog Foundation has publicly responded to an official plan to impound Bangkok street dogs. Photo: SDF The scheme to control stray dogs recently announced in Bangkok (see story here) is inappropriate and unlikely to be effective, the Soi Dog Foundation (SDF) believes. The Thapthan shelter in Uthai Thani, where it is proposed that captured dogs will be impounded is one of the best shelters in the country, but it is already at or near capacity. The former Bangkok Governor and dog lover, Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, built his own private shelter in Kanchanaburi province several years ago to house Bangkok strays. However, he is now looking to close it due to insufficient support. He recently visited the Thapthan shelter but was told they cannot take his dogs as the shelter is full. In any case, even if the Thapthan shelter were empty it could house only a fraction of the capitals street dogs. SDF has already carried out surveys of the 50 districts within the Bangkok Metropolitan area (BMA), and three years ago carried out a census in the whole Greater Bangkok area, which revealed approximately 640,000 free roaming dogs in Greater Bangkok. The Soi Dog Foundation agrees that aggressive dogs that bite people should be removed. But the majority of strays tend to steer clear of people, which is why people have to be trained in the skills of catching them. With the support of Dogs Trust Worldwide, Soi Dog began sterilising and vaccinating the dogs living in the BMA area two years ago, as well as supporting other private initiatives in Greater Bangkok and other parts of the country. We currently have four full-time mobile teams operating in the capital and hope to increase that to six teams next year. We are now close to sterilising 100,000 animals per year. This costs 50 million baht a year, with no support from the city. If sterilised and vaccinated dogs are going to be removed from their territories, then SDF will have to consider whether there is any point in continuing with such a programme. The World Health Organisation, The Food and Agriculture division of the United Nations, The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, all agree that the most effective way to eliminate rabies is to vaccinate dogs, and if a minimum of 70 per cent of dogs are vaccinated in a city or country, then you will eliminate rabies, providing you control any new dogs coming in. The reason for this is that mass vaccination establishes herd immunity. But remove those vaccinated dogs, and other dogs that are not vaccinated will rapidly reproduce to take their place, and rabies will once again raise its ugly head. The same applies to population control. Sterilise 80 per cent of the female dogs and you will start to see numbers fall. Dogs are territorial and will keep other dogs out. A maintenance programme will be required but, as has been shown in countries around the world, once sterilisation is introduced, as well as people exercising proper control of their dogs, then the situation will be under control. You can see this happening in Phuket where SDF has been vaccinating and sterilising dogs for 15 years. Despite hundreds of unvaccinated puppies being allowed into the province for sale each year, and despite vaccinated and sterilised dogs being removed to the provincial pound from time to time (making the maintenance operation far harder) the number of stray dogs in Phuket has fallen drastically. In addition, the government has declared the province rabies-free the only province in Thailand to have received this accolade. Bangkok has always had a big stray dog problem. Over the years, many measures have been tried and failed, including poisoning and shooting, and removing dogs to Pravet and Uthai Thani. SDF believes that the latest measure announced will also fail. Dogs, cats and rats, like people, need food to survive. Until the authorities can control the garbage and waste problem in Thailand, as they have now in many countries, then something is going to feed on that waste. At present, dogs are top of the pecking order. Remove the dogs and the cat population will explode, as it has in Phuket. Remove the cats and the city will have a plague of rats and mice. That is nature. Provide a food source and something will feed on it. It will take investment and education, but unless you solve the underlying issue unsterilised animals and a ready source of food you will never solve the problem. You will need 100 shelters like Uthai Thani, or more, to take all of the dogs in the Greater Bangkok area. The cost of building them and then feeding and caring for the dogs, would be astronomical certainly far more than employing a large number of people to catch the dogs, then sterilise and vaccinate them. Even if it were possible to remove all the current free-roaming dogs in Bangkok, whether owned or stray, they would be replaced in no time at all by dogs from areas around the city, by unwanted pups discarded by puppy factories, and the offspring of unsterilised pets, the origin of all the current strays. Educating people on responsible pet ownership, and that it is not wrong or against Buddhist principles to sterilise dogs and cats, is also essential. Controlling the growing number of puppy farms is also badly needed. Finally, it is worth noting that in September senior officials from the Singapore Veterinary Department, who have responsibility for controlling the stray dogs in that country, visited Soi Dog in Bangkok for three days to study our methods. They have found that years of a capture-and-euthanise policy had no impact. They are now switching to a Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release policy in close cooperation with local animal welfare groups. Singapore has an estimated 10,000 strays only, but the principle is the same whether it be 10,000 or 10 million which is the likely minimum figure in Thailand. Lessons continue not to be learned in relation to controlling the number of stray dogs in Bangkok and, indeed, the rest of Thailand. Once again, the Soi Dog Foundation urges authorities in the capital and elsewhere in Thailand to heed the lessons of the past and to commit to a concerted long-term campaign to catch,neuter, sterilise and release street dogs, and to make bringing garbage under control a priority. Unesco report shows migrants, refugees still not equal to Thai children in schools BANGKOK: The new Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report by Unesco shows that eight out of 10 countries with the most refugees are leading the way by including them in their national education systems. Education By The Phuket News Tuesday 20 November 2018, 03:33PM The report also shows that, as in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Nauru, asylum-seeking children and youth in Thailand are detained often with limited or no access to education. Image: Unesco The 2019 GEM Report, released at a regional launch event in Bangkok today (Nov 20) co-hosted by the Government of Thailand, celebrates a shift away from exclusionary education policies towards refugees in countries all over the world. The report notes that in Thailand, despite policy shifts to expand access to migrants regardless of nationality, there is still an urgent need to improve their inclusion in education. Titled Building bridges, not walls, the report documents efforts made by the government to improve inclusive education for refugees and migrants, notably through the 1999 Education Act and a 2005 Cabinet resolution, which grant access to education for all people regardless of nationality or status. Yet, the report also shows that, as in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Nauru, asylum-seeking children and youth in Thailand are detained often with limited or no access to education. For asylum seekers from Myanmar, Pakistan and Somalia, their detention can be indefinite. In addition, Karen refugee children often do not attend Thai public schools, often due to language barriers; the schools that they do attend follow the Karen rather than the Thai curriculum. Manos Antoninis, Director of the report said, There is no doubt that Thailand is making steps to include refugees and migrants in its education system, but it cannot be called fully inclusive until they are following the national curriculum and helped to overcome language barriers to accessing public schools. The report finds monitoring of school decisions is weak, which means that many school leaders still resist admitting undocumented immigrants, citing the cost of providing them with education and their higher rate of dropout. Thailand has not ratified the International Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. Frequent crackdowns on undocumented workers as a result have negative consequences on education. In the Tak province, for example, most immigrant teachers lacked residency documents. Undocumented immigrant parents were less likely to send their children to schools for fear of being arrested, noted a Unesco release announcing the report issued today. Mr Antoninis continued, Thailand is signing up to the two new global compacts on refugees and migrants, which shows that it recognizes education as an opportunity. We hope this will be a much-awaited turning point away from discrimination in education. Recommendations made in the report were: 1. Protect the right to education of migrants and displaced people 2. Include migrants and displaced people in the national education system 3. Understand and plan for the education needs of migrants and displaced people 4. Represent migration and displacement histories in education accurately to challenge prejudices 5. Prepare teachers of migrants and refugees to address diversity and hardship 6. Harness the potential of migrants and displaced people 7. Support education needs of migrants and displaced people in humanitarian and development aid To download the report, click here. Businesses, churches offer free Thanksgiving meals in Watertown Area businesses and churches are offering free Thanksgiving meals. All are invited and encouraged to join others in a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. WEST ROCKHILL Numbers compiled by a group of West Rockhill residents who brought their concerns to the West Rockhill Township Board of Supervisors Nov. 14 meeting show taxpayers in the municipality have paid $401,166.28 in the past five years for health insurance for the board members. In 2016, West Rockhill taxpayers paid nearly $95,000 to provide health care insurance for three supervisors and their families, resident Vera Cole, one of the group listed on township meeting agendas as the Committee of Five, said while reading aloud from a prepared statement she asked to be included in the record of the meeting. That number has since dropped to an estimated $74,501 this year, according to the groups figures, which were compiled from information received from the township during an unrelated open records request earlier this year. Under state law, the board members and their families are eligible to receive health insurance paid in whole or part by the township, with the decision on whether that happens being made by the board, Cole said. In West Rockhill, the cost of insurance for the supervisors decreased by $25,000 between 2016 and 2017, she said, because one of the board members voluntarily enrolled himself and his wife in Medicare. It is our understanding that there are similar cost-saving opportunities available to the current group of supervisors and their families, but they have chosen not to take them, at considerable expense to West Rockhill taxpayers, Cole said. The taxpayers of West Rockhill Township are paying an excessive amount to provide health care coverage for supervisors, she said. Over and over again, members of our community have stood before this board seeking small amounts of financial support for things that matter to us senior activities, the historical society, parks and rec projects and others only to be denied or delayed because funds are tight, Cole said. Yet here you sit before us, using tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars every year for your health insurance, when you are not employees of this township and when vastly less expensive options are available, as demonstrated by one supervisors responsible decision. Cole said the group is asking that the board not approve the 2019 budget until the health care costs for the board members are addressed and preferably eliminated. Former township Supervisor Fred Diseroad outlined a survey of seven local townships West Rockhill, East Rockhill, Salford, Hatfield, Hilltown, Limerick and Franconia. Between the seven towns, there are 27 supervisors, he said. West Rockhill has a three-person board. Theres only two supervisors of those 27 that get full township health benefits. Both of those supervisors are in West Rockhill Township, Diseroad said. Three others get partial health coverage from the township, one of which is from West Rockhill, he said. The information the resident group compiled showed that, of the two others receiving partial health coverage, the person receiving the coverage either pays a portion of the costs or donates their board salary to cover a portion of the costs. West Rockhill is spending $82,001 this year for board insurance and salaries, the information showed, compared to East Rockhill paying $1,875, all of which goes to salaries, with two of the three East Rockhill board members then donating their salaries to local organizations. The donations are to the Pennridge Community Center, Diseroad said. One would ask if were getting $80,000 better government in West Rockhill than they are in East Rockhill, Diseroad said. Board Chairman Jim Miller, who joined the board in 2016, said he would have been eligible for coverage on himself, his wife and daughter at a cost to the township of more than $50,000 but did not put his daughter on the plan. The cost to the township to cover Miller and his wife that year was $33,402.96, the resident group figures show. After that, he and his wife switched to being covered by Medicare, reducing the townships cost to about $6,000, Miller said. I want you all to think about that. Fifty thousand dollars versus $6,000. You have a voice. Use it, Miller said. I know my other fellow supervisors dont like me saying this, but Im sorry. Im fed up with the insurance issue around here. Board member Don Duvall said health care costs have increased by more than 50 percent since 2013. That affects everybody, not just West Rockhill. The fact is that were not looking for cheaper plans, Miller said. During the public comment period at the end of the meeting, some residents again spoke on the issue. Obviously, we need this money back into our township, resident Linda Marx said. This is a huge chunk of money, and you can get very good health care without us having to pay $33,000 a year for it, she said. This shouldnt even be really an issue. This really needs to be addressed. In other matters at the meeting: * The board approved having its proposed 2019 budget advertised. The final vote on it will be at the boards Dec. 19 meeting. One of the first things everyone asks about the budget is whether taxes will be going up, Township Manager Greg Lippincott said. There [are] no new taxes, he said. West Rockhill Township has the lowest tax rate of anyone in the area with a police force, Lippincott said, showing a chart with the tax rates in surrounding towns. Next years proposed budget includes $18,000 to replace the public works building roof; $42,500 for the township parking lot; $42,612 for completion of work being done to codify the township ordinances, which will make it easier for people to search online for specific topics; and $9,593 to complete the tot lot expansion in James Memorial Park, he said. Asked why he did not include the cost for the supervisors health insurance in the list of items mentioned, he said it was because the list was of things that are different between this years budget and next years proposed one. In answer to another question about whether the proposed health insurance costs for the board could be changed between the advertised budget and final approval, the residents were told the budget could be changed by up to 10 percent without having to re-advertise it. That means the insurance costs could be changed before final approval of the budget, the residents were told. With no change in the rate, West Rockhills property tax would remain at 7.25 mills, consisting of 6.25 mills for the general fund, 0.75 mills for the fire tax and 0.25 mills for the road equipment fund. That puts the bill for a home assessed at $40,000 at $290. Each mill equals $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed property value. * Concerns were once again raised about Adelphia Gateways proposed compressor station on Rich Hill Road for existing pipelines. Issues raised by the residents include noise, safety and the possibility of groundwater and air contamination. Township officials say they support the residents, but its the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, not the township, that has the say in the matter. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing on the plans from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the West Rockhill Township offices on Ridge Road. We urge every single one of you to come Dec. 4 and let DEP know your thoughts about this, Lippincott told the residents, encouraging them to also write their congressman, senators and FERC. * A copy of the townships proposed new comprehensive plan is available on the township website. A public hearing on the comprehensive plan, which guides future development, is scheduled for the boards Dec. 19 meeting. Carlos Ghosn is a globe-trotting CEO revered by many in the auto industry from Detroit to Japan, where he became a celebrated corporate captainand even a comic-book heroafter rescuing Nissan Motor Co. from the brink of bankruptcy. Mr. Ghosn, 64 years old, grew up in Brazil and Beirut before embarking on a 40-year auto-industry career. He turned around Nissan with heavy cost-cutting and engineered an alliance with Renault SA, later adding Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to create an entity that became one of the worlds largest car makers. But his big pay packets and reputation for holding a tight grip on power meant he wasnt universally adored. The executive works out of four different places: Amsterdam, where he manages the alliance; Paris for Renault and two sites in Japanthe Nissan headquarters and an office at Mitsubishi. He also regularly travels to important markets including the U.S., China, India and Russia. His combined salary is worth more than $17 million (U.S.), and the French government has repeatedly slammed Renault for paying him too much. In the fall of 2016, to celebrate Mr. Ghosns marriage to his second wife, the newlyweds threw a party at the Grand Trianon at Versailles that was inspired by Sofia Coppolas 2006 film, Marie Antoinette. Hired actors wore 18th-century costumes and guests were served pastry towers, according to photographs of the event. In recent years, Mr. Ghosn has faced criticism for his tight grip on power and lack of succession planning: In 2013, his No. 2 at Renault, Carlos Tavares, resigned days after publicly airing his frustration about waiting for his boss to retire. Still, the alliance Mr. Ghosn built pumped out 10.6 million vehicles last year, just behind Volkswagen AG and ahead of Toyota Motor Corp., adding to his reputation as one of the worlds most successful corporate titans. That legacy is under threat after Nissan said Monday that it is seeking to oust him following a monthslong board investigation. Mr. Ghosn has been detained by police in Tokyo. Nissan said its probe found that he allegedly worked with another executive to underreport his compensation in securities filings and misused company assets and investment funds. Mr. Ghosn hasnt responded to the claims. Mr. Ghosns handpicked protege at Nissan, Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa, told the world that his boss may have had too much sway, for too long. From a governance perspective, it was a problem to have so much power concentrated in one person, Mr. Saikawa told reporters at a press conference in Yokohama. Throughout his career, Mr. Ghosn has shown a tendency to micromanage many aspects of the alliances business, from tinkering with advertising jingles to walking through factories and correcting workers he thinks are putting things in the wrong bins, according to executives who have worked with him. Mr. Saikawa has said previously that the alliance worked by following homework assignments issued by Mr. Ghosn. The new CEO said he has instead urged Nissan employees to be more assertive. Mr. Ghosn developed a passion for cars as a boy growing up in Porto Velho, Brazil, and in Beirut, learning how to distinguish between different makes by the sounds of their horns. He obtained an engineering degree at the prestigious Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, and took a job at French tire maker Michelin SA, rapidly ascending the ranks. In 1996, Mr. Ghosn was recruited to serve as the No. 2 executive at Renault. His subsequent decision to close a Renault factory, which sparked protests in France, earned him the nickname le cost killer in the local press. In 1999, Renault pumped $5.4 billion into failing Nissan, and sent Mr. Ghosn to turn the company around. Some executives cautioned against trying deep cuts in Japan. Mr. Ghosn should know that what he can do here is different from the restructuring moves he may be allowed to make overseas, a top Nissan executive warned at the time. Mr. Ghosn closed factories, slashed head count and cut off poorly performing suppliersuncommon moves for a major Japanese corporation. At Nissans 2000 shareholders meeting, one man scolded Mr. Ghosn, calling him the destroyer. But when Mr. Ghosn announced Nissan was returning to profitability ahead of schedule, about a year after he took over, he became an instant hero across much of Japan: a symbol of the way Western business practices and good governance could triumph over the countrys traditions. Japanese businessmen wanted to know where Mr. Ghosn got everything from his glasses to his haircuts. Books touting his management style proliferated: a search for Carlos Ghosn on Amazon Japan lists 95 books, from Carlos Ghosns Leadership Philosophy to Lets Speak English with Carlos Ghosn. In 2001, he was even the subject of a Japanese comic-book series called The True Life of Carlos Ghosn. He was in demand on corporate boards, serving as a director at International Business Machines Corp., Alcoa Corp. and Sony Corp. Mr. Ghosn wasnt shy about his success. I would have chosen me, too to lead Nissans revival, he wrote in his 2003 autobiography, which was a best seller in translation in Japan. In 2005, Mr. Ghosn took the helm at Renault. He moved his family back to their Paris home, keeping an apartment in Tokyo. He and his first wife had four children: one born in Brazil and the other three in the U.S. when Mr. Ghosn worked for Michelin in Greenville, S.C., before moving to Renault. While jump-starting Renault, Mr. Ghosn shifted Nissans focus toward the profitable U.S. market, and set about blending two very different corporate cultures without merging the two companies. Several factories now churn out both Renault and Nissan-branded cars off the same assembly line. Some of the companies models also use common parts in a bid to reduce purchasing costs of components. In 2015, Mr. Ghosn sparred publicly with Emmanuel Macron, Frances economy minister at the time and now the nations president. Mr. Macron had temporarily increased the governments stake in Renault to nearly 20%, making it the companys largest shareholder. The move leveraged a newly passed French law to give the government greater voting rights, causing opposition at Nissan. The executive has made moves to strengthen the partnership so it would outlast his tenure, stepping back from CEO role at Nissan while remaining chairman. He has stayed on as chairman and CEO of Renault. Last year, Mr. Ghosn turned Nissans helm over to Mr. Saikawa, the man who fronted a Nissan news conference alone on Monday to discuss the allegations against Mr. Ghosn. The feelings roused by Mr. Ghosns behavior went far beyond regret to strong anger, Mr. Saikawa said. Amid the worst crude-price environment in its history, the Canadian oil industry is being hamstrung by internal divisions that are making it harder to rally around potential solutions. That draws a stark contrast to the U.S., where a less divided industry wields more clout. Most notable is the split between Canadas pure producers, who are being devastated by plummeting local prices, and the large, integrated energy companies that have been mostly unscathed. Theres also a rift between oilsands producers a target of climate-change activists around the world and the frackers and conventional drillers that have been suffering from the pipeline bottlenecks brought on by those environmental opponents. Reflecting these divisions is the industrys two main lobbying groups: the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the larger organization, which is dominated by the giant oilsands producers; and the Explorers & Producers Association of Canada, consisting mainly of smaller firms. That split is hampering the sectors ability to lobby the government with a consistent message. There is definitely a lot of concern around whether its really appropriate that one body is representing what has become a very complex industry with varied products and interests, said Rafi Tahmazian, who helps manage about $1 billion in investments at Canoe Financial in Calgary. The Canadian divisions bubbled to a head late last month, when top executives from 15 of the nations top oil producers met with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and, instead of presenting a unified front and a list of demands, they were said to have sparred with each other in front of her. At issue was whether to press her government to mandate industry-wide production cuts that might help clear the provinces glut of oil. Companies that focus mostly or solely on production, including Cenovus Energy Inc., Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. and Nexen Energy ULC, favour a mandated cut spread among the countrys producers that would bring supply down below pipeline shipping capacity. They argue that could clear the glut within weeks and bring prices back into a more normal range, helping their income statements as well as government coffers. But companies who have refineries that are benefiting from the cheaper crude prices such as Suncor Energy Inc., Imperial Oil Ltd. and Husky Energy Inc. opposed the push, saying the market is working to clear the glut and that companies have to live with the investment decisions theyve made. On the Fence The internal industry split has allowed the government to remain noncommittal on solutions. Notley has yet to take a position on the idea, saying that both sides raise very good points. CAPP which counts both integrated and nonintegrated producers among its largest members hasnt taken a position on the proposal, either. CAPP lists about 60 members, including the nations largest producers like Suncor, Canadian Natural and Imperial. EPAC lists about 150, however many are smaller, often nonpublic entities. In the U.S., the American Petroleum Institute dominates the landscape with more than 600 members. While there are a number of other groups like the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the National Stripper Well Association, they are mainly for smaller producers. Carbon Tax In Canada, theres a widening division even within the industrys biggest organization. The larger oilsands companies that dominate CAPP supported Notleys implementation of a carbon tax as a way to improve the industrys image after years of being portrayed as dirty oil and the worst contributor to global climate change. Yet many smaller drillers opposed that policy, and some vented their frustration with CAPPs support by defecting to the Explorers & Producers Association of Canada. Whitecap Resources Inc., which produces light oil across western Canada, left CAPP primarily because it didnt focus enough on the concerns of conventional oil and gas producers, chief executive officer Grant Fagerheim said in an interview. While he generally supports CAPPs efforts, his energy and enthusiasm are more with EPAC, Fagerheim said. EPAC will do a better job for conventional oil and gas producers than CAPP will do in supporting our plight going forward because we have a true voice thats allowed in there, Fagerheim said. He also said he wished the two groups worked more closely together. Part of Life CAPP president Tim McMillan said that some dissent within his organizations ranks is just part of life and noted that the group represents a wide spectrum of companies. He also said that the groups members largely agree on the big-picture solutions to the industrys problems, such as building more pipelines and getting access to markets in Asia. Longer-term, everyone is looking at the challenges relatively similarly, he said in an interview. EPAC president Tristan Goodman echoed the sentiment that producers in both groups agree on the main issues, while differing on some of the narrower topics. On the most pressing matter, the idea of government-mandated production cuts, his organization doesnt have a formal position but is looking at the issue and that he could understand if the government felt it needed to do that. I dont hold out a lot of hope that there is going to be a comprehensive, united approach from the industry, Goodman said in the interview. Still, in a country famous for its polite manners, there are hopes that the industry can band together better to relieve itself of its short-term plight. When peoples paycheques are on the line and the stock-options packages arent working and everyone is starting to feel the pain, then theyll mobilize, said Tim Gramatovich, chief investment officer with Peritus Asset Management. Theyll come together. VICTORIARide-hailing could take another year to become a reality in British Columbia after legislation was introduced Monday that Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said balances consumer demand and public safety. She said ride-hailing companies could be operating by next fall largely depending on the development of a new insurance system to cover the service. We are limited by insurance, Trevena told a news conference. Nobody is going to be on the road until theres an insurance product that works for them. The legislation proposes to amend eight statutes and give the Passenger Transportation Board expanded powers to accept applications and set terms and conditions for licences covering taxis and ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, she said. Trevena said the independent tribunal will also have the authority to set rates and determine the number and coverage areas of the services. A legislative committee to review and make changes to the system will be appointed, she added. Uber spokesperson Michael van Hemmen said the legislation is a step forward but it remains to be seen when the service will be ready to go. Timelines are a big question to British Columbians, he said outside the legislature. There (are) people whove been wanting this service since 2012. Green Leader Andrew Weaver said the NDPs bill is a move in the right direction, but he questioned the governments plan to require driver training and class four licences rather than class five, which are used by most drivers in B.C. Class four licences are required to drive taxis, ambulances and small buses with 25 or fewer passengers. Van Hemmen did not reject the class four licence requirement, but suggested people with safe driving records can help keep impaired drivers off roads. Were looking for a model that allows as many people as possible to safely participate, he said. Trevena said the experience of other jurisdictions has been used to develop British Columbias legislation, which is aimed at preventing gridlock, maintaining ridership on public transit, and reducing accidents caused by unsafe or inexperienced drivers. Vancouver is one of the few major cities in Canada that does not have ride-hailing. The New Democrats, Liberals and Greens promised to bringing in ride-hailing during the 2017 provincial election campaign. Opposition Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said the governments ride-hailing proposal does more to stall the service than bring it forward. Theres going to be no ride-hailing this Christmas, he said. This is not customer driven or market driven. Its NDP driven. An all-party committee of the legislature made 32 recommendations last February to help pave the way for ride-hailing. The report highlighted five key areas that needed to be considered when establishing regulations for the industry including pricing, insurance, licensing, and public safety. The committee also recommended updating legislation that regulates the taxi industry to allow for equitable and fair competition. Trevena said last July changes were introduced to allow 500 more taxis in B.C., including 300 more in the Metro Vancouver area. Read more about: CALGARYThe Alberta Court of Appeal says a trial judge was right to sentence a dangerous offender who tortured and starved his victim to an indefinite period in prison. Dustin Paxton was convicted in 2012 for the prolonged and brutal abuse of a man who was his friend and roommate in Calgary. A judge designated Paxton a dangerous offender, which allowed her to send him to prison for an indeterminate period of time. Paxton challenged the sentence, but the Appeal Courts ruling released Tuesday said the trial judge was correct in her decision that an indeterminate sentence was the only way to adequately protect the public. Read more: Torturer Dustin Paxton, 33, declared dangerous offender Torture victim lives in perpetual state of confusion and fear, Alberta court hears Paxton can apply for parole once he has served seven years of his sentence, but would need to prove hes no longer a danger to the public. Our review of the record and the sentencing judges reasons as a whole satisfy us that the sentencing judge carefully considered all of the sentencing options and properly rejected all but the option of an indeterminate sentence, wrote Justice Peter Costigan on behalf of the court. The appellants high risk for violent recidivism, the difficulty of treating his conditions, his history of disobeying orders, the lack of a timeline for successful treatment and the fact that no appropriate treatment options were available, support her conclusion that only an indeterminate sentence would adequately protect the public. The same court rejected an appeal of Paxtons convictions in 2016. He tried to take that appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, but the high court wouldnt hear it. Paxtons victim was emaciated, battered and bleeding when Paxton dropped him off, near death, at a Regina hospital in April 2010. During the trial in Calgary, court heard that Paxton humiliated, starved, beat and sexually assaulted his roommate over 18 months while they lived together in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The man, who cannot be identified, testified that he suffered a traumatic brain injury from the abuse and could no longer hold a job. He said he had trouble with his balance, couldnt swallow properly and had to drink through a straw. The man lost some of his lip during the prolonged ordeal, suffered broken ribs and sustained a ruptured bowel. Before the assaults, I was extremely good-looking and very attractive to women and now I am disfigured, he testified. The trial heard how the smallest things such as leftovers in the fridge would provoke an attack. The victim testified that he took the abuse because he didnt want to look like a sissy and had dreams of making big money in a moving business he and Paxton had started. Read more about: EDMONTONAfter writing a letter asking that investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct by two government caucus MLAs be reviewed, an Alberta Party MLA is suggesting those accused should come forward. On Friday, Karen McPherson, a former NDP MLA and current Alberta Party member for Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill, wrote a letter to the Speaker of the legislature, Robert Wanner, asking him to review the government caucus handling of the situation. It was brought on after the NDP confirmed that since 2015, there had been investigations into inappropriate behaviour allegations involving two government caucus MLAs. Spokesperson for the premier, Cheryl Oates, previously stated that the cases didnt involve criminal conduct. Any kind of secrecy takes away from the credibility of the process, McPherson told reporters Monday. The more transparent the process, the better result, and the more credibility there is, especially for anyone that wants to come forward. McPherson said she thought knowing more details about the cases would help her settle on if the MLAs should be named publicly. We dont understand the severity. Sexual misconduct has a really wide range of behaviours and it would depend on what the behaviour was, she said. Read more: Alberta Party calls for review of NDP investigation into sexual misconduct allegations I think its an opportunity for someone who did commit a sexual misconduct offence to own up to their behaviour and take responsibility publicly, I think thats an excellent example to set for Albertans. The NDP has been resistant to revealing details about the investigation, saying that the misconduct allegations were investigated by independent third parties and that the process used by investigators was similar to the one used by the Legislative Assembly Office. In a statement, the NDP said the independent investigators were Janice Rubin of Rubin Thomlinson in Toronto, and Ayla Akgungor of Field Law in Edmonton. Both issued reports and we followed through on all of their recommendations, the statement read. Those reports cannot be released publicly because they would jeopardize the privacy of the complainants something theyve both requested. Health Minister Sarah Hoffman doubled down when asked by reporters why the government is keeping details private. Definitely, if the complaints process reaches a certain outcome, all of the information gets posted online, she said. But these complaints were handled by the process, and the outcome was education and some one-on-one. Hoffman said they concluded there was no concern that the behaviour would happen again. While questions around the investigative process circle the NDP, experts warn that the concerns of the complainants have to be considered before all else. Lori Williams, associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, said the NDP has to walk a fine line between being transparent with the public and protecting the identity of the accusers, particularly if they want to remain anonymous. This is delicate, said Williams. Its got to be up to the people bringing the allegations forward whether they want more to be known about it or not. That has to be respected. Thats just a fact. Its just sensitive to their concerns, their issues, their needs. While the issue appears to be resolved at least internally the exact nature and seriousness of the allegations are unknown, which leaves plenty of room for speculation and an opening for opposition parties, said Williams. A little bit more information, if thats possible, would probably put peoples minds at ease, she said. Mary Jane James, executive director of the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE), said the complainants wishes should be regarded as the top concern in releasing any information to the public. Where I think the public needs to know (is) if there is any potential danger for anyone else in the community to be harmed by the alleged perpetrator, she said. If that is the case, then I think the public does have a right to know, but even with that, the identity of the alleged survivors who did go forward can and should be protected. However, Hoffman said that while the complainants asked that their names not be released, she couldnt be sure if they had asked for the MLAs names to remain confidential as well. A copy of the government caucus policy on harassment was sent to StarMetro upon request. There are two ways a complaint could be dealt with: through working out the situation between the complainant and the accused in an informal resolution process, or, if that isnt possible, through a formal investigation. The informal resolution between complainant and accused can also be mediated. The formal investigation occurs when the complainant refuses to attempt an informal resolution between themselves and the accused, or if the informal resolution fails. A formal investigation uses independent third-party investigators and all details of the process are confidential, according to the policy. Failure of any of the involved parties to keep information confidential could result in disciplinary action. Premier Rachel Notley, speaking at a media availability on Monday, said shed be happy for the legislative assembly (LAO) or the Speaker to review the policy or the independence of the folks who were part of it. Our caucus has a policy and process for handling these kinds of complaints which is, in essence, the same, if not a little bit better, than the one that the LAO has, Notley said. But she said a review of the investigation wouldnt be something that typically happens, that the Speaker or the LAO in any parliamentary jurisdiction would have that authority, and thats why you havent seen it happen anywhere else. Because it actually sets a bit of a difficult precedent in terms of minority party rights in the long term, Notley said. With files from Claire Theobald, Trevor Howell and The Canadian Press Kieran Leavitt is an Edmonton-based reporter. Follow him on Twitter: @kieranleavitt Read more about: A prolonged period of leadership purgatory is over for Canadian Stage, as it announced Tuesday that Toronto arts administrator Monica Esteves will join the company as executive director. The post had been vacant since former managing director Su Hutchinson left the company in July 2017, only a few months before artistic director Matthew Jocelyn announced his own departure, which took effect in June. Brendan Healy joined the company in August to fill Jocelyns position and Esteves now completes the executive leadership, with executive producer Sherrie Johnson. We found ourselves in a unique situation, where our leadership was changing both key positions. It did take time, said Tony Baylis, co-chair of the board, adding that the search for a new executive director was mostly handled by the board itself rather than hiring an agency as they did for the artistic director position. The board has slightly altered the structure of Canadian Stage to have both the executive director and artistic director report directly to them, instead of having the artistic director be the sole leader of the company. Esteves, born in Oakville, has spent her arts management career in Toronto, returning to the city after graduating from Montreals National Theatre School. Fittingly, one of her first jobs out of school was as a stage manager at Canadian Stage in 2000 where, about four years later, she became company manager and assistant to the artistic producer at the time, Martin Bragg. As she learned the ropes at the biggest non-profit theatre in Toronto, Esteves remained in the indie world as producer and co-founder of what would become the Company Theatre alongside Philip Riccio and Allan Hawco (known recently for hits like Jez Butterworths Jerusalem and Annie Bakers John). In 2006, Esteves became general manager of Nightwood Theatre, Canadas oldest womens theatre company, alongside artistic director Kelly Thornton. The two became vocal advocates for gender parity in programming and leadership roles when the concept was still radical. Most recently, Esteves, 40, was managing director of Crows Theatre and, with artistic director Chris Abraham, spearheaded an ambitious capital campaign and a $12-million construction project to build the Streetcar Crowsnest performance space at Dundas St. E. and Carlaw Ave. It officially opened in January 2017. I know every crevasse of that building. I know what is behind every piece of drywall, where all the conduit goes and what it does. I dont even know that about my own home, Esteves told the Star, adding that with all the overtime, her eight and a half years at Crows feels more like 15. Her departure from Crows comes earlier than she imagined, but Healys appointment piqued her interest to return to the company that started her career. I had to do a lot of soul searching, lots of late-night conversations with my husband and friends. I will miss the people and I will miss the building, she said. But for me, Im not intimidated by it; Im excited by the opportunity to move up from a $3-million company to an $8-million company I know it is terribly unCanadian to be boastful, but it totally makes sense for me to move up to Canadian Stage. Esteves will begin her role as executive director on Dec. 3 part-time as she transitions out of Crows Theatre. After that, Esteves will work with Healy to define the new dual-leadership model and look to big projects on the horizon and challenges that need to be tackled, Baylis said, including a $1.6-million deficit and its own precarious venue issues as a tenant of the city-owned St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. We think with Brendan and Monica at the helm, were well-equipped to solve and plan for what we need for our future, Baylis said. CORRECTION NOV. 21, 2018: This article has been edited to remove a reference to Canadian Stage being the biggest non-profit theatre in Canada. It is, in fact, the largest in Toronto. HALIFAXThe chief of a Nova Scotia First Nations community says hes had enough when it comes to unsolved crimes against Indigenous women and girls, so his band is offering a $100,000 reward to help solve the death of a young mother. Someone out there might have some kind of information that would enable the law-enforcement people to resolve this issue and (bring) the person or persons responsible ... to justice, said Wekoqmaq (Waycobah) Chief Rod Googoo in an interview Tuesday. Wekoqmaq First Nation is offering the reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the death of Cassidy Bernard, a 22-year-old woman found dead in a Wekoqmaq, Cape Breton home on Oct. 24. Two infant children were also in the home, unharmed. Nova Scotia RCMP would not identify the victim, but Googoo confirmed that it was Bernard and that she was the mother of the infants. Bernard posted regularly on her Facebook page about her identical twin babies, born about six months ago. Googoo said the young woman was a sweet innocent child whose motherhood was cut short. He said hes confident that RCMP investigators are doing the best they can but he feels compelled to take action as a leader in his community. Read more: Learning how to heal Indigenous people begins with learning how to listen, says Halifax academic Experts discuss what it means to be Indigenous in Halifax National Inuit group to host two-day forum on child abuse Police have not called the death a homicide, but Googoo said he believes Bernards death is yet another on the long list of murdered Indigenous women in Canada. There are common threads in many of those deaths, he said. Among them is that someone knows something in each and every case. Someone has to know something. This cant continue on, he said, adding that the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is not enough to solve the thousands upon thousands of unsolved cases. The leadership in each and every community has to step up now. Leaders have to lead. Weve had enough enough talk, enough of depending on somebody else to fix our problems. We need to do something too, and what were doing we feel is right for our community and for the family of Cassidy Bernard. Googoo said the money for the reward comes from the Wekoqmaq First Nations own revenue, and the band is offering the reward independently of the police. While we appreciate the communitys decision to offer a reward for information, we are confident that we have the investigation in hand and will provide an update when more information is available, said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jennifer Clarke in an email. In the past month, police have offered few details about the death and their ensuing investigation. Clarke said investigators are waiting for the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service to do an examination into the circumstances of the death. She added that investigators anticipate it could be another two weeks before they receive the results and are able to provide more information to the public. Heather Fairbairn, a spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service, said she could not speak about specific investigations. Generally speaking, cases can range from several weeks to months due to the comprehensive nature of the work and the various tests and analysis that are involved and often completed by third parties, Fairbairn said in an email. To raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, members of the Wekoqmaq First Nation are planning to stop traffic and walk across the Canso Causeway which connects Cape Breton to mainland Nova Scotia at 12 p.m. on Wednesday. It looks as if you appreciate our journalism. Our reporting changes lives, connects communities and effects change. But good journalism is expensive to produce, and advertiser revenue throughout the media industry is falling and unable to carry the cost. That means we need you, our readers. We need your help. If you appreciate deep local reporting, powerful investigations and reliable, responsible information, we hope you will support us through a subscription. Please click here to subscribe. Read more about: KINGSTON, ONT.Police in eastern Ontario said a federal inmate is accused of firing a gun inside a hospital, leaving one person injured. Authorities said the inmate disarmed a correctional officer inside Kingston General Hospital at about 6 p.m. on Monday. Kingston police alleged the inmate fired the gun twice, hitting one person who suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. Police said other correctional officers, with the help of hospital security, restrained the inmate and police were called. They said the inmate has been moved to Kingston police headquarters and there is no further threat to the public. Authorities said the hospital has resumed normal operations. OTTAWAForeign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada will use the upcoming G20 summit in Argentina to push Saudi Arabia for answers in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Freeland says Canada considers his murder to be very much an open case, a contrast to a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier today that the facts surrounding Khashoggis death might just never be known. She expects the Khashoggi case to be an issue during the talks among leaders of the worlds 20 leading economies, and says Canada will push for a transparent international investigation The kingdom is a member of the G20, and the Saudi-owned television station Al-Arabiya says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the countrys defacto leader, will attend the summit. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that bin Salman ordered the Oct. 2 killing of Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Trump says maybe bin Salman had knowledge of the killing, or maybe he didnt, but regardless, Saudi Arabia remains a steadfast partner of the U.S. and has helped keep oil prices stable. Read more: Trump stands with Saudi Arabia despite Khashoggi killing Saudi king stands by Crown Prince Salman as international outrage over Khashoggi killing spreads Trump administration denies reaching conclusion on Khashoggi Read more about: OTTAWAA crackdown on sexual harassment and abuse in the ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces has failed victims because of fragmented support services, a slow-footed resolution of complaints and poor training, according a new audit. In a report released Tuesday, Auditor General Michael Ferguson says the militarywide effort to crack down on inappropriate sexual behaviour has made some progress but notes that ongoing problems have made victims reluctant to come forward. Responding to the findings, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan acknowledged that the Armed Forces must do more to support victims. It is crucial that any support ... is victim-centric and that they are in control at all times, he said. Read more: Pilot shortage threatens Canadas fleet of fighter jets Following review, military police reopening 23 unfounded sexual assault cases Canadian militarys template for perfect recruits outdated, says Gen. Jonathan Vance In 2015, Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, launched Operation Honour, an initiative to stamp out sexual harassment and abuse in the ranks. That was a response to an external review that found there was a sexualized culture in the Armed Forces that was hostile to women, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. The audit said the initiative has increased awareness of inappropriate sexual behaviour, with complaints rising to about 300 in 2017, up from 40 in 2015. But it revealed problems too that have left victims feeling vulnerable and uncertain where to get help. Despite high-level assurances that sexual misconduct will no longer be tolerated, many victims still experience fear, distress, discomfort, a lack of support, reprisal, or blame from their commanding officers, senior leaders and colleagues, the audit said. In addition to the psychological trauma, such outcomes can only reduce victims confidence in the system and contribute to the belief that there are negative consequences for those who report inappropriate sexual behaviour, the report said. It also found what it called unintended consequences that left some members not feeling safe and supported. As an example, the requirement to report all incidents of inappropriate sexual behaviour increased the number of cases reported by a third party, even though the victims were not always ready to come forward. In a handful of cases, commanding officers pressured victims to make formal reports even though they didnt want to. As well, military police had to conduct an initial investigation of all reports, even if a victim preferred to resolve an incident informally, through an apology and assurances that the offensive behaviour would stop. This discouraged some victims from coming forward. Many victims also did not understand or have confidence in the complaint systems, the report found. The audit concluded that Operation Honour did not have a focus on victim support and as a result, services were not well co-ordinated. Victims did not always have easy access to the right services at the right time. We also found that not all support service providers had sufficient training to adequately respond to victims, the report said. Problems included limited hours, and personnel in the dark about who they can call for help. The audit also revealed problems in the timeliness of investigations and procedural screw-ups. For example, auditors reviewed 46 military police cases of inappropriate sexual behaviour and found that 31 of those took an average of seven months to close. And in 31 of the cases reviewed, there was no evidence the victim was provided the required support information package, offered support or referral services or contacted every 30 days until the cases conclusion. And because of privacy concerns, victims are often kept in the dark about any administrative actions taken against the perpetrators of the misconduct. In these cases, members may believe that no action was taken, the report found. In its response to the audit recommendations, the Armed Forces said it will consolidate services in its sexual misconduct response centre and said it would develop an integrated, national plan to support victims of sexual misconduct. It also said it would take a second look at regulations to clarify the obligations around the reporting of inappropriate sexual behaviour to ensure the views of the victims are considered and respected. The audit also faulted the training given to military personnel on inappropriate sexual behaviour, saying it was often delivered by people with no expertise in the topic. We found that the chain of command delivered briefings and training that did not increase members understanding of how to respond to and support victims, but instead created confusion, frustration, fear, and less camaraderie, the report found. The audit also revealed poor oversight of what was meant to be a signature initiative. In 2016, Vance pledged to receive independent oversight and advice through a steering committee and an external advisory council. But the advisory council only met for the first time only in June 2018, and at the time of the audit, the steering committee had never met, the report said. OTTAWACanadas Air Force is desperately short of technicians and pilots and stuck with an aging fleet of fighter jets that is fast becoming obsolete, the auditor general warns. Michael Ferguson cautions that the aging CF-18 fighters which have gone more than a decade since any significant upgrade to their combat capabilities risk becoming toothless tigers against better equipped adversaries. In a report released Tuesday, Ferguson took aim at the $3-billion plan to augment Canadas aging CF-18s, and bluntly concludes it will do little good. Thats because the defence department lacks a plan to deal with the biggest obstacles in meeting the demands on the fighter fleet: a shortage of pilots and the declining capabilities of jets that are three decades old. National Defence still does not have enough technicians to maintain and pilots to fly the aircraft, the report concluded. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced Tuesday that Canada had concluded a deal with Australia to buy 18 used F-18s to bolster the Canadian fighter fleet, but he admitted that the true fix to the Air Force woes will come only when new aircraft arrive in the fleet and personnel shortages are resolved. That ultimately is what's going to fix the problem, while at the same time, were going to be making sure that we look at all the policies in place that focuses on retaining our skilled pilots and technicians, Sajjan said. Defence analyst Dave Perry says both the Conservative and Liberal governments bungled the purchase of new fighters and the Air Force is now paying the price. These things should have been replaced about 10 years ago, which is what the original plan was, said Perry, vice-president and senior analyst at Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Read more: Canadian Air Force short 275 pilots as attrition outpaces recruitment, training Canadas auditor general takes aim at Liberals fighter-jet plan with new probe Small airlines and bush pilots forced to cut back northern flights in wake of Canadian pilot shortage In 2016, the federal government directed the military to have enough fighters to meet its obligations to both NORAD and NATO at once, a change that meant a 23-per-cent increase in the number of fighter jets that had to be ready for operations. It was a significant change, as it came at a time when the Royal Canadian Air Force was already facing low personnel levels, was managing an aging fleet, and had not yet identified a replacement fleet, the report found. In December 2017, the government announced it would proceed with a competition to buy 88 new fighter aircraft. That means the fighters now in service will have to keep flying until 2032. To help bridge the shortfall in the interim, the federal government initially sought to buy 18 new Super Hornet jets, even though the defence departments own analysis indicated it would not help the operational gap and would only make the personnel shortage worse, the audit found. The department stated that it needed more qualified technicians and pilots, not more fighter aircraft, the audit said. That was abandoned in favour of buying second-hand F-18s from Australia that the auditor general pointedly notes are the same age and have the same operational limitations as the jets now flown by the Air Force. But a shortage of technicians to service the 76 aging CF-18s and a dearth of pilots to fly them threaten operations. The Air Force has just two-thirds of the pilots it needs and they are leaving the Air Force more quickly than new ones can be trained. If CF-18 pilots continue to leave at the current rate, there will not be enough experienced pilots to train the next generation of fighter pilots, the report found. The audit also raises serious questions about the combat capabilities of the CF-18s in service, which are now more than 30 years old, noting they havent had a significant upgrade since 2008. Thats because Air Force planners expected they would be replaced by 2020. Flying the CF-18 until 2032 without a plan to upgrade combat capability will result in less important roles for the fighter force and will pose a risk to Canadas ability to contribute to NORAD and NATO operations, the auditor found. Lt.-Gen. Al Meinzinger, commander of the RCAF, said that the Air Force is looking at upgrades to the CF-18 fleet items like sensors, weapons and self-protection to ensure the jets remain operationally relevant. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is asking Ontarios top court to impose a 15-day cap on solitary confinement for inmates and to bar the practice altogether for youth and other vulnerable groups. The association says a lower Ontario court didnt go far enough in ruling that isolating inmates for more than five days in a practice known as administrative segregation is unconstitutional because the system lacks proper safeguards. It argues the judge erred by finding inmates in solitary confinement could be monitored and pulled from isolation if they show signs of harm. In a hearing in Toronto on Tuesday, the association said knowingly exposing inmates to harm and then removing them when harm occurs amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Last December, Ontario Superior Court Justice Frank Marrocco gave the federal government a year to change its law, noting that doing so immediately could put inmates and staff at risk. The deadline is Dec. 18 and the association says it will oppose Ottawas request for an extension, which is expected to be heard by the court of appeal this week. The group says the federal government only introduced legislation that deals with solitary confinement last month, knowing it wouldnt pass in time to meet the deadline. It also says the bill fails to address the constitutional issues raised in the case. A court in British Columbia also struck down the federal law earlier this year but went further than the Ontario court, ruling that indefinite solitary confinement of prisoners is unconstitutional and causes permanent harm. That ruling also imposed a 12-month deadline for making changes. The government is appealing in that case, saying it needs clarity from the court because of the differences between the two rulings. Inmates are placed in administrative segregation to maintain security in the event an inmate poses a risk to themselves or others if no other reasonable alternative is available. They are to be released from administrative segregation at the earliest possible time, but no time limits have been set. Meanwhile, disciplinary segregation is used to punish prisoners for violating prison rules for a maximum of 30 days. Those in segregation are restricted to two hours outside their cells and cannot interact with others or access programs. CALGARYCashing in on the green wave of Canadas recreational cannabis industry is as much a question of sovereignty as it is profit for some First Nations communities and entrepreneurs. Roughly a month after the Canadian government legalized recreational cannabis, hundreds of delegates filled the Tsuutina Nations Grey Eagle Resort and Casinos event centre for the National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp Conference, a three-day event on what the cannabis industry means for First Nations communities across the country. We are all stakeholders here, said Chief Lee Crowchild of the Tsuutina Nation in an address to the conference Monday morning. And I believe we have to step out of the mindset that was imposed upon us and really set the future direction. Getting in on Canadas multibillion-dollar cannabis industry and the rewards it could reap is a major incentive for First Nations communities. The hosting Tsuutina Nation is one of them: Chief Crowchild confirmed in July that the First Nations council was in talks with the cannabis industry. Many First Nations communities struggle to afford basic necessities, such as clean drinking water or adequate health-care facilities, and some of them see the cannabis industry as a potential avenue for economic self-sufficiency. How exactly this should work varies by the First Nations communities and entrepreneurs looking to take part. For some, getting into the cannabis industry represents a chance to assert their economic and political sovereignty. The Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne which straddles the borders of Ontario, Quebec, and New York state took this approach. It established its own interim cannabis licensing and consumption bylaws before either province did and doesnt believe either one should get involved in regulating the community. Read more: Tsuutina Nation in talks for potential cannabis deal, chief says Saskatchewan to meet with First Nation operating unlicensed cannabis store First Nations look to secure a piece of the cannabis pie ahead of legalization This is an exercise of our sovereignty our ability to actually generate a financial revenue stream independent of the federal and provincial governments, said Lorraine White, vice-president, general counsel and the head of governmental relations for Seven Leaf. The company says it is the only wholly Indigenous owned licensed producer in the country. By the time Seven Leaf is at operational capacity, it expects to employ around 75 people and institute a policy of giving back to the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne in the form of funding for community programs, salaries for its employees, and revenue for the region. It also intends on strengthening its own bonds with First Nations producers and communities from coast to coast. In short, it wants to establish more than just a for-profit company within a First Nations community. We want to have a First Nations business model, White said. But other First Nations entrepreneurs are avoiding the political fight altogether. Wesley Sam isnt doing so from lack of experience. Hes spent decades in politics as a councillor and chief of the Burns Lake Band in British Columbia, and also served as a municipal councillor and acting mayor for the village of Burns Lake. Now, hes the founder and executive chairman of Nations Cannabis, a B.C.-based cannabis production company, and said the political fight is going to take far too long. First Nations cant wait for politics to spin its iron wheels, he said. Because the market is not getting bigger. Its shrinking by the day. We need to get into the market right now to have our market share. Burns Lake is also facing an impending economic problem. The B.C. municipality and many of those around it are very reliant on the provinces forestry industry. But the areas annual allowable cut a cap on the number of trees that can be cut per year is due to drop by as much as 70 per cent in the next two years, Sam said. Beetle infestations in the area have also proved to be a huge problem. Without these resources, First Nations and non-First Nations communities alike in the area are losing jobs. This is why First Nations are demanding to be a part of this green rush, as they call it, Sam said. Nations Cannabis isnt based within a First Nations community. Instead, its 50,000-square-foot production facility in a former forestry industry building is on a piece of land owned by six First Nations in the area. Each benefits from the companys efforts, and also receives 5 per cent of Nations Cannabis earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization to go toward whatever social or infrastructure projects their communities need. One of their proposed plans is to help fund a medical centre. We wont set the priorities. Theyll set the priorities, said Marc Storms, Nations Cannabis co-founder and chief marketing officer. But regardless of how First Nations decide to handle the cannabis industrys investment in their communities, there is a desire to go about it in a way that respects the local traditions and customs of whichever communities decide to take part. Chief Crowchild said during his address that the economic benefits arent necessarily the only important part of the discussion for First Nations. There are medical and ethical dimensions, the sovereignty discussion and how cannabis benefits First Nations peoples. Weve got to keep everything in balance here, he said. Read more about: REGINASaskatchewans justice minister is to meet next week with the chief of a First Nation that has opened an unlicensed cannabis store. Don Morgan says he and Anthony Cappo of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux First Nation are to discuss the issue next Monday in Regina. Morgan says he hopes the situation doesnt end up in court. I would rather have some discussions, see it shut down and have an application that would go through the ordinary course, Morgan said Monday. The store, Mino-Maskihki, is on the First Nations land northeast of Regina and opened last week. Cappo has said the First Nation has a sovereign right to make its own cannabis rules. The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, which oversees cannabis sales in the province, has sent a warning letter that says provincial and federal legislation still applies on reserve land. It says Muscowpetung must have a provincial licence to open a pot store legally. It also says cannabis sold in a store must come from a grower with a federal licence. Cannabis that is produced for commercial sale by anyone who does not hold a federal licence under the federal Cannabis Act is illicit and cannot legally be possessed or sold anywhere in Canada, the letter says. Muscowpetung spokeswoman Cherish Francis said the First Nation hasnt changed its position. Were in a tough position, Francis said of the legal aspects regarding the store. She said the First Nation has responded to the governments letter, but the band wont release it publicly. Morgan said he hasnt seen Muscowpetungs response. The store is still open and the last few days have been pretty busy, Francis said. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says it is supporting Muscowpetungs inherent and treaty rights. Chief Bobby Cameron wasnt available for an interview on Monday. Dwight Newman, a University of Saskatchewan professor specializing in Indigenous rights, said its pretty hard to find a treaty right to sell cannabis I guess that can be tested out in court, but I think its stretching the treaty rights a little bit to assert that, Newman said from Saskatoon. He said the province has the legal upper hand as well as the authority to apply its licensing regulations on reserves. Newman wondered why the Muscowpetung Saulteaux waited until federal cannabis legislation was passed if the band is basing its claim on inherent rights. He suggested the issue is similar to when casinos first opened in the province. Several gambling houses started to open on reserves without permission and eventually a provincewide plan was negotiated, he said. Morgan is leaving it to police to shut down the store if they see fit. He said if the First Nations argument is one of jurisdiction, then the province is likely off to court. He hopes the First Nation will sit down with the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority about applying for a cannabis licence. Were the band to receive provincial approval, it would be the first on-reserve cannabis shop in the province, he said. Pot for pets? It may be the next step in the ever-evolving legitimization of medicinal marijuana, and a trio of South Florida companies are competing to become the Blue Apron of cannabis oils for pets. Three companies formed in recent years are selling cannabidiol (CBD) products that owners and enthusiasts claim might be more effective than traditional veterinary medicines at treating chronic pain, inflammation and anxiety in dogs and cats. But their growth prospects face a big hurdle: While early research suggests that the treatments show promise, the legality of the products are widely disputed, preventing pet owners from buying them at their favourite chain pet store or through the most popular e-commerce sites. That hasnt stopped Delray Beach-based Prana Pets, Plantation-based King Kanine and Fort Lauderdale-based Diamond CBD from joining a growing number of new companies around the globe that promote and distribute CBD oil products, including oral liquids, chews, balms and sprays for pets. CBD is a gold rush, and a lot of companies have just jumped on the bandwagon, said Jeff Riman, founder and co-owner of King Kanine, which formed in 2015 and now has, he said, hundreds of thousands of customers and sales in the millions of dollars. A few miles north, Prana Pets Brad Solomon and his partner, Brad Noonan, sell CBD oils alone and in combination with herbal products formulated to treat various ailments. Read more: Vigilance the watchword for pot users, investors, executives at Canada-U.S. border Fewer Bob Marley T-shirts, more sport jackets: Scenes from pot expo It actually works, Solomon said. The partners formed the company in 2016 and have seen their sales of CBD oil increase to about 20,000 so far this year, Solomon said. Demand peaks around July 4, when loud and frequent fireworks displays turn millions of U.S. dogs into quivering, drooling, bulging-eyed basket cases, Solomon and Riman said. Sellers are quick to point out that CBD oils dont get pets high. They point to lab tests that show the products contain only trace amounts of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinols, the ingredient that gets marijuana users high, and say their CBD oils are extracted from marijuanas low-THC-producing cousin, commonly known as industrial hemp. In testimonials published on CBD distributors websites, customers report strong results after using CBD oils to treat their pets arthritis, hip dysplasia, ligament tears, epileptic seizures, cancer pain and other problems. A review posted on King Kanines website by Jeff C. reported: Its been almost 2 months since I upped Ricos dosage to medicinal level, and Im amazed. His limping from hip arthritis has basically disappeared and his luxating patella issues have calmed down substantially. Rico (used) to be a slow walker, but now I have to pick up my step to keep up with him. Lisa Turk, president of the Pompano Beach-based non-profit Labrador retriever Rescue of Florida, said she has seen results after giving CBD oils to her own two dogs and three rescue dogs she fostered. One had severe separation anxiety and took the place apart if I left him alone, she said. It was so bad my husband and I had to take turns leaving our home. It was the worst five months of our lives. We were prisoners to a foster dog. Used in combination with a strategy of getting the dog used to being alone for gradually increasing periods of time, the treatments calmed the dog to the point that it could be adopted and no longer has to be crated when left alone, Turk said. Another dog had such severe thunderstorm fear, she had to take him into the shower stall and put a blanket over him to calm him down, she said. I was worried the dog would have a heart attack, she said. Now, a pre-storm CBD oil treatment keeps the dog calm, she said. Andrew Turkell, a Boca Raton-based holistic veterinarian, said he sees promise in CBD use in combination with other treatments, particularly to treat pain, cancer, and separation anxiety. But he cautions its not a miracle drug. Of about 100 pet owners who have tried it at his recommendation over the past couple of years, about half told him they saw no effects, he said. Ive seen it work in some cases and not work in similar cases. Everything is different. Cannabidiol derives its healing and pain-relieving powers by interacting with receptors that regulate a wide range of physiological and neurological functions, advocates say. At some point since 1996, when legalization of medical marijuana in California triggered a cascade of legalization throughout the United States, humans who experimented with CBD for their own ailments decided to see if its perceived benefits could be replicated in their four-legged companions. But the mainstream scientific community has not yet rendered its verdict, and no state or federal laws sanction its use for pets. Users are forced to experiment with dosage levels and take sellers at their word on purity and formulation. Now, as states continue to legalize medicinal and recreational marijuana use for humans, research into effects on pets is beginning. Early tests show promise. In a pilot study at Colorado State Universitys James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, eight of nine dogs with epilepsy treated with CBD experienced a reduction in frequency of seizures, according to a July report posted on the universitys website. Dr. Stephanie McGrath, the neurologist conducting the study, called the results very promising. A larger study involving 60 dogs, funded by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, is ongoing at the university. Another study, reported in July by Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, found that dogs with osteoarthritis experienced, on average, a significant decrease in pain and increase in activity after being given 2 mg of CBD oil twice daily. So, would you be breaking the law if you buy one of these products now? Sellers rely on disputed interpretations of federal law to defend their right to import, manufacture and sell CBD oils and to convince customers that they wont be in trouble for buying them. Put simply, they contend that as long as their CBD product contains less than 0.3 per cent THC, it is classified as hemp under federal law and thus legal to make, possess and sell. Many cite a provision of the 2014 Farm Bill, which legalized growing industrial hemp under state pilot programs or for industrial research. Two more pet food companies sever ties with Chewy.com However, a January 2018 warning from the American Veterinary Medical Association disputes that contention and warned veterinarians that despite its legalization for human medical use in more than half of U.S. states, marijuana remains a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance as defined by the Drug Enforcement Administration and illegal in any state for veterinarians to prescribe or recommend. The veterinary associations warning quoted a 2017 DEA statement that undercuts CBD oil sellers legal assertion that hemp products are legal. The statement asserts that THC, CBD and CBN are all found in the parts of the cannabis plant that fall within the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), such as the flowering tops, resin, and leaves of the marijuana plant. Further, the statement said only trace amounts of cannabinoids are found in parts of the cannabis plant excluded from the CSA definition of marijuana, of which extracting is not practical. Meanwhile, a July report by Vice.com quoted DEA spokesman Rusty Payne as saying, Hemp is a made up word. Payne told the website that CBDs remain a controlled substance, even if enforcement is not a DEA priority. Enforced or not, the feds position prevents companies like King Kanine and Prana Pets from distributing CBD products in chain stores such as Pet Supermarket, or through popular internet retailers like Chewy.com or Amazon.com. That limits their distribution options to their own e-commerce sites, mom-and-pop pet stores, and holistic veterinarians like Turkell. But sellers see hope on the horizon. A Nov. 14 story in The Hill quoted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) pledging support for lifting the federal governments ban on industrial hemp in a must-pass 2018 Farm Bill, while incoming House Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts) is quoted as pledging debates and votes on marijuana-related amendments, particularly those related to medical marijuana, when the Democrats take over the House next year. If and when CBD for pets becomes fully licensed and legal, Solomon and Riman sees the major chains moving quickly to take over the sector. Solomon sees the most successful e-commerce sites being acquired by larger companies. Riman said, I think everything will be sorted out in the next three to five years. But thats when the big companies will take over and government will start taxing the hell out of it. Boca Raton veterinarian Turkell sees uses for cannabis expanding as science unlocks more of its secrets. As states allow the product to become much more readily available, were going to see more studies, he said. And we might see more uses than we can imagine at this time. A man succumbed to his injuries in hospital Monday afternoon after being assaulted Friday, Toronto police say marking the citys 91st homicide of this year. Investigators identified the victim as 47-year-old Paul Tonya of Toronto. Police responded to reports at 3:30 p.m. that a man was assaulted in the Moss Park area near Queen St. E. and Sherbourne St. When they arrived on scene they discovered a man suffering from serious trauma, police said in a news release. He was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and remained in critical condition. Tonya died from his injuries Monday afternoon, Toronto police Const. David Hopkinson told the Star. Trevor Clarke, 45, of Toronto, has been charged with manslaughter. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). Read more: Police identify Cardinal Licorish, 23, as the victim of Torontos record-breaking 90th homicide of 2018 The victims of Torontos record year in homicide John Tory promises to review money for youth strategy in response to record homicides Its easy to view Mayor Bill de Blasios firing of the citys Department of Investigations commissioner, Mark Peters, as a democracy-shattering, unprecedented move yet another blunder of arrogance among many that, for this mayors critics, have characterized his tenure. In an ideal world, an executive wouldnt even have such a power. But de Blasio does, and he chose to use it on Friday, drawing outrage from many political watchers and editorial boards. Some have likened the move to President Donald Trumps firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, which the president admitted was punishment for Sessions refusal to stymie special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian election meddling. That is to say, de Blasios move is considered by some as an assault on the rule of law. Letitia James, the outgoing public advocate and incoming state attorney general, was particularly furious: she said de Blasios move was reminiscent of Trump-like behavior. Was it truly? Not really. The outrage doesnt match the facts. As unbecoming as the move seems, de Blasio was justified to make it. The mayors biggest mistake, in retrospect, was ever appointing Peters in the first place. De Blasio had reportedly been preparing to oust Peters for months, but decided to act after Peters pushed DOI to take over an independent office that polices corruption in the school system, defying members of the office and the Department of Education. When the head of that office, Anastasia Coleman, resisted the takeover, Peters immediately fired her. Coleman filed a whistleblower complaint. An independent investigator, James McGovern, was appointed to look into the case. The former federal prosecutor concluded in a recent report that Peters repeatedly overstepped his bounds, lied to the City Council about his role in the takeover of the school investigations office , and misled the first deputy mayor, Dean Fuleihan. Such conduct was deeply troubling and worthy of dismissal. The problem for de Blasio is one of optics: he and Peters had an acrimonious relationship, in part because Peters had undertaken hard-charging and valuable investigations into the New York City Housing Authoritys failure to inspect for lead paint and the dubious lifting of a deed restriction on the Lower East Side, which damaged de Blasio politically and revealed the lengths his was willing to go to help a luxury condo developer and a top lobbyist. Peters had already launched an investigation into whether City Hall sought to influence a review of the educational quality at certain religious schools. This probe should continue. Peters appointment in 2014 was met with initial skepticism because he had been the treasurer of de Blasios mayoral campaign the year before. Peters was another politically active progressive from Park Slope. Many critics wondered whether hed be able to assert his independence at all. That, unlike his temperament, turned out not to impede his ability to conduct effective oversight. De Blasio on Friday admitted the obvious Peters was never really the right man for the job. He was too close to him personally and this likely fed their strange and ultimately toxic relationship. De Blasio would have been better off choosing an independent, career prosecutor in the mold of Rose Gill Hearn, who was Peters predecessor and the longest-serving DOI commissioner in the citys history. While indignation at the mayor dominated the headlines (hes an easy punching bag after all), even typically critical fellow Democrats conceded dumping Peters was the correct decision. New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, who has clashed with the mayor and even contemplated a primary challenge against him, commended de Blasio and accused Peters of an abuse of authority and unlawful retaliation. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson echoed Stringer, pointing to the McGovern report raising questions about his ability to continue in his role. Peters had lost the support of the City Council, the elected check on executive power. He failed to uphold the duties of his role. What should happen now? De Blasio will name Margaret Garnett, the states executive deputy attorney general for criminal justice and a former federal prosecutor, to lead DOI, and her appointment will likely be confirmed by the City Council. For critics of de Blasios move, why not argue for DOI to become an elected, citywide position, answerable to no one but the voters? That would remove all the handwringing over whether the mayor made the right call to dismiss an increasingly unstable commissioner. A change in the City Charter would make it possible. Luckily, theres a chance to do just that. The 2019 Charter Review Commission is meeting right now. Let future watchdogs submit themselves to the will of the voters instead of the mayor. After Steven Doyle got the better of him in a downtown Toronto street fight, Ayubullo Mohammad-Daud told him Ill be back. On Monday, a Superior Court jury heard what happened when Mohammad-Daud made good on his words as the prosecutors opened their case against him. The 23-year-old has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. It was late afternoon on Aug. 15, 2016, when the two men, who were strangers, crossed paths on hardscrabble George St., between Shuter and Gerrard Sts. Steven Doyle confronted him about what he was doing there, asked him to leave, and it escalated from there, Crown attorney Lindsay Kromm told a jury during her opening statement. The argument turned physical and Doyle put the accused in a chokehold and brought him to the ground, Kromm said. The Crowns theory is not only that Doyle won the fight but that he stole Mohammad-Dauds watch. Surveillance video captured some of the altercation. After the fight, Mohammad-Daud announced Ill be back. Doyle told his friend he was concerned that if he returned, he would be coming back for him. Mohammad-Daud then walked to a car rental agency about 10 minutes away and stole a dark blue Dodge Caravan. He drove the van right back to George St., swerved up onto the sidewalk and struck Doyle who was on his bike, sending him and the bike flying into the air, Kromm continued. This was also recorded on a surveillance camera. You will see him avoid every pedestrian on the street except for one, Kromm told the jury. The only person struck by the van that afternoon was Steven Doyle, the very person who had assaulted the accused that same afternoon. A collision reconstructionist will testify the van was travelling at about 50 kilometres per hour when it struck Doyle. Doyle died of significant blunt force trauma to his head. He was 27. The pathologist who performed the autopsy will testify a watch was found in his pocket. After hitting Doyle, Mohammad-Daud swerved onto the opposite sidewalk, hitting a pole, before continuing up George toward Gerrard, where he turned east, the jury was told. Several witnesses saw the heavily damaged van swerving in traffic but not leaving the roadway or hitting any other objects. Surveillance video recorded Mohammad-Daud leaving the van in a parking lot at 285 Shuter St. He removed his jacket, wiped down the steering wheel and console before running away. Mohammad-Daud was arrested nine days later. His long long, dark hair, as seen on the surveillance video, was cut short and his hair and eyebrows died blonde. Prosecutor Karen Simone told the jury Mohammad-Daud admits he stole the van and that he was behind the wheel on George St. He is an unlicensed driver, but also admits he has operated a motor vehicle on numerous occasions. The trial continues Tuesday. The Ministry of Health was not consulted about the health impacts of proposed new legislation to remove Ontario workers right to two paid sick days despite extensive literature showing the policys public health implications, according to three individuals who met with health minister and deputy premier Christine Elliott earlier this month. The Nov. 6 meeting with Elliott about Bill 47, which proposes significant changes to workplace standards, was attended by emergency room physician Jesse McLaren, Fight for $15 organizer Jessa McLean, and Katherine Grzejszczak, president of CUPE Local 905, which represents York Region municipal employees, including front-line health-care professionals. All three separately told the Star that when presented with evidence about the public health benefits of paid sick days, Elliott responded by saying she had not been consulted about the Conservative governments new legislation. Organizer McLean said when pressed on the health implications of the bill, Elliott said neither she nor her ministry were involved in its drafting. That surprised us because we knew the impact it would have on the Ministry of Health, said McLean. She said I wasnt involved in this, you should check with the labour ministry theyre the ones who drafted this legislation, said McLaren, who works at Toronto General Hospital and is involved with the Decent Work and Health Network, which seeks to address health equity issues. That was kind of a shocking statement from the health minister and the deputy premier. When asked whether the health ministry and minister had been consulted about Bill 47, spokesperson David Jensen said the Star should contact the Ministry of Labour since they are the lead ministry for Bill 47 and would have any information on what consultations took place. Asked what consultations took place on the health impacts of the legislation, labour minister spokesperson Christine Bujold said Elliott has publicly indicated that she worked with other members of Cabinet on Bill 47, and pointed to a Nov. 10 tweet from the minister where she said she was proud to have worked with our government to bring forward Bill 47 and repeal most parts of the Liberals job-killing Bill 148. Bujold did not respond to followup questions about whether the health ministry or minister were specifically consulted about the sick day policy. Advocates worry the loss of paid sick days will result in more people coming to work sick if it means losing a days pay. Ontario workers are currently entitled to two paid sick days and eight unpaid leave days after measures brought in last year under the Liberals through Bill 148. The Ford government wants to give workers eight unpaid leave days instead three for illness, three for family responsibilities, and two for bereavement leave. A recent Campaign Research survey found 77 per cent of Ontarians oppose the move to scrap two paid sick leave days. McLaren said the Decent Work and Health network had sought a meeting with the Ministry of Health about paid sick leave since October, initially pressing through the Ontario Medical Association. When nothing materialized, he joined the Nov. 6 meeting, which took place during Elliotts constituency week. McLaren said he provided Elliott with 15 research studies on the benefits of paid sick days, including a 2010 World Health Organization report that found that gaps in paid sick leave result in severe impacts on public health and the economy. Another article from the American Journal of Public Health found that the absence of paid sick days in the U.S. resulted in 5 million more flu cases amongst the general population. She did take the studies that I brought, McLaren added of Elliott. She said she would read them and said she would speak with the labour minister. Last week, McLaren testified before the Finance and Economic Affairs committee that removing paid sick days and reinstating employers right to ask for sick notes through Bill 47 goes against public health evidence and will contribute to hospital overcrowding. As an emergency room physician, I depend on my patients not to come to the emergency room for unnecessary reasons like a sick note, he told the committee. Conservative MPP for Thornhill Gila Martow told the committee the new proposals for unpaid leave were more progressive. We are offering a very progressive package of leave, she said, adding most other Canadians provinces do not offer paid sick days. CUPE Local 905 president Grzejszczak, who is also a paramedic, and attended the Nov. 6 meeting, said there was one line that consistently comes out of this government about Bill 47 and thats the impact on business. Thats the only thing Ive heard them say the entire time. So her inability to engage on the health issues I actually didnt find surprising, she added of Elliott. Grzejszczak said she told Elliott that some of her members, including paramedics and nursing staff in long-term-care facilities in York Region, will lose their right to paid sick days if Bill 47 passes. They will be coming into work sick and caring for immunocompromised patients, she said McLaren, who said the Decent Work and Health Network met with previous health minister Eric Hoskins in the lead-up to Bill 148, said he asked Elliott what health evidence the government used to draft the new legislation. She went back to the economic arguments, he said, adding that research from San Francisco and New York shows employer support for paid sick leave policies implemented in those jurisdictions. Its a bit of a myth that it will destroy small businesses, said McLaren. Bill 47 is expected to go to its third reading at Queens Park Tuesday. Torontos transit system is precariously funded, inefficiently governed and expensive to ride, but still attracts more passengers than comparable networks in other major North American cities, according to a new report. The report, called Mixed Signals, was authored by non-profit transit advocacy group CodeRedTO and will be released at city hall Tuesday. To compile the document the organization compared the fares, network design, budgets and governance structures of transit systems in Toronto and seven other metropolitan areas: Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Houston, Washington, D.C., Vancouver, and Montreal. It concluded that Toronto is lagging behind other comparator cities in key ways, particularly when it comes to funding, but still outperforms its rivals in some important areas. CodeRedTO executive director Cameron MacLeod said he hoped the report would shine a light on the hard choices facing the provincial and municipal governments as they move to expand transit in the GTA after what he described as 30 years of underfunding and under-expansion. We know that other cities approach having modern, effective transit in a very different way. And most cities have come to the conclusion that they have to have hard conversations and they have to figure out how to pay for it, he said. CodeRedTO decided to omit New York City from the study because its population is three times that of Toronto, and its subway network predates Torontos by decades. The most alarming finding, according to the report, was the extent to which Toronto relies on fare revenue to pay for service. In 2017, more than two-thirds of the TTCs $1.8-billion operating budget came from fare revenue, a level not seen in any other city in North America, according to the report. Most of the comparator cities rely on fare revenue for less than half their operating costs, with a government subsidy making up the majority of spending. The subsidy the TTC receives is notoriously low in 2017 it was just 90 cents per rider, according to the report, compared to $4.75 US ($6.26) in Houston, $1.86 in Vancouver, and $4.56 in York Region. MacLeod argued the TTCs reliance on fare revenue instead of steady government subsidies can create a downward spiral that drives down the quality of service, and could be contributing to the trend of declining ridership on the network. Fewer riders on a route means that the buses are more empty, which means theres less revenue to run those buses, so fewer buses run, he said. As that happens, people make the decision more and more to avoid transit. The report also found Toronto was an outlier in that most other cities have a dedicated revenue source to pay for transit. Boston, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles all use proceeds of a sales tax to pay for transit, while Vancouver has instituted a parking tax and tolls. Toronto city council voted last December to examine tolling municipal highways to fund transit projects, only to have the Ontario Liberal government of the day quash the move. MacLeod said the lack of a steady source of funding makes it difficult to follow through on long-term transit plans. The report calls for Toronto to institute new, predictable, sustainable revenue to fund transit. The report also raised concerns about the governance of Torontos transit network, which is split between the TTC, a city agency, and Metrolinx, a provincial Crown corporation. While Metrolinx operates GO Transit service in Toronto and the surrounding area, and also owns the Presto fare card system being deployed on the TTC, neither the City of Toronto nor the TTC has representation on Metrolinxs board. Instead, its unelected members are appointed on the recommendation of Ontarios transportation minister. MacLeod said the governance model effectively means there is a locked door between Metrolinx and the TTC that hampers efforts to co-ordinate transit in the region. The report concluded no other comparator city has a fare card fully controlled by another level of government with no local oversight. The report also flagged the high cost of transit passes in Toronto. At $146.25, the price of a monthly TTC pass is the equivalent of 45 cash fares. A monthly pass on Montreals STM is the equivalent of just 26.2 cash fares, and the cost of a pass for Vancouvers TransLink is equal to 32.2 cash fares. We have this really big barrier to entry where somebody has to decide at the beginning of the month if they will need the TTC often enough, and they have to have $146 saved up and available, MacLeod said. He argued the TTC should institute a pay-as-you go system that would put a cap on the number of rides customers pay for each month after a certain number of paid rides, trips for the rest of the month would be free. Presto already operates on a monthly cap system on GO Transit, but the TTC says it has no plans to implement such a policy for monthly passes. Despite lagging behind other cities in important ways, the report concluded there are some things Toronto is doing well. With about 535 million riders last year, the TTC has the highest ridership of all agencies CodeRedTO studied. Just under one quarter of commuters in the GTA take public transit to work, compared to 20.4 per cent in the Vancouver area, and just 5 per cent in Los Angeles. The whole point of this is that we need to keep going to ensure that our system stays strong, MacLeod said. Weve rested on our laurels a bit too much. Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr Read more about: In the days after a Canadian fighter pilot was charged with drunk driving upon his arrival at a San Diego air base, the commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force sent an email to colleagues. We should have a quick chat on DUIs, Lt.-Gen. Michael Hood wrote on Nov. 14, 2016. Not sure if someone can pull stats together but would like to see if this is something we need to address more fulsomely. The San Diego arrest was not an isolated incident for Canadas pilot corps. Since late 2015, four other military pilots have been charged with drunk driving and two more were disciplined following an alleged drunken incident at an air force base mess hall that resulted in a female officer claiming she feared one of the pilots was making unwanted advances. Hoods request came after a captain, a member of 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Cold Lake, Alberta, was stopped by U.S. military police at the entrance to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, where he had been scheduled to join his fellow fighter pilots in training exercises. Military records reveal that the fighter pilot had just arrived in San Diego on a commercial flight and was driving a rental vehicle to the base. He was detained by military police for three-and-a-half hours and eventually charged. The name of the pilot has been censored from the military documents. But according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California, Capt. Kevin Bowness was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher by Miramar military police. The charges would later be dropped. In another case, a car made a U-turn near a military police check at the entrance to the Canadian Forces Base in Cold Lake and drove the other way at high speed, according to internal reports of the incident. A fighter pilot was charged that night with impaired driving, and the charges were later dropped. The military refuses to say whether the officers charged with drunk driving were subject to internal remedial measures or discipline. The two who were disciplined after the mess hall incident were soon afterward selected as the symbolic escort pilots for Santa Claus, a high-profile part of NORADs Christmas activities. The air force told the Star it takes allegations of alcohol misconduct by its personnel very seriously. It said that all incidents are investigated and if warranted, the air force will lay the appropriate charges and/or conduct administrative action. It added that Lt.-Gen. Al Meinzinger, the new commander of the RCAF, has been clear in his expectations: I trust that leaders at all levels of the RCAF will set the example and demand and enforce respectful behaviour and ethical conduct, he said. Meinzinger said all of the nearly 14,000 military personnel who make up the air force are exceptionally skilled professionals, from whom they expect a high standard. The small cadre of pilots selected to fly the aging but still potent front-line CF-18 fighter jets are among the RCAFs most elite members. Operating from bases in Cold Lake, Alta., and Bagotville, Que., the CF-18s stand ready to fly NORAD missions to safeguard North American sovereignty and see regular deployments on NATO missions to places like Iceland and Romania and to U.S. air bases for training. The Cold Lake base was home to an alcohol-fueled incident on Nov. 13, 2015, when Capt. Pierre-Claude Quirion, a pilot with 433 squadron, was with Capt. Andrew Jakubaitis and others in the officers mess. Details of what happened that night are taken from an agreed statement of facts at Quirions court martial. Serving the pilots was a female lieutenant who was working at the bar. Quirion and others poured beer and threw peanut shells on the floor as a toast to an absent colleague but promised the server they would clean it up. Quirion also occasionally poured his own beers from behind the bar. The server called last call at 11 p.m. but with some 10 guests in the bar, the pilots told her to remain open. Quirion and the server, who were both French-speaking, exchanged what he considered to be friendly banter throughout the night. But at one point, he took her face in his hands and she thought he wanted to kiss her on the mouth. She rejected him, indicating she had no interest. At 1:30 a.m., she closed the mess. While she was passing through a corridor, turning off the lights, Quirion took her by the wrist. She had the impression he was trying to drag her into the unlit corridor. She managed to push him away. Following that nights events, the server resigned her mess hall job fearing she would be alone with a customer in similar or worse circumstances. The woman, who no longer works in the military, did not respond to a request for comment. Quirion was charged under the National Defence Act with assault, abuse of a subordinate and drunkenness. The charges of assault and drunkenness were withdrawn by the prosecution, and he pleaded guilty to abuse of a subordinate. At a court martial held in October 2017, he was sentenced with a reprimand and a $1,500 fine. The military judge cited Quirions excellent service records and his good career prospects in the Armed Forces. He also faced administrative follow-up, according to the court, but no details were provided. Jakubaitis was charged with one count of drunkenness under the National Defence Act in relation to the same incident. He was found guilty and sentenced to a $500 fine, following a summary trial held in November 2016. The air force did not provide any other details about his trial. Neither Quirion nor Jakubaitis responded to requests for comment. In December, 2015, one month after the incident, Jakubaitis was selected by the air force as one of Santas escort pilots. Quirion was named to the same honourary position in December, 2017, two months after his court martial hearing. The RCAF justified the choice of Quirion, saying he is bilingual and excellent at engaging with the public. It said the fighter pilot had shown remorse and improved his behaviour. Military records obtained by the Star reveal that at least three other air force pilots have been charged with impaired driving in recent years and sent for counselling for violating defence department directives on alcohol misconduct. The names of the pilots are redacted from the documents, which do not provide any information about how the charges were resolved. In one of these cases, a pilot who flies the C-130J Hercules transport aircraft with Trenton-based 426 Squadron was stopped by Ontario Provincial Police officers. The pilot is reported to have failed a roadside sobriety test. The documents show the pilots were subject to six months of monitoring, with monthly meetings, and ordered to take steps to improve their performance. When Capt. Kevin Bowness was stopped and charged in 2016, the Miramar air base in San Diego was a temporary home to Canadas top guns. Pilots, technicians and their CF-18 fighter jets had decamped from their base in Cold Lake to sunny southern California for a period of intensive flying to hone their skills and get rookie pilots up to speed flying the front-line jet. Another Canadian fighter pilot Capt. Denis Beaulieu was returning to the Miramar base and noticed the rental van stopped by military police at the gate. I parked my car and talked with the (military police officers) who informed me that the driver . . . had been arrested for DUI, Beaulieu wrote in an email. At 2:30 a.m. more than three hours after he had been detained Bowness was collected from American military custody by the deputy commander of 401 squadron and immediately confined to barracks as other officers weighed the possible fall-out. As a DUI is a federal offence . . . there are implications related to conduct / discipline while operating as guests on allied base, Lt.-Col. Seane Doell wrote in one email. Bowness case was referred to criminal court in San Diego, where the charges were dismissed without prejudice on Feb. 1, 2017. Its unclear why the charges were dropped or what happened at Bowness hearing. Court officials said there is no transcript or recording. A few months later, on July 22, 2017, military police officers were conducting late-night traffic checks at the main gate to the Cold Lake air base when they saw a vehicle make a U-turn about 200 metres down the road. The officers followed the vehicle in an attempt to make a traffic stop. However, the vehicle continued to travel at a high rate of speed, according to military reports obtained by the Star. The vehicle was stopped in the parking lot of the officers mess around 1:35 a.m. Military police officers three in all had an interaction with two military members, one of them a pilot with 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron. Details of that interaction are censored from the reports prepared by the military police officers and their handwritten notes that were released under access to information. Alberta court records revealed that Capt. Thegne Rathbone, a CF-18 pilot, was charged that night in Cold Lake with impaired driving and driving with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08. Rathbone pleaded not guilty to the charges on Sept. 13, 2017. The charges were withdrawn on Jan. 31, 2018, according to court documents. Its not clear why. In its statement to the Star, the air force declined to say whether Rathbone or Bowness faced any administrative action as a result of the civilian charges, citing privacy laws. We cannot disclose whether remedial measures are taken against specific individuals. Neither Bowness nor Rathbone responded to requests for comment. In its statement, the air force said there were 28 significant incident reports involving alcohol misconduct in 2016, 30 in 2017 and 11 this year, as of Oct. 31. The air force added that military personnel are regularly briefed on expected behaviour and the rules around alcohol misconduct. Air force personnel are not allowed to consume any alcohol 12 hours prior to flying and eight hours before reporting for duty. As well, they are limited to no more than two alcoholic beverages within a 12-hour period when conducting training or operations. All Canadian Armed Forces members are expected to maintain a healthy regard for alcohol, and members who engage in alcohol misconduct are liable to criminal, disciplinary, and/or administrative actions, including release, the air force said. It looks as if you appreciate our journalism. Our reporting changes lives, connects communities and effects change. But good journalism is expensive to produce, and advertiser revenue throughout the media industry is falling and unable to carry the cost. That means we need you, our readers. We need your help. If you appreciate deep local reporting, powerful investigations and reliable, responsible information, we hope you will support us through a subscription. Please click here to subscribe. WASHINGTONIvanka Trump sent hundreds of emails last year to White House aides, Cabinet officials and her assistants using a personal account, many of them in violation of federal records rules, according to people familiar with a White House examination of her correspondence. White House ethics officials learned of Trumps repeated use of personal email when reviewing emails gathered last fall by five Cabinet agencies to respond to a public records lawsuit. That review revealed that throughout much of 2017, she often discussed or relayed official White House business using a private email account with a domain that she shares with her husband, Jared Kushner. The discovery alarmed some advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump, who feared that his daughters practices bore similarities to the personal email use of Hillary Clinton, an issue he made a focus of his 2016 campaign. Trump attacked his Democratic challenger as untrustworthy and dubbed her Crooked Hillary for using a personal email account as secretary of state. Some aides were startled by the volume of Ivanka Trumps personal emails and taken aback by her response when questioned about the practice. Trump said she was not familiar with some details of the rules, according to people with knowledge of her reaction. The White House referred requests for comment to Ivanka Trumps attorney and ethics counsel, Abbe Lowell. In a statement, Peter Mirijanian, a spokesperson for Lowell, acknowledged that the presidents daughter occasionally used her private email before she was briefed on the rules, but he said none of her messages contained classified information. Read more: Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions, endangering Mueller investigation 815 false claims: The staggering scale of Donald Trumps pre-midterm dishonesty Hillary Clinton emails: what were the rules? While transitioning into government, after she was given an official account but until the White House provided her the same guidance they had given others who started before she did, Ms. Trump sometimes used her personal account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family, he said in a statement. Mirijanian said Ivanka Trump turned over all her government-related emails months ago so they could be stored permanently with other White House records. And he stressed that her email use was different than that of Clinton, who had a private email server in the basement of her home in Chappaqua, N.Y. At one point, an archive of thousands of Clintons emails was deleted by a computer specialist amid a congressional investigation. Ms. Trump did not create a private server in her house or office, no classified information was ever included, the account was never transferred at Trump Organization, and no emails were ever deleted, Mirijanian said. Like Ivanka Trump, Clinton also said she was unaware of or misunderstood the rules. However, Clinton relied solely on a private email system as secretary of state, bypassing government servers entirely. Both Ivanka Trump and Clinton relied on their personal attorneys to review their private emails and determine which messages should be retained as government records. Clinton originally said none of the messages she sent or received were marked classified. The FBI later determined that 110 emails contained classified information at the time they were sent or received. Austin Evers, executive director of the liberal watchdog group American Oversight, whose record requests sparked the White House discovery, said it strained credulity that Trumps daughter did not know that government officials should not use private emails for official business. Theres the obvious hypocrisy that her father ran on the misuse of personal email as a central tenet of his campaign, Evers said. There is no reasonable suggestion that she didnt know better. Clearly everyone joining the Trump administration should have been on high alert about personal email use. Ivanka Trump and her husband set up personal emails with the domain ijkfamily.com through a Microsoft system in December 2016, as they were preparing to move to Washington so Kushner could join the White House, according to people familiar with the arrangement. The couples emails are pre-screened by the Trump Organization for security problems such as viruses but are stored by Microsoft, the people said. Ivanka Trump used her personal account to discuss government policies and official business less than 100 times often replying to other administration officials who contacted her through her private email, according to people familiar with the review. Another category of less-substantive emails may have also violated the records law: hundreds of messages related to her official work schedule and travel details that she sent herself and personal assistants who cared for her children and house, they said. People close to Ivanka Trump said she never intended to use her private email to shroud her government work. After she told White House lawyers she was unaware that she was breaking any email rules, they discovered that she had not been receiving White House updates and reminders to all staff about prohibited use of private email, according to people familiar with the situation. Using personal emails for government business could violate the Presidential Records Act, which requires that all official White House communications and records be preserved as a permanent archive of each administration. It can also increase the risk that sensitive government information could be mishandled or hacked, revealing government secrets and risking harm to diplomatic relations and secret operations. TOP STORIES. IN YOUR INBOX: For the days top news from the Stars award-winning journalists, sign up for our daily headlines newsletter. Revelations about Clintons personal email system led to an FBI investigation of whether she had mishandled classified information. The scandal shadowed Clinton throughout the 2016 White House race, culminating in then-FBI Director James B. Comeys controversial decision to hold a news conference a few months before the election to announce his conclusion that she had been reckless with government secrets but that there was not sufficient evidence she had intended to skirt the law. During the campaign, Trump said the Democratic nominees corruption is on a scale we have never seen before and called her personal email use bigger than Watergate. Trump supporters still chant Lock her up! at his rallies, and the president, nearly two years into his administration, continues to tweet about Clintons emails. Big story out that the FBI ignored tens of thousands of Crooked Hillary Emails, many of which are REALLY BAD, he tweeted in August, referring to a Fox News story about claims that the bureau did not scrutinize all her emails. Also gave false election info. I feel sure that we will soon be getting to the bottom of all of this corruption. At some point I may have to get involved! Ivanka Trump first used her personal email to contact Cabinet officials in early 2017, before she joined the White House as an unpaid senior adviser, according to emails obtained by American Oversight. In late February 2017, she used her personal email to contact Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon and propose they meet to explore opportunities to collaborate. The following month, she emailed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, suggesting that their staffers meet to discuss ways to collaborate on locational/workforce development and k-12 STEM education. While her messages were largely about government work, Trump was not then subject to White House records rules. When she joined the White House on March 30, Ivanka Trump pledged to comply with all ethics rules, responding to complaints that her voluntary role gave her all of the access and perks of the White House but none of the legal responsibilities or constraints. Throughout this process I have been working closely and in good faith with the White House counsel and my personal counsel to address the unprecedented nature of my role, she said in a statement at the time. But Ivanka Trump continued to occasionally use her personal email in her official capacity, according to people familiar with the review. Her husband Jared Kushners use of personal email for government work drew intense scrutiny when it was first reported by Politico last fall. The revelation prompted demands from congressional investigators that Kushner preserve his records, which his attorney said he had. But Ivanka Trump had used her personal email for official business far more frequently, according to people familiar with the administrations review a fact that remained a closely held secret inside the White House. She was the worst offender in the White House, said a former senior U.S. government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal dynamics. After discovering the extent of her email use in September 2017, White House lawyers relied on Lowell, Ivanka Trumps attorney, to help review her personal emails to determine which were personal and which were official business, according to the people. The White House Counsels Office did not have access to her personal account and could not review it without invading her privacy and possibly violating privileged communications with her attorneys, people familiar with the review said. After his review, Lowell forwarded emails that he had determined were related to official business to Ivanka Trumps government account, a move he viewed as rectifying any violations of the records law, they said. Lowells review found less than 1,000 personal emails in which Ivanka Trump shared her official schedule and travel plans with herself and her personal assistants, according to two people familiar with the review. Separately, there were fewer than 100 emails in which Ivanka Trump used her personal account to discuss official business with other administration officials. The scope of her personal email use had not emerged in response to American Oversights records request, which sought Ivanka Trumps correspondence with Cabinet agencies in early 2017. Most internal White House communications are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Im disappointed although not entirely surprised that this administration disregarded clear laws that they more than anyone should have been aware of, Evers said. In many cases, government officials contacted Ivanka Trump first at her personal email address. That was the case with a note she received in April 2017 from Treasury official Dan Kowalski, who was seeking to set up a meeting between the president and the secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an international economic group of which the United States is a member. I apologize for reaching out to you on your personal email for this, but it is the only email I have for you, he wrote, according to an email obtained by American Oversight. For future reference my WH email is [redacted], Ivanka Trump replied. Thanks for reaching out and making this introduction. But other times, Ivanka Trump used her private email to initiate official business. In April 2017, she used her personal email to write to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchins chief of staff, Eli Miller, suggesting that he connect with her chief of staff, Julie Radford. The email chain, obtained by American Oversight, was copied to Radfords government account. It would be great if you both could connect next week to discuss [redacted],she wrote. We would love your feedback and input as we structure. Read more about: CHICAGOA gunman opened fire Monday at a Chicago hospital, killing a police officer and two hospital employees in an attack that began with a domestic dispute and exploded into a firefight with law enforcement inside the medical centre. The suspect was also dead, authorities said. It was not clear if the attacker took his own life or was killed by police at Mercy Hospital on the citys South Side, the police chief said. Chicago lost a doctor, pharmaceutical assistant and a police officer, all going about their day, all doing what they loved, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said, fighting back tears. This just tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and a consequence of evil. The chain of events that led to the shooting began with an argument in the hospital parking lot involving the gunman and a woman with whom he was in a domestic relationship, police said. When a friend of the womans tried to intervene, the offender lifted up his shirt and displayed a handgun, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said. The womans friend ran into the hospital to call for help, and the gunfire began seconds later, with the attacker killing the woman he was arguing with. Johnson described her only as a hospital employee. After the woman fell to the ground, the gunman stood over her and shot her three more times, a witness named James Gray told reporters. When officers arrived, the suspect fired at their squad car and then ran inside the hospital. The police gave chase. Inside the medical centre, the gunman exchanged fire with officers and shot a poor woman who just came off the elevator before he was killed, Johnson said. We just dont know how much damage he was prepared to do, Johnson said, adding that the woman who was getting off the elevator had nothing to do with nothing. The slain officer was identified as Samuel Jimenez, who joined the department in February 2017 and had recently completed his probationary period, Johnson said. The identities of the other victims, and the gunman, were not immediately released. Television footage of the aftermath showed several people, including some wearing white coats, walking through a parking lot with their arms up. Jennifer Eldridge was working in a hospital pharmacy when she heard three or four shots that seemed to come from outside. Within seconds, she barricaded the door, as called for in the buildings active shooter drills. Then there were six or seven more shots that sounded much closer, just outside the door. I could tell he was now inside the lobby. There was screaming, she recalled. The door jiggled, which Eldridge believed was the shooter trying to get in. Some 15 minutes later, she estimated, a SWAT team officer knocked at the door, came inside and led her away. She looked down and saw blood on the floor but no bodies. It may have been 15 minutes, but it seemed like an eternity, she said. Maria Correa hid under a desk, clutching her four-month-old son, Angel, while the violence unfolded. Correa was in the waiting area of the hospital for her mother-in-laws doctor appointment when a hospital employee told them to lock themselves in offices. She lost track of how many shots she heard while under the desk trying to protect her son for 10 to 15 minutes. They were the worst minutes of our lives, Correa said. Dennis Burke, who lives across the street from the hospital, was getting off the bus when he heard six gunshots and saw officers nearby with their guns drawn. I dropped my groceries, Burke said. He ducked behind the bus for cover and watched as 50 to 100 people poured out of the hospital, including someone on a stretcher. People were helping each other over the fence, trying to get away, Burke said. People were running across the street, right past me everybody from doctors to what looked like patients, people of all ages. The death of Jimenez, a married father of three, comes nine months after another member of the Chicago Police Department, Cmdr. Paul Bauer, was fatally shot while pursuing a suspect in the Loop business district. Mercy has a rich history as the citys first chartered hospital. It began in 1852, when the Sisters of Mercy religious group converted a rooming house. During the Civil War, the hospital treated both Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners of war, according to its website. MILANThe MUDEC museum in Milan is hosting the first exhibit of street-artist Banksys works in an Italian public museum, just weeks after the artist grabbed international attention by partially shredding one of his works at a London auction. Curator Gianni Mercurio said Tuesday that the stunt boosted the artists popularity with the general public but also the art establishment. Mercurio said that this performance and the explosion of prices of works by Banksy has gathered interest from certain mechanisms and people in the art system that had up until now snubbed him. The show, which runs until April 14, is not authorized by the British artist, whose identity remains famously unknown. It comprises about 80 works, including paintings and prints, alongside objects, photographs, videos and memorabilia. Read more: A Banksy painting sold for a record $1.4 million. Then it self-destructed Torontos massive Banksy show misses the point Read more about: SANAA, YEMENFighting between Saudi-led coalition forces and Yemens Shiite rebels flared up again around the Red Sea port city of Hodeida despite U.N. calls for a ceasefire, Yemeni officials and witnesses said Tuesday. The escalation, which followed a lull that had been in place since earlier this month, began late on Monday with coalition airstrikes hitting the rebels, known as Houthis, in and around Hodeida. The renewed fighting undermines the latest U.N. efforts to end the three-year war. The U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition has been battling the rebels since March 2015 to restore Yemens internationally recognized government to power. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed much of the country to the brink of starvation. In Hodeida, fighting was also underway Tuesday in the main Khamsin Street in the city centre and in al-Saleh district, officials and witnesses told The Associated Press. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters; the witnesses did so for fear for their safety. Yemens Information Minister Moammer al-Iryani said the Houthis shelled the city centre and neighbourhoods held by government forces. Meanwhile, the rebel-run Al Masirah TV said the rebels attacked government forces on a main road linking the capital, Sanaa, and Hodeida. Government forces had captured the road in September. Earlier, the rebels said theyd fired a ballistic missile the previous night into Saudi Arabia in response to an attempted border incursion and another airstrike, and that they reserved the right to respond to attacks. The missile came hours after the rebels said they would halt all rocket fire into Saudi Arabia for the sake of peace efforts. Read more: Yemeni rebels say they will halt rocket fire at Saudi Arabia The tragedy of Saudi Arabias war Opinion | Thomas Walkom: Saudi Arabia gets free pass on destroying Yemen The coalition has been attempting to retake Hodeida from the rebels since last summer, with its forces now 5 kilometres from the port, Yemens traditional lifeline. Also Tuesday, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates pledged $500 million in aid to assist millions of Yemenis at risk of starvation. Abdullah al-Rabeeah of King Salmans Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center told reporters in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, that the new initiative aims to provide food assistance to some 12 million Yemenis. The announcement comes just days after David Beasley, head of the U.N. World Food Program, visited Yemen and told the U.N. Security Council that as many as 12 million of the 28 million Yemenis are just one step away from famine. Martin Griffiths, the U.N. envoy, announced on Friday that both sides had agreed to attend peace talks in Sweden soon. Yemeni officials had said the next round of talks would take place on Nov. 29. The Yemeni government said Monday it would attend the talks but also insisted the Houthis do so unconditionally. A U.N. draft resolution circulated by Britain on Monday urges the warring parties to relaunch peace talks and take urgent steps to address the humanitarian crisis. It also calls for an immediate ceasefire around Hodeida. President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband, said Tuesday the draft resolution is a vital diplomatic step and the best hope toward a ceasefire and though only focused on Hodeida, represents a critical development following the breakthrough call by the U.S. government for a ceasefire in Yemen. The Trump administration late in October called for an urgent halt to the war and negotiations aimed at a political settlement. Read more about: MOSCOWRussian news reports say that a flamingo en route to Saudi Arabia has become separated from its flock and fallen onto a road in Siberia. The Siberian Times newspaper reported Tuesday that the bird froze in the air and crashed onto a highway in front of a car in the Kemerovo region in western Siberia. They cited experts saying that the flamingo apparently grew weak and lost its bearings on a migration flight. They said the birds could have departed on their annual flight south later than usual because of an unusually warm autumn and faced freezing temperatures. Rossiya television reported that local residents rescued the flamingo, which is now in good condition. Read more about: SEATTLEThe Kirkland, Wash., Police Department apologized Monday for an incident in which officers helped the owner of a frozen-yogurt shop expel an African-American man from the business because employees said they felt uncomfortable. The Seattle Times on Friday night published a column detailing a Nov. 7 incident in which the owner of a Menchies frozen yogurt shop in Kirkland called police about Byron Ragland, a 31-year-old black man who was in the shop supervising a court-sanctioned outing between a mother and her son. Ragland works as a court-appointed special advocate and visitation supervisor, according to the column. Officers responded and, despite there being no evidence that Ragland was doing anything wrong, they took down his personal information and told him that the owner wanted him to leave. Ragland left without incident. Outrage over the incident prompted the Kirkland police to announce an internal investigation into the incident to determine if proper protocol had been followed. On Monday, the city announced it had reached preliminary findings in the investigation and issued an apology to Ragland and the people of Kirkland. However, the department would not say if policies or laws were violated and a spokesperson would not talk about the officers behaviour, saying the investigation was not complete. Our initial assessment showed that the interaction that occurred did not meet the expectations of our community or the high standards we set for ourselves, Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris and City Manager Kurt Triplett said in a joint statement. As a result, Mr. Ragland and the other individuals with him were left feeling unwelcome in Kirkland. No one regrets this more than the men and women of the Kirkland Police Department. We are truly sorry. Read more: Opinion | Vicky Mochama: To be Black is to be made to feel unwelcome Black men arrested at Philadelphia Starbucks settle for $200K program for young entrepreneurs Does workforce training kill bias? Starbucks puts it to the test What didnt meet our standards is that at the end of the interaction Mr. Ragland leaves feeling unwelcome in Kirkland and we know overall the picture of that interaction does not meet the standards of what our community expects of us, Kirkland police spokesperson Kellie Stickney said. Were apologizing for how our Police Department handled the events. The department will evaluate our policies and practices, and change what needs to fixed, the statement said, without elaborating. The incident follows a series of high profile incidents in which African-American patrons were singled out at businesses for apparently no other reason than their race. Starbucks apologized after two African-American men were arrested at a store in Philadelphia last spring, and Nordstrom officials also reached out after an incident in St. Louis. The owner of the Kirkland yogurt shop, Ramon Cruz, called police on Ragland after his employees called him to report that they were kind of scared because he looks suspicious. He just keeps looking at the phone and looking at them, according to audio of Cruzs 911 call. The call-taker told Cruz officers could come tell him to move along, according to the audio. Police arrived and requested Raglands full information and the names of the woman and boy he was with, according to a police report. Ragland, a nine-year Air Force veteran, told officers the request to leave was not necessary, but left the store without incident or complaining. The Seattle Times learned about the incident through a tip. You listen to that 911 call. He says right in there that Im not doing anything, Ragland told Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat. But thats all it takes in America for you to be black, and to be somewhere youre not supposed to be. And where youre supposed to be is not up to you. Its up to somebody elses opinion. The two officers who responded remain on patrol, Stickney said. Ragland did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the King County Seattle office of the NAACP said Ragland will attend a protest outside the Menchies in Kirkland at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Cruz, the owner of the yogurt shop, and Menchies corporate offices in Encino, California, each released apology statements Monday. This does not reflect our values, and we are genuinely sorry, the company said. Cruz said in an interview he had previously encouraged employees to call the police if they felt uncomfortable but will now instruct them to call him. Cruz said he will then visit the store and determine whether to call police, he said. Michele Storms, deputy director of the ACLU of Washington, said in an email that it is discrimination for a business and the police to treat wholly innocent behaviour as suspicious based on the colour of the persons skin. Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a policing research organization, said high-profile instances of the police being called on people of colour are causing some law-enforcement agencies to put more focus on the call takers. Emergency dispatchers may be trained to ask more specific questions about a persons behaviour to help determine whether a crime has been committed, Wexler said. Wexler said the issue reflects a broader question in society about why various citizens feel the need to call the police because someone makes them uncomfortable. Why has that person made them uncomfortable? Thats where the implicit bias begins, he said. Then, police are put in this position. On one hand, you want to be responsive; on the other hand, you dont want to be part of someone elses bias. If a business owner is asking police to require someone to leave, officers should look for specific store policies or laws the person violated, said Sgt. Kent Hitchings, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol Training Division, who said he was not speaking specifically about the incident in Kirkland. Just I dont like that person being in here doesnt rise to the level of making them leave, Hitchings said. Concurs de granturi adresat COMUNITATILOR (APL) pentru sporirea rezilientei lor la schimbarile climatice si FEMEILOR ANTREPRENOARE in vederea dezvoltarii unor afaceri prietenoase mediului TIJUANA, MEXICOOfficials in the Mexican border city of Tijuana said they have arrested 34 members of the caravan of Central American migrants for minor offences and turned them over for deportation. A Tijuana city statement late Monday said the 34 apparently all men were arrested for drug possession, public intoxication, disturbing the peace and resisting police, and added they would be deported to their home countries. The main caravan has between 4,000 and 6,000 participants, so those arrested represent less than 1 per cent of the total. Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum has made a point of saying the city is not comfortable with the caravan that began arriving last week, and he compared the Central American group unfavourably with about 3,000 Haitians who ended up in this city bordering San Diego on a failed bid to reach the United States last year. The Haitians arrived with their papers, with a clear vision, Gastelum said in an interview posted on the citys Facebook page. They came in an orderly way, they never asked us for food or shelter, renting apartments and making their own food. He said the Haitians found jobs and inserted themselves in the citys economy and had not been involved in any disturbances. The Mexican government gave the Haitians temporary transit permits, and after they failed in attempts to enter the United States, many have since applied for Mexican residency. The majority in the Central American caravan have refused Mexicos repeated offers of residency or asylum, and vowed to cross the border. The caravan of Central Americans, he said had arrived all of sudden, with a lot of people not all ... but a lot were aggressive and cocky. Read more: Judge bars U.S. from enforcing Trump asylum ban Tijuana protesters chant Out! at migrants waiting to go through U.S. border Trump administration officials, who have portrayed the migrant caravans as a threat to the United States, have said there were as many as 500 criminals in the groups heading northward, but they havent said what the crimes were and said they could not reveal the source of the number because they were protecting intelligence sources. Some local police and residents have expressed concern that portraying the caravan as criminals has tarred its innocent members and exposed them to reprisals. Some of the largely Honduran migrant were frightened over the weekend when about 500 people in an affluent district of Tijuana staged angry protests against the caravan. Dozens of the more radical protesters then marched to an outdoor sports complex near downtown where 2,500 migrants are staying, sleeping on dirt fields and under bleachers. Dulce Alvarado, 28, from Lempira, Honduras, said she was stepping out of a corner grocery near the complex carrying her 2-year-old son when she was surrounded by the demonstrators chanting Get out! and We dont want you here! I was very scared, Alvarado said. A Tijuana police officer helped Alvarado to safety and the protest eventually ended peacefully. Another Tijuana police officer, Victor Coronel, who has overseen security outside the sports complex where the migrants are staying, said local fears are based on the bad behaviour of only a handful of migrants. The problem is that there has been bad information circulating on social media, with videos of two or three migrants acting badly, climbing the wall or grabbing food in stores, said Coronel, adding that most are poor people simply trying to find work. Mexicos ambassador to the U.S., Geronimo Gutierrez, told reporters Monday that the situation is a wake-up call for the U.S., Mexico and Central America, and could force the region to work together to address the issue of immigration. U.S. border inspectors are processing only about 100 asylum claims a day at Tijuanas main crossing to San Diego, and there was already a waiting list of 3,000 when the new migrants arrived, so most will have to wait months to even be considered for asylum. Gastelum, appealing for greater federal help to copy with what he called an avalanche of migrants, estimated they would be in Tijuana for at least six months while waiting to file asylum claims. For most people in this city of 1.6 million, the arrival of thousands of Central Americans is not noticeable. Most of the migrants stay within a three-block radius of the sports complex that faces the towering metal walls topped with barbed wire at the U.S.-Mexico border. But the United States has dramatically increased security at ports of entry in preparation for the caravan, placing cement barriers topped with razor wire that can be quickly moved to block passage if a mass of migrants to try to force their way into the country. Read more about: On Wednesday, Interpol will be electing a new president to head the international criminal policing agency and a member of the Putin regime is currently the lead candidate. Should Interpol confirm the Kremlins candidate, the move would be akin to letting a ravenous fox out in the international human rights hen house. While Interpols charter forbids it from engaging in political activity, this hasnt stopped the Kremlin and other repressive regimes, from trying to subvert Interpols mandate to help them achieve their political objectives. Among the tools available to Interpol member states, are the Red Notice and Diffusion notices, which are formal requests, made by one member state to all other Interpol members, to arrest and extradite an individual. These are important tools when used by law abiding nations but have terrifying potential when abused by regimes that engage in political repression such as Russia, China, Venezuela and others. The number of Red Notices and Diffusions have exploded over the past decade, doubling since 2016. Activists believe that many of them are frivolous or politically motivated according to Fair Trial, a U.K.-based rights group. The leading candidate to become head of Interpol is a Russian, former Major-General Aleksandr Prokopchuk. The previous president, Meng Hongwei, was kidnapped by his own government when visiting China in the September and a letter of resignation from Interpol was delivered the next month. Should a Russian intelligence officer succeed in becoming the next head of Interpol, the threat of it becoming an international tool of Kremlin repression is very real. The Kremlin has a long history of attempting to use Interpol as a tool of global repression. Read more: Sergei Magnitsky: Quest for justice in Russian lawyers death begins to yield results Opinion |Thomas Walkom: Canadas complicated relationship with Russia likely to become more so Canada backs recommendation for Magnitsky Act targeting human rights violators Among them, is investor and global human rights activist, Bill Browder, who has been aggressively pursued by Kremlin authorities since 2008. Vladimir Putin tried him in absentia in 2017 on politically motivate charges aimed at silencing the global Magnitsky human rights campaign he leads. A leading source of foreign investment to Russian in the early 2000s, Browders company, Hermitage Capital, was the target of a $230 million tax fraud, committed by organized criminals working with Kremlin officials. In 2008, Hermitage lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky was detained, after he reported the theft by Russian officials. He died in prison a year later from systematic negligence and being viciously beaten by prison officials. Since his death Browder has embarked on a campaign to bring his killers to justice by promoting international sanctions legislation targeting global human rights abusers with visa bans and asset freezes in the West, including Canada. Browders human rights campaign has become a major threat to the oligarchs who keep Vladimir Putin in power and the Russian president himself. It became a central theme of the Putin-Trump summit in Helsinki this summer, and is at the core of the Mueller Russia probe. It has also put Bill Browder in the Kremlins crosshairs, along with other prominent Russian pro-democracy and human rights activists, including those in Canada. The Kremlins toolbox of political repression has expanded over the past decade, to include legislation that crudely restricts various forms of freedom of speech and allows the Kremlin to prosecute violators both in Russian and abroad. Among the most severe is the Russian gay propaganda law. The draconian anti-LGBTQ law makes advocacy for gay rights or any public support for gay issues, a crime. The law also applies to foreigners who promote gay rights in Russia. Most worrying, is that the Kremlin has prosecuted and convicted many individuals in absentia. An Interpol led by the Kremlin, would allow Putin to apply Interpol Diffusion and Red Notices on its critics and those of its allies, without any hesitation. Canadians have also been targeted with Kremlin repression. In March 2016, the Kremlin lawyer at the centre of the current Mueller probe, Nataliya Veselnitskaya, brought Russian government attention to a memorial event I organized for assassinated Russian opposition leader and my friend, Boris Nemtsov, at the University of Toronto. The event included a panel discussion with Bill Browder, opposition leader, Vladimir Kara-Murza and Boris Nemtsovs daughter Zhanna. Within days, a formal request into the event and my involvement by the Office of the Prosecutor General, Yuri Chaika, was made by a Russian Duma member, Georgy Federov. There is no reason to believe the Kremlin would not expand its abuse of the Red Notice system to silence international critics once its candidate takes control of the organization, including those in Canada and in the nations of our allies. The Canadian government and all lawmakers must be alert to the serious threat that the Kremlins takeover of Interpol poses to international human rights. Canada can join calls by other nations, including Ukraine, to suspend Russia from the organization and actively seek a new international alternative to form a new international law enforcement body among law abiding nations. Marcus Kolga is an expert on disinformation ,human rights and sanctions. He is a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institutes Centre for Advancing Canadas Interests Abroad. Read more about: Dear Liberals: Its for your own good. A contentious Ontario election was fought and a long-in-the-tooth government was replaced with a new party one that promised to listen to the people and put the middle class first. The new premier had been written off, challenged by members of his own party and left for dead, but had finally come through with a huge majority. The third party in the legislature had fought a disastrous campaign, falling one seat short of the required number of seats for official party status. And the new premier was being attacked as a bloodthirsty hyper partisan, criticized for not showing mercy for his main political opponent by granting the perks that come with party status research funding, recognition in the legislature and the ability to ask a significant number of questions to hold government to account. Have your say Opposing view: Do the Ontario Liberals deserve official party status? Yes The year was 2003. The new premier was Ontario Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty Jr. That troubled third party was the NDP. This was the second time during my career in Ontario politics that this issue had come up. In 1999, then-Premier Mike Harris reelected with a majority government faced a similar situation to the one McGuinty did years later. The NDP had fallen three seats short of the threshold for official party status at the time (12) and Harris made a different decision. He changed the standing orders of the legislature to make eight the new threshold, giving the NDP all the benefits of being a recognized party. You might be wondering: why did Harris help the NDP and McGuinty did not? The answer: altruism. Just kidding. It was selfish political advantage. The NDP is the sworn enemy of the Liberals and is an indirect strategic partner of the Tories in many jurisdictions. When the NDP does well, the Tories generally have a better chance of winning. So Harris helped the NDP, and McGuinty tried to put them down for good. Each did what was in his own political interest. What does this have to do with 2018? Ford faced the same situation. His bitter rival was vanquished. He made the same decision as McGuinty. He chose not to move the yardsticks to help his main competition, reasoning that because the size of the legislature increased, it is even more difficult to justify lowering the threshold for party status. But then he did something interesting: he announced that party status would require 10 per cent of the seats of the legislature moving forward, thereby raising the threshold to 12 seats. The Liberals are mad. Sure its in Fords interest to do what he did, but I see two main benefits. First, the politics will be taken out future decisions as premiers will rely on mathematics, rather than their own political calculus. Second, this gives the Liberal party a clean slate and the ability to rebuild. Although Im sure it wasnt Premier Fords prime motivation, his decision gives the Liberals the opportunity to change their culture as soon as possible rather than waiting for a byelection to try to inch their way back. The new reality also takes pressure off former premier and current MPP Kathleen Wynne, a historically unpopular leader. If she leaves and the Liberals lose the byelection, with the previous party-status threshold, the Liberals would have found themselves two seats away. They would be stuck. THE BIG DEBATE: For more opposing view columns from Toronto Star contributors, click here. No more. Ms. Wynne can leave if she chooses and get out of the way for a full party rebuild. No need for awkward conversations. They can just get on with it. A political party needs three things to succeed: money, ideas and inspiring leadership. A couple hundred thousand dollars in research assistants and some question period time wont do it for the Liberals. They should spend less time worrying about party status and rebuild the party from scratch starting by relearning how to raise money and get back in touch with the voters who delivered a historic rejection. The voters delivered a stinging rebuke that even interim leader John Fraser admitted was due. Best to put your head down and rebuild with dignity. Jason Lietaer is the president of Enterprise Canada and has been a senior adviser to provincial premiers and the prime minister. Read more about: VANCOUVERA six-storey East Vancouver rental building that was fiercely opposed by residents is now a year away from completion, in parts thanks to a new rental construction financing program offered by the federal government. In 2016, when the project at E. 18th Ave. and Victoria Diversion was in the process of being approved, members of the Cedar Cottage Area Neighbours group complained it would change the character of their single-family neighbourhood. The residents said the city was clustering too many rental buildings in their neighbourhood, which they feared would put pressure on local schools, community centres and other infrastructure. At a press conference on Monday, Canadas minister of children, families and social development said he realized change can be hard, but new housing is good for neighbourhoods. From what I can see and what I can hear, this kind of change is going to bring benefits to middle-class families who will be able to live and work and grow in this nieghbourhood, said Jean-Yves Duclos. I look forward to coming back in a year to see how the value of the neighbourhood is most likely enhanced by the social and economic outcomes of this type of investment. Read more: Council agrees to start a citywide plan to map out Vancouvers housing vision Subprime lending as well as the risk that comes with it is growing in Canadas hottest real-estate markets Construction industry hardest hit by fatal opioid overdoses in B.C., study shows Through an agreement with the City of Vancouver, 69 out of a total of 115 units in the new project will offer rents calculated at 30 per cent of the median family income for the neighbourhood. The median family income for Cedar Cottage was $86,787 in the 2015 Census. According to the city, studios will be rented at $1,150 per month, one-bedrooms at $1,500, two bedrooms at $1,950 and three bedrooms at $2,350. Those rates will be in place for the next 60 years through a covenant on the land title. By contrast, another rental building the developer recently completed in the Cedar Cottage area is renting at $1,500 for a bachelor suite and up to $2,800 for a three-bedroom, according to rental listing sites. Jason Turcotte, vice-president of Cressey Developments, said at a press conference on Monday it had taken five years to rezone the site, where five detached homes had previously been located. The lengthy process did increase costs for the project, which also had to meet the affordability requirements set by the city, Turcotte said. I would encourage them to keep an open mind and recognize that housing is a need and remember that the house they live in wasnt always there either. Its very rare that we finish a project and dont have communities that dont appreciate the benefits that a new project brings. We were watching construction costs increase by double digits annually, Turcotte said. Of course that makes the project more expensive to produce. In that time, rents rates also spiked, Turcotte added. Turcotte said the federal governments new rental construction financing which provides a guaranteed low interest rate of three per cent or less for 10 years helped make the project financially viable as costs rose. The loan program is managed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and is one of several buckets of funding announced by the federal government as part of its re-entry into the housing sector, which it had left to provinces and municipalities for 30 years. While the Metro Vancouver region desperately needs new purpose-built rental housing to bolster low vacancy rates, its more difficult for developers to secure financing to build rental, which has a slower rate of return than condos, where developers can walk away with their profit as soon as the building completes. We have a couple other (projects) in the same situation, and were really assessing whether these projects are going to go ahead, Turcotte said. To be eligible for the government loan program, Cressey had to redesign the building to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make the units accessible. Developers also have to hit rental affordability targets. It looks as if you appreciate our journalism. Our reporting changes lives, connects communities and effects change. But good journalism is expensive to produce, and advertiser revenue throughout the media industry is falling and unable to carry the cost. That means we need you, our readers. We need your help. If you appreciate deep local reporting, powerful investigations and reliable, responsible information, we hope you will support us through a subscription. Please click here to subscribe. Correction November 21, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that misattributed a statement from developer Jason Turcotte to federal minister Jean-Yves Duclos. In fact, Turcotte made the statement encouraging community members to keep an open mind and recognize the needs and benefits of a new housing project. Read more about: Ken Bradbury will be remembered. For many, it will be as someone who used his art to help people, whether as a way to raise money for a cause or just to encourage someone to come out of his or her shell. Bradbury, 69, passed away Sunday at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield after a battle with cancer, but he left behind a legacy that many people are hoping to continue. Christina Stampf, a former student of Bradburys at Green Pastures Performing Arts Camp, said he was a man who touched many lives. A fun-loving mentor and teacher, Stampf said of Bradbury. Literally thousands (over) multiple generations were impacted by Ken. His music, his joy, his plays, his personality, his life. A former teacher at Triopia Junior-Senior High School and Lincoln Land Community College, Bradbury was a well-known playwright in Jacksonville and surrounding communities, though his plays also were staged and honored well beyond Illinois borders. He penned more than 100 plays and musicals, the newspaper column The Coonridge Digest and several books, along with being the most-produced author of school speech contest material in the United States. He also was a founder of Green Pastures Performing Arts Camp and performed regularly as a musician on the Spirit of Peoria riverboat. For Stampf, Bradbury was the person who helped to ease her from her shell. He encouraged me in my musical ability for years and helped encourage me out of my shyness, Stampf said. He helped create a place where there was truly unconditional love and support, which is why we have so many amazing actors and musicians in our community. Maryjane Million, enrollment management coordinator at Lincoln Land Community College, said Bradbury was always generous with his works. Though he retired from LLCC last year, he was well-known for his work in raising money for different organizations, Million said. He was extremely generous in giving back to the community, she said. He used his talents, hed put on a play to raise funds for different organizations. He was a big supporter of the Jacksonville Theatre Guild, the Illinois College fine arts program, the Jacksonville Civic Center. Cindy Fawkes of Jacksonville said Bradbury touched the hearts of so many people. He was such a force in community theater, producing, directing, or writing so many plays, Fawkes said. This is a great loss in the community. He touched so many people with his works. Million said people can honor Bradburys memory by remaining active in fine arts in the community. Hed want the community to support the theater, the symphony, Million said. Hed want the community to support any type of fine arts and help wherever its needed. Hed want people to get involved and help keep the fine arts alive in Jacksonville and other communities. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1233, or on Twitter @JCNews_samantha. GODFREY A 31-year-old Godfrey man was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm while on supervised release. Brenden T. Cepaitas, 31, of Godfrey, Illinois was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge David R. Herndon. Cepaitas received a total of 58 months in federal prison for the offense, to be followed by 30 months of supervised release. Court proceedings revealed that in the early morning hours of Aug. 4, 2017, officers with the Alton Police Department responded to a 911 call at the Riverside Bar & Grill. According to witnesses, Cepaitas was involved in a minor verbal altercation with another patron at the bar, after which Cepaitas went outside and retrieved a handgun from his car. He then brandished the gun and threatened another individual. Surveillance video recovered during the investigation shows Cepaitas re-entering the bar with the handgun in his hand and then going into the restaurants bathroom as the police arrived on scene. Officers searched the bathroom and found a loaded Glock 42 handgun in the trash can. A trace on the gun showed that it had been stolen during an Aug. 28, 2014 residential burglary in Granite City. There was no evidence implicating Cepaitas in the burglary. At the time of his arrest, Cepaitas was on federal supervised release for a 2014 conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A petition to revoke his supervised release was promptly filed after his arrest, and a federal indictment was returned against him on Aug. 23, 2017. Cepaitas pleaded guilty to the charges on April 23, 2018, and agreed not to contest forfeiture of the gun. The case was investigated by the Alton Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell. ALTON - Samantha M. Hamelmann, 27, of the 300 block of Conley Avenue, Wood River, was charged Friday with seven counts of forgery and one count of deceptive practices. She allegedly tried to pass about $4,000 worth of bad checks at the Altonized Community Credit Union between October and November. In most cases, the accounts on which the checks were drawn were closed or frozen. GODFREY - Charles J. Pierce, 39, of the 5600 block of Godfrey Road, Godfrey, was charged Monday with unlawful possession of methamphetamine. He allegedly possessed less than five grams of the drug on Saturday. Bail was set at $20,000. EDWARDSVILLE - Lisa L. Painter, 37, of the 6700 block of Moro Road, Edwardsville, was charged Monday with aggravated driving under the influence and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She allegedly drove a car while under the influence of alcohol and while her license was suspended. She also allegedly possessed a prescription sedative. The arrest was made Saturday. Bail was set at $30,000. EDWARDSVILLE - Bryan A. Winsor, 36, of the 7800 block of Goshen Road, Edwardsville, was charged Monday with disorderly conduct. He allegedly made a false report of a child abduction on Sunday. Bail was set at $23,000. ALTON - Dennis E. Lacey, 60, of the 3500 block of Franor Street, Alton, was charged Monday with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. He allegedly sold cocaine to confidential informants on two occasions. Bail was set at $50,000. ALTON - Michael Casey, 64, of the 2100 block of Humbert Street, Alton, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. He allegedly possessed a firearm and ammunition on Nov. 16. Bail was set at $25,000. EDWARDSVILLE Trinity Lutheran Ministries will host its third annual Christmas Ugly Sweater 5K in Edwardsville on Saturday, Dec. 8. The event will feature a 5k race, Christmas carols, a Christmas-themed photo booth, ugly sweater contest, and hot chocolate and cookies for all participants at the finish line. All race participants will be chip-timed by Final Lap Race Management. Medals are provided to all runners who participate in the race. In addition, the YMCA dance group will perform a Christmas-themed dance while runners are returning to campus. A portion of the race registration fees benefits the Glen-Ed Food Pantry and Edwardsville Neighbors. Last year, both organization were presented with a $1,000 check. There will also be a canned goods collection at the race. Last year, more than 450 pounds of canned goods were collected at the event. Plaques will be given to the top male and female finishers and medals to the top three finishers in each of the following age categories: 9 and under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-50, and 60 and older. The sweater contest will be held after the race, with prizes awarded to the participants judged in the following categories: Ugliest Sweater, Most Christmas Spirit, and Best Group Sweater Theme (group of four or more). The race will begin at 9 a.m. on Dec. 8 at Trinity Lutheran Ministries at 600 Water St. in Edwardsville, with race packet pickup available the day before and the morning of the race. The registration fee is $25 without a race shirt, $30 with a race shirt. Special group/family prices are available to groups of four or more. Swag bags and race shirts are guaranteed to those who register by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 23, which is also when early bird pricing ends. For questions or more information, please visit goo.gl/E4fk6G or call (618) 656-2918. Mike Madigan is a man in love. The usually stoic Illinois Speaker of the House is smitten. And after the election, he didnt even try to hide who he holds dear. The object of his affections? Why, it is himself, of course. Ive never encountered a news release quite so full of self-adulation and gloating as the one Madigan issued through the Democratic Party of Illinois, which he leads: [The] election results definitively proved that the [Bruce] Rauner Republican playbook of attempting to make the entire 2018 election a referendum on Speaker Madigan, to distract from Republicans record, is a failure. Rauner and the Republican Party spent several years and hundreds of millions of dollars focused on tearing down one man, and last night that strategy definitively failed for Republicans up and down the ballot who joined in the effort. Ok, its a little weird that he talks about himself in the third person. But all the same, we get the message: Hes sticking it in the eye of his arch nemesis, Gov. Bruce Rauner, who was defeated last week. And, yes, Bruce Rauner is a failure. But just because your foe fails, doesnt mean youre a success. Mike Madigans news release was the equivalent of him running on the street and hollering: People really like me. Look, Illinois Republicans had a rough election. The reasons are many but here are a few: a GOP president unpopular in the Chicago suburbs, a Republican Party unable to unite after a bruising gubernatorial primary, an unpopular governor at the top of the ballot and getting outspent 3 to 1 by J.B. Big Bucks Pritzker. None of these things equates to Mike Madigan being popular. In fact, last year, a poll conducted by Southern Illinois Universitys Paul Simon Public Policy Institute found that 61 percent of Illinoisans disapprove of Mike Madigan and 58 percent disapproved of Bruce Rauner. Voters rendered a judgment Nov. 6 that had damned if you do edging out damned if you dont. But Madigan said this of Rauners efforts: It failed because Speaker Madigan and the Democratic Party of Illinois are champions of smart economic and social policies that better the lives of Illinoisans and create a state that works for all of us. Huh? Illinois has the worst credit rating in the nation, and has an unfunded pension liability of $250 billion according to Moodys. The state is on the brink of insolvency. Over the last 40 years, both Republicans and Democrats have contributed to this fiscal mess. But the common denominator during those four decades is Mike Madigan. His fingerprints are on nearly every vote that has contributed to Illinois fiscal death spiral. To say Mike Madigan has exhibited smart economic policies is silly. For Madigan to claim such is an exercise in self-delusion. Scott Reeder, a veteran statehouse journalist, works as a freelance reporter in the Springfield area. He can be reached at ScottReeder1965@gmail.com. One of my favorite scenes in the classic science fiction film The Matrix features Morpheus offering Neo two pills: one red, one blue. He tells Neo that the blue pill will allow him to remain in the matrix, which is a computer-generated artificial reality, while the red pill will allow him to see reality as it actually is. Neo chooses the red pill and well, those of you who have seen the movie know what happens next. Too many Americans live in an artificial reality created by Fox News, right-wing web sites and Trumps torrent of tweets. They need to take the political equivalent of a red pill so that, like Neo, they can wake up and see the real world. Swallowing the red pill will make them realize that trickle-down economics is one of the most vicious frauds that has ever been perpetrated on our nation. Giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy neither generates new jobs nor creates a prosperous economy. And such tax cuts dont even begin to pay for themselves, as conservative shills claim. The loss of revenue causes our nations deficit to soar. USA Today reported that the Monthly Treasury Statement for fiscal 2018, which ended on Sept. 30, indicates the deficit stands at $779 billion a $13 billion, 17 percent increase over the $666 billion deficit recorded last year. This was the biggest one-year increase in the deficit since 2009, when the Great Recession wreaked havoc on federal finances. Rather than benefiting our nation, tax cuts for the rich serve only to make the wealthy even wealthier. Sarah Sanders stated, More than 70 percent of the Trump tax cuts will be returned to workers. She lied. Companies have instead used the extra cash buying back their own stocks, boosting the value of shares held by investors, according to Ben Popken of NBC News. It will take an especially potent red pill to convince some Americans that bigotry is devoid of both logic and compassion. Do you feel threatened by immigrants from nations that Trump called s**thole countries? It might interest you to know that your ancestors might well have been regarded with fear and hate by those who had earlier put down roots in the United States. Old-stock Protestant Americans of English and Scottish descent were horrified when Irish and German-Catholic immigrants began arriving in the mid-19th century. Later, when immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe sought new lives in our nation, xenophobic Americans became convinced that the United States was doomed. History shows us just how wrong they were just as todays xenophobes are wrong to claim that our nation will be ruined by our eras immigrants. The late Phyllis Schlafly, who lived in Alton for many years, played a major role in defeating the proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would have guaranteed equality for American women. I always found it singularly ironic that Mrs. Schlafly flew around our nation to deliver her message that a womans place is in the home. Those who take the red pill will immediately recognize the absurdity of believing that women should be subservient to men and occupy a tier of second-class citizenship. I was delighted that so many women candidates won elective office this month. Global warming deniers should be required to swallow an entire bottle of red pills, since their obstinacy endangers our planet. Global warming isnt a Chinese hoax, as Trump told his followers while running for president. Nor is it, as some conservatives claim, a liberal conspiracy designed to extend the reach of the federal government. Global warming, which is exacerbated by human activity such as using fossil fuel, is a terrible reality. Taking the red pill poses no risk to the clueless. After swallowing so many of Trumps lies, swallowing that tiny red pill should be a piece of cake. John J. Dunphy is the author of From Christmas to Twelfth Night in Southern Illinois and Abolitionism and the Civil War in Southwestern Illinois. His latest book, Unsung Heroes of the Dachau Trials, will be published this winter by McFarland. The International Monetary Fund has demanded Pakistan provide all details of China's financial support to it to avail a bailout package, according to media reports. The IMF mission was in Pakistan and holding talks with officials over arranging an unspecified amount to help in addressing the balance of payment issue. As talks entered the final phase, the IMF set stricter conditions for Pakistan to implement in exchange for a bailout package much needed for economic revival. Some of the major conditions included imposition of more taxes worth Rs 150 billion, further reduction in the rupee value as well as a tighter monetary policy. It also sought from Pakistan all details of Chinese financial support for any bailout package. Led by its mission chief Harald Finger, the IMF delegation was holding meetings with government officials to know their viewpoint on the reforms. There were no indication that the two sides were close to any agreement, Dawn reported. Finance Minister Asad Umar said on Monday that the talks were moving ahead positively but there were still differences, the report said. "There are still gaps in the position of the IMF and the position that we have," Umar said after a series of meetings with an IMF team. Umar said the IMF visit would conclude on Tuesday and he had no funding emergency to worry about day after tomorrow. He said $1 billion of the $3 billion committed by Saudi Arabia had been remitted to the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday and the remaining $2 billion would follow over the next few days. Pakistan looks forward to about $6 billion in a financial bailout for averting its balance of payments crisis. Informed sources said the two sides had a wide gap in their positions on the need for increase in electricity tariff, upward revision in the revenue target and additional tax measures on matters relating to Chinese assistance and its impact on both inflow and outflow. The sources said the IMF also demanded that the provincial governments finance the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), instead of the federal government, and wanted committed cash surpluses to minimise the consolidated fiscal deficit. Regarding the Chinese financing, the minister said there was complete transparency in the Chinese assistance and whatever the external debt was, it would have to be shared with the IMF as part of the programme, the report said. The sources said the IMF mission wanted a clear roadmap for elimination of power sector circular debt that currently stood at Rs1.2 trillion and welcomed administrative measures to recover some arrears, but insisted on further increasing electricity rates for full cost recovery of power supply, it said. The sources said the IMF team was not satisfied with the power sector reforms plan and wanted the government to surrender its powers to set electricity tariff and let these be independently dealt with by the power regulator. Pakistan's current account deficit widened 43 per cent to $18 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June, while the fiscal deficit had ballooned to 6.6 per cent of gross domestic product. Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal was caught in the eye of the storm after calling the #MeToo movement a fad, which wont last long. There is no big problem in the Malayalam industry. You shouldnt think of the #MeToo as a movement actually. It is a fad and it is turning into something of a fashion. Anything like that will have a lifespan for a bit, according to a report in Gulf News. The actor was in Dubai, attending a press conference for a charity fundraiser. He reportedly did not elaborate on the issue when questioned further. Mohanlal, who is the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), had come under criticism for his reinstatement of Dileep, who was accused of conspiracy in the molestation of a fellow actress. The organisation, and the actress, had come under criticism from Women In Cinema Collective (WCC), a body of female cine artists. According to The News Minute, Mohanlal answered in the negative when asked if there would be any show along the lines of the controversial skit that was widely considered to be poking fun at the WCC. He answered that the skit was not intended against the WCC. Earlier, after vociferous protests by the WCC over the reinstatement of Dileep, Mohanlal had said that he was upset he had become the target of the protest. Mohanlal also said that a committee has been formed within AMMA to address the grievances of woman members. He added that the actresses who resigned can return to the organisation, and that procedural norms would have to be followed. In a press conference on October 13, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) had heavily criticised the AMMA leadership. Revathy, Parvathy Thiruvoth, Padmapriya Janakiraman, Beena Paul and Anjali Menon spoke on behalf of the WCC. Opening the press meet, director Anjali Menon said that despite it being a time when the entire nation is taking the voice of women seriously, it is not happening in Kerala. We need support not just in words, but also in action, she said. The WCC condemned AMMA's move to retain the membership of Dileep, accused in the actress abduction and assault case. The entire nation, across trade bodies and industries, is taking action and expelling the accused members in the MeToo storm. On the other hand, AMMA is supporting the accused and interfering in the case. In the meeting with AMMA, all their discussions were against the survivor. We are hurt, disrespected and very angry, said Parvathy. Shia Waqf Board chairman Syed Waseem Rizvi released on Monday the trailer of the film Ram Janmbhoomi, which chronicles the events during the Ram temple movement since October 30, 1990, when Uttar Pradesh police had opened fire on kar sevaks moving towards Ayodhya. Rizvi is the writer and producer of the film directed by Sanoj Misra. He has has also acted in it. Rizvi said some "misled supporters of Babar" were out to spoil the atmosphere in the country by indulging in a bloodbath over the disputed structure built by Babar's commander Mir Baqi. "I had also tried to broker peace between the communities and proposed that a Ram temple should come up at the site in Ayodhya and a 'masjid-e-aman' be constructed in Lucknow but my voice was drowned by the noise of fundamentalists," he said. "The film starts with the incidents from October 30 to November 2, 1990, when unarmed kar sewaks [volunteers mobilised by Hindu outfits] were fired on, and the changed atmosphere has been depicted through a story with the main protagonist dying with the dream of Ram temple in his eyes," he said. "No community has been targeted in the film. Instead, the wrongs, including halala, in the society have been targeted," he said. The film has Manoj Joshi, Govind Namdeo, Naznin Patni, Rajveer Singh, Disha Sachdeva and Aditya in important roles. Produced under the banner of Cinecraft Production, film is a little longer than two hours. It releases next month. Touched by the compassion of the nurses who tended to her... BJP President Amit Shah Tuesday accused the Congress-led Mizoram government of misusing the funds the Centre gave it for developmental projects. Addressing an election rally in southern Mizoram's Lawngtlai town, Shah also said his party would create 50,000 jobs for educated tribal youths and repair all bad roads within six months if voted to power. He said the party has prepared several programmes to uplift minority communities of Mizoram. He said the Narendra Modi government left no stone unturned to develop the northeast and that Union ministers have visited the region more than 200 times in four-and-a-half years of the NDA rule so far. Shah promised that Mizo language would be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The promise is part of the BJP's manifesto released for the state. The BJP chief said that communication, health and education sectors would be the priority of the BJP. Election to 40-member Mizoram Assembly is slated for November 28. Russian defence major Rosoboronexport is understood to have emerged as the lowest bidder in the Indian Army's tender for procurement of a batch of short-range air defence missile systems, official sources said late on Monday. The other contenders for the deal were Swedish firm SAAB and French military firm MBDA. The sources said all laid-down procedures were followed in the bidding process and an official announcement on the lowest bidder was expected in the next few days. Rosoboronexport had emerged as lowest bidder, said a senior military official. Some media reports valued the contract as being worth $3 billion and identified the Russian missile system as the Igla-S. The Indian Army plans to procure hundreds of short-range air defence missiles as part of its efforts to enhance its overall combat capability. If Rososboronexport is awarded the contract, it will be another mega contract won by Russia after the S-400 air defence deal. In October, India and Russia finalised the S-400 air defence missile system deal for the Indian Air Force. Indian Air Force chief B.S. Dhanoa had last month said procurement of S-400 missile systems and 36 Rafale jets were like booster shots for the force. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state police was only trying to thwart the Sangh Parivar agenda to unnecessarily create trouble and then use the commotion to take over Sabarimala. He reeled out names of Sangh Parivar activists who were arrested and removed from Sannidhanam. He noted that those arrested were not devotees but Sangh Parivar leaders with criminal cases. Pinarayi called those arrested as kar sevaks who are out to take over Sabarimala. The chief minister said, The person who led the protests at Sabarimala on November 18 is Rajesh R. He was a former RSS Muvattupuzha district karyavahak and now the in-charge of RSS activities in Ernakulam district. It was a team led by this very person that had attacked and stopped a 52-year-old woman from entering Sabarimala during the Chithira Atta festival earlier, the CM said. Now that the BJP's circular exhorting cadres to move to Sabarimala and deputing leaders to mobilise the cadre has also come out, the BJP game plan is for all to see, Pinarayi Vijayan said. And then, with a tinge of sarcasm, the CM added: Check with the local people in the area whether these Sangh Parivar leaders had undergone the mandatory 41-day fast before making the trip to Sabarimala. The chief minister also said the Sangh Parivar leaders used unconventional forest routes to sneak into Sabarimala. Pinarayi Vijayan said it was now clear that the Sangh Parivar agitation in Sabarimala had nothing to do with faith. It is a political game they are playing. The BJP state president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai himself had stated that the fight is not against the entry of women into Sabarimala but against the Communist government, the chief minister said. The faithful have been put through dreadful circumstances simply because the Sangh Parivar feels it will get some votes. The Sangh Parivar should not subject the faithful to unspeakable torments to achieve their political ends, he added. The chief minister also gave a clean chit to the police force. The force has shown commendable restraint even in the face of intense provocation and physical pain, Pinarayi Vijayan said. He said the police had never intervened in the initial days. Right at the start when they set up tents and began protests, the police had not tried to stand in the way. Even when many such protests sprang, the police had kept away, the chief minister said. According to him, the police intervened only when Indian and foreign journalists were attacked by the protesters. By then some women, too, had trekked up the hills, and we know how the Sangh Parivar dealt with such a situation. They denied these women basic democratic rights, and the police had to intervene. It should not be forgotten that women journalists were subjected to brutal attacks, the chief minister said. Gradually, the chief minister pointed out, Sangh Parivar activists started blocking even the devotees moving up the hills. The police had shown tremendous restraint. The objective was to provide the devout a peaceful darshan. Whoever had tried to create trouble for them were arrested and removed, he said. He said the government's only strategy was to provide all necessary arrangements for devotees to have a peaceful 'darshan' of the lord. We cannot remain blind to those who stand in the way. It was only natural for the government to remove those who had come to Sabarimala with the only objective of creating trouble, he said. Pinarayi Vijayan said it was not possible to provide security to women wanting to visit Sabarimala right from the start of their journey. "However, we will arrange protection for them from Nilakkal," he said. The chief minister also termed as "laudable" the stand taken by three young women that they would travel to Sabarimala after the trouble was over. The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned hearing the plea from CBI Director Alok Verma challenging the Narendra Modi government's decision to divest him of his powers. Verma's plea is now scheduled to be taken up on November 29. The hearing, which has been repeatedly postponed, was overshadowed by the 'leak' of Verma's response to the CVC report against him. A Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K.M. Joseph, expressed displeasure at Verma's response being leaked to the CBI director's lawyer, Fali Nariman. Gogoi reportedly handed to Nariman a report by an online portal that contained details of Verma's response, which was meant to be delivered in a sealed cover. Nariman also expressed shock over the leak of Verma's response. Verma had submitted his response to the CVC report against him to the Supreme Court on Monday. The Supreme Court on Friday had said Verma should be given the CVC report on the allegations against him. During last week's hearing, the Supreme Court observed that the CVC report was very uncomplimentary" on some charges against Verma and said a further probe was needed on some aspects. The crisis in the CBI has continued since late last month when both Verma and his deputy, Rakesh Asthana, were sent on leave over a bitter professional feud. On Monday, a CBI officer investigating Asthana alleged that a minister in the Narendra Modi government had received a bribe. (With PTI inputs) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday announced she would not be contesting the next Lok Sabha elections, due by May 2019. Swaraj made the statement while talking to mediapersons in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Noting that while the final decision on contesting elections was with the BJP, Swaraj said she had made up her mind. Swaraj cited her poor health as a being a factor behind her decision. Swaraj was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996 and held various positions in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments of the late 1990s in addition to briefly serving as chief minister of Delhi. Swaraj attracted considerable media attention as an effective leader of opposition in the second UPA government. Though considered an acolyte of L.K. Advani, Swaraj was given the position of external affairs minister by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Swaraj had made a mark in the ministry of external affairs with her timely responses to appeals for help on social media. In 2016, Swaraj underwent a kidney transplant and reduced her public engagements. A multi-million dollar warship under the NATO command was entirely submerged after it struck an oil tanker in the early hours of November 8 in a Norwegian fjord. The KNM Helge Ingstad, dubbed as 'unsinkable', collided with a Malta oil tanker Sola TS. A 10-metre-long gash was torn into the side of the warship, which is one of the five in Norway's navy. The tanker, however, is said to be unharmed. The efforts to rescue the ship, which ran aground on underwater rocks, were foiled after the cables, attached to hold the frigate in place to prevent it from sinking, snapped. Now all that remains above the waterline is the frigate's top, antennas and radar. The warship was on its way home to Haakonsvern naval base after travelling around the fjords for navigation training. Questions remain as to why the well-equipped warship could not avoid hitting the slow moving, 62,557 ton, 250-metre-long oil tanker. The KMN Helge Ingstad is one of the five Nansen-class frigates billed as unsinkable due to its construction with water-tight zones designed to keep the warship intact and operable. All the crew escaped and only eight of the 137 on board were hurt. According to CNN, a joint Norwegian and Maltese investigation is now underway to try and determine the cause of the collison. The crash and the subsequent sinking of the frigate has given rise to discussions on gender politics and political correctness in Norway. Sound recordings and radar logs have revealed crude, almost incomprehensible, human errors made by the crew. According to experienced naval officers, the mistakes make the crew look amateurs. This, too, seems to have supported the claim of sceptics who have wondered about the role of women in armed forces. In 2016, Norway introduced conscription for women. The Navy received the highest number of women after conscription duties were introduced. The Norwegian publication Armed Forces had in an article heaped praises on the KNM Helge Ingstad crew in which four out of five navigatos were women. It is advantageous to have many women on board. It will be a natural thing and a completely different environment, which I look at as positive, Lieutenant Iselin Emilie Jakobsen Ophus, a navigation officer at the warship, had said. Norwegian journalist, military expert and political analyst Helge Luras has suggested that the dramatic incident is closely related to the proportion of women in the Norwegian Armed Forces. Luras claimed that the inclusion of women in the armed forces has had an effect on its professional culture. He writes that the armed forces prefer to be politically correct by increasing the number of women in the agency. "It is assumed that women make the Armed Forces better. Those who should think otherwise, receive a plain message that their opinions are undesirable," Luras wrote. Luras questioned Navy's reluctance in giving out the details of the incident as to who were at the helm at the time. He asks whether the Navy's priority should be spending energy and resources on 'integration' and creating a 'balanced' work environment or defending the country with the best available resources. The uninsured frigate has cost the Norwegian Navy its entire annual budget, but the country also lost millions of dollars with several oil and gas fields being temporarily shut down due to the accident. (Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with PR Newswire. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) BANGALORE, November 20, 2018/PRNewswire/ -- Torry Harris Business Solutions (THBS), a global leader in integration, full life-cycle API management and digital transformation, wins Comparably's 'Best of 2018 Award' for 'Work-Life Balance' under the large company category. "This award is significant as we celebrate 20 years of leadership in the integration niche and are looking for growth, both in Products and Services. Employees are our greatest asset and their happiness is important to us; we are thrilled that this aspect of our company culture is recognized," said Brijesh Sequeira, Chief People Officer at THBS. The overall culture score A+, incorporates employee ratings based on their feedback on the Overall Culture, Compensation, Leadership, Diversity and more. "This set of Comparably Awards focuses on companies that most reward their employees. These employers stand out as the best of the best providing amazing benefits and a great work-life balance," said Jason Nazar, CEO of Comparably. About THBS Torry Harris Business Solutions (THBS) is a multinational provider of business, technology and IT consulting services. It specializes in the areas of Integration, Platform Services, Full life-cycle API Management and Digital Transformation Services. THBS has been appraised at level 5 of the CMMI Institute's Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI Level 5). The company has been assessed and certified for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 & ISO 26001. THBS is also compliant with Payment Card Industry's Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). The company has its offshore development centres in Bangalore & Gurgaon (India). It has offices in Bristol (UK), New Jersey (USA), Dubai (UAE), Dublin (Ireland), Munich (Germany), Paris (France) and Vienna (Austria). Visit https://www.thbs.com/ to know more about the company, its services & products. Source: Torry Harris Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd. PWR PWR (Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with PR Newswire. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) HYDERABAD, India, November 20, 2018/PRNewswire/ -- - Conducts official raid at their production unit at Patancheru - Company accused of manufacturing pesticide laced, unapproved & spurious incense sticks - brands 'Fast Relax', 'Sleepwell' and 'Sainik' - Pesticide laced & spurious incense sticks cause multiple health hazards to the citizen in the form of respiro-thoracic breathing & allergy-attack problems The department of Agriculture, Government of Telangana raided and sealed the manufacturing units of Green India Marketing at Patancheru. The company was responsible for the manufacturing and distributing illegally pesticide-laced spurious incense sticks brands - Fast Relax and Sainik, Sleepwell across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The raids were conducted to unearth the sale of such unapproved pesticide-laced spurious incense sticks (agarbattis) that are being peddled into the local markets illegally. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/787490/HICA_Raid.jpg ) "Patancheru is filled with manufacturing units that are producing pesticide-laced harmful incense sticks and distributing in the markets. Gullible consumers are tricked into purchasing and using such pesticide-laced incense sticks (agarbattis) for avoiding mosquito menace but actually are at serious health risk over using such unapproved, unregulated, illegal agarbattis, believing them to have been manufactured with natural/herbal ingredients," said Mr. Jayant Deshpande, Secretary & Director HICA. These incense sticks are getting manufactured with compounds made from various unapproved pesticides' formulations which are not tested for toxicity and thus turn out to be filled with harmful chemicals which produce strong odour and smoke. All such agarbattis are being marketed in various brand names by unorganized illegal operators such as Sleepwell, Relax, Comfort, Happy Night and the like, under the garb of natural or herbal. Almost all of lower-strata society consumers as well as many commercial establishments such as pan-beeda/tea stalls/small retail kirana stores are being targeted to buy and use as well as propagate distribution of such chemical-laced agarbattis, including a few consumer supermarkets across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, for the purpose of keeping mosquito menace at bay, without bothering for public health and wellbeing. The department of Agriculture recently discovered misleading branded incense sticks are that are being sold across the country under brand names of Relax, Comfort, Sleepwell, Happy Night, Killer and several other similar brand names. The Central Board of Insecticides, Faridabad Haryana is also aware of this country-wide menace and has been cautioning the State Agriculture Departments to initiate action on such pesticide-laced unapproved/non-registered agarbatti manufacturers and distributors. Mr. Jayant Deshpande further added, "We aim to educate the public about proper care and use of home insecticides which are tested and prior-approved by the Central Insecticide Board so that consumer health occupies topmost priority in any manufacturer's mind. By manufacturing or importing such unapproved pesticide-laced harmful insence sticks (agarbattis) many unlawful organisations have mushroomed in the country to peddle and distribute 'misbranded insecticides' as 'herbal or natural agarbattis'. Thus, unscrupulous players within agarbatti industry and companies are giving a complete go-by to public health concerns and the insecticide regulatory regime in India. Such activities of these unscrupulous players are also adding up to depriving Government of its legitimate tax dues and problems public health deterioration. As an industry body, we urge all local businessmen and smallest retailer to refrain from buying or storing or peddling such pesticide-laced unapproved agarbattis as it could land them into criminal prosecution for marketing such illegal products." Mr. Jayant Deshpande also said, "Increased usage of these Incense sticks can cause multiple health disorders such as genetic mutations, lung cancer, asthma and other respiratory diseases, leukemia, heart disease, skin irritation, and neurological problems. There has been a considerable increase in the number of children (in the age bracket of 5-12 years) suffering from multiple respiratory issues, more so with the onset of winter months. Our aim is to make local retailers aware of such harmful agarbatti products and ensure that they stop selling them completely." About Home Insect Control Association (HICA): HICA is a premier organization established in 1991 to give impetus to the domestic home insecticides sector, to facilitate the members of the Association for the overall safety of the environment and to educate the public about the healthy and proper use of the home insecticides for a pest free life, and to introduce self-regulation and governance by the member industry. The association aims to render services to the society at large, especially to make known the contribution of the member industry to the health and welfare of the community, and to assist and co-operate with the govt. authorities, and public bodies and similar associations also to take up all problems and issues of the member industry with the government and its authorized agencies. HICA is a focused platform to voice the domestic insecticide manufacturers for the overall interest of its members to help to provide better service to domestic consumers for their health and to guard them against the disease bearing insects and pests in the society. Source: HICA PWR PWR Mumbai, Nov 20 (PTI) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has helped farmers of Uttar Pradesh by paying off their loans. The 76-year-old actor paid off loans of 1398 farmers from the state, that amounted to over Rs 4.05 crore. He shared the news in his blog where he wrote, "Gratitude leans across to the desire of removing some of the burdens that farmers continue to suffer from... "It was Maharashtra first, when over 350 farmers loans were taken care of... now its UP and 1398 of them that had out standings of loans on banks has been done with an outlay of 4.05 crore... and the inner peace it generates when the desired is completed." Bachchan has also personally arranged for 70 selected farmers to travel to Mumbai and receive their bank letters. PTI RB RB SHD SHD Mumbai, Nov 20 (PTI) Popular actor-comedian Sunil Grover is returning to the small screen with Star Plus show "Kanpur Wale Khuranas". The actor, who is known for playing characters like 'Gutthi' and 'Dr Mashhoor Gulati', says the fresh concept of the show interested him. "I am happy to be back on the small screen with a fresh concept. This character is unlike any I've played before and I am very excited to embark on this journey of entertaining my viewers. "The show is sure to charm everyone alike with a theme that resonates with the viewers and keep them hooked onto their television screens at night," Grover said in a statement. PTI BK SHD SHD Mumbai, Nov 20 (PTI) Actor Kareerna Kapoor Khan says she appreciates women coming out and speaking about harassment and believes everyone in the work space should feel safe. The actor says the women in the film industry want a secure work place and currently that is being addressed. "We are openly having discussion today. The fact that there are so many women, who have come out and spoken, that's a start. The fact is earlier people hadn't spoken for years," Kareena said. "Today, people have come out and I really appreciate those women, who actually had the courage to stand up and talk and that is going to help all of us change our workplace and give us security," she added. Kareena was speaking at the launch of Ishq 104.8 FM's show 'What Women Want', for which the actor has turned an RJ. Kareena said from the biggest star to the smallest, every one in the industry needs to be provided security. "Whoever it is, big or small, it has to be safe. It doesn't matter whether you are the biggest superstar or the smallest, women have to be secure. And the most important thing is that we have to keep this momentum going. We have to keep the conversation alive and once we do that, a lot will change," she said. When asked if the industry should take stand more openly, Kareena said, "A lot has been assessed and stands have been taken. I am sure legal course is being taken. "So many women have spoken out and so much has happened. For years, propel would hide behind the curtains. Today, we are openly having a discussion about it. So, it's a huge change." PTI JUR SHD SHD Islamabad, Nov 20 (PTI) It would be "good" for Pervez Musharraf if he returns to Pakistan to face the high treason trial, the Islamabad High Court has observed as it directed his lawyer to submit the former military dictator's travel itinerary at the next hearing. General Musharraf, 75, who has been living in Dubai since 2016, is facing the treason case for suspending the Constitution in 2007. The former military ruler left for Dubai in March 2016 for medical treatment and has not returned since. The former Army chief has been declared an absconder due to his persistent failure to appear before a special trial court set up to try him in the case. A two-judge division bench heard the petition filed by Musharraf against the constitution of a judicial commission by the special court for recording his statement. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) division bench, which resumed hearing of the case on Monday, told the counsel to visit Musharraf in Dubai and convince him to face the trial and bring the former leader back if possible, Dawn newspaper reported "It would be good for Gen Musharraf if he comes back and faces trial," the bench said. It directed the counsel to consult Musharraf and submit his travel itinerary at the next hearing, the report said. The bench also assured Musharraf's lawyer Salman Safdar that foolproof security would be provided to the former president if he returned. The court adjourned further hearing till the second week of December. Pakistan's Supreme Court in September assured Musharraf that high-level security will be provided to him if he returns to the country to face the trial in the treason case. The former president was indicted in March 2014 on treason charges for suspending the Constitution and imposing emergency which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges. A conviction for high-profile treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. Irked by Musharraf's failure to come back to Pakistan and face ongoing cases against him, Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar early last month warned that if the "courageous commando" did not appear soon, he may be forced to return in a disgraceful manner. Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, has been declared a fugitive in former prime minister Benazir Bhutto murder case and Red Mosque cleric killing case. PTI MRJ AKJ MRJ Hanoi, Nov 20 (PTI) India and Vietnam share a vision of a rules-based order in the strategic Indo-Pacific which includes the South China Sea and seek peaceful resolution of disputes in the region, President Ram Nath Kovind said Tuesday, amidst China's increasing assertiveness in the area. Addressing the National Assembly of Vietnam, Kovind, on his first visit to the ASEAN region as the president, said Vietnam is pivotal to Indias "Act East" policy. "We are both ancient maritime nations and are stake-holders in the commerce, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. Above all, we share the same values," he said. India's association with Vietnam has many aspects that include robust business, political and people-to-people bonds, he said. "Vietnam and India share a vision for the Indo-Pacific region, of which the South China Sea is a critical component. We share a vision of a rules-based order that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensures freedom of navigation and over-flight, as well as un-impeded commerce," Kovind said. China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the South China Sea. "Our shared vision seeks peaceful resolution of disputes, with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes in accordance with principles of international law, including those reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," the president said. India looks forward to enhanced bilateral cooperation with Vietnam in the maritime domain, he said. "India offers a cooperation model that does not require its friends to make choices but rather expands choices and expands opportunities for all; that opens not one but many roads," the president said. Kovind also spoke about the revolutionary leaders in both the nations, including Mahatma Gandhi and late Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh. "They remain inspirations for not just Vietnam and India but for the entire Asian continent and the global community. The coming year once again links these two remarkable personalities, and unites our countries," Kovind said. "The values of liberty, freedom and integrity that Gandhiji and President Ho Chi Minh espoused are rooted in our shared history a history of scholarship and mutual learning, and of abiding Buddhist and Hindu spiritual connections," Kovind said. He said the enlightened path of the Buddha has brought the two countries closer. "Buddhism's journey as a world religion began from India, and in Vietnam it acquired a unique identity, embedded in local culture," he said. "It is believed that ancient Vietnam had flourishing maritime and trade links with southern India's Pallava and Chola kingdoms," he said. President Kovind said India believes in development that is people-centric, that adds value to rather than adds a burden to local communities. The president also spoke about technology, India's start-up eco-system and space programme. "India will be happy to share its developmental experiences with Vietnam as per your country's priorities," he said. He said the challenge of climate change poses a danger to all human-kind. Coastal nations such as India and Vietnam feel the effects of climate change more than others, he said as he underlined the need of pushing towards renewable energy. "Beyond our region, India and Vietnam remain committed to cooperation in areas of emerging risk such as cyber-security, and in multilateral organisations," he said. Kovind also laid a wreath at the monument of National Heroes and Martyrs and at the mausoleum of Ho Chi Min. PTI NSA NSA Washington, Nov 20 (AFP) A federal judge has put a temporary halt to the Trump administration's new order denying the possibility of asylum to people who enter the US illegally. President Donald Trump issued the proclamation earlier this month as a matter of what he called national security as a US-bound caravan of Central American migrants made its way through Mexico toward the US border. US District Judge Jon Tigar on Monday in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump order. (AFP) MRJ MRJ Table Maratha quota report in House, demands Ajit Pawar Mumbai, Nov 20 (PTI) NCP leader Ajit Pawar Tuesday asked the Maharashtra government to table the State Backward Class Commission report on Maratha reservations in the Legislative Assembly, adding that the opposition would not let the House function till this demand is met. He was speaking to reporters outside the Assembly. Pawar, earlier in the day, however, had taken a different stand on the issue in the Assembly saying there was no need to table the report in the House without checking if it can be challenged in court. "When (state) Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil says Maratha quota should stand legal scrutiny, there is room for doubt. We demand that, whatever the report is, it should be tabled in the House. If this is not done, we will not allow the House to function," Pawar said Tuesday outside the Assembly. Pawar, speaking in the House earlier, had suggested that a committee of leaders from various parties be formed to discuss the commission's report to ensure it stands legal scrutiny. He said Maratha quota should be granted without impacting the existing 52 per cent reservation in the state. He also said that due to the delay, there is a fear among the OBCs that Marathas would be given reservation from their quota. Earlier, speaking in the House, Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said the state Cabinet had accepted the commission's recommendations on the Maratha quota of forming a special category of 'Socially and Economically Backward Class'. "We will check whether the recommendations, if challenged, will stand legal scrutiny and then decide on whether to table the report in the House," Patil had said in the Assembly. PTI MR BNM BNM \R Raipur, Nov 20 (PTI) A woman Naxal was Tuesday gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said. The firefight took place in the afternoon near Burdhapara village under Fulbagdi police station limits when security personnel were out on an anti-Naxal operation, Deputy Inspector General (Anti-Naxal Operation) Sundarraj P told PTI. A combined squad of the state's Special Task Force (STF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was cordoning off a forest area near Burdhapara, located around 500 kilometres away from the capital, Raipur, when Naxals opened fire, he said. After a brief exchange of fire with the security forces, the ultras fled the spot, the DIG said. The woman ultra, identified as Hemla Ayathi, was a member of Badesetti local organisation squad (LOS) of Maoists. Her body was recovered from the spot, he said. The search operation was still underway in the region and further details were awaited, the DIG added. A Naxal, identified as Chinga, who was a "deputy commander" of "Kerlapal area committee" of the Maoist outfit, was killed in an encounter in the same Fulbagdi area of Sukma on Monday. PTI TKP BNM KJ Don't elect even a single Congress candidate: Modi to voters (Eds: adding details) Jhabua/Rewa, Nov 20 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday asked people to vote "intelligently" in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, ensuring that "not even a single Congress candidate" is elected. Addressing a poll rally for the November 28 elections, Modi said the people of Madhya Pradesh have an opportunity to crush the Congress party's "ego". Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, Modi said, "History has shown us that however big a sultanate in Delhi is, its rule ends after four generations. Congress has also met the same fate". "Congress is a party whose leaders are confused and the party is fused. They can't pass current (power) to you," he said. People in various states who knew what Congress did haven't allowed it to return to power there, Modi said, citing Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal as examples. "In these states, the Congress was struggling for over 30 years but people didn't bring it to power, he added. Modi also said he used the "bitter medicine" of demonetisation to bring back money into banking system and to give "proper treatment to deep-rooted corruption system" in the country. "We use poisonous medicine to eradicate termite. Similarly, I used note ban as a 'tez' (bitter) medicine to treat corruption in the country." he said. "People who used to hide their money under beds, in their houses, offices and factories are now paying tax of every single penny and we are using this money for the right schemes for the common man," Modi said. Modi said ballots have prevailed over bullets in Jammu and Kashmir civic elections and in Chhattisgarh assembly polls despite threats by terrorists and Maoists. "The previous governments feared violence in holding elections in Srinagar," Modi said, adding civic polls were held there with "no trace of violence". "Despite terrorists calling for a bandh, elections were held three days ago in Kashmir valley. The polling percentage there was 65," he said. "People having faith in democracy proved their point," he added. "In Chhattisgarh, naxals threatened that if people did not boycott polls, their fingers would be chopped off. Around 70 per cent voting took place in the first phase of elections and a large voter turnout is seen for the second phase there today," Modi said. PTI LAL MAS ADU DC VT VT VT Panaji, Nov 20 (PTI) Hundreds of people, including some Congress leaders, Tuesday evening marched to the private residence of ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, demanding his resignation, and a "full-time" CM in his place. The people, who came together under the banner of 'People's March For Restoration of Governance', marched for about 1 km, and gave an "ultimatum" of 48 hours to Parrikar to step down as the CM. Apart from the Congress, other political parties including NCP and Shiv Sena also extended support to the protest march, which was initiated by social activists and NGOs. The protesters demanded Parrikar step down as the chief minister as he has been unwell. They said the governance in the state had suffered as Parrikar was ill and remained hospitalised for more than nine months. The police stopped the protest march 100 metres from the chief minister's private residence. Talking to reporters, Deputy Collector Shashank Tripathy said the CM refused to meet the protesters due to his ill-health. On behalf of the protestors, Aires Rodrigues, social activist and the leader of the protest march, publicly gave an "ultimatum" of 48 hours to the CM to step down. "We need a full-time CM. For the last nine months, the state administration has collapsed. The CM is not meeting his own ministers and MLAs," Rodrigues said. He said the people who marched to the CM's residence had also come to check on his health condition. Rodrigues warned of launching a state-wide agitation in case Parrikar does not step down within 48 hours. Congress leaders, including the party's Goa unit chief Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, MLAs Digambar Kamat, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Antonio Fernandes, Francis Silveira took part in the march. The Goa unit chief of Shiv Sena Jitesh Kamat said, "The people of the state are praying for the speedy recovery of the CM, but that does not mean he should continue to put the state administration on hold." Parrikar, 62, has been recuperating at his private residence since October 14 when he was discharged from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had earlier said Parrikar was suffering from pancreatic cancer. PTI RPS NP IND IND Sushma Swaraj not to contest next LS polls for health reasons (Eds: With fresh updates) Indore/Bhopal, Nov 20 (PTI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Tuesday announced that she will not contest the next Lok Sabha general elections due to health reasons. The 66-year-old leader, who is serving her fourth term in the House and has long been her party's most prominent woman face, said BJP will take a final call on the issue. Swaraj told reporters at Indore that after her kidney transplant operation in December 2016, doctors had advised her to stay away from dust, which has stopped her from attending programmes in open places. "Although my party has the right to decide my candidature, due to health reasons, I have decided that I will not contest the next Lok Sabha elections," Swaraj said. Swaraj, second term MP from Vidisha Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh, said that despite holding important posts of Leader of Opposition and Minister of External Affairs, she regularly visited all the eight assembly segments in her constituency. "In December 2016, after the kidney transplant, doctors advised me to stay away from dust and that is why I have been unable to take part in poll meetings for the last one year," she said. She said she could not participate in programmes being organised at open places due to health reasons and could only take part in such events in closed-door auditoria. "I have also told my leadership that I have to stay away from dust due to health reasons. I can go to foreign countries, but following the advice of the doctors to stay away from dust I am unable to visit Vidisha as mostly it comprises of rural areas only," she said. "I have toured my constituency maximum number of times as a member of the Lok Sabha among the MPs from Madhya Pradesh. Though I have not visited my seat for the last two years, I fulfilled all the promises I have made to the people of Vidisha sitting in Delhi," she said. Eight districts of Madhya Pradesh including Vidisha were listed among the most backward districts in the country by the NITI Aayog in its report released earlier this year. In April, Swaraj had said her constituency was backward due to the poor monitoring of welfare schemes. Last year, posters showing Swaraj as 'missing' had popped up in the constituency. "Gumshuda Saansad Ki Talash" (in search of a missing MP), they read. The posters, which also listed problems in her constituency, once represented by late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, went viral in the social media. Swaraj's husband Swaraj Kaushal posted "thank you" on Twitter and said even Milkha Singh stopped running. A leader who could sway crowds by her oratory in Hindi, Swaraj is among the few top politicians capable of speaking in English with equal ease. She was the youngest cabinet minister at 25 when she joined the Haryana government in 1977 and the first woman chief minister of Delhi. She is also the first woman external affairs minister of India. Indira Gandhi had held the portfolio while she was the prime minister. Swaraj has also served in the Rajya Sabha for three terms and was a member of the Haryana Assembly- the state she comes from - twice. She started her political life with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the RSS' student wing, and later joined the BJP. She was the Information and Broadcasting Minister in the 13-day Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1996 and got the Cabinet portfolio again after he led the BJP to power in 1998. Swaraj's most notable political battle was the one against the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Bellary in 1999 Lok Sabha polls. She was her party's nationalist woman counter to Gandhi, often attacked by the BJP for her Italian origins. Swaraj's intensive campaign, during which she gained proficiency in Kannada, won her innumerable local hearts with her speeches in their language, but Gandhi, who was fighting her first Lok Sabha election in a region then seen as her party's pocket borough, got better of her. Swaraj fell short of victory but grew in stature. Long seen as a protege of veteran BJP leader L K Advani, she also was the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha between 2009-14. PTI HWP/KR SKC LAL ADU NP RT VT VT VT Kolkata, Nov 20 (PTI) Days after news of alleged starvation deaths in West Bengal appeared in a section of the media, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday refuted the reports as "fabricated", saying the deaths either resulted from "age-related ailments" or "excessive liquor consumption". Last week, media reports had suggested that seven people of Sabar community, in Jungle Mahal area of Jhargram district, died due to starvation. In her address to the Assembly, Banerjee said the state government provides foodgrain to "every poor person" in the state. "The reports that people from Sabar community have died due to starvation is absolutely false and fabricated. No one has died in Bengal due to starvation. We provide free rice and wheat to each and every poor person in this state - from the hills in the north to Jungle Mahal in the south," she stated. Sabar community is an ethnic tribe, mainly found in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. "People have died in Jungle Mahal due to excessive consumption of liquor or age-related ailments. While two people have died of illness and old age, others have died due to liver problems caused by excessive consumption of liquor," she asserted. Listing the development projects taken up for the welfare of tribal communities, the CM said the state has always been sensitive to the needs of the poor. Meanwhile, the legislators of opposition CPI(M) and the Congress staged a walkout from the assembly as their demand for a detailed discussion on alleged Sabar community deaths was rejected, following the chief minister's unilateral statement on the issue. "The state government is afraid to hold a discussion, adhering to assembly rules, as it will unveil many secrets, giving us an opportunity to question the government. That is why the CM unilaterally gave a statement," Leader of opposition Abdul Mannan said. PTI PNT RMS IND IND Chandigarh, Nov 20 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday described the first death conviction by a Delhi court in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case as long overdue. "Justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the heinous crimes," Amarinder said, while reacting to the of sentencing Yashpal Singh to death and Naresh Sherawat to life imprisonment for killing two persons in south Delhi's Mahipalur during the riots. It has taken more than 30 years for the court to deliver justice in this case, the chief minister noted, adding that he hoped that the other cases would also be settled by the judiciary soon. The chief minister also expressed hope that others involved in the attacks would also soon be brought to book for their "horrendous and inhuman acts". The riot cases, which left a deep scar on the national consciousness, need to be expedited and taken to their logical conclusion at the earliest, said Amarinder, who had personally visited the refugee camps to help the victims in the aftermath of the riots that had left thousands dead and lakhs homeless. PTI CHS HMB New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) The NIA Tuesday filed a charge sheet against Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, deputy chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group and brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, and 13 others in connection with a case pertaining to the attack on an Army camp in Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir in November 2016, officials said. The spokesman of the NIA said in a statement that the charge sheet was filed under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (substitute of IPC in Jammu and Kashmir), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Foreigners Act against the accused. "Investigation conducted by the NIA revealed that four local Kashmiri JeM members, namely Mohd. Ashiq Baba alias Mohd. Ashaq, Syed Munir-Ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmad Dar and Ashraf Hamid Khandey (all arrested by NIA) had facilitated a group of three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists and transported them from International Border in Samba-Kathua sector to Hotel Jagdamba in Jammu and subsequently to Nagrota in their vehicles for the attack on the November 28, 2016 on Officers' Mess Complex, 166 Medium Regiment of Indian Army in Nagrota Cantonment (near Jammu)," the spokesman said. The three Pakistani JeM terrorists -- Khalid alias Abu Hissam, Numan and Aadil, who were highly trained and equipped with AK-47 rifles and explosives carried out the attack in which seven Army personnel were killed and three were injured. All the three terrorists were killed. The NIA said the probe showed that Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, Deputy Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad and brother of Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was the mastermind of the Nagrota attack. "He worked out the plan of Fidyeen (suicide) attack and provided training to above three Pakistani JeM terrorists. He also directed Mufti Asgar (launch commander of JeM in Kashmir region) to provide training, funds, equipment and mobile and other logistics to local JeM member Mohd. Ashiq Baba. Mohd Ashiq Baba had visited Pakistan many times and met JeM terrorists Waseem (Operational commander of JeM), Abu Talha alias Doctor (deputy commander in Jammu region) and Qari Zarar (launch commander of JeM for Jammu region). He was taken for a meeting with Mufti Asgar at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On reaching there he was received by Abdullah alias Al Hijama and Tariq Mir, both JeM terrorists who are close associates of Mufti Asgar. "During meeting with top leadership of JeM commanders Mufti Asgar chalked out a detailed plan including the modus operandi to be adopted for infiltration of JeM terrorists and he asked Ashiq to activate local JeM network in Jammu and Kashmir for Jehadi cause. Ashiq Baba was given training at Manshera in Pakistan and handed over money for arranging logistics along with a GPS enabled Huawei mobile phone for communication with JeM leaders in Pakistan," the spokesman said. The NIA has collected evidence on the basis of disclosure of the accused, detailed social media analysis, digital evidence through requests under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and analysis of data extracted from the seized digital devices. PTI SKL SMN Jammu, Nov 20 (PTI) Pakistani troops Tuesday targeted areas along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir with mortars and small arms, officials said. No casualties have been reported. The shelling took place in Figwar and Malti areas in Poonch sector, they said. According to reports, Pakistani troops also violated the ceasefire in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district. PTI AB DV DV New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) The Congress Tuesday alleged that some people were trying to influence the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections by using unfair means and urged the Election Commission to take immediate action against them. A Congress delegation headed by the party's in-charge in Chhattisgarh, P L Punia, met Election Commission officials and handed over a memorandum to them, demanding immediate intervention and action on its part. In the memorandum, the party alleged that the BJP candidate from the Samri Assembly constituency in the state "has been found distributing cash, electronic voting machines have been found in Chirmiri in the Manendragarh seat and police have seized a number of EVMs from the headmaster of a government high school". "Both the incidents point to insidious attempts on the part of certain individuals to infiltrate and influence the outcome of the ongoing elections in Chhattisgarh," the memorandum read. "The Election Commission of India has maintained that the integrity of EVMs is beyond reproach. This begs the questions why is a government servant (the headmaster) found to be in unauthorised possession of EVMs. That too in an on-going election. "We request that the use of EVMs be put under review while the EC examines the matter and arrives at a conclusive finding," the memorandum read. Given the egregious nature of the act, we request that the BJP candidate be suspended with immediate effect pending an inquiry, Punia said. Congress spokesperson and Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev said the party has filed a complaint with the EC. "It is shocking that a candidate of the BJP was caught distributing cash before the day of the polling. An FIR has been filed and the EC has assured us that action will be taken," she said. PTI SKC GVS \R New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) Trafficking survivors and activists have urged the government to recognise human trafficking as a national phenomenon and bring more women in the decision-making role to change the mindset of the people. In a workshop organised by Sankalp Foundation on 'Is Human Trafficking a People's Issue in Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana?', the survivors made an appeal to the government to recognise trafficking as a people's issue or a mainstream governance issue. Naharvi, a trafficking survivor from Chattisgarh's Champa district, said she had worked as a bonded labour for 10 years in the brick-kiln industry. "We were made to work for 17 hours a day and just allowed to sleep for four hours. We were kept locked and not allowed to move at our will. That is not a kind of life I want for my children and no one recognises our problems," she said. Hemlata, an activist who worked for rehabilitation of brick-kiln workers from Rajasthan, said there was a need to look at trafficking from the point of view of migration. "There is a need to ensure safe migration for women and children so that they do not get trafficked due to unsafe migration." The activists and survivors urged the government to recognise trafficking as a national phenomenon and bring more women in the decision-making role. "The participation of women of women needs to be increased and unless women come under decision-making role, till then, change would not come in the mindset of people," said Sumitra, a social worker from Telangana. PTI UZM HMB New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) A fire broke out on the fourth and fifth floors of the YMCA building in central Delhi on Tuesday, the Delhi Fire Service said. A call about the fire was received at 6.18 pm, and five fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The blaze has been brought under control, a senior officer of the Delhi Fire Service said. No injury or casualty has been reported so far, the official said, adding the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. PTI NIT AMP GVS Chandigarh, Nov 20 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, whose party has announced to contest both the Lok Sabha and the state Assembly elections in Haryana, will hold rallies covering each of the 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state unit president Naveen Jaihind said the party would hold a public rally in Gurugram on November 24. Then on December 2, the party will hold a rally in Faridabad, followed by another one on December 3 in Narnaul, while on December 9, a rally has been planned in the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency. The schedule for the remaining rallies will be announced later, Jaihind told reporters here Tuesday. He also said Kejriwal will go to Sonipat on Wednesday to give ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to the family of BSF jawan Narender Singh, who was brutally killed by Pakistani troopers along the International Border (IB) near Jammu in September. The AAP government had earlier approved a proposal to amend a rule on giving ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to the kin of slain security personnel to include those who have settled in the national capital after joining the service. On September 21, Kejriwal had also visited Singh's native village. Jaihind said Kejriwal was stopped by BJP activists from visiting a state-run dispensary at Karnal on Saturday and wondered if the M L Khattar-led dispensation "will do the same when he visits the martyr to give the ex-gratia". "Will they stop him here too," he wondered. The Delhi chief minister had recently written to Khattar, expressing his wish to inspect some government dispensaries of Haryana. He had also invited his Haryana counterpart to visit the "mohalla clinics" set up by the AAP dispensation to check the "ground reality" of health institutions in the national capital. Lambasting the Khattar dispensation, Kejriwal had on Saturday said, "The Haryana chief minister is well aware that the condition of hospitals and schools in Delhi is far better than in Haryana." The Haryana CM does not have the courage to either visit health clinics in Delhi or allow the AAP to inspect its own clinics because while the Delhi clinics are so well maintained, those of the Haryana are in a total mess and the BJP government has not done anything to improve them, Jaihind alleged. Jaihind charged the BJP-led Haryana government of tearing down the party's 200 banners and posters in the state. "The BJP does not tear posters and banners of other opposition parties like the Indian National Lok Dal and the Congress. Is the BJP afraid of the AAP," Jaihind asked. He alleged that the BJP government in Haryana had failed on all fronts and the people would vote it out in the next election. Ahead of next year's polls, Kejriwal has made multiple visits to Haryana, which is also his native place, and has projected the AAP as the only viable alternative. PTI SUN IJT New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) will organise a march from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu to Delhi against the NDA government over issues of unemployment, corruption and social inequality. The "Yuva Kranti Yatra" will begin on November 26 from Kanyakumari and reach the national capital on Martyrs' Day on January 30 after covering all the states. "This government has been doling out slogans of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' but facts state massive rise in sexual and physical violence against women in the last four-and-half years. They have failed on all fronts be it promises of development, farmers' welfare or corruption issues," Youth Congress President Keshav Yadav said. Youth Congress Vice President Srinivas BV said, "The youth of the nation feels cheated. Tall promises of development have fallen flat and the government has been indulging in name-changing and divisive political stunts to take attention away from their failure. This is the reason why we are forced to march across the length and breadth of the nation to awaken this government." Rising unemployment, price hike, farmers' distress, rising incidents of violence against women and corruption in the country are among the few issues which the protesters will be raising during the march. The march is also to save the Constitution, which the outfit claims is under attack from the ruling dispensation. PTI AMP GJS SMN (Eds: Correcting day of incident in para 2 ) New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) A 38-year-old woman was stabbed allegedly by a known person outside her beauty parlour following a quarrel in K N Katju Marg area in Delhi's Rohini district, the police said Tuesday. The incident took place Monday evening, they said. The woman was standing outside her beauty parlour when the accused attacked her with a knife after an argument broke out between them over some issue, a senior police officer said. Police visited the spot after they were informed about it. The woman was then taken to a nearby hospital where she is being treated for her injuries, he said. She suffered injuries in the chest and stomach, the officer said, adding that the victim is out of danger. The woman has not recorded her statement with police yet as she was under treatment, the officer said. Police said the motive behind the incident will be clear once the victim records her statement. The 28-year-old accused is absconding since the day of incident. Further investigation is underway, police said. PTI AMP CK New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) The Congress Tuesday condemned the attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said it does not support anyone practising such "dirty politics". Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said he would not take even 30 seconds to condemn such an act and anyone who practices such politics. The remarks came after a man threw chilli powder at Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, an attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described as "politically motivated" while asserting that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy in collusion with Delhi Police to attack the chief minister. "It will not take even 30 seconds for me to condemn such an act. The Congress does not believe in this kind of dirty politics. Whosoever has done it, it is neither definition of our politics, nor thought. I feel everyone should condemn such an act. Such a person who does such an act needs to be condemned, who ever it may be who practices such politics," Singhvi told reporters. Earlier, the Delhi Police issued a statement recounting the incident but did not specify whether the man threw chilli powder. The statement mentioned that the man possessed a pouch which apparently contained chilli powder. The man behind the attack, 40-year-old Anil Kumar Sharma, a resident of Naraina has been detained for questioning, the police said. While the AAP blamed the BJP for the alleged attack, the Delhi chief of the saffron party Manoj Tiwari said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody" and called for a high-level probe. PTI SKC RCJ Chandigarh, Nov 20 (PTI) The Special Investigation Team probing the police firing on mobs protesting the 2015 incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab has given Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar the option of appearing before it in Chandigarh instead of Amritsar on Wednesday. The Punjab Police SIT had earlier summoned Kumar to Amritsar circuit house on November 21. We have given him (Akshay Kumar) the freedom to appear here (in Chandigarh), SIT member and Inspector General of Police Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said Tuesday. Akshay, whose name figures in the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report on the desecration incidents, has already denied arranging any meeting between former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Dera Sacha Sauda sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Actor had also denied having ever met Sirsa-headquartered Dera's chief, who is currently serving a 20-year jail term in two rape cases. Kumar had issued the denial on November 12 after the SIT summoned him along with former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. It has come to my knowledge that some rumours and false statements are being loosely made on social media about my involvement with a person named Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the context of a fictitious meeting involving Sukhbir Singh Badal, Akshay had said in tweet. With all humility, I would like to state the following facts. I have never ever met Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in my life, anywhere. I learnt from social media at some point that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh resided for a while at some place in my locality Juhu in Mumbai but we never crossed each other's paths, Akshay had said on the micro-blogging site. The SIT has already questioned former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal in Chandigarh. Sukhbir told SIT members Monday that he had never met Akshay outside Punjab when asked if he had met the actor in Mumbai. The Justice Ranjit Singh commission report, which was tabled in the Punjab assembly in August, had referred to a letter written on October 9, 2017 to it by former MLA Harbans Jalal, claiming that the Dera chief and the former deputy CM had met at the actor's flat in Mumbai in 2015 to facilitate the release of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's movie 'MSG' in Punjab. The meeting was allegedly held before the Dera chief was pardoned in a blasphemy case. The movie MSG could not be released in Punjab in September 2015 because of an edict by the Akal Takht, supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, against it. The summons had been issued in connection with the Bargari sacrilege case and the police firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura. The five-member SIT was set up by the state government in September this year, soon after issuance of the notification to withdraw investigation of sacrilege incidents of Guru Granth Sahib from CBI. PTI CHS SUN VSD RAX RAX New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) Delhi Police arrested a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operative, who was earlier associated with the Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday for allegedly killing a sub-inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police, officials said. The man, identified as Ansar Ul Haqe, a resident of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly hatched a conspiracy to kill the sub-inspector with his girlfriend after finding out that she knew the policeman, they added. On October 28, the bullet-ridden body of 30-year-old Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir was found in Chewa Kalan area of Pulwama district, Pramod Singh Kushwah, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), said. The victim, Mir, who was working with the CID department, was returning home in his car when he was allegedly abducted by terrorists and killed, he said. Mir had been warned about a possible attack on him and even his superiors had told the officer against venturing into his village. The Delhi Police learnt about the possible hideouts of the accused. However, the accused kept changing his hideouts from Mumbai to Bengaluru and other nearby areas, he added. On November 20, police received information that Haqe would come to Delhi Airport from Bengaluru and will head to Srinagar. Accordingly, a trap was laid at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) and in the early morning on Tuesday, the accused was nabbed at T3 terminal of IGI Airport, the senior police officer said. Haqe was a former worker of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, which he had joined in 2014, police said. He was motivated by a local terrorist, Wajid, also a resident of Pulwama. Through him, Haqe came in contact with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and was in regular contact with other Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist, the officer added. Haqe used to pass information to the terrorists about the movements of security forces and local police officers, he said. PTI AMP SLB SLB SMN SMN Raipur, Nov 20 (PTI) Voting for the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections began on Tuesday amid high security. A total of 1079 candidates are contesting in the 72 constituencies of 19 districts in the state with an electorate of 1,54,00,596. This is the last of the two-phase polls to the 90-member Assembly where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power for the last 15 years. "Voting begun at 7 am in two polling booths of Bindranavagarh constituency (Gariaband district), while in the remaining 72 booths, polling started at 8 am," an election official said. The time of polling in 72 constituencies is from 8 am to 5 pm except in two polling booths- Amamora (booth no. 72) and Modh (no.76) in Bindranavgarh where polling is being held from 7 am to 3 pm due to the threat posed by Naxals, he said. Around 1.50 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state to ensure peaceful polling, he said. In the second phase, districts like Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur and Balrampur are Naxal-affected areas and extra vigil was being maintained there, the official said. The polling will take place in central and north Chhattisgarh, where 72 each from the BJP and Congress, are in the fray. There are 119 women contestants while the maximum number of candidates are in Raipur city south constituency where 46 nominees are in the fray. The least number of candidates are in Bindranavagarh seat 6. The fate of the state Assembly speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal (Kasdol constituency) and 9 ministers- Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur city south seat), Rajesh Munat (Raipur city west), Amar Agrawal (Bilaspur), Bhaiyyalal Rajwade (Baikunthpur), Ramsevak Paikra (Pratappur), Punnulal Mohile (Mungeli), Prem Prakash Pandey (Bhilai Nagar), Dayaldas Baghel (Nawagarh) and Ajay Chandrakar (Kurud) besides party state president Dharamlal Kaushik (Bilha) will be decided in this phase. Besides, Congress state chief Bhupesh Baghel (Patan constituency), leader of opposition TS Singhdeo (Ambikapur), Congress MP from Durg Lok Sabha seat Tamradhwaj Sahu (Durg rural), former union minister Charandas Mahant (Shakti) are among the key Congress candidates who are contesting in the final phase. This time, the coalition between Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party, former chief minister Ajit Jogi's JCC(J) and Communist Party of India (CPI) has added another dimension to the electoral politics of Chhattisgarh which has always been dominated by the ruling BJP and opposition Congress. A three-way fight is imminent in several seats of Bilaspur division of the state where Ajit Jogi contesting from Marwahi seat, his wife Renu Jogi (JCC-J) from Kota and his daughter-in-law Richa Jogi (BSP) from Akaltara. Of the total number of voters, 77,53,337 are men, 76,46,382 women and 877 are from the third gender. Of the total 72 seats, 17 are reserved for Scheduled Tribe and 9 for Scheduled caste. A total of 19,336 polling booths have been set up for the second phase, of which 444 are sensitive booths. Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT) were set up in all 19336 polling stations. EVMs will have 19,336 control units and 25,640 ballot units. Of the 19,336 polling booths, web casting facility has been provided in 2,112 booths through which Election Commission of India can monitor those polling stations, he said. For the second phase of voting, 84,688 polling personnel have been deployed including the reserve staff. The polling parties were dispatched to their respective polling stations, he said. The first phase of polls was held on November 12 in eighteen constituencies of eight Naxal-affected districts wherein over 76 per cent voter turnout was recorded. The counting of votes will be held on December 11. PTI TKP RSY RHL Mumbai, Nov 19 (PTI) Sohrabuddin Sheikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter in 2005 with the "dual motive of political and monetary gains", the chief investigating officer (CIO) in the case told a special court here Monday. CIO Amitabh Thakur also told the court that he had not found any material evidence to show who the political beneficiaries were. Sheikh, a suspected gangster with terror links, was shot dead on November 26, 2005 while he was in custody of the Gujarat Police in an alleged fake encounter. His wife Kausar Bi was also allegedly killed in a similar manner within a few days. Sheikh's aide Tulsi Prajapati was allegedly killed in a staged encounter by the Gujarat and the Rajasthan Police in December 2006. "It is correct to say that as per the charge sheet filed in the case, there was a dual motive in the alleged encounter of Sohrabudin Sheikh. One was political and another was monetary," CIO Thakur told special court judge S J Sharma. "I have not found any material evidence to show the persons who were political beneficiaries," he added. Thakur further said there was no material showing if any of the accused facing the trial in the case got benefited "politically or monetarily" from the alleged killing. Of the 38 people charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), 15 people, including senior IPS officers D G Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian and Dinesh MN, and then minister of state for home in Gujarat Amit Shah were discharged by the court. PTI AVI NSK IJT New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) The Supreme Court Tuesday adjourned the hearing on CBI Director Alok Verma's plea challenging the government's decision to divest him of his duties, expressing anguish over the alleged leak of his response to a CVC report. The court, while adjourning the hearing to November 29, also expressed displeasure over publication of graft allegations by CBI DIG M K Sinha against senior officers. The top court adjourned the matter twice, soon after the hearing began and again later in the day. Irked over the alleged leak of Verma's confidential response to the Central Vigilance Commission's findings on corruption charges against him, the top court said none of "you deserve any hearing". "We don't think any of you deserve any hearing," Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said, adjourning the matter for the first time. However, the court agreed to hear Verma's plea after finishing the day's hearing after his lawyers Fali S Nariman and Gopal Shankaranarayanan mentioned the case again before a bench headed by Gogoi. The CBI director in his plea has challenged the government's decision of divesting him of his duties and sending him on leave. Later, the bench recommenced the hearing, making it clear at the outset that it was not going to hear any party and would confine itself to the issues red flagged by it. Miffed over the alleged leak in a media portal, the bench, which also comprised justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, said it wanted to keep Verma's response confidential to maintain the CBI's dignity. Taking umbrage of various media reports based on the petition filed by Sinha, Gogoi said, "But here is a litigant who mentions it before us and then goes out to distribute the petition to everyone." Sinha on Monday dragged the names of NSA Ajit Doval, Union minister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC K V Chowdhury over alleged attempts to interfere in the probe against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has been divested of his duties and sent on leave along with his boss. The bench said, "This court is not a platform for people to come and express whatever they want." "This is a place where people come for adjudication of their legal rights. This is not a platform and we will set it right," it said. The top court again adjourned hearing to November 29 and refused to hear any party, including the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). PTI ABA MNL SJK PKS ANB ANB New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) A Delhi court Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. The verdict pronounced in the Tihar Jail due to security concerns and attack on the convicts on the premises of the Delhi court. On November 14, the court had convicted Singh and Sherawat for killing two men here during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots -- the first conviction in the cases reopened by the SIT. The Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a Special Investigation Team on the riots reopened it. PTI SLB UK PKS GVS New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the leak of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing in his case to November 29. The response was filed by Verma and submitted to the secretary general in a sealed cover on Monday. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph handed over to senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, the copy of a report by a news portal, which has published the CBI director's response. Nariman after going through the media report told the bench that he was "shattered" and "shocked" on Verma's reply being leaked in the media. The senior lawyer said the news portal and its journalists concerned be summoned as the press should be free and responsible. The court was hearing Verma's plea against govt's decision to divest him of duties and sending him on leave. PTI ABA MNL SJK PKS ANB ANB Chennai, Nov 20 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Tuesday visited districts hit by Cyclone 'Gaja' in the state and distributed relief material among the affected people. Palaniswami, who on Monday announced Rs 1000 crore for immediate relief and rehabilitation works, visited affected areas in Pudukottai and Thanjavur districts this morning. The cyclone crossed the state coast near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district, about 300 km from here, on November 16 claiming 46 lives and leaving a trail of destruction in over ten districts in southern Tamil Nadu with six of them hit badly. Accompanied by ministers and officials, Palaniswami inspected some coconut groves devastated by the cyclone in Thanjavur district and also distributed relief materials, including rice and other essential articles, to the affected people. He would later visit Nagapattinam district, which bore the brunt of the cyclone fury. On Monday, Palaniswami took stock of the situation at a high-level meeting here and announced an immediate cash assistance totalling Rs 8,800 to each family sheltered in relief camps besides, 10 kg rice and four litres of kerosene. He has also said compensation would be given to farmers and fishermen. In a statement, Palaniswami had said the toll in the cyclone has risen to 46, while a total of 2,51,674 people were staying in relief camps. He said Rs 5,000 would be given as immediate livelihood support to each family lodged in cyclone centres, to those who lost their homes and fishermen who lost their boats. Besides, Rs 3,800 per family would be given for buying clothes and utensils, he said. In addition, people whose huts were completely damaged will be provided with Rs 10,000 assistance while partially damaged houses will get Rs 4,100. The state will also seek central funds considering the extent of the damage, he said. He said coconut farmers will get a compensation of Rs 2.64 lakh per hectare while for paddy crops it will be Rs 13,500 per hectare. On the farm front, 88, 102 hectares of agricultural and horticultural crops had been damaged. The Chief Minister has also said compensation ranging from Rs 42,000 to Rs three lakh would be given to fishermen depending on the extent of damage to their fishing boats. The cyclone which crossed the coast with a speed of up to 120 kmph has left a trail of destruction, uprooting 1.7 lakh trees and damaging 88,102 hectares of agricultural land. It caused severe damage in the districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Tiruvarur in the state and Karaikal in Puducherry, besides affecting Dindigul, Sivaganga, Tiruchirappalli, Cuddalore, Karur and Theni districts also. Over 1.31 lakh people had been accommodated in relief camps in Nagapattinam district. Protests were held by residents in parts of Thanjavur and Thiruvarur districts on Monday, demanding early restoration of power and drinking water supply. Facing flak over alleged tardy relief measures, the state government has said people should not think that only such protests would solve their problems and asserted it was working to reach out to all. On Sunday, irate people in Kotthamangalam village in Puthukottai district had gone on a rampage, setting ablaze government vehicles and clashed with police, protesting alleged failure of officials to provide them relief. PTI VS DV DV Two lakh people for poll-related work in Telangana: Official Hyderabad, Nov 20 (PTI): Over 1.6 lakh employees and 30,000 policemen would be deployed for election-related work in Telangana which is going to polls on December 7, chief electoral officer Rajat Kumar said Tuesday. Speaking to reporters here, the poll official said, "All together, about two lakh personnel will be involved in the election process. About 30,000 policemen will be deployed at various polling stations.". Referring to the rules of the Election Commission of India, he said 20 per cent of workers should be in reserve to be used in case of emergency. The electoral officer said employees from banks and public sector undertakings would also be involved in the polls as observers. He said 3,583 nominations were filed by candidates belonging to various parties and the scrutiny of the nominations was on. The poll official said the State has 2.80 crore people enrolled in the voters list. He said personnel from the police and income tax departments have seized Rs 90.72 crore worth of currency and Rs 7.55 crore worth of liquor ever since the model code of conduct came into effect. Also, he said, complaints against some political parties with regard to poll code violations were being looked into. PTI GDK NVG NVG Rajini tells Makkal Mandram to disburse relief materials Chennai, Nov 20 (PTI): Actor Rajinikanth Tuesday told the office-bearers of Rajini Makkal Mandram to disburse about Rs 50 lakh worth of relief materials in cyclone Gaja-affected districts of Tamil Nadu. The Rajini Makkal Mandram is seen as a precursor to the proposed political party to be launched by the actor. Meanwhile, LYCA Production Pvt Ltd which has produced several films, including the upcoming Rajinikanth-starrer '2.0', said the production house would contribute Rs one crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to take up relief activities in the cyclone-affected areas. A total of 46 people has lost their lives in the cyclone which has left a trail of destriction in over 10 districts in the southern parts of the State. On Monday, the state government announced a cash assistance of Rs 8,800 to each of the families in relief camps besides supplying 10 kg of rice and four litres of kerosene. PTI VIJ NVG NVG Jammu, Nov 20 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Tuesday greeted the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi. He expressed hope that the occasion would be the harbinger of harmony, peace, progress and prosperity in the state. In his message, the governor observed that Islam teaches people the values of brotherhood, simplicity, compassion and morality, all of which need to be followed wholeheartedly in every day life. PTI AB ANB ANB Amritsar, Nov 20 (PTI) Former district president of Aam Aadmi Party Suresh Sharma suffered gun shot wounds when two unidentified bike borne men fired at him at Chehertha locality here on Tuesday evening, police said. The bullets hit Sharma's legs and thighs, they said, adding the former RTI activist was taken to a private hospital where his condition was said to be stable. At the time of attack, Sharma was at his furniture shop, officials said. They said the motive behind the attack was yet to be ascertained and investigation was underway. Sharma is a supporter of AAP's rebel group led by MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Both factions of AAP condemned the attack. In a press statement, the leader of opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Harpal Singh Cheema, and AAP Amritsar Lok Sabha candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the law and order situation in the state has gone from bad to worse. PTI JMS CHS IND IND Gote fields his own candidates in Dhule civic body polls Mumbai, Nov 20 (PTI) BJP legislator Anil Gote, who had last week announced resignation as member of the Maharashtra Assembly and the party, has fielded candidates for the upcoming Dhule Municipal Corporation polls under the banner of Lok Sangram, an outfit headed by his son. Talking to PTI, Gote said he has fielded candidates for all 74 seats of Dhule civic body under the banner of Lok Sangram. Gote also slammed the BJP saying despite an assurance about not giving candidature to criminals, the party has given tickets to 28 persons "against whom serious cases are registered". Tuesday was the last day of filing of nominations for Dhule civic polls that will take place on December 9. The civic body has a voter population of 4.46 lakh. Gote said Fadnavis asked him not to resign from the BJP membership and as MLA. He added that he would not resign as he has not indulged in any anti-party activities. "The BJP should be felicitating me because I am the only one who has stood by the principles of the RSS and late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Today, the BJP is no more a party of principles," he alleged. Gote's criticism of the BJP comes barely 24 hours after he met Fadnavis, who he claimed had assured him that "criminals" would not be given tickets in Dhule polls, it would be fought under his leadership and that those recommended by him would be given tickets. On November 12, Gote had said he will resign from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as well as the BJP to protest against what he called induction of "criminals" into the saffron outfit. "There are only three candidates in Dhule polls who are originally from the BJP. The rest have been imported from other parties. Out of the nominations filed by BJP, 24 are criminals, while around 14 have very serious charges registered against them," Gote claimed. The legislator had won the 2009 assembly election from Dhule as an independent and joined the BJP ahead of the 2014 state polls. He was earlier arrested in connection with the multi-crore stamp paper scam and is now out on bail. In the past, the legislator had denied any involvement in the scam, which was spread over several states, including Maharashtra. PTI MM NP NP (Eds: Updating with registration of case against the attacker, arrest) New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) A man flung chilli powder at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, an attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described as "politically motivated", while asserting that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy in collusion with the Delhi Police to attack the CM. Even as the AAP alleged that it was the third attack on Kejriwal, Delhi Police, however, issued a statement recounting the incident but did not specify whether the man threw chilli powder or not. The statement mentioned that the man, Anil Kumar Sharma, possessed a pouch which apparently contained chilli powder. Later in the night, the Delhi Police registered a case against Sharma at the IP Estate police station, a senior police officer said. He, however, added that no formal complaint was received from the secretariat. After a preliminary enquiry conducted so far, a cognisable offence prima facie was made out, therefore, a case under Indian Penal Code sections 186 ( obstructing public servant in discharge of duty), 506 (criminal intimidation), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) has been registered, the officer said. Sharma, the accused, has been arrested, he said, adding that the case has been taken up for investigation because the accused threatened the chief minister. A joint interrogation by IB, Special Cell and local police was conducted which revealed that the accused was unstable and incoherent, the officer said. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his party would not be "cowed" by these "petty tactics" of the BJP. The BJP hit back with its Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari terming the attack a "drama" and calling for a high-level inquiry into it. The Delhi government issued a rejoinder, accusing the Delhi Police of "lying on record" about the "premeditated attack" on the Delhi chief minister inside the Secretariat. "The security of the Delhi Secretariat is the responsibility of the Delhi Police and there have been numerous incidents of security breaches in the recent past," it said. "Instead of owning up its serious lapses, the Delhi Police is spreading lies under political pressure," the government said, adding that it would explore all legal options to deal with the situation. A purported CCTV footage of the incident showed Kejriwal was being accompanied by his staff outside his office at third floor of the Delhi Secretariat. The accused could be seen approaching him without any check and handing him some papers that Kejriwal gave to his staff. The accused could be seen bending down to touch Kejriwal's feet and then suddenly lunging at him. However, in a statement issued later, the Delhi Police said the incident took place around 2.25 pm on the third floor of the Delhi Secretariat. "When the CM was coming out of his chamber, one person later identified as Anil tried to hand over his complaint to the chief minister who in turn passed it on to a staff member," it said. Meanwhile, Anil bowed down to touch Kejriwal's feet. The chief minister's security tried to take him away but in the process, Kejriwal's spectacles fell, the statement said. Subsequently, security personnel took the 40-year-old accused aside and found him carrying a pouch in his hand, which apparently contained chilli powder, it said. "Sharma was visiting the Secretariat with reference of some staff. He has been detained for further questioning," the statement added. Sources said Sharma managed to gain entry into the Delhi Secretariat after being issued a pass to go to the PGMS unit of the government. They said he had apparently gone to seek help for an ailing relative. While the AAP blamed the BJP for the alleged attack, Delhi unit chief of the saffron party Manoj Tiwari said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody" and called for a high-level probe. Kejriwal's spectacles broke but his eyes seemed to have been spared any damage, they added. Sharma, whose Aadhaar card was recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of 'khaini', or chewing tobacco, they said. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Sharma threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted. The incident took place outside the chief minister's chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch. AAP's national spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who was behind Kejriwal when the incident took place, tweeted, "Was right behind CM @ArvindKejriwal at the Secretariat when he was suddenly attacked, on 3rd floor right outside his office. Shocking lapse of security. Is this Delhi Police's incompetent effort to protect an elected CM?" In another tweet, Chadha said, "While today just the CM's glasses fell to the floor and broke, an unacceptable security lapse nonetheless. Imagine if attacker were to be wielding a more dangerous weapon. Who were to have prevented a tragedy from occurring?" Sisodia told reporters: "Recently BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of signature bridge. The BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the chief minister". Officials close to Kejriwal accused the Delhi Police of being lax in providing him security. PTI AMP SLB BUN VIT TDS IJT CK I'm due an inheritance from Australian deceased relative. I'm now a pensioner on state pension. It works out to just under 40,000. Do I pay any income tax on this? How do I minimise the tax on any income I earn from saving or investing this money? -Sheila, via email With careful planning money that you get from an inheritance may be spread between investment pots in order to save in a tax-efficient way Angelique Ruzicka of This is Money says: Fortunately, it looks like you're not subject to paying income tax on your inheritance. There's further good news too. According to Paul Falvey, tax partner at accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, there should be no UK taxes on these funds, and as Australia does not have inheritance tax, you should receive the 40,000 tax-free. If you want to invest the money, there are many options open to you. Mark Stone, financial planning director, Whitechurch Financial Consultants says your investment choice would depend on what you want to do with it, the length of time you want to invest it for and the risk you are prepared to take. He explains: 'If the timescales are short or you have a low risk profile then the home could be cash based. 'If you are looking longer term of more than five years and have the ability to take on risk and have a reasonable capacity for loss then investment portfolio could be put together to include Isa investments for tax efficiency.' Falvey cautions about the tax you pay if you invest the money: 'The income the investments generate may be liable to UK tax depending on the level of your other income. 'For example, if your only other income is a UK state pension, there is unlikely to be any tax due on this new investment income.' With careful planning, though, the money may be spread between investment pots in order to save in a tax-efficient way. Lucy Brennan, partner in the private wealth group at Saffery Champness explains: 'It is important to consider the various tax allowances available when managing the resulting income from the inheritance monies if invested in tandem with regular earnings. 'For example the Isa allowance means you can save up to 20,000 per year with the resulting income and gains being tax free. 'The dividend allowance on which you can receive dividends tax free each year is 2,000. 'Finally the personal savings allowance is 1,000 for a basic rate tax payer, and 500 for a higher rate taxpayer.' TSB has poached a top female banker for its vacant chief executive post as it battles to recover from an IT meltdown that left its reputation in tatters. Debbie Crosbie will take over in the new year after Paul Pester resigned in September. He was ousted after the April disaster which locked as many as 1.9m customers out of their accounts. In charge: Debbie Crosbie will take over in the new year after Paul Pester resigned in September JUST TEN WEEKS MATERNITY LEAVE When Debbie Crosbie isn't wading through mountains of memos, she likes to immerse herself in a romantic novel. And after getting through the Financial Times in the morning, she sometimes affords herself a quick flick through Hello! magazine. In an industry where bosses are often telling us how well-read they are, this is a woman who possibly doesn't take herself too seriously. Warm and engaging, Crosbie's been known to deal with customer complaints by phoning them personally. Doubtless this is part of what brought her to the attention of the board of TSB, many of whose account holders are still frothing at the gills from its recent IT meltdown. Born in Glasgow, her father was an engineer, mother a care worker. She studied business at Strathclyde University before moving to the City as a trainee at Prudential. She moved to Clydesdale Bank as a project manager in 1997. Married to a small business owner, she returned to work just ten weeks after giving birth to their now teenage daughter, and spent four years on a three-day week. As a sign of how valued she was, it was the first time the bank had granted an executive such an arrangement. It will make Crosbie, 48, the most powerful woman in British banking with an empire covering 4.2m customers and 60 billion of deposits and lending. The appointment follows fears that TSB was struggling to find a chief executive. Senior finance figures, including former Virgin Money boss Jayne-Anne Gadhia, had turned down the role. Crosbie is chief operating officer at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banking Group (CYBG), where she has long been seen as a safe pair of hands and became the first woman to have her signature on a Scottish banknote. The married mother of one will face the daunting task of rebuilding TSB's shattered reputation after it squandered its image as a caring alternative to the major High Street banks. Cleaning up the mess after the bank's botched computer system upgrade has already cost 250m, with the bill expected to rise in the final quarter of this year. Crosbie must also walk a political tightrope with the bank's Spanish owner Sabadell amid speculation it sees TSB as a liability and could even put it up for sale, with possible bidders including Crosbie's current employer. TSB would not say what Crosbie who will commute to the bank's London headquarters from her home in Edinburgh will be paid, but her fixed pay is expected to be slightly higher than Pester's at more than 1m, with bonuses on top worth hundreds of thousands of pounds more. She is also expected to get a lump sum to compensate her for the loss of up to 1.1m-worth of CYBG shares which had been coming her way under various bonus schemes. TSB chairman Richard Meddings said the bank had considered more than 30 possible candidates and interviewed six. He said that 'in an impressive field' Crosbie stood out. Sabadell is thought to have hoped that the IT upgrade at TSB would be a success and be a launch pad from which it could buy more banks in Britain. But the failure means that dream is all but dead, and market watchers believe Sabadell might cut its losses in the UK. Meanwhile Meddings who insisted that Sabadell remains committed to TSB said that the bank will be bidding for a slice of a 775m state-backed fund to increase competition in business banking. He added that the lender could still pocket some of this cash despite the damage the IT catastrophe had inflicted on its credibility. He said: 'All I can do is control what I can control, which is simply to make sure we submit a very good bid.' The new owner of Johnston Press, who saved it after it fell into administration, has been accused of 'dumping' responsibility for staff pension schemes. The regional newspaper publisher, which owns titles including the i, Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman, was rescued by creditors through newly formed company JPI Media over the weekend, in a controversial pre-pack administration deal. It means that 250 current staff and 5,000 former employees who are enrolled in Johnston Press's defined benefit scheme will be transferred to the Pension Protection Fund the pensions lifeboat for failed firms. In trouble: The regional newspaper publisher owns titles including the i, Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman In a note to staff, David King, chief executive of Johnston Press, said the sale to JPI Media was the 'best available solution'. But in a letter to The Pensions Regulator last night, Frank Field MP, chairman of the Commons work and pensions committee, criticised the new owners for failing to take responsibility for employees' retirement. 'It would be helpful to have an explanation of why it was not possible to find a solution that would have avoided the pension scheme entering the PPF,' he said. 'It is difficult to understand why it is possible for JPI Media to acquire the business, no doubt in the expectation of generating a profit from it, but without taking any responsibility for its pension scheme.' Field asked the regulator: 'Do you consider that adequate protections are in place to prevent schemes being dumped on the PPF, at cost to pensioners and levy-payers?' The PPF is paid for by final salary schemes, which pool their money so the organisation can ride to the rescue of any that go bust. Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright was accused by Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson of ignoring an 'inevitable crisis in local news' caused by the deal. 'After 134 days in post he needs to stop sleeping on the job,' Watson said. Uncertain future: American Edward Bramson owns more than 5 per cent of the bank A corporate raider targeting Barclays is expected to demand a seat on its board in the coming weeks sparking a fight over its future. American Edward Bramson owns more than 5 per cent of the bank through his fund Sherborne Investors and is thought to be pushing for a break-up of its prized investment arm. The 67-year-old is said to be close to declaring his hand around a year after first buying the stock. Investment insiders said Bramson is likely to seek a board seat if the bank does not do his bidding. Under the rules of his fund, this will put the New Yorker in line for a multi-million-pound bonus if the share price goes up. But it would also trigger a public row over the future of the bank. Chief executive Jes Staley has been building up Barclays investment arm since taking over in 2015 so it can take on Wall Street, meaning Bramson will likely face fierce resistance if he tries to force a change in direction. Shares in CYBG, the group that recently bought Virgin Money, fell more than 10 per cent after it swung to a full-year loss and warned of lower levels of business confidence due to Brexit. It comes as CYBG, which is the parent company of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, could also be facing legal action by hundreds of small businesses who claim they were mis-sold tailored loans. CYBG shares fell 10.5 per cent to 222.40p in afternoon trading. Loss: CYBG, which has recently bought Virgin Money, has been hit by more PPI claims Underlying pre-tax profit jumped by 13 per cent to 331million, but CYBG booked a 164million pre-tax loss in the year to the end of September after compensating more customers who were mis-sold payment protection insurance. The group was stung by 396million of legacy conduct costs, the bulk of which were linked to PPI claims, which came in higher-than-expected. CYBG said it will increase its PPI provisions by a further 150million as it estimates 83,000 future claims as the August 2019 final deadline to claim compensation approaches. Meanwhile, the group is being sued over another type of mis-selling by hundreds of small businesses represented by RGL Management, which expects to make a claim against Clydesdale and its former parent, National Australia Bank (NAB), in the first half of next year. RGL alleges that small businesses suffered a loss from tailored business loans that were sold to them between 2001 and 2012. James Hayward, RGL's chief executive, said he is 'extremely confident' about the legal merits of the case. 'This is especially so given the persistent failure of both defendants to disclose pertinent information requested repeatedly over a period of nearly a year as part of pre-action protocol correspondence.' But a CYBG spokeswoman said they were 'enraged' and that 'no claim has been received'. 'The allegations contained within the correspondence are not accepted by the bank and if necessary will be defended in the strongest terms possible,' the spokeswoman added. The accusations come as CYBG, whose 1.7billion takeover of Virgin Money was given the green light last month, warned about the impact of Brexit. Chief executive David Duffy said: 'Clearly Brexit negotiations mean the external political and macro economic environment remains inherently uncertain. 'We have planned for a period of uncertainty, but it is impossible to ignore the lower levels of business confidence, especially for SMEs, while the final specific outcome of negotiations remains unclear.' The group said mortgage lending and core small and medium enterprise increased by 4.5 per cent and 5.6 per cent respectively in the year, but net interest margin dropped to 2.17 per cent from 2.27 per cent. CYBG's takeover of Virgin Money has marked one of the first major banking deals since the financial crisis It has created the UK's sixth largest bank with assets of more than 70billion and more than six million customers. By Tracy Rucinski CHICAGO, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Boeing Co plans to hold a conference call with airlines on Tuesday morning to discuss systems on the 737 MAX model that crashed in Indonesia last month, according to four sources with familiar with the matter. A Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX crashed in the Java Sea on Oct. 29, killing all 189 people on board, in the first major accident involving the latest version of its popular narrow-body plane. After the crash, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines that erroneous inputs from the anti-stall system's sensors could lead the jet to automatically pitch its nose down even when autopilot is turned off, making it difficult for pilots to control. American Airlines Group Inc last week said it had been "unaware" of some functions of the so-called Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) designed to prevent the 737 MAX from stalling. Indonesian investigators said the system was not detailed in Lion Air's flight manual. Bloomberg first reported on Boeing's plans to hold a call with airlines on Tuesday. One of the sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the call might be postponed. Boeing last week said it had provided two updates for operators around the world that re-emphasise existing procedures to deal with situations relating to MCAS. Boeing declined to provide further comment. In a message to employees on Monday, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said news reports that claimed the manufacturer withheld information on MCAS from airlines were "untrue" and the function had been described in the flight crew operations manual, according to aviation journalist Jon Ostrower. In a memo on Friday, a United Airlines union said the carrier's pilots were properly trained to handle an MCAS malfunction even though the system was not mentioned in a course for those switching from older models to the new jet. A preliminary report on the Lion Air crash will be released on Nov. 28 or 29, according to Indonesian investigators who have analysed the doomed jet's flight data recorder. However, divers have yet to locate the airline's cockpit voice recorder, which would shed light on pilot interactions that are important for gaining a fuller picture of the circumstances of the crash. (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; additional reporting and writing by Jamie Freed in Singapore) TORONTO, November 19, 2018 Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI) announced that its shareholders approved a plan of arrangement to implement the companys proposed return of capital transaction at a special meeting held today in Toronto. A final report on voting results will be filed by the company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The return of capital transaction is one of several ways that the company is returning US$10 billion of proceeds from its recently closed Financial & Risk transaction to its shareholders. The return of capital transaction consists of a distribution of US$4.45 in cash per common share (approximately US$2.5 billion in the aggregate) and a consolidation of the company's outstanding common shares (or reverse stock split) on a basis that is proportional to the cash distribution. Timeline/Next Steps The plan of arrangement for the return of capital transaction is subject to final approval by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) as well as the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The Court hearing for a final order to approve the plan of arrangement is scheduled to take place tomorrow. If those final approvals are received: Thomson Reuters will determine the share consolidation ratio after 4:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on November 26, 2018 and issue a news release later that day with applicable information for shareholders; The plan of arrangement will become effective at 3:01 a.m. (Toronto time) on November 27, 2018 and the post-consolidation shares are expected to begin trading on the TSX and NYSE under a new CUSIP when markets open that day; As promptly as practicable after the transaction is effective, the companys depositary for the transaction (Computershare Trust Company of Canada) will deliver cash distribution amounts to registered participating shareholders, subject to the terms and conditions of the transaction. The effects of the share consolidation will be reflected in the companys share register. Beneficial or non-registered shareholders participating in the transaction will receive cash distributions from their bank, broker or other intermediary and the effects of the share consolidation will be recorded in their accounts; and Eligible shareholders who duly exercised their right to opt out of the transaction will not receive the cash distribution and will continue to hold the same number of shares that they held prior to the effective time of the transaction. Opt-out deadlines expired last week. Further details of the proposed return of capital transaction are described in the companys management proxy circular dated October 16, 2018 and related materials, which are available on www.thomsonreuters.com in the "Investor relations" section. The return of capital documents were previously filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR and are available at www.sedar.com. The documents were also furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission through EDGAR and are available at www.sec.gov. Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI) is the worlds leading provider of news and information-based tools to professionals. Our worldwide network of journalists and specialist editors keep customers up to speed on global developments, with a particular focus on legal, regulatory and tax changes. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including statements relating to the timing of the return of capital transaction. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and reflect our companys current expectations. As a result, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including other factors discussed in materials that Thomson Reuters from time to time files with, or furnishes to, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There is no assurance that the return of capital transaction will be completed or that other events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. CONTACTS MEDIA David Crundwell Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs +1 416 649 9904 david.crundwell@tr.com INVESTORS Frank J. Golden Senior Vice President, Investor Relations +1 646 223 5288 frank.golden@tr.com John Hancock Investors Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. It invests in the fixed income markets across the globe. The fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of corporate and government bonds, debt securities. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. John Hancock Investors Trust was formed on January 29, 1971 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More Invesco Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund is a close-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc., Invesco Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, Invesco Asset Management Limited, Invesco Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, Invesco Senior Secured Management, Inc., and Invesco Canada Ltd. It invests in the fixed income markets across the globe with a focus on the United States. The fund invests in securities of companies that operate across diversified sectors. It invests in fixed income securities such as senior secured floating rate loans, fixed rate loans, and collateralized debt. The fund employs fundamental analysis with a bottom-up security selection process to create its portfolio. It conducts in-house research to make its investments. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index. It was formerly known as Invesco Van Kampen Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund. Invesco Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund was formed on June 26, 2007 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance. It firm operates through the following segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Wealth & Investment Management, and Other. The Community Banking segment offers complete line of diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses including checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, and automobile, student, and small business lending. The Wholesale Banking segment provides financial solutions to businesses across the United States and globally. The Wealth and Investment Management segment includes personalized wealth management, investment and retirement products and services to clients across U.S. based businesses. The Other segment refers to the products of WIM customers served through community banking distribution channels. The company was founded by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo on March 18, 1852 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. 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 SANTA MONICA, Calif. Electric scooters are a little like Q-Tips . In both cases, the products are marketed with explicit warnings about how not to use them, even though everyone knows thats precisely the way pretty much every customer will use them. For scooter riders here in Santa Monica, it means: Dont you dare ride on the sidewalk, which is against the law, even though it sometimes feels super unsafe to ride next to cars. Or: Wink-wink, always wear a helmet. Also, the beach bike path is verboten, even though it is the smoothest, most fun, most scenic ride possible. And definitely dont just dump your scooter in the middle of a busy path or sidewalk. Aw shucks, well, we did warn you. Guess its your fault if you land in the ER. I get it. Electric scooters are hard to regulate. Theyre different from other popular modes of transit skateboards, bicycles, motorcycles, cars so theres no template for rules or best practices. And how do we retrofit both our laws and our car-centric infrastructure to accommodate such a promising new(ish) technology? Compounding all this, public officials are also somewhat scarred by their experience in the ride-share wars. Not so long ago, companies such as Uber and Lyft appeared and proceeded to ignore existing livery laws some of which were sensible, some of which were stupid to gain market share. In the process of turning themselves into billion-dollar-plus unicorns, the companies mounted aggressive public-relations campaigns. Persnickety politicians who tried to enforce the law were labeled puppets of Big Taxi, or worse Luddites. Faced with this new alien e-species, regulators may fear earning another scarlet L. About a year ago, Santa Monica became the first city to fully grapple with the task of regulating scooters. It shows how difficult it is to get the regs right. Developments here followed an arc that will sound familiar to the scores of other cities that have since been inundated. First came giddy media coverage about these whiz-bang devices. Theyre cheap and fast! Theyre super fun! Second came the furious stories about tangled nests of discarded scooters and, more seriously, injuries to both riders or pedestrians. One gentleman, William Kairala, recalls waking up in the emergency room with a fractured skull and possibly permanent brain damage. Theyre very handy. The problem is: You find a scooter, but you dont find a helmet, he said during an interview for a PBS NewsHour segment I did on Santa Monicas experience. And unfortunately I fell off of one. I wasnt even going fast. Third, the backlash: scooters thrown into the ocean or off buildings, set on fire, or desecrated by dogs. Brakes and batteries cut. Furious town halls. Lawsuits. Santa Monica initially fought with the scooter companies, even filing a criminal complaint against one, Bird. Ultimately the city launched a pilot program in September with tighter regulations governing when and where the devices could be used, which companies could operate, and so on. But after another PR campaign, Santa Monica appeared to cave on its original criteria for which firms could participate, and when I interviewed city officials more recently, they took on a more conciliatory tone. So, strikingly, did the vendors themselves, perhaps wary of being banned altogether. Ride-sharing companies had an established, motivated customer base people frustrated with their local taxi monopoly willing to fight the regulators on their behalf. Scooter companies dont really have an equivalent. Which perhaps explains why even Lyft emphasizes just how deferential its being in rolling out its scooter business. Our goal here is to do whats right, and whats right in this context is to work closely with the cities, get permits and launch once we have permission, David Fairbank, Lyfts bikes and scooters market manager, told me. Why does its scooter-sharing strategy seem so different from its car-sharing one? I asked. I dont have a ton of context on that but, yeah, were working closely with the governments this time, he said. Meanwhile, the bad habits that riders developed during the Wild West days remain. Helmet use is still virtually nonexistent. (In January, California will actually stop requiring them.) Scooters are still on sidewalks, beach paths and other places officially forbidden for safety reasons. It is great that regulators and firms have turned the temperature down a little this time and are trying to develop a workable, safety-minded set of regulations. But only if those regulations actually get enforced. Catherine Rampells email address is crampell@washpost.com. Follow her on Twitter, @crampell. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group In a far corner of the Clark there is a wonderful little show with a big name: "Extreme Nature!" It includes an underwater Jules Verne fantasy in color wood engraving by Alphonse de Neuville with jellyfish descending on the deep sea divers like flying saucers. And a stark and classic topographic albumen photograph of Anasazi cliff dwellings by Timothy O'Sullivan. As well as a beautiful etching and mezzotint vision of a sublime mountain landscape in Scotland by J.M.W. Turner, with an expanse of sky and sharp peaks. Yes, there is diversity here in these 38 mostly lithographs, etchings, and photographs, including some touchstone prints by Winslow Homer, a mammoth plate view of Yosemite by Eadweard Muybridge, and a Turner-influenced study of stormy mountains by Thomas Moran. Curator Michael Hartman has taken an all-embracing view of nature. He even includes a William Blake illustration of God looking down on some monsters, so it may seem to be a bit of a potluck even though the works are grouped into themes like "alluring landscapes" and "natural disasters." The real theme throughout, however, is science. The growth of scientific observation and experimental study from the 18th to the 19th century was profound, and it led people to view and depict the world in fresh ways. Indeed, the concurrent romantic movement and its embrace of individual, emotional responses to the world is partly a reaction against science and its necessary detachment. The section called "volatile atmospheres" with its fantastic skies and storms reveals both the public's growing interest in meteorology and its newly ecstatic awe of the sublime. The lightning bolts hitting some trees in William Baillie's dark print are not exactly realistic, but they're dramatic, with a strangely geometric sheet of diagonal lines over part of the print representing the rain itself, an idea borrowed straight from Rembrandt. Next to this is a small watercolor by Francis Powell, "Scene on a Scottish Lake." This is quite the scene, with stormy clouds, craggy peaks, and animated waves. Overwhelmed in the foreground is some kind of wreckage, maybe a steam-driven boat. Clearly, nature has established its superiority over the Industrial Revolution. This depiction of nature in triumph is an emblem for the show overall. Sometimes it appears that nature is almost too much to comprehend. The startling Dunmore and Critcherson photograph of a 325-ton sailing ship dwarfed by an iceberg is, to use an inflated but appropriate word, awesome. The trail of black smoke from the ship's coal burner leaves a hard dark swoop against the sparkling white of the snow. Look closer and see two men on the ice, themselves dwarfed by the humbled ship. The ongoing battle between humans and the outside forces is no surprise in Winslow Homer's etchings of scenes along the Maine coast. One shows men struggling with navigational aids in a storm. Another, "Saved," is a large etching version of a woman being rescued with a rope system, based on an earlier (and rather celebrated) painting of the same scene, which was inspired not by an actual stormy rescue but by a demonstration of a new lifesaving technique. Despite all the waves and winds, this isn't a splashy or loud show. Even so, it would be a mistake to think it isn't thrilling in its quiet way. Or not so quiet. Floods, fires, solar eclipses, solar flares, trips to the moon, and trips to hell itself make this a topical eye-opener in our own early days of climate change. The storms of the next century, imaginable to artists and scientists equally, begin here. Albany Turns out that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is the rare politician who can unite us. All it took was bestowing billions on the company owned by the richest man on Earth. Backlash to the Amazon giveaway is coming from the left and right, Democrats and Republicans, downstate and up. It is not often you see conservatives nodding in agreement with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Watching the New York City congresswoman-elect defended by Tucker Carlson on Fox News, as she was last week, was another rare twist. Is it possible that Cuomo expected the deal to bring an Amazon headquarters to Queens would be met with widespread praise? I wouldn't have believed him capable of such tone-deaf naivete, but he does seem surprised by the overwhelmingly negative reaction. On Monday, Cuomo released a long essay he called it an "op-ed"; some called it a screed in which he defended the giveaway by attacking the integrity of its critics, including those in the media. He must have a mimeographed copy of Trump's playbook. The essay/screed suggested that opponents of subsidizing the Amazon complex are centered among "the extreme conservatives and the socialists." Now, extreme conservatives have been a Cuomo punching bag for years. (You may remember that he once said they had no place in New York.) But I don't remember him targeting socialists before. In any event, the Democratic governor argued that subsidies are business as usual in New York (part of the problem, I'd say) and that to characterize the deal as a giveaway is to ignore how it will eventually boost tax revenue or create jobs. Cuomo didn't name any socialists who oppose the deal, but we can assume the reference was a shot at Ocasio-Cortez, who has described herself as a Democratic Socialist and had the gall to suggest that giving billions to Jeff Bezos' company might not be the best idea when New York City's subways are crumbling. She's right, of course. Cuomo did find an example to represent those dreaded extreme conservatives: The New York Post's editorial page. The governor added that media critics of the Amazon deal (The New York Times opposed it, too) are compromised because they compete with the Bezos-owned Washington Post and because some, including the Times, have benefited from government subsidies of their own. The hypocrisy charge isn't entirely wrong, but Cuomo ignored that many critics don't oppose the idea of the incentives but the immense scale of the biggest such package in state history. Meanwhile, it's plainly deceptive to suggest that opponents of the deal have "hyper-partisan ideologies." One of the loudest critics is state Sen. Michael Gianaris, a Democrat from Queens whose critique of the Amazon package seems entirely mainstream. He's worried about the impact on his borough and the secrecy surrounding the negotiations. He thinks it's wrong that the Amazon site will be developed without community input. He doesn't believe tax dollars should be advantaging hugely profitable companies as small businesses suffer. "This is robber-baron stuff," Gianaris said. "The corporations are deciding policy." As Gianaris noted, Cuomo's argument is based on a faulty assumption: That Amazon would not have come to New York without the giveaway. There is no reason to believe that is true. Indeed, Amazon choose the Queens site, along with one outside Washington, over far-more lucrative offers. Cuomo's essay never mentions Bezos' wealth or Amazon's profits. He doesn't mention the helipad New York has agreed to provide. Nor does Cuomo mention the unfairness involved in forcing existing New York businesses to subsidize a predatory competitor. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Last year, in a survey by the Institute of Local Self Reliance, 90 percent of independent retailers said Amazon is hurting them. In a 2016 survey of 3,000 independent businesses, online competition easily ranked as the greatest threat ahead of health-care costs, access to capital and the difficulty of finding good employees. It would be one thing if Amazon were destroying Main Street on its own. Fair competition creates winners and losers, and there is little doubt that Americans love online shopping and even Amazon itself despite its poor treatment of workers, tax avoidance and promotion of creepy facial-recognition technology. But it is unjust that Amazon's growth has been fueled by subsidies, and it is unconscionable that $3 billion from New York will further destroy what's left of our hollowed-out Main Streets. Cuomo's Amazon package is about government helping to create a monopoly. It is yet another example of a global megacorporation using its influence to get perks no smaller company could receive. The deal is about the big getting richer, while the small wither away. It is encouraging that so many New Yorkers, on the left and right, recognize why the Amazon giveaway is so wrong. If only Andrew Cuomo understood, too. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill ALBANY Darlene had to wait three years before the classmate who she accused of raping her was expelled from their upstate college. She graduated in 2017 and has since moved on with her life. But the expulsion might not have happened if a new rule proposed by President Donald J. Trump's administration was in effect. "It sickens me," Darlene (not her real name), said of the prospect that she might have been cross-examined by her attacker during the campus disciplinary hearing that was convened after she finally gathered the courage to come forward about the attack. She said she might not have come forward at all. Rape victims and women's advocates are leading the charge against the proposed new rules that would guarantee the right of an accused sex abuser to cross examine his or her accuser. Many colleges and universities, though, are still working on their responses to the rules that would go into effect after an upcoming 60-day public comment period. The changes are part of an updating of Title IX rules proposed by federal Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who recently announced the proposal. Many schools this week are formulating their response to the proposal. "We're in the process of learning more about the regulations and gathering information from our member institutions," said Keith Cushing, vice president for public affairs and research at the state Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities. State University of New York Chancellor Kristina Johnson noted that SUNY's 64-campus system has web-based tools to support sexual assault victims. In a prepared news release last week, she added that New York state has stringent laws about reporting such incidents. Still, some schools already see a raft of problems with the new rules. The changes could make campus hearings more akin to "mini trials," said Lois Goland, Siena College's Title IX coordinator, creating a deterrent to people coming forward with complaints and potentially carrying significant legal expenses. (Darlene did not attend Siena College and the attack did not occur there.) "From what we can see now, we expect that under the new guidelines there would be significant involvement by outside attorneys. Complainants, defendants and witnesses would be subject to cross-examination and the questions would need to come from the advisor/attorney for each of the parties," Goland said. "We're very concerned that this, along with other proposed changes, could be a major deterrent to people reporting assaults or serving as witnesses." "Also, despite the secretary of education's statement that these regulations would save hundreds of millions of dollars, it is quite possible that their implementation could be very costly and would have a negative financial impact, particularly on smaller colleges," she added. Title IX is the set of federal civil rights laws designed to guard against sex discrimination in education. During the Obama Administration, the federal Department of Education in 2011 issued so-called "Dear Colleague" letters saying campuses should use a "preponderance of the evidence" standard in determining whether an accused sex abuser was guilty or not. There was no requirement for direct cross examination. The new proposed rules represent a pendulum swing in the other direction, giving more rights to the accused and making such cases more akin to court proceedings rather than campus disciplinary hearings. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Defendants would be guaranteed the ability to conduct live cross examinations, either in person or through a video link. Victims like Darlene believe the prospect of being cross examined by an attacker would be too frightening for many, thus deterring them from coming forward in the first place. Organizations that follow gender and campus justice issues this week are weighing in as well. "This Administration is committed to protecting the perpetrators rather than the victims of sexual violence," Noreen Farrell, executive director of the Equal Rights Advocates women's equality group wrote on their website on Friday, when news of the proposed regulations came out. Not everyone agreed with that sentiment. "Students accused of serious misconduct are entitled to meaningful due process rights, and the proposed regulations include a number of important procedural protections that will improve the integrity of the process for everyone," Samantha Harris, vice president for procedural advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education wrote on the website of that group, which is associated with some conservative causes. Also weighing in on Twitter was New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who said "These proposed rules will discourage survivors from coming forward, and return schools to a time where sexual assault and harassment were swept under the rug." Gillibrand, who was traveling and could not be reached on Monday, has pushed for legislation that would give police a wider role in campus sexual assault cases and set guidelines regarding positive consent. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU NEW YORK Federal prosecutors have asked a federal judge to sentence SUNY Polytechnic Institute founder Alain Kaloyeros to a "substantial term of imprisonment" after his conviction last summer on bid-rigging charges. Prosecutors, however, asked for a sentence below the 14 years Kaloyeros could receive under federal guidelines. Kaloyeros, 62, escaped war-torn Lebanon for America and rose to became the face of the nanotechnology industry in the Capital Region and, later, throughout upstate New York. Formerly one of the highest-compensated public employees in the state, he's scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 11 after being convicted on all counts in one of two trials resulting from the federal investigation into the state's "Buffalo Billion" development efforts. A federal jury in Manhattan determined in July that Kaloyeros rigged bids on state contracts worth more than $850 million that were part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's initiative, which was intended to revive the economies of western and central upstate New York. The contracts were awarded to COR Development in Syracuse and LPCiminelli in Buffalo, outfits that prosecutors were able to prove at trial had been favored. Kaloyeros as well as Louis Ciminelli, the owner of LPCiminelli, and COR Development executives Steve Aiello and Joseph Gerardi were all convicted of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy. Gerardi, COR's general counsel, was additionally found guilty of lying to federal investigators. "Kaloyeros abused a position of great power and public trust, and did so in order to curry favor with a lobbyist and with the governor of New York all in an effort to guarantee his position of prestige and authority," stated a memo submitted Monday by prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office. Read federal prosecutor's memos to the judge. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Kaloyeros would face a term of between 11 1/4 years to 14 years. In their memo, prosecutors showed a degree of leniency for the physicist, who at trial they described as having been motivated by "power and hubris," and the fear of losing his lofty position at the school he founded. "The government respectfully submits that the defendant should be sentenced principally to a substantial term of imprisonment," the memo stated, adding that "a sentence below the applicable guidelines range is warranted in this case." Attorneys for Kaloyeros asked U.S. District Court Judge Valerie Caproni to impose a sentence of no more than four to 10 months. Also submitted to Caproni were dozens of letters seeking leniency for Kaloyeros from his family and former SUNY Poly associates as well as Capitol figures such as former New York Post political columnist and editor Fred Dicker, who praised Kaloyeros as "the single most creative and impressive force for the regeneration of Upstate New York's sadly deteriorated economy." David Catalfamo, a Republican political consultant and former aide to Gov. George Pataki, wrote to Caproni that Kaloyeros' contributions to the state and the Capital Region in particular were "profound." "Through the years, he helped to transform the economy of the region, making it the epicenter of nanotechnology research and development in the world," Catalfamo wrote. In their memo to the judge, defense attorneys said Kaloyeros had overcome having a father who was "an abusive alcoholic who brutalized his family," and whose rages sent his wife to the hospital on multiple occasions. "When Alain was lucky, his father's drinking spells would end in prolonged absences from the family wreaking havoc on their finances," the memo said. "When Alain was unlucky, his father's drinking spells led to violent abuse." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "Alain Kaloyeros is a good man. He is a loving and devoted father, educator and friend," stated the letter from Kaloyeros' defense team. "He is also an exceptionally talented nanotechnology researcher. Alain's hard work, perseverance and integrity earned the respect and admiration of countless colleagues throughout higher education from students to campus staff to fellow researchers to CEOs." The memo noted that Kaloyeros derived no personal financial gain from the crime and argued it was aimed at improving the school's mission. "He has lost his career and his income," his lawyers stated. "He is not a danger to society and his conviction has already sent a powerful message throughout the state." At trial, prosecutors presented evidence showing that in September 2013, Kaloyeros "cooked" a supposedly open and fair bidding process. Kaloyeros allowed the LPCiminelli and COR Development executives to have advance copies of requests for proposals (RFPs) that were to be put out by the Fort Schuyler Management Corp., a nonprofit arm of SUNY Poly that approved the contracts. A month later, Fort Schuyler put out RFPs seeking developers for non-specific SUNY Poly-related projects in Syracuse and Buffalo. COR submitted its bid for the Syracuse-area RFP on Nov. 7, 2013; LPCiminelli sent its bid for the Buffalo RFP on Dec. 10, 2013. The Buffalo RFP required applicants to have at least 50 years of experience in the area, a prerequisite that prosecutors said have been custom-tailored to favor LPCiminelli. The RFP was later changed to require 15 years after Ciminelli became fearful it would expose the bid-rigging. Kaloyeros' trial came three months after another jury convicted former top Cuomo aide Joe Percoco of taking bribes in exchange for official favors. Percoco was sentenced in September to six years in prison. Ciminelli and COR's Gerardi are scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 28 and Dec. 6, respectively. Aiello, convicted in both trials, will be sentenced Nov. 29. Todd Howe, the consultant who connected the players in both sets of schemes and served as a key prosecution witness at Percoco's trial, is slated to be sentenced early next year. MALTA - Malta Supervisor Vincent DeLucia is stepping down, effective Monday, Nov. 26. In a letter he sent to Town Clerk Jennifer Holmes, DeLucia said that it was a difficult and bittersweet decision that he came to for the sake of his family. "I must devote much more time to my wonderful wife and family whom I so dearly love," DeLucia wrote in the letter dated Nov. 19. Deputy Supervisor Darren O'Connor will likely fill DeLucia's administrative role until DeLucia's term ends in December 2019. However, O'Connor said that he will not have a vote on the town board nor will he sit in on the County Board of Supervisors meetings. O'Connor also said that the board can appoint a supervisor to complete the term at its Monday night board meeting. In the letter, DeLucia, who was unavailable for comment on Tuesday, wrote that he would be "happy to assist in making the transition as smooth as possible." Growing up in Malta, DeLucia, 74, worked in his family's deli and grocery, DeLucia's, on Route 9. DeLucia was a middle school science teacher in Ballston Spa before becoming a principal at Shenendehowa Central School District. He served as a principal for 26 years, the town's website noted. He was voted into office as supervisor in 2015 and during his tenure he led the effort to rezone the routes 9 and 67 corridors as commercial. He also worked to establish a committee to help Maltaville get much needed water lines. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. DeLucia faced some controversy too. During his first budget cycle, the town doubled his salary saying that DeLucia "stepped up" the role of supervisor. He also appointed Cynthia Young to lead the contentious plan to create an EMS tax district, which is currently being debated. O'Connor said he's sorry to see DeLucia resign. "Vince is a great guy," O'Connor said. "He's gracious and skilled. I'm very sorry on behalf of the town of Malta to see him go. He's not a young man. He has family responsibilities and his wife, Claudia, needs him more than the town of Malta. I'm grateful to have worked with him." GUILDERLAND - A 25-year-old man was arrested Saturday night after nearly colliding with a police cruiser, officials said. When police pulled over the driver, Michael Obernesser of Utica, they found marijuana in his lap and that he had a blood alcohol content of 0.13 percent, State Police said Monday. Obernesser was arrested for driving while intoxicated, unlawful possession of marijuana and criminal possession of a controlled substance. State Police said the 22-year-old passenger in the car, Nicholas Evans, was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance when they found cocaine. Schenectady Best-selling childrens author Susan Verde will speak about mindfulness at Brown School at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28. Verde will speak to students at the private school in the morning and host a community-wide event in the evening for parents and teachers. Prior to Verdes presentation, the school will host a Wellness Fair where local businesses will display products and talk about their areas of expertise. Although the concept of mindfulness can be different for different people Verde describes it as paying attention to ones life without judgment. Its a way of really connecting in the moment. To know you can pause and breathe and connect to what is happening makes parenting a bit easier and allows me to project less and observe more and it makes the moments in life more fulfilling. This is what I wish for kids, to know that life doesnt just happen to them but that they can choose their responses to things AND that they dont have to become their emotions, she said. Her story I Am Human became a New York Times best-selling book. As a lover of books, I am inspired by the messages Susan conveys through her works. At Brown School we focus on helping our students to be mindful in everything they do. We actively work with them on this so they can apply it to their lives in many ways, said Brown School Librarian Deborah Wyngowski. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Brown School teachers students in nursery through 10th-grade. They have included the concept of mindfulness in their program for several years. It can involve taking time to calm oneself, as well as focusing on the present moment and offering compassion to others. Helen Nellie Brown founded Brown School in 1893 as an alternative to public schools. She envisioned a school where an individualized approach to learning would foster self-confidence, intellectual curiosity, and a life-long love of learning. The school is located at 150 Corlaer Avenue, Schenectady. ALBANY The New York State Weatherization Directors Association, a not-for-profit group that provides energy efficiency improvements to low-income families, may not be the most well-known entity in the region. But one mother and son knew the association well enough to use it as their personal piggy bank to steal more than $1.1 million. Following a State Police investigation, they are both behind bars. Randi Smith, 53, of Amsterdam, who was the company's chief fiscal officer, ripped off more than $800,000 from the association between June 14, 2011, and May 4, 2018. She then created phony invoices to cover her tracks, making them part of the company's business records. Judge Peter Lynch sentenced Smith on Monday to three to nine years in prison. On Tuesday, the judge sentenced her son, 23-year-old Dakota Smith of Saratoga Springs, to two to six years. The son wrote checks from the association's bank account for more than $300,000 that went to himself, his construction business and his father's business. And when the bank asked him about unusual deposit activity on the account, Dakota Smith provided a forged contract between his construction outfit and the agency, prosecutors said. The Smiths pleaded guilty in September to second-degree grand larceny. "I'd just like to apologize to any of the families in the organization," a tearful Dakota Smith told Lynch during his sentencing. "It was a very immature act, and I didn't know the consequences behind what was going on." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Andrew Stone, the association's executive director, detailed the devastation the thefts had on the group while addressing Randi Smith at her sentencing Monday. "My staff and I are a close-knit group, the kind an executive finds once in their career," Stone told the judge. "These are people that I feel privileged to work with, and our group has been torn apart by greed and stupidity. In naming staff that have been directly impacted by her actions, I hope Randi will see what she has done to her co-workers, people that she falsely claimed to care about." Stone explained that on May 4, he discovered the group's general fund which he thought had a healthy balance had vanished. "We have been struggling to meet payroll and pay our bills ever since," Stone told the judge. "Our financial picture is not good. We have had negative cash flow since May. Bills have not been paid and staff is on very limited hours. We are generally working every day just to remain solvent and keep our doors open. We have had to sell off resources in order to make a very limited payroll and pay vendors." 3 1 of 3 Albany County Sheriff's Office Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Albany County Sheriff's Office Show More Show Less 3 of 3 COLONIE A Florida man who brought a handgun to Albany International Airport was arrested early Tuesday because he did not have a New York pistol permit, according to the Albany County Sheriff's Office. Lee E. Lippman of Hollywood was checking in at the Delta Airlines ticket counter when he declared he was checking a 9 mm handgun. NISKAYUNA Two weeks after an emotionally charged public forum, Niskayuna school district and law enforcement officials held a second forum Monday to address concerns relating to school safety following a string of school lockdowns in the past five months. The latest forum at Niskayuna High School attracted a more subdued crowd of about 50 people. The district organized the meetings following a shooting threat note that locked down Niskayuna High School for nearly six hours on Nov. 5 and a bomb threat note at Van Antwerp Middle School two days later. School officials took online questions from parents before the forum Monday evening at Niskayuna High School. Superintendent Cosimo Tangorra gave a presentation and sat on a panel with school principals and Niskayuna Deputy Police Chief Michael Stevens. Questions included how information was communicated, why it took so many hours to clear the buildings and whether the district should hire a school resource officer. A half dozen parents and one student spoke. Many asked how a lockdown procedure could be better implemented and pressed for threat prevention. Tangorra stressed that safety measures include social and emotional support as well as protocol. Iroquois Middle School Principal Vicki Wyld said she is implementing plans to open communication between students and teachers. "Whoever was leaving these threats, something is wrong. Something about school or something about home is wrong. This person doesn't feel there's someone they can talk to about it and they're looking for help in another way," Wyld said. "To make sure we're constantly and consistently talking to our kids and making sure no one is slipping through the cracks is our best way to prevent." Tangorra said school entrances have been more secured in recent years but said a dozen more changes are being considered after recent incidents. Starting in 2019 the school district will bring in safety professionals to conduct a risk assessment. More changes are being considered like providing emergency kits in classrooms, standardizing how safety procedures are implemented, providing more training for students and staff, checking communications systems so that everyone in the building can hear announcements and involving students in decision making. Tangorra said more "extreme" measures like putting metal detectors or bullet proof glass at school entrances would require a careful decision from taxpayers to fund. He cautioned against hiring a school resource officer as a guarantee of increased safety. "A school resource officer is not an armed guard. A school resource officer is not there to keep people safe or to make arrests. More often than not, the school resource officer is there to develop relationships with children and between the school and police department and community," Tangorra said. "If people say they just want a school resource officer to say that'll make us safer, you're wrong. That's just a false sense of security." Tangorra said he would work with the Board of Education to do whatever the community wants to do. Tangorra and the other principals addressed the need for consistency and increased training. During the high school lockdown there were reports of some students laughing while others hid in fear in the dark. Van Antwerp Middle School Principal Luke Rakoczy said that every situation isn't the same. A main concern raised was how much information kids receive at the start of the lockdown about the kind of threat. The standardized recording announces: "We are going into lockdown. This is not a drill." Parents shared how their terrified kids texted them to tell them they loved them and were in fear. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. School officials talked about the challenge of wanting to give enough information to not make kids anxious but also to ensure they took the situation seriously. Stevens said his ultimate goal is to ensure the safety of staff and students in the midst of an ongoing criminal investigation. Stevens also responded to criticism about why it took so long nearly six hours at the high school to clear the building. He worked with upwards of 40 officers and six dogs from three counties but said the size of the building and trouble communicating with radios between agencies added to the difficulty. "In law enforcement, we're taught that time is on our side," Stevens said. "If we slow down, we're less likely to miss something. The margin of error in something like this is really none. If we were to miss a weapon, then we would have have a bigger problem on our hands." He said Niskayuna Police are not considering alternative methods suggested by parents like emptying an already cleared classroom. Another criticism was that students were not given a chance to respond soon enough to the incident. George Skane, a sophomore and the only student to speak at Monday's forum, said he thought the student forum held Thursday was too late. "The students felt like they weren't being heard and we felt like we weren't being cared about so when we were not being talked to we reacted in different ways and some people went over the top," Skane said. High School Principal John Rickert said he learned from this past lockdown that students need to be given a chance to voice concerns earlier. Four drills a year is not enough to prepare for the real experience, he said. Skane said the 90-minute session with students on Thursday addressed trauma, questioned protocol and debated school resource officers. He heard that the school was going to implement an outdoor lighting system to alert outsiders not to enter the building under lockdown, but was skeptical about any other practical change. "I think that half the things that they say aren't going to be implemented," Skane said. "They're saying things that people have said to satisfy them." New York State Police BRUNSWICK - A 26-year-old man was arrested last week after driving on a lawn, crashing into a boulder and fleeing the scene, State Police said Monday. David Turner, of Troy, was charged with criminal mischief, obstructing governmental administration, trespassing and several traffic law charges, all misdemeanors. ALBANY Author William Kennedy, whose acclaimed "Albany Cycle" of novels depict generations of Irish-American families, will travel to Ireland next week to receive the nation's Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad. Irish President Michael D. Higgins will present the award at a dinner and ceremony in Dublin on Nov. 29. Kennedy, a Pulitzer Prize winner for 1983's "Ironweed" and the founder of the New York State Writers Institute at the state University at Albany, was cited for ways in which his literary output illuminates the Irish-American experience. The 90-year-old writer, who grew up in North Albany and is a former Times Union reporter, will be honored along with Irish author Edna O'Brien ("The Country Girls"), who visited the Writers Institute in 1997 and 1999. "This is a marvelous award, and a form of confirmation that I really did what I set out to do when I was a young writer," Kennedy said in a statement. "I aspired then to be an American novelist, but as soon as I started writing I realized how much of the Irish was in, not only me, but in all my schools, my churches, my neighborhood which even in my father's day was called Limerick and it also was in the politicians who ran the city and county, and when they got lucky, the state and the nation. And so my novels, in large measure, became a historical testament to what I lived through, and reported on, as the vast Irish consequence in American life during two centuries." The honorees are selected through a nomination process and by a panel of experts assembled by the staff of the Irish Embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Recipients are chosen in several categories, including arts and culture, charitable works, science and technology and Irish community support. Actor Liam Neeson ("Schindler's List") was a 2017 honoree. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "The hard work, energy and dedication of the awardees make a valuable contribution to people's lives and are deserving of our respect," reads the citation on the award, which is designed to suggest an open door. "We honor exceptional members of the Irish diaspora." Paul Grondahl, the Writers Institute's director and a Times Union columnist, said Kennedy's novels including "Legs," "Billy Phelan's Greatest Game" and "Roscoe" have "touched readers around the world with universal themes of love, loss and redemption, built around characters who struggle as Irish immigrants to gain their piece of the American Dream." SUNY Press recently published "Bootlegger of the Soul: The Literary Legacy of William Kennedy," a collection of the writer's work and essays honoring his career. He is currently at work on a stage adaptation of "Ironweed." PEDRO PARDO With 15,000 armed U.S. troops headed to the Mexican border to intercept 5,000 or so refugees as they walk from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, the potential for unjustified and illegal violence looms. This outcome is all but assured by the additional presence of gun-carrying vigilantes and self-styled militias gathering at the border in response to President Donald Trump's incendiary rhetoric. The administration's characterization of the refugees as criminals and terrorists has no basis. The migrants are heading north to escape unemployment, violence and the chronic impacts of climate change. A Tipperary-based agri-company has won a major contract to supply the Egyptian market with animal health products. Nenagh company, Agritech announced a new export deal at last weeks EuroTier in Hannover, Germany. Following their successful launch of Ruminant products to the Egyptian market, Agritech has agreed a new deal with IFT Egypt which will see them launch their product Salomega into the poultry market. Salomega is an essential fatty acid supplement developed for the enrichment of Omega-3 in eggs and to improve fertility in male breeders. Agritech became a partner of IFT Egypt, following Eurotier 2016. In April 2017, IFT began distributing for Agritech and they now deliver a number of their solutions including Rumate, Rumicare, Optimate and Vitameg. Agritechs export manager Stephen Hennessy stated: Agritech has had a successful partnership with IFT and this new deal represents the next phase of growth for us. Participating at Eurotier has played such a vital role in our international success as it has given us the opportunity to meet with potential partners and uncover new markets in countries across Europe, Asia and North and South America. IFT chairman, Magdi Hassan; CEO Eyad Harfoush and chief operation officer Mostafa Magdy Hassan, attended the announcement which took place at the Agritech stand. Also in attendance were special guests, Pat Breen, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data, and the Irish Ambassador to Germany, Michael Collins. Established in 1977, Agritech is a family-owned business that manufactures and supplies a range of quality, innovative, nutritional forage products for farm usage with national brands including Welmin Mineral Supplements, Vitalac Milk Replacer, Tipperary Grass Seed and many more. IFT is a national leader in animal health business, partnering with multinationals from around the world to enrich the Egyptian market. It employs over 420 people, including 230 vets. November 20, 2018 IT Expenses Weighing Down Your Budget? Heres How You Can Save In order to run a successful business in todays modern age of technology, large corporations need smooth and robust IT departments. But maintaining a thriving IT department is also expensive. To achieve the results you want within your organization, you may need to think long and hard about cost-cutting initiatives for your business. 5 Ways You Can Cut Costs When the economy is booming and business is thriving, its easy to get a little too rich for your own good. You start to feel invincible and make choices that ultimately set you up for disappointment and failure in the long run. So even though things may be going well for your business in the moment, remember that the economy is cyclical and every organization experiences rough patches along their journey. By maintaining a lean IT department, you can weather rough storms and come out safe and sound on the back end. Wanting to be lean and achieving being lean are two very different things. Here are some practical steps you can take towards cutting costs within your IT department: 1. Eliminate Discretionary Spending The first thing to do is stem the flow of discretionary spending and stop the bloat in your budget. By definition, discretionary spending is anything thats a non-essential expense. This includes silly, superfluous things like bringing in coffee and donuts every morning to more valid costs like contracts with non-essential service partners. Even if you've made a contractual commitment to spend money, you can try to negotiate your way out of it, attorney Bethany K. Laurence writes. If you are willing to pay a reasonable buyout fee, it's legal and honorable. 2. Purchase Refurbished Equipment Hardware costs within the modern IT department can be astronomical. And while you may be justified in buying a piece of equipment, it becomes obsolete at a much faster pace than ever before. An investment in the latest, greatest widget today could prove to be worthless in 18 months. If possible, find ways to think strategically and save on equipment. Believe it or not, buying refurbished routers and switches, among other equipment, can save you money and allow you to remain highly competitive. You wont be able to buy everything refurbished, but a few well-timed investments here and there can create some breathing room in your budget. 3. Address Duplication and Trim Fat Its amazing how many IT departments around the country are paying for services, tools, and systems that they really dont need. Duplication is overwhelmingly common and needs to be confronted within your own organization. When mergers and acquisitions occur, ensure youre not bringing in added costs that your company is already paying for, and eliminate what you dont need. Make sure you retire legacy tools when you upgrade to new platforms, writes Jonathan Blackwood, managing editor of TechDecisions. Portfolio management can help reduce duplication by putting all of your costs in a central location to view. Dropping from multiple vendors to a single vendor can help ensure youre not getting duplicate software or tools. Trim fat anywhere you find it. A little bit here and there might not seem like much, but it all adds up at the end of the day. 4. Deal With Personnel Costs Many IT organizations are top-heavy with personnel which is something that just happens over time, IT advisor Bob Ronan explains. While having experienced people makes it easier to get the work done, it is suboptimal from a cost standpoint. To deal with this, some organizations have periodic reductions in personnel to move their job levels back to reasonable levels. To put things into perspective, consider that 37 percent of the average IT budget is spent on people including money paid to contractors. And though you need people to thrive, personnel costs can put the rest of your budget in a tight spot. If you dont feel like you can afford to fire people, perhaps you could tweak some policies and encourage certain employees to work remotely. Doing so can save you a considerable amount of money on office space, computing power, and other on-premise resources. 5. Keep Your Head in the Cloud Youre obviously already heavily involved with the cloud, but there are probably some ways you can save even more by virtualizing additional processes. Over a 13-year life cycle, the total costs of implementing and maintaining a cloud environment can cost two-thirds less than a non-virtualized, traditional data center. Keep this in mind as you consider shuffling some things around. Be Careful What You Wish For There are tremendous benefits to maintaining a lean IT department, but dont confuse the idea of lean with the notion of cheap. Too much cost cutting in the wrong areas will expose you to dangerous vulnerabilities that could ultimately come back to cost you way more than you originally saved. When businesses strip down the IT department without a sound strategy, they typically erode the security and integrity of core systems. This can increase the risk of experiencing a data breach, which is becoming increasingly expensive as the years pass. According to the thirteenth annual study on the topic by IBM (News - Alert) Security and Ponemon Institute, the global average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million, which is up 6.4 percent from 2017. The average cost for each lost record containing sensitive information is $148 per record. For American companies, the reality is even starker. The average cost for data breaches in the U.S. is an astonishing $7.91 million, which far outpaces the second-place country, Canada, which sits right at $4.74 million. When it comes it cost-cutting, dont skimp on security. In fact, you should give serious consideration to hiring a cybersecurity professional who can help you develop and maintain a robust network security program that keeps threats at bay. Nothing can make you immune, but the stronger your safeguards and systems, the less likely it is that a simple attack will put your organization in danger. Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP Announces Investigation on Behalf of Costco Wholesale Corporation Investors Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces an investigation on behalf of Costco Wholesale Corporation ("Costco" or the "Company") (NYSE: COST) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On October 4, 2018, Cstco announced ''in its upcoming fiscal 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K, it expects to report a material weakness in internal control. The weakness relates to general information technology controls in the areas of user access and program change-management over certain information technology systems that support the Company's financial reporting processes. The access issues relate to the extent of privileges afforded users authorized to access company systems.'' On this news, shares of Costco fell from a close of $231.68 per share on October 4, 2018, to a close of $218.82 on October 5, 2018, thereby injuring investors. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert): twitter.com/GPM_LLP. If you purchased Costco, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181119005933/en/ [November 19, 2018] .Cloud Domain Name Enters China Economy With Accreditation From China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) LONDON, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New gTLD (generic top-level domain) .Cloud is pleased to announce it has received accreditation from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784280/Cloud_Domain_China_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784285/Cloud_Domain_China.jpg ) This marks a strategic step for the Registry and parent Italian company Aruba S.p.A, in expanding its international partner network in the region. Accreditation means that .Cloud domains can be registered and hosted in China's mainland. Mou Mukherjee, Head of Registry Services at .Cloud, comments, "Our success is based on our partnerships and we are eager to collaborate with Chinese registrars and technology providers. These partners play a significant role in guiding Chinese businesses into the future of the digital economy by helping them build, boost, and protect their online identity." China's booming digital economy has created a hotbed of digital innovation, and the country has rapidly become a leading global force in digital innovation. This has spurred huge growth in cloud services led by government initiatives, online shopping, online payments, the sharing economy, social media, casual gaming, video streaming and other B2C services. China's cloud computing market has grown significantly since 2010 according to the Report of Prospects and Investment Strategy Planning on China Cloud Computing Industry (2017-2022) published by Forward Intelligence Co. Ltd., a special market research institute. Its market size reached 178.2 billion yuan in 2016, up 18.8 percent year-on-year. The industry will grow by at least 30 percent year-on-year on average in the coming five years. By 2020, China's cloud computing market is projected to reach 686.6 billion yuan (about $103.6 billion). With a future focus on cloud computing and digital transformation, the .Cloud domain will be an attractive option for any Chinese business or brand that wants to declare their technical advancement or share their modern mindset. Today, the term "cloud" has become synonymous with innovation, modern technology, and the future of business. The .Cloud domain launched in February 2016 and through support from its registrar partners has secured more than 155,000 registrations in over 180 countries. From digital platforms like Rio.Cloud, to startups like Food.Cloud, Fashion.Cloud, and Reward.Cloud - .Cloud is a modern domain for all businesses. Aruba S.p.A. , founded in 1994, is the leading company in Italy for data center, cloud solutions, web hosting, email, certified email (PEC) and domain registration services. It boasts extensive experience when it comes to building and managing data centers, with an active European network, as well as the 3 data centers it owns in Italy and another one due to be ready in 2020. In the north of Italy, close to Milan, Aruba has built the biggest Italian data center campus with a surface area of 200,000m(2). The company manages over 2 million domains, 7 million email accounts, 5 million certified email (PEC) accounts, 130,000 physical and virtual servers and a total of more than 4.7 million customers. To learn more about .cloud visit get.cloud or weilai.cloud. SOURCE .Cloud [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 19, 2018] Avivagen Announces Clarification to Press Release Issued November 19, 2018 OTTAWA, Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avivagen Inc. (TSXV:VIV) (Avivagen), announces a clarification to its press release issued Monday, November 19th at 6:30 A.M. EST. The previous NR had stated that UNAHCOs year-to-date purchase of OxC-beta Livestock was 9.1 metric tonnes. UNAHCO has purchased 7.2 metric tonnes calendar year-to-date, 8.4 metric tonnes over the past 14 months and 9.1 metric tonnes since the first purchase in November 2016. About Avivagen Avivagen is a life sciences corporation focused on developing and commercializing products for livestock, companion animal and human applications that, by safely supporting immune function, promote general health and performance. It is a public corporation traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol VIV and is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, based in partnership facilities of the National Research Council of Canada and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. For more information, visit www.avivagen.com. The contents of the website are expressly not incorporated by reference in this press release. About OxC-beta Technology and OxC-beta Livestock Avivagens OxC-beta technology is derived from Avivagen discoveries about carotenoids, compounds that give certain fruits and vegetables their bright colours, and is a non-antibiotic means of maintaining optimal health and growth. OxC-beta Livestock is a proprietary product shown to be effective and economic in replacing the antibiotics commonly added to livestock feeds. OxC-beta Livestock is currently registered and available for sale in the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and New Zealand. Avivagens OxC-beta Livestock product is safe, effective and could fulfll the global mandate to remove all in-feed antibiotics as growth promoters. Numerous international livestock trials with poultry and swine using OxC-beta Livestock have proven that the product performs as well as, and, sometimes, in some aspects, better than in-feed antibiotics. Forward Looking Statements This news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon the current expectations of management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties associated with the business of Avivagen Inc. and the environment in which the business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions aim, anticipate, appear, believe, consider, could, estimate, expect, if, intend, goal, hope, likely, may, plan, possibly, potentially, pursue, seem, should, whether, will, would and similar expressions. Statements set out in this news release relating to the expectation that UNAHCO will continue to order product at the current rate or increase orders, the possibility for deployment or launch of OxC-beta Livestock in new jurisdictions around the world or for it to replace antibiotics in livestock feeds as well as fill a critical need for health support in certain livestock applications where antibiotics are precluded, Avivagens intention to accelerate market access and the commercial uptake of its OxC-beta Livestock product and the size of market opportunities are all forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. For instance, UNAHCO is under no obligation to continue purchasing product from Avivagen or to increase its purchases and it could cease or reduce its purchases at any time, Avivagens products may not gain market acceptance or regulatory approval in new jurisdictions or for new applications and may not be widely accepted as a replacement for antibiotics in livestock feeds, new market access may not occur in the timeline or manner expected by Avivagen and the market opportunities may not be as large as Avivagen anticipates due to many factors, many of which are outside of Avivagens control. Except as required by law, Avivagen assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information: Avivagen Inc. Drew Basek Director of Investor Relations 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6 Phone: 416-540-0733 E-mail: [email protected] Kym Anthony Chairman & Interim CEO 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6 Head Office Phone: 613-949-8164 Website: www.avivagen.com Copyright 2018 Avivagen Inc. OxC-beta is a trademark of Avivagen Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP Announces Investigation on Behalf of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Investors Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces an investigation on behalf of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. ("Nissan" or the "Company") (OTC: NSANY) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On November 19, 2018, various news sources reported that Nissan Chairman, Carlos Ghosn, was arrested after an internal company investigation revealed Ghosn had underreported his compensation to the Japanese financial authorities for several years. On this news, shares of Nissan fell $1.05 per share or 5.85% to close at $16.90 per share on November 19, 2018, thereby injuring investors. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert): twitter.com/GPM_LLP. If you purchased Nissan securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181119005943/en/ [November 19, 2018] Alma, a Sisram Medical Company, Announces the Opening of a Direct Operation in Israel Following the Acquisition of Its Israeli Distributor HONG KONG, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alma, one of the top five global leaders of energy-based medical and aesthetic solutions, today announced it has completed the first step of acquiring its Israeli distributor Nova Medical, extending its business outreach and establishing a direct operation in Israel. Nova Medical, established in 2003 is one of the largest distributors of Medical Aesthetic technology-based devices in Israel, with net profit before taxation and extraordinary items of approximately HK$22 million in 2017. Nova Medical serves the widest customer base, from plastic surgeons, dermatologists, general practitioners and beauticians to Medical & Aesthetics clinic chains, SPA and fitness centers. Upon completion of the acquisition, Alma will hold a 60% stake in Nova Medical. The acquisition is part of Alma's Direct-to-Consumer strategy, outlined in 2017, aimed at maintaining Alma's leading position in the market and strengthning its brand awareness among consumers. "We are delighted to share the news regarding Nova Medical acquisition. Our long-term successful business relationship, Nova's strong market position in Israel and recent success in launching new products domains, such as injectables, ensures the future success of our direct operation in Israel," said Lior Dayan, Alma's CEO. About Alma Alma is a global innovator of Laser, Light-based, Radiofrequency, Plasma and Ultrasound solutions for the aesthetic and surgical markets. We enable practitioners to offer safe and effective procedures while allowing patients to benefit from state-of-the-art, clinically proven technologies and treatments. https://www.almalasers.com About Sisram Medical Ltd Sisram Medical Ltd (1696.HK), the first Israeli company to be listed on the Hong Kong Exchange Main Board, was established in 2013 for the acquisition of Alma, a leading provider of energy-based surgical and medical aesthetic solutions, ranked No. 1 in the People's Republic of China and one of the top 5 global leaders in its industry. Sisram Medical is majority held by Fosun Pharma, a leading healthcare group in China. Sisram Medical - Enhancing Quality of Life. http://www.sisram-medical.com For media inquiries, please contact: Sivan Raz Tel: +972-54-2630020 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Alma Lasers [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. [November 20, 2018] Innate Pharma appoints experts to new Strategic Advisory Board Innate PHARMA APPOINTS EXPERTS TO NEW strategic advisory board Marseille, France, November 20, 2018, 07:00 AM CEST Innate Pharma SA (the "Company" - Euronext Paris: FR0010331421 - IPH) today announced the appointment of six leading experts to its newly formed Strategic Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB will work with the leadership team and will advise the Company on its scientific, medical, translational and developmental strategy. "We are proud to have a team of independent world-renowned experts in immunology and oncology joining us," commented, Eric Vivier, Chief Scientific Officer of Innate Pharma. "Since its inception, Innate Pharma has been at the forefront of immunology to translate scientific discoveries into innovative treatments against cancer. The outstanding and highly complementary expertise of the SAB members, within this advisory committee, will provide insight to nurture the science developed at Innate Pharma by combining multidisciplinary approaches and state-of-the-art technologies." Pierre Dodion, Chief Medical Officer of Innate Pharma, added: "At Innate Pharma, we have always seen preclinical and clinical activities as highly interrelated activities. We are committed to continuing to focus on bringing new therapeutic options to patients suffering from cancer and actively progressing our pipeline of innovative immuno-oncology drug candidates toward later clinical stage developments. A strong scientific accent will also guide our commercial activities, which are starting with Lumoxiti. The individuals who have joined our SAB will provide robust scientific and medical guidance and provide critical support across our activities." About Scientific and Medical Advisory Board members: Sebastian Amigorena, PhD, is "Directeur de Recherche de Classe Exceptionnelle" at CNRS (the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique). He also leads the Immunology Department "Immunity and Cancer" and the newly created Cancer Immunotherapy Center at Institut Curie (Paris, France). Sebastian Amigorena has made significant contributions to immunology and cell biology at every stage of his career. His findings have helped advance the understanding of antigen presentation and T cell priming by dendritic cells, with applications in the fields of cancer immunotherapy and vaccination. Sebastian Amigorena has received numerous national and international prizes and awards, including the prestigious senior European Research Council (ERC) award (2008 and 2014). Aurelien Marabelle, MD, PhD, is the Clinical Director of the Cancer Immunotherapy Program at Gustave Roussy Cancer Center in Villejuif, France. Dr Marabelle's clinical practice is dedicated to early phase Clinical trials in Cancer Immunotherapy and his translational research is focused on mechanisms of action of immune checkpoint monoclonal antibodies. He works as a senior medical oncologist and an investigator in the Drug Development Department (DITEP). He is coordinating a team focused on cancer immunotherapy translational research projects at INSERM. Ruslan Medzhitov, PhD, is a Sterling Professor at Yale University School of Medicine (New Haven, CT, USA) and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His research interests include biology of inflammation, biological bases of diseases and evolutionary design of biologicalsystems. Ruslan Medzhitov is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, and European Molecular Biology Organization. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Miriam Merad, MD, PhD, is the Mount Sinai Chair professor in Cancer Immunology and the Director of the Precision Immunology Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York (NY, USA). Dr. Merad's laboratory studies the contribution of macrophages and dendritic cells to Cancer and Inflammatory diseases in mice and humans. She has shown that tissue macrophages have unique functional attributes that contribute to tumor outcome and response to treatment. Dr. Merad pioneered mapping the regulatory network of dendritic cells (DCs) resulting in the identification of a lineage of DC, the CD103+ DC, that is now considered to be a key target to improve antiviral and antitumor immunity. Dr. Merad receives generous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for her research on innate immunity and their contribution to human disease and belongs to several NIH consortia. Tanguy Seiwert, MD, is Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL, USA). Dr. Seiwert's research focuses on the biology of head and neck cancer and lung cancer. In the laboratory, he studies targeted therapies that disrupt specific pathways vital to cancer growth and metastasis. More specifically, he focuses on which novel drugs appear most promising, which individual tumors are more likely to respond to these treatments, and how to successfully combine therapies. Dr. Seiwert uses this preclinical knowledge to develop new treatments for use in clinical trials, and to ultimately improve patient care. Mario Sznol, MD, is Professor of Medicine, Leader, Melanoma/RCC Disease-Associated Research Team, and co-leader, Cancer Immunology Program at the Yale Cancer Center (New Haven, CT, USA). Recently, he was appointed the incoming President of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). Dr. Sznol's interests include cancer immunotherapy, drug development for cancer, and treatment of patients with melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. After completing a fellowship in medical oncology at Mount Sinai College of Medicine in NYC in 1987, he joined the NCI as a Senior Investigator in the Investigational Drug Branch (IDB), Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP). He was Head of the Biologics Evaluation Program, IDB, CTEP, from 1994-1999, and in 1999, was appointed Vice President of Clinical Development for Vion Pharmaceuticals in New Haven, CT. He joined the Yale faculty in medical oncology in 2004. About Innate Pharma: Innate Pharma S.A. is a fully integrated oncology-focused biotech company dedicated to improving treatment and clinical outcomes for patients through therapeutic antibodies that harness the immune system to fight cancer. Innate Pharma's commercial-stage product, Lumoxiti, in-licensed from AstraZeneca, was approved by the FDA in September 2018. Lumoxiti is a first-in class specialty oncology product for hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Innate Pharma's broad pipeline of antibodies includes several first in-class clinical and preclinical candidates in cancers with high unmet medical need. Innate Pharma has pioneered the discovery and development of checkpoint inhibitors, with a unique expertise and understanding of Natural Killer cell biology. This innovative approach has resulted in major alliances with leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, and a landmark and multi-products partnership with AstraZeneca/Medimmune. Learn more about Innate Pharma at www.innate-pharma.com. Information about Innate Pharma shares: ISIN code Ticker code LEI FR0010331421 IPH 9695002Y8420ZB8HJE29 Disclaimer: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference prospectus filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Innate Pharma's website. This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Innate Pharma in any country. For additional information, please contact: Investors Innate Pharma Dr. Markus Metzger / Danielle Spangler / Jerome Marino Tel.: +33 (0)4 30 30 30 30 [email protected] International Media Consilium Strategic Communications Mary-Jane Elliott / Jessica Hodgson Tel.: +44 (0)20 3709 5700 [email protected] French Media ATCG Press Marie Puvieux Mob: +33 (0)6 10 54 36 72 [email protected] Attachment PR in English.pdf [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Realme Philippines to officially enter the Philippines on November 29th, Offering a new perspective of "Real Value" in the smartphone industry Half-year-old smartphone brand Realme enters the Philippines with a unique approach in the smartphone industry, focusing on the youth and its needs. with a unique approach in the smartphone industry, focusing on the youth and its needs. 11.11 Lazada SEA's best-selling smartphone brand enters the Philippines on Nov 29 th MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Realme, a fast-emerging smartphone brand in South East Asia announces its official arrival in the Philippines on November 29th, 2018. Established in May 2018, Realme aims to provide young people around the world with smartphone products that combine powerful performance and stylish design. The brand gives young people experiences that integrate "technology" and "style" to recognize and satisfy their deep desires for personalization and self-expression. The brand achieved strong milestones such as 4 million smartphone sales in just 3 months in its start in India. While just half a year old, the brand now expands recently in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and now in the Philippines With 4 smartphone products launched, Realme is quickly building a strong following community among young consumers. Its product is now not only one of the highest-rated mobile phone on Amazon India's Best Sellers list (with a high score at 4.5 out of 5) and has also broken Flipkart's mobile phone sales record set in India, becoming the fastest brand in the history of the country to break the million-sales mark. Ready for Global Presence By successfully understanding the needs of the youth, Realme launches its full visual identity branding t provide new visual experience and emotional with young consumers. The "R" logo in "Realme Yellow" designed by Eddie Opara, partner and chief designer of world-renowned design consultancy Pentagram, is an artistic and impactful representation of both the Realme brand identity and its vision of being Proud to be Young, which the brand hopes will become a symbol of youth culture around the world. Additionally, the same designer is the leader who created innovative logos such as the brand identity change of Mastercard, Tiffany & Co., Windows 8 and MIT media lab. Having invited industry-renowned experts to lead the brand identity upgrade, Realme expects to build brand awareness and strengthen emotional recognition among young people around the world, thereafter create an iconic visual representation of the youth. Stay tuned for more details Realme Philippines is set to unveil full information of its product lineup on November 29th, 2018. Customers are invited to join the Realme official social media pages via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to be updated with the latest offerings from the munch anticipated brand. "We have worked hard to prepare the Philippine launching of Realme Philippines, as early as now we will listen and understand the needs of Filipino consumers to provide appealing offers and campaigns." -- Chief Operating Officer, Jacky Chen - Realme Philippines "We also aim to further push the growth of e-commerce in the Philippines through our product offerings and create the same effect we did in other South East Asian countries," Chen added. The search for Realme Squad Leaders The Realme Philippines community also named as the Realme Squad is now on the look for avid tech enthusiasts with passion towards technology to become Realme Squad Leaders. More than just providing information to co-community members, squad leaders will have the benefit of experiencing first the latest Realme devices and even propose their own community activities to be the pioneer of the brand. Recently, Realme was held the hottest selling smartphone brand in South East Asia in the monumental 11.11 Online Shopping Festival. A testimony that Realme is adhering a unique approach to consumers, especially for the youth. About Realme Realme is a technology brand that specializes in providing high quality smartphones. Realme is an emerging smartphone brand. The brand was officially established on May 4th, 2018 (National Youth Day of China) by its founder Sky Li together with a bunch of young people who have rich experience in the smartphone industry across countries. Realme focuses on user needs and presents products with both strong performance and trendy design in the broad context of e-commerce. The Realme 2 / 2 Pro won wide recognition for its "Power" and "Style" immediately after the launch in Southeast Asia in Oct 2018. It ranked No.1 as the hottest selling brand in 11.11 shopping festival in LAZADA Southeast Asia. Realme is committed to offering powerful performance, stylish design, sincere services and exploring more possibilities of smartphones. SOURCE Realme Philippines [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Michelin Accelerates Integrated Business Planning using JDA At the center of Michelin's strategy and success is its drive for innovation to make mobility safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly. That's why longtime JDA Software, Inc. customer, Michelin selected and deployed JDA Sales & Operations Planning, part of the JDA Manufacturing Planning solution, to help support its transformation efforts. Michelin is a leading, global tire manufacturer headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne region of France. The company is dedicated to sustainably improving the mobility of goods and people by manufacturing and marketing tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, earthmovers, off road equipment and trucks. Michelin is present in more than 170 countries and operates 68 production plants in 17 different countries. In addition to the Michelin brand, the company owns a strong brand portfolio, including BFGoodrich, Kleber, Tigar, Riken, Kormoran, and the Uniroyal brand for the North American market, among others. A few years ago, the company decided to launch a transformational sales and operations planning (S&OP) project in response to several challenges it was facing. Michelin's supply chain complexity had increased substantially and had become more difficult to manage due to scarce capacity, a growing portfolio of tire types and a significant increase in parts resulting from the company's innovation efforts. The market in which the company operates had also become increasingly volatile and competitive, as well as impacted by seasonal demand. After a thorough analysis of its existing S&OP decision-making processes, Michelin's executive management team realized it needed to replace its legacy tools and processes, which didn't have the flexibility necessary to support its transformation. The project - named the Sharp (News - Alert) S&OP project - kicked off in January 2018 encapsulating its main worldwide Michelin business units, which are now driven by JDA's S&OP solutions. "Michelin continues to invest in supply chain innovations - such as information systems, logistics and digital services - to improve customer service," said Anthony Caumond, enterprise architect for supply chain, Michelin. "We selected JDA as a natural extension of our broad JDA footprint, so we can standardize on a single, end-to-end supply chain solution globally." Michelin deployed JDA's agile implementation approach, which includes a sequence of three-week sprints of designing, constructing, testing and validating the solution. This rapid protoyping methodology enabled the team to learn and mature quickly in their use of the solution while achieving results through each phase of the project. In addition, the company joined JDA's S&OP Special Interest Group, which enabled them to learn from other customers' experiences and best practices when implementing the solution. With JDA, Michelin can now better share within the business unit executive team a common demand, sales and production plan, as well as priorities management, and balance demand against capacity across a 12-18-month horizon. The solution supports a standardized process and network for sharing best practices and enables local simulations to support demand management in the regions, as well as capacity management at the plants - all using one set of data to ensure data consistency. "We believe the Sharp S&OP project, supported by JDA will increase significantly visibility into future risks and constraints, thanks to scenarios shared across the organization," said Pascal Zammit, senior vice president, Global Supply Chain for Michelin group. "Eventually, Sharp S&OP will help us drive better performance in the future." "We have enabled a digital transformation as an integral part of Michelin's Sharp S&OP project at JDA," said Johan Reventberg, president, JDA. "Michelin's complex, make-to-stock planning process, long material lead times, lengthy production portfolio rotations and extended time to market for new products will no longer be an issue with the improved visibility, greater accountability and cross-functional alignment our team has initiated in this project. Michelin has already seen such great results, and we look forward to enabling them to cover the full span of their organization by the end of 2018." Additional Resources: Tweet this: Michelin Accelerates Integrated Business Planning using @JDASoftware: http://bit.ly/2OP6fUF About JDA Software, Inc. JDA Software is the leading supply chain software provider powering today's digital transformations. We help companies optimize delivery to customers by enabling them to predict and shape demand, fulfill faster and more intelligently, and improve customer experiences and loyalty. More than 4,000 global customers use our unmatched end-to-end software and SaaS (News - Alert) solutions to unify and shorten their supply chains, increase speed of execution, and profitably deliver to their customers. Our world-class client roster includes 75 of the top 100 retailers, 77 of the top 100 consumer goods companies, and 8 of the top 10 global 3PLs. Running JDA, you can plan to deliver. www.jda.com Social Networks: Web: https://jda.com Blog: https://blog.jda.com Facebook (News - Alert): https://www.facebook.com/JDASoftwareGroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdasoftware/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jda-software Twitter (News - Alert): https://twitter.com/JDASoftware YouTube (News - Alert): https://www.youtube.com/user/JDASoftware "JDA" is a trademark or registered trademark of JDA Software Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name "JDA" is a trademark and/or property of JDA Software Group, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005109/en/ [November 20, 2018] MightyHive Opens New European Office in Stockholm Office to support clients in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland SAN FRANCISCO and STOCKHOLM, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital transformation partner MightyHive today announced the opening of a new office in Stockholm, its second European office within a year of opening its first European office in London with more to follow. The Stockholm location will allow the company to extend the sales and service of its integrated programmatic buying and analytics approach into the region. MightyHive is a global, full-stack Google Marketing Platform Sales partner in Sweden that offers standardized service across all countries. MightyHive customers in the Nordics include Peugeot Sverige, Pandora, and Renault. An increase in the number of local Google Marketing Platform partners offers the numerous multinational brands headquartered in the Nordic region with greater opportunities in programmatic. MightyHive's solution addresses the growing trend of advertisers taking ownership of their platform relationships for greater data transparency. With the evolution of digital advertising, brands now have the tools needed for advanced measurement so they can better focus on real business outcomes. A Google Marketing Platform partner with full-stack certification is critical to this end. "As a long-time Google partner, MightyHive can provide what no other GMP partner in the region can with its full-stack offering. We are excited to deepen our partnerships in Europe and provide focused attention and support to companies in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland," said Marcus Sundvall, Nordics Sales Director, MightyHive. "Our aim is to upskill agencies and marketers and provide them with even more choice as they take control of programmatic." For more information or to get in contact with a MightyHive representative in other regions, contact [email protected]. About MightyHive MightyHive is the digital transformation partner that combines the capabilities of a consultancy and the media knowledge of an agency with deep expertise in cloud and leading ad tech platforms. Serving enterprise customers and agencies alike, MightyHive services include in-housing consulting, full-service campaign management, and platform implementation, all under one roof and with complete transparency. The company is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, London, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, and Toronto. Contact: Andrea Boren Gull Rock Communications [email protected] 650-644-1700 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/622157/Mighty_Hive_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] inexio meets soaring data demand with ADVA FSP 3000 CloudConnect(TM) New DCI technology fits into existing architecture for seamless path to 200G connectivity FSP 3000 CloudConnect Saarlouis, Germany. November 20, 2018. ADVA (FSE: ADV) today announced that inexio has deployed its FSP 3000 CloudConnect(TM) with QuadFlex(TM) technology to tackle booming demand from business and residential customers. inexio, one of Germany's leading telecommunication providers, is deploying the solution alongside existing FSP 3000 AgileConnect(TM) infrastructure as part of a future-proof hybrid network. The upgrade boosts the capacity of inexio's transport system to 100 or 200Gbit/s across its entire network stretching over 6,000km. It also provides innate flexibility to grow to 400Gbit/s and beyond. Key to inexio's choice of solution was ADVA's ability to ensure a smooth migration to next-generation connectivity as well as a successful 10-year relationship between the two companies. ADVA's long-term Elite partner Axians Networks & Solutions GmbH also played a key role throughout the entire project. "Whether it's our residential QUiX service bringing high-speed broadband to homes in previously underserved regions or our high-availability data center services, we're experiencing rapidly rising demand across our entire range. Leveraging ADVA's high-performance technology in a hybrid solution enables us to meet customer expectations for higher capacity while getting the most value out of our deployed infrastructure," said Stefan Kreibig, head of fiber network and transport, inexio. "The advantage of the ADVA FSP 3000 CloudConnect(TM) platform is not only that it supports 200Gbit/s with a clear route to 400Gbit/s; it also offers superb density and phenomenally low power consumption. That enables us to provide more to our customers in terms of both capacity and value. Harnessing the most advanced technology to meet individual needs is always at the cener of our decision-making. With ADVA's innovation and support, we can continue to deliver world-class tailor-made solutions." Covering all of southwest Germany, inexio's expanded backbone network includes seven active rings and 38 nodes, each with the coherent capabilities of ADVA's FSP 3000 CloudConnect(TM) QuadFlex(TM) line cards. This increases spectrum utilization and enables a single chassis to support multi-Terabit transmissions over long distances without the need for signal regeneration. Designed for scalability and bandwidth optimization, the ADVA FSP 3000 CloudConnect(TM) platform also offers unrivalled efficiency. It delivers significant energy savings and, with its high-density 1RU design, occupies very little rack space. What's more, the solution features a modular design, ensuring that the new transport network is ready to scale whenever inexio's customers demand, protecting previous investments and enabling a smooth migration to ultra-high capacity. "We've developed a fantastic relationship with inexio over the past decade. When it came to demonstrating that we were best placed to evolve their infrastructure, that trust and mutual understanding was every bit as important as the capabilities of our technology," commented Josef Simeir, VP, sales, Central Europe, ADVA. "With this deployment, inexio is taking its network to a whole new level. Our FSP 3000 CloudConnect(TM) is all about secure, high-capacity connectivity ready to scale with the growing needs of enterprise and residential customers. It delivers unbeatable value today and the freedom to increase capacity as soon as it's needed. With this upgrade, inexio is ensuring that its customers' data and services are safe and always available both now and in years to come." "We were very pleased about inexio's decision to bring ADVA and Axians Networks & Solutions GmbH into this project as a team. Through our long-term partnership, cooperation went hand-in-hand. The success of this project shows that all sides benefit from that close relationship," said Volker Ofer, key account manager, carriers and service providers, Axians Networks & Solutions GmbH. Watch this video for more information on ADVA's FSP FSP 3000 CloudConnect(TM) technology: https://youtu.be/txK_JPw2bQM. A video on ADVA's FSP 3000 AgileConnect(TM) is also available here: https://youtu.be/nMMt5RouW7I. About ADVA Optical Networking ADVA Optical Networking is a company founded on innovation and driven to help our customers succeed. For over two decades, our technology has empowered networks across the globe. We're continually developing breakthrough hardware and software that leads the networking industry and creates new business opportunities. It's these open connectivity solutions that enable our customers to deliver the cloud and mobile services that are vital to today's society and for imagining new tomorrows. Together, we're building a truly connected and sustainable future. For more information on how we can help you, please visit us at: www.advaoptical.com. About Axians Networks & Solutions GmbH Axians Networks & Solutions GmbH specializes in the set-up of complex LAN and WAN infrastructures for carrier and enterprise customers. The system integrator's range of manufacturer-independent products and services ranges from solutions for broadband, optical networks, collaboration, mobility & wireless and datacenters, to managed & maintenance services. As a partner and service provider, Axians Networks & Solutions GmbH develops company-specific ICT designs that allow customers to cope with digital changes. Through its 180 employees, the network specialist can serve around 900 customers in Cologne and nine other locations across Germany. The company is part of Axians, the global brand for ICT solutions of Vinci Energies. www.axians.de. About inexio Predominantly based in Rhineland-Palantine, Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg and Saarland, inexio provides high-speed internet access to business and residential customers in underserved, primarily rural areas across Germany. The Company benefits from a state-of-the-art fibre optic network with over 6,000km of modern fiber optic lines and operates six wholly owned data centers, bringing customers both security and high performance. Over 6,000 commercial customers - from corporations to small and medium sized enterprises ("SMEs") - and over 100,000 households rely on the internet access provided by inexio. inexio's portfolio is complemented by a comprehensive range of IT services - from conception to development and operation of IT and internet solutions. For more information please visit www.inexio.net. Published by: ADVA Optical Networking SE, Munich, Germany www.advaoptical.com For press: Gareth Spence t +44 1904 699 358 public-relations(at)advaoptical.com For investors: Stephan Rettenberger t +49 89 890 665 854 investor-relations(at)advaoptical.com Attachment FSP 3000 CloudConnect.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Data Localisation in a Globalised World: An Indian Perspective - A Study by The Dialogue NEW DELHI, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dialogue, an emerging public-policy think tank, today launched its in-house study on the impact of data localisation policies, titled 'Data Localisation in a Globalised World: An Indian Perspective', at the Constitution Club of India. The study argues that cross-border data flows are fundamental to the growth of the global economy. By examining different aspects of data localization such as security, costs, international approaches, and a sectoral analysis, the study concludes that localization is not a viable means to the end that it is designed for. Instead, there are better alternatives available to improve law enforcement and ease of access, which would accomplish the same results without necessarily compromising on the prospects of growth. The report developed through primary and secondary data analysis has forecasted a loss of GDP upto 1 percentage points in the short and medium term if India goes ahead with forced data localisation in its current avatar. The report also suggests that localisation may cost an average Indian worker upto 11% of his/her salary. A lot of interesting insights were generated from the discourse. The event featured speakers that ranged from lawyers, government stakeholders, academia, cybersecurity professionals, public policy think tanks and media houses. The keynote speech was given by Lt. Gen. Dr. SP Kochhar, AVSM, SM, VSM, CEO, Telecom Sector Skill Council of India, National Skill Development Corporation, Ministry of Skill Development, Government of India. "There are two sets of the world - one is borderless and the other is border-limited. The borderless world is a globalized one. If we look at the factual data, it consists of Time and Space. In the borderless world, time has shrunk while the space has expanded (we can access any information through the internet in no time.) whereas in a border-limited world, although the time has shrunk, but the space still remains out of bound," said Lt. Gen. Dr. SP Kochhar. On Data Localisation, he outlines the lack of infrastructural capabilities in India. He raises some important questions on the sustainability of data localisation. He asks, "What are the things that are required for the government to achieve data localisation? There has to be a means to access and protect the data. Even if world-class data centers are put in place along with the best broadband capabilities, will it be able to persist the exponentially growing data generation? Can we guarantee a 24-hour power supply to these data centers? Do we have indigenously developed softwares and cybersecurity tools to secure the data?" The keynote session was followed by a panel discussion on Data Localisation: Impact and Way Forward that was moderated by Mr. Kazim Rizvi, The Dialogue. The panelists included Mr. Saikat Dutta, Asia Times; Mr. Ananth Padmanabhan, Centre for Policy Research; Mr. Venkatesh Krishnamoorthy, BSA Software Alliance and Mr. Ashih Porwal, Hreem Legal. The panel focused on three key areas where data localisation will have impact - Geopolitics, trade and policy analysis. The founding director of The Dialogue, Mr. Kazim Rizvi, in his press release stated, "For India to become a Vishwa Guru, we must follow the principles of a free-market economy. Our approach towards data should be to maximise the potential of cross-border data flows. Rather than deploying a strict hand of forcing companies to store data in India through forced localisation, we should instead incentivise them to come, locate and process their data here. Moreover, to seek access of data for law enforcement, we should work with other countries on a bilateral level and enhance our domestic privacy regime to meet global standards under international privacy frameworks. Now is the time to integrate more with the rest of the world and abandon protectionist policies that can hinder our long-term growth." Mr. Venkatesh Krishnamoorthy of BSA Software Alliance started the panel discussions by pointing out how cross-border data flow is equally (if not more) an important topic while discussing data localisation. He says, "Will data localisation enhance security? Look at it from a consumer's perspective. Localisation of data will lead to an increase in cost to the consumer". He further gives an example of credit card transactions happening worldwide because of free encumbered cross-border data flow. "The credit card transaction happening in, for example, Singapore, is because of cross-border data exchange. Another example that could be taken is how cross-border data flow prevents cyber attacks originating in one part of the world. Through data sharing, these attacks can be identified." According to Mr. Krishnamoorthy, a major hindrance to data localisation is the fragmentation of data spread across the world. Continuing the panel discussions, Mr. Ananth Padmanabhan of CPR says, "Data localisation is not a policy vs policy debate. It is a policy vs principle debate. In a globalized world, internet freedom has been tightly blended in every user. With the verdict on Aadhaar and Right To Privacy, there is a triple test before the State goes further in implementing localisation. The three points to keep in mind before implementing a regulation like this are: 1) Law, 2) Legitimate state claim, and 3) the least restrictive measures employed." Extending on the aforementioned points, Mr. Saikat Dutta, Asia Times spoke, "Data Localisation is like an onion ring. The more you peel, the more layers can be found. For an informed decision making, should we consider data localisation or metadata localisation?" He speaks about the concerns surrounding data localisation and its impact on trade and innovation, "Data Localisation will restrict competition and will curb innovation and innovative economy. Is it possible to create the next billion dollar company like Facebook with such a regulation is place? The answer is no." Mr. Ashish Porwal from Hreem Legal draws parallel between the Preamble and The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018. He states, "If privacy is a fundamental right, it means that the data principal should have a complete control over the data". He points out the importance of an informed consent framework. He says that this discourse can also be interpreted differently. "Looking at it from a different perspective, in a way, The Bill is violating privacy." On MLATs and data sharing agreements, key outcomes from the discussion were reforms needed; both structural and contractual. Mr. Dutta says, "MLATs have gotten better in the past one year. If we see, the majority of MLATs signed in the world are with the US. The understanding between our (Indian) authorities and US has improved. India should actively participate in global discourse and discussions arising from the Budapest Convention." He recommends having permanent officials who would work just towards MLATs and data access. Mr. Kazim Rizvi intervenes and states how the TRAI consultation paper has completely done away with data localisation and instead focused on data sharing agreements under CLOUD Act. Extending the points on MLATs, Mr. Ashish recommends structuring the whole process of drawing out MLATs and accessing the data. "If we read the current MLATs, there are no specific timeline on getting the data back to the LEAs. Also, there is no specific authority that can be held accountable." Kindly click below to view the study: Data Localisation in a Globalised World About The Dialogue The Dialogue is an emerging public-policy think-tank with a vision to drive a progressive narrative in India's policy discourse. Founded in 2017, we believe in facilitating well-researched policy debates at various levels to help develop a more informed citizenry, on areas around technology, strategic affairs, sustainability and development issues. Our aim is to enable a more coherent policy discourse in India backed by evidence and layered with the passion to transform India's growth, to help inform on public-policies, analyse the impact of governance and subsequently, develop robust solutions to tackle our challenges and capitalise on our opportunities. To achieve our objectives, we deploy a multi-stakeholder approach and work with Government, academia, civil-society, industry and other important stakeholders. Kindly visit our website at http://www.thedialogue.co. Media Contact: Reva Malhotra [email protected] +91-8882004173 Matterscope Private Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Global Notebook Shipments to Increase Slightly by 3.9% QoQ in 3Q18, Lower than Expected due to Intel CPU Shortage, Says TrendForce According to the latest report by TrendForce, the global notebook shipments for 3Q18 are estimated to increase slightly by 3.9% QoQ, reaching 42.68 million units. Compared with the previous forecast of 5~6% growth, this projection has been adjusted 2% downward due to the shortage of Intel (News - Alert) CPU. "Although notebook manufacturers are now at the end of their preparation for the year-end holiday season, they are still active in production planning in order to achieve the shipment goal this year", says Kou-Han Tseng, TrendForce notebook analyst. However, 4Q18 shipments are estimated to drop by 1.9% YoY as the below-expected supply continues, with almost no inventory of CPU, and the shortage of mainstream CPU is expected to retain in 1H19. In addition, with the China-US trade dispute simmering, there are concerns about the trade tariffs on goods imported to the U.S. from China. It is said that notebooks may be included in the new tariff list, but it is still not clear whether the list will come into effect. However, notebook brands and ODMs have been considering strategies to cope with the situation. Relocating the production facilities appear to be a feasible solution so far, but it will result in higher costs, re-verifying of products and factories, as well as longer lead time. Another solution will be starting notebook production in advance, which may increase the inventory level, but could lower the risks compared with the former solution. Dell registered double-digit growth; Asus and Apple (News - Alert) recorded steeper YoY decline in shipments In terms of the shipment ranking, HP stays in the lead in 3Q18, with 10.8 million units shipped. For the whole year of 2018, the shipment is expected to rise 5% YoY to arrive at around 42 million units, better than the average shipment level in the industry. Lenovo (News - Alert) remains the second lagest notebook manufacturer in 3Q18, shipping 8.44 million notebooks (excluding shipments from brands that Lenovo acquired). The shipments dropped 1.6% YoY due to the slowdown in Chinese domestic market. Dell (News - Alert) ranked the third with shipments of 7.18 million units, an increase of 8% YoY. Due to rising commercial notebook sales, Dell's shipments for the whole year are projected to increase by over 12% YoY, the highest among the top six notebook makers. The company's annual shipments are expected to reach 28 million units. Asus, ranking the fourth, shipped 3.58 million units. While the whole notebook market gains growth momentum from the commercial segment, Asus chooses to focus on niche products with better profitability. As the result, Asus has seen YoY declines in shipments for eight consecutive quarters. For this year, the YoY decline in Asus's annual shipments may become steeper, exceeding 10%. Apple and Acer (News - Alert) showed similar performances in Q3, shipping 3.36 million and 3.35 million units respectively. Compared with their performances in the same period of last year, however, Apple post significant declines but Acer registered growth. Apple this year adopted a new processor in its high-end MacBook Pro with OLED Bar, but the performance improvements hardly attract more customers due to the series' high price tags. Moreover, the launch of new MacBook Air was delayed to Q4, and Apple' Q3 shipments turned out to fall by 24.3% YoY as the result. As for Acer, who focuses on both profitability and shipment volume, its Q3 shipments grew by 1.4% YoY. Particularly, its Chromebook series became an impetus for the shipment growth, while its niche gaming notebooks also registered outstanding performance. For the further details of the press release and the Table - Top Notebook Brands by Global Shipments for 3Q18, please visit: https://press.trendforce.com/press/20181120-3181.html About TrendForce (www.trendforce.com) TrendForce is a global provider of market intelligence on the technology industries. Having served businesses for over a decade, the company has built up a strong membership base of 500,000 subscribers residing the technology and financial services sectors. TrendForce has established a reputation as an organization that offers insightful and accurate analysis of the technology industry through five major research divisions: DRAMeXchange, WitsView, LEDinside, EnergyTrend and Topology Research Institute. Founded in Taipei, Taiwan in 2000, TrendForce has extended its presence in China since 2004 with offices in Shenzhen and Beijing. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005226/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] CyanConnode's Innovation-powered Growth in the Smart Meter Market Applauded by Frost & Sullivan CyanConnode's implementation excellence and outstanding price-performance value have placed it ahead of its competitors SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 20, 2018 /CNW/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the global smart meter market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes CyanConnode with the 2018 Global Company of the Year Award for its potentially disruptive Omni Internet of Things (IoT) platform. The explosion in data traffic has given rise to an alternative communications technology known as the narrowband RF mesh, which increases the capacity of connected devices. However, most narrowband networks still do not address the market needs for lower costs and optimized quality of service (QoS). In response to these supply gaps, CyanConnode developed its path-breaking narrowband RF mesh networks that offer significantly higher efficiency levels as it can quickly create robust ad-hoc networks. "CyanConnode is at the forefront of adopting narrowband RF mesh technology to support IoT. Its cutting-edge IoT platform enables advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solutions, providing secure communication between utilities and consumers across the globe. The company leads the market in the implementation of the networks and lowering the total cost of ownership," said Gautham Gnanajothi, Global Research Director, Industrial Business Unit. "The unique Omni IoT platform is communication protocol-, network-, and device-agnostic and offers end users the flexibility to integrate both legacy and new applications on the same platform." The Omni IoT platform is designed to manage multiple systems through a single network management system and it incorporates all the elements required to deliver multi-network, multi-application IoT solutions, significantly reducing the complexity and integration costs. It presents a full-service solution for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, enabling cost effective communications for long-range, low-power IoT applictions. It also fully supports incremental rollouts, which enhance cash flow, deployment, and end-to-end verification efficiencies. Overall, its security, ease of deployment, and cost effectiveness will greatly boost the customer ownership experience. CyanConnode's best-in-class strategy implementation is characterized by processes, tools, and activities that generate a consistent and repeatable level of success. A case in point is the launch of its Omnimesha robust and futuristic smart metering solution delivered as a part of the Omni IoT platform that leverages industry-recognized open standards. It is a cost-optimized smart metering solution that allows utilities to implement real-time pricing scenarios and customers to control energy use and costs. Additionally, it supports strategic energy waste reduction by reusing smart grid infrastructure. "CyanConnode's solutions represent the next generation of communication systems that are not only simple, reliable, and efficient, but are also deeply integrated with the network," noted Gautham. "The company's expertise in providing a narrowband RF mesh communication platform as well as efficient, scalable device-to-device communication make it extremely competitive with respect to price/performance value. Its end-to-end solutions support each component of smart grid implementations and ensure excellent urban penetration and connectivity at a price point suitable for next-generation economies." Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies, and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About CyanConnode CyanConnode is a world leader in narrowband radio frequency (RF) mesh networks that facilitate machine to machine (M2M) communication. CyanConnode's innovative technology uses the industrial, scientific, and medical radio band, (ISM), which is optimised to give exceptional performance and competitive total cost of ownership. Through global partnerships, CyanConnode provides customers with a solution for the rapid deployment of local or countrywide ISM RF mesh networks that provide reliable and secure M2M communication. For more information, please visit www.cyanconnode.com. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Claudia Toscano P: 210.477.8417 F: 210.348.1003 E: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cyanconnodes-innovation-powered-growth-in-the-smart-meter-market-applauded-by-frost--sullivan-300753336.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Cubic to Showcase Next-Generation Multi-Domain Training Innovations at I/ITSEC 2018 SAN DIEGO, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced that its Cubic Global Defense (CGD) business division will demonstrate its broad portfolio of advanced training solutions at the 2018 Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Florida from November 26-29. Organized by the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA), I/ITSEC is the world's largest modeling, simulation and training conference. With the theme of "Launching Innovation in Learning: Ready, Set, Disrupt," this year's conference is led by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. "As our adversaries become more capable and operating environments become more complex, it is critical for U.S. forces to converge capabilities across multiple domains," said Mike Knowles, president, Cubic Global Defense. "Through our NextTraining strategy, Cubic integrates innovative training solutions that keep pace with our customers' evolving training requirements. We look forward to showcasing our advanced solutions that integrate disruptive technologies to accelerate training proficiency." Cubic's technologies feature knowledge-focused infrastructures and dynamic learning environments that can be adapted across multiple domains. At I/ITSEC, Cubic will demonstrate the following training innovations at booth #1748 in the South Concourse at the Orange County Convention Center: SLATE Validated Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) Training: Cubic is the industry systems integrator for the U.S. Air Force Research Lab's (AFRL) Secure LVC Advanced Training Environment (SLATE) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD). SLATE-ATD successfully demonstrated the integration of live fighter aircraft, man-in-the-loop simulators and hundreds of constructive air and ground entities in a single training environment. Through this game-changing instrumentation system, Cubic provides the Department of Defense (DoD) and coalition artners the ability to securely train, test and measure combat readiness like never before. Cubic is the industry systems integrator for the U.S. Air Force Research Lab's (AFRL) Secure LVC Advanced Training Environment (SLATE) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD). SLATE-ATD successfully demonstrated the integration of live fighter aircraft, man-in-the-loop simulators and hundreds of constructive air and ground entities in a single training environment. Through this game-changing instrumentation system, Cubic provides the Department of Defense (DoD) and coalition artners the ability to securely train, test and measure combat readiness like never before. Live & Virtual Convergence: the utilization of live and virtual weapons with next-generation tracking technologies, such as geo-pairing and optical tracking for the synthetic training environment. These technologies integrate live and virtual weapons into the U.S. Army's Games for Training (GFT) environment. They also address the Army and Marine Corps desire to improve tracking accuracy and incorporate next-generation visual interfaces for training. the utilization of live and virtual weapons with next-generation tracking technologies, such as geo-pairing and optical tracking for the synthetic training environment. These technologies integrate live and virtual weapons into the U.S. Army's Games for Training (GFT) environment. They also address the Army and Marine Corps desire to improve tracking accuracy and incorporate next-generation visual interfaces for training. Cross Domain LVC Training: cross domain LVC training demonstrates the air and ground integration of Cubic's Individual Combat Aircrew Display System (ICADS) and Synthetic Wrap capability. The industry-leading ACMI/LVC systems combined with these innovative solutions bridge the gap between today's air and ground combat training and next-generation LVC training. cross domain LVC training demonstrates the air and ground integration of Cubic's Individual Combat Aircrew Display System (ICADS) and Synthetic Wrap capability. The industry-leading ACMI/LVC systems combined with these innovative solutions bridge the gap between today's air and ground combat training and next-generation LVC training. Artillery Mission Training System: as the world's first realistic training experience for the howitzer detachment in the field, gunnery drills can now be carried out in almost complete realism and instrumented artillery can now fire 'in' to Tactical Engagement Systems (TES). This ground-breaking applique training system is designed by gunners for gunners and fills a critical training gap during force-on-force training. as the world's first realistic training experience for the howitzer detachment in the field, gunnery drills can now be carried out in almost complete realism and instrumented artillery can now fire 'in' to Tactical Engagement Systems (TES). This ground-breaking applique training system is designed by gunners for gunners and fills a critical training gap during force-on-force training. Nexus Analytics: a modular system that collects and synthesizes data from existing systems. Nexus Analytics provides a data-backed understanding of soldier/unit readiness enabling customers to conduct short, medium and long-term learning to enhance their combat capabilities. It creates a compelling capability for combat training centers that need to analyze and interpret large amounts of data collected from LVC and observatory systems. a modular system that collects and synthesizes data from existing systems. Nexus Analytics provides a data-backed understanding of soldier/unit readiness enabling customers to conduct short, medium and long-term learning to enhance their combat capabilities. It creates a compelling capability for combat training centers that need to analyze and interpret large amounts of data collected from LVC and observatory systems. Big Analytics and Reality in Simulation (BARS): Cubic's Immersive Virtual Ship Environment (IVSE) for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a game-based learning technology that supports the U.S. Navy's LCS program by immersing trainees in a cutting-edge, 3-D virtual environment, practically identical to real-life shipboard scenarios. A robust learning management system, the IVSE features performance data collection functionalities to enhance knowledge retention and accelerate learning. Cubic's Immersive Virtual Ship Environment (IVSE) for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a game-based learning technology that supports the U.S. Navy's LCS program by immersing trainees in a cutting-edge, 3-D virtual environment, practically identical to real-life shipboard scenarios. A robust learning management system, the IVSE features performance data collection functionalities to enhance knowledge retention and accelerate learning. Information Ecosystem: Cubic's newest training solution provides support for high speed data communications and analytics on the battlefield. The Communications Interface (CI) and the Black Wolf Base Station meet both the operational and training communications and tracking requirements for the individual, team and unit by exploiting a secure LTE ecosystem. Cubic's newest training solution provides support for high speed data communications and analytics on the battlefield. The Communications Interface (CI) and the Black Wolf Base Station meet both the operational and training communications and tracking requirements for the individual, team and unit by exploiting a secure LTE ecosystem. Synthetic Internet Training Environment (SITE): with cyber as the latest front in the modern battlespace, Cubic's SITE creates a digital sandbox for open source intelligence, public affairs, psychological operations, cyber operations and operational security personnel. It provides an opportunity to train in realistic news, social media and dark web environments without spilling onto the open internet. with cyber as the latest front in the modern battlespace, Cubic's SITE creates a digital sandbox for open source intelligence, public affairs, psychological operations, cyber operations and operational security personnel. It provides an opportunity to train in realistic news, social media and dark web environments without spilling onto the open internet. Synthetic Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (Synthetic ISR): supports joint exercises by providing customizable virtual environments with a variety of manned and unmanned sensor feeds. Synthetic ISR provides a mobile LVC applications that injects live players into the rich geo-specific virtual environments. @CubicDefense on Twitter and join the social media conversation using #IITSEC. About Cubic Corporation Cubic is a technology-driven, market-leading provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, defense C4ISR and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries' effectiveness and operational readiness. Our teams innovate to make a positive difference in people's lives. We simplify their daily journeys. We promote mission success and safety for those who serve their nation. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cubic-to-showcase-next-generation-multi-domain-training-innovations-at-iitsec-2018-300753477.html SOURCE Cubic Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Alzamend Neuro Appoints New CEO, Bio-Pharma Executive Stephan Jackman Salt Lake City, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alzamend Neuro, Inc. (Alzamend or the Company) announced today that it has appointed bio-pharma executive, Mr. Stephan Jackman, as its new Chief Executive Officer in fulfillment of its goal to attract and secure a full-time proven industry leader to move the Company to the next level. Mr. Jackman has over twenty years of multi-industry experience in administration, business and product development, marketing, project and program management, and strategic planning. The Company believes he will provide Alzamend a dynamic blend of bio-pharma experience and corporate leadership to navigate the challenges commonly faced by a developmental biotech company as it pursues the commercialization of its two therapeutic patented solutions for Alzheimers disease. Stephan Jackman I am committed to leading this visionary team of scientists and strategic partners to bring novel treatments to the 5.7 million Americans afflicted by this devastating disease, stated Mr. Jackman. At Alzamend, we are very familiar with the emotional, physical and economic impact of Alzheimers, since a few of our team members are caregivers to loved ones living with the disease. Having played an intricate role in the development of therapeutic treatments, products and programs from the research stage to market and commercialization, he has demonstrated a dedicated dual focus of creating value for internal and external stakeholders while developing strategic alliances and cross-function teams to meet and exceed goals. Mr. Jackman has held positions of increasing responsibility at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, LOreal USA, SBM Management Services, and Family Intervention Services. Prior to joining Alzamend Neuro, Mr. Jackman was the Chief Operating Officer of Ennaid Therapeutics, an emerging biopharmaceutical focusing on cures for mosquito borne infectious diseases, such as Zika and Dengue viruses. Additionally, he has been an independent project and management consultant assisting start-ups, Fortune 500 companies and non-profits with major strategic initiatives. Mr. Milton Todd Ault, III, the Founder and Executive Chairman of Alzamend Neuro stated, We are very excited about the appointment of Mr. Jackman as our CEO. Our company is committed to supporting the full product development life cycle of treatment and cures for Alzheimers disease and Alzamend is now t the doorstep of the next very important step, FDA registration and application to conduct human clinical trials. It has been our plan since our inception to transition to retain an industry professional to drive our company and our therapeutics to achieve the milestones that are now before us. Mr. Ault emphasized, We are grateful to Mr. Mansour who developed our business plan and secured strategic relationships that have well-positioned Alzamend for success. We look forward to his continued role as a Director. Mr. Jackman is an advocate for K-12 STEM education having spent over fifteen years mentoring and teaching math to at-risk high school students in the Kean University Upward Bound program and Stevens Technical Enrichment Program. Mr. Jackman believes strongly in developing stronger bonds between business and community and eagerly has participated and driven socially responsible initiatives. Mr. Jackman earned a Master of Science in Management and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. In the U.S., Alzheimers disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, estimated to effect over 5.7 million adults today. The companys goal is to move therapeutic technology out of the research and preclinical testing stages into clinical trials as it works toward commercialization. It is estimated by the Alzheimers Association that every 65 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimers and as many as one in ten adults over 65 have Alzheimers. It is also projected that by the year 2050, one in three seniors will have AD or another form of dementia and the disease may affect as many as 88 million adults if a cure is not found. Alzheimer's disease is one of the costliest chronic diseases to society and estimates are that the total care for Alzheimers and other dementias in 2017 cost the nation more than $277 billion. The Company recommends its shareholders and any interested parties read its public reports and financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for further information. All public filings, financial statements, management profiles and other Company information are available on the Companys web site, www.Alzamend.com . About Alzamend Neuro, Inc. Alzamend Neuro, Inc. is a Delaware corporation doing business in the State of Utah. The mission of Alzamend Neuro is to support the full product development life cycle of treatment and cures for Alzheimers driven by the belief that strong support of research is the foundation for true innovation. The Company is providing current hope through the commercialization of existing patented intellectual property and know-how while simultaneously funding future hope through advanced research and development. Alzamend Neuros underlying goal is to get a treatment or cure for Alzheimers to market at a reasonable cost as quickly as possible. Far too many suffer daily, patients and caretakers alike, from the burden created by the nations 6th leading cause of death and most feared disease. The vision of Alzamend Neuro has been to license CAO22W, the patented mutant peptide for use in immunotherapy and LiProSal, a lithium-based ionic cocrystal oral therapy for patients that have long suffered with the effects of AD from the University of South Florida. There are no profound treatments today for Alzheimers. With CAO22W and LiProSal, the Company is very hopeful that Alzamend can change that. It is one of the Companys strategic goals to support the continuing research by the teams at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimers Institute and other USF Health Colleges to develop and commercialize their results into meaningful solutions. From his familys personal experience with relatives having been afflicted with AD, Mr. Milton Todd Ault, III, the Companys Founder and Executive Chairman, diligently studied the status of treatments and the landscape of medical technology. Mr. Ault selected USF and its formative intellectual property and formed the Company. With over twenty-seven years of experience on Wall Street as an activist driven by his relentless passion for business and technology, Mr. Aults efforts have culminated in a commitment to depart from the traditional while forging ahead with an innovative, yet disruptive path to financing the commercialization and the discovery of future solutions. Forward-looking Statement s Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and those statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Attachment Stephan Jackman Investor Inquiries: Email: [email protected] Company Website: www.Alzamend.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Virtual Instruments to Showcase New Approach to Ending IT War Rooms at the Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conferences SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtual Instruments , the leader in hybrid infrastructure management, announced today its participation at the two Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conference s , taking place in London from November 26-27, and Las Vegas from December 3-6. At the events, Virtual Instruments will showcase and demo VirtualWisdom , the industrys most comprehensive hybrid infrastructure management and AIOps platform, as well as WorkloadWisdom , the industrys leading storage workload performance validation platform. The Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conferences are one of the industrys largest gatherings for senior IT and business leaders. This years events will focus on the elements of a successful infrastructure and operations strategy from the cloud and IoT to artificial intelligence, automation and machine learning. Attendees will learn how the VirtualWisdom and WorkloadWisdom platforms directly support a comprehensive infrastructure and operations strategy, as their organizations aim to assure the performance and availability of their mission-critical applications spanning their increasingly hybrid data centers. Through live demos of both platforms, decision-makers will experience firsthand how the solutions can help their organizations overcome emerging hybrid IT data center challenges and bring an end to the contentious IT war room. By visualizing the infrastructure in the context of the application, VirtualWisdom enables organizations to proactively gain full control over the performance and availability of their applications across their hybrid data centers. In doing so, VirtualWisdom delivers improved control, greater business agility and reduced infrastructure costs. Furthermore, it brings an end to the costly, unproductive and antiquated ITwar rooms typically created to resolve critical application slowdowns and outages. Many organizations workload performance validation and forecasting practices rely on an inadequate combination of DIY testing, vendor claims and guesswork, resulting in significant infrastructure over-provisioning and unnecessary production risk. WorkloadWisdom enables enterprises to overcome these challenges by providing them with a scalable, high-performance platform for workload modeling, testing, validation and performance analysis from production-to-the-lab. This results in deployment decisions that can ensure the performance of business-critical applications and save millions in storage and network costs. Following are details on Virtual Instruments presence at the Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conferences: What: Live demos, 1:1 meetings with Virtual Instruments senior technical and product leadership team, daily giveaways Live demos, 1:1 meetings with Virtual Instruments senior technical and product leadership team, daily giveaways Where (London): Virtual Instruments booth, #PL7 The O2 at the InterContinental London Waterview Drive London, England SE10 0TW Where (Las Vegas): Virtual Instruments booth, #249 The Venetian Las Vegas 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109 When (London): November 26-27, 2018 November 26-27, 2018 When (Las Vegas): December 3-6, 2018 In addition, Virtual Instruments will participate in the following speaking sessions at both events: What: Best Practices for Infrastructure Monitoring and AIOps Platform Operations Best Practices for Infrastructure Monitoring and AIOps Platform Operations Who (London): A speaker from leading automotive supplier IT organization, moderated by Len Rosenthal, CMO, Virtual Instruments A speaker from leading automotive supplier IT organization, moderated by Len Rosenthal, CMO, Virtual Instruments Who (Las Vegas): A speaker from a leading healthcare IT organization that uses EPIC, moderated by John Gentry, CTO, Virtual Instruments A speaker from a leading healthcare IT organization that uses EPIC, moderated by John Gentry, CTO, Virtual Instruments Where (London): The O2 at the InterContinental London Waterview Drive London, England SE10 0TW Where (Las Vegas): Veronese 2401B The Venetian Las Vegas 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109 When (London): 5:30 p.m. GMT on Monday, November 26, 2018 5:30 p.m. GMT on Monday, November 26, 2018 When (Las Vegas): 11:15 a.m. PT on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 To learn more about Virtual Instruments activities at the event, and to sign up for a 1:1 meeting with Virtual Instruments senior technical and product leadership team, please visit: https://go.virtualinstruments.com/TS-2018-12-6-Gartner-IT-Ops-Cloud-Conference-Las-Vegas_LP.html To learn more about Virtual Instruments and its hybrid infrastructure management solutions, please visit: https://www.virtualinstruments.com/ To learn more about the Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conference, please visit: https://www.gartner.com/en/conferences/na/infrastructure-operations-cloud-us About Virtual Instruments Virtual Instruments is the leader in application-centric hybrid infrastructure management. It provides comprehensive infrastructure instrumentation and performance analytics for enterprise data centers. The companys solutions give IT teams deep workload visibility and actionable insights into their end-to-end systems across the hybrid data center. Virtual Instruments empowers companies to maximize the performance, availability and utilization of their production IT infrastructure from the data center to the cloud. The privately held company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. For more information, visit https://www.virtualinstruments.com . Contact Anne Stanley 10Fold for Virtual Instruments [email protected] +1 415 800 5383 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] 12 ReTech Corporation Discusses Recent Business Progress and Releases Third Quarter FY2018 Financial Results Las Vegas, NV & Hong Kong, Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 12 ReTech Corporation (OTCQB: RETC) has accomplished several milestones since the beginning of their FY2018 Third Quarter. First, the R&D efforts to produce the second generation of the major components of our 12 Technology Suite have been successful. We have recently released new software for the 12Mirror and the 12AdScreen. We are expecting to launch the new 12Mobile APP in the next few weeks. Angelo Ponzetta, 12 ReTech's CEO commented, The release of our new technologies has allowed us to approach merchant clients in our major markets. American, European and Japanese clients have seen the new technologies and have confirmed their interest to move forward. We expect to announce some of these developments in FY2019 1st quarter. In the retail industry, November and December are the busiest months of the year for retailers and while we believe their interest is high, they need to take care of operations first. Second, we continue to make progress in the US market with our wholly owned subsidiary Emotion Fashion Brands, Inc. D/B/A Emotion Fashions. Production is increasing at our factory and we are making headway in both wholesale and online sales efforts. Sales efforts yielded $19,600 in the third quarter of FY2018. We expect sales to keep improving as we recruit additional wholesale customers for our Emotion Fashions and our Lexi-Luu Dancewear brands. CEO, Ponzetta, continued, We are also making progress in our direct sales to consumer operations through two proprietary online sites, www.emotionapparelinc.com and www.lexiluudancewear.com . Through the use of social media tools such as Instagram and Facebook, we are beginning to see our client lists grow on both brands. As we continue to innovate and add our 12 Online Solutions to our e-commerce sites, we hope to accelerate the addition of new customers to our marketing database. Third, the Company has made progress on the acquisition front. While the three acquisition targets announced in 2017 are still on hold, we have approached several new targets that could prove to be strategic for increasing the capacity of our manufacturing operations and to adding brands that already have proven traction in the marketplace. Every one of the candidates would like to bring their operations to the next level of success by expanding their sales channels, including their online presence. We hope to have concrete news to talk about in the first quarter, 2019. Fourth, the 12 Technology Suite showrooms in Zurich and Salt Lake City are now ready. We plan to use both facilities to demonstrate our technology to retailers who are interested in getting more shoppers into their properties and converting them into buyers. CEO, Ponzetta continued, Our focus is not just about giving the shopper a better experience inside the retailer store, much ofthe value proposition that we offer is to give the merchant a better insight into what the shoppers are interested in through the data analytics capabilities that are built into our technology. Better insights on shoppers reactions to merchandising can help retailers to increase their sales. Fifth, there is exciting recent progress in Zurich, Switzerland, with our 12Sconti APP which we plan to discuss in greater detail in the next few weeks. Management believes that the Companys activities during FY2018 Third Quarter were designed to prepare us for future growth in our technology business as well as in our consumer products business. We plan to continue to invest in Research and Development and Brand Marketing for both technology and consumer products. Mr. Ponzetta commented further, "Our Company continues to make progress on executing our business plan in a number of areas. I am pleased to tell you that Itoya, our first client in Japan, has chosen to expand their usage of our technology. I am also very pleased with the reception we are receiving from world class retailers the fruit of relationships cultivated with the industry over the past two years. In the third quarter (Q3:FY2018) ended September 30, 2018, the Company posted revenues of $48,102 an increase of $31,420 (288%) over the 2nd quarter of the year and a GAAP Net Loss of $1,768,823 compared to $1,714,346 for the 2nd quarter of 2018. While our published SEC Form 10-Q will provide a comparison for Q3:FY2018 against the prior years comparable period, Management believes that a better analysis can be had compared against the prior sequential period (Q2:FY2018) as the Company incurred public entity expenses in both periods. In Q3:FY2018, the Company saw an increase in revenues over the prior sequential period due to the deployment of 12 Technology Suite at a second Itoya location in Japan and to a lesser extent, the successful buildup at Emotion Fashions, our consumer products operation. The total Q3:FY2018 revenues of $48,102 include $28,460 from 12 Japans Itoya Operations and a $19,642 revenue contribution from Emotion. The revenue increase of $31,420 quarter over quarter represents an 288% improvement. Excluding the non-cash finance expenses associated with Derivative Liabilities which emanate from our convertible debt and convertible preferred shares and represent a change in accounting treatment, the added net Stock Compensation Expense and the finance related amortization of debt discount, the Company experienced an Adjusted Cash Net Loss of $732,650 for the just reported period versus an Adjusted Cash Net Loss of $924,463 in the second quarter of the year. This represents a improvement (reduction) of $191,813 in Adjusted Cash Net Loss, when compared period over period. CEO Ponzetta, finished, We continue to add valuable partners whose technology complements our own 12 Technology Suite. I am pleased with the progress that we are making on all of our various business activities. I believe that each separate business activity will provide us with a foundation to produce revenues and earnings for our shareholders in the future, and we believe that each segment will complement the other for the benefit of our shareholders. The figures referenced above are not audited, readers are advised to consider these figures along with footnotes and any other accompanying information that is contained in the Companys Form 10-Q as well as all of the filings that the Company has previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. About 12 ReTech Corporation: At our core, we are a software company whose technology allows retailers to combat the dual threats of Walmart and Amazon both online and in physical stores. Our microbrand rollup acquisition strategy allows us to demonstrate the effectiveness of our software, devise and test new products, while providing shareholder value through immediate revenue and earnings growth. The Company operates through our subsidiaries on three continents: 12 Hong Kong, Ltd., 12 Japan, Ltd., 12 Europe A.G., 12 Retail Corporation (and its subsidiaries in North America, including Emotion Fashion Group, Inc.). For more information please visit our website at www.12ReTech.com . 12 ReTech Corporation is publicly listed on the OTCQB Markets under the symbol RETC. Safe Harbor: This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, the ability of the Company to successfully implement its turnaround strategy, changes in costs of raw materials, labor, and employee benefits, as well as general market conditions, competition and pricing. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this letter will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. In assessing forward-looking statements included herein, readers are urged to carefully read those statements. When used in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, the words "estimate," "anticipate," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions are intended to be forward-looking statements. Investors Relations Contacts: Mark Gilbert Magellan FIN, LLC [email protected] 317-361-2392 (USA) Corporate Headquarters [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] KATANA Arc Selected as One of This Year's Oprah's Favorite Things Annual list of this seasons holiday must-haves featured in the December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and on OprahMag.com KATANA Safety is the Worlds first personal safety system that travels with you on your smartphone, and the first solution to combine a panic button / audible siren duo device, a 24/7 Response Center and a network of your closest friends to help when you need them most. GREENVILLE, S.C., Nov. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KATANA Safety announced today that the KATANA Arc is included in this years Oprahs Favorite Things holiday gift list featured in the December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and on OprahMag.com. The Oprahs Favorite Things annual list is a must-have holiday shopping guide that features the most decadent desserts, ingenious gadgets, and finest finds in home, fashion, and beauty. The KATANA Arc will be available for purchase at https://www.katanasafety.com , and in the Oprahs Favorite Things storefront on Amazon at amazon.com/oprah or on the Amazon App anytime, anywhere. New this year, shoppers will also be able to shop the list via shoppable video content streaming from their Amazon Fire TV devices by opening the Amazon Shopping App on their Fire TV device and selecting Oprahs Favorite Things to browse video content. As Oprah says in the December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, Its a panic button, its a GPS tracker, its a line to local law enforcement its the KATANA Arc, a security system that attaches to your phone and can help fend off danger if, God forbid, you ever find yourself in a scarysituation. The patented KATANA Arc is the first of three layers of defense in the KATANA Safety solution. The ultra-slim Arc is a panic button / audible siren duo designed to attach to any smartphone. The Arc features two types of alarms a piercing audible siren and a discreet silent alert button. The audible alarm can be activated by simply pulling the red tab with your finger, or by pulling a hidden wristband attached to the Arc. Both the audible and silent alarm trigger the second layer of defense, a 24/7 Response Center. When alerted, the KATANA Safety Response Center will contact you with the option of contacting local authorities, or alerting the third layer of defense, the Circle of Seven. The KATANA Safety Circle of Seven is part of the KATANA Safety app that allows you to choose up to seven of your friends and loved ones to be contacted with your location in case of an emergency. We are passionate about our purpose of preventing sexual assault and other vulnerable situations Im excited that this incredible honor of being chosen as one of Oprahs Favorite Things will help with that mission, said Todd Baldree, Founder of KATANA Safety and Inventor of the Arc. Twelve lucky readers will have the chance to win every item, including the KATANA Arc, on Oprahs Favorite Things List in the 12-Day Give-O-Way Sweepstakes ( www.oprah.com/12days ), which runs from November 28 through December 9. One additional winner will have the chance to win all 107 items with the Instant Win Code (www.oprah.com/instantwin18) found in the magazine kicking-off on December 10 and ending on December 14. To see the full list of items please visit www.oprahmag.com/favorite-things . The December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, featuring the KATANA Arc on this years list, hits newsstands nationwide on November 20. About KATANA Safety KATANA Safety is a purpose-driven company dedicated to Using the Tools of our Time to Prevent Sexual Assault and Other Vulnerable Situations. KATANA Safetys three-layers of defense the patented KATANA Arc, 24/7 Response Center and KATANA Circle of Seven App is a personal security system that attaches directly to any smartphone. Though born out of preventing sexual assault on college campuses, the solution can be helpful to anyone that may find themselves alone such as high school students, college students, runners, aging adults, travelers or those with a medical concern. The company is headquartered in Greenville, SC. For more information about KATANA Safety visit www.katanasafety.com Press contact: Carey Jester Uproar PR for KATANA Safety [email protected] 312-878-4575 x246 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/988f6004-e972-4e90-98b0-71bcdf7ec293 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] ResMed Elects Harjit Gill to Its Board of Directors ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD), a leader in cloud-connected medical devices and out-of-hospital software-as-a-service business solutions, today announced it has elected experienced consumer and healthcare executive Harjit Gill to its Board of Directors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005179/en/ Harjit Gill, BA (Photo: Business Wire) Ms. Gill was elected by shareholders at its annual shareholder meeting last week in Sydney, Australia. Also, announced at that meeting, Gary W. Pace has retired from ResMed's board after serving on it since July 1994. Ms. Gill's appointment and Dr. Pace's retirement both took effect Thursday, November 15. Ms. Gill has more than 25 years' experience in health and consumer technology products as an executive, investor and regional business leader spanning Asia, Europe and the Middle East. From 1990 to 2015, she worked for Ryal Philips (News - Alert) as executive vice president and CEO for Philips ASEAN & Pacific, overseeing Healthcare/Lighting and Consumer Lifestyle Products; senior vice president of International Sales; vice president of Asia for Philips Consumer Lifestyle Products; and various other senior roles in Philips Consumer Electronics businesses in the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore. From 2015 to 2016, she served as chief operations and marketing officer for HTC (News - Alert), Taiwan. Since 2016, she has been advisor to Delmedica Investments, a Singapore-based company focused on respiratory health and inventors of the X-Halo breath thermometer. Ms. Gill is also a board director for Apollo Education and Training, a private company providing English teaching in Vietnam, and has held various leadership roles at the Singapore chapter of YPO, which provides growth and networking opportunities to CEOs worldwide. "I'm very excited to welcome Harjit Gill to ResMed's Board," said ResMed Founder and Board Chairman Peter Farrell. "ResMed will greatly benefit from her vast experience, not only in healthcare and consumer technology, but across the many global regions where ResMed continues to expand its reach. "I'd also like to thank Dr. Gary Pace for his valuable and effective guidance to ResMed during his 24 years of service as a director," said Farrell, "including during the period of ResMed's important transformation from medical device company to global leader in connected medical devices and out-of-hospital software." About ResMed ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD), a world-leading connected health company with more than 6 million cloud-connected devices for daily remote patient monitoring, changes lives with every breath. Its award-winning devices and software solutions help treat and manage sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory conditions. Its 6,000-member team strives to improve patients' quality of life, reduce the impact of chronic disease and save healthcare costs in more than 120 countries. ResMed.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005179/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Agora.io Announces $70 Million in Series C Funding From Coatue Management SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Agora.io, the leading voice, video and live broadcasting platform, today announced that it has closed $70 million in a Series C round of funding led by Coatue Management, a leading technology investor known for its investments in Uber, SnapChat, Box.com, Lime, DoorDash, and others. Existing investors SIG, Morningside and Shunwei Capital participated in the latest round, which brings Agora's total capital raised to $125 million to date. Founded in 2014 by Tony (Bin) Zhao, a founding engineer at WebEx Communications (acquired by Cisco) and former CTO of Chinese social media giant YY.com, Agora is the leading provider of real-time voice, video and live broadcasting solutions for web and mobile applications. The Series C round follows an explosive year for Agora as the company experiences unprecedented growth and gains significant market share with new product releases like the React Native SDK and Unity Support, a wave of seasoned management hires, and a series of new partnerships with global technology innovators. "The Internet has steadily transformed the way people communicate over the last decade, but these interactions will continue to shift as technology continues to advance at a rapid pace," said Tony Zhao, Founder and CEO of Agora. "We're excited to be at the forefront of this movement as Agora continues to disrupt the real-time voice, video and live broadcasting space with solutions that are not only transforming the way we think about real-time engagement but also how it can affect or everyday lives, both online and offline. We are creating a new category of real-time communications, one that puts engagement at the core of the user experience, and we will continue leveraging our unique technology and global reach to further transform this space." "At a time when every industry feels saturated with an endless array of products and services, we view authentic real-time user engagement as a competitive edge for our partners," said Reggie Yativ, CRO & COO of Agora. "It is very exciting working with innovative and forward-thinking customers and partners to deliver amazing applications across a wide range of industries, including social discovery, social media, e-commerce, gaming, education and many more. We are very grateful and delighted to have a partner like Coatue who shares our ideas and big plans for the future. With the help of our amazing team, we plan to rapidly expand our commercial, community and technology groups." "Live video is like the live band that plays at your local shop. It's dynamic and happening in-the-moment, and that's what live video brings to our apps MeetMe, LOVOO, Skout, and Tagged," said Geoff Cook, Chief Executive Officer of The Meet Group. "By integrating Agora's voice and video APIs into our applications, we gave our users a new way to virtually meet and form authentic connections. Not only has live video created new revenue streams, it's also become a big driver of user engagement and satisfaction." Accelerated by the proliferation of mobile and widespread Internet access across the globe, Agora is ushering in a new era of app-based communications with new opportunities for developers and businesses alike to introduce new layers of audience engagement. This past September, Agora passed two billion SDK installs, making it the most widely adopted RTC-based developer solution worldwide. Agora's proprietary Software-Defined Real-Time Network (SD-RTN) processes and routes an average of 10 billion minutes of live communications per month through 200 globally distributed data centers. About Agora.io Founded in 2014, Agora is a global company with offices in Santa Clara and Shanghai, and customers in over 100 countries. Agora.io offers a full end-to-end platform of building blocks and capabilities that allows developers to embed real-time voice, video, and interactive low-latency live broadcasting APIs into any web or mobile application. With the Agora platform, developers can leverage embedded audio, video and live broadcasting across small and large use cases to increase user engagement and stickiness with real-time, low latency video. The Agora Software Defined Real Time Network (SD-RTN) empowers global delivery of live video across 200 data centers globally, dynamically managing the routing of video to overcome severe packet loss incidents and enable a seamless, uninterrupted, high-quality real-time video delivery across the globe, even in the most remote locations and emerging markets. The Agora.io platform includes features like voice and video calling, group conferencing, and interactive broadcasting, 3D and spatial audio for gaming, and much more. Agora is providing communications services to organizations across industries, including social discovery, social media, gaming, e-commerce, education, customer service, telemedicine, financial services and more. For more information, please visit www.agora.io. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agoraio-announces-70-million-in-series-c-funding-from-coatue-management-300753534.html SOURCE Agora.io [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Vizient Employees Complete 8,000 Hours of Community Service during Annual Event Employees from Vizient, Inc. completed 8000 hours of community service hours as part of the company's 16th annual Community Day event held on Oct. 16. The event included 75 sites, in 42 cities in 19 states. Included in this year's 75 sites were food banks, city parks and homeless shelters as well as projects serving children and adults with special needs. Volunteers also assisted in Florida with ongoing cleanup efforts after Hurricane Michael. Across all project sites, Vizient employees were able to assist a diverse population and work with each agency to address their specific needs. Another way we see this contribution is through economic impact. The independent sector rates the impact of volunteering at a little over $24 per hour. That means Vizient made a positive impact totaling $197,939 for the communities served in a single day. "At Vizient, service is tremendously valued. We think of service as diligently meeting the needs of others, whether that is the needs of one of our member hospitals or the needs of the communities where we live and work. This year, our employees have already logged over 19,000 volunteer hours - that's more than ever before," said Colleen Risk, chief people officer for Vizient. "There's something about volunteering that brings out a different side in people. We love to tap into that potential here at Vizient." Vizient is the nation's largest health care performance improvement company serving a diverse membership that includes academic medical centers, pediatric facilities, community hospitals, integrated health care delivery networks and non-acute health care providers. About Vizient, Inc. Vizient, Inc., the largest member-driven health care performance improvement company in the country, provides innovative data-driven solutions, expertise and collaborative opportunities that lead to improved patient outcomes and lower costs. Vizient's diverse membership base includes academic medical centers, pediatric facilities, community hospitals, integrated health delivery networks and non-acute health care providers and represents approximately $100 billion in annual purchasing volume. The Vizient brand identity represents the integration of VHA Inc., University HealthSystem Consortium and Novation, which combined in 2015, as well as MedAssets' Spend and Clinical Resource Management (SCM) segment, including Sg2, which was acquired in 2016. In 2018, Vizient again received a World's Most Ethical Company designation from the Ethisphere Institute. Vizient's headquarters are in Irving, Texas, with locations in Chicago and other cities across the United States. Please visit www.vizientinc.com as well as our newsroom, blog, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube pages for more information about the company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005486/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Buy Your Custom Chili's Merch On Cyber Monday During The One Day Only Sale DALLAS, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Have you always wanted to get your hands on custom, one-of-a-kind Chili's swag, but didn't know how? Well, we have an early holiday gift for you! On Cyber Monday, our first ever online retail store will go live featuring rare, yet impeccable Chili's merch for all you enthusiasts out there. However, there's a catch : You only have one day to purchase. Oh and there's a limited quantity of each item. So mark your calendars for Cyber Monday, Nov. 26, and favorite www.welcometochilis.com because we don't know when this merch will be back, baby back, baby back. Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/82463510-chilis-cyber-monday-online-retail-store/ If you've been keeping up with what we've been up to, then you've noticed that our special team of designers, a.k.a., the #ChilisLove crew, have surprised and delighted some of our biggest fans with custom gear. We've shared sneak peaks on our social channels and many of you have expressed, YOU WANT IT TOO. "OMG need." @LLWR38 "WHERE DO I GET THIS?" @SARA_KOBY "I LOVE THAT." @MOLLROS "That outfit is chili pepper hot fire!!!! Link to where to buy?" @jsull5 "DUDE I WANT IT." @faith_ryan18 Well, we heard you. And at this point, you're probably wondering "what the heck can I buy?" So we're here to tell you, but first, we want you to know that we didn't just sit in a room and think up random merch to sell. Instead, we kept you all in mind and even created the Hi, Welcome to Chili'store. Here's what will be featured and the story behind why we created ech piece. I Feel God In This Chili's Tonight t-shirt Remember that time we were featured on The Office and Pam Beesly got kicked out of Chili's for enjoying too many Second Drinks? You have Pam to thank for this baller t-shirt. and got kicked out of Chili's for enjoying too many Second Drinks? You have Pam to thank for this baller t-shirt. Skillet Queso bomber jacket Thanks to our queso lover who took her love to the next level with this article "15 Tweets You'll Only Understand If You're Completely Obsessed With Chili's Queso," we thought it was only appropriate to create an item to match her love for our Skillet Queso. Now you can rep your love for it too. GET YOU SOME. Hi, Welcome to Chili's swimsuit When we heard one of our fans wanted to surprise her best friend, who loves Chili's, for her birthday, we had to delight her with a one-of-a-kind swimsuit. Summer will be here before you know it so plan ahead for your next pool party. Burger, Rib, Fajita and Margarita cufflink sets When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got hitched, we couldn't help but jump in and create custom gear to make Chili's oh so royal. Now you can class up your next formal with one (or all) of these SASSY cufflinks. At the end of the day, who are we without our Guests? And who are our Guests without some swaggy merch? We'll leave that up to you to decide. But choose wisely. This isn't for us. It's for you. Visit www.welcometochilis.com to check out the merch and remember the online pop-up store is only available for 24 hours on Cyber Monday, Nov. 26. About Chili's Grill & Bar Chili's Grill & Bar is the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), a recognized leader in casual dining. Known for their signature menu items burgers, ribs and fajitas Chili's offers fresh, bold and unexpected flavors. Each ChiliHead at more than 1,600 locations in 31 countries and two territories takes great pride in Chili's purpose of connecting with and serving Guests and giving back to the communities in which they are located. In addition to Chili's, Brinker owns and operates Maggiano's Little Italy. For more brand-related information, visit chilis.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/buy-your-custom-chilis-merch-on-cyber-monday-during-the-one-day-only-sale-300753567.html SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Communities across Canada receive support for green innovation, climate change resiliency, and infrastructure planning initiatives OTTAWA, Nov. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Investing in innovative municipal infrastructure projects contributes to a clean growth economy and strengthens the middle class by ensuring communities are healthy and sustainable places to live. The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Vicki-May Hamm, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) announced over $4.5 million in funding for 109 new initiatives in communities across Canada through three programs: the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP), and the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP). The Government of Canada believes that local leaders know best what their communities need and is committed to working with them to strengthen their infrastructure. Municipalities are implementing some of Canada's most advanced green solutions, reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and supporting local priorities such as improving public transit, saving energy and improving waste management. The projects announced today demonstrate the work being done in municipalities large and small. Examples include: The City of Moncton in New Brunswick will use funding from GMF to replace an oil-fired boiler with a biomass boiler as part of a pilot project to test a low-carbon district energy system at its municipal operations centre. Operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions reductions will be tracked over the 18-month period with the objective of lowering their carbon footprint and increasing local energy resilience. in will use funding from GMF to replace an oil-fired boiler with a biomass boiler as part of a pilot project to test a low-carbon district energy system at its municipal operations centre. Operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions reductions will be tracked over the 18-month period with the objective of lowering their carbon footprint and increasing local energy resilience. The Quebec municipalities of Beloeil , Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu , Saint-Zotique and Varennes are using funding from MCIP to develop climate adaptation plans. Each municipality will adopt a clear, simple, and concrete greening strategy aimed at reducing ambient heat and mitigating the issue of stormwater management. Their plans will also look for the best strategies to mobilize the public, businesses, and industries and engage them in the process. municipalities of , , and are using funding from MCIP to develop climate adaptation plans. Each municipality will adopt a clear, simple, and concrete greening strategy aimed at reducing ambient heat and mitigating the issue of stormwater management. Their plans will also look for the best strategies to mobilize the public, businesses, and industries and engage them in the process. The County of Kneehill, Alberta will use funding from MAMP to strengthen its asset management program. By developing new assessment protocols and lifecycle strategies, local planners and decision-makers will be able to produce more accurate forecasting and long-term financial reporting, ultimately strengthening infrastructure investment decisions. Quotes "The Government of Canada is committed to investing in local innovative green infrastructure to help municipalities take action on climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These local investments contribute to a clean growth economy on a national level and provide municipalities with the right tools to assess, prioritize and build infrastructure for the next century." The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "We are proud to support the great work being done in municipalities to make Canada a cleaner and healthier place for everyone. A clean energy future starts at the local level, and we are working closely with communities of all sizes to support initiatives that drive economic growth, cut pollution and create high-quality, middle-class jobs for Canadians." The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources "Today's announcement highlights how municipal leaders across Canada are innovating to build more sustainable, resilient and livable communities. Thanks to our partnership with the Government of Canada, our programs support local solutions with national impact, contributing to infrastructure renewal and our transition to a low-carbon economy." Vicki-May Hamm, FCM President Quick facts The Green Municipal Fund (GMF) supports initiatives that advance innovative solutions to environmental challenges. These projects improve air, water and land quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and generate economic and social benefits to local communities. Through GMF, municipalities share lessons learned and successful new models for advancing sustainability in communities of all sizes in all regions across Canada . GMF is a $625 million program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada . . GMF is a program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of . The Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) helps municipalities and partner organizations by providing funding, training and information sharing. It is designed to encourage Canadian municipalities to better prepare for and adapt to the new realities of climate change as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions. MCIP is a five-year $75-million program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada . program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of . The Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP) is designed to help Canadian municipalities strengthen infrastructure investment decisions based on sound asset management practices. The program provides asset management training, funding and information sharing to enable municipalities to access the data needed to plan effectively. MAMP is a five-year, $50-million program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada . Related product Backgrounder List of communities receiving support for green innovation, climate change resiliency, and infrastructure planning initiatives The following 109 initiatives have been approved for funding through three infrastructure programs funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities: the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP), and the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP). Funding for these new initiatives amounts to $4,590,099. Approved projects under GMF: Lead applicant, municipality and province Project title Approved funding amount $ Vermilion River County No. 24, Alberta Fuel switching project diesel to Compressed natural gas (CNG) recovered gas 45,200 Cowichan Valley Regional District, British Columbia Meade Creek solar photovoltaic feasibility study 11,000 Moncton, New Brunswick Wood chip biomass heating pilot project 262,900 Regional Municipality of Tracadie, New Brunswick Use of GPS to reduce municipal fleet's fossil fuel emission 10,300 Ottawa, Ontario Community energy transition strategy (Phase 2) 94,600 South Stormont, Ontario Former beaches property environmental site assessment and remedial action plan development 65,200 Region of Waterloo, Ontario Wastewater treatment plant tertiary treatment alternatives feasibility study 30,700 Gesterra and Arthabaska, Quebec Pilot project for an organic waste collection system with an incentive-based pricing on weight for industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) clients including the educational sector 204,300 Les Basques, Quebec Pilot project for an organic waste collection system with an incentive-based pricing on weight for industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) clients 66,300 Approved projects under MCIP: Lead applicant, municipality and province Project title Approved funding amount $ Beaconsfield, Quebec i3P project - inventory - greenhouse gas (GHG) action plan - community energy plan - adaptation plan 125,000 Matane, Quebec Technical and economic feasibility study on the co-digestion by anaerobic digestion of residual organic matter 81,280 Montreal, Quebec Water Square: A good mitigation measure for heavy rainfall in urban Quebec areas? 125,000 Nature-Action Quebec and Beloeil, Quebec Urban heat island and stormwater control plan 57,520 Nature-Action Quebec and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec Urban heat island and stormwater control plan 70,240 Nature-Action Quebec and Saint-Zotique, Quebec Climate change adaptation plan 82,640 Nature-Action Quebec and Varennes, Quebec Climate change adaptation plan 77,680 Nicolet, Quebec Municipal truck and specialized transportation electrification project 95,440 Terrebonne, Quebec Strategy for the acquisition of energy-efficient vehicles and electrification of public spaces 90,400 Tingwick, Quebec Biomass district heating 21,100 Approved projects under MAMP: Lead applicant, municipality and province Project title Approved funding amount $ Big Lakes County, Alberta Comprehensive asset management 50,000 Kneehill County, Alberta Asset management report and program development 50,000 Manning, Alberta Infrastructure asset collection, assessment and 10-year capital plan (water and sewer) 50,000 Spirit River No. 133, Alberta Asset data collection, training and road study project 50,000 Stavely, Alberta All assets asset management plan 50,000 Trochu, Alberta Phase 1 asset management project 50,000 Colwood, British Columbia Pavement condition assessment 49,440 Highlands, British Columbia 2018 Pavement management plan and long term financial plan 49,440 Emerson-Franklin, Manitoba Asset management initiative 44,640 Lac du Bonnet Rural Municipality, Manitoba Asset management plan, policies, and system 50,000 Bas-Caraquet, New Brunswick Municipal asset management plan design and implementation 33,360 Bath, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 14,400 Belledune, New Brunswick Asset management plan 36,000 Beresford, New Brunswick Municipal asset management plan design and implementation 50,000 Bertrand, New Brunswick Municipal asset management plan design and implementation 12,000 Cambridge Narrows, New Brunswick Initial asset management plan governance model, with asset inventory and condition, and a financial and climate plan 8,000 Caraquet, New Brunswick Municipal asset management plan design and implementation 41,680 Centreville, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 13,303 Chipman, New Brunswick Municipal asset management plan 10,880 Dieppe, New Brunswick Asset management planning and capacity builiding 48,000 Fredericton Junction, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 14,800 Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 18,400 Grand Manan, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 19,920 Grande-Anse, New Brunswick Design and implementation of an asset management plan 16,257 Hanwell Rural Community, New Brunswick Initial asset management plan: governance model with asset inventory and condition, and a financial and climate plan 8,000 Lameque, New Brunswick Municipal asset management plan design and implementation 33,360 Millville, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 9,600 Nigadoo, New Brunswick Design and implementation of an asset management plan 24,561 Norton, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 8,291 Oromocto, New Brunswick Asset management program improvements 50,000 Paquetville, New Brunswick Municipal asset management plan design and implementation 20,880 Perth-Andover, New Brunswick Asset management advancement project 40,000 Plaster Rock, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 10,000 Pointe-Verte, New Brunswick Design and implementation of an asset management plan 30,000 Sainte-Marie-Saint-Raphael, New Brunswick Municipal asset management plan design and implementation 12,000 Shippagan, New Brunswick Municipal asset management plan design and implementation 37,520 St. Martins, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 10,000 St. Stephen, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 9,840 Sussex Corner, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 10,080 Upper Miramichi Rural Community, New Brunswick Initial asset management plan - governance model, with asset inventory and condition, and a financial and climate plan 12,480 Woodstock, New Brunswick Capital asset management plan 33,372 Baie-Verte, Newfoundland and Labrador Asset management and lineal asset priority replacement strategy 50,000 Massey Drive, Newfoundland and Labrador Asset inventory, preliminary state of infrastructure report and related training 37,600 Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador Holistic asset management planning development 50,000 Steady Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador Asset management data inventory, preliminary state of infrastructure reports and asset management training 33,200 Armstrong, Ontario Asset management initiative 38,240 Calvin, Ontario Asset management and data development 50,000 Champlain, Ontario Developing asset management strategies and capacity 50,000 Faraday, Ontario The Corporation of the Township of Faraday 43,680 Fort Frances, Ontario 2018 Asset condition investigation 25,440 French River, Ontario Asset management program 42,500 Goderich, Ontario Sanitary sewer network condition study 50,000 Grimsby, Ontario Strategic asset management plan 33,680 Jocelyn, Ontario Building asset management capacity 23,600 Limerick, Ontario Mobile sensing roads assessment, asset management plan update 35,543 Loyalist Township, Ontario Needs assessment for roads & bridges 48,400 Mapleton, Ontario Asset management plan 2018 41,400 North Glengarry, Ontario Facilities assessment and asset management software project 47,600 South Dundas, Ontario Roads needs study & asset management software 50,000 South Huron, Ontario Strategic asset management program - data verification and condition assessments 50,000 Southwest Middlesex, Ontario Asset management systems and program development 50,000 Tay Valley, Ontario Mobile sensing roads assessment and development of a long term financial plan 26,000 Tudor and Cashel, Ontario Mobile sensing roads assessment and asset management plan 33,200 Wawa, Ontario Building on top of existing processes - increasing asset management planning capabilities 50,000 White River, Ontario Closing the asset management gap - improving our future 50,000 Saint-Zotique, Quebec Phase I: Identify data needs and collect asset data for the water distribution system 50,000 Sherbrooke, Quebec Conduct building audits and create an asset condition scorecard 50,000 Trois-Rivieres, Quebec Asset management strategic plan 50,000 Beechy, Saskatchewan Asset management group learning initiatives WaterWolf Communities 19,352 Caronport, Saskatchewan Asset management plan development and decision making revitalization 26,880 Conquest, Saskatchewan Asset management group learning initiatives WaterWolf Communities 19,352 Elbow, Saskatchewan Asset management group learning initiatives WaterWolf Communities 19,352 Lipton, Saskatchewan Phase 1 asset management project 27,360 Loreburn, Saskatchewan Asset management group learning initiatives WaterWolf Communities 24,944 MacNutt, Saskatchewan Asset management plan development 18,000 Medstead, Saskatchewan Asset management plan and policy development - Forest Edge Communities 17,440 Strongfield, Saskatchewan Asset management group learning initiatives WaterWolf Communities 24,944 Torquay, Saskatchewan Asset management project 24,000 Birch Hills No. 460, Saskatchewan Asset management plan 46,800 Browning No. 34, Saskatchewan Asset management program - phase 1 30,640 Duck Lake, Saskatchewan Asset management infrastructure condition assessment 50,000 Dundurn, Saskatchewan Asset management group learning initiatives WaterWolf Communities 29,832 Fertile Valley No. 285, Saskatchewan Asset management group learning initiatives WaterWolf Communities 19,352 Gull Lake, Saskatchewan Integrated asset management plan 50,000 Hanley, Saskatchewan Asset management group learning initiatives WaterWolf Communities 20,232 Loreburn No. 254, Saskatchewan Asset management group learning initiatives WaterWolf Communities 19,352 Medstead No. 497, Saskatchewan Asset management plan and policy development - Forest Edge Communities 17,440 Parkdale No. 498, Saskatchewan Asset management plan and policy development - Forest Edge Communities 17,440 Ponass Lake No. 367, Saskatchewan Asset management plan development project 50,000 Source: FCM Associated links Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan (PDF Version) Investing in Canada plan project map Green Municipal Fund Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program Municipal Asset Management Program FCM Funding Twitter: @INFC_eng Web: Infrastructure Canada SOURCE Infrastructure Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Emerging Technology Highlights From the IDTechEx Show! BOSTON, November 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- By Raghu Das, CEO, IDTechEx www.idtechex.com Last week approximately 3,500 attendees from 42 countries attended the IDTechEx Show!, which featured 284 exhibiting organizations. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/478371/IDTechEx_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/787560/IDTechEx_Show.jpg ) The event, held in Santa Clara, California, is unique in bringing together eight key technologies - 3D printing; electric vehicles; energy storage; graphene; IoT; printed electronics; sensors and wearables - with the organizations that seek to use them. These co-located events, which in total featured 275 speakers, cover the full value chain allowing, for example, materials companies to understand the needs and challenges of OEMs and global brands so that they can build appropriate solutions; and enabling OEMs and global brands to see the emerging capabilities which allow them to differentiate their products. Over-arching themes addressed at the event include the radically new design freedoms enabled by new form factors of electronics and electrics (such as flexible and even stretchable devices); the increasing ubiquity of electronics and connectivity in the form of IoT, sensors and wearables; and the increasing electrification of vehicles and the opportunities that result. New and improved functional materials were on show including many manufacturing innovations. The following were among some of the key technology highlights covered at this year's event, as presented in the opening presentation by IDTechEx CEO Raghu Das. Printed, Flexible, Organic Electronics: The Highlights Key developments including the commercialization of foldable displays, with Royole Corporation presenting on the first foldable smart phone coming to market in December 2018. JOLED covered the world's first printed OLED display. Many companies presented on their progress in printed electronics as they move from being a component provider to a systems/solution provider, filling that gap in the value chain. <>Sensors: Key Trends The event covered three key trends with sensors: miniaturization; technology improvements that are driving volume growth in more applications and new form factors. Wearables: Booming and Changing Over the last six years there has been tremendous growth in the wearable technology sector. For example, in 2013 smart watches and fitness trackers were around $1 billion in sales. In 2018, they are over $12 Billion. Electronic skin patches have grown to a $5 Billion industry with many in wearables focusing on mass market healthcare technologies, helped in part by changing regulations. IoT Applications and Connectivity The event featured case studies across many IoT applications, in addition to appraising the different technology options - from Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) to RFID deployment, with the latest IDTechEx numbers shown below. Electric Vehicles: The Drama and Opportunities Due to global government action to move to electric vehicles and automakers responding to that in droves by developing electric vehicles, IDTechEx expects sales of internal combustion engine vehicles to peak around 2022. Additionally, thanks to car autonomy and government push to car sharing, IDTechEx forecast a peak in sales of all cars in 2030. This all creates huge new opportunities: for materials (from thermal interface materials to structural electronics to light weighting); components (including sensors and connectivity); to complete new vehicle types such as electric shared passenger vehicles. Such topics were explored at the event. See the full range of IDTechEx electric vehicle research here. Energy Storage: The Cobalt Rush Winners in electric vehicles will be winners in energy storage, with OEMS vying for IP in energy storage dominance. The event also covered new innovations in energy storage including how new form factors of batteries and supercapacitors are enabling new products. Progress with Enabling Materials Many of the new capabilities highlighted at the event are enabled by advancements in materials. For example, new trends such as 5G is creating new opportunities for materials for EMI shielding due to the higher frequencies used. Stretchable conductive materials and substrates are part of a growing e-textile sector that will create a market worth over $2 billion in 2028. In addition to many materials that were covered, the event explored graphene in detail. There is now good global capacity to make graphene and suppliers are focussed on realistic, short term markets. Prices have fallen and all this is leading to strong commercial interest - IDTechEx expects strong take-off in sales around 2021, creating a market nearing $350 million for the material in 2028. Manufacturing Innovations In addition to materials the event also covered the new manufacturing innovations. 3D Printing is one focus of this event, with the industry growing from $6.5Bn in 2018 to $22.3Bn in 2028. 3D printed materials are a large part of the market value, showing strong growth - such as high temperature thermoplastics which are the fastest growing material type in the 3D printed polymer category at 55% CAGR to 2023. Then there are also other processes enabling 3D electronics - bringing vastly new design freedoms including lightweighting, space saving and other benefits such as ability to customize designs more easily in some cases. These offer radical new opportunities for product designers. 275 speakers from around the world covered these and related trends, with a record number of exhibitors signing up for 2019 based on the huge attendance. If you missed the event, you can purchase the available event presentations at www.idtechex.com/usa. For more information about exhibiting in 2019 as part of your business growth strategy, please email [email protected]. Don't miss the next IDTechEx Show! which will be held in Berlin, Germany on April 10-11. Register by December 14th 2018 for a 35% early bird discount. The next US event will be held on November 20-21 2018 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California. For more information see www.idtechex.com/events. Contact: Annick Garrington Marketing Co-ordinator [email protected] UK: +44(0)122-381-2300 SOURCE IDTechEx [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Alpine SG Acquires Leading Last Mile Logistics Company e-Courier Software Alpine SG, LLC ("ASG"), a portfolio company of Alpine Investors V, VI, and VI-A, LP and its affiliates (together, "Alpine"), announced that it has acquired e-Courier Software, LLC, one of the industry's leading last-mile delivery software companies. e-Courier's founders, Phil Galdi and Bruce Robinson, will remain active in the business, continuing in their roles as Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Technology Officer, respectively. Andrea Crane, part of ASG's PeopleFirst leadership program, has joined e-Courier as CEO. "Last mile logistics is a dynamic and growing space," said Dan Saper, Group CEO of Alpine SG. "The e-Courier team has built the market-leading product. We're excited to work with Phil, Bruce, and the team to help take e-Courier to new heights." Headquartered in Loveland, CO, e-Courier is an enterprise software solution for last mile delivery couriers. The mission-critical software provides e-Courier's customers with API, EDI, and final mile visibility tools that allow for improved workforce management and asset tracking. Alongside its cloud-based software, e-Courier offers a mobile application (ecMobile) that facilitates visibility and real-time item mapping. "This is a big win for everyone involved, but most importantly for our loyal e-Courier cstomers," said Phil Galdi, Chief Revenue Officer and co-founder of e-Courier. "With the support of ASG and the addition of Andrea Crane, our team is well-positioned to continue offering our valued customers the support they depend on for years to come." "Phil and Bruce have built an industry leading product, a talented team, and an incredible business over the past 19 years. I'm humbled and excited to be a part of e-Courier's next chapter of growth and continue the relentless focus on our customers," says Crane. About e-Courier e-Courier is a leading enterprise software solution provider for last mile delivery couriers. The mission-critical software provides e-Courier's customers with API, EDI, and final mile visibility tools that allow for improved workforce management and asset tracking. Alongside its cloud-based software, e-Courier offers a mobile application (ecMobile) that facilitates visibility and real-time item mapping. To learn more, visit http://www.ecouriersoftware.com. About ASG ASG is a group of market-leading vertical SaaS (News - Alert) companies, backed by Alpine Investors and operated by world-class PeopleFirst() leaders. ASG believes deeply in the power of people and data to grow great organizations, and that sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources across its community of businesses drives exponential growth. Founders of leading SaaS companies continue to trust ASG to grow their businesses and build even stronger legacies for the future. To learn more, visit www.alpinesg.com. About Alpine Investors Alpine Investors is a software and services focused private equity firm that specializes in majority buy-outs of founder owned businesses and corporate carve-outs. Alpine differentiates itself through its PeopleFirst strategy, which is founded on the belief that the key to building enduring companies is working with, learning from and developing exceptional people. Alpine offers a unique CEO-in-Residence (CIR) program where Alpine partners with CEOs first and places them into companies as part of the transaction. This provides a solution for founders and companies that desire additional management support post-transaction. Through its CIR program, Alpine has deployed more than 20 CEOs into companies since 2013. Alpine is based in San Francisco, CA (News - Alert). For more information, visit www.alpine-investors.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005151/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] PowerObjects, an HCL Technologies Company to Sponsor 2019 Housing Technology Conference and Executive Forum PowerObjects will exhibit and present its Housing Solution, 'PowerProperty,' built on Dynamics 365 platform for UK housing associations LONDON, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PowerObjects, an HCL Technologies Company proudly announces that it will sponsor the 2019 Housing Technology Conference and Executive Forum. This is the third year in a row PowerObjects has sponsored the event, solidifying their commitment to providing transformational CRM and ERP solutions for the UK's housing sector. "We're thrilled to participate in this event again in 2019," says Rahul Pawar, EMEA Sales Director for PowerObjects. "This conference alwys gives us the opportunity to showcase our housing solution, PowerProperty, as well as share our experiences of implementing Microsoft Business Applications solutions within and outside of the housing industry." PowerObjects' cloud-based housing solution helps transform operations for organizations in the sector by reducing costs, improving the customer experiences of tenants and preparing for future growth. It is built on Dynamics 365 and supported by Microsoft's suite of Business Applications. "As a global leader in delivering completely integrated front, middle and back office solutions for the Housing sector, we're really excited to demonstrate how we can help transform businesses in this industry," says Pawar. "For the very first time, Housing Associations can leverage and make the most of their Microsoft investments and modernise their IT landscape to drive better customer and staff experiences." To learn more about PowerObjects' integrated solution for the housing sector, visit their website. About PowerObjects, an HCL Technologies Company PowerObjects, an HCL Technologies Company is a leader in delivering Microsoft Business Applications solutions and the Dynamics 365 workloads through unparalleled offerings of service, support, education and add-ons. Multi-year winner of Microsoft's Dynamics Partner of the Year Award, PowerObjects strives to be the number one Microsoft Business Applications Provider in the world by delivering solutions that help organisations increase productivity, streamline business processes and build better relationships. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467009/Power_Objects_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] LF Networking Approaches Inaugural Year With Addition of New Members SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The LF Networking Fund (LFN), which facilitates collaboration and operational excellence across open networking projects, today announced the addition of four new members, continuing its rapid global growth. Welcoming new members Globo.com, Packet, PANTHEON.tech and RIFT, Inc. extends LFN's first year momentum, and sets the stage for accelerated development and adoption of open source and open standards-based networking technologies in next year. "Industry acceptance and participation this year have been tremendous and validate that businesses see an open source, open standards-based future for networking technologies," said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking and Orchestration, The Linux Foundation. "In 2019, the combined efforts of our growing community will continue to accelerate harmonization of open source and open standards-based networking technologies that will define tomorrow's networks." The newest members will work with more than 100 other technology leaders to drive greater harmonization and development of LFN's networking projects, including FD.io , ONAP , Open Daylight , OPNFV , PNDA , and Tungsten Fabric . LFN enables open source networking technologies by integrating the governance of participating projects in order to enhance operational excellence, simplify member engagement, and increase collaboration. Globo.com, Packet, PANTHEON.tech and RIFT, Inc. join as Silver members. The LFN Community will come together at KubeCon and ContainerCon North America on December 10-13 in Seattle, Washington. LFN's onsite presence includes a FDio Mini Summit and all-LFN member evening reception on December 10 featuring ONAP, OpenDaylight, OPNFV, FD.io, PNDA, and Tungsten Fabric. Heather Kirksey will also give a presentation on Thursday, December 13 titled "The Telco Networking Journey to Cloud Native: The Good, Bad, and Ugly." Find additional details on LFN's presence at KubeCon here . Member Supporting Quotes: "Becoming a member of ONF, CNC and the Linux Foundation is a recognition of the passion and commitment of Globo.com with the OSS community. We firmly believe that the ability to handle infrastructure as code, software-defined networks, and scalable applications is vital to the dynamic environment and will be instrumental in supporting our business and driving innovation in the digital media market in which we are included." "Networking is going through tremendous transformation, driven by the need for automation and the disaggregation of hardware and software," said Ihab Tarazi, CTO of Packet. "We see great opportunities in collaborating with the LF Community to accelerate our innovation and solving the hard problems of extending cloud automation to the edge." "PANTHEON.tech is committed to accelerate networking innovation by joining LFN as a Silver Member," said Tomas Janco, CEO, PANTHEON.tech. "As an organization with 17 years of experience, we are eager to share our advancements in developing cohesive software solutions across the LF Networking projects at the bleeding edge." "Proprietary management and automation approaches have impeded NFV deployments," said Matt Harper, RIFT's CTO. "Open source communities (such as ONAP) play a key role in validating interoperability and creating best-of-breed de-facto standards. We are excited to be working with the Linux Foundation and ONAP to evolve NFV technology to cultivate a robust and interoperable commercial NFV ecosystem." About the Newest LFN Members: Globo.com Globo.com provides digital platforms and services for Brazil's Grupo Globo, connecting online audiences to the diverse array of publishing, video and data properties Grupo Globo operates, including Globo TV's broadcast networks and over-the-top television service Globo Play. As part of its services, Globo.com provides LIVE stream and VOD services for programs produced by more than 100 affiliates across Brazil. Packet is the leading bare metal automation platform for developers. Its proprietary technology automates physical servers and networks without the use of virtualization or multi-tenancy, powering over 60k deploys each month across its 18 global datacenters. Founded in 2014, Packet has quickly become a provider of choice for leading enterprises, SaaS companies, and software innovators. In addition to its bare metal public cloud, Packet offers a custom "Private Deployment" model that automates infrastructure in customer-owned locations. PANTHEON.tech is a research & development software company, delivering managed projects to its clients, primarily oriented at network technologies and prototype software development with a focus on SDN, NFV, Automotive and Smart Cities. The company has deep expertise in many open-source networking technologies, including OpenDaylight, ONAP, VPP, FD.io, PNDA, Sysrepo, Honeycomb, networking for CNCF and others. RIFT, Inc . provides an open sourced and standards-based platform designed to automate the deployment and operation of virtualized network services and functions. RIFT's technology, RIFT.wareTM, and RIFT services accelerate service providers' efforts to virtualize cloud-based communication services. RIFT.ware empowers enterprises to successfully deploy virtualized network services on private and hybrid cloud, and, NFV-enabled virtualized networks. Any network application built with RIFT technology can intelligently take advantage of any cloud's unique capabilities and operate at any scale. RIFT, Inc is a privately held, global company with offices in the United States and India. About The Linux Foundation The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world's top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and industry adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org . The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media Contact Jill Lovato The Linux Foundation [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lf-networking-approaches-inaugural-year-with-addition-of-new-members-300753512.html SOURCE LF Networking Fund [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] AI to Show Promising Results in Predicting Chronic, Under Diagnosed, Conditions from Standard CT Scans Zebra Medical Vision (https://zebra-med.com/) and Clalit Health Services announce the completion of two groundbreaking research projects that allow early identification of patients with bone and cardiovascular disease. Using existing CT data, Zebra-Med's algorithms allow Clalit to identify patients at risk of Osteoporotic fractures and Cardiac events. Both research projects were independently validated by the Clalit Research Institute and will be presented for the first time during RSNA. Clalit owns and operates 1,500 primary care clinics and 14 hospitals, including 30% of Israel's hospital acute care beds, treating over 4 million patients. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005591/en/ Zebra Medical Vision and Clalit Health Services release results of two groundbreaking AI research projects (Photo: Business Wire) Research #1: "Automatic evaluation of CT scans for prediction of Osteoporotic Fractures" In one of the largest Osteoporosis experiments completed to date, a retrospective cohort of 48,227 individuals with Abdominal CT studies, ages 50-90, was studied over five years from the point of CT imaging to assess risk factors for the incidence of major and hip-specific osteoporotic fractures. The results showed that a combination of automatic Zebra-Med algorithms achieved equivalent risk-stratification compared with the contemporary FRAX scoring system. In addition, the research showed that the addition of Zebra-Med's risk score to FRAX achieved results superior to those of FRAX alone. Potential Applications: If applied routinely to all CT studies of chest or abdomen, this would immediately stratify risks of osteoporotic fractures for all individuals over age 50. This would lead to secondary work up and possible prophylactic treatment. Currently, fewer than 20% of those at risk undergo routine screening but over 66% undergo routine CT studies, illustrating the dramatic potential to increase awareness and prophylactic treatment in this growing populatin. Osteoporosis fractures cost $18B per year to the US healthcare system and $3B to the UK NHS. Time and Location of Oral presentation at RSNA: Wednesday, November 28, 10:30AM-12:00PM, room S104A. Research #2: "Incidental CT improves Heart disease prediction" In this research, a five year retrospective cohort study of 14,135 patients with non-gated, unenhanced Chest CT was used to examine the cardiovascular predictive power of Zebra-Med's automatic coronary calcium scoring (CCS) algorithm. Prediction performance results were compared between the American Heart Association (AHA) 2013 predictive model (base model) and the same model with the Zebra-Med's CCS inserted as an additional predictor (augmented model). The addition of Zebra-Med's CCS improved sensitivity and specificity of the contemporary gold-standard AHA model, resulting in a net 4.5% categorical risk-reclassification improvement. The results indicate that by including a coronary calcium score derived by analyzing non-gated CT scans with Zebra-Med's algorithms, significant improvements in risk classification are achieved. Potential Applications: According to the American Heart Association, in 2016, CVD cost America $555 billion. By 2035, the cost will skyrocket to $1.1 trillion and by 2035, nearly half of the U.S. population will have some form of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the relevance of this research finding pertains to all studies which are performed on a routine basis involving the chest CT whereby individuals and clinicians become aware of the risk stratification category for coronary vascular events in the next 10 years. This insight may lead to more tailored and preventative therapy. Time of and Location Oral presentation at RSNA: Tuesday, November 27, 10:30AM-12:00PM, room S104B. "We are pleased with the results of these two groundbreaking research projects and are looking forward to getting them into practice," said Prof. Ran Balicer, the head of Clalit's Research Institute. "While there is an increasing number of AI applications in imaging, aiming to mimic and automate human radiologist' reading, there is larger untapped potential in these imaging studies - one can use AI to extract predictive insights unavailable to date, that support high-impact population health interventions to tackle chronic diseases." "As more nations and health providers move toward value-based healthcare, we are encouraged by these two groundbreaking research projects that show the power of AI and retrospective analysis of existing scans," noted Eyal Gura, CEO and Co-Founder at Zebra Medical Vision. "The fact that few different AI algorithms from our large portfolio were used for these two important population-health projects, emphasizes the need for a broad AI solution that can be installed once and integrate smoothly into the health system." To see more of Zebra-Med's solutions and learn about actual use cases for your healthcare system, come to visit the Zebra-Med's booth at RSNA: Booth # 7361 North. Check out our blog here. About Clalit's Research Institute: In 2010, Clalit Health Services, Israel's largest integrated provider-payer health system established the Clalit Research Institute. The Clalit Research Institute's mission is to turn data into decision-making insights that can be translated into policies for transforming healthcare delivery and clinical practice. For more than one hundred years, Clalit Health Services has been Israel's leading and largest healthcare organization. Today it serves as a non-profit integrated care organization for over four million patients, which is more than half of the country's population. With universal healthcare coverage in Israel, most Clalit members remain covered by the organization for their entire lives (>95% five year retention). Clalit owns and operates 1,500 primary care clinics and 14 hospitals, including 30% of Israel's hospital acute care beds, and employs nearly 35,000 doctors, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, technicians, and administrators. Learn more about Clalit Health Services. Clalit has also established an integrated electronic health records (EHR) database, comprised of comprehensive clinical and administrative data since 2000, and some records dating back to the early 1990s. The Clalit Research Institute accesses the database to conduct research that addresses population-level health issues that have an impact on, or relevance for, the members receiving care in Clalit. About Zebra Medical Vision: Zebra Medical Vision uses deep learning to create and provide next generation products and services to the healthcare industry. Its Imaging Analytics Platform gives healthcare institutions tools to potentially identify patients at risk of disease, allowing them to improve patient care. Headquartered in Kibbutz Shefayim Israel, the Company was founded in 2014 by Co-Founders Eyal Toledano, Eyal Gura, and Elad Benjamin and funded by Khosla Ventures, Marc Benioff (News - Alert), Intermountain Investment Fund, OurCrowd', Qure, Aurum, Nvidia and Dolby Ventures. For more information visit https://www.zebra-med.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005591/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] VersaPay Announces Q3 2018 Financial Results Conference Call TORONTO, Nov. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - VersaPay Corporation (TSXV: VPY) ("VersaPay" or the "Company"), will release its third quarter ended September 30, 2018 on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 after market close. The Company will subsequently hold a conference call on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time hosted by Craig O'Neill, Chief Executive Officer, and Shouvik Roy, Chief Financial Officer. A question and answer session will follow the corporate update. Conference Call Details: Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 Time: 9:00 AM Eastern Time Participant Dial-in Numbers: Local Toronto (+1) 416 764 8609 Toll Free North America (+1) 888 390 0605 Conference ID: 28062254 Recording Playback Numbers: Toronto (+1) 416 764 8677 Toll Free North America (+1) 888 390 0541 Passcode: 062254 # Expiry Date: Thursday, December 6, 2018 11:59 PM A live audio webcast and archive of the conference call will be available by visiting the Company's website at http://www.versapay.com/company/investor-relations/. Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast. About VersaPay VersaPay is a Fintech company and leading provider of cloud-based invoice-to-cash solutins, enabling businesses to provide a superior customer experience, get paid faster, streamline financial operations, and dramatically reduce DSO and costs. VersaPay ARC is the new standard in accounts receivable and collections management with a customer self-service environment to view invoices online, collaborate on inquiries and disputes, and facilitate secure online payments (EFT/ACH and credit card). Businesses gain access to a suite of powerful tools that enable efficient collections, cash application and real-time insight into accounts receivable. VersaPay ARC automatically reconciles payments and account information through integrations with a wide range of ERPs and accounting software providers. More information about VersaPay is available at www.versapay.com or under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward Looking and Other Cautionary Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans," "expects," "is expected," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business, the Company's formative stage of development and the Company's financial position. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 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. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/versapay-announces-q3-2018-financial-results-conference-call-300753789.html SOURCE VersaPay Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Statement from Minister Bains on the Auditor General of Canada's report on rural and remote connectivity OTTAWA, Nov. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, today made the following statement: "I thank the Auditor General and his office for their report. We accept the recommendations and will move forward to improve rural and remote connectivity. Ensuring rural and remote communities are connected to the Internet is one of my top priorities. Few aspects of life today are untouched by information and communications technology. No matter their region, all Canadians need access to high-speed Internet to live, study and work in today's digital world. "I'm proud to say that our government is helping bring high-speed Internet to more than 900 rural and remote communities across Canada through the Connect to Innovate (CTI) programmore than triple the 300 communities initially targetedincluding 190 Indigenous communities. "Prior to the start of the CTI program, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada undertook a thorough and extensive data collection and mapping process to identify areas where Internet service providers are least likely to deploy broadband services. Through this process, it became clear that private sector investment is focused almost exclusivey in high-density urban areas where the return on investment is higher and that rural and remote communities were the least likely to be serviced. Therefore, we determined that we would focus more on rural and remote communities, meaning more complex investments, to ensure ALL Canadians, regardless of postal code, would have access to broadband. Urban areas were deemed ineligible for funding and we avoided potential displacement of private sector funding. All interested parties were provided with access to the results of the mapping programs and program requirements prior to application. "The primary intent of the CTI program is to connect some of our most rural and remote communitiesmany of which are Indigenousthat would be left behind without targeted government support. While it might be more expensive to connect communities in Nunavik, Nunavut and Matawa, the time is now to do the heavy lifting; all Canadians deserve to participate in the digital world and economy, regardless of their postal code. "Work is also well under way on a Canadian connectivity strategy with our provincial and territorial partners that reflect the ambition we share: to get all Canadians online and participating in the digital world. When CTI was first developed, we underwent a significant mapping exercise to maximize alignment with provincial and territorial partners. As a result of our government's leadership, at the last meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers for innovation and economic development, an agreement was reached to make broadband a priority and to develop a long-term strategy to improve access to high-speed Internet services for all Canadians. "Rural Internet will continue to be a priority for our government. We are laying the ground work for 5G deployment, including in rural areas, and making significant amounts of spectrum available through upcoming auctions. "Finally, we have launched a review of the Telecommunications Act and the Broadcasting Act to promote more competition, and have announced an external panel of industry experts to lead this review, so that all Canadians can have better services at competitive prices. "As a country, we have made incredible advances, building mobile networks that are among the fastest in the world. I am proud that our government is connecting more than 900 rural and remote communities, but there is more to do. Our government will work relentlessly toward the goal of ensuring that all Canadians are connected to the digital world at a fair price." Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Softonic Solutions' Disaster Relief Information Page for California Wildfire Services Now Live Today, Softonic-the world's largest platform for discovering apps and software-issued a request to United States (U.S.) residents knowledgeable of reputable disaster relief programs and charities responding to the recent California wildfires: Alder, Camp, Hill, Woolsey, and others. The company asks individuals to submit information on any such programs to a user-posted query page hosted on the Softonic Solutions site-the international Q&A community designed to help people crowd-source solutions to problems. "We've begun to see activity on Solutions' pages, asking for resources and program information regarding the tragic fires in California," said Scott Arpajian, CEO, Softonic. "People from around the world who are sympathetic to what California residents and emergency responders are going through want to help. We see a unique opportunity to connect these individuals with legitimate sites accepting relief funds, in the hopes of supporting recovery and assistance efforts." The Solutions page registering wildfire donation programs-titled What are the Best Donation Services to Help California Wildfire Victims-can be found at https://en.softonic.com/solutions/what-are-the-best-services-to-help-california-wildfire-victims. Currently, the page highlights: With more than 10 million visitors a month, Softonic Solutions' globally diverse reach is one feature that sets it apart from similar user-driven Q&A sites popular in the U.S. To date, only 21 percent of the community's organic user base comes from America. The other 79 percent represents individuals from the world's remaining countries. This regional breadth of users is partly due to Softonic.com's 20-year history as a software discovery site with internationally localized engagement. About Softonic Softonic is one of the world's largest web properties, currently ranked 40th by ComScore, with 1.5 billion international consumer visits a year. The company serves up a dynamic software catalog in 16 languages; trend-driven technology news; a modernized user-driven Q&A community; and-for brands seeking access to its 100 million unique users that generate 4 million downloads per day-a suite of localized, hyper-targeted digital advertising services. Headquartered globally in Barcelona, Softonic operates worldwide. U.S. headquarters are located in San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.softonic.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005627/en/ [November 20, 2018] Global Upside's Co-Founder Gita Bhargava Wins Silver Lifetime Achievement Stevie Award Global Upside (https://www.globalupside.com), a leading provider of accounting, payroll, HR, PEO, and talent acquisition services globally, today announced its Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Gita Bhargava has been named a winner of a Silver Stevie Award in the Lifetime Achievement category. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005618/en/ Global Upside Co-Founder and COO Gita Bhargava with her award at the New York City Gala (Photo: Business Wire) "My aim in life has always been to help others. I have used my career to build a community where others have the opportunity to believe in themselves and shoot for the stars," Gita states. "I am so honored to be named silver in the lifetime achievement award, among these strong-willed, talented, and powerful women." The award recognizes Gita's significant achievements in her life, from becoming the first female entrepreneur in her hometown of Alwar, India at just 16 to her dedication to building Global Upside and its sister companies, Global PEO Services, Mihi and Gava Talent Solutions into formidable competitors helping companies across nearly 150 countries. "Gita Bhargava is very passionate about her work which is evident in her dedication to provide the best possibleexperience in every engagement. Gita is thoughtful and deeply cares about those that she works with and her positive nature will put a smile on anyone's face. She is not only exceptional at her job, but is a commendable individual," said Jessica Lee, Vice President and Corporate Controller at the Zillow Group. Gita is also an advocate of children's education and is a long-time supporter of the education-focused nonprofit City Year. "Gita Bhargava is a true role model for women everywhere. Her vigor for and backing of City Year and her encouragement of others to do the same has been important in helping at risk children across America," said Sharon Matthews, Chair, San Jose/Silicon Valley Board, City Year. The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees and the companies they run - worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world's premier business awards. More than 1,500 entries were submitted this year for consideration in more than 90 categories. Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 business professionals around the world, working on six juries. "In its 15th year, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business received a record number of nominations. With the new Women|Future Conference preceding the announcement of winners on November 16, it was a day to celebrate the achievements of working women around the world," said Michael Gallagher, founder and president of the Stevie Awards. "We congratulate all of this year's Grand, Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners for their achievements." Other finalists and past winners for the Stevie Awards include Chatelle Lynch, Chief Human Resources Officer, McAfee (News - Alert); June Howard, SVP Financial Services and Chief Accounting Officer, Aflac; Taryn Owen, President, PeopleScout; Edna Conway, Chief Security Officer, Cisco Systems (News - Alert), Inc.; Gloria R. Boyland, Corporate Vice President, Fedex; Libby Chambers, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Product Officer at Western Union; and Lisa Wolter, Executive Director, Susan G. Komen of O.C. Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of finalists in all categories are available at www.StevieAwards.com/Women. Learn more about Gita Bhargava at www.globalupside.com/team/gita-bhargava/. About Global Upside Global Upside solves business complexity with world-class HR, Payroll, Accounting, Tax, Compliance, PEO, and Talent Acquisition services. With our integrated, end-to-end support, companies can focus on innovation, growth, and excel in their fields. Founded in 1999 in Silicon Valley, Global Upside today empowers companies in nearly 150 countries and is dedicated to solving complexity for companies everywhere they do business. Learn more at www.globalupside.com. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005618/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces Investigation on Behalf of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Investors (NSANY) Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. ("Nissan" or the "Company") (OTC: NSANY) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. On November 19, 2018, various news sources reported that Nissan Chairman, Carlos Ghosn, was arrested after an internal company investigation revealed Ghosn had underreported his compensation to the Japanese financial authorities for several years. On thi news, shares of Nissan fell $1.05 per share or 5.85% to close at $16.90 per share on November 19, 2018, thereby injuring investors. If you purchased Nissan securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005652/en/ [November 20, 2018] Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory CEO Stacey Caywood Wins Stevie Award for Women in Business RIVERWOODS, Ill., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, a global leading provider of information, software and integrated workflow solutions for legal and compliance professionals, today announced that its CEO, Stacey Caywood, has been named a winner in the 15th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Caywood received a Silver Stevie Award in the Female Executive of the Year - Business Services - More Than 2,500 Employees category. Announced in New York City on November 16, the prestigious Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor female executives, entrepreneurs, employees and the companies they run. More than 1,500 entries were submitted this year for consideration in more than 90 categories from 33 nations and territories. Award winners were selected by more than 200 executives who participated in the judging process worldwide. Caywood was honored for her achievements in transforming Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory into the global legal and compliance market leader that it is today through significant innovation and strategic investment. Under her leadership, Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory has developed innovative and award-winning technology solutions that help professionals improve productivity and performance, mitigate risk and solve complex problems with confidence. Over the past year, Caywood expanded popular global legal software solutions Kleos and effacts; launched a new global center to accelerate digital new product development and innovation; and most recently, spearheaded the successful acquisitions of eVison and Legisway further strengthening the company's position as a global leader in the compliance and legal markets. "This year's Stevie Awards for Women in Business was especially competitive with a record number of nominations received," said Michael Gallagher, Founder and President of the Stevie Awards. "We were especially impressed by Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory's progress under the outstanding leadership of Stacey Caywood and congratulate her on her success." Read more about Stacey Caywood here and find the complete list of 2018 Stevie Awards for Women in Business winners at www.StevieAwards.com/Women. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the health, tax & accounting, finance, risk & compliance, and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2017 annual revenues of 4.4 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. For more information about our solutions and organization, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory is a division of Wolters Kluwer, serving customers around the world with expert information solutions, software, and services in the areas of law, business, and regulatory compliance. MEDIA CONTACT: Leslie Bonacum Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory Communication +1 847-267-7153 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wolters-kluwer-legal--regulatory-ceo-stacey-caywood-wins-stevie-award-for-women-in-business-300753859.html SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] Workiva to Present at Investor Conferences Workiva (NYSE:WK), a leader in data collaboration, reporting and compliance solutions, today announced its planned participation at two upcoming investor conferences. Stuart Miller, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, plans to present at the following: The Raymond James Technology Investors Conference on December 4, 2018 in New York City, NY at 11:55 a.m. Eastern Time. The Barclays Global Technology (News - Alert), Media and Telecommunications Conference on December 6, 2018 in San Francisco, CA at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Both events will be webcast live, and a recording will be available for a limited time under the "News and Events" section on the company's investor relations website (investor.workiva.com). About Workiva Workiva delivers Wdesk, a leading enterprise cloud platform for data collaboration, reporting and compliance that is used by thousands of organizations worldwide, including over 75 percent of the Fortune 00. Companies of all sizes, state and local governments and educational institutions use Wdesk to help mitigate risk, improve productivity and gain confidence in their data-driven decisions. For more information about Workiva (NYSE:WK), visit workiva.com. Read the Workiva blog: www.workiva.com/blog Follow Workiva on LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/workiva Like Workiva on Facebook (News - Alert): www.facebook.com/workiva/ Follow Workiva on Twitter (News - Alert): www.twitter.com/Workiva Claim not confirmed by FORTUNE or TIME INC. FORTUNE and FORTUNE 500 are registered trademarks of Time Inc. (News - Alert) and are used under license. FORTUNE and Time Inc. are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Workiva Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005720/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [November 20, 2018] City of Boston Credit Union Doubles Its Reach in 2018 Members of the City of Boston Credit Union today approved the organization's mergers with Chadwick Federal Credit Union and Northeastern University (News - Alert) Federal Credit Union. In addition, the City of Boston Credit Union received approval earlier this year to serve those who live or work in Middlesex County, and K-12 and college students in Suffolk, Norfolk and Middlesex counties. The expansion to Middlesex County doubles the Credit Union's potential membership base and positions it for significant growth in 2019. Both the mergers and expansion support the City of Boston Credit Union's long-term growth strategy as it continues to build a competitive advantage in keeping up with emerging technologies and offering attractive rates and lower fees to its members. As the number of credit unions in Massachusetts continues to shrink, City of Boston Credit Union membership continues to grow, providing the capital and resources required for long-term success - both for the City of Boston Credit Union and its members who share in its ownership. The simultaneous mergers are anticipated to take effect January 1, 2019 and will bring the City of Boston Credit Union's footprint to include eight branch locations, 90 employees and mre than 30,000 members. Both mergers require regulatory approval from the Massachusetts Division of Banks, National Credit Union Administration and Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation and approval of Chadwick and Northeastern members. The mergers will also combine the talents of employees, pool financial resources, reduce costs and diversify risk. Both Northeastern and Chadwick fit well within the City of Boston Credit Union's current field of membership, which today includes those who live, work or attend school in Middlesex, Norfolk or Suffolk counties. "The City of Boston Credit Union is growing but our promise to our members remains the same: reliable, personal service and solutions for all of life's events and goals," said Daniel Waltz, President and CEO, City of Boston Credit Union. "We're thrilled to welcome new members from Chadwick and Northeastern and look forward to building their trust through our relationship-driven approach to member service." About the City of Boston Credit Union Since 1915, the City of Boston Credit Union has provided its members with personal, convenient and value-priced financial services that support them through all of life's milestones. Big enough to serve all your needs, and small enough to know what they are, the City of Boston Credit Union fosters a culture where relationships matter. As a credit union, we are owned by and accountable to our members, who each have an equal vote in our direction, regardless of the size of their accounts. We believe we have a responsibility to support the health and wealth of our members and their communities, and in 2017 donated over $300,000 to over 200 local organizations. For more information, visit CityofBostonCU.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181120005779/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Huawei Mate X Has the Same Crease and Interface Problems as Galaxy Fold The first generation is going to have this problem, but it may not be as bad as some want to portray it. UPDATE: July 18 - Killing Eve has recently had its second series added to iPlayer, so its come back again to our list of recommendations. Our brand new addition is a documentary about Extinction Rebellion, which has once again been appearing in the headlines for its enormous and disruptive protests. Read more about them and our other top picks below! BBC Three has been since its inception a youth-oriented channel. Its the reason it left the TV to become an online-only presence. But on iPlayer, its just as easy to catch up as anything else youd find on the BBC. Even if youre a bit outside the age range of the kind of viewer the BBC was picturing, dont write off the shows made under the Three banner. Its often very topical and relevant to the current social climate, and as emotionally expressive as youd imagine from a generation used to talking about controversial and important topics openly on social networks. Some parts of it even make it to other BBC channels (like Stacey Dooleys many documentaries), so you can trust its still of a high standard. Weve collected some of the highlights here, including recent additions and old favourites. Killing Eve - Series 1 and 2 (Image credit: IMG) With the release of the second season, this is a great time to get into the tale of Eve and Villanelle. Eve works for MI5, but after being unfairly dismissed she is recruited into a secret team to investigate a prolific assassin. Villanelle is that assassin, highly skilled, but with a playful streak that keep drawing attention to her killings. As the agents and assassins pursue each other through multiple countries, the two leading women take a unique interest in each other, derailing both operations in the process. Extinction Rebellion: Last Chance to Save the World? (Image credit: BBC Three) We all now know about the environmental protest group that shut down parts of London in April 2019, and launched a new wave of protests around the UK in July. This documentary shows the lead up to the original demonstrations in the capital, meeting with members in the centre and on the edges of the group, and how they believe they can force the government to take radical action to protect the planet from cataclysmic climate change. Hot Property (Image credit: BBC) Dating shows are often experimenting with formulas of how to get one person familiar with another, where theres no room to hide any of their flaws. In Hot Property, the method is to take one singleton around the homes of three potential matches, and see if the possessions and people who can be found in their dwellings can help them make the right decision. Host Yung Filly follows the lucky contestant to give them a hand sorting through the rooms, flats and houses, and follows them on their final date to see if they made the right choice. Just One Night (Image credit: BBC) Facing a big decision about the state of their relationship, a couple spend a day apart getting to know someone new. Once theyre done, the pair will decide if they want to continue seeing each other, or if this brief time away has convinced them that splitting up might be for the best. Life After My Brothers Murder (Image credit: BBC) Daniel Wallace was murdered 13 years ago, which means that his killer is now up for parole. Daniels younger sister, Chanell, is writing a statement to the parole board to explain the impact the murder had on her familys life. This documentary follows her learning about her brothers life and tragic death, having been sheltered from much of the event at the time by her family. Back to Life (Image credit: BBC) After spending 18 years in prison, Miri is released into a world she was never prepared for and back to friends and family who have moved on in their lives. Her town almost fully rejects her due to whatever crime she committed all those years ago, so finding new friends and a job looks like a formidable challenge for the ex-prisoner. Fleabag (Image credit: BBC) The first series has been a BBC Three staple boxset for a long time, but now theres a second and final series. Our hero Fleabag (played by the shows writer, the wonderful Phoebe Waller-Bridge), has a lot of troubles in her life, but she is kind enough to share them with the viewer. With a complicated history with all her family members, and an even worse one with her friends and lovers, this is a dramatic comedy that can make you laugh and cry in quick succession. Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star (Image credit: Wall to Wall Media) Stacey Dooley presents a competition for young make up artists to get the chance to break into the profession. Through a series of creative and skill based challenges, the artists are tested, with each episode climaxing with a one-on-one between the two worst-performers. Eating with My Ex (Image credit: BBC) In each episode of the show, two different couples who have split up are reunited for one last meal. All going to plan, it leads to a frank conversation about how relationships fall apart, and what each person has learnt since they went their separate ways. It can also be a chance to finally extract the truth or make a confession, and hopefully settle still raw wounds. Yes, its reality TV with a premise that can easily cause spectacular arguments, but the intimacy and simplicity of the presentation show how the genre isnt always just for trashy fun. Stacey Dooley (Image credit: BBC) If you want Stacey Dooley, BBC Three is the channel for you. She investigates people shot by their neighbours! She investigates extremism! She investigates sex and gender issues around the world! Dont let the breezy girl next door persona fool you though, it enables her to disarm her interviewees, gaining confidences other interviewers might not. Shes one of the Beebs most-watched presenters and is well on her way to national treasure status. Last Thursday on the Kansas City Public Television program Ruckus, panelist Jim Heeter dropped the following bomb about the large increase in the cost of a new single terminal for Kansas City International Airport [start at 21:07],A lot of us who looked at that [cost] issue closely at the time that voters approved [it] fully expected this. Ford Motor Company has hired an outside consultant to investigate odor complaints near its Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo. For months, neighbors have lodged complaints with nearby city officials, Kansas City health inspectors and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, complaining of a musty "wet grass" smell. Florida man arrested for having sex with miniature horse on multiple occasions, deputies say Marion County, FL ( WFTS) -- A Florida man has been arrested for having sex with a miniature horse on multiple occasions, deputies say. According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, 21-year-old Nicholas Anthony Sardo, of Citra, has been arrested and charged with four counts of bestiality/sexual contact with an animal. Here at TKC we offer an alternative look at local news and this important info from the KCTV5 website offers a glimpse at why another approach the mainstream discourse is needed in this cowtown . . . Checkit: Arrest made in Lee's Summit man's February murder KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man is facing charges in man found dead in his Lee's Summit home in February. Deion E. Crum, 22, of Kansas City, Missouri is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, robbery and possession of a controlled substance. As the Jackson County weed economy opens up, it's important for everyone to realize the stakes of the dangerous game. Read more: Roaming through car history is like driving on an infinite road. Its a hill climb if you will, where every single bend actually represents an amazing car fact. This week, I am going to drive through five amazing bends and tell you five cool car stories. One may call them even weird. This is your mandatory lesson in car history. I chose it only for you, to be more informed about what you love the most. Cars! Facts That May or May Not Change Your Perception Of The Car World BMW and Volkswagen Once Owned Different Parts of the Rolls-Royce Company Back in the Nineties, BMW and Volkswagen were in a sort of a bidding war over Rolls-Royce. In essence, they were acquiring assets and trying to take control of the company. As you probably know, BMW won and gained access of possibly the most recognizable name in the business. However, not before going through more than a four-year-long farce in its bidding war over the company with Volkswagen. First things first, though. Vickers PLC was the owner for Rolls-Royce and Bentley, while Rolls-Royce PLC, an aircraft engine maker, owned the Rolls-Royce trademark and actually pushed for BMWs takeover of the company. So, BMW got the trademark (branding and stuff), while Volkswagen ended up with factories for RR and Bentley and the Bentley brand. For a brief time of three to four years, Volkswagen actually produced Rolls-Royce vehicles before BMW was able to, with some help from politicians mind you, take over the entire Rolls-Royce brand. After 2003, BMW was the sole owner of Rolls-Royce, while Volkswagen was left with Bentley. Obviously, both companies prosper immensely. At the turn of the Millenium, this turnover was a hot automotive topic for a few years. Everyone wanted to know what would happen with Bentley and Rolls-Royce. Obviously, a lot of good happened. The Phantom and the Continental GT were the first awesome cars to mark the new era for both brands. One under BMW and the other under Volkswagen. The 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Had Mercury Cougar Tail-lamps Parts-sharing isnt anything new in the world of cars. We all know about Pagani using the instrument cluster of the Lancia Ypsilon for the Zonda, or the Lamborghini Diablo with the Nissan 300ZXs headlights. Heck, even the Jaguar XJ220 used Rover city-car tail lamps. But did you actually know that one of the best American icons - the 1967 Shelby GT500 - actually used Mercury Cougar taillamps? Well, it did. But only for one model year. For the 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Ford prepared 1966 Thunderbird rear lights. The Exhaust Frequency On The Maserati Quattroporte Was...Arousing? Back in 2008, the internet world was swamped by really interesting news - Frequency of the Maserati Quattroporte exhaust actually turns women on. Well, that was a bomb. According to a study conducted by British luxury car insurer Hiscox, every woman that had heard the Maserati Quattroporte revving was reported to have had elevated levels of testosterone in her blood. This, obviously, correlated with sexual arousal. However, I am not actually sure this is 100 percent true. Not the part about the arousal, but about the Quattroporte engine sound. Ill let user Chippy569 from Reddit explain to you why this is just a boho. In a rather amazing thread he said (among other things): In an engine, the fundamental frequency is directly tied to the RPM of a car, much like the fundamental of a piano note is tied to which key is played. The relationship between the engine RPM and the frequency is simple: engine RPM * (# of cylinders) / 60 (and then /2 for 4 stroke engines) = fundamental. So in a Maserati V8, 333hz *2 * 60 /8 = 4,995 RPM. Therefore this engine should only be "arousing" at just shy of 5,000 RPM. However, that also means a Gallardo V10 should be just as arousing at 333*2*60/10=3,996 RPM, a Ferrari V12 at 3,330 RPM, a Nissan 370Z at 6,660 RPM, and the VW Polo at 9,990 RPM. (Yeah ok, a Polo wouldnt do that... but a street bike would.) Now, I do not claim his math is right or that this is a scientific method to prove that any engine can be like this, but I am just saying that he is onto something here. One Out of Every Four Cars Produced in the World Come From China Some say that actually one in every three cars is produced in China. Let me be a bit conservative on the title of this paragraph though. Whatever the truth really is, one thing is for certain - the Chinese produce a shitload of cars. In 2015, car manufacturers in China produced an astounding 24,503,326 cars. In total, the worldwide production of cars was at more than 75,000,000 vehicles. Including commercial vehicles, mind you. So, the number that says that every third car produced is from China may actually be the truth. Bear in mind that the majority of the cars produced in China are produced for the Chinese market. They are cheap, not exactly high-end, and definitely not on par with the cars for the markets in developed countries. Nevertheless, the sheer number is quite staggering. Whole cities in China were developed only to support the production of cars. The Highest Number of Cars Per Capita Are In San Marino Do not worry; the U.S. is high-up on this list. With 797 cars per 1,000 people, the U.S. is a country that stacks up high on the list of the highest number of cars per capita. However, it cannot hold a candle to San Marino, an enclaved microstate in Italy with a population of just over 33,000. San Marino has freaking 1,263 cars per 1,000 people. All of this counting children. On the sad end of the scale sits Togo, a small country in West Africa, with only two cars per 1,000 people. The electric two-wheeler industry is suddenly on the rise with a lot of automakers partaking and investing in it; some by manufacturing, some by investing in various mobility services. Recently we heard Musk subtly indicating that Tesla may soon get into electric cycles . General Motors has similar plans as well. The latest addition to this list is the Blue Oval, which announced its arrival in style purchasing Spin - an electric scooter rental firm. The business here is red-hot right now and it seems to be a good time for investors to jump in and enjoy their share of the pie There Seems To Be a Lot Of Scope Here Spin is a leading company in micro-mobility services and has its presence in 13 cities across the U.S. If sources are to be believed, Ford will be investing around $200 million in Spin, thus, bidding itself in the race to gain market share in an industry that is still in its infant stage. Spin will go against the likes of Lime and Bird, the other two prominent players. Lime, founded in 2017, has already reached a valuation of $4 billion, thanks to investments from Godfathers like Google and Uber. Bird, too, has drawn major investments lately and is valued at $2 billion. The Spin-Off Spin was founded by Derrick Ko, Euwyn Poon and Zaizhuang Cheng in 2017 and initially began as a dockless bicycle sharing company, but after the sudden explosion in Chinese bike sharing start-ups began to fade, Spin changed direction towards electric scooters. Now that Ford has acquired Spin, we can see it penetrate cities and geographical locations that it couldnt before. Spin said it plans to expand its scooter service "aggressively" into "hundreds of US markets." The company will operate within Fords Smart Mobility Group, which also owns Fords Chariot ride-hailing service that operates in London and New York. The Business Model Spin, Lime, and Bird follow a simple b-plan. They buy e-scooters from companies like Chinas Ninebot for $100-$300 and equip them with a wireless internet connection. These scooters are then rented out for short distances and short periods of time via mobile phone apps, typically at a flat rate of $1 plus 15 cents per minute. Our Take Although a clever move by Ford, it seems a little unclear as to why Ford would acquire a slow-moving company with a meager history. Given the Blue Ovals sheer size, it could have partnered with the manufacturer Ninebot from which Spin purchases e-scooters - directly instead of becoming its vendor. According to Axios, Ford paid a $100 million to acquire Spin when it reportedly carried a price tag of $40 million. Nevertheless, the spell has been cast, and its time for Ford to earn its money back. The company aims to roll out scooters in more than 100 cities from 2020. Can Spin take on the likes of Lime and Bird? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. The 720S Stealth Theme commemorates McLarens overall victory at Le Mans 23 years ago when a GT1-spec F1 GTR blitzed the whole of the prototype field to win the race, a genuine first for a production-based car as Porsches previous victory with a GT car, in 1979, was achieved with a silhouette-style 935 that only shared the roof and the windows with the street-legal 911. Launched only last year, the 720S came as the replacement of the popular 650S model. It features heavily revised aerodynamics, a luscious body sculpted with speed in mind, and a brand-new, twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine that is 41-percent new compared to the old 3.8-liter unit. The McLaren 720S Stealth Theme is a shadowy tribute to the only McLaren that has ever conquered the Le Mans 24 Hours race, the F1 GTR. It is built by McLaren Special Operations on request from the McLaren dealer in London and, underneath the skin, it hides all the goodies of a 720S Performance. What makes the McLaren Special Operations 720S Stealth Theme special McLaren Special Operations has risen the bar of tailor-made cars yet again with this 720S Stealth Theme built on request from the McLaren dealer in London. It features a dark grey exterior paint, punctuated by some red stripes on the sides and around the nose. The Stealth theme is one of those announced by MSO Bespoke way back when the 720S was unveiled at last years Geneva Auto Show. The 'Stealth Theme' comprises of that striking Sarthe Gray exterior color and Vermillion Red stripes that follow the voluptuous lines of the supercar. Such a stripe follows the contour of the gaping air inlet at the front while a couple more trace the line of the side windows and arch around the hips of the 720S. More red stitches and details are to be found inside where the upholstery has also been made to order, another feature offered by MSO Defined. The super-lightweight satin black 10-spoke wheels have received a similar treatment with a red line following the outer edge of the rims. The thin red stripes along the carbon body were actually painted by hand in a process that took over 200 hours to complete. Bare carbon fiber is visible all around the car in places like the exterior rear-view mirrors, rear aerobridges, rear hood, and the rear fender air Intakes. Carbon fiber and Alcantara is used in generous quantities in the cabin with the red details being painted the Apex Red tint. The 720S is McLarens replacement for the 650S and, as such, features a re-developed, and enlarged, 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine which develops 712 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 568 pound-feet of torque at 5,500 rpm. The increase in capacity over the original 3.8-liter unit was achieved by enlarging the lengthening the stroke while 41% of the components are also new. Weighing in at barely 2,830 pounds dry, the Robert Melville-designed 720S is capable to reach 62 mph from a standing start in just 2.9 seconds thanks to a robotized 7-speed dual clutch transmission. The cars top speed is rated at 212 mph which allows it to cover the quarter mile in just 10.3 seconds. However, the 720S isnt only a straight-line rocket, being able to handle corners well as it employs the Proactive Chassis Control II system that keeps everything in check. Autocars take on this McLarens handling characteristics is quite straightforward: "It wont quite take shallower corners flat out, but it barely needs more than a nose-settling feather of the accelerator." The 720S is, in terms of raw speed, a crushingly-good machine, faster in every way than the 488 GTB. As Autocar puts it, "the 720S could give that Ferrari a head start of almost three seconds allowing the 488 to have hit 60 mph before the 720S had even moved and still beat the Italian to 170mph." But this isn't just another 720S off the factory floor in Surrey. This harkens back to a special moment in the British constructor's motorsport history. Thats why the color is named Sarthe Gray, as a tribute to the Circuit de La Sarthe in the La Sarthe valley in France where the 24 Hours of Le Mans race takes place every year since 1924. McLaren won there overall on their first attempt, in 1995. It was the third year that GT cars were allowed at Le Mans and, already, Porsche had won the race with such a machine the year before. But that car, the 962 Dauer, was basically a road-converted 962 that was then re-converted for track use to be homologated as a GT car. However, the F1 - created by Gordon Murray to be an everyday hypercar - was closely linked to the road-going version of which 64 were made. Granted, it wasnt a mass-produced car, but the racing version still was largely similar to the road car. It had a wider track, emphasized by the flared fenders, a large diffuser, and wing out the back and a protruding splitter at the front. That was about it on the outside. No less than 7 F1 GTRs appeared at Le Mans in 1995. The car had its racing debut back in February at the first round of the BPR GT Endurance Series at Jerez, in Spain. There a McLaren won straight out of the box. From then on, it proved unstoppable: it won all bar one of the races held in the BPR before the Le Mans 24 Hours race. A truly international gathering of manufacturers filled the ranks of the top GT1 class. Porsche brought its battle-hardened 993 GT2, Toyota had the Supra, Honda the NSX, Nissan the GT-R, Ferrari the F40, and there were also entries from Venturi, Jaguar, Lister, Chevrolet and SARD. In qualifying, as it became customary, the F40s beat the GTRs thanks to their turbocharged engines which had plenty of boost on tap for a banzai-like qualifying lap. The fastest McLaren was, as such, one second off the quickest F40 which was 6th overall. However, the F40s didnt have the reliability. Two of the three entered reached the chequered flag, but they were down in 12th and 18th overall. The McLaren, though, prevailed. Through rain and cold, the British-built cars muscled their way past the lithe and fragile prototypes and stood in a position to pounce if the LMP1 leader cracked under pressure. In incredible circumstances, the leading No. 13 (no clues here?) Courage C34-Porsche had to stop after dawn because of one of the key sponsors, most likely Texaco that backed Mario Andretti, complained that dirt and debris covered their logos on the side of the engine cover. The French team led by Yves Courage thus called the No. 13 car in to change the deck with a clean one. However, the dirty one wouldnt come off, and that was enough for the No. 59 Lanza Motorsport-prepared Kokusai Aihatsu Racing McLaren F1 to go through to take the lead. Late in the race, the track dried out and veteran Frenchman Bob Wollek drove like a man possessed to take that elusive Le Mans victory. Sadly for 'Brilliant Bob', it was too little too late and the McLaren driven by Yannick Dalmas, Masanori Sekiya, and J.J. Lehto crossed the finish line to claim a legendary win, one lap ahead of the Courage and two ahead of the Mach One Racing No. 51 McLaren F1. It was the F1s most glorious moment and, while the car returned three more times, a second place overall was the best possible result. Thats why this 720S built as a tribute is almost an act of normality as a way to look back at a truly great moment in racing. Further reading Read our full review on the 2018 McLaren 720S. Read our full review on the 2018 McLaren 720S Velocity. Read our full review on the 2018 McLaren 720S Track Theme. Read our full review on the 1995 - 1997 McLaren F1 GTR. This report on Zimbabwes economic growth opportunities and trajectory was prepared at the governments request following a political transition in November 2017. After recent political changes, Zimbabwe is searching to break away from its disappointing development record of recent decades and identify a path toward faster growth in gross domestic product (GDP), employment, and incomes accompanied by more rapid progress in poverty reduction and other parts of the global sustainable development agenda. But this search for a new path is undertaken in a difficult economic context, including the need to address budget and balance of payments deficits and major structural challenges such as large infrastructure gaps, an inefficient government, and inhospitable business climate. The country has enormous potential given its natural resource endowment, public infrastructure stock, and skilled human resources. But the country has long-standing debt arrears with several development partners and lenders. While Zimbabwe cleared its arrears with the International Monetary Fund in October 2016, the country has yet to clear its arrears with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank, a requirement for relief from sanctions and for access to development finance from multilateral development banks. This report provides the government with alternative growth scenarios to the year 2030. It also identifies sectors for potential investment to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. It is premised on the assumption that the arrears clearance will be expedited for economic restoration to commence. The report is important for several reasons. First, it provides the government, the donor community, and the private sector with a detailed assessment of investment opportunities in Zimbabwe. Second, it proposes options to develop these opportunities and, in so doing, helps fill the gap created by the absence of sectoral investment priorities. Third, it can be used to inform and support the governments dialogue with donors and the business community about further development of these sectors. Increased coordination and partnership will improve the alignment of investments with the national objectives, as set out in Zimbabwes pdf Transitional Stabilization Programme (2018-2020) (5.18 MB) and subsequent medium-term plans. Overview Zimbabwe has been undergoing political and economic transformation following the November 2017 resignation of President Robert Mugabe and the February 2018 passing of long-time opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The current government remains committed to economic and structural reforms, notably to rebuild confidence by restoring private property rights, ensuring macroeconomic stability and growth, achieving fiscal consolidation, clearing external debt arrears, and improving governance and the business environment to generate broad-based growth and jobs. The government has also committed to amicable settlement arrangements, including compensation of farmers whose land was expropriated during the land reform program. Zimbabwes economy continues to grapple with fiscal and monetary misalignments, chronic cash shortages, high unemployment (especially among young people), low investment and savings, industrial stagnation, reduced agricultural output, and high domestic and foreign debt (which has reduced the countrys potential to borrow from foreign financial institutions). Zimbabwe is characterized by abundant land and natural resources, a relatively educated and skilled human capital base, and existing but inadequate physical infrastructure. The agricultural sector focuses on tobacco (for export) and food crops (for domestic consumption). Dependence on natural capital for development is high. Mining is the main driver of the economy: the country has the worlds third largest platinum reserves and is the fifth largest producer of lithium, which is essential for rechargeable batteries. The manufacturing sector has seen a rapid decline, while natural resource extraction has been rising. Identifying opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth Zimbabwe has investment opportunities requiring minimal additional investment to realize medium-term growth targets. Deep structural reforms can improve Zimbabwes business climate and attract private investment and the return of the skilled labor force. In particular, measures are needed to increase transparency in the mining sector, strengthen property rights, reduce fears of expropriation, and control widespread corruption. The most likely possibility for longer term change is the regeneration of civil society and a renewed engagement with political powers in a positive social contract, which plays a role both in tackling economic problems and bringing positive and peaceful political reform. With the generous endowment of natural resources, existing stock of public infrastructure, and comparatively skilled labor force, Zimbabwe has an unprecedented opportunity to join existing supply chains in Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area. To take advantage of such opportunities the government should adopt a three-pronged strategy in the near term with agriculture as the foundation, eco-tourism as the green job generator, and special economic zones as the growth pillar. The agricultural sector can be a foundation for inclusive growth, export diversification, and structural upgrading. The focus should be on diversifying agricultural export earnings and developing supply chain trade (processing and market access to high-value products). Eco-friendly tourism and associated light manufacturing such as handbags and handicrafts are an engine for job creation and export growth and diversification. With Zimbabwes enormous natural resources endowment for tourism, targeting tourism represents possibly the quickest way to deliver growth and job creation. Developing special economic zones as an engine and pillar for growth and diversification could improve competitiveness in first and later-stage processing of natural resources (agriculture, precious metals, and minerals) as well as manufacturing capacity (electronic and medical equipment that use the countrys reserve of precious metals). Given the right investment climate and investor interest, several sectors could be developed, including assembly lines of farm machinery, nonmotor vehicles, home appliances, and technology-intensive services (such as supply value chains and logistics). Special economic zones also provide the potential for scaling up to achieve economies of scale and generate links with the domestic economy. New financing for development With some established donors constrained by heavy debt and slow growth since 2015, development finance will need to go beyond aid to combine trade aid and investment. Financing will come less from official development assistance and more from other official flows, other official flow like loans, and other official flow like investments from development banks and sovereign wealth funds and new strategic investment funds in emerging economies. Developing countries (including China) share of global investment overtook that of high-income countries in 2015, and most new finance comes in the form of patient capital, long-term investment with a maturity of 10 years or more. Patient capital plays an important role in financing infrastructure. Evidence of rising patient capital is reflected in the growing number of sovereign wealth funds and government-sponsored strategic investment funds established by countries such as Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, and Vietnam. Global leaders and the international development community (multilateral and bilateral donors) are looking east for new ideas, new momentum, and new financing. In recent years, China has become the largest single trading partner for Africa and a key investor and provider of aid, and a 1 percentage point increase in Chinas real domestic fixed asset investment growth has tended to increase Sub-Saharan Africas export growth rate on average by 0.6 percentage point. China and Zimbabwe have long had an all-weather friendly relationship, with mutual support, cooperation, and benefit. In particular, China has emerged as Zimbabwes largest aid, investment, and South-South cooperation partner in the last decade. Zimbabwe is estimated to be one of the top recipients of Chinas official development assistance, receiving $3.6 billion. Zimbabwe could grasp the opportunities provided by the large number of Chinese enterprises going global and join existing global supply chains in food, cotton, wool, leather, footwear, garments, and assembly lines of farm machinery, motorcycles, or buses and become a light manufacturing and construction logistic center for Southern and East Africa and eventually the entire continent. This new Country Economic Report series is produced by the Country Economics Department, in close collaboration with teams in other departments of the African Development Banks Vice-Presidency for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management and Office of the Chief Economist. This report was prepared by Kararach Auma George, Walter Owuor Odero, and Damoni Kitabire. Hopes by Kenyas flower growers to exploit the lucrative United States market and stop dependence on the European market will not bear much fruit despite the recent launch of direct flights between Nairobi and New York. In spite of optimism and excitement after national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) started direct flights to the US in October, the airlines business strategy of focusing on passengers as opposed to cargo has dashed the hopes of the flower industry of targeting the market that has remained elusive. This is bad news for the industry which despite being the second leading foreign exchange earner after tea, is grappling with a myriad of challenges that are threatening the countrys position as Africas leading producer of cut flowers. The sector is currently dealing with challenges ranging from a fertiliser importation crisis, increase in input taxes, delays in tax refunds, stringent phytosanitary requirements in the European Union (EU) market, new demands on fumigation by key market Australia to intensifying competition from emerging flower producers like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. In the midst of these predicaments, the decision by KQ to dedicate the new route specifically to passengers, with only five tonnes allocated to cargo, means the flower industry cannot count on the national carrier to penetrate the US market. Already most of the cargo space has been seized by Export Process Zones-based manufacturers of textiles and apparels that constitute Kenyas main export to the US under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. There is nothing for Kenya in the US market for now, said Clement Tulezi, the Kenya Flower Council chief executive. He added that although KQ can decide to help the industry by introducing a dedicated cargo flight, there is the issue of the return flight flying back empty because Kenyas main imports from the US are bulk machinery, cereals and aircraft that are shipped here. Currently, Kenya accounts for less than one per cent of the US flower market, earning less than $10 million annually, with Colombia dominating at 70 per cent followed by Ecuador at 20 per cent. These two countries also have the advantage of proximity. Although Kenya cannot continue depending on the EU for sustainability, we are protecting our key markets and seeking new ones in Asia, explained Nehemiah Chepkwony, Horticulture Crops Directorate interim head. Flower markets In 2017, Kenya exported 450,000 tonnes of cut flowers, with the EU providing 66 per cent of the market. Other key markets for Kenya are Japan, Australia and China while efforts are ongoing to increase presence in promising markets like Russia, Turkey, South Korea and India. Kenya is particularly upbeat on increasing exports to China where volumes stand at 4,000 tonnes annually after President Uhuru Kenyatta signed a horticulture export deal with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping when he attended the China International Import Expo recently. Last year, the country earned a staggering $796 million from flower exports representing a 12 per cent growth from the previous year in which the sector earned $687.4 million. In the first eight months of this year, the industry has maintained an impressive performance raking in $746.6 million, a 38 per cent increase from $539.8 million realised the same period in 2017 according to data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Notably, 65 per cent of Kenyas flowers are sold at the worlds largest flower auction in the Netherlands, meaning they lose identity by being branded by the buyers rather than the producers. The country is trying to increase direct sales from the current 35 per cent to 50 per cent to enhance the visibility of the Kenyan flower brand. Volumes Although Kenya is basking in the continuous good performance of the cut flower industry, with land under flower cultivation increasing from to about 4,000 hectares in recent years down from 3,000 hectares, the industry is in a state of panic over mounting challenges. The long term survival of the industry is at stake because we have a feeling the government does not care about the industry but only cares about the taxes it generates, stated Mr Tulezi. He added that while 60 per cent of sales are recorded during the Christmas season and Valentine Day in February, Kenya might fail to accumulate enough volumes for these high peak seasons due to a biting shortage of soluble fertiliser, a critical input in flower farming. As part of the war on counterfeits, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) recently introduced 100 per cent inspection on all soluble fertiliser shipments entering the country amidst protests by industry players that the accepted trend worldwide is based on pre-shipment inspection. Flower farming depends on specialised fertiliser and the decision by Kebs is affecting the industry badly. We are working on resolving it, admitted Mr Chepkwony. Considering that Kebs lacks the internal capacity to inspect the volumes of shipments, the decision has ignited a major crisis with imports that had arrived at the port of Mombasa five months ago yet to be cleared and released. The problem of inputs has been compounded by the move to introduce 16 per cent value added tax (VAT) on crop protection products like pesticides, a development the industry reckons will increase the cost of production and make Kenya's flowers expensive. Although it previously costed $0.21 on average to produce one rose flower, with the new tax, it will cost $0.36. Also at play is the fact that before the tax, Kenya used to sell a kilogramme at $0.3 compared with Ethiopia that sells at $0.28 per kg. VAT refunds The issue of fertiliser and pesticides, however, are problems that have cropped up recently. For years, the industry has been at loggerheads with the Kenya Revenue Authority over VAT refunds, with the taxman owing some flower firms as much as $500,000 with others having not been refunded since 2013. Yet even as it battles internal challenges, the flower industry is also under attack. To start with, the EU has continuously introduced new phytosanitary requirements that demand low concentrations of chemicals. The requirements are forcing flower farms to seek alternatives methods of crop management, with expensive biopesticides and integrated pest management being the main options. While overcoming these challenges is hard enough, the emergence of new cut flower producers, particularly Ethiopia, is causing jitters that Kenyas dominance is diminishing, albeit slowly. Ethiopia is coming up well thanks to government subsidies but we are still 30 per cent ahead in volumes, noted Tulezi, adding that it might take Ethiopia another 10 years to catch Kenya. For Ethiopia, factors like availability of land, cheap labour and government incentives coupled with a vibrant logistics industry anchored by Ethiopian Airlines have provided a fertile ground for the flower industry to bloom. Currently, the Ethiopian cut flower industry is raking in about $300 million annually and the government is targeting earnings in the region of $1 billion in the medium term. Do you have houseguests for the Thanksgiving Weekend? Looking for creative things to do? More than 30 art galleries, studios and shops in downtown Brevard will host the Thanksgiving Gallery Walk on Friday, Nov. 23, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tammy Hopkins with the TC Arts Council said, Grab your family and friends to enjoy this free event with art, music and wine in downtown Brevard. This is a great way to finish your holiday shopping, or start it! Artists @ Work Studio & Gallery is partnering with Heart of the Matter Gallery and Red Wolf Gallery for a Masterful Collaboration. Each... Looking Glass Realty has announced the opening of its newest office at Connestee Falls. Looking Glass recently purchased the log cabin near the main entrance to the Connestee Falls community, which formerly housed Top of the Falls Realty, according to a press release. This purchase was a result of the companys mission to provide the same high quality and cutting-edge real estate marketing services it has always provided, with a focus on Connestee Falls, Sherwood Forest and the surrounding Cedar Mountain neighborhoods, the release said. The new office will be staffed by four full-time bro... Judging by these students' faces, WWII veteran Harold Wellington (left) was telling them something interesting. "Holy cow," said a sixth-grader. "That magazine only cost $1.25. I've never seen one for less than $4.95." He had just looked at a Life Magazine from 1939 in the library at the WNC Military History Museum. On Nov. 14, 41 Brevard Academy students toured the eight history rooms from World War I through the War on Terror at the WNC Military History Museum in Brevard. They saw uniforms, letters, weapons, personal items, family photos, newspapers and videos. Language arts and social studies teacher Jason Wolfe explained this field trip's goals: "This is an introduction to the World Wars they... On Nov. 13, the Vietnam Veterans Association, Chapter 124, presented two awards to Transylvania residents at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville. The chapter presented certificates of appreciation to Michel Robertson and to the Transylvania County Honor Guard. The chapter recognized Robertson for her support of Vietnam veterans, especially through media promotion of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the Medical Center, notifying Vietnam veterans throughout WNC of the new memorial and its dedication ceremony on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. The Transylvania Honor Guard was recogniz... Members of the Waightstill Avery Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Victoria Nehez-Shepard Dapson, the oldest living WW II veteran in Transylvania County, on Nov. 11. DAR member Donna Bennett presented "The Story of Veronica Dapson, WW II WAC" to the audience at the WNC Military History Museum: Dapson was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1919 and was the third oldest of 12 children - six boys and six girls. She was a tomboy growing up who liked to climb trees and run races with her brothers. Dapson's parents were immigrants from Hungary. Her father w... District Attorney Greg Newman is considering how to proceed with the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) findings of allegations of mishandling of funds in the countys Transportation Department. As previously reported in June of 2017, Transylvania County Manager Jaime Laughter said the investigation involved a former county employee. The case was initially turned over to the SBI. At this time we are trying to determine two things, said Newman last week. I do believe there will be charges resulting from the investigation. Newman said they are looking at what the cha... Mark Earl Jackson, 66, of Brevard, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. He was born Nov. 25, 1951, in Milwaukee, Wis., and raised in the nearby suburb of Elm Grove. He is predeceased by parents Earl Jackson and Ellen Graham Jackson, of Sun City Center, Fla. He is survived by spouse, Barb Sweeney Jackson, of Brevard (formerly of Marysville, Ohio); stepson, Jesse (Caitlin) Combs; step-granddaughter, Finley Combs, of Fishers, Ind.; longtime best friend, Dan Kane, of Las Vegas, Nev.; and several cousins. He received a BS in physics from Michigan Tech and a MS in nuclear engineering f... It was a joyful day of pride and gratitude for employees of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group who gave back to its loyal and hardworking team by generously awarding 61 merit-based scholarships for the children of the staff. (TRAVPR.COM) THAILAND - November 20th, 2018 - Pattaya, Thailand It was a joyful day of pride and gratitude for employees of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group who gave back to its loyal and hardworking team by generously awarding 61 merit-based scholarships for the children of the staff. Divided into 3 levels, the fund was distributed among 61 students to support their studies in the current academic year. One - year scholarships valuing to up to a total of more than THB 250,000 were granted to 5 kindergarten students, 24 primary school students and 23 high school and 9 vocational students who were chosen based on their exceptional academic performances. The heartwarming ceremony was attended by Mrs. Panga Vathanakul, the Managing Director of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group together with members of the senior management and will be held every year with the aim to continuously support the academic ambitions of the children of Royal Cliff employees. Mrs. Panga Vathanakul, the Managing Director of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, highlighted the importance of this program: Providing essential support to our staff and their families remains an important initiative for the Royal Cliff Hotels Group. We are committed to take care of our exceptional staff and reward their children who are performing well in school. We believe that academic excellence can open many doors for these talented students and its a joy to track their progress and see them accomplish many things along with their proud parents. Giving back to the community has always been a part of Royal Cliffs identity. As part of its long-lasting CSR program, it has supported and worked with vital charitable institutions throughout the years that have promoted the education of children and significantly improved the quality of life of those in need. Situated on a 64-acre private parkland estate overlooking the stunning Gulf of Thailand, the Royal Cliff Hotels Group operates four award-winning hotels providing guests from home and abroad with the ultimate experience. Book your stay directly and get the best price guaranteed along with value-added optional extras that will enhance your hotel experience by visiting www.royalcliff.com, contacting Reservations at (+66) 38 250 421 ext. 2824 or emailing: reservations@royalcliff.com. For more information on the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, please visit www.royalcliff.com. ### Treehugger and our third-party partners use cookies and process personal data like unique identifiers based on your consent to store and/or access information on a device, display personalized ads and for content measurement, audience insight, and product development. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Treehugger.com, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, click below. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. List of Partners (vendors) An aspect of Brexit that rarely makes the news scares the chemicals industry most. In 2006, Europe introduced an ambitious regulation to ensure the safety of all chemicals. Known as REACH = Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals, the regulation requires that every manufacturer or importer of chemicals in the European Union must file a dossier with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) which declares all known safety information and recommendations for safe use of chemicals. Recognizing that no government agency can ever keep up with assessing the safety of all chemicals and banning or regulating the dangerous ones, the EU made the chemical industry itself responsible. The REACH dossiers must demonstrate that each chemical can be used safely. After 10 years of compiling and submitting these dossiers, the chemical industry finally completed the chemical data submittal in 2018. Just in time for Brexit next year. Global chemicals affected Of course UK chemical companies will be affected. Any chemicals sold from the UK into the remaining EU countries become illegal on the day Brexit takes effect because the British companies' registrations with the European Chemicals Agency are no longer valid. Their chemicals become 'imports' to the EU-27 countries that the UK is leaving behind. But the impact is much more widespread than that. Chemical manufacturers from all over the globe must comply with the EU REACH regulation if they want to sell their chemicals to the EU. A couple favorite methods for supplying chemicals legally to the EU include having the EU-based importer register the chemicals or appointing an "only representative" in the EU to represent the foreign company for the purposes of registration (this helps foreign companies protect their confidential information and manage costs). Where do you suppose most of those international companies went when selecting the importer or only representative? Naturally, to the place where they could find colleagues who share a language - quite often preferring the UK over other EU countries for this communication benefit. So now Brexit has launched a scramble as companies try to figure out how to organize to avoid disruptions of chemical markets. Timing is critical. For example, a UK manufacturer can only transfer their dossier to a representative in the remaining EU after Brexit takes effect, while a UK-based only representative can only transfer their work to an EU representative before Brexit. This may sound like a game of bureaucratic musical chairs, but the fact is that when the music ends, some companies may be left standing without a legal opportunity to continue their sales of chemicals. So what, fewer chemicals is better you may be thinking. But what if the chemicals in short supply are the ones needed to sanitize hospital surgical units? Even where shortages do not affect critical activities, the ripple effects of supply chain delays could have large impacts on the economies that rely on modern just-in-time supply chains. REACH is so huge and complex, that it took 10 years to get everyone into the system to start with. Now Brexit gives all the companies registered via the UK a single day on which their obligations must be re-organized to reflect the new geographic reality. Fingers crossed. rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, November 20 India has slipped two places to rank 53rd on a global annual talent ranking released by IMD Business School Switzerland on Tuesday, while the top slot has been retained by the Alpine nation itself. Within Asia, Singapore has topped the charts with a global 13th place on the list that ranks 63 countries in developing, attracting and retaining talent. China is ranked lower at 39th because of its difficulties in attracting foreign skilled workers paired with a level of public expenditure in education that is below the average of other advanced economies. Regarding India, the renowned business school said its position had declined from 55th in 2017 to 53rd this year. On the one hand, the country performs above the average in terms of the quality of its talent pool (Readiness factor, 30th position), on the other, the quality of its educational system and the lack of investments in public education heavily penalise the talent potential of the country (Investment and Development factor, 63rd), it said. The rankings are based on three factors: Investment and Development, Appeal, and Readiness. These factors include indicators that capture the resources invested in developing local talent, the extent to which a country attracts and retains talent, and the quality of skills available in the talent pool. While Switzerland has topped the global ranking for the fifth year in a row, it is followed by Denmark, Norway, Austria and the Netherlands in the top five. At sixth place, Canada is the only non-European nation in the top 10, which also includes Finland (7th), Sweden (8th), Luxembourg (9th), and Germany (10th). The Slovak Republic (59th), Colombia (60th), Mexico (61st), Mongolia (62nd), and Venezuela (63rd) are the last countries in the ranking. Among BRICS nations, Brazil is ranked 58th, South African 50th and Russia 46th. The IMD said it used hard data and responses to the IMD Executive Opinion Survey to produce the ranking. This annual survey compiles input from over 6,000 executives based in 63 different economies, it added. Economies placed in the top 10 of the ranking generally share high levels of investments in public education and a high quality of life, which allow them both to develop local human capital and to attract highly skilled professionals from abroad. South East Asian economies, on average, perform well in tapping into the international talent pool, but they tend to lag behind in terms of public investments for the development of home-grown talent, Arturo Bris, Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Centre, IMD Business School, said. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Mumbai, November 20 Kuwaiti private budget carrier Jazeera Airways on Tuesday announced the launch of its services to New Delhi from next month as part of its plans to expand its footprint in one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. Jazeera Airways, which commenced operations in India last year, currently flies to Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kochi and Ahmedabad from the Gulf nation. The services on the Kuwait-New Delhi route would start from December 15, the Kuwait-based carrier said in a release. Bookings for the flight services on the new route, which would operate four times a week, are open and available on Jazeera Airways website, it added. The airline has also announced special one-way fare starting from Rs 10,599 for an economy class journey and Rs 19,146 for business class travel on the new route. The launch of the new route is a part of Jazeera Airways continued expansion to serve the large Indian community and business sector in Kuwait, the release said. Rohit Ramachandran, chief executive officer, Jazeera Airways, said the introduction of services to New Delhi and the expansion of network would bring more choice to travellers to and from India, connecting them to Kuwait and other cities in the Gulf and the Middle East that are served within the airlines network. Jazeera Airways flies to 27 destinations across the Middle East, India and Europe, with a fleet of A320s and A320 Neos. PTI editorial@tribune.com Satinder Pal Singh Dera Bassi, November 20 A case of a doctor being robbed of cash, gold rings and other valuables by a taxi driver and his accomplices near the Karnal bypass on November 17 has come to light. The victim, Dr Ashok Kumar, a resident of Rauni Mohalla, Dera Bassi, lodged a complaint on November 18 with the Delhi Police following which an FIR was registered against the unidentified taxi driver and his accomplices. According to the police, Ashok Kumar, in his complaint, alleged that he landed back at the Delhi airport from Australia on November 17 along with his acquaintance and was to proceed to Dera Bassi. He said he reached the Karnal bypass along with his acquaintance and got off there in order to board a bus for Dera Bassi. He told the police that while he was waiting for a bus, around 9.45 pm, a taxi, bearing a Delhi registration number, stopped next to him and the driver enquired about his destination. The taxi driver claimed that he was also going towards Dera Bassi and would charge him an amount equivalent to the bus fare. The complainant agreed and sat next to the drivers seat. In the meantime, three more passengers boarded the cab and sat on the rear seat of the car. The victim said the cab had moved a few metres when he was overpowered by one of the suspects, who was sitting on the rear seat. The taxi driver kept driving towards Dera Bassi. On the way, the other two suspects allegedly took away three gold rings of the victim, a gold chain that he was wearing and also robbed him of Rs 80,000, including $100. The complainant alleged that they also took away a few items like an iron, clothes and toys from his luggage. The victim told the police that instead of taking him towards Dera Bassi, the taxi driver took him towards the Bahalgarh flyover, where the three suspects took out SIM cards from his mobile phone and dumped him near the flyover before escaping along with the taxi driver. The victim somehow managed to reach the nearest Samaypur Badli police station and lodged a complaint. Jagbir Singh, sub-inspector posted at the Samaypur Badli police station, which falls under the jurisdiction of Delhi, said on the basis of the statement of Ashok Kumar, the police had registered a case against four unidentified persons, including the cab driver, under Sections 392 and 34 of the IPC at the Samaypur Badli police station. The SI said during preliminary investigations, it had come to the fore that the taxi driver had fixed a fake number plate on the car. They were also investigating whether the car used in the crime was stolen. editorial@tribune.com Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 19 Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, has slipped by 38 positions in the US News Best Global University Rankings-2019 and is placed at 551st position. In 2018 edition, it was at 513th place. However, at national-level, PU is at number 3. In the 2018 edition of the rankings, PU was at number 2 in the country and in 2017 edition, it was the top institution. In the 2019 edition, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, topped the country with 46.5 marks, followed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, with 46.1 marks and PU with 44.5 marks. Methodology There were 13 indicators for calculating the rank. Global research reputation and regional research reputation have 12.5% marks each. Publication has 10% marks, while books and conferences have 2.5% each. The normalised citation impact has 10% marks, total citations have 7.5 % contribution, number of publications that are among the 10% most cited has 12.5% marks and the percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited has 10% contribution. The international collaboration, percentage of total publications with international collaboration, number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited in their respective field and percentage of total publications that are among the top 1% most highly cited papers have 5% marks each. PU stands heads and shoulders above other institutions when it comes to research achievements. This particular ranking which gives value to research and underplays the entirely subjective views about a university, results in PU getting a higher rank, said Prof Rajivlochan, Director, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC). Physics dept best in country Despite a fall in overall rankings, physics department of PU retained its top slot in the country in the 2019 edition of rankings. In the subject category of physics, PU has scored 62.8 marks, followed by IIT-Bombay with 58.1 marks and IISc-Bengaluru with 51.8 marks. The University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, with 50.7 marks and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, with 50.2 marks have come at the 4th and 5th places, respectively. Prof Rajeev Puri, Officiating Chairperson, Department of Physics, PU, expressed gratitude towards students, researchers and faculty. uttara@tribuneindia.com New Delhi/Chandigarh, November 20 Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautalas elder son Ajay Chautala Tuesday said his new party will contest next years assembly elections and the Lok Sabha polls from all 10 seats in the state. Ajay Chautala's new party is being launched next month following a split Saturday in the Indian National Lok Dal, a result of the power struggle between him and his younger brother Abhay Chautala. Chautala, whos currently undergoing a 10-year prison term in Tihar jail for his role in a teachers recruitment scam in 2013, said the name of the new party will include Jan Nayak, an apparent reference to the Chautala brothers grandfather, former deputy prime minister Devi Lal. Its time to follow the path shown by Chaudhary Devi Lal, Ajay Chautala, who was recently expelled from the INLD, said. Ajay Chautala said the new party will hold a rally in Jind on December 9. We will contest on all Lok Sabha seats (from Haryana) as well as the next state assembly elections, he told reporters at his Delhi home, hours before his two-week parole ended. He said the new outfit was also likely to contest the bypoll for the Jind assembly seat, which fell vacant in August when INLD MLA Hari Chand Middha died. Meanwhile, former minister and senior INLD leader from Mewat, Mohammed Illyas, resigned from the INLD on Tuesday to express solidarity with the ousted leader. In Rohtak, some Ajay Chautala supporters also brought down the INLD flag from the party office and removed the name plate of district unit chief Satish Nandal. At a meeting in Jind last week, Ajay Chautala had said, I hand over the INLD and the spectacles (party symbol) to my younger brother as a gift. Over recent weeks, the feud saw the expulsion of Ajay Chautala and his sons, Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala and Digvijay Chautala, from the Haryana-based party headed by Om Prakash Chautala. The two young leaders were shunted out after their slogan-shouting supporters allegedly targeted Abhay Chautala at an INLD rally in Gohana last month. The Abhay Chautala camp had claimed that the younger brother had offered to hand over the Leader of Opposition post in Haryana Assembly to Ajay Chautalas MLA wife Naina Devi and make his son Dushyant Chautala the INLDs chief ministerial candidate. Neither Naina demanded that she be given such a post, nor has Dushyant made such claim, Ajay Chautala said. Dushyant has always maintained that he will contest the parliamentary elections, he added. On the Jind meeting, he said: We had called a meeting which turned into a rally. We thank all those who overwhelmingly supported us. Asked if Dushyant Chautala will be given the main responsibility of the new outfit, he said: We all will all sit together and decide. Ajay Chautala said he would brief INLD president Om Prakash Chautala, who's in Tihar jail for his role in the same recruitment scam, about the recent developments. Chautala said he will also give the patriarch a list of INLD office bearers who have resigned in his support. Asked what he had to say to those still in the INLD, he said: What is left in the party now. He added it was now Abhay Chautalas responsibility to run it. Meanwhile, Abhay Chautala told reporters that his elder brother was blinded by his love for his sons. One day they will have to apologise before (Om Prakash) Chautala saheb and admit that they made a big mistake, he said in Srisa, referring to alleged hooliganism at the INLD rally by supporters of his two nephews. On the reported resignations, the younger Chautala said: No office bearer has resigned. People who have already been thrown out of the party are being paraded by them. PTI editorial@tribune.com Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service Hisar, November 20 Haryana Roadways buses are reportedly cutting short trips on long routes in an attempt to avoid payment of overtime to drivers and conductors, resulting in harassment to passengers. Sharing his plight on Facebook, Hisar-based Salaudeen Kagdana wrote that when he boarded an early morning bus to Chandigarh, the conductor handed him a ticket for Kaithal, asking passengers to catch another bus from there. The conductor said they had to return from Kaithal as the department had decided to discontinue overtime payment. The bus staff claimed they had been told to return midway en route to destinations to ensure their duty hours did not exceed eight hours a day. The roadways authorities at Hisar, however, denied any such directions, alleging that members of the employees union were indulging in such tactics to annoy them. A driver on the Hisar-Panipat route said he got a call to return from Safidon in Jind district. Similarly, a conductor on a Hisar-Gurgaon bus claimed returning from Jhajjar, leaving the passengers at the bus stand there. Dalbir Kiramara, a Roadways Talmel Committee member, said the officials at bus depots had cut short the long-route journeys to ensure the staff were on duty for only eight hours as the orders from the Transport Department clearly state that the General Managers and Transport Managers would be responsible for overtime and the amount would be deducted from their salaries. Arvind Sharma, Transport Manager, Hisar, denied any such directions. They are doing so to annoy the authorities. I will take disciplinary action against these drivers and conductors, he added. Meanwhile, the Director, Haryana Roadways, in a circular today mentioned that some GMs are cutting short the routes to bring down overtime of staff. The letter clarifies that the rotation of a bus should not be disturbed in the process. Citing an example of the Delhi-Chandigarh trip, the letter mentioned that one trip counts for 12 hours; thus, the drivers and conductors are assigned this rotation four times 48 hours a week. The staff should not be given work for the remaining two days, while the seventh day is the weekly off. Even some drivers on local routes rued that not only had their scheduled trips been disturbed, these had been cut to avoid overtime. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Panchkula, November 20 Hundreds of conductors and drivers, who were recruited by the Haryana Government Transport Department during the 18-day strike by the roadways employees, here held a protest dharna against the termination of their services on Tuesday. Even though the protesters also burnt the effigy of the Transport Department, they refrained from raising slogans against the state government with the hope that their grievances would be resolved by it by appointing them. Sujesh Pannu, member of the State Executive Victim Driver Conductor, Haryana, said they urged the Haryana government to recruit them as had been the precedence in 1972, 1979 and 1993. They said there were about 20,000 posts vacant and it would not be difficult for the government to reward them by appointing them against the vacant posts as they had helped it to run the transport services during the strike. Pannu said their recruitment was done on the request of the state government and they had performed their duties in adverse circumstances that was created by the employees who had gone on strike. He said they had joined the Haryana Transport Department after resigning from their earlier post and their services were terminated immediately after the regular employees ended their strike and that too without any reason. He said as it was impossible for them to get re-employed they would not be able to support their families. He said a delegation of the protesters had also met the Chief Minister, but without any result. He said they would continue to hold dharna till their demands were met and threatened that they would be forced to intensify their protest by holding fast unto death and the state government would be responsible for any untoward incident. rchopra@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 20 Four militants and an Army jawan were killed in a gunfight in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Tuesday, officials said. Three soldiers, including two para commandos, were injured in the gunfight. The encounter erupted during a cordon and search operation at Nadigam village when joint teams of police, Army and CRPF were carrying out searches in the area on the basis of specific information about the presence of militants. In the gunfight that followed four militants were killed, a defence official said. We also lost one soldier in the gunfight, he added. The slain Army para commando has been identified as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Sagwan village in Bhiwani, Haryana. The slain militants were associated with Hizbul Mujahideen and have been identified as Abid Nazir Chopan of Padarpora, Basharat Nengroo of Chotigam Shopian, Mehraj-ud-Din Najar of Drawni and Malik Zada Inam-ul-Haq of Mantujan Shopian. editorial@tribune.com Anantnag, November 20 Army commando Vijay Kumar of 23 Para, who belonged to Sagwan village in Bhiwani, and four Hizb militants were killed in a gunfight in Shopian district today, while three soldiers Sepoy Shailender Singh of 34 RR and Lance Naik Somveer and Havildar Bhupinder Singh of 23 Para were injured. At least four civilians, including two women, were injured in clashes that erupted even as the encounter was underway. Three had bullet injuries and one pellet injuries, a doctor said. During a search operation, a joint team of the police, Army and CRPF zeroed in on a house in Nadigam village where the militants were holed up. They opened indiscriminate fire. In the retaliatory fire, four were killed, a police official said. He identified them as Abid Nazir Chopan, Basharat Nengroo, Mehraj-ud-Din Najar and Malik Zada Inam-ul-Haq, all residents of Shopian. They were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen and were involved in attacks on security establishments," he added. Meanwhile, militants freed a youth, Parvez Ahmad Wani, of Batmuran village of Shopian early today, after shooting him in the leg. Of the nine youths abducted from Shopian in the past few days, two were killed and six were let off with a warning. TNS Hurriyat leader shot dead, wife wounded Anantnag: Hafizullah Mir of the separatist Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) was shot dead outside his home in Achabal area of Anantnag district, 60 km south of Srinagar, on Tuesday morning. His wife was wounded. editorial@tribune.com Prateek Chauhan Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 20 The Delhi Polices special cell arrested an operative of Hizbul Mujahideen, Ansar Ul Haq (28), a resident of Pulwama district, from the Delhi IGI Airport as he was trying to flee to Srinagar. The apprehended terrorist was wanted in the murder of Sub Inspector (SI) Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, intelligence officer of Jammu and Kashmir Polices CID branch, said DCP Pramod Singh Kushwah (special cell). On October 28, the bullet-riddled body of 30-year-old Sub Inspector Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir was found in the Chewa Kalan area in Pulwama district. Mir, who was on his way home in his car, was reportedly abducted by terrorists and killed, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said. The special cell team looked out for accused Ansar Ul Haq at various possible hideouts in and around Delhi. In the meanwhile, it came to fore that the accused was changing his hideouts and had shifted to Mumbai and then to Bengaluru and other nearby areas. On Tuesday, a specific input was received that Haq would come to the Delhi airport from Bangalore to go to Srinagar, he said. A trap was laid and he was apprehended at Terminal 3, the DCP said. During the interrogation, Haq said he was in regular contact with other Hizbul Mujahideen militants like Liyakat, Shau Cable, Shahid Ahmad Baba, Zahid Tiger and Zahur. He said he passed information to militants about the movements of security forces and local police officers. He confessed to his involvement in the killing of the Sub Inspector by roping in his girlfriend as she was an acquaintance of the victim, the Deputy Commissioner of Police added. Wanted for SIs murder gspannu7@gmail.com New Delhi, November 20 The NIA on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, deputy chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group and brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, and 13 others in connection with a case pertaining to the attack on an Army camp in Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir in November 2016, officials said. The spokesman of the NIA said in a statement that the charge sheet was filed under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (substitute of IPC in Jammu and Kashmir), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Foreigners Act against the accused. Investigation conducted by the NIA revealed that four local Kashmiri JeM members, namely Mohd. Ashiq Baba alias Mohd. Ashaq, Syed Munir-Ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmad Dar and Ashraf Hamid Khandey (all arrested by NIA) had facilitated a group of three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists and transported them from International Border in Samba-Kathua sector to Hotel Jagdamba in Jammu and subsequently to Nagrota in their vehicles for the attack on the November 28, 2016, on Officers Mess Complex, 166 Medium Regiment of Indian Army in Nagrota Cantonment (near Jammu), the spokesman said. The three Pakistani JeM terroristsKhalid alias Abu Hissam, Numan and Aadil, who were highly trained and equipped with AK-47 rifles and explosives carried out the attack in which seven Army personnel were killed and three were injured. All the three terrorists were killed. The NIA said the probe showed that Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, Deputy Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad and brother of Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was the mastermind of the Nagrota attack. He worked out the plan of fidayeen (suicide) attack and provided training to above three Pakistani JeM terrorists. He also directed Mufti Asgar (launch commander of JeM in Kashmir region) to provide training, funds, equipment and mobile and other logistics to local JeM member Mohd. Ashiq Baba. Mohd Ashiq Baba had visited Pakistan many times and met JeM terrorists Waseem (Operational commander of JeM), Abu Talha alias Doctor (deputy commander in Jammu region) and Qari Zarar (launch commander of JeM for Jammu region). He was taken for a meeting with Mufti Asgar at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On reaching there he was received by Abdullah alias Al Hijama and Tariq Mir, both JeM terrorists who are close associates of Mufti Asgar. During a meeting with top leadership of JeM commanders, Mufti Asgar chalked out a detailed plan including the modus operandi to be adopted for infiltration of JeM terrorists and he asked Ashiq to activate local JeM network in Jammu and Kashmir for Jehadi cause. Ashiq Baba was given training at Manshera in Pakistan and handed over money for arranging logistics along with a GPS enabled Huawei mobile phone for communication with JeM leaders in Pakistan, the spokesman said. The NIA has collected evidence on the basis of disclosure of the accused, detailed social media analysis, digital evidence through requests under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and analysis of data extracted from the seized digital devices. PTI editorial@tribune.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 20 PDPs lone MP Muzaffar Beig on Tuesday raised a banner of revolt against his own party and hinted at joining the emerging third front after calling Sajad Lone like his son. Promptly welcoming his move, Sajad said Baigs entry could be the defining tribute to the third front. In a major political upheaval after the break-up of the PDP-BJP government in June this year, Baig said the PDP betrayed its workers and the legislators by boycotting the polls. Addressing reporters here, Baig was attacked the PDP but praised the third front and Sajad. I was a friend of his (Sajads) father and I also prepared the constitution of the Peoples Conference (PC). I contested the election and on the basis of which the PC was registered and recognised as a political party. So the PC has been like a home to me. For me Sajad is like a son. If Sajad is interested that there should be a third force, he should be encouraged. Baig said. If the third front emerges in J&K, I would seriously consider joining it, he said. The PDP headed by Mehbooba Mufti is going through a sort of existential crisis as many of its members, including former Cabinet Minister and influential Shia cleric Imran Ansari, have openly defied the party leadership and have rallied around Sajad. I am humbled by Muzaffar Baigs statement. A person of his stature, experience and intellect can be the defining attribute of the emerging third party. I remember him as my favourite uncle during my childhood, Sajad tweeted minutes after the press meet. Hitting out at the PDP, Baig said the partys decision to ape NC to boycott the municipal elections was undemocratic and it was taken without consulting him. I was a phone call away. They did not consult me. I remained quiet because I do not want the PDP to fall asunder, Baig added. Both the NC and PDP had insisted that the Centre should take a stand on Article 35A as a pre-condition to join the elections. However, Baig trashed such arguments saying such logic was flawed. The issue of Article 35A is not to be decided by politicians or the Government of India. It is to be decided by highest court of land which is not afraid of taking bold decisions, he added. Lashes out at party monicakchauhan@gmail.com Srinagar, November 20 A leader of Syed Ali Shah Geelani's Tehreek-e-Hurriyat group was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, police said. Hafizullah Mir, who was the district president of the separatist group and was released in October after two years in detention, was gunned down in Akingam village in Achabal area. Mir succumbed as he reached hospital, where doctors declared him dead. IANS harinder@tribunemail.com Canada has shown considerable growth in recent years and has established itself as an important player in the global startup scene. The Toronto-Waterloo Corridor in Canada has been in the spotlight in recent years as an important ecosystem in the country that has attracted start-up job seekers from around the world. The Toronto-Waterloo region boasts of a large economy with a GDP of $323 billion and a population of 6.1 million people. The vital industries contributing to the regional economy in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor are: Aerospace Education Tourism Life Sciences Food Processing Quantum Technology What makes this corridor a hotbed for start-ups Touted as one of the most innovative regions in Canada, the Toronto-Waterloo corridor is the largest tech start-up ecosystem in the region. There are more than 5,000 start-ups in various stages her and moving to the Toronto-Waterloo where you can get an opportunity to get your talent noticed as a part of a high impact startup ecosystem. What to expect International professionals moving to the Toronto-Waterloo corridor in search of start-up jobs can experience a diverse culture, thanks to immigrants from different ethnic backgrounds. Some of the common countries whose immigrants are in plenty here include India, China, Korea, and Portugal. Brampton, a region in the corridor, is brimming with Indians and Indo-Canadians who are doing well in the start-up ecosystem. Key sectors for jobseekers & entrepreneurs Moving to the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor can be a game changer for tech entrepreneurs and professionals. Tech companies in the Ontario region can enjoy up to $ 1 million in grants as a part of the Investing in Business Innovation Program. The main sub-sectors whose start-ups are fueling the tech sector in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor are: Fintech: Toronto is an international hub for financial services companies. There are more than 12,000 companies in the finance sector in the region whose presence has helped the FinTech start-up niche soar well and create numerous jobs. Life Sciences & Health: Companies in the life sciences & health niche throughout the corridor raised a staggering $300 million in 2017. The life sciences and health sub-sector are strengthened by Toronto's Discovery District, which comprises 30 top-notch research centres in the region. Start-ups in this sub-sector can get required support through the MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (AIF) which offers grants up to $500,000 in funding. Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics: The Southern Ontario region in the corridor has been a historically significant region for the manufacturing sector and is responsible for creating jobs for a tenth of the province's workforce. Entrepreneurial ventures in Ontario within the advanced manufacturing segment are eligible for the Jobs and Prosperity Fund that offers an increased monetary bandwidth. This can help start-ups increase productivity and grow faster. Government support Canada has introduced a special visa for start-ups to encourage entrepreneurs to move to its various startup ecosystems like the Toronto-Waterloo corridor which is dedicated to start-ups. International entrepreneurs who are eligible for the visa can become permanent residents with this new visa scheme. Start-up job seekers can enter the country with a valid work permit or as a permanent resident with the Express Entry visa. The government of Canada has introduced various pro-active measures and grants to help shape the start-up culture and subsequently create more start-up jobs. These include: The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Programme distributes tax credits of $5 million and more to eligible companies(including foreign subsidiaries) to encourage the R&D sector. SMEs in the Ontario region in the corridor can get up to 50 per cent of salary (or up to $80,000) as a non-repayable grant as a part of the Ontario Exporters Fund. There is an array of start-up funding and support programmes that have been aimed to help ventures run by entrepreneurs who are under 30 which offer grants up to $250,000. The favourable living conditions paired with ample opportunities and government initiatives make the region a good place for start-up job seekers to find lucrative jobs and a high quality of life. Inputs courtesy Yostartups, a global pre-accelerator for startups & entrepreneurs. twitter @yostartups harinder@tribunemail.com Usha Albuquerque Over the past decade or so, information technology has been the prima donna of the jobs market attracting the brightest and largest talent in the country. But no longer, as the manufacturing sector, part of the goods-producing industries group, is slowly catching up. The manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. Some of the industries that feature in this category include - the construction industry, automobile industry, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, Textiles and Apparel, Computers and Electronics, petroleum, plastics and chemicals and several others. Although India's manufacturing sector has long performed below potential, the country's rapidly expanding economy, growing by 7 percent a year over the past decade, has given a huge impetus to the manufacturing sector. Moreover, a massive workforce, an emerging supply base, access to natural resources - iron ore and aluminum for engineered goods, cotton for textiles, and coal for power generation- and the 'Make in India' initiative is looking to boost the contribution made by the manufacturing sector from the current 17 per cent to 25 per cent of GDP by the end of year 2020, so as to become a viable manufacturing alternative to China. An important factor of this growth is that while manufacturing gives employment to around 12 per cent of the country's workforce, it has a multiplier effect, as every job created in manufacturing is also creating 2-3 jobs in the services sector. It is, therefore, being estimated that the boost to manufacturing could create 60 million to 90 million new jobs and become an attractive investment destination for its own entrepreneurs and multinational companies. So the manufacturing sector in its upward journey can offer significantly good employment opportunities in the years ahead. Five growing manufacturing industries for employment opportunities include: Construction industry The construction industry one of the largest employers, currently employs around 40 million people, and affects a number of associated industries such as cement, steel, technology, skill-enhancement, etc. Almost 50 per cent of the demand for construction activity in India comes from the infrastructure sector, the rest comes from industrial activities, residential and commercial development etc. While a general real estate market slowdown over the past decade or so has resulted in a lot of unsold housing projects across India, the arrival of new construction technology, the Smart Cities project, the Government's 'Housing for All by 2022' programme and the entry of international infrastructure players into India is generating an increase in construction activity and revival of employment opportunities across a vast array of different skill sets. Jobs : It is estimated that this will generate a growing demand for construction professionals such as architects, civil and structural engineers, project engineers, construction and real estate management professionals and others. Nearly 90 per cent of the workforce employed in the real estate and construction sector is engaged in construction of buildings, while the rest 10 per cent is involved in building completion, finishing, electrical, plumbing, other installation services, demolition etc. Courses BArch/ Dip Arch BPlanning BDes: Interior Design PG Dip in Interior Design BE/BTech: Civil/ Structural/ Electrical/ Mechanical Engineering MBA/PG: Construction management PG dip in Facilities Management PG Dip in Real Estate Management Food processing industry With India as one of the largest producers of milk, pulses, sugar cane, tea, as well as wheat rice, vegetables and fruit, the food processing industry has great potential for global trade, export and domestic consumption. Major industries constituting the food processing sector are grain milling, sugar, edible oils, beverages, fruits & vegetables processing and dairy products.A The Government of India has relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for the sector, allowing up to 100 per cent FDI in food product e-commerce through automatic route. Several MNCs are moving into the food processing sector setting up food research laboratories, state-of-the-art processing facilities and supply chain distribution seeing the potential in processed foods. State government are promoting Mega Food Parks in different states like Punjab, Bihar, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for the production and processing of different food products. Jobs : The work in the food industry involves the practical application of the principles of several disciplines of science for the manufacture or production, preservation, processing and handling, and the canning and packaging of food materials. This requires food technologists, chemists, bio-technologists, technicians and engineers. Quality control is normally handled by a chemist or a food technologist, while Organic chemists, bio-chemists and analytical chemists are employed to provide expert advice, study and analyse raw materials and food products and suggest improvements in flavour, texture, storage and quality. Courses BSc Food Science BTech Food Technology BTech Bio Technology BSc / MSc Micro-biology BSc/ MSc Bio-chemistry BSc/ MSc Bio-technology Automobile & auto component industry The Indian auto industry is currently one of the largest in the world. India is the second largest two-wheeler manufacturer, the largest motorcycle manufacturer and the fifth largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in the world. Asian, European and US automakers have moved their manufacturing facilities to India. Besides Maruti and Hyundai which account for more than half the vehicle sales for their parent companies, India is a huge manufacturing base for Honda, US based Ford Motors, and also France's Renault. The auto-components industry is also growing exponentially and is set to become the third largest in the world by 2025. Jobs : Therefore changing gears into the fast lane means increased employment opportunities for all those involved in the industry, including auto engineers, designers, technicians, sales and marketing, auto ancilliary production and many others. In the next five years, the potential new job roles in the automotive sector will also include automobile analytics engineers, 3D printing technician, as well as experts with new skill sets required in design, operation as well as other elements of the auto value chain. Another new role for automobile engineers will be in the area of research and development (R&D), as the country gears up for new green technologies, electric vehicles and automation. Courses BE/BTech: Automobile Engineering BE/BTech: Mechanical / Electrical/ Electronic engineering BDes: Auto Design/ Product Design MBA: Marketing Pharmaceutical industry India's pharmaceutical industry has advanced hugely in the last three decades both within the country and in exports. As a result, India has emerged as the world's third largest producer of drugs in terms of volume. So also the exports of generic drugs which have in the last ten years been challenging the strong American drug lobby. The industry has posted double-digit growth making India one of the top five pharmaceutical emerging markets of the world. Developments in the health insurance, medical technology and mobile telephony have stimulated this growth also increasing healthcare access across India. With various financial schemes being made available, several pharma companies, including MNCs, have invested in the country, and set up state-of-the-art R & D facilities. Access to a skilled workforce, low cost of production, high managerial and technical competence has enabled the pharma companies to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 15 per cent over the past five years producing immense employment opportunities. There is also need for skilled manpower in Research and Development, Quality Assurance (QA), Intellectual Property (IP), manufacturing as well as sales and marketing. Despite the challenges from China and its highly productive manufacturing industry, the Indian manufacturing industry is on the rise and will be providing huge employment opportunities in the years ahead. Jobs : While the pharmacy graduate is the one professional that comes to mind when thinking of the pharmaceutical industry, the professional field is not just limited to drugs or to medicines for human or animal use but also includes medical devices, diagnostics, clinical investigation, and most certainly R & D. This is undertaken by chemists, bio-chemists, biologists, even computer specialists who work with scientists. Almost one quarter of pharmaceutical employees work in production, which accounts for a wide variety of jobs: raw material control, packaging material, manufacturing, quality control of finished products, release of manufactured batches and packaging. Another field is that of pharmaceutical product marketing requiring people with leading-edge scientific, regulatory and marketing skills. Sales are handled by medical sales representatives who call on doctors and pharmacists. Courses BPharm/ DPharm BSc/MSc chemistry/bio-chemistry/ micro-biology PG Diploma in Clinical Research BTech/ MTech Pharmaceutical Technology Electronics industry The uses of electronics are endless, never more so relevant than today when productivity in industries like oil, energy, infrastructure, banking and many other important sectors of economy has changed for the better with the use of electronics. The electronics market of India is one of the largest in the world and comprises of consumer electronics, industrial electronic, electronic components, strategic electronics, semiconductor design and electronic manufacturing services. Large networks of cellular, satellite and digital communications have been introduced into the country, providing state -of the art services. Towns, cities, trade centres, harbours, ports, even space is being connected with underground cables, radio links and satellite. Despite the continuing fast growth of telecom services of large service providers such as Vodafone, Tata telecom, Jio, Airtel and others, the current demand for electronic products is met by imports. However, major government initiatives like Digital India and Make in India have given a boost to this sector. The government has also set up Electronic Hardware Technology Parks (EHTPs), SEZs and Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) scheme introduced for the growth of electronics. India, therefore, has got great scope and ample opportunity to register a huge growth in Electronics manufacturing. Jobs : Electronic specialists work on the design and manufacture of electronic devices and systems, the installation, maintenance and repair of electronic systems and equipment, in technical sales, product representation, and systems management on a wide variety of electronic equipment including signal processing, control systems, telecommunications, computer hardware engineering, electric power controls, instrumentation engineering, systems engineering, robotics etc. Courses harinder@tribunemail.com Women entrepreneurship in India is growing exponentially, and this is reflected in over 8 million women entrepreneurs at the helm of ventures in different sectors in the country. Their fair contribution to the start-up ecosystem is changing the contours of the socio-economic development of the country. Geetu Vaid traces the journey of four women who have carved a niche with their unique ventures Making a difference Dr. Anita Sharma Founder, On My Own Anitas story is one of grit and determination and of the spirit to give back to society. Anita was paralysed waist down after contracting polio when she was just six months old. After nine major surgeries, she could walk with the support of crutches and calipers and went on to earn a PhD. from IIM-Indore in disability and entrepreneurship. While helping some friends with disabilities learn car driving she realised the difference this skill could make in increasing their confidence and in reducing dependency on others. This led her to start her venture On My Own, which is one-of-its-kind driving school for the physically challenged. I explored about driving schools for people with disabilities in India and called up more than 2,000 driving schools only to find that none of these offered driving sessions to people with reduced mobility because they did not have any retrofitted cars (i.e. modified cars with hand control) needed for driving sessions for people with reduced mobility. This was a gap that needed to be filled, she recalls. Based out of Amritsar at the moment, Anita currently has two retrofitted cars with hand controls. But it is not just driving lessons that her venture provides, there are regular coffee conversations wherein she engages with people with disabilities and provides a platform to inspire and ignite each other. Assistance is also provided to get driving licences and customised cars. Key achievements The biggest achievement is the smile and appiness on the faces of those who had never thought that they could drive. The moment when someone sees 'hope' in me is biggest achievement, she adds. Challenges Convincing people with disabilities and their families to learn car driving. On My Own is not a charity business. I do not want PwDs to be treated as a subject of charity and charges a nominal fee for the sessions. Future plans My biggest dream is to design a car in which wheelchairs can go in directly to make life of wheelchair users easier as currently, they have to shift from their wheelchair to the car seat. Expanding the reach to other cities. Getting network of trainers who could teach on modified cars. ShEO mantra Entrepreneurship is just not any alternate career option. It is a decision to live for your passion and for the hope of others. When you are into social entrepreneurship then you become the 'hope' for someone. It is a challenge worth accepting, says this gritty entrepreneur. Money matters Ankita Jain Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer, GoPaisa.com Fired with youthful energy Ankita Jains biggest challenge while establishing herself as an entrepreneur was her age. At 24 she was considered too young by business associates and the fact that the concept that she and her co founder were selling was a new one in India did not make things easy for them. An MBA in marketing, Ankita has virtually introduced India to CashBack concept with her venture GoPaisa.com. Sharing her journey Ankita says, I got a chance to work for a couple of FM channels, like Radio Mirchi and Big FM. While I was working for these radio stations, I also had a lot of interest in digital marketing field. Back then, the e-commerce in India was at a very nascent stage, so for additional income, I used to do digital affiliate marketing for companies in US and UK and slowly and gradually, I started earning more than my salary. So, my co-founder Aman, and I decided that instead of promoting international brands we would promote our own brands and we decided to get the Concept of CashBack to India in 2012. Currently more than 1 lakh users earn CashBack with GoPaisa.com. A sum of Rs 59,34.789 CashBack was distributed in the month of August and GoPaisa has witnessed 25,000 to 30,000 daily unique visitors. While her parents did not want her to leave a secure job, she was dismissed as being too young by prospective clients. So. I worked really hard and got the numbers, and it is these figures that speak for themselves. Now they have 2000+ brands associated with them. Right from Flipkart, Paytm, Dominos, Makemytrip, Netmeds to Amazon, Bluestone you name it and we have it, she adds. ShEO mantra Just go out there and do it and dont be afraid of taking risks. There are lot of hindrances that will come your way but use them as your stepping stone to success. Strong logistics Divya Jain Founder & CEO, Safeducate Gauging the need for skilled manpower in the supply and logistics sector and using a unique concept to train people is what makes Safeducate stand out in the edu-tech realm. Armed with an MBA from St. Edmunds College, University of Cambridge and LLB from University of London), Divya Jain had always dreamt of making a difference, changing lives and leaving behind a legacy. Safeducate is a first-of-its-kind initiative for the supply chain and logistics industry with the focus being on solving the manpower shortage in the industry. In the past 11 years we have trained more than 70,000 rural youths and ensured that they get dignified employment and standard of living, says Divya adding that Safeducate has 57 schools across the country to train students chosen from different villages and small towns to join the sector. Her journey from hiring her first employee to managing a team of 450+ today, to proving herself in a fairly male-dominated landscape and expanding to fill in the need existing in the current education system, has been a challenging one. When I started the biggest challenge was that it was a really different concept. People understood the idea of a college or a university or even a school, but vocational education, and that too based out of schools made of containers and in the field of supply chain and logistics, was too foreign a concept. Also, as the industry was so unorganised, the value of certification and training itself was a massive question mark for her. Convincing people to join this field was another massive challenge, as they didnt really understand what the industry was about. Future plans Safeducate plans to skill and train a million people over the next 10 years. We are currently working on skill development projects with the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Orissa government, she adds. Work on an ed tech product based on AI to create customised learning outcomes is also in progress. ShEO mantra I do encourage all women to identify their strengths and work. It is essential for their own personal growth and also of their families as well as society. Caring for the elderly Deepti Atrish, Founder and CEO, Poonyah Even as her venture Poonyah is just a few months old, Deepti Atrishs story is worth sharing as her venture addresses a major problem being faced in Indian cities and towns. The care of elderly and of parents whose children are living elsewhere, is an issue that has often garnered spotlight. Deepti, who lived in London was increasingly worried about her mothers well-being post her fathers demise. Her concerns grew multifold when her mother was diagnosed with signs of early dementia. Instead of incessantly worrying about the same, Deepti felt the need to develop a platform for children, especially those who stay away from their parents and cant constantly monitor their health and cater to their needs. This inspired her to attend numerous seminars and conferences on geriatric care in London and seek advice from professionals specialising in this field. This combined with her sound technological and entrepreneurial background led to the development of a platform that could connect the family members with their loved elderly ones, thereby enabling them to look after their general health and well-being from miles away. Poonyah was incepted in February, 2018 and was launched in October, 2018 in India. Key achievements As Poonyah has just begun its journey this year in India, the major achievement that it has witnessed is, that Deepti has been successful in creating an ecosystem for seniors where not only can their health be monitored, but they can also get assistance at any point of time easily. Poonyah is planning to set up its offices in the NCR region in a couple of weeks. In the coming months, the company intends to cover Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and NCR, subsequently spreading across the nation. ShEO mantra Customer satisfaction and constant feedback is the king, all the learning lies there. I would strongly advise to focus on building a good product. Outsource your work and take out time regularly to spend quality moments with family. Dont try to do everything yourself. vermaajay1968@gmail.com RS Dalal The world has been celebrating 100 years of the end of World War I, with the signing of Amistice on November 11. On the occasion, Haryana remembered thousands of its brave sons who fought in Europe in the first Great European War. Capt Ami Lal of Balland village of Rohtak district is one such proud son. Born in 1878 to a farmers family, from childhood he was determined to make a name for himself and joining the armed forces was the surest way to do it. He grew to be a tall and lanky. At the first opportunity, he stood in the queue for army recruitment, but was rejected for being too lean. He did not lose heart and reappeared, but was rejected. Not the one to give up, he was in the queue again after a year. The recruiting officer recognised him. Impressed by his determination, he was recruited this time. After gruelling training, he was allotted to Ist Skinner Horse, the famous cavalry battalion. In no time, he proved his mettle and was known as the master horseman, excelling at equestrian skills and dare devilry. Thus, though only a sepoy, he played polo alongside maharajahs of Rajasthan. Twice he forsook his turn for annual leave as he didnt want to miss any chance to take part in military action. The opportunity for this brave soldier knocked at the door when World War I broke out. And soon, he was shipped across the sea to fight in France against the central powers arrayed against the Allied forces. For his feat of bravery in fierce battles, he was conferred the title of Bahadur. In the second half of the war, his unit was deployed in Mesopotamia. In one of the actions, a platoon of his unit was surrounded by the enemy on all sides. The commander called for volunteers for assault at night to open a safe passage for the encircled platoon. True to his valour, Ami Lal volunteered and led the assault with his machine gun firing incessantly all through the night, breaching enemy lines. The British commander was stunned at this unbelievable display of courage in the face of sure-death. He was awarded the Military Cross (Order of the day No. 108 dated 01-06- 1918 Great European War) for extraordinary courage and commitment to duty. The war was fought on horses. Promoted as Hony Captain, Ami Lal returned to his village along with his horse, which also survived fierce battles. He retired and settled in his village and worked for social uplift and spread of education. Incidentally, I am married to the granddaughter of Capt Ami Lal. His saddle has been passed down to me through my father-in-law and is a proud possession in our house. editorial@tribune.com Shubhadeep Choudhury Tribune News Service Kolkata, November 20 Kolkata Mayor and West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services and Housing Minister Sovan Chatterjee (54), who fell in love with a college teacher, today resigned from the Council of ministers after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked him to choose between his ladylove and job. Chatterjees resignation has been accepted by the CM, who has also asked him to quit as Mayor. Chatterjees extramarital affair with the political science teacher, married to a university professor, has figured in the media several times in the past, causing much embarrassment to the Mamata government. The resignation comes after Mamata gave Sovan a dressing down over the slow progress of a scheme to allot houses under the Gitanjali scheme meant for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) after the matter was raised by the Opposition in the Assembly. Mamata reportedly told the minister that instead of working, he was spending more time in shops selling womens apparels like sari and bangles. Mamata also told Sovan she had photographic evidence of his shopping escapades with his woman friend. Anguished at the watch mounted on his movement by adversaries, Sovan, a father of two, resigned. Sovans estranged wife Ratna Chatterjee reacted to the resignation using wrestling parlance: Sovan has hit the floor because of his own weakness. He failed to break out of the stranglehold. Sovans father-in-law Dulal Das, a ruling party MLA, has publicly accused the teacher of destroying Sovans marriage. editorial@tribune.com New Delhi/Jhabua/Rewa, Nov 20 A turnout of 71.93 per cent was recorded till 6 pm in the second phase of Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday and polling remained incident-free, the Election Commission said. Addressing a press conference here, Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said the polling percentage for this phase was slightly higher than that recorded during 2013 which was 71.13 per cent. Polling for as many as 72 seats was conducted in the second phase. Sinha said Tuesdays election was peaceful and incident-free as elaborate security arrangements were made. He added that a number of old voters, including those over 100 years of age, also exercised their franchise and the Commission had made arrangements for them. The EC said with Tuesdays polling percentage the total average turnout for Chhattisgarh has been 74.17 per cent, nearly three per cent less as compared to the 2013 elections which recorded 77.42 per cent. During the first phase of voting on November 12 for 18 seats in the Naxal-affected areas of the state, a total of 76.42 per cent polling was recorded. Meanwhile in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked people to vote intelligently, ensuring that not even a single Congress candidate was elected. Addressing a rally for the November 28 elections, Modi said the people of state had an opportunity to crush the Congress ego. Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, Modi said: History has shown us that however big a sultanate in Delhi is, its rule ends after four generations. Congress has also met the same fate... Congress is a party whose leaders are confused and the party is fused. They cant pass current (power) to you. People in various states who knew what Congress did havent allowed it to return to power there, Modi said, citing UP, Bihar and WB as examples. In these states, the Congress was struggling for over 30 years but people didnt bring it to power, he added. Modi said he used the bitter medicine of demonetisation to bring back money into banking system and give proper treatment to deep-rooted corruption system. We use poisonous medicine to eradicate termite. Similarly, I used note ban as a tez medicine to treat corruption, he said. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Yash Goyal Jaipur, November 20 A Pakistani chartered aircraft on way from Lucknow to Karachi on Tuesday made a priority landing at Jaipur airport after pilot got an indication that the door has not been properly closed. There were no passengers on board. The pilot who took off from Lucknow received an indication that the door was not properly closed. He asked the airport authority for landing persmission around 9.24 am, Jaipur airport director Jaideep Singh Balhara told The Tribune here. The plane landed after ATC clearance and took off for Karachi at 12.30 pm after the Indian Intelligence Bureau was informed and an airport team inspected the plane. The name of the aircraft was not disclosed due to international security reasons. rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, November 20 As Chhattisgarh goes to vote on Tuesday in the second phase of Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. In a tweet, he requested voters of the state to participate in large numbers in the festival of democracy. On election days, the Prime Minister often takes to Twitter urging people to vote in large numbers. In the first phase of Chhattisgarh polling on November 12, voting was held in 18 out of 90 seats. In phase 2 on Tuesday, polling will be held in 72 seats. A total of 1,079 candidates are contesting in the 72 constituencies of 19 districts in the state with an electorate of 1,54,00,596. PTI editorial@tribune.com Attacker detained; AAP blames BJP; Saffron party calls for probe New Delhi, November 20 A man threw chilli powder at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, an attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described as politically motivated while asserting that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy in collusion with Delhi Police to attack the CM. Even as the man behind the attack --- Anil Kumar Sharma--- was detained, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his party would not be cowed down by these petty tactics by the BJP. The police said 40-year-old Sharma, a resident of Naraina, has been detained for questioning. While the AAP blamed the BJP for the attack, the Delhi chief of the saffron party Manoj Tiwari said such incidents cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody and called for a high-level probe. Officials said Kumar was targeting the bespectacled CMs eyes. Kejriwals spectacles broke, but his eyes seemed to have been spared any damage, they added. Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of khaini, or chewing tobacco, they said. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted. The attack took place outside the CMs chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch. AAPs national spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who was behind Kejriwal when the incident took place tweeted, Was right behind CM @ArvindKejriwal at the Secretariat when he was suddenly attacked, on 3rd floor right outside his office. Shocking lapse of security. Is this Delhi Polices incompetent effort to protect an elected CM? While today just the CMs glasses fell to the floor and broke, an unacceptable security lapse nonetheless. Imagine if attacker were to be wielding a more dangerous weapon. Who were to have prevented a tragedy from occurring? Sisodia told reporters that the attack surprisingly took place in a high-security area. Recently, BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of Signature Bridge. The BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the CM, he said. We are not going to be cowed down by BJPs petty tactics. AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP for the attack. According to Bhardwaj, the attack happened at the CMs office, which is a high-security zone. He said it was a serious matter and termed the attack politically motivated. The BJP is behind the attack and the accused are being aided by the Modi government, he alleged. Officials close to Kejriwal accused the Delhi Police of being lax in providing him security and alleged that this was the third attempt to harm him in less than a month. Delhi Police, in a statement, said the incident took place around 2.25 pm on the third floor of Delhi Secretariat. When CM was coming out of his chamber, one person later identified as Anil tried to hand over his complaint to the CM who in turn passed it on to a staff member, said the statement. Meanwhile, Anil bowed down to touch the feet of Kejriwal. The CMs security tried to take him away, but in the process Kejriwals spectacles fell, it said. Subsequently security personnel removed him aside and found him carrying a pouch in his hand, which got torn and apparently containing chilli powder. Sharma was visiting the Secretariat with reference of some staff. He has been detained for further questioning, the statement added. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com New Delhi, November 20 The Congress on Tuesday alleged that some people were trying to influence the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections by using unfair means and urged the Election Commission to take immediate action against them. A Congress delegation headed by the partys in-charge in Chhattisgarh, PL Punia, met Election Commission officials and handed over a memorandum to them, demanding immediate intervention and action on its part. In the memorandum, the party alleged that the BJP candidate from the Samri Assembly constituency in the state has been found distributing cash, electronic voting machines have been found in Chirmiri in the Manendragarh seat and police have seized a number of EVMs from the headmaster of a government high school. Both the incidents point to insidious attempts on the part of certain individuals to infiltrate and influence the outcome of the ongoing elections in Chhattisgarh, the memorandum read. The Election Commission of India has maintained that the integrity of EVMs is beyond reproach. This begs the questions why is a government servant (the headmaster) found to be in unauthorised possession of EVMs. That too in an on-going election. We request that the use of EVMs be put under review while the EC examines the matter and arrives at a conclusive finding, the memorandum read. Given the egregious nature of the act, we request that the BJP candidate be suspended with immediate effect pending an inquiry, Punia said. Congress spokesperson and Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev said the party has filed a complaint with the EC. It is shocking that a candidate of the BJP was caught distributing cash before the day of the polling. An FIR has been filed and the EC has assured us that action will be taken, she said. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 20 The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the leak of CBI director Alok Kumar Verma's confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing in his case to November 29. The response was filed by Verma and submitted to the secretary general in a sealed cover on Monday. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph handed over to senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, the copy of a report by a news portal, which has published the CBI director's response. The Chief Justice refused to take up urgent mentioning of cases and straightaway took up CBI director Alok Verma's petition. Nariman expressed surprise over publication of certain things submitted to the court in a sealed cover. "One of us, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, is not here from this evening till November 28," said CJI Ranjan Gogoi. "We don't think anyone of you (Verma, Asthana and other CBI officers) deserve a hearing," the CJI said and adjourned the hearing for November 29. It's not immediately clear what was the document, which the top court gave to senior advocate Fali Nariman for a response. Nariman said the report given to him was related to the CVC proceedings on November 16. The CJI was displeased over the delay on the part of the court staff in tracing copies of media reports the Bench wanted to hand over to Nariman. The CJI gave two further reports of Verma's response published in the media to Nariman and took strong exception to Verma's response being published in a section of the press. He said: We asked to maintain confidentiality and then everything is published. Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan contradicted Nariman saying he was authorised by Verma's advocate on record to mention Verma's plea on Monday. Verma's advocate on record supported advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan saying she had instructions from Verma for mentioning of his case. "This is not a platform where people come and submit something (in sealed cover) and go on to publish everything....This is a place where legal rights are adjudicated...we will set it right," said the CJI. The CJI said: "So far as the court is concerned, nobody (no lawyer) is under any cloud...we don't need any clarification. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta wanted to say something on the behalf of the CVC, but the CJI refused him the permission. Nariman reacted angrily to advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan for contradicting him. Nariman said, "I am speaking with 67 years of experience...nothing should have been mentioned without informing the senior (Nariman himself) engaged in the case." Nariman accepted the copies of media reports--three sets--and told the court, "Let it be on November 29 now." editorial@tribune.com Jitendra K Shrivastava Tribune News Service Patna, November 20 Former Bihar minister Manju Verma, who had been evading arrest in an Arms Act case lodged in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home scam, today surrendered in a Begusarai court which remanded her to judicial custody till December 1. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Manjhaul Sub-Division, Prabhat Trivedi passed the order after a medical team examined the condition of the former minister, who fell unconscious after reaching the court in an auto-rickshaw. She had kept her face covered with a shawl and sari. Her surrender came as relief for the Bihar Government which has been rebuked by the Supreme Court over its inability to trace her. The SC had directed to the Bihar DGP to appear before the court in person on November 27 if she was not arrested by then. Confirming her surrender, ADG (Headquarters) AK Singhal said: Verma, who was remanded in judicial custody today, will be taken on police remand for questioning. She surrendered after the police built pressure on them. Manju Verma had stepped down as the Social Welfare Minister following allegations of links between her husband Chandeshwar Prasad Verma and Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the scandal. Of the girls lodged at the government-funded Muzaffarpur shelter home, 34 were found to have been sexually assaulted. (With agency inputs) editorial@tribune.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 20 Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale concluded a three-day visit to Bhutan days after a new government came to power in the neighbouring country. Gokhale held discussions with his counterpart Ambassador Sonam Tshong and called on new Prime Minister Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering and his Foreign Minister Lyonpo Tandi Dorji. In his interactions, the Foreign Secretary conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to further expanding its unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, based on the priorities of the Royal Government of Bhutan, said a Ministry of External Affairs statement. Reaching out to his newly elected counterpart, PM Modi, in a telephonic conversation in October, had welcomed the successful conduct of general elections and invited Tshering to visit India at the earliest opportunity. Gokhales visit is being seen as laying the ground for Tsherings visit to India soon, sources said. After exchanging pleasantries, Lyonchhen expressed his appreciation to PM Modi for the telephonic call to felicitate him on election victory and said that he is committed to strengthening the special bond of friendship and cooperation shared by the two countries, a formal release said. Our foreign policy should not change every five years with change in government, said Tshering according to the release. shriaya.dutta@tribuneindia.com Thane, November 20 Headless body of a 19-year-old boy, employee of a Mumbai-based hotel was found dumped in a nullah in Nallasopara in Maharashtras Palghar district, the police said Tuesday. Police said the victim has been identified as Vikas Bhavdhane. A Tulinj police official said the head of the victim was found wrapped in a plastic and the body in a nullah Monday. Police have registered a case of murder under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons. The motive behind the crime would be known after investigation, the official added. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, November 20 BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan governments handling of the situation in Sabarimala as disappointing and accused the Kerala government of treating pilgrims as Gulag inmates and making them spend nights next to pig droppings. Asserting that his party stood firmly with every Ayyappa devotee who held the Sabarimala tradition close to his heart, the BJP president said his party would not let the LDF crush peoples faith with impunity. In a series of tweets, Shah said, If several reports of flushing resting places for devotees and them having to spend nights next to pig droppings and dustbin are true, then Pinarayi Vijayan must realise that he cant treat Ayyappa devotees like inmates of Gulag. We wont let LDF crush peoples faith with impunity, the BJP chief said. Gulag was a system of forced labour camps established during Joseph Stalins rule in the Soviet Union. Shahs comments underlined his partys support to devotees protesting against the state governments move to implement a Supreme Court order lifting the bar on women of menstruating age from visiting the temple. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has accused the BJP of politicising the court order with the chief minister asserting that it is the job of a government to implement the apex courts order. Shah said the way Pinarayi Vijayan government is handling the sensitive issue of Sabarimala is disappointing as the Kerala police is treating young girls, mothers and aged inhumanly, forcing them to take the arduous pilgrimage, without even basic facilities like food, water, shelter and clean toilets. If Pinarayi Vijayan thinks he can rise against peoples movement to preserve Sabarimala by arresting K Surendran, BJPs Thrissur district president and six others, then he is mistaken, Shah said. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Noida, November 20 A software engineer had a nightmarish time relocating to Pune from Noida after the packers and movers service he hired went untracked with his belongings worth Rs 12 lakh for over 20 days. Having waited for over two weeks for his household items to reach Pune, the 31-year-old man, who was staying in Sector 121 and worked in an IT firm here, recently approached the police in both Pune as well as in Noida, seeking a probe into the matter, according to officials. The case was first reported at the Nigdi police station in Pune and then to Phase 3 police station in Noida, who had tracked the owner of the movers and packers service, the officials said. According to the complainant, he had searched for the service on Justdial search engine and later got a phone call from the accused firm which offered to do the job for Rs 61,000. All household items, including furniture and electronics and also my certificates and documents, were loaded on the truck. It left on October 24 and was scheduled to reach Pune on October 28. My family and I had reached Pune by flight and waited for our belongings to arrive. It was only after waiting till November 2 that we approached the police, the man, originally from Lucknow, told PTI. The man alleged that in the meantime he started getting calls from the driver of the truck that the owner of the packers and movers had not given him any money and he would destroy all the stuff. The driver, who identified himself as Nihal, demanded that Rs 30,000 be transferred to his bank account or he would destroy the stuff, the man said. When we called up the owner, Rajesh Chauhan, he continued dilly-dallying and giving vague responses and then we approached the police, he added. However, when the matter was probed, it turned out that both the driver and the owner of the packers and movers were one and the same person, a senior officer said. He kept switching phone numbers in order to bluff the customer and had been absconding since the matter was brought to us, Superintendent of Police, Noida City, Sudha Singh, said. When Justdial was contacted, they said they provided advertisement space to any service provider on their portal and bore no responsibility for their authenticity, she said. The complainant told PTI on Tuesday that he and his family were back in Pune and had finally got back their belongings after the police intervention. PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 20 Former Aam Adami Partys district president Suresh Sharma was shot at by an unidentified assailant on Tuesday evening. A youth is believed to have come into his furniture shop at 6.30 pm and shot him thrice in the lower body before escaping. Sharma was taken to a private hospital immediately. His injuries are believed to be serious, but his family said his condition was stable. Police said he was in no condition to record his statement and that they were now collecting recordings from security cameras in his shop as well as commercial establishments nearby. Sharma is an active RTI activist and an anti-corruption crusader who has been critical of rival politicians and political parties. A supporter of former AAP leader Sukhpal Khaira, he resigned as AAPs district president when Khaira was replaced as leader of opposition earlier this year. In his statement, Khaira, who is now expelled from the party, said: I strongly condemn the murderous attack on our party colleague and PAC member Suresh Sharma ji in Amritsar today. This speaks of total breakdown of law and order in Punjab, as he was shot in a busy market in broad daylight. It appears theres no security for life of ordinary people in Punjab. We demand immediate arrest of the culprits and stringent action against them. editorial@tribune.com Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 20 Former district president of the AAP and RTI activist Suresh Sharma suffered bullet injuries after an unidentified person fired at him this evening. The incident took place around 6.30 pm when Sharma was at his furniture shop in the main market of Chheharta. A youth came and fired four bullets, of which three hit him in the lower part of the body. The attacker fled after firing. Sharma was rushed to a private hospital. His family members stated that his condition was stable. The police said he was not in a condition to record his statement. The police were collecting the CCTV footage from Sharmas shop and nearby establishments. Sharma is an active RTI activist, who has often flagged embezzlement in various departments. After joining AAP a few years back, Sharma targeted political parties and politicians on various issues. He resigned from post of district president of AAP after Sukhpal Khaira was removed from post of the Leader of Opposition. He is now associated with the Khaira group. I condemn the murderous attack on our party colleague and PAC member Suresh Sharma. This speaks of total breakdown of law and order in Punjab. It appears there is no security to the life of ordinary people in Punjab. We demand immediate arrest of the culprits, Khaira said. In a statement, Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema condemned the attack on Suresh Sharma. Cheema said the law and order situation in the state had gone from bad to worse. He demanded to arrest of the attackers as early as possible. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Sangrur, November 19 Leaders of the BKU Ugrahan on Monday prevented an auction of an agriculture land in Longowal and announced to gherao the officers if they try to auction the land in future. Protesters alleged that a local shopkeeper had fraudulently procured auction orders from court, despite being paid all amount taken as loan by local farmer Sukhdev Singh. In 2001, I have taken Rs 17,000 as loan from a local shopkeeper for my personal requirement and at that time the shopkeeper had got my signatures on blank papers. Though I repaid him Rs 50,000 with interest, but around three years back, he filed an application showing Rs 3.72 lakh as an outstanding amount towards me and its totally wrong, said Sukhdev Singh, while protesting with farmers in front of the tehsil office of Longowal. Sukhdev Singh, after getting auction notice, sought the support of the BKU Ugrahan. Farmers, led by BKU Ugrahan leaders Sarup Chand, Gobind Singh and Buta Singh, started protest and it continued till evening. BKU Ugraha leaders said after seeing their protest, the administration postponed the auction. After seeing the protest, officers cancelled off the auction. We will not allow any auction of the land, said Gobind Singh, block sectary of the BKU Ugrahan. But officers said they had deferred the auction due to some official reasons. Our officers have told me that the auction was postponed due to some official reasons. I have sought the record of the auction for further action, said Avikesh Gupta, SDM, Sangrur. editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, November 20 The Congress on Tuesday welcomed the Delhi courts verdict and said it was proud that the legal process was being allowed to work out its course. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the partys stand on the legal process was clear and asserted that there should be no external influences. In the first capital punishment in the riots cases, the Delhi court awarded death penalty to Yashpal Singh for killing two men. It also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. Chandigarh:Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has welcomed the verdict, saying it was long overdue. Justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the heinous crimes, he said. In a statement, Capt Amarinder said: It has taken more than 30 years for the court to deliver justice. I hope that the other cases will also be settled soon. The riot cases, which left a deep scar on the national consciousness, needed to be expedited and taken to their logical conclusion at the earliest, said Capt Amarinder, who had visited refugee camps to help the victims after the riots. The CM has expressed hope that others involved in the heinous crime would also soon be brought to the book. PTI/TNS Real culprits still at large: SGPC Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has welcomed the Delhi court verdict in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal said it was an apt judgment, although it came after a long wait of over three decades. This case pertained to just one locality, involving just two culprits. The main culprits, who enjoyed political patronage, were still at large. They should also be awarded exemplary punishment. It is pity that the Sikhs have not got justice even after 34 years. The Congress government not only protected them, but also awarded them with high political posts, he alleged. TNS amansharma@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 20 A Delhi court on Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. The court had last week held Naresh Sherawat and Yashpal Singh guilty of killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in Mahipalpur area of south Delhi on November 1, 1984 during the riots. The court today announced death sentence for Yashpal and life imprisonment for Naresh. The convictions followed testimonials of Hardevs brothers Kuldeep Singh and Sangat Singh who had left Delhi with their family in 1985 and are now settled in a Jalandhar village. Both convicts knew the deceased. Yashpal Singh was a college colleague of Hardev, while Naresh Sherawat was a regular customer at the grocery shop Kuldeep Singh and his family ran. The family of Hardev Singh now also wants Congress leader JP Singh to face fresh trial. JP Singh is accused of leading the mob of which Yashpal and Naresh were part. JP Singh was acquitted earlier and the state never appealed against his acquittal. The Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a special investigation team (SIT) on the riots reopened the case. Sikh leaders welcome judgement Sikh leaders cutting across party lines have welcomed the decision of a court to award death penalty to one of the convicts in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, and vowed to continue their fight till each and every victim gets justice. A Delhi court on Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. Proceedings were held inside the Tihar Jail by Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey due to security concerns as one of the convicts, Yashpal, was attacked on the Patiala House District courts premises on November 15, the last date of hearing. The court directed that the complete original case file be submitted to the Delhi High Court for confirmation of the death penalty. As per the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the death penalty cannot be executed unless confirmed by the High Court. The convicts have also been awarded varying jail terms and fines for offences including attempt to murder, dacoity and attacking victims by dangerous weapons. The court spared convict Naresh the gallows while taking note of his medical condition and his lawyer's arguments seeking leniency in the quantum of sentence. Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said they will challenge the life sentence of Sherawat and ensure that even he gets "hanged for his crimes". "We are satisfied with the judgement but we will keep on fighting and challenge the life sentence of one accused and ensure that even he gets hanged for his crimes," he told PTI. He also said the judgement has given witnesses a very big boost and after 34 years they finally got justice. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief and Akali Dal leader Manjit Singh G K said the judgement will encourage other victims to come forward. "Other culprits who were hiding behind the Z plus security would be nailed down," he said. Sardar R P Singh, National Secretary of BJP, welcomed the decision and urged the apex court to immediately notify the name of third member of the Special Investigation Team formed to monitor further probe into anti-Sikh riots cases of 1984 mainly in Delhi and other states. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader HS Phoolka said it was a great judgement and now the Sikh leaders are quite hopeful that in other cases also the victims would get justice. A Sikh survivor called the judgement "a start", saying the fight will continue till they get "complete justice" and bring all perpetuators to justice. The Tuesday's verdict was pronounced in the Tihar Jail due to security concerns, and attack on one of the convicts on November 15 in the premises of Patiala House Courts moments after a court reserved its order on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to the accused. With PTI inputs editorial@tribune.com Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune news Service Gurdaspur, November 20 The Punjab Brick-Kiln Owners Association (PBKOA) has accused five deputy commissioners (DCs) of allowing illegal functioning of 35 units in their respective jurisdiction. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had passed an order on April 9, saying that no kiln would operate from October 1, 2018, to January 31, 2019, because of pollution concerns. It had stated that during winter, emissions from kilns aggravated pollution. Kuldeep Singh Makkar, president, PBKOA, claimed that the 35 kilns were being allowed to operate by the DCs under pressure from politicians. Of the 35 erring units, 15 are in Gurdaspur district. The PPCB has asked us not to operate our units following which we are running into losses, but some kilns are being allowed to operate by the DCs of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Fazilka, Sangrur and Tarn Taran. We have also requested SSPs to send the police where such units are functioning. The licensees of these kilns should be withdrawn, said Makkar. He added that two kilns were running illegally in Ferozepur district and when the association brought it to the notice of the DC, he issued orders to shut them down. We asked the DC to stop operations in five districts. However, nobody listened to us. The district heads are playing into the hands of the politicians and kiln owners. Even the district police chiefs are not willing to help us, he said. Gurdaspur DC Vipul Ujwal rubbished the allegations of playing into the hands of kiln owners and politicians. I have received the associations complaint subsequent to which I have formed teams which are now checking all kilns in the district. Those units which are violating norms will be shut down. There is no question of coming under any political pressure, he said. Twists and turns editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 19 The Centre said today that it would install a high-powered telescope on the Indo-Pak border to enable devotees across India to get a full view of the Kartarpur Sahib. The move is part of the year-long celebrations to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Addressing a press conference, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said since there was no direct permission to Indian devotees to visit the historic Kartarpur Sahib shrine across the border, a decision had been taken to install a high-powered telescope on the border to capture the shrine and then telecast the view on a life-size screen. The view of Kartarpur Sahib will be available to the entire nation through this high-powered telescope which the Ministry of Science and Technology will steer, Sharma said. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has been chosen by the Centre as a knowledge partner for the 550th Parkash Utsav celebrations. The minister said the occasion would be marked not just in India but across the world. There was a proposal to translate Gurbani into all Indian languages and major world languages, he said, besides setting up Chairs in the name of Guru Nanak in Indian universities and some world universities, including those in the UK and Canada, where the Sikh diaspora is in huge strength. An international seminar has also been planned in New Delhi, Sharma said. Further, the Home Ministry will start a museum train which will cross all locations visited by Guru Nanak during his lifetime. rchopra@tribunemail.com GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 20 A day after the preliminary investigation pointed to the possibility of involvement of local youth in the Nirankari Bhavan attack, police raided the houses of local Sikh activists in the wee hours of Tuesday. Members of hardliner groups alleged that Punjab Police had detained several youths for questioning with no concrete evidence. Without divulging the details, Inspector General of Police, Border Range, SPS Parmar, said, We are in the process of summoning them for interrogation related to the blast, he said. According to information, Dal Khalsa member Gurjant Singh was taken in custody. The police also raided the house of Sikh Youth of Punjab president Paramjit Singh Mand, but he was away. According to information, his family was told to convey him to report at the police station in Mand instantly. Ranjit Singh Damdami Taksal, who is associated with Sikh Students Federation, said the police also visited his house. Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the attack, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh Bittu said witch-hunting had been started by the police. Besides, Paramjit Singh Akali, another Sikh activist, was also approached by the police but since he was not keeping well he was also told to report at the police station concerned for investigation, he said. He said the police and investigative agencies should probe the attack thoroughly without any prejudice and not see it only from the prism of the Sikh-Nirankari clash of 1978. He appealed to leaders of all parties to act responsibly and refrain from accusations. Its just a repeat of the police action in the 80s and early 90s. We do not mind questioning by the police, but the way they are behaving is absurd. Police can summon them for questioning, but its not proper that dozens of policemen raid their houses in the wee hours just because they hold different views, he said. editorial@tribune.com Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 20 Police investigation into the six-day-old Pathankot carjacking case has suggested that a gang of car thieves instead of a terror outfit committed the crime. The incident had assumed importance after the Sundays grenade attack at a Nirankari Bhavan in Adliwal village of Amritsar. The police have identified a known car thief as one of the four persons, who had taken away the Innova at gunpoint from its driver near Madhopur on the Pathankot-Kathua highway on November 14. After the incident, a red alert was sounded in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. It was feared that a group of terrorists might have taken away the car like the infamous Dinanagar attack. A senior cop said the incident was a common crime. On the basis of the CCTV footage, one of the criminals has been identified. We will arrest him and others soon, he added. A red alert was later sounded in New Delhi also after some intelligence inputs suggested that a group of Kashmiri militants was involved in the incident. editorial@tribune.com GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 20 With the preliminary investigation pointing to the possible role of local youths in Sundays Nirankari Bhavan grenade attack, the police raided the houses of Sikh activists in the wee hours of Tuesday. Hardliners alleged several youths were detained without any concrete proof. Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh Bittu, while expressing grief over the deaths in the attack, accused the police of a witch-hunt. The police should conduct a probe without any bias and must not perceive it from the prism of the Sikh-Nirankari clash of 1978, he said. SPS Parmar, IGP, Border Range, said, We are in the process of questioning all those detained. Sources said Gurjant Singh of Dal Khalsa and Ranjit Singh Damdami, senior vice-president of Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwale), were released in the evening. So was the chief of Sikh Youth of Punjab, Paramjit Singh Mand, questioned by the Batala cops for seven hours. Mand is a lecturer in a Sathiala college. A colleague said Mand was asked about those on his Facebook list. Gurjant Singh was questioned about his whereabouts on Sunday: The SHO took my phone. They checked the call records, he said. Meanwhile, informed that the attackers were riding a black Pulsar, the police have impounded 35 such bikes. vermaajay1968@gmail.com YESTERDAY we published an interesting correspondence between the promoters of a movement that has been started in Bombay for voting a memorial on behalf of that city to His Excellency Lord Willingdon, and certain prominent citizens headed by Mr. Jinnah. What the upshot of the correspondence will be we do not know, but we think it right that Mr. Jinnah and his associates should have made the protest they have and have distinctly told the promoters of the movement what they will do if a public meeting is held for the purpose. We feel, they write in their letter, that you cannot be unaware that in view of the record of Lord Willingdons administration and certain features of it peculiar to himself there will be a very strong opposition to any such proposed action if it should purport to be taken on behalf of the citizens of Bombay. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Chicago, November 20 An argument in a hospital parking lot escalated into a shooting that killed three people, including a police officer, in the US city of Chicago on Monday. The violence only ended when police engaged in shootout with the gunman inside Mercy Hospital. "We have four deceased individuals: police officer, two female staff employees at the hospital, and the offender," police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told journalists. The shooter killed the first victim - a woman who was in a "domestic relationship" with him - during an argument in the parking lot, then fired at police when they got to the hospital, and ran inside, Johnson said. Additional police - including SWAT - arrived at the scene, and officers "engaged the offender for several minutes in the hospital, with gunshots being fired by the offender and by the police," he said. During the shootout, the gunman killed a second woman when she got off an elevator, Johnson said. The shooter also fatally wounded, but it was unclear if he killed himself or was killed by police. Mayor Rahm Emanuel identified the two female victims as a doctor and a "pharmaceutical assistant." Patients described being alarmed by the sound of gunshots outside Mercy Hospital and seeing a man apparently walking with a woman in the parking lot before shooting her three times in the chest. "Once she fell to the ground, he stood over her and shot her three more times," bystander James Gray told reporters, adding that the attack played out "like a movie scene." TV footage showed terrified patients and staff filing out of the hospital into a parking lot with their hands in the air after officers flooded the area. AFP monicakchauhan@gmail.com Islamabad, November 19 Pakistan's Prime Minister on Monday rejected the US President's allegations that Islamabad failed to cooperate with the US and had helped the former Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden hide in the country until his death at the hands of the US military in a covert operation in 2011. Imran Khan said in a series of tweets that Islamabad had joined the American war on terror even though no Pakistani national was involved in the 9/11 terror attack in the US, reports Efe news. "Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140,000 NATO troops plus 250,000 Afghan troops and reportedly $1 trillion spent on war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before," Imran Khan tweeted in response to Donald Trump's remarks. On Sunday, Trump accused the Pakistani government of hiding Bin Laden in its territory in an interview to broadcaster Fox News and claimed that despite the US giving $1.3 billion annually to Islamabad, the latter had done nothing. "(Bin Laden) lived in Pakistan, we're supporting Pakistan, we're giving them $1.3 billion a year. I ended it because they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us," Trump had said. "Think of this - living in Pakistan, beautifully in Pakistan in what I guess they considered a nice mansion," said the US President, adding that Laden's hideout had been next to a military academy. In January, Washington announced the suspension of the major part of its security aid to Pakistan until Islamabad took "decisive" steps against terrorist groups such as the Taliban, which threaten "regional stability and American interests". IANS rchopra@tribunemail.com Washington, November 20 A Pakistani national has been sentenced by a US court for violating terms of his release under supervision after he was released from immigration custody. Zafar Iqbal-Khan, 46, was sentenced in US District Court by Magistrate Judge John C Nivison to eight months in prison for failure to comply with the terms of release under supervision. According to court records, in 1999, Khan, a citizen of Pakistan, entered the US as a non-immigrant visitor. He was required to depart by February 2000, but never did. In September 2005, he was ordered to be removed by an immigration judge. In December 2006, January 2009, and June 2015, he was released from immigration custody after executing Orders of Supervision that required him to not commit any crimes. On February 23, 2018, Khan pleaded guilty in a Maine district court to operating under the influence, operating a vehicle without a licence, failure to appear in court, and forgery. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Islamabad, November 20 Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday left for Kuala Lumpur on a two-day official visit to Malaysia where he is likely to seek monetary assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistans dependence on an IMF bailout package. Prime Minister Khan was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umer, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Radio Pakistan reported. This is Khans first bilateral visit to Malaysia after assuming office in August. Prime Minister Khan and his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad will have a tete-a-tete, followed by the delegation-level talks, the Foreign Office said. The two countries enjoy warm brotherly relations founded in mutual respect friendship and understanding reinforced by strong cultural and religious affinities, the Foreign Office said in a statement last week. Khans visit would provide an opportunity to further cement the existing friendly and cordial bilateral relations by enhancing economic, trade and commercial ties, for our mutual benefit, the statement said. Pakistan was facing a USD 12 billion financing gap for the current fiscal year. The Pakistan Government is keen to minimise the amount borrowed from the International Monetary Fund by getting loans from friendly countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials here believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. On Sunday, Khan visited the UAE where he held talks with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and discussed matters of bilateral, regional and mutual interest, amid reports that the Gulf country is ready to extend financial assistance to Pakistan. Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide USD 6 billion in aid to Pakistan. Last month, Saudi Arabia said it would provide Pakistan with a USD 6 billion rescue package during Khans visit to the Gulf Kingdom. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Washington, November 20 The Saudi assassination of a US-based journalist has put President Donald Trump in an intractable bind. Does he preserve a close US ally and accept whatever Riyadh says about the murder? Or does he risk a rupture and embrace the conclusion of the Central Intelligence Agency that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the countrys de facto leader, ordered the killing? The US President has refrained from attacking Prince Mohammed ever since Jamal Khashoggi, a veteran Saudi journalist who had been writing articles critical of Riyadh for The Washington Post, was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. With Riyadh under international pressure, the Saudi prosecutor announced the arrest of 21 suspects and charges against 11, saying five would face the possible death penalty. At the same time, Washington announced sanctions on 17 Saudis allegedly involved, including two top aides of the prince. Neither side though named the mastermind of the operation. But, according to the Post and The New York Times, the CIA is certain that it was Prince Mohammed himself. That puts the US President in a bind. He has formed a deep alliance with the Saudis over a mutual dislike for Iran and a shared interest in keeping global oil prices steady. Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner has sealed the relationship through a close personal connection with the prince, known as MBS. For that reason, until now, Trump has appeared loathe to point fingers at Prince Mohammed for Khashoggis murder, saying he hasnt seen the evidence. He said on Sunday that he was likely to be briefed on the CIA conclusions by Tuesday. Trump has only two options, said Michele Dunne, a Middle East expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He can agree with the intelligence evaluation and go along with what Congress wants to do, which means indicating publicly or privately that the US will no longer work with MBS. Or, she said, he could go against all that and try to protect the White Houses relationship with the prince. In either case, the risks are high. Severing relations with the son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud is an extreme step, but would not necessarily mean a complete bilateral rupture, said Dunne. Saudi Arabia is not MBS, and MBS is not Saudi Arabia. Yet it risks spurring changes in the hierarchy of the Saudi royal family, with the outcome unpredictable for Saudi-US relations. On the other hand, if Trump refuses to condemn Prince Mohammed, an angry Congress could take action that would damage the relationship, such as freezing arms sales to the Middle East giant. Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who is close to the president, does not mince his attacks on the prince over Khashoggis death. I believed from day one that 15 people, 18, whatever the number was, they dont get on two airplanes, go to Turkey and chop a guy up in the consulate whos a critic of the crown prince without the crown prince having known about it and sanctioned it, Graham told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday. The White House appears divided. Kushner has been quiet about the case and his friend the prince. But on Friday, Kirsten Fontenrose, a White House official who advocated a tough stance, resigned her position, according to the New York Times. Trump himself has waxed hot and cold on the issue. One day he denounces it as one of the worst cover-ups in history and a total fiasco. The next he stresses the importance of the alliance and repeats that Prince Mohammed has personally denied to him that he ordered the assassination. Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution think-tank said Trumps equivocating is risky for the relationship. The Saudis arent getting the signal that this kind of activity is damaging, she said. The signal that theyre trying to send is that business can go on as usual with the senior leadership. However, she said a direct, public accusation against the prince would not work either. You wouldnt go out in public and say that your crown prince needs to go! The best alternative is to make the point behind the scenes, and make it clear to the Saudis that they have gone too far. Thats what a genuinely competent administration would do, she said. AFP sanjiv@tribunemail.com Washington, November 20 A federal judge on Monday put a temporary halt to a Trump administration order denying the possibility of asylum to people who enter the US illegally. President Donald Trump issued the proclamation earlier this month as a matter of what he called national security as a caravan of thousands of Central American migrants made its way through Mexico toward the US border. US District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump proclamation, thus granting a request from human rights groups who had sued shortly after the order was announced. Under the proclamation, Trump said only people who enter the US at official checkpoints, as opposed to sneaking across the border, can apply for asylum. Judge Tigar wrote that the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 states that any foreigner who arrives in the US, whether or not at a designated port of arrival, may apply for asylum. The rule barring asylum for immigrants who enter the country outside a port of entry irreconcilably conflicts with the INA and the expressed intent of Congress, Tigar wrote. Whatever the scope of the Presidents authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden, Tigar added. The judges restraining order remains in effect until the court decides on the case. Trumps administration has argued that he has the executive power to curb immigration in the name of national security-a power he invoked right after taking office last year with a controversial ban on travelers from several mostly Muslim countries. The final version of the order was upheld by the US Supreme Court on June 26 after a protracted legal battle. When the new policy was announced by the Department of Homeland Security on November 8, a senior administration official said it would address what he called the historically unparalleled abuse of our immigration system along the border with Mexico. Administration officials say anyone who manages to get across can request asylum and subsequently often vanish while their case sits in the court system. The vast majority of these applications eventually turn out to be non-meritorious, a senior administration official said, asking not to be identified. Less than 10 per cent of cases result in asylum being granted, the government says. Human rights campaigners and other critics of the Trump crackdown say that by restricting asylum seekers to border crossing points, which are already under enormous pressure, the government is effectively shutting the door on people who may truly be fleeing for their lives. AFP monicakchauhan@gmail.com Washington, November 20 A Muslim congresswoman-elect has co-authored changes to a longstanding rule banning the wearing of head coverings on the US House floor, an effort supported by the nation's largest Muslim rights group. Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee who was one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress earlier this month, has joined Democratic leaders in drafting an update to a 181-year-old rule to allow for religious exemptions for headwear like the Muslim hijab, Jewish yarmulkes or Sikh turban. The change is part of a rules package introduced by top Democrats including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi that is expected to be approved in January, when Democrats take majority control of the chamber. "No one puts a scarf on my head but me. It's my choice -- one protected by the first amendment," Omar posted Saturday on Twitter. "And this is not the last ban I'm going to work to lift," added the Minnesota representative-to-be. The proposal earned the backing of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We support the effort to update this anachronistic policy and to bring the House of Representatives into conformity with the Constitution and its existing protection of religious freedom," said CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad. A record number of women, and scores of minorities, including Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans and members of the gay, lesbian and bisexual communities, will fill the ranks of the 116th Congress when it convenes beginning January 3. Democrat Jim McGovern, expected to chair the House Rules Committee starting in January, said the update reflects the broader diversity in Congress. This change will finally codify that no restriction may be placed on a member's ability to do the job they were elected to do simply because of their faith," he said. The head-covering rule has vexed some lawmakers, notably Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who is known for her colourful hats and has pushed to get the ban lifted. Under the proposed changes, Wilson would still be barred from wearing hats on the House floor. AFP monicakchauhan@gmail.com Washington, November 19 Continuing his tirade against Pakistan, President Donald Trump on Monday said the US has paid Islamabad billions of dollars but it never told the Americans that the Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was living in that country. In an interview to a television news channel on Sunday, Trump had defended his administration's decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough to curb terrorism and criticised Islamabad for offering a hideout to Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad. "We paid Pakistan Billions of Dollars and they never told us he was living there. Fools!..," Trump said in a tweet, a day after he told Fox News in an interview that Laden should have been captured long before. "We no longer pay Pakistan the $Billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another," Trump said. "They were just one of many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in return. That's ENDING!" he said. Beginning with a tweet on January 1, the US President has announced stop giving military and security assistance to Pakistan. Trump believes that the Pakistan has been a reluctant partner of the US in the war against terrorism and that it has misused the US money. Trump insisted that Bin laden should have been captured long time back before he was killed in a daring raid in Abbottabad. "Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did. I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Centre. President Clinton famously missed his shot," Trump said. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Manila, November 20 Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in the Philippines on Tuesday for his first state visit to the country, a traditional US ally that is a key prize as Beijing and Washington jostle for supremacy in the Pacific. China won a windfall partner with the 2016 election of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has rattled the Philippines century-old bond with the US while courting trade and investment from the rising American rival. Manila has said it hopes the two-day stopover, the first from a Chinese president in 13 years, will finally net signed deals for investment in major infrastructure projects promised by Beijing when Duterte visited two years ago. China has dispersed tens of billions of dollars in loans since 2013 as it expands its political influence globally, countering the American hegemony that characterised the post-World War II order, especially in Asia. However, even before Xis expected arrival on Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of protestors descended on the Chinese embassy to voice opposition to closer ties with Beijing. Philippines is not for sale," the marchers chanted, as some brandished signs saying China out of Philippine waters in reference to a long-running dispute over the South China Sea. Duterte has enthusiastically embraced Xi, even setting aside a key 2016 ruling from an international tribunal that declared as without basis Beijings expansive claim over the waterway. At the same time, the mercurial leader has declared an end to what he characterised as the Philippines submissive relationship with the US, even calling then-US president Barack Obama son of a whore. But relations have been warmer since Donald Trump became US president and dropped American criticism of Dutertes anti-drug crackdown that has killed thousands. The dispute over the resource-rich South China Sea, a key transit route for billions in trade, led to a freeze in Manila-Beijing relations, which thawed with Dutertes pivot. China subsequently pledged USD 24 billion in loans and investments, but just a tiny portion has come through, prompting critics to say Duterte was tricked. Meanwhile, others have warned of a debt trap citing Chinas lending record with the rest of the developing world. Filipino analyst Richard Heydarian said Chinas pledges induced Manila to soft-pedal on the South China Sea issue, but Beijing failed to hold up its end of the bargain. We know there was a geopolitical calculation, he told AFP. What is the incentive to rush if Duterte has been giving them whatever they want? Filipino Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno conceded last week the delays were partly due to Chinas unfamiliarity with the Philippine bidding process on big infrastructure projects, but didnt hide his wish for things to accelerate. The visit of the head of state of China will put pressure on the team (in Beijing), Diokno added. Gregory Wyatt, director for business intelligence at PSA Philippines Consultancy, said big projects faced many barriers in the Philippines, like right of way issues, regulatory approvals and political dissent. The foreign investment has come, the infrastructure loans have not, he added. Chinese investments in the Philippines surged more than five-fold in the first six months of the year after a 67 per cent expansion last year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a Manila visit last month. Two-way trade also topped 10 per cent over both periods, he added. Chinese investors poured money into online gaming, real estate, service providers and stakes in existing Filipino firms, but not into large-scale infrastructure or manufacturing, Wyatt said. While there was support in government for the latter, that doesnt mean that every bureaucrat, local politician, and the general public enthusiastically jumps on board, Wyatt said. AFP As fast as one hearse left, another one arrived. This was the scene at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope, yesterday outside an apparently overwhelmed mortuary with bodies of loved ones who have died of Covid-19, coupled with other deaths. When the Express visited the mortuary, relatives of patients who had died from Covid-19 and other illnesses said the same thingbodies are piling up. Some people also complained of the long wait times before they could be given service at the mortuary. Though chief executive officer (CEO) of the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) Davlin Thomas said people who died from Covid-19 were not being stored at Mt Hope, relatives said this was not the reality. There was total chaos at bars since last Thursday when the state of emergency (SoE) was officially lifted. All that could be seen on Ariapita Avenue was massive crowds like old mas, crowds upon crowds assembled at the bars, with people jam-packed, not observing social distancing, drinking and smoking in close proximity to each other; without a care in the world and no police officers in sight to control the crowds or manage the people, thereby enforcing the Covid-19 protocols. -:- 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. Yes I was unable to use my Citibank card at an ATM in England in July last year because it was frozen even though I HAD notified them of our travel -even though they say you don't need to.. However it was sorted out with a quick phone call and a change of PIN. But we always carry more than one card just in case of such issues. On our recent trip to Europe last month Citibank rang me to tell me that my card had been hacked and fraudulently used in India and that they had cancelled it. Fortunately as usual we had our ANZ card also - though of course they do charge more for withdrawals. I was very pleased though that Citibank refunded me the $850 that had been fraudulently withdrawn from my debit card within a few days and my new card was waiting for me when i got home. Sounds like a great trip!! However with only 13 days you are definitely packing a lot in. Id prioritise what is most important for you to see. For me, if youre only spending a couple of days in the Melbourne CBD I would drop Melbourne from your itinerary and would add these days to your time up north. If you do want to keep Melbourne in I would drop Brisbane and just fly direct from the Sunshine Coast to save a bit of time. Consider what you want to do in each location as there are some stops where you wont have much time to do anything (eg Noosa) due to the drive times. You may also need to consider what accommodation will be available at that time of year as it often books up well in advance. I have relatives arriving in December from Croatia. When I travel overseas to Europe I carry a ING VISA debit card and a 28 degree Mastercard. The ING card let's me make cash withdrawals from local ATM's with a one-off $2.50 fee. There are no foreign currency fees and no conversion fees. (You get the fourex rate or the equivalent. I can't remember exactly.) You don't get ripped off like you do if you make a withdrawal using one of the big 4 banks who take a cut left, right and sideways. I was wondering if there was a expat Croatian on the board here or a savvy traveler that would know if the equivalent type of card exists in Croatia? Or is there some other option they could use. I would hate for them to come to Australia which is expensive at the best of times and be ripped off when they try and change money or use an ATM. Thanks in advance, Have 2 nights in Hanoi and then planing to visit Halong Bay. Can anyone recommend a good trip either a 1 day or one overnight please. Seems there are loads of companies - our Hotel has sent details and not at all pushy. We do like the idea of getting to the more remote islands but realis to do that its an overnight trip. Thanks my itinerary - would love to hear your thoughts my itinerary - would love to hear your thoughts Hi, I'm going on a 18 days solo trip to Japan this March. It will be first time there. After a respectable amount of research, I comprised this itinerary, it's pretty orthodox, nothing too special or off the beaten track. Anyway - what do you think? day 1-5 - landing in Osaka in the morning, heading straight to Kyoto, 5 nights in Kyoto, including a day trip to Nara (and maybe another day trip? any suggestions?) day 6 - heading to Kii Peninsula (for the hike to Nachi falls), sleeping in Katsuura day 7 - hike to Nachi falls and shrine. taking an afternoon train to Osaka. day 8 - Osaka day 9-10 - travel to Takayama, spend 2 nights there. day 11 - Kanazawa day 12-13 - Matsumoto, do the Magome-Tsumago hike (should I? is it nice in march? too touristy?) day 14-18 - Tokyo, day trips to Nikko and Hakone. day 19 - flight home. Any input will be much appreciated. Thanks! I am from UK and will be flying into US for 18 days on vacation and then driving from Boston to Niagara for the last few days of our trip before returning to UK via Toronto. My questions are as follows:- 1) Under the VWP what is acceptable as proof of onward travel for departure from US to Niagara-falls (On) as our intention was to drop rental car off at US side and get a taxi across to Canadian side. 2) Will we need proof of onward travel at our US point of entry when we first arrive? TIA Hello I will be visiting New York for 6 nights on 21st April, from the UK and wanted to show my itinerary for any feedback or advice :) It is my 2nd visit and my wife's 3rd so we probably won't do as many standard touristy things. We are staying at the Wyndham New Yorker and we arrive at JFK at 7pm so I presume we won't get to the hotel until 10pm even if we get a taxi? Day 1 - 22nd April NY public library and Grand Central (morning) Jackson Heights makeshift food tour in the afternoon and then recover from food coma for a few hours Staten Island ferry in the evening and then a quick dinner- eg pizza slice Day 2 - 23rd April Ellis Island(how long in advance do we need to book this?) quick lunch in lower manhattan 9/11 memorial China town for dinner Day 3 - Wednesday 24th April Washington Square park Top of the Rock in the daytime as last time we went in the evening. Roosevelt Island tram Visit LIC Project Brewing in Queens(I'm massively into craft beer so any recommendations of bars or breweries will be welcomed!) Greek Dinner in Astoria Day 4- 25th April Central Park- hire bikes Dinner around Broadway/Times Square Broadway Show Day 5 - 26th April (May have to change this day because of the L train shutdown?) Walk the High Line and then lunch in Chelsea Market Get into Brooklyn, walk around Park Slope and Williamsburg go to Greenpoint Ale House and get the train back to York St subway. Take some pics around DUMBO/ Dinner somewhere with a view of Manhattan and then walk back via the Brooklyn Bridge. Day 6 - 26th April Left this one empty as its our last day and we have covered all of our main plans so this will pretty much be an ad hoc day as we need to leave for JFK at 5pm. any tips would be appreciated, I think most of the plans are achievable in the time we have? Thanks JayC Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author)KASNEB is a professional examination body responsible for the development of syllabuses, conduction of professional, diploma and technician exams, certifying students accountancy, credit, finance, governance & management, Information technology and related disciplines. KASNEB was founded under the Accountants Act no 15 of 2008 and the Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya Act, Cap b534 of 1988. The body is also governed by the Investment and Financial Analysts Act, No. 13 of 2015. Are you a student interested in taking exams with this examining body and would like to know about the KASNEB fee structure? Image: Canva.com, (modified by author) Source: UGC The new KASNEB exams fee structure affected courses such as KASNEB CPA, CAMS, CS, CCP, ATD/DCM and CIFA. For this reason, all students planning to book the May exams must pay the new registration as well as exams fee. The following article has compiled a full list of all affected KASNEB exam fees. READ ALSO: KASNEB CPA syllabus KASNEB examination fees Before we delve into the various new exam fees, it is important to know about the institutions registration and examination booking deadlines so that you are not left out. To sit for the May examinations, you need to register and pay your exams fees by 31st March while for the November exams you need to do so by the 30th of September. KASNEB early registration discount It is also worth noting that individuals who pay for the registration or exams early get to enjoy a special discount on the total fees. For instance, booking the May exams will make you eligible for the discount, so if you are planning to sit the May exams, this is the best time to pay and get some discount. For the November exams, one needs to book between 1st April and 30th June. Here is the discounted KASNEB fee structure. Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC For any given section or level, one will get Ksh 300 or $5 off in their exams fees and a discount of Ksh 100 or $2 for a single paper. Let us now look at the various KASNEB examination fees 1. Certificate in Accounting and Management Skills (CAMS) registration structure Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC Certificate in Accounting and Management Skills fees structure Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC 2. Diploma examinations- ATD/DCM registration fee structure Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC Diploma examination fees structure breakdown Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC 3. Professional examinations- CPA/CS/CIFA/CCP You can find below the CPA registration fees as well as for courses like CA, CIFA and CCP. Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC Find below the KASNEB CPA Examination fees and as well as for the other professional courses Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC CICT examination fees structure Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC KASNEB exemptions Diploma examinations Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC Professional examinations Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC Sale of Publications Image: kasneb.or.ke, (modified by author) Source: UGC It is our hope that the above KASNEB fee structure has covered everything you needed to know about KASNEB examinations. In case of any queries you can contact KASNEB using the contact information below. READ ALSO: KASNEB courses offered in Kenya KASNEB Towers, Off Hospital Road P.O. Box 41362 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: 020 2712640, 020 2712828 ISDN: 020 4923000 Mobile: 0722201214, 0734600624 Email: info@kasneb.or.ke Twitter @KASNEBOff READ ALSO KASNEB examination centres in Kenya KASNEB courses offered in Kenya KASNEB contacts, phone number and locations Source: Tuko Chipukeezy is a Kenyan comedian who has risen to become one of the all-time favourite comedians. However, few know the facts and mysteries surrounding the former Churchill show employee. For example, do you know her current girlfriend? Do you have any idea about what his real name is? How about his current job, car, and salary? In this article, we will highlight 9 intriguing things about Chipukeezy. Read on to know more. As a young lad growing up in Tala, Machakos County, Chipukeezy never envisioned a career in comedy. Not until he came to Nairobi, joined the theatre fraternity and then realised how big the comedy business was. He used to crack jokes in Kamba accent by telling stories that were mainly based in Mlolongo (a relatively small town between Nairobi and Machakos town), and his brother Kimondio. This made him famous throughout the country not to mention in Ukambani. Outlined below are some absorbing facts about the comedian. READ ALSO: Five facts about Vera Sidika that will blow your mind 9 interesting facts about Chipukeezy The comedian is among the Kenyan celebs that do not need any form of introduction in any event they attend since nearly everyone knows them. To become successful, you must pass through some ups and downs. Similarly the same applies to Chipukeezy; he worked hard to make awesome jokes so that his name would one day become a household name just like his former boss Daniel Ndambuki AKA Churchill. Here are the most enthralling things about the comedian. 1. What is Chipukeezys real name? So, what is Chipukeezys real name? Many Kenyans do not know his actual name apart from the stage name. In fact, if you were to narrate some of his stories using his real name, only few will know who you are talking about. The former Churchill show comedian real name is Vincent Muasya Mutua. Muasya is a Kamba name that is given to a very talkative child or inherited from older relatives who had the same character. However, the name does not seem to be an inherited one Chipukeezy is really talkative. 2. Who is Chipukeezy's girlfriend? Currently, Chipukeezy girlfriend remains a mystery since he broke up with his longtime bae Vivian Kerubo Mandera popularly known as Empress Kerry. The two had been together for almost 3 years before this occurred. In an Instagram post, Empress Kerry said that her man had been stolen from her, hinting a possible love affair between Chipukeezy and another girl. To confirm the breakup, Chipukeezy replied to her post telling people to stop speculating things but instead let her move on with her life. The comedian also added and said that she was free to be out there and get other people! Currently, we do not know his girlfriend as he swore to keep his family and social life private. READ ALSO: Bien Sauti Sol - 7 interesting facts 3. Chipukeezy show on Ebru TV The former Churchill show comedian joined Ebru TV to start hosting Chipukeezy Show. In this show, he has invited and interviewed hundreds of upcoming artists together with other Kenyan celebs. The show mainly aims at producing fake news accompanied by a lot of humour. Watch Chipukeezy show on Ebru Tv every Monday at 8.00pm. 4. Chipukeezys new job On Wednesday 6th, 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Chipukeezy as a member of the Board of Directors at NACADA (National Authority for the Campaign Against alcohol Drug Abuse). Chipukeezy new job is a contractual job that will see him work for the organization for a period of three years as the Gazette notification issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi stated. READ ALSO: Interesting facts about women that will make you more curious 5. How much does he earn monthly? The comedian has multiple jobs so he earns a good chunk of money. Besides hosting a show on Ebru TV and being a member of the Board of Directors at NACADA, he also goes to various comedy events where he earns a good amount of money. For this reason, it is safe to say Chipukeezy salary per month is quite big. 6. What type of car does Chipukeezy own? So, what type of a vehicle does he own? Is Chipukeezy car black or red in colour? Does it use petrol, diesel or even biogas to power its engine? Here are some photos of the NACADA Board of Directors member in different high-class cars. 7. Chipukeezy is a fountain of gratitude The Ukambani comedian also has a giving side. He uses part of his salary to help the poor in his rural home. Chipukeezy wealth has made it possible for him to build a school which is so far the most decent in the surrounding. The school which hosts nursery and primary school kids is situated in Kithimani Tala Matungulu Constituency and produced its first KCPE graduate pupils in the year 2016. However, this was from a different school as it only went up to class 7 at that time. During that time one of his pupils scored 374 marks out of 500 and was admitted straight to Kangaru Girls High School. What a kind comedian Chipukeezy is! READ ALSO: Kanze Dena tribe and other interesting facts 8. Chipukeezy never had a TV when he first heard of Churchill! Chipukeezy was born in mashambani just as his hometown name suggests Kithimani (A deep and wide hole which usually has water in it and where if you are inside you cannot know what is happening outside). For this reason, they hardly owned a set-top box not to mention a television. It was during his stay in Nairobi when he saw Churchill show on a computer through a Google search to see his videos. The events unfolded fast until he became a comedian in the famous show. 9. Chipukeezy does not have a degree Chipukeezy went to Tala Boys high school but never advanced his education to get a degree. Upon hooking up with Churchill to start his comedian career, the Ukambani funniest man appears to have ditched his education. Nevertheless, he still earns a lot of money than many educated graduates and postgraduates in Kenya by a very big margin. Those are some of the intriguing facts about Chipukeezy that will surely arouse your curiosity and interest towards the Ukambani comedian. He is one of the young and successful celebrities that are turning to be a household name soon. His show on Ebru TV is set to make him even more famous in the coming years. READ ALSO: Black Panther Cast - 10 Interesting Facts Did you know? - Facts that will shock you MCA Tricky: 5 interesting facts about the Churchill show comedian Source: Tuko.co.ke - Wendy Waeni, the lovely 13-year old acrobat, has performed quite well in her KCPE - The UNICEF's Inspirational and Enthusiastic Young Champion Ambassadorn scored 347 marks - She was among more than half of the total 1,520,364 candidates who scored more than 250 marks - Male candidates excelled in Maths, Science, Social Studies and Religious Education The inspirational young lady who impressed after UNICEF's Inspirational and Enthusiastic Young Champion Ambassador will definitely join a reputable high school after she made her results of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education public. Wendy Waeni, a young enthusiastic gymnast who also had the rare priviledge of meeting ODM party leader Raila Odinga, scored a total of 340 marks in the just released results. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens At just 13, Wendy Waeni is an ambassador and has already met former PM Raila Odinga Source: Twitter READ ALSO: 13-year-old acrobat Wendy Waeni appointed inspirational ambassador by UNICEF Taking to her Instagram which is fast gaining popularity, the young lass was not shy of showing the world that she could also excel in academics, despite so much going on in her life at such a young age. 13-year-old Kenyan gymnast Wendy Waeni scores 340 marks in KCPE Source: Twitter READ ALSO: KCPE school codes for top primary schools in Kenya Waeni was part of the large group of students who managed to scoop more than 250 marks. She became an overnight sweetheart after capturing the hearts of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwandan President Paul Kagame with her amazing acrobatic skills. READ ALSO: 13-year-old gymnast Wendy Waeni gets wish of meeting Raila after Raila Junior's intervention Her Jamuri Day performance back in 2014 earned her an invite to Rwanda after Kagame was completely taken by her prowess. In just one day, the talented beauty visited State House for the first time and captured the attention of two iconic leaders. Interestingly, her new found fame at a critical stage in her primary school never affected her focus as she still managed to do fairly well in her KCPE. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news KENYA'S FORGOTTEN HERO| Tuko TV: Source: Tuko Elegant, eloquent, and stylish. These are the adjectives normally used to describe the former first lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama. The popular mother of two, well known for her level-headedness, might just have another arrow in her quiver, and this is in her writing skills. Michelle Obama recently published her memoir titled Becoming, and here is a snippet of the most intriguing revelations in the book. READ ALSO: Michelle Obama reveals she suffered miscarriage, used IVF to conceive Malia and Sasha There is a lot to expect from the memoir of a former first lady of the United States: tales on how life at the White House was, how campaigns were for her, how the marriage survived with all the politics involved, and more. All this can be found in the book Becoming Michelle Obama. Let us now narrow down the most interesting facts revealed in the Michelle Obama book. 1. Her first visit to Kenya was one to forget and forget completely In her memoir titled Becoming, Michelle Obama recalls her first visit to Kenya back in 1992. She says that the trip was marred by disappointments from the very beginning; when they arrived at the airport and were picked by Baracks sister, Auma, whose car was not quite the best ride in town. In her book, Michelle recounts, Aumas sky-blue VW was so old that it often needed to be pushed in order to get the engine into gear. Id ill-advisedly bought new white sneakers to wear on the trip, and within a day, after all the pushing we did, theyd turned reddish brown, stained with the cinnamon-hued dust of Nairobi It is no wonder then why Michelle was conspicuously missing from the two trips Barack has made to Kenya as the US president and after leaving office. As terrible as the trip started out, however, Michelle mentions that she had fun meeting Baracks relatives and interacting with them. 2. Michelle Obama IVF In Becoming, Michelle Obama reveals that 20 years ago, she suffered a miscarriage that left her feeling broken, failed, and physically uncomfortable. She then goes on to say that because of this miscarriage, she had to undergo in vitro fertilization in order to conceive their two daughters, Malia (now 20 years old) and Sasha (17 years old). 3. Michelle once thought that she and Barack had nothing in common During the not-so-magical visit to Kenya with Barack, Michelle recounts writing in her journal just how angry she was about their failed trip and how much she did not think that she and Barack had anything in common. In Becoming, the mother of two writes, For every bit of awe we felt in Kenya, we were also tired, which led to quibbling, which led finally, for whatever reason, to rage. Im so angry at Barack, I wrote in my journal. I dont think we have anything in common. My thoughts trailed off there. As a measure of my frustration, I drew a long emphatic gash across the rest of the page 4. The former US president Barack Obama was once his wifes junior at work After Michelle Obama education at Princeton, the former US first lady graduated with a law degree and went on to work at a prestigious law firm, Sidley & Austin. While at Sidley & Austin, one of the senior partners asked her if she would be willing to mentor one of the summer associates that the company was grooming. In Becoming, Michelle Obama writes, Of course you will. You have yet to understand the altering force of a simple yes ... Next to your name is another name, that of some hotshot law student who's busy climbing his own ladder. Like you, he's black and from Harvard. Other than that, you know nothing just the name, and it's an odd one. It turns out that Barack was the summer associate she was to mentor, and this was how Michelle and Barack Obama met. READ ALSO: 7 throwback photos of Barack and Michelle Obama to celebrate their 26th anniversary 5. Michelle tried to set Barack up with someone else Michelle once invited Barack to happy hour so that she could set him up with someone. However, the outfit Barack showed up in was so sub-standard that Michelle writes, Hed changed out of his work clothes, I noticed, and was wearing a white linen blazer that looked as if itd come straight out of the Miami Vice costume closet. Ah well. 6. Michelle Obama was very skeptical about Barack running for US presidency In her memoir, Becoming, Michelle Obama recounts how she was very skeptical about Baracks bid for US presidency. She says that one of the major reasons why she let him run was because, frankly, she did not think that he would make it that far in the race. Although she had faith in what her husband could do, Michelle continues to say how she never thought that America would elect a black man as president. She writes, I said yes, though I was at the same time harboring a painful thought, one I wasnt ready to share: I supported him in campaigning, but I also felt certain he wouldnt make it all the way. He spoke so often and so passionately of healing our countrys divisions, appealing to a set of higher ideals he believed were innate in most people. But Id seen enough of the divisions to temper my own hopesBarack was a black man in America, after all. I didnt really think he could win. So, what made her change her mind? For one, she was confident about the team of good smart people who surrounded Barack in his bid. She also knew that Barack would change the lives of millions of people. She then realized that this was worth putting her own needs and that of their two daughters aside. 7. The Obamas love to throw shade While working at Sidley &Austin, Barack bonded with Michelle over their mutual throwing of shade and mocking other people. Michelle writes, "We gave each other sideways glances when people around us got us stressed to the point of mania, when partners made comments that seemed condescending or out of touch. On their first date, they went to see Les Miserables and bonded over how much they did not like it. Michelle writes in Becoming, I dont know if it was my mood or whether it was just Les Miserables itself, but I spent the next hour feeling helplessly pounded by French misery. Grunts and chains. Poverty and rape. Injustice and oppression. Millions of people around the world had fallen in love with this musical, but I squirmed in my seat, trying to rise above the inexplicable torment I felt every time the melody repeated. When the lights went up for intermission, I stole a glance at Barack. He was slumped down, with his right elbow on the armrest and index finger resting on his forehead, his expression unreadable. Whatd you think? I said. He gave me a sideways look. Horrible, right?" 8. Why Michelle Obama will never forgive Trump In her new book, Becoming, Michelle Obama makes it crystal clear that there is no love lost between her and current US president Donald Trump. She says that she will never forgive Trump for putting her family at risk by claiming that Barack was not a US citizen. In her memoir, Michelle writes, The whole thing was crazy and mean-spirited, of course, its underlying bigotry and xenophobia hardly concealed. But it was also dangerous, deliberately meant to stir up the wingnuts and kooks. ... Donald Trump, with his loud and reckless innuendos, was putting my familys safety at risk. And for this, Id never forgive him. She then continues to say this about President Trump, and to be clear, we were now up against a bully, a man who among other things demeaned minorities and expressed contempt for prisoners of war, challenging the dignity of our country with practically his every utterance. READ ALSO: Obamas strong warning to corrupt African leaders 9. Michelle Obama was accused of code-switching In Becoming, Michelle recounts something that occurred to her while at her home in Chicago while she was still young. At one point one of the girls, a second, third, or fourth cousin of mine, gave me a sideways look and said, just a touch hotly, How come you talk like a white girl? The question was pointed, meant as an insult or challenge, but it also came from an earnest place. It held a kernel that was confusing for both of us. We seemed to be related but of two different worlds, reads a section in Michelle Obamas book, Becoming. From this, we learn that Michelle was accused of code-switching, a term that is commonly used to describe the way people of colour or those from marginalized groups often adjust their language, behavior, and appearance to navigate certain social situations or audiences.Later on, Michelle continues to write, America would bring to Barack Obama the same questions my cousin was unconsciously putting to me that day on the stoop: Are you what you appear to be? Do I trust you or not? 10. Michelle and Barack had different ideas on what marriage should be As story-book perfect as the Obamas marriage seems to be, the two had very different ideas on what marriage should be. An excerpt of Becoming reads, He saw marriage as the loving alignment of two people who could lead parallel lives but without forgoing any independent dreams or ambitions...For me, marriage was more like a full-on merger, a reconfiguring of two lives into one, with the well-being of a family taking precedence over any one agenda or goal. All in all, they both had something in common when it came to the talk on marriage: both of them were more inclined to a modern partnership that suited them both. They ended up having a successful marriage that is more like a combination of their two ideas. This kind of marriage is known as a seesaw marriage and it is defined as a marriage where each partner supports the other and each partner makes sacrifices for the others career. 11. She and Barack frequented a marriage counselor In her book, Becoming, Michelle Obama reveals that she and Barack learnt to talk out their problems and that they would visit a marriage counselor whenever she felt that his political career was getting overwhelming. 12. She once smoked pot About her ex-boyfriend David whom she met during her gap year, Michelle writes, David was easy-going and also more of an adult than any boyfriend I'd had. He sat on the couch and watched ball games with my father. He joked around with Craig and made polite conversations with my mom... We fooled around and smoked pot in his car... Hard to believe, right? 13. Expect more from Michelle Obama It seems that we should expect more from Michelle Obama, as she writes in the epilogue of Becoming, I am now at a new beginning, in a new phase of lifeFor the first time in many years, Im unhooked from any obligation as a political spouse, unencumbered by other peoples expectations. Although she is very clear that she has no intentions to run for office, Michelle Obama might just be coming up with more projects that will leave us admiring her even more. Becoming gives us a good account of Michelle Obama biography, and it is definitely worth a read. Michelle Obama wrote her new book, Becoming, as part of a $65 million deal that she and Barack went into with Penguin Random House, requiring each of them to publish a book. If Michelles book is this good, we can only imagine how amazing Baracks will be. READ ALSO: Michelle Obama reveals she was angry at Obama for bringing her to Kenya before they got married Couple goals as Barrack Obama pens sweet message to wife on their 26th wedding anniversary Ili demokrasia ifanikiwe lazima sote kujihusisha na siasa - Obama Source: Tuko - Hassan Wanini Mvurya was enrolled at Likunda Primary School in Ukunda - He topped the coastal region in KCPE after he amassed 440 marks out of 500 - Governor Mvurya hailed him son stating he was a proud father Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya's son has emerged the best KCPE candidate in the devolved unit. Hassan Wanini Mvurya accrued a total of 440 marks out of the possible 500 in the exams which were conducted between Tuesday, October 30 and Thursday, November 1. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: 33 pupils at Kitui school that lost 12 in horror crash score above 350 marks Hassan Wanini Mvurya, accrued a total of 440 marks out of the possible 500. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: 2018 KCPE: Two pupils tie at the top, more than 50% of candidates score over 200 marks In excitement, his father took to social media where he showered Wanini with praises for excelling in his exams and also making him a proud father. " Congratulations son for emerging best in Coast region. Congratulations to all Kwale students who have excelled, making our county proud. Indeed, commitment, handwork and discipline between parents, teachers and students yield exemplary results," the county chief wrote on Facebook. READ ALSO: Boni Khalwale criticised after celebrating daughters KCPE performance on Twitter The pupil was enrolled at Likunda Primary School in Ukunda where he sat the test. At the coastal region, Memon Academy, Aga Khan Primary and Nyali Primary schools all in Mombasa all had sterling performance. In excitement, Governor Mvurya (pictured), took to social media where he celebrated Wanini for making him a proud father. Photo: Governor Mvurya Source: Facebook Mtwapa Elite Academy Kilifi, Busy Bee Academy, Light Academy, St Kevin Schools, Sheikh Zayed Primary and Light Academy were also hailed for performing exceptionally well in the national exam. Nationally, Rowling Odhiambo of Kakamega Hill School and Oliver Wachira of Riara Road Primary, Nairobi were declared the top candidates. The duo scored 453 marks each. During the release of the results, Education CS Amina Mohamed observed that the number of candidates who scored over 400 out of 500 marks jumped to 12, 273 from 9,846 in 2017. Amina further revealed that 228,414 other learners scored between 301 and 400 marks the 2018 KCPE exam. Those who scored between 201 and 300 marks were 573,927, whereas 234,573 received between 101 and 200 marks. Only 2,177 candidates scored between zero and 100 marks. The Education CS said female candidates performed better than their male counterparts in English, Kiswahili and Kenya Sign Language. Photo: CS Amina Mohamed Source: UGC READ ALSO: 13-year-old Kenyan gymnast Wendy Waeni scores 340 marks in KCPE The Education CS said female candidates performed better than their male counterparts in English, Kiswahili and Kenya Sign Language. On the other hand, male learners performed better than their female counterparts in Maths, Science, Social Studies and Religious Education. Form One selection, the CS confirmed, will be done on Monday, December 3, and all candidates will proceed to secondary schools Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Kenya news: Top Girl in KCPE 2018 | Tuko TV. Source: Tuko Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has claimed people who brutally murdered Rongo University student Sharon Otieno are planning to kill him. In a brief statement shared on Twitter, Junet said he had received the assassination threats from the killers and tagged the DCI and ODM leader Raila Odinga. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Burial of Migori governors lover, Sharon Otieno, in pictures In a brief statement shared on Twitter, Junet said he had received the assassinations threats from the killers and tagged the DCI and ODM Leader Raila Odinga. Photo: MP Junet Mohamed Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Police recover car used in the kidnapping of Sharon Otieno The sentiments evoked mixed reactions on social media with a section of users advising the MP not to take the said threats lightly. "Sharon killers are planning to assassinate me and I got your threats ... A Muslim does not fear death," Junet tweeted on Monday, November 19. READ ALSO: A blow by blow account of how Obado's PA led Sharon Otieno to her killers Others users, however, questioned whether there existed any kind of relationship between Sharon and the MP that may prompt her killers to have him on their kill list. As earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke, the 26-year-old student was murdered in cold blood on the evening of Monday, September 3. Before her death, she had been kidnapped alongside Nation media journalist Barrack Oduor in Rongo town, Migori County. According to investigators, Oduor jumped out of a speeding car leaving the abductors with the student. Migori Governor Okoth Obado was mentioned as the main suspect in the case and this saw him arrested, spend over 30 days in remand before he was freed on bail. Obado and the student were in a romantic relationship. The sentiments have since evoked mixed reactions on social media with a section of users advising the MP not to take the said threats lightly. Photo: UGC Source: UGC Other suspects who were arrested and charged alongside Obado were Michael Oyamo (Obado's personal assistant) and Caspal Obiero whom the court denied bail. Reacting to Junet's assassination claims, Dennis Itumbi advised the lawmaker to file a report at the police station. "Pole sana my friend. Pray that you remain safe. A tweet is good, but an OB Number is better. Just in case you do not know how to get an OB number, walk to the nearest police station and they will record and investigate and hey, you can ask the media to accompany you," reacted Itumbi in a somewhat sarcastic manner. READ ALSO: Migori governor Okoth Obado barred from entering late Sharon Otieno's home county A tweep identified as It's Times, however, lashed at Junet stating the lawmaker was seeking political sympathy and mileage by using the sad case and name of Raila. "You know the Sharon killers? Siasa ya kutumia jina ya Raila imeisha. Pambana na hali yako," It's Time tweeted. READ ALSO: The real killers of Sharon Otieno were to be killed too - Police Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Okoth Obado Supporters Celebrate His Release | Tuko TV. Source: Tuko Breaking News - Khalwale's daughter, Olivia Sabayi scored 359 marks out of a possible 500 - She sat her exams at Malinya Primary School - Followers of the former senator blasted him on Twitter and accused him giving his children unnecessary attention Former Kakamega senator Bonny Khalwale is yet again an elated parent after another of his children performed exemplary in the 2018 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams. Khalalwes daughter who sat for her KCPE exam at Malinya Primary School scored 359 marks out of the possible 500 marks. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Top KCPE girl speaks on what she wants to be when she clears her studies Khalalwes daughter sat for her KCPE exams at Malinya Primary School. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Kakamega County does it again, produces best KCPE pupil for 4th year in a row The proud former senator credited his daughters success to prayers and the efforts of her teachers. My daughter has just made us proud by her success at the KCPE exams, wrote Khalwale. My wives and I owe it to prayers and the teachers of Malinya Primary School. Congratulations my Oliviorii, he added. READ ALSO: 13-year-old Kenyan gymnast Wendy Waeni scores 340 marks in KCPE His celebration, however, did not go well with his social media followers as they criticised him for making it public. "You are failing us, there is a younger sister of mine who scored 395 in a public school and I did not take it to a Twitter to disturb other people, wrote one Felix Kikwai Although others thought he was just proud of his daughter and that his love for his children has always been pure, others were quick to point the children acquired their intelligence from their mothers READ ALSO: Identity of two pupils who tied at the top in 2018 KCPE revealed You have clever daughters and sons sir, I guess they resemble their mother's in brains, congratulations, wrote J Mwendwa in jest. Well, Khalwale is not the only proud parent this time of the year as celebrations continue to rock many school as a result of good performance in the national examinations. Once again, Kakamega county, where the senator hails from produced the best top student nationwide, Rowling Odhiambo, from Kakamega Hill School who scored 453 marks out of a possible 500. READ ALSO: Kirinyaga woman dumps baby boy in pit latrine shortly after delivering Rowling shared the top position with Riara Group of Schools' candidate, Olive Mwea, both scoring 453 marks. TUKO.co.ke earlier reported female candidates performed better than their male counterparts in languages and Kenya Sign Language The male learners on the other hand performed better than their female counterparts in Maths, Science, Social Studies and Religious Education 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. Source: Kenya Breaking News Today - The victims petitioned the County government and the police to intervene - They claimed the mad man was making their lives a living hell by harassing them in public - The suspect allegedly spared no skirt-wearer, including students going home from school Women from Murang'a town and the nearby Mukuyu market have petitioned the police and the Murang'a County government to rein in on a man who is of unsound mind who has made their lives a living hell on earth. The man who is said to be a former soldier has been harassing women, including female students on their way home from school, by spanking them on their bottoms and fondling their breasts in broad daylight and in full glare of the public. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Kenyan MPs complain of mysterious woman threatening their marriages and TUKO.co.ke has the details Some of the victims who spoke to Tuko.co.ke narrated how they were being harassed by the serial stalker. Photo: Murang'a County government. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Women Protest Sexual Abuse When Boarding Likoni Ferry The suspected sexual predator has reportedly become almost a permanent figure along Biashara Street, the busiest in the town, mostly in the evenings during which he preys on women walking home, buying goods or carrying out other activities. Some of the victims who talked to TUKO.co.ke narrated how they were caught unawares by the serial stalker who also lifts their clothes leaving their undergarments exposed. I was walking home from work when all of a sudden a loud slap landed on my bottom and after I turned, I saw the man menacingly looking at me as if he was spoiling for a fight if I dared reprimand him. I wailed loudly as I ran for my dear life and melted into the crowd, said Mary Kamau, one of the victims. READ ALSO: You're not alone! Artist, 21, adds powerful message to #MeToo campaign using her hair Most women said they now walk while conscious of their surroundings like gazelles in the wild, fearing the man might strike at any time. Others who have had their share of tribulations in the hands of the man are traders who sell their wares along Biashara Street in Murang'a town. Many explained that the man destroys their wares including foodstuffs which he scatters in the streets. He came and grabbed my fruits that he ate but while he was halfway, he threw it and the avocado fruit hit me on the shoulder. I have also witnessed him destroy a thermos flask and eat food belonging to traders which is cooked in the open in the streets. We also fear coming with our children to our businesses as we fear he might harm them, said another victim. READ ALSO: Jobless man, 50, becomes village celebrity after he built a pedal car using scrap metals Yet another woman narrated how the man wrestled her to the ground and almost strangled her as he violently took her head gear. The most shocking thing is that no man dared to come to my rescue, a thing that encourages him to continue harassing women. He should be contained as he might one day take the harassment a notch higher and maim or even kill people she remarked. A milk vendor in Mukuyu market added the man subjected her to an embarrassing moment by lifting her clothes as she carried two 20 litre jerricans of milk on her back. I initially thought that the strong winds blowing at that time had lifted my dress almost to the knees, then I realised I was wrong after I heard a man who was behind me let out a loud laugh as if he was enjoying the agony he was subjecting me, to the female milk vendor recalled. READ ALSO: Geniuses! 2 students from same school smash Albert Einsteins IQ record, join Mensa society Motorists fear he might cause accidents as he walks in the middle of the road and occasionally causes traffic jams as vehicles are forced to slow down to avoid hitting him. Security officers in Murang'a have also not been spared either as they have had nasty experiences with him whenever they go to arrest him like it happened three years ago. During the incident, police officers from Murang'a police station had received reports from members of the public that the man had become a nuisance at Mukuyu market and went to arrest him only for him to repulse them. READ ALSO: Heroic! Student stops on his way home from school to help pedestrian who had been hit by car They abandoned the mission only to receive more complains that the man was assaulting residents, a situation that prompted the then Officer Commanding Murang'a Police Station (OCS), George Anyonje, to lead them back there. The man who was armed with a piece of metal charged at the OCS and injured him as the other officers scampered for safety. In self defence, the OCS who was armed pulled out his gun and shot him on the stomach and at the back. Anyonje is now facing charges before a Murang'a court for misusing his firearm and using excessive force against the man who is known as Mwangi and who comes from the nearby Maragi village. As the man continues with his violent actions, residents accuse the police of doing little to contain him following his altercation with the OCS. The police are adamant to arrest him fearing the same scenario may be replicated again and he puts them on a collision course with the law. The man should be contained like yesterday and his kin be compelled to take him to a mental hospital, the victims demanded. By Mark Wachira, Murang'a County Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. From a House girl to an MCA - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Kenya - The daughter had spent a night in her boyfriend's house - Her parents went out looking for her and when they found her, they started beating her up - The father tied her and she dragged herself out of the house, was rained on and died As other Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCPE) exam candidates are celebrating their performance, a family in Kitale is mourning a pupil who died after she was given a thorough beating by her father. The irate father, only identified as Baraza, beat her daughter to death when she came back home after spending a night in her boyfriend's house. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Eldoret KCPE candidate dies hours to release of results The candidate was among the top performers in 2018 KCPE exams that were released on Monday, November 19. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: 2018 KCPE: Two pupils tie at the top, more than 50% of candidates score over 200 marks In a report by Citizen, Baraza and his wife tied up their daughter as they administered the beating for fear that their daughter could get pregnant before she could complete her studies. "She had gone to her boyfriend and the parents were looking for her. When they found her, they started beating her up on the way to their home. They tied her up and when they stopped the beating, she dragged herself out of the house and was rained on until she passed on at 6.30 pm," said an aunt of the deceased. The mother was arrested and taken to Ndalu Police Station in Bungoma county as the police launched a search for the father who ran way after committing the crime. READ ALSO: KCSE candidate in Homa Bay dies while giving birth The candidate had scored 277 marks in KCPE exams whose results were released by Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed on Monday, November 19, in Mombasa county. The student died barely hours after the CS raised alarm over misbehavior and indiscipline cases among students blamed for high cases of teenage pregnancies. Amina challenged parents to beware of their children whereabouts and play a communal responsibility of taking care of minors in society. Education CS Amina Mohamed called on parents to play a communal role in taking care of children to avoid cases of early pregnancies. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: 68-year-old Makueni granny scores 143 marks in KCPE, determined to join secondary school "I challenge you to know where your children are during the holidays, two months is not too long to look after them. I am tired of getting clips of children in discotheques, you need to take responsibility, it's embarrassing and shameful," lamented the CS "If you find children out at a certain time even if it is not your child, send them home and talk to their parents, save them now. Let's take our responsibility seriously," said Amina. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya news: Top Girl in KCPE 2018 | Tuko TV Source: Breaking News - The boys will be forced to finish their KCSE exams from home since theirs was a disciplinary case - They will be presented in court once they complete their exams - The two, together with three others who escaped, were found hiding in a neighbouring girls' school - They were found in the dormitory while wearing the girls' uniform Two Form Four students from Nyamagwa Boys High School who sneaked from their school were on Sunday, November 18, found hiding in a nearby girls school at night. The two boys found by the night guards at Nyamagwa Girls High School where hiding in the dormitory while dressed as girls. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Kitale man kills daughter who scored 400 marks in KCPE The two boys were found by the night guards at Nyamagwa Girls High School while hiding in the dormitory. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Eldoret KCPE candidate dies hours to release of results Three others are reported to have escaped and police from the region are carrying out more investigations to identify them, the Standard reported. According to Kisii County Police Coordinator Benard Muli, the students will not be presented in court immediately as it was concluded the mistake was not related to exams irregularity. This will, however, see the students sit their exams from home and later be presented in court once they complete the exams. READ ALSO: 2018 KCPE: Two pupils tie at the top, more than 50% of candidates score over 200 marks We have agreed that they sit their exams from home. We will present them in court once they are done with their exams and after carrying out further investigations, said Muli. The Kisii County Education Director, William Surgut, however, said the matter would be handled by the school as it was a disciplinary case. The administration will take disciplinary action as they sit for their examinations, he said. READ ALSO: KCSE candidate in Homa Bay dies while giving birth Unlike the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), the KCSE exams scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, November 28, have been marred with exam irregularities and other drama. Just a few days in the exam, a male student was found ready to sit for music practical exams in a girls exam centre in Kakamega county. TUKO.co.ke reported the student was a Form Three student at Eden Valley School in Uasin Gishu County and had sneaked to Mukuyu Girls High School on Monday, October 29. READ ALSO: Boni Khalwale criticised after celebrating daughters KCPE performance on Twitter The school's principal, Christina Sitiyabi, and the school music teacher were later arrested and taken to Lumukanda Police station in connection with the incident. Other cases included students found with phones in the exam rooms with some having hidden them in the private parts to bypass security checks. Five candidates at Maragua Muslim Girls Secondary School in Muranga were on Monday, November 19, arrested after they were found with four phones in the examination room. 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. Source: Kenya Breaking News Today - Only 1,500 private clinics out of 2,315 within the city have permits to offer medical services - A report by the county public health department revealed 800 others were operating illegally - The department blamed the regulatory bodies for rarely involving the county administration during routine inspections - The health department said the unlicensed health facilities would be shut down and increase random inspections A report by the County Public Health Department has revealed 800 private clinics within Nairobi county have been offering services to unsuspecting residents illegally under the watch of health officials. The report revealed only 1,500 private clinics out of 2,315 within the city have the permits to offer medical services. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Kenya nurses' union disown controversial quack medic Mugo wa Wairimu The report revealed only 1,500 private clinics out of 2, 315 within the city have the permits. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Quack doctor Mugo Wa Wairimu finally arrested after weeks in hiding The revelations were made by the Nairobi County Clinical Inspection Coordinator, Jesca Omai, who appeared before the assembly's Health Services committee last week. After a mapping programme carried out in August 2017, the department found out that Nairobi has a total of 2,315 private clinics," said Omai "Out of these, only 1,500 have received inspection certificates over time and have been cleared with the department as having the necessary permits, she added. READ ALSO: Famous criminal lawyer Cliff Ombeta declines to represent quack doctor Mugo wa Wairimu for fear of curses Omai further explained the 800 clinics were operating illegally because of miscommunication among three bodies involved in the issuing of licenses. They include the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, the Nursing Council of Kenya and the Clinical Officers Council. Omai blamed the regulatory boards for rarely involving the county administration which issues the licenses during routine inspections. READ ALSO: Quack doctor Mugo wa Wairimus parents insist their son is qualified The department normally receives applications from people who want to start clinics in the capital city but it is not the only body that can license them," she noted. "We have regulatory bodies which are different. The overall one is the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board. Nursing council can also license their own people," she added. Omai further told the committee the department will close down the unlicensed health facilities and increase random inspections and supervision of facilities at all levels. READ ALSO: Kenyans express anger as quack doctor Mugo Wa Wairimu makes comeback for all wrong reasons This follows calls for crackdown on clinics operating without licenses by the Nairobi county assembly following the Mugo wa Wairimu saga. The Kenya National Union of Nurses distanced itself from Mugo saying he did not appear in their register despite his parents assuring the public he was a trained doctor. The quack medic was first arrested in 2015 and charged with various offences linked to operating an illegal clinic in Githurai 44, Nairobi and raping a woman he had allegedly sedated. 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. Source: Breaking News Kenya now has a fully functional national Coast Guard Service after President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the multi-agency security unit on Monday, November 19, 2018, complete with a KSh 3.6 billion surveillance vessel. Being a new concept in the country, many may be wondering about the services composition and functions among other issues. Here is all you need to know about the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS). Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu says Parliament is dead, cannot fight corruption Kenya Coast Guard Service during launch of the security unit in Mombasa County. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Billionaire Warren Buffett list ladies, liquor among things which make men go broke What is the Kenya Coast Guard Service? The Kenya Coast Guard Service is a specialised maritime force responsible for enforcing law and order in Kenyas territorial waters. The multi-agency security service was established under the Kenya Coast Guard Service Act, 2018, which the president signed into law in September 2018. What are the functions of the Kenya Coast Guard Service? The KCGS will protect Kenyas territorial waters and exclusive economic zone from illegal invasion or exploitation. This includes illegal and unregulated fishing, border disputes, piracy, human and drug trafficking, illicit trade, smuggling contraband goods, degradation of the marine ecosystems through discharge of oil or dumping of toxic waste, sand harvesting and destruction of coral reefs among others. The service will also ensure that vessels, sea farers and all users in the sea have the necessary licenses approving their operations at sea, whether work, leisure or business. This initiative will strengthen the country's border with a larger and related goal of mitigating its risks of transnational organised crime through increased trans-border intelligence and information sharing. It is also responsible for apprehending and prosecuting offenders and as a result, the service will contribute significantly to managing migration, improve internal security and prevention of cross border crime. KCGS will protect Kenyas territorial waters and exclusive economic zone from illegal invasion or exploitation. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Boni Khalwale criticised after celebrating daughters KCPE performance on Twitter What do Kenyas territorial waters comprise of? Kenyas territorial waters comprise: a) All natural water resources within the borders. b) Waters within 12 nautical miles of the countrys shore line (territorial sea) c) Kenyas exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles beyond the territorial sea. Kenyans has the first right to exploit any economic activity within this zone, including fishing and drilling). Where will the Kenya Coast Guard Service be based? The KCGS headquarters will be in Liwatoni on the north-eastern bank of Kilindini Harbour in Mombasa. The agency will also have strong presence in all major ocean ports in the country including Kilifi, Malindi and Lamu, as well as in Lake Turkana and on the shores of Lake Victoria in the lake port of Kisumu. What Equipment will the agency use? The coast guard fleet will be built around MV Doria, a new marine vessel that was commissioned on Monday, November 19, 2018. Speed patrol boats will be among the other key equipment in use. Who will serve in the KCGS? The agency consists of professional security personnel drawn from the Kenya Defense Forces, the National Police Service, the National Intelligence Service and civilian professionals. Brigadier Vincent Naisho Loonena, a 20-year Kenya Navy veteran, has been appointed as the first-ever Director General of the agency. What is the governance structure of the Kenya Coast Guard Service? The service will be steered by the Council of the Kenya Coast Guard Service which will be chaired by the Interior Cabinet Secretary. Others in the council will include CSs for Defense, Treasury, Transport, Agriculture and Environment as well as the Attorney General, the Chief of Defense Forces, the Inspector General Police and the Director General KCGS. The Act also establishes the technical committee of the service to be chaired by the PS Interior. Other members will include the PSs for Treasury, Fisheries, Environment, Defense and Transport. The Solicitor General, the CDF, the IG, the Director Generals of the service, that of the National Intelligence Service, the Kenya Ports Authority and that of Kenya Maritime Authority will also sit in the committee. The service will be steered by the Council of the Kenya Coast Guard Service, which will be chaired by the Interior Cabinet Secretary. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Kitale man kills daughter who scored 400 marks in KCPE Is the Kenya Coast Guard Service part of the Navy? No. Why is the Coast Guard Service Necessary? It is estimated that Kenya loses KSh 10 billion in revenue annually due to illegal trade and criminal activities at sea. The coastal guard is expected to keep Kenyas seashores safe from aggression, illegal commercial activities and other crimes. What will be its impact on the Blue Economy? The overall aim of activating the Blue Economy is to double GP growth over the next five-15 years. Kenya has done very well in securing its airspace and securing exploiting its land based natural resources. Launch of KCGS provides a shift in focus and a huge recognition of the economic potential of our water based resources and the need to secure and exploit them to our countries economic development. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya news: Top Girl in KCPE 2018 | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke The politics of fear is making the study of immigrants more difficult for social science researchers, a University of Cincinnati professor said. Were seeing a wave of increasing nationalism in countries today. That goes hand in hand with the rejection of immigrants, said Leila Rodriguez, UC anthropology professor. Rodriguez has spent her career examining the causes and consequences of mass migration. She took part in a panel discussion this month on the global refugee crisis at the annual American Anthropological Association conference in San Jose, California. Rodriguez's work demonstrates the value that UC places on research as part of its strategic direction, Next Lives Here. More people today are fleeing their homes than in the history of the world. An estimated 68 million refugees were displaced in the past year by forces such as war, famine and violent crime. Were seeing more extremism, most recently in the presidential election results in Brazil, Rodriguez said. They give nationalist speeches that play into peoples fears because immigrants make an easy scapegoat. A new Regional Maritime Security Department will be deployed until the end of 2018 to protect Ukraines border from Izmail to Mariupol. President Petro Poroshenko wrote this on Twitter. By the end of the year, a new Regional Department of Maritime Security will be deployed, which will take greater control over the entire maritime border from Izmail to Mariupol to protect Ukraines territory from invasion, Poroshenko said. iy President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has offered the low-cost airline Ryanair to create an IT hub in Ukraine so that to increase the number and the level of services that the company's aircraft can receive. He stated this at a meeting with the management of Ryanair on Tuesday, November 20, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Mr. President, I know that your plans include an expansion of Ryanairs presence [in Ukraine]. I suggest that Ryanair think about creating an IT hub in Ukraine, which we discussed with Mr. Minister [of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelyan} so that to increase the level of services that Ryanair aircraft can receive," said Poroshenko. He noted that currently Ryanair operates flights from Boryspil to 12 destinations, from Lviv - to 5 destinations, and prices for low-cost flights are affordable for everyone. Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan told me that a ticket costs 5 euros, I visited the website and found it for 9.99 euros, which is higher but also not bad, Poroshenko noted. According to him, companies like Ryanair stimulate other companies to improve services and lower prices. Poroshenko thanked the company Ryanair for rendering services in the Ukrainian market. "This is the support of Ukraine, and I welcome it very much," said Poroshenko. iy Ukrainian farmers have gathered over 66 million tonnes of grain crops from 96% of areas, which exceeds the record figure of 2016, the press service of the Agrarian Policy Ministry reports. As of November 19, 66.4 million tonnes of grain crops were threshed from an area of 14.3 million hectares, or 96% of the forecast, with a yield of 46.5 centners per ha (41.8 centners per ha in 2017)," reads the report. In addition, for the first time, record figures will be recorded for the gross yield and yield of soybeans and sunflower seeds. As of November 19, 13.8 million sunflower seeds were threshed from an area of 6.0 million hectares (99.8%) with a yield of 22.8 centners per ha (20.1 centners per ha in 2017). Also. 4.3 million tonnes of soybeans were gathered from an area of 1.7 million hectares (99%) with a yield of 25.7 centners per ha (19.2 centners per ha in 2017). Considering rather favorable weather conditions for late spring crops, our cautious forecasts about the record harvest in the history of Ukraines independence are starting to come true. As of today, when grain harvesting is still carried out, we have more than 66 million tonnes, which already exceeds the previous highest figure of 2016, said First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Maksym Martyniuk. According to him, the record-high grain crop in 2018 is due to the high yield of corn, which is also expected to reach a historical maximum of about 34.8 million tonnes. As of today, Ukrainian farmers have gathered 31.3 million tonnes of corn from an area of 4.1 million hectares (90%) with a yield of 75.9 centners per ha (52.5 centners per ha in 2017), which is also the highest figure in the history of independent Ukraine. iy The EU Foreign Affairs Council has reiterated the EU's priority attention to supporting Ukraine in rebuffing Russian aggression, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said. "I welcome the results of today's meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which reaffirmed the EU's priority attention to supporting Ukraine in rebuffing Russian aggression and restoring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our state," Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page on Monday, November 19. He added that the EU Foreign Affairs Council discussed Russia's aggressive actions in the Azov Sea for the first time. "I am grateful for the approval of the initiative to strengthen EU assistance to the social and economic development of the Ukrainian part of the Azov Sea," Poroshenko wrote. The president stressed that he highly appreciates the council's firm position in condemning illegal elections in the territories of the Donbas temporarily occupied by Russia and readiness to impose additional sanctions for the cynical violation of the Minsk agreements and sovereignty of Ukraine. On Monday, November 19, the EU Foreign Affairs Council, chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, planned to consider a wide range of issues of international politics, including the situation in Ukraine due to Russia's holding illegal elections in the occupied territories of the Donbas, as well as in view of Russia's provocative actions in the Sea of Azov and the militarization of the region. op Hungary will not lift its "veto" on holding meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, but will not block the invitation for the Ukrainian and Georgian foreign ministers to attend a NATO foreign ministers' meeting. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said this in Brussels on November 19, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "I can agree with the format of a meeting with a representative of Ukraine attending a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, which is similar to what we had during the last NATO summit. Only the presidents of Georgia and Ukraine were invited at the time. We did not oppose it. If the foreign ministers of Georgia and Ukraine are invited to a meeting of NATO ministers in December, we will also do the same," Szijjarto said. At the same time, according to the Hungarian minister, Budapest will continue to block the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, given that, in his opinion, no progress was made on the issue of minority languages. Szijjarto also stressed that he did not agree with the requirements of the EU and NATO to consider the language dispute between Ukraine and Hungary as a bilateral matter. Relations between Hungary and Ukraine escalated after the adoption of the Ukrainian law on education, which defines Ukrainian as the language of instruction in the country. Hungary said the law allegedly violates the rights of the Hungarian minority. Ukraine denied these allegations, but Budapest is blocking Ukraine's rapprochement with NATO, where all decisions are made only by consensus. op The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has called a blatant lie a statement by the Hungarian Foreign Ministry on the circumstances of the invitation of new Hungarian Ambassador to Ukraine Istvan Ijgyarto. Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Vasyl Bodnar wrote this on his Facebook page. "The actions and statements of the Hungarian side have recently been more reminiscent of the Kremlin's style. One day the Hungarian prime minister, synchronously with Moscow, declares a refusal to contact the Ukrainian authorities, another day Hungarian diplomacy switches to the track of manipulation and distortions," Bodnar wrote. He noted that he was trying to comment on current problems with restraint. "But a blatant lie of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry regarding the summoning of their ambassador has filled up the cup of my diplomatic patience," he wrote. Bodnar stressed that "the Hungarian ambassador was still invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs!" According to the Ukrainian diplomat, the Hungarian ambassador was invited to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry by the director of the concerned department for a demarche concerning destructive statements made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The fact that the ambassador previously asked for a meeting does not influence either the content or the form of a demarche, Bodnar said. "A strong protest was expressed to the Hungarian ambassador due to Orban's statements, and the unacceptability of interference in Ukraine's internal affairs, in particular ongoing electoral processes, was noted. The ambassador took our concerns with understanding. On the contrary, it was proposed to focus interaction between the two countries on practical, mutually beneficial areas," Bodnar wrote. He regretted that the new Hungarian ambassador began his work in Ukraine with Kremlin propaganda methods. "It is very unfortunate that the new Hungarian ambassador (and his colleagues in Budapest) starts his work in Ukraine with Kremlin propaganda methods. We, for our part, will probably begin to actively learn the Hungarian language at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so as to write in the comments in the Hungarian language a tough word 'summoned' instead of a diplomatic word 'invited.' If they like a tough rather than constructive style of dialogue, we will quickly provide them with it," Bodnar wrote. Earlier, the press secretary of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Tamas Menczer, said that Hungarian Ambassador to Ukraine Istvan Ijgyarto had not been summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry - the Hungarian side initiated a conversation that was held on November 16. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on November 15 that it was impossible to reach agreement with the Ukrainian authorities. Hungary is blocking meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission due to the clauses of the law on education due to the fact that Ukrainian is the language of instruction, stating that it violates the rights of Hungarians living in Ukraine to education. op Ukraine and Indonesia will cooperate in countering cyber threats and terrorism. Head of the National Police of Ukraine Serhiy Knyazev discussed this issue during a meeting with Chief of the Indonesian National Police Muhammad Tito Karnavian on November 20, the press service of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine reported. National Police Chief Serhiy Knyazev noted that during the meeting Ukraine and Indonesia had agreed to deepen cooperation in the areas of countering cybercrime, terrorist threats and drug trafficking, reads a report. In turn, the chief of the Indonesian National Police stressed that Indonesia was interested in Ukrainian experience in the fight against cyber attacks. The parties agreed to sign an agreement in order to communicate within the legal framework and transfer cases under investigation to the court. ish Ukraine and Argentina will cooperate in countering drug trafficking. Head of the National Police of Ukraine Serhiy Knyazev discussed this issue during a meeting with Chief of the Argentine Federal Police Nestor Roncaglia on November 20, the press service of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine reported. "The parties discussed ways of cooperation to combat drug-related crime, in particular, the establishment of a prompt and effective channel for the information exchange," the report reads. Following the meeting, Knyazev informed that Argentina had a regional Latin American center for police cooperation in Buenos Aires, and many police communities from Europe and North America joined the cooperation on the basis of this platform. The head of the Ukrainian National Police also stressed that the chief of the Argentine Police offered to send a liaison officer to Ukraine. "There is the problem of drug trafficking from Latin America. Today, communication with our Argentine counterparts takes place in two operational ways - through Interpol and through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Therefore, such direct cooperation is faster and more efficient way to exchange information," Knyazev added. ish Britain has called on Russia to stop detaining and preventing access for ships to the Sea of Azov, following a discussion at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on November 19, according to a statement released by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. "Russia and its security forces continue to disrupt Ukrainian and international shipping calling at Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov. In March, Russia opened an unlawfully constructed bridge across the Kerch Strait connecting Russia to the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula," an FCO spokesperson said in a statement on November 19. The statement also notes that Russia's continued disruption of ships attempting to access Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov is destabilizing the regional economy. "Since then, Russia has been conducting stop and search operations for cargo ships arriving at, and leaving from, Ukraine's ports in the Azov Sea. This is causing delays, significant increases in shipping costs, and a reduction in income to Ukraine's ports," the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said. The statement says that so far, more than 200 vessels have been affected, "in a policy which is damaging Ukraine's economy and undermining its sovereignty ports." "We are also concerned by Russia's growing military presence in the Sea of Azov. The UK supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and territorial waters. We call on Russia to allow unhindered access for merchant vessels through the Kerch Strait and in the Sea of Azov," the statement says. On November 19, Russian border guards detained another Ukrainian fishing boat in the Sea of Azov, allegedly for violating fishing rules. As reported, a member of the Russian Federation Council, Frants Klintsevich, said last week that Russia could block the Azov Sea for Ukrainian ships "within minutes." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, in turn, stressed that Russia's actions in the Azov Sea are nothing more than a "creeping occupation" and a new attempt to destabilize the situation in Ukraine, as well as create another area of tension. Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister for European Integration Olena Zerkal said earlier that Russia covers up its aggression regarding the blocking of ships and ports in the Azov Sea by international law on combatting piracy. On October 25, the European Parliament passed a resolution due to Russia's obstacles to free navigation in the Azov Sea, proposing to toughen sanctions on Russia in the event of an escalation of the situation and condemning the construction of the Kerch Strait Bridge. Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, in turn, decided to strengthen the country's naval presence in the Sea of Azov by building a naval base. op Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has visited St. Michael's Cathedral in Cherkasy where he met with Metropolitan of Cherkasy and Kaniv of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate Bishop Sofrony, the press service of the head of state has reported. "I would like to turn to Bishop Sofrony. I would like to thank you for a very meaningful, very frank and instructive conversation of a sincere person and believer who loves Ukraine very much, who loves Cherkasy region, who builds temples here and who looks at the future of the Ukrainian church - the future of the local autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. I bow down to you and I thank you for your work," Poroshenko said. The head of state also said in his speech to the public and political activists of Cherkasy region that Ukrainians support the creation of a single local Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Speaking about the autocephaly of the Ukrainian church, Poroshenko emphasized that despite the efforts of everyone - the president, the Verkhovna Rada, church hierarchs and people's support "this would certainly not have been done if not for were no God's will." "Ukrainians were waiting for this great event not for nearly 27 years. And even not for 332 years. They were waiting for 1,030 years since the Christianization of Ukraine by Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr. Ukraine was waiting for an autocephalous church for 1,030 years," Poroshenko said. He emphasized the importance of the issue of autocephaly of the Ukrainian church, "because it is one of the key elements of the state-building of a sovereign, independent state of Ukraine." op A Ukrainian delegation has amended several important resolutions of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and achieved the holding of the NATO PA session in Ukraine in 2020. First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Gerashchenko stated this, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. Firstly, we managed to agree on the holding of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Ukraine for the first time in 2020. Step by step, we are approaching our strategic goal NATO membership ... We also made all the amendments related to Nord Stream 2, counteracting Putin's political project, and called on our partners to impose both economic and energy sanctions against the Russian Federation. We managed to make amendments on the status of the territories of Georgia and Ukraine occupied by Russia and on strengthening of the NATO deterrence forces in the east. We ask to strengthen the Alliances presence in the Baltic States and the Black Sea region, she said. The vice speaker also noted that the Ukrainian delegation provided the Parliamentary Assembly with important information regarding the activities of Russia's Wagner military group. We gave several reports to our partners, for which we want to thank the SBU and the non-governmental sector, in particular, InformNapalm, who provided information about the Wagner Group that organizes militants not only in Donbas but also in Syria, Gerashchenko said. ish The EU Council condemned the holding of "elections" in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The EU Council is ready to impose additional sanctions for holding the so-called elections in the occupied Donbas, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko stated. I highly appreciate the firm position of the EU Council regarding the condemnation of illegal elections in the territories of Donbas temporarily occupied by Russia, and its readiness to impose additional sanctions for the cynical violation of the Minsk Agreements and the sovereignty of Ukraine, Poroshenko wrote on Twitter Monday. As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia organized and held in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine pseudo-elections of the so-called "heads of people's republics" and "deputies of people's councils." Read alsoU.S. to continue to impose Russia sanctions until Crimea, Donbas returned to Ukraine - Pompeo The international community has condemned the sham vote. The EU, the U.S., and Japan said that holding the "elections" in the occupied territories was a violation of the Minsk Agreements. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that the fake "elections" in Donbas would not be recognized by anyone, while Russia would bear responsibility for organizing them. The European Union is fully united on the position of non-recognition of pseudo-elections Russia held in Donbas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini told a press conference in Brussels following an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry insists Ihor Prokopchuk has not committed any action that could discredit him. Ihor Prokopchuk, a younger brother of the Russian Federation's candidate for the post of Interpol's chief, Major General of the Russian Police Alexander Prokopchuk, has been heading the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the OSCE in Vienna, Austria, for eight and a half years. Reports about the family ties between Ihor Prokopchuk and Alexander Prokopchuk are currently being checked, Ukraine's weekly newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli (Mirror Weekly) said. Read alsoUkraine may suspend membership in Interpol - Interior Minister Avakov "Although it is surprising that such vetting did not take place earlier when the diplomat was appointed to this position. At the same time, many of their colleagues say Ihor Prokopchuk and Alexander Prokopchuk look very much alike. Both graduated from Kyiv's Taras Shevchenko National University," the newspaper said. According to Ihor Prokopchuk's biography available on the diplomatic mission's website, he was born in Zhytomyr region. At the same time, Wikipedia notes Alexander Prokopchuk was born in Ukraine and started his career as part of Komsomol authorities in Zhytomyr region. Zerkalo Nedeli tried to contact Ihor Prokopchuk in Vienna for a comment. However, the diplomat did not respond to the messages and dropped calls. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says in its follow-up statement that since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the OSCE Ihor Prokopchuk has not committed any action that could discredit him or damage the national interests of the state. Colleagues describe Prokopchuk Jr. as a professional diplomat, he is competent and disciplined. They say he does not publicly discuss his political beliefs. Yet, his colleagues claim they did not notice any pro-Russian views expressed by the Ukrainian diplomat and he conscientiously defends the interests of Ukraine at the OSCE. However, his colleagues say they were surprised that his children had attended school based at the Russian Embassy after the Russian-Ukrainian war in Donbas began. Interpol's chief is to be elected on Wednesday, November 21. EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday to repeat non-recognition of the DPR and LPR votes and to discuss the Azov problem. A motley crew of has been politicians from mostly far-right and far-left EU parties flocked to Russia-occupied Ukraine to cheer on puppet rulers there last week. The propaganda campaign to entrench the occupation comes amid a Russian military build up in the region, jangling nerves on a potential escalation, EUobserver reported. Thierry Mariani, a former transport minister from Les Republicans, a centre-right opposition party in France, was the most senior politician to go to east Ukraine last Sunday (November 11). He was one of 81 foreigners who went there to appear on local TV saying that "elections" in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republics (LPR) were fine. Read alsoEU mulls new Russia sanctions over Ukraine 'elections' media Most of them were Russians, but four other Les Republicans, including two former MPs, also went. They were joined by six small-time politicians from far-right parties in Belgium, Hungary, Germany, and Italy: Vlaams Belang, Jobbik, AfD, Forza Italia, and the League. They were also joined by two men from the far-left German party Die Linke and one from Syriza in Greece. The Greek delegate, former deputy defence minister Kostas Isihos, was the most senior one of these. But the mixed bag of European visitors also contained characters like Johan Backman, a Finnish pro-Kremlin activist who is under a one-year conditional jail sentence for attacking a journalist. It included Xavier Moreau, a Frenchman whose Moscow-based firm, Sokol Holding, recruits former French commandos to work in Russia. It also contained a Greek cartoonist, an Italian conspiracy theorist, and a French volunteer fighter who sings in the Donetsk Symphony Orchestra. Most of them have a track record of cheerleading dodgy elections whether in Russia-occupied Ukraine or in Russia in recent years. They falsely claimed on TV that the votes were in line with the Minsk agreements, an EU-brokered ceasefire pact on the conflict. They praised the high turnout, the orderly manner of the vote, and spoke of how "safe and peaceful" life was in the conflict zone, according to the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), an NGO in Berlin. They "were invited to the 'republics' to provide a sense of general legitimacy and normalcy to the 'elections' in the eyes of the domestic and Russian audiences," the EBDE's Anton Shekhovtsov said. They did it even though the EU said the votes were "illegal and illegitimate" because they "violate[d] Ukraine's sovereignty and law." Their comments also flew in the face of UN reports, which say people in the Russia-occupied territories have "been effectively denied basic protection and deprived of basic human rights and freedoms". The 2.7m people there live in poverty, the UN said in February, under a regime in which "armed groups" have "imposed an arbitrary system of rules", "cracked down on dissent", and "tortured and ill-treated" opponents. From Paris to Donetsk Mariani, from Les Republicans, flew from Paris to Moscow, then to Rostov-on-Don in Russia to get there, he told EUobserver on Friday. Read alsoEU Council ready to introduce additional sanctions over pseudo-elections in Donbas Poroshenko He crossed the Ukrainian border into DPR, where local security forces drove him to his hotel, within earshot of live fire on the contact line. He denied he went there for Russia propaganda purposes. "I did not go there to support [DPR's] independence, just to look at the elections ... I did not go to legitimise anything," he said. He also denied the UN report on abuses, saying that things might be worse in Luhansk, but that in Donetsk it looked "normal" and that "people didn't sound traumatised". "There were no armed men in balaclavas. Yes, in the cafe, you might see a man with a kalashnikov on his back, and politicians tend to go around with five bodyguards, but we were just 15km from a conflict zone," he said. The DPR invited him via his NGO, the Franco-Russian Dialogue Association in Paris, and paid him just EUR 420 for his plane fare, he said. The reason why the EU group was made up of junior figures from fringe parties was because other politicians were scared of press "attacks", he said. The EU and Ukraine should make peace with DPR and LPR then try to lure them back via economic incentives, the way Moldova was doing with Transniestria, another Russia-controlled entity in the region, Mariani added. Azov problem His musings on conflict resolution came amid EU and Ukrainian concern of escalation due to a Russian naval build-up in the Azov Sea. EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday to repeat non-recognition of the DPR and LPR votes and to discuss the Azov problem. The Azov Sea connects the Ukrainian ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk to the Black Sea via the Kerch Strait. Russian warships have recently stopped over 200 commercial vessels, including from Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands, in the area for inspections, causing financial losses. They have also massed there to complete the "Azov Fleet", a new Russian military deployment that makes south-east Ukraine more vulnerable to a Russian invasion, according to a Ukrainian security assessment, seen by the website. It could signal the renewal of Russia's 'Novorossiya' project - to take all of south-east Ukraine, joining DPR and LPR to Russia-occupied Crimea, an EU diplomat said. The fleet is to contain over a dozen armoured troop carriers, infantry landing ships, and missile boats, on top of other Russian warships already in the Black Sea. "EU and G7 sanctions against Russia's ports in the Sea of Azov should be introduced" in order to stop the "escalation", the Ukrainian document said, referring to the Group of Seven wealthy EU states as well as Canada, Japan, and the U.S. Russia has long been infiltrating international organizations with its agents, which is a traditional tactic of the Soviet intelligence services. Such brutal penetration by the Russians has led to Russian officials working for decades at the UN, the OSCE, Interpol, the IAEA, and other international agencies. And, of course, such officials are politically engaged. In other words, they act in the interests of the Russian Federation, not of their international employers. Today, we are seeing Russia's global penetration of various structures. Moreover, international organizations are infiltrated not only by diplomats and experts, but also professional Russian intelligence operatives, including Russian Police Major-General Alexander Prokopchuk. Prokopchuk is an ethnic Ukrainian, a native of Zhytomyr region and a graduate of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Under the Soviet Union, the best Ukrainian students were called upon to serve the empire... And this is why he has been serving the interests of Putin's regime. As a rule, those who crossed their nation out of their life have no sentimental feelings about it. On the contrary, they are most motivated to prove to their chiefs: "Although I'm a Ukrainian, I've done more harm to Ukraine than other Russians." What could be the repercussions of Prokopchuk's chairmanship in Interpol? He has repeatedly abused his powers as the organization's vice president. Russians have repeatedly filed a "red card" for the arrest of Ukrainian politicians, such as Dmytro Yarosh, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, and others. With their man at the helm the stream of those "red cards" could become an ocean tide. What could be the repercussions of Prokopchuk's chairmanship in Interpol? He has repeatedly abused his powers as the organization's vice president Therefore, Ukraine may consider suspending its membership in Interpol if a Russian official is selected to lead the body. After all, if Ukraine doesn't suspend its membership, this will mean that the Russians will try to use it in any way possible to terrorize not only Ukrainian politicians, but also journalists, experts, and right about anyone, on various trumped-up charges. That is, any barriers will be removed. Ukraine does have an option to temporarily withdraw from Interpol, and it is being considered absolutely seriously. However, I suggest that the case will go beyond Ukraine. A group of U.S. Senators and representatives of EU states have already stated their negative stance toward the latest developments. Therefore, all this could lead to more membership suspensions. In particular, the move would be really convenient for Donald Trump because he identifies as an anti-globalist, criticizing U.S. participation in any international organization. Therefore, I can't rule out that Washington may also suspend its membership in Interpol along the same lines. However, the situation is rather complicated, because the chances of Prokopchuk being selected to the top post remain quite high. After all, despite all the pressure, Russians are also working on recruiting individual members of national delegations. Now, what would membership suspension mean for Ukraine? First of all, it will not comply with the Interpol regulations on its territory. But this will not stop the Ukrainian citizens from being detained abroad on Interpol's "red cards." That is, such move by Ukraine in the event a Russian official becomes president will have zero effect in this regard. However, the situation is rather complicated, because the chances of Prokopchuk being selected to the top post remain quite high. After all, despite all the pressure, Russians are also working on recruiting individual members of national delegations At the same time, in such a situation, a great danger arises for our citizens from the temporarily occupied Crimea. Some may have left Crimea, but, as we see in the case of Sentsov and Kolchenko, Russia could have automatically registered them as Russian nationals and now considers them Russian citizens. The problem is that our citizens from the occupied Crimea, who have fled the peninsula, also get to travel beyond Ukraine. Via Interpol, Russia could put them on wanted lists, accusing them of, say, terrorism, while those people would remain oblivious of the fact that they could get in trouble abroad for something they've never done... Remember Sentsov? He was also detained on fictitious charges, although he had nothing to do with terrorist organizations. In other words, any Crimean activist who has long been living in Kyiv, could be detained upon arrival in some third country for an international conference or a private trip. At the same time, Russian authorities would claim that they are actually Russian citizens, because passports had been issued on their names back in 2014. And yes, Russia would claim they are "terrorists." So, these people could be detained and handed over to Russia. For such Ukrainian citizens, this is a mortal danger, because they will simply be thrown into Russia's hands, where they will face Sentsov's fate. Taras Berezovets is a political scientist, head of BertaCommunication, co-founder of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future The protesters are continuously walking along a pedestrian crossing and are thus blocking traffic. Ukrainian owners of imported cars with foreign registration plates started blocking the Kyiv-Chop highway in Lviv region on November 20. The protesters are continuously walking along a pedestrian crossing and are thus blocking traffic, the news portal Zaxid.net reported with reference to Lviv patrol police's press service. At about 10:10 Kyiv time, people blocked the road near the village of Rozvadiv. Activists also announced the blocking of the Kyiv-Chop highway near the villages of Kizliv, Hai-Smolenski and Solonka in Lviv region. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian owners of imported cars with foreign registration plates blocked traffic in the center of Kyiv on November 20 as part of a new large-scale protest campaign. They demand that recently passed bills on excise tax on passenger cars be amended along with a reduction in customs clearance costs for Ukrainians who have bought their cars abroad, in particular, in the European Union. The public movement behind the protest campaign, NGO Auto Euro Sila, announced its indefinite "act of civil disobedience" in 46 cities and towns of Ukraine. The head of state awarded Sushchenko with the Order of Courage, praising his heroism and patriotism. President Petro Poroshenko said that Ukraine would not leave in trouble the Ukrainian journalist, Roman Sushchenko, who had been illegally convicted in the Russian Federation on the "absolutely fictitious" espionage charges. Look how he's been coping with this. See how he shows unique examples of courage and patriotism. As president and as a citizen of Ukraine, I'd like to emphasize that we will not leave Roman in trouble, Poroshenko said during a ceremony marking a centenary of the state news agency Ukrinform, according to an UNIAN correspondent. The president said that the entire civilized world had united to protect the Ukrainian journalist. Read alsoRussian Supreme Court upholds ruling on Sushchenko's 12-year imprisonment Hundreds of organizations demand the immediate release of Roman and other Ukrainian political prisoners and their immediate return to their homes. And the names of Sentsov and Sushchenko have become a symbol, a tandem, a priority of demands. They have become perhaps the highest-profile political prisoners who are being illegally held by Russia, Poroshenko stressed. The president recalled that Sushchenko had been held in captivity in the Kremlin's Mordor for the third year already. Also, Petro Poroshenko recalled that the Sushchenko case had been regularly discussed at his meetings with foreign counterparts, including during his Nov 11 visit to Paris where he met French President Emmanuel Macron. Read also"He exposed Russian propaganda": Diplomats call Sushchenko case evidence of Russia's attacks on freedom of speech Poroshenko noted that he had awarded Sushchenko with the Order of Courage, praising his heroism and true patriotism. He presented the award to Angela Sushchenko, the Kremlin prisoner's wife. As UNIAN reported earlier, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on September 30, 2016, detained an Ukrinform correspondent, Roman Sushchenko, in Moscow, labeling him a Ukrainian intelligence officer who allegedly "deliberately collected classified information on activities of the armed forces and the national guard of the Russian Federation." Its wreckage and parachute with an ID number label indicate that it is a Russian-made model. The Ukrainian Joint Forces have shot down a Russian-made Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. "At about 09:49 on November 19, an enemy unmanned aerial vehicle, most probably the Orlan-10 type, was spotted by radio electronic means. The drone was collecting intelligence information along the Bakhmut-Kostiantynivka-Ocheretyne route," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) wrote on Facebook on November 20. After the target was confirmed by air-defense radars, it was destroyed by the air defense unit of the JFO Air Force at about 12:20. "Judging by its wreckage and the parachute with an ID number label, it is a Russian-made Orlan-10 UAV," the press center said. November 20 2018 Concept designs to transform Dunfermlines Bruce Street into a covered pedestrian route have been put forward Sam Foster Architects in an effort to guage wider support for the idea as part of Dunfermline Delivers. Shortlisted for Scotlands Future Towns Partnerships competition with a view to establishing a weather-proof space for hosting events and markets the winner will progress to a feasibility study and initial fundraising to explore practical issues around implementation. Lisa Edwards, BID Manager for Dunfermline Delivers commented: Ambitious ideas like this require business and local authority engagement, long term investment, time and commitment. Winning best Future Town Design would be a coup for the town but then it would require detailed consultation with the businesses before its taken any further. Other shortlisted entries include projects at Drumchapel, Dunbar, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Lanark, Leith, Nairn, Saracen Street (Glasgow) and Stenhouse. November 20 2018 BAM Construction have handed over a completed Carntyne Primary School, built on the playground of the existing school at Liberton Street, which remained in operation throughout. The 231-capacity school includes its own multi-use games hall and has been designed by Holmes Miller Architects on behalf of Glasgow City Council. Bruce Dickson, regional director at BAM Construction, said: Working on a site where the existing school remains operational and in the middle of a residential area always requires careful consideration and planning. Iain Marley, chief executive, hub West Scotland added: Carntyne Primary School is an inspiring and high quality learning environment with a fresh contemporary look and feel and high quality finishes throughout the school. A sister primary school at Blairdardie is scheduled for completion in spring 2019. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mohibullah Khan has said that the provincial government is taking untraditional steps for the promotion of agriculture sector and welfare of the people associated with it. PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) : Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Agriculture , Livestock and Fisheries, Mohibullah Khan has said that the provincial government is taking untraditional steps for the promotion of agriculture sector and welfare of the people associated with it. Presiding over a meeting of Agriculture Department and subsidiary sectors under 100-day plan here Tuesday, he also directed the authorities concerned for giving final shape to a feasible and comprehensive strategy for the development of agriculture during the period of next five years. Secretary Agriculture,Livestock, Mohammad Israr Khan, Additional Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai, Director General (DG) Livestock & Focal Person for 100-day plans Dr. Sher Mohammad, DG Livestock (Research) Dr. Mirza Ali Khan, DG Fisheries Dr. Khasro Kaleem, DG Agriculture (Extension) Nasimullah, DG Agriculture (Research) Naveed Khan, DG Water Management, Khurshid Khan, DG Agriculture (Engineering) Mahmood Jan Babar and other authorities concerned attended the meeting at large. The meeting reviewed in detailed five-year plan for agriculture sector under 100-day plan. The participants during the meeting discussed in detailed the welfare of the livestock farmers, increase in agriculture production and utilization of modern technology for the development of agriculture sector, facilitation of farmers and resolution of their problems. The provincial minister while expressing satisfaction over the encouraging planning under 100-day plans for the next five years directed the giving final shape to steps in thisregard. (@FahadShabbir) China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), a nuclear power giant will construct two third-generation reactors in Karachi. The first pilot nuclear power project using "Hualong One," a domestically-developed third-generation reactor design will soon go into a crucial test stage and is expected to start operations in 2020. BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), a nuclear power giant will construct two third-generation reactors in Karachi. The first pilot nuclear power project using "Hualong One," a domestically-developed third-generation reactor design will soon go into a crucial test stage and is expected to start operations in 2020. "Its construction is carried out as planned, and its safety and quality are under good control," said Xing Ji, chief designer of "Hualong One", according to China Global Television Network (CGTN). The project is being assembled in Fuqing, east China's Fujian Province. Another one is to be built later at the same site and two more in Karachi, Pakistan. Altogether, four such facilities are under construction in the world. "Their current construction goals have all been completed on time or beforehand. They are the world's only third-generation pressurized water reactor power units being constructed according to plan," said Yu Jianfeng, CNNC chairman. Now, the third-generation nuclear power reactor design has much safer standards than the international predecessors. Construction of the first "Hualong One" pilot project began in 2015 in Fuqing, and it is a window showing how the Chinese nuclear power industry tries to develop itself and link with the international community. Based on these, CNNC announced earlier this month that the total amount of its import purchase and overseas local sourcing will exceed 12 billion US Dollars in the next five years. CNNC's latest programmes also include a small, dedicated "district heating reactor" named "Yanlong," the high-temperature gas cooled reactor technology and participation of the international fusion reactor programme. These technologies are being displayed in a major exhibition in Beijing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. (@rukhshanmir) Russia will continue to fulfill its obligations under an agreement with Damascus on oil supplies to Syria despite US pressure, a senior Russian lawmaker told Sputnik on Tuesday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) Russia will continue to fulfill its obligations under an agreement with Damascus on oil supplies to Syria despite US pressure, a senior Russian lawmaker told Sputnik on Tuesday. "The political defeat in Syria apparently prompts the United States to return to the idea of regime change in Damascus. Therefore, the economic pressure through the interruption of oil supplies becomes an instrument of the new economic war against [Syrian President] Bashar Assad, and indirectly against Moscow and Iran," Oleg Morozov, member of the upper house Committee on Foreign Affairs, said. According to Morozov, Russia is acting and will act "absolutely legally." "We have an agreement with Syria and, therefore, we decide what to supply and to whom. This will be our answer, which is much more effective than counter-sanctions," Morozov stressed. (@rukhshanmir) The Dubai Health Authority, DHA, is in the process of forming a local committee to regulate the transport and transplantation of organs and tissues in Dubai. DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 20th Nov, 2018) The Dubai Health Authority, DHA, is in the process of forming a local committee to regulate the transport and transplantation of organs and tissues in Dubai. The committee will be responsible for standardising and regulating the process of organ transplantation in accordance with the regulations and provisions stipulated in Federal Law No. 05 of 2016 on regulating the transfer and transplantation of organs and tissues. DHA hosted a workshop to share experiences and learn about the best practices and latest developments in organ transplantation. The workshop was held with the participation of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, chaired by Dr Ali Abdulkarim Al Obeidli and attended by representatives of the Donation and Transplantation Institute in Barcelona - Spain, headed by Professor Francesco Procaccio on Tuesday, 6th November in Rashid Hospital. Dr Marwan Al Mulla, CEO of the Health Regulation Sector at the DHA praised the efforts of all relevant health authorities that working on preparing a comprehensive national programme for organ donation and transplantation. He said that producing the comprehensive programme will relieve the pain of patients and reduce the burden on the health sector, especially when it comes to chronic cases that will be treated according to legislation and standards based on international practices. More than 70 medical and technical teams specialising in intensive and emergency care from both public and private sector hospitals in Dubai attended the scientific workshop to exchange expertise and experiences in order to learn about the latest developments in organ transplantation programmes, especially in Spain. Dr Al Obaidli said the workshop included an overview of the national organ transplantation programme in the UAE. Other topics discussed included: the objectives of organising the procedures and organ transplants, international best practices and standard procedures for organ donation and the activation of the brain death protocol in the UAE. He added that the workshop aims to ensure that the UAE follows uniform standards across all its medical facilities, raises the level of cooperation between intensive care units, enable the largest number of people to donate, provides the required support for hospitals to donate and builds relationships between hospitals in the UAE. The workshop also reviewed the successes of the national programme, including activation of the brain death protocol. Since the launch of the national programme, lives of 30 patients with organ failure were saved as they received organ donations from nine brain dead donors. The organs included the cultivation of the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and kidneys thus, enabling those who wish to donate to exercise their right to save the lives of others. It was highlighted that the success of organ transplantation will provide one of the most important solutions to a number of core diseases, such as kidney failure and liver failure, reflecting positively on the UAE's global position in the medical field in the future. It will also enable the UAE to become an example to be followed in the application of best international practices and the latest healthcare standards. Dr Hanan Obaid, Director of the Health Policies and Standards Department pointed out that the health regulation sector is in the process of forming a local committee to regulate the transport and transplantation of organs and tissues in the Emirate of Dubai. The committee will standardise and regulate the process of organ transplantation in accordance with the regulations and provisions stipulated in Federal Law No. 05 of 2016 on regulating the transfer and transplantation of organs and tissues, which provides an integrated legislative system for organ transplantation with the criteria for organ donation and the need to respect specific conditions. Dr Obaid also referred to Federal Law No. 05 of 2016 issued by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on regulating the transfer and transplantation of human organs and tissues. She also referred to the Ministerial Resolution No. 550 of 2017 and the rules and regulations pertaining to what constitutes brain death and the responsibility of local regulatory health authorities in the application of legislation and the implementation of its provisions. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, said that new generations have the passion and the willpower to achieve distinction and creativity. DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 20th Nov, 2018) H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, said that new generations have the passion and the willpower to achieve distinction and creativity. His Highness also called upon enabling them to unleash their energy and harness it to serve the nation, which is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to prepare a generation that is able to lead and compete on the international level. His Highnesss remarks came during a meeting with elite students representing various schools in Dubai and from different nationalities. The meeting was organised by the General Secretariat of the Dubai Executive Council in partnership with UNICEF to mark the Universal Children's Day. His Highness listened to ideas and suggestions of students about the future of Dubai. "Students represent a beacon of future thoughts, and their ideas are progressive and wonderful. We rely on them to build the shape of the future, as our competitiveness and leadership are inspired from new innovative ideas. To keep pace of the continuous changes in the world, we need to listen to new generations," His Highness said. "Its important to include future leaders in the making of today; which highlights the importance of my todays meeting with students of Dubai schools, given their role in shaping the bright future of Dubai. I felt their passion that is inspired from creative souls, and I am happy with their team work spirit, which reflects their sense of responsibility toward the future of their city that they consider the best in the world, as well as their keenness for their sustainability and the continuity of its development." Students attending the meeting presented seven projects they designed to make a difference in Dubais future based on their personal perspectives, where the General Secretariat of the Dubai Executive Council and UNICEF held a design thinking workshop to help students shape their ideas and thinking. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 21st 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, this evening attended the awards ceremony marking the announcement of the winners of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Motherhood and Childhood. A number of charities, government entities and individuals were honoured for supporting and protecting mothers and children during the ceremony which was held at the Emirates Palace in the presence of Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council; H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance; along with a number of Sheikhas, Saudi princesses, ministers, dignitaries, and state officials. "The UAE, since the time of late Sheikh Zayed, has been keen to invest in and build human capital since they are the nation's most cherished and valuable asset. An approach which has, since then, been closely followed by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, along with Their Highnesses Rulers of Emirates" Sheikha Fatima said in a statement read on her behalf by H. H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed "The nation is taking Primary care of people of various social backgrounds, the priority of whom are mothers and children. It's essential for children to be raised in an emotionally and intellectually safe environment because they are the future makers and will become entrusted once grown to become confident, willing and relentless people." The primary role of a mother is childcare and contribution to the development of the country through her involvement in public roles, she added. "An ideal mother is one who can balance work and family, raising her children well to prepare and engage them in the making of the nations future and development." The award, launched in 2016, opens the doors of excellence and innovation, both locally and internationally, aiming to prioritise mothers and children and find the means of providing them with the best care. Editorial The return of colonialism In his address at the APEC summit last week in PNG, President of the Peoples Republic of China, Xi Jinping pointed out that economies in the Asia-Pacific region have a promising future if guided by right polices. The way forward in this era is to promote multilateral trading systems which will create great opportunities for all countries, he said. With links in the global chain of cooperation, developed nations must help developing countries eliminate poverty, he said. Xi said in order for countries to achieve global economic development, developed nations must support developing nations through continued assistance in their development models. We should not expect one development model to fit all countries or copy the development model of other countries, he said, and that developing economies must have their own say on how they want to develop, and the right to choose which development model suits their countrys need. Developing countries must have more say on their development path of choice he said. In this context it is clear that the economic, political and social problems that the people of the nations of the Pacific Ocean face will not be solved by the policies that the Australian government intends to impose. These policies are not the solution, they are the problem. They are the failed policies that have created what are derogatively referred to as failed states by Western leaders and the media. For years Australia has used its regional dominance to push Pacific nations towards the nirvana of free-market economics: tariff cuts, private sector promotion, reduced government spending. The results have been dismal in the bigger countries like Papua New Guinea and Fiji; they have been non-existent in smaller, poorer places like Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and Nauru. Instead of accepting and recognising this truth, successive Australian governments have continued to foist these policies on the Pacific Island states by military might. An arc of instability is seen to extend from Indonesia to New Zealand, taking in problem spots such as East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. In the eyes of the Australian government, all of these countries are ripe for intervention and occupation by Australian military forces and administrators to bring them into line behind Australias subservience to the agenda of the United States in its preparation for a conflict to begin in the Asia-Pacific. The principle objective is to recolonises and enforce economic rationalist priorities on all the Island states. In August 2002, then PM John Howard said that the Island states must have law and order and security for people if they are going to attract foreign investment and if they dont attract foreign investment in a globalised economy their living standards so far from rising run the risk of sinking further. In 1999, Howards Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer told an audience at the Murdoch University that good governance of Pacific Island states meant support for sensible market-oriented economic policies. The exact opposite is the result of the policies being imposed. What did the people of Papua New Guinea gain from the BHP gold mine at Ok Tedi? Did their standard of living rise from the devastation of their timber resources by foreign logging companies? Did the people of Bougainville prosper from the Panguna Copper Mine owned by CRA (Rio Tinto)? Have the people of West Papua benefited from the huge mines operated by American investment at Westernport? In all cases the answer is a resounding NO. Quite the opposite. It meant death and destruction, theft of lands, war, poisoning of rivers and the environment, the exploitation of people and resources and the wiping of their sovereignty and independence. Historically, Australian governments have used aid programs to enforce its economic policies. While continuing to use aid as a weapon, it now intends to use military force and the physical takeover of government operations in the Island states as well. What is this if not the re-imposition of colonialism? ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 21st 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, this evening attended the awards ceremony marking the announcement of the winners of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Motherhood and Childhood. A number of charities, government entities and individuals were honoured for supporting and protecting mothers and children during the ceremony which was held at the Emirates Palace in the presence of Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council; H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance; along with a number of Sheikhas, Saudi princesses, ministers, dignitaries, and state officials. "The UAE, since the time of late Sheikh Zayed, has been keen to invest in and build human capital since they are the nation's most cherished and valuable asset. An approach which has, since then, been closely followed by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, along with Their Highnesses Rulers of Emirates" Sheikha Fatima said in a statement read on her behalf by H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed. "The nation is taking Primary care of people of various social backgrounds, the priority of whom are mothers and children. It's essential for children to be raised in an emotionally and intellectually safe environment because they are the future makers and will become entrusted once grown to become confident, willing and relentless people." The primary role of a mother is childcare and contribution to the development of the country through her involvement in public roles, she added. "An ideal mother is one who can balance work and family, raising her children well to prepare and engage them in the making of the nations future and development." The award, launched in 2016, opens the doors of excellence and innovation, both locally and internationally, aiming to prioritise mothers and children and find the means of providing them with the best care. Awards for the best initiatives and scientific research to support children and women were announced during the ceremony. Among the honourees was Princess Sara Al Faisal bint Abdel Aziz Al Saud, Chairwoman of Saudi Arabia's Al-Nahda Philanthropic Society for Women whose prize was received on her behalf by Princess Haifaa Al Faisal bint Abdel Aziz Al Saud. H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Reem Al Falasi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, honoured the key personalities that play eminent roles in supporting mothers and children, atop of whom is H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, whose prize was received by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, was honoured as well and received his prize from H.H. Sheikh Hazza in recognition of his significant role at the local and international levels in protecting children. Abu Dhabi Media Company was honoured as the best media entity supporting childhood programmes and Director-General Dr Ali bin Tamim received the award. Ahmed Mohammed Al Humairi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, received the 'best nursery award' which was won by the UAE Presidential Court. The Best Initiative in the Development of Childrens and Youths Talents Award was won by Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children and received by HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of the His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Awards on the following categories were presented to their winners: -Best Scientific Research in the Field of Motherhood and Childhood -Leading Mother and Child Friendly Entity -Best Campaign/Outreach Program in the field of Motherhood & Childhood -Best Initiative in Early education -Best Initiative in Empowering children with disabilities -Best Initiative in the field of Child Protection -Best Initiative in the Support of Mother and Childs Healthy Lifestyle -Best Community Contribution in the field of Motherhood & Childhood -Emirates First Child In her word marking the occasion, Al Falasi expressed sincere gratitude to the colossal efforts made by H.H. Sheikha Fatima in providing mothers and children with utmost care and protection. "The UAE has become a role model for caring about mothers and children. The country participates in various international forums to introduce thoughtful indicatives focused on motherhood and chidlren," she added. (@FahadShabbir) The $100 million agreement was signed by Hussain Jasim Al Nowais, Chairman of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, and Fawaz al-Zu'bi, President of the Crown Prince Foundation's Board of Trustees. AMMAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 20th Nov, 2018) The $100 million agreement was signed by Hussain Jasim Al Nowais, Chairman of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, and Fawaz al-Zu'bi, President of the Crown Prince Foundation's board of Trustees. It states that both countries will support creativity and innovation and develop entrepreneurship in line with their respective national strategies, taking into account the national regulations and policies in the UAE and Jordan. Under the agreement, both parties undertake to implement major programmes and special initiatives to support innovation and the growth of microfinance and SMEs, in addition to contributing effectively to building the capacities of women, youth and people from disadvantaged areas, with the aim of fueling an entrepreneurial culture among the youth. Commenting on the development, Al Nowais said: "The agreement reflects the depth of relation between the two countries. It aims to strengthen cooperation with regional and international institutions that support entrepreneurship and SMEs, in addition to collaborating with one of the leading organisations in Jordan, committed to building a bright future for the Jordanian youth and women. We affirm our keenness to establish strong relations with the various regional economic and social institutions in order to support the local economy and promote trade between the UAE and Jordan." He added: "Through this strategic cooperation with Jordan, we aim to replicate the success stories of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, which have become beacons of entrepreneurship and youth empowerment and a model of outstanding achievements." Dr. Fawaz al-Zu'bi hailed the significant support provided by the UAE across all fields, noting that the distinguished ties between the two countries are a role model for brotherly relations. He added: "Our partnership with Khalifa Fund will support the Jordanian youth in general, and those belonging to disadvantaged areas in particular. We will prioritise supporting SMEs and microenterprises as they complement many of our projects and play a great role in promoting the overall economic development process in Jordan. Through this partnership, we aim to strengthen the role of the youth in leading this development process. We will exchange our experiences with Khalifa Fund and together, we will create new success stories to be added to Khalifa Funds rich repertoire of similar initiatives in many countries around the world." The signing was attended by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority; Yousef Mana'a Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US; Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court; Mattar Saif Sulaiman Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Jordan; Lt. General Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces; and Hussein Jassim Al Nowais, Chairman of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development. Prince Faisal bin Hussein, Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Al Safadi along with a number of senior officials and dignitaries attended the signing from the Jordanian side. For anyone looking for what a truly tolerant society is all about, the UAE serves as a perfect answer. "The UAEs model of open-mindedness demonstrates the true image of Islam, which is one of love, tolerance and brotherhood," a UAE newspaper said on Tuesday. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 20th Nov, 2018) For anyone looking for what a truly tolerant society is all about, the UAE serves as a perfect answer. "The UAEs model of open-mindedness demonstrates the true image of islam, which is one of love, tolerance and brotherhood," a UAE newspaper said on Tuesday. "Founding Father late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid the seeds for such a broadminded approach right at the time of foundation of the nation," stated The Gulf Today in an editorial. "The Albanian Parliament and the International Parliament for tolerance and Peace (IPTP) have taken the right step by honouring Sheikh Zayed, who was well known as a man of peace and a visionary who promoted the values of tolerance and dialogue around the world. "The unveiling of a multi-faith prayer room on its premises by Abu Dhabi International Airport is among the latest adorable initiatives aimed at fostering amity among communities. The prayer room allows for the practice of religious rites and rituals for airport travellers of all faiths." "The huge turnout from all communities for "Tolerance Expressions," held as part of the National Tolerance Festival, where over 30 local and international artists made together a painting conveying the meaning of tolerance through the UAEs landmarks, also reflects the peoples wholehearted involvement in such meaningful activities," it added. "Minister for Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan is absolutely correct in stating that the scene on the Tolerance Bridge, where the event was held, confirms the fact that all communities in the UAE enjoy the harmonious coexistence, communication and happiness." The paper went on to say that the great values are being highlighted through other campaigns too. "The Sawab Centre, a joint UAE-US digital communications hub to combat extremist ideologies online and promote positive alternatives, has been running a four-day campaign from Nov.18, titled #KnowingTheOther. "The campaign strongly advocates building bridges among peoples, cultures and religions to break down the barriers of hate, ignorance, and prejudice. Through highlighting the examples of Ibn Batutta, Leo Tolstoy and other luminaries, #KnowingTheOther is also addressing the benefits of travel, learning foreign languages, and exposing oneself to other cultures and religions to expand ones horizons and to help create just, tolerant and peaceful communities." In conclusion, the editorial said that the country offers an outstanding example by remaining at the forefront in the advocacy on harmony and tolerance globally as well as locally. "It should not be forgotten that the UAE was the first country in the world to launch a tolerance charter aimed at spreading the noble values of coexistence." (@ChaudhryMAli88) UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :A senior United Nations official has called on the global community to remain committed to the two-state solution in the middle East peace process, urging efforts to establish an environment conducive to the return of negotiations to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "It is essential that we prevent further collapse of the foundations that must underpin any future agreement," Nikolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told the Security Council on Monday. As to the situation in Gaza, Mladenov underlined the necessity for Palestinian factions to urgently "engage in earnest" with regional efforts to bring the enclave under the full control of the Palestinian Government. He also called upon Israel to "recognize that Gaza is about to explode" and prevent that from happening, by relaxing and ultimately lifting closures to help normalize the lives of people living there. The Special Coordinator's briefing comes against the backdrop of some of the fiercest fighting since the 2014 Gaza conflict. The fighting, between 11-13 November, was sparked off by an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) operation inside the Gaza Strip, in which a local Hamas al-Qassam Brigades commander, one IDF official, and six other Palestinians were killed. In the hostilities, some 450 rockets and mortars were fired at Israel by militants in Gaza, and in response, Israel carried out airstrikes on 160 militant targets, including a Hamas-affiliated tv station and a hotel. Overall, since his last report to the Security Council, 31 Palestinians, including four children, were killed in Gaza, and a further four Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. One IDF official was killed during the 11 November operation, Mladenov said. The Israeli settlement activity also continued to advance, "eating away at the viability of a contiguous future Palestinian state," he added, reiterating that "all settlement activities are illegal under international law, and an obstacle to peace and must immediately cease." The Special Coordinator also told the 15-member Security Council that in late October, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council held its 30th session in Ramallah, where it issued a statement, reaffirming its recent decisions to suspend recognition of the State of Israel until the latter recognizes the State of Palestine, end security coordination in all its forms, and disengage economically from Israel. A follow-up committee chaired by President Mahmoud Abbas was established to discuss implementing these decisions, he said. On the humanitarian side, improved flow of donor-supplied fuel has resulted in the greatest supply of electricity since March last year, with immediate impacts: increased water supply, better hospital services, and power for children to study, Mladenov informed the Security Council. However, alongside the improvements, structural problems affecting Gaza, driven by years of "crippling closures" and Hamas control, remain, he added. Around 3,000 Sikh Yatrees will arrive here on Wednesday through Wagha Railway Station to observe celebrations of Janumdin of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Jee. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :Around 3,000 Sikh Yatrees will arrive here on Wednesday through Wagha Railway Station to observe celebrations of Janumdin of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Jee. Evacuee Trust Property board (ETPB) Chairman Tahir Ehsan, Secretary Board Muhammad Tariq Wazir, Pardhan Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) Sardar Tara Singh and and other Pakistani Sikh leaders and officers will receive the yatrees warmly. Soon after arrival, the Sikh pilgrims will leave for Nankana Sahib through a special train and stay there and perform their religious rituals. ETPB Chairman Tahir Ehsan said that Pakistan government had made foolproof security arrangements besides immigration, customs, bank and medical facilities at the Wahga Border to facilitate the pilgrims. A special meeting of THE sikh leaders of PSGPC was held here under the chairmanship of ETPB Chairman Tahir Ehsan regarding arrangements of the celebrations of Janumdin of Baba Guru Nanak Sahib. The central ceremony in this regard will be held at Janum Asthan Nankana Sahib on November 23 in which different religious, political and minority leaders will attend the ceremony. The Indian Sikh yatrees will go back to their homeland onNovember 30. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Nov, 2018 ) :Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Justice Saqib Nisar on Tuesday said that Overseas Pakistanis should play role for construction of dams in Pakistan. Expatriates should come forward for resolution of problems of Pakistan besides provision of funds for construction of water reservoirs, he stated this while talking to a private news channel. Construction of dams was imperative for addressing future demands of water in the country, he said. CJP Saqib Nisar said that Mohmand Dam could have been started earlier than the other dam. Commenting on justice system, he said that we have a single system in Pakistan for dispensable of justice. Dealing with the cases, we don't have two system of justice here, he added. He said that Overseas Pakistanis had great attachments and love with their country. Pinning the hopes over Pakistanis living abroad, he said that they could play vital role for steering the country out of the water and other challenges. We are fully capable to resolve the national issues, he stated. To another question he said we don't have selected system of justice in Pakistan. Giving message to the people, he said that everyone should have love and respect for Pakistan. (@ChaudhryMAli88) An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Tuesday resuming the hearing of the case pertaining to murder of Barrister Fahad Malik testified four witnesses and summoned six more prosecution witnesses in the next date of hearing. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :An Anti-Terrorism Court ATC ) Tuesday resuming the hearing of the case pertaining to murder of Barrister Fahad Malik testified four witnesses and summoned six more prosecution witnesses in the next date of hearing The court, in its previous hearings, had already testified three witnesses as well as three accused had been indicted including Arshad Mehmood, Nouman Khokhar and Raja Hashim. Four prosecution witnesses assistant sub inspector Ghafoor, Bashir Awan, Akbar Sultan Malik and a doctor of PIMS which testified the Medico Legal Report of Barrister Fahad Manzoor testified their statement before the court. Cross examination of three accused was completed during the proceeding while the cross examination of doctor from PIMS will be conducted in the next hearing. It is worth mentioning that Section 7 ATA was earlier removed by the ATC judge and transferred the case to lower courts against which the victims' brother Jawad Sohrab challenged the same in Islamabad High Court which restored the 7 ATA in the case and set aside the ATC judgment for dropping terrorism clauses and transferred it back to the ATC. The Shalimar police had booked accused Arshad Mehmood, Nouman Khokhar and at least eight others after Fahad Malik was gunned down near Shalimar Police Station in F-10/3 in the early hours of August 15, 2016. The next date of hearing was fixed for November 22. (@rukhshanmir) Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan Tuesday said the government was focusing on power generation, transmission and establishment of small energy set ups which would help to cope with the energy shortage in the country. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan Tuesday said the government was focusing on power generation, transmission and establishment of small energy set ups which would help to cope with the energy shortage in the country. Addressing the Consultative Workshop on Renewable Energy Policy, he denounced the fact that there was no proper demand analysis carried out so far and said the demand was estimated through the economic development ratio of the country. The event was organized by Alternative Energy Development board aiming to highlight the importance of the renewable energy in the changing dynamics and its role in economic development and social prosperity of the country. Omer Ayub said outcomes of the workshop and opinions of the energy experts would be duly incorporated in policy making to exploit the existing potential of the renewable energy to produce affordable energy mix in the country. "There was a paradigm shift across the globe in renewable and alternate energy as a spike decline has been observed in the cost of renewable energy," he observed . The minister further said in future renewable energy cost would go below 2 cents at the optimum level of production, adding that it was vital to provide cost effective and sustainable energy supply to industrial as well as domestic sectors. In order to make ours produces competitive in international markets, there was a dire need to introduce cheap energy mix for the local industrial sector to reduce the cost of production to accelerate the exports and reduce the imports. He said about 85 percent Chinese exports proceedings come from its 2 to 3 per cent land mass in the coastal region which that had reduced the cost of transportation and make them competitive in the international market. The competency and efficiency had jacked up the Chines exports to manifold and helped it to become the industrial giant of the world , he remarked. The minister stressed the need for exploring the untapped potential of renewable energy for rapid economic development and bridging the gap of twin deficits including current account deficit and fiscal deficit. He also called for working on modern lines and proper planning in a rational and scientific way for introducing sustainable and long term energy solutions. He said Pakistan's per capita consumption was 400 kilowatts (KW) while in the neighbouring countries China and India its was 4000 KW and 950 KW respectively, adding that the local population was comprising on 20 million people and out of the total population 27 percent does not have the access to the electricity, particularly in the rural areas of the country. He said the size of parallel economies in the developed countries like USA and European Union was 12 per cent of their GDP whereas in developing countries like Pakistan it was necessary to count those like taxi drivers, shopkeepers and other small businesses in our economy. He said the incumbent government was also converting around 27,000 tubewells in Balochistan over Solar energy to assist energy stressed agriculture sector particularly farmers of the province. AEDB chief executive officer Amjad Ali Awan said the consultative workshop had been organized to get valuable ideas of expert masses on renewable energy policy and initiatives. "We are in a crucial time where abrupt changes in the energy sector are taking place amid severe power crisis in the country." He said it was only observed to be merely 4000 megawatts (MW) shortfall in the country's energy cohort while after deep analysis the situation has appeared to be more complex and challenging. Awan said it was time to take robust initiatives to indigenous renewable energy projects in the country as there were not depleting and untapped renewable power resources. He said the policy framework time line had ended in March 2018 which was also the agenda of today's workshop either it should be extended or not. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Nov, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday said the government was taking decisions in the larger national interest rather to benefit individuals. Talking to a private news channel, he said the era of slavery had been ended from the country and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was ruling in the country now. The minister said President United States president Donald Trump could not pressurize Pakistani nation by giving threatening statements against their country. He said the government would bring change in the system of the country with improvement in the performance of the institutions by introducing reforms, adding National Accountability Bureau (NAB) performance was much better as compared to the past. Replying to a question, he said reforms should be made in NAB laws for further improving its performance. The corrupt people should be punished as per law of the land, he added. (@ChaudhryMAli88) National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser Tuesday summoned the session of the National Assembly on November 23 (Friday) at 10:00 am instead of 3:00 pm in the Parliament House. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) : National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser Tuesday summoned the session of the National Assembly on November 23 (Friday) at 10:00 am instead of 3:00 pm in the Parliament House. The speaker summoned the session in exercise of powers conferred by clause (3) of Article 54 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a press release issued by National Assembly Secretariat said. Change the Rules Plus! Hundreds of thousands of Australian workers have been mobilised by the ACTUs Change the Rules campaign. The campaign is directed against the crippling legislative framework put in place by successive federal governments to prevent trade unions acting in their members interests. The rules seek to crush on-the-job organisation; to drive unions from the workplace and, thereby, destroy the trade union movement. Decades of brainwashing have left many workers questioning the value of joining their trade union. This attitude has been reinforced by a decline in the effectiveness of unions creating an almost perfect storm. The results of this period of retreat are obvious. Wages are stagnant or in decline while corporate profits soar. Conditions are stolen from workers and deaths in the workplace are on the rise. Precarious work dominates the labour market. Unemployment and underemployment are forcing record numbers into the ranks of the homeless. Families are under enormous pressure with rising living costs, particularly for accommodation. But this is an almost perfect storm of reactionary developments. People will inevitably resist oppression. Strikes in opposition to the capitalist agenda are at levels not seen for many years. Defiance is in the air and Communists must be prepared to inject the necessary class-consciousness into the struggle so that it doesnt get neutralised in the event a Labor government is put in office at the next federal election. Communist trade union work Thirty-two years ago, the Communist Party of the USAs general secretary, the late Gus Hall gave a speech at a party trade union conference. His address dealt with the role of Communists in the trade unions and offered timeless advice to our members. The counsel is worth considering in the context of the Change the Rules campaign, which some in the trade union movement are trying to limit to a marginal seats campaign on behalf of the ALP. The CPA supports the ACTUs Change the Rules campaign but recognises its limitations. The CPAs demands for a shake-up of industrial relations legislation and structures were set out in a statement reproduced in the Guardian #1846 of October 31, 2018. It calls for action around the unfettered right to strike, the abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) must be non-negotiable as is the abolition of the Registered Organisations Commission (ROC). It demands the removal of barriers to industrial action in solidarity with workers in less organised sections of the labour movement. And it goes further than simple changes to industrial relations law. While campaigning to Change the Rules will not alone resolve the ongoing internal contradictions of capitalism, these demands will strengthen the working class through struggle. We fight for these demands realising the inevitable need to take our political struggle for a socialist system to a higher level. Gus Hall pointed out that if this element is missing from trade union work, Communists are not fulfilling their duty as Party members. He went further to say that if Communists were not incorporating Party-building in their trade union work, they were sliding into opportunism. The plus Hall noted that in the course of struggle, including strike struggles, class-consciousness does not automatically develop. Workers may hate the boss before during and after the occasional win. But they dont automatically see the connection between their struggle and that of other workers or the other political issues related to the imposition of the capitalist agenda. Thats the job of Communists. The most important thing for Communists to do in their trade union work, however, whether they are an official, an organiser or in the workplace, is to build the Party. If your trade union work does not result in Party building you are doing poor trade union work. It is dialectical. Communists cannot do poor Party work and good trade union work. They are tied together. What you do to prepare workers for a strike should also prepare workers for the Party. There should be no contradiction, Hall said. If you have to be reminded, or even if you have to remind yourself, about the need to build the Party, or if it is a-once-in-a-while in your thoughts, you are not going to build the Party. If it is not a Party of your life you will not recruit. Party building consciousness must be a factor in everything we do, almost spontaneously, like a conditioned reflex. It must become a part of our lifestyle. It is not that way with most of us. It is a-once-in-a-while thought. If we have to say, The Central Committee said we have to build the Party! we probably will not do it. Hall said he knew of a Party member engaged in trade union work who had never recruited to the Party. He may have been a fine trade unionist, but he wasnt engaged in Communist trade union work developing more than a trade union consciousness among the workers. That consciousness is not enough, and it will never deliver out of the hands of the capitalist class. You may get a small victory from time to time but the building of the Party, the creation of the leadership for the revolutionary transformation of society will never eventuate from such work. Hall said the comrade had wasted his life in the trade union movement harsh but true. Communists and Change the Rules The Change the Rules campaign provides ample opportunity for Communists to have conversations linking the current struggles to the larger one for an end to capitalism and the building of socialism. This must be handled creatively, not in a blunt way lacking context or sensitivity. The Party has recruited good members from the trade union movement recently and is showing leadership in areas of the work associated with the campaign. We can be pleased but never satisfied with the growth of the Party in the trade unions and the efforts surrounding the Change the Rules campaign. Young members have joined their union and are seeking roles with in them. This is another good development. Nevertheless, Halls words are a timely reminder that, as we tackle the tasks associate with the campaign, we must bring that plus to our work. *Bob Briton is General Secretary of the CPA (@rukhshanmir) As part of the ongoing political reconciliation in Balochistan, over 70 militants and a commander of a banned organization surrendered to the government on Tuesday. QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :As part of the ongoing political reconciliation in Balochistan , over 70 militants and a commander of a banned organization surrendered to the government on Tuesday. The insurgents announced entering into the national mainstream and pledged loyalty to the nation and vowed to work for the betterment and progress of the country. The militants and the commander, Marri, from the proscribed Balochistan Republican Army surrendered during a ceremony held in the courtyard of the Balochistan Assembly in provincial capital. The ceremony was attended by Nawab Changez Marri, Senator Sarfaraz Bugti and Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar and Frontier Corps Balochistan Brigadier Tasawwur Sultan. During the surrender ceremony, the militant commander lamented that the group's leader lived out of the country and instructed youth in Balochistan to rebel against the state. He requested other militants to lay down their arms and work for the development of the country and also thanked the government for allowing them to rejoin society. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) has launched mobile application namely "Assistance, Anytime, Anywhere at Sea (AAAS)" to help fishermen facing any problem at sea. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) has launched mobile application namely "Assistance, Anytime, Anywhere at Sea (AAAS)" to help fishermen facing any problem at sea. The launching ceremony of the mobile application AAAS was held at the PMSA's Headquarters, with Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat HI (M) as chief on Tuesday, said a statement. PMSA Director General Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman SI(M), Flag Officers, Senior Fishery officials from Sindh and Balochistan and fishermen community attended the ceremony. The PMSA DG welcomed all participants in his address and said the PMSA being sole law enforcement agency at sea follows international laws and conventions. Pakistan has a large coastal line of approximately 1000 KMs, he added. He said that the PMSA is responsible for search and rescue of an area 840 NMs from Pakistan Coast to deep sea. PMSA round the clock maintains Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and Disaster Response Centre (DRC) to respond any emergency at sea. Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat during his welcome address said that Pakistan Fishermen community are an asset for the nation which has the best sea with natural resources. He highlighted that protection of fishing vessels of our fishermen at sea is the priority of PMSA. The chief guest congratulated PMSA and Pakistan Navy for making this software. He requested all fishermen community to cooperate with PMSA for the improvement of their protection at sea. He assured the fishermen community of PMSA support at all times. Assistance, Anytime, Anywhere at Sea is an online application to facilitate maritime communities operating in Pakistan territorial waters. User can send emergency signal and location for immediate assistance anytime, anywhere within the territorial waters of Pakistan. AAAS is available in four languages which include urdu, English, Sindhi and Balochi. This is the prime feature of the application use to provide emergency alert to assist agencies in Pakistan for Search & Rescue mission. (@ChaudhryMAli88) To further intensify parliamentary cooperation and build stronger cooperation, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked between the State Council of Oman and the Senate of Pakistan. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :To further intensify parliamentary cooperation and build stronger cooperation, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked between the State Council of Oman and the Senate of Pakistan. The MoU was signed between Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Mantheri, Chairman of the State Council and Pakistan Senate Chairman, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, said a press release. During the meeting, the Dr. Mantheri said that the MoU will strengthen cooperation and open new avenues in bilateral relations between two countries. He added, the current visit of the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan to Oman coincides with the Sultanate's celebrations of the 48th National Day. The Pakistan delegation also viewed a documentary about the State Council that showcased the evolution of the Shura evolution in the Sultanate and the role of the State Council in national action which empowers it to exercise its powers and competences. During the meeting, issues of mutual interest were discussed, especially in the legislative and supervisory fields to support cooperation between the councils of the two friendly countries. Sanjrani expressed happiness regarding the visit to the Sultanate, and added that Pakistan looks forward to heightening progress, prosperity and development in relationships and praised the Omani parliamentary experience, development and uniqueness gained by following the pragmatic vision of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. Sanjrani also praised the Oman's balanced policies and its stance in the international arena. The meeting was attended by Shaikh Dr. Al Khatab bin Ghalib al Hinai, State Council Vice-Chairman, Dr Suad Mohamed Ali Sulaiman al Lawati, State Council Chairperson, State Council members and Ali Javed, Ambassador of Pakistan to Oman. At the conclusion of the visit, the guests toured the facilities and the premises of the Council. The Pakistan delegation includes Senators Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Moula Bux Chandio, Dilawar Khan, Kalsoon Perveen and special secretary Muhammad Anwar. A two-member Peshawar High Court (PHC) Abbottabad bench on Tuesday acquitted senior doctors of Ayub Medical Complex (AMC) in corruption charges case. ABBOTTABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :A two-member Peshawar High Court (PHC) Abbottabad bench on Tuesday acquitted senior doctors of Ayub Medical Complex (AMC) in corruption charges case. The bench comprising Justice Mussarat Hilali and Justice Abdul Shakoor after hearing NAB and KP Accountability Commission and the accused doctors dismissed the case against the senior doctors of AMC. The doctors were booked by NAB last year in allegedly committing financial embezzlement while purchasing machinery for newly constructed Genealogy and Peds wards at Ayub Medical College (AMC). Board of Governors AMC had started an inquiry against the doctors under 2011 Efficiency and Disciplinary rules and found them clear however NAB and KP accountability commission were not satisfied with the inquiry of BoGs and served notices to the doctors. The doctors challenged NAB notices in PHC Abbottabad bench while the court ordered NAB to look into financial corruption. Last day the prosecutor of NAB Omer Farooq and Deputy Prosecutor General KP accountability commission Syed Farooq Shah told the PHC bench that they found no corruption in purchase of machinery and therefore requested court to acquit the accused doctors. (@rukhshanmir) LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Nov, 2018 ) :Punjab Minister for school Education Murad Raas Monday said the provincial government would encourage technical education. This, he stated, while presiding over the 11th meeting of Chancellor's Committee of Punjab Tianjin University of Technical Education (PTUTE) alongwith Punjab Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal. Different decisions were taken in the meeting regarding financial and administrative issues and training programs. It was decided to give scholarships to special students getting admission on merit while position holders would also be awarded scholarships on the basis of their performance. It was principally agreed to waive off the fee for those student whose family head has been died. The meeting also approved to set up another lab comprising 50 computers and recruitment on the posts of registrar, controller, director (planning and development) and treasurer. The meeting decided to give two buses of Government Institute of Emerging Technology to Punjab Tianjin University. Addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister for Schools Education Murad Raas said that useful spending of resources on education was need of the hour, adding that government was committed to provide quality education to the students. He said that PTUTE would be made a premiere institution of technical education in the real sense and hoped that it would provide honorable livelihood to the youth. He said that PTUTE would also act as a platform for developing skilled workforce for the international market and 100 percent enrollment targets would be achieved by starting double shift. He informed that centralized information technology system was being designed under the Schools Education department to arrange necessary information under one roof. Provincial Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal said that students would be encouraged to get technical education. "21st century is an era of science and technology and technical education will have to be promoted to make the youth self-reliant," he added. He said that university affairs should be dealt with merit and transparency. Secretary Industry Nadeemur Rehman, VC PTUTE and others attended the meeting. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Pakistan Peoples Party senior leader and Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik on Tuesday strongly reacted and condemned the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan by US President Donald Trump in his tweets. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) : Pakistan Peoples Party senior leader and Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik on Tuesday strongly reacted and condemned the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan by US President Donald Trump in his tweets. He said that Pakistan has always helped US but US administrations have been playing unfair with Pakistan and the tweets have hurt Pakistanis particularly the families of the martyrs. Senator A. Rehman Malik has challenged the US President Donald Trump to a public debate saying that he will prove him (President Donald Trump) wrong about his thoughts against Pakistan and will tell the world who created and funded Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Daish/Jehadis. He asked that the world should be told who destroyed Iraq and Syria and advised US President Donald Trump to see the old files before tweeting. Senator A. Rehman Malik stated, "No country has suffered more than Pakistan in US sponsored war on terror which destroyed our peace, infrastructure and economy. We have suffered 75,000 casualties so far in war on terror and Pakistan has always supported US." He said perhaps the US President was misinformed as factually the request for assistance in war against terrorism was made by USA and Pakistan accepted the request in a friendly gesture but it cost massively. He said that by such tweets, President Donald Trump has hurt families of more than 75,000 innocent Pakistanis who sacrificed their lives in US war on terror. Senator A. Rehman Malik said that US must remember that survival of Pakistan is never dependent on US aid as Pakistan has lost a total of $188 Billion due to this war while USA still owes us $155 billion plus the cost of blocking our commercial airspace. He added that fair calculation indicates that USA still owes to Pakistan and Pakistan has the right to ask for this amount. He said that the US assistance to Pakistan is named CSF which was reimbursed to Pakistan for expenses already incurred in joint operations and provision of logistics and compensation for airspace, land and sea services has not been claimed yet by Pakistan. In a tweet, Senator A. Rehman Malik stated, "Mr. Donald Trump! Pakistan has been doing great for your country (US) starting from allowing you airbases in Pakistan and then full support in your own way against USSR and then post 9/11. Osama Bin Laden was your baby (US') and was used against USSR and you left him with Yousaf Ramzi in Pakistan and Pakistan had to clear this mess". Senator A. Rehman Malik has asked US President Donald Trump to apologize to the bereaved families of 75,000 innocent Pakistanis who sacrificed their lives in 'war on terror'. Senator A. Rehman Malik said no country in the world would trust the US friendship after such assertions by the US President Donald Trump despite our sacrifices in war against terrorism. "I am a witness to it being former interior minister of Pakistan for five years as I had fought war against terrorism on front line."Malik advised Trump not to settle personal grudges with his own American opponents using Pakistan and by terming the former administration foolish. Senator Rehman Malik also stated that there was a lesson for Pakistan to not jump in others' wars adding General Zia favored USA vs. Soviet Union resultantly, "We lost our soldiers and innocent people and also destroyed our infrastructure and giving our coming generations the culture of drug and Kalashnikov." He said, "US President Donald Trump is now cursing us instead of thanking us." Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan here on Tuesday said the Cabinet and all relevant forums after assessing the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) proposals, made Rs 1.27 per unit increase in the tariff. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan here on Tuesday said the Cabinet and all relevant forums after assessing the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority ( NEPRA ) proposals, made Rs 1.27 per unit increase in the tariff. Talking to media at the sidelines of a consultative workshop on Renewable Energy Policy, he said NEPRA proposed an increase of Rs 3. 88 per unit whereas no increase was made in the small vendors' bills and industrial sector was given relief. He said the government has made its decision to reduce the prices in electricity bills of tube wells as Prime Minister has directed to provide relief to the agriculture sector. To a question, he said K-Electric is a private institution which should improve its investments whereas ithas been fined for rendering poor services in certain areas by NEPRA. (@rukhshanmir) State Council of Oman and Senate of Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further intensify parliamentary cooperation and institutional linkages between two countries. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :State Council of Oman and Senate of Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further intensify parliamentary cooperation and institutional linkages between two countries. The MoU was signed by Chairman of the State Counci lDr Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Mantheri and Senate Chairman Pakistan Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, a message received here from Muscat Tuesday said. During the meeting, the Dr Mantheri said the MoU will strengthen cooperation and open new avenues in bilateral relations between two countries. He said the current visit of the Senate chairman to Oman coincides with the Sultanate's celebrations of the 48th National Day. The Pakistan delegation also viewed a documentary about the State Council that showcased the evolution of the Shura evolution in the Sultanate and the role of the State Council in national action which empowers it to exercise its powers and competences. During the meeting, issues of mutual interest were discussed, especially in the legislative and supervisory fields to support cooperation between the councils of the two friendly countries. Sanjrani expressed happiness regarding the visit to the Sultanate and said that Pakistan looks forward to heightening progress, prosperity and development in relationships. He praised the Omani parliamentary experience, development and uniqueness gained through pragmatic vision of Sultan Qaboos. Sanjrani also praised the Oman's balanced policies and its stance in the international arena. The meeting was attended by Shaikh Dr Al Khatab bin Ghalib al Hinai, State Council Vice-Chairman, Dr Suad Mohamed Ali Sulaiman al Lawati, State Council Chairperson, State Council members and Ali Javed, Ambassador of Pakistan to Oman. At the conclusion of the visit, the guests toured the facilities and the premises of the Council. The Pakistan delegation includes SenatorsMuhammad Azam Khan Swati, Moula Bux Chandio, Dilawar Khan, Kalsoon Perveen and SpecialSecretary Muhammad Anwar. (@FahadShabbir) Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan on Monday said it was not only duty of the government but every individual should also participate in such activities that helped the special children. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Nov, 2018 ) :Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan on Monday said it was not only duty of the government but every individual should also participate in such activities that helped the special children. "Helping the special children and making them an important part of society is a way to get blessings of Allah Almighty. He gave these remarks in a meeting of Patterns Committee of Rising Sun Institute that was chaired by ex-governor Lt-Gen. (R) Khalid Maqbool which was attended by other members as well. Abdul Aleem Khan said that people devoted their lives in helping others were always remembered in the history. Mother Teresa and Ruth Pfau were the great people who had devoted their lives to help the humanity in a larger perspective, he added. Abdul Aleem Khan also mentioned that business tycoons across the world who donated a handsome part of their earnings on charity and Bill Gates was one such example of it. He said, "Our religion islam also teaches us to donate in form of Zakat or 'Sadqa' for charity basis." He himself on the behalf of his charity organization (Abdul Aleem Khan Foundation ) ensured to help the rising Sun Institute for monetary purposes. It is important to note that Abdul Aleem Khan himself had paid for the building of this institute which was named after his father, Abdul Rahim Khan in Moghalpura Campus. Ex-governor Lt-Gen. (R) Khalid Maqbool while chairing the meeting briefed about the ongoing projects of Rising Sun Institute. He mentioned the difficulties facing by the institute at the moment and pointed out its solution as well. Tasneem Noorani, Pervaiz A Shahid, Rizwan Ullah Khan, Mian Muhammad Aslam, Jameel Qureshi, Waqarur Rehman and others considered the progress of institute satisfactory and expressed their views in the meeting of Patterns Committee. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has urged Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar to get heritage experts involved in the restoration of historical Empress Market so that its original beauty could be extracted. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) : Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has urged Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar to get heritage experts involved in the restoration of historical Empress Market so that its original beauty could be extracted. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah while talking to Waseem Akhtar on telephone, said a statement on Tuesday. The chief minister said that after removal of encroachment from the surroundings of Empress Market, it has comes up in its original shape. "Now, its restoration is a most important and sensitive task which must be done in consultation and guidance of the heritage experts," he said and added that the sandblasting without proper guidance of the experts would make the British era market dull. Murad said that after restoration of law and order in the city the removal of encroachments was another challenging job which is being done. "The areas which have been cleared from encroachment must be made neat and clean," he said and added that he had a plan to restore all the old buildings through a World Bank-sponsored project and the provincial government would also utilize its resources, he assured the mayor. The chief minister said that Karachi belongs to each and every one of us and we have to make it neat and clean and one of the best livable cities of the world. "All the heritage buildings located in the old areas of the city would be restored in their original shape," he said and the scheme to restore the old city from Pakistan chowk to Saddar would be stepped up and on the same pattern other areas of the city would also be restored. The mayor said that he was getting leading experts involved in the restoration work of the market. Nicaragua and the US neo-fascist offensive In April of the current year, media headlines pointed to a revolution breaking out in Nicaragua against the Sandinista Front government headed by Commander Daniel Ortega. Until then, and for 11 years, the government of that country, legitimately chosen in elections supervised by regional organisations, had carried out wide-ranging programs for reducing residual poverty, poor health, and illiteracy and also implemented many social programs that benefited rural and urban populations. President Jose Daniel Ortega Saavedra rode out the storm and made sure in the following days that the negotiations wouldnt fail. The governments proposal that the barriers be taken down, which was essential for replenishing supplies, was accepted. Highways, roads, aqueducts, and an expansive electrical system were constructed. A solid social front, with the participation of unions, private companies, and the state, managed the economic and political interrelations among such programs. Benefits for the poor and marginalised sectors of the country were prioritised. A police force and army (both formed in the liberation war against the empire) have together provided security for citizens and have systematically combatted drug trafficking and gangs in the region. The security they offer doesnt exist in any other country in the area nor probably in other regions of the continent. Highlights of these years of the Sandinista government include diversity of political and religious tendencies and freedom of speech and assembly as evidenced by the countrys numerous television, radio and newspaper media outlets. All political currents receiving votes are represented in the National Assembly. Over that time theyve contributed to the balance that is necessary for achieving sustained economic development. That shows up now with a GDP growing at a four percent annual rate. Nicaraguas original sin was to have achieved a Revolution and then to have defended it vigorously. The United States and local reactionaries wouldnt ever forget that. At the end of the last century a dramatic and terrible war devastated that country, one with only 3.5 million inhabitants at that time. The cost was 55,000 deaths, tens of thousands of wounded, and destruction of the countrys socio-economic infrastructure. Then three liberal governments ruined the economy and stole even the keys. The FSLN won the elections of 2006 and Daniel became president. The counter-revolutionaries backed off, but remained in their hideouts waiting for whatever opportunity. Secret The empire for its part was working away in secret. For several years the CIA and its legal arm, the International Agency for Development (USAID), were training cadres and organising groups inside the various dissident sectors in Nicaraguan society. The object was to attack, discredit and defeat the Sandinista government. They were working through organisations like National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Freedom House, Heritage Foundation, and the Albert Einstein Institute. They wanted to show the world and particularly our America that being revolutionary is a venal sin. Similarly, acting on behalf of masses of people is a crime against humanity. In April the Nicaraguan government, facing demands from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) joined with private companies and labour unions to negotiate reforms to social security. The IMF was proposing to raise the retirement age in a population whose life expectancy hardly reached 70 years. The IMF also wanted to increase contributions from workers and employers, drastically reduce pensions for retired people, and eliminate social programs. Negotiation led by the government and with the participation of private enterprise and unions was difficult, so much so that Nicaragua received a lot of help from international organisations. But still there was a real threat. Finally, thanks to skilful negotiation, the government and IMF agreed not to change the retirement age and to adjust contributions to social security. So workers would have to contribute seven percent of their wages to social security, up from the current 6.25 percent. Businesses would contribute 22.5 percent, up from 19 percent. And retired people would lose five percent of their pensions to cover medical expenses. The government would compensate them by providing monetary bonds for their benefit. A little afterwards, after a decree on this had been released, disturbances broke out. They were concentrated at first in universities and teaching centres, many of them private ones where subversives were waiting. On realising how things were going, the government annulled the decree and expressed willingness to negotiate an alternative agreement inasmuch as the earlier one had been imposed through IMF pressure on the negotiations. Nicaragua receives important financing from international organisations having to do with electricity, water, health care, education etc. The country could have lost all this inasmuch as the IMF exerts a decisive influence over those entities. It was at that point that disturbances broke out. The CIA and its acolytes from the USAID were prepared. With help from counter-revolutionaries and encouraged by the media, and with skilful manipulation by social networks, the rioting extended rapidly across the country like an epidemic. The police reacted to the circumstances according to their mission. The initial confrontations worsened once homemade weapons and conventional ones showed up in the rioters hands. As if following a master-plan, they began to install blockages across highways and other access roads throughout the country in order to bring down its economy. Strangely, the oppositions demands were never about immediately taking power away from the established authorities, but instead were about refusing to wait until 2019 to hold presidential elections. That requires some thinking: an observer might ask, Why would that be? Theres only one reason: the counter-revolution wasnt prepared to take power. Moreover, those involved wanted to wear down government authorities and discredit them. They lacked program, cohesion, and leaders capable of governing. At that point the government appealed to the Catholic Church to mediate as guarantor and witness on the assumption that its leaders would be acting in good faith. The first meeting with the participation of Daniel and his colleagues was on May 23. It turned into a media show assembled under the complicit eye of the Church hierarchy. Dour businessmen, and renegades from way back fell upon the government delegation in a monumental provocation. President Daniel had to endure insults of all kinds. But with his well-known presence of mind he rode out the storm and made sure in the following days that the negotiations wouldnt fail. The governments proposal that the barriers be taken down, which was essential for replenishing supplies, was accepted. And likewise the oppositions demand for the police to be withdrawn in all localities was agreed to. The police forces had been accused of abuses, which, by the way, was a claim quite unprecedented and unheard-of. The government went along with such a demand in an attempt to avoid confrontation. Also it was confident that the Church with its supposed moral authority together with its allies would react positively. They were thinking that Church authorities also desired a peaceful resolution of the manufactured conflict, which was something that didnt happen. Confrontations escalated just as the counter-revolutionary general staff had expected. Confrontations Let us imagine for a moment what it means to take away the police in whatever city in the midst of overflowing passions stimulated by all the media and social networks. Confrontations mushroomed and multiplied. Gangs working for the opposition and for their own interests inserted themselves in the streets and at the barricades. The outcome was predictable. Victims accumulated on both sides, either murdered or wounded. There were killings of militants and police, attacks on public buildings and government or Sandinista radio stations, dances of death by hot-heads on top of the trees of life, men burned alive with their pleas being uploaded to social networks, and finally a society in chaos. All the while, opposition agitators howled for help, playing the part of victims. With rifles in their hands and shooting right and left, they invoked the OAS, the United Nations, the Lima Group, and all the international organisations. Raising their cry to heaven, they expressed outrage and demanded punishment for Nicaraguan leaders. Today, of course, they look on with indifference at the humanitarian crisis associated with the exodus of Hondurans pursuing the American Dream. The atmosphere around their barricades was that of the 1980s war. Money fell into already overfilled hands for the buying of mercenaries and for killing and kidnapping police, or Sandinistas, or anyone looking suspicious. I dont remember having seen or lived through such dramatic circumstances within the heart of a noble, friendly, warm, cordial people. No neutral party Once the authorities realised the Church was no neutral party, no guarantor of anything, and realised too that several churches were now counter-revolutionary headquarters and that the opposition was working toward a soft coup against the state, they reacted. They took back the streets and imposed order, arresting the main leaders and the terrorists. These were turned over to the courts. This was all done within the existing legal framework and without the army having to leave its barracks. Slowly the streets returned to normal, and in massive demonstrations Sandinista supporters backed their government and its leaders. The Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy emerged out of the roar of confrontation and smoke from gunfire. It was composed of the main opposition groups and headed by the Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and leaders of the Catholic Church. Little groups formed in its wake at the last moment, among them the April 19 Movement, the anti [inter-oceanic] canal activists, and others. What was astonishing was that for the first time rich people and their bishops claimed to be leading a peoples revolution. What a paradox! Having carefully investigated these events, North American journalist Max Blumenthal had this to say about US interventions: Since the unrest began, the NED has taken measures to conceal the names of the groups it funds in Nicaragua on the grounds that they could face reprisals from the government. But the main recipients of backing from Washington were already well known in the country. Hagamos Democracia, or Lets Make Democracy, is the largest recipient of NED funding, reaping over US$525,000 in grants since 2014. The groups president, Luciano Garcia, who oversees a network of reporters and activists, has declared that Ortega has turned Nicaragua into a failed state and demanded his immediate resignation. The Managua-based Institute for Strategic Studies and Public Policy (IEEPP) has received at least US$260,000 from the NED since 2014. The grants have been earmarked to support the IEEPPs work in training activists on encouraging debate and generating information on security and violence. The funding has also covered efforts to monitor the increased presence of Russia and China in the region, an obvious priority for Washington. As soon as the violent protests against Ortega were ignited, IEEPP director Felix Mariadiaga brought his agenda out into the open. A former World Economic Forum Young Global Leader educated at Yale and Harvard, Mariadaga was hailed by La Prensa for having sweated, bled and cried alongside the young students who have led the protests in Nicaragua that continue from April until the end of May. Asked by La Prensa if there was any way out of the violence without regime change, Mariadaga was blunt: I cannot imagine a way out at this moment that does not include a transition to democracy without Daniel Ortega. In the wake of their failures, the opposition and its operatives created a new organisation, Blue and White for National Unity. The name perhaps honours the unity the CIA created in the 1980s with UNO (National Opposition Union), which was the organisation opposing Sandinistas in that era. This time they are claiming to unite all opposition groups in forming a rear guard for the Civic Alliance. But in view of the latters class composition and its revolutionary plans, some discomfort is very likely. This history looks a lot like the soft corps orchestrated by the CIA, NED, and their associates in Eastern European countries after the Soviet collapse. Organisations with similar slogans and operating under cover brought down governments in that region. But this still unresolved episode in Nicaragua will be different. As an epilogue, well use testimony from an adversary of the Sandinistas who reveals what goes on inside the coup-plotting groups. I am from the San Juan district in Jinotepe municipality and am a student of FAREM [University] in Carazo. Along with several friends and comrades I joined the protests of April 19 in Jinotepe. These protests were against the reforms to social security that the Sandinista Government was carrying out. They affect us and all other Nicaraguans [...] All the time on social networks, we were making up attacks by the police, by the Sandinista Youth group, even saying that they kidnapped us students in order to have us issue a repudiation and express hatred toward people in the government. We too wanted to build support and backing from the population. At the same time we said we wouldnt continue with this campaign of lies and that we would publicise our own struggle, but they kept on with the lies [...] The hiring of gangs from the barrios generated much controversy. Many of us were opposed. We did so because they let the gangs watch over the barricades at night. That led to robberies and kidnappings like the seizing of the two transit police. But what certainly bothered us the most was to know that there were people who were financing the pay for these gangs. Where did that money come from? [...] Their entering San Jose Colegio (St. Josephs College) was the tipping point. When the sisters handed over the College supposedly for protection from attacks, no one foresaw the disaster this would become. Their action allowed for more thugs to come in and that led to more violence. We also criticised all that and declared that this wasnt the objective when we began on April 19. [...] It was regrettable to see how drugs and alcohol were circulating at night at San Jose and regrettable too to observe the stealing amongst ourselves, and fights with real punching over a drink, over an order, or for anything else. Today I decided to make this public denunciation for a simple reason [...] It pains me to see the harm they brought to Jinotepe, to see how they beat up our friends just because they thought differently, to see how they gave drugs to kids, to see how they plundered government institutions that attend to our own people, to see dead people in the streets of our Jinotepe [...] When was this going to end? In my own memory I dont recall seeing people with AK47s and every kind of weapon and saying they want to kill a police officer. I ask for pardon and am repenting, and I know that God will bring more calm to Jinotepe and to Nicaragua the calm that we all had and that a few of them had snatched away from us. This article was originally published in Spanish in La Pupila Insomne. Translated by WT Whitney Jr. *Fabian Escalante became head of Cubas Department of State Security in 1976 and afterwards was a senior official in the Interior Ministry. He is currently director of the Cuban Security Studies Centre. He is an authority on CIA activities against Cuba. He has also undertaken research on the JFK assassination. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday said the government would set up Special Chair on Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) at the country's three universities under High Education Commission (HEC) to study the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), that converted Madina state into a super power in 11 years. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) : Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday said the government would set up Special Chair on Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) at the country's three universities under High education Commission ( HEC ) to study the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), that converted Madina state into a super power in 11 years. "After the success of Jang-e-Badr with 313 Muslims in 625 AD, the Islamic state defeated the Roman and Persian Empires, respectively, in 636 AD and 638 AD. There is a need to study how the State of Madina converted into a super power in 11 years," he said while addressing the opening session of a two-day International Rehmatul-lil-Alamin Conference here at the Convention Center. The conference titled "Finality of the Prophethood and Responsibilities of Muslims in the light of teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)" was attended by a number of Ulema and scholars from home and abroad as well as members of the cabinet, parliamentarians, diplomats and students. The prime minister spoke at length about the way of life and strong character of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and said Almighty Allah, Who is "Rabbul Alamin", Himself described Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as "Rehmatul-lil-Alamin". He said there was a need to study the life of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as to how he made the poor Arabs to rule world and reach India and Central Asia from Morocco in just 30 years. "What He (Prophet Muhammad PBUH) had? How He turned the common people into great ones and transformed their character. History has no example of a person [except Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)] who created a state which lasted for 700 years," he maintained. He regretted that after every few years there was a condemnable trend of blasphemous acts in the West under the garb of freedom of expression which causes strong protests in the Muslim world including Pakistan. The prime minister recalled that after such an incident in Holland, his government took up the issue with the Holland authorities, and succeeded in the cancellation of a blasphemous cartoon competition. Later, Pakistan also raised this issue at the OIC and the UN levels, which led to a declaration by the EU Court of Human Rights forbidding religious defamation in the name of expression of freedom, he added. He told the participants that the government intended to propose an International Convention on Defamation of Religion to protect the sentiments of 1.25 billion Muslims across the world. He said Ahmer Bilal Sufi, an expert on international law would be made PM's Special Envoy to visit various countries and seek their support for this proposed convention, adding, that Pakistan would spearhead this convention so that there was an international law to deal this sensitive issue. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :Two student groups clashed in Quaid e Azam University (QAU) here on Tuesday however, later due to efforts of the city administration the situation was brought under control. According to official sources, Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent Police reached the site and controlled the situation. In a tweet, the Deputy Commissioner said, "Negotiations are going on. It's unfortunate to see that fewmischief mongers have disturbed entire university." (@FahadShabbir) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st November, 2018) The United States has suspended a total of $1.66 billion in security assistance to Pakistan, Department of Defense spokesperson Col. Rob Manning told reporters. "$1.66 billion of security assistance to Pakistan is suspended," Manning said on Tuesday. In January, the State Department announced that the United States would suspend $900 million in security assistance to Pakistan until it does more to combat the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network terrorist groups (both banned in Russia). Participants at a walk organized here Tuesday by Tiflee Education Pakistan in connection with the World Children's Day highlighted the rights of children and demanded the government to effectively implement children-specific laws already enacted in the country. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :Participants at a walk organized here Tuesday by Tiflee Education Pakistan in connection with the World Children's Day highlighted the rights of children and demanded the government to effectively implement children-specific laws already enacted in the country. Students from different schools of Rawalpindi and Islamabad along with their teachers, civil society members and people from different walks of life participated in the walk, which was led by young Professor Zidane Hamid and Zonal Head of Tiflee Education Abdus Salam. Holding banners and placards to highlight rights of children, they marched from Super Market to the National Press Club. Speaking on the occasion, Zidane Hamid stressed the need of structured and strengthened coordination among relevant government departments, which were key stakeholders in promotion and protection of children's rights to get positive results of the programmes initiated by them. He said the main problem faced by children in Pakistan was poverty. About 24 per cent of the country was below poverty line, residing mostly in rural areas, he added. The first victims of poverty, he said, were children, who witnessed complete deprivation of their rights, including lack of education and poor access to health services etc. Zidane said one child in six died before the age of five. The nutritional status of children was very poor as 35% of them were underweight, more than 50% suffered from stunted growth and around 9% from emaciation. Every day, around 1,100 Pakistani children under five years of age died of diarrhoea and illnesses related to water, sanitation, and hygiene, he claimed. Zidane said access to healthcare facilities was a challenge in rural areas where many families could not afford even basic medical treatment facilities. Furthermore, recurring natural disasters had a strong impact on the health of people as well as infrastructures across the country, he added. He said there were around 11 million children performing domestic tasks and working in agriculture sector, while others workd in textile industry (specifically making carpets), construction, or even automotive industry. "Children in carpet factories have to work up to 20 hours a day, seven days a week. They are forced to sleep, eat and work at the same place. This puts a considerable strain on their health as they work in very cramped conditions and in places detrimental to their health." Abdus Salam, in his brief address, said free education was right of every child, but only 71% of children in Pakistan attended Primary school, which meant 23 million were deprived of education. Moreover, ratio of boys getting education was higher than than girls. He urged the media to support child rights campaigns and asked the government to include child laws in the educational curricula. He said Pakistan was a key stakeholder in regional action plan for prevention and elimination of child labour. The government should ensure child rights under recommendations of the United Nations and improve labour inspection system, he added. An explosion occurred in a residential building in Azerbaijan's western city of Ganja, and there may be people trapped under the rubble, the country's Emergencies Ministry told Sputnik on Tuesday. BAKU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) An explosion occurred in a residential building in Azerbaijan's western city of Ganja, and there may be people trapped under the rubble, the country's Emergencies Ministry told Sputnik on Tuesday. "An explosion occurred in a residential building in Ganja. As a result, part of the block caved in. According to preliminary data, there are people under the rubble," a representative of the ministry said. The representative added that according to preliminary information, a gas leak may have been the cause of the blast. (@rukhshanmir) Cambodia will not allow foreign military bases on its soil, strongman premier Hun Sen said Monday, swatting away US concerns about a possible Chinese naval site near hotly contested seas. Phnom Penh, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Nov, 2018 ) :Cambodia will not allow foreign military bases on its soil, strongman premier Hun Sen said Monday, swatting away US concerns about a possible Chinese naval site near hotly contested seas. China has lavished billions of Dollars in soft loans, infrastructure and investment on the poor Southeast Asian kingdom, providing Prime Minister Hun Sen with a fast growing economy that he wields as justification for his 33-year authoritarian rule. In exchange Cambodia has been a staunch China ally. It has seeded disunity among the 10-member ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations over a diplomatic pushback to Beijing's aggression in the strategically pivotal South China Sea. Rumours a Chinese naval base is under construction off Cambodia's southwest coast have been swirling. The area under scrutiny is in the Gulf of Thailand but gives ready access to the South China Sea. Beijing claims most of the flashpoint area, infuriating the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan who all have competing claims to its islands and potentially resource-rich waters. But in comments during a cabinet meeting, broadcast on Facebook live, Hun Sen denied military bases of any kind have -- or will be -- built on Cambodian territory. "I have received a letter from Mike Pence, US Vice President, regarding concerns that there will be a China naval base in Cambodia," he said. "The constitution of Cambodia bans the presence of foreign troops or military bases in its territory.... whether naval forces, infantry forces or air forces." The US, once the region's undisputed military power, is acutely aware of the strategic and trading importance of the South China Sea and insists it remains international waters. US, Australian and British warships have increasingly conducted "freedom of navigation" operations through the sea to press that point, infuriating Beijing. Hun Sen dismissed reports of a Chinese base as "information that only tries to manipulate the truth." "I will reply to the letter form US Vice-president Mike Pence to make him understand clearly about the issue," he said. Chinese-bankrolled casinos, developments and dams have mushroomed in recent years, fanning growth but incubating resentment among some Cambodians who fear the country is increasingly in the pocket of the regional superpower. Several joint military exercises have also taken place while in June Beijing promised $100 million to modernise Cambodia's military. "China and Cambodia are friendly neighbours... co-operation between the two sides is open and transparent," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at press briefing in Beijing. "It is not aimed against third parties and cannot be unfairly criticised." China has established military positions on disputed outcrops in the South China Sea and intimidates fishermen and naval vessels from rival countries. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang last week sought to soothe anxieties, backing a rule book on behaviour in contested waters to be finished in three years"We are not and we will not seek hegemony or expansion," he added, ahead of a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Singapore. Critics have countered that China has deliberately spent years negotiating the rulebook with Southeast Asian neighbours to buy time to build up its military bases. (@rukhshanmir) The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the Thai government have signed a memorandum of cooperation with the aim to boost bilateral trade and increase investment, the EEC said in a statement on Monday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th November, 2018) The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the Thai government have signed a memorandum of cooperation with the aim to boost bilateral trade and increase investment, the EEC said in a statement on Monday. "The EEC and the Thai government have signed a memorandum of cooperation. The document aims to develop collaboration between the Eurasian Economic Union [EAEU] states and the Kingdom of Thailand. It will help increase the trade in goods and services, intensify investment in the future," the statement said. According to the statement, the two parties intend to cooperate in such areas as regional economic integration, trade policy, customs and technical regulation, energy policy along with harmonizing sanitary and phytosanitary measures. "The implementation of the memorandum will contribute to strengthening relations between the EAEU countries and Thailand and, for sure, will give an impetus to the development of direct contacts between the representatives of business communities and will finally have a positive effect on the well-being of the citizens of our countries," Tatyana Valovaya, the minister in charge of the main directions of the EEC integration and macroeconomics, said, as quoted in the statement. The EAEU, comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, is an organization that encourages regional economic integration through the free movement of goods, services, and people within the union. (@rukhshanmir) The claims alleging that Russia's GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) might be used in the Central American region for espionage purposes represent speculations in the spirit of Cold War, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada told Sputnik on Tuesday. MANAGUA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) The claims alleging that Russia 's GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) might be used in the Central American region for espionage purposes represent speculations in the spirit of Cold War, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada told Sputnik on Tuesday. Russia's first GLONASS station in Central America was commissioned in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua in April 2017. Since then media reports alleging that the satellite station might be used by Russia for spying on other countries have been emerging from time to time. "When it comes to relations between Russia and the Latin American countries, you can always find someone who is eager to revive the phenomena of Cold War," the minister said commenting on the media reports claiming that the GLONASS station in the country might be Russia's spying center in the region. The minister added that Russia and Nicaragua enjoyed friendly and fraternal cooperation, which contributed to the development of the both countries. "[The GLONASS station] is intended not for espionage or intelligence purposes but for the use in accordance with the purposes of a satellite system education, prevention of natural disasters and elimination of its consequences, [monitoring of] climate change," the minister said. The GLONASS station was set up in Nicaragua within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement on space cooperation that was ratified by the Russian parliament in July 2014. The Organization of American States (OAS) has been interfering in Nicaragua's internal affairs and is directly responsible for the turbulent situation in the country, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada told Sputnik on Tuesday. MANAGUA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) The Organization of American States (OAS) has been interfering in Nicaragua's internal affairs and is directly responsible for the turbulent situation in the country, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada told Sputnik on Tuesday. The situation in Nicaragua has recently been tense due to the ongoing protests in the country triggered by the government's decision to increase the social security contributions of employers and employees to the social insurance funds. Despite the fact that the reform was then scrapped, deadly protests continued. Since the beginning of the protests the OAS has repeatedly criticized the country's authorities for alleged human rights abuses and violent actions against protesters in tackling the mass actions. "The OAS is the one that is most directly linked to the case of Nicaragua, it engaged in a clearly interfering, interventionist activity," the minister said. In August, the OAS approved the establishment of a special working group responsible for the searches for a solution to the violent protests in Nicaragua. Moncada then criticized the step as interfering in the country's internal affairs. Last week, the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry revealed that at least 198 people were killed during the deadliest period of protests in April-July. Since the beginning of mass actions in the country, protesters, led by opposition political forces, have amplified their demands and are calling now for the holding of early election in the country. The country's president has rejected the demand, characterizing the situation in Nicaragua as a conspiracy against the country. (@FahadShabbir) To their home country from Jordan and Lebanon over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for the Reception, Allocation and Accommodation of Refugees said on Tuesday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) More than 780 Syrian refugees have returned to their home country from Jordan and Lebanon over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for the Reception, Allocation and Accommodation of Refugees said on Tuesday. "Over the past day, in total, 781 people returned to the Syrian Arab Republic from the territory of foreign states: 132 people (40 women and 67 children) left Lebanon for Syria via the Jaydet-Yabus and Talkalakh CPs [checkpoints], and 649 people (195 women and 331 children) from Jordan via the Nasib CP," the center said in its daily bulletin. The center added that over 257 internally displaced Syrians had returned to their homes in Eastern Ghouta, Deir ez-Zor and Damascus provinces over the given period. According to the bulletin, the Syrian engineering units also defused 39 explosive devices in the country. 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. Moscow is assisting Damascus in this process, along with providing humanitarian aid to civilians and being a guarantor of the ceasefire. At the grass roots in Venezuela In late October the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) called for an urgent meeting with President Nicolas Maduro to discuss a series of government shortcomings in the area of workers and campesinos (small farmers) rights. The proposed meeting, according to the general secretary of the PCV, Oscar Figuera, should be held with the gloves off and in the context of the electoral agreement between the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and the PCV. The communists accuse the government of not fulfilling any of the points of the February accord. The government is yet to respond to the call from its allies, despite continuing negotiations that seek to achieve a unified PSUV-PCV list of candidates for the coming local elections. Speaking to the press last month, Figuera drew Maduros attention to the inaction and lack of response of public authorities to the demands of the organised campesinos and in particular those of the Admirable March. Their demands include the handing over of title deeds to land, an end to state and military-backed landlord violence, often including paramilitaries or hired thugs, and greater efficiency and less corruption in government schemes for helping campesinos to increase national production. Following a successful reception by President Maduro, the joint working groups established by the government and the marching campesinos have stalled, forcing the latter to stage a short-lived hunger strike to force the government to address these issues. Since Maduro met the campesinos, promising to put an end to landlord-backed attacks, a number of assassinations and attacks have taken place, particularly in the provinces of Barinas and Zulia (Sur de Lago). Campesino leaders have received threats and persecutions [from landlords], and the competent authorities such as the police, the National Guard and others, do not act, Figuera declared. He characterised those authorities as complicit and permissive in the aggressive policies of the landed classes. He reiterated that the campesinos will always find the communists on their side. The PCV also called on the attorney-general, Tarek William Saab who is at present reviewing a series of investigations by his predecessor, Luisa Ortega Diaz, now a fugitive to take a look at those who should be investigating in Barinas, where local landlords recently murdered the campesino leaders Reyes Orlando Parra, Pedro Vielma, and Jose del Real Aguilar. Last month the police authorities formally charged those captured for the murders, who are now awaiting trial. Attacks continued, however, in Sur de Lago, where campesinos condemned the wounding of a campesino leader, allegedly by the previous owners of a disputed plot of land. Figuera also denounced the fact that the PCV campesino leader in Barinas, Robinson Garcia, suffered an attempt on his life last week when bikers hired by landlords fired 15 shots into his truck. Garcia is heavily involved in defending the campesinos demands in the region. Another of the main points the Communist Party wishes to discuss is what it considers insufficient adjustments in the wage scales of public employees following the coming into effect of macro-economic reforms in August. Public-sector workers in many industries have held a series of demonstrations to demand new collective contracts and an adjustment in bonus schemes following the reconversion of the national currency. In several companies new collective contracts have been agreed between the Ministry of Labour and the pro-government Bolivarian Trade Union Federation, which the PCV claims has lost touch with workers demands. There have been meetings, the topic is being worked upon, but the results have been unacceptable, he said, citing oil and transport workers, among others. He also urged the national government, which the PCV does not participate in, to listen to the people and promote the leading role of the organised work force, claiming that the PCV has information showing that the new wage scales do not follow the proposals and demands discussed by the workers at the grass-roots level. Figueras demand was illustrated this week after workers took over the abandoned factory of Smurfit Kappa Cartones de Venezuela in Valencia, Carabobo state. The government responded to the workers request that it assume legal ownership of the factory, which was left derelict when the companys owners left the country without following the due procedures to cease production, in what is classed as an illegal closure under Venezuelan law. Following the petition the minister of labour, Eduardo Pinate, visited the offices of the company in Valencia, making the takeover official, in compliance with article 149 of the Labour Law. Last month, during a meeting with the workers congress, Maduro had railed against private-sector sabotage and urged workers to take over companies abandoned by the owners. From now it will be a goal for the working class to recuperate the productivity of this firm, Pinate stated on signing the transfer papers. He also commended the workers for their firm support of the Bolivarian process. We, the Valencia-based factories of corrugated cardboard, produce 80 percent of the national packaging, one worker claimed, and we can say that 80 percent of the factories are [now] operational with the support of the workers. They are also planning on producing packaging for the pharmaceutical and food industries, he said. The work-place of Smurfit Kappa Cartones de Venezuela SA is reactivated after the illegal closing by the bosses, so as to protect the jobs of hundreds of workers and their families. Socialist Voice (@FahadShabbir) Russian Muslims intend to intensify their efforts to help Syrians affected by the civil war and reconstruct buildings of religious and civil functions, muftis and imams from all over Russia told Sputnik after visiting Damascus as part of an interreligious delegation, led by Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations head Metropolitan Hilarion. DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) Russian Muslims intend to intensify their efforts to help Syrians affected by the civil war and reconstruct buildings of religious and civil functions, muftis and imams from all over Russia told Sputnik after visiting Damascus as part of an interreligious delegation, led by Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations head Metropolitan Hilarion. The interreligious working group aimed at providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria was established in 2017 in accordance with the decision of the Russian presidential Council for Coordination with Religious Organizations. The group is comprised of representatives of Christian denominations and Muslim communities of Russia. They visited Damascus last week to discuss humanitarian projects with Syrian religious leaders and Minister of Awqaf Mohammad Abdul-Sattar Sayyed at a round table meeting. "Today we can see that people are uniting in Syria against war. And we see that our parishioners are more and more willing to help their Syrian brothers to strengthen peace," Ildar Ziganshin, the member of the Presidium of the Central Spiritual Administration of Russian Muslims, said. At the meeting with Syrian religious leaders, the Russian delegation stressed it was prepared to provide its help, he added. "The Syrians have to decide and tell us which buildings need to be restored in the first place," Ziganshin stressed. He recalled his February trip to Syria as part of an interreligious humanitarian mission. During the visit, the delegation delivered 77 tonnes of food, purchased from voluntary funds donated by parishioners from all over Russia. "We are the generation that has started to forget what war is. And here [in Syria] we saw that peace is ... very fragile, and that civilians, and most importantly children, are suffering," Ziganshin pointed out. At the same time, Ziganshin noted that wealthy people were less willing to help others than poor since "the poor know what poverty is." Muhammad Rakhimov, the chairman of the executive committee of Russia's Northern Caucasus Muslim Coordinating Center and Mufti of Stavropol Territory, said that next year muftis from Russia's North Caucasus could visit Syria to learn what kind of help is needed there. "We are prepared to assist in the restoration of any building our Syrian brothers ask," Rakhimov stressed. At the dawn of the new millennium, "the Caucasus itself saw what death and war are," and therefore was quick to react to the conflict in Syria. Meanwhile, Deputy Mufti of Russia's Tatarstan Mansur Dzhalaletdinov said that Muslims from the autonomous republic "will help [Syrians] to restore damaged historical monuments and ancient mosques." He also said he was impressed with Syria's gratefulness for the help provided by the Russian government and people. "Most of our worries, of course, are about children. Some of them need medical assistance, and some of them need food, clothes," Ibrahimov pointed out," Imam muhtasib of the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk Salih Ibrahimov noted. The Russian interreligious delegation to Syria also included Sergei Ryakhovsky, the senior bishop of the Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals), and Russian presidential administration official Sergei Melnikov. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will provide assistance to Yemen in the amount of $500 million, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre's Supervisor General, Abdullah Rabeeah, said Tuesday. CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) will provide assistance to Yemen in the amount of $500 million , the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre's Supervisor General, Abdullah Rabeeah, said Tuesday. "Saudi Arabia and the UAE will provide additional [aid worth] $500 million to support humanitarian relief efforts in Yemen," Rabeeah said during a joint press conference with UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimi. Rabeeah added that this move aimed to deliver food to approximately 10-12 million Yemenis. Yemen has been ravaged by almost four years of war between an internationally-backed government aided by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels, which has pushed a half of the country's population to the brink of starvation. (@FahadShabbir) Discussions at the next round of consultations on Yemen in Sweden will focus on humanitarian issues, Hamza Alkamaly, a member of the government delegation to the UN-backed talks in Geneva and to the upcoming round of consultations in Sweden, told Sputnik on Tuesday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) Discussions at the next round of consultations on Yemen in Sweden will focus on humanitarian issues, Hamza Alkamaly, a member of the government delegation to the UN-backed talks in Geneva and to the upcoming round of consultations in Sweden, told Sputnik on Tuesday. Last week, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths announced that both the government of Yemen and the Houthis, officially known as the Ansar Allah movement, were committed to attending the consultations on Yemen. "In Sweden, they will be discussing humanitarian issues mainly, and there is a proposal, which will be offered by the UN special envoy, that will be discussed. I think if we could meet together we can make progress," Alkamaly said. The possible dates of the consultations in Sweden will be announced on November 29-30, according to an adviser to Yemen's minister of information, Mukhtar Al-Rahbi. In September, the United Nations attempted to hold peace talks between the warring parties in Geneva but the Houthi side said that they were prevented from leaving Yemen, allegations the Saudi-led coalition denied. Yemen has been gripped by a civil war between President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi's government and the Shiite Houthi movement since 2015. The government is backed by the Saudi-led coalition that has been carrying out airstrikes that target areas controlled by the Houthis since March 2015. DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st November, 2018) Syrian President Bashar Assad has agreed to pardon fighters from Jordan if Amman submits a list of persons whose release it wants to negotiate, the head of the Jordanian parliamentary delegation to Damascus, Abdul Karim Doghmi, told Sputnik on Tuesday. Doghmi, Jordanian ex-speaker, met with Assad in Damascus on Monday. A delegate who came with him told Sputnik their mission was to rebuild ties that soured after the 2011 war. "The talks were very positive. .. Assad told us, give me the list of detained Jordanians and we will pardon them, including those who rose against the state," Doghmi said. The Jordanian delegate said relatives of Jordanians who went missing in Syria had been reporting their Names to Amman. He added he was convinced that "the majority, if not everyone" would be released soon. Only the release of political prisoners and suspects held on terror-related charges will be on the table, Doghmi emphasized. (@rukhshanmir) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) US President Donald Trump is expected to add Venezuela to the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, local media reported on Tuesday. The Trump administration is getting ready to add Venezuela to the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, the Washington Post newspaper reported, citing US officials and internal government emails. The newspaper added that US officials and the Department of State declined to comment on the pending decision. However, the Washington Post noted that the State Department had recently asked for feedback on the proposed decision from agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Agency for International Development. On November 1, Trump informed the US lawmakers that he had signed an executive order to impose sweeping new sanctions on Venezuela's gold exports. Trump said that the measure came in response to the efforts of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro's government to plunder his country's wealth for their own "corrupt purposes." For years, Venezuela has been living in a state of a political and economic crisis, which was worsened by a decline in oil prices and sanctions introduced by the United States. Millions of Venezuelans have been seeking refuge, mostly in neighboring Latin American countries. According to the estimates of the United Nations, a total of three million people have left Venezuela, with around 2.4 million of them residing across Latin America and the Caribbean, including more than one million in Colombia. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) demands a public report by law enforcement on results of investigation into crimes against journalists, head of NUJU Sergiy Tomilenko said. KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th November, 2018) The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) demands a public report by law enforcement on results of investigation into crimes against journalists, head of NUJU Sergiy Tomilenko said. "The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine continues to demand heads' of law enforcement agencies public report on results of investigation into crimes against journalists. We demand to stop the wave of physical aggression against journalists and their activists," Tomilenko wrote on his Facebook page. He stressed that more than 160 cases of attacks against journalists had been registered in Ukraine since the beginning of 2017. According to him, there is not a single precedent of effective punishment for those who attacked journalists. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Humans Rights (OHCHR), from May to August 2018 there was an increase in the number of attacks on Ukrainian journalists. The OHCHR recorded 32 violations of the rights of media workers and civil society activists which was three times higher than for the previous reporting period. Besides that, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has repeatedly expressed concern about the lack of media freedom in the country. In March, OSCE media freedom chief Harlem Desir called on the Ukrainian authorities to properly investigate all cases of attacks on journalists. (@rukhshanmir) A key UN General Assembly's committee Monday unanimously passed a Pakistani resolution, co-sponsored this year by a record 83 nations, reaffirming the right to self-determination for peoples who are subjected to colonial, foreign and alien occupation UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Nov, 2018 ) :A key UN General Assembly's committee Monday unanimously passed a Pakistani resolution, co-sponsored this year by a record 83 nations, reaffirming the right to self-determination for peoples who are subjected to colonial, foreign and alien occupation. The draft resolution, which now goes to the 193-member Assembly for official endorsement next month, calls on countries to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories, and all acts of repression. Later, Pakistan 's Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi told APP that "the adoption of the resolution reaffirms the inviolability of the right to self-determination for all peoples without exception, including, of course, the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine". The resolution was adopted without a vote in the Assembly's Third Committee, which deals with Social, humanitarian and cultural issues. This year, the sponsorship of the resolution increased by eight, indicating the growing support for the peoples who have not yet exercised their inalienable right to self-determination. Under the terms of the text, the General Assembly would reaffirm the universal realization of the rights of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination as a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights. Diplomatic observers say the resolution serves to focus the world's attention on the struggle by peoples for their inalienable right to self-determination, including those in Kashmir and Palestine. Speaking to APP, Ambassador Lodhi said, "Pakistan has historically been a proud champion of self-determination, helping many states achieve independence. Our support for the right of peoples to self-determination against alien domination and foreign occupation remains undiminished." She added, "Cosponsorship of 83 states was a reiteration of the international community's continued support for the peoples' right to self-determination as a fundamental human right. "This right must be grated to all, without discrimination, from the people of Jammu and Kashmir to those in Palestine. " Earlier, introducing the resolution in the committee, the Pakistani envoy said the right to self- determination "forms the bedrock" of the most important human rights conventions, the covenant of civil and political rights and the covenant of economic social and cultural rights. The text also declared the General Assembly's firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world. The resolution called on those states responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories, as well as all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment. In her remarks, Ambassador Lodhi said,"It was the extensive exercise of this right during the latter half of the last century that effectively closed the dark chapter of colonization and resulted in the emergence of many nation states that are represented here today." She profusely thanked the cosponsors for showing their "firm and unwavering commitment to the right to self-determination for all occupied, oppressed and suffering people of the world." "The General Assembly's consistent support is commendable, as it reaffirms the continued relevance of the right to self-determination, and sends a strong message of support to peoples everywhere in the world who still find themselves subjugated and oppressed." Under the terms of the resolution, the General Assembly deplored the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of these acts and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour. It urges the Human Rights Council to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation. It also requests the Secretary-General to report to the next session of the General Assembly on this question. (@FahadShabbir) US Congressman from Massachusetts Joe Kennedy said in an opinion piece for Stat News on Tuesday that the United States needs to legalize marijuana on a federal level due to the speed with which state governments in the United States are legalizing the drug. "Given the rapid pace of state-level legalization and liberalization, I believe we must implement strong, clear and fair federal guidelines," Kennedy said. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th November, 2018) US Congressman from Massachusetts Joe Kennedy said in an opinion piece for Stat news on Tuesday that the United States needs to legalize marijuana on a Federal level due to the speed with which state governments in the United States are legalizing the drug. "Given the rapid pace of state-level legalization and liberalization, I believe we must implement strong, clear and fair federal guidelines," Kennedy said. "To do that requires us to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and legalize it at the federal level." Kennedy said that while he is still concerned about the public heath impact of marijuana, the best chance to deal with prevention and treatment for those addicted to it would be to treat it as a public health issue and not a criminal one. Although risks would remain, legalization would lead to "strong and clear national standards" that would ensure all Americans are treated fairly when it comes to marijuana usage and the criminal justice system, Kennedy added. A total of 33 US states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of marijuana in some form. Last month, Canada become the second country in the world to legalize the use of recreational marijuana. (@ChaudhryMAli88) High-ranking government officials from the United States and South Korea will meet this week to discuss ongoing efforts to achieve complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, the US Department of State said in a news release on Monday. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th November, 2018) High-ranking government officials from the United States and South Korea will meet this week to discuss ongoing efforts to achieve complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, the US Department of State said in a news release on Monday. "US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will meet with Republic of Korea Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon in Washington on Tuesday, November 20 to further strengthen our close coordination on efforts to achieve our shared goal of final, fully verified denuclearization," the release said. Biegun and Lee will also discuss sustained implementation of United Nations-imposed sanctions on North Korea and inter-Korean cooperation, the release added. The State Department said last week that North Korea continues to engage in illegal activities in order to evade sanctions imposed by the United Nations as well as those imposed by the United States. The State Department added that all the sanctions against North Korea will remain in place until a fully verified denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is achieved. Unwrapping Armageddon The erosion of nuclear arms control Terminating the Intermediate Nuclear Force Agreement (INF) treaty which bans land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of between 300 and 3,400 miles is not, in and of itself, a fatal blow to the network of treaties and agreements dating back to the 1963 treaty that ended atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. But coupled with other actions George W Bushs decision to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) in 2002 and the Obama administrations program to upgrade the nuclear weapons infrastructure the tapestry of agreements that has, at least in part, limited these terrifying creations, is looking increasingly frayed. Leaving the INF, says Sergey Rogov of the Institute of US and Canadian Studies, could bring the whole structure of arms control crashing down. Lynn Rusten, the former senior director for arms control in the National Security Agency Council warns, This is opening the door to an all-out arms race. Washingtons rationale for exiting the INF Treaty is that the Russians deployed the 9M729 cruise missile that the US claims violates the agreement, although Moscow denies it and the evidence has not been made public. Russia counter charges that the US ABM system Aegis Ashore deployed in Romania and planned for Poland could be used to launch similar medium range missiles. If this were a disagreement over weapon capability, inspections would settle the matter. But the White House in particular National Security Advisor John Bolton is less concerned with inspections than extracting the US from agreements that in any way restrain the use of American power, be it military or economic. Thus, Trump dumped the Iran nuclear agreement, not because Iran is building nuclear weapons or violating the agreement, but because the administration wants to use economic sanctions to pursue regime change in Teheran. In some ways, the INF agreement is low hanging fruit. The 1987 treaty banned only land-based medium range missiles, not those launched by sea or air where the Americans hold a strong edge and it only covered the US and Russia. Other nuclear-armed countries, particularly China, India, North Korea, Israel and Pakistan have deployed a number of medium range nuclear-armed missiles. One of the arguments Bolton makes for exiting the INF is that it would allow the US to counter Chinas medium range missiles. But if the concern was controlling intermediate range missiles, the obvious path would be to expand the treaty to other nations and include air and sea launched weapons. Not that that would be easy. China has lots of intermediate range missiles, because most of its potential antagonists, like Japan or US bases in Asia, are within the range of such missiles. The same goes for Pakistan, India, and Israel. Intermediate range weapons sometimes called theatre missiles do not threaten the US mainland the way that similar US missiles threaten China and Russia. Beijing and Moscow can be destroyed by long-range intercontinental missiles, but also by theatre missiles launched from ships or aircraft. One of the reasons that Europeans are so opposed to withdrawing from the INF is that, in the advent of nuclear war, medium-range missiles on their soil will make them a target. The Bush administrations withdrawal from the 1972 ABM treaty in 2002 was the first major blow to the treaty framework. Anti-ballistic missiles are inherently destabilizing, because the easiest way to defeat such systems is to overwhelm them by expanding the number of launchers and warheads. Bolton a long-time foe of the ABM agreement recently bragged that dumping the treaty had no effect on arms control. But the treatys demise has shelved START talks, and it was the ABMs deployment in Eastern Europe along with NATOs expansion up to the Russian borders that led to Moscow deploying the cruise missile now in dispute. While Bolton and Trump are more aggressive about terminating agreements, it was the Obama administrations decision to spend US$1.6 trillion to upgrade and modernize US nuclear weapons that now endangers one of the central pillars of the nuclear treaty framework, the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). That agreement ended the testing of nuclear weapons, slowing the development of new weapons, particularly miniaturization and warheads with minimal yields. The former would allow more warheads on each missile, the latter could increase the possibility of using nuclear weapons without setting off a full-scale nuclear exchange. The military and the nuclear establishment ranging from companies such as Lockheed Martin and Honeywell International to university research centres have long felt hindered by the CTBT. Add the Trump administrations hostility to anything that constrains US power and the CTBT may be next on the list. Restarting nuclear testing will end any controls on weapons of mass destruction. And since Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) requires nuclear-armed powers to eventually disarm their weapons of mass destruction, that agreement may go as well. In a very short time countries like South Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia will join the nuclear club, with South Africa and Brazil in the wings. The latter two countries researched producing nuclear weapons in the 1980s, and South Africa actually tested one. The demise of the INF agreement will edge the world closer to nuclear war. Since medium range missiles shorten the warning time for a nuclear attack from 30 minutes to 10 minutes or less, countries will keep their weapons on a hair trigger. Use them or lose them is the philosophy that impels the tactics of nuclear war. In the past year, Russia and NATO held very large military exercises on one anothers borders. Russian, US and Chinese fighter planes routinely play games of chicken. What happens when one of those games goes wrong? The US and the Soviet Union came within minutes of an accidental war on at least two occasions, and, with so many actors and so many weapons, it will be only a matter of time before some country interprets a radar image incorrectly and goes to DEFCON 1 imminent nuclear war. The INF Treaty came about because of strong opposition and huge demonstrations in Europe and the United States. That kind of pressure, coupled with a pledge by countries not to deploy such weapons, will be required again, lest the entire tapestry of agreements that kept the horror of nuclear war at bay vanish. globalresearch.ca Israel murders journalists Israels destruction of the al-Aqsa TV station in Gaza was condemned last week by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which declared solidarity with its affiliate the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS). The PJS condemned the attack as a crime against all Palestinian media and urged all Palestinian journalists to show solidarity with the journalists of al-Aqsa TV. The IFJ strongly condemns this latest violent attack targeting media conducted by Israeli forces and calls on Israel to stop the violence against all Palestinian media. We also show our solidarity with all Palestinian journalists, who every day work in dangerous conditions and face real dangers to cover the conflict in the region. Israeli aircraft first fired a warning missile at the multistorey building, allowing people to flee the site, before destroying it with additional missiles. On the Sunday night, Israeli warplanes killed six Palestinians pursuing an army unit that had staged an incursion into Gaza and assassinated a mid-level Hamas commander. Once the assassination squad was back in Israel, their car was obliterated by an IDF rocket. Hamas denounced the demolition of the al-Aqsa TV offices, which were previously bombed in December 2008. It reflects the enemys criminal mindset and is an attack on every free voice seeking to expose the enemys crimes, terrorism and violations at the expense of Gaza, the group declared. Hamas and other Palestinian resistance groups voiced their acceptance of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, but there was no immediate word from Israel on whether it had accepted the deal to halt the heaviest exchange of fire since 2014. Islamic Jihad spokesman Daoud Shehab said each side would promise quiet in exchange for quiet. Just an hour before the Palestinian declaration, Israels security cabinet said it had ordered the military to continue operations as needed, following a six-hour meeting. Morning Star Typhoon Yolanda devastated the land and the people of the Visayas region of the Philippines in 2013. Five years later more than 300,000 homes have already been built thanks to assistance provided by the Catholic Church. By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp Super Typhoon Yolanda is the most powerful typhoon to strike the Philippines in recorded history. It made landfall on 8 November 2013 in Guiuan, in the Philippine Province of Eastern Samar. It crashed into the Philippines with winds estimated at 305km/h (190m/h). A massive storm surge would later prove more destructive than Yolanda itself. Yolanda's destruction The storms strength was so massive, and the devastation so extensive that bodies were still being recovered two months later. In the Philippines alone, at least 6,300 people were killed. 1,800 others were declared missing. 1.1 million homes were damaged. 33 million coconut trees, an important part of the local economy, were destroyed. 4.1 million people were left without shelter in over 44 provinces. Rebuilding lives and homes A recovery program was set in motion in 2014. It encompassed shelter, water, sanitation and health, and the recovery of the ecosystem as well. After just 5 years, 300,000 homes have been built. That number does not include additional shelter provided by individual religious congregations and other Church-based organizations. 1.4 million Filipinos have been aided due to the coordination of efforts of various Caritas branches, including Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Switzerland, Caritas Italiana, Caritas Belgium, Caritas Germany, Caritas Austria, Development and Peace (D&P) and Cordaid. Listen to our report Massive response Caritas Philippines held an event on Friday commemorating the typhoons fifth anniversary. At that event, Fr Edwin Gariguez, Executive Secretary for Caritas Philippines, said that in the wake of the devastation, Caritas Philippines was left feeling incapable of implementing what would be the Churchs most massive, largest-funded and most comprehensive humanitarian response effort in the Philippines. The outpouring of Caritas aid totaled about 61 million USD. This, Fr Gariguez said, bears witness to the universal Churchs dedication to better the lives and restore the dignity of Typhoon Yolandas survivors. Caritas Internationalis Fr Gariguez praised Caritas Internationalis who provided not only funding, but disaster response experts as well. That is why we were able to accomplish so many things, he said. After initially being overwhelmed, Fr Gariguez said that Caritas Philippines is very proud of this accomplishment, yet humbled by the experience. Speaking to a delegation from the Maronite Catholic Church, Pope Francis thanks Lebanon for welcoming over a million refugees and for maintaining a balance between Christians and Muslims. Pope Francis addressed the Maronite Foundation and a delegation of Authorities from Lebanon on Tuesday. In brief remarks, Pope Francis jokingly compared the numerous group of people visiting to the multiplication of the loaves, as they were more than he had anticipated. The visit came on the same day as the Pope met with the bishops of the Maronite Catholic Church, who are in Rome for their ad Limina Apostolorum visit. Balance and generosity Pope Francis thanked the Lebanese people for two things. First, the Pope thanked them for maintaining a creative balance, as strong as the cedar tree, between Christians and Muslims. Second, he expressed his appreciation for their generosity and welcoming hearts, referring to their attitude towards refugees. Pope Francis acknowledged that Lebanon has welcomed over one million refugees fleeing violence. Finally, the Pope blessed those representing the Maronite Foundation and the Lebanese authorities. May the Lord bless you, your families, your homeland, your sons and daughters, and your refugees. Pope Francis is backing the #RedVenice initiative in Venice, Italy, Tuesday evening (Nov. 20), that aims to draw attention to and raise public opinion on the martyrdom and persecution of Christians in many countries around the world. By Robin Gomes Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin has sent a message on the Popes behalf to Patriarch Francesco Moraglia of Venice expressing his support for Tuesday evening's event in Venice called #RedVenice, sponsored by the Patriarchate of Venice, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN ), a Catholic charity helping persecuted Christians worldwide, and Venice municipality. During the #RedVenice event, numerous landmarks of the famous lagoon city, including the waters of the Grand Canal, will be bathed in red light, symbolizing the colour of the blood of persecuted Christians. The Holy Father is sending his affectionate greetings to the young people taking part in the diocesan pilgrimage promoted by the Patriarchate of Venice and the Aid to the Church in Need foundation, to sensitize public opinion on the drama of numerous Christians persecuted for their faith, Cardinal Parolin wrote in the message. He said the Pope hopes the "provident initiative will arouse due attention on the part of all to the serious problem of discrimination that Christians suffer in many parts of the world". Persecuted Christians The message noted there are many countries where a single religion is imposed or where there is violent persecution or systematic cultural mockery of the disciples of Jesus, denying them religious freedom, which, the Pope said, is a fundamental human right that must be recognized because it reflects mans highest dignity. Cardinal Parolin said the Pope is encouraging prayers so that Christians who find themselves in difficult conditions can prove themselves strong in the face of trials, feeling the closeness of the entire Catholic community, so they can be a seed of new vitality and hope for the Church. The Holy Father encouraged all participants in the #RedVenice initiative "to be builders of reconciliation and peace everywhere". Romes most famous landmark, the Colosseum, was lit up in red on February 24 this year in a similar event as a sign of solidarity with all those who are persecuted for their faith. Asia Bibi The #RedVenice event in Venice will be focusing attention on women who suffer for their faith, especially Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Catholic woman on death row since 2010 who was acquitted of blasphemy by the countrys Supreme Court on October 31. In a video message sent to Aid to the Church in Need on the eve of #RedVenice, Asia Bibis daughter, Eisham Ashiq expressed her gratitude to all for their prayers and efforts for her mother. She hopes her family will be reunited finally and be able to visit Venice soon. Eisham Ashiq's video message Below is a working translation of Eisham Ashiqs video message: "I want to thank all of you who continue to pray for my mother. I would also like to thank those courageous judges and the judiciary system of Pakistan who have finally recognized the innocence of my mother. My gratitude also goes out to all the governments, including Italy's, who are worried about our future and safety. We were in Rome last February when Aid to the Church in Need had the Colosseum illuminated in red. My mother was in prison at that time, but this time, when Venice will be illuminated red, she is finally free, thank God. I hope very soon that our entire family, united and finally happy and free, will be able to visit Venice. Thank you to all of you who this evening in Venice and throughout the world are praying for my mother and for all persecuted Christians." Pope Francis has shifted the Catholic Churchs annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees from January to September, the Holy See spokesman, Greg Burke said in a statement on Nov. 20. Pope Francis has shifted the Catholic Churchs annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees from January to September, the Holy See spokesman, Greg Burke said in a statement on Tuesday. At the request of various Bishops Conferences, the Holy Father has moved the World Day of Migrants and Refugees to the last Sunday of September, the statement read. Thus, the next World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the 105 th , will be celebrated on Sunday 29 September 2019. As usual, the text of the Holy Fathers Message will be released some months before the World Day, Burke added. Origins The origins of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees can be traced to 1914, a few months before the outbreak of World War I. Touched by the drama of millions of Italians who had migrated abroad since the beginning of the 20th century, Pope Pius X called on all Christians to pray for migrants. A few months later, his successor Pope Benedict XV instituted the Day of the Migrant to support spiritually and economically the pastoral work for Italian emigrants. In 1952, Migrant Day took on a broader and more international connotation and the particular Churches were called upon to choose a date to celebrate the day during the liturgical year. St. John Paul II was the first pontiff who, since 1985, has issued a message each year drawing attention to some of the specific realities and difficulties of people on the move, calling the Church to action. In 2004, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People extended the day to refugees calling it the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. At the behest of St. John Paul II, since 2005, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees has been celebrated by the Universal Church on the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany. On the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, January 14, 2018, Pope Francis announced the change in the date of celebration which will be the last Sunday of September. Fighting breaks out in the Yemeni port-city of Hodeida as efforts towards a cease-fire accelerate. By Nathan Morley Yemeni army officials have accused the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of firing in the eastern part of the city on Monday afternoon, with reports claiming pro-government forces responded, and then, Saudi-led coalition jets launched air-strikes. The Saudis have accused Tehran of shipping arms to the rebels through the port a charge Iran denies. Separately, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have said they would spend $500 million to tackle food shortages in Yemen, as the country heads towards the worst famine anywhere in the world in a century. Listen to Nathan Morley's report Meanwhile, a proposed UN resolution urges Yemen's warring parties to re-launch negotiations to end the three-year conflict and take urgent steps to tackle the dire humanitarian crisis. It also calls for a halt to missile and drone attacks and for all roadblocks preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to be removed. UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock says Yemen's economic crisis and escalating conflict had pushed the nation closer to famine. Another UN official said 12 million of the 28 million Yemenis are just one step away from famine. Known for its classic glamour, impeccable service and signature Italian recipes, Cipriani Las Vegas in Wynn Plaza Shops at Wynn Las Vegas is now open. This is the brands first West Coast location (Pictured: Ciprianis Classic Vanilla Meringue). Guests can experience a true taste of Venice with Ciprianis Bellini, created in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani Sr. at the original location, Harrys Bar. Additional menu items include signature dishes such as carpaccio alla Cipriani, baked tagliolini with ham, Chilean sea bass alla Carlina served with rice pilaf, homemade potato gnocchi al Gorgonzola and sinfully delicious desserts such as vanilla meringue, tiramisu and vanilla ice cream a la minute. Designed by Florentine architect Michele Bonan, the restaurant features classic Cipriani design elements, including a nautical feel, glossy walnut and chrome accents and terrazzo floors. Additionally, photographs of models including Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell shot by Marco Glaviano, color accents and various lighting touches are all unique to the Las Vegas space. The restaurant also features a separate private dining area perfect for intimate affairs. We are very excited to welcome many of our loyal customers and also new visitors and residents of Las Vegas to our first West Coast location, said Giuseppe Cipriani, third-generation member of the Cipriani family. We look forward to sharing our Italian cuisine and warm attentive service, both essential to the Cipriani tradition of to serve is first to love, with guests from around the world. Revolution and the end of war Newspaper readers in Britain looking back from November 1918 would have appreciated that the balance of military forces on the Western Front, after four years of relative stability, had changed crucially in the Allies favour since August, causing the front to move remorselessly eastwards towards Germanys frontiers. But readers remained insulated from the human reality of the wars daily horrors by authoritarian censorship and by unconditional support for the war given by war correspondents and mainstream editors, who were generally even reluctant to draw attention to the decisive role since the summer of the fresh million-plus US army. In 1936, the then editor of this papers predecessor, the Daily Worker, Rajani Palme Dutt summed up the war in his classic World Politics. The war of 1914 was inevitable in the sense that imperialism could find no other solution for its conflicts ... The outbreak of the war ... revealed that the world forces unloosed by imperialism had fully outstripped the control of the statesmen of imperialism ... The war, once begun, drove forward with its own murderous logic ... The Gordian knot ... was finally cut by the sword of the revolution ... The Russian Revolution ended the war in the East. The German Revolution ended the war in the West. An armistice with Turkey the Ottoman empire took effect on October 31. Its surviving empire dissolved, with Britain and France eager to digest vacant properties such as Palestine and Syria. Then came an armistice between the Western Allies and Austria-Hungary, just after Hungary had declared itself a separate republic. A preliminary overture to the US from Kaiser Wilhelms Germany in early October was succeeded by exchanges of messages and increasing readiness to concede defeat. So, wrote communist journalist Allen Hutt, in his 1937 Post-War History of the British Working Class, Hapsburg and Hohenzollern followed Romanov into the dust. In Britain, at the highest political level, prophecies about when the war would end changed swiftly. At a meeting on October 19 between Prime Minister Lloyd George, War Cabinet colleagues and generals, it was concluded that the war would continue until some time after the commencement of the 1919 campaign. On October 27, Lloyd George and his News of the World proprietor friend Lord Riddell agreed upon a slight shade of odds in favour of an armistice before Christmas. On the 26th, Labours weekly Herald, edited by George Lansbury, inserted in its editorial the latest published British weekly casualty list, heading it with the words: The cost of going on. The figures were: Dead 5,866, Wounded 29,453, Missing 1,481. The editorial pronounced: Germany has at last committed what is, in the eyes of our jingoes, the most unpardonable sin. He has left us nothing to fight about. Total army casualties so far that year, the War Cabinet, but not the public, was told on November 1, were 800,000. On November 3 a Sunday a mass meeting of trade unionists took place at Londons Albert Hall. The Independent Labour Partys weekly, the Labour Leader commented the following week: Over an hour before the time of commencement the Albert Hall was packed, there must have been over 8,000 persons present ... It was soon obvious that the meeting was more revolutionary than the resolution. The resolution certainly called for peace but did not insist on the left formula of self-determination of nations and no annexations or indemnities. An amendment proposed to change this state of affairs was refused. Nevertheless, when a speaker declared: What we want is a Soviet government in Britain, God speed the Social Revolution and long live the Socialist Republic, he was vociferously cheered. The same day another demonstration for the release of outstanding Scottish socialist John Maclean from his viciously punitive five-year jail term awarded in May for anti-war speeches took place on Glasgow Green. Speakers from four platforms addressed an estimated 25,000 workers. Maclean, believing that, when in prison on a previous occasion, he had been given drugged food, had been refusing to eat after the privilege of receiving his own food from outside the prison had been withdrawn. The British Socialist Partys The Call put a question to the Workers of the World in the issue of November 7: What are the workers going to do for John Maclean? Do they know what it means to be forcibly fed through an India rubber tube forced down the gullet? Do they know that food so administered enters the stomach without mastication or mixing with saliva, which are the preliminaries in the process of digestion? Do they know that the absorption of food thus administered causes horrible pain? On November 4, an Allied Western Front attack across the Meuse proceeded at the cost of many deaths, including that of Wilfred Owen, the 25-year-old poet responsible for an unforgettable verse record, at that time unpublished, of the horrors and miseries of the Western Fronts trenches, associated with anger about dying for an empty cause. The German armies still held their retreating line. Kaiser Wilhelm resigned on the 9th and fled to Holland. Germanys new government, headed by Social Democratic leader Friedrich Ebert, surrendered in the name of an armistice on the 11th with Germanys borders intact. Germanys revolt had developed dramatically. On October 24, Germanys High Seas Fleet had been ordered to make a last-ditch attack against Britain, but an unexpected, unprecedented mutiny of German sailors was the answer. By early November the sailors, not their commanders, were in charge, first in Kiel and then in other centres including Lubeck and Hamburg, joined by factory workers and soldiers. Among the many anti-war political prisoners released by a troubled government were socialists Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. Liebknecht was released on October 23 and welcomed in Berlin by more than 20,000 people and Luxemburg on November 8. In Berlin on the 9th, from the steps of the imperial palace, Liebknecht announced the establishment of a German soviet republic and, that same day, Luxemburg addressed a mass rally. There was no let-up in the war against Bolshevik Russia, drawing in France, Japan and the US. On November 2 the Herald commented, under the heading Remember Russia: From Archangel, from Vladivostok, and from Persia, the Allied armies are menacing the Soviet Republic. The pretext of rescuing Russia from German influence is virtually abandoned. The cry is already raised that even if peace comes with Germany, the war against the Bolsheviks shall continue. On November 4, the War Cabinet noted that 1,500 men were required in Baku and could be there in a fortnight. On the 10th Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Sir Henry Wilson, recorded a War Cabinet discussion The real danger now is not the Boche but Bolshevism. If the world war was over, the title of his pamphlet The War After the War symbolised what would follow. Morning Star May holds her first cabinet meeting since two ministers quit last week over a divorce deal with the European Union. (Photo: AFP/Adrian Dennis) The Conservative leader holds her first cabinet meeting since two ministers quit last week over a divorce deal with the European Union, raising fears the government might collapse. Downing Street said May will travel to Brussels on Wednesday for talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to discuss an outline agreement on future UK-EU trade ties after Brexit. Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said the meeting was scheduled for 1630 GMT. The British parliament is set to vote on both the divorce deal and the future relationship agreement next month. Some Eurosceptic members of May's divided party say the exit agreement gives too much to Brussels and have tried to launch a leadership challenge, but have yet to muster the support needed for a no confidence vote. Many more MPs still oppose the Brexit deal, however, including the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up May's government - and which late Monday used a budget vote to flex its muscles. The Northern Irish party abstained on three votes, despite their deal to support the Conservatives on finance matters, and even sided with the opposition Labour party on a fourth. "We had to do something to show our displeasure," DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson told the BBC. Without the support of the DUP's 10 MPs, the Conservatives have no majority in the Commons, the 650-seat parliamentary chamber which will have the final vote on the Brexit deal. Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, a leading Brexiteer, said the government had made "a deliberate decision not to deliver a proper Brexit". He said a decision on whether or not May would face a confidence vote would come "in due time". This opposition raises the risk that Britain ends its four-decade membership with the EU on Mar 29, 2019, with no other arrangement in place. Labour minister John Trickett said: "We no longer have a functioning government. With Brexit only a few months away, something has got to give." BROKEN PROMISES In an editorial in the Belfast Telegraph, May sought to persuade Northern Ireland residents about the deal and warned about what would happen if it is voted down by parliament in a vote expected early next month. She said it would put the British province "in a fantastic position for the future" and said it "preserves the integrity of our union". "I am determined to do my job and deliver the best deal possible. "It will then be time for MPs to do their job and to choose: move forward with this deal in the national interest, or go back to square one with all the chaos that would entail," she said. The deal agreed with the EU last week covers Britain's financial settlement, expatriate citizens' rights, and a 21-month post-Brexit transition period in which the two sides hope to agree a new trading relationship. But the DUP and many Conservatives are outraged by the "backstop" plan that would keep Britain in the EU's customs union, and Northern Ireland in elements of the single market, if this trade deal is not ready by then. This is intended as an insurance plan to keep the border open between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland if and until the new trade arrangements resolve the issue. The plan would mean Northern Ireland has closer economic ties with Ireland than mainland Britain. The deal has won widespread backing from the business community, and Bank of England governor Mark Carney, addressing the issue on Tuesday for the first time since last week's draft deal, also welcomed the agreement. He told MPs that the draft would support current forecasts based on "a smooth transition" for the British economy. May will travel again to Brussels on Sunday alongside the other 27 EU leaders to sign off the Brexit deal. R&J Italian lounge & restaurant at The Reverie Saigon Lovers of Italian wines will not want to miss this opportunity to enjoy a sumptuous, six-course tasting menu by the estate's Chef Giuseppe Sposito, served with an impressive range of Tuscan wines paired by Banfi Wine Ambassador Guillaume Blanchard. Dating back to the 9th century, Castello Banfi is a family-owned vineyard estate and winery located in Tuscanys Montalcino region. The estate was founded on the philosophy of blending tradition with innovation, and is recognised as a pioneer in elevating the standards of Italian winemaking. Born in Brusciano, a province of Naples, Chef Sposito began working in restaurants at only 16 years of age before attending the culinary school Istituto Alberghiero in Cicciano. He then worked at the Michelin-starred restaurant Parizzi in the city of Parma, and the 2 Michelin- starred Perbellini. He subsequently moved to the restaurant of Castello Banfi. At Banfi I have continued to create good food and cultivate my passion for cooking, expressed through the simplicity and elegance of fine dining, he said. Chef Giuseppe Sposito The dinners on November 21-24 are VND1,488,000++ or VND2,488,000++ with paired wines Kai Speth, vice president of Operations and Business Performance of WMC Group, which operates The Reverie Saigon, said the Castello Banfi wine dinner continued the hotels tradition of hosting superior culinary events. We are very pleased to have Chef Sposito with us all the way from Italy for what promises to be memorable nights for Saigons lovers of fine food and wine, he said. Dai-ichi Life also lined up at the races of Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018 As a part of the activities to mark the 45th anniversary of Vietnamese-Japanese diplomatic ties, on November 18, 2018 the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Finance, Tuoi Tre News, and Mainichi News (Japan) entered into a co-operation to organise Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018 Run for Traffic Safety at Ly Thai To park, Hanoi. Besides sponsoring this intriguing event, 16 talented runners of Dai-ichi Life Vietnam took part in the run and reached Top 10 in Kizuna Group (Japanese companies), with the enthusiastic encouragement of more than 100 staff and financial consultants of the company. Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018 attracted the participation of over 800 runners from Vietnam, Japan, and other countries, creating a lively sport event which celebrates the booming relationship between two countries. Tran Dinh Quan, general director of Dai-ichi Life Vietnam, said, Each successful milestone of Dai-ichi Life Vietnam results from the generous instruction and support from local ministries and departments based on the great fellowship between Japan and Vietnam during the past 45 years. Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018 Run for Traffic Safety is a meaningful sporting and cultural event that highlights Japans regard for humanism. We are so proud of not only being the gold sponsor, but also getting a chance to genuinely compete in the relay race. We also deeply feel the value of teamwork, the power of gathering an individual into a group. Moreover, Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018 is also a good opportunity for us to connect, learn from colleagues and friends working at Japanese enterprises, as well as in other firms doing business in Vietnam. Dai-ichi Life's employees at the race Ekiden relay race is a long-distance relay running sport originated from Japan. Members in one team would hand over a Tasuki (relay band) at a designated place from the front runner to the next one. Tasuki passed through team members symbolises solidarity, cordiality, and Kizuna (friendship) that connects people. 2017 has marked the centenary since the establishment of Ekiden. Besides sponsoring this event, for over the past 11 years, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam has proudly pioneered and initiated various impactful philanthropic and community projects with the contribution of more than VND26 billion ($1.13 million), such as charity eye surgery programmes, providing clean water and scholarships for students in need, building rural bridges, blood donation, providing relief to flood-victim families, and granting charity houses, among others. Dai-ichi Life Vietnam was granted the Corporate Social Responsibility Award by Asia Insurance Review for two times, the first time in 2013 for the project For A Better Life providing clean drinking water for more than 24,000 pupils in the rural provinces of Vietnam and the second time in November 2015 for the project Million bricks for a happy life building 10 bridges in the rural areas of Vietnam. On January 17, 2018, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam was honoured to receive the Third Class Labour Medal, granted by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for its contributions to the economic development of Vietnam as well as its significant community works. In the first 10 months of 2018, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam has scored impressive business results with new premium revenue increasing by 56 per cent and total premium increasing by 49 per cent against the same period of 2017. Dai-ichi Life was founded in 1902 as Japan's first mutual life insurance company (Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company). After Dai-ichi Life demutualised and was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2010, it shifted to a holding company structure in 2016 (Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc.). Dai-ichi Life Group owns total assets of $485 billion and insurance premium revenue of $63 billion (as of March 31, 2018). Besides Vietnam, Dai-ichi Life Group has been developing its life insurance business in India, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, and the United States. Dai-ichi Life Group has opened its Asia-Pacific Regional Head Office in Singapore and North America Regional Head Office in New York. As a subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. and a member of Dai-ichi Life Group, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company of Vietnam, Ltd. (Dai-ichi Life Vietnam) was established in January 2007. This is the first foreign market that Dai-ichi Life Group expanded its business through a 100 per cent owned subsidiary. After more than 11 years of operations, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam now serves over 2.2 million customers through more than 1,300 staff and 80,000 financial consultants. Dai-ichi Life Vietnam is proud to hold the third position in terms of customer service network with nearly 280 offices and general agencies, covering 63 cities and provinces nationwide. Besides, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam received the prize of Top 100 Golden Star Brand 2015, Trusted Brand for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, Top 50 famous Brands 2014, 2018, TypicalCommercial & Service Business in 2010, 2013, 2016, and "Best Life Insurance Company" at the Golden Dragon Awards for 10 consecutive years (2008-2017). These prestigious national awards have demonstrated the exceptional achievements of Dai-ichi Life Vietnam, as well as its contributions to Vietnams economic growth. E-bike brands forge new road trend, photo: Duc Thanh Mother of two in Hanoi, Nguyen Huong Lan, is excited by VinFasts first electric motorbike. If youre a fan of eco-friendly transportation, then these roadworthy electric motorcycles are for you. I believe the electric motorbike will be widely used, she said. Her reasons for the praise include the easy buy, easy ride theme, and lack of fuel smell and fewer emissions. Lan is not the only one enthused about the electric motorbike. It is predicted that the electric scooter and motorcycle market globally will hit 60 million unit shipments by 2024 the equivalent of $55 billion, according to market insights. It is safe to say that there is a lot of room for manufacturers to set their foot in the electric vehicle manufacturing industry in Vietnam. NEW PLAYER Doan Linh, CEO of manufacturer Pega, said that Vietnam has been slower than other countries in terms of electric vehicle development, and while the potential of the market is huge, Vietnamese enterprises have not paid sufficient attention to investment in recent years. Indeed, Vietnam did not have any electric motorcycle manufacturing factories to speak of, until VinFast launched its first model in the northern city of Haiphong, and unveiled its electric motorcycle manufacturing factory, with the annual output of 250,000 bikes in the first phase, after more than a year of construction. The facility can churn out up to one million bikes a year. The participation of VinFast is expected to boost the domestic electric vehicle market, and create competition for gasoline scooters and bikes in the time to come, said a motorcycle dealer on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hanoi. Research on the role of motorbikes in Vietnam conducted by Vu Anh Tuan from the Vietnamese-German Transportation Research Centre shows that motorbikes currently occupy the most significant position in transportation in the country. Moreover, beyond 2030 they will still be commonly used in spite of peoples increasing income. Currently, the Vietnamese motorbike market is dominated by foreign players. Five members of the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM) namely Piaggio, Suzuki, SYM, Yamaha, and Honda have reported sales this year higher than those of the previous year. The total number of motorbikes sold by these companies rose from over 2.8 million in 2015 to over 3.1 million in 2016, and to nearly 3.3 million in 2017. According to a recent VAMM report, its members sold 783,940 motorbikes of all kinds in the second quarter of 2018, up 6.1 per cent on-year, raising the total number in the first half of this year to nearly 1.6 million. To prepare for the long term, VinFast and Vietnam Oil Corporation (PV Oil) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on implementing charging stations and leasing batteries for electric vehicles. The co-operation with PV Oil would be the beginning of VinFasts plan to set up 30,000-50,000 charging stations and battery leasing terminals nationwide. Under the MoU, PV Oil will provide 600 petrol stations nationwide for VinFast to install its charging station system in the first phase. This will rise to 20,000 stations by 2020. Based on these locations, VinFast will be able to flexibly deploy models to meet the needs of customers in terms of electric power, including fast charging systems, battery rental and overnight charging stations. In addition to identifying locations, VinFast is promoting the development of battery charging stations using advanced intelligent green power control technology. This system will allow the identification of vehicles and customers automatically, understanding habits to facilitate as well as taking care of customers effectively. Customers can also pay for fast charging and battery charges with Vingroups loyalty card (VinID), as well as other payment methods. TRENDS AND MARKET PREDICTIONS Electric two-wheelers, which include vehicles ranging from bicycles to scooters, are becoming increasingly popular and important forms of urban transport in Asian cities, particularly in China. The potential environmental benefits to Asian cities of electric two-wheelers could be significant, especially if they replace gasoline scooters and motorcycles, according to an Asian Development Bank report on electric two-wheelers in India and Vietnam. Electric scooters and motorcycles have been categorised into 48 volts (V), 24V, 36V, and are available in even more voltages like 60V and 72V. Speeds range from 30 to 70 kilometres per hour. All electric scooters and motorcycles can be recharged by plugging them into ordinary wall outlets, usually taking about eight hours to charge fully. Vo Tri Thanh, former deputy director of the Central Institute for Economic Management, said that the increasing global release of carbon by burning fuel on roads has been a great concern for environmentalists and governments from the past decade. This concern has led to an increase in further demand for electric vehicles and their adoption worldwide. According to Thanh, electric scooters and motorcycles, while reducing the carbon footprint on the environment, have gained significant interest from various governments as an efficient and reliable type of light motor vehicle. To encourage the use of environmentally friendly vehicles with low emissions, benefits such as reduction in registration tax and other liabilities have been offered by governments of different countries. This factor is significantly responsible for the rise in the development and adoption of electric scooters and motorcycles in various countries, Thanh said. As per the findings of the research by Vu Anh Tuan, electric scooters were in higher demand than electric motorcycles. Sealed lead acid battery vehicles have been the largest revenue contributor in the global market. However, lithium-ion battery-based scooters and motorcycles are expected to witness the highest growth in the demand during the forecast period. China has been the largest market on the globe for these electric vehicles, while the Indian market is expected to witness the highest growth. Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for more than 90 per cent of global electric scooter and motorcycle shipments in 2016. The highest growth in shipments is expected in Europe during the forecast period. However, shipments in North America are also expected to grow at nearly the same rate. The growth of the electric scooter and motorcycle market in the Asia-Pacific is due to rapid urbanisation and increase in household incomes, which is encouraging consumers to replace their fuel-driven two-wheelers with electric variants. China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea are the major electric two-wheeler markets in the Asia-Pacific. Other major markets in the region include Australia and Vietnam. Ecokids awaits children with a green environment and staff trained to the highest Japanese standards Visiting Ecokids GoldmarkCity Hanoi on a cold rainy day of November 2018, the gloom was dispelled by the happy smiles on the faces of children and the warm atmosphere and green coverage at Ecokids. This was indeed the green of trees and of hope. I met Tran Thi Huong, who regaled me with her impressive rise from a HR director of several well-known companies to become the founder of Ecokids. DREAMS OF JAPANESE QUALITY Remembering 2013, when she moved to Ecopark Green City in the southeast of Hanoi, Tran Thi Huong could not find a qualified kindergarten for her kids because at the time there were almost no such kindergartens at Ecopark. I was so worried and tossed and turned for many nights until an idea sparked in my mind: opening my own international-standard kindergarten for my children. All I want is to bring a warm and loving house to children, make them feel happy like they were at home, said Huong, who is general director of Ecokids Training and Creation JSC. Huong took the risk of quitting her well-paid jobs as HR director at FLC Group, Ecopark, Sacombank, and deputy director of a number of other companies to devote all her time to the education cause and began preparations by selecting modern infrastructure and equipment, as well as qualified and experienced teachers. It was a challenge and a tough decision because it would turn my life upside down, especially my family life. I seemed to have far less time for my home and spent the whole day working on Ecokids, Huong shared. The fruits of her toils ripened when the kindergarten was full of children in just five months all resulting from her vision of creating a truly unique and welcoming kindergarten that offers high-quality facilities but is affordable nevertheless. Ecokids pays due attention to outdoor activities by placing emphasis in its curricula on helping children enjoy and discover nature and get plenty of exercise, thus igniting their curiosity and awakening their inner potential. What is more, Ecokids helps children improve their life skills and approach bilingual curricula, with all foreign teachers being qualified with university certificates and other relevant qualifications. Ecokids now co-operates with the famous MaySchool English training centre to provide qualified English teachers for its network. I am pleased to send my children to Ecokids. Their English language skills and life skills have improved much. Especially, they became more active and self confident. At first, I had doubts about so-called international schools, but now I think differently: they are not at all the same, Ecokids is different, said N.T.M., the mother of two kids, both of whom learn at Ecokids. With trust and encouragement from parents, Huong continues her desire to further improve the quality, thus helping the next generations better adapt to globalisation and future trends. Huong has worked with many international education groups in Singapore and Canada on potential partnerships and she decided to choose Global Kids under Global Group one of the five most prestigious and high-quality education groups in Japan. After long travels and discussions, I chose Global Kids because Japan is famous for the quality of education and training. Moreover, Japanese culture is closer to Vietnams, Huong said. Operating more than 160 facilities with over 6,200 children, Global Kids can support Ecokids to standardise curricula, management methods, and the training of teachers. The two sides have regular meetings to discuss improving training quality and ensuring proper nutrition for the children. The co-operation with Global Kids is a special distinction elevating Ecokids head and shoulders above competition, building on the 5S management standards of Japan: SERI, SEITON, SEISO, SEIKETSU, and SHITSUKE, creating common standards from infrastructure to teaching quality. Ecokids wholesome curriculum includes playful education and ample physical activity to raise children to be not only healthy and active but ready for life in an advanced world FUTURE EXPANSION PLANS Boasting six educational facilities, mostly in Hanoi, Ecokids plans to boost its presence nationwide by franchising, starting from 2019. I am going to open kindergartens in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen next year, where we can build on the rapid development of industrial parks and increase in residential areas. The provinces are also adjacent to Hanoi and locals incomes have been steadily growing, Huong said. The plan for 2019 means to lay down the foundations of strong expansion in 2020 when Ecokids and Global Kids will launch the Global Ecokids kindergarten network, expecting to bring the highest quality education for the future generations of Vietnam. Through the co-operation with Global Kids, Ecokids is confident to stand firm in the market amid stiffening competition from domestic and foreign players. Vietnam has been on the radars of domestic and international education groups, driven by a growing middle-class and foreign direct investment (FDI). At present, so-called international kindergartens are popping up all across Vietnam in anticipation of growing local demand. However, their quality remains an issue of special concern. Global Kids is an example of the recent moves by foreign investors to break into the local education sector. The Japanese group is pursuing its plan to expand in Vietnam by franchising. A number of businesses from European and Asian nations have also made similar moves. As shown by statistics from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, education has risen to the ninth rank among foreign-invested sectors as of October 20, 2018 with a total of 443 valid projects worth $4.34 billion. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (fourth from left) and other ASEAN leaders at the opening ceremony of the 33rd ASEAN Summit in Singapore, photo VNA Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, together with other leaders from ASEAN member countries, attended the plenary session of the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Singapore. He reiterated Vietnams initiatives on a regional digital platform, a cross-ASEAN mobile network, establishing the ASEAN Technology University, and a regional disaster alert system. At the plenary session of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi on September 12, the prime minister also suggested several intra-regional partnership mechanisms in several fields pertinent to Industry 4.0. He called for a regional data sharing mechanism and a cross-ASEAN mobile network, saying that data is the cornerstone of Industry 4.0. PM Phuc regards the small- and medium-sized enterprise community as the backbone of the ASEAN economy, and recommended establishing a talent incubator, saying that a startup atmosphere is truly permeating the region as the ASEAN is known as the cradle of many new and innovative ideas around the world. In its development strategy, Vietnam has considered ICT development as a key to develop its digital economy, which will contribute to materialising the regions development goals. Themed Building a Resilient and Innovative ASEAN, the 33rd ASEAN Summit saw leaders discuss ways to promote ties, including increased co-operation in economy, trade, and infrastructure development; strengthening connectivity; working to cope with the changes in the global economy; and adapting to Industry 4.0 and addressing other global challenges. PM Phuc, together with other regional leaders, passed seven agreements related to smart city, climate change and post-disaster recovery, and green employment for the ASEAN Communitys inclusive and equal development. Notably, the adoption of the framework on smart cities will push the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) initiated by Singapore closer to materialisation in the near future. Vietnam has nominated its three cities of Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh for pilot development under the ASCN. The ASCNs concept note was adopted by the 32nd ASEAN Summit, also in Singapore, this past April. The ASCN, including the names of 26 cities, is envisioned as a collaborative platform where three cities per ASEAN member country work towards a common goal of smart and sustainable urban development. The ASCN will attract the participation of multilateral financial institutions such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, as well as the Global Infrastructure Hub and global investors, a representative from Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs told VIR. Vietnam will need to develop action plans for its three cities before they can be considered for funding and investment by development partners and investors. The action plans will contain specific projects and actions that Vietnam will undertake from now until 2025, in its desired areas of focus. Under the ASCN, smart city development covers many sectors such as transport, water quality, energy, healthcare, education, public services, and information and communications technology. In light of the often-differing priorities of cities, the ASCN will be designed to allow members to focus on areas that matter to them, in line with each citys local and cultural context. Like the other 23 regional picks, Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City will be linked up with private sector solution providers to kick-start practical and commercially viable projects with tangible outcomes. They will also pair up with specific external partners on a voluntary basis, and form mutually beneficial partnerships to drive smart city development. With Vietnam becoming an attractive investment spot, many Indian companies have boosted investment in the country, photo: Le Toan Indian President Ram Nath Kovind will pay a state visit to Vietnam on November 18-20 during which time the two nations are expected to ink several partnership deals and a joint statement. Representatives of about 80 Indian firms will join the visit. Operating across many sectors, including energy, agriculture, healthcare, services, IT, tourism, and education, they will meet with Vietnamese partners to discuss business and investment co-operation plans at a Vietnam-India business forum in Hanoi. About 200-250 Vietnamese businesses will attend. It is expected that the leaders of the two countries will discuss specific proposals to boost bilateral co-operation in energy and a series of new sectors which will help reach their bilateral trade turnover target. Vietnam and India have pledged to explore new trade and investment opportunities of identified priority, including hydrocarbons, power generation, renewable energy, energy conservation, infrastructure, textiles, footwear, pharmaceuticals, machine tools, agriculture and agro-products, tourism, chemicals, ICT, and other services. According to a joint statement released in March, Vietnam expressed its welcome for Indian renewable energy and energy conservation projects in the country. It also welcomes Indian businesses to expand their oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities on Vietnamese land and continental shelf, as well as exclusive economic zone, and to this effect suggested that Indian companies file concrete proposals for the blocks offered by the Vietnamese side. Both sides agreed to actively pursue the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration in oil and gas exploration projects in third countries. The Vietnamese side also welcomed Indian oil and gas companies to seize opportunities in the midstream and downstream sectors in Vietnam, read the statement. Vietnam has also taken note of Indias request to actively consider signing the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance with a view to strengthening co-operation in renewable energy. Indian Ambassador to Vietnam, Parvathaneni Harish, recently told VIR how co-operation in oil, gas, and renewable energy are an important focus for the ties between India and Vietnam in the near future. Many Indian businesses operating in the solar and wind energy industries are looking for investment opportunities in Vietnamese provinces, he said. Indian energy developers, such as Tata Group, Adani Green Energy Ltd., and Suzlon Energy Ltd., are dreaming of big green energy projects in Vietnam thanks to the countrys favourable renewable energy development policies. Tata Group is now constructing the $1.8 billion Long Phu 2 thermal power plant in the southern province of Soc Trang, which is scheduled to be completed by 2022. According to Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of October 20, India had 201 valid investment projects in Vietnam registered at $876.7 million. Currently, further tariff cuts under the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement part of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) are expected to be a key driver of a surge in Vietnamese-Indian trade turnover and a rise in Indian investment in Vietnam in the near future. According to statistics from Vietnams General Statistics Office (GSO), in the first nine months of 2018, the total trade turnover between Vietnam and India hit $8.27 billion, up from $5.62 billion on-year, with Vietnam earning $5.17 billion from exporting goods to India, and spending $3.1 billion on Indian goods. Last year, the total bilateral trade turnover reached $7.62 billion, with Vietnam earning $3.75 billion from selling goods to India and spending $3.87 billion on importing Indian goods. The rise in trade largely came from tariff cuts under the AIFTA. Under the Vietnamese governments Decree No.159/2017/ND-CP on Vietnams special import tariff scheme to implement the AIFTA for the 2018-2022 period, 5,668 lines of tariffs, accounting for 59 per cent of the scheme, will be either removed or reduced. Tariffs on over 4,000 product lines were eliminated last year. The last period for tariff reduction or complete elimination under the various categories for the country is set for 2024. Going, going Ghosn: Nissan and Mitsubishi look set to oust charistmatic chairman Carlos Ghosn after his arrest for alleged financial misconduct AFP/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA The two automakers have already said they will propose removing Ghosn, and Renault - which the titan also heads - said it would meet later in the day to discuss his fate. The arrest of the superstar executive sent shockwaves through the auto industry and beyond, and Japanese officials scrambled to send reassuring messages about the stability of the three-firm alliance that Ghosn oversaw. "Keeping a stable relationship (among the companies) is important," industry minister Hiroshige Seko told reporters. "As the government, we will do anything we can," added Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, without elaborating. It was a stark indictment on the legacy of the 64-year-old, until now feted for his success in turning around failing companies with hard-nosed tactics that earned him the nickname "Le Cost Killer" in France. In France, the government said it had found no evidence Ghosn had cheated on his taxes there, though the allegations levelled by Tokyo prosecutors did not include any claim of tax evasion. A day after the astonishing news of Ghosn's arrest first emerged, there was vanishingly little new information about his situation and no official confirmation on his whereabouts. However, sources confirmed he was being held at a detention centre used by Tokyo prosecutors. Television footage showed a van reportedly belonging to the French embassy entering the compound on Tuesday. Japanese prosecutors have said Ghosn is being held on suspicion of under-reporting his income by around 5 billion (US$44.5 million) over five years. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said a months-long investigation prompted by a whistleblower had uncovered years of financial wrongdoing, including the under-reporting of his salary and misuse of company assets. Public broadcaster NHK reported Nissan had provided Ghosn with houses in four countries "without any legitimate business reason," and that Nissan paid "huge sums" for the homes in Rio de Janeiro, Beirut, Paris and Amsterdam. Representative Director Greg Kelly, who was also arrested on Tuesday with Ghosn, reportedly ordered other executives to "hide salaries", the Yomiuri Shimbun said. It also reported that some compensation due to other executives ended up going to Ghosn, without specifying how the process had worked. Local media reported prosecutors had negotiated a plea bargain for only the second time since Japanese law changed this year that would allow Nissan officials who are cooperating to receive lesser charges or lighter penalties. The massive scandal prompted Nissan shares to plunge, closing down 5.45 per cent in Tokyo, while Mitsubishi had fallen 6.84 per cent by the end of the trading day. 'IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY' As Ghosn's once towering legacy unravelled, there was no word from the auto boss or any of his representatives. Instead, his own handpicked successor as Nissan CEO accused him of accruing too much power, in a harshly worded news conference on Monday. "Too much authority was given to one person in terms of governance," Saikawa told reporters at Nissan's headquarters. "I have to say that this is a dark side of the Ghosn era which lasted for a long time." It was an almost unthinkable turn of events for Ghosn, who had earned a virtually unparallelled reputation, particularly in Japan, for his role in resurrecting Nissan. Ghosn has dominated the country's corporate landscape, and is a well-known figure among the Japanese public, who know him as "Mr Fix It", partly through a popular manga comic of his life story. But the tables have now turned, with the Yomiuri Shimbun on Tuesday describing executives at Nissan slamming Ghosn as "greedy". "He says the right things, but in the end it's all about money," the daily quoted senior employees as saying. Nissan said the ongoing investigation had uncovered years of misconduct by Ghosn and Kelly but refused to be drawn on whether other people were involved, saying only: "These two gentlemen are the masterminds, that is definite." The news sparked concern in France, where the state owns a 15 per cent stake in Renault. President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would be "extremely vigilant" about the stability of the firm and its three-way tie-up. Despite his international renown and rock-star status, particularly in Japan where he was a rare foreign-born executive, Ghosn was not without his detractors. He earned admiration but also anger for his ruthless restructuring at firms like Nissan. And his pay packet was regularly the subject of criticism, including at Renault, where it sparked a spat with shareholders. All of the boys went on to find their connection with Peter Pan to be a bit more torturous than magical. Many had uneasy relationships with the controlling Barrie, and they were mercilessly hounded by the press, who would report their every move and, annoyingly, call all of them "Peter Pan" -- even though one of them really was named Peter. And the headlines weren't always terribly positive. Two of the boys died young, and under devastating circumstances. George died in World War I at age 21, and Michael drowned at age 20 while swimming with a friend in their university's pool. It's widely believed that this was a suicide, since he couldn't even swim. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Unsurprisingly, Peter was the most heavily tormented by his association with Peter Pan. It continued to haunt him into old age, and he eventually threw himself in front of a train in London. Naturally, the headlines read "Peter Pan Commits Suicide." The Vietnamese education system has been checking off target after target in recent years, Photo: ISHCMC In the afternoon of November 3, at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong met with 55 of the best performers of Vietnamese schools and universities in the 2017-2018 school year. According to the leader, although limitations do still exist in the education sector and the country keeps striving for more, Vietnamese education is on a level it has never reached before. A recent report by the Ministry of Education and Trainings (MoET) Continuing Education Department shows that the current rate of literate people between the ages of 15 and 60 is nearly 98 per cent, reaching the target set for 2020. This year was also the first year that Vietnams two major universities Ho Chi Minh City National University and Hanoi National University made the list of the top 1,000 most reputable universities worldwide. On the Asian scale, the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Can Tho University, and Hue University joined the two national institutions in earning high rankings. The pilot operational mechanism reform model at public higher education units, particularly the deployment of the self-reliant model at universities, have brought positive changes, helping the training units to become totally autonomous in the not-too-distant future. A new student-centred model of learning and teaching, called the Vietnam Escuela Nueva (VNEN), was deployed extensively at the primary education grade across the country. The model was designed to better engage students in class, with teachers serving as facilitators, and involving parents as well as other community members more in making learning relevant to children. The VNEN project, worth about $84.6 million and funded by the Global Partnership for Education, ran across more than 2,300 primary schools and about 1,000 secondary schools between 2013 and 2016. After the project ended, the MoET encouraged schools across the country to continue applying the model. RECENT SUCCESSES The achievements of the country were attained after five years of implementing Resolution 29-NQ/TW on comprehensive reform of Vietnamese education and training, which set the target of Vietnamese education reaching regional advanced level by 2030. The recent improvements of the Vietnamese education system have been praised by prestigious international organisations. The World Bank noted that seven out of the worlds 10 leading education systems are in the East Asia-Pacific region, which includes the impressive development of the Vietnamese and Chinese education systems. Meanwhile, the quality of Vietnamese students aged 15 has surpassed the average level of students in the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries. In 2016 the MoET enacted the national qualification framework with a view to standardising the national education system and pushing up co-operation in education. Vietnams current qualification framework matches the ASEAN region and Europes reference qualification framework, and equals about 70 per cent of the global qualification ladder. The eight-level structure perfectly fits the existing system, of which the elementary grade features three levels, making it convenient to flexibly organise training courses. According to experts, effective implementation of the national qualification framework could promote life-long learning for all. The MoET is finalising a network of higher education units linked to the countrys socioeconomic development plans and human resources development plans, as well as penning investment projects on the development of high-quality higher education units. It is also striving to reach regional and international standards in key sectors, presenting policies in the direction of reducing the establishment of public units, and encouraging the establishment of private and non-profit foreign-backed training units at the higher education level. DIVERSIFYING INVESTMENT About 20 per cent of the state budget is channelled into the education and training sector annually, and this sum has increased by VND92.5 trillion ($4.02 billion) in the past five years. There is a big gap, however, between Vietnam and other countries when it comes to average spending per student. Statistics show that the US takes the lead in this respect with $19,000 per student, followed by Australia with $17,000 and the UK with $15,000. While Chinas figure sits at $3,500 and Thailands $2,500, the average spending per student in Vietnam is a mere $630. The call for investment into education has attracted considerable resources from the private and foreign-invested sectors into founding non-public training units. In the 2017-2018 academic year, there were a total of 43,907 education units in the whole sector, including 40,952 public training units (93.2 per cent) and 2,955 non-public units (6.8 per cent). In addition, the international school model has been developing robustly in recent years, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City which is home to 19 foreign-backed schools employing 1,345 teachers and 10,799 students, 5,080 of whom are Vietnamese. The international school format has created a conducive learning environment for the children of foreigners working in Vietnam, as well as of overseas Vietnamese coming to work here, and plays a part in luring foreign investment. Before the enactment of government Decree No.73/2012/ND-CP on foreign investment and co-operation in education, Vietnam was only home to 10 foreign-backed schools, but today the country hosts a total of 29 such schools. Similarly, the number of foreign-backed universities rose from two in the period before the enactment of Decree 73 to five at present. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have taken the lead in attracting foreign investors into education where about 450 English training centres were founded. The recent influx of foreign capital into education has attested to the potential of the international education format in Vietnam. Some of the most eminent cases include the International Finance Corporation (IFC) venturing into Vietnam-USA Society and VUS English training centre, investment fund Mekong Capital partnering with YOLA English teaching centre, and the Institution of American Education (IAE) investing in Western University. Earlier, leading global schools group Cognita bought both the International School of Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon Pearl Primary School. Investment fund North Anglia purchased British International School, and alternative asset firm TPG had acquired Vietnam-Australia International School (VAS). Besides deals in education in the form of investment funds venturing into international schools and English teaching centres, joint training programmes have experienced a boom to meet burgeoning requirements for high-quality training but at a lower cost compared to that of international schools. MoET figures show that as many as 531 joint training programmes with foreign partners have been approved, 339 of which are operating and 192 have ceased operations. About 80,000 people have taken part in these joint training programmes and more than half have received certificates. One of the largest advantages of privatising education is that Vietnamese education has benefitted from the transfer of new modern technologies in teaching, learning and educational management which has enabled the sector to integrate deeply and broadly into the region as well as globally. In respect to Vietnamese education, one of the reasons that make Vietnam very appealing to international investors is the high number of Vietnamese students going abroad to study each year. The number of Vietnamese studying overseas has increased by 10-12 per cent annually, according to a MoET source. In 2017 the figure surpassed 150,000, more than 6,000 of whom (4 per cent) went abroad to study with scholarships funded by the state. In 2012 the figure was only 100,000 students. According to Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha, the annual expenses of Vietnamese students abroad came to $3-4 billion, which explains the robust development of firms providing overseas study consultancy services in Vietnam. According to figures from the MoETs International Co-operation Department, Vietnam is currently home to 1,312 organisations providing overseas study consultancy services. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday denied reports that a Chinese-built port in Koh Kong province could be used to dock China Navy vessels. A report published by online newspaper Asia Times last week quoted analysts as saying that the deep-water port being built by the Union Development Group (UDG) was large enough to host frigates and destroyers. Cambodias constitution prohibits the government from allowing foreign powers to build military bases in Cambodian territory. Speaking during a cabinet meeting in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said Cambodia doesnt allow foreign military bases regardless of whether its for naval forces, infantry forces, or air forces. We denied all the information that was fabricated as the truth. We want to officially clarify today and I will write a letter to Vice President Mike Pence informing him about the issue, he added. Pence was expected to raise the issue with Hun Sen during a meeting of world leaders in Singapore this week. Hun Sen went on to say that he would not allow Cambodia to become a stage for conflict or for testing ideologies or arms. A US Embassy spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. Last week, Prak Sokhon, foreign minister, also categorically dismissed the rumor. The Asia Times article suggested that if the port became a de facto Chinese naval base it would place Cambodia firmly within Beijings strategic camp amid heightening US-China tensions. China holds nearly half of Cambodia's $6 billion in foreign debt, and it is Cambodia's biggest trading partner. Chinese investment is transforming Cambodia's real estate market and gaming industry, particularly in Sihanoukville, a special economic zone. Much of this has been driven by China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which will build $1 trillion in roads, bridges, railways, ports and power plants in more than 70 countries to steer global commerce its way. Billed as China's win-win drive for creating economic opportunity in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, the infrastructure investments, such as deep-water ports, are being met with increasing skepticism. China's maritime BRI projects, the so-called "String of Pearls" in coastal states of the Indo-Pacific, have long been seen by many analysts as a move "to create de facto overseas military bases for China's military forces," according to a recent report by C4ADS, an NGO. While studies have found these "ports lack the infrastructure necessary to support a conventional war," the report said, "this finding does not rule out fears that China is attempting to use its commercial ports as logistical support points for long-range naval patrols defending its interests abroad." The two sides in Yemen's three-year war are signaling they may be ready to end the fighting. The Saudi-led military coalition which supports Yemen's internationally recognized government has ordered a halt in its offensive on the key Yemeni port of Hodeida, the country's main entry for food imports. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels say they are halting drone and missile strikes on the coalition forces. VOA's Zlatica Hoke reports. Israel is seeking to expand its pool of experts in the language and policies of its arch-enemy Iran, through a project of a retired Israeli general who has found a new calling in the classroom. VOA Persians Michael Lipin reports from the only school in Israel not far from Tel Aviv, where kids are learning Farsi in the hope of defending their country from Iranian threats while seeking to understand the Iranian people. Since protests began against the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's in April, there have been at least 420 violations against press freedoms in the country. That is according to the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation. The Trump administration has also accused Ortega's government of undermining democratic institutions and violently cracking down on dissension and freedom of speech. VOA's Gesell Tobias has this report from Managua. Russian prosecutors announced new criminal charges against U.S.-born Kremlin foe Bill Browder on Monday, days before a Russian police officer could become president of Interpol in a move that some Moscow critics fear might politicize the law enforcement agency. Browder and other opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin have complained that Russia has tried to use Interpol against them. If a Russian is elected as its new president, it could encourage Moscow to intensify attempts to hunt down its critics abroad. The new charges leveled against Browder accuse him of forming a criminal group to embezzle funds in Russia. They also alleged that he could be behind the death of his employee, Sergei Magnitsky, in a Russian prison. Magnitsky, a 37-year-old lawyer who alleged he had uncovered $230 million in tax fraud by Russian officials, died in 2009 while in pre-trial detention. A Russian presidential commission concluded he had been beaten and denied medical care, and two prison doctors were charged with negligence leading to his death; one was acquitted and the other went free because the statute of limitations had expired. Browder mounted an international campaign to bring Magnitsky's killers to justice, and in 2012, the U.S. Congress passed the Magnitsky Act that imposed travel and financial sanctions on top Russian officials, including prosecutors. Several other countries have since adopted similar legislation. Browder, who had owned a major investment fund in Russia before he was barred entry to the country, was convicted in absentia in Russia on charges of tax evasion and funneling money overseas in both 2013 and again last year, and sentenced to nine years in prison. On Monday, Mikhail Alexandrov of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office told reporters that they have opened a criminal case into the poisoning of three people described as associates of Browder, saying it was "highly likely'' that Magnitsky was poisoned as well with the same military-grade substance. Browder has blamed Russian prison officials for Magnitsky's death and dismissed the new charges against him as a sham. He told The Associated Press that he has no relation to the three men named by the prosecutors and described the accusations of poisoning as an attempt to discredit his campaign for justice for Magnitsky. Putin's "reaction is so absurd that it only helps our campaign and our cause,'' he said. The Russian prosecutors said they decided to pursue the new charges against Browder after reviewing evidence submitted by Natalia Veselnitskaya, a Russian lawyer who met with Donald Trump Jr. and members of his father's presidential campaign in 2016 and who lobbied for the repeal of the Magnitsky Act. That meeting at Trump Tower occurred in June 2016 after the younger Trump was told by an intermediary that she represented the Russian government and was offering Moscow's help defeating Hillary Clinton. Emails later released by Trump Jr. show that she had been described as a "Russian government attorney.'' The timing of the new charges against Browder comes as the Netherlands is preparing to host diplomats from all European Union member states to discuss a pan-EU Magnitsky Act. But the charges also come two days before Interpol's general assembly, meeting in Dubai, is expected to elect its new president, and one of the front-runners is Alexander Prokopchuk, who holds the rank of general in the Interior Ministry, which runs the police force. The officer had headed Interpol's Russian bureau before taking the job of Interpol's vice president in 2016. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters Monday that the Kremlin is "rooting for the Russian candidate and we would like the Russian candidate to win this election.'' Interpol works as a clearinghouse for national police services that are hunting down suspects outside their borders, issuing "red notices,'' or alerts that identify a person wanted by another country. While its charter explicitly proclaims its neutrality, the organization has faced criticism that governments have abused the "red notice'' system to go after political enemies and dissidents. Two years ago, Interpol introduced 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 says it enhanced the work of an appeals body for those targeted with red notices. Browder noted the timing of the announcement of the new charges against him and the Interpol election, tweeting: "On the eve of Interpol deciding whether a Russian official should be president of Interpol, the Russian prosecutor's office holds a huge press conference about me and how they will chase me down anywhere in the world.'' At the news conference, prosecutors said they will be placing Browder on Interpol's wanted list and they expect its cooperation. Russia has previously tried to get Browder placed on the wanted list, but the body has rejected the efforts, viewing his prosecution as politically motivated. He was briefly detained in Spain in May but released after police found that the arrest warrant for him was no longer valid. Browder said Prokopchuk's possible appointment "puts the organization in a grave danger of being fully discredited.'' Other Kremlin critics also have raised alarm about the possible politicization of Interpol. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has faced a flurry of detentions and criminal charges, tweeted Monday that his associates "have suffered abuse'' from Interpol officials who were complying with Russian warrants to persecute Kremlin opponents. "I don't think that a president from Russia will help to reduce such violations,'' he said on Twitter. Similar concerns surfaced when the previous Interpol president, Meng Hongwei, was named because he was a senior security official in the Chinese government. China has also been accused of trying to use Interpol for political ends. Meng is now detained in China as part of a sweeping purge against allegedly corrupt or disloyal officials. Asked about the upcoming vote at Interpol in connection with the Browder case, Prosecutor General's Office spokesman Alexander Kurennoy told reporters that Moscow views the organization as "trusted partners'' and expressed hope that "the procedures will be followed in a regular manner'' when it submits an arrest warrant for Browder. A group of Canadian diplomats who left the embassy in Cuba after suffering unusual health symptoms say their foreign ministry has abandoned them, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported on Monday. Canada said in April it would remove the families of staff posted to Havana, where both Canadian and U.S. diplomats have complained of dizziness, headaches and nausea. The diplomats complained that the foreign ministry unlike the U.S. State Department had said very little about the matter in public and did not appear to be making their case a priority. Getting specialized medical care has been difficult, they added. "We did not expect to be abandoned, or more precisely, sacrificed that's how we're feeling now," the paper quoted one of them as saying. Several of those affected believe Ottawa has said little in public because it wants to maintain friendly relations with Cuba, the Globe added. An official at the Canadian foreign ministry did not respond directly when asked about the diplomats' complaints that they had been abandoned, but said the situation was very difficult. "It is really an unprecedented type of incident, which has a lot of uncertainty. Our response to it has evolved since we first became aware of it," said the official, adding that Ottawa had done its best to make medical care available. The official requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. U.S. and Cuban officials met at the State Department in September to discuss the mysterious health problems. The United States has reduced embassy staffing in Cuba from more than 50 to a maximum 18. NBC News said in September that U.S. officials believe the health problems may have been caused by sophisticated electromagnetic weapons. The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) the union representing rank and file diplomats said the initial government reaction had been inadequate, in part because no one had experience of such a problem. "Everyone is worried because if you don't know what something is, and it's unpredictable, nobody can say for sure that (it) isn't going to happen again," PAFSO president Pamela Isfeld said in a phone interview. "I totally do not blame them for being very unhappy with this." Adam Austen, a spokesman for Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, said she was deeply troubled by the health problems the diplomats were experiencing. Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited the Philippines on Tuesday to further strategic gains made under President Rodrigo Duterte, who hailed a "new impetus" behind a relationship that his massive infrastructure ambitions could depend on. Xi's visit comes two years after the maverick Duterte declared he was reorienting his foreign policy away from longtime ally the United States and towards China, despite decades of mistrust and bitter maritime disputes with Beijing. Duterte is facing criticism from opponents for making too many political concessions to China in return for billions of dollars of pledged Chinese loans and investments that have yet to materialize, or be committed to formally. The two leaders on Tuesday oversaw 29 agreements of sorts, many of them broad or vague, from cooperating in education, culture and industrial park development to jointly promoting infrastructure, agriculture cooperatives and establishing sanitation protocols for shipping coconuts. Duterte said there was "a deepening trust and confidence" between them and he and Xi had discussed increasing trade and investment, and China's involvement in his signature $180 billion "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program. "With mutual respect, sincerity and adherence to sovereign equality, I will continue to work closely with President Xi," he said. However, of the 38 Philippine projects earmarked for Chinese involvement two years ago, only four were among the commitments made on Tuesday. One was approval for a Chinese loan for building a $232.5 million dam, another a hiring of a consultancy for a rail plan. The other two were to start feasibility studies on an inter-island bridge, and a highway in Duterte's home province. Xi said he and Duterte would elevate their relationship to one of "comprehensive strategic cooperation," adding that they had many common interests in the South China Sea, and would continue to "manage contentious issues." Submissive strategy Duterte's management of those issues has frustrated nationalists, who say he has been submissive in refusing to criticize China's military buildup, or asking for its compliance with a 2016 arbitration award that invalidated its claim to almost the entire waterway. Though public opinion is largely supportive of Duterte's presidency, surveys consistently show reservations about his China policy and his personal dislike of the United States. A Social Weather Stations poll of 1,200 Filipinos released on the eve of Xi's visit showed 84 percent felt it was wrong not to oppose China's militarization of its man-made islands in the South China Sea. It also showed trust in the United States remained "very good," but China was considered "poor." Asked about that survey, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte's strategy was to avoid a conflict while reaping the rewards of improved business. "They are not aware of the real geopolitics in the region. The president is a very cautious diplomat," Panelo told news channel ANC. "Rather than provoke, he'd rather talk with them and get some trade relations that will benefit this country." In comments prior to the two leaders' meeting, Panelo accepted the slow pace of China delivering on its investment pledges, but said he expected Duterte to be brave enough "to exert pressure" on Xi. "Knowing the man, he'll do that, he's that kind of person," Panelo said. Duterte has heaped praise on Xi for his economic support, but some analysts say he is being exploited. Other Philippine experts say delays in securing Chinese credit could be a blessing given the potential debt burden, echoing a warning delivered by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. Afghan officials say at least 50 people were killed and 83 others were wounded in a suicide bomb blast at a gathering of religious scholars in the capital, Kabul. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the attacker detonated his explosive-laden vest as people were gathered to mark the Prophet Mohammad's birthday at a local wedding hall. Health Ministry official Wahedullah Majroh told VOA at least 24 people were brought to the hospital in critical condition. President Ashraf Ghani condemned the horrendous attack. He declared Wednesday as a national day of mourning, saying the national flag will be flown at half-staff all in Afghan and diplomat missions abroad. Witnesses told reporters there were around 1,000 people inside the hall, including prominent religious scholars. The Taliban condemned the suicide bombing against the religious gathering, saying the insurgent group had nothing to do with the attack. The Talibans denial strengthened suspicions the bombing could be the work of Islamic States Afghan branch, known as IS Khorasan Province or ISK-P. U.S. Ambassador in Kabul, John Bass, tweeted that he is "Sickened and deeply saddened by tonights terror attack as the Ulema [clerics] Council marked the Prophets Birthday." He extended condolences from the U.S. government to the families and followers of those killed and wounded. Amnesty International also denounced the bloodshed in Kabul as a deliberate attack on civilians that constituted a war crime. Armed groups must immediately halt all attacks targeting civilians and indiscriminate attacks, while the Afghan government must make the protection of civilian lives its absolute priority, the rights group said in a statement. This attack also once again highlights the irresponsibility of countries in the European Union who claim Afghanistan is a safe place for refugees and asylum seekers to be returned to. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the blast. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), a total of 1,692 civilians were killed between January 1 and June 30 this year, marking the highest figure for civilian casualties recorded by the U.N. body A longtime Roman Catholic priest in Iowa has been removed from the ministry indefinitely after a girl complained a year ago that he improperly touched her, a diocese has confirmed. The fourth-grader alleged that the Rev. Brian Danner of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Humboldt rubbed the top of her leg while taking her confession, the Diocese of Sioux City told The Associated Press. The girl's parents were extremely upset and complained to church officials, recalled diocese lawyer Michael Ellwanger. The diocese reported the incident to the county attorney last December and has revoked Danner's ability to function as a priest indefinitely. Its review found that Danner's actions were inappropriate but didn't constitute sexual abuse, Ellwanger said. Authorities did not pursue a criminal investigation after the girl's parents said through a representative that they were unsure whether they wanted to move forward and never followed up, Humboldt County Attorney Jon Beaty said. Danner's attorney, Tom Mohrhauser, didn't return phone messages seeking comment. The diocese said Danner is living with relatives for now while his prospects for returning as a pastor are uncertain. The girl's family has not filed a lawsuit but is represented by Des Moines attorney Steven Durick, who said they were motivated to protect other children. Their biggest concern is having somebody like this just released and sent out into the world, he said. The news comes as the diocese is under scrutiny after acknowledging last month that it had covered up the Rev. Jerome Coyle's 1986 admission that he had sexually abused 50 boys over the prior 20 years. A total of four men have now come forward saying they were victimized by Coyle, Ellwanger said. Danner, 51, has been with the diocese since 1995, serving throughout northwestern Iowa, including at parishes in Mapleton, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Sioux City, and Rockwell City. He helped Mapleton residents recover from a devastating 2011 tornado and was involved in last year's closure of a church in Gilmore City. Ellwanger said the diocese had never previously received a complaint about Danner and his removal divided parishioners in Humboldt, a town of 4,700 people. While Bishop R. Walker Nickless has discussed the case with them, the broader public has been kept largely in the dark about what happened. In May, the diocese disclosed in its official newspaper that Danner had been granted a leave of absence retroactive to Dec. 1, 2017, but didn't explain why. The bishop confirmed the removal of a priest in response to a question at an October 30 public meeting on the church's sexual abuse crisis, and again in a statement issued earlier this month after AP made inquiries on the case. But neither statement identified Danner. During his removal, Danner is not to say Mass, wear a collar or be called "father," among other restrictions. The diocese vowed earlier this month that it would publish a list of priests who have been credibly accused of abusing minors for the first time. Ellwanger said he intends to have that accomplished by the end of the year, although it would not include Danner given the diocese's characterization of his conduct. Beaty, the county attorney, said a criminal investigation could not move forward without the girl's assistance. In order to prosecute this allegation, we need cooperation and a victim, he said. Hundreds of Ethiopian Jews gathered in the countrys capital Addis Ababa on Monday to protest the Israeli governments refusal to allow all of them to immigrate to Israel, which they say has split families between the two countries. About 135,000 Ethiopian Jews live in Israel, many of whom are related to the nearly 8,000 still awaiting permission to perform "aliya," or Jewish immigration. Last October, the Israeli government made plans to bring over 1,000 people but only one family has been allowed into the country since then. Israel has been absorbing Ethiopian Jews by the thousands since the late 1970s through immigration and covert government missions that have secretly smuggled them out of Africa. In recent years, regulations slowed the flow of African migrants into Israel, and then stopped it completely. Israel doesnt consider them Jewish under religious law. They are descendants of Ethiopian Jews who were forcibly converted to Christianity around a century ago, and the Israeli government views bringing them to Israel as family reunification, rather than "aliya." Until 2013, only Ethiopians with maternal heritage, a traditional way of identifying Jews, were allowed into the country. "At least 70 percent [of the roughly 8,000 awaiting permission], and I think its higher than that, probably closer to 80 percent, have direct, first-degree relatives in Israel," Rabbi Jerome Epstein, president of the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry, told VOA News. "If the people whove made aliya were Jewish, then these people are Jewish, too." Critics charge that the government's reasoning is actually thinly-veiled bigotry. "Im not saying the government is racist, but I do think there are people who would prefer to see white people who look like them being brought over," Epstein said. Fighting broke out in Yemen's key port of Hodeida on Monday even as efforts toward a cease-fire accelerated. Yemeni military officials accuse the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of firing in the eastern part of the city. Pro-government forces responded, and Saudi-led coalition jets launched airstrikes. A Yemeni government official accused the Houthis of firing a rocket toward Saudi territory, saying it failed to reach its target and fell into Yemen. There has been no comment from the Houthis who said early Monday they would stop drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. The Houthis also said they would comply with a U.N. call for a cease-fire if the Saudis "want peace." The Saudis and their coalition partner, the United Arab Emirates, said last week they would end the fighting in Hodeida. In New York, Britain has circulated a draft resolution to the rest of the U.N. Security Council calling for a cease-fire in Yemen, a halt to attacks on civilian areas, and unhindered access to Hodeida. The port is under rebel control and is a lifeline for food, fuel and humanitarian aid to the suffering population. The Saudis have accused Iran of sending arms to the rebels through the port a charge it denies. The Trump administration has joined its Western allies in demanding a cease-fire in Yemen. The U.S. has stopped providing refueling services to Saudi coalition aircraft that attack Yemen. Hilal Khashan, a political science professor at the American University of Beirut, believes a cease-fire will eventually take hold in Yemen, but says each side wants to fire the final shot before it takes effect. "Usually, before a cease-fire goes into effect, we normally witness an escalation of hostilities and it appears to me that since the fighting continues in Hodeida and the claim that they fired a rocket or a missile into Saudi Arabia that did not reach its target tells us that the Houthis are keen on telling everybody that the last shot was theirs before the cease-fire," Khashan told VOA. The Houthis seized the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in 2014, forcing the government to flee to exile in Saudi Arabia. It has since relocated to the southern city of Aden. Saudi-led airstrikes aimed at driving out the Houthis have killed thousands and wiped out entire civilian neighborhoods, including hospitals. The fighting has compounded the misery in Yemen, which is also dealing with mass starvation and a cholera outbreak. Clashes in the Syrian town of Afrin are intensifying as Turkish-backed Syrian rebel factions continue fighting each other over influence in the northwestern town. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a rights group monitoring developments in Syria, reported that fighting, which started Saturday night in several districts of the Kurdish-majority region, had left at least 25 dead. Local residents in Afrin were caught in the crossfire, local sources said. "This fighting is greatly impacting civilians in the region," Redwan Bezar, a Syrian reporter who closely follows the events in Afrin, told VOA. "For a few days now people have been stranded inside their homes because of fierce fighting and shelling. They can't even get food and other daily needs," Bezar added. Bezar said that some houses were hit in Sunday's clashes, but no civilian casualties have been reported. Turkey military and several rebel groups carried out an operation Sunday against another rebel group in Afrin that has been involved in criminal activities including extortion and civilian kidnapping, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said. The operation targeted Abu Khawla, leader of Shuhada' al-Sharqiya rebel group, as the Turkish military imposed a curfew throughout the city, Anadolu reported. Turkish military and allied Syrian rebels took control of Afrin after a two-month-long military campaign that ousted the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) from the region in March 2018. Ankara views the YPG as part of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been engaged in a three-decade war with Turkish armed forces for greater Kurdish rights in Turkey. The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Divisions But Turkey has been struggling to bring law and order to Afrin in part due to differences among Syrian rebel groups there. Rights groups have reported regular abuses committed by Turkish-backed rebels against civilians in the Syrian town. Some analysts say that Turkey might have to deal with the division among rebels in Afrin for some time. "Turkey may be a victim of its own success in Afrin," Nicholas Heras, a Syria expert at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a Washington-based think tank told VOA. "Turkey's rapid conquest of Afrin was the result of the Turkish military's competence, not because Turkey's Syrian partner forces were effective on their own," Heras added. There are at least a dozen rebel groups in control of Afrin, including the National Liberation Front and several militant groups. "Many of these groups act with a mercenary mindset because they stay in Afrin for the money that Turkey provides them," CNAS's Heras said. Other analysts like Kyle Orton, a Syria researcher in London, believe that Turkey can form a unified Syrian rebel front in Afrin, but for that to happen Ankara would have to commit more resources to the town. "More Turkish troops would be needed in the short-term to maintain order," Orton said. "Where the Turks have significant forces, such as near the border around Jarabulus and al-Ra'i, there is a notably better security and political coordination among the rebels," he added. Orton said, "Unity would also need money over the longer-term to recruit and train technically competent and more upright Syrians to fill the security and administrative roles, replacing some of the semi-criminal organizations that call themselves rebel groups that are being relied upon in Afrin at the moment." YPG The Kurdish YPG, which has the backing of the U.S. in the fight against the Islamic State militants, has occasionally carried out attacks against Turkish troops and their Syrian proxies in Afrin. Some analysts say the ongoing conflict among the pro-Turkey Syrian rebels could be of benefit to the YPG. The YPG "is clearly benefiting from the disarray in the security situation in Afrin," Orton said. "Their insurgency has notably stepped up in that zone recently, including a series of grisly targeted assassinations," he added. Heras of CNAS said that "many of the Syrian groups in Afrin are not capable of stopping the YPG-led insurgency there." "With partners like this, the Turkish military will have to take a different approach, which is to have a firmer handle on Afrin," he added. Turkey also maintains military presence in the nearby province of Idlib, where a shaky cease-fire, brokered by Turkey and Russia in September, has avoided a major Syrian government offensive against the last main rebel stronghold in Syria. The Kremlin says opposition to a Russian candidate to lead the global police group Interpol amounts to election interference. The election for a new leader is set for Wednesday at the end of Interpol's annual conference in Dubai. Four U.S. senators issued an open letter Monday urging President Donald Trump to oppose the candidacy of Russia's Alexander Prokopchuk, the current Interpol vice president. The senators said Prokopchuk had been "personally involved" in what it said was Russia's routine "abuses of Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists." "This is probably a certain kind of interference in the electoral process of an international organization," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to criticism of Prokopchuk. Interpol member countries will vote to replace Meng Hongwei, who disappeared in his native China in September. China later told Interpol that Meng had quit after being charged with accepting bribes. Also vying for the presidency of Interpol is South Korea's Kim Jong-Yang, who is serving as acting president. Prokopchuk, considered the leading candidate, has also been criticized by others including Bill Browder, a U.S.-born British fund manager and Kremlin foe who has been the subject of several arrest notices issued by Interpol at Russias request. Browder said it would be "outrageous" if Prokopchuk wins the election, which he maintains is an attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to "expand his criminal tentacles to every corner of the globe." Shares in automakers Nissan, Mitsubishi and Renault fell sharply Tuesday after the arrest of executive Carlos Ghosn on allegations of "significant acts" of financial misconduct. All three firms are considering replacing him as chairman. Nissan, one of the world's biggest automakers, said Ghosn falsified reports about his compensation "over many years" and that its internal investigation also found he had used company assets for personal purposes. Japanese media reported Monday that Ghosn is being questioned by Tokyo prosecutors, suspected of failing to report millions of dollars in income. Nissan said that based on a report by a whistleblower, it conducted an internal investigation of Ghosn and Representative Director Greg Kelly and shared its findings with public prosecutors. The company said both men had been arrested. The automaker said its investigation showed that Ghosn had underreported his income to the Tokyo Stock Exchange by more than $40 million over five years. The Ashai newspaper reported that prosecutors have raided Nissan's headquarters in Yokohama. The Brazilian-born Ghosn, who is of Lebanese descent and a French citizen, was the rare foreign top executive in Japan. Ghosn was sent to Nissan in the late 1990s by Renault SA of France, after it bought a controlling stake of Nissan. He is credited with rescuing Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy. In 2016, Ghosn also took control of Mitsubishi, after Nissan bought a one-third stake in the company, following Mitsubishi's mileage-cheating scandal. Together, the three automakers comprise the biggest global carmaking alliance, manufacturing one of every nine cars sold around the world. The three companies employ more than 470,000 people in nearly 200 countries. Before Ghosn's arrest, Satoru Takada, an analyst at TIW, a Tokyo-based research and consulting firm, said his detention would "rock the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance as he is the keystone of the alliance." North Korean hackers continue to circumvent protections and compromise computer systems around the globe. Pyongyangs cyber operatives, like the Lazarus Group, have been linked to computer system infiltrations like the 2014 Sony Pictures Studios hack prior to the release of the U.S. film The Interview and the attempted theft of close to $1 billion from the central Bangladesh bank using the SWIFT banking network in 2016. But how did Pyongyang become so adept at hacking while not possessing rich resources and being under tough International sanctions? Seungjoo Kim, a professor at Korea Universitys Graduate School of Information Security says the answer, in part, is because North Koreas computer hackers operate in China and Europe with easy access to the internet. North Korea practices their craft under real conditions, like hacking cryptocurrency sites or stealing information, he said, These repeated exercises help to improve their skills. As an instructor, Seungjoo Kim teaches his students how hackers invade other systems using traditional textbooks instruction. But without real-world trials, he says they cant obtain the knowledge needed to test systems or prevent hostile attacks. Basically, you should teach basic computer knowledge, and then try to solve some hacking problems, he said, adding that the best way to improve ones computer infiltration skills is with real-time and real-world practice. North Korea acquires [their] knowledge by invading other systems, said Kim. He added that because North Korea can directly attack other countries, that effort has enabled Pyongyang to quickly develop their world-renowned hacking skills. North Koreas cyber army Experts assert there are between 6,000 and 7,500 members of North Koreas cyber army, split into a number of divisions to carry out cyberterrorism against state infrastructure, financial institutions, and the latest hijacking of defense technology. North Korea was inspired by the Chinese cyberwar units and learned from them, said NK Intellectuals Solidarity director Heung Kwan Kim, Recognizing their power, North Korea set up the first unit within the central government in 1993. While Pyongyangs Reconnaissance General Bureau is comprised of six divisions and overseas operations in South Korea, the United States, and Japan, its another bureau that is responsible for the bulk of North Koreas cyber warfare. Unit 121 oversees Unit 180, Unit 91, and lab 110, Heung Kwan Kim told VOA. A 500-person strong Unit 121 was created in 1998, and in 2009 the group successfully carried out 77 attacks by overwhelming computer networks through unleashing an onslaught of Internet traffic. This led Pyongyang to conclude that cyber-warfare was the most suitable form of war for North Korea in the modern era, according to Heung Kwan Kim. Attacks continued throughout 2014, and in 2015. When North Korea reorganized their divisions, Unit 121 was given the mission of attacking a foreign nations infrastructure, such as transportation networks, telecommunications, gas, electric power, nuclear power, and aviation systems. Unit 91s focus was shifted to acquiring advanced technologies needed for nuclear development and long-range missiles from developed countries. Finally, the role of Unit 180 was changed for it to target financial systems and to focus on block chain technology. Cryptocurrency and blockchains With international sanctions crippling Pyongyangs coffers, Heung Kwan Kim said North Korea shifted their cyberattacks to private systems, rather than government networks, because the smaller entities werent as well protected. Its a problem of North Koreas high ability and low security, he said. The numerous attacks on small and private companies have led to allegations that Pyongyang is hacking into cryptocurrency exchanges to steal virtual money, like Bitcoin, said Seungjoo Kim. Stolen cryptocurrencies are attractive because they are difficult to trace back to their original owner. In 2017, the North Korean hacking group Lazarus was accused of attacking South Korea cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb. The cyber thieves made off with nearly $7 million in digital currencies. The hackers also obtained personal information of users stored on the compromised servers. The BBC reports North Korea was later able to ransom additional funds from the owners in exchange for deleting the data. Cryptocurrency is easy to steal because it moves in cyberspace, said Seungjoo Kim. He added, To earn cryptocurrency in a legitimate way, cutting-edge computers are required, but North Korea doesnt have them, so they attack computers abroad and hack mining programs. The hacked computers then send any virtual coins it uncovers to North Korean digital wallets they can convert to hard currency. To curtail North Koreas cyberattacks, he advocates a detente in the virtual world thats similar to the easing of tensions taking place on the peninsula. However, that may be difficult, as it would require Pyongyang to admit it committed acts of cyberwarfare. In addition, it would require Russia and China not only participating in current real-world sanctions, cyber sanctions at the same time, said Seungjoo Kim. The last component, he said, would be for governments to codify what measures would be employed as proportional responses, should additional cyberattacks take place and prepare for those events. Pakistan summoned Tuesday the top U.S. diplomat in the country to formally protest President Donald Trumps allegations that Islamabad had sheltered al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden, despite receiving billions of dollars in U.S. assistance. Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told American charge daffairs Paul Jones that Trumps baseless rhetoric and unsubstantiated allegations were totally unacceptable for her country, according to a foreign ministry statement issued after the meeting. Rejecting the insinuations about OBL (Osama bin Laden), Foreign Secretary (Janjua) reminded the U.S. CdA (charge daffairs) that it was Pakistans intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of OBL, the statement noted. This is the first time Pakistan has publicly admitted it had played a role in helping the U.S. locate and kill bin Laden in 2011 during a night helicopter raid on his hideout not far from the countrys prime military training academy in Abbottabad. Until now, Pakistani leaders have insisted state security institutions were unaware of bin Ladens presence in the country and complained Washington conducted the unilateral raid without informing Islamabad. Janjua stopped short of warning Trumps tirade against Pakistan would undermine bilateral working with the U.S. in coordination with regional stakeholders to seek a politically negotiated end to the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan. At this critical juncture, baseless allegations about a closed chapter of history could seriously undermine this vital cooperation, she said. Afghan peace process The United States has recently opened direct talks with Taliban officials based in Qatar to try to begin an Afghan peace process. Washington has acknowledged Islamabads cooperation in furthering the nascent dialogue process with the insurgents whose leaders are allegedly using Pakistani territory for planning attacks on the Afghan side of the border, charges Pakistani officials deny. Foreign Secretary Janjua recounted her country's unprecedented human and economic losses while fighting the U.S.-led war on terror as a partner nation. She noted U.S. leaders repeatedly acknowledged Islamabads cooperation helped in "decimating" the al-Qaida network in the region. Pakistans continued support to the efforts of international community in Afghanistan through Ground/Air and Sea lines of communication was unquestionably critical to the success of this Mission in Afghanistan, Janjua noted. Pakistani military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa also defended his countrys successes against terrorism, saying it has done "much more" for peace in Afghanistan than any other country. We have paid the highest military, economic, political and social cost and the world should acknowledge that. We shall continue to contribute towards peace in Afghanistan but Pakistans honor and Pakistans security shall always stay premier, an army statement Monday quoted Bajwa as saying. The United States and NATO continue to heavily rely on Pakistani land and air routes for sending supplies to their troops in landlocked Afghanistan. Pakistan slams Trump In an interview with Fox News and subsequent tweets on Monday, Trump asserted that "everybody in Pakistan" knew bin Laden was hiding in the country, but they withheld the information from the United States, despite receiving $1.3 billion a year in aid. Trumps tirade angered Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan who slammed the American leader for making false assertions. Khan noted that Pakistan has suffered 75,000 casualties since joining the war on terror and incurred economic losses of more than $123 billion. He added that "U.S. "aid" was what he called a "minuscule" $20 billion. The traditionally uneasy relations between Pakistan and the U.S. have deteriorated particularly since August 2017, when President Trump announced his South Asia strategy to tackle the resurgent Afghan Taliban. He directly accused Pakistan at the time of sheltering Taliban and other militants involved in deadly cross-border attacks against U.S. troops. Islamabad swiftly rejected the accusations as politically motivated and stemming from Afghan battlefield setbacks. The Parkland students who created an international movement to raise awareness for gun violence after a deadly school shooting were awarded the International Childrens Peace Prize on Tuesday. During a ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu presented the award, calling the student organization March For Our Lives one of the most significant youth-led mass movements in living memory and its founders true change-makers. I am in awe of these children, whose powerful message is amplified by their youthful energy and an unshakable belief that children can no, must improve their own futures, Tutu said. In the moments after 17 of their classmates and teachers were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez, Delaney Tarr, Ryan Deitsch and Jaclyn Corin and more than a dozen others sprang to action, doing countless media interviews, grilling lawmakers about gun reform during town halls, and sparking massive walkouts and peaceful protests at schools across the country. Matt Deitsch, a Parkland alumnus whose two younger siblings were students at the time of the shooting, immediately left college to help form March For Our Lives. Hogg, Gonzalez, Corin and the Deitsch brothers were in South Africa to accept the award. Gonzalez said the award serves as a major reminder that the universe is on the side of justice and that we will win because our cause is one of peace. Manuel Oliver, whose son Joaquin was killed, also spoke during the ceremony. The group was joined by two students from Chicago Strong, a youth-led initiative to end gun violence in their hometown, who have worked closely with their cause. Since the Valentines Day massacre, the students have gained international attention, raised millions of dollars from the likes of Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney for their grassroots movement and made a slew of television appearances. Hundreds of thousands attended their Washington, D.C., march this spring to raise awareness about gun violence and advocate for safer schools. Many of the students have called for a ban on assault rifles and universal background checks. The organization says more than 25 states have passed legislation consistent with their cause, including Florida. Over the summer, the students hit the road, visiting 80 communities in 24 states to help register young voters and spread their message about gun violence. Their tireless efforts even landed them on the cover of Time magazine. Marc Dullaert, founder of KidsRights and the International Childrens Peace Prize, said the students transformed a local community protest into a truly global youth-led and peaceful protest-movement. In Parkland on Tuesday, a charity group pledged $1 million to create artworks to help the community heal. Bloomberg Philanthropies said its making the grant to Parkland and Coral Springs for their project, Inspiring Community Healing After Gun Violence: The Power of Art. Five artists and teams will create temporary projects for public display. Community workshops and talks will discuss using art for emotional healing. Most of the 17 victims were from the cities. The charity was founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who started the news agency bearing his surname. He has been an outspoken supporter of groups with the goal of decreasing gun violence. The chasm between U.S. President Donald Trump and elders of the intelligence community is widening. Trump, repeating a criticism he made in a television interview the previous day, took to Twitter on Monday to again exclaim that the United States "should have captured Osama bin Laden long before we did." In the Fox News Sunday interview, the president labeled retired U.S. Navy Admiral William McRaven, the leader of the operation that killed the al-Qaida founder, "a Hillary Clinton backer and an Obama backer," referring to his 2016 Democratic Party opponent and his predecessor as president. McRaven has repeatedly criticized Trump's presidency, calling it an embarrassment and a humiliation of the United States on the world stage that has divided the country. After Trump's broadcast remarks, McRaven declared he did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else in the previous presidential election, but said he is "a fan of President Obama and President George W. Bush, both of whom I worked for." He added that he admires all presidents, regardless of political party, "who uphold the dignity of the office and who use that office to bring the Nation together in challenging times." McRaven, a former commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, said he stands by his comment that Trump's attack on the media "is the greatest threat to our democracy in my lifetime." Others with inside knowledge of the 2011 operation in Pakistan against bin Laden are coming to McRaven's defense. Former intelligence officials push back Former acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency Michael Morell tweeted that a correction is needed following Trump's implication that the terrorist leader should have been nabbed faster. A former director of both the CIA and the National Security Agency, retired Air Force General Michael Hayden, in reaction to Trump's attack on McRaven, taunted the president on Twitter for not capturing the current leaders of al-Qaida and the Islamic State terror group, who are in hiding. The Navy SEAL who is credited with having fired the head shot that killed bin Laden on Monday tweeted that the bin Laden mission was bipartisan. "The president is simply wrong and pushing an idea that I think is not helpful," said retired Army General Stanley McChrystal on CNN about Trump asserting previous administrations were tardy in eliminating the al-Qaida head. Trump's criticism "is symptomatic of the crisis of leadership we have today," added McChrystal, who headed the Joint Special Operations Command for five years. "This president owes Admiral McRaven and all of the SEALs involved in that operation an apology for what he's saying," said former CIA Director and ex Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on MSNBC. "He's undermining his position as Commander-in-Chief. Not only with those that conducted the operation, but with the entire military." One senator from Trump's party is also coming to McRaven's defense. In a tweet, Marco Rubio of Florida, who is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed gratitude for the retired admiral's service. McRaven, who recently quit as the chancellor of the University of Texas for health reasons, has also defended former CIA Director John Brennan, another Trump critic, whose security clearance was revoked by the president. The official Twitter account of the Republican party on Monday claimed McRaven has been critical of Trump since during the 2016 presidential campaign and was reportedly on Hillary Clinton's short list as her running mate in that race something the retired admiral and campaign officials have denied. A contentious relationship Trump has had a contentious relationship with the U.S. intelligence community from the start of his presidency, most notably rebutting its consensus Russia attempted to influence the election on his behalf. He has also alleged a "deep state" conspiracy of shadowy figures from the intelligence community and other elements of the federal government is intent on thwarting his agenda, pursuing a "witch hunt" linking him to Moscow and leaking to the media what the president asserts is false information. Trump on Saturday countered media reports that the CIA had concluded the Saudi crown prince had ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying who is really responsible may never be known. The biggest current source of tension between the president and the U.S. intelligence community is over Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a former senior CIA officer, Paul Pillar. "The relationship was already bad and we had already seen before this week most of the implications of that bad relationship," Pillar, a non-resident senior fellow at Georgetown University, told VOA News. Trump's denial of the CIA's conclusions about the crown prince are, by implication, "a criticism of the intelligence analysis on the subject. But the administration will have a hard time winning a battle of public perceptions on this one," according to Pillar. "The general perception," he said, "is that the implausible and ever-shifting Saudi cover stories show the Saudis are hiding something and the analysis of outside observers conforms with what reportedly is the intelligence analysis about [the crown prince's] involvement." The failed attempt to send thousands of Rohingya back to Myanmar starting this month has drawn attention to alleged violence and intimidation by security forces against members of the Muslim minority living in Bangladesh's sprawling refugee camps. Bangladesh has boosted its international reputation by hosting more than 730,000 Rohingya who fled a vicious campaign by Myanmars military last year that U.N. investigators have labelled genocide - an accusation Myanmar has consistently denied. But Bangladesh appears keen to demonstrate that Rohingya refugees will not be welcome there indefinitely. The planned repatriations sparked fear and chaos last week as Rohingya went into hiding - and in a handful of reported cases attempted suicide - to avoid being sent back. Meanwhile, allegations of sporadic beatings, looting and intimidation by Bangladeshi soldiers, police and camp officials have underscored the bleak conditions faced by Rohingya in their host country, where most are denied official refugee status and face restrictions on freedom of movement. The repatriation of some 2,000 refugees was scheduled to begin last Thursday, but Bangladesh has now put the plans on hold until next year after failing to find any Rohingya willing to go back. Rohingya in the camps have told VOA that soldiers were stationed near the homes of those who were told they would be sent back last week, fueling fears of forced repatriation and adding to widespread distress in communities already suffering extreme trauma after last years violence. One Rohingya man told VOA anonymously that block leaders in the camps were also announcing with loudspeakers... that it's essential for everyone to carry ID with them whenever and wherever they go if they leave their homes. Late last month, security forces looted property from Rohingya shopkeepers at the Balukhali camp, said John Quinley, a human rights specialist with the non-profit organization Fortify Rights. Right now the security forces are operating in the camps with total impunity, he said. In another case earlier this month, Fortify Rights reported that security forces rounded up 18 Rohingya leaders and slapped and hit some of them while telling them to instruct other refugees to cooperate with a new U.N.-backed project to provide them with smart cards. Many Rohingya oppose the identity cards because they fear the information on them will be shared with the Myanmar government. Bangladeshs refugee, relief and repatriation commissioner, Abul Kalam, told VOA he was unaware of the allegations of violence but would follow up. "Generally, it is not acceptable that someone would apply force on or beat someone to do or not to do something," he said. Quinley called on the U.N.s refugee agency to do everything in their power to make sure that the Bangladeshi authorities are respecting human rights. Spokesperson Caroline Gluck said the agency has notified the authorities of a small number of reports of violence related to the smart card project. The agency has been following up with them to ascertain the circumstances of what happened, she told VOA. Officials have responded that the incidents were "not linked" to the smart card project, she said. She added, The new ID card will enable refugees to be better protected and will streamline access to assistance and services. Mohammed Sheikh Anwar, a Rohingya activist, told VOA the Bangladeshi government needs to keep the lower-level authorities in check. There should be an accountability measure. Committing violence against genocide survivors to make them agree to the authorities' terms is not the solution, he added. Last week a Rohingya man named Ata Ullah said he was beaten at the office of an official at the Chakmarkul camp, the Guardian reported, after he failed to provide the official with a list of refugees. Ata Ullah said in a video circulated on social media that when he couldnt provide the official with a list he was beaten with a large stick... they stepped on my neck, I could not stand it. Human Rights Watch warned in a report in August that the Bangladeshi government was restricting access to basic services by resisting attempts by aid agencies and Rohingya refugees to create any structures, infrastructure, or policies that suggest permanency. As a result, the report said, refugee children do not go to school, but rather to temporary learning centers, where facilitators, not teachers, preside over the classrooms. The learning centers are inadequate, only providing about two hours of instruction a day, the report said. Interpol is in danger of being politicized by Russia as the organization chooses a new president, according to Kremlin critics. A senior Russian police official is one of only two candidates put forward for the role of president of the organization, which coordinates police forces across the globe, in a vote scheduled Wednesday in Dubai. The winner of the election will replace Chinese national Meng Hongwei, who was detained in Beijing in September over corruption allegations. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that the United States was supporting Kim Jong Yang of South Korea to lead the international police agency Interpol, pitting Washington against the Kremlin's candidate, Maj. Gen. Aleksandr Prokopchuk. Prokopchuk, who heads Russia's national Interpol Bureau, is widely seen as the favorite to be elected president of the organization. Critics say in recent years Russia has abused Interpol's so-called "red notice" system of international arrest warrants to pursue its political enemies. Among those targeted have been Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an exiled Russian businessman, and financier Bill Browder, the subject of six red notice requests by Russia, all of them thrown out by Interpol. The two men held a news conference Tuesday in London to highlight their concerns. "This is a perfect way for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to basically breathe the fear of God into all of his enemies, so that they know that they can't even escape Russia if one of his guys is at the head of Interpol," Browder told reporters. "The Interpol constitution has very specific rules, which forbid countries who are serial abusers from using the system. We intend to begin a legal process to have Russia suspended from their use of Interpol." As chief executive of Hermitage Capital Management in Russia, Browder uncovered $230 million in tax fraud allegedly carried out by senior Russian officials. Browder's investigating lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was arrested and beaten to death in police custody in 2009. Russian courts later convicted Magnitsky posthumously, and Browder in absentia, of stealing the money. Browder strongly denies the charges. This week, Russian prosecutors opened a new investigation into Browder, claiming he was involved in Magnitsky's death and pledging to request another Interpol arrest warrant. "This hypothesis is highly likely to be true because Magnitsky was one of the closest accomplices of Browder in the crimes committed earlier," said Mikhail Alexandrov, a spokesman for the Russian prosecutor general. Browder says the false accusation underscores the need to stop Russia from abusing Interpol. He was instrumental in campaigning for the United States to adopt the Magnitsky Act, which enables the withholding of visas and the freezing of assets of human rights offenders. Several Russians have been sanctioned under the act, and Browder says Putin is rattled. "He wants to stop me from advocating for Magnitsky Acts around the world," Browder said Tuesday. "It was his government that ordered a terrorist attack in the U.K. using chemical weapons in Salisbury. It was his government that shot down MH17 [a Malaysian Airlines flight], killing 298 innocent individuals. It was his government that cheated and hacked in elections in the United States and Europe. And to put his representative in charge of the most important international crime-fighting organization is like putting the mafia in charge." Moscow denies involvement in those crimes. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has written to Interpol to warn against the appointment of Prokopchuk, describing it as "akin to putting a fox in charge of a henhouse." Ukraine and Lithuania have threatened to quit the organization if he is appointed. Interpol told VOA the president is democratically elected by its members, adding that the role does not involve the day-to-day running of the organization. Interpol did not respond directly to accusations of abuse of its red notice system by the Kremlin. The U.S. military says it conducted two airstrikes in central Somalia Monday, killing a total of 37 al-Shabab militants. A statement issued by the U.S. Africa Command Tuesday said the first strike killed 27 militants. Africa Command described the attack as a planned and deliberate action." It says a second strike on the same day killed another 10 Shabab militants. The statement said the airstrikes did not kill or injure civilians. Local sources tell VOA's Somali Service that the attacks took place in the vicinity of Dabad Shil, about 60 kilometers north of Harardhere, a town in the Mudug region. Locals told VOA Somali that the strikes targeted al-Shabab vehicles and militias. In October, another U.S. airstrike in the vicinity of Harardhere killed at least 60 al-Shabab militants. According to a count by VOA Somali, the U.S. has carried out about 30 airstrikes against al-Shabab this year, killing more than 200 militants. Al-Shabab, an affiliate of al-Qaida, is trying to overthrow the Somali government and turn Somalia into a strict Islamic state. U.S. airstrikes have killed numerous al-Shabab leaders over the years, including the group's former emir Ahmed Godane in September 2014. The top Democrat in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer, called Tuesday for the Justice Department's internal investigator to review communications between acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and the White House. Senate Minority Leader Schumer said he wants the Justice Department's inspector general to look into Whitaker's interactions with the White House since last year when he was named chief of staff to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. President Donald Trump picked Whitaker earlier this month to become the country's top law enforcement official after ousting Sessions, whom he had long assailed for removing himself from oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller's long-running investigation of alleged 2016 Trump campaign links with Russia. Whitaker, before joining the Justice Department, had been critical of Mueller's probe, saying a replacement attorney general, such as he is now, could cut funding to the probe so that it "grinds almost to a halt." Schumer said he wants the Justice Department's inspector general to look into whether Whitaker, in the top echelon of the agency before Trump appointed him as head of it for as long as 210 days, had access to confidential grand jury information obtained in Mueller's investigation and whether he shared any of it with Trump or other White House officials. "I am also concerned that Mr. Whitaker, who has thus far declined to recuse himself from the Special Counsel investigation, may intend to interfere in or obstruct the investigation in other ways," Schumer wrote. Several Democratic lawmakers, along with some Republicans, have said that Whitaker, because of his attacks on the Mueller investigation as a television analyst, should, like Sessions, remove himself from oversight. Sessions had delegated authority over the probe to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, but Whitaker now has assumed control. Whitaker has taken no public action against the investigation, but also has not commented publicly about how he views it. Schumer's call for a Justice Department inspector general's investigation, came a day after three other Democratic senators sued to block Trump's appointment of Whitaker, claiming he was named to undermine Mueller's investigation. Going to court Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Washington, the fourth suit contesting Whitaker's appointment. The lawmakers and other critics of the investigation have contended that the nomination of Whitaker, as head of a Cabinet-level agency, was subject to Senate confirmation. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official," Blumenthal said in a statement. "The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called 'constitutional nobody' and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. Senator Whitehouse said, "The stakes are too high to allow the president to install an unconfirmed lackey to lead the Department of Justice a lackey whose stated purpose, apparently, is undermining a major investigation into the president. Unless the courts intercede, this troubling move creates a plain road map for persistent and deliberate evasion by the executive branch of the Senate's constitutionally mandated advice and consent. Indeed, this appointment appears planned to accomplish that goal. The Justice Department has defended Whitaker's appointment as legal. "There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position," a Justice Department spokeswoman said. "To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent." In an interview with Fox News that aired Sunday, Trump said he was unaware of Whitaker's CNN commentary opposing the Mueller investigation before naming him to head the Justice Department, bypassing Rosenstein. Trump dismissed concerns about how Whitaker will deal with the Mueller investigation, but said that he, as president, would not intervene. "It's going to be up to him," Trump said. "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." Asked by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace whether he would overrule Whitaker if he decides to curtail the Mueller investigation, Trump replied, "I would not get involved." President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. is standing by Saudi Arabia even though the president acknowledged Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about a Saudi operation last month to kill dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul. "It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event maybe he did and maybe he didnt!" Trump said in a statement, adding that "we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder." WATCH: US Lawmakers Slam Trump's Support for Saudi Arabia After Khashoggi Killing But the U.S. leader said, "In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country." Multiple U.S. news agencies have cited U.S. intelligence officials saying the Central Intelligence Agency has concluded that the crown prince, the de facto Saudi leader, ordered the October 2 killing. Saudi officials deny this. Trump said, "The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone." But he said it would be foolish for the U.S. to cancel a possible $110 billion in U.S. defense contracts with Saudi Arabia, arguing that "Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries - and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!" Trump said he understands that some lawmakers in Congress, who "for political or other reasons," want to pursue sanctions against Riyadh for the killing and said, "They are free to do so." "I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America," Trump said. "After the United States, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world," Trump said. "They have worked closely with us and have been very responsive to my requests to keeping oil prices at reasonable levels so important for the world." He concluded, "As president of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!" Khashoggi lived in the United States, writing opinion articles for The Washington Post that were critical of the crown prince and Riyadh's involvement in the long-running Yemen conflict. His editor at the newspaper, Karen Attiah, described Trump's statement as "full of lies and a blatant disregard for his own intelligence agencies. It also shows an unforgivable disregard for the lives of Saudis who dare criticize the regime. This is a new low." A Saudi prosecutor cleared the crown prince of wrongdoing last week while calling for the death penalty for five men, among the 11 indicted in the case. The prosecutor said a total of 21 people had been detained in connection with the killing. Germany's foreign minister said Monday that Berlin will ban 18 Saudi nationals from entering Europe's border-free Schengen zone because of their alleged links to Khashoggi's killing. Heiko Maas said he had consulted with France and Britain before announcing the ban. "There are more questions than answers in this case, with the crime itself and who is behind it," Mass said on the sidelines of a European Union meeting in Brussels. Trump has said he has been fully briefed on an audio recording of the killing of the dissident Saudi journalist, 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 in a White House interview last Friday. "It's very violent, very vicious and terrible," Trump said. 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?" adding, "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." 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. Trump equivocated, saying, "I want to see Yemen end. It takes two to tango and Iran has to end also. I want Saudi to stop, but I want Iran to stop also." Khashoggi, who lived in the U.S. and wrote opinion columns for The Washington Post that were critical of the crown prince, was killed at the Saudi consulate while he was trying to get documents for his planned marriage to a Turkish woman. Turkish officials concluded that he was tortured and killed, with his body then dismembered. VOA's Chris Hannas contributed to this report. Two people were killed and two others critically wounded in a shooting at a Chicago hospital on Monday. Among the dead was the gunman, who started shooting in the parking lot and then burst into the medical facility and opened fire, according to local media. A police officer was among those wounded in the shooting on Chicago's South Side at Mercy Hospital, officials said. Police cars and ambulances swarmed the hospital after the shooting. ABC7 Chicago and CBS Chicago, citing sources, reported that two people died in the shooting, including the gunman, and that two other people were wounded. Police searched the hospital, said Anthony Guglielmi, a Chicago Police Department spokesman. The hospital said on Twitter the shooting was over and patients were safe. Eyewitnesses told reporters the shooting began in the parking lot before moving into a clinic area inside the hospital. Police have not commented on a possible motive for the shooting. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Superintendent Eddie Johnson were on their way to University of Chicago hospital, where the wounded police officer was being treated, according to local media. Sue Jimenez, the manager of Kozy's Cyclery bike shop near the hospital, said she heard multiple gunshots separated by pauses. At one point, she heard five shots in quick succession, she said, but the shooting stopped after police arrived. U.N. envoy Martin Griffiths visits war-torn Yemen Wednesday to prepare for peace talks after fresh fighting erupted in the key port of Hodeida. Griffiths is scheduled to meet with Iran-aligned Houthi officials in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a in an attempt to persuade them and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government to begin negotiations in Sweden by year's end. Both sides recently expressed support for Griffiths' efforts, but the eruption of violence after a lull raised the possibility talks could be derailed. Yemeni military officials accused the Houthis on Monday of firing in the eastern part of Hodeida. Pro-government forces responded and Saudi-led coalition jets launched airstrikes. A Yemeni government official accused the Houthis of firing a rocket toward Saudi territory, saying it failed to reach its target and fell into Yemen. In New York, U.N. Security Council member Britain circulated a draft resolution to the rest of the council, calling for a cease-fire in Yemen, a halt to attacks on civilian areas, and unhindered access to Hodeida. The port is under rebel control and is a lifeline for food, fuel, and humanitarian aid to the suffering population. The Saudis have accused Iran of sending arms to the rebels through the port, a charge it denies. The Trump administration has joined its Western allies in demanding a cease-fire in Yemen. The United States has stopped providing refueling services to Saudi coalition aircraft that attack Yemen. Hilal Khashan, a political science professor at the American University of Beirut, said a cease-fire will eventually take hold in Yemen, but that each side wants to fire the final shot before it takes effect. "Usually, before a cease-fire goes into effect, we normally witness an escalation of hostilities," he said. "And it appears to me that since the fighting continues in Hodeida and the claim that they fired a rocket or a missile into Saudi Arabia that did not reach its target tells us that the Houthis are keen on telling everybody that the last shot was theirs before the cease-fire." The Houthis seized Sana'a in 2014, forcing the government to flee to exile in Saudi Arabia. The group has since relocated to the southern Yemeni city of Aden. Saudi-led airstrikes aimed at driving out the Houthis have killed thousands of people and wiped out entire civilian neighborhoods, including hospitals. The fighting has compounded the misery in Yemen, which is also dealing with mass starvation and a cholera outbreak. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since the Saudis intervened in March 2015. Some human rights groups, however, believe the death toll may be five times higher. A U.N. human rights expert says his efforts to highlight Iranian harassment of BBC Persian service journalists are unlikely to result in the world body acting against Iran. David Kaye, the U.N.'s special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, spoke with VOA Persian in a Monday interview. Asked what the world body would do next after he raised the issue of Irans treatment of BBC Persian in an October 22 speech to the U.N. General Assemblys 3rd Committee, he said: "To be honest, I dont expect the 3rd Committee to do all that much. Normally, one would expect that in the case of a human rights crisis or of rights violations, the General Assembly or its Human Rights Council would issue a resolution or something like that. I dont expect that to happen here, Kaye said. In his remarks about the safety of journalists to the UNGAs 3rd Committee on social, cultural and humanitarian affairs, Kaye said: Iran continues to crack down on journalists and media including on the BBC Persian service not just the reporters but their families. Kayes comments drew a strongly-worded response from Irans delegate to the committee, Zahora Ershadi. She said Iran sees itself as a victim of media warfare funded by adversarial governments such as Britain, whom she accused of using the BBC for pumping blind hate, fabricated, false news, and provoking disruption and destruction. It is regrettable that the special rapporteur avoids recognizing these harmful characteristics and the abuse of media and internet platforms, Ershadi said. The BBC made an unprecedented appeal to the U.N. Human Rights Council in March to stop what it called Iranian harassment of its London-based Persian service staff and their families in Iran. "The BBC is taking the unprecedented step of appealing to the United Nations because our own attempts to persuade the Iranian authorities to end their harassment have been completely ignored," said BBC Director General Tony Hall at the time. The BBC submitted the complaint after revealing last year that Iran had opened a criminal investigation into 150 BBC staff, former staff and contributors for conspiracy against national security. Speaking to the Monday edition of VOA Persians News at Nine show from London, BBC Persian correspondent Kasra Naji said he and his colleagues in the West still face the conspiracy charge in Iran. We are banned from engaging in any kind of financial transactions in the country, Naji said. Thats not so important to us (financially), but it hurts our families in Iran, because they cannot sell our properties to other family members. So were calling on Iranian authorities to remove this ban. Naji also said Iran has made some progress in dealing with the problem. During the past year, the harassment of our families in Iran has declined, Naji said. He cited the positive influence of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who submitted a February report to the Human Rights Council, calling on Iran to cease all legal action against the BBC staff and their families, and to end the use of repressive legislation against independent journalism, whether affiliated to the BBC or not. Kaye said he expects another U.N. human rights expert, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran Javaid Rehman, to raise the issue of Iranian harassment of BBC journalists and their families in addition to other human rights problems in the country. Rehman was appointed to the role in July. The continued authorization of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iran is a message that the international community considers the human rights situation in Iran very seriously, Kaye said. VOA Director Amanda Bennett, in a conversation with VOA Persians News at Nine show, said harassment of journalists is increasing around the world in a bid to control their reporting. We find this absolutely unacceptable, that journalists working out of different countries have pressure put on their families back home, she said. Bennett said large international news organizations and NGOs are trying to figure out how they can collaborate to stop governments from targeting journalists with harassment or violence. We are finding that when we work together to get our message out, that a free press is essential to free society and that we should not be targeting journalists like this, we find that it is effective in places, Bennett said. This article originated in VOAs Persian Service. A U.S. federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump administration from carrying out new immigration rules that would block asylum status for people who did not enter the United States at a designated port of entry. President Donald Trump issued the rule in a November 9 proclamation, saying it was necessary to deal with the expected arrival of thousands of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border who he said "appear to have no lawful basis for admission into our 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. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar issued his ruling late Monday, saying Congress has "clearly commanded" through the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) that anyone who arrives in the United States may apply for asylum no matter where they entered, and that Trump's rule "irreconcilably conflicts with the INA and the expressed intent of Congress." He barred the government from carrying out the new rule for one month, setting the next hearing in the case for December 19. Tigar said if allowed to go into effect, the rule would put asylum seekers "at increased risk of violence and other harms at the border, and many will be deprived of meritorious asylum claims." He wrote that the government in its arguments "offers nothing in support of the new rule that outweighs the need to avoid these harms." About 3,000 migrants have arrived in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, and more are expected to make there way there soon. They join what was already a large group waiting for their chance to seek asylum at the San Ysidro border crossing, the main port of entry to the U.S. city of San Diego. U.S. authorities process about 100 asylum claims each day at San Ysidro, meaning wait times will be long. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and some of the thousands of troops Trump ordered to the border last month briefly shut down lanes at the San Ysidro port on Monday to set up additional barriers with concrete and concertina wire.Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the measures were put in place after officials "were notified that a large number of caravan migrants were planning to rush the border in an attempt to gain illegal access to the U.S." She further accused some of the migrants of "purposely causing disruptions at our border points of entry." "There is a legal and illegal way to enter the U.S. We have deployed additional forces to protect our border. We will enforce all our laws," she said. Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Katie Waldman and Department of Justice spokesman Steven Stafford said in a joint statement Tuesday the U.S. asylum system is bombarded with "tens of thousands of meritless claims every year." "As the Supreme Court affirmed this summer, Congress has given the President broad authority to limit or even stop the entry of aliens into this country." The statement went onto say, " ... it is absurd that a set of advocacy groups can be found to have standing to sue to stop the entire federal government from acting so that illegal aliens can receive a government benefit to which they are not entitled." Pueblo Sin Fronteras, a group that has been assisting the migrants, rejected Nielsen's statements and said the lane closures were aimed at stoking "fury and impatience" by blocking U.S. citizens who had to wait to gain entry from Tijuana. "Sec. Nielsen's false comments about the Refugee Exodus are a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and demonize refugees fleeing government sponsored violence and displacement," the group said. There have been protests by hundreds of people in Tijuana who directed chants of "get out" and "go home" at the migrants. Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum is among those taking a hard stance. He posted Monday on Twitter, "Human rights come with human duties," and that migrants who do not respect citizens of Tijuana can expect to face the full weight of the law. That echoes statements by Trump, who has called the Central Americans "criminals" and cast the caravans as an "invasion." Trump tweeted Sunday that the United States is "ill-prepared for this invasion and will not stand for it. They are causing crime and big problems in Mexico. Go home." But many of the migrants are puzzled by fears they are violent and criminals, saying they fled Honduras in hopes of asylum in the United States to escape violence and gangs. Al Otro Lado, one of the groups that joined in filing the lawsuit against Trump's asylum proclamation, said the only ones protesting the migrants in Tijuana "are the anti-immigrant crowd, some of whom came down from the U.S." The group said the migrants have been "waiting patiently" as they join the established line for who will get to seek asylum next. "The exodus is not a security risk. It is a humanitarian crisis. We need food, blankets, diapers, etc., not border closures and barbed wire," it wrote on Twitter. The United States has imposed sanctions on six people and three entities for their involvement in oil shipments to Syria, the U.S. Treasury Department said Tuesday. The individuals listed in a statement by the U.S. Treasury included two Iranian nationals, a Russian, a Syrian, an Iraqi and a Lebanese. Two of the entities listed are based in Russia and one in Iran. Iranian officials have been working with Russian companies to ship "millions of barrels of oil to Syria," U.S. officials said. "Today we are acting against a complex scheme Iran and Russia have used to bolster the Assad regime and generate funds for Iranian malign activity," Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary, said in a statement following the announcement. "The Central Bank of Iran officials continue to exploit the international financial system, and in this case even used a company whose name suggests a trade in humanitarian goods as a tool to facilitate financial transfers supporting this oil scheme," Mnuchin added. The U.S. has long accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism throughout the Middle East by providing funding to non-state actors and authoritarian governments. "The Iranian regime continues to prioritize spending money on fomenting terror over supporting its own people," said Sigal Mandelker, U.S. Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "This is yet another example of the regime using the proceeds of millions of barrels of its oil to fund terrorists and the murderous Assad regime to the detriment of its own people," he said in a statement Tuesday. Mandelker added that the U.S. will seek to impose sanctions against any party involved in shipping oil to Syria, or seeking to evade our sanctions on Iranian oil. U.S. sanctions prohibit material support to the Syrian government, including shipments of oil to Syrian government-controlled ports, as well as material support to designated terrorist groups. But since the beginning of Syria's civil war in 2011, Iran has been a major backer of the Syrian regime, providing military and financial support against rebels. The Iranian regime also has been funding several regional proxies, such as the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Both groups are designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. The latest sanctions are part of the U.S. efforts to pressure Iran economically for what the Trump administration has described as Iran's destabilizing role in the Middle East. Iranian people Iranian officials have often said that U.S. sanctions are negatively affecting Iranian people, but a senior U.S. official emphasized Tuesday the U.S. is not looking to harm the Iranian people. "We very much support getting humanitarian goods to Iran, but Tehran is taking deceptive means to obfuscate sanctions," the U.S. official said Tuesday. The U.S. also issued a global maritime advisory warning to shipping companies that they will be at risk of U.S. sanctions if they get involved in shipping oil to Syria. Earlier this month, the Trump administration unveiled new sanctions on Iran, targeting 50 banks, the Iranian national airline, and 200 members of the shipping industry and vessels. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to review a full report from his administration Tuesday about the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey last month. Multiple U.S. news agencies have cited U.S. intelligence officials saying the Central Intelligence Agency has concluded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the October 2 killing. The State Department said publicly Saturday no final conclusions had been reached. Saudi officials have denied the crown prince had anything to do with Khashoggi's killing, and Trump has called reports blaming the crown prince as "premature." A Saudi prosecutor cleared the crown prince of wrongdoing last week while calling for the death penalty for five men, announcing indictments against 11. The prosecutor said a total of 21 people had been detained in connection with the killing. Germany's foreign minister said Monday that Berlin will ban 18 Saudi nationals from entering Europe's border-free Schengen zone because of their alleged links to Khashoggi's killing. Heiko Maas said he had consulted with France and Britain before announcing the ban. "There are more questions than answers in this case, with the crime itself and who is behind it," Mass said on the sidelines of a European Union meeting in Brussels. Trump says he has been fully briefed on an audio recording of the killing of the dissident Saudi journalist 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 the Fox News cable television station in a White House interview that was recorded Friday. "It's very violent, very vicious and terrible," Trump said. 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?" adding, "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." 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. Trump said it depends, "I want to see Yemen end. It takes two to tango and Iran has to end also. I want Saudi to stop, but I want Iran to stop also." 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. Advances in relations between Vietnam and India will help both countries resist Chinese expansion in Asia including the contested South China Sea, Asia scholars say. India-Vietnam relations are growing again this week as Indian President Shri Ram Nath Kovind visits Vietnam Sunday through Tuesday. He was set to meet Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong for closed-door talks. The visit advances a long-standing, fast-improving friendship that began in the 1970s, when Vietnamese leaders tapped India to diversify foreign policy, and leapt forward in 2016 when the two sides entered a strategic comprehensive partnership. Now both worry about China. Given a shared apprehension of Chinese assertiveness, New Delhi seeks to bolster Hanois capabilities to check China, to expand Indian influence in Southeast Asia as a counterweight to Chinas growing footprint in South Asia, said Sameer Lalwani, deputy director for U.S. think tank The Stimson Centers South Asia program. South China Sea dispute Vietnam and four other governments dispute all or part of Beijings claim to about 90 percent of the South China Sea. The two sides got into two deadly ship clashes, in 1974 and 1988, and rammed each others boats in 2014. China cites historical documents to support its claims. India, located west of the Indochinese peninsula, does not claim the sea that lies east of Vietnam. But last year hundreds of Chinese and Indian troops faced off on a Himalayan plateau disputed by China and Indias ally Bhutan. India also resents Chinas support for its territorial rival Pakistan. It has grown eager to help Australia, Japan and the United States patrol Asian seas where China has alarmed other countries by landfilling tiny islets, in some cases for military use. Those countries want the 3.5 million-square-kilometer South China Sea open internationally instead of under increasing Chinese control. I think Vietnam wants India to play a more active role in the South Asian region because Vietnam knows that India is not so active in the quadrilateral, including the U.S., India, Australia and Japan, said Trung Nguyen, director of the Center for International Studies at Ho Chi Minh University of Social Sciences and Humanities. India and Vietnam held their first joint drill In the Bay Of Bengal in October to strengthen working-level relations, the Press Trust of India says. India has offered Vietnam $500 million in credit for arms purchases, as well, and proposed a South China Sea warning system able to send tsunami data to Vietnam. Oil and gas exploration Vietnam and India will use fuel exploration to consolidate their stand in the South China Sea, and with a potential profit, analysts forecast. India and Vietnam already do robust trade, worth $12.8 billion in 2017-2018, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs says. Bilateral trade should reach $15 billion by 2020, the vice chairman of the Indian Business Chamber of Vietnam said last year. Indian investment in Vietnam was $2 billion then. For the past four years, the overseas subsidiary of Indias government-run ONGC has worked with PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corp. to search for oil and gas in the South China Sea. China is probably watching warily, experts say. Vietnam happens to need outside expertise and investment to find gas and oil off its long seacoast. Both domestic and foreign oil firms would earn money from any discoveries. The issue of oil is probably one of the larger political elephants in the room, so to speak, said Maxfield Brown, senior associate with the business consultancy Dezan Shira & Associates in Ho Chi Minh City. Im sure that Vietnam is keen to find countries that are willing to invest in its natural resources and arent necessarily scared off by the threat of Chinese naval incursions. Spanish driller Repsol quit a Vietnamese-approved project in the South China Sea in March, apparently under pressure from China, media reports said then. Vietnam is now considering a $4.6 billion gas exploration project with ExxonMobil, local partner CNG Vietnam Joint Stock Co. says. China claims that site, as well. Vietnam is always trying to get them to do more exploration and India has been wary of holding onto blocks that arent productive or getting blocks that are in sensitive areas vis-a-vis China, said Carl Thayer, professor emeritus with the University of New South Wales in Australia. India has shown little fear to date, said Mohan Malik, professor in Asian security, Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in the United States. Beijing has been protesting against joint Vietnamese-Indian oil exploration activities in the South China Sea for almost a decade, but New Delhi has refused to budge, Malik said. Through joint naval exercises and port calls at Vietnamese ports, New Delhi is signaling to Beijing that China's growing naval expansionwould be countered by India's naval outreach in the South China Sea. Months after comic Michelle Wolf angered Trump administration officials with her blistering routine at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the group said on Monday it would feature a historian, not a comedian, at next year's event. The WHCA said Ron Chernow, who has written biographies of presidents George Washington and Ulysses Grant and founding father Alexander Hamilton, has been asked to speak on freedom of the press at next year's black-tie affair in April. "Freedom of the press is always a timely subject and this seems like the perfect moment to go back to the basics," Chernow said in a statement released by the WHCA. President Donald Trump has repeatedly derided some media organizations as "fake news" and the "enemy of the people." The decision breaks with the association's long-standing tradition of having a comic roast the president and the press at the dinner, and it drew a sharp response from Wolf. "The @whca are cowards. The media is complicit. And I couldn't be prouder," she said on Twitter. Presidents traditionally have been given the floor to make their own humorous remarks before the comic speaks. But President Donald Trump, who frequently found himself the target of jokes when he attended before he ran for office, including by then-President Obama, has refused to attend the dinner his first two years in office. Wolf angered Trump administration officials last April with jokes that many felt were caustic and overly personal, saying of presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway "all she does is lie" and ridiculing press secretary Sarah Sanders' eye makeup. It was not the first time comics at the dinner have riled their targets. Stephen Colbert, Wanda Sykes and Seth Meyers have spoken at the dinner and also had their detractors. But Wolf's jabs at Trump administration officials prompted the New York Times to question in a headline last April: "Did Michelle Wolf kill the White House Correspondents' Dinner?" Although the dinner has become a high-profile event on Washington's social calendar, it is primarily a fund-raiser to earn money for college journalism scholarships, journalism awards and to pay for other programs sponsored by the WHCA, which represents journalists covering the White House. "While I have never been mistaken for a stand-up comedian," Chernow said, "I promise that my history lesson won't be dry." The White House has restored press credentials for CNN correspondent Jim Acotsa, warning him that he could lose them again if he fails to follow press conference rules. The White House revoked Acosta's press pass after a testy exchange with President Donald Trump during a nationally televised press conference two weeks ago. CNN says the White House "backed down" and that it will drop its lawsuit against the Trump administration. Acosta refused to surrender the microphone as he tried to ask Trump a follow-up question. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders accused Acosta of physically pushing away the hand of an intern who tried to take the microphone an allegation Acosta denied. "For years, members of the White House press corps have attended countless press events with the president and other officials without engaging in the behavior Mr. Acosta displayed at the November 7 press conference," Sanders said Monday. She informed Acosta in a letter that he is once again welcome in the White House, but warned he and other reporters could lose their press passes if they fail to carry out what she calls "explicit rules" a reporter is allowed just one question; only the president or others taking questions will allow a follow-up; and "yielding the floor" means hand over the microphone to an aide. At the November 7 news conference, Acosta questioned Trump whether he demonized a caravan of Central American migrants hoping to cross into the U.S. from Mexico as an "invasion." Trump responded that he believed it was an invasion, telling Acosta, "Honestly, I think you should let me run the country." But the exchange with Trump grew tense when Acosta tried to ask the president another question about the Russian election meddling investigation. The president said he wasn't concerned "about anything" because he considered the probe by special counsel Robert Mueller a hoax. But he then lit into Acosta, calling him a "rude, terrible person." The White House revoked Acosta's press credentials. However, a federal judge last Friday ordered the White House to reinstate the credentials for 14 days, saying the ban may have violated Acosta's constitutional right of freedom of the press. When the White House threatened to block Acosta again at the end of the month, CNN asked the judge for another emergency hearing, accusing the White House of not responding to its offer to reach a settlement. Sanders called Trump the "most accessible president in modern history" and said the White House wished it could continue to host press conferences with a "set of understood professional norms." Trump told Fox News Sunday, "Nobody believes in the First Amendment more than I do and if I think somebody's acting out of sorts I will leave. I will say, 'Thank you very much everybody, thank you very much for coming' and I will leave. And those reporters will not be too friendly to whoever it is that's acting up." The productions official key art. Photo: Jake Chessum Currently, this springs production of Kiss Me, Kate is the only musical revival announced for the 2019 Broadway season, but its stars Kelli OHara and Will Chase promise it wont be the traditional restaging you expect. Clad in glamorous costumes from Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham, the stars spoke with Vulture at the shows first photo shoot, and they promised that the essential elements of Samuel and Bella Spewack and Cole Porters 1948 musical (about feuding actors staging a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew) will be in place, but noted that there might be some aspects that need a second look. Of course youre not going to update it, really. But youre telling this play in this time, in this consciousness, said Chase, whos returning to Broadway after spending time as a country star on TV in Nashville, The estate, rightly so, says, Dont change too much, because we dont want to change what this show really is, but I think there are things within it. He noted that the shows production team will meet before rehearsals to talk about the script, which, like those of other recent revivals (e.g., Carousel or My Fair Lady), depicts dated gender dynamics potentially ripe for revision. That team includes director Scott Ellis as well as lyricist Amanda Green, who will contribute additional material to the revival. I think that you can look at it and be overwhelmed with how much needs to be reexamined, OHara said of Kiss Me, Kate. Then, you can step back and watch it for the period that it is, to see how far weve come. To that end, OHara said she was impressed by how little Green had suggested altering in some cases, only a word in order to shift the overall interpretation. My very last song is I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple, OHara said. I believe it will be that I Am Ashamed That Humans Are So Simple. Were not trying to change it to the opposite effect Im ashamed that men are so simple, or something. Were trying to unify, to find some sort of coverage that includes everybody being fallible. There are also ways in which the leads may simply approach the standard material in their own way. For me, theres never been a reason to do a revival in there unless I make it something different, OHara, a Tony winner for The King and I, said, noting that she doesnt want to throw actors under the bus as a profession by making the central relationship too silly, and that she wants to find a new angle on Vanessis rousing solo I Hate Men. To OHara, at a moment when womens anger is fiercer than ever, the characters anger isnt a joke: Its to be carefully crafted and not throwing things and ranting and raving so that men can toss us off as shrewish, naggy witches. Any new take the two are considering on Kiss Me, Kate wont preclude the shows essential comedy, however. Chase and OHara worked together both in a benefit reading of the musical and other productions, including a 100th anniversary production of Oklahoma! in Oklahoma. They are excited to reunite for Kate, which starts performances February 14 at Studio 54. We just like to make each other laugh, Chase said. If theres an advantage to doing a revival, its that the base elements are already there. The music, for instance, does already work. If you can lose yourself in Cole Porters score, you do feel something thats worthy of hope, OHara said. Toe-tapping and gorgeous dance numbers thatll be choreographed so beautifully, that old-fashioned musical comedy that just makes people happy theres nothing wrong with that right now. Melania Trump is in the news again due to her recent call for deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel to be fired, and when Melania Trump is in the news again, you know what that means: another appearance by Laura Benanti as Melania on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. During last nights show, Colbert welcomed back Melania to explain why, exactly, she called for Ricardels firing: She was lying, she was petty, she was vindictive, and weve pretty much got that covered, so Later in the clip, Melania acknowledges that the move has created quite the stir within the White House, which is why she comes prepared with a brand-new statement: Ive gone too far this time. Thats why I have issued a new statement: It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that Melania Trump no longer deserves to stay in the White House. Fire me next, Donald! Please, let me out! Shannon Gargis was sentenced in Franklin County Monday for the killing of his girlfriend's toddler more than two years ago. He was found guilty of manslaughter and aggravated child abuse for the death of Serenity Renfore. According to the Franklin County District Attorney, Joey Rushing, Gargis received a total of 20 years for each charge and will serve 40 years in prison. That was the maximum sentence he could receive. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama man is accused of sharing lewd pictures with a 13-year-old girl through a social media app where users can anonymously post secrets or share thoughts. The Montgomery Advertiser reports 24-year-old Jordan Cleghorn Williams was charged with offenses that include transmitting obscene material to a child. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office signed a warrant for his arrest Friday. The alleged incident occurred in April. An affidavit for the Auburn man's arrest says he contacted the girl through the Whispers app, sent pictures of his genitals and attempted to meet her. The affidavit says she told him she was under the age of consent. Chief Deputy Kevin Murphy says Williams is currently being held in Lee County on separate felony charges. It's unclear if Williams has a lawyer. ___ Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com Law enforcement officials have solved a years-long cold case in which a Decatur woman was murdered in 2005. Samuel Little, 78, has admitted to killing at least 90 people and says that he killed Nancy Stevens, 46, of Decatur at a Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi. On August 8, 2005, the Lee County Sheriff's Department in Mississippi responded to a report of a deceased woman found lying on the side of a road. Her body was sent for medical examination and finger prints were used to identify the woman as Nancy Stevens from Decatur, Alabama. Samuel Little Nancy Stevens Nancy Stevens Samuel Little Stevens's autopsy showed that she was murdered by manual strangulation. Investigators contacted the Decatur Police Department in Alabama and numerous leads were followed up on over the years until the case eventually went cold. In 2018, investigators were contacted by the Texas Rangers and told that Little had admitted to killing a female named "Nancy" possibly in the Tupelo area. On October 23, 2018, investigators traveled to the Wise County Jail in Decatur, Texas to interview Samuel Little. He told investigators that he was riding in an RV with Nancy Stevens in Tupelo when he killed her in the West Main Walmart parking lot there and dumped her body on the side of the road. He had knowledge of the area from when he was there in 1995. The case against Little will be presented to a grand jury in Lee County, Mississippi in January. He is currently serving multiple life sentences for murders in California. Officials say that Little has a long criminal past dating back to when he was young and slowly escalating over the years from burglaries to assaults and robberies to murder. Little has admitted to killing at least 90 people during the 70s to mid-2000s. He's served time in multiple correctional facilities throughout the country. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Matt Hart, a prosecutor who led some of the state's highest-profile corruption probes, has suddenly left the Alabama attorney general's office. A spokesman said Attorney General Steve Marshall accepted Hart's resignation on Monday and thanked him for his service. Spokesman Mike Lewis declined to comment further, including on whether Marshall asked for the resignation. Hart did not immediately return a text message seeking comment. Hart led the special prosecutions division under then-Attorney General Luther Strange and remained after Marshall took over. Hart led the case against former House Speaker Mike Hubbard who was convicted on multiple ethics charges. As a federal prosecutor, he led a probe of the two-year college system. While known for his tenacity in corruption probes, Hart was sometimes criticized by defense lawyers for his aggressiveness. Deputies arrested a second suspect in connection to the alleged rape of a 16-month-old boy in Tennessee. Danielle Bowen was charged with felony child neglect and failure to seek medical attention. She is a family member of the child. Simon Porter was arrested in Scottsboro Sunday. He was extradited to Tennessee to face charges of raping the infant. Simon Porter Simon Porter Bowen is being held at the Lawrence County Jail in Tennessee and her bond is set at $100,000. District Attorney, Brent Cooper, said she never took the baby to the hospital and that a babysitter took the baby for medical treatment two to three days after the alleged rape occurred. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The International Space Station has received two cargo deliveries in a record 15 hours. A U.S. commercial shipment arrived Monday, two days after blasting off from Virginia. NASA Astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor used the space station's robot arm to grab Northrop Grumman's capsule. It's named after Apollo 16 moonwalker and the first space shuttle commander John Young, who died in January. The station's German commander, Alexander Gerst, tweeted, "Welcome aboard, S.S. John Young!" Ice cream and other fresh food are the first things coming out. On Sunday, a Russian supply ship brought a full load. NASA says it is the quickest back-to-back shipments for the space station, which marks its 20th anniversary Tuesday. The supply ships will remain there for a few months, before being filled with trash and cut loose. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Trump administration's top environmental official for the Southeast has resigned after being indicted on state ethics charges. Environmental Protection Agency Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson told agency employees that Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler accepted Trey Glenn's resignation on Sunday. Glenn had served as the regional administrator for the EPA office that oversees eight Southeastern states. The Alabama Ethics Commission last week announced that Glenn was indicted on multiple charges along with a former Alabama Environmental Management Commission member. Glenn previously served as the director of the Alabama environmental agency. Copies of the indictment were not available Monday in public court files. Jackson said that Mary Walker will serve as the Acting Regional Administrator for EPA's Region 4 office. Walker had served as the deputy regional administrator since June. This content is expired! Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again. But the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project and the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy, groups that serve California migrant workers, said that only some field managers followed those rules to their fullest extent, exposing many of the roughly 36,000 farmworkers in the area affected by the wildfires to the dangerous air. Organizers said they visited 25 farms last week and saw workers without protective covering at practically all of them. Kroger has chosen Cincinnati for the first of 20 high-tech warehouses it plans to build with online grocer Ocado Group in a bid to dominate the U.S. grocery delivery business. In May, Kroger paid roughly $248 million for a minority stake in Ocado, the world's No. 1 online grocer. Kroger will spend $55 million on the first project under that deal, a 335,000-square-foot facility in the Cincinnati suburb of Monroe, Ohio. Kroger said the project, which is expected to create 410 jobs, is subject to securing state and local incentives. Even with the court ruling, the White House has not given any indication that it will soften its TPS approach. Trump has expressed frustration that his aides arent moving more quickly to deport people who he has said shouldnt be in the United States. He has alleged the United States has been too accommodative to immigrants for years and that he wants to let in well-educated foreign workers, not people from poor countries like Haiti. He instead expressed a desire to see more immigrants from places like Norway. While on to its fourth consecutive week of political instability, Sri Lanka is once again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. With a confused Government, the people have started questioning their democratic rights. It was quite evident that members of the Joint Opposition showed little or no respect when they disrupted Parliamentary sessions twice. On both occasions, the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) failed to show their majority. Why should the UPFA remain in Government forcibly, questioned United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) heavyweight Kumara Welgama while speaking to the media last Friday. He also said that he would never accept a ministerial post in the coalition Government. In a candid interview with the Daily Mirror, Welgama reiterated on the possible alternatives Mahinda Rajapaksa could have used to become the premier and what needs to be done to put the country back on track. Excerpts : Q You hold an independent view on the current political situation as opposed to other members in the UPFA. Why is that so? I was appointed to the post of Chief Organiser of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) back in 1982 by our first woman Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. I have fought many elections and in fact have fought them the hard way. I am a very honest member of the SLFP. My electorates have been Matugama, Agalawatte and Bulathsinghala which were areas dominated by the red parties including the Lanka Samasamaja Party. I have seen great politicians such as Dr. Colvin R. De Silva, Anil Munasinghe and Mangala Munasinghe. I studied at S. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia which is the school that produced three other prime ministers including D. S Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake and S.W.R.D Bandaranaike. So I have that reputation as well. This honesty has been inculcated in me since my school days mainly because I was a regular at Sunday school as well. Thanks to Madam Sirimavo I learned the fundamentals of being a politician and those lessons have made me who I am today. We could have gone into a provincial council elections and won. Or we could have gone in for a Presidential election with Mahinda as the candidate Q Why did you refuse to take up a ministerial post in the coalition Government? Back in 2005 I told Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga that Mahinda Rajapaksa is the most eligible candidate to be the next President. I was in fact the first member to hold a meeting in Matugama to support Rajapaksa. When Sirisena was appointed as the President on January 8, 2015 he was appointed as the SLFP Leader as well. During the first steering committee meeting he said that the SLFP and the UNP would join hands to form a coalition Government. I was the first to oppose that move. So what I predicted in 2015 has come true as that coalition Government was a failure. I also said that if such a government is formed I will never take up a ministerial post because I have a chance of getting one as Im a senior member of the Party. Then there have been discussions to appoint Mahinda with Basil and Chamal Rajapaksa at Prof. G. L. Pieriss residence to see the possibility of appointing Rajapaksa (MR) as PM. Chamal was opposed to this decision and we knew that Sirisena had a hidden agenda. Hes cunning that way. Otherwise he wouldnt just appoint MR as PM. Ministers such as Keheliya Rambukwella and Mahindananda Aluthgamage who supported this decision thought it will be a good opportunity to put a stop to the privatisation of various ventures. While I immediately opposed this decision, I also said that I will support Mahinda to get a majority and if he wanted a 2/3rds majority as in the Constitution I will vote in favour of him as well. Q The events that followed from proroguing Parliament to the chaotic parliamentary sessions have put a black mark on the country. Is it good for elected representatives to behave in this manner? We now face a crisis. The country has two prime ministers; one at Temple Trees and the other at the PMs office. The speaker has to take a proper vote. He could have taken it electronically because the voice vote would never work given the chaos. But what I say is that whoever who doesnt show the majority should respect the rule of law and leave. This applies to both the SLFP and the UNP. With the chaos that transpired in Parliament it has put a black mark on the country. I saw how foreign diplomats filmed everything and it was all over media. With nepotism, people did lose faith in them and because of that we have suffered many losses. But I hope he too has learned his lessons and will not encourage such activities in future Q In an earlier instance you said that Mahinda would have had a better way to become Premier. What alternatives could he have possibly opted for? We could have defeated the Budget which was supposed to be read on December 5. We could have gone into a provincial council elections and won. Or we could have gone in for a Presidential election with Mahinda as the candidate and won it. But they blindly took this vague decision and you can now witness the crisis. Q People have taken to the streets, crying out for their democratic rights. Where do they stand? Theres a case in the Supreme Court and we hope that the judgment would be given on December 7. Depending on that we can go for a fresh election where people can vote, let their voices be heard and elect a fresh Government. But we still havent been able to make that democratic move yet and the whole world is watching us. Q The International Monetary Fund suspended its loans due to the political instability prevailing in the country. How will this affect the economy? The loan, worth Rs. 1.85 billion, is on hold. In fact its a huge blow to the economy. People will rob each other to find food and money and the situation would be similar to countries such as Venezuela. On January 14, 2019 we have to pay USD 1000 million and at the end of next year we have to pay USD 2546 million. Without money how can we propose a budget? Sirisena did have better ways to solve this issue. As at now, everybody has to get together and think about the country. One faction is worried that the other will file cases against them and vice versa. With these tensions we cant return to normalcy. People will rob each other to find food and money and the situation would be similar to countries such as Venezuela. On January 14, 2019 we have to pay USD 1000 million But what I say is that whoever who doesnt show the majority should respect the rule of law and leave. This applies to both the SLFP and the UNP. Q What will happen to the Budget? Where is the money to propose a Budget? The On Account budget will be tabled, but that is 1/4th of the actual budget. We are experiencing huge economic losses. So the world needs to see who the actual leader is and we have to work to regain what we lost during the past few days. Q Do you think that Parliamentary proceedings would run smoothly on November 23? Yes. Everybody has learned a lesson now. Both sides had their faults. Some were carrying knives while the others meddled with the speakers chair and broke mics. When people voice out their opinions on TV we can see how they scold the politicians today. I hope and pray that they would act more sanely on Friday. Q Dont you think that President Sirisena acted prematurely in deciding to appoint a PM? He has always taken decisions in a hurry. Not that Im blaming him, but he didnt know about the 100-day programme or about the petrol and diesel price hike. When Mahinda was President he took firm and far-sighted decisions. He decided to put an end to the war and he did it. The country needs a leader like him. Q Two reasons why the Rajapaksa regime was overthrown were because of nepotism and corruption. With Rajapaksa coming into power, chances are high that Gotabaya too would enter the political scene. What are your views ? People may have a fear. Mahinda was determined to put an end to the war and Gotabaya helped him. For that we need to give them the due credit. When J. R Jayewardene was in power, Vadamarachchi was under attack. This was when Lalith Athulathmudali was the Minister of National Security. What resulted was J.R going to India and bringing back a provincial council we didnt want. Likewise they didnt take farsighted decisions. With nepotism, people did lose faith in them and because of that we have suffered many losses. But I hope he too has learned his lessons and will not encourage such activities in future. Both sides had their faults. Some were carrying knives while the others meddled with the speakers chair and broke mics. When people voice out their opinions on TV we can see how they scold the politicians today Q As a result of the prevailing political instability tourist arrivals have declined despite this being the peak season. How can we recover what we have lost during the past few weeks? We lost Rs. 20 million as a result of tourist cancellations. What we need to do is establish a proper Government, show the majority and pass the Budget if we are to head back to normalcy. Some of the city-dwelling bailout recipients said they have suffered from the trade war and needed federal help, even if they do not live on the farms. Sara A. Kilker, 63, a substitute teacher in Tampa, received about $2,000 from the government for a farm she helps manage in Ohio that produces soybeans and corn. While she does not work the land herself, Kilker said she has been hurt by the downturn in commodities prices while still having to pay for expenses such as fertilizer, seed and herbicide spray. The National Police Commission (NPC) said yesterday it had not directed the IGP to cancel the transfer of the CIDs Organised Crimes Investigation Unit OIC, IP Nishantha Silva. Several reports claimed that the NPC had directed the IGP to cancel the transfer of IP Nishantha Silva. NPC Secretary Saman Dissanayaka said the NPC had not recommended IP Nishanthas transfer as the CID did not belong to the commissions functional division. The Secretary said both the transfer and its withdrawal had been made by the IGP. (Darshana Sanjeewa) In its application to the IRS for status as a tax-exempt organization, the organizers reported that the group would study the impact of environmental regulations on businesses, records show. In that incarnation, the group took no action and only existed on paper, one man named in IRS filings as a board member told The Washington Post. Another named in a state filing as a board member said he never agreed to be on the board. Theres what we know for sure (very little, to be honest), what we dont know (quite a bit) and what we think we know (some of it made up). Look at the four statements below. Are they fact, fiction or something in-between? 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 I even found myself wondering the same thing; I had a strange urge to pat Clintons hand and murmur that yes, she had been treated in a manner that was wildly sexist and unfair, but that perhaps now it was time to dig out her signature Relaxation Hillary caftan and retire. I had an urge to fall back on an argument familiar to any parent of two or more children: I know he started it. But you have to be the bigger person and finish it. Finish it for your party. For the country. Its not me who dislikes you, but some other people. The bills provisions, while a radical change for the District, do not go as far as those adopted in some states. If enacted, the legislation would not stop a company or its executives from giving generously to a political campaign and subsequently seeking a contract, as long as the contract had not yet been put out to bid at the time of the contributions. Nor would it prevent mid- and low-level employees of a company, or the relatives of executives, from contributing both common practices for firms that do business with the city. A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words. ~Confucius There is no serious negotiation under way. When the countrys constitution is being so seriously questioned, when the animal-like instincts and uncouth character of its political life are being portrayed in public to the whole wide world, when those who have been elected to political office, except one solitary man, are acting like the power that they wield is their private and personal property bequeathed by a divine being, when they act as if that power qualifies them to behave in the most atrocious manner in the very House of the People, Parliament, when those who are purported to be representing the common man, are debasing the values that common man holds so precious, sacred and noble, the real common man is astounded on the one hand and angry and thoroughly disgruntled on the other with those who have deliberately chosen to tear apart the document which is our Constitution from which cascade the rule of law, our justice system, its intricate and intrinsic measures and the very substance of a democratic society. Never blew his own trumpet or prompting or pressurising others to blow his trumpet He withstood the barrage of insults and criticism and upheld the parliament democracy What was exhibited to the world is not an angry reaction of one party to an antagonistic point of view of another. Over the last few days, specifically on November 14, 15 and 16, what in fact was manifested was an ugly orgy of the representatives of the common man; this is what SWRD Bandaranaike created; this is what resulted from the ill-planned, ill-thought out process of an Oxford pundit. When uneducated ruffians are sent to parliament and when their Masters are openly backing them, what destiny are we seeking as a collective people? Who is the solitary man who stood between these marauding hooligans against justice and fair-play? Who showed that he still possessed a spine that is made of tempered steel? Karu Jayasuriya, the Speaker of the House of Parliament defied the odds. The odds stacked up against him and against fair-play were formidable; they were uncouth, uncivilized and inhuman, yet to withstand such an outbreak of un-nuanced vitriol, such a barrage of disgraceful and shameless greed, catapulting of books and chairs, to endure the scorn of a minority and yet literally hold his floor and promulgate the factual status of the majoritys wish of the House was no easy endeavour. But Karu did it. When Bandaranaikes common men and women ransacked the Chambers of Parliament and its invaluable books and journals, when they used such invaluable material as their bullets and bazooka, Karu Jayasuriya, a very common man born and bred in Siyane Korale, educated at Ananda College, a leading Buddhist Educational Institution in Sri Lanka, did all of us proud. Ranil Wickremesinghe should step down in the name of his Party, of his ancestors, his government and in the name of his country. Period. How would President Sirisena respond to the nomination of Karu Jayasuriya as Prime Minister? Would he renege on that too? Itll be unimaginable. The only way to call President Sirisenas bluff is to nominate Karus name as PM. And if Karu agrees, they can save their Premiership, their coalition-government without the SLFP, (if the SLFP guys want to join the Cabinet, they must join the UNP or any other Party that is part and parcel of the coalition) and above all the country and her democratic way of governance and life. Defended and armoured by unarmed bodies of policemen, forming an impenetrable ring around the Speaker, a gallant proclamation was made: there is no confidence in the Rajapaksa-premiership. Hard times require harder decisions. Ranils legacy would be that he saved democracy in Sri Lanka and he would be proud to leave behind such a glorious legacy. All matters that are bound to matter in the ensuing twelve (12) months are secondary at this very moment. A resuscitation of the Rajapaksa family and their inglorious rule should be given permanent leave. Defended and armoured by unarmed bodies of policemen, forming an impenetrable ring around the Speaker, a gallant proclamation was made: there is no confidence in the Rajapaksa-premiership November 16, 2018 was, to quote American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a day of infamy for all Sri Lankans. We ought to be thoroughly ashamed of our own political leaders and especially of those who wrongly assume that they are the government. Such a blatant exhibition of hooliganism and vitriol, gushing from those who represent the Pohottuwa-gang has no precedent in the manner in which the very substance of the issue in question: who controls the majority in the House of Parliament. The apparently bottomless mine into which the Executive has plunged the countrys polity seems to be spiralling further downwards; those who are near the mine are digging deeper and deeper; there doesnt seem to be any sane quarter that is genuinely interested in the interest of the country and her people to ask them to stop digging! It is indeed a sad story to tell our grandchildren. But let us not leave this to our future historians. Their interpretations may well be out of context. MRs unlawful assertion and his obvious dis-entitlement as the countrys Prime Minister are not in question anymore. An ordinary parliamentarian who was sworn in as Prime Minister under the cover of false Executive powers, read out a statement that consisted of assertions beyond comprehension; it spoke about his love for the country; he alleged that the Speaker of Parliament was wrong in recognizing the right of the majority. In other words, he, from the well of the House of the Peoples will, prophesized a tyranny of the minority. A minority consisting of corrupt, uncouth and uneducated set of street thugs garbed in western-style suits of usual Manthree (MP)-kit, resorted to bullying, intimidation and savagery. What can one expect from the commoners who were elected from a political ideology that idealized the commonality of the common man? Decency is uncommon; dignity is uncommon; respect is uncommon; common sensed conduct is uncommon and the great irony is all these petty hoodlums of parliament pretending to be its custodians are common. The common mans party has produced wastes of Sri Lankas politics; their puny personalities are so common it is hardly separable from the common waste matter of any species. Yet, the real authentic common man is doomed; his hopes and desires for social climbing are being threatened; his educational aspirations are dwindling and his life-goals are receding further and further. These so-called representatives of the common man are a disgrace to the grace of that real common man. He wakes up each morning; wakes his children up and gets them ready for school; offers his thanks to Buddha in the tiny shrine room. He drops the children at the bus stand and treks his way to the paddy field he so fondly ploughs and sees that sufficient amount of water is channelled to his plot - its real hard work which none of these politicos has ever understood or had the competence or basic discipline to apply themselves to. That is the real life of a real common man. When he gets back home with a crimson sun setting on the distant horizon; dusk surrounds his humble abode; his children are busy with homework; his sweetheart wife is preparing a measly meal of rice, pol sambol and kiri hodi which the whole family partakes of with unpretentious pleasure and no complaint. His desires are few but he knows the limits his desires could reach. But his hopes and aspirations are many and more often than not, boundless. He wants freedom of movement; he desires freedom of communication; he demands freedom of thought and its limitless expression. One thing that he does not demand or require is to be represented by a village thug or a city-dwelling ruffian who makes all his money from illicit liquor or trafficking life-endangering drugs. He stood for the common interests of the common man, while the MR-led hooligans in parliament openly expressed in no uncertain words and actions that they wanted to destroy and extinguish the common mans unassuming goals It is that common man and his humble desires and wants that Karu Jayasuriya tried to defend in Parliament on that fateful day. Karu Jayasuriya stood for the common interests of the common man, while the MR-led hooligans in parliament openly expressed in no uncertain words and actions that they wanted to destroy and extinguish the common mans unassuming goals. One unconstitutional act, the naming of Mahinda Rajapaksa as new Prime Minister, has to be defended by another unconstitutional act, dissolution of Parliament. As in all human affairs, when a crisis deepens, when the abyss looks nearer and nearer, a very few good men and women rise up against such a suicidal march. Karu Jayasuriya dwells among those few. Without trying to blow his own trumpet or prompting or pressurising others to blow his trumpet, Jayasuriya made that stance look like an event of his normal day at work. The country needs such men. The present crisis needs such men. The hour needs such men. Remember, the legacy of the present generation has to be one of magnificence and courage; it needs to be one of humility and sacrifice; it needs to be one that our grandchildren would be proud to tell their grandchildren. Karu Jayasuriya is a gentleman in politics, maybe among the last few of that kind. The author can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com The population growth masks the fact that the plight of the whooper is not solved, however. The species is far from self- sustaining because birds raised in captivity rarely succeed at rearing their own young in the wild. Scientists are still trying to figure out why, so captive breeding remains whooping cranes only secure path to survival. He asked me what I thought about human beings. I said one thing about human beings is that everything that is mechanical, that is invented, is very sexual, Mr. Ferro said. We looked at each other and realized the B-52, refueling in mid-air, of course, how much more sexual can you get?! He loved the idea. He wanted to shoot it with models we had, but I said let me take a look at the stock footage, I am sure that [the makers of those planes] are very proud of what they did and, sure enough, they had shot the plane from every possible angle. Police launched an extensive manhunt for Moye after the shooting, finding him later that day in a wooded area near his home in Silver Spring. As officers approached, he shot himself twice in an attempt to take his life. He was taken to a hospital and treated for his injuries. Adi Najjar, the father of Shadi Najjar, was in court for the verdict, as he has been for nearly every minute of the proceedings. He said he hugged his wife and friends, and then looked at Garcia-Gaona and Galicia, whom he had noticed smiling occasionally during the trial as they walked in and out of court or spoke with their attorneys. There was a lot about Rose that was a mystery. After I wrote about her about how she was found dead of natural causes in her Southeast apartment; how no family came forward to claim her body; how Clydes paid for her to be cremated only a little more information came out. Although official information on what happened to the deer was not immediately available, and the animals fate seemed unlikely to be a pleasant one, overall the regions transportation system seemed to fare fairly well under the stress of the incidents. The legacy of freedom people experienced in Sri Lanka for more than 2000 years was threatened by the European colonizers. The Sri Lankans resisted the European colonizers for more than 300 years. The independence of Sri Lanka was confined to the Central and mountain regions of the island. The coastal areas were ruled by the colonizers. It was in 1815 that the British could take over the whole island. They used the policy of divide and rule and bribe the leaders of the natives to weaken the kingdom. This paved the way for the British to take over the whole island. The last king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was a Tamil king. He ruled and resisted the British for 17 years. It was very easy to use the differences in culture and language to divide and weaken Sri Lanka. This policy yet prevails in the rule of Sri Lanka. The People of Uva-Wellassa had an experience in defeating the colonizers who came to conquer them. They were pioneers of guerilla warfare. When their paddy lands were taken over, cattle destroyed, paddy looted, villages burnt, women raped and children killed the people revolted. This made the whole nation to unite to fight the British. The natives of Sri Lanka were not ready to compromise the countrys freedom with any other. The only strength they had was the faith in freedom and unity of the natives. It was very easy to use the differences in culture and language to divide and weaken Sri Lanka. This policy yet prevails in the rule of Sri Lanka Britain was an industrial country. It had all the possessions of the colonies, modern weapons and an experience in colonizing countries. It was not a battle of equals. The natives gave a bitter fight. In the process of September-November 1818, ten thousand natives lost their lives while only 678 lives were lost of the colonizers.( Dr. Davy, Henry Marshall) The natives couldnt face the massacre and had to retreat. The Uva-Wellassa resistance kept a heroic legacy in the peoples minds. The villages of battles and the personal sacrifices are deeply rooted in the peoples minds. At a time when Sri Lanka is facing grave political turmoil, visiting and recalling the first war of independence is timely. A series of discussions is organized in Colombo, Kandy and Galle. 23rd Nov 2018 - Public Library, Colombo 3p.m., 24th Nov 2018 - Sri Pushpadana Hall , Kandy 2p.m. 25th Nov 2018 - International Buddhist Centre, Galle 10 a.m. A concert comprising dance, drama and music will be held on 25th Nov 2018 at the Vihara Maha Devi park, open air theatre, from 5p.m. onwards. Many leading artistes will perform. Entrance free. This is organized by the Guitar Association of Sri Lanka, Public Library, Colombo7, Kandurata Monarawila Keppetipola Commemorative Committee and supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs. The trial is one of several contesting the governments March decision to ask respondents to the 2020 Census if they are U.S. citizens, with the rationale that it is necessary to enforce the Voting Rights Act. But opponents see it as a partisan move that will depress response rates in Democratic-majority jurisdictions with a high portion of immigrants. They say the question, which has not undergone the rigorous testing generally done when adding new material to the forms, could scare immigrants and their families from completing the form. Many schools in Vanuatu are still facing challenges in water sanitation, says the Ministry of Education As Sri Lankas made-by-politicians political imbroglio entered its fourth week with no end in sight, the UNP suddenly decided to write to Mark Zuckerberg, the head at Facebook. The letter that was sent over the weekend said - It is very likely that officials from the current illegal administration...may ask Facebook for information on selected Sri Lankan users of that particular social media platform that should rightfully be private. Such requests may include information on named individuals, geo locations and other identification details of users who view and post on these pages. Since March riots, Facebook has been paying increased attention on Sri Lanka Ordinary citizens have also taken to social media to express their disgust Those of us who have been watching social media even before the current political turbulence felt that the letter was a preemptive move by the UNP. There was no indication that Facebook was contemplating releasing such data and even by mid-week, the letter went unacknowledged. But what has been true is that Facebook and other such social media have opened up another dimension in the ongoing efforts to gain public attention and then monopolize the information arch. Facebook has been in the forefront as the platform that was allowing all parties concerned to get content into the public domain. On Monday, when the public galleries of parliament were closed off, there were also fears that journalists would come under heightened security when they tried to use their mobiles from the press section. Journalists cannot use their mobiles from the gallery but some have been using them during the last few sessions. And if the official live feed were to be cut off, then there would be no way the general public would get access to what was going on within the chamber. But when sessions started those who wanted, were getting pictures that were as close as you could get to parliamentary sessions from within the members areas. Recent double crossover, Manusha Nanayakkara, used his Facebook page to go live from within the chamber. On the first day when fracas broke out, then again it was a Facebook live feed of media outlet, this time done from the gallery, that I used as my main source to witness what was taking place. Facebook was also being used by the political parties, journalists and others to live stream interviews, press-conferences and other incidents during the crisis. Manusha Nanayakkara, used his Facebook page to go live from within the chamber. On the first day when fracas broke out, then again it was a Facebook live feed of media outlet, this time done from the gallery There are around six million Sri Lankan origin Facebook accounts and since the March riots, Facebook has been paying increased attention on Sri Lanka. Twitter still remains a selective domain. It is still a niche platform but an important platform for news makers, influential individuals and others. Information, rumour and pure lies get shared here instantaneously and when it works well, they get verified and crowd sourced. The other main platform that seems to be heavily used is Whatsapp, to share, verify tips, news and rumour. The danger with social media is its potency to go viral and the ease with which it allows for fake content. The other danger is that computed influence pedalling when bots can be used to boost content, troll and harass. During the ongoing crisis there has been no significant use of bots boost content or personalities. But there have been marked developments. In the past the social media community that had Mahinda Rajapaksa as the nucleus dominated the Sri Lanka social media sphere, especially, that relating to political or related content. With October 26 take-over, we have seen a much more pluralized and diversified field with UNP, JVP and other parties also realizing the importance of social media. Ordinary citizens have also taken to social media to express their disgust at what was going on and they have been quite open. The memes have the best antidepressant for the political mess. The author is the Asia-Pacific Coordinator for the DART Centre for Journalism and Trauma, a project of Columbia Journalism School. He can be reached via Twitter - @amanthap The legendary silverback gorillas which roam forest-cloaked volcanoes of the Western Rift Valley where Rwanda, Congo and Uganda meet have drawn thousands of tourists willing to pay hundreds of dollars to see them. Their habitat also supports other species found nowhere else, including golden monkeys. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, known as PrEP, is a combination of two drugs tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine made by Gilead Sciences and marketed as Truvada. Taken daily in a single pill, the FDA-approved medication greatly reduces the chance of acquiring HIV, according to research cited by the task force. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that PrEP cuts the risk of contracting HIV through sex by more than 90 percent and reduces the risk for intravenous drug users by more than 70 percent. Chicago elevator drops 84 floors: People rescued from a trapped elevator in one of Chicago's tallest skyscrapers later learned they had dropped 84 floors. The Chicago Tribune reported Monday that six people, including a pregnant woman, got into the elevator Friday after leaving a restaurant on the 95th floor of the 875 North Michigan Avenue building, formerly the John Hancock Center. One of several cables holding the elevator broke and the car fell rapidly, landing somewhere near the 11th floor. Firefighters broke through a wall to reach the people trapped inside. The events that unfolded on October 26 have led the country towards unprecedented instability. Almost a month later, we are still awaiting the correct interpretation of the decisions and the credibility of actions while pondering if such changes have been made in the best interest of the country and her people and if the society accepts them with knowledge and understanding. It is no secret that the shock waves that went through the country on October 26 were immense. Usually the appointment of a Prime Minister is a well-planned, laborious and glamorous event, but this one was like a couple eloping in the night. It was a slap on the face of everyone who clearly rejected the previous regime. What led to this sudden appointment of a Prime Minister nobody seems to know. But the fundamental question that is asked from all quarters is whether there was justification coupled with moral and ethical grounds on which decisions were made. Our society is more vibrant and vociferous and the effects of this are seen through social media. The messages reach the other end of the earth. So things do not remain contained within the country. The chaos that followed the October 26 swearing in has once again brought discredit to the country. The Yahapaalana Government was established with much hope by a large majority that was tired of the regime before. The promises were that those who have misused public funds will be brought to book, there will be an end to impunity and the freedom of the press will be restored. To some degree the people believed that the President was keen. But much too soon the bond issue gave ammunition to the MPs within the Opposition to fire at the Good Governance Government. Sadly the advise I gave the President to cancel the famous bond auction immediately was not heeded. As a result, till today no action or a proper inquiry has taken place. In addition the joint opposition did nothing but act as the spanner in the works. They created havoc in many corners to disrupt the Government and the daily life of the citizens. Steps in the right direction It is obvious that the country lacked systems to address the various financial scandals. When the FCID was set up, many, including some SLFP Ministers in the Government were against it. It was a legitimate process that had to go through a court of law. It was a step in the right direction. Then the fast track/hybrid courts were established and the same stalwarts were criticising it. Why? Did they think that they will be victims of it? At the bottom of this, the rulers were divided. So it was a sorry state of affairs. But the Government did many significant things during the past three years. The establishment of a free ambulance service, reduction of medicine prices, regained GSP Plus, bringing in the Right to Information Act and the right to free speech, re establishing the independent commissions and even bringing the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which of course at this juncture seems a mockery according to the legal luminaries waxing eloquent on electronic media . What prompted the President to appoint a new Prime Minister after 3 years and 2 months of a Coalition Government? Many are of the view that having so and so as a premier is a continuation of the ailment, but appointing another (the way he did) is not the cure. There is a saying in Sinhala that goes changing the pillow to cure a headache which means that without addressing the root cause an ineffective remedial measure is taken. Once you accept public office you are responsible for your actions and are accountable to the public. One fine day you will have to face the consequences. While we do not know on whose advice the President is taking these actions; right now his actions are being questioned my many . When we look at this new Cabinet what many people say is Horu allanna aanduwak aawa; eeta passe horu aanduwa alluwa. Now it appears that no one is steering the ship which is in troubled waters and the President is rearranging the furniture in the ship. What is worrying is that the bureaucracy has come to a halt because they are struggling to comprehend what is going on. What were the reasons behind proroguing parliament? And why not appoint someone as PM from within the coalition government? He claims that he asked a few people individually if they would like to take on the Premiership. But is that the best course of action. While the whole country waits for the Supreme Court decision on the dissolution of Parliament; the question that has arisen is whether it was morally and ethically right for the President to do so? According to the 19th Amendment, the Parliament cannot be dissolved before 4 and a half years. With utmost respect to the Judiciary, the interpretation of the Law has to be based on what the framers of the law had in mind when they passed the law . In that context it is abundantly clear on the 4 1/2 year rule . Terrifying domino effect From the time this article was first penned, so much has happened. The actions of the President has had a terrible and terrifying domino effect and the entire country is in absolute chaos now. Hardly any action is taking place in Government offices. The officials are in a dither as to whose instructions they are to follow. I cannot imagine the stress that the parliamentary staff and the ministry secretaries are experiencing during this chaos. There is no Cabinet and it also shows that we do not need one. The dissolution of parliament in 2003 by President Chandrika Kumaratunga was a similar decision which she regretted later. Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena became Presidents of this Country thanks to former President Chandrika. But we see no gratitude being shown by either one. What the President has done has indeed given oxygen to the UNP which was in a bad wicket due to the bond scam. While all this is happening locally, the image of the country in the international arena has reached a new low. We are now a good example of a badly managed economy in the Asian region. The president and the law makers do not seem to realize that the world does not accept this. A letter from the Secretary General of the UN has insisted that action be taken as per the Constitution. Who we elect as the President should be knowledgeable of the constitution and the power and the authority that post grant. The people expect that person to act with utmost integrity. If the actions of the President are being widely questioned by the average person on the street to the most learned, then it is time to realise that the President has made a fundamental mistake. If the President was ill advised, it is time to leave aside the egos and take remedial measures. I for a moment do not think that you can bring a no confidence motion against the PM now, simply because he has not served even for 2 weeks. what one can bring is a motion that the present PM does not command or have the support of the majority in Parliament. This country is not theirs to ruin. We owe it to the future generations to safeguard this country right now. The options are limited for those living in the makeshift shelters and will be for some time. No one has been allowed back into their devastated towns, so they have little sense of what awaits them there and how plausible returning and rebuilding really is. Nearly 12,000 homes have been destroyed. Red Cross worker, 3 police officers dead in Mexico attack: A Red Cross paramedic was killed and six other people wounded in an attack by gunmen during an aid distribution event in southern Mexico. Three police officers providing security at the event also died in the attack in Taxco, in Guerrero state. A state security spokesman said the attack involved 20 men ages 18 to 20 in fake military-style uniforms who arrived in pickups and SUVs and fired indiscriminately at residents, police and Red Cross volunteers. The Red Cross was distributing blankets, jackets and aid packages to help poor families make it through the winter. Prominent separatist killed in Indian-held Kashmir: Assailants killed a prominent separatist leader in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials and residents said, as anti-India protests and clashes followed a gun battle that killed four rebels and an army commando in the disputed Himalayan region. Rebel groups and separatists called the killing of Hafizullah Mir an assassination and blamed Indian authorities, while police said it was carried out by militants. Kashmir is divided between rivals India and Pakistan, and both claim the territory in its entirety. McGonigal was unclear about what he needed to do to report his work hours, or if he had to report at all. The new policy applies only to Medicaid expansion enrollees, but even most people in that group dont have to frequently check in with the state (because of age, disability, state already has work information on file, etc.). Like many I spoke with, McGonigal says he got confusing and sometimes conflicting information from the states Department of Human Services, which told him to report online. He doesnt have a cellphone or computer, so he borrowed his sister-in-laws smartphone. A fair process treats each party with dignity and ensures the integrity of final decisions. Having outcomes overturned and relitigated because of process concerns which has happened dozens of times in recent years can be counterproductive to survivors. This is why unbiased decision-makers need to objectively consider the testimony of both parties and other available evidence before reaching conclusions about what happened and what to do about it. Our proposed rule would require schools to apply basic due-process protections for students, such as the presumption of innocence, the right to know of allegations against them, the right to examine and challenge the evidence and the right to an unbiased decision-maker. That includes prohibiting the single investigator model, in which determinations are made by the same person who has investigated the case a situation akin to a prosecutor also serving as a judge. Our country stands on the brink of adversity, power hungry politicians have destroyed democracy and the highest in the land has descended to lower than the lowest!!! Nothing is worse than allowing a persona non grata to enter the place of power; because they use the power to empower themselves, they say they are trying to stamp out corruption and destroy the spirit of selfishness but they are not!!! SERVICE IS THE GREATEST ASPECT OF LEADERSHIP Leadership is not measured by how many people SERVE YOU; it is measured by how many people YOU SERVE!!! Service is the greatest act of leadership; serving the people is why you exist!!! So, any time you want to be served, that is the parasite and it is like a cancer that comes from within!!! It is the highest manifestation of insecurity!!! King Solomon the Great once said Woe to the land when a slave becomes King, what he was saying was the country will be destroyed if the person who is in power thinks like a slave, one who has been stripped of everything, so they want everything for themselves!!! EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY - A SCOURGE? The biggest scourge that our country faces today is the curse of the EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY!!! We have to unite unanimously to abolish the scourge of the Executive Presidency, which is the root cause of the political cancer that is destroying our country today!!! In the context of todays political situation, I had some 1982 news coverage sent to me by a friend!!! JRs Lessons and Colvins Prediction!!! The 1982 Presidential Election was covered for The Island by the late Ajith Samaranayake and another reporter. Apparently, among JRs contenders were Hector Kobbekaduwa and Dr. Colvin R. de Silva. Ajith and the other reporter had to brief the outcome of the electoral results to their Chairman Upali Wijewardene, who stayed alert on that night at his residence, in Thurstan Road, Colombo. True to Colvins words, President Premadasas UNP split. President Kumaratungas SLFP split, and today, President Mahinda Rajapaksas SLFP is also in the doldrums Well, JR won! Both reporters were relaxing in the porch, when Anandatissa arrived. While chatting to Anandatissa, JR alighted from his Jaguar with a smile. Anandatissa said, Sir, you have won in a convincing manner. JR responded saying Thats why Ananda I am here. Seconds later another car followed. It was Dr. Colvin R. de Silva. Alighting from his car, Colvin called Dickie, Dickie JR looked back and said, Hi Colvin, happy to see you. No, Dickie, I only came to wish you on your victory, said Colvin and walked up to JR to shake hands, JR invited him into the main hall but, Colvin turned it down and while returning to his car, Colvin again said Dickie, I must tell you something. JR asked what it was. Colvin replied Dickie, the day you go, abolish this executive system and go, because your successors will find it difficult to keep their political parties united unlike you, and when that happens, there will be chaos in the country. Thats a matter for the future to see, like Que Sera JR had quipped in lighter vein. Colvin responded What I say will be, will be, and boarded his car. True to Colvins words, President Premadasas UNP split. President Kumaratungas SLFP split, and today, President Mahinda Rajapaksas SLFP is also in the doldrums. A more accurate prediction was never made!!! Serving people is an honour; not a lucrative career for looting In keeping with what Sajith Premadasa very eloquently said, Parliamentarians should adhere to the following: a) Parliamentarians should NOT get Pension since it is NOT employment but Election under Peoples Representation Act, it has no retirement with bar on re-employment but they can get reelected to the same position again. Currently they get pension after 5 years of service. b) Parliamentarians pay should be revised in line with Central Pay Commission. They increase/raise their salary arbitrarily by voting for themselves. c) Parliamentarians should lose their current health care system and participate in the same health care system as the general public of Sri Lanka. d) All concessions like free travel, ration, electricity, water, phone bill should be abolished. e) Parliamentarians with tainted records, criminal charges and convictions, past or present should be summarily banned from Parliament and contesting election on any pretext. Financial losses incurred due to politicians in office must be recovered from their families, nominees or properties. f) Parliamentarians should equally abide by all laws they impose on the general public. g) No surrender of subsidies such as LPG by citizens unless all subsidies available to MPs are withdrawn including subsidized food in Parliament canteen. h) Once they are elected, they should remain in the same party and ability to crossover should be totally abolished. Serving in Parliament is an honour; not a lucrative career for looting!!! After all, they claim that they come to serve the people, so serve the people, and they must!!! Sajith very correctly said that the Ministers should pay attention to the homeless, starving people of this country!!! THE DEATH OF DEMOCRACY IS GOING TO TAKE AWHILE!!! THE VOICE Trump is anxious to award himself high marks because the nation, in no uncertain terms, just flunked him. A blue wave swept Democrats to take control of the House, with the party grabbing its biggest haul of GOP-held seats since the Watergate midterm following Richard M. Nixons resignation in 1974. Republican bastions such as Texas and Georgia became competitive for the first time in more than a generation. Orange County, Calif., the birthplace of Reagan-era conservatism, will be represented exclusively by Democrats when the new Congress convenes. As the New Center proposal acknowledges, not all opposition to the various elements of its proposed compromise are based on bigotry or bad faith, or even on partisan politics. Immigration, both legal and illegal, brings more benefits than costs in the aggregate, but the benefits are diffuse and the costs are concentrated on displaced workers in specific industries; in local communities obliged to school and house newcomers. Some of the challenge to this vision of inherent dignity has come from arguments associated with academic liberalism. It has become common to deny that human beings have natures that can be separated from their cultural circumstances. And without a human nature, it is hard to define a set of human rights. Without some standard from outside the culture some statement by God or reason that every human life is sacred we are left with only the current consensus of our culture. And we are left with no good reason to tell our children why they should hold to that consensus rather than abandon it. There is no need for Trump to choose between energizing his base and expanding it. He can do both by using the presidential bully pulpit to reach out to those who disagree with him. For example, suburban voters constantly hear from the left that Trump is a racist, and no one wants to vote for a bigot. But during the 2016 campaign, Trump reached out to African American voters, visiting a black church in Detroit and delivering a major speech in Charlotte in which he promised black Americans, Whether you vote for me or not, I will be your greatest champion. Hes delivering on that promise. African American unemployment reached its lowest rate on record. Trumps tax reform included Opportunity Zones to revitalize struggling low-income communities. Hes fighting for school choice and recently announced his support for bipartisan criminal-justice reform. Chaffee Monell, a 75-year-old retired early childhood educator from Amesbury, voiced confidence in Pelosis leadership. Its not a matter of whether youre old or young. Its how effective you can mobilize that body of legislators, and are you good at it? he said. Certainly lets not have things like we need new blood or something like that, something vague. If this is a criticism of her, it needs to be specific. Big story out that the FBI ignored tens of thousands of Crooked Hillary Emails, many of which are REALLY BAD, he tweeted in August, referring to a Fox News story about claims that the bureau did not scrutinize all her emails. Also gave false election info. I feel sure that we will soon be getting to the bottom of all of this corruption. At some point I may have to get involved! Russia has been actively courting Saudi weapons purchases, and Riyadh, despite U.S. urging, has declined to say that it will rebuff those entreaties. An internal Saudi memo obtained by The Post, confirmed as genuine by a Saudi official close to the government with knowledge about the topic, indicated that Mohammed, in the weeks before a trip he made to Moscow in June, was briefed on what the Russians could provide. The list included equipment and training for ground forces, major weapons systems such as the S-400 antimissile defense system along with reconnaissance ships, and electronic warfare and other intelligence equipment. It is not the first time that the panels have probed the question of whether staffers in the Trump White House used personal email accounts. Both Gowdy and Johnsons panels grilled administration officials last year about reports that President Trumps aides, including his daughter, were using personal accounts for official communications. Their new letters to the administration were released amid a furor from congressional Democrats, who vowed to take up the investigation next year but stir less partisan rancor than the GOP did in its probe of Clinton. The transfer of the CIDs Organised Crimes Investigation Unit OIC Inspector Nishantha Silva to the Negombo Division, was cancelled with effect from yesterday, the Police said. The IGP on Sunday (18) transferred IP Silva on service requirement. However, the Inspector had appealed to the National Police Commission (NPC) over his transfer. Several civil organizations and Amnesty International had expressed its concern over the transfer. CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera said he was reinstated by the IGP yesterday on service requirement. (Darshana Sanjeewa) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, in an unmistakable show of political strength Tuesday, cut a deal to sideline a potential challenger, won fresh confidence from her partys resurgent left and earned high praise from Democrats most influential figure, former president Barack Obama. Together, the developments buoyed Pelosi as she fights to repel a small group of dissidents inside the Democratic caucus who want to force a leadership shake-up after 16 years with the Californian at the helm. One was Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio), who left Washington last week planning to take the Thanksgiving holiday to ponder a run against Pelosi for speaker. But her dalliance ended Tuesday. Fudge said she would support Pelosi after the minority leader agreed to make Fudge chairman of a resurrected subcommittee on elections and pledged that the most loyal voting bloc in the Democratic Party, black women, will have a seat at the decision-making table. I am now confident that we will move forward together, Fudge said in a statement. I now join my colleagues in support of the leadership team of Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn. House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) is seeking to become majority leader, and Rep. James E. Clyburn (S.C.), currently the assistant Democratic leader, is running for majority whip. Pelosis opponents continue to insist they have the votes to block her from the speakership when the full House meets Jan. 3. But Fudges withdrawal showed that their numbers are dwindling, not growing at least for now. And it demonstrated that Pelosi whose bare-knuckle political skills were forged in her Baltimore upbringing, numerous prior House leadership races, and high-stakes legislative battles during her four-year speakership has considerable tools at her disposal to win further support. Speaking Tuesday in Chicago, Obama hailed Pelosi as one of the most effective legislative leaders that this countrys ever seen. Nancy is not always the best on a cable show or with a quick sound bite or what have you, Obama said. But her skill, tenacity, toughness, vision, is remarkable. Her stamina, her ability to see around corners, her ability to stand her ground and do hard things and to suffer unpopularity to get the right thing done I think stands up against any person that Ive observed or worked directly with in Washington during my lifetime. No living Democrat holds more sway than Obama, who signed the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd-Frank financial restructuring bill and economic stimulus legislation that all passed through Pelosis House in 2009 and 2010. Obama prefaced his remarks, made in Chicago during the public taping of a podcast hosted by his former political adviser David Axelrod, by saying he was not going to wade into House Democratic caucus politics. But he then proceeded to deliver what amounted to an unqualified endorsement. With Fudge opting not to run for speaker, the cadre of Pelosi opponents will be forced to find another standard-bearer to try to depose the longtime Democratic leader. Sixteen Democrats signed a letter Monday vowing to oppose Pelosi in a party-nominating contest next week as well as during the floor vote, while four more Democrats who did not sign the letter said they remained opposed to her. Together, those members could block Pelosi from taking the speakers gavel if they maintain their opposition. But Pelosi is working to convince and cajole members, with help from her allies in the House and other key Democratic players. Spokesmen for two of Pelosis leading critics, Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), declined to comment Tuesday and instead pointed to recent op-eds calling for new leadership. Pelosis detractors have pounced on several fronts, noting that her continued presence atop the Democratic hierarchy has impeded younger leaders and that she remains a political liability for her partys candidates in Republican-leaning districts. But they have struggled to escape the perception that they represent a group of Democrats who are whiter, more male and more moderate than the party caucus as a whole. Losing Fudge, their only prominent African American supporter, is a further blow. They have also struggled to attract support from young incoming members associated with the partys left flank such as Reps.-elect Jahana Hayes (Conn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) who made calls for new leadership during their campaign but have kept their distance from Pelosis vocal opposition. Speaking on MSNBC on Monday night, Ocasio-Cortez said the rebel group was not necessarily reflective of the diversity of the party and questioned why they were determined to oust Pelosi. I do think that we got sent to Congress on a mandate to change how government works, to change what government even looks like, she said. But if we are not on the same page about changing the systems and the values and how were going to adapt as a party for the future, then what is the point of just changing our party leadership just for the sake of it? Pelosi continued to rack up support Tuesday, winning the votes of two incoming freshmen Reps.-elect Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Harley Rouda (Calif.) and endorsements from the Sierra Club and the Alliance for Retired Americans. Divisions within our own party and public disputes over leadership will only hurt our efforts to get our country and our government back on the right course, said Omar, who has allied herself with the other young liberals. Democrats have won 233 seats to Republicans 199 after Ben McAdams ousted GOP Rep. Mia Love in Utah. Three races remain unresolved, with a Democrat leading in one. Some Republicans also believe that Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), who was declared the winner on election night, could ultimately lose his race to Democrat T.J. Cox after the final ballots are counted in the coming days. Fudges decision to withdraw her potential challenge came the same day she faced serious questions about a letter of support she wrote in 2015 for a former judge and state senator who is now accused of killing his ex-wife. Fudge wrote the letter to a prosecutor as Lance Mason prepared to plead guilty to beating his then-wife, Aisha Fraser, so severely in 2014 that she required reconstructive plastic surgery. Mason, Fudge wrote, was a good man who made a very bad mistake. On Saturday, Fraser was found fatally stabbed, according to news reports. Mason, who served a nine-month sentence for the earlier assault, was taken into custody and is expected to be charged in her killing. [A former judge brutally assaulted his wife in 2014. Now shes dead, and hes been arrested.] In a statement released by her office Tuesday, Fudge said that her heart breaks for Fraser and her family. My support of Lance in 2015 was based on the person I knew for almost 30 years an accomplished lawyer, prosecutor, state legislator and judge. Thats the Lance Mason I supported, she said. The person who committed these crimes is not the Lance Mason familiar to me. They were horrific crimes, and I condemn them. I and everyone who knew Aisha are mourning her loss. In the 2015 letter, obtained by a reporter for WOIO-TV in Cleveland, Fudge said Masons assault on Fraser was out of character and totally contrary to everything I know about him. Lance accepts full responsibility for his actions and has assured me that something like this will never happen again, she wrote. Read more at PowerPost Another Historic Row model unit, No. 208, has 1,210 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is priced at $1.749 million. This unit, at the back of the building, has a view of the Modern Flats. The open floor plan connects the center island kitchen to the living and dining area, which has a bay window and a glass door to a private balcony. The master bedroom suite also has access to the balcony, and it has a walk-in closet and a private full bathroom. The second bedroom doesnt have a window, but it has a door to a full bathroom thats also accessible from the entry foyer. One police official said high-grade explosives were used in the blast, which left body parts strewn all over the floor of the hall. The bomber detonated his suicide vest as the scholars and clerics began to recite verses from the Koran, officials said. Experts said one reason that he may have underreported his compensation may have been to avoid more criticism: The French government had long opposed his salary package, and Renaults shareholders had voted down his pay in 2016, although the vote was nonbinding. Only by agreeing to a pay cut did Ghosn get shareholders approval at an annual meeting in Paris in June. Democrats and others have separately raised questions about whether Whitaker can legally hold the position of acting attorney general because he has not been confirmed by the Senate, and whether he might seek to interfere with the special-counsel probe into Russian election interference, of which he had been publicly critical. On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) asked the Justice Departments inspector general to explore Whitakers communications with the White House, saying he was concerned that the acting attorney general might have shared with President Trump information about that investigation. If the administration took serious action against the Saudis, Riyadh would feel a need to somehow respond, but theyd want to do it in a way that would not escalate, said a former senior U.S. intelligence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive matter. Maybe they would not be as supportive in the oil market, or they might do a big arms purchase from the Russians or the Chinese. . . . We could live with that. Without getting into details, we would note that there is more than one candidate for this position, and we are actively and broadly engaged with Interpol member states to underscore the need to elect someone who will promote, not undermine, the values and practices that make Interpol such a vital international body, said an official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to be more frank about the behind-the-scenes lobbying effort. Asked to comment on the allegations, a Saudi official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said in an emailed statement: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabias judiciary system does not condone, promote, or allow the use of torture. Anyone, whether male or female, being investigated is going through the standard judiciary process led by the public prosecution while being held for questioning, which does not in any way rely on torture either physical, sexual, or psychological. The hearings have paused for a lunch break. Before proceedings wrapped up, the commission went through CBAs charging customers fees for services they could not receive. CBA's chair Catherine Livingstone will face the commission after lunch. CBA discovered in 2012 that it was charging customers fees for no service but continued up until recently to continue charging those fees including dead people. We hear that Comyn has said in his statement the whole affair was a system failure. But Orr is not satisfied. After some toing and froing Commission Hayne steps in to cut through Comyns corporate language with a series of simple questions. While the following exchange is long, it shows what a winding road the royal commission has had to take to squeeze answers out of witnesses. Here is Hayne in full flight... Hayne: "Mr Comyn, it's more than systems, isn't it?" "Yes, it is," Comyn says. Hayne: "Fees were coming in?" "Yes." Hayne: "And an amount was going out in payment to advisers?" "Yes, that's right." Hayne: "There was a difference?" "Yes, absolutely." Hayne: "And the difference was being taken by the entity?" "Yes. And as Ms Orr said - and I certainly intended to articulate - we should never of - we should never have commenced a service without the appropriate systems, etcetera, in place, to ensure.."Comyn says. Hayne: "Well, the point I'm asking you to grapple with is that it's more than systems. Take the case where there is no assigned adviser?" "Yes." Hayne: "A fee is charged to the customer. Where does that fee end up? It doesn't go out to an adviser. There's no assigned adviser?" "There's a licensee." Hayne: "So there's a difference between what is charged, what is paid out, and the difference goes to the licensee. Is that right? "Yes, it is." Hayne: And that would have been apparent to the licensee throughout the process, would it not?" "Yes, it would." Hayne: "So the licensee knew at all times that it was charging more to clients than it paid out?" "During the - that time period, yes," he said. Hayne: "Yes. Go on, Ms Orr." If you found that exhausting, Hayne had to go back through this a second time with Comyn even pointing out... Hanye: "There were cases where there was no assigned adviser and dare I mention it, there were cases where the dead were being charged?" "Yes, says Comyn. A spokesman for the federal government said Australia condemned the cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property for commercial gain from any country. "The Coalition government has been active in strengthening Australias capability to detect and respond to cyber enabled threats and is committed to ensuring businesses and the Australian community are resilient to cyber-attacks," the spokesman said. One major irritation, raised by several police and intelligence officials, was that Australian companies and universities failed to heed repeated warnings to harden their security against both criminals and attacks directed by nation states. These state actors are called advanced persistent threats because they work over months or years, adapt to defences and often strike the same victim multiple times. One of the most active Chinese adversaries has been dubbed "APT10", while "Cloud Hopper" refers to the technique used by this group as they "hop" from cloud storage services into a companys IT system. In this case the Chinese hackers penetrated poorly secured IT service providers, to which Australian firms had outsourced their IT. The targets include cloud storage companies and helpdesk firms in North America and Asia. The initial penetration by the Cloud Hopper team allowed the hackers to enter the IT systems of Australian companies. Loading Adrian Nish, BAE Systems Head of Threat Intelligence, said the APT10/Cloud Hopper attacks had focussed on the mining, engineering and professional service companies. "It is still active. We have evidence of [Cloud Hopper] again actively compromising managed service providers," he said. The theft of intellectual property is part of Chinas broader industrial policy to match the USs technological edge by 2025. The theft can shorten the research and development process and potentially give Chinese companies a crucial market edge. They can also acquire sensitive information around pricing and corporate activity. A national security official said the Turnbull-Li agreement had initially led to a significant reduction in cyber espionage from China. The US experienced a comparable drop-off in attacks after former President Barack Obama struck a similar agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015. A former senior Government official familiar with the cyber security agreement said: "The way these things usually go with the Chinese is they behave themselves for a while before they go back to being bad". "Australia and China agreed that neither country would conduct or support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, trade secrets or confidential business information with the intent of obtaining competitive advantage," the Prime Minister's office said in a brief statement. Credit:Andrew Meares The attacks on Australian firms since the start of this year, including Cloud Hopper activity, showed the bilateral agreement was being ignored, according to officials. Security officials and cyber experts, including Mike Sentonas a vice-president at US firm CrowdStrike, have linked the Cloud Hopper hackers to the Ministry of State Security. "We noticed a significant increase in attacks in the first six months of this year. The activity is mainly from China and it's targeting all sectors," he said. "Theres no doubt the gloves are off." He said there had been a drop off in Chinas global hacking operations after the Xi-Obama deal. Dr Nish from BAE, who has published the most comprehensive report on Cloud Hopper, said he discovered that attacks on multiple clients appeared to be part of the same campaign of "espionage activity". "It was clear it was a much bigger campaign," Dr Nish said. BAE referred it to the UKs National Cyber Security Centre, who referred it to their Australian counterparts at ASD. While Dr Nish declined to confirm the Cloud Hopper attack was directed by Chinese intelligence services, he said there was "no reason to doubt" those who claimed it was. He said that while outsourcing IT functions was a sensible business decision, Australian firms needed to ask "tough questions" of managed service providers. Some providers offered cheaper IT services because they scrimped on their own security, effectively allowing a backdoor into their clients' IT systems. In October, the US Department of Justice provided a case study on Chinese hacking within a 21-page indictment naming the MSS and accusing the MSS and its provincial counterparts of hacking an Australian domain name provider in order to access computer systems at aviation companies in the United States and Europe. Under direction from the MSS, the hackers are accused of either creating fake domain names or redirecting existing domain names to malicious addresses. The MSS is headquartered in Beijing but has extensive provincial operations and is regarded by western intelligence services as a sophisticated outfit able to combine human intelligence with the advanced cyber capabilities. Taylor Swift has a new record deal - and she's using it to lobby for higher paydays for her new labelmates. Swift announced on Instagram Monday that she signed a multi-year agreement with Universal Music Group and its subsidiary Republic Records, joining artists including Drake, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande on Republic's roster. Considering she's one of the most powerful names in music, Swift came away from the deal - the financial details of which are undisclosed - with some major benefits. She shared with her Instagram followers that under her new contract she owns her master recordings for the music she makes with UMG. If Albus Lumen designer Marina Afonina wins her category at the Australian Fashion Laureate, you have to wonder if there will be enough room in her trophy cabinet. First came the BT Emerging Fashion Designer Award in March, then a highly praised show at Fashion Week. Next, she was the sole Australian to qualify for the final of the annual Woolmark Prize and, now, she is up for best emerging designer at Tuesday's ceremony. Fashion Laureate finalist Marina Afonina, right, with one of her designs being worn by model Charlotte Coquelin. Credit:Steven Siewert But the Russian-born, Sydney-based designer seems unfazed by it all. She is focusing on her Woolmark final entry (no spoilers, just that the collection "aesthetically stays true to [her] brand") and, although she is considering an international show (perhaps Paris) next year, she sees no rush. "I could make Albus Lumen bigger and larger if I wanted to, but I don't really want to go there yet," Afonina says. "It's baby steps." Keanu Reeves is an actor against whom I will not hear a word. Its true he is often labelled bad and wooden and other nasty adjectives, by people who dont understand his unique talent. In his defence, Keanu has said he never claimed to be the greatest actor in the world. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who this week dropped a social media video of himself warning against Labors plans to restrict negative gearing, has been similarly accused of robotic delivery and awkward phrasing. Josh Frydenberg in his video attacking Labor's negative gearing policy. Credit:Frydenberg via Facebook Frydenberg has reached for the Keanu defence in response to a satire of his video, by 7.30s Mark Humphries, the Treasurer tweeted: Had a good laugh ... Unfortunately, however, I was never good at acting, as we politicians are too authentic for that. The mother and aunty of a Perth woman found dead in Bedfordale on the weekend have made a public appeal for information about their beautiful daughter and niece. Kym Taylors remains were found by a member of the public in bushland off Canning Dam Road in Bedfordale. Ms Taylor's mother Courtney (right) and aunt Leanne (left) speak to media on Tuesday morning. Credit:Cameron Myles. Ms Taylor, 37, lived in Hamilton Hill but was known to also live an itinerant lifestyle, and police are currently treating her death as a suspected homicide. On Tuesday Ms Taylors mother Courtney Hill-Aaron and her aunty Leanne Taylor spoke to the media in an effort to generate leads for the police. The last time there was an imperial-scale contest for power over Australia's sphere, its land advance was halted in Papua New Guinea. That was 1942 on the storied Kokoda Track. The contemporary Kokoda campaign was engaged on the weekend. It is also occurring in PNG. It is not a hot war, of course. But one by one all elements short of war are being arrayed. Xi Jinping arrives in Port Moresby for the APEC summit. Credit:AP To now, the imperial-scale contest between the US and China has occurred at safely abstract distances from Australia. In the South China Sea, the East China Sea. The new line of resistance is a country whose closest point is just 5 kilometres from Australian soil. The most obvious forum was the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. It accordingly became an economic non-cooperation summit. "APEC was always an area where we could reach some common agreement with China on economic matters," says Mike Green of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Instead, for the first time in a quarter-century, the summit broke up without agreement on a communique. Why? "You know the two big giants in the room," the summit host, PNG Prime Minister Peter ONeill, said. Says Green: "This shows two things. The Trump administration doesn't care about multilateral forums. They're happy to blow APEC up. And China is happy to blow it up too." Thats not because theres anything particularly unique about the tech industry. Its just that, after all these years, Americans have discovered that its an industry just like any other, intent on protecting its bottom line regardless of the cost. For years Amazon workers, in the US and elsewhere, have struggled with low wages and difficult working conditions. Facebook, it turns out, has been working to discredit its critics while doing little to stem the tide of fake accounts spreading misinformation. Twitter continues to provide a platform for white nationalists and rarely responds effectively to complaints of harassment and threats. Loading Now people are demanding action. Under intense pressure from activists and politicians like Bernie Sanders, Amazon last month raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour, pledging to lobby Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to match (the current federal minimum is $7.25). That decision was made not because Amazon is inherently good - for years it has failed to offer a living wage - but because it faced public protest, bad press, and potential regulation. Facebook and Twitter have not fared as well, in part because their companies are more firmly wed to the notion that they can do no wrong. That has been a more difficult fiction to maintain in the wake of the 2016 election, when hacking social media and hacking democracy seemed to be one and the same. That social media served as an important portal of Russian interference has led Americans to view those companies more suspiciously (even as they maintain their regular use of the sites). Politicians have taken note of this public discomfort, and in one of the few bipartisan moments of the past several years, both Republicans and Democrats have focused attention on Facebook in particular (just this autumn, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks founder, had to testify before Congress). Calls for regulating Google, Facebook, and Twitter have been mounting on both the left and the right in recent months. Los Angeles: Rain is coming to fire-ravaged parts of California this week, a sharp change in the weather which should be hailed as a miracle in the wake of the state's worst bushfires in history. But heavy rain in the aftermath of bushfire also brings with it the risk of mud and rock slides, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a warning ahead of the cooler, wet weather. Search and rescue teams comb the ruins of Paradise, California. Credit:AP The rain could hit fire-affected areas as early as Wednesday, Sydney time. The National Weather Service forecast as much as 115mm of rain in northern California and up to 20mm of rain in southern California. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized for a hero U.S. Marine who died in a motorcycle crash outside San Diego. Although early reports said 33-year-old Sgt. Gary Wilson was from Fairfield, friends and family said he grew up in Bridgeport. A woman, who identified herself as Wilsons wife, told Hearst Connecticut Media that Wilson grew up on Central and Laurel avenues in Bridgeport and attended Bassick High School. She said they have two children but declined to comment further. He was selfless and heroic. Im honored to have known him and witness his greatness first hand, Kristina Hill, who photographed Wilson rescuing a woman from a burning car on a California highway in September, told Hearst Connecticut Media. Gary walked up and was able to pry open her door and cradle carry her to the safety of another persons car. It was amazing to witness. So selfless and brave. One week to the day later, Gary texted me and told me he had witnessed another accident, this time involving a motorcycle, on the same freeway. He sent me photos and video of him performing CPR ... again trying to save someones life and jumping in to help without hesitation, Hill said. The California Highway Patrol issued a brief news release stating that Wilson died in a crash of his motorcycle while traveling on Interstate 15 on Friday. No other information was made available. Wilson was assigned to the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment in San Diego. More for you Hero Marine killed in Calif. crash was from Fairfield We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. Wilson, said Brig. Gen. Ryan Heritage, commanding general of MCRD San Diego. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult period. This is truly the loss of a fine Marine, and he will be missed greatly. Wilson enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 2010. He was assigned to the depot as a drill instructor in March 2016 after service in Okinawa, Japan, and Camp Pendleton, Calf. Wilsons personal awards include two Good Conduct Medals, three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. In September Wilson was going to work when he saw a flaming car. He told San Diego news media that he jumped off his motorcycle and ran to the burning vehicle. Wilson saw a woman trapped inside, so he broke the driver's side window and pulled her from the car. She had a concussion and blood on her face, reports said. I had my jacket on and didnt think about it. I just broke the window and pulled her out, Wilson said, according to media reports. I was doing my job as a Marine. Were here to serve the people. Not just during war time, but all the time, Wilson said at the time. GREENWICH A Greenwich teenager who pleaded guilty to being the hit-and-run driver in a collision that killed a pedestrian more than two years ago is due in court for sentencing next week. Andrew Schmidt is expected to stand before a judge Nov. 28 and learn how many months he will serve in prison for his role in the death of Edward Setterberg, 43, on East Putnam Avenue in 2016. Schmidt, 19, accepted an offer in September made by a Superior Court judge that would sentence him to one to three years in prison, as well as probation, in exchange for pleading guilty. Schmidt was facing a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars for the felony charges of evading responsibility involving a fatality and manslaughter. He has been free on $100,000 bond since his arrest, weeks after the April 2016 fatality near Hillside Road. The terms of the guilty plea, as offered by Judge Gary White, will also give Schmidt five years of probation in addition to the maximum three years of incarceration. In addition to the criminal charges involved in the pedestrian fatality, Schmidt will also settle another criminal complaint lodged against him in December 2017. Police charged him with a felony count of criminal mischief after he was accused of driving on a grassy field near I-95 in central Greenwich, causing damage to a town-owned property. The hit-and-run case has been a lengthy one, in part over initial deliberations over whether Schmidt would be charged as an adult or as a juvenile. He was 17 at the time of the fatal collision. Prosecutors charged him with a criminal count that has no provision for juvenile offenders, and a judge later agreed he could be tried as an adult. Juvenile court typically imposes lesser sentences on defendants and tries cases in private. The police investigation, requiring a number of search warrants for records and other evidence, was also lengthy. Setterberg, 43, of Cos Cob, was the owner of home-remodeling business. He was also an avid outdoorsman. Authorities said Schmidt was driving a 2006 Mercedes-Benz after a day of activities with friends when he sped down the Post Road and struck Setterberg, who was taking an evening walk. The judge will take into account a presentencing report, looking at a range of issues concerning the case and the defendant, before deciding the outcome. Schmidts defense has been handled by attorney Gene Riccio. States Attorney Richard Colangelo has taken the lead in the prosecution of the case. rmarchant@greenwichtime.com Lillie Freeman Audio Article Lillie Freeman, 93, of Fairview, Texas, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Lillie was born... Lewis Bayer Audio Article Lewis Bayer was a caring brother, uncle, and friend to many within Floresville, Texas, and the surrounding communities. The Lord... Gene Ernest Maeckel Audio Article Gene Ernest Maeckel of Poth, Texas, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. Born... A Canadian Forces member pleaded not guilty Monday to quarrelling with another Forces member and using "provoking gestures" described as "bag-tagging." Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/11/2018 (1100 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Canadian Forces member pleaded not guilty Monday to quarrelling with another Forces member and using "provoking gestures" described as "bag-tagging." The court martial that began at 17 Wing heard Master Cpl. Nicholas J. Lewis faces two charges under the Code of Service Discipline relating to an alleged incident at an axe-throwing venue in Winnipeg on Oct. 27, 2017. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Master Corporal Lewis walks to his court martial at the Canadian Armed Forces base in Winnipeg on Monday. Lewis faces two charges under the Code of Service Discipline: one charge of quarreling with a person, and one charge of using provoking gestures toward a person, tending to cause a quarrel. Lewis is accused of hitting a fellow master corporal in the genitals with an axe handle. He faces one charge of "quarrelling with a person" and one charge of "using provoking gestures toward a person, tending to cause a quarrel" -- violations of the National Defence Act. Why court martial? Click to Expand The need for a separate justice system to enforce disciplinary standards in the military has a history that dates to the earliest organized armed forces. More recently, in 1992, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized the continuing need for a separate system of military justice: "Canada depends on the Canadian Forces to defend against threats to our security and the military must be able to enforce discipline effectively and efficiently in order to maintain its readiness. Accordingly, breaches of discipline must be dealt with speedily and will often result in more severe punishments than what a civilian might receive for the same conduct." The Supreme Court acknowledged military tribunals are designed to meet the disciplinary needs of the Canadian Forces and the ordinary courts would generally be inadequate to serve the particular needs of the military. -- source: National Defence, Canadian Armed Forces In a videorecorded Nov. 27, 2017, interview with military police Cpl. Simon-Pierre Crete -- shown at the court martial Monday -- Lewis described the axe-throwing competition as getting testy, with heckling and lots of "chirping." He said Master Cpl. K.A.W. (Kyle) VanGenne was very competitive and especially critical of him, so he "shouldered" VanGenne after completing his turn and walking past him. "I did not make contact with that man's genitals, nor did I think about doing that," Lewis said in the interview with the military police. He said he "nudged" the other man with his shoulder as he walked past. The military police officer conducting the interview told Lewis the alleged victim, and a second Canadian Forces member at the event, described the "bag-tagging" incident. "Two people saw you make contact with his groin area," Crete told Lewis. Lewis replied such action is not something he or any of his peers would do: "I don't think people do that stuff anymore." Besides, Lewis told the police officer, if that had happened, the alleged victim would likely have had a noticeable physical reaction. "Wouldn't that leave you in a incapacitated state getting bag-tagged?" said Lewis, who is with the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training. Lewis said when he learned of the charges against him in 2017, he contacted the axe-throwing venue to see if he could review its surveillance recordings. He said he was told the business doesn't keep its recordings for that length of time. The interview was played on the first day of the Code of Service Discipline court martial that is to hear from several witnesses and scheduled to last two weeks. Military Judge Commander Martin Pelletier, who presides at courts martial across Canada, is in Winnipeg to hear the disciplinary case. The Code of Service Discipline is the basis of the Canadian Forces military justice system. It is designed to assist military commanders in maintaining discipline, efficiency, and morale within the Canadian Forces. It is part of the National Defence Act. The Supreme Court of Canada in 1992 ruled the military needs to maintain discipline in order to "maintain its readiness." "Accordingly, breaches of discipline must be dealt with speedily and will often result in more severe punishments than what a civilian might receive for the same conduct," the high court stated. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca At the first land sharing agreement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples along the Red River, the Selkirk-Peguis treaty of 1817, Indigenous leaders signed with their clans and animals. They used a marten, a bear, two fish and a snake. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/11/2018 (1100 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion At the first land sharing agreement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples along the Red River, the Selkirk-Peguis treaty of 1817, Indigenous leaders signed with their clans and animals. They used a marten, a bear, two fish and a snake. There are many reasons for this but the most important one is that Indigenous peoples were showing non-Indigenous peoples that they were now a part of a family, a diverse network where humans and non-humans shared space. Indigenous peoples were teaching non-Indigenous peoples the first and primary law of this place: diversity. Diversity is inherently about relationships. Different things can only remain different when they work together in a way that doesnt impede and destroy one another. It doesnt matter if were talking about insects, animals or human beings: when different beings find a way to live with their differences, thats diversity. Diversity is how life grows and thrives. Diversity could also arguably be the most important gift Indigenous peoples have offered to Canada. Who do you think introduced the concept of multiculturalism, the idea that newcomers can maintain specific cultures while being a part of a larger community? Who do you think introduced the concept of democracy, the idea that local communities send representatives to a meeting where decisions for the whole are made? Who do you think introduced concepts of health care, social assistance or the welfare state all ideas that mean everyone has a responsibility for everyone, regardless of their differences? Its not that British, French and others didnt shape these ideas too, its just that diversity in Canada which introduced values and institutions Canadians see as the "most Canadian" begins with Indigenous contributions. Now, the world may be learning this too. Right now in Egypt, 8,000 delegates from 200 countries are joining representatives from 196 countries (including Canada) to discuss and report on progress of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the 14th bi-annual United Nations Biodiversity Conference a meeting you probably havent heard of. I get it. Its far away, about lofty scientific ideas and doesnt have the allure of a Portage and Main discussion, but its worth knowing about. Theyre talking about you and me, our children, and everyone else. The Convention on Biological Diversity commits all nations to conserve 17 per cent of terrestrial and 10 per cent of marine areas by 2020. (Caleb Jones / The Assocaited Press files) The CBD is an international agreement first signed at the famous 1992 Rio Earth Summit. The CBD commits world leaders to guarantees that protect plants, animals and micro-organisms and their natural patterns and relationships in order to ensure all life on earth continues. One of the most important commitments is for all nations to conserve 17 per cent of terrestrial and 10 per cent of marine areas by 2020. So far, about 1.75 million species have been identified on earth, with new species uncovered every day (estimates are around 13 million). All of these species, their habitats and the way they interact matter, for no other reason than they give us humans clean water to drink, healthy air to breathe, good food to eat and medicines to heal our bodies. Canada is a signatory to the CBD and has annual commitments to fulfill. Some better known efforts are in the protection of biodiverse spaces such as the boreal forest and B.C.s coastline, and species such as the polar bear, bald eagles and the cherry birch tree. Still, Canada is failing to fulfill its CBD commitments as only approximately 10 per cent of terrestrial and one per cent of marine are conserved. While the CBD has been around for 26 years, this has not been enough to halt the worlds unsustainable use of resources, erratic shifts in climate change and exponential rises in air, land and water pollution. Now the worlds biodiversity is under threat. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the number of species on the earth has declined by almost one third in the past 35 years due to habitat loss and resource exploitation. Executive Secretary of the UN CBD agreement, Cristiana Palmer, urged the international community on Saturday to make conserving biodiversity a world priority. "If we do not act, we soon may reach tipping points that may cause irreversible destruction to nature and ultimately humankind," she announced. While this feels overwhelming, the worlds answer may be as simple as this: Indigenous peoples make up five per cent of the earths population and yet protect 80 per cent of the worlds biodiversity. In a remarkable piece published by National Geographic this week, Gleb Raygorodetsky writes: "Indigenous rights to self-determination, well-being, traditional knowledge, and a healthy environment as articulated in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples have been increasingly recognized by national governments and the conservation community... because they often see them as a win-win to help people and the planet." It may be that working with Indigenous nations as partners not municipalities or subservient governments and following their lead may be the best policy to protect Canadas diversity. Strong, healthy and culturally based Indigenous nations have refined and specialized concepts that combine conservation, innovation and how to integrate into a globalized economy without losing identity and integrity. There are a few small success stories. The federal government recently agreed to the first Indigenous-governed conservation area, the Edehzhie Protected Area with the Dehcho First Nations in the Northwest Territories. Covering 14,000 kilometres, the Dehcho Dene are now in charge of animal harvesting, use of land and governance in the area, vowing to maintain it for future generations of Dene and others. But for every success story there are 10 pundits calling Indigenous land and water protectors "protesters". There are also resource-hungry and ethic-absent corporations, and a government that buys a pipeline and arrests all who disagree with it. If youre looking for more proof, answer this question: how might Indigenous peoples run businesses, utilize lands and resources, and have governments if they have no animal relatives on which to base their identities? You cant have a bear clan with no bears. Indigenous nations know this. Its called diversity. Canadas built on it. We just need to remember who gave us it. Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe and is a columnist at the Winnipeg Free Press. OTTAWA The cost of living in Churchill should drop soon, with the northern Manitoba town set to receive its first freight train in 18 months as soon as this week. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/11/2018 (1100 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The cost of living in Churchill should drop soon, with the northern Manitoba town set to receive its first freight train in 18 months as soon as this week. The community 1,600 kilometres north of Winnipeg lost its railway lifeline May 23, 2017, after flooding washed out parts of the line north of Gillam and started a squabble between Denver-based owner Omnitrax and federal officials over who should pay for repairs. Ottawa helped transfer the Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill into local hands late this summer. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the town Nov. 1, welcoming the first locomotives since the floods. Arctic Gateway is taking orders, and a freight shipment will arrive along the Hudson Bay Railway either late this week or early next, according to consortium head Murad al-Katib. "Its coming," al-Katib said cheerfully Monday afternoon. Residents should soon see the cost of groceries drop, and will likely try resuscitating businesses based off shipping various goods to Nunavut from Winnipeg, via the towns port. There is no set date for passenger service, though many expect Via Rail to resume service next month. The firm will seek safety reports and inspections along the line before resuming the service north of Gillam. Sources say the Crown corporation has been extra vigilant about the railways safety after a mid-September derailment killed a conductor, in a washout investigators believe was caused by an uninspected beaver dam upstream. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 20/11/2018 (1099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Winnipeg has moved one stop closer to offering a low-income transit pass. After dealing with questions about how much such a program would cost, how to pay for it, and how it would affect already crowded buses, a City of Winnipeg committee passed a motion for it be part of 2019 budget review process. If the proposal survives the budget process, it would be 2020 before a low-income pass is phased in, the committee on infrastructure renewal and public works was told. In the meantime, city administration was directed to keep looking at how to administer a low-income transit pass program and consult with community groups to make sure it's accessible. It was also tasked with consulting with provincial government to see if it is willing to be a partner -- administratively and/or financially. "Many people speak in favour of the low-income bus pass, but I think many questions have to be asked," Coun. Scott Gillingham (St. James), chairman of the finance committee, told counterparts on the public works committee. He said he supports the concept, but questioned the timing, when an operational review of Winnipeg Transit is underway: "Shouldn't we do that first?" Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said she, too, supports the idea, however, "I think it should be tied to the operational review." She said her No. 1 concern at the moment is overcrowding, as many students have latched on to the affordable U-Pass and buses to and from the University of Manitoba are packed. Lukes worries introducing a low-income bus pass will make overcrowding even worse. According to Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 president Aleem Chaudhary, however, that's not likely to happen. He told the committee those who'd qualify for a low-income pass would most likely ride at off-peak hours. "Seventy to 80 per cent of assaults are due to fare disputes," said Chaudhury, citing anecdotal evidence and 18 years of experience, adding he is in favour of the program -- for the dignity of riders and the safety of bus operators. One of the options the city is looking at is a monthly pass, pegged at 50 per cent off the full adult fare for those 18 to 64. It would carry an estimated price tag of $50.05. "$50 can mean a lot to people," Daniel McIntyre Coun. Cindy Gilroy told the committee during its meeting at city hall. "This hasn't been an easy process to get to where we are to date. I really want to see the motion go forward." For some, even a $50 monthly bus pass is still too much, Ellen Smirl with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives told the committee. She urged the city to look at options for lowering single fares, and to be mindful of the homeless and those who may not have ID or tax returns to prove their income. Carlos Sosa, an activist who is disabled, asked the committee to support the low-income pass but not if it results in Transit service cuts or hiking Handi-transit fares to pay for it. "It does require that the provincial government step up to the plate here," said Sosa. "It's vital we get it right," said Josh Brandon with the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg. Transit is a life line for many Winnipeggers and all levels of government need to get behind making it more affordable, he told the committee. "I've talked with seniors who missed medical appointment because they can't afford bus fare... and employers who find that workers aren't getting to jobs (because of the high cost of transit). It puts a strain on families." The infrastructure renewal and public works committee ordered monthly verbal updates starting in January on the progress of consultations with community groups and government stakeholders on implementing the low-income bus pass. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA Manitoba is joining a national strategy on reversing Indigenous overrepresentation in courts and jails, but the attorney general says it's too early to tell how his province will fit into those efforts. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/11/2018 (1100 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Manitoba is joining a national strategy on reversing Indigenous overrepresentation in courts and jails, but the attorney general says it's too early to tell how his province will fit into those efforts. "Clearly, there are a lot of factors weighing into that process," Justice Minister Cliff Cullen said in an interview, following a meeting last week of federal, provincial and territorial ministers for justice and public safety. "For the sake of the discussion last week, it was: how do we work together, to provide the best outcomes," Cullen said, admitting the specifics need to be ironed out. According to Statistics Canada analysis released in June, Manitoba has the second-highest proportion of adults in custody who identify as Indigenous, representing 74 per cent of inmates despite just being 15 per cent of Manitobas overall population. For years, Manitoba has the highest incarceration rate in Canada. In March, Cullens predecessor, Heather Stefanson, tabled the Criminal Justice System Modernization Strategy, listing restorative justice as one of four priorities, especially for Indigenous people. That involves finding a way for an offender to make amends to people theyve harmed, often by seeking counselling and undergoing volunteer activities. The province launched the Restorative Justice Centre last year, to have various officials assess, execute and monitor such plans though the groups involved have complained about a lack of provincial funding to provide such programming. "Right now, we're diverting about 5,000 cases per year, through the restorative justice process, and it seems to be working fairly effectively," Cullen said. Cullen and his provincial colleagues pledged last week to "to increase the use of restorative justice processes by a minimum target of five per cent per jurisdiction, where possible, over the next three years." For Manitoba, thats a modest goal of an additional 250 cases by late 2021. Nearly four months into his role, Cullen did not outline specific measures that would achieve that target. Nevertheless, the Manitoba head of the prison-reform John Howard Society said it was encouraging to see jurisdictions working together. "Its a good step, and it acknowledges that this is a complex problem," said John Hutton. "Its a provincial issue that is exasperated by the legislative changes that are made in Ottawa." This fall, the Free Press reported the province would close 56 beds at Milner Ridge Correctional Centre, with the number of adult inmates dropping by one-fifth over the course of a week. The province insisted this was due to diversion programs, and not just cost-cutting amid a spike in crime rates in Winnipeg and across Manitoba. Hutton said the number is most likely "an achievement" of these programs. At last weeks meeting, ministers also discussed the governments massive justice-reform Bill C-75. Cullen also said Manitoba supported some aspect of the legislation, like limiting the pre-trial hearings used to determine whether there is enough evidence for a trail. However, he said the PC government specifically doesnt like ramping down mandatory-minimum sentences. The bill itself has had a rough ride through its committee stage, with critics warning it will bar low-income people from Legal Aid and cancel legal-training programs. The Liberals have walked back their proposal to have police enter their notes as affidavits in trials, instead of being challenged in court. Cullen also said he'll hold the federal Liberals to their pledge to not introduce a "back-door gun registry." Thats how MP Candice Bergen and other federal Tories have portrayed Bill C-71 since it was tabled in March. "All I can say is the federal Liberal government assured us that this will not effectively be a long-gun registry," Cullen said. "So we will wait and see what they come up with at the end of the day." And while the federal Liberals and Tories have been sparring over Ottawas ongoing consultation on whether to implement "a full ban on handguns and assault weapons," Cullen said Winnipeg police tell him theyre encountering more long guns used in crimes than other Canadian cities. "Were still in discussion stage, in terms of what their legislation is going to looking like, what potential legislation is coming out of that." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The federal government unveiled Tuesday the construction of 95 new rental housing units in Transcona as part of its national housing strategy. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 20/11/2018 (1099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The federal government unveiled Tuesday the construction of 95 new rental housing units in Transcona as part of its national housing strategy. Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jean-Yves Duclos was in Winnipeg to make the $18-million announcement. All 95 units in the six-storey building, set to open in October 2019, will have rents at or lower than 30 per cent of the local median household income. "Its for families that dont have access to assisted housing support. These families would not necessarily qualify for lower-income support, but they would still find it difficult to make ends meet, to pay their rent," Duclos said. "This is geared to their income; the middle income in this area, said the minister also responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The Park City Commons project is part of the CMHCs Rental Construction Financing Initiative. Across the country, Ottawa plans to build 14,000 similar units at a cost of $3.75 billion over three years. That includes another 600 units in buildings still to be approved at the Transcona location. Developers on-site said it may take 10 years to complete the full residential plan. "This is one of many projects coming from the $40-billion strategy to provide adequate and affordable housing," said Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Liberal MP for Winnipeg Centre, who attended the announcement. Winnipeg is among the Canadian centres where middle-income families are struggling with expensive housing markets, with more than one-fifth of households spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing, according to the 2016 census. That pressure is expected to only increase; developers estimate the city will expand by 10,000 people a year over the next decade. Tuesdays announcement came a year after the federal government unveiled the $40-billion national housing strategy, though most of the decade-long commitment is backloaded, with most cash kicking in closer to 2028. Municipal involvement is also an example of how Ottawa wants to proceed on the middle-income housing plank of its national strategy. "Its a very new strategy, announced a year ago, and building housing takes time. But this place is one of the very first places to have been able to take advantage of this new housing partnership with the federal government," Duclos said. "We are proud to do this in the very first instance here in Winnipeg." Local MP Daniel Blaikie noted its one of the rare projects that will have been constructed under the strategy before next falls federal election. "These are the kinds of announcements wed like to see a lot more of and sooner," the NDP MP said in Ottawa, adding he was further concerned about the benchmark of 30 per cent. Blaikies riding reported a before-tax median household income of $70,139. "The government is spending about $190,000 per unit for the 95 units and were talking about rents of potentially in the neighbourhood of $1,700 a month." Duclos said more housing will come. "Over the next three years, well be building 14,000 more additional affordable-rental units across Canada and I believe there will be several more in this area." The new apartment block is one of seven planned for the 22-acre former public works yard on Plessis Road. "Because of the (funding), were able to accelerate our program," said EdgeCorp Developments president Keith Merkel. Merkel gestured to an architectural drawing propped up on an easel at the construction site where the announcement was made. It showed all seven apartment blocks sketched in on one side of Plessis Road. Construction was already underway for buildings that will be the future homes of a No-Frills supermarket and a Rexall pharmacy. Across the street, smaller units stood framed in for retail and service locations, and further along for a gas station/car wash. "This side, the commercial side, had started already," Merkel said. alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.cadylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca When the Winnipeg Police Service and the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba clashed over jurisdiction, the local police force consistently came out on top, with the civilian watchdog either conceding its position or backing down. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/11/2018 (1100 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When the Winnipeg Police Service and the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba clashed over jurisdiction, the local police force consistently came out on top, with the civilian watchdog either conceding its position or backing down. The disputes paint a picture of an oversight agency that has struggled at times to get its investigations off the ground, and raise questions whether it has the legislative teeth needed to hold the police force to account. Pushback, which has come from the highest rungs of the Winnipeg Police Service, has included refusals to hand over requested documents, the blocking of interview requests and denials that the IIU has the right to look into certain cases at all. In each case uncovered by the Free Press, the disputes were resolved in favour of the WPS. After filing eight freedom of information requests that produced hundreds of pages of IIU documents and correspondence, the Free Press has revealed numerous roadblocks thrown up by police, both individually and institutionally, that undermine the agencys effectiveness. Those efforts were undertaken to find out why only a handful of cases in the police watchdog's 3 1/2 year history have led to criminal charges, as well as to get a better sense of the relationship between the IIU and WPS. This is the third of a four-part series detailing those revelations. On Feb. 23, 2017, IIU civilian director Zane Tessler wrote to WPS Chief Danny Smyth to announce his intention to launch an investigation. The specifics of the case have been redacted, which is common with documents obtained through freedom of information requests. Included in the letter were "officer status notifications," which are forms Tessler provides to police departments to identify officers as either subjects or witnesses in an investigation. In response, Smyth sent a letter back to Tessler disputing the watchdogs right to investigate the case. Danny Smyth To: Zane Tessler Re: IIU File #2017-011 Date: Feb. 23, 2017 The WPS will not be serving the notifications nor providing a (notification to the IIU) on this incident as we do not believe that the IIU has jurisdiction under the Police Services Act. Read the full email That response blocked the IIU from interviewing any of the officers in question and prevented the agency from launching an investigation. The officer status notifications sent to the WPS identified at least one member of the Auxiliary Force Cadets as either a subject or witness officer on the file. Smyth said the WPS would not allow the IIU to interview the cadet. He went further, saying the IIU did not have the right to ever involve a cadet in one of its investigations. Smyth backed up his position by outlining the WPSs interpretation of the Police Services Act, the legislation governing Manitoba law enforcement. It is not the only time the two agencies have butted heads over differing interpretations of the legislation. Danny Smyth To: Zane Tessler Re: IIU File #2017-011 Date: Feb. 23, 2017 Regulation defines both subject and witness officers as police officers. Section 1 of the (Police Services Act) defines police officer as a person appointed to serve as a police officer in a police service, and includes a police chief. Cadets are not police officers but have peace officer appointments. Cadets often have contact with WPS officers during their work. Among other duties, they are responsible for guarding crime scenes, assisting in ground searches and conducting foot patrols, according to the WPS website. Given how closely they can work with WPS officers, its clear why the IIU would consider it necessary to involve them in certain investigations. It was not the first time the WPS had blocked the IIU from interviewing cadets. In the letter, Smyth references a case from November 2016 in which he told Tessler the same thing. No response from Tessler turned up in the documents obtained by the Free Press through freedom of information requests. It appears the IIU was thwarted from investigating the incident in question. That was followed by another dispute over jurisdiction several months later. On Aug. 10, 2017, Tessler wrote to Smyth to say hed become aware of a case that the police department had not notified the IIU about. Once again, specific details on the incident have been redacted. Zane Tessler To: Danny Smyth Date: Aug. 10, 2017 Although the WPS has taken the position that this incident was not within the legislative criteria of The Police Services Act, I am satisfied... a mandatory investigation by the IIU is required. Read the full exchange In response, Smyth said the WPS had done nothing wrong by not notifying the IIU, since the agency had no right to investigate the incident. Instead, Smyth said the department would handle the matter internally. Danny Smyth To: Zane Tessler Date: Aug 11, 2017 This (incident) is currently being investigated by major crime investigators under the co-ordination and direction of homicide supervisors. This is standard protocol for these types of incidents... ...As a serious workplace accident it was reported to Manitoba Labour, pursuant to the Workplace, Safety and health Act. Once again, it appears the IIU never investigated the case. It remains unclear if there were followup communications between the chief and civilian director. One retired police officer with past experience conducting internal investigations and who spoke to the Free Press on the condition of anonymity said the legislation should be rewritten to make clear the IIU has the authority to investigate whatever it feels it needs to. "The IIU mandate should be that when they see something, they look into it. Some of these cases just sound like (Tessler) gave up. It makes you wonder if the IIU is a paper tiger," the retired cop said. There have also been cases where the WPS has declined to hand over documents requested by the IIU. On April 12, 2017, Tessler wrote to Smyth to ask for a copy of the WPS procedural manual, which he said investigators needed for one of its cases. He also pointed out hed asked for the manual more than 27 months earlier, but the request had been ignored by then-chief Devon Clunis. In response, Smyth declined to turn over the manual, saying it was impractical to give the IIU a copy since the document was "constantly being updated." Instead, he said the IIU would need to put in a request for specific sections each time the need arose. Smyth declined an interview request for this series. Tessler also declined an interview request, but agreed to provide written responses to written questions. "When disputes have arisen, we find that it is not usually a case of the police service resisting (the) IIUs mandate, but rather a difference of opinion in how the Police Services Act should be interpreted," Tessler wrote to the Free Press. "But that is not to say there have not been occasional disputes or pushback. In those instances, when concerns arise they are brought to the attention of the police agency and resolved on a case by case basis." While Tessler said other police departments in Manitoba have turned over their respective procedural manuals, the fact the WPS has declined to do so has not impacted the effectiveness of IIU investigations. Ian D. Scott, a lawyer and former civilian director of the Special Investigations Unit of Ontario (that province's counterpart to the IIU), said his experience at the helm of the agency left him convinced there was a need to sharpen its teeth. "Another recommendation I made was that there needed to be more severe sanctions for non-compliance with the SIU," Scott said. That was echoed in a review commissioned by the Ontario government, known as the Tulloch Report, which was published in 2017. Among the report's many recommendations to improve the effectiveness of police oversight, it said legislation should be updated to "include a sanction for failing to co-operate with the SIU." ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe The Progressive Conservative government says it will place a pause on the growth of gaming in Manitoba, implement a plan to reduce wait times for certain health procedures and take further steps to combat impaired driving. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 20/11/2018 (1099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Progressive Conservative government says it will place a pause on the growth of gaming in Manitoba, implement a plan to reduce wait times for certain health procedures and take further steps to combat impaired driving. In Tuesday's speech from the throne, delivered by Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon, the government announced it would also enhance supports for victims of domestic violence with two new pilot programs and introduce legislation to pilot a first-in-Canada family resolution service. It also promised amendments to The Child and Family Services Act and The Child and Family Services Authorities Act with the goal of helping to keep children and families together. CP Manitoba premier Brian Pallister and Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Janice Filmon, enter the Manitoba Legislature before the provincial throne speech is read. Premier Brian Pallister said expansion of the gaming industry in Manitoba will be halted until the province completes a review of the industry and its impacts. "We are a province that depends more on gaming revenue than virtually any other," he said after the throne speech. Pallister said any review would look at "where and how we do our gambling" in Manitoba. While the industry generates substantial income for the province, there are significant social costs, he said. He said he couldn't say when the review will be completed. "I would expect it will take some time," he said. Throne Speech highlights The government will produce a new Public Service Act to "reflect the principles, values and needs of a modern Manitoba public service" and "ensure a safe and harassment-free workplace," aligning rules between government departments and the public service. There are plans for a new Referendum Act "to restore the rights of Manitobans to vote on major tax increases and provide a framework for calling and conducting a referendum." Manitoba will have its first Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, to be released next summer. A clinical specialty team "will ensure a strong focus on acute mental health and addictions clinical services." A complementary Quality, Patient Safety and Accreditation Strategy is also in the final stages of development. click to read more The government will produce a new Public Service Act to "reflect the principles, values and needs of a modern Manitoba public service" and "ensure a safe and harassment-free workplace," aligning rules between government departments and the public service. There are plans for a new Referendum Act "to restore the rights of Manitobans to vote on major tax increases and provide a framework for calling and conducting a referendum." Manitoba will have its first Clinical and Preventive Services Plan, to be released next summer. A clinical specialty team "will ensure a strong focus on acute mental health and addictions clinical services." A complementary Quality, Patient Safety and Accreditation Strategy is also in the final stages of development. After asking for an external review of the horse racing industry which ultimately recommended more investment, the Manitoba government decided "further expansion of gaming will be paused pending a review." Next year, Manitoba Justice will start reporting annually on recidivism rates, time to disposition offences and custody counts. The government will review The Police Services Act (which is mandatory every five years under the legislation) "to support innovative solutions and improve policing services." The government will "bring forward legislative amendments to allow the safe testing of autonomous vehicles on provincial roads." The province will support two new pilot programs to help victims of domestic violence. The Family Support Worker Program will help those who have been in an abusive relationship navigate family court. The government also plans to introduce plans "to pilot a first-in-Canada family resolution service" in Winnipeg within the next three years. There will be new legislation introduced "to better and more efficiently protect Manitobans in the marketplace," including "protections against unsolicited, high-pressure sales tactics." As part of Manitoba's 150th anniversary, the government will work with the Hudson's Bay Company History Foundation to digitize its archives. The government will take on "a comprehensive review of petroleum production taxes and Crown royalties," hoping to simplify the tax and royalty structure. Manitoba will move to an "open market" for cannabis with a "streamlined application process" after the initial phase of retail development. The government will "make new investments in capital modernization and training to enhance its capacity to assist our agri-food sector" and host a Protein Innovation Summit to promote investment further. Over the next year, the government plans to work with the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region "to develop and adopt a regional strategy to improve and co-ordinate land use and development." Close On impaired driving, the government is looking to mirror British Columbias immediate roadside prohibition program for impaired drivers. As with Manitobas new distracted driving penalties that took effect this month, police officers will be able to suspend impaired drivers licenses when they pull them over. After considerable time studying health-care wait times, the government said it is poised to announce a plan to reduce chronically long waits for joint replacement, cataracts and diagnostic imaging. The government said it would enhance supports for victims of domestic violence by assisting complainants in navigating the court process. A new Family Support Worker Program will provide "a full range of services" to victims of domestic violence. As well, further programming is promised to "provide meaningful and healthy tools to help (victims) process their experience." Meanwhile, the government has promised to open up the retail market for cannabis -- as early as the end of this year. Pallister said the government's first goal was to make sure all Manitobans had reasonable access to retail outlets. But soon, there will be a lot more opportunities for new stores, he said. "If you want to start up a store, put in an application," the premier said. The government will also push ahead with promised reforms to family law. A three-year pilot project in Winnipeg will offer an alternative approach to the court system for couples who wish to separate, divorce or settle child-custody and other disputes. "The objective of this new service is to provide timely dispute resolution, and to support healthier, stable, long-term family relationships, reduce mental and physical illness associated with conflict and support family members dealing with domestic violence," according to the throne speech. JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, right, and Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew pose for a selfie after the reading of the throne speech at the Manitoba Legislature. As part of its plans to modernize the criminal justice system, the government said that beginning next year, it will make the system more accountable by requiring annual reports on key measures such as recidivism rates, custody counts and the time it takes for cases to go through the courts. The PC government's fourth throne speech was silent on any new strategies to deal with the problem of crystal meth -- even though the province's health minister recently promised further announcements to combat the latest drug scourge. What others said THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman Brian Bowman Provided their economic development strategies dont involve the dilution of the effectiveness of Economic Development Winnipeg and dont minimize the economic engine that we have with the City of Winnipeg, thats something well obviously work collaboratively to support, Bowman said. click to read more Mayor Brian Bowman Bowman said he made three requests of Premier Brian Pallister's government as it was preparing its throne speech, one of which seemed to have been considered. First, Bowman wanted the city to get an earlier heads-up on what provincial funding will come down the pipe so it can more easily prepare its own municipal budget. (There was no mention of this idea.) Second, Bowman wanted more support for the citys meth crisis (there was brief mention of an increase in drug use, underscoring the need for justice reform). Third, he asked for a greater focus on economic development initiatives between the city and province. The latter suggestion seemed to get some traction. Provided their economic development strategies dont involve the dilution of the effectiveness of Economic Development Winnipeg and dont minimize the economic engine that we have with the City of Winnipeg, thats something well obviously work collaboratively to support, Bowman said. The government said it in the speech that it wanted to provide tax relief for Manitoba families and the premier later took a dig at the city's implementation of growth fees. "Governments have to change their approach and stop going into the pockets of people with higher taxes year after year after year, Pallister said to reporters. Bowman wasnt sure what the premier meant. I dont know if hes envisioning making it illegal for development cost charges in all of the neighbouring municipalities around the City of Winnipeg, but if thats what he means, well be interested to be part of that dialogue, the mayor said. What Id like to see is equity with the City of Winnipeg and the neighbouring municipalities. Right now, the legislative framework is not equitable and is very clear on a few fronts for the benefit of rural Manitoba, Bowman said. What Winnipeggers cant afford, of course, is just to simply have one level of government balance their budget by simply downloading to another level of government. So were going to be quite vocal on that, if that continues. Michelle Gawronsky, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union Gawronsky wasnt singing Pallisters praises after hearing the government wants to develop a new Public Service Act. Its disappointing to me. This was an opportunity to turn a new page and to me, hes failed us now with this speech, she said. When I hear about him trying to open up the Civil Service Act, what exactly does that mean? And whens he going to start consulting with us? Whens he going to start talking to us about what his intentions are? Gawronsky believed the throne speech laid the groundwork for further concentration on cuts to government services and pivots to privatization. Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Davidson said he was pleased to see that the province will soon release the results of an economic review that will inform future economic development initiatives in Manitoba. An action plan is to be released in the coming weeks that will set out goals and priorities along with a restructuring of the Department of Growth, Enterprise and Trade and its programs. "We are looking forward to the release of that. What that looks like is something that, we think, is extremely important for all of Manitoba," Davidson said. He said he was also glad to see continuing progress on the province's Look North strategy, which is designed to unleash the economic potential of Manitoba's north for future generations. Close Pallister said more initiatives are coming. "It's difficult in a throne speech to give the additional detail perhaps you might want to on an issue like this that's emerging so rapidly," he said. The throne speech was also silent on several hot-button issues involving the City of Winnipeg, including transit funding and the size of the province's annual grant. The speech did, however, say that tax increases at the federal and local levels "threaten our prosperity." When asked to explain the comment later, the premier pointed to impact fees on new city homes as an example. He did not indicate whether the province would take any action against the fees. NDP leader Wab Kinew said he was disappointed by the "very brief mention of meth" in the throne speech and took issue with various topics left out of the speech. "We only heard a very brief mention of municipalities, but they didnt talk about giving a fair share to municipalities. We know that that feud between the city (of Winnipeg) and the province has been a major issue. Thats something that was left unaddressed," Kinew said. "The premier, in this throne speech has not answered clearly whether theres going to be a court case on the carbon tax. Thats another big looming question." Liberal leader Dougald Lamont said the government's throne speech lacked long-term vision as "everything they do is focused on either the status quo or more cuts." "What weve said, the most important thing is we need to start getting out ahead of all these problems because were spending huge amounts of money dealing with crises because things are too far gone. And thats true of diabetes, thats true of meth," Lamont said. Meanwhile, Grand Chief Arlen Dumas of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs appeared to welcome the gaming review. "The current gaming framework is not working so it's good to know the province will not be making any decisions at this time as they do have the duty to consult First Nations when it affects us," he said. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca The Progressive Conservative government will signal its intention to enhance supports for victims of domestic violence in todays speech from the throne, the Free Press has learned. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 20/11/2018 (1099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Progressive Conservative government will signal its intention to enhance supports for victims of domestic violence in todays speech from the throne, the Free Press has learned. A government source refused to provide any details Monday, although the news comes at a time when funding for provincial shelters is stagnant and there are renewed calls for greater co-ordination among government departments and non-profit agencies to address the complex societal issue. Deena Brock, provincial co-ordinator for the Manitoba Association of Womens Shelters, said her members have not seen an increase in core government funding for 13 years. "Its difficult for the small shelters to operate with the existing funding," said Brock, who hopes any new program the government may be contemplating does not come at the expense of funding to existing facilities. She said the provinces 10 shelters and other existing organizations, such as womens resource centres, could deliver the anticipated new programming with a boost in funding. "The infrastructure is there. Why not... put the money into existing programs and make them more effective or make them available to more people by having more staff to do the work?" Brock said. Nicole Chammartin, executive director of Klinic Community Health, said the community is likely to be appreciative of any new programs to deal with domestic violence. "We need more investments in the sector," she said Monday, although she added she hopes the government doesnt stop there. "I hope that behind that, what well see is a larger plan about how we can all engage in trying to address what is a really widespread issue." In last falls throne speech, the Pallister government promised to create an ending gender-based violence committee of cabinet, led by the minister responsible for the status of women (Rochelle Squires). Those working in the field saw that as a sign the government would bring together people from various departments and agencies to develop a co-ordinated action plan, although Chammartin said shes not seen a lot of movement along those lines yet. "I think that kind of co-ordinated approach and a plan on gender-based violence is really whats required now," she said. A co-ordinated approach would include everything from prevention including how children are taught about respect to ensuring those needing the services of shelters get it, she added. The throne speech, to be delivered by Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon, is scheduled to begin around 1:30 p.m. It kicks off the fourth session of the 41st Manitoba legislature. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Cold and flu season, for many Canadians, means getting ready to have their lives and routines thrown off by painful and annoying symptoms. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 20/11/2018 (1099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Cold and flu season, for many Canadians, means getting ready to have their lives and routines thrown off by painful and annoying symptoms. This can mean days off work or school, dealing with sore throats, nasal congestion and fever. For parents, it can be challenging to comfort young kids with fever, coughing or ear pain. As doctors, we know that both physicians and patients would love a quick fix a magic bullet to deal with these symptoms. Patients want to get their lives back to normal as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, antibiotics are not usually the answer. Antibiotics are commonly misused because people mistakenly believe they will treat the symptoms of colds and flus. In fact, fever, cough and ear pain are usually due to a virus and viruses arent affected by antibiotics. More than half of all antibiotic prescriptions in Canada are estimated to be unnecessary and ineffective. Common conditions that are usually viral in nature but are often prescribed antibiotics unnecessarily include sinus infections, ear infections and chest colds (or bronchitis). Antibiotics dont typically help for any of these conditions and the symptoms will get better with simple rest and time. Its hard for us, as physicians, not to be able to offer a cure and difficult sometimes for our patients to accept that there isnt much to be done aside from managing their symptoms and waiting it out. A good first step is for doctors and patients to have a conversation about the downsides of unnecessary antibiotics. What harm can taking unnecessary antibiotics do? Plenty. When trying to treat symptoms caused by viral infections, antibiotics dont help and can actually make patients feel worse. Antibiotics work by stopping illness-causing bacteria from growing and multiplying. When diseases are viral in origin rather than bacterial, antibiotics have no impact. Using an antibiotic when not needed also promotes the growth of bacteria that are resistant to commonly-used antibiotics. This makes patients, especially the elderly, more vulnerable to antibiotic-resistant infections and undermines the good that antibiotics can do when theyre truly needed. There are also side effects to taking antibiotics; about one in four people who take antibiotics experience stomach upset, dizziness or skin rashes. Theres a new tool that you may notice in your doctors office to help have conversations about when antibiotics arent necessary its called a viral prescription pad. This is a tear-off sheet similar to what you might receive for a prescription, except it contains information about symptom-relieving strategies for fevers, aches and pains. It also explains the risks of unnecessary antibiotics and offers examples of when you should go back to the doctor should your symptoms worsen. Receiving no antibiotics for a cold or flu doesnt mean no treatment. It just means a different approach. One way to start the conversation about whether an antibiotic is really necessary is to use these three questions developed by Choosing Wisely Canada when talking with your doctor: Do I really need antibiotics? What are the risks? Are there simpler, safer options? Guylene Theriault is a family physician who practises family medicine in Gatineau, Que. She is the assistant dean of distributed medical education in the department of family medicine at McGill University. Wendy Levinson is the chair of Choosing Wisely Canada, a contributor with EvidenceNetwork.ca, which is based at the University of Winnipeg, and a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. Troy Media In October 2017, a man Ill call Mr. K. told me that he had given his vote to Germanys far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD). Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 20/11/2018 (1099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion In October 2017, a man Ill call Mr. K. told me that he had given his vote to Germanys far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD). Mr. K. is from Karaganda in Kazakhstan, and a member of Germanys Russian-German community. In the 2017 German elections, the AfD eased into the national parliament with more than 12 per cent of the popular vote. Mr. K., who until recently had voted for Angela Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said that the AfD was the only party that represented the values of the Russian-German community. Markus Schreiber / The Associated Press files AfD supporters march with a poster showing German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on May 27. The AfD swept into Germanys parliament on a wave of anti-migrant sentiment. In particular, he said, the fact that the CDU has embraced same-sex marriage, and that in 2015 Merkel had welcomed more than a million Syrian refugees, had been a mistake. Mr. K. is not alone. Since 2015, the AfD has been actively courting Germanys Russian community, even setting up a network within the party to specifically address their concerns. The strategy has borne fruit, especially in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, where the AfD garnered 42 per cent of the vote in Villingen-Schwenningen, and 52 per cent in Wertheim, both cities that are home to large populations of Russian-Germans. In these places, theres a general sense that "our" opinion has always been "swept under the rug." "The politics of the CDU no longer resonates with us," Mr. K. explained. "The AfD gives these people a new political home." The political power of Germanys Russian community is significant. Although there are no official statistics, according to a microcensus conducted in 2014, approximately 1.5 million Russian repatriates ethnic Germans who had lived in the Soviet Union for generations live in Germany. Faced discrimination During and in the wake of the Second World War, these repatriates were heavily discriminated against in the Soviet Union, mainly because they were German. Called "traitors" and "fascists," they were treated as if they were enemies of the Soviet people. After diplomatic negotiations between Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev and German chancellor Helmut Kohl in the late 1980s, these families migrated to Germany. Until recently, they were perceived as a group that had integrated well, although language issues and the lack of professional skills also made integration difficult. On Jan. 24, 2016, Russian state Channel 1 reported a story later proven to be false: that a 13-year-old Russian-German girl named Lisa had been yanked off the street in Berlin and taken to a rundown apartment by three Arab-looking men who beat and raped her. Although it was quickly revealed that the girl had lied, senior Russian diplomats continued to accuse German authorities of staging a cover-up. Referring to the alleged rape victim as "our Lisa," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow that in Germany such cases are "swept under the carpet," because the country wants to appear "politically correct." Although its important to note that not all Russian-Germans support the AfD, fake news and statements of support from Moscow have galvanized significant parts of Germanys Russian community against Merkel, whos announced shes stepping down in January. In the wake of Lisas story, the AfD staged dozens of protests across the country, including one massive demonstration outside of Merkels office in Berlin. From their perspective, at stake was not only the "false tolerance" that, according to anti-immigrant activists, drives German politics, but also understandings and experiences of Germany history. Russian influence in Germany Most significantly, Germanys acknowledgement of its responsibility for the Holocaust and Second World War is more than problematic for a number of Russian-Germans. And many Russian-Germans see themselves as victims of the war, not as the guilty party. Russia enjoys a considerable media presence in Germany. Major Russian social media networks like Odnoklassniki (Classmates) and Vkontakte (In Contact) are popular, and satellite TV provides easy access to Russias television Channel 1, which is also considered Putins "state channel." Although German TV channels recognize the presence of a number of linguistic communities in the country, they almost entirely ignore Russophones. There are no Russian moderators or lead actors in serials, and members of the Russian-German community rarely participate in talk shows, where the presence of Turkish-speaking participants is common. Germanys Russian community is not the only friend Putin has in the country. In the recent past, leading AfD party officials, including Alexander Gauland, have met with Kremlin-loyal nationalists and Russian Orthodox Church leaders, and accepted invitations to the Yalta International Economic Forum. The AfD welcomes the Kremlins anti-liberal, anti-European and homophobic ideas. While there exists no hard proof that the AfD receives financial support from Moscow, the party has received generous in-kind donations in the form of thousands of election signs and millions of copies of a free campaign newspaper promoting the AfDs anti-refugee platforms. Patrons are eager to stay anonymous, but AfD treasurer Klaus Fohrmann has never denied the fact that Russian money has helped the party. Building the far right Russias politics are still expansionist but it now relies not just on military might but also communications and digital strategies. Whats more, Russias nativist stance against immigration, its national patriotism and its endorsement of Russian Orthodox values also appeal to far-right movements other than the AfD, including Marine Le Pens Front National, Austrias Freedom Party, and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. In appealing to xenophobic ideas, it seeks to promote destabilization within a given political entity and country. This is a Russian political strategy of hollowing democracy from the inside out. As Russia wins support from Europes right-wing movements, both European populism and Russia will grow ever stronger. Petra Rethmann is a professor of anthropology and director of the Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition at McMaster University. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer was all buddy-buddy with Ontario Premier Doug Ford for a little while. Now, all of a sudden, not so much. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/11/2018 (1100 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer was all buddy-buddy with Ontario Premier Doug Ford for a little while. Now, all of a sudden, not so much. Mr. Ford looked like a winner back in June when he defeated the ruling Liberals of premier Kathleen Wynne, taking 76 of the 124 legislature seats with 41 per cent of the vote. Pretty soon, he was railing against the federal Liberals carbon tax in chorus with Saskatchewans Scott Moe and calling for the defeat of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the next federal election. Andrew Scheers kind of guy. Mr. Ford turned up at the Conservative partys August conference in Halifax, where his fierce attacks on Mr. Trudeau won a rapturous response from conference delegates. Mr. Scheer went to visit the Ontario premier at his Queens Park office in October to be photographed with him and cement his close ties with Mr. Ford. Andrew Scheer and Doug Ford were all smiles in October. (Chris Young / The Canadian Press files) Then came the list of Ontario spending cuts. Mr. Ford won the election on a program of cutting taxes and reducing the size of government by finding efficiencies, though it was never clear what that meant. Finance Minister Vic Fedeli started spelling it out Nov. 15. Among others, three promised campuses for existing universities were scrapped. A promised French-language university for Toronto was scrapped. The positions of the child and youth commissioner, the environmental commissioner and the French-language commissioner were eliminated. These things must be done, Mr. Fedeli explained, because the province is running a huge deficit and has to reduce spending. The deficit stood at $15 billion when the Conservatives came to power. They have reduced that to $14.5 billion, but there is still a long way to go. For a premier who wants to be a player on the national political stage, the attack on French-language services seems an odd choice. Outside of Quebec and New Brunswick, French-speakers are small local minorities who often, as in Manitoba, have difficulty winning recognition of their needs for provincial government services in French. Ontario premiers are usually careful to show sensitivity to their French-speaking electors. Doug Ford, however, is not into sensitivity. He has a deficit to reduce and he cares nothing for the precarious peace among language groups in Canada. Andrew Scheer has to care deeply about linguistic peace. His party has an old reputation among francophones for indifference to French speakers linguistic needs. He is currently fending off the challenge of the Peoples Party of Canada, founded and led by Quebec francophone Maxime Bernier, who quit the Tory party in a huff when he lost the leadership race to Mr. Scheer. The last thing Mr. Scheer needs is a flare-up of Canadas recurring exchanges of grievances and recriminations between French and English. Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer (right) is embraced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford after addressing the recent Ontario PC Convention in Toronto. (Chris Young / The Canadian Press fiels) Now here comes Doug Ford, reminding French speakers of all the reasons why they feared and mistrusted the English, and the Conservatives. Back in June, and still in August, Doug Ford looked to many Conservatives like the man who had found the way to defeat ruling Liberals, the man who was opening the path to power for Mr. Scheer and his party. Now, he is reminding some Ontario voters of the reasons why they kicked the Conservatives into Opposition in 2003 and kept them there for 15 years. Mr. Scheer is wisely publicizing his sympathy for French-speaking people in Ontario. Mr. Ford, however, is not listening. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/11/2018 (1100 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Polish communities all over the world, including Winnipeg, celebrated a significant milestone for their homeland. Polish communities all over the world, including Winnipeg, celebrated a significant milestone for their homeland. On Nov. 10 and 11, the Polish community living in Winnipeg spent two days celebrating the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Polands independence after losing it for 123 years to the German, Austrian and Russian empires. It was in 1918 that Polands sovereignty was restored in the form of the Second Polish Republic. "Poland disappeared from the map of Europe for 123 years," Grazyna Galezowski, president of the Canadian-Polish Congress Manitoba District, said. "But never lost the culture, language, and traditions. Polish people had a strong spirit to fight for freedom." The Canadian-Polish Congress Manitoba District celebrated Polands independence every year. The two celebrations were held at the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre (711 Jefferson Ave.) on Saturday and at the Holy Ghost Parish Church (341 Selkirk Ave.) on Sunday. SUPPLIED PHOTO Members of Polish Canadian Congress Manitoba District Benedicte LeMaitre (left) and Adam Pawlak (right) with Mayor Brian Bowman. At SOPAC, the Polish School of Dance SPK Iskry, Polish School of Dance Soko , Polish Dance Ensemble SPK Iskry, Sokol Polish Folk Ensemble, and Folk Band Czerwona Rzeka performed onstage. "We were packed. We had people standing, sitting, and even watching in the hallways. I was happy to see everyone attending and celebrating together. That was a very important day for us," Galezowski said. The events were attended by politicians from all levels of government, Consul of the Republic of Poland Magdalena Borowska and Polish Honorary Consul in Winnipeg Wodzimierz Czarnecki. Colonel Eric Charron, Chief Warrant Officer Jerome Rossignol and Major Greg Niemczyk, of 17 Wing Winnipeg also attended the event. SUPPLIED PHOTO Exhibit on Poland's independence at the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre hallway on Nov. 10. To close the celebrations, the Canadian-Polish Congress Manitoba District held a thanksgiving mass at Holy Ghost Parish Church. Galezowski said its important to remember those who sacrificed their lives to free Poland. The independence celebration takes place on Remembrance Day, and they take time to pay homage to the veterans that fought on behalf of their county. "As a community, we have the duty to remember both Canadian and Polish soldiers who have fallen on the battlefield. Its because of their sacrifice that we have freedom here and in Poland. We have to do this. It is our duty," she continued. SUPPLIED PHOTO MLA for Southdale Andrew Smith, Margaret von Lau, Polish-Canadian Congress Manitoba District board Member, Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage Cathy Cox, MP for Kildonan MaryAnn Mihychuk, MP for Winnipeg South Terry Duguid and MLA for Kildonan Nic Curry at the Polish-Canadian Congress Manitoba District celebration of Polands Independence 100th anniversary on Nov. 10 at Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre. Featured at the centres hall, there was a display by the Ogniwo Polish Museum Society with many storyboards detailing the military service made by Winnipegs and Canadas Polish community during the First World War. These displays described the journey made by Polish-Canadians from their communities to train at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. in preparation for the fight in Europe. The Polish Army, called the Blue Army was formed and trained at Niagara-on-the-Lake and took part in the liberation of Poland. The soldiers consisted of Poles and American volunteers. There were also a few Poles from Winnipeg who joined the army, Galezowski told The Times. "Not many people are aware of our history in Winnipeg," she said, adding about 85,000 Poles are living in Manitoba and approximately a million throughout Canada. "Its a fairly big community. This is the first time that we rented a theatre and were able to have all of them in one spot. People expressed the joy that we were all together. They appreciated the fact that all the groups had the opportunity to participate." Today, Poland is a modern country with a democratic government, and is part of the European Union. "We would not have that freedom to have a passport and travel. Now we as Canadians we can go and visit Poland with no restrictions." SUPPLIED PHOTO The Thanksgiving Mass held at Holy Ghost Parish Church on Selkirk Avenue. Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc. is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Neuberger Berman LLC. The fund is co-managed by Neuberger Berman Management LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in municipal bonds which have income that is exempt from federal income tax and have remaining maturities of less than 15 years. It seeks to invest in securities rated in the four highest categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. The fund seeks to maintain a weighted average duration of between three and eight years. Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc. was formed on July 29, 2002 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More Systemax Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a direct marketer of brand name and private label industrial and business equipment and supplies in North America. It sells a range of maintenance, repair, and operation products, including storage and shelving, material handling, janitorial and maintenance products, furniture and office products, workbenches and shop desks, HVAC/R and fans, safety and security products, outdoor and grounds maintenance products, tools and instruments, and office and school supplies. The company also sells plumbing products and pumps, packaging products and supplies, electrical and lighting products, food service products and appliances, raw materials and building supplies, motors and power transmission products, pneumatics and hydraulics, medical and laboratory equipment, metalworking and cutting tools, vehicle maintenance products, and fasteners and hardware. It offers its products under the Global, GlobalIndustrial.com, Nexel Paramount, and Interion brand names. The company offers its products to businesses, educational organizations, and government entities through relationship marketers, catalogs, and e-commerce sites. Systemax Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Port Washington, New York. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Tenet Healthcare: 1 Subsidiaries of this entity in which Tenet Healthcare Corporation directly and indirectly held a 95% ownership interest at December 31 2020 are set forth in the table below., 25 East Same Day Surgery L.L.C., 300 PBL Development LLC, 45th Street MOB LLC, 601 N 30th Street I L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street II L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street III Inc., AHM Acquisition Co. Inc., AIG Holdings LLC, AIGB Global LLC, AIGB Group Inc., AIGB Holdings Inc., AIGB Management Services LLC, AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #3 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #4 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #5 L.L.C., AMI Information Systems Group Inc., AMI/HTI Tarzana Encino Joint Venture, APN, ARC Worcester Center L.P., ASC Old Co. LP, ASC of New Jersey LLC, ASJH Joint Venture LLC, Abrazo Health Network EP Clinical Services LLC, Abrazo Surgical Outpatient Center LLC, Advanced Ambulatory Surgical Care L.P., Advanced Center for Surgery Vero Beach LLC, Advanced Regional Surgery Center LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Metairie LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Sarasota LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Tampa LLC, Advanced Surgical Care of St Louis LLC, Advanced Surgical Concepts LLC, Advantage Health Care Management Company LLC, Advantage Health Network Inc., AdventHealth Surgery Center Celebration LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Mills Park LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Wellswood LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Winter Garden LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers Central Florida LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers West Florida LLC, Adventist Midwest Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Alabama Cardiovascular Associates L.L.C., Alabama Digestive Health Endoscopy Center L.L.C., Alabama Hand and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Alamo Heights Surgicare L.P., All Star MOB LLC, Allegian Insurance Company, Alliance Surgery Birmingham LLC, Alliance Surgery Inc., Alvarado Hospital Medical Center Inc., Ambulatory Surgical Associates LLC, Ambulatory Surgical Center of Somerville LLC, American Institute of Gastric Banding Ltd., American Institute of Gastric Banding Phoenix Limited Partnership, American Medical (Central) Inc., Amisub (Heights) Inc., Amisub (Hilton Head) Inc., Amisub (North Ridge Hospital) Inc., Amisub (SFH) Inc., Amisub (Twelve Oaks) Inc., Amisub of California Inc., Amisub of North Carolina Inc., Amisub of South Carolina Inc., Amisub of Texas Inc., Anaheim Hills Medical Imaging L.L.C., Anaheim MRI Holding Inc., Anesthesia Partners of Gallatin LLC, Arizona Care Network Next L.L.C., Arizona Health Partners LLC, Arlington Orthopedic and Spine Hospital LLC, Arrowhead Endoscopy and Pain Management Center LLC, Asia Outsourcing US Inc., Aspen Healthcare, Atlanta Medical Center Inc., Atlanta Medical Center Interventional Neurology Associates L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Physician Group L.L.C., Atlantic Coast Surgical Suites LLC, Atlantic Health-USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Avita/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., BBH BMC LLC, BBH CBMC LLC, BBH DevelopmentCo LLC, BBH Imaging Jasper LLC, BBH NP Clinicians Inc., BBH PBMC LLC, BBH SBMC LLC, BBH WBMC LLC, BCDC EmployeeCO LLC, BHC-Talladega Pediatrics LLC, BHS Accountable Care LLC, BHS Affinity LLC, BHS Integrated Physician Partners LLC, BHS Physician Performance Network LLC, BHS Physicians Alliance for ACE LLC, BHS Physicians Network Inc., BHS Specialty Network Inc., BT East Dallas JV LLP, BW Cardiology LLC, BW Cyberknife LLC, BW Hand Practice LLC, BW Office Buildings LLC, BW Parking Decks LLC, BW Physician Practices LLC, BW Retail Pharmacy LLC, BW Sports Practice LLC, Bagley Holdings LLC, Baptist Accountable Care LLC, Baptist Diagnostics LLC, Baptist Health Centers LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance ACO LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance LLC, Baptist Plaza Surgicare L.P., Baptist Surgery Center L.P., Baptist Womens Health Center LLC, Baptist/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Bartlett ASC LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Baylor Plano LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Blue Star LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Granbury LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Mansfield LLC, Baylor Surgicare at North Dallas LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Plano LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Plano Parkway LLC, Bear Creek Surgery Center LLC, Beaumont Surgical Affiliates Ltd., Bellaire Outpatient Surgery Center L.L.P., Berkshire Eye LLC, Bloomington ASC LLC, Blue Ridge/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Bluffton Okatie Primary Care L.L.C., Bluffton Okatie Surgery Center L.L.C., Bon Secours Surgery Center at Harbour View LLC, Bon Secours Surgery Center at Virginia Beach LLC, Bozeman Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Bozeman MOB LLC, Briarcliff Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Bristol Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Broad River Primary Care L.L.C., Brookwood - Maternal Fetal Medicine L.L.C., Brookwood Ancillary Holdings Inc., Brookwood Baptist Health 1 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 2 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 3 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Imaging LLC, Brookwood Center Development Corporation, Brookwood Development Inc., Brookwood Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Brookwood Garages L.L.C., Brookwood Health Services Inc., Brookwood Home Health LLC, Brookwood Occupational Health Clinic L.L.C., Brookwood Parking Associates Ltd., Brookwood Primary Care - Homewood L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Inverness L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Mountain Brook L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Oak Mountain L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Vestavia L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Cahaba Heights L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Hoover L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care The Narrows L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Network Care Inc., Brookwood Specialty Care - Endocrinology L.L.C., Brookwood Sports and Orthopedics L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Care L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Diagnostic Center LLC, C7 Technologies LLC, CGH Hospital Ltd., CHIC/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CHN Holdings LLC, CHRISTUS Cabrini Surgery Center L.L.C., CHVI Tucson Holdings LLC, CML-Chicago Market Labs Inc., CRNAs of Michigan, CS/USP General Partner LLC, CS/USP Surgery Centers LP, California Joint & Spine LLC, Camp Creek Urgent Care L.L.C., Camp Lowell Surgery Center L.L.C., Captive Insurance Services Inc., Cardiology Physicians Associates L.L.C., Cardiology Physicians Corporation L.L.C., Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Associates L.L.C., Cardiovascular Clinical Excellence at Sierra Providence LLC, CareSpot of Austin LLC, CareSpot of Memphis LLC, CareSpot of Orlando/HSI Urgent Care LLC, Carmel Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Carondelet St. Marys-Northwest L.L.C., Cascade Spine Center LLC, Castle Rock Surgery Center LLC, Catawba-Piedmont Cardiothoracic Surgery L.L.C., Cedar Hill Primary Care L.L.C., Cedar Park Surgery Center L.L.P., Centennial ASC LLC, Center for Advanced Research Excellence L.L.C., Center for the Urban Child Inc., Central California Healthcare Holdings LLC, Central Carolina Physicians - Sandhills L.L.C., Central Carolina-IMA L.L.C., Central Jersey Surgery Center LLC, Central Texas Corridor Hospital Company LLC, Central Valley Quality Alliance LLC, Central Virginia Surgi-Center L.P., Centura Ventures Surgery Centers LLC, Centura/USP Colorado Springs Surgery Centers L.L.C., Chalon Living Inc., Chandler Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Endoscopic Surgery Center LLC, Chattanooga Pain Management Center LLC, Chesterfield Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Chesterfield Anesthesia Associates of Missouri LLC, Chico Surgery Center L.P., Childrens Hospital of Michigan Premier Network Inc., Citrus Heights ASC RE LLC, Clarkston ASC Partners LLC, Clarksville Surgery Center LLC, Coast Healthcare Management LLC, Coast Surgery Center L.P., Coastal Carolina Medical Center, Coastal Carolina Medical Center Inc., Coastal Carolina Physician Practices LLC, Coastal Carolina Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Coastal Endo LLC, Colorado GI Centers LLC, Commonwealth Continental Health Care Inc., Community Connection Health Plan Inc., Community Hospital LLC, Community Hospital of Los Gatos Inc., Conifer Care Continuum Solutions LLC, Conifer Ethics and Compliance Inc., Conifer Global Business Center Inc., Conifer Global Holdings Inc., Conifer Health Solutions LLC, Conifer Holdings Inc., Conifer Patient Communications LLC, Conifer Physician Services Holdings Inc., Conifer Physician Services Inc., Conifer Revenue Cycle Solutions LLC, Conifer Value-Based Care LLC, Conroe Surgery Center 2 LLC, Coral Gables Hospital Inc., Coral Ridge Outpatient Center LLC, Corpus Christi Surgicare Ltd., Covenant/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CreAtiv Management Company Inc., Creekwood Investors LLC, Creekwood Surgery Center L.P., Crown Point Surgery Center LLC, DH/USP SJOSC Investment Company L.L.C., DH/USP Sacramento Pain GP LLC, DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Education & Research, DMC Harper University Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, DMC Imaging L.L.C., Dallas Surgical Partners LLC, DeTar/USP Surgery Center LLC, Delray Beach ASC LLC, Delray Medical Center Inc., Delray Medical Physician Services L.L.C., Denton Surgicare Partners Ltd., Denton Surgicare Real Estate Ltd., Denville Surgery Center LLC, Des Peres Physician Network LLC, Desert Cove MOB LLC, Desert Regional Medical Center Inc., Desert Ridge Outpatient Surgery LLC, Desoto Surgicare Partners Ltd., Destin ASC RE LLC, Destin Surgery Center LLC, Detroit Education & Research, DigitalMed Inc., Dignity/Abrazo Health Network LLC, Dignity/USP Folsom GP LLC, Dignity/USP Grass Valley GP LLC, Dignity/USP Las Vegas Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Metro Surgery Center LLC, Dignity/USP NorCal Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Phoenix Surgery Centers II LLC, Dignity/USP Phoenix Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Redding GP LLC, Dignity/USP Roseville GP LLC, Dignity/USP/John Muir East Bay Surgery Centers LLC, Doctors Hospital of Manteca Inc., Doctors Medical Center Neurosciences Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center Orthopedics Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center of Modesto Inc., Doctors Outpatient Center for Surgery LLC, Doctors Outpatient Surgery Center of Jupiter L.L.C., EPHC Inc., EPIC ASC LLC, East Atlanta Endoscopy Centers LLC, East Cobb Urgent Care LLC, East Cooper Coastal Family Physicians L.L.C., East Cooper Community Hospital Inc., East Cooper Hyperbarics L.L.C., East Cooper OB/GYN L.L.C., East Cooper Physician Network LLC, East Cooper Primary Care Physicians L.L.C., East Portland Surgery Center LLC, East West Surgery Center L.P., Eastgate Building Center L.L.C., Effingham Surgical Partners LLC, Einstein Montgomery Surgery Center LLC, Einstein/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., El Mirador Surgery Center L.L.C., El Paso Center for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy LLC, El Paso Day Surgery LLC, El Paso Urology Surgery Center Curie LLC, Emanate/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Emanuel Medical Center, Emerson Surgery Center LLC, Encinitas Endoscopy Center LLC, Endoscopy Center of Hackensack LLC, Endoscopy Center of South Sacramento LLC, Endoscopy Consultants LLC, European Surgical Partners Ltd., Eye Center of Nashville UAP LLC, Eye Surgery Center of Nashville LLC, FMC Medical Inc., FMCC Network Contracting L.L.C., FPN Frisco Physicians Network, FREH Real Estate L.L.C., FRS Imaging Services L.L.C., FSC Hospital LLC, FSH IT Services LP, First Choice Physician Partners, Flatirons Surgery Center LLC, Folsom Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Fort Bend Clinical Services Inc., Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate LP, Fort Worth Surgicare Partners Ltd., Foundation Bariatric Hospital of San Antonio LLC, Foundation San Antonio Borrower Sub LLC, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, Fountain Valley Surgery Center LLC, Franklin Endo UAP LLC, Franklin Endoscopy Center LLC, Fresno Surgery Center L.P., Frisco Medical Center L.L.P., Frontenac Ambulatory Surgery & Spine Care Center L.P., Frye Regional Medical Center Inc., FryeCare Boone L.L.C., FryeCare Morganton L.L.C., FryeCare Physicians L.L.C., FryeCare Valdese L.L.C., FryeCare Watauga L.L.C., FryeCare Womens Services L.L.C., GCSA Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Gamma Surgery Center LLC, Gardendale Surgical Associates LLC, Garland Surgicare Partners Ltd., Gastric Health Institute L.L.C., Genesis ASC Partners LLC, Geneva Surgical Suites LLC, Georgia Endoscopy Center LLC, Georgia Gifts From Grace L.L.C., Georgia Musculoskeletal Network Inc., Georgia North Fulton Healthcare Associates L.L.C., Georgia Northside Ear Nose and Throat L.L.C., Georgia Physicians of Cardiology L.L.C., Georgia Spectrum Neurosurgical Specialists L.L.C., Georgia Spine Surgery Center LLC, Glen Echo Surgery Center LLC, Golden Ridge ASC LLC, Good Samaritan Medical Center Inc., Good Samaritan Surgery L.L.C., Grapevine Surgicare Partners Ltd., Grass Valley Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Graystone Family Healthcare - Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Great Lakes Surgical Suites LLC, Greater Dallas Healthcare Enterprises, Greater Northwest Houston Enterprises, Greenville Physicians Surgery Center LLP, Greenwood ASC LLC, Greystone Internal Medicine - Brookwood L.L.C., Gulf Coast Community Hospital Inc., HCH Tucson Holdings LLC, HCN Emerus Management Sub LLC, HCN Emerus Texas LLC, HCN Laboratories Inc., HCN Physicians Inc., HCN Sunnyvale Holdings LLC, HCN Surgery Center Holdings Inc., HDMC Holdings L.L.C., HMA/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, HMH-USP Surgery Centers LLC, HMHP/USP Surgery Centers LLC, HNMC Inc., HNW GP Inc., HNW LP Inc., HPI Holdings LLC, HPI North LLC, HPI Physicians LLC, HSRM International Inc., HSS Palm Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, HSS/USP Surgery Center LLC, HUG Services Inc., HUMC/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Hacienda Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Hagerstown Surgery Center LLC, Hardeeville Medical Group L.L.C., Hardeeville Primary Care L.L.C., Harlingen Physician Network Inc., Harper-Hutzel AHP Services Inc., Harvard Park Surgery Center LLC, Haymarket Surgery Center LLC, Hazelwood Endoscopy Center LLC, Health & Wellness Surgery Center L.P., Health Horizons of Kansas City Inc., Health Horizons of Murfreesboro Inc., Health Horizons/Piedmont Joint Venture LLC, Health Services CFMC Inc., Health Services HNMC Inc., Health Services Network Care Inc., Health Services Network Hospitals Inc., Health Services Network Texas Inc., HealthCorp Network Inc., Healthcare Compliance LLC, Healthcare Network Alabama Inc., Healthcare Network CFMC Inc., Healthcare Network DPH Inc., Healthcare Network Georgia Inc., Healthcare Network Holdings Inc., Healthcare Network Hospitals (Dallas) Inc., Healthcare Network Hospitals Inc., Healthcare Network Louisiana Inc., Healthcare Network Missouri Inc., Healthcare Network North Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network South Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network Tennessee Inc., Healthcare Network Texas Inc., Healthcare Partners Investments LLC, Healthmark Partners Inc., Healthpoint of North Carolina L.L.C., Heart and Vascular Institute of Michigan, Heritage Park Surgical Hospital LLC, Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hialeah Hospital Inc., Hialeah Real Properties Inc., Hickory Family Practice Associates - Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Hill Country ASC Partners LLC, Hill Country Surgery Center LLC, Hilton Head Health System L.P., Hilton Head Regional Healthcare L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional OB/GYN Partners L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional Physician Network LLC, Hilton Head Regional Physician Network Georgia L.L.C., Hinsdale Surgical Center LLC, Hitchcock State Street Real Estate Inc., Holston Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Holy Cross Hospital Inc., Home Health Partners of San Antonio LLC, Hoover Doctors Group Inc., Hoover Land LLC, Horizon Ridge Surgery Center LLC, Hospital Development of West Phoenix Inc., Hospital RCM Services LLC, Hospital Underwriting Group Inc., Houston Northwest Partners Ltd., Houston PSC L.P., Houston Specialty Hospital Inc., Houston Sunrise Investors Inc., Hyde Park Surgery Center LLC, ICNU Rockford LLC, Imaging Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., InforMed Insurance Services LLC, Integris/USP Health Ventures LLC, International Health and Wellness Inc., Irving-Coppell Surgical Hospital L.L.P., JFK Memorial Hospital Inc., JFP UAP Sugarland LLC, Jackson Surgical Center LLC, Jacksonville Endoscopy Centers LLC, Journey Home Healthcare of San Antonio LLC, KHS Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, KHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Kingsport Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Laguna Medical Systems Inc., Lake Endoscopy Center LLC, Lake Health Care Facilities Inc., Lake Lansing ASC Partners LLC, Lake Surgical Hospital Slidell LLC, LakeFront Medical Associates LLC, Lakewood Regional Medical Center Inc., Lakewood Surgery Center LLC, Lancaster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Lansing ASC Partners LLC, Lawrenceville Surgery Center L.L.C., Lebanon Endoscopy Center LLC, Legacy Warren Partners L.P., Legacy/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Leonardtown Surgery Center LLC, Liberty Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Lifemark Hospitals Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Florida Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Louisiana Inc., Lone Star Endoscopy Center LLC, Longleaf Surgery Center LLC, Los Alamitos Medical Center Inc., Lubbock ASC Holding Co LLC, MASC Partners LLC, MCSH Real Estate Investors Ltd., MH Memorial City Surgery LLC, MH/USP Bay Area LLC, MH/USP Brazoria LLC, MH/USP Kingsland LLC, MH/USP Kingwood LLC, MH/USP Kirby LLC, MH/USP Main Street LLC, MH/USP North Freeway LLC, MH/USP North Houston LLC, MH/USP Richmond LLC, MH/USP Sugar Land LLC, MH/USP TMC Endoscopy LLC, MH/USP West Houston L.L.C., MH/USP Woodlands Parkway LLC, MSH Partners LLC, MSV Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MVH/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MacNeal Management Services Inc., MacNeal Medical Records Inc., MacNeal Physicians Group LLC, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of San Luis Obispo Inc., Magnolia Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Manchester Ambulatory Surgery Center LP, Maple Lawn Surgery Center LLC, Marion Surgery Center LLC, Mary Immaculate Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Mason Ridge Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Mayfield Spine Surgery Center LLC, McLaren ASC of Flint LLC, Meadowcrest Hospital LLC, Medical House Staffing LLC, Medical Park Tower Surgery Center LLC, Medplex Outpatient Medical Centers Inc., Medplex Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Memorial Hermann Bay Area Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann Endoscopy & Surgery Center North Houston L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Endoscopy Center North Freeway LLC, Memorial Hermann Specialty Hospital Kingwood L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Surgical Hospital L.L.P., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Brazoria LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Cypress LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Katy LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kingsland L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kirby LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Main Street LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Memorial City L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Northwest LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Pinecroft LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Preston Road Ltd., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Richmond LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Southwest L.L.P., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Sugar Land LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Texas Medical Center LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Woodlands Parkway LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center The Woodlands LLP, Memorial Hermann Texas International Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann West Houston Surgery Center LLC, Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers II L.P., Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers III LLP, Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers IV LLP, Memorial Surgery Center LLC, Memphis Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., Memphis Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., Merced Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Mercy/USP Health Ventures L.L.C., Metro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Metro Surgery Center LLC, MetroWest HomeCare & Hospice LLC, Metrocrest Surgery Center L.P., Metropolitan New Jersey LLC, Michigan ASC Partners L.L.C., Michigan Pioneer ACO LLC, Michigan Regional Imaging LLC, Mid Rivers Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Mid State Endo UAP LLC, Mid-State Endoscopy Center LLC, Mid-TSC Development LP, Middle Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Midland Memorial/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Midland Texas Surgical Center LLC, Midwest Digestive Health Center LLC, Midwest Pharmacies Inc., Midwest Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Millennium Surgical Center LLC, Mobile Imaging Management LLC, Mobile Technology Management LLC, Modesto Radiology Imaging Inc., Monocacy Surgery Center LLC, Mountain Empire Surgery Center L.P., Munster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Murdock Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, NHSC Holdings LLC, NICH GP Holdings LLC, NKCH/USP Briarcliff GP LLC, NKCH/USP Liberty GP LLC, NKCH/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., NKCH/USP Surgery Centers LLC, NMC Lessor L.P., NMC Surgery Center L.P., NME Headquarters Inc., NME Properties Corp., NME Properties Inc., NME Property Holding Co. Inc., NME Psychiatric Hospitals Inc., NME Rehabilitation Properties Inc., NSCH GP Holdings LLC, NSCH/USP Desert Surgery Centers L.L.C., NUCH of Georgia L.L.C., NUCH of Massachusetts LLC, NUCH of Michigan Inc., NUCH of Texas, Nacogdoches ASC-LP Inc., Name of Entity, National ASC Inc., National Ancillary Inc., National Diagnostic Imaging Centers Inc., National HHC Inc., National Home Health Holdings Inc., National ICN Inc., National Imaging Center Holdings Inc., National Medical Services II Inc., National Outpatient Services Holdings Inc., National Surgery Center Holdings Inc., National Urgent Care Holdings Inc., National Urgent Care Inc., Network Management Associates Inc., New Dimensions LLC, New England Physician Performance Network LLC, New H Acute Inc., New Horizons Surgery Center LLC, New Medical Horizons II Ltd., New Mexico Orthopaedic Surgery Center LLC, New Salem ASC RE LLC, Newhope Imaging Center Inc., North Anaheim Surgery Center LLC, North Atlantic Surgical Suites LLC, North Campus Surgery Center LLC, North Carolina Community Family Medicine L.L.C., North Central Surgical Center L.L.P., North Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, North Fulton Cardiovascular Medicine L.L.C., North Fulton Hospitalist Group L.L.C., North Fulton Medical Center Inc., North Fulton Primary Care - Willeo Rd. L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Windward Parkway L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Wylie Bridge L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care Associates L.L.C., North Fulton Pulmonary Specialists L.L.C., North Fulton Womens Consultants L.L.C., North Garland Surgery Center L.L.P., North Haven Surgery Center LLC, North Miami Medical Center Ltd., North Shore Medical Billing Center L.L.C., North Shore Medical Center Inc., North Shore Same Day Surgery L.L.C., North Shore Surgical Suites LLC, North State Surgery Centers L.P., NorthPointe Surgical Suites LLC, NorthShore/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Northern Monmouth Regional Surgery Center L.L.C., Northridge ASC RE LLC, Northridge Surgery Center L.P., Northwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Georgia Orthopaedic Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Regional ASC LLC, Northwest Regional Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgery Center LLP, Northwest Surgery Center Ltd., Novant Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Novant/UVA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, OCOMS Imaging LLC, OCOMS Professional Services LLC, OLOL/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Okatie Surgical Partners L.L.C., Oklahoma Center for Orthopedic and Multi-Specialty Surgery LLC, Old Tesson Surgery Center L.P., Olive Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Olive Branch Urgent Care #1 LLC, Ophthalmology Anesthesia Services LLC, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Orlando LLC, Optimum Spine Center LLC, OrNda Healthcorp, OrNda Hospital Corporation, Orlando Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., OrthoArizona Surgery Center Gilbert LLC, OrthoLink ASC Corporation, OrthoLink Physicians Corporation, OrthoLink Radiology Services Corporation, OrthoLink/ Georgia ASC Inc., OrthoLink/Baptist ASC LLC, OrthoLink/New Mexico ASC Inc., Orthopedic Associates of the Lowcountry L.L.C., Orthopedic South Surgical Partners LLC, Orthopedic and Surgical Specialty Company LLC, PAHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, PDN L.L.C., PHPS Inc., PHPS-CHM Acquisition Inc., PHS/USP Health Ventures LLC, PM CyFair Land Partners LLC, PMC Physician Network L.L.C., PPRE LLC, PSS Patient Solution Services LLC, Pacific Endo-Surgical Center L.P., Pacific Endoscopy and Surgery Center LLC, Pain Diagnostic and Treatment Center L.P., Paley Institute Global LLC, Palm Beach Gardens Community Hospital Inc., Palm Beach International Surgery Center LLC, Palm Valley Medical Center Campus Association, Palos Health Surgery Center LLC, Paramus Endoscopy LLC, Park Cities Surgery Center LLC, Park Plaza Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., ParkCreek ASC LLC, Parkway Recovery Care Center LLC, Parkwest Surgery Center L.P., Patient Partners LLC, Peak Gastroenterology ASC LLC, Pediatric Surgery Center Odessa LLC, Pediatric Surgery Centers LLC, Physician Performance Network L.L.C., Physician Performance Network of Arizona LLC, Physician Performance Network of Detroit, Physician Performance Network of South Carolina LLC, Physician Performance Network of Tucson LLC, Physicians Performance Network of Houston, Physicians Performance Network of North Texas, Physicians Surgery Center at Good Samaritan LLC, Physicians Surgery Center of Tempe LLC, Physicians Surgical Center of Ft. Worth LLP, Physicians Surgery Center of Chattanooga L.L.C., Physicians Surgery Center of Knoxville LLC, Piccard Surgery Center LLC, Piedmont ASC LLC, Piedmont Behavioral Medicine Associates LLC, Piedmont Cardiovascular Physicians L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina OB/GYN of York County L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina Vascular Surgery L.L.C., Piedmont East Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Piedmont Express Care at Sutton Road L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Rock Hill L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Tega Cay L.L.C., Piedmont General Surgery Associates L.L.C., Piedmont Internal Medicine at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Physician Network LLC, Piedmont Pulmonology L.L.C., Piedmont Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care and Industrial Health Centers Inc., Piedmont/Carolinas Radiation Therapy LLC, Placentia-Linda Hospital Inc., Pleasanton Diagnostic Imaging Inc., Point of Rocks Surgery Center LLC, Practice Partners Management L.P., Premier ACO Physicians Network LLC, Premier ASC LLC, Premier Adult and Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Premier Endoscopy ASC LLC, Premier Health Plan Services Inc., Premier Medical Specialists L.L.C., Prince William Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Professional Anesthesia Services LLC, Professional Liability Insurance Company, Pros Temporary Staffing Inc., Providence/UCLA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Providence/USP Santa Clarita GP LLC, Providence/USP South Bay Surgery Centers L.L.C., Providence/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Pueblo Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, R.H.S.C. El Paso Inc., RE Plano Med Inc., RHC Parkway Inc., RLC LLC, Reading Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Reading Endoscopy Center LLC, Reagan Street Surgery Center LLC, Redmond Surgery Center LLC, Renaissance Surgery Center LLC, Republic Health Corporation of Rockwall County, Resolute Health Physicians Network Inc., Resolute Hospital Company LLC, Resurgens East Surgery Center LLC, Resurgens Fayette Surgery Center LLC, Resurgens Surgery Center LLC, Rheumatology Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Richmond ASC Leasing Company LLC, Rio Grande Valley Indigent Health Care Corporation, River North Same Day Surgery L.L.C., Riverside Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Rock Bridge Surgical Institute L.L.C., Rock Hill Surgery Center LLC, Rockwall Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.P., Rocky Mountain Endoscopy Centers LLC, Roseville Surgery Center L.P., Roswell Surgery Center L.L.C., SCNRE LLC, SFMP Inc., SFMPE - Crittenden L.L.C., SL-HLC Inc., SLH Physicians L.L.C., SLH Vista Inc., SLPA ACO LLC, SLUH Anesthesia Physicians L.L.C., SMSJ Imaging Company LLC, SMSJ Tucson Holdings LLC, SPC at the Star LLC, SRRMC Management Inc., SSI Holdings Inc., Sacramento Midtown Endoscopy Center LLC, Safety Harbor ASC Company LLC, Saint Agnes/Dignity/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Saint Agnes/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Saint Francis Cardiology Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis Cardiovascular Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Center for Surgical Weight Loss L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Medicare ACO LLC, Saint Francis Hospital Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett Inc., Saint Francis Medical Partners East L.L.C., Saint Francis Medical Partners General Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis Quality Alliance LLC, Saint Francis Surgery Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Surgical Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis-Arkansas Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis-Bartlett Physician Network LLC, Saint Thomas Campus Surgicare L.P., Saint Thomas Surgery Center New Salem LLC, Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP Baptist Plaza L.L.C., Saint Vincent Physician Services Inc., Salmon Surgery Center LLC, Same Day Management L.L.C., Same Day SC of Central NJ LLC, Same Day Surgery L.L.C., San Antonio Endoscopy L.P., San Fernando Valley Surgery Center L.P., San Gabriel Valley Surgical Center L.P., San Martin Surgery Center LLC, San Ramon ASC L. P., San Ramon Ambulatory Care LLC, San Ramon Network Joint Venture LLC, San Ramon Regional Medical Center LLC, San Ramon Surgery Center L.L.C., Santa Barbara Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Santa Clarita Surgery Center L.P., Savannah Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Schertz Surgery Center LLC, Scripps Encinitas Surgery Center LLC, Scripps/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Seaside Surgery Center LLC, Shands/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, Shelby Baptist Affinity LLC, Shelby Baptist Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Shore Outpatient Surgicenter L.L.C., Shoreline Real Estate Partnership LLP, Shoreline Surgery Center LLP, Shrewsbury Surgery Center LLC, Sierra Pacific Surgery Center LLC, Sierra Providence Health Network Inc., Sierra Providence Healthcare Enterprises, Sierra Vista Hospital Inc., Silicon Valley Outpatient Surgery Centers LLC, Silver Cross Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Silver Cross/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Sinai-Grace Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, Siouxland Surgery Center Limited Liability Partnership, Solantic Corporation, Solantic Development LLC, Solantic Holdings Corporation, Solantic of Jacksonville LLC, Solantic of Orlando LLC, Solantic/South Florida LLC, South Carolina East Cooper Surgical Specialists L.L.C., South Carolina Health Services Inc., South Carolina SeWee Family Medicine L.L.C., South County Outpatient Endoscopy Services L.P., South Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, South Florida Ambulatory Surgical Center LLC, South Fulton Health Care Centers Inc., SouthCare Physicians Group Neurology L.L.C., SouthCare Physicians Group Obstetrics & Gynecology L.L.C., Southeast Ohio Surgical Suites LLC, Southern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Southern States Physician Operations Inc., Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., Southwest Childrens Hospital LLC, Southwest Endoscopy LLC, Southwest Orthopedic and Spine Hospital LLC, Southwest Orthopedic and Spine Hospital Real Estate LLC, Southwestern Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Spalding Regional Medical Center Inc., Spalding Regional OB/GYN L.L.C., Spalding Regional Physician Services L.L.C., Specialty Surgery Center of Fort Worth L.P., Specialty Surgicenters Inc., Spinal Diagnostics and Treatment Centers L.L.C., Spine & Joint Physician Associates, Springfield Service Holding Corporation, St. Augustine Endoscopy Center LLC, St. Christophers Pediatric Urgent Care Center - Allentown L.L.C, St. Josephs Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Josephs Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, St. Josephs Surgery Center L.P., St. Louis Physician Alliance LLC, St. Louis Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Urology Center LLC, St. Lukes/USP Surgery Centers LLC, St. Marys Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, St. Marys Hospital Cardiovascular Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Levee Company LLC, St. Marys Medical Center Inc., St. Vincent Health/USP LLC, St. Vincent/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Stockton Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Subsidiaries of USPI Holding Company Inc., Suburban Endoscopy Center LLC, Summit View Surgery Center LLC, Sun View Imaging L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group I L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group II L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group IV L.L.C., SurgCenter Camelback LLC, SurgCenter Northeast LLC, SurgCenter Pinellas LLC, SurgCenter Tucson LLC, SurgCenter at Paradise Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Deer Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Glen Burnie LLC, SurgCenter of Palm Beach Gardens LLC, SurgCenter of Plano LLC, SurgCenter of Southern Maryland LLC, SurgCenter of St. Lucie LLC, SurgCenter of White Marsh LLC, Surgery Affiliate of El Paso LLC, Surgery Center at Mount Pleasant LLC, Surgery Center at University Park LLC, Surgery Center of Atlanta LLC, Surgery Center of Canfield LLC, Surgery Center of Columbia L.P., Surgery Center of Coral Gables LLC, Surgery Center of Okeechobee LLC, Surgery Center of Pembroke Pines L.L.C., Surgery Center of Peoria L.L.C., Surgery Center of Richardson Physician Partnership L.P., Surgery Center of Santa Barbara LLC, Surgery Center of Scottsdale LLC, Surgery Center of Tempe Real Estate II L.L.C., Surgery Center of Tempe Real Estate L.L.C., Surgery Centers of America II L.L.C., Surgery Centre of SW Florida LLC, Surgical & Bariatric Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Surgical Clinical Excellence at Desert Regional LLC, Surgical Elite of Avondale L.L.C., Surgical Health Partners LLC, Surgical Institute Management LLC, Surgical Institute of Reading LLC, Surgical Specialists at Princeton LLC, Surgicare of Miramar L.L.C., Surginet Inc., Surgis Inc., Surgis Management Services Inc., Surgis of Chico Inc., Surgis of Phoenix Inc., Surgis of Redding Inc., Surgis of Victoria Inc., Sutton Road Pediatrics L.L.C., Sylvan Grove Hospital Inc., TENN SM LLC, TFPS IV L.L.C., TH Healthcare Ltd., TH International Services Florida LLC, THV Park Cities LLC, THVG Arlington GP LLC, THVG Bariatric GP LLC, THVG Bariatric L.L.C., THVG Bedford GP LLC, THVG Bellaire GP LLC, THVG DSP GP LLC, THVG DeSoto GP LLC, THVG Denton GP LLC, THVG Fort Worth GP LLC, THVG Frisco GP LLC, THVG Garland GP LLC, THVG Grapevine GP LLC, THVG Irving-Coppell GP LLC, THVG Lewisville GP LLC, THVG North Garland GP LLC, THVG Park Cities/Trophy Club GP LLC, THVG Rockwall 2 GP LLC, THVG Valley View GP LLC, TLC ASC LLC, TMC Holding Company LLC, TOPS Specialty Hospital Ltd., TPG Hospital LLC, TPR Practice Management LLC, TPS VI of PA L.L.C., TRMC Holdings LLC, TSPE LLC, Tamarac Surgery Center LLC, Tempe New Day Surgery Center LP, Templeton Imaging Inc., Tenet Business Services Corporation, Tenet California Inc., Tenet Central Carolina Physicians Inc., Tenet EKG Inc., Tenet El Paso Ltd., Tenet Employment Inc., Tenet Finance Corp., Tenet Florida Inc., Tenet Florida Physician Services II L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services III L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services L.L.C., Tenet Fort Mill Inc., Tenet Global Business Center Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Bucks County L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Graduate L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Hahnemann L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Medical Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Nacogdoches ASC GP Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Philadelphia Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Roxborough LLC, Tenet HealthSystem St. Christophers Hospital for Children L.L.C., Tenet Hilton Head Heart L.L.C., Tenet Hospitals Limited, Tenet Network Management Inc., Tenet Patient Safety Organization LLC, Tenet Physician Resources LLC, Tenet Physician Services - Hilton Head Inc., Tenet Rehab Piedmont Inc., Tenet Relocation Services L.L.C., Tenet SC East Cooper Hospitalists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Gastrointestinal Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Island Medical L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Lowcountry OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Mt. Pleasant OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet Unifour Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Tenet Ventures Inc., TenetCare Frisco Inc., Terre Haute Surgical Center LLC, Teton Outpatient Services LLC, Texan Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Texas Endoscopy Centers LLC, Texas Health Venture Arlington Hospital LLC, Texas Health Venture Baylor Plano LLC, Texas Health Venture Carrollton LLC, Texas Health Venture Centennial LLC, Texas Health Venture Ennis LLC, Texas Health Venture Fort Worth L.L.C., Texas Health Venture Granbury LLC, Texas Health Venture Heritage Park LLC, Texas Health Venture Keller LLC, Texas Health Venture Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Venture Mansfield LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano Endo LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano Parkway LLC, Texas Health Venture Texas Spine LLC, Texas Health Ventures Group L.L.C., Texas Orthopedics Surgery Center LLC, Texas Regional Medical Center LLC, Texas Regional Medical in Sunnyvale, Texas Spine and Joint Hospital LLC, The 6300 West Roosevelt Partnership, The Ambulatory Surgical Center of St. Louis L.P., The Healthcare Insurance Corporation, The Healthcare Underwriting Company a Risk Retention Group, The Huron Corporation, The Outpatient Center LLC, The Southeastern Spine Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., The Surgery Center at Jensen Beach LLC, The Surgery Center at Williamson LLC, The Tresanti Surgical Center LLC, Theda Oaks Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center LLC, Titan Health Corporation, Titan Health of Chattanooga Inc., Titan Health of Hershey Inc., Titan Health of Mount Laurel LLC, Titan Health of North Haven Inc., Titan Health of Pittsburgh Inc., Titan Health of Pleasant Hills Inc., Titan Health of Princeton Inc., Titan Health of Sacramento Inc., Titan Health of Saginaw Inc., Titan Health of Titusville Inc., Titan Health of West Penn Inc., Titan Health of Westminster Inc., Titan Management Corporation, Titusville Center for Surgical Excellence LLC, Toms River Surgery Center L.L.C., Total Joint Center of the Northland LLC, Tower Road Real Estate LLC, Tower/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Treasure Coast ASC LLC, Trophy Club Medical Center L.P., True Medical Weight Loss L.P., True Medical Wellness LP, True Results Georgia Inc., True Results HoldCo LLC, True Results Missouri LLC, Tucson Digestive Institute LLC, Tucson Hospital Holdings Inc., Tucson Physician Group Holdings LLC, Turlock Imaging Services LLC, Turlock Land Company LLC, Tuscan Surgery Center at Las Colinas LLC, Twin Cities Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Twin Cities Community Hospital Inc., UAP Las Colinas Endo LLC, UAP Lebanon Endo LLC, UAP Nashville Endoscopy LLC, UAP Scopes LLC, UAP of Arizona Inc., UAP of California Inc., UAP of Missouri Inc., UAP of New Jersey Inc., UAP of Oklahoma Inc., UAP of Tennessee Inc., UAP of Texas Inc., UCC Tucson Holdings LLC, UMC Surgery Center Lubbock LLC, UMC-USP Surgery Centers LLC, USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, USP 12th Ave Real Estate Inc., USP Acquisition Corporation, USP Alexandria Inc., USP Assurance Company, USP Athens Inc., USP Atlanta Inc., USP Austin Inc., USP Bariatric LLC, USP Beaumont Inc., USP Bergen Inc., USP Bloomington Inc., USP Bridgeton Inc., USP Cedar Park Inc., USP Chesterfield Inc., USP Chicago Inc., USP Cincinnati Inc., USP Coast Inc., USP Columbia Inc., USP Connecticut Inc., USP Corpus Christi Inc., USP Creve Coeur Inc., USP Denver Inc., USP Des Peres Inc., USP Destin Inc., USP Domestic Holdings Inc., USP Effingham Inc., USP Encinitas Endoscopy Inc., USP Fenton Inc., USP Festus Inc., USP Florissant Inc., USP Fort Lauderdale Inc., USP Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate Inc., USP Fredericksburg Inc., USP Fresno Inc., USP Frontenac Inc., USP Gateway Inc., USP HMH Surgery Center at Shore LLC, USP Harbour View Inc., USP Houston Inc., USP Indiana Inc., USP International Holdings Inc., USP Jersey City Inc., USP Kansas City Inc., USP Knoxville Inc., USP Little Rock Inc., USP Long Island Inc., USP Louisiana Inc., USP Lubbock Inc., USP Maryland Inc., USP Mason Ridge Inc., USP Mattis Inc., USP Michigan Inc., USP Midland Inc., USP Midland Real Estate Inc., USP Midwest Inc., USP Mission Hills Inc., USP Montana Inc., USP Morris Inc., USP Mt. Vernon Inc., USP Nevada Holdings LLC, USP Nevada Inc., USP New Hampshire Inc., USP New Jersey Inc., USP Newport News Inc., USP North Carolina Inc., USP North Kansas City Inc., USP North Texas Inc., USP Northwest Arkansas Inc., USP OKC Inc., USP OKC Manager Inc., USP Office Parkway Inc., USP Ohio RE Inc., USP Oklahoma Inc., USP Olive Inc., USP Orlando Inc., USP Philadelphia Inc., USP Phoenix Inc., USP Portland Inc., USP Reading Inc., USP Richmond II Inc., USP Richmond Inc., USP Sacramento Inc., USP San Antonio Inc., USP Santa Barbara Surgery Centers Inc., USP Securities Corporation, USP Silver Cross Inc., USP Siouxland Inc., USP Somerset Inc., USP South Carolina Inc., USP Southlake RE Inc., USP St. Louis Inc., USP St. Louis Urology Inc., USP St. Peters Inc., USP Sunset Hills Inc., USP TJ STL Inc., USP Tennessee Inc., USP Texas Air L.L.C., USP Texas L.P., USP Torrance Inc., USP Tucson Inc., USP Turnersville Inc., USP Virginia Beach Inc., USP Washington Inc., USP Waxahachie Management L.L.C., USP Webster Groves Inc., USP West Covina Inc., USP Westwood Inc., USP Winter Park Inc., USP Wisconsin Inc., USP-HMH Surgery Center at Central Jersey LLC, USP/Carondelet Tucson Surgery Centers LLC, USP/SOS Joint Venture LLC, USPI Group Holdings Inc., USPI Holding Company Inc.1, USPI Holdings Inc., USPI Physician Strategy Group LLC, USPI San Diego Inc., USPI Stockton Inc., USPI Surgical Services Inc., Ulysses True Results NewCo LLC, Underwood Surgery Center LLC, United Anesthesia Partners Inc., United Real Estate Development Inc., United Real Estate Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners International, United Surgical Partners International Inc., Universal Medical Care Center L.L.C., University Surgery Center Ltd., University Surgical Partners of Dallas L.L.P., Upper Bay Surgery Center LLC, Upper Cumberland Physicians Surgery Center LLC, Urgent Care Centers of Arizona LLC, Utica ASC Partners LLC, Utica/USP Tulsa L.L.C., VB Brownsville LTACH LLC, VBOA ASC GP LLC, VBOA ASC Partners L.L.C., VHM Services Inc., VHS Acquisition Corporation, VHS Acquisition Partnership Number 1 L.P, VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 1 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 11 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 12 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 3 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 4 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 5 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 6 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 7 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 8 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 9 Inc., VHS Arizona Heart Institute Inc., VHS Brownsville Hospital Company LLC, VHS Chicago Market Procurement LLC, VHS Childrens Hospital of Michigan Inc., VHS Detroit Businesses Inc., VHS Detroit Receiving Hospital Inc., VHS Detroit Ventures Inc., VHS Harlingen Hospital Company LLC, VHS Harper-Hutzel Hospital Inc., VHS Holding Company Inc., VHS Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Inc., VHS Imaging Centers Inc., VHS New England Holding Company I Inc., VHS Outpatient Clinics Inc., VHS Phoenix Health Plan Inc., VHS Physicians of Michigan, VHS Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Inc., VHS San Antonio Imaging Partners L.P., VHS San Antonio Partners LLC, VHS Sinai-Grace Hospital Inc., VHS University Laboratories Inc., VHS Valley Health System LLC, VHS Valley Holdings LLC, VHS Valley Management Company Inc., VHS West Suburban Medical Center Inc., VHS Westlake Hospital Inc., VHS of Anaheim Inc., VHS of Arrowhead Inc., VHS of Huntington Beach Inc., VHS of Illinois Inc., VHS of Michigan Inc., VHS of Michigan Staffing Inc., VHS of Orange County Inc., VHS of Phoenix Inc., VHS of South Phoenix Inc., Valley Baptist Lab Services LLC, Valley Baptist Physician Performance Network, Valley Baptist Realty Company LLC, Valley Baptist Wellness Center LLC, Valley Health Care Network, Vanguard ASC LLC, Vanguard Health Financial Company LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company I LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company II LLC, Vanguard Health Management Inc., Vanguard Health Systems, Vanguard Health Systems Inc., Vanguard Holding Company I Inc., Vanguard Holding Company II Inc., Vanguard Medical Specialists LLC, Vanguard Physician Services LLC, Ventana Surgical Center LLC, Veroscan Inc., Victoria Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Virtua-USP Princeton LLC, WHASA L.C., Walker Baptist Affinity LLC, Walker Street Imaging Care Inc., Warner Park Surgery Center LLC, Watermark Physician Services Inc., Webster Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Wellington Endo LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture I LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture II LLC, West Boca Health Services L.L.C., West Boca Medical Center Inc., West Boynton Urgent Care L.L.C., West Bozeman Surgery Center LLC, West Palm Healthcare Real Estate Inc., West Suburban Radiation Therapy Center LLC, Westgate Surgery Center LLC, Westlake Hospital LLC, Westlawn Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Centers LLC, White Fence Surgical Suites LLC, Willamette Spine Center Ambulatory Surgery LLC, Wilmington Endoscopy Center LLC, Wilshire Rental Corp., Winter Haven Ambulatory Surgical Center L.L.C., Wisconsin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Wymark Surgery Center LLC, and YNHHSC/USP Surgery Centers LLC. Anixter International Inc., through its subsidiary, Anixter Inc., distributes enterprise cabling and security solutions, electrical and electronic wire and cable solutions, and utility power solutions worldwide. The company operates through Network & Security Solutions (NSS), Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), and Utility Power Solutions (UPS) segments. The NSS segment offers copper and fiber optic cable and connectivity, access control, video surveillance, intrusion and fire/life safety, cabinet, power, cable management, wireless, professional audio/video, voice and networking switches, and other ancillary products for the technology, finance, transportation, education, government, healthcare, and retail industries, as well as telecommunications service providers. The EES Solutions segment provides electrical and electronic wires and cables, shipboard cables, support and supply products, low-voltage and instrumentation cables, industrial communication and control products, security cables, connectors, industrial Ethernet switches, and voice and data cables to the commercial and industrial, and original equipment manufacturer markets. The UPS segment supplies electrical transmission and distribution products, power plant maintenance, repair and operations supplies, and smart-grid products, as well as arranges materials management and procurement outsourcing for the power generation and transmission, and electricity distribution industries. The company serves contractors, installers, system integrators, value-added resellers, architects, engineers, and wholesale distributors in various industries, including manufacturing, resource extraction, telecommunications, Internet service providers, finance, education, healthcare, retail, transportation, utilities, and defense, as well as government customers. The company was formerly known as Itel Corporation. Anixter International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois. Read More There is not enough analysis data for Tekla Life Sciences Investors. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes Tekla Life Sciences Investors has received 95 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Tekla Life Sciences Investors has received 44 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Tekla Life Sciences Investors has received 68.35% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Tekla Life Sciences Investors and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe HQL will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe HQL will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Bilfinger SE provides industrial services to customers in the process industry primarily in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. The company offers maintenance engineering and consulting, planning and execution of maintenance, coordination of subcontractors, planning and execution of turnarounds, and condition monitoring and asset integrity assessments services; and plant engineering, piping and steel construction, and plant demolition and conversion services; and operates and maintains various industrial plants. It also provides solutions in the fields of servicing, constructing, and digitally networking components and systems. In addition, the company offers consulting, digital networking, data collection, and analysis services, as well as forward-looking maintenance services. It serves customers in chemical and petrochemical, energy and utilities, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and biopharma, metallurgy, and cement industries. The company was formerly known as Bilfinger Berger SE and changed its name to Bilfinger SE in September 2012. Bilfinger SE was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany. Read More BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More 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 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. The following companies are subsidiares of IDEX: ADS Corp., ADS Environmental Services Pty Limited, ADS Environmental Technologies Inc., ADS LLC, AEGIS Flow Technologies, AEGIS Flow Technologies L.L.C., AWG, AWG Fittings GmbH, Abel Pumps, Advanced Thin Films, Advanced Thin Films Inc., Airtech Group, Akron Brass, Akron Brass Company, Alfa Valvole, Alfa Valvole S.r.l., Band-It Clamps (Asia) Pte. Ltd., Band-It Company Limited, Band-It-IDEX Inc., Banjo Corporation, Banjo Europe S.r.l., BarbIDEX International SRL, CIDRA Precision Services, CVI Laser, CVI Laser LLC, CVI Laser Limited, CVI Melles Griot, Corken Inc., ERC, Eastern Plastics, FAST & Fluid Management S.r.l., FM Delaware Inc., FM Investment Inc., FMD Distribution and Service LLC, FMD Fabrication Services LLC, FTL Seals Technology Limited, Fast & Fluid Management B.V., Fast & Fluid Management Eastern Europe Sp. Z O.O., Fast and Fluid Management Australia Pty. Ltd., Flow Management Devices, Flow Management Devices LLC, Fluid Management Canada Inc., Fluid Management Inc., Fluid Management Operations LLC, Gast Group Ltd, Gast Manufacturing Inc., Godiva Limited, Godiva Products Limited, Hale Products Europe Limited, Hale Products Inc., Hurst Jaws of Life Inc., IDEX Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., IDEX Dinglee Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., IDEX Europe GmbH, IDEX Health & Science KK, IDEX Health & Science LLC, IDEX Holdings GmbH, IDEX Holdings Inc., IDEX India Private Limited, IDEX Italy S.r.l., IDEX Japan GK, IDEX Korea Ltd, IDEX Leasing GmbH, IDEX MPT Inc., IDEX Mexico S.A. de C.V., IDEX Middle East FZE, IDEX Pump Technologies (Ireland) Limited, IDEX SAS, IDEX Service Corp., IDEX Sourcing Corporation, IDEX Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., IDEX Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, IDEX UK Investment Ltd, IDEX UK Ltd., IDEX do Brasil Servicos e Vendas Ltda., IETG, Isolation Technologies, KNIGHT LLC, KVT-Koenig Holding Limited, Knight (Canada) Limited, Knight Inc., Knight UK Ltd, LUKAS Hydraulik GmbH, Liquid Controls, Liquid Controls LLC, Matcon, Matcon (R&D) Limited, Matcon Group Limited, Matcon Limited, Melles Griot B.V., Melles Griot GmbH, Microfluidics, Microfluidics International Corporation, Micropump Inc., Nova Technologies, Nova Technologies Corporation, Novotema, Novotema S.p.A, OBL, OBL Srl, Oil & Gas Process Solutions LLC, PP AWG GmbH, PPE International LLC, PPE LLC, Precision Photonics, Precision Polymer Engineering Limited, Project Gold Acquisition Corp., Pulsafeeder Inc., Quadro Engineering Corp., RV Acquisition Corp., Richter Chemie-Technik, Richter Chemie-Technik GmbH, Richter EP (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Richter Pumps & Valves Inc., Roplan AB, Roplan GmbH, Roplan Holding AB, Roplan Ltd, Roplan Machinery (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Roplan Machining AB, Roplan Sales (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Roplan Sales AB, Roplan Sales Inc., Roplan Trading AB, S.A.M.P.I. S.p.A., SFC KOENIG, SFC KOENIG Flow Control (Suzhou) Co. Limited, SFC Koenig AG, SFC Koenig Beteilgungs GmbH, SFC Koenig GmbH, SFC Koenig LLC, Scivex, Seals Limited, Semrock, Steridose Sales AB, The Fitzpatrick Company, Toptech Systems, Toptech Systems Inc., Toptech Systems NV, Trebor International Inc., Velcora, Velcora Holding AB, Vetter GmbH, Viking Pump Inc., Viking Pump of Canada Inc., Warren Rupp Inc., Wright Flow Technologies Limited, XAM Swiss Holding I GmbH, iPEK, iPEK International GmbH, iPEK Spezial TV GmbH, thinXXS Microtechnology, and thinXXS Microtechnology AG. The following companies are subsidiares of Eli Lilly and: 1096401 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, ARMO BioSciences Inc, ARMO Bioscience, Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Alnara Pharmaceuticals, Alnara Pharmaceuticals Inc., Andean Technical Operations Center, Applied Molecular Evolution Inc., AurKa Pharma, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc., ChemGen, CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, CoLucid Pharmaceuticals Inc., Dermira, Devices for Vascular Intervention(DVI), Disarm Therapeutics, Dista Ilac Ticaret Ltd. Sti., Dista S.A., Dista-Produtos Quimicos & Farmaceuticos LDA, ELCO Dominicana SRL, ELCO Insurance Company Limited, ELCO Management Inc., ELCO for Trade and Marketing S.A.E., ELGO Insurance Company Limited, Elanco Animal Health Ireland Limited, Elanco Switzerland Holding Sarl, Eli Lilly (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Eli Lilly (Philippines) Incorporated, Eli Lilly (S.A.) (Proprietary) Limited, Eli Lilly (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Eli Lilly (Suisse) S.A., Eli Lilly Asia Inc., Eli Lilly Asia Pacific SSC Sdn Bhd, Eli Lilly Australia Pty. Limited, Eli Lilly B-H d.o.o., Eli Lilly Benelux S.A., Eli Lilly Bienes y Servicios S de RL de CV, Eli Lilly CR s.r.o., Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Eli Lilly Cork Limited, Eli Lilly Danmark A/S, Eli Lilly Egypt for Trading, Eli Lilly European Clinical Trial Services SA, Eli Lilly Export S.A., Eli Lilly Finance S.A., Eli Lilly Ges.m.b.H., Eli Lilly Group Limited, Eli Lilly Holdings Ltd., Eli Lilly Hrvatska d.o.o., Eli Lilly Interamerica Inc., Eli Lilly Interamerica Inc. y Compania Limitada, Eli Lilly International Corporation, Eli Lilly Ireland Holdings Limited, Eli Lilly Israel Ltd., Eli Lilly Italia S.p.A., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Eli Lilly Kinsale Limited, Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., Eli Lilly Nigeria Ltd., Eli Lilly Norge A.S., Eli Lilly Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Eli Lilly Polska Sp.z.o.o. (Ltd.), Eli Lilly Regional Operations GmbH, Eli Lilly Romania SRL, Eli Lilly S.A., Eli Lilly Saudi Arabia Limited, Eli Lilly Services Inc, Eli Lilly Services India Private Limited, Eli Lilly Slovakia s.r.o., Eli Lilly Sweden AB, Eli Lilly Vostok S.A. Geneva, Eli Lilly and Company, Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt. Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company (Ireland) Limited, Eli Lilly and Company (N.Z.) Limited, Eli Lilly and Company (Taiwan) Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Limited, Eli Lilly de Centro America S.A., Eli Lilly do Brasil Limitada, Eli Lilly farmacevtska druzba d.o.o., Eli Lilly y Compania de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Eli Lilly y Compania de Venezuela S.A., Glycostasis Inc, Greenfield-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Heart Rhythm Technologies Inc, Hybritech, Hypnion, ICOS Corporation, ImClone GmbH, ImClone LLC, ImClone Systems Holdings Inc., ImClone Systems LLC, Imclone Systems, Irisfarma S.A., Ivy Animal Health, Kinsale Financial Services Unlimited Company, Lilly (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd, Lilly Asia Ventures Fund I L.P., Lilly Asia Ventures Fund II L.P., Lilly Asian Ventures Fund III L.P., Lilly Cayman Holdings, Lilly China Research and Development Co. Ltd., Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Lilly France S.A.S., Lilly Global Nederland Holdings B.V., Lilly Global Services Inc., Lilly Holding GmbH, Lilly Holdings B.V., Lilly Hungaria KFT, Lilly Japan Financing G.K., Lilly Korea Ltd., Lilly Nederland Finance B.V., Lilly Nederland Finance B.V. - GCC, Lilly Nederland Holding B.V., Lilly Pharma Ltd., Lilly Portugal - Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Lilly S.A., Lilly Suzhou Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Lilly Trading Co. LTD, Lilly USA LLC, Lilly Ventures Fund I LLC, Lilly del Caribe Inc., Lilly ilac ticaret limited sirketi, Lohmann Animal Health, Loxo Oncology, Lylly Centre for Clinical Pharmacology PTE. LTD., Novartis Animal Health, OY Eli Lilly Finland AB, Origin Medsystems, PT. Eli Lilly Indonesia, Pacific Biotech, Pharmaserve-Lilly S.A.C.I., Physio-Control, SGX Pharmaceuticals, SGX Pharmaceuticals Inc, Spaly Bioquimica S.A., UAB Eli Lilly Lietuva, Valquifarma S.A., and Vital Pharma Productos Farmaceuticos. Global Brass and Copper Holdings, Inc. converts, fabricates, processes, and distributes specialized non-ferrous products in the United States, the Asia Pacific, and Mexico. It operates in three segments: Olin Brass, Chase Brass, and A.J. Oster. The Olin Brass segment manufactures, fabricates, and converts specialized copper and brass sheets, strips, foils, tubes, and fabricated products; and rerolls and forms other alloys, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum. The Chase Brass segment manufactures and supplies brass rods in round, hexagonal, and other shapes. The A.J. Oster segment processes and distributes copper, brass, and aluminum sheets, strips, and coated products. The company sells its products to the building and housing, automotive, electronics/electrical components, munitions, coinage, transportation, and industrial machinery and equipment markets under the Olin Brass, Chase Brass, A.J. Oster, Green Dot, and Eco Brass brands through its direct mill sales, distribution network, and third-party distributors. Global Brass and Copper Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. Read More Hannover RAck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The Property & Casualty Reinsurance segment offers specialty lines comprising marine, aviation, facultative and direct business, credit, surety, and political risks reinsurance products; and treaty, catastrophe XL, and structured reinsurance, as well as insurance-linked securities. This segment also provides risk solutions for agricultural, livestock, and bloodstock businesses; aviation and space business; and marine and offshore energy business. The Life & Health Reinsurance segment offers group and individual credit life, enhanced annuities, group life and health, and Sharia-compliant Takaful reinsurance products. This segment also provides risk solutions in the areas of critical illness, disability, health, longevity, long term care, and mortality and morbidity, as well as underwriting services. In addition, it offers various financial solutions, including new-business financing; monetization of embedded value; reserve and solvency relief; and divestiture of non-core businesses. The company was formerly known as Hannover RAckversicherung AG and changed its name to Hannover RAck SE in March 2013. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Hanover, Germany. Hannover RAck SE is a subsidiary of Talanx AG. Read More PCM Fund Inc. is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. The fund is co-managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. It seeks to invest in fixed income markets. The fund invests primarily in commercial mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental analysis with a focus on top down stock picking approach to create its portfolio. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Barclay's CMBS Investment Grade Index. PCM Fund Inc was formed on September 2, 1993 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of PPG Industries: AIPCF V Texstars Blocker Inc., AkzoNobel, Alermac Inversiones S.A. de C.V., Alpha Coating Technologies LLC, Alpha Coatings Inc., Broad Range Development Limited, Brown Brothers Distribution Limited, CG Holdings Manufacturing Co., Centro de Investigacion en Polimeros S.A. de C.V., Chemfil Canada Limited, Chorlton Trade Paints Limited, Comercial Mexicana de Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Comex, Comex Industrial Coatings S.A. de C.V., Consorcio Comex S.A. de C.V., Cristacol S.A., Cuming Microwave Corporation, Deutek SA, Dexmet Corporation, Dexmet Holding Corporation, Distribuidora Kroma S.A. de C.V., EPIC Insurance Co. Ltd., Eberle Design Inc., Empresa Aga S.A. de C.V., Ennis Canadian Holding Company, Ennis Flint Soluciones Seguras Para Trafico, Ennis Highway Traffic Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Ennis Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, Ennis Paint Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Ennis Paint Boya Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Ennis Paint Canada ULC, Ennis Paint Germany GmbH, Ennis Paint Netherlands Holdings LLC, Ennis Paint U.K. Holding Company Limited, Ennis Traffic Safety Solutions Pty Ltd, Ennis Flint Mexico, Ennis Flint New Zealand, Ennis Flint New Zealand Holding Pty Ltd, Ennis-Flint, Ennis-Flint Africa (Pty) Ltd, Ennis-Flint Inc., Foshan Bairun Chemicals Co. Ltd., Fpu Industrial S.A. de C.V., Grupo Comex S.A. de C.V., Hemmelrath Automotive Coatings (Jilin) Co. Ltd., Hodij Coatings B.V., Homax Products, Industria Chimica Reggiana I.C.R. SPA, Johnstones Paints Limited, Kalon Investment Company Limited, Kalon South Africa Proprietary Limited, Manchester Thermoplastics LLC, Masterwork Paint, MetoKote Canada Limited, MetoKote Corporation, MetoKote Mexico Holding Inc., MetoKote UK Limited, MetoKote de Mexico S. de RL de CV, PPG AC - France SA, PPG ALESCO Automotive Finishes Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PPG AP Resinas S.A. de C.V., PPG Aerospace Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Architectural Coatings (Puerto Rico) Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Ireland Limited, PPG Architectural Coatings Italy S.r.l., PPG Architectural Coatings UK Limited, PPG Architectural Finishes Inc., PPG Asian Paints Private Ltd., PPG COATINGS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., PPG Canada Inc., PPG Cieszyn S.A., PPG Coatings (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, PPG Coatings (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., PPG Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Thailand) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Wuhu) Company Ltd., PPG Coatings (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings B.V., PPG Coatings Belgium BV, PPG Coatings Danmark A/S, PPG Coatings Deutschland GmbH, PPG Coatings Europe B.V., PPG Coatings Manufacturing SARL, PPG Coatings Nederland BV, PPG Coatings S.A., PPG Coatings South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PPG DYRUP S.A., PPG Deco Czech a.s., PPG Deco Polska sp. z.o.o., PPG Deco Slovakia s.r.o., PPG Deutschland Business Support GmbH, PPG Deutschland Sales & Services GmbH, PPG Distribution S.A.S., PPG Europe B.V., PPG Finance B.V., PPG France Business Support S.A.S., PPG France Manufacturing S.A.S., PPG Guadeloupe SAS, PPG Hellas S.A., PPG Hemmelrath Coatings Inc., PPG Hemmelrath Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Holdco SAS, PPG Holdings (U.K.) Limited, PPG Holdings Argentina USA LLC, PPG Holdings Latin America USA LLC, PPG Iberica S.A., PPG Iberica Sales & Services S.L., PPG Industrial Coatings B.V., PPG Industrial do Brasil - Tintas E. Vernizes - Ltda., PPG Industries (Korea) Ltd., PPG Industries (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Industries (UK) Ltd, PPG Industries Argentina S.R.L., PPG Industries Australia PTY Limited A.C.N. 055 500 939, PPG Industries Colombia Ltda., PPG Industries Czech Republic s.r.o., PPG Industries Delfzijl B.V., PPG Industries Europe Sarl, PPG Industries France S.A.S., PPG Industries International Inc., PPG Industries Italia S.r.l., PPG Industries Kimya a Sanayi VE Ticaret AS, PPG Industries LLC, PPG Industries Lipetsk LLC, PPG Industries Middle East FZE, PPG Industries Netherlands B.V., PPG Industries New Zealand Limited, PPG Industries Ohio Inc., PPG Industries Poland Sp. Z.o.o., PPG Industries Securities LLC, PPG Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Italia Business Support S.r.l., PPG Italia Sales & Services S.r.l., PPG Japan Ltd., PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes Canada LP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.K. LLP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.S. LLC, PPG Luxembourg Finance S.aR.L., PPG Luxembourg Holdings S.aR.L., PPG Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Packaging Coatings (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Performance Coatings (Hong Kong) Limited, PPG Powder Coatings (Shanghai) Limited, PPG Romania S.A., PPG SSC Co. Ltd., PPG Switzerland GmbH, PPG Trilak Kft., PPG Vietnam Co. Ltd., PRC-DeSoto Australia Pty Ltd., PRC-DeSoto International Inc., PT. PPG Coatings Indonesia, Painter's Supply, Paintzen, Peintures de Paris SAS, Plasticos Envolventes S.A. de C.V., Polymeric Systems Inc., Prismo Road Markings Limited, ProCoatings B.V., ProCoatings BV, Protec Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 007 857 392, Reno A&E LLC, Revocoat France SAS, Revocoat Holding SAS, Revocoat Iberica SLU, Revocoat S.A.S, Road Infrastructure Investment Holdings Inc., SEM Products Inc., Sealants Europe SAS, Sierracin Corporation, Sierracin/Sylmar Corporation, Sigma Marine & Protective Coatings Holding B.V., SigmaKalon (BC) UK Limited, SigmaKalon Group, SigmaKalon Middle East B.V., Sikar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Spraylat International Ltd, Texstars LLC, The Crown Group Co., The Crown Group Inc, The Homax Group, Tikkurila Group, Traffic Safety Intermediate LLC, Traffic Safety Parent LLC, United International Business NV, Vanex Inc., Vernisol S.p.A., Versaflex, Viasa S.A. de C.V., Whitford, Whitford B.V., Whitford Corporation, Whitford Jiangmen Ltd., Whitford Ltd. (HK), Whitford Ltd. (UK), Whitford Pte. Ltd., Whitford S.r.l., Whitford Worldwide Company LLC, Worwag Coatings, and Zaganite Industries Pty Ltd. The following companies are subsidiares of Quest Diagnostics: AmeriPath, AmeriPath Cincinnati Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Cleveland Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Consolidated Labs Inc. (FL), AmeriPath Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Hospital Services Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Indianapolis PC (IN), AmeriPath Kentucky Inc. (KY), AmeriPath Lubbock 5.01(A) Corporation (TX), AmeriPath New York LLC (DE), AmeriPath Texas Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Tucson Inc. (AZ), American Medical Laboratories, American Medical Laboratories Incorporated (DE), Associated Clinical Laboratories L.P. (PA), Associated Clinical Laboratories of Pennsylvania L.L.C. (PA), Athena Diagnostics, Athena Diagnostics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics, Blueprint Genetics FZ-LLC (UAE), Blueprint Genetics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics Oy (Finland), California Laboratory Associates, Cape Cod Healthcare - Business, Celera, ClearPoint Diagnostic, Clearpoint Diagnostic Laboratories LLC (TX), Cleveland HeartLab, Cleveland HeartLab Inc. (DE), Clinical Laboratory Partners, Colorado Pathology Consultants P.C. (CO), ConVerge Diagnostic Services, Consolidated DermPath Inc. (DE), DFW 5.01(a) Corporation (TX), DGXWMT JV LLC (DE), Dermatopathology of Wisconsin S.C. (WI), Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma LLC (OK), Diagnostic Pathology Services Inc. (OK), Diagnostic Reference Services Inc. (MD), ExamOne Canada Inc. (New Brunswick), ExamOne LLC (DE), ExamOne World Wide Inc. (PA), ExamOne World Wide of NJ Inc. (NJ), Focus Diagnostics, HemoCue, Hoffman M.D. Associated Pathologists Chartered (NV), Institute for Dermatopathology Inc. (PA), Isabella Street Urban Renewal LLC (NJ), Kailash B. Sharma M.D. Inc. (GA), Kilpatrick Pathology P.A. (NC), LabOne, LabOne LLC (MO), LabOne of Ohio Inc. (DE), Laboratorio de Analisis Biomedicos S.A. (Mexico), Lancet Labs, MACL, Med Fusion LLC (TX), Med fusion, MedPlus, Mid America Clinical Laboratories LLC (IN), Nomad Massachusetts Inc. (MA), Nuclear Medicine and Pathology Associates (GA), Ocmulgee Medical Pathology Association Inc. (GA), Pathology Building Partnership (MD) (gen. ptnrshp.), PeaceHealth Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories PLLC (WA), Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC (DE), Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), Quest Diagnostics Brasil Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Domestic Holder LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics HTAS India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Incorporated (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (MD), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NV), Quest Diagnostics India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Infectious Disease Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics International Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics International LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Investments LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Ireland Limited (Ireland), Quest Diagnostics LLC (CT), Quest Diagnostics LLC (IL), Quest Diagnostics LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Massachusetts LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Mexico Holding Company Trust (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Mexico S de RL de CV (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (CA), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute Inc. (VA), Quest Diagnostics Receivables Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Subsidiary Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics TB LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Terracotta LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Venture LLC (PA), Quest Diagnostics Ventures LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil), Quest Diagnostics of Pennsylvania Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics of Puerto Rico Inc. (PR), Quest HealthConnect LLC (CA), ReproSource, Reprosource Fertility Diagnostics Inc. (MA), Solstas Lab Partners, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC (AZ), Specialty Laboratories Inc. (CA), Summit Health, UMass Memorial Medical Center - Anatomic Pathology Outreach Laboratory Business, Unilab Corporation, and Unilab Corporation (DE). 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 Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More Stage Stores, Inc. operates specialty department stores primarily in small and mid-sized towns and communities in the United States. Its merchandise portfolio comprises moderately priced and brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics, footwear, and home goods. The company also offers merchandise direct-to-consumer through its e-commerce Website, and private label credit card and loyalty programs. As of August 23, 2018, it operated 764 department stores in 42 states under the BEALLS, GOODY'S, PALAIS ROYAL, PEEBLES, and STAGE names; 63 GORDMANS off-price stores; and stage.com, an e-commerce Website. The company was founded in 1988 and is based in Houston, Texas. Read More United Technologies Corporation provides technology products and services to building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. Its Otis segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and moving walkways; and offers modernization products to upgrade elevators and escalators, as well as maintenance and repair services. The company's Carrier segment provides heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation products, solutions, and services for commercial, government, infrastructure, residential, and refrigeration and transportation applications. This segment also offers building services, including audit, design, installation, system integration, repair, maintenance, and monitoring. Its Pratt & Whitney segment supplies aircraft engines for commercial, military, business jet, and general aviation markets; and provides aftermarket maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as fleet management services. The company's Collins Aerospace Systems segment provides electric power generation, power management, and distribution systems; air data and aircraft sensing systems; engine control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; engine components; environmental control systems; fire and ice detection, and protection systems; propeller systems; engine nacelle systems; aircraft lighting, seating, and cargo systems; actuation and landing systems; space products and subsystems; avionics systems; flight controls, communications, navigation, oxygen, and training systems; food and beverage preparation, and storage and galley systems; and lavatory and wastewater management systems. The company offers its services through manufacturers' representatives, distributors, wholesalers, dealers, retail outlets, and sales representatives, as well as directly to customers. United Technologies Corporation was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of V.F.: 1994 Inc. Ltd., 530 Park Ave 10-F LLC, 530 Park Ave 14-H LLC, ALL'CROWN SA, Administradora Mexicana de Servicios S de RL de CV, Administradora de Servicios Honduras S.A., Altra Footwear, Altra LLC, C.C.R.L. LLC, Chapter 4 Corp, Cherry SAS, Ciliegia Srl, Corporacion Distribiduidora de Dickies S de RL de CV, Cutler de Mexico SA, Czech Distribution Services s.r.o., DSI Enterprises LLC, Dickies de Honduras SA de CV, Dickies de Parras S de RL de CV, EAGLE CREEK EUROPE LIMITED, Eagle Creek, Eagle Creek Inc., GFYS LLC, GREENSPORT MONTE BIANCO, Horace Small, INVERSIONES INMOBILIARIES AUSTRALES SA, INVERSIONES VF CHILE DOS LTDA, INVERSIONES VF CHILE LTDA, IW Apparel LLC, IW Holdings LLC, IW Panama Trading S. de R.L., IceBreaker, Icebreaker Apparel LLC, Icebreaker Australia Pty, Icebreaker Australia Retail Pty, Icebreaker Europe Limited, Icebreaker Holdings Limited, Icebreaker Licensing LLC, Icebreaker Limited, Icebreaker Merino Clothing Europe Ltd., Icebreaker New Zealand Limited, Icebreaker Pure Merino GmbH, Imagewear Apparel Corp., Industrial Laundry Services LLC, Industrias Coahuila de Zaragosa S de RL de CV, JanSport Apparel Corp., Kipling Apparel Corp., Kipling Belgium, Kipling Holdings LLC, Kirsche GmbH, Kodiak Group Holdings CO., Lee Bell Inc., Lucy, Lucy Apparel LLC, Majestic Athletic Official Store, Mo Industries Holdings, NII Sales - Texas LLC, Napapijri, North East Rig-Out Limited, North Elm Properties LLC, RED KAP DE MEXICO S DE RL DE CV, RKI HONDURAS S de RL, Reef Holdings Corporation, Rock & Republic, SERVICIOS Y PROMOCIONES TEXTILES LTDA, South Cone, South Cone Inc, Supreme, Supreme Holdings Inc., Supreme Intermediate Holdings Inc., T.I. Venture Group Inc, TBL INVESTMENTS HOLDING GMBH, TBL Licensing LLC, THE NORTH FACE ITALY SRL, THE NORTH FACE SAGL, THE RECREATIONAL FOOTWEAR CO., TIMBERLAND EUROPE BV, TIMBERLAND HK TRADING LTD., TIMBERLAND LUXEMBOURG HOLDING ASIA S.A.R.L., TIMBERLAND UK LTD., The North Face, The North Face Apparel Corp, Timberland, Timberland Asia LLC, Timberland IDC Ltd., Timberland International LLC, VANS MADEIRA LDA, VANS SPAIN SL, VF (J) FRANCE SAS, VF (J) NEDERLAND BV, VF (J) NETHERLANDS SERVICES BV, VF APPAREL PORTUGAL LDA, VF ASIA LTD, VF Apollo Investments Limited, VF Apollo Singapore Pte. Ltd., VF Asia Sourcing Ltd, VF Austria GMBH, VF BRANDS MALAYSIA SDN BHD, VF BRANDS TAIWAN LTD., VF Belgium BV, VF Brands Pte. Ltd., VF CH Apollo Sagl, VF CH Holdings GmbH, VF CH Imagewear Canada GmbH, VF CH MEXICO INVESTMENTS SAGL, VF CH-MEX Holdings LLC, VF CHINA LTD., VF CIS LLC, VF COMERCIALIZADORA LTDA, VF CZECH SERVICES SRO, VF CZECH SRO, VF Corporation, VF DE ARGENTINA SA, VF DO BRAZIL LTDA, VF EGE GIYIM SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI, VF EUROPE BV, VF GERMANY TEXTILE-HANDELS GMBH, VF Germany Services GMBH, VF HELLAS EPE, VF HOLDING SAGL, VF HOLDINGS MEXICO LLC, VF Hong Kong Limited, VF IB Holdings LLC, VF IMAGEWEAR DE MEXICO S DE RL DE CV, VF IMAGEWEAR MAJESTIC (UK) LTD, VF INTERNATIONAL SAGL, VF INVESTIMENTOS DO BRAZIL LTDA, VF IP Holdings LLC, VF ISRAEL (APPAREL) LTD, VF ITALIA SRL, VF ITALY SERVICES SRL, VF Imagewear Canada Co., VF Imagewear Inc, VF Intellectual Property Services Inc, VF International Holding GmbH, VF Investments Holding GmbH, VF Investments Netherlands BV, VF JEANSWEAR ARGENTINA SRL, VF JEANSWEAR ESPANA SL, VF Japan KK, VF KOREA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, VF LUXEMBOURG SARL, VF Management Service Italy S.r.l., VF NL Holdings CV, VF NL Imagewear B.V., VF NORTHERN EUROPE LIMITED, VF NORTHERN EUROPE SERVICES LIMITED, VF Norway AS, VF OUTDOOR (CANADA) CO, VF OUTDOOR MEXICO S DE RL DE CV, VF OUTDOOR SERVICES S DE RL DE CV, VF Outdoor LLC, VF PANAMA SOURCING SERVICES S. DE R.L., VF PARTICIPACOES DO BRASIL LTDA, VF PERU SA, VF POLSKA DISTRIBUTION SP ZO O, VF Playwear Dominicana SA, VF Playwear LLC, VF Receivables LP, VF Receivables Services LLC, VF SAGEBRUSH ENTERPRISES LLC, VF SALES SAGL, VF SERVICIOS DE HONDURAS SA, VF SERVICIOS EL SALVADOR LTDA. DE CV, VF SHANGHAI SOURCING LIMITED, VF SOURCING THAILAND LTD, VF Scandinavia ApS, VF Services LLC, VF Servicios de Guatemala Srl, VF Servicios de Nicaragua Srl., VF Shanghai Enterprise Company, VF Shanghai Limited, VF Singapore Overseas Services Pte Ltd, VF Solutions LLC, VF Sourcing India Private Limited, VF Sweden AB, VF Switzerland Enterprises GmbH, VF Taiwan Limited, VF Transglobal GmbH, VF Treasury Services LLC, VFSE Investments LLC, VFSLA Commercial Services LLC, VFSLA Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Vans, Vans Inc, W-D APPAREL COMPANY LLC, W-D Licensing LLC, WD Europe SAS, WD Supply Holding Limited (HK), Walls Cayman Limited, Walls Holding Company LLC, Walls Industries LLC, Williamson Industries Ltd., Williamson-Dickie APAC Holding Company Ltd., Williamson-Dickie Apparel Trading (Shanghai) Ltd., Williamson-Dickie Canada Co., Williamson-Dickie Europe GmbH, Williamson-Dickie Europe Holdings Ltd., Williamson-Dickie Europe Ltd., Williamson-Dickie HK Holding Company Ltd., Williamson-Dickie Holding Co-Mexico S de RL de CV, Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company LLC, Williamson-Dickie Middle East FZE, Wooster GK, Workwear Sourcing S. de R.L., World Jeans VF Asia Ltd, Worldwide Workwear Ltd., and Ying Tao Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.. MEDIA COURTHOUSE- A correctional officer is facing felony contraband charges for allegedly selling drugs to an inmate at the county George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland announced Thursday. Now behind bars himself, Antonio Woods, 32, of the 200 block of MacDade Boulevard in Collingdale, is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and contraband, both ungraded felony offenses. Because of his affiliation with the county prison, Woods is being held at a facility in Philadelphia, according to Emily Harris, spokeswoman for the district attorneys office. Instead of doing his job of ensuring the safety of inmates and his coworkers, Antonio Woods breached the trust of his colleagues, putting their safety at risk by bringing narcotics into his workplace, Copeland stated in a prepared release. As a correctional officer, we hold Antonio Woods to a higher standard of conduct. An undercover investigation was conducted by Detective Steven Bannar of the Delaware County District Attorneys Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Narcotics Unit with assistance from county prison investigators and Darby Township Police Officer Heather Myers. According to the district attorneys office, an investigation was launched by Bannar following information received regarding a correctional officer at the prison who was allegedly bringing contraband narcotics into the prison for the inmates. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that Antonio Woods, a correctional officer, would obtain a phone number of a relative or acquaintance of an inmate, make contact, and arrange to meet them at a location outside of the prison, the release states. Woods would charge a fee of approximately $1,000 to bring the narcotics into the prison and the individual paying the fee would have to supply the narcotics. Woods sometimes would offer a discounted price of $900. In a prepared statement, prison Warden David Byrne said, Our internal investigative team worked closely with the countys investigative division to bring this matter to a swift resolution. The officer in question was immediately suspended, pending termination proceedings. Copeland lauded prison investigators for their assistance, as well as Bannar and Myers for their efforts leading to the arrest. We commend the administration at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility for their continued vigilance and daily efforts to ensure the safety of inmates and our community by preventing drugs and contraband from entering the prison. Working together, we will continue to root out and arrest those individuals who attempt to do so, she said. Woods was preliminarily arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Gregory J. Loftus who set bail at ten percent of $500,000, which he failed to post. A preliminary hearing is listed for Nov. 29 before Magisterial District Judge Walter Sonny Strohl. It was not immediately known if Woods had retained an attorney. 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..